Kuramoto Katashi- Rank up

NameKuramoto Katasi
DivisionFourth
Current RankFifth seat
Desired RankLieutenant
Holder of desired rank:None

It was the day before the big event- the fight for the lieutenant position of the fourth division. The excitement could be felt in the air- everybody from the recruits to the highest ranking officers were looking forward to it. Battles in squad four were rare- the “usual” way to advance through ranks here was through poison or sabotage. What made the event even more interesting were the participants. On one side was the current vice- captain- Hiragi Yukita.

He was quite the enigmatic figure, only appearing in public during official events. During the rest of the time he was either locked up in his room, doing god knows what or attending to his usual duties- handing out orders, doing paperwork and watching for the smooth operation of the division. Staying in the shadow of his captain he was one of those guys who just didn’t stand out. Maybe he didn’t want to either.

The pretender was the fifth seat of the division- a much more known and eccentric figure- Kuramoto Katashi. Always on the move doing weird experiments, causing random explosions and running about his own deeds he was both feared and respected by many of his subordinates, even some of his superior officers treated the man as an equal. And now both of them seemed to be preparing for the main event.

A few surprised shinigami moved out of Katashi’s way as he was hurrying along one of the corridors. He had risen several hours before everyone else and snuck into the mess hall. After checking the day’s menu he had added a hefty dose of powerful laxative to one of the spices required to prepare dinner. It was a really dirty trick in all meanings of the word but every little advantage was welcome.

Katashu usually prepared his own food so he wouldn’t be affected by the medication. The rest of the division on the other hand would. The fifth seat had watched his rival closely for the past week so he knew the other man usually ate with the others. Little did he know today’s dinner was due to be a lot more eventful. An hour or two after ingesting the substance everyone would feel a bit uneasy. After another hour they would feel a crushing need to pay a visit to the smallest room.

The only problem was that there were hardly enough lavatories for the whole division at once and since the lieutenant’s quarters were at a significant distance from the nearest of them he would have to wait in line… for quite a while. And the worst bit was that the effect would last for 16- 18 hours, meaning that on the day of battle he would be dehydrated, exhausted, suffering from severe diarrhea and probably pissed off.

Well so would be the rest of the division but it wasn’t a big deal. They wouldn’t die or anything. The captain had really let his men loose and he didn’t seem to care much- discipline was under all expectations, there was hardly any progress in science and the morale of the squad was terribly low. They needed someone who was not afraid to use the power he possessed, someone who would turn the entire division into one well- oiled machine. Someone like Kuramoto Katashi.

Looking through a window to the training grounds the resourceful scientist saw his opponent practice his sword skills. He was good but target dummies could hardly put up a good fight. Katashi knew a far better way to train. Entering the lab he headed to one of its distant corners- there in the middle of a small hall laid the holographic training device.

The young man entered the necessary parameters and entered the machine. After settling down in his comfortable armchair he started the simulation. The space around him light up in all the colors of the rainbow as he suddenly found himself in the middle of a large car park. This was one of his favorite training grounds, the first he had used to test the device. Suddenly a loud Hollow howl shattered the silence around him. It was killing time.

Several hours later the shinigami exited the machine. He was all covered in sweat and was breathing rapidly- he felt like his hearth was going to rip out of his chest. The young man had risen the number and strength of his enemies until he died. He reached five Menos grande and several dozens of smaller hollows and he was surviving quite well until a lucky cero hit him directly and knocked him out for a few moments, giving a crab- like hollow the chanse to pin him down. Four more cero blasts finished the job.

He was fine both physically and mentally but part of the pain still lingered- it would take some time for his subconsciousness to catch up to the fact that he was actually not hurt. Exiting the lab Katashi headed for his own quarters for some lunch. He had chosen his menu carefully so that he would get all the energy possible for tomorrow- nothing was left to the chance.

The next part of the fifth seat’s schedule was tricky. Just before dinner Hiragi Yukita was on patrol duty. That gave Katashi the chance for one final trick. There was still some time till the lieutenant left though so there was enough time for the necessary duties such as paperwork to be performed. As he monotonously tapped the keys of his keyboard Katashi picked up on the conversations around him.

From what he managed to hear it turned out that the opinions were mixed- nobody really liked the current vice- captain but they were also afraid that Katashi would push them too hard. “Good, let them be afraid. That will just make them easier to control[/color] the young researcher was thinking while finishing up the reports. It was now time for his next move.

Quietly approaching Hiragi’s quarters Katashi concentrated on the reiatsu of everyone around him. Good- there was nobody about. All he needed were ten seconds. Quickly opening the door he snuck in. Luckily it was not locked, otherwise he would have to use the window, where more people could see him. The young man lunged under the lieutenant’s bed and stuck a device there- it would slowly drain the reiatsu of anybody above it.

The rate at which the process was done was slow enough not to be sensed but at the morning the unlucky lieutenant would really be drained. Dinner time was drawing near. Katashi snuck out and headed towards his own apartment. He had done all in his power to tip the scales in his favor. The only things left on his list were dinner and sleep. And tomorrow he would claim the position he deserved and all the privileges that came with it.

A loud scream woke the young man up around midnight. People were running around the corridors, yelling at each other. It appeared the laxative was doing its job. Katashi checked his security systems again, everything from the gas detectors to the metal wire he had stretched around the room indicated he was safe. With a smile on his face the fifth seat dozed off again, the screams of his suffering comrades didn’t disturb him in the slightest.

The day of battle!

A loud noise woke Katashi up. The sound of a cero speeding towards him. Years of practice made him quickly roll out of his bed, draw his sword and assume a defensive position. The next second the man lowered his blade and murmured something to himself- it was just his alarm clock, warning him not to miss his fight. It served its purpose brilliantly but all the poor thing got in return was a Hado number four- Byakurai. Such is the deal with alarm clocks- they only watch for our well-being but all they get in return is violence.

Watching the smoking pile of rubble left of his creation, Katashi started to regret annihilating it. The inventor took a noble decision to repair it the first time he got the chance. After eating a well- balanced breakfast he opened the window of his small apartment- the air outside was fresh, the first rays of the sun were shining in his face, the birds were singing and only the subtle moaning of a passing man, holding his stomach ruined the perfect morning.

After a refreshing bath, Katash got dressed and hurried to the fourth division training grounds. He arrived half an hour early and immediately started to stretch his muscles. With every passing second, more people arrived at the scene. The audience all looked like they had been through quite a rough night. After the audience gathered, it became clear the laxative was still working- every half a minute a division member separated from the cloud, running in a very familiar direction.

Katashi just raised an eyebrow and continued to warm up. It was not long before Captain Aros himself arrived. He did not seem to be affected and threw a disapproving gaze at the young man- he was smart enough to figure out who would get the most benefit out of the current situation excluding the toilet paper sellers. Katashi had made sure there were no evidence though- when he did something he did it right.

Four minutes before the start of the fight Lieutenant Hiragi arrived. The unfortunate man was all pale, black circles were clearly visible under his sore eyes. He seemed to have had little time to prepare himself- his uniform was all messed up, his hair looked like a dirty nest. Suddenly he grabbed his stomach, murmured an excuse and ran as fast as he could to the loo. Katashi calmly waited with an innocent expression on his face.

After the current lieutenant returned the Captain announced the rules of the fight- first one to disable the opponent was victorious, killing was not advised. Inventions were not allowed. Everyone knew though in these types of battles deaths were frequent. After all, if someone had the guts for a challenge once chances were he would try again. In addition, if one lost it was just logical he would try to win his position back. Therefore, it was pretty much a fight to the death unless the winner wished to show some mercy.

Katashi attacked first. Taking advantage of his opponent’s condition the young man flash stepped to his left and swung for his head. The blow was easily blocked though. Even weakened Yukita was a formidable enemy. Random people didn’t become lieutenants- they had to meet strict criteria in order to get approved. With a kick to the gut Hiragi sent Katashi flying away- this was going to be one tough battle.

Quickly gaining his footing the fifth seat lunged forward. As he was running he pointed his hand towards his opponent and said “Hado number 31- Shakkaho!” The orb of red energy shot towards the lieutenant’s head. It didn’t hit him though- a moment before the explosion he simply vanished. Katahi looked around confused but could not see his opponent. Pure reflex made him roll to the side, evading the enemy’s blade by inches. Instead of moving to the side Yukita had jumped upwards, gaining the element of surprise.

The audience let out a sound of excitement- the current lieutenant now had a clear shot at Katashi. Immediately a Sokatsui erupted from Hiragi’s hand. Something was wrong with it though- instead of incinerating Katashi it just had the effect of a hot gust of wind. There was a problem with the other man’s reiatsu- it was too low, undoubtedly the result of the pretender’s trickery. The fifth seat saw the chance to counter attack.

Yelling “Bakudo number nine- Geki!” he lunged forward, stabbing his immobilized enemy in the gut. That was going to be one short battle. Red blood flowed from the deep wound, Hiragi stepped back surprised, his feet failed him as he fell on his and said, coughing blood every few words. “What… did… you do to… me!?!” Katashi calmly approached and kicked him in the face, breaking his nose “Nothing you should know about.” was his answer.

The lieutenant grabbed his sword’s hilt with both hands and said “Twinkle, Fairy mirror!”. His weapon glowed in a bright white light and changed shape to a long trident. Katashi almost burst into laughter “Twinkle, Fairy mirror?!? What was that lame Zanpakutou? A voice reached his ears “It’s not lame. Its power reaches beyond your feeble comprehension.” Katashi made a step back with a confused look.

What was that? In Hiragi’s file his sword was described like “Psychic”. The fifth seat thought it probably had the power to somehow mess with his mind. It didn’t matter though. If he just kept his distance, the other man would soon collapse from his wound. “It won’t work. Because I am faster than you! the lieutenant yelled and immediately charged Katashi. Realizing the opponent’s true power Katashi flash stepped to the side- Yukita could read his thoughts!

The young man had little time to reflect on his discovery though as his opponent followed him in an instant and swung towards his body. “Eradicate, Dark Lady!”. As his shikai formed, Katashi blocked with his sword. Blood was rushing out of the other man’s gut but it only seemed to make him fight with even greater determination. The lieutenant twisted his trident and disarmed his enemy. Then with a quick movement, he stabbed Katashi in his stomach. The audience exploded.

With a grin on his face Hiragi said “I see your moves the second you think of them. There is no escape from Fairy Mirror’s power- if you back out now I may spare your life. That is if you swear you will never challenge me again.” Katashi moaned, grabbed the trident’s hilt and pulled the bloodied blades out of his body before rolling to the side and picking up his Zanpakutou. What started out like a pre- won battle suddenly became much more interesting.

“Shit, shit, shit!” Katashi thought while doing his best to evade his opponent’s attacks. Although it sounded simple enough it was actually next to impossible- always one move ahead of the fifth seat Hiragi managed to land several more hits. All covered in blood the young man was running out of options. The audience was becoming exalted- it was not every day they saw two seated officers fight to the death.

Katashi was running out of options- Kido was not an options since it would be easily evaded and he doubted his body would last much longer against his enemy’s stabs- he was now covered in deep puncture wounds, which were bleeding profusely. The blood of the two men had already formed a thin red layer on the dirty ground. Both opponents were on the verge of passing out, but chances were the pretender would give in first.

Another stab, another spike of pain. Katashi’s vision started to blur, his uniform was all ripped up, his body was starting to fail. This training ground could very well prove to be his grave. “You know, you don’t need to think in order to fight. Just a tip. You are a tough kid, I wouldn’t like to see you dead.[/i] The young man sighed. As much as he hated to admit it she was right.

The Dark Lady apparently still held an interest in her owner. It was not his time to die. Katashi let out a loud yell and charged his enemy. His mind went blank; all the thoughts were replaced by the lust for blood and the desire to deliver a painful death. The fifth seat normally didn’t resort to this technique but now it was his only chance. The confused lieutenant couldn’t react to the sudden change of style.

Katashi quickly started to overpower him, taking full advantage of his opponent’s futile attempts to read his thoughts. All Hiragi could see was red bubbling rage- as if his opponent had succumb to his primal emotions- like a cornered tiger, ready for a final assault, a fight for his very life. These kinds of thoughts were passing through the lieutenant’s head as he received a stab in his shoulder.

The blade went straight through, releasing the deadly toxin held in it. That was the least of Hiragi’s problems though. Katashi grabbed him by the face and pinned him to the ground, his knee was pressing on the other man’s chest, his sword threatening to cut his hand off. He had won. As the mist of emotions started to fade a familiar voice boomed in the young man’s head “Kill him!”[/i]

Katashi let out a low growl and yelled “Shakkaho, Shakkaho, SHAKKAHO!” . The man blinked a couple of times, reason had returned to his mind. He looked downwards and realized what he had done. All remaining of his opponent’s head was a smoking bloody mess. He had just taken an innocent life. And the worst bit was part of him enjoyed it. The first congratulation came from his Zanpakutou.

“Well done. I thought you didn’t have it in you. Learn to take lives so you don’t lose yours. Just a tip.[/i] Katashi sighed- he didn’t want to kill the poor man. He had just acted true to his instincts and this is what happened. Well what was done was done- no point in getting upset. With a slow movement he rose to his feet, those near him could see a single tear fall on the mutilated body.

Katashi met his captain’s eyes and asked “Will you take me?”