Where Angels Fear to Tread

Show Me Your Heart!

Draco

     Ever since I was a kid, I've always hated surprises. It wasn't like I got many of them, but when I did, it was typically a surprise transfer to another set of asshole foster parents. Since those days, I've always preferred to know what was coming next. Preparation was the answer to all obstacles, right?

     Well, imagine the surprise I felt when I saw Kiri stumbling out of the trees, barely able to stand, let alone walk. Forgetting about Sasaki for a second, I dashed over to Kiri's side, catching her just as she was about to topple over.

"Stay awake, Kiri." I said, scooping her up. "As long as you're conscious, I don't think you'll be eliminated."

"No..." Kiri mumbled, almost too quiet to hear. "I came... to help you."

"You're not gonna be much help in a fight like this." I replied flatly, "He must've been tough to have done a number on you."

It was true. Kiri is stronger than I am currently, there was no denying that. I'm not sure I could get her this worn out, so for there to be other candidates at this level already meant that I needed to get stronger. A lot stronger. It was a humbling realization to say the least.

However, now isn't the time to get lost in thoughts of my own weakness. There's an opponent across this clearing that needed to be eliminated, but Kiri came first.

"Hold on a sec," I told her, sitting her down against a tree.

It only took me a second to find a branch thin enough to light on fire, thank God I'd brought matches. Well, thank Moon, actually, she was prepared for anything.

     "Here." I said, offering the flaming branch to Kiri. "You said you can absorb different forms of energy, right? It's not much, but it should give you a bit of fuel."

Kiri managed a small smile, thanking me as she accepted what was her version of an energy drink. As the pinkette(not a real word, I know) placed her palm up to the fire, the flames simmered out as she absorbed the thermal energy they produced.

"I'm okay now." she said, reassuring me with a smile., "Go, finish what you started, Draco!"

For some reason, seeing Kiri's confidence in me gave me a small energy boost as I turned back to my opponent. Sasaki stood impatiently across the clearing, anxiously bouncing around in anticipation of our fight.

"Are we done stalling? I'm starting to fall asleep over here" quipped Sasaki.

"Don't worry. I'll make sure you're on bed rest for a few days after this." I replied.

This time, I had a plan for Sasaki. His gift was too dangerous for a prolonged battle up close, there were just too many ways for him to immobilize me. Maybe, just maybe, however, if I could hit him with an attack he couldn't react to, I could catch him off guard and deliver a decisive strike. That is how Kiri beat him the first time, but he won't be expecting that sort of speed from me.

Crouching into a running position, I exploded into a full sprint towards Sasaki.
As a response, Sasaki broke into a sprint of his own, meeting me directly in the center of the clearing.

I threw the first attack, a powerful side kick aimed right at Sasaki's rib cage. It was dangerous to attack him head on, knowing that if his hands managed to grab hold of any place on my body I could be deadlocked and left to suffer a vicious counter attack. Until he was open enough to land my "secret attack," my only option was to be aggressive, keeping him on defense while simultaneously not allowing him to guess my next attack.