In response, Hoshizora shook her head. She did not deny his apology and though she accepted it, she did not necessarily need to hear it. What happened is just as much her fault as it is his own. As she said before, training is needed in order to progress. To break through Arashi's limitations. She did not want him to change his overall character, but the character he presented in the face of battle. That always gentle, soft, and kind internal and external demeanor he always carried since birth. Its what made him weak, but also strong at the same time. To dismantle that, she needed to show him that he could still be just as kind, just as gentle, but also carry the ferocity, the tenacity, and ruthless of a warrior! Having apologies before, his gaze made its way back to Hoshizora, watching create even more of a distance between them. Dancing almost, moving on just her tip-toes. Her movements were effortless. She, who carried the absolute power he possessed. Even now, with a mastery over his Shikai and even his Bankai, it seemed as though she had a far better understanding of it.
Even in this endless infinity that is his inner-world, he could feel an incredible amount of spiritual pressure. All of it radiating from Hoshizora. Her eyes closed, fully, the facial expression Arashi always had, but he kept his eyes open. A look of confusion, somewhat coupled with a surprised expression. The air felt like it tightened as it begun to shake and visual. With ferocious control and stability, her power extended to every inch of this world.
"Through kindness and this facade of a smile. There is still danger. Death before the draw of any sword, before the first attack could be conducted on the opposing side. I will show you Arashi, what I mean, so that you can understand the feeling of a killer instinct behind kindness."
Arashi is a smart man, it did not take him long to understand what she meant by this. On the exterior side, everyone would see him as someone who wouldn't dare hurt as fly without a legitimate reason. However, such intent to kill is hidden. The swift fate of death is delivered without hesitation or remorse. Even though he understood this concept to battle, it did not mean that he was ready to just topple over his existing personality. For all of his life, this is the path he carried, the way he chose to live. There were times, before the Soul Society, hell, before the Academy that he almost displayed another side of him. A side that he was afraid he would come to regret in the past... In the palm of Hoshizora's right hand, she revealed in an instant sword mimicking the size, length and overall shape of a sword but composed of light. Arashi's eyes trailed to the blade, but as they came back up to her it only took the subtle action of blinking to totally miss everything. The tip of the blade between his eyes, she moved so fast! Arashi moved his head, reacting instinctively. The blade slipped passed, cutting through his hair. The same feeling he felt when he fought Sword Eater. That bottomless pit of hunger, but right now, he felt just a astronomical intent to kill.
He never expected, her to reveal such a resolve and will to end his life. It was almost like she is a different person. No. With a glimpse, he could still see her smiling, as if she enjoyed it. She had no problem with taking Arashi's life. No problem taking anyone else. No real reasoning behind, just doing is enough to maintain such an expression. The action of her stab, left a superficial cut upon his cheek and so he backed away. He is left in awe.
"Come now Arashi, I do not want to kill you. Your defensiveness will keep you from ever seeing tomorrow. Sword Eater was strong, but understand that there are forces much stronger that him. If you can not let go, you might as well remain here in the safety of your home. Stay in the Hospital where Squad Four can protect you, if you can't protect yourself. In this world, there is no room for softies like you."
A cute and bubbly laugh followed the truth in her words. He could always ignore this side that she wish to bring forth from him. He could easily just remain the same, but he knew, that his comrades will not accept such foolishness. If he wanted to become a Captain, he needed to transcend old emotions and ideals. He needed to extend the ruthlessness he felt from all those time sin the Rukongai to his combat. And so, his head fell forward, where his hair naturally started to cascade a shadow over his face, covering everything but his ever growing smile from view. Hoshizora remained, bouncing from side to side, twirling her light-sword, but quickly another one in her other hand and began doing the same. To say the least, she is having fun. From Arashi's own hands, he created the same construct with no effort at all and just as instantaneous as it was created is the same instant he used Shunpo to cover the distance matching the speed Hoshizora displayed just a few moments ago.
"Oh!"
Surprised, but also excited, A downward slash from the sword in his left hand had been evaded by her moving to the left, however she would be in the trajectory of a high-speed stab coming from the second sword in his right hand. That one blocked with an inverted block using the sword in her left as she moved further to the left, but around to the back side of her long time friend and opponent. Her right hand loaded for a horizontal slash, starting by her left ear and aimed to swipe through the air and aimed to emerge from the other side of his neck, the result being the removal of Arashi's head in the process. Even though she moved in the blink of an eye in the time that she blocked and getting to Arashi's blind-side, Arashi was able to follow her movements, reading her like an open book. He moved the sword in his left hand to the back, in the motion of someone using a back-scratched to block the incoming strike. A flash of light expands from the clash between their blades. Concealing their presence, no silhouettes seen to make out what happened next. However, as the light show fades, both Arashi's and Hoshizora can be seen with both their arms and swords engaged in high-speed combat!
With every blow, with every thrust, with every slash, these two were neck and neck as they should be. Clashing, moving, sparks flying as their speed seemingly began to increase with neither of them showing any kind of fatigue in the moment. The entire time, both were smile, their eyes visually barely open, yet they could see each other just fine. In just a second they clashed at least a thousand times, but in the next second, their final clash would push them both back placing 20 feet between the two of them.
"You always had the skills, the speed, the strength, the power to move as you are now. Your character, your overall mindset, is what is holding you back, but even now you should be so much faster in your reaction and raw speed in your attacks. Though you have been denying it for years, you absolutely enjoy the conflict you have the desire to take a life. I know you do! Come!"
In the moment she gave him, he took a look at himself. He had trouble keeping up with Sword Eater when he started matching the speed of light. The same speed he could use a few of his attacks, but when he fought Hoshizora just now, it was so easy for him to keep up... He looked up and Hoshizora once again disappeared, her speed increased and Arashi once again engaging in combat.
"I understand now, Hoshizora." He spoke as they traded blows.
"Actions speak louder than words, young man. Ehehehe," she responded with excitement!
