Tashi was fast, he could have sworn<em>faster</em>. But it was as if his attack was foreseen. That this woman knew it was coming. Her moves weren't any quicker, but rather they came... sooner. She interrupted his attack before he could even draw his sword, bringing her arm out blindly behind her to strike. Tashi blocked it easily, but that delay in his plan gave her just enough time to predict his next attack. She was starting her next maneuver as he drew his sword, side-stepping to the side opposite of the youth's scabbard. She just narrowly avoided his blade, placing her fist against the handle at the end of his swing.<br/><br/>Her other hand balled into a fist as she drew it backwards and buried it in Tashi's side. It was aimed right at a kidney, with surgical precision. However, it was not the strike of any taijutsu master's. Either this woman was conserving her chakra or she simply couldn't have exploited that moment of weakness to its full potential. Tashi was ready for the second attack, a hammer-like strike on his extended sword-arm that found only air.<br/><br/>Those moves she was making... they weren't fast. He saw right through them, it was just that they were so unexpected and so timely, her body in the right place at the right time. Everything was done to maneuver herself into a more defensible position. Even if her strikes missed, they disrupted Tashi enough to put her in a better position to respond when he tried to counter attack.<br/><br/>"What are you doing?" She asked, her tone quiet and determined... with a hint of annoyance in her voice. She did not relent in her fighting stance.<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide</div><div class="spoiler_body">Declaration of War; Shirō has a free readied action. He attacks with Max Combat Expertise! +5 to Dodge<br/><br/>17; Miss!<br/><br/>Tashi attacks... misses! Narrowly.<br/><br/>Shirō full-attacks with Max Combat Expertise! +5 Dodge. 26 and 17.<br/>6 lethal damage.</div></div>