| abstract
| - It was a radiant dawn which basked Soul Society in orange. Birds were chirping, all seemed right with the world yadda yadda; y'know, the cliche stuff. All the while, a certain small figure was approaching the 2nd Division Barracks in the Gotei 13- the day before, they had sent a note to a certain 2nd Division Captain in order to request an audience; moreso to allow him to show them the ropes. It was hard to believe that it'd only been a week since they were inducted into the Gotei 13 as the Captain of the 10th Division. This person was a young woman who was known for her immense beauty—she had been touted to be attractive enough that it was unnatural. She was a rather tall woman, up to 163 centimeters tall, unbefitting of her gender; one could easily associate her white skin with that of a princess. Her figure showed utmost perfect features; as if she were a nude body painting or a statuette at a museum. Of course, such bewitching attractiveness belied her demeanor, making her beauty rather uncanny. She had long, silver hair and deep-blue eyes, with her hair having two clumps that extend downwards on both sides of her face, reaching down to her chest, and the rest of her hair centered on her forehead. She wore a black headband with purple lace trimming. Each side of the headband ended with purple bows. On her neck, she wore a seemingly black neck ribbon. Her dress' sleeves were puffy on each of the shoulder part and the top of her shoulders were kept revealed, while on each of the arm part; it fitted the first half arm on each side. The second half arm on each side featured three-layered purple ruffles. The skirt was black and layered with purple ruffles trimming. She refused to wear shoes wherever she went due to her stubbornness. This was Lisette Ienaga, who had finally met her destination. Cobbling together a facade of sugary-sweetness and empathy, the young woman knocked on the door of the Barracks, inquiring, "...You there?" --- A knowing smile graced the lips of Shihouin Kurama as he sipped his tea. He enjoyed the aroma of this particular brand, as it seemed to accentuate the natural flavors of the crisp mid-afternoon air. He sat before a large ornate table, decorated with a maple leaf design around its edges. Dark brown with various hue's of red and orange gave the table an almost exotic appearance. Curiously he moved from his position in a fluid motion, to pour another cup of tea, for a guest perhaps? A few moments later, he heard the distinct knocking at the door, followed by the voice of a young woman. Sparing the door a single glance, it opened mysteriously, revealing the visage of the Shihouin Kurama for the 12th Division Captain to see. Eyes like rich gold, that danced with mischief and azure hair flowing down his back, with glistening dark skin. He smiled warmly at her, gesturing for her to sit down. "So tell me," He began, pausing to bring the delicious drink to his lips once more. "What brings the illustrious Lisette Ienaga-dono to my humble establishment?" He said smoothly, his voice was oddly comforting, as though she could let go of her well built defenses, lay them to rest and simply wallow in content of his warm aura. Of course Kurama knew why she was there, he always knows things like this. One didnt become Captain of the Onmitsukido without keeping an ear to the ground. Still, his interest was piqued, and seeing her now, in her cheery facade, and yes it was a facade, he couldnt help be wonder. Not that he needed to mind you, afterall, any secrets buried would eventually come out on their own---they always did. As Lisette sat formally as per the customs of a tea ceremony, she couldn't help but fidget and squirm; attempting to hide the agony she was in to no avail. Glancing around, she noted that the room eminated a far cozier feel than the 10th Division's own equviliant- to the point that she would say she felt practically at home, but to do so would possibly be insulting. Fumbling around with her clumsy, lithe fingers, Lisette grasped at the tea cup, bowing to Kurama in gratitude. Turning away for the briefest of moments, she gritted her teeth in exasperation- she was finding such formalities rather uncomfortable; it felt as if her legs died. Though...Kurama's voice was vaguely comforting; something she wasn't used to, to be honest. Ironically, she actually did feel as if she could drop all hostilities and talk to him in the same manner she would converse to with Eiji and Arata, but still...She knew she had quite a bit of secrets that she closely guarded, and there was no way in hell that she'd let them out, not even to her closest associates. Forcing that serene smile once again, Lisette responded to his question with a notable stutter, "Well, uhm...You see, if ya dun' mind, I'm new to this whole 'Captain' thing. Can you tell me more about it, please? As she spoke these words, she unknowingly batted her eyelashes. "Now isnt that interesting." He responded, more to himself than Lisette. Humming in a curious tone, he took another sip of his tea, his eyes drinking in her features. To Lisette though, the pleasant smile and calming decor did nothing to hide the predatoral gaze he sent her way, but, it was only for the briefest of moments, so quick she wasnt even sure it was there. "I'm sure you didnt come all this way just to discuss policies Ienaga-dono." There it was again, a flicker across his eyes, the subtle curl of his mouth, into a smirk. "The Captain-Commander would not have chosen you, had your skills been...inadequate." Another pause, eyes searching, analyzing her for a reaction. "Which means you're probably here to verify if such faith was misplaced?" He asked. Lisette's eyes transformed into blank white disks with sloppily-scrawled black borders around them. Wait, what? How'd she do that anime-esque effect? One of nature's mysteries. Moreso, it was probably just her eyes rolling into the back of her head for the briefest of moments. "...Well, you see..." Damn, she was nervous. Just now, yes, just now she realized that his serene tone was almost dissonant in its appliance; wierding her out beyond all recognition. "...But first, I think our Captain-Commanders are different or something. I have the slightest idea that I have no idea who you're talking about- the one who promoted me is a half-Mexican cannibal." Ah, damn. She was digging herself deep into an inescapable hole; she couldn't keep up this facade for long. Lisette Ienaga, for a lack of a better word, couldn't stand people; and that was the major understatement of the century. "...A-Alright, next question..." Dammit- Lisette realized that she could only stall for time for so long until her true intentions were unraveled. Keeping up that heroic battle to maintain her balance, the young woman responded, "N-No...I'm sure I was chosen for a reason; because of that, I'm confident in my skills. Don't question that, got it? But really, I have no idea how I'm supposed to go about work in this position..." Different Captain-Commanders? He thought. As she rambled on, it was clear that something...something was definately amiss. He had to give himself pause as his thoughts raced. Was she really this confused? It was that or she was using a brillaint ploy to distract him, he'd never heard such nonsense before in his life. He nodded when appropiate, and sipped his tea to maintain appearances, he was thankful when she finally stopped, while it wasnt clear if she even knew what she wanted, his keen mind had obtained a rough sketch of her rationale. "Hmm, well given your promotion to the 10th Division, and if you consider your skill set, I can see where your may be confused." He said gaining her attention. It was crucial to let her know that he understood, however malformed her way of conveying it may be. "One whose prowess would be better served in the Kido Corps, but is now leading a wholly different squadron would certainly give even one of my prestige pause. But its not much different than your previous duties, only there's more paperwork." He finished jokingly, hoping to lighten the mood. His words were spoken with an impossibly sincere tone, and the aura around him wrapped around her like a silk blanket, providing the same comfort as if he had given her hand a reassuring squeeze. "You're new to this, and your squadron knows this, for now, it would be best to visit them, make a presence, and learn what you can about their individual duties. I'm sure your keen mind will be able to discern how everything is connected and what to do from there." He says, smile widening. "Is there anything else you'd like to ask, while we have time Ienaga-dono?" "...Paperwork!?" Lisette's eyes widened in shock; she could never take a joke. Ick. Lisette Ienaga wasn't too fond of paperwork, that was for sure. It was like, the mere mention of such tedious matters managed to physically harm her, if that was possible. Still...Lisette was rather put off by Kurama's prescence, yet paradoxially she felt somewhat comforted by the warmth that he showed her. Though, she actually felt embarassed by asking somebody about matters that she should already be informed about. However, on another matter, that lust for blood which she ever so craved remained sated- so far, so good, she thought. Lisette scratched her head, responding with something resembling a smile, "...Yeah. I'll admit, I'm more suited to Kidou- but since that green haired woman took the position, eh, what can I say? The Captain-Commander chose me for a reason- even though, I'm not sure if I'm the right person for it." Shaking her head in embarrassment. Meanwhile, it was clear that the gears that composed her thought process were rotating a mile a minute; she couldn't stall for long. Either way, Lisette Ienaga was trying her best to memorize Shihouin Kurama's speech patterns, his mannerisms, and personality; such knowledge would prove to be dire later in her true goal. Truth be told- she wasn't sure if what she was desparate for would be possible. Bringing back that which has passed on would be against the laws of nature; nevertheless, those two were the methods to her madness; true companions she couldn't live without. Anything...for them. Setting such thoughts aside in the back of her mind, she bowed politely to her associate, continuing with a cheery tone which managed to crack somewhat, revealing her inner troubles, "...Yes. There is one other thing." Honestly, she had no idea how to phrase such difficult words- all she could allow to leave her soft lips was, "...I want to fight you. It's the only way I'll be able to make sure I'm up to this job." She thought to herself, All I need to do is survive and I'll be sure I'm ready. That's all there is to it. He...he seems stronger than that person- if I can survive against Kurama, then I can defeat that guy. Amused laughter feels her ears, as Ienaga gazes upon Kurama who merely smiles that knowing smirk of his at her proclomation. He doesnt appear the least bit surprised, in fact his expression is as though he had anticipated this all along. In one fluid movement, he rises from his sitting position, the tea cup mysteriously gone from his hands and on the table---Ienaga hadn't caught when he had placed it down. It wasnt sudden, nor one brought by alarm, rather it was calm and relaxed. "Finally, its good to be honest with oneself Ienaga-dono. Fortunately, I anticipated such a request beforehand and have already prepared an area where we may fight to our fullest---away from prying eyes. If you'll follow me." He said crossing the distance and extending a hand to help her to her feet. Obviously it wasnt necessary, but he was a gentleman afterall and enjoyed indulging in some of the more western influences. Slowly extending her hand, Lisette felt a unwell feeling stirring up inside her head. Feelings of doubt and mistrust were afoot, though they were conflicted between 'Nah, he's a good guy; there's no way he's a liar' and 'Burn! Maim! Kill!'. In addition, there was a neutrality that urged her to take such words with a grain of salt. To be honest, she wasn't sure which one she would choose; though ever being the optimist in regards to finding somebody trustworthy, she weakly nodded as she grasped his hand lightly, placing her tea cup down before standing to her feet. Being good with oneself, huh...? She couldn't understand it herself. Complying, she couldn't help but do the obvious as usual, inquiring, "...Ah. Where are we going, anyway? This better not be one of those cults were I lose a kidney again. I mean, last time I followed somebody..." But seriously, she was merely allowing Kurama to lead the way. Knowing next to nothing about the 2nd Division barracks; nor being particularly direction-savvy; once, she managed to get fifteen kilometers away from her destination and got lost in a straight corridor. "...So, I was wondering..." She glanced away, embarrassed. "...Can you remodel your barracks? I wanna know so I can change mine." He spared his companion a wly glance as she spoke aloud, her eccentricity was perhaps a refreshing sight in Soul Society. It was rare to find such an imaginative individual, that despite her rather strange utterances he couldnt help but find them adorable---well as one would a childs active imagination that is. "We are headed towards one of my personal training areas, its normally closed off from this dimension, but one of the entrances is in the barracks." He said trying to placate her...concerns. "And to answer your second question, yes you are allowed to remodel the barracks---within reason of course, though its generally discouraged." The pair stopped at what appeared to be an ordinary sliding door, but from Ienaga's keen spiritual senses she could detect the faint pulse of magic primed around its edges. Kurama reached out, muttering something in...a langauge she couldnt understand, as his hand phased through the door, revealing a dark corridor. "Through here." He said, stepping into the passageway, with Ienaga in tow. The walk was not long, not more than a few steps, before they exited into a beautifully lush green landscape, a forest illuminated by the crescent moon. Off in the distance was a forest covered by a white blossom canopy, unlike anything she had ever seen. Kurama's own persona was relaxed, comfortable even, it was obvious that where ever this place was, it brought forth a sense of serenity and peace in his demeanor. With an extragvant flourish, obviously meant to be overdramatic, Kurama swept his arms and bowed reverently towards Lisette, the dark yet exotic and beautiful background behind him. "This will be our battleground Ienaga-dono." Moving his hand hypnotically he held it out as though asking her to dance. "Do you wish to impose any conditions Ienaga-dono?" he asked, golden eyes alit with mystery. Lisette pressed her pointer and middle fingers of her left hand to her lip in thought while gazing around- causing her train of thought to depart to the station of navel-gazing. "...Oh, wow. I've...I've never seen such beauty my entire life. ...I guess that's what living in the slums of Rukongai does to you." Admiring the scenery for a few more minutes; Lisette thought to herself that she'd never seen anything like it before. Focusing her attention upon the Captain of the 2nd Division once again, the young woman questioned lightly, "...Hm, if you don't mind; there shall be...well, nothing really. I can't think of anything, sorry." Realizing that this was an invitiation to a squabble, Lisette began to hover slightly above the vibrant green. Lisette emotionlessly casted a mid-level Sōkatsui; a azure blast of fire, and an Byakurai; a white surge of lightning, one with her left hand and one with her right in order to get a reaction out of Kurama. With a mere thought, spiritual energy collected to form a triangle of shimmering golden light in front of the young woman's form. Then, through a mere touch, electric currents coursed through the spell, vibrating the original Shitotsu Sansen, a triad of light beams through using the electricity to cause an unusual reaction with the Gaki Rekkō, which was a cage of emerald beams, providing a superior Bakudō effect as she enabled it to shoot towards Kurama at tremendous speeds like a bullet. It was as graceful as it was terrifying, the Onmitsukido Commander's hand moved with such celerity it was as if a mirage had taken its place. In one deft motion, he caught the rolling mass of flames barehanded, but that was merely an illusion of his movement. He was actually guiding the attack, deflecting the kido to his left before his hand blurred and swiftly deflected the surge of lightning to his right. Time slowed to a crawl, Ienaga's modified Shitotsu Sansen, shined a bright emerald green as it neared Kurama, but like the previous attacks, his arm once again sped into motion, spiraling in front of him in a circular manner, his hand tapping each of the bars in rapid succession, causing them to suddenly bend, changing their trajectory entirely, as they either fired into the sky or plunged into the ground. The deafening explosion of fiery azure flames and charged electricity erupted behind as time resumed its normal course. All the while, Kurama held an unreadable expression; it wasnt arrogance, nor the knowing smirk he's infamous for. Rather it was one of supreme serenity, his mind and body were relaxed, so much so, one would think he was here simply to enjoy the scenery. Lips curled into a sly smile as he regarded Ienaga with a mixture of mirth and...something...darker. "At least make me use evasion, Ienaga-dono. You need'nt bother with simple tactics, please feel free to use all of your abilities to the fullest." He said in a chiding manner. His previous mischievous expression turned into concern, as he peered at something beyond Ienaga's perception. From behind her a terrible roar screeched through the heavens, as the massive lumbering form of a Menos Grande erupted from a dimensional tear not far from Ienaga. Its dark beady eyes settled onto to its target, before a single clawed hand, rapidly moved to snatch the Kido sorceress, while a Cero charged in its gaping maw ready to vaporize her once she was in its clutches. Kurama himself fared no better as a Menos attempted to devour him whole though he nimbly dodged to the side, as its head crashed into the ground. Lisette's eyes widened in complete and utter shock. "No...no way...You callin' my tactics simple, boy!?" But how? It was a certain he wasn't Dio Brando from that old-school manga. She stomped her foot on the ground, declaring, "O-Oi, you bastard...! How'd you stop time!? Answer me, this instant...!" Just then, it hit her. There was a Menos behind her. Slowly, she turned around, her snow-white hair blowing in the faint wind. "...Damn!" Lisette hissed, barely evading its claw by the skin of her teeth; though it managed to slice her dress somewhat, the Cero managed to knick her foot. Lisette's eyes and pupils contracted, focusing on the Hollow while questioning Kurama, "Tell me, do you have anything to do with this!? If so, then this is a really bad joke, understand me!?" Her body tensed; as if her mind shut off in order to fight with incredible ferocity so that she could focus on eliminating what was before her with ease so that she could resume her fight as possible. "...Kuh!" At that moment, a chilling feeling overwhelmed the thought process and body of the Captain of the 10th Division; as a demonic grin which represented no emotion but teeth crept up her face, all while her pupils dilated. From the large sheathe upon back, Lisette withdrew a golden trident with ornate decorations which had more in common with a ranseur. "Alright then. You're so lucky...My weapon fits so nicely into their guts. And impact meat and bone with perfectly satisfying squeamish sounds." In an instant, Lisette amassed her spiritual energy upon her weapon as well as coated it in black flames. Now thoroughly ignited, Lisette focused these flames at the tip of her blade, before they spread down, refining the blaze to its utmost extent. Swinging her weapon in an arc formation while declaring, "Hadōmeppū!", Lisette unleashed these flames with a *CRACK!* sound which echoed through the area in the form of an enormous pitch-black blazing arc which split the air itself while tearing through the atmosphere, aiming to obliterate the masked demon in front of her. The churning and rolling black flames seared the air as it passed, ripping through the Menos without any resistance. Yet Ienaga was not granted the agonizing wail signifying its death nor the charred corpse as it evaporated into the atmosphere. Not it was something far more telling, more frightening then she could have ever assumed. The Menos that had attacked her and Kurama dissolved into the air, as though they were nothing more than a mirage. The clawed hand that had tried to grasp her, revealed itself to be nothing more than a bundle of golden chains --- Sajō Sabaku that were already dissipating, while the Cero that knicked her had been a carefully hidden Shakkahō, its crimson flames smoldering the earth where it had impacted. This daunting realization did nothing to alleviate the fact that she had not only been fooled, but that Kurama had woven such intricate illusions around his kido, so as they appeared to be something else completely. There were rumors of his prowess, of his mastery of the demon ways that infiltrated the mind, yet to see them for herself? How do you battle against your is own perceptions? How do you fight an adversary whose next attack could either be real or just another mirage? Kurama had long since slipped away, likely cloaking himself with Kyokkō; with his speed and that spell active, attempting to pinpoint his location would be next to impossible. Yet a moment later Kurama reappeared before her, no more than five paces away, there was no movement, no flicker, nothing --- in that instant he just simply appeared. He greeted her with a knowing smirk, as though he could see the suspicion in her eyes, was he real, or was this just another illusion? "Did you enjoy my theatrics Ienaga-dono?" He asked, though it was obviously a rhetorical question, his face said one thing but his eyes, they already knew the answer. "...No, I most certainly did not- ohhh. Rhetorical question; god I hate those things." Lisette snarled, "Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait," she took a deep breath. "Wait wait wait. How on bloody earth did you do that? ...Yes, that does sound hypocritical, coming from a Kidou Master." Before she could drone on further, the Captain of the 10th Division was struck by the Shakkahou, sending her lithe body barelling across the plains. She glanced around. She was sure as shit that any other Kurama she'd attack would be an illusion. So, there was only solution. Slowly, the Captain of the 10th Division raised her arms to the heavens, declaring, "..O, sturdiest of earths, raise from your habitat and bring upon the occasion where I can trap this bastard! Go, go, go!" With a single hand motion, Lisette Ienaga caused fragments of rock to tear from the earth in an instant, rising like a rocket. This earth assumed the formation of a large cross, spanning the majority of the arena. A whole slew of earthen materials continued to rise, before seemingly trapping her foe within the dome now materialized. Blending into the earth, Lisette began to dissapear and reappear all around her foe. Gaki Rekkou, Shakkahou, Hyouga Seiran, Kongoubaku, Haien, Byakurai, and Sōkatsui flew around in this overwhelming dome, aiming to bombard her foe with a tremendous onslaught as blasts of varying spiritual elements zipped around him. "Look closely, Captain. There's a small crack somewhere...guess. Just guess!" All this, with a wicked smile. She didn't know if this was an illusion or not; but it was a start. Though...she'd be pissed if he had slipped away, returning to drink tea once again. Although he wasnt surprised by her reaction, afterall one didn't enrage an already volatile and powerful sorceress, he did have the decency to at least feign it well enough as Ienaga-dono all but demanded that the elements bow to her whim. The earth upturned, as chunks of enormous rock and debri arose from the ground, whirling around in a tornaldo like fashion, before collapsing all around him. Hmm, so she intends to inhibit my speed, a sound strategy, were I any other Captain that is. His damnable smirk was still plastered on his face as demon magic erupted around him, and he noted with a bit interest as the 10th Division Captain seemingly melded into her earthen prison. 'A spell to merge one's body with any object? He thought with a hint curioisity. Impressive, I'll have to ask her about that once we're done having fun. He half expected earthen spires and spokes to jut out and attempt to skewer him, but alas, Ienaga-dono did not disappoint, as streaks of demon magic tore through the inside, a barrage of several mid-level destructive spells, searing through the air, in a criss-cross network of death meant to eradicate any foe caught in its web. A quadumvirate of fire spells illuminated the darkness as they streaked towards his position, spiraling together to form a supermassive sheet of scintillating flames. Lifting a hand he thrust two fingers forward before swiping down, muttering the name of his spell. "Danku." A translucent barrier materialized to his front though it was pointed towards the rushing tsunami of fire, and with another deft sweep, propelled the barrier forward like a knife. It cut through the center mass of the demon magic, cleaving it in two and carving a small path that Kurama all too eagerly followed. His entrance was not unlike a god, a sea of fire parting before him, giving him an almost majestic appearance, with another flourish of his hands, he summoned twin gale force winds which swirled around the flames. This caused them to rapidly increase in size, before he redirected one at the columns of fire with his left hand at the chilling ice and winds from above. The resulting explosion of fire and ice created a disproporation difference in pressure, as an incredible tornado formed in its wake, ripping at the earthen barrier, eroding it layer by layer. With his other hand, he gestured to the last wave of attacks, thin beams of green energy laced with lightning, as they surged towards him. With its power increased from the winds, Kurama's attack simply washed over them, vaporizing instantly, as the spiraling pillar of heat and death struck the prison, turning a large section into ash and molten earth. He idly wondered how Ienaga-dono was faring, watching him fend off her attacks with nonchalant calm, while he used her own attacks to dismantle her cage. Was she in disbelief? Was it unnerving? Perhaps even frightening? He briefly considered having to face an opponent like himself---he let a shudder run up his spine, deadly indeed. He let out a deep breath, calmy assessing her position, as he stared with golden cat-like eyes, not unlike a predator sending her his trademark smirk, watching her despite the fact that she was moving within the earthen prison, invisible to most senses, but not his own. Eyes flickering to the gaping hole he just made he decided that now would be an appropiate time as ever. "I think I just found that crack Ienaga-dono. Though its a tad bigger than what you might have imagined, but did I guess correctly?" He said with unabashed amusement. Lisette's eyes were wider than the sun, completely and utterly shocked, as if everything she did was absolutely unnecessary and rendered null and void. "Wha...what?" The prison began to collapse around the two; cracks rippled and resounded through the structure, before shattering in an instant; debris began to descend down to the grassy earth. Lisette gritted her teeth as she vanished from sight, giggling, "...Hehe." Immediately, the Shinigami captain appeared, standing on the branch of a tree, informing Kurama, "Eehehe, not bad...You certainly did guess correctly, y'know? However...The battle has only begun, so don't sound so victorious." Lisette uttered, "...Rossa Fantasma." Emitting a blindingly brilliant burst of light, the Captain caused the phenomena known as bilocation, giving off the mirage of doubling, no, tripling, no, quadrupling, before doubling that number again. Of course, illusions could always become reality- pouring her spiritual energy forth, Lisette breathed life into these duplicates, giving them a purpose. Before it could be comprehended, all the replicas spoke in the same voice at the exact same time, "...Up for a little hide and seek, hm?" Instantly, the duplicates scattered in numerous directions; as did Lisette; this was all with the intention of stalling for time before she could think of her next onslaught. He watched with interest as the illusion unfolded, revealing the multiple copies of Ienaga-dono. The illusion was a fairly complex spell, one that required a great deal of skill, so her use of it spoke highly of her talent. Still, her application was fairly simple, and while the illusions had some semblance of life, they required a great deal of concentration to maintain. Which meant this ploy was likely a diversion to keep him occupied while Ienaga-dono prepared for next spell. Hmm He pondered thoughtfully. Walking right into a trap? A knowing smirk dotted his features. Hn, lets give it a try, Im curious to see how Ienaga-dono plays this out. "You know I cant pass up a game of cat and mouse Ienaga-dono. To think you were so devious?" He responded, watching as the illusions rush off. He waited for several more moments, savoring the sudden rush of being a predator, before his form abruptly disappeared. Let the hunt begin. ---
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