Lightning Flashes, Two Giants Clash! [Kiriko/R]

Kiriko stared at her closet, her calloused fingers idly brushing against the fabrics contained within. Soft transitioned to smooth and then rough as her nails got caught in a tangle of cloth and Kiriko sighed. She had a habit of purchasing clothing whenever it was readily available, something she had recently stopped doing. But that meant that her closet was bursting with black ensembols and she was certainly well prepared for this whole strange casual request from Sakamoto. But... There was a problem. Kiriko might own all these clothes, but she never actually wore them. The last time she had shed her shihakusho had been when she was still a recruit and going on espionage missions. The clothes represented so much to her, her rank, her power, her prestige. Wearing anything else, it was just an ugly reminder of her past. Of growing up weak and powerless. Of nights when all you could do was cry.

She didn't want that reminder. Today though, it was a different day. She was confident in herself and knew that no matter what happened that sniveling child from before had been extinguished from her life. Kiriko wasn't a baby anymore, she was an adult. And she could do whatever she wanted without remnants of her past having any effect on her. The anger inside her came from the reality that these thoughts were holding her back. As if even her thoughts had the right to do that. So she reached in and grabbed a handful of cloth, disengaging the hangers and pulling an outfit free.

Black hakama and a dark keikogi made from homespun fabric. She assessed and wondered. They would be training today, the letter had implied a fight at the very least, and she wanted to be ready. For Rukongai, this certainly was casual, the clothing lacking in decoration or refinement. And besides, Kiriko felt more at home in traditional attire, it would be easier to move and to breath. So she slid the clothes on, carefully folding her uniform and setting it lovingly on her desk. Sliding the sheath of Aneue through her sash Kiriko departed from the Annex, a moment of sharp sorrow passing through her gut as she realized that living alone meant she was beholden to no one. That there wasn't anyone here to leave a note for or to briefly tell that she was leaving. It was a reminder of her lonliness in this large building, of her desire to understand why Tsukimiya-taichou had left her like this.

At first she had felt strong, knowing that he had trusted her to the job. But with each passing day it felt like an ill-fitting test. As if he was trying to hurt her with his absence. She wasn't sure how much longer she could cling to the hope that he would return when reality was clamoring all around her. So many people kept telling her that he was gone, and she always always always barked right back that Tsukimiya would never leave. But that harsh rejoinder was becoming harder to say with conviction. How was she supposed to believe when he hadn't even left any sign of his status? She had been most hurt to leave behind his haori when she set out today, the light fabric had sat on her shoulders each day as a reminder that he was alive. But without it she felt dragged down as if she was sinking in a deep bog, each step dropping her further and further beneath the swail.

The only thing to do was to keep walking.

------

She sensed the reiatsu of her compatriot swiftly, the older woman wasn't trying to hide and the beacon of energy called out to her like a lighthouse in the dark. Shunpoing through the trees she perched atop a branch just long enough to survey the clearing that Sakamoto had chosen today, then she dropped like a bullet and landed in a crouch in the lush grass. Straightening Kiriko felt the odd desire to smile, as if she and Sakamoto were friends or something. Kiriko had no friends, not really... Unless Kachekiwa wanted to claim that spot, she was still unsure about the word itself. It took trust to make friendship and Kiriko wasn't positive she could trust anyone right now. But nonetheless the things she had gone through with Sakamoto, it was enough to engender a bubbling feeling as she saw her face again. Enough to make her smile wanly for a few seconds before regaining her serious composure.

“Sakamoto-san, I have come as you asked. Did you wish to discuss Shunko? That is what I have taken to calling it, because of the crackle of the energy. It really is quite amazing, I have only used it once before in battle but the effects were... breathtaking,” Kiriko stepped closer into the clearing, towards the other girl. Balancing heavily on her feet she looked around once more to ensure they were alone. This would be good, to have someone to explain her accomplishments to. And maybe Sakamoto would even have a critique, or some advice as to how she could make Shunko better. Or perhaps she had called for Kiriko today because it was finally time to repay Sakamoto for the information she had been given. The information that had made Shunko possible. She wouldn't mind that, it would be nice to work with someone so promising. 

WC: 906 | GP: 18 | Total GP: 18

Kiriko looked at the other woman and tried to ignore the pleasure that flooded her veins at the complement. It had taken so much hard work, and the fact that she was keeping her ability a secret strained her pride more than she had thought it would. Pride in this case was just a hindrance to success, keeping secrets was the best way to have an edge in battle. But she still felt so very gratified that her efforts had paid off with something so perfect. It was hard not to brag as competitive as she was in battle, so this freedom to talk to someone who both understood and appreciated was accepted readily.

Perhaps Sakamoto was just a comrade, but she was certainly more of a confidant than any other. It was the strangest sensation, to have the opportunity to talk so easily without holding things back. There were plenty of hidden topics and subjects between the two girl's but compared to Kiriko's other associates Sakamoto was oddly the one who knew the most about her. Her desires, her skills, her work ethic. With Tsukimiya-taichou gone, it was nice to feel that closeness again. Even if it was only something she was imagining to herself.

She kept her eyes open as Sakamoto held her arms up to the air, curiosity biting deep. Sakamoto hadn't claimed that she was working on a power last time they had talked, so what could this be? Had she mastered some amazing Kido that had never been seen before? Kiriko's mind raced as she tried to catch all of the details provided to her, the posture of Sakamoto, the shift of the wind, the soft drop of rain. It was incredible but the skies suddenly opened up in a downpour and Sakamoto's reiatsu hadn't even fluctuated like it should have for a release. There was no increase at all to speak of.

Eyes wide she turned her head up towards the heavens as Sakamoto explained, and her breath whooshed from her lungs as she realized what was being shown to her. Total assimilation with a Zanpakutou... It was rumored as possible, but she had never thought it so. This wasn't something like mastery over ones Shikai or Bankai, it really boiled down to an intensely close relationship with the spirit that made up that power. To achieve such closeness, it was... admirable. Aneue shifted and rattled and Kiriko could feel that the sword was insulted by this display of power. She softened internally and tried to sooth the skeletal spirit but Aneue only got angrier. “Look at that Imoutou! The girl can do so much as if she's bonded entirely with her Zanpakutou. Why haven't you done that? Think of how useful we would be if we were together like that. You can't do anything without me anyway, so you should at least try and aim for perfection with my help.”

Kiriko ignored the gibes, giving the sword space because she knew that Aneue was even more prideful than she herself was. She probably didn't mean to be so offensive. And it was true, achieving a power like this, it would be close to perfection. “Sakamoto-san, it is beautiful,” Kiriko bowed low, “I thank you for sharing such a personal thing with me. I had always thought that you hid your Zanpakutou somewhere, it would give you tactical advantage after all. But this... I was not expecting this,” she tried a smile, faint as it was on her unwilling lips. “It surely is far more beautiful than my ability,” she did not often give out complements, rarer still ones that insulted her own skills, but this was too impressive to be pithy.

Kiriko felt the competitive lilt in the conversation and she realized why Sakamoto had called her out here today. It wasn't just to talk. She had felt it too, the speed at which Kiriko had been progressing towards the future. Kiriko wasn't the weakest Lieutenant anymore, she had gained real traction with her abilities and she fancied herself at a similar level to Sakamoto. But there was only one way to tell. With a blink of the eye she focused on her inner energy and let it heat up and slide across her skin as her body was suddenly engulfed in dark purple reiatsu. It was so soft against her body, but the energy crackled and licked at the sky like flames. The sound of atomic bonds being snapped filled the air, it wasn't a soft chirp or a thunderous roar but instead a constant hum of energy. This was not a stealth technique, unfortunately. Unlike the first time she had used this ability, the energy didn't shudder beneath her hands and instead it came easier. Her aura formed in seconds, the reiatsu throwing off light and casting shadows across her face and body. This was infinitely better now that she had seen it in combat, her control was improving every day.

The rush of energy in her blood was enticing and Kiriko had to withold a giddy laugh. It wasn't just that in this form your physical strikes were aided by cutting Kido energy, but the reiatsu actually filled her body to the brim and made her movements that much more fluid. She was faster, stronger, and smarter with Shunko sheathing her form like a second skin. “This is it! Shunko!” Kiriko called over the crackle of energy, her voice didn't have to raise much though as the fierce aura calmed and settled now that it had been formed properly, standing against her skin like an ocean of shifting liquid that only occasionally lifted to bite the sky. She felt true bliss. 

WC: 951 | GP: 19 | Total GP: 37

Kiriko watched Sakamoto's face transform again and again, but that quiet pride never left it. What she had done, it was remarkable. And it made Kiriko pleased to know that Sakamoto had trusted her enough to show the younger Shinigami her immense power. A Bankai was so intensely personal, it was your soul reversed to the outside world. To release such information when you didn't have to, it was really a gift. Something she treasured, because she knew how intimate she felt about her own Shikai. About her bond with Aneue. It wasn't something you shared easily or without a lot of forethought, and the mere act along told Kiriko that Sakamoto believed in their bond together. It might not have been deep yet, or long-lasting, but their pursuit of information as a team was something that couldn't be ignored. And the tender feelings she was experiencing were so very disquieting but also... oddly... peaceful. Kiriko enjoyed showing her Shunko to Sakamoto just as she enjoyed seeing the woman's Bankai. It was an intimacy that in no way diminished her own independence. She hadn't really thought that possible.

Despite her work with Kachekiwa to understand the benefits of friendship Kiriko still felt it was painful and modulated. That each time she had to give something of herself to receive something from another person. And often she didn't want to give anything up but rather clasp all of her secrets and her pride to her chest like precious eggs that would crack under the heat of the sun. It was true fear that she felt then, fear of someone realizing what she was inside. That was different now though, because Kiriko understood herself. She knew her mind to be dark and ugly but embraced it. It was reality. It was efficiency. It was what it was, and she appreciated the benefits she gained from being so cold. But today, as strange as it was, Kiriko thought that just maybe Aneue was right about love. Just as she was open now to death as the cycle of life so was friendship and relationships. When you cracked open your shell there was a chance for damage, that was true, but the chance for elation was so much greater.

She had never been close to anyone who wasn't in authority over her. That was a simple and easy relationship to understand in her heart. This though... That of equals. It almost reminded her of her sister, and Kiriko felt a pang as she imagined the death of her older sibling. So long ago, as a child, she had hated her for dying, hated her for the things her Father said about her Oneesama after her death. If she hadn't been so stupid to go off and die then he wouldn't be able to say such mean things about her. It had only seemed justified then, that she had just been an idiot. Not worth Kiriko's grief. Lately she had started to question that feeling. She was bitter over her one protector leaving her all alone, but maybe it wasn't really Oneesama's fault. Maybe she could forgive the woman she had loved so deeply, forgive her for leaving her and forgive her for dying. It wasn't something that came easy, it was so simple to just hate and ignore, but that thought almost felt right inside. Like it had taken a jangled piece of her heart and settled it back into place.

Kiriko allowed a smile to bloom on her face, a true expression of peacefulness and excitement. What she did now, it was all to overcome the past. She would never be weak again like she had been as a child. She would never be fearful or powerless. Shunko was her protection, her armor, her sword. She was going to show Sakamoto just how powerful it was! Adrenaline pumped through her veins as Kiriko slipped into a wide stance, her arms lifting to mid-chest in a standard Hakuda set up. “Sakamoto-san, I really do appreciate you showing me your Bankai, but I hope you didn't think that little release of reiatsu would scare me away. Prepare yourself, we'll see here today which one of us has the most beautiful ability!” With those words she released all of her reiatsu, the full burning pressure that honed down to a deadly focus. It was a technique she had perfected, a piercing glare and the focus of her intentions served to weaken the resolve of other opponents. Ganriki. Kiriko was just better at killing than most, it could be sensed by the very aura around her as she moved.

With a spurt of speed Kiriko lunged toward her opponent giving no second's pause to let Sakamoto recover. She weaved slightly to the left at the last second, lashing out with a powerful fist towards the other woman's abdomen. It was a simple attack sure enough, but the force from her Shunko amplified her power tenfold.

WC: 828 | GP: 16 | Total GP: 53

Name: Ganriki | 1st Hakuda Technique
Relevant Skill(s) & Ranks: Hakuda or Zanjutsu 
Stat(s) Involved: Strength 
Flavor Description: Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu is a way of killing. By training in this style, the user becomes fierce and strong in spirit, which is expressed through solid body movements, harsh eye contact, and killing intent. Every slash of the sword or strike of the fist is done without reservation, and that intensity can be a terrifying thing to behold. An Eishin Ryu fighter does not enter battle without the intent to kill, and this is so palpable that it strikes fear into opponents with just eye contact across the battlefield. 
Effect: Enemies' Strength and Speed are debuffed by 5 points for every level the user has in their respective skill (Hakuda or Zanjutsu).
Casting Time: 1 action. 
Duration: Sustained. 
Limitations: Cannot be used on opponents with 100 more reiatsu than the user.
Cooldown (if any) : N/A
Stamina Cost: 2 STA per 10 total points being debuffed per turn.

Second Action used to make basic punch which costs 1 STA. Punch strikes at 130 Spirit Speed (100 base + 20 Hakuda + 10 Insight) and 120 Spirit Strength (100 base + 20 Insight). The difficulty of blocking this attack is raised by one. Shunko increases the damage severity by one rank if the hit is successful.

Total Stamina Spent: 11

REI 180

STA 107/118

Kiriko felt her fist impact against something hard and cold instead of the soft target of flesh she had been aiming for. She had moved into range so quickly that the Acting Captain of the Second hadn't even seen the barrier rise up before her, and only now spotted the crystalline structure that her fist had struck. Despite her punch being amazingly powerful after the increase in strength that Shunko gave her it was not enough to even dent the barrier that protected Sakamoto and Kiriko realized how special the bond between the woman and her Zanpakutou was. If that was her ability, to manipulate water as it appeared to be, then that was so incredibly vast and versatile that Sakamoto could achieve anything on the battlefield.

Kiriko felt jealousy rise up to bite at her throat, even though her own blade cut deep to the heart with a soft question. “Am I not good enough for you Imoutou? Does my power not give you exactly what you've always wanted?” The words were delicate and well cast as Kiriko winced at her own folly. It was true her Shikai was far more limited then what Sakamoto was showing here, indeed it was confined to one action alone, but Aneue was correct as always. The sheer power of her Shikai was breathtaking, she only wished she had reason to show it to Sakamoto. One day though, she would share her secret with the world. It was too bad people frowned upon the loss of life required for her army to take form, honestly Kiriko thought they were being too hard on her. What did it matter if a few people had to die to make her skeletal army? They were weak enough to succumb to her Shikai, they would be better served as soldiers under her thrall. It was better for everyone involved really. She just had to wait for the right moment, when no one could argue her point. It was so much easier in the human world where she had free reign to wreak “havoc”.

The rain poured down all around her in thick sheets. When she had first unleashed her Bankai Sakamoto had kept it to a soft downpour, a tender misting, but now Kiriko was under a true deluge as the chilling water beat against her skin. Even the power of her Shunko couldn't keep the liquid off her body, and she began to feel her muscles stiffen beneath the cold onslaught. As in tune with her body as Kiriko was she noticed immediately as her shoulders and other major muscle groups began to grow tense and firm. Shaking out her arms the feeling persisted. Was the cold really such a hindrance to her ability to be mobile? If so, this was a versatile Bankai indeed. Now more then ever she regretted not being able to train that time she had visited Siberia.

Sakamoto was obscured by the icy structure around her body, such an opaque color that Kiriko couldn't even see through it to spot her target. But there was no movement at the sides and she was positive Sakamoto hadn't ditched the barrier as a distraction. Instead she seemed to jut backwards, moving so swiftly Kiriko wasn't sure if her eyes had deceived her or not. It was only the churned mud and the shift in range that allowed her to blink and grasp that there really had been a movement of some kind. Retracing the distance between herself and Sakamoto Kiriko realized that this might swiftly become a ranged battle.

That was something she had to do her best to avoid, at any cost. Kiriko was almost certain that the concept of sending out her Shunko aura in a sharp blast was feasible, but as of yet all of her attempts resulted in the aura itself short circuiting entirely and petering out. It was not the kind of thing you tried in a real fight, possibilities be damned. However she did have a few ranged spells in her Kido repertoire, and Kiriko needed to act quickly if she wanted to discourage Sakamoto from making this a space game. The necessary action was one that was both fierce and swift, enough to force Sakamoto to abandon this type of tactic.

Lifting one hand skyward Kiriko started to chant quietly, her voice muffled by the thick rains, “Demons of fire, heed thy name. Plummet and crash! Rain judgment down from the heavens above. Hado #59: Inseki!” Tone rising at the end of her sentence she felt her reiatsu fluctuate wildly as purple energy shot up from her hand to lick at the sky. Even in the downpour the crackle of her Kido could be heard all around as fiery pits of rock appeared and began their shocking descend towards Sakamoto. It was the strongest Hado she knew, and Kiriko directed the many comets with her hand as she cut it through the open air. Flame sputtered and held strong as each large piece of energy burned and sizzled on a downward path towards her opponent. The barrier had held against her attack before, but this was of another caliber entirely. This time Kiriko would do more then numb her own fist.

WC: 875 | GP: 17 | Total GP: 70

>Name: Hado Number Fifty-Nine: Inseki (メテオ - Meteor Shower)
>Level(s) of release the tech is available at: Sealed+
>Relevant Skill(s) & Ranks: Hadō - Intermediate
>Stat(s) Involved: Spirit
>Flavor Description: The practitioner raises one hand to the sky and releases the Kidō like normal. A black energy will engulf the user’s hands and flaming meteorites will materialize from the sky and rain down on the opponents, mystically avoiding the caster of the Hadō.
>Incantation: 'Demons of fire, heed thy name. Plummet and crash! Rain judgement down from the heavens above. Hado #59: Inseki!'
>Effect: Operates at Spirit+30. Operates at Spirit+60 when incanted.
>Casting Time: 1 combat action (w/o incantation); 2 combat actions (w/ incantation)
>Duration: 1 combat action
>Limitations: Only hits at Intermediate Range or greater, but hits everyone. Anyone in Melee Range (Close Range) is safe.
>Cooldown (if any): N/A
>Stamina Cost: 4 Stamina

Ganriki still in effect debuffing opponent's STR and SPD by 25.

Total Stamina Spent: 14

REI 180

STA 93/118

The scent of rain was strong as the chilly drops continued to fall upon her skin. She tried to shift and loosen her muscles, but that icy deluge would not cease and it was hard to maintain body temperature in this mess. It was quite the unique experience, Kiriko had never had nature turned against her in a fight. She was used to the straightforward rather than the innocuous, it only reminded her that she had much more to learn before she was truly a master. Feeling her body tighten she sketched a shift to the left and then back to the right as her Kido comets hailed down atop Sakamoto.

She wasn't sure what she had been looking for, that had been her strongest spiritual attack, and yet when the stones struck her opponent there was a flash of silver as something against her skin became apparent. What? The stones crumbled into dust as they hit the barrier and Kiriko felt dread pool in the pit of her stomach. That had been the worst Kido she could unleash, her best Hado in fact. If Sakamoto had barriers to withstand even that, what could ever get through? This was totally unlike her fight with that Arrancar bitch, because while she was striking again and again and the opponent wasn't dodging, before at least she had done some damage. Now... Now there was not even a scratch on Sakamoto to signify where she had hit her.

Kiriko didn't let the despair get to her as she formulated her next plan. It looked as if the barrier had disappeared after her attack, so maybe... Was this an opening? As she prepared to dart forward Sakamoto spoke out in a calm voice, the words mysterious to Kiriko's ears even as she recognized them as a Kido spell. She didn't know what would happen and that caused her to pause, unsure if she wanted to get into melee range now. While her body eased up Kiriko saw the black walls of energy surround her and knew it couldn't be anything good. The suffocating feeling was all encompassing, but she called on her own energy to combat whatever was coming for her. Surrounded by black she could not see, and there was only one move in her arsenal that would protect her from an unseen attack.

Kiriko was glad that she had thought to develop her skills with Shunko above and beyond simply generating the impressive aura. She had noticed almost immediately that her Kido was enhanced like this, and Kiriko had always been better at Bakudo then Hado. It seemed like child's play to combine her aura with an intuitive barrier, both feeding off of each other to protect her body from harm. Sakamoto wasn't the only one who could do this. Surging up her reiatsu Kiriko felt the energy envelop her body only a half an inch away from her skin. The impact and shudder of a powerful spell struck at her body and Kiriko nearly fell to her knees at the force. But the barrier stood strong, and the black soon faded to reveal a Kiriko untouched by whatever Kido that had been.

She smiled then, fiercely, before lunging forward across the slippery mud. Her footing was sure and deft as Kiriko raced to slam into her opponent with both hands. She had the opening, she couldn't waste this chance when Sakamoto's barrier was down. It would be her only opportunity she could see. Taking a risk, Kiriko shifted her body weight at the last second to unleash a truly punishing blow that would also leave the core of her body open to attack should she miss her target. She had too much confidence to miss though, and so far Sakamoto had only been blocking, it seemed unlikely that that tactic would change now. She had only skill and luck to wish for.

WC: 651 | GP: 13 | Total GP: 83

Name: Shunko: Protection | 4^th Free Technique

Level(s) of release the tech is available at: Sealed
Relevant Skill(s) & Ranks: Master Hakuda, Basic Shunko
Stat(s) Involved: Spirit
Flavor Description: The reiryoku of a Shunko aura can be used for many different purposes. Kiriko has figured out a way to utilize Bakudo mixed in with her aura creating a physical shield to block incoming attacks. Through the force of her physical block she has learned how to augment the spiritual energy with Hakuda making for a more efficient blocking style that by nature of the Shunko aura applies to her entire body. 
Effect: A Bakudo barrier forms over the body of the user for one turn. User makes block checks using Spirit plus base Strength. Any area on the body counts as a hardened area if the blocks are successful. 
Casting Time: Instantaneous
Duration: 1 Turn
Limitations: N/A
Cooldown (if any): N/A
Stamina Cost: X where X is 2 STA for each ten Strength augmenting Spirit + 6 STA

First Action: Range change from Intermediate to Melee 30 Speed – 20 = 10 Speed (If Miki moves she can easily avoid the range change.)

Second Action: Kiriko used Sakotsu to strike for 150 Spirit Speed (100 Spirit Speed – 20 Flash Freeze + 20 Hakuda + 10 Insight + 50 Sakotsu) and 150 Spirit Strength (100 Spirit Strength + 20 Insight + 50 Sakotsu). The difficulty of blocking this attack is raised by one. Shunko increases the damage severity by one rank if the hit is successful. Also using the technique Shutdown so her attack is acting at Grandmaster Hakuda skill rank.

Name: Sakotsu ("Double Bone") | 2nd Free Technique
Level(s) of release the tech is available at: All
Relevant Skill(s) & Ranks: Hakuda - Master
Stat(s) Involved: Strength
Flavor Description: A powerful two-fisted punch that can carry enough force to shatter the soul of an opponent with a single blow.
Effect: Increases the practitioner's strength by +50 for the duration of the technique.
Casting Time: Single Action
Duration: Single Action
Limitations: Requiring the use of both fists, SÅkotsu leaves the practitioner wide open for a counter-attack should he/she miss the target.
Cool Down (if any): One round
Stamina Cost: 8 stamina

Name: Shutdown | 7th Free Technique
Level: Sealed+
Relevant Skill: Master Hakuda
Affected Stats: None
Flavor: Years of studying body language have honed Kiriko's own ability to hide her movements and intentions in battle. Knowing how even the faintest eye movement or shift can telegraph your next move Kiriko has managed to excise all signs from her fighting style making her a highly unpredictable opponent.
Effect: By disguising her intent Kiriko can treat her Hakuda as one rank higher for a skill check (Skill vs. Skill).
Casting Time: Passive
Duration: Single-Check
Limitations: None
Cooldown: None
Stamina Cost: 4 STA

Ganriki still in no longer in effect.

Total Stamina Spent: 28

REI 180

STA 65/118

Her fists sunk into the soft flesh of Sakamoto as if she was hitting a downy pillow. Kiriko had fought long and hard in her lifetime and the unexpected impact did not jar her concentration. Regret had no place on the battlefield even though she heard the girl's ribs snap in two at Kiriko's hands plowed through her body. Sakamoto was a friend, but Kiriko was a warrior, she couldn't be sure this wasn't a ploy. Crazy as it might seem, she had seen enemies take a hit only to draw in the attacker. Holding back she watched as Sakamoto flew through the air and impacted against a tree. The way the girl tumbled and slid to the ground though... It was boneless, as if she was really a crumpled up broken doll. Kiriko shifted uneasily, unsure of what had just happened.

It had looked as if the other woman was building the same crystalline barrier from before, and yet her hands had not broken through one. What had just happened? Kiriko looked down at her fists. There were flecks of Sakamoto's blood on her hands, the tiny spray mesmerizing as she stared hypnotized by her friend's vital liquid. What... Why hasn't Sakamoto blocked properly? Kiriko stuttered forward, eyes pinned to the crumpled form of her friend. Had she really taken that hit point blank? The strongest hit Kiriko could make? Why hadn't she pulled back? Kiriko was an expert at reading body language, it was her skill she had honed year after year, and yet she hadn't noticed any hesitation in her opponent. It had seemed as if she would be hitting a barrier again, that was why she had struck so hard, to pierce through it. But... That wasn't the case. What was going on?

Her few steps had taken her close enough that she could see Sakamoto's injuries begin to rewrite themselves as her skin smoothed over and the lumps from broken bones eased into fluid flesh. Kiriko stared, her body pausing, tensing as if staring at a ghost. Regeneration...? How could... How could that be possible? She hadn't used a Kaido spell, and Sakamoto did not have a healing Zanpakutou. A seed of doubt settled into her stomach, inching its way up her chest into her throat like blackened soot. Regeneration, healing so rapidly, it was the terrain of only one race. Hollow-breeds. And there was Sakamoto exclaiming something about Tova, the man who had ransacked Seireitei not too long ago. These points drew together into a straight line. Kiriko was no idiot, she too had heard rumors about the taboo subject becoming more and more popular these days. Everyone seemed to whisper about it once and awhile, the fact that there were Shinigami who had fallen to the dark side. Who had embraced the Hollow nature, somehow, and turned towards evil.

But Sakamoto? Such a talented Shinigami, so devoted, how could she have fallen? Kiriko had imagined that Vaizards were scum, the lowest of the low. People too weak to become strong Shinigami in their own right that they turned to dark methods to gain power. Why would Sakamoto have done this? Kiriko had no time to think before the girl's eyes opened, a dark tawny gold instead of their normal sea of turquoise. In that second, when Kiriko gasped at the change, she felt the air heat up as a Cero raced towards her head. There was no doubt now, but also no understanding. She had to act, to move, to dodge, to do something as the burning energy projectile rattled on.

But her body was frozen. Kiriko had not been expecting this turn of events, as battle hardened as she was she could never have prepared for the traitorous shift in Sakamoto. Mere seconds ago she had been her friend, probably her dearest friend, and yet now the girl was slinging Hollow powers at her? How could this occur? How? Throwing her arms up in front of her face Kiriko tried to weather the blow as the incredible green reiatsu enveloped her body. It desiccated her skin, as even the moisture in her mouth and eyes dissipated and her flesh shriveled under the onslaught. But her forearms crossed in front of her face protected the softer parts of her body from the brunt of the attack, and Kiriko threw her hands down to disperse what was left. Smoke rose from her body and she moved slowly at first as Kiriko tried to stare through the rain and the smog, trying to find the form of Sakamoto. Of the Hollow who had once been her friend.

“Sakamoto-san! What is this! You've... Are you an abomination?!?” Kiriko stumbled to find her words, truly stumped for the first time in forever. She wasn't sure what to do. Law dictated that this was a horrible thing, the greatest taboo. But she'd never been told what you were supposed to do if someone... if someone turned Hollow on you! There was no textbook case on proper conduct. What was she required to act on? Should she try and capture Sakamoto and subdue her? And then what?

Shaking her head Kiriko realized that it didn't matter what she would do afterward. She would get there a step at a time, the first thing she had to do was get Sakamoto to calm down. Capture her if need be. But she couldn't be throwing around Ceros like this before someone else came to investigate, and no matter what happened this was Kiriko's responsibility. It was her friend and Sakamoto deserved to have Kiriko handle this transgression.

It was tough to fight with that intent, to subdue rather than to harm. Kiriko had always considered herself well prepared for that kind of task, it had been one of the main reasons her mission count was so high, but after the past few months of glorying in her own ability to kill it was difficult to reign in instincts. Nonetheless she brought up her hands swiftly and directed her most powerful Bakudo at the girl. If this did not work, she wasn't sure what would, with her energy lagging as it was. The chilling rains did nothing to help her and Kiriko was glad for the heat from earlier now because it had momentarily warmed her muscles back up to speed. She had no time for an incantation so she simply molded the reiatsu around her opponent as eight black holes appeared around Sakamoto with a ninth dawning on her chest. The force of her energy should keep Sakamoto pinned, but would her spell be strong enough now that the girl was filled with the dark powers of a Hollow?

WC: 1118 | GP: 22 | Total GP: 105

First Action Spent on Block. 120 vs 100, Advantaged Attacker. Master Hakuda versus Advanced Cero drops it to Equivalent. Blocking with hardened areas means no damage check.

Second Action spent using Bakudo Number Seventy-Nine: Kuyo Shibari. Hits at 125 Spirit. Autohit.

>Spell Name: Bakudō Number Seventy-Nine: Kuyō Shibari (九曜縛, Nine Sunlight Traps)
>Level(s) of release the tech is available at: Sealed+
>Relevant Skill(s) & Ranks: Bakudō - Advanced
>Stat(s) Involved: Spirit
>Flavor Description: Kuyō Shibari is primarily used to disable. The practitioner creates eight black holes with purple outlines that emit spiritual energy in the personal space surrounding the target, with the ninth black hole manifesting in the center of the target's chest. The intended point is to severely immobilize the target.
>Incantation: Unknown
>Effect: Operates at Spirit+25. Operates at Spirit+30 when incanted. Autohit.
>Casting Time: 1 combat action (w/o incantation); 2 combat actions (w/ incantation)
>Duration: Varies
>Limitations: Cooldown of 2 rounds on all Advanced or higher Bakudō spells. May only attempt this spell once.
>Stamina Cost: 6 Stamina; 6 Stamina to maintain the binding per round

STA Spent: 6

REI 180

STA 59/118

Kiriko watched as her friend squirmed, the rain slicking her hair to her forehead as she tried to shake off the imperturbable feeling inside. This was Sakamoto-san, the woman who was responsible for Kiriko being able to invent Shunko, and yet, looking at her now writing under the control of a Hollow she felt nothing but regret. Would she be forced to terminate her friend because of this weakness inside the girl's soul? Would even her first real relationship end when Kiriko had to chose order over chaos? She knew in her heart what she would always chose, what mattered more then momentary blips of happiness in her days. Professionalism and the importance of the mission, those were things bred into each Nibantai member. She took them further then even the best, but she had to. To survive what her hands were forced into doing. She had the responsibility now. To lead by example. And that meant, as always, to excise her beating heart. The merciful side of her that only led to weakness.

Her Bakudo held strong, but she could feel the tension and cracking pressure as Sakamoto struggled against the binding. If she could focus her attention instead of concentrating on whatever held her mind she would have been able to break it. That was the honest truth, but Kiriko had to be glad for the reprieve she had received. For whatever reason it was not broken yet. She still had a chance to save Sakamoto-san. To return her to her senses.

Kiriko hadn't been planning beyond the capture, but now looking at her friend she didn't know what to do. How could she stop what was raging beneath the skin? How could she help Sakamoto conquer this beast inside? In the end, it didn't matter, as the woman's hand twitched towards Kiriko – the only signal she received before what felt like hundreds of lights went off in her face. Too quick to do anything but stand there, the blows rained down like fireworks, spritzing and exploding against her skin. It was a cacophony of bursting lights, but despite being much higher in number these ceros were far weaker then the first blast that had been sent at her. So weak in fact that they did little other then warm her skin. Kiriko's spiritual energy was strong enough to keep her body intact, and ignoring the flash and momentary blindness she stood unscathed after the barrage. Clothes smoking as her body dried completely in spite of the pouring rains.

She stared through the smoke, confused. Sakamoto had to know she should push better then that against Kiriko, right? Their fight so far hadn't been so... anticlimactic. So what was going on in there? Was the Hollow side of her soul really so... lacking in thought? And what would happen when that beast realized it had a Shinigami body under its control. A soul that could perform incredible feats with Sakamoto's Zanpakutou... A shiver of apprehension ran through her and she knew right away that she had to end this now, while she still had the chance and the energy. They stood only a few paces away from each other, and yet the distance seemed tripled. As if, no matter what she tried to do, Kiriko could not reach out and touch her friend. She had never been able to help anyone anyway, not when it really mattered.

Aneue chittered again, that honeyed sweet voice chiming in with a sinister giggle, “Imoutou, the solution is simple isn't it? Just kill her. Look, she's frozen in place right now. You could walk up there and slit her throat, and then all that pretty blood would be out in the air for- ,” Kiriko shuddered and tried to ignore the macabre image and the sword subsided with a long sigh. “Well, okay, so that doesn't matter Imoutou! But listen, I'm the smart one right? You can't survive without me. So just listen to what your big sister is saying... If you kill her, you'll be a hero. If you kill her, the struggle will be over with, you can return home to praise and adulation. Think what Kyousuke would think of you when he returns. The whole world would be happy with you...”

“Don't talk like you know what he would feel,” Kiriko whispered in a strained voice. Aneue always had these.... these urges. Kiriko had followed them in the past, with that Quincy and those school children, but afterward she... well, the things she had done were not all good. Besides, Sakamoto was her friend. Even though she had committed the taboo act, she still was important to Kiriko. She still could be saved. If Kiriko had been given the chance to be cured then why didn't Sakamoto deserve that very same opportunity? She couldn't attack just because it would be easier. Or because she would gain fame for having killed a Hollowed-Shinigami. Those things, they didn't sit easy with her, and Kiriko decided consciously to ignore the mutterings of her Zanpakutou.

But she still had to make this better. She still had to fix Sakamoto somehow. There was only one opportunity that Kiriko could think of. If she could knock her opponent out then maybe this would all revert. Maybe the Hollow would lose control and Sakamoto would come back to herself. It was her only idea, they didn't exactly teach a class on Hollow subversion in the Academy. Scoffing at that idea Kiriko lurched forward towards the pinned girl. She knew what needed to happen, it was dangerous but less so when the target was frozen in place. She just had to hit her in the exact right place to induce unconsciousness. Or serious injury, anything to knock this Hollow out of the girl's head. They were close enough to safety, if Sakamoto was really hurt then Kiriko could race her to the Third in time.

She approached, and she struck with as much force as she could muster. Kiriko was not the strongest soul, she had never claimed to be, but her knowledge of where to hit far surpassed most combatants. She used all of that information to land a blow terrible enough to shake Sakamoto free from the chains of this Hollow that had stolen her mind.

WC: 1051 | GP: 21 | Total GP: 126

Second Action: Strike using Ikkotsu, Lethal Strike, Shutdown and Penetration for a strike at 150 Spirit Speed (100+10+20+20 | base, Intent, Hakuda, Ikkotsu), 140 Spirit Power (100 + 20 + 20 | base, Intent, Ikkotsu). This strike hits at +3 ranks in severity due to Shunko, Lethal Strike, and Penetration. It effectively hits at Grandmaster Hakuda due to Shutdown. The requirement for blocking the unarmed attack is raised by one due to Mastered Hakuda.

Name: Ikkotsu ("Single Bone") | 1st Free Technique
Level(s) of release the tech is available at: All
Relevant Skill(s) & Ranks: Hakuda at Intermediate
Stat(s) Involved: Strength
Flavor Description: A powerful single-fisted punch.
Effect: Increases the practitioner's strength by +20 for the duration of the technique.
Casting Time: Single Action
Duration: Single Action
Limitations: None
Cooldown (if any): None
Stamina Cost: 4 stamina

Name: Lethal Strike | 3rd Free Technique
Level(s) of release the tech is available at: Sealed
Relevant Skill(s) & Ranks: Master Hakuda
Stat(s) Involved: Strength
Flavor Description: There are many weak points on the body and anatomical precision in battle can be the gateway to finishing a fight in one blow. With the proper knowledge a combatant can aim their strikes for vital areas, the throat, liver, kidneys, eyes, etc. These tender spots are more susceptible to damage and when struck cause much more harm to the victim than a blow to muscled flesh. A well placed strike can very easily bring down even the strongest of opponents if you know where to hit. 
Effects: User's strike gains an extra rank in wound severity. 
Casting Time: Instantaneous
Duration: 1 Combat Action
Limitations: N/A
Cooldown (if any): 1 turns
Stamina Cost: 8 STA

Name: Shutdown | 7^th Free Technique
Level: Sealed+
Relevant Skill: Master Hakuda
Affected Stats: None
Flavor: Years of studying body language have honed Kiriko's own ability to hide her movements and intentions in battle. Knowing how even the faintest eye movement or shift can telegraph your next move Kiriko has managed to excise all signs from her fighting style making her a highly unpredictable opponent.
Effect: By disguising her intent Kiriko can treat her Hakuda as one rank higher for a skill check (Skill vs. Skill).
Casting Time: Passive
Duration: Single-Check
Limitations: None
Cooldown: None
Stamina Cost: 4 STA

Penetration
8 STA, Instant
Having powerful insight into the opponent's weaknesses allows Kiriko to strike with untold power at a soft point. Increases wound severity of an unarmed strike by one. Effect stacks with all other severity boosts.

Bakudo maintained for 6 STA. 

STA Spent: 30

REI 180

STA 29/118

Kiriko panted as she drew in for the strike, her eyes narrowed to a dagger's edge as she pushed every last ounce of energy into the hit. Once this landed, it would all be over. Finally. Then she could start worrying about how to save Sakamoto and how to erase the signs of this struggle from any investigation. Already the ground was singed by the singular marks of a cero, it would be hard to disguise what had happened here today. Sakamoto writhed beneath the black bindings as if a true demon in the midst of an exorcism, and Kiriko closed her eyes at the last second, unwilling to watch the evil surge within her friend.
 
There was a flash of wind, a gust that ruffled her hair and clothes even in spite of her protective aura. Kiriko's fist passed through air, her body hurtling forward indiscriminately as her balance was sent off kilter because she had expected to hit solid force instead of... nothing. Eyes shooting open she gasped, a breathy noise from low in her throat, as Sakamoto's body blurred and shifted before totally disappearing. What stood before her eyes was something she had never seen before, a movement so swift that for a second she had believed her fist really had made contact, but instead she lost all visual contact with the target.

Spinning on her heel she cast out with wild eyes, desparate to catch sight of Sakamoto. The worst thing in battle was to lose tactile awareness of your opponent. Damn it! She was too surprised at the amazing speed to even realize the shift in the flow of battle. Something drastic had changed, and yet it was impossible! People didn't just get that much faster, that much stronger! Not in seconds!

With a lurching dread, even as she shuddered to regain her proper balance and rotate her lower body into a mobile stance, Kiriko felt the realization hit her like a bunch of bricks. Sakamoto-san... Sakamoto-san had been holding back the whole time! It was only now, with that wretched Hollow in her head, that the woman was showing her true power! Shame coursed through Kiriko's veins, a bitter pill that caused her eyes to glitter queerly in the flickering light of her Shunko. This whole time... She had been fighting at her best, and feeling so confident in herself. At the worst they seemed tied, and at the best she kept making headway. But in truth it was all an illusion! Sakamoto had been stronger all along!

She had no time to digest this bit of reality, because an incredibly power sucked away the oxygen in the air as her head finally tilted upward and caught sight of Sakamoto. Clinging in the sky like a spider in a web, braces of ice poised in her direction. And in the blink of an eye, faster than any attack she had ever seen, those shards of frozen liquid descended for her. Kiriko knew defeat in that moment, felt the utter pain of exhaustion and weakness. But she was not the same as before, she had been perfected. Crystallized in her chrysalis. Honed to a sharp edge.

Kiriko let out a skittering laugh, equal parts desperation and horror, as she instinctively called upon the flame like reiatsu surrounding her to solidify into a barrier. Arms rose up to block her face and neck, elbows angled inward to block off her upper chest. There was no time for anything more, for a better defense, because the ice had already impacted with her Shunko fueled Bakudo. There was a deafening crash, like the scratch of nails against a chalkboard the ice clawed down the sides of her barrier in a hysterical fashion. The wall of reiatsu shuddered, holding place, until in liquid time another set of ice blades crashed into their twins. And then another. It was a torrent of forceful attacks, and the barrier shattered like so much broken glass. Falling bits of light crashed around her ankles, sparkling delightfully in the noon air.

Pain scoured across her arms, slivers of ice digging deep down the whole front of her body. The force had been from up high so not much had curved down towards her stomach, the brunt of the attack slamming like a sledgehammer into her arms and head. There was an odd ringing in her skull, like the chiming of a bell, and she shook her head only to feel the warmth of blood cascading down her forehead into her right eye. Blinking rapidly the gush did not dissipate and she tried to wipe it away, but her arm would not lift. Both of them were frozen in front of her, their outer flesh torn away to reveal pink muscle beneath.

Slowly, painfully, she lowered each arm. Her body moved as if it was filled with rust, the joints mangled by sand. Kiriko had been badly injured, but despite this being one of her first truly bloody encounters her muscles still knew what to do. The pain had not broken her mind or her control, and bit by bit she lowered herself into a ready stance.

She stared up at the pinned form of Sakamoto. Despair clawed at her chest, ugly slashing hands that gripped and grabbed at her insides leaving finger prints all over her soul. She could do nothing that she hadn't tried before. Kido would fail her, just as it already had, and Kiriko lacked any other ranged attacks. Her body ached with a dull sort of lagging pain, resonating with each heartbeat, and she knew herself to be weakening rapidly with the continual blood loss. There was nothing, nothing she could do in this instance, to get close and attack again. It took all she had to stand tall and glare at that demon with all the buried hatred in her soul.

How dare it do this to her! How dare that bitch of a Hollow lay one hand on her! Cause her to bleed? She would rend that body in two! She would rip out its bones and feast on that grinning face! Her heart was pounding so rapidly she thought it might burst, and with a startled nonchalance she realized that the wrathful anger inside of her was pouring out from the sword at her side. Aneue had grown ice cold, searing into her hip bone, as the sword spirit spiraled upward in utter violence. She couldn't separate the two, her pain and the sword's rage, they were both so blessedly pure. Twining into a fusion of passion and obsession.

“Sakamoto-san, I will kill you if you do not gain control of yourself. Mark my words, this foul beast of yours will die today one way or another! Do not make me hurt you, you are better then this thing inside of you!” she growled, her voice guttural and low, the damning tension of her very marrow urging her to attack endlessly without mercy. But Kiriko was still herself, was still the one in control of this body, and she knew Sakamoto to be her friend. She would give her that last chance to wrest authority from that which was ruling her now. Sakamoto was strong, she could do it! And if not... Then her hand would be forced. Kiriko would have to kill her to salvage the honor of her friend. Better to be dead then to be an abomination. That was what Seireitei said, and it had to be true, right?
 
WC: 1256 | GP: 25 | Total GP: 151
 

Notes: I talked to several mechanics members and all agree that barrage works as Tova told me and we discussed. Damage doesn't stack, it just occurs multiple times. 
 
First Action: Used Shunko: Protection to block incoming barrage attack. 150 versus 150. Equivalent Defender. GM ZR versus Mastered Hakuda changes it to Advantaged Attacker. Block was partially successful and lowers attack damage by two ranks. Damage Check ensues. 150 Power versus 100 Defense. Superior Attacker. Barrage of three attacks, so three Severe Wounds, lowered to Moderate due to partially successful block. Three Moderate wounds sustained. 
 
Second Action: Not taken.
 
 Name: Shunko: Protection | 4th Free Technique
Level(s) of release the tech is available at: Sealed
Relevant Skill(s) & Ranks: Master Hakuda, Basic Shunko
Stat(s) Involved: Spirit
Flavor Description: The reiryoku of a Shunko aura can be used for many different purposes. Kiriko has figured out a way to utilize Bakudo mixed in with her aura creating a physical shield to block incoming attacks. Through the force of her physical block she has learned how to augment the spiritual energy with Hakuda making for a more efficient blocking style that by nature of the Shunko aura applies to her entire body.
Effect: A Bakudo barrier forms over the body of the user for one turn. User makes block checks using Spirit plus base Strength. Any area on the body counts as a hardened area if the blocks are successful.
Casting Time: Instantaneous
Duration: 1 Turn
Limitations: N/A
Cooldown (if any): N/A
Stamina Cost: X where X is 2 STA for each ten Strength augmenting Spirit + 6 STA

16 STA spent

Rei 180

STA 13/118 

Kiriko felt the fire within her chest expanding with each fluttering breath. Her legs shook with the effort it took to stand upright, her arms ached to fall to her sides, but she refused to let herself fail. Kiriko never failed, she never gave up, and she was always, always, perfect. It was sheer grit that kept her mobile, and guts alone that had her glaring so ferociously up at Sakamoto. Kiriko's glare had always been formidable, her social tool of choice, and even with her body slipping into a hazy patch of numbness she continued to scowl up at the Hollow dominated woman with such derisive anger that it burned.

Her body was filled with the burning flames of scorned pride and wrath, the liquid courage coursing through her veins and giving her just enough arrogance that she could spout out such an ultimatum as she had. This fight had been going in her favor the whole time, until it became apparent that Sakamoto had been holding back the entire length of their spar. It smarted, that truth, and she felt a rage so deep that it was almost black in her heart. A jealous vindictive excitement that forced her to stand tall and strong, to still her wobbling calves and to square her shoulders in the face of an insurmountable opponent. She was not beat yet! Not yet. And it didn't matter what the odds were here, it didn't matter what logic said, because Kiriko never failed! Never! And she would not allow Sakamoto to be the first to ruin that track record, not when her friend wasn't even herself but instead filled with the hellish spawn of a Hollow.

Before she could blink, her lashes ghosting like paper kisses across her cheeks, there was an explosion of movement and she felt her body propelled backwards. Slamming rigidly into a tree the bark and thick trunk were pulped beneath the force, only her superior spiritual body holding up against such blunt force trauma as the tree splintered around her. There was a scream full of penultimate rage, a shriek so vibrant that it shook the marrow in her bones, and Kiriko blinked away blood as her hands scrabbled at the wrists enclosed around her neck. Aneue howled in hysterics, the sword so far gone that there were no discernible words, only convulsive cries of apoplexy as the sword spirit went insane at the slowly sinking in reality.

No one had ever beaten her perfect self. The loss to Tova, that was to be expected, required even for shedding her old shell of weakness and dawning the new age. This though, this defeat was entirely different. It was a thorough thrashing that had no excuse, no label, no disclaimer. It was pure and simple loss. And Aneue could not allow such a thing. The blade would not be thrown into the dirt so easily, so casually. As her sword called for a blood bath, Kiriko slowly blinked again, eyes focusing faintly on the face of the woman who was attempting to strangle her.

Sakamoto's features swam in and out of focus, black spots dancing across her vision, but Kiriko could see the expression well enough to realize something. As Sakamoto strangled her, the Hollow controlling the body, there was no expression on that face. No glee, no hatred, no vindictive pride. The Hollow didn't care one whit about Kiriko, or defeating her, or even killing her. She was just acting, like any animal, lashing out to damage while the greater struggle was within. And that knowledge, which only served to enrage Aneue further, sunk in Kiriko's stomach like the pelting of tiny pebbles in a grand lake. Each sinking rock 'plinking' against what should be a calm surface until the entire thing was roiling like a slowly building boil.

Aneue shrieked in her ears, the wrathful spirit singing the call for death, but in that moment Kiriko ignored the blade. She put a mental blocker in, like an invisible wall, separating her thoughts from the Zanpakutou. In the quite that ensued she thought, and thought deeply, realizing what it meant that this creature was trying to kill her without even any emotion about her death. What it meant that Sakamoto was going to let this happen.

And she watched those bland features with a hawk's eye, catching the first real flinch and rigid gasp as the two minds fought over who was in control. She followed the interplay of microexpressions and could almost read what was going on between the two struggling people. When the time came and Sakamoto overpowered her captor, hands going slack as Kiriko dropped to her feet, the look on the face before her was perfect. Caught in time, slack jawed and utterly exhausted, but triumphant. And that was when Kiriko knew for a fact that whatever this parasite was, whatever had happened to her friend, whatever it meant to be tainted by a Hollow --- It truly was Sakamoto in there. Her friend hadn't been destroyed, or weakened, or lessened. It was Sakamoto who had overcome that beast, who was not defined by the Hollow but was instead its master.

As she weaved unsteadily, her body held standing only through muscle memory and a stiff backbone, Kiriko watched her friend closely. She had taken the study of expression and body language far beyond the normal ken, and it had served her well in battle as well as in politics. But today was the first day that she realized what a gift she had been given with this knowledge. Today, when it would have been so easy to listen to Aneue screaming that death's dirge, today when she would have so happily fallen to angry vengeance against a careless friend, today was when Kiriko had been given the gift of insight. Without her ability to read expressions she so easily would have believed that Sakamoto had tried to kill her, that Sakamoto was the monster she had just seen, that Sakamoto couldn't control herself, and a million other dark thoughts. All those things would have painted her path for her, unerringly, and Kiriko would have had just one choice for action. To kill Sakamoto before she lost control again, before she hurt anyone else, before that Hollow destroyed what was left of her personality.

Without her insight she might have made a grave mistake today, and lost one of her truest friends. But because of her knowledge of body language Kiriko could stare at that fallen body without malice, could turn away from the anger of her Zanpakutou and look at Sakamoto as she really was. As her friend.

She was not sure where the events of today would take her, or what to do about this situation, but Kiriko was positive of one thing. Sakamoto might be blighted by the most taboo of all subjects, but she was still the same person inside. Kiriko leaned over at the hip, one hand folded across her thigh to provide a fulcrum as she offered her free hand to Sakamoto, “Come on... We need to talk.” Her voice was tired, raw even, but without emotion of any type. 

WC: 1201 | GP: 24 | Total GP: 175