Clear the Air?

[Willoria]

"I still don't think this is a good idea." Ume commented as she led the way down through a tunnel towards a training area. She knew where Jinsai liked to train, and knew he liked to do it privately most early mornings. Though they still spent a lot of time together, there was also a lot of time they spent apart training or working on their respective projects. This morning was one of those times they were separate but Ume had found herself quickly talked into tracking down Jinsai.

Masako followed along, sighing heavily and rolling her eyes at Ume's hesitation. "Look, he needs to accept I'm not going anywhere." she told her. She was the one who had talked Ume into telling her where to find the man after all. "You know the way the clan works, the way Lacrishiin holders often protect others with rarer shiin, including yours. You may not trust me but you know I'll follow orders and stick to my job. He needs to understand the same. This is the best way to show him that."

"...by picking a fight?"

"It's a spar."

"That he doesn't know is coming. That makes it a fight."

"It'll be fine. I promise." As they came to the training area entrance, Ume motioned to it but Masako took the lead and and stepped through the entryway into the large cave. She leaned against the wall in silence while Ume hung back and observed. Masako would wait, watching for a moment to see when a moment might present itself for her to speak, or otherwise interject.

[TyDie]

As the two women tread through the caverns and neared Jinsai's usual training ground, they'd no doubt hear him before they saw him. The sound of his sansetsukon was unmistakable at this point, the chains holding the weapon together clinking about as the sections of his staff spun with incredible speed and force. As they rounded one final bend and looked into the cavern, they'd find him surrounded by a series of human-shaped rocks - Doton training dummies. They were tough enough to withstand a few blows from Jinsai each, and so he made great use of them as he batter and broke the dummies piece by piece with his sansetsukon.

His shirtless form seemed to almost be steaming, light puffs of sweat flinging off of him every so often as his body heat evaporated the sweat off of his flesh. After shattering a few of the dummies, the staff would suddenly straighten and turn rigid, becoming a more traditional staff. And if they looked closely at either end of the weapon, they'd find that there were multiple sharp protrusions extending off of each end - metal spikes. The weapon wasn't just battering the dummies, it was delivering a combination of piercing and crushing blows.

It all culminated in him approaching the last dummy, letting out a yell of fury as he twirled the weapon in his hand with incredible speed and power before purposely contacting with the makeshift sword the dummy was holding out, a thunderous "CRACK" resounding through the cavern. This caused the dummy to be pushed back from him for a moment... then a moment later, both women would watch as it was suddenly pulled back with some phantom force, only to find itself met with a second strike to it's torso, shattering it to pieces. He would hold his final pose for a moment, deep breathing echoing through the chamber as he slowly but surely began to relax.

He hadn't even taken notice of his visitors.

JutsuShow

Bojutsu • Demon's Fangs
A-Ranked Taijutsu Maneuver
Prerequisite: Bojutsu • Twirl
Jinsai will twirl his weapon using this technique's prerequisite stance, building intense momentum before deliving a single strike against his opponent, aiming for the torso of his enemy. While this strike carries intense power behind it, the true strength is in the results of a block. Should the opponent intercept or block this maneuver, the force of this strike will push all of the air out of the area around Jinsai and his enemy. This air comes rushing back a moment later, creating a vacuum-like pull with strength equal to 3/4ths of Jinsai's strength. Those unable to resist this vacuum's strength will find themselves pulled forward, leaving them off balance and exposed to the second strike Jinsai delivers aimed for the opponent's skull or torso.

Bojutsu • Twirl
D-Rank Taijutsu Stance
A staple technique of any staff style, Jin is capable of maintaining incredible momentum with his staff by twisting and twirling it in his hands. By rotating his hands, arms and body in various ways, Jin can twirl spin his staff around his body in large circles. Doing this works as a functional defense capable of slapping away blows and mundane projectiles of a lesser strength than his own. This also acts as a powerful offense, delivering sweeping strikes backed by the momentum of the spins. This can be maintained while the weapon is in any form.

[Willoria]

Ume stayed back to where she could see what was going on, but hopefully where she wouldn't actually be seen. She didn't want to take part in what was coming, she didn't agree with what Masako was doing at all. But Masako herself stepped into the training area to watch Jinsai work. In truth, she was surprised at what she saw. The Fukusha was impressive to watch. Not just as a fighter, but physically he was impressive to see. She stayed to the edge of the training area, just at the edges of his sight or just outside of it. She moved around the edge of the cave to get behind him, slowly moving towards him as he moved forward in his attacks. Her aim was to stay out of his line of sight as he focused on his training, and to hopefully escape his notice.

His moves were impressive, the way he decimated the doton figures. Even from behind watching his shirtless form left her impressed. But she still had a score to settle. Masako never spoke, watching him finish his moves and begin to relax, she'd wait and bide her time, at least until he turned around. By time he did she'd be right there and facing him as he did, greeting him with a simple punch thrown towards his face.

"I think we have some shit to discuss, Fukusha."

Ume flinched and cringed in the hallway.

[TyDie]

Jinsai's breathing slowly died down to normal levels again, his stance straightening as he planted one end of his staff into the ground. He rotated his shoulderblades for a moment, working out a few kinks in his muscles after that display of power he had just performed, then turn around to leave... only to watch as a fist came flying for his face. All he had time to do was turn with the blow, so it didn't hurt quite as bad, his head turning to the right as the fist met with his cheek. It didn't hurt that bad, but it was more the surprise that someone had the gall to attack him like this.

At least, it was surprising until he saw who it was that threw the first.

"Tch... You've got a lot of courage to be throwing a fist at someone who's already warmed up and ready to fight." He rubbed his chin for a moment, the soreness from her punch radiating through his face a little now, but he wouldn't strike back just yet. No, he was curious what the hell she thought she was doing. "...Hmm. Whatever it is you're looking to discuss, I assume it's not friendly. But then again, I wouldn't expect friendly from you, Akari. How'd you find me, anyway?"

[Willoria]

"The word you're looking for is balls. Not courage." Masako said with a laugh, shaking her hair so that her red hair practically danced around her. She watched him rub his chin and grinned at him. "For fuck's sake, I just sucker-punched you and you still don't curse. What the hell does it take?" The woman started to circle him slowly almost like a wild animal circling its prey as he spoke. He asked how she found him and she just grinned at him again. "Overly prim and proper men are always so predictable... and predictable men have habits... habits are easy to track." she replied. "Finding you was the easy part."

In the hallway Ume leaned against the wall as if to try and disappear into it, confusion crossing her face. 'Why wouldn't she just tell him she convinced me to show her where he trained? What the hell is she really up to? If this is really just a spar... this suddenly doesn't make any sense...'

"You're a fighter, that's been clear since I met you." Masako continued. "Maybe this is the only way you know how to communicate... so we're going to have a little spar... and you're going to learn something about Akari tradition since you seem so intent to stomp all over them." Masako ceased her pacing and took up a ready position with one hand behind her, one in front, keeping Jinsai in front of her.

Jutsu UsedShow

*[Strong Fist Style • Balance]
D-Ranked Taijutsu Stance
A neutral stance taken by even entry level practitioners. This stance involves turning your body to be perpendicular to your opponent. One foot is rested directly in front of the other with just the toes in contact with the ground. A hand is held back while the other is forward, pointing up. This stance provides ease of dodging incoming blows by using the least amount of motion possible while still being ready to launch into an attack.

[TyDie]

Jinsai rolled his eyes at the woman's comment about his proper demeanor, and his lack of cursing... He was just never really one to use those kinds of words unless the situation truly called for them. And as far as he was concerned, this was not one of those situations. "A lot more than a punch to the face." Was his response to her question. As her explanation went on, her circling him like a predator analyzing her prey, he gripped tightly around his staff, the sound of his fist tightening audible. So it was a spar she wanted...

As the woman took up her ready pose in front of him, he twirled his staff a few times, channeling chakra through the weapon to cause the spikes on the ends to recede, making the ends of the weapon simple blunt instruments once more. "Have it your way." Was all he said before quickly whipping the staff down towards the ground, catching a large chunk of dirt and stone with the staff and flinging the debris up towards Masako's face. He'd then quickly launch a horizontal strike with his staff, aiming to crack one of Masako's ribs and end this charade before it could begin.

JutsuShow

Bojutsu • Twirl
D-Rank Taijutsu Stance
A staple technique of any staff style, Jin is capable of maintaining incredible momentum with his staff by twisting and twirling it in his hands. By rotating his hands, arms and body in various ways, Jin can twirl spin his staff around his body in large circles. Doing this works as a functional defense capable of slapping away blows and mundane projectiles of a lesser strength than his own. This also acts as a powerful offense, delivering sweeping strikes backed by the momentum of the spins. This can be maintained while the weapon is in any form.

]Bojutsu • Tricky Bo
B-Rank Taijutsu Maneuver
Prerequisite: Bojutsu • Twirl
Jinsai will strike the ground with one end of his weapon hard during a twirl, dragging it in a line. This will fling a cloud of dirt, rock and dust up into his opponent’s eyes as if Jin had thrown it. The use of one end of his weapon in this enables the immediate return of the opposite end for a follow up strike at either a blinded opponent or an opponent that is quite predictably dodging the debris.

[Willoria]

Masako grinned as Jinsai made clear he'd take up her challenge, some part of her all the happier because he didn't bother to redress himself fully. 'It's like a show to go with my fun... oh this should be good.' she thought to herself. Of course she knew the man didn't respect her as an opponent. The moment his staff moved downward she angled her face away to keep the debris out of her eyes. She had hoped he wouldn't fight dirty, but had expected it all the same. It did make avoiding his follow up move a bit harder, but not entirely. She shifted to lessen the impact, but still took some of the damage.

With a grunt of pain she took it, grinning as her hand came down hard to latch onto the staff and yank him towards her in an attempt to catch him off balance and try to get him closer. Her hand snaking out in a quick, short striking punch for his ribs in trade for the strike she allowed herself to take. She'd shove him back after to create distance and grin at him. "Come on now, don't you have any pride, Jin? Doesn't a man like you wanna last? I thought you liked to give a woman a little more time than that..." she jeered at him.

Somewhere in the hallway Ume was turning beet red, and suddenly decided she didn't even want to hear this or risk her role in Masako finding him being discovered. In silence she turned and left for home, leaving the other two to fight out whatever their issues were.

Jutsu UsedShow

*Kūgāpou • Slight Dodge
D-Ranked Taijutsu Maneuver
Whenever in a situation where they can't avoid being struck, the practitioner will slightly shift their body. This slight movement allows them to cause the incoming attack to miss any vital organs and cause as little damage as possible.

*[Strong Fist Style • One Inch Punch]
D-Ranked Taijutsu Discipline
When fighting in close quarters it becomes difficult to generate energy for full powered strikes. Practitioners have learned how to explode force from every muscle with minimal energy wasted and space needed. Every strike done by the practitioner has the potential to be at full strength, so long as they have at least one inch of movement.

[TyDie]

As his weapon hit home, he was shocked to find that it hadn't crippled her then and there. After all, he wasn't by any means a weak person. But still, he could be satisfied knowing that he had caught her with his attack, even though he had noticed her slight shift to ensure nothing vital had been hit. No cracked bones, instead a large bruise between ribs. But as she grabbed the weapon and yanked forward, he was just a second late on letting go of the sansetsukon, causing him to be pulled forward slightly before being quickly drilled in the ribs by her next strike.

Thankfully, years of conditioning and training enabled him to take the blow without much more than a grimace, but the pain and damage was still clear as he was pushed back from the blow, letting go of his staff in the process. Already though, his body was surrounded by a vignette of blue chakra, and as he regained his composure, liquid metal would ooze out from his outstretched palm, taking the form of a replacement sansetsukon. "You talk a lot during what's supposed to be a fight, you know that?" He spoke through grit teeth, fighting the urge to hold his chest as the pain of her fist coursed through his body. The separate sections of the man's weapon would fall limp in front of him, before he quickly switched to holding the outside ends in his hands and left the middle free flowing, to be manipulated by the movements of the outer ends.

"I never said I took issue with you, I said I didn't trust you. I still don't, and making crude remarks about my private life won't make that any better." His tone was clearly frustrated and annoyed, his anger was welling up within him, and he'd use that rage as fuel for his next attack. But for now, he'd assume a more defensive approach, and let her make the next strike...

JutsuShow

Kouton • Replacement
D-Ranked Ninjutsu
Jinsai will channel chakra throughout his body, funneling the chakra into his hand. This chakra will seep out of his palm and form rigid metal that shapes itself into a replica of his traditional Sansetsukon. The weapon is formed with [control] speed and can withstand [control] strength without breaking.

Bojutsu • Offensive Defense
C-Rank Taijutsu Stance
Jin's experience with the Sansetsukon's design has allowed him to developed a stance that allows both offense and defense to be kept in equal supply. He does this by switching his grip entirely, grasping each end of the weapon with one hand and leaving the middle section free flowing. In doing so, his effective range is reduced, but he can protect himself much easier with both the handled sections and the middle section, controlling the weapon in such a way that at least one section is in the path of any attacks aimed at him.

[Willoria]

Masako knew she could have gone for an opening as he formed a new weapon for himself and she tossed aside the one he'd abandoned. But she was looking for a fun fight, not a quick one. She hardly thought it'd be fun if he was without a weapon, especially as that seemed to be how he preferred to fight. She gave him space for a moment that he might form it, and grinned as he chided her for speaking too much. "Well I did say we needed to talk too didn't I? You seem to have no understanding of how this clan works, and clearly Ume hasn't been doing you any favors there either. She's bucked so many clan rules that the elders clearly seem to see you as a problem. You're too close to one of their precious astrashiin holders..." Though she couldn't help a momentary change of subject and a grin as he mentioned his private life. "Your life isn't as private as you think you know... she isn't the only Akari who has been there, and you never do a thing to hide who you are..."

She shook her head as she saw him take up a defensive stance and she returned to more serious subject matters. "Maybe you don't trust me, but I keep telling you, I'm loyal to my clan and my orders and that's what you need to understand. My job is protect her, including from you if necessary." She honestly wondered if he had any idea what that could mean, but highly doubted it.

With a snarl, Masako suddenly broke from her neutral stance to aim a strong kick to Jinsai's side before moving around to get behind him to follow up with a flurry of punches. Her aim was to keep things moving for at least two rounds of the technique before disengaging, unless he managed to interrupt her one way or another.

Jutsu UsedShow

*[Strong Fist Style • Great Leaf Whirlwind]
C-Ranked Taijutsu Maneuver
A combination attack started by the user unleashing a powerful kick to the side of their opponent. They will then place themselves behind the target and unleash a quick flurry of punches before kicking another side and repeating the process. This process can keep going ad infinitum or until the practitioner disengages.

[TyDie]

Their fight seemed to pause for a moment as the woman spoke to him about what Ume had done, why she was in her life in the first place, and his role in all of it. Of course, as far as he was concerned, if the Akari clan's customs were so easily trounced upon, perhaps their customs needed re-evaluation. "So your clan elders are afraid of a disgraced Fukusha, who happened to see one or two of your arena matches? Just how sensitive are your people, Masako? They're more afraid of me messing with Ume over you, an Akari who could easily devour Ume's shiin? That's tragic... They place more value on that damn organ then they do the person in possession of it." He'd flourish his Sansetsukon for a moment, the whirling weapon whipping around his person before re-assuming his stance.

"That's the real problem with your clan, and your orders. They don't give a shit about their own people, you're all perfectly content with murdering each other for more power. In my clan, if you tried to steal another Fukusha's eyes, you'd be executed on the spot. There's a few good apples among your people, but for the most part I maintain my stance; you're savages." As he prepared for her to rush him again, he spoke only a few more words through grit teeth. "Fuck your customs, they only lead to more death."

Finally she rushed him, and as she did he would dodge and block as best he could, taking a few strikes here and there but managing to divert the initial kick away at least. As she looped behind him, he'd dive forward, taking only one strike in the back before getting away from the strike. Assuming that she'd rush towards him again, he'd grip the middle of his staff and twirl it for a moment before lashing out in all directions with a wide sweeping horizontal strike.

Jutsu UsedShow

Bojutsu • Twirl
D-Rank Taijutsu Stance
A staple technique of any staff style, Jin is capable of maintaining incredible momentum with his staff by twisting and twirling it in his hands. By rotating his hands, arms and body in various ways, Jin can twirl spin his staff around his body in large circles. Doing this works as a functional defense capable of slapping away blows and mundane projectiles of a lesser strength than his own. This also acts as a powerful offense, delivering sweeping strikes backed by the momentum of the spins. This can be maintained while the weapon is in any form.

Bojutsu • Spinning Flourish
C-Rank Taijutsu Maneuver
Prerequisite: Bojutsu • Twirl
Jin will prepare for this strike using the Twirl technique to build momentum before letting loose large arcing strikes around his entire body, delivering crushing strikes to all opponents within reach of his staff. While simple in practice, the difficulty of this technique lies in performing the attacks without sacrificing defense or breaking stride, enabling Jin to maintain a proper offense against multiple opponents without leaving himself too open to counters. This technique can be used while the weapon is in either form.

[Willoria]

Masako simply rolled her eyes as Jinsai tried to insult her clan. "The only thing you're telling me is that you know nothing and you're not even trying to know anything about my clan." She did well at hiding it, but her frustration was up at the way he was talking. She was trying to get him to understand her role as Ume's bodyguard, but he seemed so fixated on the idea of her trying to take the other woman's shiin that he simply refused to see anything else. As he managed to minimize the effectiveness of her attack she only grew more angry.

With a snarl she moved as quickly as she could manage, trying to knock his legs out from under him. In the time she hoped it would take him to right himself she was slowed, preparing her core and up before driving her fist towards the center of his chest with a snarl. "Fucking outsider."

Jutsu UsedShow

*[Strong Fist Style • Leaf Gale]
D-Ranked Taijutsu Maneuver
A simple sweeping kick aimed low to knock the opponent off balance.

*[Strong Fist Style • Thunder Leaf Fist]
C-Ranked Taijutsu Maneuver
An attack that is slow to wind up but powerful in execution. The adept tenses every muscle in their shoulders and arms while twisting their core for a powerful strike. For the 1/4 post they spend winding up they're treated as having a -6 speed. However, when the strike is released it comes at a +6 strength.

[TyDie]

Honestly, Jinsai felt like he had a pretty good grasp of the woman's clan thus far. He'd spent years with Ume, learning the ins and outs of how the clan operated, at least as best as an outsider could. But he didn't have the chance to make any responses at the moment, as he found himself quickly swept to the ground by the woman's kick. But he expected she'd have an answer for him if he got back up, so he'd answer her from the ground instead, performing a swift spin and lashing out with his staff at the woman before rolling forward and getting to his feet. The intent of the strike was to buy him time to get to his feet, or if he was lucky, she'd end up on the ground instead.

"And you know nothing about my private life or what I do with it, even if you've seen me in action. Stay out of my business." Was what he chose to respond to. She had called attention to his private affairs, which didn't embarrass him per se, but it did annoy him. Did she think he'd be ashamed of who and what he was? "Why do you think I don't hide my face, Masako? Because I'm not ashamed of what I do. I own it. And my name is 'Jinsai', you aren't nearly close enough to call me Jin."

As he finished, it was his turn to lash out this time, grabbing the edges of his staff again before rushing forward with a flurry of short range strikes, of course, his goal was to goad her into a strike, which he would aim to effectively redirect before using the opening to barrage the woman with a series of strikes towards her chest. If uninterrupted, he'd conclude with a dual strike to the side of her skull, rattling her brain if successful.

JutsuShow

Bojutsu • Rising Sweep
C-Rank Taijutsu Maneuver
Should Jin find himself on the ground, he will twist his body around in a spin as he rises to his feet. While doing this maneuver, he will also lash out in a circle with his staff in an attempt to sweep the feet of nearby assailants, at worst granting himself the space to rise to his feet and at best causing them to fall to the ground themselves. This can be performed while the weapon is in either form.

Bojutsu • Offensive Defense
C-Rank Taijutsu Stance
Jin's experience with the Sansetsukon's design has allowed him to developed a stance that allows both offense and defense to be kept in equal supply. He does this by switching his grip entirely, grasping each end of the weapon with one hand and leaving the middle section free flowing. In doing so, his effective range is reduced, but he can protect himself much easier with both the handled sections and the middle section, controlling the weapon in such a way that at least one section is in the path of any attacks aimed at him.

Bojutsu • Berserker Barrage
B-Rank Taijutsu Maneuver
Prerequisite: Bojutsu • Offensive Defense
Assuming the Offensive Defense stance, Jinsai will watch carefully for an opening to present itself before parrying a blow with the middle section of his weapon. He will then carefully but swiftly maneuver around the weapon or limb before delivering a dual barrage of strikes at the opponent's torso and skull with incredible speed and precision. This barrage ends with two simultaneously strikes against the target's temples capable of shattering the skull with enough force.

[Willoria]

Masako swore under her breath as her feet were taken out from under her. She was so sure that she had him right where she wanted him, she had rushed in and expected to land her planned hit. But she didn't stay down for long. She rolled to the side to get back up to her feet and moved away as he snapped at her about his so-called private business. "Wrong." she snarled at him. "The moment you dragged her in there it became my business." she told him. "I've been following her for three weeks now, Jin. She's been my charge for longer than even she knows." As he corrected her use of a shortened version of his name, she only rolled her eyes in response.

As he came at her with a series of strikes, her hands snaked out to try and slap them away with a move she normally used against bladed weapons. "You don't get it... they've been trying to get her back in the fold for years! They lost the last Astra to Kage, they won't lose another!" she was saying as they moved. As he tried to come in for a final move she ducked down and side stepped before coming in with a slightly slower but stronger punch aimed for his ribs, and a short punch with her left aimed more towards a kidney.

"I'm not the one that's a threat to her, I'm trying to keep her safe damn it! Just like Koyama did!"

Jutsu UsedShow

*Kūgāpou • Soft Paws
D-Ranked Taijutsu Maneuver
Soft Paws is a bare-handed deflection technique and is used against bladed weapons. At this level, the practitioner is able to read the angles of the attacks to place the flat of their hand against the flat of the blade and push it away without getting cut by the weapon. However, prolonged use of this technique will cause the practitioner to suffer bruises on their hands.

*[Strong Fist Style • Thunder Leaf Fist]
C-Ranked Taijutsu Maneuver
An attack that is slow to wind up but powerful in execution. The adept tenses every muscle in their shoulders and arms while twisting their core for a powerful strike. For the 1/4 post they spend winding up they're treated as having a -6 speed. However, when the strike is released it comes at a +6 strength.

*[Strong Fist Style • One Inch Punch]
D-Ranked Taijutsu Discipline
When fighting in close quarters it becomes difficult to generate energy for full powered strikes. Practitioners have learned how to explode force from every muscle with minimal energy wasted and space needed. Every strike done by the practitioner has the potential to be at full strength, so long as they have at least one inch of movement.

[TyDie]

Jinsai's anger was reaching critical mass, he had tried to be civil and understanding even though she had picked this fight, but he was far past done with this. She'd been spying on her for weeks? She'd been tailing her that long without saying something to her? What did he care if the clan was worried about losing some rare shiin? "Again, you break her down to that fucking organ! You dehumanized her to the point that she's just a weapon to you and your clan of cannibals!" She slapped his weapon away again, but at this point he let the weapon go; all sense of decorum or training was out the window, and in a moment his eyes changed as the Shogo-Zumi revealed itself. But it wasn't the regular form of the doujutsu...

All of this arguing over his best friend, this stress and this extreme rage he felt, caused the eyes to open and change before the woman's very eyes. Jinsai had just awakened the final form of his clan's Doujutsu - The Tsuyoi Shogo Zumi.

And with that, his actions mirrored her own, assuming the exact same stance and utilizing the exact same punches that she was, as if he had practiced Strong Fist for years. Just as she aimed a strike at his ribs and kidneys, so to did he aim the same strikes, poised to connect at the same time that Masako would connect with his body. "Her name is UME! SAY IT!!"

Jutsu UsedShow

*[Strong Fist Style • Thunder Leaf Fist]
C-Ranked Taijutsu Maneuver
An attack that is slow to wind up but powerful in execution. The adept tenses every muscle in their shoulders and arms while twisting their core for a powerful strike. For the 1/4 post they spend winding up they're treated as having a -6 speed. However, when the strike is released it comes at a +6 strength.

*[Strong Fist Style • One Inch Punch]
D-Ranked Taijutsu Discipline
When fighting in close quarters it becomes difficult to generate energy for full powered strikes. Practitioners have learned how to explode force from every muscle with minimal energy wasted and space needed. Every strike done by the practitioner has the potential to be at full strength, so long as they have at least one inch of movement.

[Willoria]

Masako rolled her eyes, but when she brought her attention back to him to say she was startled was an understatement. She had never actually sparred with a member of the Fukusha before today, and had never seen their doujutsu in action before. She had definitely never seen this. As she struck him, he struck her in the exact same fashion except his strikes hit just a bit harder. She grit her teeth against the pain and felt it deep in her ribs and tissue, knowing the damage was going to be something she couldn't immediately shake off. Her fingers dug into his skin, one hand digging into the edge of his pants to get a grip on him as her knee came up sharply into his groin before she tried to shove him away and break them apart.

As distance was created she dropped to one knee and simply stared at him, taking deep breaths to try and slow her breathing as she tasted blood in her teeth. "Fuck. Most fighters I know get calmer as they fight, not angrier, what the fuck..." she muttered. She kept one hand over her ribs where he'd struck her even as she pushed herself to her feet, keeping herself in a defensive stance as she watched him warily. "Look, I'm just trying to tell you how the clan sees her, and that I'm here to protect her. I'm not the one trying to dehumanize her damn it. Stop thinking with your damn rage for five fucking seconds."

[TyDie]

His fists dug deep into Masako's body, for a second he thought he might've even felt a bone break under the weight of his fists. But a moment later, a telltale pain in his groin earned a groan of pain from the man, as her knee was placed in between his legs. As she pushed him back, he held his stomach in pain, gritting his teeth and struggling not to fall to his knees as she did. "Tch... And you said I fight dirty..." He managed to speak through groans, his awakened eyes staring her down as the flame of his anger held steady. He was in pain, sure, but he was also ready to keep fighting if he needed to.

But now she said this was how the clan saw her, implying that she didn't see her that way. He snarled at her, small puffs of steam flowing from his mouth as he spoke with heavy breaths. "You say this is how the clan sees her... Tell me again, who sent you to 'protect' her Masako? That's right, the clan. What else am I supposed to think? You don't serve Ume's interest, you serve the clan's interests. You didn't choose to be by her side, you were ordered to." Finally, his knees buckled slightly and he dropped to a knee, holding himself up with one hand. His eyes fell to that hand as he gripped the dirt, his fingers digging into the earth. "I was ordered to watch over her too... At first I was the same as you. I saw her as an objective, nothing more. I was her babysitter, I reported her mental state to the village. But now... I choose to serve with her. I choose to be her ally."

As his head rose to look at her again, his hand fully clenched into a fist, and he pounded his fist into the ground to rise back to his feet, the cracking of a knuckle bone ringing out through the cavern. "I'll trust you when you can say the same."

[Willoria]

"This is what Lacrashiin holders are always ordered to do!" Masako snapped at him. "I'm always ordered to protect one member or another, it's what we're bred for. Even Koyama was assigned to her when she was a kid. He was assigned by the clan and look at how close they were, how much he meant to her! Just because he was assigned by the clan doesn't mean he saw her as a meal or as an organ. It's no different for me." Masako sighed as she shifted and suddenly sat heavily on her backside in the dirt, making it clear she was no longer in a ready fighting position as she spit blood into the dirt.

Masako sighed, taking a few deep breaths to steady herself and calm herself down so she at least wasn't yelling at the man anymore. "I'm not an idiot, this girl is considered cursed. People who protect Ume, die. I was straight up told this assignment is more likely to end up in my death than anything. Fine, if I end up like Koyama, so be it. It's what I was made for." Masako finally pushed her way up to her feet with a grunt before she started towards the entry. "If you don't want to trust me, don't, but Ume already does. If she didn't, she wouldn't have told me where to find you."

Of course as she got to the hallway she realized the girl had left during the spar at some point. "...shit!"