Darkening skies...<br/>Why, yes, the entire world grew dark. Covered by the soft night as if a silken sheet descended onto it, just a few shadows quickly moving through. Searching for something easily found...<br/><br/>"Arishima! Where the hell do you think you are going?"<br/>A hand appeared on his back, dragging him a good few feet back by the collar of his keikogi. "I guess they didn't lie when they told me you're useless if you can't throw stuff into the air." The tone, disgruntled and apparently tired of someone else's antics, didn't leave place for opposing. "You guys are<span style="font-style: italic">students</span>. Students, remember that? You're not a full-fledged Shinigami yet, so don't go off like that. You stay with me."<br/>Masahira released a deep sigh, frowning grimly at his supervisor. He didn't like this guy telling him what to do!<br/>"Yeah, yeah, whatever." he waved his hand at the matter, and followed the Soul-reaper that berated him just a few moments ago. This was necessary to withstand if he wished for enjoyment.<br/><br/>He didn't doubt that he had all the skill to fight hollows even before graduating. He was a senior student after all, and one showing 'extraordinary skill', too. Though, he was still happy, more than happy, to help the 11th Squad and practice some hollow reaping. He didn't care as much about the cleansing part - it was important, sure, but what really had him excited was the part where he got to test his skill in battle.<br/><br/>"It's over there! Arishima, Kino, move over west!" someone shouted from the front. The moment that voice sank down into Masahira's thoughts, he turned around, like a thunderbolt flashing in the direction he was told to follow. His hands instinctively clenched around the tsuka of his Zanpakuto, pulling the long blade out, and holding it by his side. He could already feel the presence of a hollow nearby, the heavy, dark reiatsu that lingered in the air like a suffocating gas.<br/>He saw nothing but its shape before himself anymore. No, everything else was completely blacked out, pushed onto the edge of his senses and conscience. He just wished Shina would stay out of this, that he didn't have to interfere and help him. He could handle this alone just well.<br/><br/>The deafening roar just passed him by. He flash-stepped to the side to avoid the incoming attack that was quickly hurled at him, and instead launched himself into the air, striking at the hollow with the full extent of his incredible force.<br/>It hit the pavement, shattering the asphalt beneath. Damn, the living world was full of such uncomfortable surfaces to fight on! And the hollow was running away...<br/><br/>He followed, like a hound of hell he followed, racing with the wind. It took him just a few moments to catch up with the hollow once more, with a large horizontal swing of the katana's blade attacking. Sliced off a traffic sign...<br/>"Arishima, you idiot!" Kino shouted somewhere behind him. It was more than apparently a sign of distrust towards his hollow-fighting abilities, and a dislike for his tendency to decimate the landscape with his blows. But truly, Masahira didn't care. His attention was on the hollow, and on it only. His lips curled up into an almost insane smile as he got a hit at the hollow, slicing one of its legs cleanly off. Only then did he record the presence of another soul-reaper - one that definitely wasn't Kino - nearby.<br/>Something collapsing almost hit him into the head, by a hair's width missing his body. A collapsing lamp-post. A lamp-post? That wasn't nearby when he last looked.<br/><br/>Just how far from the rest of the group has he gotten...?