Scene #6996: 2020 2.0 OH YEAAAAH!

Owner	Pose
Touta Konoe	A new year and a new opportunity to fight at the shrine. Upon meeting Link at the Shrine he was quick to urge him into one of the sparring areas. The green warrior probably recognize the kid dressed in all black all too well considering he remembered from just a single meeting. Since then he hasn't really changed much excluding the fact that he's wearing a t-shirt under his usual black attire that reads 'Salty', but the demeanor of this kid seems anything but. Alright Link, I figure since we're still celebrating a new year we should make the scenery a bit more festive. Hey! Operator! Set the scenery to setting 20 beta!" With the announcement the arena's walls fade away, the floor at their feet alters and the image upon where they stand is that of...A dark night on a grassy field. The sound of running water can be heard at their side. It seems at first that only stars are the only thing illuminating the battle field but the sounds of popping show that fireworks occasional fill the air with fluorescence. "So, this work for ya?"
Link	As the scenary changes, Link recognizes Touta immediately - his memory's good, and the kid kinda stands out, not being a Hylian. "Well-met. Let us duel..." As the fireworks explode and there's barely any illumination, Link nods, and waits for Touta to show he's ready. And then, he takes his sword, takes a battle stance... And dashes forward. The sword moves to make two parallel slashes into Touta, trying to test his defenses and see how well his blocking is, as well as show his skill. Link is /very/ skilled with the sword, after all.
Touta Konoe	There's a nod as Link urges the beginning of the duel. He lowers his knees into his stance as he brings hi black taichi up parallel to his body infront of him. Even in the sporadic lighting of fireworks he can see Link charge on ahead towards him. While he solidifies his foot work into a charge Touta stands his ground rooting his stance where he is. The strikes come with great force, making Touta having to keep his own footwork less he be completely overwhelmed and knocked over. As for his guard though, while it definitely doesn't seem like any form of formal swordsmanship, the young man seems to be able to hold his own. Though Link's own skill shines as the two blades cross. His blade slides down Touta's and finds he's able to cut at his wrist. For some reason or another the boy's taichi had no guard to it. Though he seems undetered as he makes some distance, smirking that same smile even as blood drips ever so. "Wow, that's some fancy sword work. Alright...Guess it's my turn then. Get ready, Link!" With his warning Touta makes his own charge at Link. His blade slashing in an almost haphazard fashion. While for most amateurs it would seem like these kinds of attacks would have no force behind them, but at the very least it was going to make it difficult to keep track of the flow of where this kid was trying to aim. How tough his attacks were though...That's another story...
Link	Touta may not be skilled, but he's strong. His attack comes in, as Link moves to block it with an energizing defense, and it breaks his guard, slashing straight into his tunic. The warrior is staggered backwards, but says nothing. He just nods approvingly. "Hyah!" He jumps, slashing again, Link's blade coming down overhead on Touta. It's a stronger attack, meant to bolster his strength and allow him to hit harder!
Touta Konoe	When he gets that nod, he keeps that smirk going. He's glad to make some more distance between the two as they fight. Though Link's quick to retaliate as he brings himself into the air with a jump. His attempt to slam his blade upon Touta would probably cause some serious damage...Though Touta attempts parrying the blade. Using the same injured hand he had before he lets the attack slide off his taichi only to have a similar issue come again as has no guard to absolve the blow. The attack ends up striking where it had the first time. And while it continues to bleed it still seemed like in this darkness he was able to still fight with that hand none the less. "Alright, guess we're going a bit heavier. Alright guess that's your que side-stick! Two-thousand fold!!!" Touta charges back at him with an overhead swing of his own, there's no fancy jumping to it though or anything of the sort. If anything it seems like a more traditional attack, and from such a tiny blade it should be easy to repel from an overhead strike...Except upon impact when Link might realize that this blade put on enough pounds to make it feel like a literal truck was being swung at him.
Link	As Touta goes on the two-thousand fold offensive, Link moves to roll. Touta's fast, however, and his blade is strong, so it catches him flatfooted in the roll, knocking him back with a heavy cut into the shoulder. He's bleeding a little, but he'll be fine. Link gives a thumbs up, and draws his shield off his back. Time to up his guard, as he suddenly charges forward, and spins. The blade comes around in a whirlwind of death, moving to cut hard into Touta and try and carve him up. They're in the shrine, right? It'll be fine.
Touta Konoe	Touma's strike finds its mark and gives a heavy into Link's shoulder. Though Link's a swordsman through and through, if Touta can handle some bleeding this guy should be able to as well even if he isn't immortal. The choice to bring out a shield makes Touta smile though. "Alright...Let's see what ya got." Link Comes in like a whirlwind, using that momentum to build up power and it adds much more force to his attack than before, enough that it really sends Touta flying off his feet and breaking past his own guard as a cut near his hip opens up. If Link wanted to carve him up a bit that was the way to do it. Though now...Touta retaliates and he charges at Link with the same speed he had when swinging that blade around so recklessly before. The only difference being that, his blade is still as heavy as before. Every dodge that link makes as he strikes would feel the pressure of the weighted blade cutting through the air, and yet with all that weight Touta never once lets that blade drag across the ground or lose control of it. It might seem like he's swinging that blade non-chalantly but maybe he's got more control then he lets on?
Link	Another fast, strong strike comes into Link. It smashes into his shield, deflecting most of the weight of the blow, before forcing it back and smashing into Link directly. He staggers back again, before finally speaking again. "You're very good...but your swordmanship is reckless, yet efficient. Where did you learn?" And then Link dives in after he gets an answer, moving to plunge the blade into Touta's side and leave a gaping wound. He's a regenerator. It'll be fine...right?
Touta Konoe	Touta finds himself getting...Praised? It felt like when Shimousa would scold him but then reward him in the same instance, though when asked where he learned to fight like that he can't help but look a bit awkward for a moment. "Uh...Ehehe, to be honest I wasn't in fact. Sorta was going on instinct for a second since you were so quick. If anything, gramps would kill me if he saw me with all this rust..." Before he can elaborate more, Link dives in once more and his blade not only plunges into Touta's side, this time not only sending Touta off his feet but onto his knees. Crimson red gushing from the boy's wound only to be shown to link every time a firework illuminates the sky. That said, the boy doesn't stagger though. And yet the look of determination in his gaze seems unfaltering. In fact, more than before his stance gets tighter as he trie getting to his feet, and when he charges...It's as though it vanishes for a second only to reappear at Link's sword-wielding side, as if to avoid his shield. The way he grips his blade seems more crisp than before as it looks like he's about to go into an overhead strike once more until...He feints and instead comes down at an angle. It seemed this kid was trying to take off a bit of rust after all.
Link	Touta answers. Link's brow furrows, but he says nothing, nodding. And then, Touta comes in and shakes off the rust, dodging around Link's shield and hitting him head-on. The blade impacts it, sending him rolling backwards to avoid a critical strike, as he brings up the shield again. "Okay. Let's finish this!" Link takes the blade with both hands, and suddenly plunges forward. The blade moves for Touta's heart - he can't kill him in the Shrine, and again, regenerator - and moves to try and finish him off. Link needs to practice killing blows. He /clearly/ feels guilty about it, though.
Touta Konoe	"Yeah!!!!" That's the response that Touta gives as Link declares his finishing blow. Touta thought that he was going to get him with that feint but Link's experience lets him see through such fallacies easily enough, preparing to defend against it accordingly. But now as he take his blade in both hands preparing to go on a full offensive Touta finds himself in a position to do the same. Hoisting his blade in both his hands he follows in Link's charge. Meeting him head on in his assault to respect the warrior's advance with his own intending to to lunge his blade right into Link as he did to Touta. When their paths finally cross, Touta ends up with a blade through the chest, blood spilling from his lips and yet...His blade would attempt to find purchase just as Link's did. Perhaps not in his heart but a thorough thrust would definitely give a substantial injury none the less. Though if it would possibly be the finishing blow...
Link	As the two swords meet, piercing each other's bodies, Touta's pierces Link's side. For a long moment, each has a blade sticking through them. And then, they can both remove their weapons from the other's torso... And Link staggers backwards, almost falling over. He moves to start sheathing his sword. "I yield." And then, he smiles. He enjoyed the fight. "Thank you. That taught me much. I hope it did the same for you."
Touta Konoe	Blades run red as they are pulled from respective bodies, and like Link Touta finds himself staggering back. Though perhaps if there's one thing Touta's experienced much of it is in fact staggering. To force himself to stay up. And becuase of it ended up in his favor. With the match concluded their injuries heal and the young man can give a bit of a sigh of relief. "Same to you! Not every day I see someone come at me with a sword-shield combo so it was a good experience. I'd definitely wanna go at it with you again when you have the time. Besides, we gotta be on our best if we wanna deck that Canondork guy the next time we see'em right?!"