Destiny Doesn't Wait! [Training/Open]

[She of the Mighty Bow-Gun]

No sooner than the words had left her mouth did the familiar silence descend upon the lad and air around them, quiet save for the hum of static that often haunted the mind when left alone with its thoughts. She seemed genuinely sweet, the type of soul Claire strives to save in her day to day life whether it be slaying a demon or saving someone from the clutches of said demon. As most kids did she gave into the lure of the unknown, wanting to answer only to subject the Venator to her own questions. What came as a surprise is the fact she was one from the land of the grass and hills. Claire had only ever heard of such a land, never been in it personally, the idea of rolling green fields and bright flowers making her smile.

A change of scenery would be nice honestly, considering Claire had been in Suna for a number of years, lurking the dunes, seeking out the fiends with a band of Hellfire Venators and a preacher. Her expertise in tracing and concealment kept her at the helm of her class, shadow stalkers, picking up the trails much like a bloodhound would. While all this rolled through her mind she missed the chance to answer the question, though she was given a name at the grace of Ikki not abjure her company. "Ikki ko, that is a lovely name. I am Claire Elise Vandaline, but you may call me Claire if you wish, or any variation of such." What had she said about Grass again? And the land around Suna?

"Suna is mostly hard packed sand, made by the winds and soil eroding away entire rock formation to make the sand you see before you." While they trudged she continued onward "It is believed deserts are created from mountains that have been weathered away into mere grains of sand." While gesturing out she smiled ruefully. "To think we are walking along the corpse of a constructed miracle of the Earth, and then saw its fate changed by its very creator. "I was part of a pack of fellow hunters, doing the good deeds of the kind-hearted and absolving people of the grip of infernals." Should she really delve into extremist religious beliefs? She wasnt an agent of the church, not in any regard, more so a lone walker whom leaned in with the help of fellow hunters to abolish greater evils.

"After a lengthy job here I was left to the ninja academy of Suna and I find it easier to co-exist if you blend in with the people. It was not required but I dont regret the decision." She took a side long glance at the girl and couldnt help but smile. "A curious mind is a powerful think Ikki, if you keep upon a righteous path you could very well find that most doors open for you...whether you have to kick them down or not." A small joke for a demon hunter.

[Ikki Ko]

Much of what she thought about Kaze no Kuni proved to be true, even though she had only given it a half honest thought, which was only slightly disheartening. She was still enjoying exploring some place new that she had never been, taking in sights she had never seen, like the rattlesnake that was off to their left entering a hole under some kind of greasy looking bush. She had read about those snakes, which would shake their tail to let things know they were there, because they were rather dangerous. One day she’d capture one just because it was cool. But it was the tail end of Claire’s words that caught her, made her really start thinking, beyond looking around this place and wondering how everything managed to survive.

”A righteous path huh? I don’t really know much about that…” – Ikki Ko

She trailed off, thinking about how her father had let her loose in the world, although it was not to abandon her; of that she was sure. No, he sent her away to protect her, because what he was doing was too dangerous for he rot participate in. I have to help him, though. He is weaker because he is protecting me. I have to get strong enough to help him! She offered a wide smile up to Claire, showing a line of perfectly white teeth, most of them adult teeth except for one that was missing near the back. When she smiled, she closed her blue eyes, scrunching up her little nose just a tiny bit, and a small dimple would form in either slightly puffy cheek. People had said she was a rather cute girl, with a warm smile and a big heart, and perhaps that was true from this warm display toward someone who had helped her.

“I will definitely do my best though!” – Ikki Ko

She opened her eyes and the smile vanished, turning to look onward, forward toward her destination with a powerful determination that was unlike a child; yet very childlike. Her stride seemed very adult, as did her current attitude, instead of the wonder and amazement that had been in her eyes as she had looked around Kaze no Kuni only a moment before. Suddenly she stumbled forward a few steps, the sound of her foot skidding over the dirt just before, along with a thud of some kind. Ko had tripped over a rock that was in the road, having not seen it, since she was too busy trying to be the most adult she could be. With a giggle, she turned back, her cheeks a little more rosy and stuck out her tongue with a wink.

“Apparently this place really just jumps out at you. Oh! We’re here!” – Ikki Ko

She turned and saw it; they were not far outside of the Hitofuki now, perhaps only a hundred yards. They had finally made it to the capital city, their conversation having taken more time that Ko could have possibly thought it did, never even noticing because she was so engaged in what Claire had to say. She started to trot toward the gates now, her golden hair bouncing wildly behind her, and her own giggles escaping her lips to fill the air. It was her first mission and she had been successful! She would get the reward money and begin her new life doing this, using this very moment as proof that she could accomplish these things, and that she could one day grow enough to be of help to her father. Turning to run backwards, she waved at Claire happily, a big smile on her face.

“Thanks for the help, Unnie! Oh! I don’t have a Grandpa that I know of! Sorry I tricked you!” – Ikki Ko

She bumped into the back of a man with her back, a guy who was walking behind a wagon. Spinning around, she bowed in apology, dodged a swipe of his hand, and jogged into the city.

[She of the Mighty Bow-Gun]

On and on they walked as Claire simply prattled, laughing even sometimes while they spoke. It seemed this child was burdened with something far greater than she was equipped to deal with. To fight a war or battle that was not her own. But she didnt complain, no, quite the opposite in fact. She was willing to shoulder all of that for someone, something and as long as it kept her happy, thats all that mattered. The town loomed up quickly and Claire began to slow down, watching the bouncing curls of the golden haired girl who had been forced to give up her innocence to kill. She was going to be special, different, a destiny that she was to share alone.

When she exclaimed they were finally there Claire came to a top by the gates, arms folded, a sad but enlightened smile on her face. Ikki ran forward still, distracted by her conversation. "I should have known better! Take care Ikki!"She twirled and disappeared into the city and so did Claire, back into the woods, pulling her hood up. One day their paths might cross again, something sweet to pull this memory of the day back. When a little girl who was burdened with a black blade, and an even darker destiny, overcame adversity and clung tight to something that made her feel alive. The thought brought a tear to her eye as she stalked the dunes and shadows back to the heart of Suna. This is what she fought for.

{Exit]

[Ikki Ko]

Move into Hitofuki please (I don't know what this Marquee shit is when I post this)

[Father 'Suke]

Moved to Hitofuki

[Ikki Ko]

Ikki Ko was on her way to completing her first mission, almost there, and she was feeling ecstatic. The sun was beating down on the land, relentless in its heat, brutal in its delivery. Yet, she was smiling, laughing in the sunlight, and skipping through town as giddy as anyone her age ever was. Even the people seemed to get brighter because of it, smiling a little more under the beating sun as they went about their day, laughing a bit as they saw how happy and carefree she was. As a cart rolled by, pulled by a team of sturdy sand brown horses, she hopped on the back and let her feet dangle over the back end. Some kind of liquid sloshed around inside of jars with a red cover, the jars themselves a dark mud brown, and she could only wonder at the contents.

Ko was fortunate, as it seemed the driver was definitely heading the right direction, toward the complete opposite side of town, where she was to find this Swordsman who wanted the weapon. She looked at the weapon wrapped in the package cloth, wondering what kind of weapon it was exactly, that it was fit for a Swordsman so far out of the way. It was a very well balanced sword, which she could tell from just holding it like she was now, by the hilt, although the whole thing was covered in cloth. Nameless had a heavy blade, unbalanced, and made for heaving strikes and killing blows; not for extended duels. The wagon stopped rolling in front of the local blacksmith shop on the far side of town, close to where she wanted to be, and so she hopped off and kept moving up the path.

Soon she stood in front of what seemed to be a dojo of some sort, although a little run down, and it was the place she was told to find the man. Just like she had seen done in anime, she pushed open the gate and barged her way in, closing it behind her and then standing on the cobblestone path. A knife promptly bounced off her flesh, doing no damage, but striking her in the neck and startling her. A man stood before her, beard and mustache connected, his brown eyes narrowed at her through a mop of brown hair. His gi was grey and dirty here and there, even his almost black blue pants were dirty, his feet bare of slippers or socks. Was he drunk? The way he swayed would suggest it, along with the bottle of liquor he held in his hand that spilt on the broken cobble stones. The plants that used to line the walls were either overgrowing or dying, depending on where the water was bunched up at along the walls, due to ponds no longer being tended as they should be.

“Whadaya wansh! Cansh ya sheee I’m busssshy?” – Swordsman

He cocked his head to the side looking at her, then took another swig from his bottle, wiping his mouth with his sleeve. Ko wasn’t exactly sure what to do, so she simply held out the blade, unwrapping it so that he could see it; and so that she could see it too. The hilt and pommel seemed plain enough, nothing truly special about them, colored grey and almost black blue like the man’s outfit. The sheath was grey with lily pads painted on it, as if in an ocean storm, where the waters become grey because of the clouds up above. The swordsman took on a different attitude then, even so much as sobering a little and losing the slur to his words.

“Is that for me? I was wondering when that would get here! Come, give Genkijo Kenijiro the sword he’s been waiting for.” – Genkijo Kenijiro, the Drunk

Ko looked at the man skeptically, then finally moved forward after a time, handing him the blade. He was the guy she was looking for, but…he hardly seemed like a sword master of Bosusen. As she handed the blade over, she received a wad of cash in return, the amount promised by the mission. Apparently he was the Blacksmith Guild representative as well, which was hardly a fitting face for such an industry, but what was she going to do about it? A thought did occur to her. This man was a swordmaster, that meant he could teach her the blade, assuming he was ever sober. She would have to sober him up in order to get what she wanted, from the looks of it, because he was really hitting the bottle hard. With a sigh, she looked up at him, since he was quite a bit taller than she was.

“I’d like Bosusen training please!” – Ikki Ko

Genkijo Kenijiro promptly snatched the cash out of her hand and began counting, a grin on his face, the looked down at her with upturned brows.

“Yep. Seems like the full amount is here. We can begin tomorrow!” – Genkijo Kenijiro

This was going to be an ordeal. Was she really making the right decision...

[0 Cash for mission. Mission complete!]

[Ikki Ko]

[This is no longer a Travel/Mission thread. It has now evolved into a Training Thread. A new thread will be created for Travel/Mission.

[Ikki Ko]

Bēizi Quán
Rank: "E"
Skill: TaiJutsu
Effect: Basic stance where user stumbles around while mimicking they are holding a cup.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: This puts the character’s hand in a good position for blocking and striking, keeping the hands and arms of the user ready for a wide variety of techniques, and makes the shoulders ready for explosive movements. The wrist is in a position where it can easily strike or block, and the fingers are curled in with the index finger hooked out, which helps in trapping an opponent's arms while blocking. The arms can be used for short or long range techniques, as well as the elbows, combined with various feints and strikes.
Limit: Must learn from a Zui Ba Xian Quan Master, or be a Natural Drunkard Boxer. Must know Bēizi Quán.

“Ko? Ko! Where the hell are ya! The temple is a mess!” – Genkijo Kenijiro

Ikki Ko’s blonde hair was matted to her face and plastered to her head, dripping some liquid that she found pleasant to the smell, but horrible to taste. She was laying down on a the stone floor of the cellar when she heard her Sensei calling her, so she attempted to stand and rush to him, only to find that the world was spinning like it was on a top. Involuntarily she stumbled to the side, crashing into a shelf and catching the two cups before they fell somehow, even though she saw six of them and six of her own hands and arms as well. The sight made her sick and she had to look away. Her Sensei stormed into the cellar then, presumably it was the first place he looked, not for Ko however, but for the contents she had fallen into. A broken pot, red at the top and black at the bottom, lay in pieces on the floor when he rounded the corner to find the wabbling Ko.

“Wha? WHAT?! MY SAKE! Why you little-!” – Genkijo Kenijiro

[Begin Training]

Ko held up the cups as if they were some kind of shield that could save her, squaring herself up as best she could, although swaying like she was she felt like she was on a ship. Lost in that thought, she didn’t even hear when the cups had hit the ground, shattering the only way porcelain can, and sending shards all over while doubling her Sensei’s anger. He swung at her and she moved to dodge backward, but the state she was in didn’t allow her to move her leg, and so she only leaned backward rather far. Nearly seventy degrees, she found that she had stopped her Sensei’s blow with her forearm, her thumb and index still in the same position as if they were holding cups. Her shoulders were a bit loose, but prepared for explosive movement, and her swaying made her a more difficult target. One foot in front of the other, classic fighter stance, and she looked like a true drunken fighter; if only by accident.

Kenijiro rose his eyebrow at this, a bit of his rage subsiding, and it was being replaced with curiosity. He swung again, this time with his left instead of his right, and Ko blocked with her right forearm. Her hands still held the imaginary cups, too afraid to let them go for fear she’d lose whatever it was her body was doing. A straight punch from Kenijiro toward her chest, but she twisted her body in a strange and flexible manner, gripping his arm in her cup-like grip. She struck his face twice with her free cup hand, her right, before his hand caught her arm. He tried the throw her over his shoulder, but her body went slack, and he could not lift her. Suddenly, during his surprise, she went ridged again and then kicked the back of his leg out from under him, shoving him with her shoulder so that he stumbled into the wall. That’s precisely when he knew.

[End Training]

“You’re drunk. But you got most of it on your clothes, from the look of it, so there’s only one possible way. Where did you learn that stance?” – Genjiro Kenijiro

“Whash? I un ephen know whash yer talkin’ abut. I ain’t drungk.” – Ikki Ko

Promptly after slurring her response, she tried to walk passed him, succeeding only in walking sideways more than forward. Soon after, she was lying face down on the ground, drooling away her drunkenness in a deep slumber, to which she was even snoring. That was definitely a first. Genjiro Kenijiro simply shook his head and laughed a bit to himself, picking up a remnant of his broken gourd of sake, and finding that there was enough in the shard for a drink. So he did and he left Ko to sleep there on the ground, too lazy to pick her up and take her to bed.

[Nekomata Minh]

+5 Learned.

That was really good

[Ikki Ko]

Dokuritsu-Ho
Rank: "E"
Skill: TaiJutsu
Effect: User holds their knee close to their chest while 1 hand is above their head and the other is next to their knee.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: This stance has the user holding their knee close to their chest while one hand is above the head and the other is next to their knee. This stance has 0 movement, as in the user cannot move while in this position. Also the move set within this stance is limited.
Limit: Must learn from a Zui Ba Xian Quan Master, or be a Natural Drunkard Boxer.

Cold water sent her into a fit of shivers, her hair morphing from the tangled mess that sleep makes of it, to a matted tangled mess that only liquid could facilitate. Coughing and sputtering, Ko rolled over in the puddle of water, glaring up at her Sensei, Genkijo Kenijiro. Of course, he was grinning down at her, as it was his sole purpose in life to torture her, as well as force her to do every single chore around the temple…and cook all the meals too. Just as she was about to give him the finger, a gesture she learned from him a few months back in the market of Hitofuki, he turned and looked at his remaining storage of sake. He had a lot left, probably too much for one man.

“Alright, you little drunkard-“ – Genkijo Kenijiro

“It was one time…by accident…” – Ikki Ko

“I’m gonna teach you the rest of the stances, so you don’t get your plastered face beat in-“ – Genkijo Kenijiro

“Seriously…” – Ikki Ko

“- while your mind is lying at the bottom of a sake bottle and your life is pissed away! Now shut up and quit interrupting me!” – Genkijo Kenijiro

Ikki Ko gave a huff and rolled her eyes, crossing her arms and pouting just a little, which was honestly very cute. However, Kenijiro had no time for cute if this girl was going to be trained properly, so he overlooked it, moving passed her to one of his sake gourds. Dipping one of the surviving cups into the sake, he gazed at it longingly, a profound alcoholic himself, but resisted for the sake of training. Instead, he made his way toward the cellar exit and headed back outside to the square near the entrance, the place where most people would conduct training when they weren’t in the storeroom getting drunk off someone else’s sake. Once they were in the very center, or pretty close, Kenijiro turned to Ikki Ko and handed her the cup, which she took and eyeballed him with her crimson eyes.

“Don’t look at me like some lost puppy. Drink this and I’ll teach you the rest of the stances. Maybe a few moves to go with ‘em. Y’er a Natural, so it shouldn’t be too tough.” – Genkijo Kenijiro

[Begin Training]

Ikki Ko downed the sake in one gulp, making a pained face with her eyes closed, mouth scrunched up as if she just ate something extremely sour. She handed her Sensei the cup back, carefully, to make sure it didn’t break and he tossed it over his shoulder, shattering it behind him. Ikki Ko giggled a bit and then swayed, stumbling a few steps before catching herself, already inebriated. Kenijiro walked over and produced a stick from what seemed like thin air, tapping it on his shoulder. Ko recognized his favorite teaching implement instantly, her hands going up above her head to stop the blow, but it wasn’t her head that had been in danger. Kenijiro whacked her right in the shin, just below the knee.

Her left hand shot down at the pain in her left knee and shin, lifting it up to her chest and clutching it to her body, breathing through her teeth. She could already tell she looked silly, standing on one leg with an arm above her head, her other holding her knee to her body, swaying like a drunk still. Kenijiro simply told her that she better not move from that position or she’d get hit again, especially since she’d fall over if she tried, and that she knew for a fact herself. After a few moments, she was allowed to put her leg back down, but he was not done with the lesson.

“That is known as Dokuritsu-Ho. It’s not a very important stance on its own, due to its lack of mobility, but it will be useful. The style that you seem to intrinsically know is called Zui Ba Xian Quan. It relies solely on getting drunk in order to perform the techniques, because you feel no pain, or rather less pain, and are more flexible. Don’t forget that. You gotta be drunk to do this stuff and you’re not even close to old enough to get drunk on your own, but I’ll teach you the basics anyway.” – Genkijo Kenijiro

The ‘Teaching Stick’, as Kenijiro liked to call it, whipped out again lightning fast, striking the opposite shin just below the knee again. Both hands held it to her body on one foot this time, but Kenijiro slapped her left arm elbow, and she shot that arm above her head. He waited there for a good five minutes it seemed, watching her as she sweat, keeping her balance until it was natural to do so, before nodding when he was positive the next time she did it she wouldn’t just topple over. Ko, rubbing her shins and elbow, glared daggers at her Sensei, but he just smiled and walked away back down into the storeroom.

[End Training]

“Don’t move from there. I’m just getting myself a drink. There’s still a few more things I gotta show you.” – Genkijo Kenijiro

This is gonna hurt, she thought, standing up straight and waiting for the alcoholic to return.

[Deleted]

+5; Learned.

[Ikki Ko]

Teppo-Gyoinshu
Rank: "E"
Skill: TaiJutsu
Effect: A movement while in Dokuritsu-Ho.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: The user bends their upper body back as they take a drink with their right arm. The user then hops on their leg backwards while continuing to take a drink. Best used when trying to avoid sweeping strikes and trying to put some distance between the user and the opponent.
Limit: Must learn from a Zui Ba Xian Quan Master, or be a Natural Drunkard Boxer. Must know Dokuritsu-Ho.

[0/5]

Genkijo Kenijiro returned within a few minutes, a jug of something probably alcoholic in his hands, along with a grin on his face. He still carried the Teaching Stick, which he tapped against one of his broad shoulders, a solid single beat metronome. Once he got within striking range for the Teaching Stick, he dipped his fingers in the alcohol, and then flicked it on Ko’s face. The liquid dripped onto her lips as she gasped, touching her tongue and instantly re-inebriated her.

“Now that I’m sure you’re good and drunk, let’s get on with this. Don’t get hit in the legs.” – Genkijo Kenijiro

[Begin Training]

Ko looked at him puzzled, tilting her head over to her left in order to convey this, but it was like it weighed much more than it should and she nearly fell over. Stumbling to the left, the Teaching stick struck her hard in the shin, the crack an emphasis on the pain. Grabbing her leg, she went back into Dokuritsu-Ho, once again by instinct and not on purpose. While nursing her leg with one hand, the other limbs in the position for the stance, Genkijo Kenijiro made his move once again.

This time he struck for the leg she was using for balance, swinging hard and fast toward her shin, obviously aiming to put her on her behind. Ko didn’t even think about it, instead she merely jumped up and her body bent as if she were trying to take a drink, trying to put space between her and her master. He advanced on her, swinging for her shin over and over, as if he was a man on a mission. Again and again she jumped backward, leaping over the Teaching Stick and putting distance between them, in hopes of avoiding more pain. Just what the hell…!

Now she found herself hopping sideways, her back against the wall, while the Teaching Stick twacked against the stone. Her leg was already getting tired, but she didn’t dare drop whatever it was that she was doing, because it seemed to be keeping her from getting struck by that mighty blow. Finally he had her cornered, however, and there was no where she could run. Looked like it was lights out for her shin, so she said a little prayer to Budda to watch over her leg in the afterlife, and prepared for the worst. But just as Kenijiro was about to swing, he stopped, placing the stick on the ground while she swayed.

[End Training]

“Good. This is called Teppo-Gyoinshu, a way to move while in Dokuritsu-Ho, perfect for escaping sweeps and continuing to get drunk so you can fight. Don’t forget it or I’ll make sure your shins remember the lesson.” – Genkijo Kenijiro

He tapped the stick on the floor twice for emphasis, just so she would get the point, breaking a few of the stones; which meant that Ko would have to fix them…

[Father 'Suke]

+5; learned

[Ikki Ko]

”So today is the day, is it? Kind of sad to see you go, Ko, you’ve been a big help around here.”

Genkijo Kenijiro stood at the door of his temple, his facial hair kept need and trimmed under the guidance of Ko, along with his brown hair which was no longer a mop, but in a more respectable pony tail fit for a samurai. Two Years before his clothes and his manner had been filthy, hiding a powerful and warm swordsman beneath, but now he was clean and ready to start his life again thanks to her. The school he ran had even received some students now that it didn’t look abandoned, thanks to her efforts to repair the dojo temple.

“Yes, Kenijiro-sensei, because I have to find those that are like me. I know they’re out there.”

Ikki Ko smiled at Genkijo Kenijiro, a pretty smile from a pretty young girl, as the wind caught her corn yellow hair and fanned it off to her right. There was sadness in her eyes because she cared about Kenijiro and did not want to leave, along with happiness at what she had accomplished, but her resolve was too powerful to let her stay. Fussing over her blue T-shirt and then dusting off her jeans, she tapped her sneakers on the cobblestone road that ran just outside of the Temple Dojo. Quiver of arrows and two flagon, on containing the extract of stiltrassa, on her right hip, blade on her left, with her bow and backpack full of all her belongings, she was prepared to head out on the road again. Crimson eyes looked upon the temple once more, as those within looked upon the girl with sadness in their eyes. It was a tough goodbye.

“I’ll be back once I learn of my origins, Kenijiro-sensei. Don’t ruin the place while I’m gone, okay? It was tough to fix everything the first time.”

He smiled from behind his beard and patted her on the shoulder, then pulled her in for a hug, which was short lived because he wasn’t used to showing affection in the least. He had taken care of her for a long time, or rather, she had taken care of him. This was the hardest thing either of them had ever done, but he would not let her leave empty-handed, even though he didn’t have much to give.

“I’ll tell you some information I got while down near the pub the other day. No, I didn’t get a drink, so don’t look at me like that. Someone says they heard of a place in Tsuchi no Kuni where Airontoku either live or used to live. You may want to go check it out.”

Her frown at him was only playful and she smiled, thanking him for the information before turning from him and walking down the road. It was slow at first, the urge to turn around and stay so strong that it felt as if the temple were pulling her back, but she began to pick up speed a little and it wasn’t long before she was passed the walls and into Hitofuki proper. It was good that she had gotten away too, she didn’t want Kenijiro to see her tears, just as she knew the man didn’t want her to see his. They were too manly for that or something like that. It was only ten in the morning, which meant that she would make good time though the desert. But first, she’d stop for a bit to eat, and then it was on her way to a new land and a new adventure.

[Exit]