Learning to Swim with Sharks

Mamoru stood alone in the center of the training room her twin swords stowed away on her back. A dim moonlight shown through the window casting dueling shadows against the dancing darkness made by the torches that dotted the walls. She knew she would not be disturbed for it was early, maybe four in the morning. She would have no time to train later. After the sun rose her job as Okane's bodyguard began. Drawing her swords she scanned the room looking at the straw dummies surrounding her. The battle began, in her mind she saw it all, she was practicing a new style after Okane had gifted her a second blade for good service. She would train to use her left blade as a distraction while her right found the opening for a mortal blow. In her mind she went for a strike on her enemies right. As they went to defend she would pull back thrusting forward with her right blade.

Jutsu Learned:

As the fight in her mind continued she turned her attention to another dummy. Their blades clashed the ringing of steel against steel almost a song. She could feel the battle start to fuel her blood lust. She knew she had to control the urges or else she could lose control and rampage. Her left blade stabbed forward as the right swung low low across the belly. Her left handed thrust was a feint as she pulled the blade back, her right sweeping across through the straw. She turned her attention to the next "enemy" and began the combination again. In reality she had not moved from the center of the room until she had struck down the first dummy. However the battles she would play out in her brain helped train her reflexive muscle memory. Again the blades clashed ringing their song of death. The sword in her left hand thrust forward again starting the feint .

Jutsu Learned:

As the second straw dummy fell to her blade cutting it down she calmed her mind taking a deep breath. Sweat was dripping down her brow and down her arms. She walked over to the small table in the corner of the room picking up a hand towel. She patted it against her blue skin soaking up the perspiration. She tilted her head back and forth until her neck cracked. Picking her blades back up she returned to the middle of the room. Her eyes closed transporting her back into the midst of the battle. As soon as she had her footing another opponent was on her. Its blade raining down blow after blow forcing Mamoru into a backpedaled retreat. Digging her heels into the earth she brought both her blades up in a cross catching the opposing blade. With her left hand she turned her wrist bringing her opponents blade out wide left. Quickly she tucked her elbow bringing her blade back in. In an instant her swords were crossed blades to the center before she ripped them open as she threw her arms out wide. Her blades dug deep into the straw dummy "disemboweling" it in the process. Mamoru's eyes opened and surveyed the room, three dummies cut in half. Mamoru cleaned up the piles of straw before returning to her room. She needed a showered before Okane woke up she smelled of fish.

Jutsu Learned:

[Exit Post]

Mamoru made her way through the streets on Sorakagure in the early hours of the morning. She had decided to train outside of the palace in these twilight hours. She found herself not far from Okane but far enough to not be noticed by the regular guard. She pulled out one of her practice swords getting into the Red Tiger stance. She placed her lead foot in front of her while placing her left foot behind digging her heels. She held her sword at the ready slightly swaying from side to side. She practiced a few quick chops and slashes never leaving balance. She spent the next thirty minutes holding position the only movement being the slight swaying side to side. She practices ten sets of ten downward strikes before shifting her attention.

Technique Learned:

A bead of sweat dripped down Mamoru's forehead letting her know it was time to switch gears. She switched her grip on the practice sword before raising it up as if to block another blade on a down swing. She kept at it over and over practicing the same swing. She held her eyes closed tight imagining an opponent raining blows down upon her. Each upswing connected with another imaginary blow as she tensed the muscles in her arms. She stayed at it until she could handle the stinging in her muscles no longer. Mamoru's eyes opened as she stood at a more at ease stance before grabbing the bottle of water she brought with her.

Technique Learned:

Mamoru had found a few moments to herself during the day. Okane had decided to take some time between his meetings to relax alone in his room. This was the perfect opportunity for her to practice a technique she would not be able to in the early hours of the morning. She had made her way to the roof of the palace to get as much direct sunlight as possible. Drawing one of her blades she held it aloft horizontally catching the suns rays. It took a few moments to find the right angle until she saw across the way a slant of light that moved with the tilt of her blade. She would move to different angles on the roof even dropping to the court yard for more realistic practice. She knew training in the woods would be the best since Okane was the most vulnerable on the open road. However she did not wish to ravel that far from her master just to train. He could need her at any moment, she returned her sword to her back before making her way to her post by Okane's side.

Technique Learned:

[Exit Post]

It was another morning alone, the training rooms silence only broken by the crackle of torch flames. She stood in the Red Tiger stance blade before her held with both hands. Her lead foot placed in front of her as her left held firm behind. Mamoru had been standing there for an hour holding the stance practicing her balance. She moved her blade the dull side almost touching her left shoulder before lunging forward swinging the blade with all her might in front of her. The swings became rhythmic as the crackle of flames was joined by the swoosh of air passing the blade and her grunts with each lunge. She kept swinging till her muscles burned before resuming the Red Tiger stance.

Technique Learned:

Sweat dripped of off Mamoru's body, she had been training for hours. Sleep had eluded her tonight and she figured training would be a good way to kill time. Her head turned from side to side making a loud pop, her fingers flashed as three water clones formed before her. She handed each a training sword giving clear instructions for the clones to follow. Two clones backed away to the wall behind them as the third stayed roughly two meters away. Mamoru resumed her stance right before the clone swung its wooden blade down. As the blade fell she leaned back pivoting on her lead foot. As she spun the blade hit air as her blade struck the elbow of her opponent. She nodded to the clone getting ready for the next strike. The blow came followed by a pivot in the opposite direction. Over and over she dodged and spun this way and that before signaling the clone to stop.

Technique Learned:

She called the next clone forward letting the first dissolve into a small puddle on the floor. Her body shone in the torch light sweat clung to her skin like a shirt. She huffed angry that she was so tired already. She knew this would affect her duties to protect Okane. She nodded with a short grunt letting the clone know it could begin. It attacked almost immediately catching her slightly off guard. She was pleased that it chose to be so aggressive pushing her back on her heels. It moved into attack again swinging its weapon straight down. Her body moved to the side he feet still planted, the tip of her practice sword slipped by slamming into the wrist of the clone making it drop its weapon to the floor. The clone knelt down conceding defeat before it too dissolved into a puddle. The third moved forward attacking without permission but she knew it would. It was her after all and no one but Okane knew her any better. She backed up but not fast enough as the wooden blade cracked against her skull. In anger she released the clone and screamed before cutting her cry short as to not wake Okane.

Technique Learned:

[Exit Post]