The yellow sun had begun to change its hue as it sank below the mountains. Birds chirped and flew above the sand arena surrounded by tall trees and grass. Tanaka and Gazi stood there, still, sizing each other up. Tanaka rushed forward, twirling the spear. When he closed the distance, he jumped to gain momentum and aimed to bash Gazi. As the spear neared Gazi's shoulder, Gazi sidestepped and delivered a knee to Tanaka's exposed torso, followed by a hit to his back with the wide side of his wooden spearhead. Tanaka's eyes bulged as a gust of air involuntarily left his lungs. The force from the hit sent him stumbling forward with his back arced.
"You're supposed to attack, not volunteer to be a human blade sharpener." Gazi had not moved, he was still on the center looking casually at Tanaka. Bruised but undeterred, Tanaka groaned and grit his teeth. He rose up straight and came back at Gazi with jab and swing combinations, all of which Gazi countered with ease.
"Add more strength to your swings. In battle, it's life or death," He stopped evading and swung his own spear in attack, "not a playdate."
Tanaka bounced back, creating some distance, and after simultaneously gaining a footing and cocking his arm back, he threw his spear, aiming straight for Gazi's head. Gazi prepared to raise his spear to spin and defend. As he did so Tanaka followed through with a running dropkick, sending them both crashing to the ground. A dust mushroom cloud wafted up into the air. Gazi kipped up with feline grace and picked his spear up almost instantly.
"I see," Gazi said. He saw Tanaka's spear next to him. "The spear was just a distraction. Not bad, prince."
"But what do you intend to do now? You just gave me your weapon."
Gazi used his foot, hooking the weapon from beneath and kicking it up into his hands. His pendant jiggled in the process. Tanaka pressed his knees into the grains of sand. He slowly got to his feet, wincing while rubbing his back. He huffed as he stood with a hunched back, his knees slightly bent and arms dangling down as the sun only showed his silhouette. Tanaka raised one of his dangling hands and wiped a trickle of blood from his mouth. His breath was sharp and uneven. He ran towards Gazi with all the strength he had left, his hand balled up into a fist, gaining momentum. Gazi cocked his head to the side.
"Interesting."
Tanaka got in range. Gazi spun the spears in his hand, holding them near the sharp ends like wooden cylindrical swords. Tanaka's lips curved up as he got close, he opened his balled of fist. A fist-full of dirt and dust ejected from it.
Gazi's eyes widened slightly and he moved to the side once more and evaded the dust from getting in his eyes.
"Playing dirty now, are we? Here's a tip, if you're going to cheat, try to make sure it actually works."
Tanaka smirked and dramatically pushed his head back to push away strings of his dreadlocks.
"Oh, it did." Tanaka extended his arm, revealing the wooden spear in his hand.
Gazi raised an eyebrow, helooked at his right hand, it felt weightless. "When did you...?"
Tanaka grabbed his spear, spun it once behind his back, and launched himself forward again, no theatrics this time, just fast, direct strikes. Thrust. Sweep. Jab. His feet moved with precision as his eyes locked on Gazi's midsection. But Gazi, calm as still water, danced between the strikes, countering with barely a shift in his shoulders. He blocked a low jab with his palm and twisted Tanaka's spear upward, forcing it into the air. Tanaka jumped toward the weapon, pulled it back, flipped mid-air, and used the force to swing down with both hands onto Gazi's spear, breaking it in two with a loud snap.
"That's a new one." Gazi said as he looked at the broken halves in his hands, one the length of a cane, the other short like a dagger.
"I guess I should take this seriously as well then"
Gazi dropped into a new stance. Left hand low with the half-stick like a shield, right hand high with the broken spearpoint angled inward. Tanaka swung with renewed fury, aiming high, low, faking strikes to trick Gazi's defense. Gazi blocked one with the short end, then countered with a quick jab using the sharp point. Tanaka dodged but stumbled slightly. Gazi moved in—fast. With a calm breath, he pressed his palm flat against Tanaka's chest and
BOOM,
A trail of dust formed from where they were standing as Tanaka was lifted off the ground and flung back several meters, slamming into a tree trunk with a heavy thud. He gasped for breath, dazed and confused. Gazi approached him slowly. Tanaka pushed against the tree, trying to get up, but each time he'd just fall back down.
"I think that's enough for today, don't you agree?" Gazi spoke calmly, offering Tanaka a hand. Tanaka rubbed the back of his head, wincing at the pain while Gazi helped him up.
"You cheated," Tanaka spat, now rubbing his bruised ribs as well.
"In battle, there is no fair or cheat, only winners and corpses." He pivoted his elbow back, lifting Tanaka back up. "You'd do well to realize it."
Gazi leaned over to pick up the sparring weapons. "You are getting better at your maneuvers, though."
Tanaka's heart quickened, and not only from the harsh exercise. A smile formed on his pained face. Praise from Gazi was a rare thing. Tanaka picked up his dustied-up gown and threw it on.
"Miranda is not going to love washing that shirt."
"What? The maid?" Tanaka adjusted himself.
"She has a name, you know," Gazi said as he headed towards the bush gate entrance.
"Hnmm." Tanaka shrugged as he limped over to Gazi.
Gazi shook his head, walking into the dust road to go back to the tribe village.
"I noticed you changed your fighting style," Gazi noted as he walked in front of Tanaka.
"What do you mean?"
"You used to be more confrontational. Today you were more..."
"Calculative?" Tanaka jumped in, lips wide in excitement.
"More like... deceptive. I guess you're spending time with Prince Harun."
"That said, you were still sloppy and..." Gazi kept critiquing the battle, pointing out every single mistake Tanaka had made as they walked back home. They circled around so they could go through the entrance to the village, a scenic detour as Gazi called it. But Tanaka knew it was just an excuse to stretch the 'review' of the duel. Tanaka's heart thundered, the duel was over. He looked around him, the bushes the high trees and found nothing threatening.
"Is something the matter, prince?" Gazi asked.
Tanaka stopped where he was and turned back to Gazi. "No. Lets go"
Gazi nodded at the instruction, ready to leave once more.
Nothing is wrong, l am fine. But then why am I.....Tanaka thought as he looked his hands,
shaking.