Flamediver [Ichigo, Ignacio]

The sands shifted with the approach of another lone figure, Ignacio sensed as much even before he saw it. That alone warned him that this latest intruder was powerful, enough so that the rest of the Flaming Rings had already begun to slink away into their caves and hideaways. Better to less this one pass, many no doubt thought, and they would certainly not have been wrong to do so. But Ignacio was not so quick to withdraw, instead, he lingered before those ruins that had given him shelter for a little while and waited to greet the newcomer.

Most of his body was concealed beneath a flowing white cloak, but a mop of untamed golden hair identified them as something more than a simple Hollow. He stared forward with a fiery intensity, golden eyes burning with an intensity that was likely offputting.

His zanpakuto was already drawn, blade raised and with the backside resting over one shoulder in case the stranger chose immediate violence, but that was probably not what would catch Ichigo's eye. It was the hand that held the weapon, specifically the fourth finger, where the flesh had been replaced with cybernetics and yet still a particularly ornate ring clung tightly to the metal.

There was little that the loner could have asked that would catch him off guard, the ring was certainly not one of those things. Plenty had asked before, plenty more would ask again in the future. It was intended to catch people's eyes, after all, only then might he find someone who actually knew what it was. That or they knew the one-armed assailant he had repelled all those years ago. Slowly, he lowered the sword that was held in the hand that bore the ring until the tip was resting against the sand. His fingers flexed whilst holding the grip, flashing the ring towards Ichigo.

"A trophy from a duel long ago. I can tell you have not seen it before, but I would advise not trying it on. It has a hunger for living matter."

It was a taste of what he had learned over the years, the first piece of information he had learned and yet a valuable clue about its identity all the same.

"If it does not mean anything to you, then I would ask why you have come this far? The Flaming Rings have remained secretive for many a reason, and I would like to keep it that way."

"I want them too. They're dangerous."

Ignacio did not feel any compassion from the stranger, the indifference in his voice even as he stated his goal was almost disarming. The hand that held the ring tightened around the handle of his sword, unwilling as he was to use it unless the man proved too resistant to the prospect of holding a conversation. Clearly, he knew something about what the rings did, a nugget of information that was rather challenging to deduce when one possessed only one and it was quite insistent on destroying them when given a chance. He was missing two fingers from his first misstep, they might have grown back in time from his regeneration but the damage was already done.

"What good are they to you?"

His eyes narrowed, clearly trying to gauge what little he could of Ichigo's intentions. They were certainly enigmatic, but so was most any Arrancar that one could run into in these wastes.

"And what will you do to get them?"

Now that was an unexpected turn, to use them to bring someone else back. Ignacio had only heard that they could grant the bearer of all twelve an eternal life, but maybe it stood to reason that someone could grant this life to someone else. The utterly despondent selflessness of the proclamation was equally intriguing, and that was enough to raise one of his eyebrows.

"Must have been someone important, to go through all that."

Perhaps that was the mark of a man that did not want to always fight to achieve his goal. He was loathe to admit that he was looking for a companion of a similar calibre, and there was certainly a presence to him that exuded danger enough that Ignacio doubted he would need to be looked after.

"I don't know yet where the other rings are, but they're out there. I have no grand designs for them, I just want to ensure that they do not fall into the wrong hands. Now I've got no reason to trust you but I could use the help, so either we can work together or settle this like animals."

To reinforce his own opinion on the matter, he made a show of sheathing his blade. A lick of dark flame cleaning the ashen sand from the blade as he did.

"So be it. Welcome to the Flaming Rings."

His hand released the hilt of the sheathed sword, letting it hang loose at his hip once more. The white cape billowed as he tucked himself within it once more, the need for any show of strength having fortunately passed. Golden irises scanned the stranger one more time before moving beyond them to the sands that surrounded them. The thought of extending a hand to shake did cross his mind, but it seemed rather pointless given circumstance.

"You may call me Ignacio, do you have a name of your own? Then we will have met the base requirements of a partnership."

Waiting for a response, he would eventually step out of Ichigo's way so that they might walk forwards side-by-side. It did not much matter whether he gave a name or not, though it would be pleasant to call him something other than 'stranger'. He cared much more for actions rather than words anyway, so better they headed onward so that he could gauge those actions with his own eyes.