Perfect School

"And in the process I wouldn't blame him if he refused to spar with you ever again Jonah. You had an opportunity to learn from the best of an era." Contempt filled my voice and I slowly shook my head, "But you have too much pride to hop off your high horse for even a single spar."

Jonah:

“Tell me how loosing a match I could easily have won is prideful, Kira,” I said and leaned back on my hands. “I know what I did and I have already accepted the consequences of it.” I shrugged and looked up at the overcast sky.

"Because you held back, you wanted to play. Because you knew you'd win if you actually tried. You asked for advice and then immediately decided it didn't apply to you." I watched him from the corner of my eyes. "Frankly I can think of any number of people who would have killed just to have the chance you did."

Jonah:

“Well you’ll get your chance soon enough. I’m sure fighting you will erase all the disappointment he feels toward me. He’ll be nothing but amazed and proud for you,” I said casually. “And I’ll get it second hand next time I fight you. If I can beat the best assassin there is, I think I’m still doing okay.”

I turned to look at him with a serious expression on my face. What he was saying was true. He would learn it second hand from me, even if Michael refused to tell him anything. But the look on my face slowly turned to disappointed disgust. "Perhaps. But just as well that I follow with his wishes and not show you anything either."

Jonah:

“You fight on instinct, Kira. Even if you wish not to show me, it will come out when we spar. He was right when he said you mix too many styles. What he shows you will just be another one,” I said simply. I knew I was annoying her, but she wanted me to be real. This was me being real.

Snorting I shook my head. Gently moving the dogs head from my lap I stood and brushed myself off. "Perhaps. We'll see now wont we." I left him on the porch then, heading back inside to get water from the kitchen.

Krissy:

I ended up giving Michael a whole back massage and left him to rest for a while before his match with Kira. I went outside to get her. “Michael’s nearly ready,” I said sitting on the deck next to her. She and Jonah looked annoyed with each other, but I didn’t comment on that.

“He said I could watch yall if you agreed. But if you would rather I not, I’ll respect your choice,” I said softly. I had been worried for him during the match with Jonah only to find that I had no reason. But Kira was a different story. I had a feeling that she wouldn’t hold back in the slightest.

Kira:

After I had returned outside from the kitchen, with my water in hand Krissy came out of the house. I looked up at her after she spoke and nodded, "I don't mind. I'm used to being watched all the time. I think you would be less intrusive than some of the others I've had."

Standing and dusting myself off I let out a slow breath. "Let me change into better clothing and I'll meet you both down there I guess."

Krissy:

“Of course, let me know if you need anything,” I said and glanced at Jonah. He was watching the two of us carefully. I didn’t like it.

I followed Kira into the house then went down to the basement to meet Michael. I went over and hugged him, laying my head on his shoulder while we waited for our daughter. “Are you ready?”

Michael:

I embraced my wife as she came to me. "As ready as I'm going to be. I'm sure this fight will be different than my last one." I smiled down at my wife and rubbed her back gently. I only looked away from the love of my life when I heard the basement door open then shut and feet moving down the stairs.

Kira was wearing shorts and a tanktop. Her feet remained bare but she had finger less fighting gloves on her hands. She paused when she caught sight of us and her expression changed as I watched. I couldn't place what was going behind that neutral mask she wore, but seeing us together illicited some kind of reaction.

Krissy:

I glanced toward Kira when she came in then back to Michael. I cupped his face in my hand. “I love you,” I said then kissed him soundly. With a soft sigh, I let him go and started to walk off the mat. When I passed Kira I gave a small smile and reached out to softly squeeze her shoulder. I turned to face them and crossed my arms nervously.

I only spared Krissy a glance before focusing on Michael again. I joined him on the mats and suddenly felt a leaden weight in all of my limbs. For a fleeting moment I couldn't help but wonder, 'What if I disappoint him?' I didn't let the thought linger for long. Instead I moved closer and mimed the bow he made to me. We both settled into our stances and began to circle one another.

Krissy:

I couldn’t sit still as I watched but I also didn’t want to distract. I tried to keep my movements confined to fidgeting. For the first time in many years I found myself wanting to hold a knife for comfort. It was an od feeling to view Kira as a threat, but going against Michael she very much was. I only hoped that he could finish it as quickly as he had with Jonah.

Michael:

Fighting Kira was vastly different than Jonah, she didn't take any baits I did, and every time we exchanged brief blows she left nothing for me to take advantage of. In fact while I certainly had the strength and reach she lacked, she reacted faster than anyone I'd ever seen. She was running purely on instinct.

But I could see a change coming over her, her instinct was tamped down, she started rushing things. Something was coming and she seemed to be trying to beat it. I took advantage of one such moment and got her knocked to the ground. But something felt wrong. I couldn't react, my arm wasn't listening to me. It made me hesitate for a moment, giving my daughter enough time to throw herself at my legs and knock me down. But as I raised myself up to defend myself I had to pause again, to all appearances she was asleep on my legs.

"I..." I reached for her with one hand and touched her cheek then down to her pulse. It was fluttering but I could feel it slowly stabilizing.

Krissy:

When they hit the ground and things stopped suddenly, I ran across the mat. Kira was the unconscious one, which I had to admit, I had not expected. “What did you do?” I asked quickly with wide eyes at Michael. He didn’t seem in too bad of shape. The only thing off that I noticed was his limp arm.

I pulled Kira into my lap, supporting her head, and took her pulse. It was high, but not dangerous.

"I didn't do anything..." I looked at my arm and slowly I started to regain feeling, my fingers began to obey my command. "She could have had me, but she pushed too hard...started to rush it and then she collapsed." Raising my gaze up to my wife and child I shook my head, "I don't know what happened."

Krissy:

I looked Michael in the eyes for a moment, wordlessly confirming that he was okay. I sighed and looked back to our daughter. “Maybe we should bring Jonah in,” I said. I hated to ask for him. I hated that he knew more about Kira than we did, but it was needed. “Can you get him?” I asked while I held Kira in my arms.

"I can get him." I agreed and got up. My arm still tingled, but I was able to move it again. Jogging up the stairs I went in search of Jonah. I prayed my daughter was okay.

Krissy:

I cupped Kira’s face in my hand as Michael left. It was only a minute before they came back together. Jonah looked unconcerned, and the slightest bit smug. I couldn’t stand him, but we needed his help.


Jonah:

I noticed how Michael’s arm hung limp but didn’t comment. It was one of Kira’s techniques. One she learned from Zero’s teacher. “This happens sometimes. When she over exerts herself. Usually she can end a fight before it happens. Usually she has techniques to hold it off. But not when she’s running purely on instinct there’s always the possibility that this will happen. She isn’t healthy,” I explained without emotion. I watched Kira. There were already signs of her starting to come to.

Kira:

A shudder passed through me and then I jerked, my eyes snapping open as left over adrenaline surged through my veins. But as I looked towards the trio of faces above me I frowned for a moment then understanding dawned on me. "I'm sorry.." I murmured up to them. I tried sitting up, muscles screaming in protest.

Krissy:

I kept my arms around her, trying to support her as best I could. "Hey, it's okay. Don't push yourself. Why don't you just lie still for a moment and take a deep breath, okay?" I said, looking her in the eyes. I motioned and took in a deep breath with her to set the pace.

At her words I forced myself to slow down and let her hold part of my weight. I kept my eyes on hers as I breathed with her slowly, taking the cue of her breathing as the pace. A pit seemed to open around my heart. My stomach wanted to eject it's contents. It was like the time in Vegas with Jonah.

Krissy:

I searched her eyes, trying to understand what was going on in her head. “Do you feel better?” I asked after a couple minutes of breathing. “Do you want to go upstairs and lay down?” I didn’t want to leave her in the basement. I felt like if we took her to her room she could lay down and I could get her something to eat or drink. Something to make her feel better.

"I can move...but I should rest." I agreed softly. "This happens when I push myself too hard. It varies how long it takes me to recover." Though I gave some protest Michael and Krissy both helped me up the stairs and into my room. Laying down under the covers I felt my face feel strangely warm. I didn't want to appear weak in front of them, and yet here we were.