True Disparity

[Akio Naito]

Akio needed to stop arguing for a moment. There were lot of things to process, and not much time to do it with. Pain from different points, the settling weight of fatigue on his limbs, and the gnawing sense that disheartening his opponent, intentionally or not, was not an advantage he wanted to pursue. His words tended to paint things as much harsher than the truth of the matter. Driving Aramis to giving up would, however, have been a 'realistic' path to victory, if not a pleasant or reliable one. The exact steps that would take were not the priority for his thoughts at the time, however.

His priority would be getting down from the small slab he had created under himself, which he'd begun with a step backwards, intending to climb down with the stone positioned between himself the hostile soul. Instead, he was interrupted by Aramis's chain swinging into his body again, the force of the blow knocking him further back than he had meant to travel. The unfortunate man found himself hissing through his teeth as he landed mostly on his feet, ankle caught in a less than natural position as balance was reestablished. Too far behind the stone to use it defensively, and a bit off to the side, then. The disadvantages of that were that he was on his feet now, locked out of his techniques for the most part. The immediate benefit was being ever so closer to the edge of the park, towards town, where escape became an option, or simply finding a crowd to attempt Hanami. That was always the worst case option. "We haven't stopped speaking yet. It would be easier to find an agreement than attack." He said as he began bringing a sleeve up to his watering eyes. It was still an open question if the captain wanted to rush the distance between them, given the slight deviations in location.

[Aramis Tezuka]

His opponent was getting tired. Aramis could see it in his body language. They were fast approaching the breaking point of the duel. When one side's fatigue started to slow them or inhibit techniques. That was the time to go for the kill, in his mind. And Akio was starting to show this. Aramis would give him a little longer to be certain. He could very well have been faking it, afterall. But it was far more likely, at least in the Nakabakki's mind, that Akio was tiring now. And tiring quickly. And this was the time to press his advantage. Aramis shifted forwards as he saw his chain strike knock Akio from the pillar. He was putting the rock formation between Aramis and himself. A wise decision. I am feeling generous, so I will award that an "A". Aramis thought to himself as he drove on after his quarry. Revenant seemed to quiver at his hip. Eager to leap into the Captain's hand and skewer Akio through. But not yet. Not... yet. Aramis still had studies to do.

The Nakabakki continued his pursuit at a quick (relatively speaking) rush forwards, his chain quickly flying back up his sleeve. It looked like Akio had injured himself in his landing. Good. He'd be slowed down. But Akio had more to worry about than Aramis's combat skills. In fact... the Nakabakki tended to have fairly mediocre combat abilities, for the most part. Aramis's strength? That was his mind. His planning. And his senses. He could read a situation well. Guess his opponent's goals and strategies. And in this case, Aramis was putting himself in Akio's mind. Figuratively speaking anyways. The likelihood that Akio was looking for an opportunity to escape was very probable. The Quincy attempted to speak with Aramis, but it didn't pause the Nakabakki's charge. Aramis threw a strike with his Shinigami hand, into Akio's chest, to knock the Quincy to the ground. "You are correct. We have not stopped speaking yet. I did instruct you that you had until I finished you off to try and convince me to leave you be." He stated. Aramis was certainly not going for a lethal attack. That was something Akio could probably have figured out. If Aramis had been trying to kill him, he would have drawn his sword, gone for the head, or at least used that weird claw attack on a more vital location than Akio's ribs. His life? That was probably pretty safe and secure. Well, for the time being anyways.

Aramis had taken note that their battle was beginning to move to the edge of the park. His eyes flickered behind Akio for a moment, before moving back to his quarry. "I may still yet show leniency. That technique you've been using, where you have been summoning earth. Explain it to me, if you like. The mechanics behind it." Aramis requested, seemingly politely. With the hand he'd struck Akio with though, he drew out his rapier, from his hip and readied the blade, pointing at Akio. If I release Revenant I'll be able to finish this battle with a single stroke. His durability is not particularly notable, nor is his stamina. If I continue like this, I may accidentally kill him." Aramis thought, as he pointed the tip of his Zanpakuto at the Quincy. Releasing Revenant... might be the best choice here, he considered. Probably, anyways. Aramis was willing to go one or two more exchanges, to test how stubborn his opponent was. "I'll commend your will at least. Most I encounter might have given into despair at this point, or fear." He noted. Aramis hadn't attacked yet. But Akio thus far, had yet to throw a single attack at Aramis. The Nakabakki was reasonably certain he wasn't about to start now.

[Akio Naito]

The sudden punch left Akio on the ground, again. That was fine with him, as long as the incoming attacks were driving him back, he could blame them. Not look as suspicious in wanting out of the open area. He was physically broken, mentally dejected, and spiritually threadbare. The first was the worst of them, the second was expected once an incident like running into a shinigami that showed interest, and the third was an advantage in his mind. As he dwelt on it, there was a fourth feeling coming to him, which he reflexively shut out by returning to an earlier topic. Being inured to a possibility was one of the best bulwark against the emotional brunt of it, but self-distraction was always easier.

"Hashira is a Fuusuishi Art." He explained from his position on the ground, using the term that was potentially read as 'Kazemizushi', but in either case was built from the individual kanji of 'Wind-Water Officer'. "A ritual for redirecting the flow of dragon streams, simplified to the lowest requirements possible. I found it necessary to preform a certain amount of those revisions by myself" He continued, as he pushed himself back upright with an arm, an extra-step back open standing. "By lightly pressing down on the strong currents that flow under Karakura, they adjust to the pressure above, canceling it. When that pressure is lifted, the is not instant, and it becomes easy to direct the upward movement." Effectively, he'd taken an existing method meant for terraforming and construction, and deliberately reduced it to the fastest casting time possible, with the cheapest cost in fueling it. "When a small piece of the stream is pulled to the surface, it takes on an earthly or watery nature, similar to the environment around it."

He used the drawn sword pointing at him as an excuse for another back-step. "There are others, although only two have proven practical. Others would take additional time I do not seem to have available at this moment." Too much information again. Also ignoring that practical was a fairly low bar, Hanami was only functional so much as he could teach it to anyone who happened to have a physical body and enough reikaku to perceive what they were doing. "It is impolite to point swords at people who are speaking to you." Both completely true, and also a blatant case of stalling for additional time, another step town-wards, wincing a bit as his bad ankle took more weight than it should have. "Unless that would be your closing statement?"

[Aramis Tezuka]

Aramis was only partially surprised at how he was able to physically dominate his opponent. Among all the Captains, Aramis was perhaps the weakest in direct combat. His physical strength and speed were marginal, and his spiritual abilities, frankly entirely average. And yet somehow Akio seemed physically inferior still. One advantage Aramis did have was his speed though. He was much, much faster than Akio and it showed. The look in his adversary's eyes seemed like he was dead inside. That he'd already given up.... Aramis's gaze hardened. "F. How disappointing." He mused, as he approached Akio, blade in hand, but listened to his explanation of his abilities. This battle had not been what Aramis had expected at all, but it had at least been educational. Aramis intended to at least learn whatever he could before he ended it. He was winding this duel to its conclusion. Well.... Duel was a bit of a strong word, considering Akio had yet to actually try to make a decent attempt to defend himself. "I must ask. Are you a pacifist?" Aramis inquired. "I have struck at you several times, intending to disable you, in order to take you back to Soul Society. And yet thus far you have not made any attempts to fight back. And your attempts to avoid and defend yourself have been lacklustre. I ask you, do you intend to fall here?" He asked. "Even the ant, beset by a tarantula, will still at least seek to bite back, futile or otherwise." He commented. "Nor have you tried to flee, explicitly." He noted. "While you may have made the assumption I would catch you-- and you would be correct, it is a peculiar behavior. You vex me, Quincy." He stated. "I cannot make sense of your motives." F... Aramis thought, giving himself a failing grade for having to ask his opponent what he was aiming to do.

The technique was called Hashira, was it? A Fuusuishi Art? "I am unfamiliar with that phrase. Fuusuishi Art? Is it a martial art of sorts?" He asked as he advanced on Akio, his steps resolute and steady. He listened to Akio's explanation. Dragon streams? Jargon no doubt that he used for personal application. His opponent righted himself and backed away, but Aramis didn't slow down. Although Aramis's pace looked measured and even it was still quite fast by the standards of a normal human, as Aramis approached at a speed of about 120. "Interesting. A fascinating explanation. I rank that response as an A." Aramis responded, as he kept Akio on point for his attack. "I'll remember it." He added. "A useful subject for study in the future." Alright. It was time to move to the next attack.

Akio continued to back away, seemingly intimidated by the blade. "Not to worry." Aramis stated. "My blade will strike you down quickly, and non-fatally." As he considered the other statements. "You may have time enough to establish it in my laboratory, once we are concluded here. Which shall be shortly." Aramis's reiatsu surged. "Erase the world, Revenant." He intoned in a low voice. His zanpakuto shimmered in his hands, and its shape adjusted slightly. Now the handle of his somewhat plain looking rapier had become an ornate, twisting golden hilt, which guarded Aramis's hand well. The blade shimmered and shone like a mirage. Aramis looked ahead. So long since you've called upon me.... Be silent. You are nothing but a weapon to use to my aims. The dark whispers in Aramis's mind cackled in answer, and the Nakabakki ignored them. He'd often struggled with such voices. They didn't matter today. "Indeed, but we are past politeness. I told you you had until the conclusion of this duel to provide me a single good reason not to take you back for study." Aramis stated. "So yes. This is my closing statement. This duel is ending."


Aramis decided to console the doomed Quincy just a hair, however. "Fear not. Falling by Revenant is quite painless by its nature. Observe." And then Aramis lunged forwards, whipping his rapier through the air, in a cutting motion at Akio's forehead. A cut? With a rapier? But way.... If Akio looked closely, in the split second before the blade crashed into his brow, he'd notice Aramis was swinging with the flat of his sword! A knock-out strike then? Aramis didn't seem to intend to kill him after-all. And in this instance... Well. If Akio was struck by this blow, he wouldn't even have a chance to learn Revenant's ability. All he'd know is that he would fall unconscious immediately. Revenant had a potent and dangerous power. It was an illusion-type Zanpakuto, that rendered anything that touched the weapon's blade immune to any of the five senses. It erased objects from perception. Even if the object was held by someone. Even if it was a part of their own body, they would no longer be able to perceive it. If the opponent was a swordsman, they would fail to detect their sword even if they were holding it right in front of their eyes. If their leg was struck, they would buckle and fall, their body unable to detect or move the limb as their own biology would no longer register the limb as being attached.

And... if Aramis were so fortunate as to strike someone in the head, it would cut off brain activity immediately, the brain no longer able to receive signals from the rest of the body. It wouldn't kill him-- not immediately anyways. This power did not have the ability to cut off blood flow, or otherwise prevent the natural acts necessary for life. But it would prevent the body being aware of any of them. A direct hit to the head would render the body incapable of acknowledging anything there, including the existence of the head itself. Instant unconsciousness. That was to be Akio's fate if he was unable to evade Aramis's now much quicker strike to his head! What would Akio do now? The Captain of Squad 13 was evidently done playing and was pushing for a quick and immediate end to their little game.

Reiatsu Remaining: 3100/3300 (-200 for Shikai)

[Akio Naito]

Akio had intended to reach the edge of the park by the time his opponent had become serious. That seemed to have been overly optimistic in light of the ongoing event. "What you've already seen was my best efforts at defending myself. I assumed you would simply follow me if I attempted to walk away." He wasn't a pacifist, only a cynic. His limbs were in no shape to swing at anyone, and he didn't have a weapon, so he hadn't fought. Also, he really didn't remember how in any real detail. He couldn't have run without being chased, and so he dragged out the pre-battle dialogue for as long as possible to clear space. Admittedly, he had gotten much better results from that than most would have hoped for, especially when there was such a distinct miss-match of perspective. "Please, do not mistake it for a martial art."

"I would feel guilty if all of these arguments were misunderstood." He took another full-step back, by then it was too late to make a difference, but didn't feel particularly compelled to stop his attempt to ruin any possible sense meaningful victory for his opponent. "I may have leaned too hard into pretending to be what you call a Quincy. Or used all the wrong words during this dialog we had." The confusion could be mutual, but any unintended deception had to be minimized, since he was more likely to die going forward than anything else that could be imagined happening. Clearing up those small details still mattered from his perspective, and were the most relevant things, besides the sword, based on sheer immediate availability. "Even so, this was an educational experience."

He had bought time until he'd run up a debt on buying anymore, though he still bought fractions of a second by backing away much more slowly than Aramis drew near, this would be the first 'real' attack, he already knew. "Thank you, and..." He attempted to throw both arms up in the way of the sword. As bad as any possible results could be, limbs were ultimately expendable in ways his head could never be. "Goodbye." Given the speed difference, it was entirely up to the how much Aramis was letting loose. If they were going to use anything resembling their movement speed in an attack, they'd hit, and the negativity would die down a bit as their victory asserted dominance over any other possible outcomes.

[Aramis Tezuka]

Aramis's brow furrowed, and his eyes narrowed at Akio's insistence that what Aramis had seen his best. "...Even a sparrow with broken wings will still try to peck at a diving hawk. This one has done nothing but lamely try to hop away." He retorted. "How disappointing if that is true. F." Aramis said, again, grading Akio's performance and answer. " Not so much as a single blow was thrown at me, nor any attempt to prevent me from continuing to strike at you. How disappointing indeed. What incentive have you provided me to cease my aggression?" Without the threat of an attack, how could Akio hope to dissuade Aramis from striking. A Shield was not intimidating if all someone did was cower behind it, without even trying to jab out with a sword, spear, dagger. Or even trying to strike with the shield itself if it came to it. Akio had done none of these things. He'd passively defended himself, as if hoping Aramis would get bored and stop attacking. Well. To be fair. For some out there, maybe that would have sufficed. But Aramis? Aramis didn't attack out of a sick thrill for fighting. He attacked because he considered it in his best interests to do so. Against someone with that mentality, you had to find a way it was no longer in their best interest to do so. Like a predatory cat, if Aramis could be convinced that Akio was more trouble than he was worth, he may have backed off.

But no such attempt had been initiated. So Aramis had never been given a reason to reconsider his decision. "But very well, I will not mistake your interesting talent for a martial technique." He conceded, before releasing his Zanpakuto. "And I applaud your attention to detail. You may very well have found a place in my Division." This Aramis sincerely complimented Akio. "I do thank you for the information you have shared, but rest assured, I have no intent of killing you. If I did, you would be dead already." He informed him. Aramis's tone was cold and clinical, like a doctor delivering a diagnosis to a colleague. "I've been fighting at a fraction of my abilities, in the interest of both seeing what you were capable of, as well as to avoid slaying you. Clearly the former was only of moderate value. I shall endeavor to ensure the latter is not."

"Besides. Even if you were correct, and I did intend to slay you. That would not, in and of itself preclude us meeting again. Soul Society, afterall, is where all Souls shall travel to. And I often have looked to the Rukongai for test subjects. Even if you did not seek to join the ranks of the Shinigami-- and to be fair, I do not think you have the aptitude for it, it would not eliminate the possibility of you being brought before my division anyways. You do have slightly above average parameters, and I expect this nature of yours would be reflected even as a Plus." Aramis added. "Well. Regardless. It's time to end this." He intoned. "Farewell. I expect I will see you again soon." And then Aramis went on the attack with Revenant flying forwards.

There was still some distance between them. Aramis was fast, but he was not using a Step Technique. Akio, therefore, did have time to throw both of his arms up in the path of Revenant. ...Which would not save him. Indeed, all Akio would see, was the flat of Aramis's blade strike against his arms. A forceful blow, but what would be strange was that there was no pain. Not even the sting. In fact.... there was nothing. Akio wouldn't even feel the sword connecting, because in the instant that Aramis's blow rebounded off of his arms, both of Akio's arms would abruptly vanish before his eyes. Gone. Disappear into thin air. "This is Revenant's power. Anything that comes into contact with it, is sent to a pocket dimension." He stated. "Your arms are gone. Next shall be..." His eyes dully locked onto Akio.

"Don't let it end so easily. Torment him. Cut his limbs down one by one, until he is nothing but a torso without limbs. Rip him! Tear him! Shred him to pieces, and only then grace him with the mercy of unconsciousness. Then drag him back home, and we'll do it to him all over again. Day in and out, subject him to torments unimaginable, for centuries! You can do it! It's in your nature. We're going there one day either way you know. Best get into the spirit of things!" Aramis's eyes suddenly blazed with a combination of fear and anger, right before Akio's face. "BE SILENT!" Revenant flickered at a full speed to lightly lay a minor scrape across Akio's forehead. At the touch of the blade, Akio would feel a lightness in his head for a split second, before everything went dark. With the "erasure" of Akio's head, and by extension, his brain, he would not be able to be aware of anything around him. It was effectively an instantly induced coma.

If successful, Akio's body would crumple immediately, leaving the Squad 12 Captain standing over him in contemplation. Trying to silence his inner nature that told him to torment and torture the man who had so feebly fought against him. There was much knowledge to be had from him... And yet... If I do. That fiend in my mind will not let me rest, will he. He is tired of me inflicting pain upon myself and longs to do it to another.... Aramis scowled. His own nature was preventing him doing what he had set out here to do. I will not succumb to it... Nor shall I give it the chance. You are fortunate today Quincy. But I shall watch for you. And when I at least have conquered this inner demon of mine, I will be back for you... Aramis gathered himself and turned away. He did not yet seal Revenant, for doing so would end the effects on Akio and allow him to immediately regain consciousness. That could lead to questions. Questions Aramis had no interest in answering. Instead the Nakabakki simply turned and walked away, disappearing into the shadows of the night.....

[Nola Vilde]

Akio: 32 paragraphs yielding 320 tp (remember to halve if converting to SP)
Aramis: 33 Paragraphs + victory tp yields 430 tp