Mayumi Hina!

[Asrana]

Tsuruko redirected forward, parrying low to block Motoko's katana, and pivoting as they met, bringing her left foot in behind Motoko's right, her left hand abandoning the hilt of her blade, aiming a hard elbow strike at Motoko's throat...

[Bean Bandit]

Motoko reacted on instinct, shoving hard into the block, forcing Tsuruko's katana back and snapping her wrist, throwing the weapon away from herself as she stepped into the area it had occupied, away from the elbow, and spun around, a low, rising slash headed for Tsuruko's waist...

[Asrana]

Tsuruko moved with her blade, pivoting and moving as fast as she could into the space Motoko had been in an instant earlier, comign downwards with her own slash aimed to go down the length of Motoko's arm, her left hand reaching for the hilt to grab at the last moment...

[Bean Bandit]

Motoko sweatdropped, and quickly pivoted to the side, arresting her swing and moving up to block, but letting her blade slack in a parry, allowing Tsuruko's blade to slide off of hers, and stepped inside Tsuruko's reach, aiming a blow with the hilt of her sword, letting her bottom hand trail off...

[Asrana]

Tsuruko dove beneath Motoko's hilt, closing even further, her left hand leaving her own hilt to ward off Motoko's. Drawing back her katana and thrusting upwards in front of her shoulder as she moved in, twisting ehr hips and shifting into a deeper stance than before...

[Bean Bandit]

Motoko looked genuinely startled at that, and hurled herself backwards, less gracefully then before, tumbling out of reach, though quickly rolling to her feet in a guard position, breathing heavily.

"I underestimated you." she said finally, with some chagrin.

[Asrana]

Tsuruko blushed in embarrassment, shrugging. "I've had more practice closing like that, and more hand to hand training than kenjutsu..." she murmured. "Time up?" she asked curiously, shifting her katana slightly.

[Bean Bandit]

Motoko nodded. "Yes." she agreed, sliding her sword into it's sheath. "Your reflexes are almost identical to hers, but your fighting style is a bit more...makeshift." she said slowly, diplomatically.

"I suspect my sister's skills lie dormant within you..."

[Asrana]

Tsuruko laughed, sheathing her own sword. "Probably..." she replied, leaning on a tree.

"Still plan on following me through the tournament?" she switched topics, her voice curious.

[Bean Bandit]

Motoko nodded. "It's in both our best interests to keep you alive." she said simply, shrugging.

[Asrana]

Tsuruko frowned slightly, sighing as she held her elbows with her hands.

Not to self, sarcastic and pointed remarks are probably a bad idea.

"i guess..." she answered, looking upwards. "I'll need help with a few other things, and we're going to need to outfit both of us if this goes the direction I think it will..."

[Bean Bandit]

A faint wind blew by, rustling their hakama. Motoko blinked. "Ano...what does that mean?" She asked, puzzled.

[Asrana]

"These uniforms won't do for a war. We need combat clothing, and a few more weapons. I also need ot retrieve the normal mountings for Tsuruko's katana. Besides that, there's your brother-in-law to avoid or deal with..."

[Bean Bandit]

Motoko made a wry face at the mention of Tsuruko's husband. "He's away a great deal of the time. He shouldn't present a problem." she observed.

"What do you mean, by the rest, though?" she wondered. "Ane-ue's blade it fitted specially for her...it should be comfortable..."

[Asrana]

Tsuruko looked down at the blade, shrugging. "If she doesn't have standard fittings for it, it'll be fine, but I preffer regular ones over a shirasaya built for combat..." she answered, stretching.

"As for the rest...I mean throwing knives, certain chemicals, magnesium, something to ignite that magnesium, duct tape, and some other stuff. Plus fatigues and light boots or tabi. These outfits aren't bad..." she murmured, plucking at the gi and hakama. "But they're not particularly built for rough terrain war."