Hunting Vermin in The Wilds (Open- for a fight ;)

[Kurosawa Ryou]

No it was not the good the 'Dark Toymaker' was known for doing. It was certianly not the good at all. It was things that he did when he and In'ei were not limit by the rules that kept him form punishing evil in his way. When Ryou could hand out his sense of dark justice to the scum that hurt those who were innocent. Those were the moments that the little imp could have his fun. Besides... way out here in the middle of the more dangerous districts of the Rukongai... who was going to miss a few criminals anyway. After the 'Mad Dog' had his fun, and In'ei was let out to play... they usally looked like victims of hollow attacks. Of course he prefered to cacth people in the act. Not that he had much of a problem with killing, it was simply he didn't want to make the mistake of killing an innocent person.

His Shikai had been deployed the moment he crossed the line of the 50th district. Form here though he kept himself hidden as much as possiable hunting after his target. There seemed to be someone else much like himself out here, but this person... this bucther as Ryou though of him as, was simply a dog that needed putting down. All he had to do was find the man's next target before he did. His flash step brought him to land on the branch of a tree that hung over a house. No sooner had he landed did he hear screams coming form inside, "It seemsss I have found you." Were the words he softly wisphered to himself before quickly moving to postion himself in fornt of the entrance to the as he knew he was too late, but aslo knew... that he could take his time now.

Standing there the young Shinigami began to move his fingers back in forth. The clanking noise was ment to be the only warning the man inside would receive. He stood there waiting, as he could see a figure in the door way a Chesire cat grin spread over his face, "Good boy... It sseems you know to come when called." The criminal that stepped forth looked the same to him like all the others. Just another person who thought they could play with innocent live. Ryou wacthed the large muscular man step forth with blood on his hands... the only word he got to speak where, "Mad....?" Before suddenly a shadowy tendirl was wrapped around his neck and choking him. Looking at the Shinigami in a panic the man struggled. Ryou put his metalic finger up to his lips, "To assnwer your question it is yesss. Now it is time to put this bad dog to ssleep." With this those word he softly extended his index finger towards the man, but before he start he heard some voices behind him.

There were 3 men standing behind Ryou in a semi circle. Which made him let out a sigh... it was harder getting away with killing this many criminals. "Sso it was a gang." They were the only words he spoke before softly saying, "Kage no tate." The tendirl around the mans neck suddenly grew thicker, and with a quick whipping motion another shot out of Ryou's shadow and it began to cut at them. The hand that wore his Shikai was down by his side as he point it backward and ran the blades together as fast as he could. Ryou never turned around to wacth... he simply used his freehand to pull back his hair so the man whom his tentacle still held could look into both of his emotionless black eyes, "If this is what I am doing to them. Just thing what will happen to you." You could tell by the look in the mans eyes that indeed the 4th seat was probably going a little overboard. Mostly because he wasn't looking. So it was when he turned back to the man that he said,"So... shall we play a little game." All that could be heard next was the sound of Ryou's blades and screams... as he carried a very fitting punishment to anyone who knew the crimes.

It was about 20 mintues later that he stood next to a nearby lake. Washing off his Shikai in the most uneeded manner. "Well that is another one down... so many more to go." Again he thought he could see his sword winking back up at him form the liquid of the pond, "Ssilly In'ei... I guess your right. They had it coming." Pleasure he seemed to take was simply part of the act... to create fear. To him... he was just doing a job that not many were willing to do.

[Nanao Ise]

Rumours often travelled further in the Rukongai, caught on some howling wind that let their legends be scattered across vast expanses of district like petals whipped up in a hurricane. Nanao Ise was not one to take such things very seriously, understanding that it was their nature to embellish and distort, but it would be foolish not to listen as sometimes secrets could be revealed. Dark, hidden facts that were spat bitterly from mouth to mouth, regurgitated quickly to spread the disease.

As a captain it was a rarity that such a vague whisper, not matter how disturbing, could drag her all the way out into The Wilds, but here she was, slipping quietly through the silhouettes and shadows of the forest, chasing the whispers of a rumour. It had been brought to her attention when she had last been at Takeshi’s bar, a place where the chatter of the districts people could hint at the general mood of the Rukongai. Her attention was elsewhere, but she managed to catch the hind end of a raucous conversation between some very drunk citizens. She was sure it was mostly bravado but something about a fight with ‘The Mad Dog’ made her blood freeze in her veins. A shinigami murdering criminals in The Wilds? It just wasn’t feasible, not when their ranks had been stretched so thinly, and yet she had some unexplained disappearances within her division that had not been accounted for. And the way they described this vigilante… She could not leave such a thing without investigating it.

Nanao paused and scanned the area quickly, picking up a faint reiatsu signature by the lake up ahead. She had fought rogue hollows here before so the area was somewhat familiar, but she could never quite master the sense of foreboding that struck her whenever she had to journey out here. It was a nightmare situation, the perfect place for an ambush, and officers had been taken down out here and never found. Her tentative nature was her ally now, and having taken the utmost care to surprise her own spiritual energy, she arrived at the lake unannounced.

“So, my suspicions have been confirmed, Officer Kurosawa. Can I ask for an explanation before I decide on your punishment?”

She needed no introduction, this man had served in the ranks of the Hachibantai for over half a century, and he was renowned for his strange mannerisms throughout the Gotei 13. Though certain that his intentions were noble, The Wilds were out of bounds for seated officers unless they received proper clearance from their superiors. Striding towards him with powerful purpose, she stood at his side with her arms folded, watching as the crimson swirled in the lapping lake water. Fresh blood…

[Kurosawa Ryou]

The 'Mad Dog' mused the crimson stain that his weapon created. Such a waste of life he sometimes suppsed. Especially here in death among all the spirit worlds treasure troves. This was a land were one could live forever and do quite a lot of good... at least that is the way the young Shinigami saw it. Maybe though he was being a bit of a fool in that regard, but still... that waste was part of his victims sin. They had wasted not only there own, but others lives as well. That was somthing that simply could not be tolerated. In'ei's voice rang through his head... it's words to him were like that of an evil concensice telling him he had done the write thing. Besides he was playing a game wasn't he? For so many years he had played it and never lost, so it was prefectly all right to play as long as he didn't disobey Rule Number 3. Of course even without the game... he would have still been out here and doing what he could to cull these people form the waste. Wacthign the water dance in fornt of him with the images of his three spirit playing across the surface suddenly his soulitude was broken by a voice and spirit presance that caught him off gaurd.

Tiacho!!!... Her sudden arrival made the 4th seat let out a startled noise as he almost tumbled forward into the pond. Saving himself by jamming In'ei's claws right into the ground, to keep from losing balance. Still he found his face so close to the water with the tips of his long black hair barely touching the surface. His spirits image laughing at him and pointed with it's usal comment about requesting to see the captian to derobe for him. The thought of which was not on top his wish list.... no good dog embressed his master. It was really the only way anyone could discribe how he though about Nanoa-sama. Not a crush or as a sister, but as a gaurd dog to it's master. Very very loyal and very very protective. The reason was simple... she looked past everything that he was, and simply to the good work he did. She awarded him for the right reasons... his hard work that he did every day, even with the games that he played on people. His captian had earned form Ryou the thing only one other person held... a willingness to die for.

Regaining his composure the younger Shinigami cleared his throat and feel back into a sitting postion. Reaching forward he finsihed his cleaning of In'ei while he started to speak, "Tiacho-sssama... How pleasent to see you out here. I am guesssing this isss not a friendly call? Hmm." He waited only moments before contiuning, having yet to stand up and turn around. Xaio would kill him probably if the peice of paper wasn't taken care of first. Pulling it out of his uniform form his chest area he laid it next to him and put his index finger knife on it. "I have losst the game Tiacho-ssama... A court of my own I have held for 60 yearsss. You have caught me and the thrid rule is broken... I am no longer allowed to play it ssseems." His fingers moved quickly as shadows and blades made short work of the paper, not allowing the name to be seen. He was now considered here on his own accord, which frankly... he was.

Standing up he turned to look at his captian. His face almost completely obscured by his hair expect one large black eye that had a sarrowful look to it. He was more sorry that it had been Tiacho that had caught him like this... not for what he had done. He had done the right thing. "I guesss the riddled wordsss are not proper for thisss moment. So I will say Tiacho-sama that there is not much I can say. Except the truth. As you know these are dangerousss placesss. These people need someone to protect them, and so that is what I do. Of course thesse crimialss need to be punssihed on the same level that they cause pain. Ssso that is why I am here." He pointed up to his head staying, "You know asss well as most that I am not exactlly all normal up here. So that allowss me to be the 'dark justice' these people need. I don't want to expose anyone elsse, but me to thiss. I care to much for you and the Division. So it is better for me to only risk one mind over many...."

He gave her pause to think it over as his Shikai dissapered an dropped to the ground beside him. Back in it's unrealeased state, "I will leave you with thiss in my defensse Nanoa-sama. How did you find me? Was it the rumors and the way they spread... among those who are thinking of doing wrong? I wonder how many timesss people have decided to not commit a crime knowing they could end up like thossse men back at that houssse." With those words he again reached into his pocket and held out another peice of paper, "I do keep notesss. If you want to know the crimesss that went with sssuch punishment." It was his final word on that matter, but he did have one last question, "Taicho if this 'Mad Dog' is to be put down will I be able to defend myself? Though I don't think In'ei is willing to help me. It says it will not be pointed at you..." His expression was kept hidden form her behind his hair... only one of his large eyes stared into here. The look though was curious... like a dog... so innocent... yet like a monster... so cold.

[Nanao Ise]

Her eyebrows raised in surprise as her 4th seat almost fell face first into the bloody water. Why do people always seem so startled when I arrive? Sighing to stop her lip curling upwards in an amused smirk, she watched as he tried to nonchalantly resume the cleaning of his blade.

“A friendly visit? The game? Is this how you amuse yourself, officer? By slaughtering petty criminals in these lawless lands?” Nanao shook her head with a stern frown, wondering what the hell could possibly be running through the mans mind. Before she could reprimand him however he began to explain himself, though she was not sure she was completely satisfied. He had obviously received permission from someone higher up, and though she was irked that it hadn’t been cleared with her, there was no denying the good he was doing for the outlying communities of the poorer districts. His loyalty had never been in doubt though; he hadn’t wavered once in his near century of service.

“I will need a full, detailed report of every single victim that you dispatched with a list of their crimes. I understand your motives, officer, and I know your intentions are good as always.” She was slightly taken aback as he assumed that she was about to execute him for his actions. Tilting her head so she could look into his eyes, she couldn’t help but be dismayed by his doleful expression. “Do you think me so ruthless? It would be my greatest displeasure to raise my sword to a comrade, especially one as faithful as you have been.” Glancing across the dull waters of the still lake, she recalled her main reason for wanting to speak with Ryou.

“I have good news and I’m not going to delay in revealing it to you, although I think it would be a fitting punishment. As my fourth seat you will have to ensure that you don’t do anything in the future that could compromise our division's good name.” Allowing herself a small smile, she watched him carefully to see if his expression would change. That should cheer him up…

[Kurosawa Ryou]

The young Shinigami had not meant to be startled really. It was simply that his captain had ended up sneaking up on him in his moment of silence. He never really found her presence to be that scary, and actually to be a bit comforting. It was one of the reasons she was one of his mistresses. She was the only one who could ever really put a guilty look on the young man's face. It was a very mild guilt, but the nature of the look was like that of a dog that was being yelled at by it's owner. Innocent, yet at same time guilty. Though not only this, but it was what she was accusing him of, and that was the fact that this was all done for amusement. Looking at her the man's eye and listing to his tone neither of which changed much from before, but as he talked it was the fact he was poking his pointer fingers together that was his sign of nervousness. "Tiacho-sama I think you missunderstand my motives completely..." He paused for a moment... if there was anyone he didn't want to see the monster inside him it was the captain... and his favorite human. "Trusst me when I ssay that I don't do thiss for amussement... though I will not lie... there is a certain ssense of a 'job well done' when I am finished." He felt that was a good way to put it, "But no I don't 'enjoy it' as you say. I consider it a duty to do what most do not."

His rare Cheshire cat like grin almost crept its way onto Ryou's face as he heard the orders. If there was one thing that the Shinigami could be depended on, it was that he did his job in a very complete manner. The records that he had on the various killings that he had done took up a few books, simply because 60 years was a long time indeed. Plus he was very efficient at being a hunter of people. He simply nodded his head in what seem to be a bit of an over done fashion, and then held up the point finger of his scared hand in the one position, "Well that ssshould not be problem Tiacho-ssama. I have kept quite extensive recordsss and those cover a few volumesss. If there isss one thing I try to be it isss efficient in everything I do.” That sentence of course, was meant in more ways than one. If Ryou had been a cat then Nanao’s words would have had him purring at that moment, though the fact she assumed he had thought of her as ruthless… certainly seemed to distress him. The expression in his visible eye showed an emotion that it rarely ever expressed, as the younger Shinigami reached out slowly towards her. Ryou’s injuried hand came close to touching her face… obviously In’ei’s blades would have made up the difference…

“Mistress… you are to kind to me, for me to ever think of you as being ruthless.” The words were spoken in such a breathless and affectionate manner that seemed… uncharacteristic for the man. It was quite a strange sight really, until there was an obvious look of realization in his eyes at what he had said. Quickly pulling that hand away and rubbing it along the top of his other hand, the Shinigami let his hair hide both his eyes. It was Ryou’s way of showing that he was embarrassed. “Sorry Tiacho-sama I speak out of turn. I ssimply didn’t know the rulesss on getting caught in situationsss such as thisss.” For once Ryou found himself at a bit of a loss for words, since it was quite hard to catch him emotionally off guard. He also normally never tried to reveal to Tiacho his thoughts about her. The younger Shinigami didn’t want to embarrass her, nor cause inner conflict towards how she treated him. The little Mistress didn’t seem to mind, but he knew that Tiacho would. It seemed just as suddenly as Ryou had started to fall into his period of thinking, that suddenly he was pulled right back out at the announcement. In fact as he looked up at Nanao… Ryou’s hair fell away from his face enough to completely reveal that rarely show smile of his that stretched from ear to ear. Giving him such a creepy appearance, but at the same time showing every bit of insane glee that he could muster.

“Why thank you so much Tiacho-sama… I am quite honored by the trust that you ssseem to have for me. I promissse that I won’t let you or the divisssion down. Though is there any reassson for this promotion, or is sssimply on merit.” The younger Shinigami also began to laugh in a gleeful and yet maniacal manner as he began to rub his hands together and tried to say under his breath but failed, “Prefect… now only 2 stepsss away from the Lieutenant’s job…” Then suddenly Sukai screamed in his head “Great job lame brain!!! Learn to keep that kind of shit to yourself!!!” Again Ryou found he was slightly embarrassed as the younger Shinigami let that curtain of hair hung down over his face. With only that one, though now slight guilty looking eye revealed. Like a child with his hand caught in the cookie jar.