Life's But a Walking Shadow [NDE, PG-13]

[Himitsu Kasumi'Oji]

Thread Title: Life's But a Walking Shadow [NDE, PG-13]
Participants: Shunsui Kasumi'Oji and Himitsu Misute
World: Soul Society
Death Setting: Non Death Enabled
Rating: PG-13
Location: The Squad 6 Barracks in the outdoor training grounds behind the building.
Special Conditions: None
Circumstances: The Vice Captain of Squad 6 has called for the Division 12 Third Seat to meet him in the Squad 6 Training Grounds with his Zanpakuto. Shunsui, who has not yet met the Himitsu, has no clue what to expect.

[Johnwaluigi]

Shunsui hesitated before tapping on the wooden door for a second time. He had not been waiting outside the Squad 6 barracks for long, but the summons of its vice-captain had seemed urgent, and he was not going to disrespect a man who was second from the top in one of the Seireitei's most famous squads. Its members were often some of the most powerful in the Soul Society, the legacy of its Captains was legendary, to say the least. In all of the books Shunsui had read concerning the Soul Society, Squad 6 had probably been mentioned the most.

Yet, it was a Squad which Shunsui had never had reason to interact with. In his, admittedly brief, time as a seated officer, he never worked with, trained with or even spoke with a single member of that Squad. Yet now he had been approached by Himitsu Misute, the Squad's vice-captain. The summons he had received were ambiguous to say the least, mainly due to their brevity. Shunsui had no idea what to expect from this meeting, but the fact that he had been specifically requested to bring his Zanpakuto indicated that it wasn't going to be for a cup of tea, or a discussion of his literary pursuits.

Shunsui lightly fingered the hilt of his ninjato, which hung in its scabbard by its waste. It had been a long time since he had fought someone, he hoped the edge had not become dulled from misuse. I'm afraid a Zanpakuto requires no maintenance, Master. Simply consider me like another limb, I am always ready for use. The voice of his Zanpakuto rang clear in his head. Sonekkamira, or Network, was as logical as ever.

Yes, Network-san, but even muscles can atrophy. But fencing and swordplay was an integral part of Shunsui, it would take a lot more than time to erase those abilities. Himitsu Misute had best be ready, because if it was a fight he wanted, Shunsui would be more than ready - regardless of the Vice-Captain's apparent superiority.

((OOC: Apologies for the poor opening post. Like I said, I'm still trying to get back into it.))

SPOILER: Click to show

{Shunsui's Stats and Skills}


Strength - [100] Points (50 with Shadow Reduction)

Speed - [175] Points (350 with Shadow Increase)

Spiritual Pressure - [300] Points (210 with Shadow Decrease)

Reiatsu Strength - [300] Points (390 with Shadow Increase)

Light Aura - [75] Points

Dark Aura - [25] Points

Instinct - [150] Points (113 with Shadow Decrease)

Senses - [125] Points (94 with Shadow Decrease)

Energy sensory - [150] Points (225 with Shadow Increase)

Healing Expertise - [0] Points


Total SP: [1300] Points


Skills

[Mental Skill: Memory] {3}

[Mental Skill: Analysing] {3}

[Mental Skill: Calm Mind] {3}

[Battle Skill: Weapon: Rapier] {3}

[Battle Skill: Martial Arts: Aikido] {1}

[Body Skill: Stealth] {1}

[Special Skill: Hoho] {1}

[Himitsu Kasumi'Oji]

If Shunsui listened carefully, he might here the sound of voices and conversation seeping through the cracks around the wooden door of the barracks. His first knock was swallowed up by the voices in the barracks. After a moment, the entire barracks were instantly silenced. The door would open for Shunsui, and his first sight would be the enormous figure of Himitsu Misute, the Squad 6 Vice Captain. Now, enormous may not be the best word compared to Gillian hollows and giants, but for a regular person, Himitsu was definitely enormous. He stood easily at a height of 6’8” and had to bend his neck downward just so Shunsui would be able to see his full face.

“Hello, Shunsui. I’m sorry for my sudden and random request to meet you, but I’m glad you were able to make it. Please come this way.” Shunsui was invited to follow the large man in the Shinigami uniform through the halls of the barracks. He would quickly notice that Himitsu not only wore the Vice Captain badge on his shoulder but also looked different than most shinigami in another sense. The white shirt and sash most Shinigami wore with their uniform was replaced with an similar blue cloth.

The walk would take a few minutes, so Shunsui would have time to ask any questions or make small talk, but Himitsu was more than comfortable with the silence. After a few turns down the halls, Himitsu and Shunsui would reach a door at the end of the passage. “After you.” The Lieutenant gestured for Shunsui to enter first, and if he did, he would find a large room the size of half of a football stadium. It was filled with Squad 6 Shinigami sparring with wooden swords and enhancing their combat abilities side-by-side.

As soon as they entered, every head in the room would turn to look at their second-in-command and the Third Seat of Squad 12 that accompanied him for some reason. “Hey, it’s Himitsu-fukataicho. What’s that Kasumi’Oji guy doing with him?” “Is Himitsu-fukataicho working on a science project with the 12 Division?” “Did Sozen-taicho request the presence of a Kasumi’Oji? Is Taiho in on this too?” The Shinigami would whisper amongst themselves while staring at their superiors, but Himitsu paid them no mind. He merely walked down the center of the room without even meeting any of the eyes of gossipers. Rumors would spread, but that didn’t matter.

“Get back to training,” he would tell them just before leaving through the door at the end of the room. Hopefully, Shunsui would follow. They would then find themselves in an open outdoor area the size of a baseball field. It would have training dummies, Kido ranges, small circular arenas, practice swords, and just about everything you could imagine training with. However, Himitsu walked past all of the equipment. After all, he had his Zanpakuto strapped to his waist and Shunsui carried his as well. That was all they needed.

However, there was one peculiar closed off area that Himitsu seemed to be walking toward. It looked like a small, circular arena with a fifty-meter diameter. It was surrounded by 10 foot tall brick walls that were coated with invisible reiatsu barriers. The idea was to contain any destructive forces that could pose a threat to the nearby buildings. It was suitable battle enviornment for a battle between a Third Seat and a Vice Captain.

Himitsu opened the door to the arena and led them in. He then went to the center before turning to face his guest. “So, Shunsui, I brought you here for a few reasons, but first, let’s start with just one: to test your battle ability. Even though your Squad doesn’t engage in combat much, you’re expected to be able to hold your own against someone like me. So try taking out that Zanpakuto and show me what you’ve got.”

The Lieutenant drew his own blade and held it with his right hand comfortably. However, he wasn’t quiet done yet. Strangely enough, he pulled his weapon’s scabbard from its strap at his waist and attached the end to the butt of his sword’s hit. The end result was a spear-like weapon with a blade at the top. It was about as tall as Himitsu himself. It was a strange sealed Zanpakuto, but then again, Shunsui didn’t have the traditional katana either. The real question was whether he knew how to use his weapon or not.

“Oh, whoops, I completely forgot my manners. I’m Himitsu, by the way. Himitsu Misute. But you already knew that.”

SPOILER: Click to show

{Stats and Skills}

Strength - [100] Points (60)

Speed - [300] Points

Spiritual Pressure - [300] Points

Reiatsu Strength - [400] Points (700)

Light Aura - [90] Points

Dark Aura - [10] Points

Instinct - [100] Points

Senses - [150] Points

Energy sensory - [50] Points

Healing Expertise - [0] Points

Total SP: [1400] Points

Abilities

• Mental Incantation Level 3

• Weapon: Staff Level 3

• Battle Analysis Level 3

• Battle Skill: Kido Level 3

• Strength of Will Level 3

[Johnwaluigi]

Shunsui was in the middle of adjusting his cravat when the door swung open. It took him only a fraction of a second to realise that the man who had answered the door was the same as the man who had originally summoned him: Himitsu Misute. Not wanting his manners to let him down at this early stage, Shunsui bowed formally. "Good afternoon, Vice-captain-sama." Shunsui felt the suffix was appropriate. Although Shinigami were not really considered to be answerable to a Vice-Captain of a separate squad, Himitsu did technically outrank Shunsui. But that was no matter. As long as the Squad 6 Vice-Captain was competent, Shunsui would get along with him just fine.

“Hello, Shunsui. I’m sorry for my sudden and random request to meet you, but I’m glad you were able to make it. Please come this way.”
"Not at all, Vice-Captain-sama.
Himitsu led them through the corridors of the barracks, occasionally turning down various corridors. To any architect, the design of the Seireitei''s buildings would have been an absolute nightmare. They were horrendously inefficient, and we're a nightmare to navigate. Shunsui estimated that even in the Squad 12 barracks, which had been designed with efficiency in mind, the average travel time far exceeded the amount of time people spent working there. All in the name of confusing invaders, apparently, yet the enemies of the Seireitei were often so proficient at sensory navigation or possessed enough brute strength that it made Shunsui think that it was just a lazy excuse for bad design.

Shunsui then realised that he had not said a single word to the Vice-captain throughout their trip. However, the Vice-captain had also not said a word to him. The silence was not awkward, just companionable. Shunsui did not like people who expected small talk. Inane chatter was bad for the memory, it created a load of useless data. Instead, Shunsui could take this time to get to know the Vice-Captain a little better. As he was walking behind Himitsu, the Vice-captain would not see Shunsui's eyes scanning his uniform for every little detail.

The alterations made to the uniform were the most obvious. Instead of the traditional white cloth, he wore blue instead. This, however, yielded little information, other than that Himitsu valued either comfort or style and was not an ardent traditionalist. His badge was displayed prominently, so it could be deduced that he took pride in his rank. However, what interested Shunsui the most was the blade that hung from the vice-captain's waste.

Shunsui had not wasted time before coming here. Squad 12 had dossiers on every Shinigami of merit, and it had not taken long to source this particular Shinigami's file. Himitsu was a proficient staff wielder, a problem for a traditional fencer like Shunsui. His massive size also meant that he had incredible reach, regardless of his weapon. If it was a training battle he wanted, Shunsui would immediately be on the back foot. His release was also going to be little use in making up the difference.

Shunsui was so lost in thought that he nearly collided with Himitsu when he stopped before the door to the practice hall. The vice-captain politely raised his arm, holding the door open.
“After you.”
Shunsui nodded to show his thanks, and immediately stepped through the door. The reaction of the Squad 6 members was immediate. Heads swung to see the unwelcome newcomer, a Kasumi'Oji. Squad 6 was renowned for its patriotic behaviour, so it would naturally be an affront to them to see their Vice-Captain associate with the Seireitei's least respectable noble house. It seemed the reputation of the family had gone from bad to worse after Taiho's rise to power, as well as Azumi's disappearance.

However, Himitsu quickly put them in their place, and motioned to Shunsui to accompany him across the hall. They entered a sectioned-off area, leaving the training equipment behind them. As expected, this encounter was not to be a friendly discussion.
“So, Shunsui, I brought you here for a few reasons, but first, let’s start with just one: to test your battle ability. Even though your Squad doesn’t engage in combat much, you’re expected to be able to hold your own against someone like me. So try taking out that Zanpakuto and show me what you’ve got.”
As expected. Shunsui unconsciously adjusted his stance, slipping into the all-too-comfortable role of a fencer. He drew his Zanpakuto from its sheath. Like Himitsu, he did not wield a traditional katana, but rather a ninjato - a more modern, straight-edged variant. It was far more suitable to Shunsui's needs.

Shunsui raised the point of his blade until it was pointing at the vice-captain's forehead. This was not an offensive move, it merely gave Shunsui a better sense of scale and distance. However, he had already re classed Himitsu from superior to opponent. He was now a test subject, someone whose buttons needed to be pressed, their boundaries pushed. Shunsui hoped to contribute a lot more information to the dossier he had just read.
"I hope I can meet the high standards your Squad sets, vice-captain-sama"

The honorific had barely left Shunsui's mouth before he started to move. He immediately shifted his ninjato, prepared to block the Vice-Captain's lance. This attack was less about dealing damage, more about getting close enough to limit the functionality of his weapon. However, Shunsui was also wary of Kido attacks. The file had indicated a strong affinity for Kido, particularly mental incantations. But Shunsui was confident in his Energy Sensory and Speed that he could dodge a Kido spell, even at this close range, even if he would have to use Shunpo.

As his blade was occupied with keeping Himitsu's lance at bay, Shunsui decided to step forward with his trailing leg, shifting his body weight forward, and giving his other arm slightly more strength. He was not usually so offensive, his experience with Aikido meant he was more reactive than active, but someone needed to be the aggressor in this battle, and he was interested to see how the vice-captain reacted to a situation where his lance was not optimal.

Shunsui was not strong, so the uppercut would probably do nothing other than leave Himitsu winded if it connected. However, the purpose of this battle was not to kill. This was a true test of ability.

Combat Posts: 1/6

[Himitsu Kasumi'Oji]

Himitsu couldn’t make him his mind about the Kasumi’Oji. A part of him wanted to like his fellow Shinigami. After all, he was very polite and hadn’t given Himitsu much of a reason to dislike him. The guy was quiet and hadn’t done much yet. However, Himitsu didn’t intend to befriend Shunsui either. He invited the third seat to the barracks with a slightly hostile attitude. He didn’t mean to judge Shunsui before meeting him, but Himitsu couldn’t help but treat that name as a label.

Kasumi’Oji…

Shunsui belonged to the most notorious family in Soul Society. It was no secret that the Kasumi’Oji were heavily involved in illicit activity outside of the Gotei 13. They played a key role in the black markets of both Soul Society and the Human World. And the current head of that family, Taiho Kasumi’Oji, the Captain of Squad 8, is a deceptive serpent. Himitsu didn’t trust her in anyway. As a Captain, she was expected to be a model for all Shinigami, but Himitsu knew her interests didn’t lie in protecting the human world.

Ever since Himitsu had met Kazura Uzaki, he had become aware of the corruption within Seireitei and decided that it was his job to purge the ranks of disloyal Shinigami. Too many humans have died because Shinigami were too busy pursuing their own individual interests to respond to Human World threats. If the Kasumi’Oji were poison in Soul Society’s ranks, then Himitsu needed to clear them out.

However, he wouldn’t do so impulsively and collectively. They would have to be evaluated individually, and if Himitsu decided that Shunsui was worthy of being a Shinigami, then great. If not, he was going to have some issues with the Third Seat. But Himitsu wasn’t going to get ahead of himself. After all, this fight was a test to determine how he felt about Shunsui.

There we go, Himitsu. You’re finally learning a thing or two from me. That’s how men do it! A true man talks with his fists! Put that oversized stick down and get your knuckles bloody so that Shunsui guy can truly feel your manliness! Flex Powers was a character. Himitsu had just received a new Zanpakuto a week or two ago, and the spirit that inhabited it, Tenshi, kept things interesting. But he wouldn’t help Himitsu out of he was referred to as Tenshi. This Zanpakuto spirit renamed himself. He was Flex Powers, and that’s the only name he answered to.

And Himitsu knew better to take Flex’s advice. Shunsui didn’t skip a beat and lunged toward Himitsu immediately. However, the Vice Captain wasn’t the target. Instead, Shunsui locked his ninjato with center of Himitsu’s glaive. If Shunsui was hoping for a physical fight, it was only logical that he’d work on countering Himitsu’s weapon first. He fought with his head, and that was a good quality to see every once in a while.

But he seemed to forget who he was dealing with. Himitsu was proficient is several forms of combat. After all, one doesn’t become a Vice Captain easily. The Lieutenant was most famous for his ability to dish out powerful Kido, but he was more than capable of holding his own in a physical fight. Shunsui only moved a little bit faster than he did, so Himitsu was easily able to keep up with the Third Seat’s movements.

Shunsui got up close and physical fairly quickly. Upon locking blades, he stepped into Himitsu’s space and committed to an uppercut targeting the larger man’s jaw. Being 6’8”, Himitsu’s head was decently high up. Therefore, it would be difficult for Shunsui to land a quick blow on Himitsu’s chin. The Vice Captain had more than enough time to pivot away on left foot so that his glaive stayed between himself and Shunsui.

While Shunsui was still leaning forward from his attempt at an uppercut, Himitsu would bring katana portion of his glaive downward diagonally with his right hand guiding it. The movement was natural with his pivot. By extending his right arm, he would be able to target the arm Shunsui stretched forward while going for the punch.

No! Himitsu, he asked to meet you in a test of a man’s strength and you hide behind your damn stick. What a shame.

Flex, you misunderstand. I’m the one testing him, and if you know anything about me, then you’d understand why I can’t lose.

[Johnwaluigi]

Shunsui slowly felt the weight of the vice-captain's lance/staff/glaive lift from the blade of his ninjato as his opponent began to pivot. It was a natural counter to something as straightforward as an uppercut. Himitsu guided his spear with a kind of fluidity that one only sees from those who have mastered their weapon. Shunsui didn't want to admit it, yet anyway, but the Vice-Captain certainly seemed to have earned his title. However, he had made somewhat of an error.

It seemed he was content to play along with Shunsui immediately beginning a sword fight, and was not going to play to his strengths. There was little difference in their physical capabilities. The true difference lay in their Reiatsu based abilities. Shunsui was well able to sense the difference in their strengths of Reiatsu, he would lose a battle of Kido before it even began. So Shunsui's true test would be to prolong the physical portion of their battle for a good while longer.
Shunsui had to make his move in a split second, lest he lost an arm. The plan formulated in his head in an instant. Its basis was simple, almost too simple if Shunsui was being frank. The problem with a weapon as long as the Vice-Captain's was that it allowed for some interesting applications of the Law of Lever. The principle of it was elementary really. Archimedes' quote resurfaced in his mind.

"Give me a place to stand, and I shall move the Earth."

Shunsui didn't skip a beat. He reapplied pressure with his blade on Himitsu's glaive, but slid the blade of his ninjato down, until it was below Himitsu's hand. The sudden application of a force, which was quite a distance from the fulcrum of Himitsu's Zanpakuto, would have quite a large turning effect. Shunsui was less sure about the difference in their physical strengths than the difference in their Reiatsu strengths, but Himitsu should have a hard time simply ignoring the new force. The path of his blade would surely be altered.

But this was only the beginning. Himitsu had made another error. Although Shunsui was facing him head-on (not an ideal position for a fencer), pivoting into this position was a dangerous move. Shunsui was well-educated in the physics of centres of gravity and moments, and pivots were an all-too-easy opening to exploit. Shunsui began by activating his Shunpo. He, however, took off in a slightly direction.

He pushed off with his left leg first, causing his body to spin slightly to the right. This meant the shoulder of his arm not holding his blade would collide with Himitsu instead of his chest, causing the impact to be more severe. Himitsu may have towered over Shunsui, but it was difficult to ignore a man-sized bullet colliding with you head on. It was not the most elegant tactic Shunsui had ever employed, but it would certainly be effective.

Because now another physical concept came into play, that of momentum. Shunsui could never have hoped to topple a man like Himitsu with brute force alone. However, Shunsui was now moving at an incredible speed thanks to Shunpo. While Shunsui would hopefully be nearly brought to rest by the collision, it should send Himitsu flying. Doubly so because his entire body weight was acting through a single foot, due to his pivot.

And it wasn't like he could pivot away this time either. Aside from the fact that he would still have one foot in the air when the collision would occur, his weapon was also locked with Shunsui's. While he was able to pivot last time, doing so would now be quite challenging. While Shunsui did not feel that this was Checkmate, it was certainly at least Check. He was interested to see how Himitsu would react.

Reiatsu: 2050/2100; -50 for Shunpo
Combat Posts: 2/6

[Himitsu Kasumi'Oji]

Shunsui had cornered Himitsu. Before he had even used Shunpo, the Vice Captain saw all of the signs of the attack. First of all, it would be suicidal to collide with someone head on at such a ridiculous speed without first preparing the body. When Shunsui put his shoulder between himself and Himitsu, he would have needed to tuck his head behind it and clench his entire body. His elbow would need to be placed right beside his ribs. He would need to lean forward slightly. All of these signals were red flags that the Vice Captain would have no trouble detecting in an instant. However, Himitsu couldn’t fight such a reckless attack physically.

And so Shunsui had managed to force Himitsu to use his best asset: Kido. The Vice Captain was one of the greatest Kido-users in all of Soul Society, except for the unique Zanpakuto-less Shinigami in the Kido Corps, but that still allowed him to channel his reiatsu at an incredible rate. Thanks to his analytical skill, he had managed to execute a technique fast enough so that it perfectly matched Shunsui’s step technique.

And that move was Hado #1: Sho. But Himitsu didn’t extend his hands at all, so how could he cast Sho and direct it at his target? The truth is that when someone becomes a true Kido master, he is able to cast techniques that usually require the hand or fingers to channel the reiatsu instead through other parts of the body. In this case, Sho was going to be cast from his chest so that Shunsui would be sent flying backwards from the power of Himitsu’s reiatsu strength.

Because the other man’s body was leaning forward and his weight was placed at his shoulder, the sudden force that threw him backward would likely send him off balance. Without any acrobatic skill, he would be sprawling backwards, struggling to regain his balance. In those moments where he couldn’t control his own movement, the Lieutenant would strike again. This time, a red beam of light, Bakuod #9: Geki, would shoot right out of his chest and chase Shunsui’s body down. If the laser makes contact, his body would be immobile and roll lifelessly on the ground until the friction or the wall at the end of the arena brings him to a stop.

Shunsui clearly specialized in physical combat. After all, he moved faster than Himitsu did and relied on punches and his weapon. Direct attacks like that intended ram were rare for spiritual fighters, so Shunsui definitely preferred to get up-close and personal. However, in a non-release fight, Himitsu had every advantage. He could keep up with speed, he was larger, his weapon had more reach, and his Kido expertise gave him far more versatility. Shunsui was outmatched, but he had an opportunity to close the gap.

“I’m sure that Zanpakuto may be useful about now.”

Reiatsu Remaining: 2950/3000 (-25 for Sho, -25 for Geki)

[Johnwaluigi]

Shunsui stumbled backwards, having been hit with the Vice-Captain's Kido. The experience was not at all pleasant. He had not anticipated the Vice-Captain being able to fire Kido at will, without incantation from areas of the body other than his hands. So the Sho from Himitsu's chest had, admittedly, caught him off guard. And the Geki the Vice-Captain immediately followed it up with only added the insult to Shunsui's injury. He was sent flying back, completely out of control, until he collided with the wall. Sonekkamira flew from his hand, landing with a decidedly undignified clatter on the ground.

However, Shunsui was not a proud man. If the Vice-Captain had expected his attack to draw a reaction from the Squad 12 third seat, he would be disappointed. Shunsui calmly propped himself, dusting his uniform down and adjusting his cravat. He then deliberately went over, and picked up his fallen Zanpakuto. A lesser man would be disgraced, in a rage over being so openly outmatched. Not Shunsui. He calmly accepted that this was the reason that Himitsu outranked him, but the Vice-Captain had not called an end to their spar yet.

“I’m sure that Zanpakuto may be useful about now.”

Himitsu may not have intended it this way, but that line sounded more like a taunt than anything else. Shunsui found himself trying really hard not to dislike the Vice-Captain, perhaps he was more of a prideful person than he had thought. Careful Shunsui... Don't get hot-headed. Shunsui slowly brought his blade back to the usual position for a fencer, and settled back into his usual stance. He had intended on testing Himitsu today, but it seemed that he was the one being tested. However, the Vice-Captain's taunt needed answering.

"I think you'll find that my Zanpakuto is slightly more useful for science than combat, vice-captain-sama. I assure you, you won't be missing out on anything if I don't release today."

Shunsui was not tired, but for some reason there was a quiver of fatigue in his voice. Perhaps being so completely outmatched was affecting him more than he thought? There were some other nasty tricks he had prepared, courtesy of the Kasumi'Oji clan, but they were hardly appropriate against the seemingly honest and straightforward Vice-Captain. And anyway, battles where one's life force was on the line in place of their Reiatsu were significantly more dangerous. Shunsui wasn't sure if he could hold back enough of that power to stop hurting the Vice-Captain severely.

No, this had to be done the traditional way. Shunsui would have to put up the best fight he could. But he could take this chance to catch his breath and settle his mind. He had never been one for prolonged battles, so this was the perfect chance to gather his thoughts before proceeding. He guessed, however, that the Vice-Captain would not be satisfied if he simply stood there.

"Vice-Captain-sama, if you don't mind me asking, why did you summon me here tonight?"

This is a rest post

[Himitsu Kasumi'Oji]

"I think you'll find that my Zanpakuto is slightly more useful for science than combat, vice-captain-sama. I assure you, you won't be missing out on anything if I don't release today." Himitsu’s mouth bent downward slightly in a miniscule frown. Was this the best Shunsui could do in a fight? Then again, he specialized in progressing Seireitei on a technological basis, so Himitsu couldn’t expect him to be too strong.

Shunsui was definitely tired, and he couldn’t possibly be enjoying the blow he just got from Himitsu’s Kido combination. The Vice Captain surely surprised his sparring partner with that little stunt, and it possibly through Shunsui off both psychologically and physically. After all, it was a clear point in Himitsu’s favor if anyone was keeping score. But for the meantime, the fight would be pause until Shunsui dusted himself off and felt ready to jump back into battle.

Though Shunsui decided it was time to get some questions answered first. "Vice-Captain-sama, if you don't mind me asking, why did you summon me here tonight?" Himitsu couldn’t help but smile sheepishly and scratch the back of his head to keep his awkward hands busy. “To be honest, Shunsui, I invited you over to get to know you.” Himitsu seemed innocent enough, and though he wasn’t quite lying, his words weren’t completely honest.

Luckily, he was fairly straightforward and didn’t want to leave Shunsui in the dark for too long. “If you don’t mind me asking, what does being a Shinigami mean to you?” It was a plain question, and after giving the other man a chance to answer, Himitsu would continue. “I feel like Seireitei isn’t made up of Shinigami committed to their task of protecting innocent souls in the human world. I see people with selfish intentions filling the Shinigami ranks, even in positions as high as Captaincies. I was wondering if I could rely on you as an ally or… or maybe we see things differently.”

Himitsu didn’t want to make any threats, but he couldn’t have been clearer. If Shunsui wasn’t a model Shinigami, he was on Himitsu’s black list. A lot was expected of a Third Seat in terms of leadership and fighting against evils such as hollows and malicious individuals. If Shunsui didn’t meet Himitsu’s standard in terms of morality, the Vice Captain wasn’t going to be friendly.

[Johnwaluigi]

Shunsui could see the Vice-Captain's mouth turn downwards in a small frown. He was obviously disappointed in Shunsui's performance so far, disappointed that Shunsui had caved so easily to his surprise Kido. Shunsui felt a small pang of shame, but dismissed it quickly. Shunsui was not egotistical, in fact one could say that he was the antithesis of arrogant. However, this sorry display had damaged his ego slightly, even if he was loath to admit it. He resolved to pull his act together.

He drew in a deep breath, and settled into his stance. He needed to calmly assess the situation. Himitsu was at an advantage, obviously. Although Shunsui was slightly faster, Himitsu outstripped him in terms of range (because of both his lance and his mastery of Kido) and strength. Shunsui could not possibly win in a head-on fight, especially if Himitsu was so adept at Kido that he could fire a spell from any part of his body. No, Shunsui would have to rely on a slightly more... dishonourable way of fighting.

But Himitsu had to first answer Shunsui's question. “If you don’t mind me asking, what does being a Shinigami mean to you? I feel like Seireitei isn’t made up of Shinigami committed to their task of protecting innocent souls in the human world. I see people with selfish intentions filling the Shinigami ranks, even in positions as high as Captaincies. I was wondering if I could rely on you as an ally or… or maybe we see things differently.” Shunsui nodded his head, carefully considering the words of the Vice-Captain.

To be honest, this thought had crossed Shunsui's mind several times. Many of the Shinigami in the Seireitei were unfit to serve, and their behaviour annoyed Shunsui, who was someone who had always been a stickler for protocol. Himitsu's goal of weeding out unfit Shinigami was a noble one, and one that Shunsui admired him for, however...

Some of the most notorious members of the Seireitei were members of the Kasumi'Oji family; a family which Shunsui was now a part of, and to whom he owed a tremendous debt. He had been without a home, yet they took him in... Well, Azumi had taken him in, but now that she had disappeared... Shunsui was a man whose loyalties were currently in disarray; the Vice-Captain could not have picked a worse, or perhaps a better, time to ask these questions. What was the purpose of the Shinigami for Shunsui? What function was he fulfilling? He had a hunch that Himitsu would not be satisfied with the answer "following orders".

"Well, Vice-Captain-sama, our primary role as Shinigami is to defend the Living from those who conspire against them, and the protection of the Seireitei, under the orders of the Captain-Commander. My secondary purpose as a Squad 12 member is to provide the technology and data required to fulfil those first two goals effectively. ... and I would agree that there are those among us who are not fully committed to those goals." Shunsui conveniently 'forgot' the "what it means to you" part of Himitsu's question. He would have to do a bit more searching before he could furnish an answer to that.

But Himitsu had initiated combat before conversation, which indicated that he was more concerned about finding out Shunsui's intentions through his fighting style than his rhetoric. Shunsui could only hope that his slightly less-than-honourable style would not reflect poorly on his character in Himitsu's eyes. Combat with an ally was tricky, one could never be really sure how far one should go. However, Shunsui felt that the time called for one of his little 'tricks'.

People of Shunsui's disposition were often inclined to carry small throwing weapons in combat, such as throwing knives or shruikens. Shunsui still possessed a throwing item, but it was one that probably stretched the limits of the term 'weapon'. Kaminokemuri were small little boxes that were perfect for causing a distraction, as when activated they issued copious amounts of steam, as well as some sparks. Shunsui, with his free hand, slipped one from his belt. He was quite stealthy, so Himitsu should not have noticed the small little box in his hand, nor the action with which Shunsui had removed it.

Shunsui pushed off with his back leg, initiating a lunge, and hopefully disguising the barely audible crack of the wooden box breaking. The chemical reaction would now begin, and shortly the area would be covered in a cloud of thick steam. However, it would not occur immediately, in fact there was a considerable delay between the initial reaction and its visible results. He would need to fill this time with a small distraction.

Keeping the little box clenched in his hand, Shunsui continued on with his lunge, aiming for the arm with which Himitsu held his lance. Shunsui held his blade at a slight angle, so it would only glance off Himitsu's arm rather than prierce it straight through. But this was only the prelude to the real battle, because while the field was clear, Shunsui was at a distinct disadvantage. But when the field was clouded, perhaps the battle would not be so one-sided...

Combat Posts: 1/6

-1 Kaminokemuri

[Himitsu Kasumi'Oji]

Himitsu didn’t think that Shunsui would be intimate enough with Himitsu to share his ambitions and convictions. The two were barely acquaintances and Shunsui didn’t come off as the type of person to open up to the Vice Captain, but Himitsu didn’t expect the man to stick to the textbook duties of a Shinigami. He was right, of course, but every Shinigami agreed to those responsibilities. What made Shunsui different from Kagami Murai, Taiho Kasumi’Oji, and Raion Souretsu, all of who put their own agendas before their duties as Soul Reapers.

But there was one thing Shunsui said that sounded ‘real’ to Himitsu. “ ... and I would agree that there are those among us who are not fully committed to those goals." There it was. To some degree, Shunsui agreed with Himitsu. The Gotei 13 wasn’t pure, and that fact couldn’t always be ignored. Maybe Shunsui was a good guy when it came down to it.

But Himitsu couldn’t be sure yet. Shunsui seemed to avoid the bulk of the question, and that couldn’t have been an accident. The Third Seat is scientific and calculating. He doesn’t overlook things, so Himitsu could only decide that Shunsui’s incomplete answer was deliberate. So, was he trying not to upset Himitsu? Was he not sure yet himself? Himitsu didn’t quite get the answer he was looking for, but he still had several opportunities to dig deeper.

And one of those opportunities was quickly approaching. Shunsui was first to make a move. As he readied his blade and lunged forward, Himitsu could hear a distinct crack that stood out from the other sounds of the Third Seat’s movements. Himitsu’s hearing was at the level of a wild animal’s, so he can pick out subtle sounds with relative ease. It also came to his attention as Shunsui lunged that he was concealing something in his free hand, something small and blunt but potentially dangerous.

And so, as Shunsui made his attack, Himitsu was far less concerned about the blade making its way to his arm than he was about what Shunsui was hiding. After all, when the other man’s Zanpakuto connected with Himitsu’s arm, nothing would happen. It would be blocked like it the arm was made of spiritual steel. Bakudo #68: Ganoretto was ideal for turning his arms into shields.

Shunsui’s blade would be blocked by the Vice Captain’s arm, but Himitsu didn’t counter attack. Instead, he just took a step back while maintaining a defensive stance with his glaive in front of him. Shunsui could pursue, but something about how he avoided rushing and moved comfortably. Most would be trying to get an attack in as quickly as possible, but it seemed like Himitsu wasn’t trying to stay engaged against Shunsui.

If Shunsui kept at it in hopes to use the momentum from the Vice Captain’s retreat, then Himitsu would be more than willing to maintain his defenses until he had the opportunity to disengage. If Shunsui noticed the implications of his fallback, the Vice Captain would take the opportunity to get a few words in. He held his staff-like blade calmly with his hardened right hand, resting the butt on the ground. Although he stood tall and powerfully, Himitsu didn’t seem like he was fighting to win. He was definitely focused, but there was something very open and ‘human’ about him. He wasn’t trying to analyze Shunsui, he was trying to understand the other man. And to do that, Himitsu himself had to open up.

“When I was a Fourth Seat in Squad 10, I had a run-in with the Segunda Espada, Kuroi Nato, once. I can’t say it was the best experience I’ve ever had. I couldn’t hurt Kuroi if I tried, and I definitely did, but all I ended up with was a crushed spirit and blackened body. Laying on the ground, I couldn’t move as a rescue team arrived. There goal was to bring me back safe, but Kuroi didn’t like that much. He slaughtered every last one of them and made sure I saw it all. And the worst part is that right when he finished, he just left. He thought it was better for me to live in pain than kill me. Since that day, I swore I would never sit back and watch as people died. Humans, Shinigami, anyone. That’s what being a Shinigami means to me, and I plan on dying for those same values.”

Himitsu’s voice slowly escalated through his short speech, and each word was filled with densely-packed emotion and passion. He was angry, miserable, determined, and ambitious. Kuroi was still far out of his league, but Himitsu was still training. He was still fighting. So why was he telling Shunsui all of this? Why did it matter to Himitsu if he thought Shunsui wasn’t completely committed to protecting innocent human souls.

The answer is simple: Himitsu believed in people. Maybe Shunsui wasn’t sure about what he thought was saving, what he was fighting for. If Himitsu showed Shunsui who he was as a person and gave the other man a peak into what made Himitsu who he was, what made him so passionate about his cause, then maybe Shunsui would understand Himitsu. Himitsu couldn’t fight a battle against evil alone. He needed friends.

“Repent, Tenshi.”

And Himitsu’s blade, in a brilliant show of flashing lights, suddenly transformed into a full midnight blue glaive with a silver, curved blade at the top. The first thing Himitsu did was use his expertise with a staff to spin and swing it rapidly around himself three times with several large arcs. The movements were fast and precise. Had something been in the way, it would certainly have been sliced through. In fact, if Shunsui looked carefully, the air around the Vice Captain where the glaive passed through was shimmering slightly. Those cuts that Himitsu placed were somehow locked in space. They would parry any sword strike that Shunsui attempted. If he tried running through it, he would be sliced in half. Himitsu wasn’t messing around anymore. This was Shunsui’s chance to really fight.

“So tell me, Shunsui, this time for real, what does being a Shinigami mean to you? No, what does being alive mean to you? We all have something to live for. We might not know it right off the bat, but the experiences we go through and the people we meet, they all help us find that thing that keeps us going. The thing we fight for. If you really have something to fight for, anything at all, prove it to me. Show me how strong your will is.”

Reiatsu Remaining: 2350/3000 (-400 for Ganoretto, -200 for Shikai)

Shikai: 1/10

Ganoretto Right Arm: 1/10

[Johnwaluigi]

Shunsui grimaced as his blade clashed off Himitsu's arm, as the collision sent an unpleasant amount of feedback back along his own blade. This was obviously some technique that Shunsui could not use, or else the Squad 6 Vice-Captain had undergone body modification surgery without Squad 12's permission - which was unlikely, given Himitsu's obviously 'good guy' aura. He wouldn't exactly be the type to go off and do something as crazy as that without complying to the regulations that were already in place...

Or might he? He seemed pretty revolutionary in his idea to root out the corruption present at the heart of the Seireitei itself. He would have to be aware that such a move would trod on a lot of important toes - so to speak - and would probably end in Himitsu's defeat. If Shunsui had learned one thing as a soldier, it was that corruption is nearly impossible to root out for a single man. Everyone has amazing aspirations to 'change the system', but most of these end up with the soldier in question being booted from the squad for insubordination.

Shunsui quickly noted that Himitsu had failed to counterattack, and that his eyes were tracking Shunsui's left hand. So he had noticed it. Shunsui could feel the pressure building in his hand as the Kaminokemuri began to create its smoke, and he would occasionally be stung by the odd spark which leapt from the box. Fortunately, it had not fully activated yet. Just a few more moments... Shunsui halted his advance, and stepped back easily into his default stance. If Himitsu was going to wait, so could Shunsui.

Since that day, I swore I would never sit back and watch as people died. Humans, Shinigami, anyone. That’s what being a Shinigami means to me, and I plan on dying for those same values.”

Himitsu's speech was certainly passionate, but to Shunsui it only reminded him of the speeches he had heard during his time as a human, the propaganda designed to seduce young men to fight for the Third Reich. That was not to say that Shunsui disagreed with Himitsu, only that his speech and motivations bore all the hallmarks of a recruitment speech. Himitsu was looking for allies, so that he didn't need to stand alone on the front lines in his personal battle against tyranny.

And Shunsui would have stood with him in a heartbeat, if he had asked two years previously, when Shunsui was without a home or a rank. But now, Shunsui's loyalties were divided between the Seireitei and the Kasumi'Oji. He had a debt to pay to the noble family - specifically Azumi - and he knew that joining Himitsu outright would be acting directly against that goal. Because, while Himitsu simply wanted to save people, he was also acknowledging that to do so, he would have to root out the corruption in the Seireitei - i.e. families such as the Kasumi'Oji.

Shunsui had a choice: he could withhold parts of the truth, and always the Vice-Captain to trust him as an ally, or he could be brutally honest, and possibly make the Vice-Captain an enemy.

"I apologise, Vice-Captain-sama, for not being direct with you earlier. While I agree with your honourable goals completely, I perceive here a duty divided - between my office as a Shinigami, and my position as a Kasumi'Oji family member. Say what you like about my family's reputation, Azumi-sensei took me in when I had nowhere else to go, and I owe her - and by extension her family - a great deal. So I would not be completely honest in saying that I do not take up my blade for the good of the Seireitei and the World of the Living alone, I must also fight on behalf of my family. Once again, my sincere apologies, Vice-Captain-sama."

It was the wordiest speech Shunsui had ever given. He hoped that Himitsu would appreciate the dilemma Shunsui faced (and perhaps he might be able to pick out the Shakespeare quote?) while also understanding that Shunsui was on his side, as long as Himitsu steered clear of the Kasumi'Oji family's reputation. Shunsui was not going to be so disloyal, when Azumi had been so good to him. Although Taiho barely acknowledged his existence now, Shunsui still carried the Kasumi'Oji name with some pride.

“Repent, Tenshi.”

And the gauntlet had been thrown down. Himitsu had activated his Shikai, determined to push Shunsui to his very limits - evidently to test the strength of his resolve. However, this also gave licence to Shunsui not to hold back - his reputation was now on the line. The release command would have barely left Himitsu's mouth when Shunsui tossed the small paper box in his left hand into the air. The Kaminokemuri exploded violently into a cloud of dark steam, easily enveloping half the room. The pressure that it had built up inside Shunsui's hand had made the effect even more dramatic.

However, the smoke made the arcs of Himitsu's lance swings extremely clear, even to the point that the smoke coiled around the shimmering trails left behind, highlighting their potentially lethal effects. The arcs formed an almost protective barrier around Himitsu, Shunsui would not be able to get close - the advantage was clearly Himitsu's.

However, Shunsui had somewhat of an advantage- as he was cloaked in the steam. Shunsui had the ability to suppress his Reiatsu - a useful feature that all stealthy Spiritual beings could utilise. With all the steam around, Himitsu would have a hard time locating the Squad 12 Third Seat. Shunsui danced around the spot where Himitsu stood lightly, concealing his presence. Then, using a secret Kasumi'Oji technique, he formed a simple spear in his left hand.

The spear was formed from Shunsui's own life force, so it wouldn't even give off a Reiatsu signature when created. In fact, Himitsu could not possible be even aware of its existence when it was created. So when it poked through the gaps in the arcs of his Shikai, he would surely receive a bit of a shock. Shunsui had no experience with wielding a spear, but he was confident that he would be able to at least 'poke' Himitsu through the net he had created around himself. He would dance around again, and poke from another angle.

Himitsu could not possibly predict the attacks, thanks to Shunsui's stealth and the steam of Kaminokemuri, and the appearance of the mysterious spear would also catch him off guard. It was certainly not an honourable tactic by any means, but this wasn't a battle of honour any more - Himtsu had, perhaps knowingly, staked Shunsui's reputation as a Kasumi'Oji on this battle.

Combat Posts: 2/6
Reiatsu: 2050/2100
Life Force : 1800/2100 : -300 for Plasmatio Spear.

[Himitsu Kasumi'Oji]

Shunsui was in a different boat than Himitsu expected. The Vice Captain wouldn’t be able to understand the Kasumi’Oji’s true goals and beliefs if he acted based on the views of his family, whether or not he agreed with those views. Loyalty to family was never a bad thing unless it was blind. For example, Himitsu had nearly died at the hands of now Squad 10 Captain Hotaru Kuchiki when a key communication error and bad luck led to her being assigned to assassinate Himitsu. No matter what Himitsu said, she refused to back down and think the situation through logically. Her devotion to her family forced Himitsu to sit at Squad 4’s headquarters for a week and a half just recovering.

Shunsui was more level-headed, but he was still just a sheep following his shepherd. Himitsu wanted to break through that devotion to family and understand who Shunsui Kasumi’Oji truly is as a person, and the best way to do so was with the Lieutenant’s unique Zanpakuto. It would give him insight into Shunsui’s soul and moral compass, a view that couldn’t be deceived.

When the box of steam exploded and covered the arena in a mist, Himitsu knew he had to act instantly. Shunsui’s reiatsu signature was quickly suppressed, leaving the Vice Captain blind and vulnerable. His best bet was to get out of that fog as quickly as possible rather than wait around to try to defend against an undetectable attack. Himitsu’s special skill with Kido allowed him to mold his techniques to suit virtually all situations. This scenario was no exception.

All it took was lifting his foot a foot off the ground by bending and raising his knee. While doing so, Himitsu channeled his reiatsu through the sole of his foot and produced a fireball by silently casting Hado #31: Shakkaho. Somehow, a split second after the fireball shot out of his foot, the large man was launched into the air. If Shunsui could see through the mist, it would look like Himitsu was propelled into the air by the flame, like a rocket.

But that wasn’t the case, it was just that Himitsu’s ability to create Kido so rapidly made it seem that way. In truth, the split second that Shakkaho was used to create just a spark of flame, even before the full fireball formed, Himitsu had cast another spell through the first one. That’s right, a spell within a spell. Spellception. Actually, the technique that allowed him to use his own spells or outside reiatsu for other techniques was known as Lineage of Reiatsu and was created and known by him alone. That spell he used through the fire was a weaker, controlled Hado #1: Sho, and it was pointed directly upward. Therefore, Himitsu was propelled fifty feet in the sky where he landed on platform of air ground curtsey of advanced air ground.

Shunsui may notice, if he could see through the smoke, that where Himitsu’s foot used to be placed, that ball of flame hadn’t faded. In fact, it seemed like it was locked in place. The ball had shot toward the ground and exploded just after Himitsu was thrown into the sky, but it hadn’t gone away. The air also shimmered where Sho had been cast. That was the power of Himitsu’s Zanpakuto. It was a divine power based off the promise of ‘Paradise’ in the afterlife, and the shikai embodied the concept of the afterlife’s ‘Eternity’. It was powerful release with even more tricks yet.

Time for the real test to start.

Suddenly, in the area where Himitsu used to stand, a huge golden gate suddenly appeared out of nowhere. The gates of heaven. Not only where they breathtakingly beautiful, but by setting his eyes on them, Shunsui would suddenly be overwhelmed with the desire to open the gates. That desire would consume him and lead his feet slowly toward the door to Paradise, step by step. However, if and when he followed this powerful desire to open the doors, the question of Shunsui’s moral character would be answered.

Those who’s souls had a very plentiful darkness would be scorched by a burst of giant flames that reject them. Those with more good in them, however, would have a different fate. Instead, they would suddenly feel a glorious energy rush through them and fill their spiritual pools with one hundred more reiatsu. This was the effect that Shunsui would find, and as Himitsu discovered that Shunsui’s heart was more light than dark, he would end his release and slowly drop down to the ground.

“You’re a good man, Shunsui,” the Vice Captain said as he sheathed his blade. “I’m sorry for all of this trouble, but I needed to know who I could count on. Your heart is just, and when the situation gets tough, you will find the strength to make the right calls.” Himitsu’s face was illuminated with a giant grin and despite his formal words, his tone was extremely friendly and gleeful. He was genuinely happy.

“I told you why I wanted to meet you and what my goals are. It’s really tough to find people you can call friends, and although we’re not exactly best buds yet, but who knows, this might be the start of something fun. I’d like to know the real Shunsui if you don’t mind, not just the analytical, brilliant scientist but also the person behind all of that. And feel free to ask anything about me or of me. I don’t think I’ve earned your trust yet, but in due time, you’ll find that you can always count on me. And maybe you haven’t given me proper reasoning for trusting you, but I like to have a little faith in people. It’s a gamble, but sometimes it really pays off.”

Reiatsu Remaining: 1850/3000 (-100 for Shakkaho, -150 for Lineage of Reiatsu, -25 for Sho, -25 for Advanced Air Ground, -200 for Gate of Heaven)

[Johnwaluigi]

Shunsui quickly narrowed down the list of the Vice-Captain's options when he sensed Himitsu charging up Reiatsu. Shunsui was decent at sensing the presences of others' Reiatsu, so the steam wasn't an issue, his energy sensory could compensate for his impaired senses. It was obvious that Himitsu would try escape the steam, but Himitsu would assume that Shunsui would have some method of keeping the surrounding area covered. So, he would naturally move up. It would be a surprising move, it would clear his field of view, and it would give him a distinct advantage over Shunsui.

The tactic was a well-worn one; Shunsui could have predicted its use not only from Himitsu's movements, but rather as a result of the many treatises on tactics and battle which he had read in the past. Always have the higher ground. And so, Shunsui threw down the temporary spear, and jumped, using Shunpo to accelerate his movement. His skill in Hoho, while certainly not at the level of a master, was certainly adequate to execute this slightly more unusual use of the technique; not that using a step technique to gain a vertical advantage was too much of a strain on Shunsui's ability.

However, Shunsui found that he had overshot his mark. He was a good bit above Himitsu's head, in fact his boots were roughly level with the Vice-Captain's shoulder. Shunsui's impromptu response was as crude as it was swift. Using the technique of advanced air ground, Shunsui pivoted on a slanted foothold, and slammed the heel of his boot into the Vice-Captain's shoulder. Shunsui wasn't all that strong, but he was fast, so the sudden attack could take Himitsu by surprise. The fact that Shunsui was also still suppressing his Reiatsu and moving quite stealthily would make it harder still to avoid.

However, Shunsui had not anticipated Himitsu's next line of attack. A set of giant gates, which shone with a brilliant golden light, had appeared in front of Shunsui. His immediate reaction was that it was an illusion, a trap in an appealing form. Yet, in spite of Shunsui's calm analysis of the situation, he felt himself being drawn closer and closer to the gate, his feet unwillingly moving towards it. He lifted his hand, and realised that his urge to touch the gate was something akin to a base instinct, rather than a sudden urge. It was as if Shunsui had been born to touch these gates, that it was one of his primary functions.

The rational part of Shunsui's brain dismissed the idea immediately. This was only a powerful illusion, wrought by the power of Himitsu's Zanpakuto. His release command had been "Repent", so it was fitting that this 'attack' took the form of the gates of heaven. Information regarding it would have to be added to his dossier, there didn't seem to be much written about this particular ability of Himitsu's Zanpakuto. Shunsui made a mental note to write a lengthy description of its effects when he returned. Not that Shunsui needed mental notes, his mind kept a perfect mental record of everything - including which arm Himitsu had solidified; Shunsui had made sure his kick connected with the other arm.

Shunsui allowed a slight smile of self-indulgence as the gates before him opened, and the resulting opening bathed him in pure golden light. He was surrounded by swirls of light, as if Van Gogh's 'Starry Night'. But the feeling was not as though this was an attack on Shunsui, but rather an affirmation of his character - that everything he was doing was good, that he should be confident in the path he walked. But it was more than that. A select group of light-swirls were absorbed by Shunsui, and he felt his Reiatsu replenish slightly. The amount was relatively insignificant, yet he felt satisfied by the 'gift', for want of a better word.

“You’re a good man, Shunsui, I’m sorry for all of this trouble, but I needed to know who I could count on. Your heart is just, and when the situation gets tough, you will find the strength to make the right calls.”

So, this had all been a test of Shunsui's character. Although Shunsui's newfound 'ego' twinged at having been a test subject rather than a tester, the memory of that experience at the gate lightened his mood. Himitsu was right to test Shinigami, to see if they were worthy of serving the Seireitei - he was a Vice-Captain, after all. Shunsui respectfully sheathe his blade, it seemed as though the purpose of their little sparring session was completed. He drew himself straight, and adjusted his cravat, which had gone askew during the battle.

"My thanks, Vice-Captain-sama. The experience has been most enlightening. I would be happy to help you in the future." Shunsui moved towards the door, motioning to leave. Although he had a great respect for the Vice-Captain, that didn't mean he wasn't eager to add to his file. However, Shunsui had one last offer. "Though perhaps, we might play tennis instead next time?"

Combat Posts: 3/6
Reiatsu: 2075/2100 : -50 for Shunpo, -25 for Advanced Air Ground, +100 from Gate of Heaven

[Amagai Kuchiki]

560 TP Shunsui (56 paragraphs)
560 TP Himitsu (46 paragraphs +100 victory TP)