Kurome's Swords Training - The Old Man Appears!

[Kurome]

Chuuhan no Shisei (Middle Level Posture)
Rank: "E"
Skill: Taijutsu
Effect: A stance with a sword held at the midsection.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: Chuuhan no Shisei is the most basic of the six stances of Gyakusatsu and offers the optimal balance between offense and defense. The user brings his/her sword to the midsection held in a forty-five degree angle upwards with the dominate hand held at the top of the handle below the guard. The stance is used to transition easily between offense and defense as well as counters. The feet match the positioning of the hands with the dominate side in the forefront.

Limit: Gyakusatsu

The gentle pitter-patter of the rain upon the stone till homes of Takigakure; wasn't an altogether unfamiliar sound to the kunoichi, known simply as Kurome. She'd experienced this weather quite often within the land of sea in fact. where she originated; still the expression etched into her face clearly told of her annoyance, as she persisted towards her place of residence. The soaked sands of Takigakure's streets, and the water running down her arms serving to remind her further of her situation.

Kurome sighed to herself, as she attempted to pull the waterlogged sleeves of her sailor uniform further down her arms. It was at this peculiar moment when a voice called out towards her from a great distance.

“Hey you, girlie!” an elderly gentleman called.

Kurome although unfamiliar with the voice found herself turning towards him without the slightest hesitation. The grey haired elderly gentleman dashed forwards drawing his blade at great speed. The black haired kunoichi did the same attempting to parry the swordsman's blade. She was sent hurtling through the air, and slammed into the brick walls of the many homes on this street. It was at this moment that blood splattered from her lips, and she slumped down the wall having released her blade. The sword clattered as it landed upon the ground.

“Aye, Aye.” the man declared, shaking his head in his hand. As he re-stashed his katana at a moments notice. “How do you expect to become strong when you can't even keep hold of your blade?!” he asked, although it seemed almost rhetorical as he wandered over towards her weapon and scooped it up from the ground. The kunoichi scowled as she coughed the last of the blood from her mouth, and pushed herself back to her feet.

“I don't expect to be attacked while wandering the streets of my own village, especially not on such a rainy day.” she replied angrily, as she made her way towards the man with her arm extended expecting him to return her sword.

“Heh, that's rule one, always be on your guard.” the man told her, while examining her blade carefully within his hands. “Here, catch!” he declared, throwing what appeared to be a wooden sword towards her.

“What am I going to do with this?! Give me back my sword.” she barked.

“No – no, bend your knees and hold the sword at a 45 degree angle. It looks as though you are left-handed so mirror me.” he told her warmly.

The girl did as she was instructed; bending her knees slightly and holding the sword before her hips. The blade climbing at a forty-five degree angle from her left hand.

“Like this?“ she asked, not exactly sure as to why the swordsman was giving her lessons in the middle of the street like this. The old man examined her form closely while he walked around her. Kurome felt as though she was a piece of meat under the man's gaze.

“Oh, oh, that looks – not bad.” he told her, while he hastily pulled out another wooden sword and struck the blade in her hands. The teens arms trembled but they didn't budge. The old man continued striking the two wooden swords endlessly until he was satisfied.

[Fui]

The length is more than enough though it is a bit too fluffy, there wasn't enough training within. I know training stances is annoying so dont worry but it is nice over all.

+4/5 training points just needed a bit mroe of the training in it.

[Kurome]

The teenager continued to clutch the wooden sword directly in-front of herself, as the elderly man continuously struck the sword with his own wooden weapon. Kurome felt her hands tremble with the force of each strike; occasionally she would stumble backwards and attempt to relock into the stance. It was clear to the girl that whoever this swordsman was he definitely had some skill with a blade, still it was rather annoying of him to just come up and start attacking her like this.

Kurome growled as she drew the sword closer to herself, and struck forwards with a slash towards the man's hips. The old man smirked as he parred the slash with exquisite skill. The teen was sent stumbling backwards once more, she landed upon her rump with a delicate thud in the wet sand.

“He-he, not bad girlie. Now you see the advantage of this stance, yes? It's used for both offence and defence. I have another five stances to teach you – but before that you must come with me to my dojo.” The elderly gent instructed.

“Err – aren't you forgetting something?” she told him enquiringly.

“Nope, I don't believe that I am.” he retorted, watching as the girl returned to her feet.

The black haired girl stumbled forwards with her hand extended once more. “My sword! Return it.” she replied. “Sorry, not yet-” he replied, as he bailed down the wet sandy streets towards the academy.

4/5

[Fui]

learned

[Kurome]

Hikui no Shisei (Lower Level Posture)
Rank: "E"
Skill: Taijutsu
Effect: A stance with a sword held below the waist.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: Hikui no Shisei is the most defensive of the six stances ofGyakusatsu and offers the highest peak of defense, deflecting, and creating striking opprotunities. The user brings his/her sword to point at the opponent's lower body, typically around the knee or thigh area. The hands are held with the dominate hand near the top of the handle and the feet match with the dominate foot in the forefront.
Limit: Gyakusatsu

0/5

The elderly gentleman led the way to a small dojo on the outskirts of Takigakure, it had deep brown flooring closing around the house, and a sandy field practice area. Kurome watched as the old man manoeuvred himself into the practice area despite the ongoing rain. He then drew his sword from it's sheath, and pointed it forwards towards Kurome. He gripped the handle in both hands, and lowered himself closer to the sandy ground keeping the sword at knee height.

“Very good, you have mastered the mid posture stance. Now, I will teach you the low level posture stance. This is a defensive stance meant to create striking opportunities. It is also time I gave you my name; I am, Master Juror, - a teacher of the sword art within the village hidden in the water. And – you will become my student if you ever hope to hold that sword again.” he informed her thusly.

“Say what?! What kinda teacher steals a weapon?” Kurome retorted coldly.

“Now, now, - you can voice your complaints later for now get into the mid level stance.”

Kurome nodded though somewhat reluctantly as she returned to the stance she'd just be taught, much to her own annoyance – and delight of the elderly man.

“Okay, now keeping that posture – bend your knees further and gripping the sword in both hands hold it level with your knee caps.” he instructed.

The teen did as she was told; bending her knees until she was near perpendicular with the mushy sandy arena.. she then clutched the sword with both her hands and held it before her knees, while keeping it pointed towards the swordsman.

“hmm...” again the old man inspected her stance, as though she were a piece of meat. “Slide that left foot forwards slightly – also once you've gotten used to the weight of the blade more. You'll need to be able to maintain this stance one-handed but for now two will do. ”

The girl nodded, and returned to mid level stance before she returned to lower stance – again and again he made her switch between the two stances. She could feel the sweat pouring from her body, - or maybe it was the rain? Even she wasn't certain as to how many hours they practised. All she could tell was that her knee ligaments were killing her by the end of it. 'Did he really have another four more stances to teach her?!' she wondered, as she once more found low level stance. 'Damn, I need a break! Isn't he ever going to let me go get my fix?' she pondered, as she looked towards her belt beneath the roof of the master home.

[Father 'Suke]

get a fix, well I can give you +5 instead of a fix how's that sound?

[Kurome]

Kousou no Shisei (Upper Level Posture)
Rank: "E"
Skill: Taijutsu
Effect: A stance with a sword held above the head.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: JKousou no Shisei is the most aggressive of the six stances ofGyakusatsu and offers the highest peak of offense. The user brings his/her sword above the head held in a double axe-handle position with the dominate hand held near the apex. This stance is used to optimize the user's initial strength and bodyweight for heavier swordstrokes and counters. The feet match the positioning of the hands with the dominate side in the forefront.
Limit: Gyakusatsu

“Well, lets move onto your next stance -” Master Juror declared, with a smirk of accomplishment despite only having taught her the basics. “ - But, before that I think it's high time you told me your name.” He added smugly.

“Oh – err right.” Kurome replied, having nearly leapt out of her skin. She then straightened up her sailor uniform having stashed the wooden sword in her weapon sheath. “My name is Kurome. I'm thirteen years old – and I moved to this village at the age of ten.” she answered, not entirely sure as to why she was summarising her life for this weapons thief.

“Okay, spread your legs shoulder width apart; dominant foot slightly in front of the rest of your body – maybe about a foot?! Then raise your hands above your head gripping the hilt of the sword but be sure to keep the sword level and resting slightly behind the head as to hide the weapon. This is an entirely offensive stance.” he instructed her.

“Wait! Err, wouldn't holding the sword behind you make you open to attacks?” she asked, tilting her head slightly to the right, as to peer around him and watch the weapon.

The elderly master nodded. “Indeed, but that's kinda the point – this stance is to be used only when you are in control of the pace. If not then you should probably be using mid- level stance. But that's enough on that get into stance Kurome.” he told her.

“Alright.” she answered, then she too spread her legs shoulder width apart; left foot forwards but only about three inches. The girl then removed her wooden weapon from it's temporary sheath and gripped the hilt of the blade as instructed. The weapon dangled down from her head resting close to her back. “Woah, this is a weird stance.” she added, and yet something about it felt comfortable. She then swung the blade forwards towards Master Juror in a vertical cleaving strike that was audibly cutting the wind.

The master parried the strike with ease, a wide smile appearing on his lips. “Very good, Kurome. Instinct?” he asked, raising an eyebrow. As Kurome returned to stance.

“Something like that.” she declared evasively.

“Well – whatever. Keep practising that stance and that strike if you want until it feels natural.”

“Yes.” she answered simply, and with that Master Juror departed for the interior of his home. Kurome remaining outside in the rain – she brought that sword overhead how many times? Even, she wasn't certain. But, what she was certain of that if she kept this up she was going to lose her arms. They were already visibly trembling as finally the old man returned.

0/5

[Father 'Suke]

+5; learned