Working Out [.:OpeN:.]

[ryoyakuta]

Up... Down... Up... Down...

3:28 p.m.

The muscles in the arms simply twitched each time they were bent at the elbow, bringing the chest down just a little ways off the shiny orange floor. The eyes of the poor freshman looked straight ahead at the wall. It was after school so, naturally, this was all of Ryo's own choice. He didn't want to go home because he would just work out there or do nothing important. Plus, he really didn't feel like talking to his parents tonight, not that he did when he went straight home after school anyway. No, he had work to do, for this school was going to be his before long. People were under the influence of the Host Club and the Bijuus who, yes, were the most powerful students in the school, but it wouldn't last long. Ryo, though a freshman and though not of a wealthy family class, was very strong, and very determined. He was training his body up to be somebody similar to Rock Lee; he was a martial artist, a hand-to-hand fighter, not a Ninjutsu artist like most people who lurked around the school.

Up...

[/center]

Without breaking a single drop of sweat, Ryo got up, standing on his toes at first. He let his arms drop to his sides as he sighed a little bit; he was fast, faster than most, but he lacked the upper body strength that he desperately needed to win fights against those ranked at the top in this school. Letting another sigh escape through his lips, Ryo cracked his fingers and thought about what he could do to improve himself as an overall martial artist. He took a few steps toward the wall, leaning his shoulder against it as he quirked a brow. Who was one of the stronger people at this school? Perhaps a simple spar would spark his interest. Or just a conversation, but he was looking more to improve his skills than anything else. Or maybe he'd just go home. He wasn't sure. He put a hand to his forehead. Oh, the woe.[/blockquote]

[isamukinyishi]

Oh the woe, indeed.

It'd already been about three days since he'd first gotten there, and being used to changing schools so often, he'd long since learned to fit in unobtrusively without drawing attention to himself. Still learning the intricacies of this school, Isamu had already found himself highly interested. It was definitely a different type of school; while on the outside it appeared to simply be like any other high school, he could see the undercurrents of power and strength that ran through the school, the staff and the students. This was truly a martial arts school. Not only that but there were several mysteries surrounding the school as well. Eventually he would have to do some research and see all this school was just about. Either way, with this being his senior year, he would have to make the best of it, no matter what. This school would have to be his stepping stone to bigger thing.

On this particular day Isamu didnt have a class to attend, but he still came to the school for a couple of things. One of those was the gym and workout room. He had a couple of weights at home but there was nothing like a decent workout room for...well...working out. And once he got to the school, he made his way straight to the locker room and changed into some suitable clothes. Black and grey nikes, basketball shorts and a tank top.

Stashing his street clothes away, he strode into the gym, initially failing to notice the kid already there, in the middle of pushups. It was only when the kid got up and leaned against the wall, did Isamu notice him. The boy seemed to be deep in thought though, so Isamu merely stooped down to tie his shoe. Inside, he wondered if it'd be worth his while to interact with this student. Despite being antisocial, he was in a new place...that meant he had to form new connections, make new aquaintances. But he didnt need any idiots, weaklings or annoyances.

[ryoyakuta]

((Sorry for the delay.))

Clad in very loose, baggy black pants and a sleeveless white T-Shirt, Ryo didn't look like he should've been in this environment at all. No, he looked more like a street fighter or a character out of Fight Club more than anything else. And that was actually partially true, for he didn't commit to the general ways of the average student. He didn't obey the rules and guidelines that he was supposed to follow. He wasn't a conformist; he was a renegade, a rebel. He was pretty damn proud of it too, for who really wanted to listen and obey the rules every waking second of every day without even questioning it? But Ryo did more than just question it - he downright opposed it. Why should he listen to the Bijuu members and the Host Club to tell him what to do and how to do it. No, Ryo took a sword and prodded straight through the middle of those damned rules.

He did not belong with these people.

In the middle of these rebellious thoughts, a figure stooped down in front of Ryo to tie his shoe. Perhaps this figure, obviously a student at this school, was also thinking thoughts that were running through Ryo's own mind. He quirked a brow at the very notion and parted his lips, licking them because his mouth was extremely dry, before speaking. "You look like a nonconformist. You look like somebody who could help me, actually." He stopped leaning on the wall, taking a step forward as he looked down upon the other male. "Perhaps we could spar. No jutsu and no weapons, but simple hand-to-hand combat. We can talk afterward, if you so wish."

This just got interesting, folks.

[isamukinyishi]

=

It was true, Ryo looked nothing like a student, both his dress and the minute observations that Isamu garnered from him would likely lead any other observer to deduce that this kid quite simply did not belong where he was. He looked like he would be more at home within the steel confines of a cage in some abandoned warehouse, bouncing on the balls of his feet with a number on his back while administering extreme pain to his opponent.

But that was just looks.

And as everybody knows, looks can be deceiving. Like himself. Isamu looked the part of an average student, nothing outstanding or irregular. However, looking closer, it would become obvious that he was not. The silver, almost platinum hair that shone even in the gloom, the cold penetrating eyes, a walk that was mindful more of a predator than a human - he was definitely not a normal student. It was rather interesting that this boy could pick up on such a thing so swiftly. Maybe, just maybe... relax Isamu, this is a martial arts school after all, it's only natural that people want to spar. But Isamu needed a reason. And if this boy was strong, perhaps he could be of some...use. Isamu would test him, that's it. He wouldnt unleash his full potential.

Fingers deftly flicking the strings across each other, he finished tying his shoe, staring up and settling his gaze sqaurely on the boy as he finished talking. "Hmph." Was the only response that was given - never let it be said that Isamu took all day to make a decision.

Without further ado, since he was already squatting on the ground, his right leg lashed out in a sweeping kick toward Ryo's ankles. If it connected, fine - it would leave the boy on his back. However, if his skill was to be measured by the boy's attitude...that kick wouldnt touch him. In actuality, Isamu fully expected Ryo to either jump, or flip to evade the foot. It was with this in mind that Isamu's body would continue to spin, and as he came around, his right hand shot out like a piston on a direct line with the intent to smash into Ryo's chest - if he jumped, or Ryo's back - if he flipped. It was an open hand blow with all the power of the spin behind it and wouldnt feel very nice at all.

Let's see what kind of reaction that got.

[ryoyakuta]

Continuing to study the other figure, Ryo wasn't really expecting any opening moves right here in the middle of the gym, but one came at him pretty fast. Now, Ryo wasn't stupid. He had been in quite a few fights, so he was used to tricks and feigning by now. He was also aware of his own advantages in a fight compared with his weaknesses. He knew that his legs were a lot stronger than his arms, so he generally tried to use them more in a fight. He usually had a sword with him as well, but he had already stated that he didn't want to use any weapons during this fight. Plus, fighting at school with a blade was certainly against the rules... right? Ryo honestly didn't know, but the fight had started, so thinking wasn't an option anymore. It was time for the adrenaline to kick in and take over from here.

As the sweeping kick came for his legs, he jumped up on his right, flat palm. This was a Capoeira skill that Ryo had picked up some time ago. As the opponent came spinning back around, Ryo would quickly slant his body at an angle and use his right leg to block the incoming punch. Quickly hopping onto his left hand, he would then swing the tip of his left foot directly toward his enemy's chin. If it connected, he would at least stumble backward and would have a bruise on his chin. This was a spar, not a fight to the death, so there were no real killing blows, and both of them were aware of that. Ryo might not have had strong arms, but they were strong enough for him to keep his body stable like that. His legs were like trains though. Interesting.

Very interesting.

[isamukinyishi]

There it was; the reaction Isamu was after.

Although one could analyze quite a bit from a person simply by observing them carefully, one could learn so much more from a combat reaction. The information a trained observer could read from such a reaction is quite incredible and highly useful, especially when the person you're reading is your opponent. By now, it was a skill that'd been ingrained in him unceasingly by his mother, the one who'd taught him how to fight since his tiny little fists could hold a weapon.

The second Ryo flipped over onto his hands, Isamu's brow shot up. Perhaps it was because of the baggy pants, but Isamu couldnt have seen the muscle of Ryo's legs, thus he couldnt have assumed that the boy was a 'foot fighter'. It was an interesting revelation.

Very interesting.

Ryo's right leg stopped his open handed thrust with minimal effort, followed up immediately by his left foot swinging forward in a direct line for Isamu's chin. At this point, Isamu had a 'moment.' It was as if time slowed down for just a singular second, and the peices to a puzzle fell together; a puzzle which, when completed would result in a vicious combo attack. If they were the players in a video game 'CRITICAL BREAK' would probably flash on a huge screen behind them, with red lights flooding the board.

But this was no video game.

A smooth tilt of Isamu's head allowed Ryo's left foot to land in the junction of his shoulder and neck instead of impacting his chin - at the same instant Isamu's previously open right hand snapped shut on Ryo's right ankle. And then, Isamu's own right foot swept forward, seeking to lodge itself in Ryo's gut - literally a punt, a powerful straight forward kick which, if it connected, Isamu was intending to loft the boy from the ground, halfway turn and use his grip on the boy's leg with the momentum from the kick and hurl him at the nearest basketball goal over two dozen feet away, the corded muscle of a swordsman visibly rippling under his bare arm's skin. If Isamu had been in his street clothes, this would have been a shining moment where he would adjust his blazer and fix his tie, arrogance leaking from him like a tidal wave.

Assuming the combo went off with a hitch, this particular little exchange would probably result in them shattering the backboard of the basketball goal.

Oops.

[ryoyakuta]

So, a lot could be observed and inferences could be made in the middle of a fight. What was going on right here and now could only be described as 'interesting.' Both of them were already thinking of it, as they quirked their brows, staring at one another while trying to react in an unpredictable sense. Thanks to the attire that Ryo chose to dress in, his muscles, strengths, and, most importantly, his weaknesses, were all hidden. As the blow hit his leg, a vibration traveled down the length of his body, but eventually just fizzled out. There would be no bruise, no cut: nothing. Nothing would show on his leg at all, something Ryo was proud of. After all of that training, that incessant, non-stop training, Ryo had finally managed to put it to use in an actual fight. That was possibly the best feeling in the entire world.

What is this that I feel and what is this that I fear?

As his foot came slicing forward through the air, Ryo was almost a hundred percent sure he had a good connecting hit, but, as usual, he was wrong. A slight sigh escaped his lips as his foot was simply caught there. He was faster than his opponent, or so he had been led to think. Perhaps his opponent was a lot faster than him in all reality. Lifting his right hand from the ground, Ryo pivoted his body just slightly backward, straightening his right leg even more to the point of possibly breaking it in several joints, so that he could lift up his left knee. His left arm was shaking, a bead of sweat running down his forehead. His left knee would take the impact of the fist. But this fight was over. He was in a straining, awkward position.

Ouch.

[isamukinyishi]

Rocking from the power of the kinetic impact of their clash, Isamu bounced slightly on his toes as his weight nearly transferred into a fall, he only recovered by sliding his right nike back so the grip could afford him some traction. And after that, he took several steps back, opening the space between them even wider. While doing so, he glanced at his palm, noting that even though his hand was very tough, the boy's kick had managed to incur a little bruising.

Glancing back up and at the boy who was unmoving, he eyed him for a bit, wondering if he should waste his time with him. He had potential, that was for sure. Finally, he spoke. "I take it you see the difference in our power?" Lifting his hand, he turned the palm up toward the sky, staring at the boy while slowing clenching his hand into a tight fist as he spoke. "But I'm a person who crushes all who oppose me." Releasing the fist, Isamu dusted his hands off on his basketball shorts. "I honestly doubt this school has money people who'll be able to defeat you like me, so dont be discouraged." Giving the boy another glance, he swept his silver hair back, turning away and walking over to the gym wall.

Calling back over his shoulder as he made his way off, he noted something to the boy. "Incidently, I dont like the way you gave up just now." Reaching his destination, a rack of basketballs, he grabbed one, bouncing it for a second, then turned toward the boy again. "I'm Isamu. A senior. You owe me a satisfying spar." Rotating one of his shoulders under the tank top, Isamu looped the basketball around his waist, the gym filling with the sound of the ball's impact on the floor as he bounced it again.

"You play?" Catching the ball in one hand, he palmed it, extending it out in Ryo's direction like an offering even though he was further down the court, near the middle. ...an offering, or was it a challenge?

Isamu was still making his mind up.