The Sweet Trap of Work [Kyo, Makoto]

Makoto's plan had been entirely effective, and Kyo flew backward, his whole body recoiling with the force of the blow. Unlike last time, he wasn't quite able to catch himself, and it took a few moments for him to collect himself and stand upright. Anything more complex than that for hakuda likely wouldn't be in his league, and the Kousho had already been about the extent of advanced ability that he had in that field. Kido? His understanding was serviceable, if basic, but he didn't quite think there was much application of that in a fight.

That left only one other shinigami art at present. On one hand, Kyo didn't exactly feel as though he ought to be drawing his sword against a vice captain, but she had told him to use everything he had. To avoid using zanjutsu would have been disobeying orders, and refusing to acknowledge his own growth as a shinigami. So he drew his zanpakuto, taking a deep breath as he did so. After all, he'd yet to reveal to anyone that he'd made this progress. Now was as good as time as any though, wasn't it?

"Here I am! Fuurinkazan!"

The blade in his hand quickly changed its form as Kyo's spiritual energy spiked, the spear rapidly taking shape in his hand as he readied his stance. If she wished for everything he had, then Kyo would give it, and he stepped toward her with new resolve now, spear aimed squarely for her.

After all, Kyo wasn't under any particular illusions that she'd be harmed even by a direct blow.

On one hand, Kyo had to admit that it was more than a touch daunting to know he was at this point facing a vice captain in shikai. However, that wouldn't stop him from giving this his all, and he began spinning the spear in his hand, body tense and ready to move at a moment's notice. True, he was fairly open to attack right now, but he still had one free hand, and he pointed it toward the vice captain as he spoke, the strain of her previous beatings already somewhat obvious in his voice.

"Passage of light, totality flickers! Hadō 4: Byakurai!"

It wasn't spectacular, particularly as his other hand had still been focused on spinning his zanpakuto, but it was better than nothing, and he was still ready to step away from any imminent danger that came his way. This was easily the most strained Kyo had ever been in a bout, but that was just as well. All of it was just more information on how much more he had to grow.

It certainly didn't surprise Kyo to see that she could so effortlessly dispel the kido he'd cast, but that wasn't his chief concern at present either way. He stepped away from the incoming hands, though he couldn't help but feel as though he was being given more space than he should have been. Either way, he wasn't going to simply give up on the opportunity, and as the end of his spear began to glow, he stopped spinning it, the zanpakuto briefly making a sound as if a gong had been struck.

Well, now he was a bit more prepared, but he didn't imagine that approaching the vice captain was going to be any easier just because he could hit a bit harder now. He returned to his stance once more, spear gripped firmly as his eyes studied Makoto's form, the hands she was controlling, all of it carefully committed to mind. Kyo was an architect, after all, and he watched for any opening or weakness.

Perhaps the hand he'd already struck. If nothing else, he'd already hit it, and the other three were out of place. So he stepped forward again, another basic flash step, and stabbed forward as intensely as he could. Realistically, even with the doubled might of his zanpakuto's strikes, he didn't really think he could match up to the vice captain, but that didn't matter.

Damn it. Kyo grimaced to himself as the hand exploded, feeling the burn of the explosion move over him. However, that wasn't going to stop him, even if it was profoundly painful. He only had so much opportunity to utilize his shikai's ability before he needed to charge it again, and he wasn't going to let that go to waste. As his spear was parried, he was at least able to move his arm enough that Makoto's strike wasn't as severe as it otherwise could have been. It still struck him, however, and he felt blood pour over his arm as his hand was cut open.

That was fine, though, he could work with this, at least for now. He simply gripped his spear more tightly to make up for the blood, and stabbed forward again, despite not having quite enough range. Rather than bother to try and strike with the tip of his spear properly, he simply allowed the built up energy to strike outward, creating a beam of light that, at least for the moment of that stab, radically lengthened his effective reach.

She had demanded his all, so he would give it.

Kyo certainly wasn't pleased with the blood pouring from his hand, but for now, it wasn't much. Pulling off the ribbon that kept his hair in a low ponytail, he wrapped it around his wound, making a tolerable bandage for now.

"That's correct, ma'am!"

Of course, it wasn't the full scope of what his zanpakuto could do, but he hadn't managed to utilize the other boon it offered. Rather than continue to speak, Kyo once more lowered himself into a position ready to move at a moment's notice, muttering the incantation to a kaido under his breath as his free hand moved over the injured one. He'd have liked to start spinning his weapon now, but he couldn't multitask at that level, not yet anyway. That was something to plan for.

For now, all he could do was wait, heal his hand, and watch the vice captain to see what she would try to do, if anything. Even this basic kaido was, after all, part of his full potential. Kyo had no intention of leaving anything unused if he could help it.