Chapter 14: part 3

Azami crouched into an attacking position. Both eyes narrowed into two small slits as she gauged her opponent. After taking in three steady breaths she prepared herself for what seemed to be an interesting fight. The moment her slender hands wrapped themselves around the handle of her blade she sprang into action.

Ai barely had to brace for the attack, Azami's first attack came in the form of a vicious downwards slash, what followed next was a series of relentless attacks. When Ai thought one move was executed, it only turned out to be the prelude of another. Ai broke the offensive and jumped backwards to a safe distance.

Ai sneered, and then smiled. "You're good." she said bluntly. Azami in spite of herself wore a smile on her face "Your skills are impressive as well." Ai shifted into a strange stance, her other leg was slightly ahead of the other, she held a switchblade up front defensively, the other she kept behind her. Azami's eyebrow shot into the air, this is an odd stance. Did the woman actually expect to be able to block her attacks with just one dagger? Ai lunged forward at top speed, apparently she did. The woman was confident with her skill it seemed.

Azami was surprised to find herself inching into a slow retreat. Ai was moving in such a way that she could hardly predict the woman's moves anymore, each stroke and slash was remarkable fluid and graceful. Each step forward Ai took, the more Azami struggled with the attacks.

Seeing this Lei decided to intervene, but before he could do anything Azami shot him a cold bone-chilling glance. He sighed. She would rather die than let a guy save her he supposed. Her expression softened "I know your injured… You didn't have to lie to me."

"Die already!" Ai screamed as she lashed out a flurry of slashes too quick to be seen by the naked eye. Azami saw an opening, a half-second delay, and this always happened after she had delivered several slashes in rapid succession. Strange. Azami dove in for a vicious swipe, her blade drew blood. Ai quickly bolted backwards, she held both daggers to her front defensively.

Ai gritted her teeth, the katana had cut through her shoulder pad and bit through her skin. It wouldn't hinder her movements, but the blood dripping out from her shoulders would pose a problem if the battle was prolonged.

"Did you know how much that halter-top and that custom made shoulder pad cost!." she shouted bitterly. Azami sighed "I wouldn't, skimpy clothing isn't part of my wardrobe." She replied coldly. Ai discarded the shoulder pad and tore off the remains of the net like halter top, leaving only her bra to clothe her torso. She didn't like feeling so exposed, but the shredded armor would merely flap with every move she made, she didn't want to risk getting distracted. "I'm going to make you pay." she spat bitterly. Ai lunged forwards, this time she attacked with renewed vigor.

Ai spun around, twirling both daggers with uncanny precision. She struck low, she followed that with a kick which the swordswoman narrowly avoided. Still not contented she flung her body upwards in a rising thrust that would have been fatal, if Azami had not parried it with her sheath.

Azami looked at Ai menacingly "Did you really think I would let my guard down?" it was more of a statement that a question.

Ai blinked stupidly, but it should have cut the sheath into two halves, unless it were "A metal saya?" Azami smirked—that soon was replaced with a frown. Ai's rising kick caught her off guard, she narrowly avoided it but what surprised her most was a built in switchblade hidden underneath Ai's sole. Azami slid back instinctively, saving her from what would have been a fatal strike. She looked at her chest, her robes had literally been torn into two halves. That was too close. That blade tore through the fabric and she could swear she felt the tip of the cold metal blade on her skin for a moment.

"Now were even." Ai chuckled. Azami re-sheathed her katana. She impatiently flung her hair aside, a wry smile crawling into the corner of her lips. She had taken great risks to confirm it, but with Ai's last display she knew her theory was right. Ai smirked at Azami. "What are you smiling about?" the kendo girl didn't reply, she just extended her hand in a receiving gesture.

Ai needed no incentive, she lunged forward. Her attacks were as relentless and as quick as ever. But every strike, every thrust and slash. Be it from above, from the side or from below Azami effectively blocked with little to no effort. Ai broke away from her.

"How did you do that!" Ai pointed an accusing finger towards the girl.

Azami sheated her blade smiling contentedly "Your rhythm."

"Huh?"

"It's movements were reminiscent of a dancer's."

"You noticed."

"Yes. That fluid grace, that rhythm, I've seen that many times during my excursion to Comodo."

Ai gritted her teeth. The girl was able to think that up during their bout.

"You merely integrated your own dagger techniques into an already worthy fighting style, the style gypsies from Comodo use for self—" her sentence was abruptly cut off by two daggers aimed at her head, she blocked the first and slapped the second aside with her sheath. Azami's eyes snapped open, she had left herself open and now was reaping the consequences. Ai had a retractable crossbow aimed at her head.

"You are too talkative." Ai licked her lips "Would you like a nice new hole between those eyes."

Azami swallowed hard, she dropped her sword and sheath and looked Ai into the eyes. The woman chuckled "It's been great Azami-san."

Azami shut her eyes close, the audible click of the trigger and the sound of the bolt being released terrified her. She expected a little pain before the end but felt nothing. Azami's eyes went wide with both shock and surprise. "Lei..?" she muttered under her breath. He released the silver bolt in his hands and grinned.

The mage was glowing brighter than ever, his hands crackled with energy. He uttered the final verses of an experimental spell he had created during his spare time. A small sphere of green light swallowed the three.

"What is this!" she asked with her loudest voice. The strong winds within the sphere drowned anything less than a shout. "It's a binding spell." he shouted back. The effect however was different from what Lei had hoped for.

The binding energies created an extremely powerful field of gravity. Meaning anything that contained metal would be drawn to the runes underneath them. Weapons, the metal cuffs on their uniform sleeves, buttons and anything remotely metallic.

Azami blushed furiously and blinked stupidly, she was left with nothing but her knickers on. "Y-You're wearing a G-sting!" he muttered unconsciously. Lei couldn't take his eyes off her nude form. His wandering eyes darted from her face, to her chest and everything else.

The belt must've pulled the skirt down… and the metal cuffs on the sleeves must've pulled the blouse down, considering the fact that it was torn already it would've made everything easier. And from what he remembered bra's had those metal hooks and metal wires.

Ai quickly jumped backwards and escaped. Azami was too embarrassed to talk, she quickly covered up her breast with her arms. "L-Lei..." her eyes shifted from his reddening face to the huge stiffening bulk in his boxers. "I-I…" he was at a loss for words. He couldn't help but notice that her breast jiggled with even the slightest movements. 'Was she really that big? I never noticed.' he thought.

Azami's eyes were murderous "Y-You!" she waved an accusing finger at Lei. He inched away, swallowed hard and ran to the opposite direction. Unfortunately he tripped on Ai's utility belt.

Azami slowly approached him, eyes burning with rage. Her trembling hands were rolled into a fist and…

A high pitched scream could be heard from within the drama club's room.