Kaede was certainly a slippery combatant, easily dodging her initial attack. Though he had been unable to completely avoid her slash, the invisible blade managing to cut through his uniform. In exchange it would seem though, her entire lower half seemed to be encased in ice. A tricky move, though not particularly effective as she brought the hilt of her zanpakuto down to shatter the binding. Sensing the sudden surge of energy the girl would turn and instead of dodge, she would shunpo directly towards it to close the distance. It would seem like she hadn't bothered to dodge. At least until the wave of energy was snuffed from existence before it could touch her. From Kaede's perspective, it didn't even look like she had done anything to make this happen.

Of course, he wouldn't be allowed to much time to figure out what she had done as she had just rushed him with sword in hand. Continuing her assault, she would swing her blade towards his midsection. This time not letting up, following his dodges with a further two strikes. He couldn't outpace her anymore it would seem, he was going to need to get rather creative.

Techniques Used:

- Enlightenment: Blocked Seinaru Surasshu (No Cooldown)

The icey binding didn't hold up very long, though the red-headed captain hadn't expected it to, though Akane's reaction to the slash of his Caladbolg was unexpected, rather than avoiding it completely she shunpo'd into it. And it just fizzled out of existence, one of his strongest attacks that he hadn't borrowed was completely ineffective against the woman before him, that was a rather sobering thought. Though Akane didn't give Kaede time to dwell on that fact, rushing him striking at his midsection with another horizontal slash. He had adjusted to the captain commanders speed now and managed to kick backwards in time to avoid it, using caladbolg as a shield of sorts to ride out the second strike, staying just close enough to her third follow up blow for the blade to strike flesh drawing a thin line of blood across his chest that he immediately froze over before the blood would show on his clothes, making it look like another thin slash to his clothes.

Sheathing Rena's old bankai Kaede decided to use his powers for some shenanigans, hoping that it would through Akane off, even if she was familiar with the unique aspect of his zanpakuto, she could probably never guess that he would do what he was about to do with it. Creating a hilt that looked exactly like Akane's zanpakuto using the newest data that he just received from that scratch to create an exact replica of it he neglected making the blade, He knew he only had one shot at using this exact trick to strike home but who knows, that might be all he needs.

Rushing in Kaede swung his empty hilt at Akane in a horizontal slash across her collar bone, hoping that she would try to block it with her zanpakuto just to find that there was nothing there. As the empty blade passed Akane's Kaede would use the water and ice creation of Rena's zanpakuto to create a razor sharp blade of ice extending from the hilt, wrapped around the tsuba to slice in the opening.

It seemed she had managed a hit this time, though a shallow one at the very best, there wasn't even any blood that she could tell. Regardless, it didn't seem to be slowing Kaede down much either as he managed to form a copy of her own sword. It was pretty amazing that he could make a copy of such a unique blade really, but Akane had seen stranger things if she cared to think. His next attack was fairly obvious, which she instinctively went to block with her own blade, swinging it across to parry the blow only to hit nothing at all.

A trick, it seemed, and she had fallen for it. It was far too close to avoid now, so she paid for her mistake with a nasty slash. This didn't seem to slow the young captain commander down any though. If anything it seemed to add a little more intensity to her next two attacks. It seemed she didn't need to make such a easy to predict dash for her speedy attacks anymore, as in the blink of an eye she would proceed to use two of these enhanced strikes one after the other. Kaede would find himself dealing with an invisible blade moving faster than the eye could see, aiming at him with two diagonal slashes across his chest.

Techniques Used:

- Spirit of the Zephyr: 2 Shunpo Speed Attacks (1 Post CD)

Kaede's trick went exactly as he had intended, the blade cut deeply across her collar bone, he could feel the ice strike the bone and shatter, it was fragile and quickly formed, good for flesh, not so much for bone. Akane's surprise at the blow didn't last very long as she was already on the offense again loosing a pair of rapid slashes. Kaede's combat experience managed to save him again, though not as effectively as it would have if he had a real weapon in his hand instead of an blade-less hilt, seeing the shift in her stance Kaede started to disengage using shunpo, however his reactions were too slow to avoid the full damage as the first slash cut across his chest ruining his uniform, causing his chest to rupture in a stream of as he slid to a halt.

Quickly coating his wound in ice to stop the bleeding Kaede smiled, using the hilt he was still holding he finished creating his copy of Akane's sword though to anyone but him there would be no difference at first. The best part of her invisible blade was the trickery involved in it. Making it quite useful when combined with his other toys. Though with the completion of the blade he felt a surge of power flow through his body, as his reiryoku reserves, and reiatsu shot through the roof. Easily out matching what he was used to controlling, Well that is quite interesting, no wonder that last attack was so hard to follow Kaede thought, pulling Rena's from his belt, dual wielding bankai's of two different captain commanders. No one else in all of the history of the soul society could make such a claim, but there was time for him to preen about being able to do that later. Shunpo'ing in front of her Kaede would swing Akane's bankai much like he did before, though this time should Akane go to block it as the blades clash he would create a wave of water that would eminate from just in front of him, encasing Akane from the waste down in about a two foot diameter around her in blue ice before shunpo'ing around her and using her own Shinseina Mikadzuki against her with a horizontal slash from a distance.

Techniques Used:

Shinseina Mikadzuki (Divine Holy Crescent): Channelling the excess of her power into her blade, Akane releases a larger and more concentrated wave of energy. This wave of power is focused into miniscule slivers of dense reiatsu that enhance its cutting ability. Innately a very destructive technique, leaving deep gouges along the land should it travel across it and leveling buildings with ease.
- Cero Speed
- Gran Rey Power
- Cooldown: 3 Posts
- Armour Piercing: (Armour/Barriers at 25% less effective against this ability)
- 15m tall, 2m wide, 100m Range

Akane had managed a rather nasty looking hit on the red-haired captain, it shouldn't have been a surprise but she seemed to be underestimating her own ability at this stage. For a sparring match, it seemed she had been letting herself get just a little out of control.. maybe it would be better if she called it off before someone really got hurt?

There was a sudden rush of power that felt oddly familiar, it seemed that he was harnessing the almost suffocating power that the captain commander wielded herself. It was a little strange really being on the other end of it, but he didn't seem to have the experience to really control it like she did. With the blade coming her way, she couldn't be sure if it actually existed or not, but she wasn't going to be falling for the same trick twice. Instead it seemed like she wouldn't move at all, the blade passing right through her as well as the sneaky wave though would follow. That was when the flickering afterimage would vanish and if her little trick had worked, he would feel the cold steel of Arashi resting at his neck with the girl standing off to the side.

"I'm not sure this is as good an idea as I thought.. If we keep going someone is going to get hurt" She furrowed her brow just a little, unsure if Kaede would agree. Despite her power, it seemed the girl didn't trust herself enough in wielding it against an ally, her brand of fighting seemed to be based on instinct rather than the control of a more experienced shinigami.

The invisible blade of Arashi passed through Akane's after image harmlessly, the wave of water that Kaede had intended to release splashed outwards hitting absolutely nothing. Sensing the impending attack Kaede was ready for her reappearance, her own pressure making it extremely hard for her to return unnoticed, Bringing Rena's old bankai around to roughly where her gut was as the steel of arashi's blade was brought to rest at his neck, it was a draw, well mostly her blow would have been guaranteed lethal should she follow through without him moving, whereas his would probably just have left a nasty scar. "Probably for the best that we stop then."

Letting go of both blades they dropped shattering before touching the ground, the shadow that stood behind him waved at Akane before shimmering out of existence, stepping backwards The red-haired young man would smile at his boss. That was definitely the most fun that he had in a while. "Well that was a blast, I have been meaning to ask, what is it like to be in charge of everyone?"

It seemed that the duel had ended in a draw, though Akane couldn't help but notice she had clearly gone for the kill... Arashi seemed to have had quite the effect on her. As Kaede dropped his weapons the young captain commander would sheathe her own blade, finally relaxing. The intense fighter seemed to vanish almost instantly as the blade was stowed away, a stark contrast of how much she had grown since their last training session. She let out a deep sigh and motioned towards the healing spring to ease the stress from the fight. "It's weird... Everyone else is so much more experienced than me" She shrugged, standing at the edge of the hotspring to promptly disrobe and step inside, seemingly less bashful than she used to be.

She leaned back on the opposite side of the pool, resting against the edge. "Do you think Rena made the right choice? Surely anyone would have been a better option" There were some more obvious choices of course, Kaede himself would have been one of them, with Noziel and Kokoro. Though none of them would compare to the immense spiritual strength contained in her little body, but they had many times the knowledge and experience backing them up.

Kaede would follow Akane towards the healing spring, turning around as she motioned towards disrobing he would sit at the edge of the pool, his back to his Captain commander while she spoke. "Only time will tell whether or not it was the right choice, Though I have faith that you will do well. As for other, more experienced options well we are for the most part a bunch of old fogey's set in our ways who really don't want to leave our individual departments."

"Hell Take me for example, I like hunting down rogue shinigami, and troublesome hollows, If I was to be promoted to Captain commander, I would probably die of boredom what with all of the bureaucracy and paperwork, plus dealing with the reports of the other twelve squads. Then there is Kokoro, a man known for his questionable activities, If he was in charge his curiosity might get us killed one day, don't get me wrong he makes an excellent advisor but head of the whole court guard, I don't think I would be able to follow him." Kaede continued after a breath. He wasn't entirely joking, while he was good at leading Squad two and the Onmitsukido he wouldn't be able to handle the entire Gotei and would probably end up dying of boredom, hell there was probably only a few other places he would fit. And if Kokoro had taken over, well it would probably had pushed his loyalties to the limit, and possibly splintered the Gotei. Of the other captains that Kaede knew of none of the others really held enough sway or skills to lead them all. "Your youth and inexperience might seem like a problem for now, but the fresh blood and insight might be exactly what we need."

"I suppose... the paperwork gets a little overwhelming" She couldn't remember a time when she had signed so many documents before, some of which she had little idea what they were, but the Central 46 had specifically been chosen to assist her as best they can, Rena had ensured that much before she had died. Kaede did make it sound like she was a good option at least, though she could still see others in her place doing a much better job. She had spent less time training to become the Captain Commander than she had at school. Which she didn't finish either now that she thought about it.

"I just don't want to mess everything up..." She says with a sigh, resting her elbows on her knees to support her head. And after her meeting with Ika Mazi she had a feeling that she was on a dangerous path, she still didn't know what to think of her choice in that one... she still hadn't managed to settle into the replacement desk just yet.

"That is where the rest of us come in, While you might be in charge, Rena did leave you with people quite capable of advising you, and helping you make the decisions" Kaede said, his tone kind and gentle. He knew where her insecurities came from, she was young, far younger than some human's that the red-haired captain had met not just younger than the other shinigami that she was in charge of. And with that youth comes an obvious lack of experience, though she should have more faith in herself, and her captains. "Don't worry about what might happen, just do as your heart guides you, and trust that your captains will help you stay on the right path, or at least not stray to far from it."

Kaede leaned back on his arms, relaxing, "And even if the others don't, I will."