The day following the mission into the Veil, Kyo stood in the training yard, scythe in hand. His mind replayed what happened the previous day: Kazuo humiliating him, taking down the rogue reapers with such ease while the chaotic attacks of Kyo caused more problems than solutions. Again, he swung his scythe harder this time, but however many times he trained, it didn't feel like enough.
The sun had only just started to rise, casting long shadows across the academy. The training yard was silent but for the occasional thud of Kyo's strikes across the practice dummies. He wasn't expecting anyone else to be out this early, until he heard the footsteps approaching behind him.
Kazuo: "You're still doing it wrong."
(Kyo, frozen mid-swing, turned to see Kazuo standing a few feet away, his arms crossed. His expression was as cold as ever, and the disapproval in his voice was blatant.
Kyo: Rolling his eyes, "Oh great it's you again. What're you even doing here?"
Kazuo: "Training. Same as you."
He took another step forward, eyes narrowed just slightly. "Except unlike you, I don't waste my time flailing around like a maniac. You're strong, but you're reckless, and that makes you a danger to everyone around you."
Kyo's grip on his scythe tightened, as frustration boiled up again in his chest, starkly reminiscent of the previous day.
Kyo: "You really think you're got it all figured out, don't you? That your perfect little 'control' is the only way to win. Well, let me tell you something-real fights aren't so tidy. Sometimes you gotta adapt, be unpredictable. You wouldn't last a second if you were in real danger."
Kazuo: Is that what you think chaos is the answer to?
He drew his sword-the blade shone with a faint soul energy-and said, "Very well. Let's see how your chaos stands against the real thing."
In one swift motion, Kazuo leaped forward. The strokes were neat and sharp, the sword slicing through the air toward Kyo's middle. Barely in time, he raised his scythe to block the attack. Upon impact, the force of the strike sent a jolt through his arms.
Kyo: (Grinning despite the struggle.) "You're gonna regret this!"
(He swung his scythe in a wide arc, trying to get Kazuo's legs, but Kazuo was far too quick. He leapt backward, dodging the attack with ease.)
Kazuo: (Calmly, stepping forward once more.) "You rely too much on brute force. It's predictable."
Again he darted in, his slash angled at Kyo's shoulder. Kyo barely blocked it, but Kazuo's relentless speed was overpowering. Economy of movement, direction, not a single waste of energy.
Kyo gritted his teeth, trying to keep up. His wild style, serving him so well by usually simply overpowering opponents into defeat, just couldn't hold its own against Kazuo's perfect control.
Kyo: "You're fast, I'll give you that."
Swinging the scythe again, much stronger this time, Kazuo easily sidestepped him and planted a quick strike on Kyo's side. The hit sent Kyo backward.
Breathing heavily, Kyo reset his pose and narrowed his eyes to study Kazuo, who had to be admitted to pretty good precision, though poor on one thing—brutal power.
Kazuo smirked; he could sense frustration from Kyo.
Kazuo: "This is the difference between us. You think brute strength can make up for a lack of discipline, but all it does is make you sloppy."
(He charged in once again; his sword was aimed for Kyo's chest. But this time, Kyo was prepared.)
Kyo swung his scythe in a sudden, wild arc, forcing Kazuo to retreat mid-attack. The raw force behind the swing caused a burst of wind to ripple through the training yard.
Kyo: "Maybe. But all that discipline won't help when you're outmatched."
He grinned, charging at Kazuo with revitalized energy, his scythe swooping in great powerful arcs. Kazuo had to dodge rapidly; for the first time, his icy mask of composure began to break under the deluge of Kyo's relentless assault.
For an instant, it looked as though the sheer brute force was going to make this a battle decided in Kyo's favor. Then Kazuo's face set.
Kazuo: "Enough."
In a blink of an eye, he had closed the gap between them; his sword was shining brighter with soul energy. In one swift, smooth motion, Kazuo had Kyo disarmed: the scythe knocked from his hands onto the ground with a clatter.
Kazuo pressed the cold steel of his sword against the skin of Kyo's throat before he could utter a word.
Kazuo: "You're strong, but it's gonna take more than strength to win battles. You're a loose cannon, Kyo. Until you learn control, you'll always be a danger to everybody who is around you."
Kyo stood there, his breath heavy, eyes locked on Kazuo. Again his frustration boiled over, but he couldn't deny that Kazuo had a point. He'd been reckless, relying too much on brute strength without thought of consequences.
Kyo: ((Glaring, but lowering his voice.) "Maybe you're right. but control isn't everything either. You're too rigid. In a real fight, you won't always have time to plan every move."
(He pushed the sword away from his neck, stepping back.) "You'd get torn apart the second something unexpected happens."
(Kazuo sheathed his sword, his eyes narrowing.)
Kazuo: "Maybe. But at least I won't get my friends killed."
Kyo winced at the words, the memory of the failed mission still fresh in his mind. Before he could respond, Mei stepped into the training yard, having caught the tail end of the fight.
Mei: "Enough, both of you."
Her eyes glanced at Kyo and then to Kazuo, her voice firm. "This isn't helping. We've got bigger problems than your egos."
Kazuo threw one last look at Kyo before he turned to leave, his voice cold as ever.
Kazuo: "I'll be training. If you ever want to learn what real control looks like, you know where to find me."
(As Kazuo walked away, Mei turned to Kyo, the softening of her eyes a shade less pronounced.)
Mei: "He's right about one thing, you know. You have to find a balance. Raw power will only take you so far."
Kyo: (Sighing, running a hand through his hair.) "Yeah, I'm starting to get that. but I'm not gonna become some rigid control freak like him either."
Mei: (Smirking.) "No, I don't think anyone expects you to. But maybe learning a little control wouldn't hurt."
Kyo looked down at his scythe lying on the ground and picked it up, resting it on his shoulder. He knew he still had a long way to go until he would master his power, but for the very first time, he realized that it wasn't just about strength-it was about balance.
Kyo: "I'll figure it out. One way or another."
He turned back in the direction Kazuo had gone with a new look of determination upon his eyes.
As the sun climbed higher in the sky, the tension between them finally dissipated; Kyo, however, would take the lessons of the clash with him as he pressed onward.
[End of chapter]