The Fighting Spirit(Closed/Ohkara)

[Ohkara Minamaru]

A sudden burst of ki struck the nearby treetops, causing them to explode overhead. Ohkara sighed, leaping out of the way as a log nearly fell on top of her. A second burst of Ki exploded above the tree line like a firework, and Ohkara let out a light sigh. It seemed Celeh wasn’t into a game of cat and mouse. It was a shame, but the green-haired girl couldn’t blame her. This was a sparring match; there was no real reason for either party to chase the other.

Her call didn’t fall on deaf ears; in fact, quite the opposite. Ohkara’s ears perked at the comment, and she called back up under the cover of the foliage, ”Upper hand is subjective!” she shouted, ”You might say I had it, but I say you did!~”

With a sly grin, Ohkara’s left hand curled around the end of her make-shift sword, and she kicked back a foot. Suddenly her power exploded: from nearly zero all the way to one hundred thirty-four thousand two hundred- quadrupling from the maximum base Celeh had felt before. In a flash Ohkara would be airborne, her insane power increase enough to close the gap in nearly a blink of an eye. Once more the green-haired girl would use Zanzoken, shifting her body from a straight line to actually approach Celeh’s left side. In the air there would be no footsteps or trails for her to follow.

Attacking the woman’s non-dominant side, Ohkara would rocket forwards with a spinning kick. If it connected, her body would recoil like a spring, firing off a second kick with her right foot; much as she had intended in an earlier exchange. If her barrage was successful, she’d bring her fists together above her head, and smash them downwards in a powerful hammerfist, intended to send the Saiyan flying towards the ground, "But now the upper hand is mine for sure!~"

(Perfect Composure: 4/4, Inner Strength: 1/2)

[Celeh]

It didn't make much sense to Celeh. It's true that she had a bit of a surprise comeback there, but it was purely a gut feeling and a split second reaction that put her ahead in that moment. Forcing Ohkara to put some distance between them proved how much fighting had been ingrained into Celeh's mind. At the same time, though, she was injured. Ohkara hadn't been seriously injured yet, but Celeh was basically down the use of one of her arms. Her eyes scanned the forest just below her, but she couldn't see anything other than the treetops. Her senses weren't picking anything up as far as Ohkara's energy, either. She gritted her teeth in frustration.

Celeh wasn't prepared for the assault that came next. By the time she detected the green haired girl's sudden burst of power and forward assault rush... the first blow had been stricken. Celeh took the kick to the upper part of her weakened arm and jolted her body to the opposite side. This slammed her directly into the other kick, which she narrowly reacted to by bringing up her forearm and lowering her shoulder slightly. It blunted the damage some, but the impact was still tremendous compared to the attacks that had been launched before this rush by Ohkara. "Nnnggghhh!" A groan of pain escaped her lips just before that two handed smash came crashing down onto her head and sent her diving head first into the ground. The hit rattled her to her core, and the impact with the ground knocked over a couple of nearby trees when a small crater formed around her impact point. Celeh was laying face down in the crater, totally unconscious. Her nose and lips were bleeding heavily, and it looked as though her arm that had been damaged by the green blasts before was now completely broken. She didn't get a chance to use her surprise attack...or so it looked.

Her unconscious state didn't last for long. She blacked out from the initial impacts, and she was woozy when she first came to, but she was still very much alive. The blood pooling in the dirt under her face made it hard to breath. The first thing she did when she came back to reality was push off the dirt with her still useful arm and cough, spitting up the blood she'd almost breathed into her lungs. "D-damn..." She grunted under her breath.

Celeh slumped onto her good side in the hole and glance up, seeing Ohkara in the air where she had previously been. "Looks like...you win this...round..." And with that, Celeh closed her eyes and fell back unconscious. Her battered and bloodied form looked quite grim for it just having been a spar, but as far as the soldier was concerned...this was the only way for a battle to end even if it were for practice.

[Ohkara Minamaru]

Ohkara’s attacks were all successful and, suddenly as she’d find out, overkill. It would end with Celeh on the ground, her arm likely broken, slipping in and out of consciousness. Ohkara slowly descended from the sky and landed beside her, a look of concern on her face, ”I-I’m sor-“ she started, only to stop herself and shake her head, ”You did awesome, Celeh!” she told her. It was the truth, and likely what the Saiyan would prefer to hear than an apology.

She smiled at Celeh’s comment, and nodded, ”Yeah, this one’s mine; and next time better be even more intense!”

As the brunette’s consciousness faded once more, Ohkara would attempt to gently pick her up, and take flight into the sky. Getting the woman back to her home, and her arm set and in a splint would be her main priority. If allowed, she’d get to work the moment she arrived with the woman at her house. If everything went smoothly, Ohkara would plan to be gone before Celeh ever regained consciousness again. Of course, there was always the chance things wouldn’t go as smoothly as she hoped.

(I wrote this up so we can end the thread, if you want; or we could keep going. If you wanna end it, this with be my exit, and I will request PL + heavy-weights (before 100k base PL). )

[Celeh]

Unfortunately for Ohkara, Celeh was even sturdier than either of them realized. The battered female soldier opened her eyes slowly and winced just as Ohkara was trying to set the bones in her arm and place her arm in a splint. She grunted and groaned, "Uunnnggggaaahhh..." The pain was quite intense, but it wasn't as bad as when Ohkara had kicked the stuffing out of her that caused the broken arm in the first place. She glanced over to the green haired girl and scowled, "So you were holding back until the very end, huh? Got me really good with that surprise attack...and then now you're trying to patch me up? Forgive me for feeling more than a little uneasy about this. I don't consider you an enemy, but generally someone doesn't patch you up after they smash you into the dirt. It's just...not something I'm accustomed to after a lifetime of beatings without remorse in the Saiyan Military..."

She turned her head away from Ohkara and gave a somewhat dejected sigh. As if it wasn't bad enough that she got beat, now Ohkara was taking pity on her and trying to heal her up. Still, she couldn't shake a small pleasant feeling in the back of her mind that this was so similar to what her older brothers did for her before they both perished...back when all three of them were still basically kids. She'd get hurt fighting someone twice her strength, and they'd always take her home and fix her up. Ohkara wasn't family...but damned if she wasn't trying to be. At least that's how it seemed. "Thank you."

[Ohkara Minamaru]

Celeh’s return to consciousness took Ohkara by surprise; however the startled jolt paired with the woman’s howl of pain would be just what the green-haired girl needed to set the bones in the Saiyan’s arm correctly. Of course, Celeh was straight to business as always, casted her a distasteful look, and spoke. Ohkara listened to the woman speak her piece in its entirety before responding. Her hands rose and she shook them dismissively, ”Oh No, it’s really no problem at all!” she exclaimed with a nervous shake of her head. Celeh’s words brought a pang of guilt to the woman’s heart. Naturally, she already felt guilty for pummeling the woman so badly- not that she’d ever tell Celeh that, for the sake of her pride.

”Hey, I thought you wanted me to take things seriously,” she told her with a nervous laugh, ”I didn’t want to cheat you either,” This was all true, ”But I do have to say that you are one hell of an opponent,” she continued, trying to keep the mood positive, ”I also have to say that I’m definitely glad we’re on the same side!” the nervousness faded and she gave Celeh a nod of approval, ”If we fight like that every time we spar, I think that we take things to a whole other level…” If there was anyone that could help push Ohkara in her training, it was Celeh.

A smile rippled across her lips and her gaze met the brunette’s, ”I haven’t fought anyone like you before,” she said, ”Most the people I spar with don’t take things seriously... And unless it’s serious it’s hard to have any fun…” she gave a amused huff and shrugged, ”to be completely honest, I wager on most my duels, just to hold my interest... But you Celeh,” she smiled once more, pointing a finger to the other woman, ”You make me want to fight all out... And that’s an incredible feeling... In truth, I feel like I should be the one thanking you…”

Snatching up the supplies for making a splint from behind her, she’d gently take Celeh’s hand and set to work. If the other woman looked closely, she’d notice the sticks they were using were from the one Ohkara intended to use in their battle, cut into appropriately sized pieced for the woman’s arm. Ohkara would work with impressive speed and precision with her wrapping- as if she’d done this many times; in fact, this was something she’d done countless times.

Mere hours ago neither of these women knew the other existed, but already Ohkara felt a connection with this woman. Sure, it might take Celeh a little while to warm up to her, but she was confident she’d get the woman to come around eventually.

Stepping back as she finished the wrapping, Ohkara beamed brightly, ”There!~ All done!~” she exclaimed, then asked: ”That’s okay, right? Not too tight, not too loose?”

[Celeh]

Celeh felt incredibly conflicted right now, but she had no doubts in her mind that the woman across from her was being sincere in what she said. It just felt wrong in her mind for someone to beat you so thoroughly and then not just leave you laying to pick yourself back up later. It was an awkward feeling for her...one that merited an equal combination of gratitude and indignation. The green haired woman had finished splinting her arm in no time. Celeh lifted that broken arm and gave it a quick flick and wave. There was a small tinge of pain evident on her face, but it was nothing compared to what she SHOULD have shown given the swiftness and firmness of her motions. "It'll hold up long enough to speed the recovery a bit, I think. It won't take too long for my arm to be back in usable condition. Thank you."

And with that, Celeh got to her feet and flexed her shoulder a little, getting a feel for just how damaged her arm might be. She took things a little slower this time as to not cause herself immense discomfort or to risk breaking the splint. "Careful talking like that. People might get the wrong impression that you're a Saiyan. For a moment there you almost sounded like one." She was joking, of course, but whether or not Ohkara would catch on to that given her tone was not entirely certain. There was also the fact that she was at least somewhat serious when she said that. As far as Celeh knew, save for a single certain Namekian she hadn't seen in years, she didn't know any non-Saiyan that enjoyed fighting that much.

"It's understandable that you've never had an opponent make you get so intense before. The fights you're accustomed to are most likely JUST spars. Saiyans don't ever JUST spar. Surviving the military to graduate the academy is a rite of passage and a sign that you're not a useless warrior in their eyes. And I do mean surviving in the most literal sense. They put you through hell."

[Ohkara Minamaru]

Watching the brunette closely, Ohkara’s eyes widened at her sudden movement, impressed by how well she held her composure. Even knowing full well how strong this woman was, she couldn’t help but marvel at her. She was something else, that was for sure. ”Great. I’m glad to hear it.” Of course, there was a bit of skepticism to the woman’s claim, but the green-haired girl dare not voice it. A break was a break, no matter who you are.

The next words from the girl brought a look of panic to the girl’s face; although she didn’t intend to hurt anyone’s feelings, ”Oh no,” she said, waving her hands at her side, ”I’m no Saiyan.” Nevertheless, her consciousness was swift to return, her gaze falling to the ground as she realized what she’d just said.

”I mean, I get it from my parents…” she told her, trying to explain things through, ”My father was a highly regarded part of the Terran Military when he was younger… He… Well, he had a falling out, and it made his life pretty rough… Luckily for him, he was a very strong man, both in brawn, and in the mind.” A smile slide over her lips, and she rose a hand to her lip, gently biting against her thumbnail, ”I didn’t get a chance to really know my mother, but my father told me she was a warrior too, with a somewhat similar background… After she passed away, my dad took it upon himself to train me every day. You can say he raised me to live for the thrill of the fight.”

Her gaze turned to the ceiling and she let out a sigh, ”After he died, I was left to fend for myself… As you know, this world can be a harsh, cruel place to the wrong people… Unfortunately I was one of them… Many times I found myself at death’s doorstep, but my dad raised me to be strong, just like him…” Turning her gaze back to Celeh, she smiled genuinely, though there was very apparent sadness in her sparkling yellow orbs, ”I think he’d like you a lot, Celeh.” she told her.

Though she had not lived the same life that the Brunette had, Ohkara couldn’t help but feel like she knew what she meant. The world had tried to kill her repeatedly, and she’d survived, proving her worth. Of course, the two were different in many ways; however, Ohkara couldn’t help but feel close to her.

”Looking back, though…” she added, a bit of distance to her tone, ”I can say I’m glad for the things I’ve been through… Because they helped form me into the person I am today.”

Suddenly, a loud rumbling from the green-haired girl’s stomach made itself heard, and her face twisted. Glancing a somewhat bashful look over the other woman, she lowered her hand and rubbed her tummy, ”Hey… Would it offend if I offered to make us something to eat?” she asked, ”Fighting really works up an appetite…”

[Celeh]

Celeh listened quietly as Ohkara began to explain a bit about her upbringing and her parents. The soldier didn't concern herself much with the way Ohkara said She was 'no saiyan'. The dark haired woman just smirked and kept listening for now. From the sound of it, the green haired maiden's parents were both soldiers much like Celeh herself had been.

She crossed her arms, but since as she was not used to having a broken arm and hadn't thought about it before moving. The Saiyan sighed, "I appreciate the sentiment, but given the circumstances between your race and mine right now, your father would have been one of the people on the front line fighting against the saiyan army when they tried to invade this planet. No doubt his disposition towards us wouldn't be a positive one, not that I could blame him. The saiyan race hasn't exactly done anyone in the galaxy any favors lately."

She smiled at that, "My foolish species aside, I think your parents did a good job bringing you up. You're strong, brave, smart, and honest. They'd be proud of your fiery heart and sharp mind, I'm sure." Celeh paused at the question of food. Her own stomach responded in kind. "Haha... I probably would have tried to cook something if you left anyway. I'd not turn down an offer like that. Cook away!"

[Ohkara Minamaru]

Celeh had been correct in her assumption that Ohkara’s father would have been one of those in the front lines defending the planet from the Saiyan’s attack; although in truth, she’d been there too. She’d inherited her drive to protect her people from her father. ”Listen, Ohkara… It’s true our planet is filled with ruthless, maniacal people, whom only have their own selves in their mind. But it is equally true it’s just as inhabited by those who are innocent. As a fighter, it’s our duty to fight for those people; to make this world a better place, to keep the order, and to put those bad guys in their rightful place,” her father had told her. Those words stuck with her. Still, she was confident what she’d told the woman. Her father would have liked her.

The kind words spoken brought a smile to the woman’s face, and a tear to her eye. Whisking it away, she nodded gratefully, ”Thanks, Celeh,” she said, ”That means a lot…”

Pushing the mushiness aside, Ohkara gave the woman a nod, ”Awesome!~” she exclaimed with a gleeful skip, then headed into the kitchen to begin rifling through the woman’s cupboards and fridge. It didn’t take long to find some food fit for cooking, and it was quickly made apparent that Ohkara was well versed in the kitchen. Though this was not something she openly bragged about, she’d spent plenty of time behind the stove-top, trying new recipes, and concocting new foods. One could say she enjoyed cooking almost as much as she enjoyed eating, as unbelievable as that might be.

Snatching up a knife from one of the drawers, she made quick work of some vegetable, dicing them with the same precision and speed she showed on the battlefield. Twirling the blade around her fingers as she ran back and forth from the fridge to the counter, she tossed a pan on the stove, and threw in a bit of butter. Once hot, she tossed in the vegetables, and set to work on some beefsteak she’d found, dicing that up neatly as well. Fishing through the cupboards once more, she snatched up some seasonings, and set to work on creating a tasty concoction of spices to coat the meat in. Adding water to another pot that she’d placed on the stove, she’d set to work on making some rice to go with the meat and veggies.

It wouldn’t take too long to finish the meat and vegetables, and the scent would soon begin to fill the house, making Ohkara’s stomach rumble even louder than before. Using the drippings, she’d prepare a gravy-like base, to which she’d smother the rice and meat. Although the meal wouldn’t be the most amazing looking dish, it would be packed with flavor, and abundant in serving size. Ohkara wasn’t shy when it came to proportioning, as her appetite could easily rival a Saiyan’s, or so she’d been told.

Glancing over her shoulder as she cooked, she looked back to Celeh and giggled, ”You wouldn’t happen to have something to drink stashed around here, would you?” she asked, her question mainly directed to something of alcoholic nature, she always found a hefty meal accompanied with a refreshing drink a perfect recovery from a battle; this something she’d inherited from her father, and his undeniable obsession with liquor- mostly whiskey.

”Oh, and I forgot to ask if you have anything specific you’d like me to make to go with our food!” she brushed a hand across her face, having forgotten her manners before beginning her meal preparations; of course, she didn’t figure that Celeh could turn down her cooking once she got a good whiff of it.

[Celeh]

Celeh understood how Ohkara felt, and she liked to know the purpose behind feelings and ideals. She felt it much easier to understand and relate to someone's way of thinking if she knew their motives. Ohkara's motive left by her father's legacy was something that Celeh could understand. In a way, she felt a small sense of pride by association, because Ohkara believed her father would also believe in Celeh and trust her. That's something she took to heart and put value in. The saiyan smiled, Saiyan, Human, or otherwise...honorable warriors like your father are hard to come by in this day and age, Ohkara. I'd have liked to met and gotten to know him if it was possible. He sounds like the sort of fellow I could go a few rounds with...sort of like his daughter."

Celeh chuckled heartily at that and then smirked, "You know just what to say to cheer me up, Ohkara. Normally I'm pretty frustrated and upset after getting thrashed so badly. Maybe it's just the prospect of getting a meal cooked for me, but I think you've certainly raised my spirits a little. You're strong, and that makes the sting of losing a little less intense than it would be otherwise." She paused at the question about a drink and used her good arm to point up to a cabinet over the sink.

"There's a bottle of Honey Mead if you're looking for something lighter. Then there's something I hadn't tasted before I came to Earth called Absinthe. It's got a semi-sweet, earthy taste...with a strong burn afterwards. Someone told me it tastes like medicine...but I like the taste of it." She smirked softly at that and leaned back in her chair.

She shook her head about the food, "No, no...you're the cook in this scenario. Cook what you want to cook. I'm not picky when it comes to food, so I doubt you'll be able to disappoint me unless you serve up charcoal bricks."

[Ohkara Minamaru]

Again, a tear was brought to Ohkara’s eye, and she turned her gaze so Celeh wouldn’t see. Her words touched the woman’s heart, ”He was the man that taught me everything I know…” she whispered, ”I miss him every single day…” If she’d been alone, she might have broken down, but with Celeh there she wouldn’t let herself. Drawing from the Saiyan’s on strength, she stiffened up her back and focused back on her cooking. Thanking her wasn’t enough; she’d prove just how much that meant to her with her cooking.

Turning her attention to the mentioned cupboard, Ohkara grabbed up the bright green bottle, and placed it on the table. Grabbing two cups, she poured a double-shot into each of them, and rounded the kitchen to Celeh with glasses in hand. Handing the woman one, she gave her a smile, ”How about we make a toast then?” she cooed, pressing her glass close to Celeh’s, ”To the fighting spirit!”

If Celeh proceeded to share in cheers, Ohkara would down the drink, and let out a huff against the burn. She was no novice to liquor, but she didn’t drink very often. Absinth was something new to her, but she too shared Celeh’s taste for the liquid. Then, setting her glass back on the table, she’d rush back to the stove and finish up the meal she was preparing.

Dishing the food into bowls, she’d layer it: rice, meat and veggies, and then gravy. The look was traditional to curry, however the taste would be much more on the explosive side- in a good way. There was a kick, but not too much, the gravy not outweighing the natural flavor of the meat, or vegetables. And at the bottom, the rice would soak up the flavor of both and create a unique experience.

Placing the dishes on the table opposite of each other, Ohkara smiled brightly, ”Well, it isn’t charcoal, that’s for sure!” she said as she shut off the stove behind her and took a place at the table, ”Come on now! Let’s dig in!” she exclaimed excitedly, waiting for Celeh to make her verdict on the food before she’d begin eating, ”And don’t worry, there’s plenty more if you want seconds!~”

It had been a long time since she’d cooked for someone other than herself, but for some reason she felt a sense of serenity wash over her. She’d almost forgotten what it was like, and the realization of this made her let out a stifled giggle. Honestly, she was more excited to see the woman’s reaction to her meal than to eat it herself. She’d poured her heart and soul into making it, and she was sure it would pay off.

[Celeh]

The saiyan soldier didn't have to be told twice. When that double shot was slid her way, she picked it up in her good hand and clanked it against Ohkara's glass in turn. "Alright then, Ohkara. A toast! To hearts that burn for battle." And with that, she tipped it back and downed it without batting an eye. Even the stronger stuff didn't phase her. Part of living in the 'low class' district of Saiyan society usually meant you frequented bars. Bar fights and drinks were as customary as trips to the grocery store were here on Earth.

With a plate of food set before her that both looked and smelled heavenly, Celeh couldn't help but smile. This was far better than anything she could cook herself. Usually it was grilled vegetables in butter with a bit of salt or fried meats with a bit of gravy. She wasn't exactly a master chef, and even her low skilled cooking was low quality for what it was. She wouldn't deny that she'd eaten a few bricks of charcoal'd meat since moving to Earth and cooking for herself so often. This meal, though, was much more than just a meal. She forked up a mouthful and ate without hesitation. That smile from before got a little wider as the food turned out to be beyond exceptional! Celeh set her fork down for a moment and licked her lips. "Well, I suppose it shouldn't come as a surprise, but you're a far better cook than I am. I don't ever fool with this rice stuff because I always burn it...and the meats and veggies I eat are almost always fried or grilled. I'm not good doing anything fancy with the oven. An open flame and a pan is all I'm accustomed to using for cooking for myself. I usually ate in the mess hall or used a restaurant at whatever planet I was on whenever I was still in the Saiyan Army."

Celeh looked at Ohkara intently now, waiting for her response. She casually forked up another mouthful and enjoyed it, eating with gusto while her eyes remained on the green haired girl. Celeh's saiyan appetite was starting to show itself, as she cleared that first plate in a matter of moments once she stopped thinking so much and just ate.

[Ohkara Minamaru]

Ohkara couldn’t help but giggle at Celeh’s reaction, even without saying it, she could tell she liked it. After seeing the woman start eating, Ohkara would quickly follow suit, pacing back her usual eating speed to keep from looking weird. Simply enjoying the food, she listened to the brunette woman’s words, and let out another giggle, ”Well, thanks!” she said after finishing her bite.

”Its not like it’s always been this way… But I’ve spent lots of time working on getting my dishes to taste juuuuuuust right~” she smiled, placing a finger to her chin, ”You know… I could probably teach you a little bit sometime, if you want...” she mused out loud, hopefully not offending the woman with the offer. Of course, the latter popped into her head after she’d already said it, and her laugh turned a bit nervous, ”I mean… I could come over and cook for you again, and if you wanna learn, I’d be happy to teach you...”

Suddenly her face brightened, and her confidence returned, ”Hell, we could even make a whole day out of it! Go shopping for some new house wares, stock up your fridge and pantry, and stuff! It could be fun!~” Beaming brightly, she too looked at her friend and waited for a response, obvious excitement towards the idea shining like a spotlight, and then continued to eating, keeping up with Celeh and finishing her first dish a few moments after.

[Celeh]

Celeh was happy that she had been able to improve Ohkara's mood a little more, but the aching in her arm reminded her that this was the same woman with incredible strength that had just thoroughly bested her in a fight. It was only sparring, but Celeh got a good dose of what the green haired girl could and would do if push came to shove.

"I don't know how I feel about shopping being fun, but I certainly wouldn't complain about learning to cook my own meals with a bit more finesse. Fried or grilled everything with minimal or no seasonings is not ideal for a balanced diet. I end up eating a lot of onions, peppers, cabbage, and meats just so I can have flavor in the meat that compliments it." She paused at that and just went back to the food, laying another helping onto her plate before getting to eat it once more.

[Ohkara Minamaru]

When Celeh reached for her third helping, Ohkara finally decided she was ready for seconds. Scooping some more food out into her dish, she set to eat it, “Aw, what? Shopping not fun?” she asked through a mouthful, then swallowed and smiled sweetly, “Well, that’s just because you’ve never gone with me!~ Trust me, it would be fun, but it doesn’t have to be any time soon, mind you. But there are plenty of things I think you could benefit from having, like a wok… And some decent spatulas… Maybe some pans... I mean, it sounds like you have a pretty good understanding already, you just need to get the proper tools, ya’know?” She giggled, reaching across the table to grab up the bottle of liquor and pour another double for the both of them. Setting the bottle back down, she snatched up the shot glass and downed it, letting out a small huff.