Bleach: Cero Devastador

The tenth district's underground resembled a small arena located on the outskirts, compared to the lower districts, this one was well-maintained. When before we would be surrounded by shady individuals hoping to make some money out of gambling. Here, it looked like posh people arrived for entertainment. Everyone dressed neatly and carried bags of money to enjoy their time. Wife and kids. Shinigamis were common folk and you'd see them walking around with their Asauchi, expecting a great display. 

When they saw Kurotora and me stare off, they knew expectations were high for tonight. I could hear murmurs and whispers about how I wasn't going to make it out of here this evening. So far this has been quite the entertaining welcoming.

I looked around, it didn't look like she minded the crowd and instead pressed forward seeking an answer.

"Shūhei Ryōsuke... it doesn't ring a bell, unfortunately".

A moment of tension followed by utter dismissal. I declined, but I knew it was useless to do so. 

"It doesn't, huh? Let's see if our fight will refresh your mind, kiddo. I'm looking forward to it. My name is Kurayami Shihoin, by the way".

"I'll save it".

"Won't you say your name? Quite the disrespectful fellow".

"Kamishiro Inuzuri" I huffed, as if she didn't know that already. 

"You real name?~" She insisted. 

"I'll tell you after you defeat me" I scoffed. 

"Flamboyant, I like it...", Kurotora walked off with an expectant smirk, she wasn't as expectant as me though.

My eyes flicked, and that was all the time it took for her to disappear. I was licking my lips in anticipation just from that move alone. She would be my last fight of the night... as per usual procedures I'd have to fight to entertain, win some bets and that would be it; we could walk off and enjoy the money made tonight. 

But this encounter changed everything; I couldn't wait to cut her with my sword.

"Kamishiro" I heard Sakuya call me as she usually would whenever we were in public. I was wearing a mask and so was she.

"Kikaku Benimaru has arrived, the fight will start soon".

"What are the odds?" I asked, this prompted Sakuya to bite her lips beneath the mask. She took me to sit down in our corner.

"50:50 in favour of none against Benimaru, 30:70 against Hage and... 99:1 against Kurotora".

As we spoke the battle was announced, the stadium cheered and Kido barriers were set up. However, before I could step in, somebody else visited me, Murasaki brought in a woman who stared at me with interest. 

"Nii-san, someone wants to meet you, make sure to treat her well! I have to go now, good luck with the fight!" He rushed off and left the lady behind. 

This woman was wearing white and red robes with ample exposed cleavage, her black hair cascaded down but she still wore a bandana to cover her forehead, giving her quite a roguish appearance. I looked at her, Sakuya looked at her... we both looked down a bit and then back at her face. 

'Sakuya finally meets her match' I thought. 

"My eyes are up here~ strong and shameless, huh?" The woman hissed like a snake, her eyes focused on Sakuya told me that she was trying to rile her up.

"... it was only a second" I admitted and crossed my arms, "Don't make a fuss about it, they're not that big".

"Hoho?~" The woman frowned with a smirk, I successfully riled her up in Sakuya's stead. 

"Ryo-Kamishiro!" It looks like Sakuya doesn't understand my intentions. 

After sending me a challenging glare, the woman extended her hand forward, "I like you, Kamishiro Ryōma. My name is Kikaku Shiba; it is nice to meet a young legend~".

"..."

"Are you wondering how I know that name, perhaps?".

"..."

"Come on, don't look at me like that~ Your name is starting to become big around Rokungai, even Shinigami know who you are and soon, after today –regardless of whether you defeat her or not– the Seireitei too will know your name. Isn't it natural some people would be curious, they would travel to the 78th District to ask a few questions about you? It was quite difficult to trace you down, not many knew your name... in fact, all I have on you is your name, nothing else".

"Nothing else?" I asked with furrowed brows, although no one should deliberately reveal what happened that night, if they're bribed, that's a different story. 

"Nothing else... but that's as far as my influence reaches. That girl may be different though, Kurotora... she's a troublesome one and if she challenged you to a fight, she must have investigated you thoroughly" Kikaku said,

"Why do you come here to see me? what's your intention?" I asked her, she's interesting but a bit puzzling too. In one night I found two individuals who know my real identity, the tenth district is truly not simple. 

"Well, I bet a bunch of money on you against Benimaru and Madarame... I believe you will win those two fights without a hitch, contrary to everyone else here; they're a bit old-fashioned you see... but when it comes to that lil' girl I'm not so sure anymore. Let me ask you, do you think you can win? It is 99:1 you know?! If I bet everything on you and you win... I can't even count how much money that is!"

I deadpanned, so it is about money in the end. 

"... do what your gut feeling tells you–" I said and walked towards the stage where my opponent was already waiting. 

She yanked me away and hugged me against her chest, prompting Sakuya to gasp, quite the comfortable woman she is, this Kikaku.

"I am here because my gut feeling is telling me you're going to win, brat! But that girl is so damn strong like that annoying older sister of hers that I'm starting to doubt my gut feeling for the first time in my life. So? Can you beat her yes or not?".

"... I know absolutely nothing about her, how can I confidently tell you if I can defeat her or not? I never underestimate my opponents Shiba-san. Release me".

Eventually, she let me go... not before whispering something on my ears with an eager tone.

"Very well. I'll put ten million on you against Yami-chan. Don't disappoint me, young legend~"