Chasing Shadows (Open)

She watched his features as they softened for a moment here and there before the mask returned, giving her nothing more than that look he had given her when they first met...although now there was something more there...they had battled, however briefly and they had learned something from each other in that time. They were no longer strangers but not yet friends...and despite the vast gap in their strength Jagaimo didn’t feel as though he was looking down at her like some others had in the past, she was far from his equal but he made no effort to point it out or show off...he even kept his power within the same range as hers so for a moment when she let her senses wander she forgot what he was truly capable of.

When he shook his head at the offered drink the young warrior shrugged with a smile and took another long drink from the canteen, stowing it back with her belongings and collecting them off the ground, the small bag easily slotting over her shoulder and sitting at the small of her back where it would be out of the way should she need to move more freely.

Her face split into a warm childlike grin when he spoke, a stark contrast to the aggression she had shown towards him earlier,

“I’d be insulted if you felt you had to hold back as much as you did today...to think about what you're really capable of terrifies me...and excites every warrior fibre of my being. You are what all Saiyan’s should be aspiring to, like the old stories...strong, noble, wise and in control of your power.”

She offered her arm in a warriors handshake as she stepped towards him, not sure if he’d take it or it was a step to far, the smile still on her lips,

“Who knows...maybe I'll have some tricks of my own the next time we meet…”

She was glad to see that even while they talked, Rainer had begun to stretch and work his muscles over, proving that despite the calmness in his voice and the cool calculating look on his face she hadn’t been a complete pushover for him. It actually made her feel like the whole thing hadn’t been completely one sided...but then she mused to herself...fighting with such a massive handicap was probably more taxing than it seemed...maybe one day she’d know just how that felt...for now sparring at her maximum would have to do. Even without words passing between them she had begun to see things differently, learning things about herself that fighting back in the District hadn’t...something about this here felt like the right way to do things, fighting for the enjoyment of it, the progression of yourself...rather than throwing punches because someone was sat at your table or looked at you funny in the bar.

“You’ll see...I'll keep up...and one day it might be me having to handicap myself!”

She gave him a playful wink, but the look of friendly camaraderie shifted from her face when he sighed...she could feel his power flowing back out like a pool filling slowly...not an aggressive explosion of ki but a natural return to the normal...still...this close it was simply awe inspiring...that Saiyan’s could be this strong...it almost made her giddy with excitement to know there were such levels her race could ascend to with enough will and commitment. She nodded as he spoke, his voice bringing her back from the daydream she’d wandered into, a determined grin on her face now. Jagaimo nodded again in agreement...she’d witnessed first hand some of the power that was out there waiting and she wasn’t going to be pushed around like that forever, not after witnessing what a Saiyan could do.

“You're not going to have it so easy next time we meet. I promise you that...I plan to return in kind every hit you land, just you wait. You’ve given me a lot to think about and few ideas as to what I might need to work on. While I don't quite get your fighting style...I can't deny it's effective...it's just not for me...I can't be you...but one day I'm going to beat you.”

She resisted the childish urge to squeeze his hand harder than she needed to...at his current power level he probably wouldn’t even notice anyway...but the hand on her shoulder made the young woman flinch a little before she realised he wasn’t using this moment to land a cheap shot. When he stepped back and released her she held his gaze for a moment, feeling him chuff the shoulder pad of her armour when he stepped past her...man she was going to have to get rid of this thing...it really got in the way and gave away so many handholds she couldn’t defend against all the time...watching as he leapt into the sky and faded into the distance…

When she was sure he was out of earshot she let out a huge sigh and dropped backwards onto a rock, clutching her ribs and letting the brave face slip away...she was going to regret going all out but damn it had felt good and been so worth it…Jagaimo grinned broadly...

“Rainer...next time you won’t know what hit you.”

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