Taking Charge -- Shea and Aiko

Taking Charge -- Chapter 3 -- Shea and Aiko

Aiko: Shea-chan!!  *runs over to him and gives him a big hug*
Shea: Hey Ai. *hugs her back* How was training with James?
Aiko: It was so much fun. *giggles*  What are you teaching me today?
Shea: *pulls duffle bag off his shoulder and opens it up and pulls out a sword* Close quarter combat. Or in any words melee. So let's start small: What do you know about swords?
Aiko: As you know, my father was a kendo master.  Does that count?  Is that the same thing?
Shea: Close.
Aiko: Oh.
Shea: Kendo is a modern day version of the fighting style used by samurai and uses practice weapons. *hands her a sword* As you can tell real swords are heavier than practice swords. Melee is close quarters combat and is used when wielding Keyblades, lightsabers, and any bladed weapon.
Aiko: *takes sword off of him and falls forward* Oh, you're right, this is heavy.
Shea: It is, but with practice it'll be lighter. I want to imagine something for me, okay?
Aiko: Okay.
Shea: Imagine that the sword you're holding is an extension of yourself, like an extra arm. And imagine that when you're fighting, you're really dancing.
Aiko: Why would I imagine myself dance when all my focus should be on fighting the enemy?
Shea: Combat is like a dance. It's fluid, graceful motions that match your personal rhythm as  you engage the enemy. *brandishes his sword and demonstrates* Everyone has their own style in combat and once you find it, fighting will be easier for you. See Bobby, James, Genesis, Stephen and myself have our own style in close quarters. Once we find yours, it'll make fighting much easier for you. Am I making sense?
Aiko: So I just have to find the dance that works for me and only me?
Shea: Well you're own style but yes. Also finding the sword that's right for you helps greatly. *stares at her closely* I think we should try a katana for you.
Aiko: A katana?  What's that?
Shea: *pulls out a katana and unsheathes it* This is a katana. An ancient sword that combines slashing and stabbing in a deadly and efficient combination. Samurai used it in feudal Japan. Even though it's old technology, it's still something to be reckon with in the right hands.
Aiko: Wow.  Really?  Is it heavy?
Shea: compared to some of the other weapons no. It's not the heaviest. The secret's in the blade. It's folded steel with a wave pattern in the edge that makes it so dangerous.
Aiko: Oh.  Pretty. *stares at the pattern on the blade*
Shea: Yeah, this actually belonged to a close friend who wanted it to be handed over to you.
Aiko: Who?
Shea: Yuki. She used to kick my ass in kendo back at the orphanage and was very deadly with this when she needed to be. In fact I need you to promise me that you will only use this when you absolutely need to.
Aiko: I promise, Shea-chan.  Yuki-sempai means a lot to us and if she wants me to have this, then it will be an honor to do so.
Shea: *smiles and hands it over* Now let's start with the stance. Ever seen a mongoose in combat before?
Aiko: A mongoose...? *takes the katana*
Shea: It's a mammal who's mortal enemy is the snake. Ever seen one before?
Aiko: Once, but not in battle.
Shea: Well in combat the mongoose distributes it's weight on both legs so they can be ready. You can use this as the basic combat stance. Right now you're resting all your weight on one leg and that's not very useful in combat.
Aiko: Alright.  So then I do this...*shifts herself that her right leg is behind her* Right?
Shea: *examines* That could work. Now try swinging your sword downward.
Aiko: *takes the katana and raises it above her head and swings it down towards the ground*  Like that?
Shea: Yes but your swing was too big. Make it tight and fluid. *walks behind her and puts his hands over hers after fixing her grip* Like this. *swings it for her* Feel how that's better?
Aiko: Mmhmm.
Shea: *lets go* Try it now.
Aiko: *she swings it again in the exact motion that he showed her* Like this?
Shea: Yeah like that. Now let me show you the other movements. *places his hands over hers again and swings horizontally, diagonally, and thrusts the sword for her* Notice how your body moves when you move the sword. This is how it's supposed to feel.
Aiko: *nods* Alright.
Shea: *lets go* Now try some moves in a combination. Imagine yourself dancing while you're doing it so we can find your style and work from there.
Aiko: *takes the sword and swings it up, down, left and right.  She was imagining herself like she was a baton player as she was swinging the sword*
Shea: You rely on speed and are very graceful with it. Like a baton player. Though please don't go tossing it up in the air okay? I think Bobby and Gen still like having their hands.
Aiko: *giggles* I won't.
Shea: *laughs* Good. Do you think you're ready to move on now? There's something that I need to share with you before you train to the others.
Aiko: Alright.
Shea: Alec is a Master Puppeteer, like myself and Declan. But he has twisted his power. That you already know. What you don't know is that he has women that he has infused with a portion of his power and twisted them to be his little special puppets. Misery is one of them. Most likely you'll be facing them in combat and I know you don't like hearing this but should you face them, you need to kill them or you'll be killed. When you're done training I need you to come back so I can give you something to level the playing field, okay?
Aiko: Alright.
Shea: *smiles and kisses her forehead* Before you go promise not to let the others know that I'm really smart. Until the time's right I want them to keep believing that I'm a happy go lucky fool. It's easier this way.
Aiko: *smiles* I promise.
Shea: Good. I have full confidence that you'll be an incredible fighter, just use your inner strength when all else fails and believe me, you have a lot of inner strength inside that heart of yours.
Aiko: *still smiling, a little brighter this time* Thank you, Shea-chan.  I love you.
Shea: *thinks* A-Aishiteru? Is that how you say it? *hopeful smile*
Aiko: Yes, that's right.
Shea: YES! Aishiteru Ai. *kisses her and pulls away to grab bag* Have fun with the others and try not to give them too much trouble. I need to put these back before James has a fit and turns me into his next practice dummy.
Aiko: *giggles*
Shea: That laugh is still cute. See ya later, Princess. *winks and bows then quickly leaves*
Aiko: Oh that boy...*grabs her stuff and proceeds to her next destination*