Once he was out of the medic tent, and fully patched up and healed, Katsu took some time to roam the market place. While there, he invested some coin in some new clothes. They weren't as professional as his uniform, but they worked. Once he was fully clothed, he bought some snacks to eat while he watched the fight, and when he returned to the stadium, he once more looked like a civilized being, and not a half naked savage. Now clothed in a dark, navy blue kosode (which he left open, feeling it was a rather warm day and he didn't feel like being constricted by a tight shirt), and matching Hakama, he seated himself in the stands, and settled into watch while munching on dango and drinking some sweet tea. As Malik began his match, Katsu could tell that this was going to be a very interesting fight to see.

Some time after escorting "Ping" to the arena in which that particular battle was to take place, and after being sternly and consistently informed that he could not watch the battle from 'up close', Mokushi made his way into the seating area for the audience. Just as well, from here he could see all the battles going on, not just one! He could see the aforementioned bout beginning, and the start of another battle that involved a man that the Bount may have seen stepping out of a randomly materializing door back before getting on the boats. The person opposite this man was even more odd, as it looked almost like he had bone growing on his face, sort of like a Hollow's mask.

Finally he noticed the fight that, to him, looked as if it was drawing to a close. "That that flailing thing... A Doll?" As things were now, the Bount had no way to be sure. For all he knew, it could have been some sort of Hollow, and only time would tell if his inquiry would be accurate or not. How confusing his question may be to anyone who happened to overhear him as well, since most people did not know the nature of the Bount!

Katsu tightened his focus as the fight between Malik and Derips began. He chewed on the end of one of the short, sharp wooden stakes that his Dango had been speared upon. Malik was skilled in Kido, but he was no slouch with a blade either. Regardless of how much shit he gave Malik, regardless of how he spoke, he had nothing but respect for the older shinigami...well, respect and a bit of disdain for his Holier-than-thou- attitude. Still, it was exciting to see the old bastard getting into the fight. Katsu winced as Malik took the kick, for it was an ugly looking strike. Katsu doubted Malik would have been put down that easily, and smiled slightly, for even from the stands he could see what Malik was plotting. Under his breath, he whispered "Blow his ass outta the ring..." No, Katsu had no doubt that Malik would trash the arrancar with ease.

With a shrug of his shoulders, Chii stepped aside the dominant pair and let Kurisuna speak, knowing full well his mistress' methods concerning insubordination were not of the merciful sort, and that withholding information in regard to her opponent was ludicrous, in any event. She gave a noncommittal wave of her hand, and gestured for the scowling boy to stay put; the less accompanied them the better, though she possessed no intention of straying too far from the stadium as she walked past Ryuu and left.

When Miyagi carried out his unsubtle departure, Chii nevertheless followed him from as far as the crowds would allow, skeptic, on the off-chance these bandits held more dubious motives after all.

[exit]

SPOILER: Click to show

I apologize for being so tardy with my reply. Crazy, I hope to get our thread up later today.

SPOILER: Click to show

Current time for Shirio is several hours after the first round and is during Malik's fight.

Walking into the stadium, Shirio surveyed the area for the fights that were going on. Noticing Maliks fight and finding it interesting (plus it would be useful to know more about the people who want to kill you and what they can do) Shirio decided to go watch that fight.

Noticing Katsu, Shirio sat next to him and said, "Hello again. Is the fight over already?" To Shirio it looked like the arrancar was on the ground and was an easy target for an attack to finish it off.

SPOILER: Click to show

Edited to fix timeline error.

The Bount looked back and forth between the fight "Ping" was involved in and the fight that appeared to involve one of his own kind. Of course, he did not know what form his brothers' and sisters' dolls took, and the cloak around Hinoiri prevented him from having any chance of recognising her (even if they had truly gotten acquainted before, which they had not). He kept looking back and forth, intent to not miss a single bit of the action, which was rather ineffective, but it served the purpose.

SPOILER: Click to show

With apparent off-timing, I'm not sure what to write other than this <.<

Katsu glanced at Shirio as the man who had healed him back in the tent approached him in the stands. He scowled, his attention returned to the field of battle as Malik's strike missed its intended target. "Obviously not...I thought maybe he'd be going straight for the head, but it looks like Malik's toying with the arrancar." he continued to chew on the dango stick, obviously absorbed in the fight. Malik wasn't playing. He was testing. He was probing Derips for his weaknesses and his strengths so that he could use that knowledge against the Espada later. "Malik's got this though...Derips only really has one trick up his sleeve, and that's his Release."

Watching the fight, Shirio noticed Derips escape and switch his sword arm. Figuring that was due to the injury that Malik had given him before, Shirio wondered if Derips was just caught by suprise or was the fight really so one sided. Figuring that Malik most likely had the advantage in the fight, Shirio wondered if Derips would also be able to turn the table.

"Why wouldn't he go straight for the kill?" Shirio asked Katsu and also himself to a degree. It seemed to Shirio that Malik would be the type to go straight for the kill although he could very well be completely wrong.

Katsu didn't look too Shirio, and it was a moment before he responded. He was intent on seeing how Malik handled Derips, now that he knew the arrancar's weaknesses and strengths. "He's testing him. He's learning about Derips before going all out." Katsu could see the glimmering red light of the Cero forming in Derips's hand, and had too chuckle a bit. If Katsu had noticed it, Malik surely would as well, and Derips would have to figure out a new trick. "The more Malik learns, the better he can handle his enemy. I'd really expect nothing less from the chief of the division that handles Criminal Investigations..."

Mokushi seemed somewhat disappointed by what he saw of the two fights. In "Ping's" fight, the battle ended just as soon as it started really. Though it seemed the person he had recently met had been hiding quite a secret, since it looked like a woman jumped out of his body. At least, this is what it appeared to be to the Bount. Then with the fight that may be including another Bount, the metallic creature vanished and now the fight had slowed down considerably. That was, until one of the two combatents, the possible Bount, seemed to vanish into thin air. Sure, this made things more interesting, but nothing had really happened yet. Just some tricks being used to beat down an already heavily injured man. Just seemed pointless to him. "Maybe I'll go see how Ping is doing..." He waited for now, just checking to see if the other fight would end soon.

Watching the fight, Shirio also noticed the charged up cero. "So this arrancar likes using tricks and it seems like Malik is fond of using Kidō." Shirio thought to himself as he observed the fight. While he doubted that he would end up fighting Derips outside of the tournament assuming he would even fight him in it, Shirio had no doubt that any information he could find out about Malik's fighting style could save multiple lives.

"Does he usually test his opponents like this?" Shirio asked Katsu.

Ulquioza skulked through the vast area, mindlessly watching the tourney in the process. His eyes were on this match from the beginning. There was literally nothing more that was more interesting to him, ever. He had to observe his enemy if he wanted a fraction of a chance to redeem himself.

Slowly entering the actual viewing area, he took a seat in the stands, not too far from Katsu. A mere glance is what the arrancar used to identify Katsu and he simply shook his head. A few moments of watching this feud and it would be apparent to him: 'That Shinigami is still playing around.' Quietly, Ulquioza would mumble, "Thanks go to you, Derips, for allowing me to analyze him more... But, there's no chance of you winning."

Katsu shook his head, and finished off the last of his dango. "Malik only toys around like this when he needs to learn about his enemy, at least as far as I've seen. If he feels like there's nothing left to learn, he'll butcher the hell out of whoever's in his way." He didn't notice Ulquioza, not immediately at any rate, but it wasn't long before he glanced around at the stands and noticed the arrancar. A disgusted frown crept across his face, and he turned back to the fight. It was hard to resist starting a brawl in the stands,

Making a mental note to remember that bit of information for later, Shirio raised an eyebrow when he saw Derip's transformation. "Think he's going to start going all out now that the arrancar just changed into that?" Shirio asked Katsu.

Notcing Ulquioza and Katsu's reaction, Shirio was smart enough to know what Katsu was most likely contemplating. "It won't do you any good if you start a fight here." Shirio warned Katsu.

Arrancar.. No, hollow in general were not inclined to be social creatures, and Ulquioza was not just not an exception, but he himself was inclined to stray from social events, making a double negative. However, this one special occasion was, well, special. He was rather excited, seeing Malik in action. Things were going swimmingly in his mind.

Shirio, the man he had seen earlier, and Katsu, the Shinigami he knew from earlier, were both talking, but not quite to themselves. Almost as though bragging on Malik, Ulquioza responded to Shirio's question, "There's no way that Malik will be getting serious just quite yet. He's still observing; and even afterward, I doubt he'll release his real powers. I think there's a chance he may not even release his sword whatsoever." With a faint sigh, one of almost contentedness, Ulquioza continued, " "The only thing Derips has running for him is his ability to withstand pain. He'll need it in this match, however, he's far too slow."

Well, Mokushi certainly was able to see the end of the battle between the human with powers and supposed Bount soon after Ping's battle ended. But the outcome was no where near what he expected. "She.. Gave up, while ahead?" He shook his head, somewhat dumbfounded. Oh well, just one more oddity that he has seen. Even more surprising was that another battle began in the same arena quite quickly. The first entrant was a masked and robed person once again. Must be the popular fashion on this island or something. Once this combatant spoke to the audience, he was able to figure out that it was a woman.

After quite awhile, the time passing by being enough for him to lose interest if it were not for the woman's display of her abilities, a masked man entered the arena. "Heh, he just get the memo about the new mask fashion or something?" The Bount slouched forward, putting his elbows on his knees and resting his chin on his hands. He was not exactly interested yet, but knew from the earlier fight in the same arena that not everything was as it seemed. Even the suddenly growing rose plant gave him some interest. Who knows, perhaps it will be exciting?

With a chortle that was below his breath, Ulquioza slowly came to stand. The match had finished, Derips had lost. It was no surprise, but still very saddening. It was all left to the last one, who was extremely anti-fighting, and he needed that win to fight Malik.

Regardless, he walked away.

[Exit]

Katsu chuckled a bit as Malik wrapped the match up in a neat little bow, and send Derips packing to the medical tent. Though Malik had not gotten off uninjured, he had done a sight better than Katsu had, and he looked no worse for the wear. A quick healing would have the old bastard back on Katsu's case in no time. With a glance and a nod Goodbye to Shirio, Katsu rose from his seat and set off to find Malik.

(exit)

Smiling a bit to himself as he watched Malik defeat the arrancar, Shirio had to admit that he was strong. Knowing that he now had something of an edge on Malik with this newfound knowledge, Shirio now hoped that he would never find himself in a position to have to use it.

Returning the nod from Katsu, Shirio then stood up and left the arena so he could explore the island a bit more.


[Exit]

Making his way back from the entrance of the arena, Taiki hurried up the stairs. Hoping that he didn't miss much of the fight, Taiki entered the arena and looked around for a place to sit.

Catching sight of Mokushi, Taiki knew that he seemed familiar. Wondering why he seemed so familiar, the answer came to him a minute later. "Right. I've seen him in the mansion." Taiki muttered to himself.

Deciding that he might as well talk to him, Taiki took a seat next to Mokushi and said to him, "Hello. Are you enjoying the fight?"

This newest battle between the two masked combatants was moving a bit slowly it seemed. Sure, there were some powers shown and even an explosion, but neither side had landed a hit yet. Though when the man suddenly rose out of the smoke on the back of some sort of giant bug looking creature, Mokushi became fully engrossed in the battle. Until someone sat next to him and spoke to him that is. With a look that appeared as if he had just been woken from a wonderful dream, Mokushi looked toward the man that had suddenly approached him. "There are some interesting moments. I'm curious about what that bug thing can do, and if that is the only trick that man can do."

Truthfully, he wanted to discover more the origin of the insect. Was it a doll, like he suspected that competitor in the previous fight had used? He yearned to know and learn. He felt as if he needed to know. To make sure he didn't miss a thing, he looked back to the fight, though then continued to speak. "What about you? Also, who is it that walks up to random people to start conversations? My name is Shinsei Mokushi." Who knows, perhaps random dialogue could produce results for information gathering!

Raising an eyebrow at Ryuu's summoning of the doll, Taiki was suprised. It wasn't like Ryuu to summon Garandou at all. "She must be pretty tough. I can see why Ryuu was so excited." Taiki thought to himself.

Watching the fight unfold Taiki said to Mokushi as he watched, "I'm sure he has a few other tricks up his sleeve. As for me, I'm Taiki. I recognized you from the mansion." That would give enough of an indication of what Taiki was.

Spit that hardened? Unorthodox, but an interesting power indeed. It seemed the plants were showing a lot more control than Mokushi had originally thought they could. He then heard the man next to him confirm that the male combatent had some more tricks, and introduced himself as Taiki. The next comment that he made did not click in Mokushi's mind right away, and so he gave an inquisitive look until he realised exactly what Taiki was talking about. "Mansion? What to do you- Oh, that one." So he really wasn't the only Bount here. This Taiki was one, and judging by how he seemed to be familiar with the man that was fighting, Mokushi assumed he truly was one as well. This also made his suspicion about the woman who was fighting earlier seem much more likely as well.

"So you know that guy down there?" The Bount said, taking a moment to take his eyes off of the fight and actually look at Taiki for more than just a glance.

Giving an amused chuckle at Mokushi's confusion over which mansion Taiki replied, "Yeah that mansion." Turning his attention back to the fight, Taiki was disappointed when the view was blocked by the roof of vines that Kurisuna created.

Watching Ryuu fly around the outside of the vines before changing direction and flying under the roof of vines, Taiki wondered what had happened. "Yeah I know him." Taiki responded as he noticed a flash bomb detonate under the vines.

Mokushi nodded briefly when this Taiki confirmed that he knew the man down in the arena, who seemed quite used to aerial combat with how easily he stayed on the large insect's back. The scrawny looking Bount averted his gaze back to the arena once again, shielding his eyes from the small bits of the bright flash that was not obscured with his right hand. "That confirms my suspicions about him too then. Of course, a living thing appearing out of nowhere is a tell-tale sign of a Doll. Also, since she hasn't really shown a medium for her powers, I would assume that woman is either a Human with powers or a Shinigami who concealed her Zanpakuto and discreetly released her power. The lack of a uniform makes that unlikely though." There he goes, rambling his thoughts out loud again.

Oddly enough, his watch seemed less interested than it had before. For what reason, might you ask? Simply enough, one of the mysteries surrounding this battle had been solved. The male combatant was a fellow Bount which meant his powers, though different, worked in a similar way to his own.

Raising an eyebrow at Mokushi's theories, Taiki had to admit that he was a bit suprised by them. "She's actually a human with powers." Taiki stated to the man. Giving a sideways glance at him he would then ask, "Haven't you heard of the Black Rose Witch?" Taiki would be rather taken by suprise if Mokushi didn't know. Afterall she was one of the more well known serial killers in the country.

The Bount's statement further cleared up the mystery for Mokushi, leaving him even more bored than he had been seconds ago. "Of course," he replied, then stood. There were other things he could be investigating. "I have to go." And so he did.

[Mokushi exited]

Giving a nod to Mokushi as he headed off, Taiki continued to watch the match between the two. Watching the plant crush Garandou, Taiki had to admit that he was impressed. Whenever Ryuu had let him out to play there usually was a bodycount as a result (and several times a half-dead Ryuu), however The Black Rose Witch had managed to defeat it.

Watching as Ryuu surrendered along with the Black Rose Witch's response, Taiki had to suppress a chuckle. "That's something Ryuu would do." Taiki thought to himself. Come to think of it, Taiki would also happily pull a stunt like that. Getting up and exiting the arena, Taiki went down the stairs so he could meet Ryuu at the exit once he had finished up.


[Exit]

Thread Rewards:

Malik - 10 (8+2 Quality) Points

Ryuu - 7 Points

Kurisuna - 7 Points

Shirio - 10 Points

Miyagi - 4 Points

Katsu - 6 Points

Mokushi - 7 Points

Ulquioza - 3 Points

Post for placement.

5 to reiastu and 5 to speed, plz and ty.