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Post by Darkoda on Mar 22, 2009 18:37:22 GMT -4
Night in Seretei. With the exception of a few shinigami either heading to their quarters, or to the bars, it was fairly quiet, especially if the rooftops were your favorite location. A few shinigami were known to haunt the rooftops, for the view and privacy provided a comfortable place to think about life, contemplate plans.
"Why can't I do it properly yet? I've been practicing since I was still in the Academy!"
Or vent about one's ability, or lack thereof, to use a certain skill.
"Maybe you can't use shunpo yet because you spend half of time whining how slow you are."
A certain kitsune had put up with this same discussion too long was not in a good mood.
"If you want to improve so badly, go get in a fight with someone faster than you and let me sleep."
" Someone's cranky tonight. Aren't foxes supposed to be nocturnal?"
Rather than bother answering her annoying partner, Kumori simply ignored him and vanished within Shin's mind.
'Go fight someone faster, where am I supposed to find someone worth sparring against at this time of night?'
Shin's zanpakuto spirit had a good point though. Fighting faster opponents would improve his own speed out of necessity if nothing else. With this in mind, he started jumping across buildings, looking for someone to fight who was preferably strong and not likely to try to kill him.
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Firechild
Junior Member
"Death is but a limitation..."
Posts: 194
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Post by Firechild on Mar 22, 2009 19:19:57 GMT -4
Crickets filled the air of the otherwise quiet night. The sound was relaxing to Kazue who was out for a midnight stroll, having just finished doing maintenance on a few of the machines in the lab that he had been using. This was one of the few times he can be more relaxed and not so uptight and serious like he usually was. He sighed sadly. "I wish Hana was around...even though he's annoying, he's probably the best friend I've ever had..." Kazue stared up at the stars, thinking about the hilarious moments that have ensued on the 3rd Seat's behalf. "I guess it can't be helped...he IS sleeping after all..."
The cool night air blew softly through the Vice Captain's hair as he entered the center of Seireitei, where the massive courtyard was the served as a place to gather for general announcements to the whole of the Gotei 13.
He sat down on a nearby bench, simply observing the stars and the different shapes they made when you drew lines between them. The constellations were different from the world of the living. He could see the shape of Daijo, the Death God that single handedly was able to destroy several hundred Menos ranging from Gillian to even a few Vasto Lorde. There was Gaia, the peaceful Hollow, and Mimi the Hollow's protector.
Another sigh issued forth from Kazue's lips when his ears picked up the sounds of running footsteps on the roofs above. The reietsu from the 5th seat of Division 2 entered his vision. "Out for a midnight stroll Shin?" he called out calmly.
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Post by Darkoda on Mar 22, 2009 19:45:41 GMT -4
'I really need to keep a firmer leash on my reiatsu'
Shin soundlessly jumped off the rooftop, to land gracefully on the other side of the bench. He took in the egocentric vice captain's unusually relaxed posture, with some interest. Those arrows of his were fairly fast, and arrows certainly shouldn't be powerful enough to awaken his minor inferiority issues.
'Someone's in a good mood for once. Why not, he knows about the headband already in any event and the worst he could do is say no. Maybe Kumori would get interested enough to forget that she's mad at me right now.' Contemplating this, Shin replied with his usual calm.
"Out for a midnight spar would be more accurate Kazue. Interested in a quick battle?"
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Firechild
Junior Member
"Death is but a limitation..."
Posts: 194
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Post by Firechild on Mar 22, 2009 20:35:52 GMT -4
A vein twitched in Kazue's forehead when he didn't address with with the proper respect that he, as a Vice Captain deserved. "That's Vice Captain Kiataro to you 5th seat." Kazue got up and stretched, rolling his shoulders to get any kinks out of them.
"A spar you say? I suppose I can spare a few moments...What is your motivation?" the Vice Captain inquired as Karasutokui materialized into it's sealed staate.
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Post by Darkoda on Mar 22, 2009 20:47:15 GMT -4
'So easy to annoy, always fun' Shin thought, and he couldn't stop a slight smirk from forming on his face at Kazue's reaction. Granted, he didn't intend to specifically annoy him; his first name was simply easier to pronounce. The annoyance was just a bonus.
"Sorry Vice Captain Kiataro , but I just wanted to improve my Shunpo technique, and I thought that someone who was already fast would be best to practice with."
Shin was tempted to remind Kazue that he ignored respect by referring to him by his first name to begin with, but decided that he didn't need to aggravate the scientist any further if he was going to get what he wanted anyway. The blatant sarcasm in stating his title should already have pushed the stuck up shinigami's temper to the limit.
'Seems like he might agree solely to inflict some pain on me as it stands. It wouldn't do me any good if his anger makes him get careless though.'
With this in mind, Shin patiently awaited Kazue's most likely cynical response, his dark grin firmly in place and ready to move in the event his answer came in the form of a few volleys from his bow.
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Firechild
Junior Member
"Death is but a limitation..."
Posts: 194
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Post by Firechild on Mar 23, 2009 14:38:50 GMT -4
Kazue surveyed Shin's expression, taking note of the sarcasm lacing his voice as he addressed the Vice Captain. "Shunpo? Well if you feel inexperienced in it. I suppose I could...give you a hand." Kazue was sure that this 5th seat was attempting to irritate him. Kazue wasn't going to give him the pleasure...
A flurry of cobalt particles coalesced into a notched arrow. Kazue drew the string back as he aimed it dead center at Shin's chest. "Let the game's begin..." The Vice Captain said with a grin and fired the arrow, before vanishing and reappearing above, another arrow notched and drawn. A typical, yet always effective quincy tactic.
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Post by Darkoda on Mar 23, 2009 15:10:09 GMT -4
Shin noted the grin that appeared on Kazue's face, and cryptic comment, right before the archer fired a shot that was definitely aimed to be lethal. Even if he was trying very hard not to show it, someone was definitely mad.
Shin easily backflipped over the point blank shot, and immediately tucked in his legs in midair, solidifying spiritrons beneath his feet to act as a temporary wall and launched himself upward, hand at his hilt in the event Kazue happened to appear at that point, but even if he didn't, Shin was definitely much higher in the air than the archer would have predicted.
Just as expected, he saw Kazue appear a distance below him, ready to fire at a target that no longer there. ' It isn't healthy to be so predictable quincy.' he thought while he flipped over again, solidifying more spiritons beneath his feet, and immediately launching himself straight at Kazue, drawing his zanpakuto in mid-flight in a silent, fluid motion fitting the assassin that he was, fulling intending to cut down Kazue with the same motion, or at least intercept any arrows in the unlikely event the archer noticed him.
'At this rate, I won't even need to release Kumori.' His smirk just kept growing bigger.
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Firechild
Junior Member
"Death is but a limitation..."
Posts: 194
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Post by Firechild on Mar 23, 2009 15:24:42 GMT -4
Kazue laughed softly. "Predictable is what you are 5th seat..." The arrow released itself from the bow, colliding with the ground with enough force to create a small explosion. "A tip from the wise...Never, under any circumstances underestimate your opponent." The Vice Captain turned around in the air, facing the incoming Shin. "Bakudo...25. Kyakko!" Kazue's body shimmered for a minute before vanishing from sight. Quite literally. In addition, Kazue activated a device on the utility belt at his waist that he always wore. It took his ability to mask his spiritual pressure to the next level, completely hiding it from even the most perceptive of spiritually sensitive beings.
Using a Shunpo, Kazue landed quietly on the ground, observing Shin's reaction to one of the few Kidou Kazue felt the need to master. In fact, he became so profficient at it that his Bakudo 25 was unparalleled among the ranks of the Gotei 13. Another arrow formed at an already drawn position. It crackled with energy, still not visible until it was too late, and was fired at the Division 2 member. Another Shunpo, and he appeared on the otherside of the courtyard, firing another arrow. Finally his Bakudo wore off and he shunpo'd right in front of Shin, another arrow drawn.
"I repeat, never underestimate an opponent..." The arrow flared brightly and was fired point blank at the 5th Seat, before Kazue flash stepped onto one of the nearby rooftops.
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Post by Darkoda on Mar 23, 2009 16:15:31 GMT -4
"Predictable is what you are 5th seat..."
Shin expected an arrow or hado, but not for the archer to vanish. 'Didn't know he know that kido, this just got slightly troublesome.' Indeed, he lost all sight of Kazue, but he still had a lock on his spirit..... well he had a lock anyway. Probably one of his devices masking his presence since he was still capable of using Shunpo to dodge the slash.
"The great vice captain of the 12th Division resorting to his gadgets against a 5th seat?" Shin exclaimed in mock surprise. " I haven't underestimated you, I just underestimated your toys." That ought to hit a sore point. Under any event, Kyakko didn't grant perfect invisibility, and even with the dim light, Shin's enhanced night vision allowed him to make out a faint outline on the ground. It didn't hurt that apparently Kazue's device did nothing for the spiritrons he left behind with Shunpo.
'As long as he doesn't move normally, I'll at least have a general idea of his location.'
'Arrow.'
Shin suddenly jumped to a rooftop, a second before an arrow flew through the spot he was just standing on in the air. He didn't have a moment to relax, sensing some stray spiritrons indicating that Kazue just moved again, heralded by a second arrow aimed directly at his head. Shin barely dodged the shot by flipping to the side, only to see Kazue appear directly in front of him, arrow already drawn.
"I repeat, never underestimate an opponent..." The arrow was fired at point blank range, and all Shin had time to do was to bring Kumori in front of him to deflect the shot. The force of the attack still threw him back a few feet, but it was better than a hole through the chest. On the bright side, Kumori was speaking to him again.
'I don't think you should be trying to irritate him anymore, or he really will kill you.'
Shin glared at Kazue on the nearby rooftop, taking Kazue seriously this time. "If you intend to fight me full power, then let me give you the same courtesy." In one fluid motion, Shin's left hand removed his sealing headband, and the pressure suddenly spiked with his released reiatsu. He swung his zanpakuto back....
"Embrace the darkness, Kumori." And in the same motion, released it and fired a Kuroi Kitsuenehi right at Kazue, intentionally creating a gigantic version to hide his prescence. Shin immediately gathered spiritrons at his feet, using his own undeveloped Shunpo to race ahead of his attack and appear behind Kazue, flaming zanpakuto swinging for blood. Kazue couldn't defend against both at once, and if he tried to run, his foxfire would chase him, cloaked reiatsu or not, and Shin would simply strike at any opening he saw. After all, a bow wasn't exactly the best close range weapon and Shin had a reiatsu cancelling sword and his hand to hand combat skills to rely on.
'Let's see if you follow your own advice, Kazue.'
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Firechild
Junior Member
"Death is but a limitation..."
Posts: 194
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Post by Firechild on Mar 23, 2009 16:42:35 GMT -4
Kazue was growing irritated. This stupid fifth seat was somehow holding his own against Kazue. And the fact that he know was in his initial release was getting the Vice Captain a little ticked. He observed as not one of his attacks made a fatal wound, which in all honesty was good, but still annoying.
That was when the first attack was fired, a large blast in the shape of a fox. "Tch...Kazue was about to use a counter move, when he felt Shin's spiked reietsu behind him. "Shit..." Before either attack could collide with Kazue, he aimed upwards with his palm. "Hadou 1: Sho!" The force of the thrust sent him flying downwards, putting Shin in danger of his own attack. "You want to play dirty? That's just fine...we can play dirty..."
Kazue held his bow out in front of him, his free hand forming a claw around the one that gripped his Zanpakuto. "Fly free, Karasutokui!" An explosion of Reietsu consumed Kazue has he entered his initial release. Dressed in the garb of the Quincy's final form, Kazue's reietsu had grown exponentially. The pair of gloves dominating his hands were gold and black, as was the armor and garb adorning his body. To finish off the Vice Captain's new look, a pair of shoulder guards that glow bright gold sit on either side of his head.
The first thing Kazue did was craft a silver shaft, shiny and metallic in appearance he notched it to his bow. It crackled with electricity as it was drawn back. The Vice Captain aimed carefully, and fired the Byakurai imitation with deadly speed and accuracy, this was no longer a simple training spar. Both were aiming to kill.
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Post by Darkoda on Mar 23, 2009 17:17:20 GMT -4
"Interesting defense. A bit pointless though."
Shin, watched Kazue shoot downwards from the force of his Hadou, and immediately pointed his palm directly at him, as his flaming fox continued to give chase.
'He actually thought he could beat me with my own attack. I feel a bit insulted.'
"Mask of blood and flesh, all creation, flutter of wings, ye who bears the name of Man! On the wall of blue flame, inscribe a twin lotus. In the abyss of conflagration, wait at the far heavens. Hado # 63, Twin Lotus Blue Fire, Crash Down!"
Two massive plumes of flame burst from Shin's outstretched hand, directed at Kazue. "Playing dirty? I think you crossed that line when you used your toy to hide your presence. Or maybe it was when you tried to kill me at the beginning without even letting me draw my sword. Don't lecture me about fighting fair Kazue."
Shin was fully aware that Kazue was stronger than him, but the archer must have finally cracked if he honestly thought that a mini lightning arrow was capable of stopping a high level hado, especially after his Kuroi Kitsunehi drained most of its power. Shin had no intention of letting Kazue get off anymore shots however. That last arrow he blocked still managed to burn him. Nothing too serious, but that made it very clear that a direct hit would end the fight.
'There is no way he will be able to fire an arrow at close range before I hit him, so it's time to keep up the offensive.'
'Don't drop your guard, for all you know he can.'
Shin attempted shunpo again, this time staying close to Kazue, waiting to see exactly what would become of the collision of attacks. If his hado did overpower the arrow and kept charging, he would intercept Kazue when he moved. If it somehow got stopped by the arrow, he would charge Kazue himself, keeping up the pressure until the archer slipped up. It was about time someone knocked the overconfident snob down a few notches.
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Firechild
Junior Member
"Death is but a limitation..."
Posts: 194
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Post by Firechild on Mar 23, 2009 17:43:09 GMT -4
Kazue laughed at the fifth seats own arrogance, and ignorance. The specialty of Division 12 was their brilliant minds and devices that were advancing the Gotei 13's ability to protect the Soul Society. The fact that this 5th seat was calling it a dirty trick just made Kazue want to laugh even harder. "The fact that you assumed that my first arrow was lethal shows just how unintelligent you truly are." The Vice Captain pushed his glasses to the bridge of his nose, a smirk across his face.
"The truth of it is...my arrows so far are not even at half of the strength I normally used them, I was trying to avoid killing you but it seems that you are too arrogant to realize that." Spirit particles began flowing around Kazue as he talked, simply watching the 5th Seats hadou fly towards him. The currents of reishi began to thicken, flowing into the guards on his shoulders. Another arrow materialized in Kazue's hand, crackling with yellow energy.
The pressure of Kazue's reietsu suddenly spiked in density and strength. The Byakurai arrow destabilized and vanished as it impacted on the Soren Sokatsui. Kazue's expression grew suddenly serious, he wasn't going to let this imbecile make a fool out of him. "The thing is Shin...you are really too inexperienced to fight me. And believe me, that isn't said out of arrogance...Arrogant though I may sometimes be, I can easily read someone power level and experience. You just don't have it." The arrow in Kazue's hand was screaming with the condensed energy inside it. The Vice Captain drew back the string once more, and let the arrow loose. It roared across the sky as it grew in size as the condensed reishi was released.
The power of the Raikoho arrow was simply devastating. Kazue wasn't playing around anymore, he was dead serious. He would teach this 5th seat that Kazue was serious when he told him to not underestimate his opponent.
A second arrow was drawn, this time without any sort of enhancements, a plain arrow...with all the absorbed reishi packed into it. Kazue's fingers were clutching the arrow tightly, as the Vice Captain aimed carefully at the DIvision 2 member. He's more then what he appears...he's close to a Vice Captain without their bankai...I won't actually tell him...but I might have to try harder in order to beat him... Kazue smiled softly, for the briefest of seconds. Someone that was truly worthy to fight against.
Kazue was not expecting anything close to this when he took his nightly walk on this night. The arrow he held notched to Karasutokui, was fired with enough power to break the sound barrier. A shockwave rippled out away from Kazue as it traveled towards the Vice Captain's opponent.
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Post by Darkoda on Mar 23, 2009 18:22:18 GMT -4
'You can easily read someone's power level and you now notice that I'm much stronger than a 5th seat. Keep telling yourself that.'
The oversized Raikoho arrow was easy enough to evade; Shin could have outpaced that thing walking. The arrow that came immediately after, however, required an emergency burst of Shunpo to avoid a direct collision, and even then, the arrow managed to graze his left shoulder, or was it the air after it that cut him. Nothing too bad but still fairly unpleasant considering it wasn't a clean hit.
"Okay, maybe you weren't being egocentric when you said you were holding back on the arrows. I won't envy you when you have to explain exactly what caused all the damage around here though." Shin was honestly surprised no one came out to stop them yet. The reiatsu both of them were putting off should have at least gathered the attention of the night guards. Or maybe they were simply afraid of getting caught up in the crossfire.
Damages aside, Shin had a plan that was ready for execution. Another burst of Shunpo placed him to the right of Kazue, a roundhouse kick aimed straight for his face. The kick would be faster than a sword swing, and besides, he really wasn't trying to kill the archer, no matter how annoying he was. A broken nose however, he had no problems with, especially with a singed chest and shoulder to nurse later.
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Firechild
Junior Member
"Death is but a limitation..."
Posts: 194
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Post by Firechild on Mar 24, 2009 15:01:01 GMT -4
Kazue glanced around at the damage of their temporary arena. Shin was right, repairs would have to be made...But maybe, with the right application of technology...But that could wait to be figured out later. Right now the Vice Captain had bigger problems...like the roundhouse kicked aimed at his head. "Shit..." thinking quickly, Kazue had a swift and narrow stream of reishi cover his arms as he rose both in a cross to block the kick.
Even with the few precautions Kazue made to protect him from the surprisingly powerful attack, the Vice Captain was flung backwards, digging a pair of trenches into the stone ground. Kazue lowered his smoking arms, noting how numb they were from the force of the blow. Even with the added protection from the reishi, he still took a considerable amount of damage. "I wonder, why aren't you a higher seat?" Kazue said seriously. 'If you're able to hold your own against my shikai, then you are certainly eligible for third seat at least."
Kazue dusted off his arms as they began to regain there feeling. "I wouldn't mind studying you...How about it?" that was basically Kazue's way of saying 'maybe we could get along.' Regardless of Shin's answer, Kazue lifted his hand and began reciting the incantation for his strongest Kido. "Carriage of thunder. Bridge of a spinning wheel. With light, divide this into six." His palm glowed with a bright light as the flat beams surrounded Shin. "Bakudo 61, Rikujokoro!"
As soon as he finished, a stream of Reishi started flowing into Kazue's shoulders. A flurry of arrows were released at around the same strength as the ones when they first started. They weren't as strong as the one prior to Shin's kick...but there were a lot of them. And even if Shin was able to break his Kidou, or dodge it. Maneuvering away from the now dozens of arrows flying towards him was near impossible, even a captain would have trouble avoiding them all.
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Post by Darkoda on Mar 24, 2009 16:35:26 GMT -4
'Wow, he's actually capable of being somewhat nice. Shocking.'
Shin wasn't sure what to make of his offer to study him though. Under normal circumstances he would have thought that the scientist intended to make him a lab rat but experience taught him that people have weird ways of asking for things, besides, Kazue clearly wasn't trying to kill him anymore.
"Care to define what you mean by study?" Best way to find out was to just ask him after all. If his answer annoyed him, he would just kick him again. Under any event he had a problem. The binding spell was easy enough to dodge but the arrow storm was a bit much. He could just use Kumorikatsu and blast them out of the sky, but Kazue was close enough that the attack would hit him too, and his strongest attack didn't exactly come in a non lethal variety. Shin pointed a finger directly in front of him and started focusing the reiatsu around him.
"Didn't think I would have to test this out so soon. Well Kazue, it seems that I'm going use you as a test subject right now."
'This is probably not going to end well' "Bakudo #81, Danku."
A barrier immediately solidified around Shin, blocking the majority of the reiatsu shots. As expected, his immature shield broke after the first dozen shots, but the barrier gave him enough time to grab Kumori's foxtail, and use it as an anchor to spin his sword rapidly in front of him, a makeshift barrier with the added bonus of reiatsu draining flames to quite barely knock down the remaining arrows.
He also lost sight of Kazue. ' He never turned off that reiatsu cloaking device, did he.'
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