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(2 to 2 First one to miss a Roll loses.)

DC:15
Roll: 7+11=18


Xen wasn't disappointed. True a more cliche'd heroic answer, such as what he would expect from Kimiko, would have amused him more, in Xenon's honest opinion, there was no higher justification needed. If your convictions led to love something, to do something, then very rarely was another reason needed.

Xenon's wrist then spread in an arc as he returned the serve. "A simple enough answer. I like it." He chuckled as he suspected it was similar to the answer Saijo would give. Short and to the point. Yes it was fair to say that while he didn't really seem the type, there were very few sorts of people that Xen didn't like, and heroic types to Stoic types were in his good graces. People who he didn't like, well...so far he'd only met four. One was dead, and the other three were in a coma.
Pure coincidence of course.

(Actually, Xen would have had an even chance. His Spot skill is the same as Dash's Hide. 21. So since you won the Ping pong game, I'm going to assume Xen knew he was there. xd Unless you'd care to add the Hide DC after all...)

Xen's eyes flickered slightly, their golden surface glimmering as they sometimes did while the light caught them at the right angle. "Oh my, yes, you certainly surprised me, why... I'd NO idea you were there." The Irony in his tone was hard to miss. Dash was a far better ninja than himself, but while Xen would freely admit his enhanced hearing skills weren't what they should be, very little escaped his eyes. He was about mention he had no idea where Kimiko was, when the door opened.

Kimiko entered slowly, far more...high strung in appearance than usual...or at least, she seemed a different kind of high strung. "I'm here Sensei..." Kimiko said with a seemingly forced smile. "Sorry I got...side tracked."

Xenon raised an eyebrow slightly. Something seemed...odd about the way Kimiko was acting this morning. He suddenly had to contain his amused smirk. He looked like a shark smelling blood in the water as he welcomed her with a grin "Good Morning Momoe-san...you seem in uncertain spirits this morning, how unlike you..."

Kimiko burst into a state of defensive nerves, her expression seemingly hysteric "I'm not having strange dreams about you!! Why are you asking all these questions?! Get off my case Maboroshi! Geez!"

Xenon now looked curiously bewildered "But I never implied-"

"Well good! Because I'm not! And you make a Horrible evil vampire, so don't ever become one!"

Xenon had dealt with Kimiko for five years of his life, so he'd be completely unfooted by her bizarre behavior if he could, but in order to do so he'd have to be surprised. And not much could surprise him about her strange actions these days. "Duly...noted." he deadpanned, not sure how else to reply.

"Good!!" she seemed frantic, but after this brief outburst, also appeared to have gotten it out of her system. She smiled normally, facing the others. "So what are we doing to today Sensei?"

Xenon snickered, he supposed even Dash had his moments when it came to entertaining. "Why Dash-sansei, I can't believe that we're so utterly transparent, why, I'm blushing." Every ounce of his sentence was laced with a smug sarcasm, fully aware at the look on his rivals's face.

"WE'RE NOT! BUT THAT"S-! HE"S SO-! I'M GONNA KILL YOU MABOROSHI!" Kimiko's eyes looked like they were ablaze, her overly dramatic side inherited from Keisuke showing itself. "You're just saying that to make me angry!"

Xenon's sarcasm stayed at full "Oh no Momoe-san, my emotions, aha, come from the ahaha-" he burst into laughter "Oh I'm sorry, that joke was fun, but I can't say it with a straight face." he walked past Dash, his mood even further improved. "Shall we? My lady?"

Kimiko's hand grabbed her sword, her face looking like she wasn't going to need a jutsu to breath fire any moment. "Laugh it up Maboroshi, but your not going to think it's so funny when I beat you into the ground!"She then sped past him, heading to the open sparring area they's been learning jutsu at the day before.

Xenon chuckled following after her at a calm ease. 'While sooner then I anticipated... I suppose I should make the most of this opportunity. I'll see just how much her strength has increased.'


Kimiko stood in the sparring pit her arms crossed and her expression surprisingly serious, indeed she seemed almost intense. This was it. Maboroshi didn't have a choice now, he HAD to fight her, he couldn't just walk away from an superiors order... she'd finally force him to see she wasn't a joke. He'd probably still tease her and poke fun at her, that was just how Maboroshi was, but he'd finally have to admit she wasn't weak... she'd force him to acknowledge her strength...more, the strength of good, the strength of someone who believed in everything he scoffed at... Then, Kimiko saw his expression.

Xenon's casual smile vanished the moment he stepped into the sparring ground. Walking down the slight slope till he stood across from her, his expression made her's look positively carefree. His hand reached up as he spoke his voice monotone and almost drawl. "Whenever your ready to start the match then, Dash-Sensei..." he removed his glasses... folded them, and put them away within his coat. He then put his hands in his pockets, awaiting the start of the match with a taciturn gaze.

Kimiko was on edge now, her hand reaching up for her sword as her own expression hardened further. Maboroshi, he knew. He realized, just like she did, that losing to her would mean losing to what she stood for. And as she looked into his eyes she could feel his iron will resisting that possibility. He was going to fight her with everything he had... she felt a smile tugging at her lips. 'Good.'

The battle began, yet neither combatant moved, their eyes locked with steady intensity. There was a moment of silence. Both seemed to be waiting for something, waiting for the other to make the first the first move. "Heh," As Xenon let loose his laugh, his face breaking into a smirk, this seemed to be the true signal. Kimiko rushed forward, her Katana flashing from it's sheath as she charged, intent to not hold back.

What's was more though, was that she knew she couldn't let Maboroshi draw her into ranged combat. Her Grand Fireball Jutsu was definitely powerful, but Maboroshi's Senbon were something she'd seen first hand, and she didn't want to test her odds of avoiding them. Maboroshi's Taijutsu though, was always his weakness, if she didn't give him time to use his needles, she might be able to win this...

-5 cp 135 cp remaining.

Xen's hands darted form his pockets, forming a hand sign with lightning speed. With a strange flickering his figure seemed to divide, dopplganging itself as five more of him appeared, six of the silver haired youth now smirking at their approaching foe. Kimiko didn't even slow however, still swift as she darted within range and her feet never stopping, he blade whistled as it cut the air

Kimiko's attack 1: 20+18=38 (hit) (Clone #4)
Kimiko's attack 2: 16+10=26 (Hit) (Clone #3)
Kimiko's attack 3: 11+9=20 (hit) (Clone # 5)

With frightening speed three slashes flickered in the sun as almost simultaneously three of the clones exploded into smoke, the three remaining Xenon's leaping back out of range. Kimiko was about to give chase when their wrists flicked, and the tell tale glimmer of his senbon gleamed between their fingers.

Her grip on her sword tightened slightly as she stopped, her eyes flickering between the trio. She couldn't just charge blindly again. One, if she went straight for him, she'd make an easy target, but even then, she didn't know which was the real Maboroshi. If she picked the wrong one, she'd be wide open, and who knew how much damage Maboroshi could do with an opportunity like that given the chance.

"What are you waiting for Momoe-san?" The Xenon's said in his aloof manner. "Can it really be that your attempting strategy? I would never have thought it of you."

Kimiko didn't let his banter rile her, he was TRYING to make her mad, trying to make her slip up. She had to stay focused and in control...just like her mother. "Stop playing around Maboroshi, why don't you use one of those Genjutsu your so proud of?"

The three slid into mirrored stances, still speaking as one as they prepared to resume battle. "All in good time of course, but I would prefer to test your skills first. If I used a Genjutsu, I wouldn't get the chance."

Kimiko adjusted her own stance, preparing to avoid the volley of needles. Once she avoided him, then she'd have another chance to attack. Maboroshi was fast, but once she got within range, she wasn't exactly slow herself. "You'll feel really stupid about underestimating me when I beat you!"

Both Xenon's fell stern again, their faces betraying no emotion. "I'm afraid I cannot allow myself to lose this fight. You see, it would render my existence impotent..." Kimiko's expression broke into one of surprise. "You will fight with your all, and I shall crush you under heel. That is my will, struggle against it all you like...but your will is not nearly strong enough to resist mine." he let his smile slip through the faces of the clones "Not yet anyway."

Kimiko's face fell even more determined, "I'll be happy to prove you wrong." her muscles tightened as she readied herself. 'I'll beat you Maboroshi...I'll prove to you that your wrong. I'll make you see that your selfishness isn't real strength!' The battle resumed...



Bunshin no Jutsu:
This is a basic technique taught to ninja at an academy. In certain years, Ninja are required to know this jutsu in order to advance to the Genin level. Bunshin no Jutsu creates one or more clones of the user, which can be used as a means to create a diversion, distraction, or cause confusion. Unlike Kage Bunshin no Jutsu (Art of the Shadow Doppelganger), these illusory clones will simply disappear if come into contact, thus, they are without substance, and cannot do anything to damage the opponent.
Cp cost: 1 pt. per bunshin.
Damage: N/A
Requirements: Academy students learn it on the academy as a basic jutsu.
Special: Can create 1 per 5 points in Chakra control. Up to 5 bunshin can be created.

(forgot one)

Xenon's Attack 1: 21+18=39(Hit) (2 Senbon 24 damage)
Xenon's Attack 2:17+18=32(hit) (1 Senbon 12 damage)
Xenon's attack 3:12+8=20(Hit) (3 Senbon 36)

72 damage - 169= 97 hp remaining for Kimiko

Kimiko's Attack 1:20+16=36 (hit) (Clone #1)
Kimiko's Attack 2:16+15=31(hit) (26 damage)
Kimiko's Attack 3:11+7=18 (miss)

-26 damage - 168 = 146 HP Remaining for Xen


Kimiko's feet kicked forward, preparing to swerve in evasion at the first sign of his attack...but suddenly her eyes widened, stabbing pain lancing through her body as, to her alarm, two of his bitter projectiles had already been set free, one planeted in her shoulder, the other in her side. She sped forward faster, but her mind was racing as time seemed to stop. 'He's so fast... he launched those before I could even begin to dodge... I have to move quickly...have to-'

Yet Xenon's hand flickered as each of the three made the blinding motion of sending yet another. Which caught her leg. biting down to push through the pain, Kimiko finally made it within range of her chosen target, her blade tore in an arc, cutting him...only to have him vanish into smoke. Her eyes tightened as she braced herself for the attack she knew her failure meant. Sure enough she felt three more Senbon strike her, yet now she knew was he her chance he'd used all six of his senbon, now was HER chance. As swift as he blade she wheeled about choosing to duck around the nearest Maboroshi, and instead slashing across the other's chest...

She smiled triumphantly as the tell tale crimson of a successful hit met her gaze. This was the the really Maboroshi. She changed up her grip, changing the blades direction at eye cheating pace, but as she brought her sword back down for a second strike, Xenon's own agility made itself clear.

Whipping his weight back he narrowly avoided the attack, and he moved forward as if to throw a punch at her throat, only for his wrist of flick at the last moment, three Senbon appearing between his fingers faster than she could register, untill they already seemed in place.

The battle stopped in an instant, both combatants locking their gazes once more, Xenon's Senbon at her throat. The dust of the pit kicked up at their feet as it slowly settled from it's cloud, their battle in a dead lock.


Xenon's voice was even. "Give up...it's clear it's over."

Kimiko though, just gave him a defiant smirk. "Oh yeah?" The sword she had pointed to his midriff poked him and she enjoyed watching the subtle sign of surprise flit across his face. "I think they call this an impasse, isn't that right?" she challenged with confidence.

Xen suddenly returned to his smirk, his Clone vanishing in a burst of smoke. as he began to speak again. "And here you were berating ME about overconfidence..." his seriousness returned. "I could have ended this at any time, had I truly wanted to bring you down, I could have ended this before you even began to charge... the only reason you lasted this long was to see who your skills had improved...and I admit, your skill with a blade is impressive, had you actually hit ME with every consecutive blows, I'm not sure I'd have been able to avoid them even WITH my Shunshin...very impressive indeed..."

Kimiko still didn't back down, her own katana just as steady as his needles. "You may have been able to bring me down, but you didn't...you underestimated me. Had this been a real battle, just TELLING me you could've won doesn't matter...isn't that right?"

Xenon nodded, his smile reappearing again. "Oh Momoe-san, you're so amusing, I really am having trouble keeping a straight face... but your right, and I would accept this as a draw, if I hadn't planned for it."

Kimiko's face fell to look of subtle confusion "Wha-"

(Second Bunshin roll Xenon 1-3 Clone #2 3-6 ))

(Damage Xenon, senbon)