"Disappointing. Is this all you have after all these years?"
The figure said to Ch'en, who was holding her blades and breathing heavily. She had been trying to attack him, but he had effortlessly evaded and blocked all her attacks. Her sword felt lighter than usual when she swung it at him for some reason, but she guessed that was part of the figure's ability. The figure hadn't even drawn his sword and yet, she was going all out at him. There had to be a weakness somewhere.
"Keep talking, I'll cut you down right here and now!"
She said firmly at him. She could tell the figure was smiling behind the mask and cloak. Of course he would be. It was him.. But that was all the more reason she needed to surpass him and go ahead to catch up to Talulah. She charged at him, holding her swords ready in case he would try some trick like grabbing her wrist again. He just stood still, waiting for her to arrive. He was preparing for something, she knew, but there was no telling what. ----- never showed anyone what abilities he had, but it was obvious he was keeping something strong behind.
"Are you sure you want to run at me?"
This sent Ch'en to stop. She quickly took a look around, gauging the situation. They were quite some distance from the Rhodes Island base, but they were coming regardless. If she was correct, they would have very little time to finish this before Rhodes Island came. However, she doubted that was what he meant. She lowered her blades and narrowed her eyes and looked at him.
"What do you mean?"
"You've tried the last six times and got tossed around. Are you sure you still want to come at me?"
"..... It's my responsibility to cut you down. I'll do so as many times as it takes."
"You didn't change at all. That fighting style is still the same as I remember it."
".....You weren't the one that taught me how to fight like this."
"Indeed, but I was watching and I knew who taught you, because I taught him. Speaking of him, have you seen him around?"
"......I haven't seen that little boy since I left the Reunion."
"Figures. Now would you care to explain what you were doing?"
"Doing my job."
"..........."
"What about it?"
"Is that all you really have to say about it? Cutting down your sister is just "doing your job"? You have no thoughts about it?"
"I do what I have to do. I follow the rules and use any means necessary."
With that answer, she lunged forward at the silenced figure and made a slice towards his head. She thought that she got a clean cut, but he caught the blade in his hand, which didn't she didn't expect. Because of that lost timing, she got kneed in the stomach as the figure jumped up. Coughing on the floor, she tried to stand up, but her head felt dizzy. She couldn't keep this up, despite all her words.
"Damn...you..."
"You lost your way, Ch'en. When you asked to go back to your race and city, I agreed, but I didn't expect for you to turn out this way."
"......What did it matter? You didn't care either way!"
She tried to stand up and push the memories from her head. She didn't need them, not now. She didn't want to see them again. Why was he still...disappointed in her? She was the head of the Lungmen Guard Department now, she got the highest scores in the academy, even did everything she could to keep order, so why.. why did he have to appear now? Even though he was alive all along..
