Walking through the rain

he rain had poured upon the muddy grounds for a couple days now, it seemed as though this place was getting a rare happening within this place. The clouds above were dark and giving a very gloom and doom look to the lands, the zephyr that blew into the lands of the Inuzuri. It hadn't been long since he'd been away from home, his brown boots hit the ground. He had a style of dress that was more his own, yes while on grounds he would wear the outfit that was put forth.

How sickening this was, going out but at least not many people were out in this kind of weather. The rain was cool to the touch, his blond hair dripped with water, the weather seemed to be letting up. It wasn't looking to be a very long wait for a rainy day here. But that was just fine, he could easily see where this place was going since he'd transfered to learn the Shinigami arts. He loved the educational aspects of it, as well as the physical ones. Grant it he wasn't particularly powerful or anything.

Kaede's eyes observed the scene, people seemed to be motived to move out of this place pretty fast when they got here. By got here it meant half of them had bit the bullet or dust in the other world they'd come from. His memory was a tad fuzzy, but that was just fine. His teachers were strict people, but that is the nature of all teachers. His digits remained inside his pockets, this uneasy and uncomfortable feeling.

It would of been just as well to return to the place that was home, but it wasn't within the cards for him. He was here for something, though at the moment he couldn't rightly remember what that something was. The street's were muddy, but his boots got a decent grip in the dirt. The building's around this area were either empty or just being used by some people. This area of Inuzuri was an abandon area, not a bad place to train himself.

His clothing was wet and felt a tad heavy, but other than that little factor this place was perfect. Abandon and empty of life, things wouldn't get in his way and well that saved him the trouble of finding a new location, he pulled a small book out from his coat, finding a small shelter that had only two ways in.

From each side, the roof was made of a metal tin and gave it an old and worn look. He sat upon a wooden stool that had been left there, his eyes looking down at the crimson book, taking in what information it provided. Things had been truly interesting in the ideal of the book here. Thing's such as this always amused him and calmed him.

An empty place, without people such perfection was rarely spoken of when brought into thought.But what's a few rains drops on a sunny day that shines out. His head looked up from his books, to see the sun slightly break through the clouds.

Swing. Thunk. Schlick. Thud. Repeat. The preceeding onomatopoeia and looping verb described the sounds produced as Akihiko Hideo swung his sword, cut cleanly through a supported wooden log, allowed the bisected pieces to fall to the rain-soaked, muddy ground, and continued. This was the worst method of training he had ever performed. It sucked even harder than the time he drug a concrete slab through the forest. With his teeth. Still, it was better than nothing. Propping up another set of three, he continued, making sure that his blade was angled perfectly to cut through the wind, rather than against it. When he tired of this, the third seat of squad eleven wiped the fiber, rain and mud from his blade and slid it back into the sheath on his back. Flipping the soaked hair from his eyes, he walked toward the building behind him and leaned against it.

On the ground, an almost redundant bottle of water sat beside a now-soaked towel and a tupperware container, the contents inconceivable thanks to the frosted plastic. Reaching toward the bottle of water, he popped open the cap and took a large drink, letting the cool, crisp water bring some life back into his parched throat. When that had drained, he tossed the husk of plastic to his left and snatched up the container. Ripping off the lid, he surveyed the contents with a large grin on his face. Plucking one of the sandwiches up, he began to consume it at incredible speed, disregarding his intake of oxygen for the scarfing at hand. He didn't even notice picking up the second and wolfing that down as well. When he had finished that, however, he had to take a break. It felt like his heart was going to explode out of his chest. He needed to BREATHE, dammit!

Laughing a little, he took the final sandwich from the container and dropped it beside his towel. Despite the steady downpour of rain that fell from a curtain of gray above him, he didn't eat this one with haste. Because of that, the bread got a little soggy, but he didn't mind. It was all going to the same place. "Now then... Who's up there?" He thought he saw a shadow on the blade of his sword earlier. Turning to face the building, he bit off another chunk of the meat and cheese-filled delight. Taking a few steps away from the wall, he suddenly rushed it at high speeds, holding the rest of the 'wich in his mouth as he scrambled up the wall in an almost parkour-like fashion. Reaching the top, he was surprised to see that someone was actually sitting there. An old stool supported a similarly-dressed male, a sure indication that he was a shinigami. No badge was present, however, so he couldn't discern from which squad he was in.

"Hey there." Offering a greeting, the young (relative) man (not relative) smiled brightly, raising his hand in an almost wave, but it was as if he had somehow forgotten the appropriate movements. Flipping the soaked hair from his eyes once again, he made no show that the sagging of his drenched clothing or the heavy dropping of water was a discomfort to him. "How's it going, bro?"

is eyes opened slowly and gazed directly at the male, he'd closed them for a brief moment to rest them. It seemed another was here, he himself wasn't in a Division just out away from the Academy. For a slight break, his eyes examined the male and began to look him over carefully. He wasn't exactly sure what this was about, but it was interesting.This man seemed to be wet from the rain, maybe sweat. Training out here, huh pry same type of person. Well alot of thoughts to process, he closed the book slowly. To show he was willing to give his full undivided attention to the male.
"Bit wet, but I am doing good, looks like you got caught in that little bit of a storm we just had, stool across from me is open if you'd like to sit." Kaede said, he was calm and very composed though inside he wasn't very pleased that another person had shown up, not that it had shown on his features in any way. People were hard to understand still, but he'd gotten far better. Now it looked good enough that he could do somethings without to much trouble, so managing this little uncomfortable feeling was ok. It wasn't to hard or anything that would remain dormant on his features.

His hair was still a little damp from the water that had rained down on it before, it wasn't such a big deal though. His eyes scanned the male's features, he could still move around if need be. Though it was doubtful this man would just attack him out of the blue, his eyes remained focused on the male's features. Mainly watching his features top to bottom. Caution was just something of a quirk of his, but it wasn't such a big deal.

Well the man was here and pry had questions, he wasn't really wearing much of anything to show he was only a student, that was his problem though. Yes he didn't mine acknowledging the fact he was one, just didn't feel like broadcasting it to everyone he knew, though the place was empty. And so it went, the two men wet from the rain would stare and the day would go on.

Probably because his clothing still dripped with copious amounts of atmospherical fluid, but Akihiko hadn't noticed the rain really stop. It was only when the other shinigami began speaking to him did he realize that no longer was there a constant descent of hydrogen and oxygen molecules from the sky. In fact... a warmth began to spread along the back of his neck. Wat a minute... was that the sun? Glancing at the tin roof lining behind the other shinigami, Akihiko made out the faint glinting of a glowing blob in the sky, peeking out through a frame of gray that was starting to lighten up, becoming a little whiter around the edges. Yes! That was the sky! Maybe things would start to get brighter around here.

"Oh, don't mind if I do." Taking a seat on the stool, Akihiko grinned at the shinigami. "My name is Akihiko Hideo, Third Seat of Squad 11." Introducing himself first name first, he hoped to bypass the traditional japanese style of super duper holy motherfucking jesus levels of respect, and just jump into a more comfortable friendship level. "Feel free to call me whatever you'd like, though." His position on the stool was a little odd. It almost appeared as if he was in a horse stance from Kung Fu katas. His legs were perfectly straight horizontally, bending at the knee to become just as straight vertically. His arms were stretched so his hands could be placed palm-first on his knees. Back straight, jaw set, eyes forward. And yet, even with that almost practiced seating position, he actually looked comfortable. He was completely relaxed otherwise, his breathing was normal, and he was still smiling, even after several long minutes of strained muscles.

"So how's your book?" He shot his eyes toward the bound papers that he had set down earlier. He couldn't tell what it was because of the angle it was it, but he figured it wouldn't hurt to show a little interest in his personal methods of relaxation. For Akihiko, it was slicing through things with his trusty-never-rusty Zanpakutō. For others, it might be reading. Whatever floated their boat. Akihiko even knew of a shinigami that grew marijuana. How he had developed reishi-equivelant's to THC was beyond him, but he was pretty proud of the guy. His wallet wasn't, though. That shit got expensive after a while. Nevertheless, Akihiko did what he figured the other guy was probably doing. Studying him, looking for any signs of imminent attack or threatening behavior. These were dangerous times, and they just happened to be dangerous people. Well, not yet. But they would be. That's why they were here. To learn to be dangerous.

Still, he couldn't find anything that would indicate the shinigami was a danger to him, in the least. And to be honest, he was kind of glad. Although he enjoyed fighting more than most activities, it was nice to be able to not have to. Every day did not need to be a struggle. Sometimes, it was nice to just sit and relax with a bro, reading a book or having a barbeque... or even toking up, if that was your thing. Yeah. Especially on a nice day like this, with the sun now beating at full force, having burned through the clouds and started on evaporating the water on the ground, resulting in mist rising slowly, thinly, from the environment around them. It gave the area around them an almost ghost-like charm. Heh. Akihiko could have laughed. Who would have thought that Soul Society would have ghost-like charm? It was simply astounding.

Well the tension certainly flew out the window, he wasn't looking for combat. That was certainly a relief and a half, that's the good news of a moment like this. Thing's can get better by simply changing it up. His eyes softened slightly, a 3rd seat well that was quite an achievement, how to go about saying I am simply an academy student. He had a calm look upon his face, the fact the man was a third seat really didn't bother him so much. It was fine and if anything quite interesting to run into a member of Squad 11 within Inuzuri. The place really wasn't to often filled with Soul Reapers, least not in his memory.

"Kaede Ichiro, just Kaede though no point in being formal really. It's a decent read, was studying up on some forms of kendo and such. " His swordsmanship was a tad sloppy, but he did have good weapon skills over all and could think of many fine ways to use it. Fact was he was a Kidō specialist and if memory served, he'd heard that Squad Eleven had some sort of problem with Kidō all together. In his mind he didn't truly understand it, it was simply a means to an end in his eyes.

Two swords rested on his back, however how they were set up was quite deceitful. One was upside down with the blade pointing up {Wakazashi}, while the other was just going straight down. {Katana} He'd yet to learn his swords name, something that had been bothering him. He couldn't figure out much about this, most his time was spent meditating trying to reach for that hand but just never quite making it. His hand felt a slight tingle within it. The memory of just reaching for something that was just out of reach.

In truth, the way a warrior should always be is both mental and form of expression. So he understood Squad Eleven quite well, the ideal of expression through combat wasn't so far fetched. Many men could only dream to understand one another through such a method. That simply was the way things were and would always be. His gaze fell upon the stage, of sunlight coming down upon the rain. It was indeed a nice day here. He had definitely decided to read Kendo, but that was for other reasons. Another book on his person was a book about Kidō.

It was truly interesting to learn, he was rather good at Kidō and things like that. His blond hair had finally began to dry, taking it's regular shape once again. "I was born here, it used to have more people back than, but times change things and I guess they moved to a new section. I was living, right there." His hand came up slowly and pointed towards an alleyway that was a bit damp at the moment, it looked a tad covered by the two buildings it was between. This was just indication that well Kaede really hadn't know a life of a good home or such things. He grew up living in dirt and such till he became more aware of things and changed.

It was so nostalgic being in this place, he'd had some papers about Divisions he should sign up for. But he had told his teachers, he planned to wait till he was stronger before becoming a simple burden to a Captain, grant it Captains were pry strong enough to carry all the burdens with their Vice Captains in close tow behind them, his eyes remained open as he leaned his head back against the wall now. Looking at the glistening sparkles that were shining on the ground and the building, the other effect of the sun coming out.

The shinigami smiled, staring in the direction that Kaede was pointing. He lived there? "That must have been rough." Barely muttering, Akihiko stood from his stool, taking a few steps toward the ledge of the roof and studying the ground. The reason he had come out this far to train was because it was so far from everywhere else. There was hardly anybody around -- living was hard in these quarters. If he truly had grown up here, he would be one hell of a fighter. He'd have to be. "I lived in the twenty-third division." It hadn't been so difficult for him. It was almost like modern life on earth, in all actuality. Even still, he wasn't stating it in a bragging tone. It was a voice that almost held a sort of regret. There was a part of Akihiko that wished he had been raised in a higher district, one with more chaos and darkness involved. Maybe he'd be stronger by now. He wasn't even able to call upon his first release of power yet, and he was third seat, dammit! But oh well. The past was the past, and nothing was going to change that. He'd just have to work on things now, one day at a time, and hope that he could figure it out soon.

The sword on his back seemed to pulse. Yes. He could feel it. The resonance he shared with Katta was something that he had never experienced before. It was a bond of both power and heart. Speaking of his sword, Akihiko finally clued into what Kaede was saying about his book. "Kendo, you say? I don't wish to brag, but I've studied kendo day in and day out for over a hundred years. If you'd like, I could give you a couple lessons or something." The grin on his face was unbeatable. It was almost as if he was some form of main character in an anime or something, with the way his face was stretching so he could display the sheer amount of enjoyment he was feeling. He hadn't had a training partner in a long time, and although he was just thinking that it was nice to chill, he couldn't deny the fight that boiled in his blood. Combat was a part of him. A very large part of him. Proof of that was in the sword that was strapped to his back, made of solidified, crystallized spiritual energy produced by him. He was the sword. The sword was him. That must mean he was made to fight, right?

his was an interesting offer to hear from the male. It was quite a good chance to improve himself in a way that he wasn't so good at. Hoho and Kidō were his specialty's, things that made him different from others. His zanjutsu was weak and yet he had good weapon skills so it made him a somewhat nature with the weapon. It was just a weakness within that swordplay. He could pick things up quite quickly, his issue would be simply making things happen. His mind thought about it, a third seat helping him learn Zanjutsu. Of course a member of Squad 11 would obviously know the best way to do this.

It was simply a matter of adding it all together. his digits clasped at the weapon and gave it a slight tap, perhaps he wasn't there yet. But this was a good place as any to start. He got up, glancing at a tree small and fragile. Perhaps that was the best way to describe him as a swordsman right now, young and still new to the art forms. Natural talent was a good thing to have, but yet it wasn't something that could push you forward unless you studied hard to build upon what was weak.

After all they had to start somewhere. Nothing was strong from the beginning, it always took dedication and hard work. Something he had plenty of, yes he was a bit new to the Academy. And pry wouldn't be going anywhere, he'd been thinking about joining the Second Division and had studied them carefully. His hand got up, pulling the red coat off and setting it aside. It was important in someways, in others not so much. This was a weighted piece of gear.

The clothing was designed to help him with speed, it often just wore him out. It only weighed about 30 kilos all together, it was just a way to try and get ready. He set his coat down, and pulled his katana out. Removing the sheath that was worn across his back and setting the wakazashi down, this was something of a carry on tool. He could fight evenly with either one, he preferred the wakazashi over it the katana, just due to the size and range. But he walked out from under the building slowly trying to get a general feel for the weapon, giving it a few swings with one arm. Decently strong swings for his level, he tossed it over to the left and swung aagin and the same amount of power came from it.

The sound of rain was omnipresently audible well into the outskirts of the vicinity, this storm having taken its time brewing to some self proclaimed perfection. It was in a lapse between it tediously formulating itself to meet some unknown standard, that Ian made his way to a tree branch that was some varying degree from the ground; asserting himself in it and taking a well deserved nap as he was previously training prior to it. It was in this time span from his presence being established here before the other two till now, when they were conversing and he was sleeping that he.. Was dreaming...

"Oh, Ian, you shouldn't have!" Lyra said excitedly, her face turning a crimson hue as she took the necklace and instantly began wearing it then proceeding to glomp Ian. "That's so sweet, I love you!" she exclaimed, showing her affection and thanks via this action. Ian was still, even now, not used to such things. It has been a few years since the two met, but it seemed every moment with her was a new one; and was something he deeply treasured. His lips curved into a sincere smile, liking the fact that she enjoyed her Birth Day gift, he laced his arms around her. "...I love you, too.." he said to her from the depths of his heart, burning this moment in time into his memory. He swore to himself, he'd never forget her smiling face. She tilted her head up at him, her ocean blue eyes smiling up at him. "Ian.. Will you...?" she began to inquire, but at that moment his mind began to fog up and then..

Ian woke up, the rain beating on his face, trickling down. "It.. It was only a dream." he remarked to himself, his heart sinking into the pit of his stomach. "Just a dream.." he reiterated, as if in a state of disbelief. As with what any male would do to avoid the hurt, he tried not to think about it; shifting his figure to get out of the tree that actually wasn't too far from the other two. It was in this action that he gestured his classic clumsiness that's earned him a reputation alongside his charisma. In short, the male's way of leaving the tree was a one way ticket to landing on his head. "Ow'! Ow', ow', ow', ow'!" he retorted to the tree as if it was some sort of attempt to make the plant feel bad for his misfortune as he vigorously rubbed the back of his skull.

The smile that spread on Akihiko's face was unlike one that he had displayed as of yet. It was so genuine that his entire body seemed to feed off of it, radiating with joy. He almost danced with excitement the moment Kaede reached for his sword. As he prepared himself, he took a deep breath and closed his eyes. Katta... this is it. Let's have a little fun. His back pulsed three times rapidly in excitement. No.. that wasn't his back. It was the Zanpakutō hanging from it. Reaching up behind him with his right arm, he drew the black-handled katana. Twirling it in his wrist a couple of times, he gripped it lightly with both hands. "Alright. Let's see just where you are. Come at me, bro."

Cracking his neck to the left and then the right, his smile seemed to fade. This wasn't because he was losing happiness levels, in fact, they were going up by the second. Instead, it was due to him sinking into a concentrative state. His sword felt good in his hands, the light-yet-firm grip, one hand placed a few inches beneath the other giving him a good fulcrum for maximum control, all the while making sure he was protected against breaking his wrist or hand. The sunlight, now beaming from the sky, glinted off of the carefully polished blade. Akihiko put a lot of care into his Zanpakutō, and it clearly showed. Not a single piece of fabric was askew or tattered. Everything was perfect, as if it were brand new.

Suddenly, there was a crash to their immediate right. Turning to face the treeline, he was surprised to see a figure tumbled on the ground, in a heap of upraised dirt, bark and leaves. "Uh... one second." Sheathing his weapon, he shunpo'd over to the tree, landing on the lowest branch. Crouching, he stared down at the boy. "You alright, bud?" Reaching down his hand, he offered to help pull him up. "Need a hand?" Smirking at the pun, he looked up for a second to see what Kaede was up to, and then back down at the newcomer.

ow that was an interesting turn of events, a loud crashing noise was directly behind them. Or him anyways, he lowered his sword from a regular position, he had a couple gaps but it was a decent stance overall. Using a shunpo, he was rather gifted in these as he'd learned them easily. His form vanished to appear next to his training partner, it was interesting to see who this man was. Why had he taken such a tumble, in such a manner, he didn't know the details of it all.

But this was interesting, a man crashing into something. That sound was rather interesting, his eyes looked over the scene a couple times, before looking towards the new guy yet again. His eyes glancing at the man offering a hand to the other, he watched a bit careful about this. He'd entered under some mysterious circumstances, he didn't spy an injuries on his frame just yet.