Equal Matches


Benjiro was so confused.

Nao kept coming and going and disappearing and multiplying…

Huyu kept attacking and missing and shifting and then would be banged up one minute then fine the next…it was all jumbled in a mess that made his head dizzy.

'How the hell is he supposed to fight that?' He didn't blame Huyu for the damage he'd taken.

Or…that Nao was making it look like he took.

Who knows at this rate?

"The trick is figuring out how her gift works. After that is pretty basic." Hotaka explained.

'But...how's he supposed to do that?'

"Observations. Or in his case; 'awareness'."

'HE'S NOT THAT GOOD!'

"Great confidence in your partner…look; she's still new to this. Well…sort of. You figure she's only had a few months to get this down. Yeah it looks good, but she's making novice mistakes."

'Huh? What mistakes?' Benjiro didn't see anything wrong.

If he was fighting her he'd sure as heck would have given up already.

"Never mind you dumb ass." Hotaka was annoyed with how little the avatar understood.

Ignoring the name calling, Benjiro noticed something.

'Why do you sound so…experienced with this stuff?' He accused.

It's not like he ever met Nao before…right?

"Two reason. Masters have opposite gifts here –So the Master of Water is the illusionist in this world-….and because you get a lot of free time when you're dead."

Benjiro's mouth dropped.

'Whoa wait! I thought gifts were all special!'

"They are. Every generation gets a new one."

'THAT'S NOT SPECIAL!'

"Yeah it is…compared to how to many generations there are."

'But…they're supposed to deal with the whole bending art and traits…..water doesn't have to do with 'deceiving' people.'

But then again….how did fire?

Maybe because they were all "Oh were nice and friends" and then turned around and stabbed them in the back.

Hotaka sighed.

"First of all; the master's traits are ordered differently in this world. Secondly, water is about using your own opponents against them. Yes you could have Huyu's which is literal, or you can have Nao's, which is using their senses against them." Hotaka explained.

Sadly enough, it fit.

'Why the hell is this all so difficult?' Benjiro kept these thoughts to himself.

Seriously…what was wrong with just a basic you get this and be strong.

Why have so many states and levels and confusion?

'Wait….why have YOU met the Master of Water?' Benjiro never heard Hotaka mention this before.

"What you think only Kaimu knows me? I've had my fair share of time with ALL the masters and prodigies. Believe me I was like the one who always screwed their plans." Hotaka had a smug tone.

Proud that he was such a nuisance.

'Seems your karma caught up to you.' Benjiro smirked

"I'm still here aint I?" He had a point.


She charged at him, Huyu immediately picked it out.

Nao was quick.

But not like him.

Her moves weren't of master's speed.

Why was she holding back?

There was nothing to be gained by withholding….

Was she planning to use this as an ace card?

Her form jumped.

In a computer like glitch, one second she was twenty feet away, the next she was before him.

She slashed her seal as though to cut him, he brought his sword to block when something ripped across his back.

Summoning the water, he threw it upward behind him, hoping to catch her.

A jab hit his arm; he swung a backhand punch to counter, but failed.

The hair on his neck stood, static.

On reflex he got lucky, slicing the lightning arrow in half to ruin the main energy.

Nao immediately took the chance to thrust a punch in his stomach, harsh and at a pressure point, Huyu gasped.

He stumbled back, catching his footing before on the defense again.

"What's the matter? Am I too fast?" Nao questioned, harshly even out of breath.

Huyu checked over.

Only the last blow was true.

No.

She wasn't fast.

It took him only a moment to understand.

When her form had hiccupped.

That's when the illusion started. The second and a half of attack was spent on her running to him, building up energy strike when he was open.

And she was using the others to distract him.

Yes.

Traits.
His weakness was deceiving.

Hers had to be speed.

But to compromise she'd use her illusions to mask it.

She'd have them attack and cause pain.

But any injury made by a fake would disappear as soon as her focus had dropped.

An idea.

It was risky, but had a chance.

He focused a surge of energy to the sword.

Thrusting the blade into the ground, it was released like a bomb, water was thrown everywhere; Nao gave an upset scream as the wave soaked her.

Huyu immediately held out his weapon and rushed.

He attempted a stab that she dodged, spinning he landed a back hand punch to side.

She took no time letting the pain sink in; pushing the arm away she brought her elbow to bend his the wrong way.

Huyu jerked away, put a bit of distance.

Copies again.

Three Naos, he assumed one would be real.

Two lightning strikes, the one in the middle attempted a fire blast.

Blue fire.

Split second decision, panic would get him hurt.

But which one?

What did he defend and what did he allow?

Details told him.

The one on the left.

Huyu dodged to the right, feeling the burn of the fire peel his skin and shaking of lightning traveling up his skin.

But.

He smiled.

Agony it hurt, but not enough to ruin his focus.

'It's fake. It's fake. It's fake.' He had to keep telling himself through gritted teeth.

As the screen disappeared, he released a wave to his target, hitting Nao as well as he could have hoped.

She brought her seal upward to block, but the force was too strong.

It threw her back, rolling a full ten turns before slowing, shock was written all over her face.

Upon impact everything vanished.

Pain included.

Huyu figured it out.

Nao raised an angry head, allowing only one death glare before disappearing.

Listening was pointless.

He could hear deafness, nothing.
Just like she intended.

No for this he had rely solely on his eyes.

There.

Nao appeared in front of him, about to slash across the chest.

He let her.

Huyu's nose crunched when the hit ran across the robe, he ignored the warmth of blood, the tearing of his skin.

No.

'Fake again. Fake. Fake. Fake.'

He brought up an ice wall that blocked a real arrow.

Electricity sparked about the slush until it disappeared; Huyu sent a water whip that missed the invisible girl by an inch, she jumped away, accidently allowing her footsteps to be visible.

A tunnel of water encircled her, rising to high to jump out of, it nearly touched the ceiling.

The liquid crashed to the center, drowning her before freezing.

She couldn't move, was only a statue.

Focusing on the seal in her hand, she sent an energy burst that forced it to zap out a lightning bolt.

The ice cracked with this, shattering until a tsunami was crashing to the floor, she was washed down and thrown to the floor.

Choke-coughing, she had to wait a few moments before standing up.

Her eyes were narrowed when looking to the other master.

'How is he predicting it?' If it was just once she'd just dismiss it as luck.

But no one could be as lucky as he'd have to be.

Could he see through this?
No, that wasn't possible.

"What's the matter?" Huyu taunted back.

Furrowing her thin brows, she thought of everything over.

He had wet her before hand.

Why?

Water…could he track her through it?

No; he couldn't sense the water could he?

That was ridiculous.

Even if so she could clog that.

He kept looking to the floor right?

What was there.
Just that last time did she let her foot prints be seen.

Eyes traveling to the floor, she watched the snow beneath her.

Basic.

Her eyes widened.

That was it!

"Well well well you are certainly clever." She gave him that.

Clasping her hands together, she heated herself dry.

When wet, water drips.

Nao had made sure the copies were wet, but didn't see to it they were all carefully mapped.

The snow was thin enough to be affected by anything.

A small drop made a small hole.

Nao didn't have the illusion's water break the surface.

Only hers were affecting the surroundings.

A dumb mistake made by someone who never had to use her gift in such way.

Forcing people to see you as a boy was different than the constant movements of battles.

She wasn't monitoring herself well enough.

And it was these mistakes that gave Huyu a clue.

She only clouded the senses, not replace.

That she added to what he was already seeing.

It was just Photoshoping his vision or hearing; was just erasing bits and pieces.

But what wasn't focused on was still there.

It made the difference.

It meant that he still had a chance.


About a minute or so of watching with interest the master's fight, Benjiro realized something quite important.

Wasn't he supposed to be fighting too?

He glanced over to Shin'ichi.

"ARE YOU SERIOUS?"

Stupid note book.

The teen was just leaning against his couch, taking notes while glancing up every other moment to ensure he was caught up on this battle.

"I told you, I have no interest in battle; I'd much prefer to save my energy for later. Besides, this IS the first time I have seen two masters on equal grounds duel. It is quite fascinating." Shin'ichi didn't look at him.

Benjiro pursed his lips.

'This guy is just too weird.'

"Why don't you take this time to have Hotaka finish explaining everything?" Shin'ichi recommended, "It'll do you good to be informed. It's not like they'll notice if we are actually battling."

A loose ice ball nearly took off his head; the duck couldn't have been better timed.

Benjiro was pretty sure that one wasn't aimed at an illusion.

"Just because she's screwing with me doesn't mean I can't hear!" Huyu gritted as he was swarmed into a firewall.
Real or fake it would take a few seconds to tell.

"And my senses are actually perfectly normal." Nao's voice echoed around the room to prevent exact location.

"I never told you two to battle either; if you wish to stop feel free to at any time."

Neither responded to that.

Probably because Huyu broke through and nearly stabbed the real Nao, the images faded for a moment.

"Ok…here, how's this? You can sit there and write your little notes while I'm kicking your ass!" Hotaka spoke directly to Shin'ichi.

Benjiro was suddenly jerked in that direction, appearing before Shin'ichi had proper time to prepare.

He almost landed a blow to his face, only a second off.

The book fell to the floor; regaining his balance, Shin'ichi unhooked the silver tube.

"You never can sit these out can you?" As hand pressed against the surface.

Expanding, it turned to a staff.

Both hands held it while pointing, the end turned to a spear.

Hotaka grinned, knowing Shin'ichi could see.

"Never."

Benjiro threw an air wake.

Slicing straight through it, Shin'ichi stabbed at him; Benjiro was out of the way before lifting the snow in a wave.

It crashed down, the elder avatar pushed the bladed end up, freezing the amount that would have hit him into thin spheres, a swing of the weapon and the aim was perfect.

Benjiro bent back, missing his neck by just a hair, he was that could have taken off his head.

Unlike the spirit who had an act for these kinds of things, the avatar was completely freaking out, silently swearing each time he was forced to do anything battle related and then appraising when the spirit kept him alive.

"Let me take full control." Hotaka requested.

As Benjiro straightened, he threw his arm up, a razor wave almost caught a bit of the white shirt; Shin'ichi used the energy to spin it around him, sending it back as a water bullet.

Benjiro spread his arms apart, dividing the attack, the two spouts curved back on Shin'ichi.

'But….' The avatar had learned to live with being the puppet like this.

But visibly seeing….

Huyu was here.

That'd mean….

"Look I can fight better when I'm me ok? They're gonna learn eventually anyways!"

Shin'ichi, holding the spear in one hand, snapped the free wrist upward, freezing the liquid to spikes, they were all centered back to Benjiro.

As soon as he saw a dozen icicles coming after him, the decision wasn't hard.

Quick and painless like always, he became air, an outsider.

He could see the arena from a distance, watching a giant pillar suddenly engulf Nao, there was comfort in know when it'd fall he wouldn't be harmed.

It was safe view.

Hotaka's familiar form threw his arm forward, melting the attack to the floor.

"So…you're going to those measures." Shin'ichi held himself a bit higher.

"It only seems fair. The masters are going all out after all." Hotaka rotated his shoulder as a lightning scoured above head, both took a momentary look, "We might as well put a bit of effort in this."

Shin'ichi adjusted his glasses.

"Well…I'm afraid I can't go all out here…however I can meet you with equal force." He brought his hands to the center of the spear.

A second knife revealed itself from the opposite end, both blades expanding larger, sharper.

"Wh-What is that?" It reminded Benjiro of a double ended light saber.

'Third form.' Hotaka knew all of them too well.

The cutting edge took up more than half the spear, practically a sword now; there was only perhaps four fists of metal to hold on to.

And then.

Shin'ichi broke it.

Snapping the item down the middle, he had two daggers, both curved a bit at the end that added to the fear.

Benjiro gulped.

To makes things even better.

They caught fire.

An orange glow around the tips, they sparkled liked a match's butt.

'Fourth form.'


Huyu had a hunch.

And decided to go with it.

Taking full offense, he charged at his quickest speed.

Nao was slow.

He reminded himself that.

So when he was suddenly sprinting through a grassy plain in darkest of nights, he closed his eyes.

'Fake.'

Huyu's mind had printed where she was standing, and let his instincts tell him when to stab.

Something caught, and the second it did the chimera dropped, replacing with reality.

Nao had evaded a fatal blow, but not all of the blade.

Her arm was bleeding.

He smirked.

Gotcha.

Again he attacked, this time she didn't attempt with pictures, simply dodging, with impressive flexibility, he knew he had hit deep beforehand. Her arm was being babied and she didn't use a single blow such as before. Placing the good arm to the floor, she brought her leg to kick him in the stomach, bringing the second to hit him in the neck, he lost breath.

She rolled away, and then came again, bringing her seal to meet his.

Both pressed against one another; letting it be a test of strength.

Huyu was the clear winner, but Nao was two steps ahead.

As he leaned over her and forced an arch in her back, a bolt shot out, hitting him dead in chest.

The force of energy burned deep, throwing him over a dozen feet back; his head banged against the snow that no longer seemed so soft.

Rolling to one side, he was unable to remain still.

The electricity pulsed through in beats through in tiny shocks, stinging in a burning that was felt from the inside out. He cringed until they passed, crunching his teeth to keep from giving her the satisfaction of moaning.

Nao was swearing at herself when touching her gash, realizing it was deeper than she should have allowed. Her sleeve was half hanging off; she tore it the rest of the way while examining her ugly torn skin, it was leaking blood uncontrollably, throbbing in screams.

Immediately she knew.

This ruined it.

Ruined everything.

Anything she wanted people to believe she had to envision it clear and perfect; she had to run it like a movie in her head and then transfer it to them.

A blood wound was a lot of details, from exact position on the arm to timing the blood fell to the floor.

Amateurs she'd be able to get away with less, but not him.

Huyu knew to look for these mistakes.

Creating completely different scenario could work… have Huyu see himself suddenly in the Fire Nation…

But the pain.

It was a distraction.

She'd think of how it hurts and then have to tell herself to forget about the sting.

At that time the imagery would be broken and the illusion cancelled.

Huyu staggered to his feet, a bit shaken, it was obviously the first time he'd taken a hit by real lightning….with that amount of energy pulsed through it and at that close range, a normal person would probably have died.

Not him.

A glance at each other and each knew.

This was equal.

Both knew they needed a bit more to settle this.

"Proper procedures says we have to do it at the same time." Huyu announced, clasping the seal between two tightly gripped hands.

Nao smirked.

She spread her fingers apart before pressing her hands together, only the pinkies and thumbs held her bow.

"You remind me of another guy…with all your strict regulations. Shouldn't you try bending them a bit?"

Both drew the energy from their seal, both taking a deep breath.

"It's not as though I can make a gentleman's move. Last time I let you go first I thought I was dead before I had even moved." Huyu pointed out.

"Am I to believe you would have gone easy if you had first shot?" Nao questioned.

Huyu considered this.

"Why don't you just wait and see?" He offered.

Wait while he was in benders state?

'Hell. No.'

"Release!" Both commanded.

With the Moon absent, the snow acted as Huyu's change, shooting upward in a light of purest white.

An invisible cloud shot down lighting, swarming in with a blue tint that struck Nao perfectly.


Hotaka smirked.
"Well isn't this a compliment. You fear me enough to use such measures. Do you doubt your abilities so terribly?" Hotaka raised his eyebrows.

"I consider it merely a precaution. Although I may be a bit extreme, considering you don't even carry your weapon." Shin'ichi announced.

"Weapon? What weapon?"

'Yeah; why the hell don't you carry a knife anyways?'

"Um…cause I don't know how to use them?"

'Yeah well after this you're buying me the one I want.'

"I am?"

Hotaka didn't delay.

He was behind Shin'ichi, striking with two fingers; his jab missed the target when the avatar swung around, nearly cutting off the forearm.

Instead it skimmed just over the sleeve burning through but not catching fire. Hotaka smashed his leg into Shin'ichi arm, pushing it downward.

Before the foot even touched the floor, he was bringing his second leg to whack the head.

Shin'ichi evaded, nearly kicking Hotaka beneath the chin as he did a back handspring to gain space.

The spirit was smirking.

Just those few seconds had told him a lot.

"You've lost your speed," He rotated his head, "What's the matter? Have you gotten lazy without me to push you?"

"A five second spar and you've already come to such conclusion?" Shin'ichi brought his weapons close.
"Just making a few notes."

Hotaka appeared at his side, thrusting his palm upward to hit his nose, Shin'ichi twisted away, bringing around the weapon, Hotaka leaned away to avoid a strike to the chest.

He pressed his hand forward, a water whip hit Shin'ichi's center. Throwing him on his back, Hotaka jumped, throwing a blast of air to suffocate him.

The avatar rolled out of the way, on his feet, he furrowed his brow.

He charged; aiming for the neck, Hotaka dodged and then grabbed at the shoulder and arm, the shock cause Shin'ichi to release his hold on the weapon.
Twisting Shin'ichi's wrist to face him, he knocked the legs away before literally throwing Shin'ichi to the floor.

Jabbing his knee into the stomach, Hotaka was on top, using both his forearms to choke him, one behind the neck and one on top.

Shin'ichi copied, forcing the spirit's face a bit close, both were turning red.

"You two brought this to the floor WHY?" Benjiro was now a bit concerned about what they're exact relationship was.

If you were to walk by and just see them without any prior details…

Yaoi Fan girl alert.

After a few second Shin'ichi managed to push him off with his legs, both took the moment to rub their neck while gaining breath.

Hotaka rushed again, this time Shin'ichi was prepared. He blocked the punch, and avoided the kick. Shin'ichi aimed at the neck, to the side, it was a pressure point.

Hotaka jumped away; about to hit the forehead, Shin'ichi didn't fall.

Twists and turns, punches and kicks, open hand strikes, neither could land a fatal hit. A few points were hit, but the other knew what would follow and forced the reflex in a different motion.

What bothered Benjiro was-while he wasn't an expert in identifying them- they seemed to be using the same style.

Same martial arts form.

Shin'ichi caught Hotaka's arm, the spirit hit a point in the arm, that made him cringe, he attempted to wheel kick Hotaka.

Misaimed.

Hotaka returned a kick about half a millimeter second, it hit.

The spirit lost balance and fell, but it didn't matter.

Straight in the neck, Benjiro gasped.

He saw it in Shin'ichi's eyes.

They lost focus…just drifted away, he collapsed completely.

"HOLY SHIT YOU BEAT HIM!"
And about halfway through the sentence Shin'ichi's conscious returned.

"Of course…"

He rubbed his neck; both knew it was by luck he had made the hit.

"You spend too much time on your bending." Hotaka ridiculed.

"I wasn't expecting your style to change so dramatically." The avatar's voice was a bit horse at first, regulating at the end.

"Yeah. I'm aiming to kill this time." Hotaka seemed displeased he didn't stay down.

Shin'ichi shook his head, glancing at his weapons on the floor.

"You used to have an equal balance of bending and hand to hand. Now you rely more on martial arts. Those years without your bending have thrown you off." He decided to do without the knives.

Hotaka narrowed his eyes.

"Your point?" It seemed a bit touchy for him.

Benjiro was confused.

"Years without bending?"

'No bending in spirit world.'

"Haha."

'Who's side are you on?'

"Not yours!" Benjiro threw that back at him.

"I just find it interesting. You're upset that I put my focus in bending when yours is perhaps only half of what it used to be."
"Don't you think with all the training I've been helping him with I would have gotten used to it again?" Hotaka pointed out Benjiro.

How he knew where he was was beyond him.

"Ashton is still training with the basics. If that is the best you can do then you truly have lost your touch." Shin'ichi said.

Hotaka narrowed his eyes.

And then smirk.

"You can't beat me martial arts alone. I've always been better." He had a cocky voice, "but if you could get me to focus all on bending I'll exhaust myself and you'll win." Shin'ichi raised his eyebrows, "I'm not that stupid." Hotaka finished.

Shin'ichi shrugged as though it didn't matter.

"Ha! He caught you bluff!"

Benjiro hoped he was pointing his finger at him.

Shin'ichi eyed him with a death glare.

"It doesn't hurt when you're getting your ass whooped."

Although it didn't appear that either was about ready to give in, he'd definitely say the fact that he passed out meant Hotaka was at the upper hand.

Just as the spirit was about to strike, a duo beam of light alerted the three the progress of the Master's battle.