The Samurai and The Pacifist (Haji/Open)

[Morei Haji]

Foolishly thinking my attack would prove something, Yukimura had managed to turn it around against me, as expected of someone of his standing compared to my own. I looked down towards his katana, just inches from my chest, realizing that if this was indeed a real fight, I would've been killed.

"Sanada-san... you are helping me to realize my own weakness."

I stepped away from him, still facing him with my weapon at the ready near my head, gripping it with both hands. If I wasn't good at attacking...

"May I try defending?"

[Sanada Yukimura]

"If that is what you wish, then of course, Morei-san."

Retracting his katana away from Haji's chest, Yukimura would put a bit of space between the two of them, giving Haji a chance to ready himself, before suddenly taking off towards Haji, his katana held at his side in both hands. He would then quickly go for a horizontal slice at Haji's chest, following up with a thrust at the end of the arc of his slice.

[Morei Haji]

I watched as Yukimura took off towards me, keeping my eyes on him. As he moved forward to slash, I would back up a bit to avoid his slash, only for him to thrust immediately afterwards. My sakabato would come up, attempting to parry his blow and knock it off course, before turning into a slash aimed for his stomach with the flat of my sword.

[Sanada Yukimura]

Haji managing to avoid his first slash, as he parried Yukimura's thrust and sent his katana off to the side, Yukimura would use the momentum of the parry and turn it into an side angled slice, aiming to block Haji's slash to his stomach. From there, if he successfully blocked it, he would attempt to push his katana against Haji's sakabato and drive him backwards, to send him off-balance, before sliding his blade along the edge of Haji's sakabato and go for two quick slashes in the shape of an X, one right after the other, to put Haji on the defensive.

[Morei Haji]

Yukimura was skilled, very much so, and I could tell with the finesse with which he wielded his weapon. Pushing me back, I would stumble a bit, straightening up to regain my balance as he went in for his next attack. Crap. My sakabato would come up, attempting to block both of his slashes, planting my feet firmly in the ground. If this was successful, we would be in a deadlock... which probably wasn't the best for me.

[Sanada Yukimura]

Both his slashes blocked by Haji successfully, the two of them would end up in a deadlock, Yukimura gripping his katana firmly with both hands, as he would push his blade against Haji's, to try and push him backwards and up against the nearby wall of bamboo stalks, before pulling his katana off Haji's and trying to go for a vertical slice.

"What a letdown, Morei-san. A real letdown. After all, there's nothing but fear reflected in your sword. When you dodge, 'I'm afraid of getting cut.' When you attack, 'I'm afraid of cutting someone.' Even when you try to protect someone, 'I'm afraid of letting them die.' Yes, your sword speaks to me only of absurd fear. That's not it. What's necessary in a fight isn't fear. Nothing can be born from that. If you dodge, 'I won't let them cut me.' If you protect someone, 'I won't let them die.' If you attack, 'I'll cut them.' Well, can't you see the resolve to cut you reflected in my sword?"

[Morei Haji]

Pushing me up against the bamboo, Yukimura had a clear advantage. Pushing off of the deadlock before slicing down at me, I quickly brought my sword up to block it, struggling under the weight of the impact as I looked at Yukimura. His words were hitting me. I didn't have much experience in a battle, this was true. My first instinct was to stay alive, to make it out and to live another day. But with this kind of weakness, how could I ever protect Katsumi? Yukimura possessed far more resolve in his blade than I did in my entire body.

Grunting, I would push back on him, attempting to push him off of me before coming in for a vertical slash followed by a second horizontal slash aimed for his chest level. I had to take to the offensive again. Being a letdown wasn't something I could afford.

[Sanada Yukimura]

His vertical slice successfully blocked by Haji, as Haji pushed back on him, Yukimura would step back, allowing Haji to move forward and away from the bamboo, and would use the momentum to position his katana horizontally, to block Haji's vertical slice, before attempting to slide his blade off Haji's and side-step around him and end up behind him, before holding his blade up against the back of Haji's neck.

"... It seems you have found some of your resolve, Morei-san. That's good. I think I've seen enough to get an idea of your style of fighting. You lack refinement... but you have some skill."

Lifting his katana off of Haji's neck, he would step out from behind Haji, sheathing his katana as he did so, casually folding his arms across his chest.

"With practice Morei-san, your swordsmanship can rival the best samurai in Japan. Refine your technique, and you will become not only stronger, but more focused, disciplined."

[Morei Haji]

I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand up when Yukimura's blade ended up inches from my neck, before he sheathed his weapon. I let out a sigh of relief, sheathing my own weapon before turning to face him.

"I could become the best samurai...? But, Sanada-san, you're on a whole different level from myself. I am certain you'd make it there long before me. But... I thank you for the compliment, nonetheless."

Training. I had to train. If this was a real fight, Yukimura would've taken my head right off.

[Sanada Yukimura]

"No Morei-san... You're on a whole different level than I am. I do not have someone driving me to become stronger, to protect that person. You do. And that is a powerful motivator, that will drive someone relentlessly."

Giving Haji a respectful nod of his head, he would then turn and begin to head off, but not before stopping and turning his head slightly to look behind him at Haji.

"Train hard Morei-san... So my skills can fairly challenge yours the next time we meet."

He'd then resume heading back to his home, confident that Haji would grow stronger in his swordsmanship skills.

[Morei Haji]

"A motivator..."

I looked down at my hands. While I was physically weak at the time, my true strength was in my heart, my resolve. My true strength came from Katsumi. But could that really be called strength, when she was the source of it all? Or was the desire to protect her something that was born from myself instead? I had to find out... and I had to become stronger in the process.

"Thank you for the lessons, Sanada-san..." I would bow as he began to head off. "I pray that when we next meet, I am a better match for you."

I too headed off, in a direction opposite Yukimura. Kofu had been an interesting experience for me, to say the least... but I needed to head home to see Katsumi. I wondered if I would really see Yukimura again.

[Date Masamune]

+1 Statpoint to Haji and Yukimura