Ma'kine (Shinigami-turned-Hollow)

by **Grandkiduchi** Sun Apr 14, 2019 8:46 pm

The Basics

Name: Ma'kine (Pronounced Maa-Keen, with a long 'a' and 'een' as in seen). The name originates in a lost language, though it is a corruption of the true spelling and pronunciation.

English Translation: Ma'kine translates roughly into English, as it was corrupted even in its original language. It can be taken to mean 'Returned One’ or ‘Undying’.

Race: Ma'kine is a Shinigami. Ma'kine's origins are clouded in the fog of time, and due to her preference to forgo the clothing of the Shinigami, it’s hard to identify her as such.

Gender: Ma'kine is female, though beyond that she pays little mind to biology.

Date of Birth: Ma'kine acknowledges her birthday on the twelfth day of October. She first appeared outside the noble house of Baozhai, over six thousand years ago, requesting to become part of the Shinigami. She never gives the same answer twice when asked how much older she is than that, as she was already a grown woman by that point. She has barely aged a day since and only acknowledges the date of her arrival due to needing to claim a birthday.

Appearance Age: Ma'kine appears in her mid twenties or early thirties. Her youthful, smooth skin and pert body makes her appear younger.

Actual Age: The youngest anyone has been able to gauge her age is the day of her arrival outside the House of Baozhai. She claims to be much older, but by how much she doesn't know. As such, when asked, she repeatedly gives very different answers to her actual age.

Organization and Rank: Ma'kine is a member of the Gotei, originally in the Fifth Division. She is the current Grand Kido Chief. She frequently aids other Divisions, and has a fondness for the Eleventh Division.

Height: Ma'kine is a giant of a woman, standing at just shy of eleven feet. Fully extended, her wings add another twelve inches to her highest point, making her require a space at least twelve feet and an inch high to move without touching the ceiling. Her wingspan of twenty six feet and overall appearance give her a larger than life presence.

Weight: As she is tall, one would expect her to be equally heavy. However, she is much lighter than one would expect, only two hundred and twenty three pounds. Much of that weight is muscle required to pump her wings and from such a long time practicing the sword. Despite her weight, she is almost silent on foot or wing, needing only the gentlest of flaps to keep herself airborne.

Hair color: Ma'kine's hair has strands of red, brown and black throughout. The three colors are natural, with shades from palest ruby to darkest onyx. The hair rests around her shoulders and is permanently messy, as if she had just awoken.

Eye color: Ma'kine's eyes are iridescent, a swirl of colors that flows and moves, spinning around the pupil regardless of whether her eyes are still or in motion. The spinning allows her a bird-like vision while able to look relatively normal.

General Appearance: Ma'kine is best known for her huge size, dwarfing many of the shorter Shinigami in the Gotei. Ma'kine's hair is primarily white, but has several streaks of reds, browns and black on the sides, and is soft as a kitten's fur and descends only to her shoulders, concealing the half-cones that end in a feathery tuft. Her eyes, living works of art, are swirling orbs of color, as if a drop of every color was set on a blank orb and set spinning, swirling around but never blurring and bleeding together. In the center of each iris is a small pupil, a single black space. Her straight nose rest above pale red lips that once were vibrant but appear drained of color. Her skin appears it is soft to the touch, and hides her strength behind its softness. Her stomach has a single scar running diagonally across it, from her hip to under her right breast, and her left breast has several scars on its surface. Her bosom is large and pert, as if immune to gravity’s effects, and should she ever had donned a brassier, she could have filled an a G sized garment.

Her wide shoulders connect a strong but not thick neck to her chest and arms, perfectly proportional to her height. Upon her back are six large crescent shaped scars, two on her shoulder blades, two on the waist, and the final pair on her hips. These scars are all that remain of her once proud, massive wings that took her soaring through the skies. She has broad, powerful shoulders, but a thin waist and wide motherly hips, leading to her eventually having developing a swaying gait as she walks, rocking her wide hips and curvy figure as even after all this time she is unused to walking.

Her hands possess five fingers each, with long, slightly curved nails. Ma'kine's fingers are thin and straight, with the three middle fingers being the same length. The nails however are not equal, with the center-most finger having a nail longer than the other two, on both hands. Ma'kine has bronzed skin, with thick veins and arteries coursing throughout her body. These passages are larger than typical humans' blood paths due to her need to pump far more blood and oxygen to her muscles to support her weight back when she could fly. Her lower half looks femininely human, however the flesh is covered by feathers, more downy near the waist, groin and ankles, and thicker closer to the knee. Despite the feathered legs, she has bare feet, perfectly human in appearance.

Her warb includes a standard Shinigami uniform, though the top portion is open and tied around the waist except while in the labs or ordered by a Captain. The means she is bare from the waist up most of the time, garbed by the black pants and sandals. Her feet are normally clad in black socks and tabi shoes. She absolutely refuses the robes of her station as Grand Kido Chief, and had to be argued at length to even wear the standard clothing of Shinigami.

She possesses her own garments as well, worn on unofficial business, and usually on official business as well. Her pants are fight and form fitting, hiding her feathers completely. She wears no traditional top to speak of. She wears what at first looks like a Haori, but upon closer inspection is different. For starters, it is not white but silvery and partially transparent as it is made of fine rings woven together and is actually worn backwards, with the symbols written where the front of the body is, and the back open. Next, it has no Division, but strange runic symbols down the front. According to Ma'kine, the symbols are from the same lost language her name was derived, and it means, loosely, 'Death from Above'. Another difference is that the whole garment is woven not from fabric, but from tightly interlocking scales. There is no borders along on the garment, which Ma'kine claims is called a Vastech, or 'Dragon Shirt'.

Lastly, her casual wear is a simple white robe, not unlike a bathrobe. In fact, it is a bathrobe that has been modified so the soft fluffiness is against her body while a silken part lays on the outside, sewn on by Ma'kine. Under this, she usually wears little at all, if anything. She accompanies her robe with either tabi or bare feet. She does own slippers, though they were a mocking joke to the winged giant; they are shaped like owls and each step causes tiny wings on the side to move. They're likely modeled after the Human children slippers, such as the bunnies and dogs whose ears cover their faces unless the child walks. Secretly, Ma'kine adores the slippers. Nobody will claim to have been the one to place them outside her rooms, however.

Fullbody:

The Psyche

Redeeming Qualities:

Ma'kine knows who to appeal to and who to make friends with. And she knows who should align themselves with whom. While she prefers to have few allies and even fewer friends, she can tell from brief conversations who would do best in what groups.
Along the lines of the aforementioned, Ma'kine has a sharp mind for strategy. She can partner both Shinigami or spells with the best compliments, or plant one into a group that would cause a major disruption. She knows that three man groups work best when you have a range fighter, a healer and a close combatant. Or which Kido users would compliment each others spells, as all Shinigami who use Kido eventually have a fall-back spell that they use more than the rest.
Ma'kine also does not boast and is willing to admit her faults. While she retains that she is not perfect, she does acknowledge her skills. She gives that those skills are not without limit, though. She is all too aware of her limitations and will always pull out of a fight that is a losing battle. It is not for fear of death or defeat, but rather to give herself time to overcome her enemy or obstacles.
Ma'kine has an enormous amount of energy. Her body brims with it, giving her already big body an even larger presence. She fills the room around herself with it. This energy gives her both an extreme ability to remain awake and do multitudes of tasks, but also a need for high energy food. She's become so accustomed to her home-made meals that are blends of expensive foods, she refers to all else as "common-folk" food.
Ma'kine's specialty is being able to link spells one after another, and her vast stores of Spiritual and Physical energy give her the ammunition to do so. Among spell users, she's known for using Bakudo in rapid succession, especially from a surprise attack. She fires multitudes of low numbered, weaker spells followed by an incredibly powerful high number spell. It's a simple plan, but only one with her levels of energy could accomplish it, or block it. The most cost efficient way to block would be to match each spell by an equal barrier, as too weak a barrier would shatter under the high numbered spell, but throwing up a level eighty Kido barrier would waste too much energy as Ma'kine would simply keep pouring on the teen-numbered spells until the enemy was exhausted.

Negative Qualities:

Ma'kine has no concept of life or death. To the winged man, there exists either Stasis or Change. For you are able to move and breathe, but then you are not. First you are an animated life-form, then you become food for the ground. Due to this, she doesn't understand grief or fear of mortality. she will always be, in one form or another. Why others fear this change, she cannot understand.
Ma'kine is excessively secretive of her origins, and only she knows where she came from. This secretiveness leads to him being cold to others who pry too much into her past. she does not see why anyone wants to know where the winged Shinigami came from, but she guards it jealously.
Ma'kine is incredibly possessive and furnishes her small home richly. her rugs and books, she does not stand for any dirt or damage to come to them. she also has expensive tastes in food, making it incredibly hard to go anywhere with him, as she simply refuses to eat "common-folk" food. If it is not one of her meals, made himself, it is "common-folk", even if it is served by Nobles.
Ma'kine lacks political ambition, which while not bad, puts him at a Seat far below where she should be. While she can hold her own against some if not most Captains, she remains at the Sixth Seat, and shows no motivation to move any higher. To Ma'kine, she is Seated perfectly, able to talk with moderate respect to Captains, but low enough to handle even routine duties. He's not high enough to be swamped with paper-work, but nor is she doing countless rounds in the Gotei running errands.
He also has a tendency to get up-in-your-face when she feels slighted or mistreated. she works with the Gotei Thirteen not out of loyalty to the Royal family, nor for an inborn need to protect the innocent. she does it simply because she can and it gives him access to whatever she wants, including her own home. Though for a long time she was subjected to suspicion and nearly thrown into the Nest of Maggots, she has proved himself valuable and a hard worker, though she only works hard enough to maintain what she desires. she knows who to appeal to to keep or gain, and has learned it is better to have few powerful allies and step on the toes of many lessers than it is to have a multitude of weaker friends but anger authority.

Likes:

Ma'kine surrounds himself with expensive things. Books, furniture, food. her library, despite its small size compared to others, is worth a small fortune. she claims that each meal she eats is worth half its weight in gold. Where she gets the money, as her Shinigami Salery would surely not cover it, is a mystery. she claims it comes from "back home".
Ma'kine craves knowledge, especially what the Gotei considers forbidden or too dangerous. she constantly seeks the oldest, most powerful or complex of knowledge that many don't even know exists. she does this not out of desire for ultimate power, but curiousity. she dislikes not knowing, but dislikes the idea of 'lost knowledge' even more.
The female likes all things avian or dealing with fire, particularily stars. she enjoys watching the stars at night, because they are what she believes in; Stasis and Change. They look the same for time eternal, but are constantly changing in reality, many have even ceased to be by the time their light reached her eyes.
Ma'kine likes mythology, in part because she feels immortalized by their mythologies. she claims it is because a living Human witnessed him flying in the sky that the myth of the Garuda in Hinduism came to be. And from there, it spread into other cultures eventually into Japanese history. her home has a painting of The Karura, a diety with the head of a bird and body of a man. she has two statues of the Garuda outside her front door, seven feet high and made of stone.
Metals and gemstones have taken a... Prideful likeness for the winged humanoid. her mountain has vast stores of gems and gold to this day, which she routinely adds to by mining when she sneaks away from the city proper. she himself does not see the value in the gold bricks or hunks of crystal, but she sells them to those who do to purchase the luxeries in her home, including her very costly meals.
Ma'kine has a fondness for the Baozhai family for "getting him on her feet". With their help, she was able to join the Shinigami and become a fighter. Though time and her skills made him drift far from the 11th Division, long held as the Baozhai family's closest Division, she frequently tries doing favors for both the Division and Family, as she had in the past. Frequently, she has watched the Heads of the Baozhai and the Division from afar, admiring and comparing them to their forefathers.

Dislikes:

Snakes are despised by Ma'kine. To him, the only good snake is one served in its own blood, with powdered bones for seasoning and a cup of steaming venom tea. Living snakes may be the highest most hated thing for Ma'kine, but they're a delicacy as well.
Ma'kine dislikes others encrouching on her property. This includes damaging her goods, entering her home uninvited or simply being in her sky. Ma'kine, since learning that a distortion of her image was worshipped as the King of all Birds, has claimed the sky as her turf and is personally offended when others fly through her "area".
Ma'kine dislikes vulgarity, but is not above teasing or occassional violence. she believes that in the prescence of a lady, whether friend or foe or complete stranger, one must speak with "clean, respectful" language, even if it is not said to the lady in question. Those who cuss in the lady's prescence annoy Ma'kine greatly. When it is a lady- she considers all females, regardless of age, to be ladies- herself who cusses, she responds with variations of "Beautiful girls should have equally beautiful language".
Ma'kine dislikes being looked down upon due to her rank. When a higher officer attempts to belittle him, it aggrivates the avian. Ma'kine will usually go on to remind the officer it is her choice to remain sixth seat, waiting for a "better time" to accept a promotion or transfer. Usually this leads to others believing she was never offered advancement, as he's held her Seat for longer than most of the common Shinigami have lived.
Ma'kine has no fears, for if you're not afraid of death why be afraid of anything else. But, she dislikes humans and Shinigami for being riddled with fear. To Ma'kine, they have unlimited fears among their kinds, so when she meets one who is not fearful, she admires them.
Ma'kine dislikes the binding-ness of clothes. she hates that her wings are stuck to her back while in full uniform, unable to spring out as she pleases without damaging the black garment beyond repair. she prefers her other outfits, and under normal conditions refuse to go to "formal" events that require suits. The exception is when asked by a lady, in which case she cannot refuse.

Personal Habits: Ma'kine has many habits that she doesn't keep secret. First and foremost is her fondness for keeping secrets. Among those who know the very old Shinigami, she is said to have volumes worth of personal secrets entrusted to him, as well as her own history of which she never shares.

Ma'kine also makes a habit of killing anything serpent-shaped that crosses her path. Snake is a delicacy for the Soul Reaper, and she spares no parts. As it is so expensive to have cooked in its entirety, she prefers to kill her own meals. her home has two snakes that she claims are centuries old whenever she has visitors. However, any who has visited her home more than once will claim those snakes never live longer than a few breeding seasons.

Ma'kine frequently is shirtless. she says it is to give her wings a break from their tension. However, the way she eyes those around him hints that perhaps she simply likes to be seen, regardless of whom or what by.

Ma'kine's most used phrase is "Humans are such confusing creatures." she has recently stopped trying so hard to sound and act human. she lets terms like hatch-ling, mate and breed come into her speach far more in the last few centuries.

Ma'kine also has made it a habit to collect anything unique. If its one of a kind, she will pay huge sums of money or pull in any favors she is owed to possess the unique item or thing. Ma'kine especially likes the things not quite approved by the Gotei.

Goals:

Short-term Goals: Ma'kine's short term goals practically do not exist, as she frequently makes them up on the spot as oppertunity arrives. The way Ma'kine views it, he's so ancient and long-lived that anything that can be done in five years is practically day shopping.

The only constant goals she has is to aid the 5th Division, 11th Division and Baozhai family at every oppertunity.

Long-term Goals: The longest goal for the winged woman has been her goal since learning of its existance: Enter and read every book in the Daireishokairō, the Great Spirit Library. As even Captains aren't privy to all that goes on in there, she expects at least another fourty centuries will be needed before she gains entrance legally. Until then, she makes due reading everything she finds laying around in the many Barracks and Division headquarters. Especially those books found laying inside safes and heavily warded.

Eventually, she plans to accept promotions upwards to Captaincy. He's held her seat longer than most Captains have lived since she joined. However, she only plans to move upwards when she meets those who are better allies than her current ones. Generally, power associates with power, that is what she learned.

Ma'kine also has a very longstanding... Respect, not quite loyalty, to the Baozhai family. Since becoming a member of the Gotei, she has endevored to ensure all of their endevours succeed. she watches the head of the family from afar often, hoping to somehow pay the family back for ensuring she joined the Gotei. In the past 65 centuries, she hasn't yet thought of a way to prove that useful.

General Personality: Ma'kine is a woman who prefers solitude, yet craves adventure. Not the 'quest to save the world/princess/get treasure' adventure, but adventures of intellect. Explore things nobody has seen in centuries, go where no others have tread before. she desires to know things, but wishes to keep that knowledge to himself. Ma'kine makes friends not for the sake of being with them, but for the advantage of knowing them. Very few impress him enough for him to actively seek their companionship.

Some would call him cold, as her policy of Stasis or Change leaves him misunderstanding or completely not understand what others think or feel. Ma'kine doesn't understand why others grieve at a death. First they were, now they aren't. That's how she understands it. she akins it to Hollows; first they were sentient humans, now they are beasts. If they live long enough, they'll become sentient again. And if a Hollow dies, it merely changes to a human in Soul Society. By her logic, nothing is ever gained or lost, merely changed. You did not 'make' a vase. You beat and forced clay into the desired shape then turned wood into ash and heat to turn the clay hard.

As she does not understand the concept of death, she does not understand life the way others do. she was alive yesterday. He's alive today. she most likely will be tomorrow. Nothing changed. Why celebrate the act of nothing? she was alive six thousand years ago, she most likely will be alive for another six thousand. And the six thousand after that. And the next. To him, there is nothing but Stasis and Change. Will she be unchanged for eighteen-thousand years? she does not know, though she believes it. And even if she dies and comes back, her molecules exist somewhere, in another form. So, in that way, she is eternal. Static, always has been. Even in change, she exists.

This is not to say she is without feelings. she can feel the full range of human emotion, but largely choses to ignore her own feelings, except curiosity, pride, hunger or, very rarely, rage. she rarely rages, and only at the prospect of truly lost knowledge, such as someone taking a spell to their grave.

Ma'kine views others in terms of usefullness. she believes all relationships are governed by a 'what can they do for me' philosphy. her Captain can get him connections, promotions, knowledge and skills. Those of lower rank than himself can do work or spy for him, or deliver messages. The Gotei as a whole is a place to earn knowledge and skills and powers. she does try not to manipulate others to her benefit, but has been known to 'suggest' friends for other people, or propose alliances with other members in different Divisions.

Ma'kine, due to her beliefs, has no fear of death. But she is also not reckless. He'd rather retreat from battle than lose. It is advantagous to regroup than lose for good.

Something Special: Ma'kine is, as far as she is aware, the last of her species. Also, Ma'kine's whole species possess raptor level vision and bat-like hearing. Along with her superior senses, her lightweight bones and powerful wings enable him true flight. As aforementioned, her wings have three segements.

The Power

Shinigami

Zanpakutō Name: Infanaruasshu Tori

Zanpakutō Name Translation: Infernal Ash Bird

Sealed Zanpakutō: Sealed, Infanaruasshu Tori takes the form of a multi-bladed knife. The handle is thick and heavy, supporting a foot and a quarter inch blade that curves down then back up, and a much slimmer blade that follows the lower with the quarter inch gap between it. Both blades begin at the same point but turn into separate blades two and a half inches from the handle. The larger lower blade has the edge on the bottom of the blade, while the thinner knife has the edge on top. However, both tips are razor sharp. There is a small guard on the knife, really more of a bulge between blade and handle, from which two more blades emerge, on the left and right sides, in the center of the vertical height. These blades are medium thickness and go three quarters of the way up the blade, leaving half an inch from the other two blades' sides. These two blades are sharp both on the inside and outer edges.

Infanaruasshu Tori has a blueish color in the metal, as if steel and sky had fused. The handle is colored wood, black with reddish-white pinpricks all over of varying degrees of intensity. If the blades are the daytime sky met with metal, the handle is wood infused with a starry night.

Release Phrase: Reincarnate, Infanaruasshu Tori

Shikai Appearance: In Shikai, the knife erupts into flame then turns to ash. As the ash gets caught by a breeze, it flows around Ma'kine's right fist, between and around her legs before blowing in a thin but huge circle behind her back. As the circle is completed, it once more ignites, become a living fire that engulfs her lower body, fist and creates a burning 'halo' behind him. This halo swells and pulsates with blackish red flames before moving inwards on itself and forming a Ma'kine-sized star. This star moves behind him constantly, always the same distance. It has no gravitational pull until it is directly touched, nor does it give off heat. The heat and pull are felt solely by the touch-er. The flames of her attacks all come from the star first, moving as she needs them.

Shikai Ability: Most obviously, it gives Ma'kine fire manipulation and immunity, but it also creates and controls a star. The Shikai itself is the star, and all the flames are taken from it. As such, they burn with the intensity of solar flares. The star is bound to Ma'kine and she to it. They are bound by the flames on her legs and fist, unquenchable by conventional means. Losing the fire on her body causes the star to drift, until she catches it and reignites the flames. It is her equivalent of dropping her weapon.

Bankai Name: Eien no Ribaibinguraputā, "Eternal Reviving Raptor"

Bankai Appearance: After releasing her Bankai, the star behind Ma'kine turns dark, the flames getting a cracked appearance. With a sound like a thousand birds chirping, the star splits down the middle, hatching a massive bird of fire. It is many times the size of the star, comparable to the bird Shinigami use for executions. This one however is a dark red color, streaked with black. While it does not burn with the intensity of the Shikai after being touched, it's heat evaporates the water in its vicinity, leaching it out of everything it touches. The bird has two eagle-like heads, side by side, each with several feet of burning beak. The streaks of black form from these breaks, moving all the way down to the tail, which is nearly half as long again as the body. Each mouth of the bird has huge teeth lining the beaks, and a forked tongue which glides over the beaks as if anticipating a good meal. The legs are immense, ending huge clawed feet. Each foot has four claws, three at the from and one on the heel. The claws burn white flames that are nearly invisible. Each wing is along arms akin to humans, giving the bird the ability to grab and grapple with human-like hands, while remaining with a wing-length capable of lifting the nearly ninety feet high body. Despite being made entirely of star-fire, it can touch physical things.

Strangely, aspects of the Bankai's previous forms remain. In Bankai, Ma'kine regains her sealed sword, which now is engulfed in black fire. The flames that were on her lower body remain, but have moved upward to cover all but her head, and burn the same intense white as the bird's own claws.

Bankai Ability: While in Bankai, Ma'kine can direct the creature with thought alone. While the beast exists, the flames on her body and sword continually burn. If the bird is destroyed, her flames vanish. However, Ma'kine gains the power to breathe this star-fire, enabling him to continually revive the bird as long as she is able to breathe enough flame to re-create the creature. The intensity of her fire is so great, all but the most powerful water and ice abilities evaporate in her presence even without the bird nearby. Ma'kine claims the phoenix has the ability to "remember" those it personally kills. It can remember three individuals and any abilities it saw. However, this is a slight fudging of the truth. In fact, those slain by the bankai as absorbed into it, trapping them within Ma'kine's Inner World. she is able to "swap out" Eien no Ribaibinguraputā for one of the Souls she has trapped and use the abilities she witnessed and "truly knows". Souls she traps reside in the mansion of her Inner World.

The Spirit

Spirit Appearance: Infanaruasshu Tori takes on the appearance of a harpy, though pretty in appearance. She may be young, early adolescent in appearance, she radiates a regal, princess-like prettiness that states that if she was to grow up, she would be serenely beautiful, goddess-like.

She has arm-wings that are slender and soft, evidence of her lack for doing any lifting, with palest ivory skin. Her feathers are every shade of red, shimmering and glossy. Not one feather is ever out of line. Her face is soft, with full lips and a small, slightly upturned nose. Her eyes are like Ma'kine's, swirls of color around a black spot of pupil. Like Ma'kine, her neck is smaller than one would think. Her body still has the softness of baby-fat, though she is tall for her appeared age and thin. Like most harpies, she is shirtless, exposing her youthful body.

Infanaruasshu Tori's lower body has human shaped legs covered is feathers, ending in bird-like feet. Her lower body resembles an eagle. These feathers are dark tones, shades of black, brown and ruby. She has no tail feathers or tail, but a youthful, girly rear. She wears no pants but dons wooden shoes with silken rope over and between her toes, holding the flat wood in place.

When in Bankai, Eien no Ribaibinguraputā ages to nearly Ma'kine's age. She is taller than him, and has shed any baby-fat she had. She has long hair, as opposed to her younger form's pixie cut, shades and tints of white. Her hair is in a thick plaited braid down her back. Her feathers are more vibrantly colored, her skin softer and full of life. She is bustier than as a child, who already had a full appearance. The royal harpy wears a full body robe, silk in appearance, that covers her arms and legs save her hands and feet. It is tied at mid-stomach by a black sash over the red robe, leaving the chest dangerously open and exposing much but not too much.

Spirit Personality: As a child, Infanaruasshu Tori positively burns with energy, constantly on the move, soaring through cloud and field alike. The Spirit is playful, with a tougher exterior that feigns not caring what others think, but at the same time craving positive attention. She is hard on herself, but brims with joy when complimented. She acts as if she's better than all others in an attempt to be liked. While it's clear she is trying to be 'tough and cool like Ma'kine', she is very easy to read her thoughts. Her thoughts exist on her face that is very expressive despite her attempts to remain distant. She is playful in the way children are, wanting to play games or 'hang out' with Ma'kine. Though she never voices it, she wishes there was others in her Inner World, who would be sisterly to her.

As an adult, Eien no Ribaibinguraputā has perfected her coldness, relying only on herself. She carries herself as a queen and expects others to view her as such. While she is beautiful in appearance, she wouldn't let any man, woman or beast near her. She keeps all away from herself, including Ma'kine. When she speaks, her voice carries resentment and cold anger at the world. It is as if she finally accepted the emptiness of her Inner World, and now hates those who intrude on her space. She no longer flies freely through cloud or field, but sits atop the center of this world, atop the live volcano, living in a black mansion over the pool of lava. She does not share her power equally and freely as her child self had done, but rather gives Ma'kine what she needs and asks him to go with it.

Inner World: The Inner World for Ma'kine and her blade is a flat, grassy feild covered sporadically in lakes. The sky is eternally true noon, with a bright burning sun. Clouds drift lazily over the terrain. In the center of this world rises a volcano that would cause any on Earth to appear as anthills. No clouds exist within miles of it. The volcano is a dark, craggy stone, uneven with no sure way to the top by foot. The sun is centered over this monster of a fire mountain. At the top of the volcano, dark stone bridges lead to a massive black platform, atop which the mansion sits. The mansion looks as if it contains infinite rooms, and the outside has gardens. Looking over the side of the bridges reveal the lava and magma roiling not far enough away.

In Bankai, the sky turns dark fills with stars. The sun is now a black burning thing. The lakes dry up, the lava hisses and bubbles eagerly. The clouds are so thick and bunched around the volcano, the sky can only be seen from the mansion. At times, the entire world quakes as if the eruption will happen just then. It never does.

by **Grandkiduchi** Sun Apr 14, 2019 8:49 pm

The Past

(Due to the long span of time, events are summerized and only the most important years of every few centuries are highlighted. Changes in position or address are only mentioned if they are significant to the remainder of the section. Ma'kine has never gone significant amounts of time without revisting her old home; assume she has returned many times between sections)

History: It would be impossible to tell the story of Ma'kine starting from her birth. To tell that story, one needs to go farther back, an unknown time farther. A time when Soul Society's Rukon District was not devolving into slums. A time when the land beyond the great city was untamed.

For, far from Rukon's outer edge, beyond untamed forests, rivers, mountains, and untold other wilderness, beyond the home of Werewolves and beasts, a single great mountain rose. It stood alone, far from any range. Officially, anything outside the Seireitei is Rukon, but the city had yet to conquore this far. Many years into the future, Ma'kine believes the city never will. But here in the past, the mountain is already home to a species.

The way werewolves are part man, part beast and dwell in the lower hills, this mountain is home to a small community of not completely human lifeforms. These creatures soar through the air and hunt from above. They claim to be as old as the city itself- for yes, these beings knew of the city- but whether that is true or not, nobody can know. On their mountain, the creatures, proud beings who were masters of their domain, ruled for time untold, passing their knowledge from one to the next. They knew nothing of secrets. They shared all. Food, knowledge, homes.

They spoke their own language, one now lost, and had names for everything. The creatures had human bodies, but huge wings and feathered legs. They hunted by hand and wing, pitying Shinigami with their swords and inability to fly. The Shinigami could not see as they did, not feel the air as they did. They were... Different.

For generations, these winged beings lived atop the mountain. They had carved their homes into the face of the mountain itself. A small village, all built from solid mountain. When the storms came, the stones kept them dry. When the winter came, their fireplaces warmed them. They built tools, first from wood, then stone. Then the creatures sought metal to better build their homes. They copied the metal-working on the City, so far from their mountain. But they could not find the brown or silver veins they needed. Only yellow, soft metal could be found in their mountain. The males of the village dug miles of tunnels into the mountain, finding nothing but soft yellow metal. It could not break stone the way they needed, could not protect against attack. It was, for the people, useless. But they followed the city's example, making brick after brick of yellow metal, hidden deep within the mountain. They guarded it not because it was useful, but because those who lived in the largest homes in the City guarded it.

The males flew to mountains and hills in search of the thing the City dwellers called "Iron". It was hard. It was strong. It was dug out, flewn back to their mountain, and melted and forged. First the houses, bare stone, were covered in iron plates, patterned after the scales of the creatures they fed upon. Iron scales protected the stone, then they created 'Doors', a concept they had seen in the city. Why would one shut out their own kind? They did not understand, but they copied it.

The village never grew large, despite prosperity. Their kind did not mate often. During the final hunts of the year, many died, as always had. But with this 'Iron' and "Steel" they created armor, thin scales that covered the front and left the back open. It was called a Vastech. One hunter wearing this was protected from frontal attack. Being masters of the sky, nothing dared attack them from behind.

And so it went. The City grew larger in time. The village remained small, distant, but always watching. A child had recently been born, the only one that year. The hunts were getting dangerous, as they had to search farther for the same amount of food. The child was brought up from birth that, as a female of her kind, she would toil away in the mines of their mountain, in search of better metals. The boy only found more soft yellow metal; nothing but gold grew in that mountain. By the time the boy was a man, having learned everything about her kind and the City they observed from afar, with its men dressed in black and weilding swords of metal ruled by soldiers and four large families, there was nothing left in the mountain to mine.

Shortly after the woman created barriers to protect the massive gold bar room, using the valuable iron to create poles and locks and doors for protection, disaster struck her people. Try as she might, the woman would never forget what happened on that coldest day of winter. A rift had opened in the sky, a large black thing, as if the sky was hatching a huge creature. From that rift, a monsterous black giant came forth. It was many times higher than any of the winged people. It had white hands and huge pointed feet. A long, beak-shaped nose stuck out from its face.

The warriors of the village, glorified hunters really, fell one by one to this thing. The Vastechs offered no protection to its beams of fire or crushing hands. The woman knew the beast was decimating her people. Men and women rushed it, armed solely with protective Vastechs, but this woman knew they would all perish against it. So she fled, deep into the mines of the mountain. The woman half-ran, half-flew deeper and deeper down the narrowing tunnels. she wrenched open the bars, doors and barriers and crawled into her people's 'vault'. She stayed there for a very, very long time.

~~~ ~~~ ~~~

How much time passed, the woman did not know. The beast's steps shook the mountain for a long time before it stopped. The man's stomach hungered. Her long, hard muscles cramped from sleeping on metal bricks. Her wings ached, needing to be stretched. The woman was young by her peoples standards, not having been given a name yet. As she emerged from under the mountain, she was faced with decimation. The iron-clad stone homes were crushed. she searched and searched by could find no bodies, only feathers, blood and a single broken Vastech. It was torn badly and appeared half eaten.

The man, shocked by what had happened, tried her best to remain on the mountain, in hopes that her people had fled and would return. Many winters passed alone on the mountain, rebuilding the village by himself, recarving the houses and plating them in iron, creating pathways from home to home, painstakingly carving each door from wood to the best of her memory. One door had flowers along the border, another birds, another scales pushed into the surface... The woman hunted, built and mined by himself. If she hungered, she hunted. If she grew cold, she built fire. When she was restless, she dug deeper into the mines, discovering hard clear crystals of multitudes of colors. She carried them, whole or in part, by foot back up the mines to her people's vault. Her vault, now. It had to be made bigger many times, until a new level was carved by the man.

He watched the City, as her father had done. And her father's father before that. He understood that the biggest homes were the leaders. Those in black, warriors. Those outside the inner city, common-folk. And in time, the woman realized that her people were gone. She was the last, she believed. A woman without a name, speaking a language only she knew. She had repaired the Vastech she found, and wore it constantly. The woman named himself Ma'kine, meaning something akin to Final One, or Undying. Ma'kine would make sure that her kind were not forgotten, using any method possible.

~~~ ~~~ ~~~

Protected by the Vastech that she had repaired, upon which she wrote in her now lost language characters meaning "Death from Above", Ma'kine flew to the City. She flew to the outer edges, tucking her wings close to her back and walking into what was called Rukon, she observed the citizens from far enough away not to be spotted but close enough to observe.

These... Humans, Souls, wore clothes over their bodies. The larger the homes, the more beautiful the clothes. As she watched, she knew that she wanted to be like those in the beautiful clothing. They moved the way she did; with power. Authority. They stood tall. Especially those who carried swords and wore black. Her people knew swords, but never had them. Why cut something if you'll merely eat it? It was a stupid thing to do. But these were going to be the ones she needed to observe.

For the next hundred winters, Ma'kine observed. Learned the language, the way they walked and greeted each other. Ma'kine stole robes to cover himself, white robes that felt awkward on her wings as they were compacted along her spine. The robes extended to the floor despite her height. They covered her feet. But even her feet were clothed, slipped into wooden shoes. She could walk as the black robbed Souls, Shinigami they called themselves, talk their language.

But, she needed to live as they did. So, she slipped into Rukon one night, dressed in robe, shoes and Vastech underneath. Other than her "accent" as the people called her speach, they could not tell she was an outsider. Two hundred years after she had decided to go to the City, Ma'kine felt ready. She was still ignorant of the Shinigami, however. They rarely left the innermost part of the City. She knew not their leaders. But, as a drunk man informed him many moons ago, the most ruthless, savage, war incarnate of the Houses was Baozhai, a Noble Family who prided themselves on strength. Ma'kine was strong, undeniably so. She radiated power practically from centuries of mining, flying and hunting. Her presence could warm a room practically.

So, not knowing what else to do as Rukon proved to be getting him no knew knowledge, Ma'kine set out to find himself a Nobleman to talk with.

~~~ ~~~ ~~~

6,500 years ago

Ma'kine needed some time to locate the closest Baozhai Manor, in the newest slum of Rukongai, the 60th on the South side. However, slum was putting it lightly. The moment Ma'kine emerged, having landed lightly in an alleyway not far from the perimeter, the bird-man was attacked by two men who reeked of spirits.

The drunken men claimed she was a monster and needed to be "slaughtered" to keep others away. As she was shoved from one to the other, Ma'kine began to get irritated. How dare these drunks even touch him! Wheeling to the man on her left, Ma'kine clobbered him with a massive fist. She was easily a foot and a half taller than either man, and centuries of mining hardened her muscles. The man's head turned very sharply and she went sailing into a wall. The other man took the oppertunity to smash a barrel into the giant winged man's back.

Ma'kine hissed in pain as her wings took the blow. Her body felt hot, hotter than its ever felt. Her anger was building at these drunks. But they poured from the building, a bar really, that the first drunk had smashed into. Ten, twelve big drunk men. One sober, aggrevated winged giant of a man. They fought there was safety in numbers. The fools! Had they no eyes? Not only were they fighting him without reason, they didn't even know her first punch had given that man a pernament dirt nap.

The fighting continued, with Ma'kine always having an enemy at her back. For each time she knocked one flying, another was pounding her wings. The longer the fight dragged on, the more people arrived and the hotter the area became. Many of the fighters attributed it to the mass of bodies. But it actually radiated from Ma'kine himself. Her Reiryoku had been seeping out of him the entire fight, unknown to him or the drunks. But the longer the fight lasted, the more poured out, heating the area considerably.

Ma'kine's sharp eyes and bat-like hearing picked up on a black robed Warrior standing atop a building near the fight. Watching as Ma'kine held her own, somehow, against over ten men. The man was speaking to another, one the far side. Wondering how long before the 'winged beast' goes down. As if! Did those warriors think they were Ma'kine's betters? That they could possibly hold a candle to her radiance? He, the Undying? Ma'kine's fury boiled at that.

Turning to the last man to lay a finger upon her figure, Ma'kine brought both fists crashing down onto the top of the man's head, a clear killing-intending blow. However, it had unexpected consequences. The moment the man's head touched her fists, Ma'kine heard a crackling noise and a 'woosh' before everything within fifty feet of her body, animate or inanimate, erupted in flames. Those nearest him were completely burned away before Ma'kine's vision had even cleared enough to see. The flames blasted the area, licking at charred remains of buildings up and down the street. Only ash remained of the drunkards.

With much shouting, black robed warriors began running towards the source, the uninjured Ma'kine. They talked about slaying the man-beast, how she must have been sent to attack Lord Baozhai's Manor. Ma'kine tried to explain, but the men were on him, and thugs not unlike those she had just fought, were coming to join. A sword bit into her arm, cutting the tattered robe more. Furious, Ma'kine grabbed the blade, yanking the Shinigami with it. Straight into her other fist. Three warriors and a number of menacing low-lifes. One warrior down.

However, exhaustion was taking its toll. Ma'kine did not care much for being stabbed, she discovered as a sword imbedded itself in her thigh and the Shinigami was unable to pull it back out. That man was sent up and over the burnt out building to Ma'kine's left. After a few more minutes, sword still deep into her leg, Ma'kine eventually succumbed.

His body was dragged to the Manor by the mercanary men while the warrior went to aid the other two. Her bird vision went black. The last thing she noticed was her shoes falling off before it went dark.

~~~ ~~~ ~~~

Ma'kine found himself bound to a post, forced into a kneeling position in the middle of a courtyard. Her wings were bound by thick ropes tied around her torso, her arms wretched backward and wrists tied behind the post. As were her ankles. She was slung slightly forward on her knees. As she raised her head, she saw five men facing him. Four of the men wore black uniforms of the warriors, while the last wore a white garment over his. The four others flanked the white one, two on each side and a pace and a half behind. All five carried long, curved swords at their sides.

Overhead, the moon was getting low in the sky again. Dawn would break soon. As Ma'kine noted that fact, the white robed man began to question him. Who was he? Who sent Ma'kine to attack the Baozhai Manor? Was Ma'kine crazy enough to think a single man, unarmed, could hope to fight the Baozhai? How much was she being paid? What was Ma'kine, some type of hollow without a mask? (This question confused Ma'kine. What would a empty space need with a mask?) How did Ma'kine know that Lord Sutāshainingu Baozhai was at the Manor? It was not announced until that very night. Did Ma'kine have spies inside the Manor? What did she hope to gain from assassinating the Lord Baozhai?

And so it went. The sun was high in the sky by the time Ma'kine was done being drilled and accused of attacking the Noble House of Baozhai. Hours of explaining that she had no intention of fighting, that she had no clue the Lord was even there, that she was alone and meant no ill will. The Lord Baozhai, as this man told Ma'kine he was, had finally relented that it was a drunk's fight gotten far out of hand, though he was still fascinated by the burst of fire.

Finally, hours after the interrigation, Lord Baozhai asked what Ma'kine was doing at the Manor in the first place. Ma'kine explained through a hoarse voice that she came seeking to be made a warrior, like the black robed men behind him. Her request was met with laughter. Angry, Ma'kine shouted that she was stronger than those warriors from the night before; she was a hard worker and she hadn't spent centuries learning human behavior to be denied. If Lord Baozhai declined him, she would seek other Nobles! When her laughter abated, the Lord said that he was not in charge of who became a Soul Reaper or not. He merely led one Division- Eleven, he called it. But the avian had impressed the Lord. He witnessed the drunks attacking him, how Ma'kine fought three Shinigami and twelve of her thugs before finally going down.

And so, Lord Baozhai ordered him freed from the post. With a short order to the men on her right, the duo knelt before Ma'kine and held out their palms. A soft green light emitted from their palms and after a few moments, the pain in her thigh ceased. As she looked, Ma'kine saw her injuries were gone.

~~~ ~~~ ~~~

Ma'kine stayed with Lord Baozhai that day, discussing why she chose to reveal himself. Ma'kine explained to this Baozhai that her origins were her own secret, but that there was no future back there. She explained that she wanted to join the Shinigami, believing it was controlled by the Nobles. She wanted to be a soldier, she said. She would even take up a sword if it was required of him.

Lord Sutāshainingu Baozhai explained that he saw promise in the man. He told Ma'kine that the flames that incinerated the street were the release of Reiryoku, Spirit Energy that exists in all living things. When Ma'kine was fighting, that energy became untapped, and burst outward. From the reaction of it, Ma'kine likely had a strong association with the Fire Element. That display convinced the Baozhai that he would need to get Ma'kine in training, as after it is released, it will only continue burning everything around him whether Ma'kine wanted it to or not.

Lord Baozhai stated that Nobles weren't in direct control, but had strong influences. The Gotei, the name for all the Divisions of Shinigami, answered to the Captain Commander solely, who only needed to obey the Soul Queen and carry out and enforce the laws of Soul Society. Ma'kine learned that the current Gotei was small, inhabiting the Inner City, while the rest of the city was Rukongai. All members of the Gotei were required to go through the Academy, known by the dinizens of Rukon District as Shinigami Institute. It was a school that taught all members of the Gotei, Assassination Squad and Kido Corps. Kido was magic used by Shinigami, in which the Corps were directly responsible to discovering and creating new spells. It was Kaido, the healing way, that fixed her injuries. The other paths of Kido were Bakudo, the binding way, and Hado, the destruction way.

But, the Eleventh that Baozhai led were in need of more Shinigami. They were the main offensive branch of the Gotei, specializing in melee combat. If Ma'kine was willing... Lord Baozhai said he was willing to flex her influence to speed the process along to make him a member of the Eleventh Division. She was big, and strong as Ma'kine earlier stated. The Eleventh Division was always in need of powerful men.

Ma'kine was elated. Under Lord Baozhai's direction, she was placed into the Academy. Ma'kine needed to learn Soul Society's history properly, the Nobleman said, and the ways of Shinigami could not be learned by simple mimicry. The Academy was open to all who wished to join, but you needed power like what Ma'kine displayed to gain studentship.

Ma'kine's first year at the Academy was filled with ettiquet and history, learning to speak, walk and dress properly. She was given a uniform for female students, who she saw came from all walks of life. However, she was still larger and stood out plainly in any crowd. Her height, eyes and strange accent set him apart. She was given a long sword like what the rest had, told she would spend every moment with it. She would eat with the sword, walk to class with it, sleep with it in her arms. And in time, her soul would impart itself onto the blade and mold the nameless sword into what is called a Zanpakuto. Upon becoming a Zanpakuto, she would then meditate and strive to achieve Shikai. And if she was lucky, one day she might even get a Bankai.

Ma'kine needed six years to pass the four year school. It was not due to lack of skills needed for regular Shinigami duties. It was because she couldn't understand the concepts of human behavior. Why they did the things they did. How there was worlds beyond this one that she would need to protect in the future. It became clear that Ma'kine's species did not think the way humans did. Shinigami needed to maintain balance, they said. That is why they only killed a few Hollows, not every Hollow. Some losses were nessisary for balance. It took him some time to grasp the concept that if you die in Soul Society, you go to the Human world as a blank slate. And souls rescued from there come here. But, while she struggled with the history and behavior parts, she proved top class in her combat classes. She had a massive store of Reiryoku the Gotei rarely saw. Her sword didn't merely cut, she devasted. Her spells packed incredible power.

The two courses that will stick through her nearly immortal life were Ettiquet and Behaviors with the Opposite Sex and Advanced War Stretegy, both elective courses on the verge of being removed entirely. The manners she learned will shape her behavior around women for tens of centuries, though in a broader scope than was taught. While she was taught how to behave in front of a Lady of Nobility, she took the course to refer to all females, regardless of species. She learned that the best Captains knew the strengths and weaknesses of every member in their Division. They needed to know who was holding the group back, and who could carry the Division by themselves. She studied feverishly to master this ability. She began to watch her classmates. Who was the leader of a circle of friends? Who held them together in tough times and who was most dangerous to the groups cohesion. In her combat classes, she would mentally partner students together, running over their skills and talents in her mind.

Advanced War Stretegy claimed teamwork was best done in small groups. This is why the Gotei was in Divisions. Each Division has a specialty, and each member worked best at that specialty. Within the Division, the Captain and Leitenent oversaw multitudes of platoons and squads. The Gotei was made up of many individuals, partnered with one to five others, making up squads. Groups of squads formed a platoon. And all the platoons together formed a Division. All thirteen formed the Gotei Thirteen, called by some as the Thirteen Court Guard Squads. It took a mighty leader to command such a large force, and that was the Captain Commander, Commander to all Twelve other Captains. Traditionally, the Captain Command was Captain of the First Division.

Over the six years that Ma'kine was a student, she made a single trip, with four others of her class, to the Human World. They were accompanied by a Soul Reaper from the Thirteenth Division, who specialized in watching over the Human World by stationing Soul Reapers around the Human World to track Souls in need of Konso, and slay Hollows. The students watched the Soul Reaper perform Konso, which she demenstrated again after the Soul of an old lady passed on. The very end all all the swords used by Shinigami had a symbol eteched into them. Pressing it to the forehead of the Soul absolves them of most sins and allows passage into Soul Society. The young Ma'kine asked the Soul Reaper what happens when not all sin can be absolved. He said the soul eventually becomes a monsterous Hollow if left unattended, or the Konso sends them into Hell. Ma'kine learned that no Shinigami knew about the inner works of Hell. It was forbidden knowledge.

~~~ ~~~ ~~~

Decades passed. After graduation, Ma'kine became a member of the Eleventh Division. For the first time since her people perished, she had a home. It was not far from the Barracks for the Eleventh Division. She bought it in gold and purchased rugs and furnishings that under her care stand the test of time. Also for the first time, Ma'kine had friends, allies.

The friendship blossomed in struggle, as most good things do. Ma'kine and three other unseated Shinigami like himself were to accompany a Thirteenth Division Seated Officer to the human world, fourty four years after she graduated. They were traveling to what is now southern India, in an attempt to kill a large Hollow that preyed on children.

However, as the group of five moved in on the location the Huge Hollow was said to be, they learned their information was false. For as the Seventeenth Seat of Division Thirteen sliced through the Hollow's head while Ma'kine and the rest held it in place with their swords, two other snake Hollows attacked and killed the Officer. Ma'kine hadn't even officially learned her name. The four Shinigami fought off the snakes, trying to slay them but the Hollows were faster and had called in three more just like themselves. Each time one died, it seemed more took its place. Outnumbered, a man named Buldor was slain next, though he managed to take a Hollow with him. Ma'kine convinced the remaining two Shinigami to pull back when she saw that there was a human watching. Ma'kine wouldn't have noticed the man if he hadn't cried out as a Hollow lashed for him. The two Shinigami retreated, taking the man with them as Ma'kine tore her clothing away, spreading her wings fully and taking to the air.

Airborne and armed with her sword, Ma'kine would soar upwards then dive down to slash or stab into the monsters masks. Ma'kine saw the Shinigami struggling to hold the man back, as he kept trying to run towards Ma'kine and the Hollows. Ma'kine soared higher than she had the entire fight, hundreds of feet up before bringing her wings in tight. Her body turned upside down, plummeting head first back to the Hollows. Her sword, a long blade, extended downwards. She had to finish this. She couldn't let another Shinigami or Human die at the hands of these monsters!

As that thought burned through her mind, time stopped. Or it felt as if time had frozen. Ma'kine felt a breeze, but she was suspended in the air. The air became hot around him. A voice spoke, both far away and right behind him. "Do you want the monsters to be burned away," it asked. There was a girly laugh at the end. Of course she did! She wanted them burned to ashes! "Will you stir their ashes and make sure nothing survived?" If thats what she needed to do, of course! "I can burn them all, if you ask. Destroy them, even. We'll play with fire and ash together, Ma'kine. You just need to ask me by name."

And with that, time resumed. As Ma'kine fell, her Reiryoku poured from her blade. The air heated, then burned around him. She fell like a flaming spear from the heavens. Her blade burned straight through the middle of the Hollows, the group having quadrupled in size by the time she was in their midst. Then there was a burst of heat that swept outward, reaching far enough away to knock the Human backwards. As she stood back up to see, there was a straight path to Ma'kine, and the air around him rippled with flame and heat. At once, the twenty Hollows convered upon him. They were not strong nor Huge as the first had been on their own, but their numbers were high. As they converged, Ma'kine's voice rang out above their screaching howls. "Reincarnate, Infanaruasshu Tori!"

The Hollows were engulfed in fire, their screams would haunt the human until the day he died, long after he had shared the story of the Garuda, King of the Birds and natural enemy to snakes. Their bodies writhed and burned for a short eternity before collasping into piles of ash. Ma'kine stood alone in the center of the fray, amid all the ash.

His right fist was surrounded by bright flame, as was her entire lower body. The fire around her fist curled around her arm and torso in a chain of flame, joining with the inferno around her legs. It was like a suit of blackish red fire that only covered below the waist and a single hand. From the feet, whisps of fire moved backward connecting to the most prominant part. A sun, black and red, stood behind him. It was compacted to only her size, but it was a ball of flame too alike the one in the sky to be anything else. As she moved, it follows. The flames she wore were pulled directly from that sphere. Reeling backwards, Ma'kine punched the earth at her feet. Fire moved from star, to feet, up her legs, along the chain, through her fist and into the earth. It spread out in a spider-like web, and whenever these threads touched the remaining Hollows, it set them aflame until only ash remained, blown away on the next breeze.

After her display, the Human had turned and ran for her village. By the time she returned with others, only scorch marks remained where the snakes had been. Ma'kine and the two other Shinigami were gone, back to Soul Society.

Ma'kine was celebrated by the two other Shinigami. They told of her fight against all those Hollows and the way she commanded a sphere of pure fire. Whenever another doubted him, a look at her sword quieted them. No longer did she carry the long blade of her nameless sword. She carried a wicked knife unlike any other. The handle is thick and heavy, supporting a foot and a quarter inch blade that curves down then back up, and a much slimmer blade that follows the lower with the quarter inch gap between it. Both blades begin at the same point but turn into separate blades two and a half inches from the handle. The larger lower blade has the edge on the bottom of the blade, while the thinner knife has the edge on top. However, both tips are razor sharp. There is a small guard on the knife, really more of a bulge between blade and handle, from which two more blades emerge, on the left and right sides, in the center of the vertical height. These blades are medium thickness and go three quarters of the way up the blade, leaving half an inch from the other two blades' sides. These two blades are sharp both on the inside and outer edges. Infanaruasshu Tori has a blueish color in the metal, as if steel and sky had fused. The handle is colored wood, black with reddish-white pinpricks all over of varying degrees of intensity. If the blades are the daytime sky met with metal, the handle is wood infused with a starry night.

His sword had taken on the sealed form of its true power. She had taken the first step in unlocking the full power of her sword. Ma'kine now had a name to go with the heavy metal weapon. Infanaruasshu Tori, the Infernal Ash Bird. She was the first among her new friends to learn the name of her Zanpakuto. As Burge said later that day, "A damn good thing she was, too! Or none of us would've made it home from that forsaken place."

Burge was the first human to truly try being Ma'kine's friend. Burge felt that without Ma'kine, he'd be good as dead. A glorious death, but Burge prefered to live to fight another day. The second Shinigami later would become a good friend, inseperable from Ma'kine for centuries. Taskin was a lithe fighter from northern Rukon, who at first resented being rescued until others pointed out that Taskin wouldn't have lived without being saved.

It took time, but Ma'kine eventually had a good number of friends. Fewer than lived in her village, but they were good friends who frequently liked to joke and spar, as well as watch the human ladies and drink deeply from flasks for hours a day. If only Ma'kine realized that the power she obtained that day would be the sole reason she outlived them all...

~~~ ~~~ ~~~

6,100 years ago

The next four centuries passed by quickly. Ma'kine would become a Seated Officer, 20th Seat in her Division. Burge and Taskin still talked to him, Taskin spending nearly every other day visiting him at home with a fresh bottle of booze to share. Alexander, another unseated Shinigami, was another good friend to Ma'kine. But Ma'kine was not without enemies either. A former friend, by name of Kane, had reverted back to her dislike for Ma'kine when she was promoted. In fact, many Shinigami seemed to resent the fact. But Ma'kine was a powerful fighter, with a Shikai under relative control. Those who were jealous of her position normally lacked Shikai.

But Kane didn't. His own Shikai was a large scythe with unknown powers. His Shikai was not yet to the level of Ma'Kine's. But he was angry that Ma'kine got the position. So, when he heard tale that Hollows were converging on a particular Human settlement, along the River Nile, in greater numbers he informed higher Seated Officers that, as the numbers were unusual, Ma'kine should be the best choice to investigate. She could fly and escape, Kane claimed.

Ma'kine was ordered by Lord Baozhai- informed by the Thirteenth Seat- to investigate. Baozhai had remained interested in Ma'kine, but the Lord himself was not young or free enough to investigate. Ma'kine hand selected three of her friends, Burge, Alexander, and a woman named Fir, to accompany him. Burge was heavy set and strong, while Alexander was a master with tools. Fir knew basic Kaido better than Taskin, hence why she was asked to come. Four people, one of whom could use Shikai, was plenty to exterminate Hollows. Ma'kine would've went alone had Lord Baozhai made it clear not to take unnessisary risks.

The settlement was primarily stone houses, really more of a cluster of farmers. But the reports were correct, Hollows swarmed the settlement. Ma'kine's group watched two bipedal fish shaped Hollows roam not far from the riverbank. A large bird Hollow soared low over the houses. Burge said there was at least seven Hollows total. As Fir said, they all appeared to be looking for something. Likely, a human of Spiritual power. Ma'kine felt the power, but it was small. She couldn't locate it.

It was Alexander, normally calm but lately on edge after learning her wife was pregnant with their fourth child, who moved out of position. Ma'kine thought she made it clear they were only to observe for now, but Alexander had rushed the fish Hollows with her sword drawn. Ma'kine ordered Burge to assist Alexander and for Fir to back them up with her Kido. Ma'kine would keep the other Hollows at bay until Alexander and Burge could help finish them off.

The battle was short and bloody. Ma'kine assumed the battle was going well, as she was locked in arial combat with the bird Hollow. She assumed so because she couldn't hear nor see the other six Hollows. Ma'kine had thrown her Zanpakuto so it imbedded itself in the Hollows mask and made a grunt of approval as the beast died and she reclaimed her knife. Fir's screaming is what caused him to turn back to her allies. Alexander's arm hung out of the mouth of the most monstrous Hollow she had even seen. At first she was stunned she hadn't felt it before, but upon attempting to, she found that all six Hollows Spiritual Energy radiated from the beast. It was a conglomerate of fish, boar, crocodile and, for lack of a better term, demon. It's mask was creepily human-like, but some cariture that exagerated the eyes and mouth into an impossibly wide smile. The Smiling Hollow had already eaten Alexander; Burge was pinned under one of its eight legs. Fir had attempted to bind the Hollow using a Geki, a low numbered Bakudo.

Despite himself, Ma'kine smiled. Not one of joy, but rather a sad grim smile. Fir's spell was far too weak to hold the Hollow. The only reason it hadn't moved was because it was digesting Alexander. Swiftly, Ma'kine landed beside the female. Placing a hand on the woman's shoulder, she stepped forward, ordering Burge not to move so much as a centimeter or Ma'kine would personally kick her ass. Ma'kine needed to concentrate.

Eleventh Division was a melee group. Any interest in Kido had to be done on one's own free time, preferably without anyone knowing. "Scattered beast bones! Spire, Crimson Crystal, Steel Wheels! Truth and Temperence, upon this sinless wall of dreams, unleash but slightly the wrath of your claws!" Beside him, Fir's eyes grew wide. "Hado 63, Rikouhou! Hado 33, Sokatsui!" Bursting from her extended fingers, green lightning, streaming with blue flames erupted and struck the Hollow in the chest. Ma'kine cursed silently. Her aim had been way off. The two-fold incantation had worked, but the force of the first spell outweighed the second by too much, causing the blow to hit low. But it was powerful enough to cause the beast the reel, standing on its rear four legs and stumbling backwards. Fir immediately dragged Burge away, back to Ma'kine's side. Looking first to the hole in Burge's body, where a claw must have pinned him to the ground, Ma'kine looked to Fir. She only gave a short, sad shake of her head.

Ma'kine had called for a tactical retreat. Burge was taken to 4th Division while Ma'kine reported to Lord Baozhai. Ma'kine was directly responsible for Alexander's death. As Lord Baozhai reprimanded him, it was only supposed to be observation. They knew nothing of the Hollows, let alone that they had been a single Hollow with the power to divide into seperate bodies. The Smiling Hollow killed Alexander, probably would have killed Fir and gravely wounded Burge. Lord Baozhai moved Ma'kine back to unseated, giving Kane the 20th Seat. Three days later, Burge died of her injuries.

~~~ ~~~ ~~~

by **Grandkiduchi** Sun Apr 14, 2019 8:51 pm

6,000 years ago

Taskin had taken Burge's death hard. The younger man had admired Burge for her strength. He began drinking more often, not just during her visits with Ma'kine. From what the avian heard, Taskin had been more likely to fall asleep with a bottle in her hands than not. By what was eventually refered to as 4027 BCE, Taskin had began seeing Fir regularly. Ma'kine had arranged that between her friends. Fir had her eye on Ma'kine for some time, but the winged humanoid had casually mentioned Taskin's love for the dark haired lady. Taskin himself just hadn't known he loved Fir yet. But, with Ma'kine's gentle guidance the two would meet unexpectedily on patrol or she would invite them over at the same time. And, as Ma'kine had known, Taskin eventually became infatuated.

The next seven years saw Taskin drinking less and courting Fir more. They two still visited Ma'kine, but she was happy to note that they always visited him together. Ma'kine had made casual friends over time, such as the maker of stone statues she had stumbled upon in Rukon. The statue maker had made Ma'kine many statues of birds, varying in size from a few inches to as tall as Ma'kine himself. Ma'kine ordered many statues including one modeled after the human myth of Garuda, a King of Birds. Most of them were never seen again after a few weeks around her home.

Ma'kine had been half-carrying, half flying her statues back to her former village. Many were left at way points along a rough path, hidden under cover of tree or underground. The last three checkpoints were completely underground, to stop anyone from following the loose line of points back to the Mountain. The final checkpoint was a huge underground cavern, deep inside a ravine. Most of the statues were already there, along with a multitude of picks, axes, rope and material to make torches. Ma'kine spent her stolen hours away from the rest of Soul Society mining away. It was the reason she maintained her fit shape despite the periods of relative peace. There had been no major battles with Hollows; the Smiling Hollow remained hidden. So, when Ma'kine set out late at night she would toil away, making slow progress to her mountain miles away. Until she finished the tunnel to connect to the mines already in the Mountain, she would leave the statues in the cavern. Only the smallest statues were flown to the Mountain and placed throughout the mine, particularily around her vault.

His village was maintained by him as well, in her secret hours. She ensured any ice built up was broken away. Weathered stone was repaired. Iron plating polished and replaced. Paths smoothed and etched. After each visit, the Village looked as if the people had all just went on a picknic, not died horribly many years ago. Nothing that couldn't fly could reach the village without going through the mines. And with hundreds if not thousand of miles of tunnels throughout, it was unlikely. Especially since the only way into the mine still was not finished. But, one day he'd finish the tunnel to connect the cavern to the mountain. One day.

But, what mattered most to Ma'kine's career was her activity in Seireitei, not the lost Village of her people. Ma'kine was once more being considered for a Seated position. The Nineteenth Seat had recently transfered to Division Thirteen. Normally the Twentith Seat would take over, but seemed to once more, for reasons unknown to himself, be in the good graces of Lord Baozhai. However, she was being considered, she didn't have a guarentee.

Lord Sutāshainingu Baozhai wanted a contest to prove who deserved the Nineteenth Seat, as her final act as Captain. Lord Sutāshainingu was retiring, leaving the position to her Leuitenant and son, Naitofurawā. Kane and Ma'kine would fight for the position, a clean fight using the skills they possessed. Any skill a Shinigami could use were allowed, including Kido. They would fight begining at first light in the court behind the Eleventh Division. Both Baozhai, as well as any interested Seated Officers, would watch.

Ma'kine had spent the day before with Fir and Taskin, discussing the next day. Ma'kine was surely going to need to hold back; her Shikai was dangerous around others, Taskin claimed. Ma'kine responded that Infanaruasshu Tori, the Spirit, and himself knew what they were doing. As long as the sphere itself was not touched, Ma'kine had complete control over the flames. Only touching the small star caused its powers to kill indescrimately. Fir said that she believed Ma'kine knew her limits and abilities, but there were risks. The star followed him always; it could graze something as she was manuvering around to fight Kane. That was when the group began discussing Kane's mysterious scythe Shikai. That conversation was left dead and abandonned when Fir and Taskin began arguing over its ability. Taskin claimed Kane manipulated the earth using the black skull headed scythe. But Fir swore that Kane used the scythe to freeze whatever he cut. Ma'kine hadn't heard either story before. As far as she was aware, Kane's scythe had the ability to extend both pole and blade to extreme sizes.

After the couple left, Ma'kine placed her Zanpakuto point first down, letting it imbed in a well worn hole in the wooden floor of her bedroom. Ma'kine sat legs crossed with the Zanpakuto in the space provided by her legs. She was shirtless, but wore pants. Her wings stretched outward but not upwards. The avian equivilent of laying with your arms behind your head. It only took him moments to find the grassy plains of Infanaruasshu Tori's Inner World.

The ground was flattish, the hills so shallow they were hardly noticeable. Above, the sky was blocked by clouds. In the distance, a volcano larger than any mountain in the Human World rose abruptly. There was a loud, high pitched keening as Ma'kine turned her gaze towards the clouds nearest the Volcano. The keening grew louder as the clouds parted and a shape burst forward.

Humanoid in appearance, the shape was youthful, no more than fourteen or fifteen. The barreling harpy was no ugly as some myths stated, but she had a princess quality of pretty, with liquid ivory skin, soft and skinny limbs. Off each arm feathers grew. Human shaped arms that were in reality wings, but with human hands instead of the bird arrangement of bones. Her eyes as she stopped meters away from Ma'kine were swirls of irridescent color, surrounding large pupils. The harpy had a short shock of white hair, her feathers on her wings bright reds while the feathers on her legs were darker tones. Her feet were not different from an eagle's, but she wore heavy wooden shoes that click-klacked whenever she walked. The teenage monster had soft gentle curves, including thin waist and girly hips, and her bust already showed signs that one day she would be very heavily endowed. Infanaruasshu Tori keened once more, her skin and feathers rippling with excitement, which Ma'kine could notice as the girl wore nothing but her shoes. She never wore anything but shoes. If it was possible to bounce up and down while hovering four feet above the ground, the Zanpakuto Spirit was doing it.

Her voice was high with excitement as she repeatedily asked if they'd really be fighting tomorrow. Oh, how she beamed at the prospect! The child chided Ma'kine for their lack of combat recently. Infanaruasshu Tori loved to fight, as she claimed it gave her something to do with all her energy. The spunky nude girl flipped in midair backwards, gliding forward to wrap her arms around Ma'kine's neck. She was between hugging him tightly and yanking him forward, her body pulling him slightly towards her. As she was airborne and higher than himself, she had to stand on tiptoe and take a step forward to keep the estatic Spirit from pulling her head from her shoulders. Ma'kine attempted to speak, but her face pressed against her upper shoulder kept her words from coming out clearly.

That was the problem with Infanaruasshu Tori. She had far too much energy, and never waited for her questions to be answered. She'd just go on talking, attempting to pull Ma'kine into the air to join her for a few games. Normally, Ma'kine would agree, as she enjoyed spending time with the self-proclaimed Princess of Ashes. But tonight she needed Infanaruasshu Tori to focus, so she pressed one hand to her opposite shoulder and took her waist in her other hand, pushing her back away from her face and pulling her down from the air at the same time, allowing her to stumble against him as her wooden shoes met the uneven ground. Ma'kine wished she had a third hand to clamp over her mouth to stop that high pitched keening she made when she was incredibly excited, such as now.

In some ways, they were foils to one another, Ma'kine being a large, compossed and level-headed female and her being a youthful, excitable girl with slim but feminine figure. They also had much in common, however. They both were very excited for this fight. And they both wanted the other to go with their plan. Infanaruasshu Tori hadn't stopped talking, even as she was grounded by Ma'kine. She was going on about how they should just incinerate the entire court to ensure they won; Infanaruasshu Tori loved winning. Her faced shone with excitement and her breathing was fast, her feathered lower body shakey as she tried to contain herself. Releasing her shoulder but keeping a firm grip on her waist to keep the Spirit from flying away without listening, Ma'kine pressed a finger to her lips. She immediately pouted and crossed her arms over her chest. But she had shut up.

Ma'kine spent the night meditating and talking to Infanaruasshu Tori, repeatedily needing to grab the girl and pull her back to the ground or needing to place her fingers over her mouth. After she had managed to talk strategy with Infanaruasshu Tori, she released her. The spirit once more pressed herself against him, kicking her feet as if her small body could hope to force him into the air. Tussling her hair and shooting himself skyward in a single leap, Ma'kine played a game of chase with the girl. As usually, the game ended with them both laying together, breathing hard and laughing. The bond between Infanaruasshu Tori and her Shinigami went beyond partnership. They were kin, and the Spirit understood that. She knew Ma'kine's heart better than himself, and knew that she saw her people living on inside the two of them. Her flames burned in their memory. That night, as Ma'kine mediated in preparation for the upcoming fight, the two winged beings knew that they would never lose so long as they relied upon each other. Ma'kine and her Spirit made a silent promise to never take from the other. They shared all, even their doubts. That, Infanaruasshu Tori told him, was the secret of Shikai. Learning to work together as one.

~~~ ~~~ ~~~

Kane stood directly across from Ma'kine. Though their uniforms and Division were the same, the two could not be more different. Ma'kine stood tall and proud, her knife Zanpakuto already in a defensive position. Kane shifted about from foot to foot, her sword sheathed on her back. On the right side of the rectangular court, the Captain and seven seated Officers, Lord Baozhai watching both Shinigami. The Vice Captain stood on the left along with three seated Officers. The court was dark, but dawn was breaths away.

The moment the first golden light touched the ground, Captain Baozhai ordered the match to begin. Ma'kine charged at Kane who still had yet to draw her sword... and was promptly sent tumbling backwards. She hadn't hit something and bounced off, something had plowed straight into him hard enough to knock the humanoid backwards. Had it been Kane? No, he was still standing there, sword sheathed and if anything, he looked spaced out, staring at nothing on the wall. Ma'kine was about to see what the Baozhai's were doing when she was sent forward this time.

Where were the attacks coming from? None of the spectators were even looking at either Ma'kine or Kane. They were staring at nothing as well! Two more blows hit him, but these were weaker. Like fists. Ma'kine whirled to search for the puncher. Nobody but himself and Kane stood in the court proper. Ma'kine winced as another blow hit him, this time cutting into him. These invisible attacks had him at all sides and she couldn't locate the source.

Then she heard a voice, talking right into her ear. "Disorienting, isn't it? Not knowing where I'll cut you next. Don't worry, nobody is even watching you about to die. They're watching other fights." Ma'kine turned and slashed towards the voice. Kane! But, Kane hadn't moved from her spot! But that was definately her voice.

A slash cut Ma'kine across the chest. "Null is a hypnosis-type Zanpakuto. Nobody here is watching the real fight, you winged freak. They'll all say the match was close, but Ma'kine just wasn't up for it. They won't even know you're dead; once ensnared by Null, only the memories I feed them exist! Your body can lay in the court for years before anyone finds you." Each sentance brought another blow. Some slashes of a blade, others hitting with such force that Kane must be using the scythe's figurehead as a battering ram.

The punishing blows continued for a while, seemingly random whether it would be a slash or a ramming hit. Ma'kine quickly became bruised and bloodied all over, but she refused to fall to her knees. Immediately after a slash to her right side, Ma'kine closed her eyes. One breath, inhale... exhale. Two, inhale.. exhale. Three, inhale... Ma'kine stepped sharply to her right, arm raised during the motion, then snapping back to her side. Something hard and cold as pinned between her bicep and ribs. Ma'kine opened her eyes and exhaled as Kane's voice shouted.

Kane now stood directly in front of Ma'kine. His outline was blurry, but it was definately him. Ma'kine's vision was distorted, seeing two versions of the court impossed one atop the other. In the other version, Ma'kine and Kane stood on the far side, with Ma'kine's Zanpakuto already released as she dodged Kane's sealed sword. The false Ma'kine fired kido fireballs that the fake Kane dodged and evaded. But, Ma'kine knew the one several feet away was the true Kane.

Kane's face was distorted in anger as he tried to pull the scythe back. Ma'kine held the metal of the pole hard, and the large skull head from which the silver blade emerged from was too large to fit through the arm and sides. So, it appeared that by grabbing the scythe's pole, the spell over Ma'kine was lifted and she was able to see Kane. The scythe user was too far away to stab, but Ma'kine hadn't wanted to. She pointed her Zanpakuto knife at Kane. The avian's words were cold and firm, dripping with venom, "Attempt to let go out your Zanpakuto, I will release mine and have Null incinerated." Ma'kine was able to switch from sealed to Shikai very quickly, as the release was a single word followed by the name. Some Shinigami had to recite a short poem to activate their Zanpakuto.

Kane seethed and the string of curses following would have made a sailor cringe. But he didn't let go. Ma'kine however did, Kane falling backwards as the tension on the scythe was released. Ma'kine could no longer see the fake battle, but she could still see Kane. As Kane attempted to rise, Ma'kine's Reiatsu flared and her strong voice called out, "Reincarnate, Infanaruasshu Tori!" Before Kane could even rise back up, the court was blazing with light from the eight feet high sphere of fire at Ma'kine's back. The star rippled with flares and her lower body was already clad in flame. "No more dicking around, Kane. It's time we fought like real Shinigami. Unless you're afraid to face me in a fair fight."

It had taken longer than she planned, but Ma'kine was back on the strategy plan. The fire at her legs and back protected him from Kane's closer combat scythe. Only her left side was unprotected, which meant she knew where the attacks would be aimed. With the intense flames covering her lower body and fist, Ma'kine tossed aside the cut-up top of her uniform, kicking the ground hard as she went airborn, wings snapping to their full size.

The battle was short after this. With the advtantage of the sky, Ma'kine forced Kane to resort to Kido. The human Shinigami's kido was outmatched every time by Ma'kine's. Ma'kine had vast stores of reserve energy, but she wasn't unlimited. Flying took physical excertion, and Kido was spiritually taxing. But, she had far more spiritual ability than Kane. Shortly after the clashing of spells began, Kane's spells began losing their shape. Ma'kine, though she was rightly tired, was still able to maintain spells like Danki and still return Kido blasts. Of course, Danki was only used on the spells that slipped through the crossfire. When Kane ran out of energy to cast Kido, he was practically falling down, needing the scythe as support.

"Time to try that technique you taught me last night, Infanaruasshu Tori," Ma'kine muttered. Almost as if the weapon was responding to him, the fire burned brighter. Ma'kine extended her flame-covered fist outward, opening it and spreading her finger. As she did, the amount of flame grew and grew until it was a few feet in diameter. She drew her arm back across her chest and over her shoulder before whipping it back, aimed at Kane. Her opponent saw the ball of fire coming and hastily threw up the strongest barrier he could, even holding her Zanpakuto between himself and Ma'kine. The orb fell slowly the first foot until Ma'kine called out "Setting Star!" and the ball closed the distance of around thirty meters in a matter of blinks.

It met resistance at the barrier, but half-punched, half-melted its way through. When it reached the thick blade of Null, it tore straight through. The ball moved through barrier, scythe blade and then through Kane's shoulder and buried itself in the ground, continuing until it burned itself out, Ma'kine imaged. Suffocated by lack of oxygen, it couldn't have gone very deep into the ground.

Kane was utterly finished. His Zanpakuto was broken, and with it the spell over everyone who was supposed to be watching. As the sight they had watched disappeared, they were faced with Ma'kine twenty feet in the air, Shikai active and her body riddled with cuts, Kane laying on the ground, her Zanpakuto broken in two and her arm literally burned off her body, the wound cauterized and not even bleeding.

Captain Lord Baozhai and her son exchanged looks. Together, they said, "There had better be an explanation."

~~~ ~~~ ~~~

Ma'kine and Kane, who was unwilling and had to be forced to tell the truth, explained the truth of the fight. Despite not being able to witness the fight, both Baozhai's agreed that Ma'kine should get the Nineteenth Seat. Kane was not seen from again, and her position was given to another Shinigami. Naitofurawā took over for her father the following week, and the former Captain retired, allowing her son both her position as Captain and Head of the Baozhai family.

~~~ ~~~ ~~~

5,500 years ago

The next five hundred years saw retired Lord Sutāshainingu Baozhai passing on and Ma'kine advancing to Eleventh Seat. It was slow progress for Ma'kine, but she welcomed the experience of years of hard work under Lord Naitofurawā. Ma'kine felt that as she was unable to properly repay Lord Sutāshainingu, she would need to double her efforts to find a suitable way of repaying her son on the father's behalf. During the five hundred years since regaining an Official Seat, Ma'kine had managed to tunnel completely from her final checkpoint into one of the lower regions of her mines.

Ma'kine purchased multitudes of torches and began to place them throughout the mine, slowly working her way towards the top. They were far spaced and went down every side passage as well. Only somebody who had the mine memorized would be able to navigate it. Ma'kine in her spare time, which she was having far less of, was moving her many statues throughout the maze of tunnels. Some were small enough to place in nooks under the torches. Others she needed to carve hollow spaces into the mine walls to slide them into position. At first they seemed randomly spaced, but they actually followed a pattern of seven steps, nine steps, four steps, eight steps, repeating throughout the mine. It wasn't for random-ness sake. Ma'kine got the idea because she was singing an old song her mother used to sing when she was cleaning. The song was in her native language and it just happened that each pause in the song occured during those steps. Ma'kine had been dragging several statues on a make-shift sled and during each pause she had unloaded one and continued on her way. However, when Ma'kine realized this she decided it would be strange to not continue as so, so she did. Unfortunately, she didn't have time for carrying more statues to the base of the mountain, so what was there was all she could position.

In what's now called the year 3508 BCE, Ma'kine had finally caught wind of the Smiling Hollow. The reports said that, though it was now an Adjuchas-level Hollow, it was beyond a doubt the Smiling Hollow. It maintained the ability to split into smaller Hollows, but they were now deadlier versions of themselves, roughly Gillian-class in strength each. Two appeared to have evolved into large bipedal sharks. Another looked like a boar but had three heads, each armed with four mighty tusks. A fourth took the shape of a crocodile that evolved into a half-man like thing, with a humanoid body covered in scales and a tail covered in ridges. The fifth, which seemed to lead the other four, was a demonic Hollow, twice the size of the others and all eight of its arms had curved protrusions that grew from the forearms and looked far too much like swords for anybody's comfort. Ma'kine heard that the Smiling Hollow's true form didn't look much different, the mask essentually unchanged, but it gained all the evolutions of its parts and it's power was immense.

Lord Naitofurawā was tasked with handling the Smiling Hollow, as it's rampages proved to be far more than those of mindless beasts. This Hollow purposely made trouble, luring Shinigami in so it could devour them. It rarely ate anything but normal Hollows or Shinigami, the reports said. Ma'kine practically had to beg Lord Naitofurawā to allow himself, Fir and Taskin to come along. Taskin and Fir were Seventeenth and Twentifth Seats, respectfully. They had recently been wed. This Hollow was the one who killed Burge, Ma'kine explained. How could she call himself Burge's friend if she wasn't even there when this thing dies? Ma'kine was her superior officer at the time, she said. She should have protected him and Alexander. Lord Naitofurawā relented, allowing the three to become part of the group. Ten Soul Reapers from Division Eleven would go and destroy this Smiling Hollow once and for all.

They tracked it to a large grassy plains in modern day Eastern Steppes. The Smiling Hollow was divided into its five Gillian-class parts. They stood, the lesser four nearly thirty feet tall and the demonic Hollow twice their size. The sharks breath seemed to freeze the air around them. The boar, thirty feet at the shoulder, pawed the ground and tore deep trenches under its hooves. The crocodile swung long arms at its side. And behind them, the demonic Hollow ran the blades on each arm against each other. They were waiting. Seven masks with eyes hidden somewhere in those recesses stared down at the ten man group led by Captain Lord Naitofurawā Baozhai. Three collumes of three stood behind him. Ma'kine and her friends were in the final row. The Third, Fourth and Sixth Seats stood directly behind Lord Baozhai. Eight, Nine and Ten stood in the middle row. Ma'kine's trio brought up the rear. It was silent, the air still as Captain Baozhai stared at the five Hollows. All ten Zanpakuto were drawn. Without a word, Captain Baozhai raised her sword over her head. With shouts of glory, the Shinigami rushed the five Hollows.

It was an absolute slaughter. The moment the Shinigami broke ranks, the three in the middle row were eaten by the earth. First they were right in front of Ma'kine, then they were sucked under. With a heave the ground burst and from it a sixth Hollow crawled out. This Hollow looked like a rat with a large armored shell and a tongue that stretched many feet, curling around the Fourth and Sixth Seats and sucking them into its mouth before Ma'kine was able to drive her Zanpakuto into one of its six legs. Captain Baozhai turned and was astonished and horrified to find a Hollow had already devoured half of the group. Captain Baozhai called for a retreat immediately for they were drastically over-powered. It was taking the Captain's all to hold back the demonic Hollow and the Third Seat was struggling with both sharks. The boar and the crocodile charged at Ma'kine and her friends as they turned, attempting to put space between themselves and the rat. The boar trampled Fir and as Taskin turned and screamed, the crocodile blasted him away completely with a cero from its gaping maw.

Ma'kine, the Third Seat and Captain Baozhai survived the battle. They hadn't even been enough to force the Hollow to its true form, despite all three releasing their Shikai's. Ma'kine lay in the Fourth Division for two weeks, her stomach having been shredded alongside her legs. The Captain was also heavily injured and the Third was lucky to have survived the return to Soul Society, let alone at all. They would all live. But, as Ma'kine lay in the bed for weeks as her injuries healed, she cursed himself. First Burge and Alexander, now Fir and Taskin too? Was the Smiling Hollow going to kill everybody Ma'kine called a friend? The Hollows were taking everything from him!

Captain Baozhai came to see Ma'kine once her injuries were healed. He regretted that once more the Smiling Hollow had vanished. He thought Ma'kine would like to know. When she was recovered and ready for active duty, she was to take the Fifth Seat.

~~~ ~~~ ~~~

4,800 years ago

Seven hundred years pass passed. Ma'kine rose to Second Seat, tentatively. Ma'kine knew, as well as everybody else that, should Captain Baozhai have a child and when that child came of age, they'd almost certainly be Second Seat. It was basically an unspoken rule that the first two Seats were for Baozhai's foremost. But, after the last battle with the Smiling Hollow, Ma'kine and Captain Baozhai became closer in terms of commander and subordinate. But, Ma'kine had confided that she was wishing to leave the Eleventh Division, transfering to the Kido-specializing Division Five, to make better use of her massive stores of spiritual energy. It had taken many weeks and Captain Baozhai's position as both a respectable Captain and Nobleman, but they were cleared for one final battle with the Smiling Hollow.

Ma'kine aided in selecting a group of Division Eleven members to join himself and the Captain to journey to Hueco Mundo to kill off this incredibly powerful Hollow. The main driving reason such a large task force, with members of Four, Five, Eleven and even Kido Corps members, was allowed to invade Hueco Mundo was because the Smiling Hollow had amassed others of the Menos level into it's own personal army. It was a threat too great to ignore at this point, for if it was ever to become Arrancar, who were incredibly rare naturally, it would be far above normal Captains. As it was, it had to have been at Vasto Lorde class, able to divide into Adjuchas and a lesser version of itself.

After a long preparation to invade Hueco Mundo, the nearly two hundred man group arrived at the Desert. There would be no playing around; anything tied to the Smiling Hollow must be exterminated, as ordered by the Captain Commander. But for Ma'kine, this mission was far more personal. She brimmed with such hatred that all but the Captain himself avoided him. Where she walked, the air became heated by her spiritual pressure. The centuries saw him honing her skills exactly for this day. Revenge was the only thing on her mind. Captain Baozhai repeatedily had to order him to calm down on threat of being sent home and even imprissoned. Captain Baozhai would let nothing risk the lives of these men, especially not a hot-headed Leuitenant.

It did not take long to pin-point the Smiling Hollow's location. It and its small army of Menos Grande and Adjuchas had settled in an area of huge stone buildings that rose from the ground. Ma'kine, thousands of years from that day, would say they appeared 'like Greek but many times older'. The buildings were cracked but not truly ruins. More like a small abandonned city of white stone buildings. A spiritual pressure that radiated death and made all the Shinigami feel downright slimey came from a building that sat above the rest on a low rise of rock protruding from the sands. Without a doubt, the Smiling Hollow, or at least the bulk of its power, resided there.

The Shinigami concealed their Spiritual Pressures and hid, less than a day away. Close enough to watch, but far enough to avoid any outlyers of the small Menos Army. They would rest, and in the 'morning' they would strike in full force. The lesser Menos would be handled by the bulk of the Shinigami, while Ma'kine, Captain Baozhai and the four Kido Corps members would attack the Smiling Hollow themselves.

As Ma'kine slept, she dreamed of the day she sought her Zanpakuto's full power to aid him in her quest for revenge.

~~~ ~~~ ~~~

Ma'kine stood in the plains of her Inner World. Infanaruasshu Tori stood, uncharacteristically on her own two feet, her arms folded across her breasts. "I won't do it, Ma'kine. Not like this," the Zanpakuto Spirit stated. "I understand, but no. I'm sorry they died but we're not ready for Bankai!"

"Yes we are, Infanaruasshu Tori! We need that power to win; I'd do anything to kill that bastard!" Ma'kine was furious. How could she refuse him Bankai when all of her friends died because of that monster!? Did she not love him as she loved her? Could she not feel her agony? Everybody was dead because she wasn't strong enough.

"I do understand; you're blinded by your hate for the Hollow that killed them. But forcing us to do Bankai won't bring them back!" At that, Ma'kine stopped her pacing. She literally threw up her hands and screamed. She knew that; she knew that she knew. "Maybe we'll be stronger in a century, maybe two. But right now I don't think we are."

The young, pretty harpy made it clear that as long as she had control, she wouldn't allow him to learn Bankai. And so, Ma'kine had resorted to something the two had promised not to do. She forcefully dragged her from her Inner World paradise. While Infanaruasshu Tori had, since a few months before the slaughter of a fight with the Smiling Hollow, been able to manifest herself willingly, Ma'kine had always visited her on her terms. It was trust between them; she'd come out whenever she needed her so long as she never forced her into it. So, when Ma'kine stood in the center of her ancestral home and forcefully dragged Infanaruasshu Tori into her world, she was furious.

But she silenced her, saying that she needed Bankai more than anything. She loved and trusted her Zanpakuto, but she said it was time that she had more power. The way to unlocking Bankai was, by default, the subjugation of the Spirit by the Shinigami. She had to fight her, she claimed. It was the only way. Sooner or later, she told her, they would need to fight.

As Ma'kine watched, the Zanpakuto Spirit's body rippled and she seemed to stretch. Her body grew and aged as the air around her suddenly colored and became a robe. It was extremely open in the front, revealing large amounts of her very generous bust, but kept her 'decent'. Her once short hair grew into a large plaited braid. As she opened her eyes, now taller than Ma'kine despite visually appearing the same age, her irridescent orbs were cold and filled with a mixture of contempt and... disappointment. "For the sake of our friendship, my younger self won't ever recall this interaction, Ma'kine. But I beg you, do not do this." Her voice was smooth and elegant, not unlike the classier Nobles Ma'kine had occassionally heard talking.

"You know I must..." While her voice was filled with hurt and painful pride, her was filled equally. They must fight, she must learn Bankai in case that... demon attacked again!

"I won't ever forgive you... Remember that, Ma'kine, every time you use Bankai. If you survive this fight, that is..."

~~~ ~~~ ~~~

Ma'kine was several paces behind her Captain, but many meters before the rest of the group. Before them, the city that the Menos controled was brimming with energy. Here and there, short bursts of Spiritual Pressure indicated squables between Menos. Above the city, in a building that resembled a miniture castle, the energy was practically a living thing. The Shinigami weren't even in the city yet, but already several were sweating and one, a Fourth Division healer, was forced to her knees.

Captain Baozhai turned and looked grimly at the Task Force. "Now that I'm here, I would have prefered to have no less than all the Captains and Leuitenants with us, Ma'kine," the Captain said softly. He then raised her voice to call out to the rest of the group. "The enemy is a small army of solely Menos class Hollows. It is believed that the Smiling Hollow is the sole Vasto Lorde, as I said the night before. However, do not let your guards down. If any of you are cornered, fight and raise your Spiritually Energy as high as you can. Those nearest you will assist. Do not forget the plan. If you see the Smiling Hollow, retreat immediately. Do not engage. Myself and Ma'kine, with the Kido Corps, are the only ones who will fight the Smiling Hollow."

The "plan" was simple. Storm the city in a head on assault, with two smaller groups sneaking to the side to attack in a pincer. Nothing leaves the city alive, period. The main force would continue straight on, dwindling smaller until only the kido masters and the two highest Shinigami remained. The rest would split off to hold enemies back.

It worked, for the most part. Except, nearly two hours into the assault on the city, the main force still hadn't reached the castle. The forgotten city had been built to stall attackers. Streets spiraled, walls were massive curved things. This city was more like a fortress. And the Menos just kept coming. From behind, more Shinigami had to fall away to hold them off long enough for the main force to fight those in front. And, at roughly this time, a third group had joined the fray.

The Espada.

They attacked the city from the side opposite of the main Shinigami force. But they were making far more progress in gaining ground than the Shinigami were. Ma'kine hadn't realized how close they were until the Adjuchas she had been fighting suddenly erupted into a literal geyser of blood, its entire body becoming just blood, flesh and all. Walking towards the Shinigami, a small, child-like figure approached. Every inch of her body was covered in blood, as was the path behind her. In her right hand, she wielded a lance. Under the thick coating of blood, her face was further obscurred by a mask, very much like the visor of a helmet.

"Shinigami, why are you here?" The child asked. She approached Captain Baozhai slowly, her lance still raised but not immediately pointed at anyone. "By order of the King, this city is to be cleansed."

Captain Baozhai stood firm, as was Ma'kine, though the rest of the main force backed away. "By order of the Captain Commander, the leader of the Menos Army is to be exterminated. It would appear that our goals are the same, Arrancar."

The girl recoiled as if she had been spit at. "I am the Segunda Espada," she said venomously. "And so it would appear... Just stay out of our way; we'll be killing the Menos. You may as well go home.We won't fight you Shinigami trash, though. Not in the orders. Unless you get in our way."

With that, the girl leapt over the group of Shinigami, landing behind them. Ma'kine looked up as she jumped. Three crimson drops landed on her face, leaving trails down her cheeks.

~~~ ~~~ ~~~

By the time Ma'kine and the main force reached the castle, the extermination of the city became a three way massacre. Down below, Shinigami fought Espada and Hollows. Espada obliterated Shinigami and Hollow alike. The Hollows fought for survival in vain.

At the topmost building in the city, the leader of the Menos Army stood between the remains of the Shinigami Menos Task Force and the top three Espada. Captain Baozhai stood in front, Ma'kine at her side. Only the Kido Corps remained behind them. The three groups stood outside the building, in what was most likely a courtyard if the walls weren't demolished. The Smiling Hollow had divided its body into several lesser versions of itself.

There was a crocodile-man roughly twice the height of Ma'kine, a shark-like being that appeared to be as much shark as it was boar due to the large tusks, a armored rat that possessed a tail that crackled with black spirit energy, and lastly was the main body. Despite its power split into three Adjuchas as well, the fourth was clearly a Vasto Lorde. It strongly resembled the demon, as it was entirely black with ruby lines and edges and possessed long blades for arms. However, this Vasto Lorde was clearly feminine, though slender and slightly built. But as it demonstrated with a single movement of its arm, it's power was well beyond anything they had fought before. The building to its side was destroyed, sliced in half despite the Vasto Lorde never moving. The mere force of its swing sliced the building in half, walls, floor and all.

That was the signal each group had unconsciously waited for. Wordlessly, the battle began. The Espada rushed the Adjuchas, each Espada in their sealed forms. The Vasto Lorde calmly began to walk towards Captain Baozhai and Ma'kine.

Ma'kine and the Captain were both in Shikai. While the demonic Vasto Lorde engaged the Captain, Ma'kine would shoot off her Setting Star technique. Despite the raw power, though, it hadn't the strength to defeat the Vasto Lorde's hierro. That black skin would catch fire, but not burn away like it would have on a Shinigami. Ma'kine's fire based attacks would strike while the Vasto Lorde was locked in combat with the Captain. But if the Hollow chose to switch targets, the Captain would attack from behind.

Simple, but it worked. Only slightly, though. While it did harm the Hollow, it was evident that unless Bankai level or greater was used against it, the Smiling Hollow would continue toying with the Espada and Shinigami. The Kido Corps' attacks were shrugged off or blocked at each turn.

A shout from Ma'kine's right caused the two Shinigami to become distracted. They both looked over to watch as the young girl from earlier reeled backwards, clutching her face. Incredible amounts of blood poured from where the left part of her mask had been. Her lance also lay to her side, crushed.

The Segunda Espada was definately about to die without intervention. Unfortunately, the other two Espada were deadlocked with their Adjuchas enemies. Captain Baozhai nodded once to Ma'kine before leaping to fight the rat-like Adjuchas alongside the Espada girl. Leaving Ma'kine alone to fight the Vasto Lorde.

Within minutes, Ma'kine was breathing heavily and felt light-headed. Twice the Vasto Lorde had neary been defeated by its own reckless fighting style. It's hyper-aggressive rushing nearly made it come into direct contact with the star at Ma'kine's back. Ma'kine had taken to using it as a large shield, turning at the last moment to place the star of her Shikai between them. Unfortunately, one by one the rest of the fighters were falling. First the Segunda, then the Primera, then even the Captain. Finally, the Kido Corps and the Third Espada crumpled. Not dead, but merely unable to move. Every one of them was beaten senseless. And Ma'kine knew she was next because the Vasto Lorde before him was quickly losing her patience.

As she was cornered, Ma'kine lifted himself into the air. Though she wouldn't be crushed by the shark or rat, or cut by that demoness, she had to be wary of long distance attacks. Like Ceros. However, moments after they opened fire, the Menos all stopped. Before her eyes, they seemed to shimmer and vibrate into one another.

A minute after the bizzare vibrating merger, the Menos had fused together into their original form. Human sized, the Smiling Hollow appeared much like the Vasto Lorde from before, but adrogenous. Some differences were the shape of the armor. On the shoulders, the armor was shaped like the head of a shark. Emerging from along the spine was a armored tail. The head looked far more human now, but still possessed a crown of small horns. The two foremost horns bore a strong resemblance to tusks.

Defininately male, the Vasto Lorde before him was much stronger than the sum of her parts, Ma'kine realized. The ground seemed to be pushed away from the Hollow as it moved, and even from the air Ma'kine felt a cold darkness that radiated from the Vasto Lorde. When the Vasto Lorde looked up at him, Ma'kine felt an intense chill and actually dropped several feet under the gaze.

"You Shinigami made a mistake coming after Barranst Wanderquiest," the Vasto Lorde said. Barranst pointed one of her blade arms at Ma'kine, before making a short cutting motion. "Bala."

"Shi-," Ma'kine gasped as twelve black and silver orbs barraged him, blasting into him and knocking him completely out of the air. She fell hard into the ground, not far from where the Captain lay. Ma'kine pulled himself up onto her knees and stabbed her Zanpakuto into the ground. It had reverted back to its Sealed State when she was struck from the sky. If she remembered correctly, that meant she was near death. Or she had lost consciousness and simply didn't realize it.

Ma'kine spat on the ground and shrugged as a wad of thick blood came out. Definately some internal damage, she thought. Her limbs felt as if they had been wretched from their sockets. Standing wearily, she looked down at her ruined body. Pouring wounds, cuts and blunt bashes. Her clothing was shredded and she tore the remains of it away.

Barranst was coming towards him, the blades the Vasto Lorde humming with power and force. The energy around the Vasto Lorde was eating away at the air between them, pressing in on the avian Shinigami. Not knowing what else to do, Ma'kine looked to her small weapon held loosely in her hand. She felt like she was unable to grasp it properly. Perhaps I have lost too much blood, some part of her mind wondered. ""So this is what death feels like, eh, Infanaruasshu Tori?" Her voice was thick from the blood in her throat and mouth. "I know you won't forgive me for this...."

Barranst was before Ma'kine as the winged humanoid stood, her knife readied at her side. "Dead men need no forgiveness, you fool."

Ma'kine half-smiled, spitting a mouthful of blood at the Vasto Lorde. "Ban...Kai, Eien no Ribaibinguraputā..."

~~~ ~~~ ~~~

After the battle, Ma'kine and the wounded returned to Soul Society. The battle hard been hard, but the loses were surprisingly few. It would seem the Espada had been more helpful than they claimed they would be. The Shinigami reported their success to the Captain Commander, Ma'kine reported on her Bankai taking down the Vasto Lorde to Captain Baozhai.

There was no body to prove the Smiling Hollow's death, only the lack of its spiritual pressure and Ma'kine and the Captain's word. The fact of the Espada's aid was left out of the reports, instead referenced as an "internal battle between Hollows that the Menos Extermination Task Force took advantage of."

The number of Shinigami deaths went down after the battle. Hollow attacks returned to the occasional feedings of normal Hollows. Menos did not return to the Human world, nor the Soul Society. Another marked change was Ma'kine's rank. She had transferred immediately upon her return, moving into the unseated Shinigami rank and file of the Fifth Division, spending the following weeks learn and perfecting her Kido.

Most notable of all was that she moved. Ma'kine had always resided just outside the Barracks of the Eleventh Division. Now, she moved into a more common walkway area, purchasing a moderate sized area within Seireitei. She lived now in a building built into one of the many walls, and owned a small peice of land that existed between the wall she lived in and the one behind. It was a gap where the two walls didn't meet, but was otherwise blocked off on all sides. The 'house' was not much either, having been used as a warehouse previously to store food and equipment. The bird-man's new home was located within Fifth Division's area, but was on the side closest to the Eleventh's despite the large area between the two.

Unnoticed by most was the unusual change to Ma'kine's energy and personality. Her Spiritual Pressure had grown some, and when she released it, the energy was heavy. As if it was eating the air around him. Most unusual however was that, more than she ever had before, Ma'kine wore a small smile.

~~~ ~~~ ~~~

by **Grandkiduchi** Sun Apr 14, 2019 8:52 pm

3,200 years ago

Sixteen centuries after the defeat of the Smiling Hollow, Ma'kine had successfully finished her goal. The tunnels into her mountain home were finished. She had rigged the tunnels with ropes and sleds, allowing him to pull several statues at a time behind him. Her Village was now restored in perfect detail to its former glory. The Vault where her riches lay was heavily protected, by the lightless tunnels that were a maze, by bars and pitfalls, and by the false dead-end she had placed at the entrance. A kido barrier of sorts, it mimicked the surrounding earth to appear as if the path ended. However, it was only a trick of the eyes, for one could walk straight through it. The barrier was fueled not by her own energy, but by an ore she had discovered deep underground. It was like the opposite of the Sekkiseki Stone. Instead of repelling Spiritual Energy, it radiated trace amounts of it. Not enough to be of use in a weaponized form, but plenty to keep up an illusion.

Ma'kine had used a fair amount of this gold she had stored to furnish her home. Though she thought himself a simple woman, she did not believe she should need to live in squalor either. Her bed was large, though it needed to be for a woman of her stature, and her floors covered in fine rugs. Weapons, armor and other pricey bits stood or rested upon the walls. She lived on the second floor of her home, and had turned the space out back into one half-herb garden, one half pit. The pit was home to two very large snakes. The herbs were mostly medicinal, though some were purely for the edibility. The downstairs of Ma'kine's home was a used as a library and shop combined into one. Ma'kine sold manuscripts, scrolls, inks and dyes and other assortments. She also was known to sell her hand as a scribe. Occassionally rare jewels or weapons found their way into her shop.

Ma'kine had even decided to name her store. Ma'kine's Manuscripts and Miscellaneous was the rough name of her store. Though it changed with the centuries, as did the contents within, the name meant roughly the same thing.

~~~ ~~~ ~~~

2,100 years ago

Over eleven centuries, Ma'kine advanced up to the sixth seat. Not for any particular reason. Mainly because she was a good Kido user and mighty Shinigami. What prevented her rise higher was her personality. It had grown darker, more distant, as time edged on.

Ma'kine had made no allies or close friends. When questioned, she reported that her friends were all dead and she felt no need to make new ones. They had lived, now they didn't. Ma'kine had seperated himself from her former Captain, though the two stayed in communication. Ma'kine's debt to the Baozhai was eternal, she said. She would aid Lord Baozhai until her last breath. Then, she would follow her son. And in the future, the child of him. As long as Ma'kine was a Shinigami, she claimed, she would owe the Baozhai family. Either she would parish before that debt was fulfilled or they would, she thought silently. The aging Captain never needed Ma'kine to say it; he knew it to be true.

It was at this time that Ma'kine arranged himself to be brought deep within the Maggot's Nest. She sought a prisoner unlike any other the Seireitei had captive here. For, this prisoner was a human woman. In life, her parents were attacked by a Hollow but survived the encounter long enough to birth the girl. This girl had strange powers, able to manipulate the hair on her body as deadly weapons and she had the sight to see Spirits. In death, she retained these abilities. A Fullbringer was the name given to these humans. They were anomalies, humans with abilities derived from those of Hollows. Supposedily, like Hollows, they were strongest in Hueco Mundo.

Ma'kine looked over the young woman. She lay, chained, bound and gagged in a cell. Every last hair on her body had been partially burned off, partly ripped using hot wax. Though she couldn't see her face, she knew not even her eyebrows remained. "It must be terrible, stripped of the one thing you love the most. It couldn't have been pleasant to be forced out of your clothing and then have every last bit of your love torn, literally, from your body." She didn't respond. Not that she could. Ma'kine wasn't even sure if the assassin could hear him. "I have a proposal. I am buying your freedom for you. You'll be under my protection after one week from tomorrow. No more burning. But, I only have one issue. I need to know that you're as dangerous as this guard says you are. I'm going to ask this guard to ungag you," Ma'kine said as she turn to look at the guard. As she did, something iritated her nose and as she looked, a faint drop of blood welled. Sitting across the bridge of her nose was a single short hair. "On second thought... I'll just take that as a yes. I'll see you one week from tomorrow."

~~~ ~~~ ~~~

The young woman was named Yuri. She didn't give a last name, and Ma'kine didn't ask. She sat on a low table in the shop. She wore loose robes, similar to those of a priestest. The girl's brown hair was already growing to her ears in the past week.

Ma'kine wore her Vastech, and nothing else. Though it had been three days since Yuri's release, she still let her eyes move all over her form. Ma'kine rather liked being looked at, though it wasn't sexual at all on her part. She simply enjoyed being admired. "I think I owe it to you to tell you the truth. Shockingly, you weren't released from the Nest to clean my store and eat my food," Ma'kine said, a shadow of sarcasm in her voice. "I want you to be the first member of a... group, I wanted to start. It's not approved by the Seireitei, and I'd rather they knew nothing about it. Of course, I doubt you'd be telling them anything, considering your... Situation.

"The group will be of people like you. Those with unique traits or abilities that cause them to... Not be accepted among the common rabble. I wanted you to be the first member specifically. Your abilities are well known among Rukongai; people slept much easier when they heard you were imprissoned. I wanted to use your connections, hopefully you can locate other people like us, special people. I was thinking... Fullbringers, souls who showed potential for becoming Shinigami but cannot make it in. Young, old, makes no difference."

Ma'kine looked at the pretty woman. "Why? Well, I want to obtain something. Many things, in fact. And its best if nobody knew how they were taken, by whom, or even how. Hm, what's in it for you? Why, your freedom for starters. And I can pay you. Much better than you'd make in Rukongai. And an equal share of all we take, of course. No, you foolish girl. You won't be living here with me. You can for now, but I know a place where a great number of those joined to us can stay. Yes, it's secure. The Gotei don't even know of its existance. And if they did, they'd have no way of getting there. Oh, now you're getting to the point I see. What is it I plan to steal?"

Ma'kine's eyes shone with the glow of only one who believed whole heartedily in their goal can achieve. "I plan to take all the knowledge the Soul Society has kept hidden for since time eternal. I'm after all that exists within the Great Spirit Library."

The woman blinked then tilted her head. Her shoulder slumped and as it did, her robe followed. "Yuri, I assure you. It is a bounty greater than any treasure. Some believe that the library contains every event that ever happened. Knowledge forbidden to everyone. I know beyond a doubt that, with those books, I can pay you the greatest payment of all," Ma'kine's voice had steadily been getting faster as she spoke. Finally, in a rush of exciment, she burst. "I can get you your voice, Yuri!"

Yuri jerked upright, her over-sized robes falling off her shoulders completely. The look on her face was one of pure longing desire. And it was then that Ma'kine knew that she was hooked. "So, today I guess marks the begining of SECRET," Ma'kine said. At a look from Yuri, she explained. "Spiritually Exceptional Creatures Recognized as Extreme Threats. Only seemed fitting considered you're a killer and I was former second of the Eleventh Division."

Yuri nodded, moving to sit back against the table. The look on her face seemed to say, But just talking about this makes us treasonous at best. The look on Ma'kine's said that was a fair price for knowledge. Unknown to Yuri, the knowledge she saught lay in bringing back those killed long ago... She prayed silently that the knowledge existed.

~~~ ~~~ ~~~

1060 years ago

Ma’kine didn’t spend their time exclusively among the Baozhai, of course. The other Noble Houses were familiar to her. In particular, there was the noble house of Tsuyosa, who claimed to be descended from Vastine Amorte. And of course, Ma’kine knew she wasn’t the last of her species; only the last survivor of Veratrax Peak’s village. She was from an old generation, however, and she had seen younger Vastine Amorte join the Gotei from villages around the Rukongai.

It was around a thousand and sixty years ago that Ma’kine had became rather interested in the affairs of the Tsuyosa family. For, the head of the family, a man named Shinsetsuna, had a very bad drinking and gambling habit.

Ma’kine discovered this one night when she had been returning to Seireitei from her mountain, and noticed a familiar shape moving out from one of the many bars and brothels in the Rukongai.

On a whim, the large Vastine Amorte woman settled down on the ground behind the man who had been trying, unsuccessfully, to sneak away.

“Lord Shinsetsuna… What are you doing out here?” Ma’kine asked, causing the man to jump and turn around. Ma’kine had worn only her Vastech and pants to go out, and she did not fail to notice the way the nobleman’s line of sight rested on her bosom.

Shinsetsuna Tsuyosa admitted to his drinking and other habits, asking Ma’kine to not tell his wife, and promising her a reward to keep quiet. It was roughly two in the morning, and Ma’kine felt calm and relaxed as the cool night air soothed her sweaty muscles. Again, on a random whim, Ma’kine asked the nobleman to take her to the bar he had just left. She decided she’d stay quiet only if the lord drank with her. Ma’kine never really had a passion for alcohol, not like the Baozhai giants did. But, she felt the need to do something new and different.

The two ended up drinking until Ma’kine was red in the face, leaning heavily on the human as they placed bets on game of tiles. Due to the sheer size difference, Ma’kine’s chest rested on the noble’s shoulders and back of his head as she leaned over him, yelling out moves for her favored player to take. Shinsetsuna did not seem to mind at all. By four in the morning, the two Shinigami were too drunk to return to the Seireitei, instead resorting to renting a room.

Ma’kine could not recall what happened after leaving the bar and stumbling alongside the noble to the room, but she awoke in the afternoon, cradling the nobleman in her arms with her six wings around them. Neither of them were dressed.

~~~ ~~~ ~~~

It was some time before Ma’kine realized she was pregnant. Vastine Amorte pregnancies were long, slow processes due to how slowly the fetus developed. But, soon Ma’kine recognized her mood swings were unnatural, and her appetite was especially ravenous. She requested that she be taken off any overtly physical tasks, instead focusing simply on Kido.

In the course of her forty two years of pregnancy, Ma’kine took it easy, and slowly lost the muscles she’d been known for, her limbs becoming soft and more feminine than before. She began to use creams and oils to care for her skin, making it look healthier than before, and eventually she seemed to become a new person entirely.

And then, in the year nine hundred and ninety six, she gave birth to a gorgeous, white feathered Vastine Amorte girl. She named her daughter “Va’tet,” her ‘Silver Sun.’

Ma’kine’s daughter grew quickly, and Va’tet was never taught whom her father was. Due to Ma’kine’s desire for her daughter to excel, she doted on her and spoke constantly of how beautiful she was, of how fast she was learning. While the youth of a Vastine Amorte may seem long to Humans, it was rapid to Ma’kine, who treated Va’tet as the center of her world.

But she wasn’t lenient on her training. Under Ma’kine’s eye, Va’tet was taught the basics of using spirit energy and was admitted into the Shinigami Academy when she was only two hundred and seventy nine; still only physically four years old!

Ma’kine adored Va’tet, teaching her every trick and lesson Ma’kine knew. She would gush to the Baozhai about her amazing daughter. ‘Va’tet just became the 4th seat of her Division, and she’s still so young!’ and ‘Va’tet has a Kaido type Zanpakuto! Doesn’t she look so sweet in her Shikai!’ were often said.

By the time her daughter was physically six, in 1373, Ma’kine was ecstatic to find that Va’tet had been chosen, personally, by the Captain Commander. Her elation at Va’tet’s progress made Ma’kine blind to the state of affairs in the Gotei. She didn’t see the Commander’s corruptness, not until nearly twenty years later when Va’tet was sent on a secret mission, and never returned.

The Commander didn’t hold a funeral for the Vastine Amorte girl. He offered her mother no condolences. He simply gave Va’tet’s second a promotion. And from that moment on, a seed of hate had been born in Ma’kine. Hate for the man who sent her precious child to her death.

~~~ ~~~ ~~~

315 years ago

Ma’kine had spent her time with the Lady of the Baozhai, Lanying, since the death of Va’tet. She would either be found speaking to Lanying when not on patrol, or she would be at Veratrax Peak, with Yuri, her best friend and whom she loved deeply.

Since Va’tet died, Ma’kine found herself more and more dissatisfied with the current Commander. They’d been to war recently, and Lanying’s husband, Junichiro, the head of the Baozhai, and two other Captains had died. Dissent had spread among the Gotei, and a new wind blew upon them.

Rallying behind Lanying Baozhai, a revolution began.

The struggle lasted for seven years, with Ma’kine siding with Lanying. Ma’kine wanted to be the one to slay the Commander, but she knew on a level that the leader of the revolution had to take down the leader. She hated it, raged against it at first, but angrily she swore that she’d hold the line at allow Lanying to fight the Commander alone.

Ma’kine stood outside of the First Division, swearing to prevent reinforcements from saving the senile Commander. In her rage, she used the full strength of her Bankai, slinging flames and Kido everywhere, but Ma’kine was greatly outnumbered. The revolutionists were at a disadvantage here, this deep into the grounds of the loyalists.

Ma’kine was worn ragged, taking her centuries of anger out on those in front of her, who fought desperately. Their Zanpakuto and Kido shattered her wings, rendering the Vastine Amorte flightless in their battle. Swords and spears and lightning bore into her body. Her chest heaved, knowing her stomach had been slashed, her chest stabbed, her shoulders pierced by lightning.

With a scream of all the pain in her long life, Ma’kine felt something inside herself move.

~~~ ~~~ ~~~

In her mind, she heard her Zanpakuto crying. Not the childish Infanaruasshu Tori, but the voice of Eien no Ribaibinguraputā. Mentally, Ma’kine sought her out. She found the woman in the mansion, cradling her head between her knees.

As if a chill wave had washed away Ma’kine’s anger, she asked the spirit what ailed her. Eien no Ribaibinguraputā replied that she felt awful, for deceiving Ma’kine. Maybe if I’d been honest and gave you my name, we’d be stronger, the spirit said. Ma’kine kneeled, hugging the woman. Her Zanpakuto said Ma’kine deserved to know. She earned that right. They were ready for Bankai now. A real Bankai…

~~~ ~~~ ~~~

“Uchū raputā no mugen no kiga,” Ma’kine murmured, standing up as five of her wings hung limply at her sides.

The sky seemed to darken, and around Ma’kine, the flames started to dwindle and die. The star at her back pulsed, spinning faster and faster, burning brighter until nobody could look… And then that light began to fade. The flames covering her hand receded, pulling back into the star itself as the light turned black.

Ma'kine gave a howl of pain as she spread her broken wings wide, raising her fist into the air. As she did, the darkening star rose, lifting overhead before it seemed to double, triple, quadruple in size until it obscured the skies, the it rapidly shrunk. Smaller, smaller. And as it did, a great weight fell over the area, driving lesser Shinigami to their knees. The shrinking black star gave pulses of Spiritual Pressure as it crushed itself. And that pressure began to build until it was pulling the exhausted Shinigami towards it. Their screams were inaudible, as even their voices were drawn into the collapsing star. One by one, everyone was drawn into the black sphere as it shrank, their bodies compacted infinitely within. As Ma'kine gave a soundless scream, focusing her hatred for the Commander on those farthest away, chunks of buildings were drawn into her realized Bankai, this black hole of power. But, eventually, Ma'kine had kept her promise.

Not a single Shinigami would arrive to support the former Commander.

~~~ ~~~ ~~~

After the battles, Ma'kine sought out the Lady Baozhai, who had taken the mantle of leadership after the civil war. Ma'kine was haggard and scarred from the war. Her wings were completely drained of color, pale gray and white feathers falling out of the broken limbs. She'd been crying recently, based on the stains on her cheeks. She knelt before Lanying, holding out her Zanpakuto. She begged the Commander to cut her wings off, to please cut off the wings that look so much like Va'tet's.

After Ma'kine's wings were removed, she stated that she was quitting the Gotei. The Gotei had cost her her only daughter, and now her wings. She would take on the position of Grand Kido Chief, as she doubted anyone in the Corps would deny her superiority in Kido.

150 years ago

SECRET had only made one move in history, shortly after its founding. The only member captured was an old man who had the potential for being a Shinigami, but never could take the test due to illness. It was the same illness that led to him being caught just outside the outermost entrance to the library. He wasn't ever brought in, however. Once ensnared by a trap, he proclaimed that "SECRET's secrets shall never be heard." before killing himself in a kido explosion. Ma'kine held himself responsible, for having taught the man the trick. A slight mispronounciation caused a spell to explode immediately instead of on impact.

The attack happened fourty years after Ma'kine founded the group and moved them to her Mountain. They resided both in the village and the tunnels. For nearly twenty centuries the group slowly grew. But Ma'kine swore off attacks on the library again. She claimed that it was too dangerous. They needed more allies, powerful ones. Not that the families now residing in the village were weak, but as time went on, they stopped being the hardened killers, thieves and other oddities that Ma'kine originally recruited. Many of the original group aged and died peacefully on the mountain, their children strengthening themselves the way Ma'kine had; digging in the mines and practicing in the village. Ma'kine wondered now if her forefathers would approve of humans living in their homes.

Nearly twenty centuries after the founding of SECRET, Ma'kine's group was large enough for there to be a large, constant amount of Spiritual Energy at the Village at any given time. Ma'kine had always drawn similiarities to her forefathers and SECRET's new home. SECRET worked the earth as her parents had. They mined as she had done. SECRET copied Seireitei's advancement as her forefathers had done. And, as she discovered, were exterminated as her forefathers had been.

Ma'kine walked cheerfully out of the mine's entrance on a late autumn evening. The sky was a miriad of colors. Not a cloud, even around the mountain. But, to her horror, four huge Hollows were spread out around the village, and several bodies lay strewn carelessly in the paths, on fences.

Ma'kine hadn't sensed them because she hadn't been trying to. She never thought... She should have been prepared! With a gutteral rage, she rushed the nearest Hollow and stabbed furiously at it with her knife. The other Hollows fell soon after, each in a more bloody way than the last.

To Ma'kine's joy, there were survivors. Not many; a few children, Yuri, and one or two adults. Yuri was very old now, but her beauty never left her, nor her deadly accuracy with her weaponized hair. Yuri and Ma'kine shared one, solumn, grieving look. Yes. They would rebuild SECRET, even if she wasn't there to see its success. Ma'kine silently swore that, no matter what, Yuri would talk again. She'd get to say how sorry she was that SECRET had been attacked.

Yuri died that same winter, her body no longer able to endure life in the mountain. And with her, so too, did SECRET. The survivors scattered to the winds.

~~~ ~~~ ~~~

100 years ago

After Yuri's death, Ma'kine withdrew into herself. She was still a powerful Seated Officer. But, as she coldly reminded herself, she was not human. She was destined to watch humans, even those claiming to be the Gods of Death, age and pass on. They either died of old age, or were torn apart by Hollows. It made no difference to her.

"Humans... are so strange..." And at this moment, Ma'kine began to lose any last connections or hopes she may have had of fitting in with the rest of the Shinigami.

Approximately 15 Years Ago

Fifteen years ago, Ma'kine, an outsider in personality and appearance, expanded her store. The store annexed the surrounding rooms and area, Ma'kine having bought out the warehouses and several living areas from the street she resided. Nearly four times as large, Ma'kine's Manuscripts expanded to include a library to the northern part of the store, filling both the bottom and top floors of the warehouse that had existed there. Ma'kine paid for renovations to remake the interior and add and remove inner walls, though had some difficulty as the area she lived and ran her business was part of one of the great walls that turned Seireitei into a maze.

The library contained scrolls and books on various subjects, ranging from Animal books for children to "Zanpakuto Maintenance and Care". Bookcases lined the outer edge of the library, and several fluffy couches were arranged in the central space. The second level was opened up to be only a balcony going the entire perimeter of the warehouse wide enough for bookcases lining the walls and two people to walk abreast, with a space in the middle looking down at the lower level, with an intricate wooden rail preventing people from falling. Ma'kine kept Shinigami related content on the second floor.

The main section she kept as it was, however she had doors built leading to the library to the North, on the left side of the room, and another on the right leading to a set of rooms. The first room contained more parchment and inks, all held inside various glass cases. The room had three more doors, one leading upstairs, one to a Eastern room and one further South. The upstairs room held material that Shinigami may need, such as cloths, sewing items, basic medical supplies as well as various tinctures and oils for everything from curing fatigue to achieving a greater polish on a metal blade. Ma'kine even carried an oil that could make a Zanpakuto appear aged and worn, while maintaining sharpness.

The Eastern room sold gems, dug by Ma'kine herself, in both raw and cut forms. These gems and stones were stored in a Kido-enhanced glass display case. The Southernmost room was used as storage of new goods and was protected by a kido lock to keep customers out.

Ma'kine had expanded her store in response to the increased tension she felt in Soul Society. The very ancient Shinigami knew that Hollow Exterminations were increasing in frequency. The Shinigami were winning an age old war. And Ma'kine didn't like it one bit. Ma'kine looked at the numerous victories as an omen. Good fortune only lasted so long.

But, Ma'kine capitalized on the good mood of the Shinigami, expanding Ma'kine's Manuscripts and offering a wider variety of services to make profit off the elation of Seireitei. She didn't know how long the jubilation would last, so she spent a good portion of her own gold to buy up the area around her store, knowing that in the long run, the rather astounding pile of yellow rocks would be nothing compared to her total profits.

Her store, located between the Eleventh and Fifth Divisions, was her second favorite job. The avian was a powerful Shinigami, one who should've been Captain if she tried to pursue that, but she preferred watching over her once-small store that was gaining popularity steadily. But, in truth, SECRET is where Ma'kine's heart lay. Though she was the last living member, Ma'kine kept constant vigilance, looking for anyone who may join her. And still, she tried to learn all that she could to aid the future members of SECRET. But until their numbers grew, she would bide her time, profiting off Ma'kine's Manuscripts, and forever working on her ancestral home and the now seemingly infinite mines below her mountain.

by **Shiroki** Tue Apr 16, 2019 9:34 pm

Approved
Veteran tier

by **Grandkiduchi** Tue Apr 16, 2019 11:09 pm

Ma'kine gets 8 Skills of her choosing, with base Ranks of Expert, and Bakudo beginning at Master

Unarmed Combat: Intermediate
Spiritual Combat: Grandmaster
Hoho: Intermediate
Reiatsu Perception: Advanced
Hado: Grandmaster
Bakudo: Grandmaster
Kaido: Expert
Shunko: Master

by **Grandkiduchi** Wed Apr 17, 2019 12:40 am

Technique Name: Vastine Amorte shizen (Vastine Amorte Nature)
Technique Description: Due to the nature of her kind, Ma'kine possesses the ability to fly and see in near total darkness. Ma'kine also sees a wider range of color than normal people, allowing him to see the majority of light between near ultraviolet and mid-infered. She does this by using a second eyelid, though using her Star-based Shikai allows him to see much more at will. She describes it as "cycling through" the wavelengths the way one would cycle through radio stations.

Technique Name: Garūda no ikari (Anger of the Garuda)
Technique Description: Ma'kine's Spiritual Pressure takes physical shape in an aura of fire. As her emotions rise, fires spontaneously erupt within several feet of her person.

Technique Name: Jaberinribingu (Living Javelin)
Technique Description: Wrapping her arms around the target to restrain them, Ma'kine flies several stories upwards. Once reaching her desired height, Ma'kine throws the victim headlong towards the ground. Alternatively, Ma'kine grabs a body or similarly shaped object and throws that at the target.

Technique Name: Faningu-en (Fanning Flames)
Technique Description: Ma'kine unleashes a sudden burst of heat from her body by snapping her wings open and shut at high speeds. The force pushes nearby objects and persons away from him.

Technique Name: Gatoringufisuto (Gatling Fist)
Technique Description: Using the boost to her speed, Ma'kine unleashes a flurry of physical punches.

Shikai Ability: Most obviously, it gives Ma'kine fire manipulation and immunity, but it also creates and controls a star. The Shikai itself is the star, and all the flames are taken from it. As such, they burn with the intensity of solar flares. The star is bound to Ma'kine and she to it. They are bound by the flames on her legs and fist, unquenchable by conventional means. Losing the fire on her body causes the star to drift, until she catches it and reignites the flames. It is her equivalent of dropping her weapon.

Technique Name: Sukāretto sōgi kasō (Scarlet Funeral cremation)
Technique Description: Flames pulled from the star at her back erupt from her fist as she punches the earth. These flames shoot outwards along the ground in an intricate spider's web over a thirty foot diameter with Ma'kine as the epicenter. When the lines of fire touch a Hollow, it is engulfed in crimson fire briefly and reduced to ashes.

Technique Name: Amegafuru sutā (Star Rain)
Technique Description: A huge amount of fire swarms around her fist, expanding to a three feet across orb. This orb is released in a straight line and has the burning intensity of a miniture star. It will burn through any material in its path until it is unable to continue keeping itself alight.

Technique Name: Taiyō furea (Solar Flare)
Technique Description: Even if Ma'kine does not give the command, she can activate this power. The star at Ma'kine's back drastically increases in brightness, blinding those in the vicinity besides Ma'kine himself due to how used the avian is.

Technique Name: Sutābāsuto (Star Burst)
Technique Description: Ma'kine claspses her hands together over her head, drawing a large amount of flame down her arm. The technique appears similar Setting Star, however once the star reaches full size, it erupts and sends tongues of flame in all directions.

Technique Name: Saigai Shakkahō (Disaster Red Flame Cannon)
Technique Description: Using her own flames as a catalyst, Ma'kine increases the potency of the Kido spell.

While in Bankai, Ma'kine can direct the creature with thought alone. While the beast exists, the flames on her body and sword continually burn. If the bird is destroyed, her flames vanish. However, Ma'kine gains the power to breathe this star-fire, enabling him to continually revive the bird as long as she is able to breathe enough flame to re-create the creature. The intensity of her fire is so great, water and ice abilities evaporate in her presence. Ma'kine's phoenix has the ability to "remember" those it personally kills. It can remember three individuals and any abilities it saw.

Technique Name: Sutā to honō no ōkoku (Kingdom of Star and Flame)
Technique Description: The intensity of Ma'kine's Bankai causes all natural water in the air and enviroment to evaporate. Water and ice based techniques fail in her prescence unless used by absolute masters of the element. Technique ends if Ma'kine uses Satsugai sa reta teki no umarekawari or reseals her Bankai.

Technique Name: Uragiri no kyohi (Denial of Betrayal)
Technique Description: While in Bankai, Fire, Plasma and Electric based attacks, including Kido and naturally existing forms, leave Ma'kine unharmed.

Technique Name: Honō-ō no kotoba (Words of the Flame King)
Technique Description: Ma'kine gains the ability to breathe star-flame at any time while in Bankai. These flames act as normal fire, but cannot be exinquished by water, as water cannot exist in Ma'kine's prescence.

Technique Name: Kingu no hōsoku (King's Law)
Technique Description: Using Honō-ō no kotoba, Ma'kine brings back to life her Bankai, breathing a continuios flame to recreate the bird.

Technique Name: Satsugai sa reta teki no umarekawari: Barranst Wanderquiest (Reincarnation of the Slain Foe: Barranst Wanderquiest)
Technique Description: The phoenix body of the Bankai comes to rest before Ma'kine, to her right side. It faces him and bows its great head, seemingly kneeling before him. As it does, its flames burn much brighter until they are blinding. As the flames start to burn away, Barranst Wanderquiest, the Smiling Hollow of Ma'kine's past, kneels in servitude Ma'kine.

Technique Name: Satsugai sa reta teki no umarekawari: (Reincarnation of the Slain Foe: _____)
Technique Description: Unused Technique Slot. Will transform the Bankai into one Soul that Ma'kine destroys using her bankai.

Technique Name: Satsugai sa reta teki no umarekawari: (Reincarnation of the Slain Foe: _____)
Technique Description: Unused Technique Slot. Will transform the Bankai into one Soul that Ma'kine destroys using her bankai.

Technique Name: Sekandosutēji o henkō: Garūdafōmu (Changed Second Stage: Garuda Form)
Technique Description: Ma'kine leaps backwards into the breast of her Pheonix. As she does, the bird's body alters, shrouding around him and creating a living armor of fire. The Garuda Form is the size of Ma'kine, but contains all the flame of the full form. In this state, Ma'kine's physical attributes are extremely enhanced. Her Star Fire is refined to the point of boiling the earth on which she walks.

Ma'kine's true Bankai is a black hole with the reincarnation powers of her false Bankai. Anything devoured by the singularity is moved to her inner world, and she may raise burning wraiths of those killed by it, which crawl from the singularity.

Ue Wanzu (the starving ones): Ma'kine can create phantom wraiths of those she killed with her Zanpakuto. These Wraiths feed on her energy, allowing them to use their abilities with her 5 core Skills. The Ue Wanzu consume a vast amount of Spirit Energy, and each post they're active counts double for Ma'kine's Bankai time limit, per Wraith. However, these Wraiths can sustain themselves by killing, and add a number of rounds to her Bankai time limit left equal to their victim's total time. Ma'kine may not move while using Ue Wanzu.

Kami no kōjutsu (God's Dictation): Ma'kine's wraiths are under a constant compulsion to be unable to attack her. However, this same dictation does not grant her direct control of the Wraiths. Her spoken words can only limit the Wraiths autonomy. (she can tell them what *not* to do, not what *to* do)

Uchū no handan (Judgement of the Universe): Ma'kine's main attack, her Bankai becomes a black hole that pulls everything except her into itself. To resist it's effects is a skill check, where you must be within 2 ranks of her Spiritual Combat or be pulled in. It initially has an Area of Effect of fifty feet, but increases by another fifty for every subsequent round. If within the effect, you must make a skill check and be within 1 rank to move at half speed away from the black hole. The farther from the black hole you are, the easier it is to resist its pull. Every 50 feet past the initial fifty allows an addition rank of leeway on both checks.

Uchū raputā no chō (Bowels of the Universe Raptor): Those drawn into the black hole created by her Bankai are sucked into Ma'kine's Inner World. Only her death can grant them freedom, or the death of her Zanpakuto. If she uses Ue Wanzu and the wraith is killed, their soul is released back into the cycle of reincarnation. Those victimized by this ability cease to advance and are frozen at their current level of development.

Uchū raputā no yashin-tekina shisen (Ambitious look of the Universe Raptor): Ma'kine can negate the effects of Uchū no handan to instead create a strong gravitational force. This ability focuses her entire spiritual energy of the black hole into her gaze, making a Spiritual Combat check to devastate the target's hoho. It may only be used on a single target at a time.

by **Grandkiduchi** Sat Jan 04, 2020 2:34 am

Changes made via Hollowfication

Height: Ma'kine has a standing height of twenty four feet. However, her wingspan is eighty seven feet.
Weight: Due to only being a skeleton and flame, Ma'kine's body weighs very little compared to her size. She weighs three thousand pounds.
Hair color: The flames that compose her body are a blackish red.
Eye color: Ma'kine has heterochromia in both her heads. Her right head has a blue right eye and green left eye, while her left has the opposite.
General Appearance: Ma'kine takes the form of a giant, two headed bird skeleton wreathed in flames. The flames that make up her body are composed of raw Reishi, which burns blackish red usually. However, these flames tend to change color slightly depending on her mood, turning a more vibrant red with anger, or a slightly purple color if she is saddened. As her flames are still made of Reishi, she can feel any cuts or injuries, even if they don't leave a visible mark. Her bones, however, are quite tangible. Ma'kine's two heads both have sharp-toothed beaks and two eyes each. Inside her eye sockets are flames, green or blue depending on which eye. She possesses an enormous wingspan, and her tail has three long tendrils from the 'feathers' that end in bony spikes. These tendrils are prehensile, allowing her to move each individually, and as they're made of Reishi energy entirely, are surprisingly elastic. She can extend them as far as twenty feet.

The Psyche

Personal Habits: Ma'kine's two heads seem to have slightly different personalities. Though they agree most of the time, she frequently argues with herself. She also looks down on others for being weak.
Goals:
Short-term Goals: Ma'kine is filled with a burning desire for revenge. Among her list of targets are Lanying Baozhai, Isao Hitoshi, and the first Hollow Queen.
General Personality: Ma'kine's personality as a whole remains largely unchanged, other than a sharp increase in her arrogance and tendency to belittle others. However, each of her heads is slightly different. Her right head speaks in a higher tone, and is more direct in their desires, while the left head has a deeper voice and is meticulously cautious. Whereas the right would desire to burn everything to ruin, the left would point out that doing so leaves nothing behind to eat.
Something Special: Besides their slightly different personalities, both heads are rarely in true disagreement. They consider themselves merely two halves of one individual, rather than two consciousnesses in one both. As such, they believe that discussions between themselves are no different than anyone else mulling over the pros and cons of a decision.

The Power

Hollow

Hollow Type: Despite her vast Spiritual Pressure, Ma'kine is a base Hollow as far as they can tell.
Hollow Ability Name: Ella, que todo lo consume
Hollow Ability: Ma'kine's Hollow power allows her to consume anything, converting Kishi into Reishi, and Reishi into nutrients. In addition, when she consumes a spiritual attack, she can choose to either devour it normally, or stockpile it as raw energy. This raw energy can be stockpiled only to a certain amount, but can be held onto indefinitely. She can then either consume that energy for sustenance, or release it all at once as an attack.

by **Grandkiduchi** Sat Jan 04, 2020 2:40 am

Ma'kine loses her Shinigami Racial Skills. She gains 6 ranks from her Grandmaster Hado, 6 ranks from Grandmaster Bakudo, 4 ranks from Expert Kaido, and 5 ranks from Master Shunko. This is a total of 21 ranks.

She will redistribute these ranks as such:
6 Ranks into Grandmaster Cero
6 Ranks into Grandmaster Hierro
5 Ranks into Master Regeneration
2 Ranks into Intermediate Bala
2 Ranks into her preexisting Intermediate Hoho, bringing it to Expert.

by **Grandkiduchi** Sat Jan 04, 2020 8:48 pm

Inherent Hollow Techniques

Cero recurrente- The name of Ma'kine's unique Cero. It is composed of flames, rather than a solid red beam. In addition, the Cero is fired from both beaks, enabling the Hollow to divide the damage either in half or combine the flames into one full Cero. Lastly, Cero does not blast, but rather, it melts through solid objects.

Autoridad- Ma'kine's body radiates an extreme amount of heat throughout an area. This passive ability weakens water and ice related abilities, but strengthens those that rely on heat, fire, or electricity by one Rank for everyone, herself included, in her vicinity.

Ella, que es todo lo consume- Ma'kine's basic ability. This constantly active ability allows her to eat anything and turn it into energy. The energy she can stockpile cannot exceed more than twice her Spiritual Combat strength, and she may use it to enhance her attacks by drawing power from that stockpile.

Racial Techniques

Soul-body Separation- Like almost all Hollows, Ma'kine may remove a Living person's soul from their body by force if her Tier is at least one higher than theirs.

Negacion- Ma'kine can use Negacion on others, separating them from reality.

Más allá de uno mismo- Ma'kine, at will, can recreate her entire being as a new Hollow, fully healing herself in the process

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