The Battle Continues

[Yuri Nakayama]

After seeing the display Azumi did, Yuri had to get to Azumi to check on her. After several flash steps, she appeared next to Emi and Azumi. She was just thankful that they were okay. Though she would like to stay with them and get them out, she had to take care of that thing first.

"Please be careful, you two. I would like for you two to get out the moment you can."

Though Emi knew her mother was looking out for her and Azumi, she just couldn't leave when everyone was giving their all. Unable to stay any longer, Yuri then flash stepped back to the creature. As she got close, she noticed a strange fog around the creature and the area. It made her worry a little, but there was no time to figure out where it was coming from or if it was related to the creature.

"Bankai! Kensei no Mujitsuhana!"

As her Zanpakou disappeared, she then went into her bankai state, she was prepared to attack it until something unusual happened. Without any warning or reason, her Hollow mask formed over her face as if she called upon it. It actually startled her a little. What made it appear out of nowhere? Maybe she could use it to her advantage since she already had it on. As the dust finally settled, the creature gave out a thunderous roar and got back up on its feet.

"Damn it, what is this thing?"

Another battle between the two soon ensued. Both were giving it all. Each time they got knocked down, they got right back up and continued to fight. It was a long process that didn't seem to be going anywhere. It was making Yuri exhausted. Still, she had to keep going. As she went to continue her assault, until something made her stop. It was as if she was starting to undergo Hollowification. What was causing it? She hadn't reached her time limit yet. She couldn't take the risk so she quickly removed the mask from her face, destroying it to return her to normal.
Huffing a little, she looked around to try to locate the thing, but it was too late. She was quickly knocked away until she hit one of the walls within the alleyway.

Sensing what was going on, Emi looked to Azumi, soon helping her up to her feet. She had to find Ryouji and quick. Her mother may be strong, but she can't take care of that thing by herself. She had to hurry before something really bad happens.

"Auntie Mei-Mei.. Auntie 'Zumi. I'm gonna go find Uncle 'Ouji and see if I can help him. Could you go help Mama? I'm worried about her. I'm sure you two noticed that she used her mask and it worries me that she ended it so quickly."

After that, she began to flash step to the area where she sensed Ryouji was at. She knelt down beside him, shaking him a little to get him to wake up, When there was nothing, she tried shaking him a bit harder. He looked alright. No injuries or anything. Maybe he just had the wind knocked out of him or something.

"Uncle 'Ouji.. Please wake up! Mama needs your help! Auntie 'Zumi does too! She used her Zanpakutou and she's not feeling well! I may have taken care of the injuries.. but not the fatigue.. oh.. why won't you wake up?! Would you wake up if I told you that Auntie Mei-Mei is back?!"

[Ryouji Onigata]

After hearing Megumi's plea for him to wake up and being shaken, he opened his eyes and sat up slowly. He sighed and rubbed the back of his head. Truth be told he wasn't out for to long, he had been thinking of a way to take this thing down.

"Sorry, I was laying here thinking as to how we can bring this monster down. I may not have a choice in what I'm going to do, but if its the only way to beat this thing...then I'll do it."

Ryouji stood up and grabbed his Zanpakutou, holding it by its sheath as he stared in the direction of the monster. Before he could flash step in the direction he was stopped when he sense two different types of Reiatsu near him. He turned his head and saw Shizune and a boy that was with her. it wasn't his present time daughter but the one from the future, and she was wearing glasses!

"Go help your Aunt Hina, we'll be there soon."

The boy nodded and flash stepped away, leaving Shizune with her father and the present Megumi. He glanced at her before looking off at the direction of the monster.

"I know its been such a long time since I've come to visit and we'll catch up on that once the Jigouken is taken down."

Ryouji continued to glance at her. She said its name, which means she knows what it is and possibly how to beat it, but there have never been any records of such a monster. Then again she is from the future and she could tell them about things they've not yet encountered.

"The Jigouken?"

Big Shi nodded quickly. From the way it was putting out spiritual pressure, it was merely a young one. It was unruly and unfocused and rather than speak it roared and made primal animal sounds.

"Its just a baby however, still very deadly, but its a variation of minion of hell or something similiar to it. We've had several show up from time to time within the Sereitei back home, but they are easily dispatched. You have to cut its soul chain, that will drain its power and cut its ties to hell and free it. Once its free from hell, it becomes normal in a sense and you can beat it. I have to warn you. It produces a miasma naturally...being around that thing for to long will cause your mask to appear on its own. It isn't to much of an issue if you are in full control...but for those who may not be...it may cause more trouble than one would hope. For young Lady Yuri, it may pose more of a problem than the monster itself."

After taking it all in Ryouji nodded. Usually she was so secretive being from the future and all. She came out right with this information which was good for him. Now he knew exactly how to beat that beast.

"How long have you been here, and is Megumi with you?"

She shook her head from side to side. She kind of left in a hurry, she hoped that Megumi would follow, there is a lot that change that both of them would like to share with the family.

"No, she may come after me, you know how she is. Even when she was younger she'd always follow me somewhere. Anyway there is no time for that now. We can talk after we take out the Jigouken."

[Megumi]

After seeing Shizune leave so quickly, she had to follow after her. There had to be something bad going on in the past. After saying goodbyes to her mother, Megumi went after Shi, being transported to the past. Soon, she appeared within Seireitei. It was a total mess! Getting up to higher ground, she tried to see what was going on. It was then when she noticed the barrier. At least whatever is causing this mess won't get out into the rest of Seireitei.

"Hm.. This seems familiar in a weird kinda way."

It took her a moment or two to finally locate where Shizune was. She then Flash stepped to her location, landing on the ground. She wasn't alone, however. Her younger self and Ryouji was there as well. He looked totally different! Have they really not visited in that much time?

There was so much she wanted to tell them all. Of course, they would be able to see part of what she wanted to tell. Since a lot of time has gone by, she had accomplished a lot. In fact, she was wearing one accomplishment right now: Her very own Haori. Now, she was a genuine captain now!

"Mister Ryouji! Good to see you! Shi, that was really mean of you to leave without telling me what's going on! Anyway, what exactly is going on?"

After Ryouji told her what was going on, she could only nod. While they are troublesome indeed, the run running loose needed to be stopped. With everyone gathering up, it wouldn't take long at all to get the job done. After that, they would all have to catch up and all that!

"The Jigouken sure have been busy lately. Both here and back home. I wonder if there's some kind of connection. We can figure that out later. I'm sure Shi told you all about them. We need to keep the miasma away from anyone who can't control their inner Hollow. Is there anyone besides Mama?"

[Ryouji Onigata]

When the future Megumi asked if there was anyone other than Yuri who suffered from hollow problems, the answer didn't hit him right away. He was worried about Azumi and wanted to get her to safety but she would just have to hold on for a bit longer. Since it was producing this miasma as the others called it, there wasn't a doubt in his mind that he could use it to his advantage. With the added strength he receives from hollowification, it should make things a lot less hectic, but he had to remove its chain first. Then the answer came to him, he couldn't believe he didn't think of it first.

"Ami...if inner hollow gets free...we're all in a lot more trouble than we bargained for. I'm going on ahead."

He placed his hand on the present Megumi's head and smiled from underneath his taped face.

"Tell Hina to bring down the barrier and I will need you to create a new one around yourselves....the area in which you two kept it errect has far less structures behind you, my attack will be coming toward that direction. I want you to reinforce it as much as possible to keep yourself and Hina and everyone else from getting hurt."

He then turned his attention toward the Future Shi and Megumi. He wanted to use the present Shi because of her Zanpakutou, he wasn't going to waste time. Her zanpakutou also possessed ice, and he was going to put it to good use.

"Shizune, I want you to get your mother out of there and then stay behind the barrier with everyone else and..."

As he turned toward the monster after feeling a surge of spiritual pressure. He watched as the barrier was broken and the monster collapsed and was then silenced completely. That spiritual pressure...

Without saying another word, he flash stepped over to the Jigouken's location seeing that the Jigouken was actually destroyed...its chain severed. Azumi was safe, and Harumi and Shiori were here as well.

As the body of the Jigouken broke apart and vanished into a thick cloud of miasma..through the cloud a voice called out to him...and insulted him.

"You and all of your planning, would have gotten your family destroyed.... foolish brother"

Ryouji narrowed his eyes...there was no way. He killed him in the Dangai...it didn't make any sense...how did he survive.

"Worry not Ryouji, I'm not here for you. I've come to protect a future investment. I will come back for that investment...and she will be the end of you and shinigami. Even you...dear brother will fall to her. I've seen her future and it is a dark one indeed. She will become the greatest weapon of The Jigou."

Ryouji stood there listening to this individual speak. He didn't understand what he meant and what this Jigou nonsense was. As the miasma cloud cleared...the face of the individual was shown and confirmed what Ryouji didn't want to believe. The person who killed the Jigouken...and saved his family...was the very man he believed to have killed in the Dangai...his twin brother...Jin.

"The time Draws near...brother. I look forward to our future battle for the future of the Jigou"

A hellish gate opened behind Jin as he turned his back to his brother and entered through it. It closed behind him and vanished completely, leaving Ryouji with the message he didn't want to here. Who was this individual who would lead whoever he spoke of into the future and the demise of all Shinigami.

It wasn't long after that where he turned around and was knocked over onto his back by his little one Shiori who tackled and clung to him as she usually does when she hasn't seen him or isn't hanging from around his neck.

"Daddy! Shiori missededed you daddy! Can we go back home now...it's Shiori's lunch time and you've played to much and Mommy isn't home to feed Shiori so now you has to!"

After she made her statement very clear to him, Shiori huggled him as tight as her little arms would let her. she really loved her daddy and no one else could love him more than her, not even her mom or sisters. Once Ryouji climbed to his feet. Was the person his brother referring to...Ami? It would make the most sense...but he didn't want to think about it now...he just needed to let it all process.

"Lets go home...everyone...."

With a very enthusiastic yay, much like Shizune use to do when she was that age, Shiori hung snuggled into her father's arms as he carried her. Even though with her in his arms, he couldn't carry Azumi.

[Little Emi]

[This is a combination post between the Emi's and Yuri]

When present Emi saw Ryouji flash step over to the creature, she wasn't sure what to do. Judging by that other spiritual pressure, whoever it was had to be strong. She couldn't even sense the Jigouken at all. She quickly followed after her Uncle to keep up with him. It may be disobeying an order, but if she's not wrong, the creature must have been destroyed if she could no longer sense it. As she caught up to him, she stopped next to him just as the Miasma disappeared.

The individual who she saw looked somewhat familiar. Sounded familiar too. She looked from him to her uncle and the pieces started to come together. This person must be Jin, Ryouji and Shukumei's brother. How could it be? When Ryouji came back,he said he killed him in the Dangai. Now he has some kind of alliance with the Jigouken? It just seemed too confusing. Hearing what Jin had to say was troublesome as well. Who exactly was he talking about? Before even thinking about asking what he meant, Jin vanished. Though it was a serious situation, she couldn't help but to giggle when she saw Shiori tackle Ryouji.

"I'm sorry for not listening, Uncle 'Ouji, but when I sensed that thing's spiritual pressure go away, I figured it must have been defeated. Also, Mama should be around here somewhere.."

It wasn't before too long that Yuri approached them. Poor thing was still hurting from being smacked around by the Jigouken. Noticing that it was gone and how Ryouji and Emi was there, she could only assume they had a had in defeating the creature.

"So.. What happened to that thing, anyway? Did you and Emi manage to stop it?"

Then, the Future Emi showed up, bringing everyone else with her. At lest that way, they were all together. She then rubbed the back of her head as she looked to everyone. She knew it would be a reunion of sorts, but nothing like this.

"Well, I suppose we should be happy that it's gone, but why do I have the feeling things just got a lot worse? Right now, we don't have all the information we need.. So, how about we tend to those injured?"

As if on cue, present Emi nodded and went off to help the other Shinigami who were involved in the battle. She was still troubled by what she heard. She didn't want to say anything because.. well.. It just didn't seem like the right time. Besides, even if she did try, she had a hunch Ryouji would have stopped her.

"I'm sorry that our visit had to be like this. Still, it's great to see you all. I can't believe how much everyone has changed! not only that, but you have another daughter, Mister Ryouji! She's adorable!"*

*Spoken by Future Emi