Sephiroth took the blow, remaining in a standing position throughout. The hits troubled him little; the anger starting to build at the tournament competitors' repeated use of the same technique nulled the pain entirely.
He turned, and spat in Yoshimitsu's face.
'I was given to believe that honour was the most important part of the samurai lifestyle,' he said quietly. Dangerously. 'And yet you fight in exactly the same way as the ninja. The precise same movement... that I invented.'
Sephiroth settled back into the iaido position, ready to draw.
'This time, I shall show no honour either.'
A pause.
Then he repeated:
'First blow: iai.'
Masamune flickered, and then returned to its position encased in his fist.
Almost invisibly, the blow had cut Yoshimitsu diagonally, right across his torso. A shallow wound, but enough to draw blood.
'There is no further honour here,' Sephiroth murmured. 'You samurai, ninja... You're just as bad as each other.'
