10

Of Stupidity, Swords and A Weakness

Yao

This.

This is bad.

This is very, very bad.

I can tell that my fellow soldiers were fully aware of how bad; I could not recall a day in my military life when I had snapped at as many people as I had today, or wanted to be left alone for as long.

What on earth was I thinking!

I am supposed to be protecting Kiku, not… Ugh!

I've really done it this time; he'll surely not want to see me now.

I'd tried everything to keep my mind from wandering back to him: I ran so many laps around camp I lost count! I lifted every single weight I could find!

So now I have turned to my last hope… Swords.

I had never been very good at swords, and hence, tried to avoid tempering with the whole lot of them in the supplies closet as often as I could. The first time I'd tried my hand at wielding one, it flew out of my hands even before I had a chance to take a stance and had nearly embedded itself into commander's forehead.

But no matter; after all, it wasn't as if I was planning on training properly with them today.

I just want to vent out by hackling and slashing my way through the straw dummies to quench my anger.

But it wasn't quenching as fast as I'd hoped it would.

"Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!" I screamed every time the blade went through the dummy's heart; every time I felt it was my own heart being assaulted, "Wang Yao, you are stupid! Stupid! Stupid! Stupid – !"

The next time I drew my blade, it did not immediately plunge itself back into the dummy's innards.

Instead, I felt a hand, slim but secure, clamp itself around the fist I was using to wield the weapon; the other hand, a perfect match to the one secured on my fist, rested on my shoulder.

A face framed with glossy raven hair pressed itself against mine. It's brown eyes remained gentle, and yet there was an unfathomable amount of frigidness concealed beneath the murky chocolate as they stared at the dummy before me – now, before us.

"Calm down Yao. The enemy is taunting you."

As if in a trance, I felt all the pent-up frustration drain from my body. My fist clamped around the hilt of the sword relaxed.

"See the blade? See the surface; the pointed end?"

I nodded. The steel glinted in the dying rays of the sun.

"Feel it. Feel the blade. Wield it as you would your own hand."

I could actually feel it! I could feel the blade attach itself onto my limb, until I could no longer see my fist before me.

"Focus. Focus on the enemy, Yao. Find it's weakness – quick!"

My eyes widened at the realization that the weakness had never been the heart.

"Have you found it?"

I nodded.

"Good. The enemy is making its first move, so parry it now!"

I could see the enemy blade flash before my eyes. Just before it could penetrate my chest, I jumped to the side, lashing my sword out so as to cause the enemy to stagger backwards.

"The enemy had been immobilized; there's no knowing when he will recover.

"Quickly Yao, finish him while you have the chance! Aim for his weakness!"

I brought my blade crashing into the dummy headfirst, the metal slicing easily through the ropes around the dummy's neck and waist. The dummy fell to the ground in a lifeless heap of straw, its imaginary blade fading away until it was no more visible than the sun, low over the tops of the bamboo shoots.

For a moment, I could bring myself to move; I simply stood there, breathing hard before the remains of my enemy, staring at the sword, which became a regular weapon once more.

Then I heard clapping.

There, behind me, was the person whom I'd least expected to show up, applauding my recent success (despite the success only being against an enemy that actually isn't alive, but who am I to think so deeply? At the time my brain was rendered blank at the surprise visit).

"Very well done Yao" Kiku grinned.

I could only gape at this boy, who was acting as if absolutely nothing had happened at all earlier this morning.

"B-but I couldn't have done it without your help", I choked, wondering if I had begun to hallucinate due to the faint rumbling in my stomach.

"One may acquire help, but that help can only be used when one possesses the skills required to use it", said Kiku, who proved himself to be more than just a figment of my famished imagination by patting me on the shoulder.

"But… How did you know where to find me?" I wanted to know.

"Your friends thought I might catch you here."

"… Oh.

"Well… Uh, listen Kiku. Now that you're here, I…" I began, running a hand through my ponytail nervously, "I just wanted to apologize for, well, what happened earlier this morning. I'm terribly sorry…"

"Oh, don't be", Kiku smiled, a gesture that sent my heart soaring, "you wouldn't have done it if I didn't contribute too, and so we are bothat fault, and I owe you an apology as well. Now, let us put this behind us, alright?"

"With pleasure", I found myself grinning as well.

"Very well", he nodded, before averting his gaze to the sword that laid amongst the dejected strands of straw on the ground. "I didn't know you enjoyed swordsmanship as well", he said, changing the subject.

"Oh, you mean this?" I gestured at the weapon: a curved, pentagonal blade that became slightly wider as it left the wooden handle, "no, not really. I don't actually practice all that often; truth to be told, I'm not very good at it."

"Ah. I see.

"Well then, in that case…" Stupefying me, Kiku drew an identical sword from behind his back with a flourish, "why don't we start practicing now? Too bad I left my own sword back at the tent. Hm – but, then again, it wouldn't be all that fair even if we used different forms of the same weapon, wouldn't you agree?"
"Start practice? You mean- r-right now?" I started, stumbling as I scrambled for my own sword.

"Why not?" a playful smirk tugged at a corner of Kiku's lips, "You will find swordsmanship very useful in defense, I'm sure.

"Now, take your stance!"

I was overcome with confusion for a while; hastily, I wracked my brain for the meaning of 'now, take your stance!'. In the end, I settled for my feet apart, right leg and sword pointed forward.

The moment I looked up, however, Kiku had managed to make a beeline towards me, the tip of his sword aimed for my chest.

"Too fast!" I gasped, barely swerving aside to avoid the blow.

But Kiku had carefully predicted his moves, and, to a realization that was much, much too late at this point, my moves, and a low kick on was enough to send me sprawling to the ground.

When I'd squinted upwards to face him, he uttered a small sigh, before offering me his palm.

"Never let your guard down Yao. The enemy always has plenty of tricks up his sleeves. Avoiding one blow does not claim you the victor", he warned, helping me to my feet and thrusting the sword back into my hands, "now, let us try again."

As soon as I'd taken another stance, I made sure to raise my head to Kiku's direction. He was at the other side, brandishing the blade idly.

It's hard not to let your guard down when the fact is obvious that the enemy isn't doing much of anything.

Minutes seemed to pass by, before my impatience got the best of me. "Um… Kiku?" I tried.

He either didn't hear me, or didn't want to hear me, for he simply turned away, tossing the sword into the air and catching it with his other hand.

Grunting, I decided to make the first move.

But just as the sword was about to pierce him, Kiku swiveled to face me and, with a kick on my arm, proceeded to trip me again.

"Always remain calm and patient in combat", Kiku said, catching my sword in midair and handing it back to me, "never let impatience trick you into making brash decisions. Get up and we'll try again."

By now my back was starting to throb as I heaved myself off of the ground.

"But Kiku, can't we just-

I had barely made another stance when an arm snagged my throat from the back, the other holding the blade just inches from my gullet.

A triumphant face appeared from behind my right shoulder.

"Always keep your weakness to yourself", Kiku leered, "for the enemy must never know."

I was released from the grip, choking and spluttering as Kiku returned the swords into a metal cabinet outside the supplies tent nearby.

"Wow… How did you…?" I gaped, rubbing my neck in admitted awe.

"I just had plenty of time to practice, I guess", he shrugged, "But I suppose that's all the training we need for today"- with an outstretched palm - "Come; it's getting late. You need to get some rest for tomorrow".

I could do nothing but gawk at the offered hand.

"… Kiku?"

"Is something the matter?" He asked, glancing in puzzlement at his open palm.

"No! No, it's just… Thank you for all of that.

"And-and… I'd like to train again with you tomorrow – but only if it's okay", I stuttered, a sheepish smile playing on my lips.

"Certainly", the other grinned with a slight bow, "now, let us go back before it gets dark."

I followed closely behind, feeling warm despite the chilly wind of the spring night.


I like feeling warm…

Sidetracked again!

So, anyways, how was it? I suspect the next chapter will be pretty short too -_- short, short chapters… I'm so sorry.

With hopes that everybody else feels warm as well

-Plumeria hi