Re: Fall From The Heavens [Meili/Yuki]

by **Meili Yan Baozhai** Wed Sep 28, 2022 12:30 am

Just as the Hollow was about to finish charging its cero, their mouth was slammed shut. 'Too late!' it thought, as the built up energy exploded in its mouth, the explosion causing enough damage to knock out the Hollow's jaw, which now hung loose and limp. However, this didn't last.

The Hollow would leap back, away from the two Shinigami before standing up on its hind legs, cracking its neck a little, which somehow reset their jaw. The Hollow seemed to morph in front of them, gaining a more humanoid form, but still very much feline in nature.

"That hurt you wolf bitch!"

The Hollow's voice had dropped the subtle tones, and was ripe with anger.

"It seems I can't hold back either. Face the true might of the Adjuchas-class Hollow, that you Shinigami gave the name Catclaw!"

With a burst of speed, a static sound following the movement, the Hollow would appear behind Yuki, attempting to slash at the wolf's back with her claws.

----------------

Meili's eyes followed the Hollow's movements, and was grateful at Yuki being able to deal a damaging blow. However, something was wrong. Yuki wasn't fighting at full strength. This worried the young Baozhai, as she knew that both of them needed to be at full strength in order to beat this foe.

"You need to use it child."

"No! I...I can't...I'm not ready..."

"Yes, you are! The trials and tribulations that you went through are more than enough...use it!"

Meili gave a quiet snarl, before shaking her head.

"I don't know what will happen...I don't know if I'll hurt Yuki...what if I lose control..."

"You won't child...I'll be right there beside you...now...use it!"

Meili closed her eyes, before slowing her breathing. The girl relaxed her body, calming her tensed muscles, before opening her eyes, a crackle of energy bursting forth from the corner of her eyes, a simple phrase being spoken from her lips.

"Bankai, Shizukesa no Raiu."

Spoiler:

by **Yuki Kameko** Sun Oct 09, 2022 10:23 pm

Perhaps it was a lucky shot. Or perhaps she really was strong enough. Whatever the case, Yuki had made it in time. A single powerful strike shut the creature's mouth and negated its attack completely. Reversed it, even. She hadn't even needed her Shikai.

Perhaps this was going to be fine.

If it had managed to shoot its attack things might not have ended so well. There had been enough power behind the attack to rip away the Hollow's lower jaw. Unfortunately, it hadn't destroyed the mask. Worse still, it appeared to be able to rapidly repair any damage done to its body. They were going to need a single decisive blow.

Trust in us.

We won't let you down!

It's not you that I am worried about. I haven't pushed myself that far since that night.

She had been worried, and was still worried, but this attack had been enough to reassure her that they could, in fact, handle this foe. In fact, she might have been able to do it alone with her Shikai. However she didn't just have to worry about herself. She had to worry about Meili. And, almost as important, she needed to worry about the two of them being placed in a weakened enough state that Shinigami could hunt them.

It was a tricky thing to balance.

"Is it normal to forget your manners once you attain this much strength?"

Catclaw? Catclaw. It didn't ring a bell. Perhaps it had been one who had gained infamy during her time out of action? That had to be it.

In the next moment it disappeared. Ears twitched.

Behind!

She twisted around, driving her blade into where she expected the attack to move. The wolf's blade clashed with the cat's claws, feet digging in but, despite this, her entire body slid slightly aside. It was powerful. Powerful enough that the claws had managed to push back her guard, although only enough to leave grazing cuts against her arm before she'd halted the attack.

Still rusty.

Are you sure you don't need us?

Ears perked up, having been the first to catch the sudden change. Her gaze followed, darting in Meili's direction as a sudden surge of power washed over her. A truly impressive amount! She could remember only one other time when she'd experienced this same sort of power.

When she'd fought her Captain.

Eyes widened slightly in a mixture of awe and excitement, for she was here to witness the arrival of her good friend's true power. The sky darkened overhead. Thunder rumbled to life. A bolt of lightning crashed to the ground, briefly encapsulating Meili in light. She was left changed.

Meili had achieved Bankai!

Yuki grinned, stepping back.

I am certain.

by **Meili Yan Baozhai** Tue Oct 18, 2022 1:31 am

The air around Meili gave off crackles of energy. Meili would look around, at first seeing a dulled version of the world around her, as if everything was covered in a dense, thick fog. However, she heard movement, so she would turn her head towards it, and see an electrical silhouette of the Hollow, as well as one of what she assumed was Yuki. Tilting her head, Meili looked on, curiously, until a voice broke the silence.

"You're seeing their electrical energy."

The voice belonged to Ramei...no...that wasn't her name right now...it belonged to Shizukesa no Raiu, Meili's Zanpakuto spirit in Bankai form, manifested within the dark storm clouds as a great, serpentine dragon, one that Meili quickly gathered that only she could see and hear.

"Every thing in this world, both organic and inorganic, has electrical energy flowing through them...while in this form...you can see that energy...at the cost of your normal vision. And before you ask...the benefit of this, is that you can also see how that energy is charged...using your own powers to cancel out that charge...nullifying that part of them."

Meili would smile...if she could, as her current form made her face formless in appearance, the only defining features being her eyes, a different hue of yellow compared to the rest of her body. Meili would appear to take a single step, the sound of thunder booming from her movement, as in a nano-second, faster than she'd previously been able of moving, she was behind the Hollow, a single claw digging into the feline's left shoulder. Meili would move to speak, her voice seeming to carry a booming undertone to it with each word.

"Well then Miss Catclaw...it appears that we can't allow you to live now...can we?"

----------

While Catclaw's attack had been blocked, they could tell that something was going on with the wolf-pup. There was no malice behind their strikes, no finishing blow. Most of the Shinigami that they'd been attacked by would have released their Zanpakuto, like the other girl. However, this one seemed to...almost refuse to do so...they'd learn to regret that action, as they readied another attack, a very clear *shnyik* being heard as their claws unsheathed entirely, becoming almost as long as fingers.

However, before they could even make a move, rain started to pour from the sky. The Hollow would look up at the once clear skies, and see dark storm clouds appear out of thin air, before sensing a huge surge of power from the other girl. The Hollow immediately felt a sense of dread wash over them. They'd heard stories from other Hollows of this. This meant death was soon approaching. Catclaw would quickly retract their claws back into themselves, starting to back up a little, getting ready to flee the scene through a Garganta. However, before they could even move more than a foot, they felt immense pain in their shoulder, followed by a numb sensation shoot across their entire arm.

by **Yuki Kameko** Tue Oct 18, 2022 7:08 pm

Static hung in the air all around the little wolf, making her already messy mane far wilder than it typically was. It also made her tail look twice as big as it normally would be. An interesting, albeit somewhat annoying, side effect of Meili's newfound power. It didn't make it any less impressive.

A single step brought the girl behind herself, thunder crackling from the movement. Ears flattened slightly at the sound. It was quite loud. Very flashy. But it was backed up by power, and this became quite evident when Meili's single strike pinned the Hollow in place.

You really need to start training again.

Yeah. I'll feel safe returning if we can both reach this level.

After wiping her zanpakuto clean upon her sleeve, Yuki sheathed the weapon. This fight was already over. At least, it was over for her. Meili wouldn't require her assistance. If anything, this would be a good test for her. A chance to feel out her new power.

"Congratulations Meili. We'll have to celebrate once we're through here. But I wouldn't take too long. The Shinigami will undoubtedly be able to detect this."

Yuki stepped away and leaned against a wall, arms crossing together over her chest. Her crimson orb briefly trailed along her friend's shimmering form, only to then settle upon the Hollow's visage. "It's a shame. You could have been fun. Perhaps we'll get a chance in another life."

Now I'll need to go to her for some guidance.

Feeling jealous?

Proud. She's come a long way.

by **Meili Yan Baozhai** Fri Oct 21, 2022 7:15 pm

Meili would turn her head back, staring at Yuki with what appeared to be an unfeeling face. A downside of her Bankai, is that Meili couldn't physically show emotions, as all of her facial features were gone, aside from her nose and her eyes. Internally, however, she was ecstatic that Yuki was proud of her, and would nod her head at the mention of celebrating.

"Yes! I'd love to celebrate...we can go to that restaurant by the river after this. I heard their food is really good!"

However, as Meili spoke, she felt that something was wrong. A loud *popping* sound could be heard, followed by the intense roar of a hollow, one that sounded right next to them. Turning her head just in time, Meili would see that the Hollow known as Catclaw had ripped their arm off their body, unpinning them from Meili's claws.

---------

As the electric girl turned her head, Catclaw got to work. While their pinned arm was numbed, their shoulder seemed to be fine...for now, but that numbing sensation was slowly spreading, so they decided now was the time to act. Using precise yet painful movements, the Adjuchas would slowly start working their shoulder little by little, until finally a loud *pop* was heard, followed by the sound of flesh ripping. Catclaw would release an immense howl at the pain, as blood poured from where their arm once was. With a grunt, the Adjuchas would sonido away from the two Shinigami, moving out of sight and out of range. At the same time, they would enact a little surprise for the Shinigami. As they opened up a Garganta, they spoke a simple phrase.

"Esparcir."

As they fled through the opened Garganta, the arm that was still pinned up where they once were started to disintegrate, as if the Hollow had been killed. However, this was much different. The reiatsu that made up Catclaw's arm would move to infect the two Shinigami.

----------

Meili would have had a shocked and surprised expression on her face, but again, her Bankai prevented that. Instead she just stared at the Hollow as they sonido'd away. Meili was ready to make chase, however as soon as she started to move, she felt three things happen at once. First, her energy seemed to falter as she was released from her Bankai, reverting to her sealed state, her Zanpakuto dropping to the ground beneath her. Second, she felt herself falling as she started to feel tired. Finally, and she didn't know if this was her imagination, but she heard a shout from Raimei, the words being undecipherable in Meili's current state.

by **Yuki Kameko** Fri Oct 21, 2022 11:35 pm

"That sounds fine to me."

Of course going out to eat would require her to slip into a gigai, but that was fine. Meili was worth it. Also, wearing one after not doing so for so long would be good for her. She needed to get more used to it. One never quite knew when one might require their use.

With the loud popping noise Yuki's attention switched to the Hollow. In an impressive display of determination, it pulled itself free from its own arm. Then, in a flash, it was gone. A moment of letting their guard down was all it had taken. But at least she had its scent. They could continue to hunt it.

Or so she thought. As the creature's arm disintegrated Meili seemed to snap out of her Bankai state. Yuki didn't know whether this was due to the strain that it brought, or perhaps due to something the Hollow did. Whatever the case she hurried her way forward. The wolf's tail snatched the dropped zanpakuto from the air. Meili was caught within her arms and pulled in close for inspection.

"Are you okay?"

While her tail carefully sheathed the girl's sword Yuki turned to begin heading back. No more hunting for them. Not today, anyhow, but that was fine. They had done well. Besides, Shinigami would be making their way over soon.

by **Meili Yan Baozhai** Sat Oct 22, 2022 12:13 am

Meili felt her fall stop. As she stopped, a wave of exhaustion swept over her like a tsunami breaking through the dam walls. She would lean against Yuki, taking deep breaths as a way to postpone the exhaustion taking over.

"Yeah...yeah...I'm...fine..."

It was a lie. A very obvious one at that. Even the most basic of healers would be able to tell that the young Baozhai was far from fine. Not only was there a wave of exhaustion burning through her body, but she could also feel a fever starting to come on, which was odd, as Meili was fine earlier. What was also odd, is that Raimei was oddly quiet despite the previous yelling Meili heard before her fall.

"The...hollow...where is it..."

She would attempt to raise her head, but was stopped as a she felt herself get lightheaded, causing her head to flop back against Yuki.

"We have...to stop it..."

She would gently grip at Yuki's clothing, before her grip loosened entirely, and darkness was all that Meili could see as the young girl passed out, a combination of exhaustion...and something much more sinister, as unbeknownst to Meili, a virus was now running rampant in her inner world.

by **Yuki Kameko** Sun Oct 23, 2022 7:18 pm

Yuki smiled softly at Meili's concerned words, holding the girl closer to herself. Already the wolf could tell that their prey had fled. They couldn't deal with it even if they wanted to. Besides, with Meili in the state that she was it would be too risky.

She was really impressive!

Unsettlingly so.

Wow. A compliment? Is she growing on you?

Snickering softly, the little Shinigami leapt from tree to tree. She could detect the scent of others arriving within the area. Most seemed to be headed in the direction she'd last felt the Hollow at before it had disappeared. This was perhaps one of the good parts about being one of the few beast types. A good enough sensor could, however, locate her. She still had to be careful.

Perhaps they'll know better than to hunt us. I would hate to kill one of our own.

Eventually she did manage to evade the patrols. Other Hollows had shown up, drawn in from Meili's signature no doubt. They would be busy. Even so, as she returned home with the unconscious girl, something else gnawed at the back of her mind.

Is Bankai really this exhausting? She only used it for a few moments.

Perhaps she is just busy from work?

Perhaps. Let's hope it's that.

[Exit Thread]

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