Omne Initium Est Difficile

[Kimiko Shihoin]

Thread Title: Omne Initium Est Difficile
Participants: Kimiko Shihoin vs Aevus Renald
World: Soul Society
Death Setting: Non Death Enabled
Rating: PG-13
Location: The Shinigami Academy training grounds.
Special Conditions:
Circumstances: Right after gaining the status of a Shinigami Kimiko rushes to the actual Academy from the Shihoin estate looking for someone to test her actual talents against. As soon as she arrives she finds more than what she might have been anticipating.

[Kimiko Shihoin]

Such a beautiful day the sky pure blue with not a single cloud to hinder the beauty. Kimiko had just been told of her success. Finally she had managed to obtain the status of a fully realized Shinigami. Though she never actually went to the Shinigami academy to be trained she was trained in private she knew that she might have been passed just off her family name. Due to such a believe the young princess of the Shihoin family had snuck away from her family estate and began to make her way to the Shinigami academy. There she knew she would be able to find a Shinigami that probably had just obtained the same status as herself.

This would truly be the test that Kimiko sought after. It would be the test she needed to find out just how far she had come and if she truly had achieved the feat of power required of a Shinigami. As she walked throughout the Soul Society se was quite surprised at the area and how damaged everything seemed to be. Kimiko couldn't help, but wondering exactly why everything was in such a state of disarray and who had caused such damage. Whoever they were knew now that they would be hunted down and forced to pay for the actions made though Kimiko had no clue who these individuals were especially considering it had been the Quincy Empire.

After about an hour of walking throughout the Soul Society Kimiko had finally arrived at the Shinigami academy. In truth the young princess had managed to travel off course and find herself lost. It wasn't such a good thing that she had never left the Shihoin estate until this very day. Though Kimiko knew that this day was the sign that her life was now changed forever and she had control over her own actions and not her father. There was just one problem Kimiko couldn't seem to mind anyone at the academy.

Looking around the hallways and classrooms Kimiko searched over everywhere she could find only to come p with nothing. Her spirits seemed to be drowned in disappointment as she prepared herself to return to her family's estate only to look out into the training area and see a single individual there. It seemed to be a man with dark hair tat was around her own height. The best thing about the situation was he wore the same uniform she had on. The clothing of a Shinigami and what appeared to be a zanpakuto at the ready.

Kimiko rushed from the academy building toward the training area where the man seemed lost in thought. As she reached about ten feet from the man Kimiko decided to make her arrival clear and her proposition known to this man. "Hello sir would you be interested in participating in a sparring match." Kimiko asked in as pleasant a way as the young princess could without laying any sarcasm atop of the wording. Kimiko couldn't help but grin toward the man while she held her own zanpakuto in her right hand at her side ready for battle.

[☾ Aevus | Umbra ☽]

Aevus had been lost in mere thought, his sapphire eyes fell forth onto his path as he meandered through the halls of the academy. Passing his pale fingers along the walls, every memory of this building would come back to mind. The rigorous training had indeed surged upon him with an unwavering impact. Yet these memories were but passing waves within his very mentality. The true memory that had clung to him every moment of his being there. The reason why he even thrived forth into the thicket of training, to become a protector: a purifier. It was all because of her, the memory of her seemingly melded into his very being.

'Aura...' Aevus's eyes faintly fogged over with tears as he felt the calming breeze and the kiss of sunlight touch his face. For a moment he felt as if a tear would escape from the clutches that his eyes kept prisoner yet he held them at bay. Passing forth these emotions and wiping them away with his left sleeve and yet he couldn't contain the saddened sign of a whisper that silently fell from his lips. "Iv'e carried on your dream"

Aevus had quickly found himself away from the academy, his eyes falling over the training grounds. It was a place, where he frequented, where he lost himself in. Training by himself or with the company of his fellow graduates. It held no solitude to the man, yet he felt as if he was alone when he trained. A tranquil state of mind that allowed him to pass away from the memories and his foolish emotions, if only for a short time. It allowed him to forget not only his worries but also himself; his hakuna matata.

Yet Aevus couldn't find it in himself to lose himself in training. The memory of the girl was not one he wished to forget. In a way he was happy but such joy only lasts for so long and Aevus had decided to take a small nap. Resting in the cool grass, he held his Zanpakuto to his chest, clutching the sheathe of the blade as if it was part of him. He didn't dream but even in sleep many found such peace, a time to become free from prying eyes of the world.

A voiced sounded over him, the sound of a young woman. His sapphire eyes faltering Aevus would lazily glance over her in a dream like daze. "A spar huh?"Aevus would murmur softly, his sun kissed eyes reflecting light. "Well, why not" With that Aevus would lift himself up from the ground without the use of his hands, ignoring the fact that a few blades of grass still clung to his form, one such clinging neatly to his left cheek. Strapping his sheath to the back of his waist, He would keep his left hand to the handle of his weapon and his eyes set neatly on the woman.

[Kimiko Shihoin]

It seemed that the male Shinigami that Kimiko had spotted had actually been sleeping in the training area. Kimiko wasn't entirely sure to smile and laugh about such a thing or wonder why he had been doing such a thing to begin with due to the fact she saw no sweat on him. Whatever the cause for his slumber it held no purpose in learning the details so such a thought was dropped from Kimiko's mind just as swiftly as it had arrived. As the man agreed to the spar ring match Kimiko could contain her smile. Finally at last she was going to be able to test herself against someone that wouldn't even know who she was and just allow her to win because of it.

As the man flipped his body upward Kimiko made sure to note down that he at least had a small degree or either balance or acrobatic skill. She had been trained to make sure everything obvious about an opponent either was a lie or the greatest weakness and she should learn it fast. She watched as he placed the sheath of his zanpakuto on the back of his waist an held the katana in his left hand ready for usage against whatever method of combat Kimiko chose to utilize. Though the princess truly wished to test her skills she couldn't help, but want to have fun as well.

It seemed that this man was prepared for the match to begin and so Kimiko began to bring her zanpakuto up in front of her body. Simultaneously at the same time she rose her zanpakuto to chest level Kimiko leaped forward rushing the other Shinigami. Holding her zanpakuto's hilt with her right hand making it appear as if she was prepared to pull the blade from the black sheath Kimiko thrust the whole weapon forward away from her body. Forcing the zanpakuto forward right for the male Shinigami Kimiko hoped to catch him off guar in order for her actual attack to make contact.

Kimiko wanted o have a good deal of fun while testing herself and because of that hoped that this male was able to at least continue if her plan worked against him. As her zanpakuto would close the distance and ultimately hit him in the chest unless he blocked it in some manner Kimiko was already executing a maneuvering strike. The young princess had jumped up into the air about six feet from her actual height and began to spin forward at a decent speed. he hoped that just as this man would block her façade of a attack her now extended right leg would be brought down upon his head.

SPOILER: Click to show

Strength - 70 (105)
Speed - 60 (75)
Spiritual Pressure - 25 (13)
Reiatsu Strength - 25 (13)
Light Aura - 70
Dark Aura - 30
Instinct - 50
Senses - 50
Energy Sensory - 0
Healing Expertise - 0

Abilities
•[Martial Art: Hakudo] {1}
•[Martial Art: Capoeira] {1}
•[Martial Art: Pressure Points] {1}
•[Strength of Will] {1}
•[Battle Focus] {1}
•[Acrobatics] {1}
•[Stealth] {1}

[☾ Aevus | Umbra ☽]

The size and scope of the weapon that the girl held, automatically made Aevus think of the Nodachi. It was large and outstretched Aevus's thirty inch Zanpakutou. if he would confront her, he'd need to get between her and her long weapon. The size of the weapon, Aevus knew didn't per say account for the wielders ability to wield it. Meaning even a Shinigami could perhaps swing around a skyscraper with ease.

He had found him calmly taking account of both her weapon and her body as she ran. Still sheathed it was still a threat an extension of her body and he knew not to underestimate such a lengthy extension. Surprise drifted across his very visage as she threw the Zanpakutou to him and leapt into the air. Sapphire eyes widened and yet in a moments notice like a bolt of lightning he withdrew to a regular calm demeanor.

Her actions were surprising but he had to act while he still had time too. Moving at a moderate enough speed, he would move into the sheathed blade. A rugged gasp fell from him as he caught the sheathed weapon rolling, straining his right hand from the fast movement. It was that moment that he dodged her first attack, rolling and throwing aside her weapon he would unsheathe his own. Sliding the blade along its sheath, he would hold it forth reversed in his very grasp.

Without delay Aevus would act, drifting to the side as he ran to his opposition. Kneeling forth Aevus would attempt to cut her right thigh. Moving amidst his actions he would make sure to encircle her, looking for an opening, even if his attack had missed. He made sure to keep on his toes both figuratively and actually keeping on his toes. It was something he did, to keep up his movement and prevent himself from stopping his attacks, once he started.

SPOILER: Click to show

Strength - 50 (75)
Speed - 50 (90)
Spiritual Pressure - 40
Reiatsu Strength - 40
Light Aura - 50
Dark Aura - 50
Instinct - 50
Senses - 50
Energy Sensory - 0
Healing Expertise - 0





•[Weapon: Katana] [1]


•[Weapon: Throwing Weapons] [1]


•[Calm Mind] [1]


•[Stealth] [1]


•[Battle Analysis] [1]


•[Strength of Will] [1]


•[Acrobatics] [1]

[Kimiko Shihoin]

As the young princess leaped into the air and began to flip forward she saw below that this Shinigami had managed to catch her zanpakuto before it clashed with his body. The fact that this Shinigami was able to catch her blade meant either she was far weaker than she though or perhaps he was stronger than she could have imagined. She had seen the man maneuver to the side away from her downwards spiral attack. She knew that there was no point in clashing with the ground so she managed to extend both of her feet outward in a manner that would allow her to bend downward once contact with the ground was initiated.

As her feet touched the ground Kimiko could hear a familiar sound. It was the sound of a blade being released from a prison only to bring pain to those catch in its path. Kimiko also heard the sound of something skidding across the ground and could only imagine that the Shinigami had thrown her zanpakuto from his grasp. From the direction of the sound Kimiko knew that the Shinigami was almost certainly right behind her which opened up a few possibilities to the princess.

As the Shinigami draw his blade an began to slashing action with the intention of cutting into Kimiko's right thigh the princess had already lowered her body lower. Her right leg sliding backwards in what seemed far to out of place like she had messed up. Her upper body low to the ground as she began to twist her body and turn to the left. It was a extremely risking attempt yet Kimiko knew something like this would reveal if she had obtained the skill she believed. Kimiko's left leg raised at a swift pace off of the ground and clashed with the Shinigami's forearm halting the advanced to Kimiko's thigh.

It was then that Kimiko lifted her body up from the ground while spinning to the left once. Her right leg was now the weapon of danger as it came down to the left of this Shinigami's body at an angle that would result in striking his left shoulder. Kimiko was attempting to weaken what appeared to be his dominate side in order to diminish his offensive capabilities. Whether the kick was successful or not however Kimiko would then proceed to roll across the ground and pick up her zanpakuto with the right hand and face the Shinigami awaiting his action with a grin.

[☾ Aevus | Umbra ☽]

It had seemed this woman needed no weapon to do damage, her body was by far more flexible than any sword Aevus had ever seen. That was the advantage of wielding oneself as a weapon, the martial arts were by far more complex to a swordsman who barely passed in Hakudo. His attack from behind had been for naught due to the fact he bluntly left himself open to an act of retaliation.

Her kick was quick and swift and Aevus had found his attack easily halted. As his left arm was lifted up from her leg, he was put into a rather vulnerable position. Though he knew bafflement would be the end of him, he would surely need to move. Acting forth solely on instinct, Aevus would lean backwards dodging the following kick.In a moments notice he had lifted himself up, jumping back to ready himself for a second strike.

'From the control of her kick, she is well versed in unarmed combat, the weapon is but a set back, that is the reason she threw it aside. I highly doubt it will handicap her though.’ Aevus kept in motion as he kept in thought, keenly looking for an opening, his sapphire eyes keeping well versed with her form. His eyes kept knit on any opening for him to take and the stance that she took yet he couldn't discern any style yet, at least not one he knew of.

'Her lithe body is well toned and as I noted she can react on a dime, a formidable foe with good balance to wit, she‘s also stronger than me’ Aevus recounted for how the girl could easily balance herself on one leg and the fact that she was able to stop his attack seemingly with ease and than it hit him. ’She also has some knowledge of how to stop my attacks even from behind, who is to say she wont again, attacking from the front would be suicide.’

Twirling his blade, just to hold it standard, Aevus would shortly eye the woman’s Nodachi for but a moment and than he would act. Taking ahold of the sheath of his blade, he would dip to the side on his toes before throwing it much like a javelin towards the girl’s head before continuing his attack. Just as the sheath was about to hit her he had acted, using shunpo, not to appear behind her but instead in front of her. Kneeling he had slashed upwards across her body, aiming for part of her torso but also moving the blade upwards in a way to hit the tip of her right brow. Perhaps with blood in her eyes he could gain the advantage.

[Kimiko Shihoin]

The first reaction to her left foot making contact under the forearm of this Shinigami causing his arm and zanpakuto to be raised above what he had aimed towards caused a grin of joy. As the princess twisted her body and lifted herself into the air ready to deliver her kick she saw the reaction of this man. She was completely surprised most of the time her instructors had told her that her best talents were she agility and hand to hand skills. Yet this Shinigami who seemed to be a new graduate just as she is was able to dodge her combo. Kimiko’s right foot touched the ground providing her with the support to lift her left leg up and spin her body on her right heel.

This allowed the young princess to roll to the right of the Shinigami once again with her back toward him. Kimiko knew she kept making risky maneuvers to execute incredible feats of agility yet she couldn’t allow herself to get carried away and lead to some kind of mistake. As she rolled over she picked up her zanpakuto with her left hand and then spun on her knees to face the Shinigami. “I have to watch out for his zanpakuto it’s obvious that this guy revolves his style on swordsmanship.” It was then that Kimiko couldn’t help, but smile. Though she wasn’t quite sure she was as strong as she thought it seemed others weren’t going to be weak which meant more competition.

It was that that the Shinigami twirled his zanpakuto changing the style to the standard grip that most combatants utilized when engaging in swordplay. Kimiko wasn’t entirely sure if she’d be able to even take this guy head on now especially considering most of her skill revolved around her unarmed talents. Though competition wouldn’t be fun without some kind of challenge to spicy it up. Kimiko raised to her feet and unsheathed her long nodachi from the prison only to cast it aside on the ground. Holding her zanpakuto over her right shoulder Kimiko smiled at the Shinigami.

“Lets go pretty boy!” just like that though the Shinigami seemed to shift his body and throw the sheath of his zanpakuto right towards her face. Kimiko was shocked for a moment at how accurate the throw was though she wasn’t going to let an action similarity to her previous one seal the win for an opponent. Moving her zanpakuto down from her right shoulder Kimiko slashed the sheath just as it was closing in only to witness the Shinigami appeared in front of her. Kimiko didn’t have the time to shunpo backwards and so the princess simply followed through her attack. If this Shinigami was skilled enough to maneuver his zanpakuto’s blade which now rose at an angle that would result in both blades clashing then her own blade would carve into him just as much as his did her.

[☾ Aevus | Umbra ☽]

Aevus's plan was a failure, a complete and utter failure. The flash of Kimoko's blade was to close for comfort. Yet of course his target was also close enough to strike. But he knew now, striking her would mean he too would be granted blade to flesh . There was simply no means of going back and he couldn't get out of this situation if he wanted to or not. Perhaps it was best that this fight was to end on a draw.

As intended he had met her flesh with his blade yet so had hers. Jumping backwards he let out a painful sigh, his eyes bulging faintly from the shooting pain. Aevus would grimace faintly as he settled himself across from the girl, his eyes holding her form within his sight. Yes the wound wasn't to deep and he could clearly keep fighting but a fight such as this amongst a fellow peer was clearly dimwitted and would do nothing for him.

Aevus had no intentions on shedding more blood on this girl and he definitely didn't intend on getting more bloodied by her hands either. Aevus wasn't one to give up in a fight but in training he normally was given a wooden weapon to spar with. So in a situation like this, it was completely different. He could actually kill her or her him, no mere bruises actual grievous life threatening wounds could be made. Yet this wasn't a fight to the death, no this was supposed to be a simple spar amongst graduates. Speaking of which Aevus had never met this girl at the academy before.

"I think we could call this one a draw." Aevus would allow these words to falter from his lips as he glanced over the girl. His eyes never passed from her form as he spoke. He didn't know if she would attack him or go along with his words, so he stayed ever so cautious. His left hand held his blade, while he held the right to his wound. If she had no intentions of giving up, he was certainly ready to fight back and perhaps subdue her if necessary that is if he actually could.

[Kimiko Shihoin]

Well at least her planned seemed to work out how she expected it too. Kimiko had been right to assume that her blade would cut clean through this Shinigami's sheath. She was also correct to assume her position of her own slash wasn’t going to clash with the other zanpakuto. This made it incredible hard though not to pull back her strike. Her slash had so much force behind it that Kimiko couldn’t stop and just fell victim to her own actions. In the following moment she felt the stink of metal cutting into her torso and then a small stink above her left eye.

She couldn’t help, but close the eye however she did see her own zanpakuto cut clean through the flesh of this other Shinigami. It wasn’t just her sight that gave her the actual knowledge as she had felt the resistance of his body pushing against her zanpakuto as it cut through it. Her breathing was heavier and faster she couldn’t help the intent to press her right hand against the gash on her chest. The blood was soaking her clothing and she saw that while the wound wasn’t entirely all that deep it would cause her to slow down and fight at a much weaker level than normal.

“Damn this fucking wound I can’t fight with something this big.” Kimiko just cursed the wound that she had been inflicted by this other Shinigami. Maybe she wasn’t as strong as she had been led to believe yet at the same time she couldn’t accept that. She had managed to inflict a wound that appeared to be just as if not more sever. Kimiko looked over to the dark haired Shinigami who allowed a sigh to escape his body. It seemed that this guy couldn’t take his eyes off of her. Kimiko wasn’t entirely sure if that was some kind of signal of a threat or compliment. Either way she wouldn’t give up if he planned to continue this battle she would never lose to anyone ever.

Kimiko couldn’t help the thought that perhaps she had barely passed the test to become a Shinigami and that she was actually weaker than the individual she was fighting. She pushed the thought aside due to the fact that she was looking right at the man and could see the damage she had managed to inflict on him matched the same he had done to her. There was no mistaking it the both of them were pretty much equals. That meant one of two things either both of them were failures and weak or both had the potential to change everything.

As the man spoke of ending the fight Kimiko simply grinned then sheathed her nodachi and held it back in her right hand. “Alright this time and this time alone we’ll stop here but next time we meet battle I’m claiming victory.” Kimiko walked over to the Shinigami smiling as she did so. Upon reaching him Kimiko extended her left hand making sure to use the one without her blood showing her Shinigami ally that he had her respect and that she wished to part as friendly rivals and not bitter adversaries. “My name is Kimiko Shihoin I’ll be waiting for our next encounter . . “

[☾ Aevus | Umbra ☽]

Aevus had a similar thought whirl through his head as he kept his gaze on the wounded Shinigami. Had he to barely even passed the qualifications of becoming a Shinigami? Could he actually be weaker than he initially thought and just have gotten lucky? Or perhaps those at the academy were just lenient and passed whoever walked on there doorstep. like some animal shelter giving away the dogs they found on the street for nothing.

Perhaps that is what he was, just a hound to sniff out wild foxes for his master. How pathetic that he hadn’t seen it that way before, a low ranking shinigami was but fodder to enemies that laid in wait outside. His days here could certainly be his last and this little spar showed him that truth. The blood on his hand showed him the truth and there was no denying it now. He had become just a dog to these people yet now the leash pulled even tighter around his neck it had become almost unbearable.

He could no longer escape from the clutches of his masters, he had certainly learned to much. Keeping his gaze ever so watchful, he was still rather wary of the girls advances even after she sheathed her blade. It set him at ease as she spoke but perhaps she could have been making a feint just to get close to him. Honestly he had no idea and being distrustful he kept his defenses up even after she spoke.

Her smile seemed sincere yet it to could also have been a lie and as she passed she would also reveal her identity to him. The name Shihoin hadn’t clicked in his mind as he heard it but he swore he had heard it once, in a dream. Maybe it was dream from one of his academy classes he tended to sleep through so passively. But whatever the meaning of the name, he’d know he’d see her again one day. “Aevus.” He would reply just loud enough for her to hear him.

[Amagai Kuchiki]

22 paragraph Kimiko + Draw: 270 TP
22 paragraph Aevus + Draw = 270 TP