Even before his departure, Seiko hadn't been terribly close to Keito. That wasn't saying a whole lot when you had as many siblings as they did though; Seiko loved them all the same, was loyal to them all the same, but there wasn't enough time in the day to foster strong relationships with all of them. They weren't entirely sure they saw eye to eye with their brother either - the time that they'd spent away from one another had been long enough that Seiko wasn't quite sure how their reunion might go. They hadn't come when he'd called to announce his return, for reasons they weren't quite sure of yet. It was far too much to unpack so soon. More important than their feelings on Keito though was how he had fared in his time away. If he'd just been searching for their mother the whole time, Seiko worried he hadn't been getting the training he ought to. Not that it was their responsibility to ensure their brother was well-trained, but their loyalty was strong, and their desire to keep their family strong and self-sufficient was even stronger. Hesitating for a long moment as they wandered the edges of the dojo, after a long while they finally settled in and lifted their head to call for Keito to join them.

Keito had been lost in thought, his mind lingering on the months of searching, the distant memories of their mother, and the complexities of his return. Should I have stayed away? The call from Seiko pulled him back to the present, a mixture of surprise and curiosity flickering in his eyes. They hadn't been close before his departure, and he wondered what his sibling thought of him now. There was a weight in the air, an unspoken tension that told him this wasn't wasn't just a family reunion.

He rose from his seated position, moving with the practiced grace of a samurai. Keito had spent his time away honing his skills in different terrains, but the true test would always be against those who knew him best. Stepping into the dojo, he locked his eyes with Seiko's, his expression calm.. hiding what was underneath.

"Seiko," he greeted, dipping his head slightly. "It's been awhile."

There was no need for pleasantries; they both knew what Seiko had called him, why they were here. Keito squared his stance, his muscles firm as he prepared himself for what was to come. "I suppose you want to test what I've learned, alright then," he said, his voice carrying a challenge wrapped in the warmth of sibling rivalry. He was ready to prove himself, not just to Seiko, but to all of Tojo-Kai.

Keito wasted no time, his flecked body moving in a blur of color as he lunged forward with precision. He aimed a swift, controlled strike with his paw toward Seiko's shoulder, testing their reflexes and strength in one fluid motion. The spar had begun, and Keito would give Seiko the display of skill they expected of him, he was determined.

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

"Speech"

CODE BY SIN

Seiko didn't have the easiest time relating to their siblings; not unless they were training or doing something that felt meaningful together. Lying around and talking was definitely not something they were accustomed to. How better to reunite with their brother than see how his skills had held up since he'd left? Maybe he'd learned something since he'd left, but it seemed just as likely he'd let his training fall to the wayside. That worry wasn't anything personal, just Seiko wanting to hold their siblings to the high standards that they knew they could achieve. They weren't left waiting for long. Keito answered their call, and earned a respectful nod of acknowledgment from their sibling. "Keito. I'm glad you made it home safely." Nothing in the world would Seiko from their family, certainly not chasing after a mother they felt didn't deserve any more care than she had shown her own offspring. Though Seiko didn't understand their brother's reasoning, they wouldn't dwell on it for long, let alone judge him for his choices. At least, not out loud. Keito knew exactly why they'd called him, earning a faint and rarely-seen smile from the serious Hattori. "Show me, then," they returned the friendly rivalry, happy to skip past pleasantries that they didn't quite know how to work with and jump right into a fight. That was far more their language, one they could speak far more easily than using words. They reflexively stiffened as Keito charged, having anticipated a fight right off the bat. Instead of trying to dodge the abrupt attack, they'd try to hold strong against it, pushing their slightly larger frame against his own. Lifting a paw to aid in their balance, they'd attempt to lunge forward hard, jaws unhinging and aiming to grab hold of his scruff. Seiko vs Keito for Spar Round 1 / 2 Age: Over 1 Year Size: Dire wolf Build: Balanced Companion 1: House Cat, Female - Battle Mutation 1: Antelope Horns - Offensive Skills: Advanced Fighter & Novice Intellectual

Keito felt the force of Seiko's resistance as their frames collided, his smaller size making him quickly rethink his approach. Instead of meeting Seiko's strength head-on, he shifted his weight onto his right hind leg, twisting his body to the left to avoid their grasp. His eyes locked onto Seiko's exposed right flank as they lunged for his scruff.

With swift precision, Keito ducked low and snapped his head down and to the left, aiming his upper fangs to sink into the tender area just behind Seiko's right shoulder blade. Simultaneously, his left forepaw reached up to press against Seiko's right side, hoping to use the pressure to unbalance his sibling and push them off their intended path of going for his scruff. Keito aimed to exploit any little mistake in Seiko's stance, relying on his agility and the instincts he'd honed in the wilds to gain the upper hand.

Keito vs Seiko 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: Male Crested Serpent Eagle (Perception)
Companion 2: Female Crested Serpent Eagle (Perception)
Skills: Intermediate Fighter & Beginner Intellectual

"Speech"

CODE BY SIN

Seiko only expected the best from their siblings; the Hattori clan was superior. There were no exceptions. Even those siblings that strayed from the norm, those that weren't quite like their serious and composed father, still were held to those high standards - at least in Seiko's mind. They hoped they'd be impressed with how Keito held his ground, though if he didn't that just would show where he needed to improve. Not that they themselves were a skilled fighter, but they were well on their way to becoming one. Though they made contact with Keito's scruff, he used the moment to his advantage, twisting and ducking forward and aiming a bite of his own. The force alone was enough for Seiko to feel their balance begin to sway, coupled with their brother's forepaw on their side. Despite swaying, they held their ground, at least for long enough to try to lunge forward and shove them to the side completely, quickly releasing their own hold on Keito's scruff. If they succeeded in not losing their balance, they'd lunge forward and aim to throw up a forepaw over Keito's back, also hoping to exploit a slight misstep in Keito's movements. Seiko vs Keito for Spar Round 2 / 2 Age: Over 1 Year Size: Dire wolf Build: Balanced Companion 1: House Cat, Female - Battle Mutation 1: Antelope Horns - Offensive Skills: Advanced Fighter & Novice Intellectual

And the winner is...

SEIKO

KEITO must give up by submitting, fleeing or passing out. Totals: KEITO: Attack Roll: 10 Defense Roll: 28 Agility Roll: 2 Perception Roll: 55 Total: 95 Attack[10] + 15% Bonus[1.50]: 11.50 Defense[28] + 15% Bonus[4.20]: 32.20 Agility[2] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 2.00 Perception[55] + 20% Bonus[11.00]: 66.00 Total[111.70] + 10% Bonus[11.17]: 122.87 SEIKO: Attack Roll: 32 Defense Roll: 4 Agility Roll: 93 Perception Roll: 66 Total: 195 Attack[32] + 35% Bonus[11.20]: 43.20 Defense[4] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 4.00 Agility[93] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 93.00 Perception[66] + 5% Bonus[3.30]: 69.30 Total[209.50] + 15% Bonus[31.43]: 240.93

Keito felt the shift in momentum as Seiko's body pressed against his, their superior strength and balance tipping the scales in their favor. Despite his agility, he couldn’t fully recover from the force of their shove, and before he could counter, Seiko's forepaw was already coming down over his back.

Realizing he had been outmatched, Keito’s muscles tensed before he released a low growl, more of respect than defiance. He tilted his head downward, exposing his neck in a gesture of submission, acknowledging Seiko’s victory. His breath steadied as he relaxed, stepping back slightly to indicate his acceptance of the outcome.

"You’ve still got me," Keito admitted, his tone light despite the loss. "I’ll need to catch up." Though defeated, the spark in his eyes showed he wasn’t discouraged; this was only the beginning of his training.

"Speech"

CODE BY SIN

The balance of the fight seemed to weigh equally in their favors, only shifting in a split second as Seiko overpowered their brother. It happened quickly, and though they leaned over to attempt to pin him to the ground, Keito submitted before it went any further. The recognition of his defeat was enough for Seiko and they took a few steps backward. They were panting softly, trying to catch their breath before they spot. "No worry. You'll catch up soon enough," they said, genuinely believing that. The faintest hint of a smile touched their lips, proof that they meant it, though the expression quickly softened into nothingness. Seiko wasn't the type to say nice things just to make others feel better - they saw the same potential in Keito as they did in all their siblings. It was just a matter of whether or not that potential was nurtured. "Your time away," they started, their gaze a little more scrutinizing now, "How was it?" Seiko had never gone far from home and they couldn't help but wonder in what ways Keito had grown. Even if their fighting skills had stagnated, they wouldn't be surprised if he excelled far past Seiko in other ways now.

The koi wolf rose slowly after Seiko stepped back, his breathing heavy but steady. He met their gaze, appreciating the hint of a smile, an unusual gesture from Seiko, but one that spoke volumes. He dipped his head slightly, acknowledging both the praise and the belief they had in him. It felt good to hear, even from someone as stoic as Seiko.

When they asked about his time away, Keito's expression shifted, his eyes darkening slightly as memories of his search for their mother surfaced. He looked out toward the distant horizon for a moment, gathering his thoughts. "It was... challenging," he began, his voice quieter now. "I learned a lot, but it wasn't the kind of growth I expected. Searching for someone who doesn't want to be found is... harder than I thought it would be when I initially left."

He turned back to Seiko, his gaze steady. "I missed out on growth here, that much is clear from our spar- but I think I have grown in other ways. I've learned patience, and.. what it means to let go. I learned the different territories in Auster, and how to survive them. Now, I just need to catch up, both to you and to the family."

"Speech"

CODE BY SIN

The speed at which any of their siblings learned and trained matter a lot less than their initiative in general; as long as they were all consistent and dedicated they would grow to be great warriors just like their father. Keito, of course, was no exception. Seiko truly expected nothing less of their siblings, and they were beyond grateful that Keito had returned to Tojo-Kai to continue his training here, among family. There really was no greater place to be. Seiko listened as Keito explained being on his own was challenging. They merely nodded along, not able to relate to feeling strongly enough about their mother to have gone looking for her. They knew that some of their siblings felt quite differently though and Seiko couldn't fault them for that. Wasting time on someone who very clearly cared little for them, though, wasn't something Seiko could personally get behind. "I understand," they commiserated. Enough talk of the past though. Seiko was just glad to have their brother back here with the rest of the family. Everything as it should be. "I don't doubt everything you learned will help you excel now." They were silent for a moment, moving to walk away from the dojo. A walk through the bamboo with their brother sounded nice. "Why do you think she left, anyway?" Curious, Seiko tilted their head to the side and glanced at Keito, hoping he took their movements as invitation to join along. They hadn't thought long and hard about their mother's abandonment but still they wondered. Had such a large litter just been too much for her? Or had it been something deeper?