vatheon | When I hear a man preach

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When I hear a man preach

Who: Night & Yukio
Where: The Island
When: Backdated to... yesterday morning? The morning before that? Idek, SOME MORNING.
Style: Starting in Action, but I'll go with the flow.
Status: Closed

[Yukio stepped away from elevator and out onto the island and he quickly scanned the surrounding area. There were no threats, or course, but the exorcist was a creature of habit. Survey the area, gather intelligence, check supplies. It all came as naturally as breathing while in this still largely unfamiliar place.]

Did you have a location in mind, Night-san?

[Apparently satisfied with the view, Yukio adjusted his long jacket and turned to his companion for the morning. The coat wasn't really necessary. He'd probably just end up removing it when they got around to the sparring, but he felt more comfortable wearing it and it made for a much better place to hide his gun. Not that he had any intentions of using the weapon, it was just another thing he felt more comfortable having on his person. ]

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Yeah. There's a clearing I usually go to with Rin or by myself. Not a lot of trees to hit.

[He may be joking.

But yes, he leads him to the clearing he mentioned, which sat near the lake. It was early enough in the morning that a light fog hung over the water's surface and dew still clung to the grass. He enjoyed this time of day, especially for sparring practice.

He walks over to a tree and sets his sword bag down next to the trunk.]

You can leave your gun and coat here. We won't be using weapons this time.

[He sincerely hopes that that's the case. He doesn't like being tossed into trees. Been there, done that, didn't care for it at all.

Yukio follows without complaint, far more amiable than Rin would be in this same situation. His days had always started early, and Vatheon hasn't broken him of the habit. He removes his coat at Night's direction and folds it neatly, tucking his gun just inside its folds and leaving the bundle by the tree as well.]

Is it always this quiet up here?

[As he waits for Yukio to situate himself Night stretches out his arms before folding them behind his head.]

At this hour, yeah. I like it like this. It's peaceful, you know? Especially when you're coming outta the Villa it's a blessing to escape that noise. [Not that he minded the livelihood of the Villa, but sometimes it was a bit much...]

Ah well. You ready to get started?

[He nods his agreement.] It's a nice change. [No creepers smoking on the couch, no family members to avoid fighting with...

Yukio glances quickly at the clearing around him before nodding again.]

Is there any particular way you'd like to begin?

[Because Night wouldn't just rush him... right?]

[Night grins when Yukio asks and reaches into his pocket where he produces a small, silver bell attached to a string.

He holds it up for him to see, jingling it slightly.]

We'll start like this. I gotta see where you are, skill-wise, so consider this a test. [He pulls the bell away and ties it to his pant's belt loop on his hip.]

Your objective is to take this bell from me. Do that an' we'll move on to the next stage. [He sets his hands on his hip, still smiling at Yukio.] An' don't worry about me overpowering you or anything like that. Using my natural strength against you would be pointless.

[His hands fall to his sides, stepping into a relaxed, but defensive stance.] Start.

[Yukio relaxes a bit when he realizes there won't be any sudden violence... and then tenses up again when Night explains his objective. They were going to play keep away? Basic training was a long time ago, and it felt even further off now that he was being told to use it. Defending himself (or attempting to) in the heat of battle was very different from taking the physical offensive.

But he'd already agreed to do this, and it really would be for the better if he could manage it.

He frowns and takes a steadying breath before advancing cautiously, circling a bit before moving in for an exploratory grab.]

Edited 2013-07-10 05:46 (UTC)

[He lets him advance, his own posture pretty relaxed. When Yukio reaches out with the intent to grab for the bell, instead of dodging, he grabs him by the wrist. Tugging him forward enough to throw him off balance Night pulls away just as quick, the little bell ringing quietly at the movement.]

Good try!

[Yukio stumbles forward, but manages to catch himself before he hits the ground. He pushes off of his landing foot and swings around to try and catch up. His next grab is a feint, the boy quick to snatch his hand back before Night can grab it so that he can circle around and try from the other side.]

[Quick to adapt- not that he expected any less from Yukio. He had been looking forward to this match, curious as anything to see the boy's skills for himself.

He moves in step with Yukio, meeting his next attempt this time with a roundhouse kick aimed for his abdomen. He puts about as much force in it as one would expect from a human, but not one with an intent to severely bruise or break his opponent. God knows if the kick connected with his full strength he'd send poor Yukio into a tree.]

[Yukio would really rather be showing off his skills with that gun over there. He's so much better at that. :\

He'd gone into the fight expecting to get hit. They were sparring, of course he was going to get hit, but somehow he's not quite ready for it when the first blow actually comes. The young exorcist doubles over, one arm around his middle while the other wavers to and fro, counterbalancing to keep him on his feet. It wasn't that hard of a hit, but the shock of it takes a few seconds to shake off.]

If you want this bell you'll have to do better than this. [If Yukio was afraid of Night being unrelenting he had good reason to be.

As Yukio tries to catch his breath Night is already on him with a sweeping kick aimed for his legs to knock him on his ass. From there he aims another kick, this time to his side.]

[Oh, dear.

Yukio hits the ground with a low grunt, ignoring whatever pain comes with the fall to instead scramble into a less prone position. He throws the elbow nearest to Night in the path of that incoming foot, reaching with the other hand to grab for Night's ankle in an attempt to throw the older exorcist off balance.]

[Whoops.

He wobbles, huffing when his ankle is grabbed, but he twists himself back to pull out of Yukio's grip and away from Yukio briefly. The bell hits his hip, chiming at both of them.

While Yukio may still be lying there Night waits for him to regain himself.]

You're making me feel like you really don't want this bell all that much, ya know... Or maybe you're afraid of hurting me?

[Yukio gets to his feet as quickly as he can. He doesn't bother brushing himself off, instead immediately falling into a defensive stance.]

I doubt any punch I could throw would hurt you.

Pretend it does. Don't let it stop you from trying. If you hold back then you'll never stand a chance.

[He won't take the offensive, preferring to force Yukio into dropping his defensive position and take the initiative. This wasn't about Night showing off after all.]

I know you got a mean punch waitin' for me in there!

[Sure, he's got a few mean punch locked away somewhere, but he's not going for them just yet. Instead, once it's obvious that Night won't be making the first move, Yukio runs forward and makes another grab for the bell, his free arm ready to parry any incoming blows.]

[Ooo, almost! Just a hairs width between his finger and the bell.

But Night jumps back just out of his reach, spinning around behind Yukio to land a kick to his backside, shoving him forward yet again.]

[And to the ground he goes again, but he tucks and rolls this time, somehow managing to land on his feet. He'll be annoyed about the dirt in his hair later, but now's not the time for that. He was so close!

Heading back in again, but the snatch and grab attempts aren't really working, so it's time to try something different. Going in low to try and take Night to the ground.]

[Night meets him halfway, slamming his shoulder into Yukio's. He's a little bit too close for comfort, but Night closes the small distance between them and sends his knee up into Yukio's abdomen again.

They're close enough for Night to speak into Yukio's ear, voice low.] Rin fights harder than this and there isn't even a bell to motivate him. [He was egging him on purposely, wanting to see how far he could push him before he decided to really step up.]

[He's nearly got his fingers on the bell again when Night's knee hits. He only just manages to catch what the older exorcist is saying between his gasps for breath, but it's enough to force a scowl on to his face. He's so sick of hearing about Rin. Rin can do this and that and Rin works so hard. Screw that.

He wrenches an arm up and around Night's neck and twists his body with a grunt of effort, fully intending send them both sprawling.]

[Good. Anger was Night's desired result here and seeing Yukio start to break out of that clamped down shell of collected composure was satisfying.

Humans had a real problem with dealing with their emotions, he noticed.]

Oof-! [He goes down with him, hitting the grass with a heavy thud, but he doesn't let Yukio gain the upper hand just yet. He forces them to roll, trying to pin him down before he could make another attempt for the bell-

... That is, if it was still tied to his belt loop. Unknown to Night just yet it had fallen off during their scuffle and bounced off nearby them, nestled in a patch of dandelions oh so innocently.]

[Yukio should be the poster child for humans who have a hard time dealing with their emotions.

He fights against the pin, much more energetic in this effort than his previous ones. Twisting beneath Night, he draws his legs up to try and kick the man off of him, totally oblivious to the status of the bell.

He doesn't like being pinned. Not at all.]

[Like a rabbit forced on its back, Yukio was starting to panic and briefly Night questioned just how far he should push the kid. There was a line between triggering a traumatizing experience for him and actually helping him.

One of the kicks collides with his stomach, knocking the air out of him briefly. Surprisingly, he grins down at Yukio when he rolls them both over in sequence to his kangaroo kicks before shoving him off to the side with his own kick.]

Now you're fighting back! Finally.

[With Yukio off him Night pulls himself up, still with that grin. He walks over to the boy and reaches out to grab him by the scruff of his shirt and pull him up as well.]

[Later Yukio will look back on this moment and be intensely irritated with himself for reacting so strongly. With all the other issues that were rearing their ugly heads at home, he had never even considered the possibility that his confrontation with Toudou could affect him in such a simple, predictable way. It wasn't panic, not yet, but either way it was unacceptable.

He flails a bit when Night yanks him up, clothes rumpled and his glasses riding low on his nose. Once his feet are on solid ground he lashes out with a wild punch, hoping that it'll surprise Night enough for him get his hand on that bell and end this damn test.

... Except that the bell isn't there anymore. Shit, where is it?]

Edited 2013-07-12 04:57 (UTC)

[Sorry to say, kid, but you're still only human.

Night doesn't expect the lashing out, almost sure Yukio grabbed the bell off his guard, but-

It wasn't on his person anymore.] Well shit-

[He lets go of Yukio with a strong shove as he looks around to try and spot the damn thing.]

[Surprise is all he was hoping for. He'd have gotten away with it too if it weren't for that darn faulty knot.

Yukio stumbles back and lands on his bottom, glasses falling to the grass. After a few short seconds of frantic groping, he spots an odd shine in a nearby patch of yellow. He gives up on his glasses, instead making a desperate dive for what he hopes is the bell.]

[Funny how things work out that way.

Yukio finds the bell first which only leaves Night to beat him to the punch. By this point he considers ending the game, since the whole point of it was the grab the bell off of him.

Just before Yukio's hand reaches the bell Night's shoe comes down on his hand. Surely not enough to break any bones, but there will be definite bruising later.]

The determination is nice, but I think this test is done. [He reaches down to pluck the bell out of the patch, just inches from Yukio's fingertips.]

Unless you think differently...?

[Yukio hisses a breath in through his teeth, squinting up at Night from where he's been rather effectively stopped. The older exorcist is little more than a dark smudge of hair over a vague impression of a face from where the younger lies, but Yukio manages to scowl up at him just the same. He was so close.]

... It's over.

Alright. [Not even gonna wait for Yukio to pick himself up after Night removes his foot and reaches down to pull him up by the scruff of his neck like he weighed nothing. Once on his feet Night brushed off some grass from his shoulder and turns to go pick up his glasses.]

You did well, even if you did get a little sloppy near the end.

[He comes back with his glasses, handing them over.] Is your hand alright?

[Well that's not terribly dignified, but there's not much to be done about it. Yukio looks down at himself for a few moments, pointlessly surveying damage that he can't actually see until Night hands him his glasses. His spectacles back in place, the younger exorcist lifts his hand in front of him, turning it this way and that.]

It's fine.

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When I hear a man preach

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