Tying Loose Ends [Private/Empty]

[Bear]

[maroon]So many unfinished tasks that needed completion, while all of them were important there was one that stood out from the rest. Months ago he had encountered the Fourth Espada and barely made it out of Hueco Mundo alive, but now things were different. His power had increased significantly and he had his own means of escaping the eternal dark, fitting for him, but not an ideal place to live. Standing at the top of his Pagoda he stared out at everything below, and back to his own barracks. He would have to leave Hidenseido in the capable hands of his Fuku-taicho for now, he had to finish this.

Removing a hand from his pocket he swiped it across the air and ripped open a Garganta, right into the sands of Hueco Mundo itself. He was going to search the Espada out and finish their battle, this time there would only be one survivor. Stepping through he kept his masked face down and allowed the black mouth to swallow him up, slowly traveling through the dark hallway he found no light on the other side. It was just more blackness, and white sand. Stepping out onto the soft ground below he allowed the Garganta to close behind him, and his reiatsu was quickly compressed. He knew the Espada resided in Las Noches, he knew it was straight ahead but he had never actually been there. Otherwise he would have appeared right in front of the gates, hell even Aizen himself if he could.

Stepping forward he began to travel through the white sands, he wasn't too terribly far from the fortress. He could remember exactly where he fought Ulquiorra last time and it was close to Las Noches, that's why he had been sent out in the first place. And it was burned into his very core, no, he would never forget that. He remained calm with both hands in his pockets and his masked face staring forwards, his altered Vizard robes flapping in the wind slightly. It would be the battle of a lifetime, but he was determined to win.

Time passed like it meant nothing and he could see the fortress in the horizon, it was massive. Definitely as big, if not bigger, than Hidenseido itself. Interesting. With a Shunpo he disappeared from the sand and reappeared around ten feet from the gates of Las Noches. Staring up at the massive door he said nothing. Instead he allowed his reiatsu to leak out and flare around him, if anyone would recognize it, it would be Ulquiorra. Sure he risked the entire team of Espada arriving but he wasn't too worried, no, instead he waited. Not that there would be any surprises, would there?

[/blockquote][/justify][/maroon]

[Empty]

The sudden release of Spiritual Pressure from somewhere close to the dome of Las Noches caused Tia to pause slightly, ignoring the riff-raff around her momentarily as she projected out her reiatsu senses, at her sides her Fracción too were transfixed as they concentrated on the sensation. The energy that could be felt was one they had not felt before, a powerful sensation, one befitting one of the Espada themselves. Few outside of the ten most powerful Arrancar and their Shinigami Captain counterparts in Soul Society could boast such power; yet for a Shinigami Captain to travel to Hueco Mundo, to the dome of Las Noches itself, was unheard of.

Behind her she felt a much weaker reiatsu approaching, it was one she had felt any number of times, indeed the very same reiatsu could be felt in many directions in Las Noches. One of the human skull masked members of the Exequias appeared soon after, there was nothing in his manner that suggested obsequious or even the respect Tia was due as a member of the Espada. Apacci and Mila Rose both immediately took offence at the man's attitude and had begun to stalk to either side of him, interposing themselves between the newcomer and Tia; yet Sung-Sun managed to diffuse the situation quickly as the man paused with an arrogance that ill-befit his position.

”What is it?” Tia said levelly, not bothering to so much as glance in the figure's direction, an indifference that caused the human skull masked extension of Rudobōn, to bristle in indignation.

”I am here to deliver, Aizen-sama order, that you investigate the source of this...” the man's voice faltered for a moment as he could not quite repress the awe he felt at the amount of power being exuded, far beyond what Rudobōn might ever hope to achieve. ”This- disturbance.” He finished awkwardly, ”If it is a potential ally you are to return with them, if not you are to eliminate them.” With that the member of the Exequias was gone, away to whatever purpose Rudobōn had in store for it.

”That Bastard!” Apacci said angrily, ”How dare he act like that!”

Mila Rose agreed, ”I should have just sorted him out, right then and there.” She cracked her knuckles, any slight to Tia was something that the three fraccion could not just ignore, their bond was strong and forged long ago.

”Are you sure you'd be up to it?” Apacci grinned tauntigly, ”If it was me it would be over in a second.”

”So you would lose in one second then?” Mila Rose laughed.

”What did you say you damn Gorilla?” Apacci yelled in anger.

Enraged, Mila Rose stepped forwards towards Apaaci, ”What was that- !”

The two were about to lock horns when Sung-Sun intervened yet again. ”With both of you arguing like little children, I doubt you fools could manage to last a moment were you both to attack at once.” As the two spluttered, she simply placed one long sleeve in front of her mouth and looked away before turning towards Tia; ”Shall we get ready to depart then Tia-Sama?” She asked politely, yet was unable to hide the slight hesitation in her voice. Behind her both Apacci and Mila Rose paused, there was little doubt about the well hidden trepidation in their body language, Apacci grinned while Mila Rose threw back her shoulders, pushing her chest forwards as she smiled, both hands at her hips. Yet they could not conceal their uneasiness from the woman who had known them for so long.

”No.” Tia merely shook her head in response, ”Whoever this is, they are clearly an opponent that I must deal with myself.” Even if Aizen's orders had not been addressed to Tia herself, she could not send out her trusted Fraccion to encounter a being of such strength about whom she knew nothing. ”You need not sacrifice yourself for one such as this.” She said indicating the direction of the strange flow of energy, then with a smile only visible by the slight softening of her eyes she added, ”I will be back shortly.” With that she disappeared with a slight crackling sound, her incredible speed taking her outside of the dome in very little time as she made her way to the source of the reiatsu.

As she closed in on the location she could barely see the figure of a man, clad in strange clothes, each half an inverse of the other, like a mirror gone awry, the black and white patterns were neither similar to the arrancar uniforms nor to those of the shinigami; while the skull like designs on the chest were more than a little demonic. His true identity was hidden by a mask, though it did not appear to be a hollow mask, or the remains of one as like those worn by arrancars such as Tia herself. It was a relatively plain thing, quite unlike the fanciful robes he wore.

Halting nearly thirty feet from the man she eyed him with the slightest of wariness, yet not without confidence in her own skills; whoever he was, his power was considerable, yet she was far from overwhelmed. “Who are you that you come to Las Noches?” She asked simply as she looked at him with a weighing expression.

[Bear]

[maroon]It was rather interesting that since he had released his spiritual pressure, that he wasn't swarmed with Arrancar or Espada. He had expected Ulquiorra would have shown up the instant he felt it, or maybe Aizen himself would have showed. But nothing. It was quiet and not a quiet that he liked, it felt as if they were planning something. Of course that's not what it was, he would have been able to sense their presence had they decided to come out in a group. No, instead a lone figure appeared some distance from him, blonde hair and obviously female. A dark skinned girl with a somewhat revealing out, and a large chest. A very. Large. Chest. Oh what was he thinking? She was the enemy, and this is not why he came here.

"..."

He stayed quiet and surveyed the girl, she wasn't exerting her reiatsu so it was hard to gauge her full strength. But she didn't appear to be weak, but she also wasn't the one he was looking for. Why would she be sent out in place of Ulquiorra? Odd, perhaps he wasn't here or didn't feel his presence. Which was unlikely. Allowing his reiatsu to settle around him rather than flaring, he placed one foot forward and continued to study her. No subordinates either, was she a simple Numeros or did she not have any Fraccion to begin with? Interesting indeed.

"You're not the one I'm looking for."

It was a little frustrating to be honest, he came here to finish the fight with Ulquiorra but yet he wouldn't even show his face. Maybe his failure to kill him resulted in a punishment, which he wasn't looking for at all. The Espada's death would be by his hands, and no one elses. However he would answer the girls question, maybe he could find out where the other Espada was from this one. He would hunt him down if he needed to.

"As for my name, it is Kisho Haruo."

He remained calm and sturdy, Arrancar no longer phased him. Staring at the blonde from behind his mask, he could sense something different about. Something he couldn't sense from the others.

"And you, Arrancar? Or would you prefer I continue to call you by your race?"

An honest question, really. Plus it would get annoying to continue calling her 'Arrancar' over and over.

[/justify][/maroon]

[Empty]

As the man allowed his reiatsu to subside, Tia slightly relaxed her posture; the wind stirred her white hakama slightly as she stood with arms crossed beneath her ample bust, barely concealed by her white jacket. Across her back, Tiburón rested, ever ready for action, the three and a half inch wide, one and a half foot long blade pointed to the right, just below her shoulder.

Unlike most other Arrancar, her top covered the bottom half of her face entirely, concealing almost the entirety of what remained of her mask; yet at the same time the top was cut short across her midriff, it may have been an unusual combination, yet it only served to emphasise her ravishing appearance. Her cool green eyes looked out from behind her golden bangs as three longer tails hung downwards, two at either side of the back as well as one just in front of her left ear, each bound by a small silver cylinder.

At his first words her eyes narrowed slightly, 'Who could he have been waiting for? Surely no one would be foolish enough to set up a secret rendezvous so close to Las Noches.' Though, if they had set up such a meeting, when this man had turned up in such an obvious manner they may well have thought twice about going to him.

The man's name meant nothing to Tia, she had not heard of him before, though it would not matter if she had, for she had been given her orders, regardless of whom he may be. Still, her duties required her to ascertain the nature of this man, to determine if a being with such power were a potential subordinate of Aizen, or a pebble in his path, one that must be removed. Therefore it was important for her to learn more about him and if, in doing so she could avoid the necessity of cutting him down, then all the better. “I am Tia Harribel,” she stated simply, before adding, “And what do you want of Las Noches, Kisho Haruo? Whom do you seek and why?”

[Bear]

[maroon]

It was an interesting meeting indeed, it seemed like the Fourth Espada had not reported much about him after their encounter. Most likely the only one that knew was Aizen himself and the other Espada were not told of him. Good. It would work to his advantage and perhaps he could turn this around, ideas had begun forming in his head and now he just needed to put them into action. This female identified herself as Tia Harribel, he had hoped she would announce her position should she hold one, but he wasn't always lucky. Oh well, he had other means of finding out, and if she could ask questions then so could he.

"I have some... unfinished business with Ulquiorra Cifer. However it seems I have stumbled upon someone far more interesting."

Why was she interesting? Because the woman spoke with a calm, and although the enemy, a polite manner. Traits you usually did not see within the Arrancar, rare ones. It was possible there was something holding her back, maybe an order from Aizen not to engage, or maybe she could just control herself. Either way, it was interesting and he intended to get as much information as he could. And maybe something else.

"Its interesting, really. I had expected Ulquiorra to show up the moment he felt my reiatsu, being an Espada and all. However it was you in his place, which would mean one of two things."

He shifted his gaze and took a few steps to the right, fully taking in the woman and observing her.

"You're a simple Numeros, although stronger than one, sent to be slaughtered should I attack. However I think I can scratch that idea by simply looking at you."

Her reiatsu was not on full display, but he wasn't stupid either.

"Which means you're an Espada and Aizen has given you the task of conversing with me. Only two questions remain, why? And what Number do you hold within his ranks?"

She was definitely in the top five, that much he could tell. If Ulquiorra was four then she was either five itself or something much stronger. He wouldn't guess the Primera, it would be foolish of Aizen to send his strongest out and risk losing him or her. So it was between five, three, and two. Once he figured out just what number she was, he was sure to have more questions. That was for sure.

[/justify][/maroon]

[Empty]

"From the way you said that, I take it your business with Ulquiorra-san is not social then? Yet for him to have left such business unsettled is... unusual.” For the relationship between the Fourth Espada and the interloper hostile yet the man still lived – it was most unlike Ulquiorra to leave one such as this alive, unless he thought them beneath notice, yet this man's energy certainly hinted that was not the case.

"Although, you seem to know far more of Las Noches than I had expected." Tia stated, her tone slightly surprised yet far from perturbed, "I had not realised that Ulquiorra-san had such a loose-tongue." Her eyes narrowed slightly as she tracked the man's movements, "Ulquiorra-san has other matters to attend to; though had I known of your previous relationship, I would have left it to him to clean up his own mess." Ulquiorra was favoured by Aizen-sama, yet the man was not beyond reproach and it was expected for lower ranked Espada to follow the directions of the higher ranked; though in some cases, such as between Baraggan and herself, that wasn't always the way of things. Still, when the Fourth Espada returned, he would have some explaining to do.

As the man questioned her position she smiled slightly, “Indeed, there is no need to waste even a Numeros, as you have surmised I am an Espada, the Tres Espada." She had been reluctant to give so much information to this individual before determining whether her mission entailed recruiting or killing the man, yet it seemed that he already knew more than she had anticipated. There was no need to hide something as insignificant as a number, moreover, since the man knew of the Espada and Numeros, perhaps he also understood that as the Third Espada she was stronger than Ulquiorra, whom it seemed, the man had been unable to best were indeed he telling the truth. "As for the reason for my presence; I am here to extend to you Aizen-sama's invitation to join his Army. Given your abilities, I believe you will be able to secure a prominent position within our ranks.”

[Bear]

[maroon]He smiled lightly under the mask at her words, social? No, it was definitely far from that. It was more like 'attempt to chop each others limbs off until bleeding out', yeah that was one to describe it. He could go into more gruesome details but it wasn't exactly necessary, plus he could tell she wasn't exactly interested in why he was searching him out. Infact she seemed slightly hostile and annoyed about it, perhaps because the Arrancar had allowed him to live and escape. Wait, allowed? No, Kisho was strong enough to survive. He simply provided the Garganta. But her words brought a smile to his face, maybe he could turn the Arrancar against themselves. Make them slaughter one another, making his reach to Aizen far easier.

"Oh? Do you think I learned all of my information from Ulquiorra alone? No, I'm afraid not Miss Harribel. I've had some informants within your halls for quite some time."

He actually smiled for the first time in a very long span of straight faced seriousness, it actually felt good. Even if it was caused by something like bullshitting an Espada, who turned out to be the Third. Interesting, so she was stronger than Ulquiorra himself, who seemed to be running another errand at this time. No worries, he came here with the intent of finishing their fight but now he was more interested in the woman before him, and the new ideas formulating in his head. Yes, they were much better than fighting with the Espada. But her next set of words forced a smile upon his face, this smile soon broke and became a laughter. One he could not control. It was quite the comical relief, extending a hand to join such a man. Shaking his head he allowed the laughter to subside, facing the blonde woman once more.

"Join the man who caused the death of my daughter? Fight along side of his Espada who I nearly died against? You have quite the sense of humor, Harribel."

He ditched the whole 'miss' thing, it was too formal for him.

"No, I have no intention of joining Aizen. I cannot crush the fool if he can watch my every move, now can I?"

Bold? Maybe, but it was no secret he intended on fighting and killing Aizen. Why hide it from one of his subordinates? It didn't matter, besides he had a new mission. One that involved this woman.

"However you're different than any Arrancar I have met, and so I wish to return the gesture. How would you like to be apart of something far bigger than what Aizen can offer you? To be apart of a family?"

He smiled behind his mask, perhaps he could persuade the woman.

[/justify][/maroon]

[Empty]

“Informants? I am not sure if that is that case or not, perhaps you scheme, hoping we will doubt those amongst us, sowing discord.” She shrugged, seemingly having little interest. “You know more than you ought, so many will die in making sure of your source – yet that would be so regardless of your claims of informants.”

The man dissolved into laughter before dismissing her offer and; after managing to calm himself somewhat riposted with an offer of his own; “Crush Aizen-sama?” She made a sound somewhere between a chuckle and a sigh. “What can one man do? Even were you to scape together some sort of rabble, numbers mean nothing before the might of Las Noches.” It was an offer not worth even responding to, the man seemed to know so much about Las Noches, yet at the same time knew so very little about its inhabitants and the infallible law which bound them, Aizen-sama.

There were many reasons why hollows and arrancar alike had flocked to Aizen-sama, some out of fear, others from greed, others still seemed enthralled by devotion to the former Shinigami. Yet regardless of their reasons for gathering, all had remained, whether they were the most powerful and boastful among them, the most influential or with innumerable followers, even the most sneaky and conniving of their kind; none could ever hope to be His match, none could ever hope to deny His will.

Aizen-sama was the lord of Hueco Mundo through virtue of His incomparable might and unfathomable ability.

“You said it yourself did you not? You cannot crush him if he can see your every move – yet, nor can you 'crush' him when you see only what he wants you to. Let go of your vengeance Haruo-san; Aizen-sama is far beyond the reach of your blade.” Her words at the end were slightly softer than those she had started with; the man could never hope to stand against Him, so putting aside the past and bending knee to Aizen-sama was the best course.

[Bear]

[maroon]Numbers and 'might' of Las Noches, those meant nothing to him. He did not need an army to stand behind him in order to take on one man, no the purpose of Hidenseido was not that. It was to protect Karakura town and to become a family, not fight his battles for him. And this 'might' of Las Noches was not might, it was relying on a man who held a power that was damn near impossible to counter, for some. He was different though, he could counter it and he would, and the man would fall before him. It was that simple. And should Harribel refuse the offer and remain in Aizen's ranks, then she too would fall before his sword.

And then she spoke of vengeance and how his blade would never reach her precious Aizen-sama, so it was all about power to her huh? If that was the case then he would show her what true power was. It was not merely the ability to swing your sword with immense strength, no it went far beyond that. Beyond any level of reiatsu alone, things Aizen did not understand. Things the Espada obviously did not understand. Removing one hand from his pocket he slid it up to his face, gripping the opera mask and pulling it over to the top of his head, where it rested staring up at the sky with empty eyes. His face now revealed to the woman, his reiatsu flaring up once more.

"Is that what you think? That my power is not enough to reach such a man? You are blind. What makes power? Is it the height of ones reiatsu, or how strong they may swing their blade? No..."

A new mask began to form over his face, his black and white Hollow mask. The reiatsu around him increased to a higher level of power, the ground below him shook and sand was blasted away. However that's not where it ended, from his shoulders more white fragments began to form, slowly sliding down and covering his arms. His reiatsu more Hollow than Shinigami, and everything around them began to shake now. His reiatsu was on a whole new level. His voice as Hollow as it could be. He placed one hand over his heart and held it there.

"True power lays within the heart. Something your precious 'Aizen-sama' will never understand. He could be ten leagues ahead of me but his sword will never reach me. Not when your mind is clouded, and your heart empty."

He allowed his hand to fall from his chest, and the fragments around his arms and shoulders crumbled and faded away. Closing his eyes he no longer needed the Vizard mask upon his face, which also faded away. The opera mask now in its rightful place upon his face once more.

"Tell me Harribel, even as an Arrancar, is there something you care for? Something your heart wishes to protect? If the answer is yes, perhaps you should rethink your position within Las Noches. Aizen does not have a heart, and he will cast you to the wind should you lose your 'purpose' with him."

His hand fell into his pocket once more.

"He betrayed Soul Society, a place he grew up and rose to become Captain. What do you think he will do to those of your kind when he achieves his new goal?"

His speech was over.

[/justify][/maroon]

[Empty]

As the man talked, he manifested a black and white mask, its ebony and ivory fragments coalescing across his visage to make a mask befitting of a Hollow or an Arrancar as his reiatsu shifted to match, becoming more and more discordant. Yet the sharp rise in energy continued as flecks of black and white continued to appear spreading downwards to cover his shoulders, then onto his arms, all the time the harsh reiatsu fluctuated until it reached a raging crescendo.

Tia took a half step backwards, to try to prepare herself should the man attack, yet instead he continued to talk, the words were similar yet the voice had changed from what it had been as if the man were coping with something alien, a change in himself. She had heard of the Vizard before, Aizen's earlier experiments and the one whom Ulquiorra had recently encountered in the human realm, who had been dismissed as being beneath their notice; this one was however, on a different level than any of those she had heard of. Even in her Resurrección, she would be hard-pressed, the man's power was extraordinary, perhaps as high as that of the Primera Espada himself.

She waited as Kisho talked of resolve, unconvinced by his words yet still more than a little unnerved by the show of power, the man greatly exceeded her expectations, could Ulquiorra truly have prevailed against such a force? Unlikely, unless her junior concealed more power than she was aware of, mayhap the man had grown significantly since they had met; else something was afoot here.

As he talked of protection she considered his words more seriously than before, her thoughts straying to her friends and subordinates, Appaci, Mila Rose and Sung-Sun. It was for the sake of protecting each-other that she had gathered the women together; women hollows were usually rarer than male, because they were considered easy prey, so she had gathered the three female Adjuchas together under her protection, the four women together as one.

“Perhaps were you able to see him, your power might one day reach Aizen-sama,” despite being surprised, she managed to slightly stress the honorific, “yet as it is?” She shook her head slightly, unwilling to make the gesture too large in case the movement made it easier for the man to slip her gaze. “Were you ten fold as powerful as you seem, it would not be enough.” Kisho's power had left her shaken, yet since the man sought to oppose Aizen, such power could not offer protection, only a headlong rush to a destruction he could not perceive.

Yet his comments on Aizen's actions in Soul Society were troubling, indeed there was nothing to suggest that Las Noches would not be yet another stepping stone for Aizen's ambitions. “However,” Tia paused slightly, “he did not betray Soul Society until they opposed him.” Her tone was still cool, yet a touch of grimness entered it now, “On the other hand, we in Las Noches understand that Aizen-sama cannot be opposed.”

“There was a second part to the command I was given.” Her green eyes narrowed and she hesitated slightly before reaching behind her back, inserting one finger into one of the holes at the end of Tiburón's cross-guard; unsheathing her distinctive purple handled zanpakutou, the hollow, wide bladed sword was little more than twice the length of its hilt. “I take it you are unwilling to change your mind?”

“You need only bend your knee to Aizen-sama,” her grip on Tiburón's hilt firmed, “else be destroyed.” She was far from confident in truth, the man's power seemed beyond hers though she had no hint of his skill; perhaps the man before her was a clod, such as Yammy, powerful yet incompetent with that very power; yet she could not rely on such a hope. Tia's reiatsu level began to increase, no longer attempting to suppress her energies she instead faced him in the full glory of her sealed state, though she knew it was likely that she would have to go further still.

[Bear]

[maroon]It was laughable how this woman revered Aizen as something more than a mere Shinigami, how she thought that he stood no chance against him because of the power he held. The ability to create illusions? Sure, it was powerful if you fell pray to it. But Kisho had not. She had no idea of his struggles and battles with being far stronger than he, yet he came out alive and in most cases, the winner. This would be no different, Aizen would fall to his blade and he would wipe the tainted blood from it. Perhaps this woman had been brainwashed because of the 'scary' face Aizen held, and it made her unable to see any other individuals strength.

"That's what you think? I have faced many struggles in my time, Harribel. I have fought Hollow as strong as you, and stood against Soul Society. I fought multiple Captains and stood before the Head Commander himself. Yet I stand before you, alive. What does that show?"

If he was as weak as the woman thought, he would have been dead long ago. However she went on to speak about Aizen and Soul Society and how they opposed him, the man had truly done a good job on brainwashing them. If the man was a traitor then she should have been able to see that he was the one opposing Soul Society, otherwise it would be the Gotei 13 out here in Hueco Mundo. No, her mind was clouded. The loyalty blinded the woman, and she could not see the truth.

"Interesting, yet it is he who was cast out. Usually the one who is opposed does not leave their home, perhaps he has twisted some of the truth?"

But he only smiled as she drew her blade, with what seemed like hesitation. No movement was made to reach for his so he allowed her to continue her speech, as if he would bend his knee to Aizen and become a loyal follower.

"My my, it seems you are unable to face reality. You are nothing to Aizen, just like Soul Society and what he plans to do with Karakura town, he will betray and destroy you. Bend my knee to such a man? Laughable."

He removed one hand from his pocket.

"I must insist you rethink my offer, I do not wish to destroy you. Do you decline because you fear that Aizen will punish you with death? As long as I am alive, Aizen's blade will never reach my family. That is what I am offering you, a family. One where we do not separate ourselves, we live as one, and fight as one."

He placed his hand on the hilt of his Zanpakuto, wrapping his fingers around it tightly. Slowly drawing it from the sheath.

"However, if it is power that gains your loyalty, perhaps I can show you what true power is. Then maybe you will reconsider."

He held the blade with one hand out in front of him, he had no need to release Shikai. If she returned to Aizen then information would be given to the man, and he could not allow such knowledge to reach him. No one knew the powers of his blade except Byakuya, and he intended to keep it that way. And now, he was giving her the first move.

[/justify][/maroon]

[Empty]

She shook her head slightly, somewhere between wry irritation and amused condescension, “You misunderstand so many things, Haruo-san,” the man was almost amusing, his words seemed heartfelt, his power so vast; yet for all that, the man was a simpleton, incapable of recognising that which all of Las Noches from the oldest and wisest, to the youngest and most foolish, had been forced to understand.

“It is true that he betrayed Soul Society, yet had they not opposed his plans they would not face destruction now. Their hindering him may have been born from virtue yet it matters not, for they, like you, are incapable of stopping him. We too might face the same fate,” she stressed that last point slightly, acknowledging the possibility, that they might possibly be cast aside by Aizen when the former Shinigami was done with them was something all but the most devout among them had realised; “yet in joining you we will.” Her tone was harder now, implacable, Aizen's destruction of them was possible even where they allied with him, yet were they opposed to him it was guaranteed.

Again the man, Haruo, seemed preoccupied by his pocket, it drew Tia's attention slightly; this was not the first time she had noticed the movement, perhaps the hidden contents of the pocket contained some tool or trump card, it was something she would be wary of, for the man seemed to have no need of such.

“You say I do not face reality, yet against Aizen-sama you will never know reality from a dream. The offer you make is as a mirage, a delusion of safety and refuge to escape the inescapable. It is not an issue of you lacking strength.” Even were the man able to offer succour against reprisals by other Hollows and Arrancar, even were he able to provide sanctuary against the incursion of Shinigami and their ilk, both of which were possible if a stretch; even were that the case though, he would be swept aside without resistance by the renegade Shinigami Aizen. “It is that your strength itself that is futile, for it will avail you naught, crossing blades with an apparition.”

As Haruo drew his blade, it seemed he too had come to the same realisation that she had. Word and Will would not settle this; for all his talk of what 'power' was, he had bared his blade, his actions giving lie to his assertion; it would not be a matter of heart that settled their account – it would be the contesting of blades and the clashing of reiatsu.

With her resolve came a profusion of reiatsu, yellow energy began coursing from her body, ascending in a column above her, the jagged spikes near the base a seeming mockery of a flame, in her right hand, more gathered around Tiburón, the hollow blade over filled with a nebulous of yellow energy. Still it seemed that the man was waiting, perhaps confident enough in his own abilities to allow her the first move, perhaps readying some defence she had yet to identify. There was a sound like the discharge of static electricity, a short sharp sound and she was gone, circling to Haruo's left hand side, away from the blade as she struck inwards and upwards, from the outside of his left thigh towards his stomach. Were she to strike true, or to be blocked she would unleash the energy within Tiburón, yet were she dodged or parried she would not.

Technique Used: Ola Azul (maintained within Tiburón, not projected) and Sonido

[Bear]

[maroon]Misunderstand? No, he didn't misunderstand anything. He knew full well what the woman was saying, he was merely twisting the words and attempting to persuade her. Which didn't work too well, but no matter. They would have their clash of swords, he would show her the difference between raw power, and power of the heart. But she still had it in her head that joining him would lead to her destruction, it was possible but her chance of living was far higher than if she didn't. No matter, the outcome of this battle would be with Kisho standing as the victor. He would make her the offer once more, and depart with or without her. It all boiled down to this battle. And she was still under the impression he could not see through Aizen's illusions. Good. It would work in his favor.

He watched as her reiatsu exploded around her, forming a pillar with crude spikes near the bottom. Eyes shifted from her body towards the interesting blade she carried, wide and hollow within. It too became coated within reiatsu, thicker than that around her. He said made only one movement, removing the other hand from his pocket. The sound of static was heard and his eyes followed Harribel, the blonde now to his left. The free hand slid under the arm which was outstretched with the blade, his head turning to meet her.

"Bakudo number 39: Enkosen."

A large yellow shield of reiatsu took form from the point of his hand and made a slight 'whirring' noise, her blade which was now encased with reiatsu slammed into it. It began to crack and within seconds an explosion rocked the area, the two would be forced to skid across the sands and create distance between them. He would come to a stop some distance away, maybe about ten or so, emerging from a cloud of smoke. She was strong, and fast, but not good enough. Reaching up he pulled the opera mask off and to the top of his head once more, the Hollow mask taking its place once more. His eyes now glowing purple instead of green, but still he made no movement to rush towards her.

"..."

He raised his left hand and opened it so his palm was facing Harribel, a ball of purple energy began to form within it. His eyes however shifted their gaze so that he could see the space on each side of her, and above, from there three more balls of energy would form. All cero's, and only inches away. The Cero within his hand would fire from his hand and rip towards Harribel, while the other three, which formed on either side and top of her would do the same. It would look something similar to a prism, a beam coming from the top, the left and right, and in front of her. It was a simple attack, but not one she would be expecting. It was just to get get things started.

[/justify][/maroon]

[Empty]

As her blade encountered the shield of energy she unleashed her Ola Azul as a ribbon, seeking to overpower the reiatsu condensed before her. The resulting explosion sent them both reeling, yet from her offensive stance she managed to maintain her feet, amidst the smoke Haruo rose to his feet, unaffected by her attack it seemed. Once again, the man's reiatsu redoubled, rising ever higher as a black and white patchwork mask veiled his features, this Vizard was unlike those she had heard of before, much, much stronger – he seemed to have access to kidou too, unlike the one whom Ulquiorra had dicounted in Karakura town just recently.

As the man raised his hand, Tia felt a familiar surge of energy, it raised her hackles; in Haruo's left hand a purple orb of energy began to gather, condensing into a cero. She began to shift her weight to the right, as she did so she kept her eyes on Haruo, making sure not to lose sight of him; yet as she moved, from the corrner of her right eye's peripheral vision another purple orb could just be seen; suddenly she realised that there was another to her left and one above, the man had created a corridor of sorts, to limit her movements whilst looking to crush her himself, all in the single move. It was superbly played, except...

Her left hand flashed forwards as she gathered reiatsu to her fist, projecting it as quickly as she could, aiming it towards the purple orb in Haruo's hand even as she diverted a flow of energy to her legs, there was another crackling sound as she travelled backwards nearly fifty feet, looking to put distance between herself, the ceros and their creator even as she kept an eye on them.

Techniques Used: Bala Francotirador and Sonido

[Bear]

[maroon]The lips concealed behind such a horrific mask turned into a smile, the Cero released from his hand and was ripping towards his target while at the same time, the other three collapsed upon her. He didn't expect it to make contact or even kill her, in fact he was hoping the woman would counter it. This way he would be able to gauge her power a bit better, see what she was capable of and what her reaction time was like. And that's exactly what happened, luckily for her she managed to see the other Cero creeping up on her, and from the womans body some odd technique took form. It looked and felt like a Bala, but was much faster. It slammed into his Cero, Kisho coated his arm in a layer of purple reiatsu. Using one of his abilities in order to protect himself from the blast, Escudo Hueco. Shielding his face the sand and dust whipped around him.

"Interesting."

He removed the arm from his face and allowed the reiatsu to settle, the dust swirling around him slightly. Settling at a slow pace.

"However there is one thing I forgot to mention, Harribel..."

The reiatsu flared around his body creating a large purple flame, and slowly everything around him began to slowly decay. The sand, the walls of Las Noches gained an 'eroded' look, and it was creeping towards her.

"My reiatsu has the ability to decay whatever it touches, do you really think that is something you can counter?"

He smiled and placed one foot forward his blade now tightly clenched, the woman had a choice. Fight him at close range and risk decaying every part of her body, or fight at a range where he would have the advantage. Either way this was his battle now, she stood no chance. Charging a Bala in his free hand, he spun on his foot and threw it towards her, with the sound of a swish he would appear behind the woman, swinging his sword at stomach level.

"And I have a speed advantage."

He smiled, knowing that dodging this would be difficult. If she went too far to the side, she would hit the wall of Las Noches and still be in range of his reiatsu. If she went forwards, the Bala would slam into her, behind and the blade would meet flesh. She had one way out, to the opposite direction of Las Noches, or up. Which was the better option?

[/maroon][/justify]