The Unpredicted Friendship ~ [PRIVATE: Raijin and Utena]

"Alright, I'll be there as quick as I can, let me heal my legs. I won't be much help if I'm on crutches. Also, what is it you want me to do with Soi Fon and Yoruichi? Don't you think they'll be wondering where we are when they wake up?"

I questioned as I crutched my way over to the couch I was just sleeping on and took a seat.

"Um... hi Stark."

Keiko began shyly.

"Okay. Sounds good. Leave them sleeping. I wouldn't want one of them getting hurt here. They love each other and it would be horrible if one lost the other...."

Stark stood up and patted the wolf's head. He looked at Keiko and smirked. "How is it that you always find me? And it looks like you brought your boyfriend along too."

"You're right about that. It's clear how in love they are. Anyway, I'll be right there."

I nodded and began the healing process on my legs. My powers were back in the full swing, excellent, that means I could fight with them, the only downside, I couldn't fight physically yet. That was the only liability.

"Maybe it's something to do with primera espada thing..." I joked, feeling a little bit more confident. I crossed my arms and then heard the second sentence he'd spoken. Comically, I waved my arms. "He is not my boyfriend... well not yet at least. Anyways, what's it to you?"

I sighed and calmed down, saying softer.

Raijin's astral projection faded. He opened his eyes and found Keiko walking towards Stark. 'Good work Keiko.' His ears caught onto that boyfriend part; he blushed and then smirked. No Raijin! Now was not the time! That other guy was around. "I'll go find that other guy" He jumped off in the direction of Barragan.

"I figured. Oh, I just wanted to know. It'd make it easier for me to fight him if he was......Aaaand now he's gone. Well, he's not going to get away that easily." Stark followed Raijin to Barragan.

"Hey! Where do you think you're going? Leave him out of this!"

Keiko followed Stark.

"I'm going to help Barragan and keep him from getting killed. We don't need more Espada dying! You should understand Keiko. You're one of us!"

They were closing in on Barragan's location. There was an emptiness in the area. No sign of life. Only Raijin, who landed on top of the tropical bird cage.

"They're all dead...."

Keiko cringed for a moment. That hurt. She was still an arrancar, a former Espada... but ... now she was at a crossroads? Should help those she cared for, or help those of her kind? She stopped a moment and watched Stark as he began to run all the way to Barragan and after Rai. She knew she had to do something, but what? She had an idea... even if Raijin wouldn't like it very much. She decided she needed to speak with me privately to alert me of her plan. She concentrated; Just because she was a former Espada didn't mean she still didn't have her powers.

"Utena, if you can see me at the moment, I have something urgent i want to speak with you about."

"Hm? Keiko? What is it?"

"I think Rai already alerted you we ran into two espada over here and he needs you to come. Do still come, we need your help. But I have a plan... I know Rai's not gonna like it. When the time comes, you have to stop him okay?"

And that was all she said. I was confused. I went back to healing my legs, the connection went dead and Keiko skipped off to find Stark, Barragan and Rai.

Raijin found himself facing the one who caused the mass amount of deaths. It was an elderly looking man who was well built. He was holding a large axe. "So you're the one who did this!? You'll pay....." The Uchiha clenched his fist and ignored Stark, who was closing in.

"Barragan, look who we've got here. The guy who killed Yammy by himself. Keiko's not too far behind." He stood atop of one of the signs, staring at Raijin.

"Good."

Barragan remarked and he readied himself for battle. He didn't seem to care much that all the animals had died before him. What could he do about it anyway? Everything around him rots and dies, he couldn't help it and it's better to detach yourself from something you cannot help.

"Hey."

Keiko showed up with an evil look on her face. Then she smirked as she approached midway between Stark and Rai.

"Who started the party without me?"

I was healing as quick as I could. Come on magic!

"Now which of you want to die first?" Raijin raised his shirt over his shoulders and threw it to the floor. Before activating his Sharingan he deeply inhaled. He knew what he was up against. He'd have to perform at top level in order to even have a chance of winning. Keiko and Utena would too.

"Kid, you won't even last long enough to kill us."

"I'm ready for my orders, Stark."

She nodded her head in a cool fashion in the direction of Barragan.

"Sup dude?"

It seemed a bad thing was about to unfold. Had Keiko really joined the espada again? I'd finished healing. Great! Now I had to find them!

Raijin paused and slightly turned his head to Keiko in disbelief. She had betrayed him? How cunning of her to do that. Very slick Keiko. Very slick. Deep inside Raijin was hurting. But if she was one of them, he had no choice. "Ke..Keiko, why?"

Stark smirked. "Knew you could do it toots."

I rushed to the scene as fast as I could. How was it that Raijin wanted me to aid him exactly? Stay in the back and fight? I made it to the scene, but kept hidden for a while, knowing that, epic entrances and then teamwork were all we needed to win. But damn, the first and second Espada, this was going to be some fight. But why did Keiko look so murderous? I blinked, .... this must be part of her plan! I watched from the "shadows".

"Of course, you're my kin, and I never go back on my family."

She smirked and her teeth suddenly seemed sharper. She licked her lips and eyed Raijin.

"And you look especially delicious."

She knew what she was doing, just she just had to be careful about it.

"I guess I really do have no choice." Raijin performed a set of seals and slammed his hand onto the top of the cage. A cloud of smoke concealed the shinobi and when it cleared a small cat with the kanji symbol for "fan" engraved on his forehead appeared. "About damn time I've been summoned! You always choose Kurama over me!" The cat was wearing a gi and the Uchiha crest was on the back. It was Yajuu, Raijin's feline sidekick.

"Yajuu, we're up against a tough set of people here. You ready for a challenge?"

"Of course I am!"

Yajuu smirked and then wiffed the air. That foul smell coming from Barragan was bothering him. He grew his claws out and swayed his tail back and forth. Now even though he was small he was very agile and dangerous.

"I can't wait to feed you to the wolves.....Now where is that Lilynette? She's always roaming around."

"Wolves? Thaaat's not cool! You must be a dog guy!!"

I watched. Hm? So Raijin finally summoned his feline partner. Interesting, he did tell me of the some adventures he'd went on where he had to summon one of his friends. I smiled; Raijin sure was brave. I remained watching from a distance, then catching onto that horrible stench. It was coming from the guy with the axe-scythe thing. And then I noticed the devastation that was all the zoo animals in the area dead and completely rotting away. Oh this guy...he would pay. But I couldn't help but wonder what Keiko was up to. Acting like a bad guy and not telling Raijin? She must be after getting in close enough to deliver a final blow. She was smart! I suppose that came from reading all those books. Anyways, I stood ready just in case. Keiko smirked, she was beginning to look more an more monstrous, more bloodthirsty than ever. She was good at acting the part.

Keiko sniffed around. She smelled me and smiled to herself. She knew the plan was underway, and now with her nose more powerful than ever, she was able to pinpoint the other spiritual pressure. It was still a long distance away but she had the faintest idea of who it could be. Keiko prepared herself for the role of a lifetime, if she didn't watch it, she could be killed too.

"Oh come on now Stark, at least humor the kid. It's just him and his catty friend, and going up against 3 Espada, that's not playing nice." Keiko giggled, why don't we send Barry here to to find Lilynette, and I'll help you fight him. Sound good Stark?"[/color] She chuckled evily.

My, what a brilliant little actress we'd come across.

OOC: I have some twists and turns in mind. And now seeing you with Keiko, I kinda want one of my own xD. So I don't mind whatever you name her or make her like, let your artistic spirit soar! But, this one minor request from me, can she be a former Espada? :3

"This kid doesn't need to be humored...He needs to be taken out before he doessomething reckless. No, Barragan stays here. Lilynette should be here." Stark wiffed the air and caught the smell of another. Someone else was here. "Why don't you come out of hiding!" He looked in Utena's direction.

"Hey wolfman! Why don't you and your little girlfriend just leave before you get hurt! Same for you old man! Aren't you supposed to be in a nursing home anyways?"

Yajuu snicked are jumped off of the cage. He stretched out and then chose his target. The feline drew fish shaped kunai and threw them at Barragan. After he releasing them he darted at Keiko with his claws drawn. This cat was like a bullet! Raijin took this chance to form hand seals and cause an earthquake. The ground below caved in and collapsed below Stark and Barragan. It was time to take out the arsenal!

"What the hell!?"

Keiko was basically shot down out of her plans. Darn, well it was worth a try. She knew exactly what to do. Yajuu darted for her and she smirked as she was able to dodge.

'You're a quick one...'

She thought to herself as he'd just missed her. She was fast too! Well I should have been expecting that from the former first espada. Stark had spotted me, but I still didn't want to come out. I'd remain where I was till I was needed. I knew that Raijin and I would make a fine team. He was distracting him from close range and I would take far... that strategy plus Keiko's plan; There's no way we could be beaten!

The small feline's attack was avoided. But as he passed by Keiko his tail lengthened out in an attempt to bind her. Raijin on the other hand watched as Yajuu battled Kekio. The matchup was good; he didn't want to harm her himself. Stark lunged at Raijin with his Zanpakuto, slashing at his neck. The Uchiha did a flip over him and summoned his Kusanagi. As Stark came around for another blow he met the sheath of Raijin's weapon.

"You're fast.."

"Thought I'd be slow?"

In the distance a small girl was running in. Her hair was green and the piece of mask on her head formed a visor for one eye. "Stark! Stark! Waaaaaait!"

OOC: You want Utena's girl coming showing up here?

OOC: It's up to you honestly, I don't care now or later, but I was just curious was all. Oh and sorry about not replying right away yesterday. I had a friend over.

"That's funny! You think something this puny can hold me, kitty cat?"

Keiko joked. Damn she really could play this role well. And not only that, but her teeth were beginning to become sharper and sharper. I was wondering if that were an effect of her gaining more and more power and will to fight, getting more and more into those arrancar powers she hid away so long ago. Hm, interesting. All espadas had second forms right? That resembled some kind of animal? I wondered what Keiko's might look like.

I watched as the little girl came running towards Stark, calling his name. She must be the Lilynette they were mentioning. But why would such a powerful guy need such a little girl to fight with him? Was she some sort of power source? Or maybe she was his weapon whom manifested herself in human form. I couldn't let him get a hold of her, or this fight might be over for Raijin. After all, he was battling against two espada and only his summon as battling against a Keiko that was on our side! Damn I needed to step in and do something!

Keiko then suddenly drew her claws and was able to slice right through the tail that was wrapping her. Those were some sharp claws, almost as sharp as her teeth! O.O She growled with a monstrous grin as she was able to break free of the hold. Then she giggled.

"You want to play kitty, then let's play. I'll show you who's the true king of the jungle!"

That line... hm, would that be a clue?