rats and hitmen [tino/himiko]

I love nothing more than a good challenge to keep me on my toes in training. Over a decade of fighting with knives and swords can make the routine a bit monotonous. The best part of career training, above all else, is the sparring. It's the only time that they allow me to feel something against my blade aside from paper, cardboard, or plastic. Human-to-human combat is my preferred expertise. I could balance a knife upright on my nose if someone asked, but where does that get me? Little show pony tricks don't do anything when the potential could be so much more, so much greater. The day I lost my ear to Helen Thieves' was the best to of my life. A loss, but exhilarating nonetheless.

Today's spar was close to that, but it was what happened after that intrigued me. I challenged a girl named Himiko to a duel. Of course, I won, and I held nothing back while doing so. Every muscle move is calculated in my head ten or fifteen seconds before I make it, and every move she makes is predicted with ease. That's the thing, it's easy. I could spar everyone in that room watching, win, and go to sleep feeling nothing. More. That's exactly what I need. More. Anything less is not enough for a diet of pain and fighting.

"Hey, mind if I talk to you outside about something?" She asks me this question as I'm changing out of my gym wear. What does she mean by that? Surely she wouldn't try that after I just beat her in- you know what.. I nod my head in agreement to her before she heads out. Trading shorts out for a pair of fitting jeans, I rush out to follow her, optimistic about what sort of challenge she has for me next. Maybe Himiko's got an older brother she wants me to take on, try and knock me down a peg. I stuff my hands down my pockets and smile to myself, walking out of the cold sparring room, careful not to step in any red stains on the floor.

She's waiting for me at the corner of the building. I try to act a bit more casual now that I'm outside. Himiko did seem to want some discreteness about the interaction. The cold wind bounces off of the brick walls of the building and onto the back of my spine. Once I meet up with her, we walk a little further down the street where there's less foot traffic and eyes around.

"If you want some personal lessons with Tino, I can try to find some room in my schedule. But I'm not cheap," I leave my seriousness up to interpretation with my tone, half-joking and half deadass. I'm always looking for some easy cash.