[center][b][h1]Minamoto-no-Yoshitsune[/h1][/b][/center]

[h2]In Combat With Assassin[/h2]

For most warriors, their opponents disappearing in front of their eyes would be cause for worry. Questions would fly through their heads. Where were they? How did they do it? What are they going to do?

Those are normal thoughts. Human thoughts. None would question a warrior for being at the very least surprised and being taken off-guard by such a thing.

However, unfortunately for her opponent, Yoshitsune was anything but normal, and just a bit inhuman.

Thus, three thoughts appeared in her head.

First. A spear appeared in the shinobi’s hands.

Second. She began the engagement with an ambush, and was struggling to even keep up in the exchange.

Third. [i]The assassin never stopped smiling.
[/i]

And so, she knew an attack was coming, and from where it was. Perhaps it was a disturbance of the air via sudden movements, perhaps it was something akin to a sixth sense, perhaps it was sheer martial skill and experience tipping her off. Or maybe, all three.

One should never let a spear user remain at range, as they merely can fend you off with the point. Thrusts were their forte, but spears like this with a long blade could be used for sweeps as well. Minamoto-no-Yoshitsune was rather versed in dodging and combating spearmen, and so, instead of leaping back--

She swayed, turned, and struck, dodging and countering the thrust in one smooth movement.

[@1Charak2] [@GreenGoat]