The Butterfly and the Bumblebee

[Kochou Mari]

He appeared from out of nowhere.

The handsome Kaibutsu, with speed paralleling that of the shinigami captain, came up from behind, his sword in hand, ready to plow straight through.

"Soi-chan!" Mari squealed, immediately putting on a burst of speed and tackling her captain, knocking her out of the way.

"This will be no fun..." he growled softly. "Karu is not with me. I'm stuck with this idiot of a bitch." Leaping back, Haru pointed his sword at Soi Fon and smirked. "And I happen to have a little whelp standing in the way of my prize..."

"Who are you calling a whelp?" Mari snarled, eyes narrowed. She immediately drew Akachou, releasing it into Shikai. "I'll show you a whelp, you monster!"

"Monster?" Haru asked, putting on a look of mock surprise. "Your pathetic insults cut into me like a blade," he said with the sarcasm dripping from his soft voice. "Allow me to now cut into you..."

[Masamune Arashii]

There he stood, his pistols pointed at the shadow who threatened his butterfly.

"My butterfly will not have her wings torn off by some disgusting spider..." the shinigami hidden in the darkness growled. Preparing to fire, Arashii pointed his pistols at the beast's head and what he suspected would be the black void that would be his heart.

"This dragon will swoop in on wings of gold, pluck his butterfly from the vicious jaws of the spider, and fly away to leave the hornet to fend for herself..." Arashii murmured. "And then the butterfly won't hesitate to love me..."

[Sato Koemi]

The shinigami captain glared at the handsome Kaibutsu and frowned irritably, then gasped as Mari practically tackled her out of the way.

Yuzuki, behind Haru, was steadily regaining her own composure, her firey heart turning to ice. She suddenly appeared behind the male shinigami and gave a sweet little laugh, teasing "Aren't you just the brave one..?"

The fox-kaibutsu drew out her two fans and held them out, holding them like two swords and popped them open, revealing the bladed edges and swiped at the male shinigami with a teasing laugh. This is what she truly reveled in.. not in the presense of Haru.. but in battle where the blood of her enemies made her own pale skin glimmer. Deep down, beneath her icy exterior.. she was still the same vain little fire-fox kaibutsu most female kaibutsu gossiped about.

Soi Fon narrowed her eyes and shoved Mari behidn her defensively and quickly made a sign in front of her, holding out her hands "Bakudo 61! Six Rod Light Restraint!!"

As soon as the command was uttered, six thin, but wide, beams of bright light slammed against Haru's midsection, holding him where he stood.

"Run, Mari. I have him restrained for now to give you and.. Arashii.. a head start.." Soi Fon half-glared at the male shinigami as the female kaibutsu assaulted him. She knew very well that Arashii did not like her, but for what reason, she really didn't know, nor care all that much.

"Captain Soi Fon, return to the fortress.. I'll make sure the handsome 'spider' has a good time.." said a familiar voice, brushing her blonde hair aside, piercing blue eyes glimmering in the light of battle.

"Lieutenant Sato.." Soi Fon murmured, watching the Squad 13 Lieutenant from above as the blonde girl dropped down in front of Haru.

"I've fought this one before.. He's fun.. <3"

One could practically hear the the lilt in her voice that Sato definately wanted to have another go around with this beast.

Soi Fon narrowed her eyes and nudged Mari "We'll move out for now. Sato, I--"

"Oh. You shouldn't leave your zanpakuto behind. It could be fatal next time, Stealth Force Captain.." the lieutenant replied, tossing Suzumebachi to Soi Fon, who caught it and held it in her hands caressingly, murmuring quietly to herself "Sting your enemies to death, Suzumebachi.." And the gold and black shikai wrapped itself around her right wrist. She was prepared now.. but she really didn't care if someone outside her squad died. Sure.. she'd have bad news to tell Ukitake, which would suck majorly because he had already lost his lieutenant before.. Squad 13 was probably the unluckiest of the Gotei 13..

[Masamune Arashii]

It seemed he was given a chance to be alone with his little butterfly. Dropping down out of the darkness, Arashii plucked Mari off the ground like she was nothing and turned to Soi Fon, a smirk on his face. "I'm glad you finally see it my way, hornet," he said, suddenly breaking out into a run. He wasn't going to let his beloved butterfly go now... Oh, no. This dragon had caught his prize, and he would work her into servitude if he had to.

[Kochou Mari]

Mari, feeling herself being picked up by Arashii, struggled a bit, then realized he was taking her to the Fortress.

That only made her struggle more.

"Let go of me!" she snarled, literally swinging Akachou at him numerous times before managing to realize that her captain was still back there.

Well, when Akachou didn't do the trick, a kick square in the jaw certainly did. But she knew she could do something like that. Soi Fon told her to run, and she had no choice but to obey. Even though she didn't wish to...she couldn't go against her captain's words.

Soi Fon's words were law, after all.

Meanwhile, however, the handsome devil kaibutsu smirked at Sato's appearance. "Well, well. If it isn't the little pestilence I battled last time! How art thou?" Despite the fact that he was bound (which didn't do much good for the Shinigami woman, for her reiatsu was barely stronger than his and he had long broken free from it) he bowed mockingly. "It is an honor to battle you yet again."

But from behind, a snarling could be heard. Leaping from the underbrush was (everyone's favorite) three-headed devil hound.

"Brother!" Haru said cheerfully, "You made it!"

"You know I can't resist a good fight!" the devil dog replied. "Let's do this, brother!"

"Yes...let's..."

[Sato Koemi]

Yuzuki's face fell as she was completely ignored by the man and her face burned angrily and she threw her arm out, and drew it upwards suddenly, creating a firey barrier around both the shinigami-intruders, and herself along with Haru and Karu.

"No one ignores me.." she whispered to herself. Her vanity and her pride were insulted.

Soi Fon glanced around and frowned angrily at the fire and thought with a slight smirk This is nothing compared to Captain Yamamoto's fire..

Sato gave a bow and smiled and frowned once she saw the three-headed beast and inwardly groaned. She hated dogs. Completely hated dogs now. If her Pachinko-headed beloved asked to get one.. she'd hurt him.. badly.

The lieutenant gasped as the firey ring arose around them and blinked. She was actually use to fire.. for once.

Before another second passed, while Haru had his attention towards Karu, sato burst forward, holding her twin swords, already in their shikai form and made a slash to Haru with an insane laugh.

Soi Fon stayed put just a moment to see what both the new kaibutsu and the female kaibutsu would do. She narrowed her eyes and watched carefully...

Yuzuki glanced to Haru and Karu and felt a pang in her heart. She did not realize his sudden appearance and when she saw the cheerful look on her beloved's face, Yuzuki's face fell and only grew angrier.

The female kaibutsu turned away and began walking off, through her own flames that did not hurt their mistress "I'm sure you two can handle these people on your own.. You two are, in fact, the strongest.. I'm.. just a bitch to you.. Lord Haru."

Soi Fon's eyebrow rose in confusion at the finicky kaibutsu and shook her head, then looked to Karu "Guess that means its you and me, eh, sweet puppy..?"

[Kochou Mari]

Before Haru could react to Yuzuki's sudden disappearance, he leaned backward, grabbing Sato's wrists and kicking her up into the air. Smirking he turned toward the retreating Yuzuki and laughed. "That's right. You're just a bitch. But who knows? You may become more if you stay put and fight!"

It was, of course, a lie. But if she happened to stay put and maybe throw a couple hits in, he'd at least allow her to kiss him again.

Haru's three heads all grinned. "Aah! You're the more powerful one! Brother's certainly being generous to me today!" Opening his mouths, he shot three huge fireballs at the shinigami captain. "Now, prepare to die!"

[Sato Koemi]

Yuzuki paused slightly as she heard what Haru said. She stood in her own fire and glanced over her shoulder. It was sorely tempting to stay and fight for Haru..

Sato gasped, wincing slightly as she lost the air from her lungs temporarily and fell back to the ground with a solid thud, standing slowly, slowly regaining her breath and grinned broadly "You'll.. ha.. have t-to kick me.. harder th-than that.. My. sp-sparring partner nearly kills me ev.. everytime we fight.."

It was pretty close to the damn truth. Ikkaku would get too into the fight and Sato would have to nearly get skewered and kiss his lips before he could press further on.

Soi Fon rolled to the side and stood, standing there quietly as silver winds started to swhirl around her and her right arm "Shunpo!"

She disappeared and suddenly the Houmonka appeared on one of the side heads of the dog-like beast. The captain smiled to herself One more hit..

"How dare you strike my brethren like that.." came a sultry voice behind Soi Fon and slashed at the captain, who immediantly dodged with the speed of Shunpo and reappeared behind the fox-girl, slashing at her with Suzumebachi, creating the crest on the left side of the vain fox's face.

Yuzuki cried out in pain and terror. Her beautiful face.. her flawless.. beautiful face.. marred by a single slit in her cheek and now the hideous butterfly-shaped marking on her face.

The female kaibutsu's slitted green eyes turned red, porceilin skin rippling as her anger and rage poured through her body like a poison. Her clothes melted into cream-colored fur as she fell forward onto her hands and knees, growling out "I hate you.. I hate transforming into my secondary form.. but you've pushed me to it, shinigami-bitch!"

The once beautiful, vain, graceful female kaibutsu was now transforming into something deadly and yet still beautiful in it's own carnage-like way. Bones began to split and crack, turning and adapting to her new form of a giant, cream-colored ninetailed-fox. The now transformed Yuzuki gave a howl and charged at Soi Fon.

The shinigami captain narrowed her eyes "Such a sad sound.." She moved out of the way and slashed at the female kaibutsu a couple of more times, leaving her Homounka mark every spot she hit, not hitting the same spot twice just yet. She turne dher attention towards Karu and dashed forward, only to be knocked several feet back by one of the long nine tails of Yuzuki.

Sato marveled at the new transformation, almost taken completely aback by it. She gasped and turned back to Haru, throwing her blades up in a defensive manner just before any blade fell.

[Kochou Mari]

Haru smirked at Yuzuki's transformation, however, Karu's three heads lowered, and his eyes blazed with rage. A low, inhuman snarl sounded in the beast's throat before he threw himself not at Soi Fon, but at Yuzuki. The beast clamped his jaws down on the kitsune beast, his hooked claws latching themselves into her fur.

"You idiot...." Haru growled. "Didn't I tell you Karu got jealous easily?" Turning his attention back to Sato, Haru shook his head. "This will have to wait for a second," he said, an apologetic look on his face. "Forgive me for depriving you of the adrenaline." Turning, the handsome demon leaped up and landed upon his brother. "Get off of your ally, you idiot!" he called to his brother.

However, Karu's anger was so great that he couldn't hear his brother. He was seeing red--and that red was Yuzuki's blood. And he wasn't going to stop until she reverted back to her first form...

[Sato Koemi]

Sato shook her head to Haru, as if respecting him and his brother and took a step back, holding her stomach where Haru had kicked her earlier and watched the two brothers and Yuzuki with a sad look in her eyes.

Soi Fon scoffed, turned and bolted through the fire, not caring in the least bit about the three kaibutsu.

Yuzuki gave a loud howl as Karu's three muzzles bit into her left shoulder. Her own muzzle turned, instinctively to bite down, but turned away immediately, fighting the urge to fight back and swung her giant paw at the other kaibutsu to knock him off of her as one would do to a fly.

A low, growling sound emerged from her muzzle as she swiped again at Soi Fon, but missed completely as the shinigami captain disappeared from her sights. Yuzuki hated her second form with such a passion.. she hated how ugly she looked, how slow she was.. It also didn't help that, through her hurt pride, she transformed in front of Karu, who is jealous because he has yet to achieve the second level, who was now locked on her shoulder.

She failed in too many ways.. She laid down submissively underneath Karu's powerful jaws and whimpered softly, not wanting to quite transform back until Karu released her right shoulder. Her ears folded back and her nine tails drooped to further show her submission to the beastly brother.

Sato, watching the whole event unfurl, looked away, as if to try and give the submission some sort of privacy to it. She kept her eyes toward the ground where Haru might be to makae sure he wasn't going to harge at her without warning..

[Kochou Mari]

He didn't want to let go. He refused to let go. But his brother thought otherwise.

With one powerful tug, Karu's jaws were released and he fell backward, landing behind his brother. His three heads were still snarling and snapping, but if you looked close enough, you could see that he was crying. The poor thing saw all the other kaibutsu getting form after form, and here he was, stuck in this one and only form. It was...unbearable.

"Yuzuki..." Haru whispered, kneeling down beside the kitsune. Gently, the handsome kaibutsu began stroking her bloodstained fur, the only thing betrayed by his gentle touch being concern for the female. "Please...forgive Karu for what he's done... If you desire revenge...take it out on me..." Taking a deep breath, Karu continued, "I'll do...I'll do anything..."

[Sato Koemi]

Yuzuki gave a soft, whimpering sound at the pain she felt. It hurt like hell. She flinched slightly when Haru first touched her bloodied fur, thinking he was going to hurt her even more, but relaxed under his gentle touch and gave a gentle shake of her head as her fur started to ripple and her body begun to mesh itself back into a human-like form she was so proud of.

She, now back in her first form, held her right shoulder, which her blood poured out of and covered her whole arm, her slitted green eyes were tired and full of painful tears. She glanced to Karu with her own watery eyes and looked away, feeling terribly guilty in the pit of her gut.

"No, Haru-sama.. I probably deserved what I got.. I should not have done what I did.." Yuzuki said submissively as she clunched her poor, bitten, bloodied arm "All I want from you, Haru-sama.. is you.."

She swallowed her own heart down and slowly looked up at Haru's face and into his beautiful dark eyes.

Sato, still standing on the sidelines, looked to Karu, Haru and the female kaibutsu, eyebrows furrowed together as if trying to understand what was going on.

She gave a bow to the three, showing her respect "I'll come find you again.. You seem in need of some time alone with your friends.."

The shinigami really didn't know if the female was related to Haru and Karu or not, but went with friends anyway to be generic.

"Until next time, kaibutsu.." the lieutenant whispered, turning and running off as she sheathed both of her blades, returning them to their regular form.

[Kochou Mari]

Haru smiled gently. "What you desire, Yuzuki, you shall recieve..." he whispered. Was it another ploy?

...This time, he wasn't so sure. It may have been a ploy deep down, but at the time, his feelings were genuine.

Karu, however, saw something deep down in his brother's heart. Standing up, he prepared to strike yet again, but not at Yuzuki. At his brother.

Three quick blows, one to the middle of his center head, and one to each sensitive pressure point in his arms, and the huge beast was out. Of course, he was just knocked out--he would come around in an hour or so...

Turning to Yuzuki yet again, Haru smiled, suddenly pulling the fox kaibutsu into a warm embrace. "Forgive me for allowing Karu to do such a thing..."

[Sato Koemi]

Yuzuki's face burned softly in a blush and winced a little at the pain of her right shoulder and nuzzled her head into his warmth, relaxing into his strong, powerful arms "It is alright, Haru-sama.. All is forgiven.. All is well.."

Could she be dreaming? Could she actually be in the arms of he who she loves? Was it all a trick? Damned if it was, and if it wasn't, well.. all the more to embrace what little time she could spend with her beloved.


Behind Karu, a little silver-haired fox-kaibutsu appeared and started pulling at his shoulders to pull him away from Haru and Yuzuki. Surprisingly, the little thing had enough strength to pull the unconsciously Karu along the way and into a small thicket of bamboo trees.

The little fox-girl kaibutsu sat there, kneeling before Karu and flicked her fluffy silvery tail, her wide, big ears perked forward as she waited for her furry friend to wake.

[Kochou Mari]

"Please, Yuzuki..." Haru whispered, his eyes fixed on the kitsune in his arms. "Do not speak..." he whispered. One hand of his began to glow red. Slowly, he drew it over Yuzuki's shoulder, allowing his magic to seep in and mend her torn flesh. "Does it hurt...?" he asked. "This is the first time I've had to use this on anyone...and I don't...want to hurt you..."

A small smile formed on the demon's lips, and, once he saw Yuzuki's shoulder healed pretty well (all that was left was a pretty nasty scar), he pulled the kitsune kaibutsu into a tight embrace. "I'm so sorry..." he murmured. "I'm so...sorry..."