[BSD-RP] The Valley of Screams

[Shinigami]

護廷十三隊

 

[Shinigami]

It was a little unsettling, the location of the test being within the Valley of Screams; but it was also fitting. The dark challenging terrain and unpredictability of its instability have made it perfect for testing the mettle of shinigami time and time again. Katsuo Oda couldn't help but feel a sense of pride and acceptance that he would be met here, by a fellow Shinigami, to do battle. A challenge to complete to achieve his goal of becoming Captain of Division Thirteen; if he passes the duties of the division pass to him, and the lives of that division are his responsibility.
Katsuo was nervous. Though his nerves weren't making him shake with fear, it was anticipation. He blasted his music through those headphones of his that remained around his neck, he didn't want to be rude to the upcoming captain; but unlike the calm serenity that is his older brother Tenzen, Katsuo's calming and relaxation comes from outside stimulation instead of within. Even if the music was calming his nerves, he still kept himself standing and vigilant; in case standing there waiting for the other person was a test as well; as a captain, you had to be ready for almost anything. Katsuo couldn't help but remember the Togabito that randomly appeared in Karakura after he captured the Adjucha for Omoni-san… He wanted to be prepared for something similar when facing a captain of the gotei 13 of all things.
"You'll do fine… remember I'm here with you too. We can do this together, Katsu-chan."
The warm embrace of Eikogitsune Katsuo could feel in his head. He wondered how one with love and kindness in his heart would fare against more skilled killers… it depended on who they faced him against. Higen and Kyomu were frightening; Tenzen was equally as strong, at least Katsuo thought. Only he'd be less nervous if it was Tenzen. They were the only Captains he could think of besides the head captain, Shobatsu. He still needed to thank him, for not flat out killing his changed brother and friend Arashi… He wondered if he could one day. The man seemed scary but he was sure that was a coating; something he masqueraded with to make himself less approachable. He noted in his mind how people react, or acted in certain situations. For the past few days Katsuo has felt like he'd grown; even if by some small margin. He felt as though this may be his chance to show someone else how much he's grown. Maybe he could make his brother and father proud today…
Or maybe this was for himself. To prove to himself he has what it takes to call himself an Oda. He waited silently, continuously on guard; it was the best choice for now.

 

[Shinigami]

The Valley of Screams, claimed and repurposed by the Shinigami of the Soul Society. It is a place that witnesses the clashing of metal, the spilling of blood...a place where men and women come to prove their worth, to prove their strength. Today is no exception, for it is today that the Valley stands in wait to play host to its combatants, to stand as silent witness to their battle, and...prepares to be marred by it as well.
It is a strange twist of fate that sees another Oda in this barren land, intent on entering as a mere shinigami, and leaving a Captain. Katsuo Oda, younger adopted brother to Kido Chief, and Captain of the Fifth Division Tenzen Oda. The two were distinctly different, polar opposites to one another even. While Tenzen was subtle, calm and collected, Katsuo was brash, loud and active. Where Tenzen found solace and inner peace in the soothing calm of silence and isolation, Katsuo found strength and resolve in the chaos that was the music he often listened to, music that was blasting away at this moment. With the headphones draped around his neck, his music filled the valley with its song, the music bouncing off the valley’s walls.
”So, you’re his brother.”
A disembodied voice, quiet, subtle bounces off the walls of the valley, barely competing with the sound of Katsuo’s music. From beyond one of many walls, Captain Kyomu Mukuro of the Second Division approaches. Nearly twenty yards north of the young Oda, the Phantom can be seen casually heading his way. Despite the distance, and the blaring music it's as if Kyomu speaks while standing no more than a foot or two away from his challenger.
”A Rukongai child taken in by the Oda clan, trained in their ways. After making it out of the Academy, you were placed in the Thirteenth Division where you remain to this day. A man who values loyalty, honor, and friendship. A man who wears his heart on his sleeve.”
With each step, Kyomu reads off his dossier on Katsuo Oda, or part of it at least. His dominant hand rests on his sheathed zanpakuto, his eyes like a serpent, fixed on their prey. When he finally does stop walking, it is with ten feet of space separating the two from one another. Katsuo’s eyes are met with the form of the Captain, yet there exists no presence, no reiatsu to accompany it. It remains impossible to glean any hint of information from the Phantom’s gaze, did he expect nothing from Katsuo as perhaps so many others did? Was he hopeful for a challenge? Or, did the Captain even care one way or another what became of this battle?

”Take that heart of yours, crush it and bury it. Come at me as if you aim to kill. If you don’t, you won’t have to worry about wearing your heart on your sleeve anymore...because I’ll be sure to run my sword through it.”
He offers the Oda a word of advice, while simultaneously issuing both a warning and perhaps a promise as well. When he speaks, there is no anger, no anticipation, nor excitement in his voice. He speaks with a tone of indifference, as if stabbing Katsuo through the heart was as inconsequential as breathing or walking. Despite how insignificant the act itself may have been to Kyomu, it should clear to Katsuo that the Phantom meant every word. Now was not the time for sentimentality, now was the time for strength. Kyomu stands prepared for Katsuo's opening gambit, scrutinizing every move, every twitch, every purposeful and inconsequential act in both body and spiritual pressure. His haori hangs loosely upon his persons, insulating his reiatsu, and simultaneously housing the hidden arsenal lined within the white garb.
There was no telling how today's bout would begin, nor was there any true certainty on how it would end. Hopefully the music playing, would not be the requiem to the Oda’s demise.

 

[Shinigami]

So it was Kyomu that was sent to test him; he thought as he turned around hearing the sound of the man's voice.
"So, You're his brother."
As he said this Katsuo changed the music on his soul phone to a different beat. The music was playing; Katsuo started to get pumped.
"Yes sir, Rukongai rat, some nobles called me when I was first adopted. Though I aim to prove to you, and myself, that I am as much an Oda as my brother… to prove them wrong, and set ablaze my road to glory!"
Cold and meticulous Kyomu was, Katsuo still smiled back at him. He wore his heart on his sleeve, sure, but it was well protected; by a shell that would only be seen by enemies. Kyomu was his challenge, and so he became the enemy. Soon Kyomu would feel the wind fluctuate in this lost space, as the music went on Katsuo would lift his headphones to his ears, muffling it so only he could hear. It was time to show Kyomu what he could do.
It's time to battleclick here to listen
Katsuo would draw both his Katana and spin them forward before using his shunpo technique that allows him to clone himself to the rhythm of his music; the opening move that helped him win against the Adjucha he captured for Lieutenant Omoni… though he knew someone like Kyomu could follow his every move… he was a shunpo master after all. This was a distraction. The true Katsuo was still in front of Kyomu, but they were all making the same illusion; as Katsuo unleashes his Reiatsu into the Valley of screams. The intensity of the instant release incites visual occurrences making it look like a heatwave had been released. The shape of the reiatsu would feel almost like a mirage; a mirage in the shape of a glowing angered fox.

Katsuo was going to give it his best shot, as he crossed the blades before him and activated his shikai. The pressure within their vicinity wouldn't gradually rise; instead, it would feel as if a brick wall were being pushed onto Kyomu; Katsuo showing full control over his reiatsu to turn it on high immediately as he wanted. It would normally induce fear into the hearts of its opponents; to someone like Kyomu, it would feel as though a predator was creeping in the shadows waiting for the right juncture to strike.
"Reign Triumphant, Eikōgitsune!"
The blades of the real Katsuo and the fading in and out clones burst to life with ripe yellow reiatsu. The proximity the two blades shared created a vortex of combined temperatures that shot out like a shockwave of power toward Kyomu; the blast created by crossing the blades was called Kitsunehō, or Fox Cannon. Kyomu's distance of ten feet would cause the blast to do more damage than if he was further away. Half of Kyomu's skin would be burnt to a crisp as if sitting out in the sun for several hours in a matter of seconds; the other half would be frozen so much the cells would begin to blacken and decay.
After the blast would leave the swords Katsuo would break his stance and change location quickly; he wasn't about to take his opponent lightly. Once the cannon went off the clones stopped and Katsuo kept on his feet and moving, trying to gain some distance between him and the snake. It was like a fox pawing at a snake to get it to strike; then strike back and kill. A fox remains on his toes, ready to evade promptly at a moment's notice.

 

[Shinigami]

Katsuo turns towards the source of the foreign voice, to face his proctor and perhaps..his executioner. The young Oda adjusts the music, letting the beat and rhythm of the song to flow through him, to send his confidence circulating through his body like blood.
"Yes sir, Rukongai rat, some nobles called me when I was first adopted. Though I aim to prove to you, and myself, that I am as much an Oda as my brother… to prove them wrong, and set ablaze my road to glory!"
Kyomu stands in wait, showing no care for the disparities the Oda had suffered as a child prior to his adoption. He is met with words, and more words, he continues to wait for the action behind them. He waits for Katsuo to speak to him with his blade. The wind shifts within the valley, the hopeful candidate lifting the headphones to his ears, freeing Kyomu from its blaring. Throughout all this, the Phantom is oddly inactive. He appears to take no action to exploit the dawdling of the Oda. Blade still sheathed, the Captain appears to wait patiently.
Katsuo draws his zanpakuto, spinning them in his hands, his body appearing to explode into multiple bodies all bearing Katsuo’s likeness. Kyomu simultaneously makes a casual retreat backwards.
”Bakudo #21...Sekienton…”
A plume of red smoke erupts and encapsulates Captain Mukuro’s body, the area around him...and soon enough the clones, along with Katsuo as well. There exists no visibility within its confines, the lingering carmine cloud obscuring The Oda’s visual of his surroundings and his opponent, an opponent that produced no sound, seemed to emit no reiatsu, who held no presence.
Katsuo however is far from done, seeking only to momentarily distract the Captain with his copies, he further works to buy more time as his reiatsu bursts from his body, the air rippling and distorting as the spiritual pressure fills the space of the valley. For a single moment a fox manifests as an apparition over the Oda, extending beyond the smokey red cage. Limited in what he can perceive, Katsuo is also limited on time to react towards any potential threat from his enemy. Gripping and crossing his blades, the intensity of his spiritual pressure rises, attempting to use it as an oppressive deterrent against Kyomu...wherever he may be lurking.
"Reign Triumphant, Eikōgitsune!"
His voice calls out, as golden reiatsu ripples off his form and those of his clones aimlessly darting about in obscurity. A shockwave of spiraling heat and cold tears its way forward into the void of smoke that is Seikenton, birthed from the shikai transformed blades of his zanpakuto. A hole is punctured through the crimson veil, allowing visibility from one side to the other. Though the hopeful fox is unable to accurately locate and target Kyomu, the scope of the attack as well as its very nature should be enough to add some pressure to the hidden Phantom. Oddly enough despite all his preparations, all his distractions, Katsuo Oda still, has encountered no attack or sign of an attack by the Captain’s hand. It is a fact that he has no time to dwell on as he immediately retreats from beyond the boundaries of the slowly dispersing spell, his clones now fully dissipated.
Darting through the valley, the Oda rushes to further draw distance between him and his adversary. Unfortunately he fails in this endeavor. Running adjacent to him is none other than Kyomu, and rather intentional or coincidental, there exists still just over ten feet of space between the two. The moment he is noticed by the Oda is also the same moment Katsuo is forced to dodge or defend against the projectiles flying towards his left arm, left thigh as well as the one spiraling towards his back. Each blade strategically flung to land simultaneously with a heavy 'THUNK', embedding themselves into his body. The phantom’s zanpakuto remains housed within its sheath, amber hues giving a cursory glance towards the glowing blades of Katsuo’s shikai.
Kyomu remains observant of Katsuo’s actions and reactions, remaining ever mindful of the length and concurrently the reach of each blade. A man of few words Kyomu says nothing to his opponent, offering no insults or taunts to rouse a response. Impassive eyes continue to observe, but...the Captain would only continue to observe for so long. Attempting to suppress Kyomu with reiatsu was a foolish ploy, meaningless against a man forced to brave the tyranny of the Commander’s reiatsu, while attempting to goad and distract him with mere clones was almost a personal affront. The former Rukongai Rat turned noble would need to show something more, to prove that he was worth taking seriously...worth the Phantom’s notice and effort. Otherwise the only thing he’d be worthy of, is a quick and painless death.