Sparring Over Sake [Yuuto/Mirai]

Yuuto was right about her intent, so when his leg came down, she did indeed lock it in. However, she was not expecting him to take advantage of that so smoothly and easily move her through the air to slam her down onto the opposite side. She hit with a decent thud, a low groan escaping her lips as she laid there. “Ow…”

Taking a quick breath, Mirai pressed both hands to the floor and utilized a "kick-up" to return to her feet. Right back into her stance, Mirai stepped into Yuuto's range to implement one jab toward his chest. A slide of her foot off to the side and she repositioned herself to strike twice at his ribs, and then continued the movement with a spin that brought her around to his other side to strike at his waist.

Mirai was not using much strength or force in her strikes, but instead taking advantage of fast, precise, and well aimed movements that would allow damage without employing great force. She was also hitting specific pressure points.

At first, he was scared that he put too much force behind his attack, and as he got to his feet, took a half-step forward, a hand reaching out as he felt his blood run cold. But, he was able to breathe a quick sigh of relief as he watched her get up, seeming to float backward as she rushed to get back into range, narrowly avoiding the jab to his chest.

While he was able to swat away the first strike to his ribs, he hadn't managed to do so with the second one, making him flinch as the swift hit set him off balance slightly. As she went for the strike to his waist, he instinctively went to counter with a sudden thrust outward from his elbow. He could tell that she wasn't intending to overpower him with raw strength, but rather, was being more meticulous about the placement of her attacks, aiming at pressure points and using refined technique to damage him.

"Good, your technique is improving, but, don't forget that pressure points can have greater effect with more force. Make sure you're keeping a good balance of strength and speed."

As a demonstration, Yuuto's hands darted outward, striking lightly at a few pressure points in her arms to cause stinging and to briefly knock her off-balance. They both were more well-versed with their respective weapons, but having a variety of skills to utilize for any situation was never a bad thing, especially in their line of work, where they occasionally needed to make their own weapons.

Mirai felt each hit and the intensity behind them being because of well-aimed and calculated pressure. It wasn’t just his speed or his strength, but the sheer experience and skill he had collected over the years. However, she was not knocked off balance. The fact was, she had her other arm and her legs. She was just more deadly with those, something she proved a fraction of a second later when she swung her first leg up, and around in a backwards sweeping motion, aiming to hook his neck behind her leg and send him to the ground. Of course, because of how this kick worked, if she missed, that foot landing would become the foundation of her next kick, as she continued the momentum, spinning and swinging her other leg with even more speed behind it, this time sending her knee flying at his gut.

Yuuto smiled as he noted her staying balanced. She was improving not just in her own application of the technique, but also in her ability to defend against it. Stepping backward and ducking to avoid the initial sweep of her leg, Yuuto was quick to bring his hands up as he noticed her strategy.

She continued the flow of movement, launching herself forward and sending her knee right into his hands, sending him backward a foot or two. But, rather than retaliate, Yuuto lowered his hands.

"Well done, you're getting faster, thinking on your feet quicker, and your overall technique has improved greatly. Remember to refine the points I gave you, and you'll be soaring to new heights in no time at all."

He brought a hand to his chin as he thought back to the last bits of the spar, and the utilization of her legs. He knew that she was stronger with her legs, and that recent demonstration had given him an idea.

"When you have time, try looking into kickboxing and Muay Thai. There might be some demonstrations, techniques, or general practices that you might find helpful. Their training regimens might be helpful as well. I would say to try and focus on strengthening your lower body to give further stability, even when on one leg."

But, then his arms went back to his sides, the pondering look replaced with the warm smile she knew him for.

"But, enough of that. Shall we?"

Mirai’s knee hit his hands, and she could tell that things were over when he lowered his hands. It was almost too bad, she was enjoying getting that out. Of course, the moment she stopped, she felt that burn, the sweat, and took a moment to catch her breath. She wasn’t tired, but she had did some pushing there, trying to get her speed higher and higher. Still, she was sort of pumped. She began doing a few kicks and punches into the air. “Uh’huh, Uh’huh. Muay Thai and Kickboxing. Kicking boxing and Muay Thai. Definitely. I’ll check it out.” The smile on Mirai’s face was joyous, almost glowing as she finally dropped her fighting stance.

“Ready to drink the rest of the night away?” Mirai asked. Once he confirmed, a shunpo landed her beside the bag she left at the entrance. As she reached out to grab it, she realized something… ‘Oh my goodness, I STINK. I can’t hang out like this!’ Blushing, completely embarrassed, Mirai looked back over at Yuuto. “Uuhh…W-We were heading to your place, right?” she said, clearly completely unsure. Once he confirmed his place, she blushed even further. “D-Do… you mind if I take a shower? I worked up a sweat and am… icky.” He said yes, of course; he always did.

Back at Yuuto’s place, Mirai hurried to the bathroom to get a quick shower done. She already had a change of clothes that she was comfortable in, but when she finally got out all clean and fresh, she remembered what she forgot. ‘No, no, no… I didn’t bring it, did I? Damn it!’ She rummaged through the bag, careful not to break the sake, or mess anything else up. ‘It’s not here… I failed…’ Mirai sighed, realizing she left the new perfume she had back home. She always wore something new when she hung out with Yuuto, but not this time. She’d have to settle for something old. It was a body spray with a sweet, flowery scene that she put on instead.

Mirai came out of the shower with her bag and set it on the table. With a deep, relaxed breath, she began pulling out a few random snacks she had and set the much needed sake down as well. Thanks to these hang outs, Mirai was getting much better about holding her alcohol than she once was. It was occasionally Yuuto she had to worry about now... Secretly, she hoped tonight would be one of those nights. "Here we are... You pour first. So why kickboxing and Muay Thai?"

As the two arrived at his place, Yuuto was quick to change into more casual wear, setting his haori and shihakusho aside to wash in the morning. He waited patiently as Mirai took a shower, quietly reading Song of Edmon as he waited her return. As soon as he heard her coming down the stairs, he set his bookmark in place, vanishing for an instant to return the book, before reappearing at the table.

As she sat down and started pulling out some snacks and, of course, drink, the floral scent made his head tilt a little bit in curiosity, before the warm smile on his face grew just a little bit wider. He remembered this one -- it was an old perfume that Mirai had worn not too terribly long ago, but, to him, it was still just as pleasant as the first time. To him, something old could very well become new again, given enough time.

Gingerly taking the sake and beginning to carefully pour out equal amounts for the two, Yuuto's eyes went to her as she asked about the two martial arts. He refrained from answering immediately until he was done pouring the drinks, before setting the bottle down and leaning back a little in his chair.

"I noticed the strength you have when it comes to using your legs for unarmed combat, so, I figured that studying the kicking styles of those two martial arts could help you minimalize injury, while maximizing damage and further improving your overall technique. For example, Muay Thai fighters always connect with the shin to avoid damaging the bones and nerves in the foot."

Yuuto picked up one of the cups with both hands, holding it out for her to take. When she did, he took the other cup for himself, cradling it carefully.

"With kickboxing, studying their footwork could help you to better your self-defense ability, as well as broadening your knowledge. Knowing more ways to approach a situation, whether for a job or general combat, could save your life, should it ever come to something like that."

Mirai took her drink and began sipping at it as she heard his suggestions, nodding along in agreement. She opened her bag and pulled out a stack of manga called “Fruits Basket.” She had read the first few volumes, but a recent trip brought her a few more. Claiming the couch, like she often did, Mirai laid across it and set her drink on the side table. She pulled open the earliest volume, but before she began reading, she looked to Yuuto with a small smile. “I will certainly look into both styles, but shhh..." she put a finger in front of her lips. "You know the rules."

As if a rule to their hangouts, work was on the back-burner, so was training. Yuuto was the only person Mirai felt comfortable enough with to not feel obligated to fill the air with conversation. The silence was just fine. So, she opened up her manga and began reading, taking sips occasionally, but more often when she felt the plot was getting interesting, exciting, or adorable. After a while, sipping on Suika sake left the woman flushed and giggly at every turn of the page. At the end of the first volume, she let it drop to the floor and looked over to Yuuto, just to see how his book was coming... 'Should play a drinking game... Lightweight.' She smirked, fighting a giggle at the thoughts going through her head. He wasn't actually a lightweight, but this Suika sake was always... very very strong. It's why she sipped.

As Mirai shushed him, Yuuto chuckled, giving a silent nod. Right, their little unspoken rule whenever they spent time together like this: No work talk, no training talk. Even if it meant they would simply enjoy one another's company in silence, each of them reading their own respective work, it was time that they both enjoyed. Yuuto, much like his companion, took careful, occasional sips of the sake as he progressed through the book, sitting on the floor next to the side table and couch.

Eventually, though, the Captain's face began to flush a little. A lighter, more sly and teasing smile came to his lips as he'd steal more glances at Mirai to see her own progress, that sly expression turning to one of surprise at being caught looking, before noticing that she'd finished the volume she had been working through.

In the blink of an eye, the Captain had appeared on the couch, Mirai's legs over his own and his book resting on the table with its bookmark in place as he leaned forward, that smile seeming evermore sly and playful.

"Soooo, how was it?"

Mirai raised an eyebrow at him. Yeah, busted. Technically, they both were caught looking at each other, but his reaction was much more fun. She could tell the sake had hit him already, especially when he blinked out of one spot and to another.

‘Yep, he’s… drunk again,’ Mirai thought as she re-grabbed her book from the floor and hid her face behind it. She was only buzzed, as her sips were intentionally not enough to truly get her drunk… yet. If it did, she wouldn’t be able to remember his endearing behavior. She found the playful him both fun and welcoming...

“It’s extremely cute, a definite recommendation, if you ever want to try it yourself,” she said, keeping her face hidden from him. “You feeeeling okay, Yuuto?”

As Yuuto leaned in and Mirai hid her face behind the manga volume, Yuuto took a look at the cover. His vision wasn't the best at the moment, but at the distance, he could read the name. Fruits Basket...one that Mirai recommended and found cute, huh? He'd have to give it a look at some point. But, his attention shifted, fingers lightly tapping and dancing along the spine of the volume.

"I'm feelin' great~ But, you're hidin' your face...have you been sippin' again, Mirai?"

In saying that, Yuuto pressed down firmly with a finger, pushing the book away from her face and leaning in a bit closer, that sly, teasing smile spreading just a little bit wider as he, despite his intoxicated state, casually slipped the book out of her hands, closing it and setting it aside on the nearby side table.

"C'mon, liiiiightweiiiiight~"