Joker

40. Shit Ayu wants to be me but the killer me

Aki grinned at Ayu as he jabbed the punching bag and clapped "Very good pup. You're pretty good at this now."

Ayu smiled and bounced on the balls of his heels "I like this! I feel like I could make an awesome fighter Aki!"

"You sure could. But only use those skills for self-defence young one." Aki said in a warning tone. He is a lot like Arjun. He's relishing this and picking it up very quickly. He's also quick on his feet and athletic. Has good brains too. He'd make a master assassin. Better than me or his uncle.

"What's next then Aki?" He asked.

Aki rubbed the back of his neck as he tried to think back to the times when Arjun would teach him. He held Ayu's shoulders and made his back face the punching bag in Nakul's spare room. He squatted in front of Ayu and said "Hit it without turning. Hands only."

Ayu frowned "I can't bend my hands that way to jab though."

"Improvise. Jab but do not turn your head. Use any part of your arms." There I gave him a clue.

Ayu pulled his elbow to the front and then shoved it back sharply, hitting the bag with the bony part of his elbow. Aki smiled and clapped again "There you go, you learned a back elbow. You can use that as a recovery after you hit someone with a jab because you don't have to draw in too much power but it still hurts as bad as a jab. Can you guess why?"

Ayu nodded "The elbow is hard. So it will hurt if I just make it fast."

"Precisely." Aki found it rather fun teaching Ayu "Now try jabbing then turning and hitting it with a back elbow. As fast as you can okay?"

Ayu nodded, took his stance quickly and held up his fists wrapped in battered white tape. Aki looked on at him in slight shock. The crying little toddler in the park with the fluffy cheeks and tiny hands had grown up a lot. He was a tall kid now with long arms and legs and a lightly toned thin body. Should he eat more? Ayu looked at the bag with intense focus, his dark brown eyes alight with fire. JUST LIKE NAKUL'S! His dragon eyes were the exact same as his father's. Fast as lightning he jabbed the bag and twirled on a foot before going in back, driving his elbow into the bag with the added momentum of the spin and only then putting his foot down to stabilize himself. Oh shit, he is a natural... Is it genetic? It's just like what Arjun told me. He said he never signed up for the assassin life. He used to just love the thrill of fighting and how easily it came to him. He got curious when he was offered a role as a mercenary and then just kept growing before fully maturing into Reaper. Will Ayu have a similar story? Arjun had a happy ending but he may not... I hope he never comes into the dark side. Ayu smiled widely at Aki "Did I do good?"

"Excellent. You're a natural." Aki smiled back and clapped "Repeat it twenty times."

Aki drank a sip of water while Ayu fiercely went on. Aki stopped him "No Ayu. Not like that. Don't get your emotions too into it or it'll get sloppy. Keep your mind clear and strikes very straight. Focus on your actions not your emotions okay? Start again." God I sound like Arjun.

"Okay!" Ayu chirped and did it again, this time much more in control of his arms and legs.

"Good job. Come here, take a second." He patted the floor next to him.

Ayu happily plopped himself down and groaned "Fun but it hurts."

"I warned you." Aki chuckled "Why do you want to learn how to fight anyway?"

"If I tell you will you tell dad?" Ayu looked at him with an eyebrow raised.

"If you tell me not to I certainly won't." Aki said "If it's a secret, it's a secret. Is it?"