Strength of the Fair

[Mei XiaXue]

Her scalp hurt. Badly. Her maid braided the final green ribbon into her hair before taking the braids and arranging them on the top of her head. Guan YinPing wanted to see that freshly picked flowers, the ribbons, all of it would fall out the second she went to go practice her fighting. She didn't have time to be a pretty lady, she had to get stronger. Yet she didn't protest as the female finished and began to apply a light red to her lips. After that her eyes were lightly lined.. and she was ready. She dismissed her maid to go outside to the training area.

But there, in the morning sun, she watched the soldiers. But didn't participate. It wasn't until the sky started to darken that she realized she had watched soldiers train all day... and hadn't herself. It was getting late... but a few men were left. She assessed her needs.. she wasn't hungry or any thing. So instead of heading home, she approached a more secluded area of the training grounds, one with trees, and began to stretch her body. She then went through a list of her martial art attacks, one after the other. She became lost in it... even as a flower fell from her hair.... and her foot crushed it as she moved.

[Jia Lin]

    Xing Cai closed the door behind her as she left the room. She had just finished her job of training Liu Shan and she was ready to go relax somewhere. Liu Shan was very...taxing, to say the least. But he was the son of Lord Liu Bei, and would eventually take over once Liu Bei was gone, so Cai wanted to personally make sure that he was ready for the job that laid before him. Babysitting a man though wasn't something she thought she would be doing when she joined Liu Bei's forces, but she just had to grin and bear it for the good of everyone else. She looked outside and saw it was getting dark. 


    "Ugh, have we been training for that long? I haven't been able to get a real work out since I started doing this..."


    Xing Cai moved her hand towards her sword. Sure, she was training Liu Shan, but he wasn't giving her a real challenge, something that would improve her skills. Doing the training kept her in shape, but she has stayed stagnant for about a week now, no progress what so ever. She made her way to the training yard, to try to at least get a few good swings in that she wouldn't dare use against Liu Shan.


    When she got there, she noticed someone in the distance going away, and it looked to be Guan YinPing. "Hmm, I wonder what she is doing out here so late..." Curious, she decided to follow her cousin. They both made their way to a part of the training grounds that wasn't often visited. Quite a beautiful and serene place actually. She noticed YinPing was finishing up what looked to be stretches as she started to attack an opponent that Cai knew that only YinPing saw. She let her go for awhile before clearing her throat, to make her presence know, and letting out a chuckle.
        

[Mei XiaXue]

Guan YinPing got lost in her practicing. She was fast, but she needed strength... Although plenty thought she was strong enough, she disagreed. She had to be stronger... to be better. The sound of a voice clearing had her whipping around, one hand reaching for a small throwing knife she always had on her, tucked underneath her armor. Her body relaxed when she saw it was her cousin, Xing Cai. A breath slipped from her lips even as she scanned the barely older female. The female looked well, not even tired. It confused her. Why be armed if she wasn't training? And then she realized why. Liu Shan. A smile flickered at her lips as she thought of her other cousin. She wouldn't laugh, she knew it'd be wrong.

"Xing Cai... I didn't know you were here this late..." Not that she was surprised or anything. Guan YinPing wanted to be stronger, she wanted to be the best possible. Xing Cai had to protect Liu Shan and had taken the responsibility of training him. It was something she respected. Xing Cau was just as capable as any man which shocked her slightly. Cai didn't have mucles, was slightly taller than her and looked less feminine than she did. All of it made up a great fighter.

She wanted to be more like her cousin. But she didn't know how. It drove her crazy to not understsnd.... But time and patience woukd soon havenher like Xing Cai.

[Jia Lin]

     She smiled at her cousin, as she started to take off her sword and shield, placing them besides a nearby tree. While she did so, she said to YinPing, "I was on my way to the training yard to get a little more training before I turned in for the night, and then I saw you moving away from the yard. I was wondering what a beautiful woman like yourself was doing out here so late at night. And it looks like I have my answer."


    She started to move next her more attractive cousin, eyeing her up and down, before she herself started to do a few stretches. Xing Cai never cared about her beauty, because she knew that wouldn't save her from being stabbed in the gut by an enemy soldier. She knew she had to rely on her own strength to protect herself and the ones she cared for. Cai decided that she might as well get some workout done while she was here. Xing Cai hates wasting time, and tries to get the most done that she can each and every day. She wanted to prove to herself that she could do this...and, she especially didn't want to let her father down. She was the daughter of Zhang Fei, she needed to be just as ferocious as he was!


    Xing Cai once again looked at YinPing, trying to delve deep into the mind of her younger cousin. A normal girl would be inside learning how to take care of her future husband. Cai chuckled a little at this, realizing that both girls had not so normal fathers. And Cai knew that both YinPing and herself would want to live up to their father's names. Both girls aren't so different after all. 


    "Tell me YinPing, what drives you?                                                         

[Mei XiaXue]

Guan YinPing felt her cheeks turn red at Xing Cai's words on a beautiful eoman. She knee her cousin was just being nice, but the words warmed her heart. She didn't see her as anything different than other soldiers. But Xing Cai was nice, even being only a a year older. Seeing her cousin stretch gave her a good idea what Cai planned. YinPing leaned her back against a tree, to allow her cousin more area to stretch. Her cousin's question startled her.

what did drive her? If one looked at it, it seemed to be quite a simple response, "The legacy my father will leave behind, what5 our father's fight for. You know how it is to be born into the family... the name must match up with expectations. " Her response was heartfelt. It wasn't said to please anyone, it was what she wanted. She had to achieve what was expected. There was no other options when it came down to it.

[Jia Lin]

     Xing Cai giggled lightly as she saw her cousin blush. She fell onto the ground and started doing the splits, stretching out her legs as much as she could for what was about to happen. She listened closely for an answer, although Xing Cai knew the answer, she was still curious about what YinPing would say. 

    "The legacy my father will leave behind, what our father's fight for. You know how it is to be born into the family... the name must match up with expectations. "

    She nodded in her cousins direction. It is exactly what she expected to hear. They are one in the same Cai and YinPing are. They both have to live up to very high expectations, and both of them are not satisfied with being just normal girls. They would prove to their fathers and to themselves that they are worthy of their father's name. "We both have a lot to prove don't we?" She stood up, stretching a little more, getting a little closer after each stretch finished. "Let's both work our hardest to be the best we can be. Let's show them that women can do more than sit around and look good." And with a wink, she launched a kick towards the stomach of her younger cousin.
     
         

[Mei XiaXue]

She knew. The second Cai started to stretch in front of her, she had known training would start. So after Cai replied, she stood up, stopped leaning on the tree. She wasn't expecting the kick immediately, but her reaction was quick. With Cai being taller and YinPing having more muscle strength she caught the foot aimed at her stomach. She couldn't drop it and step back, the tree prevented her from doing so. So YinPing pulled on the foot to offset Cai's balance.

Even as she did so, she twirled out away from the tree, releasing the leg and putting her arms up. "Are you sure you can hold your own against me?" she was teasing. She wanted to be on the defensive side until she had the upper hand, blocking attacks were easier than landing.

She felt a rush go through her body and a smile grace her lips.

[Jia Lin]

     Cai smiled at her cousins reactions. She was keeping her self in shape, her reflexes tight. The same as Cai has been doing. She knew that she couldn't let up against YinPing, because the enemy wouldn't give her any room to breathe. This was for her own good. Cai needed to know that YinPing would be able to take care of herself. She put her weight into the foot she used to kick as she hit the tree behind YinPing. Using that weight, she pushed off of the tree to get some distance from her opponent. Collecting herself, getting herself balanced, she readied herself, feet solidly planted, her hands up. "Bring it on, cousin." And with a grin, she motioned for her cousin to make her move.








































       

[Mei XiaXue]

If her cousin thought she'd attack first, she was sadly mistaken. She wasn't going to be at a disadvantage. Especially not to her cousin. Guan YinPing rolled nher shoulders, even as she relaxed her body. "What Cai, don't think you can take me? Didn't inherit strength from your father? Her words were meant to incite Xing Cai into action. She was not making the first move. And would do anything to not make the first move.

[Jia Lin]

     "I see you won't make the first move, smart. Fine, but you will regret putting me on the offensive." She quickly kicked off with her feet, sprinting towards her cousin. It was time to see how well YinPing could defend herself against a constant barrage of attacks. She put force into her left arm as she swung straight towards the face of her cousin. As soon as punched forward, she put her other arm out in front of her for protection, ready to swing it at any moment, as she tried to get a good foothold with her feet, planting them into the ground.

[Mei XiaXue]

tags: Jia Lin   song title -- artist  outfit: --- words: 000 ❥ DID YOU COME& Her cousin was light, making her fast. But YinPing had been training for almost as long, if not as long as Cai. She saw her cousin's fist flying for her and did what made sense. Cai might be only barely taller, but her arm woukd be level with her face. Hoping Cai over calculated the height of her arm, putting force into it, Yinping sidestepped to her left hoping the momentum would propel her down. Even doing that, she wasn't taking chances. Nshe swung with her right hand, toward Cai's stomach. Catching a punch was easier with the opposite hand, so she hoped it'd work.

[Jia Lin]

Cai knew how tough she was, and just how much punishment she could take, as well as dish out. She decided to take the punch to the stomach. With a wince, she powered through it, continuing her momentum, swinging her body from the right to the left, swinging her left elbow towards the face of her cousin. At the same time, Cai began to do an uppercut with her right arm, in hopes that YinPing would duck down to dodge the elbow flying in her direction, her uppercut, if YinPing would duck, would hit her almost square in the chin.

[Mei XiaXue]

Blood is thicker than Water    tags: @ name   song title -- artist  outfit: --- words: 000 ❥ DID YOU COME& Oh so her cousin was faster than she remembered. No worries. She could handle this. Guan YinPing felt bad when the punch hit but Cai probably yad a plan. She saw the elbow to her face a little late and pain was sharp and blinding. She gritted her teeth, and swung, almost blindly with her left hand,. At the same time, she kicked out with her left foot, going for the same stomach area.

[Jia Lin]

She smiled as her elbow connected. Cai had her on the ropes now. Cai quickly caught Yinping's kick early with her leg, the kick hurting a lot more than she expected. Though, to make sure Yinping couldn't capitalize on this, Cai went on full instinct. She winked at her cousin, and without even thinking, she rammed her forehead forward right into the face of her opponent, this motion causing her head to move out of the way of Yinping's wild swing.

[Mei XiaXue]

Blood is thicker than Water    tags: Jia Lin   song title -- artist  outfit: --- words: 000 ❥ DID YOU COME& She blinked twice to clear her eyesight. Her cheek throbbed from where she had been elbowed, the pain almost numbing the rest of her body. The blow to the face had put her at a disadvantage. Cai had the upperhand.... until she decided to try and headbutt her in the face. YinPing was shorter.... the positioning of Cai's body would be awkward... perhaps even off balance. That was okay. The second blow to her face hit hard, but it didn't make her eyes water. It was like her body didn't have anything to respond with. She felt a warm trickling down to her upper lips, the taste or coppery iron and YinPing made a quick decision. A nose bleed would stop bleeding. It wasn't something to worry about... but while Cai was off balance.... Guan YinPing dropped to her hands, swinging her legs out to knock Cai's legs from under her. It was a dirty move and YinPing had used it on the Lord of Wei too... But battle wasn't fair. After the movement was complete, she used arm strength and core muscles to flip herself backwards and up. Her landing wasn't perfectly steady,, but she didn't collapse. Guan YinPing wiped the blood from under her nose and gave a halfway gruesome smile to her cousin

[Jia Lin]

Xing Cai knew she didn't make the best choice there, as Yinping reacted perfectly, knocking Cai on her butt. When it came to hand to hand, she knew Yinping had the advantage, and knew that this was probably a good time as any to call the little sparring match. She laughed heartily, "Looks like I underestimated you cousin, you have bested me! Your father should be proud of you." She stood up, her leg hurting a lot more than she remember it hurting, as she began to walk over towards Yinping, her arms opened wide for a hug.

[Mei XiaXue]

blood is thicker than water    tags: Jia Lin   song title -- artist  outfit: --- words: 000 ❥ DID YOU COME& Her nose throbbed painfully. When it was clesr her cousin gavenup, YinPing gripped her nose and tilted her head up. The blood seemed to be endless, but it'd stop soon. With her free arm, she hugged her cousin even as she laughed. Letting go of her nose, she wiped the blood stained hand on her clothes. "You have a hard head" She laughed even as she winced from bruises and pain.

[Jia Lin]

     Xing Cai embraced her cousin. Cai was so proud of Yinping. It made her want to work even harder to make her family proud. She laughed and said, "I got that from my father." She winked at her cousin. After the hug, Cai went to go pick up her sword and shield, but on her way over there, her left leg started giving out, and Cai fell to one knee. When Cai looked at her injury, to see how bad it was, she saw a very large bruise around the area. She must have landed on it badly to make the kick she took even worse. She turned back to her cousin, smiling, "You got a strong foot, don't ya?"

[Mei XiaXue]

Blood is thicker than water    tags: @ name   song title -- artist  outfit: --- words: 000 ❥ DID YOU COME& She felt actually horrible about the damage she had done to her cousin.... but a duel was a duel. She smiled and laughed. She didn't see herself as strong. ?. But that was just who she was... now she wanted a hot heated bath to relax her bruises... but first...she moved to where Cai kneeled and laid down on the ground. A nap would do