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Fall had officially started, school was well underway and Ellicott found that night came quicker now that she had decided to become active in the war. Tonight she was to practice what she had spent the last few weeks learning, hoping to surprise the older senshi with her improvement. Even after class she practiced the basics, just like she did for dance. Once you know the basics, you knew the foundations for so much more.

The young senshi shivered a bit as a chill wind whipped around her bare feet, a few fallen leaves dancing around the empty park even as a distant church chimed the hour softly. It was surprising just how empty the park was even on the weekend once the night truly fell. This was good for Ellicott since it meant her and her teacher would have privacy as they trained. No one to watch and wonder… No one to interfere. Not even Sherlock since he was at home snoring away. Ellicott shrugged a bit in her jacket as she waited, all senses open and searching, at least she would warm up once she started to move.



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Fai had talked with the young girl, a lot, over the last few weeks. Since their first meeting he had helped her get set up for lessons, ensuring she would be able to fit it in time wise, he offered her help with her school work as well. Anything to help her succeed, it also gave him something to do with what little free time he had.

Knowing he would be meeting with the little senshi of dance he had left his home early, to make sure he arrived on time, he took the time to power up and prepared himself further for their meeting. He had bought other shoes with himself when he left home and now once he was powered up he changed his geta for the slippers which fit better, and were easier to walk in.

His steps were light and sure as he came into the park, sensing the little one already he headed for where they had decided to meet. Smiling when he saw her. “Are you cold?” He questioned. Perhaps she should have come with something else on? A hoodie or something warmer? Though moving, practicing, would generate body heat so perhaps no...she might over heat in a hoodie. “You’ll warm up soon - promise.”



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She knew he was coming, she could sense him so when he drifted into the grassy clearing with no more sound than the leaves she wasn't surprised. Bowing slightly, closed fist against open palm the way she was taught, Ellicott greeted him, “Sifu.” The moment of seriousness was broken when she giggled and stood up straight.

“I’ll be fine once we get started. Might even have to take off the jacket I grabbed before heading out.” The red zippered sweater blended fairly well with her uniform skirt, if it had been patterned one might have never realized that it wasn't what she normally wore. Her eyes flicked down to Cetus’ slippered feet and she winced slightly, “I did however forget my shoes so we will have to stick to the grass.”

Even after being a senshi for so long she forgot about the biggest hinderance for her when it came to fighting, her bare feet. Granted it wasn't like she had gone out much before now and besides it wasn't like she didn't need to learn barefoot just incase she got into a fight where she didn't have time to put on shoes. “Anyway, I'm ready when you are. Whats first today?”



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“Ah.” Bowing in return, his hands taking up the same position hers had when she had greeted him. He had not expected that from her, he had no reason to. He knew it was taught in the school where they now both attended, since she had started lessons there, but he hadn’t expected it to carry over to here and now. Though he wasn’t upset by it either, it was cute in all honesty.

“Yes, you might.” Thankfully, at least right now, his uniform lacked layers and showed a good amount of skin while it was also form fitting. He wouldn’t have to worry too much about fabric in the way, too tight, or over heating. “That’s fine, I just can’t work in the shoes I have when I power up. Geta are not something I enjoy walking in, I never encountered them till powering up, and they are no good for this.” Geta were Japanese and he was Chinese, he’d never had a reason to encounter the wooden sandals. That would be like putting him in male hanbok - it didn’t fit. The cultures some would think similar, very similar, but they had a lot of differences as well.

“First, I want to know how you are enjoying lessons. And then we will move through some of the focusing exercises to get ready for anything else.” The most basic way to start any lesson, breathing and moving and relaxing oneself before doing anything more. He also wanted to know how she was doing, and he was hoping she might have made a friend or two also.



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Ellicott found it strange that their uniforms weren’t exactly created for fighting. He with his shoes and her with no shoes at all. Could it be because of their ‘homeworlds’? Could their uniforms be typical or even ceremonial outfits and not created at all with the intention of fighting in? It would make a lot of sense if that was the case. There were several things she wished she could change with her uniform, the lack of shoes being high on that list. There was also the sash that normally hung down at her feet, gathered with a heavy bead. It threw her off the one time she tried to actually combine her dance with fighting so now it was tied securely around her waist. Not hindering her movement much but at least not in the way. Maybe Cetus would have some ideas how to deal with it in a more permanent manner but that would wait until after their training.

“I like it. It is interesting to see the parallels between Kung Fu and Dance. I’ve even improved on my balance and spacial awareness.” The meditative techniques they used also helped her in retaining control over her emotions when they got bad, although that only happened a few times when she had slipped into memories of her mother. With a smile she shifted into the starting stance and took a deep breath, filling her stomach in a controlled inhale from her mouth. After a moment she released the air through her nose in a steady stream only to repeat the process. It was a action she had known before but had become much better at it. It allowed her to control her breathing and heart rate as well as inhale more air. There was a lot of scientific stuff behind the deep breathing but Ellicott didn’t really remember much from when her dance teacher talked about it several years ago.

After a moment or two of breathing, mostly to calm her nervous energy, she looked over at Cetus. “Ready to start whenever you are.”



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“You will, martials arts, in general, has some aspects of dance like you’ve seen. It is an art and a way of moving the body - a fluidity.” He said gently. “Some styles take influence from animals, such as crane style like I take and now you. There is tiger, praying mantis, snake, monkey and other forms of kung fu. Each draws inspiration from the animal it gains part of it’s name from. But martials in general has some ties to dance, some more than others.” It was one things some people would never think - never realize. But it was true and those who took one, or the other, seriously would see it. Those who took both...were sure to see it.

Watching her he fell into a loose stance as well, making sure he was well balanced. “Whenever you wish - come at me. I will block and I want you to attack. I want to see what you can do.” Smiling, golden eyes watching her. He was proud, she would do well - he could feel it. He would help in whatever way he could so she would do well, both as a civilian and as a senshi and not just with martial arts.

For a moment, a split second, he wondered if he got older he should start teaching martial arts himself. Seeing another, like Ellicott, learning and being able to help...filled him with some sort of warmth. Maybe he’d just help senshi and knights, he didn’t like the idea that he might unknowingly teach someone on the other side of the war.



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Ellicott hesitated for a moment, even though Cetus said to attack the whole point of the martial arts she was learning was for self defence. At least that was how she understood what the Sifu ment at the class but she understood that she had decided to learn to fight to do more than just protect herself, she wanted to protect others. Logically that meant she had to attack first sometimes. Besides this was just training so it wasn’t like it was against the credence of the class, it would be like when the older kids spared or when the teacher spared with another teacher. The moves might be learned by rote but one wouldn’t know how to combine them the best way without practicing with others. After taking one more calming breath she attacked.

Speed, precision, and balance. Those were her keywords. With a gliding move the combined both dance and kung fu, mostly the later, Ellicott struck at him. She was hoping for a palm strike to his chest, upset his center of balance and send him stumbling. It had her full force behind it, not only her physical strength but momentum as well. Her right knee was bent and about even with her striking elbow while her left leg was stretched out behind her both balancing her as well as adding force to her strike. There were many ways to deflect this kind of attack but it was one of the few she knew she could pull off flawlessly.



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He saw it coming, he could brushed it aside with a hand, but he let it connect and took a step back to rebalance. She had certainly put everything she could into it, that he wasn’t expecting. She would certainly going to do well, she had promise. Rebalanced and space between them he smiled down at her. “Good, like that. You go for the weak spots, as you did. If you have to start a fight you want, especially true for you, to disable quickly. Hits like that - with your full force backing them. They will help in doing that.” So would throwing a person off balance.

He doubted many would expect a chibi senshi to be taking martial arts and even so there was little chance they’d expect a child to look to disable and think while fighting - to pick their target spots for attack. They’d likely expect a child to go for foot stomps, kick between the legs, and the basic things you expect from any little child. What you saw on tv so frequently or from spoiled children pitching a fit in a store. Ellicott would be different...she’d learn and go for weak spots and make sure she stopped a fight before she could get hurt...or so he hoped. He didn’t want to see her hurt - she was a child.

“Come again.” This time he changed up which stance he was in.

“Tonight I will have you attacking me. The next time we meet I will have you avoiding, blocking, and repelling my attacks. I want to focus each meeting on one aspect - rather than try and cover them all. If we do it this way we better focus and cover each area.” And he motioned for her to come again. He could still feel that first hit from her but he ignored it, he was proud of her, as he waited to see what she would do next.



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Ellicott’s smile was wide as she watched Cetus take a step back. Her hit landed squarely and apparently with enough force to make him have to rebalance, he was ready for it too. The warm glow of pride lasted as she got back into her starting stance, a stance that left her balanced and yet was able to transition into all kinds of moves. She nodded as Cetus talked about her first attack. He had a point, if she ever got into a fight she needed to finish it fast. She would not likely have much advantage after the first bloom of surprise faded. She was smaller than most of her potential attackers, younger, lighter, and not as strong. She might have more stamina but it would be a long shot. Overall she was seriously disadvantaged so the sooner the fight was finished the better.

All of this went through her mind a split second before he told her to attack again. The only problem for her was that she didn’t know too many more moves. Her brain whirled with ideas but it stuck on the idea of taking an opponent down fast so after biting her lip for a moment she shifted into action.

Ellicott went in low, much like the leg positions as before but much lower and reversed. Her leading leg was stretched out in front of her while her body was crouched down, nearly to the grass, as her back leg mostly supported her weight. From there she shifted forwards and up in an explosive manner. Her right hand, which had been open and by her front leg arched up even as her entire body moved. She was aiming for the bottom of his ribcage, hoping to drive an open palm against it as she shoved up and out with her body. It was pretty much a repeat of her first move but since she was coming in from below, logic dictated he would go up and back rather than just back. Her move finished with her in the same position as before, right leg bent at a right angle, left straight behind her, her left hand always in a position to defend or counterattack.



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Ellicott was smart, and had a good idea. Again, he watched her movements and saw it coming. He was surprised by how low she had dropped though, that part he wasn’t expecting. But when she did and came up that fast he knew what the result would be. Enough practice, enough years, and tournaments told him what to expect and braced for it as he did move this time. This time he moved to avoid it, and just in the knick of time, as he ducked and bent backward in order to avoid it. It was a quick movement made by the dark green haired male, straightening up he was smiling more. She was fast but she was young. She would have that advantage, at least against some. Her height and being small may help also...if she could get in close. She could make it hard for someone with a bigger, longer limbed body, to get at her.

She was however at many disadvantages in this war, which he hoped would fade with age as she would get stronger and taller. He was hoping she would be able to gain more ground against those she would fight in the future, all he could do was hope and that was typically against his nature to do.

“That was impressive. I was wondering what you were doing going so low. Then I saw. A good idea.”



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As soon as Cetus reacted to her strike Ellicott pulled back. There was no point in pushing her advantage since they were just practicing. It wasn’t even like they were sparing, not yet atleast. He had years of knowledge to her few days but she had something he didn’t… years of dance. In a move that was more dance than Kung Fu she moved back to her starting point only to settle into the ready stance she had been taught. A small smile flickered across her face at his praise, “Yes well I remember some of the things I was taught in school, namely something called Newton’s laws of motion.” The smile bloomed fully and full of amusement.

“Every action has an equal and opposite reaction,” she explained. It might not have been completely accurate but it was fairly close. “It was just like in dance. Once you get a spin going you can truly hurt someone if you kick out at the wrong time. It’s the movement that adds force behind the strike.” It was something she had tried before… only to end badly when she failed to factor in her bare feet and the stupid sash. “I figured the lower I could go, combined with a fast upward thrust would be basically the same.” Ellicott shrugged and added, “I’m glad it seemed to work.”



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“Yes, that is a rather useful less in many things.” He said nodding his head once to her. He was glad to see her responding and doing well. If the war ended he hoped she would keep with the lessons, if for no other reason than she would by then, he hoped anyway, she would be good at it.

“Something to remember not just in this war, and in fighting, but yes that law does hold true and not just in motion but in actions.” Thinking of the attack they, senshi and knights, had brought against the Negaverse at the start of the year. There was bound to be an equal but opposite reaction - the Negaverse would attack with at least equal force. It would bring about a reaction from their side...and it would keep going like a pendulum going back and forth as each side would try and go beyond what was done to their side. No middle ground would be found..not unless someone broke the clock and stopped the motion.

“Yes, the same I’m sure can be said for cheerleading.” As much as he disliked it, they could seriously hurt himself or someone else due to the movement and force behind a move. Those who considered that not a sport...we deluding themselves as far as he was concerned. “It did work. Remember to always be aware of your weaknesses...and strengths as well as those of your enemy. You are smaller and faster...you balance will be better than someone bigger. Take advantage of these things - always. Do what you did now. Nothing in a war is underhanded.” No, any trick or tactic to survive, even if it wasn’t exactly an honorable thing. With a war some things had to be put aside in order to live - to fight smart.



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Ellicott nearly had to bite her tongue to keep from chirping ‘I know’ since her friend was a gymnast as well as a fighter. She was so much better then Ellicott though that even going patrolling with her made the young girl feel inadequate. Cheerleading wasn’t quite like gymnastics, she honestly believed gymnastics took more skill, but she understood his point. “Yes Sifu.” For now her opponents will likely be larger and stronger, she will have to be faster and more precise. She will have to perfect her attacks that will knock her opponents down or atleast off center. Once someone is down it's much easier to keep them there, or to leave if it is a better option.

“Um, Sifu?” She hesitated to ask but after a moment she spit it out, “Should we continue?” She wanted to ask about patrolling but Ellicott felt like she wasn't good enough yet to really go out without Sherlock’s help. But the young chibi was also very aware of the auras they both were emitting, she knew that they were sitting targets as they practiced. Cetus could take care of himself, she could too, but if their training was done for the night why push their luck. Silently Ellicott wondered if her father or Sherlock realized she wasn’t home right then. If they knew both males in her life, her dog and her dad, would be going ballistic with worry. Run away just once and apparently it really makes a parent paranoid… go figure.



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At her calling for his attention he nodded once, so she knew she had it. With her question Cetus responded, a bit quickly though calmly “Perhaps we should patrol. You can put some of your skills to use against a youma, if we come across one.” He suggested as he reached forward to lay a hand on her shoulder. Smiling down at her and knelt then so he was closer to her height. “I’ll stay with you tonight, and any other night you want. You can just call me.” He would go out more often so he could properly watch her, and know if she called.

“Come on, let’s go. I’ll get you home soon enough but a short patrol should be good. You can cool down and if we find anything we can deal with it.” Between the two of them if they encountered a youma it was dust...a Lieutenant would be wise to leave the fight, unless they were well trained. A captain...that was reaching territory he didn’t want to yet...at least he didn’t think he did.

Stepping back from the little senshi he motioned her to follow him as he headed off toward the park's exit - time to get patrolling.