Ashes of the Phoenix (DE, R, Medium)

[Deleted]

OOC: This is the Academy Thread of Katrina Kawada, the Kawada's Gilded Shadow. Like most noble family members, she could have joined a squad immediately, especially with her skills; however, she feels it is her duty to gain the loyalty of the next generation of shinigami. Should she gain their loyalty and their trust, the Kawada will rise again.

SPOILER: Click to show

Strength - [50 Points]

Speed - [100 points]

Spiritual Pressure - [50 points]

Reiatsu Strength - [50 points]

Light Aura - 75 Points

Dark Aura - 25 Points

Instinct - [100 /2 = 50points]

Senses [75 points]

Energy sensory - [50 points]

Healing Expertise - [0] Points

Total SP: [475] Points

---

Skills

• [Mental Skill: Learning]

[/u] Adequate

[/li][li][Battle Skill: Weapon - Throwing Knives][/u] Adequate

[/li][li][Battle Skill: Swords][/u] Adequate

[/li][li][Battle Skill: Boxing][/u] Adequate

[/li][li][Special Skill: Stealth][/u] Adequate

[/li][li][Special Skill: Hoho][/u] Adequate

[/li][li][Special Skill: Kido][/u] Adequate[/li][/ul]

---

Monday | Wednesday | Friday:[/u]

• 1 - Kendo 1-2 (Transfer to AP/SPR as soon as possible)
  
• 2 - Kido 1-2 (Transfer to AP/SPR as soon as possible)
  
• 3 - Travel 1-2
  
• 4 - Spirit Communications 1-2
  
• 5 - Boxing
  
• 6 - Reaitsu Focus
  
• 7 - Speed

Tuesday| Thursday | Saturday:[/u]

• Kendo 1-2 (Transfer to AP/SPR as soon as possible)
  
• 2 - Kido 1-2 (Transfer to AP/SPR as soon as possible)
  
• 3 - Travel 1-2
  
• 4 - Spirit Communications 1-2
  
• 5 - History 1-2
  
• 6 - Wrestling
  
• 7 - Technology/Science

Sunday:[/u]

• 1 - Kick-Boxing
  
• 2 - Kick-Boxing
  
• 3 - Kick-Boxing
  
• 4 - Free Period
  
• 5 - Experimentation
  
• 6 - Experimentation
  
• 7 - Free Period

[/spoiler]

[Kenryoku Kawada]

Play this

"Reviving the Kawada is everything and failure is nothing."

This was the slogan which had been engraved into every Kawada's soul from the very first day in which they were born. It was woven into their soul like thread into a fine tapestry. They were painted from a black canvas to a mural of black and of despair. When a Kawada was born into the world, they were engrained into a world of pain. The Kawada Family was greatness, yet once it had been majesty. It was a shadow of what it had once been, yet it would rise again. It would become more powerful than ever before. One day, it would rise up and it would swallow the Soul Society and the Royal Family too.

Katrina would learn that as well. From the first day of her birth, she was taught about the Kawada vendetta. Her father had been branded in Kawada history as a weak man deserving shame for having been easily destroyed by a measly Hollow. She had been branded by many Kawadas as one who would never reap the fruit of the great family. She would never show the promise that the average Kawada should. Not being able to walk, some said, would do nothing to impede a Kawada. This was expected of the Kawada family. Being injured in such a way however, some said, was the truest disgrace.

"Woman..." he had said. He, being the second highest ranked member of the esteemed Kawada family. When Katrina was seeing him, he was without shirt. He was not even facing her, and instead his muscles were tightly knit like steel as he repeatedly smashed the punching bag, slamming it. It was a large black metal bag, dangling from the ceiling of his enormous chambers. They were supposed to be luxurious, but the whole thing was merely a set up for training. The bed was simply a futon on the ground. It was the only resting spot of the entire room. This was Kenryoku. And on his back, which was bare, there was a visible tattoo of an enormous phoenix with wide wings pointing toward the heavens. Katrina would also receive this tattoo when she became a Shinigami. The phoenix was power. It was a symbol of grandeur.

"You may consider yourself powerful, but you are weak. You may believe the whispers that say you deserve a seat already, but you do not. You deserve neither seat nor position in a squad. To be merely average is disgraceful to a Kawada. Before a Kawada, the greatest genius in the world is barely mediocre at best. You will go to the academy, as you believe to be your duty, and you will grow there. You will rise. You will become a member of the Kawada worth speaking of, and you will be the top of your class. Otherwise you will die. That is what it means to be a Kawada."

He had given her this speech before sending her off to the academy. He had been in charge of packing her belongings that he chose, and she had not been allowed to pack anything herself, not even clothes. The clothing she wore was a tighter academy outfit than was customary. It would get the attention of the males more, but it would also serve the purpose of making her faster, less noisy, and easier and more fluent with her movements. The burlap sac she had been given contained enough money for one week of food, if she bought three meals a day, and a hunting knife and a flint.

She had been informed that Kawada assailants, or at least assailants hired by the Kawada, would occasionally attempt to kill her. It was her job to react and to survive. Her trip in the academy would be more difficult than that of other students, and she would be facing a series of handicaps. Kenryoku had also alluded to new obstacles that would present themselves as she went through her years in the academy. This meant that Katrina had best be expecting things to become difficult. They would become painful. If she was not careful, she would be lost in the abyss. That was what Kenryoku, as the man responsible for raising the new Kawada generation, would demand.

When she arrived at the academy, and was already in her first class, there was already gossip. The teacher was going over his introductions. Kenryoku had arranged to put her in the classes with the most difficult teachers available for the current subject. "My name is Elektra Conda," the teacher was saying to the students. "I teach the lowest level Kendo class for the first years. And if you see me again in your fifth year, I will be teaching the highest level Kendo class. I am a former Captain of Squad 11, and the sword is my art." He was an older man of at least seventy years in physical age, with a bald head and huge rippling muscles. His skin was very dark, and his eyes were gray. He had black, thick eyebrows which were bushy, and also furrowed.

The students were lined up militaristically. He'd blown a whistle earlier, and some students had known to get in line. Those who had not known had been slammed with a wooden bokuto four times to their rear end. They were all lined up, and some were gossiping. "Did you hear...?" "I heard this guy is the hardest in our year..." "There's a famous person in this class..." "The Kasumi'Oji Heir..." "There's a Kuchiki in this class..." "There are two Kawadas in this class..." And so on and so forth. Katrina might want to consider checking around for these students. There were many famous students in this class.

When instruction began, it was laid out to be a simple instruction. Every student was to find a partner. Next to Katrina there was a big man with huge rippling muscles and no hair. Also next to her was a man with a slouch, his hands in his pocket, and black eyes that gazed and gazed through miles and miles of space. He had unruly black hair. He was taller than her, but appeared shorter by slouching. The big man to her other side was at least three times her size. They were both random classmates. She had a lot of options for who to partner up with. The basic instruction was to find a partner, and then spar that partner so the teacher could see who knew what. It was her call.

[Deleted]

"You are weak."

These words echoed across the confines of the Academy Student's mind as she stood in front of the massive, pearly white gates. The outfit she had on was not one that most academy students would wear; it was more reminiscent of a Stealth Force member than an Academy Student. And yet, she felt naked without the Kawada Haori she so prized. Once belonging to her father, not once has she been parted from it. But now ... she was best to heed her cousins orders. Her fists clenched as she remembered his words.

"No ... he's wrong." Those three words echoed throughout the confines of her being, filling her, consuming her entire being until she knew it as fact. "I will surpass him. I will destroy him. And in doing so, revive him." To her, the Academy was her resurrection. To her, the academy was salvation. In the academy, her past is not prone to witness; no one knows of her previous strength, nor her fall. They only know her current achievements. So in the outfit which is so unlike her, she walked through the door.

---

She should have known the rabble would be noisy, but this ... this was ridiculous. Her ears were ringing as if somebody was ringing a bell, her eyes were watering, and her anger was slowly boiling up. "If this is a swordsmanship class, the other classes are only bound to be worse." Icy blue eyes narrowed behind elven features, accentuated by the tight, pale white outfit she was wearing. Woven into the right sleeve, hastily sewn, was a golden piece of fabric bearing the Kawada Phoenix. The arms were bare and the back was open, resembling what her future outfit will be. On her hip, unlike the other students, was a short, elegant blade. She could feel the eyes upon her body, admiring her, wanting her. The pigs. A snarl appeared on her face.

Thankfully, the teacher walked; a large burly man, obviously older, he blew a whistle, an obvious sign to line up. Katrina got up and silently moved gracefully, resembling a glide instead of the clumsy ways other people walk. Her back straight, her arms pinned at her side, her beautiful eyes pinned straight forward; she was no stranger to an orderly line up. ""I teach the lowest level Kendo class for the first years. And if you see me again in your fifth year, I will be teaching the highest level Kendo class. I am a former Captain of Squad 11, and the sword is my art."

"Former Captain." She noted dully to herself, jotting it down to memory. That would be an important matter to consider. Katrina's ears perked as she heard mention of a Kuchiki in the class. Who could it possibly be? Kuchiki vs. Kawada. That would be bound to be a fight for the ages, even if they were only academy students. And it would be on step closer to conquering this school. Katrina gave no notice to either of the people next to her; rather, she got out of line as the others did the same, glancing around for a sign, any sign, of her training partner; the Kuchiki. No other would do.

OOC: Ftr, she has hidden weaponry. So ya know. Because she's awesome like that.

[Kenryoku Kawada]

There was no way to tell a Kuchiki just by watching. Most of them had some sort of mark, crest, emblem, or at least a ceremonial braid or come. Since no one in the entire room had one of those, it meant the Kuchiki was either a private individual who preferred to remain incognito despite rumors, or that the Kuchiki did not appreciate being told what to wear. A third, less likely option, was that it had all been a rumor and there really actually wasn't a Kuchiki in that class. For the rumor to have started though, there must be a Kuchiki present in the class.

SPOILER: Click to show

The others had certainly checked out. The Kasumi'Oji Heir was certainly present in the room. She was haughty enough to prove herself as the Kasumi'Oji Family's esteemed heir. The nobility of her bloodline was clear to anyone that laid any eyes on her. She took a step toward her opponent, a male that was an incredibly fit specimen, but was no one of any value besides a random member of that Kendo class. His physical athleticism could be seen to be the best in the class, and his looks were the type that awarded him attention from all the females. He was by first glance "picture perfect."

The Kasumi'Oji Heir was the most beautiful girl in the class, making it look as if she and this young male should be a couple. She had on robes that hugged her body tightly the way Katrina's did, with the same intended purpose. She was unarmed however, and had long, flowing golden hair in a pony tail. Her eyes were a sharp violet color, and she had on her face a cocky smirk trademark to anyone that was used to getting their way. Her presence in the room was attracting the eyes of many nearby men, and one or two women. Her wooden blade was lowered. The young male looked hesitant to attack her.

When at last he did attack her, there was failure. He moved in for the attack, but when he arrived she was a blur that easily parried his blow. The instant that their blades met, there was a loud crackling sound. Spectators became garrulous as they saw the result of the meet. The young man's blade had shattered. He had swung it down, and the Kasumi'Oji head had been a blur of motion. It looked like her blade had barely moved and had only shifted an inch to the side, but the male was blasted back with his wooden blade splintering into pieces as he fell back in shock. "Oops..." she murmured, offering her hand. "Sorry..."

SPOILER: Click to show

This scene would have gotten more attention, except all attention would be stolen only a second later. A scream of pain had taken the stage, and everyone turned to see that a student was on the ground with several wooden shards lodged in both of his knees, and had enormous wooden shafts sticking out of his shoulders. He had been stabbed in several areas, and blood was leaking out of his wounds and staining his white outfit. The assailant was standing there without a large smile on his face. He was holding the handle of a wooden sword, but this handle had nothing more. The blade was completely gone.

He was wordless, but the insignia on the back of his uniform gave him away. The insignia of the Kawada family. His hair was gelled back and slick, but his skin was a pale, clammy white. He was like a ghost. His teeth were in sharp rows. He had filed them to be sharp like fangs. When he spoke, his voice was cool, level, and icy. It was emotionless, but it had a haughty connotation. "I forgot my own power..." he admitted. His smile grew even more wide. "But WOW! You should definitely have seen the way your eyes lit up when you got hit." He reached into his robe and pulled out a small hand mirror. He held it up to the fellow student.

"Here! Look in this mirror."

SPOILER: Click to show

"Buuuuuuuuu...."

A voice near Katrina had just given that sound. If she turned to look, she would see a child. He could not be more than a teenager physically. His robes were loose fitting and made of some sort of thicker cloth material. They hugged his body, but also loosely dangled. While his skin wasn't revealed, they didn't look fun to move around in. They also appeared to keep him warm, but probably worked the opposite way when it was hot. He wore no sort of defining insignia. His hair was unruly and silver, in a little tad of disarray. His eyes were black. His iris and pupil looked fuse, and he seemed to just stare into space with his child-like face.

The young boy was moving his head around staring at the ceiling with wide, unblinking eyes. His sleeves were too long, so his hands were not visible. A wooden kendo sword was in front of him, but it was on the floor. He did not look like he had any kind of sparring partner. One of the other students walked up to him. "Hey, Kuchiki!" he exclaimed. "You should go fight one of those two hot shots over there!" He indicated toward the Kawada and the Kasumi'Oji that had both just easily won sparring sessions. "It would look pretty good for your family, right?"

[Deleted]

Cold sapphire eyes narrowed in irritation. "This Kuchiki show's no pride. He wears no tags marking him as a noble. Despicable." A low hiss escaped her throat as she uttered this to herself. Her mind flashed with various objectives, suspicions and conspiracies fighting for dominance. Perhaps he was shy. A shapely upper lip would curl with contempt at that thought. Not likely, but plausible. Far more likely is the idea that it was all a rumor. Eyes narrowed again at this thought. Doubtful, as the word had come directly from the Kawada's sources in the Academy ... but nonetheless, the idea must be entertained.

Her attention was quickly drawn to the fights of the room. Her eyes first found the one with the Kasumi'oji heir. An delicate eyebrow twitched upward in a show of contempt. 'This simpering girl the Kasumi'oji heir?' She watched with barely controlled disdain as the young man whom was her opponent swung his blade. And then suddenly, in happenings too quick even for her sharp eyes, the man's blade was shattered, gone in a blur of movement and grace. Surely ... "Hmph." Katrina scoffed. "You are skillful."

Her attention was quickly jerked to the next scene; blood, and lots of it, pooling around the prone body of an impaled man, and feet of one she recognized only vaguely. Not by name, but by face; he was a Kawada. "Only fitting for a Kawada." A rare smile crossed her face as she looked at her Kawada brethren, quickly slipping to a look of contempt as she glanced at the bleeding man on the floor. No pity was in her eyes, only disgust. "Tch." She walked away, her shapely body gliding gracefully away from the scene.

Then, like music to her ears, she heard what she had been searching. "Hey, Kuchiki" Katrina whirled around, her eyes locating her self-proclaimed enemy. A snort escaped her throat as she beheld the greasy, pale man. But she hid her contempt behind a layer of polite indifference, a look she had plenty of practice. She gracefully approached the Kuchiki. A tight curtsey followed. "Lord Kuchiki, would you honor me with a brief spar?" Her voice was formal and polite, but her eyes twinkled with a cold malice that couldn't be hidden by any sort of mask.

OOC: Finally1

[Kento Waffles]

The Kuchiki looked up at Katrina when she spoke, and his right eye dilated. The black of his eye extended to fill it with black, and then it began to change colors. Different waves of purple began to dilute his right eye so that it appeared to be several shades of purple with clearly discernible lines extending from a centering pupil, except the pupil was not visible. When Katrina saw the eye, nothing significant would happen to her. It was not any kind of technique that did anything at all to the opponent, judging by that. Black flames formed as tattoos surrounding the eye.

However, when the Kuchiki looked at Katrina, he started to speak. "Average physical strength, exceptionally athletic speed. Average, unseated level reiatsu. Average instinct, basic athlete level sensory abilities. Ability to discern energy is average." He knew her statistic values when he looked at her. It might be that eye! If so, it was an unfair advantage for him to have, but it also gave him a one up in actual combat situations since he knew exactly the powers of the opponent. That would come in handy if ever one day they were on the same team as one another. He was a back-up.

"You'd defeat me easily in a sword fight...Your physical abilities are far beyond mine. I can't move my legs...a problem you seem to have overcome. There's no point in a spar between us with such an obvious outcome. It looks more like a fight of pride, Kawada vs Kuchiki, if not one to elevate your reputation. Some day maybe we can fight when we've both had more practice, but until then I can't find in a sword only fight against you. That would be unwise and foolish. Your reputation would be far better if you fought against the Kasumi'Oji and won, or if you fought that other Kawada, though he looks like he's more powerful than all of us in ever regard."

The Kuchiki had analyzed them all with his eye, which returned to normal afterward. It was worth noticing that he closed his right eye afterwards. He had been more than a little rude, and had refused Katrina's challenge as well. He did not have very much pride as a Kuchiki, but he was pragmatic. That pragmatism made him someone to be afraid of when he was more powerful. He had said he was crippled and could not move his legs. He was a weak adversary in melee combat, but this could mean that he was a more garrulous adversary to face in a Kido ring. He had to compensate with something.

[Deleted]

Anger bristled within the slight frame of the Kawada's Shadow. For a brief second, she considered killing this Kuchiki. A knife across the gullet, that would do it. Her hand actually twitched, priming the release mechanism for her throwing knives. But no ... people were watching, that would be too messy. "And besides," She muttered to herself as her long, black hair fluttered behind her. "we are so-called "friends" with the Kuchiki, scum that they are." With a final curtsy and a forced smile, she walked away.

Sapphire eyes alit on the Kasumi'oji, the only possible outfit. Even if she was the heir, one from the disgraced Kasumi'oji clan couldn't possibly touch a Kawada. She would be shown just how far they had really fallen. Fighting her fellow Kawada was impossible; for more reasons than one. Quite frankly, he scared her. Gracefully, her tight outfit hugging her every curve, she moved towards the Kasumi'oji. She weaved in and out of the other practice pairs, pausing only briefly to pick up a pair of practice swords. Though unbalanced, they were made to be wielded together. Both slipped through the band on her waist, caught on the circular hilt.

As she approached the Kasumi'oji, a golden band would be taken out of a pocket. Quickly, with practiced hands, she looped this golden band around her hair, going down past her butt, into a long ponytail; after all, hair is quite the nuisance in a battle. Then, she approached the Kasumi'oji. The slightest of curtsies started the introductions. "Ms. Kasumi'oji. I would be honored to assume the position your ... unfortunate sparring partner has vacated." Her words were polite and formal, as befitting of a peasant talking to a noble; however, there was a fire burning in her eyes that suggested differently. Just as with the Kuchiki, it was all an act. Her slender fingers gripped the wooden hilt of the Bokuto, waiting for an answer.

[Kenryoku Kawada]

"Why...I would adore the opportunity to spar with you, Miss Kawada..." The malevolent heir of the disgraced Kasumi'Oji Family hissed out. Her tongue flicked at the edges of her teeth and the sides of her mouth with a single viper like motion so quick that it may have all been a trick of Katrina's mind produced by a paranoia that should be associated with this woman, who gave off the same aroma as the sweetest of flowers, making her enticing even to the female sense of smell, and yet which made her all the more someone to be taken cautiously. She was like a snake.

"Please...Call me Saeki." Everything about her stank. When she spoke, her breath smelled so intoxicating that even a female would desire a luscious kiss. Her body's scent was so invigorating that just closeness to her made even experienced and powerful warriors light headed not only with desire, but with the clouded judgment that came with powerful smells. Not only hunger, but a burning in the back of the nostrils, and a clouded mind came from being anywhere near Saeki. She was a snake and a fiend, but she was also a dangerous and seductive woman. She had her charms and her strengths.

Saeki held out a hand to Katrina to shake, and gave her best smile. It was a beautiful smile, and all of the males in the room were enchanted immediately to look at her. With her hand extended to be shaken, Saeki whispered to Katrina. "You know something? I'm afraid of Jagger too..."

She attacked first soon after, handshake or not, depending on how respectful Katrina chose to be and how much she continued to play out her act. Saeki was the first to attack once they were in line, had saluted, and had their Kendo sticks. Saeki was a fast one, but not as fast as Katrina. Her first attack, which was a diagonal swooping sword that was coming down on Katrina's head, would be easy to dodge or to block. It was a warm-up, though. Saeki was getting ready. After Katrina defended, Saeki was quick to follow her motion by spinning into a roundhouse kick toward Katrina's face.

SPOILER: Click to show

Level 1 Cunning Type.

Strength - [100 Points] (50)

Speed - [75 points]

Spiritual Pressure - [50 points]

Reiatsu Strength - [100 points] (50)

Light Aura - 75 Points

Dark Aura - 25 Points

Instinct - [100 points] (150)

Senses [100 points] (150)

Energy sensory - [50 points]

Healing Expertise - [0] Points

Total SP: [575] Points

----------------------------------------

[Calm Mind] 3

[Memory] 3

[Analyzing] 3

[Battle Analyzing] 2

[Illusion Resist] 2

[Pain Resist] 2

[Deleted]

There was something ... alluring about this woman, this ... Saeki. She smelled of ... flowers and cinnamon and other things that attracted Katrina; as one who admired nature, Katrina couldn't help but admit she was ... but was attracted the right word? She didn't feel romantic feelings for this girl ... yet still, she couldn't help but find herself entertaining thoughts. Her mind flashed, a brief video playing in her mind; a video of her and this Saeki, their sensitive lips meeting, skilled hands roaming each other's bodies, untying sashes, undoing knots, until-

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Saeki Kasumi'oji." Despite the malevolence of her new acquaintance, Katrina was still putting on airs of politeness and high society; after all, she was a Kawada, not the disgraced filth of the Kasumi'oji. However, the smile slipped quicker from her face than water. "I do not fear one of the Kawada. We are Kin. We are family." Her voice had taken on it's customary icy edge, both cold and condescending. "You are right to fear him."

And then the fight started with a diagonal strike. By this time, Katrina had pulled a single wooden practice blade out of her belt, holding it horizontally to the floor. And there it stayed. Her eyes followed the wooden blade as her body moved, taking a quick step to the left; as she did so, her arm flicked upwards, the tips of the blades meeting and deflecting Saeki's blade away. By this time, Saeki had began her kick. However, one of the main problems with kicks is their speed to initiate; particularly with no skill in anything that would give her the know-how to flawlessly melt from a slash to a kick with no delay, Saeki would be at a disadvantage.

While Saeki swung her foot through the air, Katrina ducked; she had plenty of time to see it coming. Saeki's lack of skill and lower skill, coupled with Katrina's knowledge of basic boxing- and kickboxing- techniques, allows her plenty of knowledge on what she was planning on doing. It also left her open for many different situations. In a real battle situation, a Byakurai through the heart would be best, or perhaps a stiletto through the leg to encumber her. If she learned anything from her cousin, it's that not killing, but maiming, is sometimes the way to go.

However, she didn't take any of these choices; rather, she chose to duck. And as she ducked, the hilt of the sword lashed out, upwards, striking the Achilles Tendon of her opponent. But she wasn't done. Still in the crouch, her free hand, her right, came down to grab the hilt of her other sword. She stood up while drawing her sword. A condescending smile was on her face. Her face was flushed ever so slightly. But through the light in her eyes and the confident spay of her legs, she was obviously enjoying herself. Her two swords were both held down, parallel to her legs. Her tight outfit was perfect for situations like this; tight, close quarters. A laugh, like music, rang once from Katrina's throat. And then she attacked, her left hand striking like a snake towards her neck while her right stabbed towards her gut.

Then suddenly, a shift! Before Saeki could react, before the blades touched her skin, Katrina's body moved. Not much, just a shuffling of the feet, but it was enough to change the direction of the blades. Her right arm was lower, slashing towards the shoulder, while her left arm had been diverted to her thigh. There was only a slight jump in the changing, almost no time at all to react or defend against the difference positions.

[Kenryoku Kawada]

Saeki's kick twirled over Katrina's head, and as she missed, Katrina attacked with a smile. Saeki, likewise, smiled back. Her smile was devious. It foreshadowed the kind of doom that could only be brought about by poison. It was the slow knife, which took its time, waiting for the perfect moment to stab deep in between the ribs and twist on its way out. That was a perfect description of the kind of evil Saeki's smile spelled. She knew something that Katrina did not. That was what her smile said. Katrina found out after only moments what Saeki knew.

Saeki's speed was inferior to Katrina's, and she hadn't the skill to come up with complex battle algorithms. However, so clever a girl surely must know that. So clever a girl did, as a matter of fact, know that. Her finish from the kick was awkward, but it was not flashy. It did not garner a huge amount of attention in their direction, even though there were still a few spectators. Saeki had planned something. She adjusted her foot as she landed. Though she was clumsy, the position of her foot changed only a couple of inches, not to dodge, but to reposition the first attack's landing point.

Saeki's leg was hit along the ankle instead, lower than Katrina had intended. Her foot bent and she fell back. A bone in her ankle snapped painfully as she fell back. She cried out loudly enough and with such a horrifying sound that she gained the attention of more than half the room. Part of the room did not hear or ignored it, for that small quarter was paying attention to a different fight between a blond male student and a black haired student, one cheerful and one stoic. The three quarters of students that had their attention caught by Saeki's scream saw her fall back on the broken ankle as Katrina's blades diced nicely into her shoulder and thigh.

Small tears opened up on her uniform where the hits had been, and the color red began to bleed through at both areas, staining her white uniform with blood. Saeki fell down, her eyes wide. Katrina could not perceive or analyze battle well enough to understand the shift in Saeki's leg, but she would understand her first hit had hit too low. She would also understand after a moment that while she had won the fight easily, she had also been played. It was not seen how it happened, but Saeki's wooden sword had been cleanly cut in half at the center, and the half cut away clattered noisily to the floor.

On her butt, Saeki was bleeding, and her face registered a look of shock. "Wh...what are you doing?! Are you trying to kill me?!" If Katrina looked down at her swords, she would see something frightening. They were katanas. Actual metal katanas. "I...What did I do wrong...? I'm sorry!" Saeki burst out, tears running down her eyes. Katrina's blades looked like metal swords. To anyone observing, it looked like Katrina had pulled out two metal katanas during an academy level sparring session, and viciously attacked a fellow student. The students surrounding the fight were all shocked. Students began to speak in a busy jumble.

"That was low, Kawada..." "You should be ashamed..." "Did you see that?!" "Holy crap, she's scary!" "Disgraceful..." "Oh my god. Do NOT fuck with that one." "She's kinda hot." "Shit, that was intense."

The teacher made his way to the scene, parting the sea of students as if red and appeared next to Saeki. He knelt down toward her and examined her. "I'll be back." he told the students. "If I see another incident like this, there will be hell to pay. Control yourselves until I get back." He looked like he was about to chastise Katrina, going so far as to grab both swords by their hilts and yank them out of her hands with immense physical strength and speed. He took one look at her, glaring. He held his tongue at the last second, and left the room with Saeki, who glanced back at Katrina just once to flash her a smile.

There was laughter behind Katrina of a cold, breathy voice. The student laughing at her was her kin, her comrade, and her family. A Kawada by name, Saeki had referred to him as Jagger. This was a name that Katrina may or may not know. There were a fair number of Kawadas. Jagger was known for being elite even within the elite Kawada. A genius among genuises. When he laughed, he whispered so that only Katrina could hear. "She got you...She used an illusion to disguise those blades and cost you some rep. Clever girl." Jagger laughed again.

Someone approached Katrina after a few moments, following when Jagger left her after she responded to or maybe ignored his comment. This person had black hair, thick, and was pale white like ice. His eyes were black, and he was skinny, average height. He did not look very threatening, but his face was the same as many Kawadas. It was emotionless. It was blank, logical, and not even puzzling. "I saw what you did to that girl." he said, not even understanding who Katrina or Saeki were. He was blissfully ignorant it seemed of the ways of noble families. "I would like to request a spar with you."

He held up his wooden swords. He had two. He handed one to Katrina since the teacher had confiscated her swords. He walked several paces away from her. If she accepted, he did not move. He only held his ground and kept his sword in a relaxed two handed grip. He held it loosely. It looked like he knew what he was doing with a sword. He would prove to be a worthy adversary for a Kawada in training, and was not so manipulative as the woman Saeki had been. It was Katrina's attack which would come first, since he stood his ground.

Saeki's Remaining Reiatsu: 350/500 Reiatsu

Technique used: Unknown.

SPOILER: Click to show

Brave type level 1.

Strength - [100 Points] (150)

Speed - [150 points] (225)

Spiritual Pressure - [0 points]

Reiatsu Strength - [0 points]

Light Aura - 75 Points

Dark Aura - 25 Points

Instinct - [100 points]

Senses [75 points]

Energy sensory - [25 points]

Healing Expertise - [0] Points

Total SP: [450] Points


[Swords] 2

[Battle Analysis] 2

[Skill: Mimicry] 2

[Illusion Resist] 1

[Pain Tolerance] 1

[Pain Resist] 1

[Calm Mind] 1

[Battle Learning] 1

[Deleted]

Blood. Red blood poured out of wounds she inflicted. There was nothing she could do to stop it. There was no way she could stop it. The horrifying scream warranted a shocked gaping from Katrina. "How did I- ... of course. She cast an illusion." Shockingly white teeth gritted as the Kendo class surrounded her. She met their accusations without flinching. No form of regret was visible in her eyes, only anger at being tricked.

Her eyes focused in on the teacher as he approached. Before he could take the blades, she had already stabbed them into the wooden floor and let go, leaving them standing straight up. Her eyes stared into his. She offered no excuse, and he didn't ask for one; her cold sapphire eyes watched him as he left. Then, a voice distracted her. "Jagger!" She said softly, her heart rate rising. "Do you not know how she did it? You are far more talented than I."

Whether or not she received an answer, she would turn to look at the black-haired man as he offered to challenge her. "... I accept." She cautiously took the offered blade and then took a quick step back. She danced on the balls of her feet as she sized him up. "... he's strong. I know that much. Why else would he dare to challenge a Kawada so blatantly? But what else do I know ..." She glanced towards the door. The teacher could be back any minute.

She rocketed forward, attacking unexpectedly. Her sword aimed to cut him upwards from his left hip to his right shoulder; however, before the blade could properly hit him, she spun on the balls of her feet, her elbow rocketing out to catch him in the nose. If she was successful, it would break it. Fluidly, she jumped back again, keeping her distance. Her sword was held flat against her leg, ready to counter any attacks.

[Kenryoku Kawada]

Jagger was grinning. "That's the fun of the mystery. I couldn't see how she did it." He left soon after, going off to watch another interesting fight that was still taking place between a blond man with a smile and a stoic man with black hair, both young, and both fierce in their combat. They were both physically fit for Kendo, and were both exceptionally skilled in class when it came to Kendo. Someone there had peaked Jagger's interest, and he had finished with sparring for the day. He soon disappeared into the crowds to go watch the fight.

Meanwhile, Katrina had her own black haired opponent. The black haired kid was quick on his feet, and was very good at analysis. Katrina's feint was met with a very fast twirling of his blade, first upward to block what would have been the sword strike, but turned into an elbow strike. He still slammed his blade forwards to block the elbow, which collided with the sturdy wooden blade, all packed together, and coming forward with the black haired boy's strength. This had a good chance of breaking Katrina's elbow instead of his nose, while also stopping her attack in its tracks. His eyes did not appear to move as he moved.

His sword then moved out in the same fluid grace as Katrina's, or maybe even more fluid, and spun from the blocking position to sweep over at Katrina's legs as she jumped back, coming up high. He took a step forwards as he did this to mitigate their distance, and if his attack was successful her legs would be severely damaged and she would be pinned onto the floor by the face. Without waiting for any more reactions, the black haired student spun his blade again, this time directing it into a diagonal strike toward Katrina's face as she either dodged or blocked his first blow, or as she fell toward the floor.

"Don't elbow. This isn't fighting class. This is Kendo class. We use swords." The black haired student told her this while he was fighting her and sweeping at her with his spinning sword moves. When he spoke, his voice was calm and controlled, but he looked as if he had some kind of irritation in his eyes. He might be angry at her for using the elbow. If he wasn't angry at her, he was angry at something else. All of this was coming from just another student with just another vendetta goal. So far, he had proven to be equal to Katrina in physical skill, and more physically fit than her. It could be hoped that she was clever enough to defeat him and earn herself a name.

[Deleted]

"Blast!" Were she of the lesser cast, more colorful curses would have sprung to mind. But since she was a Kawada, she kept her thoughts pure of that blasphemy. Nor was this the correct time to waste on more colorful phrases. According to her cousin Kenryoku, this was the Kendo class for the most powerful; if her cousin Jagger was in it, this was obviously true. It could only go to reason that if her outfit slammed into the flat of the blade, with his presumably massive strength behind it, it would hurt, and possibly break something.

She couldn't stop her fist; she didn't have the control of her body, nor the required instinct, to stop her elbow; she could only mitigate the damage. As her arm went flying forward, she turned it so that her elbow wouldn't be facing it directly; rather, the flat of her arm would be hit by the blade. A hiss escaped the shapely lips of the Kawada. Though it hurt, and would most likely leave a minor bruise, nothing was broken and she wasn't bleeding. However, this sequence would interrupt her next sequence of events, making any actions after this null and void.

"... my apologies, Senshi-dono. I was in my own place. In a real world combat situation, fighting is not restricted to one discipline. But this is not the real world, and I have difficulty remembering that." She spoke with a grace and soft edge that bespoke education and nobility, yet had the humility of one who grew up with nothing. Sadness was etched into every syllable. As if the thirst to prove herself had been exacerbated by the fires of life.

She curtsied sloppily, her head bowing, her left knee tilting backwards to bend her upper body towards her opponent. "I shall start again, Senshi-dono." A cool smile twisted her pixie-like face into that of a warrior; for a brief second, the illusion of a meek girl vanished, to be replaced with a vengeful Valkyrie. But as she ran forward, that visage disappeared. She was aiming for the left of her opponent, her swords held loosely in her hand. She went to strike, her sword swinging upwards.

Suddenly, however, her hand left the sword; it would continue on it's arc, so close to his face as it was, that the blade would still impact him. However, as she let go of the blade, her body spun, her skill in the Shinigami Art of Movement granting her agility and grace. She did not strike, with the spin, however. She spun away, using the force of her forward movement as a sort of springboard to spin herself backwards. She never expected the sword to hit; however, having a hand free is always useful in a combat situation. And the maneuver she just pulled would show the spontaneity she possessed.

Though she didn't possess the same strength nor speed of her opponent, she did possess one thing he did not; experience, mainly in the form of a vast repertoire of training. Training in swordsmanship, boxing, throwing weaponry, hoho, and Kido, she had plenty of knowledge to draw upon, some of it contradictory; like how a shunpo to the opponents back is simultaneously an unblockable sneak attack and a highly predictive move. She pulled upon her training to formulate a plan.

"I know nothing about the way he fights ... and with the strength of his blows, of which I can attest to-" She rotated her shoulder joint of the arm that was hit by the flat of the blade. "-those wooden blades are as deadly a weapon as any. If I have any chance of survival, I must not get hit. But he's dangerously fast ... it's almost like fighting my cousin Kenryoku ..." Her face twisted.

"... there are very few things I can do. But I must try. If I am to impress my family and earn a place among the Gotei 13, I must succeed." That was her sincerest wish. Not to graduate, not to become a Shinigami, but to stand among legends; to earn a place among these gods, to have her names whispered in reverence in the light and fear of the shadows. Kinda counter-productive to avoid human contact, though.

Katrina approached cautiously this time; "caution is the greater part of valor." This has been beaten into her by her Boxing coaches her entire life. Do not rush into battle; it is not a buffet that is going to run out of chicken nuggets. It is a dinner date with the love of your life; slow, amourous, a sensual, elegant dance with rules all it's own. Each one is different; some fast-paced and hot, other's slow and cool, and even some with those that you can't stand.

With this mantra in mind, Katrina approached her opponent. No words were exchanged; they had all they needed. The outside world disappeared; all that existed was the stretch of floor between them. There was no light, no darkness, no heat. There was only them. She could her heart beating; so hard, so fast, she almost turned red for fear other's could hear it as well. "... I'm frightened. This man frightens me."

Yet that wouldn't stop her; she was a Kawada! Through heaven and hell, the Kawada stand triumphant! Through Death, the Phoenix is Reborn, and through life, the Kawada are strengthened. Fire danced in Katrina's eyes as she approached within striking distance; yet she did not strike. She waited. Her body, though coiled like a snake, was tingling with excitement. There was something innately intimate about meeting blade to blade, about having the person's life potentially in your hand. It was ... thrilling ...

[Kenryoku Kawada]

The immense speed that was characteristic of her opponent was what brought him to be able to block her attack. It wasn't a difficult maneuver for him, for he was not unskilled in sword combat. He had challenged her because she appeared to be someone who could challenge him. He was skilled at physical disciplines, and she looked like someone that might give him a rough time. In an effort to get better, he had challenged her. That made all the sense in the world. So it also meant that he would be difficult for her, because of his aptitude in Kendo.

The black haired student flicked his sword up, holding it close to his face, and leaned to the side, the edge of his wooden sword smashing into the edge of the incoming attack, deflecting it to the side with enough force that if Katrina were not careful, it would be blasted away, and she would lose her weapon. His first method of attack had been his defense, a retaliatory style. It made sense to do that against opponents who had larger reservoirs of techniques. He was being more conservative against her, and was keeping himself more guarded. It made perfect, absolute sense.

His second attack however was not defensive. It was offensive. After defending against her attack, he ducked so that her extended arm would be over his head, and then he used his full speed to tuck into a several side step spin away from her, popping back up diagonally to her left and out of range. When he rose again, his black eyes looked at hers. Just as Katrina had had the stare of a valkyrie, or a warrior, the black haired student regarded her with a look of menace, as if he was going to kill her in that simple sparring session. He looked more like a monster than a warrior, but his eyes also did not focus exactly on her. He stared past her, at another goal entirely.

Each and every student had their dogma to follow in the Shino Academy. Katrina and her opponent were no different. Just as Jagger was finishing off some overly cocky opponent elsewhere in the room, or a different black haired student was fighting a blond one on equal grounds with great Kendo skill, Katrina was engaged in a battle with someone that could challenge her and make her learn. Students all over the room were challenging each other. Some were learning, and some were failing, and most importantly, most were hurting themselves and each other in order to overcome past weaknesses.

The black haired student rushed Katrina because of this, coming at her with a Kendo sword blow of two hands, coming straight at her face. However, it was a feint. Though momentum was put into the attack, a lateral spin of his body allowed him to yank the sword from her face and send it with a whoosh toward her side instead, twisting into a side attack. The blast of air that washed over her would alert her to the strength behind his attack. She would be completely incapacitated if his attack hit by virtue of his enormous physical strength. She would actually be very badly hurt, and he might even break her hip bone.

Defending against him would have to be done quickly, but he was also very fast. The momentum of his attack had also made him even faster. She was not as fast or as physically powerful as he was, and there was a gender differentiation in physical strength as well, whether some liked to admit it or not. The attack was not impossible or improbable to defend against, but it was difficult. She would feel some struggle as she tried to defend against it. However, she had gotten lucky. She was in the one Kendo class that had at least a handfull of challenging opponents. Rather than only one good Kendo user, there were at least seven in that class. It was a class worth being in.

[Deleted]

Though the room was loud, all Katrina could hear were the rapid pumping of her own blood. Though the room was bright, all she could see was the student before her. A breeze, summoned from the dredges of the room, tickled her skin, as soft as the skin of a lover. But she didn't feel it. Her entire being was focused on her opponent, heart and mind. At that moment, there was no two. There was only them, a beast of violence that will claw and rip it's way to victory.

"There is nothing better than the thrill before fighting. She found herself musing silently. "Staring into your opponents eyes, seeing the great, the bravado, and above all, the excitement ... I love it." Her eyes met his with an eagerness that betrayed her hidden emotions. They were burning. They were alight like the surface of the sun. Emotion flowed through the surprisingly expressive eyes; anger, hurt, pride, joy, and excitement all had their fair share in her eyes. For a brief second, she bit her lower lip, as if in thought.

But the moment was lost as her opponent sprung into action. "A two handed stance? That is not good. If that hits me ... I can't let it hit me." She bounced on her toes, ready at a moment's notice to- now! He was at the right distance now. She launched forward, letting gravity take her. She slid, almost flat, between his legs. She was good b at this; her lithe form b and skill in Hoho had prepared her for something like this. Graceful as a cat, she used her momentum to carry her to a standing position.

That's not to say she wasn't hurt. That maneuver was quite painful, leaving a trail of bruises dOwn her right side. She was panting heavily. She was tiring quickly. If she didn't end this soon, she would be too tired to continue. She had a plan, too. When he deflected her sword, it had ricocheted away. The unpredictable nature of ricochets had brought it bouncing to its current spot, a little more than a foot away. It was a little worse for wear, but this fight was not about damage. She just had to get her opponent to yield. She figured that would be rather difficult.

"Why do you wish to learn to fight? Whom are you trying to protect?" There was a genuine note of curiosity in her voice. The slightest bit of weariness colored her voice, but no thing else. There was no hint of her former haughtiness nor arrogance. She respected him as an equal. He should be flattered; the v only people she respects that much are captains and nobles. "Perhaps a young love, killed by bandits, and you seek to gain strength to reek vengeance. Or your little sister is sick, and you've worked hard to get to this point, so you may provide for her ... This was a surprise. It would seem Katrina was a fan of adventure books.