[PRP] Call to Arms

[Suudonym]

Though the lingering soreness had subsided and the bruises begun to fade, thoughts of how the defense of Nicolette could have gone differently pervaded in Luke's mind. The most overwhelmingly persistent idea was that if he had been armed, he could have prevented injury to himself. It was something he wasn't entirely sure of, though - he enjoyed the knowledge that he had avoided spilling any blood apart from his own - but still he found himself on course to the apartment Yuri inhabited, remembering that the older swordsman had taken possession of the only weaponry he owned. It had been for good reason at the time, but Luke had moved far beyond any thoughts of self-harm by now; his alliances fell with protecting others, a feat most easily accomplished against, especially against armed foes, when he was armed himself. A hand raised to knock on the door in hopes that the occupant was present. The guy really needed a phone.  

[BlackPidgeot]

Fortunately Yuri was actually home, and Repede lifted his head from his little nest of blankets at the foot of Yuri's bed. The Growlithe hearing Luke's distinctive footsteps before he even knocked.

The man had been sitting in his window, staring quietly out at the street when his thoughts were broken by the sound. Getting up, Yuri crossed the room and opened the door to see a familiar red head.

"Hey, what's up?" Yuri asked, allowing Luke entrance.

Astal was also splayed on his back upon the nearby sofa. The shiny Eevee's paw twitching as he soundly slept.  

[Suudonym]

Luke offered a greeting, wearing a mild disposition that betrayed none of the troubles that had weighed on him until recently. "You're still holding onto my sword, right?" he said. "I'd kind of been thinking lately that it would be a good idea to start carrying it again…" And if the fresh scars on his arm were any indication, the thoughts weren't born of a whim.  

[BlackPidgeot]

Yuri's eyes turned down as he noticed the scars on Luke's arm. He didn't say anything about them, though.

"Yeah, I was wondering when you'd come for it."

The man stepped away and eventually came back with the sword.

"You remember the conditions right?"  

[Suudonym]

Luke nodded, "Yeah." He remembered, but he wasn't entirely sure whether or not he had fulfilled them to whatever standards Yuri held. He had managed to reclaim his fighting style and restore speed, strength, and accuracy, but he didn't know if he could really call it mastered. He had compromised with the proper consumption of meals by distributing them throughout the days in small sizes. Sleep, though taken in quantities one might deem insufficient, was far more regular than it had been in days passed, and his overall demeanor was significantly less tired for it.  

[BlackPidgeot]

With that, Yuri grabbed his sword as well then headed for the door. "C'mon," he said as he walked out.

Recede immediately rose to his feet and followed, barking once to get Astals attention. The Eevees years perking up, he looked up with an expression of distaste. However, the silver fluff ball still ended up following too.  

[Suudonym]

A small nod, and Luke followed as Yuri proceeded, watching the pokemon that moved to join them.  

[BlackPidgeot]

Yuri led Luke to the outskirts of town and into the plains just outside the city. Once they'd come to a good spot just underneath a small cluster of trees, Yuri tossed his own sword to Luke.

"I want you to fight me using that sword," he told the boy plainly.

Repede and Astal parked themselves in the nearby shade to watch.  

[Suudonym]

Luke caught the thin blade with some confusion as it was tossed to him, "Yours? Why?" It was better than using a stick, at least, in terms of weight and grip, so he didn't necessarily mind; it just seemed a little odd since his own sword was perfectly accessible.  

[BlackPidgeot]

"You already know how to use yours," Yuri said matter-of-factly. "One of these days you might find yourself having to use a weapon you're not use to. You have to think on your feet, and go outside your comfort zone."

Yuri then unsheathed Luke's sword, and took a moment to look it over. He was somewhat familiar with the blade as he had taken care of it a few times, but he'd never actually used it.

"So if you want your sword back. Come and get it." A smirk crossing Yuri's face as he took a readied stance.  

[Suudonym]

Huh. Well okay. Luke removed the sword from its casing and took a brief moment to acquaint himself with it. It was much lighter than his, and the cut was faster. He took a posture to compensate for the differences, responding to Yuri's challenge with a passing "all right" before starting into a series of movements that invited countering.  

[BlackPidgeot]

Yuri allowed himself to play the part of a would-be attacker. He came at Luke with a wild series of aggressive swings in a successive chain. When the boy countered them all, he broke the chain by flipping Luke's sword behind his back and catching it again with his left hand as he stepped back.

"C'mon, is that all you got?" He said while giving Luke a challenging smirk. "Don't forget what you're using your sword for. If you don't take your opponent seriously then those you're protecting can die."  

[Suudonym]

No one would die again. He didn't care what it took or what he had to sacrifice so long as no one died again. Luke didn't allow the battle much respite before he moved to take up offense, striking in patterns that played more to precision than strength and taunted for further attack in response.  

[BlackPidgeot]

Now Yuri was the one parrying, and took a couple steps back.

"That's it. Stay focused, and remember to keep a cool head. Losing control means losing the fight."

He'd told this to Luke before, but the man kept emphasizing this to make sure it was ingrained in the boy's head. He had to fight without really thinking about that part of it, so that it was second nature.

Yuri then jumped back, shifted his grip on the sword to account for the difference in weight and length from his own. Now it was time to step things up a bit. He then came in fast, charging at Luke and aiming a swing. The man leaped back quickly and came in from another angle, and then another.  

[Suudonym]

He gave a small nod in response, keeping his feet light and his eyes in motion. It was difficult to do as he wanted if he couldn't keep his opponent close, but he was open to adapting. Sharply he blocked the incoming assault, repeatedly deflecting the sword with a wide swing. He suddenly abandoned this tactic and stepped into an oncoming attack with a tight parry instead of a repelling arc, encouraging his defending blade to twist around the attacking sword and loose it from its wielder's grasp.