Summary/disclaimer: Time for another chapter of Hornet and Phantom. Enjoy the 4000-word chapter. I don't own Bleach, Tite Kubo and a few others do.
Sui planted her sword into the ground as she started to look at Riku. He hummed, brushing off the remnants of his reaper robes. The reapers looked up at the sky.
"So, we're going to be sent into the field for one of the last times?" Riku questioned, raising an eyebrow as he started to think about the next moment. "Your well aware they're probably going to have wiped out the majority of the hollows, yes?" Riku added, watching Sui smirk in response.
"Yes, I'm sure Kenpachi will rip them apart," Sui added to which she got a nod. "On the bright side? We're going to have less work to deal with, that puts down the amount of paperwork I have to deal with it." Sui put in, rubbing at her temples as she put her feet into the water.
"I can't imagine handling all that work as a captain, you know," Riku added, pointing a finger at Sui who was silent, simply absorbing what to do next. "Besides, they rarely need us. We're stealth soldiers when it comes down to it. They barely send us into combat at the end of the day." Riku put in, rubbing at his chin.
Riku watched Sui smirk and chuckle, she had calmed down from the mess that she was in. Still then? Riku had been a soldier and yet this much training seemed to be less needed their division at the end of the day.
"I'm going to guess you're going to need more training when we get back?" Sui questioned as Riku nodded. "You're becoming better every time we fight, you might even defeat me," Sui added to which Riku cracked a small smirk at the moment.
"Careful, Sui," Riku responded, cracking a smirk as he looked up at the stars above them. "You might become Kenpachi sooner or later. I simply enjoy hanging out with my captain when we aren't dealing with hollows and thousands of threats." Riku put in, placing his head in his hands.
"Yes, sometimes I question what they require us for," Sui added, looking at her nails a moment later as she started to think about the mission soon enough. "I just don't know what's going to be the next fight. I don't know what the next move will be from the other captains. They still want us to handle the mission the same way." Sui heard, kicking her feet through the water as she did so.
Riku laughed as some of the water was thrown towards his face. He chuckled and looked at his friend, curious if she was scared or such. He put his hands on his knees, looking at the wounds he had been given by Sui. She was far more dangerous than he considered her to be. The next battle was going to have to be won by skill over power.
"You know, I'm surprised you'd enjoy teaching someone. You usually expect us to be training every single second of every single day." Riku stated, looking at her a moment later. "You know, I've come to enjoy hanging out with you outside of simply being on deployment when it comes down to it," Riku added as he clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth.
"You've taught me as much as I've taught you." Sui put in as Riku raised an eyebrow, gaining an elbow to the ribs. "You have been trying to get me to enjoy life outside the confines of the captain role I hold. Am I not allowed to enjoy time alongside a friend?" Sui questioned to which Riku gained a smile.
She had finally said it. That was what he wanted to hear this entire time. He turned to Sui, happy about when it comes down to it, this was worth it getting down to it at the end of the day.
"You know we're going to win, yes?" Riku questioned while he looked down at the crystal blue water under his feet. "But if you dislike Kenpachi's way of life? I wouldn't try it, then. Life isn't all about duty and combat." Riku added, rubbing at his temples as Sui was silent.
"It isn't easy when your captain of the group at the moment, Riku," Sui added to which Riku hummed.
"You are well aware you've always got people to talk to about that, right?" Riku asked as he chuckled, gaining a roll of the eyes from Sui as she started to think about that. "Plus? For someone who likes to act so prim and proper? You sure don't seem to mind getting their hands dirty in a fight. Your well aware I started as a simple grunt when I started this, yes?" Riku questioned which garnered a nod from Sui.
Riku was silent a few moments later, simply enjoying the peace that this moment brought. He knew tomorrow would be nothing but sheer war and the LAST thing he wanted was to deal with that awful idea tomorrow.
He remembered when Sui had asked him if he ever thought of life outside being a reaper and he had said no… Now that they had clashed a fair number of times? Riku began to think about his answer at the moment.
"Yes, I have an idiotic student who I defeat in every single battle," Sui added as Riku rolled his eyes, amused more than angry at her joke.
"Do you want to point out that I've been able to keep up with you in fights before?" Riku questioned with gained a roll of the eyes from Sui as he chuckled and yawned, trying to keep himself on edge.
"Would you like to finish our duel and call it a night, Lady Feng?" Riku questioned, looking at their swords as Sui raised an eyebrow. "Well? Would you like me to point out that we've not finished it?" Riku said while he cracked his knuckles, eager to think about the door.
Riku looked at Sui who was starting to think of that idea. Did she want to fight when he questioned it? Riku was a bit surprised, but he also wants to be around if the other captains showed up.
Then again? Their group had been quiet in the war against hollows. They weren't a frontline unit, there was no reason to send them out, they were assassins after all. Still? That didn't mean they wouldn't experience combat at the end of the day, there's still plenty to think about at the moment.
"Are you sure that you want to fight once more? Fight me he'd on in a place where you almost die?" Sui questioned which got a shrug from Riku as he turned, unsure what to say. "That is not an answer, you know," Sui added, pausing for him to answer a moment later.
"And would you accept my answer being, yes?" Riku questioned, rubbing at his temples while he started to think of a new move. "Yes, I'd like to end this fight, you told me you need to show my reiatsu and such. I'd like to get a head start on that if it's in the cards, to begin with." Riku added, pausing to look around while he shook his head, constantly dreading the fight if she agreed to it.
Riku got a nod and mentally sighed, already dreading the ability to fight. He forced his healing body to his feet.
"Ok, let's finish this fight and our talk," Riku said, pausing to look around as he reclaimed his sword, sighing to himself as he smiled. "And for the record? I don't care more about losing, every single time you kick my teeth in? I learn a bit. That's how training works, do you expect me to be throwing you around like the rocks you make us carry?" Riku stated, gaining a roll of the eyes from Sui.
'Whatever helps you recover from the sting of defeat, Riku.' Sui thought to herself, smirking slightly as she readied her blade, grabbing it from her sheath while aiming it at Riku who was only going to smirk, eager to continue his bout with the captain.
His friend looked at him with sheer interest, curious as to the next move when it can do when it comes down to it. Riku was sure at the moment that this would become amusing.
"You should be aware I will NOT hold back even when it comes to training such as that, right?" Sui questioned, rushing forward and locking blades with Riku once more.
Riku could only roll his eyes, used to this attack as he slid back, propelled by the force of her attack as Sui leaped after him, her sword held at the ready as he hummed, curious as to her next move.
"For the reiatsu?" Riku questioned, gaining a nod in the process. "That's fine, I'm well aware of how dangerous it could be if I don't have the right training to use it," Riku said, holding his sword towards Sui.
Sui could only smirk. This brought memories, memories of the past that hurt in ways she couldn't begin to fathom. Sui and Riku slowly began to circle each other once more, their footsteps being one of the only signs of action in this garden.
"You seem a lot calmer and more focused than you were before," Riku stated while he blocked a strike at his knees. "I'm glad. You are well aware tomorrow we're coming back here. There's no reason the hollows would take us down so easily. We've survived worse." Riku added, pausing to think about how he'd best counter Sui's speed.
"Don't get cocky, Riku," Sui added, a wry smile pulling at her lips. "Your still my student, failing on the battlefield means I'll just put you through even tougher training," Sui stated, blocking a strike from Riku who nodded while he clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth.
She blocked his strike while he flipped backward. Sui slashed at his legs, trying to think about the next maneuver. Sui kicked up water towards Riku who spun around the splash of water, knowing if the move connected? He'd be blinded for a few moments, giving Sui a free shot at his body.
Riku watched Sui erupt through the water towards him. Riku was thrown off his feet by a well-placed roundhouse kick. He sighed, curious as to what Sui was doing. Then again? She was as unpredictable as he proved to be. They were part of the stealth division in the Soul Reapers, you didn't become the captain of said division by fighting fair.
Riku threw himself backward as she tried to pin his foot to get a stab at Riku. He turned, looking at her a moment later as he sidestepped one of her lunges. She kicked at him, striking with her right foot as he leaped backward, catching her foot on the tip of his hand.
"You're not the only one around here who's fast, Sui," Riku added, sweeping out his foot to knock Riku to the ground. "But I am beginning to think you like kicks more than you prefer punches," Riku added, pausing to let his next move head onwards.
"Kicks allow you to put more force behind them, Riku," Sui added, pausing to rest on the hilt of her sword. "And they have better range than you might think. If you don't know? I am not one to throw punches, they can be telegraphed, countered. I taught you how to better fight, did I not?" Sui questioned before nodding as she climbed to her feet.
"Yes, but you're fighting style uses your speed far more than the style you taught us does." Riku pointed out, offering a hand to allow Sui to climb to her feet. "Besides. I know you are far stronger and faster than me. If you wanted to defeat me so easily? You'd sting me a thousand times, break my legs, constantly striking me before I could even try and blink." Riku stated as he took a deep breath.
"I'm not that much more skilled at the moment," Sui added, gaining a raised eyebrow from Riku. "I am glad to see you hold my skills in high regard, but you should not take it to seem that we do not equal in some degree." Sui put in which garnered a chuckle from Riku.
"As much as I enjoy your company as a friend, Sui?" Riku questioned, beginning to circle Sui once more as the duo prepared for another fight once again. "You must realize you're the captain for a reason. Are you honestly telling me you'd be holding back at ALL if it was in the cards to do so?" Riku questioned to which Riku was silent, humming to himself as he did so.
Riku struck first as Sui tried to lunge forward, interrupting the captain's attempt to lunge at him. Riku felt sparks fly from their blades as he rolled to the side, turning to look over his shoulder at her. Sui flipped over Riku, using his shoulder as a platform while also trying to land a stab in his throat.
"Why is my favorite pastime being almost skewered by you or such?" Riku stated, a prying smirk on his face as Sui swung around to land a kick. "Without trying to sound arrogant, overconfident, or just plain rude? How am I improving so far? I know you are still holding back." Riku added, flipping backward to avoid her kick.
Riku looked at Sui who surged forward, her blade aimed at his heart. Riku raised his sword to parry her blow before Sui spun, throwing her sword at Riku's, knocking it from his hand as she slid through his legs. Riku turned only for Sui to wrap her right foot around his left arm, pinning the limb to his side as she wrapped her body around his waist.
Riku went to shove her off only for Sui to grab his right arm with both of her arms, trapping him as Sui wrapped her left leg around Riku's throat as he hummed, knowing this move.
She was trying to use a Da no Konaya Wo Tsukamu or 'serpent's shattering grasp', a technique similar to her Takigoi maneuver. The move was something only the best members of the Onmitsukido knew. A move designed to cut off the airflow to the enemies' throat, leaving no way for them to breath or resist, if done properly? There was no way for him to resist that move.
But he knew that Sui wasn't trying to kill him, Riku leaped backward, balancing on his left foot before Riku kicked up his sword, almost hitting Sui in the skull at the moment as he did so.
"Heh," Riku stated, flinging himself back towards his sword. "Not that easy, I thought you wouldn't try that move at the moment." Riku hummed while he cracked his fingers.
"I'll teach you it at the next fight if we survive this moment," Sui added to which Riku nodded and looked at her. "Hmm, you are skilled, I didn't expect you to almost skewer me," Sui stated to which Riku hummed, looking at her at the second.
"There's plenty of maneuvers I could have used to get out of that technique. Why?" Riku questioned as he brushed off his robes, looking at her with a smirk of amusement as he did so. "It's not impossible to escape that move if you threaten the person's life… Second? You're aware of the fact that to pull off the move? You have to leave the person's legs free." Riku added to which he grabbed at his neck while trying to force the breath from his throat.
"Ow, that hurt a lot more than I want to," Riku said, grunting in pain about the second as he thought about his next move.
If he tried to match Sui directly? She would outmatch him several times, Sui was fast enough to throw him around and then break both of his limbs. It was enough for him to know a fistfight with Sui was not only out of the question entirely, but too stupidly insane of a plan for it to work at the time.
"You know I'm not going to fist fight you unless it's easy and I have a chance of winning. I don't believe I do, not even a little bit." Riku stated while he kicked his sword back up into his hand, pointing his blade at Sui.
"I'm going to guess that I'll have to try something else," Sui added to which Riku could only ponder once more. "Hmm, there's too much on this battle to try and give up. Your good, that type of improvisation is going to keep you alive on the battlefield, you know." Sui stated and nodded at Riku who was silent.
"So, you've been used to this type of counterattack, yes?" Riku questioned, crossing his arms over his chest as he did so.
He knew she was going to try something crazy; it was what she did constantly. If she didn't? It would throw him off even further at the end of the day. He did enjoy seeing Sui unwind, even if it was by trying to kill him.
"Are we going to finish this fight or…?" Riku questioned, raising an eyebrow as he did so. "This fight is going to be interesting. We're both trying our hardest, you still haven't used your best technique, but I can at least understand why. You'd be blowing up half the city with a move like that." Riku added to which Sui was silent.
She knew what he meant, that move would have caused more destruction than it had any right to be at the moment. There was never going to be a good reason to deploy it here, there was too much chaos incurred from the maneuver and it would make things too loud. Sui smirked, looking at Riku who was silent as he thought about the next move he could make. Sui nodded towards him as she did so, curious as to how he'd counter her speed this time.
"There's a big amount of speed behind your moves, don't think I don't notice that," Riku added, gesturing to how fast Sui was bouncing from foot to foot as she did so. "There's too much speed behind you for me to try and counter you. You'd outmatch me several times before I manage to defeat and overcome you at the end of the day." Riku stated, pointing at Sui with amusement painting his voice.
"Oh, so you did learn, that was quite impressive," Riku said nothing at the moment, curious as to how best this would go.
"Very funny, Sui," Riku said as he shook his head, preparing for another round of combat. "Besides, I don't know how strong I might be, but I'm far more skilled than you might think I am. I did have to train with you, after all." Riku stated as he rushed forward towards the woman, his blade bared to strike at her with all the fury he could think about how he'd take her down.
Sui brought up her blade as she kicked at him, sparks flying from their blades as both looked at each other while both started to think of their next move in this clash.
Sui rolled to the side, her blade shining in the moonlight as both swung at each other, clashing again and again with their strikes lighting up the skies above.
"You know, I'm beginning to think you're looking for reasons to clash with me again and again," Riku said as he turned to think about what happened next. "I'm quite curious how this was going to turn out, the fight is far more enlightening than you think," Riku said, brushing off his sword as he did so.
He backflipped away as several of Sui's slashes came within striking distance. It made him chuckle to himself as he turned, amused at how best the fight would be when it came down to it.
Riku could hardly wait to enjoy this battle. Sui charged after Riku as he dodged under her stab once again, kicking her feet apart to unbalance her before slashing again at her. Sui was forced back as Riku grabbed her right arm, pinning it under his left arm as the two wrestled, trading slashes with their free arms as they went.
Riku kept her arm pinned if Sui was slowed down by even a small amount? It would give him enough of an advantage for him to try and take her down once and for all.
"Do NOT get overconfident," Sui responded, her blade crossing with Riku's once more. "But yes. I do enjoy it when it comes down to it. You're becoming more talented enough to where I do not have to worry about holding back on you, Riku." Sui added to which Riku chuckled, trying to tug Sui towards him so he could dispatch her with ease.
It made him far more amused than he had any real right to, still? He knew more than to challenge her directly like this without a real plan. It was all he could do to stop her from killing him when he thought about it.
"Should I remind you that you're starting to lose?" Riku questioned, trying to pin her foot with his and pausing her blade inches from his face. "You know you're not winning this so easily if it wasn't for your weapons? We'd be almost entirely evenly matched in combat when it comes down to it. You should know I'm more capable of fighting when it comes. I'm no hollow." Riku said, sliding back away from Sui a moment later as he thought about how best to dispatch her in combat.
Riku smirked, letting Sui go for a second before grabbing her arm again and twirling around her before he looked at her, grabbing her other arm.
"If I was stupid? I wouldn't try and turn your speed against you when it comes down to it." Riku said, pausing to decide what the next move was when it came down to it.
"Your fast, I'm almost just as skilled when it comes down to it," Riku said as he kicked Sui to the ground and then panted, exhausted.
A swift kick from Sui was enough to throw him into the water as well. Both Soul Reapers looked at each other, a mutual nod of respect from the duo as they smirked.
"How about we call that a tie?" Riku questioned, garnering a nod from Sui as he paused, putting his hands on his knees as both Soul Reapers were both questioning what happened next. "That was fun, I'm sorry for finding it fun to try and focus on something besides the battle," Riku stated while he brushed off his hair.
Sui was silent, unsure what was going to occur when the battle came. There would surely be a quite historic battle when it came down to it. Riku could only chuckle at what happened and such.
"Yes, this was quite fun when I think about it," Riku stated while she shook her head.
"This is something, isn't it?" Riku stated with a nod as he shook his head as smiled once more.
Author Notes
Phew. Another chapter is done! I want to point out that the next chapter will be in 2-10 months. The next chapter will show the battle and planning on how Sui and her troops battle the Hollows and such along with another talk. Until then, Lighting Wolf out!
P.S: Next chapter will be 900-2500 words or such words and such. Until then, Lighting Wolf out and such.