Earth Country Kenjutsu Dojo

[Mura-]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellspacing,0,true][atrb=cellpadding,0px,true][atrb=style, background-image: url(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h99/houndoomXdelta/de.png); width: 500px; -moz-border-radius: 20px 20px 20px 20px; border-radius: 20px 20px 20px 20px; border: 1px dashed #000000] blew down the doors to let me in shattered windows and the sounds of drums people couldn't believe what I'd become i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn114/Confusionx1/rikuo15.png

[/IMG] i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn114/Confusionx1/rikuo4.png [/IMG]

&#A lot of ;words : You Tell Me?; ♙tags:You? ; ♙lyrics: viva la vida by coldplay;

revolutionaries wait, for my head on a silver plate

"

“A warrior is only at his best when he has something to protect.”

"

“A warrior is only at his best when he has something to protect.”

Honest words that came from this soul, since my younger brother had decided to take off. I was deeply moved by Shizu-chan’s skills so any worries of her being in trouble seemed to be swept away, the girls could handle themselves, but our dear brother Ei-chan. I’d always worry about that boy his body usually moves before his brain does, and his swordsman ship was decent, but that huge blade of his always left me thinking the worse case scenario, and his confidence levels? Well they were always that high. The perfect example was when he decided to inform me that he was to be the one to defeat the master.

“We shall see Ei-chan~” I teased. Fires ran quickly throughout his bloodstream so when he flared up it didn’t do much, but amuse the samurai, heh in fact I walked encouraged the family to poke at the boy, but never did I say to anyone nor do I advise it decide to be swordsman and launch a sneak attack like cowards!
My worries? On Ei-chan since piss poor swordsman would attack his left side Aniki’s sheathing was enough to hold their pussy attack off by simply adjusting the wooden case. “Don’t fuck with me!” I said with much irritation this was the second time in the same day this shit had happened, though I wasn’t so nice as to call them out I merely held my ground and turned to the direction of the warriors, no way they were bandits not when the sounds of swinging blades caressed my inner earlobes and brought in the sounds of hard work and desperation.

The reason why such men and women would be like this was beyond me, their master a fool to take such a beautiful art and use it to go into hiding! A coward. None the less black and white silk sat motionless down this samurai’s back as my left hand removed the spines from Aniki’s sheathing, while a deep gaze nearly burned through the bushes. The sound of men’s voices were enough for me to know the deal and with Eichiro a mere three meters away giving some people the business I knew they were coming out with a plan.

“Fight like a real Samurai for once in your life. Be proud you’ll die with honor.”

It seemed that my speech had ignited their souls since I saw a man… no a boy he was around my age dressed in complete dark clothing he emerged from the bushes with a few adult men and a female. “Oh impressive.” I thought to myself they were actually coming out to me this was a moment to celebrate! Or not. The group had moved in at once with their blades drawn, and like some horrible movie they all swung their blades at me in complete synchronization. My first thought? Impressive, my second? Was more of an action considering my body moved itself from harm drawing Aniki I met with the strikes as I had turned this way when our blades had met instead of holding their force it’d be used to reduce the attack speed as I glided to safety. A brilliant strategy that left a smirk on my face, as I’d now have the chance to take stance and prepare to obliterate this horrible attack team.

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just a puppet on a lonely string, oh who would ever want to be king

♙notes: place in some notes~;

credit to gREY of OTE[/center][/td][/tr][/table][/center]

[akakatsu! Kaoru.]

Violet eyes stared at the two boys as they headed off on their, for a brief moment Kaoru's eyes bore into their backs. She shook her head lightly as she knew trouble would arise; probably a mess that the two girls would have to clean up. The boys would have to eventually learn to clean up their own messes. However, Kaoru-sama had faith in her younger brothers that they could stand up to anything they faced, even though they might take the beating for it. She would let them go off on their own and play. However, not unlike her two brothers Kaoru-dono also sought power, though she didn't always put it outright that she hungered for it.

For a brief moment, the wind seemed to accumulate around Kaoru and then blew past her. The morsels of wind combing her long hair. She simply let out a soft sigh and followed after her younger sister. Just don't get too beat up.. she thought as she took one last look in the direction the boys went. Not that she was all that worried about them, they could take care of themselves. It was just their ego and pride and what not that always seemed to get them in trouble. They were so high spirited.

Kaoru followed alongside Shizu-chan as they followed the young boy that they had caught earlier. He still seemed to be wary about Kaoru; maybe she shouldn't have teased him. Though, she didn't really care what others thought of her, well besides her family. "I guess we'll just see how strong your master is..When put up against those two," she plainly stated as they came to a limestone walkway. Even though it seemed they had taken a 'safer' route to the dojo, the younger sibling was still on her guard. As she walked, her hands were folded behind her back, which seemed to be in contradiction to the fact that she was actually on guard. It was hard to tell with Kaoru.

As they came towards the path to the dojo, and Kaoru could hear sounds coming from it and glimpses of it..she saw a stone object with a symbol on it, a crest. Even though she had looked at it briefly as she passed, thoughts went through her mind. Memories flooded in. She remembered the crest. Through this her posture remained calm as she followed the two.. however, her fist clenched shut and she bowed her head. Thoughts of revenge reigned through her mind. Her eyes glistened with hatred.. Was this the person who had killed her family? The master of this dojo?

[Shizuka [Complex]]

The Brothers

Eichiro did well to parry the shuriken with his BAMF. The shuirkens diverted to the left. Likewise Muramasa deflected the three senbon with his sheathe. This was an impressive maneuver which caused three of the more...eager members of this squadron to jump out of their hiding places and attack. He deflected his first attacker, allowing him to glide backwards and guard his ground. This would allow for some banter:

"You called us Samurai and refered to dying with honour? Please. We're rogue ninja from Waterfall, assasins to be more precise. We're looking to take the bounty on the Master of this Dojo's head! If you're planning on getting in the way, we'll have to dispatch you as well."

With that the three would circle and surround the brothers in a triangular formation. Each of them would then begin to perform some handseals. Their goal was to create several bunshin of them to form a tight circle, before withdrawing senbon and shuriken. Would they be able to counter this attack?

The Sisters

Shizuka was on guard, following the easy path to the dojo. Yet she couldn't help but look to her older sister when she spoke up. It even caused their hasty guide to slow down. Normally he'd have a scared look but instead he simply had a smug expression on his face.

"They'll never make it to my master, it's impossible to access the dojo on thier path. Only you two girls will and if you think you can beat our master you've got another thing coming. Our master has trained countless people, from Samurai to ninja. Though lately we haven't been training as many ninja lately. We took in a group from Kirigakure and they've been tarnishing the name of our dojo ever since." the boy's look went from smug to anger. The thought of shinobi doing as they please, making a mockery of the sword...it was unforgiveable!

"So, let's not idle...I want to see both of your strength."

Shizuka raised her eyebrow, she was certainly up for testing her strength but the look in Ka-chan's eyes. She wasn't so sure if this was a good idea for her. "Um...I'm up for it but...are you okay with this, Ka-chan? You know the boys need their mom~" she teased but really she was rather concerned for her, which made it hard to keep up appearances.

[akakatsu! Kaoru.]

A hidden grin appeared on Shizuka's older sister's face, but as soon as it appeared it disappeared and she looked somberly on. She looked from the boy from the dojo and softly closed her eyes, her composure all but coming back. She'd heard what the boy had said, even though it had seemed as if she had been in an almost dazed state.

"Sure, sure.." she said, calmly.

She wasn't sure how the boy would test their strength, but now she had more reason to go inside the dojo. However, she would keep this to herself. She didn't want to get her siblings into something that was from her past. She hadn't ever told them about it, or where she had disappeared away from the orphanage after only being there for a few days. And, she was also sure that the boys would find a way into the dojo whether it meant they smashed through everything in their way.

[─ Bloodedge]

With the deflections of these beings attacks, they would reveal themselves. My temper was already through the roof. One could say that my rage meter had completely shattered and now the focus was to get to that Dojo to see the so called master of Kenjutsu. That was when I seen these three me revealed their position to me and my comrade, Mura. The fiery passion that was raging within me was growing and consuming the rational thinking in my mind. Surely, if I made my move that Mura would follow closely behind. Needless to say that it was time for me to strike and with that being said. War was about to be waged between my kin and this trash before my eyes.

“…” Nothing was said as my body found itself moving in on the shinobi during their speech. There was no time being held between each other, but my blade would cleave into the shinobi before me. Its blade emblazoned with heat coming from my very hands. The power of an Airontoku was now being displayed to its fullest potential. The cleave would come from right to left aiming to maul my opponent into a position of the death grasping his soul and taking it to the underworld. Moving with tremendous speed the Shinobi before me wouldn’t ever have time to do his hand seals ever. Surely, the other two shinobi would witness their nakama go down in what seemed to be a inhumane fashion as they would see the heterochromatic eyes that gazed upon their souls. I’m sure my brother would follow suit, but he knew that we weren’t going to take lightly to hearing the words of those that attacked us. It was kill or be killed and quite frankly this journey had just begun.

Wondering would the girls have any trouble, but then remembering that older sister was handling that fine. That brother of mine would be sent to go scout for something else while we attended to this business within this area. OFH was making moves and now it was time to begin the full scale operation that I had felt in my heart. There was some things lacking within my being, but I would continue to wage war with these pathetic excuses for Shinobi, but at this point I felt as though one of them would lose their life fairly soon. While the potential prospect of taking one of these weaklings hostage dawned in my mind, but I would await to see how my comrade, Mura was doing in his scuffle.

[Mura-]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellspacing,0,true][atrb=cellpadding,0px,true][atrb=style, background-image: url(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h99/houndoomXdelta/de.png); width: 500px; -moz-border-radius: 20px 20px 20px 20px; border-radius: 20px 20px 20px 20px; border: 1px dashed #000000] blew down the doors to let me in shattered windows and the sounds of drums people couldn't believe what I'd become i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn114/Confusionx1/rikuo15.png

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♙words : You Tell Me?; ♙tags:Ei-chan, Shizu; ♙lyrics: viva la vida by coldplay;

revolutionaries wait, for my head on a silver plate

""Fine, fine... Here we go.""

There was an over whelming sense of tension that rattled my structure, the very mind that had always been half way bent, but never broken was having more stress placed on his faults. I could feel it within me as I tried to wrap my mind around the people of this day and age, and why they felt that sneak attacks were the obvious solution to everything? I personally found it cowardly, it wasn’t as the other samurai and I would leap out in a group and jump travelers. “Useless Shinobi.” I’d say to myself in complete irritation!

The cold glare I carried was focused at this bunch that had now decided to take a… triangular attack position, of course they were not as foolish to move in close enough, my dear Aniki was indeed amazing, but there was no way he could reach out sixteen feet, but my own sacred chakra would be able to dig its fangs into that shinobi, by the time they had begun speaking I was ready to make my move. I’d also like to note that I did indeed feel the killing intent of my comrade behind me though I wouldn’t have the chance to see how he himself would deal with his foe as I was too busy launching my blade at the shinobi’s heart, and I was indeed aware that Ninja’s were skilled, but the fashion I flicked my blade was in a way my hands followed an X patter from that other hand I released a crescent blade of my Chakra in a diagonal that was to cut off the escape route of the foolish, foolish man.

If my opponent was indeed vanquished I’d flash a smirk and draw my blade back by the chain. There were much more pressing things to do that I couldn’t believe I had forgotten I still hadn’t had my armor on my person. This couldn’t go or else I wouldn’t be living to my clans potential so with that I’d say on to Ei. “The last ones yours, I have to make some moves.” the words were rather confident, and they were a good way to let my comrade know that I was taking my leave, and so I did letting my feet roll harshly against the ground following my own steps back to where the girls were, and eventually I’d go back to the main road.


[EXIT- if I got away]

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just a puppet on a lonely string, oh who would ever want to be king

♙notes: place in some notes~;

credit to gREY of OTE[/center][/td][/tr][/table][/center]

[Shizuka [Complex]]

"Argh" one of the missing waterfall ninja cried out. His arm had been effectively sliced off courtesy of the chakra blade that was launched. His other arm was pierced with Aniki, to which he'd pull out and toss to the side. The ninja whom aligned themself ahead of Eichiro was too far to be cleaved, thus clones would soon form around them in a tight circle, with one shinobi towards their back side, forming an awkward triangle. "We'll kill you and the master of this dojo." he cried out as he rolled along the ground, wreathing in pain from the attack.

With the clones in place, they'd all proceed to pull out senbon before launching it seemingly from all directions. However if the brothers thought this was going to be a piece of cake, they had another thing coming. Sadly, it was just the beginning of their little escapade into danger, perhaps they had gotten themselves into even more trouble than the sisters.

Lurking well into the clearing, along the north side was a sillhouette of the dojo, it was approximately 55 meters from the brothers current position. 15 meters to the south west, there was a familiar set of bushes. It was the very one which Shizuka had hid in prior, it seemed quite and serene, lacking movement except with the wind, which blew through the clearing. There was no time for further banter, only action as the brothers meant business and so did these assasins.

OOC: I'm splitting my GMing between Shizuka/Kaoru and Eichiro/Muramasa so that we can get some speed in this thread.

SPOILER: Click to show

Kasumi Juusha no Jutsu (Mist Servant Technique)
Rank: D
Type: Supplementary / Sight Genjutsu
Range: See special!
Special: Up to 5 servants can be made, plus 1 more each time retrained. Clones cannot exist more than 50 meters away from the user.
Description: Kasumi Juusha no Jutsu is a universal sight Genjutsu technique that creates false attackers to delay and confuse the enemy. Though these servants are not real, the actual ninja is able to remain hidden and throw projectiles such as kunai and shuriken matching the movements of the servants. This makes it appear the false servants are capable of attacking. When the enemy attempts to attack the servant, they will merely disrupt the servants illusion body but not destroy it.
Domain: Genjutsu - Illusion of Sight

10 Clones total

The Sisters

The kenjutsu trainee had lead the girls inside the dojo. All around them were the sounds of "Men!" being shouted as trainee's practiced their strikes. They were armed with Shinai and standard armour for protection of the head and chest. Some students had boken and practiced on immobile objects. Their guide had a wide smirk plastered upon his visage.

"Welcome Ladies, so you've come to learn the ways of the sword...or do you feel you have what it takes to beat me?" He was a behemoth of a man, standing at 6'3. His upper body was refine with muscles, at his left hip was a blue/black sheathe. That was no training sword, that was the real deal. Shizuka whistled but something different would probably occur for the older sister. The "sensei" of this dojo, he looked familiar...he was from the Mist.

"Well considering I acquired a little spoil, I'm sure we can take this guy, ne Ka-chan?" Shizuka taunted, finding herself getting ready for an official match of sorts.

[akakatsu! Kaoru.]

As they were lead into the dojo, the older sister of the two girls seemed to walk calmly as she followed along her sister. She could hear the sounds of trainee's practicing, though she seemed to block out most sounds as they were led through the dojo. She didn't even happen to notice the smirk upon their guide's face as he led them to his master. When he did, Kaoru stopped a few feet short from behind where there guide had stopped and a foot or so to the side and behind her younger sister.

Her blue eyes looked up at the behemoth of a man that stood before the two girls and their guide. He had spoken to them as soon as they entered the room, asking what they had come here for. Whether it was to learn the man's way of the sword or to try and beat him. Ka-chan's eyes searched the man, looking at the clothes he wore, at his sword. Though, her eyes moved little to none. She had learned to survey an area without hardly moving her eyes or her head to look around. And, sometimes even if it may seem that she has her head down she may actually be surveying the area.

She looked at the man's clothing, on the front left side of his kimono was the same symbol on the statue she had seen earlier when walking along the path to the dojo. There was also a symbol on his right arm tied there. It looked sort of like the Mist symbol, though Kaoru could not recall the true symbol of the Mist (even though she had been of their brethren). Kaoru did not meet the man's eyes and seemed to pay little attention to her sister's question. Shizuka's older sister uttered a sneerful laugh between her lips. "Hah...." Her left hand that was limply resting against her side, balled into a fist as her right one moved behind her, withdrawing one of her tantos that seemed to be no match for the 'sensei's sword. Kaoru-chan would seem to stand behind her younger sister one instant and the next she would reappear in front of the master of the dojo, her tanto ready as she attempted to try and get the blade of her tanto against the man's neck. "..the symbol on your chest, what is it?" she whispered so that Shizuka couldn't hear it.

[Shizuka [Complex]]

The Sisters

Those blue eyes, they seemed...indifferent, yet they hid pain; a pain he knew all too well. His facial features didn't show it but the mere fact that he recognized them caused his mind to reminisce. The mere fact that she avoided his gaze meant that she recognized him from somewhere? Surely not from that dreaded island. Earth's Kenjutsu dojo had been a Safe Haven for the rogue. He'd traveled from the ocean itself, once stranded on that pathetic island they called Mizu no Kuni. Here in the barren lands of Tsuchi no kuni, he had made his peace; till recently. People were after his head and for good reason. He needed to protect this place and the students he fostered. In fact --- then it began, the slight sneerful laugh, the sudden muscle contraction of her hand, he needed to be prepared!

She executed her attack swiftly, it caused the sensei to be surprised but he was a practiconer of the blade, he knew how to counter. Her tanto attempted to press up against the man's neck, yet his right arm extended outwards and grasped the blade before it could get to his jugular. He gritted his teeth, holding back this woman would not be so easy, yet she demanded something from him. "The symbol on my chest? A little treasure from battle or perhaps the mark of my clan. The fact that it's intrigued you means you recognize it...?"

He then attempted to push his body weight so as to create further distance for Kaoru. He'd lean just slightly in order to whisper to her: "You from Mist or something...?"

Meanwhile the trainee had fumbled back, taken aback by the sudden violent exchange. "Y-you show her sensei!" he tried to cheer, though it came off more like he was goading Kaoru. It caused Shizuka to turn to her left and flash a smile to the trainee. "Don't forget who saved you out there, be sure not to count your chickens before they hatch, yeah?" her cryptic message was said without lack of contempt, her eyes seemingly curled into such a pleasant look, yet her words carried an implicit threat. Behind her back was her right hand which grasped the blade she'd stolen earlier. For Iron's Blue Mirage, the moment of the attack could be the deciding factor between life and death for the trainee.

[akakatsu! Kaoru.]

Kaoru gritted her teeth as the man caught the blade of her tanto, though since he was the sensei of this place she was expecting him to react. At a moment like this she wished she had her sister's speed, but her beginner's shunshin technique would have to suffice. The man then pushed his body weight against her, which caused her to jump back a few feet. Right before she jumped back before she was totally pushed, he whispered something back to her. As she caught her footing her eyes narrowed to look at the man. Her blue orbs staring into the man's own eyes. A sort of shadow fell over her face as she stood there.

Then there was an annoyance from the trainee who had brought them here. However, he was not the person that Kaoru was focusing on. It was the boy's sensei. She did not answer to the man, about whether or not she was from mist. She had no sign that she was from there, no headband. She was no longer a ninja. Her eyes then fell away from the man's face. Her right hand with her tanto in it lay at her side. She remembered that she had just jumped into this fight, and there was someone here she wanted to protect. She was faithful in her own abilities, but not how much control she had if she happened to get into a rage. Memories, distant flowed through her mind as she stood there. She tried not to let them control her, so as she stood there she cleared her mind and looked up at the man again. Her answer was simple, "No.."

She had tried to forget all of what had happened to her, but there was no forgiving those who had killed her family. She stepped forward, towards the master of the dojo. "Are you from Mizu no Kuni..or have you ever been there?" she asked him, as she continued to step towards him. Making sure that his attention was on her, and not on her blade. As she walked, she send chakra through her weapon.

[Shizuka [Complex]]

The master's tactics pressured Kaoru to leap back, yet his expression which used to have that of interest, turned dark. He eyes narrowed, taking note of her form yet trying to keep a complete view of her as well. He too observed his pupil but didn't bother to say anything to his remarks. A rather out of character thing for the sensei because in this moment, he felt his life was threatened. He had left Mizu no Kuni behind, those days of bloodshed were behind him. Now he lived to teach the sword, in hopes that people would learn to protect themselves from evil, particular evil like his past self.

Still, he awaited her response to his inquiry and he was rewarded with a no. This caused the dark expression on his face to subside, resulting in a simply cautious look. He couldn't switch to a jolly tone when the young woman continued to approach him. He was trying to read her intentions but they weren't entirely clear. Perhaps this woman simply had a grudge against those from Mizu no Kuni? Well, honesty would be the best recourse or so he felt:

"I am indeed from Mizu no Kuni, though I've left that place and the life I lead behind. I'm but a humble teacher now, enabling the innocent to protect those precious to them, like my student Shoutaro here." he jerked his thumb in the direction of the "annoying" trainee. This caused Shoutaro to perk up and respond:

"Yeah, one day I'm going to succeed my master and head up a dojo of my own!" it was hard to believe he was actually older than the girls, albeit by one year. He still had much more "maturing" to do. As for Shizuka, she'd watch her sister carefully. She couldn't figure out what was with the change of stature but it felt...cold. Far different from the usual Ka-chan that she teased, it was easy to guess that it had something to do with Mizu no Kuni but the question was, what of it?

"Hey don't just stand around, let's spar!" Shoutaro challenged Shizuka whom now focused most of her efforts on him. She raised her left eyebrow but decided to comply. "Get me two shinai, I'm a Nitojutsu practiconer." Shizuka explained and while the trainee didn't like being bossed around, if it meant he could show the girl who was "boss', he'd humour her for a bit. The two proceeded to square off and their own official fight began on the count of three, two, one and Shizuka simply circled the young man. She wouldn't strike first, for she needed to get a feel of the boy's style and what this Dojo had to offer.

"If you seriously insist on fighting me, then let's at least use Shinai and make this a proper match. There's no need to spill any blood in this dojo." the master added, though he was prepared to unsheathe his blade at any moment.

[akakatsu! Kaoru.]

Kaoru stopped her movement forwards as the man spoke again, answering her question. He was indeed from Mizu no Huni, but Kaoru couldn't be sure if it had been someone from Mizu no Huni who had killed her family or someone outside. She looked at the man's symbol on his chest again, trying to recall the memories that had become far too distant. They hadn't even been all that clear but when she had seen the symbol upon walking here it had called forth something inside of her. Something deep down that she had locked away years ago. And here she was blinded by anger again because she still felt she wanted revenge. But, what good would it do her if she killed every ninja who had had some hand in killing her parents. She lowered her head for a moment as she stood there, listening to the man's offer to use shinai as her younger sister and the trainee were.

With her head still lowered she began to speak, "..My actions have been somewhat brash," she said to him, though her voice still held some resentment. However, she seemed to be returning to herself. "However, are you the only one that wears that symbol..?" she asked him. She couldn't be sure if he was indeed the man, if he had any hand in killing her parents. Though, his words about helping others in protecting what was precious to them irked her some that she felt like spitting in the man's face. But, for now she would hold her cool.

She retracted the chakra she had been sending into her weapon and then sheathed it. As much as she wanted to spill his blood, someone's blood. She would play his 'game' if it meant she might get some answers. Some clues. However, there were still ways to spill blood with a Shinai. If you hit someone hard enough you could make them cough up blood. She seemed to remain calm as she stood there, "If it is the only way you will fight me, unless you want to step outside..." she inclined towards the way they had come in. She wondered if she should use some of her jutsus, as a samurai he was probably limited in that area. However, she felt the need to just use her swordsmanship against him.

"Would you wager your sword?" she asked him. She was in need of a sword herself, living with her little group she didn't often have money to buy herself weapons and at the time a tanto was the only thing she could afford. A new sword would be handy. "If I beat you... " however, she didn't have much to give him if he won. But she was hoping on winning.

[Shizuka [Complex]]

The Sisters

At that moment all the tension in the room disappeared, the moment in which she asked if he'd wager his sword. The beast of a man let out a loud bellow, laughter filling the dojo and drowning out any sounds of the trainees within. "Your actions have indeed been rather brash and now I've connected the pieces of the puzzle. You must be a wanderer, seeking out ryo or weapons in order to survive another day. To think I'd find someone so desperate for a sword that they'd challenge the head of a dojo." Truly he was relieved that she was not a hunter ninja or someone whom knew of his identity as a missing ninja. Though her inquiry of the clan symbol he wore was particularly curious.

"As for the symbol along my chest, this is not quite a "clan" symbol but more of a "group" symbol. This group has commited some terrible acts thus I wear this symbol in shame. Still, if it's a fight you desire then let's raise the stakes a bit. We'll use Shinai and if you win you can indeed have my sword. However, if I win then you'll enlist in this dojo and learn the way of the sword from me. Sounds fair?" He asked as he turned to call out to a trainee close by. He'd be the one to fetch them both a shinai. He'd toss Kaoru one since she seemed rather spunky, he was sure she'd be able to catch it with ease.

Little by little many of the students began to gather into the hall that Kaoru, Shizuka, Shoutaro and the Master had gathered in. There were two matches to be witnessed, one of which had already started. Shizuka was toying with Shoutaro whom triked several times to get a critical strike to her head. Each time Shizuka would parry and strike him along the rib cage area or waist. She had such an innocent smile, yet her focus was on her perhiperals because she wanted to make sure her older sister was alright. She'd been acting rather strangely ever since she caught sight of the master. True she had joked about killing the man prior but that was due to their financial situation, the bounty could really do them some good, even if they wouldn't stoop so low. At least, Shizuka wanted to believe they wouldn't but had Eichiro and Mura been here, things would probably be different.

"By the way, I heard the Master of this dojo has a bounty on his head, it's a wonder you're letting strangers like us in so easily. We could very well be desperate rogues." the teenager was just teasing but her words did imply truth. It caused the master whom prepared himself at the other end of the little arena to look over to he brunette's direction. Then he'd stare back at Kaoru, his lips parting to speak once more.

"Is there any truth to what she claims? Are you really looking for the bounty on my head...or are you seeking something more personal?" he raised his eyebrow as the inflection on 'personal' was stressed. For someone to be so eager to fight, there had to be a reason. Doubt may have left him mostly though he still had to be careful, he was a missing ninja.

[akakatsu! Kaoru.]

Kaoru's lip twitched as the master of the dojo let out a loud bellow of a laughter towards the older sister's bet. And the man was halfway correct, they were indeed "wanderers" as he had so deemed them, but they weren't really that desperate. Sure, they did happen to just get by each day, with them being such a large group. Kaoru frowned, "I'm not desperate, desperate would be someone living on the street beggin' for money. We earn our keep, not beg for it like some mutt of a dog," she half-spit out to the man.

She listened to the stakes he explained. It seemed fair, however it also didn't at the same time. She kind of wanted his head. However, taking a samurai's sword was like taking his pride. Even though he could probably buy another sword or had others elsewhere. He spoke about the symbol and that it was a group symbol and that that said group had committed terrible acts. Like kill my parents... Kaoru thought to herself as she prevented herself from actually saying it. It kind of felt like the man thought of this as some sort of game, like he wasn't taking them being here seriously.

However, Kaoru caught the Shinai that he tossed to her, rather effortlessly. She simply nodded to the man's stakes. She also happened to notice that more trainees were gathering around and she looked back to see her sister playing with the trainee from earlier. She grinned some and turned back to the master of the dojo who asked if what Shizuka said was true. "The bounty would be useful sure, but we're not some sort of bounty hunters or anything...." she said to him, half answering his question. This also happened to be a personal thing for Kaoru. And she supposed he was becoming a bit curious since she had jumped into battle so quickly and was asking questions. She gritted her teeth again, reminding herself not to be so brash.

She looked behind her again at Shizuka who was toying with the trainee. Her younger sister did not know Kaoru's troubling past, and she had planned to keep it like that but she supposed the young jokster might become curious as well. She turned back towards the sensei of the dojo, both her hands holding the hilt of the Shinai. She hadn't brandished a sword, even if it was wooden, in awhile since her training with her own master. Her eyes looked down for a moment as she asked, "...What is your name?"

[Shizuka [Complex]]

The master of the dojo was rather intrigued by the young woman's words. They earned their keep, which meant they had some skill. He hadn't enjoyed a fight in awhile and little did he know that there were those just outside his doorstep seeking his head as they prepared for combat. The jest about the bounty on his head made him rather nervous, even if they weren't bounty hunters, he could see the potential money as temptation. Thankfully they were using shinai, what could go wrong?

His focus had been so intense after he'd question them about the bounty, that her inquiry almost went over his head. "My name...?" once more he let out a boisterous laugh for all of the dojo to hear. "How direct of you challenger. Very well, I'm Mizutani Itagaki..." he said before charging in to strike at the blue eyed warrior. "...and you?" the intensity of the moment strongly contrasted his laughter from previously. He was underestimating the teen for he'd been randomly challenged before. It wasn't uncommon in these times to challenge a dojo for their sign or even those whom had come to seek his head. He'd always try to brush it off, so as to put up a facade for his students. He demonstrated a positive, firm, and confident attitude. It gave the kids and even adults that he trained strength and hope.

It also helped to calm his nerves, just what was Kaoru's angle? What was she trying to determine from this fight? He'd pull this information out of her as they sparred. His focus being on his footwork and basic strikes. He utilized principals of battojutsu, aiming to strike quick and adopting more of an open stance. "If you can defeat me I might even tell you the amount of ryo on my head." he taunted as he attempted to remain within striking distance of the raven hair youth. For a man of his stature, it was best to simply overwhelm the girl with sheer power, rather than demonstrate too much of his own combat skills.

Meanwhile, although Kaoru had nodded in her direction Sbizuka had become concerned about her sister. She was being rather cautious and impulsive at the same time. Fishing for information yet anxious to fight and destroy. Was there really something so...crude and negative about Master Itagaki? It did seem he had a shady past but in Shizuka's mind, he'd taken up one of redemption; though it did seem somewhat cowardly. Would not an honest master of the blade turn himself in? She considered this as she proceeded to catch Shoutaro's shinai within her two. She'd twist them to the left diverting his attack and off-balancing the teenager. At which point she'd proceed to swing around his side to slam into his ribs once more. There was a loud crack and soon her 'opponent' was down. Shizuka hovered over the boy, offering assistance though his fellow trainees would come over to take care of him. She'd simply bow in his fleeting presence. The fight wasn't very satisfying and although she got to sink her teeth in Nitojutsu principals, she was looking for a challenge, one just like Kaoru's own fight.