CHAPTER TWELVE: FINISHING THE DUEL

Kopaka turned to face Tahu, his arm still dripping blood, and pointed his spear at him. "You are starting to get on my nerves, Tahu," he said in his usual monotone, "Whatever is eating you must be suffering terribly."

Tahu snarled at him, reminiscent of a rabid Muaka rather than a Toa, and lunged forward. Kopaka sidestepped and kicked out at his adversary, sending him flying into one of the unyielding pillars that surrounded the Kini. Rather than knocking Tahu out, as Kopaka had hoped, it merely served to make an already enraged Toa even angrier.

"Oh for the love of…" cried a voice, "You both STOP!"

Kopaka paused, his spear inches from Tahu's face as the other's swords were close to his neck. They turned to face the speaker, and found Takanuva standing in the clearing. The once timid chronicler now carried an air of superiority, and he was exploiting it now. His arms were folded across his chest, and he was glaring through his mask at the two fighters. "What in Mata-Nui's name is going on here?"

Tahu kicked Kopaka away from him, "This Traitor kidnapped Gali!" he shouted, pointing an accusatory finger at his brother. Kopaka spit some blood from his mouth and stood up, brushing himself off. "Untrue – she came to me out of her own free will."

Takanuva walked forward and seized both Toa by the scruff of their necks. He slammed their heads together, effectively stunning them both. Gali blinked in surprise, and Lewa howled in amusement.

"What the hell were you thinking?" yelled Takanuva, dropping the two Toa on their behinds, "You could have killed each other."

"I know," said Kopaka. This was a contrast to Tahu's "That was the point."

Takanuva gave Tahu a glare that could have killed a Matoran, but sadly not a Toa. He turned to Gali, "Did Kopaka kidnap you, or did you go to him?"

She smiled, "I went to go see him because Tahu hurt him," she said, calmly.

Now it was Tahu's turn to blink in surprise. "Say what?"

Onua stepped forward, "Tahu, you may not have realized what you were doing, but I believe you broke Kopaka's leg during that fight in the Onu-Koro Tunnels."

Tahu stared at Kopaka, who was glaring icily at him. Tahu was absolutely unwilling to see the fact that a Toa with a broken leg had been his equal in a duel. "No way, I think he's faking it."

Kopaka stepped forward, crouching down in front of Tahu. "Go see the healer in Ko-Koro; she examined my leg," he said, "Unless you can't take the cold."

Tahu's fist shot out, punching Kopaka onto his back. The white Toa stood up, rubbing his lip. "Your social skills need work," he said, dryly.

"This coming from the most antisocial of us!" spat Tahu in return. Takanuva sighed and smacked both of them.

"Both of you, return to your respective Koro," he ordered, "You two are not to mingle with each other, other than on missions should they arise."

Kopaka turned on his heel, "Fine with me."

Tahu snorted, "What kind of punishment is that for a Toa who spends more time on top of his little hill anyway?" he asked, turning to Takanuva. The golden Toa merely gave him a glare that promised bone breakage if he wasn't quiet, and looked back to Kopaka.

"You are both to return to your Koro, is that clear?"

Tahu mumbled something rude (and thankfully inaudible) and stormed out of the clearing. Kopaka turned and walked out of the clearing.

"Toa-Brother!" exclaimed Lewa after a moment, "Wait for me!"

Gali gave one last glance at Tahu's retreating back and then followed Kopaka, leaving Takanuva standing in the clearing with Onua and Pohatu.

"And YOU," growled the Toa of Light, rounding on the other two, "Why didn't you stop him? You were supporting him!"

Onua stepped forward, "Tahu had us believing that Kopaka had, indeed, kidnapped Gali."

Takanuva made an ushering motion with his hand, "Fine. Just, go back to your Koro."

The other two turned and ran off, thankful they hadn't incurred Takanuva's wrath.