I hope you're joking ((Kenji))

It was laughable, literally, Kaiyo laughed. 'I really hope you're joking!' she gasped between cackles. Slowly, her loud chortles died down; brought crashing into silence by the stern glare of her instructor. Laughing it off hadn't worked so she tried a different approach. Jumping forwards from her chair towards the man, 'Oh Come on! I've not done anything that bad! I'm sure people have done worse!' she pleaded. The man was un-flinching, his voice low and gruff like a growl, 'And they have been punished accordingly...' The man stood, pushing Kaiyo back onto her seat with his eyes as he shifted some papers around his desk, raising a particularly red marked piece. 'Disrupting classes. Fighting with other students. Damaging property. Destroying training room 4. Need I go on?' He barked. Kaiyo herself, was in no mood for annoyances such as this. Her sense was screaming at her to sit down, begging and pleading to not even reply. 'Okay, I don't see how asking valid questions is disrupting. And I already told you- I didn't start any of those fights! What kind of training room gets destroyed so easily anyway?!'.

Next time, she'd be better off just biting her tongue clean off...The man allowed a long moment of silence for Kaiyo to stew in the mess she knew she'd just stirred up. She winced in anticipation of his explosion, trying to lean further and further back in her chair. He rose slowly from his chair, his dark eyes focusing on the girl so intently that she would quite happily have allowed the floor to swallow her up. No such luck. 'Believe me when I say that you are getting off lightly, many of our staff wanted to simply beat the impudence from you.' His voice began to rise as his anger bubbled just below the surface, he paused to calm himself. Clenching his fists, he leant over his desk towards the small girl. 'It's only for two days, and it'll do you both some good, if you manage not to kill eachother!'. Kaiyo huffed loudly as she crossed her arms. 'But what if i need the loo?!' she snapped back suddenly.

His rage had not time to be quelled this time. 'Tough! You have almost two metres distance between you both, i'm sure you can negotiate toilet breaks with that length of rope- providing you dong hang yourselves!'. Kaiyo was fuming. Sat here like a naughty child and being forced into some stupid punishment. Who ties two delinquents together and thinks it'll help them? Kaiyo didn't even know who was being tied to, or why he was getting the same awful treatment as she was.

'He should be here now' The man mumbled to himself, sitting down at his desk with an exhausted sigh. She leapt from her chair, outraged once more. 'He?!'

A knock on the door...

Such an annoyance, someone who was once held in high regard when alive. Was treated like some low born trash, this was one thing he hated about the academy. So when he was told his punishment, he almost drew his blade on the man right then and there. Even had his hand on his blade to do it, but before he could act...he was unable to move. Blasted Bakudo...such an annoyance...

The instructor that was bringing him to the one he was going to be tied to for the next two days knocked and let himself in with a paralyzed Kenji over his shoulder. The bakudo skill in effect. Before throwing Kenji on the ground in the front of the desk. "Here he is, this is the one that nearly killed 4 students in a training exercise." The man let go of the spell and allowed Kenji to sit up.

Kenji scoffed slightly, like it was that simple. They were stupid enough to attack at the same time and all of them in the cone that his draw style covered. "Think of it as a service, i was cutting away the dead weight." He rose to his feet only to be met with a firm slap to the back of the head. Kenji's crimson locks free'd from the slim strip of cloth that held them back.

"You're lucky you're not alive and living in my time period...Because i'd have your head on a silver platter." He grumbled a little bit, still adjusting to the ways things are done here. He was no longer a Samurai, he was nothing more then cannon fodder...and he refused to be as such...Though his voice carried no emotion behind his words. Just a cold calm, and a slight drip of venom.

Blank onyx eyes glanced in the direction of the girl who was there. Academy robes...she must have been the one that he was going to be bound to for the next couple days. "Great..." He glanced back to the two instructors present and took a deep breath. "As for training room 7 my number 4 Hado gave it more character...it always needed a moon roof." He shrugged it off, and moved to a seat before sitting himself.

"But i can see there's no winning this, so lets get it over with...I have things to do."

Like some appalling horror film, Kaiyo slowly twisted around to the figured that entered. Though one didn't so much enter as much as he was thrown. She stared in horror at the paralysed man she was to be tied to. About to ask a more feeble question she whipped around to both men, throwing her arms up with exasperation as she yelled, 'And he's a murderer?! Bloody brilliant!'.That was it, she'd refuse. There was no way in Kaiyo's mind that this was going to happen. The two instructors seemed almost more angry at the new guy than they were at Kaiyo. Still, there death glares silenced her back down.

She snarled across the moon at the whimpy looking guy with long red hair. She had a feeling they wouldn't be best friends at the end of this ordeal. Still, she had to stifle a giggle at his explanation of training room 7, she'd gone more for another entrance with training room 4. She brushed a rogue blonde strand of hair from her face, narrowing her own crystal eyes on the black eyed demon boy. About to argue her case further, the two instructors grabbed each student by their wrist and pulled them towards the desk. 'Seriously, I'm not even allowed my right arm? How come his left gets tied?' she complained, grunting in outrage as the new instructor slapped the back of her head.

'Don't think you can cut it either, this isn't any normal string we picked up. The 12th squad had this made just for you two'. Kaiyo yanked her wrist closer to her body, feeling a severe loss of control already. She didn't like it and she didn't like this guy. She stood motionless at the desk, her wrist now tied to a strangers. A stranger who apparently, had things to do: well not with her that was for sure.

She sighed, her expression melting away to a calmer form as she lifted her eyes to his. She could practically smell his bad attitude from here. 'Great...thanks again' she retorted to the two older men; neither looked grateful for the thanks. In fact she thought they'd just hit her again. Instead, the senior of the two men just pointed to the door. 'Get out. Now!'.

Kenji sighed, and closed his eyes at the woman's protest. As if his memory wasn't as big a burden already. He had to suffer the company of such a woman, he'd rather have been tied to a statue for two days if she was going to do nothing but complain. Finally speaking up, his eyes opened and glanced over at the girl.

"I'm not a murderer, they're not dead. Which is lucky for them i guess, they were foolish enough to attack me from the front when they had superior numbers...and they all knew the reach of my draw attacks...which they all carelessly let there guards down when they got into reach."

After that he went silent, turning towards the door he glanced back at the instructors. His eyes narrowing slightly, he was lucky he held rank...but that won't always be the case. When he got into the squad he wanted, he'd be watching for any slip up the man made. Moving towards the door now that they were bound, giving a tug on the rope to make sure she was moving too.

They might as well try to make this as pleasant as possible, but he doubted that would happen. "What's your name girl?" He glanced at her, his right arm resting across his body, and his right hand hung from his left off the hand guard of his sword. Since he couldn't let his left arm hang there, his right was the next most comfortable...that and it was there encase he needed it. His demeanor had made him a lot of enemy's since he came here, which was fine by him...it helped keep his skills and eyes sharp.

The girls incredulous look remained completely frozen to her face until she had been tugged out of the room. Kaiyo inhaled slowly, allowing her lungs to fully inhale the cool air around her before gently exhaling. It helped to calm her down, at least a little. Finally, she opened her eyes; the full intensity of their colour released upon her new partner of crime. 'I'm Kaiyo, you?' Almost out of instinct, she smiled at him. A gentle smile, as full of sincerity as any smile possibly could do. Whether or not that were the case was a mute point.

She took the lead this time, motioning with her eyes that she was going to move as she began a slow saunter along the hallway. This wouldn't have been a problem, if everyone and their mate hadn't felt a sudden desire to walk and run along this very hall. 'Anyway, what the best use of our time then?' she pondered out-loud, her wavering foot-steps caught in the rhythm of her thought. Then the masses descended upon then. The extra string that Kaiyo had rolled around her small wrist unravelled. Her academy uniform was brushed left to right, her Zanpakuto knocking against her hip.

Amidst the crowd, she had managed to stand relatively close to Kenji still. This was until, one particularly angry person, stormed past the girl and swept her aside. Kaiyo was not one known for always being alert and balanced. Her small frame collided with the wall. Tendrils of darkness flashed through her mind, as the now fully extended string between the pair managed to trip up a good five people, with another three runners getting caught in the pile. Kaiyo shook her head gently, ignoring the whips of hair that stung her cheeks as she stumbled a pace and regained her composure. She tugged at her wrist, confused for a moment why it wouldn't yield. Her eyes traced down the thread, dropping her mouth ajar as she saw the pile of angry people on top of her string. She followed her string further along to Kenji, her face more bewildered with each passing moment. She paused, finding courage at her feet as she point her right hand forwards, 'This was not my fault' Another student, foolish enough to try and run past the girl without noticing the string; tripped straight over it and landed face first on their pile of victims. Kaiyo glanced blankly at the image, shrugging casually. 'Neither was that...'

Kenji had noticed the smile but payed it no mind. He had no need for kindness, he was in the soul society because an act of kindness only lead to his own death. But when the woman gave her name and asked for his he saw it fit to give into common courtesy Taking a deep breath as she took the lead, he finally spoke. His voice as cold as always, it was something that he never really noticed happened now that he was use to it.

"Kenji." He gave his name, and glanced at the woman. Why would she lead them through the busiest hallway? There were plenty of other ways to get around the academy. As for there best use of time, well that one he didn't have an answer for and just let his shoulders rise and fall with a quick shrug. He was the only one that had there sword arm free, So Zanjutsu class was not the best use, he didn't really care much for Kido. Though he had a growing fondness for Byakurai,

But when the bodies started piling up after her collision with the wall, he stopped and looked at the string that bound them together. Then to the pile, without moving his head. Just his eyes, and those that looked at him right in the eye gulped and quickly started crawling others to escape. Perhaps the incident while training had spread around the school even faster then he'd expected. None the less, as one tried to get away, Kenji just turned and grabbed him by the back of man's robe and held him there as he tried to run.

Kenji may not have looked like much of a fighter, or that he wasn't vary strong. But he was quite a bit stronger then he looked...and that was the reason he remained so small in apperance. It was so that others miscalculated when he actually did fight. "Next time, watch where your going." He released the student and turned back around just in time to notice someone running while looking back over there shoulder coming right at him.

A soft scoff, as Kenji bent his knee's and leaped over the student, planting his foot into his back with just enough force to knock him forward and on his face behind Kenji when he landed. "Why did you lead us into the busiest hallway in the academy?" He glanced over at her, his face remained expressionless even with his annoyance at the people in the hallway at an all time high.

Kaiyo glared at the man. That faint whisper of hope that they might be able to set aside differences and at least co-exist amiably for a little while was gone. She disliked him. 'Clearly so you could just bully everyone who came near us' she retorted in a cool tone, her voice dripping with sarcasm. Kaiyo circled her wrist slowly as she stepped closer to Kenji; wrapping the extra length of their bond around her once more. She dragged her left hand down her face, pulling open her mouth as she exhaled heavily. It was literally angering her to be near this guy.

'Whatever, I need a drink' she snarled, turning from him as she stalked along the same hallway. She held her wrist firm so that he'd follow. Of course a less busy place to walk would probably make sense, but now that he'd been the one to suggest it; well he was far too stubborn to allow such a thing.

Kaiyo managed only a few more paces before her anger began to boil away at her skin. She stopped, a sharp flash darting across her face as she turned back to the guy. Sure, he could fight. Even from what little she'd seen he clearly knew his stuff; but that was no excuse for his damn attitude.'Ya know what, we're stuck together for a while...So can you hold back for need to be better than everyone for just a little while so i don't get dragged in to any of your damn fights'. Ground rules were probably a good idea but Kaiyo didn't exactly phrase it with the eloquence that the simple suggestion required. Also, it was likely she'd have to mind herself as well. Kenji seemed as quick to act as Kaiyo and though he took a more aggressive stance to things she herself was never exactly innocent.

Kenji shook his head a little bit, the nerve on this woman. Him a bully? None sense, at least not in his eyes. They were the ones that felt the need to run in a crowded hallway, he was just giving them a bit of advice if they didn't want to taste ground again. His right hand moving to temple to rub it a little bit, then out of no where she turned and decided to lecture him.

A bold move, lowering his hand and tucking it back into the sleeve of his robe he stepped forward and tilted his head a little bit. Those cold eyes stairing directly into hers. "You know why i have a leg up on most of these...hopefuls? It's because unlike them, i know the reality of combat. I don't draw my blade on a whim, only when i have to." He started, maybe that vague bit of info would get his point across.

"I lived in an era where the smell of blood was as common as the scent of wild flowers. To the point that it stuck to your clothing and hair like the stink of a skunk. I've felt the resistance a body creates for the sword. Where honor was common place, but here. Most lack that sense of honor, and treat there blades like a play thing when ever they get bored. Every fight I've been in, was not started by me. But i damn well finished it. So before you go off and lecture me about my attitude, i tried acts of compassion. You wanna know where it landed me? With a sword in my chest, listening to the screams of men as they beg for mercy only to have there suffering ended."

He didn't show any sign of anger, and his words carried the venom that was more then enough to compensate. And in that fit of anger, a breeze kicked up in the hallway but with no place for it to originate it was only a guess as to were it came from. "So if knocking that sense into people is the only way to make sure they survive long enough to do any good as shinigami, then so be it. I'll be the man they love to hate as long as it drives them to try and be better then me." With that, he walked past her with a loud sigh of frustration. In a way, as a student he was also being the teacher. Teaching others to respect and fear there blades, because in his eyes. Those that don't, don't deserve to use one. And maybe that bit of insight into why he acted the way he did. In his anger, he let more information slip then he intended to.

Kaiyo looked blankly at the man, his disregard for common decency appeared, to him at least, to be some twisted form of teaching others. For a while, she said nothing. His harsh tones didn't much affect her, but what he'd said had. In truth she could see sense in his words, partly at least. The plucky girl herself wasn't known for her serious attitude and had taken spars lightly, but he seemed to disregard enjoyment of combat. That, and hurting students for tripping over string wasn't helping, with no explanation it was just cruel. She disliked that. After a while, her eyes glazed with a familiar vacant look of boredom.

She swallowed a thought, furrowing her brow lightly as the disdain of her own expression melted away. She'd never been brilliant at grudges, or staying mad for very long at all for that matter. Anyway, he'd posed an interesting thought to the girl. 'Who's gunna be your friend if you want to be hated?...That seems a bit...' she paused, glancing down the floor for inspiration as she bit her bottom lip in thought. 'Cold' she looked back up, her tone unusually blank as she spoke. In a way, she felt sorry for him, or would have if he didn't seem like such a tool. She shrugged it off all the same. Walking ahead with him until they hit the outdoors. It brought a sincere smile to her face, basked in sunlight all moods seemed to lift. She glanced across to Kenji to check this working theory.

Her eyes scanned around the various students scuttling around. 'Hey, wanna go explore the squads?' she grinned, a mischievous smirk if there ever was one. She'd be willing to let him off this one time, plus she felt bad for pressing him into such a rant. Especially when he'd seemed to regret saying so much, as if he went way of his quota of conversation with other people. That alone made her giggle.

Kenji closed his eyes for a second as he walked, when she commented on what he'd said before. About his views seeming cold, he sighed a little bit. With what he'd seen while he was alive, he's had to kill many he'd called friends because they chose to fight on the other side of the conflict. But no one knew, because unlike the great leaders and figure heads of his time. His name and the names of those friends were lost in history.

the Yasutake line of samurai, were never referenced in modern history books...he'd seen many of them in the academy's library. All he gave in answer to the 'cold' comment was simple. Taking a slight inhale of breath he looked forward. "That's the point, if you have no friends...then you can't feel the sting of betrayal if it should happen." He mumbled and moved his right arm back across him to rest over the hand guard of his sword. When the breeze hit him, it tossed loose locks of his crimson hair. Causing him to close his eyes, he always did enjoy the wind. At least since he entered the soul society.

Maybe that was because when he was working on controlling his spiritual energy, It always kicked up a breeze. Perhaps a prelude to what would come, opening his eyes when she spoke. He glanced over at her, without turning his head. One thing someone noticed about Kenji was his impeccable posture. He never slouched, always stood tall with his head held high. "I suppose, i do hate being cramped up inside all day." He looked ahead and but it seemed he'd never escape the smell of blood. Even now he could smell it, even though there was none around.

He pushed the thought from his mind and chalked it up to memory, it did seem he had a rare case when it came to that. Shifting a little bit, he continued to walk forward, He didn't want to make any quick movements, not because of her. But he didn't want to be yanked back down by the rope that bound them. He saw no harm in humoring her urge to explore, he'd actually meant to explore the Seireitai, to find a nice secluded spot were he could train in peace once he got accepted to a squad. So this fit in with his needs as well, though he'd never admit it.

kaiyo smirked knowingly at the man, her cheeks glowing in the sunlight. 'Maybe you should stop expecting to be betrayed and trust people' . You got further with the help of others; it seemed to obvious to her and yet this guy was so adamant that he could serve only by pushing people away from him. At the very least, she felt sorry him. Kaiyo could at least forgive his earlier actions; they seemed predetermined by his misguided beliefs. She lowered her gaze, caught by the breeze that swept low through the grass; brushing aside flowers lodged between the blades. It seemed unfair for her to judge him so much, 'Sorry...Nothing to do with me' she added quietly; admitting she'd done anything wrong was like swallowing poison.

Kaiyo pulled ahead a step or two, nodding back at Kenji as she set off towards what she had dubbed as the fastest route to Sereitei. She supposed that at least the weather could have been worse. They walked for a while in silence before the girl was unable to hold her tongue any further. 'So, what squad are ya hopin to join?' she pondered, as if she just thinking aloud. Her eyes darting ahead, left and right as she took in the bright colours the day offered. Kaiyo was doing her best to make good of a bad situation but as in most cases for the girl, the next bad turn was just around the corner.

Kenji closed his eyes as they started out, Opening them when she started talking and shrugged a little bit. Reaching into his robes to pull out a strip of fabric and even with the rope, that bound them and limited control of his left arm. He managed to tie his hair back up. Letting the ponytail fall back down his back. He'd read about things that's happened in the soul society's history and found that they had betrayers that managed to escape into the human world.

While he didn't speak on the trust topic, but when she asked what squad he was hoping the join. He shrugged a little bit, he had his places but it was just a matter of getting accepted. "I'm looking to join the sixth division. members of the 11th have come to watch me spar, but they are too blood thirsty for my taste." He rolled his shoulders and adjusted his robes, before letting his right arm fall back across his sword. Just encase he had to use it. "Sixth division is more suited to my personality and lack of love for combat." In truth he didn't want to relive the battles of his past.

To be forgotten as a swordsman, and only remembered as a casualty or having his higher ups take all the credit for winning a battle when it was him that did most of the work. He didn't know what it was, but that was the one feeling the got when he thought of the 11th division. "And you?" He felt it was only polite to ask, and he might as well keep a conversation going since they are going to be spending every waking moment tied together for the next two days. Another reason he was going to apply to the sixth division is because he didn't have to always kill a criminal, he had the option of capturing them. If they gave him the chance.

Sixth division, there was an answer people didn't hear so often. She shrugged, 'Fast enough for second I guess' she mused. Her recent altercations with the squad had put her hopeful position there in jeopardy, so she was trying to consider other options. It wasn't going brilliantly. Kaiyo licked her lips slightly, conscious that the heat was drying out her face...She'd moisturise later. Kaiyo hadn't managed to even make it out the Academy grounds before her task altered. She stopped quietly first of all, frowning in thought as she turned around. She'd been right in hearing something. A student ran towards the pair, waving and shouting. It was almost hard to believe that she'd just not heard him for so long. Or maybe Kenji had heard and decided to ignore the poor sap. That was a vendetta thought and she pushed it out of her mind in the interest of being civil.

The guy finally reached them. God he was slow. Kaiyo stood in silence as he took a moment to catch his breath. She sprawled her toes out in the thick patch of grass beneath her feet, as a runner she loved the feeling of soft grass beneath her feet. Malleable enough to get a push start from the ground and just short enough to not stab her feet.

'You two are being put into different classes for the next two days...You have a class now'. He held out the note to them. Throwing a sideways glance to Kenji, Kaiyo took it before he had a chance. As curtly written as it was, it was true. They were meant to be in sparring class right now.

Her heart sank, she'd never enjoyed sparring class, and given that she had a permanent partner who would clearly kick her ass. Well it wasn't an exciting prospect. 'Room 26, he said to hurry, we're doing a tournament'. 'Great!' Kaiyo couldn't help yelling, it released her anger a little. Her left hand rested on the hilt of her Zanpakuto. Best case scenario- she got knocked out and woke up two days later.

Kenji didn't notice the man chasing them, in truth he was lost in his own memories. So when he felt the tug on the rope he snapped back into the now and looked over his shoulder at the man. Then to the note, Kenji's ears perked slightly and his face twisted a little bit. To show his anger at the situation, Turning a little bit he would have had a vain popping out of his head if his hair wasn't covering it.

"The instructors idea of a bad joke, this rope in itself eliminates 90 percent of my defense." He felt his eye twitch, and sighed inwardly tapping his finger against his swords hand guard. It was obvious he was unhappy with the turn of events. But he supposed he had no choice in the matter. Brushing past be messenger, he slowly started back into the academy entrance giving her time to move. "I suppose we better get this done,"

It was going to be a slight challenge but he felt he was up to it, granted his range of movement was going to be restricted, but at least no one would get in the way of his draw if she had the sense to stay out of the way when he used it. But chances are that he'd have to use normal style Zanjutsu, which he was okay with if his draw style wasn't effective.

Like he said before, he didn't like fighting but this was one of the times that he had no choice in the matter. Because it would likely get him expelled from the academy, or more days tied to Kaiyo and he didn't know if he could withstand that. He'd likely sever his own left arm.

Kaiyo shot Kenji a quick glare; she knew he was referring to her, but surely she wouldn't stop 90% of his defense, she liked to think she might even be useful. Sometimes, she maybe thought too much of herself. Resigned to the truth of his mean words she sighed, following her annoying partner back to the academy. It only took the girl about 3 steps before she realised just how screwed she was. Kenji may have lost his defense, but she'd lost her attack! She was right handed, her short black sword was wielded in her right hand. She considered attempting use with her left, but given her poor sword skill already, it would likely end with her killing herself.

By the time they reached their class she'd decided, he would have to allow her to use her right arm and move along with her...She peered at him sideways. Fairly certain she'd just condemned them both to a severe loss. Kaiyo slid open the door with a suspiciously large grin plastered on her face. She was maybe over-compensating for Kenji's probably severe expression. Whatever the reason, the entire class seemed to stare at them for a while.

The teacher was one she'd never seen before, so she couldn't judge how he might act. Still, he seemed to lean back and take a long hard look at them for a while. She could practically hear him thinking. She lead Kenji to the rest of the class and took a seat on the floor. The Sensei began. 'Alright, as you all may have noticed we have two new students in our class today, Kaiyo and Kenji are on special assignment and will be participating in our tournament today'. Special assignment, she wasn't sure whether to thank him for that or not. 'Given their obvious restrictions,' Her held a gaze on them which felt as though it lingered just a moment too long, 'You'll each be paired up and tied together to fight in pairs...This is about communication and teamwork. Often shinigami will not fight alone, so learning to work with others is vital...Pair up!' His bark seemed to scatter the rabble of people, each running around to find a suitable sparring partner. Kaiyo looked grumpy, wishing she could have chosen her own partner as well.

'Alright, use your Zanpakuto, no bokken today. I'll be judging the fights, a pair can forfeit at any time if they wish though...We'll take out visiting pair first and...You two'. Kaiyo's eyes followed the man's hand. Her heart sank. Their opponents stood with confidence. One male, one female. Kaiyo cocked her head to one side, watching them for as long as allowed. He was clearly the stronger of the two, but she seemed a bit sly- most likely the speed.

The blonde haired girl rose to her feet, 'Go team' she whispered to Kenji.

((Their stats))

Spoiler:

Kenji followed into the room and sat down next to her, his eyes closed. Listening to the man that spoke, covering up the fact that they were like this as punishment for something stupid. He didn't know what to think at this point but if they were to fight together, he'd have to find a way to do so. He sighed silently when the instructor finished, he rose to his feet. finally opening his eyes the glanced at the team they were to fight. Sighing, he glanced over at Kaiyo and stepped close in front of her.

"How well can you read body language? No matter how much people try not to give there attacks away, there body always gives it away unless they train to minimize these things. Watch them close, but also watch me. All i need is one opening, and when that opening comes don't be in the way."

He turned and took his place beside her, focusing his Reiatsu in his left arm to try and get some of the lost control back. Lifting it to the sheath of his zanpakuto curling his thumb under the hand guard. His eyes grew more cold if that could even happen, what ever remorse he held within them faded as he told himself this was not a fight he could avoid.

His right hand hovered over the hilt of his zanpakuto, ready to draw it should he find an opening he could end this quickly. It was time to show Kaiyo that he indeed knew his stuff when it came to the blade. His nerves calm, and his body relaxed as if he didn't fear anything but in reality he feared a lot. but he never showed it. He remained cold and distant always keeping people at arms reach. Will that change? Who knew? it was a possibility.

"Never let your guard down, and you'll react faster if you allow your body to relax."

( OOC: Sorry this post sucked, i'm still sick but getting over it. )

Kaiyo slouched along after Kenji. She'd never even thought of trying to 'read' people in fights, as if they were some kind of casual book. She'd have scoffed away such suggestions had he not seemed so serious about it. Either way, she was usually fast enough to move out of people's way, so she wasn't exactly worried. That was until she came face to face with their opponents. A wave of dread washed over the girl and she felt ill, Kaiyo shuddered it away, hoping Kenji hadn't noticed her face flush white.

The sensei tied the two together and they unsheathed their swords, dropping into different fighting stances as they seemed to eye up Kenji and herself. Kaiyo felt like an antelope being watched by a lion; she'd been watching too much discovery channel recently. Damn that real world 'telefishion' thing, she'd just been wasting her evenings and avoiding more training. The girl fumbled around with her own sword, trying to casually clear her throat as it felt tighter and tighter. Her muscles tensed as she gripped the handle of her blade tightly, almost shaking.

Between her quaking body she managed to hear Kenji. Kaiyo exhaled as much as she could bending her knees with a light bounce as she mentally screamed at herself to remain calm and loose. 'Alright ready?'...'

She was convinced everyone else in the room could hear how loud her heart was beating; she felt cardiac arrest just around the corner. Kaiyo shut her eyes, concentrating only on her breathing as she dropped her guard entirely. 'Fight!' Her eyes shot wide open as she instantly lunged backwards.

The lumbering fellow had gone for a straight on attack style on trying to squash her into the carpet. She'd dodged his fist strike, but she could already see the dent in the ground where his sword had hit. His partner was already mid-air, preparing to spring down and around the pair in a precise strike. 'Ahhhhh' she yelled, swinging around heavily with her sword to where the woman landed. She dodged with apparent ease, but at least rolled into view. Calm and loose hadn't worked, she seemed to be working on more of a panicked and tense thread.

Kenji glanced over at Kaiyo and noticed that she was shaking, obviously nervous by the look of it, taking a deep even breath he waited closing his eyes as well. His left hand moving the sheathed blade up higher in it's resting placed while trying to keep his increased control over his limb. Though when the man started the fight, Kenji didn't open his eyes right away, but instead focused on the sounds. He could hear the sound of one set of feet as the man charged. Finally opening his eyes and shifted his weight as he pushed off the ground to follow Kaiyo.

It wouldn't take long before from above the woman tried her attack on Kaiyo. 'Great, they saw her fear and now they are trying to capitalize on it.' He scoffed to himself as he continued to mimic Kaiyo's movements. Once they got some room to themselves Kenji finally spoke. "Focus, clear your mind and remember training! They saw your fear, and now they see you as the weak link" He whispered and kept his eyes on the two. Now it was Kenji's turn,

The large man that had started the attack once again did the same. Yelling as he charged Kenji, Sword held over his head, as he brought it down on the lithe swordsmen. Quickly Kenji pulled the sheathed sword up, catching the blade mid strike with the outside angle where the hilt met the hand guard. Kenji's knee's bent slightly to absorb the impact as the ground below his feet cracked. Kenji's arm shook, with the strain of holding the man at bay. Though Kenji's face remained blank, no sign of strain.

"You should learn that unplanned attacks only work against the untrained." He muttered to the man as his attacker growled. But when Kenji glanced up he saw the woman trying the same thing again. Attacking from the air. Kenji quickly reacted, a demonstration to Kaiyo what a relaxed body could do. Moving his feet as he moved beside the large man and released his blade knocking him off balance and putting him in the way of the woman's attack before jumping away and giving the man a little help to knock him into his partners attack with a light boot to his back.

Moving back to Kaiyo's side to watch his work in action, a cold and cocky smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. He always appeared relaxed and only tense when he went to attack or defend. He didn't think that the woman could alter her attack but he noticed as she abandoned the attack and landed on the guys back just after his face hit the ground not being able to regain his balance. Kenji moved his sheath blade back into it's normal resting position but never released it.

Kaiyo withdrew into herself at Kenji's admonishment, realistically, she knew she was to blame for their eagerness. Capitalising on her fears: brilliant. It didn't seem to matter though, so when Kenji made his moves, Kaiyo trailed along behind him, her eyes screaming with a fear that dulled with each move the man made. She stepped back, angling her shoulder so that she was ever so slightly behind him. There was no need though; the watched in un-presidented awe as the pair fell on to each-other.

A smile cracked onto the girl's face, and she relaxed. As the pair scrambled against each-other to stand, the Sensei swung out his hand. 'Fights over, Kenji and Kaiyo win! Try a little more teamwork next time...Winners stay on, next challengers please!' A heat of shame rushed her face as her cheeks burned bright red. Kaiyo nodded with as much humility as she could muster, her eyes only vague watching to two guys who stood to fight them next.

She sighed with a smile to Kenji, turning back to face his ever cold expression when her attention was caught. Her face drew in on one of the men's leg, he was limping, ever so slightly. Was it wrong to hit him there then? She frowned to herself, scratching the back of her head as her eyes swung round to Kenji. 'You noticed too i guess...Do we avoid his leg?' she whispered slightly to him, Kaiyo was likely to not land a hit of any kind, but if she did, she'd likely try to avoid his injury. The question stood as to whether or not Kenji would though.

Kenji took a deep breath and slowly released it. He glanced over at Kaiyo and then to the two others that stepped up to get bound together. Once again within seconds of his sight falling on them, he scanned them head to toe and saw that the large one was limping. A slight smirk creeping to his face as he turned his back of the pair to look at Kaiyo.

"Indeed i saw it too, my pride demands me not to. But it doesn't demand i don't use it our advantage. He'll be slower, and unable to pivot as fast. Stay behind me, and watch. Look for any sudden tensing as they strike, but also watch there eyes. They always give away who they will attack first." He quickly whispered, and looked over his shoulder at the two.

"Watch me as well, and you'll know when to strike." Kenji turned around but as he turned an Amber cold color flashed through his eyes. taking his place as far as he could ahead of her. Turning his body slightly to take a stance unlike what is taught in a zanjutsu class. His right side facing the two, and his body at a slight angle. His sheath zanpakuto was removed from his side, his left hand which clutched it hovering just above his waist.

Kenji right hand cut through the air to hover over the hilt ready to draw it at a moments notice. Kenji closed his eyes and took a deep breath, his body relaxed so that he could reach and draw the blade faster. 'Lets see if that little bout got her confidence up...i could win this one my own but that would defeat the purpose...' Kenji thought to himself, if she was too scared to attack...then he'd have to carry them.

It didn't matter to him, he'd mastered his draw style...but with as low on the totem pole as he was at this point...it didn't matter much if he couldn't overcome someone's spiritual pressure and leave a mark.

Kaiyo scrunched up her face in thought; she found it hard to believe that people gave away who'd they'd attack with their eyes. She wasn't exactly the best of fighters, but even she knew not to make things so obvious. Still, from his previous display Kaiyo thought it apt to follow his guidance and though staring was rude she didn't think such social niceties were applicable in combat. The task proved as a distraction for her nerves and whilst the two new opponents prepared herself, Kaiyo ducked her neck back in surprise. She wasn't sure if it meant anything, but it appeared they'd be attacking her first. A weight of shame dropped through her body as averted her gaze from Kenji. Of course they'd attack her first, she was after all the weak link.

A quick glance for comfort from her partner. His eyes were shut and he was standing funny. Images of her death flickered before her eyes as Kaiyo dropped into the standard combat stance. She tensed the muscles in her arms purposefully, registering to feeling as she relaxed the tension in her body. She blew her hair from her eyes, shuffling her wrist with the bond that tied them together. Their opponents gave suspicious glances between them and Kaiyo tried to alter her mind to what she thought they might be doing.

She'd gotten it wrong at any rate; their opponents had decided to split; divide and conquer. Kaiyo's eyes screamed in panic as only one man came lumbering towards her. He was slow, slow enough for her to notice that they really weren't considering that they were tied together. For a split second, a smile flashed on her face. Kaiyo shifted her weight to her left foot, unable to help panicking for her own tactics, she persevered though. Her guy raised his blade up above his head. She thanked the lord that his attack was an obvious one. Kaiyo bobbed to her left, tossing her sword to her left hand. She grunted at the unusual weight of it, her right arm trailed along by her side as she swung upwards across the guys side; just as his sword hit the 'string' that connected her and Kenji. It didn't break, which was a downside, but he'd missed his strike, and taken a hit along his back. Bleed began to seep through the torn robes of the man as dropped his sword and dealt a right hook to the girl's face. Kaiyo hadn't been switched on, if she had she surely would have been able to dodge. Her face began to swell almost instantly as her vision betrayed her with shock. She ducked under his next strike, stabbing her sword into the ground to steady herself as she managed to land a kick directly in the guy's gut; sending him flying backwards into his partner.

Kenji held his ground as they launched there attacks, one going after Kaiyo and the other after him. Kenji breathed out slowly as he snapped his eyes open, his attacker lunged at him aiming his blade for left shoulder. Kenji's instincts took over as he dropped his shoulder, the blade cutting his uniform but missing flesh by a few centimeters. But he waited, a slit second felt like weeks to his senses. Finally the light click as he turned the sheathed blade a quarter turn at the same time his thumb pushed the blade up.

Light glinting from the slightly exposed blade, Kenji's right hand gripped the hilt tightly as he drew it and lunged forward off his back leg. His sword sung as the draw rang in the air. and when they finally came to a stop Kenji was behind him, arm and sword extended to his right. What to him felt like minutes actually only lasted for a blink of an eye to those untrained to see the speed in which Kenji acted. Blood dripping from the edge of his blade.

Finally the man that attacked him stumbled and blood seeped into his uniform, That was when Kenji felt tension on the rope that bound Kaiyo and himself together. Giving a warning tug on the line to ward Kaiyo of what came next. He dropped low to a knee and gave a much harsher tug on the cord sweeping both men off there feet and face first into the floor. Standing up he flicked his wrist to toss the blood from his blade. Re-sheathing it in his usual manor. Running the back of the blade against the mouth of the scabbard before sliding it back into place.

"Hmm, it seems he was closer then i though." After he spoke he glanced at his left shoulder as blood seeped though his uniform. Walking back to stand beside Kaiyo after both men where on the ground. What he didn't realize was subconsciously he was hoping that Kaiyo set her man up for the ending that landed both men on there stomach's. "You look ridiculous." His cold voice ringing through with a underlying tone of humor. His eyes focusing on the swelling. But his eyes remained cold as ever, if not more so then usual. Kenji's battle mind was starting to take over.

Kaiyo pulled a mock cry face at Kenji, unable to help herself laughing as she gently traced her fingers along her swelling eye. It hurt a lot. She wasn't dulled to pain like her partner clearly was, and she couldn't back her shocked expression when she saw the blood seeping through Kenji's uniform. She instinctively stepped closer to the man, tugging at their connection as her hand hovered over the cut. 'Are you alright?' she added more sincerely, slowly composing herself again before taking a short step further back from the cold man.

A twinge of observation pulled at her conscious mind, her eyes narrowing in on Kenji as she smirked. 'You don't look great yourself' she retorted. Trying to casually pull her blade from the ground. She'd dug it in deeper than expected and actually had to wrestle with it for a moment, losing her balance as she stumbled backwards against Kenji. She smiled awkwardly as she sheathed back up her blade. Just in time for the next pair to be standing. 'Come on class! Am i really going to have to make things harder for our visitors because you're all not trying!'. A spur of confidence filled the girl, numbing the pain in her face just a little.

Kaiyo stepped closer to Kenji. Her voice low and her expression matching his own cold glare. 'I think you need to cheer up...We're winning ya know!' she cheered lightly at him. She didn't expect him to actually cheer up, but now safe in the knowledge that he could at least win for both of them, she'd managed to calm down. She'd warmed to the man, like a bad haircut; he was just something she'd have to bear with for a while. But damned if she didn't try and make the best of what she had.

Kenji turned his head and looked at the blood again after she pulled back her hand. There the smell was, a sweet smell laced with iron. Raising his hand, Kenji slipped it under his uniform and against the cut. His left eye closing as he hissed lightly. Pulling his hand back he looked at the blood on his finger tips, before rubbing his index, middle and thumb together. He scoffed lightly and glanced back over at her. "He got lucky, it wouldn't be any fun if i walked away without a scratch." Coming from someone who didn't like fighting, it was weird to hear him say 'fun' in the middle of a fight.

But when you think about it, when his mind became tuned to a fight he did enjoy himself. Slowly it was starting at take over his thought process, his vision becoming sharper, and his movements more refined. "I can at least hide my injury." He leaned in close poking the swelling cheek lightly. "Yours looks like it's going to start talking." He stepped back and removed his right arm from his uniform sleeve letting half of his uniform hang off his body. Damn uniform was making it hard for him to draw and keep an eye on his target. The white bandage wrapping around his torso hid the scar that marked his death. He hated looking at the thing, the other scars not so much. Some were fresh, and the wounds that left them were minor enough that he could heal naturally.

"This is me cheerful, and your finally starting to look like a fighter. Intense eyes, cold stair, vary convincing." He glanced over at her, and unknown to him, a small narrow ring of Amber gold was forming around his pupils. Almost unnoticeable unless someone was looking close enough for it. Turning his head to look at the instructor he tilted his head back a little bit. "Why don't we just skip ahead, i want your best students. Why not make it a challenge?" He spoke up, his cold voice ringing true over the room. Maybe it wasn't what she may have wanted, but he wanted a challenge. Someone to make him work, not some dumb lug that thinking rushing in and leaving himself wide open is a good way to fight.

Kaiyo smirked slightly, wincing at the movement of her cheek as her hand moved up to cushion her already bruised eye. She looked like an injured puppy. The girl still picked up on Kenji's words though; for the honourable samurai who bragged about his hatred of fighting she'd been unable to help smiling at his notion of fun. She did not think that war wounds were fun- in any way. Regardless, it had been nice to hear lighter words from her partners mouth and it gave her a little more hope for their time tied together. Kaiyo winced back from his prod, appearing much more offended by it than she actually was and cracking a smile back with a shrug. She doubted he'd get any warmer than this and it may have simply been wishful thinking on her part; but she enjoyed that Kenji appeared at the very least, more relaxed around her now. In fact, her opinion of him was scrolling over the balance of changing- then he spoke.

A look of desperation screamed at the instructor against her partners words. She stared, bewildered at the Sensei; praying to god he would see sense and refuse the offer. Her face dropped to the ground in disbelief as the man across the room seemed to shrug so casually. 'Alright then..' he responded. That was all she needed to hear. Kaiyo waved her arms out around her, shaking her head emphatically as she turned on her heels to leave. 'Oh hell no! I'd rather not die again thanks!' she snapped at Kenji as she turned to storm out. Forgetting of course, the unbreakable bond between them as she reached the edge of their string allowance and was dragged backwards to the ground. She snarled up at Kenji; more annoyed that he'd been able to hold her back without even trying.

The Sensei wasted no time, stepping towards his class he spoke clearly and strongly. 'Alright you lot, your hopes are now pegged on your classmates, support them in their fight! Top 5 ranking- you know who you are- get down here!' he yelled enthusiastically. Kaiyo crawled back up to her feet, quivering her lip as she cowered behind Kenji. It was like watching the volunteers of Battle Royale all stand up at once. Two female, three male. Each looked more edgy and aggressive than the last; smirking to each-other, they made their way to the arena.

Kaiyo slowly shuffled around from behind Kenji; glaring intently at him as she spoke. 'Killing me won't un-tie the string ya know...You'll still have to drag round my corpse!' She was, perhaps, over-reacting.