The Night Begins
Sagamiyama - Sakuhana Park
Saturday Night
Everyone's arrival to the park was, almost timely to say the least. With Darius being the earliest, arriving even before Ouga with which there was little chatter as tension built up in the air for the coming night. Pretty soon, Bakuto, Tony, and Mikazuki arrived too. It wasn't important to them at the current, and so very few noticed that the famous sakura tree of this park almost appeared to be glowing...
"Shouko's already told me she's gonna be a little late, so it's just us for now. Sara and Mitsuaki don't seem to be here yet, so we should wait a little longer for those two. Until then I'll ask you all to be ready for anything tonight, there's no telling when-"
The world around them for a moment appeared to feel heavy, a sinking feeling in their chest, and for those whose reiatsu were too little might even find themselves kneeling. Though it was only for a moment, they felt as if it had lasted far longer than that. A sense of dread immediately followed this, as all collectively knew the source of this sudden spiritual pressure. Looking down the main path of the park that aligned with the main road, though their eyes could not yet see it, they could sense it, even as inexperienced as they were, it did not hide from them. The presence of one massive hollow, and not long after sensing that, a large group that followed in its wake.
Ouga's eyes were of surprise as he stepped forward, "so the absolute worst is happening tonight is it", with a heavy sigh he swung his wooden sword over his shoulder.
"Alright everyone, be ready. Stay behind me and follow my orders", was all he could really say. Were they ready? Who knew, but they had to be regardless of the circumstances.
Sara's route to the park was not as long as even a few of the other substitutes, yet she found herself running in circles... Too focused on getting to the park tonight it would take her a little while to notice but... Some of the streets appeared to repeat, and began to become unrecognizable as the realization came to pass. And as she stood still in the road to catch her bearings, she could hear it, a familiar voice... It said few words, if any, the sound of beautiful, ethereal singing that tugged at your inner soul, manifesting insecurities and grievances as it teetered you to the brink of oblivion. Like a siren's call, it was a woman's voice. She knew this well, after all she heard this the night of her 'death'. Yet she had not heard it again ever since, until now... Whatever it was, she was snapped out of it by another voice for but a moment, though it was an unfamiliar one to her, and weak, but it was enough for now.
"Aaahhh... So you have become stronger since that night... Your soul seemed especially appetizing, I was wondering if ever we could meet again", it's voice seemed to echo, as if it was being spoken into the mind, rather than directly. The darkness at the end of the street began to swirl and rise, until it formed a seemingly robed figure. A Hollow. It's mask was a small, unassuming face with two large horns that had an ethereal robe flowing down from it like a veil, as well as closed eyes. Though it's most striking feature would be the singular "third" eye, which was in fact it's true eye. It possessed the physique of a woman with it's curves and dress-like appearance, but no arms, which had cloth-like tendrils in it's place.
"Very few even see my beauteous form, so consider yourself lucky my sweet one... Aaahhh... Tonight I feell... Mmm, amazing, please, become my feast for this fine night".
Mitsuaki's trek towards the park was one would say, beset by a bunch of weaker Hollow. They were fresh, and so he found it easy to run them through with his zanpakuto, yet he could not help but feel eyes upon his back. The feeling of being prey, one could say. As he tried to make his way to the park, strong instinct pushed him away from faster routes, almost as if he could see eyes at the end of each of those roads... Whatever it was, it had already run ahead of him, and was lurking somewhere to try and ambush him. And only moments ago he felt those same eyes on his back too... Whatever it was, it was fast.
He needed an open space, lest he be struck turning a corner, and the closest one was a small park with a playground. The kind with a jungle gym and a ceramic pipe tunnel, and a seesaw. As he step foot into it he could see the moon above cast a shadow behind him. It showed itself. It was no bigger than a tiger, rather small for a Hollow, yet it did not seem to be a Hollow about size or strength, possessed of fin-like wrist blades, a thick fish's tail, glowing red mane that seemed to constantly flutter like kelp underneath the sea, and a mask that was that of a koi fish. As he stepped forward, two lightning whiskers would form from the mask, as if representing it's readiness to fight. Whether or not Mitsuaki was ready at present, he needed to prepare himself.