Chapter Six: Don't Desert Me

Lei breathed heavily as he held his chest, blood seeping from several lashes upon his torso that the master had adorned him with. How amusing it was that the pain seemed almost absent…it could nearly be pleasurable, had there not been the lingering factor in his mind that this was indeed a test of both his fortitude and mental constitution. In front of him, Zato stood, a vehement smile across his angelic face.

"I know you are more resourceful than this, Lei," Zato said as his gently caressed a wisp of white that emanated from the floor beneath his feet. "Now show me what you are."

Lei's jaw clenched as he could feel his hands tingling. No…he felt frozen! Why! Why was it now that he felt that stupid warm, fluttery sensation in his chest? Why couldn't he speak or fight back? Zato lowered his hand finally, apparently frustrated with the lack of progress.

"I see," he said with an air of disappointment in tone. "I was wrong. You are not as they say you are."

Lei wanted to attack. To pin the master beneath him in order to show that he was indeed worthy of his attention. But he could never strike the master, he realized now. No, not mar such perfection…it was too cruel a deed for him. But he had to, or else Zato would forever see him as a blemish of shame on the face that was the Guild of Assassins. He. Had. To. Do. Something. Now.

"MASTER ZATO!"

Zato had by now turned his back on the boy: an obvious mistake. Lei sprinted across the floor, closing the distance between them as he yelled his master's name. The second Zato turned to see what it was the boy wanted with him, his glance was met with the front of Lei's fist. The collision was gut-wrenching. Zato was torn from the floor, as well as the shadow beneath him that he so coveted. Zato fell to the ground, a hand slowly curling into a fist as he rolled slowly onto his back, blinking in brief bewilderment. No one outside his greatest of foes had ever struck him so! Slowly, he smiled. And then chuckled. And then laughed. Lei breathed slowly, backing from the master as he assumed an offensive stance, preparing for any punishment the master would serve. As Zato rose to his feet, wiping a thin trail of blood from his mouth, he slowly formed an act of respect that nearly no one had seen: a bow.

"Master Zato.." Lei whispered, but quickly cleared his throat and hurriedly bowed in return. "Master! I-I apologize…what I did was of sheer cowardice and should be punished—so too am I ready to accept any form of punish you feel would suffice for my impotence."

"No," Zato began. "What you did was bold. Brazen. I respect that. You, a trainee, dared to attack your master's turned back, knowing full well that he had the advantage at every turn. I heard you running…however it was my own fault for doubting you and thinking that you would not dare attack your master in such a brute manner. And for that…very…reason…you are now promoted. Consider yourself an elite."

Lei stood there, speechless. He was an elite? And all he did was punch the master in his face? How..? No…there had to be more to it! More behind this!

"But master—I'm not worthy!"

"You are now," Zato corrected him. "And there will be no disagreement in the matter. My word is absolute."

Lei looked down at the lashes upon his chest. He remembered how a few moments earlier, he would have readily torn his unknown adversary apart, up until finding out that it was the master himself. Afterward, he felt helpless. Not out of fear, but more so out of awe. He never thought he would choke. Ever.

"Master, I…" he began looking up…but no one was there. Zato apparently took his leave. Lei slumped onto the floor, staring at the ground, disappointed in himself.

"Master…I don't deserve this…."

-End Ch 6-