Blade of the Swallow [Private]

"Fweh?!?"

Some incongruent cry escaped Ichika's lips the moment she heard the voice. It was something instantly recognizable to her, considering it belonged to a rather important person: None other than her current superior, the Captain of the Seventh Division. She had not noticed his approach at all, though strictly speaking he was still quite a bit of distance behind her. It could easily be chalked up to paranoia.

Turning around, she sheathed her sword and bowed courteously.

"Good morning, Komamura-Taichō."

Hearing his praise, she kept her eyes and body turned towards him. It had been a while since she had revealed her Bankai (or her release for that matter) to the Captain out of necessity. Quickly, she peered down at her waist to double-check.

She had properly hidden her Zanpakutō's second blade in her uniform. Good. As Komamura continued examining the target, she began to explain:

"That was only a basic technique I developed in my earliest years of Zanjutsu. Because I'm not of adult height, when I sparred against others, they would have a tendency to backstep and avoid the reach of my blade thanks to my arm's length. Therefore, the first technique I developed was to allow myself to redirect the momentum of my blade, allowing me to take another step and catch them when they think I've made an opening."

This was how she came up with the Tsubame Gaeshi. However, she didn't explain how exactly she did it, since she felt it was a low-level technique not worthy of much attention. The Jigenzan (Dimension Slash) she came up with was much more impressive in comparison, but Ichika was not the kind of person to show off. No, even now she suppressed as much of her spiritual pressure as she could: a routine practice by now, though Ichika knew that Komamura had seen her full power even for a moment.

Speaking of her Captain's presence, a question was raised in Ichika's mind, which she promptly spoke out:

"So, what brings Komamura-Taichō here today? I was under the impression most of the Taichō train in secret."

Though, anyone was to train themselves publicly, it would probably be Komamura.

Well, what he said made sense. After seeing what his Shikai and Bankai were capable of, she also had a few ideas of how to fight it, though she only started thinking of it now that he actually mentioned it. Also, she had her own Bankai, which was very destructive and would probably get her into as much trouble as her Captain.

Ichika was definitely not expecting a request to teach him that technique, though. Well, if he wanted it, she would comply. Komamura Sajin was the kind of person who was gentle enough to allow you to refuse him, but it just wasn't a good idea to do so in general.

"If that is what you wish, I'll be in your care." She said as she made another bow.

Then, turning to the target, she explained:

"Everyone knows that spiritual pressure can be felt by all of us and we can also control our own. As a form of "pressure", everyone has a reaction to it. Generally, because the opponent possesses their own, it's not possible to try to subtly change an opponent's movement by trying to shape pressure over an area and leaving a gap in the desired path to steer them, because either this takes too much pressure to not be subtle, or because it's too little and will be rendered null by the opponent's natural spiritual pressure.

However, this doesn't mean it doesn't work on trying to control yourself. By swinging and defining the desired path with your mind and spiritual pressure, it becomes possible to give yourself a desired trajectory of a sword swing that can be changed at any time and still followed through. The side effects are then allowing you to put all your strength behind the sword without care for overshooting the target, because the body is now essentially controlled perfectly by your mind and spiritual pressure. The downside is that doing this successively in short span is highly taxing on the physical muscles."

Approaching the target with the L-shaped cut in it, she drew the sword and cut a triangular piece out of the other side without nearing the middle and slicing off the top, leaving a minute portion just enough to keep the top from flopping to one side.

"I call this the Tsubame Gaeshi." She said while sheathing the blade.

SPOILER: Click to show

Name: 燕返し (tsubame gaeshi) Swallow Return
Class: Zanjutsu
Tier: II
Type: Offensive
Range: Sword
Description: A technique that allows a shift in the direction of a large amount of (the user's) momentum. This allows the user to execute a follow-up swing coming from the opposite direction, be able to place the entire body's strength behind it with ease and still be accelerating. It can also completely change the direction of the sword mid-swing. Because it is difficult to force the entire body to change direction while keeping momentum, the user's own spiritual pressure is reversed to pressure one's own body to steer with a directed flow.
Drawback: Despite only being a tier II technique, it is physically taxing when repeatedly used. Can be used a maximum of three times consecutively with a one post cooldown.

She heard her Captain question the name Swallow Return. There were a million ways she could have explained it: the most prominent that came to mind was the Tameshigiri (Testing Cut) pattern named the same way, which consisted of alternating between diagonal and horizontal cuts to make two connected Z patterns. The second most prominent is to liken it to a bird: For example, how a bird in the distance has a tendency to be drawn as two diagonal lines or curves that meet, or how a bird changes it's flight path. At this point, she honestly could not remember why she named it as such.

Well, it is what it is. Stepping aside, she gave the Captain room to practice, and he learned quickly. It was a low level technique, what did she expect? Listening to his comments, she gave her thoughts.

"Well, I don't find fault in such a method. There isn't any reason to hold back on a dangerous opponent. However, hitting them with everything sort of has this pre-requisite of actually, you know, hitting them, which is kind of why I made this technique, though I later found alternatives, they're massively complex... And, apparently, not very effective on those creatures, since I tried my best one on it and it just put itself back together despite slashing it to nothingness."

Ichika could only sigh. She's probably going to need stronger methods... But what could be stronger than Dimension Slash: Absolute? Her Bankai wasn't complete, but... suppose if that was her only chance?

Food for thought.

"Th-third in command?"

Yes, Ichika was more or less due for a promotion from the twentieth seat, now that she had shown Komamura a good portion of her power. Still, there wasn't much that could prepare her for jumping all the way to the third seat. She remembered the promise she made with him back when she had first transferred in as the twentieth seat.

"Yes, I understand that I promised you to climb up the status ladder when I first transferred in. However, I do not believe that I am qualified for the Third Seat. For one, my Bankai is not developed far enough for serious combat usage. I only released it because it was my only other option at the time."

Even now, she had kept her second blade and her release hidden away in her clothing; a secret only to be unleashed for matters regarding life and death. Honestly? She did not want more responsibilities.

Military ranks were stupid things. Shinigami of the Seireitei raise their martial prowess and instead of being deployed to fights more, they are instead piled on with paperwork the stronger they are. Ichika knew how much paperwork the Captain and Vice-captains were swarmed with: Hell, she's delivered them on occaision. Yet, none of this was Ichika's real concern.

The reason why she concealed her release. The reason why she kept herself at a low rank was because of the rarity of having dual Zanpakuto and the two most well-known Captains that shared the same trait. Ukitake Juushiro and Kyouraku Shunsui. These two were also two of the strongest captains.

Ichika who did not have sufficient strength did not want to be associated with people of that caliber without reaching that level herself.

"In my opinion, I am still severely lacking in power to be called Third. That said, I will not refuse any promotions to a lower Seat."

Komamura was a Captain who valued his subordinate's opinions as highly as his own. Therefore, it was much easier to bargain with him concerning a majority of matters. Ichika could only hope this was one of them.