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Post by Kita Miyamoto on Nov 21, 2015 18:39:28 GMT -6
"The First Induction":Kita and Starrk appeared in what Gin so appropriately named the 'Ring of Forlorn Choice'. It was the outer ring that would take the individual to one of the two chambers. Depending on the way they turned or what part of the Maze they so chose. Either way, the only safe place for the individuals that entered the Maze was the Courtyard. There and only there were they truly safe from the hollows that wandered the Maze looking for the ones seeking their freedom.
Making their way through the Eight Chamber to the Maze Ring, Ichigo started to wake. Vacanze had been walking for sometime now as Kita edged him along every step of the way. Both were collared at this point, but the collars were not active since they were in the Maze, both also still had their blades, or well at least Kita had them until they got to where they were dropping the two off.
Before they got there, Ichigo was back on his feet, Starrk pushing him along as well as they rounded another corner and stopped. She tossed them both their blades with a smile.
"Would you like to know the rules before we just leave you here?"
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Post by Ichigo Kurosaki on Nov 21, 2015 18:45:48 GMT -6
Ichigo grabbed his blade from the air, glancing to Vacanze before looking back to Kita. “What is there to prevent me from tearing out of it right now?” he asked simply.
Kita's smile grew. "The powers of a God. The rules are simple." Kita started as she stepped toward them.
Ichigo's hairs on his neck bristled. Her walk reminding him too much like Aizen's, a ruler who could do what he or she wanted with those below her. He leaped forwards and grabbed her wrist. "Damn it, Kita! Snap out of it!" he hissed. "If Aizen is using Sojiro and Kenji to get you to do this, we can get them out. You know this isn't like you."
Kita gently pulled away from Ichigo as she looked to him. Her smile faded as she looked into his eyes. "Aizen is not hanging anything over my head, Ichigo. I am doing this on my own."
Ichigo's glinting eyes held hers for a few moments, assessing her words and then pulled back. "If that's the choice you made, then... I hope you understand the full meaning of it." His grip tightened on her wrist and then he released. "I won't walk the same path."
Kita let her hand fall to her side when he released her, her eyes still on his. "I would never ask you to, nor would I force you to. I only ask you to be strong enough to live through it."
Ichigo shrugged in response, some parts of him angry, bewildered, tired even, yet still some part of him trusted her... "What are the rules, Kita?"
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Post by Kita Miyamoto on Nov 21, 2015 20:48:15 GMT -6
Kita broke eyes contact with him turning away as she stepped around both the men. "The Rules are simple. Try to stay alive..." She turned to the side and point West. That way is a Courtyard, a safe haven for you. Can you get out?" Kita shook her head. "No, but nothing can get to you in the Courtyard. Its as I said; your safe heaven."
"What do you mean nothing can get to us?" Vacanze asked with a growl.
She ignored Vacanze's question and continued. "In the Maze you are granted your powers and your weapons, but once in the Courtyard you are stripped of both."
Ichigo looked around, looking at the walls around them. They were smooth white marble the floor of the same material. The walls towered high above them the ceiling of the Maze was open letting what Ichigo believed to be artificial light shine in to light the Maze paths.
Kita noticed Ichigo looking up, "There are only two way out of the Maze. One you find the entrance to Hueco Mundo, or two... Your death. You cannot go through the walls. Under the walls or over the walls."
"That should be easy enough." Vacanze scoffed.
Starrk chuckled, "You think. These walls shift and you will have Hollows of all levels hunting you, Arrancar, Espada and Ayakashi throughout the Maze."
"And if you are not back in the Courtyard by Sundown you're locked in then Maze over night."
Starrk looked to Kita then quickly back at the two men. "The Maze will never be that same. When you think you know your way. Master Ichimaru or Master Tervaden will be happy to change it on you." Starrk chuckled as both men growled at him.
Kita looked from Starrk back to the two captive, "Are there any questions?"
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Post by Ichigo Kurosaki on Nov 22, 2015 0:40:57 GMT -6
Ichigo was silent for a few moments, considering their words and the people behind them. "So is our fate to be hunted until we fail? Is that your wish," He paused, "This to save the world?"
Kita narrowed her eyes at him. "The Maze is not for saving the world. It's for protecting..."
"Protecting what!?" Vacanze growled cutting her off. "Not--"
"Lord Aizen's investments." Kita told them cutting Vacanze short as he did her.
Ichigo folded his arms much like his father would, though he lacked the cocky smile. "How are those who will never bend to him his investments?"
Kita smirked. "Their not. You're my investment's. The realms are his." Kita stepped back around them turning to face them once more. "Your removal from the realms are to clear a path for his games. Brought here for another's games. Of course you will entertain us all, but I hold the cards that determine your fate. Behave. You live. Get out of line..." Her smirk grew. "Well I am sure I need not explain that one."
"And how many will you invest in this game of yours?" Ichigo muttered. "And what will the price be?"
"As many as I see fit. Orders have been placed with the attack. Certain ones are not allowed to be killed. They will be brought here. From there the weak will be sorted from the strong with help of the Maze." She stepped up to Ichigo lifting her hand she let her fingertips caress his jawline. "I don't think you should have issues with this. Think of it as training." She leaned in closer to him and whispered. "If you would prefer I could take you else where, Ichi. I am sure you could be enjoyed in other ways."
As Vacanze growled again, Ichigo sighed. "So the weak will die unless the strong can protect them and find the way out. You're right. It is something I know well. And you used to know it, too... I hope you remember when your soldiers are defeated." He took a step back from her. "I will find a way out of your trap, and then, I am getting you out of Las Noches. You and anyone else I know shouldn't be there."
"What of my offer?" Kita asked.
"I'm not interested." He grinned for a moment. "Like you, I am bound to one. So I don't play that game." He turned around. "Choose a path, V-man. We'll play their game for now."
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Post by Byleistr Vacanze on Nov 22, 2015 1:13:50 GMT -6
Vacanze looked around him getting annoyed at the view. It was all the same. White everywhere. It reminded him of the palace the first time he arrived there. Clenching his fists tightly he turned to his right and pointed the direction where more light seem to be coming in.
"This way."
Ichigo nodded and the two took off, but not before they heard the tender voice of a long lost friend whisper in their ear.
"Good luck and be safe my friends."
Good luck and be safe, Ichigo responded below a whisper, half mockery and half because he had to reply as such.
He quickened his pace beside Vacanze. "So fancy teaching manners to anyone in particular?"
Vacanze shook his head and sighed. "She's playing the game well. Don't cast her out just yet, Sub-man." They rounded the corner into the next part of the Maze. "You don't understand the game here."
Ichigo made a face. "I would never do that, but I still have a bad taste in my mouth from that exchange. And I know you feel the same."
He fell silent as they rounded another corner that looked the same. "I guess this game means we will get to punch Kisuke for being caught."
Vacanze chuckled. "I get first swing." He then looked over at Ichigo. "As far as the bad taste in your mouth--" He paused, "That means she must be doing this right. If it made your skin crawl like it did mine--it means she has Aizen believing her act as well."
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Post by Ichigo Kurosaki on Nov 24, 2015 15:06:39 GMT -6
Ichigo shrugged. “Let’s stop talking about it,” he muttered. It just reminded him that he couldn’t save anyone, not even on the eve of a big assault. “I just hope our disappearance is noticed soon enough for Orihime to vanish with Eve and Dad to get off his old ass to protect my sisters. I don’t want them here.” He looked to a wall, gathered his reiatsu into his bigger blade and rushed the wall. It barely left a dent. “Even if they are stronger than they look,” he finished.
Vacanze clapped a hand to his shoulder, making the substitute look back towards him. “Come on," the former espada whispered. "Let’s not linger. Knowing the bastards at top, there’s something that stinks in here, and I don’t want it catching wind of us when we've barely scratched the surface of this thing."
Ichigo nodded, eyes narrowing in warning towards the surroundings, and chose a left fork this time. "I doubt it matters which way we go at this point, but if you notice anything different or patterns, speak up. I may not be paying as much attention to our surroundings as I should."
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Post by Kagawa Eiji on Nov 25, 2015 19:39:05 GMT -6
Kagawa looked at the two Shinigami from his place on top a short wall of the maze. His nearly white eyes narrowed as the Substitute cursed his being captured. Resting his hand to Shinbungoretsu, Kagawa readied himself to break the early captives.
A fraccion appeared in the center of the courtyard, bowing while giving the order for Kagawa to leave the Maze. Kagawa nodded, disappearing moments after the fraccion did.
"So, it begins."
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Post by Lt. Renji Abarai on Jan 1, 2016 21:59:39 GMT -6
"Bait": (continued) Renji grunted as the spots dancing before him at the pain from the suction pipe faded. “That ass!” he snapped, sitting up. “This better be worth it or I am going to join the squad for Snake skinning.” HIs head swung around the dark walls around them. Hissing at a sword slash in his leg. Then froze. “Kairo, the walls are different.”
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Post by Lt. Kairo Namori on Jan 1, 2016 22:02:46 GMT -6
Kairo stood, halting the healing on his hand, and wiped the black-tipped zanpakuto on his leg. His shoulder was damp from his own blade slamming into him. But he still had Shiroi. His eyes hardened into jade. He snapped his fingers, releasing two new shadows. “They are,” he agreed in a toneless voice a few moments later. Before the maze had been filled with too many turns. They could tell that much by his shadows. But now…. “We either go back along the white wall behind us or go forward. There are no other options.” The two chose to go further.... - END - Finished/Merged in "Changing the Stage":
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Post by Szayelaporro Granz on Feb 3, 2016 21:28:12 GMT -6
"Pinky Play Time":It had been hours since the four were called into the Maze, Szayel had to admit they were not doing too badly with what he was making them face. Though he had separated the four into pairs. Captain Kuchiki and Lieutenant Izuru were one of the pair. Thus putting Lieutenant Abarai and Captain Ashimitsu together.
Turning the speakers on once more Szayel laughed aloud as it echoed through the Maze around the Soul Reapers. "Well, well, I must say you are surprising me. Maybe I should make this a little harder."
As the Soul Reapers started to cuss and mumble under their breath, Szayel released a few of the Vasto Lordes into the Maze. A few lower levels wandering in with them. He pressed another button as weapons of different kinds dropped from above. Lieutenant Abarai leaping back from one that almost landed on his head.
"Oops. I guess I should have told you to watch for falling objects." Szayel chuckled at him.
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Post by Lt. Renji Abarai on Feb 3, 2016 21:40:51 GMT -6
Renji ground his teeth as new waves of menacing intent filled the corridors around them and shared a look with Tsukiro. Tsukiro’s clothes ripped as he activated his shunko and Renji swung back as called on his Bankai. A grim smirk settled on his lips as he unleashed a sword from the baboon’s head and the snake curled above his head. He’d always liked Zabimaru’s form. It made him feel like he had his own monster.
“Don’t get cocky, ass,” the baboon muttered.
“I belieeeeve it wassss a complimmmmennnt,” the snake hissed in turn.
“Damn right it was,” Renji grinned. He raised his head to the ceiling. “I am not falling to your games, Pinky. I’ll get out of here and burn you again soon enough. Or maybe I will crush you into dust."
His hands clenched as he focused. “I will find the exit.”
For her.
Something was coming out of the gloom.
"Here we go again."
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Post by Captain Tsukiro Ashimitsu on Feb 3, 2016 21:51:11 GMT -6
Tsukiro spun on his heel as a howl came from behind him, "Bastards! They crawl out of the woodwork like cockroaches." Just then a Vasto Lordo darted through the opening a few clicks down from them.
Tsukiro spun at the last minute coming in behind it. As the hollow turned and swiped at him Tsukiro's blade came down in its head.
He covered his ears as it screamed in pain, "Dame things need to learn how to die quieter."
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Post by Lt. Renji Abarai on Feb 3, 2016 21:58:32 GMT -6
Renji flung his arm backwards. “Why?” he smirked. “It makes killing them,” he rushed forwards slaying one of the lesser ones with a sword toss, “actually seem like vengeance,” he continued, leaping onto a larger one that Hebi sliced into from torso to neck, Saru’s head coming up and protecting him from another creature’s whip. HIs eyes whirled. And then swung backwards, letting the head of the baboon crush the foe against the wall.
He wiped some blood off his cheek and turned around as another grabbed at the fur on his shoulder, slicing into its eye before kicking it backwards. “They are getting quicker though.”
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Post by Captain Tsukiro Ashimitsu on Feb 3, 2016 22:12:02 GMT -6
Tsukiro chuckled as he sliced away at the few that came at him. "They can still." Tsukiro leap over one charging toward him as he flipped, letting his sword cut him down the middle. "Do it." Spinning again he landed on his feet charging at another that was running sluggishly toward him. His blade removing its legs right above the knees. It howled as much if not more than the others.
"Quietly!!" Tsukiro bellowed at it as it faded away.
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Post by Lt. Renji Abarai on Feb 3, 2016 22:45:05 GMT -6
Renji snickered. “Someone’s in a cranky mood. Hear something nastier than usual from Kita?” He twisted around and launched Zabimaru’s head at three of the enemy, clenching his hand. The jaws came down, leaving pulverized dust in his wake.
Suddenly a towering hollow appeared behind the mass. It swung its hulking arms down, making the ground tremble before righting itself. Screaming a battlecry, it sonido'ed, flinging itself right at Renji.
The lieutenant just had time to brace for impact with the skull's jaws.
“Damn... piece of shit,” he growled, head still dizzy from the quake, pushing back on the beast.
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