Gahahaha! But it's difficult to learn if you're always holding back, isn't it?
There are doctors here if you really manage to hurt me. Don't worry so much about it when you're with me, alright? If anyone can handle such things, it's a skilled fighter like myself.
[ she readies her grip... and lunges forward and swings!
she's actually pretty quick, though she definitely appears to have no idea how to properly swing a weapon. nor does she have a lot of strength to put into the swing. ]
[ though he's much slower by comparison, iwatooshi sidesteps easily, laughing in delight. ]
Fast, aren't you? Wonderful! That's the biggest advantage of someone your size.
[ nods in approval!! ]
You'll want to use that to your advantage to throw those bigger than you off-balance, so they don't get the chance to attack you at all. Be precise with your attacks, and aim for vulnerable areas, like here or here.
[ gesturing at his stomach, then the legs. not necessarily killing blows, but enough to slow someone down for sure. ]
If you're able to cut behind the knees, they'll be slow to follow if you run.
and then lunges again! but this time, she attempts a feint, then tries to flank him and swing at his midriff.
her footwork is pretty good. but again, her swing is a little slow, a little weak, a little uncertain. it's probably what you'd expect from a 13 year old girl, though. ]
...at least for a moment, as he watches her footwork and he finally catches that word on her leg. iwatooshi is frozen in place for about half a second, just enough for kate to get close to landing a strike, before reflexes kick in and he snaps the naginata in place to deflect.
shaken, he remains quiet for a moment after, eyes trained away before finally turning back to kate with a smile that doesn't quite touch his eyes. ]
...You surprised me, pulling a trick like that so soon. [ focus on the lesson, he tells himself, not the way this heart is beating too fast in his chest. ] You'll do better than you might think, but we'll need to work on your confidence with the blade.
[ there's a careful nod. she considers the knife, thinking about resuming as normal, ignoring the little hitch in their "dance" just now... but she looks back to him. ]
[ ah. iwatooshi's eyes drop and he wonders, for a moment, if he should press, or if it's disrespectful. it is a sensitive subject, likely as much for kate as himself. ]
The side effects of being summoned here are... inconvenient, at best. They are meant to distract us, but I find myself struggling to ignore it as I'd like.
[ a deep breath, and he turns back to face her, expression more serious than usual, even a little pained. ]
I am Iwatooshi. I am the naginata that, with Musashibou Benkei, won against nine-hundred and ninety-nine swords. [ ... ] That is how the legends, and my memories, tell the story of my former master. But I encountered my master on a mission recently, only to find that he was not wielding me. I do not exist in the true line of history at all. It is... something I always felt, like I didn't quite belong, but I never understood it until then.
[ but enough about him. ]
Have you always known, Kate-dono? Or did you once believe you were real, as well?
It is alright. I have my memories, so I will hold onto them as tightly as I can until the day I am no longer needed.
[ as for kate... it sounds similar, then, doesn't it? to believe in what you are, only for it to fall apart. ]
A shadow. That is what you said before, wasn't it? [ iwatooshi kneels, so they can be on the same level. ] But you don't have to be human to have emotions like one. How do you feel?
[ he meets her at eye level, but she lowers her gaze. ]
I can hide my face and pretend to be human, but that only lasts for so long. I can wear a fancy dress and pretend to be a shadow noble, but it's only a matter of time before I'll be exposed.
I... don't know what it really means to be myself. Without pretending to be something. And I don't know if I'll ever have a place I can truly belong to.
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[ she tries a reverse grip, and swishes it at the air. ]
... I think most enemies would overpower me easily if I got too close to them...
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[ grinning, he opens his arms wide, naginata held far out of the way. ]
Alright, then! Come, attack me!
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... What if I cut you??
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There are doctors here if you really manage to hurt me. Don't worry so much about it when you're with me, alright? If anyone can handle such things, it's a skilled fighter like myself.
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[ she takes a breath. ]
Here goes.
[ she readies her grip... and lunges forward and swings!
she's actually pretty quick, though she definitely appears to have no idea how to properly swing a weapon. nor does she have a lot of strength to put into the swing. ]
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Fast, aren't you? Wonderful! That's the biggest advantage of someone your size.
[ nods in approval!! ]
You'll want to use that to your advantage to throw those bigger than you off-balance, so they don't get the chance to attack you at all. Be precise with your attacks, and aim for vulnerable areas, like here or here.
[ gesturing at his stomach, then the legs. not necessarily killing blows, but enough to slow someone down for sure. ]
If you're able to cut behind the knees, they'll be slow to follow if you run.
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-- Oh, um... Should I try striking again?
[ she's so hesitant to actually lash out with a blade. ]
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[ he nods! yes, attack again! ]
I am ready, whenever you are.
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and then lunges again! but this time, she attempts a feint, then tries to flank him and swing at his midriff.
her footwork is pretty good. but again, her swing is a little slow, a little weak, a little uncertain. it's probably what you'd expect from a 13 year old girl, though. ]
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...at least for a moment, as he watches her footwork and he finally catches that word on her leg. iwatooshi is frozen in place for about half a second, just enough for kate to get close to landing a strike, before reflexes kick in and he snaps the naginata in place to deflect.
shaken, he remains quiet for a moment after, eyes trained away before finally turning back to kate with a smile that doesn't quite touch his eyes. ]
...You surprised me, pulling a trick like that so soon. [ focus on the lesson, he tells himself, not the way this heart is beating too fast in his chest. ] You'll do better than you might think, but we'll need to work on your confidence with the blade.
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Maybe the dancing lessons are paying off.
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You dance, Kate-dono?
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Yes. One of the older children in the manor taught me. This just reminded me of that.
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Did something distract you, just then...?
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The side effects of being summoned here are... inconvenient, at best. They are meant to distract us, but I find myself struggling to ignore it as I'd like.
[ a deep breath, and he turns back to face her, expression more serious than usual, even a little pained. ]
Kate-dono. What does "false" mean to you?
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[ well. smoke starts to rise from her head. ]
... It could mean a few things...
Does it worry you?
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It does. But - I would like to hear your thoughts about it, whether it worries you, too, or not.
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If it may alleviate that worry, then... I suppose I can tell you.
... For the past few months, I've been living as Kate Shadows. A noble of the Shadows family.
But the truth is... there is no such person.
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Then we have something in common. I'd hoped to be wrong.
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I am Iwatooshi. I am the naginata that, with Musashibou Benkei, won against nine-hundred and ninety-nine swords. [ ... ] That is how the legends, and my memories, tell the story of my former master. But I encountered my master on a mission recently, only to find that he was not wielding me. I do not exist in the true line of history at all. It is... something I always felt, like I didn't quite belong, but I never understood it until then.
[ but enough about him. ]
Have you always known, Kate-dono? Or did you once believe you were real, as well?
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I...
[ what did she know, and what does she believe now? that smoke seems to thicken. ]
...... I thought I was human. But now I'm... what you see now.
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It is alright. I have my memories, so I will hold onto them as tightly as I can until the day I am no longer needed.
[ as for kate... it sounds similar, then, doesn't it? to believe in what you are, only for it to fall apart. ]
A shadow. That is what you said before, wasn't it? [ iwatooshi kneels, so they can be on the same level. ] But you don't have to be human to have emotions like one. How do you feel?
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I can hide my face and pretend to be human, but that only lasts for so long. I can wear a fancy dress and pretend to be a shadow noble, but it's only a matter of time before I'll be exposed.
I... don't know what it really means to be myself. Without pretending to be something. And I don't know if I'll ever have a place I can truly belong to.
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