[Keith sees that little hesitation. Right? Knives are much closer. Quicker, more unpredictable, arguably more dangerous because of this. That may be why Keith likes them so much.]
Good...
[He pronounces even as his blade shoots up to deflect, moving with Yusuke's motion to twist away and turn to face him.] Like you mean it. Try to cut me.
[Yusuke hesitates again as he moves, twisting to face Keith in turn. Well, it doesn't feel good to be attempting to cut a friend, but he understands and appreciates the intent behind it.
...So he will do his best not to let him down.
He moves in again, a bare shimmer of yellow in his eyes as he forces himself not to focus on the proximity but how to cut even with it. His eyes, for that moment, are similar to how they look when he uses his abilities and has the mask over his face. He's getting into that mindset, not so much Yusuke as Fox.]
[It's okay, Yusuke. He just wants you to give it your all and not
worry about injuring him in the process because that will lead to
hesitation and holding back. Keith is pretty confident in his own ability
to at least hold Yusuke off.
He sees that little flash in his eyes, and frankly his thought is
how familiar and Galra that is before he's refocusing and
turning his attention to fending off the other boy's knives, nodding to
himself.]
[So he refuses to accept that better! He will not accept it until he actually manages to do what Keith has told him to do. It isn't as though he's a completely new fighter, at least.
...But this is learning a whole new style. He moves quickly, though still obviously getting used to the reach. Two knives are comfortable, though. It isn't strange to follow up one blow with a swipe of the other.]
[Oh. Yusuke is that sort of over achiever, huh? That... Keith likes that. Okay? Can't help it. He'd feel the same way honestly. And it is a brand new style for Yusuke, one that he's taking too quite well.
So Keith only grins and shrugs a shoulder at him.]
[He is, absolutely. Though he wouldn't call it overachieving, okay? He has high expectations of himself and he also wants to live up to Keith's expectations of him, as someone who he respects as a friend.
He narrows his eyes at the challenge... okay so he's a bit fired up by it, for sure!
He moves in, more and more confident the more they do this, lashing out with both daggers.]
[Keith reacts, quick, but Yusuke is getting the hang of this, and the next blow he only barely deflects, twisting away. For now he stays on the defensive, letting Yusuke continue.
Closer and closer really.
And eventually Keith's blade will miss a deflection.
Which honestly will only make him grin all the more.]
[Keith did tell him not to hold back, and he meant it. This is what he wanted to see, wanted Yusuke to give everything he had. And Keith is still grinning, even as he sees too late the way the knife is coming, and it strikes true, catching his upper arm before he twists away, falling into a defensive stance, blades up.]
Good!
[And he's bleeding. A little. Which is great. Yusuke is a natural.]
[Keith informs him with a grin, half challenging half actually
playful. ...what? He likes sparring. It takes his mind off the thousand
other things it's stuck on since he wound up here.]
[Keith won't hold back, Yusuke. That wouldn't be fair to Yusuke, right? Especially after Yusuke says that. Keith's grin stretches over his lips, but he nods.
He lifts his own blades, his own and the borrowed knife, letting his balance shift before all at once he's in motion, a feint to the left before he comes at Yusuke hard in the other direction.]
[Now here, see, is where Yusuke will excel... after all, he doesn't need to be good with his new weapons in order to dodge Keith. Or, well, he has already found out Keith is no opponent to be underestimated.
And it would be a waste not to put his new weapons into play.
So he shifts his grip on the knives, watchful eyes on Keith--he anticipates the feint and moves at once to meet it, not clashing their knives so much as deflecting. Can't do this with a katana, they're delicate weapons but he's confident in the durability of these knives...
[Deflecting is good, and Keith moves with it, a bit relentless at the moment, coming at Yusuke without a break, always in motion, varying which blade he attacks with, a quick slash up, a longer arc across, eyes bright to watch Yusuke block.
The other boy is a good fighter, even if knives are new to him. The skills are transferring.
Keith thinks he's doing good anyway, a fact that is probably obvious by the grin on his face.]
[Yusuke's lips twitch. It's a challenge, Keith is a challenge to fend off... but he doesn't mind it at all. It's enjoyable, and Yusuke never thought of himself as someone who really enjoyed sparring, so.
He keeps up with the knives, finding defending with them not as difficult. He's getting used to the length of them, though after a while he's definitely starting to tire out.
Keith's good, okay? Wearing him down. At that point, he starts to move, putting footwork to use now in order to duck out of the way of moves.]
[Keith is pretty determined, honestly. Better to have Yusuke learn how to defend fully when it's him, and not someone else, someone who's actually trying to do him harm. Besides, he might be enjoying this a little too much. And it might be pretty obvious, because he really can't stop smirking.
Why are you friends with him, Yusuke? He's kind of terrible.]
Your footwork is good. But watch your hold... [He informs him as he goes in with sweep of his own knife to try to catch him at an off-angle for how he's holding the knife, to try for force a block and then to knock it free of his grip.]
[It's a startled and dismayed sound, as his fingers loosen around the grip of the knife. Yeah. He let his focus slip for a second and one of the knives drops from his hand. He quickly backsteps and frowns, more at himself than anyone else.
Okay. One-knife fighting, then. Bring it, Keith. He's apparently not ready to quit.]
[Keith kicks the fallen knife out of the way before tossing one of his own after it. Single knife fighting. Only seems fair to level the playing field, leaving him with only his usual blade, still in its knife-sized form.
And then he's back in motion moving towards Yusuke, knife flashing as he brings it up towards him, to force another block.]
[Yusuke grits his teeth, trying to find his rhythm now where he's been thrown off thanks to losing that knife. Keith is no slouch of an opponent, and all he can do is block him and watch, waiting almost, for an opening.
He takes a deep breath, deciding to push his luck and moves closer, to try to lock their knives together at the hilt, render them both unable to attack.]
[It's a good move, really, and Keith clearly thinks so if the grin that breaks over his face is any indication. But well, he's not holding back on Yusuke, and since the other boy brought himself in this close, Keith will take advantage of this fact and brings his leg up in a swift, deliberate kick aimed at his side.
Knives necessitate close combat, but that brings all sorts of other things into play too.]
The kick lands and Yusuke reacts only with a soft grunt of surprise, managing not to lose focus or buckle from it. Still, he's visibly being worn down, Keith has him beat as far as experience goes for sure.
...Though he's still reluctant to call it to a stop. He likely won't until Keith does... Hence he lashes out with the knife, at the same time he gets his other hand ready. If he can manage to goad Keith into clashing their knives again he's going to slam his palm up on his elbow holding the knife.]
[Hey Yusuke, he's giving you his all here! It means he cares!
But it also means he's ready for Yusuke to try something, and he sees that knife come. Rather than meet it, he leans quickly back, tossing his blade from one hand to another, a quick, efficient little maneuver that brings his hand up, knife at the ready, aiming to catch Yusuke under the chin with the point of his blade -- just shy of making contact. ...he won't actually try to stab him since, you know, that might complicate their friendship.]
[Thanks for not stabbing him, Keith. He appreciates it.
He freezes the moment he feels the point of that blade positioned under his chin, his gaze darting down briefly... and then he loosens his grip on his remaining knife, smiling wryly as he allows it to fall.]
[Keith is out of breath at this point, but that doesn't stop the grin on his face from sticking. He straightens up and lowers his blade, rolling his shoulders to loosen them.]
That was great. That was the best sparring I've had in a long time. You're going to be really dangerous with those before too long.
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[Keith sees that little hesitation. Right? Knives are much closer. Quicker, more unpredictable, arguably more dangerous because of this. That may be why Keith likes them so much.]
Good...
[He pronounces even as his blade shoots up to deflect, moving with Yusuke's motion to twist away and turn to face him.] Like you mean it. Try to cut me.
[INTENSE.]
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...So he will do his best not to let him down.
He moves in again, a bare shimmer of yellow in his eyes as he forces himself not to focus on the proximity but how to cut even with it. His eyes, for that moment, are similar to how they look when he uses his abilities and has the mask over his face. He's getting into that mindset, not so much Yusuke as Fox.]
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[It's okay, Yusuke. He just wants you to give it your all and not worry about injuring him in the process because that will lead to hesitation and holding back. Keith is pretty confident in his own ability to at least hold Yusuke off.
He sees that little flash in his eyes, and frankly his thought is how familiar and Galra that is before he's refocusing and turning his attention to fending off the other boy's knives, nodding to himself.]
Better.
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[So he refuses to accept that better! He will not accept it until he actually manages to do what Keith has told him to do. It isn't as though he's a completely new fighter, at least.
...But this is learning a whole new style. He moves quickly, though still obviously getting used to the reach. Two knives are comfortable, though. It isn't strange to follow up one blow with a swipe of the other.]
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So Keith only grins and shrugs a shoulder at him.]
Then land one. Come on.
[Keith drops back, flashing a grin.]
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He narrows his eyes at the challenge... okay so he's a bit fired up by it, for sure!
He moves in, more and more confident the more they do this, lashing out with both daggers.]
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Closer and closer really.
And eventually Keith's blade will miss a deflection.
Which honestly will only make him grin all the more.]
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And in the heat of the moment, he grins too, sharp and wild as he darts, following Keith's missed deflection and lashing out with the knife.
...He's confident that, even if he scores a nick on him, it won't be much. But Keith essentially told him not to hold back.]
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[Keith did tell him not to hold back, and he meant it. This is what he wanted to see, wanted Yusuke to give everything he had. And Keith is still grinning, even as he sees too late the way the knife is coming, and it strikes true, catching his upper arm before he twists away, falling into a defensive stance, blades up.]
Good!
[And he's bleeding. A little. Which is great. Yusuke is a natural.]
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...I admit I am surprised I was able to hit you so soon.
[He's not apologising because that's what they were aiming to do!! He does ask:] Are you all right?
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Don't get used to it.
[Keith informs him with a grin, half challenging half actually playful. ...what? He likes sparring. It takes his mind off the thousand other things it's stuck on since he wound up here.]
I'm fine. Want to try defense this time?
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Yes. Let's see if you can hit me.
[He's got some fancy footwork he's all ready to put to use.]
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He lifts his own blades, his own and the borrowed knife, letting his balance shift before all at once he's in motion, a feint to the left before he comes at Yusuke hard in the other direction.]
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And it would be a waste not to put his new weapons into play.
So he shifts his grip on the knives, watchful eyes on Keith--he anticipates the feint and moves at once to meet it, not clashing their knives so much as deflecting. Can't do this with a katana, they're delicate weapons but he's confident in the durability of these knives...
and if they break he has like 6 more]
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[Deflecting is good, and Keith moves with it, a bit relentless at the moment, coming at Yusuke without a break, always in motion, varying which blade he attacks with, a quick slash up, a longer arc across, eyes bright to watch Yusuke block.
The other boy is a good fighter, even if knives are new to him. The skills are transferring.
Keith thinks he's doing good anyway, a fact that is probably obvious by the grin on his face.]
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He keeps up with the knives, finding defending with them not as difficult. He's getting used to the length of them, though after a while he's definitely starting to tire out.
Keith's good, okay? Wearing him down. At that point, he starts to move, putting footwork to use now in order to duck out of the way of moves.]
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[Keith is pretty determined, honestly. Better to have Yusuke learn how to defend fully when it's him, and not someone else, someone who's actually trying to do him harm. Besides, he might be enjoying this a little too much. And it might be pretty obvious, because he really can't stop smirking.
Why are you friends with him, Yusuke? He's kind of terrible.]
Your footwork is good. But watch your hold... [He informs him as he goes in with sweep of his own knife to try to catch him at an off-angle for how he's holding the knife, to try for force a block and then to knock it free of his grip.]
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[It's a startled and dismayed sound, as his fingers loosen around the grip of the knife. Yeah. He let his focus slip for a second and one of the knives drops from his hand. He quickly backsteps and frowns, more at himself than anyone else.
Okay. One-knife fighting, then. Bring it, Keith. He's apparently not ready to quit.]
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[Keith kicks the fallen knife out of the way before tossing one of his own after it. Single knife fighting. Only seems fair to level the playing field, leaving him with only his usual blade, still in its knife-sized form.
And then he's back in motion moving towards Yusuke, knife flashing as he brings it up towards him, to force another block.]
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He takes a deep breath, deciding to push his luck and moves closer, to try to lock their knives together at the hilt, render them both unable to attack.]
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Knives necessitate close combat, but that brings all sorts of other things into play too.]
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The kick lands and Yusuke reacts only with a soft grunt of surprise, managing not to lose focus or buckle from it. Still, he's visibly being worn down, Keith has him beat as far as experience goes for sure.
...Though he's still reluctant to call it to a stop. He likely won't until Keith does... Hence he lashes out with the knife, at the same time he gets his other hand ready. If he can manage to goad Keith into clashing their knives again he's going to slam his palm up on his elbow holding the knife.]
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[Hey Yusuke, he's giving you his all here! It means he cares!
But it also means he's ready for Yusuke to try something, and he sees that knife come. Rather than meet it, he leans quickly back, tossing his blade from one hand to another, a quick, efficient little maneuver that brings his hand up, knife at the ready, aiming to catch Yusuke under the chin with the point of his blade -- just shy of making contact. ...he won't actually try to stab him since, you know, that might complicate their friendship.]
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He freezes the moment he feels the point of that blade positioned under his chin, his gaze darting down briefly... and then he loosens his grip on his remaining knife, smiling wryly as he allows it to fall.]
I yield.
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That was great. That was the best sparring I've had in a long time. You're going to be really dangerous with those before too long.
[Yusuke is impressive!!]
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