Summary/disclaimer: Time for another chapter of Hornet and Phantom. Enjoy the 2000-word chapter. I don't own Bleach, Tite Kubo and a few others do.
It was stary out when Riku approached Sui-Feng. The barefooted captain of the Second Division was busy meditating.
(2 minutes later)
Riku was pushed backward by a kick which almost broke his ribs at the moment. He looked at Sui-Feng who leaped at him, her blade at the ready.
He ducked, the blade passing over his chin as he turned and forced Sui-Feng back with a strike to her hip.
"You seemed more agitated than usual," Riku said and adjusted his stance. "Is something wrong, lady Feng?" Riku questioned, feeling weird from Sui-Feng's request that they try and spar without footwear.
Something about traction and mobility training. Sui-Feng always had a knack for setting up tests out of nowhere.
"I do not understand her departure," Sui-Feng said as she rushed in. "Have you ever had a comrade leave amid something important?" Sui-Feng questioned while blocking Riku's blade with her own.
"Not unless you count those who have fallen in battle with Hollows, Lady Feng," Riku said, sliding back and deflecting a slash at his hips. "I can assume who you refer to, however," Riku said to which Sui-Feng was silent.
Most of the group knew about Sui-Feng's bond with Yoruichi. She ADORED the woman, and it was clear she would always have a hole in her heart.
"You do not have to constantly refer to me as Lady Feng at all times," Sui-Feng stated as she rushed at him, her blade at the ready. "While you are but a single soul? You have garnered an inch of respect enough to call me by my name. We are not on a mission anyway." Sui-Feng said before leaping over a thrust made by Riku who turned in time.
He backed away, Sui-Feng trying to tangle his foot with hers. Riku knew better than to attempt hand-to-hand combat with the captain of the division. It was far more stupid than it seemed… However? He enjoyed the contest of wits to try and see if he could outmaneuver the woman before she did the same to him.
"You asked why I think of this like dancing," Riku said as he regained perched on the ground. "This is why. You move like a snake, silently, precise, deadly. Every attack you take has no mercy behind it. If I'm not cunning enough to predict your next move? If I miss a step? You'd skewer me. I don't think I enjoy combat for the bloodlust, I think I simply enjoy the act of fighting someone skilled enough to keep pressuring me." Riku said and blocked a strike that would have gouged out his eye.
"You enjoy being pressured?" Sui-Feng questioned to which Riku hummed. "You are a strange one within my ranks…" Sui-Feng said as she slammed an open palm into Riku's jaw, causing him to spin away, pain wracking his features.
He pulled on his mouth; a horrid sound was heard as the reaper groaned in pain. Sui-Feng allowed him a moment to compose himself before their 'dance' continued.
"I enjoy being placed into situations where I have to be quick and cunning," Riku said, launching into a kick that was dodged by Sui-Feng. "You barely give me any time between your strikes to counter. As I said? You asked how I consider it dancing, you don't fight like this is a battle, you fight like this is a recital. A ballet where every strike comes naturally, I don't know what move your pull next…. Like the strike that damaged my jaw currently." Riku said while cracking his knuckles once more.
Sui-Feng hummed and looked at her blade. She hadn't used the weapon that often, however? It would be interesting to see how Riku reacted to rapid strikes.
Sui-Feng shouted the words which transformed her blade into Suzumebachi. She looked at Riku who had raised an eyebrow but allowed the transformation.
"You missed an opportunity to attack," Sui-Feng responded as she hummed and rushed forward.
"You are the one attempting to use lethal force, Sui," Riku said, the words sounded bitter on his tongue, him not used to saying each letter within her first name.
Sui-Feng looked at Riku who was busy catching his breath. She stabbed at his hip, kicking at his foot to unbalance him as he blinked.
She stabbed again, once at his leg, then another at his neck. The stab at his leg missed as he rolled back. The follow-up strike at his neck, however? That broke the skin, spreading a black butterfly mark as if it were a tattoo.
Riku grunted and dodged a follow-up slash at his ribs, catching her finger between his own. Sui-Feng blinked as she hummed.
"Bold move, Riku," Sui-Feng said, clambering over Riku to try and tug Riku's arm over his shoulder. Riku pivoted and elbowed her back, freeing his limb from her grasp. Sui-Feng hummed as Riku grunted and looked at his limb with pain once more.
Still? There was danger fresh in the air, Sui-Feng's mark stayed upon the nape of his neck. He could only ponder what would be Sui-Feng's next move as he cracked his neck.
"You are aware what another strike will bring, yes?" Sui-Feng questioned to which Riku nodded and hummed.
"Just ups the amount of speed I need to put in to try and avoid another stab, Sui," Riku said while he cracked his neck and then rubbed at his mark with interest.
He knew for a fact that if she landed another? It would mean his death… However? It also made their fight more interesting since now? He had plenty of ways to try and come up with a way to break her guard.
"Don't get cocky." Sui-Feng scolded and lunged forward; her finger extended towards Riku with interest.
He sheathed his sword. It wouldn't do any good with Sui-Feng's weapon being the size of a needle. He rolled away as Sui-Feng used the momentum to launch a kick on him which he blocked with his forearm. He sent her backward with another kick.
Sui-Feng hummed, interested in how this fight was progressing. She nodded at Riku who remained ready for a fight with her at the moment, he prepared for another fight to which Sui-Feng lunged towards him.
He greeted the next stab with a swing of his arm, deflecting the kick as she flipped to land on his limb. He looked at her the same way a chameleon would at the moment.
Sui-Feng smirked before Riku hummed and allowed her to vault backward before throwing himself into a roll. Sui-Feng went to strike his neck only for Riku to kick up, catching her in the stomach as she landed in a crouch.
"You could have stabbed me right then," Riku said to which Sui-Feng hummed and held up her stinger.
"You respected my skill as a warrior, allow me to use my weapon when it came down to it," Sui-Feng stated as she looked at Riku who was still questioning what to do next. "Fair is fair, did you want me to have no honor?" Sui-Feng questioned to which Riku could only shrug.
Sui-Feng could only ponder Riku's next move. Riku moved his feet to the side, waiting to see how Sui-Feng would try to attack him next. Sui-Feng was fast. He had no doubts about that, no doubts at all…
But still? He was a warrior; he was ready for it when it came down to it. If Sui-Feng decided to try something? He'd be ready for it.
"No, I just didn't expect you to return the favor," Riku said while making sure he was ready for her counter. "You also knew I wouldn't be able to strike back with your weapon like that. The blade is far too large to deflect your stinger and keep up with your speed." Riku put in as Sui-Feng nodded.
"Did you expect me to strike at you while you were busy adapting at the moment?" Riku questioned while he looked at her with interest. "You taught us to be pragmatic, not devoid of honor and morals, Sui," Riku stated, looking at her with caution.
Sui-Feng smirked and rushed at Riku, leading with a kick which he blocked with his knee. Sui-Feng planted her foot on his other leg, using the momentum to flip onto his shoulders and wrap her legs around his hips. Riku grunted his right arm pinned to the side by her legs.
She grabbed at his other arm with her free hand. Riku grunted and forced himself to his feet as Sui-Feng went to jab him again.
Riku grunted and stepped to the side, throwing off her blade before twisting around, allowing him to catch her finger with his restrained hand.
"You tell me I'm cocky…" Riku said and glared at his captain. "But yet you forget you trained us with your fighting style, Sui. I know how your weapon works…." Riku said before leaping back.
Sui-Feng's stinger sliced into his robes as Riku landed feet first against a stone pillar. Sui-Feng hummed as he pushed off, sending her against the pillar. She braced upon the stone; her feet wrapped around it.
"Not a bad move…" Sui-Feng said as Riku cracked his back. "Your well aware 2 marks means your death then, yes?" Sui-Feng said while Riku braced on the other pillar.
"Of course, I've seen you use that weapon before in combat," Riku said while looking at her with a clear interest in her stance.
"You're done at the moment, aren't you lady Feng?" Riku questioned while he looked to the side once more.
Riku could only question what Sui-Feng was doing when she hopped down, her stinger turning back to normal at the moment. Yes, he could guess that she was normal.
"Yes, I am done at the moment," Sui-Feng stated and climbed up the pillar, resting up at the top where she was curious. "You've been training, haven't you? Being prepared for this battle and such?" Sui-Feng asked to which Riku could only hum and look around which got a shrug.
"No, I simply acted on instruct." Riku pointed out while looking around once more. "I told you, I told you that I'm simply acting on my own emotion," Riku stated while climbing up the pillar once more.
he sat on one opposite Sui-Feng. The woman interested him. She wasn't simply fighting because she could, Sui-Feng was a warrior, a skilled one… And one he could respect despite the skill gap between her and him.
Maybe that interested him, the rather big gap in the skill that separated them. It pushed him to try and better himself despite how much of a lack of experience between the duo.
He could still respect the skill between the duo. He rather liked that skill regardless of the bond.
"Do you think that we're ok when it comes down to it?" Riku questioned as he turned to look around despite himself. "I have a feeling our next meeting will not be with blades…" Riku stated and looked around once more.
"No, it will not be with blades next time we clash." Riku heard as he nodded. " Come tomorrow… We will clash next week if you wish to have the experience… But tomorrow? I simply wish to have someone to talk with." Riku heard Sui-Feng state to which he nodded.
It made the most sense to him. She needed a companion, and he would gift her one.
Author Notes
Phew. Another chapter is done! I want to point out that the next chapter will be delayed a bit. The next chapter will be in 2-10 months and will show Riku and Sui-Feng talking at the moment. The next chapter will be 1200-1500 words and such. Until then, Lighting Wolf out!
P.S: Retsu will be soon and such, I don't know what the next chapter will be at the moment.