The Sweet Trap of Work [Kyo, Makoto]

While Kyo had been going out of his way to assist wherever possible, he would be lying if he said he hadn't been actively looking forward to the day he was given the opportunity to assist in the 6th division. Their leadership was known for being stern, sure, but also for being extremely competent. That was something Kyo wanted to learn from, and so he reported to the 6th's barracks ready to go, a touch earlier than had been scheduled.

"Sawachika Kyo, here to see Vice Captain Arima!"

He didn't know what exactly she had in mind for the day, but that didn't bother Kyo. If she needed help, he'd help.

Working was much of what she did, like clockwork to her to go about her routine. The woman's eyes flicking over various documents when someone mentioned that a shinigami wanted to see her. She gave the unseated shinigami a glance while looking back to her documents. Always something whether it was documents overseeing criminal investigations, arranging of proper law proceedings with the government or modernisation of the Rukongai's infrastructure.

Then there were people that came asking for her on top of things, so she stretched before she got up from her desk since the sitting lifestyle was ill-suited to her but anything to do her job.

"Vice-Captain Arima."

She answered after a brief walk through the barracks to get to the courtyard. The name sounded familiar, he was going about every division and trying to offer his services. One would think that he was part of the new Eighth Division rather than the Fifth with that in mind.

"You're a bold man to request the vice-captain directly to assign your duties over one of the seated officers."

It sounded a little harsh and her face was unimpressed but there was a little ghost of a smile on her face, her lips a little raised but not enough that a person could be certain of it.

"Apologies, ma'am, but I've always sought to be bold in everything I do. I believe the Vice Captain would have the fullest picture of the situation in the division, apart from the Captain, and therefore that you would have the best understanding of where my abilities can be applied."

Kyo offered her a respectful bow, naturally, and while he spoke with that same loud, energetic voice as always, the cadence and choice of words was more formal than was typical. He wasn't speaking to a friend, after all, this was a Vice Captain of the Gotei, a rank few were ever capable of achieving. Makoto merited respect on those grounds alone.

"I will also admit, ma'am, that I believe working directly under a vice captain would give me a better view of what the highest degree of shinigami mastery looks like. While I'm currently still an unseated member of my division, I believe it's paramount that I strive to be a fully capable shinigami in every role we're expected to fill."

He'd inherited that outlook from his father, he supposed, and his time in the Gotei. That had always been Lord Sawachika's statement on his division, and his superiors. That they were all striving not to be the best at any one thing, but the best at being shinigami.

"Ahh, I see."

She took a couple of steps towards him with more clear smile now, she appreciated that hard work ethic. To be unsatisfied with specialisation and pursue all paths to continue to grow and become the best in all fields, he certainly had a good outlook at least.

"Well, unfortunately my division runs a tight show and unless you would be satisfied watching. I'm afraid there's not much for you to do here, however I'm more than willing to assess a shinigami's proficiency."

Makoto wasn't afraid to turn the courtyard into a sparring ground, a demonstration was good for her division after all to drive their own motivation and yet it was also a declaration of challenge. Did that bravado hold when faced with certain defeat in front of his peers?

Kyo was actually a touch surprised by both her smile and the offer she'd made, and he more or less immediately offered another bow, a bit deeper this time in thanks. He'd had courses under her at the academy, and he was fairly certain he'd never quite seen her so...personable? It was almost charming. Whether that was on account of her own life circumstances, or his conduct here, Kyo didn't know, but he wasn't going to let the opportunity go to waste.

"Thank you, ma'am! I'd be honored!"

No hesitation, no concern for whether or not he might match up to perceived standards. After all, being assessed by someone at her level was simply a way to discern his own current capabilities, and how they compared to where he wanted to be. And, of course, to what he eventually wished to surpass.

So he accepted? Very well. Makoto flickered as she closed the distance between them and brought her hand against his chest to use a modified Tsukiyubi, the moment her hand made contact she'd launch him a couple of metres away and establish their sparring ground on the flat pavement rather than her previous position in front of the barracks.

A couple of shinigami would shirk their duties to watch, she knew that but her division was organised enough to accomodate that little break. The world wouldn't end for a brief spar even if such a thought would never have been accepted in her mind a couple of months ago. How she had softened to people despite the stern attitude.

"Come at me with everything you have, Sawachika. I expect proficiency in every area for someone who speaks so highly of his pursuits."

Kyo hadn't been prepared to be pushed back, but to his credit, he wasn't completely caught off guard by it, either. He was at least a generally capable combatant from having been raised in the Sawachika household, and he felt that even having stayed on his feet was impressive given the capabilites of Vice Captain Arima.

"Yes, ma'am!"

He highly doubted that his abilities would match up to hers, but that wasn't what had been asked of him. If anyone thought that Kyo had an earnest chance of winning this bout, they were mistaken. He had been told to come at her with his best, and so he would, regardless of whether or not be thought it would succeed.

His flash step was competent, if basic, but it was enough to bring him into range once more, and he struck out with a technique his father had taught him, the Kousho. While it was almost indistinct from a Tessho to a novice, anyone properly practiced in hakuda would certainly be able to notice that there was a profound increase in force being applied to it.

What an interesting technique for someone to have, it wasn't something that she immediately had familiarity with but unfortunately he was utilising Hakuda against her. The field that had grown considerably from her time as Shishiyuki's student before they became involved and the disparity between him and her was the ocean to a pond.

She brought her hand to capture his own, directing enough of her reiatsu through her hand to counteract the Kousho and render it harmless. Makoto didn't leave it there though because he was still in her immediate personal space so the hand followed through after her defence to wrap her hand around his wrist and toss him over her shoulder like a rag doll.

His size and weight weren't a problem for her, and she doubted that his hakuda would be to. If she lost in a bout of hakuda then she could imagine Shishiyuki's disappointment as the one that taught her and that was unacceptable to her.

Was it all that surprising that a woman of her caliber could throw Kyo around so easily? No, not even remotely. He'd been prepared for that the second he threw his palm toward her, and it was only that very same preparedness that kept him from being tossed like a complete ragdoll. He was still completely at the vice captain's mercy, of course, but he at least landed on his feet.

While he needed a moment to recover, he just as quickly stepped forward again, right hand shooting toward Makoto before he'd even finished the step itself. His technique itself was perfectly fine, perhaps even above average for a shinigami of his age and rank. Compared to those above him, however, it was still quite subpar, and he knew that.

But a man didn't give half-measures, even when he knew his full effort was fruitless.

He'd advance again but Makoto dropped down low while he struck at empty air, her leg shooting out and her body twisting to kick his feet out from underneath him. Ideally he'd drop like a sack of potatoes and fall right down for her to launch him away with another swift hit.

Her zanpakuto spirit called for attention at the fact she was fighting though Makoto wasn't so sinister that she'd utilise the sword against someone that was unseated and outclassed at the moment. He had potential but what was his aspirations? What did this man want to accomplish beyond being an ideal shinigami?

She was sure that he'd demonstrate that to her through the course of his bout.