Assassin! Ishimaru Kiyotaka

Losing Face

Mondo was only five minutes late the next morning. He entered the room like a crashing wave, as if he had just woken up and rushed to get ready. Heavy bags still darkened around his eyes, but he looked slightly less begrudged to be awake than yesterday. His hair was pulled back into a neat ponytail, much like the first time they had met, and while he still wore that low cut tank top that showed entirely too much of his chest and had smudged eyeliner clinging stubbornly to his bottom lash line-

...it was acceptable.

"Not so late today."

Kiyotaka muttered to himself, glanced away from the clock on the wall he had been assessing seconds ago, a small smile gracing his lips before vanishing.

The strict persona Mondo had grown closer to since last night taking over his calm laced attitude,

"But still late."

Mondo chuckled in response, a tired tone twinging his voice as he spoke,

"Yeah yeah, I know. Ya don't gotta remind me. So what r' we gonna do t'day boss?"

Kiyotaka clasped his hands behind his back, raising his chin just a bit higher as he took on the persona of the teacher, looking like a drill instructor in his workout clothes and bright burning eyes.

His words sharp with intellect and worn with time and knowledge of years of experience.

He seemed to age in front of Mondo, his jovial young face creasing at his eyes and the corners of his mouth in a downward slope.

He looked wise and weathered, like an old sailor with too many horror stories to tell. He looked as though he had seen the world and destroyed it all in the same day.

He looked tired.

"So far, I have only taught you passive defense. The act of defending oneself without administering a counterattack. Being able to block one, or multiple, incoming attacks is a very important skill to have in any situation. But just being on the defensive the entire encounter is going to leave you tired, beaten, and most likely on the path to defeat. Why is that, do you think?"

Kiyotaka didn't wait for Mondo to reply, turning his gaze to the wall as he paced in front of the larger man,

"You cannot keep blocking forever. Eventually you will tire, openings in your defenses will become evident and you will be defeated.'

He paused for a moment, letting his words hang in the air,

"Today's lesson will be about the next step. I will teach you about a method I have deemed 'active defence'. Using the breaking points in your opponent to your advantage. This method is not aimed at hurting your assailant, rather disorienting them, allowing you an escape or a swift disarmament."

He finally turned back to Mondo, moving in front of him again,

"So uh... would... would pile driving be considered active defence?"

Kiyotaka sighed, looking at Mondo's grinning stupid face.

'Yes... i suppose... Pile driving is active defense."

"I believe a demonstration is in order."

Kiyotaka held a blank expression on his face as he lowered himself into a slightly different ready position, his knees bent more, and his hands in fists. He no longer held himself up, his back straight and proper, meeting Mondo's gaze. Now, his posture was more drawn in, his forearms tucked in front, dark red eyes peering through his clenched hands, his dark brows furrowing around the shining fire that flitted through them.