Quoting Shakespeare {Kagami and Shunsui, Joint Training]

[Johnwaluigi]

[OOC: Joint training for Shunsui Kasumi'Oji and Kagami Murai. Takes place in a general Seireitei courtyard.]

Shunsui sat down, leaning his back against the wall, and placing the rather heavy book on his lap. Anna Karenina, by Leo Tolstoy, was a classic, a book which he had yet to read thoroughly. Opening the book, Shunsui scanned the publishing details. It was an original, printed shortly after the serialisation of the stories stopped. The first English translation, it was truly a treasure, and was also a gift from his elder, adoptive sister, Azumi-sensei. She had a habit of obtaining such rare works with relative ease from the World of the Living. Slowly, he leafed through the opening pages, past the title page and on to the opening line of the book. All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way... Shunsui sped through the first few pages, he was a quick reader.

But he didn't skim, every word and phrase was committed to his remarkable memory. Sometimes Shunsui thought he was incapable of forgetting anything, which he never found to be a problem. Keeping the book on his lap and turning the pages with his right hand, Shunsui remained reading for a few hours. Eventually, when he around three-quarters of the way through the book, he came to natural break in the story. And then he realised the stiffness in his neck and back from reading so intently for so long. No one was immune to reader's fatigue, not even a Shinigami. After folding down the corner of the page-A terrible habit... I must try and get out of it.- he placed the book down and stood up, stretching out his back and neck.

His Zanpakuto swung at his side, the long, straight sheath knocking against him as it swayed with the motion. He let out a small exasperated sigh as he realised that his cravat had become folded after being hunched over for so long. Reaching his hand up, he deftly untied it before retying it properly. Only when he was craning his neck, to give him more space so he could manipulate the fabric of his necktie, did he realise that he was no longer alone in the courtyard, there was a figure at the opposite end. With the sun now setting, the light shone directly into Shunsui's eyes, obscuring the figure's identity. Not that it mattered to Shunsui. By observing the gait of the figure alone, he had narrowed it down to 3 different people, and given that two of those people were... indisposed, it only left one person:

Vice-Captain of Squad 1, Kagami Murai.

Oh, fantastic... Kagami Murai irked Shunsui to no end. His unfettered arrogance, combined with his devil-may-care attitude made him a difficult person for Shunsui to like. However, one could not express that kind of attitude to a superior, especially the Vice-Captain of Squad 1. As he approached, Shunsui stood a little straighter, his soldier's instinct kicking in. "Good evening, Murai-sama." As Shunsui said this he performed a low bow, keeping a hand on his Zanpakuto to stop it swinging forwards. Shunsui didn't dare say anything else. He was always wary about saying too much to people you don't like. The more you spoke, the more likely it was that they would work out that your feelings were a little less than warm towards them.

Shunsui hoped that he would pass by, perhaps not even acknowledging Shunsui's presence, but the rational part of his mind dismissed that futile hope immediately. It would be extremely out of character for Kagami Murai to miss a chance to socialise, for in socialising he found opportunities to brag, to boast, to show off. Kagami Murai could do with a few lessons from Lao Tzu, more specifically, he should learn to: “Accomplish but do not boast, accomplish without show, accomplish without arrogance, accomplish without grabbing, accomplish without forcing.” Shunsui kept a straight face, but his eyes may have glinted with a hidden smile. There was a quote for everything, and Shunsui never under-appreciated the fact that he could remember all of them.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Shunsui's Stats and Skills}


Strength - [100] Points (50 with Shadow Reduction)

Speed - [175] Points (350 with Shadow Increase)

Spiritual Pressure - [300] Points (210 with Shadow Decrease)

Reiatsu Strength - [300] Points (390 with Shadow Increase)

Light Aura - [75] Points

Dark Aura - [25] Points

Instinct - [150] Points (113 with Shadow Decrease)

Senses - [125] Points (94 with Shadow Decrease)

Energy sensory - [150] Points (225 with Shadow Increase)

Healing Expertise - [0] Points


Total SP: [1300] Points


Skills

[Mental Skill: Memory] {3}

[Mental Skill: Analysing] {3}

[Mental Skill: Calm Mind] {3}

[Battle Skill: Weapon: Rapier] {3}

[Battle Skill: Martial Arts: Aikido] {1}

[Body Skill: Stealth] {1}

[Special Skill: Hoho] {1}

[Douma]

Kagami was bored. Really bored. You can’t really blame him, though, considering that he has nothing to do. Well, that’s not completely true. You see, Vice Captains are always busy, especially with the massive amount of paperwork that floods through Squad 1. The Captain Commander assumed his second-in-command was locked in his officer right now, signing off on missions and approving requests from the other, lesser (in Kagami’s opinion) squads. Ningen had learned from past experience and even barred the window shut as well as blocking off the airways that led outside of the office. He had neglected figure out a solution to prevent Kagami from merely using his permanently released Zanpakuto to summon mirrors and create a gate liberating him from his prison leading him to the free world. He was no longer shackled by duty and responsibility, two of the biggest parasites in life, and could enjoy the next half hour of sunlight before heading off to party in the human world. Life was good.

The Knight of Squad 1 ambled down an empty courtyard in the middle of Seireitei, just trying to waste the sun away until he went to LA or Miami to have a night he won’t remember. Because he was technically on duty, Kagami wore the traditional Shinigami uniform, in all its boring glory. The only additional mark he had on his clothes that set him apart from other inferior Soul Reapers is the Vice Captain badge he wore so very proudly. In one hand, Kagami carried an open Heineken bottle that he drank from every few steps. On his head stat a beautiful golden crown orated with emeralds, rubies, and other gems. He wanted at least one diamond up there, but it already cost him all of his life savings (he never saved a dime) for the golden crown itself. The rest of the jewels put him in massive debt, but it was nothing he couldn’t handle. What are some thugs going to do with the Gotei 13’s finest warrior, the Mirror Master, Kagami Murai. His very name was enough to defeat anyone stupid enough to challenge him.

Speaking of other people, where was everyone? Maybe with the war going on, the Captain Commander decided to give every Shinigami a good heaping pile of homework. Ha! Sucks for them. The Vice Captain squinted his eyes as he noticed a figure propped against the wall with some sort of dictionary. Looks like Ningen missed one. Lucky he had the best Vice Captain to pick up his slack. As Kagami got closer, he connected the face to one of the many profiles he was forced to read, against his will of course. Shunsui Kasumi’Oji, one of the goody two shoes Shinigami of Soul Society. What was he doing skipping out on duty? "Good evening, Murai-sama." Shunsui seemed to hope to his feet and stand straight. Good, he was showing some respect. “That’s Vice Captain Murai to you.” Kagami stated bluntly. Part of his reason for doing so was to give the seated officer a hard time. The other motive was for Kagami to get the respect he deserved. What’s the point of having a huge ego if people didn’t treat you like you’re better than them?

“Shunisomithin’! You skipping out on work again?” Kagami just loved giving the guy a rough time. People like him were so unbearably boring that Kagami had to find some form of entertainment with them. If it wasn’t for Kagami’s teasing, Shunsui would have no value. Why wasn’t the man thanking Kagami? “That book makes you look weak, and I’ve got a feeling that you could use a good beating for your unprofessional actions. Consider it a military reprimand. Understand, soldier?” Kagami figured that the night was long, and he could stretch his legs and trade a few blows with this wanna-be Shinigami before kicking back the rest of the night. If Shunsui was lucky, he could learn something from the Vice Captain. See, Kagami was handsome, smart, and kind! People should model themselves after him more. He is the ideal role model.

“Follow me, kid. Let’s see if you can figure out which end of that sword is the point. Yes, that’s an order.” They looked about the same age, yet Kagami refered to Shunsui as ‘kid.’ Kagami suddenly turned and began heading to a training grounds that was conviently placed about one hundred meters away. There were some practice dummies and distant targets along a shooting range, but there were also places to spar. Assuming that Shunsui was too good of a goody-two-shoes to reject an order, despite all the bullshit it may involve, Kagami expected to find him following closely behind. When they got to the outdoor training grounds, Kagami asked, “So, pick the activity and remember to leave your dignity in that corner on your way out.” This might just be fun…. for Kagami.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Stats, Skills, and Items}
Stats

Stats

Strength - [150] Points

Speed - [350] Points

Spiritual Pressure - [400] (800) Points

Reiatsu Strength - [300] Points

Light Aura - [65] Points

Dark Aura - [35] Points

Instinct - [100] Points

Senses - [100] Points

Energy sensory - [200] Points

Healing Expertise - [0] Points


Total SP: [1600] Points

Abilities

• [Weapons: Sword] {3}
  
  
• [War Strategy] {3}
  
  
• [Analyzing] {3}
  
  
• [Calm Mind] {2}
  
  
• [Learning] {2}
  
  
• [Strength of Will] {1}
  
  
• [Leadership/Charisma] {2}
  

Items:
[li]15 Kunai

[/li][li]10 Shuriken
[/li][li]1 Giant Shuriken
[/li][li]5 Kunai Clips
[/li]
[/spoiler]

[Johnwaluigi]

“That’s Vice Captain Murai to you.”

Shunsui let out a small internal groan. Why did Kagami Murai have to be so difficult? He could have just let Shunsui alone and headed off. Surely he had better things to be doing? Shunsui noted the stench of alcohol off his breath, the Heineken bottle in his hand, and the ostentatious crown on his head. It was as if Kagami was trying to embody everything Shunsui hated in a Shinigami. He even had the performance down to a tee. "Apologies, Vice-Captain Murai-sama." For a man so undeserving of the title, he was particularly about upholding it. But there was obviously a reason that he was so highly ranked, so Shunsui didn't question him... yet. But his patience was being pushed to the limit. Shunsui observed Kagami's body language. He didn't look like he was going to be leaving soon.

“Shunisomithin’! You skipping out on work again?” "That's Shunsui, Vice-Captain-sama. And no, Vice-Captain-sama, I take care of my paperwork in the morning so I can spend the afternoon reading or training." Shunsui took care to keep repeating the ridiculous courtesy over and over again. Not that it would matter. In fact, Shunsui felt that it would probably only stoke Kagami's ego. Maybe he'd see how ridiculous he was being some day. As the performance artist Marina Abramovic said: Your ego can become an obstacle to your work. If you start believing in your greatness, it is the death of your creativity." If Kagami could mot stop looking at the world in terms of himself, then it would lead to his undoing.

“Follow me, kid. Let’s see if you can figure out which end of that sword is the point. Yes, that’s an order.” Kid?! Who... What?! Shunsui couldn't believe what he was hearing. Be careful Master Shunsui, responding to aggravating comments will have a 100% chance of causing further aggravating comments. Network's robotic voice echoed around Shunsui's head, his metallic tone adding further to the damage being done to Shunsui's nerves. For a brief moment, Shunsui was tempted to activate his Shikai, and completely pulverise Kagami in a Path, just to relieve his frustration. He decided against it though, and instead followed Kagami's lead to the training ground.

“So, pick the activity and remember to leave your dignity in that corner on your way out.” Ah. Calm mind. Relax... Shunsui turned to face Kagami. "Would a spar with swords please you, Vice-Captain Murai-sama? No restrictions." Kagami wouldn't be able to resist the opportunity to show off, and that would be his undoing. Shunsui was a fierce combat pragmatist. If Kagami expected an honourable fighting style, then he would be in trouble. "Well then, Vice-Captain-sama, let's begin" Shunsui assumed a traditional fencing pose, but didn't draw his sword, instead keeping his right hand on the hilt.

He brought his left foot back, turning it to give him more grip on the dusty ground. He bent his right knee, lowering his centre of gravity in accordance with the position of his left leg. And then, without warning, he moved. The whole process took less than a second. Shunsui pushed with his back leg, shifting his weight forward onto his front leg. He then also pushed with his front leg, but slightly to the right, putting the weight of his body into his sword-swing. This was a variation on the fléche, a flying lunge. However, it was combined with Iaido, the art of both attacking and unsheathing a sword at the same time. He considered using Shunpo Karin as well, but he decided that would be overkill.

He was focused on his target with all his might. Kagami might get a kick out of what was happening though. Shunsui's attack was way off target, the sword would sail over Kagami's head, clearing it by about an inch or maybe two. Kagami could dodge it without even moving. In fact, he could probably even get a counterattack in if he wanted to. Shunsui's face remained stoic, even in the face of such a glaring error. He was still too angry. But he could calm down. In fact, that was one of the things he was actually quite good at.

Combat Posts: 1/6

[Douma]

"That's Shunsui, Vice-Captain-sama. And no, Vice-Captain-sama, I take care of my paperwork in the morning so I can spend the afternoon reading or training."

Kagami held back a smile behind his cocky facial expression. So this one is kinda touchy, huh? Fun. The Vice Captain retorted with a distant, elitist tone in his voice. “Vice Captain Kagami Murai. Leaving out the last part makes me sound like the ‘average Vice Captain.’ ” Kagami faked an all-too dramatic shudder that was obviously in genuine. That was the point of it, anyway, to give the impression that Kagami would rather die than be compared to a normal Vice Captain. But he couldn’t stop there. No, Shunsui had far too many buttons to be pressed. “I guess there are worse fates, though. I could be you.” Kagami moved on as he always did, never giving time for the other person to respond. He liked to have the last word. And the first word. In fact, it would be best if the other person didn’t speak at all, Kagami had far more important things to say.

"Would a spar with swords please you, Vice-Captain Murai-sama?” Kagami was about to nod in agreement. After all, his swordsmanship had been honed over decades, though after reading Shunsui’s profile so long ago, he remembered the note about the Third Seat’s skills with a blade. Maybe he would be a fun opponent. But that wasn’t enough to seal the deal. What really convinced him to accept are the last two words that followed. “No restrictions." Kagami had no limits on his permanently active Zanpakuto? None on any of the few non-release techniques he had perfected? Nothing to prevent him from going for a low blow or cheap shot? Kagami was an expert of deception and tricks while fighting, and if Shunsui believed that this was going to be a mere exchange between thrusts and slashes, he would surely be mistaken.

“Whatever you say, Shunichi.” Ah, this was getting fun. “Just don’t come crying back home to mommy. Your family’s had enough embarrassment to deal with, and you probably shouldn’t pile onto that.” The fight hadn’t even begun yet, and Kagami was already shooting for some low blows. The Vice Captain almost did regret his words. He understood, to a certain degree, family and honor. But the instant Kagami admits that he made a mistake is the instant that he loses his carefree, arrogant persona that he’s lived with for practically his whole life. If he admits he went too far with something, it would undermine half the other awful acts he had committed, and the last thing Kagami needed is regret, and he wouldn’t show any signs of remorse to Shunsui either. He maintained his indifferent, self-centered expression that appears to be plastered on his face 24/7.

Kagami grabbed his released jade blade from his waist, raising it at a ready position, angled at 60 degrees towards Shunsui. His right foot was forward, giving him more reach with the blade gripped in his right hand, while his left foot was positioned a good two feet behind his right. With both his knees slightly bent and his footwork solid, Kagami wouldn’t even attempt to make the first move, and Shunsui didn’t give him much of a chance to do so anyway. The man was about as fast as Kagami, and he didn’t really seem to be holding back on his speed either. Kagami elevated his sword at an angle to deflect the strike over his head. After all, his own sword was significantly shorter than Shunsui’s katana. For some reason, though, Shunsui’s blade was going to sail over the Vice Captain’s head anyway. Did he intend to miss?

“Now that you figured out which part of your sword you grip, you might want to work on aiming.” Kagami gave Shunsui no time. By the time that he had said the first word, he had stepped forward with his far left foot, giving his arm enough force to drive his left fist into Shunsui’s stomach with an underhand punch strong enough to knock the wind out of the Third Seat. Kagami had enough self-restraint to hold back his strength from doing too much damage. He didn’t mind leaving Shunsui gasping for air. And with the rapid step forward, Kagami had also completely cleared the Seated Officer’s guard, leaving them standing side by side, Shunsui standing off to Kagami’s left. “You’re going to have to do better than that, Shinusoi.”

[Johnwaluigi]

“Now that you figured out which part of your sword you grip, you might want to work on aiming.”

Shunsui's eyes widened slightly, and the corner of his mouth turned up, forming a rare smile. He was not that hopelessly incompetent with a blade, if he wanted to hit Kagami, he would have. No, Shunsui had been aiming for the thing that sat on Kagami's head, adding about an inch or two to his overall height. Shunsui's blade made a satisfying 'clang' as it hit the deplorable golden crown atop Kagami's head. The crown flew through the air, before hitting the ground and, half-bouncing, half-rolling, made its way into the corner. Shunsui held back a quip, that just wasn't his style. Kagami had the arrogance not to dodge properly, instead only using his blade to defend. He was so predictable. And so was his next attack. Kagami had barely started speaking when he began to move, his left fist moving towards Shunsui's stomach.

He was stepping into the attack, putting his weight behind it, like any true boxer would. Excellent. Shunsui was a practitioner of Aikido, which relied on the opponent being physically strong, not so much the practitioner. Shunsui only had a small problem, in that Kagami was attacking with his left arm, meaning the attack was coming from Shunsui's sword-arm side. Raising his arm, so as not to run Kagami through the shoulder, Shunsui turned his body slightly and pushed himself back. The result of this was not letting Kagami's punch hit him directly, but instead glance off his stomach, removing the real 'hit' of the blow. Shunsui then grabbed Kagami's arm with his left hand, and in true Aikido style, threw him in the direction of his own punch. As he was already off balance from taking the step and leaning into the punch, the improvised throw should be enough to make him stagger, if not fall forward completely.

Now that Kagami had been committed to an attack with his left side, he was at a disadvantage, as his back was now facing Shunsui. The attempt to end up side-by-side was foiled, as Shunsui had turned his whole body in his dodge. Shunsui took the time tow swing the hilt of his sword into Kagami's back, not wasting any time in doing so. As he did, he pivoted on his right foot, so as to be facing Kagami when he turned around. Shunsui immediately re-assumed his default fencing stance, bringing his right leg forward, and turning his left foot slightly. He raised his blade, pointing the tip in the direction of Kagami's face, holding the hilt just above wrist level. He had his body angled towards Kagami, reducing the area Kagami had available to hit. He tapped his front foot on the ground twice, his black boots raising small puffs of dust as he did so.

His last move was nothing more than a cheap fencing trick, a taunt. If all was going well, Kagami should be getting a little annoyed by the encounter. Arrogant types didn't respond well to such taunting. But Shunsui had to hand it to Kagami, despite his appearance, he was no slouch when it came to fighting. His footwork was solid, his techniques were nearly flawless. Maybe if he had drank a little less alcohol before rushing into this spar, he might have won. But Shunsui had asked for no restrictions for a reason. Kagami's Shikai was going to be very interesting to observe, as it was permanently released. Was it weaker? Or perhaps stronger? No doubt it was more versatile, but things that were active all the time generally were. Master Shunsui, there is a 100% probability of failure if you do not focus on the here and now. Your opponent is not some low-ranking Hollow. Shunsui gave the mental equivalent of nodding his head.

Right, let's see what you're capable of doing, Vice-Captain Kagami Murai.

Combat Posts : 2/6

[Douma]

Kagami was not happy for two reasons. The first was the annoying smirk on Shunsui’s face. He liked it better when the kid was annoyed by him. After all, it was more fun that way on Kagami’s part. And now, for some reason, the petty Seated Officer tried on the same arrogant smirk that Kagami almost always wore? It was like looking at a far less attractive reflection of himself, and it irritated Kagami. Oh, but that wasn’t even the worst of it. There was a very noticeable clank as Kagami felt a familiar weight slip off the back of his head. No, it can’t be… Was he going for the crown? Kagami should have realized it sooner, and had he deflected the sword further over his head, he may have saved his precious gold and gems.

That Kasumi’Oji prick doesn’t know what type of fight he picked. Kagami heard his another clank as he heard his crown hit the ground again, further fueling his anger. Was anger really the right word to describe him right now? No, he was more extremely annoyed than angry. He was annoyed that Shunsui thought he had gained the upper hand, and Kagami was more than ready to put the punk kid in his place. Shunsui managed to avoid a direct hit from Kagami’s punch in a manner that deserved some praise, not that Kagami would give Shunsui any. From there, Kagami realized that when Shunsui locked his hands around Kagami’s arm, the Third Seat would be going for some sort of throw. It was a technique he’d seen countless people use to redirect their opponent’s force if they didn’t have enough strength to counter it directly. Shunsui used the move well, that’s true. However, Kagami wasn’t in immediate danger from a push, and if there was some sort of upcoming attack, he was confident in his ability to react well to it.

John made a quick spin move, allowing him to face Kagami’s exposed back. From that position, he could make any kind of attack he wanted, and Kagami appeared helpless to defend against it. However, if Shunsui wasn’t so caught up in the heat of the battle to ignore details of the fight, he might notice that Kagami wasn’t really making an effort to get out of harm’s way. The Vice Captain’s head was turned so that he could watch Shunsui. All he needed was to keep an eye on what was going on, and Kagami would be fine. He saw Shunsui start to swing the hilt of his sword at the Vice Captain’s exposed back, and that is the moment when Kagami decided it was time to act. With his right hand still grasping his jade blade, the Lieutenant pressed his wrist to his chest, silently activating Bakuda #38: Miraferu. His chest and back instantly gained a new reflective surface. The Vice Captain’s jade Zanpakuto suddenly shot out of the mirror on Kagami’s back, slamming into the center of Shunsui’s hilt with a force that was more than enough to stop the attack. The danger had been avoided, and Kagami’s blade retracted into the mirror, the upper half reappearing to complete the sword in his hand.

But now, Kagami had a different matter to focus on. Ignoring Shunsui completely, he spun around and slowly walked towards his crown, bending down to retrieve the golden head piece. His eyes darken when he noticed the dent. “You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me…” he muttered under his breath, just barely audible to Shunsui’s ears. He spun to face the Third Seat, a grim expression on his face. His voice was low, but it had a sword-like edge to it. “You’re fucking paying for this, you hear that rich kid? Golden doesn’t exactly take a hit from a steel sword. It dents, you genius. I’m expecting a few hundred thousand ryo from you or whoever changes your diaper. Azumi, maybe.”Still pissed off, the Vice Captain tossed the crown high into the air towards a wall that stood about fifty feet away. The throw had a wide arc to it, so Kagami had more than enough time to reach into the pouch at his waist, pull out a kunai, and throw it at the wall so that the crown would land on it like it a horseshoe on a rod. Although Kagami did need to get his crown out of the way of more harm (though he probably just dented it some more, not that it matters if the Kasumi’Oji family is paying for it), he also couldn’t pass up another opportunity to show off.

Kagami turned back around to face Shunsui, his anger quickly replaced by his cocky demeanor. The previous Kagami is back, assuming that the Third Seat agreed to reimburse Kagami for the repairs necessary for the crown. It was back to training, and this little game of ‘no restrictions’ with Shunsui had just begun. “Ladies first,” Kagami taunted, a devilish smile spreading across his face.

Reiatsu Remaining: 7900/8000 (-100 for Miraferu)

[Johnwaluigi]

Kagami retrieved the golden crown, picking it up and examining it for dents and scratches. He then threw it into the air, and used a Kunai to pin it to the wall. Such wastefulness... Kagami really had no idea. If he kept trying to be flashy and showy in an attempt to intimidate people, he was only going to look like a fool. Shunsui hoped the Vice-Captain would retrieve his Kunai later, seeing equipment going to waste turned Shunsui's stomach. The crown was now also only something to be disposed of, Kagami had simply cast it aside. He was visibly annoyed, but not angry. Shunsui had seen that crown as a symbol of Kagami's arrogance, something which Shunsui had been quick to target and cast off. He didn't allow himself to be riled by the failure, but instead waited for Kagami's next move.

“You’re fucking paying for this, you hear that rich kid? Gold doesn’t exactly take a hit from a steel sword. It dents, you genius. I’m expecting a few hundred thousand ryo from you or whoever changes your diaper. Azumi, maybe.” Shunsui ignored the comment, instead raising the edge of his Ninjato, and running his finger along the blade, amusing himself by checking for scratches on his own blade. When Kagami had finished his rant, Shunsui simply stood there. While he did believe in the absolute authority of his superiors, Kagami was a bit of stretch as he was a member of a completely different squad. Anyway, the cat was out of the bag now. If Kagami had an ounce of sense amongst the brain-cells that fueled his ego, he'd realise that Shunsui didn't care for him at all.

Shunsui lowered his sword as Kagami finished his outburst. Perhaps going for the crown had been the right thing to do after all, he did seem visibly... upset. Shunsui assumed a more relaxed position, it didn't seem like he was going to attack. Like the mirrors which Kagami flaunted, it seemed he was more comfortable with reflecting attacks rather than instigating them. Shunsui could use this time to catch a breath or two, to compensate for his slightly sub-par stamina. "Apologies, Vice-Captain Murai-sama, but..." Shunsui's eyes flashed dangerously. How far could he push the Vice-Captain? Of course, this was all in the name of science. "But you did say to leave your pride in that corner on the way in." Shunsui swung his Ninjato upwards, pointing it at the corner of the training ground that Kagami had even started at the beginning of the battle.

In Shunsui's mind, Kagami was no longer superior, he was an opponent. And opponents for Shunsui were more like test subjects, to be pushed and prodded out of their comfort zones. Shunsui endeavoured to divine everything about the Vice-Captain, who knew when the information might come in handy. He had already resorted to using his Zanpakuto in this fight. Many would see such an act as a sign of weakness, but Shunsui wasn't fooled. Kagami's Zanpakuto was permanently active, it was no wonder that his fighting style had such obvious holes when they could simply be patched up by his Zanpakuto. Using your Zanpakuto doesn't make one weak, am I correct, Network-san?" No, Master, it merely demonstrates that one is willing to identify their weaknesses and are intelligent enough to compensate for them.

But it seemed Kagami had regained his usual composure, a wicked smile spread across his face. “Ladies first,” Shunsui glanced at the Vice-Captain, and returned his smile with a completely disinterested look. Shunsui sheathed his own blade then, and moved out of his usual fighting stance, turning his attention to the crown which now hung on the wall, before replying calmly: "After you then, Vice-Captain Murai-sama." Oh, if the Vice-Captain thought Shunsui would be a pushover just because of his compliance with orders from above and his work ethic, he was in for a treat.

This is a Rest Post

[Douma]

Shunsui was playing the indifference card. In Kagami’s opinion, the Kasumi’Oji was doing it all wrong. That nonchalant attitude should be used to establish a heavy air of cool arrogance. It was nice to use on dates to create a detachment from the woman, an act that strangely makes them even more enticed and attracted to the Vice Captain. If only his looks weren’t enough, that disinterest drove the ladies wild. Maybe if Kagami sat down with the man and taught him, he could turn this poor excuse of a soul into a person with a real personality. Yeah, that was the new plan. Kagami’s heart was big enough to at least try and save everyone, even the hopeless causes such as Shunsui. Call it charity work, or something like that. Kagami’s new intention is to help the ‘less fortunate.’ So what if the Third Seat is a Kasumi’Oji, money can’t buy happiness. Well, yes it can, but admitting to that would demolish the foundation of Kagami’s false motives. In actuality, he just wanted someone to poke fun at. Eventually, Shunsui’s emotional wall was going to crack.

"But you did say to leave your pride in that corner on the way in." Kagami had two options. The more logical one was to get angry and go on another rant that, ultimately, Shunsui wouldn’t pay any attention to. Another possible route was for Kagami to be impressed. Shunsui even had the balls to point to the entrance of the training grounds to give an even sharper edge to his words. Kagami flashed the seated officer a dark, satisfied smile. The Third Seat’s final retort sealed the deal. Kagami let his guard drop, his sword arm swinging low as he walked a slow circle around the Third Seat. “You know, you remind me a lot of myself,” Kagami began. That had to get some sort of reaction out of Shunsui, whether it was silent or verbal. Either way, it was sure to get his attention in some sort of way. “That cocky attitude you just put on, acting like you don’t give a damn about what I’m saying. Your smart mouth doesn’t seem to have any civil restraints on it. We, my friend, are one in the same.”

Kagami had a smug look on his face that seemed to shout that he knew something that the other man didn’t. In a sense, that was true. Kagami was the ideal embodiment of a true human with all of their instinctive motives. He enjoyed a good drink, a good fight, a time, and a good-looking girl. He had value. He wasn’t some animal. For instance, if the need be, Kagami would fight along side Shunsui and block a sword for him. Taking a Cero for the seated officer was a different story, though. After all, there’s a difference between what’s worth fighting for and what’s worth dying for. Shunsui would probably do the same, so their relationship is mutual. The point is that they aren’t that different. “The only difference is that I live and protect life. All you do is protect.” Kagami made a mental note in his mind. In the future, whenever it would be convenient, the Vice Captain would take Shunsui out for a few drinks. And no, a few isn’t the same thing as a few.

“Loosen up a bit Shunsui.” By this time, Kagami had completed two small circles around his fellow Shinigami had stood a good five feet from him, his sword raised at the ready. Kagami wasn’t going to make the first move, but rather continue analyzing Shunsui’s fighting style. A bio in some file in the back of Kagami’s office only says so much, and he was just beginning to learn first-hand what Shunsui is capable of. In a weird way, he was almost working while skipping out on work. If he was at all guilty about ditching his duties, that thought should have made him feel better. But there’s no regretful bone in his body. Not even that bone. Woah, mental self five! (( OOC: A self five is when one literally high-fives himself over his head. A mental self five is self-explanational. )) “By the way, you still have to fix my crown.”

[Zeich Yajuu]

+190 TP to Kagami.