Too Weak To Know, Too Late To Forget

Jinriyu never felt sympathy. Unlike other souls, that emotion never existed inside of him. Pity, understanding, grief, sadness, all these were emotions that he neither possessed or understood. But strangely, on that day when he met Shido, something unexplainable changed in him.

It was just a small interest at first. But not before long it slowly turned into an obsession. Shido hid his true nature from everybody else, a true nature which Jinriyu could see. A true nature which he wanted to defile. A nature he same as his. A man that felt only wickedness towards this world, and everything inside of it.

His curiosity wanted to see what kind of a man he could create if that nature was exposed. But now, that nature inside Shido had been completely buried. And in response to that, Jinriyu felt only betrayal.

In this world, Jinriyu had only acknowledged two people, his benefactor whose name has yet to be revealed, and Shido Tatsuya. But now that was number which started to decrease. 

"Your own friends couldn't even see that part about you. That mask called Shido Tatsuya- I'LL SHATTER IT!"

Suddenly he fired a powerful Sōkatsui which surprised the audience. A level 33 Hadō from a first year was greatly unexpected. Shido who was surprised at the sudden attack, was unable to dodge and ended up taking a direct hit from the attack, leaving only an explosion in his wake.

"SHIDO!", Kai screamed. 

Getting worried for his safety, Shunsui declared that the match would be halted. But as the dust settled, Shido was standing behind a glowing yellow Kido barrier, which he had quickly erected.

"Why are you getting so worried for me? I told you I haven't been wasting my time these last couple months."

To add salt to Jinriyu's wounds, he was completely unharmed. The crowd roared at this sudden twist, putting this match in Shido's favour.

He drew his Zanpakutō as he said, "Why are you looking so shocked? If your not going to strike back, then is it my turn to attack?"

Jinriyu quickly fired another Sōkatsui at Shido, but this time he was able to dodge it as he casted his own Kido spell.

"Kassō yuka!"

It was a technique which was more like Hohō if anything. It pushed the ambient Reishi under the users feet, in a manner that allowed them to glid across the floor.

With this move, Shido slipped under the attack and started to advance towards the still angered Jinriyu.

Before he could get too close, Jinriyu fired a much weaker Byakurai which Shido blocked with his Zanpakutō. Using it, he attempted to pierce Jinriyu's throat, but his sword was quickly deflected by Jinriyu's own Zanpakutō. 

Unexpectedly, Jinriyu reached out with his free hand, and grabbed Shido by the neck. He attempted to strangle Shido into unconsciousness, but the strength he was using suggested otherwise. 

"Were you always this damn strong?"

"Quit making jokes and die."

Unexpectedly, Shido casted a Kido spell which emitted a bunch of smoke, stunning Jinriyu and weakening his grip. Shido hit the butt of his sword against Jinriyu's forearm, allowing him to break free and quickly retreat. The smoke cloud on kept growing bigger until it enveloped the whole arena.

The audience complained that they couldn't see what was going on, and so holographic monitors were quickly constructed in a fashion that would allow them to see the ongoing battle.

Instead they were met with the taunting words of Shido,

"I always thought you were all bark, and no bite. Who would've thought you actually carried some worth."

Jinriyu fired a Byakurai into the smoke. Only to be disappointed that it hit nothing.

"This cloud isn't only good for getting out of tight situations. But it can also mess with the ability to detect spiritual pressure. You might as well be fighting blind!"

The frustrated Jinriyu finally snapped as he released an explosive amount of spiritual pressure. This caused the smoke cloud to be instantly blown away, while causing the air to shake at his rage

Just as he did, he finally felt the spiritual pressure of Shido standing behind him.

Although he couldn't see it, he felt Shido's Zanpakutō just inches away from piercing the back of his head.

"Jinriyu, Jinriyu. Always looking down on others. How do you feel, now that this insect has just defeated you?"

Suddenly Shido backed away as he started to withdraw himself from the fight. After walking a couple paces, he took a fighting stance one more. This confused everyone, as he would've won right there and then.

"What's wrong? Let's keep going."

"Ha!?"

Jinriyu's anger reached his peak as he started to release a dangerous amount of green and black spiritual pressure combined with malice. The amount of bloodlust he possessed had skyrocketed, as the amount of hate he felt right now was enough to put even the most dangerous criminals to shame.

Then suddenly, it ceased. The only thing left was him laughing at the sheer irony of this situation.

"Me? A noble being given a second chance by this Rukon folk?? You! showing me mercy?? HOW HALIRIOUS!"

Everyone was confused at Shido's choice, but it was a decision which only he and Jinriyu could understand.

"If you didn't do this, then you would've most certainly won. Thanks to your act of mercy, I was able to regain my composure. Anymore of that, and I would've thrown away this match completely. Do not mistake this as me changing. I am merely taking this opportunity you have given me, to reassert myself."

Shido was a little disappointed with that response, but he was sure that he could pull Jinriyu out of that shell of his.

"I won't just rip that mask off, but I'll corrupt you completely!", Jinriyu shouted at him.

"Try all you want, hell will freeze over before I give in to you!"

To Shido, Jinriyu represented his inner-self which he was now fighting to defeat. he didn't just want to defeat Jinriyu in battle, but to subdue him completely. Only then would he truly win.

Jinriyu on the other hand, wasn't interested in winning this fight either. He wanted Shido to show to everyone how he truly felt. To show his rage and anguish, his disgust and hatred towards the Seireitei.

This was no longer just a battle to see who was the strongest, but a battle to find whose desire was superior.

And then Jinriyu performed a feat which many could call, a trait of the talented. The release of a Shikai after holding a Zanpakutō for a mere 3 months.

"Reveal the hidden world, Shinjitsu no kagami!"