The sword flashed behind me and I ducked, yelping as it changed directions and hit my shin. I ducked again as it swung around and this time, retaliated. The metallic, sharp sounds filled the clearing. Akira laughed as I turned a clumsy, but effective, summersault and swung at her from behind. “My old fencing teacher thought that grace is as much a part of swordplay as the swords are! I don't believe he would find your methods particularly pleasing.” A sparkle glittered in her eye as we circled each other, both panting. I felt a drop of sweat trickle down my back.
“I’m--not--here--to--impress your old--fencing teacher,” I grunted as we engaged once more, letting my strength make up for my lack of...what did she say it was? Grace? “Grace will not accomplish anything.”
“On the contrary, I think it does quite nicely.” Akira said as she slid from under my headlock and gave my calf a sound thwack.
“You are just begging for a good thrashing!” I shouted. Then I lifted my blade high and roared like an angry bear. Kira shrieked and ran in circles around the clearing until I cornered her at the pond’s edge. She was caught. This would be easy. Grinning, I charged again--and recoiled as something flashed by me and tugged at the side of my hand. “Kira!”
I was unable to slow down in time. Kira threw herself on the grass and caught my ankles. A wave of murky water washed up on the bank as I fell headfirst into the reeds and marsh marigolds.
“KIRA!” Coughing, spluttering, I crawled out of the tangle of weeds and wiped as much of the mud from my hair as I could. She stood, leaning on her sword. Out of reach of the splash. Of course. I considered getting angry as I stood panting on the bank, water running down every part of me. Then I gave in. A grin broke through my shock. A laugh started to grow. It burst out of the deep part of my chest where it always does when I'm...more than happy, more than amused. I laughed until tears joined the pond water. For a moment, everything was golden--The afternoon sun, the water, Akira’s hair, and our pleasure. But the golden never lasts for long, and it faded until only the memory remained. Kira smiled at me as I walked up and joined me as I turned back towards the road, carrying my sword. “Let’s go back. Have anything for this?” I held up my hand, where Akira’s knife had nicked it. She handed me a kerchief. Then we were silent until we were a little ways into the city.
“I definitely beat you.” Kira said.
I, futilely, continued trying to rid my cloak of its excess moisture. “You pushed me into the pond! It hardly counts!”
“I didn't push you. You tripped.”
“Oh, yes? Over your hand?”
“You said yourself there were no rules.”
“Only because I didn't know you were carrying throwing knives! Remember last time, y--”
“That occasion was entirely irrelevant. You try aiming at a moving target with a bull charging you.”
I lifted my bandaged hand. “You nearly cut my finger off!”
Kira rolled her eyes. “Don’t be a ninny.”
I tossed my sopping cloak at her and gave an exasperated, but not displeased, groan. After all, it takes two very good friends to enjoy disagreeing.
I wrote that last night . I had so much fun I thought I'd share it here. Kira and Ben are comrades now as a result of their adventuring escapades, and that's all I'm going to say 'cause any more and I might spoil stuff. Also I don't feel like explaining their life stories right now.
I hope you enjoyed the blurb, though.
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