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| - Flashback. His footsteps were constant on the floor of the back alley. They made a continual reverberating impact sound as he ran. "He went this way" someone called from behind and another answered with "catch the murderous little shit". Was that what he had become? A murderer? No. Galath shook his head as he rounded another corner. He'd run these very alleys as a child of no more than nine or ten and knew them as well as he knew his own hand. All he had wanted was to return and tell his mother all he had seen on his trips abroad. In that time he had self-taught himself several martial arts because he couldn't afford to pay, along with the skills of the Moroniikioi. At the age of nineteen, he had won a local MMA Championship. At times, he still heard the crowd cheering louder and louder as he fought. But his dream of telling his mother of his travels, of his accomplishments was shattered as soon as he returned to find his old, childhood home occupied by his abusive step-father... and his mother dead. Their voices came closer and more distinct. Dogs barked loudly and police sirens caught his attention. "Is this it?" He thought, looking down at the blood covering his hands. He'd killed his step-father for murdering his mother and hadn't felt a shred of remorse for it. So, why did he fell like this now? Like he was being judged? The thoughts, images and memories of the deed flooded his mind. He cleared the alleyways and ran into the middle of the street; voices and sirens still chasing him. Galath slumped to his knees and put his hands in a nearby puddle to wash them clean. Somehow, it made him feel better, like he was washing away the deed. Adrenaline, though, took over and without having the time to formulate a plan, he was away again. One good thing about being trained in the ways of the Moroniikioi was the large levels of energy the training gave you. He'd ran steady for an hour now, weaving through alleys and leaping over walls and yet he wasn't the least bit tired. As he ran, his face hit a close line and a black length of cloth fell into his hands. He pocketed it, intent to return it at a later date. "Are they still after me?" The sirens were only getting clearer. The dogs had his scent and would catch him eventually. "Well, I'm not turning myself in. That bastard killed my mother six months after I left." That's what irked him more than anything else. He hadn't been there to stop him, to protect her. "Bloody dogs!" He turned and raised his right hand. "Seiryoku." Energy invisible to all but him or others trained in its use, flew from his hand and impacted the wall, blocking the alleys entrance in falling stone. With their path ahead blocked, Galath continued running, his heart pounding rapidly in his chest as the adrenaline began pumping. "I will not be caught." His instincts kicked in, and the high-speed movement skill of Seiidan brought him straight into the next street and then again and again and again. Sweat from the running and the sudden, rapid depletion of his bodies energy laced his forehead and T-shirt. Slumping on his knees again, this time from exhaustion, Galath contemplated his situation. In anger, he'd beaten the abusive old fart who'd murdered his parents and then he'd drowned him in a nearby river. Ever since he was young, he had possessed telekinetic powers stemming from a head wound received from one of the white-masked Hollow. He'd been saved that day by what the spiritual world called a Captain, though the powers remained and he was happy for them. He looked on them as a gift and a blessing. "It looks like... this is the end of the road..." Galath whispered into the wind. He couldn't run anymore even if he wanted to. It was foolish to use his Moroniikioi techniques in such quick succession and now he was paying the price. "At least I avenged her..." He raised his head and blinked in surprise. A man with three scars running down past his right eye, dressed in all black robes with black hair and a 69 tattooed on his cheek regarded Galath coolly. "... Good. You know fear." He extended a hand, which Galath took without hesitation. He couldn't understand, but there was something about him. "I leave for Hueco Mundo in two weeks and I'm putting together a force to help me complete my mission." "Well... I haven't much of a life here, not now. I've heard of this Hueco Mundo... the land where hollows dwell," He said, strangely calm, "And I'd be honored to accompany you..." "Hisagi Shuhei." Galath nodded and stepped into line beside him as a gateway opened leading into a bright, white light. "And I'm Galath Tristan." Galath smiled at the memory and looked to the heaves, his eyes still a little unused to the light. He'd worn that blindfold - the same one he'd found in the alleyway so long ago - everyday he was in Hueco Mundo. He tried to tell himself that he didn't trust his eyes because they were deceitful. That was half the reason, but to be honest, he was just tired looking at the world. A rift in the air tore his attention away and a black haired Shinigami, with a zanpakutō resting on his shoulder stepped out and looked around. "Names Kenji Hiroshi, and I'm lookin' for Hisagi Shuhei. I've got a proposition for him." He wasn't even consciously exerting it, and yet Galath still felt the sheer power of his spiritual energy! It felt like a triangle of forces; one hollow, one Shinigami and one something else entirely. "... No, but he'll back soon." He found himself saying. Kenji nodded and closed the gateway he had stepped from and took a seat. "You an old friend of Hisagi's?" For all he knew, he could be here to attack or kill him. Better to learn a bit about his background. "No, but I've heard quite a bit about him. I heard you'd be coming here today, so I decided to meet you." Kenji raised his head as Hisagi and Ashido walked towards them. "Ah, It seems he's here. I didn't catch your name." Galath nodded and bowed his head formally. "Galath Tristan." Kenji walked forward, pace slow and nonthreatening. "Hisagi Shuhei? You wouldn't know me, but my names Kenji Hiroshi. I have a proposition for you and your men." Hisagi's eyebrow rose questioningly. "Now that I've got your attention," Kenji continued, tone casual, "I was wondering if you've ever heard of an Arrancar called Averian?" Hisagi shook his head, "Only the name from some of the Hollow." But Ashido nodded. "Kenji Hiroshi? I am Ashido Kanō. This Averian... all the Hollow in the Forest of Menos spoke as highly of him as they once did for Sōsuke Aizen." Silence from everyone greeted his response. "I have never met him, but he is supposed to be very powerful." This Kenji fellow seemed to sigh and grin as Galath watched him. It was good to see facial expressions again after so long below darkness. "That saves me time then," He said, almost a whisper, "I know what Averian's planning; the destruction of the Soul Society's only one of many. He plans to dominate everyone and everything." "And how do you know this?" Hisagi asked, hand resting dangerously close to his zanpakutō. Kenji didn't seem to notice, and if he did, he wasn't worried. "I'll show you how I know." He hefted his zanpakutō and launched into a series of quick, pinpoint thrusting attacks! Hisagi and Ashido were drawn in almost immediately, but Galath sensed something odd. Not one of those strikes were filled with the intent to kill. Ashido leapt backward with a surprised and strangely wide eyes that shouted his surprise. Hisagi knocked aside Kenji's final strike and the two stood facing one another. "That was resonance..." Ashido said, approaching. He was calm again and much more serious than he was before. "Yeah, my zanpakutō showing you my past, which ironically, is your future. Unless we band together and stop Averian." Hisagi nodded, but looked troubled. "Soul Society wouldn't welcome a great many of us back." He ripped a hand across his face, revealing his hollow mask, before he made it vanish again. For the first time throughout the exchange, Galath saw that Kenji was surprised. "That might be a problem," He said finally, "but I've got a solution. I need powerful allies and skilled warriors. I'm building a force that will be free of the Soul Society, but aligned with it as long as Averian lives." He looked Hisagi and Ashido in the eye, measuring them. "Will you join me?" The two Shinigami shared a concerned look, which slowly turned to hope. "We will." Hisagi said, shaking Kenji's hand. "Tell us where are you based and what we need to do, and we will go there now." Sighing with relief, Kenji turned and opened a Senkaimon. "We'll be heading towards the hidden Horiwari Village. In my absence, the other members organized it into a descent enough living area. If you could help Maki Zhijun train the new recruits and organize the Academy, it'd be a big help." And with that, Kenji sealed an alliance and friendship. Next Arc > The Origins of Kitsui Sanretsu
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