Senshi
This was the moment I had been training for my whole life. I knelt on one knee in a ready crouch, waiting. The air in the dimly lit dojo was still as both my opponent and I held strong to our neutral stances. All that could be heard was the gentle whisper of our breath.
"Begin," the hidden master demanded. Before I could even stand, I was forced to roll to the left, dodging the katana that struck the ground, right where my head would have been. Meanwhile, I released the matching tessen from the sash around my waist. Crossing my arms, they flared before my face. Their elaborate carvings of bare trees within the metal segments flashed beautifully. Holding a low position, weapons open, and my brutal eyes staring out at my opponent, I was a force to be reckoned with. And now with my enemy facing me head on, his katana parallel to the floor, it was my turn to strike.
With a single sharp turn I let loose my left tessen into the air. The steel fan spiraled perfectly through the air from years of practice, just barely missing the neck of my nemesis. Smoothly, I used his distraction and lead a charge foreword. As expected, he swung his weapon around to catch my left side and I countered by blocking with my tessen. The blade slipped easily through the precisely cut slits in the design. Closing the tessen, paired with a harsh twist, and his katana clattered to the dojo floor. Undefeated, my opponent pulled out a hidden, heavy chain.
I leaped, rolled, flipped and crouched to avoid the chain gliding through the air. I hated fighting against the strands of thick metal, and hated even more feeling the blow of the weighted end. Soon my body began to tire, and I knew I needed to finish this. I unsheathed my own blade from the scabbard belted to my hip. The black bladed katana was the perfect weight in my hands. Tailored only for me, it was too effective at catching the chain the next time it flew at me. With the right turns, the steel links looped around up to the hilt. Close enough now, a kick to the gut knocked the skilled ninja backwards. I swept my sword behind me and the chain slide off with a metallic noise.
He was completely unarmed now. It was all too clear who was the victor. As we faced each other, he bowed, accepting his defeat and I followed in his movement after returning my sword to its holster. I was nearly back to a standing position, when a clump of sand flew into my eyes. I was blinded, the grit not allowing my eyes to open. I stumbled away, redrawing my katana and waited, listened. The first sound was that of a tessen opening. The familiar swish of the blades settling told me my weapon would be used against me. The crack of his elbow told me his attack all too clearly. I raised my weapon to the left and deflected the flying fan. His heavy footfall gave up his position on the floor and we were locked in swordplay.
With each exchange in attack and with each clash of our swords connecting, his grunts and breath provided me with his position constantly, even with my eyes shut. I grew bored quickly, and decided to take a risk. Using my own disarming technique, both our swords rattled to the floor. I took a leap of faith, pushing off from his shoulders; I flipped over the ninja smoothly. Landing strongly behind him, a roundhouse kick to the base of his spin sent him forward, and down onto the ground. I walked the few feet to him rubbing the rest of the sand from my eyes and reclaiming my katana. I stood over him, the tip of my sword hovering over his chest, smiling at the glare in his eyes. The matching foot member below me was after all my best friend and fellow "advanced student".
"Do you surrender, Aaron?" I said blowing the one piece of gold hair that escaped my bun from my eyes.
Aaron's growl was barely audible, "Yes… I surrender."
Slow clapping began in the shadows and I turned to bow before my master. His metal armor clicked as he glided towards me. His currently spike free hand lifted my chin while the other rested on my shoulder. A present set of twin blades sat inches from my carotid artery.
"You have done well, Senshi. I am proud and you are ready. The next phase will be put in motion." He stepped away and I was stunned. Already? I thought, I didn't know if I was ready.
"Thank you, Master Saki." I said bowing just my head.
"Yes, and Aaron," he said, his voice heavy and dark. From his belt, he threw a short dagger dangerously close to Aaron's head, "Do not fail me tonight," he threatened.