Sparring time! (Rangiku/Noharu)

Rangiku would slowly wake up with Noharu wrapped around her as she would let out a small chuckle. Seems like whatever person does end up with her is going to get a much sweeter woman than they would be led to believe by her attitude. As Rangiku would gently pat her head as she would speak out to her.

"Good morning princess, time to wake up."

As she would look around to see what time it was, but she couldn't see her clock so she would just shrug as she would wait on the blonde to wake up. She didn't want to wake her up In a really sudden way so she was trying to be gentle.

Huh.
This was the second time in recent weeks she’d gotten drunk and woke up in one of her friends arms. This time was a lot more…. Comfortable. In the literal sense. Last time it was Yuuto, but that was comforting for much more emotional reasons.

Also, unlike last time, she hadnt gotten blackout drunk. So she VERY much remembered the frankly embarassing evening of her emotional crumbling infront of her lieutenant. Whom she was now wrapped around. Which, as palpably awesome as it was, was also incredibly embarrassing.

The headpat did not help, and she briefly considered the pros and cons of simply suffocating herself to death in the volumous valley in her face.

”Ghhhhhhnh…” A noise that quite aptly expressed her self loathing. Honestly if Rangiku wasn’t so comfy ahed have already jolted up and fallen out of the bed. Instead, she slowly extracted herself from her painfully heteronormative superior and sat up on the edge of the bed in a disheveled and thoroughly horrified mess of blonde.

”Sorry.” she croaked softly, rubbing her eyelids and looking around. Well at least her clothes were still on. She’d been too depressed and sober to strip like she usually did before bed.

”I feel like a stripper’s g string…” she murmured, slowly standing up and stretching. ”Erhem, also thank you. I think I’m good now. Think I’m gonna head to the training area and try to find a sparring partner. Clear my head before the day gets busy.”

Rangiku had wore her normal night clothes of shorter shorts and a t-shirt as she would stifle a chuckle at the blondes bed head. As she looked at her she heard the want of a sparring partner. As she would push herself up out of her sleeping position she'd stretch out her back with one arm up way above her head as her eyes would re open and fall back on the blonde.

"Well, why can't I be your sparring partner. You'll be able to put a little more into your swings against me than if you were to just go bully Ranma some more."

As she would slide her legs off the bed allowing her feet to tap the floor lightly. She figured a spar would be a good way to start the day, and maybe they'd have some of the squad members watch. There was stuff they could pick up from watching Herself and Noharu fight. As she would wait for her response she would stand up and move to get herself a cup of water.

Noharu paused for just a moment and glanced over her shoulder at Rangiku. And then looked up to her face at the mention of them sparring against eachother. A slight chuckle escaping her as she gave the woman a lopsided smirk.

”You sure you wanna go and have everyone in the training yard watch me spank the tits off our lieutenant?” she smirked, referring to the metaphorical version of the term as in: to beat her ass. It was of course a light hearted little jab. She hardly was under the inpression that if they were ACTUALLY going at eachother with lethal intent that she would trounce the woman. But in a spar? She simply felt that she had a distinct advantage.

”But hey, if you wanna rumble I’m not gonna say no.” She hummed, pausing for a moment before realizing right they were at rangikus place. Shed have to head to her office and change into a fresh uniform there. No way would Rangikus fit her.

She'd raise an eyebrow at the assertion of her being beaten. The fact that it was a little more crude didn't really do anything to her reaction but she would let out a small chuckle. Did Noharu really think that little of her combat ability.

"I think it would be a little closer than you'd think Noharu."

As she would move over to the other side of the room and quickly disrobing her sleeping garments as she would redress into her shinigami uniform. She'd also take the time to quickly brush her hair as she would speak out to the blonde.

"I'm just going to hold off on a shower til after our spar. Once I beat you up for a little bit a shower would feel great."

Returning the smack talk as she would move to follow Noharu out. Noharu still had to change, but Rangiku could use that time to get the the sparring area clear so that they would even be able to have their match.

Noharu chuckled softly at that and flashed a playful smile towards the woman. Pleased to have a ...distraction. From yesterday. From....today. From the fact that even with a nice, warm, comfy rest, that her woes still honestly were still right here waiting for her. This was a nice distraction. Not just the spar, but the banter. Having someone to bounce off. Honestly, she'd felt the same around Captain Rose. It was oddly...awesome to be in such a quirky squad. Even just barely up, and she could feel herself feeling a bit less heavy.

"Oh yea? You willing to bet on that?" She ventured with a sly little smile. Putting a hand on her hip she then raised her palm up and held a finger just over Rangiku's features. "Now before you go answering that. I want you to think for a moment about it. We can just have a friendly spar after all. But if you wanna make bets, I'm down to rumble. But you go ahead and think on that till I get back from changing~" She chimed, flashing a slight wink at Rangiku, before she simply vanished.

Or rather, the afterimage she'd left behind dissipated. If there was one thing that Noharu was incredibly apt with, it was Hoho. She'd already run off to get changed just before that afterimage gave Rangiku the warning. A very fancy little trick indeed. Something for Rangiku to mull over as Noharu went and freshened up.

ONce in her barracks, she did take a few minutes to get a nice clean outfit, get herself some water, and a small snack, before promptly dipping back to the training area. The blonde Third Seat flickering in with nary a sound and a pleased bounce in her step. Stepping out into that training space. Briefly, she took a moment to make sure that a few members of Squad 2 were on standby to put up a barrier if need be. She trusted Rangiku of course, not to do anything wild. But well... the Shura incident had her a little paranoid these days. Better to be safe than have to pay for damages.

Once a few members had showed up to wait on standby, Noharu began looking around for the Lieutenant to show up. A bit of bounce to her stance. How long it'd been since she'd had a chance to train with Rangiku. She was powerful, and frankly, an excellent foil to herself. While MANY opponents were simply outpaced by an incredible ammount by Noharu's sheer speed and her ability to take something down, Rangiku was strong and durable, and had a Zanpaku'to just as versatile as Noharu's.

Truth be told, she was excited. As would the squad she was sure. She doubted it'd take long for word to get around that the little spar was taking place. Which was good. This was an opportunity for the squad to see two shinigami who knew their stuff in action. Not just with their own unique strengths and advantages, but two shinigami who could show off what all those lessons about versatility and utilizing everything available meant. Perfect.

Rangiku would chuckle at the banter as she would finish getting dressed and tying her pink sash around her. As she would put on her Lieutenants badge she would flash step towards the training grounds. She knew that she had some advantage over Noharu, and since bankai shouldn't be a factor then she should be able to capitalize on the advantages she did have. However, she knew that the blonde was very fast, so that may be an issue for her.

As she landed in the arena it seemed like they had quite the crowd already as she would give the blonde a smirk. She was really excited for this actually. Moving her hand to Haineko she would look forward as she'd ready herself. Unlike Ranma she wouldn't be able to hold back so she would inhale and exhale deeply.

"Don't hold back on me Noharu~ Wouldn't be as fun of s fight."

She would taunt slightly as she would wait for the blonde to start the fight. Despite not wanting to hold back she was still going to stay on the defensive at first. Just to test what her strengths and weaknesses vs the blonde are outside of Speed. She knew Noharu is much much faster than herself.

Noharu couldn't help but smile fondly when she saw Rangiku arriving. She marched forward and stood infront of Rangiku, giving a warm little smile, and that expression softened for just a moment. Something that really only Rangiku would see. A soft, brief look of appreciation. Thankful that Rangiku was humoring her with all of this. But just as quickly, her smile firmed and she raised her head, chest forward as she gave an affirmative nod toward Rangiku and chuckled softly.

"Pft. Well if I did that we'd have to find someplace a lot more roomy. But I think I get what you're trying to say~ But you best be careful about making boasts unless you wanna put some money where that pretty mouth of yours is." She noted with a hint of taunt to her voice, speaking softly so that the spectators wouldn't hear the sly tone. Far from flirting, it was instead filled with a challenge.

Turning her attention to the rest of the squad, she gestured to the members of Second Division, and promptly, they roused themselves, a barrier flickering around the sandy field that was their arena. The crowd would get to watch from relative safety, as Noharu turned her attention to Rangiku. "Know its been a while since we sparred, but we should probably temper our spiritual pressure. Gotta set a good example and all that." she pointed out. Tempering of course being something that was normal for sparring matches. After all, one's ability to inflict injury was tied to the focus and edge one put on their spiritual pressure. By tempering that focus, one could intentionally more or less dull their blade and their spells. Allowing them to fight, but without the danger of potential accidents. They could still draw blood and deal surface damage, but it was a good way to make sure things didn't get out of hand.

Noharu herself lightly brisher her hair back over her shoulder. Those wild gold locks framing her shoulders, bared thanks to her modified uniform, showing off just a hint of cleavage, a swell as having no sleeves. Not quite as revealing as the Onmitsukido variant. But it showed off the riddle of scars that she always bore with pride. Proof of not just her actions in the war, but her past in the rukongai. She snapped her fingers, and the black glove on her left hand promptly became undone, spilling apart into red string before solidifying into her 'zanpaku'to'. A smooth red blade. One famous because of the fact that she kept it sealed in the form of one of her gloves. Well, not that Rangiku would believe that. Rangiku of course would be one of few who knew that the sword in Noharu's hand was a part of her sealed ability, and not her REAL zanpakuto.

"Care to make the first move, Lieutenant?~"

Rangiku would nod as she would tamper off her spiritual pressure as she didn't want it to effect the group around them. Rangiku was wearing her normal Shuhakusho, and unashamedly she was showing off her chest a little bit as per usual. Alot of them may be hurt potentially from theirs as she would close the distance swinging her blade down at the red one. Attempting to lock their blades together as she knows that she has the strength advantage over the blonde.

However, she did make sure she wasn't fully committed as she made sure she didn't have all of her weight down on her feet, so in the case Noharu decides to dodge she can react quickly to it. Noharu was extremely fast, and was very difficult to keep up with. As she would try to make sure to keep her eyes on the blonde.

Yes.
Noharu didn't mind sparring with the lower seats. It was a necessary part of helping train their division members. Helping them round out, and checking their focuses and weak points. All whilst keeping her own skills sharp. It was something that kept her on her game.

But those weren't tests. Not like this.



Watching as Rangiku readied herself, Noharu's spiritual pressure began to well up, bubbling to the surface, boiling up, but at a controlled rate. And Rangiku would get to enjoy a sensation that would be so very familiar with her. Asahi's spirit energy, that took off not with a roar but with a throb. A pulse of her heartbeat that rippled outward and made every stitch in her outfit twitch in tune to it. A sensation robbed of the audience who were protected by the barrier. But it was just the kind of subtle, sinister sensation that made your hairs stand on end.

The charge from Rangiku was met in kind, Noharu's form blurring as she slammed her own zanapku'to into Rangiku's own, grinning as she felt the sudden shuddering weight of the other woman's strength bear down on her, turning her zanpaku'to so that her hand braced the back of her weapon, distributing the pressure from Rangiku's strike so that she didn't simply buckle all at once. A prickle in her spiritual pressure as she pumped a pulse of Hakuda through her frame, enough to briefly stand that force, and so rather than simply getting batted off, the crowd would get to see a sudden rushing crunch of sand cave beneath the two women's feet as they met, the sand punched into the earth as Noharu's grinning face met Rangiku's own gaze.

"WHEW! Trying to pin me down already?" Noharu grinned, the air flickering to Rangiku's left. The blur of a person speeding past her, in the same moment that Rangiku's weapon slid clean through the sword that was directly infront of her. The smiling face of an afterimage winking at Rangiku...right?

The flash of Blonde next to Rangiku would swing in, entire body twisting into a rounghouse kick aimed at Rangiku's shoulder. All whilst the Noharu infront of the woman raised a hand and pointed a finger at the woman's face.

"Bakudo Number Nine. Horin!"

THWACK!

Rangiku would be faced with her own guess as the real Noharu's leg slammed in towards the woman's shoulder. And the afterimage that had been bluffing the name of a Kido spell simply stuck her tongue out, with not even a spark of Spiritual energy to show from her fingers. After all, Rangiku would know all too well the danger of Noharu's special Hoho: Jester's Flash. A special Hoho move that left behind Afterimages that could move, talk, and react, but of course couldn't interact physically with anything. Making them all the harder to discern from the real one until you made contact.