A New Student at Master Lee's

[Warmonger]

While Sen waited for Liam, he obsorved Master Lee's students. There was nothing exceptional to be found here, but he noticed that the students had much better forms, than he was used to seeing in an American dojo. He nodded, Master Lee was indee a good insructor.

One of the things that bothered Sena bout Lee, was that he reminded him of his own father. HE possessed that quite calm presensce that Sen himself could only hope to imitate. Another strange fact was that the Murmasa had been entirely too quiet, often when he felt angry he could hear the blade whispering to him filling his head with images of bloodshed, but not since he had enterd the dojo. If the blade had been anything other he would have accsued it of hiding.

After a few moments Sen decied to go meet Liam. He walked out of the front door and turned down the building's alley. He walked until he reached a side door. He looked up at the building, focused his Ki, then he lept unto the wall, but instead of sliding off Sen kept sprinting right up the side of the building. As he reached the top Sen leapt over the edge and landed on the roof. Heglanced around looking for Liam.

Not seeing him Sen began to pace. Sen did not care to be kept waiting. He stopped his pacing and took a deep breath. He had to remember, to stay calm. The blade seemed to move, it was awakened now by his anger. Sen chided himself on his lack of self control. Then began deep breathing excercises to calm himself.

[Warmonger]

While Sen waited for Liam, he obsorved Master Lee's students. There was nothing exceptional to be found here, but he noticed that the students had much better forms, than he was used to seeing in an American dojo. He nodded, Master Lee was indee a good insructor.

One of the things that bothered Sena bout Lee, was that he reminded him of his own father. HE possessed that quite calm presensce that Sen himself could only hope to imitate. Another strange fact was that the Murmasa had been entirely too quiet, often when he felt angry he could hear the blade whispering to him filling his head with images of bloodshed, but not since he had enterd the dojo. If the blade had been anything other he would have accsued it of hiding.

After a few moments Sen decied to go meet Liam. He walked out of the front door and turned down the building's alley. He walked until he reached a side door. He looked up at the building, focused his Ki, then he lept unto the wall, but instead of sliding off Sen kept sprinting right up the side of the building. As he reached the top Sen leapt over the edge and landed on the roof. Heglanced around looking for Liam.

Not seeing him Sen began to pace. Sen did not care to be kept waiting. He stopped his pacing and took a deep breath. He had to remember, to stay calm. The blade seemed to move, it was awakened now by his anger. Sen chided himself on his lack of self control. Then began deep breathing excercises to calm himself.

[Warmonger]

While Sen waited for Liam, he obsorved Master Lee's students. There was nothing exceptional to be found here, but he noticed that the students had much better forms, than he was used to seeing in an American dojo. He nodded, Master Lee was indee a good insructor.

One of the things that bothered Sena bout Lee, was that he reminded him of his own father. HE possessed that quite calm presensce that Sen himself could only hope to imitate. Another strange fact was that the Murmasa had been entirely too quiet, often when he felt angry he could hear the blade whispering to him filling his head with images of bloodshed, but not since he had enterd the dojo. If the blade had been anything other he would have accsued it of hiding.

After a few moments Sen decied to go meet Liam. He walked out of the front door and turned down the building's alley. He walked until he reached a side door. He looked up at the building, focused his Ki, then he lept unto the wall, but instead of sliding off Sen kept sprinting right up the side of the building. As he reached the top Sen leapt over the edge and landed on the roof. Heglanced around looking for Liam.

Not seeing him Sen began to pace. Sen did not care to be kept waiting. He stopped his pacing and took a deep breath. He had to remember, to stay calm. The blade seemed to move, it was awakened now by his anger. Sen chided himself on his lack of self control. Then began deep breathing excercises to calm himself.

[Shadowboxer]

After observing Sen for a few moments, Nightrival finds himself relaxing. Watching him inexplicably heave himself up to the roof as though he just ran up the side of the wall piqued Nightrival's curiousity, although he decides that superpowers can be unsettling to watch in action. Nightrival notices that Sen is discernibly frustrated at being left alone on the roof, but the swordsman's mediative breathing reminds Nightrival of his own attempts to harness his anger and fear.

He's strugglin' to keep himself in check. That's all the sign I need.

When Sen turns his attention away from Nightrival's proximity, he steps away from his hiding place and carefully approaches Sen as he concentrates. Nightrival stands a few feet away from him.

"Sorry for the wait, Sen. I got jumped here awhile ago and I'm still a bit jumpy."

[Shadowboxer]

After observing Sen for a few moments, Nightrival finds himself relaxing. Watching him inexplicably heave himself up to the roof as though he just ran up the side of the wall piqued Nightrival's curiousity, although he decides that superpowers can be unsettling to watch in action. Nightrival notices that Sen is discernibly frustrated at being left alone on the roof, but the swordsman's mediative breathing reminds Nightrival of his own attempts to harness his anger and fear.

He's strugglin' to keep himself in check. That's all the sign I need.

When Sen turns his attention away from Nightrival's proximity, he steps away from his hiding place and carefully approaches Sen as he concentrates. Nightrival stands a few feet away from him.

"Sorry for the wait, Sen. I got jumped here awhile ago and I'm still a bit jumpy."

[Shadowboxer]

After observing Sen for a few moments, Nightrival finds himself relaxing. Watching him inexplicably heave himself up to the roof as though he just ran up the side of the wall piqued Nightrival's curiousity, although he decides that superpowers can be unsettling to watch in action. Nightrival notices that Sen is discernibly frustrated at being left alone on the roof, but the swordsman's mediative breathing reminds Nightrival of his own attempts to harness his anger and fear.

He's strugglin' to keep himself in check. That's all the sign I need.

When Sen turns his attention away from Nightrival's proximity, he steps away from his hiding place and carefully approaches Sen as he concentrates. Nightrival stands a few feet away from him.

"Sorry for the wait, Sen. I got jumped here awhile ago and I'm still a bit jumpy."

[Warmonger]

Startled Sen spins around his hand goign to his swordhilt. Only the familiar voice prevents him from drawing his blade on the stragne shinobi before him.

"Who.." He begins. "Liam?" He asks.

[Warmonger]

Startled Sen spins around his hand goign to his swordhilt. Only the familiar voice prevents him from drawing his blade on the stragne shinobi before him.

"Who.." He begins. "Liam?" He asks.

[Warmonger]

Startled Sen spins around his hand goign to his swordhilt. Only the familiar voice prevents him from drawing his blade on the stragne shinobi before him.

"Who.." He begins. "Liam?" He asks.

[Shadowboxer]

"Sort of." Nightrival removes his mask. "This is my other identity, the one that's part of the 'members only' portion of the school. Looks like you just joined the club." He tugs his mask back over his face. "Call me Nightrival. So, is there anything I need ta know before we head out?"

[Shadowboxer]

"Sort of." Nightrival removes his mask. "This is my other identity, the one that's part of the 'members only' portion of the school. Looks like you just joined the club." He tugs his mask back over his face. "Call me Nightrival. So, is there anything I need ta know before we head out?"

[Shadowboxer]

"Sort of." Nightrival removes his mask. "This is my other identity, the one that's part of the 'members only' portion of the school. Looks like you just joined the club." He tugs his mask back over his face. "Call me Nightrival. So, is there anything I need ta know before we head out?"

[Warmonger]

"Nightrival?" Sen tested the word. "...I see." He almost grinned. Was this what Mater Lee was up to? Training another generation of skilled warriors? Perhaps Lee wasn't squandering his talents after all. A man who could sneak up on Sen must be very skilled indeed.

It made some sense. In a city like this the desire to put on a mask and battle criminals must be particularly difficult to resist. Japan had its costumed heroes but the Ryoshikage had never considered themselves as such. They were simply a clan practicing their ancient calling.

Then Sen heard Nightrival's question. He was about to simply tell him 'no', but in revealing his double life Sen was now honor bound to give some fair warning. Locking eyes with Nightrival Sen spoke. "I am Kiyoshi Sen, son of Kiyoshi Kichigo of the Ryoshi Kage.In my country our clan are protectors of our people. We do not, however, stop theives or criminals we protect Japan from enemies far more sinister and dangerous: Demons." He add the last word with he gravity he was raised to treat it with. "And any other form that evil chooses to take." Sen Sed.

"Four months ago my father disappeared on a mission to this country. The last place we knew he was headed was to this city. I have come to find him." Sweeping his coat open Sen grasped the hilt of the Muramasa.

"This blade is a family Heirloom. It is the cursed blade Muramasa." Sen drew the sword. It hissed out from the scabbard. Anyone with an eye for such things could see that it was a finely made sword, the pinnacle of the Japanese sword. Yet there seemed to be a darkness within the blade, that just could not be seen. Sen channeled some of his Ki into the blade. The sword leapt to life. Both men felt their hackles rise as they could hear in their head, indecipherable whisperings and unguessable words that seemed to grate on their very souls.

[Warmonger]

"Nightrival?" Sen tested the word. "...I see." He almost grinned. Was this what Mater Lee was up to? Training another generation of skilled warriors? Perhaps Lee wasn't squandering his talents after all. A man who could sneak up on Sen must be very skilled indeed.

It made some sense. In a city like this the desire to put on a mask and battle criminals must be particularly difficult to resist. Japan had its costumed heroes but the Ryoshikage had never considered themselves as such. They were simply a clan practicing their ancient calling.

Then Sen heard Nightrival's question. He was about to simply tell him 'no', but in revealing his double life Sen was now honor bound to give some fair warning. Locking eyes with Nightrival Sen spoke. "I am Kiyoshi Sen, son of Kiyoshi Kichigo of the Ryoshi Kage.In my country our clan are protectors of our people. We do not, however, stop theives or criminals we protect Japan from enemies far more sinister and dangerous: Demons." He add the last word with he gravity he was raised to treat it with. "And any other form that evil chooses to take." Sen Sed.

"Four months ago my father disappeared on a mission to this country. The last place we knew he was headed was to this city. I have come to find him." Sweeping his coat open Sen grasped the hilt of the Muramasa.

"This blade is a family Heirloom. It is the cursed blade Muramasa." Sen drew the sword. It hissed out from the scabbard. Anyone with an eye for such things could see that it was a finely made sword, the pinnacle of the Japanese sword. Yet there seemed to be a darkness within the blade, that just could not be seen. Sen channeled some of his Ki into the blade. The sword leapt to life. Both men felt their hackles rise as they could hear in their head, indecipherable whisperings and unguessable words that seemed to grate on their very souls.

[Warmonger]

"Nightrival?" Sen tested the word. "...I see." He almost grinned. Was this what Mater Lee was up to? Training another generation of skilled warriors? Perhaps Lee wasn't squandering his talents after all. A man who could sneak up on Sen must be very skilled indeed.

It made some sense. In a city like this the desire to put on a mask and battle criminals must be particularly difficult to resist. Japan had its costumed heroes but the Ryoshikage had never considered themselves as such. They were simply a clan practicing their ancient calling.

Then Sen heard Nightrival's question. He was about to simply tell him 'no', but in revealing his double life Sen was now honor bound to give some fair warning. Locking eyes with Nightrival Sen spoke. "I am Kiyoshi Sen, son of Kiyoshi Kichigo of the Ryoshi Kage.In my country our clan are protectors of our people. We do not, however, stop theives or criminals we protect Japan from enemies far more sinister and dangerous: Demons." He add the last word with he gravity he was raised to treat it with. "And any other form that evil chooses to take." Sen Sed.

"Four months ago my father disappeared on a mission to this country. The last place we knew he was headed was to this city. I have come to find him." Sweeping his coat open Sen grasped the hilt of the Muramasa.

"This blade is a family Heirloom. It is the cursed blade Muramasa." Sen drew the sword. It hissed out from the scabbard. Anyone with an eye for such things could see that it was a finely made sword, the pinnacle of the Japanese sword. Yet there seemed to be a darkness within the blade, that just could not be seen. Sen channeled some of his Ki into the blade. The sword leapt to life. Both men felt their hackles rise as they could hear in their head, indecipherable whisperings and unguessable words that seemed to grate on their very souls.

[Shadowboxer]

For a brief moment Nightrival desperately wants to run from the sinister katana, its groaning and rasping murmurs grip his mind with black smoky hands that choke his senses. He ferociously fights the urge to flee, not wanting to embarass himself in front of Sen. His hands visibly shake at the effort.

"N-nice blade y-ya got there," he stammers.

He takes a few steps back from Sen and the terrifying chatter in his head diminishes slightly.

"So, ya belong ta an ancient samurai clan that hunts demons?" blurts Nightrival. "That's . . . that's really cool, man. I'm just a dude that beats on bad guys." He rubs his temple and prays he won't get a headache. In the distance, he hears the familiar roar of a train barreling down the tracks many blocks away.

"We should probably get goin'. We can surf a train downtown, that should get us to Riverside in no time. We can fill in the rest o' the details on the way."

[Shadowboxer]

For a brief moment Nightrival desperately wants to run from the sinister katana, its groaning and rasping murmurs grip his mind with black smoky hands that choke his senses. He ferociously fights the urge to flee, not wanting to embarass himself in front of Sen. His hands visibly shake at the effort.

"N-nice blade y-ya got there," he stammers.

He takes a few steps back from Sen and the terrifying chatter in his head diminishes slightly.

"So, ya belong ta an ancient samurai clan that hunts demons?" blurts Nightrival. "That's . . . that's really cool, man. I'm just a dude that beats on bad guys." He rubs his temple and prays he won't get a headache. In the distance, he hears the familiar roar of a train barreling down the tracks many blocks away.

"We should probably get goin'. We can surf a train downtown, that should get us to Riverside in no time. We can fill in the rest o' the details on the way."

[Shadowboxer]

For a brief moment Nightrival desperately wants to run from the sinister katana, its groaning and rasping murmurs grip his mind with black smoky hands that choke his senses. He ferociously fights the urge to flee, not wanting to embarass himself in front of Sen. His hands visibly shake at the effort.

"N-nice blade y-ya got there," he stammers.

He takes a few steps back from Sen and the terrifying chatter in his head diminishes slightly.

"So, ya belong ta an ancient samurai clan that hunts demons?" blurts Nightrival. "That's . . . that's really cool, man. I'm just a dude that beats on bad guys." He rubs his temple and prays he won't get a headache. In the distance, he hears the familiar roar of a train barreling down the tracks many blocks away.

"We should probably get goin'. We can surf a train downtown, that should get us to Riverside in no time. We can fill in the rest o' the details on the way."

[Warmonger]

Satisfied that Nightrival understood the gravity of the situation. Sen slowly sheathed his sword. His arm seemed to hesitate, but Sen forced it to comply overriding the blade's influence.

"Yet Lee-Sama chose you to escort me. I am sure his faith in you is not misplaced." Sen siad.

Surf a train? Sen puzzled. He did not understand the specifics but he certainly had an idea.

"Alright then. Lead the way, be assured I can keep up."

[Warmonger]

Satisfied that Nightrival understood the gravity of the situation. Sen slowly sheathed his sword. His arm seemed to hesitate, but Sen forced it to comply overriding the blade's influence.

"Yet Lee-Sama chose you to escort me. I am sure his faith in you is not misplaced." Sen siad.

Surf a train? Sen puzzled. He did not understand the specifics but he certainly had an idea.

"Alright then. Lead the way, be assured I can keep up."

[Warmonger]

Satisfied that Nightrival understood the gravity of the situation. Sen slowly sheathed his sword. His arm seemed to hesitate, but Sen forced it to comply overriding the blade's influence.

"Yet Lee-Sama chose you to escort me. I am sure his faith in you is not misplaced." Sen siad.

Surf a train? Sen puzzled. He did not understand the specifics but he certainly had an idea.

"Alright then. Lead the way, be assured I can keep up."

[Shadowboxer]

"Awesome," replies Nightrival. "Follow me."

He runs to the edge of the roof, jumps off the edge and lands on top of a parked car. He tumbles off the car, dashes across the street and leaps up to a nearby lamp post. Swinging off the post, Nightrival lands on the roof of a short building facing Master Lee's School for Self Defense. Nightrival peers behind his shoulder to see if Sen is keeping up. Satisfied, he continues running south. Greeley lies to his left, a four lane artery bustling with traffic. Master Lee's school isn't actually on Greeley, but on a street that runs parallel to it. Between the two streets is a concrete embankment and a sidewalk. Jumping across rooftops at breakneck speed, he turns west on Eastwick and continues along the rooftops.

When he reaches Wallace Avenue he turns north and races for another five blocks, somersaults off the roof and lands on a striped awning that he bounces off to reach the sidewalk. On the other side of the street is a tall fence that cordons off the railroad. Nightrival slips past bewildered pedestrians and handsprings over the fence and lands on a gravel field on the other side.

The rocky surface crunches under his feet as he passes signs and switches and brick shacks. Diesel and hot oil assails his nose. He scrambles to the top of a rail sign and waits for the oncoming train. A soot spattered Burlington-Northern dragging a long line of flatcars and boxcars is in the distance, slowing down to take the corner.

"Here it comes!"

The train eases into the corner. The engine passes underneath him, followed by a few traincars. Heat and smoke from the engine envelopes him and seeps into his skin. He crouches, takes a deep breath then springs off the sign, flipping once into the air before slamming down hard on the back of a rocking and grumbling boxcar. The wind smacks his face and he can barely think with the resounding thumpa-dump thumpa-dump thumpa-dump of traincars crossing over tracks, but at the moment he allows himself to feel a strange childish joy building within him, something he hasn't felt in a long time.

"Yee-haw! You still with us Sen?"

[Shadowboxer]

"Awesome," replies Nightrival. "Follow me."

He runs to the edge of the roof, jumps off the edge and lands on top of a parked car. He tumbles off the car, dashes across the street and leaps up to a nearby lamp post. Swinging off the post, Nightrival lands on the roof of a short building facing Master Lee's School for Self Defense. Nightrival peers behind his shoulder to see if Sen is keeping up. Satisfied, he continues running south. Greeley lies to his left, a four lane artery bustling with traffic. Master Lee's school isn't actually on Greeley, but on a street that runs parallel to it. Between the two streets is a concrete embankment and a sidewalk. Jumping across rooftops at breakneck speed, he turns west on Eastwick and continues along the rooftops.

When he reaches Wallace Avenue he turns north and races for another five blocks, somersaults off the roof and lands on a striped awning that he bounces off to reach the sidewalk. On the other side of the street is a tall fence that cordons off the railroad. Nightrival slips past bewildered pedestrians and handsprings over the fence and lands on a gravel field on the other side.

The rocky surface crunches under his feet as he passes signs and switches and brick shacks. Diesel and hot oil assails his nose. He scrambles to the top of a rail sign and waits for the oncoming train. A soot spattered Burlington-Northern dragging a long line of flatcars and boxcars is in the distance, slowing down to take the corner.

"Here it comes!"

The train eases into the corner. The engine passes underneath him, followed by a few traincars. Heat and smoke from the engine envelopes him and seeps into his skin. He crouches, takes a deep breath then springs off the sign, flipping once into the air before slamming down hard on the back of a rocking and grumbling boxcar. The wind smacks his face and he can barely think with the resounding thumpa-dump thumpa-dump thumpa-dump of traincars crossing over tracks, but at the moment he allows himself to feel a strange childish joy building within him, something he hasn't felt in a long time.

"Yee-haw! You still with us Sen?"

[Shadowboxer]

"Awesome," replies Nightrival. "Follow me."

He runs to the edge of the roof, jumps off the edge and lands on top of a parked car. He tumbles off the car, dashes across the street and leaps up to a nearby lamp post. Swinging off the post, Nightrival lands on the roof of a short building facing Master Lee's School for Self Defense. Nightrival peers behind his shoulder to see if Sen is keeping up. Satisfied, he continues running south. Greeley lies to his left, a four lane artery bustling with traffic. Master Lee's school isn't actually on Greeley, but on a street that runs parallel to it. Between the two streets is a concrete embankment and a sidewalk. Jumping across rooftops at breakneck speed, he turns west on Eastwick and continues along the rooftops.

When he reaches Wallace Avenue he turns north and races for another five blocks, somersaults off the roof and lands on a striped awning that he bounces off to reach the sidewalk. On the other side of the street is a tall fence that cordons off the railroad. Nightrival slips past bewildered pedestrians and handsprings over the fence and lands on a gravel field on the other side.

The rocky surface crunches under his feet as he passes signs and switches and brick shacks. Diesel and hot oil assails his nose. He scrambles to the top of a rail sign and waits for the oncoming train. A soot spattered Burlington-Northern dragging a long line of flatcars and boxcars is in the distance, slowing down to take the corner.

"Here it comes!"

The train eases into the corner. The engine passes underneath him, followed by a few traincars. Heat and smoke from the engine envelopes him and seeps into his skin. He crouches, takes a deep breath then springs off the sign, flipping once into the air before slamming down hard on the back of a rocking and grumbling boxcar. The wind smacks his face and he can barely think with the resounding thumpa-dump thumpa-dump thumpa-dump of traincars crossing over tracks, but at the moment he allows himself to feel a strange childish joy building within him, something he hasn't felt in a long time.

"Yee-haw! You still with us Sen?"

[Warmonger]

Sen watches as the agile Nightrival takes off an begins a series of acrobatic maneuvers to place himself on the building across the street. With a grin Sen sprints forward and leaps through the air and lands on the roof in a single bound. He tucks his body as he lands as he almost didn't make it. Sen follows him keeping pace despite Nightrival's far superior aireal gymnastics. Sen channels the his Ki into his legs allowing him to leap vast distances easily going form rooftop to rooftop.

The two men flow like water across the skyline. When Nightrival springs from the roof unto the awning Sen jumps of and lands on the sidewalk. A few citizens gawk but most barely have time for that as the two men are gone in almost a blur. Sen vaults clear over the fence and lands in the gravel.

He turns his head as he hears the train coming. He watches as Night rival scrambles up the sign and waits for the train. As the train goes by the agile shinobi jumps unto the moving train. Rather than follow him Sen takes off sprinting as hard as he can parallel to the train. He manages to keep up with the train at speed, but it slowly starts to edge past him. As the cab that Nightrival is perched on begins to catch up Sen gathers strength under his legs and vaults high into the air to land on the car barely sticking the landing sticking the landing. He nearly stumbles but manages to keep his footing.

He hears his blood rushing in his ears and his heart is hammering against his chest but he can't help but grin wide. He turns to Nightrival. "Ha. Not bad, at all."