"Return of the Werecows" [Joint-Training, NDE, PG-13]

[Ciel]

"Return of the Werecows" Written and Directed by Asuka Tan'O - "Told yah I'd mess with your story Mr. Werecow!" ~Asuka.
This is all written in a grade-schooler's level of handwriting with most of the letters done backwards.

"How boring.." Ciel mumbled softly to himself as he wandered through the never changing Menos Forest. It was just like the rest of the dead and wretched plain of Hueco Mundo: Devoid of all life, filled with sand and a landscape that never shifts despite the power of the beings the inhabit and fight within it. The only saving grace of this area imparticular is the tall almost endless trees that reached up from roots unknown to the main plane of Hueco Mundo above, as if holding it in place. This verticality gave it a bit more flair than the rest and is the sole reason why Ciel was here: He wanted to look at something not as boring as the rest of Hueco Mundo. Truth is he wanted to go to the human world, but as he was now he knew this would only cause problems.

So, for now he chose to instead walk around the forest to entertain himself. As he walked through the still sands of the forest his ragged looking cloak would bellow ever so softly as the air shifted from the howls of menos fighting it out in the far distance. Their screams were perhaps the only thing that would freely move the air in any meaningful way. Reaching up with his left hand, Ciel would pull the hood down over his head just a little tighter, barely able to see directly in front of him. After a few hours of randomly walking around however, Ciel would happen upon what was perhaps the single oddest thing he would have ever seen within Hueco Mundo thus far.

In the distance, on a pile of sand and surrounded by Menos that seemed to be trying to devour each other was a tiel haired girl sitting behind what looked like a....makeshift lemonade stand. Not entirely sure he was seeing what he saw, Ciel rubbed his eyes a bit and pushed his hood back to get a clearer look and sure enough: It was still there. The stand was painted a horrid combination of Pink wood and bright blue lettering which spelled out "Looking for fЯakcion! Free Lemonade for sign ups!" Did...did she mean Fraccion and why is R completely backwards? Although he wouldn't let it out Ciel was already chuckling to himself on the inside. Looking over her a second time from the distance though, Ciel realized something.

This girl was known to him. Although they've yet to personally meet, this woman was known as Asuka Tan'O. She was the newly promoted Segunda Espada. Ciel happened to be there when she was promoted, having just recently accepted his own position as an Envainar. He had been keeping to the shadows to the right of Sonken's throne but he still had a clear view of the events that took place. She was attacked by one-hundred separate Arrancar, those who were displeased with the king's choice for Segunda. Despite this however she walked out unharmed, having taken care of all of them without taking a single scratch. Most impressively was perhaps the fact she managed to not kill a single one of them and still deliver some contrived speech.

However, despite this display and despite the fact Ciel knew she held some power, he did not honestly think she was worthy of the position of Segunda. Those who attacked her were weaklings after all, if she had not disposed of them so easily he would have been massively dissapointed. Placing his fingers upon his chin, Ciel mulled over some thoughts and decided he would speak to her. Ciel was interested in this girl and wanted to test her. Not only because he wished to see if she was worthy of the position granted to her but also because Ciel was simply bored and a good workout and spar are the best way to entertain ones self.

Pulling the hood back over his head Ciel approached the makeshift recruitment stand, moving himself to be directly in front of the thing so they would for the first time meet eyes. Ciel's softly glowing orange eyes of shining hellfire with her emeralds. "So...you know you spelled Fraccion incorrectly, yes? What is it you're doing out here..what do you hope to accomplish, Segunda Asuka?" His voice was set at a slightly lower than normal speaking volume, although this only went to extenuate his deeper voice. From where he stood compared to her, while his cloak would hide the majority of his demonic features that would instantly show him as an Akki, his eyes and part of his demonic covered left arm and hand were easily visible. He simply stood there, looking at the teal girl awaiting her response. All the while studying, wondering the est way to bait her into a sparring match.

[OOC edit: Formatting edits, nothing more]

[Deleted]

The Menos Forest wasn’t the best place in the whole world. Asuka would know. She got beat up here. YEAH. Every time she comes here, someone wants throw fists and then she’s just expected to catch hands. How do people catch hands anyway! Isn’t it attached to the noodle part of the hand? The arm? Is that what it’s called? Oh.. Yeah! Of course! Asuka’s not dumb! She just forgets stuff! She forgets to take the cookies out of the oven sometimes when she bakes! Like this morning! Her plans today were slightly ruined but y’know, when life gives you lemons you make lemonadè!

That was her whole purpose today after all! A lemonade stand to attract new friends and new fraccion! You see, Asuka thought herself to be in quite the pickle. She had absolutely no fraccion! Sure there’s Li Mei but Li Mei found her calling in the human world hospitals. Helping all the sick little baby broccoli people children and that was fair! Broccoli had to grow into beautiful flowers so it was only right Li Mei helped them. She had such a big heart, it was probably for the better that she didn’t come to Hueco Mundo with her. Kouhai would’ve eaten her up in a heartbeat.

There were Menos about screeching and crying and if she could feed them, she would but y’know… they don’t really like cookies. Asuka thought that they made them have allergies. Is that how food allergies work? You eat and suddenly you get allergies? Maybe she should’ve made Menos grade cookies. Maybe the Menos were gluten-free beings. Awh shucks. Well, that sucks. Next time, Asuka will make gluten free Menos friendly cookies for them. She had a bigger problem though. Not only did she not have these Menos Allergy cookies that weren’t gluten free but they were also burnt and no one was going to eat them.

The Segunda leaned on her table, elbows propped up with her hands cupping her face. She sighed wistfully. When will her fraccion come? Anyone? Was anyone out there at all? Maybe she could recruit one of these Menos… She tried talking to one earlier and he stopped and looked at her. Then he made gargling noises at her and walked off. What was that supposed to mean!? Did it mean he was hungry or did he drink too much sand? None of it made sense. Asuka realized that maybe she should try to crack the Menos language at one point in her life. They really were a mystery even though Asuka knew she was one of them too once! How mysterious! (what lol.)

It was then the moment Asuka waited for her whole life. A mysterious figure approached her stand and Asuka stood up straight! Chin up, chest out, back straight, eyes forward! Oh this was it! This was her big moment! Asuka, naturally charming and attractive, would put on her best face and try to put her best foot forward. It was a little difficult considering she was sitting and couldn’t really put her best foot forward literally but damn did she want to try! Maybe she will in a bit when it’s more convenient! When they met eyes, emerald irises greeted his own amber ones with the utmost genuine kindness.

”Hiya! Welcome to my Lemonade Stand!” Her lips curled into a smile that could easily lift the spirits of those who were really down in the dumps. She was welcoming, inviting and a breath of fresh air in this desolate wasteland. This individual would realize that they had found their oasis in the form of a craptastic lemonade stand with a plate of burnt gluten-filled cookies. "So...you know you spelled Fraccion incorrectly, yes? What is it you're doing out here..what do you hope to accomplish, Segunda Asuka?" His voice was low, deep. It was the kinda voice she imagined fancy professors having. If she ever managed to go to college that is. She never managed to get that far unfortunately. Dying kinda… just happened.

Still, she blinked at him, staring blankly at the strange individual. There were lots of things to address here. Gosh oh goshness~! Where did she begin!? How about freak out over her sign? She worked on this sign for a week! First the color wasn't right. Then she didn't know how to do the stars. Once she had the colors down, the teal-haired Espada figured she had it down and was ready to set sail! Asuka stood up immediately, panicked. “Wh-What!? Did I seriously! Ohmigosh!” She tried to lean over the table top to look at her sign, sticking her head out. However, she leaned and leaned and leaned just a little too far and— “Ah!” Crash She felt over onto the ground, head first. “Ow..” she groaned as she tried to sit up on the ground. When she finally did, she looked at the sign and studied it… and studied it.

“I don’t see it!”

She tilted her head, looking at her beautifully, well made sign with utter confusion. Asuka just looked like a lost puppy, trying to see what he saw. “I dunno…. It looks alright to me! I even put the capital letter in the right place!” She looked up at him with a smile that was so earnest that you could tell she whole heartedly believed in everything she was saying. This wasn’t an act. The Segunda Espada was actually like this. Oh God.. Asuka would finally stand up dusting herself off, standing as close as can be to the new stranger who’d decided to come up to her humble little stand.

“I’m here to recruit fraccion~! Aha! Are you here to be my fraccion too!?”

Asuka bounced up and down excitedly. Long teal tresses moving along with her and her belt making a slight jingle as her weapons collided against them. Her hands clasped with one another as her joy filled expression was fully fixated on her brand spankin’ new fraccion~! Huzzah! “Oh boy oh boy oh boy~! I’m so excited! Here!” She quickly grabbed a paper cup and a pitcher and filled it with lemonade, handing it to her new friend. Maybe he’d want a cookie too! Her other hand quickly scooped up the plate of burnt chocolate chip cookies and she’d offer it to him. “I guess you know I’m the Segunda aha! But I’ve never met you before!” She smiled sheepishly at her admittance. She felt quite bad that he knew of her but she didn’t know him.

As all this was going on, to add more on to his plate…. Literally and figuratively, Asuka pushed her face towards him. He was waaaaaaaaayyy taller and Asuka was super short so she could only really get to his chest. From there, she started… sniffing? “Mmm… ” she hummed lowly. This smell. A kind of smelly smell. A smelly smell that smells… familiar. She recognized it all too well. Asuka perked up, smiling again. She was all joy and smiles today wasn’t she? “You’re one of the werecow people! Wow! We don’t see a whole lot of you guys lately.” Ah yes, the beautiful werecow. Rare up here and very strange in existence. They were a creature of the night and the first to deny their race. Why? She didn’t know. What’s wrong with being born the way you are and owning up to it? Gosh people oughta be more honest around these parts… Still, Asuka already decided that she had to befriend her very first, brand new fraccion as the almighty Segunda Espada!

“My name’s Asuka Hito Tan’O! Nice to Meetcha n’ Greetcha! Aha~!”

[Ciel]

Ciel was, for lack of a better word, completely taken aback by the girl that he had just spoken too. Everything ranging from the way she presented and carried herself to the chirpy and air light atmosphere she filled the air with when she spoke to you, this monster known as Segunda Espada was surprisingly..Human. Even kind. As she talked and carried on with her greetings, Ciel couldn't help but look at her as if he had just discovered a freakin unicorn..At least right up until she threw herself headfirst over her own makeshift stand and into sand. Face first no less.

Ciel's first reaction was to begin internally laughing, though luckily he had the fortitude if not the kindness to not let that out into the open. Second would be to help her up, although she seemed to be a surprisingly spry girl having gotten up without missing a beat. Third was.."I don't see it. Looks alright to me, I even put the capital letter in the right place!" Oh my god she is an idiot. The inner laughter grew yet stronger, although this time it did manage to manifest in the outside world: A facepalm.

Beyond the sheer stupidity of it all though Ciel did take note of something rather important. The girl was completely sincere in what she was saying, to an almost child like degree of innocence. "How did someone like you manage to survive this place?..Much less raise to the Segunda Espada.." Ciel thought to himself while she rambled on about him becoming her Fraccion. . . . . . Wait. What? "Wait, you're out her to re-" Before he could actually finish his question however the bouncing little child was jabbering in pure excitement and scrambling about collecting what looked like horribly burnt cookies and actual lemonade, shoving them into his hands.

Ciel was honestly not entirely sure what to do in this situation. He came over to test the combat abilities of the Segunda Espada, to see if she was worthy of the position (which is now brought further into question) and yet here he is, staring down at the sheepish smile of a young woman, holding her lemonade and cookies as she admits she has no clue who he is or how she knows of her. Needless to say, Ciel had already pretty much determined she wasn't completely right in the head or was an extremely young soul who lucked out in some kind of power. Oh my assumptions..

Audibly sighing, once again about to speak and answer her questions he noticed she was leaning in rather close to him...sniffing him. What in the ever living hell was she doing?
“You’re one of the werecow people! Wow! We don’t see a whole lot of you guys lately.” Asuka said while wearing one of the kindest smiles he had seen on her yet. What in the ever living Tartarus was a werecow and why was she calling him one? Ciel instinctively looked over his body, trying to look for some kind of..cow parts. Nope. Definitely not a cow. Especially not a werecow.

Ciel just deadpan stared at her as this insanity drew to a momentary conclusion with Asuka finally properly introducing herself, full name and all. He'd just stare at her in silence for a moment as a figurative tumble weed went between the two of them. Before he responded he quickly tossed the cookie into his mouth, finally having decided it be best to be polite to her hospitality. General mistake, the cookie tasted utterly revolting. While it had the slightest hints of what was once meant to be a chocolate chip cookie, sweetness was replaced by the flavor of burnt oils and over saturation of butter. Damn thing tasted like a fucked up biscuit, burnt to a crisp and then rolled through a touch of chocolate.

As Ciel's face unintentionally contorted into that of a mixture of pain, agony and of slight disgust he quiet rapidly tossed back the lemonade to wash it all down and mercifully it was surprisingly well made. Sweet, tangy and just a pinch of that natural sourness one would expect from a lemon. Clearing his throat and handing back the glass he let out a small, audible and relieved sounding sigh as he finally was able to get a word in edge wise.

"My name is Ciel and of course I would know you're the Segunda. Although you didn't take notice of me it seems, I was in the throne room with you and the king that day. I witnessed the events that transpired, including that riveting little speech you gave." Ciel moved the hood back from his head as he spoke, a slight smile parsing his lips as he looked down into those emerald eyes. He figured she already knew what he was or....at least he hoped she did and seriously didn't think he was a cow..that there was no point in hiding his features from her.

Ciel couldn't help but allow a soft chuckle to escape his lips before he continued "Although I have to say, such a stark contrast to how you were back then. I never expected you to be quite so.." What was a kind way to say this? "Floaty." Ciel's clawed left hand was scratching his chin before he decided to lean back and plop to the ground, legs crossing although he never once lost her eye contact. "Oh and no, I'm not out here to become your Fraccion, I'm an Envainar. My Aspect of light is humanity." Granted as Ciel said this he didn't know if she would even know what an Envainar is.

From what he gathered their existence while not a secret wasn't particularly well known due to their small numbers. With how rarely the king selects them though, that isn't a surprise. But he also gave credit to the girl's high ranking position and figured she would know enough that perhaps he could avoid a rather lengthy explanation. "Truth is, I was just out for a stroll when I happened across you and thought it be a golden opportunity to put some of my personal thoughts at ease." Ciel continued to rub his chin, thinking as he said these words.

While he had originally came here with the intention to just test the girl in combat, to see if her powers were truly worthy of her position, he hadn't expected her to be so...childish. The personality presented to him here and at the throne were completely night and day, so much so he wasn't entirely sure if she would even go for the test. Granted she had little obligation and he could just outright attack her but that wasn't Ciel's style, he wanted to avoid any kind of serious conflict after all. If anything he was just looking for a spar, to feel her out. Then it hit him.

"After witnessing you in the throne room take care of those weaklings so easily, I wanted to personally test you myself." Ciel started to explain, speaking slightly slower than normal as he thought out how he wanted to word this. He figured if she was acting the way she was currently that flat out calling it a fight might scare her. "So, how would you like to play a game with me? I think it would be beneficial and fun to the both of us." Ciel smiled as he further explained. "I'd get to test your powers, you get to stretch your legs, have some fun and you can even decide for yourself if I am strong enough.." He chuckled at this last part "..to be your fraccion." Ciel stood up by leaning back onto the sands and throw himself back up into a standing position.

Since he was preparing for what he hoped would be an acceptance of his offer and the start of essentially sparring combat, he removed his cloak and let it rest on the ground, showing his full muscular body for the first time. The mix of human and demonic features atop a well toned and tightly layered body. "Just remember..we're both pretty strong. So, don't hold back. It won't be fun if you do." Ciel said, offering a friendly smile as he awaited her answer. Although his claim to strength might seem weird to Asuka, since she would feel very little power from him.

In fact if she concentrated and tried to feel him out, the fact is he would come off as relatively weak. While assuredly had some potential with his Spiritual Pressure and he had the feeling of a decently strong Spiritual strength, it wasn't enough to stand tall in a place like Hueco Mundo. Needless to say, if it wasn't for the position he held as an Envainar, one would not be faulted for assuming he was a weakling who offered little more than simple talk.

[Deleted]

[[ooc: three cheers for being gluten free. hip hip hooray]]

Asuka was on cloud 9. The idea of someone finally stopping by her Lemonadé stand was oh so so so so exciting! This was very first customer! She had to give him the best treatment for that! The very best yup yup! She beamed at Mr. Werecow like he was some shining beacon of hope in the middle of the dark that was this forest. This forest with the scary trees with the occasional adjuchas peeking out from behind branches and passing menos that were likely starving, fighting their way to the top of the food chain. Speaking of which…

“D-Do you have gluten, Mr. Werecow?”

She hoped that he wasn’t gluten-free too. Oh god. What if he was. Would he die if he ate her burnt cookies? Would he choke and die and oh no… Oh no! Asuka didn’t want to kill anyone! If he had gluten in his pockets then that would mean he had no gluten allergy because he had it! It made perfect sense in the Segunda’s mind. If he didn’t then we would die from these cookies. Only time would tell and she got increasingly more nervous as she watched him throw a cookie into his mouth with stunning dexterity.

Wide eyed and mystified, Asuka watched him eat it. Well, she watched him attempt to eat it. She had a minor freak out when she saw his face contort and Asuka damn near let out a few squeaks and gasps. “No! Spit it out! Don’t die Mr. Werecow!” And so the girl launched herself towards him, fingers squeezing his cheeks in an attempt to force them open and make him spit out the cookie. How could she be so insensitive and careless! His life was on the line! She messed up! Lock ‘er up and throw away the key! “I didn’t know you were gluten free! I’m so so so so so so so sorry!!” She cried aloud.

However, she was just a tad too late and he’d gone straight for the lemonade. Some of which he would spill on himself due to Asuka’s own antics and worries of him dying over a singuluar burnt cookie. “Whoops!” At the first sign of lemonade spilling in places where it shouldn’t, she quickly reached over for a napkin and grab it. She’d dab over the parts where he’d gotten wet. “Gosh I’m real sorry.” Asuka clearly sounded exasperated. First a near death experience and now this!? She hoped he’d still give her a five star rating on Kelp; the site that reviewed restaurants. She couldn’t keep herself afloat with all this bad stuff that kept happening.

She hoped he wouldn’t go for the throat over her blunder. While spilling lemonade on an individual seemed harmless enough, Asuka has had her life threatened for far less. For one, she’s been threatened for simply having teal hair. Or, eating spaghetti. Sometimes, she doesn’t even get threats! Sometimes, they just go straight for the jaguar! Threats happened if you were lucky. Asuka felt her body tense up momentarily, ready to defend herself at a moments notice if he chose to lash out at her. She did her best to not show it though and smiled sweetly at him in hopes he wouldn’t.

"My name is Ciel and of course I would know you're the Segunda. Although you didn't take notice of me it seems, I was in the throne room with you and the king that day. I witnessed the events that transpired, including that riveting little speech you gave."

To her surprise and relief, he was not the aggressive type. Her muscles relaxed as she took his words in. Ciel. Like… Seal? Arf Arf? The Sea Puppies? Aww… That’s so cute! He looks nothing like them! Was he trying to lie to her about his werecow status or was that seriously his name. Asuka had never heard of a name like that one before. “Let’s be bestest friends~!” It was pretty original but in the end, he was still no creature of the sea and he couldn’t change her mind on that no matter what he tried or said to her. “Ciel. That’s a cool name! But you’re still a werecow! Aha!” She said in an attempt to remind him that she was no dummy and that he wasn’t fooling her anytime soon.

Though, the second part of what he said made the girl want to curl up somewhere. She seemed to almost visibly shrink at his mention of her little rendezvous with Kouhai and 100 other arrancar the other day. Asuka blushed wildly and glanced away and into the barren wasteland, incredibly embarrassed that he’d seen her in such a state. Really, that wasn’t her. She wasn’t like that… Was she? It was a part of her she wasn’t quite used to. This rank was something she wasn’t quite used to either. Never in her wildest dreams would she have imagined that she could come this far.

The feeling of power felt… It felt good. A little more than Asuka cared to admit. It was confusing. From someone who’d been on the ground eating sand for the better part of her life, it was… Well, she… Hrm. How did she even describe it? She felt ashamed for feeling such away. The Segunda nervously chewed on her lip for half a second before looking back at Ciel, contemplating an answer for the curious werecow who seemed to be smiling at her. She felt as though that he knew that she knew that he knew what she was doing back there.

The Segunda waved her hand, as if to wave off anything he’d said. It was better to push those things to the back of your mind. Power was good but it was a responsibility and she knew it wouldn’t be easy. She came so far. Getting carried away would only get her killed. If she wanted to remain good and be the shining beacon for Hope and Humanity in Hueco Mundo, she had to keep herself straight. In her own way, she was defying Kouhai. Maybe he knew that. Yikes. He’s good! “T-Th-That? Aha..” She stammered and fidgeted under his gaze. “Forget about that. Aha. That’s a totally different day. It’s definitely not me ehe..”

She could hear his light laughter and his added comments on her performance in the Throne Room. She looked down at her feet, kicking the sand a bit. Her fingers threaded themselves with one another. Asuka looked like a kid who’d stolen a cookie out of the cookie jar. She was looking anywhere else but at Ciel. Purely out of embarrassment. Occasionally, emerald irises would peek at the now sitting Akki before her from behind a messy teal fringe. "Oh and no, I'm not out here to become your Fraccion, I'm an Envainar. My Aspect of light is humanity." Oh, little did he know, he kinda was. He partook in Lemonadè stand activities and he was her first customer! He was in there like swimwear. As far as Asuka was concerned he was! He just didn’t know it yet. She merely nodded at his declaration.

Still, she listened to his words carefully. "So, how would you like to play a game with me? I think it would be beneficial and fun to the both of us. I'd get to test your powers, you get to stretch your legs, have some fun and you can even decide for yourself if I am strong enough...to be your fraccion." At the sound of a game, Asuka perked up. Game? She loved games! Games were the best! Games where there were two people were the most fun! She used to play games all the time with Shinsei! Just the two of them! It was her favorite thing to do with him. She smiled at the sitting werecow sweetly at the idea. It would be tons of fun! She would totally be up for playing games with Ciel! He didn’t seem so bad! They could do all kinds of stuff together! Like play Twister and Tic Tac Toe!

However, he spoke further. Asuka got quite serious for a second and finally locked eyes with him. Staring at orange eyes without so much as a hint of fear. Her smile turned into an knowing one. He just said he wasn’t trying to be her fraccion. Why would he say that he is now? That didn’t make a whole lot of sense. She crouched down to his level and looked at him for a while, her arms folding in her lap. “You’re contradicting yourself, Ciel.” she spoke softly. He was definitely here for more than that but nonetheless, she would brush pass it and pacify him. Asuka figured that Kouhai sent him after her and if this was what he wanted, then so be it. Airheaded, yes but she wasn’t that stupid. “Which means you’re already my first honorary fraccion~! Aha!” She would play along, subjecting herself further to Kouhai’s games. It wasn’t the first time she’s survived them after all.

“But I love games~! Aha! My favorite one is Connect 4! Y'know! The one with the pieces that have the king and the queen in them! It's so romantic~! Aha!” And just like that, her bubbly demeanor was back. But now, it was time for a tussle! Reaching to her backside, she unclipped her two whips, letting their chords fall to the floor. She cracked her whip a few times, looking at him and then without breaking her contact with him, cracked her whip on the pitcher of lemonade. Rather than the hit spidering and shattering the class, she made a cut so clean that it the top portion of the pitcher that was cut merely slid off onto the table gently, only making a small spill. “Course, Mr. Werecow. Fraccion of the Segunda~ Aha.” She winked at him playfully, letting him know she was playing along with that evil Kouhai’s nefarious plan. If he was. She wouldn't know. As far as Asuka was concerned, she was. She knew what the werecows under Kouhai were about all too well.

He was an Envainar. Just like Grimoire was. While Grimoire was in a category of his own, she could feel Ciel was much weaker. But Asuka knew better than anyone else that Ciel was smoke and mirrors. Kouhai doesn’t just add on any werecow to his ranks. He tacked on the strongest of the strong. Without a doubt he was going to release and Asuka knew that at some point, due to the nature of the werecow and the lack of what he was giving off, she was going to be forced to release as well. Not yet though! Kuroi taught her better than that. A little messing around before you get into the serious stuff because that’s how you show you’re strong or something really scary like that. She wasn’t sure. Kuroi was scary and threatening about 95% of the time. It’s hard to tell.

She would step away from the table, slowly circling Ciel. Asuka lashed her weapon out a few feet in front of Ciel into the sand, allowing it to spew towards his face obscuring his vision momentarily. She moved one foot forward in front of the other as she did so. It was like she was getting close to him without getting too close. She was going to make it troublesome for him to deal with her and force him to release first. Simultaneously, Asuka would get her other whip and lash out hard at his leg, leaving a deep, nasty cut on his knee. The kind that would hit the bone if possible. A place that was hard to defend because it was below the belt and out of arms reach. So while Ciel was dealing with sand being flung at his face, he was going to suffer a knee injury that would hamper his movement if he didn’t dodge and if Asuka was successful.

Regardless, she would back off. Quickly pulling her whips back to her side, cracking it occasionally. Her idea wasn’t to linger in one spot too long and she was ready to evade Ciel should he decide to counter. To Ciel, it would look like a blur at his speed. He wouldn’t even be able to notice what she did in his state in comparison to hers. She figured that this was just the quiet before the storm so Asuka wouldn’t not overextend herself or exhaust herself. She would just poke the bear. Test the waters so to speak! It was the safest option until he would show her what he was really made of. It wasn't that she wasn't taking him seriously. It's just that she wanted him to take her seriously and do what he needed to do. She didn't know what he was capable of after all. “What’s your favorite game, Ciely?” She asked him, tacking on a new nickname for the werecow. “So we can play it more when you get settled in as my fraccion!”

SPOILER: Click to show

{Asukas Stats & Abilities}✪▐ ⋆↻.₀₀ xS T A T S◞

Strength - [100] Points (50)

Speed - [400] Points

Spiritual Pressure - [300] (450) Points

Reiatsu Strength - [400] Points (1000)

Light Aura - [100] Points

Dark Aura - [0] Points

Instinct - [150] Points

Senses - [100](50) Points

Energy sensory - [50] Points

Healing Expertise - [400] Points
Total SP: [1900]

✪▐ ⋆↻.₀₀ xS K I L L S◞
-Add more if necessary
To add more, use [Insert Skill #X Here] [21]

] Strength of Will [3]

[★] Battle Analysis [3]

[★] Charisma [1]

[★] Weapons: Kodachi &Whip [4]

[★] Pain Tolerance [3]

[★] Poison Resist [3]

[★] Damage Recovery [3]

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[Ciel]

Ciel let out a soft sigh of annoyance as Asuka's whip dug into and sliced through the flesh of his leg. It was hardly the kind of injury that would slow Ciel down but it was annoying not due to the fact that Ciel was unable to avoid such an attack in his current state. No, Ciel was annoyed simply because Asuka wasn't doing as he asked, she was massively holding back: She wasn't releasing. Ciel moved his fingers over his injury and inspected the blood before shifting his eyes over to Asuka's, staring her down as she circled him. "Fine, if you're not going to honor me with the first move.." Ciel's voice trailed off softly towards the end of his sentence. Ciel really wasn't a fan of making the first move, even if it was a friendly spar, perhaps the only version of fighting he could find joy in. However he had this itching feeling that if he didn't she was just going to try and toy with him and the simple fact is in his state, she could toy with him to death. So, Ciel had no choice it seems. Ciel's grip would relax and let go of the hood which covered his body, allowing the thin cloth crumple at his feet, for the first time showing his full stature to the girl.

She wouldn't have long to study it however as the carved-in words of "Tartarus" which had what seemed to be thick, physical shadows leaking out of it as if dripping blood would Erupt outward in the black flames of hellfire, engulfing his entire being. The change in presence and pressure would completely change in that instant. The warm, sarcastic and soft Ciel that Asuka had been chatting with would slip away into the dark flames, something that Asuka could physically feel with the weight of the air and make up of his spiritual pressure. What replaced those warm traits was something far more sinister in nature, something that gave off a primal sense of dread that would send much lesser creatures fleeing in self preservation. Furthermore that feeling of weakness which permeated Ciel had also burnt up in the flames replaced by an unmistakable sense of raw spiritual power. As the hellfire recedes and drives back into Ciel's body the aftermath is unmistakable. What was once toned, white and obsidian kissed skin had been replaced by what looked like overlapping flower petals. His entire body seemed to be covered in these blooming petals and in all objective honesty, looked beautiful.

However the beauty was also corrupted, just like his main body, by something hellish. On Ciel's back is what looked like what once were wings, however they were now fleshy, burnt tatters with only a scarce few petals barely hanging on. His midsection as well, looked completely burnt away to the bone, with exposed ribs. The center of which held no organs but a simple ball of burning fire which cascaded sparks out the back of his body. Ciel's once burning fiery eyes had been replaced with a soft purple hue and his gaze never seemed to have left Asuka's own eyes, still studying her movements through his transformation. All this happened in within the span of a second or two, fast enough it wasn't entirely jarring when he finally finished the early sentence. "...then I'll make it for you. Let's try something a little more..comfortable on." Ciel's deep voice seemed to come from inside Asuka's mind. Ciel had no clear mouth after all and although she could hear it in her head, it wasn't invasive or harmful. Simply, perhaps...creepy?

Ciel snapped his fingers as shadows shot from his feet in a thin cloth in all directions, moving at a rapid 700 speed. Once those shadows reached twenty-five the skill would be complete and assuming Asuka didn't move out of the range before the shadow's reached their destination she would find her surroundings change almost instantly. Gone would be the sands of Hueco Mundo, replaced with one of the many landscapes of hell: The islands of Torture. In fact, this would be no illusion but the actual planes of hell made manifest. The smell of sulfer, the feeling of utter dread and despair that drowns the soul as if underwater: All these things would be present. Lastly, there would be a rule placed upon the two fighters, although Asuka would have to discover the rule out the hard way. Any damage to one is done to the other. Suffering is a shared experience in this portion of hell and that goes for both Ciel and Asuka. Although the wounds won't be shared, the experience and pain will.

Ciel would not move for the attack however. It wasn't that he was afraid of the pain, hell he was used to and in some ways deep down desired it. No, he was simply waiting to see what the Segunda would do in this situation. How would should react? Just as before as it is now, Ciel's eyes remained locked on her through all things, studying her movements, reactions..gauging her. Judging her. Evaluating her. But now that he was released, he also wished to beat her. The demonic energies from within clawing at his soul to destroy her. But, luckily for Ciel this was only his 2nd release so resisting such things was easy enough, for now. But still, to deny the voices whispering to destroy her would be undeniable.

Reiatsu Tracker

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Release: 200
Skill: 300
2000/2500 Reiatsu left

Skill used

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3rd - Body - Tartarus' Journey, Torture: Tartarus is the place beneath the layers of hell, a place which combines everything from before and refines it to a grizzly perfection. Ciel aims to teach the tenets of hell to his enemies step by step, starting with the island of torture and ending in Tartarus itself. First we begin on the islands of torture, a place of indelible pain and suffering. To activate this techinque the darkness of Tartarus' that seeps from Ciel's body would rapidly spread out across the ground at 700 speed, spreading to 25 meter radius before raising and snapping shut around them, forming a dome.

The darkness acts as a portal and within it's space, it brings a piece of hell directly to the plain of which they are fighting, in this case Ciel and his enemy would find themselves on one of the many islands of torture and unlike his previous release which showed mere illusions, this was the real thing. The sounds, feel and pressure of hell will be very real here. If one tried to escape, while they would find no walls they would find themselves tethered at the 20 meter mark preventing them from going further. This tether is what binds both Ciel and his enemy here. To escape Ciel must either end the ability, be forced to end the ability or the enemy must break their tether.

Upon either of these three conditions happening both parties will find themselves thrusted back to where they were previously fighting, usually some distance apart with scorch marks all over the 20 foot radius to signify what was there. The portal can also be broken apart from the outside for the same effect.

While inside, the ability is extremely simple, for all versions: For each plain of hell there will be exactly one, unbreakable rule that applies to both Ciel and his Enemy equally. In Torture that rule is "Suffering". Ciel and his enemy share each other's pain, fully. If Ciel for example got sliced down his chest, the enemy would also feel the pain of his own attack, although he would not suffer the damage. The same applies if Ciel damaged the enemy or even damaged himself, it works in way you might try it. If one suffers the other does equally.

Cost: 300 Reiatsu, 150 per post

Drawbacks: Cost and constant drain, shared suffering. The tether (and by proxy the portal from the outside) can be broken with 50% offensive stat superiority, forcibly ending the effect.

Resistances: Pain resistance and strengthof will are applied naturally. For note however, while a 3 in force of will can power through pain you still will be in excruciating pain depending on the injury you're feeling. Pain resistance is much more effective in this case. If by chance someone was to have low/no pain resistance or force of will...it will be agonizing beyond words.

Stats

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Strength - 31.25

Speed - 78.15

Spiritual Pressure - 250

Reiatsu Strength - 1312.5

Light Aura - 30

Dark Aura - 70

Instinct - 187.5

Senses - 125

Energy Sensory - 0

Healing Expertise - 0

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51 Paragraphs = 255 CTP