Chapter 6: kneel.

Shipo and Ivan stared each other down as dust blew through the sparring ground. All around them were the imprints of past duels etched into the hardened soil. Countless footprints as well as dried drops of Okimodo’s blood. Shipo had trained here meticulously for his entire life and still remembered the very first day he swung a real sword. It was extremely heavy and he fell over dropping the sword to the ground where it carved a deep indentation into the soil. The indentation was still there, just off to his left having faded somewhat over the years but still very much there. It could be said that he knew every inch of the backyard as if it were a portion of his own body. He clutched his sword and assumed one of the Azurai clan’s signature defensive stances. He closed his eyes and felt the vibrations emerging from Ivan as he also assumed a stance of his own.

“That’s a defensive pose.” Ivan observed. “You’re inviting me to go on the offensive first, how cocky.”

“Cocky?” Shipo chuckled. “You’re the one who said that he expects more from me. Come on, attack first and I’ll show you what I can do.”

Ivan laughed maniacally before charging straight towards Shipo like a raging white dragon.

He raised white guillotine high into the air before arcing it down towards Shipo. Having predicted this attack Shipo easily side stepped to the left before swinging his sword around towards Ivan’s waist. Right when he thought the attack would hit he felt a force sweep him off his feet.

“Pay more attention to your footwork.” Ivan criticised having surprised Shipo with a sweeping kick.

Shipo who had yet to fall to the ground twisted in mid air and stabbed his sword into the soil before using it to build up momentum for a spin kick. His left leg arcs through the air striking the back of Ivan’s head.

“Ouch.” Ivan sneered before jumping forward and spinning around in the air.

Shipo landed on the ground and yanked his sword free from the soil before going on the offensive intending to strike Ivan before he landed.

Seeing Shipo charge towards him, Ivan hurled white guillotine towards the teen who quickly dodged.

In a flash Ivan disappeared before reappearing behind Shipo to grab white guillotine in mid air before throwing it back towards the discombobulated Shipo.

Shipo quickly swung his sword backwards deflecting the white guillotine up into the air. Ivan then disappeared again reappearing right behind Shipo before grabbing the air born white guillotine to perform a downward slash. Shipo spun himself around and blocked the attack just in time with his own sword before Ivan disappeared again before reappearing beside Shipo with another powerful slash.

From her bedroom Shitari held her hand over her mouth stunned by Ivan’s overwhelming dominance on the sparring ground. To her it was clear that Ivan was putting in much more effort against Shipo than he was against Okimodo.

Shikimodo simply watched on while stroking his chin showing no sign of praise or disappointment. Shipo was repeatedly forced to go on to the defensive without any chances to catch his breath. He contemplated using resonance like his father and brother did but ultimately decided against it. This would be a chance for him to test out his own raw skill and technique, it wasn’t correct for him to rely on super natural abilities in such a situation. As he continued to defend against Ivan’s slashes he focused on his poster and maintaining a strong stance with his legs far apart. Ivan goes in for a second sweeping kick but this Shipo was prepared and blocked it firmly throwing off Ivan’s attack sequence. He uses this chance to surprise Ivan with a powerful downward swing that Ivan only narrowly managed to block with white guillotine. The force behind Shipo’s attack forced Ivan down on to one knee which immediately stunned everyone watching including Ivan himself.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

“That’s my boy!” Shikimodo who had been silent the entire time yelled with extreme pride.

“Oh my goodness.” Even Shitari was impressed.

“Damn it.” Okimodo cursed having heard his father yelling from in the living room.

“Stay still!” Petra scolded him as she carefully stitched up his wound. Beside her the Fuji was wagging her tail with great enthusiasm thinking that the medical supplies beside Okimodo on the couch was actually a bowl of treats.

“Shipo really is something else.” A boy who was overlooking the duel from high up in a mountain tree perched on a tall ledge said, laughing at the absurdity of what he had just seen.

Unbeknownst to the Batari family he had been watching ever since Shikimodo and Ivan had stormed out into the sparring ground.

“Seems like the rumour of him training like a mad man for the past year is true, you really did light a fire under his ass Ioseph.” The boy laughed before looking back at a second boy who sat on a higher branch while eating an apple.

He had long jet black hair, light brown skin and eyes. Like most Azurai boys he was shirtless dawning only a pair of tribal trousers and slippers.

“The legendary Ivan Smirnov forced to kneel on one knee by a youth of the Azurai clan.” Ioseph chuckled before jumping down onto the ledge and walking away, tossing the half eaten apple into the bushes. “I just know you’re gonna run around gossiping to everyone about this.”

“Hehehe I sure am.” The boy continued to watch the duel paying no mind to Ioseph’s remark.

“I guess we should conclude the duel here.” Ivan laughed as even he felt proud of his rivals son.

“How do you feel Shipo?” Shikimodo asked walking over to give his son a pat on the back.

“I’m not sure…” Shipo said feeling somewhat awkward because of his father’s sudden praise.

“Come let’s get you and your brother some beer.” Shikimodo laughed before heading inside with Shipo and Ivan.

As they entered the living room Petra had just finished applying the last of the stitches to Okimodo’s chest. When he saw the three men he painfully tried to sit up before receiving another scolding from his mother.

“Stay still already.” She frowned.

Shikimodo was grinning from ear to ear as he began to speak. “Shipo forced Ivan down on to one knee hunny, you both should have been there to see it.”

Petra shot Shikimodo a nasty look before rolling her eyes.

“Really?” Okimodo’s eyes lit up. “That’s awesome! I bet you’re totally gonna kick everyone’s ass at the right of passage, everyone except me of course.”

“Shut up.” Shipo laughed. “You wouldn’t stand a chance against me.”

“You wanna put money on that?” Okimodo said as his teenage pride roared in his heart. “You only made him kneel because he had already exhausted himself against me.”

“Enough of that.” Petra yelled Shutting them both up instantly.

“Calm yourself down Hunny.” Shikimodo sighed before giving Petra a shoulder massage to calm her.

“Stop it.” Petra frowned shaking him off. “I really put in effort to make dinner for the two of you, and you go and ruin it by fighting. You even stood on the table and trampled over the rainbow prawns.”

“I’ll take you out to a five star restaurant tomorrow to make it up to you.” Shikimodo frowned looking like a child who had just been scolded.

“And how is that supposed to make up for Okimodo’s injury.” Tears began to stream down Petra’s face. “My poor baby.”

“Hey mom it’s okay.” Okimodo tried to sit up again and failed.

“Here drink this.” Petra said pointing a spoon filled with tea at his mouth. “Open wide.”

After consuming the tea Okimodo’s pain immediately stopped before he sprang to life once more bursting with vitality. He sat up paying no mind to the injury on his chest before standing up straight.

“Petra were going to take Okimodo and Shipo to the pub for some beer.” Shikimodo said motioning for his two sons to come with him.

“What?” Petra frowned. “You can’t be serious.”

End of chapter 6.