Dusk's Practice [Open]

[EvilAngel]

Akimoto moved swiftly around her opponent as he moved around her, they circled each other. She came to a stop, twisting her body to face his exactly, he mimicked her. She rose her sword above her head holding it back, ready to bring down, eyeing him carefully.

He lunged forward with a stabbing motion directed toward her stomach. Before he could react she brought down her sword, misdirecting his into the floor, before she’d even finished that movement she was twirling, as she did so she brought up the blade and in his next moment he found a blade against his throat. She was right behind it, so close she was breathing on his neck.

“Don’t be so eager” she whispered “Patience is a virtue, and your friend” she said, louder as the moved back. He gritted his teeth.

“Again!” he hissed. She sighed, he wasn’t going to learn anything like this. He wasn’t feeling his sword. It honestly didn’t feel as though he was trying to either. She moved back and pointed her sword at his face.

“Your sword must become a part of you” she began, as he swung furiously at her sword, knocking it out of the way, he continued to swing at her body, but she parried each attack to do so almost lazily “You aren’t thinking” she hissed, bringing her free hand to her sword, and striking against his attack. His angling was off allowing her to easily knock his attack away, causing him to stumble back, she pointed her sword at his face again.

“You said I shouldn’t think” he argued, rushing into a series of strikes again. She twisted her body, to dodge his initial attack, and took the brunt of the force behind the second, allowing them to stay connected as he tried to overpower her.

“Thinking is essential, but be sure not to over think” she said, pushing his sword back, much to his surprise “Keep your mind here and now where it belongs, and focus on what is happening” she said, parrying more clumsy attacks “But be aware. Think about your surroundings, your enemies attack pattern, other things at play. Essential they often can be” she said, walking back as his attacks became lunges again “Learn your enemies attack pattern..” she began, side stepping his attack, she held her sword across his throat

“and you won’t even have to cross his sword” she finished, lowering her sword, then sheathing it. “Now, we’re finished here, you’re getting too excited and your form is suffering for it” she decided for him. As he was about to protest she gave him a look that said “Do you really?” he rolled his eyes and shealthed his sword, and began to walk away.

She walked to a walk and leant against it, one foot against the wall. She has no problems helping her squad members learn the ways of the sword, but sometimes she longed for an actual challenge. These days the only way she could test her real limits was to solo train. Even the few seated officers she’d spared with were simpletons with their swords. They were much stronger than her, that was true, but they didn’t know enough about swordplay to really be able to use it against her.

She let out a sigh and looked at the fading suns light. Today had been a long day. She was ready to unwind now.

[Kokaku//Goliath]

Kokaku has been there the whole time, watching the duel between a girl shinigami and a guy. The guy wasn't the interesting point. The girl was. He was at the training field for few hours today, got bored of casting the same kido again and again after two hours and went to watch the sparring between shinigami.

There were a few fights here and there and Kokaku felt that he was gaining things by just watching the fights. Now, the girl caught his eyes. Not love interest but her extremely skillful swordplay. The girl was so skilled that she looked like she was dancing around with her sword, swift movement at its finest.

According to Kokaku's perception, she could take out anything above her size just by using her sword. Impressive. That's what Kokaku needed at this moment - to improve his swordplay. Kokaku, was more of a long range fighter but he felt he could much better in his zanjutsu. A shinigami just couldn't realize on his kido all the time. No offense to the Kido Corp, but that's the personal view of Kokaku.

In the middle of the fight, Kokaku even unsheathed his zanpakutou and attempted to follow the movement of the silver-haired girl. Worst, he couldn't even perform as well as the guy that was far weaker than the girl.

Soon, the spar came to an end and the girl headed for part of the wall nearby. Such a great opportunity to ask the girl to teach him one thing or two personally. Kokaku walked to the girl and started the conversation with a big bow, "Sorry to bother you, the name's Kokaku. Can I learn a little about swordplay from you?" He wondered why he was so brave today after his question as he pulled his body upward from the bow stance.

[EvilAngel]

Akimoto was deep in thought about the direction of her shinigami career. Mainly about the idea of a seated position. Was more responsibility really something she wanted? However the approach of a man snapped her back to reality. She looked him over, he was pretty cute, and he was at least taking care of himself physically. She blinked upon hearing his request, and smiled secretively.

“Can you learn from me? … Huh” she asked with a hint of amusement. She pushed herself from her spot against the wall, she strolled past him onto the field, and turned to face him, her right hand coming down to hold her sword, ready to draw “I don’t know. Can you learn from me? It’s a question only you can answer I think.” Her smile became less subtle and more broad.

“If ready, attack at will” she said before he could respond to her beforehand.

[Kokaku//Goliath]

Kokaku has a wide smile on his face as the girl accepted his request indirectly. Finally, this day finally obtained a purpose. At least he was able to learn some zanjutsu techniques. The first half of the day? Meaningless compared to what would be going real soon. He woke up at 8am, then settled some minor assignment of his division and finally, cast at least 100 kidos at the training field which was so exhausted to his soul and body.

“Can you learn from me? … Huh”

Interesting question. Hell yes for the answer. The pale-looking girl walked down the field, face filled with confidence. What attracted the attention of Kokaku was the apparel and the skin color of the girl, which made her special and unique from the other shinigamis that were training around. The girl stood ready after few seconds of preparation.

"Even though I look like I am from the 11th division, I can't handle my sword well. So, I am sure I can improve from you...as long as you don't mind fighting such a weak opponent for quite some time cuz I think I need sometime to improve." Kokaku pulled himself away from the wall and parallel to the girl horizontally before he unsheathed his sword.

He took a few small steps toward the girl. "Patience is a virtue, and your friend." One of the lesson from the girl told him to take time measuring his opponent. As he was 3 small steps away from the girl, he took a big step as his left feet swallowed the distance between him and the girl, lifted his blade up with both hands and swung his katana vertically downward toward the girl.

The footwork was a big mistake to start with...

[EvilAngel]

Akimoto was rather surprised to have such a direct move made against her. A vertical strike was a power attack, and should only be used in very specific circumstances. This however was not one. She stepped to the right side of his attack, drawing her sword as she did so. As she rose her sword she let it strike down her blade, the angle of her own sword redirecting it to her left, completing her step her sword was now between him and his own.

“Bold move” she said playfully with a slight chuckle “But direct strikes against one more skilled than yourself is not usually a good idea. At least a vertical strike isn’t, and this is why” she laughed gesturing to her sword.

She took a few steps back, creating 2-3 meters of distance, she pointed her sword at his face, holding it only with her right hand.

“Let’s try this again. Strike with care, think of your position now, and after your attack” she said calmly.

[Kokaku//Goliath]

His attack missed as his opponent sidestepped easily from the swinging arc. The girl then drew her own zanpakutou out and with a quick and easy movement, stopped the blade before the neck of Kokaku. Even though Kokaku saw it coming, he couldn't dodge or do anything. His head did do something though: leaning backward as an instinct reaction. In a real battle, a slightly upward angle and a slight movement by the girl and Kokaku's head would go bye bye.

Interesting. Kokaku thought as the girl was stepping away from Kokaku, allowing him some space for maneuver. Images of chinese kung fu films he watched on Earth when he was patrolling around China or Hong Kong emerged in his mind. He sure didn't know Chinese, but the action scenes of the film were awesome. Now, the girl was like the protagonist inside a film and he was just a pathetic minion which got kill in one second.

"Aye." A simple and short answer to the girl's tips and pointer. Holding his katana tight with both hands, Kokaku approached the girl slowly. Then, another offensive strike. This time, Kokaku took a small step to the left while his blade swung horizontally toward the right. It was more of a feint, unless the girl didn't block or dodge it. As soon as he saw the girl has any slight movement of blocking or dodging it, Kokaku would pull his blade back, took a step to the left and up(11 o'clock direction) and swung his blade in 45 degree from left side of the girl's, neck height and downward.

[EvilAngel]

Akimoto watched with a smile as she saw him calculating. He was now thinking, taking it a little more seriously. She could see him figuring something out, getting his position correct and even holding his sword more steadily. She couldn’t help but wonder if he had been feeling her out, to see if she was any good. Not that, that really mattered now.

Her sword still pointed at his face he make a sweeping attack, this time backing it up with footwork. Akimoto twisted her blade so the back side of her blade impacted against his at the same time she twisted her body and took a step back. In doing so her legs supported more power behind her strike, and gave her enough room to pull back upon if he switched back to a greater level of offense.

No sooner had she made to do so when his pulled his sword back, and struck from an entirely new angle. She was impressed and a little surprised. While he angled his new attack she, seeing what he was doing twisted her blade again, now at it’s own angle deflecting the strike in much the same manner as she had his first. She let the blade slide down her own, but this time decided not to break their rythme. Taking her back foot and stepping forward, quickly and strongly she follow the movement with her blade. Forcing it forward which in turn should force him back a step or two.

If it did she would reposition her sword from a lower guard pointing upwards, now holding it with both hands.


[RP’ing out the scenario you wrote, I hope that’s okay(?)]

[Kokaku//Goliath]

[Am fine with your scenario]

Now he was doing better, not by much but the improvement was surely there. The feint was blocked easily by the girl, not as easily avoided as the last strike though. After the parry maneuver, the girl moved one of her legs behind and her body twisted for a better angle. Every slight movement affect the result of such a close-ranged combat. Kokaku observed the footwork of the girl, he knew he has to achieve better footwork in future.

The feint was just a feint, now there goes the real strike. The girl parried again but she quickly moved her blade downward instead of letting it swung outward with the parry motion. Red alert. Kokaku pulled his blades back to position with all of the power produced by his arm muscle.

A quick step and a forward thrust, a move that didn't take much movement but was extremely lethal. Kokaku saw it coming though, his blade moved in a "U" arc and parried the girl's blade away while himself took two quick steps backward to create some distances.

The battle froze at this moment. The girl switched his stance, now in a low stance she was. The lethal point of a low stance was that the user could stab - literally, the most powerful strike in kendo or zanjutsu for shinigami - fast with the blade because the blade was already positioned horizontally in mid-air. Kokaku knew of the powerful throat stab, he hoped the girl wouldn't use it on him. Through detailed analysis, the girl's blade was having a higher angle than an usual low stance, what was she planning?

Kokaku held his blade on chest height, waiting for the girl to strike. He wanted to see what he could do if his opponent was the attacker.

[EvilAngel]

Akimoto had paused waiting for his next move. But appeared he already had, he was switching to defensive. She flashed a grin, but hide it as quickly as it had appeared. She moved around his right side, slowly circling him. Testing him for a weak spot as he would have to keep turning to remain facing her.

She then lunged at his mid section, slow enough for him to stop it. She knew from his stance he had two parry methods that were best suited. Whether or not he would use them she could not judge, but they were the most probably, so it was for those she anticipated.



If he brought his sword down on hers, batting in the floor, she would immediately twist around, whilst bringing the sword up to chest height and counter attack the chest area.

If he parried from the side she would push the blade forward, forcing him either to move back or to the side. In any event she would then re-align her stance and start a new attack.

[Kokaku//Goliath]

Was that a smile? The 0.1 second grin was gone before Kokaku could see much of it, then the girl moved, right side of him, moderate speed. Kokaku turned, feet sliding along the dirt to make sure he was face-to-face to the girl along the time.

Quick lunge! Kokaku's left feet took a step to the left, a real quick sidestep that seemed to be automatic and Kokaku's sword moved a little to the left at first then quickly to the right as the blade stayed vertical all the time.

With the combination of his footstep and the go-away parry, he should be out of the lunge range at this moment. He took another step after he twisted his body around to face-to-face with the girl again. The step was to the left and forward, Kokaku went for another horizontal slash on waist's height of the girl, a feint. Then, he rotated his body and the new slash came from the right. In normal speed, it would work like a one-two combination.

[EvilAngel]

Akimoto moved back as her attack was avoided. He didn’t fall for it, nor did he allow himself to be caught in a direct series of attacks. Considering their difference in level of their sword play it was the best possible move. She had to admit, she was impressed. He was accurately perceiving her follow up moves an avoiding them, whilst making counter attacks. He was more than a rookie. That much was certain.

She twisted her sword, blade down to her side to parry his attack. Another fient. Akimoto narrowed her eyes. This was good stuff, much better than the last one. She lifted her sword over, from it’s guard pulling the blade up as she moved it across to the other side of her body blocking his new attack. Their blades clashed with a sound clang. He had his weight behind this one, it had been harder to withstand.

“Impressive” she said with a smile. “But, I am inside your guard.” She said, she paused before taking a step forward sliding her blade down his before completing her move by cross slashing towards his body. She was in control of her sword; she could stop it before it hurt anyone.

[Kokaku//Goliath]

Clang! The first hit was blocked easily by the girl, so was the second hit. This girl was so good at perceiving and defending strikes. Furthermore, she was strong despite her physical size, this was probably because of her training in swordplay, that she could use the physics of her sword very well to block a strike with a stance that required the least strength. Due to her training, she probably has the strength of an ordinary man, at least Kokaku believed so.

The smile on Kokaku's face was gone as soon as the girl blocked the second strike. “But, I am inside your guard.” These words taught Kokaku the second lesson of the day - never try show-off spin move without deep planning. The girl slid the blade down real quick, back to her low posture and delivered another another attack of her own. Kokaku thought he was going for a quick lunge, he stepped to the right and realized he was stepping toward her horizontal slash.

His left foot quickly took a short leap to the back but the strike would connect if the girl wanted it to connect. Kokaku took two laps of roll on the ground, sending dirt rolling on the air. Then, he lifted his body up to a crouch position, his zanpakutou was supporting his weight at this moment as his left hand was above the hilt. "Great move." Kokaku got back up, a satisfying smile on his face as he moved slowly toward the girl with his blade in his hands.

[EvilAngel]

She smiled at him with a look of fondness. He wasn’t half bad. Not one bit. She had held back her sword; the purpose of practise was to practise. Not to cause injuries. Whilst he escaped her would-be strike she took a step back and let her sword fall to her side.

She observed as he picked himself up and took his stance again. Determined too. This guy would be strong one day. It was a feeling of certainty. He would become strong, captain level strong. Or so she felt. He edged closer, causing her snapped herself out of it and focused her concentration here and now where it belonged. She rose her sword so it was pointed at his face once more. It was her preferred stance, as if it wasn’t obvious by now.

“I like you” she said with a smile, her tone of voice warm and genuine “You’re got skills, guts and best of all determination.”

[Kokaku//Goliath]

[How about we end this thread in a post or two? I might be away for 24 hours++ tomorrow and I don't want to waste your time. Or, you could exit on your next post if you want. If you are fine with waiting then I will be back at late Sunday or early Monday. Your choice]

"It's because I valued my time training with you. That's where my determination comes from." It was the first moment the girl showed him a bit of a gentle side. After all, no one would be gentle in a fight.

Kokaku took another step, now they were real close to each other. He wanted to try a different approach this time, his sword swung to the side of his opponent's blade, not the body first this time. Given her sword was pushed away by the move, Kokaku would lowered his blade for a quick stab toward the girl's gut.

If the first move was unsuccessful, Kokaku would take a quick step backward and turns into defensive position.

[EvilAngel]

Akimoto smiled at him. She liked this attitude. Well she already knew that based on before. No, she liked that he was respectful. That was it, he was the first person she’d training with who realised she was giving up time to do this as well. She smiled. However during her consideration she wasn’t paying attention. The next thing she knew her sword was dug in the dirt and a sword was pointed at her gut.

“Um… very good” she said with a embarrassed smile. She had been caught in the act.

“Um, sorry sorry. I was just um thinking I might need to go somewhere to do… um… something, Sorry” she lied with an apologetic smile. Quickly and carefully she moved the blade from her via the side of the sword. Moved towards him and gently peeked him on the cheek before moving to take her sword.

“It was nice to have met you Kokaku-kun” she said with a sly smile. “I look forward to training with you in the nearby future. Oh, and I’m Ayumu Akimoto of squard 7. Don’t be a stranger” she said with wink, before running up the stairs and out of the training field


[Assume I hear the first half of your next post, then I’m Exited]



(( OoC: Thanks for the heads up, and thanks for the RP’ing =) I enjoyed this ^^ I hope you did equally as much))

[Kokaku//Goliath]

[Yeah, I enjoyed RPing with you as well]

The strike surprisingly caught the girl off-guard but Kokaku managed to stop it inches before it hit the girl's gut. She must be no concentrating... Kokaku kept his thought. At the same time, a hell butterfly stopped by his shoulder and stood there to pass the message to him.

Darn, I hate the 14th seat idiot, always calling the squad members like we are his dogs. "Erm...sorry...I th-" Before he could finish his words, the girl told him that she has something to do as well. "Well, I got a duty call as well." Kokaku smiled back and at the same time, took a step back so he has space to sheathe his black zanpakutou back to its also black sheath.

At this time, the girl peeked his cheek, which turned his virgin face since he turned shinigami red, an achievement - first kiss received as a shinigami. He tried to hide his shyness but the makeup-like red on his cheek wouldn't lie and before he could say anything, the girl was gone.

Ayumu Akimoto...darn, never thought there'd be someone this good in division 7. Thought Kokaku as he walked to the meeting place, the division 8 building.

[Exit]