Double or Nothing: Chapter 6

To Move Forward

Passing by the paddies of rice and rolling fields of grass, Kuina found herself walking down alone on a familiar beaten path. Countless times had she trekked down this road, having long since committed the steps to memory. Through familiar groves of trees which provided shade upon her weary brow, down the beaten path worn into the earth by her own feet, she followed its meandering trail back to where it all began and where all of it will end. Once more, she stood on the fields just outside her home.

The site to many of her battles, this field had borne witness to her struggles. Breathing in the cool spring breeze, Kuina reminisced on days gone by. How many fights have she lost? How much blood, sweat and tears has she shed in her pursuit for freedom? She let herself remember, reminding herself of how far she had come.

Tearing her gaze away from the field, she turned her gaze to the lone tree standing by the wayside. Beneath the stooped branches of the tall willow sat her father in his lonesome. Just like the tree he took shade under, he was as unchanging as she remembered him,

Wearing the same old clothes and sporting the same round glasses, it seemed like he hadn't aged a single day. With the Wado Ichimonji by his side, he was as formidable as ever and yet, there was something different about him today. It wasn't the graying hair he now sported nor the crow's feet in the edge of his eyes, no, it was something far more precious.

No longer did he sport the frown of disappointment he often wore. Now, he smiled serenely as he got up and greeted her warmly, "Good morning, Kuina." There was no more anger in his tone nor did they hold dismay. All that was left was the warmth of a father's love.

Smiling back softly, she walked up to her father before bowing respectfully, "Good morning to you as well, father," She greeted back as she set her pack aside, picking her wakizashi and her ever so faithful shinai and slipping it on her belt. It had served a thousand battles, its haft littered with cuts and gouges but its familiar weight gave her comfort. "One more battle," She told herself as she clenched her fist around its worn hilt.

Noticing the pack that she had brought with her, her father would let out a heavy sigh as he whispered, "So, it's finally time," his tone filled with resignation… as well as that of celebration as he looked up to her, "I feared this day would come but we both know that this is how it's going to end."

"I wish I could have stayed longer," She admitted, wishing that they could part in better terms but with the path that both of them had taken, this was just how things were to end, "But my time here has come to an end. I wish to go father," She then told him as she met his gaze. "I wish to travel the sea's and pursue my dream," She then declared.

Everything that she had done, everything that she had worked on came down to this final fight and Kuina knew it was time. There will be no more questions to be asked, no more reasoning or negotiations as he nodded back before he walked out to the field, "Then this will be my final lesson to you, my beloved daughter," He told her as she followed closely, meeting him in the middle of the clearing.

Standing on opposite ends, they stood once more in the field of battle. As their eyes met, she saw the warmth in his gaze melt away as the steely hardness Meeting his gaze, she refused to back down. Unsheathing both swords, she let them hang by her side as she stood casually, resting her weight on her back foot.

Briefly, her father frowned, before a knowing smile stretched across his lips. Unsheathing his sword, he lifted it up, holding it high beside his head. Glinting the sun light, the blade of her family loomed over her as his father finally spoke up, "The path you have taken will be perilous and full of dangers but I have faith in you,"

Tightening his grip, he slid his foot forward while she steadied her breath, stealing herself for the fight ahead, "So long as your heart remains true and the fires of your determination burn bright, nothing will ever stop you," She felt time slowly down to a crawl as both of them took their first step, the battle of wills giving way to the blade, "Take heart and never back down for the world will have no mercy!"

Her eyes widened as her father quickly upon her, sword raised as it came down like the blade of an executioner. Jumping to the side, she quickly kicked at the ground, launching herself just at the nick of time as his blade came rushing up to meet her. Her heart raced as she landed on the wall, bracing herself against the sturdy surface as her legs blurred.

Rushing through the air, bearing down like a comet against her taller opponent. Holding his sword up, the ground beneath them buckled before he roared out and threw her off. Sailing backwards, she landed softly, digging in her shinai as she gazed up at her father.

"Is that the best you've got!" Her old man shouted as he rushed ahead, striking down on her prone form.

Ripping her sword out of the ground, she sent dirt and gravel up his face, as she thrusted his sword to meet him. Twisting his head to the side, the blade of his Wazikashi slid across his cheeks before a blow to her stomach sent her flying once more.

Rolling across the ground, she kicked herself up to her feet before sliding to a stop. The two of them stared at each other as both of them drew blood. Keeping his eyes on her, crimson stained her father's shirt. Wiping the blood off her chin, she grinned as she shouted back, "I'm only starting, old man!"

Rushing towards each other, their blades met. They've danced this tune a thousand times yet never did it fail to make her heart race. Parrying a blow with both her blades, she swung up, splitting muscle apart as she tore up his thighs. Pain passed over his face before they hardened as they sent out a sweeping slash, forcing her back.

Smelling blood on the water she threw herself back into the fight, raining on her father. Now that he was on the back foot, she didn't let up, refusing to let him have breathing room. Her father however would weather the storm, blocking each strike. Even as more and more of his strikes slipped through his guard, he held on until she felt herself falter.

As swung her shinai down, sliding against his solid guard, he struck back. Pain blossomed against her collar bone as the blade passed by just as she took a step back. Raising her shinai, she caught the following strike.

Her arms screamed as she held his blade in place but she powered through. With his guard wide open, she lashed out, slicing at his side. He let out a strangled cry of pain as her blade dug into her flesh, tearing at him. His blood spilled on the ground, staining the grass red but it was not enough to put him down.

Roaring out, he bore down her shinai. Bracing her wakizashi against her longer sword, she tried pushing him back but her heel would dig into the ground. Trapped beneath his blade, her knees buckled and she knew pain. Kicking the ground hard, she disengaged and landed a good distance away.

Clutching her chest, she felt hot sticky blood covering her hands. Steadying her breath, she felt her wound as the two of them started off. It was bad, having cut partly to the bone and what's worse was her shinai was reduced to merely just being as long as her shorter blade. Still, aside from her massive cut, she was fine. She could still fight while the other couldn't be said for her father.

With two large wounds, his father looked unsteady on his feet. Already, she could see blood pooling down on his feet while his grey yukata slowly turned red from his blood. Breathing heavily, his father looked like he was on his last leg. Between the two of them, he'd bleed out first. She could win if she just waited it out… yet her legs moved forward.

"No, this isn't how this is going to end," She gritted out as she glared up at her father. She can't let it end like this. She was going to beat him on his terms!

A look of understanding passed their eyes as they lifted up their sword, "Let's end this Kuina," They replied, their voice clear despite and steady despite the blood they had shed. Holding out their blade, they stood solemnly, ready to meet her head one.

Crossing her sword across her chest in turn, she crouched low as she breathed in deep. Closing her eyes, she exhaled before she drew in another breath, feeling strength fill her limbs. It was clear that her father was stronger and even near death, does it still shine through. Strength, however, was not the end all be all.

Feeling her blade beneath her palm, she opened her eyes as she gazed ahead, seeing the flow as their eyes. She could see their strikes meeting, how her blade would shatter before the impossibly quick chop came down on her. Not one strike would pierce through yet the bastion that stood before him had its flaws. He could only block so much.

Bracing herself, she shot forward and all but threw herself against her father. Each step pushed her ever faster as she soured ahead. The wind whipping around as she poured everything she had left on her legs. She felt them strain with each bound, her knees aching as she pushed her legs to the very limit.

Meeting her midway, she watched as her father brought. Death loomed overhead as the blade of the Wado Ichimonji came down hard, its blade shining against the sun. Her blade moved to block it as her instincts screamed at her to dodge yet she powered through. Throwing herself into the strike without hesitation, twisting her body as she let her blades sing.

"Hiken Hiyoku Senyou!"

Two became four and four became six as blood splashed across the battlefield. Tumbling into the ground, Kuina felt like her very body shattered, her lungs were left gasping for air as she threw everything into that last strike. She could feel her muscle aching at the strain she had placed on them yet she welcomed it. She was alive after all.

Powering through the pain, she slowly got up as she looked down on her blades. Seeing the blood coating the backside, she let out a sigh. "Hopefully, I didn't kill him," She whispered out as she heard Zoro crying out from the distance.

"Koshirou-san! Kuina!" Turning around, she found her friend gasping for air as he arrived at the scene, his eyes wide in disbelief. She tensed as well as she saw his father's back as she stood there. However, as she saw the Wado Ichimonji buried on the ground, she rushed forward, dropping her sword to check on her father.

"Papa!" Grabbing his arms, she found him unconscious as he stood there, his legs refusing to give despite them massive star shaped bruises over the remains of their tattered top. Thankfully, she could still see that he was breathing but he was still bleeding out.

Turning to his friend, she shouted, "Zoro, get the band…ages..." before she trailed off as her vision started to spin. Feeling cold, she looked down remembering her scar, "Both of us might need it right now…" She told him before the world rushed up to meet her face before her vision started to dim.

The last thing she thought before darkness took her was that she wished she had waited for Zoro before she started the match.

A/N:

Two of three. I should be finish by tomorrow and after that, Lawman! Get ready for a good long talk between the Emps and Morrison.