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.
A long bead of sweat trickled down an musclular arm, settling in a small pool at the tightened knuckles. Aoide Sato's arms shook as she remained in a push up postition her knuckles turning white from the weight of her body. She would not give in until five minutes had passed. It would be an all time record for her, an accomplishment she hadn't had time to work on since being switched to Squad 10. Squad 10, though trained enough, it wasn't the extreme that Aoide was use to from Squad 11. She felt like she was getting soft, if she didn't watch it she would be lazing about like her Vice Captain, though Aoide wondered if her chest would get as large?
Three minutes down, it wasn't so bad, even if Aoide felt like she had to sneak away for these late night training sessions. Captain Hitsugaya was always proper, blabbing on about the duties of the Squad. Aoide felt smothered in a way, Squad 11 outside of training they were left on their own, usually to train more. Aoide wasn't sure that she liked all this paperwork, seeing as her Vice Captain didn't do any of it and it seemed like Captain Hitsugaya sent all of her work to Aoide. That is...if he could find her, for once Aoide was glad to be so quick. That and being able to find a good hiding spot and hide her Reistu.
Four minutes, almost there, even as she tried to encourage herself, her burning arms were a distraction to her thoughts. Really training was a great way for her to get her thoughts together, even talk to her Zanpaktou, who currently, the last time she check was drunk and sleeping in a corner of the glass world. Why couldn't she have a cool Shikai, like her Captain's ice dragon, or have two Zanpaktous? Instead she had a pointy stick, great for stabbing, but not so cool. She didn't think she was a cool person either, with how many times she triped over her feet and stuttered she didn't think other people did either.
Five minutes, gently and slowly Aoide lowered herself to the ground, lying on her stomach as she thought. Well, it could have been worst, she supposed, at least she was cute as hell.
Ikkaku wiped the sweat coming down from the crown of his head. The sweat came down like a river navigating through Ikkaku's face. Ikkaku's muscles clenched and unclenched. His body ached. This feeling was nothing new, perhaps even routine. After all 11th division memebers like him trained morning untill night. They were acustomed to the painful endurance and strength challenges. Ikkaku had just finished doing intense shikai training with Yumichika. He looked as he noticed his sweat had reached the end of their trail. A puddle of sweat formed beneath Ikkaku. This told him he was standing still for way too long. He decided to go on a long run.
The dark moonlit sky shined on his bald head creating a glare. He needed hair he thought to himself. Yachiru always was calling him cue ball and he resented it. He knew that he was stronger than her. He knew he should be Kenpachi's vice captain, but he respected Kenpachi's wishes and did not complain. As long as he served and died for Kenpachi he would be happy. He grinned at the thought of fighting Kenpachi once more. He kept his legs moving and his arms pumping. He passed by the lake which had stole the moon's image with it's reflection. The soul soceity was asleep. He passed his dorm and his body told him to rest. Ikkaku disregarded any idea of stopping his run. He would finish his run. He kept up a fast pace and anytime he thought of Kenpachi he ran faster. He would run untill his legs shattered like glass.
He went through the forest. The trees protected him from the harsh cold breezes. The lush forest was full of life. The multicolored birds flew around him. There were a plethora of flowers that had a vibrant display of color. He didn't care though, his mind was set on endurance training. He followed the brick road that seemed endless. He wished the road never ended. He wished to train forever. His legs screamed at him asking if he was crazy. Ikkaku is more than crazy. Ikkaku stopped when he came to a girl lying on her stomach. He was about to run around her but he noticed she was inside the division training area. A fight would be a bit more interesting than a run, he thought to himself as he walked up to the girl. The girl was pretty, but his sights was set on a duel. He erased nuicances from his mind, and thought about training, and surpassing his captain, Zaraki of Kenpachi.
"Hello...Are you looking for an opponent, because I think you got one," Ikkaku said with the cockiness only he could show.
Last Edit: Aug 4, 2009 15:18:23 GMT -5 by dragonz7
"Damn, why is it everytime I'm here someone comes along and is all like, 'hey lets fight!' Not, "Hey Aoide, how are you?' or "Aoide what's up?' Or, "Aoide wanna go get drinks?" Or even better, "Hey sexy you and me are going on a date!' It's very fustrating, most of the Shinigami men all they want to do is fight. Which is all well and good, but come on!" Aoide waved her hand still not looking at the guy who challenged her to a fight. Really, she had a theory that asking a girl to fight was some strange pick up line of some sort. She flipped over on her stomach and sat up on her arms, half glaring at the guy. Ah, Ikkaku Madarame, figures the automatic challenge, just like any other Squad 11 guy. She smirked slightly, a pointy smirk that she had picked up back in the days when she had been in Squad 11.
"Just saying there's a better way to ask a girl out," she added before disappearing, flash stepping in front of Ikkaku, "I remember you from Squad 11 by the way. I don't know if you remember me, but I remember you. You had that kick ass Naganita, geez," she spoke rubbing the back of her head and pulling on her pigtail, winking as well, "I always was so jealous of your Shikai, well until I was able to achieve mine, my is sooo more badass then your," she grinned up at Ikkaku and grinned before grabbing the back of his head and pulling his head down enough so she could look at the top of his head. Oblivious that he could probably look down her robe, Aoide studied his bald head. She then let go putting her arms behind her back and rocking back and forth of her feet.
"Pretty cool, you might be bald but you have a very nicely shaped head," she stated, "I mean you wouldn't be as cute if you had a weird shaped head. Like Yamamoto-san, he totally had this pointed head thing going on. But no your head is nicely shaped," she then grinned happily before pulling out her Zanpaktou, "So are we going to fight, or what?"
Ikkaku grinned that pointy grin only 11th division members could do. He could tell by her physique and habits that she was once or is a member of division 11. He grinned because she complimented hi, on his bald head. He had never received such a kind, powerful compliment on his head and he was thankful. He was usually made fun of or laughed at because of his head. His head was nciely shaped. He never thought about the shape of it but rather the abscence of hair. However this also pumped Ikkaku more into starting a fight. He could tell by her body movements and speed she would be a formidable foe. Ikkaku had blushed slightly when she grabbed the back of his head. He wasn't perverted so he did not look, he rather closed his eyes and thougth about the fight to come. She was a very spunky, fun girl he though to himself. His grin reached his cheeks and his white teeth glard in the sun. That wasn't the only thing that glared. His bald head stole the moon's light and reflected it in another direction. He noticed the girl take out her zanapkuto. He grabbed his own sword with a hard, clenched grasp. His fingers curled slwoly around the the sheath. He would waste no more time.
"Thank you...for the compliment. But don't thinl I'm going to take it easy on you just because you're nice and cute. As a shinigami you have a duty to get stronger," Ikkaku said as he drew his sword. He drew it slowly and the sword peaked over the sheath. The sword came out of hiding and was fully drawn. He had both hands on the sword clenching it with all his might. He could now tell that there were bright stars in the sky that blinked like fireflies. The run had made him tired, but he was far from out. Now that he looked at her, he thoguht to himself that he must have seen her before at the 11th division barracks. Every guy had their sights on her for sure. Yumichika, who has standing next to Ikkaku, was even looking at her. Ikkaku took a kendo stance with his left foot forward.
"Your Shunpo is very good. So agile and good for running away from the fight. Power, is what you need to show off," Ikkaku said staring the girl dead center in the eye. He was now serious. He took one step back. A precaution only. He wanted to not be so hastey with a fast shinigami. His sword glimmered in the moonlight and almost blinded Ikkaku himself. My Shikai is stronger. Those words the girl said rung in his mind. He would not ask for the girl's name untill she had shown her true strength. Ikkaku studied the girl's stance and standing habits. He was looking for an oppening. When he saw her stance was rock solid, he bluffed.
"Ladies first," he smirked, trying not to show his bluff.
Last Edit: Aug 4, 2009 15:18:51 GMT -5 by dragonz7
Aoide laughed, unsheathing her blade, "Please I'd be pissed if you went easy on me just because I'm a girl," she grinned, granted her Zanpaktou wasn't very impressive in its sealed form. Half the size as most she was often laughed at by her opponents, particularly by the lower ranked guys from Squad 11. That really burned her up back in the day. She had never gotten past the teens in ranks, but she guessed being a woman in a Squad of mosty men she was judged before she started fighting. Well that and the rumors, she hated those mean rumors of who she was sleeping with or who had done who. Shesh, did Shinigami have nothing to do but gossip lies?
"Power you say?" Aoide looked Ikkaku dead in the eyes with her own soft, doe, brown eyes. They twinkled a little, obviously he didn't know who he was talking to. How many times had she accidently busted out the windows and doors of buildings because of her powers? Then again, it could be said on how many times she had broken something by tripping over it or running into it. Well, Unohara-san had to buy a new tea set for the Tea Club because of her. Oh, wait, she needed to focus on the fight, she didn't want to make a fool or herself, nor loose the control she had worked so hard to achieve.
"Now, Ikka-chan," she spoke casually, bringing her blade up to her face, her eyes glinting against the blade before she shupoed infront of him swing her blade gracefully at his chest, "A true lady never shows all of her power on a complete stranger," she commented bringing her blade down, aiming for his shoulder.
Ikkaku took a single step back and tilted his sword at the direction she tried to strike his shoulder. A ringing clash sound echoed through the division training grounds. Her power was great. He did not expect such a strong strike from such a pretty girl. Her attacks were very graceful compared to his. He uses more of quick, strong strikes which disregarded any unnecessary movement, like people who use graceful attacks do. He didn't need flashy attacks. His sword pressed against Aoide's. His sword shined in the moonlight once again. He then noticed she had said Ikka-chan. Chan was a honorific for the term endearment used for people like close friends or lovers. He blushed on the inside. He studied her carefully for the first time. She was very pretty and he thought her hair was exceptionally nice.
"Wow. You are more powerful than I could have imagined due to your cuteness," he said as he looked at her footwork. Don't underestimate her, he thought to himself witnessing her strength personally. Ikkaku grinned showing he was enjoying himself already. Shikai, oh he couldn't wait for when she revealed her shikai. He grasped the sword with both hands harder, trying to establish a firm grip. He slowly pushed his sword to the opposite side also pushing her sword as well. Sparks of reaitsu danced as the swords clashed. Ikkaku gripped tightly on his sword and a single sweat the size of a teardrop ran down his hand. He pushed her sword to the side and with both hands raised his sword over his head.
"Try not to die...kirei na onna no ko-chan(pretty girl chan)," he said as he lowered his sword in an overhead strike position aimed directly for the top of her head.
Kenpachi sighed, slowly trudging about the streets in a rather absent manner. To be honest, the man had begun the night with a clear sense of direction. He had just finished tucking Yachiru into bed before realizing that he left his neckband on his desk back at the office. Without another thought the man had stepped out of his home in an attempt to retrieve his piece of atire.
That was two hours ago.
I don't recall the office being so far from my home. The large man's brow knitted slightly. Last time I checked, it only took us five minutes with Yumichika leading the way...
From a distance, Kenpachi Zaraki heard the familiar sound of steel clashing against steel, ringing clearly through the night sky. His ear picked up the sound and a smile graced his features, slightly entranced by the lovely sound. Glancing over, he could see that he was nearby the Division's training grounds... now who could be sparring at such a time?
However, he was glad to know that he was finally near the 11th's office, as they set up their squad near the training ground to ensure quick access.
Stepping into the recently quiet grounds, the large man's left eye focused on the two figures going at it accross the way. He immediately recognized one of them as one of his subordinates. Ikkaku stood out like a sore thumb wherever his went, in this particular situation, his shiney head reflected the moonlight almost obnoxiously. Were Yachiru there, she would have squinted and yelled at said man to turn off the light.
The second figure Kenpachi did not recognize in the smallest bit. However, after a moment he realized that it was a woman...
The sound of an all-too-familiar bell rang through the night sky, quickly followed by the sound of Zaraki's rauceous laughter, echoing across the grounds.
"I-Ikkaku...!" Kenpachi continued to laugh and attempt to talk at the same time, which didn't really work out for him. "A-are you getting beat down by a girl?!"
He couldn't believe it, if Yachiru OR Yumichika were here, they would have a field day.
Aoide's arms began to shake trying to hold her ground against Ikkaku, he was strong, really strong. Though she hated to admit it, but she was a female, and no matter how much she trained, guys would always have the upper hand when it came to strength. No amount of push up, boulder pushing, and other training would change that. But...maybe as a way to equal out the playing field, Aoide would always have her speed. She could hit as hard, but she could use her speed to inflict enough damage before she could be taken down by some of the harder striking attacks.
She gritted her teeth, putting all of her muscle behind, before being thrown off balance by Ikkaku suddenly moving, his blade was lifted over his head. She crouched down, flipping backwards she felt the blade run against her robes before hitting the ground where she had been at. Aoide continued to flip backwards, creating distance between Ikkaku and her. Regaining her balance she landed on both feet, easily slipping back into her battle stance. Her face turned beat red, had he just called her what she thought he had called her?
"Baka," she spat looking disguisted, "You don't talk to a girl like me like that, you don't talk to a former Squad 11 female like that. Flirting, that's hardly Squad 11 attitude," she added.
"Pay attention to what you're doing! Are you trying to die just because you couldn't stay out of la la land? Shesh, just release me, you know this guy's Shikai is complete combative, you could easily just beat him with a few attacks," a man's voice echoed in Aoide's ear, the smell of roses reaching her nose. Great, she really didn't need her Zanpaktou talking to her.
Aoide was about to tell him to, 'screw off,' when she felt an overwelming Spiritual Energy draw closer. Her Zanpaktou went quiet, Aoide went quiet as well as she heard the sound of bells, she swallowed feeling nervous. It couldn't be, in all the months she had been coming to the training area in the middle of the night...he had never shown up. Aoide took a step back as Kenpachi Zaraki walked through the doorway.
Feeling small and akward she looked at her feet, her former Captain, him. Aoide wasn't so dillusional to know that he probably had never taken notice of her when she had been in Squad 11, she had never been a challenge. But Kenpachi to her, she wouldn't have gotten this far if it wasn't for him. How many countless hours had she been at training and just watched him train? How long did she yearn to be as strong as him, to fight like him? Too long, other Shingami would have given up by now. And if Aoide would have had her way, she still would have been in Squad 11, even if it meant never achieving her Shikai. She couldn't help her Zanpaktou wasn't much of a battle one, more of spirit control, and energy attacks. Having a girly Zanpaktou covered in bells and that shot off sonic attacks would have been taboo in Squad 11.
Then laughter, "A-are you getting beat down by a girl?!" Kenpachi Zaraki laughed at Ikkaku, Aoide glared at him. Okay he was a jerk too, but a strong one, and she admired that. Though it was more of a secret admiration. And what did he mean by girl, rumor had it he was scared of Unohara, so he had no room to talk about fighting against a girl!
"Sing, Yobirin Masurao," she spoke her voice getting caught up into her Zanpaktou as it transformed into her Naganita. Her robes glowed with excess Spiritual Energy, changing her into her Shikai form. The bells wrapped around it's staff jingled before the sound was absorbed into it. Hold onto the vibrating staff, Aoide gave a pointy grin to Kenpachi, her body practically glowing with yellow spiritual energy.
"What's wrong with fighting a woman anyway?" she asked casually before the Naganita let out a large sonic boom, knocking out the windows and doors. Aoide's eyes widened a little before she smacked her forehead, "Man, Captain Hitsugaya's going to be pissed when he finds out I busted another building," she spoke, ignoring the laughing from her Zanpaktou. She really needed to work on her control when she got excited...
Ikkaku studied the girl carefully. Her spiritual pressure grew, but he was in no immediate threat, he thought to himself. He looked at the building noticing the glass drip like rain. The sonic boom was strong but he kept his ground. He pullled out his sheath with his left hand. He would use two weapons now.
"There is no need for shikai. If you need it fine by me. And by the way I wasn't flirting with you. I didn't know you're name so I called you what fit. Now that I think about it, I don't care that you're a girl. I don't care what the hell you are. A fight, is a fight," Ikkaku said grinnning most likely blushing on the inside. Ikkaku noticed the girl was giving up the power game and starting to use acrobatics. Hozukimaru growled at Ikkaku. This told him he was not fightning enough. Ikkaku wanted to test this belled spear for himself. He ran toward her. He could use shunpo very well, but he thought it was for the weak. He jumped raising his right knee and rasing his sheath and sword over his head. He would strike with both weapons at the same time. Each targeted a seperate shoulder. The sword attacked the left shoulder while the sheath attacked the right shoulder. The sonic boom ahd made him a bit dizzy and slow but he tried to recover.
"You impress me, for a divison 10 girl. Not as a division 11 girl though" Ikkaku said as he lowered his weapons on her shoulders. They didn't hit yet though. A sweat the size of a teardrop ran down his left eyebrow. He ignored Kenpachi. This was the worst possible outcome. Now he could never use Bankai. No one knew he had it besides Hitsuguya, Konamomaru, Renji, adn a few others. If he used it front of Kenpachi he knew Kenpahci would urge him to try to become a captain. He sighed out loud. Hopefully his attack would knock the girl unconcious and this would end. Kenpachi stood towering at 6'7. He sighed once more.
There was a blast about him as the windows shattered in the area, and if anything, Kenpachi's smile only grew larger. He didn't seem to be the least bit fazed by the blast in sound. "Hah! Excellent! Brilliant Reiastu!"
The bells tied to tips of his hair continued to sound as he chuckled. Ikkaku seemed somewhat miffed due to his presence there, why though, he couldn't quite place his finger on it. However, his subordinate completely ignoring him was... somewhat questionable, but he would bring that up later.
He had at least expected to get a rise out of his jab.
Shrugging, he raised an eyebrow at his friend's attack. Yes, though no one would ever hear him admit it, aside from Yachiru, Ikkaku and Yumichika were probably the closest things he had to as friends. It seemed to be a significant attack, which would most likely incapacitate the girl if he landed.
The only problem was, one could see it coming at a mile a minute.
At least, Kenpachi could. He frowned slightly, it would be more wise if the bald one attempted to wear down her defenses as opposed to attempting to end it with a single blow. She had... afterall, blown her trump card.
By showing her Shikai, and probably her full power... judging by her seating... she had given herself no time to wear Ikkaku down before giving it everything. He frowned, perhaps it was because he appeared that the girl suddenly found the need to show off.
And that pointed smile...
Reminded him of... oh! That's it! "Oy." He called out, "You used to be part of the squad, weren't you."
It wasn't really a question, he already had the answer in his head. He smiled and shook his head, eye peering with newfound interest in the battle. Perhpas Ikkaku was in for more then he gambled.
