Going Places (For Deezcastforms)

[CaptainL]

"Ah...okay. Yeah, I think I get it..." Mizuki nodded her head, taking a mental note of what Nikki had said to her. Even if she had to move, it was okay, as long as she could keep herself steady. And indeed, she had managed to catch herself and keep herself from falling, even if she might have stumbled...thinking on it, a smile grew across Mizuki's face, and she let out a sigh of relief. This wasn't so hard after all!

At Nikki's word, Mizuki straightened herself back to her feet, stretching her back. She nodded to her trainer, hanging off every word - even now, she had seen how much she could benefit from Nikki's advice, and she wasn't going to pass that up. Now, the floor was open to her, and Mizuki paused for a moment to think about what she might want to cover. In truth, she was sure there were a lot of things she needed help with, and she wasn't sure where to begin. But after a moment of thought, she realized just what she needed to know.

"Uh...do you think you can teach me about blocking and anticipating attacks? And counters, maybe?" Mizuki thought back on her disastrous first match against Natsuki Makabe, and how she had blinded her with her quick strikes and caught her off-guard, leaving the brunette helpless before she could even react. Mizuki was sure that she wouldn't exactly become any good, but at the least, she wanted to prevent that from happening again.

[deezcastforms]

"Um, alright. I think I get what you're asking. You mean how to deal with strikes, right?" When Mizuki nodded in confirmation, Nikki began the next lesson. "I find that wrestlers have a tendency to over block when dealing with strikes. They think of boxing where the blocking is the number one defensive option and do that. But wrestling and boxing are two different things, and blocking isn't nearly as good in wrestling. That's because you can grab people in wrestling, and getting caught blocking is an easy way to get yourself grabbed. If a strike isn't aimed at your head and it's not a big swing, it's usually better to dodge it or at least shift your body so it glances of your side or your shoulder or something, then try to attack back. The only time I recommend committing to blocking is when a big strike is coming in, and letting it glance off isn't an option. But if a strike is that big, you'll usually be able to respond with some offense of your own. But, if you do get caught blocking, you're number one goal is to try to retreat out of range and reset."

"Now onto anticipating attacks. The key is in the shoulders and hips." Nikki said as she slapped her own for emphasis. "When a punch or kick is being thrown, those are what move first. If you're keeping your eye on those, you'll have the most time possible to react."

Nikki then put her hands on her hips as she tried to find the right words for explaining counters. "Counters, don't have one right answer, it's all situational. When you're opponent makes an attack that you can counter, it's all about recognizing what they left open, and what your quickest option to hit them there is. One attack leads to more, your counter doesn't need to be a haymaker. Any questions? I know it's a lot."

[CaptainL]

"Well, strikes, grabs...that sort of thing. I really don't know much of anything," Mizuki explained with a sigh. "I'm sorry, I really hope I'm not embarrassing you-" She nodded nonetheless, giving Nikki the floor to explain herself. In truth, Mizuki had no knowledge of either wrestling or boxing, and she was only going off what seemed natural to her in terms of how to react to an opponent. She didn't mind the explanation, though - hearing Nikki spell things out actually made a lot of sense and gave her the context she was looking for. She nodded in tune with Nikki's words, and she smiled wider as it set in. The more Nikki told her, the more she felt like she stood a chance. "Okay...okay! Yeah, thanks! That makes sense..."

As Nikki got into anticipation, she nodded too. Made sense, and it was easy enough to follow. She did, however, bite her lip when she heard there wasn't an easy answer when it came to counters. In her mind, that made it dicier in terms of how she was supposed to react to situations in the ring. Was she really just meant to wing it? The thought of facing an opponent with nothing to prepare herself frightened her. The more Mizuki thought about it, the more she felt like she would only understand if she was faced with a practical situation. But the only way to do that was...

She gulped, clenching her teeth and squeezing her hand tighter as she shuddered nervously. "Uh...I mean, yeah, that all makes sense. Thanks. But...do you think, maybe, we could..." She glanced aside, hanging on the last word. "P-Practice...that? I mean, you'd have to...try and hit me..."

It was all coming down to this, Mizuki thought. She didn't know if it'd hurt, or if she'd be able to live up to her trainer's expectations. But if it was the only way for her to learn...

[deezcastforms]

"Well practicing is what we're here for, I wasn't planning on just lecturing the whole time." Nikki chuckled as she got into a stance. "Now since we're just getting you used to dodging and countering, I'm not actually going to hit you. I'll throw real punches and kicks, but I'll aim so I miss wide, or high, or short, or whatever. I said earlier that there's no one answer for countering, this is how you find yours. When you think you have an opening, try something and see if it works. And do hit me for real, by the way."

Nikki started to focus in before pausing and thinking of further instructions to give, "Oh, and one more thing. You don't have to counter everything. Not every attack leaves an opening, and trying to force one can get you in trouble. Take the time to see my attacks and start to recognize them before you try to pounce on anything."

With that said, Nikki began throwing punches once she made sure Mizuki was ready. The first two would be quick jabs over her head, nothing really there to counter if Mizuki tried. Nikki would then follow up with a spinning elbow that would come up short of Mizuki's jaw. A bit of an opening was there after that, but if Mizuki wasn't ready to go for it yet, Nikki would give a weak kick at Mizuki's thigh that would leave her body open. If Mizuki still hadn't gone for a counter yet, Nikki would repeat the attack string until she tried something.

[CaptainL]

"Oh...okay!" At hearing Nikki's reassurance that she wouldn't be using any real strikes, Mizuki smiled, and her body seemed to settle with relief. Not used to wrestling training as she was, and with a perhaps justified fear of people taking advantage of her after her first encounter with Natsuki, Mizuki hadn't actually realized that Nikki wouldn't actually try to beat her up. She was grateful to know she wouldn't.

Nodding in confirmation that she'd received Nikki's words, Mizuki began to get back into a stance, making sure not to lean too far and to balance her weight as Nikki had instructed. "I'll try..." She looked over toward the blonde, as though seeking confirmation she was doing it right, but she balled her fists nonetheless, getting herself ready. She had to be ready, she told herself.

Though, there was still one thing that lingered in the back of her head. Mizuki began to open her mouth to voice it - but just then, Nikki moved forward, and she clenched her teeth, her body going tense. No time to talk now!

Seeing Nikki swing jabs at her head, Mizuki ducked down, using her hands to cover her head out of instinct. It was when Nikki swung an elbow at her next that Mizuki realized in doing so she had left her face unprotected, and she quickly whirled herself back, holding her forearms up protectively as she got out of the way. "W-Whoah..!" But in setting that up, Mizuki had left Nikki with enough time to throw a kick, and as soon as she looked back up the brunette saw she had to move, hopping back in the fraction of a second before the blow would have hit.

The second time around, Mizuki was starting to pick up on the patterns, and how she could most efficiently respond to each attack. This time, when the jabs came, she would turn her head to the side to dodge instead of duck, keeping her hands up. She did, however, use the time to get a few words in.

"Um...N-Nikki? If I hit you...won't it hurt?"

[deezcastforms]

Nikki paused, and couldn't help but let out a quick chuckle at Mizuki's question, "Listen, no offense, but I've definitely taken worse than anything you're going to be dishing out. Besides, I can just call a stop to this if I really need to. Just focus on the drill, you were doing solid.

But, Nikki had come to know Mizuki well enough to know that she would still more than likely be apprehensive about this. But then an idea arose, "Listen, I'm about to start up again. If you can find the opening and hit me, go for it. You have my blessing. In fact, don't stop there. If you get one hit, go for another. Take me down, knock me on my ass, and submit or pummel me until you make me ask you to stop. Go for the goddamn kill, Mizuki."

With that, Nikki began the pattern again. She knew that Mizuki would eventually pull of the counter, and she hoped she would just keep going. Nikki would let her. If Mizuki just starting wailing on her, or put her in a hold, Nikki would let her go, putting up a faux resistance until she tapped to her. The point of all this: Mizuki needed to win. Mizuki needed a moment where she was in control, where she had the power in the situation. If even Mizuki would almost certainly realize it wasn't real, she needed to know the feeling of victory if she was ever going to have hope of truly achieving it.

[CaptainL]

"Ah, right..." Mizuki huffed at what Nikki had to say to her, looking off to the side as a blush tinged her cheeks. She was a little embarrassed to hear Nikki pointing out how hopeless she would be to affect her, but as much as it stung to admit it, she was probably right. But Mizuki couldn't waste time getting caught up in thoughts like that. She needed to act! Her opponents in a real match wouldn't give her time to ponder things, and if Nikki was going to train her awareness, she had to respect that.

"In that case-" Mizuki started to speak again, only to stop when she heard Nikki's advice. Nikki didn't just give her permission to hit her - she wanted it. Not just that, she wanted her to not hold back, to do everything she could. Mizuki gulped at the thought of it. She realized that it was inevitable in a position like this that she'd have to hit people, but...could she really pull off the sort of aggression and competitive instinct Nikki wanted out of her? She didn't think she was that kind of girl, or at least she didn't want to be. But if she couldn't live up to Nikki's expectations...what good would that be?

Drawing in a breath to steel her nerves, Mizuki straightened herself back to her full, if unimpressive, height, balling her fists at her sides. She gulped, but nodded her head. "Okay...okay! I'll do it!"

This time, Mizuki knew what to expect from Nikki. She could anticipate it, and she could react. Once again, she ducked to the side to avoid the incoming jabs, using the momentum of her dodge to swing herself closer to Nikki and get into range. This time, when the spinning elbow came, Mizuki would duck under it. Though she knew Nikki wouldn't actually hit her, none of that mattered now. Mizuki was settling into the swing of things, as though this were as real a match as any. Everything seemed natural, like she tapped into a well of instinct deep inside her she didn't know she had. There was no time for thoughts, only action!

While Mizuki was close to Nikki and bent down to duck, she would turn the position to her advantage. As she pushed herself to her feet, she would throw an uppercut aimed right at Nikki's jaw. If that hit, she would follow it up with an elbow straight to the blonde's chest!

[deezcastforms]

When Mizuki's shot to her jaw connected, it truly stung, and knocked her back a step or two. It wasn't strong enough to hurt Nikki, but it sent a message. Mizuki was for real, she really had that something in there that Nikki was hoping for. Now it was a question of what she would do next.

The answer to that came in the form of an elbow placed right below her breasts. Again, she was knocked back by the impact. The attack wasn't enough to floor her, but Nikki still rewarded Mizuki's effort by 'failing' to catch her footing and falling down to a seated position. Now all that was left for Mizuki was to go in for the kill.

What was next? What would Mizuki do when she decided that the fight was over, and that her opponent wouldn't be surviving her next attack? Only Mizuki had the answer to that, and Nikki couldn't wait.

[CaptainL]

Even Mizuki herself was surprised to see that her shot to Nikki's jaw, followed by the elbow to the chest, actually worked. When she felt the impact, and saw Nikki going staggering away, it was enough to make her wince. Did she hit too hard? She didn't think she could land that much force behind her blows, but for all she knew she didn't know her own strength! She wasn't used to actually hitting someone, actually landing an attack and it having any meaningful effect. When she saw it actually do something to her opponent for the first time, she gasped. This was something entirely new and unfamiliar for her, and she wasn't sure how she should feel about it.

"Gah-! I-" Out of instinct, Mizuki wanted to apologze as she saw Nikki slip to the floor. Then she shook her head. She couldn't do that, she told herself - this was exactly what was supposed to happen! She couldn't be weak, or hold back - she needed to give this her best shot. Now Nikki was on the mat, and Mizuki had a clear shot ahead of her. She couldn't waste that.

Sucking in a breath, Mizuki clenched her teeth and squeezed her eyes shut, almost afraid to see what the impact of her next move might look like. She took a few steps toward Nikki, and as she closed in, with the momentum of her last stride, she threw a leg forward, her knee aimed to connect against Nikki's face!

[deezcastforms]

It took every instinct Nikki had to not stop Mizuki in her tracks, either verbally or physically. She hesitated far too long before going in for more, and she even shut her freaking eyes! Like she's afraid to hit someone for real. That's growing pains though, for someone as inexperienced as Mizuki. Plus Nikki had to remember that she wasn't even really a fighter like she was.

Regardless, Nikki had already decide to give this Mizuki. Critique could always come later. On a more immediate concern, a running knee to the face was a solid choice for a finisher, and not something Nikki wanted to eat full on. Even from someone as meek as Mizuki, it would still be a big shot to take.

So, with the time granted to her by Mizuki's hesitation, Nikki put a hand in front of her face. The attack would still land and Nikki would end up on her back, but she would be spared of a potential bloody nose or concussion from the hit. At this point, Nikki would go for a pin or submission to end it, but then again Nikki wasn't Mizuki, how this would end was up to her.