The Man, The Myth, the Teacher [Henrex, Nanashi]

Nanashi grinned as she continued on the pressure! Getting amped up as she continued to clash with him! Of course that chain whip was very good and versatile, but it wasn't as quick and snappy as a good spear! Something that Henrex clearly seemed to be realizing! But it wasn't enough, Nanashi was.... admittedly getting a bit ancy. This sort of pressuring defensive fighting style really wasn't her. And so, the instant he dissolved his shield, Nanashi promptly grinned! Throwing her buckler at the man as that spear began to shimmer.

And then he was .... gone?! Her eyes widened, startled when he suddenly shunpo'd out of sight! And before she knew it, that whip snaked down and wrapped around her spear! On impulse, she sent a pulse of Reiryoku through the weapon as it was bound only to dissolve into another fine golden mist as it began to change shape. By sheer luck, she managed to avoid that sudden coursing electricity for the most part. Shit! But now she was without EITHER of her tools! She darted back with a shunpo, flashing back and hissing. For a moment she considered using her mask again. But she could only keep control of it for so long! TCH!

"Alright. No more miss Nice Girl! This is it!" She declared as that mask suddenly surged over her features! Her eyes glowing a baleful pink as her spiritual energy ROARED out! And with that sudden explosive burst of speed and strength, she vanished with a shunpo. But this time not with any intention of darting around. It was a clean, straight shot straight up into he man. Heedless of that weapon of his as she didn't just go to him. She shunpo'd INTO him. A loud PANG sounding as she aimed to make contact, striking him with the full force of her body at high speed!

The sensation of impact had almost been unexpected. The gold dust of her Zanpaku'to was still in the midst of reforming, slowly taking a new form. A shining Katana, though one that still wasn't quite fully formed down below. She shot up, fully intent on following up! But when she made impact, she felt that solid collission, and for just an instant she was startled by the sensation.

Following that strike, she tumbled to the ground, springing to her feet as she watched Henrex collapse!? Se was so shocked that she stopped completely, at least until the man got up. Entirely unaware of the damage she'd managed to inflict as after all, his regeneration made it seem as if it had never happened in the first place. she was panting, her joints stinging, but she was fine, and as the both of them stood up, she was ready to get back into it!

Only to blink in surprise as he announced that the exam was over. Her mask, crumbling away as she looked at him with prompt surprise! The notion that she'd actually hurt him didn't even occur to her. And isntead she simply......smiled. Even if she still had energy, if nothing else she felt a sudden swelling burst of pride. Of accomplishment. From the girl that had been .... well... a shy nobody. To standing before the strongest Teacher, on the receiving end of praise for her growth.

She strode over to the man, and promptly held her hand out. Smirking as she did. "Thank you for your Examination. Well...if I passed then it's official. You're no longer my Teacher. From now on, you're my Rival Hen." she flashed a big grin and then held her hand out. Her sealed weapon crackling back together in her hand before she sheathed the weapon. The shield of sandstone slowly crumbling off to the side.

"I've already had a Captain speak to me about where I'm going to go once I graduate. I.... don't really know where I wanna go yet. But I DO have some Personal time built up." She noted with a smug smile before glancing back to Henrex.

"Aaaaand, that included doing the paperwork to take a visit to the world of the living for the next few days. Sooooooo if you uh, don't have like... teacher stuff to do. You should join me! To celebrate you becoming my rival naturally." She noted, puffing out her chest a bit and putting on that confident smile. But underneath that inflated confidence, she was just beside herself. And well, it was just in Nanashi's nature to invite people along when she was in the mood to celebrate.

Nanashi perked up and tilted her head just a little when Henrex moved in and gently reached out to pat her on the head. On one hand....this actually felt pretty nice. On the other hand this was hardly how Rivals behaved! "Hey! Cmon, Rival's don't go patting eachother on the head. They shake hands, punch faces, or maybe cop a little ass when they think the other doesn't have their guard up!" She protested, though only really sounding half-bothered as she reached up and lightly slipped her own hand under his and gave it a firm shake, correcting the man.

She had, after all, been very serious about no longer idolizing the man. After her own rather....harsh disillusionment having met Shiro, she'd been determined to ...ACTUALLY get to know her heroes. She'd insisted that Rio become her friend, and now she was checking Henrex off that list as well. And it was .... interesting. The man was a bit dorkier than expected, but if nothing else, she enjoyed being able to see him from a different perspective. And she kinda liked the dorkiness.

"Heheh. I actually had somewhere in Europe in mind. Japan was....eh...cool I guess. But most people just flock to Karakura. And the place sounds more like a prison than a city from what I've heard about it's defenses. Nope! I was planning on going to the City of Lights!" She pointed out with a firm nod. " A lot of the other faculty are gonna be there for that tournament event. They're even letting some of us students come. Sooo I figure I show up, watch some fights, and then get to chill a few days in the city." She noted with a pleased smile, as though happy with her own craftiness.

Nanashi made a pleased little smile as she felt him shake her hand, a little sly grin splaying across her lips as she made note of him recognizing where she intended to go. True, it wasn't ACTUALLY in europe, but hey, close enough right? However, she was surprised to hear he signed up? Heh, actually now that she thought about it it only made sense that he would compete.

"Oh! Well that works great! I uh... didn't sign up. I wanted a bit of downtime. With Graduation around the corner and all that. But I'll be happy to see my Rival partaking. Make sure that you win, or else I'll have to beat your ass afterward." She warned him, folding her arms for a moment, playing it cool as internally, she was incredibly happy. But she had to suppress that. That was the old Nanashi, fangirling! Gah, DAMMIT NAnashi!

She frowned a little and turned to look at Henrex. It WAS hard with that ... calm, teacherly air of his. Was fighting him not enough? Hm. "I'd be happy to have you." She sighed, a bit of that energy petering off. She DID just fight the strongest man in soul society.

She smiled a bit of that smug energy returning. "Until then, Hen~."