Ashen Sky [Joint Training]

[Akio Naito]

[Training for 10 TTP, then for SP]

Five days, maybe a bit more? That was about how long ago it was. Like trying to hold a lightning bolt, grasping a bonfire, to seize a formless serpent of the deep, to touch a vein of the earth itself. Five seconds, maybe a bit less? That was about how long it had lasted. After that, consequences started gushing out with no end in sight, burning 'heat' without any definite form burst out of the fragment, scorching his body, his mind. His soul fared a bit better, if only because the seal that had spent the better part of several years keeping him from taking in any kind of spiritual power took the brunt of the flare. The end result was that he traded out one set of problems for another.

The problems were a simple reversal of Akio's situation from what he'd been used to. The first problem, as he wandered the shopping district after work, was that he could no longer sense reiatsu with any worthwhile clarity. He had become antiquated with having damaged senses on late, sure. His burnt, bandaged hands were numb enough not to register the light, misty drizzle going on that night, but he would have had that before if he were wearing thick gloves. A lack of sense for how thick the reishi in the air was that night, however, was actually a bit frustrating, since he was used to having one that worked fine no matter how he was dressed. For all he knew, he was drowsing in the stuff, but it couldn't matter to him anymore if he wasn't able to feel it.

He rounded a corner, making a mental note he was now two-thirds of his way to the nearest Takoyaki stand open this late. The second problem, was the more understandable one, and the one that was about to get worse. Because where he had lost his own ability to sense reiatsu those few nights back, spirits could now perceive his where they couldn't before. The reason for said problem was about to get worse is that he was staring ever so slightly to the left of a hollow, blocking what had been an idea path for late night junk food. More importantly, it was looking at him, not letting its gaze slide off the way he did for it.

Not a particularly large hollow, the bestial spirit resembled nothing so much as a salamander, roughly two meters long from the oddly cubical skull of its mask, to the dark red body splotched at random with an equally deep purple, a perfectly round hole that marked the halfway point down the body, all the way to a square and paper flat tailtip. The noise it made when it spotted the quincy, however, was not something one would hear from a human or reptile, but a sort of high-pitched shriek that let everyone nearby with spiritual perceptions know what was going on before the creature made a run for its intended prey.

Akio stood his ground. Based on the speed the reptilian hollow was moving at, it wasn't something he could run away from. That left him with very few alternatives as of late, he didn't carry a bow with him, his strength wasn't anything noteworthy, and the techniques from the old books... He hadn't tried those in a situation like this before, but he felt they were the best shot he had. Dropping to a crouching position, the young man closed his eyes set his palm on the asphalt street, and began reciting the thankfully short incantation, he had to get this right. "Earthly serpent, flow to the mountain peak." Reiatsu seeps from his arm into the ground, sinking deep into the earth, this was going to be his only chance at it. "First Fuusuishi Art!"

The lizard had crossed half the distance already, by the time the the self-styled geomancer's arm pulled upwards, dragging back a thing string of reishi that quickly dissolved into the night air. "Hashira!" It had crossed half again before the spell took effect, a surge of water bursting up from the street and striking the hollow's underside, and knocking on its back. The unorthodox quincy used that opportunity as a chance to stand back up, taking an extra step back to ready himself for whatever happened next. The panicked trashing of the hollow was just short of reaching him, and it wouldn't take long to right itself.

[Connor Greaves]

Ooc: Half ctp, half sp

How cursed are these lands, that the dead find more pleasure in them than the living? This city, Karakura was the painfully familiar name of these streets, was to be a short demonstration for several lower ranking Soul Reapers, not to give us a feel of the world outside the Soul Society, but to reveal to us the dangers of these parts. So enriched with spiritual energy this place was, I could almost feel my teeth itch, like a child who has indulged in one too many sweet treats, and I was one of the ones who lacked the ability to sense energy. It was a scary thought.

A more senior member of the Gotei thirteen had brought us here, and promptly left us alone to wander. I had heard rumors of this place, and the dangers of being tasked to it. I had only thought it to be a slightly harder city to guard, that the talk of this place merely tall tale, but simply by walking among the people, I could now believe every hushed story focused here. It was unnerving, and more than a tad intimidating. The air was so charged with energy, I could walk on it with ease. I had to wonder how any land, living or dead, could have so much.

It was little wonder how those long forgotten would flock to this place. Like moths to the flame, they swarmed to Karakura, and in doing so, only made the power in the air all the more potent. I sighed to myself, as I walked over the low reaching buildings of the shopping district. I did not wish to look down of the people below me, but I had to do something to alleviate the pressure of merely existing here. I envied those who still lived, for more than one reason admittedly. They could not understand the rush this place give off, energizing me more than I could ever want or need.

As shamed as I am to admit, I needed something to do, anything really. Underneath my mask, I could feel my jaw tense. I hated this feeling. I was wishing for something to happen, despite knowing full well that it would mean the suffering of another. The only thing I should be doing in defending them, those who have yet to die. Sadly, it seems my ill conceived wish was to be granted, because not a moment after I thought it, the shrill screech of a hollow cut through the air, like a crack of thunder. I jumped at the sound of it, having heard hollow only a handful of times before.

It was close, unbelievably so, only reinforcing my desire to learn how to sense energy. I rushed towards the sound, intent on reaching the beast before it can cause any damage. I wanted to draw my blade right then and there, to have it out before I reached it, but I did not. Running with my claymore would just slow me down, and no matter how I much I might have feared the danger, I would not risk the lives of those I swore to safeguard. Upon reaching the lost soul, I found it to be in combat with another already, already proving my fear to have been true.

A human was fighting off the beastial soul. He spoke words I could hear, but not make out. He raised his arm, and a torrent of water struck the belly of the beast. With one more, the human was already showing more aptitude with Kido then I ever did in the Academy. I felt no shame for my poor displays in the so called art, nor did I envy him for the potential he had. What I felt was gratitude, for knocking the amphibious hollow off kilter, giving me an opening. I leapt down towards the ghost, drawing my blade as I fell towards it, before swinging my weapon at the neck of the spirit.

[Akio Naito]

It had been pretty clear to Akio that he hadn't managed to pierce the hollow's hide, but the fact that he'd thrown it off balance at all was a good sign. The thrashing beast was unharmed, but anything he could hit hard enough to knock over with that low-powered Fuusuishi could probably be dealt with if he tried hard enough. But the problem was that he wasn't actually confident that was the case. Actually fighting a spirit, to lay his hands on it and hope the layered bandages protected him from getting burned like with the other ones he touched, that was too much for him as he was now. Still, he took a step forward.

The vile salamander was difficult to approach from the ground, even after being knocked off balance, it was just too much of a risk for its living opponent to will themselves towards it. The wailing creature's tail swung forcefully enough to visibly shove wisps of fog aside, with similar efforts from the legs and neck of the nearly-flat spirit as it flailed towards rolling itself back upright. That tail was an obstacle the young man couldn't avoid as he was, with his actions weighed down by unnecessary thoughts. So he the most he could do was wait for an opening...

Or at least until he noticed a shinigami had arrived, an unusually tall, one if he were to compare their height to others he'd seen before. His wounded reiatsu sense had concealed them from him, up until the moment they actually attacked the twisting hollow, already in the process of antiquating the massive sword in their hands with the throat of the struggling beast below by the time he could take in any detail. He didn't know anything about swordsmanship, but it seemed good enough, a single strike aimed for a vital spot. It connected with the hollow's neck, and kept going.

The lone hollow had actually been comparatively lucky, in that sudden assassination. This way, the souls that made up its accursed form were purified, the beast giving off a faint glow of pale blue reiatsu while dissolving into flecks of light in the misty atmosphere. If the two had arrived in the reversed order, results may have been different, the risk of a soul unwoven so completely only the most basic particles that made it up would still exist. Though the quincy himself had yet to understand that risk yet, and the beast was of no state of mind to understand anything but hunger and spite. It was all over in a moment.

Was that it? Witnessing the reptilian soul's final wail cut off by a neck-severing blade, and the line of off-purple blood it splattered onto the nearby storefronts, the self-thought quincy stood in awe of just how simple the slaying of the beast seemed. The tail was slowing, the legs no longer kicking the air. As far as he could tell, it was over, and Akio only had one way to respond. "Thank you." He spoke to the of the black-clad ghost as plainly as anyone else. He hadn't cared much for the dead recently, but simple gratitude was still the same, for anyone or anything that would rescue him like that.

He let his gaze linger slightly to the side of Connor, and above the still slowly dissolving hollow. The young man's posture remained the same as when he was actually prepared to fight, giving away just how wary he was of his sudden rescuer. Would he have to fight them, and if so, then would he be actually able to? He didn't know enough specifics about shinigami to anticipate anything. "I hadn't been expecting help." The easiest option, to Akio at least, was always conversation. If they didn't mean him any harm, there was no reason to worry, and if they did mean some, then he might as well learn a bit before making a run for it.

[Connor Greaves]

As my blade finished the hollow off, I glanced towards the young man that had even given me the opening I needed to save the monster from itself. The hollows were creatures to be pitied, trapped in bodies they could not control, while they suffered through a thoughtless existence, using only their instinct to survive. They were an issue that needed a proactive approach, not a reactive one. If it were not for this man, the damages would have been worse. I sheathed my blade, as I turned to face him. I would not be fighting this man, and I doubted he would attack me.

The man looked to be around my age, just outside of the teenage years. He looked nervous, but given what had just happened, it was to be expected. I do not like to judge others, but the young man looked... fairly average. From his short hair that looked unbrushed, to bored, yet relieved expression on his face. He was not yet tired of life yet. Good. He thanked me for saving him. What a foreign concept for me. I was unused to such things, but that comes with the territory of being invisible, and being essentially the Grim Reaper.

The young man had not expected help. That hurt my heart. He was yet another who had lost faith in the Soul Reapers, much like myself. The, ugh, Shinigami, were meant to be the guardians for the living, defending those who needed it from the Hollows, and saving the Hollows from an existence of emptiness. While my mask covered my face, I could feel it twist into a determined glare. I would restore the faith of this man, to show him that not all of us who took up these blades are worthless. That not all of us sit in that guarded city of the dead, lying around in a drunken stupor.

"It wounds me to hear you say that." I said in a dulled monotone. I cringed a bit at how disinterested I sounded, reminding myself to practice my people skills later. Maybe. "Those who bear the title Shigami should be doing all they can to defend the living. You should not have had to suffer an attack like this. I beg for your forgiveness." I said to him, bowing slightly at the hip, before standing tall again. I glanced at his hands, reminding myself of the differences between the two of us. I was a swordsman, he was a magic user. My craft has yet to take its toll on me. His already has.

Or, that is what I assume anyway. Wrapped in bandages, his hands were completely covered, letting my mind wander at what happened to them. I had seen the result of those who lose their concentration when casting Kido, and the results were almost always explosive. I wonder, could I perhaps help him with that? "If there is any way I could make it up to you, maybe with some training, I would be glad to do so." Despite my tone sounding as joyful as a dead fish, I would indeed help him. Whether he wanted it or not. Because I was dedicated to this now.

[Akio Naito]

He returned the bow, maybe a bit deeper. "You're more than forgiven." It was strange, hearing one of the Shinigami speak so plainly, so politely. From what Akio had been reading, they were fierce, warrior spirits, something like asura in their role. They were destroyers, the reapers of souls, the slayers of demons and beasts, guardian gods best not angered. Not something he envisioned exchanging pleasantries with. The concept of 'Shinigami' being a title was entirely new to him, as well. Did that mean that someone, or something granted such titles, possibly even divinity? He disliked the idea that such a being exists, and returned his focus to the moment at hand.

He took in more of the reaper's appearance, relaxing his guard as he did. The most notable trait was their size, and what seemed to be a total lack of exposed skin. While the black, archaic clothing was just about identical to what he'd seen other spirits of that variety clad in, there was clearly something extra underneath, he wasn't able to make out what. The boots were the most obvious break from the Tokugawa-esque style the others had. It was also the first time he'd seen one of them wear a mask, really the first time he'd seen any spirit in a mask, other than the bestial ones that were never seen without them.

But as strange as the whole situation seemed to him, the offer of training was even stranger. "As for the training?" He had to exert some effort not to laugh at the idea, keep his face as flat and non-offensive as possible around his new savior. "I'll admit I could stand a bit." Much more than a bit, would have been a more honest assessment. It was his full, post-dragon stream incident power on display when he flipped that Hollow over, and even then, he'd been lucky to get as much of an effect out of his spell as he did. He was going to need more if nights like this were going to become any more common. "What would I have to do?"

The scorched Quincy couldn't really predict what that training could have been, was going to be now. Swordsmanship seemed to be a favored art among the Shinigami, in his experience watching them fight, but there were also feats of speed, hand to hand combat, and even spellcasters mixed in with their number. Swordsmanship was not his own favored art, however, that had been archery until his hands were left in no shape to handle a bow. After the incident, he'd been making up for the years of living with the seal in place by using Fuusuishi on the rare occasions it would be useful. Both of those had something in common, the distance it allowed him to keep from his targets, away from the harsh reality of hand to hand combat and swords. Maybe it wouldn't be any of the things he'd been thinking it could be. Well, whatever form of training, it would still be a learning experience if nothing else. That was a good enough reason to have accepted.

[Connor Greaves]

I was relieved that he held no ill will towards those in the seireitei. I myself had a fair amount of distan for my fellow reapers. The people I knew were relatively uncaring towards their duties, rarely stepping foot outside the fortress of a city. It was shameful. If they actually tried, this world could extremely well guarded. Hollow attacks could disappear entirely! That was my end goal, and I refused to ever forget it, because I would never stop walking towards it. But for now, I would try to help someone now. I nodded to the young man, a weird thing to say since he looked my age, and with a nod of my head, motioned for him to follow.

"I saw an empty park about a mile in that direction. We could go there if you are still able." I told him, my tone still even. "Although, if you are still a bit shaken, we could simply use one of the rooftops in the area, but that may cause you problems, since you are visible to other humans." I offered him a second option, but I made it sound less appealing. I prefered to use a large area if we were to practice magic. It was not my strong suite, but I could adapt, especially if he simply needed a moving target for aiming practice.

I was trying not to seem eager, but this was my first real interacting with a human since my death. I knew that the souls in the rukongai were basically the same as humans, but they were so very different. Those there were experienced, jaded, and deceptive. Any soul there could be hundreds of years old, and I still in my early twenties. I had nothing in common with them. This was someone that... well, was on an even level as myself. And I still had no idea what his name was. How embarrassing, not introducing myself yet. I was sure my face was flushed from such an obvious thing to overlook.

"Oh. And my name is Connor Greaves. May I ask your name as well?" My speech was still stiff, but so be it. I was a lazy kind of guy. Some might say otherwise, but I am the kind of person that makes sure their point is made and understood the first time. I was no fan of making more work for myself by repeating something many times. To whichever area he chose, I would try to converse with him, more than willing to answer almost any question he may have. My respect for the soul society was nearly nonexistent, so I would not mind ignoring rules I might break. "So, do you have any questions about Soul Reapers? I do not mind sating your curiosity."

[Akio Naito]

He had no problem following Conner for a while. Though he did  find it odd that they thought they were the one who owed him, after what happened. "Parks are better than the alternative." He explained. "Rooftops don't get along with what I'm capable of, better to stick to wide open places on ground level." Akio was at least aware of his many, many limits. One of them was that his techniques wouldn't work properly if he couldn't reach to the deep places under the surface. The last thing he needed was to make the distance to that source of energy even greater than it already was.

The heavy atmosphere made the walk slightly slower, the concrete paths of Karakura slightly moist, but he didn't mind at all. It was better than the alternative, that was certain. And he couldn't really tell how the shinigami felt about it. As far as he could tell, that was the intended purpose of the extra clothing beyond their uniform, concealment. Trying to conceal one's appearance was usually a bad sign, but he'd learned it could be innocent enough with his own injury. He wasn't willing to pry deeper about that.

"Akio Naito." The most lively thing he's said all night, speaking on even terms with something that was, as he was told, a god. A minor god, but still. "Or just Naito; world's weakest man." A horribly dry attempt at a joke, or a fact sited with no sign of doubt. It's hard to take his lack of emotion for context. "I don't have much to ask." He really didn't have much he needed to know, at least so much that he'd ask for it. Though one or two things did come to mind. "Who or what gives the shinigami their title?" And that was one of them.

[Connor Greaves]

I smiled, glad to still have the ability to hold a conversation, in spite of how little I enjoy conversing with my fellow reapers. Not that he could see it, though, perhaps I should stop being so rude to him. I grabbed my mask, and removed it, placing it inside the annoying robes that were my uniform. I still have bandages over my lower face, but he could see my one eye, while the left was covered by an eyepatch. I gave him a small smile as we walked. "It is a pleasure to meet you Akio." I told him. "And strength is not measured by the power or influence one wields, but by how one responds in times of crisis. And in that way, you are stronger than many I know."

I know a great deal about those in power, having experienced many of the negative aspects of leaders. "And for your question, it is more complicated than one might think necessary." I told him, a hint of frustration lacing my monotone voice. "The 'Shinigami', are chosen by how much reiatsu one has. If you have enough, you are then sent through an academy for six years." I could feel my face crinkle in annoyance, indirectly showing my displeasure at the aspect. "After that, those who manage to graduate will be placed into one of thirteen different squads, each doing something different for the seireitei."

We neared the park, barely a minute or two from the entrance. "They do so much to maintain their- our home, yet they do little to help the human world." I continued on, trying to ignore my slipup. "Those in power choose to take a more reactionary approach, instead of something more permanent. I find it disgraceful." I could feel the anger in my voice, and decided to tone it back, instead of overwhelming the conversation with politics that Akio was unfamiliar with. "But I doubt you want to listen to the biased opinions on something you have no experience on. So, how do you wish to train?" I asked, entering the park.

[Akio Naito]

It was somewhat of a relief to Akio to see that Conner had the same human-like appearance as the other Shinigami, under their mask. He had wondered, for a moment, what they must look like to go to that extreme in hiding their appearance. He knew better than to ask why they were totally covered,though, especially if it was for the reason that came to his mind so easily. "And a pleasure to have met you as well Connor." He said, holding onto one of his numbed arms with the other, feeling the layers of bandages rub together. "You have a good definition of strength, not the same as mine or anyone else's, that I could think of."

The explanation helped somewhat, with his ideas of what the Shinigami were, and why they seemed so focused on particular tasks, and had similar methods of going about them. "So they're more of a military or law-enforcement organization for their land, the Seireitei? More than anything the title would imply they are?" He felt they'd have to be more than just that, to earn the reputation he'd read of, though he did note his recent companion's tone and choice of words, and they didn't seem to have the highest view of their own people. That had implications of its own to him.

The park was starting to be more of a symbol to Akio, than a place. It's where all his investigations into the spiritual in recent nights had started, or ended up. and home to plenty of events both positive and negative in only the past few weeks. "How I'd usually do it is repeating Hashira until I can't anymore." That probably wasn't the best way to improve his skills, except for accuracy. "Or just trying to run until I can't breathe, neither one takes long to finish." That was what he'd thought training and exercise was, pushing a limit in hopes it would get a little bit father away on the next attempt. "How would you do it?."

[Himitsu Kasumi'Oji]

+10 TTP and +95 SP to Akio

+100 CTP and 50 SP to Connor