Spar Revisited

[✠Asmoskon Masurao✠]

Asmoskon watched as his arrow soared up through the air on point to Hotaru. It was obvious to see though that Hotaru was watching him and that she knew all about the arrow coming toward her. From the moment that Asmoskon saw Hotaru smile back down at him he considered his last arrow fired void. It was a good thing to due to the fact that Hotaru dropped down from the air back down to the ground in order to dodge the arrow. When Hotaru landed though it seemed as if she might fall over for some reason.

Noticing these two things went through the Quincy's mind. The first being that Hotaru might in fact be in even more pain and worse shape than he thought. That would mean that he might just want to surrender in order to prevent Hotaru from further harm. Yet Asmoskon had already thought that over and couldn't bare to be a disgrace to his beloved. The second though was to simply concentrate and fire off another arrow at that moment. That though was an attack that lacked honor especially against a loved one and Asmoskon wouldn't permit himself to execute such an action.

So he simply waited to see any body language that he could use to predict what Hotaru was going to do against him. It proved to ad him slightly however in truth it was more Asmoskon expectations of Hotaru that predicted her next movement. In the entire time that Asmoskon knew Hotaru she had always favored using shunpo especially when things seemed like they were leaning in the opposite direction from her own victory. It was because of this knowledge that Asmoskon readied himself for the moment that she would vanish from sight and appear most likely behind him.

It proved to be correct in the next moment when she did vanish from his sight. However, one thing that his grandfather had taught Asmoskon was never to lock his vision on a single location for the payment was far too high when being an archer. That was the reason that he never truly focused on any target only utilizing his peripheral vision. This in fact was a major advantage for Asmoskon for just as Hotaru disappear he could see her reappear at the edge of his scope. Just as she raised her pommel toward him Asmoskon swung his bow. The clash would be strange that much was for sure, but Asmoskon wasn’t going to give Hotaru enough time to react for his bows body would aimed to strike her wrists. Just as his bows spine clashed with her wrists he pulled back the string and fired off an arrow aimed to pierce her right shoulder joint.

Remaining Reiatsu: 220/1350 ~1 Arrow~

[Hotaru Kuchiki-Masurao]

Hotaru watched Asmoskon when she landed on the ground. She could tell that he was a little concerned about her because she showed some of her weakness. She didn't mean for that to happen, but she just landed a little too hard and it jarred her just enough to where her wounds started to bother her again. But, she also had a good idea what was running through his head at the moment.

He was debating on how to deal with her now. She knew that he would want to give up, but they both had too much honor for that. He also knew that she would think a little less of him if he did that. He, she assumed, would feel like he was dishonoring her if he did that. He was probably thinking of when to actually attack her. He had to know that if he launched an arrow now, she would just avoid.

So, she was sure that he was watching her every move, trying to figure out what she would do next. She didn't want to seem predictable, but he had to know what was going to happen. She didn't even really tried to hide it. She did her Shunpo. When she appeared next to Asmoskon, he did something completely out of the ordinary. Instead of trying to get away, he actually stayed and tried to strike her with his bow.

She was already in mid-motion, so she couldn't stop. Even if she had tried to stop, Asmoskon's bow made it hard to get away. His bow was aiming for her wrists. And right when the pommel and bow clashed, he pulled back on his bow string and shot an arrow out to hit her in the right shoulder. Since he shot it right after he hit her wrists, the arrow hit its mark. It bit her right shoulder joint and she dropped her zanpaktou.

She took a deep intake of breath. It stung, but it wasn't in too deep. She didn't want to risk pulling it out due to all the blood that would be seeping out of her wound. She took a few steps back from Asmoskon, picking up her zanpaktou with her left hand. She wasn't really ambidextrous, but she could do enough with her left hand so she wouldn't stab herself. She used her zanpaktou to cut off the end of the arrow and put her zanpaktou away. She stood up and took a few deep breaths. She couldn't keep going like this.

[✠Asmoskon Masurao✠]

Well it seemed everything had gone pretty much the way that Asmoskon had anticipated it too. Hotaru had utilized shunpo the way that he expected of her. Asmoskon made a side note in his mind to attempt to aid her in developing some other method of movement. He couldn't help, but worry for her safety against those that held better analysis skills than his own. H knew that he was able to understand and anticipant her method due to the fact that he had fought against her and with her on multiple occasions, but he also knew there were people out there that could pick it up just as he did by her second shunpo.

So his trick had worked out the way he planned. Maybe that was how he would aid Hotaru teach her certain sequences to use against those that already had her method of assault thought through and figured out. In truth Asmoskon wasn't very conferrable using his bow in an offensive manner that required the body itself. Yet it was something he knew would aid him in obtaining victory swifter and keeping the battle from progressing further to the point tat neither he nor Hotaru could move. He in truth had felt the resistance of Hotaru's pommel and flesh against his bow, but fought through it to get the final shot from hi bow.

Asmoskon watched as the arrow flew from the string and in less than a moment was embedded in Hotaru's right shoulder. He watched as his love was forced to drop her zanpakuto to the ground. That was the sign of victory and it was all Asmoskon needed to be sure. The fact was that he never saw Hotaru use her left hand to wield the blade only when in her release did that hand even hold a purpose. Watching as she picked her zanpakuto up with her left hand Asmoskon's bow vanished. In the next moment his hands closed around Hotaru' left hand and hilt.

"It's alright Hotaru we're done for now. I don't want this to go any further. A honorable battle ends at this point. A battle of dishonor begins when one strikes down the wounded. I won't be a dishonor to an honorable woman. Now lets take a look at the last one bare with it for a moment." After the last words Asmoskon placed his hand over the arrow and in the next it was gone causing the wound to open. Putting pressure on her wound Asmoskon smiled and kissed her forehead gently.

[Hotaru Kuchiki-Masurao]

Hotaru watched as the arrow hit her in the shoulder. It seemed that the fight had turned in Asmoskon's favor. She was sure that it had been what he had wanted, but she was good with the outcome. Especially how she was able to keep up with him. The first time they fought, she could barely stand against him and this time she could easily keep pace with him and actually keep him on the defensive.

She thought through her last attack. She had Shunpo'ed away from his arrow, giving it was the only option she had due to his superior speed. But, of course he saw through it and had tripped her up enough that she couldn't get away. If she had really tried to get away, she could've ripped her own wrists off, which she didn't really want to do. She had already lost her feet, she didn't want to lose her wrists.

Asmoskon's took the opportunity to attack her. It was a close shot, but honestly, if she had an opening like that as well, she would've done exactly what he did. When you're in a fight, even with the one you love most and is the most precious, you must fight with your all. It would be a great dishonor to not do that. She had given him her all and he her. It was all she could ask for.

Once she picked her zanpaktou up with her left hand, he closed he hands around her left hand and the hilt. She put it away and he said that they were done for now, he didn't want this to go any further since an honorable battle ends at this point. He didn't want to strike down the wounded, being dishonorable. He then looked at her last wound. He placed a hand over the arrow and it disappeared.

She watched blood flow out of her now open wound. She grimaced in pain, it hurt worse than she thought. He told her to bare with it for a moment. The next thing he did was put pressure on her wound. It felt a little better, but still hurt. He kissed her forehead gently and she smiled at him. "Thank you Asmos. I truly do love you. I had a most wonderful dream before you woke me up. We had rings on our fingers that matched and were happy together. It would be awesome if we could have rings like that." She pulled Asmos down with her left hand to gently kiss him. "I'm starting to get tired though. I don't know if that's good or not."

[✠Asmoskon Masurao✠]

Watching the wound closely Asmoskon was about to start to wrap it to keep the blood from flowing even further without the continued use of his hand however Hotaru had grabbed him and pulled him to her. Her sudden kiss wasn't in truth a surprise it hadn't been the first time that se had done the action. What did surprise Asmoskon was the degree of injury she was in and that firstly she was so easily able to deal with it and just focus on him. The second thing that sent chills down his own spine was that he had inflicted these wounds upon her. Being right next to her Asmoskon could see the burnt wounds that she had forced shut and the blood that was now flowing over and between his fingers.

Such warmth that would ultimately lead to nothing, but empty cold. Asmoskon knew that he had to do something or else he wouldn't be able to deal with himself later. So thinking swiftly Asmoskon pulling back from Hotaru's kiss after a few moments pulled off his coat and then proceeded to lift his shirt over his head from his body. Continuing to the final objective Asmoskon wrapped his shirt around the wound that oozed previous life tightly making sure to halt its flow significantly. Afterwards Asmoskon looked down at his palms causing his pupils to shrink in freight and panic.

I was just like that night so many years ago now. The image of blood on his hands was he same as now. It had only happen once before, but it had ben the night Asmoskon had his parents stolen from his life and found them dead only to cry in depression and weakness with the blood on his soul. It had stained his soul from that point of his life and now that scar was visible in a much more potent way. It seemed as if Asmoskon had been far to careless and that if he had been any more aggressive he could have stripped away the only form of happiness that blessed him now.

As these thoughts rushed throughout his mind Asmoskon just continued to stare down at the blood covered hands before him. Only to have a tear drop fall from his face down onto the grass signaling his inner turmoil. "I'm sorry Hotaru, but I'm not sure I'll ever be able to give you an honorable battle again. This one escalated to a point I didn't predict because of that I've injured you more than I ever wished. I'm sorry my love but I'm not worthy of a ring that would hold our bond"

[Hotaru Kuchiki-Masurao]

Hotaru watched as Asmoskon started to wrap her wound, and that's when she kissed him. Once she pulled back, he immediately went to work on trying to close her wound. She looked at him working, and could tell that something was definitely bothering him. She noticed that there was something different about him before she went in for the kiss. It was like he was looking at her for the first time. She figured it could've been from her injuries.

She watched her blood flow over his fingers while she tried not to move too much. If she did, the blood would flow faster and she didn't want that to happen. So, she laid as still as she could while he took his coat off and then his shirt. He wrapped his shirt around the wound in her arm and secured it very tightly to make sure that the blood would stop flowing. Once he was done she felt a lot better, but when he looked down at his hands, he looked like he was in a panic.

She was able to get herself to a sitting position without causing too much harm to herself. She stared at him and wondered what was actually going through his head. She was a little light-headed, but she was feeling better now that the wound was semi-closed. She sat, waiting for him to get out of his reverie. She then looked down at her body and it was pretty bad. All the burn wounds on her body probably hit him hard, but she was a soldier while alive. She endured this pain before.

And, the heat of battle, with adrenaline going, she didn't notice the pain. It wasn't until now, while her body was trying to heal itself, did she feel a stinging pain from the burn. She had good pain tolerance, so it didn't bother her as much as he probably thought it did. She took deep breaths to conserve her energy and just waited. She didn't want to intrude on what he was dealing with. She would help him only if he asked or wanted it. It was then she saw it.

One tear drop fell on the grass in front of him while he was staring at his palms. She looked up and saw it written all over his face. He then said that he was sorry but that he wasn't sure he could give her an honorable battle again. The fight escalated to where he didn't think it would go and because of that he injured her more than he wanted. He apologized again and said he wasn't worthy of a ring that would hold their bond. She looked at him and then drew his face up.

She looked him straight in the face. "Asmoskon, I don't know what has happened in your past, since you haven't told me and I won't pry. But, I am a warrior. When I fight, I expect to get hurt by people stronger than myself. I have gotten worse injuries on the battlefield, it's why I died in the first place. If you didn't fight this hard, I wouldn't be with you in the first place. I am fine, my love. I can deal with this. What I can't deal with is what you talk about now. I believe you are more than worthy of a ring. Besides, the man I am with should be strong to be my backup and protection when I need it and I believe that you've proven that in spades right now. But, no matter what happens, just know that I am always here for you and I don't want to lose you over this. I love you Asmos." She let go of his face and remained sitting up, now with her legs crossed under her. She waited to see what he would say.

[Amagai Kuchiki]

59 Paragraphs Hotaru = 590 TP
72 Paragraphs Asmoskon + Victory Bonus = 820 TP

Just as a reminder, 3 line paragraphs only give half TP. Both of you lost out on a lot of easy TP that way. 

[Amagai Kuchiki]

Quickly going to edit in a more accurate grade. Turns out I was in 90% zoom rather than 100. I should probably go back through some of my earlier TP gradings to make sure I didn't screw anyone else over.

87 Paragraphs -> 870 TP Hotaru
75 Paragraphs + Victory = 850 TP Asmsoskon