Shake off the Rust [Solo]

He was uncertain how much time had passed- eyes slowly fluttering open, he smelled rust. Blood? Who's ..? Oh. Right. His. Groaning, he winced, rising slowly. He was starting to remember, quick quickly in fact. Slowly he straightened, rising shakily to his feet as he blinked blearily, trying to get a bearing on his surroundings- had he been dreaming? No. He had blood on his shirt from coughing it up, he was still holding the broken blade in his hand. Had he passed out from that last kick? He recalled hitting his head, and then darkness .. seems she had knocked him out.

The words of Skylar echoed through the air, and he grunted as his gaze slid toward her while she spoke.

"Awake? .. It took you long enough."

His head slowly rose, vision focusing on the red head that stood above him calmly, lightly bouncing her Shikai against her shoulder as the barrier, still up- crackled behind him. He could spot a bit of blood on it fromt he impact of his head. The explained the blacking out at the least. He grumbled softly to himself as he rubbed the back of his head lightly with a wince.

"How long?"

"Ten minutes."

"Too long."

"It shouldn't of happened to begin with. Get up. You're stronger then this."

"So you said."

"When have I ever lied to you ..?"

"Then give me a hint. I'm a hard headed student."

She eyed him, snorting after a moment before spinning the mace and turning- heading away from him as he grunted, wincing and lowering a hand to his stomach, stumbling slightly before his eyes focused on the woman. His wounds were gone. She healed him then ..? Was that her plan? Beat him within an inch of death, heal him, and repeat until he could keep up? He supposed it would make sense, pushing someone to their utmost limit was a harsh, but effective training method- and with her Kaido skills it made sense she would manage such.

Her voice broke him out of his trance.

"Have you ever seen someone fight while wearing weights?"

"No. Seems like a stupid idea."

"It is. It's supposed to help you while you get stronger as you fight, but really you should only wear weights when you're working out- or training, never in an actual fight. They hamper your movements, make you slow, even if you may lift them easily- it throws you off. It makes you weak."

His eyes narrowed slowly as he stared at her, was she implying he was fighting with weights on? He didn't have long to think on this however, as suddenly she charged, and his eyes followed her movements as his body jerked to try and guard- to slow as she moved to his other side, and he felt her knee collide with him- sending him head over heels into the barrier once more. The crack of his right should colliding with the material of the barrier filled the air, and his mind was distracted- he silently cursed his own indecisiveness.

She was trying to tell him he was fighting while weighed down- somehow, but what did she mean exactly? He was subconsciously holding himself back for some reason? That couldn't be right- even if he was holding himself back his body would recall whatever it was she was trying to drag out once more would it not? Muscle memory would ensure his skill and power remained even if he was rusty. So it was something else? He slammed a hand down, fingers digging into the dirt as he struggled before shoving himself to the side- his gaze focusing on the after-image of her appearing next to him as her foot slammed into the dirty. He watched the shockwave explode outward, causing his initial dodge to shift into propelling him flying across their little arena that she had created.

The sensation of the air rippling around him as he struggled to rise- bouncing along the earth as he spun, landing on his feet as his toes dug into the earth- rending them open and revealing the extensive twin canyons his feet had caused from the recovery. A breath slowly passing his lips in confusion; what was she after? As he straightened, examining her the redhead he found was examining him similarly to the way he was examining her. Dissecting him, searching for something that he didn't have as she began to slowly walk forward. Gin allowed his body weight to shift downward, his muscles to shift and relax, prepared this time to engage her.

However, her voice filled the air instead- causing his eyes to narrow a bit in curiosity at the choice of her question this time.

"Do you remember why you attacked those bandits? Slaughtered them all?"

His silence was a response that seemed to annoy her as she spun the mace and lightly rested it atop her shoulder, examining him quietly as he debated the question. Slowly, he straightened as he adjusted the grip on his broken blade- allowing it to point at the ground as he contemplated the question she had offered him. The bandits? Is that what they had been? All he could recall was it was a group of people, they had killed someone .. a child, or someone of equal innocence. He couldn't picture their faces, or the face of the one killed however. He could only recall the emotion that he had felt, the pure- unadulterated hatred and rage.

"No. Only that they killed someone .. a child?"

Skylar slowly bounced the mace on her shoulder in thought, before her head nodded slightly in affirmation. Her voice ringing clearly as she described the events, as best should could at any rate.

"I don't know the details .. but there was a child traveling with you. A young girl, pink hair-"

Ginjo's eye narrowed slowly, pink hair ..? That sounded familiar. Her words began to drone out, as his mind turned inward- pink hair, a young girl? Around the time he had met Sky for the first time. He could see a silhouette, a tiny effeminate individual. Long pink hair down to her ankles, a pink, floral kimono .. his hand slowly rose up to his head as the words from Sky began to echo within the space between them. Holding far more weight then he had expected them to, unexpected- unfocused, hazy, painful as his mind struggled with something that he had blocked out of his own desired psyche.

"-I only found her body afterward. She had been mutilated .. they must have found her, and .. well. With men like that taking a young girl, one can only imagine."

He heard it. Her screams. Begging his name. His hand slowly trailed upward to the side of his head- the screams from her being taken from him. He had gone to get food .. he had left her, only for a few moments. Her? Who was her? Ginjo felt the world spin as he fell back, leaning against the wall of the barrier for support as he struggled with the blurred images that began to flip through his mind. He couldn't see her whole face, but the hair, the smile, the kimono. A young girl that he had found on the side of the road after he had lost his sister. She had been a means to try and heal- a way to recover from all that he had lost, a second chance at protecting an innocent child.

Protecting her. Fighting off others. Months of his life he had closed off, it hurt- it was a failure. Not because he had failed to protect her .. because he had tried to replace his own baby sister through his own weakness. Her cries. The sound of the men's sick laughter. The feeling of hatred. He had not hated them .. no, the strongest survived after all. This burning hatred. He had been directing it at the world, because it wasn't right- because it coddled the weak, and allowed them to control the world- twisting it to their idiotic ideals of "peace". But that wasn't right, as it? .. His hatred had no place against this world, what good was it to hate the world? What had his emotion been directed at, so long ago .. as he felt his blade sink into their flesh?

The sensation of their blood spraying the earth, coating his clothing, his blade. What had triggered that immense hatred, that had only grown stronger- his hatred had grown stronger, so why had he grown weaker? What had changed?

His eyes slowly opened in realization, Sky had been talking the entire time- but he had no paid any heed to her words with his inner turmoil, his questions that he couldn't answer. Not until jut now. It was at that point, Gin's lips would slowly part and his answer would fill the void of the air once more.

"My hatred .. is not at the world .. or her killers .. or those that have taken others from me .."

Skylar halted as he spoke, her eyes narrowed on the man before her. There was a difference to him; it was familiar- it was the same feeling she had felt when he had attacked her, and she had struck him down. He had been so much stronger then, not because of power, or training- though certainly those two, it was understandable he had lost those things from getting rusty. No, what she had been talking about was the strength of his Soul. The strength of his determination, his drive- it had become flawed, weak, uncertain. He wanted strenth, but for what purpose? To become God of a world of Chaos, where only the strong rule? That wasn't a purpose, it was instinct, a nature desire every living being felt- even if it was stronger in him, that did not make it an ambition. It was not a driving force.

No .. what he needed was more then that. He needed an emotion. There was only one true emotion in the man, and that was hatred- and yet he had been directing it at the wrong point.

"I hate myself."

Her eyes softened, and she said nothing. She didn't need to, as Ginjo's eyes slowly lifted- burning a brilliant crimson instead of their baby blue met her own grey set. A silent exchange, that determination, that hatred, that anger- that is what his core was. That is what drove him. It was true, his desire was to become the god of the universe, to bend it all to his will, to command even fate itself, life and death to his whim. But what did that truly entail? What drove him to such lengths? He wanted to become that all powerful being, not to fix anything at all- but instead to never loose anything again. Because he hated himself. He hated his own weakness. He hated that he had allowed the world to take so much from him. He didn't care if others went through it as well, there was no silly desire to "ensure no one else went through what he did".

It was nothing so poetic. Staring into the eyes of this man, there was only hatred- unadulterated, raw hatred at himself. This is why he did not explode with rage, or erupt in anger- there was nothing outside himself that he felt deserved his attention, his rage. Slowly he pushed himself to his feet, as his eyes slowly fell- half lidded as he glanced down at the broken, chipped blade that was Shushin. A slow downward curl of his lips manifesting itself on his face as he slowly raised it, looking at the blade coldly.

Is this why you refused to talk to me?

There was dead silence, before slowly- the darkness itself seemed to croak from within. Husky. Dry. Demented, on the verge of insanity and yet booming with power and wisdom as it filled his senses, his very being.

You finally .. figured it out .. Oh King?

Don't mock me. Tell me the command.

I don't need too. You .. already know it, don't you? .. You know, how your ambition has changed .. the drive within you that you had forgotten. That hatred .. that pushed you to get where you are .. that fear that we have in common. I've lost everything because of you .. I hate you, Gin. But .. I don't want you to loose everything too .. because then we truly will be alone .. so I'll help you.

The sound of chains clinking filled his mind, and Gin's grip slowly tightened on the blade. That fear, huh? .. A desire to become so powerful he can never loose anything. To become a god, immortal, unstoppable, to bend reality itself to his whim. To give an order to the world and force it to kneel before him. To deny even death, or life to those that anger him or try to take his things from him once more. He already knew the command, was it ..? He supposed he did in the end. There was only word that represented his goals, his desires, his thoughts and his focus. At his core was fear, and wrapped around it, like a burning furnace was his boiling hatred .. and from that furnace produced power. A power that would grant him the ability to bend all of reality to his will.

To command even the fates themselves to bend to his will.

Skylar's eyes widened slowly as the chipped, broken blade pulsed within the man's grip as blood trailed down from his lips- that brilliant, flickering, crimson energy exploding from around him. Manifesting like tendrils of liquid, as if blood was slowly flowing upward off his limbs as his eyes burned with hatred and flame, that maroon and crimson hue filling the air. Bouncing off the reflective barrier of time and space around them, as he slowly raised the blades broken shape upward, laying horizontally across the air as he stared at it.

He could feel it. This was the power he had scarified. This self loathing, this fear, this hatred, this desire to become strong- it was what had driven him for so long. How had he forgotten, trying to blame the world for his own weakness? What was it that made prey into predators? What was it that granted animals, humans, souls, everything- their survival instinct? That desire to fight, to survive, to rend, kill, progress through even the darkest, the most depressing of times? It was fear. Something he had forgotten .. he did not intend to do so again. He felt the shake in the blade, the silent laughter of the King of Gods, that rested within his blade.

The words rolled off his tongue.

"Command .. Shushin."

He felt the wind ripple around him, the shockwave manifest, the crimson liquid burst from him like a flood- and he felt the weapon change. The once golden, gorgeous blade of a noble king- had shifted and changed. He felt the weight shift forward, as the blade in his hand extended and widened, forming into a massive cleaver-like blade. The chain extending from it as his other hand opened, causing his eyes to slowly narrow on it- small, golden, and silver- elegant. The weapon of a noble, that would be strapped to their side for formal affairs. Yet- the chain extended, binding the blade to it. A breath slowly left his lips, as the pulsating weaponry slowly manifested and sealed, forming into his new blades as he slowly lowered them to his sides. His gaze focused on Skylar, whom watched him with a mixture of sadness, and respect.

"I had hoped she had changed you .. but I suppose in the end .. this is what you have become. I respect you for sticking to your choices .. you regret nothing, then?"

Did he regret nothing? Was that true? His parents, his sister, his teacher, his wife, his unborn child, his friends, his lovers? Those he had sworn to protect and failed .. that fear of loosing another, that hatred of himself. It told him it was not that he didn't regret, it told him that he regretted to much. That the world had been unfair, and yet that was the way of the world ..

"No. I regret everything. That is why .."

He slowly raised the blades, he had never been one to rely on a single sword arm, even if his left was technically dominant, he had often used his right to throw an opponent off. In many ways this shape fit his style of fighting perfectly, unusual, dirty, uncalled for, dark, humiliating, manipulative, and above all .. a style designed to do only one thing; win.

The large cleaver tilted, pointing at her as the chain drug along the ground behind him as he did so.

"I'll pour all that regret into power. Let's go, Sky .. I'm still far to weak. This is only the beginning, it's time for m to get my edge back."

Skylar's eyes slowly narrowed as she shifted her footing, a soft sigh leaving her lips as she took a slow step forward. His decision had been made, and his resolve to grow strong had been discovered once more. But she couldn't help but feel they had only scratched the surface- this side of him, it wasn't quite right. It was true, fear was a massive driving force behind him, but she knew that the fear came from loosing someone he cared for .. and that meant he was not the hollow shell of emotion he wanted to be. He could still love.

Ginjo knew it as well. But he refused to admit it. He refused to admit the heart of the forge that radiated within him. Power stemmed from hatred. Hatred forged the stone of the furnace, within it was the molten heat of his fear of loss- but there was something far deeper then even that within him. Something that pulsed, at the very center of his heart, an image, an idea. The voice of an annoyed woman, of her smug smirk, of her screaming face, her temperamental nature, her desire to make his life a living hell .. and yet at the same time, endearing to him.

An emotion even stronger then fear resided within him. He simply refused to admit it .. still, as their blades rose- Skylar knew this was if nothing else, a start.

---

Tags: N/A
Post Words: 3063
Total Words: 6277
Total GP so Far: 83

It had been what felt like days within the expanses of the time-bubble- hours upon hours that had slowly developed into the never ending expanses of darkness. The struggle of combating with someone far superior to his own level of power; it was a feeling he had experienced only a few times in his life- usually staying out of a battle within recent years, and during his time in the Rukongai he had never met anyone that had been a true challenge. Not since the years training with Ginchi had he felt such a feeling- it was not quite elation, but it was certainly something he knew only true warriors could feel. A desire to fight those stronger, to develop and overcome despite the overwhelming force that they may be faced with as time passed.

This feeling is what had kept pushing him even as he had struggled to endure through a lack of reiatsu and sensation, of hunger and his vision blurring. Forcing himself back to his feet, gritting his teeth and coming back swinging again- only to be knocked aside into the temporal wall once again. Yet it did not phase his determination, his willpower. It was in this way that he however had been finally pushed to his limit, taking an impact to the chest as he flew through the air- blood flying from his lips, colliding with the temporal wall and slowly sliding down it. Landing on his backside, leaning heavily against it as his breath came in harsh rasps, everything burned, everything screamed for a break- and it seemed he would have no choice but to finally give in and allow it.

Skylar watched him calmly as he twitched, tried to rise, only to fall once more and not move again- staring at the sky and simply trying to breath. Lightly bouncing the staff like mace on her shoulder before slamming it into the ground to stand- pulsating as it held the temporal anomaly up. Moving forward as she would fall into a sitting position next to him as well, looking at the shimmering bubbles room- and through it, the frozen night sky. After several long moments her voice would fill the air as his ear perked lightly as she spoke to him; curious on what she may have to say now. She had not spoken since he had made his declaration, simply smashing him back down when he tried to rise, forcing him to expend as much of his power as possible as he was punished.

"You're getting sharper. Your movement's are getting better, even slightly- you're not wildly swinging around your power anymore. You're actually starting to show some sign of aim and precision."

All this time, and that's all she had to say? That he was improving? He already knew that, and he closed an eye slowly as he tried to force himself to speak- but his body wanted to focus on breathing for now. Instead he would simply grunt an affirmative, it was the most he could manage right now- and her gaze turned on him, arching a brow slightly before leaning back into her seat once more and returning her gaze to the sky above them. They sat in silence for a long while, Gin trying to simply breath and get his vision to calm and regain clarity- instead of the current blurred mess he was being forced to see. His breathing at least, had calmed enough for him to take more measured, controlled breaths that were far more effective then his previous desperate panting that had done virtually nothing for him.

However, Skylar would speak once more- causing his attention to shift again. Curious if she had something more productive to say this time.

"I've been thinking. You definitely feel closer to the way you used to be back then .. but is that such a good thing? You're drive is back clearly; but isn't there something off?"

Gin's head tilted slightly at her question- was she asking in general? If his drive was actually a good one- a morally correct choice? She should know he didn't care about something so narrow minded- it would distract his mind to try and gain drive from anything else due to how illogical the other drives others rely on so heavily were. But then- as he considered himself, he shifted into quiet debate. This drive, this desire to grow strong due to his inner fear and distraction- certainly it was a powerful drive, but it did feel .. off. Not quite correct, not whole- as if it was only half of his desire, half baked, half formed, half developed. Did that mean it was only half the true drive he had? That he would only grow half as strong as he could if he continued on a path like this?

His brow furrowed, and her gaze turned toward him- noticing clearly that he was considering what she had said, it seemed to encourage her as she leaned forward slightly. Perhaps if he was considering it, there was use to trying and pressure her point just a bit more, another hint or two and she would then let it be. Trying to force the idea down his throat wouldn't work, he was too stubborn, to focused, and far to uncertain of his of drive to try and make him consider something softer then hatred and fear was his true core. Taking a breath she would cross her legs, bouncing one leg lightly off her knee in the air as if debating the next words she would speak carefully- even though she had already known what she would say for quite a while now; ever since he had initially spoken to her.

"Do you know how I became as strong as I am?"

Skylar's tone was curious, calm as her gaze slid toward him- watching him debate the question as in turn he would contemplate it. Leaning back and slowly nodding his head, her motion for him to speak making him grunt and wince as he adjusted himself.

"Because you've lost something important to you- and loosing it gave you a drive to push yourself using this ability to train yourself as fast as possible."

Her blink of surprise seemed to make him snort in amusement.

"Did you think I would say something ignorant, like "You trained using this temporal ability."? Do you think I'm that narrow minded?"

A soft laughter erupted from her lips as she turned, laying on the grass and stretching out- obviously surprised to a degree that he had reached step two of three to her secret of strength immediately without much thought.

"You really do have a deductive mind .. but you're only sixty-six percent of the way there. There's more to it than that, you know- loss cannot give you a drive on its own."

An arched brow, and a bemused tone spoke- proving without even needing to say anything more that he didn't believe her in any way.

"Oh ..? Odd. Loss is what drove me in the past, made me the monster I was- and drives me now, to re-take the power that I once had."

The crimson hair, streaked with grey shook as her head moved- her disagreement evident despite the calm, patient expression on her face as she continued looking upward into the sky and spoke once more.

"True loss on its own only brings pain and sadness, it leads only to depression and defeat. It needs something else to become drive, or you slip into despair- it can be something little. Perhaps your pet still needs you to live. Perhaps you have another goal you promised someone you would achieve. Perhaps you just want to survive and prove to yourself you'll never loose again. Perhaps you have someone you love, that you don't want to loose as well .. or perhaps, you simply want to give the world another chance. No matter the source however, you always need something else with that despair- but with it you can then amplify your determination and drive using that loss. Because at the core is something positive to balance it out, and make it into something powerful."

Her gaze slid from the sky to instead eye him, and noticed the deep thought in his eyes- that had been enough it would seem. Shrugging she would let it be and go back to examining the sky, as Ginjo instead would become entrapped in the thoughts that she had managed to stir up within his mind- he made no change in expression, remaining calm. However one could tell by looking into his eyes the differential in the movements, the eyes, the slight squint to them as he shifted and debated the words she had given him. He was considering her words- was there more to what his true, inner power was? He had to admit he felt incomplete, that his drive did not seem full- but he at the same time could not understand what the other half could be. What was it that he felt that there was a need to truly have; to be his true core- if not his hatred, his fear, his desire to better himself?

"What did he fear?", he supposed- was the true question he should be asking himself. Finding the core to that question, it's reasoning- was key for him to understand his own drive as it was such a heavy emotion to try and weigh. So then- what was the answer to that question? The first thought he had was the idea of loosing. He believe in the idea that only the strongest of the world could survive, could claim anything as their own, could only make certain ideologies connected to their own line of thoughts and desires. If you were strong- you mattered; you would be allowed to keep the things that were your own, people, emotions, desires, goals, materials, items. No matter what it may be, though you may need to fight for it- you would be allowed to keep it if you were strong. So- in that case, he was afraid of loosing his things? What did he truly consider his?

It was something he had to consider- one that he was not sure the answer to, which was odd. Usually he was quick to act, quick to think, quick to understand a situation- to dissect it, find its weaknesses and abuse them. But his own mind, emotions, thoughts- it was something different to try and do such to oneself. He found his eyes closing, trying to think on something so deep while he was exhausted would do him now good- sighing, he allowed his mind to simply drift. Perhaps the world of dreams would assist him in figuring out such things, though he hardly believed in such ideal's on a mystical level- he did understand that the subconscious of the mind was capable of helping to enlighten oneself through dreams. Dreams could manifest through ones thoughts, making it effective thinking- without using so much of your brain .. that could be exactly what he needed to dissect his own emotions. Less thoughts, and more just light pondering.

He decided to let it be, as the world began to slowly fade- giving in to his exhaustion while Skylar glanced at him, noting the shift in his breathing and slowly rose. Dusting himself off as her hand extended, lightly resting atop the staff she had planted in the earth- contemplating it as the soft chuckle filled the air. She didn't have long left .. she needed to do what she could for the boy, and if she was successful .. perhaps she could plant a seed of good back in his dark soul. Even if it was only a small one, if it allowed him to gain even a bit of mercy, of sympathy, or thoughts- then perhaps it would be enough to change his fate from the darkness he was choosing without his knowledge. Perhaps he wouldn't make some of the mistakes she had, and had come to regret so heavily. The dark laughter again filled her mind from the staff- but no words were said .. they both knew that this would not redeem her. She was doing it so that perhaps, Gin would not become what she had in the years to come.

Even the slimmest of hopes, was worthy of giving her something to dedicate herself too in full for what little time she had left.

Meanwhile- deep within his own subconscious, Gin would find himself in an almost meditative state- similar to years in the past when he had entered his inner world through intensive effort and zen. The feeling was very similar- and yet the world was no longer correct; had he somehow entered someone else's inner world, or was this simply a rather vivid dream? The world around him was not his own .. and yet he felt a keen familiarity with it. His eyes narrowed as they gazed over the wide expanses of darkness .. a dim grey light filling the air, barely allowing his eyes to adjust to slowly note the details of the realm that he now resided within. Slowly, he stepped forward- and feeling the wet gush allowed his eyes to trail downward- a pool of blood, like puddles of rainwater. But festering, dried, and rotting. Bones decorating the dead wasteland surrounding him with similar puddles.

Dead tree's roots dipped and wrapped around the rotting corpses, bones, and blood- white candles gave off that grey light that flickered through the air. The sky was invisible to him, swallowed by the darkness of grey mists and the void, no stars, no sun, not even a moon- only the overwhelming feeling of depth. As if deep under the waters of the ocean. It was an uneasy feeling, that made the hairs across his body stand on end- even as he began to walk forward, passing tree's, bodies, and blood- occasionally ash bursting upward when he stepped upon what appeared to be a recently-charred body. As he neared the center of the mists, he would see the massive pile of corpses and bone .. and he knew where he was. This was his inner world, changed and twisted, contorted- what had happened? .. He had not visited in a long time, Shushin had not allowed it for so long he had almost forgotten the exact sensation.

Yet here he was now. His eyes narrowed on the large hill, if this was where he thought it was- then the great fountain of youth had once been here- overflowing golden waters spilling out to grant life and joy to the world around him. So it had been twisted as he had lost that idiotic innocence then? He supposed this new world was far more fitting .. it reflected the reality of the world far better then the last. Cruel. Dark. Overbearing. Savage. A slight smirk formed on his lips- indeed, it was correct. Stepping forward, he slowly moved up the large hill- each step dragging him higher, it felt as though the air was suffocating him with each movement forward- no matter how he may try to resist it. Narrowing his eyes, he would finally come to a halt at its top- staring upon the pair of silhouettes before him. As the mists cleared, the forms became apparent- the one proud, elegant stone throne was now twisted, molded, and cracked- the spirit that rested in it a shriveled mess of his former self.

Slouched in the throne, a heartless smirk on his lips- blood flowed from the wounds of the thorned vines digging into his flesh, binding him to the throne along with the pitch black chains of iron. His dead grey eyes stared up at Ginjo, whom slowly tilted his head- the armor was in shambles, and dull grey now- but still; chunks of it remained. This was his Zanpakto spirit, Shushin .. his hatred, his fear, his rage and negative emotions- they all poured off him in massive waves. Like a never ending torrent of blood that he could not see, smell, or hear- only feel. Slowly his lip curled into a smirk as he opened his lips- if this was waht Shushin was, then perhaps his thought that there was more to his drive was foolhardy after all. Shushin was the true embodiment of his soul after all, there was no desire to protect or any other silly emotion attached to him. Skylar was a fool, and so was he to think he was anything but power and hatred.

"You've changed quite a bit, Shushin .. God King."

A snickering laughter would flow from the spirit whom would slowly tilt his head- leaning forward against his bindings.

"You got it wrong, kid .. I'm only King."

Ginjo's brow slowly arched- a curious expression in his eyes. That made little sense, if his name had changed he wouldn't have responded to the new release command- nor would he had answered him. Then he noted the difference .. there was only one voice coming from 'King'. When he had spoken to the entity in his blade earlier, learning his new Shikai's release phrase- the entity that had spoke to him held two voices. It didn't take a genius to figure it out, and "Kings" grin grew even wider, dry, cracked lips causing blood to seep from them due to the attempt at stretching- though he did not appear bothered. Droplets of blood flying from his lips as his laughter filled the air. So his spirit, was now two? He supposed he should have guessed from the dual voices, but he had simply assumed it was a revibrated voice of the helmet .. even if it had never done that in the past. Stepping forward he slowly examined the man, despite the torrent of emotion that flowed off him- the killing instinct, and power .. it wasn't like it used to be.

"Where is your overwhelming power? Are you sealed by the vines and chains now?"

What would cause that? He had already broken through his mental limitations that would have possibly bound his spirit- but the grin on the man's face said a separate story. It was then that he heard the clink of chains, and slowly turned- staring upward at the second silhouette, he had assumed the wings had been part of the throne- but as the mist cleared .. the true source was revealed. Gin's eyes narrowed slowly on the beautiful white feathers as they stretched, and the second being floated from behind the throne- the masked face tilting slightly as the effeminate frame shifted lightly under beautiful silver and white robes with dull golden lining. Pale soft skin flawless, unmarred, the chain that connected his ankle to the throne being the only oddity- even that did not harm his skin. No redness from being rubbed raw, as if the skin was more comparable to flawless white marble then flesh .. but no power radiated from this spirit either.

"I take it that makes you, "God" then?"

The spirit said nothing- but its head slowly inclined in agreement, pale hands fidgeting lightly with one another as fingers intertwined. His gaze slid between the pair slowly, before he slowly pushed the hair from his face with a sigh. Unlike the other half, this spirit was not overwhelming, or overbearing .. there was no hatred, or rage, no fear. He felt nothing, initially- until he truly focused .. and his eyes narrowed slowly at the sensation; love. A desire to protect- kindness. They were weak, dull, but they still resided there .. a small bit hidden deep within. It made his stomach twist- he could not deny it. They were his Zanpakuto spirit .. spirits? It didn't matter; they were his. The embodiment of his own soul, emotions, thoughts- even his subconscious. There was no denying it; there was still a shred of a desire to love others within him. Even if he never acted on it.

Was this the other half of his determination, his drive? Had Skylar known- and set him to this? Of course she did, the damn women always knew more then he did and less at the same time- it was usually annoying. But this .. was beyond enraging. He grit his teeth a bit in annoyance as he slowly turned toward "King", raising a hand toward the entity. There was no disproving this .. but he wanted it to be clarified as well, he wanted to hear it with his own souls mouth(s?). Proof that this kindness was the true core of his power, this .. love, was the truth within him even if he refused to let it regain control. So he spoke, and his tone was brooding- but no longer filled with anger, he did not snap or demand. Instead speaking to the man as he would wish to be spoke himself, respect- like an equal as his eyes stared into the flickering orbs of hatred, fear and pride- but most of all .. insanity, imbalance, chaos and destruction. He pondered if his own eyes would look like that one day.

"You are clearly stronger .. so why are you not called "God?"

The man snickered softly, obviously easily amused- or perhaps not amused at all .. perhaps he simply found laughter to be the best release for his insanity.

"Caught on quick haven't yah, kiddo? .. That's right. I didn't get any of the power .. the other half did."

The silence that follow was practically palpable, before the slow snickering of the "King" filled the air- turning to maddening cackling as Ginjo's teeth slowly ground together- the meaning of this not lost on him. All of his power didn't come from the darkness, the hatred, the fear- not a bit. It all came from that tiny little beacon of love left inside him .. the power of a god, came from kindness.

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Tags: N/A
Post Words: 3656
Total Words: 9933
Total GP so Far: 132

The dead silence that filled Ginjo's inner world did nothing to help the situation, his annoyance, bitterness, and anger. So the true core of his power, his devotion, drive- it was kindness? That kind of sense did that make? What part of his goals were connected to kindness?! For the first time in a very long time- Ginjo was earnestly confused by his own inner nature. It didn't make sense. His goals were designed to ruin the natural world as it stood at the current date; to re-forge it into a world of harsh reality, cruelty, destruction, chaos- the law of the jungle and nothing else. Slowly he leaned forward- to his surprise, the roots of the dead, twisted trees around him rising up and forming into a throne for him to sink into- facing "King" in his own throne of stone and chain. Slowly, his lips cracked as he stated- demanded with narrowed eyes, staring at "God" and simply one thing:

"What is this kindness, that drives me so?"

The cloaked figure however, remained silent- the mask slowly tilting to the side- as if a great sadness had been revealed. The snickers of "King" filled the air as Gin's eyes shot toward him- what had he done that had forced the "God" to remain silent? He held no true power, so how was it that he was able to rule this place?

"You want to know why he is silent? .. Because he has power, but he has no control, no drive, no direction- he is a puppet. A doll of pure power. A weapon to be wielded by those that have such things. My will is stronger, and so I am the dominant half .."

Slowly- it began to make sense. His eyes hardened on the figure- this "kindness" was not his drive, not at all. It was not as Skylar had assumed- there was no willpower, no drive, direction, true decision making from this aspect of himself. It was not the source of those things .. it was simply the source of his power.

"Kindness does not mean selfless .. is that it?"

"King" simply grinned wider at the words, watching him slowly piece it together- like a twisted, mutilated puzzle of his own soul and personality. Ginjo's eyes hardened as he slowly crossed his ankles, getting more comfortable, in-control of himself and his thoughts properly once more. His kindness was not some selfless desire to protect the innocence, or anything like that. No, that aspect of himself was long dead. But kindness was not just that- it was simply what everything thought of when it came to kindness, helping others .. but it could also be done to help oneself. You could be kind to others for self-gratification. A slow, sly smirk formed on his lips as he raised his gaze upward slowly- meeting the dead, cold eyes of "King" as he straightened slowly- dusting himself off as he rolled his shoulders.

"So that's it. He is my desire to protect the few things I allow close .. that is the core of my power? A desire to protect my things- to be kind to them only so that I may not lose them like I have lost everything else?"

The King said nothing, but the smirk that formed on his lips said enough. Ginjo's gaze slowly turned toward "God". His power, his spirit, the demand to never lose anything again- it all stemmed from this ideal. Protecting his things. Being kind to his things. Loving his things. Because the strong would be allowed to keep their things .. it was his core; but it was not his direction, or his drive- it was not what pushed him, and molded his true personality. That was the truth of himself. He supposed in the end it was true, even the darkest of men, the coldest of hearts, the most ruthless of killers- had a spec of mercy, of kindness within their souls. Even if it may be twisted, contorted and selfish- it could still be there .. it would seem that he was living proof of this ideal and focus. It was laughable, he had been unable to see something so simple .. no wonder they had only just now begun to speak to him once again- even if they had tried, he couldn't hear them. How could you hear aspects of your soul that you didn't even believe existed?

Straightening he turned slowly, dusting off his clothing and glancing upward at the dark- grey sky. This world .. it was a fitting realm for him to rule, but some more color would be nice .. when he was strong enough he would ensure that it became the truth of the world. "King" snickered once more as he slowly lifted his bleeding, chained arm upward just a few feet and pointed toward Gin- whom simply arched a brow curiously, listening to him speak.

"Our power is to "command" but you are to weak to access its true potential. For now, you can only create laws using us .. now that you've taken your first true step you can truly focus on strengthening our connection. Don't disappoint me, Ginjo .. show me you're worthy to be the King that I cannot be."

Ginjo's eyes slowly curled into a smile, it was a cruel smile- dark and heartless, that red glimmer returning to his iris's as he slowly leaned forward, within inches of the insane King's curled, bloody lips.

"Don't even try to compare us .. you're only half my soul .. of course your potential is worthless. I have it all .. the best aspects of both of you. Just you watch me .. I will become this worlds god."

As he began to end the speech, the world began to fade, twist and spin- forming into the pitch black void of unconsciousness. With a jerk, he heard the twisted laughter of "King" as his eyes snapped open- sitting up as the blanket slid from his chest. Staring down slowly, simple and brown without anything notable- his eyes slowly trailed around him. Spotting Skylar perched atop the only tree in the Garden on a branch, staring up at the night sky. Grunting, Ginjo slowly straightened as he hauled himself to his feet- his body felt good, she had healed him again and let him sleep to recover properly atop that. Walking forward, he noted how much lighter the blade at his hip felt .. like a feather, like it used to when it had been that gorgeous golden claymore- when he and Shushin had been different people entirely. It seems he was slowly getting back to the position he had once been at in the past.

Straightening he would begin to stretch, cracking his neck a bit before focusing on the crimson haired woman calmly.

"How long was I out?"

Her voice was mellow, calm- and a bit tired as she slowly looked down at him- bags under her eyes marking that she had been awake the entire time he had been out.

"Dunno .. ten hours probably. Was it productive ..? Your reiatsu was fluctuating, so don't tell me you were just spending all that time recovering from damage I had already mostly healed while you slept."

Noting her tone, how tired she was- and the fact the orb was still going, he would grunt and rub the back of his neck lightly as he contemplated her question. It had been productive, but was that the word he really wanted to use to describe it ..? She had helped him to re-connect with his Zanpakuto spirit, it seemed like saying it was just "progress" was limiting it. However .. he then considered just how much further he had to go- and it made his lip twitch in amusement, compared to that- this truly was just a baby step in the right direction. Straightening slowly he would slide his hands into his sleeves, and simply nod in affirmation- a slight smirk on his lips still as he examined her from below.

"It was productive, yes."

Her brow arched, leaning down on the branch as she lightly swung her foot- he noted the differences in her now. She looked tired, even older then before .. he supposed forcing oneself to stay awake after she had already spent so long in these bubbles to grow strong- shaving years off her life; was bound to exhaust her more than it would a normal Shinigami. Straightening his stance he would tuck his hands properly into his sleeves and maintain a relaxed position as he glanced up at her, she would- finally; speak however. Cutting him off before he could properly inquire about her appearance and if she needed any form of rest.

“So you’re ready for another round then huh ..? Good. Let’s go then.”

He blinked- his relaxed state causing him to be wide open, as he Hoho drug her through the air, forming her in front of him as his eyes slowly widened in confusion and shock. She was even faster than before- what the hell was that? Before he time to properly understand what was going on however- she was already in front of him. His eyes widened further, as if in slow motion as he saw only the vague blur of her arm- before he felt the impact of her palm striking him directly in the center of his stomach. He cursed as he went flying, spinning head over heels through the air before colliding with a crash into the dirt- dragging through it before meeting with the barrier, once more- quite intimately.

Grunting, he slowly hauled himself upward as his eyebrow twitched lightly in annoyance- he had expected her to be slower since she was tired. What the hell was that? Grunting he hauled himself upward- seeing the blur and cursing as he rolled to the side, skidding backwards as he dug his heel’s into the earth with a grumble. Straightening slowly as he focused- it didn’t matter how she was faster, what mattered was that she was- he needed to focus all his attention on her if he intended to better himself in any way. Landing lightly, she would straighten slowly- it was then that he noticed she was no longer wielding her made- it was still stuck in the ground, it was because of this that her next words threw him off so heavily as his eyes narrowed in confusion and curiosity.

“Bring out your Shikai, Gin. Show me what you can really do- if I don’t know that then I can’t push you to grow stronger you know.”

Narrowing his eyes slowly, Ginjo would straighten- she wanted him to release Shikai against an unarmed opponent ..? How unlike her, though he had no real issues with that- he hadn’t even drawn his blade out; not out of some silly idea of honor. But he had assumed training without such would allow him to increase his own personal power and shake off the immense rust and resistance in his body far more effectively .. he had to wonder if that line of thought was on her own mind as well. She seemed to read his mind, as she sighed and crossed her arms over her chest- speaking to him simply and calmly.

“You don’t need me to increase your physical skills or power, Gin .. anyone can do that- you can even get that done yourself with a bit of practice. But reiatsu control, understanding how to properly use your shikai, and understanding yourself- you won’t show those things to anyone else now, will you?”

His brow furrowed- but he knew she spoke the truth. He wouldn’t utilize his shikai unless he had no other choice .. no one was worthy of such a power, and if they were he would likely be forced to use it. The longer he kept it secret, the more effective it would be for him to properly use it when he had no other choice but to rely on it in order to win a battle. Slowly, he sighed; his hand flowing downward toward the hilt of the claymore at his side- grasping it firmly as he slowly drug it from his side. Shifting his footing as he lowered its point and aimed it carefully toward her- the voice filled his mind, snickering softly underneath its breath.

Remember, kid .. we can write laws of the world itself. But yer’ too weak to do more than one for now .. don’t try to overdo it till yah’ get used to it.

Ginjo didn’t reply, his next words were strong enough to not need such things as he instead shifted it upward and spun it- now upside-down as his other hand rose up above the hilt, grasping at the air that would begin to pulse as his release began.

“Command, God King.”

The burst of light that filled the air was deep crimson, tinged with hues of maroon as he narrowed his eyes- and clenched the hand that had been grasping at nothing but air previously; now wrapped around the golden hilt of his second blade. The twin blades manifesting as they transformed, the long chain snapping into reality- wrapping around him twice before falling downward as he slammed the massive cleaver of a black blade into the earth beneath him- the small, golden broadsword lightly balanced in his fingers. Grip loose, controlled as his eyes narrowed carefully on Skylar would slowly crack her neck- taking a single step forward.

He could feel it- the shift in the light, the way her reiatsu began to flicker around her .. she was going to focus on physical combat ability. Her devastating speed, mixed with mastery of hoho and physical power. Slowly the energy around him began to contort- and his eyes narrowed, his laws were of nature- of the world itself. That was Shushin’s words .. so that meant, they could command anything. Even re-writing the world itself to his whim. The blade rose slowly and his command suddenly filled the air right as she flickered toward him, his pupil’s dilating as his will burst forward. The law was simple- no being could ever move faster than a normal living being- suddenly Skylar’s blur of speed became nothing more than a casual run at him, causing her to stumble and halt at the sudden shift. Eyes narrowing in confusion as Ginjo’s own narrowed- so it truly could be anything. Useful. Flickering forward he spun the blade in his palm calmly, the small golden blade remaining in his palm while the cleaver remained buried in the earth until the chain tugged- causing it to suddenly burst toward him from behind.

Ginjo spun, the jab of the golden blade straight- aimed at her, but he noticed something. He was slow as well. She was able to keep up, and lash out with her own blow- knocking his attack far to the side as her eyes narrowed. Ginjo’s hand opening as the cleaver flew through the air, to be caught within his fingers from above- slashing downward with surprising force and power in a vertical swing. Forcing her to step back and create room, he had caused both their physical speeds, and reaction times to shift to that of normal humans- but their physical power was still the same. So the laws didn’t care about logic- it bent reality itself to its will. Ginjo slowly straightened, already he had learned much about his own powers through that simple exchange- she as well seemed to have a vague idea- but appeared far more wary.

“Speed manipulation ..? That’s an oddly specific power.”

He debated if he should tell her- before he realized that there was no harm in doing it; Skylar had no ambitions. As long as he had known her she’d simply been a powerful hermit that stayed in the Rukongai. Due to this he saw no risk in her learning his power- perhaps she could even offer further insight into it, possible weaknesses that were not obvious coming from the perspective of an opponent instead of the user. Straightening slowly he would lightly rest the large cleaver on his shoulder- the golden blade once more lightly balanced between his fingers as his voice would fill the air with a bland, relaxed expression on his face.

“No. I can create new laws of the natural order.”

She blinked a few times, confusion evident on her face- it was obvious she was trying to understand exactly what that truly meant. A sly smirk on his lips was enough to make her sigh, and give up- crossing her arms over her chest.

“Meaning?”

Gin’s head tilted as he took a moment, debating the best way to explain. Before he would slowly close an eye and begin with a simple example, but effective he was fairly certain.

“Law’s in a courtroom are not the same as natural laws. A court law is say .. don’t release your Zanpakuto within the Seirietei. But a natural order would be more like ..”

He raised a hand and smirked, pointing it at her chest- his words causing the hair on the back of her neck to stiffen as her eyes narrowed.

“When your heart stops; you die.”

Her eyes narrowed slowly on him, and her voice was somewhere between afraid- and obviously considering the idea borderline impossible, at the very least- unbelievable.

“You’re saying you can bend the laws of nature itself, to your whim ..? Life? Death?”

Ginjo’s shoulders shrugged lightly, a playful smirk on his lips.

“I won’t know until I try. But .. I suppose if I were to make the law “You only die when your body is completely destroyed.”- it could be conceivable that It would be so to anyone within my vicinity.”

Slowly, Skylar would fall back and star at him quietly- debating this information. Should she even try to nurture a power like this? The ability to play god, conceivably? Certainly it likely was based on his spiritual pressure, so perhaps outright making it so no one could die was out of his grasp. But loopholes like he just listed where he simply .. altered and bent the rules of life and death in his favor- why not? What stopped him? If his spiritual power grew enough- what would even stop him from outright denying death? What would happen to the soul cycle if he just started abusing his powers? Her eyes narrowed as she debated all these thoughts- so much information. So many idea’s and possibilities .. and all of them unnatural; terrifying.

Ginjo watched her calmly- and would calmly straighten, awaiting her verdict- having a fairly good idea of what she was thinking of. She knew his personality .. she knew what he would likely use the power for. But he also felt like she was missing a key bit of information- his voice filled the air.

“I won’t abuse the power. Only the worthy deserve to have such a power used on them, Skylar.”

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Tags: N/A
Post Words: 3164
Total Words: 13097
Total GP so Far: 174