RP:I Don’t Always Fight,
But when I do, I don’t?
Summary: Raven encounters Yoshika again and learns some new things about herself. More importantly she’s found a sensei of sorts.
Training Grounds
To one unfamiliar with combat, this entire area might appear to be in complete disarray. Training dummies are lined up, painted with targets for a group of archers to practice with. Some more of the dummies can be seen in a large pile, torn apart with their stuffing peeking out of the fabric. The clash of swords echoes throughout, as avian soldiers being monitored by their higher ranked leaders quietly observe. Warriors that have taken the magical route can be seen with dummies given life through enchantments, firing projectiles of various elements at their once inanimate enemy. Groups of heavily armed soldiers march around a track in formation, the gleam of their polished titanium armor shining with brilliance. None of the men here appear to notice that you’re watching, a clear indication at how disciplined Schezerade’s army is.
Yoshika had never felt fear like he did that day at the fountain. His mother showed up unexpectedly and had shown him her superiority over him. He was not even a close match for her. After all this time away slaying monsters and bonding with his katana he didn’t seem to grow much in terms of strength as he thought he had and she proved that. Holding up his wing he looked at the place that she pulled a feather from. It was still empty and noticeable. Just another thing aside from his missing wing that people would see and gawk at. He’d considered many times just having the other wing removed and covering his failures as a warrior by hiding it with a cloak. Taking a stance against the training dummy arms out sword up he takes a strike at it. Not really noticing that he had another person watching.
Raven enters with some guards, as per usual, but she puts out a hand to halt as she had stopped as well. She was dressed down and kind of sick of having all these guard around so she was about to have one train her in combat. She wore a pair of simple black yoga pants and a loose white tee shirt covering her sports bra. Maybe if she learned to defend herself once more she would need so many asshats surrounding her at all hours of the day. She starts pulling up her seemingly sunkissed hair into a messy bun while watching the warrior and her colorless expression remained even though she had a hint of a smirk. Arms crossed under her bust while she watches each strike to the dummy, but that empty spot of his wings… Was he already betrothed? That was fast, but not surprising in these lands. Who knows! Maybe he’s already made an enemy… Also likely.
Yoshika strikes the dummy hard, fast and consistently over and over with the utmost shame and anger raging through him. Finally the head of the dummy flies up and over him. Following it with his eyes he strikes it with his katana as begins to descend sending it soaring over the wall at the training grounds. Huffing and puffing due to the long hours and intense training he sticks his sword into the ground by the now headless dummy. Removing his helmet due to the heat of exhaustion he places it next to his katana. His helmet had always hid his gray hair. Most people that didn’t know that he was an avian-because he always hid his missing wing and the one he had under a cloak- assumed that he was older than what they thought because of his gray hair. It was short in some spots and longer in others. He had cut it himself to fit the helmet and truth be told it looked really bad, but it served its function. Sitting down to rest up against the katana he sees he has a small audience behind him watching and was a bit surprised that it was the women,‘Raven’, from the other day. “Have you come to train or are you here for a show” he asks loudly not realizing that he was practically shouting. “I don’t imagine that you would need to fight considering the security that follows you,” he says as he is still trying to catch his breath.
Raven glances to one of her guards as he seems in awe and she had mumbled under her breath to him, “should we ask for an autograph, Susan?” The guard’s jaw tenses and he goes back to his more serious demeanor. Raven is ruthless on these guys. It’s obviously not his name, but they know better by now to correct the woman. Once the man was done she could practically feel the intensity from his shame and anger, to which she concludes the missing feather must be from an enemy. Soft steps make their way around the front guard once she’s being addressed, “to train, Yoshika.” Her accent still subtle upon her level alto timbre and his next observation met with a slight raise of one of her shoulders, she seemed slimmer since they last crossed paths, “a solitary soul likes to remain so. Maybe if I learn some hand to hand combat I could lessen the security detail,” her steps came right up to the warrior and looked at him with that ridiculous hair, “talk about helmet hair…” teal bored eyes travel over the headless dummy, “so, what did that dummy do to earn that?” He head tilted towards it to notion at what she’s asking about.
Yoshika stood tall and firm as Raven approached him. He nervously gulped as they stood maybe just a foot apart. He still wasn’t sure what to make of her and was worried about make sudden movements due to the fact that she had so many guards. Putting one hand to a lock of his hair and shrugging his shoulders he wondered what was wrong with it. Looking over at the dummy he closed his eyes “Just a casualty of training combat I guess” he says to her as he lowers his wing to the middle of his back. Turning away from her he picked the katana out of the ground and with a metal on metal scrap he places it back into the sheath with a clack. “Hand to hand you say, are you asking me to be a sparring partner ?” Yoshika asks her as he crosses his arms over his chest.
Raven’s etched gaze looks him from head to toe, “if you’re not doing anything, sure. I was going to pound on one of those girls,” she motioned to the large stern looking avian men as her security. “You seem a little overdressed though,” sparring hand to hand it usually better in lighter clothing, like what Raven was wearing. Soft leather shoes, cotton leggings, and a breathable tee shirt, “I don’t think I’ll be facing some sort of army. She now motioned to Yoshika’s attire and her arms crossed just as his did, “so, you can sword fight and fist fight?” A slight quirk of a brow, “or is it more of a karate?” She wasn’t making any assumptions, “I also… Don’t really agree with battle. The more I could avoid striking or getting struck the better.” So, she would probably be more comfortable with aikido style of fighting. She would wait for him to proceed if that’s something he can do.
Yoshika looked at the slim avain with eyebrows scrunched together. Tilting his left to right trying to size her up. She mentioned that he was overdressed and he agreed. Raising his hands up to his shoulders he placed his pointer fingers between the two plates of armor where the guard pads and chest plate met. With a click he moved his hands down to his waist behind his back and another click could be heard. With that his armor came loose and he hoisted it over his head and around his wing and carefully not to hit the stump that was left of the other one.. Holding it to his side he stands with what can only be described as rags for an undershirt on. It at one point might have been considered nice but had so many cuts and tears from fights with monsters, thieves and had seen its share of combat. The front had a particular tear that opened the front view of his chest and three giant claw marks had left a scar on him. Aside from that for a warrior he surprisingly untouched in terms of markings, from what she could see anyway. Letting go of the unlatched armor it hit the ground with a loud crash show just how much extra weight was on him when he wore it. “OK let's go for a round then, its been ages since i’ve had a friendly match without that heavy chest plate on.” He says and springs forward hopping from foot to foot with hands up, one covering his face and another out for attack.Taking the only wing he has, he uses it to push in with a burst and being off balance from just the one wing starts to spin while switching up his hands so she won’t be sure where the attack is coming from.
Raven watched the man for a long moment, unimpressed as usual. He’s setting off on her like some wild animal that was just uncaged and for once those eyes open in surprise although her voice didn’t change much, “um…” Attempting to dodge out of the way of the onslaught her wings pushed her to one side in a sort of quick step, but it wasn’t enough in the end as it seems she on the receiving end of a blow to her face, surely none of these hits are to connect, right? The security guards don’t know that for sure and one avian man dressed all in black was at Raven’s side in a flash, slipped his arms around her, disappeared in a flash. She was kicking and yelling the entire time, “I swear, you will learn to never touch me without permission one day.” She pushed herself away from the secret service protector and glares up at him, “I am not some child, you listen here. I was he one who welcomed the challenge. If I was going to get punched in the face, let me be!” Even with the dwindled Bardic power someone could tell she was intimidating and judging by the paled face of the avian she’s yelling at no one would even wish their enemy to be in his shoes. She smoothies her shirt out and pivots away from the man to walk the distance back to Yoshika, “I apologize, I should have been more clear. I don’t know any fighting styles, I probably need instructed before a spar.” It’s amazing how she just went from furious to calm so fluidly.
Yoshika stood there with a bit of surprise. He didn’t mean any serious harm to her and I guess his expectation might have been a little to high considering.. Eyebrows raised he says “OH, OH, I’m sorry I didn’t mean it that way. I guess I Just got a little too over excited about the idea of a sparring match.” Walking over he couldn’t help but smirk and chuckle about what she said to her guards. As he approached her he held his hands out. “Ok, here with your left hand punch my right and reverse that for the other.” he says not expecting too much from the carmel colored avain. Watching the her protective duty crowed the two ready to stop him if something went south at a moments notice.
Raven stood there and listened, looked at his hand and then glanced down at her feet planted in the ground, probably a little too close together. “Over a hundred years ago, I was able to use my voice for defense, but that doesn’t seem to be an option anymore,” she explained, without reason. She did as he said, there was strength there, but it could be more if she tapped into it. She took a second before continuing to slip off her plain white shirt and toss it to one of the guys standing around, “how about you guys just relax? Yeah?” Standing there probably not very balanced due to her stance and in a sports bra and yoga pants. She’s really slimmed down, so much so that a hint of two abdomen muscles seem to ripple her caramel skin when she tenses in order to go back to punching his palms, they weren’t centered either, she really meant it when she said she never fought, “punching is nice and all, but I’m just not about causing others harm. Is there anything from your experience that is more… Passive?” She would glance to his face every now and again, which didn’t do well for her punches, she clipped a pinky or thumb - she is pitiful.
Yoshika with his hand up felt every little punch she threw at him. Her fists felt soft landing in his palms which to him didn’t sit well They were in no way going to protect her if someone got past the myriad of protection that followed her. “Here let us try this, put your one foot here in front and other back like this” he says gently placing his hand on her knee to show the proper position. “I am going to throw some slow light punches your way. When I do that move to the side and place your hands on my forearm , put your thumb here,”placing her hand on his arm “and push your thumb into it and pull down,” he says, “Ok here I go I’ll go slow.”
Raven watched him work his way around her, instructing her with his words and hands. She doesn’t say much, only watches, listens and copies his movements until he’s telling her to do something else. “Oh?” This was interesting, if she could fight in a way that didn’t actually require her harming others that would be best. She did as he said and stepped to the side, but when she pulled him he would run right into her wing. Just like her footing there are probably ways to move your wings while in combat… She’s really the worst. Once he ran into the velvety warmth of her onyx wing she would retract it with a wince and the sucking of air through her teeth. Crap, that smarts! “Maybe I missed something,” trial and error, she’ll try and learn from this mistake.
Yoshika didn’t expect her to pull him as hard as she did. When she pressed her thumb into his forearm he made a sound that was pretty embarrassing and had look that he probably would usually have or make towards other people. With a sound of “Ahhh Uhhh” followed by eyes bulged out he had been pulled right into her black sharp looking but surprisingly soft wings. OH no he forgot about the wings, he has had a missing wing for so long now that he forgot that to tell her how to use them for her advantage. With his torso brushing into them he could hear her make an unpleasant sound that showed just how much that pained her. Landing on his back with a crash he was slightly behind her holding his arm and squeezing it to relieve the tension from the pressure point that was now pulsing, he realized that he was looking up at her arse. Eyes flared out with this and he sat up quickly hoping she didn’t think he was some kind of perv and the that this was an attempt to oogle her. “I’m sorry about that, I’ve been fighting with one wing for so long that I forgot to tell you what to do with them” he says standing up and patting down his shirt to get the dust and dirt off. “Okay let us try that again, but this time use your wings when you pull. Push away from me with them with the downward pull,” he says mentally bracing himself so not to make that face and sound again.
Raven doesn’t understand the strength, Brennia had rigorous training and muscles, but Raven has no idea how to use them to her advantage or when to not use them in this case. She was starting to get a little sweaty already and dabbed her forehead with the back of her hand, “Okay, one second.” She stretches out the wing that was clipped and then relaxes it once more really uncaring of where he was looking, it happens. “So, the goal is to, grab, pull away with the thrust of the wings so you land face down in front of me?” It makes sense, you never want your opponent to land behind you anyway. Teal eyes drop to her footing to make she she got it right this time, “I’m ready,” her arms raised up, hands relaxed ready for anything while her eyes locked to his and she fell into some sort of alternate thought process. Jaw tenses, her gaze slightly narrows and as her vision seemed to tunnel and focus on the task at hand as every sound slowed. She was centered and the feathers to her wings expand which make them seem bigger - ancient intimidation tactic. Her heel dug into the dirt of the training room and when he came at her this time she used his strength against him once more while the only thing she added was her thumb on that pressure point, but they didn’t account for her nails and she drew a bead of blood from the fellow avain when she drew him back. The force of those large onyx wings propelling the pair a few feet back and she pulled down just like he instructed, expecting his face to land in the dirt where her boots previously were planted.
Yoshika flew forward and with a internal yelp landed face in the dirt. She wasn’t that strong when she threw the punches so where did THIS come from he wondered. Standing back up and wiping the brown dirt streak off of his face he turned to her “Yeah the was good” he says as he is spitting out dirt. Feeling a tiny pinch on his arm he looks down to see a spot of blood much to his surprise. “Well well look at that” he says holding his arm up. Wiping the spot off his lips pulled to a grin on the side of his mouth. “There it is, There’s the power,” he whispers under his breath. “OK let’s try that once more, but this this time I’m going to speed it up” he says to her.
Raven glanced down at her thumbnail which had a spot of blood decorating it and it was an odd feeling. She felt cross for harming him even if it was just a tiny prick and guilty for enjoying it, but his words conflict her, “the what?” Did he know something like this was going to happen? This is all so new to her. A subtle quirk of her brow, “alright.” Her even expression never changes and her voice is steady as usual, but deep inside herself a conflict was taking place… Soon enough that didn’t matter as the world melted away and she fixed her concentration upon him while it felt like she could somehow push or pull the air around herself, like there was no empty space between herself and everything else including her opponent… Who was coming for her and she felt like she wasn’t ready, too fast! He’s going to tackle her for sure, but her balance was centered and it was effortless in the way she was able to allow him to use his own strength against himself. In the end all that brawn doesn’t matter if you are prepared, but it was the subtle smirk on her plump lips that would cause most alarm. Long slender fingers ensnare his forearm just as her wings allowed her to quick step out of the way, then they shifted to the other side to stop her and move out of the way for her next manipulation. This time when she pulled him to follow-through behind her she pivoted with him on one foot, but just after her other foot raised to continue his charge with a push to his arse. He’d be running toward a marble wall.
Yoshika expected her to have strength but what happened even caught him off guard. She pivoted with him on one foot, but just before her other foot raised to continue his charge with a push to him. She sent him running toward a marble wall. As he skidded to stop with his arm out to brace the impact of the wall a suspicion came across him. She had done this before or atleast was playing him a bit. She caught on quickly and seemed to enjoy the little sparring that they were doing, but why would she lie to him about it ? Was this to see how well trained he was, or…. And as he hit the wall as carefully as he could he stopped and leaned up against it. Eyebrows creased to the middle of his forehead and his lips pulled to one side he looked as he looked at her. “So tell me miss Cadenza is this the first time training?” he says as he starts to unfold the rolls of his sleeves back down towards his hands. Doing so would cause the opening in the front of his shirt to spread some exposing the three scars across his chest, reaching up to the rip so he could cover himself just as it began to open. “Because it seems like your no stranger to CQC (close quarter combat) and I don’t appreciate being lied to,” he says with a flair of his wing stretching involentarly, exposing an empty gap from where a feather was plucked just a day ago.
Raven glances at the empty spot of his wings, the scars on his chest and his angry disposition, “this is my first time training, yes. For this body I wear I cannot be certain because of our fusion I do not remember anything about Brennia or any training she may have gone through.” A subtle shrug was she monotones on, “I am just as surprised as you, but this is complicated.” Teal eyes steal another glance to the wing and it’s empty spot, “is someone after you?” She crosses her arms under her bust, “you think we can take a small break?” She wasn’t actually tired, but by the looks of him he might have some questions about what she’s been through as she may have some about him as well. Maybe she could help him with his issues along the way - that is what she is here for… Assisting the avian race.
Yoshika stays still with arms crossed as he listens to Raven, or Brennia, whatever she just called herself. ‘She is surprised?’ he thinks to himself. ‘Whats going on here? She isn’t making sense,’ he continues to think while keeps his clear green eyes fixed on her. “Someone,” he says Walking over to his chest and shoulder armor that he left in the dirt he scoops it up fits it back on and latches it shut. No no I am the one pursuing” he says hesitantly. “A break sounds good, I’ve been doing this for hours,” he says leaning over and attaching the last of his things such as his sword and helmet. “Is there something you’d like to talk about?” he asks resting a hand on the tsuba of his katana and eyeing her guard.
Raven walks over to a nearby bench and opens her cantina full of water to take a sip before offering him some and to take a seat with her. “Oh, so you gave your feather to someone?” She said in a rather bland manner as if she’s just making small talk on an elevator. Then he asks if there is something she wants to talk about, straight to the point - apparently, “you come back to Schezerade out of the blue. I’m curious as to why.” Usually she’s not too interested in other people’s story, but there was something about him that she found akin to herself… Maybe it was the missing wing, “I just feel out of place when I’m not entirely out of place. If that makes any sense.”
Yoshika watches as Raven sits and sips some water. Walking over at her invitation he takes the cantina of water the she offered him a drink from. Holding up to pour water into his mouth his katana pressed up against his leg. It was odd that it did so. Generally speaking it mostly lay still unless it had something to communicate to him. This was different though. It was going out of its way to avoid contact with Raven. It cowered much like an animal in the presence of an apex predator would. Yoshika took this as a sign that Raven had power weather or not she realized it. Pulling his wing back at the comment of his missing feather and looking over at her with his eyebrows pushed together “No someone took it to prove a point and I got the message loud and clear, that’s why i’m here pounding on that dummy.” he says. “As far as why I’m here..” He pauses for a moment. “Let’s just say that the one who has pulled my feather has something else of mine that I want. They’re here in your city and I am here to take back what's mine.”
Raven listens while staring ahead at nothing in particular. “So, is there a name for this passive style of fighting?” It was off subject and she drank some more water before standing up once she got her answer, “so let’s go again.” She waves him to move along with her, they would probably stay there and train for what seemed like hours. Raven would settle more into Brennia’s strengths and weaknesses of her body and begin to sync up with things she used to know and what Yoshika is teaching her.
Yoshika nodded yes at the question of a name. “It’s called Irimi (入り身) In basic training, irimi usually looks like a step forward, straight or at an angle but usually ending with the body facing the attacker, rather than in the direction of the step. To enter with irimi, the defender needs to move in the very moment of the attack or even himself initiate it.” he tells her. After a few hours of repeatedly throwing Yosh around and getting her stances and movement down Yosh stays down on the final throw landing him next to the dummy he was bashing on when she arrived. His hair was even more of a mess. Sweaty, it was stuck to head in some spots and twisted down around his neck in others. Huffing and puffing on the ground trying to catch his breath he shoots a look over at Raven. “You catch on quick--UH H,” he says sitting up. It was late and the sun had began to set. Yosh didn’t plan on staying till dark but at least he seems to have made a new friend.