Fate's Cruel Hand [Kaito, Kurai]

Kaito's eyes slowly fluttered open, feeling the sensation of wounds closing and energy humming behind him. He was being healed again. But, the healing did little to take away the phantom sting of the whip or the sound of its crack that still rung in his ears. It hadn't stopped him from remembering the feeling and sound of his body being burned, or of cold steel tearing into and being dragged across his skin.

He didn't know how long it had been since he passed out. He didn't even know how long he'd been there. The days had melded together, and he had spent who knew how much time in that infernal cellar. The moment the word "obey" came from his mouth, she had moved him.

While he did, by and large, obey, that hardly stopped him from resisting when he could, when it was a line that he wasn't willing to cross.

It didn't stop her from reminding him of what awaited him if he did, either.

Yet, despite it all, he still tried to fight through it. He kept living, one day at a time. Living for his own sake. For the mere idea, the tiniest glimmer that he would find a way out of this. He knew that nobody from Soul Society would come to save him. He doubted they even realized he was gone, or that he would even be considered to be rescued. It had already been this long, why would they start now?

Kaito didn't move a muscle as the person healing him finished their work. Not a word was said between them as he went to get ready for his own work. He had been sacked with cleaning blood off the floors since he started, something he tried to do as well as he could, to the point where calluses formed on his hands.

Just one more day. That was what he kept telling himself. All he had to do was make it one more day.

Kaito felt his skin crawl at what he heard coming down the hall. Every step, every click of her heels made him flinch. The moment he heard the door sliding open, Kaito froze in place, not daring to move, even if the cheerful act made him want to vomit. The word "punishment" made his eyes widen in fear, and his heart fill with dread. Given what she had already done to him, right now, something felt even more wrong than it normally did.

A sharp, scared gasp of surprise came from him as the servants around him started to shackle him, his eyes darted between them, before finally coming back to Kurai as she spoke to him. His...combat skills? What could she possibly want from that? She had beaten him without even trying before taking him, why would she care about that?

"...Mediocre at best."

It wasn't a lie, but he also didn't want to make her think that he was any stronger than he was. He never had been strong in the first place. If he was, he wouldn't have lost. If he was, he would have been able to protect himself, stop himself from being kidnapped, escape sooner, save his family, his home. He didn't know what she wanted, and while he didn't want to find out, he didn't have a choice.

While he was confused, he didn't dare try and resist. As two of his team took him by the chain down a series of corridors, ones that he wasn't familiar with, Kaito felt an oncoming sense of dread fill his heart. The closer he got to the door, the more he wanted to try and run. He knew he could, in all likelihood, overpower Hanzo and Layla. But...he didn't. He didn't want to hurt them and potentially cause them to undergo some horrid punishment because of him.

As the door opened, Kaito flinched and turned his head away from the sudden offending sunlight, squeezing his eyes shut as he tried to adjust. It was the first sunlight he'd seen in however long it had been. Eventually, he was able to open his eyes, squinting as he looked around to examine the room. The sun was coming in from above through a set of steel bars. From the look of it, the time seemed to be midday. It didn't help much, but, it was something, at least.

He was guided forward along the walkway, slowly turning his head and looking at the barred rooms around him, recoiling at seeing all those sinful stares and grins seeming to bore into his soul. As he stopped in front of the largest room, he took a half-step back at seeing Kurai sitting there, with the other two of his team sitting on either side. While his expression still remained notably fearful, there was still a fire in the deepest pools of his eyes that showed anger at what Kurai told him.

As the Hollow crashed down into the bowl, Kaito stumbled backward, trying to use whatever time he had to analyze his opponent. Cracked mask, an obvious weak point and potentially a red herring, and a sword on his back. He tried to think of his options at the moment.

Fight was the most obvious one, but with his arms and legs shackled, movement would be difficult, and he figured that these were the same type that resisted his Kido before. Plus, he didn't know how strong the Hollow was, and with the sword on its back, it had extra reach. He could possibly try and use it to break the chains, but, that was a massive risk that could have lethal consequences. Nevertheless, Kaito faced the creature. It might not be his, but, he needed to get his hands on that sword.

"Come and get it, ugly."

Even as they laughed, even as Kurai's voice echoed through the strange arena, Kaito remained fixated on the creature in front of him. It wasn't moving yet. Then again, he wasn't fully in the ring. He perked up slightly at hearing her say to release him, and the two at her side undid his restraints. As if opening a door to let air in, he could sense the spiritual power of the being in front of him.

"I said mediocre, not useless," he whispered.

At least he wouldn't be fighting with that much of a handicap. His head turned to look at Kurai for a moment, wincing as she smiled, winked, and revealed her bet, before he was shoved into the ring with the Hollow. He heard the sound of something slamming down, and he knew that he would likely be stuck in here...until he saw the gate's material.

Taking in a deep breath to try and calm his nerves, Kaito faced the creature. This was his first real fight against a Hollow, and he already was at a disadvantage. But, there were still tools he could use, and if he could get his hands on the sword, he could turn the tables. As the battle began, Kaito slowly took a step back, before suddenly throwing himself into the air, making a shearing motion with his legs.

One moved in front of the other, and intended on striking the Hollow's upper torso and collarbone with enough force to break through a wall, as well as to send it flying away. Despite the intended ferocity of the attack, he still struggled to land afterward, unable to correct himself before falling.

Oh no. Not good. Kaito's eyes widened in fear as he watched the creature barely budge. On top of that, because of his struggles with landing, all he could do was watch as the Hollow's leg extended outward. Before he could react, he felt it connect. All the air was suddenly knocked out of his lungs, and the strength behind even a half-assed kick still hurt -- even more when the sound of something breaking inside him made itself apparent.

He didn't even get the chance to cry out as he was flung across the arena, crashing into the wall, before collapsing to the floor. It took all his strength not to scream in pain as he brought his arms around himself, not daring to bring them to touch, strangled cries and quiet whimpers being all that he could muster.

He didn't know what all was broken, but he knew that it hurt, and there were a lot. He tried to roll onto his back, and even the act of doing that caused his body to spasm as it was wreathed in agony. Breathing was difficult, the act of his chest heaving rapidly from panic only making the pain worse. She had set him up. He could feel the pressure of this creature, but it was so much stronger than he ever could have anticipated.

He had thought that maybe he could have beaten it, and perhaps, would be able to veil a show of confidence, but, the facade was quick to be shattered at the sheer discrepancy of power between them.

A shaky hand rose, facing an open palm at the Hollow. Even as he tried to recite the incantation, all the words would be broken up by his voice stuttering through a mix of pain and fear.

"Y-Ye...lord, mask of blood and flesh, a-all cre- creation, flutter of- ngh! F-Flutter of wings, ye who bears the name of M-Man...! I-Inferno and pandemonium, the sea barrier- rgh! S-Surges, march on to the south!"

As he changed, a small scarlet-colored orb flickered to life on his palm, and as he finished, it fired off toward the Hollow. Should it make contact, if he would even be able to finish, a simple explosion would occur. He didn't know what else to do, but, he wanted to at least make an effort before anything else, even if in a panic.