(Untitled)

[duelking]

WHO: Mulan Fa and Zell Dincht. [Closed]
LOCATION: Martial Arts classroom, thanks to the gloomy weather.
WEEK: 70.
TIME: Thursday, after classes.
WHAT: Sparring to cheer Mulan up!
RATING: G, probably.

Comments

[notabride]

Mulan let out a breath as she turned the corner and headed towards the Martial Arts classroom. She was doing better, better than she had been earlier in the week, but things were hard. It was difficult to wake up and realize she wasn't going to be able to say 'Good Morning' to her sister, and not just for a holiday, either. Spending time with Kaoru and making potions had helped a lot, talking and spending time with Sebastian had helped more, and sticking to her class routine had done it's job as well, but still it hurt and she was beginning to need something, anything, to do to take her mind off of it all.

Thankfully, Zell had taken a rain check for a sparring session and let her cash in on it today. Reaching the door to the classroom, already bedecked in her usual training attire, she slipped off her shoes and carried them inside.

"Hey Zell.",she greeted with a smile, a smile that wasn't as bright as her usual one. Setting her things against one of the walls, she began to go through some warm up stretches.

[duelking]

Turning when he heard the door open, Zell flashed a smile and a quick wave. He was glad she ended up taking him up on his offer after all. Still seemed to be taking it hard, but he couldn't say he blamed her. He figured he'd be just as bummed if someone like Rinoa left.

"How's it goin'," was his reply. "Sucks we can't go outside."

To be honest, Zell loved the rain. He liked standing out in it. But there was a difference between standing in it and sparring in it-- especially on the grass. It inevitably lead to losing your footing and faceplanting on the ground, usually. The idea kind of made him laugh a little, but he brushed it off and half-heartedly went back to shadowbox. Mostly to occupy the time while Mulan did her warm-up stretches.

[notabride]

"It's going...pretty good.",she responded with a small laugh and a nod. Things would get better, she was just going to have to keep moving - like she had discussed with Kurt so long ago. Shaking her head at the thought of another person who had left, she focused her attention back towards her warm up. As she turned to the side, stretching out the right side of her body, she glanced out the window. It was pouring down in sheet and looked as if it might begin to lightning any moment now. "Mhmm, I really like the rain..."

Finishing up, Mulan did one more stretch and then ran towards a wall, flipping backwards off of it, getting herself completely flexible. The warm up was just what she needed to get in the right mood. Glancing over her shoulder towards Zell, she grinned. "Ready when you are."

[duelking]

"Glad t'hear it!"

And he was. Zell'd always admired people who could press on in spite of everything. Her remark on the rain brought a grin and a laugh out of him, "You too? Even when it's downpourin' like this, I find it really relaxin'."

Impressed by the show of acrobatics, Zell put up his dukes. "Bring it on!" he challenged good-spiritedly. He opted to start out simply, bouncing on the balls of his feet a couple times before taking a short bound towards Mulan and swinging out his leg to try and catch her behind the knees.

[notabride]

"As you wish.",she teased, taking up her own position. Her body was at ease, yet ready to react to whatever he brought on. She had yet to see Zell fight, as they were in different years, but could tell of his skill.

When he swept his leg out towards her she immediately twisted around on the tips of her toes, almost dancing straight out of direct contact, before coming to a light stop a few steps outside his reach. Adjusting her weight from side to side, she kept up a simple side-to-side bob, watching for his next movement and ready to defend against what else might come until she was comfortable enough with his style to test it with an attack.

[duelking]

Zell had no problem taking the offense, but it definitely put him on guard. Likewise, he'd never actually seen Mulan fight, but she was a good student and had just given him a glimpse of how swift she was. That definitely said something for her obvious skill.

Once he jumped back to his feet, he wasted no time following up on her evasion backwards and took a small series of flat-palmed strikes at her. They were targeted primarily at her shoulders and sternum to try and knock her off balance. Judging from what little of her abilities he'd seen, he couldn't get away with being the speedier one like he did with against larger opponents. The next best thing was keeping up and to try taking out her balance for now.

[notabride]

Mulan hadn't minded giving the information of her speed away. It wasn't exactly a secret. Anyone who had seen her running through the halls on occasion or training before would know of it - especially when it came to the Weapons Mastery class.

Pulling back, with each strike he made, she eventually jerked off her balance and turned it into a tumble forward, moving behind him. She couldn't wipe the grin off her face as they continued to trade strikes and dodges. It was lively, fast paced and intense in it's own right. Every moment they were learning something new and surprising each other. She loved every minute of it.

[duelking]

Man, did Zell wish she were in seventh year Martial Arts! He was an advanced student, even in the N.E.W.T.-level class. He enjoyed said classes, but sometimes it was just rejuvenating to duel with someone else who had the same love for Martial Arts he did. It's been a long time in a while since he'd sparred with someone who kept catching him by surprise.

Maybe to show off a little moves of his own, he did a front handspring to keep Mulan from catching him from behind. But oh, he won't stop there! When he lands, he'll pivot into another one and end with a backflip so he's facing his sparring partner now.

"Yo! You're an awesome martial artist!" he took a moment to exclaim.

And then it's back into the sparring battle, picking up the pace.

[notabride]

If possible, her grin grew as Mulan watched Zell flip about and pivot in front of her with a practiced ease. The term acrobatic almost didn't do him justice! This was so exciting, so much fun!, that the only regret she could express was that they hadn't faced off against each other sooner. That thought entered her mind and immediately set about an idea, details brewing as she moved forward and went on the offensive. She would have to discuss it with Zell after their spar.

"So are you!",she exclaimed, swiftly lunging forward with a strike aimed at a pressure point of his shoulder. The pace of their fight was picking up greatly and, if anything, just made it all the better. There was almost no time to really think, just react in the moment with pure instinct.

[duelking]

The very same regret sprang forward in Zell's mind, especially since it was his last year. He could learn a lot from Mulan! Hell, he was already learning a couple things that he might just have to try out himself. Total enthusiasm went into his grin and every movement. He barely had time to watch when she closed in on him with alarming speed-- just enough to correct his stance and deflect her hand with one of his own. He followed it up with a similar counterattack, almost mirroring her offensive strikes.

There definitely wasn't any room to mess up, now. Her offensive ability definitely matched the defensive and he could pretty much deduce that he didn't want to be on the opposing end of those strikes in a real fight.

[notabride]

Mulan was learning quite a bit from Zell as well. Some of his combination moves were nothing short of brilliant! Granted, if this was a real no-holds fight she was pretty sure they'd both be in the infirmary for quite a while. Each continuing moment and passing minute further solidified the idea of beginning a gender neutral Sparring/Training Club, something she hoped Zell would support when she brought it up after this spar.

When he began to mirror her own movements she had to bite back a laugh before doing the same, using one of his earlier moves against him but with something all her own added in. Doing a variant of a butterfly kick, she crouched low onto the floor when she landed behind him and swept her leg out to catch him off guard.

Let it not be said that neither Gryffindor was slow to adapt!

Behind on tags for the fail. D8 Sorry!

[duelking]

Frankly, Zell hadn't totally anticipated her next move. He started to move forward in the effort to evade whatever move she had up her sleeve by landing behind him. Unfortunately, he was just a bit too late. Her feet caught him by the ankles and sent him face-first towards the floor with an 'oof!'. He managed to catch himself with his hands before his face collided with the mat and kicked his feet up to give himself some leverage to leap back onto his toes.

When he started to straighten his posture, he attempted to use his position to his advantage by turning and using the momentum for a roundhouse kick.

asdfknladf don't apologize! /sob I'm late, too! So sorry!

[notabride]

His surprise was noted and filed away, after the execution of her attack. She would have to try it again later on, perhaps when he least expected and perhaps adding in another move to catch him further off guard. When Zell leaped back up, Mulan couldn't help but grin. He was fast to recover and, for some reason, that just added to the fire that their spar was already becoming.

Leaning far back and close to the floor, in a maneuver that would make professional limbo dancers jealous, she dodged his kick, though barely. Letting herself fall back, she stuck out her arms at a bend and used the momentum to flip herself backward and out of reach. It seemed as if now they were truly dancing within this fight, using each other's moves and their own to avoid damage as best they could, even if they couldn't avoid each attack. Whatever happened simply became the next step in the dance.