The Desire To Smile [Ask to Join] [JT]

[Senshi Odayakama (Crimson.)]

It was in these moments that Senshi had considered her life thus far, the moments of happiness, the goals she had, and what she had accomplished, and she had figured that she was weak. Yes, but she had experience, and even she could accomplish something in this short existence that is called life. So, for that reason, she had released notice to the Squads of the Seireitei, as well as the promising recruits across the land that she was opening her services for something that was incredibly rare, and done only once previously.

The Vice Captain of the Eighth Division had opened the opportunity to find students, as well as a disciple. Only once had she done something similar, and with it, that individual would become the Vice Captain of the Kido Corps that served the Central 48. However in those moments, she had gathered up the courage to face the adversity and the loss to begin growing, if not herself, then the next generation of Shinigami. She wanted to love, and she wanted to be able to smile again. That was why she opened up this opportunity.

Senshi would call for them in the eighth division, and with it, she had a fear inside of her heart. She wondered if anyone would even come in the first place. The rumors were evidently clear. She was small, crippled, with one arm. Yet, to those that looked deeper, they would know that of the current Vice Captains, she was one of the most skilled at Kido amongst them, and it was said she had mastered the spiritual arts. However, there might not be that much known about her otherwise.

After all, few paid close attention to the bankers, the ones that worked the infrastructure of the Seireitei unless they usually had dealings with them directly. Upon opening the sliding doors to the entry of the Eighth Division barracks, one would find a redheaded maiden with long crimson hair that sank to her back, cerulean blue eyes that shined lightly in the light with soft rosy cheeks. Her left sleeve had been pinned to her shirt, and with it, she stands to address the first potential candidate.

Bowing her head politely, she speaks softly. "My name is Odayakama Senshi, Vice Captain of the Eighth Division. Please take good care of me." She was short, standing around five foot two perhaps, and with it, she hugged close to herself a blade in a red sheath, a katana that was nearly as long as she was, resting at five foot, close to her chest, before she adjusts it so it rests along her side, the tip of the scabbard dragging along the floor. 

"I...may not be the strongest, but I want to teach what I've learned, and help everyone grow. I'd hope that people can learn from my mistakes, and I want to be there. T-To see other people smile and be strong, even when the times are dire. So...I thank you for putting your faith in me!" She seemed shy, flushing slightly pink as she bows her head low, and with it, she was uncertain on how to feel, but she was glad. Glad that someone had come to potentially be by her side. That way, she wouldn't feel so alone. 

[Deleted]

Examining the notice before her, Camila let out a sigh. After everything that had happened in such a short span of time, she couldn't afford to remain alone anymore. Everything began to effectively fall apart after she had lost Albin, and she knew more than anything that she couldn't let herself sink deep into a funk, like she had when she had died originally. That'd prove to be way too dangerous for her, as she'd likely take up the same self-destructive tendencies she had taken decades in order to break.

Still, though, she knew what she needed. She needed to stop forcing herself to be some kind of lone wolf. Sure, she was different than others, but she didn't need to shunt herself from society. Plus, who knew? Perhaps seeking someone to train with and hopefully improve could be exactly what she needed in order to fill that new hole; to help her not feel as alone as she might've been without Albin constantly at her side. She let a smile rise to her cheeks, and began to make her way to the squad eight barracks.

She'd been here once before, on some simple mission from her Captain in order turn in some finance paperwork for him, so she was somewhat familiar with her way around the area. It didn't take her too too long in order to find the barracks, and she only ended up getting lost twice this time! She had always admired the eighth squad for a plethora of reasons; especially compared to her own, everything seemed so neat and in order! Captain Ludwig didn't seem to be the best with organizational skills, so this was definitely something she very much appreciated.

Upon eventually making her way to the entrance of the Barracks, she was immediately taken back by the shorter girl seemingly waiting for her; whether it was her in specific, or more a group of people was far from known to her, but something she was interested to find out. A smile rose to her face as she went inside, excited by what was to potentially come from meeting the girl, and hopefully gaining a new friend within the Gotei!

Almost immediately upon getting closer, she was absolutely taken back. She was really, really cute; Cami's heart immediately began to race. Simply put, she did not do well around members of the same sex at all. She took a deep breath. It's all good, Camila, she thought to herself, you're okay. You've got this! You can do this. She couldn't help but smile, though a rather nervous look persisted on her face. She began to listen to what the girl had to say.

"My name is Odayakama Senshi, Vice Captain of the Eighth Division. Please take good care of me. I...may not be the strongest, but I want to teach what I've learned, and help everyone grow. I'd hope that people can learn from my mistakes, and I want to be there. T-To see other people smile and be strong, even when the times are dire. So...I thank you for putting your faith in me!" Dear lord, she was adorable. Following in suit, Camila's cheeks involuntarily flushed like a Californian wildfire. She chuckled to herself, and awkwardly curtsied in response, still far from familiar with the traditions of the Seireitei. "It's, uh, it's a pleasure to meet you," Camila said, a dumbfounded smile persisting on her goofy little face, "I'm Camila Adaronde, unseated officer of the, uh, thirteenth squad, but you can call me Cami! O-only if you want to, I mean!" She chuckled again, her eyes not particularly able to turn from the VC.

[Senshi Odayakama (Crimson.)]

When in the face of another Shinigami, she was glad that someone was here, willing to learn, and with it, she smiles brightly, at the introduction then from a Shinigami named Cami. "Hai. Cami-Chan. Thank you so much for coming." Reaching out, she with her right hand wraps it around her own, giving a bright smile, enthusiastic that someone had come to answer her summons in hopes of that training, and with it, she proceeds to tilt her head in thought before nodding to her new potential charge.

"I offer training. Both in Kido, which is my specialty, but also in the form of Zanpakutou development, as well as training to fight with both simultaneously." That said, she looks on her for a moment, her blue eyes shining, as she closes them in a bright eyed smile. "Would you like to learn by getting some sparring practice in today?" She didn't want to turn away anyone. She wanted to accept everyone, and in a sense, she wanted everyone to accept her as well.

She remembered training those that might have freshly come out from the academy. She remembered the feeling of her own experiences when she came out of the field in the Eighth Division. Funny enough, she remembered she had chosen it because she felt as if it would be far from the battlefield, as if it would keep her from danger, and would allow her to tackle the issues of corruption, as far as she was concerned anyways. Now, here she was, one of the most scarred war veterans of the Gotei in a sense. Funny how that worked. How could she have known?

"I'm here to help you work and grow at your own pace Cami-Chan." Trying to endear herself to her new potential student, she wanted to seem relaxed, open, and hopefully not as shy as she used to be. She remembered when she was a stuttering mess, that feeling of inadequacy, and she never wanted anyone to feel like that, especially not after experiencing that first hand herself so many times. There was one thing evidently clear though.

She was oblivious to Cami's anxiousness in a sexual sense, instead believing it was because she was feeling nervous about being trained by a Vice Captain, instead believing perhaps that it had to be something else entirely. Surely. Right? "Whatever you want to do, let's do our best okay?" Senshi opened her eyes with that charming bright eyed grin, as best she could, and with it, despite barely standing taller than five foot, she hoped that it wouldn't bring any awkwardness. After all, it seemed Cami quite literally towered over her in these moments...Geeze. 

[Deleted]

Almost immediately taken back by the sudden grabbing of her hand, Camila listened to Senshi's thanks, and that goofy smile was effectively stuck onto her face. "Of course! I'm really happy to be here!" She said, letting out a faint chuckle and scratching the back of her head with her now only free hand, "I absolutely needed to get out more, so I'm really glad to have that opportunity!" Gods, she was like a kid in a toy store with where her serotonin levels were at the moment.

Upon being asked about sparring, Cami's eyes lit up. While she didn't particularly look the part, she was little short of a combat addict. She loved getting her blood flowing, to feel the rush of adrenaline, and was especially excited to spar with someone new in the Seireitei! The last person she had done something like that with was Celes, and, well, that didn't end particularly favorably. She'd make sure this time was different! "I'd love to!" the girl exclaimed, showing just how excited she was.

She took a step back, and chuckled to herself after realizing she was a little close after speaking. "Oh, uh, I'm sorry," she said, "I didn't mean to shout in your face like that! I'm still really down to spar though!" She was practically bouncing on her heels at this point, when Senshi continued speaking: "I'm here to help you work and grow at your own pace Cami-Chan." She couldn't help but smile. She'd never really met someone this nice to her, especially while Albin had followed her practically everywhere. Having to deal with a large concentration of hollow reiatsu following you around perpetually while wander the Soul Society wasn't exactly something that didn't cause people to stare and judge.

She tried to stop herself from thinking like that. The past was in the past; Albin seemed to be gone for good, thankfully, so that meant no more judgement from others, right? She wanted to stay positive. After pondering for a few seconds in her head over this all, she decided to respond. "U-Understood! I really appreciate the assistance!" Camila stuttered out, still absolutely wracked with a pleasant nervousness over this whole situation.

She took a few steps back, and took a deep breath, as if to calm herself. She tried her very best to hide her emotions as well as she could've from here on; embarrassing herself was the last thing she wanted to in front of someone new, let alone a Vice Captain; a rank she hoped to someday hold under Captain Ludwig. She needed to earn that, though; what better way to do so than training under a Vice Captain? "Oh!" she started to say, "to answer your previous question though, I'd definitely be content if you'd like to mix it up a bit~! I'm more confident with my Zanpakuto in a fight, but I really need to get better at weaving Kido in-between attacks. It's an art-form that I'd really like to learn, so I'd really, really appreciate to learn it from you!" With that being said, she bowed her head low, as a sign of respect.

[Senshi Odayakama (Crimson.)]

She said she was up to spar, and with it, Senshi didn't mind when Cami shouted at her. In fact, it only made her close her eyes and smile ever brighter upon looking her firmly. "No. That's the spirit! Fighting!" She clenches her fist and raises it lightly into the air, and with it, she leads her off, towards the back, a spacious training yard, normally reserved for herself and the captain, and with it, they would find it was mostly spacious anyways, most members of Squad Eight addressing other duties.

"Well...If you're more comfortable in a Zanpakutou fight. Let's start from there. Though. Forgive me. It's harder for me to use my blade in this form." She flicks her fingers, and with it, she pulls forth her long Katana out from its sheath, grasping it firmly in her palm before letting her know. "Since you've already learned my name. Please take care to learn the name of my partner." She begins to release a high powered spiritual pressure, radiating as she tilts her head.

"Extend above the heavens and fly. Shonin Joka!" There is a moment of heat, as the blade seems to glow a bright crimson red color, and with it, the wind begins to pick up, her blade slowly shrinking in length, and with it, the blade shrinks down to become more like a O-Wakizashi, close to the length of a Katana, and with it, she flourishes it out to the side, the black handles blade with a swish outwards. Yet, other than the length decrease, it seemed rather...plain. Simple, as if not much had changed despite the radiating spiritual energy in the air.

After that display, she grins, and with it, she extends a finger outwards, a wordless call as a golden rope shoots forward, looking to wrap around the handle of Cami's sword, to draw it for her, looking to flip it through the air and make it stick into the ground by her feet. "I'm not very strong, so please try to be a bit lenient with me. Okay Cami-Chan?" Perhaps Senshi was being humble, or perhaps she was being wholeheartedly honest, but regardless, it was now time for Cami to show her skills. 

If this was going to be a duel, then Senshi would like to start it off softly and slowly progress once they knew more about themselves and their skillsets. All the while, Senshi's crimson red hair blew lightly in the breeze as she enters a Zanjutsu stance, her feet in a triangular formation, her eyes sharp, and a deep breath as she narrows her brow cutely, trying to get an experience, and looking to see what she could accomplish. After all, the redheaded Shinigami was a bit rusty, and just out of therapy again.

[Deleted]

Camila couldn't help but watch in awe as Senshi spoke her release's name. She absolutely adored watching Shinigami release, as it was always a spectacular sight! Although surprisingly, this one had been somewhat different. There wasn't any flash of light, and nothing really 'spectacular' happened. Her sword seemed to change color, and took on a smaller shape. Although it wasn't what she was expecting, Cami couldn't help but admire the simplicity behind the release. 

Almost immediately, though, she was hit with a wave of spiritual energy; it was easily enough to cause her to have a double-take. She could feel a rather immense spiritual strength from the girl in front of her; she definitely seemed to live up to the title of Vice Captain. This only continued to excite Camila even more. Though, unfortunately she was too consumed with thoughts of what was to come that she hadn't immediately noticed her Zanpakuto being swept from under her.

Taken back quite a bit by the action, Camila quickly tried to recover any semblance of control she had over the situation, though failing miserably as her Zanpakuto pierced the ground beneath them. She continued to smile toward Senshi as she spoke, and nodded her head once the Vice Captain finished. "Understood! I'm not exactly the most physically suited myself, so I promise you I'll be as lenient as I possibly can!" She continued to give a caring smile, as she drew her sealed blade from the ground in front of her.

After taking a deep breath, Camila held her blade with both hands, perpendicular with the ground and pointed upwards. As she closed her eyes and began to focus on her Zanpakuto, she began to let her spiritual pressure pour out from her body and weapon. "Make them Bleed, Buveur de Sang," she muttered, as the blade of her Zanpakuto began to reshape itself, coated in a deep red cloak of her own reiatsu. After a few short moments, a longsword rested firmly in her grip, the blade serrated and ready for use.

Taking one hand off the now much-lighter weapon, she held the sword in front of her, narrowing her form and folding one arm at her lower back; a duelist's stance of sorts. She took another deep breath, and opened her eyes to watch Senshi, and couldn't help but smile. She was genuinely thrilled for what was about to come. She watched the girl carefully for a few moments, and tightened her grip around her Zanpakuto; She wasn't particularly fond of the possibility of being disarmed again.

[Senshi Odayakama (Crimson.)]

To be truthful, Odayakama Senshi had a fatal lack of pride in her swordsmanship skills. After all, it wasn't meant to be how her release was used in a sense. Her Zanpakutou was about the execution of a single decisive striking blow, and yet, here she was now. With a swipe of her blade outward, she watches her opponent release her own Shikai, an interesting looking serrated longsword, one that would catch her own blade between its segmented teeth if she fought improperly and allowed herself to be locked. 

There was no time then to waste but to experiment. She dashes forward, utilizing a swift blurring of motion at her top speed before leaping into the air, a somersault upside down as she lashes out with her blade in a horizontal swing like a top, attempting to collide her blade against her opponent's. A clash of Shikai as she uses that brief pause to flare her reiatsu, as bright as possible, a bright light flashing in their lock thanks to her high reiatsu strength, looking to catch Cami off guard, and assuming it was successful, Senshi disengaged.

A releasing chk , as she falls, and rolls backwards, after essentially blinding her foe, and with it, she swiftly uses her mastery of her Kido to try to test Cami's instincts, and or decision making skills. "Bakudo no Sanjuu San. Shitotsu Sansen!" She calls out, and with it, three beaks form, and with it, with middle and index finger extended, they fly outward towards Cami then, for the shoulders and stomach respectively, looking to push her and show the potential.

Was it a bit dirty and surprising? Perhaps. Though, it was something that was necessary. After all, Senshi would rather have her subordinates alive and fighting than dead because they didn't fight to their full potential. That was a fact, and Cami wouldn't learn or progress if she didn't experience struggle, now would she? So, as the beaks fly forward, Senshi keeps her eyes sharp and honed, ready to cast another spell, prepare to fight against the powers of Cami's own spells, and or blade if she could retaliate.

Senshi in short was ready for just about anything the world would throw her, so Senshi would think, and with it, the redheaded girl kept her mind's eye open for predicted moves. Taking a deep breath, and maintaining her calm and cool, she waited. If anything however, she hoped that she would be able to hold herself back from going to far. After all, she didn't want to be overzealous with her, though she had hopes of training this unseated officer to be as good as Ranth, if not better. Soar to new heights. 

[Deleted]

Almost immediately taken back by the Vice Captain's speed, Camila steeled herself for a head-on attack. She was rather interested in the girls' battle plan; hadn't she said that she wasn't much of a physical fighter? If she had the time to do so, she would've pondered more into this, but unfortunately for her, Senshi was moving far too quickly for her to be able to take the time to think about something other than defending herself. As such, she tucked her blade in close, and prepared to parry an incoming strike.

Camila was taken by surprised when Senshi lept into the air for an overhead strike; she fully expected a head-on attack. Thankfully, through the use of a rather draining Shunpo Karin, she'd been able to shunt her arm upwards, as to guard her face and protect against an attack by parrying. Camila moved the hand behind her back  around the grip of the longsword, as to help add that extra strength behind her parry, even if it was rather negligible; Senshi was certainly stronger than she looked, and if she wanted to keep up with the VC, she'd need to think creatively; there was no way she could best her through raw force.

Once again, she was taken by surprise with the flare of reiatsu promptly clouding her vision in a rather bright flash. "Damn!" she exclaimed, as she felt the force against her own longsword lighten significantly, and immediately took the opportunity to prepare a counter-offensive. Focusing a small amount of reiatsu into the blade of her Zanpakuto, she wordlessly slashed into the air in front of her; specifically, in the direction that she had felt the resistance against her blade let up from her initial clash with Senshi.

The reiatsu coated around her blade quickly dispursed in front of her, and reshaped itself into a deep red, rather thin lance-like shape, and barreled its way toward Senshi. At the same time, though, unbeknownst to Camila aside from the spoken incantation, the Vice Captain had released a particularly nasty Bakudo in her direction. Due her currently blinded condition, there was very little she could do but take the blow head-on, and that's exactly what had happened. With a grunt, she felt herself be launched backward, and as fast as she possibly could, conjured another one of these reiatsu lances into her free hand.

Upon forming the weapon, she immediately bent her wrist downward toward the front of her body, in an attempt to slash through the pillars of light that had formed to dissipate them as best she could, with her movement already being semi-restricted. While it wasn't quite enough to prevent her from reaching the wall behind her, and in turn slamming into it with a respectable amount of force, at least she wasn't bound. Camila took a quick second to regain her composure, and took a defensive stance while she waited for her vision to return, with two blades in hand this time. 

[Senshi Odayakama (Crimson.)]

While some people might look to dramatize the clashing of blades, Senshi had found that such swordsmanship was normally about a standard of finesse more so that raw power. Ironic considering the fact that the most rushed on assault was usually the best for her particular release. However, upon the clashing of blades, the repulsion, Senshi used the time to get a more accurate look of her opponent, as well as to attempt to observe their blades now that they were closer together. It was a nasty one, a serrated edge blade that could cause more damage when ripping through an opponent.

Something she wouldn't want to get hit by. However, she didn't know anything about its abilities, so she'd just have to exercise caution. She drops, she rolls, and as she stands upon her feet, the crimson red lance of reiatsu approaching her, the red haired Shinigami ultimately holds her blade with the blade tilted to the floor. Mentally, does she call for Shonin Joka to split and extend, and it does, growing into longer, thicker blades, almost as if like tendrils as the Red Lance likely collides, and hopefully disperses. The tips of Shonin Joka embedded into the soil.

Looking upon Camila, there was a hint of interest at her odd ability. Did she have the ability to solidify Reiatsu and turn them into solid objects? That was the theory upon observing, and with it, she paid attention to the closest details. As Camila looks to recover herself, and now stands with two blades in hand, she would find Senshi never attacked her in her blind state. Instead, she'd wait and observe. "That's an amazing power." She proclaims such, before she slowly raises her now normalized blade overhead, and with it, she holds it high as if to swing.

"Shrapnel. Shonin Joka." Swinging townwards, the blade seemingly shatters off parts of itself, whipping outward as tiny shard fragments of blade in a wide spanning distance towards Camila, little tiny shards that one might find difficult to actually call lethal at first glance. However, Camila would find in this particular instance that the shards were very sharp if any were to cut her body. Worse if they were to actually lodge in her body. For assuming Camila was hit by these shards?

A special ability activates. The more spiritual nature of her Zanpakutou. Reiatsu would drain from her person. Perhaps not a major amount at first glance, a hundred fifty Reiatsu at first. However, assuming the pieces remained inside of her, the shrapnel shard would drain then another three hundred at the end. They drained and fed off of her energy unless removed. That itself in its sensation might not have been relatively terrible. However, as it absorbed her reiatsu, perhaps there was some greater purpose for the sinister movement of such a Zanpakutou.

[Deleted]

Camila smiled as Senshi had spoken, complimenting her. "Aw, it's nothing special really!" She couldn't help but smile at this, as she enjoyed hearing praise. Not necessarily in a vain sort of way, but she liked to feel appreciated, and to make others feel the same. "I'm really curious to see what your release is, though! I'm sure it'll be something spectacular!" She enjoyed talking the girl up, as everyone always did good from a confidence booster. She wanted to be someone to help with that, if she could!

As she watched the girl and heard her speak something that sounded awfully like a release command, Camila's eyes lit up. She was excited! She was absolutely thrilled to see what Senshi could do. She watched the girl's blade split into a bunch of tiny fragments, and raised her guard. She'd need to be ready for whatever came her way. There was little chance that Senshi couldn't control it, so her chances of dodging were quite small. Her best hope was to block it or to tank it. Seeing as they were too small for her to be able to see accurately, tanking was the best option.

She took a second to brace herself as what felt like hundreds of tiny blades laid waste upon her skin. It didn't hurt a wild amount, it was large amounts of lacerations that would wrack her body, but it was still painful nonetheless. "Tch," she said, "that's a neat little trick you've got there, Senshi! I like it!" As the tiny slashes seemed to come to a stop, Camila smiled. While she wasn't particularly one for having a strong offense, having an absolutely resolute defense is where she shined.

By focusing her reiatsu all around her, coating her skin for a second or two, Camila shunted any excess blades from inside of her, as her wounds quickly closed, leaving not even a mark on a single one of them. She exhaled, as the action to actually do so usually tended to wind her quite a bit. She'd need to work on that for sure. She shot a smile at the girl. As she did, a singular lance formed by her side, and shot out toward Senshi. She'd like to see what the girl did to dodge the attack, if really much of anything.

Camila continued to focus her gaze on the girl in front of her, and prepared herself for any more of those splinter attacks that might've come toward her. She was certain that this wasn't all she could do. She had a pretty good understanding over how Zanpakuto worked, and they usually proved to have quite a bit of versatility within them. All she could do was wait and see as to what Senshi would do, and act accordingly. Either way, she was still thrilled for this training session, very few people really brought out this much excitement from her.

[Col Arana]

52 PAragraphs work out to 260 TP