Two of a Kind (Amaya and Tora)

Amaya was on the training grounds of one of the Guilds many bases. It was their she was to meet up with a new recruit. She was to test her combat skills and if she passed, they would both go on an assignment the next day. Amaya looked behind her, saw the recruit, but said nothing.

Tora wandered up to her partner, Renji had told her that she was to have her skills tested then if she passed they would go on a mission together "hello, I'm Tora" she wasn't wearing her armor today, she knew she would get in trouble later for it but it didn't worry her.

“R-E-A-D-Y” She spelt out. Amaya was a mute and therefore couldn’t speak to her partner. If she didn’t understand sign language she had a pen and paper ready.

Tora nodded "it's okay, Renji taught me sign language before I came here" she never wanted to learn it but Renji had insisted, Tora stood in a neutral position that looked like she had no guard up, her Katana was in a sheath on it's back and she nodded "hit me with your best shot" she said with a shrug.

“F-I-R-S-T-T-A-S-K-H-I-T-M-E” She signed. There was no need to see if this recruit can take a hit but if she couldn’t give one then their was surly no use for her.

Tora just stood there with a lazy smile, the next minute the girl was being tapped on the shoulder by the real Tora, the shadow clone Tora had previously made before she approached that was standing in front of the girl waved and then dissapeard in a poof of smoke "what next?"

This girl had excellent stealth as well as distraction techniques. She might prove to be a good assassin after all, unlike the other recruits that merely focused on brute strength. But it was time for the second task of the day, Endurence. Amaya took out a timer and set it on the ground. “R-U-N-A-R-O-U-N-D-T-I-L-L-I-T-G-O-E-S-O-F-F” She signed. The field they were on was an oval shape kind of like a track field. Amaya started the clock and started running around the track.

Tora quickly took off and jogged beside the girl "did you want me to run with you or go faster" Tora had agility and speed on her side, she had strength to but she needed to improve on that, she used brains more then brawn in a fight, if she had to fight "what's your name?" she asked, she would like to know what to call her.

“A-M-A-Y-A” She spelt. As for how fast her partner had to go it didn’t really matter. Amaya was about the average speed an assassin should be so even if the girl was slightly behind her she would still pass. The real goal of the exercise was to see if she could actually keep jogging for the entire time.

Tora had speed and agility the only thing she lacked was strength, she matched Amaya pavement pace until the timer went off, Toras breathing was slightly increased but that was all "and I was just getting warmed up" she grinned at Amaya "anything else to do?"

She nodded yes. There was the third task. She remembered back when she had to do this test and she had to do tasks four and five. But this recruit wasn’t 10 so they could fortunately skip those ones. She continued to jog around the track since the timer had not yet stoped.

Tora nodded, wondering what the test would be, probably a battle, but it might not be it wasn't all about fighting for which she was glad, she continued to match pace with Amaya

The timer went off and Amaya stopped to catch her breath. This girl did well so far. But then again the first two tests are a piece of cake compared to the other three. The first two dealt with physical endurance which any old person can accomplish over time. But the other part was emotional. Amaya couldn’t even pass the 4th and 5th until the ‘incident’.

Tora grabbed her knees and bent down to catch her breath, the first two tests wern't hard but she was smart, she knew that the guild wasn't just normal, there would be something challenging ahead, she stood up fully and smiled at her soon to be team mate.

She smiled back but her smile was hidden by her mask. Now it was time for the last part of the test. This recruit did way better than any of the others Amaya met. She had good stealth and stamina, and was well disciplined too. But now it was time for the final stretch. Amaya hated this part but nonetheless she motioned the recruit to follow her. They arrived to a small building. Amaya opened the door. It was a small room and the only significant thing in there was a stairway that led downwards.

Tora glanced at Amaya then looked in the room, was this some kind of torture thing "um okay..." she said not so sure anymore, she had only ever been tortured once in her life and it was horrible... But it probably wasn't, her mind was just making things up. Tots stepped forward and slowly made her way down the staircase.

Amaya led the recruit downstairs. There was a dungeon with several rooms where prisoners were kept and tortured. “Pick-A-Room” she signed. She didn’t tell her yet that whatever room she picked she would have to kill the occupants.

Toras eyes searched around the room until her eyes came to rest on the fourth door, she pointed at it "that one" she announced and exhaled, waiting for whatever horrors to unveil themselves

She opened the door. Inside as an old man, grey haired, and a bread. He was chained to the wall and had scars of torturer on him. He was butt naked and screaming in terror as the two entered the room. His eyes weren’t forced on them but rather the background behind them. He had been used in the guilds “experimental” torture techniques, but his use to them has ended. The only thing that he was good for was to train recruits to kill in cold blood. Amaya hated this part but not following through with orders often got you killed or disciplined. She looked at her teammate. “L-A-S-T-T-A-S-K-K-I-L-L-H-I-M” She signed.

Toras eyes widened "but he's just a man, he didn't do anything" her gaze was kept on the man and she tried to make an excuse "but I have no weapon to kill him" she forgot about the Katana on her back "what if I don't?" she asked not yet knowing about punishments.

She did the sign of “DEATH/NOT LIVING”. She closed the door behind them. “No, NOOO!!, please don’t” the old man said. His eyes were still not on the two and it was like he was talking to a the air.

Tora hesitantly drew her Katana, aiming the point at the man, she sighed and prepared to have one quick jab to the neck to kill him but hesitated and looked over at Amaya "I don't think I can" she whispered as a tear framed her eyes, she turned her attention back to the man

Amaya watched Tora struggling but there was nothing she could do. She couldn’t speak any comforting words of encouragement. Even she struggled at doing this, she still does to this day. But it had to be done. One the bright side this poor man wouldn’t have to suffer anymore torture.

At that moment looking at the frail man she quickly stabbed the man in the throat, impaling the Katana in the wall behind him, she colapsed to the floor curling her knees to her chest "you happy!" she exclaimed and fell silent just staring at an empty space in front of her.

Amaya sat down too. “Sorry” She signed. The recruit finished the tasks. Now their orders were to stay in this cell till morning.