Bleach Hereafter RPG

Shuhei was watching the path as his partners made their moves, ^{okay so we all have our roles now, I just feel bad to make Cal care for the gifts.} She did seem very motherly in a way, and so it felt a little fitting she would be the protector. Shuhei felt the rise in pressure from Firo right before he darted down the street. ^{Seems like he is creating the distraction, Cal is protecting the packages, so I must do the fighting.}


Shuhei pushed off the roof in order to keep track of both of his partners, as Firo blasted to a house that was ahead. There was another pulse of spiritual pressure in that direction, from Shuhei’s vantage point, he could see the creature that was above Firo when he was at the door, though not the best since he was also trying to keep an eye on Cal too. Firo took off at a much slower pace for the alleyway nearby the house, he seemed like a capable person and so Shuhei would help watch the gifts while waiting to see if any spikes in pressure or sounds could alert to the need of backup. Shuhei had his Zanpakutou in hand now as he was in active guard mode.


Shuhei nodded down to Cal in case she felt the situation ahead, to let her know he was aware and keeping an eye on both areas. “Hey Cal, it seems we have some trouble brewing ahead,” Shuhei wanted to try and stay vigilant though knew it was an opening to get some gifts delivered. He swiftly came off the roof, grabbed a gift and then just as fast moved towards a home the gift was sent to. Shuhei raised his spiritual pressure to make himself visible just long enough to knock on the door, he then disappeared just before the recipient arrived and brought the gift indoors. He had to stay out of sight, because he was not about to sheathe his blade given the high tension. Shuhei tried to feel for Firo, and then moved to the roof again to try and see the rumble that he could be involved in.

Something grabbed at Calysto’s booted foot, a scrabbling, scrambling, jibbering thing. It was like the creature that had prowled out of the alley but smaller and more impish. It stood but 2 feet high, barely able to even reach Cal’s knee, let alone do any real damage, but it was infuriating. She reached down to swipe at the damned thing and it simply recoiled, hissing and laughing in some twisted molestation of the christmas carols that sounded through the streets. It was like it was born from the holiday’s malice, a gremlin come to steal from them.

With a swift kick, she sent it packing back into the alley, but as it landed among the rubbish, she saw its red eyes flicker and then multiply. She’d kicked it clean into the nest of its neighbors, it seemed.

Annoyed, she turned to locate her comrades, as she had been keeping pace with Shuhei as he delivered part of their load to doors. She’d been having to keep kicking these damnable little elves off their trail, one by one. They weren’t the larger menace they’d seen earlier, but it was frustrating, nonetheless. Unlike Shuhei’s reaper blade, she couldn’t as easily rend the creature from the air. She’d have to absorb its reishi into herself, and from the smell of these foul beings, she’d rather eat the cart itself.

Ah, there he was. Rooftop. Shuhei was high up after placing a gift down. Looking for Firo, likely. She sniffed the air, trying to detect the man’s hollow-ish scent from among the myriad others in the wind. It was faint, but he was near-ish. And so was the bigger thing. It smelled like the gremlin-elves in the alley but far more empowered, like bricks left to rot.

“About half delivered, it would appear!” she called to Shuhei with some relief. This was turning out to be far more taxing than she’d initially anticipated.

Firo was battling tooth and nail to maintain human speeds with this hollow. He needed to keep him entertained and engulfed in the hunt, but not move too far as to allow him to go for the others. On lookers thought they had gone mad as the boy hit a break neck turn out of the alleyway, hand brushing the cold ground and filling him with instant regret. A garbage can flung from the alley and penetrated the glass across the street belonging to a small convenience store. The building alarm was set off, but for some reason it began to slowly warp and mute.

Was this a power of the hollow?

He didn't turn his head but he could hear it's feet picking up, he didn't know if he could make it on a straight away at this point. Approaching a short bridge, Firo grabbed the railing and leapt from it, manipulating the soul of the object it's properties became much more akin to a spring. He would fly through the air with his hands in his pocket, because he always needed his cool points, only to notice the large woman from before.

"Crap I'm leading him right back to her." He uttered, turning in the air for the first time to see the devilish monster face to face, it's green cloak tattered and worn, it's mask seemingly broken and reminiscent of better days, honestly it looked like some form of really twisted reindeer. As it's hand flew backwards, it's nose lit up to a bright red hue. Firo's hand swiftly moved to his tip clip, drawing it and summoning a yellow blade comprised of pure reishi similar in shape to a great sword.

Focused on the monster Firo locked eyes, positioning his body to fly forward. He wasn't very accustomed to aerial combat, nor using his movement abilities in the air but he figured he had very little choice. A green ring appeared beneath his feet as he blasted forward towards the creature, turning as if to strike only to change plans mid flight. He remembered devlivery came first, he probably couldn't take this thing on alone. Last second the rings would reappear, boosting himself towards the ground he would land on bent knees, a hand on the ground and his sword angled over his shoulder.

He could feel the blood drip down his cheek from a single slash but that wasn't the worst of it, in fact he was barely hit at all. The worst part. Was as he stood up and looked around he noticed within the little parklet not a single speck of the green cloaked monster.

He had lost him.

Shuhei was very impressed with Cal, as she shared the deliveries were about half delivered. He was in battle mode and their partner was possibly in a battle and she seemed intimidating and also cool and collected, while getting the job done. Shuhei noticed for the first time how pretty the gal was along with being intimidating, ^{perhaps that is her charm, eh?} Shuhei thought. As he was pondering this, Firo flew into frame, a small hollow similar to before in tow. Then there was a yellow flash as the sword appeared in Firo’s hand. ^{Well damn, the kid was packing this whole time and with an impressive weapon.} He didn’t take it down as he maneuvered towards the ground hmm…


Shuhei looked down to see that Firo was bleeding just a bit, ^{damn thing got him.} The man did not seem so concerned with that, as much as he was looking back at where the hollow just was. Shuhei turned and noticed that the thing was gone, ^{wait how?} He thought. In fact, all the spiritual pressure was cleared apart from their group. It was a whole different feeling, followed up by the sound of people coming into the streets, had it been completely empty the last few moments? Shuhei asked himself, because it felt like a 180 from the way the scene just looked. They had been delivering gifts to people and there was still life around, but the streets were becoming fuller all of a sudden, ^{was it because of the hollows?} Shuhei shook his head as he realized it just meant easier work for them to finish the gift giving. Shuhei was on guard, however after 4 deliveries he made himself visible again and enjoyed the giving of gifts directly.


“So, I am guessing as we finish up our deliveries, our next step is to find whatever those things were?" Shuhei said knowing the answer would be yes, at least that was his next step, he was just hoping the team would continue to work together on this.

The chaos of the conflict was drawing attention from people for blocks over, and it was really the last thing they needed. As the gremlin-elves regrouped in the shadows, avoiding confrontation now that more people clustered, she took stock. Just two deliveries remaining, and they were large. “Just two left. I think they’re both over two streets,” she called. “Probably for the best too. I daresay we need to be causing any more trouble here. I just hope the families that got those gifts like them despite the trouble.”

Sniffing the air, she tried to pick up on the creepy, green-cloaked hollow. She could barely detect it, like a distant fire burning, but it was still around. To be honest, after all the hollow reiatsu sitting around her, she wanted nothing more than to stuff her face into a potpourri basket. The constant smell of hollow, of prey had a kind of intoxicating aroma that she found simultaneously revolting and entrancing. Suddenly, the idea of bearing down into those little gremlins didn’t seem so unappetizing. Her own reiatsu soured the air nearby, lips curling back to reveal teeth that looked more fang-like by the second. Maybe Shuhei noticed it. Maybe Firo. Cal wasn’t really watching them.

Think Christmas thoughts, Cal. Cinnamon, gingerbread, apples, pine needles. Ahhh. There it was. Clear the air. Back to normal.

And at once, the menacing aura faded and she was normal again. It was hard to keep those hollow urges at bay in the thick of combat, which was why she kept to herself. Still, the reward of good cheer in the holiday season was worth the effort to keep her hunger under control.

With a soft smile at Firo, she reached out to brush the blood from his cheek. “Are you okay?” she asked, maternally.

Firo felt a sudden change in the air around him, there was another hollow? Firo chucked the weapon over his shoulder and looked both ways only to feel the pressure change, disappearing into the aether only for him to feel a hand, a large one, brush the red liquid from his cheek. His body came upwards, nearly plucked from his feet as the giantess gave him a maternal rub and checked in on him momentarily.

Was saying mommy here incorrect?

Firo seemed a little air headed as he looked up to her. "I should be." He said, he was unsure if the hollow was venomous, it's abilities, etc. He wasn't sure if he should be concerned but he knew in the moment he definitely did not feel anything too different from what he was use to.

Two gifts left? Damn they were fast. "How...how long was I running from that thing?" Firo questioned, his head lowering as his eyes closed and his hand cupped his chin, leaving him deep in thought. Was he really so lost in the sauce?

The snow continued to coat the ground lightly, the darker atmosphere left a pretty dull tone across the mostly grey buildings and bleak sky. The white didn't add much, if anything the pale flakes drained the color from the environment and left everything in grey scale. The odd holiday lights kept things fresh, but at this point of the night, shops were closing and they probably didn't have much time left.

Shuhei was grateful to be finishing up with the gifts, he enjoyed spreading the holiday cheer, but with those hollows around he knew that protection is what the people around here needed. The hollows seemed driven and also calculated. Not all hollows will retreat after an attack, and he has seen it happen twice now in this outing. ^{Another one?} He thought as he felt a deadly pressure rise, he turned towards his companions just in time to see Cal smiling at Firo. It must have been her pressure; he was happy she was on their side.


Shuhei grabbed one of the last two gifts, “I got this one.” Shuhei grinned that big innocent grin once more, then moved down the block towards the listed home. Shuhei had put his weapon away now that he was visible, which was especially good given that the area was now bustling. He looked up to confirm the address in front of him was the same as the package. The child inside was all smiles as he handed it to her, “now you be good and listen to your parents little one.” He felt good as he began moving from the door as it closed behind him. He had to admit, it was good feeling to see the people smile. “One mor-“.


Fast as a whip Shuhei was off of his feet, quick enough to put him on the edge of consciousness. A large hollow, somehow suppressing its spiritual pressure, shot through the square in front of the home and right into Shuhei. Shuhei could see a blur of red and white, and then nothing… Shuhei was being carried off by the large hollow.