The Shy and the Confident

[Date Maharo]

Maharo had figured that Hikari would block, but had not expected her to deflect it with one hand on her weapon. It was a gamble on her part, had Maharo been stronger, they may have blown right through her guard. Fortunately, the fact that their zanpakuto had a short blade meant that they were quicker to recover on whiffed or blocked attacks. Unfortunately, they were not quick enough to block Hikari's counter.

Hikari wouldn't see Maharo's face, obviously, but she did hear an undignified "Gfawh!" as she punched the air out of Maharo's lungs. At least they managed not to be sent off their feet, but they did take a small step back to collect themselves after the unexpected punch. As they mentally put together what had happened, Maharo felt like a real fool. This wasn't a zanjutsu spar in the academy with rules about keeping your hands on your weapon or where you can or can't strike. While it wasn't a real fight, this sparring session didn't have any rules outside of an unspoken agreement not to hurt each other too much. Maharo had to adapt a bit.

The tall shinigami took another step back, steeling themselves. With their right foot forward, they took a wide stance, both hands gripping their zanpakuto, holding the blade just over their head. It was clearly a very practiced stance, a posture that Maharo had taken thousands of times before. Something about it, the stillness of their body, the quiet focus, it seemed like Maharo had become a spring compressed to its shortest length, ready to snap outward in an instant. As much as they knew they had to adapt, Maharo believed that they could at least rely on this, as simple as it was. It had ended many of their spars before.

They didn't attack immediately, trying to feint Hikari into thinking that they were aiming to counter to her next swing, only to step forward with their right foot and strike first. They brought their blade down to strike Hikari's left shoulder, using the blunt side of their zanpakuto this time. They probably should have been doing that in the first place. It was a simple attack, but it had a lot of strength and speed behind it, the sort of strike one could see being used to slay a Hollow.

[Scarlet]

Although it was what she planned on and accomplished that didn’t mean Hikari wasn’t any less surprised. The fact her fist actually managed to impact Maraho’s massive chest was surprising. She knew that he eclipsed her in size and was going to keep doing her best to exploit his size against him. She’s been training physically more than ever before in her life, to see now that she could actually stand against someone so much larger than herself, well it was a blessing. That's when she could tell Maharo was going to start taking her more serious.

The way he put just a little extra space between them, the stance that he took was practiced. She could tell he’d given it a lot of time just by how smoothly he managed to switch his stance. It was the same way she used an axe, practice until her hands bled. This wasn’t a battle of survival like facing down a Hollow though. She had to remember that cutting Maharo too severely would only cause problems and hurt someone she was really starting to believe could be her friend. She’d have to be very careful, until a wakashi or katana her axe didn’t have a blunted edge on one side.

The way that he stood was aggravating and yet exciting, she could rush in and swing at his lower body. Such a move left her own body wide open to his zanpakuto. A downward slash was all it would take for the edge of his sword to slice right through her. Holding her battle axe with her right hand further up the shaft now with the head actually on that side, Hikari was ready to block or use either side to attack. A sort of neutral stance she’d practiced that let her stand at the ready. She had to decide though how she could attack Maharo.

The thought of actually countering or defending didn’t really enter her mind as Maharo was very passive for his size. So much so that Hikari actually let it influence her. There wasn’t any way he’d rush in that didn’t really fit him. Sure enough though that was exactly what happened and Hikari couldn’t contain the shock displayed on her features as her right foot moved backwards. Just like that she raised her axe up, but felt the heavy impact. Then the cold metal of the zanpakuto slammed onto her left shoulder. Hikari released a scream of rage though and swung horizontally with the intent to have the flat side of her axe slam into Maharo’s left arm.

[Date Maharo]

Part of Maharo hadn't expected to actually strike Hikari, especially after she had seemingly blocked the attack. The fact that they had blown through her guard with sheer force shocked Maharo. Thankfully they had the forethought to swing with the blunt edge of their wakizashi. They knew for a fact that Hikari was strong; they could still feel that punch to the chest. Then was Maharo just underestimating themselves? No, that didn't seem likely, they weren't anything special, at least they figured they weren't. Could it be that Hikari let them land that strike to make them feel better? She didn't need to do that, it was an insult to their pride, but they still appreciated the thought. No matter, Maharo wasn't about to ease up, and neither should she!

Maharo flexed in anticipation just before their left arm took Hikari's swing square on target. It hurt, but they could get through it. At first glance, it seemed as though her attack had actually sent them off their feet, but they had simply let the swing carry them, moving into a new position, perpendicular to the Fullbringer's side. They were just out of range to attack again with their Zanpakuto, seemingly giving her a good moment to recover. Of course, Maharo was more than their Zanjutsu. The towering Shinigami began turning, lifting their right leg off the ground before lashing out with a roundhouse kick, aimed for Hikari's back, or left side if she turned to face them.

Their left arm ached, especially the elbow, after taking that strike. They had tensed the muscles in their arm before impact to reduce the damage they took from it, and it probably felt like smacking a brick wall to Hikari. However, neither of these points put an end to the fact that their left arm felt like it was on fire, nor the fact that the pain would make it hard to swing effectively with it. They weren't as comfortable using one-handed Zanjutsu, but that would have to do for however long this spar continued.

[Scarlet]

Hikari could feel the intense impact of her axe against Maharo’s arm, the wall of flesh provided enough resistance that it was almost like she’d just tried to chop down a tree with the flat side of her Fullbring. Getting Maharo off balance was a nice surprise though and one that Hikari was intent on taking advantage of, a notion that if planned out would have given her that extra moment she needed for a really good follow up. Instead though Hikari moved in holding her Fullbring close to her chest.

She could see the large Shinigami wasn’t going to fall to the ground, his stance was too solid along with the way he moved to the side. No, he was going to use one of her favorite moves! A roundhouse kick from the Shinigami with his massive size that was set to strike her right on the left arm. Releasing her grip with her left and shifting her right foot on the roof. Solidifying her stance and position Hikari flexed for the next moment and felt Maharo’s leg slam against her left forearm. A heavy blow that she could feel lifting her body back to the right.

She’d started what just happened to her with that punch, now Maharo replied in kind with a kick. One that she hadn’t been expecting when usually individuals of his size relied on their upper body while ignoring the lower. It was both a surprise but a nice one at the same time. Maharo was proving to her that despite his shy and uncertain personality he had the tools he needed to survive against the run of the mill Hollows. It was because of this conclusion that Hikari had a smile spread across her face, one that Maharo would be able to see easily.

Concentrating her reiatsu for a moment Hikari’s Fullbring would glow a mixture of orange and red for a moment then alter its shape back into the small earrings that fly right back into her ears. Hikari was sure that while brief this exchange between them was going to help her. “Thanks Maharo, I wish we could keep going, but if we do I’m not sure we’d be able to handle a Hollow or two if they started showing up.” Having been dealing with them for months now Hikari really felt like they could pop up at any moment and if she was already hurt the chances of survival for her and others went down to near zero all the time.

[Date Maharo]

Maharo felt a sense of satisfaction as his kick struck true. Hikari's stance was solid, but not enough to stop their kick from pushing her back. With that space made between the two of them, the Shinigami took up another stance, their left foot planted on the ground, right leg raised slightly, ready to kick again while their arm flexed in front of themselves, holding their Zanpakuto horizontally, level with their chin. They tensed as Hikari smiled. Did she have something planned? Had Maharo somehow fallen into a trap already? They prepared to dodge as her Fullbring began to glow with flame-like reiatsu. Given Hikari's straightforward nature, they doubted whatever was coming next would be impossible to dodge on the fly.

They felt like a real idiot as Hikari's giant axe simply turned into her earrings. Acting as naturally as they could, Maharo relaxed their stance and sheathed their wakizashi properly, drawing the blunt edge across the open end of the scabbard before sliding the blade into its proper place, cutting edge facing upward.

"Right. Of course." Maharo nodded, agreeing with her observation that sparring into exhaustion would be a poor idea when sitting on a random rooftop of Karakura. It wasn't entirely unlikely that a Hollow could appear at any moment, especially if it sensed two relatively strong spiritual presences who had worn each other out.

The tall Shinigami bowed properly. "Apologies if I hurt you at all." They said as if forgetting that spars usually involved some amount of pain. Despite their masculine frame, the small details in how they bowed could be identified as feminine, feet together, one hand over the other, held below their abdomen. "And thank you for the opportunity to spar with you. It has been an enriching experience."

Not two seconds after thanking her, an audible buzz sounded from an interior pocket of their shihakusho. Maharo reached in and pulled out what seemed to be a genuine cell phone, the back decorated with what appeared to be a stylized depiction of a snowdrop flower. "Oh!" After looking at it for a second, Maharo returned it to their pocket. "Apologies again, it seems that I must return to my duties. They gave Hikari a more casual bow this time before turning away. "I am certain we will happen upon each other again. Until then, this is goodbye."

Maharo lept from the rooftop, landing on airground before leaping away again, quickly disappearing amongst the other buildings nearby.

[Scarlet]

Hikari for the first time in quite awhile couldn’t wipe the smile from her face, if she had been told only thirty minutes earlier that the Shinigami that towered above her, the gentle shy giant was going to be such a fun person once they met again. She probably wouldn’t have believed it. Maharo was nowhere near the worst person even the first time she’d met him; he just wasn’t someone she had much in common with, even if that didn’t really change all that much now. Hikari knew now he wasn’t just big for show and really could be counted on.

Although she’d had one bad experience and been warned about them, Hikari was meeting more and more Shinigami and then tended to be more nice than mean. Despite all that she knew her rage, the moment she saw him it would erupt, rational would fly out the metaphorical window of her mind and she’d attack him for what he’d done to her. Either way though he didn’t matter especially now when Maharo had made her day quite a lot better. Not only had this been a wonderful although short spar, his slip up had given her a clue about how to accelerate her speed.

There was much training to be done whether it be in regards to the souls of objects and elements or now even what she could do with her own body. The only thing she struggled with more than basic concepts was the fact she couldn’t think of anything to match the skill she’d seen the Shinigami with their zanpakuto. A specific sort of attack she could deliver with an ax in her hand. She didn’t have anything like that, but could she make something? “Don't apologize Maharo, it couldn’t have hurt anymore than the punch to your stomach. It's good to know that you're strong enough to have my back if it comes to that.”

What she saw after that was something that she wouldn’t have ever guessed for a Shinigami to have. A cell phone, something so modern that just seeing Maharo hold it was almost like peaking past the fourth wall. How was this a thing? Hikari thought that for the most part Shinigami and those that lived in soul society went by an ancient system that’d worked for them. How did he have a cell phone that was no doubt giving him details though! This didn’t make any sense to Hikari and now she had to question everything she knew about what Soul Society was like and what a Shinigami had as far as equipment.

Hikari was caught off guard halfway through Maharo’s goodbyes but returned his bow in kind quickly. Today really had gotten better and then just got weird. Now she was left on the rooftop trying to keep her mind at ease from wandering around and jumping to strange conclusions with no basis. Smacking her cheeks at the same time in hopes of stopping her thoughts Hikari breathed. “It's all good just focus on what I can do. Now to figure out this step thing.”

[Shizuka Sanamizu ✮]

80 paragraphs = 800 TP from the double TP event for both participants