Hi-gu Do-jo!

Julia felt a slight shiver run down her spine as Junko’s finger slid over her stomach and abs. And she couldn’t help but flinch just a bit when she felt the woman’s hands squeeze against her sides. “Thanks, Higurashi-san.” she replied to the compliment, though her expression remained a bit awkward as Junko’s hands continued to roam over her.

After Junko finished her inspection and dismissed her, she watched as she walked off, then nodded to Taylor. “Alright, just a sec.” she said, quickly leaning down and opening her bag. She then unbuttoned and pulled won her jeans, revealing the tight black shorts she’d been wearing underneath them. Julia then pulled out her a small white top and pair of shoes and put both on as quickly as she could, before running to catch up with Taylor. She didn’t doubt there was probably a place for her to change, but she just wanted to get started as soon as possible.

Julia laughed a bit at Taylor’s comment, but her attention soon went to the gym as the door was opened. Walking through it, she took a look around the place and quickly came to focus on the ring, where an exhausted Amazon was sluggishly moving from one set of ropes to the other. “Whoa...” was all she could say, now having her first glimpse of what was likely soon to come for herself as well...

"Okay, okay, you can stop," Taylor laughed, and waved her hands at Alaina. "Stop. Go get water and take a break. Eat something if you want. I promise we won't kill you again. Good job, though. Adrian would never have hung in there like that."

She put an arm around Julia's shoulders and threw her hand out to Alaina. "Alaina, this is Julia Rodgers. Julia, Alaina Sanders. This should be interesting. I dunno what's gonna be more competitive between you guys, sparring, or being nice. You guys should have a nice-off."

Taylor sprung up onto the apron and slipped between the ropes. "A'right, Alaina, ready to spar!" She said, bouncing lightly on the balls of her feet and skipping around the ring, hands up, coming in alarmingly fast like she was about to strike. "Just kidding. Julia, c'mon. There's literally so much stuff I want to do with you guys that I can't even deal with it. But for now, let's just play!"

Alaina lumbered to a stop and trudged her way over towards the others. "H...hi" is all she managed to get out in between gasps for breath. As she was about to exit tbe ring Taylor moved up quick as if she was about to strike! Alainas already elevated pulse jumped up even higher as her hands immediately went up to guard!

"Oh! I.. I am rea...." Alaina began to say when Taylor called her off saying that it was time for Julia to step up. "Right.... I will let you guys have at it then." Alaina said as she climbed through the ropes and to the outside of the ring, looking forward hydrating.

Julia listened to Taylor speak, and from the casual tone in her voice, it was quite apparent this kind of thing was the norm around here. It was hard to describe how Julia felt about it. There was definitely some nervousness, and rightfully so. But she was also pretty excited at the same time, though she wasn’t really sure which was showing more.

“Hey there! Nice to meet ya!” Julia said, smiling and waving to Alaina as Taylor introduced them. The champ then surprised Julia when Taylor seemed to challenge the Amazon to an impromptu spar, but even more surprised when Alaina put up her hands and started to accept the challenge!

But then Taylor instead told Julia to come on into the ring, and she didn’t hesitate. “Right!” she said. Running right up onto the apron, she held onto the top rope and slung herself up and over the top rope before landing right on her feet. She leaned into the nearest set of ropes and stretched her arms out over them, then hopped up and down a few times to get the blood flowing. “So what’re we doin’? Just a little spar?”

"Nah, not really. Just playin'." Taylor never stopped moving, kept bouncing on the balls of her feet. Her boundless energy was just jittering to come out.

"So show me something, cowgirl!" She stretched her arms out to the sides and fronted on Julia, cocking her head with some playful attitude. "C'mon, tough girl! Educate me!" She shoved Julia's shoulder and hopped back a step.

Julia just grinned as Taylor walked up to her and shoved her shoulder. If she was always this energetic, she and Julia weren’t going to have any problem at all getting along. “Educate you, huh?” she replied, starting to bounce a bit herself while circling around the champ.

“Well, here goes nothin’.” After a couple seconds, she made an abrupt, sliding dive toward Taylor’s left leg in an attempt to quickly grab a hold of it and sweep it out from under her, hoping to bring her down to the mat.

Taylor swung her arms once for balance, and when she went down she did it with pizzazz. Her leg kicked way up high in front and she went flying, splatting on her back, slapping a perfect breakfall, of course.

She giggled and shook her head, pretending to be rattled in the midst of an epic battle. She peered up at Julia with a big grin.

"That's it?"

This definitely wasn't what Julia thought her first moments in the dojo's ring would be like, especially after seeing Alaina so exhausted. But she definitely wasn't complaining. And it was nice to see Taylor had this kind of fun, playful side to her.

Laughing a bit a the woman's overdramatized reaction as she fell to the mat, Julia then moved to wrap her arms around Taylor's head and neck for a headlock, though it clearly wasn't locked in all that tightly. "'Course not! I'm just gettin' started!"

Taylor was on her way up when Julia caught her in a headlock, keeping her bent over at the waist. She wiggled her butt like she was trying to get free, and then grabbed Julia's waist and the back of her leg and lifted her up into the air.

"Hips out for a headlock," she said, her whole body tight from the effort of holding Julia aloft. "Otherwise, it's way too easy to pick you up. Watch this, I won't slam you hard..."

She fell back and dropped Julia onto her back, as gently as was possible. The moment they hit, Taylor pivoted and grabbed for Julia's leg, and before the girl had even finish bouncing off the mat Taylor had wrapped her legs around it and locked up her ankle for a submission hold.

"See?" She let go and bounced back to her feet. "Courtesy of Cassie Elliott. Okay, c'mon..." She bent over like she was in the headlock and waited for julia.

Moments after wrapping her arms around Taylor’s neck, Julia was slightly surprised to find herself being lifted right up into the air. And as Taylor spoke, Julia instinctively tensed her body up before being dropped onto her back and releasing Taylor’s neck. Not a comfortable fall, but there wasn’t any pain either.

And then, Taylor suddenly shifted and wrapped her legs around Julia’s and held her ankle in position for nice heel hold. She took mental notes of everything Taylor said and did, embedding it into her memory.

“Got it.” She replied with a nod before getting back up. And as Taylor hunched over and waited, Julia moved to apply the headlock once again, this time moving her hips out just as Taylor had instructed. And already she could feel her stance was much more solid and balanced.