Killing intent flowed through my blade. 'Iaido is an art for singular attacks, carrying incredible power and speed, but cannot be done easily in succession. Your first strike will matter more than any other.' Faint words, whispering in the back of my head, deafened by the clash of steel.
A smile shifted down, tightening into a grimace as a new adversary seemed to materialize. It was already questionable how much word I'd have to do for this, but now? Where the fuck did he come from?
The pressure against my own blade - confused, but powerful. It was obvious from the touch - not to mention his arrival - that I was slower than him. Weaker, even; but on technique? Hard to tell what the grip is. Not classical kendo, definitely not iaido. I wonder... A shift of view, from blade to man, as I attempted to push down against his sword.
"You're telling me with this?! You don't even want to protect him!" The lack of commitment that greeted me meant I had a chance. If he was stronger, he had his chance to take me down. An opportunity I couldn't lose.
"Tadaaki! You moron! Do something!" I yelled back in frustration. I'd try to force down his own blade, but find the effort pointless; if disarming him was my goal. I'd release my sheath with my offhand, hoping to grab at the masked man's clothing and pull him off to the side, sweeping underneath with my left foot. The motion was clumsier than I had envisioned, but with the man's line of sight...
Wouldn't be far into my foray of slicing tree branches that a warning would fly from my partner. My head perked up as my blade swung down, collapsing my knees forward in a single motion. The sword would be wedged into the earth a bit more firmly than I'd like, but better than an arrow to the neck. Their thudding behind me was like the drums of hell - Looks like something fun.
The internal monologue would have to go silent as I regathered my senses, wrenching the blade from the earth and back to it's sheath, heeding Asura's words, darting towards nearby trees. Making it northeast shouldn't prove too much of a hassle, but three enemies was more than I'd be prepared for. Slipping behind the trees wouldn't prove to be as successful as I wanted, another arrow whirred by; faint cursing under my breath.
A slow breath, and a mad dash. Distance was the main issue with archers, if I was able to close the gap without... Well, without too much injury, it'd be fine. My path would stick to the trees as more ammunition made it my way, a few clearing holes through my cloak. Before making the last leap of distance, an idea formed - my jacket flying off to the left of the tree. Me? To the right.
Circling around the last obstacle, I slammed forward on my left, grip tightening around handle and sheath. The flick of a thumb, the squeeze of the shoulder, the pressure of my weight slamming forward as the sword shot forward, aiming at the nearest archer's head. Iaido was efficient at one thing; immediate results. Doing it again was going to be the hard part.
Killing intent ran through my blade with the first attempt, hoping for it to succeed with a shower of blood. Either way, I'd continue forward, attempting to grip the archer's shirt; shouting out to Asura as I did. "Found them! Come on!" audible panic as toes dug into earth.
Two-fist might be the lamest moniker. Half a laugh escaped, shaking my head as the rise of my chest betrayed the emotion. "You recognize them?" The crowd around us seemed a little less excitable than usual, meant it was a slow night more often than not. Or so I'd heard.
Relaxing, my smile shifted to a slight grin, raising an arm out of the crowd. "That's kinda sad, sensei." A faint sneer lived within the words, but before I could continue a brick shithouse of a man approached us, picking his way through the crowd. A bow followed as he approached, shallow as it was.
"Just go along with it." whispering towards Makoto, I lifted myself back up with a vibrant greeting, reaching a hand out to shake his hand. "I'm here to submit a new fighter, and make a few bets. Are you accepting anyone new tonight?"
Silence.
The man's eyes turned over the two of us, stripping us down to meat with a glare. My spine tingled for a moment, the raw killing intent radiating off him sitting in my stomach. A moment later, it'd stop, and he spoke. "Okay. Odds are three to five, she has ten minutes." the boom of his voice swallowing the crowd, an arm extending with an open palm. Silently, I'd drop the sack of coin into his hand, swallowing quietly.
The tower of skin walked away as I stood there - like a moron - with my jaw almost askew. Why the hell is he the bouncer? A shake of the head, and it'd pull towards Makoto, mouth next to ear. "Okay, so, 10 minutes, you go in there, kick the guys ass. They've got you three to five, meaning you're the expected winner. Payouts not as big, but..." a sigh stifled itself, a laugh hiding silently in resentment.
"Did you really expect to be the underdog?" Not a pun I was proud of.
Makoto Inuzuka | 320 words | was gonna ask you to take the fall, but
Didn't even acknowledge the question. I almost had a huff, and even a bit of a fit. It would've been funny! But not the time.
My gaze would shift, twice. First, back at the book; then, back at the Hyuga. Almost repeating the gesture a few more times to drive the point home, but that felt like overkill. "Two reasons." I began, index finger rising to the sun.
"I don't have any fake swords." the finger turning to the weapon on my hip, "and that will kill you. my tone curdling for a moment, although the smile didn't falter. Before Asura could raise any questions, I'd force the narrative forward.
"Second," another finger shot up, "You don't have any fake swords." Nodding towards the instrument he held. "That thing not-withstanding. And!" turning on my heel, I started to walk back towards the tome. "I am not covering another hospital bill because someone wanted to "train" with me."
Heavy air quotes joined the words, a faint sigh under my breath. Already have to deal with... Shit, two? of those. Cursing under my breath, I shook my head, attempting to go back to the book.
"Nomi, huh?" another side 'eye' at the beast, a short but loud exhale following. "Good name." Not a particular favorite, but hey - it was a bear. A bear ninja, even. Best not to let that thought sit long.
"Benkei of the sword it is." a faint slip of sincerity, turning back away from the girl to their instructor. Another drink from my glass - what the hell was it, again? Some kind of juice I had never heard of. Good, though.
If we keep talking, they'll probably kick us out Before I could say it, the presentation actually started wrapping up! An almost startled double take as the lights were raised higher, the presentation 'stage' dimming. 'You may all begin to file out through your nearest exit.' Sounded out, incredibly loud - undoubtedly ninjutsu.
"Looks like they don't call it the sound village for fun." remarking, I turned to the girl, plugging my ears to the absurd noise. "You ready for whatever crap this is?" If she could even hear me over the rest as we funneled out of the building.
"Ooh, you're saying we've got a haunted house?" my head perking up, one hand habitually returning to my sword. "I didn't know it was that time of year, but I'll take it." I'd continue chirping, smiling all the way.
Back in Kirigakure, when the moon went black, and the stars sat like a crown of light, the locals hosted a festival. Something to do with the tides and what lies beneath the sea - couldn't care less, honestly. But a few of them wanted to grift, so they'd host haunted houses for a few days.
The gist of it was this; you and your friends give a couple coins, go in, get your scares by a few people in costume, come back out with wet pants. Always fun.
Particularly fun when they hired out to shinobi. Favorite mission - hands down.
"Alright kid, I'll bite. Let's see what's living in these woods." bowing to Kakesu, a short laugh shaking my chest. Gonna scare the shit out of him.
Kakesu Aoki | 166 words | take me through the ditches
Scratching my chin in thought, I turned to look over the few streets nearby. Lips tightened as options were considered; the nearest place to find a map of the village was... Shit, the kage tower? Frustration boiled at the forefront of my mind, fighting to become audible. I'm not trying to lose my weekend for this cat.
"Bird's eye isn't bad." the words mulled over, continuing to turn my gaze out and up. No ladders in sight, but a few of the businesses had rooftop exits - something we might be able to take advantage of. A raised brow as my eyes narrowed further than usual, turning to Gauma. "You gonna climb one of these things?"
A sweeping arm gestured, pointing to the few rooftops I could discern a visible doorway. "I think those three have ways for one of us to get there a little easier." The street view was important, too - to me, at least. Might be some weird cat club in town we didn't know about. Really hoped there wasn't though.
"Rock paper scissors for it. Loser does street patrol for the cat." a smile cracking wide. "Even let ya do two out of three if you're a sore loser."
Gauma Gaojima | 202 words | they'll look up at me, screaming for help
Look at the novice swing around his needle dick. a singsong tune accompaniment, as an orchestra of mockery rained down - a brief glimpse into a potential future if I were a bit more wealthy. Oh well. This'lll work fine.
I noticed the guy on the docks a few minutes ago, running around looking for some new reading material. Docks were always a good place to look; although I got tired of the waterlogged shipwreck trash I saw every day. Sometimes, a gem - most of the time, garbage. The kid is definitely a gem.
I'd finally leave the crowd of on goers, approaching the pier with a slight swagger. The hand gripping my sheath and belt particularly tight, elbow tight to my side. "Hey, you!"
Ah, I recognized him, now! This was going to be even better! I twisted, the sheath of my blade rotating backwards - leaning back on my opposite leg. A step forward, an arm drawn towards the sun - I aimed an Iaido strike at the amateur swordsman's chest with the blunt end of my blade. I almost immediately noticed the opposite curve drained an enormous amount of striking power from the attempted strike, but it should still gonna scare the shit out of him.
"Too afraid to play with a real weapon, Nobukatsu?" the blade flipping back down, sliding carefully into my sheath as an enormous shit-eating grin spread.
"Nommy-kun? That's fucking terrible." shock, disgust, anger, regret, sham, and another 20 alternative emotions were all boiling in my chest. An overreaction? Of course not! That name is terrible! Had to spit out the takoyaki I was eating, clear the palette.
Appetite's gone. but how much of that was from Nommy and how much of that was his pussy joke, I couldn't decide. How dumb does Gommy-kun sound, huh? did echo through my head, more than once. Not quite strong enough to have the privilege's of speech, but worth considering.
He'd probably like it.
Throwing the rest into a nearby trashcan to Gauma's turned back, a sigh escaped me as I cracked my neck. "It's not gonna be easy to catch like this. We don't have enough hands to just grab it - not like we have enough alleyways to trap it in, either."
Kirigakure's structure was rather open, wide streets dividing several stone and wood structures. Narrow alleyways ocassionally sneaked at intersections, but almost all of them had multiple intersecting areas. Not to mention, I'm pretty sure neither of us actually know how the place it laid out. Experience, sure - but it was far from perfect.
"Because you're getting paid." my tone was curt, the somehow still penetrating stench souring the usual bite. 'Sword's just my payment, don't act like a moron."
I watched the man as his eyes shifted, veins growing ugly on the side of his face. It was always fascinating to see, the odd, blank yet not expression in their eyes. I could tell he was looking through me. Creepy. Almost shaking my head to get rid of the thought, hiding it with a scratch of the neck.
Five, huh? Head turning, my mental image of a clock landing me perfectly at... No, that's four. Five. Five.
"I'll lead the way, then." I stepped forward, smile screaming into the void. "I gotta see if the sword is good, after all." My sword drawing slowly upwards, dancing towards the nearest not-so-in-the-way branch to 'clear the path'.
"You keep behind me with the eye-magic you have, let me know if anyone's gonna show, alright?" almost a sneer at this point as I turned towards the path ahead. "And save some humor for the rest of the world while you're at it." My step forward would leave little room for intervention, although I had no doubt my "superior officer" would declare 'I take the lead!' or some other faux patriotic mush.
Be happy if he didn't, though.
— asura hyuuga | 221 words | testing, testing, one two tease
Definitely a psycho. the thought echoed quietly, the absent minded response not doing my elder much of a favor. "Something like that." A faint nod across the back of my shoulder at the open pages - "Flipping through a neat kendo book."
My sight would turn back to the Hyuga, noting the small ornament - or was it an instrument? - in his hand. A brief flare of guilt, although it was more of a nagging annoyance, lit up my mind. Not long, not bright, but still a faint crease in the corner of my mouth as a frown had almost started to form. "What about you?" I chimed, the silence between words eerily still.
"I figured you'd be at the - ah, what was it called again?" the words slipped from my tongue, struggling against the back of my teeth to reclaim them. A finger held in the air, requesting silence as syllables collided into one another behind closed eyes. Ar-ir-ur-or--ork-orc-orch- Yeah, yeah, orchestra.
"The orchestra going on." I pointed back to the main road, a hand idly resting on my sword hilt. Unintentionally, might I add. "Always took you for one of those 'music buffs'." a faint hint of sarcasm hanging on the edge of the words. "Wait, wait a minute -" his reaction finally catching up;
The smell of shit permeated the air, the pinch in my nose somehow not nearly tight enough. It was baffling how the smell could pierce through, had to be coming in through my ears or something. A wave with my spare hand to my senpai, a nudge of my head in the direction of the smear as I approached it. Yup, there was a bear here.
Wrapped around the trunk of a barren tree was the intestinal baggage of a local bear; caked on in a rather... Unfortunate amount. "I think this is from the culprit!" I'd yell between tightly knitted teeth, and blocked-as-well-as-I-could nose. "They said it was a huge bear, right?" I almost wanted to poke it with a stick - an impressive pile of shit!
Now, let's wind it back a bit to the before-times; when I wasn't excited to see a steaming mountain of crap.
Having lost my sword to a particular boating excursion with my oh-so-wise sensei, I had to acquire a new one, and to do that, I needed collateral. Found a shop owner willing to haggle, had some excellent steel - won't bore anyone with the details, but he offered it in exchange for a mission. So I dragged in one of my senpai - a Hyuuga that goes by Asura. Some psycho, from everything I know. But how hard could it be, anyway?
An old bear - a GIANT bear - had been roaming the areas in-between iron mines, leaving his supply chains cut short. Travel to the island it was on, find the bear, take it out. Flashing forward to now, I was starting to see how it could be the same old tired shit. The sword was nice, though.
"In debt?" indignation alight, "It would seem your opinion of me keeps slipping, sensei." I turned to face her, a deep frown followed with a very I-can't-beleive-you-just shake of a finger.
"And you hear things, when you listen." continuing as I nodded towards one of the bouncers, as lifting the small sack of won coin. "You should know how loud people are when they think no one is listening." the dripping sneer of my words causing a few heads to turn, only for their attention to be drawn back to the disparate snapping of bone. The cries of pain that followed even more audible.
"See? Loud as it gets." A grin having returned as I spoke, I nudged to join the crowd of spectators, going further into the secluded section of beach. Sticking a hand above the crowd, motioning for Makoto to follow as I bumped shoulders, and shook a few hands.
"Now, I ain't saying I need your help, but -" a pause, making sure she was still within earshot, "If you do, it'll be a way bigger payday. So, yes?" a half cocked smile turned to her, before snapping back to the crowd. There - the betting odds were lined across a massive blackboard, various names and rates listed side-by-side-by-side.
Commitments, commitments! The idea of something so close to obligation, yet so, so far away. I had committed to attending a small orchestra performance with a few of my platoon members, but as usual, found something more engaging in the time between promise and future. Not that it was difficult to be more interesting than the musicians in Kirigakure - most of them sing drunk shanties for hours on end.
"So, a cut from underneath aimed at the upper left..." I traced the intent of the words with the edge of my sword, slowly following the trail against a hay dummy. On my way to the venue - notedly, a very roundabout way - I found a bookshop toting some rare, older kenjutsu script. Something Seven Dragoons? The cover looked like shit, and some of the text was illegible, but it was interesting enough to buy.
A frown creased as I sheathed my blade, turning back to the book. An errant flip of the page, eyes scanning back and forth. No real theory on footwork... Wonder if that means I could use most of these from varied positions. Staring at a diagram, I began to trace the stance with an idle finger, movement catching the corner of my eye.
The training area setup was fairly public, being a short offshoot no more than a few dozen feet from the main road. A main road that, miraculously, carried an unfortunate combination of person and time. Lifting myself up from hunching over the tome, my brow raised, a fake pitch of excitement to follow. "Ah, Asura! Nice to see you."