"Gordon, Kunai or dirk?" – the difficult choice must had been made 10 days ago, but still, the suspiciousness the blades' sharpness and Kali's confidence convey, significantly devastates my brain.
She had been telling me that kunai is eligible to her knife-combat style, which includes the knife throwing. But, kunai is not flawless in the prolonged combat in her case. She can throw it at the outbreak, lose the weapon, redirect her main goal to recapturing it and leave the enemy on hold, rather than defeating the enemy in a short time, which requires a constant concentration on the enemy alone. Dirk is more suitable in maintaining her thoughts exclusively on the enemy, because she won't risk throwing the curved blade, as it's accredited property is in inflicting precise wounds along the veins of an enemy in close combat. Kali had been telling me that she possesses the fundamental techniques of combat with dirks, but she isn't professionally acknowledged in practice of its outsmarting usage. Dirk is perfect in the creation of the vague scene for the enemy, so the real punch coming in his direction isn't noticed until the blade cuts the skin. Kunai is perfect in its rearrangement between the hands, teeth and the surrounding, so the scenarious of its usage is impossible to predict by the enemy. So hard to choose.
- "How the hell must I know? I've never gotten an opportunity to spar with Kali on knives, but I heard that she is substancially trained in tossing. I've never seen her miss." – he replied with an apathetic, speculating expression.
His eyes suddenly darted away from mine, revolving over our near entourage. Inspecting for any signs of eavedropping, I realized. When he barely distinctly nodded, I continued.
- "I know that she prefers kunai, but dirk can become her ace up her sleeve. Everyone expects her to select the traditional tools of my Japanese family, right?" - I asked nervously, thoroughly shortening the claim in advance, while my brain can still process anything.
- "Probably. However, as an active user of dirk, I can kindly offer a few advices regarding SPECIAL tricks, if she wants me to." – Gordon was sincere in his intention to assisst, but Kali is too stunning when she spars, so my hesitation was somewhat justifiable. (I am a horribly jealous person so that I can murder instantly, without figuring out the context) I sighed in defeat.
- "I guess it can help, trully. Thank you, Amigo." – I added with a smirk (Gordon is a Spanish guy, and I have a habit to get interested into learning languages that my fellows belong with. Unfortunately, Kali hadn't known anything about her past or her cultural background, so we all have been accepting the fact that she became Japanese, even when her exterior has been telling that she has, probably, a Latino-European mix in her genotype)
- "How many languages do you plan on persuing to show off?" – Gordon demonstratively rolled his eyes, emphasizing on me being his source of irritation at times like that.
What's so irritating in his friend appreciating his mother tongue anyway?
- "Kali once said that she is fond of your Spanish accent, and overall, El idioma español suena atractivo. And I can't allow you to be more attractive than me for her" – I said with the tangible gloominess in my voice, delivering an aura of overprotective boyfriend (which I am, but that mustn't be announced openly). My earnest declaration only lit a spark of competition in him.
No need to disguise my urge to warm up a little.
- "So, you are suggesting us to identify who Kali should consider attractive seriously. Daggers or knives? Or, are you in the mood for swords, for once in a while?" – he listed out options with criticism.
His appeal meant that it was a test again. From him, this time.
- "I thought it is always the vanquished side's right to choose armament." – I replied with an indignant tone.
- "I thought so as well."
- "Quite mutual misunderstanding we have on this."
- "Totally agree."
- "Did you two choose words as your weapons for this sparring or what?" – Sai shouted from behind the spruce he was reading "Gulliver's travels" at, while the tree's shadow was covering him from the blinding sun, suspiciously abnormal for the Ireland's foggy autumns.
His book was put aside, while his eyes flicked between us, his frown comparable to the one of a wrinkled old man's. His temptation to run to the storage and bring the weapons to us himself, so he can continue reading without having to hear our silly bickering again, was evident.
Sometimes, Sai acted like a big brother, unlike Gordon. He is even more of a passive enthusiast than Gordon, I would say. In every other way, they are practically identical. I was wondering, hadn't the fate been ridiculous enough to supply Gordon with the younger brother, rather than with the twin. It comes to me as if I had been communicating with the younger version of Gordon, who had matured in no time mentally and acquired a rummy brow cut above the right eye. A middle aged man trapped inside the body of the skinny boy, with the street style and no passion for self-expression. A strange combination of qualities in one person though.
- "Just raise those daggers off the grass, right behind you on your left." – sensei Adam, lazily passing by with his afternoon tiny cup of Indian tee, decided to interfere with the silent order to carry away the daggers left by the 2nd grades on the training yard back to the storage after our sparring session. "And don't forget to write the patrol report, Satoshi." – he added with the warning glare.
Oh, shoot. Totally slipped away from my memory. Because of someone (Kali).
The grass had grown high enough to reach the top laces of my hunting boots. I always wear exceptionally threadbare boots, so the history of obstacles that those boots stepped over escorts me on my way to victories. Always a working tactic. Supports my invincibility on spiritual level. Makes me feel like my experience matches my age.
- "Defend yourself, Amigo." – Gordon reappeared with the discreet expression, his lips pressed into a thin line in concentration.
He handed me the dagger with a shabbed blade, crooked handle and blunt end. No inspiration to write a sonata about. I looked at the dagger that Gordon preserved for himself, already prepared to convey my dissatisfaction towards his spurious impression of my unlimited abilities, but noticed that his was exactly as squalid as mine. So, this must be refered to as unscheduled training for contingent circumstances, I suppose.
- "Ready, when you are" – I twisted my hellishly pathetic dagger twice before clinging my fingers to it tightly.
And Gordon moved first. He made a shallow lunge forward with his left foot, aiming the dagger at the solar plexus, using a Filipino grip and twisting it diagonally away from me, so the tip of it was pointing right at the spot on my stomach. A classic attack performed by uncommon knife grip, as the presumptious pressure on the thumb can lead to its amputation, if the opponent will be deft enough. I loved Gordon too much to practice my deftness on him. I've been a fan of the least of movements during the fights. Turning my body with the left shoulder backwards and drawing a semicircle with the left foot, I struck a posture that my back was facing Gordon's left profile. Then, I pushed him into the ground with the roundhouse kick, not bothering with contribution of additional force into the kick rather than just stretching out the right leg sharply.
My respect for Gordon was earned by his perseverance, sense of humour and absolute absence of jealousy. His combat style originated from the street fights, the mission of which layed in entire devotion of one's spirit for the victory, strength to lock one's principles securely without a chance for them to take control over, risk crazily and receive the rewards at any costs. His style means no control, no cold-mindedness, no feelings, no regrets. It implies only insane instincts, which don't provide a choice to give up.
Just like Kali. Unlike her, he has an unconstrained call for self-preservation somewhere, and it fuses with conciousness at right times.
Gordon is strong. So is Kali. Unlike her, he doesn't pick up fights that he knows he can't take.
Gordon is also smart. Kali is smart too. But, unlike her, he trusts his mind when it engages in a fight with a heart.
And here enters the moment, when the dagger slips through my hand and falls to the ground soundly, when I am waiting for Gordon to stand up with the flip, too preoccupied with Kali in the process. Again.
YOU ARE READING
Assassins vs Knights
RomanceA Japanese assassin, The Strongest warrior of the Unified Irish kingdom - Satoshi Kamado, was asigned to train the cadets from the military instituition Dullahan, as monsters' attacks get more violent, coordinated and deadly each year. The humanity...
