Kazumi sent Yurei a message a few hours earlier saying they were going to the dojo to work out and asked if she wanted to join Kazumi for a bit of a tumble.

Kazumi walked into the dojo wearing form fitting leggings and a loose tank top, they found an unoccupied room and messaged Yurei the number and Kazumi began stretching to warm up

Soshi Kazumi wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 20, 2022 9:47 am

Snip

Yūrei arrives about 15 minutes later wearing sweat pants and a ragged t-shirt with '47 Ronin, 47 Problems' across the front. She greets Kazumi with a tired head bow and wave before starting to limber up herself, reaching down to grasp her toes.

Up close it's clear she's having quite a day.

"Hey Kazumi-sama, thanks for setting this up. I need to try and just...I dunno, clear my head?"
She groans quietly, flipping to know bend back over her spine.
"Or maybe go sit in a basement somewhere and eat ice-cream until things make sense again. You ever have days like that?"

Kazumi kicked up into a standing position when she walked in smiling warmly to his friend, well as far as she could tell based on their eyes, before faint shadows of concern clouded Kazumi's expression but a positive expression covered over it

"Hey I think we all have those days sometimes Yurei-chan. Feel free to work out any emotions on me you need." Kazumi said with a small chuckle before lumbering up their shoulders

"Is it anything you want to chat about?" They asked with one eyebrow raised.

Soshi Kazumi wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 20, 2022 7:02 pm

Snip

There's a half stutter in her step at the question, her mind flashing back to the grove, that horrible empty feeling.

"I...need to clear my head first. Then once it's straight maybe I can let a few things out, so I don't burst."

She takes a deep breath and shakes her head vigorously before padding onto the mats and taking up a stance opposite Kazumi.

"You ready to kick my ass?"
In all their sparring Yūrei has displayed a certain lack of killer instinct that tends to work against her.

Kazumi nodded their expression one of understanding. They didn't know exactly what was going on but could see the seriousness of it "Well I'm always here if you need it." They said sincerely before dropping into a stance and bouncing on the balls of their feet

"Not fair for you to bring up your ass to distract me." They said back with a teasing tone using the joke to attempt to disperse some tension

"not like you need the advantage." Kazumi said with a chuckle. In all their spars Kazumi showed a lack of skill that usually worked against them.

Soshi Kazumi wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 20, 2022 11:47 pm

Snip

Yūrei snorts despite herself, thankful for some levity.
"Maybe I'm just playing to win? After all, every part of a samurai is a weapon."

She steps forward and throws a series of jabs and kicks at Kazumi, maybe a little slower than she would normally.

With a grunt.
"I might have spent too long out of the dojo."

Dodging and blocking were some of the things Kazumi was pretty good at slipping the jabs they spoke calmly "just need to focus."

"Focus on me, here right now. The world outside these four walls doesn't exist." Kazumi countered with some jabs light punches aimed at her center mass "right now its just you and me and the dance."

Soshi Kazumi wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 21, 2022 1:15 am

Dodging and blocking were some of the things Kazumi was pretty good at slipping the jabs they spoke calmly "just need to focus."

"Focus on me, here right now. The world outside these four walls doesn't exist." Kazumi countered with some jabs light punches aimed at her center mass "right now its just you and me and the dance."

She nods, eyes narrowing as she does her best to push everything else away. Shoving that churning mass of confusion and hurt and worry out of the room.

Yūrei dodges most of Kazumi's strikes, takes a jab to her side, shrugs it off and continues advancing, picking up the pace slightly, her tiredness dropping away. Stepping in close now she throws an elbow up before trying to grab Kazumi's right arm for a grapple.

Kazumi knows that a true distraction need to be difficult of Yurei can auto pilot through then it won't be a good work out or distraction. So Kazumi gives it their all ducking and weaving fighting Kazumi was like fighting the air only a blow or two landed.

Then as Yurei blocked a strike she trapped Kazumi's arm going into a grapple. Kazumi wouldn't be able to much stop her but, as Yurei knew, Kazumi's slender body was rather flexible and they may have looked delicate but there was thin whip cord muscles under the surface. Kazumi might not be strong but they were slippery in the clinch.

Soshi Kazumi wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 21, 2022 1:25 am

Snip

The Scorpion certainly is slippery, even as Yūrei plants herself and tries to get some leverage Kazumi twists this way and that. Acting on insight she decides to take the fight to the floor where she might be able to to get an advantage.

Panting and trying to take the Scorpion's legs out with a sweeping kick

"I'll-I'll get you yet."

Kazumi sees the kick coming and knows they can't dodge instead grabbing Yurei's arm just before the kick connects and falling forward using the momentum to try and make her fall with them

no matter who ended up where Kazumi would talk through a few panting breaths "but didn't you know? You already got me." Before resetting back to a starting position.

Soshi Kazumi wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 21, 2022 1:39 am

Snip

The two fall in a heap with no clear advantage, before Yūrei taps and rolls off slightly to get her breath back.
"Yeah, I guess I do."
She smiles over at Kazumi before a hint of concern worms its way into her mind and she jumps up back into her starting position, brushing some hair out of her face.

"Would you like to lead this time?"
She beckons the Scorpion forward with one hand.

Kazumi notices but doesn't dig further rolling to a standing position and bowing "Of course my lady." They say with a grin and drop back into their stance.

Instead of striking immediately kazumi circled her slowly, sharp eyes flitted over her observing her and looking for the best place to strike.

Suddenly Kazumi closed the distance in a flash throwing quick but light blows at her mid section and slower more easily blocked one's to her face

Soshi Kazumi wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 21, 2022 2:52 am

Snip

Yūrei she follows Kazumi, slowly rotating to keep the Scorpion in view before they pounce. She's able to block the blows at her face but takes a couple of jabs to the gut. In returns she tries to knee the Scorpion in the chest once they get close before trying to stay in close with Kazumi with her own series of quick strikes.

Her face is a mask of concentration as she goes, focusing solely on the spar.

Yurei is certainly more skilled then Kazumi and the Scorpion is doing all they can to keep blows away taking a few hits to torso grimacing slightly at the impacts but nothing that made them call a stop.

Kazumi had no real hope at overcoming Yurei in a pure stand up fight so they embraced their Scorpioness and set a trap. After deflecting the last of a series of blows Kazumi retaliated throwing blows in and slowly dropped their guard on the right side as they threw a few too many from that side and it made a rather attractive opening.

Soshi Kazumi wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 21, 2022 4:21 am

Yurei is certainly more skilled then Kazumi and the Scorpion is doing all they can to keep blows away taking a few hits to torso grimacing slightly at the impacts but nothing that made them call a stop.

Kazumi had no real hope at overcoming Yurei in a pure stand up fight so they embraced their Scorpioness and set a trap. After deflecting the last of a series of blows Kazumi retaliated throwing blows in and slowly dropped their guard on the right side as they threw a few too many from that side and it made a rather attractive opening.

Lost in her focus Yūrei sees the opening but not the trap and charges in, aiming for what she assumes is Kazumi's weak side!

Yūrei wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 21, 2022 4:30 am

Lost in her focus Yūrei sees the opening but not the trap and charges in, aiming for what she assumes is Kazumi's weak side!

Kazumi smirked as she played right into their trap. Prepared this time Kazumi trapped the arm and trips. The pair roll with Kazumi landing on top their mask fell away during the scuffle so Yurei can see the smirk on Kazumi's full lips as they look down at her. Breath coming quickly from the exertion.

"Focus is good Yurei-chan but you still have to think." They tapped her forehead "you're faster than me, more skilled than me and I'd wager stronger. But you let me trick you."

Soshi Kazumi wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 21, 2022 9:23 pm

Snip

Yūrei struggles angrily for a few moments before sighing and flopping her head back against the mat.
"Ugggh, well I am pretty sure I'm an idiot."
She sighs and takes a breath before grinning slightly up at them
"Nice trick on your end, sneaky scorpion."

Kazumi leaned down and kissed Yurei's forehead softly "Stop that you're not an idiot." the chiding in their tone was light and the smile soft when Kazumi pulled back. Close as they were there was a moment of tension where Kazumi wanted to fully kiss Yurei, possibly more but they reined in those baser instincts and pulled back further to allow her up.

"You're just too focused, trying to just act and not think which is good sometimes but it can be bad like just now. Keep your mind focused but aware, its a fine balance." They said smiling "Would you like to go again?"

Soshi Kazumi wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 22, 2022 7:36 am

Kazumi leaned down and kissed Yurei's forehead softly "Stop that you're not an idiot." the chiding in their tone was light and the smile soft when Kazumi pulled back. Close as they were there was a moment of tension where Kazumi wanted to fully kiss Yurei, possibly more but they reined in those baser instincts and pulled back further to allow her up.

"You're just too focused, trying to just act and not think which is good sometimes but it can be bad like just now. Keep your mind focused but aware, its a fine balance." They said smiling "Would you like to go again?"

Yūrei snorts softly but is clearly touched by the gesture as she jumps up.
"I'll meet you halfway, maybe I'm not a total idiotthen."

She rubs her arm for a moment considering before she nods.
"One more I think." A little of her usual spark returning. "Gotta end on a win, right?"