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In all honesty, this was Preacher's favorite time of day. The instructor paired them off and simply told them to fight until one or the other fell. For Preacher, who knew every dirty trick in the book and then some, sparring was just plain fun. She had to admit it was not as fun if someone larger than her managed to pin her. Although, there was no real chance of that happening today. Her partner for today was young and tiny, smaller than even Preacher's 5'3". Something scratched at the back of her mind... the girl looked familiar, although she couldn't quite place it.

"'Lo, I'm Preacher." She stuck out one hand in greeting and grinned crookedly. In deference to her smaller size, Preacher decided she would like the other girl attack first. Such consideration was never offered to people like Shun, who knew exactly how to fight. Without warning, the instructor called out the beginning of the matches and she began to circle the smaller girl. From the look of her, Preacher would have to be careful not to just obliterated her. And sparring just wasn't as fun unless it was drawn out. "Ok, c'mon at me, then!"

But the walls. That reckless charge looked so familiar. Suddenly, Preacher remembered and groaned. The book, that foolhardy girl in a book costume from the parade. Axel had gotten so mad when Preacher had smacked her away from their fight. Even though she was so tiny, Preacher still didn't feel any guilt over it... Lenore had interfered. Wasn't she friends with the blue-haired girl too: that busybody with a heart of gold?

Lenore was clearly just not very good at this. Preacher's lips thinned. As the bookish girl approached, Preacher deftly snapped her hand around that thin worst and turned, letting Lenore'es own momentum flip her hard onto the dusty ground. thump. Preacher almost face-palmed. The girl had all the talent of a small bunny. But still, Preacher had a soft spot for tiny little girls. She imagined Alec's sister Ashley wouldn't't be able to fight either. "Gerrup, Lenore." she singsonged. Preacher had decided that, just for today, she would play teacher. "You're small n' light; ya gotta use it unless ya wanna die. Try going for my legs."

The girl was absolutely hopeless. Preacher let Lenore partially connect, but the girl just hit her glancingly. Suddenly, Preacher stuck out her leg and tripped the tiny gir. As she wobbled forward, Preacher's arm struck out straight across, flipping her onto her back. This was getting them nowhere. They were supossed to be sparring, but Lenore clearly needed the basics. Scratching her head, Preacher thought for a second. "Bookgirl, have ya ever fought atall before? I dun wanna jus' wipe ya out over n' over n' over. How's 'bout we try first by teachin' ya a real punch?"

If this were still back in the Eastern Alleyway, Preacher would just lay into the girl until she learned to defend herself. But... she wasn't sure that would work here. Especially not under the eyes of the instructors.

It was a good question. Preacher huffed out her breath and set her hands on her hips. The girl was willing to try and that was great, but... "Right. Uhm. First off, I think ya gottsa learn how ta punch proper-like. Your fist gotta look like this - see?" She held her hand out and curled it into a fist, thumb eased in front of her fingers. Without preamble, she grabbed Lenore's hand and pushed her fingers into the same shape. "Also, yer small n' light, so you wanna keep moving when ya fight. You get pinned, you're dead. C'mon, punch me wit alla your might might." Preacher tossed her hair behind her and bent her knees slightly.

"By tha by, sorry 'bout back-handin' ya during tha parade," Preacher said offhandedly. She winked at the girl and raised her hands, palms out, for Lenore to hit.

Preacher relaxed her muscles as the small girl glared and charged forward. Whoops. Looks like she remembered that back-hand. LEnore was horribly unskilled, but she could hit hard; it seemed as though she put her entire weight against it. "Oooh. Alright. Good, good. Ya gotta do lotsa little hits, dance out of the way. 'Nore, ya ain't strong, you ain't gonna get strong, so fast is it.Think about surprisin' your sparring opponents."

Preacher paused and scratched her head. "Um, I'm not right sure what ta teach ya. I'm no good a teacher or anything. I kin beat ya down iffin ya think you'll learn. Or I can grab another kid n' beat him? Whatcha wanna do? S'up ta you."

Some sort of fire went out of the girl. Disappointing. For a brief moment, Lenore had almost seemed... angry or something. Preacher shrugged. Well, Lenore had asked for a beating, and Preacher would give what was asked. She looked at the girl intently. "Okay, I'mma gonna come at ya, n' I want ya to act like iffin ya don't defend yourself, I'll kill ya. Pretend your life is in tha balance." And maybe if Preacher punched her enough, she'd learn?

Suddenly, Preacher moved. She was so used to fighting people larger than her that she found herself pulling punches instead of hitting. But still, she danced around the girl and kicked out at the back of her knees. Then she was on Lenore, knocking her to the ground and Preacher drove one fist into the girl's gut, waiting for her to fight back.

The side of one of Lenore's flailing fists connected with Preacher's shoulder and she let out an ooph. If she learned to fight, the girl could be a hellion. But, as is, the tiny bookworm would be clobbered in seconds. Grinning, Preacher caught Lenore's arm as it waved ineffectively. "Think 'bout where ya hittin', dun jus' wave about, tryin' ta get lucky!"

Grasping the girl's jacket, Preacher lightly popped up and pulled Lenore up after her. "Do it again. Ya got one hit in, but ya kin do better. Think. I'mma gonna come fer your middle again. Protect yourself!" And with that, Preacher sprang into action again.