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Setting:

The main area in the ochaya where this takes place is a spacious room with traditional tatami (woven straw) mats covering the floor. The room's walls are adorned with fusuma (sliding doors) and shoji (paper sliding screens), which are often decorated with beautiful hand-painted designs, such as cherry blossoms, cranes, or traditional landscapes. These sliding doors lead to other rooms or open onto serene inner gardens.

At the center of the room, there is a low chabudai (tea table) surrounded by zabuton (flat floor cushions) where guests sit in a seiza (kneeling) position. The table is made of dark, lacquered wood, reflecting the soft lighting of the room. On the table, delicate tea sets with intricate patterns are arranged, ready for the tea ceremony. The weather is stormy, and the rain slams on the roof creating white noise that sounds like a running sink combined with falling pebbles hitting the roof.

Zazushi enters the room. His katana’s scabbard is tied to his right side, and he has removed his shoes outside. Vequora and a geisha are kneeling at the chabudai.

Unnamed Geisha: “Konbanwa! Please, take a seat.”

Zazushi: “Arigato. My apologies for my late arrival.”

Zazushi kneels at the chabudai and looks towards Vequora and the Geisha.

Unnamed Geisha: “I will step away, Vequora is getting some practice for becoming a geisha.”

Zazushi: “Do as you must, I don’t mind”

The geisha leaves the room

Vequora’s thoughts: “Ugh, I can’t believe my mother roped me into this job, I hate the schedule allowing for almost no free time, and putting on this young pretty girl act.”

Vequora pours some tea for Zazushi, with a forced smile on her face.

Zazushi: “Thank you for this, I can’t use sound or airflow to determine my surroundings well when in the rain”

Vequora remains mostly silent, appearing to be zoned out.

Zazushi: “Something seems off about you… like you’re hiding something. I use my other senses to see, you can’t hide eyebags with makeup around me, not to mention I can tell you are quite a looker under that kimono, though I wouldn’t expect a maiko to be as muscular as you are.”

Vequora, who is now very uncomfortable, attempts to leave the room swiftly. Zazushi stands up and draws his katana with his left hand since the scabbard was on his right. The blade nearly touches Vequora’s neck as it blocks her path as she makes it to the door.

Zazushi: “Where do you think you’re going, Vequora-chan?”

Zazushi chuckles

Zazushi: “Tell me, what’s on your mind? You clearly don’t like your job.”

Vequora crouches slightly and slides under the blade, and grabs a seemingly normal parasol, and pulls a wakizashi from the wooden shaft. This parasol was functioning as a scabbard. She swings the wakizashi at Zazushi, who very quickly moves his katana to his right hand and blocks the strike. Zazushi makes a large swing at Vequora, who blocks the strike with her wakizashi, though the force from the strike causes her to briefly lose her footing. Vequora stumbles back, her heels skidding across the floor as she regains her balance. Zazushi, sensing her momentary instability, presses forward, his katana slicing through the air with a deadly hum. Each strike is precise, deliberate, yet aggressive, forcing Vequora to remain on the defensive. She parries his attacks with her wakizashi, the clang of metal-on-metal reverberating through the room. Despite the strength of Zazushi's blows, Vequora's agility keeps her just out of reach of a fatal strike. She ducks under another wide swing, then rolls to the side, using her smaller stature to her advantage.

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Zazushi: “You're quick, I'll give you that. But how long do you think you can keep dodging me?”

Zazushi swings his katana horizontally, aiming to catch Vequora mid-movement. Vequora barely manages to block the strike, and the force behind it sends vibrations through her arms. She grits her teeth, knowing she can't keep this up for long. But she also knows she can't match Zazushi's brute strength head-on. She needs to outthink him. Using the momentum from Zazushi's last strike, Vequora spins on her heel and slashes at his legs with her wakizashi, aiming for his Achilles tendon. Zazushi anticipates the move and jumps back just in time,

Zazushi: “I can hear every breath you take, and sense every shift in the wind you cause,”

Zazushi raises his katana above his head.

Zazushi: “You can't hide from me, Vequora-chan.”

Vequora isn’t trying to hide. She steadies her breathing, slowing her movements as she watches Zazushi’s posture. Then, with a swift motion, she flings the parasol towards his face while opening it as a feint to distract him. Zazushi swats the parasol aside with his katana, his senses catching the sudden movement. But in that split second, Vequora darts in close, too close for his katana to be effective. Her wakizashi flashes in the dim light as she slashes at his side. Zazushi grunts, feeling the sting of the blade graze his ribs. He quickly steps back, creating distance between them again, but the damage is done. Blood seeps through his kimono, though the wound isn’t deep. Vequora smirks.

Vequora: “Maybe I can't hide from you, but I don't need to. All I have to do is outlast you.”

Zazushi’s face contorts into a mixture of pain and irritation as he feels the warm blood trickling down his side. He tightens his grip on his katana, his knuckles turning white.

Zazushi: “Outlast me? You think you can win by just surviving? How naive. Surviving against me isn’t an option.”

Zazushi steps forward, his movements more calculated now, less reckless. His ears pick up the subtle sounds of Vequora's shifting weight, the faint rustle of her clothing. He knows she’s trying to bait him into overextending, but he won't fall for it again. Vequora circles him slowly, her eyes never leaving his form. She knows Zazushi is skilled, but now he’s wounded. She needs to capitalize on that, but without falling into his trap. Her grip on the wakizashi tightens as she contemplates her next move. Zazushi suddenly lunges forward with a thrust aimed directly at her heart. Vequora side steps just in time, but this time, Zazushi is ready for her counterattack. He swings his katana in a tight arc, forcing Vequora to twist her body awkwardly to avoid the blade. The tip of his sword grazes her sleeve, slicing through the fabric. Vequora winces, but she doesn’t let the near-miss distract her. She pivots on her back foot, bringing her wakizashi up in a sharp upward strike, aiming for Zazushi’s wrist. He pulls back just in time, but the motion disrupts his balance. Vequora sees her opening. With a burst of speed, she steps inside his guard and slashes at his injured side again. This time, her blade digs deeper, drawing a sharp cry from Zazushi. He swings his katana wildly to force her back, but Vequora is already retreating, her wakizashi stained with his blood. Zazushi staggers, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He grits his teeth, trying to ignore the searing pain in his side.

Zazushi: “You’re better than I expected.”

Vequora, her chest rising and falling with controlled breaths, watches Zazushi carefully. Zazushi smirks through the pain. With a sudden burst of energy, Zazushi charges at Vequora, his katana flashing in a series of rapid, unpredictable strikes. Vequora blocks and dodges as best she can, her wakizashi a blur as she tries to keep up. But Zazushi’s ferocity is overwhelming. He’s attacking with everything he has left, forcing Vequora back, step by step. Her back hits the wall. There’s nowhere left to go. Zazushi senses her position and grins, raising his katana for a final, decisive strike. Vequora shields her face with her hands. Zazushi laughs.

Zazushi: “You’re after the prize pool of the international swordplay tournament. So you know what? I’ll spare you, and wait until a more professional time to take you down…”

Zazushi leaves

Vequora’s thoughts: “He’s ironically extremely observant… but I’ll have to fight him in the tournament if I want to get away from here and take my own path.”