Ryouta appeared just on the outskirts of the 80th district in the North Quarter, or the Zaraki district. He was wearing a cloak that covered him completely, and he was posing as a beggar. He was waiting for his two partners to arrive. Hopefully they would get there soon, as the longer he waited, the more likely his presence would be noticed by the district's nefarious elements, as well as their mission's targets.

Saroki started to walk towards Ryouta, of course not knowing the beggar WAS Ryouta, Saroki wasn't wearing a shinigami uniform, she was wearing a shirt with no sleeves, and some long linen pants. Saroki's hair was all messed up and covered in dirt, she looked just like another troublesome kid. Saroki whistled as she walked along the path, blending in perfectly, she stopped next to Ryouta, or the appearing 'beggar'

Ryouta reached up and tugged on her arm. "Got any change to spare for a poor soul?" he asked in a tremulous pathetic voice. Then under his breath, he said, "Play along." After she pretended to shrug him off, he chuckled insanely and said loudly, "Hahaha, well there's more generous souls out there! Hehehehe! Sit down a moment with a seasoned beggar and I'll show ya a trick or two!" He then said again under his breath, "We'll wait for Kuro to get here and then we move out."

Kuro walked into the area dressed in his old set of clothes from his days living in this very district. He had a simple black jacket with a white shirt underneath, both very dirty and tattered. His pants were smooth and black and very sleek which was good for fast movement. Over his outfit, he wore a black cloak that was ripped in a few places, but sold his look as a regular traveler through the rukongai. He didn't attract much attention as he stuck to the sides of the streets. There weren't many people in the streets, because people generally stayed out of sight in this area as long as they didn't have any business. Just looking at a person the wrong way in this district could land you in a nasty fight to the death. He saw the beggar and Saroki (he could tell it was her even though she had done a fine job of blending in with the citizens) and started walking their way. He passed them without a glance, but spoke out of the side of his mouth barely audible as he passed. "We should separate and regroup in an alley between the buildings. A group of more than two in the middle of the day will attact attention in these parts." He continued walking and inconspicuously turned down the next alley that he reached, hoping they had heard and understood his message.

Ryouta gave an imperceptible nod, and then in his crazy beggar's voice said loudly, "This place is unlucky for beggars. Somewhere else!" He headed off for the alley that Kuro had mentioned, arriving there about 10 seconds after Kuro had. "The three coins I'm lookin' for today are near- they have passed me by several times today. So stingy those people!"

Saroki nodded quickly to Ryouta and Kuro, as she was hated in the rukongai, and even anyone hearing her voice would start a conflict, Saroki arrived a few minutes after Kuro and Ryouta had arrived in the alley ways. Saroki coughed a bit as she took out a small black hood and put it on, she changed her voice slightly to avoid anyone hearing a familiar voice, "Ok, so whats the plan?" She said in a quiet disorted voice.

ooc: as a sort of recap
The bulkiest looking man has a combat-type Zanpakuto, and it turns into a warhammer. The next one is thinner and has a mustache, and his Zanpakuto takes the form of a chakram (ability to control earth). The last one has no information save appearance- he is of average size and has a scar over his left eye.

"As 2nd Squad members, we are expected to perform our missions professionally. And that is to say...efficiently and without a trace of our involvement. However, I find that rather borin' really. I wanna bust some heads." Ryouta smiled. "So, I'm goin' ta have each of ya take your specific target and lead them to that warehouse." Ryouta pointed. "We will have as much space as we need to fight in there...and no one will notice. Just make sure ya aren't seen as ya walk into the warehouse. I'll take Scarface since we don't have information on his abilities. The both of ya can decide amongst yaselves who ya want."

And with that, Ryouta headed out of the alley. He spotted his "prey" some 5 minutes later. He pitched as if drunk in the man's direction, and deftly picked the man's pocket as he bumped into him. Luckily, Ryouta had not been using his actual talents, and the man noticed. "Hey!" Ryouta waved goodbye to the man and raced off. The man roared and gave chase.

"Scarface, ya know, ya should really watch the rage," Ryouta said as he ducked through the streets. The warehouse loomed in the distance. He put on an extra burst of speed and raced down an alley so he would be concealed. Then, he muttered, "Bakudo no Nijuroku: Kyakko." He became invisible and ran to the warehouse, making sure that his target saw the doors swing shut behind him. As the man burst through, Ryouta gave him a healthy kick in the behind, revealing himself as he did so. "We've got some business to attend to, soon as your companions get here," he said conversationally.

ooc: to mods- intel for this delightful bit of manipulation

Kuro nodded to Ryouta as he heard the mission. He glanced at both him and Saroki as he mentally analyzed the information they had on the targets.

"Hmmmmm.....I'll go after the thin one with the earth manipulating zanpakuto. His buildup suggests that he may be quick on his feet. That added to his manipulation skills would require a quick opponent to face him. I'll find him and lure him over to the warehouse."

Kuro watched as Ryouta left and gave him a few minutes before heading out on his own. He looked up and down the sections of the district and began to walk down the center of the road, no longer trying to hide completely. He got a few looks as he walked through the town, but his cloak prevented any recognition. After about 10 minutes of investigation, he saw a group of children playing in the street. A man that closely fit the description of his target came strutting out of one of the alley ways and pushed his way roughly through the kids. One of them defiantly demanded that the man apologize. Kuro saw him turn back to the child and draw his sword. There was no doubt anymore who the man was. Kuro sprinted forward and grabbed the boy before the man's sword fell.

"Who the hell-...." the man began, but Kuro darted forward after placing the boy out of harm's way and gave him an uppercut in the chin. He then took off for the warehouse, having incited the man's anger and caused him to follow him. They reached the warehouse and burst in, Kuro expecting that things would get rough soon.

(ooc: as much as I like increasing my speed, two sentences of speedy footwork don't cut if for that. This post is aiming for intelligence.)

Saroki sighed a bit as she started walking out of the alley way, "Well, looks like i'm stuck with the muscle man..." She said in a slightly depressed tone, but she knew she couldn't complain, it was a serious mission. Saroki felt the breeze hit her face as she walked through the streets, she knew why their was so much crime, it was a poor district, for most people it was resort to crime or die of starvation. Saroki coughed slightly as the wind hit her face. I need a drink... Saroki turned her search to a nearby taver, she walked through the door only to be greeted by the smell of old sake. She shuddered at the smell, Thats foul! She coughed a bit more and sat down at the counter, ordering up a glass of sake.

Ughhh....What am I doing? I shouldn't be drinking on the job, but...Oh screw it!.... She gulped down the glass of sake and stood up, she only sacraficed a few minutes of her time. Just as Saroki was about to leave, a large man stood up out of his chair and picked up a sword, the mans description fit perfectly, "Oh shi-!!!" The mans zanapkuto turned into a warhammer, before Saroki could unsheath her zanpakuto the man swinged the hammer straight in Sarokis stomach.

The impact of the hammer sent a shockwave through Sarokis body as she was sent flying towards the wooden wall, broke through the wall and landed a few dozen feet away from the building. She rolled over onto her belly and coughed up blood onto the ground, "D....Damnit..." She said as she tryed to stand up. The large man walked through the large hole made by Saroki, "Your spiritual pressure....It's too strong for you to be some bandit, your a shinigami!" The man yelled out in pure rage, "And from the looks of you you are on a mission!" Saroki stood up and turned to the man, she unsheathed her zanapkuto clinched her teeth, "Shut up old man!" She yelled out.

Saroki ran towards the large man, her reiatsu rageing, the man attempted to impale Saroki with the blade on the top of his hammer, Saroki hopped into the air and landed on the warhammers head, "Your too slow old man! The only reason you hit me back their was because I was off guard!" Her rage showed in her eyes as she ranted on. The man gaspped in amazement, Saroki jumpped off from the warhammer, she then detached the scythe from the bottom of her zanpakuto, a black chain attached to it. She then jumped behind the man, the scythe sliceing into the mans right shoulder, createing a deep gash. Saroki ran off towards a dark alley way, the man quickly following, Saroki soon made it to the warehouse without being seen by anyone but the man. Saroki bursted through the front doors as the man quickly follow, she stopped a few feet away from Ryouta, "Sorry if i'm late." She said, nearly laughing at the fact that all of the rouges wher here.

((OOC: I don't know what this post would qualify for, sorry xD))

"Remember, we're roughin' them up, but not killin' them, 'kay?" Ryouta said. "All right then- our files didn't say anything about you or your powers, so I think I'll just find out the old-fashioned way." The man whom he spoke to said nothing- he just drew his katana and assumed a defensive stance. Ryouta grinned. "Exactly what I was thinking." He flash stepped and appeared in front of the man, crouched low. He sprang up from this position, pulling out both of his Zanpakutos as he went, and slashed at the renegade Shinigami.

The man jumped back to avoid the slashes and continued to maintain his defensive stance. "Defensive kinda guy, aintcha?" said Ryouta as he pressed his attack. He got in really close and aimed short stabs and cuts at all of the man's vital tendons and joints. Somehow, the man managed to fend him off, despite the length of his katana. "Wow, I'm impressed," said Ryouta. Still, the man remained silent. "Ya know, that silence of yours is kinda annoyin'."

The man lifted his Zanpakuto in one hand, and then spoke in a strangely high, cold voice. "Divide and conquer, Kumosama." The man's Zanpakuto glowed and then the hilt seemed to expel a chain which went over the man's shoulder and down his left arm. Then the chain split and seemed to grow bigger and bigger until it became a shield with spikes along the edge. Finally, the shield began to spin so that its edge could be used as a weapon.

"Oh, how interestin'," said Ryouta. "A flash of lightning, the sound of drops, falling among the bamboos. Raikou Arashi." His blades lengthened and then curved around into his familiar hook swords. Ryouta grinned, and then said, "Here I come!" He flash stepped and brought one blade down at the edge of the shield; he noted that the shield stopped spinning when one of his blades was between the spikes. His other blade locked with the man's katana, which remained largely unchanged.

"Stalemate," said the man. "Go away now." Ryouta chuckled and shook his head.

"Nope!" Ryouta kicked out, caught the man in the stomach and sent him flying backward. "I hate to end this so soon, but buddy, you're outta your league! Bakudo no Sanju: Shitotsu Sansen!" Ryouta quickly drew the golden triangle in midair, and then the spell fired out three bursts of energy which pinned the man to a wall behind him.

"Understood!" Kuro replied to Ryouta's comment about not killing the targets. His oppenent was still rubbing his chin and glaring at Kuro with an evil malice that betrayed his obvious feelings and ill intent toward killing him. Kuro drew his blade and held it in a reverse grip, waiting for an opening to exploit and bring the man down with little trouble.

"Yer hilarious if you think you know my full strength!" the opposing enemy taunted. "Allow me to show you how real shinigami fight you little greenhorn." He raised his fist gripping his zanpakuto up to face level, holding it horizontal to the ground, its blade stretched across the plane of his face. "Bury them all, Tsuchisen." His zanpakuto glowed with a murky brown glow that hid all of its original features. Still hidden in the light, its shape changed into a glowing ring. As the glow subsided, Kuro could see that the man's zanpakuto had transformed into a handsome ornate chakram blade. The opponent proceeded to laugh like a madman, much to Kuro's annoyance at being underestimated. After settling down a bit he slashed the chakram through thin air. Immediately, four spikes of rock burst through the floor of the warehouse aiming at Kuro. The man grinned insanely at Kuro's look of surprise. "Didn't your friends give you information on my sword's power? I'm able to manipulate any earth around me to a certain degree. Which sucks for you because there's always earth close by wherever you could hide." With another swing of his weapon, the opponent fired the spikes out of the ground and sent them sailing toward Kuro.

Kuro acted fast. The spikes were sharp and dangerous, but their large size left plenty of room for him to dodge between. He sprinted forward and weaved in and out of them, closing the distance between him and his opponent before launching an assault of 3 fast palm thrusts at various points on his body. The man was as quick as Kuro had originally predicted and jumped back from Kuro's advancing attack. He slashed his weapon again and a large swarm of miniature boulders flew through the floor, hovering behind the man for a moment before launching at Kuro. Kuro knew that kido could handle them. He raised his reiatsu and chanted, "May the black sounds of those that have felt death emit and destroy! Hado #7: Black Thunder!" The wave of black reiatsu that burst from Kuro's body vibrated violently and shattered the small rocks into pebbles before they reached him. The man seemed pleased however as he swung his chakram again. Before Kuro could react, a pillar of rock erupted from the floor beneath him and sent him flying into the air. While Kuro was still airborne, the opponent swung his chakram through empty space multiple times and burst the pillar into small shrapnel that lacerated Kuro all over. He landed on his front with a crash and barely managed to push himself up again. The opponent laughed again as he raised his chakram above his head. The floor of the warehouse began to rumble violently.

"It's your loss kid. You fought well for a beginner. But I would only expect so much from a kid that's obviously new to the whole fighting deal." As he spoke, the floor behind him shattered as a huge boulder broke through and hovered at his side. Kuro could not accept defeat. Even as he stared at the large boulder, a strong desire to win coursed through him. No....this won't be the end....I have to stop being a liability. I promised myself in the academy that I would become a strong shinigami that could make Kaiyo and Ryouta-fukutaichou proud. I can't....I won't lose here!

Is that so? a familiar voice sounded in Kuro's mind. You have discovered your reason for strength and hold onto it until the end. In that case, it is time that we meet.

Kuro gasped as the warehouse faded from his sight. (ooc: Continued in my 'becomming one with your zanpakuto' thread.)

Kuro's eyes widened for a split second as his awareness returned to the warehouse. His enemy was still standing before him with the boulder at his side. The wounds from his attacks covered Kuro's arms, legs, and face. He was still laughing as he swung his zanpakuto forward and directed the boulder to fly straight at Kuro.

Kuro reflected on many things in the short time it took the boulder to reach him. His life in the rukongai, his time in the academy, and the meeting of all the people he now called friends and comrades. "I am not new to fighting..." he muttered in response to the condescending taunt that felt like the opponent had said it ages ago, "and I will not meet my end at the hands of a coward like you who only knows how to talk big!" Kuro took his stance, his left arm bent back and gripping his zanpakuto tightly. Now's the time to show the world our true might master.... "Focus! Seishou-seijin!!!"

Kuro's reiatsu surged wildly for a moment before returning to a concentrated level. His zanpakuto glowed brightly and seemed to mold onto his arm. When the glow faded, his arm was equipped with a black ninja gauntlet. It had a golden band around the wrist and a black strap that ran from his wrist to a ring on his middle finger on both sides of his hand. On the palm side, there was a large, flat, red jewel set into the strap that shone faintly with his energy. Kuro closed his eyes and focused his strength into his left hand. As he focused, he could feel the hand of his zanpakuto's spirit on his shoulder, guiding him. "Kuro, remember what I taught you and use it to beat him. Use the power of the-"

"Kibaku Hirate!!!" Kuro bellowed the attack name in unison with his spirit as he rammed his open palm into the incomming rock. His power surged from the jewel on his palm and caused the boulder to shatter. The power Kuro had packed into the blow was so great that the resulting fragments were sent back in the opponsite direction, pummeling the master who had sent the attack. He threw up his arms to protect him and didn't notice as Kuro dashed straight at him and aimed another concentrated thrust at his stomach. The opponent doubled over in sudden pain and passed out from the shock, his eyes wide with the pain of Kuro's blow. Kuro quickly whipped out a leather string he'd brought with him and bound the man's hands and feet before checking out the scene around him.

(ooc: this post would aim mostly for fighting skill it seems. sorry for the length. I usually try to avoid such length in a multiple person rp thread.)

Ryouta:
+1 intel
Saroki:
+.5 speed
+.5 spirit
Kuro:
+1 fighting skill

((OOC: HOLY HELL! I HAVEN'T POSTED IN SO LONG! I am EXTREMELY sorry....))

Saroki grinned as the large man looked around the room in shock, he finally realised it was a trap. "Alright, now that wher away from the public I don't have to hold back!" She said in a matter of fact tone, she charged forward with all of her speed, she knew getting caught by the other shinigamis hammer would be fatal, and blocking the hammer would be useless. She had to dodge every last one of his attacks, and if she was caught by even one she would be sent flying. Saroki had thought things through, their wher a series of metal support beams above everyone, if she could climb up into those beams she would be able to ambush her opponent and dodge his attacks. The bulky man raised his warhammer prepareing to strike Saroki, but just as Saroki came within three feet of him he flash stepped behind her, Saroki gasped, she hadn't planned on the large man being able to flash step. Damnit! She couldn't stop so quickly, she had built up too much speed, things wher not looking very good at the moment, Saroki attempted to spin around, although the attempt was useless, the man had already reached mid-swing before she could even turn around. Saroki could feel the reiatsu pulseing from the warhammer head, her previous caculations had been DEAD WRONG, if she was hit by this hammer once it would be a death blow. Saroki attempted to position her zanpakuto infront of herself, hopeing the sword would take the blow, the plan worked, although she was still sent flying towards the side wall of the warehouse, Saroki hit the metal wall, gasping as blood was spat out into the aire. Saroki's eyes wher wide open, the pain seared through every nerve in her body, she couldn't believe the destructive force this shinigami held. Saroki fell onto the ground, she couldn't feel her legs or arms, her zanpakuto was next to her on the cold blood covered cement, the plan might have saved her life, but it came at a cost, a large crack was in the middle of her zanpakutos blade, it was about to break. Saroki had regret taunting the rouge shinigami back ate the bar, Saroki coughed up a bit of more blood, staining the cement. Saroki always thought she was strong, she thought she could beat a captain, she thought she could be compared with Ryouta and the others, but the fact was she was just a hot headed child. A small tear drop fell from her eye onto the cement, her oponents foot steps sent vibrations through the ground, like a taunting voice telling her that she failed. Everyone else had captured their oponents, and yet Saroki was about to be killed by hers, she clenched her teeth in disgust in herself. No...This can't be the end... She saw her entire life story, from the day she was born up untill now, she saw all of the people she cared about, the people she lost, the people she is protecting. NO! THIS CAN'T BE THE END! IT WON'T BE THE END!!! She opened her eyes wide open as her vision came back to her, she bursted into a blue flame of reiatsu, she regained feeling back in her body. She could fight again.


Saroki stood up and picked up her nearly broken zanpakuto from the ground, "I'm going to end this...With one final blow!!!" She yelled out at her opponent, the large man grinned and prepared himself, "If you must..." The man said as if he was brushing Saroki aside. Saroki charged towards the large man, holding her zanpakuto to her side. The large man rushed towards Saroki, as the two shinigamis wher not in attack range they lifted their zanpakutos up into the air, they then threw them down, the two zanapkutos clashed, leaveing each shinigami in a stalemate. Saroki sweat fell from her face as her oponent pushed her back a few inches, Saroki growled as the crack in her zanpakuto spread. Though the blade of her zanpakuto started to break through her oponents warhammer head, the opposeing shinigami clenched his teeth and attempted to summon up more reiatsu, Saroki could feel the destructive force of his zanapktuo putting incredibel amounts of pressure on her zanapkuto. Saroki yelled out as she attempted to summon up more reiatsu to match up with the large man, Saroki had nearly broken through the rouge shinigami's zanpakuto, although her own zanpakuto seemed to have been barely holding togethor. Saroki grinned as a malice expression appeared on her face, "THIS IS THE END!!!" She yelled out as the large mans zanpakuto was cut in half, the large man gasped, although Saroki wasted no time in seeing the mans expression, she jammed the butt of her zanpakuto into the large mans stomach, the impact knocked the wind out of him allowing Saroki to capture him. The man fell to the floor, his eyes wide open, Saroki turned the man onto his stomach and tied his hands togethor with a red rope of reiatsu. She then stood up and looked around.

"Good work," Ryouta congratulated his squad members. He had the prisoners gathered around the man he had pinned to the wall. "Bakudo no Yojuroku: Cat's Cradle!" Strands of sticky white thread fired from his finger tips and further bound the prisoners.

He snapped his fingers and a Hell Butterfly seemed to appear out of nowhere. He spoke to it briefly, and then glanced at his squad members again. "I'll meet ya all at the Maggot's Nest. The Onmitsukido will take the prisoners there. Again, good work," Ryouta vanished as he flash stepped away.

+1.5 spirit power Saroki