fandomhighdorms | Outside the dorm, Night

[[ooc: I don't think there's a wrong way to do things per sae. But if you want to actually have your conversation you put dialogue in another language in slashes rather then quotes. Like this.

Pippi says something in Parsletounge.

//I can talk like a snake.//

((I've been using italics but I'll make the switch. Thank you very much))

((OOC: *takes note as well*))

Sakurazaki's feet slightly shuffle as she opens the brochure. "Where do you suppose we should go? Or should we just walk around and see where we end up?"

Ranma hops up onto a fence and walks it like a tightrope. He enjoys the fresh air and he breathes in deeply.
//I just wanted some air. I don't have a destination//

Of course, Sakurazaki too shocked and impressed by skill with balancing to respond to anything about a destination. She instantly feels bad about internally mocking his possible training earlier.

//That is some balance you have there, Saotome-san! Where did you pick that up? More importantly, how long did it take you to learn it?//

He smiles down at her a little embarassed because he did it without noticing mostly. He couches to a cat-ish pose to talk to to her without a wobble.

//Well my dad has forced me to train all my life. I'm not exactly happy about it either. I do enjoy fighting and training but my father is the main reason I'm here. I'm sick of the way he controls my life.//

Sakurazaki's own embarrasment is heightened again. The first reason is the fact that she can't quite handle the flip-flopping between one state of emotion to another that has been consistant only in its changability since they met. She wanted to delve into styles and techniques again (as any normal girl would, right?), and, here he was, suddenly getting uncomfortably personal with her. In a second flat, it went from aimless wandering to here's-my-life-story.

The second reason was out of sheer envy for his composure. Here he was, balanced perfectly on a fense post in a difficultly balance position, and she was faltering back a few steps, unable to keep some sort of standing. So not only was her mind racing for the sheer confusion of what was going on inside her head, but now she even failed at her art.

Sakurazaki kind of wanted to hate him for this, but she just couldn't. She floundered around for words, eyes darting slightly until she locked on something, and, even then, she didn't quite look him in the eye. She would have continued walking if she didn't think it were rude.

//"That...that's too bad. I'm sorry for that. It's never very fair when parents force their child like that...//

It was a lame thing to say. She would never have any idea, and was only assuming.

Not really knowing he made her feel so awkward he tries to be candid.

//I hope you started to train out of love of it. I know I love to train now but I have regrets about the path I had to take. Sometimes I don't think it's worth the trade-off.//

Realizing he's disclosing more than he wants to he changes subject quickly and askes her in a rushed voice. //Wanna see a trick?// He does a one handed-hand stand on the fence top and holds himself there. //Neat huh?//

The trick is neat, and it does make Sakurazaki smile slightly, but a mere move can't quite take her mind off the very deep territory he's thrown her into. Or the fact that she suddenly wants to dwell there.

//We don't really work on anything like that in Shinmei.// She starts, warming into her smile a little more while admiring his form. //Mostly swordwork. I had one sensei who could do something like that with her sword, but only for a fleeting second. Everything in Shinmei is like that.//

Time for the plunge. //I can't really recall why I started training....//

Careful not to disturb his balance although partially giving the fense a light touch as if to test him, Sakurazaki leans on it, arm slightly up, assuming a slight air of casualness. //It's just always been a part of my life, for as long as I remember. The masters at the school took me in when I was very, very young. I've never known a life outside of training. And that is why I'm here, essentially.//

Ranma's balence is unfaultering and he has only to make a slightly looking pus of his arm to right himself again. He reassumes his catlike pose, perched on the top of the fence.

//Think though, Sakurazaki-san. From today on you or I can stop training. We can do what we like. That will help me decide if I really love it. If I still do it when there's no one around to force me.//

He's continuing restless in such a serious conversation and he longs to breahk from it. He streches his legs by leaning back on one leg at a time and streahing the other out alternately.

She has many thoughts in response to this, the most prevelant being why anyone would want to stop training, but she doesn't voice any of them, just turns her eyes for a moment to the darkening evening sky. She had been thinking a lot about this whole situation and what it would mean all day, all week, ever since Ojou-sama proposed the idea to her. That seemed ages ago. She had been thinking about it bitterly, remorsefully, fearfully...But the way Saotome-san put that perspective on it...felt somehow encouraging.

Sakurazaki shifts her dark eyes toward him meaningfully, and a dark thought crosses her mind. She lets them linger on him for a only a second before turning her head back upwards. She lifts her right leg slightly....and then brings it back, kicking it hard against the fence.

Ranma had tensed himself when she lifted her leg and he leaps of the shaking fence and sticks his landing on the ground. He folds his hand behind his head and grins at her in a way that could be taken mockingly.

//Trying to shake me huh? You can't.//

//A mere test.//

She lifts her chin; she is impressed with how well she can mask the grin trying to break past her cool facade. She punctuates it by starting to move forward again.

//You might be one of the lucky ones, Saotome-san, who won't need to continue training. Although, I do have small feet, you know. If I had Yuunagi here, it might be a different story.//

He shakes his head, trying to placcate the situation.

//If you stop training, no matter who you are, your skill will go soft. And anyway.... How about a race instead? I have energy still but I could never hit a girl.//

//A race?//

She stopped again, looking back to him and assessing the situation. Sakurazaki was fast, yes. It helped that Shinmei specialized in wind...but she wasn't that fast. And she had to admit that Saotome-san was probably quite a challenge. Somehow, she doubted the he would bother with a challenge unless he was confident he could win. Especially to (she cringed a bit) a girl.

Could she handle a defeat right now, should it happen? She always considered this before she went into battle. If the defeat could not be handled, than the victory is not deserved. Victory was easy; defeat was not. A defeat would possibly mean contempt, scorn, or mocking for the entire summer. However, an attempt and a good performance could mean respect. She knew she could at least put up a good fight.

She nodded. //A race it is. Where is our goal?//

Ranma, glances around carefully and picks out a street lamp in the distance, about half a mile away. He points to it.

//Would that be okay?//

He doesn't know if he'll win or lose but, because fighting in not permitted on school grounds during the middle of the night like this especially, he wanted to test her in a way that was safe and challenging. His running was only a secondary skill that came with his art and it wasn't something he specialized in. In his mind at least thing seemed pretty fair.

She nodded, and made a slight hum of agreement. Already, she was beginning to focus her energy on the task at hand, eyes glued to the destination, then pulling away. Being to focused on the goal lead to almost certain failure. She had to concentrate on herself, on her core and her body and her use of the wind to help push her forward.

Was it cheating to be working on this before they began? She decided that it didn't matter. She gave a quick glance to Saotome-san, and then prepped herself for a signal to begin.

He stares at the goal and counts evenly.

//3... 2... 1... Go!//

He runs with long strides towards the lamp.

Sakurazaki's start is awkward, slightly stumbling, her thin legs confused by the sudden burst of action, but they sort themselves out soon. As she herself is very birdlike, she moves like a bird, an emu or ostrich with her ponytail like bouncing feathers. Her body bend low, and her arms move behind her back like wings, no wasted energy on pumps or clenched fists. The exertion of energy feels good; she tries not to focus on how the experience would be heightened if she were weilding Yuunagi, dodging obstacles of enemies and slicing them with her blade. In fact, running was slightly boring without the added fun of her fellow students to avoid and beware of.

But there was Saotome-san. She wasn't avoiding him or battling him in the conventional method, so she told herself that she shouldn't pay attention to him, ignore he was there, focus on movement and movement alone. Everything else would fall into place. She closed her eyes, for fear of seeing that black braid trailing in front of her face.

Ranma propelling himself forward he can he see Sakurazaki has at least 5 feet on him and he's pleasently surprised by this. He puts on a bit more speed, fueled by the heat of a challenge.

Curiousity got the best of Sakurazaki, and she opens her eyes to see how much further she is. Not much further at all, but that doesn't surprise her nearly as much as the black braid she envisioned was not there. Could she be winning? The thought made her elated, but it messed up her rhythm and she began to falther slightly...

No! She closed her eyes again, composed herself, pushed herself even further. Never let the enemy fool you into thinking you've won, because it is at that moment that you have lost. Even if Saotome-san was chomping on her dust, she had to still run like he was always five feet ahead of her. Always.

Eye's open through out he sees he glance back at him and lose a few steps of firm footing but he notes her regain of control and this only making him want to push harder. a typical stuborn mule, he really only shows 100 percent when he's challenged to a large extent.

His arms swing and pull him forward but he still is not passing Sakurazaki. He doesn't give up even when he sees it as ending poorly, applying all his strength until the end.

She focuses her attention on one thing now; she lets her body take care of the technicalities while her attention is sent to her left side. It is there where the lamppost (or Saotome-san) will pass her; it will be there soon, so she focuses on recognizing the point in time where it is there, and then it is gone.

The point in time occurs. A sudden flash of...some presence to her left, gone just as soon as it arrive. Sakurazaki's eyes flash open. It would not do to just stop, and so she actually tosses her feet up against the wall she nearly runs into, springing her into the air, where she slows her momentum with a dramatic flip, landing with a low bend, hands held vertically as though to strike. She is breathing heavily, trying to see the outcome of the race but unable to really see anything.

All she can do is grin wildly, chest heaving, as she mutters, //That felt good.//

Ranma, mere moments behind, he pants up, slows abruptly and smiles.
//You did great. I feel so refreshed.//
He lets loose a noisey and sloppy yawn that any Japanese would find absolutely horrible manner-wise.
//Mmm I am tired now though. We should start heading back.//

Sakurazaki almost wished she wasn't so wrapped up in formalities so that she could let out a yawn like that. Between her catch-up breaths, she found herself laughing a bit. Definately something Konoka-esque about him.

//I agree.// She lifts her legs slightly, as if working out any settling cramps, and once again channeling the image of a gangly-legged, flightless bird. Hands placed on her hips, she begins to walk back while her breathing regulates. //Who won? I have to admit that I wasn't watching and that end there...just...// She can't finish the thought, the exhileration returning to her, flushing her face and causingher to beam.

This smile catches him off guard again and he blushes lightly to explain his loss. He has periods of remembering she's a girl and thinking of her as a challenge. When they change it ruins his focus.

//You won. This time.// He walks slowly towards the doorm building. //When I lose I train until I won't lose anymore. So we'll have to race again sometime...//

She is absolutely elated to hear the news, but she doesn't show any of it beyound her beaming fading into a gentle smile as they start to enter the building and head toward the stairs. She sends a silent prayer of thanks to Sun Tzu.

//I look forward to our next battle, Saotome-san. I haven't felt this amazing for a very long time. Thank you.//

Ranma tries to match her smile but he's red with flush at her big grins.

//Good evening Sakurazaki-san...//

They part ways to their respective rooms. ((ooc: Guuhhhh Ranma-mun is dead tired))

((OOC: As is Sakurazaki-mun and Sakurazaki, so it works. Great RP, though; what a great way to start a new game. =D But now: BED!!))

She replies in kind, and ducks quietly into room 412, worried to wake Lovegood-san, should she have made it into the room by then.

((OOC ARMWAVY: I'm sorrrrrrry, by the way, for disappearing like that))

Outside the dorm, Night

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