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"Read your thoughts." Kaosu said flatly. "Sounds like...fun. However, if it's surprise you want, I got just what you ordered." Kaosu spun around and jumped back quickly, then stamping his foot into the ground; halting his reverse momentum. Using that foot, he shot forward towards Tsai. Again he went for the stab at Tsai's chest. But this time, he remembered where Tsai dodged last time. He's right-footed, just like me Kaosu said. Either that or he's leading me on, but until I know that... Kaosu, after the stab, quickly led up into a speeding slash towards the left. So this is what Tsai meant by studying your oppenent.

After the slash, Kaosu spun to the left and prepared a quick downward slash. Hopefully, as Tsai wanted, this might surpise him a little. Another slash down the middle. Just what he expects. This time, however, in mid-slash he stepped to the left, just where Tsai should step again, assuming he hasn't caught on. This, then, would lead Tsai straight into a damaging slash.

[19]

Kaosu quickly sheathed his scimitar, repositioning so that it would have an even less chance of falling off. Then, he crouched his weary legs and said, "Bring it on." But, in his head, it was a roiling mess. Everything I could do, everything I brought forth...It was miss after miss....He treated me like a child... Then, the loudest voice in his head drowned out the rest. Focus.

Kaosu closed his eyes for a second or two and breathed in slowly, calming his raging sea of a mind. Then, he opened his eyes. He stared at Tsai, trying to note everything he was doing thus far, and remembering how he fought previously. Focus Softly rang in his head, almost like a transient, background noise that silenced everything else around him.

"I'm ready."

[20]

Kaosu studied the way Tsai approached, and the way his hands were placed and how he was running. So better than me right now. Kaosu thought as he continued to focus. He saw the slash coming, and pushed to the left with his right foot as usual. He knew he should try something less obvious than that, but it's all he could do at the moment.

Then, the feint slash came down, and Kaosu totally fell for it, and pushed himself backwards. He knew his folly once Tsai started in on him with the accompanying slashes. He kept moving farther and farther to his right before he noticed it. Tsai's landing each step on his right foot... Kaosu thought as Tsai stopped the onslaught, though again he was almost out of breath. "Okay, keep it coming. I'm ready." Kaosu knew himself that he'd probably screw up somewhere along the line, but until then, he'd try his best.

Maybe if I stay out of the range of his blade as he moves it? I know now he's right-footed, but is he right handed? A simple test.

Kaosu knew he was trying to dodge, but as Tsai seemed to blur and dash at Kaosu, he was running out of ideas. As Tsai dashed, he bent his knees. No, no holes in this defence. However, I didn't think the ploy was going to work against this smart piece of work anyways. Kaosu planted his feet, left foot leading and himself facing sideways; making him less of a target and a somewhat greater mobility. Okay, okay, think. He's...he's...crap! Kaosu moved his leg back as Tsai's sword swung by. Okay, definetly not working the way I wanted it to. Now, where's he going to strike next? Kaosu then saw the intricate blade swiping up at his face, and he bent backwards to avoid it. And to think he couldn't beat me earlier. I should have had my butt handed to me in a...oh crap!

He then saw the glint of Tsai's weapon as it shot towards his gut. Sneaky son-of-a... Kaosu then just forgot what he was doing. He placed a hand on the ground and sprang back, surprised that his arms were still functioning that well. He landed on the ground, crouching and huffing. He placed a knee on the ground and kept breathing. Breathe... Kaosu then stood up and walked back towards Tsai. "Okay, maybe that one wasn't very good.

[22]

Kaosu got up. "A break. Yeah, that sounds just about right. I'm not really hungry, just really thirsty. I'll take a few swigs and I should be good." As Tsai went to grab his clipboard, Kaosu chugged a couple mouthfuls of water. He pulled his head out and then realized what Tsai said. "You gotta be kidding. THAT WAS ONLY TESTING?! He followed Tsai as he went about with the notes. "Only testing? You must be joking. Tell me please that you're joking." But, inside, he didn't feel all that bad. He'd be getting better. He hoped he'd be getting better. I'm just gonna hafta follow Tsai around or something. There's no way I could pass up such a great oppertunity to make myself better.

Then, he noticed a strange fruit on the ground. He picked it up and showed it to Tsai. "Hey, this edible?"

Kaosu shrugged and wiped off the dirt. He then took a deep bite into the fruit. He stood there a second, and felt absolutely nothing. "Wow, he must be lyin'. I feel nothing." Kaosu, regardless, kept eating the fruit. "But I do like the taste." Then, when Kaosu finished, he felt curious. He looked down at his calf. He took off the wound covering, and found no wound. He took off the bandage on his arm, same effect. "Okay, maybe it does work."

Kaosu nosed right next to Tsai, watching Tsai write. "Ya know, for as fast as you write, you got some pretty handwriting. I couldn't do that good even if I tried." Then, he stared harder. He thumped his head with his hand. So he was right handed. It didn't work, and I was using his disadvantage. He's a technical monster... Kaosu just sighed.

"So, what's next?"

[24]

"I'd be glad to." Kaosu noted. "I've learned and gained more here in one day than Ugu could ever teach me, of course no offense to him." Kaosu then placed the weights on his arms. "Whew. Okay, any goals I'm looking for here? I can't do that many, but I'll try."

Kaosu put himself into the push-up position, with one knee supporting him. "Alright, give me the go." I don't even have to start to know that this is going to be near-hell. Great. Bring it on, Tsai.

Slack off... Kaosu thought lightly. Since when have I once slacked off? Nonetheless, he began his training. "1." For the time being, he just thought about random things. However, no matter how hard he tried, "2", he just couldn't help thinking about his past. Was I always this aggressive? Or did this just happen because I can no longer remember my life? "3."

It didn't matter, and Kaosu pushed it out of his mind by forcing himself to work faster, but just as hard. He just focused on the rhythmic up and down motion he was working on. "...6." Then, remembering what Tsai said about rhythm, he worked harder on keeping his push-up rhythm steady. "...8."

And now, as Kaosu kept pushing, his arms began trembling. "ERrrrgh." He groaned as he pushed himself back up again. He sat in the 'up' positiong for a few seconds, catching his breath. Then again back down, arms wobbling like a weak foundation in an earthquake. "...9." Normally I can do almost thirty...stinking weights..."

Finally, he made it to ten. He collapsed onto the ground and moaned. His arms were again burning, but this time with an intensity as if they were on fire. He just sat there, again catching his breath. "Dang you Tsai." Kaosu muttered. Then, he smiled.

[26]