With the Captains suffering casualties and heavy injuries on their side, all hope seemed to be lost... until Shinji Hirako appeared, along with the rest of the former Shinigami. Though the aid of the Vizards certainly helped to draw the battle in their favor, it seemed Aizen's power alone proved too much for them.
Slam! A bare foot collided with a tree, the owner of said foot had a serious look in her eye. The crimson orbs focused on the tree, a sheathed sword, concealed in its jade sheath rested on a nearby stump. The girl switched feet, turning and landing another kick on the tree. Slam! She stayed in place, she took in a deep breath of air before, yet again, she switched feet and pounded the tree with her foot. Slam! One more, one more final breath and she had repeated the process, without pause. Slam! Slam! Slam!
She pulled her foot back, the petite vizard sighed. Kicking something hard was one thing, but having your foot scraped up and continuing such an assault was just... Bleh. Now her foot stung against the forest floor, which was just as bare and exposed as her feet. No grass protected her feet from the cold, unforgiving forest floor.
She spun around, wincing slightly as she stepped slowly towards her zanpakuto. Not wearing shoes had its disadvantages, but she wasn't going to change. All they did was slow her down--and speed was not her strong suit. Raw power and brute strength were all she really had, albeit, she had some kido skill.
The green-haired girl plopped onto the stump with a sigh, her head rested on her chin. The insomniac reached to her left, scooped up her zanpakuto, sheath and all, and held it up before her. A frown, illuminated by the brilliant shine of the jade, made its appearance on her face. She tilted her head, staring at her wakizashi.
The hilt was wrapped in silk, the guard seemed to be made of jade, as was the sheath, and she still didn't know its name. Her crimson eyes studied her sword, trying to analyze it, but to no avail. Nothing was learned; she did not know its name, nor did she know her inner hollow's. Kaki was stumped.
"Ah, you stubborn bastard you," Kaki murmured to the sword.
In Kaki's world, her restless mind had no sheild from the wind, the rain, nothing. Eternally awake--all because of this hollow. Some called power a gift. Some called it a curse. Kaki called it the world. Nothing could take this away; doomed to live her tired life with her nameless zanpakuto and her nameless hollow, the small vizard closed her eyes. "Well, no use sitting around, right?"
The child stood, still holding her sword, and her sharp eyes darted to her side. Her sword at the ready, she turned her head to see, and said, "Alright, how much of that did'ya see? Or hear?"
Character List "Let's eat, Grandma!" "Let's eat Grandma!" Commas save lives.
Post by Shinigami Kyra on Dec 16, 2009 22:54:44 GMT -5
"How much did you want to have seen or heard?" came the wise persona of the elder Vizard as she seemed to almost materialize out from the shadows. Truth be told, she had only just stumbled into the area, though with such a perfect entrance set before her, how could one normally pass such an opportunity? The cryptic response seemed almost just as good, with the quick-lipped response seeming to add into her beaming inner child, which seemed to be jumping up and down for joy at how cool she looked just then. Despite how old the woman actually was, and how often she expressed that it was merely a facade, it seemed she did still have a bit of immaturity within her.
The long haired former Captain was within her Gigai, attired in rather stylish, though modern wear. Though it was a simple combination of short sleeve, long sleeve, and skirt, which sometimes didn't seem to go together, the fashion designer appeared to make it work. The sheer mixture of dark neon greens and black in the fashion of 'tag-like' artistry upon the long sleeve shirt, which was partially covered by the white, button-down, vest-acting short sleeve. The undershirt had been tucked into a pair of white jeans that just barely covered her shoes. For a woman of her appearing age, it seemed like a young adult who was either in college, or had just graduated... simply by the way her clothes expressed her figure.
Nevertheless, even while standing there, a cone of ice cream in her hand, she stood as still as stone, almost seeming to 'float' on over to the girl, ice cream held presently angled up toward her collar bone, though just not quite high enough to eat. Those dark jade hues seemed full of knowledge and wisdom... of expertise and experience... of understanding and pride. It was quite the moment; a spotlight had been placed upon her. The next words she spoke would have to be carefully chosen, in order to follow the mystical entrance she has so provided.
"Must one see or hear in order to understand?" Rydia arched a brow with a tilt of her head, matching that of an old wise sage she had seen in a movie once. A tilt of her head was followed by a slow closing of her eyes. "Or to even be aware... one's surroundings should never be determined by sight or sound alone... but by those senses in which..." *Lick!*
Her tongue darted out for that ice cream, her inner child, though frantically screaming at how awesomely cool she looked, couldn't fight the temptation of the hastily melting sugary delight within the crunchy cone currently held within the grasp of her left hand.
"By those senses in which we take for granted," Rydia followed up, not breaking in a single stride or appearance, aside from that shunpo-fast lick, and the childish look of glee to the rich, delicious taste. "One must not always rely on the senses they are most used to... but to the ones they are untrained..."
And another lick seemed to diminish that 'all knowing' aura she was attempting to visibly give off. It all shattered shortly after, though, as the rather young appearing woman smiled beautifully while clasping the cone of ice cream rather dramatically in both hands.
"Ah," she let out a blissful sigh as she glanced rather contently toward the younger woman. "Forgive me; it's pretty rare that I get to act like that. I saw it in a movie once, and the scene was just to big to pass up!"
That sage-like persona was gone in an instant, replaced with a rather childish young adult. Another content sigh before she extended one of her hands outward in a standard American-like hand-shake fashion.
"Name's Rydia," the woman exclaimed. "Pleased t'a meet ch'ya!"
Last Edit: Dec 16, 2009 23:23:27 GMT -5 by Shinigami Kyra
Her eyes went from serious, to confused. Had this been one of those rare occasions in which Kaki had been well-rested, she might have been able to follow what it was the older woman was saying, but... She lowered her sword, still in its sheath, before the strange woman could finish speaking.
Kaki didn't know what to think; not only had she taken so many measures in ensure that no one would find her without searching, but some random woman--one who appeared to be just as hyper and young-at-heart as Kaki when she was in good spirits at that--had just poofed into existance and into Kaki's life. Not only was Kaki confused, she was baffled!
It was made even stranger when the woman extended a hand, and Kaki, still looking to the woman with her crimson eyes, filled with uncertainty, only stared. Her head tilted slightly, but then she took a step back, the forest floor reminding her why it was she should stop wandering barefoot, and yet she would not listen.
She still held her sword in her right hand, and she stared at the woman, trying to think of what she wanted to make of her. On one hand, she didn't seem like she wanted a fight, but on the other hand, Kaki could never be sure. Facades were around every corner, as were lies and deceptions.
Character List "Let's eat, Grandma!" "Let's eat Grandma!" Commas save lives.
Post by Shinigami Kyra on Dec 17, 2009 19:54:13 GMT -5
That short pause between the end of Rydia's introduction, and the far younger woman's staring and changing expressions was once again lifted as the elder green haired woman yanked her hand back, smile still ever present upon her face. Obviously, cracking through this shell was going to be tough; luckily for her, Rydia knew how to lower such shielding.
"Ah," Rydia exclaimed with a rather hyperactive smile as she gazed upon the woman's hair. "Your hair is almost identical in shade to mine! You know how hard it is to find other women with this natural hair color?"
As a stylist and fashion designer, the elder woman could easily point out the natural hair color on any dyed woman. It was just another one of those supposed 'useless attributes' that she seemed to hold. While her own hair was far longer than the girl's own, she couldn't help but let out a rather ridiculous fangirl squee.
"Oooo!" Rydia's hands clasped together as sparkles and stars appeared before her face, expressing the glee and pure joy she felt within her heart at that moment. "We could totally pass off as siblings!"
Without even a second notation, Rydia reached out and snatched the girl's hand with a strength that seemed a bit out of character for her current bravado. Still, it wasn't all that tight; slightly loose, but the grip itself would more likely than not be noticed that she wasn't just some ordinary human. And of course, Rydia began to march off with her new little imoto-san.
"One-san will take care of you!" Rydia cheered as she began to drag a total stranger out from her secluded forest.
Kaki was confused; this woman... This stranger was... Well, Kaki was confused. The woman didn't seem to care that Kaki was clearly mistrusting of her (or so she thought), but she did seem to care about Kaki's hair color. Now THAT was weird. Kaki stared with confusion, trying to make heads or tails of the situation. Was she really just... "Uhhh..."
Kaki found herself cut off by yet more of the elder woman's speech, and now she was saying something about passing off as siblings... Kaki's eyes widened for a moment, then her lips pulled to the side in an awkward manner, that elongated line that dashed across her mouth.
Kaki lifted her hand, wanting to say something, but, not only was she cut off, but this complete stranger had just grabbed her wrist and began to drag her off! Kaki began to protest, she said, with a frown, "Matte-"
Once again, cut off by the elder's speech, she did something that was about as rude as dragging a random person off. She yelled, quite fired up at this point, "GOD DAMMIT LET ME GO!"
Post by Shinigami Kyra on Dec 19, 2009 1:28:02 GMT -5
>>"GOD DAMMIT LET ME GO!"<<
Rydia was not only a Vizard, but a woman with determination in her eye. Males and Females alike all knew the danger that could occur when met with a determined, obsessed woman. Not only that, but as per Anime Law, in such situations, a woman's strength and other various attributes increase, at bare minimum, tenfold. That grip seemed as loose as could be, but no matter what, her arm wouldn't budge. That smile remained ever present on her face as she literally dragged the poor girl through the forest, back into town, onto a bus, toward the heart of the business district, and straight to her studio.
Whenever the poor girl would warrant a question to the far elder Vizard, she would simply reply about how horrible it was to find young children all by themselves in the forest... however, not once did she mention seeking out the youngling's family. When they eventually reached civilization again, Rydia seemed to be one of those strange people who just loved talking to complete strangers. One elderly woman had questioned her on the bus ride, pointing out that the two looked related. Of course, Rydia gleamed over the idea, and had announced that they could be sisters. The old woman, however, had suggested a more elderly look; mistaking her for the woman's mother, not older sister. A cracked smile turned forced, and a twist and twitch of her brow had been followed by a very, VERY forced laugh. Age was obviously a very touchy subject.
Nevertheless, the day was hastily followed by the child struggling, and Rydia dressing. She was like a ten year old with a new barbie doll. Bright lights, a lot of flashes, clicking sounds, and Rydia's voice directing filled the next hour ten; who was keeping count? When it was all said and done, however, the young Vizard had an entire portfolio stocked of pictures. Anyone who knew the elder Vizard's line of work would jump at the chance to be included in her magazines. They were within the shooting room, photographers all bot gone for now. The sun was just setting, casting a golden, fiery haze over the city and through the windows. From twenty-stories up, the view of the city and beyond was quite the scenary.
"Drink up," came Rydia's voice, followed by a toss of a water bottle. An aura of confidence was always found almost visible to the naked eye whenever she completed a successful shoot. Of course, this situation was slightly different. As she sat down next to the woman in one of the chairs against the far side wall, she crossed a single leg over the other at the thigh, gazing toward the window. Rydia had found the woman, near the end, to have been spacing out quite a lot, and when she had approached, she had once again, spotted those familiar lost hues, as though wondering about endlessly in a world of her own. "The mountains look like they're on fire."
Kaki's calls were to no avail; the woman would not release her. She had tried on several occasions to ask where Rydia was taking her, though, Rydia had said nothing of where they were going but instead of where she had found Kaki. The young, crimson-eyed vizard, if not for being a pacifist by nature, probably would have attempted kicking the woman who dragged her along. However, she didn't. Somewhere along the way to the bus stop, Kaki was quite literally being completely dragged by Rydia, like a rag doll, as she was lost in her own little world composed of a jade forest floor and flowering trees that passed through the heavens and then some.
Her jade man of a zanpakuto spirit was first to greet her, indicating to Kaki that he was in control for once in a while. This was a relief; she didn't really need a copy of herself laughing at her while she was dragged along by the elder vizard.
"Please help me," Kaki pleaded with her zanpakuto spirit on one occasion.
"Not much I can do, Aosawa-san. I'm sorry," the tall jade man replied, unable to help his weilder. "Try to make the best of it?"
Not surprisingly, Kaki refused to speak to her spidery jade zanpakuto spirit after this point; spacing out or not. She had been concious of the world around her when the woman commented about Kaki and Rydia looking alike, and Kaki hung her head in despair. This would never end, would it?
It seemed as though it did, as Rydia's boast was met with a correction from the woman. While Kaki found this quite humorous, she was too afraid to do more than crack a smirk for a second before hastily wiping it off of her face.
For the next few hours, Kaki found herself spacing in and out of reality, only to find herself in random clothes. That was somewhat strange; but she soon realized as a flash blinded her that she was being photographed. Great. Not only was she dragged around like a rag doll, but she was also being dressed up like a barbie doll.
Had it not been for her sporadic shift from reality to her own inner world, she'd have thrown something at a photographer or two. This was provocation enough for her.
It was hours later, she was exhausted; she had just been tortured in a sense, forced to dress in a certain way that was completely uncomfortable for her. She was relieved to have her own clothes and bare feet to herself again, and as she adjusted her scarf, a water bottle hit her on the head and knocked her off of her perch on the arm of her chair and into the chair itself. She looked to see what the object was, and then sighed in relief. It was water--sweet, sweet water.
Oh how she needed it. She quickly popped open the bottle, glugging down the entire thing within sixty second before she heard the elder vizard speak.
"The mountains look like they're on fire."
"It's different up close, the light gets sorta blinding though," Kaki observed. Living in the mountains, practically a feral humanoid creature, she got a better veiw of those mountains than most hikers would ever get in their life. "So what was that for exactly?"
Kaki suddenly regretted asking such a question, slapping her own forehead mentally. She could almost hear the laugh of her inner hollow.
Character List "Let's eat, Grandma!" "Let's eat Grandma!" Commas save lives.
Post by Shinigami Kyra on Dec 19, 2009 13:03:34 GMT -5
>>"So what was that for exactly?"<<
A lot had been going through the woman's mind when she had taken it upon herself to drag a complete stranger who obviously held no real experience not only in her line of work, but in normal society as a whole... at least, at a human's standpoint. Perhaps it really was the fact that the two appeared so similar; the hair, a dead given, though the eyes were quite the opposite. While Rydia's held only a slightly lighter shade of green than her hair, Kaki's was bathed in a quite contracting, yet ironically fitting hue of scarlet. Who, aside from Rydia herself, truly knew the reasons behind her actions... did she herself know? Still, as she rested an arm over the back of the chair, profile toward the window, that faint smile held a different aura than it had all throughout the day; something warm, almost motherly.
"Time is a companion that goes with us on a journey," was Rydia's reply at first. She spared a moment to part a single strand of forest green that fell over her features. With a quick tuck behind her ear, those emerald hues never left their focal point of the horizon. "It reminds us to cherish each moment, because it will never come again. What we leave behind is not as important as how we have lived."
With that, the woman leaned forward and stood up, flattening out some of the wrinkles in her attire before turning to the young Vizard.
"You wear a very familiar expression," Rydia explained a bit more deeply as she repositioned herself against the wall, only slightly with a brushed shoulder, her arms crossing over her chest. Her outer leg kicked up and rested against the opposing ankle. "When your eyes are tired of the same scenery, one is attacked by ideas they conquered long ago. Sometimes, you need to see through different pieces of glass to get the vision you truly seek.... we get to think of life as an inexhaustible well. Yet everything happens only a certain number of times, and a very small number, really. How many more times will you remember a certain afternoon of your childhood, some afternoon that's so deeply a part of your being that you can't even conceive of your life without it? Perhaps four or five times more, perhaps not even that. How many more times will you watch the full moon rise? Perhaps twenty. And yet it all seems limitless."
Last Edit: Dec 19, 2009 23:45:11 GMT -5 by Shinigami Kyra
Kaki let out a sigh; if only it were so easy. No, she would see the full moon rise countless more times than she had already seen. Her childhood? That was something she'd much rather forget. Many things had happened in her dark past, and it was all because... She clenched a fist. It was all because... She remembered that faint, obscured vision. It was all because of what she was. It was because of her hollow, that she was too afraid to continue in the shinigami academy. It was because of her hollow that she was alone, not a name to call her zanpakuto by. It was because of her hollow that she had learned to fend for herself such a long time before she should have. It was because of her hollow that she refused to kill.
Her past was darker than she thought Rydia could imagine. But would she share her past? No. Never. That mistrusting side still reined supreme here, and nothing would change her mind. She refused to say it, she refused to speak to the vizard about her true thoughts. No, no she would not speak of this.
She felt her head throb slightly, and she was sure she would space out again.
"Aosawa-san, are you alright?"
This time, it was only the voice. Faint, but still present. She didn't respond to the voice, but to Rydia instead.
"Believe me; it's not really as simple as you think."
Character List "Let's eat, Grandma!" "Let's eat Grandma!" Commas save lives.
Post by Shinigami Kyra on Dec 20, 2009 18:43:07 GMT -5
"Thought itself is never simple," Rydia replied as easily as the other reply had come. "Then again; is anything worth having in life come so easily? Where that the case, would everyone on this planet not be content with what they had?"
The long haired woman leaned back, uncrossing her arms from her chest and clasping them at the fingers behind her head. It just seemed so nostalgic, as those forest hues fell upon the young Vizard, just how familiar the emotional expressions she gave off. A lost, puzzled look... faint, as though the woman was there, physically perhaps, but not mentally.
"Perhaps the best way for communication to flow properly is not to force it," Rydia commented. "But instead, to allow patience the time it needs for nature to take its course. One can never force their life's companion to speak, though time itself may allow for the companion to seek a more desirable relationship. Rather than attempting to force yourself forward, simply be patient, and allow him or her to take the first step."
By now, Rydia was fairly certain that the double meaning of her words would be recognized that the elder woman knew, in fact, what the young woman was. She was speaking, of course, of the woman's inability to reveal her Shikai. While a single occurrence with the woman would normally allow Rydia to figure out that she may have been a Vizard, it was simply the fact that she had seen Kaki within the part of the forest she normally trained on more than one occasion. The frustration she sensed within the woman's eyes were familiar to her own mirror well over a century ago... hell, she had almost forgotten about the young Shinigami who had troubled through attempting to seek out the name of her Zanpakuto. She, however, had her Lieutenant to aid her... this girl, this poor girl, however, seemed to have no one.