Eight Divided by Two [Kanae, Rangiku]

CAPTAIN NAGOSHI KANAE

Since returning triumphant from the battlefield on Earth, having fought and destroyed one of Asher's most powerful lieutenants, Captain Nagoshi Kanae had descended into the pits of monotony. She led the Combat Division with unfeeling efficiency, truly a model Captain. Unfortunately, this was not at all what she wanted to be doing.

As Kanae's vicious, hateful eyes set upon her troops during their morning kata and training, her mind, as tumultuous as ever, imagined each and every one of their brutal deaths at her own hands. That would be a wonderful way to let off some steam, she thought. Until she gets a better opportunity, Kanae knew she would have to somehow settle for merely imagining a slaughter.

MURDER QUEEN | END POST

Rangiku had wanted to have a sparring match in the 4th. After having a few matches she had decided to pack up for the day, but noticing a familiar but cold spiritual energy she would make her way to it. Wanting to request a sparring match from the captain. She wanted to have someone that she knew wouldn't pull punches, and this was all in the name of Rangiku becoming more powerful.

"Hello Captain Nagoshi would you be interested in a sparring match? "

She would say with a small bow before turning and looking at all of the training shinigami. She would smile as she was always glad to see other squads shinigami..Seems like most of their training goes towards combat, but that would make sense.

CAPTAIN NAGOSHI KANAE

The moment Rangiku Matsumoto stepped onto Kanae's training grounds, the Captain was aware of her presence. None could come and go without her watchful eye being drawn to them. A mixture of all-consuming hatred for others and an intense paranoia kept her focus sharp. So by the time Rangiku marched her way over to Kanae, she had guessed at the reason for this intrusion.

A spar. She figured as much, though she still considered the possibility this woman was here on behalf of that freak Eighth Division Captain. Kanae hadn't turned from observing the nearby training Shinigami as Rangiku addressed her. She made no attempt, at first, to even acknowledge the ginger haired women. Instead, she allowed a short time to pass before answering Rangiku "A spar in my Division isn't child's play, Vice Captain Matsumoto Rangiku. If you expect to leave with only scrapes and bruises, go back to the Eighth." Finally, Kanae turned to face Rangiku head-on and placed her hand on her Zanpakuto's handle at her hip. "Or draw your sword now." she said with a taunt.

MURDER QUEEN | END POST

Rangiku would nod as she knew that the 4th was a bit more brutal in there ways. She understood this, and she decided to come anyway. She didn't want to back out now that she had already asked the captain to have a match with her. She would draw her blade before taking a deep breath, and waited for the area to clear out so that they could start.

"How far are we going?"

She would ask as she liked to allow her opponent to set the pace. She wanted to go all out, but she was aware of the inherent power gap between the pair, but she was hoping that this could be a good experience for her. The last time that she had crossed blades with a captain has been along time. She hasn't really had a sparring match with Rose yet so she couldn't remember. Was it captain Hitsugaya?

CAPTAIN NAGOSHI KANAE

"How far?"

What kind of weakness were they cultivating in the Eighth Division? "Hmph. You may choose the limit for the spar: Either you end up hospitalized, or you walk away now." With a wave of her hand Kanae signaled one of the nearby Fourth squad members to run over and accept the Captain's haori she shrugged off her shoulders. The man folded it neatly then vanished in a Flash Step, creating as much distance as possible between himself and the coming violence.

Standing a few dozen feet away from her challenger, Captain Kanae took a relaxed stance, as if she wasn't about to participate in a dangerous bout with a Vice Captain. Her left hand reached up to hold her Zanpakuto's sheath just below its handle, her thumb gently resting against the weapon's tsuba. She would allow her challenger the first move, and if the redhead proved reluctant Kanae would be more than willing to take matters into her own hands.

MURDER QUEEN | END POST

Rangiku would acknowledge the fact that the captain was giving her the first move. She was appreciative of the action as she knew strength wise the captain was above her. However that's what this training was about. She wanted to get stronger, and she wanted to improve her craft. She didn't want to have doubts about her position anymore. She wanted to feel good about being the vice captain! Not just thinking she shouldn't have the position in favor of Noharu.

Now was the time for words, so not holding back with her normal Zanpakto should would draw it, flash stepping forward to take a heavy swing directly at the captains shoulder. She knew that Kanae would probably be able to tell if she was aiming any where other than to hurt her. She thinks the captain may take that as disrespectful if she were to only aim at the blade.

CAPTAIN NAGOSHI KANAE

Kanae stood stock-still, stoic in the face of her challenger. The red-haired woman's opening salvo, a slash aimed at the Captain's shoulder, was deflected by a sweeping parry, one invisible to the eyes of her subordinates. Perhaps Rangiku would've caught, or at least sensed, what her opponent had done: A draw, slash, re-sheathing all in one fluid motion. Kanae, a master of iaido, could do this technique with terrible speed and precision.

Before her challenger could follow up with another attack, Kanae lifted her leg and aimed a kick square at the woman's abdomen with enough force to send her reeling back. She had no intention of going easy on Rangiku, none whatsoever. Though she knew she couldn't outright kill her, Kanae already wasn't a forgiving opponent and she relished the thought of sending this Vice Captain back to her squad after a week's-long stay in the hospital.

MURDER QUEEN | END POST

Rangiku would see the woman draw her blade and parry her, but she wasn't able to react to it. In fact she was barely able to see it as her weapon was sent in an upwards motion and she would find herself being kicked. Fairly hard as she felt it, and wondered if it had been a mistake to challenge her to a spar. She would slide across the ground as she would move her hand down to touch it, and slowly stop herself before she hit a wall.

She couldn't think that she was doomed to fail. As if she did she wouldn't get what she wanted to out of this. She challenged the captain and now it was time to accept what she had done. Mistake or not. She wouldn't dare try to get snarky or banter with this captain. This time she would flash step behind the woman, and aim her sword at her left shoulder in a downward slash.

She would try to be ready for the return attack as she would Ready herself to use her free hand for any flying limbs that may come at her.

CAPTAIN NAGOSHI KANAE

"Flanking an enemy who's already proven their superior speed, how...disastrous." stated, or rather taunted, Kanae coldly as Rangiku Flash Stepped around and behind her. Upon the Vice Captain's swing of her Zanpakuto, Kanae bent forward at the waist and brought a foot up to meet the other woman's sword hand and stop the slash in its tracks. She seamlessly transitioned into a forward cart wheel, aiming to both knock Rangiku's weapon from her head and land a sandal-covered strike on the underside of her chin.

Now back on her feet, Kanae pivoted in place to face her opponent again, an unfeeling, unimpressed look upon her face, the same one she wore when fighting off her own subordinates. "Is this what the Gotei Thirteen could offer during my absence? Where is the bloodthirst? The intent to kill? Were I your enemy, your head would already be lopped from your shoulders. Don't fret too much though, little girl. The children in my own Division have little more to offer. The Gotei as a whole has come down with a sickness, a disease of complacency and weakness."

MURDER QUEEN | END POST

Rangiku would be kicked in the hand and wince from the pain, but she wouldn't dare drop her sword in this spar. As soon as this happened she would flash step back away from the woman. Not wanting to risk getting another kick to the face as she would decide what to do next. Ignoring the harsh words from the captain as she knew what she was getting herself into.

She knew that Kanae was a bit more hateful, but she was also extremely strong. Rangiku wanted to push herself more, but she knew most captains would hold back. So deciding on Kanae she knew that she was going to need to ignore the harshness and not let it bother her. She had heard she was even like this to her own squad members.

"Growl Haineko"

Her sword turning into ash as she would allow the ash to spread around her. Not sure how Haineko would react with the acid of the captain. However, Rangiku wouldn't just give her free time to use her zanpakto because she felt Kanae may see that as disrespectful. She would try to keep her distance for now.

"Neko Hisouzan"

As she would swing the blade downward and an arc of ash would rush towards the captain. She could probably react to it, but Rangiku was trying to pay attention to her openings. She knew when she used this attack it may leave her sides open.