[attr="class","pwfbody"] A few miles from the nearest entrance to the tunnels that collectively made up the village of Otogakure, sequestered away in an unassuming little corner of the dense forests that made up much of the area's topography, there lay a certain glade beside a certain stream, that was currently being visited a certain fairy. [break][break]
Yousei would often visit this place when she just needed to think and relax for a while, and with fall setting in the spider lilies were now in full bloom, painting the ground with a vibrant display of crimson that contrasted beautifully against the backdrop of changing leaves. [break][break]
She had a lot on her mind these days, and now to top it all off the Empire was marching on Onomichi. It was kinda hard to be her usual, cheerful self at a time like this, but she had to stay positive and keep pushing forward; not just for herself, but for her new platoon, and for Mai, and for all those innocent people that were about to be killed if they didn't do something. [break][break]
Yousei despised the Taiyou Empire, and even more the so-called samurai that served them. How could they still call themselves samurai after committing such atrocities? It was a mockery to her ancestors, to all the samurai that had fought and died to protect the Land of Fire, both before and after the fall of Konoha; a mockery to the very way of the samurai itself, and everything it was meant to stand for.[break][break]
With a sigh, she turned her gaze skyward, the afternoon sun filtering down through the trees as she watched as a flock of sparrows pass by overhead. At least they wouldn't be alone in the coming battle; the Hokage's summons had seen to that, with new shinobi arriving practically every day to join the coalition. It made Yousei wonder if this is what things could be like if all the villages just worked together instead of fighting all the time. [break][break]
To Mai, visiting the Hidden Sound meant much more than a call to arms. The possibility to interact with people for a distant land and exchange accumulated knowledge, freedom to wander through areas otherwise forbidden to foreigners and the potential to find exotic bug specimen to breed, this trip offered a lot for the rookie and the veteran Aburame alike. The promise of being deployed to the front lines also helped one see limited time for what it was worth. And breath-taking sceneries like these... It would be foolish of her to miss the chance to visit them. Well, it was mostly a coincidence that she ended there, arriving at a certain glade beside a certain stream, as she was not a hundred percent familiar with the village's layout. Her intuition had guided her in a specific direction and, though she had started her walk with no fixed destination in mind, the clearing became said goal the moment she laid her eyes on it. [break][break] "Yoo-hoo~" [break][break] If the fairy guarding the spot would turn her attention towards the voice, she would soon find a girl no taller than her already approaching with a smile and a friendly demeanor. The Aburame slowly waved her hand in greeting, giving the impression that the encounter was less of a first meeting and more akin to a reunion between childhood friends. That, however, was not the reality of the situation. The fairy and the butterfly... They were nothing but complete strangers. [break][break] "... It's beautiful, is it not? It almost feels like a single glimpse at nature could wash away all those heavy thoughts. A place like this is truly worth fighting for~." [break][break] The Jounin from the Hidden Rain shared her thoughts, breaking eye contact to admire the very scene her words described. In spite of her carefree attitude, she was a full-fledged kunoichi, the symbol wrapped around her forehead the only evidence required to certify it. Given that they were standing in neutral territory, there was no danger in dropping one's guard a little. On the contrary, such behavior was required. To work as allies, even for a limited time, tension needed to be cast to the winds. Fortunately, the Aburame was an expert in such matters. [break][break] "I'm Mai. Mind if I join you~?" [break][break] Well... It was too late to say 'no'.
[attr="class","pwfbody"] Yousei had indeed perked up as the unfamiliar voice reached her ears, turning her attention with all haste to the newest arrival to grace the idyllic scene they found themselves in. A visitor! How unexpected. Nobody ever came all the way out here, was this girl lost or something? She did have some pretty funny clothes, and that headband was... [break][break]
"Ah!" She abruptly exclaimed as the realization hit her. "A shinobi from Amegakure! You must be here to help with the defense, right? Welcome to the Hidden Sound Village!" The equally short-statured samurai followed up chipperly, flashing the girl a warm smile. [break][break]
"It really is beautiful, isn't it? My parents used to take me here when I was little; I still come back every now and then, whenever I need to get my head on straight." She took a nostalgic glance around the area as she spoke, just drinking in the scenery for a minute before finally settling back on her new acquaintance. [break][break]
"My name's Yousei, by the way! It's great to meet you, Other Mai! Mai #2? Mai Also? Mai Alter? Uh..." Her voice trailed off slowly as she continued fishing for an appropriate nickname for this new Mai; it's not like she could just be Mai, Mai was already Mai, that would just be confusing. "Oh, what about Maimai! I like that one." And with a few vigorous nods, it was decided; this new still-but-slightly-less-of-a-stranger would henceforth be known as Maimai. [break][break]
"So, what brings you all the way out here anyway, Maimai?" It really just had such a good ring to it, didn't it? Yousei had to be like, the unequivocal master of giving people nicknames, there was no doubt about it. "Just out for a walk? Looking for some place to train maybe? If you need someone to spar with, I've got you covered!" [break][break]
This was no doubt the start of a beautiful friendship. [break][break]
The Jounin from the Hidden Rain had certainly expected a polite welcome. With things as they were, she'd need a fair share of bad luck not to bump into someone at least willing to make small talk before they were summoned to the battlefield. However, she had come unprepared for such a warm, easy-going and overall amusing treatment. The red haired woman's cheerfulness was contagious and sooner than later Mai found herself with a smile even wider than the least. Truly, Yousei couldn't have left a better first impression on the Aburame. [break][break] "Ah, right, the Hokage's name is also Mai, is it not? Then yes, a nickname would be for the best." She agreed. It had been long since someone had given her a nickname. Usually, she would be the one giving herself one, pushing people into calling her big sister and the like. However, even fun is an exercise of give and take: Things couldn't stay just like that. "If that's the case, then I shall henceforth name you Yoshi!" [break][break] After a few moments pondering it came the declaration. There might have been other nicknames better suited for her, but since the Aburame had already granted her the initiative in that brief nicknaming bout, it was only fair that she would get to selfishly choose the one she liked the most in return. [break][break] "Well, let's see... I guess I came all the way here on a whim?"She confessed, slightly embarrassed. "It stings a little bit to admit it, but the Land of Fire has significantly livelier landscapes than my home country. So I thought I'd break my usual routine with a little sightseeing. Turns out I hit the jackpot!" [break][break] When Yosei offered herself as a training partner, Mai's hand rose to her chin as she pondered the idea. Although her number one thing in her to do list was to take her newfound friend on a girls-only shopping raid, it was not the time nor the place to carry out such a task. In that sense, a spar was a rather tempting second choice. As a Kunoichi she was rather experienced in combat and wasn't that fond of violence, but precisely because she was that sort of person, she could see the value behind a friendly physical quarrel. [break][break] "Alright! I am already getting pumped up!" [break][break] Feeling the 'rhythm and the flow', the Aburame almost absentmindedly began doing some bounce steps. Of course, this had little to do with her actual fighting style and more to do with being more excited than usual. She used those to quickly create space between her and her would-be opponent, but didn't go farther than eight steps from where the fairy was standing. She would then make the seal of confrontation, symbol of traditional shinobi sparring. [break][break] "Bring it on, Yoshi!" [break][break]
[attr="class","pwfbody"] Yoshi! That was a new one, no one had ever called her Yoshi before. She kinda liked it though, really rolled off the tongue. Yousei could tell that this new Mai was going to be a fun one. "Awesome!" She shouted ecstatically, as her new friend squared up for a little rough and tumble. "It's been a while since I last had someone to spar with; you're going down, Maimai!" [break][break]
Wasting no time, Yousei quickly took a fighting stance of her own as she returned her opponent's seal in kind, making it clear that she was primed to begin. "Let's see what you've got..." She smirked, kicking off the ground as she rushed forward and threw a strong jab at Mai's solar plexus. This wasn't her usual style, but Yousei wasn't all that familiar with the taijutsu of Amegakure, so she wanted to keep things simple for now and feel her new friend out a bit before she got serious. [break][break]
It wasn't often that Yousei got to observe the techniques of another village firsthand, so the influx of foreign shinobi resulting from this allied front against the Empire had been a rare opportunity in that regard; one that she planned to make the most of while she could. The more she could expose herself to new ideas and points of view, the more she could grow as both a warrior and a person. Even a simple sparring match like this could end up leading to an unexpected breakthrough! [break][break]
That was the core of Yousei's ninja way, after all: always keep moving forward, no matter what stands in your way. No matter the pain, no matter the hardship, overcome everything, and surpass even yourself. Become the hero of your own story! That was the sort of conviction that kept her going, even when days seemed their darkest. [break][break]
There had not been an opportunity prior to that point to properly gauge the strength of her opponent. Ninja can be deceitful without putting much effort into it and sometimes things like age, build or place of origin do not even have an effect on the overall skill and power of an individual. However, moments before even Yousei's feet kicked off the ground, the Jounin from the Hidden Rain had a hunch that the Kunoichi from the Hidden Sound would be the superior close-ranged fighter. The premonition was not born out of lack of confidence, rather, it was built upon the realization of the foundation behind the opponent's style. It was perhaps to early to judge Yousei's technique as a whole, but one would be surprised to see how much the first move reveals about oneself. In spite of it being merely a move meant to 'break the ice', it spoke leagues of how the red-haired girl intended to tackle combat. Likewise, the Aburame merely adjusting her stance was also a reflection of the role she intended to assume. [break][break] "Hehe, right back at you!" [break][break] Taking roots in traditional Aikido, Mai's arsenal was almost entirely defensive. By focusing on guarding the body, she was able to react faster and spot opportunities where she may be able to use the strength of the enemy against them. On paper, one could be lead to believe that it was the superior style. Unfortunately, until one earned the title of sage of the art, that was rarely the case. It was only natural... It was easier to find a way to overwhelm a new opponent with a static offensive style than it was to defend against an enemy whose style would certainly change every time. The battlefield was not forgiving and a single mistake could mean one's loss. Regardless of whether one picked up a shield or a sword, that was an universal truth. [break][break] Fortunately, there was one saving grace. For you see, in a spar like the one taking place, where each fighter was both trying to test the waters, gain experience and have fun, someone with as much experience as Mai had a little edge over someone charging forward blindly. Yes, one could say that her style shone brightest as a sport rather than as a tool of war-! [break][break] In response to the straightforward strike, the insect tamer would fist adjust her stance, taking a single step forward with her right foot, leaving her left foot pointing to the side. Next, her right arm would rise to intercept and deflect the strike towards what should have been Yousei's left. If successful, she would then use both hands to grab her arm and assist her own movement, getting out of the way in the process. At this point, because of her own momentum, the fairy would be at her mercy. Fortunately, Mai's style wasn't focus on countering with her own offensive, so she'd just be keep moving forward, slightly thrown off balance, as if the she had simply 'phased through' the Amegakure Kunoichi. [break][break] "Woops!" She teased with a somewhat playful smile. "You'll have to try harder than that!"
[attr="class","pwfbody"] "Oho...?" Yousei murmured under her breath, as she allowed herself to be drawn completely into Mai's defensive. Her eyes were practically sparkling as the younger girl intercepted her attack, drinking in her every movement like a rare, vintage wine. Not that Yousei actually drank, mind you. Oh god, could you imagine? The world wasn't ready for drunk fairies. [break][break]
Anyway... [break][break]
Stumbling forward a bit as she was thrown off balance, Yousei quickly got her feet under her again, before spinning around to face her new friend with the sort of glowing smile that could make clouds part on a rainy day. "A style that waits to react and uses the opponent's strength against them by redirecting their momentum; it's just like Aikido!" It seemed as though that one punch had given her all the information she'd needed to correctly deduce the Aburame's fighting style. [break][break]
"I always thought Aikido was meant more for competition sports though; I've never seen someone use it in actual combat before! Very cool stuff, Maimai!" Thus was Mai showered with the Cinnamon Roll's praise, truly the highest of honors indeed. I mean this stuff was so sweet, you could practically taste the icing. [break][break]
"I guess I should get serious, then..." She chuckled impishly, her entire stance completely changing as she got ready to break out the good stuff. "Gotta say though, I think you might've caught a bad matchup this time. Can you guess what kind of style I use?" Letting that question hang in the air with a devious grin, Yousei proceeded to take a slow, deep breath...and just like that. all her tension began to evaporate, expelled alongside her exhalation. It wouldn't take Mai long to realize that whatever style Yousei was using, it was nothing like any other school of taijutsu. [break][break]
Finally prepared, a wicked glint flashed across her eyes for the briefest of moments, and in that instant she immediately took off towards her opponent once again, but this time something was different; her movements were more relaxed, more controlled, and as soon as she got close to Mai she suddenly killed her momentum altogether, stopping just short of her and leaving the Aikido practitioner with nothing to redirect. Then, she deliberately stepped in on the girl before she could step in on her, crowding her guard in order to limit her range of motion. [break][break]
What followed next was simple, but also far more complex than it appeared. On the surface, it probably looked like just another ordinary punch aimed at slipping past Mai's guard and striking her solar plexus, but something wasn't quite right. For some reason, Yousei's striking arm seemed to have practically no tension behind it whatsoever.[break][break]
It probably wouldn't make any sense at first, but the principle behind it was actually fairly straightforward: by keeping her muscles completely relaxed until the moment of impact, she could significantly amplify the explosive force behind her strikes, making her already deceptive strength even...more deceptive? Deceptiver? At any rate, the point was that it made her hit less like a fairy and more like a really, really strong fairy, which Mai would soon be learning firsthand if this punch managed to connect. [break][break]
"That's right!" The Kunoichi from the Hidden Rain confirmed, beaming prideful smile. "Aikido let's me fight with a peace of mind, knowing that no serious injury will ever be inflicted on my opponent."
Yousei was right: It was an odd pick for a hired tool of war. That said, it did have its uses... For one, she could go all out against her underclassmen, accelerating their learning process with actual experience without really needing to hold back. Actual combat was rather tricky, as not hurting the enemy with Taijutsu could come at the expense of one's well-being, but one could only assume she used it to control the flow of the battle towards one that was more favorable for the Aburame. Right, the red-haired girl did not yet have a grasp on her complete arsenal, so it was only natural for the martial art to be a piece of the puzzle that was difficult to place when taken out of context.
"Bad match-up? I wonder about that..."
Of course, at this point she was merely bluffing, responding to that impish smile with one of her own. Mai could tell that the next attack would be several times more difficult to parry than the least, especially now that the Hidden Sound Shinobi knew the kind of style that she was facing. In contrast, this would be the very first time the Jounin from the Hidden Rain would have an opportunity to catch a glimpse of Yoshi's true style. Although, rather than worried, the purple-haired challenger was excited, eager to see if she would be capable to, once again, avoid being hit. It was fun!
It happened in an instant.
At one moment, Yousei's extended arm moved like the current of a calm river. The next, it had become a fierce surge of lightning. It was launched forward like a cannonball straight towards Mai's solar plexus, completely throwing off any split-of-a-second calculation she might have already made. It was just like a phantom, like an after-image, vanishing from the spot where it was supposed to be. A pendulum that would paradoxically move much faster on one side than the other. A dance that skipped several frames as it went straight for the 'kill'-!
The resolution came with a sound that resembled a thunderclap.
Who was more surprised? Was it the fairy, after finding out that her elusive fist had been caught in spite the odds? Or was it the butterfly, her hands centimeters from where they should have been in order to score a perfect blow? The attack had fallen short an instant before reaching its intended target, only barely stopped by the combined effort of both of Mai's hands holding it back from each side. Still, one glimpse should have been enough to tell that said arm was not properly restrained and nothing stopped the red-haired girl from overwhelming that rusty attempt of a shield by putting a little more power into her motion. Likewise, using both hands to take care of a single arm left her vulnerable to a follow-up. And yet...
And yet, she just stood there, smiling sheepishly.
"Oh my, Yoshi, where did you learn such thing? Hehe, this could indeed be bad news for me... "
With a brief laugh, she acknowledged Yousei's style for what it was, without outright kneeling down in the face of its might. Mai Aburame was a genius that focused on a defensive fighting style. While it might have been a different story if the fairy's aim had been elsewhere, going after her solar plexus a second time granted her opponent just enough time to react. It wasn't that her punch had become less effective than the least due said repetition. On the contrary, it surpassed its ancestor in every possible way without giving away its secrets. It couldn't be properly read, and yet the butterfly had managed to catch it, a testament of her combat experience.
"Ah, I might have underestimated you... You are definitely Jounin Material, Yoshi~."
[attr="class","pwfbody"] Yousei couldn't help but laugh as her fist suddenly stopped mere inches from Mai's chest, the girl's hands just barely managing to hold back the redhead's arm from either side. She'd caught it! She'd actually caught it! The fairy could hardly contain herself; she hadn't had this much fun in ages! [break][break]
"I invented it myself!" She exclaimed proudly, as the Aburame questioned the origins of her taijutsu. "It's a style focused on relaxing the body, that works equally well for both attack and defense. I call it Kouyou no Mai!" It was a bit of a rushed explanation, but they were still in the middle of a fight, after all. [break][break]
"Aw, thanks Maimai!" That comment about being jounin material meant more to Yousei than Mai probably realized. Ever since her promotion, most of the other jounin in the Sound Village had been treating her like a pariah. They didn't think she deserved her spot; because she was too young, or because she didn't have enough experience, or because she wasn't cut out to be a leader. So hearing Mai say she had what it took really hit home with her. [break][break]
"Sorry about this, by the way!" She suddenly exclaimed, though it wasn't immediately obvious what she was talking about. "I'll try not to break anything, but you might be a little sore tomorrow!" [break][break]
Mai wouldn't have much time to digest the gravity of those words, as Yousei immediately shifted gears back to the battle at hand. Flowing with all the swiftness of a summer breeze, she turned herself sideways, stepping even further into Mai as her arm easily twisted free from the girl's already tenuous grasp, before converting into a hyper relaxed elbow strike to her abdomen, all in the same fluid motion. [break][break]
While the Ame jounin had some truly impressive defense, there was almost no chance that she'd be able to defend against this one in time; and with Yousei's elbow packed with that same last-second explosive power as her previous punch, this promised to be a momentous blow. [break][break]
The first attack had been avoided. The second had been barely stopped. The third, inheriting the purpose of those that had come before him, connected with its target, the motion creating a brief symphony of grace and violence. It couldn't be helped, the difference between them was far too vast. It was not a matter of skill nor technique, as both Jounin stood on equal ground in those regards, the game changer there was something much more abstract: 'Affinity'. Just as the fairy had pointed out earlier in the match, the incompatibility that existed between the two styles provided her with an edge, with the upper-hand.
And so, the story would once again repeat itself.
Mai Aburame was a prodigy whose talents had allowed her to quickly climb through the military ranks of the Shinobi. However, she was far from invincible. On the way to her current position, many had risen to challenge her. Some had earnestly wanted to meet her in battle; others had been forced into it by the hands of fate. Finally, a third group had chosen to walk that road solely for the opportunity of dragging her down. For someone who often did well in all areas, Taijutsu had always been her Achilles' Heel. Numerous times, she had seen defeat during exercises that restricted themselves to that particular field. In response, she had spent blood, sweat and perhaps a couple of few tears, struggling to develop a style that would grant her the chance to properly defend herself. And yet... Said dedication had been swept by the violent waves of Yousei's dance, seemingly with little effort.
... But so what?
"D-Don't worry..."
A strong flame flared within those purple eyes, a proof of an invigorated resolve.
After receiving the full brunt of that elbow strike, she should have been brought to her feet, a momentary disconnection of her respiratory system leaving her unable to do much else. At the very least, a brief daze was to be expected, one which would create enough space for a follow-up. However, before an explanation could be given, the Kunoichi from the Hidden Rain had already moved to reaffirm her grip on flexed arm that had been used as a weapon a mere second ago. Her opponent's position would allow her to immediately push the elbow up and forward with practically no resistance and at a dazzling speed -the one thing both styles had in common-, effectively throwing the red-haired girl off-balance a second time, this time with the goal of sending her straight to the ground-!
"I am... A medical... Ninja!" She managed to say throughout the motion, clear signs of pain manifest in her speech. Still, that discomfort was being turned into a sudden surge of power! "So I can... heal both you and I!"
Regardless of the result, the Aburame would then take a couple of steps away to build up some distance. Then, it would become evident that Yousei's blow had definitely had an impact on her. She had not avoided it entirely, nor had she managed to perfectly endure through it. She had merely acted before its effects could settle in. One could said she succeeded in throwing that agony 'into the future' out of sheer power of will. If the fairy's waltz relied on timing and instinct to be effective, then the butterfly's Aikido was built upon discipline and an unwavering strength of mind. At this level, it wouldn't suffice to merely slip past its guard. One would also need to break through the wall within!
[attr="class","pwfbody"] Oof! Thrown completely off guard by Mai's tenacity, Yousei ended up getting thrown flat on her face, hitting the ground like a...well, not a ton of bricks exactly. More like a pillow at a slumber party or something, but you get the idea. She really needed to work on dealing with impacts like that; while the offensive and evasive aspects of her style were already pretty well developed, instinctively relaxing the entire body to dampen kinetic energy was still a work in progress. [break][break]
The throw hadn't really been that rough though. It was clearly intended more for creating space than anything, as evidenced by Mai's immediate retreat thereafter. Hopping to her feet like a feather suddenly caught by an updraft, Yousei dusted herself off before promptly squaring up again, not really any worse for wear all things considered. [break][break]
On the other hand, she could tell that Mai was definitely not in the best shape right now, as the younger kunoichi continued holding herself together through sheer force of will. Yousei couldn't help but admire her resolve; those Ame ninja were really built different! "So you're a medical ninja, too!" She reaffirmed the girl's earlier declaration energetically. "That's great news! It'll definitely be reassuring to know that there's someone like you backing us up out there." [break][break]
That said, Yousei figured it was probably time to finish this, and out of respect for Mai, she was going to pull out all the stops. Once again the fairy flitted across the field, closing the short gap between them in an instant, but as soon as she began to enter her opponent's range, something strange happened; before Mai had time to react with her Aikido, Yousei suddenly slipped away, her upper body falling backwards...because her feet were no longer on the ground! [break][break]
Yes, just before she'd reached the winded butterfly, she'd converted her momentum into a backwards somersault, her right leg completely relaxed as it carved a path upward with incredible speed, aiming to whip directly into Mai's torso like a miniature wrecking ball. She was already looking pretty bad off as it was; if she took this head on, determination alone might not be enough to keep her standing.[break][break]
Mai Aburame's body hit the ground with a violent thud, having seemingly presented no resistance against the red-haired kunoichi's surprise attack. She had certainly seen it coming, she had tried to block it too, however its deceivingly strong and swift nature had allowed it to slip past her guard, leading to one particular outcome, where the genius had been beaten with little effort. Well, it was only natural: Discipline and willpower could only get one so far... For someone who did not specialize in Taijutsu, to go against one without being able to rely on other things... Wasn't it like trying to swim against the current or attempting to push a big boulder uphill?
"Ah."
The battle was over before her brain could even process what had happened. In fact, the Jounin from Amegakure was still in a daze, her eyes now staring absentmindedly at the beautiful sky above. Was it physical pain that she felt? Well, it had to be... But it had also been a blow to her pride in there... Behind that warm and beautiful facade of hers, Mai could sometimes be pretty stubborn. A perfectionist, huh?
"..."
In fact, something seemed off. Normally, by this point she'll just throw a compliment and laugh the situation off. However, instead, all that followed her downfall was nothing but silence. Had she hit her head on the way down or something? Ah, yes, the eyes that met Yousei's were not those o a butterfly. Nothing remained, not even the last embers of its former resolution. They had to be... They had to be those of a demon! What was that sudden rise in killing intent? No, more importantly, what was the thing that stood behind her, a mass of unfathomable darkness several meters taller than any other within that glade? It couldn't be... Insects?
The situation was definitely bad. Could it be that much like several other Aburame, Mai was a top-class sore loser as well?
Her arm rose, pointing in the direction of the only target within view and...
"Ara? What was I doing?" All negativity disappeared with that afterthought. Likewise, the giant wave of bugs fell to the ground. "Right, I lost. And that means..."
Her hand formed the sign of reconciliation, inviting the fairy to wrap things up as well. The thing was, well, bugs were everywhere around her now... Yousei could spot a few bugs on her face, even!
[attr="class","pwfbody"] Landing back on her feet with mustelid grace (that's like, weasels and otters and stuff, which are way cooler than felines, or other graceful-type animals), Yousei looked over to see Mai down for the count. Yes, direct hit! Positively beaming at the confirmation of her victory, she quickly skipped over to help Mai up, but Yousei quickly noticed that the Ame kunoichi was looking a little out of it, and oh, sweet cinnamon rolls what was that! [break][break]
Yousei immediately began shifting her stance back as the mass of black insects suddenly rose up behind her fallen opponent, right hand drifting to the hilt of her blade, ready to loose the steel at a moment's notice. But before anything could happen, Mai finally came back to her senses, and the pile of bugs just sort of fell over and scattered across the ground. [break][break]
Yousei just laughed as the sense of bloodlust and imminent danger vanished from the surrounding atmosphere. Oh man, Mai got her good that time; she really had her going for a second there! As her new friend extended the sign of reconciliation, Yousei wasted no time responding in kind, completely ignoring the bugs as she bent down to wrap her fingers around Mai's, smiling like the summer sun all the while. [break][break]
"Good fight, Maimai! Senpai, huh? I like the sound of that!" It had been a while since someone last called her senpai, but it was definitely something that she could get used to. "I'm guessing you must be an Aburame, right? First time I've ever met one in person! Very cool stuff with the bugs. You've seriously got a ton of tricks up those sleeves of yours, don't you?" For real though, what a diverse skillset; aikido, medical techniques, entomancy...and who knew what else, at this point! [break][break]
"You hungry, by the way? I could eat a house right now, not gonna lie. If you wanna come with, it'll be my treat!"[break][break]
"Ah, yes. That's right. I'm from the Aburame Clan."
Briefly recalling the sequence of events that had led to that point, Mai responded somewhat absentmindedly, surprised that not even the presence of bugs could overshadow Yousei's shine. Now, make no mistake, the Kunoichi from the Hidden Rain had met plenty of powerful foes, lots of which could easily trample over her with their accumulated strength and wisdom, but none of them were quite like the Fairy who had agreed to reconciliation. You see, in her eyes, the red-haired girl possessed all the positive traits that the Aburame Jounin aspired to master: An almighty, ever-present smile, energy for days and the strength to stand up for herself. It was too soon for the feeling to build up into either admiration or jealousy, so all that was left was the shock to find a bigger fish in the pond. For a genius, it had to be an encounter that was both refreshing and conflicting at the same time.
"Right back at you, Yoshi-senpai. I've never seen someone move like that. It's hard to put it into words, but it almost felt like I was fighting a different person with each exchange."
Although one could develop an unique style tailor-fitted for the individual, doing so would always stand close to the pinnacle of difficulty in terms of martial arts. Imitating someone else's style and even doing mix-and-match, combining several methods into one were much more simple alternatives. So, even it had yet to be perfected, the fact that it had been built from the ground up by her own hand spoke leagues about the fairy's talent. And that had to be the tip of the iceberg. Surely Yousei kept several more aces under her sleeve.
"But..." Coming back with a playful smile, the underdog had now taken it upon herself to eventually rise on top. "Give me a couple of hundred tries and I'll get used to it."
Picking herself up with the help of her newfound friend, she would then proceed to activate the Mystic Palm Technique in order to quickly repair whatever damage the dance of the autumn leaves had left on her. Though it required a good number of hand-seals to get started, the entire process didn't last more than a minute at most. Fortunately, while Yousei had certainly not pulled any punches, Mai's was proficient enough to take care of these sort of 'friendly spar' injuries in a matter of seconds.
"That would be delightful. If you don't mind me bringing these guys with me, that is..." She said, almost as an afterthought, somewhat troubled. "... All that physical punishment made them feel uncomfortable, so it'll be a while until they agree to go back home."
[attr="class","pwfbody"] Yousei chuckled sheepishly as Mai complimented her fighting style, running a hand through her hair as she tried to mask her embarrassment. It wasn't often that she had people praising her like this, so it definitely felt weird to hear. [break][break]
"That's probably because my style doesn't have a whole lot of defined techniques!" She explained, giving Mai some further insight into her Dance of Autumn Leaves. "See, rather than ingraining specific motions through repetition, Kouyou no Mai is focused on achieving relaxation by overcoming your instinctual tension. How you apply it from there is mostly a matter of adaption and improvisation!" [break][break]
That probably wouldn't make a whole lot of sense, even to someone who'd just seen her taijutsu in action first hand, but she couldn't really explain it any more concisely than that. It was just super visceral, you know? Something you really had to feel before you could understand it. [break][break]
"Haha, you're welcome to try! I'll gladly take you on any time, Maimai." The smile Yousei returned was positively radiant. She hoped she really could give Mai a hundred more tries; a hundred and one, even! This had been some of the most fun she'd had in ages, there was no way they could let this be a one-time thing. [break][break]
"Oh, I don't mind!" She responded jovially, clearly not the least bit concerned by her companion's six-legged friends. "As long as they're not all ordering, that is!" The laugh that followed had to be one of the purest, more carefree sounds in the whole world. What a great day this had turned out to be! [break][break]
"What're you in the mood for, anyway? Any preferences? I don't really know what the culinary scene is like in the Ame, but we've got ramen, gyoza, takoyaki...oh, and I have to show you my favorite taiyaki stand!" [break][break]
