Growing Stronger in a Very Mad World

[Kurosawa Ryou]

The blood and oil soaked world that he walked through had the Shinigami smiling softly. He knew the pain would come soon, but for now at least he could enjoy the scenery. Of course that was when he noticed something… out of place. A few large black rats that sat in the bushes and were wearing little red bell man suits with top hats on their heads. The creature had such a vicious look to them he wonder for a moment if they were a part of the game. It was just as that thought crossed his mind that he heard In’ei’s voice say, “Not exactly my little Shinigami. No… They are just the reward for when you fail. Besides we needed some guest.” Arching his eyebrows he looked around and pulled out his sword, “What exactly do you mean some guest?” A laugh echoed out, and Ryou knew his spirit was in her triplet state. “Why my dear… for tea.” Her laughter seemed to fade away as Ryou quickly flash stepped away, trying to escape the ambush by heading into the nearby trees. Only to hear a sudden noise and feel a sudden pain as Sukai’s voice whispered in his ear, “Found you…” The glasses wearing spirit slammed her elbow into her masters belly.

Ryou was sent flying out of the forest as In’ei said in her sage like manner, “You need to pay attention more…” Her fist slamming him down towards the ground where Ningy waited saying, “My turn to play.” As she smacked him with the reverse side of her blade into the side of the clock tower. The pain… it felt so bad, even here in this inner world. Though it didn’t really bother him, it was only pain after all. Something to be laughed at as he sat there listening to Sukai screaming while being held back by In’ei. “You little twerp, I am going to kick your teeth out when I get down that. My master is not that weak. If you’re not up betims I get down there your dead.” Yet all Ryou did was to sit there and look down at the ground in contemplation, as held his hand to his belly. Those bitches had broken his ribs. He barely had a chance to move before a hand had his collar and he realized they were floating up to the level at the top of the clocktower…

His raven hair covered his face completely as it looked right at Sukai. She glared and adjusted her glasses… the more masculine of the three. Sukai was like a small boy, and at the same time she was the most evil. Yet he could sense the other two flanking him, not saying a word… it was just him and Sukai, “You stupid idiot… you have been fighting like trash. You haven’t won ‘The Clocktower’ the past couple of years. Is it that damn human? We replaced your sisters… Tiacho replaced your sisters. You need no one else…” The wind blew a bit reveling an eye that looked right into Sukai’s eye, “Be gald you are my greatessst love. Were you anyone essle you would be dead.” His voice was so cold and ominous, with an obvious killing intent. The venom almost seemed to pour form every syllable. Though at those words Ningy began to giggle as Sukai slapped him across the face, “If you can’t even win a game that you could win 50 years ago… what makes you think you can protect that Donna bic…” Though her words were not even finished as Ryou’s sword slammed into face, his eyes filled with a psychotic rage. The blow knocked Sukai flying into the forest below.

The other two followed her path down towards the forest, with there eyes, were a loud bam registered hitting the ground. Look back the sight of their master they saw… was of his back to them. Walking back towards the clock tower through the air, while running his now bladed fingers through his hair. They young Shinigami muttered to himself, “Ssso you want to drag out the rabid beasst again? Becausse it isss to late. I will not let even you guysss insssult Missstress Donna and get away with it.” So with his weapon hand over his eye he looked back at them with a psychotic grin and while his tongue stuck out at them, before charging. Heading between the other two and into the forest, who quickly followed. It had happened like the very first time he learned his Zanpakuto’s name… the monster he held inside was out. So with his black hair flying behind him in the wind he crash through the trees were he saw Sukai defenseless he yelled, “I am coming for you Sssukai…” Slamming his hand into the shadow of a tree branch the man made a tendril shot out in her direction while flash stepping backward in the direction of Ningy who was moving to fast through the air. The man caught her right in the face with his claws as she went tumbling past, but disappeared to regroup. Looking around the Shinigami realized that his tendril had not done the damage he wanted it to do, “Come out… come out Sssukai.” Moving to a nearby branch he felt a pain go through his entire body and felt ready to collapse, but stuck his blades into the tree truck to catch himself.

Falling forward a bit he coughed up a little blood… he knew that his speed would certainly be down form here. Had he not got caught off guard by Sukai, things would probably have worked out. His one eye that showed through his hair looked behind him to try and find the trio at the moment he heard, “Eyes front retard…!!”He looked forward just in time to have Sukai’s foot slam into his face and knock him out of the tree. Leaving his Shikai, which turned back into the sword stuck in the truck. The more evil of the trio could only laugh at her victory as she yelled, “Yes… take that… I beat your ass. You lose at Clocktower again.” Standing there shaking her butt at him in the most childish manner Ryou growled as he stood up and pointed at her and said softly the incantation, though yelled the spell, "Sokatsui 33…” Sukai of course had only time to squeal as she was blown away by the attack. The ‘Dark Puppeteer’ smirked, as he fell back exhausted and in pain… quite a bit of pain.

Though he found himself simply staring up at In’ei’s face… she was back to her normal large form. Smiling at him, “Did you know darling if you where anyone else I would have killed them for such failure. You though just look so sssweet doing it I have to make you feel all better at your own tea party.” She spoke with such a motherly tone it was hard to believe the words that came form her lips sounded as affectionate as they did. The lung gently picked her owner up in her coils laughing as she took him towards The Clock Tower… It would be here that a few hours later that Ryou was sitting there in the area on top… tied to a chair. Dressed with a stove top hat and rats sitting in chairs at the table of which he was at the head… Though In’ei had pulled his hair back in a ponytail to reveal a Cheshire cat like grin, that also displayed rage as tea was drank in front of him. His ribs where in pain and the rats where ruining his tea table, by throwing pots everywhere. Still he grinned and it was through his grin he said… “Next time I ssswear In’ei I am going to sssmash your face in so hard love… your hilt is going to crack in the real world.” The thread only made the dragon laugh as she flicked his forehead, “Just try it… little Shinigami.”

[Kurosawa Ryou]

The 'Dark Toymaker' floated down the halls with a book in hand. Sitting in an indian style postion he had his face buried in the text. Though the oddest thing was that he was floating upside down. The 4th seat had made sure to tie up his hair in a manner that it didn't drag the floor as he floated around, waiting for the tea he requested to show. Ryou didn't like to ask the unseated to fetch things when they could be out training or somthing, but he was right in the middle of his own training... Training of the mind. It was certianly a most terriable thing to shovel... no waste... it was a most terriable thing to waste. Sighing to himself he put his book down and suddenly came to a halt... realizing that he was only inchs form running into a unseated Shinigami who was standing there. She was standing there giving him a bit of an confused look, "Your tea sir?" Was the only words he heard as one of his favorite tea cups was held up in front of his face. "Thanksss..." Was the only word spoke to the girl before he fliped himself slowly in a right side up postion, moving like the hand of a clock. He only took the expensive looking English style cup once he had let his feet touch the floor.

He walked on past the unseated Shinigami who probably would have got her hair ruffled had not Ningy said, "Come on silly. Why did you ask her to..." Of course the voice was intruppted by Sukai scream, "Because he is training numb nuts." Followed by the more mixed voice of In'ei, "Quiet both you." It was certianly the most calm and quiting of the three. Ryou let out sigh at the peaceful moment that came over his thoughts, and slowly enjoyed the warm tea that ran down his throat. The man reached up and let his hair back down, so that only one eye was given to be a window into his soul. He wasn't exactlly sure what kind of training he was going to work on at the moment after having read all moring. The man could sense a certian calm in the air, and so he wanted to be ready for the storm. He figured maybe some time in the forest? The trees made good shadows for the more simple exersies, though he would have go into his inner world to practice firing off his Kido. Maybe use Sukai as target practice again. Her voice growled, "I dare you to try that..." Overall though he found peace time trying unless it was with his sword to be a bit hard.

Finishing up his tea the fourth seat placed the cup careful in a little bag that he owned, and then tied it in a knot. Before heading to the training grounds tapping his sword on his sword on his shoulder as he walked. To get there though the Shinigami decided... why wait... and started to flash step his way down the hall only going short distances. A grin of amusment hidden behind his face as he enter the training ground, as the man flash stepped around the traing ground. Usally going right into a handstand or even floating upside down again. His serious nature was let go by the fact that not one was wacthing him unless In'ei and he could here the sword laughing in his head. It was not longer though, before his body began to tire, and he realized that he had not even worked on using the sword itself. Though to make it more instersting, Ryou made sure to realease first, as he could fell himself starting to even more tried when he made little trendirls of near by shadows. Sukai was screaming in his head and knocked off his concentration a bit, "Your certianly acting like a wimp you know that... You need to get your ass in here right now so I can kick you form here to..." Then a voice form no were said gleefully, "No you won't..." and a Ryou could swear he heard Sukai get smacked over the head.

With a laugh at the fighting of his beloved sword Ryou let his feet touch the roof surronding the training area and feel back to look up at the sky. Then like he always did in order to end his training sessions the Shinigami pointed up in the air and said the incantation softly, followed by the spell, "Sokatsui 33…” The feeling of the Kido leaving his finger felt like the last of his energy was going with it. The only thoughts in his mind was how he had to move faster... he had to move faster. No matter what happened he wouldn't be able to win if he couldn't. He had to move faster... and he had to rip more of In'ei's secerts... right form that sillys swords beating chest. It was with that thought in mind that he feel asleep with good dreams in his head for once. In'ei was being nice to him today, with it's coils wrapped gently around his body. In his dreams he relaxed with his cloest friend on it's throne as it took smokes form it's hooka, and he sat there drinking tea. While In'ei giggled slightly and slipped the hat on his head.