Crystal Clear (Fuuko/Iroka)

[Miranda Frost]

Finally it would appear that the three could understand each other or at least reach the point to where a proper understanding could be met. Minds were now focused on the fight. Miranda was true to her word. When the two were ready, they would receive the honorable hoari off her own back. The Gotei 13 requires more soldiers like them to hoist up the next generation. They were so close.

 Speaking of close, Fuuko was closing in on Miranda rapidly. Unlike her ancestors who were renown for their physical prowess, the manner in which Miranda was birthed stripped this gift from her, even more so when she split that remaining piece of her soul away to maintain its structural integrity. Though her speed and strength were above those of many beneath her, Seated Officers who focused in on their physical abilities often overshadowed her own. Fuuko was stronger and faster than Miranda physically. Though the captain could utilize shunpo and her release to keep up, she had to be careful as to not injure herself. 

 The only advantage in this combat that Miranda held over Fuuko here was the versatility of her release and the density of her Spiritual pressure. The density wasn't something she could properly control, even if her mastery had improved over the years. A single well placed punch would take Miranda out, but in that moment, its possible Fuuko's arm would be incapacities if not obliterated from the cutback outright, but to what extend of damage would be inflicted wasn't known to the captain. Upon learning of it, If what they were saying was true, its wonderful that Iroka was present, because it was possible she would need to attend to them both when this was said and done.

 "My mastery in Hakuda can be seen as impressive.", Miranda would admit as she lept back onto the crystal disc that zoomed down beneath her feet to catch her, narrowly avoiding the flurry of blows. Her steel eyes widened, feeling the wind of each punch kiss her pale face. "But against opponents of your caliber, my martial arts are not enough alone." As she floated off just fast enough to remain out of her fist's range, she'd crouch down on the disc, the crystal platform angling to point her body towards Fuuko

 Her sword moved to her right flank and the shield distance itself from her. Her gloved hand gripped its hilt and held it low  Like a gun she aimed herself by Fuuko's flank and fired as another disc of crystal materialized around ten feet behind  Utilizing shunpo shed launch herself forward from the crystal plate, the flat of her blade poised to to strike Fuuko's side should she remain where she was.

 As she disappeared from her plate she'd come out of her shunpo upon the plate behind Fuuko, the landing impact jostling the smooth structure. "Admittedly, I have to get creative."

-100 for:
disc#2
Shunpo

SPOILER: Click to show

{Stats}
Reiatsu: 9,450/10,000
Perma Release 3
Class 2

Strength - 100 Points
Speed - 150 Points
Spiritual Pressure - 400 - 1000 Points
Reiatsu Strength - 400 Points
Light Aura - 75 Points
Dark Aura - 25 Points
Instinct - 150 Points
Senses - 100 Points
Energy sensory - 100 Points
Healing Expertise - 0 Points

Skills:
Strength of Will: 4
Martial Arts: Hakuda: 3
Battle Analysis: 3
Cold Tolerance: 3
Kido: 3

[Satoshi Fuuko]

Despite her reckless charge, Fuuko's barrage of punches seemed to completely whiff. Miranda was able to hop backwards on her to her disc and utilize shunpo to keep at bay. All while Iroka was saying things that only riled Fuuko up more. "I'm... he's not fuckin living- Ouuugh!" 

The sharp smack clapped Fuuko and she threw herself to the side, pirouetting to face Miranda, who was now on a different disc. She grit her teeth as she stared at Miranda. "So yer that kinda jackass." She growled and then turned and looked at Iroka. "Kaen's only in my head cause he's a bastard! I don't like  what yer sayin, sis!" Fuuko hissed. "You wanna step up next to the cap'n?! I'll beat both  yer asses, I don't give a fuck!" 

Fuuko snorted an icy breath through her nose. "THis bitch." Fuuko said, thumbing at Iroka while staring at Mirnada. "I've told her a thousand times that if I had her weapon, I would be kicking some serious ass with it! But my  weapon won't let  me do that cause she is a gigantic crybaby. Really, I should pull her out and make her do some work, but her and I both know that neither of us wanna embarrass ourselves. Especially  not in front of you!" 

The irony of the statement didn't go unnoticed. Miranda had the home field advantage and with Iroka's zanpakutou being reactionary and Fuuko's zanpakutou needing time to "warm up" so to speak, the chances of Miranda kicking Fuuko's ass and making her look stupid in the initial part of the fight was certainly a high possibility. "Speakin of..." Fuuko said. She  was still trying to figure out how Miranda's zanpakutou worked and how much control she had over everything. Seemed like Miranda could manifest things pretty easily, and move them around, but how fast was she? How much control did she have. 

Fuuko reached back and dug her fingers into the disc Miranda had hopped off of and thenattempted to use all her strength to try and whip the disc at Miranda. Whether it succeeded or not, Fuuko was mostly interested in the 'if she could at all' aspect. If she couldn't budge it, if she could fling it but it only got so far, as soon as Fuuko figured out what the parameters were, she would then shunpo to Miranda's sword side and aim another punch at the captain. 

[Munemasa Iroka]

If Iroka was annoying Fuuko by her words, she had absolutely no idea why. She looked alarmed, and rather confused, when Fuuko threatened to beat her up along with Miranda. "Now, that won't be necessary, Oni-chan," she said in a placatory tone. "I was only stating the things I seem to have observed. You know, you've met many bastards, but Kaen seems to be a really special bastard, because he's the only one that is in your head, ne? But then, of course, I could be wrong...."

Miranda seemed to feel that her ice manipulation would not be sufficient to deal with her opponents, stating that she needed to get creative to deal with them. Iroka thought the Captain was doing just fine, though, especially with the way she managed to keep out of Fuuko's way. The blonde stated how she felt she could do better things with Iroka's Shikai. "And this bitch," the carrot-top said, pointing at Fuuko jovially, her tone and expression too good-natured to have considered the term an insult, "I keep telling her that her weapon is so cool. I guess it's a case of wanting what we can't have."

As Fuuko tried to toss Miranda's disc at her, Iroka tried a strategy she had used once before in this match. It had not worked back then, because it had been performed alone, but if done in tandem with Fuuko's attack, maybe it could be more effective. Iroka knew that the kidō by itself would not avail much, but if she could stop Miranda from getting out of the way, maybe that could help. Aiming her hand at her Captain, just as Fuuko tried to throw the disc, Iroka said, "Bakudō #61: Rikujokoro!"

SPOILER: Click to show

Technique Used: Bakudō #61: Rikujokoro (150 Reiatsu)

Technique Name: Bakudō #61: Rikujokoro (Six Rods Prison of Light)
Technique Class: 4 - 40 TTP
Technique Type: Kidō - Bakudō.
Usable By: Kidō-users.
Technique Element: Light.
Technique Cost: 150 Reiatsu.
Description: Summons six thin, wide beams of light that slam into a target's midsection from all sides, holding them in place. This technique also results in total paralysis, and can even suspend targets in mid-air.
How to Use: This requires the user's eyes to be focused on the target, and their casting hand to be aimed at the target as well. The six beams will then close in, but those who are quick enough or instinctive enough will be able to dodge.
Incantation: The incantation increases the reiatsu strength of this technique by 25%. (I.E. Reiatsu strength of 100 is instead worth 125.) ("Carriage of Thunder. Bridge of a spinning wheel. With light, divide this into six!")
Drawbacks: Reiatsu cost

Reiatsu: 5600

Shikai: 5/10

[Miranda Frost]

On the topic of Kaen, Miranda couldn’t relate. She had heard only rumors and legends, if one could call them legends. Some would even say he was on track to be the next Captain Commander. In her early days, the haori was all she ever wanted, but she would have settled for anything more than the chamber girl dress she was forced to wear.

It was silk and white as freshly packed snow. On the surface level, the district’s cult would claim this was to display the purity and innocence, using the naivety of those chosen to emphasize the traits they wanted to display. Had it been nothing more than that, perhaps Miranda wouldn’t be standing here in conflict with her own subordinates. She wouldn’t have gone through the pain and tribulations she took onto her own shoulders to uplift herself out of that place

She’d take a breath and relax, letting her mind crawl back deep from the shell that was her body. She’d embrace the cold certainty of crystal. Her eyes would lose its subtle, silvery glow. This act of willpower over her own internal presence was her best defense against her memories, inherited or not. With this will she’d inflict it upon the disc, letting it hurdle at herself at maximum speed.

Simultaneously, the well crafted binding kido would fall upon her, the pillars of light would hit their mark. She had a hunch they were coming. The captain could have responded, but she stood there, letting them inflict their binds. She’d feel her body lose its feeling, her muscles no longer responding to even the slightest commands. “Well done, Iroka… however” the quiet thoughts whispered.

If they were perceptive, they would see the secret to how she manipulates her constructs. To say it was pure mental prowess would be missing the point, thought it was a massive part of it. Her advanced Hakuda experience wasn’t complimentary to her physical abilities. Nay, had it not been for the help of her Zanpakuto, Towairaito, she would had forever remained an above average unseated in terms of ability.

The study and practice of Hakuda tought her purpose in movement and how to maximise even the slightest movements. Towairaito’s crystals were directed by the gloves themselves, interpreting her intent into her creations. In the beginning, she’d tie them to the basic movements and maneuvers of her training routine, but after years of practice, she could twitch her finger and convey her intent. Such a thing was impossible if was paralyzed.

As she was immobile she was unable to control the disc on it current speed and trajectory, fully giving to the illusion that Fuuko indeed was the one that threw it, but a last minute adjustment before the pillars closed around her allowed the disc to collide with the kido, shattering it just in time for her body to regain its composure.

Her mind focused in on that punch as it flew in and her arm instinctively moved to catch the fist, though a bit slow. The intent was conveyed and her sword obeyed. The fist would be caught as a sculpture of a dragonscaled gauntlet caught the fist in its palm. Fracturing its outer layers of compressed reishi.

Miranda’s face was blank, a result of pulling on the fullest extent of her willpower. It was the only thing she could do to endure her memories of old. She remembered her final days in that district, in the rusted cells beneath the temple with the others who were chosen. They were to be sacrificed.

The pure white dresses weren’t worn for the symbolic nature of purity, it was because they were easily stained by blood. To keep the reishi stream vitalized, they would be bled in the stream until their dresses were a full, heavy crimson. The smell of wet copper, the feeling of it drying on her flesh, cracking and irritating, the sights of insides becoming outsides.

For the sake of transparency, and before anyone would ask, if they would even ask at all she’d tell them. “I have an irrational fear of blood”. There wasn’t much else to it. It was the trauma caused by those events. “I fight to never have to see it needlessly shed again.”

Another gauntlet would form inches from Fuuko’s midsection in the twinkling of an eye before firing into her, though if it would hit, it would land with her full strength, but it would certainly hurt, perhaps even take the wind out of her.

Unawares to her, this soul-level fear of hers potentially was the true division between the two. Perhaps there was something about the taste of Fuuko’s reiatsu that convinced Towairaito to bring up those old cursed memories. Towairaito manipulated her memories as well as she manipulated crystal.

-100 for 2 constructs
Active Constructs:
-open palmed gauntlet
-closed fist gauntlet
-disc 1
-disc 2
-sword
-shield

SPOILER: Click to show

{Stats}
Reiatsu: 9,150/10,000
Perma Release 3
Class 2

Strength - 100 Points
Speed - 150 Points
Spiritual Pressure - 400 - 1000 Points
Reiatsu Strength - 400 Points
Light Aura - 75 Points
Dark Aura - 25 Points
Instinct - 150 Points
Senses - 100 Points
Energy sensory - 100 Points
Healing Expertise - 0 Points

Skills:
Strength of Will: 4
Martial Arts: Hakuda: 3
Battle Analysis: 3
Cold Tolerance: 3
Kido: 3

[Satoshi Fuuko]

"Ha, Fuck you!" Fuuko barked as she whipped the disc and dashed forward, only to finally get in close, and for Iroka's spell to even hit... and yet... Her disc broke Iroka's spell, her punch hit a gauntlet and Miranda's counter-attack slammed into Fuuko's stomach and caused her to fold over the icy fist as she coughed and tried to swallow back her breath. She dropped to one knee, as if capitulating to the higher ranking woman. 

"Ghk... dammit...." Fuuko wheezed. She pulled her hand away from the open palmed gauntlet and reached out with one hand to try and grab Miranda's wrist and old it in place. Close quarters may have been Miranda's real specialty, but Fuuko wasn't going to let go once she got her hooks into the captain. Regardless, even as Fuuko wheezed and sneered at Miranda, the words made her stop. Fuuko's eyes widened and she looked up at Miranda from her spot on one knee, where she was panting. 

"Hah...hah...Heh..." Fuuko tried hard to contain it at first, but then a twinkle sparkled in her golden eye. "We've got a big, fuckin problem then, Captain. Do you know anything about Shukketsubuki?" Fuuko asked. She took her hand and dropped it down to her side curling her fingers around the sheath and pushing her thumb against the tsuba of her tachi. It was a red teardrop shape, looking exactly like a drop of blood. "Shukketsubuki fights to  shed blood needlessly. Her whole existence is to spill as much blood as she can because she is thirsty. There's just one problem..." Fuuko said and flicked the sword out of it's sheath so it popped up. She then slung out her arm and gripped it by the blade, letting the blood seep through her fingers. Her grin widening as she grit her teeth. "She can never  be satisfied..." 

'Tell her, Anego!' Came the voice of Shukketsubuki. 'Give me a taste! I want to lick a bloodsicle, yes!' Shukketsubuki chirped. "Tell her she can't hate blood! It's too delicious. Anegooo! Are ya gonna tell her or what!? Tell her she's booooring!'



"Shut up! I'm sure she can fuckin hear ya with how loud and obnoxious yer bein!" Fuuko barked, even as blood dripped from her hand and her blade cut into her flesh. 

Fuuko snorted. "Nomibanji, Shukketsubuki!" 

What was Fuuko's blade suddenly began to glow red. The red glowing object began to shrink until it looked like an icepick that was completely red. The blood that trickled from Fuuko's hand suddenly disappeared as it went into Shukketsubuki. Even the drops that had dripped onto the ground slurped up into Shukketsubuki. With her icepick in hand, Fuuko thrust upward at the open palmed hand, and thrust with all her might. Adding to it, though, she also used it to swing a short ranged Sakugen at the hand and Miranda. 

"Sakugen!" 

Shukketsubuki was suddenly covered in gold Reiatsu and, as Fuuko thrust upward at the palm, a golden blast of reiatsu fired with it. 

_____________________________________

Reiatsu: 2900/3400 - Blood Bank: 025 - [1-50] | Small Blades/Knives - Ice Pick |

Blood Collection - Concentration [25] |

-250 Shikai Release

-25 Sakugen

SPOILER: Click to show

{Sakugen}Technique Name: Sakugen (Cut)

Technique Class: 7 - 10 TTP

Technique Type: General Shinigami.

Usable By: Shinigami, Vizard, Rogues.

Technique Element: N/A

Technique Cost: 25 Reiatsu.

Description: The user pours Reiatsu into their body, and their sword, and releases it in a mighty slash attack. A small slash of Reiatsu shoots outwards, and can cut with the same force as the user, if it hits. It also bypasses the cutback effect, as well as comes with the user's weight. It feels like it hits the enemy with the user's body weight, on top of cutting into them or their tools.

How to Use: Charge and slash in an instant.

Incantation: N/A.

Drawbacks: It drains some Reiatsu and some stamina, but also comes with a requirement. One must have a minimum of 200 in strength to be able to use this technique, or it cannot be used.

Made By: Ozuru Ren.
Reserved?: No.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Stats & Skills}Stats:

Reiatsu: 3400

[[Strength - 400 Points (600) +50%
Speed - 300 Points
Spiritual Pressure - 272 Points (340) +25%
Reiatsu Strength - 45 Points (31) -30%
Light Aura - 95 Points
Dark Aura - 05 Points
Instinct- 75 Points
Senses- 68 Points (51) -25%
Energy sensory - 40 Points
Healing Expertise - 0 Points

Total: 1200/1200 SP]

Current Skills 15/15
• [Battle Focus] {1}
• [Pain Tolerance] {2}
• [Lack of Fear] {2}
• [Zanjutsu] {1}
• [Strength of Will] {2}
• [Damage Recovery] {2}
• [Bleeding Tolerance] {2}
• [Anti-Stealth] {1}
• [Blood Scent] {2}

Munemasa Iroka

[Munemasa Iroka]

The captain seemed to so effortlessly deal with Iroka's spell, eliciting a disgruntled huff from the carrot-top. She needed to find a way to catch Miranda off guard, somehow. Perhaps she would eventually get her chance for that. But in the meantime, the plan was to allow Fuuko be the offense. Support was more Iroka's specialty.

Still, it seemed Miranda, with her ability to create constructs from ice, could conveniently fight more than one opponent at the same time. That was a rather impressive feat, and a useful power to have. Iroka was reminded, and not very happily, of the fact that her zanpakutō did not seem capable of such a feat. Still, everything had its strengths and weaknesses. Finding Miranda's might be the key to getting an advantage in this battle.

And then the captain stated her phobia of blood. "Oh boy..." Iroka said, turning to look at Fuuko. She wondered how the fight would proceed, when Fuuko showed Miranda the abilities of Shukketsubuki. But while that was running through her head, there was another thought that raised a question. But for now, she would keep the question to herself.

As Fuuko allowed her weapon to cut her own hand, before releasing her Shikai, Iroka smiled. It was with someone like Fuuko that Iroka's own Shikai proved to be useful. Because as long as Iroka was in the game, Fuuko could injure herself all she wanted, and Iroka would patch her up. The ginger girl held up one of the heads of her weapon, and it glowed. "Han'nyagake," she said, as an aura shot out from the weapon and impacted the blonde Shinigami, healing the wound on her hand, just after Fuuko fired off the Sakugen.

"I wonder, Okojo-sama," Iroka said, twirling one of the heads of her meteor hammer. "You do know that the Yonbantai is the bloodiest division in the Gotei 13, right? Not because we shed blood, but because the bloodiest of our troops are brought to us to patch them up. Will you then avoid the healing wards with all the bloody sheets and injured soldiers? Because that's where the morale of the captain is needed the most."

SPOILER: Click to show

{Battle Info}
Tech used: Han'nyagake (50 Reiatsu)

Technique Name: Han’nyagake [Prajna Shard]
Technique Type: Shikai/Bankai [Healing]
Technique Reiatsu Cost: Variable/Variable
Technique Description and Effects: Iroka creates auras on the heads of her meteor hammer, firing any of them like a projectile. Their range is 100 meters in Shikai. The aura projectile takes the shape of a spectral koi fish, travels in a straight line, and flies at a speed equal to Iroka’s spiritual OS. On striking a target, it heals them of damage equivalent to how much Reiatsu she invested into the projectile. 50 Reiatsu will heal all minor injuries (scratches, minor lacerations, scrapes). 100 Reiatsu will heal up to two major lacerations, or moderate burn/corrosive damage.
In Bankai, the range of this technique is 250 meters, and it can target up to five different targets, the released aura transforming into five dragon heads which fly at any five targets of Iroka’s choice. These projectiles fly in curved trajectories, and they change direction to pursue their targets. They fly at a speed equal to Iroka’s OS. Bankai can heal according to Shikai Reiatsu costs, but as expected, it will heal a lot more, if more Reiatsu is used. 200 Reiatsu will heal a severed body extremity, like a hand or foot., or a single compound fracture. 400 Reiatsu will heal major injuries such as internal bleeding and organ failure. At its limit, 800 Reiatsu is strong enough to restore a full severed limb.
Technique Drawbacks: An enemy who intercepts this technique will be healed if hit; it does not discriminat

Reiatsu: 5550

Shikai: 6/10

[Miranda Frost]

With the promise of bloodshed, Miranda was promised what she wanted. With her own blood as a release component, Fuuko would call upon her blade, Shukketsubuki. The steel of her eyes widened as she saw the crimson stream trickle down the bite of her blade. It was enough to give her pause, to catch the captain off guard. Channeling her energy into her blade, Fuuko would cast a concentrated blade of reiatsu towards the wielder of crystal.

Her teeth ground together and she’d attempt to step to the side, her gauntleted arms pulling up to protect her vitals almost instinctively, but she would be too late. That split second of hesitation was enough for the arc to sail past her, but not before tearing a chunk of her left arm away. It was almost painless in that moment, with how quick Fuuko was to lash out, but she’d feel the familiar warmth of her ichor flowing down her arm.

She flexed the arm and the flow seemed to pour faster, so she’d relax. Her eyes drifted over to the wound and that familiar feeling began to grow in her core. To those onlooking, it could be seen as almost pathetic seeing a Captain of the Gotei 13 to be rendered into this state. Her subordinates may as well not even exist. After all, her mind was pulled years back to her home district beneath the chapel that was the center of her community’s beliefs.

She stood there in her small rusted cell, her cuts dying the reishi stream that ran around her bare feet. It was cold, but she need only endure. She’d drop down, kneeling, her body feeling weak and drained. The small girl was afraid. Despite the others enduring the same fate, she was truly alone. No one would come for them, come for her. In the fringes of the Rukongai, she’d be sacrificed to a being she couldn’t begin to understand.



______________________________________________________________________



A strange crimson light would tear through the mouth-less cave where the statue of a dragon resided, letting in a rather warm light illuminate its interior. The statue stirred, and with the sound of crumbling rock and stone, the dragon’s head rose. Its fore-legs stepped from the rough pedestal it once rested, stepping into a softly glowing stream of water that flowed from nowhere and to nowhere.

The dragon’s maw trembled curiously and its eyes opened, the azure light of its eyes piercing the invading light from beyond. She knew immediately this light was not of her compatriot, but rather a foreign influence, perhaps an invitation of sorts. Towairaito would step out into the familiar sands that coated its master’s soul, yet beyond the sands a divide was carved of a light whose color could not be yet perceived by the awakening dragon.

Beyond this light the scenery was obscured, but the presence it felt just behind this veil struck it with familiarity. The ancient scales throughout its body chittered in amusement with the sound of a rockslide. For the first time it would come face to face with its Kin, fellow blades who became changed with the influence of their wielders’ souls, Zanpakuto.

Aside from these foreign presences, the blade felt its wielder begin to descend once again. It would not intervene. As a Captain and friend, Miranda would need to find the will to break herself free once more. Just as she has before, so it will be again, of this Towairaito harbored little doubt. The time of her intervention had ended. This iteration of Frost had proven to the dragon that the shinigami no longer needed it to save her. Still, like always, it would remain vigilant and observe all the same

“I hath heard thy call and, in turneth, returneth to thee”, the spirit spoke, its voice reminiscent of crystal chimes, though overshadowed by graveling rocks. It would sit outside its cave, its hind claws digging into the sand beneath its feet as its foreclaw rose and opened before it. A crystal would manifest in its palm. Its eyes shimmered from the effort and a subtle beam would fire out, connecting to the two veils.

“Thy world shalt be best visible from the right facet”, it spoke as the crystal began to turn, the two shimmering walls of reiatsu coming into focus, revealing that which before lay hidden.

“Ahh, thine presence is known mine eye, Kin of Kin~”, Its voice chittered through the boundary towards these untimely guests



____________________________________________

“I wonder, Okojo-sama”, a voice quietly echoed through the cell, prompting miranda to look up to find its origin. It was a voice familiar, but she couldn’t put her finger on it. Surely her mind was playing tricks on her again. Surely she was going mad from the cold. "You do know that the Yonbantai is the bloodiest division in the Gotei 13, right?”, the voice spoke again. The girl gritted her teeth and steeled herself.

With her focus, the voice became clearer, “Not because we shed blood, but because the bloodiest of our troops are brought to us to patch them up.” There! The voice echoed from where the stream flowed. The silver haired girl dropped into the stream and saw there was barely enough headroom for air to flow. That was her means of escape.

She’d claw and grunt, feeling the rocks peel and split her fingernails as she wedged her small body through the space. Behind her the other handmaidens, cut and bruised, called out to her. Some cheered her on, some panicked and sobbed, some called for the guards. Regardless, Frost had to keep going. If she didn’t take this chance of freedom, no one else will.

The reishi stream seem to push her frail body like a river and its energy chilled her to her core. Again the voice rang ever clearer Will you then avoid the healing wards with all the bloody sheets and injured soldiers?” as the voice pushed at her, she’d grasp onto it and pull. Just ahead, daylight could be seen pouring into the crevice. Miranda was almost there.

The stream fought harder to keep the girl contained, but she’d dig in deep. Through the pain, through the cold, and through the blood and tears leaking out of her in torrents she’d grab onto that underlying foundation. The steel of her heart was cold and unrelenting, but focused. Miranda would be a sacrifice no longer. With a challenging cry she’d grasp onto it and never let go. Her body would flow upstream quicker, more efficiently, and would be deterred no longer. As Iroka’s voice called once more, she found herself speaking along with it. “Because that’s where the morale of the captain is needed the most”



Miranda’s eyes opened again slowly and she stood, her gauntleted hand covering the wound on her arm. The sheer willpower she had tapped into coated her spirit in the hardiest crystal. It would be as if she had cut herself off of all unnecessary emotion and feeling. It was if she had taken a step back mentally and viewed each facet of herself. Aye, the pain still stung and she could feel her body wanting nothing more than to curl up and weep, but that wasn’t the reason the three of them were out here.

They were out here to commune through combat, for the captain to properly see her subordinates and the subordinates properly see their captain. She saw clearly now that she had attempted to force this will upon them, whether she meant to or not. These weren’t soldiers of the 7th, 10th, or the 1st, but those of the 4th. Lying within them was a strength different from all others, but she had treated them like the same. And they were sick of it, all of it. They wanted to show they could stand on their own two feet their own way.

Miranda sighed and brought her gauntlet up to her face, seeing the blood drip off the crystal formation. Her steel exterior hid the panic her body wanted to fall into, but she wouldn’t let it. Wrong, pathetic, and weak she had been, she was still a Captain. Miranda stood taller, her posture strong and defiant, yet calm and focused.

“Those of the 4th exhibit a willpower unlike any other. Thought of as cowardly and weak, they display the greatest feats of strength and bravery every day.”, she spoke, her voice calm yet lacking in emotion. “My decision is reinforced. I am unfit to be Yonbantai’s Captain” She’d raise her hands, her arms slipping free of the gauntlets as they floated there, the fist meeting the palm of the other, mimicking her own hands as she bowed to her subordinates.

“You two are fit, however”, she’d continue. Not expecting them to return the gesture, she’d rise. “Iroka, Fuuko, It would appear you two have drawn first blood. Do you desire to continue?”

[Satoshi Fuuko]

Fuuko grinned as she unleashed her Sakugen. She didn't know what to expect, but as she was left with her arm outstretched, touching nothing, but hovering where flesh should be, she was almost as shocked as Miranda seemed to be. Even as the blood began to flow from Miranda's wound, it started to float towards Fuuko's zanpakutou. Shukketsubuki was literally drinking it. It absorbed the blood and began to glow red. Fuuko was already ready to hear the zan spirit cry in her mind about how wonderful it was and how much she looved finally getting to taste the Captain's blood. 

She didn't hear it, though. 
____________________________

Long, messy red hair, pointy ears, horns, dressed in a martial arts outfit like a kendo practitioner. Pointy teeth and smattered in blood, even as it dripped from the corner of her mouth. She was tattooed from her wrists upwards and had bright red eyes and rosy cheeks. She was Shukketsubuki and as she walked into the cave, she was sucking down a juice box. She had an arm full of them while her other hand swung limply at her side. 

She didn't know how she got here, or why she was here, but when she saw the chance to enter the opening, she just took it. Something told her she needed to. It was like she was being called. She heeded it. Soon she was face to face with a dragon and her eyes widened. She pulled the straw from her mouth and grabbed a box and held it up. "Oi! Ojiisan, wanna juice box!?" She asked. Despite her look, and her attitude, Towairaito would be able to pick up that Shukketsubuki was an old zanpakutou. Even though, by soul society standards, she had only just recently manifested, it was clear her time spent trying to find a soul to bond with had been centuries or, perhaps, even millennia. 

After offering a tasty refreshment to the dragon, Shukketsubuki looked around. "We aren't the only ones meeting up, are we? You know, Ojiisan, this ain't usually my style and normally if someone was gonna grab my attention durin a really good fight, I might get pissed, but, uh, I heard what anego said about the taichou." Shukketsubuki scratched the back of her head. "I hear everything, ya know? We both know these two ain't gonna mesh but we  don't haveta have a problem. Even if your powers are annoyin!" 

Shukketsubuki sucked the last drop out of the juice box and tossed it to the ground. She then started fumbling with trying to stab a straw into a new box. "I just didn't think sake would be, uh, polite? Is it ok to give an old geezer alcohol?" Shukketsubuki pondered out loud as her tongue stuck out while she poked at the box. 
____________________________

Fuuko felt frozen in the moment, but as her zanpakutou began to glow, she was snapped out of it by Miranda's words. She instantly pulled her arm back and pointed her weapon down. It was now a sleek looking European short sword. It still looked made for piercing, as though Shukketsubuki was reluctant to give Fuuko anything but something to chip away at the ice, but Fuuko recognized Miranda's words, even as blood seeped from Miranda's wounds, even through the cracks in her fingers and into Shukketsubuki. 

"No one is ever gonna think of us as weak as long as Sis and I are here." Fuuko said, breathing through her nose with a determined look on her face. "No one is gonna tell us what we can and can't do and no one is gonna say we're only good for bein reactionary!" Fuuko squeezed her hand against the handle of her blade and reached out with her free hand. She cupped the back of Miranda's head and leaned forward so their foreheads touched. 

"Yer a fuckin good woman and a good captain." Fuuko insisted. "Of course I wanna keep  fightin you but that's a selfish thought. I know you could wipe us both out with yer bankai, so we'd just be fightin to indulge me and... that would make me  shitty. I think everyone's got their points across." Fuuko said as she stared into Miranda's eyes. 

"I plan on bein Captain of the Yonbantai, but I ain't ready yet. You see how strong we feel about the division. It's our  place. It's where we nest. Our lair, so to speak. You'll find your lair too, captain." Fuuko said. "But until you do... someone'sa gotta keep the seat warm for me, right?" Fuuko said with s surprisingly shy little grin. 

"The Yonbantai is about helping people. We can help each other, so that when we're all ready... we can move forward with confidence."  Fuuuko glanced back at Iroka and stepped away from Miranda. "Sis and I... we're Oni. Demons who don't really  belong here... or anywhere... Heh. But we can make our home in the Yonbantai and show everyone our fierceness. We can show the rest of the Gotei Thirteen and every other world we ain't to be fucked with!" Fuuko slapped her chest. "But, that we can also be gentle and kind." Fuuko lowered her head. 

"Sorry I'm a fuckin cunt." Fuuko admitted. Tough as it was for her to do it. "Even if we clashed, you never deserved to be disrespected." 

_____________________________________

Reiatsu: 2900/3400 - Blood Bank: 150 - [1-50] | Swords/Medium Blades - Short Sword (2 rounds)|

Blood Collection - Concentration [25] | Inflicted Moderate Wound [100]

SPOILER: Click to show

{Stats & Skills}Stats:

Reiatsu: 3400

[[Strength - 400 Points (600) +50%
Speed - 300 Points
Spiritual Pressure - 272 Points (340) +25%
Reiatsu Strength - 45 Points (31) -30%
Light Aura - 95 Points
Dark Aura - 05 Points
Instinct- 75 Points
Senses- 68 Points (51) -25%
Energy sensory - 40 Points
Healing Expertise - 0 Points

Total: 1200/1200 SP]

Current Skills 15/15
• [Battle Focus] {1}
• [Pain Tolerance] {2}
• [Lack of Fear] {2}
• [Zanjutsu] {1}
• [Strength of Will] {2}
• [Damage Recovery] {2}
• [Bleeding Tolerance] {2}
• [Anti-Stealth] {1}
• [Blood Scent] {2}

Munemasa Iroka

[Munemasa Iroka]

Iroka was slightly surprised, but not particularly stumped that Miranda had been injured by the Sakugen fired off by Fuuko. The blonde was a very capable fighter. As a matter of fact, Fuuko was the muscle of the Yonbantai. The backbone, that supported the entire division in a group of divisions where violence was often celebrated. While Iroka was not the type whose talents excelled in one-on-one combat, she had found her own purpose. If Fuuko was the muscles of the Yonbantai, Iroka was the viscera.

Iroka noticed that her meteor hammer began to give a subtle pink light. Why, she could not say in all certainty, but it seemed there was some sort of resonance occurring among the zanpakutō of the Shinigami in the area. Whatever was happening, Iroka was not too worried. Too often, many Shinigami just thought of their zanpakutō as weapons. But each one was a spirit of its own, capable of, and perhaps desiring, communication. If the weapons wanted to communicate, Iroka saw no reason why they couldn't. She didn't think she could stop them even if she wanted to, anyway.

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The quiet picturesque scape of Iroka's inner world was suddenly slightly distorted, as what seemed to be a ripple in space time manifested above the surface of the pool in which Shugyoku Hirenaga placidly swam. The fish, aware of the initiating connection, swam toward the ripple. It was instinctively drawn to the call of kindred spirits, and it would answer the call. For this would bring about a deeper understanding and connection, not only of the spirits themselves, but also of the Shinigami who wielded them. With a graceful leap, the butterfly koi cleared its pool, and passed through the ripple....

The two zanpakutō spirits gathered would see a ripple in the air, and out of the distortion would swim a giant butterfly koi, its golden fins billowing softly in the air as though it were still swimming in a pond. Its metallic silvery-white scales captured the myriad of lights in this shared space of zanpakutō worlds, refracting and diffracting them in multiple hues of its own. The two others, ancient as they were, would know that this spirit was rather very young. "Greetings, elders," it said in a soft high tenor voice, its tone and bearing an interesting contrast with its mistress' flighty exuberance.

"Old men are adults; sake is good for them," the fish stated. Apparently, it had heard Shukketsubuki's statement about alcohol and oldies. "I cannot say anything about oldies and juice boxes, though. I have not lived very long." Turning to the dragon, seated at the entrance of its cave, Shugyoku Hirenaga dipped its head slightly. "Your style of speaking is... interesting. Is that an old person thing?" If the fish was more subdued than Iroka, it shared her unfiltered curiosity.

______________________________________________

"I do not wholly agree with your decision, Okojo-sama," Iroka answered, returning the bow. Straightening herself, the carrot top continued. "You may not be the best captain to lead this division, but in no wise are you unfit for the position. The fact that you recognize the sacrifices the Yonbantai make everyday, despite the ingratitude thrown in our faces, makes you fit enough. But I thank you for your kind words."

She turned to Fuuko and grinned, as the blonde described them as oni. They had gained that reputation, not just in the 4th, and Iroka was proud of it. Having started off at the bottom and clawed their way up to close to the top, they were now in a position to defend the Yonbantai if anyone tried to abuse the division. But a captain's presence was still necessary. Until Fuuko was ready, as she said, to take the seat, it was necessary to have someone that could offer the leadership the division needed.

For her part, Iroka loved the Yonbantai, but she was uncertain as to whether she wanted to remain Vice Captain forever. She thought Fuuko would make an incredible captain, when the time came, but herself? She did not know. Iroka wanted to become Captain of the Fourth as well, but she was not interested in vying with Fuuko for the position again. The last and only time they had actually fought, it had left some very raw emotions. Iroka would not do it again.

"As Oni-chan said," the ginger haired girl added, "this Division is home. To you as well. Even if you eventually get transferred out, here will still be home for you, as long as you keep seeing it that way. Do you know why I joined the Fourth? Because I wasn't considered talented enough to join the 12th. You may have been mandated to become Captain of the Fourth because you were strong enough, but perhaps not considered worthy enough for the fancier divisions. Here's the Division where they dump those they don't know what to do with."

If Iroka was being too blunt, that was one of her weaknesses. "But you know what? We're becoming the Division that gets rubbish, and somehow makes it work. Because nothing is really rubbish. Everything has its purpose. And we might not be given the most prestigious jobs, but we'll do a damn good job of what we're given! And we'll kick anyone's ass who laughs at us. And heal them. And kick their asses again, if they laugh."

She bowed again. "I have no interest in continuing the fight, Frost-taichō. Now please come closer and let me get your wound looked at."