Rise Up: Raion vs Katrina [NDE, PG-13]

[Amagai Kuchiki]

Thread Title: Rise Up: Raion vs Katrina
Participants: Raion Souretsu, Katrina Kawada
World: Soul Society
Death Setting: Non Death Enabled
Rating: PG-13
Location: In a large, open air arena in Soul Society. The contestants are located on a slightly raised, tile platform, that's 100 feet by 100 feet wide. Surrounding the platform is a powerful reiatsu field, that extends 100 feet into the air. This field will prevent any collateral damage.

In the audience are several captains, plenty of interested parties, and the entirety of Squad 9
Special Conditions: The point of this fight is not to rapidly win, but to show off your prowess as Captains. The fights are not to the death, and thus discretion is advised to some extent, although there are numerous medics on the scene so it's almost impossible for one party to kill the other. For this fight, you have access to your new stats and Bankai, so feel free to show them off. In fact, if you fail to show off your Shikai, and your Bankai, that'll reflect poorly on you. These fights will largely determine rankings, as well as have some influence on your ability to be Captain, although it is very hard to lose the Captaincy spot you have been given.

Make sure to post frequently for this thread, which should act as your highest priority if you want your Captaincy. There isn't an official time limit, but if you are unable to post, inform your opponent and a mod as soon as possible. Do not nag your opponents to post. Run this quickly, dramatically, and efficiently, while trying to showcase your potential to it's fullest degree.
Circumstances: This is a fight for the characters to prove their worthiness in Captaincy.

[Deleted]

The time has come.

It had been several days since she'd unofficially taken command of Squad 9, where her duties among the Squad and her family kept her busy to the point where she collapsed into bed at the end of every night. But ultimately, it was worth it. They had worked through the backlog, they were up to date, her squad was starting to look towards her for leadership ... and her Captaincy ensured that her family was suitably respected again.

But not to the point they once were. That is why, as she stepped into the circular clearing and watched with growing apprehension as the barrier closed, ensuring they would see this battle to it's inevitable end, whatever it might be, she did not shy but rather found strength in the adversity, a growing inner fire fueled by her weaknesses and passions. That is why as, as she mediated in the center of the arena, her aura spread out around her like golden rain, every breath and inhale causing it to ebb around her, she did not worry. She focused instead on the steady in and out of her lungs, the pulse of blood in her body, and the impending feeling of triumph she would feel at victory.

If her opponent ever arrived!

As the stands filled, Katrina stepped out of the prone stance she found herself, stretching the kinks out of her muscles. Her eyes scanned the crowd, noting with trepidation the growing number. She had assumed, somewhat childishly, that it would be a small affair, perhaps only attended by several captains and a couple seated officers. But no, the stands were nearly filled, and all with people she recognized! 'In, out. In, out. Just breath. It's no trouble, you've dealt with larger crowds before.'

"What, you're not nervous, are you?" Iguru, the Eagle King spoke, his smooth, succulent voice offset by his bored attitude. Suppressing a twitch, Katrina began to pace. "Nervous? Of course I'm nervous! There's so many people watching, the entirety of my squad, and I think I even saw Alexander and Takashi and the rest of my family there! What if I mess up? What if I can't win? What if I'm so hopelessly outgunned that he defeats me without even trying?! It's happened before, and-" Her words were cut short by a loud squawk from her avian spirit. "You'll be fine, you're not Xerxes. You're a young, beautiful Shinigami who managed to not only become the head of your Family, but also a Captain in her own right. Have some faith in yourself. Remember what your aunt taught you."

Katrina found herself muttering it, even as she came to a halt. "We are the darkness in the street. We are the fear in your dreams. A Kawada is a symbol. A beacon of cruelty, and hopelessness, and crushing despair. We are the blade in the night, the watchers of monsters and keepers of secrets." They were words spoken over her crib, repeated over and over again until they became part of who she was. Her training was devoted to these words, to the three lines that described the Kawada. They were not good; they didn't care to be. The Kawada survive, in the shadows and the nightmares in the minds of men.

And just like that, her fear evaporated, her eyes opening with a new ferocity. "I'm ready. Hurry and arrive so we may end this."

SPOILER: Click to show

{Stats}Strength - 100 - 50% = 50

Speed -]400 + 150% = 1000 Points

Spiritual Pressure - 300 - 40% = 180 Points

Reiatsu Strength - 400 + 60% = 640 Points

Light Aura - 75 Points

Dark Aura - 25 Points

Instinct - 200 - 25% = 150

Senses - 100 + 50% = 150 Points

Energy sensory - 100 - 25% = 75 Points

Healing Expertise - 0 Points

Total SP: 1600 Points

SPOILER: Click to show

{Skills}
[Stealth] {2}

[Weapon: Swords] {3}

[Weapon: Throwing Weapons] {2}

[Encoding/Decoding] {3}

[Battle Analysis] {2}

[Kido] {2}

[Hoho] {2}

[Mental Incantation] {1}

[Charisma/Leadership] {1}

[Raion Souretsu]

“Lessee... gonna be a bit warm on the island this time o' year, gonna wanna pack lighter clothes... wait, it's my island, do I even need clothes? Eh, I'm used to 'em, I suppose. I guess I can use it as an excuse to go around in my underwear...”

The musings of Captain Raion Souretsu of Squad 9 were certainly strange ones for anyone who would overhear them, but by this point, most of the members in his squad were used to such antics. Raion was quite a character, an individual whose irrationality had almost certainly become the foundation of his unity. If something odd was going on, one could blame it on the lion. If money had gone missing, then the Captain had probably funneled some of the “excess funds” into his rather successful tavern industry, one that probably fueled itself with ease by now. And if something exploded in the nearby vicinity, then all but the most strict of the squad members usually returned to the nearly limitless supply of alcohol that their Captain provided them with rather than worry about what he was up to now. After all, who could restrain seven hundred pounds of lion-man when he wanted to do something? Certainly none of them wanted to stand up to him. They left that job to Tomoe.

“Now, Capta- er, Raion.” Tomoe fumbled over the name, sighing to herself as she went over a checklist, verifying the large number of boxes stacked along the major courtyard near the front of the Squad's barracks. “I don't think going nude will be appropriate, considering I expect to invite guests every so often. I don't care if you bought a whole island, we're still going to be civilized.” Tomoe Ikoma, the one individual who could stand up to Raion without severely overpowering him, had no problem scolding him for his decisions. Rumor around the squad was that she was now Raion's girlfriend, or perhaps even his wife given the way she could boss the lion around with such ease, though no such thing was true... yet. Raion hadn't gotten around to making an official relationship yet, though it was certainly obvious that he was interested.

“Aw, s'okay if you still wanna call me Captain, Tomoe! It'll be our little pet name, eh? I'll call you my 'Vice Captain' if you want, too! After all, you're my second in command.” That got a scowl from Tomoe, and he quickly corrected himself. “Well I mean, you can be the Captain if you want, from time to time... You've got the er... 'personality' for it...” Another glare came his way, so Raion quickly cleared his throat and went back to packing a large pair of suitcases, sorting out outfits that would be seeing immediate use upon reaching the island as opposed to those that would be packed away in storage.

The exchange was another interesting one, but recently, Raion had announced that he had planned to retire. The Captain had finally decided that he had made enough money from his lucrative alcohol business to finally set himself up with an island of his own, one that he had been building a minor mansion on for the last month. So the last few weeks had been taken up with applications and testing for the Captain's spot, since the original Vice Captain had taken on a spot in another Squad as well. With no one in either position, there had been a bit of a scramble, so Raion had been forced to delay his retirement until someone could be found. Fortunately, someone had finally stepped forward and had been approved. All that was left was her testing—

“OH GODDAMNIT!” The sudden roar even surprised Tomoe as she turned, dropping her clipboard and reaching for her Zanpaktou. “That test is today! I gotta go, Tomoe, finish packin', would ya!” With that, Raion Souretsu, the former Captain of Squad 9, ran out towards the arena. He was only an hour and a half late! Tomoe watched bemused as her former Captain dashed away, grabbing the suitcases that he had left behind and starting to go through them, checking what he had packed. It was going to be a long day, it seemed.

---

Two hours into the event, and there were actually people out looking for Raion. Officials had apologized to Katrina at least three times in the time frame, wondering where the Captain had gotten off to. Rumors abounded that perhaps he had left early for his retirement, having forgotten his appointment, and discussions were up as to whether or not they would need to find a new testing partner or if they should just give the position to Katrina as a default. Indeed, they had decided to give it another half hour, and if Raion couldn't be found, then they would default the match for now and come up with an official decision. It was their hope that the former Captain could be found by then, but no one knew what to predict when it came to the lion-man.

And then a single Hell Butterfly floated in, making its way over to the head of the test. He let it land on his hand, listening to the message projected, before letting out a relieved sigh. “Raion Souretsu, former Captain of Squad 9, is entering the arena now. The test will commence in fifteen minutes! Please take your position, Miss Kawada, and we will begin shortly.” With that, the man left the circle in which the two combatants would be fighting, an area about one hundred and fifty feet in diameter. Katrina would be at the western edge of it, and stairs on the eastern side would provide the entrance for Raion to approach from.

And approach he did, running up the stairs in bounds of three, surprisingly active for one who was normally a stumbling drunk. Could it be that he had even been so classy as to arrive sober for once? If so, it was a small miracle in itself! Though given the outfit that Raion was wearing on arrival, that could be reconsidered. Rather than wearing his Shinigami robes along with his Captain's haori, Raion had come dressed looking as though he were ready to hit the beach! A Hawaiian-patterned shirt hung across his shoulders, obviously a size or two small for the extra-large lion, unable to quite close across his front due to broad shoulders, a thick chest, and a pronounced muscle-gut that added to the image of him being quite a large lion. Complimenting it was a pair of swim trunks that again were ill-sized, though better so than the shirt, not quite making it to the former Captain's knees while riding a little low at the waistband as well, though not enough to be indecent. He had been wearing sandals as well, though those had been kicked off at the foot of the stairs, leaving the lion barefoot. Certainly the outfit showed off his strong physique; belly aside, Raion was quite a muscled figure, and although a little extra weight softened his look slightly, he had quite a firm build to him nonetheless.

Wiping sweat from his brow as he finally reached the top of the stairs, Raion took a moment to catch his breath before giving his usual, toothy grin. “Heh, sorry 'bout that. I was so caught up in m'packing that I didn't notice the time! I hope I didn't keep ya waitin' here long. So now that I'm here...” Raion reached to his waist and grabbed his sake jug in one hand, taking a long swig before hanging it back on a loose belt that had been secured around his waist in a hurry, causing it to sag to one side under the weight of the jug. “Shall we get started? This shouldn't take long, I hope. After all, yer just a lil' girl. I don't expect you'll be takin' my position so easy!”

[Amagai Kuchiki]

OOC: Due to player inactivity, Katrina has forfeited the match, and her attempt at Captaincy is null. She may instead be made a Vice Captain of the same squad, Class 2, 1400 SP, no Bankai, and train for the rest if she wishes. Riaon will continue to be the Captain of Squad 9.


90 TP Raion, 50 TP Katrina