Settling In [Closed, Candi]

“Ok, Candi, let’s not blow your first impression here.” The bicolored woman was nervous; this was her first official role as an unseated member of a division within the ranks of the Gotei. Her appearance made her assume she was not nervous for anything, despite the horrible devastation that swept through the Seireitei, males were still males. Wintry blue eyes focused on those who wandered to her as she walked with her head lowered, perhaps wearing something like this was a little too much right now. But she preferred garments that made her feel free and light, the baggy attire was not very practical for her type of style.

Bringing her hand up to her temple, the woman softly brushed away tender locks of blonde away from her eyes and pushed it over her ear to keep the errant strands in place. Her steps were soft and light as she walked, guided by her nervous soul that seemed to rattle within her mind. She had done this so many times before, meeting others of a similar rank, but that was before when she had confidence in herself, before she became depressed with her life.

There was no doubt for the blonde vixen that she still had much baggage left within her mind that weighed her down as if the world had settled its weight upon her shoulders. Despite having time to ease some of that pain away from her heart, there would still be times when the flutter of her heart would beat for that one perfect ideal love she always thought of having. She never knew why this gnawing sensation always banged at the walls of her mind, like deep echoes pushing their way through her synapses, but she had learned to cope and deal for better or for worse.

Shimmering blue orbs swept from one corner of the ground to the next. Her eyes sought out some kind of landmark or station that would keep her mind clean and focused. To have such a hazy resolve now would only be a downfall for her new career as a Shinigami. She had to do everything in her power to stay on course and not be crashed into the waves of her rocky mind. But then it settled into her, the look on her face as she brought her hands to her mouth. The plague did more than weaken their forces as a whole, it left the world of the Shinigami in a state of inadequacy. The walls were mossed over with green vines, choking the once beautiful canvas, the amount of dirt and dust and blood seemed to cover almost every inch of a wall as she forced her way through.

It was horrible to imagine that something like this could ever happen. But if there was one thing she was proud of as a new member that people still smiled and still laughed. The sun was shining bright overhead, no one could ask for a better outcome. The morale would be high; people would perhaps take notice of the smaller things in life that were once so trivial. Friendship and the bond of life would see them through. They simply had to move forward, and with that Candi’s stoic expression of sadness now shifted with a small red curve of her lips. She smiled, she wanted to let people know despite the long months of rebuilding and clean up that there was still positivity flowing in others.

With her chin held high, and her gait becoming more rapid and flowing, the woman allowed her arms to swing at her sides as she picked up her pace. She would be free of this disaster; dwelling on the plague so much would only hinder her future work. It was time to move on; her friends would have wanted that from her as they have tried to do so many years ago in the past. It was that fire from them that blew and stoked the embers of her heart once more; she would not let their deaths be a crutch but an inspiration towards her goals.

She had come to a stop at the Hospital within the Seireitei; she took a deep breath and entered the building. When she did so, eyes focused on the blonde as she kept focus and walked towards her destination before another door was in her line of sight. She stopped there for a moment and took a moment to close her eyes, to allow her confidence to stimulate her brain and then with two sharp knocks with the back of her hand she would announce herself, “Candi Natsuko, Sir. I believe we had a meeting today at this time.”

There. She had done it, confidence voice and ready for whatever was to come next. Her Zanpukto shifted from her waist as she pushed it to the side, as if making sure everything was in the correct place as it should be. She stood with silence before she heard a muffled, deep voice from the other side.


842/842

The voice on the other side had told her to come in. She inhaled deeply, lifted her chin and brushed away errant strands of blonde the danced in the way of her vision. Pulling her hair back as she walked in, she stood there for a moment and closed the door behind her in a quiet movement. In a rather rigid and straight form, her chin was up, chest was out, hands at her side and her eyes on the man that would be her superior. Already a million thoughts were running through her head, her palms began to collect moisture; the light perfume of her body was coming off in small waves as she exhibited an early stage of nervousness. It took a dry gulp to maintain her posture before she was asked to take a seat. She blinked, her red lips curved into a fragile smile as she sat down at the furnished armchair opposite of his desk.

She didn’t lift one leg over the other, but kept both feet planted on the ground, her eyes locked on the cool pools swirling in his own, and she remained as rigid as when she was standing attempting to not to slouch or lean or make her look insufficient of the needs of the Division. She placed both hands in her lap and noticed that her file was opened to his eyes. She could sense that he was staring deeply into her soul perhaps he had not seen too many women like her before, she did look rather unique compared to some others. Her attention snapped when he spoke, the cool voice was mellow and direct. She was indeed on time, but as he said, not early. She was possibly taking too much time looking over the Seireitei to have come earlier and perhaps if she used her speed, she would have gotten here a lot quicker. There was no room to speak at this point, so she made no rebuttal and allowed him to examine her as he needed.

Then he asked what she could do the Division. She let her wintry blue eyes target her file, a slight lump in her throat as she bit down on her lower lip, “We are all struggling and dealing with what has happened over the last five years. I have lost many friends who urged me to sort of wake up, I guess you can say. What I plan on doing within the Division is totally up to my Superior, Sir. I plan on doing anything that is asked of me. You have my file open, you know of my strengths and weaknesses. I don’t know what more I can tell you, than what you already know.” That might have sounded rude to her now that she was thinking on it.

Her words came out like light notes of music, her voice soft yet commanding as well. It would take time to get back into the saddle, as she was back in her days at the Academy when she taught students. Her commanding voice was now thinned and more delicate as she spoke. She remained calm however, despite him being her Superior; there was nothing grossly uncommon about him. He seemed like any other Soul Reaper though he did look familiar. Perhaps they had crossed paths one time or another, or just walking by in the Sereitei. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but she apparently he had never seen her before so perhaps it was best to just keep it that way.

His rich voice was smoothness to her ears, he spoke with decorum and elegance almost as if he were of nobility. He questioned her abilities as if she may not be suitable for the Division. She was not angry, but her eyebrows showed some annoyance along with the small dampening of her smile. Her thoughts raced as she felt like the first impression was not going so well, “I understand I may be just some fresh blood to you, and that is fine if you think that is all I am. As you know I was an instructor at the Academy, I am not some wet-behind the ears recruit, I have experience and I have motivation. And while I mourn for the loss of our kin, I don’t think it would be suitable for us to be picky when we are in low demand of Soul Reapers. You give me a duty and I will handle it.” Her voice found firmness as she spoke, resolution. While he was perhaps her Superior, they were still on the same side, and she would not be talked down like a child or convinced that her skills would be a mere nothing for him to use. If he needed a tool, so be it. She would be that tool for him, but she would never let him doubt her skills like that.

822/1664

Her dark eyebrows furrowed from his speech, but she hung on his words as was her posture never ceasing to relax or relent from its position. She stared at him with curiosity as he chomped down and eviscerated her arguments note by note. She kept her hands in her lap, but white knuckles began to show as her laced fingers tightened together. Those beautiful ice ocean blues began to squint at his remarks as she attempted to get a word in edgewise from his verbal assault, yet she stilled her tongue. From what she had gathered from his tone, he was even and tuned into his direction and course. Not even a crashing storm could break the ship that he was.

“Personal attachments are the reason why I am here, Sir. They are the reason why I am alive. My students cared more about me than I did at one time. I know of my horrible vices but I worked through them tooth and nail. I was an Instructor because I was as you are now. I take my duty seriously, but it is people that got me here and it is people for the reason I live now and to conquer my past. We need something to believe in…” She stopped there. He voiced his opinion like it was facts, but he didn’t understand everything about the nature of people and what drives and motivates them to do things. He perhaps was too cold to understand the meaning of that, he probably didn’t lose anyone he held dear or perhaps he shut himself off from those feelings.

It was sad to think about that, to not have someone close to you. Perhaps he was just too scared to let anyone inside feel him for whom he was outside of being an Acting Captain. There was more to it than just that, those who did not have hearts…they were simply Hollow. She began to study him now, even though he was not marred by the impact of the plague, surely there was something in his life he cared about that was no longer with him. Perhaps that is why he is like this now.

His subject switched back to the vanilla folder on his desk, the one where her information was listed and the pieces of her past. And then there was the comment about following and executing them. Her mouth made a slight noise of annoyance. She didn’t mean it like that, her frame shifted and she moved in a little closer in attempt to explain, while she held the forming fist of her right hand beneath the desk.

“You took my words out of context, Sir. Of course I plan to deliver and execute all orders given to me without question and without a moment lost.” She then placed her hand over the desk, grabbing her file and tossed it into the trash bin at the side of the desk. She sat back down and looked at him dead in the eyes; she would not back down like this now. He was probably testing her resolve, trying to find what made her tick. And he kept looking at her folder and not paying attention to the woman in front of him now.

“I have not been given many chances to demonstrate my knowledge in actual combat. I have faced Hollow, I have performed Konso, and my students have a ninety-eight percent pass rating because I would not allow them to fail as Shinigami. Most of the students I taught are now taken from the plague. While it was not something I could protect them from, it was something that urged me to find who I was deep inside. Yes. I have attachments, but I am a better person and I will be a damn good Soul Reaper as well because of it. What you find as a hindrance, I find as strength. A folder won’t tell you who I am; you will have to see with your eyes what I can do. I can talk your ear off about how well I can perform Kido techniques or how I perform with Hakuda. Words are merely, words, Sir. To know me is to test me yourself.” Candi took a deep breath, it showed from her chest as she exhaled carefully and straightened herself and her posture once more. She might have had done a bold move by throwing her folder in the trash like that, but she kept her temper in check, he was just doing his job after all. But something nagged her like he was just dead inside. She was as duty bound as any other person willing to go that extra mile, but she also knew the important of being alive and being passionate about it. Somewhere along the way it seemed Acting Captain Merrick seemed to have lost that part of him, or does not know how to wake it up.

She cleared her throat, and swept the blonde locks of hair back over her ear once more as she sat there. She smiled once more with those red lips of hers, “You care for people, Sir. And perhaps some odd way you care about me as well or else you wouldn’t be talking as you are now. I understand tough love, I gave that to my students and they became better people. I’m seeking a chance to show you who I am and what I can do. If you feel like I am not what you are looking for as a member of your Division, I will accept that. But I ask you not judge me on what a folder says about me. I am much more than that. Let me show you what I can do.”


963/2657

They were at an impasse; there was nothing that could be done between the two that could change the opinion of the other. Candi sat there almost as if she was lectured by an Instructor. She was a woman, not a child but Acting Captain Merrick seemed to show little hesitation with the smooth words he spoke. Natsuko remained quiet as he spoke, her body relaxed for the most part and she found it foolish to have faith in something other than him alone. Was he a narcissist or something? It was apparent; he closed the doors of his soul to others. Not having faith or that trust, perhaps he was as damaged as she was. They had that in common at least.

Candi examined him like a scope through a lens, there were pieces here and there that solidified her justification that he was just doing this to survive for himself. Her eyes shifted from his sight to the desk before her when he mentioned he did not like her. That was a small blow to her ego, but then again, she was not expecting much but perhaps she might have been too aggressive with actions. She would not apologize though for being herself, clearly he was not going to apologize either. But there was a large lump in her throat as she swallowed hard, it would be a lie to say that he didn’t wound her a little but that seemed to be his makeup. He was just…cynical?

Drawing in air and closing her eyes, her smile slackened and took a moment to gather herself and keep her mood in check. Fine. If this was how he acted then she would have to do the same. She didn’t want to feel bitter about it, but if he was not looking for an ally, but simply a person who can do their duty, then she’ll be that tool he could use. It was apparent after their brief talk that she was not going to be able to engage him on a personable level. He would probably end up being Captain at some point and then that would shift things even more. The blonde rolled her fingers through her hair, a nervous movement and then answered his questions in that aloof nature he was so fond of holding close to his chest.

“I am Candi Natsuko, I was a former Instructor at the Academy many years ago. I was saved when I was a child by a Shinigami. I was starving, more or less, and they gave me some food. The act of kindness opened the doorway for me to become who I am. I take that to heart because I have faith in the good things people can do for one another. My skills are varied, I am disciplined in the art of Kido. I am rather relaxed when I do my incantations; I focus on my target and let the spell do the work. I majored in Hohō when I was a student. I developed my speed all through my childhood and adult life which an honor was given me to teach. I am probably not as fast as I used to be due to…some carelessness issues of myself, but I am willing to be put through whatever tasks at hand.” She moistened her red lips and allowed her dry mouth to get some amount of moisture back.

It was evident that Acting Captain Merrick was a duty bound individual much like herself, so why did he scrutinize her so much about the discipline? She gnawed on her lip for a moment before continuing, “I am sure you realized by now what makes me tick. To have my skills come into question because you have not seen me in action. I understand you are a literal man, but there are just some things you can’t learn from a file about a person. But I digress, sir. My passion may become a little over the top, I am passionate in all things I do and it’s my fire and my fuel. I will not be lazy about my orders, nor will I allow others to do them for me.” A light bead of sweat seemed to form over the side of her face, she didn’t want to ruin her posture, but a quick sweep of her hand brushed away the droplet as she solidified her movement, placed her hands back in her lap and continued.

“As far as goals and motivation are concerned, I wish to be my best possible self. There is of course room for improvement as there always is. I know that I was a heavy drink some time ago, I have contained my demons since then and I have worked to overcome them. I…” her eyes shifted, her aloof and uncaring demeanor breaking apart as she tried to bring up a rather serious subject about herself.

Candi exhaled, and shook her head, “I allowed personal desires to take charge of my being for so long. I honestly wanted someone to love me back for the longest time. I see now that there is possibly no one in this world who can give me that, so…I will bury myself in work, whatever is needed. However, I am motivated by faith of people and defending them to the best of my ability. People, both members of the Soul Society as well as those in the Living World, I will stand by and protect just as I was in my youth. What comes around goes around.”

Natsuko was unsure if her answers were the right ones for him, but she knew they were right for herself. There would be no moving the mountain of her obligations to help people, what he lacked in faith would be his own undoing, but she would not fall victim to a world without passion and coldness. But she respected his decision to be that way, now…she had to try and get him to look at her the same way. They could dislike one another for eternity, but at least they could work together. Who knows, maybe she could crack that ice over his heart perhaps get him to open up to her one day…”Maybe not…”


1043/ 3700

“No I do not, because I did not think that whatever I did outside of my station was any of your business…Sir.” It was not a snappy remark, but perhaps he was pulling too hard on her strings. She had tried to remain still and silent while he barraged her demeaning words. He had no tact or etiquette when it came to talking with other people. These were manners that should have been taught to him, even Candi had some common sense not to be out right rude. She huffed a little in annoyance, perhaps she was ruled too much over her emotion, but she would rather be ruled by it rather than be left with a frozen heart.

It was not a direct attack at him, she knew little. She didn’t have a folder sprawled out before her showing her what his ins and outs were. He was callous as far as she knew, and his words cut her deep. While she may have been annoyed, if she wanted to work things out, it would be in her best interest not to lash out at him for being an insensitive prick, “I don’t think I am smart enough to have what you say; a silver tongue. I can be snappy since I am ruled by emotions as you might possibly say. But that is part of who I am. As far as skills outside of the Gotei, well, I am not quite sure. I have been duty bound for some time, so there was little wiggle room to explore anything else. I could probably fit in with a certain group of people to find out details about something, act a little on the girly-girl side if I had to. Maybe provoke base desires in men and get them to speak. So I guess some kind of seduction? B-b-but, I don’t think that is appropriate to be asked of me!”

Natsuko was not some tramp that could be tossed around just because she was a woman. That is where the line had to be drawn. If for whatever reason she needed information on something, she would simply use less demeaning methods. Her face flushed, the pale complexion turning somewhat pink as she thought about her past that pushed her to do some of the more dirty things in life. She closed her eyes once more, her composure slackened from his directness towards her. “If I need skills for something, I shall find suitable mentors to help me. I am not one who would forgo knowledge and wisdom. I might have been an Instructor once upon a time, but I still have much to learn of the world outside.”

So it appeared he truly did wish to see firsthand of her skills. When he rose, so did she, sitting in such a position made her back sore and it was nice to give her legs a good stretch. But she did not think he was so tall, she felt like a dwarf compared to the male Shinigami. When he took off the white jacket, there was a sensation that was very fleeting from her. She sighed and shook her head, holding her fingers to her temples to drive unwanted thoughts away.

“While we are up and about now, perhaps you would answer a few of my questions as well? Why are you such an asshole? Did it take a long time to become a douchebag or were you just born naturally of that charm? How big is your—I didn’t have a folder in front of me to tell me much about who you are, Acting Captain. Maybe you can indulge on me and tell me a little bit about yourself? What kind of skills do you major in and what do you enjoy while you are off duty?” Simple questions asked, the female held the door open as the two passed through it. She would have a more relaxed gait as opposed to her rigid posture when she was sitting. She tucked her hands behind her back as they walked, sun high in the air as she followed her superior.

She started to wonder exactly where they were going. If she was going to be tested through her skills, they might need a pretty wide training area for her Hoho skills, or a vacant area to fire off some kido spells. She kept her eyes straight, mostly to the horizon. The soft patter of her sandals sounded off with each step and she began to notice that much of the area they were in had been clean as if the plague or the corrosion never touched it, he sure did like things to be clean and crisp. He probably knew it now anyways, the two of them are as different as night and day. Was it always going to be like this walking on pins and needles with this guy? Did he ever show any sort of anger or emotion? That…was something she might have to relearn all over again.


840/ 4540

The Acting Captain Merrick touched on what sort of exercises he had planned for her. She felt her shoulders knot up and the pit of her stomach begin to churn. She was more or less still in the interview process of being recruited and that she would need to show him exactly what she could do. Kido would be a good starting place, it would help loosen her tight muscles and relax her body. She knew a decent amount already but he probably knew so much more than she did. Her head perked up as he spoke, rouge strands of hair falling into her eyes briefly before being tucked away behind her ear. Her eyes locked on to his voice, and when he looked back at her, she raised her head to meet his eyes. The blue in his eyes were similar to hers, perhaps a little brighter. Seeing him out in the sun like this, it gave her more of a sense of his humane side; he didn’t look so cold and stoic.

As he explained a little bit of himself, Candi chewed on her bottom lip; he sure did want to test her on all fronts. But her curiosity on him didn’t seem to shift, he spoke about being balanced in all fields and being adaptable. Sure, there was some breathing room for Candi to learn a new trick or two, but wasn’t sure to what extent she needed to do so. She was always the one guiding others at the Academy; it would be an odd shift to be the student once more. But these were things that needed to be done, and she needed to show the Acting Captain that he could place some amount of trust in her.

As before when she held her hands at her back, they dropped down at her side as they swung casually with the beat of her steps. She listened carefully to his words, hung on them as he spoke; he almost seemed to be like a new person when he was out in the sun instead of a stuffy office. Natsuko placed her left hand over the hilt of her zanpakuto and then scratched the back of her head, “Umm, I just want to let you know that I am not very proficient in Zanjutsu. I have yet to release my Shikai as well, so I am not sure if you still wish to test my skills in that department. Also my Zanpakuto…it’s…”

She knew little of the powers that were held in the blade, but when it was revealed out of the sheath, it almost seemed like a danger to everyone. She didn’t know how to control the flux of energy it gave off, but generally people ran screaming away from her. “I don’t think it would be wise, Sir, to have me unsheathe my weapon with many people around. It could prove dangerous; even you might fall under its effects.” She had to be upfront with the man who she would be training with; she didn’t want to endanger anyone’s life while she wielded her zanpukto. And it was like this weapon was a curse to her when all she wanted to do was help people, it wanted to hurt. They say that the Zanpakuto Spirit is the part of the person to fill a void in their heart…But the void in her heart was not having love in her life. It was something she would have to connect on with the future.

As they arrived, Candi furrowed her brows and shook her head. There were still too many people here, what if she did something embarrassing and then all these people would laugh. The thoughts gnawed at her mind causing her to shrink with confidence. She ran her fingers through her hair, “I suppose there is no time like the present. Where shall we begin, Sir?”


653/ 5193

She had done as instructed, it was a little different to be a student again rather than the Instructor, but Merrick was a much higher rank than she was. She was basically starting over for the most part and she had to do things his way if she wanted to prove her self-worth to him and to the Division. Standing and still and stretching her arms, Active Captain Merrick introduced her to Kenji. When she had turned to greet the Soul Reaper, his eyes went wide with astonishment of her beauty, she seemed to sparkle and his eyes twinkled as he mentally fawned over her.

“Umm…is he…ok?” Candi asked, she had been out to shake his hand but he saw nothing but her beautiful cold blue eyes. She gave a rather hesitant smile and snapped her fingers a few times to snap him out of his like day dream. “I’m Candi Natsuko it’s nice to meet you Kenji.” Finally he snapped out of his trance, laughed and apologized with a bow of his head.

“Oh, sorry. Hahaha, yes well, I didn’t think the Active Captain of Squad Three had any intention of having any new recruits join him. He’s a little stiff, but he’s an alright sort of guy,” he whispered low so only the two of them could hear. “Let’s try out that Kido then…”

Candi gave a gentle nod of her head, looked back at the Active Captain and gave him a small smile. She tucked the blonde hair over her ear and stood with feet apart. Her first choice was to show off the Hado 4 Kido spell known as Byakurai. This was a technique that was low level enough for most people to understand and learn how to do, she was no master of Kido, but she knew that the higher the Kido the stronger the spell would be.

In this case, Byakurai was a level 4 Kido spell, low level and easy enough to do. Kenji stood directly behind her, he didn’t wish to be zapped by the lightning that would blast away from her hands, he had been hit by one too many in his day to wish to be part of that exercise. “Just relax, Ma’am. I am sure you can do it.” The words were deafness to her ears; she was concentrating the energy into her hand as she emptied her mind of distractions.

“Hado Number 4, Byakurai!” With her feet spread to shoulder length, and one arm relaxed and extended out. She pointed her finger as the electrical current buzzed through her arm. She felt the energy pooling from the middle of her body, making its way up to her chest and then tingling down the length of her finger. A jettison of white light sparkled from the tips of her fingers as an electrical current of energy blanketed the area around her. The sizzling and snapping of the current lasted only mere moments before the spell ended in its duration.

There was no smug grin on her face or a look of victory; it was a simple spell perhaps only to test her to see if she still knew what she was doing. Although Kenji was more than happy for the both of them as he clapped his hands. Even if she didn’t care for any approval or acknowledgment from the Acting Captain that she had done well, she turned her head back to see if he was at least pleased. She didn’t expect anything of a change within him.

“Let’s see, I think the next spell is the one you are supposed to use on me. If I have permission from the Active Captain of Squad 3, would you mind if I became a moving target?” Candi turned her head and shrugged her shoulders. If Kenji was going to avoid being trapped by her Kido, then this was perhaps a good opportunity to stretch her legs. The female soul reaper smiled with those red lips of hers bent her legs as she began to stretch, “Make this fun for me, Kenji. Let’s see if my Hoho techniques haven’t rusted.” The both laughed and agreed to the terms. He would run while Natsuko would attempt to catch him off guard with her Kido.

“Three…two…go!” The two Soul Reapers almost seemed to fizzle out of existence as they bound around the area. Small claps of sound echoed around them as Candi went in and out of her flash steps as quickly as Kenji did. He was a quick one, but it seemed her speed had not let her down this time. Dust kicked off as she bolted towards him catching him off guard. With her hand behind her, she threw it outwards as if to catch her prey, “Bakudo Number 4: Hainawa!” With the same feeling as before, energy urged to the tips of her fingers and her hand. As she released the power that had crawled to her fingers, a yellow rope of energy seemed to whip from her hand and snake it’s way around Kenji, bringing him out of his Flash Step and then falling flat on his face as his body remained bound by the reishi rope.

Dusting her hands off, she turned back to Active Captain Merrick and waved her hand, “How is that? Any pointers you have in mind?”



897/ 6090

“Hahaha, yeah, can someone unbind me now?” Kenji’s voice had fallen on deaf ears between Candi and Merrick as they spoke on a few things. The woman’s eyebrows scrunched, she had expected something positive but perhaps that was asking too much from the Acting Captain. She was quickly learning that it was going to take a lot to impress him, but there was room for growth. With a mild smile, the woman took his advice and nodded her head gently. She swept the fragile pieces of hair from her eyes away from her face and turned her attention to the Kenji.

“If you are asking me if that was the peak of my ability for Kido, then you are mistaken, Sir. Let me show you what else I can do.” The woman took a step forward and shut her eyes. The advice given was simple, speed. She had to learn to react quickly and precisely, but she was still very much trying to get her sea legs back from a long hiatus of the arts. She took in deep breath; her chest rose and fell silently as her eyes opened once more. She had to somehow center herself and clear her thoughts while being judged by the Acting Captain.

Focused and getting into position, the woman spread her feet apart to give herself a good balance. Kenji’s eyes stared up at Candi as he was still fixed in his spot on the ground, wrapped around in the previous Bakudo spell. He struggled to snap free but remained locked in his current state. He started to sweat a little as Candi eyed him and then he struggled even more. “Wait a minute now!” The man got to his feet, but hopped around trying to break free of the spell. With a little muscle, the Shinigami was able to break his bonds. He felt the spiritual pressure rolling around in the air beneath Candi’s feet as she building and focusing her power.

He charged at her with his Shunpo, a wooden staff in his hand as he made his way clear across the field. As he came out of his flesh step, he thrust his bow staff at Candi. She lifted her hand and pointed her finger. The wooden tip came in contact with her finger as she called forth, “Hadō #11. Tsuzuri Raiden!”

Yellow snapped around the staff as Kenji fell forward towards her; the two ignited in a spark as the electrical current split the wood and ran through the center until it reached its intended target. Candi had known Kenji would have got free from the earlier binding spell soon and she needed a target to cast her next spell; things fell into place easily enough as the male Shinigami answered her challenge. While the current was strong, Kenji didn’t want to know how strong it was and quickly let go of the staff before he was once again on the opposite end of her invocation.

But it would not stop there. Kenji had fallen to his feet and looked up at Candi as she gave him very little room to breathe. With swiftness and coldness in her eyes, she launched her body forward as it blurred from the eyes of others. The two Shinigami engaged in a brief tussle, Candi used her speed to her advantage and sent a faint attack towards Kenji. The two would square off once more, but Candi kicked at the ground to bring herself up high into the path of the sunlight. When Kenji looked up, he was blinded by the light and only could see the silhouette of Candi’s body. Her words sharp, “Hadō #1. Shō!” The attack lasted only a moment as Kenji reeled from the force of spiritual pressure that targeted his chest. He fell back towards the earth and landed on his backside a few feet away. Natsuko landed on her feet, only a yard or two away from the Active Captain. The woman breathed heavily and smeared the sweat from her brow with the back of her hand.

“Shall I finish him off?” her tone was a little questionable, but she turned her head to look casually over her shoulder at the Acting Captain to see if he wanted her to continue or to cease. But to be honest, she was working up a good sweat. It had been a long time since she felt the thrill of a spar, even if it was just practice.


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Candi didn’t expect to be thrown several yards away from the Acting Captain’s Sho Technique. Her body was flung like a rag doll that seemed to spiral as her arms flailed and attempted to find her feet. Unfortunately, the gravity of the situation was just that, she had been tossed aside like a nothing compared to her Superior. Face in the dirt and grass, the woman groaned lightly from the bruises that seemed to blossom over her ribcage. She figured she did something wrong and this was just punishment, maybe it was her words of ‘finish him off,’ that sparked the back attack. She honestly didn’t know until it was explained.

She sighed and stood up as he explained his lesson plan once more, he went over what she was supposed to do and she messed up. It was a bad decision on her part and she thought what she was doing might have been good exercise for herself, Merrick was a very by the books sort of guy. It was something she should have expected. Looking at him with a set of tender eyes, she steeled her body as he spoke and she lightly nodded her head. He didn’t yell, so that was good? But he did lecture and that was something that Candi was starting to grief about but she kept that to herself.

“Yes, Sir.” Her voice carried no tone with it, it was a simple statement used to express that she understood what he said. Wasting little to no time with the effort, Candi rubbed the side of her ribcage where she had been hurt from her landing, it was bad enough that she needed to perfect these next two techniques but now she was doing it with pain throbbing over the one side of her body. Bakudo spells were unique and there was a wide variety of uses that could be used in conjunction with one another.

She took a few steps forward to get her body ready for the exercise once more, she turned to face the Acting Captain and was prepared for her next skill. Watching Merrick bend over slightly to pick up the damaged piece of staff, his hand flicked it towards her at swift speed. There was little to think or move out of the way, “Bakudō #8. Seki!” A light blue wave of energy began to shimmer over her hand as she stretched her arms out. As the broken staff was projected towards her, it bounced harmlessly into the small wave of light that shimmered over her hand and it was easily enough repelled. The broken piece of staff landed on the soft grass and she kicked it away. Last thing she needed was for it to get in the way and fall on her ass.

Next was her strongest Kido technique from the Bakudo school. She knew a few of them, but it needed to be one she knew inside and out. With a soft smile on her lips, she forgoed the incantation of her next technique and allowed Merrick’s eyes to witness it for himself. Thrusting her hands down towards the ground as the energy collected in her palms, Candi expelled the force of energy that was built up. Sending it out in a certain way caused the ground to explode with a burst of red. The cloud had no taste or scent, but for members of stealth it was a handy trick.

Candi had removed herself from the spot of impact and found her way behind the Acting Captain. No doubt she noticed his eyes follow her as they seemed to find her easily enough as she appeared out of her Shunpo. She didn’t say anything else; she knew she wouldn’t get any encouragement or praise and instead slipped her hands behind her back and waited for further orders. Just like a good little recruit.


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