With a rather annoyed expression, much as one could tell with the wrappings covering her head, Natsuko seemed to let out a low, almost inaudible growl as she paused from her mutterings.
"I might question why the sad look... however I feel it be in your best interest to not aggravate me further than you already have..." The "mummy" stated aloud, pretty much having figured out the source of the Arrancar's downcast look.
This was growing extremely tiring for Natsuko. Aside from the annoying rhymes and chimes, her opponent also appeared to be a speed-type, or at least was more proficient with her movement speed than Natsuko herself was, which made it incredibly difficult to utilize her Kido efficiently. To deal with enemies like these, the use of a Bakudo would typically be used. But weaker ones wouldn't do much to even annoy someone on the same level as some of the more elite Captains, and the stronger ones with incantations spoken would take too long; Alica wouldn't just let her finish.
Then there were these arms and skull. Natsuko had already deduced that their source of power was likely connected to Alicia, given the chain between the two. However, that didn't really help her figure out how to get rid of them. One certainly seemed to be in shambles, but the other was in pristine condition aside from a subtle dimming of the chain attached to them. Regardless they all seemed rather—expressive; it was as if they thought for themselves, or maybe they acted as parts and pieces of the Segunda's personality. Either way, they were definitely more than peeved at her for the inflicted damage. To make matters worse, the damned rhymes started again...
"...I do not wish to see any surprises from you... For the record, however, your rhymes do not make your perversity any less horrific," Retorted Natsuko in a harsh matter. At least the woman was giving away her next action with these stupid poems.
Suddenly, the arrancar vanished from sight, leaving a series of afterimages in her wake before she physically appeared closer with a combination of thrusts, swings and slashes. Thankfully, while Natsuko wasn't the fastest of those around, her swordplay was easily one of an elite, which gave her an edge she sorely if she wanted even a chance at dealing with Alicia's speed. When their blades first parried each other, though, Natsuko grew a bit surprised at the fact that she didn't feel any lethal intent behind the swings. The Captain could tell; she wasn't an amateur. The damnable Arrancar was trying to cut her bindings!
Natsuko countered best she could, but unfortunately the Segunda wasn't a novice when it came to wielding a blade. Parrying and swiping away strikes she could and evading those she couldn't, she couldn't stop a hundred percent of the onslaught of swings, resulting in parts of her wrappings getting cut and torn away. For most of the volley she was thankfully able to avoid much of the wrappings on her head getting cut, though still a bit of green hair showed, however during a downward swing on the arrancar's part, she managed to cut dangerously close down the middle of Natsuko's torso, and while she only scraped the surface of the skin, the bindings were cleanly cut. While it didn't reveal anything per say, the cut allowed the bindings around the chest to loosen slightly showing that the small Captain had perhaps a bit more bust than what originally appeared.
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As the Captain and Espada face off, the new arrival soon found himself under attack by the three well as of now two beings, as the third, a skull simply looks on. As Kon turns his focus to the weaker of the hands. Using Hadou 32, Okasen at the pair of skeletal hands. Though a rookie he carefully aims the yellow wave seems to score a critical hit on the weakened hand, causing it to dissipate, however the unharmed hand...remains unharmed, however with its partner gone, it also seems to vanish, the skull however immediately charges a Cero, while dodged, it seems the skull is intent on automatic fire..or at least as close as it can come to it.
Watching all of this play out the Segunda replies to Natsuko's first remark with a chuckle of sorts, still carrying her barrage.
"Oh? Did I hit a nerve?" With a tch mark visible from a pulsing vein, she keeps her theme while replying to the womans further insistence that Alicia was a rapist.
"Oh please you speak as if you were the main course! When you aren't even the hors d'oeuvre.." Giggling as the pair exchange blows, this woman was good, however she likely wasn't used to fighting such a short blade in close. Bit by bit her attacks hit a mark, eventually scoring a major hit on the upper torso. Watching the bandages bulge and stretch, she raises an eyebrow as if judging.
"Impressive..you do have something after all, so that is one riddle solved...sadly I was that size as a teenager, where as you are an adult and still so meager.." Taking another stab at the woman in both senses of the word, she pauses briefly at the destruction of the weakened hand.
"..oh you really should not have done that..such an annoying little gnat. When the hands are broke, the head has no choice but to have you suffer a stroke." Giggling at this she notices two power sources growing fainter in the distance..the captain and the little girl. Giggling a bit more this was truly amusing.
"Ohohoho.." Dismissing the skull, she stares pointedly at Natsuko.
"What do you say you dismiss your friend, and we put to this an end?" Truthfully she was running out of time and wanted to at least attempt to get some shopping done..plus she wanted to solve the rest of the riddle under the wrappers, this..boy was just a distraction for the task at hand.
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This was starting to look bad, not only for her but for the younger Kon as well. He was still very young and inexperienced, even if he was a Captain. These intruders obviously weren't pushovers. Hell, Natsuko had felt the Tercera's and Kenpachi's energy diminishing slowly in the distance. If they were capable of pushing the Captain of the 11th division to his limits, a Captain that was older and stronger than her, the boy didn't stand much less chance than she did herself. It didn't help her pride knowing that this woman was still holding back to boot. Natsuko had still not entered even her shikai, however still. They were causing this much damage and there were some of Alicia's kin that weren't even assisting their comrades in combat.
Clicking her tongue, it seemed as though the arrancar had paused after showing shock at her "assets" being larger than she originally deduced, however they still weren't comparable to Alicia's herself. She was toying with the two and so blatantly cocky about it, but much as that aggravated Natsuko, she couldn't help but agree. If she were struggling, there wasn't much a young, rookie Captain could do to assist. Not only that, but Natsuko couldn't help but feel as though this opponent in front of her was even stronger than the one that gave Kenpachi a run for his money.
"...Boy... Go. Find and assist the others as you are needed. There is no more you can do here." While perhaps a bit blunt, Natsuko stated what she felt was true and hoped he understood. There was no point in him acquiring unnecessary injuries.
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Watching as the Rookie captain begrudgingly leaves, Alicia giggles turning to face Natsuko.
"You have amused me fairly well, for this I shall give you a tale. The one who was beaten and did to yours such trouble, among us the ascended hollow the Arrancar, does she hold the rank of Three. Among us are 10, the Espada, strongest branches of a makeshift Tree." Holding up the back of her left hand a two was clearly visible.
"I am the 2nd amongst us, but One I may replace, given he seems to have forgotten his place.." Feeling a presence fast approaching, the two together would likely be able to fight her on even grounds or almost even, which would be most amusing. But saddly time was running out.
There was however still one more thing to do. Or two.
"You amused me, but really you picked poorly it would be one of your elders to be of concern to me. Had you attacked at full strength and risked your life and had an able ally I would be in retreat, or be the one in defeat..peace has made you complacent, a price that can lead to torment.." Spinning the cleaver it seemed she had not given up on her task..
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"..Yes lets end this, I get tired of seeing those udders swaying in my face..and of seeing you as well, rapist." The captain places her left hand forward, while using the right to firmly grip her sword in defense, she still did not want to show any signs of her ability, plus this woman wasn't inspite of all her talk taking this seriously, even when her comrade went.. wait; Were they even her comrades? "Hadō #63 Raikoho." As the beam of lightning emits, the damnable Espada is suddenly gone, not falling for her trick this time, the Captain parries the blow in advance, as the cleaver just clips the outer most layer of bandages.
Clicking her tongue it was Natsuko's turn to taunt this gawdy cow.
"..Oh? What was it you told me about taking someone on at full force?" Narrowing her eyes, the pairs blades were now locked in struggle, but oddly the expression the Segunda showed shifted as if monitoring something elsewhere. This could be a good sign, or a very bad one.
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Alicia laughs, so he did come. While it was faint and brief, and surrounded by other presences in this chaos, Alicia knew this Reiatsu rather well.. So they had been used, not that she could complain, she was using him as well, but maybe it was time for a change of some sort.
"Well now..it seems I must go..Next time avoid me, or you shall know only woe. Shinigami..but I will leave you with a riddle so simple, that even your thick temple can solve."
Breaking Blades and jumping back Alicia spins the blade round and round, continuing in verse.
"To find what is lost
to see it not glossed
abstract and taunting
thinking and flaunting
mystery and history
what must you do to discover me?"
She truthfully had no idea what Vaham had done, only that they had been used, and more than a simple attack had happened. Or so her own maliace and long standing Paranoia had her convinced, she was an odd sort, even though she never trusted the man or any of the Espada she would do things for them on a whim..and of course turn on them if it proved to be of worth. So while she had no proof of anything, her own "fate" decided it was so..then again maybe he was here picking flowers, either way she wanted to see what it was, much like a snake watching the flute charmer, or the Scorption riding across the river on the toad.
As to why she would mysteriously tell them to investigate issues, it wasn't as she disliked the man. In fact she seemed to rather respect him as much as she did use him and as much as he made use of her. That being said it would be fun to watch him be disappointed or falling into dispair, if the Shinigami would not heed her warning to investigate, then they deserved whatever befell them..as for herself, well while this all was a clear warning to her, weren't warnings always the best of games?
Laughing at the thought, the Espada decides to voice it,
"Warning, Warning, Warning..Ohohoho." It would be curious if any of the others sensed him, she had only likely as she was on the fringes away from the struggle at central. Not fully trusting her boss what so ever, that is if she ever had, she had no plans to gather with the rest at central, but would when it was time to leave...using her far superior speed to leave the area the wolf arrives just then. The battle given the overly cautious nature of the Captain Natsuko, and the overly playful Espada had only amounted to a blasted landscape. And some ripped bandages on the captain of course.
Now maybe she could lose both of them and actually barter for some new items while she had a little time left. That is if everyone wasn't gone into hiding.
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As the Espada departs and quiets her spiritual pressure, the pair of Captains do not give chase, Oka was partly blooded, with her cracked and battered mask still in place, and Natsuko looked mostly okay minus how many of her outer layers were torn asunder, plus the apparent bust sized and green bits of hair showing...which of course gains Oka's attention.
"...I hope your udders cause you to fall to your death some day...don't forget to visit the farms..sell some of that Excess milk.." Grummbling these words and making sure that this Arrancar had fled, she equally hoped the woman had heard those words.
"Inu you are.." Noticing her comrades blood splattered face and clothing, it seemed it was from a superficial wound, there was nothing to worry about, but now would be a good time to berate her, after all one huge breasted woman had left to be replaced by this..well she could not think to hostile in regards to this woman. She was after all the closest thing..no she pretty much was her friend.
Before she can finish her statement Oka like the somewhat socially naive woman she is, snatches on one strand to get a better look...and most of it quickly unravels as a result.
"...dead....so very much.." Before her anger can be fully unleashed as her face gives way, a deadly silence is there, sword still in hand she eyes the Veteran Captain as if pondering to strike her down. Oka however seems surprised rather than scared, almost like a child unwrapping a present, not the response Natsuko was used to dealing with at all.
"Wow! You are better looking than I expected! You actually might have a chance to get a man, if I dress you up!" With her tail wagging and a bark, she gazes at the still very pissed off Natsuko somewhat pleased, her friend wasn't a monster any more than she was, it was a pitty she hid her appearance for so long because of some silly custom.
"...Inu..I see where your Pups get the lack of manners and stupidity.. I will.." Did this woman just say I have a chance!? The Nerve..she was as bad as that cow of a woman. But she was cute when she barked and acted like a dumb animal..it was for this she could be forgiven...partly.
"...Return my bindings and cover me at once... and I will restrain myself. I would rather not have your pups childless. For now your stupidity will be overlooked, be thankful.." Her left eye twitching in anger she demands the bandages to be tied back at once...which Oka hastily does so...but between the cuts and levels of damage the job is half way done, hair was stuck out in bits, the body had even became uncovered in some areas, but overall it was functional.
"Inu..you will stand in front of me, to block me from view, until I, myself can fix your incompetent mess..and I will have further demands of you.." With a sigh and putting her blade away, this was not her day at all..the Inu had seen her, and now portions of her body were open for all to see..while slight, it made the noble feel dirty. And then the comment of dressing her up. She would have to make Oka pay for that remark in some fashion.
All the while Oka stood in front of her friend laughing nervously...was she really that upset? But Oka at least had the sense to not as that.
"...ehh..to Central?" Natsuko knew by that, the mutt likely meant the main base of the 13 squads, given the layout of the city it was as good a name as any. Getting a nod in return the pair set off.
