Torrents of Pain (Closed[R] Group: Aki/Mitsu)

It was cold, that day. Cold and wet. Rain hovered on the horizon, spattering down in inconsistent greeting. Mitsutaka's hair and outer clothes were wet, but thankfully the leather-bound volume in his breast pocket remained intact. That book held the summary of all the researcher's decades- no, centuries, he corrected himself- of work. It wasn't priceless to him; he had a thousand more, detailed tomes of data hidden safe within his Inner World... but the book was one of his three treasured possessions. My clothes... he adjusted his white shirt and patted down the black pants he wore, then smoothed his school jacket and adjusted the glasses perched upon his nose. My book... he touched the leather volume once more, checking its place in his pocket. And, of course, you. He gripped his Zanpakutou's handle, eliciting a painful jolt of shared joy. Mitsutaka winced slightly, but recognized the friendly signal for what it was. Will you ever stop hurting me? Kowareta gave a mental chuckle. Will you ever gain an appreciation for pain? Mitsutaka sighed. It was not an uncommon topic, and it always ended the same way. He righted himself and walked on.

It was cold and wet. As he'd been preening, the sky had begun to cry more earnestly. The drops that so recently had been only rarely spattering onto the researcher now came in a steady flow, dripping down his hair and on his glasses. Running down his clothes in streams, rivulets appearing on his coat's points... he didn't mind the rain. He never had, even on his first day in the Rukongai. Oh, how it had rained then. Rained as hard as it looks about to, he thought while peering up into the sky. It was lonely without you, partner. Kowareta, for once, stayed silent. Mitsutaka didn't mind the rain.

As he walked, he thought of the task he was currently moving towards. A most fascinating student- friend, he corrected again- was waiting to spar with him. Just the idea made his spine tingle, though he was normally indisposed to battle. Kowareta, he lamented, where is the Mitsutaka who cared not for battle? What has having you as my constant companion done to me? Kowareta tsked. Foolish boy. Denounce the joys of battle if you will, but then you must deny that you enjoy the clarity it brings you. Forsake the adrenaline running throughout your body. Say it isn't at least a bit invigorating. As if to accentuate the point, shocks ran through the researcher's body. Each one began in his left hand clutching the Zanpakutou's hilt and traveled through his body, terminating in his extremities. Mitsutaka shivered, but maintained his grip.
He couldn't deny he enjoyed it.

And so he was here, in Rukongai, to fight with Akimoto. That was all that really mattered. Soon, they would clash their swords and pierce each other with magick and steel. Mitsutaka's grin was a feral one, exposing his canines, insinuating a silent growl. His lament for a past, untainted version of himself screamed at him once, and faded away. He paid it no mind. Weakness, went his constant reminder, is deadly. The strong survive, feasting on the flesh of the innocent and cruel alike. To beat the system, one first must grow strong by any methods available to him. Walking somewhat more quickly now, it was mere minutes before he felt Akimoto's Reiatsu, and few more before he was within the clearing. His left thumb slid Kowareta upwards, his right hand twitching to grab the blade and begin.

"Good afternoon, Akimoto-san. Are you ready? Shall we establish any rules before we start?" Fight with your all, or die. Fight with your all, or have no reason for living.

Lightning cracked and thundered around them, throwing their features into sharp relief. The rain continued to fall on the just and unjust alike, and at the moment Mitsutaka cared not which he was. He grinned savagely again and waited for the signal to begin. He ran his mind over the preparations he'd made, some Kidou based, some otherwise. He inwardly bowed his appreciation to circumstance for giving him access to the Fourth Division. There were some marvelous devices inside it, indeed. Like the vials that dangled from his sleeves and ankles, like the sheath he'd put around his book to protect it. "Rain will have no chance to damage whatever lies inside," the store-keeper had said. Who knows? Perhaps I'll even get to use my trump card today.

Whatever the outcome, he couldn't wait.

[750 words | =15GP | Σ15GP ]

"Good afternoon, Akimoto-san. Are you ready? Shall we establish any rules before we start?"[/b]

Akimoto could barely hear the words coming from Mitsutaka over the claps of thunder that were roaring across the sky. Calling back to him the student said, “Good afternoon to you as well. There is only one rule. Give this everything you have got. If we are supposed to be able to call upon one another, we should be able to truly believe that doing so is worth the effort. Shy would someone spend precious seconds that could be used to save the life of the one they love to call upon someone that isn't able to help?”

Standing up, Aki unsheathed his wakizashi. The short blade glistened in the brief instances of lightning. The individual droplets of water running down the Zanpakutō added to this effect, each one refracting the light in new directions. The beauty of it was nearly entrancing, but now was not the time for beauty. Now was the time for war. Looking at the man standing in the field with him, he wondered what had been going through his mind. The fight had been scheduled for quite some time now, so preparations had to have been made, there was no way that an officer in the Research and Development Division would show up for a battle unprepared. Well, Aki had prepared a thing or two as well. He had been working on some new Kidō techniques that he was sure Mitsu hadn't heard about. Hell, he had to learn them on his own. There had been no records in the Fourth Division records of these techniques, but he had heard a faint whisper of them long ago. The fun he was going to have...

Taking up a battle position against Mitsu, the young man threw one more thought in, “If I force you to use your Shikai, something is horribly wrong. Also, if you use your Shikai just for the fun of it, you are a sick individual. Then again, that is why I like you.” Flashing his bright smile again, the golden-haired youth dashed at his temporary foe. The grass was beginning to get damp, but had not yet reached the point where it would lose traction. That was good. The last thing that Akimoto needed was to slip and fall upon his opening charge. Pointing his left hand towards him, the young man yelled, “Bakudō 1! Sai!” As soon as the words had left his mouth, he took a haphazard swing at the man's left shoulder. The slash was falling at an angle that, if it connected, would cross neatly from left shoulder to right hip. Of course, there was no way that the officer would let that happen...was there?

Word Count: 464
GP: 9 (21)
Total: 23

Stamina: 50 - 1 for post, and 1 for kido
New: 48

Akimoto responded in kind, mimicking the researcher's thoughts. "There is only one rule. Give this everything you have got." The thunder made it difficult to discern his words, but Kowareta's better "ears" confirmed Mitsutaka's. They both braced themselves, eagerness overflowing. The student said some other words he didn't hear, then finished with a strong stance. "Why would someone spend precious seconds that could be used to save the life of the one they love to call upon someone that isn't able to help?” Mitsutaka began to laugh quietly. "No reason at all! So let's prove that worthiness to each other without delay!" The two paused, looking at each other under the heavy storm. The researcher watched his friend pull out his Zanpakutou and stare at it, entranced. Mitsutaka, never taking his eyes off his opponent, stroked his companion's hilt. Ready, partner? Never more, came Kowareta's vicious reply. Still, Mitsutaka did not draw the blade, eliciting a moan of anticipation. Wait for the right moment, he hushed. Hold your strength until appropriate.

They waited, rain falling down to spatter on the wet grass and ground. Mud was becoming prevalent in the center of their makeshift arena, and Mitsutaka cautioned himself not to step in it. Not only would it slow him down, his clothes might get dirty. Finally, Akimoto took a ready stance. He cast one parting shot before he charged, prompting a laugh from Mitsutaka: “If I force you to use your Shikai, something is horribly wrong. Also, if you use your Shikai just for the fun of it, you are a sick individual. Then again, that is why I like you.” The researcher laughed loud and awaited the attack he knew would come. Sure enough, Akimoto rushed across the clearing, blade bared. Kowareta screamed in pleasure. Hurry! Hurry! Hurt us! Let us hurt you! Impale yourself on our good will! He struggled to leap out of his sheath, but Mitsutaka held the hilt down. Wait for... the right... moment... But then his foe did something surprising. He cast Bakudo- the least difficult spell, Sai, but still possibly formidable. Mitsutaka was caught off guard, and as such actually let his arms attempt to snap behind his back for a split second. Shaking off the spell, he broke the bindings. Damn, he thought in shock. I had no idea he was so good with Kidou. If he could do something like that with just a non-incanted Sai... His train of thought, though, was brought to an abrupt end. A slash descended from his left shoulder to right hip, intending to slice him across.

Slow, thought Mitsutaka angrily. "Too slow to cut me!" He repeated, this time out loud. His left hand steadying Kowareta's sheath, he partially drew the sword out, just enough to block the strike. A clash of colliding metal sounded, Kowareta's scream of joy echoing it. Then the full force of Akimoto's strike bore down on him. He's powerful! For a moment, he backpedaled several steps before the researcher could put his full strength behind his blade. When he did, the momentum immediately reversed. He pushed Akimoto back, then, eyes widening, threw his opponent back with contemptuous ease. Power, but no strength... Mitsutaka frowned. He hoped his friend had an ace up his sleeve, or the battle might be over entirely too soon. Kowareta, now free of his sheath, could only agree.

Backing away, the researcher held his blade straight up towards the sky. He paused and addressed his opponent. "You'd be wrong if you merely thought my Shikai is an evil power. I will show you a function more to your liking... should you make me release. Have at you!" Lowering the blade, he flash-stepped behind Akimoto, launching an immediate strike at his right side. He wouldn't aim to kill, but this attack would hurt if it connected. If it was blocked, he intended to use Byakurai to punch a hole in his opponent's right arm.

OOC: Don't forget stamina, and the new Kidou costs.
[658 words | =13GP | Σ28GP ]
{59ST - 1(Shunpo) - 1(Post) = 57 STAMINA}

The man was able to get his blade up to block just in time, but he was still nearly toppled over for some reason. Akimoto knew that he had no strength or skill in Zanjutsu, so there should have been no way that a strike like that should have caused that much disarray. That made little point now, however. He needed to focus on the battle. The aftermath could be focused upon later. A clap of thunder roared across the land, and in its wake rose Mitsu's voice, "You'd be wrong if you merely thought my Shikai is an evil power. I will show you a function more to your liking... should you make me release. Have at you!"

With a flash of lightning, the man used a Shun-po and disappeared. Aki couldn't keep up with him visually, and so had to rely on his perception of Reiatsu to find his foe. It was always a tad difficult for him to sense spiritual pressure, and he was slowly learning. Slowly learning was not going to be good enough. Instead, the direction that the rain drops were falling changed drastically. The rain fell against his face briefly as opposed to against the back of his head. It took him a little too long to realize what it meant, and he felt the edge of a blade being inserted into his side. His immediate response was to grab the wrist of the sword arm attacking him. Then he thought about how he could spice it up a bit.

Reaching quickly for his attacker's wrist, he said quietly, “Bakudō 8, Seki” As his hand shot towards the incoming attack, a small blue orb formed in his palm. The orb connected with the Mitsu's wrist, and immediately the tip of the blade left his side. On the same hand, Akimoto pointed a finger backwards and said, “Shō.” A quick burst of spirit energy shot from his finger, if it connected, the man would be launched backwards a ways. His arm was already on its way out, being rapidly repulsed and partially paralyzed by the Seki. Sending his body backwards would give Akimoto time to come up with an attack plan. That being said, Mitsu-san probably had a plan already formulated. He was a crafty individual.

As the burst left his fingertip, however, a searing pain ripped through his right arm. He felt and understood that the pain was caused by a Byakurai far before the words hit his ears. As the white ray of lightning pierced through his arm, he knew that he was in for a lot of trouble now. Aki felt his grip on Masshirona loosening already, and immediately knew that his right arm was out of commission. This would have to be an off-hand battle. That was alright, he could shoot a Kidō from any hand he wanted. Still, the pain in his arm was horrible, and all he did was hopefully knock him back a bit. The situation looked grim, and the battle had only been going for maybe five seconds.

Word Count: 513
GP: 10 (34)
Total: 33

Stamina: 48 – 1 for post, 2 for Kidōs
New: 45

To Mitsutaka's surprise, his sword encountered little resistance as it swung into his golden-haired opponent's side. Slightly taken off guard by the lack of opposition, the strike faltered slightly. Instead of truly cutting, his blade made more of a feint than intended. What? I could have ended it right there? Mitsutaka felt somewhat disappointed. Now that I have my blood pumping, what's the point of cutting it off so quickly? Kowareta, however, merely sighed in contentment. Stop your whining and enjoy his pain. The pain of waiting for battle is a pleasure in itself... the researcher rolled his eyes and squeezed the Zanpakutou's hilt. Hypocrite, he thought. All the disappointment aside, however, Mitsutaka decided to seize the presented opportunity. Muttering quietly, he began the lightning-bolt's incantation. "One spark, three eyes, imperfect tear." as he did, though, he heard a small murmur from Akimoto. It was too quiet to make out, but its effect was made clear. A blue orb in his palm connected with Mitsutaka's wrist, and flung his arm away to the side. It took a great deal of the researcher's strength to maintain a grip on his blade.

He stumbled, badly off balance and wrist hurting. Damn, he thought without passion. That was excellent spell placement. Aw, hurt your hand a bit? He's surprisingly good at Kidou. Even such a small spell hurt. As his arm was flung out to the side, though, he put his follow-up into action. He finished the incantation, whispering the last words. "Ye god of lightning, grant one spear. Hadou 4, Byakurai." When the last phrase was said, a blue-white bolt of electricity shot from his left hand and drilled through Akimoto's right arm. A smell of burnt flesh hung in the air. If I aimed aright, that arm should be near-useless. The researcher smiled, completely sure of himself. As his attack finished, though, Mitsutaka saw a small burst of blue energy flying at his chest. Evidently his opponent had used the first Hadou on him. And with such finesse, Kowareta confirmed. Hardly incanted at all! Then the spell hit him.

Mitsutaka, already unbalanced by Akimoto's first spell, had no choice but to bear the brunt of the second. The blast flattened against him and blew him backwards with surprising force. The researcher's eyes were wide with surprise as he went flipping away several yards before he could stop himself. "Not bad, Akimoto-san," he congratulated, "but it'll take more than that to fell me. What will you do now? Your arm is crippled and my strength exceeds yours... is this all you brought to this battle? Surely you have something more!" Mitsutaka didn't really imagine the student's full capabilities had been revealed in this short time, but he hoped the goading would unleash more of Akimoto's potential. He isn't really the type of person who would rise to a taunt, but no matter. If it doesn't work I'll just beat it out of him. Through the Shinigami, Kowareta grinned.

Now standing a foot or so in the air, Mitsutaka smoothed down his clothes. "Well, student-san? What next? Shall I cut you, or you me? The next move is yours." He gave a short bow. He assumed a ready stance once more, left hand in his pocket. "Make me use both hands. Fight with your all. You think this is nearly enough to protect her?" If the previous taunts hadn't cut, he knew this one would. His bespectacled eyes watched Akimoto carefully. The next move he was certain would be a deciding factor in the battle at hand.

[593 words | =12GP | Σ40GP ]
{57ST - 3(Hadou4) - 1(Post) = 53 STAMINA}

"Not bad, Akimoto-san, but it'll take more than that to fell me. What will you do now? Your arm is crippled and my strength exceeds yours... is this all you brought to this battle? Surely you have something more!"

The man was taunting him. Like that would have any effect? Akimoto was a peaceful person in spirit, and careless taunts like these would have no bearing upon the battle. Mitsu had ever right to taunt however, as the hole in his arm was preventing him from even using his fingers on that hand.

"Well, student-san? What next? Shall I cut you, or you me? The next move is yours."

The officer bowed slightly as he spoke, which sparked a small flame deep within the student. He knew that the man was simply attempting to get him to try harder, but this wasn't going to cut it. The white-haired Shinigami didn't stop there however, and continued to speak.

"Make me use both hands. Fight with your all.”

The words bounced off of the young man harmlessly. Telling him to try harder wasn't going to work.

“You think this is nearly enough to protect her?"

As the golden-haired youth turned around to face Mitsu-san, who was now a fair distance away from where he had been, the small flame suddenly burned brightly, if only for a second. How dare he challenge like that. There was no way that Akimoto was going to let that fly. “Oniisan, he is trying to make you angry, don't listen to him...” Masshirona was right, but the words had already hit home. “Hush little one, I am going to show this man how I protect the ones I love.” With that, the young man grabbed the Zanpakutō with his left hand, and slowly slid it back into its sheath. The man wanted to see how Akimoto would protect the woman he loved? Fine. Looking directly at the man in front of him, he asked a simple question: “Do you know what a Nijū Eishō is?”

Holding his left hand out, aimed at the Fourth Division officer, Akimoto began to chant. “Ye lord! Mask of blood and thunder, all creation, bridge of a flutter of wings, ye who bears the name of Man! Inferno and pandemonium, the sea barrier surges, dividing into six!” As he spoke, a light formed at his fingertips. The light was much like a Shakkahō in nature, and emanated an aura of destruction. When it fired, however, it did not launch as a ball of red spirit energy, it instead formed as six rods of yellow light, coming from all sides of Mitsu exactly as a Rikujōkōrō would. The only difference was that the tips of these rods were bathed in red light. To the untrained eye, it would appear as though the sixty-first Bakudō was simply used with the wrong incantation. Those very well versed in the Demon Arts would see it for what it was, a double incantation. Akimoto had combined the chants of Hadō 31 and Bakudō 61 to form this odd concoction of Kidō.

If it hit, the man would be paralyzed for a brief moment, but as soon as all the rods were in place, the Shakkahō would be reformed directly around the midsection of Mitsutaka, and would immediately explode. Instead of being simply shot by the thirty-first Hadō with a full incantation, which was essentially what it was, he was going to be having one practically burst from his stomach. That was, if he wasn't able to evade the Rikujōkōro.

Word Count: 597
GP: 12 (31)
Total: 45

Stamina: 45 – 1 for post, 8 for Kidō
New: 36


[/url][/url][/spoiler]

Mitsutaka's taunt was successful, but more so than he intended. He could feel the tone of their battle change as rain continued to fall, almost as if something had switched inside his opponent. Somehow, everything seemed quieter. A shiver ran through his body, and he tensed with anticipation. Kowareta was beside himself with glee, alternately panting and moaning in anticipation. Something big! Something big is coming! Ah, it's so FUN! Minutely, Mitsutaka could even feel Akimoto's Reiatsu increasing. He supposed that whatever came next, he deserved it for touching on such a sensitive fault. Now, his opponent would be fighting not only for training but for pride as well; he now needed to prove his power to himself, and his opponent. Well, here it comes. I asked for this.

It was lucky Akimoto telegraphed his attack. His right hand hanging useless at his side, the student sheathed his sword. Mitsutaka could barely hear him whispering something to his Zanpakutou- calming it, no doubt. Kowareta strained eagerly at the researcher's side. Eyes calm, Akimoto looked straight across the field. "Do you know what a Nijuu Eishou is," he asked, and without waiting for a response launched into a Kidou spell. Mitsutaka cursed. He's that good? Damn, I underestimated him. If he can do double incantations, then... there was nothing for it. He held a strong, albeit slightly nervous stance, turned so his blade was in front of his right side. Holding his left hand pointed, Akimoto began his incantation. “Ye lord! Mask of blood and thunder, all creation, bridge of a flutter of wings, ye who bears the name of Man! Inferno and pandemonium, the sea barrier surges, dividing into six!” Mitsutaka listened carefully, trying to discern which spells the student was using. It was almost like Bakudou 61, but had several unusual parts. Only half made any sense at all to the researcher; the rest he had no idea from where it came. Immediately he found out.

Six bolts of light shot from his opponent's fingertips and shot to surround Mitsutaka, looking for all the world like a red-tinged Bakudou 61. Either way, he decided, six bolts were too many. So he took the only option with the greatest chance of success: he ran. He was much faster than his opponent, that much he knew, but it quickly became apparent the bolts traveled at a much higher velocity. In fact, several seconds after the spell had begun, they were drawing closer to the researcher with a promise of paralysis and...? He couldn't risk testing what other spell had been mixed in. So he ran, doing his best to pick off the bolts as they drew ever nearer. He got one, two, with a neat slice from his Zanpakutou, but the momentary pause that caused left the bolts that much closer to his midsection, their ultimate quarry. To Mitsutaka's chagrin, he found it necessary to flash-step away from his pursuers. He picked off another, then realized defense was his best option. They were too close to do anything else. He was getting worn out from the running, and another flash step would only prolong the inevitable. He certainly didn't have time for another strike. Thinking quickly, he relied upon the same Bakudou his opponent had used earlier to push his hand away. Speaking quickly, he invoked the shortened, less powerful form of the spell. "Bakudou 8, Seki!" he cried, and a blue disc formed at his midsection. He flung his left arm up at the last moment, seeing how close the Kidou was, and was struck.

One bolt was deflected by the Bakudou, and the other stuck in Mitsutaka's arm. The third, however, made it to its intended destination. As the three struck, he felt a numbness creeping through his body like a torrent of anesthesia. He could not move! He could not move a muscle! A mere moment afterwards, the researcher broke free of the spell. Even fully incanted, just two bolts were not enough to stop him. He smiled in relief. "Is that all," he began to taunt. "Weren't you going to prove-"

Bang.

The Hadou activated, exploding in Mitsutaka's core and left arm. He yelled in pain; it felt like his guts were being ripped apart. When he recovered, he saw the entirety of his waist was covered with blood and most of his clothes were torn at the blast site. His arm was worse off. Without the residual force of Seki protecting his flesh, the blast had rendered the arm completely useless. Blood streamed down his arm and dripped to the ground. He mustered his strength and drove past the pain, Kowareta shrieking in pleasure at the end of his right arm. Fantastic! Simply fantastic! Imagine how badly hurt we'd be if you had just taken the blow... Mitsutaka winced. The thought did not appeal to him. He turned, face somewhat paler than before, and addressed his opponent. "Excellently done, my friend. An arm for an arm...? I assume you're truly fighting now. That was a masterful attack." He bent over and coughed, pain momentarily overwhelming him. When he looked up, it was with eyes madly bright. Kowareta's smile played over his features, and he sprung at Akimoto. "You'll understand if I don't let you do the same again!" No tricks now, merely bloodshed. Mitsutaka intended to pierce his opponent right through the guts, then kick him off his sword and prepare to parry the next. If he was blocked... he decided to think on it later. He could always improvise.

[920 words | =18GP | Σ58GP ]
{53ST - 3(Bakudou6) - 1(Post) - 1(Shunpo) = 48 STAMINA}

As the bolts of light fired forth to capture Akimoto's intended target, the man ran from them as fast as he could, even resorting to Shun-po to attempt a full dodge. After realizing that wasn't possible, he simply deflected a few, leaving only two to hit home. Two bolts would not be enough to restrain him, but the blasts would definitely pack a solid punch. As one hit Mitsu's arm, and the other, his mid-section, the man began to scoff at Aki. That is, until the Shakkahō imbued within the Rikujōkōrō unleashed hell. Then he was doubled over, coughing. "Excellently done, my friend. An arm for an arm...? I assume you're truly fighting now. That was a masterful attack," the man yelled out over the wind and rain, "You'll understand if I don't let you do the same again!" No sooner did the words leave his lips, than did he spring forward, blade homing in on Akimoto's stomach.

As the man dashed towards him, Aki's mind raced. What should he do? He didn't have the strength to block or parry the attack, even if he used a Kidō shield. Instead of blocking, he could dodge, but the man's speed was far greater than his own. When outmatched in speed and strength, what was left but to outwit? That was a farfetched idea, as the man wasn't an officer in the god-damned Research and Development Division for nothing. How could he possibly beat him? Then it hit him. He needed to fight like the life of his love depended on it, as one day...it might.

Immediately, the young man, leaving his left hand at his side, as to not attract attention, said in a hushed whisper, “Bakudō # 21. Sekienton” Dropping to the ground, he placed his left hand, palm down on the ground. Suddenly the air erupted into a plume of red smoke. It was only going to be there for a brief moment due to the wind, but it should be enough. Launching himself forward in a diving tackle, the golden-haired youth shot in the direction where he had last seen Mitsutaka's knees. The man might have changed the direction of his attack to account for the ducking to use the Kidō, and he might even expect the young man to use it to flee. That being said, the last thing anyone would expect from the hopeless romantic would be a full-on charging attack. Mitsu challenged him to prove how he would defend his love, and he was about to find out.

If Akimoto connected, it was sure to knock the white-haired Shinigami off his feet, hell, it might even make him face-plant. If he decided to jump, for whatever reason, it would end up in a face-plant for Aki. The absolute best outcome the student could hope for would be a direct hit into his kneecaps. The impact had the potential to shatter one, if not both, as long as it was solid enough. Although, the chances of that were slim. This man would be prepared for just about anything, and had the reflexes to save himself from that sort of disaster at the very least. Akimoto simply hoped the man didn't resort to more taunting. If he were to succeed in pissing the student off, all hell would break loose...very rapidly.

Word Count: 555
GP: 11 (36)
Total: 56

Stamina: 36 – 1 for post, 3 for Kidō
New: 32

Mitsutaka raced forward with his Zanpakutou gripped tightly, left arm hanging limp at his side. Damn, it hurts. His stomach ached badly, upsetting his balance. Every step twinged a small flash of agony in his midsection. That wound had been well given; the student had truly outdone himself in his attack. And if I can close, that advantage will be taken away. Kowareta merely sighed in pleasure, happy that some pain at least had been caused. Mitsutaka rushed closer, closing the gap between them rapidly. Rain splashed against his face and mixed with the blood running down his waist and left arm, creating runnels of diluted red that spattered on the ground in bursts. He could see Akimoto hesitate in front of him, but knew the student was likely to come up with a plan before he was impaled. Mitsutaka was telegraphing the attack, really, confident that if he missed an alternative method could be taken. Mud splashed under his feet, soiling his already-ruined clothing. Inwardly, he cursed. The first thing I'm doing after the battle is mending my clothes, he silently vowed. Then he was several yards from his opponent and an explosion of smoke appeared where the student had been standing. Mitsutaka couldn't help but smile. Of course he's been goaded to the best of his abilities. Still, he knew he had to be careful with his taunting; if he pushed Akimoto too far he would be likely to expend all his strength in a last-ditch attack. He didn't want that, no matter how much his Zanpakutou pleaded for it.

Mitsutaka returned his thoughts to the battle at hand. There were several options for his opponent to take from this point, none of which were particularly well-fought by leaping straight in. Accordingly, he began to slow down, when suddenly he was pulled forward by Kowareta. His blade's bloodlust, unrestrained by Mitsutaka's normal control, was strong enough to actually yank his arm towards battle. The researcher cursed his overeager Zanpakutou, but managed to turn the movement into a worthwhile attack. Not up, side, or forward, so he must be down or back... accordingly, he aimed low, cutting a swathe about where the student's waist had been. He kept his eyes trained on the cloud, though, just in case his opponent had retreated.
No such luck.

As his blade swept across, it felt only slight resistance, actually cutting off a tuft of Akimoto's hair. To the researcher's surprise, his opponent was diving towards his legs in an attempt to trip him. Mitsutaka was shocked. Had he not slowed down, he could have broken his legs by slamming into the attack with too much velocity. As it was, the surprising move still hurt. Mitsutaka went hurtling over the student's head, landing awkwardly by solidifying the air's Reiatsu. He managed not to go skidding into the muck, but in turn put further strain on his right wrist. Now it, as well as his stomach and left arm hurt quite badly. Growling in irritation, he regained balance and sprung backwards, twisting as he went. Hopefully, with his speed and quick recovery, Akimoto would be still getting up from the tackle when the researcher came upon him. Should such an event occur, Mitsutaka planned to slice his opponent's right arm deep enough to sever the tendon, reducing his ability to use Kidou. He wasn't done fighting, though he'd been hurt so severely. Perhaps it was Kowareta thinking through him, but he wanted this battle to never end. He wanted to continue hacking bits off each other 'till neither opponent could move. A feral grin replaced the irritated scowl on his face, and his eyes lit up in anticipation. So fun! It's so fun!

[614 words | =12GP | Σ70GP ]
{48ST - 1(Post) = 47 STAMINA}

As his body flew forwards, Aki tensed up his shoulders to brace for impact. Either he would hit the ground, or Mitsu's legs. No matter which it was, there was going to be an abrupt stop. Hurdling through the smoke, the young man saw a thin path open up in the red haze, following the edge of a blade. Ducking his head slightly, only a tuft of hair was lopped off. Lucky for him, as the attack could have sliced him open pretty badly. A quick instant later, Akimoto's shoulders slammed into the legs of his foe, who was toppled up into the air. As the student fell to the ground, he rolled slightly to his side, landing on his left arm. He didn't want to land on the arm with a hole in it, that was for sure.

The wind had very rapidly dispersed what remained of the Sekienton, revealing to the golden-haired youth his impending pain. As his eyes found Mitsu-san, he realized that the officer was coming right at him, and he was far too late to get out of the way. Luckily he was laying on his left arm, so as the blade connected, it sunk deep into his right, which already had a hole through it. The pain was excruciating, and Akimoto let out a scream that rose above the wind and rain. The cold, hard metal sunk deep into his flesh, ripping through muscles and tendons. Eventually, the blade hit the bone directly. The impact rocketed pain through the entire right side of the young man, and blood sprayed out of the wound. The look on Mitsu's face was absolutely terrifying, as he seemed more like a wild beast than a researcher.

Akimoto had to think quickly. He needed to retaliate while the man was too close to evade. With what? How could he? The arm he could use for Kidō was underneath him, and his other arm was absolutely dead to him. There was no way he could do anything...or was there? Twisting his hand under him, he aimed the index finger of his left hand at his own body. Aki yelled sharply at the man attempting to slice his arm off, “Shō!” The burst from his hand popped his body up off of the ground, and into the body of the officer. As he rose, the blade sawed against his bone, sending tidal waves of pain through him. Ignoring it as best he could, his left arm swung around, palm open, in an attempt to slap the face of Mitsu. The pain wouldn't be that bad, as Akimoto had very little strength whatsoever, but the Shakkahō he was forming in his left palm would bite like a ravenous beast. His hand closing in on the cheek of the white-haired Shinigami, Aki whispered, “Shakkahō.”
The sphere of red spirit energy swelled up instantaneously in his left hand. If this connected, not only would the resulting explosion blow both of them back, but the side of Mitsu's face and the palm of Aki's hand would both be severely burned. The sacrifice of his palm was nothing to the student. If he was willing to give his life for his love, why worry about his hand? If the researcher dodged it somehow, the blast would rocket off into some unknown location far away. The young student had no idea what he was going to do after this move...he was simply playing it by ear at this point.

Word Count: 584
GP: 12 (20)
Total: 68

Stamina: 32 -1 for post, 6 for Kidō
New: 25

Mitsutaka turned in the air and hit the ground running. As the field stood, he now stood a mere three yards from his opponent, and intended to close that distance quickly as possible. Raindrops splashed on his face, momentarily surprising him; in the rapid melee he had completely forgotten a storm still raged around them. Yes, partner! That's the feeling! Let all those meaningless cares disappear! Kowareta's thirst for blood was hardly slaked, and Mitsutaka for once had no desire to restrain him. The researcher dashed ever closer, blade held out to his right side. What need have I for defense when my opponent is prone, he thought. Akimoto was still motionless on the ground, turned slightly to his left, perhaps stunned by his impact against Mitsutaka's legs. Well, he decided, I may as well maintain my same strategy. Disable the arms so he can't direct Kidou, then work from there. At the moment, the most exposed arm was the right, and he took the opportunity. Bearing down on the student, he swung his sword forward and left, intending to cut deeply into the man's right arm.

Then an burst of energy threw Akimoto upwards into his attacker, who found himself surprised once again by the most unusual Shinigami. Taken off guard by the unforeseen move, Mitsutaka's cut went awry. The blade still slashed his opponent's arm, true, but it was a weak cut with little power behind it. Still, his Zanpakutou was sharp and succeeded in slicing into the arm, severing tendons and touching bone. Blood pumped out of the wound in gushes; it was clear an artery had been cut. He could feel Akimoto twitch in agony against him, but he abruptly swung around, leading with his left hand. Trying to twist away? Mitsutaka pondered, but Kowareta answered his rhetorical question. No. Then a flash of lightning momentarily stole the researcher's vision. When it came back, a red sphere of energy was speeding towards his face.

Mitsutaka managed to duck slightly, but it wasn't enough to save him. A tremendous clap of thunder sounded throughout his whole body, and he felt like he was falling. A great numbness grew in the left side of his face, and one eye swelled shut. When he regained his wits, Mitsutaka realized he was hurtling through the air. As soon as it occurred to him, he came crashing down. His velocity ended in a slide through a patch of wet grass, and he absent-mindedly thanked his luck for landing him on such a clean patch of soil. His clothes got wet, but they were soaking already. He didn't mind getting wetter, as long as his clothes stayed relatively clean. Otherwise he might be provoked into fighting with intent to kill; blood could be washed, tears could be mended, but grime could never be scrubbed completely away. Shaking his head, Mitsutaka stood. As soon as he did, though, he nearly fell. He cursed under his breath. My balance is gone. The blast must have damaged my inner ear. After a brief moment of experimentation he discovered it wasn't impossible to remain standing, but fighting would prove difficult. The numbness was starting to recede, replaced by a burning pain that rivaled the agony coming from his arm, wrist and stomach. Kowareta was enjoying himself.

Mitsutaka looked to his opponent, who seemed to have had his hand damaged similarly by the blast. Good, he thought sardonically. Maybe he did the work for me. Perhaps he won't be able to cast any more Kidou. He sighed. He knew that wasn't likely. With all the surprises that student had unleashed upon him he would not be shocked to hear his opponent had more traps waiting. Sorry, Kowareta. I'm losing interest. His Zanpakutou moaned a bit, but seemed partially satiated by the burning pain running through the two combatants' bodies at the moment. Mitsutaka coughed and reached to adjust his glasses. To his annoyance they appeared to be missing, likely blown off by the blast. "Akimoto-san, I must applaud your combat finesse. However, I believe it's time to end this." He held the sword to his lower left, and paused. "I'm no soul eater. Have no fear." Then, with a fluid motion, he passed the blade in front of his eyes as if cutting away a barrier. "Reveal, Kowareta." A haze appeared over the blade and its sheath, but no black motes swam into vision. Mitsutaka was suppressing that particular power of his Shikai, relying instead upon the increased attributes it gave him. Already the pain felt diminished. The researcher grinned and crouched low. "Are you ready?" Without waiting for an answer, he used a flash-step to appear at Akimoto's side, already swinging his sword. It was the left arm he aimed for this time, intending to disable it completely. If successful, he planned to parry whatever attack must be inbound, and if the strike failed he would trip the student and threaten him with Kowareta's edge. Whatever happened, Mitsutaka was hoping to end it quickly. He was getting bored and weak, drained of a significant amount of blood from stomach and arm. He ached all over, but hoped to give his friend some wounds to share. It would all come down to the next few moves. It had been fun though, he had to admit.

[885 words | =13GP | Σ83GP ]
{47ST - 1(Post) - 1(Shunpo) = 45 STAMINA}

The explosion sent a searing pain through Akimoto's left hand. The flesh was burned and charred, and his right arm was losing blood at a very rapid rate. If he kept this battle up, he would pass out due to blood loss alone, not to mention the extreme fatigue that was settling in. He needed to end this now.

As the smoke began to clear, he could see the body of Mitsutaka sliding across the ground. There was no way that he was going to let that go. Aki couldn't allow any second to go unused, so he began his own preparations. Keeping his reiatsu in check, not allowing it to rise with the Kidō he was about to use, he began to chant, his voice low and under the torrents of rain.

“Seeping crest of tubidity...”

The Fourth Division officer picked himself up, nearly falling once, but eventually stabilizing himself.

“...arrogant vessel of lunacy...”

Reaching for his glasses, the white-haired man seemed a bit miffed that they weren't there.

“...boil forth and deny...”

Akimoto found himself having a hard time concentrating, as the blood loss was starting to take its toll.

“...grow numb and flicker...”

Mitsu yelled out over the wind, announcing that he believed that the time to end this was here.

“...disrupt sleep...”

He said that he wasn't a soul eater, and flashed his blade in front of his eyes.

“...crawling queen of iron...”

With a flash in spiritual pressure, the man released his Zanpakutō, its haze surrounding the blade and sheath.

“...eternally self-destructing doll of mud...”

As he yelled at Aki again, he was already leaning towards the student. Nobody seemed to notice the sky growing darker.

“...unite, repulse...”

The man flash-stepped across the small gap, appearing next to Akimoto in mid-swing. The sword was coming towards his left arm, obviously a tactical strike. The young student flung his arm straight up, letting the blade hit him in the side. Dropping his arm back down, he pinched the blade against his body as he yelled, “Fill with soil and know your own powerlessness! Hadō 90! Kurohitsugi!”

Word Count: 359
GP: 7 (29)
Total: 75

Stamina: 25 – 1 for post, 7 for Kidō
New: 17

It was only when Mitsutaka stood right next to his opponent that he could hear the chant. As soon as he heard the penultimate words, the researcher got a sick feeling in the ravaged pit of his stomach. For some reason he had a terrible idea this was a seriously deadly incantation. Kowareta usually had a better knowledge of Kidou, so Mitsutaka referred to his expertise. When his Zanpakutou finally spoke, however, the summary chilled his bones. It's been fun, partner, the blade said in an icy calm tone. Let's die well. A spike of terror ran through the researcher's blood, and he began to sweat despite the cold. As his sword swung ever closer, time seemed almost to slow down. He could pick out minute details on his surroundings; every speck on Akimoto's slowly moving lips stood out, and a sudden lightning flash set the two opponents in sharp relief. He wondered what had happened to his nearsighted eyes, but dismissed the thought as unimportant. He felt weightless. Abruptly, a complete calm had come over Mitsutaka. No longer did terror rule him, no more fright compelled or hindered him. All he felt was… I can't explain the feeling, he found to his surprise. Perhaps this is what the Oriental people call Zen. It was an odd contrast to his usual quick-mindedness, but he didn't mind it. As good a mood to be in when I might die, he supposed. It all comes down to whether I let him finish the incantation. His hand gripped the hilt more firmly, and he applied all his flagging strength to his last strike.

As he watched, the odd time phenomenon gradually slipped away. Events sped up to what Mitsutaka deemed a normal ratio, and his sword came cutting into Akimoto's body. Just as it reached him, though, the student raised his left arm above the blade, letting his side be hit by Mitsutaka's cut. It dug deep, and the researcher could see his opponent shiver in agony. Kowareta hummed happily. Then Akimoto's arm came swinging down and pressed the blade to him, cutting slightly deeper as it was. The researcher sighed. That's it, then, he thought with some remorse. I guess I pushed him too far. 'Guess he doesn't know his strength. Well, Kowareta… he paused and pinched his Zanpakutou's hilt. Kowareta thrummed in his head. I guess that's it, then. Thanks for being with me. He knew the words needn't be said, but felt like stating them anyway. Better not to leave things unsaid. Then a black wall rose to meet him and Shinigami and sword were alone, together.

It was dark.
Dark and cold.
And he couldn't tell where he was.
His mind felt like it was being stretched in a thousand directions at once; it felt maddened and sorrowful and pained and joyous and fearful and knowledgeable and wise and terrified and pedantic and alone and like it was being spun and perfectly calm and
It felt nothing.
It felt dark, and cold.
And blades began to bite into his body.
Mitsutaka prepared himself as best he could for death. He couldn't imagine the second time would hurt more than the first, but had no idea where he would go. For a moment, he wished not to be cursed by agnosticism. Surely a man who believed in a higher power could sign his fate off to that otherworldly deity. Perhaps he'd be happier at passing than I. For a moment, terror overwhelmed him as the swords pushed in deeper. He began to shout. "Please! I can't die! What about all the promises I made? What about my better world?" The blades penetrated an inch deeper, and he cried out in further agony. It felt like there were thousands of them pricking him in every pore. Then, blessedly, the sensation stopped. The blades retracted. The black box he was in fell apart, revealing his shocked opponent, who was simultaneously blasted backwards by the backlash of the failed spell. Small lines of blood were drawn and flung off from the student. Luck----y! Kowareta cried, and his Shinigami could only agree. So close to death. Good thing he botched the incantation. It was the only premise that explained the result. For a novice, a mispronounced or misspoken word could destroy a spell's effectiveness, and could send a relatively equal recoil to the caster. He supposed it was evidence of Akimoto's skill and power that the returning force hadn't destroyed him.

Mitsutaka sighed. This move, he vowed, shall be my last. He braced himself and leveled his sword, then used a flash step to close the distance between them. Appearing above the student, he launched a brutal upward slice. If unimpeded, it looked likely to carve the poor fool in half. Another flash step landed the researcher behind his opponent, and he threw a sideways cut aiming to cut vital organs and spine. A third Shunpo took him to the golden-haired student's side, leaving a perfect stab to his kidney. A fourth took him to the other side with a thrust to the forehead. None of these seemingly deadly strikes hit, however. They were all feints. Ten of these attacks the researcher made, ten flash steps in quick succession. It nearly took his all, but he gave it willingly. He made two more attacks from different sides, then took his final Shunpo to end up behind the student. His blade whipped around Akimoto's throat, aiming just a centimeter above the skin. Mitsutaka intended to make two more quick movements before the end, planning to make the final attack as debilitating as possible. His foot swept around and would hook a leg, pulling Akimoto off-balance. When he fell, the researcher would catch him. Finally, with the student hanging only by Mitsutaka's hand and blade menacing his throat, he would have no choice but to surrender.

If that didn't work, he supposed he might just have to kill his vexing opponent. Letting him get off another spell like the last, should he speak it correctly, would mean the researcher's death. Despite the odd calm that had come over him, he had no desire to experience being that close to death again. Though… that clarity was quite delicious… Kowareta laughed quietly.

OOC: You meant "TuRbidity".

[1035 words | =21GP | Σ105GP ]
{45ST - 1(Post) - 13(Shunpo) = 31 STAMINA}

As the words left his mouth he could feel that something was wrong. The energy was off somehow. Had he slipped up on the incantation? He was very badly injured, and there was a haze in his mind, so it was very possible. If he did, the Kidō might not function right at all. It might not even form properly. These thoughts were soon put to rest, as the Hadō began to rapidly swallow its prey.

The black and purple light fell around the pair, quickly creating the box that was soon to become a coffin. As the remaining pieces fell into place, all light seemed to vanish. It was dark, cold, and somewhat terrifying. Akimoto focused all of his spiritual pressure into making sure that he didn't get hit by his own attack, but alas, no such luck would be had today. The swords came crashing in, piercing both the men. Their screams rang out into the silence within the Kidō, echoing off of the walls. Mitsu began pleading for his life, and Aki wanted to break the spell, and save both of them, but not even he could control it any longer. Inch by inch, the blades sank deeper, and just as the golden-haired youth felt the very tip of one touch his heart, the botched incantation took its hold on the spell. The blades receded, and the walls around them crumbled. The force of the spell failing launched Aki backwards, and as he hit the ground, somehow he miraculously kept his footing.

Blood burst forth from Akimoto, draining his face of almost all of its color. Coughing violently, the student could feel the coppery taste upon his tongue. This battle was over for him. If he continued to fight, he would die. If not by the hands of the officer, by blood loss alone. Trying to call the fight off, to surrender, the young man found that he couldn't move at all. Not his arms, nor his legs. He tried to speak, to yell out to Mitsu, but his jaw wouldn't budge. He had lost all control of his motor functions. How he was able to even be standing was beyond him.

Try as he might, he could not signal to Mitsutaka that the fight was over. The Fourth Division officer began a new assault on Aki, using so many Shun-po that the young man could not keep up in any way, shape, or form. The student tried to block the attacks that were coming in, but again, his arms wouldn't move an inch. Finally, the man hooked a leg, sending Aki falling backwards into Mitsu's waiting arm. The sudden shift in the position of the student's body left all the blood in his head rush elsewhere. Already lightheaded and dizzy, the young man couldn't keep his hold on consciousness any longer, and as the officer's blade screamed toward his throat, Akimoto blacked out.

Word Count: 487
GP: 10 (16)
Total: 85

Stamina: 17 – 1 for post
New: 16

((OOC: Fight is over for Akimoto Nakamura))

Akimoto's reaction to the flurry of blows surprised his attacker. Far from pulling another attack or a sure-fire strategy from thin air, he simply stood… and took it. Mitsutaka was confused. What, does he see through my feints? Is he clairvoyant? He shook the doubt angrily away. It doesn't matter. This battle must end NOW. He continued his assault, ending with a vicious strike to the student's neck, intending to threaten a surrender. The gleaming sword dove in to lay its edge against Akimoto's throat, but was pulled back the second before it cut the man open. Mitsutaka's somewhat dulled mind took a moment to realize what had nearly ended his opponent's life. What? Did I miscalculate? Am I so exhausted that I make a mistake nearly ending my friend's life? Then, Kowareta set him aright. Fool. Grab him. Obligingly, he threw a hand out to grip the student's robes. It wasn't until Akimoto's full weight sagged against him that Mitsutaka realized what had happened. "Completely worn out, neh? I suppose with that last spell it's only to be expected." No response, of course, was forthcoming. He sheathed his sword carefully, managing not to drop his charge. He adjusted his grip, arm encircling Akimoto's chest. Mitsutaka frowned down at his left arm; without two working arms this would be a lot harder than it should have been.

A few minutes later, Akimoto sat reposing against one of the glade's many trees. It wasn't unlike a pine, in fact it looked exactly like one, but somehow spoke of otherwordliness. When Mitsutaka lay against another tree's trunk, he could tell something wasn't quite right about it. The feeling was like a buzz in his head, ever-present but possible to ignore. Somehow, the storm had passed. Sunlight streamed down from the heavens, illuminating the field and drying the ubiquitous moisture. Mitsutaka's wounds were beginning to close, thanks to the vials of healing salve he'd brought with him. He sighed and picked off the tubes that hung from the backs of his arms and legs. Thought I'd have to use these. Guess they're for the next time. He smiled at the idea, then looked to his friend. He looked peaceful enough, wearing the same stoic expression as always, but it was clear his wounds were paining him greatly. Mitsutaka sighed again. Helpless. Were I another man, I might end it here… he moved close, hand posed over Akimoto's throat. His fingers inched closer, then finally shot forward to grab his opponent's neck. He smeared the salve over the slight red line on the man's neck marking where he'd fallen onto Mitsutaka's sword. After covering the line, he moved on to the stab wounds where he had been pierced by what looked like large but thin swords. They seemed identical to the researcher's wounds from Kurohitsugi's imperfect casting. Guess he got trapped in there with you, Kowareta mused. What dedication. I guess you really did provoke him into giving his all. Mitsutaka smiled briefly. That's one of his better points. He looked to Akimoto again, noting the calmed expression on his face. He moved to another stab wound and continued applying the healing cream.

When he had finished the many minor wounds, sun warming his back, he switched to caring for the man's left arm. His cut ran quite deep, and the hole made by Mitsutaka's Byakurai in particular was quite severe. He smeared some salve within the deep cut, causing Akimoto to stir briefly. The researcher paused, then continued sealing the slash. When he was done, he turned to the gaping hole. He reached for another vial of his healing cream. When his hands gripped nothing but air, he sighed in displeasure. Poor preparedness. I should have brought more. Well, he decided, nothing for it but to use Kidou. His mind fell back for a moment upon the training he'd received from the former 4th Division captain when he'd gone through the Seiretei academy. It hadn't taken him long to graduate, seeing as he'd had so long to practice beforehand, but he could honestly say those few weeks under the captain had been the most fruitful of his many years. It was there he'd learned several techniques necessary for use in the field, such as tactical use of Kidou and basic healing magic. Concentrating, he imagined a glowing orb of energy gathering in his core, then moving through his veins, exiting through his fingertips and flowing into Akimoto's body. He repeated the process several times. Each repetition closed the skin over his puncture wound, until finally only a puckered scar remained. Mitsutaka fell back, exhausted. That's all I'm able to do for him. Likely his body will heal the rest, but if it doesn't he can always seek more advanced healing. He looked briefly back at the student, then lay back on the grass and closed his eyes.

A second later, he jolted up. A voice had whispered to him, seemingly out of nowhere. He sat bolt upright, looking left and right. He heard a faint giggle. Kowareta laughed in wonder. How fantastic! You must be the boy's Zanpakutou! Mitsutaka hurriedly bowed to Akimoto's Wakizashi, belatedly introducing himself. "Greetings, my fair lady. My name is Mitsutaka Karahashi. How do you do?" He was a little surprised by this new meeting. He'd never heard of a Zanpakutou spirit interacting with another Shinigami before. Perhaps, he thought with wry amusement, We're just abnormal. No, that probably isn't true at all.

[914 words | =18GP | Σ123GP ]
{31ST - 1(Post) - 3(Kidou) = 27 STAMINA}

((OOC: Sorry about the length. I needed to post something or it would never get done. It'll get better))


His mind fraught with visions of the black swords impaling him, Akimoto forced himself to rise from his unconscious state. Eyes slowly opening, a thick haze lay across his vision. The student found that even though he wasn't fully awake yet, he could hear quite clearly. A female voice spoke in a whisper, which was followed by a giggle. The voice was very familiar to the young man, but for the life of him, he could not place it. It appeared that Mitsutaka couldn't either, as he began introducing himself, very formally, to the voice. Akimoto blamed his blurry vision, but he could have sworn that the officer was bowing to him. Lifting his good arm, he rubbed his eyes to try and clear up his eyesight. Finding the endeavor successful, he looked about slowly, as to not agitate any wounds. He found that the man was indeed bowing in his direction. Why would he do that? They had already been introduced. Continuing to survey his surroundings, he saw a face in the forest a small distance he thought he would never see again.

There stood a girl, appearing to be in her mid twenties. She had long, flowing brown hair and piercing blue eyes. Her kimono was a bit ragged, an obvious sign that she was a resident of one of the more poverty-stricken districts. She was smiling a wide smile that was very reminiscent of Akimoto's trademark grin. The girl, noticing that she had been seen, came closer to the men. Realizing that they were both extremely injured, she came all the way out of the forest. Kneeling next to the student, the young woman spoke, “Brother, what happened to you?! Why are you all beat up?!” Without delay, she looked up at the other man with a glare that could burn down a forest. “You! You did this to him, didn't you?” Drawing a small knife from her kimono, she held it menacingly at the officer. The inherant danger in the situation becoming apparent, Akimoto spoke up, coughing with each word. “Easy! Leave him be, he did nothing wrong. Sit down,” he paused as he coughed up more blood, “It has been a while since I last saw you, Fumiko.”

Word Count: 377
GP: 7 (43)
Total: 92