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.
"I...", she barely got to stammer out in response to Soifon's scolding her before Soifon charged for her. Sayuri's eyes flashed wide for an instant, quickly putting up her guard by reverting to her Hakuda defensive stance. Seeing the in coming punch, she quickly shifted her position to block and then attempt to redirect it, but just as she was moving to do so - she grunted from the air being knocked out of her as she was struck by a solid kick to her side causing her stumble a few steps.
She saw the next blow coming at her head, a punch again - she did not assume Soifon would pull the same move twice in a row, and assumed correctly for it. Taking step into the punch, she moved her head to the side attempting to evade it as her left foot stepped passed Soifon and planted right behind her. But the punch did graze her just past her eye not having completely evaded it, though Sayuri still struck at Soifon's chest with her open right hand with left leg planted behind Soifon attempting to trip her...
Post by Rebel Raven on Jul 20, 2009 19:39:25 GMT -5
Soifon grunted as she exhaled sharply with the palm strike to her chest which blew her back into a trip, but Soifon wasn't winded bad enough to stay still.
As Soifon landed, her muscle memory had made sure she rolled backwards, and to the side so she would not remain prone, and vulnerable. As she came to a stop she immediately threw a low kick aimed at Sayuri's left thigh from the same side. It was a simple move, but she did it well, with speed, polish, and accuracy.
She hoped she lit a fire under Sayuri to fight more freely here, and to exhaust her strength.
Part of her enjoyed the spar for what it was, though. She did not fight as often as she probably should have, but her training was so nearly complete that she were hard pressed to get stronger in terms of talent. Just Reiatsu remained as far as she knew.
It was taught to her long ago from the onset of her training in the academy and more extensively within the Onmitsukido that an opponent cannot fight if they cannot breathe. It was like reflex to her, the second Soifon hit the training mat, Sayuri pivoted on the foot she tripped Soifon with, and with her right leg stomped on the mat right where Soifon's upper abdomen would be had she not long rolled away. Her eyes popped open wide in the next instant though as her own legs were taken right out from under her.
She hit the mat hard flat on her back letting out a harsh grunt of having the wind knocked out of her lungs. Immediately she rolled to her right side, then backward kicking off the mat throwing her legs into the air going straight into a back-handspring. The second her feet hit the floor again, she pushed off into a slide scissor kicking right for Soifon's legs...
Post by Rebel Raven on Jul 21, 2009 2:20:29 GMT -5
Soifon hadn't gotten to her feet as Sayuri sprung away, rather remained in a crouch ready to spring. Yumeji's scissors kick was met with thin air as Soifon leapt into the air with a forward flip which brought her foot down at Sayuri's midsection aiming to kick her against the ground.
It was quite nice to have a spar after so long, though she wished her opponent was Yoruichi. Still, Sayuri was nice for a 2nd squad member and that sure beat the glowering, gloomy usual personality that she saw about. She wrestled internally with thoughts of spending time with this one, or treating her like most every other squad 2 member.
Such was the dilemma of a woman that needed her reputation.
Both clearly skilled fighters thinking a few moves ahead of the next, but Sayuri once again did not anticipate how many moves Soifon thought ahead of hers, thus accidentally underestimating her despite her recognizing Soifon as the superior of the two of them. Sayuri believed if Soifon were to dodge the scissor kick she would jump over her, which Sayuri would spring back up to her feet by doing a swift high kick. But, Soifon did not jump over her, just above her, and just as Sayuri was mid-spring to go into her high kick, Soifon came down on Sayuri's stomach.
Sayuri found herself slammed back down to mat viciously from the weight and pressure Soifon put into kicking back down to the ground. She balled up into the fetal position from having the air expelled from her lungs, and let out a couple raspy coughs. She rolled to the side a little, and picked herself up off of the mat onto her knees. Taking a moment to take a few breaths to get some air back into her lungs to comfortably breathe.
A little bit of that previous smile grew back on her face as she sat there on the mat in contemplation, "The reason why I train so hard... and work so hard... is because I have been trying to emulate you... Captain...", her eyes widened when she thought about what she just said and quickly attempted to clarify as she is reluctant to have to divulge fully her personal feelings on the matter, and instead explained the superficial levels of it, "N-Not that I think I'm as good or as strong as you... I don't have such arrogant notions... it's just...", looking a bit disappointed with herself, "It's like... there's this chasm... and across it I can see where I can be - I can see it clearly... what I can become... but... no matter what I try... I just can't seem to cross the chasm...", she looked up to where Soifon stood, but her head sunk a little in shame, "You... probably think I'm a fool..."
Post by Rebel Raven on Jul 21, 2009 4:39:08 GMT -5
Soifon had the courtesy to get off Sayuri as she didn't want to hurt the woman. Even if she didn't she weighed so little it probably didn't matter. She sat beside Sayuri, and let her catch her breath.
"You impressed me more than once in the fight," she admitted openly.
"But, it took me a hundred years, no... more than that, to get where I am. And I was lucky to have someone dedicated to train me. You're not going to get to where I am any faster, Sayuri," she said calmly, "and you won't at all if you kill yourself training," she added as she put a hand on Sayuri's shoulder to reassure her.
She shook her head lightly, "You're just too eager," she said seriously, " so calm down, and let it come natural." She purposely chose kind words to help Sayuri understand, "you have lots of time, and people to work with." If Sayuri told anyone she said such kind things, they wouldn't believe her... well, Yoruichi might, but no one else.
Hearing Soifon give her such compliments made her blush quite a bit - smiling more than she ever has or that she can recall since her childhood. She never expected to hear such from Soifon. Sayuri nodded compliantly listening to her Captain, she blushed a dash more when Soifon put her hand on her shoulder - it is what kept the smile on her face as it felt comforting to her, "Thank you, Captain...it means a lot hear that from you...", she sifted in how she sat, bringing up her knees to her chest, and resting her arms on her knees, "I... I've been going about it all wrong... it's just... you're right... I am eager..."
"It's just...", her head slumped - her brow resting upon her forearms as they rested on her knees, "Originally... I started out in Kidou Corps... even reached 7th Seat... but... it was too slow... I felt... trapped there... The Kidou arts have been something of a tradition in my family... Many of us were-... are Kidou specialists in the Kidou Corps, though a couple were in the Onmitsukido... Call it whatever you want... inspiration - a calling - whatever... when I heard there were try outs available for it from a couple 2nd Division acquaintances... I left everything I had earned behind and tried out, I managed to get accepted - even got into Executive Militia..."
Lifting her head up off of her forearms she side glanced to Soifon, "I doubt... you remember me then... I was just another hooded rank and file Onmitsukido...", she chuckled a little, "But, that was thirty or so years ago... when I first met you... You're... everything that I have aspired to become myself... Like I said before, I can see what I'm capable of... so I keep trying to make it happen, force it - but it never works - and I've just been destroying myself in the process... It's frustrating because I don't know what to do from here... You're I could train with others... it's just...", she chuckles a little, "hard to trust other assassins during training unveiling some of your more prized techniques...", she side glanced to Soifon and rested her head back on her forearms, "I'm sorry... I'm rambling... Almost as bad as Omaeda was..."
Post by Rebel Raven on Jul 21, 2009 6:00:07 GMT -5
Soifon smiled lightly, though it didn't much fit her as her mouth seemed to be little more than a sharp line on her features. "It's quite a story you have. You've reached fifth seat. It's not a waste, and I value you in my squad," she said bluntly, and honestly. "And your story was much more amusing than hearing Omaeda ramble about his wealth," she relaxed a bit more, and leaned back onto her arms. She did miss that big oaf. He had his uses. He certainly was a good face for the squad.
"My trek was more direct. I was part of a small noble house under the Shihoin family, and it was tradition to serve under the Onmitsukido, and thus the Shihoin who lead the squad." she began her story, perhaps to bond a bit more with the woman. "My brothers had joined before me, but they died soon after," she said with no pleasure, "All five of them, and only I was left," she continued with a grim tone. "Much like you, I worked hard, but I learned quickly not to work -too- hard," she said with less of a grim tone. "It paid off when I became head guard, and Yoruichi took me under her wing as a protégé," she regained her smile when it came to Yoruichi, it seemed. "We worked closely, and she did teach me a lot."
"And then she left... and I never found out why for a long, long time. I became angry at her for that time, and worked harder to surpass her," the corner of her mouth twitched a bit. "I attained captain status, and unified the Onmitsukido and the punishment squad, and well, there's not much else to say after that." She didn't elaborate much on the relationship she had with Yoruichi as she still felt it was only her own business.
Sayuri found she could only smile in further admiration for Soifon and clear gratitude for the compliment given to her, "You... have such a clear sense of things...:, she remarked impressed with her Captain's history, she sat quietly for a moment out of contemplation and inquired, "What can I do to help you more in 2nd Division, Captain?"
She blinked a couple times and out of her insecurity she quickly tried to clarify, "N-Not that you need help or anything, you run 2nd Division great... It's just... I was wondering if there was more I could do to help you beyond just running assignments to scout and dispatch Hollows..."
Post by Rebel Raven on Jul 21, 2009 6:31:25 GMT -5
"I honestly can't think of anything beyond you taking it easier so you will be better able to respond when something comes up," she said flatly. "Doing so will be the best thing you can do for me for the time being. I'm certain your talents will be needed in specefic," she assured her. Soifon was never certain, but if push came to shove, she'd make it so. Last thing she wanted to become was a liar. She wanted her squad to trust her.
