Mini-Plot: Plain as Day [PRP]

[Sojiro Kusaka]

“Or, you could give it back now.”

Of course he could, he could do whatever he wanted and none could really do all that much to stop it. “If I didn't need it I wouldn't have come, I'm very obviously not going to hand it back over right now.” It was just a blunt statement of fact, he was merely pointing out such a very obvious fact. Had he not needed it then why the hell would he have come? It was just logic. He had plans for this thing, and he was not going to give them up on the whim of some man that he felt nothing for, say for a customary off handedness as was the same with all who crossed his path. Kusaka would not bow to this old man, he would bow to none... Rather he would have those taunting him down on their knees to him. He would destroy those blocking him, but not those on the sidelines. So long as Urahara were to stay there Kusaka would have no qualm with him, but in the depth of his gut that he wouldn't... He'd involve himself. Eh, all he'd have had to do to stay out was wait a little over a year and he could have had it back no questions at all. Ah well, whatever.

“No knights needed here, because the cavalry has arrived. You are quite mistaken if you think I can’t defeat you with out Benihime.”

Damn shopkeeper, this was exactly what Kusaka had been trying to avoid in the long run. There was no way Kusaka would last a second if he stayed like this. Dammit. “Well then it's only fair the dragon flared his wings and barred fangs~” How long since he'd seriously drawn his blade against someone who'd last more than a minute? Around fifty years... The last had been Hitsugaya... And look where that had gotten him. Regardless of this Kusaka shifted his stance, the open hand was a perfect signal as to what was coming next. “Then it seems we must test this theory mister Urahara... I do so hope you're a fan of storms~” There was more to that than there may have seemed to be. It wasn't a reference to himself so to say, more Hyorinmaru. As soon as he was pushed to unleash a shikai, which he no doubt would be, the weather was going to take a turn for the worst... And with rain already falling there really would be a storm. As that red light grew larger Kusaka sighed, very well then, it seemed it had come to this... “Serious aren't we.” With a mild chuckle he very simply forced his own spirit from the gigai, something that was perhaps more painful for him than it should have been. That's what came with a permanent type such as that he supposed. Eh, with a nonchalant sigh he crouched and lifted it, tossing it well away. He'd get it back later.

“You seem to know enough about me. But you seem to only know the merchant. But that’s only part of the equation! Shakkaho!”

Standing simply, arms folded with Shihakusho billowing out he winged a brow. “Wrong as it so happens.” Lifting a hand to push saturated bangs behind his ear a condensed sigh escaped him, people loved to underestimate him, they really did. “You seem to forget just who I have with me... You can't really say you didn't think I'd ask them about you before coming here. That would have been stupid, wouldn't it captain~?” He wasn't a damn moron, only an idiot would come to a place like this without details. Of course Kusaka didn't know everything, but what he did know he felt was relative. Again he was probably just digging hole after hole for himself, he was wrapping himself into things so tightly. He didn't care though, as long as he could follow through on his goal he'd be content, never happy, but hopefully content non the less. There was no way in hell he was going to let this man stop him, he was already so damn close, he would not be stopped here by some old soul reaper, he simply wouldn't! And nor would he fall to a damn shakkaho, that would have been utterly pathetic on his part, and he would by no means allow for it!

Drawing hyorinmaru he tapped the tip against the ground for a moment, apparently every intention of batting the attack away. Wrong. Whilst he could he frankly didn't need to, why waste time like that? Instead as it was fired he jumped to the side in a flashstep, a bored expression to his face. Apparently this bothered the man as he started to focus another kido, this timmmme haien by the looks of it? Hm, he wasn't so sure but he supposed that was what it most looked like when he put any thought into it all. Regardless though he knew this was something far stronger than the previous kido... Or it should have been... For some reason he didn't seem to be putting any large amount of power into it. He was holding back? The question was why, why would he do that? Unless... Unless the attack wasn't for him! Dammit! As Urahara directed another comment to the hollow Kusaka growled sharply. “Shi-” He started, head snapping around to look at the vizard. To late. The blast struck and threw him backwards. Under normal circumstances the vizard would have probably been able to negate it effectively, but he was apparently to worn down for that... Hmph, damn it....

Watching curtains open Kusaka cocked a brow, scratching at the ground slightly with the tip of his sword. Wait... What the hell? Frowning slightly Kusaka watched as the shopkeeper did something to the woman, what was that? It was here that years of being out of the loop really did have their effect, something simple to most soul reapers just seemed strange to him, whatever that contraption was it wasn't something Kusaka at all recognized. Whatever, as the man moved to stand in the air, a shovel in hand, Kusaka couldn't help but laugh. This man really thought a shovel could beat Hiyorinmaru? Fool! With a chuckle he followed the man up, blade now held before him in an offensive fashion. “Kido would have been better soul reaper~” With that one comment given he swung his blade sharply through the air, and action that would have done nothing had this been near any other zanpakuto... Alas with this blade like his this was not the case. From the tip a wide arc of ice blossomed out, turning into a small yet deadly wave in the air that broadened as rain fell to it as it hurtled rather quickly toward Urahara. Whilst true it was powerful this was hardly his blade's true potential, it was the drop of water before the tsunami. It was simply a message to him. Kusaka did not want to engage in this fight, even now he was flattening his spiritual pressure, with Shikai he'd have to show at least some semblance of it. This was not what he wanted.

[Kisuke Urahara]

‘If I didn't need it I wouldn't have come, I'm very obviously not going to hand it back over right now.’

He found a small sigh escaping his lips, he had figured as much. It had been worth the shot. Oh well, that at least left the path wide open now. He would have to use force to get it back. While he wasn’t generally a violent man, he would go to any length to keep something like the Hogyoku out of the wrong persons hands.

‘Well then it's only fair the dragon flared his wings and barred fangs~’

He couldn’t help but feel a little uneasy about that. Why did he keep making dragon references? And in knowing Benihime was a zanpaktou, perhaps there was a lot this boy was hiding. He had a feeling he would find out soon enough, prying the locks away one by one. Like many, his curiosity often got the better of him.

‘Then it seems we must test this theory mister Urahara... I do so hope you're a fan of storms~’

He narrowed his eyes, he could tell that was in reference to the weather. This boy had something big up his sleeves. Seemed he was hiding even more than the former captain was. But what could he be hiding? How much could he possibly know with out having a massive secret?

‘Serious aren't we’

He mostly ignored that comment, he had to be serious in this situation. But his attention was shifted as sure enough the body of the boy was discarded like a rag doll. So he was a soul reaper. That made this all the more dangerous, but even now he would not be able to judge the full extent of his power. But could this boy honestly stand up to a captain level soul reaper? He was either very strong, or very stupid.

‘Wrong as it so happens. You seem to forget just who I have with me... You can't really say you didn't think I'd ask them about you before coming here. That would have been stupid, wouldn't it captain~?’

His eyes seemed to shrink. That term, whilst he had once held it dear, now was a painful reminder of what he had failed to prevent. But after the shock, hatred filled his eyes. He had used his friends, taken precious information, and used it against him. “That title no longer belongs to me.” His voice was dead serious, any hint of kindness long since gone. “If you want that man, try Mayuri Kurotsuchi.” He acted as if it had never held any meaning to him, but he just didn’t want it too. Just the word itself burned his conscience.

‘Damn you!’

He felt horrible about that, but at least now Shinji would not be a pawn in this fight, He could focus on the boy alone, and deal with his old friend later. He wasn’t sure if he could truly help him, but he was sure the near bye hospital would accept him. The Kurosaki clinic was closer, but they weren’t exactly equipped for this sort of injury. No the hospital would do just fine, if they both made it out of this. His shadowed eyes never left the boy, be he kept mentally checking on Shinji. If the man showed any signs of death then he would have to assist him, no matter what.

‘Kido would have been better soul reaper~’

He looked amazingly odd at the moment, his expression serious, and the shovel held like a bat. He wasn’t much surprised at the attack. Once again letting his spiritual pressure rise slightly, he let it pour into the shovel. It was no Benihime, that was for sure. He waited for the wave to get closer, feeling what could only be described as a strange chill from it. Once with in range he swung the shovel, the thick scoop of the shovel catching the attack, and the spiritual barrier around it forced it to dissipate around the edges. He could feel the remains against his arms, lowering the shovel down a bit. He grinned slightly, only Kisuke could turn a regular snow shovel into a weapon. “If you do not want to fight me, then I will beat you down.” He rested the glowing shovel over his shoulder. “I don’t know what you plan to do with my Hogyoku, but I don’t intend on letting you get away with it.” The word my had been added in, as if saying that it belonged only to him. Which it did, no one else had a true need of it. “You are a thousand years to early.” He pulled the shovel in front of him and pointed it at the boy.

[Sojiro Kusaka]

“That title no longer belongs to me. If you want that man, try Mayuri Kurotsuchi.”

Rolling his eyes he merely snorted. “Him? No, you're the one I want Mr Urahara~” Actually he wanted nothing to do with any of them, all he wanted was the hogyoku, which he now had, meaning all he had left to do was simply walk away. Yet this man sought to block him at every turn. It was a pity really, had this man been anything like Mayuri it may have been easier to just walk away, then, it would have also lead to a whole variety of different issues. No, he wanted nothing to do with either of them, just the object he now had. What were soul reapers to him anyway? Just pests in his way, this one before him though was beginning to bother him. He had little desire to kill the man, but if that was necessary then so it would be. He was already a murderer, what was the harm in another? He'd long since fallen from the right path, there was no harm digging himself further into the darkness that already covered him was there? He did doubt it, and if he doubted it then it would not be something he'd worry over. He did what he had to and would admit no regrets.

“If you do not want to fight me, then I will beat you down. I don’t know what you plan to do with my Hogyoku, but I don’t intend on letting you get away with it.”

Oh he was so final about it, so utterly definite. This meant nothing to the violet eyed boy, instead he simply watched as the ice get batted to the side. It seemed he would not get the message then. Pity. “You've got it all wrong.” He stated bluntly. Indeed Urahara had. He presumed that by not wanting to fight Kusaka would simply roll over. Wrong. Yes he was loathed to take up his blade, but he would do it without a second thought if he really had to. Alas it seemed he in fact did. “You have no choice in this Urahara, it will be done regardless.” Urahara would not stop him, if he died things would go very wrong for him so very quickly. Without his zanpakuto he stood no chance against Kusaka. It would be easier if he were to simply back down here and now, bow down and just let Kusaka leave. This would not happen, and frankly Kusaka just thought the man a fool for trying such a moronic thing. Then again perhaps there was logic, he did not know who Kusaka was nor what he could do. For all this man knew Kusaka could have just been some petty soul reaper. How wrong that would be.

“You are a thousand years to early.”

Well wasn't that a fine speech, not one that meant anything at all to Kusaka, all just words at the end of the day really. “The future can be changed Mr Urahara, and it will be.” Indeed it could, Kusaka was going to change the future into something... Different. When he was done things would not be the same, he would not stand for it. Yes he by no means needed the Hogyoku, his plans could mostly continue without it, but this was not a matter of needs. This was something more, something dear to him, he'd keep fighting and not surrender Some old fool pointing a damn glowing shovel at him was not someone he'd let bury him down in memories once more. Kusaka was now more than that, something better than what he had once been. Some would perhaps argue that this were not so, but he felt it was true. Like this emotions did not plague him, all he ever had to do was as he please, none dictated him. Everything seemed to slip right off his back. It was trivial, this man was pathetic. He presumed to stand in Kusaka's way and this would simply not be allowed, he had no right and no authority. He meant little.

Narrowing his eyes slightly he point his blade toward Urahara, an irritated frown to his face. “Reign over the frosted heavens, Hyorinmaru!” Quicker than the eye was ever liable to catch the blade extended slightly, a long chain falling from the hilt with a crescent upon the end. Almost as soon as it were done the weather shifted, rain becoming a thick blizzard of snow whilst a released torrent of ice twined itself up and around the boy before dissipating off. This was his shikai, his soul manifested... This was why he'd lost everything. All for the fact it was one of two where there should only ever be one, it had all been bad luck really. “You're wasting my time!” He snapped, blade swinging once through the air, ice once more flowing though this time manifesting into something totally different. Instead of being some random wave the purple ice it instead formed into a mid sized slender dragon, something which was then thrown directly at the man, jaws open wide to snap shut at him. With a snort he swung through the air once more, sending another. Jinking them both slightly their directions shifted, cutting through the thick snowfall, so they approached from opposite sides, evidently going to crush the man between them.

Following his directed attacks he took the chain in his free hand, twirling it slightly as he went. When had he last fought someone seriously...? 50 years ago? Yes... The last time he'd taken his blade to someone with a serious intent was all those years ago, this man was hardly worth the effort. Oh yes, he and his shovel were strong, but Kusaka had better things to do, far better things. Snorting as his flashstep brought him closer he very quickly hurled the still spinning chain toward the hold shovel. If it were to wrap around the thing would be frozen solid, the man's hands and possibly arms with it if he didn't let go. Right now he simply wanted to remove the weapon or push the man far enough back so he could grab his gigai and Shinji. The man would not relent, but nor would Kusaka, this was a battle of wills and will power was one of the things that had kept this boy alive. He refused to lose, he refused to give up, and he refused to die. He would win this, he would not fail. This man before him could not stop what didn't exist, what was just a figment. He could not destroy that.

[Kisuke Urahara]

‘Him? No, you're the one I want Mr Urahara~’

The man somehow doubted that, was he truly all this boy sought? No it wasn’t him. It was what he had. And what he alone held dear. He was slowly figuring out how this boys mind worked, and with every turn he realized this wasn’t going to end well. It was almost chilling simply thinking about it.

‘You've got it all wrong. You have no choice in this Urahara, it will be done regardless’

So what ever this boy wanted, was very important to him. But then that was how he understood the importance of the Vizards to the blonde. That just made him all the more annoyed with the young soul reapers actions. Unlike his former partner, it took a lot to make him angry, and this boy had found that tender sweet spot.

‘The future can be changed Mr Urahara, and it will be.’

Somehow the mention of the future only sent the man to the past. His memories like angry bees.

‘Twelfth division captain Kisuke Urahara, for the crimes of conducting taboo expriments.’

His grip tightened, his wrists ached from where the shackles had once bound him.

‘Deceiving your colleagues, and causing grievous injury,’

Why couldn’t they have seen the truth? He had only wanted to help. He had done everything he thought right to save the people he cared about. But he could tell, this boy was fighting for a very different reason. And he could already tell that the reason, deserves far worse than what he was hit with.

‘You will be stripped of your powers and eternally banished to Earth!’

His gaze firmly on the boy. “Don’t do something you will regret boy.” But his words came too soon, for what happened next, was surely a very bad idea on his part.

‘Reign over the frosted heavens, Hyorinmaru!’

The mans grey eyes narrowed slightly before shooting wide. Hyorinmaru, was that not the name of the tenth captains zanpaktou? But of course! It settled in like the final puzzle piece. There were only rare cases of two people having the same blade, and there was generally only one way to deal with it. He had a feeling that was why this boy was so up in arms, but he had little time to think about the matter. Because he was proving that he deserved to wield the blade as much as the tenth captain. The sky quickly turned much darker, the rain becoming thicker, into the much heavier and frozen counterpart.

‘You're wasting my time!’

“Wait!” he was about to jump forward, but the massive ice dragon shooting for him halted all movements. He quickly darted to one side, only to find a second one staring him down. He only had enough time to through the shovel up in front of him before they collided mid air. His eyes thrown open before every muscle became too cold to move. A short burst of energy left the shopkeeper breathing, giving him the split-second he needed to break free. His skin was left looking almost burnt, all the previous fighting spirit drained away. Huffing, it took all of his energy to simply stand. His one side was worse off than the other, thanks to the shovel (which had since become brittle as glass), but the chilling cold seeped through his very core.

He noticed the chain of the blade now being swung towards him, by pure instinct he held the metal pole in front of him. Sure enough the chain started to spin around that, but the burning cold forced him to let go, almost instantly. He could no longer support his own weight, knees falling through the air. But due to there being nothing below him, his body was quick to follow. Eyes taking an empty stare, focus shifting from the boy, then to the ground rushing towards him. With a last burst of despair he turned his shoulder towards the ground, so that hit the ground instead. The pain wasn’t nearly as bad as the numbing cold, the pain was only his shoulder. The cold was everywhere, and growing quickly. One think hand reached for the ground, scrapping at the earth for a moment before being dragged back to his side. “You are a fool ….”

For once, the mighty Kisuke had fallen. He hadn’t been able to plan, too think again. He had been caught in the middle of a very devious plot. He couldn’t scream in pain, or cry out his sorrow. All that remained was anger, that he could not have helped, or stopped the boy. Once a mighty captain, now an injured man, reflecting on all he had caused. And how once again, he was the source of something horrible. “Sorry … Yoruichi, I couldn’t be what you expected.” With those whispered words his mind raced beyond the point of return. For now, he was truly trapped on a dark path of death after death.

[Sojiro Kusaka]

“Wait!”

Wait? Why would he do that? Why wait for this man to come up with some way to damn get in the way more than he already was? It seemed foolish. “I've waited long enough, I'll wait no more!" Flat out pissed he watched with an utter lack of emotion as the man simply avoided the first dragon, Kusaka allowing it to simply break apart and fade as he had no further use for it. The second though... Ah the second~ That one struck its mark. Mostly anyway. Frankly the man was plain old moronic if he thought something such as that toy could stop Hiyorinmaru then he was very mistaken. Something made all to clear as Kusaka got close, chain twisting around the shovel as he had actually intended. The man let go, skin already raw red from freeze burns that had been jittered across his flesh. Jerking the gardening tool toward him he quickly swung down on it, shattering it and rending it no longer of use. Something that it seemed he didn't much need to do anyway if he wasn't mistaken. It seemed the cold was ripping through the man's body, sapping all strength and heat, his own body was in effect turning against him to pull him down.

And pull him down it did.

Watching him fall Kusaka simply let out a puffing sigh, snow swirling around his face at the disturbance. Ice... It was an utterly terrible element. It could both freeze you and burn you, fire was good and all, but ice... Ice was versatile, it wasn't set and it constantly shifted. Ice did not need to touch you to kill you, simply get close enough to sap your body of its heat, at which point you would simply fall and die. Snapped back to reality his gaze never faltered as the man hit the floor hard, shoulder taking the majority of the impact. Kusaka really didn't much care if the man hurt, it was his own fault and the younger boy had in fact warned him, it had been his own stupid choice not to listen. To late for him now, now he could do nothing but lay there, the cold simply running deeper into him as each moment passed. If left for to long death would find him quickly. Oh he was strong, but so was Hiyornmaru. Urahara could not compete with that no matter how far he pushed himself right now.

As his feet touched the floor he walked forward, chain pulling behind him, clanking as he shifted it to point at the downed man who seemed to be muttering some crap Kusaka couldn't make out. “I warned you not to do it.” He growled. “You judged it on fear that I would not attack, but you were wrong~” As a sneer crawled across his face he thrust the blade into the ground before the man's head, crouching slightly as he did. “All you had to do was accept my offer... But no, you had to act the fool. And now you risk death~” With a chuckle he watched for a moment as the frozen water fell, dark clouds casting morbid shadows over everything. “I said there was no need to kill you, Mr Urahara... And I stand by what I say. Count yourself lucky for that much.” Standing he turned away, sword drawn out of the ground and sealed once more. Sheath now back into existence he slid his blade into it before walking away from the man. He'd said they were done, and now he really did mean it. With pressure down to nothing once more he grabbed his Gigai by the collar, quickly reinserting his soul into it before rolling his shoulders. Now then... He was forgetting something here~

Ah... Shinji.... With a simple sigh he scanned around quickly before finding where the man had slumped himself. This could have gone so much better, the vizard were strong... But just a little bit to dumb when being controlled. This would need to be resolved, and soon. Either way this would have to wait as he strode toward the man, bending slightly he grabbed the man's collar and hauled him up, simply slinging him over his shoulder for lack of a better way to carry him. “As I have said to you Urahara, I stand by what I say.” This was mostly true, when he felt like it at any rate. If his head was still functioning in his current state then perhaps he'd catch the implications of this, though then again it was unlikely. Right now he was utterly screwed, though at least the snow had stopped, rain once more resuming as dark clouds remained. “Bye now~” Waving a hand over his free shoulder he just chuckled, leaving the freezing soul reaper to his own devises. Unless the others that resided here came and aided him there was little hope for him. It was little bother to Kusaka, he had what he wanted and plans would continue.

And continue they would.