New leaders, new battles.

[kensei]

Sagara had decided to start meeting informally with some of the other leaders of the different divisions and see if he couldn't get a bit of advice and keep good relations with the other divisions as the current head of the Sixth division, Sagara zurri, fourth seat he needed all the help he could get. Today he decided to meet with Aiko, Vice captain and current leader of Eleventh Division. Eventually one thing lead to another and they ended up in one of the oldest games of wits, chess. Sagara was a tactical person when he wasn't being a sodding ass, and thus had the upper hand quickly.

Sagara sighed as he moved his rook down, checkmating Aiko. “Checkmate.” Aiko looked infuriated before standing up and saying. “THAT IS NOT A CHECKMATE!” He yelled pointing at his king. “Yes it is. Look there is nothing you can do..” Sagara said waving his hand over the board. “Shut up you brainy little bastard!” As he said this he grabbed the board and slammed it in Sagara’s face. “Draw your sword and ill show you a fucking checkmate!” Sagara stood up and kicked the table up at Aiko’s face, using it as cover as he dashed Aiko putting his hand on the handle of his Zanpakuto. Aiko swung his blade through the table, pushing it out of the way at the same time, showing Sagara coming in low and pulling his blade out and making a upwards slice at Aiko. Aiko blocked it easily enough and looked even angrier then before. “Using such a cowards move to attack! You little punk I’ll teach you how to be a man!” Sagara jumped out of the way as he came down with his sword, and barely managed to block his next blow that seemed to come straight out of his others. “Its called using a tactical advantage! Im not going to bomb rush a Vice Captain! Id be a idiot if I did!” He said as the exchanged several more blows.

”Woohooho! You really did a good job here Sagara! Come on, make him bleed. That’s if you can you pathetic excuse for a swordsman!” Now is not the time Kasai!” Sagara thought to himself as he ducked under Aiko’s next slice. ”But nothing would please me more then watching you become a man. Besides when its not the right time is when it’s the right time for me to aggravate you!” Sagara was getting infuriated by both Aiko and Kasai and yelled out with while striking with all his might at Aiko. “SHUT UP YOU PIECE OF SHIT!”

[schitzo7830]

Exchanging blows with Sagara wasn't that tough. It was how pissed off Aiko was for loosing the him that was messing with Aiko's game. In a fit of rage Aiko jumped back away from Sagara, giving him about ten feet of distance, and kicked the table that he had slashed in half at the other shinigami. No matter what Sagara did Aiko would rush his movements. Aiko would then prod at Sagara with a barrage of basic avoidable slashes and then again jump away. He was hoping to confuse Sagara with the unusual hit and run tactics Aiko was now using.

"Soo... Sagara, Expecting to win this fight like you did the board game? Im taking it easy on you at the moment. But hell, whataya say me and you skip all the pleasantries and go full out and finish this in an hour or so?" Aiko was laughing as he was talking to Sagara, he knew if he went full out he was pretty sure he could take the man on a one on one swordsmanship battle alone, but Aiko wanted to see what Sagra had up his sleeves.

Aiko flashed stepped behind the man rushing him again before he could respond hopefully catching the man off guard. Aiko slashed at where the man had been standing and hoped it was enough to at least connect with Sagara and draw first blood.

[kensei]

Sagara dodged several of the blows, and even jumped off a wall to avoid the table that was thrown at him. He hadn’t thought Aiko would do the hit and run style he seemed to be doing. Maybe he was just toying with him, after all if Aiko was going full out then this would be a different tune all together. He knew he couldn’t beat the Vice-captain alone. Not now anyway, he still needed to train a lot more before he was at there range. A third seat maybe, but a very strong Vice-captain and low Captain level strength.. He was a good ways from that still.

“Fine by me Lieutenant Aiko.” He said right as Aiko Shunpoed behind him. Sagara did a Shunpo himself, but instead of moving he simply turned around, catching Aiko’s blade with his own. But Aiko had a new strive it seemed, his own blade was pushed downwards, and the tip of Aiko’s reopened the scar on his left cheek, causing it to match his long scarlet red hair. “Burn Kasai..” He said with a new fire and a hint of anger in his voice for the first time. Fire surrounded his blade as his handle reached back further, his blade thicken and grew, nearly six inches wide, 5’7 inches long, and a inch thick at its thickest point. Kasai was a bit and mean looking son of a bitch, despite the elegant gold going across the black blade. He pushed Aiko back before swinging his sword at him, causing not only the blade but a wave of fire to go at him. FINALLY! LET ME BURN HIS FLESH! Kasai was in agreement now, now the real battle begain.

[schitzo7830]

The new sword Sagara tossed Aiko back with was larger but Aiko knew that didnt mean it was better. Instead there was a heavier more cumbersome weapon for Sagara to swing around and with such a large weapon in his hands Aiko's best bet was right up, close and personal. But before he could move in a large flame came streaking towards him. If Aiko hadn't been planning on moving already the flame probably would have engulfed him completely but instead Aiko mistakenly launched himself above the flame obviously forgetting the laws of nature and that heat rises.

As Aiko made his way over the flames he felt the heat engulf his body and though no major damage was done the heat made Aiko break into a hard sweat and his skin warmed quickly. Aiko was now about thirty feet in the air as the fire below dissipated in to a large smoke. Aiko took the few seconds he had to activate shikai.

"Hikaru Miyu!" Aiko shouted loud enough for his enemy to hear him though he still could not see him through the smoke of the fire. Aiko separated his Souba into two different katana's and using the element of surprise darted through the smoke to attack Sagara. With the blade in his left hand he swiped over head at his enemies left shoulder and with the sword in his right hand he jabbed at Sagara's ribs. Since there was no way to see through the smoke it was highly unlikely that Sagara would be expecting a two bladed attack.

If either of Aiko's attacks landed he would kick his enemy away from him, if Sagara found a way to deflect both suprise attacks Aiko would then attack relentlessly with a barrage of attacks similiar to the ones he just did causing Sagara to choose and pick what attacks were more deadly.

[kensei]

Sagara looked, a bit upset as a small circle of grass was lit on fire. His attack had smashed into the only tree in a small walk way that was there to give extra color to the seen and disperse coming and going traffic to division 11. The smoke rose blocking Aiko from Sagara’s view. But his riatsu was all to present. He ducked low, dodging the first blow, but as the second one came Sagara didn’t have much time to react, he barly diverted it off course form being a kill shot, though it did run the length of his back making him hiss in pain. He lifted his hilt into Aiko’s face before using the side of his sword as a diving board as he flipped Aiko onto the ground a good five feet away from him. Sagara stayed ducked, Aiko had already opened up his scar and most likely made a fresh one on his back as his now blood soaked kosode sticking to his back. He swung his sword twice in the air sending two more flames at Aiko, though it was more of a diversion as he stepped back into the smoke and Shunpoed to his side, swinging as fast and hard as he could. Aiko could take his flames with minor burns, though they could catch his clothes on fire with his extra riatsu he could snuff the flames out..

[schitzo7830]

Aiko had landed softly and with a smile, blood dripping from the tip of his right handed katana. Yet before he could celebrate Sagara had yet again sent flames at him, this time two different waves. As the flames made their way towards him Aiko slashed at them with his left blade, this got rid of most of the heat and damage but still caused some minor burns around his body and also managed to catch the back of his haori on fire. the flames burned Aiko's back worse then anything else. By the time Aiko had ripped off his burning haori Sagara was already to his right.

An angered Aiko quickly turned and in the nick of time combined his two blades again to parry Sagara's monstrous sword. Aiko laughed at the man, his bare chest slightly burned and his back a dark red. "That actually hurt you little punk"

Aiko jumped away and watched Sagara with a smile as he separated his blades yet again and well starring into the eyes of Sagara Aiko sliced both wrists causing about two pints of blood two pour out in front of him. His wrist then sealed there wounds and in front of Aiko the blood began to pool together slowly before rising up and forming an exact clone of him. the clone had no differences and was made of pure blood. "For the next two minutes your in hell...." The last part of the clone formed and Aiko gave half of Miyu to it. As the clone rushed forward and Attacked Sagara from the front Aiko used Shunpo and appeared behind the man slashing at his open wound, and then sending a kick to Sagara's head. Aiko's blood clone was doing the exact same fighting pattern as Aiko causing four different points on Sagara to be attacked at once. If Sagara attacked the clone his blade would slice right through it and would not halt it at all.

"How are you feeling Aiko? That was two pints...." Miyu spoke to Aiko. Aiko ignored it and focused on the fight, though he knew if he wanted to keep the clone alive he would have to give up more blood...

[kensei]

Sagara looked at Aiko curiously as he slit his own wrists. “It was ment to..” He said and watched as the blood clone formed. He had never seen a Zanpakuto do that before. He wondered just how far and how strong it was. IF it mimicked Akio in strength, then just how long he could hold out with that kind of drain on him would be interesting to see. But right now the game turned into a battle against the clock. Who could hold out longer, him or Aiko? Sagara was about to have to answer that question as two VC’s attacked him.

He rolled out of the way of the first attacks, swinging as hard and fast as he could towards both of the Aikos. No doubt they would block or dodge, but when they did he would dash the one that attacked him in the back, swing once send a fire wave at the other and end the strike attacking the back aiko again. A quick and decisive move, he had to play strong enough to keep from getting ganged.. This was going to be one of the most challenging duels of his life..

[schitzo7830]

The blood clone mimicked Aiko completely. Strength, speed, skills, nothing was different. Except for the fact the clone could be sliced to pieces and reform. Aiko was now just cutting through the flames and lessoning the damage rather then dodging and wasting time. As Aiko and his clone dodge and slash at Sagara Aiko was beggining to device a plan, simple first, difficult after. Aiko pushed Sagara with strong easy to block attacks as the Clone would hit Sagara with simple but deadly fast slashes along the waste. Aiko and the Clone had begun ot close the gap and as seconds ticked by they got closer.

A minute into the fight since the clone had formed and Aiko decided to go all out. Both the clone and Aiko shunpo to opposites Sides of Sagara and attacked from behind and the front. A sword high and low. Either Sagaras leg would be slashed open or his chest. Then Using the full force of his power Aiko returned again with a downward slash at Sagara's shoulders. The clone mimicked him on the opposite side before jumping backwards away from a probably wounded Sagara before falling to the ground as a pool of blood.

"Soo.... Sagara... Aiko was dizzy... Normally two pints only caused lightheaded-ness but in this case, with all the burns Aiko was tired already begging to have his vision slightly distorted. ""What are you thinking of tactics now?"

[kensei]

Sagara was fighting a losing battle, and it was most evident now. He turned his sword wide, blocking Aiko’s attacks, but his clone’s scored deep. Sagara fell to the ground, on his knees half propped by his sword. He raised it above him, the blade pointed to the clone as he blocked there attacks, using both hands to hold the blade, one at the hilt the other in the middle of it. HE spun his blade as hard and as fast as he could, it ripped into the gut of the clone open as it fell into a pool of blood that mixed with Sagara’s own. The blade kept coming as Sagara changed his grip on it to cleave Aiko from hip to hip. But the bastard jumped back and out of the way.

Sagara propped himself up using the sword to keep himself up instead of trusting in his badly wounded legs. “I think your far worse off then your letting on. The blood you spilled from yourself, keeping a clone up of that caliber and the burns. You have to be feeling drained yourself. And I haven’t even pulled out my Ace yet.. Hehehe. I think you’re an over confident S O B who underestimates his opponents. Your stronger and faster then me. But not nearly as clever.” He was egging him on, sure that Aiko would strike at him. And when he did Sagara would make the final move. Wither that was for him or Aiko, well that was to be decided..

[schitzo7830]

“I think your far worse off then your letting on. The blood you spilled from yourself, keeping a clone up of that caliber and the burns. You have to be feeling drained yourself. And I haven’t even pulled out my Ace yet.. Hehehe. I think you’re an over confident S O B who underestimates his opponents. Your stronger and faster then me. But not nearly as clever.”

Aiko laughed at Sagara... sure Aiko was a bit hurt but he was far from over. The worse marks he had on his body were the burns and even they were only moderate. Though Aiko wondered what Sagara meant by his "Ace" surely Sagara didnt think Aiko had not been strategical the entire time. If Sagara looked behind him he would see the tree that he had initially lit aflame. And in between Sagara and Aiko lie the pool of blood that was once Aiko's clone.

Aiko began walking slowly towards the kneeling Sagara and again opened the wound on his wrist releasing another pint. "I will only need a minute this time. The first two were to see how strong you were and if you could hold your own against me." The blood seem to fall from Aiko's wrist and before it could hit the ground it seemingly...disappeared. behind Sagara the pool of blood that was once Aiko's clone began forming again. Aiko did not need to have the same blood touch for the technique to work, only had to sacrifice his own blood. When the clown had formed it turned and slashed the tree down towards Sagara before launching itself over head waiting for Sagara to either take the force of the burning tree or choose a direction.

When Sagara did move Aiko made his way towards him and slashed full force horizontally at his enemy. Though he was now more then dizzy and his attacks were slightly weaker it was still enough to cause a fifth seat to qauke under him. If Sagara did parry the attack he would be open for the clone.

[kensei]

As the tree fell behind him sagara’s face took the expression of “oh shit!” As he shunpoed towards Aiko, he slashed in the air, a flame occurred and seemed to stay in front of Sagara the whole time, he swung again, this time catching his blade against Aiko’s own as the Clone started for his back. Sagara smiled slyly as he stabbed the X of fire that was now in front of Aiko. In a instant a circle of fire was made and from it was summoned the hottest flame Aiko had probably felt. It was enough to burn a captain quite severally. And Aiko was right in front of him. The flames let out straight for his chest, as Sagara moved in a attempt to stab him in the chest with his sword.

Movement during this attack, along with not passing out; these where the two biggest advancements Sagara had made in the last year, and his abilities where that much better because of it. No longer was he only to move the flames direction he could move where it was shot from. He was a moving gun of hot heat. Now it was time for Aiko to burn..

[schitzo7830]

Even jumping away the flames that covered Aiko's body were relentlessly painful. He was covered in most area with burns and the pain was tremendous. Aiko was barely able to parry the slash from Sagara just in time. After parrying the attack Aiko reached out with a hand and grabbed hold of Sagara's wrist. Apparently the shinigami, in his happiness from landing a strong attack on Aiko had forgotten about his clones regenerative abilities. Well Sagara was locked in and struggling with Aiko to free himself the Clone had shunpo'd behind Sagara after regenerating and sent his sword in an arc at the mans open wound.

Sagara had probably thought Aiko's clone to be dead and forgot about him. But even if he did remember with Aiko being so close turning away from him would be suicide. Sagara had burnt Aiko, now Aiko would make him bleed.

[kensei]

Sagara fell to the ground as his attack had finished burning the flesh of Aiko. The blade that arced in his back was just one step to much for Sagara to handle. He fell to the ground as his Zanpakuto reverted back to normal. Blood was pouring relentlessly down his back as he looked at the ground. There was no helping it. He was at Aiko’s mercy. Hopefully he realized that they couldn’t lose one more commander or a soldier of his caliber. But this was it. Two VC’s at his front and back and him unable to hardly stand anymore, there was no bright side here..

How pathetic.. I really should have gotten someone stronger to be my host.” Just for the recorded Kasai.... Fuck you. Back at you ya little shit.”

[schitzo7830]

Aiko had let Sagara fall in front of him slowly, guiding him down softly with his hand still on the mans wrist. The clone disappeared along with his half of the Souba. The zanpakutou then reformed inside Aiko's hilt. Aiko kneeled down next to Sagara and looked at him questioningly. "Miyu... do you think i went to far this time?" he asked his zanpakutou before he ordered two of his officer to fetch someone from fourth division.

" No Aiko, but maybe you didnt have to slice as deep in as you did" Miyu replied her usual purr filling Aiko's ears. Aiko shrugged again before falling back and sitting now next to the still bleeding man. A shinigami from the fourth quickly made her way to them and began using basic Kido to repair Sagara's body. Aiko could have finished off Sagara and probably would have got nothing more then a lecture, but he respected the fourth seat for standing up to a Vice captain with dignity instead of backing down.... plus. The Soul Society needed all they could muster.

[kensei]

Sagara sheathed his sword as the Fourth division member started to heal him. He was use to there touch, he never backed down, and so far he hasn’t gotten killed over it. AS the wounds where closed Sagara pushed the fourth division member off him. “Sir! There is still much that needs to be done. You have lost a lot of blood!” “Then let it be a lesson! So it doesn’t happen again.” He yelled back, the fourth looked anger but didn’t fight as he went to attend to Aiko. “Thank you Aiko. I haven’t had such a challenging duel in quite some time. I believe there is much I can learn from you.”

Sagara was a proud man, but not a moronic one. He knew Aiko was his superior, so he showed him respect, he knew he was more skilled then him so he wished to learn from him. HE had proven one of Sagara’s most challenging opponents yet, and that was saying something considering how many times he fought with a higher class individual. Luckily they liked him enough to let him live, though he had had his share of disciplinary action under Captain Yamato. May he finally rest in peace..