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For some reason Shiori's genuine feelings and tone drew out a real curiosity about the supposed increase in ability when you had something to protect. Potent enough that he made a mental note in the back of his mind to possibly start a quest to find someone worth fighting for. He swished his tail and watched as the archer took the shot and hit it dead on. She really was quite the archer. His charming little smile returning to his lips as his eyes took in the beauty of the female warrior. Focusing his gaze solely on her face as she broke the short silence. His smile widened and his tone was tinged with pride. "I've had many battles, I cannot remember them all."

Zenjiro smiled and small chuckle escaped him as she apologized for quoting her mother's teaching. Unlike the notion for becoming better just because you have someone to fight for making you better, the words were something he agreed with. With little formal training he had learned much though battling, especially lost fights. Not that he would ever admit he wasn't just naturally awesome. "No, apology needed." He replied with sincerity. If he wasn't so stubborn he may have voiced his agreement with the teaching, but his pride blocked the words. He watched her retrieve her arrow, his tail swishing causally. Upon her return he met he curious gaze, his own glinting with interest as she spoke. The corners of his mouth turned up in a cocky grin. "That sounds like an excellent idea. A sparing match with a warrior of you're caliber should be fun." His calm words still held a note of excitement. He hadn't seen everything this female warrior, Shiori could do, but from what he had seen a match against her would most definitely not be boring. Even though he still believed that he would win.

Zenjiro's tail lashed excitedly behind him as she basically challenged him to see who the better warrior was. "How about now?" His tone cocky and his eyes glimmering with excitement for a fight. "You'd better not, cause I won't hold back either." he countered her confident words with his own. He had seen what this archer could do and would bring his 'A' game in a match against her. However, his only motive behind such a fight, or really any of his fights, was just for the thrill of battle and the taste of victory.

Zenjiro's grin remained in place and his pose shifted smoothly into a fighting stance. One hand lowering to rest upon the hilt of his katana as she raised her bow. "Why thank you." He respond politely as his eyes watched her as intently as she was watching him. His tail twitched and in a rapid blur of motion he stepped forward unsheathing his blade to make the first testing strike. He had been in enough fights to know to watch the fighters style and use it to his advantage.

Zenjiro's adrenaline really started pumping as she fired her first arrow at him. He was quick to move to the side, but at the close range it still glanced his ankle. It didn't slow him one bit as he continued the sideways motion to swing the blunt side of his katana at Shiori's side. His simple ever present as he enjoyed each passing second of the sparring match.

[quote="F a l l a c y"

Zenjiro was thrilled that she seemed to be enjoying the fight as much as himself. He grinned at her as her bow intersected with his blade. Then as she pushed his blade aside and moved back, he moved with he motion of his sword and rolled to the side before launching like a cat from the grass for her other side as she knocked another arrow.

Zenjiro's eyes gleamed and his smile played at his lips. He had been in enough fights and his eyes where sharp. Shifting his footing he slid to adjust his position while simultaneously flipping his katana around before skillfully swinging is sword in a upwards, horizontal slash.