True Disparity

[Akio Naito]

Name: [True Disparity]

Participants: [Akio Naito and Aramis Tezuka]

Location: [Karakura's public park. On a particularly windy night, where the grass sways, and stray leaves break from the trees to dance over concrete pathways.]

Difficulty Level: [One-Sided]

Threat Level: [NDE]

Plotline Recap:[/u] [Akio, having quincified after a botched ritual, has been looking to reconnect himself to the massive reishi flows underneath Karakura. Meanwhile, Aramis has been searching for test subjects in the area. What could go wrong?]

[Akio Naito]

The park was always so crowded during daylight hours, but at night, it became cold, dark, and tranquil place. this was an open space where soft breezes swept fallen leaves along the ground in perfect near-silence. While lacking the warmth and radiance of the sun, it made a good place for solitary thought, not like the time he'd spent there in his younger days, when he'd have been out in the grass, in the light of the sun. But that wouldn't have suited why Akio was here tonight, walking along a concrete path through the grass. There was something he'd needed to think over for a while now. And besides, the roof of his apartment complex was freezing this time of night.

His eyes kept on drifting between the concrete walkway ahead of him, and his heavily bandaged hands. Those were a blatant reminder of his last attempt of doing something like he was planning. "Not asking for more than I already have." His words carried away by on the night breeze without an echo, a sort of manta he'd been repeating over the past few days, as if to remind himself to conform to the statement. His eyes moved back to the concrete path ahead of him, dragging his thoughts back to his current surroundings. The point he'd been looking for was close, enough that he used to be able to feel it from where he was now.

But that was then, and then was about a week ago. All he felt now was the cool moist breeze, all he heard was the sound of wind, the soft rustle of leaves and grass. His ability to sense reiatsu was in the same sorry state as his hands for now, scorched into numbness when he mishandled the Dragon Stream. Like trying to hold a bonfire in his bare hands, it burned deep into his body as a wound, his memory as trauma, and his soul as... Well, that wasn't worth going into yet. The old seal was melted, at least, he could be sure of that. He wouldn't be a full Quincy right now if it were still there.

He stopped walking, as if suddenly nailed to a particular patch of grass. It would be as good a spot as any for the test. Kneeling on the grass, he touched a gauze-wrapped hand down to the earth. A moment later, there was a flicker of Quincy reiatsu. But it there was any response from the Stream tonight, he couldn't feel it. A simple enough experiment, at least, if only because he couldn't get anywhere. The only thing left to do would be to get out of here before his spiritual pressure attracted anything unpleasant.

SPOILER: Click to show

Current/Max Reiatsu - [250/250]

Strength - [30] Points
Speed - [30] Points
Spiritual Pressure - [25] Points
Reiatsu Strength - [25] Points
Light Aura - [50] Points
Dark Aura - [50] Points
Instinct - [25] Points
Senses - [30] Points
Energy sensory - [0] Points
Healing Expertise - [0] Points

Total SP before type changes: [280]
Total SP after type changes: [165]

Abilities
[Calm Mind] {1}
[Focused Eye] {1}
[Crafting] {1}
[Memory] {1}
[Learning] {1}
[Weapon: Bow] {1}
[Imitation] {1}
[Stealth] {1}
[Appraisal] {1}
[Analyzing] {1}

[Aramis Tezuka]

Aramis breathed in the air of the human world deeply. He knew that on a conceptual level, Shinigami were not apt enough to truly appreciate the difference in reishi between the Human World and Soul Society. That a preference between the air of the two was all a placebo, and that, minus the fact that Human world air was significantly more polluted, that the experience was functionally the same. And yet somehow he still preferred it. These little irrationalities that made up behavior between human and Shinigami alike. The shadows of the park covered Aramis, and the Nakabakki blended near seamlessly into the shadows. They invited Aramis in. Not unreasonable given his origins.

Aramis waited in the shadows, in a human world gigai. He was lacking in Zanpakuto at present, although there was still that fundamental aspect of his soul that continued to exist even in this form. Just like his true body, his gigai had a metal shackle around his left wrist. Of course most would take this merely as a stylistic choice, but it couldn't be further from the truth. It masked Aramis's nature as a Nakabakki concealing both his form and reiatsu. But things were different now. Ever since his battle with Francis Grin, despite the Nakabakki's defeat, Aramis had felt much more at ease with his nature. Maybe it was the experiments he had been conducting? Of course, his goals had never changed, nor did the knowledge at the back of his mind that he, as a Nakabakki was a condemned soul, and that upon the day he was slain, he would follow his demonic nature right back to hell. Not a pleasant fate to know. Aramis sighed as he ran a hand through his green hair.

A black windbreaker jacket, baggy pants, and a black T-shirt underneath the jacket. Accompanied by the Nakabakki's standard glasses of course, Aramis looked like any other person really. The park lacked lights, leaving it extremely dark and difficult to see, but Aramis's sense were particularly acute and he could see in the night as if it were clear as day. So it was that he did not miss the other person he was sharing the park with. And finely honed and tuned abilities to sense reiatsu immediately identified that this individual, although completely nondescript and uninteresting, was clearly spiritually sensitive. It was a Quincy. "The wolf pup, out in the cold, should find its pack quickly, lest it be devoured." Aramis mused aloud as he crossed the path before Akio. "The wilds are not a forgiving place." Aramis observed the figure before him, hands in the pockets of his jacket. Studying. "Rare opportunity." He stated to Akio. "It's rare to encounter a Quincy that is so feeble." He continued, judging the Quincy's reaction.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Stats and Abilities}
Strength: 100 (60)
Speed: 400 (300)
Reiatsu Strength: 200
Spirit Pressure: 330
Light Aura: 10 (0 in Saisei Oni)
Dark Aura: 90 (100 in Saisei Oni)
Senses: 70 (210)
Instinct: 200 (600)
Energy Sensory: 100 (300)
Healing Expertise: 0
Total: 1400

Skills

• Martial Arts: Fencing—3

• Strength of Will—2

• Analysis—3

• Disguise—2

• Illusion Resist—1

• Lack of Fear—2

• Battle Analysis-3

Total: 16

[Akio Naito]

Standing back upright and brushing stray bits of grass from his jeans, Akio really hadn't noticed that anyone else was around, more focused on his confirmation that nothing happened a moment ago. There was a deep breath, and then a sigh, as he straightened out the orange button-down shirt he'd chosen for that afternoon, before knowing he'd end up dragging himself back to test something he knew wouldn't work. He kept walking, listening to the crunching of grass change into the soft thumps of concrete as he moved back onto the path, he lingered there a moment more, then began walking again. There was really only one reason he hadn't kept walking all that way out of the park right then, and that was the green-haired man in his way. Their speech hadn't won them any favors, mock-nature documentary that it was.

His immediate reaction was simple enough, simply avoiding eye contact and attempting to pass by the stranger at the same casual pace they'd had before seeing them. "Have a nice day." It was a forced response, of course, a blatant attempt to dodge the topic altogether. He didn't bother actually running, or confronting the claims, because he thought those would only escalate the problems that came with being noticed. It was also a habit beaten so deeply into the young man that it might as well be reflex, to avoid conflict in the most direct way available. Especially now that unpleasant things wouldn't just assume he wasn't aware of them, and show themselves to the nearest exit in an orderly fashion.

While it was impressive that they knew what he was, it was nothing for him to start an incident over. How could they even tell that? Even the shinigami he'd encountered before hadn't noticed... or maybe they did and they didn't care? The young man supposed it wasn't important how the stranger knew, it was just a fact he had to live with. And the same thing applied to being called feeble. Honestly, it was more comforting to him than anything else, because it meant not much had changed. He really wasn't any different, even after dragging that thing up to the surface. A bit burnt, sure. But he was fairly sure it would heal to a level slightly below where he started out.

Well, however they knew, the problem was elsewhere. Their disposition, strength, and motive, those were the facets he needed to stay focused on. Though he didn't have any information for that kind of inquiry, either. Hell, he couldn't even tell what they were. They weren't a Hollow, at least as far as he could see. And there was really no meaningful difference between the other options he could think of. Ordinary humans, mediums, quincy, fullbring-users, the practitioners of one of the spiritual arts, and even those like he used to be before the seal was placed, he couldn't tell them apart, except maybe if they were using an ability of some sort. The dead were different, they could be identified by their chains. And those with the title of Shinigami could be identified by their clothing. But even in cases like those, there wasn't much meaningful difference to him, either. And in the end, all of those were just people, so he could treat them all exactly the same. Nothing mattered as far as what someone was right now, only who they were.

And just like he didn't have a way to tell what they were, he couldn't tell how strong they were. He couldn't sense anything from them. All he could do was assume they were too strong to deal with by any methods. He'd seen what the big flashy stuff could be like, and knew better than to get involved with people like that. Which was exactly why he saw this situation as one best deflected by leisurely walking. He didn't have a reason to start a fight or a chase, and if he'd predicted either, he'd have done things differently this morning. No, that wasn't quite right, if he could predict events like these well enough to plan for them, he'd just avoid every encounter. It's more that he couldn't have prepared for something else and still gone about his night up to this point.

[Aramis Tezuka]

The Quincy appeared to intend to avoid a confrontation. A wise decision. He hadn't responded with hostility, or even curiosity. So it was probable that he understood what Aramis was. "A." Aramis said, as though issuing a grade. An appropriate response. A Shinigami with less well developed sensitivities than I would have simply walked by him without troubling him further. He noted. "I see you've developed good survival skills." The Nakabakki Captain observed. "A shame. It is a pity when well camouflaged prey is beset by a predator that does not require sight to out them." He commented, continuing with his metaphors. That was just a commonality of Aramis's personality. He'd not really been given a lot of chances to develop social skills growing up in a lab, and it had left his growth in that area somewhat stunted. He relied heavily on both his preternatural instincts, senses and energy sensory to pick up physical tells in an individuals attitude to guide him through conversation, rather than social tells as most did. He could detect the beat of a heart, and judge based on the rapidity of the heartbeats. Notice sweat forming on the skin. An abrupt stiffness in one's gait.

Akio was good at concealing these traits from Aramis. Though his heart had skipped a few beats at being identified, it was falling back into a controlled rhythm. He was doing well to try and keep himself from concern at being uncovered. The Nakabakki adjusted his glasses. "Unfortunately today, my home is still reeling by an attack and future ones are a concern. Will require tests and experimentation to prepare for future encounters. Apologies." He stated. Aramis did not have his trusted rapier on his person presently. But that hardly left him unarmed. "I hope, for your benefit that you are an antlion. Only a deceptive fragment protruding from the surface to lure in the unwary." He warned Akio. "If not, I might recommend an immediate surrender. I have little personal interest in the Quincy. And one as weak as yourself will provide fairly limited avenues for study. Some preliminary testing, and we will permit you to leave. Chance of fatality, is fairly low." He assured Akio. A soft clinking sound emanated from Aramis as he drew back his left arm, and the loops of a chain slipped into his hand. "Come quietly or not. It will make little difference." He warned.

[Akio Naito]

When someone only had one way to defend themselves, it became reflexive to them, even if it wouldn't work. Akio's only means of defense for the years he was impossible to sense had been to give no indication he could actually see or meaningfully interact with things "It is rather rude to refuse a farewell." He volunteered the words as advice, rather than any sort of reply. Really, he mishandles the soul of the land once, and everyone gets excited over less strength than he had last time, when he had motivation. He didn't care much for the running metaphor, either. He was nothing like an antlion, or any other predatory that would to set traps or subdue anything. "I cannot surrender, nor can I fight you".

Annoyed, frustrated? He wasn't entirely sure what the feeling was, but he really didn't have the time for a fight. "If the Quincy status offends you somehow, you can put the weapon away, I can be rid of it once my wounds heal." Honest enough statement, he could try, sure, just unrealistically hopeful, there was a certain amount of luck that accounted for surviving getting it in the first place. But anything was better than having combat become a routine happening, if he was going to have to do anything other than observe from a distance. "Almost exactly the same as the last ability I gave up, it offended the masked ones, and now there is no trace of it remaining in this world. A shame, that one had sentimental value." All he can do is wait for an actual attack to see if his argument holds up, but his nature as someone who detests battle was on display now.

[Aramis Tezuka]

Aramis's eyes narrowed slightly. Not in suspicion or anger. No. In contemplation and curiosity. Because Akio had just said something that intrigued Aramis. "Curious." He responded. "You propose to be "rid" of your Quincy status, once your wounds heal?" The Captain asked, confirming what he had heard. "Was aware the Vandenreich organization of Quincy possessed the ability to transform other races into them. Was unaware that it could be done inversely. Curious..." Aramis looked at Akio. "Well. Circumstances have changed." But despite his statement, Aramis did not take away the chains that were draping from his sleeve. "I still request your presence at Soul Society. However, I do not require you as a test subject. Instead, I will have you express your information, Quincy." Now Aramis began to approach Akio, his guard seemingly down. "Squad 12 will gladly assist in your recovery, or petition the services of the medical division." He suggested. "Your wounds can be healed in no time at all. I am curious to witness this phenomenon you speak of, if you are willing to forgo your Quincy abilities, meager as they may be." This, however, was not a request. Aramis wasn't politely asking. He was insisting. Akio was going to come with him, one way or the other. Akio had prompted a useful avenue of study, and Aramis was inclined to capitalize on it.

In fact, Akio may not have realized it, but the idea of species reversion was of particular interest to Aramis, who sought to escape the sins of his very existence as a Nakabakki. As such, the Vandenreich technique of transforming others into Quincies was a rare interest to Aramis. Of course, capturing a Vandenreich to demonstrate and study it.... that would prove difficult. So that Akio claimed to know of a method by which he could rid himself of being a Quincy? Very curious indeed. "You seem adverse to violence. That is well and good. Please cooperate with me, and I will make your stay painless and comfortable. While you are being interviewed, I can dispatch a contingent group of Shinigami to oversee and protect any individuals you consider close to you in the interim." Aramis was being fairly charitable. Afterall, he did acknowledge that it was far better to have a willing test subject than an involuntary one. Involuntary test subjects tended to have to be strapped down or they went and broke things, and generally uncooperative, making everything much harder. Sigh. How annoying. So Aramis hoped that this Quincy would see reason, and that he could not escape him. "This is a standing offer. But you will be coming with me. A few tests, and then we will return you in no more than a week. I assure you, I will make your testing my foremost priority, so that you can move on with your life." He added, now gripping the chain in one hand. "If you continue to refuse, it will go poorly for you, I'm afraid. I am offering you a chance to negotiate your cooperation."

[Akio Naito]

"Vandenreich? That group is fictional." Akio's ability to say that point blank, and with completely sincerity, was a perfect example of his information being outdated at best. "I also reject any notion that my current 'title' is a 'race'. The soul of the planet forced it onto me. I also burned my arms black" He held up a bandaged hand, as if to confirm the statement, taking another step forward to keep his distance, while he mentally counted the steps until he could expect witnesses, and leverage their presence in his favor. "Using the Onmyo methods I read about, I plan to give it back, at the expected cost of leaving my arms burned a second time. The dragon streams are too inconvenient to use freely."

He lowered his arm, straightening the cuff of his sleeve, as he turned his head to do so, he tried to account for the length and construction of the chain Aramis was using. Not quite what he was expecting one of the dead to use, preference for bladed weapon. "If I can do this much, then I believe anyone else should be capable of the same, given enough time and effort. If an unwanted ability uses an object as a medium, disassemble it, if your body contains too much spiritual power, you can endeavor to use it all up, or wear killing-stone jewelry to cancel it out as it generates, if none of that helps, you can always try completely shutting down your body's ability to generate new spiritual energy entirely." That should have been the first hint that Akio's methods of self-modification were both highly personal, and likely somewhat self-destructive. If effective. "That has been scorched into my body. I no longer feel spiritual presences, at all. Similarly, despite what those from the realm of the dead choose to call me, I lack the bow normally associated with the the power I was forced to hold onto."

He'd smiled, hearing the evaluation of himself Aramis gave, he was adverse to violence, and what he saw of their behavior. "Were a week not too long an absence for me. We could both help each other some small bit." Negotiations were much easier to him than any form of combat. He was trying to keep them going for as long as he could. "I can offer a day or two, and no more than that. My work would find cause for concern if I stayed missing that long. Negotiations imply I would actually get something in return, I have nobody to protect, and my arms will not stay healed for long. A better offer is needed."

[Aramis Tezuka]

Aramis's eyes narrowed. "F. Your knowledge is clearly inadequate. The Vandenreich is very active and alive in the modern era, despite efforts to stamp them out. Elusive. Direct attacks are untenable." He noted, then moved to respond to his follow-up, noting that his current title is a race. "Ah yes. Inclination towards individuality. I had almost forgotten. If you have a preferred name, very well. Otherwise, there is little interest for me to refer to you otherwise. So long as you understand it is you being referred to." He stated. "No other Quincy are present in any case." The Quincy then began explaining how his ability was possible. Aramis's eyes kept focused on him, as he listened. "Onmyo methods. Curious." He noted. "I will look forward to learning more in the future." Dragon streams too... that was a phrase he was unfamiliar with. He was actually coming to be intrigued by this Quincy, which was far from what he had expected. Quincy had originally held limited interest to Aramis, but if this one could alter his race.... That was something he was genuinely intrigued by.

As far as Akio's analysis of Aramis's arm, it would be difficult. It seemed Aramis was wearing a deliberately long sleeve on that arm, so long in fact, that his hand was mostly covered. Only about two feet of chain dangling below, so it was almost impossible to tell how much more lay behind it. Of course even if he could see higher it wouldn't do him a ton of good, as the chain would have appeared to disappear into Aramis's very arm, even if Akio possessed X-ray vision. The curse of the Nakabakki.... The Sinner's chain. The chain itself seemed black and red with rust. Ancient, and old, but somehow menacing. It seemed like the chain gave off an aura of maliciousness, which sharply contrasted Aramis's high light aura. "...B-. I am inclined to agree with your conclusions, though that is of little value if I do not know how you achieved it. Mere exhaustion of spiritual power is rarely sufficient to alter spiritual cohesion, with exception of a handful of forbidden techniques." He noted. Techniques that are beyond me in any case.... He added as a mental addition to that statement. "Suspect. Your inability to generate a bow is tied to your low levels of reiatsu. With time, you could build them up. Soul Society can assist you." He told him.

Aramis's eyes narrowed at his opponent's form of negotiation. "A day or two? What is it here that is so important? What work do you refer to? Human World business? It can be dealt with. As for something in return, my research could benefit the generation of your powers, so that you may control them. Will add note to your file that you are to be left alone, provided you do not disrupt the balance of souls." He added, providing his aspect of the deal. Aramis hadn't closed the distance, but he still had the chain at the ready. Was he going to try and capture Akio if he refused? Fleeing would probably be unwise.

[Akio Naito]

"What I do here is sell things, mostly preserved invisible butterflies and bottles of sand, which is dictated by a schedule that was not created with my absence in mind. Two days is plenty, three would require waiting for a weekend." Akio made a mental note that as it turns out, apparently there really was a group devoted to something that could never exist, even in a world where lesser gods routinely fought by telling people the names of their swords, and reciting poetry at each other. But he really lacked any motivation to keep that subject from fading away, better to focus on the higher notes for as long as he could. "I only know the most basic things about the spiritual world, the flow of energy through the land, the density of spiritual grain in the air, reaching towards soul of the planet, and the direction of flows and cycles, were focused on. Advanced theories like reincarnation, the creation of new souls, and the weapons of the asura, were not." A certain amount of what he considered 'base knowledge', would be obscure research in the seireitei, though the reverse was equally true.

Having an open negotiation meant that there was no opponent for him, and that meant he still had time to try and avoid conflict. "I achieved results twice, and the means I used were simple. The first time, I had an ability that was mine, so I selfishly clung to it, even though that meant I would have to fight." He began to explain his past, if only the part relevant to his connections to Karakura's spiritual properties. "But during one of the fights, my weapon touched one of the masked spirits. Because of that, I lost every bit of ability I had, forever." He leaned back and spun himself backwards on a single heel, nearly falling over before he righted himself. "When I recovered, I could still see the abilities used by others, but I could no longer see beings without physical forms as anything but a distortion or haze in my field of vision, hearing them was somewhat easier. For many years, I trained to ignore those distortions when not selling things to them." And leaning into the toe of his other foot, he completes the clumsy circle. "A short time ago, I used the Dragon Stream to give up my sixth sense, so that I could stop feeling the pressure strong souls give off. And recently, while working to lower my strength and energy to the lowest possible, so I would not be sensed by others, I carelessly mishandled that same energy. It scorched my arms black, and left me with the power I have now, call that a punishment if you want."

A deep breath, a sudden clack of the young man's teeth being forced together. "I do not consider building up or control something I intend to give away to be worthwhile." He had to keep a close eye on Aramis, when approaching the next topic, since being restrained by their chain would be an instant loss on his part. "That chain you have under your sleeve is worn, rusted, not in good order." Old, not cared for, as he saw it, the chain was an odd choice of weapon, but still an effective one in his eyes. He just couldn't imagine Aramis doing any upkeep for it. "Assuming you were going to lose it forever in a month or so, would you go to the trouble of making sure to repair and polish it until that time came?" A leading question, meant to share his point of view. "I feel compelled to take apart every ability I get, to leave the pieces behind in search of the true thing, without substance, which must be in there somewhere, and always return to the state I started in. The world shaping  techniques I have learned do not give that sensation, but anything invested into my own being is uncomfortable." He hoped that haf made it clear enough he didn't take payment in training.

[Aramis Tezuka]

Aramis gave a tremendous sigh. "....F. A failing grade. You mean to say that you have established a schedule that does not account for illness or injury? As a Quincy, who will inherently draw the eye of countless Hollows, you must realize how foolish that is." Aramis stated coldly. As far as he was concerned, even he had contingency plans for if he was too injured to work on his projects. "Your excursion to Soul Society, need not be one of harm. We can provide learning opportunities for you as well. If the spiritual world is an enigma to you, I do not mind rewarding you with knowledge for knowledge." He stated. "But.... this is your last chance to come quietly, and take advantage of my offer. Continued refusal may result in the loss of the agreements I have thus previously mentioned." As if to punctuate his words, Aramis's chains rattled. It was a terrible thing to be powerless. If Akio had possessed greater ability, he may have been able to dissuade Aramis from capturing him. A quick exchange of blows to gather information and then a prompt retreat. It was therefore incredibly unfortunate that he was not. That his power was utterly dwarfed by Aramis, his sole saving grace that Aramis was not interested in killing him. At least not yet. But there was no leverage, besides Aramis's own generosity. A well of which was not particularly deep and already nearly dry. "Your compromise is refuted." Aramis stated, with a tone of finality, but still yet allowed Akio to make his case against him.

The Quincy mentioned he used an ability to purge his abilities the first time, and Aramis focused. It is not unheard of for the Vandenreich to adjust the species of a given race. Their very spiritual makeup. A unique ability was not impossible. But unfortunately, that just increased Aramis's desire to study it, and see if it really couldn't be replicated. His continued story about fighting a masked spirit-- "Humanoid or bestial? Was it a Hollow you fought, or an arrancar?" Aramis inquired briefly. "It's true that Hollows cause damage to Quincy-kind on contact and absorption. However, such things can be made temporary. I have little doubt I would be able to restore your abilities, given time." He stated calmly and with conviction. "And this... Dragon stream." Aramis stated. "What is it?" He asked. "The name of your ability? Or the ability of another?" He asked. It seemed to have been what had injured him, and empowered him? "As I have stated, I would very much enjoy a chance to study it if that were the case. " The Quincy implored that he wished to give his abilities up. But now he tried to shift topics to Aramis, attacking his chain, verbally.

To this, Aramis cracked a wry smirk, and adjusted his glasses with his free hand. "I'm afraid so. But I assure you its appearance has no bearing on its effectiveness." He warned. As far as the rhetorical question, Aramis made a raspy laugh. A sound that even surprised him. Aramis.... had almost never laughed in his life, and it came out, low and cold. Aramis actually paused a moment, a look of astonishment on his face, as he contemplated the fact that he had just laughed. Then quickly returned to business as usual. "Ahem. I assure you, were I to lose this chain forever, I would rejoice." He stated. "And yet I would not cease ensuring I was as capable with it as possible until that last moment." He returned. "There is no reason not to use every advantage I have available to me." This man... he was speaking of taking apart his abilities. "....You would do well in my Division." Aramis noted. "I would have use for someone like you. A pity that our paths must diverge here. I'm afraid, that educational as this discussion has been.... it is now concluded. I doubt I will defeat you instantly. You have until the end of our battle to decide." He stated. Aramis's tone was cold. His arm flicked out now, letting the chain trail through his hand as the weighted end flew out, hurtling at Akio in a wide arcing loop, designed to catch the Quincy around the arm or torso, and allow the weightened end to wrap the chain around him and bind him. The length of the chain that had suddenly sprang out was astonishing. But playtime was over. Now Aramis was ready to take his project in.

[Akio Naito]

He had stopped speaking completely by that point, waiting for Aramis to make their whole argument, and flinched back as the shinigami rattled their chain. "I wasn't one, when I made my plans at the start of this month." That was all he had, to defended his position without being fully honest about his intentions. "The masked ones and I have always ignored each other. It was the best when I had my first ability, and couldn't see them." He didn't have time to continue that line of dialog, however, which was probably for his own good. He moved into a hurried, incomplete response to the points he could still argue.

He paused, and looked down at the ground. "In the beginning, I could see the servants used by immortals, and the weapons of living ability users, but not your kind, or the masked ones, souls without something physical to ground them were blurry, the more pressure they had to them, the less clearly I saw them. I met someone, who could see even more than I could." He'd made a lot of progress in fighting the occasional Fulbringer or Bount, back then. "Bumping into a masked horse made me lose the ability I had."  He said flatly when prompted to clarify his past experience with hollows. "Since then, I always try to avoid keeping anything else."

Once he became aware of the captain's attack, he dropped to his knees, not even keeping his eyes on the chain that flew towards him. He placed his palm to the concrete, reiatsu pouring into the earth from his scorched palm, sinking deeper. "Earthly serpent, flow-to-the-mountain-peak!" He rushed, smashing two-thirds of the words together into a breathless mess. He pulled his palm off the ground, and reishi began to gather in the earth, a pointed stone spire growing from the park's grass. He hadn't aimed at Aramis, because he knew his casting of Hashira was barely an attack, only a half-meter high, and not nearly as forceful as anything an opponent could use.

He'd positioned his spell ahead of himself, and off to the side, in the way of the chain's arc, meaning there were three possibilities at that point, depending on just how much speed Aramis had put into that attack. If Akio had been fast enough, the chain would hit the pillar created by Hashira, on its way to him, and if he hasn't, then it would already be past the pillar, and in a moment, go about the process of coiling around his neck, instead. "Correction, you already won." He'd say, or perhaps choke past a chain.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Status}
220/250 Reiatsu Remaining.

One of the only two techniques Akio knows, Hashira has a force of twelve, and he expended Thirty Reiatsu on the Class Seven technique.

[Aramis Tezuka]

Akio was quite right that it was obviously easiest to avoid Hollows when one didn't have the spiritual presence to see them. Even if one is standing at a buffet, one typically only pursues the most delectable foods after all. He spoke in colloquial or jargon, and Aramis had to think for a moment to actually consider who he was referring to. Immortals? Hmm. Bount perhaps? Living Ability Users.... probably Fullbringers. But still he insisted that he had no abilities. "I could arrange that, if you like." Aramis stated. "Given time and research I could possibly leech away your spiritual presence until you became like everyone else, and monitor you to ensure your powers never resurge again, if you did desire to be cut off from this world." Well. If Akio was cooperative and no complications arose anyways. Aramis doubted he could expend the resources to do that indefinitely without quarantining him. "It's unfortunate for you, that your ability to lose your traits and powers are precisely what I've been looking for in my research." He added. "So please do not take this personally. But it is vital that I have a chance to study you."

As Aramis cast out his chain, Akio countered by manipulating the earth to create a stone block. An interesting ability... Although Aramis had cast his chain fairly quickly, it was not beyond Akio's ability to react to, and the chain struck the stone spire and shattered it into splinters. It could have indeed passed through regardless, but Aramis allowed the chain to swiftly rebound. With a flick of his wrist, Aramis recovered the chain the linked weapon flying back to loop around his wrist, ready for use again. "The opposing board has but a King and a pawn, against two Rooks and a bishop." Aramis replied in agreement. "But only a B grade. An apt assessment of the situation, but you continue to resist." But in truth, for one of the rarest occasions in his life, Aramis found himself lying about a grade. Akio's resistance may very well save him indeed, if he could put up a sufficient performance for Aramis to have gleaned satisfactory data.

Aramis followed up his chain strike by flinging the chain out like a projectile, hurling the heavy end at Akio's solarplexis to wind the Quincy, as the Nakabakki pursued his strike right behind. Aramis raised his right arm as if about to strike with it, but then suddenly, instead struck with the tips of his fingers against Akio's side. There was something wrong about that. Something Akio would swiftly notice, as Aramis's fingers, should they succeed in striking him, not impact him as one might expect some martial arts nerve strike to do. No, instead the finger tips tore. A bloody streak as if Aramis had knives on each of his fingers would cut across Akio's side. Aramis was keeping the wounds shallow so that he did not kill Akio, but the type of injury could be quite jarring. Aramis then allowed his momentum to carry him past his opponent, before whirling around, letting his chain sweep out low to catch Akio's legs. "As you can perhaps see." The Captain began. "I... am something of a freak."

[Akio Naito]

He had already spoken too much. Akio knew that, of course, but was compelled to argue anyway. "I am obligated to, until we have come to terms." His fighting was the exact same way, and both were the metaphorical equivalent of a snake's severed head continuing to bite. "As I said, the masked one won against me before, and took what they wanted." He said while in the process of sliding on his knees to shift himself to one side, seeking to put himself behind the beheaded pillar, and accepted it as a fact that the second strike was going to hit. It was easy to tell that Aramis was holding back at that point, just not by how much.

Regardless of just how much was being held back at the moment, the movement would only be enough to let the chain be off-center, instead slamming into his ribs and seemingly cracking them. He wasn't in much of a shape to judge his own injuries. Still adrift on the first wave of pain, he couldn't mount any defense against the second one, allowing Aramis to gouge as they would wish with their fingers... Claws? His vision blurred, not bothering to see what the next attack coming at him would be. "Earthly-serpent-flow-to-the-mountain-peak." The exact same rushed incantation, but this time, he was already on his hands and knees, able to cast as fast as he could preform the needed somatic actions. His best odds to evade were...

Another surge of reishi built up underground. Environmental, not bearing any unique reiatsu signature. "What you are offering-" A pained breath cut him off as the distinctive pillar of hashira burst from the ground again. This time beneath Akio himself, in an attempt to shove himself out of the way of any attack. He couldn't even see the chain coming for him, and couldn't react even if he did, entirely committed to attacking himself with as much force as possible. There was another chance he would be caught before finishing a sentence, making it a potential pattern. "Is not the same as what I wait for." He couldn't have said anything about his opponent's status as a 'Freak'. If anything, he had admitted to being abnormal already. "Nor the same as where I began." 'Normal' did not include people who had more reiryoku than beings they couldn't even perceive.

{Status}190/250 Reiatsu Remaining.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Spoiler}{Spoiler}Same as the last one.

[Aramis Tezuka]

Aramis actually frowned at Akio's bleak assessment. The masked one won against you and took what they wanted. "I offer my condolences." He stated. Aramis was a scientist. Someone who approached his subjects with clinical detachment. But he couldn't help feel a bit like a bully right now, kicking someone while they were down. His chain strike was mitigated but still struck the opponent, like a pitch from a baseball player, slamming into Akio, and allowing Aramis to complete his claw strike. Not that Akio would realize what it was. Normally, after Aramis pulled this trick off, it would lead to confusion from his adversary. After all, his hand looked human enough. Often times he'd see confusion or looks of deep thought cross his opponent's face, as they tried to figure out if he was using some strange martial technique or hidden weapon. If it came down to it, a hidden weapon was closer to the truth. Aramis's arm only looked human by the grace of his "father", Bokuga Sayuri, who used the advanced technology of Squad 12 to mask the man's demonic heritage. And for that, Aramis would be eternally grateful. It let him live among others without fear of reprisal. He knew if his secret ever became common knowledge, he would be doomed. Executed without trial. But thus far, he had kept his father's secret well.

But Akio seemed entirely intent on making his next move, rather than discern what Aramis had done and the Captain seemed to ponder this for a moment. Was that clever, or foolish, he wondered, as Akio attacked. "Undecided..." He deemed to no one in particular. With that said, his dropping down actually served to heavily mitigate Aramis's low swipe. From his lowered position, Aramis could not take him off balance, and knock him to the ground and he had not struck at an angle that he could adjust to bind Akio despite his defense. Not that it mattered, as, in the next moment, Akio was launched above the chain by the ground, the attack wrapping around and then recoiling again as before, as Aramis retracted the attack. "A rank response to my attack." He stated. As far as Akio's response, Aramis ultimately passed on grading it. Battle had moved on, and he was already moving on. Aramis already had begun creating a battle map in his mind. A chess game, trying to anticipate Akio's moves and prepare the appropriate counterplay. Akio was speaking again though, and told Aramis that he did not have what he was looking for.

"Ah." He replied quietly. "I see." A pause. "Very well then." He replied, and began to swing his chain in a circle to build up centrifugal force. "I notice you have not tried to counter-attack or flee." He noted. "Very unusual, if you do not wish to be captured. I would ask you purpose in this strategy." He stated, before throwing the chain in a high strike to try and knock Akio off his perch. Aramis was braced for movement. Akio's dodges and evasions had been slightly off in this exchange, and Aramis didn't expect this attack to be fully evaded either. But in the event he did, Aramis would rush in and attempt to land a palm strike on Akio if he landed in the front of his stone column to slam him back into it, and pin him. Aramis acknowledged he probably could have defeated his opponent outright. But that wasn't his way. Some might call it sadistic, but Aramis considered himself cautious. Rushing in to finish the job halfway could sometimes be worse than simply drawing out the battle. If you wore your opponent down until they could no longer fight, it was still a victory. This was Aramis's way of fighting. The slow grind, wearing his opponent down until victory was assured.