[13th Division][Shikai Mission] A slippery slope

[Maeko Saionji]

Maeko pressed her lips together with a grim expression as she and Jaggy helped the woman into a sitting position. She was shaking, traumatised.

"You're safe now."

Maeko watched her face as Jaggy gently questioned her about the landslide, and helplessly watched as she began to sob. She crouched beside her and gently rested a hand on her shoulder.

"We'll find out what caused this, I promise. You'll be safe. Do you have family?"

At that the woman hunched forward with a wail, as is she was being hurt.

Oh no...

"We're going to find them, ok? I promise you."

The woman said nothing, but continued to sob uncontrollably.

Maeko stood up again, looking towards the mountain. A flicker of reiatsu had brushed across her senses, and as Jaggy mentioned it, she knew she had not been mistaken.

This is not good. While whatever caused the landslide is still up there, it could cause another one, which endangers us. But we need to get these people out.

"Jaggy..."

She kept her eyes fixed on the mountain as she spoke. "I'm going to go and investigate. You stay here and help as best you can. Some of the villagers may not be so badly hurt, they can help you."

She gave him a serious look.

"Anything happens, a shot of soukatsui in the air will get my attention. Work fast, and stay alert, ok?"

With that, Maeko dropped into shunpo, towards where the ground began to slope upwards.

[Jaggy-J Yamato]

"Alright Maeko-San. You go up there, I'll try to get everything into place here."

He looked towards her as she fell into shunpo up the mountain. He looked towards the woman and said, "Don't worry, everything will be fine. You just relax here, ok ?"

She nodded.

Jag pressed a button on the right hand gauntlet and the gauntlets on his hands and legs expanded and geared up. The hand one's now shielded his shoulders and the leg one's had a gear on the heels.

Time to clean up this place !!!

He started punching and kicking the top of the debris piles and scoured deep under them. Under a cover of bamboos and thatches, shaped by a few pillars, he found two kids. They looked pretty scared. He took them to the woman.

"Do you know them ?", he asked.

The woman, just looked mystified, and quickly hugged the kids. They all were shredding tears of joy.

"Thank you", she said.

"It's alright. I'll go and look around. Just give a call if you see something suspicious."

He went back to smashing the debris and making path.

This is really one hell of a wreck here. It's a miracle that the woman and her kids have survived. NO!!! I should be positive !!! I should not think in such a way !!! There can't be casualties here !!!!

But even though he was thinking this again and again in his mind, he knew that something was eating his heart. Something ........................... something like this ........................... an incident .............................. That night in Inuzuri, where he .............................. where he lost his loved ones.

He at once brought his senses together. He didn't want to think about it. He had to focus on his task. He removed more rubble and sighed. He looked down, remembering the sad day, but was distracted. There on the ground was a pool, not of water, but of scarlet blood, flowing through the cracks on the ground like a brook. He was enraged. Quickly removing the heap from where it was coming, he looked properly.

A mass of dead was lying there. The scene was sick. Their bodies were washed by the rainwater. They all had succumbed to the death's hand.

And then something happened. The clouds became dark, and the little light which was adding visibility to the surrounding vanished. Jag looked up at the sky, which was thundering now.

That's unusual, how come the clouds darkened like that.

He switched on a flashlight on his gauntlet and began scouring once again, but had to stop after a few minutes. That spiritual pressure was back, and it was constant this time. He became alert, his heart was pounding. He looked around in search for the source of the reiatsu but couldn't see anything.

"Who's this ?? Show yourself !!!! Come out and show your face !!!!"

He heard a roar. He looked back and saw a weird figure atop a mound of earth. He pointed his flashlight towards it. It was horrible.

The thing was no doubt a hollow, but of a kind he never saw. It was huge, and had a human like appearance. The thing was bipedal, with huge claws and wide drooling mouth. He looked hungry.

"Did you cause all this ?". he asked.

What if I did ? Huh !!! You shinigami think you can do something to me ? You filthy toerags !!! Know my name !!!!!! Cloud Burst !!!!!

"Weird name you've got, beastie. But feed this into your filthy mind that this was your last plunder !!!"

Bleh !!!! You think you can defeat me !!! I'm gonna rip you off like these filthy souls !!!

"Come for me then !!!"

Jag quickly unsheathed his word and ran towards the hollow. The beast dropped to his front feet and inhaled a great amount of air. Jag slashed at him twice, but it dodged. He then quickly appeared at it's back and delivered an upswing which resulted in a cut on it's back.

You know how to fight you toerag !! But you don't know how to get around this !!!!!

It blew out all the air from its lungs and Jag was covered in chilling clouds. He could not see at all. It was foggy and cold and he could hardly breathe in the thick air. He quickly unsheathed his sword as

My attempts will be futile this way !!! I need to do something quickly else this monster will eat me up.

Enjoying in there, shinigami boy ? Do you like it, eh ? HeHeHeHeHeHeHeHeHeHe !!!!!

And then something rang in his mind.

"Anything happens, a shot of soukatsui in the air will get my attention."

That's it then !!!!

He stretched his hands up and shouted,"Hadou #33 : Soukatsui!!!"

A torrent of blue spiritual energy was shot in the air.

What was that ? What the hell did you do ? Did you signal someone of your kind, toerag ?

Jag followed the source of it's voice and got the idea of it's direction. He quickly fell into shunpo and appeared behind the monster with his blade out and ready to slice.

"Looks like your cloud is pretty useless after all !!!"

What about my fists ?

"What about yo.....

>>>>>WHAM<<<<<

Jag was knocked out.

Although unconscious, he could see. He could not understand at all. When he cleared his eyes, he felt it strange. He had appeared on some kind of a plateau with a huge green valley beside it. It was dark there, but the plateau had some light. He looked up towards the grey clouds which were filtering light. He followed one such beam of light, which landed on the same plateau. And in it was a magnificent Griffin, looking towards him.

[Maeko Saionji]

This... is annoying...

Maeko squinted up the rock face at a cave set into the cliff, at least ten metres above her. The cavern seemed inaccessible, but without a doubt, this is where the reiatsu had emitted from. She could still sense the lingering traces of it clinging to the bare rock.

Well... here goes nothing.

She took a deep breath, before running straight at the rock face. Her foot planted against the rock and she pushed herself up it, allowing the momentum to propell her upwards. As she began to slow, and her feet began to slip on the rock, she extended her arm upward.

"Bakudo no yon, Haianwa!"

The glowing rope shot up and wrapped around a helpfully protruding tree, and Maeko managed to pull herself up into the cave. To find... nothing.

Brilliant, what a waste of time.

Oh hush...

There was no doubt that whatever had caused the landslide was here however. Thraces of the same dark reiatsu were everywhere.

What ever "it" is, it's been here for a while...

So where else are we supposed to look?

Before Maeko could answer, something made her spin around. Back down in the valley, she saw a flash of blue streaking towards the sky.

Jaggy... Oh no!

Well at least now you know where to look...

Maeko ignored her sarcastic Zanpakutou, and sprinted straight out of the cave, disappearing into shunpo before she'd even hit the ground, tearing back to where she could now feel the same evil reiatsu growing menacingly.

[Jaggy-J Yamato]

Jag had never seen a Griffin so magnificent. Brilliant mix of shades of blue on his feathers, sharp green eyes, powerful claws and strong paws. And it was looking at him without blinking it's eyes.

What in the name of God ? Should I be scared, or stand transfixed by it's gaze ? It seems harmless, but how the hell did it come here ? And where am I !!!!

"Looks Like you still are unaware of the fact that you've landed in your inner world", said he Griffin, in a polite voice, with strength in it.

"Inner World ?"

"Yes ! Inner world !!! This is your Inner World Jag !!! And I know that you're not stupid to figure out the rest.", said the Griffin, moving towards him.

Jag looked in it's eyes, and the next words came out involuntarily.
"You're my zanpakutou's soul, aren't you ? Cool !! What's your name ?

"Exactly ! See you got that !!! My name's Yamato., and he came running towards Jag and thrust his head softly into him, sat down, and said, "Scratch me !"

Jag was, at first scared by this gesture, but felt it to be amusing. Yamato, though giant, was acting like a kid. Jag scratched behind his ear.
"You're like a sweet little kid, Yamato. But listen, we can play later, can't we. I've to go back and defeat that hollow and save the people on the mountain. So, let me go."

Yamato raised his head which was now in level with Jag's head. His look was piercing. He stood on his claws, with his hind paws still seated, and said, "Oh you're not going anywhere !! You can't kick that beastie in the butt without my help !! And it's my order !! I won't let you get out soon enough !!! You don't even know about me !!

Jag looked at Yamato with confusion. There was a childish look in his eyes.

"Alright, tell me about you then."

"Sit Down first !"

Jag obeyed him and sat on the ground.

"Okay ! So where do I start !! Ah yes !! My type ! It's the most important thing ! You can't do anything without knowing my type ! You need to get acquainted and used to it. It's necessary, as it's gonna help you to understand the attacks better. Also, it's help you know the release command well ! And ..."

"Can you cut this and come to the point ? You talk a lot you know ?"

"Yeah ! Whatever Mr. I'm-in-a-hurry !!! My type is Light and Darkness ! Cool, eh ?"

"Yes, it's cool, but in what way ?", said Jag with a smirk.

"Ha Ha Ha !! Happy ? Don't forget that you just got whammed in the face by that ugly ! I can control Light and Darkness !!! Shade and Light, Yin and Yang, you know that don't you ? Both polar opposites complete each other. I harbor their powers, and thus I can give you access to some of the most powerful attacks and abilities.

Jag pondered on it for a moment and said, " I see. That seems fantastic ! So you're like someone who keeps balance of the two, if I'm not wrong.

"Yes, yes. When have you been wrong brainy ?!! You think and you waste time !!

"What's wrong with you ? Why are you getting angry ? It's better to use mind than power. Looks like you're the kind of guy who just rushes into the battle without relaying signals in your brain."

"Forget it ! I just wanted to annoy you ! I find it funny, yes. Anyway, I'll tell you something very important. The release command, because without it, it's useless for you to enter shikai mode.
The command is 'Shield The Light', or 'Kei ni Shīrudo', whatever seems cool to you. Japanese or English !!

"Hmm, and you'll use your wings to do so ?"

Yamato looked at him with heavy eyelids.
"You can't live without a joke can you ? FYI, my wings are strong enough !"

"What did you say ? FYI ? Now you're like some hip griffin, eh ?

"What ? I can't use these abbreviations ? I've been looking through your eyes for years !!"

Jag sighed and then opened his mouth to speak again. "Yes, Yes, I got it !! Let's not waste time buddy. So what happens when I command ?

At this, Yamato put on a very awkward smile, and said, "You'll come to know that soon. Look around, light and darkness, spread everywhere. That should give you a hint. Besides, it's gonna be you who'll be keeping yin and yang in balance. And not just the ones of your attacks, but those around you. You've got something which covers the entire planet, the whole universe. Light, to guide you, and Darkness, to protect you. Manipulate them when and as required !!!"


Jag couldn't believe his ears. This was definitely not happening.
Control Light and Darkness ? That seems to be a joke. That's ...... that's .... like impossible !!! Me fiddling with nature's work ?

"Oh yes ! That's right. It's for your own good. Remember one more thing, I can hear your thoughts. We are one. Also, I'll sometimes poke you around and speak in your mind.

Jag was still unable to digest what Yamato had said. He saw Yamato looking at the horizon, which had a bright source of light. It was far away.

"Time for you to go, bud !"

The source suddenly flushed light upon everything in the vicinity. It was bright, but was not hurting his eyes. The light was eating everything up, and the surrounding were starting to vanish.

Jag looked towards Yamato and asked,
"This is impossible.
How Could it be ?"

"Open your eyes.
Maybe you'll see !"

And he vanished.

[Maeko Saionji]

The hollow was unusual, that was for sure. It stood on two legs like a human, though Maeko realised with relief it wasn't a menos. With a tightening of her stomach, she saw that Jaggy had been knocked unconscious. A flash of protective instinct, she moved in shunpo between the sixteenth seat and the hollow.

"That's far enough. Attacking one who is unable to fight back is despicable, you are undeserving of the power you have been given.

"Don't make me laugh, shinigami. When describing power like mine, your words are meaningless."

"You caused the landslide?" Maeko's lips were tight with anger. This hollow was the cause of all the destruction, people's lives and livelihoods ruined.

"There is no place for those who wish to harm others here."

Ther hollow simply laughed. Suddenly, with a hiss, a cloud of mist emminated from it's mouth, enveloping Maeko.

Nice try...

Gathering reiatsu beneath her feet, she sprung up into the air, out of the cloud of fog. She unsheathed her blade, and raised it above her head. As she came back down, she swung for the head of the hollow. It managed to dodge, hiding in it's own cloud of mist. As Maeko landed in the chilling fog, she swund her blade around in a horizontal arc. Her blade caught what must have been the leg of the hollow, it met resistance and a screech, but she couldn't see. The mist was chilling. She slipped into shunpo and emerged into the comparitively warmer rain.

"Jaggy? Jaggy are you ok?"

[Jaggy-J Yamato]

The warmth of the inner world was gone. The rain was now beating down on Jag's face. He woke up, with a strange kind of feeling, like some kind of fire was lit in his heart. Wiping water off his face he looked towards the source of the question which was ringing in his head.

"Maeko-San ? Is that you ? Man it feels so bad !! My head hurts !!"

He looked towards Maeko-San. She had her blade out and was facing a giant cloud in front.

"So you got the signal, eh ? Is that cloud made by that beastie ?"

Whom do you call beastie ? You filthy toerag !! Damn you woke up ! Now's I've got two shinigami to clean up !!!!"

What a total fool !! He's so stupid ! He thinks he can face two shinigami with ease ? Specially Maeko-San !!!

"Don't be a fool !! Get up and attack him !! You've got a fair chance now !!!"

Jag looked here and there for the source of this sound, but then realizing that it was his zanpakutou, he thought, Sorry ! I'm not used to this. But hey, this is stupidity !! You want me to jump into the battle without even planning ? That's ridiculous !!

"Come again ? You say that my suggestion is ridiculous ? What planning do you want to do ? Do you have time for that ?"

I can think of a tact ?

"Not today pal ! You're gonna work my way, for once at the very least. So buckle up and get the blade out !!!

Jag stood up and dusted his coat, then looked up towards the cloud and said, "All right !!! Time to get some unfinished business done !!"

"What was that toerag ?"

"Come out Beastie !!! I've got a nice little surprise for ya !"

The cloud started to thin out and Jag saw the distinct figure of the hollow. He was looking blood thirsty. He looked towards Jag and blasted, "What is it ?"

Jag smirked at him and then picked up his blade from the ground and lifted it in the air, and before he could say something, Yamato intervened.
"Oi !!! Do me a favor and command in style. Something like keeping the blade parallel to the ground in your right hand and calling me, got it ?"

What's wrong with you ? Style matters to you more ? All right I'll do it in style !!!

"Don't waste my time shinigami boy ! I've to eat you two up !!!

"Yeah, whatever, get ready to be dazzled by your present !!! Maeko-San, I've got something to show you"

With this said, Jag held his blade in his right hand with the hilt facing left according to his perspective, parallel to the ground and shouted, "Kei ni Shīrudo !!!!!!!!"

The blade and it's sheath began glowing blue and purple respectively.
"What's that !!! Howe did those red eyes appear on your sword ?"

"No Idea !!!!"
Then the suddenly, the blade as well as the sheath disappeared and reappeared as twin blades, one of light and the other of darkness, glowing in blue and purple respectively.

"Whoa !! That's cool Yamato ! Is that why you were referring to your wings ? The twin blades represent your wings, eh ?

"I never doubted your intelligence Jag, it's just that you are a slow attacker."

Whatever !!!!

Jag came into fighting stance, with the blades balanced in his hands, glowing majestically. He looked towards Maeko-San and asked, "What do you say ?"


He then looked towards Cloud Burst and said, "Time to say goodbye beastie !! Here I come !!!"

And then, he swiftly ran towards the hollow and raised his blade, then appearing right behind it, he slashed his blades powerfully in a crossing way. The hit was perfect as it went sliding, forming blood trails on the ground, but still stood up, looking enraged.

[Maeko Saionji]

Shikai... Maeko realised with surprise as Jaggy released his new twin-bladed Zanpakutou.
Oh well, he's alright, that's the main thing, and now is as useful a time as any for it to appear. Thirteenth divisioners do seem to have a thing for double-bladed weapons... she mused, as she saw the sword's new form.

With the newfound power, Jaggy's confidence appeared to have grown as well. Maeko smiled and nodded once toward him.

"Impressive. Now let's get rid of this guy once and for all. He's much too arrogant for my liking..."

Jaggy had already moved to attack, swinging his dual blades as if he'd known how to use them all along. His attack met, but the creature didn't fall.

Ok then, let's give him a chance to see what his new Zanpakutou can really do...

"Bakudou no yon, Haianawa!"

The golden chain leapt from her outstreatched palm, twining around the legs of the hollow and binding him in place.

"Go on Jaggy!"

[Jaggy-J Yamato]

"What a useless hit !!! You should focus more Jag."

How can I focus when you pop in my head with your comments ?

"Yeah, whatever. Look, it's bound in bakudou !!!!"

Jag looked at the beast, whose legs were bound by the golden chains. He looked towards Maeko-San, who had launched bakudou on it.

"Thanks Maeko-San, that'll stabilize it for good."

"What the hell is this !!! Let me out you foul shinigami !!!"

"Oh, I'll let you out, don't worry. I'll let you out from that foul hollow shell of yours !!!"

"Need help ? Oh yes you do ! Here's what you can do !!!! Enter a defensive stance and give this command, Swipe, to me."

Okay, let's see whether it's useful or not.

Jag took a deep breath and shouted out loud, "Swipe, Yamato !!!!!"

In the blink of an eye, numerous energy blades, glowing blue and purple, appeared spinning in the space behind Jag. He looked towards the spinning lights of blue and purple, levitated in the air, as if waiting for something.

"This is Kaiten shi Hane, Spinning Blades. They're waiting for your order Jag ! Give a path to them, and they'll pierce through the skin of that beastie."

This seems fun.

Jag motioned his blue blade towards the hollow and all the blue spinning blades went that direction. He then motioned the purple blade and the same happened with the purple spinning blades.

The blades, spinning violently, scratched and etched on the hollow's skin and remained sticking in their respective cuts, forcing the hollow to howl in pain.

"How's that, huh ? Toerag !"

"H-How d-d-d-dare y-you ? You'll pay for t-t-t-this !!!!"

"Stop stuttering !!! Besides, it's you who's paying, not me, and I've several debts to collect from ya !!!!"

Jag motioned his twin blades behind him and shouted with all his might, "Show no mercy !!!!! Swipe !!!! YAMATO !!!!!!!!!!!!"

There were now a huge number of blades suspended mid air, and Jag, without wasting time, motioned his twin blades simultaneously towards Cloud Burst.

"Eat this, Beastie !!!!!"


There was a lot of slashing and piercing. When all the blades had stopped into the wounds, and the hollow looked like some giant light bulb, enlightening the surroundings with blue and purplish glow, it fell down without even twitching a muscle.

[Maeko Saionji]

As Jaggy attacked the hollow once more with his newfound shikai, Maeko's eyebrows raised slightly in surprise.

Well that's a bit familiar...

You're telling me...

Jaggy's first shikai ability was strikingly similar to her own.

Shows just how versatile it is... Ochi sounded smug.

As the hollow fell, Maeko ended the bakudou, stepping forward towards the hollow's unmoving, but still present form.

"Not quite dead." Maeko eyed the unconscious form with distaste, before turning to smile slightly at Jaggy. "You've done well. He's yours to finish, if that's what you want."

Now he has his power he should understand it's finality.

He seemed to enjoy that...

Let him. It's his victory. If he wants to be a shinigami, he needs to be able to accept what he has to do.

"Hurry, there are still people to find."

[Jaggy-J Yamato]

"Oh sure I will get this beastie outta here. And I'll make it quick !"

Jag looked at Cloud Burst and caught it's eye, looking towards him.

"What's wrong ? Is your eye the only thing you can move ?"

"Hmmm, brrr - aaargh, ehhh - hhuuuuh !!!!"

"What was that Beastie ? Is your "Cloud" burst ?", said Jag, with a grin.

"Man ! Don't waste time ! Finish him off ! It stinks !!!"

"What stinks ?"

"You delaying the attack !"

"Fate had to entwine you with me !!!! Yeah, well, whatever man ! I'm ending this !!!"

Jag lifted his twin blades, with Yamato's laugh ringing in his head, and ran towards Cloud Burst. He lifted his blades and swiped them hard on him, then jumped aside, and sealed his shikai, which regained it's previous shape of sleek, elegant katana.

The hollow started howling, and then suddenly burst into small particles, all disappearing independently.

"Debt taken !"

The sky cleared up, creating a Tyndall effect. Beams of sunlight lighted up the mountain, and the showers stopped as the clouds started to recede. The place was filled with a scent of wet sand and a rainbow had burst into the sky.

Jag looked towards the rainbow and said, "It's beautiful, isn't it ? I feel much relieved now, that these people are safe.

You know what, no doubt that Yamato is kinda mischievous and kiddie, but hey, him and I are one and alike, and I'm happy I've him as my zanpakutou.


So, what now Maeko-San ?"