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(( Congrats..... Vice-Captain Vine ^_^.... BTW I am sick so wont be much time for posting ~_~))

Ahh this is what Mashiro truley loved, a sparring with fellow shinigami. There was nothing that could better the day, but maybe.....
" Bakudu #8, Seki." Mashiro said as he lifted his left arm. A blue light covered the arm, and when Hinata hit it, she bounced off. This was a typical counter that any shinigami with even a slight hint of kidou could pull off. But now he has his chance. As the female shinigami was pushed off by the kidou, Mashiro brought Jou-shirû around to finish the job. Spinning on his right heel, the blade came at full force at Hinata. The dark red color, almost that of a cramberry, of the kidou mass which now covered the Blond Shinigami's zanpakutou grew more in size as Mashiro poured more of his Raistsu into the mass. Now the blade was commparable to that of a Highbringer, which was notably one the released states of his Sensei's zanpakutou.

(( Alright, if you would permit it I would like to give a small explanation for Hatsume's dissapearance so things can tie together. Anyway, after this lets meet back up at the bar for some plotting. I have an idea for the Senior Officers, but that will be in privet between you, I, the Captain, and Hatsume when she returns. ^_^))

Mashiro was amazed by the power that Hinata still had. It was obvious that she had been hiding from him from the very start of the dule. The ice crystals came to cutting range before Mashiro acted. The Blond Shinigami raised Jou-shirû and deflected most of them, however one was able to cut his cheek. When this happened Mashiro jumped backwards to gain so distance from the female shinigami. " I was wrong, Hinata. It seems that my arrogance eludes me once again. I commend you for giving me the chance to fight with you at a 3rd seat setting. I know of your promotion, Vice-Captain Kazuki. My Sensei was right in choosing his ever vacant seat." After saying this he raised his Raistsu as high as he could. Green Reishi glew all around Mashiro. However, this was not his regular power, because the Green gave hints of red which was the color of Jou-shirû. The remaining ribbons detached themselves from the bottom of the hilt. They soon blended in with Mashiro's Hitsushiruyu Tsurugi. " Vice-Captain, please..... Give me the pleasure of facing you with one final blow. Don't hold back, at all.... Let this be our Finest Hour as Shinigami Miuchi." With that the Blond Shinigami ran at full strength at his new Vice-Captain friend with full force. After all his trainning when he first joined it finally came to this, facing a Vice-Captain class in a dreamed sparr. Could he die from fighting a suppirior officer with greater strength? Perhaps, but this did not matter to Mashiro. All he cared about was getting this off his chest. Since the death of Yorich, the French Shinigami which was only a new member such as he during the liberation, Mashiro wanted to know the full depth of his new found power. After this only his pride remained and a newly forged friendship with Hinata and a redefinded one with his long friend Hatsume, the Kitsune Shinigami. As the Shinigami came closer and closer, flashbacks ran through his head of facing Minos, and an Arrancar, his trainning with his Sensei, Captain MockaDash, and now this very duel that started only hours ago. " Sensei...." Then there was a flash of light, probably from the explosion of the collision.

(( I had to get this off my chest. I have been wanting to post something like this for a while and I finall found a fitting place for it. BTW, if you don't want me to call you Vice-Captain let me know ^_^))

(( Thank You for such a compliment. I believe that you have improved as well, it is evident in the start of the duel. As you wish I will not be so formal with you, though it gives me pleasure to. Ill meet you at the bar...))

Mashiro opened his eyes. He was standing alone. Nothing but rubble from the blast was all around. Smoke filled the field, but the faint sound of battle between the other two could still be heard. Mashiro's Hitsushiruyu Tsurugi power was gone, save a small sliver of reishi that still persisted upon the blade. Feeling around him, the Blond Shinigami could sense that Hinata was behind him, also motionless. Taking deep breaths, Mashiro looked down to see that he had been cut. The wound was not too deep, but enough to call it quits for a while. Looking further down there was droplets of blood, but too far away from him to be his. And Lo! Behold Jou-shirû was covered in blood at the first five inches of the blade. This made him think that he had cut Hinata. His eyes grew wide in the thought of actually being able to influct such damage on a Vice-Captain.

So many thoughts ran through his young head. Was she really at the level of a Vice-Captain? Was he more powerful to be measured at the strength of a Vice-Captain? Did this mean that a Vice-Captain is only a title? What could this mean? It was that exact question that made Mashiro think about the whole duel. There was no apparent sign that Hinata was hiding anything from him, other than the comon knowledge which he had possesed all along. Yet, with all the energy invested in these thoughts it was more than what he had to spare. Suddenly the shinigami started to cough up blood, giving a sign that it was not a good thing to be standing around with open wounds. Still..... he had to tend with Hinata. Given his formal nature, he could not leave until he had tended to the VC and excused to tend to himself. Though it caused much pain, Mashiro turned to face Hinata who's back was still turned to him. " Vice-Captain Kazuki, are you alright?"

(( I think that your sugestion was great!! If you think it should be changed let me know and I will repost. BTW just like Mashiro I have a Formal Nature which has been passed down through several generations of my family. I am the First Born of my generation so I understand much that others do not.))

((Wow, kinda sad how he's half blind now..... anyways!))

Rei, like Alder, was also hit by the blast, though not in its full force, that was perhaps fifty times stronger than anything she had ever experienced, let alone defended against. The female shinigami only caught a glimpse of Alder's attempt to attack before the explosion brought the two shinigamis sprawling in two different directions. With even less experience than Alder plus her already injured body, Rei went crashing through the forest, her back slammed against trees with such force that she was knocked out automatically.
"Curse.... it......" Before Rei fully lost herself in all her dizziness and pain, she thought of if everyone was ok, and how much it pained her to not be able to see the end of the duel between Alder and her.
With that thought lingering in her mind, the female shinigami's eyes lost its focuse and her eyelids closed upon them heavily. All in all, Rei broke part of her spine and some of her ribs plus collarbones, suffering from huge amounts of inner bleeding.

Mashiro's gase was on Hinata as she tended to him. It was a shock to say the least since he was the one who should be tending her.
Without a sign of emotion, the Blond Shinigami walked with his Vice-Captain. " Before we go I would like to make one thing clear, seeing how you are new to your favored position.... As a Vice-Captain your duty goes beyond that of any shinigami, even me who is only a 4th Seat. However, though you may feel an obligation to see to the well being of the lower Squad Members, keep in mind that they have their jobs and we, the Senior Officers, have ours. Try not to let your emotions get the best of you because that is when your defense is down." Though sounding a bit out of tone, which was a greatly punishable offense for even a Senior Officer, he hoped this would aid Hinata in realizing her true duty.

[Exits]

((Nah, I think they are ok.... minus Rei, but Alder is a great shinigami and knows how to aid injured shinigami. Plus think of the great character plot that they can open together. Like he said, he was opening something to build a character plot out of. Anyway, see ya at the bar ^_^))

(I was waiting for you. XD)

Alder's vision slowly came back to his right eye, and he realized, shortly after, that his left eye had been destroyed. He felt Rei's reiatsu somewhere to his left, and he slowly limped over to her. When he found her, she was unconscious, and savagely sprawled out on the forest floor. He lifted her arm up, and put it over his shoulder. Slowly, he carried both of them to the Fourth Squad.

(Sorry for the godmod, but I'm just moving on for the sake of the story. Exit, Alder and Rei, to Fourth Squad Healing Room)

(I'm not actually going to the Fourth Squad, seeing as how it usually takes forever to get healed.)

Rei's eyes remained closed as she meditated on the tree stump in this almost silent forest, with the occasional chirping of birds and rustling of leaves. She took a few silent deep breathes, and as a small breeze ruffled her black hair and the few blades of grass around her, Rei thought that she heard something.
You.... have finally noticed.... me......
The female shinigami was sure that she heard someone, or something, deep inside her say that, and she said in a restrained whisper "Who are you?"
No reply. and now Rei opened her eyes, disappointment showing on her face. Well.... at least I know something's there..... Sighing, she stood up from the tree stump and walked back the way she had came, her steps having a melancholy droop to them.

((Exit forest!))