Disclaimer: I only own what is mine. My OCs and ideas.
A/N: I'm back! That's right I survived exams and beautiful sweet summer is here! Thank heaven! So... at the beginning of the year I set a goal, which had to be edited, but this summer I need to make up for lost time. So... let's do this! I got stories to tell! Anyway... This story is coming along. Everyone welcome back and enjoy!
Reviews:
ArtemisBAMF1218 - Long time no update, and for that, I am very sorry. Hope this chapter both shakes up the sleepy slump of the plot and hopefully, the upcoming chapters will make up for my unscheduled hiatus.
Yes, a Ryu story hint, I should start working on that, but I have sworn to finish up NGA first! I need to get that done...
Anyway... a little spice up in this chapter. Had to do some research (a little hint) anyway... let's get on with it, shall we? Can't wait to hear from you soon! Enjoy!
DaniTomlinson - Hello and welcome back! Add this to your many chapters to read now (even if it's been over 8 weeks since your review... oh... uh... oops... sorry). So I agree that Aiko was getting a little dry at times too and things were going in a few circles. So... time to spice things up, anyone for a little sparring, maybe?
Ok, so I'm so proud that my research has done you proud and made you happy! That's very reassuring to hear. Cuz my main source ends up being Wikipedia quite often due to just how much stuff is there, so knowing that I have made you happy makes me happy. For me, I'm into Asian cultures so I do try to add as much general Asian culture as I can. Keeping this brief, there was an Iron Fist (Li Park) who did the whole pilgrimage things and brought people from Asia to K'un-Lun to help with repopulating after a great illness (Immortal Iron Fist Vol 1 24 (May 2009)).
Yeah, I imagined them as kids would do it, and she might want to do it one more time to honor that... it's maybe a little out of place, but like you said, I did provide enough context for it to work.
I hope you enjoy this chapter and hope to hear from you soon! Please enjoy the story! P.S. The wedding is coming up! I swear!
Guest - Not a problem, your wish is my command. Sorry, it took so long. The next chapter should come faster than this one. Thank you for your support! Please enjoy!
Chapter 27
"Shōbu ari!" Danny shouted from the sidelines holding the red flag in the air. "Wakare!"
Hiroshi let out a heavy breath and stepped back away from Aiko. "That's one win for me."
Aiko took a deep breath, backing up and waiting for Danny to announce the next start.
"It's best two out of three." Aiko reminded. "Don't get cocky."
"You've gotten soft, your kendo needs work." Hiroshi pointed out. "That first match was too easy. You can't let me win again."
"Hiroshi, bad sportsmanship will cost you a match," Danny called from the sidelines. "Are you both ready to begin?"
"Hai," Hiroshi called.
"Hai." Aiko echoed.
"Hajime!" Danny shouted.
Hiroshi was in front of Aiko in an instant, she hardly had the chance to react as he shouted and brought his heavy sword down on her head. "Men!"
Aiko threw herself back after getting hit.
"Men! Yūkō datotsu!" Danny called.
Aiko twisted her foot and planted it on the ground and she deflected an oncoming attack from Hiroshi and spun around him.
"Hidari-Men!" She shouted as her sword made contact with the side of Hiroshi's head.
"Hidari-Men! Yūkō datotsu." Danny called out.
Aiko took quick steps back as she watched Hiroshi's movements. Not allowing him to get close enough fast enough.
The pair danced around for a few seconds before Hiroshi held his sword off to the side.
Aiko rushed in forwards for a throat hit. "Tsuki."
"Kote," Hiroshi called.
Aiko froze as Hiroshi's bamboo sword swatted her wrist.
"Kote! Yūkō datotsu!" Danny announced. "Shōbu ari."
Aiko sighed and place the tip of the sword on the ground as Hiroshi pulled off his tenuguis. "Good match, Aiko."
"Thanks." Aiko pulled off her tenuguis.
"You still should have known better than to challenge me to a pure Kendo match, but you got a hit, I'm impressed." Hiroshi smiled. "Seriously, if Danny ever gives you a break from royal life, feel free to stop by the forge. I've got some new swords I've been working on."
"I'll stop by sometime." Aiko agreed. "Do you want to try something else?"
"Something where you have better odds?" Hiroshi teased.
Aiko rolled her eyes.
"Danny," Hiroshi asked as Danny walked over. "Are you feeling up for a sparring match?"
"Not kendo," Danny said quickly. "I hardly know enough rules to judge a match, let alone fight in one."
"It doesn't have to be kendo." Hiroshi shrugged. "Aiko was the one who suggested Kendo."
"I'm not supposed to be sparring just yet. If you need me to watch another match I will, but I'd rather not have the healers on my case more than they already are, with my shoulder." Danny explained.
"I thought that was months ago." Hiroshi pouted.
"It was a serious injury. Although I agree, it's much better now." Danny cut him off quickly.
"Come on, no soft contact?" Hiroshi teased.
"Danny said no, so no," Aiko added in. "If you want another match I'll give it to you."
"Bring it, Aiko. You need to see just how soft royal life is making you." Hiroshi teased as he took off his kendo armor.
"Prepare to eat those words," Aiko reported back. "You have no clue what's coming for you."
Danny chuckled to himself. "Hiroshi, she's been training. That year in the outside world of street fighting, it's unlike anything you know. There are no rules. It is whatever works."
"Sounds like something I could get behind." Hiroshi nodded his head.
"There's no honor in that style of fighting, you serve yourself. No master, no code." Aiko pointed out gently. "There is nothing like the bushidō code that you hold so dearly."
"Oh," Hiroshi didn't say another word.
Aiko quickly stripped her armor off, stretching out her arms. "So, how are we doing this?"
"Each hold is a point. Hold has to last for the count of five. Three points wins?" Hiroshi offered. "That should be long enough."
"That's enough sparring." Master Kung's voice flooded the practice space.
The students who had been standing around watching the pair practice had quickly scattered back to their chores or training.
"Master," Danny bowed politely.
"Daniel," Master Kung acknowledged. "It is good to see the Iron Fist back in the temple where he belongs."
"It's very good to be back, Master." Danny agreed.
"How are you healing?" Master Kung asked.
"Very well, I'm in no pain, just still refraining from sparring out of fear of the healers." Danny chucked some. "You know how they are. They want me to wait another two weeks before getting back to training. But I have been reviewing and practicing some forms."
"And no pain?" Master Kung asked.
"Stiffness, but no pain," Danny agreed as he moved his shoulder around in its socket to stretch it.
Master Kung nodded, turning to Hiroshi. "I believe that you have more important things to do than spar with Aiko. Master Xú is here and eager to see your work, I would appreciate it if my good words on your skills as a smith are not wasted."
Danny deflated some at the name, halfheartedly he gave a smile.
Aiko shook her head at Danny as Hiroshi picked up his own sword and put it back on his belt.
"He's quite the opinionated Master, that's what I hear anyway," Hiroshi commented as he tied his sword sheath to his belt. "Seeing Danny's reaction to his name just now… I'd say I'm not far off."
"He's young…" Danny provided. He caught Master Kung's glare at him.
"He's older than you are." Aiko crossed her arms.
"He's skilled, knowledgeable, and eager to learn…" Danny corrected himself. "But he is young thought his inexperience. He passed his imperial exams. He knows what he is doing, but… without experience, it makes him a little difficult to convince of the rashness of his words."
Hiroshi picked up Master Xú's sword. "He's got great taste in weapons though. Twin hook swords, these beauties have seen better days but he didn't bring them to me in half, so that was nice."
"Hiroshi." Master Kung repeated.
"Right, Master." Hiroshi grinned almost guiltily. "I'm on my way."
Aiko smiled at him and gave him a nod as he disappeared into the temple.
"Father," She bowed to Master Kung.
"Aiko, good to see you training," Master Kung nodded at her, "while I don't believe point based kendo matches are the best use of your time."
"Right," Aiko agreed. "Sparring is a good test of skill, but useless if it causes injury to a warrior."
Master Kung nodded his head. "Correct."
"While I agree," Danny began carefully. "I believe that Aiko needed that. Her energy levels have been low with the sudden decrease in her attention to her training."
"Danny," Aiko warned.
Danny just smiled at her, not very apologetically. "It is very true and you know it. You could have easily given Hiroshi a more even match, and I've seen you beat him a few times."
"I could still beat you," Aiko reported. "As it stands now, I'm much stronger than you are."
"I'm not denying that." Danny defended himself.
"That's enough you two." Master Kung cut in and the couple looked up at him, having momentarily forgotten that he was there.
"Right," Aiko corrected herself.
Danny nodded his head in agreement.
"Daniel, Master Choejor would like to have a word with you, he's in his study." Master Kung said. "He's been hoping you'd stop by sometime."
"Right, I'll go speak with him." Danny nodded. "I'll see you later, Aiko."
"See you later." Aiko smiled at him.
Master Kung watched his apprentice walk away, once he was out of earshot he turned to Aiko.
"He's right." Master Kung let out a heavy breath. "You should have at least won a single match."
"I'll be the first to admit I'm getting sloppy." Aiko sighed. "I'll put in a ton of work next week."
"I'm certain you will, it will be just like when you were young, all day at training, and all week." Master Kung noted. "You'll feel much better after that. I'll remind you like I remind Daniel, it is all too easy to get caught up in the world, do not neglect your training, you never know when you will have to fight to defend yourself or those you care about."
"That is good advice." Aiko smiled and nodded her head.
"Aiko," Master Kung began calmly. "You've hardly been home recently. You come in later than I do. Would you like to have lunch together?"
Aiko blinked in surprise. "Like here at the temple?"
"Or if you wanted to go out somewhere else, that would be fine." Master Kung said calmly.
Aiko sighed heavily. "I would like that, Bàba. Are you sure you are not needed here for lessons?"
Master Kung shook his head. "No, I am certain that things will be fine. Times have changed from when I was your age, with the large population there are more students and more masters to suit that need."
Aiko smiled. "Lunch sounds nice. I'm certain Mama cooked something, there's no need to go out and have a meal, and we can eat at home. I've been missing home-cooked meals. The food at the palace is just not the same."
"How so?" Master Kung asked.
"It feels fancier. And the servants bring it out to us from the kitchen, which you can't see from the dining room." Aiko explained. "It's nice, and I am getting used to it, but… I like home better."
"You are spoiled." Master Kung said easily.
"No, I'm not." Aiko protested instantly.
"Spoiled by the comforts of home," Master Kung finished. He placed a hand on his daughter's shoulder. "Let's go."
"What did Master Choejor want to talk to Danny about?" Aiko asked as she placed the two bowls on the table.
"I am not sure. He may be my apprentice still, but he is a young man and our king. I do not need to know everything he is doing anymore." Master Kung nodded his thanks as Aiko poured him some tea. "I get the privilege of passing that duty to you."
Aiko refrained from rolling her eyes. "Thank you."
"I am certain that you will be fine." Master Kung assured her as he picked up his chopsticks, he held them in his hands and he pressed his hands together.
Aiko copied with her own hands as they each to themselves said a quick thanks and began to eat.
Aiko found that the food was much better then what the current diet of palace food was. But it seemed odd to not have Danny sitting next to her having a mostly one-sided discussion about either politics or wedding plans.
"It's quiet." Master Kung seemed to read her mind.
"Yes," Aiko agreed as she took a drink. "I am not sure I am used to it."
Master Kung let out a deep breath and smiled at his daughter as he rested his wrist on the table. "I am proud of you. As a noble, I always knew diplomacy was going to be your life. But when you showed so much skill for being a warrior… it became your decision. Either path was going to allow you to help people."
"And I'm doing both," Aiko added. "I plan to walk both paths until the day I die."
"An honorable choice," Master Kung agreed. "Daniel could not be in better hands."
"I'm glad you think so." Aiko laughed. "He's not that much of a workaholic."
"Aiko," Master Kung smiled at his daughter knowingly. "Just take good care of him."
"You know I will."
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