Suit Up! [NDE, PG-13]

[Hokori Kuchiki]

Thread Title:
Participants: Kagami Murai, Hokori Kuchiki
World: Soul Society
Death Setting: Non Death Enabled
Rating: PG-13
Location: This takes place on the outskirts of the Rukongai district. The Region is mountainous. However this district contains an oddity. A rocky platform sustained by a constant exhaust of hot air. It allows the platform to float effortlessly. And any who wish to get up to the platform may simply ride the air exhaust to the stone.
Special Conditions: None
Circumstances: Kagami Murai, Vice Captain of Squad 1 has sent a request for combat from Squad 6 Captain Sozen Kuchiki. However, the letter was intercepted by his left hand Hokori Kuchiki who decided to handle the matter in his stead. A matter of cheap suits? Perhaps the Vice-Captain needed a lesson in style.

[Hokori Kuchiki]

Five Hours ago: Kuchiki Manor

SPOILER: Click to show

{Play This}

---

One... Two... Three... Four...,

...One... Two... Three... Four...,

......One... Two... Three... Four...,

Keeping time with the music, Hokori played the piano. His mother and father, who so rarely had time to spend together. Danced in the background, it was an ominous song. Dark, yet regal. It spoke volumes to the character of the person playing it. Hokori's eyes were closed, lost in the rhythm. His finger, narrow and slender danced across the ivory pieces of the family's grand piano. It was of course magnificent, polished, and tuned to perfection. That was the way that the bookkeeper liked the world around him, everything in its proper place. Magnificent, and as perfect as can possibly be. Of course, not everything could be this way but Hokori would not let such things drive him down. He opened his eyes and allowed them to slide over his parents. He was restless, the events of the past had left him marred. He wished that he were able... no.. that it would be possible for things to once more return to the way they once were. It was not to be. There was no way that such a thing would occur. It was an impossibility.

His mother smiled at him as his father swept her across the room, "I just love it when he plays for us dear, isn't it wonderful?" His father Daemon Kuchiki smiled, it seemed effortless but Hokori could in his motion see the shadow in his eyes. "Of course my love, It is not every day that we can spend time together as a family." Hokori, together with Sozen had hidden what had happened from Rena but could not hide it from Daemon. Daemon knew the tainted energies that had circulated his body and now were inside of him. He would forever be changed, he would forever be dark. Darkened, and he accepted it. It was following this line of thought when he noticed a servant waiting.

He called him over without even needing to raise his hands or speak, they were trained well. He walked over and bent down speaking low. "Sir, I have an odd correspondence that was addressed to Master Sozen-Sama. However, it seemed strange so i thought to bring it to you before I turn it over to the master." Hokori motioned and the man fitted the letter on sheet stand. Hokori's memorization allowed him to effortlessly play while he read the letter. It was addressed indeed to Sozen, hmmm...

Sozen Kuchiki,

I am sure you remember me from the wedding when the Quincy attacked. I am no other than Kagami Murai, the superb Vice Captain of Squad 1. That comment you made about my ‘cheap’ suit rubbed me in the wrong way, and I’d like to retort while I’m in a slightly more sober condition. Meet me at the attached coordinates, and I’ll teach you the manners a noble like you should have learned long ago. You can’t miss the place, it’s a giant, cylindrical plateau a good two hundred meters above the ground in the middle of nowhere. See you there, rich boy.

~Kagami Murai

Hokori's fingers never wavered, but the irritation in his mind grew pronounced immediately. His playing became faster and more harsh than before. He stopped as his playing reached the crescendo. Turning to his stunned mother and weary father he bowed. "Mother, Father. I'm afraid i have some business to attend to, I must put our time today on hold at least for a little while. You know how sometimes Duty calls." His mother walked over and hugged him, "Of course. Take care dear." His father however walked over with a warning in his eyes. "Be careful Hokori, remember your training." Which of course Hokori knew meant do not lose yourself to the darkness and the rage. He of course was well aware of what he was now, he wasn't the same man he was before. Inclining his head he left the hall, heading to his room. He went to his closet, beginning at the essentials.

He slipped out of the clothes he was wearing, leaving his body bare and pale. He showered, taking care to wash his hair and body thoroughly. He let the water run over his body as the steam poured off his frame, as he finished he made sure to towel himself off. Pulling on his undergarments, he looked at the many western style suits he possessed. Yes he had just the one in mind. He slipped on a rich black dress shirt, made of a soft cotton pristine. He pulled on Black wooll pants of a 150 thread count. Tucking in his shirt, he pulled out a leather belt and fastened it around his waist. From there he picked up his matching blazer. It was of course pristine and expensive. A Giorgio Armani Midnight black blazer, triple button. His bottons and cufflinks were 24K white gold. which he buttoned and set. He pulled out a green handkerchief and tie the same color as his eyes. He fashioned his tie, slipping his handkerchief into the breast pocket of his blazer. Upon his feet were cotton socks and polished western style dress shoes. He picked up his blade from it's stand on his way out.


Present Time Today: West 63rd District of Kofu outskirts of Rukongai

---

Hokori had finally reached it, it had taken him hours. Hours to traverse across this landscape to what was an indeed strange site. A giant circular stone disk. It wasn't very thick, but it was being propelled by an overabundence of some steam or vent of hot air. He walked up and picked up a rock throwing it into the air. It immediately flowed upward, hmmm Hokori leapt into the air and found himself rising as well. He rose and rose and rose, touching the rock and propelling himself up and over the side using his acrobatic skill to flip up and on his feet with no issues. He looked around, bracing himself for his adversary. This, Kagami Murai, The Vice-Captain of squad 1. He couldn't remember much about the man, if anything at all except for physical attributes. However upon spying him, Hokori walked up and spoke, "I'm sorry, But Sozen could not make it today in regards to your issue of suit quality but don't worry. I'm more than happy to show what a real suit is to you."

The captain glazed his eyes over Kagami taking him in, no mater what. The value of his suit far outweighed anything a Vice-captain could afford. Even the Vice-Captain of the first division, and so once again Kagami's suit would be inferior! Hokori's mouth turned up on one side. Showing off one of his crooked smiles that Amaya loved so much, his hair ruffled slightly in the wind without losing its form. He waited for the vice-captain's response, because honestly not only had his "cheap" suits been out shown once, it was about to happen again. Yet again by another Kuchiki, talk about having a bad day.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Stats and Skills}Strength - [100] (50) Points

Speed - [400] Points

Spiritual Pressure - [300] Points

Reiatsu Strength - [400] (800) Points

Light Aura - [25] Points

Dark Aura - [75] Points

Instinct - [150] Points

Senses - [150] Points

Energy sensory - [100] Points

Healing Expertise - [0] Points


Total SP: [1600] Points

That's all for the template. There are a LOT of stats, but don't get choosy and just give some to all. The result could be quite negative.



Abilities




[Battle Skill: Sword]
[3]

[Battle Skill: Hakuda]
[3]

[Mental Skill: Battle Analysis]
[3]

[Physical Skill: Acrobatics]
[3]

[Body Skill: Pain Tolerance]
[3]

[Mental Skill: Memory]
[1]

[Douma]

There comes a time in every man’s life when they have to throw anything in their hands aside and stand up for themselves. Uphold their values with every aching bone in their body until the gravitational force of the opposition reaches its limit or vaporizes them. A man is only truly a man when he exerts his own pressure rather than being oppressed by the influences of others. He must state his name with pride, and the virtues that he stands for even more proudly. And if any attempt to poison, vanquish, or corrupt his virtues, a true man would strike down upon his attacker with great force and furious anger. Only then will the man’s name be branded upon his victim’s face in punishment for his villainous enmity. And Sozen was about to suffer such a fate.

Blood stained the floors of a famous Central 46 member’s wedding. The name of the groom doesn’t matter for two reasons: 1. There were 46 of them, who could possibly remember all their names? 2. Kagami happened to be drunk at the time. However, in his drunken state, he did remember a certain exchange as clearly as crystal. He was minding his own business, and after taking out four Vandenreich officers, he hoped to unwind with a glass of wine. It was only fair after his successful battle that may very well have saved every life within Soul Society. Kagami was a hero that night, and he deserved to celebrate like one.

However, as he stood by the fountain of wine, (yes, you heard right. A fountain of wine. How much classier can you get than that?) an certain exchange caught his attention. He looked up to find Sozen in a dialogue with a Vandenreich General that he later learned to be B, the Boss, Baal. Sozen had managed to defeat the Quincy, but his victory was about the last thing that mattered. What really perked Kagami’s ears were two specific words that the Crimson King spit out like venom. It was a declaration of war, and although his reaction was delayed, Kagami initiated this challenge in response to that declaration. Even the memory made his blood boil, remembering Sozen pronounce with the most malicious intentions the words “cheap suit.”

Time seemed to slow at that moment. The fountain paused, and the wine stood suspended in air for just a second. In that second, Kagami’s amethyst eyes pierced through Sozen like violet swords of flame. The Vice Captain could only reply in one way, and as gruesome as it was Sozen left him no choice. Kagami wasn’t the type to take a hit and retreat. He liked to punch back even hard. And, therefore, his only retort to Sozen was a vulgar, poison “Fuck you.”

War couldn’t be prevented at this point, and so Kagami had prepared for the inevitable battle. It took time, of course, in which he mostly partied at night, set up a strip club/prostitution service in Vegas, and did a mission or two here and there. But, finally, the moment of faith was upon him. He was waiting patiently in the center of the hovering rock platform for Sozen to arrive, with his released Zanpakuto at his waist. Because of Kagami’s immense spiritual pressure, his blade was always in its Shikai state, and that was a fact that he was proud of. No Captain could boast such a thing.

Kagami was dressed for the occasion. Although his suit on the night of the wedding had been extremely classy and not at all cheap, this suit was one hundred levels above even that. Let us begin by analyzing the uniquely tailored suit jacket and pants. They had a faded charcoal hue that seemed to dance between black and gray. That color emphasized his jet-black tie with diagonal thin, silver stripes. His shirt was a purple that matched his mischievous, dancing violet eyes. The white stripes on his shirt aligned perfectly with the pure, white handkerchief that was folded and tucked neatly into his two-buttom jacket pocket. He wore cufflinks that outlined a central violet gem with miniature shining diamonds. Kagami’s shoes were a shiny, polished black that perfectly matched the color of his belt. And, to top everything off, his socks had alternating purple and black diamonds with white stripes bisecting them. He wore a silver rollex that had a black face and three purple hands that pointed to the silver roman numerals. The entirety of the suit had cost Kagami 20,000 dollars, and he was certain that it was worth it. All details had been accounted for, and, with Kagami’s natural good looks, he could easily trump anything Sozen decided to wear.

Sadly, Sozen never did arrive. Kagami was surprised to find another Kuchiki Captain that took the Kuchiki Head’s place. For all their money and talk, the Kuchiki were truly the least noble family Kagami had ever encountered. “Did Sozen send little cousin to fight his battles for him?” the Vice Captain muttered with disgust. He hoped to fight a real man, but it seemed that the Kuchiki lacked those. Of course, Takehiko seemed to have a pair between his legs, but he seemed must be the only one. “ "I'm sorry, But Sozen could not make it today in regards to your issue of suit quality but don't worry. I'm more than happy to show what a real suit is to you."

Kagami looked at the man’s clothes and released a cocky laugh. “Ha, you think that’s a real suit? Please, Hokori, you can’t have Amaya dress you and expect to look nearly as exceptional as I do.” The Vice Captain spoke based off a rumor he heard that popped up once or twice in Soul Society. Some Shinigami seemed to pick up on hints of intimacy between the Captain and Vice Captain, and Kagami just happened to be quick to address it directly. “Look, Hokori, no offense, but I was hoping for a real fight. Mind calling your dear Master Sozen for me so that we can get this over with?”

SPOILER: Click to show

Stats

Strength - [150] Points

Speed - [400] Points

Spiritual Pressure - [400] (800) Points

Reiatsu Strength - [150] Points

Light Aura - [65] Points

Dark Aura - [35] Points

Instinct - [200] Points

Senses - [100] Points

Energy sensory - [200] Points

Healing Expertise - [0] Points

Total SP: [1600] Points

Abilities

• [Weapons: Sword] {3}
  
  
• [War Strategy] {3}
  
  
• [Battle Analysis] {3}
  
  
• [Sex] {2}
  
  
• [Battle: Projectiles] {1}
  
  
• [Analysis] {3}
  
  

Items:
15 Kunai
10 Shuriken
1 Giant Shuriken
5 Kunai Clips
5 Full Body Condoms

SPOILER: Click to show

{Suit Reference}

[Hokori Kuchiki]

Hokori's smirk turned into a form of sneer, laughing while keeping his eyes on the vice-captain. "I don't need my lady to dress me, even if i were to walk here in my pajamas as ridiculous as that is it would still be a better sight and superior attire to such a cheap suit." He emphasized those last two words, because the words were true. Hokori's suit was far superior, if the two men had any similarities it was they had both coordinated their minor colors to match their eyes. If anything Hokori was unsure why he was even out here, he extended his hand to his face pushing his glasses back into place, the light refracting off of the dimmed lenses. "Honestly, Kamgami Murai I don't even understand why I'm here. A suit of that caliber isn't even worth the effort of proving its inferiority. Everyone who is anyone with a sense of fashion can see its a joke from a mile away." Looking down, he held out his blade still in its sheath, the color was supreme and glossy. Beautiful, in every way yet simple.

"Even my blade far outshines your own and the funny thing is." He smiled full on at the vice-captain. "Is that mine is the least extravagant. Just face it," He watched the vice-captain for signs of his irritation, "Today you made a mistake. Even attempting to match Sozen, and it's not even because we're Kuchiki." He walked right up to the Vice-Captain. They were just outside arms length of each other, Hokori looked Kagami right in the eye. "It's because of the life we were born into, that's something you can't replicate. The years it takes to look your best and always... always... make sure you're presentable. No matter who or what might show it's face. You have no idea what that is like. While Sozen might bear it with smiles and suave." His smile vanished and it seemed to be getting colder despite their location. Green liquid began to seep from Hokori, his reiastu seeping out from his feet. His eyes began to change color from a neon green to a vicious bright orange. It even appeared as if his pupils were beginning to slit. They weren't actually but the haze of the dense layer of reiastu that was flaring off of him was palpable. "I bear it as a stigmata, we are the flag bearers of the death march. I am the book keeper," His voice was even growing deeper, becoming less rich and cultured and more monstrous. "Shall I add your name to to the list, Kagami Murai." His reiastu while less than Kagami's was more than twice as potent, it really was something to feel. Chills and sickness spread from him and the strength of the reiastu even seemed to darken the area around them.

Was this the power of a captain? Of a Kuchiki? Hokori had suffered a lot in his life, despite the response that he was nobility and must have had it easy. He was one that had his loved ones torn from his side and his life torn upside down. since the incidents with the hell tomes he had never been the same and it was apparent here. The stigmata of the books, their mark had been left on him. something he would always wear from the first moment he opened those books until the day he would die. But it was clear he was waiting, waiting on on Kagami to act. his left hand still held his

[Douma]

Kagami raised a questioning eyebrow at Hokori’s snickering. If he found something amusing, Kagami was eager to hear what drew the Kuchiki’s laughter. "I don't need my lady to dress me, even if i were to walk here in my pajamas as ridiculous as that is it would still be a better sight and superior attire to such a cheap suit." Kagami’s eye twitched in irritation. It was just like Sozen’s lap dog to mimic his master. Someone needed to train the hound, and the Vice Captain was more than happy to give him a lesson in discipline. "Honestly, Kagami Murai I don't even understand why I'm here. A suit of that caliber isn't even worth the effort of proving its inferiority. Everyone who is anyone with a sense of fashion can see its a joke from a mile away." “Let’s face it, Hokori. Even without the endless Kuchiki funds, I still managed to out-dress you and you’re bitter. Stop by my office some day and I may give you tips on how to be a true gentleman. It’s an embarrassment to be a Kuchiki who lacks fashion, style, and manners.”

"Even my blade far outshines your own and the funny thing is, is that mine is the least extravagant. Just face it.” Kagami let out a hearty, chuckle while eying Hokori’s sheathed blade with an amused twinkle in his violet eyes. “When it comes down to it, your sword is the same as everyone else’s. You blend in, but my blade truly stands out amongst the elite.” Kagami held out his short sword for Hokori to see. It had a soft jade hue that almost made the Zanpakuto seem transparent, giving it a hauntingly ghostly appearance. In addition, it had perfectly marked grooves and curves intertwined into the middle of the blade, allowing it to shine brightly as no other Shinigami’s zanpakuto can. Kagami’s Zanpakuto was special, partly because he could maintain it’s release for an infinite amount of time. In the Vice Captain’s eyes, Hokori’s own weapon was mediocre and lamely conventional.

"Today you made a mistake. Even attempting to match Sozen, and it's not even because we're Kuchiki.” The Kuchiki approached Kagami, stopping when they were in sword’s reach of each other. Kagami wouldn’t let the battle break out right at that moment, it would be unfavorable for the both of them. However, what he would do was step up to Hokori’s challenge. The Vice Captain leaned forward, silently daring Hokori to take another step. And, while doing so, he wore his signature cocky grin that lit up his face. "It's because of the life we were born into, that's something you can't replicate. The years it takes to look your best and always... always... make sure you're presentable. No matter who or what might show it's face. You have no idea what that is like. While Sozen might bear it with smiles and suave."

Kagami let out another entertained cackle, his eyes laughing just as much as his mouth. “In other words, it’s not that you’re Kuchiki… but it’s that you’re Kuchiki.” Kagami found the noble sense of superiority hilarious. They were born into a family, and that elevated them automatically above the esteem of all others. “Look, rich boy. You Kuchiki seem to think really highly of yourselves for absolutely no reason. I just can’t wait to see the look on your face when I show you exactly how inferior you are to me.” Kagami turned around and began walking away slowly, step by step. His back was exposed, but the Vice Captain wasn’t worried. He would be able to detect any attack Hokori attempted to make and react in time.

Kagami felt Hokori’s flex his reaitsu, and while it was in fact impressive, Kagami was not intimidated. He had faced more fearsome opponents. That Kido-using Arrancar, Col Arana, for example. Even Myza, the Septima Espada Kagami had successfully defeated without suffering even a scratch, was on par with Hokori’s reiatsu strength. If anything, Hokori’s show of power made Kagami even more confident. "I bear it as a stigmata, we are the flag bearers of the death march. I am the book keeper. Shall I add your name to to the list, Kagami Murai?” The Vice Captain noticed the more violent, animalistic undertone of Hokori’s voice, and he knew that the fight was to begin very soon.

Kagami turned back around, having made a new gap of about twenty feet between himself and the Kuchiki. Although he was closer to the edge, he still had a lot of room to work with. “I dare you to try, Kuchiki.” The Vice Captains sword was at the ready, though he wasn’t even planning on opening with his blade. Kagami was almost never the type of person who made the first move in a battle, but maybe he would open the fight this time in a safe, strategic way. Hokori was more powerful than the Vice Captain in raw power, but Kagami could easily defeat his opponent with his cunning intelligence in battle.

With his left hand, Kagami reached into the pouch at his waist hidden under his jacket. His hand reemerged with a kunai held between his fingers. However, there was something strange about this kunai, and Kagami had pulled it out, the Kunai suddenly gained a mirror-like reflective surface. The Vice Captain then threw the kunai with his left arm, aiming it just to Hokori’s right. It would narrowly fly past his suit without making any contact. Hokori didn’t even have to move, and could dismiss the notion as Kagami’s lack of skill or his inability to use his less dominant left hand.

Reiatsu Remaining: 7900/8000 (-100 for Bakudo #38: Mirafureru)
[/b]

[Hokori Kuchiki]

Play this

Hokori listened to Kagami, he seemed young and strong. Hokori believed he was fitting to be the Vice-Captain of the first division, and the Bookkeeper had done a little prior knowledge on the side. Connecting some dots regarding Kagami Murai, this was the man who was attempting to woo his adopted family member, Anastasia Kuchiki. The captain’s muscles stretched out and he took a moment to loosen up. He shrugged off his Suit Jacket. A pity, but in the high noon sun and the lack of breeze would make for an uncomfortable battle conditions as soon as combat really began. It hung loosely in his right hand, his blade sheathed still in his left. He watched Kagami take out a kunai and his reiastu fluxed as if he had spent some reiastu.

Hmmm so he possessed the skills to mentally cast kidou, Hokori also possessed such a skill. There was a trick to it that excited him. The Vice-Captain threw the kunai, hmm kunai were normally not as reflective. As the Kunai flew towards the captain, he noted its trajectory but found it was still unacceptable. He flung his left hand forward and rotated his wrist while releasing his suit jacket. With this motion his jacket was propelled forward in flight and in doing so opened in a twisting motion, he had thrown the suit jacket over the kunai weighing it down, changing the trajectory of the entire object at once and thus removing it from the equation. Due to the thickness of the jacket and the way that wool dealt with friction. It was unlikely it would even harm the suit jacket, but Hokori wasn’t done. He took note of the vice-captain’s empty left hand and his right hand on his blade. Even his stance.

As the jacket fell, two things happened. Hokori’s form erupted in a bright flash of light as he flexed the innate strength of the reiastu he possessed. Due to the fact that Kagami was looking at the captain he’d find it momentarily disorienting. In that moment Hokori’s hand grasped his blade and stepped off with a shunpo closing the distance while Kagami was still disoriented, As he landed his reiastu flashed again masking the light that poured from his blade as it transformed into his shikai at his mental release and blinding the vice-captain again. It was a Seven Section staff however, Hokori brought the blade of the staff forward and sliced upward looking to cut Kagami from his left hip to his right shoulder. Hokori expected that to be a vice-captain, one would have to possess the skills to evade such an attack. It's abilities beginning to spread out and take effect on the battlefield smelling of Kagami's natural body odor.

That throw Hokori was sure looking at Kagami’s stance had put him slightly off balance, and before he had recovered him had been hit with a sudden and unexpected flash of light, and soon after he had been hit with more light to his optic nerves. Kagami was going to be fighting disorientation and his body trying to adjust to the light change. He was going to have to work hard to dodge this attack and using shunpo Hokori was sure while possible would leave the Vice-captain even further off balance due to his current disorientation, making it an unwise move. After all of Kagami’s bragging, to be hurt in such a manner would be humiliating, and it would hurt to. It would also be incredibly inconvenient for him. There were a lot of reasons for him to try to not be pierced with the captain's lightning, but there were only a handful of ways for him to avoid being hit by the captain. Hokori would have to see if he was able to come up with one of such ways.

Remaining Reiastu: 2800/3000 (-50 for 1x Shunpo, -150 for Shikai Release)

[Douma]

{Yay, music}

SPOILER: Click to show

Hokori was no joke. He knew the kunai was a trap, and Kagami was surprised at how the Captain handled it. The easiest solution would have been to keep a distance and move away from the kunai, for a block or a narrow dodge would have been a serious mistake. Hokori, however, took a different approach, one that came with it’s own repercussions. Hokori quickly slipped his suit jacket off and used in to redirect the trajectory of the kunai. It was a safe way to ensure that he didn’t touch the projectile while still going out of harm’s way. Against most any other opponent, the maneuver would have been fine and dandy and there would be rainbows and gumdrops and what not. But one couldn’t expect a fight with Kagami to go that way.

In the middle of Hokori’s action, a jade blade would shoot right out of the kunai. There would be no surge of reiatsu, and because the jacket blocked Hokori from seeing the kunai, the attack would come as a surprise. Hokori would feel a jolt of pain travel up his left arm, starting at his palm. The pain would be sharper the Kagami, or at least almost as sharp. No one looked sharper than Kagami, and half the girls in the world can vouch for that. The other half has yet to sleep with him, but he’ll get to them eventually. The attractive ones, at least. Kagami had standards.

Kagami’s blade had essentially stabbed straight through Hokori’s left hand, leaving cut on both ends of his left hand, damaging the bone, and tearing up the nerves. Hokori’s left hand would become absolutely useless for the rest of the fight, though he still he perfect control of his arm. The hand would just be limp and cause him an extreme amount of pain. After all, imagine having something stab straight through your hand. Ouch. Oh, but that wasn’t even the worst part. That was far from the true loss Hokori had suffered in his counter, for Kagami struck a powerful blow to his opponent beyond anything physical harm could amount for. Even death would be kinder than what Kagami had done.

Hokori’s suit jacket was in tatters, it was barely held together by mere threads, and any more strain on the cloth would cause it to completely tear in two. Kagami’s blade was so sharp that there was no sound when it tore through the cloth, and Kagami was almost sorry had Hokori not insulted the Vice Captain’s own suit. Ha, Hokori got what he deserved and Kagami wasn’t going to regret that. Serves him right. “Let me compensate you with a couple of Ryo, it’ll be enough to buy you two more of those cheap suits you love wearing.”

Assuming that Hokori would continue with his attack, Kagami would be prepared. His blade was raised and his legs were bent at shoulders-length from each other. He was ready to spring with a single stimulus, and with his speed and reaction time, Hokori would struggle to take the victory. He messed with the wrong Vice Captain. Had Sozen come in his place, maybe the fight would have been close, but Hokori was outmatched by Kagami in every way. Appearance, wit, personality, and combat ability. Some people were just second-rate Shinigami.

Had Hokori continued the attack, the first thing Kagami would see was a blinding flash of light. That was no bueno, for, in that instance, Kagami was visually blind to any attacks the Kuchiki might throw at him. However, he wasn’t completely unaware. Kagami didn’t have the sharpest hearing or smell, but his energy sensory was incredibly refined. Therefore, it wasn’t difficult for him to sense the surge of energy and realize that Hokori was doing something while Kagami couldn’t see him. It could have been anything from a Kido attack to a step technique, but Kagami would have a solution either way.

Kagami would summon a mirror directly in front of him. The idea was that if Hokori used a technique such as Byakurai, the Kido would be reflected right back at the Captain. However, if he went for a physical strike, Kagami’s mirror would be enough to protect him. However, timing has to be considered. If Hokori activated the Shunpo at the same moment as he released the initial burst of light, the mirror would only form after Hokori closed in the distance, separating the two Soul Reapers. Therefore, when Hokori activated another bright flash of light, he would find that he blinded himself. The mirror would reflect the light back into Hokori’s eyes. Hokori’s light shows were beginning to backfire. They were useful in combat generally, that fact can’t be denied. However, against a mirror, they would be ineffective.

When Hokori brought his released Zanpakuto up for a physical strike, his weapon would collide with the reflective wall. Again, Kagami was protected from Hokori’s strike and he was free to counter as he wanted. Those mirrors were extremely useful. Their defensive capabilities surpass most abilities that any Shinigami may hold, and Kagami has no trouble abusing his powers. However, there’s another side to the coin. The mirrors can also be extremely offensive, and Hokori was about to witness first hand out powerful the mirrors may be.

When Hokori’s weapon made contact with the mirror, Kagami would silently activate Mirafureru once again. However, the source of the technique would be the mirror. That way, a reflective surface may form on Hokori’s weapon, and before he could even realize what happened, a flash of green would shoot up from his weapon into his right arm. It wouldn’t stab through his hand, it would shoot all the way from the palm up the warm, essentially damaging the nerves in Hokori’s right arm so badly that he wouldn’t be able to feel anything below his elbow. It would also split the bone, causing extreme amounts of pain. Hokori was going to suffer from blows to both his left hand and his right.

Kagami had no knowledge of Hokori’s release, though he didn’t need any for the time being. Hokori’s Zanpakuto was one of the most threatening, for rather than inflicting physical damage, he meddles with the target’s mind. Even with the limits of his Zanpakuto, he could still eliminate even the most powerful of opponents before they realized what hit them. If Kagami’s was aware of Hokori’s knowedge shifting ability, he would certainly be a little more apprehensive in the fight. However, he was cautious enough as is. The mirror between himself and Hokori would keep the reaitsu in the air from spreading to Kagami, and he wouldn’t have to worry about the effects of Hokori’s Zanpakuto.

Kagami used Shunpo to move to the right, allowing him to distance himself from Hokori without being pushed to the edge of the floating rock platform. They now had a good fifty meters between each other, and even with the mirror still there, the shift in Kagami’s position would allow them to see each other without the mirror standing between them. “You may be the Book Keeper, but I’m the Mirror Master. You’re going to have to try a lot harder than that if you want this fight to last.” Kagami smirked, obviously looking down at the Kuchiki before him. “It’s not too late to call for Master Sozen, just so you know.”

Reiatsu Remaining: 7725/8000 (-25 for the mirror, -100 for Mirafureru, -50 for Shunpo)

[Hokori Kuchiki]

SPOILER: Click to show

It was all wrong, all of it and it was horrible, and all of it was horrible. Blood was flying from a large wound that had been cut into Kagami’s chest and abdomen. From his hip to his shoulder, Hokori had cut into it. His eyes were calculative, and the captain’s body was completely unharmed. He wasn’t sure what the vice-captain had tried to do, but whatever it was it hadn’t worked. Not even a little bit, though it wasn’t his fault. He was too used to being able to sway the minds of women to his fancy. He just didn’t understand the volume and decadence that came with being Hokori Kuchiki, and as such he was in trouble. Hokori’s cut had been quick and clean, and he stepped back to admire his handy work and to process what had happened moments prior. It didn’t make much sense to him.

As Hokori’s jacket fell, two things happened. Hokori’s form erupted in a bright flash of light as he flexed the innate strength of the reiastu he possessed. Due to the fact that Kagami was looking directly at the captain, he’d find it blinding and momentarily disorienting. Hokori had in that moment stepped off with a shunpo with his hand on the hilt of his blade. It would have taken only a moment, less than a moment actually to cross the distance. It was fast enough to be that before the blinding light had left Kagami’s eyes, Hokori had reached the Vice-Captain. He had flashed his reiastu again, continuing the blinding assault. Shielding his mental release of his shikai, he had not hesitated in his attack to cut the Vice-Captain from his left him to his right shoulder. He was sure that Kagami had methods to avoid such damage.

It appeared that he was wrong, due to the fact that Kagami seemed to be stunned. A lot of what he had thought or wanted to happen hadn’t happen. As the jacket fell, no blade had shot out of the jacket. His jacket remained unharmed, well mostly unharmed. He felt a pang of sadness. Its great color and quality was being marred by the dirt that it was collecting by being on the ground, and so being unmarred. His speed was unhindered, his stamina unhindered, his focus was unhindered. But the same could not be said for Kagami. Kagami hadn’t been able to see throughout the entirety of this attack, and that was the linchpin of Hokori’s new style. His speed and combination with disorientation and blindness was second nature to him. It was just unfortunate that Kagami needed sight to place his mirrors, and because he couldn’t see no mirror would be placed.

The throw Hokori was sure looking at Kagami’s stance had put him slightly off balance, and before he could recover Kagami had been hit with more light to his optic nerves. He was fighting with blinding and disorientating conditions and his body was attempting to adjust to the light change. He was going to have to work hard to dodge the attack but Hokori was sure that he could do so. Shunpo while possible would throw Kagami even more off balance, Hokori was sure, making it an unwise move. After all of Kagami’s bragging to be cut in such a manner would be hummilating, and it would hurt to. It would also be incredibly inconvenient for his future battle capabilities. Hokori waited to see if he could devise a way to counter this trap of attacks.

The blow was quick clean and proficient and left no room for error and due to this no kidou was placed on his staff. The suit which Kagami was wearing was sliced up leaving the front in tatters. The suit jacket, vest, shirt, and tie were covered with a blood spray and a portion of the tie was severed from the rest. It was a horrible way for his suit to go, of course. Compared to Hokori’s suit, this suit had gotten an improvement by being sliced apart and caked in blood. Indeed it was an improvement. Though another unfortunate happenstance, yet again no blade pierced his arms. He could feel his gas seep into Kagami and begin to take effect and he chose to rewrite the knowledge of how to use shunpo with the learned knowledge of how to bow.

In that moment he tried to shunpo actually, but Hokori had now taken that away and switched it. He murmured in response to kagami’s surprised outburst that was still full of snarky attitude and cynicism. “You may be the book keeper, but I am the mirror master. You’re going to have to try a lot harder than that if you want this fight to last,” Through the bow, Hokori couldn’t see the smirk from his blood covered face. Unlike his wish to look down on Hokori, he was now baring his neck to him in submission like he belonged. “It’s not too late to call for Master Sozen, just so you know.” Hokori’s attitude drained from him in cold disgust, again with this attitude. Like Hokori was nothing more than a lap dog, to go running back to Sozen for protection from every possibly scary thing in the world.

“Raise your head, Murai-san before my patience wears thin and I just the butt the back of it with my staff. Now that you’ve been shown how out classed you are let me tell you a secret, I am weaker than Sozen, as a hand should be. Otherwise the head with be nothing more than a figure, however that does not mean I am weak. In fact, I am much stronger than you. Now let us actually begin.” He neglected to mention that Kagami’s spiritual pressure was so great that he needed to release his shikai, Wan Shi Tong to even cut through the pressure that was protecting the vice-captain, sad as it was any respect Kagami may have garnered with Hokori was vanishing fast.

He stepped back giving them about 5 feet of space and took his stance. His blade was held low, its shaft connected as a sold staff. “Now if you wish to continue and stop looking foolish, I promise I won’t tell any girls of your slip up. Not that it should matter, you probably have to pay for such company anyways.” Yes, that’s right. Hokori had just insinuated that the only way Kagami could actually have a women spend time with him was if he paid them. Such an insult was unfounded of course, but the point of the statement was to unhinge Kagami. In doing so he would lose the last thing that made this battle more than a one sided slaughter and that was his collected mind. Hokori waited, for the battle had only begun.

Shikai Post Count: 2/10

[Douma]

There are occasional moments in every man’s life where time seems to slow down. A second is stretched to its full extent, and one moment lasts for an eternity. In that time, one is exposed to a sudden realization, whether it is insightful or regrettable. In Kagami’s case, he could not have regretted a moment more. In his carelessness, he made a significant mistake. Hokori was no opponent to be trifled with, and Kagami understood that. In that infinite second, he was able to gather his mind and decide to stop holding back against the opponent. No more dumb mistakes.

Hokori took advantage of one of Kagami’s weakness without even realizing it. And, on top of that, Kagami was too foolish, too rash, to notice as well. With the blinding light, he was unable to see. That prevented Kagami from setting down the mirror defense. Hokori met no resistance during his assault, and Kagami felt a sharp burning sensation as his torso was marked with a cut stretching from his hip to shoulder. His ruined suit would begin to absorb the Vice Captain’s boiling blood, for he was furious. Slightly in himself, but more so in Hokori. It would be easier to blame the Kuchiki, and that made Kagami more determined to defeat the nobleman.

Luckily, the cut wasn’t deep and Kagami wouldn’t be too hindered. He would be bleeding and it caused him significant amounts of pain. However, he was still able to grit his teeth and move normally, though it would take a larger toll on him. Kagami wouldn’t be deterred, and he would leap the hurdle placed before him. The Vice Captain would defeat Hokori and come out of the fight with nothing more than a scratch on his chest. That’s how the story would be spread across Seireitei. At least that’s how Kagami would tell it. The serious exaggeration would be left up to the gossipers.

“Now that you’ve been shown how out classed you are let me tell you a secret, I am weaker than Sozen, as a hand should be. Otherwise the head with be nothing more than a figure, however that does not mean I am weak. In fact, I am much stronger than you. Now let us actually begin.” Kagami didn’t accept a word of the bullshit. In fact, it only made his hatred for Hokori spike. He wasn’t about to be talked down to by anyone, especially a snotty Kuchiki. Kagami would use Shunpo to recover his ground, since his first attempt at the stepping technique was interrupted. The target location was the same, however, and he moved to the right to create a gap of fifty meters between himself and his foe.

To Kagami's surprise, he was forced into a second bow. As if lowering his head to Hokori the first time wasn't embarrassing enough. Kagami realized that no amount of attempts at a Shunpo were going to get him anywhere. Hokori had mixed something up in his mind, and Kagami was certain that it had something to do with the Captain's release. It had either taken effect when Kagami was near the Kuchiki or when he was cut by him. With no other options, Kagami was forced to jump back before slowly walking backwards to the location he tried to Shunpo to. Despite Kagami's aggrivation, he still kept up his bitterly cocky façade.

“ Now if you wish to continue and stop looking foolish, I promise I won’t tell any girls of your slip up. Not that it should matter, you probably have to pay for such company anyways.” This last retort made Kagami laugh rather than grow even more angry. It was a very bitter laugh, but the amusement on his face was obvious. “Let’s get two things straight Hokori. First, there’s nothing you can do to hurt my charm. Second, I own a prostitution service in Vegas. I don’t use it. If you come to me when I’m in a good mood, I might even give you a discount.” Ha, prostitutes were below Kagami. They were merely one of his major sources of income. Other than that, he wouldn’t stoop to that level. Where’s the challenge if all you have to do to get with the girl is pay? Not that it’s a challenge for him, anyway.

Kagami raised his sword and made a western swordsmanship stance. His feet were spaced at a shoulder-length distance from each other with his right foot ahead of his left. He faced Hokori at a slight angle with an arrogant smirk on his face. He wasn’t going to let his demeanor drop just because of a scratch. Hokori wasn’t that good. He was no Col, and Kagami wasn’t going to back off in this fight. It was all or nothing. And Hokori at least deserved to see Kagami’s all. He might not enjoy it, but, nonetheless, Kagami wasn’t going to hold back.

You see, Kagami was not fighting as he should have. He is a defensive, passive combatant. The way he battles allows him to defeat his opponents over time. However, there was always an occasion in which a battle would end quickly. All it took was a misstep on the opponent’s side. Myza serves as an example, for she underestimated the Vice Captain. That grave mistake allowed Kagami to leave the fight with only a few minor scratches that were self inflicted at best. However, Myza had suffered severe injuries including getting stabbed in the head through both ears, several other stabs on her body, and getting pierced by five light beams made of reiatsu. Hokori was in line to undergo the same pain and same defeat.

Kagami was going to be true to his fighting style from that moment on, and he decided to deceive Hokori into believing that the Captain had the first move. “You’re not worth my time, Kuchiki. If you’re expecting me to come to you as you’ve trained your servants to do, then you’re sorely mistaken. Your patience might just wear thin sooner than you expected.”Considering that Kagami was the first to be injured in the fight, Hokori may dismiss his words as bullshit. However, one cut will not determine a fight. And, on top of that, Kagami was serious about forcing Hokori to come to him.

The trick was that Hokori would be ignorant to the invisible mirrors Kagami would place in the mirrors around himself. They would form a triangle with him in the center. However, Kagami link each reflective surface with its opposite side, causing the mirrors to be completely invisible to both energy sensory and any non-spiritual senses. Such is the resourcefulness of his Zanpakuto Technique Image Link. Kagami could decide what goes through the mirrors and what doesn’t, so they can also act as an invisible wall. Hokori would be in for a fun surprise.

Reaitsu Remaining: 7625/8000 (-75 for three mirrors, -150 for three image links)

[Hokori Kuchiki]

Always with the bowing, this vice-captain was polite. Or he was now that Hokori had started breaking him in. It was cruel, Hokori’s power. The power to bend and subvert a person’s very mind and by extension their body, he was able to change that which made a person tick and fundamentally alter them. He could make people his play things easily, making its power cruel and unusual. He watched the vice-captain bow the second time and then he retreated and Hokori didn’t follow him. He wanted him to flee to know that getting some distance would make no difference. That now that he had been shifted once. Shifting would become so much easier. His snark and arrogance knew no bounds, “Let’s get too things straight Hokori. First, there’s nothing you can do to hurt my charm. Second, I own a prostitution service in Vegas. I don’t use it. If you come to me when I’m in a good mood, I might even give you a discount.”

Hokori began to twirl his staff, his voice rang out clear and articulate. “That is Kuchiki-Taicho, Murai-san. I don’t remember you and I being so personally acquainted. I’ll remind you this once to address me properly. You seem to forget your place quickly in your snark and arrogance.” He seemed to forget who was a captain and who was a vice-captain. Yet his snark and cynicism knew no bounds, but there was a grain of truth to his words, “You’re not worth my time, Kuchiki. If you’re expecting me to come to you as you’ve trained your servants to do, then you’re sorely mistaken. Your patience might just wear thin sooner than you expected.” A challenge and some form of trap? Hokori didn’t care that Kagami was trying to lure him into some form of trap, he wanted Kagami to know that it was useless to do so.

And so, the Kuchiki began to prepare himself. He raced forward and his form was clearly seen by the vice-captain, his spear still being twirled until he was thirty feet away and skidded to a halt thrusting his spear forward. His hands slid along the charcoal staff and it extended rapidly expanding forward to strike Kagami’s center of mass. It was a hidden trick of his shikai to extend and when he did the range of his gas could also be extended. The gas which smelled of Hokori’s cologne was extending forward exceeding the blade by only a foot for now, but as soon as it impacted his form it would of course spread the gas all around him allowing for more knowledge shifting.

He was of course not going to get close to Kagami when the man clearly was waiting to spring some form of trap, but he had done so from a relatively safe distance and still put the Vice-captain within range of his attacks. Reiastu began to cycle around his elbows, his knees, and his feet. Stirring up clouds of dust and obscuring the lower half of his body. Kagami didn’t know the limitations of his shikai just yet, but Hokori needed to spring this trap, whatever it was and get this fight actually moving. Chains began to push out of the back half of the staff giving him the ability to react even in the middle of his attack. He was prepared and expecting a counter, just what it was yet. He had yet to figure out.

Shikai Post Count: 2/10

[Douma]

Hokori spun his staff like a member of the color guard in a marching bad would twirl their cutely colored flags as they danced to the music. The amusing thought made it easier for Kagami to hold his smirk as Hokori spoke with a condescending tone that would have made any elitist proud. “That is Kuchiki-Taicho, Murai-san. I don’t remember you and I being so personally acquainted. I’ll remind you this once to address me properly. You seem to forget your place quickly in your snark and arrogance.” Ah, how Kagami hated being spoken down to. He hadn’t forgotten his manners, he just didn’t find Hokori worthy of them.

“My apologizes, Kuchiki-hime. I hope that our relationship will grow more intimate as I hand you your ass on a silver platter.” Kagami was raised in nobility, a status which he lost as he transitioned to the spiritual world after his death. However, he hadn’t forgotten any honorifics. Instead of referring to Hokori as his commander or leader, he found the honorific for princess much more appropriate. The Squad 5 Captain may be on par with Kagami in combat, but he was intellectually inferior. No amount of schooling or noble education would help Hokori best the Vice Captain in a verbal joust.

The Kuchiki ran toward Kagami, his spear held readily in his hands. Kagami remained prepared in a battle stance, his sword pointing toward Hokori in case he needed to counter any physical strike. He knew, however, that his invisible mirrors would protect him from harm. Hokori, however, would have little to no knowedlge of Kagami’s power, and the Vice Captain was prepared to play that advantage. He had not revealed his ability to summon mirrors quite yet. Hokori must have heard the Squad One Vice Captain be referred to as ‘The Mirror Master’ a few times, but the only connection the Kuchiki could make with Kagami and his title is the reflective surface he placed on his kunai moments ago. Other than that, Kagami would be eager to show Hokori all the tricks he had up his sleeves.

Kagami noticed the relative distance at which Hokori stopped to extend his staff. It was about thirty feet, and it would be safe to assume that Hokori couldn’t stretch his weapon much further. It extended quickly, but Kagami knew that it couldn’t touch him. The blade would be halted by the undetectable, immovable wall. And, best of all, Hokori wouldn’t have the slightest idea what stopped his attack. Even the gas from his Shikai wouldn’t be able to pass through the mirrors. That was the best aspect of Kagami’s release. It provided him with a near perfect defense that he could call upon instantaneously at almost any time. Or, in this case, he set it up before hand. Either way, it accomplished its task. Hokori wasn’t able to touch the Vice Captain.

However, Kagami didn’t just stand there in comfort. He knew he wasn’t in danger, so he was going to make an effort to damage his opponent were it counted. Hokori was spiritually powerful, but it seemed that he liked to be physically active. From what Kagami had seen, all his attacks were physical, and he wasn’t accessing the arsenal of Kido he undoubtedly had as the leader of the Fifth Division. Therefore, Kagami was going to take out his right, and most likely dominant leg. As Hokori extended his staff, Kagami summoned a mirror directly behind the Captain, just inches away from his back. He used Image Link once again to ensure that Hokori would be completely ignorant to its presence. From there, it would be too easy for Kagami to have his jade sword shoot out of the lower part of the mirror, skewering Hokori’s right calf. The muscle would be far too damaged for the Captain to put any weight on it and run. He would receive the injury just as his staff collided with the invisible mirror.

Kagami kept the three mirrors he summoned around him active and maintained their Image Links to keep them hidden. For the meantime, there was no reason to change up his defense, as it had just demonstrated its success. Only when Hokori began to understand what was going on would Kagami then decide to throw the Captain off completely. But, for now, the current plan was working, and Kagami would have scored a significant blow if his attack succeeded. He would have Hokori on the ropes. “Check,” Kagami stated confidently. “Your move, Kuchiki-hime.”

Reiatsu Remaining: 7400/8000 (-25 for new mirror, -50 for new Image Link, -150 for maintaining the first three Image Links)

[Hokori Kuchiki]

Hokori’s attack was extending forward, and it was during this attack that Hokori noticed a slight change. It was very slight, enough that someone without animalistic senses and instincts would have missed it. He was kicking up a lot of dust with his razor lotus, it was true. But there was also the wind blowing from his back towards Kagami that was spreading the dust cloud. Hokori had been expecting some form of trap, and due to this had been more vigilant than normal. With this in mind he noticed when the dust stopped flowing towards Kagami, it seemed somehow he was being attacked from behind and leapt away leaping in a sideways blur using the reduced earth steps. He turned and landed skidding landing on his hands and feet in a crouched position with his left hand’s palm against the ground. He came to a halt as his spear collided with the invisible wall that was guarding Kagami.

It was to be noted that the dust that was being blocked from being blown around gave Hokori a rough guess as to what the width dimensions of the mirror were. His razor lotus was still kicking up dust, giving him an early warning system to another one of these mirrors. And he now knew at least what the mirror master could do at least partially. Hokori would make him pay for the princess remark, as his Shikai retracted into a locked spear form once again his reiastu began to fluctuate.

“Respect your superior’s boy, before you reap what you wrought.” With all the dust kicked up Kagami wouldn’t see Hokori’s hand bleeding, but he would no doubt tell that something was coming. To mask this Hokori pointed his spear at Kagami and began to chant, “An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, Evil to fight Evil, Fire to fight Fire. Hath withstood pain to create many flames of vengeance.” and it was at this point that the unspeakable was performed. Kagami was stabbed. A red blade of reiastu shot out of the ground beneath Kagami’s right foot through the foot bone, through the calf muscle and cut out of the leg slicing the upper thigh.

This blade was coated in thick amounts of blood, but with Kagami’s energy sensory, he’d be able to see it now. The reiastu that made the blade, the blade had shot out of the earth instantaneously and of course that would make it very hard to dodge. Normal speed would make it near impossible without some form of technique to augment the dodge’s speed. Shunpo could do it in a fairly easier manner of course. However, Kagami had trapped himself and so he was about to lose all notion of running away. The blade would retract from Kagami’s leg and through the rock and into Hokori’s hand that had been touching the ground, with his skin resealing itself. Walking would now be all but impossible with that leg, and the pain was going to be intensely distracting. There was pain but it was already beginning to fade to a dull ache and there was some blood loss.

Of course being a kidou master Hokori had already counted on it. He hadn’t stopped chanting his incantation, “And yet, those empherial works of art will never be remembered. I hereby offer my blood in an indestructible contract with the flame of atonement.” He leapt into action propelling himself with a shunpo into the air appearing in free fall above Kagami. He was around forty feet up, the blood on his left hand ignited into sickly bale fire of green flames shot forward from his outstretched hand. “Hado #86: Soukahou.” The fire had only shot out for a second but ten shuriken shaped flames the size of Kagami was flying towards his body. Hokori’s attack was going to not only burn and cauterize massive injuries to Kagami’s body. But it would also destroy the ground beneath him causing him and the rubble to enter free fall.

Hokori was about to destroy the vice’s captain’s pitiful dreams of bringing down the captain, each second he fired his kidou fired ten more of those shuriken made of green balefire flames. Unknown to Hokori, due to the composition of his release, Kagami faced a lot of problems with this attack, first was the increased strength of the reiastu of the kidou, second was the speed and just sheer numbers of the attacks being leveled at him and he was already wounded before, and had been wounded again. Now Hokori had put him into a position he would be horribly marred by their battle. Not only would he lose to the captain, he would lose his pride, his dignity, and his supposed good looks.

Due to the sheer power of the attacks, Kagami and Hokori together were about to be moving downwards into the hot air vent’s rim losing altitude unless they moved into the thermals and gained lift. However then they ran the risk of being pushed back against the other side. Hokori however had no such qualms he shot his staff’s blade out and stuck it to the rock as he passed by and retracted it wrenching himself out of the air and lifted himself back towards the rock as he waited to see how Kagami would react to his onslaught of attacks. Looking at the Vice-Captain he spoke loud, “Welcome to the death march.”[/font]

Remaining Reiastu: 2100/3000 (-50 for Assassination Hana #1: Gyo, -50 for x1 Shunpo cost, -600 for Hado #86 Soukahou.)

Hado #86: Soukahou RS: 1080

Shikai Post Count: 4/10

[Douma]

“Respect your superior’s boy, before you reap what you wrought.” Kagami could only reply with his signature cocky smirk, one that Hokori probably had branded into his memory by then. Good, he would only see it a handful more times before he woke up in the Squad 4 urgent care center. “Big words coming from the bitch of the Kuchiki. They may have taught you how to bark, but Sozen forgot to teach you to shut your mouth.” Kagami didn’t care at all that Hokori had avoided his strike with the mirror. It only gave him an insight to how vigilant and sensitive Hokori was. He knew more about his opponent, and with Kagami’s power, knowledge is everything. It was all about strategic placement and use of his mirrors. Hokori wouldn’t be able to fight key decisions with any experience and power he might have. Kagami just had to be smart with the way he fought.

The Vice Captain stood in a ready position, his blade extended before him and his legs bent and shoulders’ width apart as Hokori began his incantation. Just by the sound of it, Kagami could assume that it was fire based and quite powerful. Incantations say a lot about the Kido, and because Kagami was limited in the amount of Kido he could learn, he focused mostly on predicting Kido based on incantations rather than memorizing them. Also, the significant influx in Hokori’s reiatsu concentration hinted that the incantation also amplified his reiatsu strength.

Kagami focused on his senses as he waited in anticipation for what Hokori had to throw at him. Therefore, he was able to pick up on a noticeable focus of reiatsu forming by his feet on the ground. Hokori was undoubtedly doing something behind the scenes, and upon identifying the threat, Kagami activated a Hoho technique by the name of Flash Glide. The Vice Captain’s speed tripled, and he was able to dart out of the range the sword shooting through the ground immediately. He was moving like a blur, but the movement only lasted one second. Kagami appeared behind his invisible mirrors, having them stand between himself and Hokori.

And when the Fifth Division’s leader finished his incantation, he shot himself up into the air with Shunpo. His arms were on fire, and they spewed balls of bright flames that shot toward the Vice Captain. Assuming that Kagami would remain his ultimate focus, the Vice Captain used his multiplied speed to sprint through his invisible mirrors, counting on Hokori to continue shooting through them. As soon as he passed through each mirror, he ended the mirror link. That way, instead of letting the flames pass through them, the mirrors would shatter from the high-powered Kido. Three mirrors would have been destroyed in that one move.

Kagami didn’t want to risk Hokori aiming at him any longer, for the Captain would most likely predict the Vice Captain’s movements and succeed in landing a hit soon. Therefore, Kagami summoned two mirrors as he sped forward and linked them together. One mirror appeared right in front of him and the other was on the other side of the floating stone platform. With a speed of 1200 that would look like a blur to the Captain, Kagami would essentially pass through a gate to the other side of their arena. The link between the mirrors would only last long enough for Kagami to pass through them, for a soon as it ended, Hokori’s flames would be free to destroy the reflective glass.

Kagami stood on the other side of the platform with his mirror’s edge facing Hokori, allowing the Vice Captain to get a quick glance at where Hokori was going to land. He would summon a mirror there, just before the Captain landed on the ground, so that the mirror was pressed against to the stone and he would step onto it. However, just before Hokori’s foot would contact it, a jade blade would shoot out of the glass and impale his foot and leg, cutting through muscle, nerves, and bone. Because of the fourth effect of 7 Years of Bad Luck that Hokori would have activated upon breaking the fourth mirror, he would be subject to a two second physical stun, preventing him from aiming at Kagami with his Kido or avoiding landing on the mirror, whether he detected it or not.

The Vice Captain could see triumph coming from that last counter attack, and despite the drain his new speed was putting on himself, especially with blood seeping from the cut along his chest, he could only grin at the Captain and tell him through his heavy breaths, “Feel free to play dead if you need the easy way out.”

Reaitsu Remaining: 5525/8000 (-200 for maintaining the 4 Image Links, -75 for summoning a 3 mirrors, -100 for 2 Image Links, -1000 for activating the first four parts of 7 Years of Bad Luck, -300 for Flash Glide)

7 Years of Bad Luck
1. Hokori now has a combat post count of five posts.
2. Hokori gains a combat post in his post count, and movement over 150 speed now fatigues him.
3. Hokori can not activate the same technique twice for the next three posts.
4. Hokori receives a two-second physical stun as soon as the mirror breaks, so the stun hits him when he’s in the middle of the air.

OOC: If any of the mirrors weren’t broken for whatever reason, then 7 Years of Bad Luck effects as well as Kagami’s reaitsu reductions will be adjusted.

[Hokori Kuchiki]

SPOILER: Click to show

There was good news for Kagami, Hokori had not expected flash glide as a technique usage and therefore he was able to dodge the blade shooting up to pierce his body. Hokori's intent however remained the same as his kidou launched and Kagami leapt through a mirrior, Hokori gave him pause. More tricks and traps. Though he was sure he could find the vice-captain, he wanted to force Kagami out in the open and make him beg for mercy at the hands of the Kuchiki. He hadn't underestimated Murai, Murai constantly underestimated him and it ended up always costing Murai. For even if he missed his plan remained in tact. He destroyed the rock that Kagami had been standing on. It was easy to do with such massive reiastu strength, and he fell into a smaller pocket of the air vent.

He knew that using his shikai would give him the leverage needed shooting it out and having it wedge itself into the rock while he held it with main hand was moderately difficult, because he began to slightly descend before aiming his hand at the underside of the massive rock, their battle ground.and Unfortunately, this would turn out to be the worst thing Kagami could have done. He had let the captain get underneath his feet so to speak. From his hands began to shoot not blobs of fire, or shuriken but finely pointed rotating mini drills and he was shooting them out in bursts like a shotgun's buck shot. And they were drilling through the rock breaking it apart and going out as soon as they reached the surface. Hokori was at work for only a few moments before the drills had taken the giant rock and turned it into numerous smaller rocks that began to tilt and turn before floating around and crashing into each other. Kagami's mirrors all resting would begin to tilt before falling getting caught in the way of the boulders slamming into one another before separating again, shattering them. Those that didn't either fell into the vents or were blown away due to lack of weight and large surface area.

The result, Hokori had turned the battlefield into a massive aerial combat stage. He retracted his shikai and kicked off the boulder he had been attached to, ascending on an updraft in a massive corkscrew and flip. Hokori landed spearing his shikai into the boulder and gained his balanced. Doing so in this type of battleground wasn't that difficult with his mastery of acrobatics. It was difficult over the wind and the debris and dust clouds that were constantly being created to see each other and so Hokori was relying on his energy sensory to put him close. He began to raise his hand at the spot he could detect Kagami's energy sensory now that it was in the shifting spheres. And began to shoot just below his signiture, why? because now the rocks were everything. Poor visibility to both fighters would restrict fighting ability. But Hokori was able to fight better in this condition why? Because he was a captain. In due time a wall of bale green drills were going to be shooting towards kagami's signature.

Hokori wanted Kagami to know this was coming and so he waited to see the vice captain, to see his face and know that no amount of running would save him. "I hope you're ready Kagami Murai, Because now there's no more hiding. No more running, I'm going to burn out that arrogance, even if it costs you your supposed good looks. You're going to regret sending that note to my home. A note that was about as threatening as an ant to a dragon. You are going to feel the flames lick up your body until you don't know anything else in your mind other than screaming. I want you to feel it Kagami, I want you to feel the gatekeeper's embrace." What was Hokori talking about? Gatekeeper? furthermore, the dust was being destabilized by Hokori's reiastu giving the combatants a clear view of each other. Hokori's reiastu was pressing down on Kagami again and though he was sweating in his shirt and slacks, he clearly had an advantage here once again. Now what would Kagami do to try to turn the tides? Surrounded in a mad tilt a world, bleeding and getting tired with no skill in acrobatics, this was not his battlefield of choice, and it was turning out not to be his fight.

Shikai Post count: 5/10

Hado #86: Soukahou Post count 2/5

[Douma]

Kagami was no longer the main target for Hokori’s onslaught of flame. Instead, the Captain decided that he was going to completely destroy the platform on which they fought. It would completely invert the battle and turn it upside down. When it came to ranged aerial combat, Hokori had every advantage. Kagami wouldn’t be able to position his mirrors in the air, nor can he use Kido to continue fighting from afar. This was going to be a tough fight for him. However, he did want one advantage: time. Therefore, as Hokori aimed to destroy the ground, Kagami summoned two mirrors to be destroyed by the flames that were already launched toward it.

The ground beneath Kagami’s feet was crumbling, and it became clear to him that there was no point in maintaining Flash Glide when he would no longer be able to run. Kagami therefore ended the Hoho technique and began focusing on positioning himself well. He focused on how the platform was breaking apart near by and found the largest chunk of rock that hadn’t been broken apart. By stabbing his sword into it, he managed to hang on to the side as it hovered in the air. Hokori had been on the other side of the platform before it broke apart, and Kagami’s acute energy sensory notified him that Hokori was about level with him.

Kagami knew that Soukahou was still active, and that Hokori would undoubtedly use his Kido skill to target Kagami, expecting him to win the battle while the Vice Captain was defenseless in the air. However, Kagami had a strategy. Hokori would only be able to fire a single blast of flame before he realized that he was plummeting toward the ground. Why, you may ask? Because a mirrors was summoned under his feet that blocked the part of the air vent beneath him. Therefore, nothing was keeping him afloat any more and he would have to take care of himself if he wanted to avoid going splat against Kagami’s attack. That means suspending his attack to make sure he didn’t fall.

Kagami knew that there was still a threat of Kido, so to make sure he didn’t get attack, the Vice Captain drew his sword out from the debris and pushed off against the bottom of the rock. This launched him toward the ground while pushing the rock up. However, he made sure that his trajectory was slightly diagonal so that when the air vent pushed him back up and the rock fell back down, they wouldn’t meet in a head on collision. In a few seconds, the bursts of air would elevate him so that he could meet with the rock again and plant his blade into it to keep himself from drifting away from any anchor.

Kagami completely ignored Hokori’s words, for they didn’t mean anything to him. Something about hiding and running, an ant and a dragon, the gatekeeper, blah blah blah. No Hokori made it clear that he was living up to his title and that he was truly worthy of being the right hand of Sozen. However, Kagami hadn’t proven to Hokori that he was a match for the esteemed Captain. “I’m surprised the hot air in that head of yours isn’t lifting you like a balloon. Get over yourself, Hokori. If anything, this is Bilbo pit up against a Dragon, and we all know how that ends. Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies, watch that shit.”

Reaitsu Remaining: 5850/8000 (-75 for three mirrors, -300 for the first two parts of 7 Years of Bad Luck)

7 Years of Bad Luck
1. Hokori now has a combat post count of five posts.
2. Hokori gains a combat post in his post count, and movement over 150 speed now fatigues him.