Marked By The Tengu (For Bare)

[Deus001]

The Ito clan were warriors who engaged in the underworld, practically all the members of it were involved in things like underground fighting rings and being bodyguards for less than savoury people. They were bred throughout their training to have one thing, to be as silent as possible in conflict. To not let the enemy know your state or intent, this combined with their unique eyes that was their birthmarks made for unnerving opponents to face.

There was no sign of hesitance or even joy in Haruka's expression, it might have been there but it was buried deep in her mind as she focused stoically on the task at hand. Haruka might have been bred as the one to be the legitimate face of the clan, but she was no exception to this process. Finlay would manage to evade her blow and find his mark, Haruka's eyes widened slightly and she let out a grunt from the impact and a small stagger. But gave little else besides that as she handled the shot, she was just as durable as she was in their match after all.

Even so the Ito clan made sure to respect rules of engagement when they were laid out. This created a predicament here with Finlay managed to catch her arm, but nevertheless Haruka responded swiftly. She'd move to get in close there and use her free arm to get it around Finlay's neck, before then trying to drive her knee right into Finlay's abs before trying to then slink a few steps away as against his height she'd need to try and keep the bout moving more there......

[Bare]

Finlay was able to feel a palpable difference in Haruka across the board as soon as she put on that gi and the spar started. Body language, facial expression, lack of voice, everything he had previously associated with the Ito clan heiress had gone out the window so in a way it was almost as if he was facing an entirely different person. Something that made him smile with excitement even as he barely managed to catch a fist that had been meant to hit him in the face.

He may have been a street fighter growing up but that had cultivated honed instincts, so what he lacked in refined skill he made up for with the ability to think on his feet and act on opportunities as they arose. Even then, that wasn't to say he wasn't skilled either. As shown when he swung his knee up, driving it into Haruka's stomach earning a small groan and a slight stumble from her.

In spite of this Finlay didn't get a big head, he knew Haruka was fast and durable, a rare and terrifying combination. Something Haruka was keen on showing when she suddenly got in closer, using his own grip on her arm against him as the smaller woman wrapped her arm around his neck and swung a knee up into his gut! "Ngh!" Releasing a groan of pain himself Finlay would push Haruka back while stumbling a step away, trying to refocus after the blow.

[Deus001]

Haruka might have had to deal with a bit of a height issue there, but there were clan mates of hers about Finlay's size and she had battled them before. The Ito heiress's moves seemed practised and honed to a point that seemed almost natural as breathing to her there as she struck the lad. Haruka's facial expressions didn't change there either as a hallmark of her clan's practises, still though it was clear that Haruka was taking this every bit as serious as she would have in any other spar with her clan. Perhaps it was a sign of her meshing well with Finlay beyond simply being more than a bit thirsty for his prime physique~

Regardless Haruka smelt blood in the water there in a manner of speaking as Finlay was able to shove her backwards, regardless the image was clear that it was him on the backfoot and not the Ito girl. Giving a quiet hissing noise in the back of her throat the Ito heiress would assess the situation, bouncing on the balls of her soles as she re-entered her stance and decided to change things up there.

The Ito style was generally a mixture of karate and TKD, to allow for a fast paced offence that could be used to defeat a foe or more if needed while on bodyguard duty. It was time to try and put Haruka's legs to good use as she'd leap into the air in front of Finlay there, going into a spin without kicking to attempt a feint and seek to swing her right leg into his hips. As it was a spar Haruka was abiding by the rules of engagement there and aiming for less pain inducing areas, something that wasn't often granted during her upbringing as a matter of fact..........

[Bare]

Finlay had taken the first real hit of the spar so far, something that wasn't good in a bout such as the one he and Haruka were in the midst of. A sign of weakness that in this state, he was one hundred percent sure the Ito heiress would pick up and act on. Something that would be a problem for him as he did his best to re enter his stance in preparation for whatever would come next.

Sure enough just as he got himself ready he saw Haruka leap up and spin, no doubt for what would be a seriously impactful kick to his chest or gut. Something he had to brace for as he put his arms up, ready to guard against her. However after mere moments of having his arms up he realized all too soon that he was in fact victim to a feint move from the girl.

'Shit!' He thought to himself as a kick eventually did land, but not where he had been prepared for one. Instead it struck right in his hip, a strong impact that left a flare of pain bursting through him that made the blonde wince and step back. Truth be told he knew it could have been much worse, from her position she could have aimed for somewhere much more... personal and painful for him. Still the strike as is hurt like hell, and worse yet for Finlay it landed completely clean leaving him stumbling back, defenseless for whatever Haruka may try next now that his guard was effectively broken.

[Deus001]

Haruka could sense it, she was driving the lead home there. Some might have felt a drive of eagerness at progressing there as well as she had, yet for Haruka the girl simply kept herself composed with her eyes being dull in expression. As befitting of the heiress of a clan of warriors that ventured into illicit ventures she kept her eyes on the prize as she simply let out a quiet breathing hiss as her blow connected onto Finlay there.

Yet her mind stayed focused as she sought to try and drive the point home in this spar as she bounced about on the balls of her feet as she smelt blood in the water there. The Ito heiress's breath turned into a quiet hiss, almost akin to a python coiling to strike as she got her arms in close to her chest and bundled in down low towards Finlay. Whereupon she'd leap right into the air, spinning swiftly into the air once again.

With this travel however Haruka would seek to try and get her leg in close and high up, seeking to wrap the back of it around Finlay's neck and get the side of his neck resting there as she attempted to let gravity and momentum do the rest and send him tumbling down to the ground with her resting atop him. Should this succeed Haruka would look down at the lad with a smirk hinting at her usual nature shining in there, before tapping his cheek in reassurance and making to move off from him carefully.

[Bare]

Finlay cursed softly after being forced to step backwards from Haruka, the lead in this so far even spar starting to turn towards her as second by second he was forced to backpedal. 'She definitely has more fire when fighting like this.' He thought to himself, the dull sting of where Haruka's elbow had connected earlier still throbbing even after her elbow had left.

Unfortunately he wasn't going to be turning things around anytime soon. Faster than he could come up with a plan for he saw Haruka come forward again, this time going low, possibly for his legs? Either way Finlay didn't have time to weigh his options as he acted on instinct and swung his leg up to try and knee her, but the girl simply leaped up avoiding the blow!

'Shit!' He thought to himself, feeling the girl's leg come down over the back of his neck, instinctively causing his body to freeze up and a chill to go down his spin before he was pulled down to the floor with Haruka climbing her way on top of him! "Ngh!" Grunting softly he looked up at Haruka and saw a flash of her usual self before a light tap on the cheek let him know she won this round. Fine. Well deserved, but he wouldn't take it lightly.

With her getting off of him Finlay would get back to his feet, dusting himself off and retaking his stance. "Not bad, but remember we're going till one of us can't anymore." He said as he charged forward, attempting a swift punch aimed at her jaw!

[Deus001]

Haruka usually wasn't all that expressive when she had gotten the gi on, she remembered how her mother would shift from kind and doting to no nonsense once they walked into the dojo. But that training gave way ever so slightly to her more dramatic side, after all lest either forget they were on the roof of a theatre. Plus Finlay was more and more becoming Haruka's type as it were, she rolled off the lad and heard his remarks there.

She let her cheeks tinge red just a little there, her clan's bloodthirsty nature dulled her emotions still but Haruka muttered out with "Mhmh~" as the Ito girl readied herself for the next part of the clash. Finlay wasted no time in going in hard however, it seemed that the probing each other's gameplan part of the bout had ceased because he was rushing in with a swift blow aimed to the head area.

Haruka's eyes widened and she only barely got her arms up in time to block the blow, but it stung like hell and sent a jolt of numbing pain and made Haruka stagger backwards. Still that merely made Haruka impressed given his apparent power there. Shaking her arms in an attempt to loosen them up again the Ito heiress would try to shoot a left kick towards Finlay's shins to try and make him waver in this assault, Haruka regardless couldn't hide the tiny smirk in her lips there however~

[Bare]

The first part of their spar had effectively ended. It wasn't a particularly aggressive or intense clash, but it was quick and precise, a chance for both Finlay and Haruka feeling each other's style and adjust according to what may be necessary in the coming moments of the match. Even if he had been forced on his back from the toss by Haruka he wasn't out of this yet, far from it in fact.

Eager to prove that and set the pace for the next part of their spar simultaneously Finlay would thrust his fist out, aiming to try and land a hard jab at Haruka's jaw to stun her. Unfortunately the Ito heiress's fast reflexes saved her as she raised her her arms up to block the hit, though it still forced her backwards. Something that at least meant she would feel something.

But Haruka was no punching bag either and responded right away by throwing a kick aimed right at Finlay's leg. Narrowing his eyes Finlay quickly shuffled his leg back try and narrowly avoid it, though it leave the risk of his footing somewhat unstable, but he wasn't about to let her connect with that blow. Aiming to try and force her back some he would then try and push forward before raising his leg up for a scissor kick at her midsection!

[Deus001]

Haruka hissed quietly as she felt himself being put on the back foot here, Finlay had started to seemingly suss out the martial arts style that the Ito heiress was using as opposed to her different style that she had adopted as Lady Tengu. Still the Ito were known for being able to take punishment in stride and thensome and Haruka was far from finished here too, she threw out that kick in an attempt to keep herself in a sort of combative state here.

Yet it seemed that her probing offensive was going to be cut short as he managed to nip out of the way just in time for that attack, her eyes widened ever so slightly as Finlay moved to retaliate in time to catch the not Tengu woman. Haruka realised that he was making to force her back there as his leg came in up front, the Ito heiress let out a loud grunt as her midriff got tagged there. She had a pretty decent set of abs going for her there to help her take hits, but momentum was a pain and so was that blow.

"Tch." Haruka grunted out as she staggered backwards, yet she didn't bother to try and rub the attacked area. Her Ito clan always made sure to hide any afflictions as best they could, to hide the weakness from their enemies. Haruka was more cautious now, but she wasn't terrified as she made to get back into her stance. No she was feeling more and more happy than before as she tried to ready herself for whatever Finlay might attempt next!

[Bare]

Steadily things were starting to heat up more and more between Haruka and Finlay in this impromptu spar he had challenged her too, but honestly it's just what Finlay had been wanting to experience, especially once he had learned more of her impressive martial arts background. in short he wanted a fight, a fight against Haruka without her holding back for her character, and needless to say he was getting it.

Of course even though he had taken the first fall in this bout, didn't mean he was going to let her walk all over him. Quite the contrary he was looking to win this bout just like their first one. So thankfully he had managed to avoid one of her attacks, and in turn tag the Ito heiress right back with a timely snap of his foot connecting with her gut, forcing Haruka backwards with a solid degree of damage.

Which is what made it all the more impressive when Haruka didn't so much as show a sign of pain in response besides the initial grunt. 'Not bad.' He thought to himself as he circled a newly cautious Haruka, both clearly looking for even the slightest opening to take advantage of. In the end however it would be Finlay looking to break the stalemate first, stepping forward before attempting to swing out his fist in an attempt to try and nail Haruka with a quick two jab combo at her face!