John
It was Miu who had been punching the straw dummy to mush in the early hours of the morning. Over and over and over. The red headed Lions manes had been tamed for once as they had been beautifully braided to the back of her hair. Leaving perhaps much more lethal whips flinging around than her normal hair would be. Her face is ever so determined. Her body had been protesting. 

The Kitsu's clothing had been more revealing than they usually had been. Every single golden line on the body had been visible as the only thing that covered her torso were the overabundance of wraps and a sleeveless shirt over it. Other than the pants and the shirt the Kitsu had been free of clothing. 

This left room for her injuries to be clearly visible. Her clavicle had been snapped in half leaving an incredible grand bruise. Many other injuries were visible. Even one on her forehead. 

Her wrapped knuckles were bleeding. The punches were loud and precise. Whoever wasn't out and about by now could hear the beating of the dummy. 

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Leo
Rin was taking a risk: she had been supposed to start training five minutes ago, and if Hotaru found her slacking off there would be hell to pay. However she couldn't just stop watching: unintentionally hidden by a straw dummy thanks to her small size, she watched in awe the Kitsu's training.

*She's so cool...* Had she a more expensive vocabulary she could have probably expressed this sentiment with clear thoughts, but for now her mind simply summed up all her admiration in this phrase. She looked like a warrior of legend, gigantic, gold-mottled, invincible. While the shugenja powers were of course incredible to her, this was something she actually had knowledge of, and so she fully understood how impressive this display of strength was. Should she say something? Compliment her, ask her a tip? She really wanted to, but on the other hand she also didn't want to break her concentration. But even just starting her training now would be weird, it'd look like she had been spying on her this entire time...

Thankfully, she didn't have to make a decision. It was the dummy that did it for her, for as she involuntarily nudged it, the object's balance was compromised and the training equipment fell forward, hitting the ground with a loud thump. And leaving Rin exposed.
"K-Kitsu-sama! G-Good day, I wasn't- you were- I didn't- beautiful." Panicking, the girl tried to apologise, justify herself, and compliment Miu all at once, but the only thing that she kind of managed to do was the third, though through disconnected words and much blushing.

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John
The already on edge Miu jumped at the equipment falling down. At first Rin received a more serious and angered look. However when the grand Lion turned towards the Matsu that frown turned upside down. Slightly. The Kitsu granted the Matsu a friendly smile and a deep bow. When rising up it was clear how beaten up the Kitsu had truly been. As she had fought some sort of beast. Maybe Ilu. 

*"Matsu-sama. How are you today?"* 

It was clear Miu wasn't bothered or didn't even think about the fact the Matsu had been staring at her. She would brush off some of the sweat from her forehead. Leaving some blood from her knuckles on her forehead instead. Watching the Matsu struggle with even presenting herself made the Kitsu chuckle ever so slightly. 

*"Anything I can help you with? Or did you wish to join me in beating up this dummy?"* She questioned. Sending a puff of air right at her forehead to blow away the one stray strand of hair bothering her face. 

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Leo
She felt blood chill in her veins as she thought she had angered Miu,but then relaxed along with the Kitsu. She still stared a bit, with eyes that might as well have been twinkling, but remembered to answer before it could look weird. "O-Oh, yes, I am also here to train! I am sorry if I didn't greet you properly, I didn't want to... Distract you." 

She scratched her nose nervously. She thought about Miu's offer, but she knew what she really wanted: she wanted to fight her, to see how could she fare against such a warrior herself. But she already looked pretty beat up, it would've been unfair to issue a challenge right now! Although she was probably big enough that this disadvantage wasn't of much importance... No Rin, this is not a honorable wish! "T-Thanks, but I'll get my own, yours seems already too busy with you, ahaha... I am just content seeing you strike the mannequin again." She let a bit of her real motives slip in inadvertently, as she meekly set up a dummy for herself. Instead of striking it, she took a grappler's stance, and started fake charging it to warm up. Maybe that would burn the evil thoughts away.

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John
*"No worries Matsu-sama!"* Miu mentioned before flinging her hands around a few times to release the tension. *"My dummy stands no chance sadly."* Miu had chuckled as she returned to punching the ever living hell out of her dummy. The punches were precise beyond as the Kitsu mentioned. *"But then again it doesn't really put up a fight either. Good for punches, shitty for tactics and experience."* Miu smirked as she saw how Rin was attempting to tackle the dummy. Not that feisty yet. But then again, Miu's expectations of feisty were beyond. 

As much as Rin clearly tried to hide it, it was like Miu could read her thoughts. 

*"Would you like to replace my dummy Matsu-sama? Not that I'll release a free reign of punches over you but something or rather someone that fights back is a challenge on its own. As long as you don't punch here"* Miu pointed at the clear grand bruise on the side of her shoulder. 

*"We should be good. But only if you feel like it of course."* Miu stated. Even though looking beaten, Rin should realize what she fought was much worse than what Rin could possibly inflict in a friendly spar. 

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Leo
_thud._ Rin's tackle inadvertently turned into a headbutt at the dummy when she made the offer, pushing down the poor thing again. She snapped her head back at her, trying (and failing) to not sound too enthusiastic. "Of course I do! I mean, if it helps you, and it'll surely help me- anyway, yes!" 

She immediately ran back to her training pouch, putting on her handwraps and shedding of all the layers of the hakama that would get in the way of a sparring match. For her size, she was actually as big as one could be while still moving comfortably, but compared to Miu she looked like a child about to spar with her parent. Nonetheless, she showed only eagerness as she stepped back in front of her, clashing her fists together. "I am ready when you are, Kitsu-sama! But before we go, I just wanted to ask... What did you fight that could have hurt you so much?" Personally she thought of a bear like the one in her previous story, but she didn't stop considering how she would find one inside of a city.

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John
*"A bear. I wrestled a bear."* Miu answered in a more serious tone. It seemed like she almost felt defeated by the fact. Had she not won? *"It did some internal damage mostly, I have to thank the kami for that one. It was a brief reminder that we cannot truly trust other clans."* Miu paused as she felt angered over it. She was very angry. *"The beast didn't make it however."* She added to the story before snapping out of her inner frustrations and giving that familiar smile again. 

*"So please do not hit me on my shoulder Matsu-sama. I will warn you that if you do, I will give a primal response and might hurt you."* Miu warned. She went to stand ready as she would bow down towards the Matsu. 

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Leo
"Eh?" Rin blinked politely, needing a moment to take what she said In. She had wrestled _a bear?!_ just as she had imagined! The only reason she didn't cheer her for it, was how dejected she looked about it. *Why? Did she expect to do better? It's still a bear, after all, it's bound to be tough... Wait, how is this related to trusting other clans?* She had even more questions now, but Miu's bow remembered her this was not a place to chat. They were to fight, and fight they would. "O-Of course, Kitsu-sama, I wish for a clean fight! May the better woman win..."

Finally, she took her previous stance, low on her knees and ready to lunge for takedowns. Trading blows with an adversary of her size was suicide, and besides striking was not her specialty. She'd do her best to bring the fight to the ground, where size would be (slightly more) irrelevant.

She wanted to go in right before the start, but her spars with Hotaru had taught her to be better than that. When facing a superior opponent, you should study them a bit, and as soon as you spot an opportunity, go in!- and if they attack you first, well, she'd think to something.

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John
*"I'll tell you about the bear after our spar."*

With that Miu had observed her opponent. Even though she won in size it had never mattered. Just like the time she almost took out a Hida by being creative enough. But with that slightest hesitation that Rin granted, clearly thinking over her tactics, Miu became swift out of the sudden. The woman never had taken a clear stance to announce what she was going to do. Just that fired up look with a more terrifying grin said enough. Miu was here to strike. 

So just like Rin had embraced the training dummy only a few minutes ago, Miu was doing the same thing. She had no intentions on punching the woman to nothingness. It was training, not a challenge. 

The strong arms wrapped around her as one arm had attempted a grip around her leg as the other one aimed for the torso. Ready to bring the Matsu off balance within a fluid motion. 

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Leo
*Eek!* Rin squeaked a little internally when Miu dashed at her: she hadn't expected her to go for a grapple as well, and hadn't quite realised the effect that made seeing this mountain of muscle rush at her at full speed. Luckily, though, her instinct was much superior to her logical thinking, and in a way losing the chance of a clear analysis helped. 

As Miu got her hands on her, she immediately abandoned the idea of trying to fight to stay up: she was strong enough to simply lift her anyway. Thus, she went even lower, forcing the Kitsu to bring her head to her level to grab her, and then she tried to wrap her arms around her neck in a guillotine choke(while carefully avoiding to touch her shoulder.) At the same time, she lifted her free leg, bringing it around her opponent's hip. From there, if she went for a slam she would be able to climb on her back first- or at least, theoretically.

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John
But theoretically Rin had forgotten something about Miu. Miu had been ruthless. The moment Rin managed to get on her back Miu did the unthinkable. Instead of an attempt to pry Rin out of the choke. What had looked like she was doing first by grabbing both of her arms. Miu rose to a higher stature with Rin on her back. A twisted grin grew on her face. 

Pray to the kami Rin was strong or swift enough because the girl, now stuck on Miu's back, was about to get crushed between the ground and Miu. Miu went in for a slam. A slam that she would end up on her back but Rin breaking her fall. 

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Leo
Rin was, overall, feeling pretty good about herself. In her first exchange with Hotaru she had been defeated at the first blow, so she had at least she had grown to the point of being able to counter an attack from an expert samurai! Who knows, perhaps she even had a chance at...

And then Miu started raising.

Panicking a little, she tightened her stranglehold as much as she could, but the Kitsu kept standing up inexorably, and when she realised trying to escape was the right move, it was too late, and her meeting with Floor-san came shortly after.

Thankfully, Rin was sturdy enough to not break any bones, but that was pretty much all the upsides of the situation. Her chest turned into a thin sheet of paper as Miu and the ground worked together to flatten it, and her vision exploded in a swarm of colorful dots. For a few moments, she managed to keep her grip, but shortly after her arms went limp and fell to the sides. The tap of Miu's arm was unnecessary, as it was clear as sun that Rin was done fighting. Or moving, for that matter.

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John
Miu rolled away from the Matsu as she coughed as well. After all even though Rin had been taking the blow, Miu had internal damage. A few loud gasps made sure the woman could still breathe and was still going. With that the Kitsu rolled on her hands and knees and then sat on her knees. *"I apologize Matsu-sama. Stay still please."* 

With that Miu started to recite a spell. Even though the kami had been angered with her, the purpose of helping another being had been enough to put their grudges aside for the moment. *"You underestimated me and I for some reason felt the urge to prove myself. Once again my apologies."* With that Miu would heal the Matsu. Even revitalizing her energy just like that for free as well. 

*"I know this feels good but please take a moment to catch your breath before you go crazy. Healing takes time even with spells."* Miu stated. Looking at the Matsu as she patiently sat next to her. 

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Leo
Would she get used to the blessings of the kami, in time? Rin didn't know. Once more, the prayer felt like a little miracle to her (which, to be fair, was), and as she returned to feeling her face, she smiled.

 "There's no need to apologise, Kitsu-sama, I didn't want you to go easy on me... If anything I should apologise for not being much of a workout, ahah." She really did not feel bad about losing. She was talented, but not so talented as to have not tasted defeat regularly during her training, and humbleness was also just a natural virtue for her. Only thing she felt bad about, was not being much of a challenge for Miu. She must have bored her. 

"Okay, can I get up now? Just on my knees, nothing "Crazy-" Ugh..." She felt her bones crackle like dry leaves as she raised slowly, but overall, the Kitsu's spell had done its job. "Still, I thank you for rolling with me. I promise next time I'll prove a more interesting opponent!" The volume of her voice was lower, now that she was in a air deficit, but still high enough to be what a polite samurai would consider a normal volume.

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John
Miu squinted her eyes at the other lion. Just stared at her like that for a solid moment. Then the Lion would adjust her jaw a bit. *"You were a perfect opponent. Remember the bear? At least you don't require me to summon the kami to win the fight."* Miu complimented her as she offered Rin a hand whilst getting up. The golden eyes glanced at her. *"Are you cutting your losses this fast Matsu-sama?"* This was not a question of mockery, no Miu was truly curious about this. After all the kami were still upset with her. Healing others would be fine but she for once in her life wasn't sure if she could win another battle.

Miu had looked truly beaten upon a closeup. Her jaw had been clearly bruised and swollen as well. Her shoulder was severely hurt internally and the energy she radiated just wasn't as joyful as it normally would be. *"Matsu-sama, have you fought battles, like wars or just general battles I mean? Not a brawl with a friendly foe or a bear."* It was clear Miu was done fighting for now. She would stare at her own knuckles for a moment before glancing over to the stone bench to sit on. Gesturing the Matsu to do the same. 

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Leo
She took the hand gladly, but as she got to truly see Miu's state her eyes almost popped out of their sockets. Sure, most of the damage had been from the bear fight, but she had contributed, at least a little. She almost apologised, but then assumed it would have been disrespectful and held her tongue in. "O-Oh, Kitsu-sama, it's not... I mean, I had been completely pinned down, hadn't I? In a true fight, that would've been it ...It would have been dishonest to use the fact this was a friendly fight to my advantage."

She skipped next to Miu, sitting down *Carefully*. Her face, still considerably red, turned crimson at the question. "N-No, this is my first year as a real samurai... I am eager to make experience, though! I'm not really smart or eloquent, but my sword is at my Lord's service." That came out as a readied phrase. It sounded like the thing a cultured Lion would say.

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John
*"You'll learn, worry not Matsu-sama."* Miu granted her a friendly smile. She would lean back a bit, clearly resting for once. *"Please don't be so humble about yourself. I think you're way smarter than you and those around you consider yourself."* Her eyes would glance over to the beaten to pulp dummy. 

*"You see I actually wanted to ask some advice."* Miu paused as she either had been out of breath or this matter had been truly bothering her. She would now turn her glance to her fingers and unwrapped the cloth around them. 

*"You see. This fight with the bear wasn't mine alone. There was a dragon, who ran and left me to my faith, a crab who froze in battle and a phoenix that managed to hesitate in every moment her could."* The Kitsu would reveal the gruesome faith her knuckles had faced, the wrath of her anger. 

*"They abandoned me and made me question their honor. Which for once, in all my good faith in samurai, makes me doubt people. I am truly angered, but I wish to bring them no dishonor. But Bishamon..."* Miu seemed to actually mentally struggle with things for once. The grand Kitsu that always bore a great emotion of joy or energy now seemed rather... Down? 

*"Bishamon stands for my faith, the strong should be stronger, the ones that are not deserve no honor. Something along those lines. I feel like he is disappointed in me for having to put my trust in other samurai. Him punishing me by the samurai letting me down."* Strange how strong Miu's faith was in this fortune. How much it decided how she thought and was. 

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Leo
She blinked. Smart? Nobody ever called her smart, except for Mom and Dad, but they didn't count. In another situation, she might have thought she was just trying to make her feel better, but Miu didn't seem the kind for white lies.

She was glad that Miu had looked away, because her mouth just fell open like a slammed door, and she had to physically shove it closed. Advice? From *Her*? How she could even advise such a wise, experienced warrior? Maybe if it was something about animal husbandry or theatre she could have helped, but apart from that, she had nothing.
But she had been mistaken. This was not a matter of lore. It was one of emotions.

For a moment, she just stared, utterly confused. As usual, her reaction to dishonor was not rage but innocent surprise: how could a samurai, raised under the shadow of their ancestors, willingly act dishonorably? Did they not care for their soul, their lord, their legacy? She just didn't understand.

However, she did get that Miu was troubled. At first this stunned her. She had always thought to the Kitsu as a rock, indestructible, indomitable. But she had forgotten she was human like all samurai. She had been superficial. "Kitsu-sama... I have no words to explain those samurai's behaviour." She began, softly. "But I think you didn't do anything wrong. You are the strongest person I know, but it's normal to rely on other people. That's why we're a clan, right? To work together for the good of the Empire. That requires trust, and even though sometimes you will be let down it's not a good reason to shut everybody off. There's lots of good people out here who are worthy of your help." She kicked her feet.

"Y'know... My mom used to tell something to me, when I started training. A samurai, especially a warrior, must be strong, but they're not just strong for themselves. They allow those weaker than them to shelter under their mighty shoulders. Of course, this isn't meant to happen with other warriors... But the fact that still you did does even more honor to you. I try to be like that as well, but I can't do it as much as you: you're the strongest person I know. So, please keep protecting people." Without thinking if this was appropriate, she put a hand on the Kitsu's massive bicep. Though she was trying to behave more formally, her empathy far overrun her societal awareness.

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