The group leisurely made their way from the kitchen to the large deck overlooking a well manicured lawn. Off in the distance some tennis courts and basketball courts could be seen. Closer to the house a path could be seen leading into the woods. Off to the left was an enclosed area that looked to be translucent with a dome above. 'Perhaps it's a pool.' Xander thought. However, as amazing as the property seemed, it was the objects at his feet that was truly holding his attention.
Before Xander, arrayed on the deck, was an assortment of swords. Rapier, Sabre, Claymore, and Katana sat next to one another, their blades glistening in the mid-morning sun. Reaching down he grasped the rapier and brought it to eye level. While eyeing the sleek blade and a hilt that looked to be more a work of art, Duncan began to talk.
In a sad voice Duncan said, "That blade is similar to the one I had first given to my last student" Xander was about to ask about his last student but could see Adam shaking his head 'No', so he decided not to ask questions on that.. "That has a swept hilt covering the handle. It will do well in protecting your hand when defending yourself. The rapier itself is good for both cutting and thrusting." Taking a deep breath Duncan regarded him with a smile and put some cheer into his tremulous voice. "It is an excellent weapon and will be sure to serve you well."
Nodding his head as he placed the sword back in its place he then tried to get a feel for the Sabre, and Claymore. It was when he held the Katana that a smile emerged from his face. Holding the sword in front of him, he took a few steps away from everyone before turning around. He twirled the sword a few times, feeling the balance of the blade like he had seen Giles and Buffy do. The nondescript Katana itself was simply a traditional one that would be found at most martial arts studios, but it felt right and evenly balanced in his hands. Turning around to face Duncan, and the rest, he found them to be wearing similar grins. Well, almost all of them. Joe seemed to be cursing himself for placing what had obviously been a bet against a unanimous opinion of the others. Xander's own smile deepened and looking at Adam and Duncan he said, "I think I found my sword."
Adam, Amanda, and Duncan were all grinning. Joe continued cursing his stupidity gaining a snicker from Adam. Judging from their reactions, Xander thought to himself that he had made the proper choice. Amanda decided that they had stood around for long enough and kindly reminded Duncan that he and Adam were going to put on a demonstration by having a friendly little sparring match. Duncan looked at Adam, who was smirking at him, and gave him a smirk of his own.
Extending his hand towards the plush lawn that lay behind the house he beckoned, "Age before beauty." This got a grin from Amanda, a snort from Joe, a curious look from Xander, and a glare from Adam. Duncan's smirk only deepened as he chuckled while walking behind a mumbling Adam. Xander looked them over curiously as they walked away from him and towards the yard. He thought it strange that they were wearing normal clothes, and jackets, when it wasn't really that cold outside. But more than that neither man seemed to be carrying a sword with which to spar!
Looking over at Amanda, who seemed to be peering at him intently, he asked her about it. The only response he got was a not-so-innocent smile, before she took him by the arm and led him towards the pair that were now conversing quietly ahead of them. Joe waited a moment before joining them, quietly pondering who would wind up being this kid's Watcher. Shaking off the thought he made his way towards the group.
Walking from the deck, Adam made sure they were out of earshot before he began speaking to Duncan
"Go easy on the 'Old Man' routine. I know I can explain it to his satisfaction, but I would prefer to not outright lie to the child." Giving Duncan a penetrating stare he continued. "And he is in no way ready to know about my past...even that I have a past." Adam's eyes became softer and hint of sadness tainted his voice. "I don't believe that I'm quite ready to tell him so soon anyways."
Putting his hand on Adam's shoulder, he gave it an affectionate squeeze. When Adam looked him in the eyes, Duncan simply gave a short nod. Adam gave one back and a small grin formed onto his face causing a similar one to form on Duncan's.
"Well…let's put on a show for your new student." Adam only gave a quick nod while he glanced back towards Alexander, who seemed to be staring at them with a somewhat confused expression on his face. Looking back towards Duncan he gave a sigh.
"Duncan…you can't hold back on this spar." Seeing Duncan's confused stare he explained. "I want Alexander to see just what he is up against. I've seen him in action…he thinks quick and won't hold back if someone is in danger." Looking at Duncan intently he continued. "He also told me he has had some small amount of training with kendo sticks. I won't have him overconfident in his abilities, because that will get him killed." Duncan gave his own sincere nod, his eyes becoming sorrowful with painful experiences from the past. "I want him to be shocked and awed by our spar. It's the main reason I asked you to do this." He gave another quick glance towards Xander, who was walking towards them with Amanda, Joe a few paces behind them. Looking back at Duncan he told him, "I also want you to start him on his sword training. I haven't taught anyone in a long time."
Duncan thought it over for a few moments before responding. "That's fine. We'll do what we must to make sure that problem doesn't happen." With a far-off look in his eyes he continued. "I won't let it happen…not again." When his eyes seemed to come back to the present he gave Adam a lopsided smile and a quick nod as Amanda, Xander, and Joe made their way over.
"Well…now that you are all here Duncan and I can begin. Please stay back and give us some room."
Xander watched as Adam and Duncan began to take a few paces away from one another while circling each other. Then, at approximately the same moment, both men pulled swords from their jackets. His eyes grew large in wonder. 'Where the hell did they pull those from.' Looking over at Amanda, he gave her a quick once over. It was one that she apparently didn't miss, as she gave him a knowing smirk. Shaking his head he put his attention back onto Adam and Duncan.
Adam's sword seemed plain, yet beautiful. The sword was about 40" overall, the blade closer to 32". The handle and guard seemed to be of bronze. Duncan's sword was a Katana. He figured he shouldn't have been surprised by this revelation, but it was still shocking. Like Adam's sword it was battle ready and well cared for. The sword looked deadly and in Duncan's hand it looked even more so. While he could not make out the pattern at the moment, the ivory grip shaped in the pattern of a dragon's head was truly the work of a master. Looking down at the sword he had chosen, he realized he was off to a good start. His sword, as it was right then, was a traditional Katana, with no real way to distinguish it from another. Duncan's katana was individual, unique. Perhaps it was part of his own identity, and while Xander had this sword to train with, he was looking forward to gaining his own unique blade.
He was interrupted from his musings as both swordsmen, through some sort of silent agreement, charged each other. The swords clanged with the sharp sound of metal hitting metal. After a few, yet quick strokes, Xander's eyes widened in awe at the skill being displayed before him. Starting slowly they suddenly amped their sparring to the point where they were going with such great speed it was almost unnatural. They were parrying, blocking, and attacking without breaking their stride. It looked to be a well choreographed dance. A dance of death that was beautiful to behold. It amazed him and terrified him at the same time. If he were able to pay attention to the other spectators he would have seen their somewhat awed expressions as well. If it were at all possible, Xander's eyes widened even fuller as Adam took a swing at Duncan's head which he quickly dodged and went to counter. Separating from each other they were both grinning and Duncan gave a quick chuckle.
"That's pretty good Adam. But why not bring it up a few levels…shall we?" He received a nod from Adam before they both started smirking at the dazed expressions coming from their spectators. And with that small breather their sparring match continued.
They began to move with more speed. Where they had been holding back slightly as a warm up spar, well that was no longer necessary. Duncan knew that he was more than skillful with a blade. He had been told so many times. Quite a few of those times had been by Adam himself. He also knew that one did not get to become as old as Adam was without a great amount of skill himself. After all the man had probably forgotten more than Duncan had learnt. It was this skill he was showing now. He remembered to the last quick spar they had.
It had been just after they first met. Adam was willing to sacrifice his own life to help Duncan best another immortal, Kalas. There he made no competition of the match. He even told him it wasn't always the one with the greater skill that would win. There was more to it than that. There was a fire, a burning passion to live. It was something that Adam had told Duncan he was lacking, had been lacking for quite some time.
Looking into his eyes now, Duncan could see that there was passion in Adam's eyes. It warmed his heart to see that in his friend. That fire may not be all consuming, but it was there. Adam still had a lot to get through, a lot to get past, he was sure of it. Duncan could only hope that Adam's student, Alexander, would help build that fire within him. He wasn't sure why, but he felt that the child would do just that. This brought a grin to his face as he upped his moves. He was going to make sure that Alexander knew what he was getting into and was as prepared as possible. Alexander may not be his direct student, but he was sure the boy would soon become kin to him. And as a MacLeod, he would always look out for one of his own.
Xander was almost dumb struck by the display of skill being put forth. When they had started he would have given them a 50/50 shot against a slayer. But now he could see that even a slayer would be hard pressed to defend themselves against an immortal. When he thought about it, he was able to take down a vamp or two. And they were at least 4 times stronger and faster than your average human. So it wouldn't be impossible for an immortal or even a mortal to take down a slayer. He had hoped that their strength, along with their instinctive fighting ability, would have made it near impossible for anyone, not of a demonic nature, to kill one of them. But with the skill these two immortals were displaying there was no way that even Buffy would last against either of them. After all a master swordsman with centuries of skill and near instantaneous healing, even faster than a slayer's, could probably take out a slayer without breaking a sweat. And it was this thought that scared the hell out of him.
The two sparring immortals were really going at it. It was hard to tell who was attacking and who was defending. At some points it seemed as thought they were each doing both. They moved so quick, with such proficiency, it was beautiful in its deadliness. Then, as quickly as it all started, it finished. Duncan parried an overhead blow from Adam. Using Adam's momentum against him, Duncan swept Adam's leg from under him causing him to fall flat on his back. Even though Adam was still clutching his sword, and could have moved aside, he called it quits
Turning his head slightly, Adam looked up at Duncan. Grinning up at him he complimented him. "That was a good match Duncan."
With a grin of his own, he took the katana away from Adam's neck and held out his hand to help Adam up. Grasping each other's hand, Duncan pulled him up, and made a show of dusting off the back of Adam's jacket.
Looking at Duncan with humor dancing in his eyes he gave his thanks.
"No problem." There was humor in his voice and a small smirk on his face. Then Duncan turned towards the spectators and pointed towards Xander. With a grin on his face he spoke. "So…I guess your next."