One Plus Two Equals Three [Erika, Mizu]

It was about that time, she'd give the vaguest warning that she could. Erika wanted to continue evaluating the performance of the other vice-captains. It was an important factor to consider for the effectiveness of the Gotei United's capabilities by ensuring that the positions that were expected to perform did so. That meant her target was told to expect her and the subject was vague, Erika could tell her that this would evaluate her combat performance and decision making matrix but then Mizu might be inclined to prepare.

That wasn't acceptable. She wanted to see what the vice-captain was capable of when she had little time to prepare.Combat was rarely so forgiving after all.

"Vice-Captain Masamune for Morikawa."

She told the unseated shinigami and leaned against the wall patiently. A plain asauchi slung over her shoulder, unlike Rio she had not restrained herself like this but Rio was more seasoned. Erika could always increase her output if she required for this evaluation that was nothing more than an excuse to test herself against these other vice-captains.

Work had begun to settle down for the budding Vice Captain of the Second Division. She was able to get through her work and the day without feeling like she'd just run a marathon by the end of it, a result of many of the casualties from the bombing and battle in Africa recuperating successfully. Between work easing up and her burgeoning relationship with Kyo, Mizu was astonished at how quickly she had gone from run down and somewhat depressive in the aftermath of the hospital bombing to the cheery person she saw reflected in the mirror every morning.

She breathed a sigh of relief as she slouched back in her office chair, thankful to be almost finished for the day. Well, with the paperwork at least; she had many more responsibilities than that in her squad. Though she enjoyed paperwork, Mizu had come to terms with much of her other tasks being more fulfilling, like her work in the hospitals and training subordinates. Her relief was interrupted as an unseated squad member knocked on the wooden office door, causing her to shoot back up into a proper sitting position.

Rap, rap rap.

"Vice Captain Morikawa, Vice Captain Masamune of the First Division is here to see you."

Ah! Mizu wondered why Erika had sent such a vague message a while ago. She knew she'd be coming, but didn't know when or what for. "Thank you, I'll be right out." Mizu stood from her chair, fitted her trusty Zanpakuto to the clip on her hip, and exited her office without delay. Upon turning the corner, her eyes set on Erika, a woman she would mistake for a member of her own family if she didn't know any better. Her minuscule stature and golden eyes and hair were all calling cards of Morikawa women, and before Mizu knew it she felt a connection to her, if only subconsciously.

After approaching the waiting Erika, Mizu gave a respectful bow and addressed her guest. "Vice Captain Masamune-san, welcome to the Second Division. How may I help you?"

"I'm evaluating the combat strength of every vice-captain in the Gotei, you are next."

Erika explained plain and simple. She kicked off the wall to stand at her full - incredibly small - height, and crack her neck like she was getting ready for the assessment she was conducting. This small window was the only preparation that she'd allow Mizu, so she best use it as well as she could. One didn't get to dictate anything if they are forced into a fight.

"Select a spot that we can fight."

"O-oh!" Mizu had heard of Captains inspecting and evaluating their divisions, but a Vice Captain going around and doing it to other Vice Captains? Now that was a surprise, especially with everything going on in the world. Though, as Mizu thought about it, it made sense for the premier fighters of the Gotei to be capable and at their best. If she accepted that logic, then she could spare some time for this challenge.

Though taken a bit by surprise, Mizu didn't hesitate long before bowing in acknowledgement of Erika's request and responding to the brusque woman. "The safest place would be the nearby barracks training grounds, it should be mostly wide open this time of day." The Second Division may not be known for its warriors, not like the more combat-oriented squads, but it did have its share of capable soldiers who spent ample time in the training area between their other responsibilities.

Mizu turned on her heel and led the way through some halls and outside onto the dirt ground training area. Once they had made it a fair distance from the barrack itself, she stopped and turned to Erika before speaking again. "I hope this is satisfactory, Vice Captain Masamune-san."

"This will do."

She said after a moment of looking over the area. With her disinterested expression and monotonous voice that she carried herself with so much it was hard to really judge what she thought. Erika didn't want to waste her time though, she was impatient, and this was a proper assessment. So in one clean motion she drew her sword and rushed Mizu with complete intent to cut her.

Holding back was pointless since it would amount to nothing if she didn't get a proper understanding of Mizu's capabilities - and a satisfying fight - out of this. She'd show her wannabe doppelganger that there was more to combat than being able to recite lines.

The Second Division training grounds weren't significantly different than any other squad's, so Mizu would have been quite surprised if Erika found the area unsatisfactory for a bit of a spar. As she began leaning over in a respectful bow, tradition before a friendly spar, she noticed sudden movement in her peripheral vision. In a flash she stood back up and drew her Zanpakuto, narrowly moved it in time to block Erika's unceremonious attack.

"Ugh?!"

Is this part of the "evaluation"?! questioned Mizu to herself. In that instant she made the decision to go all-out, to use every tool in her disposal to send this woman packing back to the First Division. "Hadō #32: Ōkasen!" spoke Mizu rapidly, which promptly summoned yellow energy along her Zanpakuto's edge before firing it forward in a sizable blast big enough to envelop Erika's body and more.

"Hadō #31: Shakkahou ."

She uttered in unison with Mizu's own declaration, though the red flames flew from her free hand to wrap around the two of them. Red and yellow became orange before dissipating to leave a black circle around them. Erika had more than just sword tricks up her sleeve so she'd be happy to take advantage of her immense pool of reiryoku to show her opponent that it'd take more than kidou to best her.

"Hmph!" uttered Mizu, indignant. She wouldn't allow herself to be so easily overwhelmed, she couldn't. Not if it meant making her Captain or Division look bad. She wanted nothing more in this moment than to represent them to the best of her abilities. Though the bout had only just begun, she was already ready to step things up a notch as she stared down her opponent with burning eyes.

"Bakudō 55: Sei-kotsu Sōkō!" A spell of her own make, Sei-kotsu Sōkō rapidly covered Mizu in a bright light before revealing her now clad in a suit of translucent samurai-like armor. Now guarded from a potential counterattack, Mizu held her weapon in front of her and quickly repeated her previous spell, though with a twist "Hadō #32: Ōkasen - Apply Fire!" Replicating the legendary, now probably infamous, attack of Karakura's Hero, Mizu swiped downward with her sword and sent out a wave of energy at Erika. Only this time it was sheathed in fire and rapidly expanded to become an inferno spreading across the training grounds.

"Nijū Hachi - Kanokiritou. (華ノ刀切 ("ザんげりん") Seventy Eight: Blossom Cutting Sword)"

She uttered in response without bothering for an incantation but the Zangerin did not leave her blade to fire off the length of her sword. It would only sharpen the sword further while she launched towards Mizu in a straight line. Her arm swung the blade with no small amount of force so that the shockwave of her reiatsu extended it in front of her to part the sea of flames and get her closer to Mizu.

Ittou: Kinnosen [一刀 金ノ閃, Single Sword: Golden Flash].

Erika aimed to rush straight past Mizu and cut through her armour in one swift motion so that it all happened as a golden blur to any onlookers. In one swift motion she drew (cut the flames), cut (the armour), and sheathed (turned to face her opponent) again. Her attack had hardly been aimed to bissect her target or do any serious harm, Erika was more interested in seeing how the armour held up to her fusion of kido and swordsmanship.

This was an assessment after all.

"Hadō #78: Zangerin!"

On the upswing, after releasing the blast of fire from Ōkasen, Mizu swiftly replicated the spell her opponent cast and opted to also hold the energy along her Zanpakuto. Instead of using it for unabated offense though, seeing Erika suddenly launch forward at her made Mizu aim for a different strategy. She drew the energy from Zangerin from her Zanpakuto and into her Sei-kotsu Sōkō-made armor, causing the plates of energy covering her to glow a brilliant yellow. With their energies clashing, a rainbow of spiritual sparks would fly in every direction from Erika's sword striking Mizu's armor.

When her armor stopped glowing, a tremendous crack along her side could be clearly seen, revealing even empowered it couldn't take Erika's strike unharmed. Knowing she couldn't just idly stand there while she waits for Erika to attack again, Mizu spun in place, already casting her next spell before coming to face her target "Hadō #58: Tenran - Apply Wind!" From her Zanpakuto a funnel twister quickly shot across to Erika. Enhanced by Genso Kakusan, the wind would be like a flurry of blades capable of shredding things to bits like a blender.