<div class="floatleft">(http://i1264.photobucket.com/albums/jj499/MzHyde/Character%20Portraits/Nakaru.jpg)</div><strong>Who:</strong>Shizuru<br/><strong>For:</strong>Henrik, Open<br/><strong>Where:</strong>The Top<br/><br/>"This is a school. You are a student. It is not your place to give lessons, it is mine. Unless you're fighting me, you will fight safely," said the demoness, watching Henrik approach. It was hard to tell she was studying him when she was wearing her shades, since they completely obscured her eyes and she otherwise didn't seem to be moving. At least not until the student closed in and lashed out with both scabbard and blade. Shizuru didn't teleport, but instead avoided both blows with side-steps that were not only impossibly fast but also graceful. A casual lean back or sliding step off to the side dodged both blows with the same ease she'd use to check out a lovely woman at a bar. It was almost impossible for Henrik to sense those 'ripples' of movement, they were so faint it was like she hadn't moved at all. Granted, he still had his weights on and that was an advantage for her, but sometimes one simply wound up in fights where they were at a disadvantage.<br/><br/>"You hesitated," commented Shizuru, "you're afraid of me and your body betrays you. Bravery is not the absence of fear; it is controlling fear." The demoness took a slow sip of her sake. It was impossible to tell if her eyes were on her drink, or on her student. "Not that it matters. You give away too much when you attack. You're thinking too much." Turning around, she walked away a few paces and drained the last of her sake, then dispelled the little ceramic cup in her hand. Turning back to her student, she slid her hands into her pockets and continued, "Sound planning and strategy can be key to winning a fight, but thinking too much telegraphs your every move. I can read you like a book. The subtle shift of a stance or the way you grip your weapon, an errant twitch of muscle, eye movements. Everything you might do tells me what's going to happen next. Try to let your body do what it needs to. The sword is not a tool, it is an extension of your arm."<br/><br/>The demoness made a brief, beckoning motion with one hand, daring him to try again.