James walked out into the training grounds as a cold wind blew through the trees “Guess I’m early again.” James thought to himself. Looking around he could see no one within the training area, “Guess it wouldn’t hurt if I goofed around a bit…”

James drew one of his zanpakuto from its sheath quickly slicing a few braches from the trees skirting one side of the area; using the braches he made 4 targets of medium height placing them in a wide semicircle. James stood back and admired his handy work “This will do for a warm up, I guess.”

He closed his eyes and drew his knives from their sheath running forward he slashed the first imaginary foe. Without stopping he followed through with a kick directly behind him sending one flying. James turned and jumped to the flying target slicing it in down the middle. Changing direction midair he zeroed in on the last two targets. “Now to finish them both off with one move.” He landed between the last two targets, stabbing with lightning speed he buried both knives hilt deep in one and shattered the other with a downward kick. Sitting down he looked around at the dead stumps “Well that wasn’t as much of a warm up as I thought it would be.”

James felt the air thicken as the spiritual pressure rose suddenly “Someone’s coming; hopefully they didn’t hear my foolish exercise.” He stood up and sighed as he walked over to the stump, his knives still protruding from the center. Quickly retrieving his zanpakuto he sheathed them at his wrists and turning around to face the entrance…

Kaiyo bounded along the pathway cheerfully, she was late, but not by much so she didn't think anyone would notice. The small girl was short in stature, she had an athletic build though, and an undeniably cute face. Kaiyo's blonde hair bounced along at her shoulders, her Lieutenant sash tightly resting on her arm with pride.

Kaiyo tilted her head at the academy student in question, the guy seemed strong enough, at least he was willing to learn, at least to 'warm up'. Kaiyo hadn't been too pleased at her given task, being told to teach an academy student Zanjutsu wasn't usually her favourite pass-time; but the girl owed Natsumi Sensei, the one academy teacher who still gave Kaiyo goosebumps hadn't been to pleased when the Lieutenant returned half her class close to death after an unfortunate training incident. Regerdless of how it had happened, the evil woman had left Kaiyo with the responsibility of personally training the guy; even though she hadn't told Kaiyo why this guy. Kaiyo flash stepped right in front of the guy, he'd sensed her coming, that had to be a good sign. 'Nice to meet ya james' she beamed up at the academy student.

Kaiyo jumped backwards as she slowly unsheathed her Zanpaktou, 'Lets start off just by showing me what you can do already' she smiled, a glimmer of anticipation shooting through her eyes.

James looked at the small girl that just entered with an amused look upon his face “They can’t be serious; they expect me to fight a small girl?” he looked her over with a smirk. The girl was nearly a foot shorter than him, with blond hair and a cute face on her arm she wore a vice captains sash “This is one opponent I can’t take lightly, on the bright side I don’t have to hold back anything.”

“Nice to meet ya James” he snapped back to reality at the remark “How did she get over here so fast, could she be that fast?” he watched as she took her stance not far from where he stood.

She unsheathed her sword asking him to show her what she could do. “Well you obviously know of me, but excuse my ignorance, for I know nothing of you?” James asked hoping she would go into a long winded introduction while he planned how to best show her his abilities.

James looked around the training grounds, looking for a distraction he spotted one of the halves of his so called warm up just to the left of him. Side stepping James kicked the stump with all his might, sending it flying at the girl with all his might. “She’ll be able to dodge that but, maybe I’ll just cut off her vice-captain’s sash from her arm.” He drew his knives and charged. “I really don’t want to harm her maybe just try to frighten her a bit.”

Kaiyo giggled, spinning around the girl sliced through the large stump with ease, she'd tried to confine her spiritual energy to just her sword to make it easier to gut the chunk of wood that was flung towards her. 'I'm Kaiyo Saiyouko, Lieutenant of the 11th Squad: best combat ifhgters'. Kaiyo took her left hand off her blade as James charged into close range combat. The girl had to admit he had some skill, but she wasn't going to go that easy on him, especially after she realised what he was aiming for. Kaiyo opened her palm as she flicked her wrist back, the crashing of two blades ringing gently as she blocked Jame's attack.

Kaiyo stepped closer to James, flash stepping quickly to behind him, aiming a weak slash at his shoulder as she passed. The small blonde girl was still smiling, sending various fast passed slashes at her opponent before she finished by slowly bringing her sword above her head for a large cut, hopefully distracting him long enough to not see her kick aimed at his chest in time. 'Please don't underestimate me....or try and take my sash' she laughed in a friendly manner.

James gasped, he had not expected the girl to be THAT fast, he had managed to block the overhead swing of her sword. The kick had caught him off guard and sent him sliding backwards holding his stomach he looked the girl in the eye as he coughed strangled words “I…Ach..Will...Not...Ach…Fall.”

He looked down at his robes small slashes were scattered all over from the chest up none but the one on his shoulder seemed to be bleeding though. He brushed his hair from his eyes. His eyes were bright from the fight. “This will be fun…” James grinned.

Gaining his breath from the kick he examined Kaiyo’s stance looking for an opening “11th squad huh? Just my luck, I ask the teacher for some help and she tries to kill me by sending in a vice-captain. Honestly if I didn’t know any better I’d say she hated me. Well enough chit-chat I won’t fall for the same trick twice so don’t bother with that kick again.”

James spun his knives with an expert flourish now holding them upside down he thought “If she kicked any harder it might have broken ribs she really is good, she knows exactly how much to hold back so as not to break the bones of a human.”

He charged knowing that she’d probably think he was going for the same target he aimed just above one blade back at her vice-captain’s sash, hoping she would block it again. “When she blocks I’ll slash her arm, and if I’m lucky maybe land a punch.” James’ plan was running through his mind as he charged. “What is with this girl, she smiles even when I’m attacking…Is she so powerful she thinks I can’t cut her, she made a horrible mistake.”

Kaiyo smiled and relaxed her stance, this guy was fun. 'Yeah the teachers tried to kill me while i was here as well' she laughed. Kaiyo nodded sincerely, 'okay, same trick, twice, got it' she winked, flicking her sword n her hand as she reversed her grip, taking a more unusual stance this time as James leapt forwards once more.

Kaiyo tilted her head in thought, her eyes connecting with James' as the guy faked an attack towards her Lieutenant sash once more, quickly coming in with his other blade. Kaiyo's reaction time was goo, but even she had let her guard down too much, the girl turned her body to the side, a single droplet of blood splattering to the ground from her arm, she smiled as a fist travelling just a few inches from her face. Laughing the girl ducked under James's arm just before he drew his fist back. Kaiyo stepped closer to the guy and rested the edge of her blade at his neck. Kaiyo would never use any attack like that, she preferred a fight with depth, than one with meaningless death. The blonde girl smirked at James, nodding slowly before she flash stepped back a few yards.

'Okay, i think i have a good idea at where you are in capacity...your good' she beamed. A smirk grew at the corners of her mouth, Kaiyo craned her neck to the side as a glint of light shot across her eyes, 'But don't you want to be better.' Kaiyo took her stance and called back to James, 'Fighting to kill doesn't mean you have to, it just means your combat is sharper....fight to kill, or you won't land another hit' she smirked, goading her opponents wasn't really her style, but Kaiyo figured the guy could take it.

The small girl didn't wait for a reply, instead she leapt quickly into the air, slicing down at James shoulder as she bent her knees on her landing, placing her right foot at the side of James as she spun around him, aiming another slash just above his hip.

James didn’t have time to reply, hell he barely had time to defend himself blocking the first shot to his shoulder and rather unsuccessfully blocking the shot at his waist, taking the shot in his right arm. He heard his shoulder snap as it came out of socket; his face didn’t show any sign of pain as planted his feet thinking of how to attack next…

“She wants me to go all out? Well… She can probably take it seeing as she could have killed me.” He felt his throat making sure was no cut there and he was bleeding out. Finding no blood he turned his attention to his shoulder feeling his upper arm and collar bone to make sure nothing else had been broken. “Okay mental note don’t try to parry a shot I only have one arm left that is still able to fight at a normal pace. My right arm might still be able to fight but, at a much slower pace.”

“You did quite a number on my arm here; if it wasn’t for the military training I may not have been able to do this.” He raised his arm still holding his knife level with his shoulder. “If you think a dislocated shoulder will make me stop for the day, you know nothing of me.”

James eyes we’re wide with excitement as he saw the single drop of blood on the ground; that alone was an achievement to him. That single drop of blood gave him an idea it would be risky but what did he did have to lose except the element of surprise. James spun his knives changing the grip, holding the knives properly, and charged straight ahead yet again throwing the knives with all his strength hoping they would hit an arm and shoulder. “Ah” he gasped as he felt his shoulder pop from the strain of the throw. Hoping she would be too distracted by the knives to see his kick aimed at her stomach. “Let’s see how you like it…” was all he was thinking as his foot whistled through the air.

Kaiyo smiled casually as James ran in closer to her, 'Okay, so tell me some more about you James, i'll tell you some stuff about me if ya do?' she giggled, the concept, granted, was a little immature, but Kaiyo figured if she had to fight the guy, she should at least get to know him a bit better. Never one to spend too long on a single moment the girl returned to the battle at hand. Small sparks shot across the air as Kaiyo twisted her body to the side and lunged her blade across her body to block an attack against her shoulder.

Kaiyo tensed the muscles in her stomach, right before James sent a kick there. The girl had seen the attack coming, but she wanted a bit more fun. Just as his foot connected with her gut Kaiyo swung out her right arm, twisting the Zanpaktou in her hand as she sent a smashing hilt against the side of James's head. Kaiyo skidded along the ground and smiled, standing back up straight. Kaiyo glanced down to her stomach, it was throbbing gently, not that you could have guessed by her expression.

'So what military background?' she puzzled in a calm voice. Stepping forwards with her left foot as she threw her Zanpaktou straight towards James. The tactic was dangerous, and usually caught her opponent off guard. Kaiyo flash stepped to right in front of James, gripping tightly onto her sword as the blade was just a few inches from his chest, using the momentum from her throw Kaiyo spun around, aiming her sword the injured side of his body.

“I served in the military when I was alive, I had too, I was the oldest of four children. It didn’t end well but, the training sticks with you.” James said after he regained his composure. Only to see her sword whistling towards his injured arm. “Great, you really did it now James just to land an attack you gave up your only means of defense and attack.” James did the first thing that came to mind falling flat on his back the blade passing pacing so close to his face he caught a glimpse of his reflection in the blade.

Rolling away from the girl that he was sure was trying to kill him; James looked around for his knives. Seeing them lodged in a tree on the other side of the training grounds “Now all I got to do is get of there and I’ll have a way to attack again but, first I have to do something about this arm.” James grabbed his right arm and jerked up and forwards, his shoulder gave a sickening pop as it went back into socket, and James grunted. “What about you do you have any memories of your living life?” Deciding that he might as well answer some questions, it would be good to make some friends. “She might be my commanding officer one day, might as well try to make a friend.” He thought to himself.

It wasn’t until then that he saw the flaw in his plan to retrieve his knives; He would have to get on the other side of Kaiyo. “Damn, I really didn’t want to have to do this…” He lined himself up so that his knives were but a straight dash away, the crouching low James placed his left shoulder forward and started to run, his eyes showed no fear; he knew what he had to do. James wouldn’t stop for anything this time it was crazy but, it was all he could think of. “If she doesn’t move she’ll get mowed down.”

Kaiyo shrugged, sidestepping with ease of the runners way as he shot across the ground to his weapons. 'Memories of my living life?' Kaiyo had never been asked that before, and she'd never really liked the question much either. The blonde girl shuffled slightly, 'Well, i was killed by a mugger, and i had an older sister' she giggled, 'I never had any military training though, i died a bit young for that' she laughed again, trying to make light of the situation. Kaiyo's reaitsu spiked, an image flashing in front of her eyes as the girl shook her head gently, finding her sister in Soul Society had been one of the happiest moments Kaiyo could remember...having to kill her sister was not such a pleasant thought.

'So which squad did you say your aiming for?'. Kaiyo waited for James to get his weapons, all the talking was starting to bore her, which wasn't a good thing. The girl took note of his shoulder though, if he wasn't carefully he'd keep some long term damage to it, although he'd still feel some as it was. The girl grinned, her heart skipped a beat, as she decided she'd have some more fun.

Kaiyo flash stepped to right behind James, standing on her tip toes as she spoke in his ear, 'Don't worry James, i won't kill you'. A love for combat had been Kaiyo's drive in the 11th Squad, it had also been the root of most of her problems, but she couldn't help it. The pint sized girl was simply far to excitable to even try and dislike the heart pounding speed of combat. Kaiyo dropped to the ground, swiping her leg at her opponents feet in an attempt to knock him down. Never one to let an attack rest Kaiyo flowed a bit of extra spiritual energy along her arm and blade, making her attacks sharper as she let loose a barrage of slices and jabs towards the academy student. Finishing with a flip over his left shoulder, and a strategically placed strike aimed for there as well. Kaiyo landed with bent knees and rolled forwards, spinning around as she took her stance and waited.

James closed his eyes before he made contact, running a few feet he felt no impact. He stopped and opened his eyes his knives were right there in front of him “she moved so fast I didn’t even hear her move.

“I’m very sorry to hear that.” James always hated people who chose to hurt others to get what they wanted. James pulled his knives from the tree and turned while talking “I’m not really sure which squad I will apply for haven’t thought of that but, I guess it depends on what form these take after the academy” he said gesturing with his knives “My best guest would probably be 11th squad but, that is not up to me is it?”

Finally looking up he didn’t see Kaiyo “Where did she go?” James didn’t have to wait very long to find out as he heard her voice in his ear “Don’t worry James, I won’t kill you.”

His eyes were wide with fright as he felt his feet go out from under him. Lying on his back with Kaiyo standing over him with her sword preparing for her attack, she let loose a maelstrom of slashes and jabs. Just barely able to keep up managed to block the bulk but he could feel the fresh cuts barely oozing blood. Then he saw the main purpose of the smaller attacks barely having time to roll out of the way as her sword struck the ground where he had been a moment before.

Jumping to his feet James wiped the sweat from his face, if was going to lose it wouldn’t be for lack of trying, charging back in close he let loose his own barrage of stabs, slices and punches. He couldn’t carry on much longer his right shoulder still throbbing was a constant reminder of that but, his military mind set kicked in “When you reach your limits, that just means, you have to try harder.” His eyes set with a cold determination; he knew he had barely had enough energy left to dodge one more time before he fell. “Just a little longer please just a little longer.” He prayed as continued his attack.

Kaiyo smiled just as James got back up to his feet, 'Yeah it is, but as far as i can tell, 11th squad would be lucky to have you' she beamed, quickly taking heed of her incoming opponent as Kaiyo decided having two hands on her Zanpaktou, for the time being, would be a good idea.

The blonde girl smiled excitedly as James' blade shimmered through the air, his attacks reaching a new speed as Kaiyo's own sword responded, the metallic blur of metal was often only brought to a standstill when their blades collided, and even then it was just for a moment. The girl was for lack of a better word proficient with a blade, but the initial charge had been a shock to Kaiyo, blood dripped slowly from a fresh wound on Kaiyo's wrist, a dodge too slow with an attack that had caught her off guard. Kaiyo hadn't particularly gone all out on the guy, but he'd still faired better than most. The blonde girl could tell though, james was fighting on his last legs. As his attacks got slower Kaiyo ducked quickly under his blade, spinning her feet on the ground as small swirls of dirt leapt into the air as she sent a kick straight towards the guys chest.

Kaiyo leapt back again, her arm catching at the ridge of the students blade as the back of her hand seeped with blood. Such minor wounds made no difference to Kaiyo's demeanour, although the girl was often annoyed at them, the small wounds had often been received through her own carelessness. 'You want to carry on, stop, or i can heal your shoulder?' she smiled in a friendly manner, quite opposite to her aggressive fighting style but Kaiyo was generally a very friendly young girl. 'Because i was starting to have some fun' she giggled.

+1 fighting skill
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