“Now why would I wage war on your home? On my home?” he replied automatically, as confident as ever.
There was an altogether different tension standing in between the two men. It was defined no longer by the insanity of physical combat, and instead bore the intensity of minds and souls clashing against one another in an invisible cold war. The vizard did as best he could to peer through any sort of illusions and trickery set up by the captain, and Kyuketsu retaliated fittingly by casting his dominative, all-encompassing shadow upon the area. Where brawn and power once clashed, wits and tactics now abound.
“What I intend is something beyond the meager, simple concepts of war, peace, or truce. It is neither a state of mind, nor a tangible item to be held in one’s hands. Power, my dear hybrid, is something that can utterly shift the balance of authority between the realms, be it Soul Society, Hueco Mundo, or Earth. There are those who deserve death, and those who deserve life... and as such, who am I to act as the sole judge, jury, and executioner when I much prefer the latter of the three? This is why I seek to gain like-minded allies so that there can be no hubris on my part, no dictatorial control that would rob people of their free will.”
Kyuketsu raised his index finger, flashing it to the man. “Unlike those old relics back home that you seem so fond of.”
The assassin was surprised by how frank the man was acting now, how confident he was. He shook his head for a moment then looked at his... opponent? Comrade? Temporary ally?
He wasn't quite sure anymore what the man was, but it felt like some kind of deal with the devil.
"Alright," the assassin said looking at the man. He sealed his blade and hung the naginata where it belonged, on his back. He kept the mask on, however, as he stared at the man. He knew that no one could see his eyes through the seemingly unending blackness that made up the eye-holes for his mask. "I accept your conditions. What do you want from me? What am I to do for you?"
The soldier continued watching the man, waiting for some sign of betrayal. He felt Grey Man railing against the back of his mind, trying to force him to call him out again. It feared for him, he could feel it. But, strangely enough, he felt as if he was safe. Or at least as safe as he could be on a battlefield like this one.
"Just so you know though," Tod said with a small smile, although it couldn't be seen behind his mask. "I dont really do the bowing or kneeling thing. Wreaks hell on the knees and back."
There was no heartfelt laughter born from victory. No, none of that. Instead, he merely kept on smiling, appearing satisfied with the hand he was dealt. Kyuketsu tucked the blade over his shoulder as he began to walk for Tenzansatsu’s other half.
“Do recall that I never once said the word ‘subordinate,’ or any of its variants.” He glanced at the half-breed, still masked. “There’s a different between underling and ally, and should you mean what you say and prove a worthy asset, then more likely than not, you’ll be the latter.”
Holding the other piece of Tenzansatsu in his hand, he held both edges at bay, away from the man. “What I want is information... on the current happenings in the World of the Living, from the surface to its underground networks. Act as my informant on current events and of the other vizards, and in turn you’ll be kept hidden from shinigami eyes, free to do as you please. Oh, and of course, the backing and protection of the Eleventh Division’s captain.”
He's the captain of the eleventh? the assassin started. He hadn't thought it would be the man before him. He chuckled a little bit as the wave of the implications hit him.
"The captain of the eleventh?" the soul reaper said with a grin behind his mask. "I hadn't realized that's who you were."
The blue eyed soul slowly removed his mask. If he was going to meet with his ally he was going to have to meet him on common ground, showing some kind of trust in the raptorian soul before him. He felt a shiver of fear and adrenaline rush through his veins. He smiled despite his fear, he'd force himself to stay aware and unafraid of the man before him. If he ever wanted the mans respect, if he wanted an ally and not a master, he'd stand his ground while he was in front of him.
"All I gotta do is tell you whats going on in the world?" the tracker grinned. "I can get you the information you want, I can keep you informed about the world, but how would I get it to you?"
Once couldn’t help but ask the timeless, tired question that came with those whose faces shifted among different people. Which was the real mask, and which one was the charade? The physical, blanched cover worn by the hybrid was but an aesthetic addition to complement the deeper, darker secrets not spoken by the tongue. Absolute ‘trust’ was a concept still far off into the future, depending on how their little arrangement would play out. For now, the connection held by Kyuketsu and the vizard was less of brothers-in-arm idea, and more along the lines of two individuals who share a mutual interest.
Whether or not the half-breed would become useful in the long-run, despite the abilities he displayed, was still yet to be seen. For now, however, the pact they made was a good enough prize as is.
“You let me worry about that when the times comes.” He shrugged. “Besides, it’s not like your kind are the only ones I’m making friends with here on Earth. All I need is a name, and I’ll... find you.”
The vizard looked at the man, thinking through his words carefully. Once he told the other man his name then he'd have a tough time hiding. But maybe he didn't even need to hide anymore, maybe his opponent was right and this was a less barbaric time than he'd remembered.
"Tod Kenly," the assassin said with a grin. "Formerly of the Twelfth Division and now a member of the Army of Masks."
The short soul had put all of his cards on the table now. He just hoped that the other man had been honest with him. He was tired of running, tired of being hunted. He'd joined to show those left in soul society that vizards weren't the monsters soul society thought they were.
“If you could even call it an ‘army’ still,” coldly joked the captain. “Reijuu Kyuketsu, head of the Eleventh.”
Kenly would only be the beginning. There were more of him out there, and though not numerous in numbers, their loyalty to his cause would become all the more useful should the time inevitably arise. The first piece of the chessboard was put into play, and the rest would come soon... very soon.
“It seems this encounter has proven quite the blessing in disguise, has it not? If there’s anything else, then I believe we’re done here... comrade.”
