Chapter 23: Ania vs Tom

Ania and Tom spent most of the day walking around Seireitei attempting to find any signs of Mitch but it was to no avail. "He can't simply 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 to have some lunch.

"I just wish he would've told us where he was going and why" Ania said taking a bite of sushi "Hey I'm sure he didn't tell us because he thought we would follow him and endanger ourselves or worry too 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.

"What's 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 falling on deaf ears as he quickly followed behind hoping he would get something better to eat later on especially after a session of fighting.

While the two of them darted through the jungle towards the area where Ania had sparred with Mitch they both were lost in thought about what he was doing that was vitally important to leave right now while preparations for the upcoming war were 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 worn 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 zanpakuto and was ready for their training session to begin.

"Don't hold back Tom" Ania drew Kanzen Bi from her sheathe as Tom smirked "I was going to say the same thing to you as well". Both raced forward clashing blades together as sparks flew from their zanpakuto'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 down to stop himself.

Using this brief moment of pause Ania placed her left hand at the top of her zanpakuto 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 zanpakuto has transformed into its shikai state.

Tom noticing Ania releasing her sword decided he should do the 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" as he slide his hand up the blade red and white bright lights erupted, midway up 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.

"I think it's time for this sparring session to finally begin" he said leaping forward as Ania side stepped his attack and brought her blade flying around to Tom's head, swiveling on the spot he parried away her strike and swung his own counter attack. 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 squinting to try and see what Ania was planning to do way up there.

Ania looking down at Tom pointed the tip of Kanzen Bi directly at him as a pink blast erupted from her blade hurtling towards him at breakneck speed. With the sun blocking his eyes and the speed of the blast Tom didn't have a chance of seeing the blast as it thudded into his chest sending him flying backwards onto the dirt and dropping Tamashii Seigei only a few feet away.

"Ugh I guess I should have tried to figure out Ania's skills before I raced into battle" Tom said picking himself up off the floor and dusted his robe as Ania re appeared next to his blade and tossed it back to him as his hand darted quickly catching it by the hilt while Ania stood there with a smirk on her face.
"Come on now Tom I can't be the only one showing off my techniques" "All in good time Ania" Tom said leaping forward and swinging his blade down at Ania's head as she blocked the blow centimeters away while Tom continued to push down as it inched slowly towards her.

Realizing she couldn't win on brute force Ania quickly darted away from the engagement with shunpo before darting in circles around Tom who attempted to keep track of her but failed to follow her movements. Intentionally leaving 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 blow after blow each strike elegantly placed causing Tom to remain on the defensive as he suddenly felt a rock against his back as she had backed him into a corner with nowhere left to move. All out of options Tom pointed the tip of his blade at Ania "Tora Seishin, Namida" a huge spirit tiger burst forth and leapt straight at Ania with its teeth and claws bared.

Lifting her blade Ania assumed a defensive stance as the tiger dissipated around her body leaving behind four vertical shallow scratches and bite marks on her arms as blood trickled out from the cuts. "Tora Seishin, Namida or Tiger Spirit, Tear a tiger composed purely of reiatsu is released at my opponent passing through them and causing minor injuries" done with the explanation Tom raced towards Ania his blade scraping the ground and throwing up dirt as Ania surged forward their blades clashing together with the sound echoing around the abandoned area.

Jumping back from their brief little scuffle Tom circled around Ania "So I see your sword is based on speed not brute strength and when combined with your strategic thinking can create quite the problem for most enemies" Tom said while Ania smiled and gracefully bowed. "Ah but you have yet to see my ultimate move and it's one that caused problems even for Mitch" she said as Tom froze for a second thinking what type of move would give Mitch of all people a problem.