“Alright!” Hayato bellowed. He had a baritone, so bellowing was allowed … encouraged, even. It actually sounded a bit like authority, until someone turned to look at him and realized that he was just a pretty boy with a somewhat deep voice. The magic was wearing off quickly, therefore he added, “Who wants to beat me up?”
The attention of a large crowd can be stifling or uplifting, frightening or calming, but in this case it mostly managed to be an interesting wash of sudden awareness. The young nobleman was suddenly aware of the fact that some thirty or so duelists were looking at him and wondering which parts of his body would break the easiest, whether their acting-captain would be especially angry if those body parts were broken, and what kind of trick he was playing by offering to let them break those body parts. He grinned, did not fidget, and generally looked exactly as calm as he felt.
Admittedly, facing a horde of people who fought demons (and each other) for a living was probably not the brightest way to find someone who would be willing to help hone his … interpersonal communication skills. It would probably be a nice change of pace to be beaten nearly to death by someone his own size, not the size of a Volkswagen or small structure, but ultimately it would still end with him being hurt fairly badly. In this case, it would end badly because he was the only person he knew of who practiced unarmed combat in the whole division. Swordsmen had the especial advantage of being able to block when someone flung a sharpened bar of metal at their face.
He kept all of this in mind while he waited for the first person to realize that he had just volunteered to be a testing dummy.
"By ‘beat up,’ are you implying that you wish for a spar?” a voice behind the nobleman calmly rung out.
From within the staring, and somewhat dispassionate crowd, came Kyuketsu. With his soul cutter hanging from his waist, he strode forward towards the young shinigami with both arms loosely crossed over one another. In light of the recent meeting that took place, they were given orders to train with comrades to strengthen what little camaraderie some of the newer recruits possessed. By the wayward glares from the veteran soldiers in the pack, it was obvious that this young blonde wasn’t the most popular member in the bunch.
"Reijuu Kyuketsu,” he bowed lightly. "I’d be glad to train blades with you. Although... wouldn’t it be more favorable if there were more of us participating? Why don’t we wait a bit.”
The boy had enough of one-on-one duels for awhile. From his previous attempts at it, he either lost control and released too much energy, or simply failed to deliver enough for an ample brawl. He was thinking of a training spar along the lines of a group fight. Perhaps five or more people engaging one another without any ‘buddy systems’ would boost troop morale; it might even cement the ideas of being a solitary warrior in the minds of the recruits even further.
The medic felt out of place in a group of blood-thirsty warriors who spent their time fighting and grunting. Despite his own discomfort, orders from above told him that he needed to report to the Eleventh Division barracks in preparation for possible deployment. The entire prospect of going to war was strange, but he did his best to maintain his cool disposition. Sitting and waiting at the barracks was easier said than done. Not only had he healed a good number of the meat-headed duelists, but he hand to turn down numerous offers from the tough guys who thought it would be fun to beat up a member of the Support Division.
It was most interesting, though, when one of the members declared himself available for a beating. The end result would probably be Akio mopping up the blood and healing the wounds. While he did appreciate that medical care was his primary objective, the unnecessary violence he had been subject to was less than appealing. Still, the thought of watching a competent battle between twoactual warriors was promising. Not all of the Duelists were brutes, after all.
Akio inched his way to the front of the crowd, trying to get a better look at the man who was so bold. He didn’t look to be all that impressive, more of a pretty boy at best, but books shouldn’t be judged by their covers. Only time would tell if this would prove to be something worth watching, and not another useless battle to see who could take the most pain; because in the end, no one cared what happened.
Hikaru surveyed the crowd from his safe perch on a nearby building. He recognized one soldier, one of the three he had learned Animus Solitatis beside. The other he didn't know, but they were both clearly stronger than he. Getting in the kind of brawl they were seeking seemed to be foolhardy.
Still, he hadn't had an actual spar for a while, and it seemed like they were looking for a few more people. None of the newer recruits, excepting the old swordsman and that other man, could surpass him, though some came close. All in all, the fight looked unfavorable to the likes of him, but it would also be a very good opportunity to train and get to know his new squad members.
Decision made, he dropped from the post, landing in a crouch on the ground, and strode to meet the others.
"Did you say you were looking for more people? I'm not up to your standards, either of you, and I'll step out if you want a one-on-one, but I'll be willing to join if you'll have me."
A sweat drop formed and a sigh escaped as the nobleman observed the burgeoning spectacle. There were few things that annoyed the generally amiable individual more than the stereotypical Eleventh Division grunt. Big on talk, short on manners and restraint these men usually were. More often than not, whenever one of them darkened the Fourth Division doorstep, a hard time for his healers was not far out of sight.
But of course, this was only a stereotype; one that Makoto hoped would not play out right before him. But here they were, guests in the home of the illustrious Duelists, being privy to what in all likelihood would be needless savagery. Did he care enough to intervene as he had once in the distant past in a similar situation within the Twelfth Division? Not today, the Acting Captain lazily grumbled to himself. He had nearly volunteered himself to be Louhi Kaiho’s new maggot infested saya with that stunt, as a result he was not in a hurry to tell yet another powerful woman how to run her division.
So the nobleman was content to watch in silence for the moment. Perhaps these gentlemen would provide for adequate entertainment as they all waited for orders.
"Strange watching people who follow different creeds interact, isn't it?" A lone figure emerged quietly from the shadows behind Matsumara. Tsubaki gave the noble a quick wave of greeting as she sat down near him. "This level of command is entirely new to me, and to be honest I wonder how much weight my words even carry." Her tone remained low, speaking plainly to a man she had only recently come to know.
"It's hard to see how they will truly react in plain sight. This way, I get to see if they will adhere to what I have told them...or know that they only do when I am right there telling them to do so."
"Please. It’s quite alright,” the boy replied stoically, eyeing the man as he appeared. "Anyone’s welcome to join.”
It was a novice blunder to not realize the Acting Captain’s presence among the crowd. Kyuketsu couldn’t pinpoint where she was exactly, but there was no mistaking her aura. For all the boy knew, Tsubaki might just be watching from afar, critiquing each and every one of them if and when they began the spar. Yet aside from the myriads of Duelists gathered around the field, it was rather obvious that some ‘stronger’ healers were present as well. Divisions of polar opposites sharing the same roof—it was quite the spectacle, though useful nonetheless. If any were to be injured in the impending brawl, a medic was simply a call away.
"It’s Izuka... Hikaru, correct?” asked the boy, pausing slightly as he tried to recall the man’s name. "I’d be honored to test steels with you. The three of us could start now, though maybe we should wait just a little bit more...”
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Note to Dips-- Could you please add a PM tag to the title? Thanks.
“Indeed it is,” Makoto responded, returning the wave offered by Mabara Tsubaki. It heartened the young nobleman to hear the newly appointed Acting Captain express similar concerns to his own. As such he made to take a seat along with her and explain as much.
“I must say that is not an unfamiliar sentiment on my end of things. Over the years I’ve crafted a…certain reputation for myself, one that has often been grossly mischaracterized.” As usual, the man spoke exaggerations like truths without batting an eyelash. Even he knew that he was far less ‘mischaracterized’ than not when it came to assessing his propensity to womanize and his just about overly carefree personality.
“I kind of doubt that my sudden leap from unseated to Vice Captain to Captain has done much to chip away at that, which normally I would care nothing about, but it really takes away from my ability to imitate Murray-taichou in her legendary smiling death threats.” Speaking of a smile, Makoto couldn’t resist allowing one to creep upon his features as he continued. “Perhaps if I stab a few people and let them drag themselves to the ER, maybe that would change things. What do you think, Mabara-taichou?”
Though he saw no reason to wait for more people when there were at least ten members of the Eleventh Division right with them, Hayato frowned and said nothing when the pale-skinned boy suggested they wait. The smaller person was killing the lighthearted mood. When a second person joined them, one that he recognized, he grinned and nodded in agreement with the stilted formality of the boy who had joined him.
"Nice to see you again, Hikaru-san,” Hayato said, guessing that their blue-haired compatriot was right about the name. "If you want to start practicing right away, I wasn’t really asking for a lot of participants–" he slanted a meaningful glance at Reijuu "–I was just looking for someone to practice with me. He can do whatever he wants.”
The disorganized manner in which the Duelists went about throwing together their little last minute sparring session wasn’t particularly shocking to the medic. He assumed that as much would happen; it was refreshing that they weren’t already at each other’s throats despite the fact that they had already reached some form of disagreement. Out of the three who had come forth, the stoic youth with the long bluish hair boasted the most potent aura. Despite the fact that he had not suggested the open brawl, the other two Duelists seemed to comply with what he said as though he were authority. Akio know that much to be false, however; he had done a bit of studying and asking around to discern who was in charge.
Looks like tension is building in that one, silently observed the healer as he shifted his gaze to the pretty-boy reaper with the blue eyes. All in all, the spectacle left much to be desired. Nothing interesting had begun, and only three members of the Eleventh had spoken up. Were they waiting for someone in particular? He doubted it. They were probably just trying to get as many people to join as possible so it could turn into some sort of free-for-all. Akio sighed.
Tsubaki fell prey to an all too noticeable shudder at the mention of Captain Murray, whose carefully crafted disdain rivaled the legends of even Leon. "I'd be apt to disagree with your outlook, Makoto. While I know the Eleventh tends to attract certain stigma and stereotypes, we're not so dense that a few carefully chosen words couldn't accomplish what a sword could with less time and far less mess." She smiled, trying to glean some sort of previously hidden aspect of the man. Her time around the new Captain of the Fourth had been brief at best, but such a fact did not mean he was not a man worth knowing.
"If you and I were to step out there and attempt to take part in such a public venue they wouldn't be going up against us, they'd be going up against these." One of Tsubaki's empty hands pulled at the collar of her Haori. "The hardest part of this promotion isn't the expectations of those above me Makoto. It's something in the eyes of all the men and women I called friends before this garment was placed on my shoulders, something that wasn't there only a week ago." Letting her hand relinquish the cloth, she looked at the noble with an uncharacteristic display of concern. "It's distance."
“It’s true,” the man agreed. “A few choice words can go along ways. Perhaps if we all were a bit more eloquent with our words there would be no use for our blades at all…well, maybe that’s a bit of a stretch.” The healer briefly laughed at his own exaggeration before refocusing on the rest of Tsubaki’s statement.
“Yes, that will likely be the most difficult part involved with wearing these. How we handle that distance could mean the difference between a successful, well adjusted leader and a simple tyrant.” Having said his peace on that subject, Makoto returned his attention to spectacle at hand.
Hikaru sighed, internally, of course. A few minutes passed, and already he could sense irritation and anger from both of his prospective sparring partners.
"If you really do want to be beaten up, I'd suggest you wait for more people. I've seen too many duels like that anyway, and I agree with...Reijuu-san, was it? A free-for-all would be more interesting."
He sensed doubt, and smiled. "Of course, if no one else shows up I'd go for a one-on-one. Would be good for facilitating inter-division cohe-, teamwork."
If you continue on this course, you will undoubtedly return the worse from it.
State the obvious why don't ya. It's a fight. No one comes out of a fight better than they were before it.
If they decide to employ releases, you will be helpless.
Not a problem. At the very least I get more knowledge of how to fight a released enemy. That one Vizard-Clare?-'s release was the only one I'd ever seen before.
You will come out of this encounter like you did that one, if releases are utilized. The lecturing tone that was so common to the spirit's voice was gone, replaced with a fond exasperation.
No helping that. That's what training is supposed to do: knock you down until you get back up, and when you do you're better than you were before. Hikaru paused briefly. You...'re not really trying to stop me, are you?
What good would that do? Being true to yourself is the only way to further your growth, and in this, at least, you are.
Um...thank you?
Inner monologue completed, and now wondering with apprehension if he had schizophrenia, Hikaru turned his attention back to the other two duelists.
"Well...” spoke the boy, his tone calm as always, "Like Sir Izuka said, a free-for-all would prove more fruitful in a situation like this. Though that’s not to say I’m entirely against a one-on-one.”
He paused for a moment, pondering on what they could do if any other participants refused to join in. In the case of an individual three-sided duel, anything could happen. Although on the off side, a two versus one scenario wasn’t all too bad either. Hikaru and the noble could work together per se, against Kyuketsu... whom was slightly stronger than both. It wasn’t necessarily promoting the idea of being a solitary fighter, but it would help nevertheless in the boy’s ability to combat two opponents attacking at the same time.
Resting his hand over the tip of his sword’s handle, Kyuketsu shifted his vision away from the two as he half-heartedly searched for the Acting Captain’s figure. "Hmmm. It doesn’t seem like anyone else is coming. If the both of you want to spar one-on-one, go on ahead, I can sit this one out for the time being. But there is another option though.”
"What if the two of you were to team up against me? It’s a win-win situation for all no matter how you look at it. I learn how to deal with two enemies at once, and you gentlemen learn to coordinate assaults. How about it?”
It was a mark of his increasing attunement to the Eleventh Division that Hayato did not immediately pounce upon the idea. It seemed marginally unsportsmanlike to double-team one of their comrades, even if the man seemed for all intents and purposes to be stronger than the two of them put together. Rather than argue, however, a nasty streak inside the cunning brain of Uehara Hayato brought a smile to his face and made his eyes glimmer with sadistic amusement. He looked over at his would-be partner, grinned completely, and then used his peripheral vision to level his index finger at Reijuu.
“I have another idea,” he said, “How about a free for all? It could be fun, bakudou number ten, Sealing Rings.”
Spoken in exactly the same tone as the other words, his incantation bypass nonetheless managed to call out into whatever powers were behind the demon arts. He felt his reiatsu prickle up through his body and then lance out to form three rings of energy to bind his foe. He spared no time before leaping towards Hikaru with a raised fist.
Even as his would-be partner charged, Hikaru's sword whipped out of its sheath and into its hand. It rose for a strike, then paused.
Instead, the younger boy leaped backwards, avoiding the initial attack, and turned the motion into a swift shunpo that brought him behind Hayato. Throughout the entire thing, his lips moved, forming the words he needed.
"Thor's pride springs forth from me. The power of the skies gives me strength. Hado twenty-three, Raigen."
The familiar green sphere crackled into existence around his arm, and with a grunt he launched it at Hayato, emerald lightning coruscating towards the other man.
The blue haired reaper seemed to be very confident to take on the other two by himself; his spiritual pressure did prove to be much higher than both, however. He could probably handle them both, but the others seemed to dislike it to varying degrees. Finally one of them suggested a free for all, which seemed to better fit the Duelist description of the Eleventh Division. Still, it wasn’t actually a two on two fight, so they were still bending the rules.
When one duelist suddenly used a kido spell to attack another, it caught Akio off guard. Not only was it a kido spell, which the Duelists rarely use, but the suddenness of the attack. It proved to be an interesting plan, however. Maybe this fight would hold more than just brutes swinging swords around.
The recipient of the attack, the weakest of the group, managed to avoid both the kido and the incoming attack. Not only that, but he showed enough speed to sneak behind the blonde reaper while simultaneously casting a kido himself. Things were panning out differently than Akio originally thought they would. In fact, the whole strange event was turning out to be rather interesting.
"...And such is life,” Kyuketsu sighed at the noble’s impulsive move.
He watched the first barrage of kidous rain through the air, taking note of the instant reaction from the rest of troop assuring their distaste for the two’s use of demon arts. Cracking his neck to the side, Kyuketsu’s eyes remained glued on Hikaru and Hayato, carefully analyzing whether or not he should take part in their little slugfest. The boy had a particular dislike against fighting kidou-wielding opponents, but perhaps starting against less experienced magic practitioners might be a good start to building up a stratagem against them.
Slowly pulling out his sword, he took a step back from the two. Sharpening his vision, he locked his sights on the nobleman as he fixed his grip on his cleaver.
In a burst of shunpo, he appeared behind Hayato as he swung his blade vertically over the Duelist’s shoulder, though admittedly not putting all his might into the attack.
Hayato was fast, but not that fast. The descending sword sliced through the trapezius muscle at the base of his neck about the same time he leaned forward, gathered his spiritual pressure into the balls of his feet, and flashed away from the onset of the electrical wave coming towards him. He was already somewhere else when he shouted bloody murder at the pain in his shoulder, which spared him from having to take the sword and the kidou at the same time at least. The pain distracted him from celebrating.
The young nobleman pawed at the curve of his shoulder and tried to turn his head to assess the extend of the damage, but turning his neck made it hurt worse and he was reduced to trying to roll his eyes back through his head to look at it. All in all, it took him maybe four seconds to realize that he was still in danger of being assaulted by his sparring partners. Reijuu had been put in an awkward situation by Hayato’s hasty retreat from the kidou, but there was still the problem of Hikaru. It did not take a genius to figure out that he was an easy target.
Rather than panic, Hayato looked up, pinpointed the location of Reijuu, and began chanting, “Flash! Fry! Lightning from the heavens, reveal your fearsome beauty and entrap us in your awe …”
Hikaru sighed internally as Hayato easily avoided his kidou.
Well, it was worth a shot.
Thoughts moving furiously, Hikaru watched as the nobleman shouted a kidou incantation at Reijuu. Blood dripped from a cut in his neck.
Hikaru realized that his situation was potentially dire. Fighting two opponents who both outclassed him, a close, protracted duel would likely end unfavorably. Rushing in with sword held high would be a bad idea...Or would it? Hayato was in the middle of a kidou, and Reijuu was somewhere behind him. Hikaru had no desire to engage the blue-haired reaper, and Hayato had made himself a target.
It could be a trap, so best to give him something to think about.
Adrenaline surged at the thought, and Hikaru launched himself into a flash step, appearing right behind Hayato. As he did so, black blurs began to appear around him, shifting and flickering. They would only last a few seconds, but that would be long enough. The boy's sword flicked outward in a horizontal strike designed to connect with Hayato's back.
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Feat utilized
Sumiyaka Kumori (Speed Shadow)
Due to an overuse of shunpo, Hikaru's body has adapted slightly, allowing him to string together flash-steps more so than before. From that, a new ability was born.
By adding 5% of his reiatsu to the cost of the lowest level shunpo available, through repeated shunpo Hikaru's body blurs, leaving behind afterimages. While at first they are simply dim likenesses that vanish soon after, as his hohou increases, the shadows begin to resolve themselves, becoming solid-looking, realistic, and longer lasting. These clones, while weak, are imbued with Hikaru's reiatsu, and as such have resiliency enough to resist one fatal strike or several less powerful ones.
At base level the speed clones last only for a few seconds, blurring and amorphous. Once Hikaru reaches 5000 Hohou, they become more solid and last for half a minute, copying the position he was in at the time. At 10,000 Hohou, they can last for a minute, and duplicate any motions Hikaru makes.
Such repeated shunpoing does take focus, and Hikaru may use this technique once per every five RP turns. Such focus also means he is completely absorbed, paying little attention to anything outside his immediate sphere of perception. In addition, once in motion he cannot stop quickly, and the technique does not allow him to go through solid objects.
At precisely the same moment as Hayato unsheathed his as-yet-unused zanpakutou and flipped it so that the blade lay flat against the back of his forearm, he spun and caught the slashing katana with it. A grin developed on his face as he said, “… Bakudou number fifty-seven, Divining Bolt.”
The ground beneath the two of them illuminated with an arcane circle of silvery copper reiatsu. Hayato shoved the katana off his arm and took a single step backwards as a bolt of magical lightning spilled down from the sky.
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Divining Bolt
Divining Bolt - Bakudou #57, 850 Kidou Description: A magic circle appears under your opponent. The circle acts as a beacon for the attack, as after it appears a large bolt of lightning comes down. Not only does the bolt do severe damage to the opponent, but also it sends out a strong paralyzing force that binds the opponent for a short time. About 5-10 seconds, but in that time it is almost impossible for the person to move.
Incantation: Crash! Fry! Lightning from the heavens. Reveal your fearsome beauty and entrap us in your awe. Bakudou #57, Divining Bolt.
