The 3rd way to become a Captain (Solo thread)

There are three different ways to become a Gotei 13 captain

1. To take the captain proficiency test which requires the ability to perform the bankai. Presumably, most Soul Reapers become captains using this method. At least three existing captains, including the Commander-General, have to witness the test.
2. To have personal recommendations from at least six captains and approval from at least three of the remaining seven.
3. To defeat a captain one-on-one with at least 200 witnesses from the captain's division.

Kaiyo frowned heavily at the man standing in front of her. The girl's eyes bore deeply into the defiant soul. 'I'm not killing anyone!' she yelled, jumping from her seat and she slammed her fist down against her desk. The sheer force of it sliced several sheets of paper from her desk, drifting to the floor as the man simply smirked.

'Kaiyo...You have no choice, because next week, i'm going to kill you, in front of your entire squad, and then i'm going to be Captain and your going to be dead'.

The short Captain gritted her teeth. Clenching her fist tighter as she glared at the man. Silence. The papers flew violently off Kaiyo's desk as she flash stepped in front of the guy, grabbing him by the throat as she pushed him backwards into the wall. The man just started laughing, 'Yeah that's right kid, kill me now. Break the law and go rot in the Maggots nest. Don't worry, i'll look after the squad'. The girl's gaze remained fixated on the man; frozen. Kaiyo slung the man by the neck towards the door of her office, turning away as she snarled, 'Get the fuck out'.

Akira Tanaka had graduated early from the Soul Reaper Academy. He held the unique achievement for receiving an offer from 12 of the 13 squads within the Gotei 13. Tanaka was proficient in all area of combat, and battle strategy. However, driven by a unique blood-lust, he opted to join the combat squad. Upon recruitment, Tanaka was placed at the 3rd seated officer of the squad. His captain, Kaiyo Saiyouko refused Tanaka 2nd seat, under claims that he was not trusted enough to hold such a position within the squad. After his rejection for Lieutenant, Akira Tanaka claimed a leave of absence from his squad. He was absent for a total of 11 months, upon his return, Akira challenged his captain to a challenge for her rank. The official request was accepted by the central 46, leaving Kaiyo a choice of two things. Relinquish leadership of her squad to Tanaka, or beat him in a one on one fight in front of her entire squad.

Kaiyo drummed her fingers rapidly along her desk. Dropping her head loudly against her desk as she shut her eyes for a moment. Contrary to her insistence and continual lobbying of each member of the central 46, the fight had been allowed. It was stupid, and more ridiculous, was how much Kaiyo was considering just giving her squad away. Un-decided in every possible way, Kaiyo figured a little meditation couldn't hurt. The blonde girl sat silently in her own private garden. A swaying breeze swept small petals of cherry blossom over where she sat.

'So, here's the way i see it' Tenrai was leaning quite casually against the cherry blossom tree. Apparently they'd just be a projection, instead of taking Kaiyo into her Zanpaktou world. The girl's eyes squinted slightly in the sunlight, remaining seated she nodded her greeting to both Tenrai and Zenpyou. Kaiyo loved that lion. She was less fond of the devil incarnate...The woman. 'Kill one, save a thousand' she mused. It was unlike Tenrai to think so in tune with what might convince the girl, usually their conversations involved beating the girl within an inch of her life.

However, the words seemed to have some kind of impact on Kaiyo. It was an interesting prospect at the very least. That by killing this one man, and keeping her position, Kaiyo could consequently save the lives of thousands more people. It was true, Kaiyo just wanted to help, but killing another soul just didn't sit right with her. This was all even working under the assumption that kaiyo could kill him. Akira had clearly gotten stronger, the question just remained as to how much stronger. Zenpyou padded forwards towards the still seated girl, his low voice just always seemed to exude importance. 'Kaiyo, if you wish to help others so much, you may have to make such a sacrifice to your own humanity'. The girl's large blue eyes stared into the lions own golden stare for a moment longer.

Kaiyo bowed her head slightly, sighing as she spoke quietly, 'Yeah, okay, i get it. Thanks guys' she smiled weakly as her Zanpaktou spirits faded back into her sword.

The high publicity on the event hadn't helped calm Kaiyo's nerves. It seemed as if practically everyone had showed up for the challenge. Entire squads turned out in full force to the spectacle. Kaiyo sighed heavily, rubbing the back of her head as she wandered through the crowd. For some reason, people had decided to pat her on the back as she passed, it was just a bit weird really.

The Captain made her way to the set-up fighting area. Lines had even been marked out for where those with a lower reiatsu were allowed to stand. From what she'd heard, the Soul Reaper Academy had even allowed a field trip for it's students. Such a challenge was so rare, that everyone had decided to share it...apparently.

Akira Tanaka wandered into the fighting area. He was about average height; a good bit taller than Kaiyo, had short spiky purple hair and looked as if he were on steroids. The guys uniform was slightly odd too. The sleeves had been torn off, and his obi sash was red instead of white. Kaiyo on the other hand, was wearing her usual uniform, headband included. The girl was still wearing her Captain's Haori as well, a symbol of defiance that she hoped would really piss him off.

Kaiyo wasn't smiling, she was still quite begrudged with the whole situation she had been left in. Kaiyo stood perfectly still, quite a way away from Akira as she waited. The rules were quite clear on this matter, he'd need to announce his challenge before the fight started. 'My name is Akira Tanaka, and i am here, in front of a hell of a lot of shinigami, challenging the 11th squad Captain to a fight for her rank. Winner takes all'. Kaiyo showed no reaction, she refused to give this little shit the satisfaction.

The girl slid her right foot backwards slowly. The loud buzzer echoing through the air as she moved, twisting at her hips as she turned to the left, dodging the initial lunge. Akira skidded along the floor, spinning around to face Kaiyo. Just a few metres away. Fuck he was fast. Akira held his stance, his manic grin still swept across his face as he spoke, 'Well Kaiyo, i guess i'll show you my shikai'. The purposeful ignorance towards her title was annoying, but Kaiyo needed to be on her guard. The girl;s mind raced as to what his shikai was, she didn't have long to remember. In fact, she couldn't remember at all. 'Shit! Out of time'

'Hide the truth, Genwaku Engi!'. There was a second or so lapse in the release, there was with most releases, and it was always murder to wait, because it could literally be anything. The sword glowed purple for a second, changing shape to a large metal hammer. Akira smirked lightly as the area around him began to sway left and right, a copy of himself dissolving into existence. Kaiyo held her stance as about 100 copies of Akira appeared in front of her. This day was not her best. The girl gripped her own sword slightly tighter, the familiar chink of metal was the silence breaker. The large crowd of look alike's rushed towards Kaiyo, hammers raised, and yelling like a bunch of invalids.

There were quite a few common misconceptions that people held against Kaiyo. The first was the assumption that the girl would never be a fighter, let alone Captain. The second, was that she couldn't have any real strength. The third, her love of combat. However, the continual and most annoying assumption people made about Kaiyo was that she was genuinely a bad fighter. In truth, the girl seldom ever fought with full power, but even fights and spars with lower ranking shinigami, Kaiyo had always appeared to be only just ahead. A love of combat, meant a love of an equal fight, and the closer a fight was, the more enjoyment i offered. It was that simple...Kaiyo was not planning on enjoying this fight. The girl had not appeared for the grand spectacle, nor would she alter her combat style to make for more interesting watching.

Those who know how to fight, can usually avoid such situations on the sheer knowledge that they would win. No proof needed. Nevertheless, Kaiyo was not planning on going easy on the bastard.

The first runner swung the large hammer heavily through the air, swiping downwards at the girl. Kaiyo pivoted on her back foot, twisting her hips as she turned to her right side. Bringing her glimmering Zanpaktou around with her movement. The hammer fell forwards to where she had been standing as Kaiyo sliced straight through the middle of the clone's back. The girl hadn't considered what to expect from the clones...Would they go *poof* ? A small splatter of blood fell to the ground. The clone's body vanished entirely; which left a question towards the blood. Kaiyo wasn't exactly paying too much attention, the girl had followed the initial swing around, spinning once more with a lung straight through another clone. Kaiyo shifted her body weight forwards, twisting around as she arched her back and swung her sword around to block two hammer strikes. The metal's collided heavily for a second as Kaiyo threw herself back up; knocking the two other attackers backwards for a moment. This whole fight would have been so much easier if she had two swords.

Kaiyo dropped to the ground, sweeping her leg at the feet of the clones immediately around her. Kaiyo rested her body weight onto the palm of her left hand, springing her body up over another attacker; a brutal slice following at the side of his throat as she landed. Kaiyo moved both hands onto the handle of her Zanpatkou, bending her left arm as she brought her blade up above her head. Kaiyo side stepped quickly to the left, slashing diagonally downwards at another body. The girl shifted her weight again before the attack had even finished. The faint whooshing of another hammer cutting very closely through the air around her was still keeping her on edge just a bit. Kaiyo could already feel her heart rattling against her rib cage, like an angry prisoner shouting at the guard. Still, there wasn't enough time to stop. The sheer numbers around her had closed in further; an utter pain in the arse but it needed to be handled.

Kaiyo's blonde hair fanned outwards as she ducked low, a side sweep zooming above her head as she lunged her blade straight upwards into yet another clone. Keeping a hold of her Zanpaktou as she twisted her body, a shining hammer ridge scraping just inches from her face as she shot a quick side push kick into the rib cage of another. Twisting back around her blade cut clean off another head. Kaiyo pushed off her right foot this time, the ground shaking as she jumped; another hammer crumbling the earth as she cracked a jaw with a jumping snap kick. Landing back down where the clone had been standing. Kaiyo's breathing was starting to become more sporadic. The ground around her was broken and splintered with blood. kaiyo had completely lost sight of the real Akira.

Alarm bells rang heavily in her mind as the girl threw her body to one side, scraping her arm with a thrown hammer that had shot past her at quite an impressive speed. She hoped the new tactic wouldn't catch on. Kaiyo grimaced in annoyance, small beads of blood began dripping down her arm as the Captain flash stepped away. Speed was of the essence here. 'Denkou Kabe!' Came her next appearance, at the very edge of the set out fighting arena. Kaiyo swung her now Shikai'd Zanpaktou downwards. An explosive wall of lightning bursting up from the ground almost quicker than she had spoken. The golden yellow light exploded forwards in a flash. In fact for most spectators he only real recognition of the fast attack was when it crashed into the large protective wall. Only a handful were left now.

Kaiyo took a short second to analyse her new arena. Trying to find the real Akira hadn't proved too hard either, considering her was the one who seemed most knackered. A slow twisting penny finally dropped, the death of each clone had clearly not been so healthy for this guy. Obviously a normal combat fight with only a few would be fine, but after destroying about 80 clones, it was starting to take it's toll. A bead of sweat rolled down the side of the Captain's face, her eyes burning with a solid determination. The amount of adrenaline Kaiyo could feel surging around her body was starting to make her feel a bit shaky as well. Kaiyo made a mental note; quickly take out the copies, then kill the real thing.

There was of course a downside to getting so worked up over combat, the amount of adrenaline pumped through Kaiyo's body was more than lets say...A calm person, would be able to handle in combat. This had been something the girl was yet to work out, and earlier on in her training, just out of the academy. There had been a few incidents which had resorted in Kaiyo literally blacking out, of course that wasn't all the time. Supposedly it was stress or anxiety, though to Kaiyo, it translated only as excitement. Still, the captain could start to feel herself getting more shaky. She was angry as well, which didn't help, and even the thought of trying to calm down just irked her further.

Kaiyo held her stance, the remaining clones instantly rushing closer once more. At least the real Akira was staying back; Kaiyo wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not. The girl gripped her blade tighter, the large shimmering blade was rushing energy through her hands, surging through her body like the lightning it was. The girl held her Zanpakuto even tighter, squeezing so hard it was making her hands go white. Kaiyo needed to calm down; she was just so mad though. So angry she'd been left with only this option. Losing her squad, of killing a man. It seemed stupid.

Alarm bells rang in her mind as Kaiyo finally snapped back to reality. Pushing her left foot forwards with a lead push kick, knocking back the clone as he shot backwards, crashing against the ground heavily. Kaiyo lowered her left foot slowly, jumping off her right as she kicked upwards right under another's jaw. That all too familiar snap left nothing of the clone to fight back. Kaiyo landed quickly, pivoting on her left foot as she sliced straight through another, following her momentum around. The girl removed her right hand, reversing the grip as she lunged her blade behind her left hip. Feeling the instant contact of it piercing straight through another body. Back still facing the horde, Kaiyo rolled forwards, spinning around as she landed.

The girl blinked slowly, taking a long deep breath as she began counting slowly in her head. 'One...' Kaiyo jumped forwards, spinning around as she brought her blade with her, severing the head in a fluid motion. 'Two...' Kaiyo landed, bringing her blade up to block a hammer strike. 'Three...'. Kaiyo spun her blade quickly, changing it's direction downwards as she slid it through the skin just above the left hip; only making it half way through before the clone vanished that time. 'Four...' Kaiyo shot her right elbow backwards, breaking the nose of a clone who thought he could sneak up on her. 'Five...' Kaiyo twisted her hips to the side, pushing her shimmering Zanpaktou against another hammer. A few minor jolts of lightning stunning the guy just long enough for Kaiyo to drop down. 'Six...' Avoiding another swiped where her head had been, the girl lunged her blade straight through the stunned kneecap. 'Seven...' Kaiyo spun around so her back was on the cold ground, holding her Zanpakuto solid against a downward strike, still pushing down on her. 'Eight...' Kaiyo pushed harder against the hammer, digging her left heel into the guys right leg, and kicking as hard as she could straight at the kneecap with the other. A snap. 'Nine...' Kaiyo pushed herself back onto the ground. 'Ten...' The Captain slid her blade diagonally downwards against another Akira. Shifting her weight as she spun quickly around and lunged forwards. Pulling her blade back from the guys neck as the clone vanished into nothingness.

Kaiyo felt calmer already. The girl allowed herself a small smirk. Walking slowly across the battlefield to Akira. Tracing her Zanpakuto along the ground behind her, small sparks shooting off it as she moved. The guy was trying to save face, holding his head high as he moved his arms out, gesturing loudly to the crowd around him. 'Who wants to see an execution?!' No response from the crowds. Just a cricketting silence. Tense with wonder and doubt. There was no way in hell Kaiyo would lose to this bastard. Akira dropped her body language a bit, bringing it in closer to himself as he stared across the arena to Kaiyo. Smirking wildly with confidence, 'Your move' he snarled.

Kaiyo wasn't exactly known for her patience with people, in fact she had a very short temper. But the girl would never call herself an angry person...In this case, she was. Kaiyo took a short step closer, enjoying the single moment where Akira flinched with a tense panic. The blonde girl moved her blade out in front of her, keeping her left foot forwards as she took her stance. This would have to be pretty quick. Akira had gotten faster, no question, but Kaiyo doubted he could fully keep up with her. A faint crackling of loose stone flooded her ears as Kaiyo slid her right foot backwards. Leaning forwards. One last deep breath. Kaiyo's image vanished quicker than a lightning bolt. The girl appearing directly behind Akira, still moving behind him while his brain slowly registered the fact that she'd vanished at all.

'Ban-kai'

Kaiyo lunged her Zanpaktou straight through Akira. Splitting through his flesh with ease as blood began to pour out. More importantly, was the holwing scream the guy let out. Turning around to defend himself as Kaiyo flash stepped backwards a few paces. Ignoring the still yelling shinigami in front of her as she spoke to him. 'Ya know, it's one thing to think your faster than me, but it's something else completely to think you can beat me in a fight'. Kaiyo was standing in a relaxed manner, her piercing gaze staring into the eyes of her competitor. Her voice cold and angry, angrier than practically anyone had ever seen before. Akira had turned pale, her was shaking as well. Kaiyo glanced down to her right arm, smirking slightly at the prickling warm golden stars on it. Her bankai was odd, she had never really been a fan of it actually, but it inflicted enough pain for her to move past such issues. Kaiyo took hold of her Zanpaktou once more, holding her stance as Akira yelled. Rushing angrily towards the blonde girl. He flash stepped at the last moment, appearing high above Kaiyo with his hammer raised. Kaiyo waited until the last moment possible to move. Until the edge of that god awful hammer was just inches from her face. Then she vanished again. Appearing behind him as he struck his hammer into the ground.

Kaiyo stomped her foot into the centre of Akira's back, sending him flying forwards, banging and crashing against the ground. Howling in pain with every turn and roll. Kaiyo didn't wait this time. Shunpo'ing right after him. The girl kicked upwards at his jaw, sending his crashing into the wall around Sereitei. Cracks spreading through the thick stone as Akira fell forwards. Blood pouring around his body. He was close to passing out anyway. In so much pain he could barely stand back up straight. Still, his arrogance persisted as he forced out a hollow laugh. 'I-I-Is that...All you...Got!' . Kaiyo walked slowly closer, sheathing her blood soaking Zanpakuto as she moved. Akira was shakily trying to hold any semblance of a combat stance.

As Kaiyo moved even closer he swung around his right arm, a slow and sloppy strike in desperation. Kaiyo clamped her right hand around his wrist, holding onto it tightly as she twisted it around slowly. Shuffling her left foot where she stood. Kaiyo moved quickly, turning his arm around as she thrust her left hand forwards at the elbow joint. Cracking the bone in two. Another scream of pain, blood everywhere. It had even managed to splash onto her face that time. Akira fell to the ground, dropping his hammer with a slow rattle. Whimpering in agony as Kaiyo knelt down in front of him. Her expression blank, void even. The Captain lifted up his head gently. one hand either side as she twisted it around. 'Now fuck off' Snapping the neck...Killing Akira Tanaka.

Silence...

Kaiyo rose to her feet, walking away slowly from the dead man behind her. She was pissed off she had to do that, and even more annoyed she actually did. She needed some time to clear her head. The vast crowd that had turned out the watch the match didn't sense such a tone, instead, they were just cheering and whistling at the short blonde Captain.