Post by Yuna Xiao on May 27, 2020 21:42:41 GMT -5
Thread theme music
Preamble: Yuna is desperate to improve her skills and begin to approach her sensei Kaen Youji and other superior Shinigami like Angel, Kimiko Shihoin, or the Kuchiki family as she never wishes to be a burden, knowing she cannot be the true paladin of the law for the Soul Society if she is not capable of fighting alongside such individuals.
Midnight struck the Soul Society and with it a beautiful calm. Lethargic clouds gently drift across the bright pale blue sky. Yuna was walking through the Rukongai partially on a patrol mission but also to simply get her bearings and begin to explore the massive city as she truly did not spend significant time living there before joining the Gotei 13 so she eagerly accepts any patrol for this sprawling outer city. Although only an Unseated Shinigami and was rather vulnerable without a partner, she still insisted she patrolled alone as she rather face any danger on her own merits, after all, if she could not manage threats within the Soul Society on her own then how could she ever handle the many enemies that reside outside in the World of the Living or Hueco Mundo, or elsewhere? She began where she started six long yet brief years prior in Hokutan, District 3 where she was sent to reside in her undeath. Somehow, Yuna thought, that it has changed so much but so little to what she remembered which may just be due to her lack of time spent living there or it may be due to her living in a District that is prosperous and peaceful, so not many people would be coming and going, moving away or re-dying.
"I wonder if mom and dad are here? I never even bothered to look for them I just... Left. Like I did when I was alive I left them to better my own life and I missed so much of their lives. Did they ever care that I was gone? Were they happy I returned? I sure like to believe they attended my funeral. I suppose they are still alive even now but I don't even know if time works the same way here as it does to humans; I could have been gone for a hundred years for all I know. I should learn more about how these things work..."
Yuna sighed listless as she drew one of her kunai and begins fiddling with it performing all sorts of coordinated tricks with it as she walks, probably not paying as much attention to her surroundings as she should but she knows that this area of the Rukongai isn't particularly troublesome to begin with. "Lets see how far I can get before sunrise, what do you say my little Asauchi friend eh?" She lightly giggles giving the hilt a pat with her free hand "I hope you don't mind my incessant rambling when we're alone. I wish you could chat with me! Then at least it would be a little less lonely for you -- I don't even know your name. What do you like? Do you have any dreams? Maybe some day I'll learn these things about you, and hopefully bore you less with my monologues!"
Her steps were at a brisk running speed at this point but soft much like a cat with very deliberate and careful swiftness. She passed the 4th District, then the 5th, soon the 6th. Before too long she was already in the twenties and she could see that the standard of living slowly began to reduce as houses became less impressive, clothing less elegant, and people less friendly and happy for those were were still awake. The girl started to pay closer attention to her surroundings and tried to stymie her ruminations.
Along the way Yuna's presence becomes generally less welcome as she progresses further away from the Court of Pure Souls but in District Fourty she still commanded enough respect that most people weren't willing to deal with heckling her, although she could tell that being such a small woman meant that she wasn't nearly as intimidating as perhaps her old classmates would have been. "Don't get cold feet on me now my bladed friend -- or is it cold steel? Reishi? Heh. I know you don't like getting blood all over your body just like me, it's just so unsightly and gross, and I don't really want to hurt these poor people as they're just trying to get by, they probably have their reasons for disliking Shinigami. Don't you agree?" She pauses, pretending as though her Asauchi answered her like it's a pet she doesn't understand, "Right? Exactly. Thank you. It's much more worthwhile to talk it out. Besides, I've been practicing the art of the Way of Binding, so I surely wouldn't need to hurt anyone."
Eventually she makes it to Sabitsura, District 64, South East Rukongai. This was as far as she was willing to go, otherwise it would take her forever to get back and she wasn't just out for a stroll anyway but instead to train her body. This should be far enough that nobody would bother her or at least she assumed. She stumbled upon a lightly forested area with tremendous trees as the Rukongai gets less densely populated. She takes a deep breath of relief as she stands in front of the wooden tower(*)
"Lets get this started, shall we?" Yuna takes several steps back from the tree and sizes it up while drawing her sword "About thirty metres or so, do you think we can make it that high? Yeah, you're right, probably not for a long time but I sure as hell am going to try!" With a deep breath and a 'HUP!' she sprints toward the tree and focuses her reishi to her feet to try and give her as much grip as possible to combine it with her sheer speed, the sounds of tabi clacking against dense wood as she makes it three metres on her first try, slashing a mark into where she makes it and backflipping down to the ground where she looks at her mark with a smile. "Not bad eh pal? OK, fine, I don't have anything to compare it to I know but I would like to think it's a good first attempt. What say you give me 100 days to reach the top? I am sure that is enough time. Thirty metres in one hundred days - no problem."
Yuna takes another dash toward the tree trying to jump a little higher to get her a better start - tabi clacking frantically up the tree and... she makes it only two centimetres higher. Another backflip to the ground where Yuna frowns inspecting her effort "That's all? I was sure I put more power into my jump. Maybe it's the speed of my sprint that matters? Hm." She gives it another attempt by first backing up a few more steps to get a longer run going - she jumps, runs up the tree and marks her height once more. "Drat! It's literally the same distance this time, 302 centimetres. What's the secret? If I cannot climb this tree then I cannot climb the ladder that is the Thirteen Court Guard Squad, I cannot protect my friends, I cannot uphold the law of this realm. 100 days... Or perhaps I need 1000!? No! I will accomplish my goal. Never give up girl, you aren't alone after all, you have your trusty blade cheering you on silently!"
Yuna makes another attempt, and another, another, and some more. Yuna runs, leaps, sprints, flips, hops, jogs, and performs all sorts of tricks and adjustments to eke out even one centimetre and she does so over and over again one after the other, taking carefully calculated sips from her gourd to ensure maximum longevity. One more try, two more, five more, she's just not satisfied with her results - several hours later and she's only achieved an additional three centimetres. The gashes in the tree are deeper where she struck multiple times so it's a good thing the tree is thick or she could eventually cut it down herself.
"Never-" Another slash, another attempt, 306 centimetres "-give-" 307 centimetres "UP!! HYEHHH!" With one final push she sprints faster and jumps higher than she had all night and forcing her body to go beyond its limits working through her sore muscles and lack of breath. She carves her mark one last time but instead of backflipping she sim flops backward and falls limply to the ground, her Asauchi kept in a firm grip regardless of her actual remaining strength, the wind knocked out of her from the fall as she tries to regain her composure but can only heavily pant, sweating profusely and completely exhausted. She hears a family of birds that were nesting at the top of the tree begin calling for food as the first rays of sunrise reach out to grasp Yuna's tired little body. She gave up walking after a while and ran most of the way and for two hours straight and trained for another five without rest except to take a sip of water, which she was now out of. Utterly collapsed into the grass, she smiles only able to look up toward the tree's trunk. "310 centimetres." She squeaked the last bit of words she could before her eyes heavy with fatigue force her to succumb to her weariness into a warm slumber right on the ground, uncaring for dignity or safety. Her Asauchi finally began to take notice of her as the tiniest bit of resihi flowed from it to her just enough to keep her from exhausting herself to death as it metaphorically watched over her while she rested.
FIN
(*)
"I wonder if mom and dad are here? I never even bothered to look for them I just... Left. Like I did when I was alive I left them to better my own life and I missed so much of their lives. Did they ever care that I was gone? Were they happy I returned? I sure like to believe they attended my funeral. I suppose they are still alive even now but I don't even know if time works the same way here as it does to humans; I could have been gone for a hundred years for all I know. I should learn more about how these things work..."
Yuna sighed listless as she drew one of her kunai and begins fiddling with it performing all sorts of coordinated tricks with it as she walks, probably not paying as much attention to her surroundings as she should but she knows that this area of the Rukongai isn't particularly troublesome to begin with. "Lets see how far I can get before sunrise, what do you say my little Asauchi friend eh?" She lightly giggles giving the hilt a pat with her free hand "I hope you don't mind my incessant rambling when we're alone. I wish you could chat with me! Then at least it would be a little less lonely for you -- I don't even know your name. What do you like? Do you have any dreams? Maybe some day I'll learn these things about you, and hopefully bore you less with my monologues!"
Her steps were at a brisk running speed at this point but soft much like a cat with very deliberate and careful swiftness. She passed the 4th District, then the 5th, soon the 6th. Before too long she was already in the twenties and she could see that the standard of living slowly began to reduce as houses became less impressive, clothing less elegant, and people less friendly and happy for those were were still awake. The girl started to pay closer attention to her surroundings and tried to stymie her ruminations.
Along the way Yuna's presence becomes generally less welcome as she progresses further away from the Court of Pure Souls but in District Fourty she still commanded enough respect that most people weren't willing to deal with heckling her, although she could tell that being such a small woman meant that she wasn't nearly as intimidating as perhaps her old classmates would have been. "Don't get cold feet on me now my bladed friend -- or is it cold steel? Reishi? Heh. I know you don't like getting blood all over your body just like me, it's just so unsightly and gross, and I don't really want to hurt these poor people as they're just trying to get by, they probably have their reasons for disliking Shinigami. Don't you agree?" She pauses, pretending as though her Asauchi answered her like it's a pet she doesn't understand, "Right? Exactly. Thank you. It's much more worthwhile to talk it out. Besides, I've been practicing the art of the Way of Binding, so I surely wouldn't need to hurt anyone."
Eventually she makes it to Sabitsura, District 64, South East Rukongai. This was as far as she was willing to go, otherwise it would take her forever to get back and she wasn't just out for a stroll anyway but instead to train her body. This should be far enough that nobody would bother her or at least she assumed. She stumbled upon a lightly forested area with tremendous trees as the Rukongai gets less densely populated. She takes a deep breath of relief as she stands in front of the wooden tower(*)
"Lets get this started, shall we?" Yuna takes several steps back from the tree and sizes it up while drawing her sword "About thirty metres or so, do you think we can make it that high? Yeah, you're right, probably not for a long time but I sure as hell am going to try!" With a deep breath and a 'HUP!' she sprints toward the tree and focuses her reishi to her feet to try and give her as much grip as possible to combine it with her sheer speed, the sounds of tabi clacking against dense wood as she makes it three metres on her first try, slashing a mark into where she makes it and backflipping down to the ground where she looks at her mark with a smile. "Not bad eh pal? OK, fine, I don't have anything to compare it to I know but I would like to think it's a good first attempt. What say you give me 100 days to reach the top? I am sure that is enough time. Thirty metres in one hundred days - no problem."
Yuna takes another dash toward the tree trying to jump a little higher to get her a better start - tabi clacking frantically up the tree and... she makes it only two centimetres higher. Another backflip to the ground where Yuna frowns inspecting her effort "That's all? I was sure I put more power into my jump. Maybe it's the speed of my sprint that matters? Hm." She gives it another attempt by first backing up a few more steps to get a longer run going - she jumps, runs up the tree and marks her height once more. "Drat! It's literally the same distance this time, 302 centimetres. What's the secret? If I cannot climb this tree then I cannot climb the ladder that is the Thirteen Court Guard Squad, I cannot protect my friends, I cannot uphold the law of this realm. 100 days... Or perhaps I need 1000!? No! I will accomplish my goal. Never give up girl, you aren't alone after all, you have your trusty blade cheering you on silently!"
Yuna makes another attempt, and another, another, and some more. Yuna runs, leaps, sprints, flips, hops, jogs, and performs all sorts of tricks and adjustments to eke out even one centimetre and she does so over and over again one after the other, taking carefully calculated sips from her gourd to ensure maximum longevity. One more try, two more, five more, she's just not satisfied with her results - several hours later and she's only achieved an additional three centimetres. The gashes in the tree are deeper where she struck multiple times so it's a good thing the tree is thick or she could eventually cut it down herself.
"Never-" Another slash, another attempt, 306 centimetres "-give-" 307 centimetres "UP!! HYEHHH!" With one final push she sprints faster and jumps higher than she had all night and forcing her body to go beyond its limits working through her sore muscles and lack of breath. She carves her mark one last time but instead of backflipping she sim flops backward and falls limply to the ground, her Asauchi kept in a firm grip regardless of her actual remaining strength, the wind knocked out of her from the fall as she tries to regain her composure but can only heavily pant, sweating profusely and completely exhausted. She hears a family of birds that were nesting at the top of the tree begin calling for food as the first rays of sunrise reach out to grasp Yuna's tired little body. She gave up walking after a while and ran most of the way and for two hours straight and trained for another five without rest except to take a sip of water, which she was now out of. Utterly collapsed into the grass, she smiles only able to look up toward the tree's trunk. "310 centimetres." She squeaked the last bit of words she could before her eyes heavy with fatigue force her to succumb to her weariness into a warm slumber right on the ground, uncaring for dignity or safety. Her Asauchi finally began to take notice of her as the tiniest bit of resihi flowed from it to her just enough to keep her from exhausting herself to death as it metaphorically watched over her while she rested.
FIN
(*)
