Killer instincts (open)

As he swung around the city he didn't take in the sights as usual. He wasn't hungry, but there were so many targets. The wind whipped through his hair as he moved through the buildings. Even lost in thought his body kept him from crashing into a walls, windows, lampposts, or low hanging signs.
He would find it quite amazing if he understood what it was he was doing at the time. Instead his focus was elsewhere. Something had been nagging him in the back of his head from last night.
The previous night he had attempted to hunt down the human that had hurt him long ago. He was certain he would be somewhere in the city. After much searching he had taken a rest. It was during that time he replayed the fight in his head. It was one of his first time coming to this area, and he had found a rather juicy human. Only to find out that the human wielded strange powers. Using said abilities the human was nearly successful in blasting him to bits. He had narrowly escaped the strike and fell into the lake, and then....
Stratus scratched his head. What had happened next? For some reason that part was a blur. He did recall the human being badly injured when he left, but he didn't remember how. He remembered being hit by the strange light, but nothing more. Sitting there for several minutes didn't change that fact. Did he black out? That would be silly. If he did black out why didn't the human take advantage of that time to slay him? The more he thought about it, the stranger it seemed. And it wasn't the only time, he recalled another fight where he 'blacked out'. He had been greatly injured and overpowered by his opponent, and then he had escaped. Thinking about it further only made his head hurt and spoiled his appetite. He told himself to to forget about it and continue his search.

So deep in thought he hadn't noticed the shinigami shadowing him. The robed man with shaggy brown hair raced along the rooftops above the hollow. Since Stratus was traveling a rather straight route, he flash stepped ahead of him. The streets were lightly populated, the shinigami wanted to end the hollow in a single strike. Posed on the top of the next building he waited til the hollow was at the higher part of his swing. In the next instant he had flash stepped right in the monster's path and brought his sword flashing down. Stratus' body acted on it's own yet again, this time saving his wicked life. As the shinigami suddenly appeared it shifted to the side. The blade that was going to severe his head in two now cut deeply into his shoulder, nearly cleaving off his arm. As surprised as the Stratus was to suddenly see the shingami, the pain quickly flooded his body and he plummeted to the ground. The impact was nothing, the agony of his arm was overwhelming. Standing in the air above the shinigami clicked his tongue. There was now a decent dip in the street where the creature had fell. A car swerved to avoid the pit and crashed into another car. Someone on the street walked over to help the people in the wreckage.
"Almost. Well better get him before they get too close." he began a nose dive upon the grounded foe, to finish the job. Stratus rolled in the small hole, it felt like his blood was boiling, and his brain was on fire. Pain, and more pain. He howled and the air about him trembled in response to his primal scream. The howl continued as his mind switched off and something else took it's place. The people around the pit collapsed under a mysterious weight the air felt suffocating. The diving shinigami was knocked into a wall leaving an impression. The hollow was standing in the middle of the hole. The gruesome cut through his shoulder was gone, the skin bubbled as it healed the wound.

The night hadn't planned out the way the Hollow had wanted it to at all. First, his meal for the day had managed to avoid him by getting too close to a Human with unusually high Spiritual Pressure, someone too powerful for him to handle. Then, on his way to a safe location to open a Garganta, he came across a group of powerful Hollows battling it out, Hollows far more powerful than he. He'd barely managed to avoid being devoured by them. Now, he felt an incredible surge of Reiatsu that, if it didn't belong to another Hollow, would have obliterated him, since it was so much more powerful than he was. After staggering, Raizen growled and turned in the direction of the center of the strange Reiatsu explosion.

Even though his instincts warned him against it, he became curious as to what Hollow could have caused something like this, and so he found himself racing towards the center of the explosion. Raizen reached it quickly, and for a moment found himself confused, for before him, there was simply body after body leading towards a single Hollow, one that was not even a Menos. His tail whipped about him, and then he found himself moving towards the shadows, instead deciding to wait and see whether or not the other Hollow had seen him, and whether or not he could devour it in it's weakened state or if it was still too powerful for him to defeat. His blood red eyes stared out from the shadows of a building. Raizen waited. His hunger began to grow.

Spoiler:

Pain The wound had closed, but there was still the dull ache. The scar on his body had already vanished. It snorted the air; it could smell the blood the injure humans. Meat It' pounced on top of the crashed vehicle and dug the fingers of it's right claw into the metal with ease. With one hand it tore the roof off the car like tissue paper. The poor man inside had passed out due to the crash, but wouldn't have remained conscious from the sudden spiritual pressure. The hollow's hand reached to grab the juicy human when it heard the hiss of wind DANGER! It quickly spun in place and raised the torn metal roof up as a shield. The shinigami's weapon easily cut into the metal, but stopped the blade from hitting it's mark. The was held by the unorthodox shield.DANGER! The creature tossed the roof away, the shinigami and his sword with it.

At the Shinigami's sudden appearance and attack, Raizen nearly leapt out of hiding to join the battle. The sight of two great meals such as this was driving him insane. If he wasn't careful, he had no doubt he'd find himself facing opponents that were far stronger than he. The Hollow licked his lips in anticipation, and finally saw his chance when the Shinigami went flying. He crept from the shadows and began to feast on the souls of the dead men and women closest to him, a sadistic grin upon his face. So much food, so little time. He continued to glance up from his feeding to make sure there was no one looking at him. He finally decided he'd had enough of the Human Souls, and realized that he needed to make his presence known. He moved forward, allowing the other Hollow to sense his Reiatsu, although it wasn't as strong as his.

"When I sensed a power surge, I had assumed it would by a Menos. However, to find out that a Hollow not of a Menos level has done all of this? I must say, I'm impressed," called out Raizen in the other Hollow's direction. He moved in the other Hollow's direction, preparing to make a choice; either help out the other Hollow, or feast on it while it was weakened. However, since it still seemed to have more power than Raizen did, even in it's weakened state, he decided to help him.

"It looks like this Shinigami is bugging you. Mind if I... take care, of him? It has been awhile since I've fed on one, you know," continued Raizen, licking his lips in anticipation of such a good meal. He was starving, and the prospect of feeding on a Shinigami instead of a human or another Hollow was quite a good one. He continued to move closer to, and then past, the other Hollow, his footsteps slow and sluggish as he began to build up Reiatsu in his blade-arm. He would wait to hear an answer from the other Hollow, though, even if it did go against his basic instincts. He didn't want to get on the bad side of one stronger than him. That was something that could result in Raizen being bitten by another Hollow, something he couldn't allow, because if he did, he would never be able to become stronger.

Having rid of the danger the creature turned back to it's meal. It grabbed the limp human by the head letting the body dangle. The hidden crease in his mask cracked and he opened his mouth wide. His fangs bit deeply into the flesh and blood filled his mouth. He closed his jaws and ripped a chuck of meat out of the human's side. The body died almost instantly from the blood loss, his next bite took more meat but also bit into the soul. He feasted. Pleasure He continued to take bite after bite the warm liquids rolling down his face. Even as the smell of blood filled his nostrils he detected a new scent. Meat Dropping the human it turned around. Large Before him was a much larger creature. He hesitated and his body tensed. The other creature was making strange sounds. Sounds it didn't understand. It moved around him, too close. Large meat A snarl escaped from his bloody maw, and it pounced on the large hollow. It's flew at the other creature with it's claws spread wide.

Raizen sensed the Reiatsu of the other Hollow surge, and spun in time to find himself brought to the ground by the smaller but more powerful enemy. He was able to use the Reiatsu in his arm to perform the technique he'd planned to use on the Shinigami if he had still been alive, and brought his blade-arm crashing into the side of the other Hollow. It let out a menacing growl, and then announced the attack's name, increasing it's power.

"Rīpingu Kyōda!" he hissed with a grimace, and all of the built up Reiatsu added into the power of the original attack with Raizen's blade-arm. The other Hollow was knocked off and sent back a ways, so Raizen pushed himself to his feet and made sure he hadn't been bitten. He nodded as he saw that he hadn't, and then turned to look at his opponent again.

"I don't know why it is you just did that, but I don't care. You're gonna pay for it," he growled menacingly, and then he began to charge his teeth with Reiatsu. He opened his mouth and let out a bloodthirsty roar, one that ripped across the battlefield. Then, he turned back towards his enemy and charged, his large legs carrying him quickly towards the other Hollow. He was soon upon his foe, no longer caring that his enemy was stronger than he was.

"Hone Kuranchā!" he said through clenched teeth, and then he opened his mouth and brought his head towards the other Hollow's neck, aiming to end the fight then and there, before his enemy had a chance to truly retaliate.



Technique Info:

Spoiler:

The blow to the body shook him. Pain Bones broke and flesh torn from the strong attack, but already his body was healing the wounds. The other creature roared and he snarled in response. The larger creature moved faster than expected, it's mouth homing in on his head. Stratus flung out his right arm before the large fangs could dig into his tender neck. His claws tore into the creature's mouth as he shifted his head back to avoid the killer bite. The pain exploded in his head as he arm was severed. He leaped backwards granting him a little space.Pain The stub of his arm left a trail of blood, but stopped bleeding quickly. The flesh bubbled and stretched. Within seconds a new arm was already forming. He hissed KILL Grabbing a parked car with his left hand he easily lifted and threw it at the other hollow.

Some distance away

The shinigami held his side, it felt like several ribs had been cracked. He sighed as he watched from the rooftop as the two hollows engaged in battle. Although tempted to call in for back up, he wanted to settle this himself. His pride wouldn't allow someone else to take the credit for killing a creature that injured him. He tore a piece of his robe and wrapped a cut upon his arm. The hollow's throw had hurt him quite abit. Now he watched, when they finished he would take care of the survivor.

Raizen watched in amazement as his opponent's body healed far faster than should have been possible, even for a Hollow. It's arm grew back in less than a minute, and he had then used the regrown arm to throw a car at Raizen. With a hiss, he brought his blade arm up and then down as the car drew closer, cleaving it in two but causing both halves to slam into him on either side. He had reduced the damage, but hadn't stopped the car from damaging him completely. Anger welled up inside of him, and so he let out a violent roar as once again he charged up Reiatsu in his blade-arm. He shot towards the other Hollow as quickly as he large body could carry him, and he brought his blade forward, ready to impale the other through head and out the neck.

"Rīpingu Kyōda!" he yelled, and then his blade-arm flew changed position and slammed into the back of the enemy as Raizen ran past him, and the Hollow continued by wrapping his tail around one of the other's feet and pulled it out from underneath him. However, Raizen tripped and fell as well, sending him tumbling into a building. His head smashed into it with a loud bang, and he hit the ground, rubbing his head in anger and annoyance at his own failure to stay standing. He pulled himself to his feet, and decided that he had to end this soon, or the fight would soon go the other way, especially if the other Hollow continued to heal as quickly as it had a moment ago. He charged Reiatsu in his arm once more, hoping to decide the fight the next time the two Hollows drew closer.

The shinigamai on the rooftop saw his opportunity; the larger hollow had knocked the smaller hollow to the ground and then fell down. The smaller hollow hadn't gotten back up. The sword armed creature stood up again, but now it's back was to him. A perfect chance to attack. Quickly he chanted his spell as jumped down from the building some distance behind the two combating monsters.
"Disintegrate, you black dog of Rondanini!! Look upon yourself with horror and tear out your own throat!" He raised his left hand "Bakudo #10: Hōrin" from his out stretched hand an orange and yellow tendril flew. It closed the distance between him and the larger hollow and began encircling him like a snake. The shinigami grinned. In his right hand was his zanpukto held high. He jumped into the air and brought his silver blade down on the large beast.

Meanwhile

"OWWWWWW!!" Stratus howled in pain clutching his back face down on the ground. Wait a second, his back? Wasn't his cut in the shoulder? He stood up quickly to and looked down at his body, there was a faint discoloration on his body from the shoulder down to his stomache. He looked up, but didn't see the shinigami. "How long have I been out, why didn't he attack me?" As he spoke he opened his senses; he spun on his heel his head snapped to look. The first thing he had felt was another hollow. Sure enough standing behind him was a rather large hollow. "What the hell are you doing here!? Where's that damn shinigami?" As he spoke an orange looking like wrapped around the big creature, and before he could ask what was happening, he could feel the presence of the shinigami. In the next instant he could see him. The soul reaper had leapt into the air to strike from behind, but hadn't see Stratus. The shock on his face was priceless. The gray hollow was in the air the next moment catching the man's wrist and forcing him to the ground again. Unfortunately the shinigami was in full panic now. His left hand was connected to the Hōrin spell that wrapped around the bigger hollow. The rope was taunt while Stratus held him by his right arm. If he only though about it he might have dispelled the rope and used his left hand again, but rational thought had abandoned him. Instead he screamed. Screamed in pain as Stratus' pull had almost yanked his arm off, as the rope pulled the opposite arm. The gray hollow saw the situation perfectly.
"Hey big guy!" He shouted as he kept pulling on the arm. "How about you pull your end and we make a wish?"

Raizen was completely surprised in the other Hollow's sudden change in demeanor, as well as the fact that he had saved him, instead of letting the Shinigami simply kill him. As he heard, and actually understood, the other Hollow asking him to pull the other end of the Soul Reaper, Raizen responded by grinning and gripping the man's free arm, yanking it off with ease. The man screamed, but immediately, Raizen brought his blade-arm up to the other Hollow's neck, forcing him to back away from the dying Soul Reaper. He snarled as the other was pushed up against a wall.

"Why did you attack me earlier, and why did you suddenly change so much?! Not five minutes ago, you were set on killing me!" bellowed Raizen, and as he spoke, he held his blade-arm against the other Hollow's neck while reaching back to grip the Shinigami's body. He brought it to his mouth and could almost smell the Reiatsu seeping him in his dying moment. "Well, answer me!" finished Raizen, pressing his blade-arm even closer to the other's neck. That's when he noticed the difference in the other Hollow's eyes, even as a Hollow.

All signs of the feral ferocity in his eyes were gone, as if he was a completely different Hollow. He pulled his blade-arm back and threw the Shinigami to the ground before the other Hollow. Raizen watched the other Hollow closely, unsure of whether he could trust this sudden change or not. He slowly allowed the Reiatsu saved up in his blade-arm to disperse, his readiness for battle slowly leaving him as well.

"I want you to answer my question from before. If I don't like your answer, we will be enemies. Got that?" growled Raizen, and then he waited for the other Hollow to respond.

Stratus mentally took a step backwards. The shinigami's life faded at their feet and the other hollow turns his blade on him? He fought the urge to shove the large weapon down the other creature's throat.
"You ungrateful little tosser." he growled raising his hand and using his index finger to push the blade away from his neck. "If not for me you'd wouldn't be standing here." With his foot he stomped down on the shinigami's head, it was crushed like a melon by his foot talons. " I don't know what the hell you're talking about; I just met you and already I don't like you. If you want to be enemies with me so be it, shame I have to end you so soon after saving you." He flexed his finger's claws to punctuate his statement. As much as he would like to end the mangy cur he observed the area. There were several bloody bodies around them, the humans would soon arrive, and possibly more shinigami. The longer they stood there, the less their chances of escaping. Stratus opened his senses. Unfortunately, he was right. Already more human signatures were starting to gather and move in their direction. He grunted. Still no sign of shinigami, but that could change at any moment. He remembered they could use portals similar to the ones the stronger hollows used.
"I've no time to play games with you weakling." he could sense this one's power now, and he wasn't impressed. With a single leap he landed on a nearby wall, his claws on his hands and feet digging into the concrete. "I'll let you off for now, but if you bare your fangs at me again, I'll gut you with your own arm." Having said that he ricchocheted off the walls back and forth til he reached the roof. He took one last look at the street below. Something about that mess troubled him. It wasn't like that when he fell down. And the cut he was sure the shinigami had given him was now gone. He grunted again, he was wasting time. He jumped from the roof and swung off into the night, still troubled.

Raizen almost followed the other Hollow; almost. However, he decided it was time to make his leave. The Shinigami would no doubt notice the death of one of their members, and that meant more would be sent to kill the Hollow responsible. Since Raizen wasn't the one the Soul Reaper had originally been after, he wanted to be as far away from where he was at the moment as soon as possible. That meant he had to get running. Now. The Hollow turned and bolted away from the scene of the battle, and didn't look back.

Something felt odd in Raizen, though. It was as if he knew something would happen. It wasn't that he felt like the Shinigami would kill him. No, it had to do with the Hollow he had fought with, Stratus. For some reason, he felt as if... the two of them would meet again. What that meant, however, could have been anything. Raizen could figure that out later, of course, but he felt like finding out at the moment. After a few minutes of thinking, it became obvious. Raizen and Stratus would battle again. Theirs was the path of rivals, now, and that meant that they had no choice but to battle again some day.