Chapter Five: The Asked For Sparring Session...

Zane examined the room that Ahsoka had brought him to for their sparring match. It appeared to be specifically designed for sparring matches, something he could appreciate since it reminded him of the sparring arena that the old monastery used to have. "What fighting style are we using?" Zane fingered the hilt of his elemental blade, curious about what fighting technique she apparently knew.

"What do you mean by that?" Ahsoka knitted her eyebrows together in confusion. "Everyone specializes in different saber forms...but I never heard of anyone requesting that the person they are sparring with use a certain form."

Zane blinked, before shaking his head slowly. "My apologies. Back in Ninjago there are many different hand to hand combat fighting styles that can be adapted to use a variety of weapons as well. I meant that as in, do you know any particular fighting style."

"I see..." Ahsoka made a mental note to ask him how many different styles he knew later, before answering his question. "I'm afraid that I don't know what fighting style you would call what we learn back at the Temple, so can we just do whatever comes to naturally to us?" She frowned as she noticed that Kai had slipped into the room behind them.

Zane nodded, not even looking back at Kai. "Of course." He shifted his weight slightly, getting into a strange looking starting position.

Kai grinned, leaning against the wall near Rex and a few others. "This'll be good. There's only one person that can beat Zane last I checked."

Zane rolled his eyes at him, but didn't deny it as he activated his white saber. "Let the sparring match begin."

Ahsoka made the first move, slicing at him as she flipped over him, both of her blades humming to life. Zane easily blocked the blows, before landing a few quick ones of his own. Ahsoka rolled to the side as he jabbed her hard in the side...though not enough to injure her. Eyes widening in surprise, she realized that Kai knew what he was talking about apparently. This was going to be fun... said no one.

Zane fought the urge to sigh as he realized that she, interestingly enough fought similarly to Jay and Nya. She knew she was small compared to her opponent so she was using speed and a variety of flips to try and throw him off. Interesting. "Interesting. You fight like Jay and Nya. More speed and flips than standing still and letting your opponent come to you."

Confusion briefly flashed across her face, just as Kai hollered back to her. "Chill...that just means you're giving him a bit more of a challenge than he thought possible. He'll still beat you."

Ahsoka scowled at Kai, before turning back to Zane. She had to admit, that he was able to determine what her technique basically was in such a short time period was pretty impressive... She just didn't like how Kai was here watching them spar. Zane seemed undisturbed that he was there though, which just made it obvious that they were used to each other's presence. Thud. She blinked rapidly as she lay on the ground, a sharp gasp escaping her. Zane stood over her, his expression still blank. Annoyance flared up inside of her as she realized that she hadn't even sensed his movement in the force do to how still he kept his force presence. Not even Obi-wan Kenobi and Yoda could keep their force presence that still. "I'm impressed."

"Thank you." His voice was still annoyingly devoid of emotion as he offered her a hand up.

Rex coughed from where he was watching the sparring match...Anakin right next to him. "Say...have you ever sparred with Kai? Just this hand to hand combat thing. No weapons."

Zane's eyes briefly flashed, displaying some emotion for a second there, though it was hard for Ahsoka to catch what it was. Kai swallowed hard as he shifted slightly, biting his bottom lip. "You don't have to if you don't want to icicle."

Ahsoka frowned, recalling how Kai had called his brother that at the meal earlier...and yet she had no idea why. Thinking back on what she knew of him so far, maybe she did know why. Zane shook his head, before bracing himself, slipping his weapon make into its place. "No no… I just needed a moment to figure out a good plan to actually beat you this time."

Rex straightened up, surprise flashing across his features. "Wait...I thought you said Kai was lower than you in this belt system you use to measure one's progress. Now you're saying that he's the one that he mentioned that could defeat you in a spar?" Rex narrowed his eyes. "How does that work?"

Zane grimaced as he shifted his footing, glancing over at Kai. "That is for Kai to explain to you." Turning to face Kai, he lowered himself into a stiff bow, Kai copied the movement in sync with him. "Junbi wa ī? Setto… supā!" Zane spoke firmly in a strange language, before suddenly sidestepping Kai who swung a fist to his left.

Apparently that must have been a feint since Zane stumbled as Kai's right leg caught him off guard. Ahsoka's eyes widened as she watched… and quickly realized a difference in their fighting techniques. Zane was smooth and slow for the most part, and when he moved fast, he was almost a blur...Kai on the other hand was fast and furious with none of Zane's calmness. That and unlike Zane, whom she still couldn't pick much up on his force presence, Kai's force presence was flooded with intense emotions...though she was a bit disoriented over the sliver of worry that seemed to be trying ot push through his anger and frustration.

Almost as suddenly as their spar started it ended. Zane frowned as he took a step back from the knocked down Kai, stretching a hand out to him. "Yame nasai."

Kai sighed as he dejectedly repeated after him. "Yame nasai."

Zane knelt down next to him, his expression still blank. "Kai...I know that I only won because you were too busy thinking about the others back home and how you can't keep them safe clear out here."

Kai rolled his eyes as he pulled his knees to his chest. "I know...I know. Sensei has told me this close to a million times. It's just...me. K?"

"I know hothead." Zane smiled softly, before standing up suddenly. "Let's go get some rest and talk some more about this. Hitori de."

Kai nodded in understanding, before standing up and leaving with him. Ahsoka watched them go, vaguely wondering if she'll ever understand what went through their minds...

A/N: Ok about the whole Kai and Zane speaking another language...I figured that sense Ninjas are from Japan that it would make sense for them to be able to speak Japanese. All they said is Set, ready, go. And then cease at the end of the spar. The last thing Zane said is one word... alone. Hinting that he doesn't quite trust their rescuers yet.

Thank you for reading this so far!