"Hmmph, weaklings", her thoughts found life in the form of her voice muttered underneath her breath as Ayame leant against the trunk of a tree in the shade, resting from performing her katas all the while keeping the two in the corner of her vision.
While this place was under an understood 'neutral zone' treaty , that she would obey out of respect for 'giri', she would keep them in eyesight, it was how she was trained, let none, friend or enemy escape your notice.
Their little interplay was filed away in her mind, thoughts circling around in her head along the vein of "A warrior knows loss but must accept that as a part of life" and all her expirences with the loss of her clan, by her own hand, and her subsequent flight to another nation, but alas such thoughts were best left for another day, so with that in mind she focused on her training.
Turning her eyes back towards the wooden dummy, she once again began her drill, losing herself in the zen of repetitive actions while subconciously counting how many strikes to each vital point, one could not lose their edge after all, they would end up like her targets.
Ryuu looked at her slightly nodding, "are you fit now?" His eyes focused and his face as still as if it were made from stone. He brushed off his shoulder and straighted his Gi.
Although he did not show it, his mind was littered of the new place he was ripped into. The cars, the noise, the people, the lights... It was a lot for him to take in. He fluidly ran his fingers over his chest, where the metal blade had came out of his body.
His thoughts turned to his death, the fight still vivid in his mind. He reviewed his every movement again and again in his head, making sure he found out what he had done wrong. With a soft sigh he returned his mind to the present still looking at Toru and crossing his arms.
Shadow Pyre had been kneeling alone meditating when the sound of a woman's screams brought him back to reality. In one swift fluid motion a his hand took hold of his katana, drawing it from its' resting place as he dashed out of the room. The light reflecting of his blade gave it a preternatural glow as his silent footsteps echoed down the corridor.
"Gotta hurry." he thought to himself as the walls around him suddenly became quiet.
As Shadow Pyre rounded the corner into the locker room he found a young man standing above a sobbing young woman with his arms crossed. One only needed to catch a glimpse of the pair to know they were brother and sister, twins no doubt. Sizing up the unknown male he couldn't help but notice the Gi he was wearing and dragon weaved into its' fabric. His hand went unconsciously to the crimson dragon emblazoned upon his own chest a constant reminder of his past. Its' intricacy and eerie realism was accentuated by the impenetrable darkness that seemed to flow forth from it.
By this time a few other students had also come to investigate the strange outcries creating a small crowd. Being a new arrival himself he caught several of them staring at his unusual appearance. Over his face he wore a dark red helm that resembled a ninja's hood, which seemed to contain the same shadowy material that covered his chest to conceal his features. The rest of his attire, from the wraps that covered his hands and feet to his baggy pants, was made of cloth and colored to match giving him the appearance of a blood stained assassin.
"Is there a problem here?" Pyre asked sheathing his sword.
((I apologize in advance for any inaccurate spelling of certain terms or phrases. I did my best to find the correct spellings. I took meticulous notes through out my research, but there may be a discrepancy here and there. Please dont beat me up too badly for any mistakes I may have made :P I will also soon attach screenshots of the Dojo for your enjoyment))
Toru took a moment to compose herself, keeping her back turned to the small but growing audience. She closed her eyes, took a few deep breaths, stiffening her spine. She knew others had heard, possibly seen the incident. Not that it mattered. It wasnt the first time shed had the flashbacks and she doubted it would be the last. Sometimes the tiniest triggers would send her crashing into the past; the singing of steel as Ryuu practiced his Battojutsu (art of drawing the sword), or the feel of the grass beneath her as the pair sparred in the garden outside the Dojo. Today it had been the habitual act of wrapping her hands and wrists. She always prepared herself for battle or practice with the same ceremonial care, believing that if she treated both equally, she would never grow complacent or over confident before a true fight.
[ QUOTE ]
"are you fit now?"
[/ QUOTE ] Ryuus voice carried the same calm, collected tone he always spoke with.
Toru turned her head slightly, looking at him over her shoulder with a slight nod. Fit enough, she stated tersely. She brushed past him, swinging her locker door closed with a bit more force than shed intended. A metallic bang resounded, causing several students to scatter as she approached the locker room exit. However, one remained; one of the new male students clad in a deep, crimson colored Gi. In his hand he held a katana. Toru wondered if Ryuu already knew the stranger. She tried to get a better look at his masked face without being too obvious as she drew closer.
[ QUOTE ]
"Is there a problem here?" Pyre asked sheathing his sword.
[/ QUOTE ]
Torus eyes narrowed at him and she said nothing as she breezed by, leaving him and Ryuu to watch her depart, taking long, determined strides toward the practice mats. She hadnt intended to be outright rude to him, she just didnt know how to explain the situation to a total stranger, nor did she care to at the moment. She was too angry with herself. And usually, Toru had a habit of taking her frustrations out whoever was closest at the time. She really wasnt up to the lecture Ryuu would later give her if she lit into a total stranger.
There was something about his presence that was
different
than most of the other students shed had contact with. Vaguely, she wondered if he was a villain, but she wouldnt know without asking. The Dojo had a reputation as a neutral faction organization, catering to the training needs of both hero and villain students of a wide range of ages. The registration applications didnt even have a denomination check box for hero or villain.
Because the Dojo was a neutral zone, the Soke (headmaster of the school) had very strict rules about violence and physical contact between students. Students were required to wear a Gi (uniform) void of any obvious Hero or Villain insignia. Family crests or insignia marking the students rank or skill level were allowed, as well as any details that displayed the students style preference, be it Jujutsu, Kenjutsu, Judo, Aikido, the list goes on. Toru favored the Tiger embroidered on her Gi, while Ryuu favored the Dragon. They were fitting symbols, as her name translates to Tiger while his translates to Dragon.
Real weapons were allowed to be carried or used in practice by students who had reached the appropriate skill level to be considered competent enough to teach the style in the absence of a Sensei. Students below such skill level were required to utilize the wooden or plastic replicas provided by the school. There was also to be no fighting, physically or verbally between students, unless it was on the sparring mats or part of a class. And the use of magical abilities was strictly prohibited. The Dojo was a place to hone ones natural, physical prowess and mental focus. If students wanted to practice magic, they could attend classes at Paragon University.
Within the Dojo, there were constant reminders of the Bushido way. The organization firmly instilled the way of the warrior in all students regardless of their personal religious beliefs or lack thereof. They were not required to convert their way of life outside the Dojo, but they were expected to uphold the Bushido beliefs within its walls.
Beautifully designed tapestries adorned the walls and tiles of the facility. Some of them described in great detail, the Bushido Tenets (code of the Samurai). There were display cases as well, each containing one of the 10 Dan Ranks (black belt degrees). They acted as inspiration and encouragement for the students to dedicate themselves to their training in the hopes of attaining such levels of expertise.
Surrounding each classroom and the sparring mats, were more banners, each stating one of the seven virtues: Gi (rectitude) yu (courage) jin (benevolence) rei (respect) makoto (honesty) meiyo (Honor, Glory) and chugi (loyalty). These virtues were often spoken aloud by the students while performing katas in large groups. Many of the Sensei felt that hearing these chants enhanced the students ability to enter a state of Zanshin (a state of relaxed alertness) before pairing off to spar. In this state, one must remain alert and focused, physically ready to instantly respond to an attack or execute a counter attack on an opponent.
Toru admired the organizations efforts to transform the undisciplined into the elite. But she was the rebellious twin, the non-conformist, disciplined only when training or in battle. She did her best to follow the Bushido way, but no one is perfect, especially her. Ryuu was the disciplined one. He was the calm to her storm and without him, she probably would not have progressed as far as she had in their past life. Part of her had balked at the idea of becoming a student at the Dojo, feeling as though the two of them together did not need to seek formal training any longer. However, Ryuu and his knack for getting her to see reason, had won that particular battle. They would train religiously at the Dojo, for it could only serve to enhance their abilities farther. It helped that the place reminded her of home in many ways.
Upon reaching the training mats, Toru noticed several students already warming up for the days Aikido session. She chose a less crowded area on the mats and began stretching her agile limbs. She preferred the empty-hand fighting style of Karate above all else, reveling in the power she could wield with a well-placed kick or punch. But Aikido had its benefits as well, teaching the students the proper way to use striking, throwing and joint locking techniques to their full advantage.
The sound of clashing steel reached her ears. The Kenjutsu class had already begun in the garden. She sighed softly, wondering if Ryuu would be joining the other students while they practiced the art of the sword. Part of her wished she could sneak out and watch, as she had always enjoyed watching Ryuu practice with his katana. It was even more fun to watch him defeat his opponents. She was about to do just that, when Sensei's voice rose above the low murmurs of the students.
Too late to sneak off now she thought to herself. Sensei would know if she were not there. He had a keen eye and was constantly alert to where his students were. He was a strict but devoted teacher, determined to bring out the best in all of his students. Even the hapless, undisciplined ones like Toru.
((as promised, pictures of the Dojo. If you wish to coalition your SG with the Dojo, please contact: Schayde, Tsuki Toru or Tsuki Ryuu. This SG is a Sub-SG to Shadow Manor. The base is used for RP setting purposes. You are welcome to put a toon in either the Dojo or Shadow Manor if you wish. However, the Dojo is used for storing rarely used alts so if you want a more active SG the Shadow Manor would be your best choice. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for future RP events that will be hosted in the Dojo!))
Dojo Introduction
Dojo Entrance
Dojo Locker Rooms from above, boys on left girls on right
Locker Room Lockers
Boy's locker room shower
The Training Area
The Gymnasium - we got creative with the equipment
Class Room
Close up of training/sparring mats
Ryuu nodded slightly to the man in black that stood before him, "no need to worry, she just had another episode." He followed his sister walking a good distance behind her out of the locker room. He turned out of the doors and into the garden to attend the Kenjutsu lesson that had just begun.
It was windy and the trees swayed and whistled to the breeze. Ryuu looked to the Sensei as she began to speak to the students in the tight formation infront of her. She began to explain some of the basics to the newer students drawing her katana and doing some simple strikes and stances explaining their purposes. Ryuu's eyes wandered over the students as he stood outside the formation.
He saw students of every level, It seemed that the Sensei was teaching a variety of students. As he walked up slowly trying to fit himself in the formation nonchalantly the sensei grew a smile. "Well, lets start, Brock, why don't you spar our late comer," she said looking to Brock and motioning to Ryuu.
Ryuu hesitated then nodded keeping his eyes on the sensei as he walked to the small paved area in between trees. He grabed his sword handle looking over Brock as he bowed deeply.
Brock laughed and nodded slightly and drew his sword quickly. He swiftly shot his leg forward and held his sword obove his head with bent elbows. He nodded, "You ready pony tail?" Ryuu narrowed his eyes and nodded slowly holding his grip on his katana.
They stood at either end of the ring holding a stare, sizing eachother before the fight. A hard gust blew, throwing leaves across the ring before Brock charged yelling. Ryuu held perfectly still watching his opponent charge him clumsily. Ryuu's eyes shifted and his feet set up as Brock reached striking distance, his hand still on his katana handle.
As Brock lunged Ryuu poped his katana out of the scabbard with his thumb. The handel flew out of the scabbard clanging against Brock's glistening blade loudly. Brock grunted loudly as his blade was shot back. He quickly returned with a follow up slash from Ryuu's upper right quadrant. Ryuu steped back and spun using the momentum of his body to pull the blade of his katana from the scabbard as he shifted behind Brock. Another wild gust blew as the two men stood on the paved floor, Brock frozen mid slice, the cold steel of Ryuu's blade kissing the back of his neck lightly.
Ryuu placed his sword back into his katana running it against his thumb as Brock turned and bowed. Ryuu bowed in return then turned to the sensei and bowing deeply. She raised an eye and grined, "what style do you practice new comer?" Ryuu nodded politely "Yagyu Shinkage Ryu."
Shadow Pyre looked on as the young woman proceeded to slam shut her locker and make her way towards him. As she approached he noticed her gaze was fixed on him and her eyes narrowed as if in anger, instinctively he readied himself for an attack. None came however as she merely passed by him and strode down the hallway toward her unknown destination.
"no need to worry, she just had another episode." her brother said as he turned back to face him.
He gave no reply as the young man exited the locker room following after his sibling. His curiosity piqued he momentarily contemplated pursuing the pair but thought better of it. Dismissing the encounter he proceeded back to whence he came to continue his meditation. As he passed through the corridors he could hear the sounds of several classes in progress emanating from the walls. In the back of his mind he knew he was probably supposed be a part of one of them, but to him his attendance was at his own discretion and no one else's.
"Why am I even here?" he muttered to himself as he continued his solitary march.
In fact he knew full well what had brought him to this place, he simply hated to admit it. He had grown complacent, relying more and more on his powers rather than his own skills. The Dojo was a place where he could change all that, a place to restore his fading prowess, a place to help him achieve his ultimate goal...
"Vengeance." Pyre growled, his fist clenched in rage.
((OOC: Would you give me a definition of some of those fighting styles? And possibly a picture of what the Gi looks like? I'm not exactly... 'Well informed' for the lack of a better choice of words - about these types of things. I have two characters that I want in; I just need to be a little bit more prepared as to what I'm getting into. 
-Burning Fang
PS. Your gym is very nice, even if it lacks real equipment. 
))
(( you can go here: http://en.wikipedia.ort/wiki/Japanese_martial_arts
that is where i did all my research for the first few posts i made. also there is no set dress code other than the insignia restrictions listed in my 2nd post. otherwise you can dress in whatever your character prefers to wear))
((OOC: Ok, can I study Kyudo, or are the only things that can be taught in the Dojo are Kenjutsu, Battojutsu and Jujutsu? Also, is Ninjutsu prohibited in the Koryu? And is Taijutsu even a word?
Y'know, this is kinda fun! I love speaking in terms! Also, the correct web sight is http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_martial_arts . (You put '.ort' instead of '.org'. ) ))
((hehe sorry bout the fudge up on the link. And you can use any form of martial arts in your posts. The Dojo can "have" many experts at your disposal. I mainly used Japanese style martial arts to get things kicked off. I encourage creativity 
))
A young Chinese girl walked into the Dojo. She looked to be about the age of 16, her face beautiful, yet serious. She looked around at the immense detail and hard work put into the Dojo walls. The design was simple, but very well made.
As she walked down the hall, the light gleamed off her hazel martial arts robe; a plain golden belt was tied around her waist. She wore white Chinese styled pants with simple gold kung fu shoes. Her hair was neatly in a bun, tied with a black ribbon. She had wrapped a small grey cloth around her arms to add slight protection during battle.
The room opened up in front of her while she continued to walk gracefully to her first class. This was the first day in the Dojo, but she planned on making the best of it. Today would be the first day learning from a new master. A master that could teach her above and beyond the limits of her abilities.
She walked up the steps and bowed respectfully to the sensei. Im sorry. I did not mean to be late. She said with a slight Chinese accent. She walked quickly to an empty spot on the practice mats.
------------------------------------
((OOC EDIT: Edited a few spelling and grammar mistakes.
OOC EDIT 2: I'm in your class Toru!
OOC EDIT 3: Oh, come on! I brushed my teeth this time! See? ---> ))
Shadow Pyre was roused from his fury by the sudden sound of footsteps coming from behind. Instinct immediately took over as he spun around to face the unknown presence, mentally prepared to strike at the slightest hint of provocation. He was slightly disappointed to find the source of the sound to be a young asian girl heading towards one of the classrooms.
"Hmm, that's the same way that screaming lady and her brother went." he muttered to himself, his curiosity piqued once more.
With nothing really better to do, he decided to see which class it was that seemed to be drawing so much attention. It only took him a few moments to retrace his steps and make it to the room the new student had just entered. He cringed when he read the name of the course over the door.
"Aikido?! Hmph, no accounting for some people's taste." Pyre thought to himself as he quickly moved on.
There was only one martial arts he was interested in none others mattered. Fortunately for him the Dojo was one of the few places on Earth that actually had an instructor for Toso Kune Do. In fact, it was the only lesson that he regularly showed up for.
All of a sudden, the sound of clashing steel drew his attention towards the garden. Normally the kenjutsu classes didn't hold any interest to him as he already considered himself a master swordsman, but when he noticed the young man he had met earlier was the one sparring he made his way over to examine his technique. Unfortunately, the match was over too fast for him to really get an idea of skills although the fact that he was allowed to wield an actual sword was testament that he was at least somewhat proficient with a blade. There was only one way to know for sure.
"What style do you practice newcomer?"
"Yagyu Shinkage Ryu."
"Would you care to elaborate on that?" Shadow Pyre smirked as he stepped out into the open, his hand resting on the hilt of his katana.
Ryuu turned back to the familiar man. He eyed him over noticing his anticipating posture. Ryuu's eyes returning with a slight nod back to the Sensei before returning his look to Shadow Pyre.
He narrowed his eyes very lightly as he gave a nod running his thumb on the tightly wrapped handle of his sword. "If you wish," he calmly said the wind gusting again as he tensed himself very slightly seeing the next opponent was going to be stronger than the first.
(( same guy... just using a diff account for a little bit hehe ))
((OOC: Great. Now I have TWO swordsmen I'll be worrying about, even if one of them is dark/dark defender... >_>
I'll be entering the dojo with my swordy as soon as the fight is almost over. ))
(( hehehehe ))
(( Sorry for posting so late, it's been a pretty busy day today. By the way all of my characters were created with the pre-Archetype City of Heroes in mind, it's not my fault Scrappers didn't fit the build. 
))
"If you wish."
Shadow Pyre was a bit amused by the young man's non-chalant attitude as it reminded him of his own. Drawing his sword with a basic battojutsu he moved into an inside guard. As he stared at his opponent through the darkness that masked his face silence encompassed his being denying him the effects of any potential distraction. His ever expanding focus allowed him to take in his surroundings to accommodate for the outdoor terrain, so that not even a stray pebble would escape his notice.
"I issued the challenge, I might as well kick things off." he thought to himself as he tensed himself for battle.
Without a word to his adversary he dashed forward swiftly covering the distance between them and all the while maintaining his guard. However, just before he entered striking range he quickly switched to a back guard and leapt into the air. Propelling himself forward he started to rotate his body mid-air to change his current orientation. At the apex of his revolution he began to bring his hands forward, using his own momentum to propel his blade into an upward slash aimed at his opponent's exposed back.
"Show me your skill." Pyre thought, his katana slicing its' way through the air towards its' prey.
Ryuu took a deep breath as Shadow Pyre ran to him, his eyes focusing tightly around him and his senses focusing, the light caress of the breeze waving over his fingers. He stood waiting, watching his opponent as he charged, ready at anytime to issue a countering strike.
His eyes followed his opponent as he jumped into the air and over him. Ryuu kept his stance placid, appearing to not know what was going on behind him. He slowly tilted his scabbard in the air, his teeth griting as he waited for the perfect moment. He closed his eyes, listening intently as a faint drone of a swishing blade reached his ears.
Quickly he brought his blade as it glistened in the sun, eager for combat. He dropped to his knee and with a harsh twist of his waist he slammed the side of his blade against his opponent's, using the force of the clash to spin himself and come around behind him for a horizontal counter attack.
Shadow Pyre couldn't help but be a little impressed with the ease at which his opponent deflected his attack, however by no means did that mean he wasn't prepared for it. Seeing his adversary spin away after the initial contact, he immediately did the same rotating in the opposite direction. As he did so he switched his katana to one hand, sliding the blade back so that it ran parallel to his arm.
Hidden from sight, behind the curtain of darkness that obscured his features, a smile threatened to creep it's way across his face. It had been quite some time since he had such a challenge and his body was awash with adrenaline. He actually had to focus harder to keep from losing himself to the sensation. Since the day his powers had been bestowed upon him having a semblance of fun was a rare occurrence, but today was one of those rare exceptions.
Whipping his head around as he moved Pyre caught sight of the horizontal strike aimed directly at him. Tightening his fingers around his hilt, he moved his arm up so that he was holding his sword vertically as he met his foe's attack head on. A flurry of sparks flew as steel met steel, streaking towards the Earth like shooting stars. Their blades now crossed neither fighter seemed prepared to give even an inch to the other.
"Your name." Pyre demanded of his newfound rival.
(( Hope I didn't auto too much for you there at the end. ))
((sorry its been so long since my last post! i've been drawing like crazy lately lmao....but i'm back!!!))
Toru tucked her cheek into her shoulder, her body tensing in anticipation of the impact she would feel when her body hit the practice mats. A resounding THWAK could be heard as her much larger sparring partner poorly executed a shoulder toss that fit better in the body slam category. Several students visibly winced, some of the newer ones curious as to why Sensei would pair the 54 Toru with the six foot plus Braden. They would soon learn the lesson Sensei had in store for them: The size of the opponent is insignificant when one possesses knowledge and skill. Toru was about to demonstrate just that.
As soon as Torus body hit the mats, her opponent made his first mistake. He loosened his grip, yet remained crouched over her. He should have either disengaged or gone directly into another move. Hed executed the take down poorly. Now he needed to immobilize her or allow the match to continue. Instead, he loomed over her, the big, goofy grin on his face taunting her to try to best him. There was his second mistake over confidence in himself. His third underestimating his opponent.
Torus expression remained blank, giving no indication as to what her next move would be. This was supposed to be an Aikido demonstration, but since Braden had drawn upon other skills, Toru decided there was no reason she could not do the same. With years of practiced speed and agility, Toru rolled slightly to her side, aiming a sweeping kick to the backs of Bradens knees. His eyes widened a bit in surprise as he stumbled backward but remained on his feet. He glared at her, his face reddening as he dove for her, intent on pinning her to the mats, forcing her to tap out of the match so that he could claim victory.
Toru rolled onto her back once more as Braden drew closer. Just as he dove for her, grabbing her Gi in both fists, she tucked her knees to her chest, drawing on her knowledge of Judo. Grabbing the front of his Gi in the same manner, her feet firmly planted in his sternum, she used the momentum of his body and his weight against him, causing his large frame to tumble over her and onto his back. Toru maintained her grip on him, her body rolling with his so that when he thumped noisily onto the mats, she was now positioned above him, a knee on either side of his torso. Bradens mouth was agape as he held his breath, watching her. The small band that had been holding her hair gathered at the nape of her neck had come undone. In her eyes was the glint of something the novice fighter had never seen before. It was a warriors stare
.one that seemed to pierce his very soul
..It frightened and fascinated him.
With a shout of victory, Toru raised her elbow and brought it down swiftly, stopping just short of the center of Bradens chest. If he hadnt been holding his breath, she would have made contact. He blinked a few times, swallowed then resumed his breathing as Toru rolled off of him, springing to her feet. She bowed to him, a gesture he grudgingly returned once hed gotten to his feet. Toru then bowed to their Sensei before turning on her heel to resume her seat. She had just demonstrated to the class, and a humbled Braden, that size matters, but not when it comes to sparring.
As Toru sat watching other students spar she could hear the faint clash of steel coming from the gardens. She bit her lower lip, torn between staying even though her part of the lesson was over, and sneaking into the gardens to watch the sword play. Her curiosity got the better of her. As soon as Senseis back was turned, she crept silently away from the class, dashing down the hall and through the gently arched doorway framed by lush trees. Torus gaze fell upon the platform where two figures were engaged in combat. She instantly recognized one as Ryuu, the crimson and grey of his Gi matching her own. Her breath caught in her throat with excitement. She always did enjoy watching him with his katana, his movements fluid and graceful as if he and the sword were one being. She was certain that were it not for her, his katana would be his best friend.
The other form she recognized to be the darkly clad young man shed been so rude to earlier. She felt a twinge of shame at the way shed treated him, but it quickly passed as she watched him engage her brother. Clearly he was a skilled swordsman, and that was no kendo stick he was wielding. Creeping silently to the edge of the class, she deftly scaled a nearby tree and perched lightly in its branches. From her vantage point she could see perfectly without being detected by the class. If anyone had seen her approach, she didnt notice, for she had eyes only for the two young men below. She watched as the sun danced upon their blades
Yuri began her spar, or was about to rather
Toru ran out the side of the room as soon as the sensei had turned his back. She was quite amazed that he hadnt noticed her leave; the noise was faint, but clear. Of course, that may have just been her. Yuri's unusual ability to hear things was an invaluable skill needed for combat.
Her sparring partner began his first steps toward her, forcing her out of her thoughts and back into the match. Yuri didnt know much, or really anything about Aikido (Alternate link.). Her specialty was in Taijutsu, studying Taihenjutsu, Jutaijutsu and some Dakentaijutsu, mostly in Koshijutsu.
This might have been a disadvantage to her, but then again, she was light on her feet and thought well in difficult situations. Depending on how her rival fought, she might be able to finish her spar and follow Toru before she got too far. Yes, this was her new goal.
Her opponent fought with unusual striking, throwing and joint locking attacks, but his attacks were slow and predictable. She caught on quickly, dodging most of the attacks and countering the others with Jutaijutsu. She had managed getting behind her opponent, attacking him with Koshijutsu that a nerve point, forcing the rival his knees.
Yuris open hand rushed to her foes neck, stopping millimeters before impact, similar to how Toru had done. She lifted the student up to his feet then gave a short, polite bow before running off down the hall silently. The student remained in the same position. He looked at Yuri while she ran off, slightly dazed and oblivious to what had just happened.
She didnt know if the sensei had seen her, nor did she look back to find out. She basically followed the sound of clashing metal
(( hehe your fine ))
Ryuu looked Shadow Pyre in the eyes, not even a glint of emotion showing in his placid face. He looked almost as a child would preforming a familiar task, a docile look of calmness and comfort in repition, this all covering his rapid thoughts and rush of adrenaline.
He slid his right hand to the end of his handle arching his fingers down the length untill they met ith his other fist. "My name is Ryuu," he said as his arm tensed.
With a hard push with his right hand he slid his blade across Shadow Pyre's smashing his guard against his blade and using it as an anchor as he slid his back foot around Shadow Pyre's... spining to fill in his stance he took his katana to his side holding the blade out behind him in a stabbing motion aimed for Shadow Pyre, who now stood back to back with him.
Toru balanced expertly on her perch in the tree, her eyes tracking every move made between Ryuu and his opponent. This dark stranger was skilled, there was no doubt about that. The real question would be, was he good enough to best her brother? She smirked slightly, doubtful, but curious none-the-less.
From the corner of her eye, she spotted one of the younger students from the Aikido class shed snuck out of. Toru held her breath, hoping the Sensei hadnt noticed her absence and sent the student to fetch her. She didnt want to leave yet! Remaining perfectly still, Toru tore her gaze from the young woman, her focus once more on Ryuu.
Sometimes she wished she had taken up the sword instead of dedicating herself to her empty-handed fighting style. To move fluidly like Ryuu, so focused and disciplined
.she admired his talent. But still, her skills had proven a good match for her brothers fighting style. She smiled to herself, recalling all the enemies theyd bested together. The bite of his blade was a good finish to any foe that had tasted the sting of her roundhouse kick. Something wild within her ached for those days once more. But the world had changed in the 200 years they had been dead. There were new foes to face, but they had an entire arsenal of foreign weaponry. It would be some time before they were ready to face these new villains.
((Mind if I join the thread? A lot of my characters are melee/physical fighters in some way but Id like to RP with a few others that use similar characters. Ive got to warn you though, I only join RPs if I have a story about my characters or a facet of one of my characters that I wish to explore. Im not going to steal the spotlight or anything, but I do have a little story to tell along with participating with you guys.
From what Ive read, all of you are really good with RPing. You guys arent new to this stuff, are ya? Anyway, I hope the thread doesnt fizzle out. That would be a real bummer.
I didnt see any rule regarding multiple characters, so Im taking the initiative to use two. Jason Morgan is one of my CoV characters that Ive done a little RPing with but hes one of my main guys. Datotsuichi Kanata(or just Kanata and yeah, I dont know Japanese but I was aiming for his family name to mean 1st strike or thrust on the opponent but Im sure its not
oh well.) is a character that will help make the story.
Also, seeing as I tell a story about my characters in RPs, I generally set the RP on a timeline. A lot of time, people dont really care but if you dont like it I could downplay it or just set out of the RP
.its nothing big and in the big picture is only a few years(3-5) difference from other threads. ANYWAY
.on my personal time line, Im putting it the earliest of any of the RPs Im in by 5 years but its only my personal timeline.))
The chanting and shouting of lessons being taught echoed across the courtyard. The clanging of swords, the thuds of students being slammed on mats, cracking of wood, it would normally motivate himself and peers to persist in their training but not Jase. He scowled under a tree with his back against the trunk. The thirteen year old boy was reclining before a pool that fed the reeds and ferns at its bank (I read and reread the posts and couldnt find a garden in the pics you provided so sorry about adding something that may not exist).
In his left hand, Jase held a palm full of pebbles and with his right, he picked a single rock and launched it toward the pool. The rock skipped over the surface a few times before finally diving below its surface but instead of simply sinking, the rock continued to shoot deeper, hitting the various fish that swam just a few inches within with a 60% accuracy rate. The pebble didnt really hurt the fish, there wasnt enough force behind the rock, but it would cause the fish to scurry and scatter in fear.
Jase had arrived at the school only the night before and already he felt it wasnt worth his time no matter how good the students claimed to be. His hair was long, black, wild and spiky reaching just below his shoulders. Thick strands hung over his face as he aimed at the pool with only one good eye. When he ran out of pebbles, he pulled some more out of a pocket inside his dingy grey gi, the only distinguishing symbol on it was a yellow crescent moon on the upper left side of the jacket. Really, it was a sun with two beams coming out but he had recently pulled out the stitching to make his own symbol, that which opposes a sun.
Compared to the stuff that Ryjuta [censored] knows, the stuff here is just childs play, he murmured to himself, inwardly angry at himself. He felt abandoned and alone which might be natural because his previous sensei rejected him and refused to teach him anything. He vowed to take revenge but there was no way he could match that swordsmans abilities and speed. It was impossible.
Jases gaze fell on two students that were locked in sword combat. Heh, playing with swords? How cute, he mumbled. An idea popped in his mind as he watched a crowd collecting around the two sparring swordsmen. He took two pebbles and rested them on the top of his thumb. With his index finger, he flicked the stones toward a tree after he pushed a stray lock of hair from his view and took careful aim.
Datotsuichi Kanata was standing with his shoulder against that tree, watching the two fight from a distance. The boy seemed about fourteen and his hair and eyes seemed abnormally colored, a pale tint of purple and wearing a black hakama and a deep blue, nearly purple, keikogi. With simple rope, tied over his shoulder and across his midsection, a naginata was suspended from his back. It was adorned with amazingly beautiful crests and its blade shone brightly in the afternoon sun. It was obvious the weapon was precious to him and he cleaned and sharpened it often.
There was only a split second to notice the pebble bouncing from the trees bark. Kanata perked up abruptly, his eyes quickly following the trail of the two rocks. With interestingly high accuracy, the two pebbles flew toward Shadow Pyre and Ryuu with an intent to clunk the both of them in the head.
((Ok, having learned the propper etiquette from my first rp thread, I give you the rules for the Dojo:
1.) you don't have to be from the Virtue server to participate
2.) You don't have to be a scrapper or stalker to participate
3.) There are no location restrictions
4.) Have fun, use your imaginations, and the rp fun will flow.
5.) Heroes and Villains are welcome to participate.
6.) try to adhere to teh dojo rules, which you'll see in my 2nd post.
This thread starts off by introducing Tsuki Toru and her twin brother, Tsuki Ryuu. Toru is played by me, while Ryuu is masterfully played by a good friend. I hope you enjoy these two as much as I do.
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What a strange world the Circle of Thorns has brought us back to. Tsuki Toru thought to herself as she finished wrapping her hands in the locker room of the Dojo of the Lurking Shadow.
Everywhere she looked there was some new technology to learn about. Every time a stranger spoke to her, it was as if in a foreign tongue, the terms and slang of today difficult to understand. Scantily clad women put them selves on display in an effort to attract male attention, often the wrong kind. Men seem to have little honor, seeking their pleasures with multiple partners regardless of how long they have been acquainted. Life in parts of Paragon City is a far cry from what it was in Japan 200 years ago.
Have they no self-respect? she muttered to herself, unaware she was speaking her thoughts out loud again. Several other students gave her odd looks from the other end of the locker room, but she didnt even notice. There was so much to learn, she felt overwhelmed by all of it. She wondered if Ryuu felt the same way.
Toru was grateful he was there with her, for this new life would be difficult to endure without her twin brother. Sometimes she woke up screaming in the night, still feeling the killing blow that struck them down all those years ago. She re-lived that moment in her dreams as if it were happening all over.
[ QUOTE ]
It was a battle of epic proportions. The bodies of fallen soldiers littered the hillside upon which they fought. The grass grew slick and red with the blood of so many brave men and women. Their Emperor had been escorted safely from the battle as it raged in what was once a peaceful valley.
Toru and her brother fought side by side as they always did, not as two separate warriors, but as one lethal killing machine, honed to perfection from years of discipline and practice. But fate was not on their side that day. Somehow they had become separated from the main battle. It was just the two of them against more than half a dozen armor-clad enemy soldiers. To this day she was still amazed and horrified by what happened in the last moments of their former life
She had just broken the neck of one soldier, when another rushed at her, the afternoon sun reflecting off the blade of his Samurai sword. She was momentarily blinded from the flash of light, and a heavy fist connected with her jaw. She stumbled back from the blow, managing to keep her footing. Exhausted, she struggled to avoid each vicious slash of his sword, depending on speed and agility to keep her alive. But the Gods did not see fit to spare Toru that day, for she tripped over the corpse of an enemy soldier, falling heavily to the ground. She scurried back on her elbows in an effort to roll to her feet. She was too fatigued and he was to new to the fight, his Samurai armor still pristine, no traces of her fallen comrades to act as a badge of his prowess.
He raised his weapon over his head, bringing it down swiftly as he aimed for her heart. Toru managed to roll away, but in the wrong direction. There was another waiting for her to make a fatal move. His blade was true, sinking itself deeply into her chest. The pain was like a searing brand scoring through her flesh. In the distance she heard Ryuus scream of rage, vaguely recalling the sound of his blade singing as he took down both men whod participated in her demise. Torus vision grew dark as she lay there bleeding her essence into the land she had spent her young life defending.
Toru opened her eyes slowly, and Ryuu was there, pulling her into his arms as he tried to stay the flow of blood staining her robes. His lips moved but she heard not a word he said. She tried to use her arms to push him away, to make him leave and save himself from the same fate, but her limbs would not cooperate. She struggled to cry out as a shadow fell over them, but no sound came out.
Ryuus body convulsed suddenly as an enemy blade ran him through, delivering a fatal blow. He slumped forward, falling to the ground beside his sister, turning his head to meet her gaze. He clutched his sword and raised it in an effort to deflect yet another blow. The ringing of steel meeting steel thundered in Torus ears, the sound seeming very far away. Her gaze slid toward the enemy towering above them, preparing to deliver another attack. Using the last of his strength, Ryuu managed to rise to his knees, then fell across her inert form as the Samurais sword came down one last time.
Toru felt his body jerk violently as the blade was driven into his back, but it did not stop there. The force of the blow drove the blade deeper, impaling the both of them before striking the earth beneath her back. His pained expression broke her heart, for very rarely did Ryuu show any emotion. She watched the light slip from his eyes before his head fell to her chest, his last breath used to whisper her name. Toru closed her eyes as she felt his heart cease to beat, welcoming the darkness that beckoned. Death did not take long to claim her.
[/ QUOTE ]
Toru did not realize that her thoughts had caused her to re-live the nightmare until the soothing sound of Ryuus voice brought her back to reality. He sat there on the locker room floor, rocking her until her screams were reduced to pitiful sobs. Apparently, one of the other students had gone for help as soon as shed gone into her blind hallucinations.
Toru slowly became aware of their surroundings, her bleary gaze focusing first on the dragon embroidered on Ryuus Gi. She jerked away hastily, scrambling to her feet as she brushed angrily at her tear-streaked cheeks. Ryuu, his expression as calm and collected as ever, rose to his feet in one fluid movement. He simply stood there, arms crossed over his chest as he waited for her to get her wits about her. They spoke not a word, their bond as twins enough for them both to know that she loathed herself for her weakness over the memories. She would take her self-loathing out on herself in training as she always did, pushing her body to the point of exhaustion; exercising the demons if only for a short time.
She couldnt understand why the past still haunted her so often. Could something have gone wrong during the ritual that brought them back from the netherworld? Was she losing her mind, or had she lost it long ago when she watched her brother die beside her? They were alive once more, far from the war-torn existence they once knew. For some unknown reason, theyd been given a second chance. So why was she still plagued with the violent memory of their deaths, and the incessant feeling that their days as warriors were far from over?