(OOC: For Nikoda only)

Before asking about a mission to travel to land of the living, Kajitora had not forgotten his promise to help a new academy student train via sparring. Kajitora was still somewhat recovering from his last mission that involved humans, but he felt much better-he felt it was time to pick of his sword again. Plus, someone needed his services, and his honor would not let him dodge his responsibilities. He waited for his friend outside of what once was a small wooded area, which had managed to burn down completely in two previous spars. More painful memories, he thought. He pushed his pessimistic thoughts away and focused on the battle that was about to happen. He couldn't take the new student lightly from what he had heard of the man's private training and going around sparring with Vice-Captains. He had never meet a self-proclaimed genius, and thought that he could learn a lot from crossing swords with such a man.

Kajitora sat down on grass outside of the ashes of the woodlands. His black eyes reflecting the light from the setting sun, making them seem a purplish color. His hair shined in the same manner as his eyes, black with a tint of purple. His sleeves were already tied back, he had been ready the moment he had decided to go through with the spar. He peered down at the red wrapped katana at his side, and decided that he would not use his Shikai during this sparr. Knowing that the student favored kidou, Kajitora wanted to do the same, creating a battle of kidou! Maybe he could teach the student something of Resolve as well, if they crossed swords. He found himself getting pumped up already and forgetting, slowly, his anguish from his last mission.

Nikoda approached what appeared to be a child sitting down, wondering if the boy was his sparring partner. For a moment he thought it was joke until the boy turned around and observed his features. The kid looked at Nikoda's dark spiked hair, his sleeveless gi and his dull brown eyes. The boy was obviously a warrior by the way he examined Nikoda. And Nikoda could tell, by the way he rose from kneeling and the way he walked so seriously even while approaching a student, that this young boy was a samurai or had samurai training. Already Nikoda was interested in this new person, of which he could experiment on. Nikoda was also told by his master that this person was of considerable rank within the Gotei 13.

Nikoda bowed to the new opponent, greeted him and then took his stance. His hand on his sheathed sword, his free hand balled into a fist at his side, and his legs wide for a good base.

"I'm Nikoda Yumi, Pai Mei's new student. It is an honor to fight you."

Nikoda's face was blank, as he waited for his opponent to make his move...so that Nikoda could begin to formulate his plan.

As Kajitora walked up to the young man, he bowed and introduced himself.

"Kajitora Miyamoto, 3rd Seat of 6th Squad. Pleased to meet you. The honor is mine. I will start now."

Kajitora appeared in front of Nikoda and swung his Zanpakutou (Suzaku) at his mid-section. He turned his foot as he drew his sword out and towards its target. The twisting movement added power to his swing, which he was already using full force to execute.

Nikoda waited in his stance as the Samurai swung at him with all his might. Nikoda partially drew his blade, the tip never leaving the sheath. He drew the sword's blade just enough to block the offending sword. Nikoda noticed Kajitora's leg twist with the movement, adding his body weight to the attack. As the boy's sword hit his, Nikoda was surprised to find that Kajitora's sword pressure was close to his own. He had expected the samurai to be able to apply close to as much pressure as the Vice-Captain he had sparred with but Kajitora's wasn't what he expected of someone his rank-especially since the kid had obviously had samurai training in the Human World. On contact the sword's pressure was normal but after a second, Kajitora's weight and body movement made the strike become stronger. Nikoda had felt fine at first defending the blow but then he was immediately knocked backwards. After flying back a few feet, Nikoda recovered and let go of his sword letting it fall back into the sheathe.

As Nikoda was being knocked backwards, he thought to himself. This guy could be hiding his true sword strength but I don't think thats the case. Maybe his true strength lies in his speed or intelligence. Looks like I'm not the only surprising Shinigami around here. He thought about all the Shinigami he had meet in and out of the Academy. Definitely not, he concluded. I better stick with my main strength until I figure out what his is. If he comes with his sword again, I have a plan.

"Way of Destruction #3: Crimson Strike!" Nikoda threw his hand forward and from it launched a red beam of energy aimed for Kajitora's abdomen, to reduce his chances of dodging the kidou.

Kajitora was completely surprised when the man didn't draw his sword, but only half drew to block the attack. At first he was confused but then he realized, this guy doesn't think I'm worth drawing his sword against yet-what a proud bastard. Then came the explosive force that Kajitora used to push back the young man. Nikoda released a kidou aimed at Kajitora's mid-section but Kajitora wasn't worried about the low level kidou-due to one of his favorite reiatsu based defenses. He would mix the Kiai-shout and reiatsu to slow down the speeding kidou, giving him just enough time to dodge it. He dug deep past his lungs, and drew his voice's new found strength from his soul. His shout erupted from his mouth, jarring his lips open and the pouring out.

"UUUURRREEEEIIIII!!!”

The sound of Kajitora's voice filled the entire air around the two, with its sharpness and projection. Since it was mixed with reiatsu, it stopped the kidou for the briefest moment. Kajitora took advantage of it and rolled to the side, out of harms way. He looked at Nikoda and smiled, his smile goofy and his eyes large-his signature little kid smile. Then he casted his kidou, "Way of Binding #: 26: Curving Light!" The smile only faded as did Kajitora's body as light around him bended. He became camouflaged and took to the air, trying to get behind Nikoda so that he could attack him from behind.

Nikoda watched as his enemy created a reiatsu based Kiai-shout that slowed his kidou enough for him to dodge out of the way. Kajitora then proceeded to disappear. At first Nikoda was surprised but the gears in his head began to spin. He wasn't exactly sure where his opponent was but he had to find a way to discover his location. He immediately came up with a descend plan, he would use a kidou to expose his enemy.

"May the black sounds of those that have felt death emit and destroy. Way of Destruction #7: Black Thunder!" From Nikoda a wave of reiatsu, black as night, shot forth. With a thundering sound, the wave travelled forward and crashed into Nikoda's invisible foe. Nikoda instantly moved toward where the wave had warped and struck at his opponent with a draw strike. As soon as his sword struck with Kajitora's, the invisibility kidou faded away. Nikoda examined his opponent's sword as his mirror like blade pressed against it, the hook on the side of the blade not being a particular threat at the moment. Kajitora's zanpakutou had what appeared to be a simple blade, and two red tassels hanging from the hilt but interested Nikoda the most was the Phoenix design on the tsuba. He wondered what it meant, but he had some sort of idea as to its significant. Nikoda began to formulate an experiment he wanted to do with this new sparring partners...he wanted to see a Shikai again-he wanted to see that awesome power and learn even more.

Nikoda = +2 to Spiritual energy