Clashing Blades

A fitting name for the building which Kaz was heading towards. It was still a few blocks ahead of him as he walked down the street on this crisp, clean (as clean as New York can be) night. The sky, though full of light pollution, was a dark blue with a full moon large and high, shining down, reflecting off of the black tubular case strapped to Kaz's back.

He wore his customary gray jumpsuit on this night, like he always did when he instructed at Clashing Blades. This had become a rare and welcomed thing to the students. While the Master Swordsman who owned the place was quite good, he had never met anyone quite like Kaz. It didn't take Kaz long to learn the basic, intermediate, and advanced skills William JoHansen taught. Kaz had easily bested the teacher after half a year, though Will have a few tricks up his sleeve that always kept Kaz on his toes.

At Clashing Blades, they had a 'Don't ask, don't tell' policy about mutants. All were welcomed, the havoc that could and had ensued from the mutant-human controversy was not needed nor welcomed. Even Kaz stuck to that policy. No one knew what he really was, though many suspected. His explanation for his skin, eyes, and hair was simple and realistic: Albino. No one openly questioned him, especially since he never entered during the day.

A half block away Kaz could make out the hand crafted steel letters set near the top of the building: Clashing Blades. As Will says it, he pounded the letters and attached each one by himself. Which was believable, William was a muscular and broad man and seemed to have great knowledge of steel and other metals.

After a long search Hunter had found the perfect spot to meet up with the young man who he had supported from afar. Clashing Blades, a swordsman club in New York. In Europe Hunter was a member of the top swordsman club in almost every country, and was the best in each.

He entered the establishment wearing black jogging bottoms, a white vest with a black sports jacket over the top and black sneakers. His long sword was at his hip. A brief enquiry revealed that the man he was looking for had not arrived yet, so Hunter took a seat and watched the sword master running a class.

The man was good, but Hunter had within ten seconds analysed his fighting style and worked out three different ways to beat him. However, he expected the man he was looking for to prove much more of a challenge.

Kaz pushed through the heavy glass entrance doors and crossed through a small hall before he entered the large training hall. Immediately he took notice of the man in the black jogging pants and white vest. <Someone new. And by the looks of him, he knows how to handle a sword.> Kaz let a small smirk play across his face as he looked the man over. Before he stepped into the hall and on the thick, polished, hard wood floor, he took his street boots off and replaced them with a pair of dueling shoes made of heavy cloth.

He walked behind the students towards the back wall and nodded to the few that looked his way. Kaz made his way over to the new guy, "Welcome to Clashing Blades." Extending his hand, "Kaz Corydon." He followed the man's gaze to William. "He's good for being old, though his style could use improvements. But no one better than to learn the basics and the basic advanced from in all the US." Kaz set his case against the wall gently.

"Kaz! Glade to see you could make it. We just finished with warm up exercises." William motioned for him to come up front.

Looking at the new guy, "Gotta go. Hope you like it here." With that he made his way quickly to the front. When he got there he clasped hands with William and turned to the class. "Alright, you each have your groups and know what to do." With that the class split into four groups with four in each group. The first was the beginners, who were learning the basics of both offense and defense, the second group was more focused on offense and also at the intermediate level, the third, also intermediate skill but more focused on defense. Both intermediate groups were good what what they did, though soon they would have to learn the opposite side of 'combat'. The fourth group, were the elite of the class. The talented, quick in mind and body, very balanced in offense and defense, though of course each had a preference. These four were the one's Kaz personally worked with.

One by one Kaz made his way through the groups, correcting forms, giving advice, suggesting different tactics to win over their sparing partner. He also became a 'practice dummy' a few times. Taking the hits or blocking them. Never once was his tone harsh or hard. There were a few in the class that he suspected were more than what they seemed, but he said nothing as they said nothing to him.

William watched with a smile on his face as Kaz moved through the groups. Though he had been one-upped by Kaz, he knew he could go so much farther, he saw the potential in the boy. He could see the effect Kaz had on each and every one of his students. Their confidence rose, their smiles grew that much larger, they laughed as they learned. He was glad for his students and for Kaz. He had watched Kaz grow in such a short time. When Kaz moved on to a different group he would step in and work with individual students for more one on one teaching.

Kaz finally reached the fourth group. "Let's see how much you've improved since I was last here." Without needing to say anything, two of the four tossed two wooden boken to Kaz. As one, they all four came at him, in perfect unison. Marissa, the only female of the group, lead the 'attack'. Left left, spin right, duck, block high, low mid-right, left, back, jump. Kaz looked like a crazed man as the four pushed him.

Kaz sucked in his gut quickly as a 'dagger' came at him. Somewhere between the last time he had come to work with the four, Joseph had picked up the shortsword-dagger combat style, though he had kept the dagger hidden until now. "Almost had me there Jo. Good job. Remember not to over extend your thrust, too far and you'll be vulnerable." At the same time Kaz knocked the dagger out wide, spun to knock the shortsword away then spun back around into a low crouch into a double thrust low at Jo. The boy was stunned at the reversal, but was lucky when Nick and Marissa both dropped their blades into a cross block with the other to stop Kaz's attack. Alex closed in from behind and set his blade on Kaz's neck. "First time for everything KC."

Kaz smirked at the four as he stood with his blades out to the sides in surrender. Of course they hadn't actually won, but they had definantly improved. In a few years they might actually be able to keep up with him. Kaz had seen dozens of openings and opportunities he could have exploited to put each one down quickly and simply.

"Good, good. Jo, that was a good attack, your feigning needs a bit of work, but you're getting that combo down quickly. Together, I don't think anyone could stand up to you four." <Except myself and other mutants, and those with guns.....> The four smiled and looked at each other with pride. <Time to knock'em down.> "But, your individual selves stand no chance." Kaz went on to explain each of their weaknesses, where and how they could improve. With heads bowed they nodded to Kaz. "Hey, don't get like that. You're doing great. Marissa go with group three, Jo, group two, Alex and Nick, group one. While there, learn from them and get the basics back into your mind, they seem to be a bit rusty." They each nodded and bowed slightly before they moved towards their assigned groups, "If you don't smile I'm gonna sick Tommy on you!" That brought a laugh from each and put a jump in their step.

Hunter smiled and shook the offered hand and then watched as Kaz worked with the best. The boys form was exquisite, better than any he had seen apart from his own. Kaz was a natural, and give him another twenty years or so and he would probably surpass even Hunter.

Hunter’s skill came from four centuries of practise, but this boy was a natural with a blade. “Most impressive Kaz,” he said, rising as Kaz dismissed his four students. “Allow me to introduce myself. I am Hunter Antonescu, the best swordsman in Europe, a reputation I plan to extend to include America. I was wondering if you would indulge me in a sparring match?”

Hunter could tell that here mutations were kept secret, as in every other sword club he had been to. This meant that neither he nor Kaz would fight with all their power. However, this did not mean they would not fight with all their skill. Hunter wanted to experience for himself just how good Kaz was.

Kaz looked back behind him. "Impressive title Hunter." Shrugging slightly. "Forgive me if I don't use a formal, everyone is equal in status here." Kaz looked into Hunter's eyes and saw something in them that reflected in himself. His eyes were sharp, and experienced. "I'll take that match." Kaz tossed one of the boken to Hunter. Talking over his shoulder, "Clear the floor. Hunter and I are going to give you guys and lady a show." He moved to the center of the floor waiting for Hunter. "You didn't come here by chance did you. You knew exactly what you were looking for." Kaz spoke with a smirk on his face.

Hunter smiled as Kaz cleared the floor. Catching the boken he looked it over before saying, “I find matches with real blades to be much better. When there is the element of danger both competitors raise their game.”

Stepping into the centre he drew his sword. The weapon had served him for over two hundred and fifty years and was in exceptional condition. It was a long sword of French design engraved with his name and family crest. The hilt allowed for a single or double handed grip.

“You’re right Kaz, I didn’t come here by chance, I came looking for you. I came to ask you some questions and, depending on the answers, potentially offer you something life changing.”

When Hunter spoke about using real blades Kaz couldn't help but smile. "Agreed. Real blades are much more fun." He looked at William. "I'll pay for the cleanup." Looking back at Hunter as he moved to his black case, "I'm sure this will get a wee bit messy." Setting the case on the floor, Kaz undid the locks and lifted out two slightly curved blades, one was just slightly shorter than the other. Neither of them had a shine like a normal, but a dull sheen to lessen glare. If Hunter were to look at them closely, he'd be able to tell they were designed for real combat, but more for stealth kills, but were otherwise unremarkable and plain.

Stepping into the middle of the floor again, Kaz held his blades low at his sides as he bowed his head, eyes closed. Kaz went though himself and put 'blockers' in place to make sure he didn't go beyond the limits of the human ability. Kaz didn't know Hunter had above human abilities, nor that he was a mutant, so he had to be cautious. Kaz dropped into a semi defensive stance, one leg held most of his weight, the other out in front, one of his blades was flipped in a reverse grip laying against his forearm while the other was held out at a 45degree angle.

"Why? I'm nothing remarkable, I don't change the world." He spoke the words with a perfectly honest tone, but his smirk told a different story.

Hunter stood opposite Kaz and took a simple stance, his sword held double handed in front of him. He mental held himself at human level, after all he had no intention of revealing he was a mutant.

“You’re wrong there Kaz, you are quite remarkable,” he said as he went for the first attack, a simple horizontal slash. The attack was purely to get Kaz reacting, to get a feel for him. He never opened with a flashy move, always preferring to start slow and build things up.

Kaz saw the attack for what it was and shifted his weight forward while bringing his forward arm up in a complete block. The blow was heavy, but controlled as only a master swordsman could do. Kaz pushed up and away, then brought his other blade forward in a low slash towards the midsection. At the last moment Kaz snapped his wrist to give it extra momentum. "What is it you see about me as remarkable." It was said not as a question but a pure statement, damn close to telling the mall to spill it.

As Kaz brought one blade up to block Hunter added a little extra force to give him a rebound that he could use to better position his blade. As his sword rebounded from Kaz’s he spun it around bringing it to deflect Kaz’s attack.

His blade was coming up, catching Kaz’s from underneath. He would continue the upward movement, sending Kaz’s attack over his head. Once Kaz’s sowrd had passed he would reveres the direction of his blade, swinging it at Kaz’s face.

“Before I answer,” said Hunter, “how do you think you’ve had such financial success for someone so young?”

Hunter was fast, he wielded the longsword like a man who's live with it for decades. It was eerie but fascinating. Both of Kaz's blades went up high when Hunter deflected Kaz's attack. He knew he couldn't get his blades back in time to stop the attack completely. Partially was a different story, he could deflect, but it would put him in a bad position.

Kaz spun and leaned back just slightly as if doing a dance. The blade came down behind him as he completed his spin, with both blades up high he slashed down towards Hunter's back. If the attack is successful he'll use the same momentum, to spin into a low crouch aiming for Hunter's calves and ankle. "Before I answer, how much do you know of how I got my start."

Kaz dodged the attack, but only just. Spotting the double strike aimed at his back he whipped the sword back over his he and stopped it just above his back, blocking both blades. He gripped the hilt double handed, giving him the strength to stop the blades.

With the attack stopped he flipped the sword back over his head, bringing Kaz’s blades with it. Once in front he changed direction, swinging the Longsword single handed at Kaz’s midsection, ready to leap back should Kaz try the same.

“I know everything of how you started,” Hunter replied, “your first twelve pay checks followed by some canny investing.”

"Hmm...they were quite good weren't they?" With a chuckle Kaz back stepped, bringing his blades back down to do a double tap on Hunter's longsword. The double tap came from the top, would push the sword down towards the floor, much easier to do since it's a fairly heavy blade, and it's being swung one handed. His back stepping did two things, give him time to react to the swing, and to give him room and time so he didn't make a stupid mistake when Hunter proved he did know about Kaz.

If Hunter could save his blade from going into the floor, and Kaz was sure he could, Kaz also knew that unless the man's shoulders could come out of their sockets, he would have to continue with the momentum of the blade or hurt himself.

And that is when Kaz would strike. In the half instant where Hunter would recover from his last attack, Kaz would strike at his chest. Hunter was quick with his movements, Kaz gave him that, but he was sure he could get at least one good clean hit in. If this was a fight to the death, neither he nor Hunter would be at this for long, but since this was a friendly duel, any and all hits would be mere surface and shallow cuts.

As Kaz knocked the sword down Hunter turne towards it and grabbed the hilt with his free hand. He released with his other hand and yanked backwards, pulled the sword towards him and into the path of Kaz’s blade.

His sword blocked the blow, but not entirely. The tip of Kaz’s sword nipped his side, causing a small cut. With his blade now in his left hand he pushed Kaz’s sword back before swiping at Kaz’s thigh.

“Yes, that was some good work,” he said just as the sword nicked him, “Have you put much thought into the success that followed with the stock market?”

Kaz moved back as soon as his blade nicked Hunter's chest. He didn't move fast enough, Hunter's blade came down, slicing Kaz's pants and scoring a light hit on his thigh. Kaz considered Hunter's question for a quick moment. "Not really," Kaz shot forward, feigned left, right, high twice in rapid succession before going low and high. Just before the blade would hit, Kaz shifted his grip slightly and punched out with the hilt as he jumped up over Hunter. One blade was in a defensive posture in case that longsword came to attack. "I picked up a great broker, and picked some extremely good stocks. What about it?"

Kaz felt something very off about this man. There was a calmness in his style, a confidence few had. He wielded that blade of his with ease, he SHOULDN'T have been able to recover, block AND slash at Kaz with the ease and grace he did. He wasn't just good, he had a lot of experience. Though so did Kaz. Hunter doesn't look very old, maybe 25 or 30, but no older than 35. Yet the experienced feel Kaz got from the man was easily three times that. It was easy to tell with Kaz, his skill was natural, as if he had been born with the blades in his hand, not experience like Hunter showed. If he was anyone else, Kaz would be unnerved by Hunter, but he was just excited to spar with him, to test himself.