A Life Which Cometh Full Circle

[Nero Maxim]

This is where we left off...

Nero Maxim:
Orion's footsteps came to a stop and put him diagonally across from Alex facing past him. For a brief moment he considered pointing out that aside from the loose, black jeans he had on, he didn't have anything else to offer. But being snarky never got anyone anywhere, and no doubt the poor man was already suffering enough already.

"Sorry, friend. No pants, but I might have something you can use instead... Hang on." He said before unslinging the burden from his back and setting it down. Now, things were going to be a bit tricky... How to take off the shirt he was wearing under his coat... Without taking off his coat.

A couple seconds went by as he contemplated the puzzle, then he went to work. The reason for just not taking the coat off was simple. Underneath the coat and his shirt, his scars and back would have given his true identity away instantly. Diega's personal tattoo alone would have done that, but if anyone needed any more evidence, the rather unique scar around his left shoulder and arm was practically a calling card that had once been used for rub-on tattoos and been plastered on posters like a war badge. Kenpachi's first Scar.

After putting that thought away for a moment, he quickly went about unbuttoning the blood red buttons on the white dress shirt underneath. After that it was a simple matter of keeping his coat on his head by using the hood he stitched onto it, then sliding the shirt out and slipping his arms back into the coat.

"Here... Use this to cover up." He offered, handing the shirt to Alex. "Just tie it around your waist or something... I'll burn it later." he joked. If it was any interest to Alex to learn a little bit about the mysterious wanderer, all he had to do was look at what little torso was showing under the coat. His entire chest was more or less scar tissue. A checkerboard of old wounds that spared very little space. A lifetime of scars condensed into six very rough years.

=-=

Clarity:
I can't believe he's so shy! Thought Alex as he watched the man struggle out of his shirt while not removing his jacket. It's not like this situation could get anymore awkward. Eh, each to his own, I guess.

However, as the strange man was handing Alex his shirt, the former captain caught a glimpse of what lay under the jacked that he had been so loath to remove. The man's thick, muscled chest was one huge scar. No normal person could have acquired that sort of battle legacy...contract fighter or no. What the man sported was in a league of its own; on par with the Kenpachi.

Oho! He thought delightedly, so old kajikins has some competition awaiting him! This could get interesting...

But, for the time being there were more important issues to deal with...such as the shirt he technically could not wear. However, if he revealed that, it might give too much away. So, for a moment, he simply stared at the thing, idly scratching himself below the waist without even realizing it...he wished he had underwear! Then the light went on in the formerly quick witted Captain's brain. He could make it not a shirt. That thought in mind, he began to tear the thing into strips and fashion himself a sort of breech clout. It would leave nothing to the imagination if the wind picked up, but for the time being at least he was more or less modest again.

"Thanks for that, friend," he said with a grin, "I'll buy you a new shirt eventually; I'm just grateful to cover it up...there are other things I'm more proud of. But that's beside the point," he continued, loosing some of his carefree air. "I was just wondering what in the name of God gave you those scars?! You're defiantly unusual...who are you?"

Alex's power twitched with the almost reflexive reaction to reach out and coax information from the other's mind. But he bit down on his warped and malicious power fast enough that nobody would notice, or so he hoped.

[Nero Maxim]

The wind has stilled, I shouldn't have to worry about accidentally showing off my back or anything stupid like that... Still, its strange. It was gusty earlier...

How typical... Musing about the weather while waiting for this guy to do his business behind me. I wish he'd hurry up, though... I'm already sleeping on the couch, who knows what Rin'll do if I'm any later than I already am...

As Orion held himself in mental conference and considered the shapes of the clouds in the sky with his back turned to Alex he didn't realize that the other man had already finished and had walked around him.

When he mentioned scars, for less than a twentieth of a second Orion's mind had contemplated decapitating the man and moseying on his way... However something tingled at his mind in a strange way, staying his hand in place.

Blinking away the sudden loss of focus, Orion's eyes sharpened and he looked at himself and then at Alex. The bright light in his eyes from a moment ago seemed to become covered in an icy cold sheen.

"I guess you could say I was a hunter." He answered with an unintentionally gruff undertone as he reached down and picked up his wares. "My prey didn't appreciate the fact that I kept him cornered. Lets just say I'm better off than he is now." He remarked as he felt his hand clench ever so slightly.

He could still feel the soft eyeball squishing in his hand.

"People call me Orion... Long story." He said curtly before shouldering the three bagged swords.

[Alex]

Orion.

Alexander had never heard of a man by that name, but he knew he should have. Even six years ago, during his time as Captain of the Thirteenth, he would have known of such a man. His power was obvious, though constrained and carefully hidden, just like Alexander's own. It was impossible for him to figure out just who or how strong he was. Alexander didn't like it. Didn't like it any more than he liked the three swords the man had hoisted onto his back.

Casually, Alexander laid his right hand over his left arm where his knife lay concealed under layers of natural illusion. Steeling himself, Alexander spoke.

"I am Alexander," he said simply, offering no more information than that.

[Nero Maxim]

Orion raised an eyebrow at the man's sudden defensiveness, but gave no further reaction. However at the mention of the man's name, something clicked in the back of his mind.

Something about him was familiar, that was for sure, but it never really occurred to him before that name had been mentioned. But now that it had, he finally recognized the face and the half-nakedness.

"Alexander, huh?" The hooded man replied flatly as he looked into the man's eyes. Sizing him up, anticipating his actions, readying himself as well. He knew that this far away, if Alexander decided to try something, he would be able to use his power without giving himself away to anyone except Alexander. It would still be a risk, however.

A few tense seconds passed before he simply bowed his head slightly.

"That's quite an ordinary name. It suits you." He commented passively before hefting the weight on his shoulder. Without access to the reiatsu being eaten by the seven suppressors on his arm, the weight actually meant something.

"I have to finish a delivery in a nearby village or else my Vice Captain is going to eat my nuts for breakfast tomorrow. Where are you heading, Alexander?" He asked, feigning curiousity to try and absolve himself of any suspicion.

He was fully aware of Alexander's crimes and the fact that he was supposed to be dead. But in all honesty, a fight here would serve nothing for either of them besides to attract unwanted attention. He wondered if his former peer had reached the same conclusion.

Afterall, Orion could have blended in with the generic Eleventh Division crowd. Nothing about him really screamed importance, especially if he was doing deliveries.

[Alex]

Alexander saw the flash of recognition in the other man's eyes the moment he said his name and it compounded his suspicion. This man was or at least had been, so much more than he was now. The way he said 'my Vice-Captain' with that almost unnoticeable tone of superiority and expected obedience only compounded it further. Then again, he could just be an ego case. Alex wasn't sure.

"Oh, I'm not entirely sure," said Alex, removing his arm from his arm as he decided that he should at least appear unconcerned. "I was thinking about heading farther into the Rukongai to look for work. Maybe some pants...while better than nothing, this doesn't really cover everything." Looking down, he blushed and tried to hide his unruly danglely parts. Then, he decided to throw caution to the winds and try something.

"By the way," he said, "you've changed."

[Nero Maxim]

Orion paused and looked back at Alexander, already his brain was clicking away in defensive mode.

While true that Alexander had a keen mind for finding the information he wanted, he was already at the disadvantage. He'd given away his identity and now all Orion had to do was play dumb.

"Do I know you?" He asked with a slightly grouchy inflection, as though he wasn't one who wanted to be known. At least that part was true right now, only Orion was approaching it from a different point of view.

"Because in my former line of work, someone remembering me means I made a mistake." He growled like a dog backed into a corner. "And I don't like making mistakes. But I suppose you're right. I'm asking you, and you're not already laying on the ground in a pool of blood, I guess time's have changed that much at least."

"At any rate, I'm not much inclined to discuss my past life, boss. How about you?"

[Alex]

Grinning at the other man's sudden defensiveness, Alexander felt his old self return and grinned as he decided to drive in the knife. He knew he was on the right track now...this man, smart though he was, had too much of the brute in him to be able to completely cover his history...or personality. Just as Alex had been unable too. There were some, fundamental traits, that could not be changed no matter what happened.

"Yes, I'm quite sure, just as you are, that you, at the very least, know me," he said smoothly, turning to address the man's other comment. "Now, I must say...that was all said very much like an Eleventh Divisioner. Direct, to the point, and bloody."

Alex gazed at the man's shrouded face, his eyes hard and his expression his trademark cruel glare.

"Whether you like it or not, you will talk about your past...since you keep dropping hints in your speech anyway."

[Nero Maxim]

In the blink of an eye, Orion's free hand shot behind his back and into his coat. A glint of metal and an ominous click later and the barrel of an ebony handgun was practically stuffed up his nostril.

"How's this for direct, to the point and bloody?" The agitated man with the mask over his face spoke in a low growl. His blue eyes were focusing a piercing gaze upon Alex's, and the gun didn't quiver a millimeter.

"Now you listen good, 'Amigo'... I do know who you are. But then again, so should any shinigami. I'm betting even current Academy students know your face from text books..." He said flatly. "But like I said. We've all got our secrets, and I'm not going to tell you my life story."

"You see, I'm not interested in getting any new scars and I don't want the headache of having to drag you back to the Seireitei by your toenails and then having to fill out reports on it. As you can see, I've already seen my fair share of problems, and I'm not interested in having to deal with the likes of you right now. It's not in my job description. Now, if you stop asking questions, I can take my freshly polished gun out of your nose and we can go back to being chums. Don't you agree that it's in both our best interests if you keep your abnormally large shnoz away from my private business, and drop it."

The gun stayed in place for as long as Alex didn't provide an adequate answer. While normal bullets couldn't hurt any shinigami, bullets that happened to be ceros and kidou pointblank range to the face most certainly would, and Orion had no qualms about pulling the trigger to guarantee the security of his identity.