| Death isn't the end; Closed: Zamari pls | |
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| Topic Started: Mar 30 2018, 02:42 PM (449 Views) | |
| GrimRPer | Mar 30 2018, 02:42 PM Post #1 |
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Things were warming up a little... And thanks to that, Kaede was able to keep her coat open, but choose to use a shirt long enough to cover her stomach this time, still feeling a bit chilly. Borrowing a pair of shinai from the back room, she took to her exercise: "Today I'm going for 500!" A warmup to prevent cramps and a style that was similar to a dance, she soon began her personal training: 500 slashes. He had to make herself more useful in combat, someone able to provide support and fight efficiently, perhaps exercises like this would help? The redhead could only hope so... |
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| Nomad | Mar 31 2018, 12:43 AM Post #2 |
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Another day in the dojo. The Harlem Ronin was busy struggling to overcome what would otherwise be a piece of cake for any quality swordsman - swinging a sword. Zamari assumed the proper and held his bokken in the proper position, so why wasn't he able to swing it right? As soon as he went for the slash on the training dummy his foot slipped. Thankfully, he was able to recover and prevent himself from falling onto his behind. That would have been embarrassing for he didn't have the dojo to himself today. I knew I should have gone to the mountain. looking out the corner of his eye he saw the girl who was also using the dojo performing better than he did with his own training. He didn't recognize her though something about her did feel vaguely familiar. Whatever, he had to admit that she was outperforming him either way. Perhaps he could ask her for pointers. That required sucking up his pride but the weakness of not being able to use a sword without the headband was one that he absolutely needed to get over. "Excuse me," Zamari said walking up to the girl, bokken still in hand. "Do you mind if I ask you a question related to swordsmanship?" it was embarrassing that he, a supposed swordsman, needed advice on wielding a sword. Then again, not all swordsmen had to deal with his circumstances. |
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| GrimRPer | Mar 31 2018, 01:11 AM Post #3 |
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With a twirl she pointed both of them at him, standing on one leg. For someone who had been pretty much dancing with swords, she was pretty agile... And fierce. Kaede had some conviction in her eyes all the while, believing him to come to challenge her, but noticing all he wanted was a question, she relaxed considerably. "Apologies, I got a bit carried. But yes, ask away, I have plenty of time to spare.", bringing a shinai to rest with another one, she has freed a hand, which she used to pull her hair away from her eyes, as the golden orbs focused on the ronin. |
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| Nomad | Mar 31 2018, 02:45 AM Post #4 |
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"I'm having trouble with balance." it was hard to explain exactly what the difference between his base form and his samurai form was. When he was in the latter his movements felt smooth and fluid, his thoughts transferring into actions without any delay or complications. When he was in his base form, the opposite was true. His arms and legs felt all jittery and it was hard for him to keep control. He theorized that it was simply because his body was as accustomed to swordsmanship in that state while the samurai form already came with the fitness required for it. "I can assume my stance right." he demonstrated as he spoke, shifting his feet apart and properly holding the bokken. "But when I go for the swing I lose my footing. That is always the case." he would also demonstrate what he did swrong without restraint, his foot slipping and went to slash athe closest training dummy. "So do...you...have any tips?" his insecurity was apparent. Asking for help was as painful to him as getting cut by a sword. |
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| GrimRPer | Mar 31 2018, 03:12 AM Post #5 |
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"Balance... Came to the right person then. Show me how you do.", Kaede observed his demonstration. She could observe a few things wrong, though when compared to her own approach that is. Thinking for a moment, she tilted her head and said "And you were wielding it really well back at the White Giant conflict..." Wait, how did she know it?! How did she tell it was him back then and not a lookalike?! Simple... She was there... But not in this body. "Well, there are a few things you can do: train balance, for one. That can be done by balancing a broom on your hand, or a book on your head, while walking or running. Second, take it easy at first. You may have observed me, but if you slow down all my movements...", she demonstrated, making slower swings, jabs and steps... It was almost like... "A dance. That is what it becomes. In face, I started off by learning how to dance with taichi fans mom passed to me. After that replaced the fan with actual swords. Medieval ones, that is. Dad had them." "Lastly, be committed to every SINGLE step and swing. Keep a firm grip but your wrists as straight as possible, plant your foot firmly and don't hesitate when you take a step forth for your swings. Plus, repeat the same swings without moving anything other than your arms and hands. Get a feel for the weight you will put in your attacks." |
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| Nomad | Mar 31 2018, 04:07 AM Post #6 |
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Zamari's ears perked up when she mentioned the White Giant. He took the time to inspect the girl closer. Her red hair was vaguely familiar but again he could not immediately put her face to a name. Remembering all who were there during the battle, he did recall there being a little girl with similar characteristics. One who took on more of a supportive role. He failed to see a connection between these two individuals beyond the color red. "There's reasoning behind why I can't wield a sword with the same proficiency I had then," Zamari explained, "if you were there you probably noticed I wore a different outfit. I guess you can say that my ability and my clothes share a correlation." did the fact that he could only wield a sword properly with the headband disqualify him as a true swordsman? It was a possibility that he was not yet ready to confront. Processing the information that she gave to them, Zamari replied with a nod. "Perhaps I am being too forceful." he was an aggressive fighter and he had to account for the fact that his body in his base form was not used to the vigorous movement that came with swordsmanship. What part of her advice that impacted Zamari the most was the end. I need to get a feel for the weight of my attacks. yes, if he could not do that then how could he expect to execute a swing properly. "I appreciate your help," Zamari thanked her, "I will take it all into consideration." he turned to head back to his area of the gym to train alone. Then he stopped. "So how are your hand-to-hand skills?" he didn't want this girl to think of him as some scrub. He was a student of Senki Academy, a school for teenagers of special ability, for a reason. While Zamari could not wield his sword properly without the headband his fists were another story. |
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| GrimRPer | Mar 31 2018, 04:51 AM Post #7 |
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"I couldn't tell much. Maybe in your case it's the weapon that makes the man rather than the man that makes the weapon?", Kaede wondered for a moment. "Though remember this: too much force, too little force, and the balance will be disrupted. Commit to your actions, without overdoing.", she reinforced that point, to make sure he would "digest" it. The subject of her hand to hand skills made her step back and look away a little, blushing visibly. "Me? I'm not really good with hand to hand, my other side is better at it, but she often gets a little too excited with it. And if left to her lustful suffering, she can forget to hold back entirely until something distracts her.", Kaede was speaking of her demon self, Demon Nova. |
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| Nomad | Mar 31 2018, 01:33 PM Post #8 |
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Yes, no matter how much he wanted to avoid it the headband did have a considerable amount of influence on his overall strength. Without it, he was no swordsman but that didn't have to mean that he wasn't a warrior. Nor did it have to mean that things had to remain the way they were. He needed to control his strength. That was what his main take away was going to be from there conversation. "Your other side?" what was this girl talking about? Did she have an alter ego of some sort? Could she be that little girl from the White Giant battle? he might as well press the matter while it was on his mind. "The White Giant battle. I don't remember seeing you there." basically, he was indirectly telling her that he didn't recall who she was. Hopefully, she wouldn't take too much offense to it. |
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| GrimRPer | Apr 1 2018, 12:16 AM Post #9 |
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"Yes, my other side. And yes, I was in that battle... Well, sort of. I didn't fight, provided backup as the medic of the group. That day my whole world turned on its head.", she explained briefly, taking no offense, given her tone. That day, when Kaede she had been living a lie for generations, and for a time after then she lost her head... "I wonder if that experience changed everyone involved. Betrayed by a teacher, witnessing a true God come into action, being at the wrong place at the wrong time and not being effective enough, whereas being elsewhere would make full use of one's capabilities.", in that day, the redhead felt herself at her weakest... |
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| Nomad | Apr 1 2018, 07:02 AM Post #10 |
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The whole incident with Akio Yoichi and the Stands was a stressful period for the school and the entire town altogether. Zamari remembered vividly how his own morals were pushed to the limit, especially on the one occasion when he almost took his first human life. Kyoko. that girl probably hated him but in his defense, he used the reasoning that he wanted to protect everyone. Something deep within him knew that was utter bullshit. Out of the battles that Zamari had fought in the Inner World, there was still nothing that compared to the White Giant. He remembered how everyone there struggled against a foe that was levels above them. They struggled together and it was because of that they managed to win. After she told him that she was indeed there at the battle he was able to confirm that she was indeed the little girl who was providing support. This Nova he heard about. "Funny how you fight alongside somebody before you have a proper conversation with them." though it was a joke his expression remained blank and docile. That was because there was truth in it. "I'd say that I hope we never face another foe like that again but I won't be doing myself any favors." Zamari estimated that Senki Academy and the island would both be targets of bigger threats in the future. That was a consequence of the place being an epicenter for abnormals. "I lived a fairly ordinary life before coming." and by ordinary, he meant that he had no powers for the majority of his life. "I never thought there'd be a second in my life in which I'd be in the vicinity of gods and a maniac trying to set off a volcano." he remembered where he was during the first tremor. He was in Mayor Kanejin's office meeting with her and Ms. Kisaragi. Two leaders he was supposed to respect. It had been a long time since he revisited these feelings. It was the first time that he would get to share them with someone. "This may seem out there," he began, "but do you feel like we were to a degree let down with that whole situation?" the school had made a tragic error in employing such a man. Then there was the mayor who he felt in his heart was a shady individual. That was how he felt about all politicians but the Stand incident gave him a personal contempt for Mayor Kanejin. "Yes we were weak back then." he nearly had his arm ripped from his shoulder when fighting the White Giant. The wound he received left a scar that constantly reminded him that even when he thought he was catching up that he would always be behind another."But when you look at what we were up against, what else could we be?" Weakness. The one thing he always sought to erase from himself. Was he finally going to accept it for once? |
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| GrimRPer | Apr 1 2018, 07:36 AM Post #11 |
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Kaede chuckled at that statement, it was so true and yet so amusing... She knew little to nothing of him then and now. Even less back then! That was the first time she had an interaction with him... "But if we are to engage such a fearsome foe yet again, I won't sit in the back any longer. Not now that I have found yet another reason to live, to be, to fight." what she meant with that was up to other's imagination. "I quite envy you, you know.", with a brief snicker, Kaede explained why, "I was born a destructive beast, because of a wizard's mistake, had to be put down by my father, brought back by those who became my mothers. So it wasn't until rebirth that I was given the chance to enjoy life." "Though to answer your question... ... Whether we are weak or not does not matter. It is a matter of how we choose to deal with it. Give up and remain weak, or continue standing up and slowly become stronger. Even if someone is stronger, it's a matter of not giving up. I never gave up on my life, even in my darkest hour." Edited by GrimRPer, Apr 1 2018, 07:37 AM.
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| Nomad | Apr 2 2018, 02:23 AM Post #12 |
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"True." Zamari was unable to deny that he grew remarkably since his battle against the White Giant. "It's just that I never thought I'd be up against these things." a little over a year ago he never would have guessed that such things existed, now he was surrounded by them every day, now being one of those instances considering the bizarre origin story she just told him. "It was our first battle," he stated, "a bit of a struggle was to be expected." there were a lot of things that Zamari learned when fighting the White Giant, one such lesson being that not every foe could be approached the same. Brute force wasn't always going to bring an enemy to their knees on its own. He needed to get better at strategizing as well. "As long as the school takes better measures to ensure that not another instructor goes rogue, I'll be straight." his trust for others wasn't already much, to begin with. The Akio Yoichi incident sufficed in diminishing that which he had in his fellow students and faculty almost entirely. "Either way I'll have to do my part to protect this place all the same." Before he wanted to do so to protect the greater good. With the lines of good and evil and right and wrong so heavily blurred to him now, he was more concerned with securing his own survival. Seeing to it that the island remained safe was only a criterium needed to maintain his own safety. While he was optimistic about his own improvement he was ever so cynical in regards to others and what they were capable of. That was just the effect that betrayal by a teacher, someone who was supposed to protect and guide, had on an already troubled youth such as Zamari. |
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| GrimRPer | Apr 2 2018, 03:13 AM Post #13 |
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"Instructor alone? From what some birds told me, there were bad people doing bad things in other places too. But we shouldn't be paranoid, it won't make things any easier to be paranoid, it will only make it worse... So for now, "Our Best" is what we can do.", while in reality it may not be that simple, this might be a solution for the time being, to just do their best. Thinking for a moment, she took seat against the wall and motioned him to do the same. What for? Well... "We barely know each other, and we fought together once. Sort of, that is. Still... I want to know you better, if you wish to know me too." |
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| Nomad | Apr 2 2018, 04:14 AM Post #14 |
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"Oh I'm inclined to agree with you on that." because of that exclusive meeting he had with the vice principal and the mayor he felt like he had additional insight on most other students. Speaking on his conspiracy theories was something he desired to do, but he instead opted to keep them to himself for the sake of everyone's sanity. Reluctantly, he sat down next to her when he beckoned to do so. "Ask away...." talking about himself wasn't really something he was comfortable with, but it wasn't like he had anything else better to do other than train. Plus, he did owe her one for the advice. |
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| GrimRPer | Apr 2 2018, 05:10 AM Post #15 |
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"You don't seem to be the type to talk much about yourself, I think. So, let's poke at some aspects... I noticed that you are more eager to go hand-to-hand than rely on the sword, my BF pointed that out to me and I kind of saw it in yourself. Is it because you were never given proper training on swords?", did she miss the point or she intentionally wanted to prod into a second guess? Truth is: Kaede knew what was to "live with a curse", as she had one for a long time, so knew well how much a "curse" can be a touchy subject, one to not poke at directly. |
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| Nomad | Apr 2 2018, 05:37 AM Post #16 |
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"Your BF?" who was she talking about? "Do I know him?" he flipped through the faces of all the people he knew in his head and tried to remember if any of them were in a relationship. He believed that Tengyoku mentioned something about Ezan having a girlfriend. As he didn't really all that much about people's love lives or romance in general, the information streamed through his ears without much recognition from his brain. Regardless, he was still able to answer her question. "What you said about the clothes making the man. There is truth to it. he pulled out his Warrior Spirit Transmigration Headband and showed it to her. "I put this on and I become a samurai." whether or not he was truly a samurai was an issue that he was currently dealing with. "My ability to wield a sword is tied to it, it seems. Without the headband, my body just can't seem to properly carry out the instructions that my brain sends to it when I'm trying to wield a sword. To compensate for this I took up learning karate." and yes he did receive proper training. His master made sure of that. "What about your other self?" Zamari inquired. "How does that work?" the way he perceived it was akin to an alter ego of sorts. Maybe she could switch between her two selves at will and he was only talking to one. The only way for him to gain an understanding was to ask her directly. |
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| GrimRPer | Apr 2 2018, 06:17 AM Post #17 |
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"Of course you know him. You two bumped fists a couple times already.", that had to be Ezan, Kaede had to be Ezan's GF. With a quick glance to the headband, she felt the hair in the back of her head stand up and quickly responded: "That is a very dangerous artifact. Good of you to find alternative approaches" It didn't take much magic affinity for one to tell something was cursed, and for her it hit almost immediately upon sighting. "Ah? How that works? My demon half is constantly aware of what is going on, and can manifest at any time, whether one of us wants to. So basically, I become a totally different person. Less so since I regained this body. I look a little more like my demon self." |
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| Nomad | Apr 2 2018, 01:04 PM Post #18 |
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He and her boyfriend had bumped fists before? That did well to narrow down the possibilities for there was only a single person on the island that Zamari had gone hand-to-hand against. "Ezan." he spoke the alien lizardman's name with absolute certainty that he was who she was referring to. So he and this redhead were in some sort of relationship. Good for them. "I'd much rather wield a sword all of the time instead of part of the time." working to overcome this major drawback was one of his main focuses at the present. He would not be able to wield Sanzenmen without the headband, but Sanzenmen wasn't the only sword at his disposal. If he was able to wield a sword all of the time then he would be an overall better fighter. Listening closely as she explained the nature behind her separate selves, Zamari found that it all wasn't too hard to comprehend. "So you're still in a sense that little girl?" the only thing he wondered was if these two separate individuals shared a consciousness or if they could keep their thoughts restricted from each other. He imagined it as a sort of symbiotic coexistence. "It seems as though you are at peace with it." he wasn't sure if whether or not that was the case. Either way, she was probably more at ease than he was. |
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| GrimRPer | Apr 2 2018, 01:44 PM Post #19 |
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"Correct, Ezan. Surprised you didn't say it sooner...", a chuckle followed Kaede's words. "But I can see where you are going. I assume you, just like me, received that gift from the sword Asura broke that day, and since you have that sword you want to try and make the most use of it?", perhaps her guess wasn't far off... That little girl... "Nova is dead... That is what I told them to tell around when they ask about me. It's no lie, to revive my true body I ended losing the life I had as that little girl. You can imagine the shock, when I came to and saw "myself" dead right in front of me, and had to have my body buried.", she was not scared nor sad nor happy, she was as he said: "But yes, I'm in peace with it. Found everything I've been looking for long. Found my truth, confronted my wrath, became whole once again, and claimed a land in the Celestial Realm where guardians of my memories can live the life they desire." |
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| Nomad | Apr 2 2018, 02:55 PM Post #20 |
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"I have a lot of swords." and there were more to come. There was truth in what she said, he did very well want to make use of both his Star Swords and he couldn't do that without first being able to wield them properly. "If Nova is dead then what do you call yourself?" he didn't know what name she went by and it would be improper for him to keep referring to her as the redhead so he needed a better identifier. "I'm Zamari, Zamari Wells in case you didn't already know." she more than likely already did but he thought it best to give his name to receive her name anyhow. A fair trade of sorts. "You've found your truth, good." that was not something that a lot of people were able to brag about. "Still looking for mine." all of that business with his sinister predecessor had put his self-image in jeopardy. "It's harder to find than I thought." |
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10:42 PM Jul 11



