[C] Reflections [Closed, Ruby]

It was a day like any other in the season of Spring, the sky clear of all but the color blue and the beating of feathered wings. A halting experience if there ever was one, with the sounds of local animals chirping high atop oak trees and others splashing against the water of the nearby pond. The weather was just as beautiful, a comfortable heat with just the right amount of breeze. My, it was heaven, and Ruby gave away an uncharacteristic smile in the midst of it all.

Since that dreadful incident with her friend--and savior--Noboru, Ruby changed in some significant ways. First, she gained a power she'd never thought she would posses, and because of that, she grew stronger. So strong, actually, that she'd started to wonder how long it would take for any superior officer to notice her--a thought that brought her immense happiness, and absolutely zero concern. Her confidence in all aspects of Shinigami affairs had grown, and with that confidence had come the transformation of her personality, one rooted in the core military values of what she vowed all those years ago to exemplify: Integrity First, Service Before Self, and Excellence in everything she did.

Excellence you say? came from somewhere deep within. You have a long path ahead of you yet.

Once, in months past, Ruby may have rolled her eyes at the Queen's lecture, but she'd learned to accept the creature for what it was. It had been another bearing check of sorts.

Yes, Queen, Ruby replied. I meant what I said.

Hmmph. Of course.

And that was that, for Ruby wouldn't hear from it for some time. That was how much she'd grown to understand the Spirit, as she knew well-enough both its mannerisms and habits. A fact that gave Ruby increased confidence in her growing ability to understand the world around her in a manner beyond what--in her opinion--was normal.

"Equip," she whispered, the sound of her voice so feint that it didn't make it past her lips before it was snuffed out by the wind. Her katana flashed bright white but for a second before it shrunk, and then widened into the shape of an oriental combat fan, equipped with spikes on its edges. She flicked her wrist slightly here, and then there as she danced into an old weapon stance taught to her long ago. The stance was called Wind Dance--a fitting name if she thought so herself--the foundation of the style marked by swift, continuous movement. It was an effective form of combat, especially when fighting multiple opponents. Ruby watched for a moment her own reflection within Shizuka's folded material before she took several more calculated steps in her routine.

Oh, regarding that unidentified Shinigami approaching her, she'd known about him for some time already, ever since he'd made his way toward her from a good distance away. At first the sensation of his existence had been the same as every other within the 5th Division grounds--save for a select few that she wouldn't dare not recognize, like acting-Captain Ogawa--but now it was all clear. He tasted of curiosity; she pushed a portion of her existence out toward him, the invisible mass of her spirit swimming toward him like a fish in a deep ocean of energy. Her spiritual form made its way around the tree, and stopped just before him.

Hmm she thought to herself as her groomed brows rose. He's a lot like me from a before. As curious as a monkey and as cautious as an mistrusting dog. I wonder why he's interested in me though...

"I know you're there," she finally spoke out, her back still facing the tree he hid behind. She straightened, ridding herself of the stance. "And you know, I don't think it's particularly polite to write things down about someone else without their permission." She looked back over her shoulder with those cool, red eyes and waited for him to come out. The wind picked up at the last moment, throwing both her sash and her ponytail into a frenzy.




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If by full view he had meant covered behind a heavy tree, than they were on the same page. Now in her line of sight, she took a good look at him.

He was tall--much taller than her--with a powerful build about him that spoke to his physical capability, a thought she toyed with for a brief time. She confirmed with a second, more mystical probe into his strength; he would be an exceptional sparring partner, if it ever came to such a thing.

"That's not how we do things around here, sir," she replied almost instantly, turning her body toward him. With one hand against her sash, and the other outstretched in front of her, she twirled her fan delicately until she snapped it closed with a jerk in the kind of way that teachers lecture their students. Nothing threatening enough to warrant an extreme reaction. "This is a military organization," she paused and added a slow nod for emphasis. "And in a military organization, especially the Gotei, there are a lot of important things that are best kept secret." Of course, she was referring to the Gotei's greatest asset--its soldiers and their powers.

The thing was, he wanted to know her secrets, and she wasn't in any mood to give him such things. "Come on, I can read you like an open book," she finally let out after a brief pause of silence. She took a deep breath, looked away, and scratched her right forearm. "I'm going to give it a wild guess that you're on a pursuit for power, and something I have may in some way help you?" Her arms folded behind her, and she cupped her hands together in the way all students were taught at the Academy. Her closed, white and silver fan now resting within both hands, she strode to the pond's edge.

She closed her eyes and fell into his spiritual energy head first, like a diver into a deep swimming pool. She was looking for a particular piece of information, something she'd started to do recently. "Ah," she finally said, her lips forming into a conservative smile, eyes still closed. "A brother from the third. Tell me," she said as she started to turn. "Equip," she whispered to herself whilst still facing the pond, and by the time she saw him again, her weapon had flashed and transformed into Aka, her beloved katana. "What kind of service may this small girl provide to you? I'm always willing to aid a comrade in need, as long as I'm able." She'd said that last bit with an effortless smile, pulled out by sheer formality. She sheathed her katana with a clank.

Maybe she'd get something out of this meeting, but as things had gone so far since her return, she was keeping her expectations where they needed to be.



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She wanted to laugh at the venom laced within his response, but her military discipline kept her as unmoved as stone. She simply looked upon him with steady eyes, her face still, pink lips forming a straight line. His chin hair and glasses combined to give the man an interesting, and unforgettable look; she wouldn't forget this one.

She felt his soul attempt to reject her truth. Denial was as destructive of a weakness as any other; it was something this Shinigami would have to shed in order to grow, and he had a ways to go. Why was he so tense? Was she like him once? She waited for him to finish before providing a response, and when the time came, she chose to begin with a small jab.

"Well," she said when she finally spoke up. "That depends on who's asking. To you? Probably not." She placed her arms behind her once more, and then she pushed out her chest in order to stretch her back. If one were listening hard enough, they'd of heard a feint crack. "We haven't met before, I can assure you. Now, regarding power," she continued with a slight shrug. "You can call it whatever you want, the end-goal is the same. Strength, information, knowledge, it's all the same. And how do I know that you're from the third? Well, isn't that the question?" She gave him her iconic, calculated smile. "Secrets, remember?"

With that out of the way, Ruby closed the gap between them with but a few light steps. Nothing threatening, just a small girl adjusting where she stood. "Not at all! I actually enjoy my van-point. And it's also great for staying out of sight. A useful trait out in the field." She'd placed emphasis on the word to witness his reaction; he didn't seem the experienced type. "But I digress, let's get back to you. I'm certain there's a lot I can do for you, so what that exactly is depends entirely on you. So tell me, what is it that you seek?"

She stopped some distance from him, wrapping a set of fingers around her sheath; she pressed down on the bud of her weapon with the other palm, fingers spread to make clear of her peaceful intent. "You obviously didn't stop to admire my looks. I don't get that vibe from you. What had you stop, then?"




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As she looked upon intently upon the man before her, Ruby couldn't help but dream of what it would be like to read his mind. It was a topic that plagued her thoughts frequently, an interest that grew by the day. Though the desire was ever present, she didn't quite know how to approach the acquisition of such an ability; more than once the thought of study accompanied her dreams of mind reading, but gaining entrance into the Seireitei Grand Library wasn't the simplest matter--especially for members of the 5th.

She blinked slowly, almost lazily if it were possible for her, as her wits returned to her.

Avoid combat?
'He's not worthy of your time' came her voice from deep within.
There were times Ruby didn't agree with her Zanpakuto, but this wasn't such a time.

To say such a thing within the 5th was taboo; words that would bring upon a merciless beating even by the freshest of recruits from the Academy. But since he wasn't from the 5th, Ruby gave him a silent pardon accompanied by a smile that spoke of her disappointment. His aspirations for speed, on the other hand, was something she could work with. Wait...no, he wasn't referring to speed, she could tell that by the shape his spiritual essence took on. His pursuit was without question more intellectual than physical. Fitting for someone of the 3rd.

And then he went on about botany, and blah, blah, blah. Stuff she didn't have much interest for, much less have experience with. But his mention of her fan, and subsequently its ability to transform, was something she could speak to in depth. "Ah," she replied with a long, drawn out breath. "So this is what you're after." She tapped the hilt of her weapon with her palm, twice, and gave him a smile that said well, you're going to have to work for it. "Us ladies have many secrets we keep, and us Gotei gals even more so. I'm sure you're aware of that, being that you..." she squinted as she sought the answer to her question deep within him. "...possess one yourself." Of course, she was referring to the Shinigami's trademark Shikai. She maintained her stance as she kept her train of concentration on him, but then washed the stoic demeanor away with a deep breath. Again, a smile. "But alas, you want to know what I can do for you? That's quite simple." She turned her head right, just slightly, and fixed a string of her long hair around her ear. Then she crossed her arm and shrugged. "You've got three options: I can teach you how to fight, I can teach you how to be a better military member, and I can teach you how to use a weapon as if it were just another limb."




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Quite dense, this one. Ruby nearly shook her head out of disbelief, but she kept her bearing, her eyes locked with his.

You could pass as a woman she entertained as he went on about his preferences on matters, that again, she cared little for. Some aspects would have to be altered, though. She took a deep breath through her nose when she heard that word.

Loitering? Ruby took a good look of her surroundings out of a mixture of instinct and disbelief; had this man forgotten where he was? The last she remembered, she was both a member of the 5th and she stood within the 5th's jurisdiction. He was the one out of place here, and she'd make sure he understood that.

"Yes, those are topics I'm familiar with," she replied coldly, to the point, no smile or gesture. "But first, you will not ask me again what I, a soldier of the 5th, am doing within the jurisdiction of my Division." She waited for a slight breeze to sweep past before she continued; her long bangs swept back down into place. "I understand your intent isn't to disrespect, I can sense that much, but don't lose your customs and courtesies when addressing someone from another Division. If that's how you address those of your fellow Division, fine, but this is not the 3rd." She felt her explanation was sufficient, so she moved on to the subjects he'd inquired about. Her disposition regained some of its previous charm, but a bit of her military lingered.

"When you say tactics and strategy, what exactly are you referring to?" An appropriate response to such a vague question. "Defensively," she pondered, her ruby eyes searching at the white wall beyond the pond. "I can start you off with some basic blocking techniques, either bare-handed or more preferably, with a weapon of your choice." She looked at him, and smiled. "I'm afraid I posses a bias toward the weapon. I've found the use weapons much more effective in all aspects of combat, to include defense. And if you're fast enough, and prefer to move around" Ruby gave him a twist of her wrist to indicate an additional avenue. "We can work on some flash step techniques that will do you just fine."

She crossed her arms again. "There's absolutely a difference between fighting and utilizing a weapon. And I can demonstrate to you what I mean, exactly," she said as she wrapped her fingers around the hilt of her weapon, its familiar material bringing her immediate comfort. She pulled her katana out slowly, with calculated purpose, and it glistened in the sunlight. Shink it reverberated as the sharp tip took its first breath. She rested her right arm--and the weapon with it--at her side. "Do you know any simple Hado? Maybe Shakkaho? Well, if you do, send one my way."

No jokes, no humor in her voice. Absolute and utter command.





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Ruby heard every last word that came out of his mouth, but aside from filing the important bits within her memory, she didn't provide a response for any of it. Instead she waited patiently, expectantly, for him to indulge her request.

As soon as her senses picked up the slight change in his existence--the sensation not unlike goosebumps--her lip twitched ever so slightly. At her behest the world around her shifted from the normal to the spiritual; all around her, the environment transformed to pure white--as if a flood of bleach had been poured over it--and all that remained of color was her and the man before her--her red silhouette of spiritual energy against his blue and white. She saw the very spirit particles that comprised the world--it was something she hadn't gotten completely used to just yet.

The blue aura of his silhouette peaked slightly, and that was when she knew it was to come. She finally broke out to a full smile.

With a forward jerk of his all-blue arm--and a spontaneous flash of white at his wrist--he flung the spell at her. The energy rope--of which she saw as nothing more than millions of particles put together--flew toward her, spiraling in a clockwise motion, and as it did, Ruby scanned the spell for its point of weakness. Over the years, though she wasn't a spell-slinger herself, Ruby had come to understand two things about Kido: one, every spell had at least one strand of defective particles where the spell was at its weakest, and two, that the manipulated energy of Kido possessed a composition much like physical matter. This property, then, gave Ruby the opportunity to negate its affect.

Just seconds from contact did Ruby raise her weapon, thrust horizontally, and impale the rope in the exact spot required for this particular technique to work. On all accounts it all happened in one fluid movement, and with the rope screeching to remove itself from impalement, Ruby swung down, pinning it to the bleached ground. She could do so much more to it if she wished, but decided to maintain her position, spell writhing underneath the authority of her sword. She took her time to straighten her back, and switched the downward pressure from her right hand to the left for comfort. "You see?" she finally spoke up, reverting her senses to the normal plane. It took her a moment to regain her sensitivity to the sunlight. "The weapon can do so much for you, all you have to do is learn its secrets." Whether he dismissed the spell or kept it up, she didn't care. With her demonstration out of the way, she finally addressed his previous topics. "Troop positioning is a difficult subject to teach effectively without, well, troops. Maybe that would be better served from a textbook? With pictures?"

There was absolutely no sarcasm in her words, just pure belief. "I'd like to see where you are at with the weapon, so I can better serve your needs." She gave him a courteous, professional nod. "Would you be so kind as to show me, personally?"





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The attack itself wasn't the issue, but rather his sword technique. Of course Ruby knew it was coming--and this little fact raised her spirit--even before her opponent started to execute the assault. She'd gotten very good at reading intent. She didn't require her latest visual shift trick, for her capacity to decipher intent of action had become a part of her instinct.

When he finally sprung to action, Ruby also noted his sub-par Shunpo. That would never cut it out in the field--he'd be dead, eaten by a Hollow or gunned down by a Quincy. The very word brought her fleeting memories of her altercations with spiritual mortals. They weren't a part of her best experiences, she concluded.

With her blade no longer required to confine the spell, Ruby yanked it out of the ground with swift grace, only to place the weapon facing down at her side--the side she knew he had chosen. Some lesser folk would have been left in awe when her opponent buzzed into existence from nothingness, but not her--she'd seen every single step he took, at a measurement of speed that would best resemble slow-motion on video. Her red eyes never left him, all the way until he was next to her, to her right. She heard his robes flap.

Counter clockwise she swung her katana, placing it into a position that would intercept his strike. Clank resounded as his weapon's sheath made contact with the silver of her blade; she got a sense for his respectable strength as the reverberations of the clash reached her fingers, though unfortunately, her swordsmanship was well above anything he could match, so the attack failed in its original intent. Instantaneously, Ruby placed her strength into a forward thrust, knowing full well that her opponent would be pushed some distance away.

"Your technique isn't horrible, but it definitely can use some improvement," she stated as she brought her weapon down, again, to her side. She stood at ease. "You're strong, no doubt about it. But all that strength is not going to do you any good if your form isn't up to par. My initially recommendation is to just..." she made a few breathing in-and-out gestures to emphasize the idea of just letting things happen "...let the sword become a part of you. When you try too hard, you telegraph your entire plan to your opponent. And then? Slack!" She pretended to cut her own neck with her blade. There was a tiny bit of humor sprinkled into her tone, but nothing too jarring. "You're dead. So, let's try again. This time, don't let a single, little, itsy, bitsy, thought stir up in that cauldron of yours when you attack."





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He thought too much, especially in the thick of combat. Ruby saw it written all over his face; she didn't require even the slightest use of her spiritual sensing to realize one of his greatest deficits. Unfortunately, the mind was the most difficult organ to overcome--a feat that had taken her years of intense training to accomplish. Neither of them had that kind of time.

Something about him drew her thoughts, and it was a shift in disposition so short-lived that she almost missed it. Even if you did she mused. The result would be the same.

Again the goosebumps came, and she knew of his intent to cut her. It was obvious that he believed in the benefits of incorporating Shunpo into an attack of the weapon; it was an admirable consideration, though Ruby had rarely found it effective in its application. There were only a few circumstances in which she would employ such a combination of techniques.

Ruby raised her blade diagonally, up over her left shoulder, and then brought it back down to meet his rising slash. As she did, she shifted her right leg forward and utilized her core strength to add strength to her swing. She struck his blade at roughly three-quarters of its length; striking this particular point would add considerable strain to her opponent's grip, disorienting him enough to grant her a slight window of opportunity for a counter-attack. Milliseconds after the collision of blades, and the load clank, Ruby combined a flick of her sword wrist with a swing at the left side of his face. Her intention was to strike him--with just enough force for a quick stun--at his jawline.

As the bud of her katana buzzed through the air toward his jaw, Ruby gave the man a good scan. This was the first time she'd gotten a good look at him from so close, and all it took was a single fall and rise of her burning eyes. "You know," she mentioned casually, her attack nearly at its destination. "I never got your name."





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