Shadow Boxing in the Dark-Closed-

Vallen wasn't the kind of person to give into taunts or goading. HE was a focused and driven child who's only concern was not falling behind his rival. That being said, When Kentai taunts him it works with out fail. It's not that Vallen flies into a rage and fights blindly. It's more along the lines that he was able to release the feelings he holds in while he fights Kentai. The two release whatever they hold inside them from the day and what ever they have left and just throw it into sparing. It's probably why they both excelled in Kenjutsu above their peers. Only this time he didn't have to use a wooden sword. he could train for real combat with his weal weapons, and that's what he intended to do.

Be careful what you ask for,Kentai. He said calmly as he learched into a forward run, to the left of Kentai 's blade. He ran quickly taking deliberate steps. His right hand came down with the sword tip,pointing it to the ground. Then just before he got with in range, Vallen thrust the tip of the katana for the spot to the left of Kentai's blade. All the while his left hand hand tight to his Wakazashi to defend against an upcoming attack or even make a second attack. It all depends on what Vallen wanted to do.

Vallen was always a cautious fighter who at the same time wasn't afraid to risk harm for a pressing advantage. As he moved for the attack, his eyes staying closed. His mind envisioning Kentai's reactions. The weight of the metal felt good, for real than the wood. It made the whole training session worth it. hearing the metal sing through the air,slicing the wind as he moved. it was so incredibly different than the hollow whooshing of the boken. His opponent may have been god knows where for for the time being, as far as Vallen is concerned, Kentai is right here to cross blades with him.

Vallen's sthrust was, as expected, deflected with enough power to set Vallen off balance. A smile spread against the solitary boys face. A passer by from his clan walked home from his duties in the village happened to pass the spot where Vallen decided to train. Being a member of the same family he knew Vallen well and could tell what he was doing. It was what he always did, Trained with Kentei. Only now something was different, Vallen was not his usual self. No one starts a fight with a thrust or a kill shot, let alone at his skill level. The man only watched as long as it took him to get to where he had to go, he didn't stop or dawdle. He just watched and knew something was wrong with Vallen, he didn't normally have this kind of aura while he fought. Vallen was genuine hurt that his friend had left with out him and the only way he knew how to deal with that, was to " Confront it directly"

As Vallen envisioned his friend, he could help but grow more and more angry. Not only at his friend for leaving him behind but because he knew he was going to be left behind in more than one way. Kentei was out exploring the world with a group of escorts and here was Vallen, still scrubbing floors and sweeping paths, tending the rock garden, the actual garden. The clan chores, which he is picking up Kentei's share of as well. Ever though no one told him to. Vallen didn't have any other friends, no one was worth his time so he just spent his time thinking of all the adventures Kentei must be having out there in the world. It was this anger and resentment that fueled his blade and body for this little training session. Vallen was, if only a small amount, glad his friend wasn't here right now. So he couldn't see the effect his absence had on him.

As Vallen's torso was moved to the right, taking him from his stance. Vallen watched as he prepared one of the four basic moves that they teach students. This was Pass, a high speed maneuver that allowed one to move about the battle field and time attacks accordingly. Something he knew Kentei loved to do. Ever the Heir, Vallen knew Kentei would try and teach him the lesson of his first move. A lesson Vallen knew too well and had anticipated.  Vallen and Kentei both knew they others strength and weaknesses and it's been pointed out that they work together against someone almost as good as they work against each other. The fact that the two were more concerned with thinking up strategies against each other plans no small roll in that. Not gonna be that easy Kentei Vallen said coldly as his body rotated swiftly, using the momentum from the parry to increase the speed of the rotation, if only slightly.

Spin was also one of the basic moves that one learns as a student. It is generally meant to be used to avoid attacks but neither Vallen nor Kentei were what you would call the normal students. As his body moved in a spin and Kentei rushed towards him with his blade parallel to the ground, Vallen's left hand moved the wakazashi to intercept the forceful atack, using his forearm to take reinforce his blade and deflect the blade upwards.  With that clashing of weapons Vallen's rotation was once again sped up, if only by a small margin. His right hand, holding the katana raced towards the mid section of Kentei's hopefully up turned arms. Vallen's closed eyes and furrowed brow  never opened or softened as he aimed his attack for the space between the ribs and hip bone.

Vallen knew he made contact, and vital contact it was. Piercing his left side meant a few things in Vallen's favor. That his swings couldn't have the same arcs or the same power. Not to mention that he would be losing blood at a fairly constant rate. The fight was over. The Shadow of his friend healed and was at 100% before he even landed behind him. This was the benefits of shadow boxing. You cold fight forever and ever and ,with the right opponent, can die a thousand times, learning a thousand lessons. In that sense Vallen and Kentei were ahead of their peers. There constant,no holds bard, no quarter given style of training has taught them more than their fair share but they remember every one of them. With every lesson cam a bruise or welt. Every failed or ill conceived attempt was met with pain and understanding. Because of this,Vallen and Kentei were destined to go beyond their peers and eventually beyond everyone, if they keep the lessons learned in training close to heart and mind because they were definitely ingrained on their bodies.

you see what leaving gets you?! Vallen said out loud. His hands squeezing his weapons in anger. He couldn't control how he felt. He understood that emotions were going to happen, it was all part of being human, being alive. It was what we did with those emotions that defined us as people, or so he had been taught in school. you can do the same thing, sing different emotions as your reason and get drastically different outcomes. One had to remain calm and sure, not allowing emotion to cloud or befuddle judgment. Use your Spirit to control your rolling emotions and focus the energy into your blade and into your Chakra. Sadly he hadn't the proper training to use his chakra yet but he knew that one day, he would sunder the very heavens with it.

I've Shown you he said as he switched sword hands. Putting his Katana in his left and having the Wakazashi in his right. Even his stance shifted, no longer the aggressive bladed stance. He held his Katana out to his left while the wakazashi floated around his waist. The tips of both blades pointed up over his left shoulder. it wasn't a defensive but it wasn't nearly as offensive as his last. Taking a deep breath the raven haired boy steadied himself,exhaling his negative emotions. getting overemotional wasn't going to do anyone any good. Not that it mattered as Vallen couldn't see the passers by in the night. the various clan members and family that passed by on any given night were all lost on his closed eyes and focused mind.

Now you show me He just envisioned his friend, alone and in a strange place surrounded by enemies he couldn't possibly discern. He wanted to be with him. Not only to protect the clan heir but to experience life with his friend. To find out what lies beyond the village at the base of the mountain. To see what colors and smells and tastes lay beyond the grounds he's known all his life. Vallen felt like he was being trapped behind his friends and he knew he couldn't allow it. For now however he was training, and releasing his ambient negative emotions through his actions. He couldn't allow them to interfere with his mind any more. he had to put them to rest and go on. He had to get them out or he didn't know what would happen. He felt like he could explode at any moment during the day. HE couldn't let that break free so he released it with every sword strike.

Vallen knew too well how cleaver Kentei was. His mastery over the basic arts was the only equal he had in his class, which surprised no one. the two had spent more hours practicing and critiquing one another than the rest of their entire class combined.It took years but now the pair can combine the basic moves into something else all together, while not making it a separate technique. their skill with Kenjutsu alone could have qualified them for promotion but they both knew they lacked in some area's that they needed to have rounded out. Their Kenjutsu was however quite impressive for mere students and it was never more prevalent than when they spared with each other.

The moonlight shining down on Vallen would have light the training area well if Vallen chose to open his eyes, which didn't seem likely. He was in the zone, in that zen like state of pure concentration that samurai hoped to achieve when they trained. The better samurai can do this at will but that comes with decades of training. Vallen and Kentei spared enough that once they got going with their fights, they stopped needing to think or rationalize motions. Their bodies knew what to do and their spirits were in sync with that. It came from their bond and their devotion to Kenjutsu and them selves. The two of them embodied what it meant to have respect for an honorable opponent.

Vallen could just imagine a combination, dashing in and out with Step and jumping back with leap, changing the timing on his approach, making it near impossible to predict or act first. Vallen was never a fan of waiting for Kentei's plans to finish, it usually ended with him getting the point. Vallen breathed deep and just waited, he knew kentei would come at him in a subtle way, Kentei wasn't the killer Vallen and Vallen lacked emotions that he needed Kentei to explain. there was a odd cyclical emotional bond that neither cared to explain or think about, it simply was what it was. That's when he knew it would come, the second he thought of something else, for even a second Kentei would know and he would strike.

The attack came in fast but Vallen had his own combination to deal with this, and it was all about timing. The attack came from his attack, aimed to debilitate a hand. A subtle but devastating target but too easy to intercept. then remembered something too late, not so much remembered but brought into play, the differences in their styles. While Vallen had versatility and multiple stances in his fighting style. Is that Wha-Bringing his blade down to intercept the blow actually put Vallen at an disadvantage. Kentei's sword style was able to deliver both nimble and incredibly powerful blows. Vallen could see it now, Kentei's hand on his gauntlet,driving his blade into Vallens.

The force of his attack was enough to force Vallen to use Tonbu to make break away from the attack. the force of the blow would have been enough to rattle Vallen's hands, a feeling he knew all too well. That attack wasn't the end of it, no it was just the beginning of this round. Once Vallen's feet hit the ground, he Shot forward using Tatsu to close the gap between them. I wont be left behind!! Vallen yelled out in a much needed bit of catharsis. His Wakazashi leading the way, his right arm bent at the elbow so the blade pointed behind him. His left arm was strait behind him with his blade continuing the path the arm started, yet somehow keeping in line with his Wakazashi in a deadly procession of blades but instead of attacking once he got with in range,Vallen used the Hitohashiri  maneuver to spin right past Kentei and his blade sliding low to slice at the back of Kentei's calves as he passed.

Vallen ended his rotation for better or worse behind Kentei,facing his back. Which was precisely the thing that worried Vallen. How long would he be looking at his rivals back, trying to catch up. It wasn't like he could social climb to be higher in the clan to be the Heir to the clan, so that was impossible. Kentei was the older of the two and that could never change and now he was allowed to go on some mission that Vallen wasn't allowed to even know about. Which if being honest was the hardest part about all of this, being left behind. Now he literally couldn't see his back because he was so far ahead of him, in a very tangible and real way.

Vallen could hear him now, so righteous and helpful. Sometimes how good a person Kentei was rubbed him the wrong way. This was, with very little doubt, one of those occasions where Kentei helping was hurting things. HE couldn't get his friends voice out of his head over and over it rang It's not like you, Vallen...Just a year or two... Those words rolled around his head in Kentei's voice. No matter how hard he tried to shake them, they wouldn't leave. Oh yes!! Stay back in the village while I explore the world. Vallen retorted, his voice low in volume but not intensity. After I learn things you have no way of ever learning. I'll come back and show you, That's Bullshit Kentei. He said, a little louder as he simply circled Kentai, making for his left side: Kentai's strongest side.

there was a lot of things a person could say about Vallen but it wasn't that he ever took the easy path. If given the choice between hard or dangerous work and easy and safe work, he would choose the hard work every time. It was something he believed in.It's takes a lot of hammer blows to make a great sword was one of vallen's personal phrases. One of those things that he said to push himself through the hard path he brings on himself. It's not like you, Vallen...Just a year or two... Again those words echoed through his head, edging him on. Pushing him to act out of anger, Not something Vallen did.

Keeping his step's steady Vallen moved around Kentei, until he was directly at his left. Vallen wasn't the kind of person to stab an enemy in the back, let alone a friend. So there was no danger in turning your back to him in a sparing match, if you know him. However once he was fully on the left he used another combination of the basic Samurai Kenjutsu. It's not like you, Vallen...Just a year or two... With a quick use of the Pass Kenjutsu Vallen closed the gap between him and Kentai in a flash, his blade singing as it sliced through the air. Vallen positioned himself low to the ground, with hos blades out to either side, and closing intowards the center.

It's not like you, Vallen...Just a year or two... As the blades made slight x, Vallen pushed off with his foot, leaping up. The attack was meant to collide with Kentei in a burst of speed and strength. I won't let you let you become stronger than me!! Vallen intended to en up with Kentei's Katana caught against his Katana and Wakazashi, driving the older boy bachwards and into the air at the force of the blow. This was the smartest way Vallen cold see to use his rage, with out letting his rage use him. He needed to let it out.

Vallen grimaced as the knife went into his shoulder, strait down between the bone. It was the kind of open shot and angle that could have only come from a stupid mistake. Had that been more than a shadow,Vallen knew he would have been dead in moments. Blood loss in a battle on top of losing half your combat strength, it wasn't a very good situation to find yourself in. Had it been another opponent he would have thought victory still possible, but sadly against Kentei that wasn't possible. He knew that Kentei would simply press his advantage and overwhelm him. Shaking his head as the wound on his shoulder evaporated into thin air. Vallen listened to kentei as he spoke to him about anger, and of course mocked him for his lose.

Give yourself more credit Kentei-sama ,he called him by that name simply to poke fun at him,Anger is fuel, just as devotion or duty. A mistake made in anger is no different than a mistake made honor Vallen said as he slide his wakazashi into his sheath and then doing the same with his Katana. Vallen then proceed to put away the two throwing knives he had prepped up each sleeve. the fight was seemingly over? Though is Vallen had his way he would have kept fighting, and fighting. He needed to train harder and harder to find a way to deal with being left behind. He had to deal with out the one friend he had in the entire village. Mean while Kentei is too caught up in his new world problems to care or think of Kentei.


This is bull shit, draw your sword. Vallen said as he ran up to his friend, running past his right side and turning to face him. Vallen was of course angry but he needed Kentei around to express it. If he was getting soft on the road, which was likely to happen, Vallen had to be all the more vigilant in his training. So i made one mistake, you make me pay for it. Now let go, next round Vallen said, encouraging his friend to continue the fight. With a quick use on Tobu Vallen jumped a few feet back, hands on the hilts of both his blades. I know your not done yet? are you? Vallen once again said out loud, into the cold night air. The same cold night air that had seen more than a few people crossing Vallen's training.

In Vallen's head it was a battle with a friend. so long as he kept his eyes closed and focused on his battle trance for training he could keep it up all night. However, to everyone watching, it's just a young boy practicing Niiten Ichi-ryu and talking to the night air it's self. Hell in some cased even yelling at at Nothing as he did something particularly daring or imaginative. The people all smiled, happy to see such a sad child doing something productive with his time. They where worried about what he would do when Kentei left. They could see now that it just drove him to train even harder. It wasn't the easiest thing to lose your only friend to a mission and a promise. It was a burden most Samurai didn't ave to deal with until they were much older, if at all these days. Still, They couldn't understand the real battle taking place inside Vallen's mind.

Vallen was deep in his trance, Moving with Tatsu to the right side of the Shadow in his head until he heard a gasp so loud and earnest that he had to open his eyes. As he opened his eyes his friend dissipated, and he stopped dead in his tracks, not having a target any longer. Looking around he saw a woman had fallen down some of the steps near by. With out hesitation Vallen Ran over to the woman, Sheathing his swords on his way. Are you ok? Vallen asked the woman, who happened to not be a Koden. Her reply was a slap in the face, which served more to shock Vallen than to actually harm him. With his eyes bulding out of his head in surprise he was about to ask the woman,What she did that for but she was miles ahead of him. YOU SCARED ME HALF TO DEATH!! Swinging those real swords around in the night like that. Vallen kind of blinked and then closed his eyes. Go home your drunk He said loud enough for all to hear and with that left the woman on the ground, not even bothering to help her up. I ruined my training for this? I must be losing my edge. He said, scolding himself as he went home to sleep.