Spear Katas : Saya Shows Off (closed, Training Topic: 1571 words)

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Saya had waited for a small crowd to gather before even begining, spending just a bit of time stretching for her upcoming performace. She'd noted the utter lack of training grounds in the mist choked forests surronding her village, so decided it best to simply practice in the streets. Before gathering any crowd she had marked off her stage with a set of brass bowls. They formed a sort of barrier around her. While not magical, it marked a place no smart person should travel past durring her routine, least they feel the fury of her spear on accident. The bowls were just small brass affairs, too small to hold a snack worth of soup, but there were five of them. She'd placed them each about ten feet apart, marking off a wide semicircle near an alley way. This gave her plenty of room to swing the large spear in, while also got in the way some. That was alright, she wasn't going to be there long, and the juncture was sure to see plenty of people passing through for a look. Inside the bowls Saya had dropped a few of her own coins, just a couple in each to give onlookers ideas about tipping.

It was about just after mid day and Saya was near the market. A good number had been waiting in anticipation when she finally started, but more would join through out the short demonstration. She was suited up as she always is, wearing her boots and light armor, shin guards and a pair of steel bracers. Her body is covered in her loose and flowing robes, fine black chain mesh beneath that. She has her katana on her side, but none of her other typical weapons. Her cloak and mask have also been left at home, not needed for this public demonstration of skill. .. and some fine practice too. With out annoucing she is going to begin, Saya simply does so. She gathers up her spear and moves to the center of the strange funnle shaped battleground she chose. Through out the course she would be protecting it from intruders, and taking countless imaginary lives. She brings herself to attention and centers her spear at her side, it's steel pomel landing on the ground and it's blade towering in the air over her.

Saya begins with a simple show of grace and speed, lifting her weapon slowly, and drawing it out infront of her. Fully extended the blade falls only a few feet from the small crowd around her. She brings it back closer to her, then sweeps it sharply and quickly upwards infront of her. She shouts as she strikes, then takes a step forward. The long sharp blades cuts a wide swathe to her side as she steps forward and turns, then twists the spear around to attack infront of her with the blunt end. With the spear point behind her she turns around, assaulting unseen enemies from that direction. Her show is impressive to those who are untrained in the ways of martial arts, but her skill might be obvious to those who have talent as well. She moves with obvious power and precision, haulting the blade exactly where needed, and never wasting for motion. Her feet are light, barely touching the floor for more than a second each before readjusting, keeping her constantly in motion as she works around the small circle. Each long and graceful cut shows off the great reach and versatility of her weapon.

The crowd around her remains mostly quiet at first, a few appriciative remarks made as she begins to warm up. Just as the last long cut ends, Saya steps forward and thrusts her spear forward. The air infront of her suffers no damage, and she falls still for just a moment. She twists the yari back towards her and flips it over in her hands, wheeling it around once while switching her grip. She switches to her left hand and steps forward again, thrusting with impressive force. She switches hands as she steps just slightly backwards, flipping the long black shaft around infront of her, then brandishing it out in her natural stance once more. Her next thrust is quick, and followed almost instantly by another. Another than another, the long blade at the end of her yari becoming a blur as she pierces the air infront of her a dozen times in the course of five seconds. She stops again just after, slowly pulling her spear backwards and lowering her eyes towards the ground. She takes a step back, now a little winded and breathing heavily.

Without warning she quickly draws the spear up and swings it over her head. She spins around easily and flips the yari around behind her, then quickly slashing it forward. Her speed in altering directions shows off her great mobility, as suddenly she is assaulting all sides. She swings her spear swiftly, cutting infront of her, then behind. She twists around and cuts to the left, then behind her with the pommel of her spear. Finally she assaults all sides, gripping her spear in both hands and swinging it strongly, cutting out a circle about ten feet wide all around her. Alert members of the crowd back away, and only the brave and foolish remain in the front row. Saya smirks just a little, looking over a few, the blade having cut only six or seven inches from their faces. Saya had planned it all well before hand, they'd been in no danger. A large crack on the pavement had been her marker, and her foot has landed on it perfectly. With a small step back, and little hesitation between the previous circular cut, Saya swings her yari in the same long and slow circle in the oposite direction.

She handles her spear like it's a baton, the suprisingly light design making a true show peice item. It was a fantastic work of crafstmanship, for sure, and a truly priceless peice of antiquity. She draws the Yari up across the front of her again, fending off her unseen foes and stepping back just slightly. She brings the spear infront of her quickly and flips it around. She draws in a large breath and flips it around again. After even two turns the spear is suddenly moving amazingly fast. The blade tracks through the air over and over, her wrists and hands twirling her spear around about twice per second. While it may sound slow, the impressive feat could have made the ends of her spears blur if one where not so silver, and the other not so black. Instead the spear just spins faster as she forms a whirling defensive wall of strong bamboo wood. Though saya is forced to lean back just slightly, the long weapon manages to nick the ground once in it's rotations, the hard blade causing a shower of sparks and small pebbles to spray off the bricks below her. Though some of the crowd jumps, most end up laughing, and none are even touched by the debris. With the crowd to her front, it would all just land off against the wall of a near by shop.

After the great spin, Saya swings her blade around in one last broad circle, then slams the pommel back into the ground beneath her. She draws in a slow and quiet breath, and bows about a quarter of the way down. She was finished. Somehow, when she looks up, Saya is not winded in the least. She is shining with a good deal of sweat, as that was quite the work out, but she showed no sign of the wear at all. In fact, she seemed almost energized by the mild demonstration. She wanted to draw her sword and show more, but that could wait. "Thank you." She says, and receives a few claps here and there. The crowd returns to talking amongst themselves as they disperse a few distracting her with their compliments. Saya accepts each one with a humble nod and a thank you, then moves to collect her bowls.

The five bowls had only cost a pittance in the market, likely only usable for incense, if you liked such a thing. When she goes to gather them up, she finds herself quite saddened by her ill tidings. One bowl she had set out of was rather full of and rattling with metal coins, while the other four bowls were simply missing. Assessing the weight of what the one bowl collected, she may have even lost a few coins in her purchase. Saya just sighs, smirking a little in spite of herself, and shaking her head. Such was the life of an unwatched bowl of coins, near the Kirigakure marketplace. Thieves had to make a living too, after all.