The Power of Magic [Shio/Meilin]

Shio's mind was still spinning, and it took him almost a full minute to realize she was staring at him, waiting for...something.  He glanced down to see that his shikai was still resting in his hand, the wick gently burning.  With a faint closing of his eyes and a mild wince, he could feel his body shutting off the gateways that had been so effortlessly opened, sealing back away his powers.  Not that he had much to speak of, of course; both of these two were clearly a match for him, if not quite decisively his superior.  He met Ichika's gaze with a bland and expressionless mask, trying his best to find the words.  This had all gotten way out of hand, and there was no way he could let himself be publically seen training with anyone that could use a Kido like that!  He inhaled once more, looking up at the roof.

"I'll tell you the same thing I told Meilin.  I'm not the kido guy.  I don't specialize in kido.  I'm really not -that- good with it.  Certainly not with standing around and incanting when there's other things to be done.  The only reason she didn't kill me on the spot is because I released my shikai."  He paused again, his eyes beginning to fog over, something very specific penetrating through the haze of shock around Shio's head.  She had said something else too, something besides calling him out for being a party to this juvenile bullshit.  To letting Meilin trick him into being as violent and battle-hungry as her.  What was it about warriors that seemed to do that?

Before the Ninth division arrives.

Shio nearly spasmed in place as the words finally sank in, as the dreadful consequences became clear.  His face fell slack, literally slack as if he were in the midst of a stroke, and he could feel himself beginning to hyperventilate.  He walked towards a wall on legs that had suddenly turned as fragile as wax, stumbling and tumbling as he fell to one knee, raising a hand towards Meilin and Ichika.  He was panting and sweating, his entire expression one of agony of the purest degree as he rested there for a full minute, trying to find words to speak.

"You.   Ninth...you called them?  They're coming?  Now?  I...I'm...I have to get out of here!  I can't..."

The telltale sound of a shunpo cut off the last of his word, but he was already in too much of a state, stumbling as soon as he reappeared, just a step or two behind Ichika.  Shio could feel his gorge rising, could feel his throat threatening to spill the cup of tea he'd poured not even half an hour ago.  The acidic burn was already there in his stomach, as he reached out with a hand, desperately trying to claw his way towards the exit.  He had exactly zero interest in being here when any division arrived, much less a division that wasn't his own.  The first was...safe.  He'd already paid his dues to the first.  He'd earned a ceasefire, if a grudging one.  With the 9th...there was no such understanding.

He was not going to let himself be at their mercy once more.  Shio didn't believe in mercy anymore.