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Chapter 28
Long Awaited
"So how are things going with the tea shop?" Toph asked. "I haven't heard the old man so excited about anything since I told him Aang moved."
"Uncle says things are going pretty fast," Zuko answered. "He's on the phone with your dad every night making plans. Sounds like The Jasmine Dragon is going to be opening up sometime in March."
Toph merely nodded as she and Zuko observed the club members. For once she was not actually in the mood for a match and had opted instead to assist Zuko in his instructing. He had done a splendid job shaping these kids, but the students were far from ready for Qiang's "big tourney." As one of the students took his stance to resume his sparring session, Toph interrupted.
"Your stance is all wrong."
"How would you know?" he asked haughtily. "You don't even study Shaolin."
"I don't care what you're studying!" Toph growled as she approached him. "If I can do this . . ." she said with a jab into the boy's arm, throwing him off balance and knocking him to the ground, "then your balance is weak and your stance is all wrong!"
The boy clambered to his feet and bowed an apology to her. Toph dismissed the gesture and returned to Zuko shaking her head. She was not sure if the lack of respect was due to her lacking attendance, but Toph was determined to get respect out of these club members if she had to beat it into them.
While Toph wondered just what he had been teaching the club, Qiang was smiling at her from across the gym. She was always so amazing and confident. So much so that he simply could not help but be drawn to her. The most incredible thing about her was that she never compromised herself in anything. She never pretended to be anything other than herself. Watching her he was reminded of how he had learned this.
Sitting of to the side of the crowd, Qiang could see Aang sitting in silent meditation. That or he was sleeping. To put it politely, Qiang referred to the kid as "interesting." There was something about him that Qiang just could not describe. The longer Qiang thought about it, the more irritated he would become. Somehow this oddball was more to Toph than he could ever be, and he knew that it was because of that something. It was not until Thanksgiving that he found out what it was.
He still did not know exactly how to describe it, but now Qiang was aware of that "something" that made Aang so unique. Because of this, he was finally able to see what it was that drew Toph to him in the first place. Ever since that day in the mall when he had received Aang's kind gesture of a handshake and "Merry Christmas", Qiang's respect for him had done nothing but grow. However, there was still a question that itched in the back of Qiang's mind.
The first time the question ever entered his mind was on the day that they had met. It was posed again on Halloween night when they had met at the party. After that meeting, Qiang was not so sure of the answer. When he confronted Aang in the hallway days later, his confidence had returned as did the question. It was not until Zuko gave his opinion that Qiang had decided that there was only one way to get his question answered. Today, right now was the time to get that answer.
Qiang marched purposefully over to Toph and waited patiently for her to grant him her attention. When she finally turned towards him with her far away gaze he asked for her permission.
"Would it bother you if I stole your sparring partner today?"
"Knock yourself out," she said with a shrug. "I'm not using him."
Qiang's focus now returned to the tall boy sitting on the ground just a few paces away. He knew that it was wrong of him to ask such a thing, but he needed to know. It was not just his competitive spirit, nor his feelings for Toph that drove him. He just needed to know.
"Hey, Aang."
The bald young man opened one eye and then grinned up at the martial arts captain. He was always so happy. How did his friends put up with it?
"Hey, Qiang," he continued grinning. "What can I do for you?"
"I need a partner. Wanna spar with me?"
"Sure!"
Aang was on his feet in an instant. He stretched out his arms as the two of them stepped onto the mat, smiling the whole time. He pulled his shirt over his head and tossed it over to Zuko before taking a loose fighting stance, leading with his left foot and his arms close to his center.
That's not Ba Gua, Qiang thought. That's Tai Chi. He knows Tai Chi too?
"What's he doing?" Zuko asked Toph as he handed her Aang's shirt.
"He's playing," she answered. "They're just sparring so he's gonna test what Sugar Queen taught him."
"But those were just basic exercises," Zuko said. "How useful could they be?"
"We're about to find out, aren't we?"
Qiang tested his opponent with a swing of his left fist. Aang easily pushed it away with his right. A swing of the right and Aang guided it away with his right hand again. As Qiang's fist past by Aang's face, Aang placed his left hand on Qiang's shoulder pushing it towards the mat. In the same spinning motion Aang ducked below his opponent's extended arm and swept at his legs. Unfortunately for Aang, Qiang's legs were rooted to the spot and refused to budge. Qiang bent towards Aang's crouched body and rammed his fist towards him. Aang only just managed to roll away from the strike, but ended up on his back.
Qiang advanced on him like a predator stalking its prey. He stomped his foot down, barely missing Aang as he rolled out of the way once more. Stomp after stomp after stomp Aang continued to roll. Pulling his legs towards his chest Aang managed to back roll himself into a more manageable position on his knees. When Qiang's foot came again, Aang was able to raise his hands in defense, letting the leg fall to one side. Qiang followed this attack with a vicious kick towards the side of Aang's head which Aang blocked with both arms. Qiang repeated this exchange twice before Aang managed to duck underneath his leg and regain his vertical base. Without turning to face his him, Qiang swung his right arm back in a mighty blow that Aang barely dodged. Next came the left arm in the same manner, and Aang pushed it farther along its path forcing Qiang to turn and face him. Qiang's right fist stretched for Aang's head without missing a beat, but the younger fighter swatted it aside with his left and struck Qiang in his now open ribs.
Qiang took the hit as though it were a mere breeze. He was on the attack once again with another strong jab. Much like the previous attack it was led astray and Aang struck his ribs again. But again it seemed to have no affect. When Qiang struck again, Aang grabbed his wrist and pulled it down with a force that Qiang was not expecting. Pushing on the back of Qiang's head with his free hand, Aang was able to flip the man on his back. Before Aang could capitalize, however, Qiang's long leg reached up and struck his bald head. Slightly dazed by the impact, Aang released his grip on his opponent's arm and Qiang quickly took hold of Aang's. This was the only chance he was going to have to take advantage of his superior strength and he was not going to lose it. He pulled Aang down to the mat with a ferocious tug and wrapped his legs around Aang's head, never releasing the arm. Qiang rolled to his side, flipping Aang with him until his back was flat on the mat, trapping him perfectly.
Let's see him get outta this, Qiang thought triumphantly.
Aang turned his caught wrist towards Qiang's thumbs and attempted to squeeze through their grip. With a ridiculous amount of effort, he was finally successful in freeing his hand. He gripped each of Qiang's thighs and tried to force apart their vice-like grip on his skull, but with no success. Then inspiration struck. Aang rolled his legs up over his head until he sat perfectly upside down. With another swing of his legs he found himself once again on his knees lifting Qiang's legs along with his head. Realizing the position he was being forced into, Qiang pulled back with one leg and made a kick for Aang's face. Now unrestrained by Qiang's legs however, Aang spun loose from the grip and the kick missed completely, leaving Qiang on the ground. But not for long. Using his leg strength, Qiang kicked back up into a fighting stance and they squared off again.
Qiang wasted no time getting back on the offensive. He charged in with a flurry of punches that Aang dodged and blocked as best as he could. Tai Chi was a little harder to get used to than he had thought it was going to be, but he was really starting to get the hang of it now. When Qiang's fist came again, Aang pushed it up with the back of his wrist and then brought his open palm back down and into Qiang's chest. When Qiang recovered from the counterattack, he could not believe what he was seeing. Aang had changed.
He had not changed physically, but something about him seemed to have transformed. His stance was flawless, his movements more fluid. When they had first begun the match, Aang had appeared little more than a beginner at Tai Chi. Now he had the air of a seasoned practitioner. And he was smiling. The smile was not a condescending smile, nor was it a confident or smug smile. It was more like one of a child who had just ridden their bicycle on their own for the first time.
Shaking the image from his head, Qiang attacked again. Each of his attacks was easily deflected by Aang, punches and kicks alike. No matter where Qiang struck, no matter how fierce his attacks, Aang dodged or redirected each one. It was like trying to catch a running stream with his bare hands! As Qiang's frustration continued to mount, Aang scouted for his moment. It finally came when Qiang aimed a powerful kick at Aang's center. Grabbing the oncoming foot and spinning to his left, Aang spiraled around Qiang's more muscular form and kicked his calf, knocking his leg out from under him. Before Qiang had a chance to react, Aang mounted him with a grin.
Qiang knew that he could push Aang off, and he had already come up with a number of ways to do so when he felt Aang's weight on him. There was no point though. He knew that he was beaten and any further fighting would be pointless. He finally had his answer.
"Nice," he told Aang. Aang's grin faded to a smile as he stood up and extended his hand. Qiang took hold of it and allowed himself to be pulled up to his feet.
"Thanks!" Aang said. When he tried to release Qiang's hand, Qiang held his more firmly. Looking into the man's eyes, Aang squeezed back and nodded. "But we're still not friends, right?"
"Right," Qiang laughed.
Not long after Qiang was stretching out his sore body and thinking back on the match. Aang probably had no idea how serious Qiang had been about the match, and he had still beaten him. Not only that, but he had done it using a style other than his own. It took an amazing type of person to go into a match seemingly a novice in Tai Chi and then to walk out so well versed in the discipline. As Qiang pondered on these things, Toph appeared at his side.
"Tell me I had nothing to do with that little display," she said.
"Okay," he replied without looking at her. "It had nothing to do with you."
The confrontation did have a little to do with her, but he knew better than to think it would ever change their relationship regardless of the outcome. Now that he had his answer, and he knew just what kind of person Aang was on the mat and off, maybe it would be easier to move on from her. Qiang knew that Toph would know that he lied, but he was grateful when she did not call him on it. Moving on was hard enough without having to put words to it.
A/N: Kasamari knows that everyone was waiting for this fight. Here's hoping he did not disappoint. Reviews please! Reviews for Kasamari!
