Chalenges & Toil

[Sutemi Ichigo]

Ichigo watched him jump from the blast, "That would have only left a scratch. That is if you let it hit you." he teased and then watched him turn the blade into a fire engage sword. Then he switched his gripping and waited for him to come. His mind going over how to block or even do a counter attack. He then sneered at the comment and retorted, "I don't use Myakuhaku like that! Besides I am not going to use it full yet... not even close." his blade then slashed down and caught on to Abbadon's making a noise and a few sparks.

It was impossible to get to the level he spoke of but if he told him HOW he could Reach Myakuhaku's second and only other form he'd hate to use that. He was just dueling with Abbadon, no use in using a brutal move. Ichigo's blade soon began to slowly envelope in Orange. The fourth stage of level. But even he couldn't get it to Black in his state. He'd have to wait for a while to try that.

Even before activating the color he used currently he contemplated on whether or not to use a sonic wave that would probably harm Abbadon. But he did not want to. It he had to though he'd use it. Just he was in a duel. Not a battle or tournament.

[Hakaisha Abbadon]

Abbadon's sword clashed with Ichigo's as they were in mid-air. He chuckled a bit as he heard the kid's response to his comment.

"Christ, kid," he said. "Don't you know what a joke is?!"

Abbadon continued to ease his strength against Ichigo's as their swords continued to grind against each other. That's when he began to notice that the kid's weapon started to glow orange. That told the archangel that he had something up his sleeve. He looked into Ichigo's eyes. One way or another, he had to show this kid that even though your in the midst of a friendly duel, you have to always bring your A game. Otherwise you would never grow as a fighter or a warrior.

To show Ichigo that he wanted him to bring him his A game, Abbadon kicked Ichigo in his gut to release their blades. Twirling his sword again, he swung it in a baseball bat-like fashion, channeling his chaos magic he was born with through the chaos magic the sword provided to send a small blast of black fiery chaos magic the kid's way. Once his attack was finished, he twirled around due to the amount of force it took the archangel to swing out the magic, and flew behind his attack.

He was hoping that if Ichigo found a way to cancel out his attack, the blast would hide Abbadon long enough to perform a surprise punch to the face. But if he couldn't avoid the energy attack, he could end up with the possibility of performing both attacks. Either way, he was going to teach this kid a lesson he wouldn't soon forget.

[Sutemi Ichigo]

Ichigo smirked and glared at him, "Yeah I know what a joke is. But that did not sound like one." he then noticed Abbadon's gaze. He knew that he was coming to use the next energy level. Why did he have the irrepressible guy feeling that Abbadon was going to do something sneaky?

Ichigo noticed that Abbadon's leg was moving and before he could move he nearly dropped Myakuhaku from being kicked in the gut. But only one hand held onto his sword. It's color flickered to dark blood red. But the energy swirled around it as it went to dark green just as a high pitched noise came from nowhere. Like a siren on a really bad high note. Luckily he was using the low effect. He then made it die out and stood up in time to see a blast coming for him.

Gritting his teeth he looked for Abbadon. But as he did a shield went up in front of him. One made from Myakuhaku's power. His sword was flickering to dark purple. Nearly the color he did not want to show. Even as the blast went into the shield he could feel it pushing him. And the way Abbadon was playing was making him pissed. He was calming down though. Making sure to keep his Myakuhaku dark red. But he was looking for Abbadon. Not sure where he was. He was on the verge of sending another howling noise from his blade.

[Hakaisha Abbadon]

Abbadon saw the kid block his attack, followed by him frantically looking for him. He smirked.

Bingo.

Once the blast was completely disintegrated, Abbadon came in with a right hook toward his face. Not taking the time to check if the blow hit or not, he took a hold of his sword with both hands -- the blade still ablaze with his black chaotic fire -- and swung it into Ichigo's side so that the blunt end of the blade would knock him out of the sky. Abbadon could feel it.

His method was working...

[Sutemi Ichigo]

Ichigo watched as the blast left. Did Abbadon go due to the siren noise {extreme sound 'Reeee'} hurt his head? But he saw Abbadon come from the back of the move he pulled and dodged the punch. Damn... he distracted me as he hid behind his blast! Then I nearly get my nose broke! What-- his train of thought interrupted by the blow to the side. He tumbled in the air as he fell to the ground. Before hitting it he let go of Myakuhaku.

It landed by him, standing up he coughed and then looked at Abbadon. Grabbing Myakuhaku it went black, "Damn Myakuhaku changed...." he said looking to his Black Japanese long sword. But he was smiling. Raising it with one arm he then pulled back and then shot a black lash with a red rim at Abbadon. He was pissed off big time. His side, gut, and a few other things hurt, mainly from the fall. He wasn't used to being beat up like this.

"Why beat the tar out of me? Trying to prove your strong by beating a weaker person?" he growled. His sword reminded him of a movie one. His anger was boiling at Abbadon, "Not very much like a so called 'Warrior' huh?" he then waited for him to attack.

[Hakaisha Abbadon]

Abbadon hovered in the air at least a few yards above Ichigo. His arms were folded as he looked down on the kid, who was obviously pissed. That was a good thing. He was right about his training method working. He watched as the kid's sword started to glow black. That could only mean one thing: he was about to finally bring his A-game. But as much as he wanted to fight this kid full strength, he had to make sure he got his point across first.

Abbadon watched Ichigo complain about how rough he was treating him in this duel, right as he sent a black lash from the sword with a red rim toward him. He continued to stay still as it headed toward him, also continuing to listen to him try and mock him. Abbadon chuckled to himself.

He's learning, he thought to himself.

As the lash came closer to his location, Abbadon continued to hover in his exact location in the sky with his arms folded.

Too bad he has to learn this lesson the hard way, he thought.

Using his racial ability, Abbadon simply shifted his body to his right, immediately allowing the blast to miss him completely. As he watched it continue on into the atmosphere, he looked back down at Ichigo, unfolding his arms.

"A warrior gives his all in everything he participates in boy," Abbadon said as he placed his palm in his direction. "There is no consideration for your opponent when your on a battlefield."

Abbadon's hand started to glow black. Once it overtook it completely, he shot another blast of chaotic fire magic; this one bigger and faster than the one before. As he watched it head straight toward Ichigo, he once again folded his arms and lowered himself to the ground. Once his feet met grass, he unfolded his arms and started to slowly walk toward the human boy.

Come on, kid, he thought to himself. Show me I'm not wasting my time here...

[Sutemi Ichigo]

Watching him gaze at the attack and not move he growled. It took several months to learn that and it missed in his first use of it in a fight! But why was he smiling? He did not know but looking down at his sword he then looked at Abbadon. His attempt failed with the black wave. But maybe this time he'll win it with the Siren again. But worse than before.

He then looked at Myakuhaku as if he was contemplating it but then when Abbadon spoke he growled. But he understood what he was being told. Even if his face did not show it. When his opponent finished he saw a fire blast come at it. Too fast to even make a shield of sound. He then made Myakuhaku have the haze again and then sent a full strength blast at the Chaotic's energy blast. It would have to cancel it out. If not he was a sitting duck.

The shield he had up right then was probably not enough to hold it from hitting him. He was already feeling the slight toll. Just a tiny drain but he was starting to get ready for the Siren's Scream. It was building up fast as he gave Myakuhaku a slight tap with his finger.

[Hakaisha Abbadon]

Abbadon continued to walk toward the kid. Once he noticed that he was trying to cancel out the blast he sent out with with his own, he started to chuckle. Abbadon could only think of what he could do next to try and get the meaning of this fight through the kid's head. But it seemed that there was only one way to do that. And it wasn't continuing this fight.

It was time to end this.

As he continued walking toward the kid, he sent the remainder of his regular mortal fire magic to feed into the chaotic blast he sent out earlier that Ichigo was having trouble against. Knowing that chaos and fire were quite ferocious once mixed, he then rose his hands once he was assured that the kid's barrier was broken. He wanted to make sure he was humbled when he talked to him. And by humbled, he didn't mean on his knees; he meant falling on his ass after a strong elemental-combination attack.

Once his hands were raised after knowing his attack went through, the black fiery chaos magic immediately retreated back into his palms as the remainder of his mortal fire magic he released dissipated into the air. He smirked.

"Game's over kid," Abbadon said. "I win."

He lowered his arms and folded them again.

"Now it's time to talk business..."

[Sutemi Ichigo]

Ichigo's expression dropped and so did his next move. His new attack would wait till next meeting he guessed. Maybe next time he'll blind him with high pitched frequencies. Seeing his shield shatter he nearly bolted before being thrown back. He slid back several feet as Myakuhaku landed away as well. Sticking out of the ground. Ichigo stood up and moaned. He walked over to Myakuhaku and took it. It went back to its normal form and wrapped back up.

"Yeah you cheated. I never laid a good blow, but that block!" he growled at him and then slung it over his back. He wasn't trying to act like a poor looser but still none of his attacks hit. Talk business? What the hell does he want now? Ichigo Sutemi thought as he looked at Abbadon. "What do you want now?" he said irritated.

[Roiyaru]

Roiyaru could sense the excessive usage of Chaos magic once he saw Ichigo and his master take to the skies. He sighed and rolled his eyes.

Not again, he thought to himself.

The chaotic sprite immediately started to walk toward where he expected this little duel would come to an end. He bothered not looking to the skies to observe his master's recruitment initiation duel; it was all rather droll to him. Instead, he sat down, took yet another sigh and once again rolled his eyes.

"Three, two, one..."

Ichigo fell out of the skies and Roiyaru watched emotionless, as if he were expecting something to this nature to occur. It was true; Roiyaru did sense potential from the boy, just as his master did. But he was an Archangel going against a teenaged boy from the mortal realm. It wasn't that of a fair fight. It was that advantage that Roiyaru knew what his master was trying to achieve. But just because he knew what he was trying to do, didn't mean that the sprite approved of it.

He saw a blast of his master's chaotic magic quickly advance toward the boy's direction. Once again he sighed. This time he laid his entire body to rest as he sensed his master's advancement to his position. That was when he witnessed his master's usage of the rest of his fire magic he learned during his stay here to collaborate with the chaotic blast he sent his way. Once he stood up, he heard his master's next few words.

"Game over kid; I win. Now it's time to talk business."

Roiyaru stood up next to his master and looked at him with a grimaced eye. He heard Ichigo's replies to the declaration and continued to look at his master with a hint of discipline with his good eye.

"I wouldn't say that he cheated, Ichigo," he said, still not taking his eye off of his master. "But I will say that he had an unfair advantage..."

[Hakaisha Abbadon]

Abbadon looked at Roiyaru, somewhat thrown off that he was giving him the snake eye of doom. Trying to shake it off, he looked back at Ichigo.

"There's a reason why I did it though, Roi," Abbadon said.

He walked in front of the kid with his arms folded.

"I represent an organization of Bounty Hunters that deal in natural and supernatural phenomena," the archangel stated. "I am currently looking for recruits for my branch department, and I believe that you have the potential to work for me."

Abbadon continued to sense the frustration, anger and confusion of Ichigo's mind. Using his pact with past, he decided to peer into his to see if he had any encounter with any of his teammates. He was correct when he saw his best friends sister.

Akuma Sara.

God damn it, you blond dike, he thought to himself.

"You have already contact with one of us," he stated. "As a matter of fact, she gave you her card. Does the name 'Sara' ring any bells to you?"

[Sutemi Ichigo]

He looked at Roiyaru as he spoke. He stretched his back and glanced at Abbadon. Hell yes it was unfair!! But even as Abbadon spoke he mocked him in his mind making a slight smirk showing up. But then it went away when he heard he was a Bounty Hunter and recruting people. Hell why work for a moron who just beat him to a pulp almost and sort of bragged on it? But he listened to Abbadon.

But when he said that he knew he had talked to one of them he was confused. Who was he talking of? It couldn't be the Devil Saints could it? Then when he spoke of the card he growled. How the fuck did he know of that?! And then he spoke of Sara. Ichigo's face was pale. He was utterly confused. "How do you know about that card and of Sara?" But then he looked over to his jacket. The very card was in there still.

"By 'us'.... you mean that group she's in?" he said. Confused and annoyed now.

[Hakaisha Abbadon]

Abbadon's face stayed emotionless, even after watching Ichigo's reaction when he peered into his past with his pact. He could see that this kid had so much potential. But he was a hot-head, not used to anything out of the ordinary and was always ready to counter a comment, no matter whether it was to mock or to encourage. That was when Abbadon realized why he was drawn to this kid in the first place; and it wasn't because he was like his old pupil.

It was because he was like himself...

"I know about the card," Abbadon said, "because a few months ago, I was given the same card by her brother to join this organization as one of the heads."

Abbadon reached into his inside coat pocket and pulled out his card he received after he fought Shadow the first time around, Yu-Gi-Oh! style. And even though he hated that anime with a passion now that it involved dueling on fucking motorcycles, the hint of cherries he smelled the first time was still there.

God damn it, Runa...

"But yours is different I believe," he said in his normal conversation tone. "I could only see mine at midnight. I think yours requires a bit of heat to activate." He chuckled. "I guess when your dealing with Sara, fire always comes into play."

Abbadon instantly started thinking about an STD joke. But because of the fact that Sara was a lesbian, it wouldn't have worked. So he dropped it.

"Sara and I," he began as he put the card away, "along with her brother -- my best friend -- work for the Devil Saints. And I did what I did with you today, because I see great potential in you. I wanted you to show me what you had; I didn't want you to hold back. That's why I was pestering you every chance you gave me an open door to walk through. Believe me when I say that if you continue to train and spar while holding back, you will not grow, you will not flourish..."

Abbadon used his past magic again on the kid, trying to find a link for his passion. When he did, he sighed.

"...and you will never become a Berserker," he said.

The archangel unfolded his arms as he walked closer to the boy. "I know you have made up your mind whether to join us or not," he said. "And I just want to say, that I have been where you are. I have been here for... many years, knowing what it feels like to be fatherless; to wear your emotions on your sleeves; thinking your accomplishing something by yourself only to find out you've been doing nothing but wasting time and energy on something that has already been perfected years ago." Abbadon sighed.

"That is why I am asking you to join my department of the Devil Saints," Abbadon said sincerely. "And in return for your cooperation, I will train your ass off to make you into the warrior; the protector... that you always wanted to be."

Still looking at the kid, he extended his hand.

"All you have to do," he said, "is shake my hand."

[Sutemi Ichigo]

Ichigo listened and wandered over to his jacket and set Myakuhaku down by the rock and put his jacket on. Listening to Abbadon. Taking his player he then shoved it in his pocket and then grabbed his sword and slung it back over his shoulders. He then pulled out the card and nodded, "Yeah Fire activates it..." he then looked at Abbadon. Child like intimidation showing on his face.

Hearing the next things he looked to the ground his heart sank. He was new to fighting full force. He did not want to hurt people with it. But now meeting Abbadon taught him the hard way. And this stuck to him. Lesson learned he thought. But when he heard something that made him look up he had worry. He had been training ever since he received his father's sword to fight and be a Berserker.

That hurt hearing this, "I've done my best. I've failed to even pass a damn test one time do to this gift... what you say hurts like hell. I want to be a Berserker in my home Village. And now... I don't think what I've been doing with work...." he then looked at him and sighed. But smiled. Maybe being apart of the Devil Saints would help. But what he spoke over hurt as well but he was waiting to speak. His answer just may make him a Berserker someday.

Ichigo then held out his hand, "Yeah. Meeting you confirmed my answer...." he then walked over to Abbadon and held out his hand, "This better be no joke Abbadon." he was going to join. Protecting people was his goal in life. And maybe Abbadon could help him.

[Hakaisha Abbadon]

Abbadon smirked as Ichigo gave his answer. And before he did anything else, he replied to his comment about him being serious.

"Believe me," he said. "When I get done training you, you'd wish I was joking."

Abbadon then shook his hand; firm as it could be. Placing his other hand in his pocket, his smirk turned into a smile.

"Welcome to the Devil Saint's, kid," he said before letting go of his hand.

"Tomorrow, you head for Tokyo," he said as he headed back toward his sprite Roiyaru. "Once you get there, you'll find a flower shop called 'D. Saint Flowers'; that's our front for the actual organization. Make sure Sara's working the front desk. When she asks you what department you want to work for, make sure you say you want to work for Security. That's my department." Once again, he petted Roiyaru's head. But after a while, he stared at his new pupil.

"Understand?"

[Sutemi Ichigo]

Ichigo just smiled at him. Not sure what to say to him. But now that he was in Devil Saints made him happy a little, "Thanks for the information by the way. I'll remember that as well." he said and then stuck his hand in his pockets and smirked. It was going to be fun training maybe. Even if he was just told it would be like hell. It was going to pay off anyway. He then turned on his player and turned the volume down to low and suck an ear phone in his left ear and turned around, "Even if it is like hell I wont mind. As long as it pays off."