Disclaimer: Even after all these years...

A/N: I'M SO SORRY. Junior year, homework and whatnot... Man, I missed you guys! It's just been really hectic-more than usual... I started instructing! Which has taken up 75% of my time.. But yeah, sorry again and here's Chapter 17!

Tokkaaaaa!

Sokka sits down, looking all smug.

I mean... I guess he has a reason.

That was a pretty rad fight.

Not that I'll ever admit that. Out loud.

"Alright, now for the main attraction!" Mr. Lee steps to the center ring.

Sokka's Kendo instructor calls him over.

"Toph."

Bleh, of course Mr. Lee picks me.

Him and the Higher Beings collaborate...

We face each other in the middle of the ring. The next minute or so is really a blur to me.

All I remember is this self-pep talk that I insisted on doing to keep my mind focused on beating the moron I like instead of..well, just the moron I like.

Hah, yeah right.

The instructors share a nod.

The 'GO' signal is given and we tense.

Slowly circling each other, we are definitely not laughing and joking anymore. It's almost surreal that this is the same Sokka I know. It is like his whole person changes when he has a sword in hand.

Periodically checking and faking, I notice something…

He's not falling for any of my fakes. He watches my eyes like I watch his.

Damn.

This'll be WAY more interesting than I originally planned…

Out of the corner of my eye, - anyone else surprised my eyesight chose to cooperate this time…? - I see a blur head straight for my head. Sidestepping left, I send a high, right-sided roundhouse over said blur. Sokka responds by ducking out of the way.

We both return to circling.

Fast, too… If my speed is matched and he leaves almost no margin for error, how can I score?

Send a strong blow and hope to capitalize? Can I afford the risk of that high-speed sword?

Just have to find something and work it. I guess...

Thanks for the help.

Finally, I lunge forward and twist (making sure I glance at his side to add to the effect), to mimic a back leg roundhouse.

Like expected, Sokka brings his sword above his head, opting to bring it down on my leg before I land a kick.

Instead, I go for the quicker kick: a front kick to the center of his torso.

He stumbles slightly, but as I shuffle forward for a head kick, Sokka drives into position.

Right.

Up.

In.

My.

Face.

I send an obsolete punch to his chest in order to cover my shift backwards, but immediately I mentally kick myself.

This works for regular sparring matches; you can't always be too close when sparring a Tae Kwon Do student.

Does he do Tae Kwon Do? No, he does Kendo!

And what's that in his hand? A flippin', wooden sword!

You need to fight in close range!

Okay... sheesh. Give me a break. First time remember?

He smirks, twists around my left side. I see it in slow motion as I try to guard myself but not fast enough as he angles his sword to strike me right in my side.

"DOU!"

"Yame!"

"Dou," Piando raises his arm to Sokka, "Point to Sokka. Score: 1 to 1."

Well shit. Even with padding that still hurts.

We are allowed to start up again. Regaining our respected ready stances.

I opt for my favorite stance. Unfortunately, it's discouraged-too many openings.

Oh well. I step into what's called a Back Stance (feet are a shoulders-width apart, left foot pointed towards Sokka and the other is pointed to my right). My body is opened up towards my opponent (generally not good, who cares though?), left hand bent slightly in front of me for low strikes and my right is open and protecting my face.

Sokka's stance is traditional- he's standing up straight, one foot slightly in front of the other. He's obviously ready to pounce at a moment's notice. That stupid sword is pointed straight at me guarding his entire body.

When situated, we start our circling and checking. Again.

Okay…Breathe Toph.

What's the plan? Initiate or retaliate?

…Retaliate. Last time I initiated and he scored on me too. Gotta remember his reach advantage with that thing.

Like Mr. Lee said, one way to gain the upper hand is by constantly shutting down the opponent's advances. In turn, discouraging and calming an aggressive opponent.

Problem is he doesn't seem like the type to back down in this…

…

Oh yeah. Ahem. Maybe not. Good luck!

Ugh.

He starts to take a step towards me, I catch his sword twitch up slightly.

Going for a straight downward cut...

I think.

As he keeps shifting forward, I bring my left knee up. When he's close enough, I snap my foot up and bring it down across his head.

Hah.

Perfect axe kick.

"Yame!"

"Point Toph. 2 to 1." His Sensei acknowledges.

For a third time, we are signaled to start.

He may be a meat head, but he's not going to fall for that again.

I guess I'll have to go with the flow.

Hah, Aang would be proud of that comment.

I shift to the left, trying to open him into an attack.

Nothing.

After a couple moments, I fake again.

Again-nothing.

He has those eyes again; those calculating eyes that give nothing away and only look at my own.

Be careful...

I know! Shut up.

I just have a bad feeling...

Another couple motions and I move slightly closer with each hop. He finally fakes and steps on the mat just inside my range.

Mistake 1.

I send a back leg hook with my right foot which he easily gets under. I follow up with an immediate roundhouse with the same foot. It's not as strong since I didn't reload or put it down, but it'll do. Sokka, however, moves with my left side, causing a second miss on my end. And a point for him as he swings to his left and connects with my chest guard.

My mistake. I thought I had him and now I'm wide open.

Shit! No, no , no…

I thought I had him!

Once he scores the point on my guard, he doesn't hesitate as he steps back.

Keeping the fluid strike going, he turns his focus to my helmet.

I twist in the same direction of his arching blade to try and avoid it…

Too slow.

Too damn slow!

He catches the side of my head, and we are stopped for the last time.

"Yame!" and "Match!"

Our instructors yell at the same time.

"Score: Toph, 2, to Sokka, 3. Winner!" Sokka's arm is lifted and everyone applauds. "Excellent match I have to say. Very well down." Piando shakes my hand and congratulates Sokka, Mr. Lee doing the same with the most interesting opponent I've ever faced.

At least I lost to Sokka.

Of all people…

They joke briefly and then tell everyone that this concludes today's class. Everyone starts piling out.

"Man! Mrs. Bei Fong, I guess your undefeated title doesn't completely stand anymore. But at least you lost it to someone like this guy." My instructor comments before we leave the studio, he walks over to Piando.

We just smile, say thanks, and keep walking.

Both of us head towards our homes, I'm skating slowly along Sokka's side. His armor bag is hanging off his sword bag like some old fashioned hobo.

Do those guys still exist?

"Well… That was one of the most spontaneous and challenging matches I've had. I didn't have any idea what to expect. It was nice!" Meat head comments.

"Yeah. Ditto." I reply, repositioning my bag and keeping my gaze straight forward.

"…You okay?"

I nod and try to send a smile.

Doubtful look.

Yeah, figures.

"Really, I'm fine. I'm not one of those pouty girls that start hating life 'cause they lost at something they love or happen to be good at. I can take it," I shoot a thumbs up, "Besides, I've been lookin' for this kind of competition! Like you heard from Mr. Lee, I've never lost before. No one was challenging enough. It was an honest, tough fight and I'm…glad it was you that beat me. No one else deserves that honor." I add at the end to lighten up the situation.

I was feeling a little too candid there.

"Haha, well it was fun," We come up to my house and we stop real quickly to finish up, "Awesome job and… Let's do it again sometime?" He offers.

"Heck yeah! You honestly think I'll let you off with that win? You're going down next time Snoozles." I turn to head in.

"Goodnight!"

I just send him a wave without turning around.

That's it.

A simple half-hearted wave with my back facing him.

I guess it makes up for my previous compliments and whatnot.

Right?

You were way too girly tonight. It was creeping ME out. There's no way you can compensate for that…

Sigh.

Thought so too.

A/N: Ahhh. Well, this was honestly written years ago. But I reviewed and edited it. Thank you TwilightGD! Long time-no talk! Anyway, if you're still with me after all this time, thank you SO much. I won't blame you for hating/attacking me. I deserve it... Which reminds me-I put up a poll about it. Real short because I wanted to get back into this story... I re-read all this story's reviews. It motivated me to try and find time to finish this up. It's the least I can do!

Next time,

-The Runaway.