A Swordsmen Trains {Open}

[jukan]

It was a calm, quiet, and peaceful day. In the back of a swordsmen’s house, there was a set up training field. Swordsmen dressed in red, spiky hair, and what seemed like an angry, yet determined look on his face held a sword tightly grasped in both hands. He shifted his left wrist slightly, and left out a crescent shaped flame traveling at high speed, being emitted from his sword at a high speed. As he did it, he reputedly sent another one fractions of a second after the first one. He did this aiming at eight targets. They were made completely out of straw, and would catch on fire the moment contact would be made. After three seconds, he would sheath his sword and turn around. Only 5 of the 8 were set on fire, and he slammed his hand against the ground. “Damn it….not good enough!!!!” Jukan said as he turned around and looked. His sword pulsated loudly and Jukan simply places his hand on the hilt of the blade to calm it. “I know….I should have been able to hit all eight in three shots……I am aware I still need training to master such an art”

[Crystal]

Rebelliously, Lindai managed to slip into the Human Village and being a wolf, this was not a good idea. Even worse she's just a kid, not even 2,000 years old. She dashed across the street carelessly, trying not to be spotted. Lindai then put her furry hat on to make her look like a human. The only problem was her long tail. Lindai was goig to have tha spotted. Saying "It's fake" would help unless the person tries to pull it off.

Lindai heard some cries coming from behind a fence in someone's garden. Lindai dashed over to the fence then bounded upwards and grabbed onto the fence's top. Lindai saw a swordman aiming fire at piles of straw. 'He's nuts.' Lindai thought. 'If he misses he could burn his house down. Lindai then tried to clamber down from the fence. She fell backwards and landed flat on her back. "O-off!" she grumbled getting up.

[Genshuku]

The mere presence of fire piqued Honoo's interest. If there was a fire coming from anywhere but the Bamboo Forest, Honoo would be the first one to see what was making it. It tended to make her a pest when someone made a campfire, but she was a stronger fairy than most, and could actually beat some of the people that attacked her to make her go away. And on top of all of this, she actually had an intelligence to speak of. It wasn't big, but for a fairy? Huge. Just, huge.

One would not expect this when she came flying by, her fire wings actually activated for once. Looking down, she could see someone having a fiery* temper. And of course, as Honoo had thought, something was burnt. It wasn't just his temper*, it was also a few targets on the ground.

It looked comfortable.

So she went in one of the fires. The fire got slightly bigger, as Honoo was a fire fairy after all. It's also why she wasn't burning alive. Matter of fact, it WAS in fact comfortable, so she laid down on the target (which by now was probably laying, crumpled on the ground). For once, she wasn't being hot-headed*. Of course, this was because she was laying in a fire with summer approaching. Life was good.

This guy was thinking differently. But she really didn't care.

*(These puns make me want to burn myself, dood.)

[jukan]

He heard the loud "O-off!" sound coming from the child who was watching and trying to figure out what was going on. Jukan simply closed his eyes and snickered. “And what do you want?” Jukan asked as he waved his sword, and extinguished all the flames. “If your thinking I was about to set the whole woods on fire, your wrong….I control these flames with perfect precession…. They would go out within 5 minutes, and never spread unless I willed it…..” Jukan explained as he walked around, and noticed the fairy examining g the now extinguished flame. He replaced the burnt straw with new straw dummies, and decided, just to be nice, to light one of the straw dummies with his blade. It was out of the way of his main targets, but he figured she would be more content and out of his way if that was what he did. He walks back over to the girl and holds his hand out his hand to help her up, if she would indeed Accept his hand, his eyes were kind of cold, but his voice sounded more calm and relaxed then his own facial expression.

[Crystal]

Lindai tilted her head to one side. "I'm not trying to cause any trouble. I'm just exploring!" she said confused. Lindai walked over to the swordsman. "Anyway, I think this isn't a good idea. " Lindai spotted a fairy with flaming wings lying on the ashes that used to be straw. Lindai flicked her hair behind her ears then sat on he grass.

Ignorantly she pulled out a book then began to flick through her book reading bits about fire frequently. "FIRE, SPREADS QUICKLY." she read another sentence. "DON'T PLAY WITH FIRE." "FIRE CAN SPREAD GASES." Lindai read. She kept on reading not noticing the fire.

[Genshuku]

On noticing that her firebath went away, she was rather disappointed. But before she decided to say anything, another target lit in flames. Before he could move his hand, she was already at the next target. Fire is nice. Maybe she could thank the person...later. Now, it seemed that someone said that playing with fire was a bad thing. Nonsense. It's time to lecture the book. And later, set it on fire.

"Fire is fun, and a wonderful method of attack. Sort of like when someone says 'Don't play with sharp objects', what do people end up doing? It only spreads quickly if there is a good amount of fuel, both in the air and on the ground. If there is a lack of air, you would probably be in an enclosed space and be dieing due to fire, not the gases. Silly people."

Well, she just showed above average intelligence. But it WAS on the subject of fire, so it wasn't really surprising. Now that she was in her firebath again, she yawned a bit. In the fire, no less. Did she not need air or something?*

*(Lots of people don't die while in outer space due to lack of air, dood. Though they would probably die to cold and imploding first, dood. Still, dood...)

[jukan]

Jukan chuckles at them both. The fairy was quite knowledgeable, and he was impressed. But then again, the fact the fairy was bathing in the flames he had created was enough to make him realize she knew what she was talking about due to being some sort of fire fairy. “And don’t worry about me….I have control over my flames, I know how this works. My friend and I know how to handle things if they DO get out of hand. Besides, I’m sure our little friend over there would be able to help if I do make some mistake…” Jukan’s sword pulsed and he snickered. He grabbed the girl’s hand, and pulled her to where he was standing earlier, but back and to the right a bit. “Stand back….this is a training exorcize my friend and I developed, it’s meant to help me control all my flames at once.”

*__*

_*_

*_*_

**__
Layout Diagram

“My goal is to light all those on fire without setting anything else ablaze. Now then, just stand back and watch……” Jukan says as he Slowly unsheathes his blade. He would look over at the fairy once more to see if she was observing. He was aware that fairies like here would neither be considered foe nor ally, but he knew not to mess with or disturb her as he trained. Finally after a deep breath, he launches a crescent shaped beam of fire from his sword once again. With only slightly better results. Jukan sheaths his sword, and his blade pulses. “I know I know.,…”

Results

X__*

_X_

*_X_

X_X_

X*__

X = hit
* = miss

[Crystal]

Lindai watched as the flames skimmed towards each target. 3 of them missed and Lindai was very curious to see if he would be able to set all of them on fire witout anything catching fire. Lindai then saw the fairy still in the fire piles.

Lindai knew that he had to set something on fire the way he was going on. Lindai closed her book then put it beside her feet.

[Genshuku]

And so Honoo relaxed, watching someone set things on fire. However, she was not quite impressed at the show. She could probably set EVERYTHING on fire, and that was generally better. Matter of fact, it was better. But for now, she kept quiet, and instead played around with a fireball that she just created. Perhaps she would find a small reason to fight with these people or something. True, she went into the firebath to relax, but now she was getting bored.

...

Well, that was fast. But that's typical of a fairy.*

Was that a large beam of light in the distance? Maybe it was. Eh, probably nothing important.***

*(Did you know that fairy has 3 letters of the word 'fire', dood? How about that...**)
**(I try, dood.)
***(Rika came back. Nothing important, dood.)

[recon5]

A few feet away, Ran silently descended and stopped with the tips of her shoes a few inches off the ground. Having finished her chores early, she had been on the way to pick up something nice from the human village for Chen when the blasts of fire had caught her attention. She was surprised that Keine hadn't appeared to stop the swordsman because firing off danmaku in the middle of the village wasn't exactly the safest of activities.

On her way down, Ran had spotted two fairies enjoying the spectacle. One of them was a well known but relatively harmless trickster and the other was one that Yukari had told her shikigami to watch carefully if she was nearby. They seemed to be harmless enough today, though, so the kitsune decided to let her guard down just a little. From the position of the sun in the sky she deduced that she had a few hours left before needing to prepare dinner and she decided that sparing one of them for some small talk wouldn't hurt.

Keeping her arms crossed in her sleeves, she waited to see what would happen next.

[Crystal]

Lindai's cap was really starting to ich her ears and her tail was starting to feel cramped in her dress. "Anyways bests gets goin'" she saidthen she tried to climb back up th fence. She did a flip which sent her clumbsily to the other side. Lindai knew something was missing.

Her hat was snagged on the top of the fence. If she left it, all the humans in the village would spot her but if she went to get it everyone in on the other side f the fence would spot her. Lindai then had an idea.

She quickly grew her canine teeth to their normal size. She jumped up the hooked her teeth into the fence. Lindai then felt around at the top of the fence for her cap. She felt that smooth furry sensation then pulled her hat down.

After fixing herself up Lindai dashed back towards the gates. She then snuck out of the village. She knew that the next stop would have to be somewhere exotic like... The Moon! Lindai remembered that at her age it would be practically impossible to get up there and that even if she did the Lunarainians would start their snobbiness.

Lindai thought that going to the Border would be a good place as she could see what she read in the paper. Maybe all the weak youkai would be there and she was not weak. Lindai had the power to turn into a werewolf creature so that had to be linked with some of her other strengths. Lindai knew that her adventure was going to be great.

[jukan]

Jukan realized people were starting to gather more and more and he left out a sigh as the flames burnt out from his last failed attempt. “If anyone has their doubts on whether I am allowed to do this sort of training safely, look on the left side of my house entrance next to the door….this area is protected from stray flames…..” Jukan explained to everyone as he started placing new targets. His sword pulsed loudly, and a nerve bulged from his forehead. “I’m not in the mood right now Usamane……” Jukan says as he continues the replacing of the straw dummies.

we hereby grant Jukan Hirokutora with this license thus allowing him to train in his fire arts in his own backyard. Wherever this posing is placed, flames within a 30 foot radius cannot be caught on fire, this includes any forests, or any type of area which is considered dangerous when “playing” with fire

[Genshuku]

And Lindai was off, and Honoo watched her go.

And watched her leave her hat behind.

And then watched her hook her teeth to the fence to get at her hat.

Of course, she didn't see anything odd about it. I mean, she was a youkai as well as that person was (though more people used the more specific terms, it was fairy for herself).

She then noticed the kitsune flying overhead, which was not important to her, compared to what she saw afterward.

A rule. Against fire. Of all the...

She was actually ticked off about that rule*, and it slightly showed in both her manner and voice.

"Who actually makes a rule against fire anyway?"

*(Even though, you know, fire isn't allowed anywhere in the human village to begin with.)

[recon5]

Ran didn't say anything to the man's claims of fire protection as she felt there was nothing to be said. Indeed, the surrounding area was untouched by the flames. As she was unable to sense Mokou or Keine's power at work she assumed that the spell or barrier that was keeping the surroundings safe was the work of humans. That was quite impressive in itself and Ran began to think that she would have to correct her existing notions of the average human's power.

Ran had yet to see anything like this being done in Mayohiga but that might be attributed to the fact that the humans there were completely safe. The lack of threats meant a lack of motivation for the humans to develop stronger spells and techniques. Perhaps she should ask Yukari to bring in a few dangerous beasts every once in a while to strengthen the residents. Combat might also be a good diversion to keep her mistress awake for longer periods of time.

As Ran thought, she continued to remain motionless in mid-air, still waiting to see what else would happen. She didn't notice the wolf Youkai leaving but she noted it after the fact. When the fire fairy began to get agitated, however, she inwardly raised her guard and prepared to react immediately if things got out of hand.