The blue skies seemed to carry a gentle tranquility and the gray clouds floated silently by. The sun was partially covered and by its position, seemed to be some time in the afternoon.

"Onii-chan..."

A feminine voice mumbled.

"Why... why did you have to go?"

Tears outlined the bottom half of her cerulean eyes eyes and drew two curved line down her slender cheek. Her arms were wrapped around each other holding her knee while she sat a top a rock, larger than the rest, staring past the ocean and into the infinite horizon.

"why..."

And she sunk her face, so soft in skin tone, into her arms holding herself even tighter as though trying to comfort herself. The waves crashed and the air was filled with the ocean's salty aroma. Her bare feet, toes, wriggled slightly as she sat with her bakini top and jeans, ripped to make shorts, bottom. Scattered behind like a trail were her gears, her clothing, almost a sure sign she came here to mourn and to wallow in her memories, their memories.

Other than herself and the crashing beach, there seemed nobody else neither on the beach nor in the forest behind. A few crabs crawled the sandy floor but her mind was elsewhere, crying, mourning in pain.

As the sun slowly moved across the sky, it left a shining ray of light on the ground beneath it, casting shadows behind the obstacles in its way, which stood out in complete contrast to the light.

Blending in the shadows sat a man in armor, seemingly sleeping and holding a glass of golden beer in his right hand which was resting on the ground. His mouth let drops of drool pass down his face and soak his clothes beneath his metal torso.

A bird, specifically a crow, swooped down and placed itself on his golden torso. It looked into the man's closed eyes and twitching face, lowering it's beak to attempt to taste his flesh, until the man awoke. The crow responded by violently flapping its wings and shooting off into the blue sky above.

In response to the crow, the man spilled his glass of beer on the ground. He cursed, and groaned as he struggled to get up.

"What a party..." he said, "I need to recover..."

((was our previous post so bad to deserve a 2 star rating?))

In the midst of her sorrow she heard a noise. A man, clad in armor, lay drunk on the ground. How dare he! On her beach! On their beach! Technically she didn't buy it but the emotional value it had to her, the memories that were created there, drew her to the conclusion that the beach was hers. If it was anyone else doing anything else she would not have minded so much but he... he was defiling her sacred memory.

"Vile men."

And she lifted her hand waving once. The waves grew larger, grew higher, grew taller and threatened to crash down faster like a miniature tsunami... big enough. Not meant to kill, no, she had seen enough deaths, but meant to punish, to wake him up to realize his blasphemous act of defiling her her sacred grounds.

"You deserve it."

She mumbled to herself.

The man seemed recovered enough to get up from the force of the wave that hit him. However, his beer glass was nowhere in sight. The ocean water seemed to have woken him up, enough to walk straight despite his heavy armor. The golden stain on his torso was washed away by the ocean, and the clear, hot sun dried it away.

His hearing recovered as well, for he could barely hear a quiet mumble along the beach, a mumble of a young lady sitting on a rock. He looked closer, seeing she was scrunched up, her hands wrapped around her knees, and her head pressed against it. But the man could care less, for he had to return to his castle not far out from where he stood.

He suddenly heard the lady mumbling again, a bit louder than before.

"Vile men..."

He twitched, listening to the insult with his increasing heart rate. He turned around to see the lady looking at him with eyes like a snake.

"What did you say to me, young lady?" he called.

Neither he nor she escaped the big wave. She was drenched just as he was. Her long hair was dripping water and her clothes, what scarce cloth she had, were also drenched. Her gears seemed to be washed away no longer in sight but regardless she glared at the man 'with eyes like a snake'.

"Oh I'm sorry, did I speak too softly? Apologies, let me repeat myself then. I said. Vile. men."

By now she was no longer sitting down on the rocks but walking towards him. Her bare feet felt the cool of the rocks and then the sand. She approached him, standing in front of him and, though not nearly as tall, glared up into his eyes.

"Am I wrong?"

She dared, challenging him.

The lady stood under the man's face like a climber on a mountain. She looked up, with the same glare as the man down on her. His heart raced faster, as he inhaled and exhaled a relieving breath that calmed him.

"You're a cocky little one, but brave I must admit. A girl like you challenging a high class warrior like me. But tell me, do you even know who I am?"

His chest puffed out, making him look bigger than normal. His armor moved with it, however not bending.

"I am Dialgo, the champion of the North. I am honored in my clan as the strongest, bravest, and most charming in the land. Only a handful of men challenged me and lived to tell the tale, so what makes you think you can beat me? Please, tell!"

He lifted his eyebrow, at the same time as he lowered his head to match the lady's, and held out his ear.

So the appetizer were to be verbal swordplay. She will not lose at playing sharp tongue. Her pride would never allow it. Her eyes smiled a devil like smile, devious, cunning, daring, and wild. It was obvious she had something to say. And her gestures backed her words, laughing, shaking heads and sighing.

"Who you are? I don't care what dial up you're from. Though I must say... most charming? People of the north don't have much taste do they. Oh how I pity them. They must not have very good men up in that cold. Sigh."

Then she turned and walked a few steps while sighing. Then she paused as though to make an emphasis. Without facing Dialgo, she continued.

"And honored?"

She turned around.

"What honor does a man, who lay drunk in broad daylight, have?"

"You understand little in life, you fool. What would be the purpose of telling you of my dignity? Nothing! Because you're a naïve little girl just getting a taste of life. You know nothing about being honored as a champion. In fact, you will never be!"

Dialgo walked toward the girl, breathing heavily but trying his best to calm down. He stopped, looking down on him with the same glare.

"If you think you're so confident, let's see what you can do. I will show you my power!"

He reached for his side, grabbing a leather handle with a golden dragon head on the end, and two golden dragon wing-like bars that stretched out from it. He pulled it out, exposing a long, silver blade that shined from the sun's reflection.

"But I will tell you this. I'm not so gullable to believe I can't hurt a girl, and I will not fall for your beauty and charming excuses. You're just another insect that is just a nuisance to me and I will stomp on!"

He readied himself, getting into position and holding his sword across his chest.

"C'mon!"

((Do forgive the insults, its my character's personality paired with the situation...))
::Sarah Nakamura::
"So? You have new insults but you don't have replies to mine? Silence is golden. I guess that does say something doesn't it?"

Sarah smiled a obviously fake smile.

"My point exactly. You lift your blades at the slightest sign of disgust. Such barbarians, that's why I said. vile. men. And of all things, you raise your blade against a lady who has not even an inch of metal. Not much of a gentleman are you? To think, the great dial up champion defeats a little girl who had not even an inch of metal on her, oh that would be good news. Where would your 'honor' be then? The great champion has to challenge someone smaller than him, not even, he has to challenge a girl to win. You're right, I know nothing about being praised for violence and murder. But you may not know so much about honor either, certainly more so when you are defeated by a little girl.

But you're not all bad. At least you have good taste. Understanding my beauty." ((major cough, lol))

Nakamura smiled and nodded, bowing a lady's bow pleased with her own remarks. Then she turned around and walked a few steps away.

"So you think you can fight little boy?"

The waves crashed against the rocks and the sandy beach and one can almost hear the non-existing drum rolls, music, in preparation for the battle that will finally begin.

"Let me show you the true way of the blade. By the end of our therapy session, I will make sure your legs cringe at the very mention of the word Onizan."

Sarah turned around and waved two fingers. From the ocean six blades, hung on a leather belt, flew towards her. Gauntlets, extended with blades, slid itself into her forearm and then legs. Long white cloths wrapped around her body to hide her skin and she unsheathed no blades from her belt, now attached around her wrist. Telekinesis? Did she have that kind of power up her sleeves? In truth, no, but that was how it appeared.

The swords were fine katanas with leather grip and sewn designs that was fancy though not outrageous considering her gender. Her wrist blades reached to her shoulders and her calf blades seemed much more like a half ax instead.

"Can you make me unsheathe all six katanas little boy?"

Closing her eyes Sarah relied on her hearts eye as taught by the teachings of Onizan. Bending down Sarah took position obviously to make a sprint. Yet her body was bent down so low that it might as well be kissing the ground were it not for her legs supporting behind. Then, with left arm as guard, she burst forward with an amazing speed. Even a bystander could tell the speed was at least a direct result of her running form. If she was running in a linear fashion, it may be possible still to counter her, but she was obviously well trained. For her legs jumped at irregular intervals forcing her body left and right, sometimes faster ahead and sometimes not, aiming to breech their distance without giving him a chance to track her location and strike a deathly blow.

A little girl she may be, but small mass also means bigger speed. What would he, the great champion, clad in armor, soaked in sea water within, do? Oh she really don't suppose that metal goes well with water, especially if there are wet garments of any kind within to weigh him down further.

Dialgo noticed Sarah's speed and grinned wide enough to reach his cheeks. As he was taught in his kingdom, speed is only an illusion. He concentrated, eying Sarah's six blades attached to her wrists and the expression on her face. To him, now, she was only running normal speed. He dodged her blinding attack with ease, his anger quickly fading.

"I do apologize for my vulnerability to your words. I admit, I'm not much of an insulter."

As he dodged, he noticed Sarah was still running.

"You're pretty quick, but I learned something in my training, 'speed is only an illusion', I can dodge anything."

He stopped in his tracks, digging up the ground with his feet due to his speed. He watched Sarah run by, his thick arms crossed. His sword was still in his hands, and he gripped it tight, readying himself for any other tricks Sarah had up her sleeve.

((um... Sarah didn't actually attack yet in that previous post. But that's alright.))

The sand danced, as though to a music of staccatos, as her feet tapped and vanished from the position leaving only a small gale and dust to replace her presence. Then, breaking distance, as that was her intent in the previous post. She bent forward almost as though she tripped by her own speed. Yet, if her eyes were not closed, Dialgo, standing ever so ready with his sword in hand, would possibly have noticed the gleam in her cerulean eyes.

Be still.

Sarah thought in her mind. 80% melee, 20% magic. Here was the 20%. Activating her water element she force bound the sea water that had soaked Dialgo's garments only a minute ago, aiming to effectively restrict his movements if even for a split second. For the split second was all that she required. Telekinesis again? Slipping pass to behind Dialgo Nakamura spun on her hands like a top with her legs flying in the splits position driving her heels forward. Her target was clear, Sarah's aim was the back of Dialgo's knee where the slightest attack should easily force him to fall forward and kneel. Oh if he was forced to kneel how much it must hurt his pride!

After a single spin, still restraining his garments, Sarah pushed off the ground tilting the 'top' and redirecting her heel up aiming to attack his right armpit. You can't train your armpits can you? Of course, she'll have to remember to wash her leg seven times over after the battle. Spinning once in that fashion vertically, the 'top' rolled back landing on her feet before Sarah quickly, in one fluid motion, performed two back flips to increase the distance. Yet her legs, as they cut the air, performed the second of her Onizan seven. In explanation kazegen, her move, creates a wind similar to when you wave your hand to blow out a candle. But with training she had honed her body to force a gale far stronger and far thinner, enough to be a cutting blade of wind.

Taking ready position she shuffled her feet circling slowly around Dialgo on the sand watching him with her hearts eye paying attention to not only the physical environment but also the flow of mana around her. Most curious to her mind, however, was how much damage she had dealt with that first combo? Otherwise, if this was a turn based rpg game, it would be his turn to make a strike.

The sea gulls circled above the ocean making their sea gull sounds as though they were spectators cheering for their own favorite fighter. The waves continued to crash and then retreat and the fresh salt ocean smell filled the air with its aroma. The battle has only just begun.

Dialgo watched, shaking his head and chuckling. The thing Sarah spent all her time attacking was only a rock shaped like him, color and all; that is, until the water attack soaked all the color off. The rock clone of himself broke into pieces, leaving clouds of dust spraying out of the structure like miniature geysers, and fell to the ground, making craters in the sand below them.

"I see how you fight. Now I must be more careful, I guess."

He cast out his hand, lifting the remains of the stone pieces from the ground, and formed a fist, crushing them into a shape that looked like a sea urchin. With it's nail-sharp spikes all over, and it's density increased, the object hovered with Dialgo's command. He made three more out of the other remains, each with different sizes, and directed them to his side, spinning them around him like an orbit. Soon, the spiked rocks reached an illusion-like speed, leaving only a phantom-like trail for where they were determined to be.

Once his new weapons were ready, he charged, focusing on his opponent and controlling his balance as his sword stood at his side. The sand below him rose, making a sandstorm big enough to blind his victim within a diameter of 5 steps of running speed. The "urchin balls" flung in all directions. There was a small chance of Sarah dodging them, or for finding Dialgo and his stealthiness.

((by the way there was no attack with water))

So round one, verbal sword play goes to Sarah. And now round two, mostly melee, was also scored by her.

Shuffling her feet across the sand the sound of chuckling suddenly alerted her attention and Sarah swung her arm in a wide arc as through trying to protect herself out of instinct.

"I see how you fight. Now I must be more careful, I guess."

With that Dialgo prepared himself seemingly to rely not primarily on blades but on magic. She knew that if she remained 80% melee and 20% magic, the power offset could cost her the battle. Still, it would be interesting to see how much power, a mere number, he would conjure.

Sarah unsheathed three blades, whose handle were still wet from being washed away by the sea water, and allowed two to hover. At first, they were merely floating, but then they rotated spinning faster and faster creating a circular blur like that of helicopter blades. Her cloths as well, moved slightly to cover the final areas of her skin seemingly mummifying her. Sarah never did rely on her eyes, not since the battle started.

In position, Nakamura's left hand held the blade above her head and pointed it towards Dialgo. Her right palm was near the sword tip and her knees were bent. Her form was definitely one in preparation for speed. And this speed is not just an illusion.

By the time he was ready, so was she.

He charged towards her; and she waited for the right timing. Then in a sudden burst of speed Sarah disappeared from her position flying forward towards Dialgo. Yet this time, she did not force her body left or right. Without losing momentum to the diversion tactics, she maximized the speed she could gain without assistance.

Timing was everything.

In less than a split second, she was already in his mini sandstorm. She had waited for him to close in enough before she began her rush. The sea urchins bashed itself against her helicopter blades and were deflected away. Her heart's eye, the first of the Onizan seven, told her of his location and her body, at max speed, went forth. Immediately as she entered the sand storm, she thrust forth the katana to forcing its thrust power exceed her own speed breaking mach one and thus the sound barrier aiming to pierce the center of Dialgo's armor and then body in one clean strike.

Sarah had unsheathed three blades. But only one was for actual battle and she remained true to melee combat. Percentage wise, it was now 70% melee and 30% power.

((Counting tuffguy1992's teleport/clone escape usage: 1))