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.
He mentioned people with nefarious goals, and also that he should keep the girls from coming out. He was lucky it wasn't her dorm, or she'd be extremely pissed. She stuck her tongue out at the man, "I don't think it's your job to keep the kids in check, Mr. Kobayashi" she said, teasing him.
He shrugged, and then mentioned how it was a slim chance that you'd ever see anyone from the academy again. She acknowledged that, because she had yet to see anyone from her academy years. But it still wasn't nice.
He sarcastically mentioned that killing hollows was a lot to look forward to, when they were really dangerous.
"They aren't that tough, especially when you have your shikai for assistance. And I mean, you're saving lives like someone did for both of us. What did I have to look forward to? The man that inspired me to become a Shinigami, and finding my two brothers that I took care of. I haven't found them yet...but I will!" she said, with a smile.
She hoped that her eyes didn't reveal the sadness she had. That wouldn't be a very good time. She gripped her zanpakuto, and Mizu no Hebi began soothing her.
Post by Mercurious on Jun 26, 2012 21:50:06 GMT -5
"I don't think it's your job to keep the kids in check, Mr. Kobayashi."
"I disagree! Someone has to do it...I mean, the other ranked Shinigami have a lot on their plate, ya know?"
At the mention of her Shikai, he raised a brow. So she had hers? "Really? Your Shikai! Wow...that's pretty awesome! Come a long way since....er, before."
He hazily remembered her, at best. Granted, there were a lot of beautiful women in the Seireitei, and he tended to simply avoid them. They were, as he felt, out of his league after all. He was average at best. He had no real defining qualities. He was lazy, dodged work as easily as he did blows in fights. He wasn't anything spectacular at all, so why would they be interested in him, when they could have guys who were bigger, stronger, and more good looking? After all, most women liked a guy they could look up to...not one they had to stoop to put their head on his shoulder.
Regardless, he let his excitement take over. "Can I see it? Your Shikai, I mean. Always fascinated by them...each one is different, and it's supposed to reflect your inner self." At this he blinked. His was a woman, so...he shook it off furiously.
Yes, Kazzy-kun, you like dresses....
He finally realized what she said about the man that inspired her, and he rubbed the back of his head nervously. "Well....I'm sure he'd be proud to see how far you've come!"
I'm talking to you!
He ignored his Zanpaku-to for a second time and when he saw the look in her eye he hopped up from his seat. "Well hey, I can help right? I mean, I did last time...and finding a couple of people shouldn't be too too hard. Are they Shinigami? Do you know what squad they're in?"
She laughed, as he continued to make up excuses for his actions. She hoped he didn't take it the wrong way, though. He seemed surprised at her attaining her shikai, and she was unsure whether or not she should be insulted. When he mentioned coming along way, she smiled, mostly to herself, because it was really true.
"Yeah, I got my shikai a little before graduation. And yeah, I have come a long way." she said, admiring herself, a little.
He asked if she could see her shikai, and she grinned. "Only if you spar with me!" she said, her devilish grin glowing.
He got ready to help her search after saying that he's sure that the man would be proud, she stuck her tongue out.
"It's alright, I'm sure my brothers are fine. They're too tough to be killed. And as for the man who inspired me, it's you baka." she said, rather playfully.
At the statement of having it before graduation, Kazuki blinked. Wow. He hadn't expected that...even he, for all the talent he felt he had, hadn't gotten his until after he graduated the Academy and was slotted into a Squad. Even then, it took mentoring from a Seated Officer to tutor him on the gaining of it.
And even then it was tough.
She spoke of it as if she had just woke up and knew her Shikai. Hell, for all he knew that was how it worked. Maybe his Zanpaku-to was the only one who enjoyed teasing him.
And then came the challenge. Kazuki, who never was one for fighting frowned somewhat. Curiosity, or laziness...curiosity or laziness...
"You're on!"
Damned curiosity.
"When ya wanna get your butt kicked? Now? Want it right here?!" Such confidence and trash talk really wasn't his style. In a fight he was as hard as nails, stoic, and silent...but a friendly spar never hurt anyone, really. Either way...
He was the one who inspired her? He rubbed the back of his head nervously and laughed just as such. He looked away. "I dunno about inspiring...I mean, I was in the Rukongai dodging work that day..."
He blinked at her, before screaming his acceptance at her. She grinned impetuously, as the determination cross over his face. She got up to stretch, as she looked around. He asked, ever so playfully, where she wanted to be defeated. She stuck her tongue out, as he mentioned himself no tbeing inspiring.
She rolled her eyes for a moment, as she spotted the line of the forest not too far.
"Keep up, if you can." she joked, before her 'swoosh' sounded her departure.
Using her shunpo, she appeared at the beginning of the forest, before running in. Once she spotted an open area, she stopped. She hoped that he would make it there soon, or else she'd be bored for a while.
That sounded like a challenge to his speed--and while Kazuki didn't claim the title of biggest, or strongest, Shinigami, he certainly was rather fast. He prided himself on the rapid, concise strikes he used in battle. Who needed to cleave an opponent in half when you could just cut the tendons so that they could no longer fight back? Some viewed death in battle as honorable--glorious even.
Kazuki viewed disabling his opponents, and leaving them to stew in their defeat as much more rewarding. One didn't need to kill, to be a warrior.
And so, it seemed, the chase was on. Kazuki was hot on her heels, and while she was certainly slightly faster--which was a shock--he wasn't easily lost either. When she appeared at the forest and ran in, Kazuki was only a few seconds behind her, hitting the ground at a dead sprint.
As she stopped and turned, she'd likely see he was right behind her, skidding to a stop at the entrance. He wasn't really out of breath, having worked long and hard on his speed. He was breathing slightly hard and merely took in a deep breath through his nose and released it in a whoosh before he spoke.
"I do believe that means I can keep up."
He surveyed the area. Heavily wooded. This was good. He could easily use the trees to his advantage, and the open area for bait. He then looked back to her before he drew his Zanpaku-to, sheath and all. The blade whipped out, rotating into an underhanded grip as he held the sheath in his other, right side up. He hunched down into a combat stance with his feet wide, the blade back behind him and the sheath forward in defense.
His grin faded at this point, replaced by a thin line as his brows relaxed and his eyes narrowed into a half lidded glare. "Ready when you are." His voice was quiet, and he had fallen into "combat mode" as he called it. Nothing else mattered but the fight, now.
She turned around and simply grinned as he appeared behind her. She gracefully took out her zanpakuto, and swung it. The sheer power behind it sliced some nearby bamboo. Not deep enough to cut it in half, but enough to leave a nick in it. She sneered at her power, mesmerized for the brief moment.
She watched as he pulled out his own katana, and grew quiet. He noted the surroundings, took up a stance, and then noted that he was ready. She impaled her sword into the ground quickly, and then she raised a hand up, with her palm out. She would skip the incantation, as power was not what she needed.
"Hado Number Thirty-Three! Soukatsui!" she said, firing off the azure orb of fire.
As soon as it left her hand, she ripped her sword out of the ground and moved. The familiar swoosh reverberated throughout the forest, and then she swung horizontally from his left side.
It wasn't as if she was trying to hurt the poor kid. But he had wanted to see her shikai, and it wasn't something that just anyone was going to be able to see. He had to earn the right.
Flattery will get you nowhere, my dear. Mizu No Hebi chimed in her ear.
She took a brief second to grin at him, before she got serious again, and returned to the task at hand.
He watched as she planted the sword in the ground, his face of stoic indifference. The moment she spoke of a hado, the Shinigami was already on the move, a shunpo taking him airborne. Regardless, the moment he reappeared the blast had already been sent where he hopped off the spiritual particles. He twisted his body somewhat, the blue orb rocketing by him and searing at his robes, though missed anything vital.
When she appeared to his left, his sword arm merely raised, catching the swing with his own sword, held reverse and the flat part of it braced against his forearm. The loud clang of metal was heard and he looked to her.
Or rather, it seemed, like he didn't really see her at all. It was as if he was merely staring blankly through her. His right hand dipped in with a quick, pointed jab with the sheath, in an attempt to hit her lower right ribs. It wasn't a powerful attack, but it didn't take much force to break the lower, extra rib that females have.
She clicked her tongue as her hado was sent flying past him. She had hoped that it would at least hit his arm, or something like it. But oh well, she'd just get him some other way.
The clang of metal hurt her ears, but she tried not to cringe. She kept her eyes on him, as he jabbed forward with his sheath. It hit her in her rib, and she heard a small crack. She used her shunpo to appear where she had first started, and coughed up some blood into her hand.
She wasn't one for vengeful conduct, but he was taking this fight too seriously. "Alright then. I was just having a spar, but if you'd like me to cripple you, then that'd be easily done." she said, all emotion drained from her face.
She twirled her zanpakuto in her hand between her five fingers. It swung around beautifully, as water began to swirl around it.
"Drown, and recreate the world..." she called out, softly, as it slowly elongated with a blue glow.
The staff was the first to materalize, as beautiful as it was. The actual spear itself was next, as it curved up, and out. The water swirled around keeping up the rhythym, and finally created a silver serpent around the mid section. She slid her hand underneath the section of the serpent that was raised, and gripped onto the staff.
"Mizu no Hebi." she finished he rzanpakuto's name.
She stayed in place, as she closed her eyes. She felt for his reiatsu, and was ready to track each of his movements. She was no longer in her playful mood, she was facing an enemy.
When Kazuki heard the crack of her ribs, his blank face cringed somewhat. He honestly hadn't expected the blow to hit, which meant some restraint would be in order.
"Alright then. I was just having a spar, but if you'd like me to cripple you, then that'd be easily done."
"N-no! I...I didn't meant to hurt you like tha-"
"Drown, and recreate the world..."
He shunpo'd to a tree branch, his own weapon twirling back behind his back a second time, and the sheath up in defense. A deadly calm came over his face again. He really hadn't mean to...
He watched her release and his face lightened somewhat. It was....well, it was a beautiful weapon. It fit the woman that carried it, certainly, but he knew he had to release to stand any type of chance against her. He noted, though, the water that sprayed with the weapon. If that were any indication, as his was, he was fighting a woman who wielded water.
"Shroud my enemies in righteous fire..." he began, his sword whipping around, the tip pointing down at the woman as his right hand, balled with the sheath, came down to rest on the left's forearm to steady the arm. "Kasei no Shinka!"
With the command and name called, a spiral of flame exploded up the blade, licking off it and firing down at the woman in a spiral like projectile, roughly two feet in width. Whether that hit or not, he was on the move again, as she had been, chasing after the projectile. Whether it hit, or was dodged, or even blocked, the man came in head on with his sheath, the tip diving in this time low, aimed at the side of her knee in an attempt to disable her movement.
