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Ah, you're Shion's student?

(How exciting. He hasn't had a chance to spar with Shion yet despite watching him fight.)

How exciting! Let's practice together.

I guess, kind of? It's not that serious, though.

[ And he's Gojo-sensei's student, actually. ]

You're definitely going to be better than me!

You might be surprised.

(Maybe not in the way he might like but a surprise is a surprise.)

Besides, are you going to give up every time you meet someone stronger than you?

No way! That would be stupid.

[ Unfortunately, Yuji Itadori is the king of being stubborn, so... ]

I'll show you what I can do!

Not at all. It may even be wise.

(Pick and choose your battles, Yuji Itadori.

He stretches, hands folded behind his neck and when he pulls his arms away, there's a scatter of cherry blossoms followed by a bright light behind him. His sword now rests across his shoulders and he smiles,)

Please, be gentle!

(He's just an old man. Look at his hair.)

Huh?!

[ What? What?

Cherry blossoms...?

Yuji winces a little. What has he got himself into? This is like a boss battle from a video game... ]

Yeah, you too!

[ He has his sword ready, and Wasabi is chirping above him... For Tsurumaru, probably. ]

(Cherry blossom petals, Yuji. He brings his sword in front of him and draws. It's a longer sword compared to most average blades so Yuji will have to deal with that range.

He steps gracefully, circling closer to Yuji like a predator stalking prey... and he charges right for him without any warning.)

[ Woah!

Yuji shifts, leaning back and dragging his own sword up quickly, just in enough time to block Tsuru's charge. He doesn't, at least, seem to move or be pushed back by any weight that the other man puts on the blade, frowning. ]

We didn't even say go!

[ Then he's leaping back, dragging his sword forward and swinging in for his own hit. ]

Most enemies won't!

(He puts as much weight as he can behind his sword, trying to get Yuji to buckle and fall back but the boy holds his ground. Of course, in a contest of strength, Tsurumaru isn't the type to usually win. His strength has always been his skill-- the way he moves, the control he has over his attacks, his ability to slip away from enemies as if he was water slipping through one's fingers, and... ah, Yuji pulls back and instead of doing the same, Tsurumaru charges ahead.

He's relentless. He'll run into attacks if it means keeping his opponent on their toes,)

Most of our foes can't even speak in this world!

(He raises his sword to catch Yuji's blade with his own but it isn't all he does... he raises his leg to kick the boy in the shin. Hard.)

You're not an enemy!

[ Not that he's complaining that seriously, since he knows it's good practice. Curses - and Sukuna - won't give him a warning before going for him, so this is something that's worthwhile to spend his time doing. He lifts the blade again to protect himself, and he's pushing down on Tsurumaru when he feels the sharp kick to the shin, making him cry out.

Unfortunately - for Tsurumaru, at least - if it's only pain, then Yuji Itadori is relentless.

He doesn't flinch more than the sound he makes, shoving his weight forward and trying to overpower Tsurumaru that way. The closer he gets, the more likely it is that he can pull this off, and as soon as he gets close enough he's leaning in to try and slam their heads together.

Even in a swordfight, Yuji using his head means a literal headbutt, not his mental fortitude. ]

Because we aren't enemies, you expect an easy outcome?!

(Because from his experience, he knows that isn't the case. It's the allies that prove to be the most difficult. The friends that are the hardest to forgive.

He expects Yuji to recoil from the kick but the boy holds his ground. Is his pain tolerance high? Is there more to him than what meets the eye? He can't really sense anything coming from him that would make him think he was anything but a boy but...

He doesn't have time to think on it. He's calculating his next move which is probably why when Yuji headbutts him, he takes the hit and lets out a growl but still manages to swing his arm at him as he pulls back. It's a wild swing thanks to being stunned but it's still a punch aimed at his face just to keep Yuji from getting too close.)

That hurt!

(It really, really hurt and he glares at Yuji. This is going to leave a mark.)

You're stronger than I thought, too.

(... And he flips his wrist, turning his sword so the blade is facing Yuji instead of away. He'd been using the flat of his blade as a safety measure but now he's going to really aim to hurt him.)

No, that's not what I meant -

[ Yuji takes the pain, takes the hit, because that's what he was built for, a physical blockade that has him standing up to anything that he comes face to face with. He's felt so much pain over the last few months that something like a hit to his shin or forehead doesn't even hurt that much any more; his attention goes on trying to overpower Tsurumaru and get him pinned somehow.

If only he was as good at using his brain as he is at using his head to smash into things.

The punch hits his face and has him swinging to one side, the grip on his sword loosening a little before he adjusts his stance, swinging the blade around to see if he can go for Tsurumaru's legs and have him faltering. ]

That's the thing I've got going for me!

[ He doesn't even recoil from the blade, just lets it cut into him so he can bring his around and aim the heel of his foot into Tsurumaru's ankle, to try and get him weakened and off balance. ]

(It will take more than a careless swing at him to throw him off guard. He's a natural swordsman with over a thousand years of experience to draw from. In response to Yuji aiming for his footing... he only leaps over Yuji's kick and he brings his scabbard up to swing at Yuji along with his blade. Surprise... he can dual wield.

He aims for Yuji's head with his scabbard and his side with his sword. While the blade may be the more dangerous weapon, the scabbard is going for the more critical target so he wants to see which one Yuji will prioritize.)

[ Fists might be his preferred weapon, and it's probably obvious how willing Yuji is to use his own body as a tool to get what he wants, but he is doing his best. He frowns as his brain works in overtime, battle instinct overcoming him - protecting his head and face is more important, and he shifts, lifting his arm up to cover the vulnerable place while trying to angle his sword to block the other blow.

He doesn't expect to be all that successful, but -

wincing, he staggers, ending up falling a step back and breathing out sharply. ]

(Luckily for Yuji, Tsurumaru isn't planning to actually destroy him. He takes note of which target Yuji chooses to prioritize and

He pulls back his sword. Suddenly, there's space between them and he keeps his sword raised, pointing at Yuji only to lower it to show he's finished. He doesn't move and gives the boy a moment to catch his breath and come down from the high of the fight,)

What would have happened?

(If he'd really gone for the slash, too? What did Yuji foresee happening? How would he have reacted if it had gone through?)

I would've taken it, probably?

[ Is that so weird? Is it that strange, to take a beating so you can try and get the upper hand? Yuji shakes his head absently. He's used to being hurt while he ducks and weaves, taking a punch so that he can lean in and hit with a Black Flash or something. It's just normal for him.

Wiping his mouth, he sighs and leans back. ]

You're way better than I am.

...

(He doesn't speak but it's clear he's thinking about something. He would have just taken? Let himself be cut and slashed for what?)

You would have eventually bled out if we kept going.

(He slightly raises the hand holding the blade,)

Whereas with your strength... (He holds up his scabbard now,) As long as you could recover or get away quickly. you'd only be stunned for a moment.

You have a wild style, Yuji-kun. I like it.

I would've been fine. I can heal myself, can't I?

[ This does not bode well for Yuji's attitude in real fights. ]

I know what the best way for me to fight is, and it's giving it my all. I'm not the best with these kinds of weapons, and I know I rely on other things too much. That's why I wanted to practice.

[ So he doesn't have to use headbutts to get what he needs in a fight. ]

You could use that energy for other things instead.

(It's just a waste as far as he's concerned. But then again, Tsurumaru's style has always been more about not getting hit and being able to strike in the right places. He doesn't have Yuji's crazy strength or the qild speeds some others have. He's just has a lot of skill and enough of everything else to be dangerous.)

Most humans fight for their lives instead of giving them in fights...

I don't think I'm like most humans.

[ There's a lot to unpack there, actually, and Yuji doesn't want to get into it. The idea of being a human fighting to live doesn't necessarily resonate with him these days, and he shakes his head as he rubs at one of the cuts, hoping that it heals up sooner rather than later.

People would get worried. ]

I'm working hard either way.

You've worked hard enough for now.

(And he comes over, his sword at his side and one hand raised to show he means no harm as he approaches,)

Rest and let me see your wounds, Yuji-kun.

Edited 2024-03-17 14:56 (UTC)

Oh, sure...

[ He could keep going... Tilting his head, he breathes out a little and smiles weakly. ]

I can heal myself, though.

Even so, you should take the time to rest while you can.

(He's checking out the damage he's done and frowns. Ah, maybe he was a little too harsh? No, if anything, he could have gone harder... Hm.)

Shion is a better teacher than me. (He knows his own style. He's horrible.) But if you wish to train in the future, you can find me.

I guess... There'll be another mission soon, won't there?

[ After the animal hunting one, he's expecting them to be sent off to fight some kind of monster soon. ]

Shion-san said he'd help me, so I'm going to keep working on it. I don't mind working with you too, though, if you were around!

All the more reason to rest.

(He's not budging on this.)

Burning candles during the day is a waste. (Of time, of energy, of resources.) If you burn without taking a break, you'll be left with no candles when night falls.

(Which is just a fancy way to say... don't burn yourself out. Rest is important to avoid burnout.)

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