Owl and Closed RP - A Lady Meets a Samurai

[ninja-lizzy.livejournal.com]

The following missive is delivered to Yukimura. It is written on fancy, decorative stationary, provided, of course, by everyone's favorite mid-sized formerly northeastern paper company. Because the mun enjoys throwing her characters together for no discernible reason.



11 May 2009
Ravenclaw Common Room

Dear Mr. Yukimura:

I am hoping that curiosity will compel you to open this missive, even coming as it does from someone you have not met. And to this end, I will be brief in explaining my purpose.

My name is Elizabeth Bennet, formerly of Longbourne in England and now, apparently, a resident of Ravenclaw. I have recently arrived at Hogwarts via unpopcorning. Back home, I was a zombie hunter by profession, and a student of the deadly arts. My studies included several years of training in the Orient, with a group of Shaolin monks.

Upon my arrival, I made some inquiries as to whom I might seek out who would also have knowledge of the deadly arts, for I would very much like to keep my skills honed, even though I am told there are no zombies likely to invade Hogwarts. Your name was mentioned as one I might contact, and so I have taken the liberty to do so, and I hope you do not think it too impudent of me.

I find my time is quite free, so if you are interested you need only name the time and place and I shall meet you thence.

Yours, Etc.

Miss Elizabeth Bennet

Comments

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

Yukimura was mildly bemused at the formality of the letter, but replied.

Bennet-san,

I am led to believe that by the 'deadly arts' you are referring to what I know as 'martial arts.' If this is the case, then, yes I am versed in sword, bow, and hand to hand. I am not terribly familiar with what the Shaolin teach, but it would be most interesting.

I am curious as to how my name came up, though. If you do not mind, could you tell me how you heard of me?

♥
Yukimura

Did we mention the stationary is pink?

[ninja-lizzy.livejournal.com]

Mr. Yukimura:

Your name was given to me first by a talking dog called Wishbone. I have also mentioned you in conversation with Professor Kusuriyuri, who was the one who suggested I contact you.

I hope that helps,

Yours, etc.

E. B.

No, but Yukimura will still sign with hearts

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

Bennet-san,

Those names I am familiar with. Wishbone is quite charming, though perhaps naïve. Kusuriyuri is to be relied upon.

Do you prefer a dojo or the grounds?

♥
Yukimura

[ninja-lizzy.livejournal.com]

Mr. Yukimura:

This school has a dojo? Really? I have not run across it! I should very much like to see it.

E. B.

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

Bennet-san,

Indeed, though most would know it as a room called the 'Room of Requirement.' If you'd like, I would meet you outside the Great Hall and show you the location of the room.

♥
Yukimura

[ninja-lizzy.livejournal.com]

Elizabeth, garbed in a Hogwarts robe rather than her usual Regency costume, arrived at the Great Hall in due course. Oly once she was there, leaning against a pillar and looking around with a puzzled frown did it occur to her that she had absolutely no idea what Yukimura looked like. She had asked that vaguely unsettling parchment salesman, but his reply had been something in the order of, "Uh... He's a Japanese guy." This was not helpful.

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

Yukimura had spotted the woman the moment she came into the hallway. He hung back, however, just behind a pillar, watching her a moment. With the arrival of a rather unsavory element, he was going to be cautious.

After the man left, he stepped out. "Bennet-san?" he asked, smiling broadly. "I am Sanada Yukimura. You were looking for me?"

[ninja-lizzy.livejournal.com]

Elizabeth stepped forward, smiling, and curtsied. "Please, call me Elizabeth," she said with a smile. She examined the man curiously and decided that he looked every bit as respectable as the ninjas of Lady Catherine De Bourgh's that she had gutted. "I should warn you," she added, "That I did not arrive here armed."

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

"I am called Yukimura, then Elizabeth," he said with a laugh. "The Room of Requirement will have weapons. They can even be carried out of the room, though I do prefer my own," he gestured to the sword at his hip. "I also have a bow, but since we will be inside, it can remain as it is," he said, gesturing to a long staff strapped to his back. With Karasu around, he didn't leave his room without both weapons.

As he began walking, he asked, "What is your preferred weapon?"

[ninja-lizzy.livejournal.com]

Elizabeth followed after him. "I generally prefer a katana," she answered. "Though I'm a good shot with a blunderbus, and am creditable with daggers." Because in Lizzy's universe, overkill was not a familliar concept.

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

Yukimura smiled. "I'm not used to fighting humans, though," he said. "So, I shall be gentle until I know your strength. Once that's established, I promise to be as hard as you're able for," he added with a wink.

[ninja-lizzy.livejournal.com]

Lizzy smiled. "I shall count up0on it, sir," she said. "Especially as I find men much more pleasant when they're hard."

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

Yukimura laughed appreciatively. "Indeed, they are, generally, if they know what to do."

[ninja-lizzy.livejournal.com]

Elizabeth laughed. "So I've heard," she agreed. "Though a proper young lady certainly oughtn't to admit to any direct experience."

By this time they had reached their final destination, a rather nondescript door. "Goodness, you wouldn't even know this room was here if you weren't looking for it," she said.

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

Yukimura smiled at her statement but declined to admit his own experience. "That is part of the charm of this room," he said genially, opening the door for her and bowing for her to proceed. He followed, closing the door and stepping out of his shoes in a single motion.

He pointed to the wall across from the door. "Your choice of katana," he said as he moved to the matt.

[ninja-lizzy.livejournal.com]

Elizabeth slipped off her own shoes and moved gracefully across the room.

She found what she was looking for almost immediately. The weight and balance on the blade were perfect, almost as if the katana had been made especially for her.


"There!" she said with a triumphant smile, turning back to Yukimura. "I own it is wonderful to wield a sword once again."

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

"A sword, especially a well-wrought one, becomes a part of you," Yukimura agreed, smiling.

He took an easy ready stance on his side of the mat, his shoulder to her, his hand over the hilt of his own blade. "When you are ready, lady." His eyes were on her, serious, though he continued to smile genially.

[ninja-lizzy.livejournal.com]

Elizabeth took a ready stance as well. Having a new sparring partner was always an interesting proposition; one never knew what one would face. And Yukimura had the look of a warrior, not one of those incompetents Lady Catherine had hired as ninjas, the ones Elizabeth had so easily gutted.

Elizabeth's own fighting style could best be described as showy but effective. Her movements were quick and graceful, and she had very good reflexes.

[elegantsamurai.livejournal.com]

Yukimura's fighting style was efficient and graceful, having been trained from very early childhood to be a samurai, to be a warrior.

He watched Elizabeth. There would be no signal, not between true warriors, of when the fight would begin. They both would know and move in accord. His eyes above his genial smile were serious. While he said he would go easy on her at first, easy was a very relative term. She handled the sword with too much familiarity to go too easy on her.