Sōjutsu with Zyanya (private class)[Fin]

[Kuyoja]

Standing in the gymnasium, Kuyoja stretched out on a matt while he got ready for his scheduled class and it was with a student he had met once before. Zyanya, the praying mantis girl. She had been in his self defense class and had figured out most of her personality from the one class. The tough girl, trying to be a tomboy but certianly liked to flirt. And certianly did not looking weak.

He had been surprised to find she had requested a class with him he hadn't gotten the idea that she liked him much. But that didn't matter to him. Like or dislike, if she wanted a class he was willing to teach. He had the spears ready to teach. He wondered what exactly drew the young girl to this spefic feild of melee combat. He guessed he would of find out as soon as she showed up.  

[jayoku]

Zyanya came to class looking less than thrilled to be there, her green dragon was very close to her side, since his conversation with Ellie the silver dragon he wasn't very fond of Kuyoja, though it certianly wasn't anything the teacher had done.

Zyan had wanted to take this class because with her extra legs she thought it would be useful to learn methods of 'spearing' that way she could adapt the skill to use her extra legs as a weapon. Everything on the offense, and since spear prey was one of her skills...she thought it couldn't hurt to hone the skill.

"Yo." She state as she entered the room and spotted the teacher warming up. Is this all he did in his spar time?  

[Kuyoja]

Kuyoja didn't look at her as she entered the room, for one her rude greeting was not earning her any sort of bonus points...not that he used that sort of system, but he finished his routine first before finally turning to address her.

"You have come to learn the art of weilding a spear." He more commented than asked his hand waving to the rack of weapon's behind him. "You are not ready for a true weapon we will start with a bamboo one." He continued with a brisk nod of his head moving to grab it.

The quiet pad of his walk was a bit unnerving to people, especially since his size seemed to suggest he would be a loud walker.  

[jayoku]

Zyanya looked more annoyed, she didn't want to learn with a bamboo spear she wanted to learn with her extra legs. Trying not to spit back a reply she finally just walked after him sulking. She reluntantly took the weapon from the man before looking it over dubiously.

"So...I am suppose to learn with this...?" She asked holding it in one hand, it wasn't heavy she wondered how useful this was going to be. Well...if she were lucky she would be able to use it with her apendages as well.  

[Kuyoja]

The man looked the girl over and nodded his head. SHe was brass this one, nearly as bad as the cobra boy. But he wouldn't judge them. As long as she tried to learn then it would all work out. Taking his own spear in hand to waved her to follow him. She was not wearing the best of clothes for this...but at least the skirt wasn't too long. Still inappropriate...he had half a mind to make her change but doubted the class would go over well if at all if he asked.


Moving over to some matts he turned to face his student again before lowering his own bamboo staff. Despite its mythological ties, the spear was never particularly popular with Japanese warriors. Possibly due to the fact that the spear left wounds that were frequently lingering, rather than immediately lethal, the spear was identified with a personal character of arrogance or ruthlessness. Somehow this information seemed to relate to this young woman rather well.

The staves were very long. Much longer than most glaives. Looked nearly like stilts just much thinner. He spread his feet apart lowering the tip of his weapon to touch the ground. A standard standing posture.

"Now imitate me. Come stand at my side." He instructed.  

[jayoku]

The mantis girl looked over the weapon in her hand and thought the man was nuts. This thing was insanely long...what was she suppose to do with it? Do long distance poking? Scowling she gripped the weapon and turned to walk over to Kuyoja and stand beside him.

She didn't stand properly like he did instead she merly stood there the tip of the wepaon onthe ground mostly cause her arms were getting tired of holding it up.  

[Kuyoja]

Kuyoja looked over to her and noticed her rather lack of interest and forced himself past it.

"Your feet need to be spread like this." He instructed showing the proper distance his feet were to keep himself balanced. "As much as it seems a waste of time all these techniques will help you in your future classes." He prompted as he then readjusted his hands on his spear. He lifted the tip of the ground and looked back over to make sure she had repositioned herself.


 

[jayoku]

Rolling her eyes the mantis girl did as she was told if a bit reluctantly. It did feel more comfertable standing in the position he had told her to do. She looked over his feet her good eye sight was often helpful in these situtaitons. She mimicked his position perfectly before she sighed and lifted the butt of her own weapon off the ground.


"Okay...now what? I poke someone with this ..?" She asked sounding rather sarcastic.  

[Kuyoja]

Kuyoja choose to ignore her comment and instead continued on with the lesson. "The point of the spear is to be able to strike at long distances. Your choose this class so please pay proper attention." He chastised her as he then took a step forward it would be noticeable now that there were some dummies set up opposite them.

Taking some powerful strides forward he came at the dummy fast and easily punctured its soft straw body. It was impressive. He had thrust his arms out level and the end of his weapon had peirced where the lung would of been. Taking the weapon out a bit awkwardly he looked back over to Zyanya.

"I want you to practice this. I want you to take as few strides as you can towards the dummy before you thrust the weapon. The point is to conserve the energy into the thrust. Excessive movement would only waste vaulable energy."  

[jayoku]

Getting the 'point' as it were that her off-handed comments weren't going to egg the teacher on she only scoweled again and looked over at what he had done. It didn't look to hard....


As she listened to him explain she smiled, for he didn't know about her increase speed ability or the fact she knew a little magic that could make her faster.

Without saying a word the mantis girl took her weapon in hand leveled it off in the air and strode forward, the clicking sound of her wings opening snapped into the air there was a buzzing sound as suddenly in a blurring move she had thrust her weapon forward. She...hit..it in the thigh. A terrible aim...but had hit the dummy non-the-less.

Trying to pull out the waepon she found it much more difficult that putting it in there.  

[Kuyoja]

Kuyoja had to resist the urge to sigh. He had been surprised by her sudden burst of speed. So she could move fast he should of realized that children from this cooperation would be equipped with more than the norm.

"You moved quickly...but I don't advise you keep doing that until you get the hang of it. Your aim was off, until you get the feel of the weapon and its weight you need to move slower. " he murmured moving over to then help the girl take the butt of her spear out of the dummy.

Once he had free'd it he looked back at her and then moved to his original position at her side.

"Try again."  

[jayoku]

She looked annoyed as she got help when she didn't ask for it. She hated getting help...it madeher feel weak and pathetic. Grasping the weapon she moved back to where she had stood before, her face a tinge pink as Kuyoja basically told her that she sucked at this.

Growling she made a vow to prove him wrong and using her speed again thrust towards the dummy.

She missed completely this time and ended up barreling into the dummy instead. There was a loud crash as the girl suddenly found herself on the floor.  

[Kuyoja]

Kuyoja didn't say anything as suddenly the girl was off again. Stubborn this one was. He didn't offer to come pick her up off the ground instead he merly stood there waiting for her to stand back up.

"As I had said. Slow down, get a feel for the weapon first...then you can increase your speed." His tone was level, the amount of patience he had must of been astounding.  

[jayoku]

Getting frusterated the mantis girl picked herself up off the floor wanting to throw the weapon as far as she could manage to hurl the thing. This was a stupid class. She had wanted to learn spear fighting to use for her extra legs. Not this joke of a class!

Not bothering to pick up the dummy she stalked back over to the teacher glowering at him as she approached, the spear still in hand funny enough. She couldn't bring herself to just leave it one the floor.

"This is ridiculous!" She spat.  

[Kuyoja]

Looking over the girl he shook his head slowly. He had expected as much from her. She had so much potential....she just..wasn't patient enough and wanted instant results.

"You need patience in this skill. You could become very skilled at it. YOu just need to give it time." He explained in a tinge of weariness seeping into his tone. He waved back to the dummy that was laying in a mess on the ground.

"Please go pick up your target, then we can continue."