"Guess I will, she probably has my robes anyway..." Reishi said as she walked towards Xiao Ran's small hut.
The hut itself was empty, mostly, except for dozens and dozens of exotic plants from all over the world.
"Welcome," came a familiar voice.
From the back room came a shorter girl, about 5' 1", with her long, dark hair tied behind her with a jeweled clip shaped like an orchid. Her robes were the crimson red color of the school's poison masters. Xiao Ran's was much longer and more ornate than most, since she spent most of her time looking after plants. She didn't look it, but Ran probably had more than two hundred different needles positioned in various places around her robes, each coated with just as many poisons. Of course, few if any were lethal.
Despite her youth, Ran walked with an air of elegance. Even at a young age, she had proven to be popular amongst the other students not just for her looks, but her charming personality.
"Ah, Reishi! It's been too long!" she exclaimed, hugging her old friend.
"Heya Ran! Longtime no see!" Reishi returned.
"I hear there's a new batch of students. I have a feeling I'll be seeing them soon," Ran smiled, "By the way, you probably want your robes, correct?"
Ran looked Reishi up and down and smiled knowingly.
"Yup," was Reishi's reply.
"Very well," Ran began moving towards the back, "I had Weaver Jun make them just the way you wore your old ones."
She came back and produced a short black robe with dark blue trim and the kanji for "Heaven", the first kanji in "Tenryuu", printed on the back, as well as a long role of finely sewn wraps.
The robe was very short, it only came down to towards the top of Reishi's thigh, much like a mini skirt. Underneath the robe she wore a pair of bicycle shorts. The chest portion of the robe was left open, and she tied her breasts back with bandages.
Her gloves were unique as well: fingerless gloves common amongst street punks and workers, with the kanji for "Spirit" (Rei) on the right hand and "Air" (Shi) on the other. Her feet were covered with a type of footwear that exposed the toes and heel, allowing for easy use of her toes. For good measure she also wore a pair of work boots when not fighting.
"Thanks Ran!" Reishi said excitedly.
"My pleasure, old friend," Ran smiled warmly.
Having finished with washing off, Yin was now simply enjoying himself for a little. He was currently upside down, walking and hopping his way across the stones near the waterfall on his hands.
That doesnt seem like proper training, Yuri said while scrubbing her arms and legs in the water. Not many can aspire to be something great without friends, loved ones and rivals to keep pushing us forward. She started scrubbing her shoulder but couldnt properly get to her back.
[ QUOTE ]
That doesnt seem like proper training, Yuri said while scrubbing her arms and legs in the water. Not many can aspire to be something great without friends, loved ones and rivals to keep pushing us forward.
[/ QUOTE ]
"Perhaps that is why Master Reishi has brought her here," Yin piped up, still upside down. "All training must start somewhere. Even if it isn't in ideal circumstances."
"That is...what she...told me," Kagura said quietly.
[ QUOTE ]
That doesnt seem like proper training... Not many can aspire to be something great without friends, loved ones and rivals to keep pushing us forward.
[/ QUOTE ]
"That's certainly true," Megumi replied while swimming aimlessly. "Especially the rivals part. I know Gerden and I wouldn't be nearly as strong without each other, egging us on to become stronger. In fact, the whole reason I wanted to come here was because of him. I didn't really want to be so far from my family and friends for so long, but I couldn't let him come and get that much stronger than me, could I? You should start up a friendly rivalry with someone. It'll do you a world of good, Kagura. But not Gerden; he's my rival, and no one else can have him," she finished with mock severity, a smile on her face.
OOC: And Plague, I finally remember what was bugging me about the name "Reishi." It's the name of a martial art from the manga/anime YuYu Hakusho.
"Reishi...my rival," Kagura said, a bit more determination in her voice, "I...want...stronger."
"Perhaps," Ran began, "I should take a look at this new crop. Are the Mountain students undergoing the frigid bath again?"
"Yeah, and my student's with em," Reishi said.
"Ah splendid!" Ran exclaimed, standing up and moving towards the door, "Shall we go then?"
((Dang, Tempest has only 3 students? I thought we had more.))
"Oh, too easy, is it?" Hotaka smirked, bringing his hand to his mouth and spitting into it, "Fine then, let me add a little something to that."
With that, he flung three small but thick green gobs at the students, which quickly absorbed through both clothing and skin, moving directly into their bloodstream.
"I'll be back to check on you in a few hours." he chuckled at the weakened three. The poison was nowhere near lethal, but it broke concentration quite nicely, adding a constant distraction in the back of their minds. This test was designed to see how well they could coordinate mind and body, not to see who had learned this or that technique to focus chi better.
Waziri stayed as watcher was Hotaka and Katashi departed, the second Jounin carrying the tea pot with him...
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"...and that's about it." Hotaka finished, placing his cup back on the short table he and the Tempest Master sat around, conversing of both their happenings durning Hotaka's absence, "I have to admit, it was one wild ride, though."
The Master chuckled good-naturedly, "My, my, you certainly will cause trouble anywhere you go. A clan of ninja in Paragon..."
"What can I say, teaching's in my nature."
"Oh yes, that it certainly is. Do tell me, what do you think of our new students so far?"
Hotaka huffed, taking another sip, then continued, his mood visibly lowered by that question, "To be honest, all these youngsters nowadays...I don't know..."
"Hm?"
"Well, just with all their...'techniques'. In my day, we simply struck our opponent, we didn;t bother yelling out what we were about to do."
"I see."
"Now they scream it to your face, and worst of all is Dragon-this and Dragon-that and Bla of the Dragon...urrrrgh..."
The tempest master only laughed, "Oh, you take things much too seriously, ha ha ha. Why, in fact, you should feel honored..."
"I suppose..." Hotaka sighed, "I don't know why...it just makes my skin crawl..."
"Things aren't as they used to be. You should know that most of all."
"Yeah...I guess I should..."
"If I had Force powers, vacuum or not my cape/clothes/hair would always be blowing in the Dramatic Wind." - Tenzhi
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Light Strike nearly coughed when the poison glob hit him.
"Uhhh, thanks for the challenge I guess..."
He wobbled for a second. Instinctly he moved his head to countreract the wobbliness and keep the tea cup alligned.
"What is this, freaking movie ninja [censored]?"
Light Strike smiled.
He had long ago honed his body to resist toxins. His body healed on its own, and one of the great things was it was extremely resistant to poison. He just hoped he didn't have to do any more wacked out ninja junk.
Jake said nothing, but wobbled, fighting to keep his balance, his face stone cold.
After a moment of wobbling he finally got his balance back with a smile.
@Shotgunbadger
Hero Main: Bright Arrow
Villian "Main": Jack the Scrapper
Proud Altoholic and Virtueite RPer
Yin held his right arm out to the side so he was now balanced on only his left.
"It would be nice to talk about your master's training techniques sometime Miss Kagura," the boy said, smiling from his upside down position. "Where did you train Miss Yuri, if you don't mind me asking? You also..... oh, I'm sorry. I didn't ask your name." He bowed his head in apology (looking a little strange given his current position) to Megumi.
Kagura stared at Yin intently for a while, then climbed up on a stone and imitated him, except she began pushing herself up and down, as if doing push-ups.
I didnt train in a school. I just had a diligent teacher that taught me a lot about fighting bare handed, Yuri replied before diving into the water and reclining back on the edge of the water. But you probably wouldnt know him. He has a close knit group of colleagues that sometimes train their students together....and its just Yuri.
She ran more water through her hair to get out the dirt from when she flopped on the ground. The coolness of the water she already adapted to and was actually enjoying her chat with her new peers. As she watched the younger of the students exhibiting their physical prowess, she could only shake her head. Not to be nosey or pry but usually a pupil of the physical and spiritual arts manifest special skills different from others. Does anyone feel like sharing? Maybe a story? We are all half naked bathing together so I doubt theres any need to hide anything.
"I...unique..." Kagura said, switching arms.
[ QUOTE ]
Not to be nosey or pry but usually a pupil of the physical and spiritual arts manifest special skills different from others.
[/ QUOTE ]
"Nothing outside the abilities of any of the other monks," Yin answered. "I have learned those lessons well. Utilizing the power of the body, control of the body through meditation and focus; those kinds of things."
He smiled when Kagura joined him on the rock and happily played along when she upped the ante on the excercises, doing his best to match her actions.
"If you are talking about chi-energy manifestation and things like that; then no. Shaolin training does not focus on such things. A few of the monks have learned such arts in their travels and it was they're stories that eventually led me here."
Gerden almost fell when the poison glob hit him. Fortunately, he avoided spilling any of the tea. As he struggled to regain his balance with lightning-quick adjustments to his center of gravity, he thought, I guess this isn't going to be as easy as I thought. Finally achieving his balance, he stood and waited for the poison to wear off. With his metabolism, the poison should be out of his system faster than the others.
-------------------------
Megumi turned to Yin and said, "I was trained in the Raptor School style. Every ten years, the Raptor School sends one student to these Temples. My mother was that student last time. I... This year... the match was so close - that's how the instructors choose whom to send, through a tournament - that they decided to send two students... Gerden and I." She looks a bit uneasy at this point, but continues, "The Raptor School specializes in an aerial assault, but aside from jump-enhancement and flight, we really don't have that many chi-manipulation techniques. Nothing spectacular, like firing beams from our eyes and hands, if that's what you mean... In any event, the reason Gerden and I were picked," again looking uneasy, "is because we are mutants. You've seen Gerden's speed; in battle, it makes him a formidable opponent. I can manipulate a strange power, a sort of 'dark energy,' if you will."
"Firing beams from your eyes isn't exactly a condoned martial arts technique," Reishi said, appearing on the water's edge with the elegantly dressed Xiao Ran in tow.
She sat down cross-legged at the water's edge, smiling at Kagura's mimicry of her own push-up technique.
"Ah, almost forgot, this is Xiao Ran," Reishi said, indicating the girl next to her, "She's young, but she's a master at using poison and the best gardener you'll ever meet."
"Please, Reishi," Ran giggled, "I prefer 'botanist'. And it is a pleasure to meet you all! Especially you Kagura!"
Oddly, Ran indicated Yuri, not Kagura.
"Uh, that's not Kagura," Reishi said.
"Oh, forgive me, it must be her then?" this time she indicated Megumi.
"Try again..." Reishi said.
"Oh my..." Ran said, finally realizing who Kagura was, "She's very cute! But I expected your student to be...more well endowed..."
"She's got it where it counts!" Reishi said proudly.
Kagura flushed, embarrassed at being essentially told she was flat chested, and almost fell backward.
Usually, after enough training and meditation, one begins to manifest their spirit to augment their fighting style and tactics. It could be moving faster than others, having more powerful attacks than most or simply being able to see and react to others more clearly and quickly, Yuri explained to Yin. Its what sets you apart from the other students....but Im sure youve heard all this before. She smiled warmly but kept her eyes averted.
Yuri then listened to Megumi, interested in her words. Interesting....I dont believe Ive seen anyone shooting stuff from their eyes or anything but I bet flying is wonderful. Then the other teachers came in. She shook her head at the intrusion. They didnt even warn anyone, she thought, bringing her knees up to her chest.
[ QUOTE ]
"She's young, but she's a master at using poison and the best gardener you'll ever meet."
"Please, Reishi," Ran giggled, "I prefer 'botanist'. And it is a pleasure to meet you all! Especially you Kagura!"
Oddly, Ran indicated Yuri, not Kagura.
"Uh, that's not Kagura," Reishi said.
"Oh, forgive me, it must be her then?" this time she indicated Megumi.
"Try again..." Reishi said.
"Oh my..." Ran said, finally realizing who Kagura was, "She's very cute! But I expected your student to be...more well endowed..."
"She's got it where it counts!" Reishi said proudly.
Kagura flushed, embarrassed at being essentially told she was flat chested, and almost fell backward.
[/ QUOTE ]
The talk of "endowments" seemed to fly right over Yin's head as he hopped back to his feet to bow to Xiao Ran.
"Master Xiao," the boy greeted respectfully. "I am honored to meet you. I am Fang Yin."
"Please, please," Ran said sweetly, "Call me Ran, Master Xiao basically means 'Little Master' you know. Besides, I'm not much older than you, I don't deserve to be called master."
Yeah right... Reishi thought to herself.
[ QUOTE ]
"Please, please," Ran said sweetly, "Call me Ran, Master Xiao basically means 'Little Master' you know. Besides, I'm not much older than you, I don't deserve to be called master."
[/ QUOTE ]
"You are my superior in knowledge and skill and therefore deserving of respect and honor. Age has little to do with the honoring of skill. But if you would prefer I call you Ran, then I will be happy to oblige."
The boy smiled, bowing again.
Reishi grinned at Yin and Ran. They both seemed so stuffy and formal, but there was most definately an unsurpassed inner strength within both of them.
That was a chief difference between Mountain and Tempest students. Mountain students usually fell behind the curve at first, possessing unbelievable potential but little experience and/or skill. Tempest students were the opposite. Many, like Reishi herself when she first entered the Temples ten years ago, possessed well trained, powerful techniques, but lacked the discipline needed to know when, and more importantly, why to use their techniques. It seemed kind of grim to her, but Reishi noticed a distinct similarity between the goat-boy and herself, as well as this boy Yin and her friend Ran. They even had a similar age difference!
Suddenly Reishi remembered something. The Masters of the Tempest and Mountain schools tended to not mention this particular fact, but one of the most exciting parts of attending either school was participating in the intermural sports program. Of course, they weren't exciting in the same way normal sports were. After all, a martial artist approaches a ball in a different way than a professional athlete.
"So, do any of ya enjoy sports other than martial arts?" she asked.
((By the way, falling off the stick isn't held against you. Also, don't be afraid to greet your fellow students while standing there with teacups on your heads. 
))
"If I had Force powers, vacuum or not my cape/clothes/hair would always be blowing in the Dramatic Wind." - Tenzhi
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"Yes, sounds right," Xander replied, "You should go see her."