action | open to Kojuro, Sasuke, Zero and other spectators (if any)

[nopast]

[ It’s nearing sundown. Ceci is standing in front of her farmhouse, her hair even redder under the light of the late afternoon sun. Her battle outfit of choice is a sports bra and a pair of stretchy yoga pants — because why not? She needs to be able to move freely and quickly, given that she’s not the strongest of fighters.

More interesting, though, is the patchwork of tattoos on her back, which run from one shoulder blade to another. They’re healing and protection runes, and they allow her to cast a variety of defensive spells, although she has no intention of using them in the upcoming sparring match.

She’s done absolutely no work on her farm since her arrival (other than to celebrate her acquisition of it through a night of drinking) so it’s all weeds and overgrown vines and rocks, except for a small clearing by the front of the farmhouse. But, eh, she’s warned her new samurai friend, so he shouldn’t be too surprised. Even with the monsters that come out at night around these parts. ]

Comments

i died at 'true CLAMP-style' lmao (HER PRETTINESS IS THANKS TO THE POWER OF CLAMP)

[nopast]

[ She hums thoughtfully at his comment about monsters and untidiness. Her farm's been untouched primarily because she knows nothing about farming; it's not expected of her as Cecilia, and, well, before assuming that identity, fighting and killing had been all she's really known. ]

You know, that's an idea. Fermina Fighting Farm — has a nice ring to it, eh?

Thank you for your generosity, Katakura-san. May this be the start of a good friendship!

[ She's cheerful, clearly, but it becomes more pronounced when he drops into a fighting stance; she could feel his eagerness for a good fight, and it's simply contagious. She takes on a loose karate fighting stance, bouncing lightly, and grins. ]

Ladies first, yes?

[ Then she lunges at him. Watch out, Kojuro, this one's a kicker. ]

IF SHE'S GOT THE CLAMP POWER SHE MIGHT AS WELL USE IT...

[righteyed]

And here I was thinking about clearing a space for training on my farm, but I can--

[SO MUCH FOR THAT THOUGH. Can't chat, gotta brace himself instead. He's intent on taking this first hit still, so he doesn't move so much as duck down, arms closer to his chest and shoulders around his ears to protect his head. Even if his legs are his weakest spot, they're still braced, locked into a bend so that she can't stagger him.

Or so he hopes. Look, I can't write fights but here we are, this is what Kojuro is doing and that's the tea on that.]

Don't hold back on me, now! [Come on Ceci, give him a benchmark to remember! Ignore the terrifying look on his face okay it's nothin'.]

[nopast]

[ Ceci's fighting style when it comes to first-time opponents is relatively simple: she goes first. It's not just because of her impulsiveness; she also knows that she's usually not as strong as the men she chooses to fight against. Even if she has nice, strong legs, and just as nice and powerful kicks. CLAMP POWER

She aims for a kick at Kojuro's head. Because why not? Element of surprise!

Then she'll go for his legs next, and then his side, still with those kicks. Because I can't write fights she doesn't want to give him an opening; he's clearly strong, and it might only take a few well-placed hits for him to defeat her. ]

I don't hold back!

[ Not even against her husband. ]

[righteyed]

[Okay, that's definitely an above-the-belt blow so it's all fair, isn't it? ...And that means, despite Kojuro managing to get an arm in between his skull and Ceci's leg, that he's still staggered a little. His reflexes are pretty hot shit, but it's still a powerful kick to the head.

His legs are still solid, though, and he moves to snatch her ankle when she goes to kick his side in because that's a little too close to painful for his liking. Even if he doesn't manage a solid hold, he's going to whip his arm into himself, either to snare or twist her leg; anything to stall her for a second, really. He can't make to swing her around by the fuckin' ankle if she's not still for at least a nanosecond.

(If anyone observing or the CLAMP beauty herself manages to get close enough and think on it enough, they might notice a little static electricity in the air. Nothing major, just enough to make a few strands of Kojuro's hair come loose and make the little hairs on one's arms stand on end, y'know?)]

[nopast]

[ Well. She didn't expect him to be fast. Strong, maybe, but not this fast. Is it a samurai thing? She's never met one before, only knew of them by reputation. In any case, he's got her ankle now, and it occurs to her in that split-second that she's going to be in so much trouble if she doesn't roll with it.

Which she does, quite literally: when he twists her leg, she uses that momentum to go for a spin, hoping that it would make him release her. It's not something she's exceptionally good at, but she's had some practice; after all, with long, CLAMP legs like that, she's almost always prone to being grabbed, you know?

Even if he does let her go, though, she'll need a few seconds to get her bearings. If she's lucky, he'll take some time to say something quotable, and she can aim for a low, sweeping kick. If not — if he lets go and she crashes, or he manages to keep his hold on her — well, she's been on the receiving end of more painful blows. Nothing her healing rune can't fix later on. ]

[righteyed]

[He's from Sengoku Basara, Ceci. This is the series where opposing generals yell across the battlefield at each other mid-fight to have a casual conversation! ...And, uh. The...The quotable thing is more his lord's style than his. He just rampages when he gets bad enough.

But this is a spar, so he lets go when she spins, knows that risking breaks is against the name of the game; that does not, however, keep him from taking up that gap she's looking for to charge after her with his head down lo--

Kojuro is going for a headbutt. That took all of five seconds, didn't it. Apparently Ceci's good enough to get him throwing in that gangster-style move so quickly already, though it might also be just to test her boundaries in turn. At least he's not going to grapple too much at the end of said charge; that's another samurai's style, not his.]

[nopast]

[ Ceci's got no time to laugh, but she's actually quite amused when she realizes that he's going for a headbutt. It's just so... not what she expected from him. And she appreciates the fact that he's not taking it easy on her just because she's a girl. Sure, some days she's all for flaunting and using her femininity to her advantage, but in a spar with people watching? Hell no. She wants a good fight, even if it means getting a little roughed up.

Besides, it's not like she isn't used to headbutts and gangster-style fighting. Her friends and sparring partners back home? All men — military, but legit thugs on the battlefield. Heck, even her own husband, who's as competitive as hell, refuses to ever go easy on her. (She's kicked him on the head several times.)

She staggers from the blow; it's strong, but she's pretty resilient. She's had to be, to be able to survive her own mother's crazy assassin-rearing program. She resists the urge to kick him in the shins in retaliation, because she's nice like that.

Still, she pretends to be more dazed than she really is. ]

[righteyed]

[Hey, he's not good with talking to girls. Fighting girls is the same as fighting boys, though. ...Right? Right. He knows full well that underestimation is the way to a quick death, must treat all risks as a matter of priority-- shit that got serious, never mind. The point is that he holds back as much as he would hold back on anyone he's trying not to kill or seriously injure, and that's all.

He's also aware that he's put himself into a vulnerable position by baring his back in this manner. Normally it's protected in turn, but not so much today obviously, which is why he doesn't stop.

Besides. If it was enough to make Ceci stop the fight, if she was really dazed or hurt, then she would have told him to stop instead of tottering on the spot. That's why Kojuro feels perfectly justified in his decision to follow through after his charge with an attempted grab. Right arm hooking backwards around her neck, the left taking the brunt of her weight (WHAT WEIGHT AM I RIGHT) by trying to literally scoop her off her feet. You got time to play with him, you got time to dodge, Missy!]

No petty tricks, either! You stop, you tell me to stop! [Still no suplexing, but maaaybe he's going to go for a drop all the same. Just...a front one. It's better than a kick with his treetrunk thighs okay. Why you think those hakama are so puffy.]

[nopast]

[ Oh hey grappling time! Ceci manages to maneuver enough so Kojuro ends up behind her, grabbing the inside of his right arm with both hands so he doesn't cut off her air. She knows she's light enough to be swept off her feet, but still she takes the time to grin like the total flirt that she is, even if he can't actually see her. She grins because she feels deserves it, since he's been a total darling so far — treating her as an equal, among other things.

At his words, her grin turns into a laugh; she hasn't fooled him, huh? Oh, he's good. He's really good. ]

My, Katakura-san... this is an interesting position to be in. I don't think I want to stop.

[ All that said in a super coy fashion. It's not even her trying to use her femininity to wiggle out of tight situations (although that would've been literal in this case). This is just how she is; playful, fun, one of the coolest mom!friends you can ever have. ]

[righteyed]

[See now, Ceci...

That was not a petty trick, but it jolts Kojuro all the same. Purely because he takes it as an implication that his hold is improper, which means that he almost immediately drops her and backs away, hands up and face turning red.

(To be fair, he would've done that even if she'd been a dude. DON'T FLIRT WHILE FIGHTING HIM THIS IS MEANT TO BE HONEST NOT SEXY EVEN IF HE HAS HIS HAORI OFF AND HE'S PROBABLY SWEATING A LIL WHO KNOWS.)]

My--

My apologies, Duchess Fermina! I did not mean to act-- [Oh god he's really gone full bust hasn't he. Kojuro is Broken. Which is probably good timing because hey, weren't there bushes rustling behind their audience anyway? But still, way to go Kojuro, just sit in your mental shame corner for a second because you are a ridiculous man.]

[nopast]

[ Ceci actually feels bad... for a while. But when it all sinks in, she just bursts out laughing. ]

Oh gods, I... I'm s-sorry! I didn't mean it to be a trick or anything — but gods you are adorable!

[ Probably not the adjective you'd expect to be used on a badass samurai, but hey.

She holds up her hands in a gesture of surrender. ] Okay, you win this round. Even if that was unintentional, I really shouldn't have done that. [ She grins sheepishly. ] I guess I'm just so used to the banter with the guys back home—

[ A thought occurs to her, and her smile becomes teasing. ] But why would a big, strong man like you be so embarrassed? Are you not a married man, Katakura-san?

... Girlfriend?

... ... Crush?

[righteyed]

No! No, I surrendered first; it was your win! I...Your win. Your win, my lady.

[His hands move faster at Ceci's continued teasing, because his face can't get any redder that's for damn sure. He can't look her in the eye! HE CAN'T LOOK HER IN THE EYE HHHHHHHHHH]

I am just--

That is--

I am not very good at talking to women, and I feel as that speaks for itself with regards to my status. Anyway, your win, I surrendered first, and I will prove more formidable opponent next time. I-- You're very talented. Very talented. [SO HEY the ground's very interesting right now. Don't look at him this is normal he's fine everything's ok, just a fight right? ha ha ha ha ha]