Chalenges & Toil

[Sutemi Ichigo]

Time trudged on slowly for Ichigo. Four days ago he met Sara, and a week before that a guy who was really odd. Ichigo was far from the city of Japan. In a clearing. Thankfully due to the fact he was going to practice today. And remembering that time with the judges made him more aware of Myakuhaku's power. He set his CD player behind a rock And wrapped his jacket around it. Not wanting to dirty it. Looking to Myakuhaku that rested against a tree's trunk he walked over and unwrapped it. Picking up the blade by the handle he then went to the clearing away from his stuff. But he sighed, kind of quiet. He then went over to his CD player and cranked the headphone volume up to max. It may have been kind of quiet but he could still work with it on. It was a solo guitar only. And it seemed to pick up speed on different tracks. He hummed with it in sync as he practiced as well.

Ichigo wasn't planning on using Myakuhaku's full force yet. He was trying to do the regular moves. But when a song he hadn't listened to since he last saw his friend played he began to use Myakuhaku's power. Lowering the blade down to the ground he did an upward slash sending a wave at some trees. Not at full power but it did leave a few in half. Stopping he went over to the trees, "I did that?" he smiled and went back and began to do more moves. Two more days till he'd call Sara. In the mean time he was fighting air. He had his answer.

[Hakaisha Abbadon]

[This takes place some time after the events of "Recall: Part 2" and the "Heart of Darkness" story arc]

It was good to get out of Tokyo.

Abbadon had almost missed the sunrise on the cliffs of Mt. Fuji that morning. He sat on the rock of the volcano, watching as the sun started doing the "Lion King" thing. He chuckled to himself. No matter how many times he saw the sun rise, he would never get tired of it.

The last time he was out here was around the time he first arrived to Tokyo. His first training session with his pupil DarkCloud, whom he learned afterward his true name; Youjin. He went on to follow his own path -- his own destiny. And even though the archangel would never admit it, him leaving tore him in two.

Youjin was the first person to help break the curse Oracle placed on him in Heaven. He allowed him to feel again; to become himself again. Don't get me wrong; he still had a long way to brush off his cold shoulder. But if it weren't for him allowing Youjin into his life, he never would have made that first step.

As a matter of fact, if he never met Youjin and allowed him to help with his emotional development, he never would have found Shadow again. His best friend would have still been missing to him, even if Akuma found him first under orders from Oracle, only because he wouldn't have been able to have been drawn to him emotionally. And if that was the case, then Roiyaru would still be trapped within his blade.

Abbadon looked over to his companion Roiyaru, who looked as if he never saw a sunrise before. He wouldn't be surprised if that was the case, but the idea made him smile. He could only imagine what was going through the sprite's mind finally watching something as beautiful as this now that he was out of that damn sword of his.

Abbadon had to admit that finding out about Roiyaru was probably one of the best things that has happened to him. He had a genuine love for him that the archangel only wished someone shared for him. The thing about it was that right now, the dog's affection was all he needed.

Abbadon took his attention off of his dog and stared into the horizon once again. When he did, he noticed he could hear traces of a familiar song. It almost sounded like "You Cold Be Mine" from Guns N' Roses. When he randomly saw trees sliced in half vertically, he knew something was up in the forests below.

"Yo, Roi," he said to his sprite. "See what's going on down there. I'm going to fly over the area to get a bird's eye view."

Abbadon then started to rise up in a float, before flying immediately toward the area. When he looked down, he could see a boy carrying a huge ass sword listening to a CD-player. Abbadon chuckled to himself.

"Well, that's something you don't see everyday," he said to himself.

[Roiyaru]

Roiyaru watched in awe and wonder as the sun started to rise on the horizon before him. Never before had he seen such a wondrous sight. And he could not have asked to share it with anyone else other than his master.

The sprite found the sight breathtaking; uttering even the slightest of words would have ruined this perfect moment. No, with moments like this, words are not meant to be exchanged. All that there is to do is to behold the wonder before you, and enjoy yourself in the company of your loved ones.

When he decided to turn his head to his master, he noticed that there was a disturbance of sorts. He looked in the direction his master's gaze was fixed upon and narrowed his eyes to see if he could see what was the matter. What he saw were a group of trees splitting in half vertically; obviously not a mortal's way of cutting down the splendors of the forest. Something was indeed array.

"Yo, Roi," he heard hsi master say. "See what's going on down there. I'm going to fly over the area to get a birds eye view."

Roiyaru immediately nodded in agreement as he prepared to sprint down the mountainside. His quickness was rather efficient, reaching the forest area surrounding the mountain in little than thirty seconds. He only slowed down once he saw the area where the trees lay separated, coming to a complete stop when he saw a boy carrying a giant sword. And at this sight, Roiyaru stood baffled.

"...a boy?"

[Sutemi Ichigo]

Ichigo still did not like the fact that he split trees in that manner. But the music he had in the background died off right after his very second to last song stopped in the middle of it. He sighed and dropped the blade tip to the ground. Not realizing he had watchers. Resting the flat side of Myakuhaku on his shoulder he walked over to the player and sighed. Picking up the player with his free hand he looked at it the sign of an empty battery flashed, "Great... first time in a half of a week I can actually listen to this and my batteries are dead..." he then turned it off and groaned. That CD was a copy of a guitar he rented to play. And each of the twelve songs were of him playing the instrument. He never did it for profit just something he used for fun, and because he couldn't grasp the fact he was flash stepped. Especially after being flash stepped. Which still was freaky. But he was the one carrying a big ass blade called 'Stroke of Pulse' everywhere.

But then when his music was gone he felt eyes one him. Not sure how many he turned and looked around. At first he was unsure what he was looking at. Was it a cat or a dog? And a man stood by the giant thing too, "OK. I can't just be seeing this..." he then looked over to the trees and his facial expression went into a worried look, "You better not be with the police. That was an accident!" he said sheepishly.

[Hakaisha Abbadon]

Abbadon placed his hands in his pockets as he stayed hovered in the air watching the kid with the huge ass sword. Once he noticed that the boy spotted Roiyaru, he chuckled again. I mean, who else other than Abbadon would look at Roiyaru and go, "look! A talking dog! SWEET!" A regular guy would be like, "what the fuck?! A dog's not supposed to fucking talk!"

Once he could tell that this kid was freaking out over his sprite, Abbadon lowered himself to the ground standing next to Roiyaru and looking at the boy. He continued to chuckle to himself, taking one hand out of his pocket to pet Roiyaru's head.

" 'Sup, guy?" he said.

"You better not be the police," he heard the kid say. "That was an accident!"

Abbadon looked around himself in a sarcastic manner. Then he looked at Roiyaru with a grin on his face.

"He thinks I'm the police," he whispered to him. He looked back at the kid and continued to chuckle. This should be good...

"Well, I'm not the police," Abbadon said to the boy. "But I guess you can say that I am an... enforcer of sorts."

He pointed to a plant between the two of them and blasted a bit of his black fiery chaos magic. When it came in contact with it, the plant turned into one a miniature version of one of those man-eating plants you see in crappy movies. It snarled and growled and hissed at the kid, and all Abbadon could do was chuckle. He nudged his head at Roiyaru.

"Take care of it, boy."

[Roiyaru]

Roiyaru found comfort with feeling his master's touch, as always. As he heard the dialogue between his master and the boy, all he could do was find amusement in his master's own amusement.

He looked at him, feeling his gaze after the boy worried about his master being an officer of the law. He could only smile as his master continued to comfort him like he used to do in Heaven. Then he decided to show him his ability over the magic of chaos. Roiyaru had to admit; he didn't necessarily know if his choice to create such a creature to display his strength was the best decision. Then again, he was training himself on operating his magic again like he used to before his confrontation with Oracle.

"Take care of it, boy," he heard his master say. Hoping that his reasoning for summoning Roiyaru to get rid of the creature, he nodded in obedience. He released a cloud of chaotic smoke from his maw that hovered over the chaotic plant. And within three seconds, it quickly transitioned back to its original form; just as harmless as before.

Roiyaru looked at the boy before him, as peaceful and friendly as he could. "Do not be alarmed, boy," he told him. "We mean you no harm."

[Sutemi Ichigo]

{I am not sure but the original character... is it a dog or cat?}

Ichigo looked closer, was that guy floating?! Ichigo's eyes closed. But considering he had this blade, he was gonna have to get used to it. He looked at them as the man answered him. His face went white. I am in for it now... The his eyes watched him and he gulped what was he?

He made a Man Eating Plant. It was dorky looking as well. Which made him feel a little better. But then he watched the dog-ish thing act toward it. He winced. Was it supposed to be a threat? But then he sighed and started to walk over till he heard a new voice. He paused and looked at the dog. His face was dumbfounded, "Did your... did that... it talks?" trying to find a word to describe it was hard so he used 'it'. Unsure of what it was.

[Hakaisha Abbadon]

{Well, I don't know about the original character, but I intended for him to be a dog here}

"Hey!" Abbadon said to the kid with a point of the same finger he shot his chaos magic out of earlier. "Don't refer to my dog as an 'it,' or we're gonna have problems, kid! You understand me?"

Abbadon scowled at the kid, looking like he was getting ready to take off his head in a single punch. Then he started laughing.

"I'm just fucking with you, kid," he said as he slapped his knee and placed his hand back in his pocket. "But yes, he can talk."

Abbadon looked at the kids sword. It was freakin' HUGE! Then he thought about the kid's situation right now. You didn't have to be a mind reader to see that he had no fucking clue what was going on. And that gave Abbadon an idea on how to train in getting his chaos magics back to where they apparently used to be.

With a smirk on his face, Abbadon rose his left hand. A flame of black chaos overtook it as he stared at the boy's anime-style sword. And thanks to him being confused as all outdoors, Abbadon's chaotic black flames overtook the sword, making it vanish out of his hand into Abbadon's.

Yes! he thought to himself. I was hoping this would work!

Abbadon inspected the blade carefully. "Not bad, kid," he told him. Not bad at all." He looked behind him at the trees that were split in half and chuckled as he eyed back at him.

"I take it this sword was responsible for this poor attempt at being a fucking lumberjack?"

[Sutemi Ichigo]

Not even worried about anything this guy was nuts. And annoying. His grip loosened up on Myakuhaku and listened, "I just said that because I have no idea what that dog was. It looked like a cross between a cat and a dog to me." now that he finished he watched the new expressions. Was he wise cracking after he yelled at him? He then went a little closer thinking he was nuts though, "Sorry to act off but I am the one with an over sized blade my father left me."

Then looking at him he watched. What was he? Then seeing his sword gone he growled, "Give me Myakuhaku back!! If you don't you'll probably end up destroying the area!" not answering the question he glared, his hand pointing at Myakuhaku, "And I was practicing. I just over used my powers... a lot." he looked at a tree as it snapped. Kinda late you frikin' tree he thought and shook his head. Really wanting his blade back.

{Just wondering since I dunno either. A friend of mine might know htough.}

[Hakaisha Abbadon]

Abbadon looked at the boy as he heard him make a hissy fit because his...

Mya-ku-ha...ku?

Sure, why not...

Abbadon looked at the boy as he heard him make a hissy fit because his Myakuhaku was now in his possession. He then looked at the trees that looked like they went through an oversized "Slap-Chop," trying to make sense on what this kid could do. Having an idea, he glanced at Roiyaru.

<I wanna say this kid's a force user, given the proportional outlet of the aftermath of these trees,> he said to Roiyaru through their mental pattern that only they shared between each other. <Then again,> he continued as he placed the kid's weapon on his shoulder, <observing the way these trees were cut, force wouldn't be an option. I could only guess that the kid's a sound user. Hmm; haven't seen one of those in a while. With the right amount of training, he could be just what I need for the Devil Saints...>

"Here's your Mariachi back, kid," Abbadon said as he tossed the sword back in the boys range. He then knelt down to Roiyaru and started to scratch behind his ears, while at the same time resting his head on his.

"I think we got off on the wrong foot, kid," he said in his normal tone of voice when he's not trying to be a douche bag. Apparently showing affection to Roiyaru tends to do that to him. He looked at the kid again.

"The name's Abbadon."

[Roiyaru]

Roiyaru watched as his master and the young lad bickered back and forth about each others presence. And even though the sprite said that they would not hurt him, he still reacted as that of a scared and confused child, making it relatively easy for his master to take away his sword via chaotic magic.

When he heard his master speak to him mentally, he had to agree with his conclusion that this boy was indeed a wielder of sound magic. It was the only logical explanation. And he was right about something else as well. Under the right training, this boy would do a lot of good for his master's division in the Devil Saints.

Roiyaru sat on the ground as he noticed his master come toward him. He saw him kneel down and start to show Roiyaru the affection he loved receiving from him. His eyes were closed and a smile came across his muzzle as his cheek rubbed across his master's face. A tender moment indeed.

The sprite felt Abbadon's spirit tone down a bit as far as his personality was concerned, hearing him introduce his name to the boy. It would only be rude if Roiyaru did not do the same.

"And I am Roiyaru," he said to the boy. "What pretell would your name be?"

[Sutemi Ichigo]

Ichigo watched them. He really was calm now. Not even fazed. But extremely confused, and pissed. Myakuhaku wasn't allowed to be touched by others. Due to people being unable to tame it but him. He listened to him speak and sighed. But hearing the insult upon his sword he glared, "It is Myakuhaku. Not Marachi. Where did you get that idea?" he then picked up his sword as it wrapped itself up and looked at Abbadon. Got off on the wrong foot? Well more like he was the one who did. And then he introduced himself. Along with the dog. He smiled and rested the blade over his shoulder and answered the question, "Names Ichgo Sutemi. Nice to meet you both."

[Hakaisha Abbadon]

"Ichigo," Abbadon said as he stared at the boy. His eyes narrowed, looking like he was studying his face or something. "You look more like a 'Bob' to me. But either way, nice to meet you."

Abbadon stood up and let go of Roiyaru's ear. He placed his hands in his pockets and looked at Ichigo's body structure. He was tall and rather linky; he looked like he was every other lead singer in an American rock band. But with all that the archangel had seen, he should know to never judge a book my it's cover. That along with what he was able to do made the kid all the more interesting to him.

"You look nervous," Abbadon said to the kid. "Believe me, you don't have to be nervous around us. We're the good guys."

He pointed at Ichigo.

"You on the other hand," Abbadon said with the tone of a parent, "are obviously rather unique." Still observing Ichigo's outward appearance, he tilted his head and thought to himself. In a way, the kid started to remind him of Youjin a bit; not outwardly, but he could read it in his personality a little. It made him smirk.

Abbadon stood in front of him and folded his arms. "So," he started, "what exactly is it that you can do?"

[Sutemi Ichigo]

As the comment from Abbadon hist him smack in the face he looked back. You look like a 'Fill'... he thought but never said it aloud since he hated to instigate. He began to feel like he was being stared down by Abbadon. But he figured he was being examined. When Abbadon spoke again he smirked, "Yeah I am nervous, but not too much now." he then watched the man's hand with his eyes as he was pointed to. And the tone reminded him of something which he couldn't say what, "I've been told that before." he mumbled and kept his eyes on Abbadon. And then when he was asked what he could do he smiled a tiny bit.

"I can bend sound with the help of my father's sword Myakuhaku. And walk on air bending sound waves." he wasn't trying to brag but the way it came out he sounded proud and brag filled. He wasn't aiming for that. He was just trying to answer him.

[Hakaisha Abbadon]

"Yes!" Abbadon said victoriously. His pointed hand turned into a fist as he brought it to his side. He looked at Roiyaru and smiled.

"I told you he could bend sound!" he said.

Abbadon then looked at the sword he called Mya... Mya...

Well, it was Japanese.

Abbadon nodded and pulled out his sword, finding the situations funny.

"I got my sword from my father too," Abbadon said. "It doesn't necessarily help me channel my abilities like yours, but it's still pretty powerful on it's own. Folks here call it the "Sword of Darkness," mostly because of how it looks. But it's actually anything but dark. It's more chaotic in nature like me."

Abbadon tapped the blade on the end of his shoe, only to drag the tip in the soil. He continued to look at Ichigo with a smirk.

There's only one way to be sure if this kids worth my time, he thought to himself.

"So," he said to Ichigo. "You think your daddy's blade can stand it's own against mine?"

[Roiyaru]

Roiyaru nodded at his master's correctness on his query about the boy's abilities. But when he decided to instigate the fact that both of them received their swords from their father's by declaring a battle of arms, Roiyaru had to intervene.

"Master don't be so rude," Roiyaru corrected him. "If you want to have a bladed battle, please do not declare it in such a manner where you could be demeaning your opponent."

Roiyaru looked at the boy named Ichigo, keeping what his master was thinking to himself about fighting him to make sure he was worthy to work for him in the Devil Saints to himself.

"Please do not be insulted if my master has done so," he apologized to him. "He really meant no harm in the comment. He still needs to work on what is acceptable to say to certain people at the appropriate time. But I will say that he is rather anxious to see how well you fair in bladed combat."

[Sutemi Ichigo]

Ichigo's expression was blank and in his eyes he had annoyance. Did that guy pull a move from a movie just now? It made him smirk though. But what he said about his sword made him want to growl. How dare he say that about his sword and his dead father. He gripped the blade's handle and listened long enough to talk, "Call it 'Pulsation' or 'Stroke of Pulse' if you can't remember it's name." but he left out his father. He never knew him, this was a lucky pass down for him. And he was proud of his sword. Even if people whispered "that boy... is he carrying a huge ass blade on his back?" he never listened to the comments. Not really liking them. But Abbadon was making him mad. He disgraced his late father.

But then he heard Roiyaru speak he smiled. One for the dog... zero for the odd guy.. He then watched as he moved his blade to have the tip digging the ground. It unwrapped as well. A fight would work. Roiyaru then spoke to him, he listened as well and smiled, "Yeah. I'm not offended by it much. But he shouldn't speak that way for the dead. Even if hearing it was a 'gift'. My family is gone so this is the only thing I got special." he then held up his sword and pointed it at Abbadon, "Sure I'll fight. Just don't say those things about my father or Myakuhaku." he then set the blade down at his side waiting.

[Hakaisha Abbadon]

Abbadon rolled his eyes as Roiyaru corrected him and rose an eyebrow as he watched him apologize to Ichigo on his behalf. But what got to him was when Ichigo said to him that his father had died; just like his own. But unlike Abbadon, Ichigo didn't have the opportunity to know his father like he did. That kind of put things into perspective a bit for Abbadon.

He sighed, regarding how he'd been acting toward the kid. The only reason why he'd been acting this way was because he saw potential in him; potential that if brought up right could make him into a better... whatever he was trying to be. And in order for that potential to be created was to make the skin thick; to allow whatever his opponent is saying to him to roll off of him just as easily as it had been said.

He had been subconsciously training the kid already.

Son of a bitch...

"So," he said before twirling his sword in an artistic manner. "Your dad's dead too?"

He continued to show off his ability over swordplay until he ended up pointing his sword's tip toward Ichigo. He smirked as it started to glow gray.

"I guess that's something we have in common, kid."

Then with his free hand, Abbadon gestured to his soon-to-be pupil to attack first.

[Sutemi Ichigo]

Ichigo smiled, as Abbadon's expressions changed. Not used to pet rebellion he guessed. But when he was asked again of his father he nodded, "Yeah. No idea how he died, but to me it is an honor to hold this blade." He then looked at Abbadon as his blade raised as well. He then nodded, "Can be a common factor and it can't be. Depending on what you're talking of..." He then stepped backward as if going ups steps he was four feet in the air. He smiled and slid one foot back and flipped his wrist that held the blade. The edge of it faced forward and not backward.

Around Myakuhaku a pale blue mist shown but it was highly invisible, he saw it though. It swirled around the entire blade enveloping it in mist. His free hand placed upon the handled as he bent down. Getting ready to swing the pulse at him. Soon as it became visible he looked at Abbadon, "Ya ready dude?" he then swung the blade up sending the blue lash at Abbadon. Attacking lightly first to test the waters.

Never before had he actually used visible energy waves on anyone. This was new for him. But now that it was tamed he could do it better than when he failed that test.

[Hakaisha Abbadon]

Abbadon smirked at the kid's comment as he brought his blade closer to himself. "I could ask you the same question," he replied.

<Sit this one out, boy,> he told his sprite. <I wanna see what the kid's made of.>

Watching Ichigo rise in the air about four feet, Abbadon saw him send what looked like a pulse from his sword toward his direction. Crouched down, Abbadon flipped in the air quickly right before it hit his location. Now hovering in the air himself, Abbadon twirled his blade and hardened his grasp on the handle. His blade immediately went ablaze with his black chaotic flames.

"Nice trick kid," he said. "You do birthdays too?"

With that said, Abbadon immediately flew toward Ichigo's direction preparing to swing his sword from underneath, hoping that the sound-user would counter with his own blade. But nowadays, you never know what kids would do...