Sparring time! (Rangiku/Noharu)

Rangiku was aware that it wasn't the woman's style to really use Bakudo. atleast not on an opponent at a similar level, so she would disregard it as a smile would play across her face. She was atleast familiar with this song and dance enough to know that isn't what was going to happen. However, that wasn't the holy after image so Rangiku would try to focus as she wanted to figure out which one was going to attack her.

Rangiku would know that she atleast has the advantage in strength and durability when the blonde isn't in bankai. Knowing this she'd take her best guess as to which attack was actually going to come to her. She would lift her arm up to block the kick, and try to avoid it hitting her shoulder as that could potentially hurt badly. She would try to spin taking another swipe at the blonde while there is a potential opening of her being midway into a kick.

The impact of her leg striking the woman's forearm as they blocked drew a grin from Noharu's face as she pushed off of the strike, twisting her blade to block the swipe, but well, without anything to ground her she was promptly batted away from the Lieutenant, skidding back as that smile of hers widened as she felt that fire burn all the more intensely inside of her! "Hey hey hey! Cmon Rangiku, I know you can do better than that! You're going quiet and I haven't even started going all out yet." She called out to her playfully, egging the woman on as she launched herself back towards the woman!

She swing her sword, aiming for an overhead chop towards the woman's body, but in the very last instant, her body vanished, a sharp hiss of air as she would suddenly be right next to Rangiku, slamming her elbow up and into Rangiku's wrist to try and knock the woman's zanpaku'to from her grasp in the same motion that she thrust the pommel of her sword up into the woman's sternum. A forceful strike that, frankly, she imagined at most would only stagger Rangiku rather than properly wind them.

"If you need to warm up then how about I just snag Haineko from you eh?~ A bit of Hand to Hand to warm up with?"

"Yeah, Yeah you just had me fooled for a little bit I guess. Thought you would be a little more creative with those flashy clones you have."

As she would see the strike coming down at her. Noharu had to be aware of the advantage Rangiku has in strengths when theres no bankai allowed right? Of course she would be aware. She wasn't dumb, so Rangiku would focus on what was to come. Raising her blade as if to block it, but she was entirely prepared for when the blonde vanished from her vision.

The strike coming up to her Rangiku would hold her open hand out to catch as she would push downwards. Putting a bit of weight into it to see if the blonde was willing to test their strengths against each other, but she would try to make sure to be ready for the next speed attack. Noharus speed was a problem, and she was glad the blonde was on her side.

"Cmon Noharu I know you got more than that don't ya? You don't want this to be too easy on me do ya?"

She'd tease as she would make sure to keep her sword tightly in her grasp. Her and Haineko might not get along the best they atleast had somewhat of an understanding, and Rangiku thought that most shinigami would want to keep their sword on their person in a fight.

Noharu skidded back and her afterimage faded as she noted Rangiku's state after taking the strike. A lopsided little smile playing across her lips as she gave a roll of her shoulders. "Oh, and why would I go all out at the start?"~ She ventured, smiling from ear to ear as she promptly vanished, blitzing past Rangiku and aiming a sudden flurry of strikes. Her frame splitting seemingly into four as she executed a vicious barrage of strikes aimed at the woman's shoulders and ribcage, rapidly shunpoing in a circle around Rangiku to execute four punches before skidding along the sand opposite of where she had started, using that insane Hoho skill of hers to dart in and strike before Rangiku had a chance to adjust past perhaps the first or second strike. Assuming she only tried to block them normally that is.

" Cmon though~ You'll have to be a bit quicker than that. You've beaten me before. But you're gonna have to be more aggressive if you plan on winning like you have in the past." She taunted. Naturally she'd lost a few ways. Getting overwhelmed by Haineko. Getting caught in a grapple by the woman's monsterous strength. Even getting surprised by some subtle kido spells once or twice. Of course there were also plenty of times she herself had come out the victor. They were able to push eachother only the way that two women who had fought dozens of times before could. She had to be on her toes, think outside the box. And of course, ponder.

Just how rusty was Rangiku in comparison to Noharu?~ Noharu had been training with the squad regularly, and even been deployed to Africa on a fairly frequent basis. Frankly, the only thing that dulled her edge was recovering from that incident.

Rangiku would have a feeling as to what was going to come when the woman vanished. Deciding she would be the first to release she would pull her sword out, and call the release command.

"Growl, Haineko!"

Releasing her blade she would decide to devolve the full thing. Seeing as her opponent focuses alot on hand to hand she felt she didn't need the blade right now. As she felt she may not have alot of time to do this she would make the attempt.

" Neko Kashin"

As she would turn towards her blind spot at her back thrusting her empty hilt as the dust her zanpakto had turned into rush to that side. Moving to block the assault from the blonde as Rangiku would smirk a little. She had lost round one, but maybe if she played her cards right she would be able to make round 2 a little more interesting for the blonde.

"You got me on round 1, but now it's time for round 2. I feel the rust falling off."

She'd speak as her mind would rush to what was going to come next for her. Perhaps it would be best to disperse her ash and try to catch it all around the both of them. However, with how fast her opponent was that wouldn't be as much of a help she doesn't think.

Rangiku weathering her assault definitely wasn’t outside of her expectations, but she couldn’t help but smile a bit wider as she saw the glint of Haineko and the crackle of Rangiku’s shikai being unleashed.

Something that usually instilled a sense of escalation in Noharu in these bouts. But not this time. She’d thought a lot about her own shortcomings. Or rather about the attitudes she’d experienced in the recent incident. The Third Seat Shura Kurata’s declaration. That Individuals incapable of Bankai should be delegated away from front line duties. As insipid a notion as they came. Noharu had a number of allies well below expectations that she trusted by her side in the field. But even more than that, it had instilled something else. A sense of her own pride. At the very idea that her Bankai was what aught be valued. She’d shown that value by trouncing the Third Seat in their Bankai without ever even releasing herself.

And that had been in a way far more thrilling than she could have thought. That she wasn’t JUST her bankai. The look in Ranma’s eyes when she’s told him that there was so much more to a shinigami than their zanpakuto.

“ Bakudo Thirty Eight! Hyoga chōjō 氷河頂上 _{Glacier Summit}”

She flickered past that surge of ash and aimed to slap her palm against Rangiku’s wrist, causing an outward burst of frigid reiryoku from the point of contact to burst outward, aiming to promptly ice the woman’s limb and freeze the ash in midair. A piercing glow of reiryoku in Noharu’s eyes as suddenly three more of her surrounded Rangiku.

Ren’yōkeisemi 群がり蝉 _{Swarming Cicada}

The ice would hardly be enough to hold Rangiku forever, eapecially not in her Shikai, but it just needed to hold her in place as Noharu and her Afterimages suddenly turned to frenzied blurs. A storm of high speed slashes suddenly filling the air, making a loud, piercing shriek like a swarm of cicadas as Noharu unleashed the normally deadly Hoho technique, one that generally reduced targets to finely diced ribbons. But of course, not only was Noharu dulling her blade, but Rangiku was even MORE sturdy in her shikai. The use of such a potent technique was aimed to bombard Rangiku with strikes to stagger and knock her down, as well as cause an explosive burst as that layer of ice was turned into a spray of shattered ice chips that littered the training ground as Noharu and her afterimages skidded to a stop in a distant circle around her Lieutenant, the afterimages fading almost immediately as a mischievous grin spread across the third seat’s features. As if to say she wouldn’t need her Shikai to beat Rangiku.

Noharu certainly was incredibly fast wasn't she? This was becoming much more of a problem at this point. She was struggling to keep up even in the shikai. She would be touched by the bakudo as the ice would freeze her up. A little annoyed about the over confidence of her staying in her base form for this fight. It did feel a bit insulting and placed even more doubt in her mind about why she's the vice captain and Noharu isn't.

As the after images would begin to buzz around her she would be stricken multiple times. Thankfully the woman was dulling her blade because this would have maybe killed her. At the same time Rangiku would have tried to expand her spiritual pressure but being stuck with the ice she wasn't able. However she would begin to allow the dust that was now scattered around the battle field to begin to move into a large circle around them. She was going to try to slowly build up the intensity of her shikai.

Once the assault was over she would fall down to one knee as she would pant. Looking up to the blonde she wouldn't let this be the same for very long as she would flex her spiritual pressure to try to atleast put the woman on the defensive. She would stand up to her feet as she'd speak out.

"Being a little cocky today huh?"

Her voice held a hint of annoyance but she would try to even out her mind. Nor wanting to sound overly annoyed she decided she wanted to distract the woman from the slowly building dust. Rangiku would go with a kido for now as she smirked lightly. Holding out her palm she would increase her spiritual pressure as she focused it into her palm.

"Hadō 33, Sokatsui"

As a pale blue light would launch from her palm. The scratches from the earlier assault were obvious on her body as she was attempting to hit the woman with this attack. She wanted to win, but it seems like if she uses a shikai it may be over. She wanted to atleast force her into the shikai. Her pride hurting a bit.

Noharu couldn't help but smile just a bit wider as Rangiku affirmed that she was being arrogant. "Oh?~ MAybe I AM being a little arrogant. No point having a fat dick unless yer willin to swing it." She noted with a sly smirk under her breath, dropping her voice a bit for that one so that only Rangiku would hear it. Attempting to throw the woman offf. But well. It seemed that they both had the same idea.

"Hadō Number 31. Shakkahō!"

Her hand snapped up and she executed her spell just as Rangiku's went off. But well, in her released state, that thick ball of flames slammed into the sudden onslaught of burning blue reishi before promptly exploding, plowed through by the surge of spriritual energy that swallowed up the attack and slammed into Noharu. A spectacle of a clash punctuated only by the sudden SLAM of a heel into Rangiku's waist from the side, a flying kick at full speed from the smoke, the entire left side of Noharu's body VERY singed, smoke coiling from her scorched shuhakusho as reiryoku crackeld along the length of the leg as she aimed to slam it into Rangiku from the side. Thin crackles of spiritual energy arcing to the nearby chunks of dirt and dust accenting contact before the sand was suddenly blown away in a bubble from the impact.

Even enhanced by Hakuda, it would hardly deal serious damage, but the concentrated force would still potentially knock the wind out of Rangiku in the process of knocking her to the ground as Noharu dropped and panted, grinning from ear to ear even amidst the burns on her frame. Yea, that was the cost of this little move of hers. Arrogantly trying to match Rangiku in her sealed state. It meant that even at full speed, pulling all the tricks at her disposal. Of course, frankly, she had damaged Rangiku, but those injuries would only be so deep, definitely not enough to make anything decisive.

But she wasn't going to give up! Steam spilled from the sides of her mouth, and the bright golden glow of her spiritual energy shined in her eyes as she launched herself from her crouched position! Aiming to charge at Rangiku from the front! Aiming to slam a kick into her chest! Only, it wasn't as strong as before. Primarily because it was a solid afterimage.

The REAL Noharu would shoot in from behind, front-flipping into Ganriku from behind, locking her legs around the woman's head and neck and then vaulting! Aiming to use the full strength and momentum of her entire body to lift Rangiku and slam her down into the ground with her legs clenched around her neck and one arm in a headlock! Adding a bit of urgency to the situation as she aimed to immobilize the woman's arm at the shoulder and apply a bit of pressure to them.

Rangiku would feel a bit of guilt about the burns on the woman's frame. She didn't mean to do that, but she guessed this is what happens when you underestimate your opponent. As she would be thinking that she knew Noharu wouldn't be done, but that doesn't matter she wouldn't be able to react to the kick that hits her. Pushing her back several frat Rangiku would drop down to one knee as she panted trying to catch her breath. She had the wind knocked out of her and that never felt great.

Pushing herself off the ground after the several seconds it took her to catch her breath she didn't have much of a break as the woman was already sending another barrage at her. Seeing the kick from the front Rangiku would hold her hand out to catch the blondes foot, but realizing it was an after imagine just one thought would go through her head. Shit. As she would try to move to block the attack from coming behind, but she wouldn't be able to. So, Rangiku would take half a step back if she could to try to atleast lighten whatever the attack was going to be atleast a little bit. Not that she would be able to even get through a full half step.

Not that that reaction made any sense at all as she would feel the woman's legs wrap around her. Feeling the woman quickly moving, and the fact that she had been mid step meant her balance wasn't the greatest. She would be flipped, and slammed and Noharu was awarded with a headlock. Rangiku felt some pain in her back, and thought this is what she gets for those burns.

"Noharu, you know you're scary fast.. But you forgot I am still physically stronger than you."

As she would grab one of the woman's legs with her free hand That didn't have haineko in it, and she would begin to attempt to peel the woman off of her if this works she wouldnt let the woman go, and would attempt to move her into a leg loci. Still gunning to get her to release her shikai . She was sure there were some in the crowd who wished to be in the position she was.

"Remember i do know some hand to hand Noharu. Seems you forgot."

Noharu was more than satisfied with the effects of her assault! It was true, she was much weaker than the Lieutenant, but it was also much easier for her to overwhelm the woman with her tricks. The look on her face as Noharu's legs lock around them instills her with a sense of confidence and she attempts to lock her ankles, gripping at Rangiku's wrist in an attempt to choke her out. Not the most honorable of ends to the spar, but it would suffice.

However, despite her attempts at securing Rangiku's arm, she tensed as she felt it slowly prying free from her grip and latch onto her thigh and begin prying her leg from the woman's neck. Fuck. An immediate look of panic spread across her face as she was slowly pried off of the woman. Oh she could tell that Rangiku was pissed, as not only did Rangiku pry her free, but soon enough, she was helpless as the woman's legs swung up and promptly latched around her waist as she felt the woman lock her leg! The instant tension in her tendons sent a shock of alarm up Noharu's spine, but even with Rangiku's taunt, a grin spread across Noharu's features as she leered down at Rangiku.

"Not bad, but if you think you're gonna get me to give up with a submission hold, you've got another thing coming." She grinned, raising a finger towards Rangiku's shoulder. "Gasping cries of the Lightning King, Seven Fates burning the sky as clouds gather in rage. Hadō number Four , Byakurai!" The spell was cast with the intent of delivering a piercing shock to the woman's shoulder. Naturally, the attack wouldn't actually do serious damage as it would in a normal combat scenario, but she was banking on the shock being enough to allow her to pry herself from the leglock.