"Raikou Arashi! Listen to reason! I don't want to fight ya- please! Between the two of us, we've caused enough damage already...and it'll come out of all of our paychecks because we're seated officers!!!" Ryouta yelled at him.

Raikou Arashi turned his massive head toward Ryouta. "I have to eliminate the one without honor. You. Orders." He moved toward Ryouta with impossible speed and brought one massive claw down toward Ryouta.

"Hado no Nijunana: Reishi Blade!" Both of Ryouta's arms glowed blue as they flared brilliantly and sprouted reishi blades. He blocked Raikou Arashi's attack with his right one, straining under the great power behind the blow. "Orders? From that weird guy? Raikou Arashi, ya know that I consider us more than partners, but also...nakama. Sometimes a soldier has ta disobey the general's orders," Ryouta said.

"But if one allows emotion to cloud his judgment," said Raikou Arashi, "The results can be disastrous!" He drew back his left claw and swiped at Ryouta again. This time, Ryouta jumped backward and faced Raikou Arashi again.

"Look, I don't wanna fight ya. Ya know me- I hate fightin'. In fact...the only reason I ever fight anybody with ya, and not with just kido...is because ya make it enjoyable. Don't ya remember? Anytime we fight...it's like our minds are joined- your joy, your pride, your honor, your glory in the fight- they just flow into me when we fight, when we fought together. Doesn't that mean anything ta ya? Ya're gonna strike down a brotha'-in-arms, a friend, just because some guy ya've probably never met before ordered ya to do so? Aren't ya the dishonorable one then?" Ryouta's speech was long, and sincere, though somewhat less dramatic because of the way he spoke.

Raikou Arashi paused. "I- I have no choice. I am sorry." He flash stepped toward Ryouta and smashed his paw down. Ryouta raised both his hands to block; Raikou Arashi's blow was so powerful that when the blow struck, it actually caused Ryouta to crumble the ground beneath him into a crater.

"No choice? Is that any better than when we were partners? Ya were not a slave! I never asked ya ta do anythin' without your consent...and ya know...ya're a part of me. Part of my soul. When we fought in your world...it was friendly. A spar for knowledge and experience. But this...it's like ya're my sworn enemy. And that..." Ryouta's voice broke. "And that just...it tears me up inside, ya know? Like my heart is rending itself apart. I can't fight ya...it's not right." The blades around Ryouta's arms vanished. "So if all our past, our friendship, our experience together means nothing ta ya...kill me. I won't resist. Just...let me protect my friends first. It's my duty, ya understand, right?"

Raikou Arashi was silent for a moment. "Your offer is acceptable. I will stand down for now." His armor became normal colored again, and he sat down cross-legged. "Do what you must."

Ryouta nodded. "Thank ya...maybe ya have more control than ya think...Raikou Arashi." Ryouta then acknowledged the presence of Crowe. And the kido spell he had just cast. "That guy's tough...but I don't wanna kill him. We need information on how he's doin' this. So I'm gonna try to trap him while he's...distracted. Carriage of Thunder. Bridge of a spinning wheel. With light, divide this into six! Bakudo no Rokujuichi: Rikujōkōrō!" Six beams of light shot from his finger and flew into the smoke. Hopefully, the spell would trap Musamane well enough so he would be forced to divulge information.

ooc: lemme have some spirit power for that uncharacteristic emotional outburst there

Kuro sighed as the old man in the crow-feather cloak stood next to him. Boy... Leaving would be the smartest thing to do right now. Do you honestly think I cannot materialized just because you do not know your shikai? Kuro nodded, "But I guess that is not how it would work." No child, I would be materialized too...Please leave now.. Please. Or I might do something we would both regret. Kuro shook his head, "We can't leave. There is always the chance you do not get materialized. Someone needs to kill the strange man. I might as well try." The old man sighed slowly, If you insist child.

Kuro turned towards the area where he blasted Masamune, stopping for a second as he felt a new reiastu. He is here and invisible.... Kaito-san is always watching over me when I am in over my head. Wow, I must be in trouble if he is here. Though at the same time... I don't think he truly understands what he is getting himself into. Kuro turned, "I understand I am in trouble.... No need for being my guardian. I think you shouldn't get dragged into this. It is too late for me. I mean I have already attacked him." Kuro raised his hand towards where Masamune was. "I will fight him... Until I share Ryouta and 12th Squad's 3rd seats fate." Kuro's palms lit with orbs of Crimson Strike. Kuro began dashing into the debris Masamune was in. The old man shook his head slowly, Boy I wish you would have turned back.

(If it is worth anything, then judges choice.)

As the smoke cleared, Ryouta was somewhat heartened to see the strange man bound by his Bakudo spell. He flash stepped down in front of him and placed the tip of his right Zanpakuto at his throat. "I don't know how ya did it...most Shinigami can't get their Zanpakutos' true forms to appear here in the physical world...but ya're gonna undo whatever it is that ya did."

Musamane laughed. "Hahaha, you really think *your* paltry weapons can stop me? Don't make me laugh!"

"No...by myself, I don't think I can stop ya. Delay ya, maybe. But I do know that with Raikou Arashi's help...we could easily take ya down," Ryouta said.

"You're too optimistic," said Musamane. He strained hard against the level 61 Bakudo, and Ryouta saw each blade of light begin to crack.

Quickly, he recited, "Carriage of Thunder. Bridge of a spinning wheel. With light, divide this into six!" The beams of light quickly reformed, but again, Musamane began to strain against them. Ryouta glared at him. He grabbed an incoming Crowe and flash stepped with him, away from Musamane. "I've had enough of this; stand back- Hado no Rokujuichi: Demon Claw Rapture!" Ryouta formed his left hand into a claw and swiped it down at Musamane. The resultant beam of energy that came from the swipe was hardly much to look at- but the explosion that it gave off upon hitting Musamane was tremendous.

The explosion was like a bomb going off- it threw what was probably several hundred pounds of earth into the air, as well as annihilating any walls that were standing around it. Ryouta shielded his eyes against the blast. Ryouta grinned, sure the powerful kido spell had been too severe for his enemy to take. And then out of the dust came Musamane- he flash stepped and appeared directly in front of Ryouta, drew back a fist, and punched him in the chest.

The punch came so fast it gave off a sonic boom and a pulse of energy upon hitting Ryouta. Ryouta was sent flying backward, crashing through four walls before coming to a painful halt at a fifth one. Ryouta stood unsteadily and looked through the four holes at an apparently unharmed Musamane, who was looking somewhat amused. Ryouta panted as he struggled to remain upright. That punch took a lot outta me...I'm bein' pushed to my limits against this guy. And Raikou Arashi can't help me... Ryouta spat up some blood. Damn, he punctured a lung...I need healing. F*ck.

Ryouta pointed a finger at the bemused looking Musamane. "Hado no Gojuni: Floret Flechettes!" A beautiful lily of the valley appeared in front of Ryouta. It was odd in that it was as big as he was. The flower opened and thousands of needle-like things sprayed out at Musamane. Musamane jumped high above the barrage to appear above Ryouta.

"Foolish boy- I will teach you the error of your doing!" he said as he drew back another fist.

Ryouta smiled. "Ha- *coughs up more blood* Hado no Goju: Solar Flare!" His arm glowed fiery red and a whip of fire three times the width of his arm appeared over it- extended from it. Ryouta brought his arm up and down, slamming the powerful beam of energy right into the incoming Musamane, who was coming in too fast to dodge it. The blow sent Musamane flying back to crash back into the debris he had just vacated.

"How d'ya like that? ..." Ryouta clutched his chest. "Damn I'm hurt bad."

ooc: spirit power for the pushing to the limit thing here

(Intel please)

Kaito could see that the fight wasn't improving for the lieutenant who was slowly losing stamina and his reiatsu was dropping on a dramatic level, "I suppose waiting any longer to come and help would be completely unacceptable if he died now..." he contemplated. Not only was the 2nd squad lieutenant that he had met before quickly approaching death, Kuro was there and the young shinigami seemed to know that Kaito was there since he issued out the warning to no one in particular, but Kaito knew that there was no turning back at this point. He watched as the strange man leaped into the air even after getting hit with the lieutenant's many powerful attacks which Kaito was sure would have floored him for the count, but the man continued to fight while taunting the lieutenant with many insults. From what Kaito had gathered all the beings that were emitting the strange reiatsu that he was sensing were actually the spirits from the shinigami's zanpakutou which seemed to be under the obedience of the strange man.

In truth the entire concept of fighting against an opponent that could release a power within himself that even he hadn't examined or even become aware of made the man a dangerous opponent, but Kaito had watched the man very closely sensing that he was the leader. Coming up with some small details that he believed would help him and the lieutenant combat the man Kaito decided to join the fray; especially since the lieutenant's zanpakutou seemed to have agreed to stay out of the fight at the cost of the lieutenant's life. Kaito would worry about that later as he leaped from the buidling which was standing upon. As soon as he landed he raised his left arm in the direction of the lieutenant, "May the bedside manner of the Holy Mother reside within me! May I care for this child through his nightmares!, Bakudo # 29, Royal Medicine" he whispered as the Curving Light kido dissipated around him allowing everyone to see him.

"Sorry to have interfered, 2nd squad fukutaichou...I couldn't just let things end the way that they were so I jumped in despite looking a bit dishonorable" he said to the lieutenant with a blank face. The green light from the kido sealed up the wound that the lieutenant had suffered from fighting the strange man, but Kaito wasn't finished since he had come up with a way to at least by the shinigami time to come up with a better strategy. "Please stand back a sec...and Crowe-kun...we are seriously going to have to talk about knowing your limits..." he said as he glanced back at his old academy classmate. Staring straight in front of him, he closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and began to channel reiatsu through his entire being, "...May the tears of those killed, of those harmed by those of wickenedness deliver their judgement upon those around, Hado # 6, Rain of Pain" he said. Kaito knew that this would only be a minor inconvenience for the zanpakutou spirits so he gathered his reiatsu once again.

Raising his arms straight into the air he gathered his reiatsu once again, "The frozen tundras hold countless corpses- the forgotten dead, fallen in battles long ago. Now I summon a brave warrior to fight once more..." he started and then smiled as he thought about how shocked his nakama would be. "Bakudo # 50, Frigid Skeletal Prison" he called out as the cage appeared directly over the area where all the shinigami were standing. With one sweeping, downward motion, Kaito forced the cage to land upon them with a loud crash as the temperature dropped within the confines of the cage and Kaito received several looks of outrage. He responded by raising his hands up defensively, "It's just so that we can't be attacked for the moment...besides we all know that they will eventually get through the kido...especially your zanpakutou...Ryouta Aname..." he said with a serious look at the lieutenant. Continuing on with a sigh, "In either case, that's the end of my role as a leader so from now on you guys give the calls. The point should be to get everyone out of this mess alive." he said with the same serious tone.

Touching his blade he also looked out Kuro Crowe, "We also don't know what Crowe-kun's zanpakutou or my zanpakutou's abilities will be either so I figured we should protect the two of us as well...it seems that guy must actually make eye contact with your zanpakutou before he can release so that it why trapped us in the cage..." he finished. Kaito sighed once more as he plopped down on his butt against the icy floor ignoring the freezing feeling that crept up his behind. "I hope I actually live to find out my zanpakutou's ability on my own..." he mumbled as his gaze remained on the ice floor as he awaited Ryouta's or someone else's ideas.

"Do ya see me complainin'?" Ryouta joked as his wound closed up. "I'm glad we got another capable guy on our side...we need it." He examined the cage that they were in. "I'm actually kinda tempted to just...no, I have responsibilities. Oh well."

Ryouta rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "I'm not sure if we can take down Musamane- hell, assumin' he's stronger than Raikou Arashi, I'm not sure I can even fight Raikou Arashi on even footin'..." He squatted down and held his head in his hands, squeezing his eyes tight. "Umm...all right, I have an idea. Kaito-san and I will take Musamane. Crowe-san, ya're gonna help Nikoda-san ta defeat his own Zanpakuto."

Ryouta stood and began pacing back and forth. "Now for something more specific...Nikoda-san, ya should know your Zanpakuto best- it's yours after all, and should be something like yaself. Maybe Crowe-san and yaself can think of a way to beat 'im..." Ryouta squatted next to Kaito again. "I think...I'm gonna combine a coupla kido spells that I think will keep Musamane from breakin' out. Perhaps ya could just fire Hado#54 into him while I'm keepin' him busy? I honestly dunno- this guy is a toughie all right."

Ryouta gestured for Kaito to get rid of the prison- once that was done, Ryouta stood and faced Musamane. "I'm all healed up- so let's continue where we left off. Hado no Gojuhachi: Tenran! Fall from the sky, cause it to light! Hado no Rokuju: Blast Feather!" A whirling tornado of wind surrounded Musamane and lifted him, startled, into the air. Seconds later, highly explosive feathers appeared and were whipping around the tornado at high speed. They just seemed to keep dropping from the sky as Ryouta stood holding his arms up, sweat beading his forehead as he kept the high level kido spells going.

The feathers slammed into Musamane from every angle, each exploding with devastating force. "Now, Kaito-san! Do it!"

ooc: kido/intel, preferably intel though

(Intel/ Kido please)

Kaito understood what the lieutenant was saying and he was prepared to execute the plan when he heard Ryouta yell out do it now, but it was also at that moment that he hadn't exactly figured out how to use the Abolishing Flame kido just yet. Although Kaito normally didn't care when he wasn't as skilled at something as he could have been he found this to be one of the most annoying occasions for his limitations to hit him and he hated to fail in front of his comrades who were all doing what they can to survive. "I suppose a combination kido should do considering that I have been working on them for sometime now..." he quickly gathered his thoughts as he raised his right arm up in the air while locking on to Musamane. "...Ryouta-kun, I'm afraid I'll have to deviate just a little from the plan..." he said as he gathered reiatsu into his hand.

Calming himself Kaito widened his eyes as he called out, "Sight. Hearing. Smell. Taste. Touch. Thought. And unto the six mortal senses... Good. Evil. Neutrality. And further unto each, Purity and Corruption. The 36 earthly desires of this world. Shared with a loved one, 72 earthly desires..." he paused as he focused the spiritual energy into this hand. "Hado # 46, 72 Pound Cannon!" he shouted as blades of wind that were condensed by reiatsu exploded from his hands. He watched as the winds made their way towards the man that was being held up by the powerful kido combination that lieutenant Ryouta had used to bind his movements. "...There's got to be something else that I can add to the mix..." he thought as his eyebrows furrowed in concentration and then suddenly an idea came to him, but it would involve him taking matters into his own hands which was a gamble. Quickly unsheathing his zanpakutou which hadn't been affected by the weird spirit's power Kaito glanced in Ryouta's direction, "Lieutenant...please forgive me for taking leadership one more time..." he said lightly, "...this is troublesome even for me so please understand..." he begged.

Spinning the katana in his hand, Kaito gathered momentum for the throw that he was about to attempt as he set his feet shoulder width apart to form a solid base. He whipped his blade through the air at the strange man that now had numerous attacks raining down upon him, but Kaito was aiming for a specific point; he was aiming for the man's right arm which he had seen the spirit use more than once to cause trouble for the other shinigami. As soon as the blade left his right hand, he immediately called out after it, "Though the spider failed to ensnare you, the cat is far more cunning. Rock to sleep in his cradle, Bakudo # 46, Cat's Cradle" he said calmly. He had the threads wrap around the hilt of his zanpakutou and then placed his left hand upon the thread that was attached to Kaito's right arm, "Hado # 11, Reading Lightening" he added in a calm manner. The lightening shot up the threads of kido energy in hurry eventually reaching the zanpakutou itself, setting it ablze with the crackling electritcity.

"Since the guy is releasing spirits, it's only natural that I put the spirit held within my sword to sleep when I am using it to attack him..." he calmly assessed his actions. "Ryouta-kun, if you have any other attacks or you feel the need to take control again, feel free" he said nonchalantly while maintaining his kido. Kaito wasn't sure whether or not his attacks would succeed, but he knew that the best case scenario would be that he had guessed correctly and the strange spirit truly needed his right arm to free the zanpakutou spirits, but even if he was wrong he would still manage to cause significant damage to the guy. At least that was what Kaito hoped would happen, "I'm really not made for such high pressure situations..." he mumbled hoping that the lieutenant would take that into account as he began giving further instructions.

Masamune was bombarded by many powerful kidous. He had lost an arm, which oddly didn’t bleed, only he knew why. And eventually was captured in the web of Cat’s Cradle, which was making him more and more drowsy. He didn’t mind, he even yawned as a wave of sleepiness washed over him. His clone of himself was returning from the Shinigami’s library-he almost had the last piece of the puzzle.

Nikoda’s sword was being deflected right and left by Tensugata’s sai, becoming even more useless. Tensugata was able to catch and trap Nikoda’s sword a few times in the sais, allowing him to throw knees at Nikoda or hit the Shinigami with the knuckle (the bottom weight on a sai handle, used for bludgeoning). The solid metal knuckle hit Nikoda’s jaw and almost leveled him, the weight and speed combining to overpower his stability. Nikoda’s knees wobbled but he caught himself and was able to maintain standing. He knew as well as Tensugata did, that a katana was useless against the sais. Nikoda decided he would even the odds.

“Burn of the blades that have been lost! Way of Destruction #8: Blade of Flames!” he shouted as a flaming sword materialized in his free hand. Nikoda continued to attack, once his first sword was captured by the sais, he swung immediately with the flaming sword at Tensugata’s head. For the first time in the fight, Nikoda noticed Tensugata become notably damaged as the kidou based sword cut Tensugata’s face. He began to think about how this was different than the previous attacks. He had used a sword but the only thing he had added was kidou. That was it! The zanpakutou’s were vulnerable to weapon based kidous. Flaming swords, read lightning, spears…he had to let the other know immediately. As Nikoda opened his mouth to inform the other shinigami, Tensugata charged forward, sweeping both of Nikoda’s swords to the side as he performed a perfectly executed flying knee that hit Nikoda dead center in the nose, breaking it. Nikoda fell backwards, blood pouring from his nose, his brain rattled. Tensugata turned towards Crowe and twirled his sais masterfully, no emotion on his face only intent.

Masamune’s clone finally returned from the Library, using shunpo to appear beside the Cat’s Cradle kidou that trapped the original Masamune. The clone bowed down and whispered something to Masamune about Arrancars and then dissolved into the air, one would think returning to become whole again with Masamune’s body. There was a wide smile on Masamune’s face as he prepared to try and escape, he had little time before he would fall face forward and be snoring. He finally had the last piece of his plan, which he knew would undoubtedly destroy Seireitei, the shinigami and if he wished all of Soul Society.

damn, sorry for the wait and delay in marking
Ni-chan:
+1 intel
+.5 fighting skill
Ryouta:
+1.5 spirit
+.5 fighting skill
Kaito:
+1.5 intel
+.5 kidou

(Thanks Kaiyo. Kidou please)

Tensugata had turned to face Crowe, his intentions clear as he twirled the evidently lethal sais. Nikoda lay behind him, his nose gushing blood like a fountain and his mind spinning. He had to do something to distract Tensugata, he wouldn’t allow his zanpakutou to harm another person. “Tensugata, I’m sorry I haven’t taken the time to get to know you. I’ve been busy studying and performing experiments-“

Tensugata reluctantly took his eyes off of the other shinigami and turned slightly towards Nikoda. “I see.” His eyes turned murderous, “I’m not important enough to be one of your experiments.”

Nikoda was speechless, he knew this wasn’t the truth but he couldn’t find the words to defend his actions. A great guilt fell over him, as he lay in a pool of his own blood. His resolve wavered only momentarily before he spoke again. “I’m sorry…yes. But I also won’t let you harm these other shinigami.” He smiled, probably the first time anyone there had seen him smile. “Its okay if I do experiments on these guys, but in exchange, I can’t let you anyone else tamper with them.”

Tensugata just stood there for a moment; he pondered the words of his former owner.

As Tensugata thought about Nikoda’s response. Nikoda began to gather the energy needed for a kidou, which he decided to turn into a combination kidou. The destructive energy fluxed through Nikoda’s body as he tried to concentrate on it and focus it into the palms of his right hand. He commanded the kidou, “Let those that toss the stone in the pond, be splashed by their own self doubt! Way of Destruction # 24: Water Slicing Blade!”

As a pool of water began to form into a blade, Nikoda began the second kidou for his combination. He reached his left hand into the forming water blade and proceeded to let the energy in his body unfocus and run wild. He tried to push that sporadic energy through his left hand and into the water blade as he commanded, “Way of Destruction # 11: Reading Lightning!” Kidou re-enforced lightning surged through the water blade just before it launched at Tensugata. Nikoda needed one more distraction, something quick, something true and right on the mark.

Nikoda shouted as he stared at Tensugata, “But you never tried to reach out to me either. You can become part of my group too, all you need to do is reach to me.”

Tensugata clearly saw the lighting powered water blade come towards him but he simply stood there and thought. Just as the blade was upon him, he reached his right hand out to Nikoda. Nikoda initially thought the gesture to be a representation of Tensugata trusting Nikoda, and he wanted to retract the kidou. But he looked deeper and saw that Tensugata’s eyes said otherwise, they were full of murderous intent and enmity-as if to say, ‘look at what happens when I trust you’. Nikoda was so ashamed that he had to turn his head at the last second as the kidous exploded against Tensugata’s body, probably piercing it as well. Nikoda felt his eyes water a little, instead of wiping his eyes and making it look obvious that he was getting slightly emotional, he decided to shake his head lightly instead.

Kuro ran to Nikoda, putting his hand on him. "May the bedside manner of the Holy Mother reside within me! May I care for this child through his nightmares! Way of Binding #29 Royal Medicine!" Kuro's hand began to glow with green energy that surrounded Nikoda. "I am too weak to help you guys... So the least I can do is heal." Kuro said solemnly. He sat there observing the spirits, "None of them want to fight us... That man is forcing them... I know.. I am too weak to help anymore.." Kuro turned and solemnly began heading back towards his base. "Maybe I can find them help.."

ooc: kaiyo, why didn't i get kido/intel points??

As Masamune twirled around inside the tornado, continually being hit by Ryouta's exploding feathers, Ryouta gritted his teeth as the effort involved with maintaining the high-level kido spells was slowly but surely chipping away at his reiatsu reserves. He would just have to hope that Masamune would eventually succumb to the sheer amount of damage he was taking.

Ryouta closed his eyes and concentrated. "Fell the wrath of the many Demon's before me- Hado no Rokujuichi: Demon Claw Rapture!" Ryouta swiped at Musamane with his right hand. A blue crackling bolt of reiatsu erupted from his clawed hand and hit Musamane. At that instant, Ryouta dispelled both his Blast Feather and Orchid Sky spells. The Demon Claw Rapture spell hit Musamane squarely- again, there was a massive explosion that sent a shape that was presumably Musamane spiraling backward, trailing smoke as he went.

"Hado no Gojuyo: Haien!" Ryouta followed up this attack with a burst of purple reiatsu. The purple reiatsu hit the left arm of Musamane, which instantly burst into flame. Musamane stood and immediately used his katana to cut off his left arm, leaving it to burn away into nothingness.

"Without that arm...he's at a disadvantage when fightin'," observed Ryouta. "I will engage him." Ryouta ran forward, drawing both his Zanpakuto as he went. "Hado no Nijunana: Reishi Blade!" He channeled the spell along his right Zanpakuto so that it "lengthened." As he appeared in front of Masamune, he swept his right sword down in an attempt to decapitate the already maimed Masamune. Masamune brought his own katana up with surprising speed, and blocked Ryouta's slash with equally surprising strength.

"Not bad...it seems I was foolish to underestimate a Vice-Captain," commented Masamune. "I will not make the same mistake again." He flung his arm to the side, sending Ryouta skidding to a halt several meters away. Undeterred, Ryouta flash stepped toward Masamune again and this time aimed a slash at Masamune's left side. Masamune parried the attack quite competently, and responded by aiming a slash of his own at Ryouta's left side.

Ryouta pulled his left Zanpakuto in close and blocked the attack with casual efficiency. "Ya're goin' down!" He began attacking with terrifying speed, though it's in doubt how long he could keep it up. Ryouta aimed slashes and cuts at all of Masamune's major tendons and ligaments; occasionally he would get in close and aim a stab at a vulnerable spot like Masamune's right clavicle, or try to get it between his ribs. Masamune somehow managed to block all of Ryouta's strikes, though not without effort, as both slid away panting from each other as Ryouta paused in his frenzied attack.

"I've had just about enough of this..." said Ryouta. "Back off!"

ooc: so that's intel and fighting skill for this post please

((Oh wow... I am lost O.o.. <.< I am positive I missed something lol))

((Edit: I don't know... I have decided in this post I am pathetic and weak. So I am going to my last post and change it to say I left.. Lol it didn't even effect anything anyways.)

(Intel or Fighting skill please)

Kaito remained a bit shocked at the sight that he had seen when the two Musamunes fused together into one being and then it seemed as if the strength of the new being had increased dramatically. "Just what the hell are the powers of these zanpakutou spirits...?" he wondered. As he watched Ryouta engage the man who not only seemed to have a strange ability to make copies of himself, but the strange man seemed to possess incredible skill in the art of sword fighting since he was able to keep up with Aname. Kaito sighed as he drew his zanpakutou back to his hand, [i]"The only way to see what this guy's strength is would be to engage him right along with Ryouta..."[/i] he observed. He began to lean forward on the toes of his sandal gathering reiatsu into the balls of his feet and once he gathered the right amount of reiatsu into the balls of his feet, the ground underneath him expelled the dust that was within the immediate area of his feet.

Using this power that was now gathered at his feet Kaito dashed in front of the strange spirit with his zanpakutou facing downward in a ready to strike position, "It's going to be interesting to see if you can really handle going up against two seated officers at captain level class..." Kaito said with an even tone. He wasn't boasting for the sake of bolstering his confidence because he didn't have any interest in fighting this battle so his strategy was to make Musamane respond to his taunt so that he would be able to witness the spirit's power. "If I am going to come up with a strategy against this guy...it's going to take a lot of effort. That much is for sure..." he realized. The fact that the lieutenant of the 2nd squad was having trouble with him in the first place proved that he was at least on the same fighting grounds as Kaito, but he also knew that Kaito had the ability to push the fight further with some ingenuity. Quickly flicking his blade upward at the man's uninjured shoulder, Kaito tried to take advantage of the fact that Musamane's blade was still defending against Ryouta's sword strike.

Surprisingly, Musamane maintained a calm demeanor as he pushed away the second squad captain and then roundhouse kicked away Kaito's sword slash while bringing his own blade in a thrust movement at Kaito's lungs, "What the?" he thought. With almost no time to spare, Kaito repositioned his blade so that the body of the blade absorbed the shock of the attack as he held the hilt up in the air. Eying Musamane's reaction to his assault Kaito attempted to look for any vulnerabilities or inconsistencies with his fighting abilities that could be used at the advantage of the shinigami, "Just one or two small screw ups and I can put this fight out of his reach I think..." Kaito thought as he watched closely gauging every movement the man made. The man struck at Kaito a few more times, but Kaito managed to parry them with swords of equal or greater strength, but even he knew that the Musamane guy wasn't pushing himself to the maximum limits of his strength. Laughing Musamane quickly pirouetted upon the balls of his feet while swinging his blade with dangerous amounts of reiatsu behind it which Kaito managed to barely evaded as the strike drew blood for the first time that Kaito had taken such a direct power usage of the samurai.

Muaahhahahahahahahhah....................

"Oh, you're double-teaming me, are you?" said Musamane as he looked at his two opponents. "Hardly sporting." He laughed. "Fortunately I have ways to...secure reinforcements." Masamune waved his hand in Raikou Arashi's general direction, and all of a sudden, Raikou Arashi clutched at his head and glowed with an eerie red light. This proved enough to spark Ryouta's temper.

"Stay outta his mind!" He lunged forward recklessly and aimed a powerful but wild vertical slash at Masamune. Masamune dodged to the side and Ryouta's blow crashed into the ground, sending debris and shockwaves spreading out from that point. Undeterred, Ryouta came in close to Masamune and stabbed with his left blade. Masamune twisted and struck down with his katana, knocking the smaller ninjato's point down. Still, Ryouta pressed recklessly on, aiming angered slash after slash at Masamune. And then...he was hit from the side by a black and white blur- Raikou Arashi.

Ryouta crashed into a wall and slid down, dazed. "I...I thought ya said ya'd wait..." he said with a dazed expression on his face.

"You were fighting Masamune...-sama unfairly. I was forced to join the fight," said Raikou Arashi.

"Is that what ya think?" asked Ryouta. "Or what Masamune wants ya to think?" He looked at Raikou Arashi sadly. "I don't wanna fight ya...but it looks like I have to. I guess...though it makes no real difference, I will only use kido. I don't wanna make ya bleed by my sword or fist." Ryouta raised his left sword. "Hado no Goju: Solar Flare!" The fiery whip extended from the blade, and with a lightning swift movement, Ryouta said it racing toward Raikou Arashi at the speed of sound.

Raikou Arashi jumped out of the way, and the whip smashed through the ground he was just standing on. Ryouta pointed his lengthened right sword at Raikou Arashi as he went higher and higher. He decided that he had no time for the full incantation, and decided to cast the spell without said incantation. "Hado no Gojunana: Meteor Swarm!" Three blazing boulders appeared in front of him, and then shot with surprising speed at Raikou Arashi. As soon as they were in line with him, they all exploded with devastating force.

A burning object flew out from the resulting smoke cloud and streaked toward Ryouta. Ryouta whipped his left hand forward, sending the flaming whip that was in his hand whipping down at the object. As the smoke around the object cleared, he saw it was Raikou Arashi, coming in for an attack of his own. As his whip neared Raikou Arashi, Raikou Arashi flash stepped, appearing directly in front of Ryouta.

Ryouta gasped in surprise, and then pain as Raikou Arashi's armored paw crashed into him, sending him through the wall he stood in front of. He stood up defiantly and shouted, "This is pointless, can't ya see that?"

ooc: kido/intel and maybe a little FS