Chapter 23: Ania vs Tom

Ania and Tom spent most of the day walking around Seretii attepting to find any signs of Mitch but it was to no avail. "He can't simply just disappear like that I'm sure he's somewhere and is fine" Tom said reassuring Ania as they both sat down at the 9th squad barracks while they ate some lunch before going off to spar against each other for a bit of practice.

"I just wish he would've told us where he was going and why" Ania said taking a bite out of her piece of sushi "Hey I'm sure he didn't tell us because he thought we would follow him and endanger ourselves or worry to much about him" Tom said taking a swig of sake and went to pour another glass but a rebuking look from Ania made him push it to one side and grab some sushi instead.

"So what exactly is your plan while Mitch is away since we can't get sparing lessons from him?" Tom asked between a mouthful of tuna "I was going to have us spar against each other to gain some practice before he got back" Ania said finishing her food and standing up "Well come on we may as well get started". As she turned to leave Tom groaned "But I haven't finished eating yet I'm still hungry" he soon realized his complaining was useless as he quickly followed behind her hoping he would get something better to eat later on.

As the two of them darted through the jungle towards the area where Ania had sparred with Mitch they both were lost in thoughts about what Mitch was doing that was vitally important he had to leave right now while preparations for the upcoming war was being arranged. Bursting out of the thick dense forest they arrived at the arid battlefield where rubble was still left from Ania and Mitch's last sparring session.

"Phew he went all out on you didn't he" Tom said gazing at the three crumbled mountains and various blood stains that had soaked parts of the dirt bright red. "I would say he wasn't gentle that's for sure" Ania said tracing her finger around her dried up blood remembering back to the hollow mask Mitch had wore over his face and his violent bloodthirsty nature that had come with it. "Well I hope he has gone to quell that monstrous thing because it's definitely not a safe thing to leave off the hook like that" she thought to herself as Tom had already drawn his zanpukto and was ready for their training session to begin.

"Now no holding back alright Tom" Ania drew out Kanzen Bi from her sheathe as tom grinned "I was going to say the same thing to you as well". Both of them raced forward clashing blades together as sparks flew from both their zanpukto's. Breaking free from the deadlock Tom took a swipe at Ania who parried the blow away and then fired off a red fire cannon into Tom's chest who flew backwards before managing to stick a hand out to stop himself.

Using this brief moment of pause Ania placed her left hand at the top of her zanpukto as she chanted "Passion, Perfection and Beauty. Destroy Hears Kanzen Bi" sliding her hand down to the bottom of the blade it erupted in a pink explosion and as the mist cleared Ania's zanpukto has transformed into it's shikai state.

Tom upon noticing Ania releasing her sword decided he should do the exact same thing as he placed his left hand at the bottom of the blade and chanted his release. "Past, Present and Future. Pass Judgment Tamashii Seigei" sliding his hand up his sword slowly red and white bright lights erupted as his hand passed over it tiny little spikes erupted from the edges of his blade and as his hand reached the tip a bright white and red crystal appeared hovering just on the tip while the blade curved slightly on an angle as he rested Tamashii Seigei by his side.

"So are you ready for this sparring session to finally begin?" he said leaping forward at Ania who side stepped his attack and brought her blade flying around to Tom's head as he swiveled on the spot and parried away her strike and swung his own counter attack at her. Shunpoing away from the blow Ania re appeared above a rock high in the sky as Tom's hand lifted across his eyes to shield himself from the sun as he squinted to try and see what Ania was planning to do way up there.

Ania stood a top a huge cliff with Kanzen Bi pointing directly at Tom as a pink blast erupted from her blade at a super speed hurtling down towards Tom. With the sun blocking his eyes and his hands above shielding them Tom didn't have a chance at seeing Ania's Juunsui Yuuga blast as it thudded into his chest and sent him flying backwards as he crashed onto the dirt dropping Tamashii Seigei only a few feet away him. "Uh I guess I should have tried to figure out Ania's skills before I raced into battle" Tom said to himself as he picked himself up off the floor and dusted his robe as Ania re appeared next to his blade and picked it up tossing it back to him as his hand darted quickly catching it by the hilt while Ania stood there with a smirk on her face.

"So now you've seen one of my moves why not throw one back at me?" "All in good time Ania" Tom said as he leapt forward swinging his blade down at Ania's head as she blocked the blade centimeters from her head while Tom continued to push down as it inched slowly down.

Releasing she couldn't win on brute force Ania quickly darted away from the engagement with shunpo as she darted in circles around Tom who attempted to try and keep track of her but couldn't as her speed far exceeded his own. As he left an opening Ania moved in quickly just as Tom managed to swivel around and parry her strike away before giving him a mere second to swat away another blow.

Ania reigned down blow after blow each strike elegantly placed causing Tom all sorts of problem as he suddenly felt a rock against his back and released he had just backed into a wall with no where left to go. All out of options Tom pointed his blade at Ania "Tora Seishin, Namida" as a huge spirit tiger burst forth from his blade and leapt straight at Ania with it's teeth and claws bared.

Lifting her blade Ania assumed a defensive stance as the tiger dissipated around her body leaving behind four vertical scratches and bite marks on her arms as blood trickled out from the cuts. "Impressive Tom didn't expect that move what is it called again?" Ania said as she rested her hands beside her while the blood slowly ran down her hand and trickled off her finger dripping onto the ground at a slow pace.

"Tora Seishin, Namida or Tiger Spirit, Tear it's where I send a huge tiger made out of reiatsu to attack my opponent and upon hitting them they are cut like if a tiger attacked them" Tom said as he raced towards Ania his blade scraping the ground and throwing up dirt as Ania moved faster than the eye could see her blade connecting with Tom's as the noise of their zanpukto's clashing echoed around the abandoned area.

Both combatants jumped back from their engagement "So I see your sword is based on speed not brute strength and when combined with your strategic thinking can create quiet the problem for most enemies" Tom said while Ania smiled and gracefully bowed. "Ah but you still haven't seen my ultimate move yet and it's one that created a problem even for Mitch" she said as Tom froze for a second thinking what type of move would give Mitch a problem in fighting.