Juushiro halted as the bone-rattling cry of a hollow enraged filled the night sky. Narrowing his eyes, he increased the pace of his shunpo in that direction.
....
Rukia hopped backward then rolled as a piece of wood soared in her direction.
"How dare you-" the hollow seethed.
"How dare you-"
"How dare you finally wound me," it hissed, "when I've been so accommodating of your wishes to save this pitiful morsel of energy." It raised the tentacle around the little boy, now struggling and kicking his feet.
Rukia wanted to smile at his new courage.
"Fine," the hollow spat, "you found a way to hit me." It turned its macabre head her way. "You win one round."
Rukia blinked. It didn't seem angered anymore.
"It won't work the next time," it declared, raising the child far above its head, a head which started slinking down its body, sliding downwards as if on oil.
Rukia gasped as the head dissolved.
"Not when I am going to be taking my own piece out of you in exchange for it," the voice taunted from all around her.
Rukia narrowed her eyes, setting back into the waiting game. She glanced up at the small struggling figure above her. Could she-
"Pay attention to your surroundings," the voice whispered hoarsely into her left ear.
Rukia whirled to the side, just as the head shot out from the shadows scraping her cheek before slinking into more shadows.
"Round one, I missed," it called out.
Something moved out of the corner of her eye. Blinking, Rukia glanced upwards. It was true. The child had moved downwards, just a little, but he had. Why?
"Round two, begin."
Damn this hollow and his sick games.
