[1st/2nd] Week 307: Grand Finals: Nenshou Mouko vs Kyuto Tounyuu

K3 · Dec 2, 2013

The summit was packed.

Mount Fuji had been converted into a makeshift arena, almost. The caldera of the active volcano, frozen over in the aftermath of a battle that had decided the fate of the leaders of both Earth and Soul Society, was tread confidently by Mouko.

Stands and benches and all other manner of spectating apparatus had been conjured from the crust of the volcano, the work of the Founders. The shinigami outnumbered the humans, but it seemed only to spur the woman onward. It was exciting!

The Major of the Initiative stopped as she neared the center of the chosen arena. Her jacket clung warmly to her, only slightly uncomfortable with the long-sleeved shirt beneath. Sitting heavy on her shoulders, a flak vest was a primary line of defense. She didn't bare it, but the outline of two bands could be seen on her right arm, and a third on her left.

So many limitations for the finals... she paid it no mind. Slung over her back, her rifle had been returned to her since her match with Lucia. The Draugr was a comfort to her, a symbol of Orpheus', Masato's trust in her.

She heard the chiming of bells before she saw the gate arrive, a smile slipping over her face. Adrenaline began to surge in her mind, her gut swirling with anxiety and excitement. The Senkaimon appeared, sliding open to admit her shinigami opponent into the realm of the living.

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Notes

swaswj · Dec 3, 2013

From the bright white light, Kyu emerged. The young woman grinned and lifted her hands, turning in a circle and waving at all her screaming fans. There... weren't that many screaming fans, but there were cheers and whistles mixed in there somewhere!

She was in the finals!

The petite shinigami turned to face her opponent. She stood half a head shorter than the human, but carried herself with a similar bounce of enthusiasm, matched by the gleam of excitement in her grey-violet eyes. Her uniform was a blend of traditional and modern, with sneakers in place of waraji, her pleated hakama cut off at shorts-length, and a sleeveless top. Her white belt was much too long, tied off on her right hip with the tails hanging down to her knees. Similarly, she wore a white bandana with tails down to the middle of her back. Kyu's dark brown hair was tied into a long braid that reached down to the small of her back. The white jinbaori draped over her shoulders announced to all the shinigami present that this was an officer of the First Division -- if they didn't already know!

"Hey! I know you!" Kyu called out cheerfully as she walked up. "Hopefully the boys won't make too much of a fuss fighting over which of us is going to win!" Jabbing a thumb toward herself, she raised her voice theatrically. "I don't think we were properly introduced before: I'm the one and only Lucky Seventh Seat of the Arcanists, Kyuto Tounyuu!"

[257/257]

Stats

K3 · Dec 3, 2013

Her grin widened, and she couldn't help but respond in kind. Slipping a hand down, she retrieved her revolver from its holster at her left hip. Spinning it dramatically before snapping it into a familiar grip, she gave her own boisterous introduction.

"A pleasure! I'm Nenshou Mouko, Major of the Orpheus Initiative!" She declared the title proudly, challengingly. Then, with a slight giggle, she added, "here's hoping! I think Arano's had more than enough fighting for a while, though."

Breathing in deep, she tried to settle her nerves. Kyuto, for her cheery and childish appearance, was a warrior. One that had fought long and hard to get to this match... just like her.

"Well," She finally continued, "shall we, then?"

With a practiced flourish, she withdrew Plan X from her opposite hip, the hefty combat knife comforting in her palm. Then, the blade - and her revolver - began to spin, and torque. The weapons stopped occasionally at seemingly random angles, and Mouko's arms slowly began to spread wide. She contemplated calling forth Ryou and Ishi immediately, before dismissing it.

She wanted a thorough fight. Not a rushed one.

Finally, the firearm and knife became little more than whirling blurs in the woman's hands. The human's feet slid into the opening stance of Senkoutaihou Kata, and calmly waited for her opponent to ready herself.

[ 224 / 468 ]

Notes

swaswj · Dec 4, 2013

With the flourish of Mouko's weapons, cheers swelled up. Even Kyu let out a whistle of appreciation. The girl then reached behind her belt with both hands, snapping them forward in an instant, flashing the variegated colors of her mokume-gane dagger in one hand and the bright glint of her zanpakuto's clean steel in the other. Her dextrous fingers sent the knife and sword into a series of tumbles through the air before Kyu caught them both and slipped into a fighting stance: left foot forward, with the ryo-shinogi's blade gripped underhanded in her left hand while the zanpakuto was held overhand.

Both blades were pointed toward her opponent, as Kyu replied with a cheerful, "You bet!" The brunette settled into a loose, calm stance, polar opposite to Mouko's energetic blur.

"Here it is!" an unexpected voice shouted, amplified by speakers around the arena. "This is the moment that the entire tournament has been building toward! And what better match-up could we have asked for?" Kyu looked around, confused, not sure who the impromptu announcer was.

"Though of different origins and creeds, our many varied and diverse organizations fight to protect life, and here in our first Cross-World Tournament between the living and spiritual worlds, we come down to two final contestants: Major Nenshou Mouko, here to represent the Orpheus Initiative and the Living World... versus Seventh Seat Kyuto Tounyuu, representing the Arcanist Division and Soul Society!"

The crowd roared, each side shouting for their chosen champion's victory.

Kyu met Mouko's eyes, fists tightening on her blades as the crowd's excitement got her blood heated.

"One final match, one last battle, one ultimate duel to decide the winner!

"Fight!"

Shoes kicked up loose gravel as Kyu darted forward in a flash, stabbing ahead with the shorter blade of her dagger.

[300/557]

K3 · Dec 5, 2013

Mouko's feet curled against the icy ground, time dilating as the crowd let out a swift gasp at the Seventh Seat's first strike. Strings of energy coalesced in the air, their slack forms snapping taut before the onyx-haired human was launched upwards.

Twisting down, she levelled the barrel of her revolver at Kyuto's center of mass. "Boom!"

Squeezing the trigger, the discordant crack of gunfire filled her ears, vibrating down her arm before launching outwards as the recoil launched her away. The bullet rocketed at the shinigami point-blank, packed with an icy surprise.

[ 93 / 561 ]

Notes

swaswj · Dec 5, 2013

Kyu skid to a stop, kicking into a low backflip, sword leading. There was a sharp crack as sword met bullet, followed by a hiss.

Kyu landed sloppily, resisting the urge to drop one of her weapons to clutch at her upper arms. "Gah! That's freakin' cold!" she cried out. The bullet split, but only enough to make sure she got hit in both arms instead of in the chest.

[70/627]

Note

Redfin · Dec 6, 2013

Ugh, it was that human, Mouko. Picca had her arms crossed and eye narrowed. It might be wrong, but she hoped Kyuto absolutely wrecked that woman. As far as it goes, however, the Seventh Seat wasn't about to just go all out from the beginning.

Picca was sitting at the end of the row that was specially reserved for wheelchairs. The blanket that was usually just wrapped around her leg was now covering her entire body. Her arms were reaching out and holding onto a visor on her lap. It was silver with two backwards angled wings. A red dot was in the viewport area.

"Yer recording this right, just like all the others?" she asked.

[Affirmative,] came the robotic voice of her zanpakutou spirit. A small, metal sphere was resting on her shoulder, though something was obviously keeping there instead of just rolling off.

With that worry free from her mind, she could engage fully in the match. The roar of the crowd was near deafening. Picca added her own shouts to the mix, though her exact words were lost among the din. It was probably for the best, as it incuded some colorful language.

[196]

K3 · Dec 6, 2013

Hurtling backwards, Mouko's feet hit the ground once. Bouncing briefly, her feet eventually regained traction, the woman skidding to a stop. With another snap of her weapons, she had her knife by its tip.

With a grunt of exertion, the short blade was hurled end over end at speeds no thrown object had a right to travel at. Slipping her hand to her back, she stopped her kata and waited.

[ 70 / 631 ]

Notes

Eidolon · Dec 6, 2013

The platinum haired youth was sprawled out over the benches, taking up two rows of space in his languid posture. It was almost an unspoken dare in the packed arena: move me if you can. But for the overt posturing of his posture, his mind and attitude were far from it. Nothing for the crowd, everything for the combatants. This was someone he was supposed to address as yes sir, and no sir. If that was the case, Kite had every intention of finding out if the Major deserved such loyalty and respect.

Masato may have earned it, but in his own little world, this woman had everything to prove. Knives, pistols? What, she think this is a game? Something like that wouldn't stop, or even hurt a demon, let alone me. He casually brought up a can from is case of beer, starting to gulp down what would be half the contents as eyes followed the developing contest.

Inks · Dec 6, 2013

Away from the thick of the crowd, high in the stands and clutching nervously at his seat, Mitsu watched as the fight began in earnest.

He had always made a terrible spectator; he was a pacifist at heart, so watching two people do their best to tear each other apart, all in good spirits, wasn’t exactly a thing he could get his head around. Spectating Kyuto’s fights, in particular, were nerve-wracking; one slip-up, one mistake, and...

Of course, Kyu was a fucking badass. His worrying and anxiety was almost entirely unfounded, and it was insulting to his girlfriend’s abilities to act as though she couldn’t handle herself...but Mitsu worried anyway (he knew what she looked like, bleeding to death in the grass for his sake, and he knew what it felt like to have to catch her in his arms). Each time an attack went her way, his heart skipped a beat.

Still, Mitsu fucking owed it to her to see her fights...and, in spite of himself, he wanted to see them. Kyuto had made it to the tournament grand finals, and it was literally fucking impossible not to feel proud for her. She really was a badass.

Of course, so was the Nenshou girl...Mouko (Arano’s friend, whispered that anxiety-ridden part of his brain). Mitsu just hoped they didn’t wreck each other too badly – for all their grinning and quipping, the redhead knew how fucking strong the two girls had to be to be standing in the arena now.

[249 / 249]

IT BEGINS.
JUST REMEMBER.
YOU ASKED FOR THIS.
you aaaaaasked

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swaswj · Dec 6, 2013

Eyes wide, Kyu swung her body to the right just as the blade hurtled past, close enough to feel its slipstream tug at her chest. "Fast!" she complimented. The motion didn't stop there: Kyu went into a full circle and then another, shoes scraping loudly against the frost and gravel. "How about this!" At the end of that second whirl, the girl loosed her own knife in a spinning sidewise toss, followed by launching her zanpakuto straight skyward.

Sliding to a stop, the brunette shinigami grinned, her violet eyes locked on Mouko's, before flashing toward the Major bare-handed.

[100/727]

K3 · Dec 6, 2013

"You should calm down." A voice next to Mitsuyo stated bluntly.

Sitting down a comfortable distance from the youthful-looking Third Seat, Arano was freshly repaired from his matches. A few new scars would mar him, but his focus was elsewhere. He leaned back, casting the occasional glance at the redhead.

Sighing, he rolled his shoulder before settling. A thin smile tugged at his lips as he witnessed the rapidly developing fight. Mouko... scared, unsure Mouko had all eyes on her. So many cheering for, and against, her.

Of course she would excel, she rose to the occasion. His ambivalence to Kyuto had waffled into a measured respect. The shinigami's skills were not to be laughed at.

Mouko's grin widened, her arm snapping forward from her back to reveal the Draugr! Hefting the sleek, birch-colored rifle by the thin of its butt, the Major didn't hesitate before depressing the trigger.

Steam hissed from the coils that segmented the butt-plate of the weapon from its remainder, blasting backwards before an electrical whine crackled through the air. Exploding from the tip of the carbine, the Lawbringer round was loud and fast. It engulfed Kyuto's thrown knife entirely, sending the weapon point-down into the caldera a short distance away.

As the bullet of pure energy was loosed, Mouko herself hissed lightly in tandem with the rifle. The strap dug painfully against her chest, the recoil jarring her wrist from the improper grip. Rolling it, she didn't wait for the pain to pass. She charged after the round, her own reiryoku swelling in preparation for the next clash.

[ 264 / 895 ]

Notes

swaswj · Dec 7, 2013

Light seared the air, cutting the distance between the two girls in a blink... but no further. The beam split apart, flecks of light scattering in every direction as a blur of steel rapidly cut the air. A golden haze hung in the air around Kyu, illuminating her grin as her breathing quickened and revealing the sword back in hand.

"Guns aren't really my thing," she called out, "but that one looks really cool!"

She swapped the sword from one hand to the other, prepared to meet Mouko's charge head-on.

[90/817]

Notes

Chef Bryardee · Dec 7, 2013

Light flickered and swirled against the deep black pools that were the eyes of a particular raven-haired man. A former contestant in the tournament, for what that was worth, the swordsman was almost completely bandaged from head to toe in white gauze. Beneath the white wrapping around his back, there was white padding material adhered to the area with an antiseptic agent to provide constant care to the burn wounds there inflicted by the lieutenant of this match’s more “outstanding” participant.

Watching her footwork, her artistry with the blade, he couldn’t help but shrug his shoulders at it; it was less surprising that she had made it this far when reflecting on his matchup against her. As much as he didn’t want to admit it, Manzou could’ve learned a thing or two from the rather spry Arcanist.

Taking a final drag from his cigarette, the Peacekeeper absently flicked the remaining filter aside, the last bits of the ember being dosed instantly by the arctic frost beneath them all. A stark figure caught his attention---a dark-skinned man garbed all in black---though, lost it just as quickly as the thundercrack of Mouko’s rifle stole it away once more.

[196/196]

K3 · Dec 8, 2013

The Major swept low, her revolver flashing out with another deafening crack! The Cryo round launched at point-blank range towards Kyuto's leg, the force of the recoil spinning Mouko in a full circle. Pivoting low, the human's leg shot out in a snap kick aiming for her opponent's ribs.

Directing the Draugr towards Kyuto as well, Mouko prepared to fire.

[ 60 / 955 ]

Notes

swaswj · Dec 9, 2013

Burning cold seared through Kyu's leg just under the knee and the girl started to buckle... and instead of fighting it, the nubile fighter turned and dropped. Mouko's foot nearly grazed her chin as Kyu went nearly horizontal, knees bent all the way while her feet remained flat. With that same motion, her arm swung out, slicing at Mouko's stationary leg.

Immediately, Kyu slapped her hand against the ground and bounced back up, grimacing a bit and favoring her injured knee, Her sword remained ready, eyes still locked on Mouko's.

[90/907]

K3 · Dec 9, 2013

"Gah!" A pained cry was earned for Kyuto's acrobatic feat, the blade of Nanaken Ki slicing neatly along the front of Mouko's leg. Draugr fired, launching the Major backwards even as the shot went high and wide from the intended target. Crimson splayed along the icy caldera, and with a less-than-graceful roll, Mouko sprung back into a limp that mirrored her opponent.

A low, somewhat pained chuckle came from the onyx-haired woman. "Looks like we're blow-for-blow so far, huh?" She hissed as she put too much weight on her hamstringed leg, "how about we move past the party tricks, then."

Steadying her breathing, and trying to quell the rapidity of her heart as battle sped it into a whirling frenzy, Mouko's energy flashed! A vermilion fire that crackled outwards, splitting off like licks of open flame that grew and furled into a pair of solid forms.

Two tigers, each coming up to Mouko's chest and up to Kyuto's neck. Their mouths barely restrained the energy contained within - their coats shimmering to indicate that the vermilion sheen beneath was not the fur itself - and lined with fangs.

With a crackle of fire, the energy within each of the tigers soared. One, Ryou, dashed forward, fiery orange glow encompassing it to radiate down to the claws on its feet. The other, Ishi, scooped up its injured master and began to pick up its own pace to circle Kyuto.

Trying to ignore the insistent burn in her leg, and the rattling ache of her wrists as she continued to mishandle her rifle, she properly shouldered the firearm this time. Eyes flicking downward, Mouko took a swift shot at the ground below the Seventh Seat!

Steam once more hissed from the rear ports of the Draugr, and the Lawbringer exploded with an electrical whine before tearing towards its intended target. Ryou sprung upwards as the round approached, front paws extended to pounce claws first.

[ 322 / 1277 ]

Notes

swaswj · Dec 9, 2013

Big kitties!

Even in the face of such intimidating beasts, though, Kyu reacted with the reflexes she had honed through countless hours of training. With a "Tch!" at the two pronged assault, the brunette jumped a half-step backward, to evade the laser blast and slip between Ryou's outstretched claws. The tendons in her wrist popped as she flipped her sword around and snapped the blade across blindingly fast. The diminutive zanpakuto slipped under the maw of the giant cat, ripping into its throat just as Kyu's face turned, meeting the eyes of the unfortunate creature.

There was no blood. Color washed away from the tiger, its body wavering.

Then the ground exploded.

Kyu was sent flying, passing right through the body of the tiger to slam hard into the stone of the caldera. Twisting her body, the girl took control of the wild roll to bounce back to her feet and skid to a stop, crouching. "Owwwwww!" Kyu exclaimed.

That's so cool, she remarked silently, eyes on Mouko again. You should let me ride you like that!

No, came the immediate dry response. Stop fooling around and release me!

Spoilsport.

"Aka's being a spoilsport and won't let me ride him!" Kyu complained aloud to Mouko. She grinned. "Guess that means it's three on one, then!"

Just because I won't be transportation doesn't mean I'm not fighting with you!

"Kishikaisei, Nananen Ki!" the brunette called out. Normally, Kyu would feel the comforting surge of Aka's reiatsu bolstering her own, but here, in this fight, all she felt was a tingling in the black band on her arm. The handicap did nothing to prevent the transportation or release, though: Kyu's clothes flashed with bright light, and when it faded the girl's hakama-shorts had become a bright khaki color, her keikogi an intense red, with her shoes nowhere to be seen.

Where before she held a single wakizashi, now the Seventh Seat clutched seven dao blades, three of them gripped between the fingers of one hand with the remaining four joined at the pommel in a giant fuuma shuriken.

"Aka's pretty awesome at moral support, though!"

Grinning, Kyu spun and sent the shuriken whirling through the air at Mouko before shouting, "Hitotsu!" and leaping skyward, her tattoo glowing on both arms. Another sword went flipping through the air toward the tiger that attacked her.

[410/1317]

K3 · Dec 9, 2013

Mouko's short snort of laughter was cut short by her excitement as Kyuto released her zanpakuto. An eager wonder shone in her onyx eyes, and her smile became a feral grin. "I'll lend you one of mine!"

The gleam of the massive shuriken caught in the daylight, its whirling blades almost invisible with its rotation. The world slowed, Mouko's eyes catching every inch of the movement. Then, ethereal strings of energy once more flittered through the air about her. Snapping taut, both the Major and her mount launched upwards!

The other blade seemed to strike true, cleanly slicing across Ryou and through it... only for the beast's form to remain conspicuously unmarred. It gazed upwards, waiting for its chance.

The blade caught in the icy ground they fought upon, burying the oversized throwing star by one of its points. Feet slipping upwards, Mouko kicked off of Ishi, her form hurtling towards Kyuto's. Rifle clutched behind her, she cocked her hand back for a haymaker at the Seventh Seat's cheek

Another flash of vermilion. Stronger, more powerful. Then, sound. Heat. A furious, dazzling array of oranges and reds that roared outwards like Mouko had made the sound herself. A wall - no, a sphere - of blinding energy snapped outwards the instant she neared Kyuto, threatening to engulf her in the flames.

[ 221 / 1498 ]

Notes

swaswj · Dec 11, 2013

Dao blades in hand, Kyu's eyes narrowed. I can get her! She could! The grip on her dual daos tightened as she fell toward the rising human. If she just went for the attack... it would be painful, insanely painful, but she was wide open! All or nothing, Kyu could gamble on that one strike, trust in her luck to land a finishing blow right then and there..!

Idiot, defend!

With a clang, the two blades crossed in front of Kyu. The rush of light and heat slammed into her, searing her skin, scorching her clothes. The shinigami was sent hurtling backward, her sword-blades glowing a dull orange. The world spun around her: the sky, the ground, the stands full of watching spectators. The mountain's craggy surface rushed up to meet her, threatening to crack open her skull.

"Hitotsu!" Kyu gasped out between gritted teeth; her tattoos lit up again and the buoyant feeling of Mujuuryou took hold once again, halting her wild plummet only seconds before slamming into the ground once again. Slowly her body turned right-side up, facing Mouko. Her breathing behind the crossed blades was labored, the exposed skin on her arms and legs burnt, bleeding in places. Flames lingered on the exposed ends of her obi tails but died in a smolder. The effect of Mujuuryou faded, dropping Kyu the last foot or so to the ground.

The two blades spread open, revealing Kyu's face. Obviously pained, but still grinning, Kyu met Mouko's eyes. "Sorry, Mo-town... I wanted this to be an epic slow-build kind of fight! If I don't go all out now, though, I might not get the chance!" Silently, she added, I still think I could have got her.

Even if you could have, it wouldn't be worth it.

Deciding not to argue, Kyu asked, You ready for this?

Always, Aka responded immediately, rumbling with confidence. Then, without warning, the beast materialized in front of her: nearly as large as Mouko's companions, Nananen Ki moved with measured grace, powerful muscles rippling beneath crimson fur. Vicious claws scraped against the stony ground as the zanpakuto stalked forward a few steps, its lips curled back in a grin to reveal its toothy maw, flame-tipped tail flicking through the air. Beneath a spiky black mane, Nananen Ki fixed its one amber eye on Mouko and let out a growl.

"Bankai," Kyu called out, stabbing the swords in her hand into the ground beside her. The red-furred beast's form scattered, becoming bright specks of light that filled the sky and swirled around Kyu. They covered her body from her throat down to her ankles, leaving her arms bare. More light coalesced in front of her hands, with the final sparks gathering in her left eye.

All at once, there was one final flash before the light extinguished, leaving glittering steel in its place. Swords rained down from the sky, every one of them as long as Kyu was tall with broad, curved blades, hilts wrapped in green ribbon. Seven times seven swords, with seven held by the shinigami herself. As before, three of the dadao swords were gripped between the fingers of one hand with another, even larger fuuma shuriken clutched in the other. Kyu's clothes were replaced again, replacing her scorched shorts with tan leggings and her ragged keikogi with a crimson fighting robe, split at her right hip.

She met Mouko's eyes, one still grey-violet, the other now the piercing amber of her zanpakuto. "Shonanoka Nananen Ki," Kyu stated, introducing the form of her bankai.

Even without the comforting surge of her zanpakuto's reiryoku, and even with the painful injuries to her arms and leg, Kyu felt her blood boiling with excitement.

"Can you believe he won't take me for a ride?" With a snicker, Kyu jumped right into it, heaving the massive fuuma shuriken in a vertical windmill straight for Mouko, before calling another falchion to her freed hand.

She was eager to see what the Major responded with. She was eager to see how far she could go.

[690/2007]

Note

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[1st/2nd] Week 307: Grand Finals: Nenshou Mouko vs Kyuto Tounyuu

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