Taichi and Yuki [closed to Nightshroud]

[nightshroud19]

"Just reach around and buckle it yourself I'd hate to do something wrong" he smiled devishly

She buckled him up an obvious blush in her face.

"Which wall are you going to try" she asked spinning away from what had happened.

"Hmm" he said before finally pointing at the Russian Pump "What the hell, its just a wall after all, but I've got a deal to make with you"

"What's that?" she asked

Tai smiled, before stating his offer

"If I climb this wall" he said smiling, going slightly red in the face as well "Then you have to go on a date with me"

[Goggles]

"The things I'd do to be the captain right now," a member of the sport climbing club who was resting at one of the benches squeaked as Yuki shyly did the rest of the buckles - obviously a fan of Tai's. Afterward, another member added before getting punched in the shoulder. "Hah, I'd like to see the things you'd do to be the harness." Those who were on the benches had a good laugh.

"Oooh." When Tai stated his condition for a date, there was a cumulative cooing from the belayers who, despite having duties to make sure their respective climbers don't fall to their doom, have begun to eavesdrop on the conversation between the two captains. Hamada-san had to clear his throat for them to mind their business but, as even the climbers stopped midway to watch, it didn't matter. The member climbing Russian Pump leaned on a side wall and even spared a hand for a thumbsup "Dude, ultimate pickup line!" before being shushed by the others who wanted to hear what happens next.

All eyes now shifted from Tai to Yuki, each and every member aware that she had never said yes to a date before - ever. Everyone held their breath before Yuki, who had become overly aware of prying eyes, smiled and agreed. "If you reach the top, then I'll go with you on a date."

There was a lot of noise from the club members. Though there were few of them, it only made them a tightly knit group and, as with all similar teenage events, there were a lot of jeering from the boys and squealing from the girls. The member on Russian Pump let go as his belayer slowly fed the rope until he was on the ground. He transferred the carabiner, which was attached to the safety rope, from his harness to Tai's and patted him on the back. "Go get that date!"

Inwardly, Yuki grinned. There was no way on earth Tai could reach the top. Even if he used the easiest route to climb, it would be much too hard for a first time-

"Three free climbs." Hamada-san announced as the other climbers stepped down their walls to watch the soccer captain.

A free climb? Yuki stood frozen. THREE free climbs? She certainly wasn't expecting Hamada-san to go easy on the athlete. A free climb meant Tai was allowed to use any of the handholds that were on the wall and ignore marks. What's more, he was allowed three tries. She was expecting him to get at most halfway up. Then the club would still get its publicity without her going on a date with the boy. It's not like he's a bad kid but... "Hamada-san, isn't it-"

"It's his first time climbing, Yuki; Don't be harsh." Before she could protest, the instructor cut her off before adding. "And since you're the one who asked him to do this, you'll be belaying for Tai."

As a defeated Yuki took the belayer's position, Hamada-san walked up to Tai and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder before leaving. "Go get her, tiger."

(As stated, you have three tries. You can have Tai lose grip and restart and just have the climbers cheer for him to go try again, up to three times. Don't do it all in one post, though. I'll get Yuki to warm up with regards to their date on Taichi's last try)

[nightshroud19]

Tai took a large gulp as he stared at the sight of the Russian Pump before him. What was this girl doing to him to make him do this?

Trying not to think to much of the height Tai put his foot on the bottom marker and lifted himself up beginning his climb. It would be easy to climb this wall, he had climbed cliffs and simular back in his time in the Digital World, but he had to look novice so on purpose he missed the footing and fell backwards only a few feet up but enough to look beleivable. He fell on his back, winding himself slightly.

"Ok maybe I got to thingyy" he smiled

[Goggles]

(back to our regular posting, sorry for the delay)

"Belay on." Yuki yelled out instinctively when she was ready with the rope in case Taichi fell. It's not like she was going to get pulled up in case he slipped, though. The gri-gri belay devices the instructor Hamada-san had installed were very helpful in this manner, that they stopped the rope from sliding too far so a climber can go up without fear. Of course, it's the belayer's job to make sure she's holding the rope in the right manner, otherwise the device will fail and the climber might just end up in a coma.

But then again, it's not like Taichi's first climb got him far. He'd barely gotten himself off the ground when he slipped. There was a a groan of disappointment from the members of the sport climbing club as they all left the walls to watch the soccer captain out of his element. Yuki threw him a concerned look as Taichi smiled at her. If he couldn't get past the first few panels, what chance did he have once he hits the wall's 'ceiling' part? Yuki wondered now if it was a good idea to advertize the club this way. But even as she got ready for him to start another climb, a crowd of onlookers had begun to gather. There was even one kid who came forward and stood just beside Yuki - he had this hair that exploded in all directions and wore a set of goggles.

"You can do it, Taichi-san!!" the kid yelled, before Hamada-san ushered him back into the crowd. If Taichi lets go at higher panels, he'll probably end up swinging a few times as he'll be coming down at an angle. Hamada-san didn't want any bystanders hurt in case that happens and the belay device fails."move along now, it's harder to watch someone climb if you're too close."

Just then, the member who had been climbing Russian Pump just before Taichi walked along the wall's front carrying a large card on which he had scribbled Round 2. The members laughed hard at the round-girl impersonation before Hamada-san told him off. "You too, Hajime."

(yes, the kid who walked forward is indeed Daisuke. As agreed upon, he's a shared character. Take a second climb, but note that the ceiling is the hardest part to navigate. If you still have it, you could look for the PM where I gave you a pic. You can end your post mid-climb if you want to make it that Taichi's having difficulty and needs a bit of coaching.)

[nightshroud19]

Tai gritted his teeth when he heard Davis call up to him, he didn't dislike the boy but he did think that Davis took his obsession over him to the extreme, but he had no time to think of Davis now he had some impressing to do.

He once again positioned himself at the base of the wall and began his ascent, this one he didn't purposely fall and got a hefty way up while some kid at the base was flashing a card around like some round-girl, he recognised the boy, he had flushed his head before probably

He had reached the 'ceiling' of the wall according to the little display at the bottom, it was time to put on a show, he did a little stumble and lost his footing but grabbed on to the foot rests, he panted heavily, this was tiring

[Goggles]

"SCOOP!" Daisuke got pushed aide as a girl with frazzled green hair and who was three years his age elbowed her way into the front. She was carrying what looked like a school paper under one elbow and a camera, and by what Daisuke could remember from TV commercials, it was one of the new models from overseas. He stared at her, mildly scared of the girl's enthusiasm to take Taichi-san's photographs as she grinned wildly while taking pictures. She reminded him of someone, but he couldn't put a finger on who it was. Then there was a gasp from the crowd and Daisuke looked up to see Taichi had almost lost his footing. Shaking his head and looking forward, he saw his mentor was already up at what looked like the scariest part of the climb. Among the babel of other watchers, he cheered for his hero. "Do your best Taichi-san!"

Yuki ignored the high-speed flashing from a camera in the audience as she belayed Taichi. Making sure to lay enough slack as he slowly made his way up the first half of the wall. On a free climb, the members of the sport climbing club could work it much faster than he can but she had to admit, the soccer captain wasn't doing bad at all. In fact, she might even say he'd done this before, although not frequently. But at this point, if a climber takes too long on the lower part of the wall, he won't be able to get past the ceiling. Taichi had stamina, his training could probably guarantee that. But what he didn't have on his side is technique, pulling himself up on his hands, keeping his arms close to his body, these were very very bad practices and caused a lot of fatigue. Staring at the tired figure clinging on the holds, she wondered what was going on in Taichi's head. What are you going to do now, soccer boy?

"Okay now do you see that blue handhold in front of you?" Hamada-san, the instructor, cupped his left hand over his mouth as he pointed with the right, guiding Taichi on how to navigate the tricky maneuver up the ceiling. But even with his guidance he knew there was a 50-50 chance the boy will fail this climb. "That's an undercling, grab it with your left hand and push against the wall with your feet. You'll see a yellow hold up above the ceiling, take it with your right hand and hold steady!"

(fall gracefully at any point in Hamada-san's instruction... or continue if you want)

[nightshroud19]

Tai felt his energy slowly drain from him, he reached out with this hand and grabbed hold of the blue handle and with a struggle managed to pull his body up the wall. He wiped the sweat from his brow.

"This girl better be worth it" he thought, reaching out with his right hand and grasping the yellow hold and holding tightly waiting for what would happen next

He panted trying to get his breath, his hands were sweaty, he heard Davis scream again and he lost his footing, once again he tumbled backwards, this time his head collided with the wall. He groaned in pain