TheDarkestShinobi: Another chapter! I'm not sure how many more there are to be honest, my original goal was for them to dance around each other and for him to admit they were equals
"You've spoken on and on, about how you will prove you never needed my help and how you are my equal. You claim that given a chance you would prove all this to me." Lei grew more determined with every word he spoke and her eyes narrowed. "This is your chance." He settled into his stance.
"Prove to me you are my equal and I shall never treat you as anything less."
…
Prove to me…
The words bounced around in her head building up inside, she felt her heart speed up and the adrenaline rush through her system. This is what she was waiting for, a chance to prove herself to him, prove that she doesn't need him around to protect her, that she can take care of herself. She looked him up and down, he was settled in his stance waiting for her. He knew she would accept, how could she refuse the very thing she had been hounding him for for years?
Lei lifted her arms in front of them before moving them in slow languid arcs as she lowered herself bending her legs. She had to be loose and ready; this might be her only chance. It didn't matter that she beat him and that he had beat her. It was all erased; this match would determine it all. This battle would determine what they thought of each other.
"No jokes," she said in a serious low voice. She raised her leg and then settled looking at him with slightly narrowed eyes. Her lips were pursed and her hair was loose behind her. She had never fought like this before. She had always dressed up for the occasion with dresses and braids, but now she was in slippers and sweats, ironic that this was the memorable fight. She felt loose, and free and that it was about damn time!
"I accept."
.
She was thinking about something pleasing as she waved her arms about settling into her stance, he watched her motions with more attention than he ever had before. This woman, she had the chance. There was the possibility that she was the one, the one to be his equal, his partner, and not only on the sparring field. He knew though, that for him to ever get over his image he would have to test her himself and so he now needed to offer her that opportunity.
"I accept."
He wasn't surprised; he was offering what she had always wanted from him. He smirked and cocked an eyebrow as he beckoned her to come with his hand.
She did, her quick step turned into a sweeping kick, which he avoided. She grunted and kept spinning, getting him on the second time around, he stumbled but recovered to punch her twice in the stomach, she let out a shocked gasp and he almost pulled back the third punch. Almost. He saw some man approach him out of the corner of his eye and Lei went tumbling, but Lei got to him before the man did, digging her knee deep into his chest and winding him slightly as she then double palmed him causing him to slip as he panted.
The man stopped and Lei waved him off.
"My fight." She said as Jann got back up and the man then understood this was not some normal case of domestic violence, he staggered away to a cry of "waa taa"
Lei had easily turned to avoid that obvious kick and he turned just in time to counter her onslaught. They exchanged a few blows and counters before she saw an opening and grabbed her fist ramming her elbow into his solar plexus. He staggered back and she brought her leg across and kicked him in the face. He slammed down into the floor and she took a few steps back, he wiped the dirt of his face as a smile danced on his face. Yes! This is what he was looking for. He got up and ran towards her, she stilled expecting him to charge, instead he jumped up and delivered a kick straight into her chest. She tumbled back and he landed on the balls of his feet switching back and forth.
She came to her arms and looked up at him. He was smiling, but not smirking, there was no condescension. She nodded to herself, this was the fight she had been dreaming of. He was recognizing her now. He would never see her as less than himself again, never see her as less than herself. She rose and he cocked his head to the side as she got in her battle stance again.
He remembered the feeling of anger when she first yelled at him, telling him she didn't need help, he caught her punch and kicked her back twice. She remembered his mocking words when she first tried to fight him; she shoved his punching arm to the side and caught him with a double kick. He remembered that time when he interrupted him at his job almost getting him fired, he launched a series of punches. She knocks him down and remembers that time he called her a coward and kicks him again. He grabs her leg as he jumped up and she grabs his foot just before it slammed into her face on the ground. She brought her leg up to kick him in the back and get him away from her. She breathed a sigh of relief, and jumped to her feet, it really hurt when he stomped on you like that!
Soon enough she left herself open and he slipped his leg in-between hers , bringing both their legs up he threw her off balance, then he stomped on her ankle. She wanted to scream, instead she grabbed his shoulders as she fell and she ended up on top of him, her hand over his throat and his eyes open wide in surprise.
Her face distorts in pain as she feels it shoot from her ankle, her face lowers without her thinking about it but Jann could not look away from her. She beat him, pinned him under her. There were no if and or buts, he could say no more witty remarks or condescending words. The woman on top of him was his equal. Her face lowers and he feels heat rush to his. He knows he wants to kiss her, had ever since he read her stupid name off the paper. She wouldn't run from him right, her silly fears and his silly superiority were all gone, right?
He wants her to kiss him more than he wants to kiss her. They both know how he feels about her, he had told her in the hospital that day, under the joke was the truth. He bared his feelings and she left him. He looks away to distract himself, because those lips were too close to be resisted if he kept staring. She frowns as he looks away now that the pain isn't shooting all the way up her spine, he looked away from her. Was she still not good enough? Was she still some little girl chasing after him? She bit her lip, she needed his approval.
"I guess that proves it." He finally said as he grabbed the hand of hers that was still on his neck. They both paused then just looking at each other feeling all the tension leave, all of the awkward moments didn't mean a thing anymore, the past was the past and they both could start on the right foot this time. She smiled then and he could sear he saw her eyes get watery but his words couldn't have meant that much to her. She stood with some difficulty and he rose to his feet shorty after. He looked around to see there was a small crowd of neighbors gathered around them, he didn't know if they were watching the fight for entertainment or worry for Lei. Either way they seemed to be returning to their own homes, he started to walk towards her house.
Lei took a small step and winced, her ankle really was hurt if she couldn't even put weight on it. Jann stops as he hears this but doesn't turn around, he doesn't want her to think he still regards her as weak because he didn't; he couldn't, not after that.
She knows she's not going to get far on this ankle, how could she not have realized it was coming so she could bend her knee and turn out of the injury as she had so many times before? She couldn't call for Jann because it would just be her saying she needed his help; again, after just proving she was equal she would let an ankle stop her.
She looked up to his back and suddenly smiled.
Everything was erased.
She needs his help. Not because she is the weak girl he's had to save before, not because she's silly and selfish and wants everyone to hand her things. It's not him calling her weak now, it was her trying to hold herself to something she can't do right now. She wouldn't be asking for help because she wants it, she would be asking for help because she needs it. She could call his name and ask him for help right now and he would help her because that's what he does, but only when she needs it. She still thought it was semi counterproductive, but it doesn't matter to him. It wouldn't matter to him because he doesn't see her as that weak girl; she's not a weak girl. She just needs help.
And for once, that's okay.
"Jann."
