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.
Shu stood in front of the gates to the Seireitei. He'd heard that a new shinigami with an interesting zanpakuto would be in this area. Shu wanted to meet him, and wanted to train with him. The prospect of this training excited Shu. A battle of minds, if what he had heard about this man's ability was true.
Shu stood relaxed by the gates. This man was supposed to be coming by shortly, if his inofmation was good. However, noone had come this way all day. Shu yawned and pulled out a small gord he had, taking a small swig he put the gord back in its spot and took another look around. His mind wandered listlessly as he took in the cherry blossoms in the area. Wait cherry blossoms?! That wasn't quite right....or was it? He couldnt remember at this time, his mind seemed confused what was going on?
Post by Hitoshii Hayashi on Jul 6, 2009 23:30:34 GMT -5
Hitoshii smiled as the gates of Seireitei came into view. He had spent the day in his old home, the 18th district of South Rukongai; when a close friend, a non-seated messenger from the fifth division who kept Hitoshii apprised of happenings around Soul Society, had shown up and informed him that a fellow 3rd seat, this one of Squad 7, wished to challenge him and was waiting at the gates to Seireitei.
Never one to turn down a challenge, especially from someone of the same position as himself, Hitoshii returned from Rukongai sooner than he had planned. He was in a good mood today and decided to surprise his opponent; nearing the gates he quietly unsheathed his zanpakuto and spoke in a quiet enough tone as to not give himself away.
"Take the stage, Gekijō." There was a brief discharge of Reiryoku from his sword as the iconic theatrical 'Comedy' mask formed on his face, the preparation for his signature technique. Just before rounding a corner that would put him in view of anyone standing at the gate he cast his illusion, "Gekijō, Sakura Hayashi." Anyone in the vicinity of the gate would witness the surrounding environment change into a forest of blooming Sakura trees, the petals falling in a very dramatic manner.
From behind one of the illusionary trees Hitoshii spied his opponent who seemed to be falling asleep. Chuckling, he projected his voice with the power of his Shikai, making it seem to come from many different directions,
"Now that both actors are present, rehearsal can begin. In this scene, our hero arrives at the Sakura forest having been issued a challenge from a rival of another division..."
Shu's confusion faded as the booming voice carried around him. He tried to shake off the feeling he now was sure was not real but could not quite do it. He had heard this man's power was illusion, a rare one at that, and he was already in the midst of his shikai. That was not good. Shu exhaled deeply calming himself, Alright, he was at a disadvantage. Now what? firstly this man must already be in shikai, so he'd need to do the same.
<<Shriek Shippuu Kire>> Shu said as he drew his zanpakuto. Instantly the two small chains on his zanpakuto swirled and formed around Shu's left arm from shoulder to wrist. His hilt formed another blade and Shu now held it out horizontally. With that done Shu accessed his surroundings. Sakura trees, not real but perhaps that could be used to his advantage.
His opponent obviously knew where he was so he needed a distraction. <Hado 31 Shakkahou> Shu threw his hand to the ground so that a large cloud of dirt and dust errupted around him. Shu quickly moved behind a tree to access if this man could see him. As he hid he asked a question.
<<What is your name, I am Shu Ranpu third seat of Seventh Squad>>
Post by Hitoshii Hayashi on Jul 9, 2009 0:48:35 GMT -5
"Of course, all good battles begin with introductions. Very well, as you were kind enough to offer your name I shall respond in kind, I am Hitoshii Hayashi, Theatrical Genius and 3rd Seat of the 1st Division."
Hitoshii was changing the direction of his voice every few words, the sound coming from all angles. As he spoke, Hitoshii darted from tree to tree, using the falling curtains of petals to mask his movements. He had seen Shu's technique but had been unable to pinpoint his location when the smoke cleared, and as such it was necessary to be cautious, even within the world of his Shikai he did not necessarily have the upper hand.
"Bakudo Number 8, Seki." A technique this simple was a breeze for someone as skilled in Kido as Hitoshii and he could have performed it without a word; but against a fellow 3rd seat he needed to make sure the invisible shield now emanating from his body would be as strong as possible.
Shu heard the shifting voice of Hayashi as he explained who he was. Shu was excited and catious at the same time, this man was an opponent, and apparently judging from his attitude he this was his zanpakuto. Shu was impressed by this man's ablitities but not overwhelmed. Shu quickly decided he needed to move but how do do so without giving away his position. An idea formed in his mind and he set it into action whispering quietly <<Bakudo 26 Kyakko>> Shu instantly became invisible and untracable by Hayashi as he moved out from the trees and into the open.
Shu contemplated his next move quickly and deliberatly, he had to draw hayashi out into the open and quickly. Suddenly another badudo came to Shu's mind that might help <<Bakudo 21 Seikenton>> Shu made three bomb like objects and put them in a triangular position around the trees he then set them all off simultaniously and watched carefully for unusual smoke movement, indicating Hayashi's position.
Post by Hitoshii Hayashi on Jul 9, 2009 23:53:39 GMT -5
Hitoshii chuckled as the second Bakudo was released; in Shu's eyes the smoke would vanish as soon as it had appeared. "Sorry to disappoint you friend, but in my rehearsal's I control what happens on stage." Hitoshii was referring to his Shikai's ability to control most of what his opponent saw while in its illusion.
"But you seem to have disappeared as well which puts us at an impasse... rather we would be at an impasse were I not as skilled in Kido as I am, while I have no idea where you are I happen to know a certain technique that covers a large enough area to have a pretty good chance at hitting you..." As always, Hitoshii's voice changed direction every few words as he prepared himself for his next technique.
"Ye lord! Mask of flesh and bone, flutter of wings, ye who bears the name of Man! Truth and temperance, upon this sinless wall of dreams unleash but slightly the wrath of your claws, Hado number 33, Sokatsui!" The slight drawback to this technique was the ease with which one could pinpoint the caster, but Hitoshii figured that was not much concern as Shu would most likely be focusing on avoiding the wide blast of blue energy that was now hurtling in the general area Hitoshii guessed his opponent was hiding in.
Shu blinked several times making sure what his eyes were seeing was true, his bakudo simply vanished. What?! This was unexpected, Shu cursed lightly under his breath then heard Hayashi's laugh as he began his incantation. Shu moved quickly away from his position shunpoing quickly so as to get out of the area quickly. As it was Shu had to roll out of the way kicking up a small burst of dust as he managed to avoid the blue blast of energy. The upside was Shu now knew Hayashi's location, standing quickly Shu threw his zanpakuto in the direction of the source of the blast. His zanpakuto twirled like a buzzsaw is it flew in the direction of Hayashi. Simultaniously Shu ran around the to flank Hayashi coming in close.
Post by Hitoshii Hayashi on Jul 10, 2009 4:38:28 GMT -5
Hitoshii winced as the spinning sword bounced off of the shield he had set up earlier, thankful that he had chosen to optimize the shields power; had he not, the zanpakuto's impact would have thrown him off balance.
Dropping the shield to conserve Reiryoku, Hitoshii took a defensive stance, placing his back to one of the illusionary trees, holding what to his opponent would look like a short-sword due to the illusion, but was actually the length of a rapier, thus giving Hitoshii one more surprise in terms of attack range.
Shu noticed Hayashi as he rounded a tree, his zanpakuto had bounded off of him, he must have put up a shield, an ablitity or kidou? Shu could not be sure so his plan would have to continue. Blossoms swirled around Shu as he shunpod closer his face a large smile with hie dimple a crater on his face. As shu shunpod again he saw Hayashi holding what looked to be a short sword. Shu's mind raced his thoughts jumping from what he saw to what he knew could this be an illusion too? surely someone with this kind of power would have a larger zanpakuto? Shu conintued to move in wrapping the chain around his arm one time he pulled Shippu Kire up and back flipping the chain effortlessly sent his blade back at Hayashi again as Shu stopped keeping his distance of about 10 feet. <<This will do for now Hayashi, now let the real fight begin.>> Shu flipped the chain over and over and the blade twriled and struck at Hayashi with every flip. One two three time Shu flipped his zanpakuto each time with the hopes of cutting Hayashi.
Post by Hitoshii Hayashi on Jul 11, 2009 19:53:47 GMT -5
Hitoshii dropped the illusion as his sword struck, the short-sword replaced by the curved rapier that was his Zanpakuto's true shape. "Time to work on our blocking eh? Fine with me!" Hitoshii parried repeatedly as the blade flew at him, it seemed that his opponent and he were not far apart in terms of skill with a sword and that was just how Hitoshii liked it.
As he parried the blade being launched at him he would attempt a few simple thrusts of his own, taking advantage of his blades unique dimensions to attempt to slip between cracks in Shu's defense. "It seems the 7th division are no slackers when it comes to combat training, but of course my own 1st division is no slouch either."
