The two Samurai circled around each other, waiting for the other to strike. Akuji with a smile on his face enjoying a quality and even duel, while Miyamoto's expression was that of a cautious man, carefully observing Akuji's each move and word.
"Misunderstood? Or misjudged? What if we do the same mistake?" - Miyamoto asked and made his move at the same time, leaving Akuji with a small time frame to answer. Akuji anticipated the strike and moved to the side trying to hit Miyamoto in his chest from below. Miyamoto managed to jump and roll over, clearing the slash.
"Both perhaps, but they didn't have me." - Akuji replied to negate all of Miyamoto's suspicion. He then rose his sword for a sky high attack, jumping off the ground. Miyamoto managed to block it but was pushed back by the raw power of the strike, "A valuable ally no doubt, one that could teach us in the arts of dealing with our enemy most efficiently."
Miyamoto, a little shaken from the last strike answered like a true and proud Dragon, "What could those Shadow Stalkers teach the Dragons! Efficient and elite is what we are known for! The Dragons need none!" - Miyamoto shouted and made a mistake of making his attack run in anger, thus giving Akuji the chance to knock him down. Akuji took the offer and with a low kick removed the ground from Miyamoto's feet.
"We don't? How come you cannot strike me then?" - Akuji said while cleared the sweat from his forehead with his palm, again positioning himself in the Azure Dragon attack stance.
Miyamoto swiftly rose from the ground, and calmed himself by closing his eyes, and feeling the surrounding with his other senses, "Hai, let it be so. But tell me Akuji-sama, when the time comes to choose, which side will you pick? Kusari is covered by a veil of darkness, and it is falling deeper into the void each day. Its people talking about embracing treason and neglecting honor! But the Hideyoshi dynasty, once restored will bring Kusari back to the shiny skies. With the new order in Kusari, what will your new friends do then? Where will they turn?" - Again Miyamoto paused for a moment, opened his eyes and took a deep breath, then made his strike. Like a dragon rushing from the sky Miyamoto turned right, while slashing with his sword to the left and finally managed to strike Akuji at his chest, under his arm. But Akuji knew where Miyamoto will strike, and allowed him to hit. While his sword was still under Akuji's arm, Akuji thrust his own sword directly towards Miyamoto's chest armor and aimed for the heart. The two were pushed away from each other by the force of the two strikes, and Akuji said with a trustworthy voice, "Sometimes you have to risk to gain the upper hand, brother."
![[Image: sigvalents2.png]](http://i865.photobucket.com/albums/ab220/ApoLLo-cRo/Sig/sigvalents2.png)