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Post by Urahara Kisuke on Mar 14, 2016 21:07:00 GMT -6
"The Snake Charmer and His Snake":Kisuke walked out of what looked to be a solid wall of stone. His hand on his hat as he looked around the small village tucked under them safely, but that was not what he came out looking for. It was Ichimaru Gin. For the last few weeks he had been disappearing. Kisuke knew why and said nothing, but it was getting to the point he was coming back beaten and bloody. His spiritual energy weakened as well as the spark in his pale blue eyes. It was time to nip this in the bud.
The man was out looking for death and welcoming it with open arms. It was like he forgot what was waiting for him in Las Noches. It had only been three months since they took him out of there, or well...since Vale tossed him out on his ear. Striping him away from his family and the woman he loved took a toll on Gin. A toll Kisuke never thought he would see overcome a man that had a stone cold heart. He knew Kita had broken down his walls, but he never knew she got into his heart that deeply. Then there was his first and only born son that was with her. The man was a mess and it was time to open his eyes and make him realize what it is he needs to start fighting for instead of his own death. He turned and looked up the side of the bluff. There hanging over the edge at the highest point were a set of thin long legs. A white haori drifting in the breeze.
Kisuke quickly shunpo'ed up the side of the cliff as he soon stood over the man looking down at him. His hand on top of his hat as he looked down at him from under the brim. His dark eyes narrowed. "You're drunk." He pushed Gin to his side with his foot. "Get up you damn drunk." Kisuke growled at him. He shook his head as Gin groaned. Kisuke turned his back on him and looked over the bluff. "If Kita or Sojiro saw you they would be ashamed of you. Is that what you want? Get up!"
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Post by Gin Ichimaru on Mar 15, 2016 21:53:31 GMT -6
“Go away, Hat-n-Cane,” Gin snarled. “As you and so many others have pointed out, I can’t get her now. What I do without her is none of your concern.” The bitter bite in his voice thickened with each word. He wrenched his head back around, not really seeing the scenery, just a blur of green, brown, and slits of blue. His bruised hands clenched at his sides, scraped knuckles throbbing, but he had enough alcohol in his system that the only pain he could feel at this point was the deep ache in his chest with each breath. That last person had slammed his foot closer to his lungs than he would have preferred - in another time.
As it was, pain and anger kept the memories at bay. The memories and the sickening disgust at himself. He’d lost. After all they had planned, all the promises to each other in the night when they were alone, Aizen and Vale had finally torn them apart. And it wasn’t him who they had snared. It was Kita. And his son. He growled beneath his breath yet again. She was the bastard’s queen, and any day she would give birth to Vale’s son, tying her even closer to the the darkness behind the throne.
Bile rose in his throat. Fury sharpening his mind and the numbness slipping, his slitted eyes flashed crimson as he recalled the last words Vale had pulled him close for.
“Get your shit together and be a man, Gin! She's going to need you.”
The damned shadow above him didn’t move.
And had the audacity to make inferences about what they would want.
As if that mattered.
“I told you to go away, old man,” he snapped. “Now beat it!”
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Post by Urahara Kisuke on Mar 15, 2016 22:10:27 GMT -6
Kisuke said nothing only turned, reached down grabbing the collar of Gin's haori and flung him down the cliffs side. "You want to play hardball again, Ichimaru." He pulled at the hem of his haori. "I guess we will play again. It's always been one of my favorite games to play with you."
He pushed off the side of the cliff in a flash of shunpo beating the Snake to the bottom. He caught him by his arm and spun. After a couple of full three-sixty. Kisuke released him sending him toward the large lake in the village. Kisuke took off again after he adjusted his hat. Kisuke making it over the lake just as Gin skidded across the water on his backside. He watched as Gin tumbled across the waters surface when he tried to stop in the middle of the skid. When the Snake stop he sunk down under the water. Walking over to where Gin sank Kisuke adjusted his hat again and looked down into the crystal clear water of the lake. Gin still sinking deeper and deeper. Kisuke cupped his hand next to his mouth and yelled out.
"Might want to swim some time soon. Not sure what is at the bottom of the lake. It would really suck to have to live down there for the rest of your immortal live."
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Post by Gin Ichimaru on Mar 15, 2016 23:05:39 GMT -6
Gin wasn’t really paying attention. The darkness was slipping over him and he was more than willing to let it. He didn’t think he would like drowning, but then again, he could hold his breath for a long time - as a spirit being. He closed his eyes.
If he wasn’t an immortal…
A hand brushed over his cheek as if to wipe away the tear hidden where no one would see them, and Kita’s voice echoed in his ear. “Don’t do this, Gin. Please.” Her voice trembled.
Gin tried to will her away, knowing how far she could read into the pain bleeding through his soul, but she refused to leave.
“Gin, I still love you and I want no other but you.”
And if I loved you more, I wouldn’t have failed…
“Don’t you dare blame yourself. I’ll hit you when I see you next.”
A glimmer of a smirk flitted over his lips. “Too late,” he whispered through their connection. It faded. “You don’t need me.”
“You’re wrong!”
“Not now…”
“Gin….please…”
A long sigh filled his chest. “As you wish….”
The lake surface hummed beneath Kisuke’s feet, and then blasted up into a geyser, Gin shunpo’ing out and landing on the surface, bangs plastered to his face. “Are you done yet, Hatter?”
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Post by Urahara Kisuke on Mar 15, 2016 23:13:44 GMT -6
Kisuke grinned. "Well, Snakes do know how to swim." He drew back without warning and punched Gin in the mouth, making him slide back across the surface of the water. "Can you tell me why you're here?" He asked Gin as he walked toward him.
Gin cursed and spat blood. "To drown a shopkeeper," he hissed.
Kisuke appeared in front of him grinning madly. "Nope wrong answer." He swung on Gin again. This time Gin catching his fist in his hand. Kisuke's face went blank as he blinked and looked at their hands. "Well now." His grin reappearing. "Can you catch this?" Kisuke's leg lifted and kicked Gin in the stomach. Gin did not move far but he went to his knees and puked as he held his stomach where Kisuke had kicked him.
Kisuke adjusted his hat stepping toward him. "That's right get it out of your system. Then I will kick your ass for real."
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Post by Gin Ichimaru on Mar 16, 2016 13:14:44 GMT -6
Swiping blood and vomit from his lips, Gin’s eyes narrowed into burning slits. “Not if I murder you first.” Pulling himself up, Gin disappeared, reappearing at Kisuke’s side and kicking at his back.
Kisuke swerved and caught his ankle, still grinning. “You’re going to have to be better than that if that’s your goal.” Twisting his arm, eyes glittering, he flung the Snake face first into the lake.
Gin came up, spitting water, eyes bleeding dire threats for an instant, before again vanishing. Trying another angle.
Kisuke whistled and turned around, following the slope of water. Benihime’s sheathe slammed into Gin’s ribs. Gin fell to his knees again and Kisuke angled his cane up onto his shoulder as the Snake puked once more. “Sober yet?” he asked in a nonchalant tone.
Gin growled wordlessly, hands fisted in the earth beneath him. But his mind was clearing and if the bastard disturbing him wanted a fight, he was going to get it. Gin threw the sand in Kisuke’s face and lurched up, grasping him by his hair and punching him in the chest. “I am not in the mood for your games, old man. Leave. me. Alone.”
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Post by Urahara Kisuke on Mar 16, 2016 18:01:27 GMT -6
Bringing the butt end of his cane up into Gin's breastbone, Kisuke broke free of Gin's grip. He looked at Gin as he dropped to his knees again. "You know," Kisuke's hand slid under his hat as he scratched his head looking down at the man on his knees puking yet again. "Maybe you're right. Maybe Kita and your son are better off without you. You have become rather pathetic these last few months. Are you sure you're Gin Ichimaru? Because if you are, I am starting to wonder how you made it all these centuries with Aizen without becoming his bitch."
Gin wretched again as Kisuke shook his head and walked over to him with a long sigh. "Get up. I am not going anywhere and you damn well know it. So just man up and get off your poor poor pitiful me act. Because it is really starting to piss me off."
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Post by Gin Ichimaru on Mar 16, 2016 19:50:32 GMT -6
“Well it’s none of your concern!” Gin hissed, springing up and swaying. “Until we attack Las Noches again, you have no business saying what I am doing is wrong. How I spend the useless interim. You handle your failure to Kenji in your way and I handle my continued,” his head lowered, his teeth grinding together, “constant circling failure in mine." Hs spun around, flickering reiatsu swirling around him. “I survived Aizen. I will survive this. I always do."
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Post by Urahara Kisuke on Mar 16, 2016 20:03:11 GMT -6
Kisuke shook his head as he turned from the Snake and started to walk away. "Fine go find a hole and climb in it. Don't worry about training and bettering your skills in other places while you're without Shinsou." Kisuke set his cane to his shoulder and shrugged.
"If that is the way you're going to think and act, might as well send a message to Tervaden and tell him he won. Tell him to keep the love of your life and the your only son as his own. You quit. They will be better off with him anyway if you're just going to lay down and die." Kisuke shrugged again. "There is always Tsukiro if Vale doesn't want her. Hell, even Aizen would take her given the chance. No matter. I am sure she can find a replacement for you." He then sighed. "I just hope they can mend her shattered heart after she finds out you gave up on her and your only son, and what is little Sojiro going to think." His head shook as he continued to walk away.
"Oh well. Yours and their problem now. Not mine."
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Post by Gin Ichimaru on Mar 16, 2016 20:37:54 GMT -6
“You bastard,” Gin growled.
In a whoosh of shunpo, Gin attacked the shopkeeper, slamming his knee into his stomach when the man grabbed his wrist and throwing sand in his face. He grabbed the cane and swung a fist into his jaw. “Don’t EVER threaten me like that!” he hollered, throwing his head into Kisuke’s when his fist failed. Eyes wild, he spat. “I will not tolerate it and-"
Gin flew across the lake again when Kisuke’s own punch landed. The Snake didn't let himself fall but flipped and charged again. “I will get them back. They’re mine.” He unleashed a crimson bolt of Kido and tried to hit Kisuke again as his vision blurred. “They’re all that’s left.”
He shunpo’ed away. “And waiting with nothing is destroying me."
Waiting and fearing that I will fail yet again. Because Shinsou is no longer enough to protect ... anything.
Gin didn't see the incoming attack from Kisuke and fell into the lake again.
Once more, he was tempted to stay there. But he pushed his heavy limbs upwards.
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Post by Urahara Kisuke on Mar 16, 2016 21:05:45 GMT -6
As Gin surfaced Kisuke smacked him on top of the head with his cane a wide grin across his lips. "Good. Fighting spirit channeled in the right direction." Coming back to the surface Gin shot up out of the water and swung on Kisuke as he danced back slightly. Kisuke's head shook slightly as he watched him attack, and attack again with failed attempts.
"I never thought I would be saying this to you of all people, but there is nothing but fear reflected in you. When you dodge, you're afraid of getting killed. When you attack, you, you of all people are afraid of killing someone. Even when you try to protect your loved ones, you're afraid of letting them die. And yes, I am sure if your sword were here it would speak of only absurd fears you harbor. What's necessary in a fight isn't fear, Ichimaru. You know that." Kisuke kneed him in the chest. "Nothing can be born of that." He grabbed a handful of his silver hair drawing back his fist and punched Gin in the mouth letting him go at the same time. "When you dodge, remember 'I won't let them touch me'."
He grabbed Gin again by the front of his kimono jerking him forward looking him in the eyes. "If you protect someone, 'I won't let them die'." He shoved him back then kicked him square in the chest causing Gin to slid back on the waters surface. "If you attack, 'I will kill them'."
He watched as Gin stood slumped over. Slowly he stood erect his signature smile spread across his face. Something Kisuke had not seen in months. His hand lifted to the top of his hat as he returned Gin's devilish grin.
"Come at me, Ichimaru. Come kill me. Because if you don't. I will make Kita a widow."
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Post by Gin Ichimaru on Mar 16, 2016 22:06:31 GMT -6
Again Gin reacted by wrapping his hands around Kisuke’s neck. “So you think you can play, do you Hat-n-Cane?” He disappeared as Kisuke slashed at him. Reappearing a few feet away, he caught his cane. “Hmmm, why is this sheathed? You think you can kill me without the sharp end?” Drawing Benihime’s sheathe, he dropped back and blocked a hit before swinging it up and around, stabbing the end against his ribs. He grinned as Kisuke nicked his arm before shunpo’ing away from more retaliation. “You will not take Kita away from me. Or my son.”
“No one will.”
He vanished, blocking another swing of Kisuke’s, as he appeared on his side before snaking it up and around and yanking. When the sheathe didn’t pull the sword from his opponent’s grip, Gin swung the tangled blade down towards Kisuke’s body.
“If you play with fire, you always get burned, dearie~"
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Post by Urahara Kisuke on Mar 16, 2016 22:27:07 GMT -6
Kisuke grinned. "Good." His sword came up slicing Gin's sleeve from seam to hem. "We both have something very dear to us in Las Noches. If we can't take the heat, neither of us need to be there."
His sword came back around as Gin blocked Benihime with her sheath. Kisuke grinned, "Watch her. She likes to bite." At that the sheath sent a shock up Gin's arm, but Gin's grip did not loosen. He swung again this time at Kisuke's head as Kisuke ducked and darted around Gin, Benihime taking a swipe at Gin's legs. Gin leap straight up and turned, bringing the sheath down on Kisuke's arm. Quickly Benihime came up and blocked the attack.
The two locked weapons for a split second then went at it again. Kisuke going for his chest slicing into the the fabric. Gin swinging the sheath catching Kisuke in the side at his ribs.
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Post by Gin Ichimaru on Mar 18, 2016 20:10:30 GMT -6
Gin smirked as he hit and changed his angle, appearing at Kisuke’s side and swinging the sheathe at Kisuke’s head. The shopkeeper whistled and leaned back, twisting Benihime up to fling the sheathe out of the way. But Gin altered his grip and used the momentum to thrust the sheathe at Kisuke’s chest.
Before the sheathe could bruise him, Kisuke kicked Gin backwards towards the lake. “You’re still too slow,” he stated, fixing his hat as he walked over. “For you, that is.”
“Then I’m fast enough,” Gin growled, his earlier irritation coming back at the return of Kisuke’s lackadaisical tone. He disappeared.
Kisuke shook his head, swing Benihime and erecting her shield, blocking a punch. “Suit yourself, Ichimaru. I warned you that I would make Kita a widow.” He danced to the side as Benihime’s sheathe twisted towards him and his eyes narrowed, unleashing a crimson arc of power.
As he dodged, Gin’s reiatsu swirled at the threat, his grip on his ‘sword’ hard enough to draw blood. Like it was a kind of anchor. “What are you trying to prove?”
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Post by Urahara Kisuke on Mar 18, 2016 20:48:40 GMT -6
Kisuke sent another arch of red light at Gin as he watched him dance around it. "That you are still who you were before you met Kita, and she blessed you with a son. That you are still that cold blooded killer, trickster and mischievous bastard you will always be."
Kisuke spun as Gin disappeared reappearing behind him. His weapon coming down as Kisuke blocked his attack. "That you don't have to change who you are to be a part of this life or any life. We know who's side you are on." He shoved Gin back as they stood there facing off.
"You have grown unsure of yourself since you have found your balance, Ichimaru. No one is judging you. Stop being afraid to be who you are just to fit in. Kita has loved you from day one. Good or bad. You are not going to scare her away and as long as she stands by your side. So will we."
Kisuke's eyes narrowed. "Now show me who you really are. Bring back the man my daughter fell in love with twenty years ago. Then and only then will you finally be able to face Vale and Aizen and defeat them." He lunged at Gin with intent to kill. "DO IT!!"
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