A/N: New chapter is here. It's not so late, is it? So… Please read and review for me, thank you all.
Disclaimer: I don't own GS/GSD.
"So now comes the duel between Alex Dino and Shinn Asuka." The secretary of the princess announced. They were in the yard of the palace with the two contestants left, three judges, and the princess with her secretary.
"Before you two start, I have something to say. You two are extremely good at everything, so the winner will be my bodyguard, that's obvious, but also, the other will be in the Royal Guards group, and you will have plenty of chances, so please show your best today." The blonde haired girl assured while a smile played across her lips.
Sorry Shinn, but I have a mission to complete, so I cannot afford to lose against you here… Athrun thought with a glance at the black haired boy standing next to him.
Alex, I don't think I can lose against you here, especially when I have a kind of important plan… Shinn also thought, wincing a little.
"Now please start the duel!" One of the judges yelled, blowing a whistle. Immediately the two bowed at the princess and took a few steps away from each other, drawing their swords out.
"Please counsel me about my shortcomings." They said in unison and launched at each other in no time. Shinn swung his sword toward Athrun's face but he ducked and clove downward back at Shinn's shoulder. The black haired flipped his sword and the two swords met, making a loud 'clang' sound.
The two of them are so good… I wonder if Alex could win… Wait! You are not spraying for his victory are you? Cagalli silly Cagalli… Stop thinking about it and focus on the duel! It's a good chance for you to learn more about swordsmanship… Cagalli thought and slapped herself hard on the face. The two contestants didn't realize her weird behavior, but the secretary and three judges did. They stared at her with questioning eyes, but she gave them her famous glare and they stopped immediately, big sweats were forming on their foreheads.
The two contestants were measuring their strength against each other in the middle of the yard, and sweats slowly appeared on their foreheads. Shinn stabbed his sword at Athrun's lower stomach, but he dodged it easily and pretended to do a horizontal slash at Shinn's thigh. The black haired immediately turned his sword to parry the slash, but it was a fake strike, not waiting for the swords to meet again, Athrun withdrew it and aimed at the opponent's throat. Shinn startled and jumped back, luckily he was able to dodge it, somehow there was a small trace on his neck that was bleeding, but not very badly.
"Wow that's amazing Alex!" He complimented, putting his thumb up while his free hand was touching his neck.
"Thanks…" Athrun replied with a small smile across his lips. The two were staring at each other panting for some seconds, then they launched at each other again, but that time their speeds increased and their postures were a lot more vehement.
"Hey who do think will win?" A brown haired girl whispered into the other browned head's ear.
"I don't know, but I guess the blue haired boy will… He seems to be more grown up than the other. Don't you think so Shiho?" She whispered back.
"No, I think the black haired will win, Milly. He's shorter, that's right, but I think he's faster. I bet 10 dollars he will be Cagalli's bodyguard." Shiho answered shaking her head while her eyes still gazing at the duel.
"Okay, 10 dollars the blue haired will." Miriallia said and patted Shiho's back slightly. They were standing in the garden observing the duel between the two in the yard nearby. Suddenly they heard footsteps coming toward them so they turned around. In front of their eyes came a silver haired guy with icy eyes.
"You freak…" Shiho muttered angrily getting ready for another catfight. The silver haired of course realized her and winced in no time.
"You know him?" Miriallia blinked, turning to her best friend and questioned as she saw the two's manner. Shiho drew in a deep breath and asked as calmly as she could:
"What are you doing here?"
"Why would you ask? The garden is for everybody, so why shouldn't I be here?" The silver haired man snapped back annoyingly and gave her a smirk.
"Can't believe a freak know how to taste the beauty of a garden…" Shiho returned his smirk and mocked.
"Who are you calling 'freak' woman?" He asked giving her death glares and clenched his fists tightly. The flame of anger was burning higher and higher in him.
"I didn't say that you are a freak, no peace for the wicked eh?" She retorted teasingly and stuck her tongue out at him.
"Shut up woman before I get angry…" He warned dangerously, more likely to be a growl that escaped from his mouth through gritting teeth.
"What if I don't shut up?" She questioned stomping toward him and jerked her chin up.
"I will…" But he couldn't finish his sentence. Shiho gave him another kick at the shank and ran away laughing. (A/N: The last kick she gave him was in the last chapter, remember?
"Try to catch me you silver haired freak!"
"D… woman!" He cursed while limping after the devious brown haired girl.
I wonder what's between those two… Miriallia told herself shrugging.
Shinn jumped up and made a vertical slash from the above. Athrun held his sword up and parried it successfully as Shinn used the parry as his jumping-off and somersaulted flexibly in the air, then landed right behind Athrun's back. The blue haired immediately turned back just as Shinn was swinging his sword at his open throat, he raised his sword so that the two met and another shrill clang was earned. It turned out to be a mere match of strength and Shinn slowly got weaker and weaker every second passed. Using all his strength, the black haired pushed his sword forward hard and jumped back while Athrun was taken aback too.
D… He's so strong! How can I manage to win against him? Shinn thought angrily while panting heavily and so did Athrun.
Got to think of some way, he's so fast! I cannot afford to lose and fail the mission, I can't. He told himself as his eyes were studying his opponent carefully to find his weak point, but Shinn's skill seemed perfect. Then I guess I will have to use some special techniques…
Right after the train of thoughts stop loading in his head, the black haired boy started to attack again, but this time, Athrun stood still waiting for the blow. Shinn was surprised at that, but anyway, he quickly took one long step ahead, lowered his body and did an oblique slash at the blue haired guy's left shoulder. Athrun quickly ducked and stepped on Shinn's folding knee, then jumped up as high as possible, and while he was being pulled back down by the gravity, he turned his head down and pointed his sword at his opponent's open back quaintly. The black haired noticed the blow and took another jump ahead to evade it. So instead of Shinn's back, the sword was stuck in the hard ground and it became a disadvantage for Athrun as his opponent, catching him off guard, immediately turned back swung his sword toward him. Athrun had no choice but to spin around and evade it, but Shinn had already left a small cut on Athrun's right arm. Pulling the sword out, the blue haired faked a strike at Shinn's back, and Shinn actually fell for it. He spun around, lifting his sword up to parry it, but quickly the stab became versatile and in less than a split of second, it was place on his neck perfectly.
"Stop the duel! The result is decided!" One of the judges announced in the cheer of the by-walkers as Athrun withdrew his sword and so did Shinn. They bowed at each other politely and the black haired candidate smiled:
"You are so good Alex! I admire and respect your swordsmanship skill…" Shinn commented trying to fake a smile, but his eyes saddened and that didn't go unnoticed by the blonde haired princess.
"Mister Asuka, you did very well, and you will be appointed as the leader of Squad One of the Royal Guards group, and… who knows, someday maybe you will be a Mandarin…" She comforted the black haired boy cheerfully, somehow received an icy glare from him. Why is he glaring at me? Or is it just me? Yeah maybe… But… Why am I feeling so happy? This is weird… She wondered returning the glare with her famous smile. Also, Shinn's glare didn't go unnoticed by Athrun's peevish eyes. Note to self: Watch after that Shinn Asuka carefully, he's up to some plan… He thought narrowing his eyes suspiciously.
"Okay, now Mister Asuka, please have your last night at this palace, tomorrow you will be transferred to the Royal Guards Group's office. And Mister Dino, please meet me later at my room, I will inform you about your job tomorrow." The princess's secretary announced, "Please follow me you two."
The two did as the middle-aged woman told them, and before leaving, Athrun turned his head to the princess and narrowed his eyes secretly with an evil smirk plastering across his lips. Tonight the report will be sent…
To be continued.