In One Pass
 
by Loren Dean

Takehai let himself flow.

The kata came easily to him, and he let his body move through the forms as he blanked his mind. He fancied that he had left his body, and viewed the apron of well-groomed lawn outside the Asahina temple from above, watching his own body complete the forms as he thought of other things.

What am I to do? Tadako-san has invited me here, along with my companions, and it is clear she wants to see me more often. What am I to do? Am I allowed to love her? If so, should I? If not, how do I express such a thing without causing irreparable harm? What am I to do?

Below him, he saw another person come out of the temple, distance herself a bit from the ground-bound Takehai, and begin an intricate naginata exercise with a wooden practice weapon. It was Shiba Tsukune-san, the current Topaz Champion. Here was a woman who appreciated the movement of "no-mind." Her face studiously blank, she moved fluidly from one stance to the next. No movement was wasted.

Another presence entered the lawn area. Naoki-san, watching the Shiba samurai-ko with curiosity, and respect, and perhaps a little regret. Regret? Softness? Takehai found himself unable to read the deep emotion playing on Naoki's face. It was something Takehai had never seen Naoki feel before, and he was unsure how to classify it.

Returning from his fancied floating, Takehai resumed a more usual perspective on the yard and completed his kata, dropping cross-legged onto the lawn as Tsukune completed her exercise and Naoki spoke.

"Tsukune-san," he began. She only stared up at the big Crab, the "no-mind" trance still fading from her soul. Sensing that she was listening despite her silence, Naoki continued. "I am always impressed with your grace. I wanted to express again my sorrow over this morning's exercise, and my hope that your bruises were adequately taken care of. My training keeps me from striking lightly, though I did try."

A smile twitched at the corners of Tsukune's mouth. "I am not made of folded paper. The Asahina healers are well-trained, and I have been bruised before."

Naoki was visibly relieved. When had he started caring who he hurt? Wasn't brutality a fact of life in Hida training? Questions, questions — but Naoki was speaking again.

"I am glad to hear that you were well taken care of. I am sorry."

"The fault was mine," Tsukune shook her head slightly, all her movements remaining minimal. "I misjudged your speed. I would never have expected a Crab to strike so quickly."

"Perhaps I can show you the basics of my technique?" Here was familiar ground for Naoki. Always seeking further knowledge of other techniques, and unafraid to trade for the information.

Tsukune smiled. "Perhaps. A rematch?"

Now Naoki was surprised. "I... er..."

It came to Takehai then what was so disturbing Naoki in this entire encounter. Tsukune had met Naoki's eyes evenly. No-one ever locked gazes with Naoki. He was too imposing, and those who did always looked away first. Tsukune had not yet flinched from Naoki, and he was clearly realizing this as well. Still, he forged ahead, apparently unwilling to let a woman get the better of him.

"Perhaps just to one touch then." Naoki said at last.

"That is hardly fair," Tsukune answered quietly, still locked into Naoki's eyes. "My reach with the naginata exceeds even your own natural arm length. I would easily score the first touch, as I did this morning."

"What would you propose as a fair end-point, then?" asked Naoki, perturbed but intrigued.

"The most touches in one pass," Tsukune said flatly, as she stooped to retrieve a boken she had brought out with her and offer it to Naoki. Relieved of her stare, Naoki returned to the state of battle-calculation he was most familiar with.

"Very well," he said as he accepted the boken and took up his stance.

"Ready?" Asked Tsukune.

"Hai." answered Naoki. Tsukune was moving before he finished the word.

Takehai's eyes bulged unconsciously as Naoki and Tsukune met. Both moved with a speed nearly beyond recognition. Takehai's ise zumi training allowed him to slow the action down for mental registry, and he did so even while admiring the little Phoenix flit past the crashing wave that was Naoki.

Tsukune's naginata touched Naoki's armpit as he raised his boken to strike, and came down onto his waist just after his wooden blade made contact with her shoulder. Naoki worked the boken out to bring it around the butt of Tsukune's weapon and onto her leg, but Tsukune slid the shaft outward, keeping Naoki's blow away until she had flitted past him. All in a split second.

The combatants flew past each other, paused as they mentally tallied touches, and then turned to bow. Tsukune unconsciously rolled her struck shoulder to loosen it as Naoki spoke.

"I look forward to fighting alongside you in tomorrow's mock-skirmish, Tsukune-san. Well done."

"Thank you, Naoki-san. With all respect, I would rather face you tomorrow." Naoki looked surprised, and she added "You are the only one with the speed. Good evening, Naoki-san." And she was gone, walking back into the temple, her practice naginata on her shoulder. Naoki watched her walk, obviously admiring the catlike grace with which she carried herself, and then left as well.

Takehai ended his evening's meditations as he began them. Alone.