Chapter 7
(Inari POV)
Intense. That's how I would describe this stand-off. Neither of us moving, waiting for the other to make the first move. I controlled my breathing, so I show no sign of fear or doubt. Levi and I were perfect mirror images of each other. He looked so calm and stoic; it was unnerving, but I'll be damned if I show him that. Maybe I should make the first move, in order gain the upper hand. I clench my right fist and begin to tense up, preparing to lunge forward, but just as I do, Levi does the same. I quickly fake a right punch, planning to drive my knee up into his ribs, when suddenly, I feel a pain in my own ribs. Damn, he's fast! He drove his own knee into my ribs, and readied his fist for a kidney shot. I blocked this easily, then ramming my elbow into his jaw, driving him downwards for my awaiting knee. He dodged it, dive rolling to the side. Back to square one. My right side hurts from where he hit me first, but I won't give him the ego boost. If I show pain, I might as well be titan fodder.
"You're fast, I'll admit that, Levi," I say.
"Show respect to your authorities, you brat! It's Corporal, to you!" He quips, cracking his neck.
"From where I come from, respect is earned! After your indecency this morning, you are far from earning it from me, Levi," I yell, emphasizing his name.
"Indecency? Me? I'm not the one who was so brazenly-"
Before he has time to finish that outrageous remark, I lunge for him. Damn, he pisses me off! I jump forward, aiming a hard superman punch to his face, but as I'm about to connect my fist with his eye, he disappears. What?! There, in my peripheral vision, I see his silver eyes and his handsome smirk. He then spins and back kicks me square in my stomach, sending me backwards. I land on my back, the air knocked out of my lungs.
Suddenly, Levi is above me, straddling my hips, ready to knock my lights out. I crane my head left, his punch connecting with the ground beside my ear. I've got to get him off! I buck my hips upwards, to unsteady him a bit, as I drive a straight leg up, ramming him the spine. He fumbles forward, his weight releasing me. I quickly shimmy away from him. I stand and ready my fists. Once again, we square off. I've had enough of this! Time to end this! I don't hesitate to attack, quickly sliding a dagger from its hidden sheath. He faints left, but not before I slash at his arm, shedding blood.
"So the brat is true to her roots. Fighting dirty, like the Underground slums from where she is from," Levi teases, baiting me on.
I grit my teeth, letting my rage cloud my vision, but just as it floods my veins, it quickly recedes. I feel pain rip across my front and feel a growing wetness slick my shirt. I look down and see that I have large slash running from my right hip up to my left collarbone, oozing my precious blood. My lungs heave and I spit up blood. My knees wobble, weak from blood loss, but I steady myself. I refuse to lose to this bastard! As I glance up, I notice that he now stands shoulder to shoulder with me.
He leans into my ear and whispers, "I, too, fight dirty."
I growl and leap away from him, throwing two knives his way. He blocks one with his own dagger, but the second plunges into his right thigh. He doesn't even flinch. God damn! My vision begins to blur as my mind fogs. Levi lunges at me, not even hindered by the knife in his leg. He goes to stab my ribcage, but I quickly bend backwards, kicking my feet upwards, kicking his jaw. I stand again and cough up more blood.
…
(Levi POV)
She's feisty and driven I'll give her that. She is so different from her sister. Isabel was loud, gentle, and such a silly girl. But, Inari, she is sly, devious, and aggressive. I rub my jaw, where her foot recently connected. I watch her closely; she spits up more blood. She is quick witted and doesn't mind getting her hands dirty. If my intuition is correct, she has a hunger for survival like no other cadet here, just like me.
I feel my thigh quake. I'm losing too much blood. My right leg is about to give, but I can't show her that she's harmed me so much. I must assert my dominance and prove my point.
"You've got fire, brat. But any flame can be snuffed out. You better give up," I say.
"I will never give up. Not until Isabel and I are free to fly," Inari screams, a new rush of adrenaline pushing her on.
"She is already flying," I say under my breath, too low for anyone to here. I look to Erwin, and he nods. Time to end this.
Just as I go to lunge, I see a blur of flame-colored hair brush my cheek, and pain in my chest. She slashed me, just like I did to her earlier. Fuck!
"My flame can't be put out. Those who try, only get burned," she yells.
I spin on my heels, rage clouding my judgement, and aim my own dagger at her back, but the shrill sound of a whistle stops me.
"That's enough, Corporal! I'd like my best student to live, thank you very much. I will call this match a draw. Cadets, you are all dismissed. Those of you injured, please go to the infirmary!" Commander Shadis calls out.
"Tsk. Watch your back, Cadet Magnolia," I seethe and walk away from the ring. I need this knife out of my leg.
"Likewise, Levi." I hear her say back.
…
(Inari POV)
I pass up going to the infirmary. I've dealt with worse injuries. I fill up a bucket of hot, soapy water and a clean rag. I carry it back to my cabin and strip from my bloody clothes. I clean my wound thoroughly, biting my lip to suppress the pain.
"Holy shit, Inari!"
Oh bother!
"What the hell are you thinking? You need to go to the infirmary right now!" Kitty yells at me as she bursts through the door.
Ignoring her, I put the now bloody rag in the bucket and take out my emergency kit. I take out a sterile needle and surgical thread. I cut off a long strand with my teeth and thread it through the eye of the needle.
"Inari! Don't you dare! It'll get infected!" Petra pipes up, grabbing my arm.
"I've done this hundreds of times, guys. Leave me alone," I say, shrugging off Petra's hand. I sit on my bed in only my uniform pants and begin stitching up my large wound.
"I don't understand how you can do that without morphine to numb the pain. You are one tough cookie," Kitty sighs and sits across from me at the end of my bed. Petra soon relaxes and leans against the headboard, watching me closely.
When I close up my wound, I tie off the stitch, cut the thread, and take a well-needed deep breath.
"Now, I need to feel numb, or tonight I won't get a wink of sleep," I say, packing up my emergency kit.
Petra and Kitty give me a questioning look.
"Time to get blazingly drunk. Anyone want to join?" I laugh getting up from my bed. I put on a clean baby blue shirt. Not wanting to rip my stitches, I decide against wearing a bra.
"I'm always down to drink," Kitty chirps.
"Why not? It should be fun," Petra agrees. She's come out of her shell over the past two years, letting her true colors show. She's not a shy flower anymore. More like a rose with thorns. She can be both tough and beautiful.
But she is still the mother of our little trio. Petra helps me with my boots and together, all three of us head to the mess hall, ready to end to night right.
