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| - It was a normal day in the Seireitei, or rather, as normal as it could be in such a place. The various Divisions were all mulling around doing their duties, however a lone Shinigami stood perched on the roof of a building watching the proceedings lazily, not seeming to care what was going on. Those that did notice him didn't bother him, not wanting to get side tracked from what they were meant to be doing. After some time the Shinigami stood and jumped down before heading towards the 13th Division Barracks. Once he arrived he was quickly swarmed by several female Shinigami. "Yukio! There you are! I've been looking all around for you!" A black haired woman ran out of the barracks towards him. "I see you've still got the fan club." Yukio felt his eye twitch. It was true though, the majority of the female members of his Division had formed a fan club of sorts around him. Just because he was short didn't mean he needed to be treated like a kid. Annoyed he brushed his hand through his short black hair and looked the woman approaching in the eye. "What is it Saito? Why would the 3rd Seat be looking for me? I am just a grunt after all." The last bit was noticeably laced with something akin to resentment. "Not for long~" The 3rd Seat's eyes glinted. "As you know the Captain is going to promote me to Lieutenant, which will leave my current position open. Since you're as strong as I am I was able to talk her into promoting you." "W-what?" Yukio's composure fell for an instant before he recovered. "A-alright then. Is there anything I need to do?" "Well...I WAS going to go on a scouting mission tonight but promoting an unseated member to 3rd Seat is a little unprecedented. The Captain decided to have you take the mission in my place. As a test of sorts. As long as you don't screw up to badly you'll be set." "Alright...I guess I'll go get ready then." Yukio left to go to his room and prepare himself. When he got there he rummaged through his things and pulled out two items. The first was a black glove that extended part way up the arm that he put on his left hand. The glove was made of a special fiber developed by the Department of Research and Development that was able to resist most damage. The second item was a large brown cloak. Unlike the glove the cloak held no real purpose, it was simply a family heirloom that Yukio wore into battle. With both items he sat and waited for Saito to get him. ~ ~ ~ Several hours later as the sun was beginning to sink the 3rd Seat knocked on his door. Standing up Yukio let her in and she cocked an eyebrow at his appearance. Shaking her head she beckoned him to follow her to the Captain's Quarters. Once there the two of them knelt down in front of the door. "Captain Nakamura! We've arrived!" The door slid open to reveal their Captain, a woman many would say was attractive. She looked the two of them over before nodding her head. "Alright then. Yamamoto, you are to scout District 12 of the Rukongai. From the intelligence we've gathered we have reason to believe that we may have a traitor in our midst. If you find anything suspicious you are to return at once. Other wise remain on surveillance for the rest of the night. If you preform satisfactory tomorrow after 3rd Seat Saito's promotion to Lieutenant you will be promoted to 3rd Seat. Am I understood?" "Yes Ma'am." ~ ~ ~ "looks like I'll just be here all night..." Yukio was crouched hidden in a tree watching the District. He tried in vain to stifle a yawn and gave the area another quick once over. Feeling his eyelids grow heavier he shook his head "Damn...I can't fall asleep..." Slumping against the tree Yukio fought in vain to keep his eyes open but eventually lost the fight with himself and fell asleep. Seemingly an instant later Yukio felt himself jerk awake. Looking around frantically he realized he hadn't been asleep long and dropped out of the tree to see if he'd missed anything. Everything seemed the same but he felt a presence. Closing his eyes he sought out what it was and quickly homed in on it. A Hollow. Drawing his Zanpakuto he took a battle stance and quickly looked around, trying to pinpoint where the Hollow was. "Come on you bastard..." Hearing something Yukio spun around and threw his blade up blocking a claw swipe. Looking at the Hollow Yukio shuddered. It was a large humanoid beast with dull reddish brown skin and a mask in the shape of a dome with large fin like protrusions. An ugly one for sure. There was something different about it though. Something...off about its reitsu. Jumping backwards several feet Yukio sized up the situation. A strange Hollow appeared out of nowhere while he was asleep and was attacking him in a rage. Typical. "Alright...let's end this quickly." He held his Zanpakuto above his head pointed up and quickly swung it down. "Forge Anew! Kibo!" Yukio's Zanpakuto transformed into a large double edged western style broadsword with a black blade with white edges and a gold hand guard. Taking a slightly altered stance he held his blade at an angle, his muscled noticeably straining in his arms. "Die you bastard!" Yukio lunged at the Hollow and swung his Zanpakuto downwards striking the beast in the arm. The Hollow instantly fell into the blow collapsing on the ground, its wounded left arm now in possession of a large bleeding gash. The Hollow quickly recovered and glared at Yukio before roaring and charging him again. Gritting his teeth the Shinigami swung his sword upwards with all his might. "Zetsubo!" A large crescent shaped wave of blue energy flew off the blade and struck the Hollow in its wounded arm, severing it entirely from its body. Despite the wound the beast was able to strike at Yukio with its remaining arm and ironically enough tore into the boy's own left arm. Gasping in pain Yukio fell backwards and rolled out of the way before recovering. Panting he stabbed his sword into the ground as he held his arm. "Damn Hollow..." Shaking his head Yukio pulled his Zanpakuto free and charged forwards. As he neared the Hollow he held his blade forwards and swung with all his might, cleaving into the monster's head, shattering its mask. As the Hollow dissipated Yukio collapsed to his knees, panting and gasping. Something wasn't right. His entire arm was numb and the feeling was quickly spreading through his whole body. Staggering upright he felt his vision begin to cloud and the sudden urge to vomit overcame him. Heaving he felt something burst out of his mouth. In fear he watched as a white substance poured out and wrapped around his head. Furthering the fear he could feel it pouring out of his eye sockets as well. Overcome with the pain he let out a piercing scream and blacked out. ~ ~ ~ Yukio was in a daze. He had no clue what was going on around him. All that he did know was that he was fighting. Who was he fighting? He didn't know. All he knew was that he had to fight. He had to kill. Slowly his vision began returning and he saw the fallen forms of fellow Shinigami all around him. What? That didn't make sense. He'd been fighting a Hollow when...when... "Die!" A Shinigami lunged at him from the shadows. Yukio's body acted on its own, parrying the attack and striking the man down. His eyes widened as his own arm raised his blade and swung it down, landing a killing blow. Through sheer force of will he was able to force himself to look at his surroundings. He was in the same field where he had fought the Hollow so at least he knew where he was. Hearing something he dashed forwards, his body again acting of its own according. After some time he emerged in a small clearing around a pond. Remembering the white liquid he looked into the water and felt his heart stop beating. A featureless white mask was forming around his face, with only his right eye left exposed. He recognized the kind of mask as well, any Shinigami would. He was turning into a Hollow. But how? What had that monster done to him? "Yukio!" Turning towards the voice he saw Saito, blade drawn and staring at him in disbelief. "I-is that you Yukio? W-what are you doing!? And...whats that mask on your face?" "R-run...get...away...from...me..." Yukio had to force himself to speak, and even then it barely got out of his mouth. Losing himself again Yukio roared and charged at the 3rd Seat blade at the ready and swung at her. To her credit she was much more skilled than his previous victims so she was able to parry his blow and knock him aside. Narrowing her eyes she looked at him and used shunpo to quickly jump backwards. Reading her blade again she held it at an angle in front of her. "Shatter the Infinite Skies! Ruritsuki!" The blade of her Zanpakuto seemed to shatter, however when the pieces fell a second blade was revealed that was made of crystal. Stilling her breath she was surrounded by an aura of silver-white reitsu and the blade of her Zanpakuto began to glow with a dull rainbow light. Reading herself she dashed forwards and struck Yukio in the side, knocking him into the pond. As he recovered he glared at her and held his blade at the ready. He felt his every muscle tense but held himself back. He didn't want to attack her, and he would do everything in his power to reign his body in. Feeling himself move forwards he realized it was futile. Before he could blink he had struck at her, slipping past her defense and striking her in the head. She collapsed, blood pooling around her. "Carriage of thunder, bridge of a spinning wheel. With light, divide this into six. Rikujokoro." Yukio was suddenly pinned in place with six rods of light surrounding him. Looking up he saw a figure approaching. While it was still in the shadows he recognized the haori as that of a Captain's. Snarling he glared at the figure as it stepped out of the darkness. When he realized who it was his eye's widened. "C-Captain...Nakamura..." Saito's prone figure whispered. "It's alright." The Captain knelt over the 3rd Seat and held her hand out, bathing her in a bright light as her wound was healed. After a moment she stood and looked at Yukio. Walking closer she held her hand on the hilt of her Zanpakuto. As she neared she stopped and gave the Hollowfying Shinigami and quick once over. She noticed the wound on his arm. "What happened to you boy? There was evidence of a fight and I could sense the lingering reitsu of a Hollow. But given the state you're in and the carnage you've caused it'll be near impossible to convince Central 46 that there was any Hollow other than you here. Forgive me, but a death by my hands would be more peaceful than a death by their hands." Yukio panicked as his Captain drew her blade. He struggled against his binding in vain as he felt sweat on his forehead. Breathing heavily out of fear he felt something change deep inside, as if a balance between something had shifted. Sadly, it was something that would only worsen the situation. Yukio's right eye rolled back and he thrashed about for several seconds. When his eye returned to normal it was different, its sclera had dyed black. With a roar he started destroying the Bakudo binding him, much to the Captain's shock. With one last guttural wail a Hollow Hole opened in his chest and he broke free. Panting he glared at the Captain before charging her. "Damned child." Nakamura blocked his every blow, simply waiting for him to wear down. Saito simply watched as she lay on the ground, wishing the whole thing was just a horrible nightmare. One she would wake up from any second to realize Yukio hadn't been sent on his mission yet. Yukio threw one last wild swing and was impaled by his Captain while he was open. Gasping he looked at her and saw something akin to remorse in her eyes, something he'd never seen from her before. Freeing himself he stumbled backwards, clutching his abdomen in pain. "I'm sorry Yukio. I actually did enjoy your presence in my Division." Gasping in pain and with his head starting to cloud Yukio didn't know what to do. It was then that a second voice began speaking inside his head. He couldn't understand it in the least, but apparently his body could. Holding out his left hand he swung it backwards, tearing open a large black hole. Looking in it for a moment he jumped in and found himself laying in the sand. Straining to look up he saw an alien moon hanging in the skies. He laughed to himself in his mind. Hueco Mundo huh? END
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