Tatakai (Open)

[Neko]

Tatakai
'Battle'

Closed to princeben07.

The woods were dense and confusing maze of mahogany and pine. Though the sun blazed beneath the sky, it was almost dusk beneath the canopy. Streams of golden light streamed onto bright purple heather, illuminating the illusory landscape’s solitary source of beauty and colour. Everywhere else, there was bark, stagnation, and silence.

“It’s perfect,” Kahoka purred. His voice was trill and full of excitement.

Ever since his failure in Radasanth, the nekojin had trained harder and harder. He had driven his tanto into training dummies until his paws bled. He had sweated oceans in pursuit of redemption. He had traipsed across deserts as hot as the sun. He repeated devout mantras until his lips were dry and cracked.

“Thank you, <Ruka>,” he bowed slightly, and drew an earthen kanji in honour of the forest Kami. Akashima never left Neko, even if Neko left Akashima.

He felt warmth in his chest, and knew the gods were with him. He spread his legs, and span two worn tanto between his claws. Their well-used steel blades honourably engraved with his parent’s first names - Lingui, and Chonju.

“Neko will not fail you again…,” he roared. His sincerity was as ferocious as his snarl.