The Perfect Son

Disclaimer: The more things change, the more they stay the same. I still don't own them.

Chapter Twenty Four -Shinken Shobu

Leonardo:

I waited for his reply to my challenge, knowing by ethical codes of standards there should be no fighting during our match and that neither the Foot, or my brothers could come to our defence. It was a match between only the two of us.

By issuing such a challenge in front of his clan, I was putting Quan in a vicious spot. If he refused to accept my challenge, the Foot might decide not to follow his lead. He was only a new leader after all, having taken over sometime in the last few years since Shredder had died. First he would have had to prove himself worthy to lead them, and now if he refused my challenge, they could turn against him.

Quan paused only briefly, and a tight grim smile crossed his face, as he nodded his head ever so slightly and accepted the challenge.

I sheathed the sai I had been using up till now. All I needed was the one sword that had gotten me through so much of the battle. It was well made, strong sturdy metal on the blade, and I could almost hear it sing to me, for the sword I knew, had a soul of it's own.

Quan gestured and a Foot soldier appeared bowed and offered him a katana, even from where I was I could see it was a finely made weapon - probably from Japan itself, it looked both old and yet well cared for. The handle was cherry wood with a jade dragon on one side, and a lion on the other.

"Will you follow the code of honour now Quan?" I asked.

Quan looked at the army of black garbed soldiers. "No Foot will battle, or raise any weapon till we are done." He confirmed.

"Leo, what the hell d'ya think yer doing?" Raph demanded.

I looked at my hot headed brother, " I want this challenge Raph." It was the only answer I could give him. There wasn't time to explain that Quan had almost killed me before and left me for dead -course then he had help. Quan had insulted me, my honour and my fighting skills and I had cowered before him. I had to do this.

If he followed the rule of honour to the battle code then, I stood a chance. Maybe, not much but it was the only chance I could hope for.

I could see Don and Raph scanning the Foot soldiers watching for any funny business, like going against orders. I knew what ever was going to happen my brothers would look out for Christine, and they would do their best to insure the match stayed honorable.

I went up the steps to the platform and paused just outside of striking distance. I stood there with a relaxed fighting stance ready for anything, allowing him to make the first move, challenging him to do so, with my eyes and body. I had challenged him to this death match, so it was his right to make the first blow and I could be patient.

Quickly my mind ran over the memories of our last battle, scanning for weakness, refreshing myself what I could of his fighting style and technique with the sword. I knew I would have to use all my skill in this battle, so I took the moment to center myself and relax, as I had been taught to do.

In that moment Quan assumed my guard was down and he lunged forward. I moved my sword to block his strike, and did my best to try and force his arm back. But he would not be thrown off his balance so easily.

I countered by moving my sword in a circular motion, trying to sneak past his defences. It was a simple move, and I doubted it would work, so I wasn't too surprised when he countered it appropriately. Sometimes, the simple moves can work exceptionally well, especially if your opponent isn't expecting you to go for something so easy.

He tried a feint, but I wasn't fool enough to fall for that. We were testing each other in speed, accuracy and skill, that was all it was right now but soon the testing phase would come to an end and one of us would get serious.

I made a false attack, different from the simple feint which was no more then a bluff. The false attack is done to test an opponent's defences and isn't meant to draw a hit. I was willing to be struck with his sword if I could get past his defences and score a strike of my own.

He matched my moves easily and allowed me no opening. Nor would I give him one in return. Still just testing, but both of us were trying harder, digging deeper.

I could feel the tension rising in the room and I blocked out all but Quan and what I was doing. My focus had to be on him. I could not let my guard down for one moment, for he'd be quick to take advantage, and there was far too much on the line to permit him that advantage.

I pressed my body closer to his, trying to use the extra weight and bulk of my body to force his arm back. He took a step, or two back sliding his blade down trying to slice at my shoulder. I blocked it and shoved hard pushing him away from me, creating distance between us.

I could sense the testing part of the game was drawing to a close. Good, I was ready to get serious.

I knew Quan would be a worthy advesary, so I wasn't about to get foolish. I knew from our previous battle that we were closely matched, how close was what I didn't know. But I was going to find out.

There was no words spoken, but both of us knew when the testing phase ended and our swords locked for true combat and I could feel hundreds of eyes watching us, waiting for the outcome in silent anticipation.

I forced Quan's hand back and made for a quick blow but he stepped back and blocked my blade with practiced ease.

I was wondering if Quan was gauging me, as I was gauging him. I know some people in sword fights will make a move that they believe will benefit themselves, only for it to defeat them in the end. It is called 'the sword that cuts itself'. I doubted that I could get Quan to make a move that in the end would defeat him.

I started to use my katana to beat against his blade in a rhythmic time, it was a firm move meant to knock the blade away in hopes of gaining advantage over him that way. I then moved to a lighter but quick beat in hopes of breaking his concentration. The metal of the swords meeting and ringing in harmony.

I was hoping at the very, least with the change of tempo and beat to irritate him so I varied the rhythm as much as possible, I was trying to shake him up. He wasn't phazed in the least, and parried each of the beats I tried, even to the point of giving a non resistant parry which turned the beat against me.

'Oh, he was good! I was starting to enjoy this.'

He made a quick move and I went to deflect it, and with a twist of his arm he raised his katana, slicing at my upper right arm. First score was his.

I took a deep breath calming myself, now was not the time to reflect on that blow. I had to stay calm and focused, or I'd lose for sure.

Quan was all ready pressing the advantage as if he hoped that by that strike alone, I'd give into rage like my brother, or become afraid and lose all confidence, either could be hazardous. He found that first blood scored, did not necessarily mean a won match with me.

I deflected his attack, letting my instinct guide me, not allowing myself to be taken in by feints or fake attacks.

I switched from defence to offensive moves and started to push him back our katana making soft noises as he gave ground to me. I forced him up against the platform, quickly he lunged at me. I leaped up and flipped with ease onto the wooden stage.

"Nice try Quan, should I come down or do you want to come up?" My chest was heaving slightly from the exertion and I felt a little out of breath, as I watched him carefully through narrowed eyes, taking this respite to catch my breath.

I could feel the almost electric feeling in the air, and I caught my brother's keeping a wary eye on me, as well as on the soldiers around them. I could see Christine's worried and concerned face. I could feel the pain in my own arm, and the blood that flowed from it.

I blocked it all out, and focused again on my opponent as he leaped up on the platform to join me. He landed with his katana at the ready to block or strike as needed. This match it seemed was far from over.

Quan came at me and our blades locked again. Then he pulled his blade free and went for an attack dropping his arm low and fast. I parried and jerked my katana towards him, he had to move back but not before my katana tip sliced the midsection of his dogi. It was a bad slash, but by no means fatal. Painful, it most definatley was

I saw him wince ever so slightly as he realized the hit I had scored on him, or perhaps how quickly I may have won by that one move alone, if he hadn't moved back as quickly as he had.

Now I would see if Quan started to make more mistakes or if he could continue our battle as before.

His eyes turned hard and he lunged at me ready to attack. I blocked it going quickly to counter attack but Quan was not thrown off, he parried the move his eyes growing harder as he tried to stare me down. Once again he took the offensive and forced me back.

I switched from using my right hand to the left. Quan might feel I was giving him the advantage by doing so, but in reality I was hoping the move would throw him off. Quan was used to me fighting with my right hand, a simple switch could throw this battle in my favour. If he was as well trained in kenpo (sword fighting) as he had proven himself to be thus far, then the switch would not effect him much.

Quan did seem to falter a little as I scored another hit on him shortly after the switch. The second slash was to his right arm.

So, I had caught him off guard, he had grown far too use to my right handed attacks. Two scores in a matter of minutes could easily blow his concentration. Knowing that I began to push him and hard.

I forced him to give ground to me, as our swords met again. He curled his lip slightly as I forced him back. Every now and again I tried to slip past his guard hoping for another score, but Quan's mind had finally accepted the switch I made. He parried and deflected my blows now with ease.

The switch I had made, had unsettled him, but only for a minute or two, but that had been enough. I knew by the way he continued to press me that I hadn't won this battle yet, so I could not afford to become over confident.

Quan continued to fight right handed, and I fought left handed, as it made no difference to me.

The tension in the warehouse was palpable it had risen to high proportions and the electricity I had sensed earlier seemed to be growing stronger. It was a strange feeling, knowing that all were watching…waiting…for one fatal mistake on either parties part. It was as if the whole warehouse was holding it's breath. I accepted the energy that I felt around me in the room, hoping it would give me strength.

Quan was proving to be everything I had hoped for in a challenge as he parried and counter attacked against my strikes. I spun as his sword dropped and missed my shoulder by mere inches.

I raised my arm blocking the blade and he made a circular motion but I quickly parried that, not willing to be drawn in by that move. I sensed he was up to something bigger, and was just trying to relax me with simple exercises before striking.

I couldn't allow him that. I lunged forward on the attack and scored a strike on his left arm as I pushed him back beating at his katana blade. I then dropped my arm for a circular feint, as he moved to parry the strike I made my move, catching my katana on the grip of his hand and sending his sword flying from his hand with effortless ease.

He jumped back as the katana fell somewhere into the room, and those near parted so it fell to the concrete floor, ringing a soft lonely call. He went to dive after it but I used my sword to trip his legs, the blade slicing his legs up.

I wasn't concerned about that, I wanted to keep him from reaching his weapon or going after any other weapon. Quan rolled over and I dropped to my knees, onto his chest and across his upper legs, to pin him with my own body. I used my right hand to grab his wrist to keep it from his belt. I held the katana in my left hand close to his throat, and only now with his life in my hands, did I detect the first hint of fear in his eyes.

I could feel his heart pounding in his ribcage, just as my own pounded. The Foot shifted and murmured uneasily they were growing restless, and understandably so, as I held Quan pinned and ready to receive the death blow that would finish this match once and for all.

"Guys, get over to the door. NOW!" I snapped. I knew once I killed Quan all hell would break loose, it might even break loose before that, but I was hoping we had enough time to do this.

I knew the Foot might attack at any given moment, in spite of Quan's earlier orders.

Don leaped and flipped his way over the platform to get to the door, I noticed as he passed that he had not only his bo staff in his belt but Quan's katana tucked in the straps on his carapace. No sooner was he at the door then he bent near the frame, most likely placing bombs.

Mike grabbed Christine and hustled her towards the door. But Raph ever obstinate stayed close to the bottom of the platform closest to the door, waiting for me and disregarding my orders.

The mumbles and unease was growing I knew the Foot would break soon. I sliced a small cut across Quan's throat allowing blood to flow, but insuring that it was by no means life threatening.

"I won't kill you Quan. My honour will not allow me to kill an unarmed opponent. Live and know Quan you FAILED to ME!" I growled before rising and turning to join my brothers.

TBC

Author's note: One more chapter and an epilogue to go from here. When I first wrote this chapter I did a lot of reading into sword fighting and things like that to guide me in this chapter. If I can remember correctly I also had a fellow fan-fic author Splinter, read this chapter as Splinter in real life is a martial arts instructor, I wanted her input on if it sounded right. Love her stories too! Ramica