ˏˋ°•*⁀➷「Flowers」 *ೃ༄

ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝟜 - 𝕀'𝕞 𝔾𝕠𝕟𝕟𝕒 𝕊𝕙𝕠𝕨 𝕐𝕠𝕦 ℂ𝕣𝕒𝕫𝕪

⚠️TRIGGER WARNING ⚠️
VIOLENCE AND GORE

Yanqing and I spar with each other. He blocks all my moves and even startles me here and there. He's very good, I'll give him that. He knows his stuff. He learned well...

"Boys," my dad calls to us from the crowd," it's starting."

In the middle of the room stands our kendo instructor, Luocha Sensei. His blonde hair is done up in a bun, a few strands falling down his pale face. He speaks in a low, calm tone. "Today is an auspicious day for our class. Today, we will crown a new Sensei!" The parents and the other students clap ans cheer. My pounds rhythmically with the claps. This is my moment...! I've been training so hard for this day..

Luocha Sensei steps to one side and calls our names. "Our first examinee is...." His eyes glance around the room. A smile tugs at the corner of his mouth. "Dan Heng!"

Everyone whoops and cheers. I wall into the center of the dojo. I keep a stern face in the hopes of planting fear into my opponent. My aite.

Luocha Sensei looks down at his page, choosing my opponent. All of us on that page have made it past our individual examinations. "And his opponent..." Everyone waits with baited breath. Who's my opponent gonna be...?!

My soul leaves my body as he says Blade's name.

Blade strides to the center. His chest is puffed out. He's got a mean grin on his face. Anger swells up inside of me.

Luocha Sensei hands us each a sword. Before I can accept mine, Papa comes and stops me. "Sensei, my son had a special sword crafted for this day. On his mother's behalf. This sword will truly bring him good luck today." The two men stare at each other. It's a short stare, yet a whole lifetime passes. Luocha Sensei scoffs but then smiles. "Yes, of course. It's not a problem at all..."

Papa hands me the sword. He touches my forehead to his. "Wǒ gěi nǐ jiā yóu," he whispers to me. I'm rooting for you.

Thanks, Papa...

Blade looks at me, his eyes sharper than his name. His tongue sticks out slightly. He grips his sword tightly. I stand my ground, too. Though I feel a tinge of fear settling in.

Then the flashbacks start...

Do what I say, you little brat! Before I fucking kill you!

... but I don't want to...

Do you want me to start spreading rumors about you? DO WHAT I TELL YOU, ASSHOLE!

Blood... blood... more blood...

Death

Blade and I bow down, then we start fighting. Everything's going well for now- I attack, he blocks. It actually starts to feel like all it is - a mock fight. It's almost like a dance. I spin gracefully around him, dodging all his attacks. I can sense my father, beaming proudly. I can hear my mother's angelic voice in my head, singing songs of victory and joy. I can see my brother jumping happily.

I attack now, each strike purposeful and strong. Blade blocks me swiftly and brushes past me. He whispers in my ear, "How's Mama doing?"

"...what...?"

Papa told me to keep calm... keep my cool.

How dare he bring up my dead mother?!

Now, the fury inside of me has erupted like a volcano. I make angry lunges, almost stabbing him in the chest. Hot tears rush down my face. I wail with each strike and jab.

"NO- ONE- SPEAKS- ABOUT- MAMA!"
I bring the sword down hard, slicing his hand clean off his arm.

Everyone stared in horror. What have I done...? There's blood everywhere - on the floor, on my clothes and pouring from Blade's arm.

"DAN HENG!" Papa's voice echoes from the crowd. I hear his footsteps behind me - heavy and pronounced, and angry in nature. Papa looms over me. I feel his furious gaze on me. "What. Did. I. Tell. You?!" I bow my head shamefully. He's disappointed. Disgusted. I have embarrassed and dishonored my family. Now I will pay the price...

"Papa...I-" I stutter. To be honest, I don't have the words to explain my actions to my father. I stay silent. This angers him even more. "ANSWER ME, BOY!" He grabs my shoulders and shakes me roughly. I bite the bullet and decide to face his wrath. I glance up slowly at his face, only to see him crying, sadness buried deep into his eyes.

"Why, my son...why would you do that?"

Now I'm the one crying. Not because I didn't know why I did it, but rather because I did know why, and I could not control my actions. I was stupid. I let my fury consume me, so much so that my only outlet to this anger was violence. Cold, brutal violence. Yes, this is Kendo... but violence of this magnitude is strictly forbidden. I fucking cut off Blade's hand...!Come to think of it, swords that are not inspected by Sensei are not allowed, too, so I don't know what that says about our family...

Completely overwhelmed by the situation, I bury my face into Papa's chest and continue to cry. I cry, cry, and cry. I've never cried so much in public since Mama's funeral.

Loud sobs fill the empty silence. Papa runs a hand over my head and kisses it. "Dan Heng, whatever happens to you after this incident..." he thinks for a moment then looks down at me,"-know that I am here for you and we will work through everything together." We share a tender hug.

Blade had been rushed to the hospital almost immediately after his unplanned and unnecessary amputation. I am unsure of his current state, and I dread to know. I'd like to avoid him at all costs. No doubt, he's out for my blood, too. An arm for an arm...

"Dan Heng." Luocha Sensei walks over to Papa and I. I immediately fall to my knees and beg for forgiveness. "Sensei! I am truly sorry for my actions here today. I don't know what came over me. I...I can explain! I-"

"No need to explain, child." He pats my back gently. I let out a sigh of relief. Maybe he heard what Blade said that angered me so? If that's the case, then I'm okay.

He smiles and hands me all my things and a form of dismissal. "Don't trip on your way out~"