Grinning widely now, Tanshin stifled a laugh and nodded hir head. Shi found hirself often wondering what others thought of hir, especially since shi was friendly but distant when wanted to stay close to hir. Tanshin, as shi felt about hirself, wasn't the best looking or anything and yet shi still had admirers here and there already.
"I'll keep that in mind. The honor is all mine, sirs."
Shi bowed hir head slightly as shi listened to Luke.
"Eager? I'm not eager for anything, I wait patiently. I've been fencing for too long to be eager to beat another opponent, though I will say that the only time that would happen is if the Headmaster's sister were to walk through that door. Anyway, it's not eagerness but rather a want to teach you guys from the ground up. It won't just be one of you fighting against me, but all three of you. Your all going to have to work together in order to fully manuever like a dancer. For instance, strike a pose like this, and try to keep up."
Tanshin handed them a rapier and struck a dueling pose in front of them, waiting for them to accept. At this point shi didn't even have a mask on but didn't care. Shi was good enough that only the instructor was able to get anywhere near hir face. This was going to be a point made that Tanshin felt Luke needed to learn by experience and understand why shi was willing to teach them but also willing to allow another to show them.
There was a reason as to why Tanshin was rarely picked by the last one without a partner.

Mavvy quickly slapped a hand over Rod's mouth before he could make some sort of comment about the headmaster's sister walking through the door. It was generally a bad idea to start commenting on someone else's appearance when you wanted to get the attention of someone else. So... no commenting on a pretty headmistress or anything like that. Rod hadn't quite figured out that part of flirting no matter how obvious it was.

"Spoken like a teacher and a true fencer. Alright, we'll give it our best. Rod, Mav, get masks on just in case. And I'm guessing we won't even come close but you never know Tanshin, a wild swing or stumble could go astray, better safe than sorry." Not that the fencing foils were really a danger but even the little cap at the end could still put an eye out if it was hitting with enough force.

The response that Luke gave hir made the hybrid smile. Not everyone knew just how much patience it takes to do fencing. And let's face it, Tanshin wasn't exactly the best fencer when shi began to take it up after recovering. Shi was clumsy and all over the place, but with training and practice after practice, Tanshin was better than most could believe.
"Masks are essential and I would not have it any other way. Really don't need any accidents happening today. Whenever you are ready, take a stance like this and I'll check your posture before we get started. Last thing we need is you to strain a muscle or joint."
It seemed patience was going to play a big key in today's fencing class more than usual. Hopefully shi would be able to continue handling talking to three heads at once all while connected to one solid and attractive body... Shaking hir head with hir eyes closed, Tanshin needed to stay focused. Shi had to keep reminding hirself that Rod was just flirting which never meant anything. This was an obligation at the moment so shi needed to stay focused instead of getting distracted...

Between the three of them they managed to get really close to the proper posture. Luke gave a little bow of respect and the others kept their attention on Tanshin, Rod still staring at the other student and a bit upset at the whole mask screening off his view a bit. "Okay, we're ready. So how does practice start here? Just standing, or target a dummy? Aside from Rod that is, heh."

"You're going to regret those cheap shots at me some day Luke. Mavvy might not always be there between us to stop me from strangling you." If it was visible through the mask at least he was grinning when he made his retort. Rod was getting surprisingly focused now, he wanted to impress Tanshin with a good first day, maybe have something to talk about after class because of it, possibly a lead in to a date?

"Now now boys, focus on the task at hand. If you want to learn you'll have to work together, despite the obvious differences between all of you."
Tanshin couldn't help but chuckle as shi gently kicked his feet and legs into a wider, studier stance, bent his knees more... Yep that looked good enough to hir. Twitching hir tail back and forth in a onery feline way, the hybrid took up hir own mask finally and stood in a relaxed position.
"Have at me and I'll give you a demonstration."
Shi spoke through the mask as shi quickly took up a fencing stance and awaited their lunge.
"Remember to try not hesitating for too long as your opponent won't always wait. This is a practice lesson, try to observe your opponent and look for a weak point before striking. It is an essential in duels that you, in time, can observe your opponents moves and eventually be able to play out a fight in your head just before you start."
The hybrid spoke, hir voice having come down more to a serious tone, white eyes serious as shi was already studying their posture out of habit of learning. After having a nice long visit with the headmaster, shi had begun to take things even more serious and trying to become even better for when the day came shi could actually duel against Crimson.

Luke was the dominant head for now as he allowed Tanshin to correct their posture and checked the balance on his practice rapier. Not too bad, actually seemed a bit light to him but probably for a good reason. So don't waste time, fair enough, once their practice partner was set he took a quick half step toward Tan and went for a lower strike. He figured even if his foil was batted to the side he'd have a better chance of hitting in a wider area then he would if he tried to target the head, and the shoulders were more connected to the opponent's defensive tool. A few quick swipes and thrusts and they were officially in their first little sparring match.

Tanshin merely did a quick side-step to avoid the foil as shi used hir own to lock it with hirs and steadily took up hir ground once more, refusing to lose any. As he threw a few quick thrusts that shi almost forgot to block as hir mind was still wandering upon other things from the previous days, shi batted the blows away and aimed for a thrust to the stomach. This was a practice duel and shi was going to go easy on them until they could gain more confidence in the art.
Smirking under hir mask, Tanshin was finally glad to have a practie partner that was willing to try without complaining. All others were afraid to practice with hir despite the fact shi toys around with them.
Then again, shi was going easy because shi chose to help them get started, plus it was good practice for hir in future instances.
"Try to clear your mind of any uncertainties or thoughts that could cloud your mind. Let your instincts take over. Do that and with a few more spars you can become a formiddable opponent."
The creature spoke, twirling away from a swipe and thrusting once more, this time to the shoulder.

Surprisingly all three were working rather well together, shame they didn't all share the same thoughts. Rod wanted to step back once or twice to avoid a few moves but the other two were set on keeping their ground like Tanshin. They weren't able to dodge the move aimed at their shoulder but it was only a glancing blow. Unfortunately for them that would still count in an actual match. "So in practice do we reset like they would in a tournament or do we just keep going for a while to get used to the whole feel of things?"

"Well if you guys would have let us move back like I wanted to we would have been able to dodge. Alright, that does it, my turn to be in control." Rod made them switch hands with the foil and reverse their posture to give him the lead, at the very least this would be good in an actual match to confuse an opponent, being able to come at them with both hands would make it harder to predict all their moves. Wasn't going to work on Tanshin probably but maybe with practice it could be sort of a trademark.

Smirking almost eeriely, the hybrid quickly reversed hir posture and switched hands. Shi was a little rusty with hir opposite hand but shi was still pretty good.
Seeing Rod taking over the actions for all of them now, he seemed a little more gungho and more competitive in this than he had previously been. Oh this was going to be good.
"Take a moment to breathe a sigh of relief then we shall continue."
Smirked once again as shi took off hir mask and began to walk away to get a drink off water. This was going to be more fun than shi expected. Hir mind began to wander onto other things as shi took a drink from the water jug. Sadly this was the only class shi had today so shi would have little else to do except to either practice fencing or go running to get rid of some of hir energy or simply sit upon the roof and mull over things.

The way Rod saw it there were two ways of going about this whole fencing thing. The first way was the one Luke and Mavvy tried, attempting to be fancy and do more flourishing and quicker moves. Then there was the way he was about to try, the brute force method. If your opponent was constantly being pressed with attack after attack they'd never have a chance to focus on their own offense. Least... that was the theory. Sure if he was clumsy about it there'd be tons of openings to counter but if he did things right it could impress Tanshin. He took a deep breath, smiled, barely gave Tan a chance to get back and put the protective mask back on, then started up. If his sparring partner never got a proper guard going then it might be even easier to get a point or two.

Having barely been allowed to put hir mask back on, Tanshin quickly side-stepped and one step back from the random flailing. Smirking visibly under hir mask. Honestly shi did not need to be impressed by showing off if they were going to end up getting hurt. And honestly, shi did not want them to get just because of one mind's irresponsibility.
"Easy there! Striking out at random will make yourself tired long before your opponent has used up half of their own energy."
Shi spoke out, quickly side-stepping and stood behind the hydra with hir back against his at first. Then just as quickly as shi did just that Tanshin used hir catty reflexes to try and disarm him with little effort.
"See? You were too busy trying to use force that you failed to notice exactly where I was going. Take your time as study the opponent, learn a weaker spot and try to use it to your advantage."
Shi chuckled quietly, not realizing that hir chest was bumping against his back as shi stod right behind them. It was unintentional of course, but that wasn't to say that Rod wouldn't think pervertedly. Giving the rapier back, Tan looked down began to blush as shi quickly backed away and dropped hir rapier.
"Excuse me..."
Shi continued to back away and turned around as shi quickly walked away back into the locker room and held hirself as shi didn't know what to do while shi began to pace... It was an accident but what if they thought differently?

"I was rather hoping to catch you off guard and use all that energy to keep you dancing. Didn't count on the fact you'd be able to dance your way defensively around me to counter, but it was worth a shot wasn't it?" Rod smiled as he felt Tanshin pressing against them, and was quite interested by what he could feel. He didn't immediately think of perverted thoughts, but as their sparring partner dashed off he leaned down to pick up the dropped rapier and turned it in their hand. Would only be proper to give it back, right?

Mavvy felt it too, as he assumed they all did. Tanshin apparently had more secrets than he, or she, was willing to let on. But it wasn't anything to worry about, and shi shouldn't have been so embarrassed really. It was obvious to him that it had been a secret not readily shared with others, something maybe even closest friends didn't learn about. And with the... oh, with the way Rod had been flirting that could be a bit embarrassing couldn't it?

Of the three that might have been disturbed Luke was actually the most intrigued. But he wanted to be diplomatic about it at the same time, and keep Rod from bungling things up further. In his eyes anyone that could be considered odd, strange, abnormal, or anything to that effect was actually more appealing. After all what did most think about a hydra? Maybe they liked one head and hated another, and there really wasn't much of a way to avoid one without avoiding all three. "Come on, don't say anything and just follow. Other students are glancing in our direction."

Needless to say, Tanshin was quite embarrassed for having let hirself get so close in contact with another... and one with three heads no less. Shi couldn't help but dread what they might be thinking about right now.
Then again, this hybrid was one who was always thinking on the negative side of things, despite the uppity attitude, for certain parts. Shi constantly worried that someone might find out and try to expose hir in the cruelest way possible. And now someone knew, its why shi didn't want to stay in their sight and find out what their reaction would have been to it.
As soon as the creature calmed down enough, shi began taking off hir protective gear, letting it drop to the ground as hir hands fumbled around for the hooks and snaps along with finding several that were absolutely refusing to come undone. Before shi could even begin to even try squirming out of it, shi began to hear a single set of footsteps. Hir only thoughts were dreading the fact that it might be the hydra coming to mae fun of hir for being different even more so than they were... Least that is what shi thought anyway.

The three heads could all agree that they wanted to help hir, setting the two swords aside as shi came into view and was evidently fussing with some of the snaps for the protective gear. "Here let us help you with that." The voice was calm and comforting, not the malicious or teasing one shi expected.

Luke smiled, wanting to focus on hir strengths rather than physical differences. "We still need our sparring partner. Someone skilled that can tell us what we're doing right and what we're doing wrong. And you're the best, I can tell."

"You've got nothing to be embarrassed about. You're no stranger than we are, probably less so actually. Besides, if anything I think Rod here is more attracted to you than he was before. So can we talk?" Thankfully nobody had followed them and the four would have a chance to speak alone, no interruptions.

Hir ears fell back as shi saw them come in, hir eyes went down hoping that they would just ignore hir. But they didn't. Instead they came straight to hir and began helping with the buttons that were refusing to open, hir heart was racing a million miles an hour right now.
As they began to speak hir eyes stayed down, almost having a hard time believing that they were just wanting to talk. Should shi believe them?
"You'd be surprised at how different I really am..."
Shi spoke softly, trying to think of a plan that would get hir out of the locker room quickly so shi could escape to hir dorm room and lock the door all day. Would they really understand if shi told them that shi was a hermaphradite? In shi kept thinking that they'd end up wanting proof and make hir show them.
Now mind you this hybrid was scared out of hir mind, but shi could be talked down to a calmer state if they were willing to do most if not all the talking for the time being. If it weren't for the stupid practice gear, shi would have already shied away and ran for the door.