Shikyo stood, his Zanpakuto in its sheath on his back, and his arms resting at his side as he stared forward at his master. He had learned much during his time and it was time to see if he could put his training to good use. Hiroshi launched himself toward Shikyo, his katana high in the air as he aimed to slice through his student's chest. The weights tied to Shikyo's arms slowed his movements immensely but he was still able to remove his Zanpakuto from his back and block the attack. Immediately, Hiroshi went into a barrage of strikes and attacks, each one faster than the previous and Shikyo could do little to block all of them in his constrained status.

"How am I expected to block such speed when I can't even move?" He questioned his master as the pair took a break.

"Knowing your Zanpakuto's name not only allows you more access to your spiritual pressure, but it also allows you to be able to channel it and refine it into your movements." Hiroshi responded. "Building up your spiritual pressure only to let it slowly seep away while you fight is useless, but it if you use it in your movements you'll be able to achieve a much greater Shunpo and in times like these I need to speed up your training."

"Times like these?" Shikyo repeated. He wasn't sure what Hiroshi meant by that but assumed something in Soul Society was wrong. However the pair had been training in a hologram-producing room in the basement of Hiroshi's residence since Shikyo first arrived and as such he had no communication with the outside world.

"Let's continue." Hiroshi commanded.

Concentrating his spiritual pressure, Shikyo attempted to channel it through his body, rewarded as his movements gained speed as the pair continued their sparring. As Hiroshi aimed to cut through Shikyo's neck, instead of blocking it, this time Shikyo focused on his feet, moving his body with such speed that it seemed he had disappeared until he returned a moment later with his Zanpakuto placed squarely on Hiroshi's back.

"Congratulations." Hiroshi stated. "Shunpo is an excellent means of transport, but it can also save your life during battle. Now we must work to refine yours." Shikyo sighed but agreed as the pair fell back into their sparring pattern.

Approved + 1 to Speed.

It was definitely something Shikyo would have to get use to. He was surrounded by other students, each wearing the signature black cloak of the Shinigami and each had their katana's sheathed alongside them. Thinking about his own Zanpakuto he wondered why his was not the same as theirs, wondering how it would turn out when he finally unlocked his Shikai. But he that was something he would have to wait to discover later as now the instructor appeared seemingly from no where to in front of the group. "Welcome to Intermediate Shunpo Training." He stated simply. "I'm assuming everyone here already knows the fundamentals and we will be dealing with slightly more advanced uses of this skill."

This was Shikyo's first time in a class-type setting, since previously all his training was with Hiroshi, but that was over now and it was time for Shikyo to learn from others. "You all know that Shunpo is an effective method to cover large distances quickly and that it is essential for anyone wishing to survive in battle. But before I go into anymore specifics I want to see what level everyone is at." The teacher revealed a small notepad from beneath his cloak as he called out a random name, "Shikyo Yoshi."

Shikyo stepped forward, bowing to the teacher as he awaited his instructions. "There is a red flag marker somewhere within a 100 yard radius of me. You have 30 seconds to retrieve it. Go." Without hesitation Shikyo flash-stepped from in front of the teacher and to the top of the building the student's had come out from. Looking around the area it did not take him long to see the waving crimson material hanging from a tree. Quickly he flash-stepped to the tree, ripping the flag from its post and appearing back in front of the teacher. "Good work, and with 5 seconds left." Shikyo nodded in appreciation before the teacher continued. "And now the first student to grab the other end of that marker from Shikyo will earn extra marks in this course, and if Shikyo can keep it away from you for 1 minute then he will receive the extra marks." Shikyo had little time to process what the teacher had said before he heard, "Go!" Immediately the other six students disappeared from site, each one anxious to gain the extra credit.

Nice idea for a training excersise. +1 Shunpo

That was the longest minute of his life. Still trying to catch his breath Shikyo appeared in front of the teacher, dropping the red flag at his feet. Soon after the other students reappeared behind him, the sound of their heavy breathing sounding like a chorus of victory to Shikyo's ears. "Impressive." The teacher stated. "After this lesson I've decided that only four of you are ready for the skills that I will teach, the others are to report back to the Hall to review the Shunpo basics." Loud sighs and angered grumbling erupted behind Shikyo as three of the students slowly retrieved their things and made their way inside.

The teacher waited a few moments before continuing, "The technique we will be learning today is known as senka. Those who have mastered this technique move quickly behind the enemy by combining their shunpo with a spin and then striking out with two quick thrusts." Shikyo listened carefully as the teacher explained the specifics behind the unique shunpo use, eager to try it out for himself. Soon enough, Shikyo and another student stood face to face with other, each with their Zanpakuto in hand. "Go." The teacher commanded. Immediately the other student flash-stepped in front of Shikyo, unsheathing his katana as he made a horizontal slice, hitting nothing but air as Shikyo appeared a few feet away from the attacker.

Concentrating his reiatsu, Shikyo used his flash-step, pushing off the ground with one foot so that he was rotating before he disappeared. He reappeared behind the student with his staff already in mid-swing, successfully sweeping the student off his feet with a swipe from his staff. "Good." the Teacher stated. "Next." Shikyo stood back as he watched the next two students attempting to use the senka, each with varying degrees of success. "Continue to practice this technique on your own and meet back here tomorrow at 6 am sharp. Anyone who is late will no longer be in this class." With that the teacher disappeared from view, leaving the four students to train with one another.

Approved +1.5 to speed

Shikyo was not late, but unfortunately for two others in the class they were and the teacher upheld his promise of removing them from the class. "It seems that now there are only two of you." He stated. "And as such I will be able to teach you one final technique before you will graduate this course." The teacher stood still for a moment, before fading away into nothingness. "That was an afterimage." He stated from behind the two students. "The technique you will now be learning is known as utsusemi. It allows you to move so quickly that an afterimage is left to confuse the enemy." Shikyo listened carefully as the teacher explained the principles behind the technique before allowing the final two students to spar against one another as they practiced using the move in battle.

Shikyo bowed his opponent, seconds before they both disappeared from view using their respective shunpo. The sound of metal on metal could be heard ringing through the courtyard as the pair continued to try to move faster than the other, while at the same time attempting to leave afterimages to confuse their opponent. Finally after what seemed like hours of practice, the pair knelt before each other, sweat dripping from their foreheads. In a last attempt to subdue Shikyo, the other student flash-stepped before him, swinging his Zanpakuto at the shinigami's neck. The attack seemed to phase through Shikyo as a look of shock came over the student, soon afterward followed by pain as Shikyo's staff descended upon his head.

"Congratulations Shikyo." The teacher stated as he interuppted their fight. "You have cleared this course. It's time for you to move on to a new trainer."

Approved +1 to Speed.

The sun set in the horizon as Shikyo flash-stepped onto the open field. He had recently been promoted from the Intermediate class and was now going to be working with a shunpo specialist. Looking into the sun he wondered where his teacher was, it was getting late. He didn't have to wait much longer as suddenly a woman was standing in front of him, the wind slowly dying down around her that had picked up when she used her shunpo. "Shikyo Yoshi." She stated more than asked. "Yes mam." He replied as he bowed. "Your first test will be a race."

"What?" Shikyo spouted. She hadn't even taught him anything and he was already being put to a test. And a race no less. "Against who?"

"Me." The teacher stated as she unveiled a large cape. "When you can grab the end of my cape, we will start our real lessons."

Shikyo tilted his head, a look on his face like 'are you kidding me?' This was going to be easy. "Go." She stated. Immediately he used his shunpo to get behind her, grabbing for the cape with his outstretched hand...and grabbed nothing but air. The woman had leapt high in the air, ascending almost to the clouds as Shikyo was left with a dumbfounded look on his face. Shaking his surprise off, he bent his knees, building his reiatsu before exploding into the air, piercing the sky like a knife through butter. He could feel his body moving faster and faster as he approached the woman, who stood in the air completely still...with her eyes closed. Was she just toying with him?

Frustrated with how little respect she showed him, Shikyo poured more reiatsu through his body, using his shunpo at the last moment to close the distance between the pair. "Got...nothing." Shikyo stated as once again he was disappointed to discover that had not grabbed the cape. Turning around he saw that she had used her shunpo to move only a few yards away. Using his own shunpo he moved closer to her, then deciding to switch his tactics, began to run in a circle around her. Moving faster and faster until it appeared he was in more than one place at once. "Interesting." She noted smiling. "However, very predictable." As she said this she leapt into the air, using her shunpo to reverse directions and move to the ground as the cape once again slipped out of Shikyo's grasped.

Landing on the ground in front of the woman Shikyo stood, breathing hard as he eyed his opponent. Using his shunpo he aimed for the spot directly above and behind the woman, anticipating that as soon as he disappeared she would use her own shunpo to move up. He was correct and was triumphantly smiled as he held a fistful of her cape. "Good job. Anticipation is key, pure speed will not always win. It's time to start your lesson."

Nice post. Sadly, I want to see what she does next to poor Shikyo, so I'll give it a +.5 for now to take you to an even 9 in your Speed stat. Knock her socks off!

Wiping his forehead with the back of his hand, Shikyo barely had time to fling the sweat from his fist as his unrelenting teacher appeared to his side, launching a strong kick directly toward his head. Ducking beneath the blow he was caught in the chest by her other foot as she expertly spun around quicker than he could form a counter-attack. Landing on his back Shikyo coughed as he expelled dust from his lungs. "Master Jocelyn, can we take a break?" He asked her meekly.

The woman's long black hair fell to her shoulders as he relaxed her arms from their defensive position and crossed them instead. "A break?" She repeated, almost insulted. "You know that...." Before she could finish her sentence, Shikyo had used his shunpo to move himself from the ground and directly behind her, landing a well-placed elbow in the center of her back. Or it would have been where her back was, but she had turned just in time to grab the appendage and send him flying into the air as she performed another spin. "You almost caught me off-guard that time." She stated smiling.

"Deception is key." Shikyo yelled, using his shunpo to appear in front of her. Immediately the pair went into a barrage of punches and kicks, each designed not for power but executed in the quickest way possible so as to catch their opponent off guard. Leaping into the air, Jocelyn used her shunpo to appear behind Shikyo, executing a spinning kick that seemed to phase through him. He has used his shunpo moments earlier and left an after-image to misdirect his opponent. Realizing this Jocelyn attempted to turn around to block Shikyo's true attack but could not react fast enough to block it. Shikyo stood triumphantly over Jocelyn as she lay flat on her back in the sand this time.

"You've learned well."

"I learned from the best." He stated smiling.

"I will tell Hiroshi of your progress, but for now, we're finished."

Shikyo bowed to his teacher once more but using his shunpo to exit the area.

Approved +1 to speed.