[Closed] "We'll tell you why we're worried! He's not himself, today."
Who: Ukitake Jushiro (ocean_lightning ) and Kyouraku Shunsui (afknotworking )
What: FIGHT TIEMS aka an injected Ukitake is something that really shouldn't be allowed to walk upon this ship. Ever. 8||
When: Couple of days back, very shortly after this and this
Where: Third floor park area. ....YES THE THIRD FLOOR HAS A PARK NOW SHADDAP >___>;
Warnings: Eerie similarities to ( Read more... )
What: FIGHT TIEMS aka an injected Ukitake is something that really shouldn't be allowed to walk upon this ship. Ever. 8||
When: Couple of days back, very shortly after this and this
Where: Third floor park area. ....YES THE THIRD FLOOR HAS A PARK NOW SHADDAP >___>;
Warnings: Eerie similarities to ( Read more... )
Much like the day that he had arrived, Shunsui allowed himself to take the uppercut, rolling his head up with it-all because he couldn't allow himself to dodge and to flick his wrists to send Sogyo no Kotowari flying out of his most dangerous friend's immediate reach. Even if Ukitake isn't as good as Shunsui in swordplay, he's still one of the single greatest swordsmen that Soul Society ever had, so eliminating any advantage in that area (such as, say, a sword) was the best plan.
The flow of reiatsu alerts the pink draped Shinigami to Ukitake's plan, even before he hears the stunted incantation.
"Oh!" He gasped at the same time as his friend speaks-well this is a problem. He could dodge, but then what would happen to the blast? Blocking it is-And no time for even the name. The hand holding his smaller blade lifted, only his thumb holding it in his palm as an Enkosen barrier formed. Even with the difference of level (Enkosen being level 39), the hasty way that Shunsui had thrown it up caused it crack under the force of the lighting. In fact, he was forced to flash step back, throwing out a second with his other hand just as the first shattered entirely-"Bakudō # 39. Enkosen!"
Ah, that did it.
"Phew...Don't you think it's rather cheap to be shooting off shots like that?"
Reply
His gaze drifts to where Sogyo no Kotowari lies, several yards away, and his smile thins some more.
"Don't you think it's rather cheap to be knocking people's blades out of their hands like that?"
A short sigh.
"Regardless. Two can play at this game - if this is what you prefer, then by all means, I'm not one to object."
And, with that, he's already raising his hands again - at chest height, palms coming together...
True, Ukitake was not the most apt of physical fighters; that was a fact he'd learned very early in his life, and he'd taken plenty enough steps to remedy the shortcoming. If there was one thing he could firmly pride himself on, after all, it was his kido.
He puts more deliberate power into this next spell, now, though it only costs a half-second delay, with such hefty spiritual power already at his disposal.
"Bakudō Number 62: Hyapporankan!"
Drawing his arms apart smoothly, the bright, pale spear of energy is formed, and then thrown with a lunge. With a flash it splits apart into innumerable smaller spears, glowing intensely, and the projectiles streak through the air at a blinding speed with their characteristic whistles.
Reply
Well, if you want to play dirty, you should choose someone who doesn't live his whole life playing games.
The second that he saw that pose, he knew what was coming, lifting his swords in preperation-his back slightly arched, the smaller blade held across his chest at arm's length, the longer held in a crooked arm with the blade pointed forward like a scorpion's tail.
As the multitude of spears approach, he simply spins on a heel, his arms twisting, either slicing or swatting them as they enter range. In some cases, the deflected spears strike others in calculated motions, knocking them off course. He can't get them all, and it seems that he simply won't be able to protect himself from a vital few that his blades are just too short to reach-
but with a flash of light, he skips the command to release, extending his reach as his shikai slices through those final few.
"I'm not that fond of Kido games, to be honest."
That's all his says, blades practically glowing from the friction of protecting him. He shoots a short glance down to the larger of the swords, looking at his reflection for just a moment.
"But you already knew that. Mmm, but you've made me decide something...I should end this right now."
And with that, his eyes return to Ukitake, slightly sharper than usual.
Reply
Sogyo no Kotowari wouldn't release - they'd refused to, in the last fight, and...as things were, he supposed they'd be just as adamant this time around. It was ridiculous, and the reminder of the notion brings back a strange, almost displaced feeling of betrayal.
Still, Ukitake quickly pushes those thoughts aside once again, and his facial features remain impassive as Kyouraku speaks...until the words sink in properly.
All amusement now gone in its entirety, he instead gives the latter an arched eyebrow.
"Right now, you say? When we've just gottens started?" A small scoff. "Yet again you outdo yourself in your pretentiousness, Kyouraku."
He evens the other's gaze with one of his own - and, despite his words, Ukitake notices the odd sharpness now present over there, all the same. It's enough for some due wariness, at the very least; he still knew Shunsui as well as one might a brother, and that look...meant that something was going to give here, sooner or later.
But not on his watch. Not yet, not yet--
With a flicker he uses a shunpo of his own - and reappears right beside Sogyo no Kotowari, retrieving the blade with a single quick grab. Then he's gone again, materializing a split second later in very close proximity to Kyouraku...above his head, this time, taking his steps through the air on an invisible platform of spirit particles.
In a gesture that would doubtlessly appear strange to Shunsui, he neglects to even attempt countering the latter's zanpakuto release with his own - the stony silence in the back of his mind deters the notion, just as he'd suspected - and, instead, Ukitake dips down for a strike to the head.
No hitting with the flat here - this was intended to be a damaging blow, if not outright fatal.
Reply
with a kimono, tossed upwards in a swift motion, the material bending too flexibly to be cut properly.
And then, out of a corner of the eye, Shunsui's hat, approaching from behind-
is a distraction tossed up after his flash steps had taken him behind his target-
and then Shunsui was in front of Ukitake once more, in that brief moment between the attack losing momentum and the distraction being realized.
His swords were in the ground, because he was only going to use his hands. Both hands, curving upwards to slam just below the ribs, then push up and under them, force enough to send his foe flying. It wouldn't help that Ukitake had more or less dropped onto them as well.
Reply
The kimono, that hadn't terribly astonishing - it was a trick Ukitake had seen before, several times; Kyouraku had always been rather fond of it. And so, though the ploy sent another shoot of irritation through him, Ukitake had already started twisting around, yanking the folds of the kimono off his blade with a jerk, fully expecting the swift attack from behind that always inevitably followed.
Sogyo no Kotowari had sung through the air, hacking cleanly through...a hat...?
And then the hit had connected.
Blinding, white-hot pain explodes from the inside of his rib cage, knocking the air out of him quite spectacularly. Ukitake only has time for a short choking gasp before all attempts at breathing are locked up completely - as if he'd suddenly and abruptly been dunked into a pool of water. Instead, in place of an exhale, a seizing, burning sensation, and the feel of something wet--
No--
He staggers, and the movement prevents him from outright falling on top of Kyouraku. Instead, barely managing to pull up another platform of spirit particles by notion of reflex, he has enough purchase to enter a flash step - but it's a sloppy one, only managing to carry a couple of yards before he reappears again at ground level, landing on his feet through a stroke of luck more than anything else.
Not that he's on his feet for long, then again - instead, reeling, he almost immediately sinks to his knees, the flat of Sogyo no Kotowari's blade pressed flat to the ground alongside the hand holding it while another hand to goes to his mouth. The coughing is heavy, painful, and in a few seconds his hand isn't the only thing running scarlet. The entire gesture is reflex, however - an instinctual attempt to combat the searing pain firing through his lungs. The bottom half of them had taken the brunt force of Shunsui's hit, and...Kyouraku had known it would.
He knew - he knew. Ukitake could remember telling the man himself, years and years and years ago, on the aftermath of a sparring match gone awry in an accidental strike. They'd agreed to remember the fact, avoid it when at all possible, for the sake of a fair fight.
And yet...and yet...now...?
Reply
At which point he raised a hand, fingers splayed, waiting for his friend to recover just enough that it would not be dangerous, but not enough for him to actually do anything.
"Bakudō #63. Sajo Sabaku," he muttered, clasping his hand closed, the yellow bead like ropes sliding like snakes through the sky, before wrapping around the target, binding his arms to his sides with a thud.
Once that was done, Shunsui simply lay down on his side, a hand propping up his head.
"Aaah, you know, this is really a silly situation."
Reply
A few seconds pass, and the acute pain manages to fade down to a steady, sharp burning, flaring up again with every breath painstakingly drawn in. Just when Ukitake finds himself able to fight down the coughing fit, he hears the incantation - and can only grit his teeth as the bindings come spiralling down, forcing his arms to his sides.
For a good amount of time he does nothing, simply kneeling, bent forward as much as can be allowed with the spell in place - and, for the moment, he concentrates solely on breathing, and making sure he can continue with it without overt effort.
At length he straightens slightly, breaths still rasping but fairly constant. Ukitake pauses - grimaces, clears his throat, and spits out a bit more blood to one side - but soon enough he raises his head. And the gaze he evens at Shunsui...the seething, overwhelming anger present there...is unmistakeable.
"...The hell, Kyouraku?"
The words are ground out with some difficulty, slow and ragged.
"That was...that's--"
He has to stop there to draw in some more air as the burning intensifies again, considerably - but the word still hangs in the air, all but palpable, for all that it's unspoken.
Cheating.
Reply
And it was cheating.
"If you think it's unfair, I think flipping your personality upside down is cheating too."
Reply
He is--
Why is he laughing?!
If it were possible for Ukitake to look any more incensed at the current time, said possibility has become a reality.
"That's--"
Stop, inhale. Ffff...
"I fail to see what you mean by that!"
And the glare he levels would burn, if it could.
Reply
His smile somehow grew.
How had this day started? And now it had moved on to this.
"So I thought I'd even things out some."
Reply
In the end, he has to settle with glaring some more - but, at the words, his mouth thins into a line, and there's an odd edge to his reply, borderlining on scathing.
"...Tch. Of course. You'd assume this - fit of mine as intentional, wouldn't you? I'd have guessed as much..."
Reply
Again, his smile grew a little larger-almost another laugh slipping his lips.
"Although having you confirm it for me is useful. Do you feel like telling me what's happenning?"
Reply
Two can play at a game of being difficult, really.
"Oh, wouldn't you like to know? That's just a shame."
Reply
Shunsui, with a slight sigh shuffled up to his feet and moved closer to his friend...
and flicked him harshly with two fingers, but with no power in it, on the nose.
"But if you won't tell me, what can I do?"
Reply
But it fades, quickly - replaced instead by a look that could only be described as incensed.
"You--"
Ukitake tries to stand up again - sways very precariously - and falls back to his knees once more as weakness and the weight of the kido spell take over. If anything, there's some genuine exhaustion starting to creep into his limbs now, despite himself - breathing's getting harder again, and the pain in the chest area is still refusing to lessen.
So instead he settles with glaring up at the latter.
"Maybe if you could take this off - and put up a proper fight--!"
But even as the resolute words are being said, his reiatsu flags raggedly, perhaps most telling of the quickly draining stamina.
Reply
Leave a comment