Fight for the future

[Youhei]

Youhei went out at night, his customized armor strapped on and his weapons locked and loaded. He had trained for this all his life, it was the one request by his father, and it was a noble one. Since the death of his father's best friend, he knew that they would be needed as he was now a Shinigami and aged much slower. Youhei walked the town, coating his rounds with his energy. He saw a group of what his father had called Hollow, running over to the herd. It seemed that they were preoccupied with something as they did not even notice him approaching. As he got closer, he noticed that they were surrounding the spirit of a young boy. His father never went into specifics, but always said if he saw something like this, he was obligated to help. He dropped down from the building above them, landing in a crouching position. The Hollow were now focused on him, as his energy was much higher than that of the boy's. He shifted his eyes to the boy, smiirking under his helmet.

It's your lucky day kid, get out of here, I'll handle these guys"

As the boy ran, one Hollow went to give chase. Almost as if he anticipated the action, Youhei drew his sidearm and shot the Hollow through the back of the head with the coated rounds. As the Hollow dropped and disintegrated, the others began to roar. Narrowing his eyes under his helmet, Youhei prepared for a fight. His armor, made by a man his father referred to as 'old man hat and clogs', greatly boosted his natural abilities, such as speed and strength. That combined with his natural tactical mind, made him rather formidable, roughly the skill level of an above average Lieutenant Shinigami. He jumped into the air as a few Hollow rushed him. He pulled his DMR <Designated Marksman Riffle> off his back, firing several rounds through the heads of the Hollow. As they disintegrated, one of the Hollow jumped up to get him. Youhei kicked the Hollow down into the herd, landing and firing off multiple rounds. after a rather long fight, there was only one Hollow left. Youhei scoffed, thinking that this was going to be a rather short and boring battle. He fired his riffle, only to have the Hollow move at a faster rate than the others and dodge the round. Then it did something that Youhei would never have expected, it talked.

"You are not bad for a human, but I think it is time you were reminded your place, as my food!"

The Hollow rushed him, knocking the riffle from Youhei's hands. As the Hollow rushed him again, Youhei pulled his knife and coated it with his energy and stabbed the Hollow in the right shoulder. With a roar of pain, the Hollow knocked Youhei into a building across the street. Youhei could feel that thee impact damaged the armor slightly, getting to his feet. He then watched as the Hollow begam moving around him at a speed that was too fast for him to follow. Youhei took a deep breath, calming himself.

Alright Youhei, your father told you that Hollow that can speak are stronger and smarter than typical Hollow. Think, if I wanted to end it in one attack I would strike right....

Youhei pulled his side arm and spun to his right, the Hollow appearing with his head against the barrel of the gun with a surprised look on his face.

"I knew you would do that...."

He pulled the trigger, shooting a hole through the Hollow's head. As it began to disintegrate, the spirit of the little boy came out of hiding.

"Are you a Shinigami or something? Thank you for saving me!"

"Or something... try and stay out of trouble..."

Youhei focused his energy, the armor starting to repair itself. It was one of the features that were added by old man hat and clogs, and it was coming in very handy. He picked up his DMR and put it on his back. He walked away, searching for the next group of Hollow to dispatch. There had been an abundance of Hollow lately, and he was going to find out why.

[Takara Kamei]

Kamei was watching from a distance, making sure to keep her spirit energy down to where it couldn't be sensed. This strange man in this armor.. Who was he exactly? One would assume that by killing Hollows, he is somehow connected to Shinigami, but they don't wear fancy armor. For now, she would keep him in her sights to determine if he is a friend or foe.

[Youhei]

Youhei had the feeling that he was being watched, but he had more important things to do than worry about that. He headed off to the next area where he sensed Hollow. He continued on his way, seeing the Hollow gathering near the beach. He could not see anything where they were gathered, just a mass of Hollow roaring. Nothing was bringing them there, so they had to be being summoned by something or someone. He remembered someone being able to manipulate the Hollow but he was not sure if that was what was happening. He scouted the area, still feeling like he is being watched. He continued to observe, hoping to gather information as to what is going on in his town.

[Takara Kamei]

Keeping up with him, she formed a reishi platfrom under her feet, making sure to keep out of his sight, she watched the on goings on the beach. Someone or something was collecting Hollows.. How could that be?It seemed rather strange for them to congregate so in the human world. Who could be pulling their strings?

[Youhei]

Youhei was about to debate his moves when the hollow suddenly rushed into the town. It was apparent that they intended to harm as many things as possible, which was going to be very bad considering their vast numbers. Youhei got up from where he was crouching, running across the rooftops as he started picking off Hollow as fast as he could, trying to thing the herb before engaging them all. Suddenly, one Hollow fires a cero blast right where he was about to land, causing him to fall and roll into a crouching position.

Something is not right... only one attacked, and it was like it anticipated my move... like it was told what to do... I don't like this...

He pulled his side arm and began firing into the herd, trying to prevent them from surrounding him. He jumped up on a dumpster, keeping them from gaining any tactical advantage. He put his sidearm away as one Hollow got close and coated his knife with his energy and stabbed its head. Youhei was starting to get a little tired, continuing to thin the herd. the only problem was that the herd seemed damn near endless. He shifted his eyes to the special grenade old man hat and clogs had given him.

He did say only in an emergency, and i think that this just might qualify... I'll only use it when I am out of options... though that time seems to be rapidly approaching....

[Takara Kamei]

Using her Quiincy cross Kamei formed her quincy bow, pulling back the string to form an arrow of blue energy. As she lets o of the string, several arrows were being shot, destroying the hollows that were approaching the strange man. She drops down to the ground, lowing her bow to her side. She still didn't trust this person, but she couldn't leave him alone.

"You alright, stranger?"

[Youhei]

As Youhei looked at the girl beside him, his HUD on his armor beeped. He blinked and allowed it to relay the information to him.

<monotone female voice inside the helmet> designation: Quincy. threat level: moderate. possibility of hostile action: none.

Youhei was truly confused. Apparently old man hat and clogs had equipped the helmet with an assistant of sorts. He got in a crouching position, shooting the Hollow approaching the girl from behind.

"You wouldn't happen to be a Quincy, would you? If so, what is a Quincy? Nevermind... now is not the time for this... And I have a name..."

Youhei began thinning out the herd of Hollow, the momentary rest just enough to give him a second wind. He had no idea what this "Quincy" girl was or wanted, but it seemed she liked these Hollow as much as he did, and right now that was good enough for him.

[Takara Kamei]

If he had no idea what a quincy was, Kamei didn't see the point in explaining it to him. It would take too long anway. At least with the hollows gone for a moment, he could catch his breath. Folding her arms, she was thinking of what could of made hollow so.. organized.

"Through experience, it's never a good sign when Hollows act like this. It makes them more dangerous."

[Youhei]

Youhei watched the Hollow disperse, as if something was telling them to withdraw from battle. Once he saw they were no more in their location, he removed his helmet. His short blond hair, the only thing he got from his mother, was glistening with the light sweat he had worked up. He then shifted his eyes to the girl, asking again.

"My armor called you a Quincy, what exactly is that?"

He put his riffle on his back, tucking his helmet under his arm. He was not certain as to if she would answer him or not, so he focused his energy into his armor again, letting it repair the minor damage. He searched the surrounding area, making certain that whatever controled the Hollow was not with them.

"This was not like the first group of Hollow I fought, these were... for lack of a better term, smarter. It's not like them to act this way. They all acted like the last one in the first group i fought, only they seemed to coordinate their actions... I've never seen this happen before..."

[Takara Kamei]

Dispersing her bow, the quincy rubbed the back of her head. It was hard to explain what the Quincies were. Sighing, she looks over to the strange man.

"We're humans with abilities. We can see hollows, obviously, and anything else spiritual. That's the easiest way I can explain it."

[Youhei]

Youhei realized that this was the best answer he was going to get from her, deciding to let the subject drop. What was bothering him was how the second group of hollow acted. IT was not like them to work as a group, but that was what they did.

"You ever see Hollow act this way before?"

He was hoping she could put some light to this mystery for him, putting his helmet back on but making his visor transparent for the time being.

[Takara Kamei]

She wasn't sure to be honest. Hollows that act unusual is suppose to be strong. That's all she knows. Still, he must of missed what she said earlier. It doesn't matter really. He seemed to have everything under control. She could probably leave now.

"Perhaps with two hollows, but never as a group. I assume someone's pulling the strings. Regardless, masked man, you can take care of yourself. Catch you some other time then?"

[Youhei]

Youhei clearly saw that she did not want to talk with him any longer, so he decided to leave. He turned his visor black and readied to walk away.

"My name is Youhei, and who knows, it's not that big of a town, so we might run into each other again, or maybe not. Anyway, you know where to find me if you need to, look for the biggest group of Hollow."

He walked away slowly, seeing if she told him her name in return or not.

[Takara Kamei]

Looking back to him as he gave her his name, she thought it would only be fair for her to give her name back. Sighing she catches up with him.

"It's Kamei. don't get the wrong idea about me leaving. I know you can handle it, but perhaps it would be best if we stuck together.

[Youhei]

Youhei smirked under his helmet, looking to Takara. He extended his hand to shake hers, seeing if she took the friendly gesture.

"What's with all this Hollow activity recently? They aren't usually this active. All I can think of is someone has found a way to either make the Hollow smarter or to control them."

He watched her expression, wanting to see her honest reaction to his statement. He was rather new to the Hollow fighting game, as she looked like she had been at it a while, he decided to use her experience.

[Takara Kamei]

Kamei took his hand, shaking it a little before letting go. She was thinking about the question he just asked her. Never once has she seen Hollows work together and even if they did, it would be some way they would benefit from it.

"I can't say for sure if I have or not. All I know is that when Hollows act out of the ordinary, they're pretty strong. Maybe you are correct in assuming someone is controlling them. However, until we have proof to back up this assumption, we must believe these are nothing but rabid hollows on a war path to consume and and all spirits that they can..even us."

[Youhei]

Youhei was about to say something when he heard a loud Hallow Roar. He looked up and saw a Hollow the size of a skyscraper looking down at them.

"What the hell is that thing? It the biggest Hollow I've ever seen! I think I'm gonna need a bigger weapon..."

He tackled Takara out of the way, avoiding the giant Hollow's hand. His eyes shifted to the grenade at his waist, debating using it soon. He knew the risks, but the other choice is being pounding into the ground by the giant Hollow. He was running out of options fast.

[Takara Kamei]

Kamei got up, dusting herself off. Though grateful, she really didn't need to be saved. Anyone could of seen that attack coming and easily got out of the way. Regardless, she saw the glance he gave at some kind of device on his waist. Why on earth would someone use technology against these creatures? It seemed like some humans had a sick sense of wanting to know everything there is out there.

"Don't go anything stupid. It's what Shinigami call a Menos Grande. You kill it like any kind of Hollow."

She formed her bow, Shooting multiple arrows at the Menos, causing it to eventually fade away into nothing.

[Youhei]

Youhei blinked, looking to Takara. He wasn't going to do anything risky, just something that only worked in theory.

"It wasn't something stupid, just something that only works in theory... there wasn't time to test it. You see, the person who built this armor had my abilities in mind. I can coat anything with my energy so that it can hurt creatures like Hollow. This way any human weapon i can make into the equivalent of a Shinigami's Zanpaktou."

The visor of his helmet became transparent again, allowing her to see his face. It was then that he thought up of another question.

"Hey, how powerful would someone have to be to control a Menos Grande? I do not think it was a coincidence that it just happened to appear and attack just after the group withdrew..."

[Takara Kamei]

For someone to control something as strong as a menos, the individual had to be strong. Still, it seemed odd. Who would want to control them? It was unlikely a human could have such strength, so it had to be something on the level of a Shinigami or something close to a Shinigami. There were some that came to mind, but Kamei knew they wouldn't do something like that intentionally.

"I doubt a human would have the means to control Hollows. Only thing we Quincy's have are Hollow Bait, but it's used as Training purposes though I have heard stories of a bait being used and someone having so much spiritual energy that it called out a Menos. This, however, is different. I would assume something close to a Shinigami or even a Shinigami being responsible for this. It's all speculation."

[Youhei]

Youhei leaned against the wall, thinking. There was a possibility that who or what was controling the Hollow could be watching them. He shrugged, shifting his eyes to Takara.

"Alright, so we know what is controling these Hollow, now we need to figure out the more important question, why? Any thoughts on that one? Also, I don't think we should stay here... just a feeling I get..."

He kept an eye on the area around them, getting the feeling that they were being watched. He couldn't help the feeling that they needed to get to a more secure location, and more often than not his feelings were correct.

[Takara Kamei]

To be honest, she had no idea why someone would want to control hollows. All that Karei could assume was that the individual had to be really strong since Hollows usually don't follow anyone. Maybe it would be best to shift to a new location. Talking out in the open would do them no good at all.

"I have no clue, to be honest. I don't keep up with what happens in Soul Society. Quincies and Shinigami don't really get along or at least I don't get along with them. Anyway, pick your location that would be best to discuss things further."

[Youhei]

Youhei took her to a hidden bunker where he stored his weapons and armor kits for upgrading. He sat in a chair, shedding his armor. Once he hung it up, he sat down in his jeans and T-shirt. He shifted his eyes to her, letting her sit where she chooses.

"I only know a few Shinigami, and the ones I know would not do something like this. I don't think there is something like an Alpha Hollow, is there?"

During his time fighting Hollow, nothing was mentioned of such a creature. He was unsure if one existed or not, but just because it was not talked about, doesn't mean it does not exist

[Takara Kamei]

Of course there was no such thing. Only thing that would be similar to that would be arrancar and they usually don't team up even under those circumstances. There was a time wher she heard stories from some Shinigami that there was a former Shinigami that was able to not only get the Arrancar to do as he pleased but also to create them. This person probably wasn't on the same level as that one.

"Only thing I can come up with is Arrancar, but they don't work together unless someone powerful is apove them. They all have minds and agendas of their own so it's really not common for them to work together."