Coming to terms

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[12:02] Ichida Rikiya says, "Morning."
[12:02] Ichida Rikiya asks, "How are you today?"
[12:04] Epona looking like a fresh daisy her footsteps bouncing along the cobblestone as she saw Ichida. "Oh, didn't see you there, good morning Ichida. I'm alright just woke up. How's everything with you".
(Epona Maple)
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[12:06] He'd stretch a bit before landing to the ground. He was feeling different today for a few different reason, maybe cause he had a accident with his eye? or some other reason.

"I'm alright, would you like a few morning training spars?"
(Ichida Rikiya)
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[12:10] When he floated himself closer to the ground asking his question she sort of flicks her eyebrow almost into her hairline.

"Uhh~.." Epona was albeit a little stunned by the request, given the countless efforts that she'd witnessed of people trying to get him to fight, and each time he shot them down.

Though here he was, the glint of a sword by his side with his question still unanswered. "Sure Ichida~"

Was she going to at all ask him what changed his mind after all that time, perhaps at a later point, but for now she didn't want to ask right away. "To the dojo then?" She'd say following behind him.
(Epona Maple)
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[12:12] Meng Qingfan says, "Ehh... if you say so. It's made of pure mythril, and as light as any knife I've felt, despite being a legthened blade..."
[12:13] Ichida Rikiya says, "Don't hold back on me."
[12:17] Ichida drew his blade one of stainless black steel from his side while offering a smile towards Epona. He'd take his stance and being floating she would notice various different ninja tools hanging from his side it seems he was back.

Ichida hadn't sparred in sometime though he didn't forget how to wield his blade in the art of Night Falls, Whisper they he created a long time ago.

"Alright, let's have a good couple of matches I'm expecting you to give me everything you got. I mean everything you've go no holding back because you feel sorry for me I still got a long way to go."

Ichida seemed pumped.
(Ichida Rikiya)
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[12:29] They'd entered the dojo, and already she could note several different changes about Ichida, not only was his clothing different since that was the most obvious, but his posture changed, his confidence was almost seeping into the atmosphere and he actually gave her a smile when they entered the ring. With him finally drawing his sleek black stainless steel sword, hovering in the air an assortment of ninja tools hanging from his waist. The ninja was back.

Epona ponders the situation for a moment, listening to what Ichida had said, she gave a polite nod "I will not... And I won't again"

If he was going to go all out from the jump she would follow suit, removing her father's old helmet from her waist staring at it for a moment, the last time she even held it had been when her father just gave it to her but this was her idea of going all out with everything she had. Slapping that helmet atop her bun, instantly the lightning fused with her form and begun crackling violently all about.

She really never used everything, not even with the fight against the monk, but at Ichida's request she would not disappoint. Lifting Bone Shaker from its sheathe, allowing the tip of it to face down to the sparring area.

Epona gives her usual bow before a spar begins. "Good luck~"
(Epona Maple)
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[12:30] Ichida Rikiya says, "Good luck to you as well./"
[12:33] Ichida Rikiya asks, "You ready for the next one?"
[12:33] Epona Maple says, "Ready when you are~"
[12:34] Ichida Rikiya exclaims, "Okay!"
[12:36] Ichida Rikiya says, "Got me that time."
[12:37] Epona Maple says, "Then this will decide it~"
[12:37] Ichida Rikiya says, "Damn so close."
[12:45] The exchange was... Difficult to describe, each swing of the sword was counteracted by another, and another, a never ending clash of steel.

Even as one fell down they were quick to get back up, right to the end, the deciding round. This one was for all the marbles. A myriad of assaults against one another, from forceful winds that hindered movements to devastating blows that shook the other to the core.

For all intents and purposes there match was down to the wire, much like it had been all those years ago. She saw it, defeat barrelling towards her as Ichida came in with a well timed slide, her defences were lowered and she hadn't quite recovered to launch an attack of her own. Scales now hardening around her body, despite taking the brunt of Ichida's attacks in that moment she was still up and kicking, here she was thinking she would have gotten the chance to practice that flip manoeuvre she learned as well, but Ichida was certainly not the kind of opponent to do that with at this point.

Flash stepping before him she was able to cleave the blunt end of the sword at him knocking him down, she breathed a sweet sigh of relief. "Good grief~ you really almost had me there..." She says not even sure how she won at the end.

Trying to bring herself to her feet, legs slightly shaking "Care for another?"
(Epona Maple)
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[12:51] Ichida went for one final strike, however, when his blade went to hit it seemingly bounced off her, why? : he then noticed scales appear on her body that seem to stop his blade from full connecting and securing the win.

In that moment that he realized that she was already counterattacking sending him flying back down to the dojo mat. He'd use the sword to help him get back up and boy was he tired, but he still had a smile on his face.

All that training he did and the confidence he had in himself was enough to bring him all the way to this point. He was ready to ascend and grow and increases his speeds even further becoming the best samurai that ever lived.

"Heh~ you got me that time and I'm always ready to do another this is really fun and I'm having a nice time."
(Ichida Rikiya)
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[12:57] Epona rolls out her shoulders readying herself again.
(Epona Maple)
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[13:07] Ichida Rikiya says, "Got me again."
[13:08] Epona plops down on her butt. "Yeah...~ But you're not making this easy at all...One misstep and it's over".
(Epona Maple)
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[13:09] Ichida Rikiya says, "Heh~ that's true."
[13:10] Ichida Rikiya asks, "Want to keep going?"
[13:10] Epona Maple says, "I think i can muster one more go at it before i'll need to take a time out, just give me a second to catch my breath."
[13:11] Ichida Rikiya exclaims, "Alright!"
[13:12] Epona eventually gets back up to her feet, her body was covered in sweat by this point and the helmet did little to reduce the heat. "Alright~! Ready".
(Epona Maple)
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[13:12] Ichida Rikiya exclaims, "Let's make this last one a good one!"
[13:12] Epona throws a thumbs up in his direction. "You got it~". This last bout was going to consume the last bits of her mana so she had to make it good as well.
(Epona Maple)
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[13:21] Ichida would fall to the ground after the close encounter that just happened it took one strike for either of them to fall, but with his last bit of energy he manage to strike her thus brining her down to the ground. He'd sweat as he tried to catch his breath and Ichida finally one his first battle even though it took a long time. He took out various ninja tools and smoke bomb tossing them on the dojo mat to cloud her vision and delivered serval strikes which brought he down in a few seconds.

"A-are you a-alright.."

He said trying to catch his breath it seems more training was in-order, but in the end he manage to catch up to her quite a bit and he was looking forward to more spars in the future.

He'd sheathed his blade for the time being he noticed a few more changes he needed to make, but he was happy with the improvements he made thus far.

Offering her a smile. "What are your plans for today?"
(Ichida Rikiya)
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[13:29] The two exchanged blows yet again, this was the final round and as promised she wouldn't disappoint, despite the strain she was feeling from excessive use of her abilities, she'd never held her form nor stance this long, combining that with her new abilities she was getting worn out rather quickly.

That didn't stop her, however, she kept fighting to the end until another neck and neck battle ensued, eventually Ichida's speeds were just too much for her to bare, and with no scales to protect her this time she took the full force of his attack, knocking Epona to the ground and securing his victory. As soon as she hit the ground her lightning aura dropped and she was breathing excessively still trying to catch her breath.

Breathing in and out, Ichida flew near to her and she shot her platinum hues over towards him with a big smile. "Y-You did it!~, i'm" She winced trying to bring her upper half upright " I'm so proud of you~"

She places her sword back where it belonged, pulling her helmet off as she took a deep inhale, her face was covered in sweat and her hair was... in shambles. "You're going to pass me in no time"

After a few moments she struggles to, but is able to get back to her feet, looking towards Ichida as he inquired. "Good question~, I almost feel like going back to sleep after what you just put me through" offering a bit of a giggle in jest. "Though i'll likely just stick around town today in case papa shows up. How about you?"
(Epona Maple)