Chapter Thirteen: The Grudge — Part 6

Though training could be accomplished almost anywhere, Jun often trained with Joanie on a covered wooden square set some distance out from the manor, whose function had originally been meant for large social gatherings. The two of them often walked hand in hand to the practice deck, made of wood and covered in thin reed mats, whose roof was made of stone slate shingles. Jun took her normal stance, signaling for Joanie to attack. Joanie did so, trying to use what Jun had taught her to her best ability. Jun diverted the energy of the punch with a careful application of two fingers, Joanie overstepped, her hip hitting Jun’s, and the next thing Joanie knew she was airborne, her reflexes kicking in has she fell to the hard wood surface. Reeds crunched under the impact, and Joanie reached out with her free hand, trying to pull Jun off balance before the woman could lock the joints in her arm and force her to surrender. Jun, being too solidly set to topple, twisted Joanie’s wrist and bent her elbow until Joanie’s vision was clouded with pain induced speckles and stars. Joanie tapped the ground furiously.

“Should have tapped out sooner.” Jun said.

Jun stood back, signaling Joanie to rise and attack again. Joanie took to her feet, more cautious, working on some preliminary kicks and dodges, Jun stepping in tightly behind the knee and shoving Joanie off balance. Joanie’s arms flailed out from her, and she found herself catching the ground with the middle of her shoulders and the palms of her hands, her butt and head high to protect her spine and brain from harm. Jun motioned Joanie to pause for a moment, and Joanie got up, dusting herself off. When Joanie was focused enough to see around her, she realized that Nikkei waited at the edge of the platform, dressed for a fight.

“Want a second victim, Miss Jun?” Nikkei asked.

“If you think you can last longer than Joanie, I might actually get a good practice session in.” Jun said.

Nikkei and Jun faced off, each smiling the savage smile of experienced competitors. The two lunged at each other, Nikkei catching the first blow and diverting its energy. Jun followed her fist as Nikkei guided it along its inevitable path, and then overshot it, rising off her feet and slamming hard into the mat back first. Nikkei had gotten the first throw, but Jun countered, sending Nikkei flying to the edge of the deck, having been lifted and thrown as Jun diverted Nikkei’s own energy along its intended path. Because of the positions resultant of the throw, Jun and Nikkei were facing away from each other, Jun on her feet, Nikkei on her belly. Nikkei rolled over first, getting her back to the ground then snapped whip-like back to a standing position.

Jun nodded, Nikkei smiled. “I think we could go for hours, but Joanie needs practice.”

Nikkei pointed to Joanie. “You’re next.”

As it turned out, Joanie responded predictably when targeting Nikkei, but Nikkei was not in the path of her kick as it passed by her head. Nikkei had sidestepped and moved in behind Joanie, who felt Nikkei’s elbow in her kidney even as she stepped around to slam the ridge of her hand into the base of Nikkei’s skull. Nikkei ducked from the hand strike, and found herself at the mercy of Joanie’s knee. Nikkei rose about six inches from the impact with her chest, falling to the ground only when gravity could counter the energy of the kick, grimacing in pain. Nikkei slammed out with her foot, toppling Joanie, then jumped back, outside the square before Joanie could get her in a good grapple hold.

Jun stepped in and took on Joanie, who fought desperately against a woman who had been training since she was five in a martial arts form that had been developing for over six thousand years. Jun, ever in control of the flow of energy, sent Joanie spinning to the mats, dazed and winded multiple times. When Joanie was finally too winded to attack again, Jun turned from them, intending to walk with some arrogance from the training deck, only to find herself face to face with Yap. Yap smiled as brightly as she could, signaling Jun for a round.