Guess Who is Back?

Katsumi Hayashi

He felt cold and hungry, it had been weeks since he had last been in town, and months since he had been at home. How he wished he could have had stayed, how he wished he could have been at home right now eating, and relaxing with his mother, but right now...Katsumi was all alone. He had been training, forgetting about his normal life which just didn't seem like it was worth living anymore, after all...it was all just one big fucking lie. He hated being different, he hated being anything other than what he had thought at one time he was. Human. He wanted to be human, he wanted to be normal, just like every other kid at school, but every time he got close to blending in, he remembered. He remembered that he was a freak, a creature made of two different gene pools, a mix blood, a monster among men. Katsumi was a Sugiura. A half-Sugiura to be exact and it was consuming his life. He had nothing now, all he had was Rastriel, and his training. He didn't even want to talk to his mother, he didn't want to talk to Miccah either, and he sure as hell didn't want to go to school and talk it over with a guidance counselor. Right now Katsumi wanted to train, he wanted to grow stronger, and he wanted to protect the city.

Yes, there was still some honor left inside of Katsumi, there was still a want, and need to save the people he cared for, and to protect the innocent, but that was slowly being replaced by dread. What would happen to him? Rastriel wouldn't tell him, he didn't tell him anything other than to keep training, and day by day he did so. And every day he felt a piece of himself fade away, a piece of his humanity being sucked into an endless void only to be replaced by the Sugiura within. He wondered just how much longer he could remain near his home, just how much longer he could live like this, before he had to finally cut all ties, and walk among the rest of his clan. Oh yes, he had been approached by them already, they had taken an interest in him, and wanted him to come with them, but he had declined. Saying that he was "More human than Sugiura" and that he "Belonged among the humans.", but that was slowly fading away. His last glimmers of humanity falling to the way side to reveal the power within.

He could barely control it any longer, he could barely keep it concealed, and at this rate the enemies of the Sugiura would feel him out. They would find him, a boy of 16, and kill him without remorse. It was why he was considering his options, considering leaving this realm of being, and going to Soul Society, there he would be safe with his clansmen. He knew he would and they could teach him control and maybe eventually he would rise up and become a strong warrior like he was told his father was. A knight of the white flame. Maybe one day he could be a knight. Who knew? So with finality he got up to his feet and dusted himself off, he was all alone. He had picked one of the most secluded spots in the park for safety reasons and so far had only been spotted by the Sugiura who seemed to want to come by almost every day to see him. As if they were watching over him. It wouldn't be so far fetched that his clan was watching him. Maybe even trying to protect him from their enemies...or something else. "Are you ready to continue?", the voice of Rastriel filled his head as he nodded and grabbed the sword from behind the tree next to him. "Teach me what I need to do to get to the next level.", he said.

Katsumi Hayashi

"We are under attack!, Rastriel shouted into his head as Katsumi looked around for the source of the attack as a wave of sound came blasting toward him. He didn't know what to do, he had done so many tests, climbed so many different mountains to get to the level he was at now, but this attack was so sudden, and so fast that his mind was blanking, but at this point, this is where instinct would take over. Katsumi's instincts told him to use a technique to overpower the sound wave coming at him, but to do that he would need to transform, and transforming would of course reveal his true strength. No, he would hide his strength and instead would use what he had without transformation. This would surely be a test of his abilities that he had learned. Seeing the wave of sound coming at him, Katsumi raised his hand, and let the fire within burn, Rastriel gave him the extra strength, and soon a medium sized fireball was launched from that hand heading toward the wave of sound. But the sound wave was not the only thing that Katsumi had to worry about.

The sound of feat stepping right next to him meant that his opponent knew shunpo, this would surely be a test of his abilities. As quickly as he could he brought his sword to block the swing, he put his strength into it, pushing as hard as he could, and trying his best to parry the strike rather than block it entirely. If he could parry and shove his opponent off he may have a shot at making a counter attack, but he would have to be fast, and do it in a decisive manner because the power he felt from this individual, though lowered and being masked, was something nightmareish. He had only seen this power once before...Hollows. He had fought Hollows back in the day when he was a normal human under the guise of the Guardian, but this spiritual energy felt different, like it was more than just a Hollow. He was intrigued by the thought of this man being something like him, but the questions could wait till later, right now, Katsumi was worried for his life.

As he brought his blade to block he felt the strength of his adversary, he was unquestionably strong, but Katsumi could feel he was lowering himself. Maybe this guy wasn't trying to kill him after all. This guy was definitely not fighting at his maximum and Katsumi didn't mind it. He liked a challenge every once in a while and this guy definitely fit the bill. Katsumi held the blade against his opponent's blade and then asked a question. "I am Katsumi Hayashi, what is your name and intent?", he said.

The fact that this man had another level of power just waiting to be released stunned the young one, but Katsumi had no clue what he meant by inner demons, or control. He felt that he had great control over his powers, but then again he had little to no understanding of them at all. Maybe he had no control what-so-ever and he was just fooling himself into believing that he did. It was quite a possibility. He wanted to see the power, he wanted to see what he was hiding, and Katsumi, seeing that the man had obliged him with an answer, Katsumi decided to oblige him with his transformation. Katsumi jumped back a bit and then took a large breath before muttering "Joushou.". As he said this fire erupted around him and consumed him entirely, until finally it dissipated into a display of black smoke, Katsumi now stood garbed in the familiar red cloak, tattered, but yet oddly fitting of a warrior his caliber. One hand was covered in a claw and a metal plate covered one of his legs, he looked at Sho for a second before stepping forward. Katsumi had no way of controlling his spiritual pressure now. It was as rampant as a fire and seemed to expand and contract as it pleased. The only thing Katsumi could do was aim it and watch the fire works unfold.

"I have problems controlling the powers that this form represents, this is only the first of my transformations...I am not strong enough yet to reach for the other's as my guardian beast has said.", Katsumi said calmly, much to the anger of Rastriel. "Why are you talking about me?, Rastriel said to him and Katsumi simply answered "Because I am sure that he is not a foe.", Rastriel let out a hmph as Katsumi put the blade over one shoulder. "You say your group can help me...and I truly need guidance because I have no clue where to turn. I fear that my own power can harm those closest to me if I unleash it to save them and Rastriel can do little more than point me in the right direction. A Shinigami is close to being a Sugiura...as I know not whether to trust my own kind as they seem to keep so many secrets.", Katsumi said honestly as he let out a sigh. "I fear I'm losing my humanity. I am not a full Sugiura.", he said to put the icing on the cake.

The fact was, Sho had not dropped his guard, and this meant that he wanted to test his form, Katsumi also was tense. He held his blade tightly, just in case he needed to bring it down in defense, and his clawed fist tightened, ready to punch his foe if necessary. The fact was, Sho was stronger than him, and he knew it, but with his help he could reach the next level. He knew that too. He needed a mentor and only this man...who he knew still had more power, could be that man. He was ready to fight if need be, if he still had to be tested, then he would continue to fight, and show him his limits.

It surprised him at how fast this show guy was and Katsumi really didn't know how to react at first. Sho was faster than he was by far, but Katsumi had an edge, it was a small gleeming edge, but it was his, and he would use it. Sho beat him in speed, but Katsumi believed he beat him in physical strength, and as the attack from Sho came from behind, Katsumi gathered his strength and swung with all his might as his blade crashed into the metal of his foes sword. However, that was not Sho's main attack as six rods of light quickly attested to. Katsumi could sense that these rods were made of condensed spiritual energy and as he looked up he could see the remainder of the rods coming down for an easy capture. However, Sho had made a mistake. Katsumi focused a bit and tried his best to use his technique as the rods drew ever closer, finally, much like Sho had done earlier, Katsumi used Heat Beat. Turning into a gas to escape the coming rods, he could only go a short distance as he had not truly practiced the technique enough to know how to fully use it, and as he appeared in front of Sho, he brought the clawed hand back.

Infusing it with spiritual energy and some fire, Katsumi would bring his fist up in an uppercut fashion, going for the technique that Rastriel called the Angelic Uppercut. It glowed a bright red as it headed toward the chin of his foe as Katsumi tried to think of what to do if it was dodged. This move would leave him wide open and he would have to be on his toes because so far Sho had proved he was more than adept at flash step. Maybe even a master of the ability. Katsumi had little to no understanding of the flash step technique, but that would not stop him from fighting Sho. He had to prove himself, he had to be trained, and refined into a better fighter. He had to learn control as he could feel the power actually becoming rampant again as his fist drew ever closer to Sho's face. It had been a miracle that he had been able to Heat Beat in the Joushou form, but his luck was running thin as it seemed. Katsumi's fist stopped glowing and then in a vibrant display launched fire everywhere, but the direction he was trying to hit. Trees ignited into flames and the some patches of grass bursted into flame as well. Katsumi cursed as he stopped trying to punch Sho and jumped back. He closed his eyes and tried to focus some more as Rastriel tried to coach him.

"It is okay, Katsumi. You have only used that technique twice.", the voice of Rastriel said politely, but that didn't stop Katsumi from cursing some more as he gathered his energy which was easily scene by the display of fire that now surrounded him simply flying at Katsumi, which was quickly absorbed. Katsumi would then just as quickly launch another attack at him. An attack that he had actually been training a few days ago deeper into the interior of the park. This move had grown stronger and Katsumi knew that he could control it and as he clutched his sword with both hands and then made a downward slash, launching a giant red glowing wave of energy. Downward Cutter was one of the two techniques he could fully control now. The other he would save for later if the fight lasted longer than he expected it to.