Gracefully movement. (Ask to join)

The trees swayed slightly with the wind as birds sang from their branches. On the bark of many of the trees were cut marks no doubt from training Shinigami. Other then that gentle song of the wind then forest the silent and peaceful.

Then six quick flash of steel shone followed by a crash and a tree shaking. Ri had cut one tree leaped off it then cut another and leap of it and so on. He'd been working on his speed for most the day but he kept faltering after six or seven leaps.


He knelt on the ground breathing heavily for a moment as sweat dripped off him. Normal this kind of exercise was easy for him but he'd attack large weight around his wrist and legs to help his training as he figured if he could move quick with them he'd be even fast when he took them off.

He stood up and took his stance , he waited for a moment then launched into the another attach. This time he leap from one tree to another then back to the first to gain hight. Once near the top he started leaping from tree to tree cutting the tops off them as he went , after fifthteen he made his way back down to earth for a rest.

Kuro was out for a peaceful walk to get away from his office for a bit. Being a captain now meant a lot more paper work to be done. I should just enjoy the moment while we're not in any big state of war... He walked slowly, enjoying the sounds of the wind and the birds. As he gazed at the trees, he noticed the tops of some of them falling down into the clusters or wooded area below. Intrigued by what was going on, he flash stepped into the branches of the nearest tree and began to leap along the branches until he reached a small clearing.

Down in the clearing was another shinigami, resting with tops and branches of trees scattered all around him. Around his wrists and legs were heavy weights that Kuro figured he was using for training. Staying above in the branches, Kuro called out to him.

"You seem to be having fun. I remember using weights to train my speed myself quite a few times."

Ri was panting heavily on the ground ,trying to catch his breath so he could speak normally. He could feel him self sweating and his limb aching but knew he must endure to become stronger. He looked up at kuro and remembering his rank Ri bowed his head slight.

"Captain Akarui Ri said still breathing heavily as he spoke. "Ri O'Nocht. Unseated squad eleven Sir"

Ri allowed himself to fall backward so that he was sitting up against a large tree. His train had exhausted him somewhat but he knew he still have a lot left in him even if his body didn't think so.

"What can I do for you sir? Ri asked as he looked up from the tree to Kuro.

Kuro looked down at Ri in amusement, letting his mind wander through all of his own training. It was nice to see others training like he had to make themselves stronger.

"Impressive, I didn't even introduce myself. But then again, I guess I'm not so unknown anymore. It's nice to meet you O'nocht-kun."

Kuro leapt down from the tree branch and stared around at the surrounding cut trees. He thought to himself that Ri didn't have to worry. He had potential and definitely would not be unseated for very long.

"I don't need you to do anything. I merely came by because I was interested in finding out what was going on in here when I saw the trees being disturbed. But now that I'm here, I guess I could go for a bit of a workout. If you don't have a problem with it, why don't we see how strong you are?"

"What do you have in mind" Ri said as a evil looking grin came over his face. Ri had some idea of what Kuro was thinking but knew regardless of what that test was he'd most likely look after all Kuro is a captain and could most like kill Ri with use his spiritual pressure or a flick of his wrist.

"Let me take these off first" Ri as he slid the weighted bands off his limb. As he did he stretched them and let them relax so he'd be ready. "There we go. Now whats the plan?"

Kuro returned the young shinigami's cocky looking smile as he stretched his limbs a little, preparing for a fight. This new shinigami wasn't afraid of a challenge, even against a captain....good.

"I propose a small duel to show me what you're capable of so far. Of course if I fought with everything I have, this wouldn't last long. So to make it fair, I shall refrain from using my zanpakuto, kido, or my reiatsu. I shall even be gracious to not use flash steps which I am most proud of and skilled at. You may use any skills or weapons you have against me. If you can damage my captain haori in any way, be it a small cut with your blade or burn it with a kido, I shall declare you the winner."

Kuro's smile widened as he finished explaining. He lowered himself into a nimble fighting stance waiting for Ri's reaction to his challenge.

"Now see on paper that sounds easy" Ri said as he stood up and tossed the weights away. He felt much light now but knew the sudden change of weight could make him unbalanced but he'd just have to work through it.

"Right then lets see how it works in practise" Ri said grinning as he bowed to Kuro then drew his Zanpactu and took a neutral stance. He knew he'd have to come up with something cleaver as Kuro even with his zanpakuto or kido was much stronger then him but Ri knew the terrain better and since Kuro wasn't using his zanpakuto he'd have to dodge all attack.

"Lets go" Ri said as he started running towards Kuro but flanked left so he was beside the tree's. When he got close enough to a tree he kicked off the trunk of the tree with great force and launched himself over Kuro . He went straight over Kuro and reach a tree on the opposite side , he kicked off this one and went straight for Kuro with a downward lash for his right arm.

Kuro grinned again as Ri started his attack. Even without the use of flash steps, he could tell that he was faster than his opponent. Though Ri's speed was better than other recruits Kuro had seen. He followed Ri's movements around him and as he jumped off both trees. As Ri's downward slash came at him, Kuro lightly twirled in a clockwise spin and moved forward. He stopped his motion positioned with his left arm held up to catch Ri in his stomach area and vault him overhead again, tossing him to the ground on the other side of Kuro. Kuro waited for him to get up and try again. He wasn't fighting offensively in this spar, but instead motivating Ri to improve both mentally and physically in his goal to win, just as Kaiyo had with him years before.

Ri felt Kuro arm catch him stomach and toss him easily to the ground, his back smacked of the ground making his body bounce off the gound , he was about to hit the ground again when he pointing his left right hand to the ground.

"Hado one thrust" He called as the force of the kidou propelled him up into the air. He turned him self the right way up and fell back down to the ground. The moment his feet found stable footing he pointed his right hand at Kuro.

"Engulfed by the need of want come forward Hado two reel" Ri chanted as he sped forward to kuro. He knew he'd either get a hit in or get hurt badly from this one. He angled his strike to cut from right to left through kuro chest.

"Interesting use of the first hado." Kuro noted aloud as Ri brought himself to his feet. He heard the incantation of the next coming kido and knew what he had to do. Kuro quickly bent as low as he could and dashed forward toward Ri like a track member in a race. His own speed was increased by the pull of Ri's kido, making him close the distance between them in a flash, albeit with his balance greatly diminished. As he passed by Ri on Ri's right side, he playfully grabbed hold of Ri's leg to trip him up. Kuro himself somersaulted roughly to the ground afterward having lost his footing. Picking himself up, he turned and smiled again, wondering what Ri was feeling. Most likely annoyance at Kuro's lack of seriousness.

Ri dived after Kuro grabbed his leg and placing his hand right he roll back on to his feet and turned to face Kuro yet again. He smirked slightly , Kuro wasn't taking his seriously and that was a mistake on his part. Near immediately, Ri came up with a strategy in his head.

"Right then going to play it cheeky like that?" Ri said as he wiped some dirt off his face.He dropped to a low stance and focused himself on his goal. Ri kicked off the ground and launched himself at Kuro but before he reached him Ri stabbed his Zanpakuto into ground and using his built up momentum he swung him self around and aim a strong kick for Kuro's left cheek.

Kuro smiled again as Ri attacked him again. He seemed to have something planned, otherwise he wouldn't have tried an attack that seemed so straightforward and obvious. Kuro loosened up his torso, setting his legs firmly in a stance and swayed out of the way of Ri's kick. He had taken his serious up a notch. This was his own invented fighting style of Issui, a counter-attack style that used superior speed and focus to watch and evade the opponents attacks and exploit any openings. As his torso swayed right to duck under Ri's kick, his left palm came up in a thrusting jab to strike out at Ri's leg in a counter-attack. Kuro focused on this attack with only his peripheral vision, keeping his main gaze locked on Ri, watching for any follow up attack.

Ri leg was forced up and his body followed soon after to the point his body was in line with his Zanpakuto. He bent his elbows and pulled his Zanpakuto out of the ground and landed himself close to Kuro.

Not waiting to gain the completely stability Ri kicked off the ground sending himself backwards towards a tree which he kicked off from to another and then to another circling Kuro waiting for a blind spot of open it's self but after a few moment Ri saw none and was opening himself for an easy attack.

He kicked off a tree and land a few yards from Kuro then pushing off his left leg he spend towards kuro and aimed his blade for a downward slice then would follow up with a diagonal upward slice.

Kuro continued to stand his ground instead of following Ri and possibly open himself to an attack. His gaze turned sharp and analytical as he saw a number of opportunities that he could've attacked with flash step, but he stayed rooted to the ground waiting for Ri to strike. He turned again to face Ri head on as he stopped his encirclement and came at him with his blade. Kuro was forced to side step completely this time to avoid the downward slash and was surprised and amused by the following upward slash. Thinking fast, he bent his body back and retreated from the blade, though he heard the light sound of a few hairs from the top of his head being sliced as the blade passed him not even an inch away from his head. Kuro struck back by continuing his bend backward, planting his hands on the ground and swinging his legs up in a backflipping double kick aimed at Ri's chin. Kuro followed this flip with a second and third flip, once again putting distance between himself and Ri. The opponent's attacks were getting fiercer, and this fight a lot more interesting.

Kuro's kick smacked Ri dead in the chin and he was force backward to fall against a tree to recover quickly. He held his jaw well laugh slightly as the only thing he could think of was *that's one way of shutting me up*.

Ri pulled his chin slightly making a large cracking sound and sending a shiver through his body. He took a moment to recover his stance and for his world to stop spinning. Taking deep breaths he thought of how he was going to turn him around but head was completely bank.

"Right this is going to stuck for one of us" Ri said as he took a stance with one leg bent and the other stretch out in front of him. He spend toward Kuro then just before he came into range he leaped to his right

"Burn of the blades that have been lost. Hado eight blade of flames " He chanted as he leaped of one tree to another. A flaming sword like item appeared in his hand and waiting till he was behind Kuro he threw it then leaped to the next tree and came at Kuro from his high right with a downward slash.

Kuro's face showed surprise for a second as Ri started another straight forward attack. Taking his stance, he prepared to dodge whatever Ri's attack could be. He was mildly taken off guard as Ri leapt to the right and out his range of vision.

Kuro followed his motion, but got distracted as he caught sight of the thrown kido sword. Kuro himself had used the same tactic with that hado against a hollow long ago. Without the use of kido or even his zanpakuto, Kuro's only reflexive reaction was to catch the blade in his bare hand as it flew at him like a spear. Without the reinforcement of Ri's spirit power, it fizzled out quickly, leaving only a small burn on his right hand.

Kuro leapt back from the spot he stood in as he heard the light rustling of the leaves in the tree Ri had kicked off from. His dodge saved him from the slice as Ri's blade flashed down right in front of his eyes. Not wanting to continue his defensive fighting, Kuro sprang forward again standing two feet from Ri's side.

"Issui style, Torrent!" Kuro announced the name of his attack as he rapidly lashed out his fists dozens of times in a few seconds, mimicking the drops of a heavy rainfall striking at Ri's side all over in random places.

Ri felt the first twenty punches then lost count and nearly consciousness as he soon found himself up again the trunk of the tree and his right side utterly numb. He could only just move his right arm but it was completely dead and couldn't put any strength behind it.

"Told ya that was gonna suck for one of us" Ri said half smiling as he held his sword with his left hand unable to grip it with his right. He was going to have to wait his arm to recover before he could attack properly.

""May the tears of those killed, of those harmed by those of wickedness deliver their judgement upon those around .Hado six rain of pain" Ri chanted as sky around Ri turned black and started to rain.

"Uh-oh." Kuro exclaimed as he jumped away from Ri. A circular space of spiritual rain began to fall all around Ri making the grass sizzle and slowly dissolve. Kuro paced a bit at a safe distance from the kido. Without kido, he didn't have any way of getting at Ri without hurting his haori. He felt that his previous attack had worked at least a bit, so he took the moment to rest and wait until Ri recovered enough to get back in the fight.

Ri didn't like having to using the kidou to hold off kuro but he couldn't fight without use of his right arm but though he regain some strength in it any strong hit to his right kidney and he was going to coughing blood.

He let the raining drizzle down of a little while longer as he regain his stamina. Soon the dark sky faded and was quickly replaced by a clear blue sky. Ri was going to have get creative if he was going to hit kuro.

He took his stance and started breathing deep and slowly preparing for the next round. He gripped his zanpakuto tight and started dashing for Kuro but again before he reach Kuro he leaped left but this time he then leaped straight in for kuro and prepared to strike with a horizontal slash.

Ri's quick recovery pleased Kuro. He was happy to have found such a determined opponent. He watched closely as Ri came at him with his sword and followed his leap to his left. As Ri swung his blade in a horizontal slash, Kuro bent his legs low and ducked underneath the sharp metal. Balling his fist, he snapped his legs straight again like springs, propelling himself up at Ri. Not wanting to attack Ri's chin again so soon, he aimed his fist for his chest. Since Ri had attacked Kuro's right side, he had to use his non dominant fist to strike, and from his angle, he didn't have much of a contact surface against Ri's chest. Kuro leapt away from Ri again, positive that his counter attack hadn't done major damage.

Ri was surprised with the meagre counter attack but it was a chance he'd have to take. He Started making up his new strategy in his head and smiled when he finally decided on his choice.

"I really hope you stop this cause I'm not sure how well I can control this" Ri said as he took his stance and focused himself. He slowly advanced on kuro step by step trying to get the best distance.

"Disintegrate, you black dog of Rondanini! Look upon yourself with horror and then claw out your own throat! Bakudo nine strike!" Ri chanted as he started moving toward Kuro who was beginning to be surrounded by red light.

Ri flung his sword to his left and swung it so it's glide around. Ri came at kuro leading his a high right first but as he came near Kuro he instead of hitting kuro went to grabbed Kuro as he called. "Hado two reel."

His kidou wasn't aimed for Kuro but his zanpakuto, which came flying toward it's master leading with it's tip. Ri had aimed it to strike by Kuro's side but a false move by either and squad four might be needed.

Kuro sighed and stood still as he heard Ri begin the chant. Without the use of flash steps to dodge the initial landing of the seal, or the use of his reiatsu to repel the spell, there was nothing he could do against this move. His own caution had lost him this spar. If he hadn't put so much distance between the two of them, he could have darted in and attacked Ri before he finished reciting the kido's chant. It was rather ironic that Ri chose to use this kido to finish the spar, just as Kuro had done against an opponent when he had started out.

Ri's sword flew in fast on its journey towards them both. Zipping by Kuro like a fly, it put the smallest slice in his haori as it passed before burying itself in the ground at Ri's feet. Kuro waited until the kido wore off, then bowed to Ri in respect of his perserverence and resourcfullness.

"The fight is yours. Kaiyo-san has found herself a great squad member. Let her know that I said that. I thank you for the practice. It's been a while since I trained my hand to hand combat. Keep working hard and make your squad and the gotei proud."

Kuro then took his leave, flash stepping through the trees leaving Ri to continue his day.

Ri bowed but that was all he was able to do , he'd put all his power into his last Bakudo and his right same was still numb in places. He watched Kuro flash stepped away as Ri fell in a slump at the base of tree.

He knew if he kept fighting captains he'd get stronger but then again he could also end up dead. He spent a few hours replaying the match as he recover from the match. He made note of his open and blind spots during his attacks and planned to better himself by learning from his mistakes.

The sun was beginning to fade when Ri finally stood up and started moving ,heading for the barrack to get some much need rest.