All In a Day's Work (Open)

Sachiko snapped into action, turning to the sound and bracing her zanpakuto for combat. What she got was much more interesting. A human, standing defiantly. Poking fun at her. Is it a really human? Or something else? This man… That spiritual pressure… Sachiko lowered her spear. It would be best not to antagonise him. Who- or more to the point what- is he? There is lingering talk of many humans, active in the Human world with spiritual powers. Quincies and other obscure practitioners of ancient powers. Sachiko found them endlessly fascinating.

“You can see me. How curious.” Mused the intrigued soul reaper. “I wonder what manner of oddity you are. I have listened to many a rumour of Quincies and ‘fullbringers’ running around. I find the more pressing question to be how many of you there are.”

“So, which oddity are you?”

A Quincy would not be very new or interesting, Sachiko had studied and read lengths about them. Sachiko really wanted to meet one of those other strange humans, ‘Fullbringers.’ Little study has been thus far carried out on them. What a valuable experience this could be. The things Sachiko had heard were rumours no doubt corrupted in communication

"Nothing."

"Kill order or no, I don't think they'd give me a posthumous promotion for picking a foolish fight like that." Sachiko brought her spear to rest across her shoulders. "Also, judging by the fact that you're still alive, you're probably not a troublemaker." Sachiko returns a bright rich-girl smile, and the mocking tone. 

She can feel his spite not only for her, but for her race. It is hard to blame him. This human... this kid... spent his whole life with special powers like no else. Everyone like him having perished long ago, for a reason he may not understand. Now, a child of those who suppressed his people stood before him, poking fun at him. All this made him more fascinating. Sachiko wanted so badly to pick his brain a little, see what makes a human like this tick. How does he cope? Does he have any mental illnesses? What was his childhood like? So many questions. He was very powerful as well, for a Quincy. He would be an interesting specimen. Even so, Sachiko was not about to try and bag him. 

"Relax, Quincy. I was only teasing you." She said with a hint of laughter. The spear on her shoulder burst with blue light, forcing its shape to return to its dormant form. Sachiko flicked the blade before delivering it to the wooden sheath at her side. 

"My name is Sachiko. I imagine the answer to your question would be a state secret. The Gotei 13 is a military organization, after all."

His spiritual pressure was immense. Sachiko can not deny that, as his mere presence crushes her being into the dirt. Literally, the pressure was so great the confident lord fell to her knees. Funny that, a soul reaper on their knees before a Quincy. Sachiko could not help but smile again. She pressed a button on the side of her communicator, a signal for backup. If they did not come soon enough, she would have to go to plan b. And plan b involved the potential of being capped by this Quincy. She hoped to avoid it. 

"In seems you weren't listening. I don't know. I'm just a computer tech, you think I'm privy to deployments and troop movements? Your reiatsu will attract undue attention, as well. Think, boy." Her smile crested further across her face. "Kill me and I guarantee they'd start asking questions in parliament about whether it's prudent to let these Quincies and humans with spiritual powers run amok. My family is rather important. I urge you again to think."

She looked him in the eye now, still crouched down at his mercy. The stupid little girl was certainly trying her luck. She was not afraid. Not for a moment. She was still smiling at him, looking right at him. The fear of god was no where to be seen in her. The only thing here was a stupid little girl, and an angry child.

"Look at you. You're angry at soul reapers, I get that. Your kind has been condemned. Condemned by strange ghosts you didn't understand. You've felt weak and vulnerable to them, like you might be the next victim of the genocide. You're pissed. So you're lashing out now, at the first expression of your fear that you perceive as vulnerable. A weak little girl. As though to hurt it. This is not the answer."

"You wouldn't understand, but I know what it's like to be condemned simply for being who I am." Her father's voice speaking the words 'abomination' crossed her mind. "Perhaps not to the same severity but I know your pain. I'd probably do the same thing if I were that pissed off."

"Oh don't get your panties in a twist. I know how much you like your swords. I'll give it back when I'm done." Oddly enough, considering all the hostility he had been showing the girl earlier. He was genuine in saying he intended to give the sword back. And despite his deep hate of pretty much everything the girl in front of him was. He wasn't about to stoop to the level of other Shinigami and simply assault someone so much weaker than him.

His eyes didn't move from the blade as Sachiko informed him of the commonly accepted theory of how the blades worked. It was somewhat similar to his own theory. It was nice to know how close he was to being on the same wavelength as the Shinigami were. "Still doesn't explain how beings like Bounts, Humans, Fullbringers and even other Hollows can kill without worrying about the souls of others." As this happened, his finger was glowing blue with condensed Reishi. Occasionally tapping against the side of the blade. Causing ripples of blue light to flow across the spiritual metal. It wouldn't be enough to actually damage the weapon or the spirit inside. It was merely casual probing. Checking to see how it would react if he intended to filter his own Reishi through it.

So far the spirit had been resisting him at every turn. Understandable given the circumstances. But Liam wasn't going to force it in fear of permanently damaging the sword and by extension the girl's own soul. Plus he'd feel like kind of a scumbag if he had to subject someone to accidentally destroying souls like he did if he accidentally infected the blade with his own Quincy essence.

It was only the arrival of Aoi that wrenched Liam's gaze away from his inspection of the sword. He blinked at the sight in front of them. "Christ, they are starting them that young now?" He asked, head tilted to the side like a curious puppy. All traces of hostility gone, replaced only by curiosity. Rising to his feet, he absent-mindedly tossed Sachiko back her own blade. "As for what's going on. Research. One that I'm going to ask you to help with."

He stood up, now towering a good two feet over the young boy. "Your sword for a few moments please." He extended his own hand. Waiting for Aoi to do the smart thing and surrender his only weapon. "And out of curiosity. Where can I get my hands on a blank one of those things?"

Sachiko nabbed Ryujin from the air, pressing the sword against her body and holding it tightly. The blade grazed her arm whilst she embraced it, leaving a small cut. She didn’t notice, or did not care. Sachiko had been so scared of losing it, it had driven her into a silent maddening panic. She looked kind of silly, hugging a sword. But to a soul reaper, she was hugging her most dearest loved one. A being of thought and emotion, who was perhaps just as scared as Sachiko was. Hugging a sword was still kind of a weird. With a fluid motion, Sachi returned her sword to its wooden abode.

Sachiko had a hunch as to what sort of ‘research’ Liam was doing. He was interested in zanpakuto, and seemed interested in how they worked. Putting two and two together made four, he wanted to learn how to purify hollows without destroying them. In doing so, perhaps save what was left of his race. His intent would also keep the balance, it was a noble goal even from a Soul Reaper’s perspective. A reaper’s ultimate duty is to maintain the balance of souls, this imperative supercedes all others. Sachiko wondered if it would be prudent to offer her assistance. Would he accept help from a soul reaper? They certainly could not discuss such a thing in front of this kid.

“Blank zanpakuto are called asauchi. They’re only given to cadets, and the stockpile is kept under tight security. You can’t get one, neither can we. Even if you killed a cadet and took one, their reiatsu would still be imprinted on it. It would not be truly blank." The kid looked like he was going to try and defend himself. The kid doesn't know the kind of strength the Quincy commanded. If this soul reaper tried to defend himself, Liam would rip him shreds. "I would not advise taking up arms, kid. This Quincy is captain-class." Which would not stop Liam from trying to grab his sword. "Leave the kid alone, Quincy. I'll let you inspect my shikai. I'll even try and get my sword to speak to you, though I can't promise that. Just let him on his way, sword at his side."

OOC: Now that there are 4 people in total. I'd ask that the thread close so it wouldn't get any more hectic.

There was a momentary flash of anger as Aoi backed away. Calling Liam's hands filthy. What an arrogant little pup. Despite the clear difference in their skill level. Despite the fact that Liam had the will to rise to this level of strength in a matter of weeks when he was barely anything before this. And this little brat still had the gall to think himself superior.

He was about to open his mouth. Or perhaps even strike the pup. But it was Sachiko's words that stopped him. Those blank swords were called Asauchi. And they were mainly given out to cadets. But the fact that a stockpile most likely exists certianly interested him. If his current level of power was roughly that of a captain. Liam was confident that after a few more weeks of training to finally reach his peak. A simple smash and grab might be a rather viable option.

After all. It wasn't like they'd have the blank blades under such security that a sufficiently dedicated and powerful person couldn't just sneak in, find out where the swords are kept and then steal one or ten blades. It would certainly be within Liam's abilities if his growth kept its current rate.

"Shikai is useless to me. But thank you for the information. Chances are you have just saved many future souls from oblivion." Isn't it so nice when people were simply forthright with information. Goodness, had Sachiko been this upfront with him at the start. None of this unpleasantness would have happened at all. So good was his mood, he was willing to simply let the pair go unscathed despite their previous rude behavior. At least that was until the third Shinigami decided to interject himself.

Liam's eyes narrowed as the newcomer spoke. One line in particular stood out to him apart from all the others. "fighting worthy almost," Despite knowing that Liam was a good deal stronger than him. The annoying Death God still felt if necessary to throw out some implied threats of violence.

And so it was. The straw that broke the camel's back had arrived. Finally running out the last of Liam's patience for the agents of the Gotei 13. Both current and former.

Raising a hand to point a finger at Sachiko. Liam spoke to her in a cold, hollow voice. "You have some degree of common sense. So leave. And take the brat with you." And with that, he vanished. Disappearing in a blur of the Quincy stepping technique. Appearing right behind Rasen. Arm swollen from the strength-enhancing attributes of Blut. Striking forward at blinding speed at the Shinigami's shoulder. Intent on either dislocating or breaking the limb.

Normally Liam wasnt one to be so aggressive. But between Sachiko's initial refusal to so much as acknowledge his questions. Aoi claiming him to be "filthy" and Rasen's implied threat of violence. Liam had simply had enough bullshit. He'd either force some respect from the Shinigami here or scare them to the point where they change their tone.

ooc: I'm inclined to agree with jest. 

Relaxing in slippers was becoming all the more appealing by the minute. Out of nowhere, was another shinigami, one from Squad 11. Sachi knew right off he certainly would not take the diplomatic approach. If she knew anything about Squad 11, it was how they liked to fight. Every opportunity they found to show off, there they were. Captain Kurotsuchi always dismissed them. "Barbarians." He would call them, mocking their brutishness with that trademark cackling laugh. There seemed little way to avoid the situation turning violent. Rasen guaranteed that. The look in the Quincy's eye when he pointed at her, telling her to leave. He was over the tipping point now. He was pissed and was about to release it on Rasen. Sachiko loathed having to return to the Soul Society and explain these events. Sachi just wanted to be at home, relaxing in her slippers.

The blue fire came next from nowhere, crashing down as the Quincy blinked away to attack. Now it was really getting violent. Everything occurring could not be going more wrong. A routine mission with a simple objective. Fix the sensor arrays. Go home. To hell with that. Were the gods fucking around? Or was Sachiko just this unlucky today? It didn't matter. The kido cast by the strange child spread into the air a blinding mix of dust and spiritual energy. Sachiko found herself able to use the diversion. Jumping away out of the line of fire, she drew her sword, quickly twirling it between her fingers.

"Crash down, Ryujin." The spear took shape, and without wasting any time Sachiko erected a 5m high wall of hardened ice. The ice formed between the combatants, deliberately missing them, only aiming to physically separate them. The ice erected slowly, if anyone was in the way they could certainly react fast enough to avoid it. Sachiko could now attempt to contain the situation from further violence. She did not wish to see anyone hurt, not even the Quincy. Least of all her comrades. This was her only shot at cooling things down.

"It is far too late in the evening for bloodshed." A bead of sweat dripped from her forehead. Generating ice of such strength was quite taxing for the little soul reaper. "Let us call it a day. I do not wish to see anyone hurt. I certainly do not wish to carry a corpse back to the Soul Society. Please, gentlemen." She addressed them calmly with that annoying noble-lady serenity. However, her words were sincere. She was genuinely attempting to keep the peace. 

As the wall of ice formed between him and his opponent. Liam couldn't help but snort. Not only were such measures unnecessary, as he only wanted to give the one who threatened him a good scare. To teach him not to threaten those much stronger than him.

Placing a hand on the wall of ice. Liam channeled power into it. Lightning sparked around his hand, surging into the wall itself. Causing it to shatter in its entirety. With Liam once again standing before the gathered Shinigami. The scowl still present on his face. But he seemed to not be making any more aggressive movement. "Implied or otherwise. I don't take kindly to threats. That little love tap was a warning. Nothing more." Nodding to Sachiko, Liam stepped over the ruins of the ice wall, slowly beginning to walk away from the gathered spirits. "Out of respect for the info you've given me. I'll let the idiot go with a rap on the knuckles." Already, Liam had moved past the group. Not even bothering to look back as he continued to speak to them in that same icy tone he had before he attacked Rasen.

"And you really shouldn't hope we meet again Shinigami. Next time you wont have anyone else to speak up on your behalf." With that, Liam's body began to emit a soft blue glow. Before something resembling a miniature thunderclap was heard, as the Quincy's body turned into a ray of light that shot up into the sky. Streaking off into the distance.