Study the Blade [Ishifude/Kin]

[Gaz]

Kin #8

---

Flame met steel as the swords collided, the one made of flames being far more corporeal than it had any right to be. It had a hard resistance that master smiths yearned to create, and swordsmen dreamed to make use of. The clash showered sparks over the pair and more came as Ishifude altered the course of her blade to go for Kin’s head. In response the young Witch deftly leaned back and let the sword miss her by the tiniest margin.

“I can feel it…” She spoke as her free hand extended between herself and Ishifude and the glove of fire that encased her hand shimmered, the palm then suddenly erupted with a quick burst of fire. This separated the two as it pushed in both directions. “Ok! Let’s get serious.”

There was a puff of green light at her feet as she instinctively told the air beneath her feet to repel her. It launched the young Witch at great speeds towards Ishifude, as she flew forward her feet never touched the floor but small flickers of green flared for just a moment as an alien sound filled the air. Then in a blur she shifted position and came in with a strike from the side, a strike that had all her power and speed behind it. Kin held out her other hand to the side and a new sword formed and swing it at Ishifude’s bare flank. In this form the young woman was so much faster and stronger, her flames more potent.

---

Kin: e68819
Shinobou: bbecff

[freshstrawberries]

With a girl this inexperienced Ishifude needed to be careful.  That quick, simple dodge was nice, but did she actually move just barely out of range or was that an accident? If they repeated it, would Kin be able to replicate that or would there be a risk of her head getting clipped?  The Shinigami shouldn't assume, but at the same time, she didn't want to treat this girl like a child with no knowledge or ability of all, especially when that was obviously not true.

That hand thrust between them, dangerous as using only one hand to defend gave Ishifude much more leverage, but with what happened next?  Ishifude's body moved to the side, using that leverage to force herself to the left and prepare to move back.  The explosion had some impressive force, sending her skidding back across the rooftop, but her guard remained consistent, sword still in both hands as she grinned.  "Mmm, not bad.  There's value in having a way to try and reset the fight."

Kin was hurtling towards her at speed and Ishifude held her ground, maintaining a fairly classic position, one foot slight forward, sword in both hands in front of her, at an angle pointing up towards the sky.  It was as classic as it came.  She was watching Kin's approach and that sword swinging in, that was her full weight and force behind it, but the way her other hand was being held out.  Ah this girl did enjoy her dual pronged attacks didn't she? 

Ishifude's blade would pivot, body shifting to her left to intercept the oncoming heavy swing.  Blades would crash and sparks would shower again, but Ishifude wasn't just intercepting, she was stepping in.  Her shoulder would be pressing up against that fiery outfit, in fact her side would be, their faces merely inches apart, even if Ishifude was facing to Kin's right.  That second slash wasn't going to find any purchase, Kin's hand and wrist would slam into Ishifude, but at this close range a swing with a sword wouldn't be able to hit either of them, but Ishifude wasn't going for a swing.

Once she'd tucked herself in this nicely as Kin's left arm slammed useless into Ishifude's back, her right hand would let go of her sword, and her elbow would whip upwards for a brutal blow aimed towards Kin's chin!  The girl's strength and speed had improved, but it had put her closer to on par, and in terms of martial skill, Ishifude's knowledge still surpassed the girl's own!  She'd need something far cleverer to try and get one over on this swordswoman!

[Gaz]

Kin #9

---

The blow came to Kin’s chin as her other arm had harmlessly whipped into the back of Ishifude. The girl expected it to hurt more, while it did cause her to flinch there was barely any pain to it. Her hands let go of the blades and they vanished into a puff of flame as she hopped backwards, the balls of her feet glowing with a flash of green light as her form shifted to the other side of the roof. Experience was trumping her here, she had to get tricky… to go flashy.

As Kin stood there, she realised she had started panting, when did she start doing that? The two had barely been sparring for more than a few minutes, she knew she could go for far longer than this, so why was she feeling so warn out? Was it this new form? Her fullbring? “One last exchange.” She spoke, raising bother her hands into the air and creating a series of swords created out of flame that spun around her form. As she brought her hands down one formed in her hands, in a basic grip taught to her in her Kendo class. The Blades that floated around her started to spin and rotate around her as if they were planets and she was the sun.

She then darted forwards again, this time chanting a spell as she did. “With the fire i can protect, with the fire i can destroy. Using this flame i destroy to protect those in danger and punish those that deserve it, EVISERATE!” No new flames had been called into existence, instead the sword in her hands seemed to flicker violently. What ever this weapon was going to collide with was going to feel a powerful explosion.

As she was mere steps away from Ishifude her form vanished, the flaming sailor uniform flittered away, and all of the swords created flickered out. The one in her hand shot high into the sky and exploded with enough force to create a shockwave that rattled the building they were on, shattering all the windows and flattening the girl to the floor, unconscious.

---

Kin: e68819
Shinobou: bbecff

[freshstrawberries]

A clear and clean hit.  Although Ishifude didn't seem to do much damage.  The girl backed up and...not even a slight nose bleed, not even a split lip. How curious.  Did that outfit extend protection to her entire body even what wasn't covered?  Had it simply made her that durable?  There was something to be said about the poetry of the imperishable flame after all. 

"Just one?  I feel like we've barely started." Ishifude couldn't help the teasing, but she could see the girl's hard breathing.  She didn't strike Ishifude as the type to lack for stamina, but perhaps this fancy form was more taxing than she was used to.  Perhaps the mere act of awakening to it had exhausted her.  Still the swords were a nice touch, rotating around her forming a little field, with another in her hands.  How to deal with something like that? Ishifude had a few ideas, a hard parry to interrupt rotation and then a hard slash, simply diving in close to her guard, intercepting with sheathe and striking one handed.  Ooh she could also parry and go for a kick or tackle, or try striking from above! 

Kin began running towards Ishifude, chanting a spell as she went.  The shinigami held her ground, blade forwards.  "You know, I could easily attack you while you're speaking.  Running straight forwards while reciting kido doesn't strike me as a very sound tactic.  Even with your little shield."  She sounded amused, but there was no actual mockery, and despite the warning she held her ground.  As Kin's new sensei, she would humor the girl and measure out just what she was capable of. 

However that didn't mean she was going to clash directly with the girl.  As that sword flickered, Ishifude suddenly sprang into action, she'd leap up into the air and backwards, shunpo accelerating her to speed to land on a platform of air out of reach, before she'd spring off of that to soar over the girl...only to see that flaming sword hurtling through the air up towards her!

Had Kin actually predicted, reacted?  No...no she was collapsing beneath them as Ishifude's body twisted, the sword hurtling up past her.  Had Kin thrown it up in the air accidentally?  "Hahahahaha!  The best part of battles."  Her feet planted onto the air again, before she shoved off to hurtle herself towards the roof, the sudden explosion accelerated her.  She fell to one knee, blade jammed deep into the roof as the impact hammered her, locking her into that kneeling position behind Kin, head down low as she weathered the heat and force. 

Then, slowly she'd stand up, yanking her zanpakutou hard to free it.  The best part of battles was the unpredictability.  One wrong move, and you could put yourself in the perfect position for the opponent to strike at you, without even the foe intending or anticipating it!  Even a novice through sheer luck could strike a blow at a master.  Ishifude inspected her zanpakutou closely, a normal katana probably would have broken rather than sink into the rooftop like that, but hers was fine.  With a nod she'd sheathe it, and walk over to the unconscious girl.

The worst part of battles..was that they ended.  Ishifude had hardly gotten to have any fun at all.  Hopefully this form wasn't always so taxing on the poor girl.  Although Ishifude had once known a man who wielded the largest hammer she'd ever seen.  Shame for him that swinging it barely a dozen times already had his swings sluggish to the point of triviality.  It would be such a shame if this 'Heat Haze Witch' had a similar flaw.

"I suppose I should return you home."  In Ishifude's mind it only made sense that the girl's home must be the shop.  She had apparently not clued in that people in the modern age could live quite far from where they worked.  She'd put one of the girl's arms over her shoulder, and another around her waist to hoist her up, ignoring the pain radiating across her back, like a particularly intense sunburn, she'd take a step...and vanish into the air.

As long as Ishifude moved fast and only stopped in the middle of rooftops, there shouldn't be any chance of someone seeing the unconscious girl she was carrying.

[Gaz]

Kin #10

---

As the Shinigami was carrying the unconscious Kin back to the Shrine, the moment the pair passed through the barrier that encased the land, making it seem like a spiritual dead zone a wave of intense pressure washed over them. It was intense and crushing. The air was thick enough to feel like one was trudging through solid concrete, it vanished as quickly as it came.

“What did you do to my Pupil?” A harsh voice called; it contained a simmering fury but a rational undertone. “I could feel your fight from here, I am surprised every hollow, quincy and Shinigami in the area didn’t go to investigate you both.” She added. The owner of the voice walked out from the shadows to the right, essentially materialising from aether.

The tone and pressure were enough to cause Kin to stir, her eyes flittering open. “Wha…” She murmured softly. Was this the shrine? Why did Shinobou sound so mad? The bright light that came from the flickering torches initially blinded the young witch, but her eyes quickly adjusted as her blurred vision went away.

Kin squirmed gently in the grasp of her sword master, aiming to fall free and land on her feet. It was a soft thumping and a little wobble but the girl did get her balance as she stood up, holding her head where a trickle of blood had run and dried down the side of her face… her mum was going to kill her.

---

Kin: e68819
Shinobou: bbecff

[freshstrawberries]

With a blur Ishifude passed through that threshold...and stumbled, almost falling to her knees before just barely catching herself.  Sheer force of will and discipline kept her from crumbling outright, her insides twisting, her heart skipping a beat as they widened...only for that immense pressure to vanish, almost making her stumble again. 

It had been a breathtaking sensation.  A feeling of power so potent she could have tasted it if it lasted for but a second longer.  Her mind immediately raced to the idea of what fighting someone with that much power would hold.  She wouldn't have a prayer of victory, for her, 'victory' would be drawing a single drop of blood, and oh what a rush it would be if she managed it!

Still she was being addressed, and she knew better than to simply pick fights because she wanted them...oh but she wanted to.  "Pupil?  My apologies, if I'd known she already had a mentor I would not have so readily agreed to tutor her.  She asked for sword lessons, although-ah?" 

Kin was already on the ground with this method of holding, in fact she'd need to get her feet out from under her to stand, but Ishifude would haul her up higher so her feet were under her and let go, one hand remaining behind her back to make sure she didn't just suddenly fall.  Satisfied that the girl wasn't at risk of immediate collapse, Ishifude would turn her attention back to this overwhelmingly powerful woman.

"Our lesson had scarcely begun before the girl activated some form of spell, wreathing herself in a cloth armour forged from flame.  She wished to test it, but it seemed to exhaust her remarkably quickly, or perhaps it was the fiery blade she made and then detonated?"  The shinigami's head tilted as she genuinely pondered this, before snapping out of it. "Ah, not a question I need concern myself with.  Still I do apologize again, it is extremely rude to teach someone else's pupil without permission."  This would come with a bow. She...didn't seem frightened at all.  In fact while she'd been speaking fairly casually that entire time, her eyes had gleamed with an intense, burning desire.  A violent desire.

She really wanted to fight this woman who was confronting her, even knowing it would be a losing battle.

[Gaz]

Kin #11

---

The elder woman stared down her nose at Ishifude, elder in age but not by looks as her form looked barely any older than Ishifude. The explanation that Kin wore herself out did little to placate her, though the explanation that Kin herself likely asked this Shinigami to train her caused her to relax some. Her muscles untensed from their readied state and the tight grip she had on the broom softened. The overwhelming spiritual pressure also subsided as the Shrine Maiden controlled herself again.

“Kin is known to be extravagant with her spells. This was something different, a more refined power.” Shinobou explained as she looked to her pupil. “What did you do this time?” She asked, eyeing the girl who was still wobbling on her feet slightly.

The girl straightened up as she was addressed and then let out a long breath as a hand came up to scratch the back of her head. Her usual thin layer of flames that clung to her skin had vanished with her passing out earlier… it was almost off putting to see her without the phenomenon. “I figured out what my Fullbring is.” She said sheepishly, a wry smile flashing as she looked at the Shrine maiden.

Shinobou turned from a stern look to a smiling woman who dashed forward to hug the girl. “You have?! We spent a decade trying to find your item affinity!” She called, picking Kin up and spinning her around in a hug that showed some pure joy. “What is it?”

“Hurrk.” Kin croaked as she was lifted and spun in a too tight grip, her feet getting eerily close to the Shinigami’s face. “Fire.” She managed to wheeze out. She was dropped to the floor, where she landed on her feet with a slight stumble. The girl shook her head and looked up to see Shinobou in deep thought. “What? I figured out how to get the air around me to turn to fire… then when I was sparring with Ishifude I managed to change its shape.” She explained.

“Only you could do something thought to be impossible, Kin.” The shrine maiden said with a smile before patting the girls head and ruffling her hair. “Fire being so fleeting has a nearly incomprehensible soul, to understand it and change it like you did is almost genius. In all my years of researching humans and their abilities with soul power I never once considered Fullbringing fire to that extent was possible.” Shinobou explained before looking to Ishifude, her eyes not as harsh this time.

---

Kin: e68819
Shinobou: bbecff

[freshstrawberries]

Ishifude was hardly an expert on magic. She would defer to the woman's judgment on this being too strange and specific to count as simply a formidable spell.  It was almost a shame that she so readily believed Ishifude.  After all, the shinigami could hardly justify starting a fight with such a woman herself, but if she just didn't believe her and attacked, well...Ishifude would have no choice!  A pity.

Fullbring?  What a curious word, but Ishifude could deduce from the excited conversation the two had that it was some form of power likely unique to humans.  Strange, she'd thought the quincy thing was the unique power of humans.

Not like she'd paid a ton of attention to that part of her studies though.

"The soul of fire."  Ishifude muttered under her breath, bringing a hand up to tap a cheek as she considered, before an idea struck her.  She reached into her kosode and pulled out a small notepad with a pen tucked into the rings.  She removed the cap with her teeth before quickly scribbling something down onto a page.  Then she'd put the cap back on the pen and tuck both back into her uniform.

She'd look up at the sky briefly before returning Shinobou's gaze with a polite, reserved smile. "Well it seems alls well that ends well.  If you don't require anything of me, I should begin looking for where I'm going to sleep tonight."

[Gaz]

Kin #12

---

Kin took her praise from her first teacher and beamed a smile filled with a deep sense of pride that warmed her very soul up. She wobbled again and then let out a long and tired yawn. It was not that late, but the sun had gone down and the streetlights had turned on. Homes surrounding the shrine had the occasional light on and the gardens of the shrine were illuminated by fairy lights that lined the paths. The shop itself had the main light on too.

In the corner of her eye she noticed her Sword master making a note before stating she was going to go and find somewhere to sleep. “You can’t sleep rough, why not stay here?” She asked earnestly, looking over to Shinobou and then back to Ishifude.

The Shrine maiden did a double take as she was looking to Kin and chuckled as she shook her head. “You remember that I am an Exile Kin; normal Shinigami shouldn’t even know I exist let alone sleep in the spare room above my shop. Though if they do they owe me favours… if they can’t pay of course.” The woman spoke before shrugging.

Kin’s proud smile turned wry and cheeky. “Well, I am sure her payment can be teaching me how to use the sword!” She replied, the tiredness still present in her voice. “It was because of Ishifude that I got my Fullbring too. That has to be worth a few Favours.”

Shinobou turned around and shrugged. “I suppose that is the case. Ishifude, if you are staying with me you’re going to need to help keep the place clean until your patrol rotation is over. Food will be provided as long as you and Kin train.”

---

Kin: e68819
Shinobou: bbecff

[freshstrawberries]

Ishifude paused, turning to look towards Kin with a raised eyebrow.  "I can't?"  She seemed confused by the statement.  "I do believe there's nothing stopping me."

A faint smile would cross her lips.  An exile huh?  How curious.  If she was in exile though then why was she running a shop for magical goods that shinigami could purchase from?  Or was it a case of shinigami weren't meant to associate with her beyond that?  Was she breaking the terms of her exile by doing this?  Ah well it was no business of Ishifude's.  Even if she did report the woman she wouldn't be the one who got to fight her, so why bother?

"I am touched by your offer, but I'm afraid you misunderstand.  'Sleeping rough' reminds me of my days as a human.  I spent years roaming the mountains and forests, staking camp with my men wherever seemed a good and defensible place.  If I needed or wanted a bed so dearly there are countless empty homes and rooms across this city I could use with no one the wiser."

Ishifude would shrug, "I enjoy finding a cozy spot to rest, be it 'neath a tree or an open rooftop to stare at the stars..."  Her voice trailed off as she looked up again, for once actually seeming...sorrowful?  "I could swear there used to be more when I was alive."  Ishifude had no concept of light pollution, and she'd come from a time when the full breadth of the cosmos above would have formed a dazzling tapestry near every night.  To her, the night sky of her living homeland seemed...shockingly empty. 

[Gaz]

Kin #13

---

“Stare at the stars?” Shinobou replied to the Shinigami, masking a chuckle. “There’s so much light pollution in Tokyo that you will not see anything but a black sky with the occasional twinkling of a space station or satellite.” The shrine maiden explained, a pang of sadness in her heart as she looked out to the twilight sky with an old longing for a night with stars in the sky.

“Yeah…” Kin added, a little downtrodden by this fact. “I had to go camping in the mountains on a school trip to see the stars. They were so beautiful, especially with the heat of a nice low fire and some stories about the constellations.” The young woman sighed softly as she closed her eyes and did her best to pull out a second wind of energy, at least enough to renew her favoured spell that gave her a skin of fire that showed her emotions.

After a few moments she uttered some words under her breath a bright flash of flames erupted from her skin, flaring brightly before settling in a thin layer that shimmered around her. It made the young Witch a beacon to the spiritual but had no effect on the physical world.

Kin wobbled for a minute on her feet but caught herself and offered a cheeky smile to the pair. “Ha, I’m not burned out!” She announced with pride.

“Still, Ishifude, if you want a place to stay that can feed you and provide shelter you can come here… in exchange for training Kin in sword play. Does that sound a fair deal?” Shinobou asked, her eyes moving from Kin with a soft smile to the Shinigami and giving a harder face to her.

---

Kin: e68819
Shinobou: bbecff

[freshstrawberries]

When the two of them explained why the stars had vanished from the sky Ishifude looked downright astonished, eyes going wide as she stepped back. "The city lights are so powerful they snuff out the stars?!"  The woman composed herself, clearing her throat.  "My, I knew that humanity had advanced significantly since my own lifetime but to think they've grown that impressive."

This would require further investigation, already it was buzzing her minds with ideas.  The sheer idea of it, the notion of a city so powerful and bright that the people could no longer see the stars above, it was perfect for her writing!  That though could wait, it was rude to suddenly start jotting things down while conversing with someone else. 

Ishifude's attention turned to Kin as the girl suddenly flared up, that shimmering skin returning to her body.  She had a similar hard look as she folded her arms. "Beware, my young student. Just because you still have the energy to walk does not mean that doing so carries no risk of harm.  The man who insists on swinging his sword every day will see it tumble from his grasp come the time he actually joins battle."

Then back to Shinobou, she'd bow her head.  "That is perfectly acceptable.  I thank you for your generosity, though I refuse it at this time."