Chapter 6

Late Evening - the sun is starting to set, there is still a ray of light colouring the sky in a blue - orange tint.

Panning in, grunting is coming from the barn, the digital clock on the wall reads 29th August, 20.00 as the visual focuses on the two boys throwing punches, Tadashi lunges forward, his nails outstretched their limits as they become claws, his hair a little longer as it sat on his shoulders. Daisuke is panting heavily, beads of sweat running down the side of his face as Tadashi’s eyes narrow at his best friend.

Daisuke: “I said don’t go easy on me!” he breathed through clenched teeth, his jaw tightening.

Tadashi: “If you get better control on that thing, maybe I won’t!” frustration appearing on his features, brows knitting together.

Daisuke struggles as he tightens the restraints on the power glider belt. Starting to hover, he leans too far forward, flipping his weight over onto his back as he collides into the dirt. A sense of deja vu leaves him winded as Daisuke sits up, nursing the side of his head with his hand, ruffling longer dark strands between his fingers.

Tadashi: “Quit messing around”

Daisuke groans, standing and brushing himself down.

Daisuke: “This seems familiar…”

Tadashi: “You, falling? No shit!” he rolls his eyes towards Daisuke.

Daisuke stares for a moment - trying to recall what he was remembering.

Tadashi: “Come on! HIT ME! Try and get me!” Tadashi provokes, forcing the flat of his palm into his arm, nudging him as Daisuke snaps out of his daydream.

Daisuke: “Alright - again!”

Stabilising his stance, he ran his hand along the rim atop of the glider belt, the lights flickering before fading on the inside of the belt as he felt his weight being lifted once again. Daisuke finds himself becoming more unsteady, his body tensing as his hands spread out in front of him to steady himself. After a few moments, his lips curl into a smile at Tadashi as he floats just a couple of feet in the air before circling around Tadashi and back in-front of him.

Daisuke: “Think fast” he whispered into his ear as he sped past him.

Jerking his frame back to dodge out of the way as Tadashi threw a strike towards him, Daisuke reaches to his belt, pulling out a blunt blade from its leather sheath for practice. Throwing his fist forward with the blade just as Tadashi ducks out of the way. Both their movements become evidently faster. Their years of training with the Cadets and Sergeants proving a strong factor as they move with pace and synchronisation, again - lunging. Tadashi jumps as Daisuke reaches forward to slash at him, catching the side of his pant leg, tearing the fabric away.

Tadashi: “You better fix that, tailor boy”

Daisuke lunges for him, the glider zipping forward in heightened speed as his swipes become faster, Tadashi moving quicker, blocking each swipe with the back of his forearm, his claws catching Daisuke’s shirt by the arm, tearing the material.

Both boys glare at each other with a competitive expression. Daisuke forces the power glider to lift by a few more inches.

Tadashi runs to the opposite end of the barn wall closest to them. The bottom of his sole pushed against the wood with force as he used his speed to zip past him, his claws retracting as his hand caught along his arm, fist curling to pull him backwards.

Daisuke struggles to balance mid air as he takes a swipe behind him with the blade. The hand that holds onto his arm breaks free as Tadashi’s feet land on the ground beneath them.

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There’s silence as Tadashi cowers over, crimson droplets in the trail. Daisuke laughed as he spun around to look at where he was.

Daisuke: “Giving up?”

The laughter stops as he presses onto the top of the glider, forcing the glider to stop mid air, his feet landing on the ground soon after as he steps towards him.

Daisuke: “Tadashi... Did I?... I didn’t mean to hurt you”

Tadashi lifts his head, hand pulling away exposing the cut beneath his eye. Crimson spilling down one side of his face, the glow of haze green held in his eyes, wisping from the corners as his eyes began to flicker. Tadashi lunges forward..

Zero: “That’s enough for today.” he interrupts, shaking his head as he approaches them both.

Kei is standing in the corner of the room overlooking Tadashi and Daisuke, fists clenched to his chest as he shakes with adrenalin, a grin spread across his face, eyes wide with excitement. Tadashi breaks in his step and laughs, brushing the back of his hand against his face, soaking the crimson into his skin as his eyes return to their original colour.

Zero: “Both of you need to try harder, try harder to not inflict more wounds on each other. You’ll be getting plenty of those in the field…” he pauses - sighing in frustration

Early start tomorrow. Don’t be late. ” Zero steps past them both, walking past Kei he leaves the barn.

Kei runs over, helping Daisuke with his belt, turning to Tadashi.

Tadashi’s cut is already starting to reheal slowly as his hair begins to its original length.

Kei: “You did great!

Do they hurt?

Your mouth? Fingers… and your hair - oh my gosh, soo awesome!!!!” he continued to shake, dropping his hands from the glider before returning his hands back onto it again.

Kei: “How - how long does your hair grow?

I’ve never seen your eyes do that before - how did that..” he asks excitedly, almost jumping up and down causing Daisuke to slap at his hand before removing the power glider himself.

Zero: “KEI!” a voice can be heard outside of the barn.

Kei: “Oh ha - ha - sorry”

Kei awkwardly ruffles his hair, his goggles slip down from his forehead, smacking himself in the eye as he groans and rubs his face. A girl with strawberry blonde hair steps into the barn clearly looking for her brother.

Emi: Kei, Mother wants you -…

Oh! Hi Daisuke” a blush forms across her cheeks, she giggles.

Daisuke: “Hey Emi” he gives her a little wave as he holds the straps of the glider over his arm, awkwardly stepping out of the bottom straps.

Emi: “You better not forget about me when you leave”

Tadashi: “She knew too?!” his jaw drops, hand outstretched towards Emi.

Daisuke sighs and shrugs his shoulders before answering.

Daisuke: “She overheard Zero and me...

Besides, what’s going on with your eyes” he leans forward to look, causing Tadashi to pull himself back and turn his head away from him.

Tadashi: “It’s nothing. Obviously just something in my eyes” he shrugged, staring back at Emi as Kei took the glider from Daisuke and placed it back on the shelf next to the row of gliders. A few other weapons are propped on the barn wall.

Emi: “Mom’s packing a bag for your journey.

I can imagine it’ll be quite cramped in the cargo hold”

Daisuke: “Tell her thank you” Daisuke stares at Tadashi not saying anything, Daisuke nudges his arm.

Tadashi: “Yeah. Thanks.”

Kei: “When I see you again there will be more of this tech. Promise.

We will be the greatest” he nods his head eagerly

Daisuke: “Hopefully that’ll be sooner rather than later”

Tadashi: “You’ll be a lot taller and brainier when we next meet” he leans over and ruffles Kei’s hair.

Emi looks at them both, tugging on her brother's arm as she drags him towards the barn doors, Tadashi and Daisuke following.

Emi: “We really must go..” There's urgency in her voice as Kei locks up, pocketing the key.

Emi: “See you soon”

Kei: “Tomorrow!”

Tadashi: “See you…”

Daisuke sighs

Daisuke: “Soon..”

The scene fades with both boys walking back towards the village.