Frustration

Today was to be a normal day, if not for the fact that he had a training session with the 8th Squad Captain Nik, as Ranryou himself referred to him as. A quit spar with Syn, and then paperwork. But apart of his healing from his defeat to the hands of the Vizard was to train himself back to full strength. So Ranryou had been asking all the Captain's to spar with him when they had the free time. Today. It was Nik. Now waiting on his arrival Ranryou breathed slowly, exhaling deeply with his eyes closed. Not really taking notice to the eyes of both division watching, or that of the few Captain that came to take a look. His senses trained on the arrival of Nik. Whenever he decided to make his entrance.

Ranryou would not have to wait too long, as Niklas soon arrived. As the captain of the Reinforcements division, Niklas was rarely himself able to go onto the battlefield, making sparring matches such as this a good way for him to relieve his own inner frustration. It was an almost perfect match-up as far as many of the spectators were concerned, as the both of them had similar fighting styles. Niklas nodded to his fellow captain, and said, "I appologize for being a little late, but I had to take care of some business first. You know how it is." He shrugged a little, before lightly placing his hand on the hilt of his Zanpakuto, subtly taking on a balanced stance in preparation.

Smiling as Niklas finally arrived. The 2nd Division Captain simply nodded once before using shunpo to rapidly close the distance between them. Appearing on the Captain's right side more so towards the back of his shoulder. Preforming a expert spin kick to send the Captain sliding backwards a few steps. he would have liked to start this fight straight hand to hand, but not all Captain fought like that, but only two Captain were close enough to his style to maybe fighting him hand to hand. Nik was one of them.

Niklas was glad to see Ran go into Hand to Hand combat rather than drawing his Zan. As he used his Shunpo himself to dodge the side-attack, he smiled, as he thought to himself, Been too long since I really got to fight someone hand-to-hand myself. He then moved right in front of Ranryou, he went for a quick one-two combo. However, he was half-expecting his fellow captain to dodge that and try for another side-attack.

Ranryou was happy his plan worked. As hand to hand combat was what he did best. Aside from Hoho, and Zanjutsu, Hakuda was something the 2nd Division was known for. There hand to hand combat abilities were the best, and Ranryou was the best proven by the 2nd Division symbol on his back.

So when Kin came at him with a one-two combo Ranryou blocked with his left forearm, and then his right forearm. Deflecting both, and hopping into the air. Spinning while jumping, and trying for a one-two kick combo, first his left, and then his right foot. Looking to sliding him back, and get him caught in his momentum.

(yeaaaah, sorry for lack of posting until now. I'll be able to post more regularly now.)

Niklas was just barely able to bring his own arms up in time to block the blows, but the force behind the kicks was still enough to send him sliding back, and even forced him to topple backward...for all of 3 seconds, until he quickly turned it into a backflip. Landing on his feet, Niklas winced slightly as he rubbed his arms a little where he had blocked the kicks, and mentally noted that he needed to improve on his blocking some more. With that done, he quickly ran forward, then flash-stepped behind Ranryou, before flash-stepping again to appear in front of the other Captain, and quickly went through a Roundhouse Kick, hoping that the feinted back-attack would allow him to land the attack.

Watching closely Ranryou prepared himself for the coming attack. Not sure as to Nik''s full fighting potential Ranryou wouldn't let his guard down. Letting his senses branch out from his body, and shifting into hos personal fighting style, letting his instincts guide his body.

"Behind...." Bracing himself Ranryou noticed Nik flash step behind him, but as his attention began to focus on that he used another to appear before him, coming around with a roundhouse. Ranryou slightly growled under his breathe as his forearm were used to block the kick. Tho the force of it sent him sliding back some odd yards.

Sliding to a sudden halt Ranryou would use his own flash step to appear to Nik's left, using another to appear from his right, and then vanishing, and spamming his flash steps. Appearing in all direction no more then 15 or so air away from Nik. Each afterimage of himself flash-stepping in random directions, tho he seemed to have surrounded Nik.

Niklas smiled slightly when he saw Ranryou begin flashstepping all over the place. Not exactly what he was expecting, or hoping for, but he could work with it. He took on a defensive stance, as his eyes became half-closed, trying to use his own senses and instincts to guide his own actions. He knew he was not as good as with the Flash Step as his opponent, but he knew other tricks he could use. Tricks that he had picked up while he was alive, and that not even death had managed to rob from him. He crouched slighly, as he prepared himself for Ranryou's inevitable attack.

Ranryou watched his opponent from all angles. Using his Shunpo to gather information about Niklas's fighting style. Physically he was slightly weaker then Ranryou himself, but then again this was also a fellow Taicho, he wouldn't fight him hand to hand if his skills weren't up to par: afterall he was faced against the 2nd Division Captain, and Commander of the Stealth Force. he would interesting to see how he countered.

Left, right, above, behind....his options numbered in the hundreds. But he would have to choose one.

"ABOVE!!!!!" yelling it out plan as day Ranryou can from above with a powerful axe kick. Not his favorite move, but an effective one if connected. he keep his wits about, excepting his opponent to counter such a low level attack. niklas should be warned. His kick feld enough force to create quite a large crater where he himself stood if blocked, or dodged.

Niklas didn't even bother looking. He simply moved, using Shunpo to dodge out of the way of Ranryou's attack. He then turned around to see the result of the attack, and only saw a cloud of dust blooming out from the point of impact, hiding his fellow captain from view. After a few moments, the cloud finally dissipated...revealing Ranryou standing in a small crater. Niklas blinked a few times at that, but then decided to act on the momentary opening he had. He Flash-stepped in, and then threw a barrage of punches at his opponent's back. Though he was not as physically powerful as Ranryou, he would still definitely feel the blows, as Niklas was still quite powerful himself. His strength, though, was located more in his fists, as he was able to knock over trees with a series of punches.

Turning around Ranryou began to back peddle away from Niklas. Using his open palms, and forearms to blocked, and redirect the incoming blows. After a short exchange between the two Ranryou would hop back, putting some distance between them, and launch himself forward but with a single push off. Reaching Niklas no more then a few seconds after he hoped back.

Once he was close enough Ranryou would begin a series of high kicks, and jabs, followed by roundhouses, and sweep kicks, looking to once again catch Niklas in his momentum. Tho his punchs were weaker then his kicks, his kicks were are faster, and stronger then his punchs. Ranryou being able to kick over cars, and trucks if need be.

Niklas was quickly forced back onto the defense by Ranryou, being forced back as he rapidly tried to deflect each incoming attack. Finally, he sought to simply escape the combo, and to a certain degree, he did. However, one of Ranryou's kicks clipped his side in the process, and he hissed in pain, now several feet away. He stood, panting, as he gingerly felt the now-forming bruise on the side of his ribs. Various plans were racing through his head about what to do now, to try and regain the advantage.

Kido was right out; He had never been very good at it in the best of times, and in a live combat situation, even just a practice match, it was unlikely he'd be able to concentrate enough. Trying to out-move Ranryou was out as well, as the other captain was universally recognized as the single best practicioner of Shunpo that the Gotei 13 had seen in centuries. Furthermore, he was also stronger and had longer experience in unarmed combat. Which left one advantage to Niklas, but he'd need the element of surprise to pull it off.

Kneeling down, Niklas placed one hand, palm flat, on the ground, the other on one knee, as he leaned forward. Then, in an instant, he had Flash Stepped back to Ranryou, throwing a hard jab, which would be followed up by a knee-strike if it connected. If it didn't, however, Niklas had an ace in the hole now, but it'd probably only work once.

Ranryou stood very still as he let his body relax. His mind clearing as his senses ranged out. These senses were his instincts. His will to fight, and his will to kill. His shoulder relaxing from their tense state as the air around him grew dry. His hands, and arms loose as he began to slump forward his eyes closed as Niklas put some distance between them. Ranryou could only think to himself. Something Mizuchi told him long ago.

"If you want to truly wield me as an extension of yourself then you must release your ambitions, and fight your hardest. No matter who is around. Now. Dance, Ranryou!"

Opening his eyes but a fraction of a second before Niklas's jab was about to connect Ranryou leaned slightly to the opposite side of his strike. The fist soaring past his face. Yet Niklas seemed to have another plan as he came with a knee-strike. Ranryou using his forearms, and forming an X. Taking the full force of the blow as it lifted him off the ground.

turning his body with the force of the knee strike Ranryou preformed a corkscrew spin over Niklas, landing behind him. Dropping to one leg Ranryou try to sweep kick Niklas, trying to get him airborne for just a second.

Niklas was slightly surprised at how Ranryou dodged the jab, but even more so when he simply blocked the knee strike. His surprise, however, was quickly dissipated by him noticing Ranryou's sweep kick. The 8th captain leapt up into the air, but then quickly twisted his body around so he was upside down and facing Ranryou, as he flung his arm around, and opened one fist in the process, revealing his secret back-up: A handful of sand. The tiny particles were flung straight at the other captain's face in a surprise attempt to blind him, even if only for a second. However, that second would be all it would take for Niklas to lock Ranryou into a combo of his own.

Taking note to the skills the 8th Captain held Ranryou could only focus on one thing. The fight. After quite the display of skills Nikal dodge his sweep kick, and was no upside down. Ranryou looking him dead in the face, his other senses still trained on his position. Yet it would seem he was as smart as he was familiar with hakuda. A handful of sand directed into Ranryou's eyes. The 2nd Squad Captain jumping back quickly as his eyes began to burn. A cheap trick but an effective on. His eye sight was gone.

Taking a few more steps back Ranryou tried to concentrate. This move pulled by the 8th squad Captain was quite interesting, and oddly unappealing. he was at a disadvantage. Yet there was a fact that Niklas didn't know. Ranryou was head of the Squad that handles Assassinations. They were used to fighting in the dark for it was their home court. Ranryou simply relaxed his shoulders, and waited. Letting Niklas have the next move.

The move worked, and from the looks of it, it had worked well. Niklas couldn't supress a small grin, as he landed on his hands, and then backflipped onto his feet. He had always taken advantage of any openings in his opponent's defenses before now, so he didn't see why it should be at all different now. Ranryou was skilled, quite skilled, in hand-to-hand combat, and could probably fight marginally well even blinded as he was, but against a foe at full capacity and roughly equal power, Niklas doubted anyone could win.

And so, with that in mind, he rushed in for the apparent kill, swinging one fist out, twisting it at the last second to add additional force, right toward Ranryou's stomach. The punch was so powerful it actually had a small burst of wind following right behind it. This kind of blow had always signaled the end of a fight in his favor before, and as such, he felt he should use it now, as well. If it landed, there was a very good chance that Ranryou would be blasted back several feet unless he braced himself.

Well now wasn't he in quite the pickle. His eyes were useless, and his enemy was skilled in hand to hand. What came next is the kill shot. An apparent one that could easily be read. A straight-forward attack to end the fight. Or that should be the case. If the one blinded wasn't Ranryou Roga. Sighing Ranryou let his ears range out. Before he knew it he could hear Niklas's footsteps against the ground. A straight forward attack it seemed. A punch see how fast he was going.

He would have to be careful. This punch had to be powerful. Therefore it would leave him full of openings. ones Ranryou could destroy him with if he wasn't blind. But then again even now Ranryou knew of several ways to counter. Lets see if they worked.

moments before Niklas's punch would land, and meet it's destination Ranryou would hop back letting the punch sail upwards. Leaving Niklas's whol midsection open. Having jumped back Ranryou would squat as he landed. His right fist pulled back, and then shooting forward like a rocket. Ranryou throwing everything he had into his punch. The resutling impact would not only blast Niklas back quite a distance but also do internal damage, while Ranryou's shirt, and captain haori would get ripped to shreds. A crater forming directly under him. That is if it landed. But seeing as how Niklas throw everythying he had into his punch his chances of dodging seemed little to none. Tho the blood driping from Ranryou's fae of evidence of the power that one punch held.

Niklas grinned as he saw his opponent not even bothering to dodge out of the way. He could see his victory coming ever closer...and then it all slipped away. Not only did Ranryou manage to dodge the attack, the wind blasting against his clothing and whipping his Haori around, but then he countered with his own punch.

Niklas' eyes went wide, as the punch hit, and his mouth burst open from the expelled air, small drops of blood mixed in, even as he flew back, fast enough to whip up a trail of dust. A building broke his horizontal travel, as he broke through one wall and crashed into the next. He grunted in pain, as friction kept him against the wall for a moment, before he finally fell down, hitting the ground with a thud. His own Haori was torn from the crash, he noticed, and it felt like a rib was broken. After a few moments, he managed to push himself onto one foot and a knee, and probing carefully, he checked his ribs. He winced when he felt a twinge of pain; Yep, definitely a broken rib. He chuckled faintly for a few moments, before falling over again, faintly grunting out an "Ow..." when he hit the ground.

"Captain!" He heard one of his officers shout, as he rushed into the building through it's new door, right next to it's normal one he now noticed. He managed to get up again, this time getting to his feet, leaning against the wall that finally broke his travel. After a moment, he said to the concerned officer, "I'm alright, just a little sore." His officer frowned, but before he could say anything, Niklas was pushing past him, and he walked outside the building again. He looked over at Ranryou for a moment, before grinning, and he said, "You win, Ran. I'm no longer in any condition to fight you at full capacity. Looks like I've got to learn to be more wary of 'defenseless' opponents." He laughed some, before wincing, and muttering, "Ow, hurts to laugh, ow..."

Ranryou only coughed a few times to get the dust out of his lungs. using that as an excuse to cough up some more blood. his hand now half way covered in it. What a punch. Ranryou was glad he was able to dodge it. it at least partly. The large cut that spread upward from his midsection to his face was proof enough that if connected, Ranryou would be the one on the receiving end of defeat. Damn. That thought itself made Ranryou shiver with excitement.

As several members of the 4th division relief corp ran up towards the two Captains Ranryou took the time to sit down, and cross his legs. Not really care, or noticing the blood dripping from his head, and stomach. his eyes still burned like hell but at least he could some what see now. Sow tih his blurred vision Ranryou waved towards the 8th division Captain as he came out of the aftermath of defeat.

"Yeah...seems you got a little carried away there. It was fun tho."

Coughing a few times Ranryou took the time to whip the rest of the sand from his eyes. Now having clear vision he really took a look at Niklas, and himself, and there surrounding. Finally taking notice to the crater he was sitting it.

"Seems I got carried away as well. HAHAHAHAHAH!!!!"

Holding his hand out Ranryou looked for Niklas to give him a hand up.He was tired, and really didn't wanna get up on his own.

Niklas smiled and walked up to Ranryou, taking the proffered hand and pulling him up to his feet. He too noticed the 4th Division officers running up to the pair, pushing through the crowd of 2nd and 8th division Shinigami that were now beginning to cheer and applaud the impressive sparring match, with a few passing Ryo between each-other. "Yeah, I guess we did overdo it. Heheheh, I can already hear the talk we're going to get from the 4th's captain about overdoing it in a sparring match." He laughed again, even as the exhilaration and adrenaline from the match began to drain, leaving his limbs feeling heavier than they should.

Standing up Ranryou only grinned as help continued to arrive. Tho it was a rather short fight it was a powerful one. Ranryou couldn't help but think in the back of his mind that if he wasn't used to fighting blindly he could have lost more then the fight. maybe even a tooth or two. it sent shivers down his spine as he relived the last of his shredded haori blew off in the wind. The 2nd Division Captain now standing bare-chested against the wind. The scars from countless years of fighting apparent all over his body. His most dominate in the center of his chest. A horizontal burn mark that seemed to have come from a Cero, or a sword. it was hard to tell. But the mark it left was a constant reminder to Ranryou to never underestimate anyone. Cause you never knew what they were really able to do, and what tricks they had up their sleeves.

"Ah Niklas. Care for a drink? Your treat?"

By now, the 4th Division officers had finally fought their way through the crowd, which was now beginning to disperse, lively conversation about who would've won if the match had gone a slightly different way starting up in the process. The officers were now attempting to lead the two captains off to the 4th Division's barracks to have their wounds looked after, though they would likely have more luck convincing Niklas than Roga. The 8th captai looked over at his friend, smiling, as he said, "Heck yeah! Soon as I've managed to break out of the medical ward, drinks are on me!" He then laughed, though he had to stop with a wince when his ribs gave him another twinge, and he finally allowed the medic-Shinigami to start leading him away, even as he good-naturedly griped about how he could heal up just fine on his own.

(This practice fight is basically over now, so it can probably be closed and scored.)

Yeah Niklas your good. Short fight but a good one. I'll let Zaf do the scoring, and I approve of this message.

~Ranryou Roga