[@sassy1085]

((Battle Music: [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eadt_ZoMYUs]White Knight, Black Heart (Tohru's theme)[/url]))

[i]"Tohru-senpai!  Don't give up!"[/i]

[i]"Keep going Tohru-senpai!  We know you can beat her!"[/i]

Tohru's body ached from the massive hit, yet still she stood on her feet, launching another flurry of swift attacks towards Asuka, the girl blocking and evading each and every single one, landing even more hits against the battle-scarred prince.  [color=ed145b]~"Why must you continue to fight, dear prince?"~[/color]  Midswing Asuka scoffed at her, Tohru quickly dodging her blade with a sidestep and following up with a mighty thrust, sadly evaded.  [color=ed145b]~"the longer this continues, the weaker you shall become.  Surrender now and I will finish this duel quickly!"~[/color]  But surrender she wouldn't.  She may had been accosted by Kaname and the others earlier, but still the fighting spirit roared in her heart like a mighty white lion, even if her body was like a chipped and rusted sword.

Raising her sword high over her head, she leapt into the air with a powerful jump strike.  Twas parried by Asuka, but a flaw in her strategy, leaving herself open for a massive slash across her midriff.  [color=ed145b]~"Damn you!"~[/color]  She snarled stumbling back, gripping her sore belly.  [color=ed145b]~"No...I refuse!  I REFUSE TO LOSE TO YOU AGAIN, TOHRU-SAN!"~[/color]  But on her feet she was, a mad menagerie of slashes thrusts and uppercuts of her wooden blade towards Tohru, sporadic in nature yet...oh so predictable.  [color=6ecff6][i]The same strategy as always.  I can read Asuka's moves like a book by now.[/i][/color]  Now Tohru had the upper hand of the battle, her sword clashing against Asuka's with every move, every counter attack.  Not a single opening she gave, but plenty Asuka inadvertently betrayed.  Anger, the more Tohru fueled it within her, the sloppier it made Asuka upon the battlefield, her form faltering, giving far too much leeway.  Finally...this duel would be hers.

[color=6ecff6]"Now!"[/color]  Asuka's last attack was swiftly parried, Tohru daring to grip the blade of her sword in mid-thrust and push it away, following it up....with one last blow to her upper back.  [color=6ecff6]"It's OVER!"[/color]

[color=ed145b]~"GYAH!  NO!"~[/color]  In one final move, the girl was disarmed, Tohru's wooden sword burying into her backside with a loud, thundering crack and a cry of pain from Asuka.  Twas almost in slow motion as she fell to the ground, collapsing in such utter agony into a thick cloud of dust.

Once it had settled...there she lied, defeated and once more...disgraced.  [i][color=ed145b]No...why?!  I almost had her...almost!  D-dammit![/color][/i]  Tohru stood over her, their eyes meeting once more in a heated glare between adversaries, but even so, Tohru's eyes softened a little...when she witnessed something in Asuka's.  Were those....tears?  Tohru...she was all fired up to defeat this girl in battle...and yet...she couldn't help but feel...sorrow for her, seeing the pain in her eyes, not from her battle wounds, no, but...from losing to her...again.  Despite the cheers and applause of her adoring fans....this didn't feel like a victory at all for the prince of Claymore.

[color=ed145b]~"Go ahead..."~[/color]  Wearily Asuka muttered, her face still lying in the dirt.  [color=ed145b]~"Finish me off... I will not endure the shame any longer.  You've bested me again, Itagaki Tohru, now...end it."~[/color]  If these were any other circumstances, then possibly she would have landed the ending blow, but....such gasps erupted from the audience when they saw her, the great and mighty warrior, a swordswoman of such strength and fervor...lay down her sword and offer her hand to the supposed [i]evil[/i] princess, looking up at her in bewilderment.

[color=6ecff6]"I...I won't."[/color]  Tohru whispered.  [color=6ecff6]"The way of a true swordsman is not to conquer with bloodshed and zero remorse.  It is to use your blade and heart as one, to protect those who mean the most to you.  I failed to protect Chizuru-chan, and for that...I'm sorry...Asuka-san.  But rest assured, I will find the one responsible for her death and bring them to justice, not just for me...but for you...and your family as well."[/color]  Asuka, she remained in silence, her face saying it all, utter shock and confusion.  Yet she reached for Tohru's hand, reluctantly, and let the girl help her to her feet.  [color=ed145b]~"I...I still have yet to forgive you for what you've done."~[/color]  She hissed, albeit a bit softer than her usual bitter tone.  [color=ed145b]~"But I suppose I will accept your apology.  When you find Chizuru's killer, stab them through the heart...for me."~[/color]  Tohru nodded in reply, releasing Asuka's hand, hers retreating to her side.  [color=6ecff6]You have my word, Asuka-san."[/color]  Then, a cheerful grin crossing her lips, [color=6ecff6]"Besides, this just means we're even now."[/color]