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.
Jube stood on the dirt covered grounds of the training facilities of squad 6, the gust of wind picked up some dust and made the shinigamis cape dance in the wind as did his hair lean towards the winds direction. He had his eyes closed as he enjoyed the breeze but kept his stone cold serious face on, the shinigami slowly slid his foot forward breaking apart the dirt below his feet as he pulled his zanpaktou out of its shieth. The blade of his zanpaktou shined with the sun reflecting down on its well polished blade. Jube opened his eyes as he swung his sword sideways in the blink of an eye, the sound of his sword cutting the air could be heard clearly as he leaned into his slash.
The shinigami stood still for a few seconds as he looked straight ahead, those magnificent hazel eyes of his staring forward at the nothingness that stood in front of him. He stood up straight and took one of the many ackward stances of his personal fighting style, Jube focused on the invisible target in front of him and spun swinging his sword once then again and again each swing was precise and gracefull, as the sound of the wind being sliced by his sharpen blade could be heard so clearly in the sorrounding silence. Jube stopped he had taken three steps forward with eveyr slash a step, he believed that every attack you need the body behind it to give it a basis of power and speed.
Jube stood in another ready stance as he kicked off the ground swinging upwards, his sword once again slicing he air, the shinigami was coming down to the ground. Before landing though he used shunpo, upon vanishing dust picked up on his original landing point as he appeared six steps to the left of that location and spun around swinging his sword upwards in a diagnal fashion. The familiar sound of the blade cutting the air could be heard once again, Jube took three steps back blocking imaginary attacks then stopped and countered his unseen foe. He twisted his blade as it his blow had connected and stepped back pulling his sword back.
To those watching from the outside Jube looked like he was shadow boxing, but Jube was on a whole different level. He could not only imagine the enemy, he was actually fighting his enemy. In front of Jube the outline of a figure fell to the ground, on his knees his sword by his side he looked up at Jube with its lifeless blank face. Jube stepped forward, sweat drops rolling down the side of his face. As he swung his sword cutting the air once more and doing with such grace and technique that it was no wonder that Jube was such a great swordsman. Jube's eyes were closed as he listened on the sound of his invisible opponents body hitting the ground with a low thud. When Jube opened his eyes there was no one again, just him and lonely training field.
Post by Rebel Raven on Jul 17, 2009 3:59:13 GMT -5
Yumeji was on one of her many walks through the Shinigami complex, and it was common or her walks to take her by the training grounds, but she almost never stopped to train.
She is clad in a typical Shinigami outfit that appeared a few sizes too large for her as the heels of her hakama dragged behind her feet, and her sleeves hung down low over one hand that held her katana sized Zanpakuto to the point her hand could not be seen.
Her other hand held has a bamboo shafted, slat style umbrella over a shoulder that looked pretty well made. The umbrella was closed, which made carrying the think possibly look odd.
Instead of having her long whip like ponytail, she wore a bright red "Lion" wig which was straight out of a Kabuki Actor's wardrobe, but she made it herself. The wig, held in place by a face shiny steel face guard with elaborate relief designs, added to the regal appearance of her wig. She almost looked respectable!
Until one saw the modern, slim, oval sunglasses that she wore, and for good reason as people looooved to shine light off their swords as they practiced. Why? Assorted reasons! Distraction! Drama! Dramatic lighting! Stuff like that. She never felt the need though, since her sword was almost always in it's scabbard, and she felt using it to blind people was a rather base move.
This was one of those times where someone wanted to shine the light off their sword, and it caught Yumeji's eye. Something that annoyed her despite her sunglasses.
She turned, then walked to the rail that bordered the training grounds where she watched the lone man train against an invisible opponent. Her Zanpakuto, ever humble in design looking more like a pole than a proper katana was placed at her hip where it stuck to her hip like a magnet, then her now freed hand moved to rub her shoulders as she rolled her head to work the kinks out of her neck.
Yumeji didn't seem impressed as he went through his movements. She watched with a dull look in her eyes, and a neutral look on her face. One heck of a poker face, in other words.
She rested her hands on the pommel of the umbrella which was now used as a cane to put some weight upon, and then watched him to see what he would do next.
Yumeji showed no signs that she wanted to join him, rather she seemed contented to just watch.
His long cloak dancing with the gust of wind again, he stood still as the dust rose up to his shins from the strong winds. Jube extended his hand that held his sword, he had already noticed the spectator on the sidelines watching. It was time to practice speed and accuracy, Jube looked at the training dummies they had in the training arena, essentially they were for new members and anyone who cut them up had to replace them, but Jube would do what he always did cut them up leave and when asked pretend he has no idea what there talking about. He went forward in a full sprint picking up dust and dirt behind him, then mid run used shunpo to cover the rest of the ground in lest time. Jube arrived in front of the dummies and walked inbetween them he stared at them all.
'Five....' he thought in his head havingg counted his targets, Jube then brought his sword up, the blade was in front of his face, part of it extending far past his head. Jube turned the blade as the light from the sun reflected from it once more shining on the face of the dummy in front of him. Then Jube step forward slashing with grace and speed once more, his blade cut through the dolls abdomen like body, the hay inside of the dummies stomach spilled out like the guts of a living target would. Jube then turned to each target and skillfully struck them with his sword, but only one slash to each thats all he needed, everytime he slashed you could hear his sword ripping open the fake flesh of this targets. Jube jumped up and front flipped out of the circle of his targets. He landed with a light thud as he bent his knees to absorb the shock of the landing then stood up straight.
Not turning back to look at his handy work of course he knew they were dead, each slash would prove to have been fatal to any living target. This was Jube's style, the Igami fighting style to strike not only with speed but with surgical precision no wasted movements or energy on long chained combinations one swift movement and nothing more. Jube, noticed he had some hay on him he started to remove by dusting it off with his free hand, then he moved on to his hair combing his hair back as he ran his fingers through it. He had removed the strands from the front of his face, revealing his hazel eyes Jube scanned the empty training field. He started to walk, but as he did he changed his speed from fast walk to slow walk and fluidly moved from side to side leaving afterimages this technique made it seem as if Jube was in more then one place at once making a row of afterimages as he walked, with that serious expression on his face.
That is of course until Jube tripped, he had his eyes closed and was concentrating on a mental battle as he walked. He failed to notice the rock sticking out of the dusty ground, he tripped over that rock as he stepped past it. Jube's eyes suddenly opened as he fell face first on the duty ground with a loud thud. Jube slowly rose his head, with a look of confusion on his dirt covered face, he coughed out some dust. Slowly he rose to his feet, and turned back glaring at the rock, Jube raised his finger and pointed at the rock "Hadou #4: White Lightning..." when Jube finished the incantation a bolt of reiatsu fired out of his finger and struck the rock oblitirating it for good. Jube dusted himself mumbling to himself as he wiped his face with the clean side of his sleeve. It was pretty clear he was angry because of what had happened.
Post by Rebel Raven on Jul 17, 2009 17:37:48 GMT -5
Yumeji watched the guy practice his sword technique even further, and the casual methodology he had about it. And that reflecting the sun thing that he seemed to like that made Yumeji glad she had her sunglasses on.
Yeah, the guy had talent, yes, he had skill, and polish, but his style was so... sooo... utilitarian, and simple. Effective, but simplistic. Watching this guy train was totally not a spectator sport, that was certain. Did she think she could do better, though? Hell no. Even if she could, she didn't care to try.
She continued to watch behind sunglasses that blocked out most of her eyes, and reflected what it was he saw at the same time. It was hard to tell what was going on in her mind with those sunglasses on, that was for sure.
Her face maintained a serious look on her face as she watched which only added to the strength of her virtually impenetrable poker face.
She was juuuust about to yawn when he wrapped up his use of the training field, then he tripped, and fell flat on his face! And at that point she very nearly started to laugh, and cheer at what she saw as a unique happening on the training field, but his explosive bout of anger made her think twice. It wasn't worth the hassle she figured, so she maintained her poker face.
She continued to watch,and see what he'd do next. He had just gone through some humiliation, handled it poorly, and then...?
This would be interesting, she hoped. A show into this guy's personality. A better look aside from that explosive temper that made her think twice about practicing with this guy as there was no telling how he'd react if she got the upper hand on him, or dare she even manage to humiliate him somehow. A training session could turn deadly with a temper like his. He might flip out, and start blasting her, or try to kill her or worse... declare himself her rival, challenge her a lot!!! Waaay, too much bother!
Not that she cared to train, it seemed, from the way she just stood there. She said not a word, she made not a sound. For all anyone knew she could've fallen asleep.
Or zoned out as some have caught her doing now and then, but one had to see past those sunglasses to know that for certain.
Jube had finished dusting himself he still had a few smudges of dirt on his face but he did the best he could to clean it off. He let out a slight sigh, Jube spun his sword in his hand skillfully as he put it into its scabbard. Was this some poor attempt at redemption from the humiliation he had just gone through? showing off some flashy sword move to make himself feel better or not make him look like a complete idiot. No one would ever know what went through Jube's complicated mind, but alas he was human and no human is perfect no matter how hard they may try. He then looked at the woman who stood there with her sunglasses, Jube walked to wards the woman quietly without saying a word.
As he approached the barrier rail that separated the training field and the common grounds, Jube used shunpou and he was now next to the woman. He stood like a statue, he didn't move his gaze was kept straight ahead. Then he spoke in his deep and cold voice "You have been standing there for quite some time...do you belong to squad 3?" Jube stood still as he waited for a response from the woman. But a thought did cross his mind, why hadn't she laughed when he tripped? was she sleep is that why she wore the sunglasses? Jube didn't let it bother him to much. He wanted an answer from this stranger, why would anyone just stop and watch another train? he certainly didn't do those kind of things.
Post by Rebel Raven on Jul 17, 2009 18:48:27 GMT -5
"Oh, I was just watching. I pass by here a lot and do that. Or I just walk on by. Depends." she said straight faced as he questioned her.
"Squad three?" she said calmly with each word elongated questioningly, "Oh, heavens no," she answered all at once as she turned to look at him, seemingly unphased by his attempt to startle her... or what ever motive he had in using Shunpo when he could've just walked.
He seemed more awkward since the trip...
One hand went to an earpiece of her sunglasses, then moved to rest lower on her nose which allowed a better look at her warm brown eyes as she looked at him. "But that doesn't mean we can't introduce ourselves," she continued casually, then extended the hand that had adjusted her sunglasses, "Yumeji Rashoujin. Some people call me Yumi. Prolly coz Yumeji is more work" "Can't blame them for being lazy," she added as she grinned at him.
"How about you, Mr. Flashy Sunsword?" she asked in a way that was not insulting somehow.
Last Edit: Jul 17, 2009 18:48:26 GMT -5 by Rebel Raven
Jube stood silent as the woman spoke, when she lowered her sunglasses to reveal her brown eyes he didn't move his head but used his eyes to stare at her. His hazel eyes stared at the woman with a cold stare, then he looked down at her extended hand he turned towards her completely now. He shook her hand with a firm grip, he believed it to be a sign of respect to shake someones hand with a firm grip "Yumeji Rashoujin, I am Jube Imagi...." Jube then let go of her hand as he finished introducing himself. He bowed his head slightly in show of respect, Jube then turned to the training arena he saw the dust covered field as the gust of wind pushed the dirt up making it rise as the wind got more agressive. Jube's cloak danced in the wind as did the strands of his silver hair as they were pushed to the side covering one eye and leaving only one eye for him to stare out with.
"Show me your skill...." he said all of a sudden the wind calmed down as Jube's hair stopped moving and returned to its original place. His cloak now stood still, he used his hand to move strands of hair that blocked his view "Show me if you are worthy of calling yourself a shinigami, worthy of being honored with that zanpaktou" he said turning his gaze onto her zanpaktou. Then moving his eyes up to stare at her sunglasses as he waited for a response with his stone cold stare and his expressionless face.
Post by Rebel Raven on Jul 17, 2009 20:57:55 GMT -5
Yumeji stared at the guy as he made a big show of challenging her, and the first thing that came to mind was "Goddamnit, I knew he'd do this. I shoulda ran." she thought to herself.
She snickered as he made a big show of it all, though, then laughed girlishly with her sleeve covered hand over her mouth, and her head turned away shyly, "Oh dear, I'm being challenged..." She tried to be demure, calm, and stereotypically girlie, but she just couldn't maintain it, and she was forced into a gutbusting laugh as she held her ribs, and bent over laughing. After a minute, or so, she managed to stop laughing hard enough to prevent her form talking, and she certainly did talk, "Bud, I don't know if you know or not, but I don't train, I don't spar, and I most certainly don't have anything to prove," she said with a large smile on her face.
She took off her sunglasses, then wiped a tear generated from the mentioned laughter, then cleaned her sunglasses as it caught some of the tear, "Wooohoohoohooo... I think I have a cramp!" she laughed, and held her side where she had the light pain.
She could have gone on, but she didn't want to be ruder than she needed to be, and Tsubame, her Zanpakuto's spirit had whispered into her ear not to over do it, or he'd flip out, or something.
Yumeji grudgingly went with Tsubame's advice, and breathed in with her nose, and managed to regain her composure.
From the looks of things, Yumeji had a lot more ammo to not go sparring, and she apparently didn't wanna.
Jube was staring at the woman expecting a serious answer to a challenge from a fellow swordsman. But instead she burst out laughing, the cold blooded shinigami stared at her quietly not showing any expression of shock or anger. His expression was cold and serious, finally the woman was able to regain herself, and speak he listened to her brief sentence. Then closed his eyes as he turned away fully turning giving her his back. Jube's cloak danced in the gust of the wind once more, he was standing against the wind making it press his cloak against him showing the build he had on him. Jube then began to walk away as strands of his hair danced around freely, "Worthless" was all he said as he made his way towards the end of the pathway.
Once there Jube turned and walked down the open hallway that led to the main base of squad three. Once there the familiar shoosh of shunpou being used was heard briefly as it faded away, with its fading the winds calmed and the training grounds became silent again.
Jo-aun Shey figured she needed some air from the medical bay so she went to the training grounds. She hadn't known people were training there so she sat down a hundred decameters away and watched. She had hoped they might add her in the training as well...
