Kaizen had heard his brother, Keito, was back. That his search had been fruitless, amounted to nothing but a waste of time. The way Kaizen saw it, there was no use in looking for someone who didn't want to be found-she'd left willingly, so why bother. Was that harsh? Maybe, but he'd always seen the world in a very black and white manner, she was their mother but had she truly earned their loyalty? Kaizen didn't think so. They were Hattori's above all else.

Moving to the training ring, a small grove hidden deep within the bamboo, Kaizen eyed his surroundings. Whoever had used it last had cleaned up well enough, the tatami mats cleared of fallen leaves and dirt. Tipping his head back he called out for his brother, curious if he had learned anything during his fruitless search, eager to see for himself.

Keito hesitated for a moment when he heard Kaizen's call. His brother's voice carried the weight of expectations, and though Keito had grown stronger during his search, he felt the twinge of nervousness. The thought of sparring with Kaizen always made his heart race - Kaizen had such a strong air about him that intimidated the smaller brother. Taking a deep breath, Keit moved toward the training ring, his paws light on the tatami mats. As he entered the grove, the familiar scent of bamboo and earth settled his nerves slightly, but the anticipation of what was to come kept him on edge.

"Yes, Kaizen?" he called out, trying to keep his voice steady and without any tell of his nervousness. "I missed you, too." Though his heart was pounding, there was a flicker of amusement in his eyes as he'd jest in an attempt to keep it light-hearted. Keito knew this spar would be more than just a test of skill; there were a lot of emotions behind differing views of their mother that could clash as their bodies were soon to be.

"Speech"

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Kaizen hummed in agreement; was a little too...awkward to say as much, but he shared that sentiment. He was glad to see his brother back, that even if he would never be the best at socialising, he always found being around his siblings gave him a sense of comfort, one he didn't quite have the emotional bandwidth to articulate.

"Have you fallen behind in your training? I can help." It took a bit of effort to pose it as an offer, to not be pushy and simply speak in statements.

He shifted his stance, allowing some of the tension to ease from his shoulders. Only when he got the confirmation he'd hoped for, did he spring forward, aiming to ram his shoulder into Kieito's, a move he had watched Hattori execute with ease time and time again.

Kaizen vs Keito for spar
Round 1/2
Age: over 1
Size: Dire wolf
Build: Light
Mutation 1: Eagle Talons (Offensive)
Mutation 2: Antelope horns (Defensive)
Mutation 3: Lengthened tail (Agility)
Skills: Expert Hunter & Advanced Fighter

Keito saw the tension leave Kaizen's body for a split second, just enough time to brace himself. His brother’s offer lingered in his mind, and he smiled faintly. “I could use the help,” he admitted. “It’s been a while.”

As Kaizen lunged forward, Keito barely managed to pivot to the side, Kaizen’s shoulder grazing his own as he dodged. The force still rattled him, a reminder of how strong Kaizen had become. Keito winced but recovered quickly, focusing on the next move. He had to respond, not just evade.

Channeling his momentum, Keito circled around Kaizen, aiming for his legs. He feigned left, then swiftly swung his body low, attempting to sweep Kaizen’s hind leg with a quick strike of his paw. It wasn’t flashy, but he hoped it would catch Kaizen off guard enough to make him stumble, if only for a moment. "I haven’t forgotten everything."

Keito vs Kaizen for Spar
Round 1/2
Age: Over 1 year
Size: Extra large
Build: Balanced
Offensive Battle Accessory: Tantō Dagger
Defensive Battle Accessory: Lamellar Collar Armor
Companion 1: Crested Serpent Eagle, Male - flying
Companion 2: Crested Serpent Eagle, Female - flying
Skills: Intermediate Fighter & Beginner Intellectual

"Speech"

CODE BY SIN

It was clear to see that Keito indeed was out of practice, but it would not take him long to get back to where he ought to be. Hattori's were talented fighters, always had been, so the stories went. His hit did not land quite as solidly as he would have liked, but perhaps that was for the best, Kaizen did not have the reinforced bones their sire had, a thudding collision like that would hurt and quite badly too. A leg whipped out, whip quick and though it didn't sweep Kaizen off his feet it was enough to make him grunt, his posture faulting as he recoiled in response. He was not as stoic as he would have liked, wanted to be cold and unfeeling, to just...shrug off wounds that naturally would have had him limping off to seek Fuji's aid.

Gritting his teeth, his ears flicked at his brother's words. That was good, Hattori would have been disappointed if he had.

In retaliation, he kicked forward again, angling his body to the side to protect himself from any more sneaky leg swipes, and moved to lunge at his brother's muzzle. Kaizen didn't even have a hard or bruising bite planned, his jaw muscles ready but not intent on hurting. Just enough to secure a hold, to try and clamp his mouth shut to claim victory over their little spar.

Kaizen vs Keito for spar
Round 2/2
Age: over 1
Size: Dire wolf
Build: Light
Mutation 1: Eagle Talons (Offensive)
Mutation 2: Antelope horns (Defensive)
Mutation 3: Lengthened tail (Agility)
Skills: Expert Hunter & Advanced Fighter

Keito saw Kaizen’s shift in posture, the subtle giveaway that his leg swipe had at least thrown him off balance. But there was no time to celebrate, Kaizen was already coming for him again and this time aiming for his muzzle.

Keito reacted on instinct, lowering his head just in time to dodge the full force of the lunge, feeling Kaizen's jaws brush against his fur. He was fast, but Kaizen was relentless. He needed to defend but couldn’t stay on the back foot forever.

Quickly, Keito ducked down, twisting his body sideways to avoid the next bite. As he turned, he brought his paw up to try and push Kaizen’s shoulder, hoping to knock him off balance. Simultaneously, Keito aimed a quick, controlled nip toward his brother’s exposed side, careful not to bite hard but enough to show he wasn’t just on defense anymore.

Keito vs Kaizen for Spar
Round 2/2
Age: Over 1 year
Size: Extra large
Build: Balanced
Offensive Battle Accessory: Tantō Dagger
Defensive Battle Accessory: Lamellar Collar Armor
Companion 1: Crested Serpent Eagle, Male - flying
Companion 2: Crested Serpent Eagle, Female - flying
Skills: Intermediate Fighter & Beginner Intellectual

"Speech"

CODE BY SIN