Words Cut Like Steel

[Yasuki_Midoriko]

With Yukiko close behind her, Midoriko was meandering through the gardens. Every so often, Yukiko would disappear into a snow drift and then wander out to shake herself off.

"Silly dog." Midoriko smiled at her and kept walking along.
_________________
Crab Clan * Artisan * Voice * Dangerous Beauty * Wearing the jade necklace Ichi gave me

Glory 2.1
Honor 1.9
Status 1.0

My theme song to Ichi-kun
So very me

[Hiruma_Sozoka]

As usual for his vacations routine, Sozoka has been training in the gardens for some time, distant from the possible curious glances of those training at the courtyard. Unlike many Crab, he trained with his blade, snow moving under his feet as he performed a rigid and yet gracious kata. Each strike of the blade was accompanied by a turn of his mighty body and by the air leaving his lungs. And another strike. And one more. Little by little, his attacks at invisible opponents began to paint a slightly circular movement, although each separate piece of the kata was strictly straight and direct.

Despite the cold, his strong torso was covered only by a light yukata, muscles twitching a little under the snowflakes and the cold and yet unyelding.
_________________
Crab Clan Samurai * Gunso * Large * Tough

Honor: 1.1
Glory: 2.2
Status: 3.0

[Yasuki_Midoriko]

As Midoriko rounded a bush, she spotted Sozoka. She stood there for a few moments and just watched him with an intrigued look on her face. Yukiko sat down beside her and began licking her paw.

Midoriko got a gleam in her eye and a grin on her face as she bent down and picked up a handful of snow and packed it into a tight ball. With all her might, she hurled it in Sozoka's direction.
_________________
Crab Clan * Artisan * Voice * Dangerous Beauty * Wearing the jade necklace Ichi gave me

Glory 2.1
Honor 1.9
Status 1.0

My theme song to Ichi-kun
So very me

[Hiruma_Sozoka]

With a magnificent arch drawn on the sky with his sword, Sozoka finished his kata, a proud grin on his face as he played back the images before his eyes in search of any fault and could find none.

Then, something struck him in his right temple, making his head cock to the left. Nothing in his expression changed for a moment before he grumbled something about an unparticular Crane and their habit of treating the tetsubo as his narrowed eyes traced the trajectory of the snowball. Seeing who the offending party was, Sozoka kneeled slowly, never taking his eyes off of her as his hands left the unsheathed katana and began gathering snow... lots of snow...
_________________
Crab Clan Samurai * Gunso * Large * Tough

Honor: 1.1
Glory: 2.2
Status: 3.0

[Yasuki_Midoriko]

Midoriko started grinning from ear to ear as she began to back away slowly. She quickly looked around trying to find something to hide behind but wasn't having any luck.

Yukiko was still sitting on the ground licking her paws.

"Afternoon, Hiruma-san. Nice day isn't it?" She was trying her best to keep from laughing. "Look! What's that over there!?" She points off to the left at nothing in particular.
_________________
Crab Clan * Artisan * Voice * Dangerous Beauty * Wearing the jade necklace Ichi gave me

Glory 2.1
Honor 1.9
Status 1.0

My theme song to Ichi-kun
So very me

[Hiruma_Sozoka]

He continues grinning and nods to her greetings, but doesn't take his eyes from the woman. Finally, hands come up with a huge ball of snow, about the size of Yukiko. As he stands up, his arms grab the ball and throw it towards Midoriko at full speed.

"Nice day indeed, Yasuki-san," he smirks.
_________________
Crab Clan Samurai * Gunso * Large * Tough

Honor: 1.1
Glory: 2.2
Status: 3.0

[Yasuki_Midoriko]

Midoriko turns to avoid being hit in the face as the ball of white fluff explodes on her side. It knocks her off her feet and she falls into a snow drift. Yukiko's ears perk up as she runs over to Sozoka and begins gnawing on his clothes while growling at him.

Midoriko just lays in the pile of snow laughing uncontrollably. She tries sitting up, but her hands keep finding other snow drifts and she falls back down.
_________________
Crab Clan * Artisan * Voice * Dangerous Beauty * Wearing the jade necklace Ichi gave me

Glory 2.1
Honor 1.9
Status 1.0

My theme song to Ichi-kun
So very me

[Hiruma_Sozoka]

Sozoka sits down and looks at Yukiko, who's still gnawing at his clothes. After a few moments of pondering and with a comepletely sage look, Sozoka picks up a handful of snow and plops it on the dog's head.

He then stood up and went towards Midoriko, his hands folded buisness-like behind his back. He sat besides her, gazing thoughtfully into her eyes for a moment before leaning in...

...and plopping a handful of snow on her head too. Sozoka then smiled and nodded as his work was complete.
_________________
Crab Clan Samurai * Gunso * Large * Tough

Honor: 1.1
Glory: 2.2
Status: 3.0

[Yasuki_Midoriko]

Midoriko chokes as she inhales half of the snow Sozoka dumped on her head. She wipes what's left off her face and forces herself to sit up. "Feel better now?" Her head turns to look at Sozoka as she's still grinning from ear to ear.

Yukiko stands up and shakes off the snow then walks up to Sozoka and sits down in front of him.

Midoriko unpins her hair and lets it fall down as she brushes the remaining snow off her head. "Didn't expect to find you out here."
_________________
Crab Clan * Artisan * Voice * Dangerous Beauty * Wearing the jade necklace Ichi gave me

Glory 2.1
Honor 1.9
Status 1.0

My theme song to Ichi-kun
So very me

[Hiruma_Sozoka]

"Soooo much better," Sozoka chuckles and scratches behind Yukiko's ear. "Didn't expect to see yourself either," he grins at Midoriko, eyes following her hair a bit before returning to her face. "Didn't get a cold after all, did you?"
_________________
Crab Clan Samurai * Gunso * Large * Tough

Honor: 1.1
Glory: 2.2
Status: 3.0

[Yasuki_Midoriko]

"I don't think so. Slept most of the day so I think I fought most of it off." Yukiko lays her head on Sozoka's leg while he scratches her behind the ears. Midoriko watches her and laughs. "Not much of a protecting kind of dog, huh?"

She climbs to her feet, dusts off the snow, and offers her hand to Sozoka. Not that she'd really be able to help him up or anything. But it's the thought that counts, right?
_________________
Crab Clan * Artisan * Voice * Dangerous Beauty * Wearing the jade necklace Ichi gave me

Glory 2.1
Honor 1.9
Status 1.0

My theme song to Ichi-kun
So very me

[Hiruma_Sozoka]

He smiles at Yukiko and then winks to Midoriko with mischief. "Think you need protection from me?"

Sozoka takes her hand, "are you afraid I'd do something like this?" and, smiling victoriously, pulls her down. It seemed their snow combat was far from over yet...
_________________
Crab Clan Samurai * Gunso * Large * Tough

Honor: 1.1
Glory: 2.2
Status: 3.0

[Yasuki_Midoriko]

Midoriko falls down on top of Sozoka almost pinning him to the ground. "Yes I need protection from you! Look at the trouble you get me in to!"

Yukiko wanders around to their heads and starts licking Sozoka in the face.

Midoriko rolls off him and lands back in the snow. She scoops up a sleeve full of the white powder and drops it on Sozoka's face then scrambles to her feet and takes off running. "Looks like you need protection from me!"
_________________
Crab Clan * Artisan * Voice * Dangerous Beauty * Wearing the jade necklace Ichi gave me

Glory 2.1
Honor 1.9
Status 1.0

My theme song to Ichi-kun
So very me

[Hiruma_Sozoka]

Sozoka bursts into a deep laughter when Yukiko begins licking his face, a thing which gets him a mouthful of snow when Midoriko counterattacks.

Swallowing quickly, he sits up and, grabbing the dog in one hand and as much snow as he could in the other begins chasing the woman. "I'll show you protection once I get you!"
_________________
Crab Clan Samurai * Gunso * Large * Tough

Honor: 1.1
Glory: 2.2
Status: 3.0

[Yasuki_Midoriko]

"Ahhhhhh!" She picks up the pace once he starts after her, quickly looking for some place to hide. "Who says you're gonna get me?!" Midoriko looks over her shoulder to see how close he's getting.

Yukiko is happily wagging her tail and licking Sozoka's hand.

"Whos side are you on anyway, girl?" She turns back to the path in front of her just in time to narrowly escape running into a bench.
_________________
Crab Clan * Artisan * Voice * Dangerous Beauty * Wearing the jade necklace Ichi gave me

Glory 2.1
Honor 1.9
Status 1.0

My theme song to Ichi-kun
So very me