Morgannis

Bleach - Resonant Souls

Komori Sweets Shop - Testing Grounds

Sunday - Mid-Morning

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Mitsuaki wasn't expecting the speed with which Ouga moved, not after being attacked by everyone all at once. Not distractions, no faltering, the man was easily able to brush him aside like he was nothing. Coming at him with everything he had and it was barely enough to get a passing grade on the sudden pop-quiz.

Rubbing at his forehead, the boy grimaced as he straightened up, their impromptu duel done and over with. At least the Shinigami was kind enough to not injure him more.

"Super duper sword...?" Squinting at Tony and Bakuto, Mitsuaki suddenly felt very out of the loop. He hadn't been able to meet up with the group after, hadn't known anything about what even went on the night before. "Hey, so you guys all fought hollows too, right? Were they...Normal?" Worrying his lower lip between his teeth, he glanced at the other three men, then at the girl who used Kido, then circled around towards Sara, Shouko and...Who...?

Two new people, super duper swords, weird hollows...He felt lost.

Bleach - Resonant Souls

Komori Sweets Shop - Testing Grounds

Sunday - Mid-Morning

Well this wasn't at all what he had expected.

Actually, no, he should have expected it. Ouga telling them all to go all out, to attack him like they wanted them to kill him was all very, very on brand for the man. Medallion in one hand, the burrito that Darius had made him in the other, Mitsuaki just gave a heavy sigh.

Suppose the food could be saved for later, when he actually felt his stomach growling with hunger. For now the burrito was set aside along with his bag, as the anxiety of the night before weighed on his mind, even as he pressed the soul separator to his chest.

Pain was immediate to blossom through his arm, thankfully wrapped up the night before. Not entirely sure what Ouga had even thrown on him, he wanted to make doubly sure he wasn't about to lose his arm or anything by not treating it. Stretching it out, his face twisted up, but he couldn't let any of the other's see him falter. He had to be strong!

They all had to be strong..

Unsheathing his zanpakuto, Mitsuaki didn't cry out as he ran. Both hands on the hilt, the grip of his injured hand was looser than it should have been as he launched himself towards Ouga. With Darius' barrier, Tony and Bakuto attacking head on, and that new girls Kido, Mitsuaki decided to go for an opening around the side.

Trying to use everything as going on as a distraction, he feinted quickly to the left, trying to time a well deserved strike at Ouga's side.

Bleach - Resonant Souls

Sagamiyama

Saturday - Evening

Interactions:

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Ouga’s voice made Mitsuaki practically jump out of his skin. Whirling, eyes wide, he sucked in his breath the moment he saw his mentor battered and bruised. They had to fight too, then, at the park? He hated to admit it, but that thought alone let a wave of relief wash over him.

At least it meant they hadn’t abandoned him.

Gritting his teeth against the pain, Mitsuaki looked down at his arm, watching the bleeding stop completely. “Oh…Thanks,” taking in Ouga’s words, he nodded. Before he had a chance to ask his questions, though, Ouga was heading away. Biting the inside of his lip, Mitsuaki watched, before he also finally took the first steps to getting home.

---

Suzuma Household

Sunday - Morning

As Mitsuaki walked home, every corner he passed made him jumpy. Eyes scanned the darkness of the streets like prey, and it took him a while to fully shake the feeling of being watched. There were no more eyes on him, he knew that, but the feeling still persisted until he was back home and in his own body.

Painkillers were popped to try to soothe his now unbloodied arm, and the boy chased sleep that would only come fitfully when the sun began to peak over the horizon.

It was the dinging of his phone that finally spurred him awake, a groggy groan coming from him as he covered his eyes with his arm. It was too early, always too early. He just wanted to sleep a little bit longer, to get rid of his feelings for just a little bit longer.

Feeling for his phone, he found it tossed underneath some blankets.

Ouga. Candy Shop. Ugh. Five more minutes…

It only took him those five minutes to get ready. Hair an unruly, wild mess, earrings in, clothes on, bag over his shoulder, he was out the door with a quick ’got work’ to Chiaki and Eijiro. Mitsuaki saw the concern on their faces, but no one stopped him. There would probably be questions later, by which time there would be excuses to give.

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Sagamiyama - Komori Sweets Shop

Sunday - Mid-Morning

Mitsuaki took his sweet time getting to the candy shop. Arm still hurting to all Hell, exhausted, and stuck in his own mind, his feet took him wandering. Last to arrive, he stood a distance aways from the shop as he barely heard the commotion.

At least the feeling of being prey wasn’t sticking to him like it had the night before. Perhaps it was the sun shining and the birds singing that set him at ease.

Approaching the group that lingered outside, he remained at the back of the other men and Rei, watching as Sara tucks her way inside first.

Bleach - Resonant Souls

Sagamiyama

Saturday - Evening

Interactions: @Sho Minazuki

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The moment that the blades began to slice through the ceramic tunnel like it was nothing, Mitsuaki knew that he was dead. Inch by inch they drew closer and closer, slicing more and more of the tunnel. Each time, he attempted to crawl a little farther the other way, only for the beast to launch itself to the other side, doing the same exact thing. With each blade drawing closer his anxiety spiked, heart plummeting to his stomach, grey eyes wide with fear.

This was it. This was the end.

Pain blossomed in his shoulder, sharp and burning like the sun. A scream pierced through him, no time to block, no time to move. Sand underneath him stained crimson as blood immediately began to trickle down his arm. On his back, as the Hollow began to try to inch in, Mitsuaki panicked. Arm all but useless, he tried to kick out at the Hollow while crawling back towards the wreckage of the tunnel behind him, but it was drawing closer, and closer.

He didn’t want to die, he didn’t want to die, he didn’t want to die!

Aquafang was inches away from him, so close he could practically feel the breath on his sweat stained face. Every inch of him was trembling, every nerve on fire as he thought that this was it. This was it, and he couldn’t do anything to stop it. He hadn’t even done anything to try.

Instead of the final lunge, the final attack that would end his life, the Hollow flinched back, retreating.

Taking this chance, Mitsuaki surged to his feet, Zanpakuto held in the wrong hand. Raising it straight towards the beast, his hands trembled with fear and pain. Grey eyes never once left the hollow as he put more and more distance between him and it, watching as it bashed it’s head against the ground, again and again and –

Everything went still. That scream made his head swim, familiarity washing over him at the sound of its voice, the tone of it so, so familiar.

Then it was gone. Aquafang bounded away into the night, leaving Mitsuaki frozen in place to try to piece everything together. It wasn’t possible, right? It just wasn’t. That Hollow…Maybe Ouga, or Shouko would know why it sounded just like–

Ouga and Shouko! He had to get to the park.

Blood continued to drop down his arm, dripping from his fingers to leave a nice trail as he began to walk. Zanpakuto sheathed, Mitsuaki stumbled occasionally as he walked towards where they were supposed to rendezvous what felt like hours ago, free hand pressing to the wound.

Bleach - Resonant Souls

Sagamiyama

Saturday - Evening

Interactions: @Sho Minazuki

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He was screwed. He was so, so screwed.

As the beast bound between the two holes that gave way to his exit, Mitsuaki put his hands over his face. “Fuck. Fuck, fuck,” this plan hadn’t been thought through nearly enough, the tunnel giving him no space to make an advantageous play. The only thing he had going for him would be the sand that shifted under his weight, but even that wasn’t a fool proof strategy. Getting close enough to throw said sand into the Hollow’s eyes would almost certainly get him injured in the process, so it would have to be worth it.

Raising his face, the hands remained on his cheeks, fingers pressing into the skin. Each time the Hollow bound, Mitsuaki watched it until it disappeared to the other side.

There was barely enough room to sit in the tube, so he laid there, Zanpakuto beside him. “Okay Mitsuaki, think,” his hands slid upwards, into his hair. Dwelling on the idea of him being royally screwed wasn’t going to help him in any capacity. “There’s no getting out of here without taking a blow. That’s fine. That’ll be fine. It won’t kill me. It won’t,” he mumbled to himself, looking at both entrances to the tube again, watching as that beast bound between them. [color=6B91BA] “I won’t let it,” his own voice was filling the silence between the beast's bounds. “I have to live. For mom, for dad. For Juno…”

Moving his hand on the hilt of his blade, Mitsuaki sighed, before a mighty groan came out of him from his frustration. As he raised his hand, it struck the top of the ceramic that surrounded him, a hiss coming from his lips before he paused, staring at it. Would he have enough time and strength to go up? Maybe it would confuse the Hollow, maybe it wouldn’t realize what he was doing.

It was the only move he really had, other than waiting for his death. As he raised his Zanpakuto, though, trying to see if he could fit it vertically to stab the top of the tube with the hilt, he grunted. It was too big. Of course. Of course.

“Who even enjoys playing in these things?!”

Umbra Rose Condos

@BunniesOfDoom - So sorry, just saw this! You can go ahead and make a post!

Bleach - Resonant Souls

Sagamiyama

Saturday - Evening

Interactions: @Sho Minazuki

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Of course he wasn’t going to be fast enough to hit this thing. It had been able to avoid his eyes until it wanted to be seen. Still, an attempt had to be made, and Mitsuaki wasn’t going to just sit around and wait for this Hollow to launch the offensive. Would it wear down, eventually? Hollows weren’t bound by the same standards as the physical human body, sure, but it had to have limitations of some kind! Right?

Adjusting his grip on his Zanpakuto, as Aquafang began to press forwards again, Mitsuaki took a step back. A gasp left him when the Hollow disappeared from sight, panicked eyes scanning the environment quickly, trying to locate the beast. It appeared, then, bursting upwards from behind some of the playground equipment, spinning with its sharp fins directly towards him. The speed the thing had on it made dodging the full attack hard, Mitsuaki jumping backwards to get out of the way.

Grimacing, eyes narrowed, Mitsuaki barely let his eyes leave the beast as he glanced back towards the park. Barely avoiding that first attack, he doubted he would be able to avoid another, at least not completely unscathed. Running wasn’t going to be an option, not with how fast this Hollow was. Crippling it in some way was going to be his best bet for an even fight; blinding or slashing its leg, or something. If he kept his head cool, and calm, if he didn’t let the panic swell and overwhelm him…He could do this.

Swallowing hard, Mitsuaki began to step carefully, watching Aquafang with baited anticipation. Each step was slow and careful, Zanpakuto clasped desperately with both hands as the boy tried to circle around the Hollow, inching closer to the park. To blind, he needed sand, or something small enough to cause pain to the things eyes. To cripple, he’d need speed, something of which he already found himself lacking compared to the Hollow.

He had to try, though.

If he could make it to the park, maybe he could use the playthings that littered the grounds as a means of escape. Putting distance between himself and the Hollow seemed like the safest bet, and using the structure to his benefit was going to be a necessity at this point. Gritting his teeth, Mitsuaki didn’t want to show his back to Aquafang, but he had no choice. With a quick pivot, the young man launched himself towards the park with his flight step, hoping to dive into the ceramic pipe tunnel that lay in the sand. If the Hollow was small enough to follow after him, hopefully it would have a harder time attacking him.

Bleach - Resonant Souls

Sagamiyama

Saturday - Evening

Interactions: @Sho Minazuki

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The park was empty when Mitsuaki bound into it. Sliding to a stop in the gravel, he was quick to turn around when he felt those ever watchful eyes on his back. The hollow that stood before him was like nothing he had seen before; the ones he had already slain were both bigger and bulkier than the beast in front of him. They were slower, and were weak against his blade, but this one…

Hair standing on end, he swallowed hard, his zanpakuto at the ready. Never once did those grey eyes leave the hollow in front of him, taking in every detail, trying to anticipate any movement. It was fast, this he already knew, with how it seemed to try to herd him into a corner. It was smart, too. Smart and fast was a danger level he hadn’t yet dealt with, at least, not on his own.

Hopefully the other power he had felt moments before those eyes found him didn’t show up.

Trying to keep the fear and anxiety from his hand, to keep the trembling steady, Mitsuaki took a deep inhale. Slowly, he exhaled, grounding himself with his breathing. Confidence, he thought. Conviction. This was just another hollow. Just another hollow.

Breathe in. Breathe out.

Focusing on his breathing, the young man was slow to inch forwards, not wanting to wait for the hollow itself to attack first. If it wanted a fight, he’d give it his fight. A fight he’d win.

The distance between Mitsuaki and the tigerfish-hollow was quickly closed, the substitute shinigami utilizing Jiho when he was close enough. Aiming to move behind the hollow, he kept lunged towards it with his zanpakuto, aiming a strike at its left hind leg. The fight had begun, and Mitsuaki silently hoped that this would not be his last.

Bleach - Resonant Souls

Sagamiyama

Saturday - Afternoon

Interactions:

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Mitsuaki stood from his seat, eyes remaining on the table as his comrades in arms slowly left the building. Swallowing, he thought that maybe he should ask Shouko the question that began nagging at him, but bit it back. He didn’t really want to know the answer. Content to live with a possible lie, that spirits killed by Hollows still moved on, he left the mechanic shop and headed home.

The house was silent when Mitsuaki finally entered, slipping his shoes off in the doorway. Taking the stairs two at a time, he tried to ignore the nagging feeling that he began to push into his gut as he went to move past a door on his left. Most days, he could ignore the hand painted black streaks that were still sitting on the wood; curved letters spelling Juno, and the random doodles that dotted here and there. They had decorated it together, one day when boredom had taken a heavy toll on them.

He wasn’t sure how long he stood there, hand reaching out, resting on the doorknob. One push, and the darkness of the room would reveal everything Juno had left behind. Records and posters of bands that Mitsuaki couldn’t listen to anymore. A sketchbook sitting atop a desk, opened to the last page that was being worked on. Clothes littering the floor, shoes sitting beside the door, a messenger bag slung on the bed. The door remained closed, though, and all he could do was try to remember what Juno had left behind.

A hand on his shoulder brought him back with a strangled gasp. “Aki,” Chiaki stood behind him, her gaze so soft as Mitsuaki turned, a hard swallow passing through his throat. “I miss him too.”

Mother and son embraced, her hand pressing into his hair, holding him. Pulling back when he was ready, Chiaki smiled as she pressed a kiss to his forehead. Wrinkling his nose, Mitsuaki had to look away, but he gave her a light smile to show his thanks. For her being there. For adopting him. “Thank you, Chi–” pausing, he swallowed. “Mom.”

“Of course, Aki,” her hand met his cheek with a warm comfort.

“I think I’m going to go lay down.”

“I’ll bring food up for you when I make dinner,” all he could do was nod, and the two parted.

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Sagamiyama

Saturday - Evening

Swallowing the mod soul, Mitsuaki stumbled back as his soul was ejected from his body. The instructions given were simple; stay in the room, and don’t break anything. Once the window was opened, the substitute shinigami jumped from it and onto the ground below.

A heavy sigh left him as anxiety began to well in his gut, his heart beating faster in his chest as he took in the feeling of the night. Taking his time, Mitsuaki’s hand found the pink koi that sat attached to his zanpakuto, finger tracing the outlines of the delicate wooden carving to try to ground himself. The feelings hanging over the night sat horribly in his chest, his mind working overtime, head snapping to every whisper of sound that echoed his way.

“Calm down,” there was a light groan from the young man as he pushed his free hand into his hair, tugging lightly on the strands. “You’re jumping at shadows.”

He still had a ways to go to make it to the park, his pace beginning to quicken, thinking it better to be in the company of others rather than his own thoughts.

Umbra Rose Condos

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Location: Building 1 Cafeteria|| Interactions: Iris @BunniesOfDoom, Khalid @Lugubrious
Time: Late Afternoon

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“You’ve no need to apologize, Iris,” Alphonse gave her a soft, kind smile. He could only imagine how difficult it must have been to keep the wolf contained, to keep her emotions even and level. A hard task, truly, for so many of his monster comrades.

Once the rest of their makeshift team were ready, Alphonse turned towards the double doors that led into the cafeteria. Antennae twitched atop his head as he moved, all four hands still clasped firmly behind his back until he made his way to the door, holding it open for both Iris and Khalid. Now, where would Gremlins hide? His first thought went to the air vents, wondering if the little beasts used those to get around. He hadn’t seen hide or hair of them before, so unless they were just extremely good at being sneaky, he figured it was a good assumption to make.

Not a hunter like Iris, Alphonse was a little wary that he wouldn’t be able to be of much help. He could shrink down, of course, take a look in the vents; or perhaps he could unfurl his wings and get some use out of them, check the stairwells quickly while the other two put their efforts elsewhere. Would their efforts still be considered to be that of a team if they split up? Not that it mattered much; Alphonse would give his prize to Iris if it did come down to that. A phone, in this day and age, was a much more important commodity than more books in his library.

“How do you two think we should handle this?” Voice soft as they stepped out into the hall of building one, his gaze shifted between Iris over to Khalid. “I can check the air vents and the stairwells. Although I will be unable to capture them if I do check the vents,” musing more to himself than the other two, his eyes went up to the nearby vent. “I also imagine that they are not just confined to building one,” gaze sauntering over towards the door that lead outside, Alphonse absently tapped one of his index fingers to the back of his hand. They had options.