D1EE, Gotta Keep in Shape (Hoping, but Open)

[Shika Nesshin]

Always got another one, Nesshin thinks, and he smiles again, an almost predatory thing. His spear lifts up into a standard centered position, and his body drops into a wide, low stance.

"Let's dance."

[Shika Zang]

zang was always a force to be reckoned with, even with just a tiny little blade in his hand (Though to be fair, he was also quite gifted at unarmed combat). He wasn't going to throw himself on Nesshin's spear, though. He had the nimbleness of the Deer, so the question wasn't whether or not he was going to feint to try and get around Nesshin's guard, it was which way was he going to feint, he was really hard to predict.

[Shika Nesshin]

Nesshin is pretty sure that, nimble as he is, his blessed sensei won't feint up; going as high as Nesshin means to is not something that admits of checked motion. So he goes that way, fairly leaping towards his opponent, throwing himself fully into the attack.

Facing Zang demands nothing less than all.

Respect for his sensei demands nothing less than all.

And so Nesshin gives that all, perhaps recklessly--but the antlered deer charges with abandon.

[Shika Zang]

Zang had anticipated the leap, and rather than go left or right, he went UNDER.

He rolled beneath the leaping Nesshin, spun about, and while Nesshin's momentum continued to carry him forward, Zang spun about, and hurled the weapon at Nesshin's back connecting, bring the spar to a close.

"The other thing to remember about knives is....you can throw them." Zang said with a laugh. "It does deprive you of a weapon, but it's not that unreasonable for someone to have two knives, just for that reason. You need to always be aware of the threat before you, Nesshin-san, but do not let it blind you to the hidden threats."

[Shika Nesshin]

Nesshin sheepishly rubs the spot on his back where the knife had connected. Wouldn't be dead yet, he thinks as his hand rubs over his kidney, but I'd be out of the fight. Turning to face Zang, he bows. "I've been scouting, of course," he says, "but there're things you see I don't. Who needs, er, more attention, do you think, Sensei?"

[Shika Zang]

Zang stroked his magnificent beard.

"There's bound to be a lot of bad blood circulating." he decides. "Whether it's gonna be Crane vs. Scorpion, Lion vs. Crane, Lion vs. Unicorn, or Phoenix vs. Unicorn. Passions run hot at miais, especially when you might be changing colors at the end of it. Keep your eyes sharp, we don't need the guests changing the Kyuden's rep to a Palace of Gore and Horror!"

[Shika Nesshin]

"Crane, Lion, and Unicorn come up plurals in that," Nesshin notes as his hand strays to the ribbon in his obi. "Crane and Lion are the closer concerns, obviously; even the Unicorn'd need time to get here.

"Still, I'll keep an eye on tensions here," Nesshin continues. "And we'll see if I can avoid the knife next time. There's wisdom from the Little Teacher about that, if memory serves."

[Shika Zang]

Zang chuckles at that.

"What hasn't been attributed to him or to Akodo? Perhaps someday you'll tell your children that 'Zang-sensei always said....'" he offers good naturedly

[Shika Nesshin]

"I won't have to," Nesshin says. "Zang-sensei himself will speak to them!"

[Shika Zang]

Zang grinned at that.

"Ah, but you see, Nesshin-san, I can truly be immortal if you spread word of me to your children!" he boasted. "But your children, regardless of colors will always be welcome in this dojo."