Battle Arena Crackdown! [Open]

He felt disturbed, like an irritating scratch that refused to quell. Someone out there was committing nefarious deeds and should be punished. He felt disgusted that this foul miscreant example of a shinigami was getting away with it. No matter how far or how obscure they hide themselves in, Sabitsura Rei was certain that he will catch them in the act and mete out justice with furious indignation.

That was what he wanted to do but alas, stuck on guard watch, gazing over the large patch of green far from the heart of Seireitei. Lately there had been some inter squad conflict concentrated there but what more concerning - bickerings between the Fifth and Sixth Squad. The dull look on his face says it all, as though he was merely unseated this was something that he cannot part his eyes from. He cried to his superior, but his superiors brushed him off. Claimed that it had always been the case - dismissing it as inters-quad rivalries.

"Unacceptable!" He erupted, throwing his words with impunity, crunching his dour face as he did so. His black uniform remained impeccable right down to the letter of the law. "You hack!" His body arched over, bellowing at his superiors from a far distance who chose to bother themselves in a slovenly manner. His hands rested on his hips, arching himself outwards to stretch his back. It had been four hours, four hours of standing with an observant and furious gaze, catching anyone who would dare set foot into this piece of land to fight. Bone crackled and a frustrated sigh escaped from his lip, Sabitsura Rei calmed himself down with a single train of thought.

He will catch them.

The field was lush with overgrown shrubberies, from what he had understand these greens was meant to act as a buffer zone between the two key buildings, the fifth and the sixth, without the use of a wall, but there was a large spot that had been deliberately flattened in a large circle.

Such a thought angers him, how inconsiderate of them to besmirch efforts of men and women from ages past by flattening and removing plants and trees just for their own gain?

"I see you!" he bluffed with a loud puff. The five foot four, charming yet dreary man stood in the center of the flattened arena. "Come out or I'll come over there and put you in binds!"

Slevin was the most notorious excuse for a failure there was. Currently he was watching shinigami come and go and was sitting down playing with some grass with his gloved hands. He did so when he wasn't sure what he should be doing with his time, it happened often, more often that he would have liked. Though, when you had his problem, doing useful things on Earth, was basically improbable. He yawned to himself as some loudmouth started talking from inside the flattened arena as he shifted and looked over at the shinigami.

Slevin didn't like people who made noise just for the sake of it. So he placed his hands above his head and hopped to his feet before walking towards the shinigami that had told the air to come out so he could put him in binds. Slevin wandered towards him with a air of complete disdain, he wanted the guy to be quieter, not everyone wanted to hear him be loud and annoying over nothing at all. Slevin looked like an normal shinigami, sans the red hair, gloves, and the fact that he carried no weapon at all. Which was against Sereitei rules. Though, getting mad at Slevin was kind of like yelling at a brick wall. He wasn't going to learn, not because he was abrasive or mean, because he quite literally, couldn't fix that problem.

He wandered down to the loud shinigami and circled him, sizing him up and looking him over before laughing at him and pointing. As if he was beneath Slevin for some reason. Slevin didn't speak and his laugh, eerily made no sound at all. The only sound the shinigami made was his lower subtle breath, and his own steps. He gave the other shinigami a massive come and get me then grin and offered a hand before curling his fingers towards himself mockingly.

The rustling of noise, the steps of throdden green stirred his brief momentary stillness. Sabitsura was surprised that his loud bluff worked. A red haired giant of a man with movement filled with melodramatic grace. He blinked, lacking sleeves on his uniform. He blinked again, his movement is obnoxious and ungraceful. He would blink until his gaze loomed onto his sash around his waist.

"You," his arm rose at a level, bare hand pointing with his index at Slevin, "where is your sword?" He was right, this place is a hotbed of degeneracy. His face scowled, his lips shifted with displeasure. Crime provided foul taste to the rich palate, "Yes, you! Your sword!"

He began wagging his finger, pacing towards him, the small ball bells softly jingled as his feet shuffled against the carpeted soil. "It is bad enough that you were found here, a hotbed of conflict and who knows what," his voice trembled, disjoined from the excessive pace and the sight of Slevin invoked the deep pitted guttural tone reserved only to express his disgust.

"You!"

He paused, Slevin made no attempt to respond, instead he began to circle around him, pointing and expressive, but there was something afoot. There were no sound coming from him other than his movement. He was mocking him, egging him along to catch him. He let out a scathing bellow.

"You mock me?!"

Slevin blinked and looked around before shrugging. He had an asudachi back in his bunk but it wasn't a Zanpakutou, so to him, he didn't qualify for the rule and he simply moved his arms out and shrugged confused. He yawned, as if he didn't give a care what the other shinigami was saying or pointing at. The tone of disgust going as far as Slevin ignoring the man to scratch the back of his neck while looking away from him before stretching.

Slevin was mocking him, but just to make things worse, when the other shinigami said it, Slevin shook his head and pointed at himself. As if to say not me. Though he still didn't speak, he simply looked at the other shinigami and brushed his hair out of his face. He mocked the other shinigami again with a small wordless gesture. Which is kind of how Slevin was. He was a mute both in reality, and his inner world, no talking to his zanpakutou, no kido, no voice, no sound. That coupled with a massive hollowphobia meant Slevin had to do things differently, he made up for everything with ruthless devotion to Hakuda, hoho, and the ability to be extremely condescending.

Slevin pointed at his wrist like he didn't have time to listen to the shinigami talk more. Just to see his reaction.

What an exhausting week it had been. Yuki had endured enough drama for the month. The first party since her parents had passed away had ended in a mass poisoning. The very first party! Perhaps she was just unlucky. Not to mention her temporary kidnapping.

I need a break.

And what better place to take that break than the makeshift arena? Perhaps someone would be there today. Of course it still baffled her that such a thing existed. After all, who could really challenge the might of the fifth division in combat?

Hope they got a medic. I really don't want to hold back right now.

The fifth division's building wasn't too far from her estate, and so it took her very little time to reach it. She wasn't surprised to find people lingering about, although she was surprised that they weren't actually fighting. One stood, pointing. He wasn't even saying anything. Then again the other one spoke plenty enough for the two of them.

"So loud" called out the wolf as she approached, left hand settled upon the hilt of her zanpakuto, one claw tapping impatiently against the tsuba. "And yet here you stand, weapons sheathed-" she paused, looking over Slevin. "Well. Weapon. Why are you here? Do you not understand what this place is for?"

It probably wouldn't be very fair to challenge him. Wait.

"Are you by chance a healer?"

he found himself grinding his teeth as Slevin continued to berate and goad him into a fight, but he refrained. Hot air pillowed out from his teeth and shooting daggers at the mute, toying Rei by tapping his wrist.

"This arena is closed permanently! Leave this area at on-" His loud mouth paused to a grinding halt as another arrived at the scene. He had never seen her before, to be frank, he would be surprised if he had managed to catch her considering her size. She opened her dialogue pointing out yet again, the loudness coming from Sabitsura Rei. He had every reason to be loud. His nostril flared staring at the new arrival, shifting his right hand over to the ends of the grip of his sword upon mentioning of his sheathed sword.

"There's no need for unwanted violence," he spoke sternly, he hid it well, but the prospect of fighting two on one weighed heavily into his mind, "I am here to close this unregulated and dan -" he was abruptly cut short as the beastwoman spoke in between, causing him to respond in kind. "I do not have any knowledge of Kaido. So please, disperse!"

Slevin looked at the woman like she was ignorant and glared. He couldn't do kido, it had a verbal component. Dealing with more nobles wasn't something he was in the mood for so he shrugged. If everyone was going to be not violent, then he was dead set on getting away. He had to find better ways to keep learning how to deal with the fact that he couldn't fight or be like everyone else. He decided to go find something else to do, they were most likely going to ignore him anyway. It was something that happened more often than Slevin cared to admit but being a mute with his problem it was probably for the best.

Slevin sighed and waved the two off. Walking past the other man and bumping into him before trying to take anything on his person that wasn't his Zanpakutou and wandering back towards his tree so he could get back to meditating and trying to come up with some new ability. It took a few seconds for him to go back to the right mind set to generate the raw kido energy, which he couldn't form into a spell, before it back-lashed and set him rolling on the ground again. He glared at nothing in particular as he pushed himself up to do it again.

A slight smile spread across her lips, pupil constricting as the man shifted his hand to his weapon. It was a start. Then again it rarely was difficult to get these sixers to fight. Most of them were wound up so tightly that it really only took a little push to get them going. At least, that had been her experience.

"Unwanted violence? If you did not desire a fight then you would not be standing where you are now."

Yuki paused as the quiet one took his leave. Perhaps his literal push would get the loud man into the proper mindset. She could only hope. But then she probably would not have fought him regardless. There was no honor in cutting down someone who could not defend themselves.

This guy on the other hand. . .

"It's a shame. I can't really go all out if we don't have a healer present."

Once more she approached, stepping calmly into the trampled grounds of the makeshift arena. She tested her footing, tapping her sandal against the dirt. Now her gaze focused entirely upon the only other person with a weapon. Not that she was waving off the other guy. He wasn't going far, and it was entirely possible that he might have something up his sleeve, perhaps even literally. But right now if there was going to be a fight it was going to be with this sixer.

"Oh no. It appears as though I too have stepped into the arena. What ever shall you do to remove me?"

"These Fifth are frustrating!" He found himself grinding his teeth over the new arrival's goading. This woman, another member of the fifth, was shorter than he was by a huge margin. Thankfully, for her, mocking her height or in general, put-downs was something beneath the Zealous Sixth Squadder.

However, this can't be said for his restraint when bait was in place. The half pint beastly woman stepped into the arena, brazenly revealing her intention to fight in guise of a veiled question. This was not what he wanted. "Leave!" he spoke through gritted teeth, his eyebrow burrowed and his eyes narrowed with his piercing gaze unravelling the information that stood before him.

"Then consider your position if you are concerned about others well-being," his once grinded teeth parted to deliver his words with a calming tone. His composure returned but he learned quickly that these fifth squad members are not one to lie down from simple reasoning. The long haired redhead, the man who he demanded to leave first got close enough, catching him by surprise. The Sixth was rewarded with a sharp body bump and was jolted, his left foot shifted to counteract the forceful momentum from overflowing and dropped to the floor, not realising folded pieces of paper were lifted from his inner pockets of his Kusode.

"That is it," he snapped thoughtfully. His body was sideways in view of the beastly half pint with his right arm tucked against the side of his torso, bent forearm leveled against the abdomen and index finger aimed at her. The tip of his finger felt the surging flow of spiritual power, cocked and primed, to deliver, he must invoke the word, the wind of battle swirls. While she was egging him on, he fanned it ever so bluntly with the words…

"Hado Number one," the tip of his finger glimmered and bursted outwards in a diamond formation, the primed reiryoku spent, unleashing a flashing glint, such force moving at a speed with intent to thrust foes away from his sacred ground. An academy spell many had learned, but few had refused to neglect. "Sho," He was not sure if she caught on by his surprise but he marked his words: Justice will be met.

Slevin wasn't fifth or sixth, he yawned from his perch as he looked at the two in their attempts to prove which one was bigger metaphorically. Though Slevin wasn't stupid, he was entirely about information and kleptomania, though in the reverse order. He pulled out the paper he had taken earlier and looked through it as he kept his eyes on the wolf and the human who were hell bent on fighting for no reason.

Though, Slevin was not amused. If you were unseated and you decided to take on Yuki, you were pretty much a moron combined with more stupid. He looked back at the paper as something caught his eye and leaned back against the ground. It was a cross between bad poetry and erotic fan fiction in precise calligraphy. Which took skill as far as Slevin could tell. He heard the justice nerd call out a spell and he simply ignored it. Making mental bets on how long before Yuki effectively shit stomped him to the ground.

Which, he was pretty sure would take like maybe a half a minute. He then went back to reading said erotic fan fiction for entertainment, before wondering if that was against the rules. Slevin decided that described almost all of justice enforcement, enforce your rules because you break them anyway. He shifted to look back at the fight and let out a silent yawn.

Hado-

In a flash of steel her zanpakuto was drawn. She didn't have the time to move forward, but her tail did have enough of a warning to straighten out behind her. Legs braced as the energy impacted against her body. Teeth were gritted as she slid back a few feet, sandals dragging across the ground.

Oh this will be fun.

As soon as the kido's effect had ended Yuki took off into a direct charge towards her opponent, moving low across the ground as quick as she could. She had to hope that he was actually going to draw his blade. But surely he wouldn't leave it sheathed, right? After all it wouldn't be very honorable to cut down a Shinigami without a drawn weapon.

Let's see who is quicker!

Her intentions were clear. As soon as she reached the man her blade would be cleaved horizontally, right for his center of mass. Of course if he didn't end up drawing his sword she did plan to halt her attack. For this reason she didn't put all of her strength into the strike. But then she hoped that he wouldn't catch on to that fact.

Her reaction was natural, her sword was drawn and soaked up the brunt of the attack. He didn't want to start off with his strongest kidou or anything that could harm her, that was never his intention. His intention was to get her off the arena, and witness her reaction, but the moment her sword was drawn and her intention was clear…

Or was it? Sabitsura Rei was not convinced, her being buffered away by his Hado gave him a brief respite and with little information scrounged from her words. He took a deep breath, and recollect…

"Barely hit five foot, her sword - four foot, how does she swing her sword? Vertical, horizontally?" He exhaled slowly, air escaped from his lips, "Was she a fifth squad? Come to speak of it, did he?" He wasted valuable time, by then his opponent had made her dash. Her sword was held by her side, but it was that moment he realised her flaw. Her sword was ready to be swung from the left to the right.

"perfect…"

He exhaled once again, his fingers slacked and lightly stroked his hakama in front of him, his shoulders relaxed and his knees began to bent, discreetly shifting his stance in preparation for movement. He sucked in the air and made his attempt as she stopped her movement to swing, he dashed forward, his left hand reached out her right wrist, tightly as he could as he approach. His right foot crossed his left, moving his body to the side, shifting his entire weight to use as support. His hips thrusted against her, using her momentum and his own strength to toss her over his hip, shifting his weight from left leg to right. Bellowing out as an act of empowerment and pain.

The target was met and she is now on her state of vulnerable. The problem with this technique was not because her opponent was using a sword, but the sword itself was too long for him to handle, the curved blade had managed to tear through his left forearm, blood gushing but not enough for him to be fatally condemned. He bit through the pain, throwing his right closed fist down towards her face as she lied while her blade feasted on his blood.

The stack of papers were heavy in her arms as Nao made her way from the administrative building she called home. Someone in Sixth had filed a complaint with her supervising officer about some sort of fighting pit and, perhaps as punishment for having gotten her Gigai turned into a pile of meat on her most recent assignment a few hours in, Nao had been sent as the official poster of notice.

These tasks were normally rather enjoyable for her. It gave her a chance to get up, walk about, and have some fresh air. They also normally involved putting up flyers about new construction or important administrative directives, not posting warnings in unofficial battlegrounds. Still, the odds that anyone would actually be using it for that purpose when she was doing her posting had to be slim. Surely they had better things to occupy their time with, and she’d have no doubt been sent with an escort if there were any actual hostilities.

She could not have been more wrong. No sooner had she posted the first notice than she heard the telltale sounds of a fight being picked. ”Lemme guess. You’re gonna go do something about that because you’re afwaid of your boss?” an unpleasantly familiar voice sarcastically asked in the back of her head. She hesitated for a moment, wondering just how far she was willing to go for a simple order to post some flyers, considering just heading back to the administrative compound and coming back later, but she knew her supervisor would demand to know why she still hand a bundle of papers in her hands.

Deciding that an angry superior officer was worse than skirting around a fight, Nao hoisted her papers and walked toward the sound of the disturbance.

”Figures. Kiss ass.”

With a scowl at her spirit, she trudged through the shrubbery, making her way toward the disturbance. From what she could tell, someone in there was using Kido. If she didn’t put a stop to that, the flyers would certainly be blown away even if she did put them up, and she’d be in even deeper trouble for having let that slide.

”Do you think you could take this somewhere else?” she quietly asked as politely as she could as she pushed her way through the overgrowth toward the two embattled Shinigami, thankful that she couldn’t see any signs of rank on either of them. Her voice was much too quiet and anxious to overpower the sound of the recently fired Hado. ”I’m sure your Division has ample sparring grounds that aren’t-” she started, cutting herself off with a gasp as the smaller of the two lunged at the larger.

Her gasp turned into an actually audible shriek as the sword caught flesh and a counter-punch was levied as payment. In her red-faced shock, she lost hold of her stack of flyers and immediately ducked down to pick them up and make herself a smaller target for any more errant Hado.

Slevin looked at the newcomer nearly get blasted as he finished reading the other shinigami's fan fiction. He yawned and then looked around at the papers as they fell away before hoping to his feet and moving over to the administrative shinigami. He started slowly grabbing paperwork, reading a bit here and there mainly to see if he could determine what paper was supposed to go where and looked back with a glare at the dueling children.

He shrugged, a second later and went back to gathering papers for the young administrator before handing what he could have over. Though it wasn't without pocketing something of hers if he could get close enough as well. While Slevin may have always been able to lend a helping hand, his hands were still those of a kleptomaniac. So if it wasn't bolted down, chances are he would find a way to grab at it.

After he had given her what papers he could, he bowed politely and pointed at the man in the duel who was part of the justice squad and shrugged. As if to tell her that Justice apparently meant nothing to these two. He face smiled at her and he looked at her confused and pointed at the papers, as if questioning if she needed any more help.

Of course she heard the woman who called out. It registered within the back of her mind. But then they were at an arena, even if it was very makeshift. Where else would she go for this sort of entertainment? And where else could she go to find a sixer so eager to do battle?

Unfortunately much of her focus was on the battle at hand, for good reason too!

Still no sword?! Damnit!

When her blade neared the man Yuki put on the brakes, slowing the weapon down. She had intended to halt her attack before it actually made contact, after all striking down a Shinigami who held no blade, and who had not really attacked her with anything dangerous, was still dishonorable! Unfortunately she noticed all too late what his true motives were. He didn't draw his weapon, no, but he did fight back!

Her right wrist was grabbed. Rei shifted his body. As she passed the man he pressed into her, utilized her momentum in order to flip her right into the ground. Despite everything she'd still managed to draw blood, but then she had tried to avoid it at the last second.

Oh well. This works!

As she released her grip upon her sword she twisted her right arm, utilized her strength in an attempt to overpower the man so that she might grip against the arm which had been keeping a hold upon her. Of course she had no intentions of letting him go when he was already this close, evident as her claws attempted to dig into whatever flesh they could reach.

For the briefest of moments pain flashed across her face. Rei's fist collided with it! A solid hit! But the pain was swiftly replaced by adrenaline. She caught the scent of Rei's blood. The fur on her tail bristled outwards as it curled around her weapon, prepared to take up arms if need be.

"Good" she growled lowly, left hand swiping inwards to latch onto the Shinigami's right wrist, just as he had done to her before. Again she had no intention of letting go. Her claws sought to pierce his flesh! But she wasn't upset. Far from it!

With a grin she pulled hard in an attempt to drag Rei right down to the ground. At the same time her left foot braced against the dirt and her right knee shot up, aiming to plant itself into the man's face as he fell! He wanted to play without swords? Fine! She could abide by those rules!

His hard work and wound paid off with his fist colliding against the Beastly Shinigami's face with a sickening thud. He threw this punch as hard as he could, but considering her conditioning, his strength was met with a strong and sturdy flesh and bone. No matter what he thought, he was close enough to stop her use of a long blade with comfort. He can't stay close, he shouldn't. Just like she was in a compromising position, he too was in threat for further onslaught with her own fists.

Her Fist, rather. He felt his gaping wounded arm being pressed against, pierced tightly against his wrist by her own claws. This was painful for Rei, unlike her, his body was slow to nurse the scream inducing pain. He panted, he wanted to scream, but he refused, he can't, not now.

He muttered, "Pale word steal thy breath! Hollowed mountain, white crystal, copper spear..." his words were tense, his breathing calmed, the world seemed to dim, like a stilled bell in between the quarters. The flow of words continued as Rei crumpled onto his knees, "still and become ear -"

The quarter was struck, the bell rang. Yuki's knee hammered against the side of his head, not even his off hand was enough to coat the damage. He crumpled further, rolling over onto his back with his wounded hand bound by the beastwoman piercing grasp. In a daze, his impulse deterred him from breaking his chant.

"Earth," his words slowed but each nuanced word holds strength, "Silence fills the warring halls."    

He stopped… his breathing dimmed, his spiritual prowess surged. Yuki would feel her attacking hand being bound, the same hand being bound against her wrist.

He left himself exposed...still defiant.

Nao watched the silent Shinigami in confusion for a moment. Of course! He must have also been trying to lay low and avoid being spotted by the dueling pair. She brushed her hand up to adjust her hair and nod, revealing a pair of shiny onyx pearl barrettes which would soon be parted by Slevin’s dexterous fingers.

After mouthing her appreciation at his non-verbal explanation and completely missing the theft, she smiled and pointed to the clear words declaring that this fighting pit was to be closed on the orders of the First Division for assessment and repairs.

The other two, unfortunately, had no such tact, as their growling and shouting had degraded into an animalistic fistfight, or at least that’s what it appeared to be at first glance. Her attempts to mime things to Slevin were interrupted as a loud shout came from the pair. The feral Shinigami still had her weapon in her tail despite switching to a hand-to-hand style of combat, but the bleeding man was very obviously still capable of performing his incantations. It seemed as though the pointy-eared warrior was unaware of this, or at least Nao hoped she was. If his will was strong enough, the fight was already as good as over and she’d be able to patch them both up and give them an administratively-approved scolding.

If not, she wasn’t about to force her way between a rabid dog and its downed prey lest the foaming jaws clamp down on her as well.

Slevin yawned mockingly at the two fighting as he stretched out and waited for them to finish their measuring contest. Though he pretty much knew how it was going to turn out anyway. Combat between shinigami was something Slevin was more used to than combating hollow for reasons. None of which were good, he looked at the administrator again, wondering how badly this was going to go for everyone in the near future.

He shifted his weight and scratched at the back of his neck as he rolled his shoulders and decided that sticking around here was probably hazardous for his health. After all there was a justice nerd, and he had just lifted two things. Slevin wasn't malicious, he just couldn't help himself. It was an addiction that needed feeding. Even if he had no intention of keeping the stolen property.

Slevin had often done so. Leaving an envelope with no information wherever someone he had taken something from would be. Along with a simple note saying You lost this. He made his way away from the group, heading off to the 3rd division grounds to keep trying at his attempts to come up with a new technique.

Exit ~

A familiar iron smell permeated the air. She bled a little from her nose thanks to Rei's solid punch, but she also smelled the crimson leaking from his body. It was getting just a little more difficult to think, but that was fine. Right now she had a chance to indulge in a proper savage tussle!

When Rei hit the ground Yuki twisted her body into a roll, briefly releasing her grip upon the Shinigami's right arm, although her right remained locked in place. Facing the man Yuki reached out with her left hand, grabbing at whatever she could in order to pull herself closer, both feet pushing against the dirt to find purchase. Her tail twisted, and swung around, blade flailing in the air behind her. It was probably better that only the two of them were in the ring.

Like a rabid beast she snapped for her foe's throat, aiming to clamp sharpened fangs down against his flesh! Not that she had any intention of actually tearing his neck out. She was still at least keeping that much control. Well, for the moment anyways.

Almost!

TEAR HIS THROAT OUT!

Rei was caught off guard by her sheer strength; clawing and assuming her dominance. There were times when her hand got close towards her neck, his controlled breathing briefly skipped as her firm touch brushed against his feet.

It was now or never. Any later, his throat will be ripped, proverbially or literally, either of which he did not want to be involved with. His hands finally animated after a lull of his incantation, the surging rush of his reiryoku throughout the body, coursing through his organs, his bloody stream before converging to the eight crooked digits. He was ready, he could feel his hakama being clawed, her own claws nicking the flesh of his shin.

"Hado," he stilled his moment of panic, he refused to cave, nothing at this very moment could cripple his own capabilities. he inadvertently swiped at the skies with his charged fingers, upon realising his err, making actions before completing his chant dented his confidence, "48, Lucky Dead Horns." There was a moment of peace within Rei, he took delicate care with his own kidou. He yielded, lowering his arms, relaxing his palm and fingers, his legs were at mercy of the beastly shinigami claws.

Despite his minor error, he couldn't help but let out a gentle smile over his achievement. He tilted his head forward, witnessing eight staff, all of which are eight feet long in length come screaming through air from above and behind her its edges were flat, blunt an error of his ways, but in hindsight, a happy accident. Either way, he refused to let this fight end, not while she is still braying for his blood.

She nodded to the silent Shinigami as he left, content that at least one of the three that she’d run into had understood the order she had been instructed to post. Still, as the other two’s scuffle escalated, she found herself wishing that her mute companion had remained. What she had hoped was about to become much less lethal had quickly escalated with the beast woman seemingly trying to bite the kido specialist’s jugular.

Had she not been as trained in the mystical arts as she was, Nao likely would have written the man on the ground off as a lost cause. She understood exactly what he was going for and, though she was doubtful she’d have the courage necessary to so gracefully work a kido under threat of having her throat slashed to ribbons if she faltered, she could tell that the most peaceful resolution to this whole mess revolved around that spell managing to connect with its intended target.

Finally, as the conjured staves came careening down, Nao found herself unable to cower in hiding any longer. She didn’t have to double up his efforts and, from what the silent Shinigami had mimed, he might even have been the one who started the fight. Rarely did you come across a kido practitioner who wasn’t willing to listen to words, though. Righting herself from her crouched position, she found herself quite disappointed as her voice cracked under the strain of having watched their battle to the death over some stupid turf war. ”Stop it, you’re going to kill each other!” she cried out, hopeful that the momentary distraction might be enough to spare the man’s life.

If not, she had seen enough of her resistance to Bakudo to know that she would be better served running and coming back with backup than trying to stand her own.

Yes! YES! I CAN ALMOST TASTE HIS FLESH! HIS BLOOD! TEAR HIM OPEN!

Loud thumps reverberated within her head as the beating of her heart seemed to drown out everything else around her. Slowly she closed in, dragging the two Shinigami closer to one another. Her maw was opened, fangs prepared to dig into flesh. It really was getting difficult to control herself. Could she even hold back? Was this man about to die?

Pain rippled across her body. Everything cleared up as eight staves crashed into her back, her legs, her arms, her head, pinning her to the ground. She felt bones fracture under the intense pressure, tasted blood within her mouth. Air was forced from her lungs, and for a moment she went silent.

A cough splattered crimson against her foe's body. Ringing filled her ears for a few moments. One of them twitched, shifted to face towards the woman who called out to them. That was the point, wasn't it? Wait, no. This was just a lighthearted skirmish.

"Damn" muttered the wolf. Her grip tightened, arms pulled with all their might as she tried to climb up further, to find a more appropriate spot to bite. Of course she could always stab the Shinigami, but that wouldn't be very fair. Unfortunately she couldn't really move very well. It was a powerful kido.

"I'm willing to admit to a draw."

TEAR INTO HIS BODY! YOU DON'T NEED HIS NECK! RIP OFF A LIMB!

Shut up. She's right. I'm not here to kill anyone.

The repeated thud of his own creation clashed against his opponent was music to his ears. As much he didn't want to hurt her severely, but the urge of victory swelled within him. It was only when she asked for a draw did his mood sink. He righted himself back onto his feet with the use of his right for assist and his left hanging. He signed in pain, but his expression painted another picture.

"Are you sure you're from Fifth Squad?" He retorted with a smug grin on his face. He had every intention to goad her, but a blow to his head by her knee, no matter how stifled the blow was, was an early path to regret. He continued, "A draw is not victory…No, do not fool yourself into thinking that you can accept a draw."

He rested his wounded left arm atop the grip of his sword, with his forearm pressed against the tsubasa and his hand relaxed, dropped under the weight of gravity. He arched slightly forward, spreading his footwork apart for a sturdier center of balance, trapped in the thought of dashing forward or hopped to the side. He jerked his head upward, egging her further on. He wanted her to be reminded that justice cannot be beaten. Not even cries of witnesses, pleading them to stop. Sit down, for they refused to step further with their docile words.

"If you want to stop fighting, head back to your division and never abuse this plot of land to agitate other squad members!"

Nao very nearly dropped her papers again as she spun dramatically at the somewhat familiar sound of Zenji’s voice. ”Hatayama-sama!” she said in a surprised tone, accompanied by an exceedingly quick bow. She hadn’t expected to run into another member of First out here, much less one that she had spoken with in a not entirely professional setting.

”These Shinigami, they,” she started, fumbling one of the flyers she had announcing the area closed off loose from the pile and handing it to him, ”they should not be here.” She ought to let him handle everything, but her heart was still racing a mile a minute and the urge to do something to stop this played at her heartstrings. Turning to look at them, she noticed that the pair had thankfully ceased their fighting, or at least the one Zenji had referred to as Lady Kameko had.

It just had to be another noble, didn’t it? Why did she keep stumbling her way into these embarrassing interactions with the upper crust? Her supervising officer was going to have her hide if word made it back about her interrupting a duel of one of her betters. Sure, she had the paperwork necessary to override their claim to this ground for their battle, but Nao was intimately aware of the different standards applied. She wanted to yell at them, to tell them that they were being irresponsible children, or – from a place she didn’t want to recognize – actually enter their fray herself and bind both of them and get someone from Justice to sort the whole mess out.

Instead, Nao pressed down her burgeoning will to intervene and meekly stood next to Zenji, waiting for him to do something of that sort. Her words had no value here, but his would carry weight both by the virtue of his lineage and from his much less panicked interjection to their ruckus moments ago.