Disclaimer: I'm tweaking backstories even more because this is more or less my version of them at the end of the day, that okay?
7 years ago - The Big Bear Cat Psychiatric Hospital - Room 197 - 3rd Floor
It was the afternoon in an old dimly lit, cramped, hospital room. Two straight bamboo sticks collided with each other before swiftly pulling back while their wielders shifted their movement, changing the rod's trajectory just to clash once more. These two green rods of bamboo were makeshift kendo sticks being held by two teenaged herbivores, varying in heights, one tall, one small. A male white-wooled llama and a cream colored female lop rabbit with dark brown fur with a pattern color scheme covering areas of her mouth and ears. Both wore a poor beast's version of protective gear and keikogis protecting their chest and heads.
The two had been at this for minutes, neither really getting anywhere. Each of their styles countered one another's. Whatever she threw at him, he managed to block or slip with surprising ease as if he could read her. Conversely he kept her on her toes, he very easily could overpower her strikes which made her make her strikes count for the brief amount of time she had to strike.
The girl took a step back and made a brazen strike. She brought the rod down hard towards the llama's head but he reacted just in time to block once again.
As the two clashed, they stared at each other for the briefest second. The shade faced rabbit gnashed her teeth together as she stared down at him. Sweat rolled down the young boy's brow inside the enclosed helmet as he stared right back, impressed by her hang time. Gravity brought the bunny back to the floor as she flipped over him. The llama swung laterally at her. His 'saber' swept over her head as she rolled out of the way. He gave chase.
The rabbit, whose primary attribute was speed, propelled herself back at the charging camelid like a bullet with a shrill shout. She went for his legs, but her bamboo rod was met by his. He swung hard like a golf swing, flinging her away, but she recovered after landing feet first on the wall, bouncing right back down for more.
The young llama tracked her movement, his brown pupils going side to side like a pinball machine. She came in low, sweeping for his legs again. He positioned his stick at the right angle down by his flank to block. It was a hit and run. She bounded like a demon behind him, the gear forced him to turn his whole body to face her.
She took notice of his reaction time and came in for another wave. Climbing up a messily made bunk bed, the rabbit bounced and launched herself at her opponent. It was a make or break move. Screaming like a banshee she swung the bamboo stick like a bat she swung for a decapitating swipe. A loud distinctive clank echoed throughout the room, as her stick met his. He blocked again.
He took a few clumsy steps on the backfoot bringing his sword back up to guard, chest level, however he quickly noticed her attack left her wide open.
Within the breath of a second, he thrust the bamboo pipe forward with a loud shout, clipping one of the lop's flapping ears as she fell down to earth. The rabbit grunted as she clumsily landed and hastily tried to find her footing. She quickly raised her saber to guard as she panted heavily, finally catching her breath.
"Hmph," a rough voice was heard grunting on the sidelines.
Their instructor, a grizzled panda by the name of Gouhin, sat atop a bench, really just a sturdy medical crate he decided was a bench. A slight smile broke on his face. The bear sat there, halfway through a smoldering cigarette, with his arms folded as he critiqued his students progress.
"Solid defense and nice counter San." He lectured. "Kyuu stop telegraphing yourself. Goddamnit! Keep using your species' natural agility, but be wary of leaving yourself open like that!"
Sitting next to him was another male panda, this one much younger, in his teens no older than the two fencing with each other. He looked nearly identical to the adult in facial patterns minus the many battle scars and pronounced frame. He wore a similar get up to the two herbivores, and held a hard bamboo reed of his own. He eagerly watched the two, quietly cheering them on, a bit amused as the smaller rabbit continued to be overly aggressive.
The panda, Gouhin, was a psychiatric doctor living in the Back-Alley Market. His story with them was a bit complicated. One would have to start at the beginning. It all started after his discharge from the military. He went into the service as a medical doctor to fast track his education, eventually landing himself a job as a psychiatric officer. There he treated and handled soldiers, mostly carnivores, dealing with PTSD as well as carnivores dealing with MCA or meat consumption addiction. He honed his method after 3 tours and after his final he returned home to find a different city, the area in which he grew up was run down. A Black Market had sprung up and his family had left him their old hospital as inheritance. So he settled down with his wife and young child and tried to do his best in keeping the place up and running.
After finishing his studies and earning his degrees, he started to notice how the city's carnivores were suffering, both from addiction and guilt. The city's method of dealing with them was simply locking them away. That wasn't good enough for him. He felt guilt in himself in that he had the means to help these animals. That he should do something, so he decided to use his skills as both a soldier and a doctor to stop these wayward beasts before it goes too far and perhaps guide them towards the right path. It proved to be a harsh job, he got hurt many times, his wife hated it, but his sense of duty kept him going.
A few years ago, he soon stumbled upon a tragedy that made his creed extend to herbivores as well. By chance after tailing a berserk patient, he discovered the beast visiting an old illegal livestock ring operating out of a decrepit tower. Shady places like that had sprung up in recent years due to the law enforcement failing to police the area. After subduing the carnivore, he checked out the spot. What he found utterly disgusted him, children, children no older than his own, being bred and sold for consumption! Instead of the more morally accepted method of dead meat, these bastards were selling living and breathing children.
The rampage he went on that night, how he tore through the building like a wild beast, shutting it all down that very same night with nothing but his bamboo crossbow and tenacity. Hardly anyone would blame the bear for his violent response. Had he been older he might have done something more sensible. Maybe...maybe not. Didn't matter, he made his choice.
Luckily for him, the place functionally was a mess, he met hardly any resistance when he entered. Clearly the place had seen better days; the building was large, but run down and understaffed and they had only a fraction of their cells filled with their prisoners. Probably lost their sponsor. Even worse the children were all malnourished and mistreated by their handlers because their business was so slow. Tragically of the eight souls he rescued that night, only two were in any condition to survive past a month, a llama and a rabbit. The ones in front of him now. Hurt by his inability to save the rest, the panda sought to do his best to give them a better life.
Of course his wife, Chabi, balked at the idea. It was so sudden and they had enough troubles raising their only child. That was their relationship, he almost smiled thinking about it. He ran the hospital while his wife ran the household with an ironfist. Been like that ever since he got back. Still he felt responsible, and he wasn't going to give up. He couldn't just throw them into an orphanage after what they went through.
So he compromised. Instead of raising them officially in their household, he let them stay on the floor below theirs with some of his staff chipping in to help raise the two rugrats. The wing they would stay in was a mostly abandoned one, away from the floor he kept his patients on so they would grow up in relative safety.
It was a hard few years getting them to fully trust him and other carnivores, but he managed to pull it off. The boy, a Domestic llama, he found to be very observant and studious. He took the longest to come out of his shell. Attempts to actively reach out to the boy failed initially, after an ordeal like that it was understandable that the face of a carnivore would be associated with distrust and fear, especially with his scars, but once he started to passively interact with the child, San as he decided to be called, opened up.
Gouhin accidentally discovered the child reacted very positively to musical therapy and cognitive stimulus. There would be times where he would catch the kid sneaking into his study when he listened to the radio and eventually he stopped running away in fear as soon as the panda noticed him enjoying the music. Before long, the boy was following him around the hospital like a lost puppy. The panda also noted that switching them from their horrible diet to his wife's cooking was also a great motivator in gaining both of their trust.
The girl, a Holland lop, came along much quicker than he expected, especially for someone her size, though it seemed to come at the cost of her being more of a handful. Very energetic, something that was a common trait amongst her species as a rabbit, she was a troublemaker, and also very impressionable.
She seemed fascinated with his mannerisms and how he carried himself. She had a habit of mimicking him, which to his chagrin molded her personality. As a result, she more or less behaved like a young boy rather than a girl.
Once they were able to start school, his worries seemed to vanish... well up until Junior high school. He began hearing complaints about not wanting to go because they were being picked on. Part of him blamed the damn public school system in this city. Likely word had gotten out about their origins or how they had an unusual guardian. They would be viewed as different. And there was one thing that always attracted bullies… being different, something veering from the norm.
So his course of action was a decision to teach them martial arts, a combination of a bit of kenjutsu, kenpo, judo, taekwondo and other practices that he himself had learned in his youth from his father and his grandfather.
That way they could at least defend themselves if they needed to. It would also teach them something of self reliance, confidence, and better discipline. It worked for him growing up and from his own experience he found it built character as well as muscle. It seemed to work too, soon after he stopped hearing stories about bullying and eventually his own son wanted to get in on the training.
His wife actually welcomed it once Chuan expressed interest in participating, it allowed him to spend more time with his own child for a change. Now he hosted these training sessions every few nights before his annual patrols. Chuan was a chip off the old block, and the two kids picked up the lessons rather well. A little too well, he found as he watched the rabbit continue her assault.
Kyuu took a quick glance at the young camelid in front of her, he cautiously took half steps to the side. He was trying to get a better view and she knew it was her chance to spring into action.
Their eyes both locked before she closed in an attempted lunge to the right, but it was a feint, she hopped in the opposite direction, bouncing rapidly to the rear into his blind spot where his curly facial wool and mask restricted his vision.
She was so nimble on landing, she had vanished from sight before his eyes could track her.
San, briefly panicked, twisting his whole body around to face where he'd think she'd be.
However she remembered his response time. It was too late, she was in his face, no time to read her footwork or her body movement. All he could do now was a hasty retreat.
San hopped back rapidly, but his sweaty wool became caught under his soles of his feet, causing him to clumsily slip and fall. He hit the floor with a loud thud. Kyuu, ever the aggressor, closed in and decisively whacked him hard on the shoulder.
"KIYAAAH!" She shouted as she pressed it into his snout. If they were real swords she'd probably have slit his throat.
"Ooow!" The young llama groaned, a bit of sniffling escaped his mask as he rubbed his neck and shoulder. "Why do you have to be so mean!"
"Only cuz I need to make sure you stay down." The rabbit retorted, keeping her stick trained on him.
The younger panda stifled a chuckle while his father materialized behind the rabbit. Gouhin jerked the large bamboo sword from the rabbit's hands.
"Good work." He suddenly congratulated her.
Surprised and annoyed, the rabbit glowered at the scarred ursine master as he moved to help the young llama back to his feet.
The boy appeared to be crying. "Stop that damn crying!" The panda shouted as he reached his hand out. "What did I tell you about getting knocked down."
"You get right back up." The camelid boy said, quoting his sage's wisdom. He glanced at the panda's black clawed hand in front of him. He hesitated before placing his hand within the giant's, who effortlessly hoisted the kid back up.
"Good answer." The gravelly voiced panda replied with a warm smile. "Now stop crying." He crouched down in front of San at eye level and gingerly patted his hand on the young boy's shoulders. "I want you to look at this failure and learn."
Regardless of losing the sparring match, he saw great promise in the young lad. His defense was top notch. He knew he just needed to reinforce the boy's confidence, he panicked too much. "Your defense is great, almost perfect, however just remember 'almost' is never good enough so keep working on it."
San nodded with some understanding of the panda's words.
The rabbit shot the scarred ursine an annoyed glance as he dusted the boy off and lectured him. She didn't seem to agree with that assessment, at all.
San never stood a chance against her. Sure he staved off her attacks, but it was only a matter of time before she got him. His offense was always pitiful, he never attacked unless pushed. The only real blow he managed to land was on her ear when she was open and that barely even phased her. She wished she didn't have to keep sparring with him and fight the panda's son Chuan. That'd be a real contest, how strength vs her speed.
"Alright, Chuan get over here." The panda ordered. "You and San , ready up."
Chuan made some initial stretches and ran into position swinging his kendo stick. San gulped as he stared as his next opponent, the athletic teenage panda bear. Chuan was still growing, but he roughly matched San in height all though he was a tad bit defined muscle wise. Thankfully from their spars he found the bear to be actually less aggressive a fighter then Kyuu, but the cons were that he still possessed a carnivore's body and hit a lot harder than she did.
"Last spar before I head out for the night." Gouhin announced, as he stood between the two. "So listen up. I'm only going to go over this once."
Kyuu on the sidelines scowled in disbelief as yet again she was being passed over. "What gives?" She asked angrily. "How come I can't face Chuan for once?"
"Because Chuan is facing San," The panda said in a matter-of-fact way, not even deigning to face the bunny as he focused his attention on the two boys. "Loosen up a bit, Chuan."
"Sure thing." The young bear said all chipper as he adjusted his stance.
The rabbit was besides herself. "But why is it never me?! I beat San! I do it all the time!" She piped up.
"You did and your win record is impressive." Gouhin said plainly, as if just acknowledging her statement.
"Which means I should be able to face Chuan." She tacked on in her frustration. "Give me my saber back."
" I decide who does what here brat," the panda gruffly said, swishing the cigarette in his mouth. "I say Chuan is sparring against San next and that's that, end of story. Now sit down and take a breather."
"I deserve to face him for once!" The rabbit shouted, stamping her feet in a tantrum.
Chuan's heartily amused chuckle earned the young bear a crossed look from the rabbit. He paid her no mind however, he actually found her rather cute when she blew up like this. Her forgetting her size and her getting in trouble for it was a constant occurrence.
His father was very much less amused by her attitude. The Giant panda doctor/sensei tried to keep his cool, knowing better than to fly off the handle with such a small animal. He took a deep breath and tried to explain what she should already know by now.
"This ain't a tournament, girl, there are no brackets. These exercises are about improving and getting better. You're getting better, now it's Chuan's turn and San is facing him next so he can get better. So, park your little butt down on that bench and stop wasting my precious time." Smoke ejected from his nose like a car exhaust after he took a drag from his cigarette trying to keep himself from flipping out on her.
"How can I get better if I keep facing San all the time?! He's nothing but a wimp!"
San felt hurt by her words. He soon found Chuan leaning over his shoulder.
"Hey man, don't listen to her." The young panda said, trying to cheer him up. "She's just mad, she doesn't really mean that."
"I don't know sometimes…" San said, feeling just how much she resented him.
"Hey forget about that. You need to focus." Chuan said, reassuring like an older brother. "Especially if you're going to face me."
Gouhin grumbled unintelligibly as he almost blew his top as he loomed over the arrogant rabbit. "How about you dial back that damn ego of yours?"
The rabbit growled right back. "How about you recognize my potential?!" She shouted.
"That right there is your biggest issue. You're overestimating your skills. In fact let's give you an in-depth review of your performance tonight." He said pointing a sharp claw at her.
"Your speed and agility is excellent, you're improving very well in that regard, but you also have a tendency of being so damn reckless! Reckless! That flashy stuff will get you only so far! Overexert yourself one day and you're gonna get hurt. What if you slip or break something? Huh? Someone of your size should always keep that in mind."
"Stop treating me like I'm delicate!" She cried, angrily stomping closer to the giant as if she stood a chance in a shouting match with him.
"You are delicate!" The panda spouted down. "How about you cut this crap out and face reality, girl. You are a rabbit, Kyuu. You're a glass cannon. There are limits to what you can do." The skyscraper of a bear replied, the black marks that obscured his eyes arched as he scowled at her. "Now. Sit. Down." The panda emphatically pointed to the bench.
"Bullshit!" She cursed, stamping her feet. "I'm not some flower that needs protecting!"
"You watch your mouth, brat!" He growled through his teeth, he could almost feel a vein beginning to pop. "You mouth off to me again like that and you'll regret it. Understand?"
The bear towered over the herbivore who barely came up to his kneecaps. Yet she still persisted in trying to stand her ground.
The carnivore side in him began to break free. His muscles began to tense up and bulge and a silent growl echoed down from the mountain of a bear.
Her brazen bravado quickly disappeared in the shadow of her fearsome master as if she finally realized just how small she was. She took a deep breath and eased down.
"Go sit down. Now. " The Panda ordered.
"Yes, Master Gouhin." She said, the wind taken from her sails as she walked off and clambered up the 'bench' the pandas had been sitting on. She just sat there silently stewing in her own frustration while the boys stood ready for their bout.
"Now San," Gouhin took a moment to cool off before he returned to his instructions. "During this exercise, I want you to keep up your focus on your opponent, but be aware of your surroundings. There is more going on than what is in front of you. You can't just rely on your eyesight when there are other strike zones not covered by your line of sight." The bear pointed to his ears and nose, trying to drive home the message.
"Don't forget your kind also has good ears and an even better sense of smell. Don't waste them and more importantly don't panic. Relax and respond. The second you let your fear control you…" The panda stopped short.
"You've already lost." San finished the quote.
"Thatta boy." The scarred panda with a smile as he lightly patted the boy on the shoulder. "Just remember that." He then looked to his biological son, Chuan. "I don't want you to hold back too much, but I shouldn't have to tell you not to showboat."
"Me showboat, dad? Really?" The young panda asked, staring down the herbivore in front of him.
"No showboating." His father repeated. "And cut that dad crap out. When we are training, it's Master."
"Yes, Master." The juvenile panda groaned annoyed. The two boys respectfully bowed before each other and assumed their stances.
Chuan's face brightened under his mask when he saw the llama hold his blade at the ready. San could just make out the panda's fangs poking out with his confident smile.
"Go." Their master said.
Chuan and San approached one another slowly, rods raised defensively. Their sticks collided briefly before San jerked to the right, keeping his eyes on the panda who pursued.
Their initial contest was surprisingly even. Chuan much like Kyuu was the aggressor, but he wasn't trying. San could tell that. The panda swung towards San's head who expertly dodged out of the way, biding his time on the defensive.
Gouhin nodded as he watched the two test each other's reaction once more while Kyuu just rolled her eyes. Watching the two was boring, along with a hint of jealousy nagging at her.
Chuan and San locked up, as their sabers clashed. The bear began forcing San to back up. His superior ursine strength allowed the panda to shove the llama back effortlessly, giving him room to stab. The bear growled a victorious shout as he thrust his sword towards the herbivore's chest. It was a premature gesture.
The herbivore's eyes bulged as he reacted, twisting to the side and hastily swinging his saber down on the incoming attack. San's wrist hurt after he staved the bear's strike. However the wooly herbivore's weakened grip stopped him from properly responding.
He made a quick adjustment, but not nearly quick enough. Chuan was already attempting another stab. San's eyes widened again, he dodged out of the way, to the bear's side this time. Chuan had gone all in, he overstepped. The bear's back was in front of him now. San realized he had just pulled off what Kyuu had done to him. He had the advantage now as he stabbed before the bear could respond.
"HYAH!" The llama shouted victoriously as he actually nailed the young ursine in the back, which gained him a point.
Chuan grunted as he tipped over and fell to the floor like a clutz. His body tense with apparent anger as he turned to face his herbivore opponent, however his face retained a cheerful demeanor. "Good one, but I'mma get you now." The panda playfully warned.
A brief smile broke out on the camelid's face. A bit of confidence sprang up in his wooly body. Chuan continued to laugh off the setback as they both readied.
Once in position, Chuan got real serious. He paced around San, oddly like a predator cornering prey, side to side. The llama stood his ground, trying to gauge what way his opponent would come.
Gouhin merely nodded, silently blowing tobacco through his nose.
Suddenly the bear charged forward, shoulder first trying to bash him. San moved out of the way and tried to stab at him, however the bear spun around, swinging his stick for the llama's head. The herbivore ducked as he raised his saber, he found his saber almost knocked from his hand. His hands fumbled trying to properly grip the bamboo stick. Chuan thrust another stab at his face, the llama dodged to the side. San was then shocked to see the large carnivore rushing him like an incoming train.
The llama had no time to react as the Giant panda swung his sword toward San's head, shouting as he landed a blow into his neck. Chuan knew to watch his strength and the gear did it's job, the strike only made the herbivore both drop his saber and drop his knee. Chuan had scored a point.
The young panda fist pumped as he quickly celebrated his victory. "Yeah!"
"What did I say about showboating?!" Gouhin growled at his son.
"Sorry." The young bear said with a weak smile, dialing back his celebrations. He looked over at San. "We're even now."
"Uh huh, until we're not." San said confidently, as he picked up his saber.
"Yeah right." Kyuu joked on the sideline. "Chuan's got this." She said cheering the young panda on, which earned her a scowling look from the elder panda.
"What are you? Some damn betting parlor?" Gouhin asked.
"Just saying." She said.
She also garnered one from the llama as well who right back up to his feet and readied himself again. Sweat rolled down his brow as he faced the bear, eager to get him back.
The two faced each other, the two stood mere meters from each other, systematically sliding their bamboo sticks against each other, trying to look for an opening.
The bear became the aggressor again, San frowned and hopped back. Chuan pressed his attack, however San whacked the bear's strike away as hard as he could muster. He followed through with a stab at the bear's head. The bear rolled his head and answered back with a golf swing. The llama bounced back out of the sword's arc, regained his posture and then swung aggressively at the bear. He was going to prove them all wrong tonight.
The sudden aggression canceled the ursine's attempt at a follow up. Then Chuan got an even bigger surprise, the herbivore charged him. He actually charged forward. For once the meek herbivore really took the initiative.
Gouhin had a slight contradictory smile form across on his maw as San started striking swiftly and relentlessly against the panda's guard. Chuan was on the defensive now, forced back as the lanky camelid's advance. Swift strike after swift strike pushed the ursine back. Then San saw an opening.
After the panda deflected one of San's brazenly hard swings, he tried to answer back a few stabs of his own, but the llama immediately jerked his sword back and swung low. It was just the right moment, right as the bear pivoted off his heel.
Down went the young panda, falling to the floor hard.
The rabbit and elder panda sat there both silent, speechless as San stood over the Chuan. His young ursidae partner had a shocked gaping look upon his visage as well.
The confidence swelled within the young herbivore. He had done it again. He had bested panda twice!
The out of breath llama turned to see the look on Kyuu's face, wishing to relish in her hubris. Then suddenly he felt something grab his leg.
In a matter of moments, San found himself lying on his back looking up at the young panda now holding him at swordpoint.
"Haaa!" Chuan shouted breathlessly as he poked the surprised llama in the face with the tip of his bamboo sword. San was initially confused as he stared up at his partner bewildered, but then he realized what had gone wrong.
He screwed up again! The camelid thought. In his bravado he neglected to emit his kiai (shout) as he tripped Chuan nor had he struck him after so technically the match was still in play.
"That was a dirty move!" San weakly complained.
"Yeah, look who's talking, Shaggy. You froze up. But that's fighting." Chuan replied. "Dad will back me up though. You didn't finish our duel properly and you left yourself open." The panda still apologized, bowing before San and then extending his hand. "Great spar regardless."
San let his anger die down, and he took the bear's hand.
"That was wicked when you pressed your attack like that." Chuan said, pulling the other boy up. "That fearlessness of yours really caught me on the backfoot. The kids at school are going to think twice before picking on you if you hit 'em with that stuff dude." Chuan said as he slapped the camelid hard across the back.
San winced, and weakly smiled. "Ow, thanks." He said.
"Pfft, big deal you grew some balls for once." The rabbit jeered as she laughed at the llama. "Hahaha! You'll just screw up again next time anyway."
"Shut up!" San barked at her, annoyed as he took off his helmet. "You're just jealous I got to go and you didn't."
"Whatever, you know I'm right." She chided. "You're just as soft as your wool."
San furiously stuck his tongue out at her in response.
"Just because you're right doesn't mean you have to be a dick about it." Gouhin stated as he lightly slapped the rabbit upside her head for her freshness.
"Ooow." She cried. Though it was a light slap from him it still felt like a hard one for her. "How come you can curse?" She painfully asked, rubbing the back of her head.
"Because I'm not the child here." The panda gruffly replied, much to the rabbit's annoyance.
"All that said, they are both still correct, San." He softly admonished the young llama who handed the bear his sword. "The lesson you should take from that is: never underestimate your opponent. Not everyone plays fair. And when they are down never assume they are finished. Follow through or back away. Never give them a chance."
"Yes, Master Gouhin." The boy said, taking in his wisdom and brushing his sweaty hair out of his face.
"Should have been me." Kyuu continued to brag. "I'd have won that in twice the time. I'm better than the both of you easily."
"Get real." Chuan responded, both amused and a tad bit insulted. "You?"
"If Master would let us spar together, I'd show you just how real." She said, cracking her knuckles. "I beat San easy and San nearly beat you. Meaning I'm better."
"Better at running your mouth." Chuan fired back, jokingly.
Suddenly the rabbit found herself shrouded in shadows. She looked over her shoulder and saw the towering golem of a bear standing behind her. The elder panda's brow raised as he looked down at the little girl.
"How about I actually give you a chance?" The panda offered, casually snorting smoke down at her. "See if your behind can cash the checks your mouth is writing."
Her dark shaded face lit up at the prospects of going again. "Really?" She fist pumped as she walked out into the middle of the room and readied for another spar. "Chuan put your mask back on, we're going to go."
"Your funeral, Kyuu." The teenage panda said with a smug smile as he wiped the sweat from his brow.
The two eagerly smiled at one another as they took up their positions, however the elder panda placed his hand on his son's shoulder. "No. You head upstairs boy."
"But I thought she wa-" The younger panda protested.
"She is, but you got homework. Now run along." Gouhin stated.
"What? Am I fighting San again?!" The rabbit asked incredulously. "Are you kidding me?"
"No. You are facing me." Gouhin clarified.
"You? But," The rabbit jaw dropped slightly as the towering panda walked in front of her holding both their training sticks. "How am I going to fight you? How is that fair?"
"You said you could do better than both of them and you said yourself not to treat you delicately."
"That's not what I meant. I want to fight Chuan! Let me fight him!"
"SHUT YER YAP!" The panda exclaimed, his bombastic voice shook the cramped room like a small tremor.
His outburst frightened the young llama, who dropped his kendo stick and dove under the two's bunk bed, covering his eyes. Chuan hiding in the hallway, slightly poked his head back in through the door. Kyuu on the other hand stood there shook and frozen in place as the massive furious bear stood over her.
"If you're going to spew that arrogant bullshit, you best be able to back it up!" The panda barked. "Now I want to see how much better you are than your fellow pupils."
"Fine, give me my saber back then!" The rabbit squeaked back determined, apparently gaining some backbone. "I'll do it. I'll prove I'm your best student."
He walked past his stubborn pupil, and over towards a pot of Bamboo reeds that shot all the way up to the ceiling He placed both the bamboo sticks down and pulled the shortest from the bundle. He took the stick, inspecting it and bit down on the middle, snapping it in half with one decisive CRUNCH!
Kyuu was confused at the panda's actions, her eyes quivered as she observed the panda bear munch on the bamboo stem. Was he getting a quick snack in? She questioned herself.
The way he chewed the hard plant and the ease with which the hard stem had been broken in two unsettled the young girl a great deal. There was no hiding it. Seeing the bear crunch the hard object like that reminded her of the cruel handlers at the tower they grew up in, how they could snap an animal's bone in half with one bite whenever they ate lunch in front of the hungry children.
"S'matter….you scared or something?" The panda asked, taking notice of her fear as he gnawed at the stems.
The panda briefly inspected the length of the two individual sticks and began chewing them again down more voraciously until they were both roughly the size of a 12-inch ruler. He looked over to her, gauging her smaller frame and promptly tossed her both sticks which had been sharpened into knife style rods.
"You'll use these." Her teacher stated. "If you can hit me, land one clean hit with those...I will let you train with Chuan."
"What? How am I supposed to fight with these?" She asked, looking at the short weapons.
"Oh what? Are you complaining now?" The bear mocked the little girl. " I thought you were my best student ." He stated. "The best doesn't let fear control them. The best should be able to overcome any obstacle put in front of them. Aren't you supposed to be the best ?"
She held her tongue, as her cream fur turned a shade of red. She didn't wish to look weak in front of her contemporaries. She gauged her "daggers'' and got ready, while the panda stood in front of her seemingly unarmed. Her eyes widened as she began to wonder what he was going to fight with? His bamboo staff?
"I know what's going on in that little mind of yours." He said. Where is his weapon?" He dropped a long braided whip of bamboo vines to the floor. "Well this is my weapon."
"But I've never- That's not fai-" She stopped herself short. Just what he would be expecting, her to complain.
"Remember what I told San earlier. Your opponents will not always play fair or fight in ways you expect...and in your case that's going to be 90% of the time. But for my best pupil , that shouldn't be a problem right?" The panda humorously stated. His toothy grin was infuriating to the small bunny who grinded her teeth at him.
The female angrily adopted the ready stance she thought best suited the "knives" and prepared to engage. This was madness, she thought. She was fighting with weapons she was unfamiliar with and he had a significant reach advantage, how the hell is she going to fight that?!
The panda began to make space for the two of them, pushing the "bench", their couch, and their dining table fully across against the wall. He paused and looked over his shoulder. "Another thing, before we start. I'm noticing a lot of clutter in this room. Given how this room is filthy, I have a condition for you. If you fail to tag me, you are gonna clean this entire floor."
"What?" She asked.
"You heard me. Not just this room, this ENTIRE floor and it better be spotless when I get back from my patrol. Do you understand?" He said very sternly.
Words began to fail her as she thought about how big this part of the building truly was. There were six rooms in total down to the elevator not including the reception room. That'd take her all night to finish. Still she pushed such thoughts aside, she wouldn't lose. She wouldn't have any choice but to win.
"I'm gonna win." She declared, openly. "I will win!"
"That's the most positive thing you've said all night!" The black and white bear humorously commented as he assumed a fighting stance.
Both San and Chuan remained silent in their respective spots as the two squared off. Chuan kept his hand over his muzzle trying to hide his presence behind the doorway while the llama wisely kept his head down under their bunk beds. They knew the elder panda was fighting this could get violent real fast.
"Whenever you are ready." The panda said, starting to stretch his whip.
The young rabbit took the initiative, bounding towards the big panda with reckless abandon. Her sticks swung forward in a cross cut, however the hulking bear sidestepped and answered in kind by slamming the cord down on top of her.
The nimble bunny corrected her course, dodging to the side, barely avoiding the lashing. She saw very quickly he wasn't playing around with the way he hurled the vine. He either had a lot of faith in her skills or he was trying to teach her a hard lesson.
Gouhin recalled most of the slack and started rapidly whipping short lengths of cord at her, keeping her moving in a circle. He quickly shifted tactics and pulled a reverse 360 twist as he swung the vine laterally.
Her prey reactive speed was on point. The rabbit hopped and flipped over the low swinging rope. She landed on all fours and scrambled to her feet clumsily trying to get back in and attack.
The panda however gave himself enough slack to twirl the rope over his shoulder, slamming in down vertically again. Kyuu exercised great agility avoiding the crack of whip, however she was also feeling frustrated, unable to properly close the distance.
The Giant panda warrior recalled the vine once more and tracked her movement.
"How is the best pupil going to hit me I wonder?" He taunted. "Up top, down low? I don't have all night, girl."
The reckless youth took the bait after she came to a slide. She avoided another strike then broke into a sprint towards the bear who cracked the vine whip overhead. She screeched as she picked up speed. The attack came, but she anticipated it. Springing forward with a large bound, she hurled herself across the room with a rolling flip. The maneuver pushed her past the Panda by a great margin, but it still put her behind him. She knew about his damaged right eye, if she stayed in that zone she'd be able to move on him.
Trying to get into my blind spot huh, like the boy ? The panda thought. Nice try runt, but I'm no novice.
As soon as her foot hit the floor, the panda twirled the vine around his neck and sicced it back in an arc towards the incoming rabbit. The vine hissed like a striking snake as it sailed through the air.
Kyuu paid it no mind, she would beat it's arrival. The rabbit put it in fifth gear as she pushed herself forward. She was going to prove her worth.
"Aaaah!" She cried, stabbing at him trying to guide her stick at the panda's leg. The panda jerked his cord forward violently.
It was too late, she thought. You can't use it now, not when I'm this close!
Then she slipped. More accurately she was tripped.
The vine had formed a noose that lashed around her leg mid gait, and yanked her off her feet. In her rush to strike the bear, she failed to notice it.
"You still got a lot to learn..." Was the last thing she heard. Everything went black as the back of the rabbit's head bounced off the floor.
Chuan immediately rushed back in the room to scoop the fallen herbivore's limp form off the floor, while San continued to observe from his hiding spot, still shocked and unable to move.
"I thought I told you to get to work on your homework." The bear frowned at his son.
"Sorry, dad. I just wanted to make sure she'd be alright." The juvenile nervously replied as he worriedly slapped Kyuu's face trying to make sure she was okay. "She's out cold."
His father just sighed and began scrounging around in his pocket for something. "Just lay her on the sofa over there. I got just the thing" He produced a red smelling salt capsule from his pocket and held it up to the rabbit's face.
"Wake up! You ain't going to sleep on my time, so wake up!" He growled.
One whiff made the rabbit spring back to life. Kyuu groaned as she opened her eyes to a gaping maw full of sharp teeth in front of her face. She instantly recoiled, back out of instinctual fear. Her heart beating in her little chest. It took a moment before she realized where she was and that it was only her master, Gouhin.
You okay?" He asked her.
"I-I I'm fine, Master Gouhin." She said groggily. That was a lie, her ankle was sore. "I'm okay."
The panda shined a small light into her face trying to check her pupils. "Eyesight seems fine, seems reactive." He breathed a short sigh, brushing over her face with the smell of bamboo and tobacco. "I was too rough perhaps, I shoulda been more careful." Gouhin gruffly said. "But then again, this is precisely my point. This is why you aren't ready to spar with someone like Chuan."
The lop rabbit groaned disappointed and pulled at her ears as her eyes began to water.
"Don't give me that crybaby crap." Gouhin growled, as he pointed at the rabbit. "You lost. Yeah it hurts, but that's life for you. Now get over it. Toughen up. Take your failure and then you learn from it. For example, that attacking from the rear stuff. Don't rely too heavily on it." The panda chuckled. "I noticed both of you tried that little trick. It's a nice strategy, but it won't work every time. Always remember Monkeys and Lizards always know what time it is around 6' o'clock. Can anyone guess why?"
"Because of their tails?" San piped up, answering as he pulled himself out from his hiding place.
"That is exactly right." Gouhin said, very proud as he dusted San down when he came over to check in on his former cellmate. "That trick will rarely work on animals with the ability to cover their back. Try it against a monitor lizard or crocodile and you're going to end up on your back."
"Which is why you used your whip to cover your back." The rabbit reasoned, fighting back her sobbing. "That was a lesson, wasn't it?"
"So you are learning." The panda said, folding his arms. "Good, well here is another lesson for you to learn… consequences. Like your end of the wager. This place... spotless when I get back."
Kyuu groaned even more as sank into the seat.
"Get to it. I'll be back by morning." The panda ordered as he picked up his crossbow and left.
Kyuu wiped away her tears and sniffed as she just stared out into space.
"Had us scared there for a few seconds." San said, catching her attention. Both him and Chuan leaned against the sofa. Chuan looked the more cheerful of the two.
"That was intense." The teenage panda said, with a smile reminiscent of his father's when he rescued them. It only made the rabbit more annoyed.
"How long was I out?" She asked, rubbing the back of her head before peeling herself free from the old couch and started limping towards a broom. Chuan quickly caught up with her and tried to support her, but she pushed him away. "Don't need your help."
"No need to strain yourself." He said backing up.
"How long was I out like that?" The young rabbit gruffly asked again, trying to make it across the room despite the ache in her leg. "How long was I looking so pathetic."
"Not long." Chuan said. "Dad got you right back up with the smelling salt." He lightly punched her tiny shoulder. "Just relax. Ain't no one judging you here anyway."
"We ought to." San said, scowling at her. "You and that attitude always gets you and us into trouble. Always picking fights bigger than you. You're the reason we need these lessons."
"He's right you know." Chuan said, walking next to her just in case she actually fell. "You should just give up trying to punch outside of your weight class."
"I'm not giving up." She declared, punching the young panda hard in the shoulder. The panda barely felt anything and she almost tipped over, however he caught her. "I'm going to get better!" She shouted. "One day I'm going to knock you down and I'm gonna knock him down!"
Chuan covered his mouth trying to suppress his snickering in order to not piss her off more. "Whatever you say."
"Rex, you are so hardheaded." San said, palming his face. "We could use you as a battering ram and probably knock out a wall."
"Yeah and I can use you as a feather duster. Maybe I should." The rabbit shot back as she started to sweep. She paused. "Did-did I stand a chance at getting him before my lights went out? Like how close was I?" She asked.
"Nope." San answered, almost smug. "Not even close. He yanked you like a rag doll."
"Monkeys and lizards." She grumbled. "Sounds like a nursery rhyme."
"He's not wrong." San said as he pushed the couch back in place. "Animals like that tend to have a lot of control over their tails. Be bad news if you came up behind them." He started picking up dirty clothes off the floor while Chuan started sweeping himself.
"What are you guys doing?" She asked. "I'm supposed to clean up."
"Like you're gonna clean this whole floor up by yourself in a few hours?" Chuan asking, flashing his trademark confident smile. "Get real."
"Yeah someone has to help you clean up your mess." San said, dumping the clothes in a hamper. "I've been doing it ever since we first met, so I'm used to it by now anyway."
Present day - The Defunct Livestock Tower's shower room - The following Friday
Water continued to pelt San's wool as he stood inside the old dingy shower room, reminiscing. A dry smile spread on his face as he pondered if his cell mate even remembered that night. He twisted the valves to turn off the water and began to towel up.
"Probably not because she tried it with this Pao guy." He mused out loud. "Gouhin-sama probably would have laughed his ass off at her."
He still needed more information on the monkey to analyze, not getting behind him wasn't really enough to form a strategy. He would hopefully get it though as he planned to head down to the arena in a few minutes. Really he was going to see Priscilla, they had made arrangements, but it would be a great opportunity to check out her competition while he was down there, maybe even catch a few fights.
As he got dressed to head out he heard loud thuds and grunts echoing down the hall. Obviously it was her . Sounded like she was back to training again, hitting their poor beast's version of a heavy bag. Kyuu didn't have her fight today thankfully and she should be resting so her body could heal, but she was just hardheaded. She could never leave well enough alone. Always been that way. It was good on one hand she wanted to stay in shape, but she didn't need to risk injuring herself even more than she was.
"What am I going to do with you?" He murmured to himself as he headed down the hall, tucking his pistol into his waistband. "Time to go play coach."