Iaido Training. (Open to first three replies)

The grounds of the Shinigami Academy were normally buzzing with noise at this time of day. A heavy rainstorm, however, had driven all but the most determined and foolhardy indoors. Kaishiro considered himself neither of these things, but he too was out in the pouring rain, at the behest of his incensed Zanjutsu teacher.

Zanjutsu was possibly Kaishiro’s least favorite lesson, ever. He hated it, the repetitive fights, the lack of decent progress and the total lack of any skilled sparring partners whatsoever. He hated the distance, too. Too close for Kido, too far for unarmed combat. As such, he never tried hard enough to please his Sensei, and often got stuck with punishments and extra work to make up for it. Such as now, when he was caught doing extra training in the most inclement weather he had seen in the Soul Society to date.

And so it was that Kaishiro drew his blade again, facing down against another model of a Hollow. It was squat and spiderlike, scuttling about on eight legs each of which had a curved spike on the end. It had two faceted eyes, packed closely together at the end facing him, and what looked like a stinger at the other end. At the sound of Kaishiro’s unsheathing blade, it stood up, hissing and spitting at him.

Almost asleep with boredom, Kaishiro didn’t bother to look as he blocked the programmed, predictable attacks of the model Hollow. The attacks never changed, regardless of what modifications he made to the model. It was both infuriating and demeaning. Kaishiro blocked the first three blows by raising his sword, stopping the Hollow smashing its cruelly-spiked arms into his head. The fourth blow, curving in from the side, allowed Kaishiro to step inside the Hollows guard and smash the pommel of his sword into its face, deactivating it.

Kaishiro sighed and glanced through the rain at the dojo. What he would give for a decent sparring partner right now...

A hand would appear on the side of the dojo doorway. a light skinned boy with short white hair would poke his head into the dojo with a smile on his face and his eye closed look at the guy, wave with his left hand and said." Wow if i didnt know better i would think you fought that hollow Befor. " Then points at the spiderlike hollow started disappearing."But did you have to kill it so quickly i didnt really get to see much of your skills." slaps his lips three time ."Tch tch tch Ughhh What a pain this is. I wonder if you would mind fighting me then since that hollow was so weak. I mean im no better but the fight will last longer, If you go easy on me that." Rush then walks into the dojo and Still with his eyes close Rush looks around. Rush then looks over to the guy.."Well im ready to lose whenever your ready to win" He said while still smiling at the guy.

Kaishiro turned around as he heard the mocking-polite voice from the dojo door. A new sparring partner had come out to join him.

He smiled, and said ‘It’s not a real Hollow, and I have fought it before. Far too many times for my liking. Now, are you coming out to fight or not?’

So saying, Kaishiro unsheathed his sword again, taking a defensive stance in the rain. He tilted the tip of his blade toward this newcomer’s eyes. He wondered idly about the wisdom of fighting in heavy rain, but dismissed any negative thoughts. He was here to train, after all. Then he realized something was missing.

‘Hey, you. I never caught your name. Mine’s Kaishiro. Kaishiro Higaonna.’

When kaishiro asked Rush if he was coming, Rush still with his eyes close and a smile on his face. He would take his right hand and slowly pull out one of the zanpuktuo off his back. The zanpuktuo appear to be black single edged blade. he blades are about 60 cm long with red word wrote on it from the tip to the guard that said "only with a suffice can one join us in the games" The zanpuktuo also has a black squared guard with the handle wrapped up in a red cloth. Rush watched as Kaishiro a defensive stand."My my what a stance you got that. It makes me want to attack."Rush would points the zanpuktuo toward kaishiro then Rush pulls it back, With his right hand to his right Shoulder and his left hand at the tip of the blade of the zanpuktuo, With his right leg behind him and the left leg about three feet infornt of him. Rush would listen as Kaishiro told Rush his name. "Me im Rush, Rush Gensai." Rush quickly dash toward Kaishiro when rush got close enough he would push his right hand forward preforming a quick thrust Toward his zanpuktuo.

‘Me? I’m Rush, Rush Gensai’

These was something in the way Rush spoke that Kaishiro didn’t like. He seemed to be demeaning and complimentary at the same time. Plus, the way he kept smiling was unsettling, even through the visual barrier of the now-slackening rain.

Kaishiro deflected Rush’s first strike as little as possible, allowing the trust to pass by inches from his side. At the same time, he detached his right hand from his sword’s pommel, grabbed the onrushing Rush by the shoulder and span him around in a tight circle with Kaishiro at the center. As he did so, he pushed against Rush to create some distance between them. Kaishiro landed back in a more neutral posture so he didn’t slip on the wet courtyard stones.

‘You shouldn’t just run in, you know. I could have spitted you easily.’

The clash of metal on metal woke Kasumi, who had been sleeping in the rafters, ditching class. The sight below him piqued his curiosity and he laughed as the one called Rush lived up to his name, rushing in at the well defended opponent. The deflect was good, and the spin even better, possibly disorienting Rush and putting distance between the two.

"You shouldn't just run in, you know. I could have spitted you easily." remarked the defender. Kasumi couldn't help it and dropped from the rafters, landing easily between the two, a grin on his face and a feral light in his eye. He looked the two over, taking in the details of each persona. He chuckled lightly and bowed to both in turn.

"Excuse the pun, but sorry to drop in. Mind if I watch? We could do a tournament style, winner faces next person. Or maybe we can have a two on one?" he asked, completely serious, hoping the latter was the favorable option, seeing as the type of person he was, he loved challenges. He set his hips to the side, hands akimbo, wrists resting on the hilts of his blades as he waited patiently for the invitation, or the opportunity to join in later.

Rush was spinning around due to kaishiro grabbing him by his shoulder and spinning him around in a tight circle. When Rush stop spinning he put his hand on his face moving his head side to side alittle." My My Your strong kaishiro grabbing my should like that while I was running towards you." Rush took his hand down and would have his zanpuktou in his left hand, While another zanpuktuo would appear to be in his right sheath instant of the left. Rush listen as kaishiro said" You shouldn’t just run in, you know. I could have spitted you easily." Rush continued to smile. Rush pulls his zanpuktuo back, With his left hand to his left Shoulder and his right hand at the tip of the blade of the zanpuktuo, With his left leg behind him and the right leg about three feet infornt of him." Well here I come again." Rush dashed towards kaishiro when he got close, with his zanpuktuo in his left Rush would swing to the right after he finish the swing he let go of his zanpuktuo and quickly grabbed it with his right hand performs a quick thrust toward kaishiro.

Kaishiro didn’t react to the false-sounding compliments that came his way. He just breathed out and prepared himself. This guy was starting to annoy him ever so slightly, and Kaishiro didn’t want to lose focus with two live blades being waved around. He watched as Rush switched hands and swing at him. Instead of blocking, he leaned back out of range and brought his sword around on the inside of Rush’s, adding energy to the swing rather than taking it away.

‘Here’s something my Sensei taught me...’

Kaishiro deftly stepped to one side of Rush, moving inside his guard, and dropped to his right knee. As he did so, he flicked his trailing left foot out at Rush’s far ankle, leaving his leg firmly in the other Shinigami’s path.

‘Sweep the leg!’

Rush could tell that something was wrong with Kaishiro. He could also feel that kaishiro didnt really like him. when rush dash he would swing to the right after he finish the swing he let go of his zanpuktuo and quickly grabbed it with his right hand performs a quick thrust toward kaishir. kaishiro leaned back out of range and brought his sword around on the inside of Rush’s guard. Rush quickly grabbed his zanpuktuo by the tip of the handle when the zanpuktup pointed towards the ground Rush pulled it up and blocked the incoming attack. when kaishiro said. Here’s something my Sensei taught me...’ then move toward Rush and dropped to his right knee. As he did so, he flicked his trailing left foot out at Rush’s far ankle, leaving his leg firmly in the other Shinigami’s path Rush would fall to the ground on his back. His shinigami robe would be wet due to him falling on the ground Rush would sit up and laugh." My My this isnt good my robe is all wet Ugh what a pain this is, Would you say Kaishiro?. "Rush stands up and dusk his self off. With his eyes closes and a smile on his face, Rush looks at the new guy." Hi there new comer. dont you think a wet robe is bad too."

Intent on studying each individual, Kasumi didn't take his eyes off the spar as it progressed, then ceased with Rush on the ground. Kaishiro, as Kasumi had learned was the name of the other Shinigami, was quite the fighter. He was quick, precise, and didn't hesitate to sieze an opening. Rush wasn't horrible either, just with a bit of a habit of, again, living up to his name and rushing in. As he was mulling these things over, he almost didn't realize he was being addressed until he looked to Rush and saw he was being spoken to. The words regained their meaning and Kasumi grinned as he replied

"I would think so, but then again, outside changes and forces don't bother me much. I prefer things to be shaky and spontaneous, but that's just me." Kasumi stood and stretched, his back arching and arms reaching towards the ceiling. He looked between the two Shinigami, then spoke.

"So, I take it Kaishiro was the victor in this situation? Did you want to have a tournament style sparring session, or would you rather call that off?" he asked.

‘Tournament style? How do you mean? I just generally hit people, y’know?’

Kaishiro reached down to Rush as he spoke, offering him a hand to his feet. He used the motion and the question to cover his examination of this newcomer, who had obviously been watching him and Rush spar. Short and light, but that didn’t mean much in this life. Probably just meant that he was fast. He had the aura of someone laid-back and easy going, but the tournament suggestion made him seem...

A voice drifted out of Kaishiro’s memory for a moment.

‘Over analysis will get you nowhere. Trust your instincts as well as your mind.’

A favorite saying of his old sensei.

Kaishiro’s instincts were normally pretty good, and this new guy seemed like a good match. This could be the most interesting Zanjutsu lesson yet.

Rush would smile still with his eyes close."Well as weak as i am im going to take my leave now. But i know you two will have alot more fun without the weakling in you way."Rush puts his zanpuktuo back into the Black sheath with a red cloth wrapped around it. Turns to the door as he walked away with his back toward them he waves at Kaishiro and the new comer. "Bye bye guys."

‘Hey, Rush. I’m doing Kido training tomorrow. Feel free to come along.’

Then Kaishiro turned his full attention to his new opponent. He re-took his defensive stance and called out again.

‘That invitation extends to you as well, soon as you tell me your name.’