Raineh Daze — Roleplayer Guild

"You would think that a teacher would realise being a bitch doesn't help her long-term job prospects..." Kotone mumbled, pointing to girls at random before her opposing captain could do anything. She didn't really care for victory; so long as people got moving the class's purpose was served. Thus, pick people by the easiest method possible: point, make an indeterminate noise, and wait for response. So long as she wasn't utterly ignored, everything went fine and they could start fighting over getting a ball to a place.

Sports were stupid; they didn't achieve anything. Thus, she stuck with aikido... even though it basically took bribery to sustain a club consisting entirely of herself and no-one else; the previous third-years had left with nobody else joining, and thus the less-popular martial art had a club consisting of Kotone practice on her own. It was pleasant; definitely relaxing compared to her lessons in school breaks.

So, that thing I mentioned earlier...

After much agonising waiting, the challenger mustered the courage and resolve to pull the screen aside, revealing one of the most over-furnished room in the entirety of the imperial capital. The tatami was entirely lost beneath a sea of cushions, and enough looking made it clear that this is where the Demon herself slept, with the mattress itself visible barely beneath the omnipresent cushions, and enough clothes strewn about. It was, frankly, a mess; it was amazing that anybody was allowed to see the filth that the swordswoman surrounded herself with.

Yuki herself, of course, was easily seen; ensconced behind an enormous shogi board and draining the dish in her hand at regular intervals whilst she waited for opponent to move. So, the challenger thought, She passes her time with games and drink. This cannot be as difficult as reputation makes out.

"I, Kojir--"

"Another challenger?" the most visible of the two players asked, wearily setting her drink aside and rising to her feet. The Demon of Satsuma was swaying slightly; clearly she had been drinking for long enough to ruin her motor skills. In the challenger's mind, this would be a trivial exercise; her strength was evidently overstated. A one-armed drunk could hardly present the same challenge ascribed to rumour. "Fine. You have until this girl's next move to reconsider your death."

A minute passed. Yuki crouched and drained the remaining sake. Her opponent moved a piece forward, capturing another one of the samurai's pieces--her side definitely appeared to be weaker. But appearances could be deceiving, and in a game as vast as this, there was always room for a comeback.

"Not quitting? Your funeral," she said, grinning briefly in passing. The battle was to take place outside, where the blood wouldn't ruin the endless fabrics. A practical move, especially as the room in the outside world would give Yuki room to take advantage of her favoured weapon. The challenger concluded that, even drunk, the Demon wasn't completely bereft of sense

A small crowd gathered in the adjoining courtyard, waiting to see the so-called Demon of Satsuma take on her latest challenger. Those familiar with the proceedings were already betting with the newcomers--despite the illegality, they saw it as easy money to bet on Yuki against the armoured foe; even drunk they had confidence that it was easy money.

The challenger waited, sizing up his opponent. She hadn't even drawn a weapon--not even the uncanny odachi that hung by her side, trailing on the ground and doubtless restricting her manoeuvrability. Not that there could be too much of it at this point; the samurai girl seemed unable to stand vertically for any period of time.

"Well? Attack!"

Certain his foe had overestimated her own skill, the challenger seized the opportunity, going for a finishing move from the start: a simple overhead slash. Against an unarmed drunk, it guaranteed certain vi--

Yuki caught the sword between her fingers; the steel ground to a halt with the strangely indigo-haired female sneering down at her challenger.

"Another of Yoshioka's boys? Same stance, same leading move. Predictable. Boring."

So she kicked him away,

When the challenger had recovered his breath--and prepared to attack once more--his opponent had drawn her blade, holding it almost hilariously out of the way, as if inviting him to attack. But he wasn't going to make the same mistake twice; Yuki had proved that--even drunk and unarmed--she was still threatening to a trained enemy. Maybe her title was earned through more than fabrication after all.

Secretly, the man was glad that she had drawn the katana on her right hip and not the odachi trailing behind. If the reputation he had ignored was accurate, he'd be dead before getting within reach.

The two sized each other up for a moment--and then the challenger launched an attack, trying to use the advantage represented by still having both arms to break through Yuki's defences and, failing that, move round to her weak side in a flurry of blows. It was a sensible plan, the elegant woman's weaknesses weren't exactly hard to guess; from the missing arm through to the way she placed more of her weight on her left leg, it was clear that Yuki's right side was much more vulnerable than the dominant half.

Sadly, her challenger simply wasn't good enough. His onslaught was deflected with almost casual ease, the girl matching him blow for blow--and beginning to insert her own attacks. Before he knew it, the battle had completely changed, and he was left moving his blade from side to side just to preserve his life.

If he'd had more time to notice, he'd have noticed that Yuki was forcing him to make wider and wider blocks, leading his body open for a finishing blow.

Ducking under the predictable spinning steel--her normal swords could never make it through bone without being entirely shattered--and stretching, Yuki turned back towards her shogi game and half-finished bottle of sake. There was, however, a point that she had to address first.

"Someone here must know Yoshioka. Tell him to send his star pupils, not random hangers-on. I'm bored."

With that, Yuki returned to her game.

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