Ch.8

Ryu felt his body quiver as he stared at the ground, it looked pretty far away. His thought was interrupted as his body forced him to cough up the blood from his stomach. The damage blunt force could do was astounding; capable of destroying organs and everything, a far more painful experience then getting cut in his opinion. He had thought to get into a close range fight, you know make it a fist fight, that he could win. Far easier said then done.

"Oh, this is just to rich!?" The lanky man said as he laughed cruelly, his weapon pointing straight up with Ryu hung limply over it. Trying to work your way past a long weapon in the hands of an experienced user was perhaps not the smartest idea, but it was the best he had.

"What was all that good shit you were talking earlier you little bitch? Huh!? Where is all that tough talk now bitch!?" Ryu sucked in another breath to let out a weak worded retort.

"Your mom's house."

The lanky mans laugh was cut short at that and he gave Ryu a curious look and shook his weapon, eliciting a groan of pain from Ryu. "What was that?"

Ryu took in the breath again. "I said, at your mom's hou-"

The man in a sudden burst of rage and strength thrusted up violently, Ryu let out another cough of blood before the force shot him in the air. The lanky man twisted around, dragging his weapon in the ground before bringing it up into a powerful swing upper swing into Ryu again, knocking him higher into the air before he jumped up, passing the flying man and smashing him back into the ground with a powerful swing from his weapon.

Ryu hit hard enough to make him bounce off the ground and then he was quickly smashed back into it again as the lanky man landed on his chest. Another fountain of blood blew from his mouth as the tall man leaned down to put him face to face with Ryu.

"Now, wanna tell me that again?" he said, his eyes narrowed.

Ryu took a few moments to get his breath back as best as he could. "I said… your mom's house, but seems I was wrong before." Ryu said faintly and the tall man raised a brow as he waited.

"I meant your sisters house."

Ryu surged his head forward into the others face, feeling the crunch of the cartilage in the mans nose before rolling violent, toppling his opponent as he reeled back in pain. Ryu sprung up, ignoring the protest of his body as he leapt onto the other man, tearing his coat fully open and planting both hands on the mans chest and focusing completely on the feeling of contact.

He didn't remember the hit, only the slamming of his back into a rock as his opponent roared at him in fury. "You little shit, do you know who you just hit! I am Nnoitra Gilga of the Espada, ranked eighth! Who are you? A little piss ant, that's who!"

Ryu's feet couldn't reach the ground as the tall man held him pinned against the rock, hand on his throat with a grip of steel, still screaming in his face. Ryu couldn't get a breath as he tore at the mans arm furiously, ripping of strips of clothing to reveal bare skin that he latched onto with both hands as he kicked at the man.

A moment of elation passed as Ryu envisioned the loss of strength this man would feel, the sense of victory he would feel while pounding in his face but after a few moments of struggling he knew something was wrong. Usually by this time something should have changed, the man should have gotten weaker at least, but he was still pinned to the rock in the air. It usually only took ten seconds for the effects to at least start, but he was nearly out of breath and nothing.

Ryu's vision began to fade as Nnoitra roared incoherently at him and he realized that it wasn't working, he realized he was going to die like this. No, this wasn't how it was suppose to end, his end was suppose to be in a blaze of glory, not with his neck broken by some Paris Hilton wanna be.

Ryu felt the strength leave him, his hands loosening and falling to his side, eyes closing slowly, a last bit of light slipping through his lids before darkness over took him.

~Mat~

"Hahah! That's some spirit, I like you kid!"

Mat blinked as the heavy hand came down on his shoulder, Zenpachi, Captain of his squad had just laughed off a challenge to fight?

"I would never fight someone in bad condition, so after you're fully healed I will tear your heart out your ass."

…Never mind

Mat blinked at the casually delivered promise of death, then suddenly returned the laugh and patted the massive man on his shoulder as they both laughed at the grim joke.

Hanatarō simply stared at the two in utter confusion, had he missed the joke?

The captain quieted his laughing then took another good look at Mat, who raised a brow but didn't move. Zenpachi had a knack for seeing talent, it was how he found all his best opponents and he could already tell this Matsuo was going to be good. His eyes were of a beast, a crazed Lion, or blood hungry wolf. He had checked up on the fight, he had heard everything from Yumichika and he could hardly wait to see this man at full potential. That would be a fight worth waiting for.

"Anyways kid, let me tell you one thing."

Matsuo's body tensed slightly, a natural reaction to the change in the captain's voice, all humor gone.

"There is only one important thing in squad eleven and that is strength." Kenpachi held up a fore finger in between him and Matsuo. "So if you want to survive, you must always grow stronger. Otherwise," Kenpachi showed his teeth in a full smile. "No one will even remember you existed."

With that out and Matsuo looking at him strangely Zenpachi left without another word, wondering why he himself had even said that.

"An interesting man to'be sure." Mat said to himself, rubbing at his chin.

Hanatarō shook his head as he stood up from his seat. "Man, I wish Ryu was here, he could understand this far easier then I could."

Matsuo snapped back to face the small man, his eyes suddenly sparkling as he gestured wildly with his arms, excitement showing obvious on his face. "Ryu, as in Ryuunosuke!? Tall guy, light brown hair with clear blue eyes, kind of a dick and likes to fuck around and play pranks on people he likes!"

Hanatarō was taken aback by Matsuo's reaction to Ryu's name, and the way he described him nearly perfectly. "Why, yes that sounds like Ryu." Hanatarō raised his brows. "Do you know Ryu?"

Matsuo laughed out loudly, hand slapping against his stomach. "Know'im? I owe the fucker ma life!" Matsuo closed his eyes as he remembered something from his past. "If not for him, I'd been gutted and left to rot in some ditch a long while ago."

Mat's eyes shot open again and he made a fist in excitement. "Well, how is the old fart!?"

Hanatarō frowned and let out a sigh. "I don't know, before he left he was just his usual self, care free and even snuck a batch of fish sausage into the lieutenant's bed; knowing full well her phobia of the stuff, and then he just left for his new squad."

Matsuo blinked, his face going blank. "…Fish sausage? You're lieutenant is scared of…fish sausage?"

Hanatarō shrugged. "She says it was because of a trauma from her pass, but Ryu suspected it was because she was really afraid of a man's pe- Anyways that isn't the point." Hanatarō got back on track. "I haven't heard from him in over a month so I can't inform you of how he is now." Hanatarō's frown deepened, he considered Ryu his best friend, yet he now he couldn't even get him to reply to a message. "I have been friends with him since the academy; I don't know why he won't even respond to me."

Mat raised a brow. "Have you ever considered just going to his new squad and asking about him?"

Hanatarō nodded. "Yes, but every time I go they just turn me away, they won't even let me inside anymore. I am sure something bad has happened but I can't find out anything."

Matsuo narrowed an eye. "Have you tried forcing you're way through?"

Hanatarō blinked then furrowed his brow. "Uuuhh, no I haven't, besides I couldn't do that, it's illegal to force your way into any building under the 13 Court Guard's ownership."

Matsuo frowned and gave Hanatarō a curious look.

Hanatarō shied away from the look. "What?"

Mat's voice was low as he crossed his arms. "You call Matsuo a friend, yet you aren't even willing to get into trouble to find him?"

Hanatarō stuttered out a response in surprise. "B-b-but even if I did try to I am not even strong enough to get past the gate guard, they are from squad eleven."

The look on Matsuo's face made Hanatarō blanch, it was disappointment. "Tell me, would Ryu care whether'n'not he could do it if you were the one missing?"

Hanatarō went to speak but Matsuo continued. "Stop me if'n I'm wrong but the Ryu I remember was a dumbass that would beat his head 'gainst a rock until it broke if he decided to, not think about whether he could. He would try until he found a way or die try'in. Am I wrong?"

Hanatarō went to give an excuse but stopped himself, eyes closing as he smiled to himself. "…No, that sounds like him." Hanatarō opened his eyes with a new light in them. "You are right, Matsuo, Ryu would have kicked those wooden gates in and raised hell until he found me."

Matsuo smirked as his head tilted a bit to the side, his eyes reflecting the shine in Hanatarō's. "So, what are you gonna do?"

Hanatarō looked at his raised hand, palm facing up as he thought for a moment then his hand snapped into a fist as he steeled himself, looking back up to Matsuo. "I am gonna go to the scientific building and raise hell until I find Ryu."

Matsuo smiled broadly. "Let me grab my sword."

~Siege~

"Hey captain Fluffy bottoms." Siege said as he locked the door behind him, already aware of the black feline lounging on the couch.

"Today was interesting, met a shinigami. Kicked his ass and learned a valuable lesson about underestimating the enemy." Siege dropped back onto the couch, causing the cat to bounce up and let out a annoyed growl as it settled back down, back up against his leg.

"Tomorrow should be interesting." Siege said as he flipped on the tv, channel surfing until he settled on a paranormal tv show about a tall black man hunting spirits. Siege let out a bark of laughter and settled back to watch the show, hand absently scratching the cat behind its ears.

Some time passed before his nose twitched and he looked towards the entrance to his house. It had just passed by, the smell of spiritual energy was strong, stronger then the shinigami he had fought earlier.

Siege looked down at the cat which was sleeping peacefully and narrowed his eyes in thought. The smell was different from the shinigami's. Hollow maybe.

Siege smiled to himself as he stood up slowly, making sure not to disturb his cat as he slipped out silently into the night. Siege preferred the night; he could be his true self so much easier in the dark. Following the scent of the creature, Siege was led on a twisting chase through the city. As he walked he analyzed the scent, it was like a shinigami and a hollow's mixed together.

It was a first for him but all the same, he was getting hungry.

Siege froze, the scent had just cut off suddenly, not like it disappeared, but just gone. Siege looked about his surroundings, taking in the empty city streets and the closed stores. It was a strip, a good distance away from any residential area. A strip with small time stores, no place important.

"I had been wondering who was following me, to think it was just a child."

Siege jerked around looking up at the voice up at the roof behind him in surprise, his teeth bared. He never got caught of guard like this.

The sight that met him was a tall man with pink hair and a pair of white glasses. He was wearing a white shirt with black stripes running down to his left side, his pants ending slightly above his feet with white gloves.

The strange man pushed his glasses up as Siege reposed himself and coughed into his hand.

"So, you are where the scent was coming from then?" Siege asked aloud and the man raised a brow.

"Scent?"

Siege ignored the man as he spoke to himself. "You seem nothing like a Hollow or a shinigami, perhaps I was mistaken?" Siege looked up and smiled. "Despite the totally weird outfit you seem like a normal guy, sorry for bothering you."

And he turned to leave, coming face to face with the strange man, causing him to flinch and take a step back. "What!?"

"I have no idea what you're saying but honestly it doesn't matter. The fact is you can see me and that is interesting." The strange man said as Siege took another scent from the air, the smell from earlier was indeed coming from this man and he had underestimated the strength.

This man was far more powerful than he had originally thought. The scent was overpowering to say the least.

"My name is Szayel Aporro Granz," The strange man said with a flourish of his arms, his smile wide and theatrical as he took a deep bow. "And you are?"

Siege swallowed hard and took another step back from the ma- no the creature before him. His intincts were going haywire, this thing was dangerous and he had walked into the lion's den.

Siege jumped back as his eyes turned golden and slitted, his canines growing longer as he roared out. "Offensive output at 10.00 %!"

Szayel stood up with a look of surprise as Siege transformed further, his clothes bursting off as his body swelled up with muscle, nearly tripling in size as his skin turned blood red. He looked disgusting with the amount of muscle that was continuously growing, his skin now ripping apart, his teeth growing longer as he let out a bestial roar.

Szayel watched with wide eyes as the roar from the creature before him caused his hair to whip around, his glasses sliding down his nose as his mouth formed an 'O' in surprise. "Now that is a neat trick indeed."

A massive arm slammed down onto Szayel, the force cracking the ground for meters, a small impact crater formed from the force. Siege pulled his arm up again and slammed both into the same spot this time, taking no chances with the man. The crater grew larger and sent out more cracks, causing the ones already there to expand and go farther, dust and debris flying up as Siege deflated.

His body back to normal size, Siege began to pant, his body sagging as his arms hung limply, feet spread apart to better support himself. The highest he had gone at once was five percent. The strain was terrible on the body, he was just an apprentice so ten was all he could do without losing control and he could barely do that.

Siege frowned at himself; the grotesque form was a testament to his failure. He could just here his father laughing at him as he recited a saying he had invented.

'Remember, the Delacroix family is one of beauty and status, to be ugly is a disgrace that must be punished.'

Siege couldn't help but smile at his thoughts, he had been told that many times right before he was punished horribly. His father was a harsh task master.

"Very interesting ability, I must say." The voice called out with a mocking, slow clap as company. Siege looked over shi shoulder, eyes wide as he stared at Szayel. The strange man had a small smile on his face as he tapped a finger on his cheek.

"You will make a most interesting test subject."

~Nnoitra~

He had seen it coming, only a fool wouldn't have but seeing it and dodging it is something else. It wasn't as fast as Neliel's, matter of fact he was sure he was faster but for some reason he just couldn't dodge it. So the fist slammed into his face and sent him flying into a boulder, his body sinking into it a few feet.

"Nnoitra, you realize this is our newest member, he is to be treated with the same respect as you would treat you're betters."

God he hated this man, Nnoitra focused his singular eye on the man of marble who was standing between him and the fool who had picked a fight with him. Giszult of the Noise, monster of marble and creature of stone, So many names for one person to have, too many for one man. Nnoitra pushed himself from the rock, landing lightly as his weapon materialized back into his hand.

"The fool started a fight with me, he asked for his ass to get killed."

Giszult narrowed his eyes as the man behind him started to cough as he regained his breath.

"Regardless, I doubt that Aizen would appreciate you killing his guest, our new companion of much importance." Giszult raised a brow as he began tapping his foot, a sign of anger and annoyance from the usually stoic man of marble.

Nnoitra sneered as he tightened the grip on his weapon, a natural response from him and he already knew he fucked up. The sudden tilting of Giszult's head told that he had noticed the small motion of the fist tightening and the marble mans eyes suddenly lost their human quality as he opened his mouth a small amount and clicked his tongue.

Again, he couldn't dodge, not because he didn't see it coming, not because he was slow, he just couldn't. he could see the air space between him and Giszult's mouth begin to vibrate towards him, like wind on a water surfaces. It started small but grew bigger as it traveled towards him and before he could react it was on him. It felt like every cell in his body was being forced to shift about, the pain was immense, too strong for even a thought to pass through his mind.

~Ryu~

Ryu couldn't be happier, this man, the one from his first meeting with Aizen had just saved him from the lunatic with a strangling fetish. He watched the short exchange as he massaged his throat, one eye sealed by swelling as Nnoitra pushed himself from the rock he had been planted into.

Ryu blinked as suddenly the look in Nnoitra's eye went from confidence to regret before he went stock still, head up and mouth open as if screaming, steam beginning to rise from his body as he fell to his knees, eye rolled up into his socket.

"Are you okay?"

Ryu looked up at the man with marble skin, who was smiling down at him pleasantly, seemingly ignoring the defeated man as a wind blew from somewhere, disturbing the marbles man tall collar and revealing a small tattoo on the side of his neck. A zero.