[Semi]

[thricepawned]

Characters: Itou, semi-open to Sasuke, Jade, and Takasugi.
Location: Training grounds
Rating: Durr
Time: December 26 Morning, before the blizzard
Description: Itou's tired of being an invalid, and goes on a quest to get back in shape, one arm or no.

Comments

SASUKE

[thricepawned]

So all right, he'd shed the coat and was considering the jacket, but he would attempt it at the moment like this. Itou hated the cold just as much as he hated being one-armed, and it wasn't only because of his pains from it now.

The plan was to start from the beginning, to practice the sword as if he was still a beginner. He hadn't been a beginner since he was a child, but the forms followed every swordsman to through their careers -- he took up the kata with some hesitation, resolving eventually to go with using the sword as if he still had two hands for now. It would be impossible to adjust it unless he knew where he needed to do so.

Right. First thing to adjust was that this sword was too heavy for him if he didn't hold it further up the hilt.

TAKASUGI

[thricepawned]

Itou considered if he should give up the sword in the first place, as a weapon too impractical for someone with a missing limb -- and then he brushed the thought aside because his identity as a swordsman was the only thing left to him, and not something he was willing to give up, regardless of how hard he needed to work to be functional with it again.

The good thing was that working hard also kept him warm.

[alastinglight]

Itou wasn't the only one who was up and about, working on his swordsmanship. Takasugi happened to be crossing over to the area at that moment, having finished his usual duel with Selendis.

He paused, though, the moment he noticed who was around.

This could get awkward.

[thricepawned]

Itou also paused and stared at the newcomer, feeling the cold like a punch in the face when recognition finally struck. Despite himself, despite logically knowing that this Takasugi wasn't the man from his nightmares, Itou couldn't help but automatically hide his weakness from the boy. He put the sword down and broke out of kata, flustered and frowning at himself.

"I wasn't--" he started, and stopped. "How can I help you?"

[alastinglight]

"I was just going to run through some forms myself, actually."

Takasugi was, of course, trying to make it clear in his tone and the way he moved that he was, by no means, a threat. He had no problem with this man. He wasn't his future self, after all.

JADE

[thricepawned]

He was already tired. Itou knew logically and due to having to sleep a lot the past three weeks that his stamina and endurance was completely wrecked, but he didn't really expect it to be this terrible. What he could do for hours before became utterly exhausting after barely one.

Today was his first day of practice and might color how he did the following days, however. So he took a short rest and started again, determined to last longer because nothing else would satisfy him.

[curtissy]

It was about that time that Jade passed by some distance away, idly looking around as was usual for him even when he was certainly quite alone with only the wind and the snow as company.

Despite the blizzard warning that had prompted him to return to his apartment quickly, a curious sight caught his attention, one interesting enough to make him stop. Kamotaro Itou...what could he be thinking, training out here at a time like this?

"This wasn't anything I'd expect to see right now, but I suppose there's a first time for everything," Jade commented only when he was within earshot range. And that was very close indeed, since he could barely even hear his own voice.

[thricepawned]

Itou didn’t know about the blizzard warning - he’d been out here since earlier this morning, and hadn’t taken to looking at his communicator. He’d noticed the wind picking up, but had dismissed it as the day proceeding as usual.

He’d been on the same form since he started - the beginning, most basic form - unwilling to move further until he’d perfected it. When Jade spoke up so near him (Itou had been so focused on his arm that he hadn’t even noticed), Itou whipped around with the sword to strike. Seeing Jade’s face made him abruptly abort the move before the hit could connect. Two wobbly steps later and attempting to flail with an arm that he didn’t have and he was on his ass on the ground.

[curtissy]

Well. Jade supposed that this was the part where he should be apologizing profusely and help Itou up. But that would have been a mistake, wouldn't it? He'd offer to assist, but it would be up to Itou to accept or refuse.

"Will you need any help?" Jade asked, not moving from where he stood. And as an afterthought, he added: "My apologies for interfering with your practice, by the way. However, it's best that we leave soon."