Harsh lessons (Open spar)

Arawn was sure to not be late to Zanjutsu class this time, but it seemed the instructor was still angry at him despite the note from Miyahara. The class met at the dojo for roll call, then made way to the sparring grounds. Arawn made sure to note their location. There were various sparring areas of different sizes and with different terrain; sand, grass, stone, etc. The area the Takahata lead them was composed of simple dirt with large circle rings drawn about the ground. A small shack sits in the corner, with a curtain for a door. The instructor ducks inside and comes out with several wooden swords inside a large cloth satchel. “Alright everyone line up!” Everyone quickly lines up in front of him and he starts to hand out swords. Once Arawn reaches the front, Takahata grins. He’s not the type of man that should smile. “You stay here.” Arawn stands beside the instructor as he passes the rest of the wooden blades out. After they get their blades the students pair off and take to the circles. They begin swinging at each other franticly; others are screaming battle cries as they begin their assaults. Everyone has left the line leaving Arawn and the instructor alone. “Miyahara sensei said you could probably use a more practical lesson.” He takes the satchel back into the shack, and comes back out with two shinai. “Follow me.” Arawn shuddered, it seemed he would have to face his teacher after all, he could only imagine the beating.

The instructor leads him from class to another area of circles, but these already had people fighting in them. Some wore student uniforms, others wore shinigami black. They walk to on of the empty circles. “Here.” He tosses one of the shinai to Arawn. Arawn nearly fumbles it, but catches it before it falls. It’s not as balanced as the full wooden sword, it’s more top heavy. Arawn takes a practice swings and steps into the circle. The instructor stands outside the circle with his arms across his chest, shinai in hand.
“I’m ready.” Arawn nearly chokes
“Sure you are.” The instructor smiles, he turns. “Alright you maggots, who wants give this novice some pointers!”
“WHAT!?” Arawn “Wait, Sensei I thought I was fighting you!”
“These are open circles.” He nods at the various people fighting and those watching. “Anyone is welcome to take part. Master Miyahara said you need a real challenge.” Arawn can only wonder what Miyahara sensei wrote in that note, or if Kenichi sensei had a hand in it. Either way it seems he was going to get a beating.
“You fight until either side gives up, or is unconscious.” He grins “Win and I’ll let you off for skipping my class. Lose and it’s 50 laps.”


(OOC: Since I don’t have a zanpakuto I figured shinai would work.)

((OOC: ok, I'll take this one.))

Garin was walking past the sparring grounds of the academy on his way home from his latest mission. He looked nothing like a shinigami, he knew, but he couldn't help but notice the boy waiting for a fight. He'd have to see how good he was.

He walked over and set down his pack, pulling the Wakizashi Zanpakuto out of it. "It wasn't so long ago I was sparring here myself. I'd advise you to take some time and get a real Zanpakuto though." He looked at his Zanpakuto then shrugged and laid it down on the pack. He walked up completely unarmed and got into his fighting pose. He was still better without the weapon anyway.

"Lets go, kid." He said as he stood in a loose kickboxing stance.

"Well met." Arawn says as he bows. Arawn looked at his unarmed opponent, he was tall and of strong build. Without a weapon he had only a slight reach disadvantage. If he preferred no weapon, it only meant he was comfortable without one, or underestimating Arawn. His hands grip the shinai handle as he inches forward until they are a couple of feet away. He feints a slash from the right, then lunges the remaining distance with a thrust at his opponent's body.

Garin watched the blade carefully. He wasn't very practiced with it. The first slash was an obvious feint and Garin didn't bother to move away. Then the man lunged at him and Garin sidestepped and and twisted around, His leg spinning up and around in an attempt to hit the back of his head.

((OOC: I hope you read my profile. I read yours.))

The kick grazed the back Arawn's head with a lite 'thud'. It pushes him to the ground into a roll. He quickly stands and turns around. Arawn was lucky the thrust had carried him forward; the motion had barely saved him from a critical hit. But the effect was all the same from their first exchange. Yes, his opponent was powerful, but also had speed and skill to match. This man was a martial artist, that kick was too precise to be that of a brawler. His teacher had thrown him out as a piece of meat, and a lion had come. Some amateur Zanjutsu wasn't going to topple this giant. Arawn released his double hold on the shinai. He grasps the shinai upside-down in his left hand; his hand still upright. His right hand makes a fist and guards his face. His right leg forward his left leg back he inches closer once again. The distance will have to be shorter this time. Dangerously close, well within the other fighter's range. He jabs with his right, and brings up his left in an underhand swing with the shinai. The blade swings up and across at his opponent, a huge telegraphed movement. But this is all to hide the true assault; a low roundhouse kick with his left aimed at the knee. A feint hadn't worked; perhaps one with a double pronged attack might land.

(OOC: I read it. I don't expect to win, but I'm not going down easy)

As Garin saw him seem to leap forward with a jab and slash combo, he leaped backwards, well out of range of the blade and punch, and the kick that followed. He smiled at the kid, realizing that he wasn't the toughest fighter and feeling a bit sorry for him. He was trying, certainly, and he wasn't slow.

"Just a piece of advice..." He said helpfully, "That move would have worked better if I didn't have so much room to get out of the way." He shrugged. "I find that Kido is useful for putting your opponent where you want them." With this said, he pointed his hand towards his opponent. " Blind the enemy with the endless sands of the desert. Burn his eyes and weaken his soul... Hado Kyuu! Dust Wind!"

From his hand poured an expanding wave of thick dust towards his opponent. He allowed it to fire, aiming it so that more sand was on his right side then his left, and then leaped towards the man's left side, ready to attack as soon as he exited the swirling sands.
(I'll be nice. My character's speed advantage is negligible. His fighting ability advantage is all you need to worry about, and this is a friendly bout so he'll try to help more then stomp the life out of you.)

The rush of sand blinds Arawn, he staggers slightly. Even wearing glasses doesn't help with the sudden dust, rather the effect is enhanced. Arawn pulls his glasses off. "Great now I can't see." he mutters. Sand darts into his mouth. Then he has a thought; his opponent can't see him either. True he's a sitting duck, but it would hard for him to be hit accurately. That means he was waiting for him to move. He won't come from the front, he would have to come from behind. Arawn spins in place and grasps the shinai with both hand. He charges through the dust with his sword ready. He clears the dust only to see the other side of the fighting circle. He peeks over his shoulder to see the fighter coming from his left. "Crap!" His back exposed, he knows he can't turn in time.

(OOC: Good to hear. Nice move with that kido)

Garin continued to charge as he watched his opponent come out of the sand with his back turned. He wasn't exactly where he expected him to be, but he was still in a good enough position to strike. He didn't slow down for an instant, rather using his speed and momentum to launch into a flying drop kick. If it hit, he would use the impact to launch himself into a back flip and land. If not, at least he'd put his opponent off guard for long enough to jump back to his feet.

The two bodies collide and Arawn is sent flying. He hadn't the time to brace himself and tumbles to the ground once again. He lays there for a second, the shakily gets to his feet, his lip bloodied from the impact with the ground. It felt like he got hit by a dump truck. He uses the shinai like a cane to support himself. The opponent has speed, has strength, has skill, and had kido. Arawn wished he had advanced his kido training more. Then something snapped into place; an idea formulated. Arawn straightened himself, and pulled his glasses from within his kosode. He blew the sand from them and adjusted them on his face. He looked the opponent in the eyes and mustered all the courage he had left. "Your next blow won't hit me." he said aloud, “I hope." He whispered to himself. In his right hand he pointed the shinai forward, his left hand at his side. He then focused his reiryoku, and turned it outward. The resulting reiatsu made the air vibrate. Arawn kept his eyes on his target, he didn't blink. "Come." In his head Arawn's mind raced, he had three plans.
Plan A) he gets intimidated and walks away. Chance of success: 1%. Plan B...gods he hoped he didn't have to try Plan B, but it had 5% chance. Plan C had 0%.

(OOC: I did come out the left, but since in the storm lost sense of direction. Yeah figured 3 ways to end this, so should be interesting.)

Garin felt the intense spiritual pressure and for just a second it made him back up, and then he caught himself. He realized that this wasn't someone to worry about. He chuckled a bit and said, "Hmmm... Nice trick. You should try a bit harder to hit me though." He then got out of his stance and walked calmly forward. On the outside it looked as though he was recklessly walking towards a sword wielding opponent, but the truth was he was far more tense then he looked and ready to defend. The apparent lack of stance was more to freak out the poor kid then anything else. He continued forward and waited to see what the boy would do before he reacted...

((ooc: After this, I could let you work with my other character in sword training. He's also a student, but his whole basis is the fact that he's a swordmanster. Fighting ability = 25))

"I have every intention of hitting you." Arawn speaks calmly "I knew from the start I wouldn't win. Instead I made myself a promise; I would land a single blow against you. At my current skill that's the best I can hope for. I thank you for your sympathy, but rather you take me seriously." His reiatsu flares again, and he takes a cat stance. His right leg points forward and left leg braced behind him. In his right hand the shinai, held behind his back if by an invisible scabbard. His left hand is an upturned palm resting against his left hip. He felt his reiatsu waver; this wasn't going to last long. He gains confidence in his opponent’s approach. "I intend to keep that promise. I will not retreat, I will not dodge; you will not touch me."


(OOC: Looks like you have me caught between Plan B and C. Guess I'll have to split the difference. I should learn some sword skills, but not sure if it will help in the long run…

((OOC: Well, Learning fighting another 5 fighting skill next rank couldn't hurt. Of course, it is possible to be effective without it. My hollow only has 10 fighting skill but he's got high speed and Rietsu as his basis and that works best for his particular power.))

Garin saw that the boy was getting serious and nodded as he spoke. He smiled as he prepared to fight. Garin watched him closely, his mind going over every possible move and trying to think how he would counter them. Finally, he was to close not to strike, and suddenly he was no longer walking calmly. His next step was a longer stride then normal and when his foot touched the ground he used it to brace for a kick towards the boy's sword hand, attempting to disarm him with one surprise kick.

This was the moment he had waited for, time seemed to slow as they were barely a few feet apart. When his opponent moved he was ready. As the kick launches Arawn has released the blade, his left hand reaches behind the back to catch it. He uses his now free hand to block the kick. His arm buckles as he traps the foot between his wrist and palm. "Thrust and move, forward and retreat; Hado #1 Sho" His flowing reiryoku funnels into his sole kido spell. His left hand sparks and the shinai is launched from his left hand as if fired by a bow. The make shift rocket flies towards it's target.

(OOC: A do like a challenge. I'll might look into some higher fighting, but still making up for the lack thereof makes things interesting. I'm out of moves, do what you will.)

Garin was surprised at his ingenuity to say the least. He'd trapped his foot just barely, but it was enough. When Garin realized his plan, he dropped to the ground. It wasn't quite fast enough and the blade cut a deep gash into his shoulder as he fell. He didn't stop there though, as soon as his body was down, he twisted, kicking with his free foot at the man's face.

Arawn doesn't dodge, actually he couldn't if he wanted to. Using his reiatsu and kido was more taxing that he realized. The reiatsu fades completely from the air. His spiritual powers drained, his physical condition deteriorates instantly. It feels like he just ran three marathons, everything hurts. His breathing become haggard. His eyes see the movement, but his body won't respond. He manages a smile right before the kick breaks his glasses and his nose. One last thought flutters in Arawn's head; "Next time I'll make it three hits." The pain floods the already weakened student, and he blacks out. Arawn falls backward a smile still on his face.

Garin stood up and looked down at the unconscious student he'd been fighting and shook his head. He looked at his shoulder and nodded. It was to bad he'd fallen so soon. This could have been a nice little fight if he'd managed to pull a few more tricks like that. He picked him up and walked them both to be healed.

Takahata sensei is moderately surprised his student lasted that long, he picks up the discarded shinai as the two leave the field. A crowd had formed during the match; some cheer, others mutter curses. It seems people who had placed bets on the the little match, Arawn someone had played the odds hoping the rookie would be victorious. Takahata smiled to himself. He wanted to feel proud about the fight, but honestly the boy hadn't used many of the skills imparted from his class. Perhaps Miyahara was right about the brat's potential. But every student had potential at some point, he sighed. Well Arawn had lost, but he put in plenty of effort, he figured he wouldn't make him run the fifty laps around the dojo. As he walked he noticed the shinai that Arawn had used was broken. The guard and handle were cracked from the force of the kido spell he had employed. Damaging the equipment like that, did deserve some punishment; forty nine laps should do it. But that would have to wait til after the weekend.