Avatar: The Legend of Kya {In Character}

[Imperfectionist]

Chang was torn. On one hand, he wanted to catch up with Haku, maybe play some music with her, or see how well her sword-play has progressed, but on the other, this airbender woman seemed strangely familiar herself. He leaned against the railing, looking between each of them for a few seconds, weighing the circumstances. "Certainties first, possibilities later," he thought, recalling something one of the old monks had said to him. Haku it was. Besides, Zyra seemed to be uninterested in conversation at the moment.

The monk approached the firebender, making sure to stay in front of her, rather than coming up behind. She probably still regarded him as a stranger, after all, and he didn't want to startle her. He smiled, and his purple eyes twinkled as he bowed to her.

"Friend Haku, it warms my heart to see you again," he said, chuckling a little at the inadvertent reference to her firebending. "By the way you have been looking at me, with suspicious eyes, it is obvious that you do not remember me, but I remember you. Around six years ago, I was a guest of your master, Hanzo. You were much younger, of course, and I do not blame you for forgetting, but we sparred and trained together for many weeks while I was there. Even then, you showed much potential and much strength. And now, here you are, still only a young woman, and the Avatar's teacher! Your master must be very proud, and if I may be bold, I am as well."

At this point, before letting Haku even get a word in, he turned towards the others, with the intention of vouching for the young firebender. "Zhang, Zyra, I know both of you have very valid reasons for resenting the Fire Nation, and firebenders, but if you trust the judgment of a young monk, spare this one. Though I have not seen her in years, I know her master well, and I know that she is no spy of the Fire Lord's." An edge was apparent in her voice, as he was determined to get rid of the stigma, at least among this group. "As I'm sure she will tell you herself, she is no danger to you, or anyone other than those who work against Avatar Ukata."

Chang looked at them meaningfully, but softened his voice a little as he continued, "I am saying this to nip any problems in the bud right here and now. If you fight with her just because she is of the Fire Nation, expect me to take her side, and if it comes to blows, expect to lose."

Now smiling again, glad to help his friend however he could, he looked back around at her. "Sorry for that. I realize that you can protect yourself, but I thought that it might be more effective coming from me... Um, perhaps later we could have a little concert? I saw in my letters from Master Hanzo that you have become quite the musician, and I would love to play alongside you."

His smile drooped a little as his gaze settled on the Avatar, as he realized he had just been quite rude on her ship, to her teachers. He quickly cleared his throat and apologized, saying "And I'm sorry for the forcefulness, Avatar, but I have seen firsthand the blind anger that many hold against firebenders, whether they are innocent or not. I wished only to attempt to resolve that problem as quickly as possible among the members of our group."

[Little Fox]

Haku was the first to introduce herself - Kya had met with Aang once before in the Spirit World. She could not help but to suppress a giggle as she imagined how her former child-like self would have addressed the very formal Haku. "My apologies - Just a sudden, silly thought. Its an honor to meet you. I can only hope to take to Firebending in a hasty manner. I'd hate to keep so many people waiting." She blushed softly, feeling unsure in her social ability. She felt as though every time she spoke she only created an awkward moment. Informal conversations weren't really her forte. Before the situation could get any more awkward, she was approached by Zhang who introduced himself as her Earthbending teacher. She gave a light bow and yet another awkward smile. "Its an honor to meet you as well - It seems that we'll be spending a lot of one on one time together pretty soon." Well, there's no way that could be awkward for you. She snorted sarcastically in her thoughts.

"In training, I mean." Like there was a need for recovery. For the first time in her life, she didn't know how to act. She was unsure of the customs of any Nation other than her own. It wasn't like her people really made any visits or had any libraries - Not that a library would do her any good. She sighed and rubbed her temples a little with her whole hand. "I'm sorry - I'm not exactly well known for being a social butterfly." She mumbled a little, almost as though talking to herself. She heard Zyra approach and wondered if the situation could get any more awkward from there. "Its an honor to meet you, Zyra. I wonder...Did you ever meet Aang? He was from the Western Air Temple - Though I think he may be a few years older than you." She smiled awkwardly.

[GreenGoat]

There wasn't much to do, now that the others are introducing themselves to the Avatar. Zhang seemed rather dark, and moody, Zyra was....odd to say the least, and the monk...

The monk was familiar. His name came to mind as soon as he approached her.

"Friend Haku, it warms my heart to see you again. By the way you have been looking at me, with suspicious eyes, it is obvious that you do not remember me, but I remember you. Around six years ago, I was a guest of your master, Hanzo. You were much younger, of course, and I do not blame you for forgetting, but we sparred and trained together for many weeks while I was there. Even then, you showed much potential and much strength. And now, here you are, still only a young woman, and the Avatar's teacher! Your master must be very proud, and if I may be bold, I am as well."

"Hage.... jisan?" She started, but the old man had already turned and started talking to the others. Of course, that was not his real name but a name she had given him when she found his name a bit strange and long. It quite literally meant 'bald old man', as that was her impression of him when he visited so long ago. Quite strange though, he looked very different now than he did before. Perhaps it was his clothes? At the very least, he was still bald as she remembered.

"Sorry for that. I realize that you can protect yourself, but I thought that it might be more effective coming from me... Um, perhaps later we could have a little concert? I saw in my letters from Master Hanzo that you have become quite the musician, and I would love to play alongside you."

She barely opened her mouth to reply when he turned, again, to talk to the Avatar now. Not once, but twice. Two times he had just cut off and started talking to the others. Two times he had ignored her replies.

Haku had a rather rare smile on her face, a tight lipped twitchy smile that accompanied her slightly narrowed eyes.

"..don't just ignore me..you bald headed bastard..."

Her right hand crept to the hilt of her sword, as her left hand thumbed the slit where the hilt and the scabbard met.

[SDanko12]

Zhang nodded, he supposed that he and the Avatar would indeed be spending much time together. It was not until she spoke the second time that he realised that she seemed flustered, it took him some time to realise why this was. Zhang had spent much of his life in the company of only his master and very little in the company of females, this meant he could be very oblivious at times in regards to romance or, in this case, accidental insinuations of romance. He looked away and was glad when she turned to speak to the airbender and the whole conversation ended. Zhang had been approached once or twice in some of the mountain villages near his home by young woman who had found him attractive, he had never felt he had time for them and so would turn them down.

Zhang observed as the monk spoke with the firebender, he seemed to know the young woman. It seemed strange to him that any of his countrymen would be spending time with firebenders let alone befriending them; however he had found himself travelling with one suddenly so he supposed it must not be strange after all. Then the monk turned around and started telling them that she was no danger to anyone. Zhang bristled when he spoke and at the implied threat in his look and he stepped forward.

"Listen monk, you know nothing of me or what happened to make me feel the way I do about the Fire Nation. I have kept my tongue and said nothing to the firebender out of respect of my duty so do not say I have 'blind anger' against firebenders. My anger at the Fire Nation is anything but blind and you do not speak for me. If we are to travel together you will never threaten me again." Zhang said, he kept his voice as calm as he could but anger was evident just below the surface. Turning he leaned on the railing and looked out at the water, taking a deep breath he began to calm himself down. He thought of his master and the advice he had given him on containing his anger.

[Little Fox]

Kya could feel the tension in the air as the Firebender, the monk, and the Earthbender interacted; it was almost thick enough to cut with a dagger. After Zhang had spoken his piece, Kya took a deep breath, her lips twitching into a light frown. The monk had been rather rude and his words seemed to have upset her other teachers. She cleared her throat after Chang addressed her. “Your words were quite superfluous. We are all rather high ranking members of The Order of the White Lotus. If any of our Senseis thought that we would even so much as think to act so stupidly, we would not have even known what the Order was at this point in time. I don't know if you've realized, but they are pretty picky about who they let in.” She chastised him, straightening her posture a little, she continued on.

“And – We have all been quite aware of the high number of Firebenders in the White Lotus. Sensei Jet certainly didn't make Haku the great Firebender that she is today.” She commented, referencing to one of the master Earthbenders in the Order. “It is out of pure ignorance and possibly a desire for admiration for attempting to defend Haku's honor. Again, the attempt was superfluous. I would appreciate it if you did not disrespect any of us again – Think before you speak. It could save your life in the future.” Done with doling out words, she moved to the front of the ship once more, shaking her head: Not a good first impression.

She sighed and placed her fingers to her temples, shaking her head some more. She was quite content with the plan of standing quietly at the helm of the ship until dinner time. Though, she was interrupted by the low growl of Jakk-Jakk which soon turned into a roar. “What is it?” Of course she was asking Jakk-Jakk even though she could in no way understand the animal, but she was sure one of her companions would tell her what it was. Jakk-Jakk was tense, the fur on the back of his neck rising up. His white fur darkening with the soot that was falling with the snowflakes as a Fire Nation Battleship lead four other warships, two on each side.

[GreenGoat]

There was that one moment, where she would have drawn out her sword, a straight horizontal cut towards Hagejisan slicing through the air gracefully. Silently. And deadly fast. A throwback to a faint memory when she would challenge him again and again, seemingly never able to gain the upper hand. Always she fought with only her sword, never utilizing her bending. Overpowering an enemy is a valid tactic, but there was only so much you can do before someone defeats you not by greater strength, but by greater wit.

Her legs were tensed, and she shifted her weight, feeling the tension in her muscles.

“Your words were quite superfluous."

Haku snapped out of her focus, relaxing her muscles as she did so.

"We are all rather high ranking members of The Order of the White Lotus. If any of our Senseis thought that we would even so much as think to act so stupidly, we would not have even known what the Order was at this point in time. I don't know if you've realized, but they are pretty picky about who they let in.”

The Avatar, speaking for her and the others. This was, to say the least, a bit embarrassing. It would be a misconduct if she had suddenly started attacking the monk, acquaintance that he is. While Haku doesn't really put much in etiquette, this was the Avatar, one she was sworn to protect, one she would give her life to. A small sigh, and her hands dropped from the hilt. Loyalty, and honor. If there was anything she had learned from her master, it was that.

A black speck fell from the sky, catching Haku's eye.

She held out her hand, catching the speck, watching it as it melted on her hand to a watery grey mixture.

“What is it?”

"Fire Nation." Haku answered the Avatar's question, regardless of whether it was directed at her or not. "A patrol fleet."

Five ships, one of them a battleship. Her lips curled slightly in a smile. And here she was thinking it would be just another boring voyage. However, there was still the matter of the Avatar to protect. A slight mistake and an arrow through the heart would kill even the Avatar. She took a quick sideway glance at Avatar Kya, feeling rather torn between her desire to battle and the repercussions that would bring if she got the Avatar killed.

"..tch.." Responsibilities are responsibilities, and the Avatar is her charge. Besides, if they wanted to get to the Avatar, they would have to go through Haku first. The others, with maybe the exception of Hage, could not be trusted. An earthbender out at sea, and a rather... strange airbender would not be the ones she would seek help from.

"Avatar." Haku bowed to Kya, "please consider retreating to your chamber for your own safety."

[Imperfectionist]

"Okay, it was a bad idea..."

Shame is never an easy feeling, and at the Avatar's admonition, the familiar sinking and twisting sensation in Chang's stomach arose. He cast his eyes down to his feet, only noticing Haku's tension for a split second. It was enough to guess her intention, however.

"If her sword is the way of my death, so be it." It was the same feeling that he got when one of his fellow monks was killed while under his command. Coming from the Avatar, it was equally deep, and equally biting... But it was not to be. Haku relaxed at the Avatar's words, and a very familiar speck of soot floated into the monk's vision, landing on his young friend's outstretched hand. At the same time, the huge Jakk-Jakk was becoming agitated, and to Chang, this meant a very different danger than the firebender's sword, or his own shame. With that soot, there was no doubting what it was.

"Fire Nation," he said, at almost exactly the same time as Haku. Looking out across the icy water, he saw them, their smoke stacks belching out the choking soot like the mouths of dragons. Four warships, one battleship, and indistinctly, he could see flames begin to form as the firebenders on deck readied their weapons. There was no longer time for shame. It was time to fight. He ignored the nagging thought that he had discredited himself with his earlier insulting comments, and turned to Haku and the Avatar with calm determination in his eyes.

"Haku, she is the only one of us capable of giving this ship any real speed. I know that you are trying to protect her, and that is admirable, believe me, but we need to run, and we need to do it now. Avatar, even with your waterbending prowess, the five of us have no means of destroying those ships without the loss of this one...

"I have sworn to fight for you, and I will do so, but the only viable action in the face of this force is retreat. You know these waters, Avatar, much more than they. In addition, their ships are much larger, and less maneuverable than ours. Perhaps there is a cluster of icebergs, through which we can escape?"

Out of the corner of his eye, he could see the great ships, steadily advancing. There was no doubt, they had seen the Avatar's ship, and though they had no way of knowing who she really was, they were coming.

[Little Fox]

Kya was already planning an attack in her head, despite unable to tell their positions; she would as soon as she hit the water. Her lips parted to announce her plan, but Haku and Chang spoke first. Their words hit her like a slap in her face. What did they just say to her? Avatar, please consider retreating to your chamber for your own safety. “Excuse me?” I have sworn to fight for you, and I will do so, but the only viable action in the face of this force is retreat. You know these waters, Avatar, much more than they. In addition, their ships are much larger, and less maneuverable than ours. Perhaps there is a cluster of icebergs, through which we can escape? No. They. Did. Not.




Kya took a few deep breaths to calm herself – She had never in her life been so insulted until they had just spoken. Even as a child, nobody ever underestimated her power! She was proclaimed a master of Waterbending when she was just fifteen! She didn't have an ego, but she knew that she was stronger than any other Waterbender. She frowned and growled under her breath, making sure she would not lose her temper as she spoke in a cold, unforgiving, and even tone of voice before anyone else dared further suggest running away. “Retreat? Run like cowards? I have been fighting these people since I was a child. I have dedicated my life to being stronger than them. There is not a single master Firebender on any of those ships, that much I can guarantee. We set out so that we could fight them and so that I would learn from you – And your first lesson is to run away when outnumbered? Quality has shit to do with quantity. I will not run. You can hide if you want. If I tried to run or hide as you suggest, I would disgrace my people. You would have us turn away like cowards and let them continue on so that they might capture and kill my people? There are women and children! We are all masters of our trade – You should be confident! I may be the blind one here, but it looks like I'm the only one here who can see the common sense of it all! We are surrounded by water! They have crossed into my territory and are surrounded by my element! Do you dare to doubt my abilities? I am blind – Not weak and definitely not fucking stupid!” She hissed at them, unable to completely reign in the swirling around inside her.


She could feel her body trembling with the sheer rage – She could feel power boiling over the top! “Stay here like cowards if you wish – But I will not run away from them and let them ravage my people. I will not have that on my conscience.” She turned away from them, feeling thoroughly pissed and disgusted as she dove straight into the water, Jakk-Jakk not far behind her. She felt at home when she hit the water, but not quite at peace as she usually did. She couldn't shake that anger! Even as a child and a woman in her home, she had never been treated with such disrespect by anyone – Except for Sota; and that did not end well for him. If they didn't want to help her, so be it. She would go alone. She found them incredibly stupid to cross into the territory of people who moved water by sheer will. Did they really think they stood a chance? What made this day so special?


She didn't stray far from her idling ship, feeling the water. She could feel the creatures of the sea moving away from the ships in an agitated manner, pissed at the disturbance they caused. She closed her eyes, unable to force the rage down. Their words rang in her head and she opened her eyes, emitting a loud yell that might as well have been a roar. But – It wasn't just her. The angered voices of Avatars past rang out in chorus with hers. “How dare you defile these waters with your presence! Begone!” They all cried out from within the woman's body. She could feel the air swirling around her as she surfaced on a tower of water, her arms out as though she were surfing. She rose higher and higher into the air before dropping. This time, she didn't go through the water, but the water froze on contact. It didn't end there. The water began to freeze in front of her, moving towards the ship like wildfire across dry grass in the Earth Kingdom. The ice grew thicker as it got to the ships, spreading around them into they couldn't move. Jakk-Jakk was right behind her as she took off across the ice. She knew the water didn't just freeze around the ships, but under them as well. She didn't stop until she was fifty feet away - Not that she could tell.

She made a giant leap forward and slammed her fists down onto the icy pathway. There was a pause in which she could hear the Fire Nation soldiers shouting to one another that they had to melt the ice. Some of them were calling out and pointing her out, demanding permission to attack. And then her ears were filled with the sound of twisting metal and terrified screams. Ice bergs were stabbing into the weak hulls, Kya's clenching fists going tighter as she forced the ice bergs to keep going. She heard grunts as they fell onto the ice and splashes as they rolled into the water. She screamed out as she forced the ice to keep going until they jutted from the top of the ship, at equal height of the crow's nest. Jakk-Jakk had run up and found his way onto the battleship - She could hear the dying screams of his victims as she herself used icy steps to make her way there. There were a number of questions and orders thrown at the woman with the glowing eyes, but she only responded with forming circular saws of ice that began to wreak havoc, leaving a trail of death in their wake.

[SDanko12]

Zhang had been leaning on the railing looking down into the water, his anger slowly fading. It had almost left him when he saw the soot darkened snowflake land on his hand. Looking at it for a moment it sank in what it meant, he looked up just as Haku and Chang announced the Fire Nation ships. A sinking feeling of dread mixed with anger and sorrow came over Zhang, as it always did when he saw the Fire Nation military. He hated these people for all that they had done to him.

Turning to look at the others as they spoke he was about to argue against Chang's suggestion of retreating when the Avatar interjected. Zhang kept his mouth shut as she spoke, he could tell that any interruption, even one in agreement, would further anger and insult her.

"You can hide if you want. If I tried to run or hide as you suggest, I would disgrace my people. You would have us turn away like cowards and let them continue on so that they might capture and kill my people? There are women and children!"

Zhang's eyes widened, he had not initially thought of that; although he had been certain that he wanted to fight he realised that she was right, these ships were most likely headed to do some harm to the people of the Water Tribe. Zhang had made the mistake of letting people be hurt before and he had to live with that, however he was not going to let it happen again; not when he could do something about it. While Kya spoke to the others he shrugged off his thick cloak and lay it down on the deck near his saddle. Unsheathing the thick, straight bladed sword on his back he cut the air a few times as he always did when he prepared to fight. Looking down into the water beside the ship Zhang knew that he was a long way from any earth that he could bend, he would have to do this without his bending.

He turned just as the Avatar jumped off the side of the ship, running to the railing just as Jakk-Jakk jumped in after her, Zhang looked down and watched her as she began her attack. He paced up and down the ship waiting eagerly for a way to one of the Fire Nation ships to present itself. When Kya froze the water around the ships Zhang did not hesitate in leaping of the boat onto the ice. He made his way quickly across the ice, being careful not to slip as he moved. Upon reaching one of the warships he slid to a halt and looked up, he could see activity on the deck as the soldiers scrambled to free themselves. All attention was on the Avatar and Zhang had largely escaped notice so when the icebergs began forcing their way up through the decks of the ships and the soldiers jumped onto the ice near him, the first soldier who fell to Zhang's sword did not even know he was there.

Zhang pulled the sword free of the soldier's neck and made his way to the next man, raising his sword above his head he slashed down across his exposed neck sending a spurt of blood up in the air and across the hull of the warship. The other soldiers who had decided to abandon the ship had taken notice of him now, however none of them seemed to be benders as they all charged him with spears or swords raised. Zhang weaved his way through them, landing heavy slashes with his sword as he went. The fury of his attacks overwhelmed most of the people he faced however some were more seasoned fighters and jumped out of the way or parried his blows. After Zhang had thinned out the group and only the more experienced fighters were left he turned and faced them, there were 4 left and all of them had the look of army veterens about them, with several scars on their visible flesh as well the cold eyes men develop when they have killed for so long. The veterans wasted no time in advancing and they worked together as a cohesive unit to attempt to stop Zhang's onslaught; however, despite their years of experience, they were not fighting with the same passion that Zhang was, they were not fueled by hatred as he was.

Parrying a curved Fire Nation sword that had been aimed for his neck, Zhang stepped to the side and sank the blade of his sword deep into the collar of the Fire Nation soldier. Before he could pull the blade free another man was thrusting a spear at him, letting go of his sword hilt he managed to step to the side before he was run through, however the spear point ran across his side leaving a shallow cut. Blood started staining his green vest as he grabbed the shaft of the spear and jerked it to the side with all his strength, forcing the man to topple into the freezing water, the spreading ice engulfed the man as he attempted to swim back to the ice pathway. Hefting the spear Zhang turned just in time to run one of the other veterans through with his comrade's spear as he charged Zhang with his sword raised. Letting the man drop he retrieved his sword from the dead soldiers body and advanced on the last man who seeing that his comrades had fallen threw his spear away and dropped to his knees with both of his hands up.

"Please I don't want to..." Was all the man could say before Zhang swung his sword so hard into the man's neck that his head almost completely detached from his body. Looking down at the man for a moment Zhang breathed heavily, he was soaked from head to toe in blood. Looking up he saw the Avatar's beast, Jakk-Jakk as she had called it, massacring the entire crew of the battleship helped by the Avatar herself. Zhang climbed up the side of the Fire Nation ship he stood beside and landed on the deck, he intended to kill every last Fire Nation soldier he found aboard the ship.

[GreenGoat]

"AVATAR!"

To her dismay, the Avatar had, in a fit of rage, seen fit to attack the ships head on. There wasn't any reason to attack the Water tribes; the Avatar was what they were after. The Fire Nation may be portrayed as evil and chaotic now, but that doesn't mean they will do anything for such little gain. The supposed Earth bending master was foolish as well, caring more for vengeance than any real reason to protect the Avatar. It seems she was right about him.

"..tch.."

Haku closed her eyes, and emptied her mind, her breathing growing slower, and her senses starting to heighten. There was that feeling of separation again, and that strange uneasy crawl. She released her energy suddenly, launching herself with breakneck speed in an arc towards one of the ships. She landed into a roll, and immediately executed a whirlwind of fire, protecting herself from the attacks of the surprised firebenders there. This was not the ship the Avatar was on however; she was fighting at least three ships away.

Haku somersaulted over a bender's leg sweep, bringing her foot down on his head as she landed, threw a fireball and blasted three men overboard, and simply punching out the lights out of an unlucky soldier. There was bloodlust boiling in within her, growing stronger with each blow she landed, each soldier she fell. It was not something she wanted. Blind anger are destructive, and the Avatar needs her more than she would need defeated enemies right now. With a blinding hot curtain of fire thrown backwards, Haku climbed onto the ship's rail, preparing to jump to the flagship, where the Avatar seemed to be fighting.

All of a sudden, something hard and metalic wrapped around her leg, and her vision blurred as she was pulled back and slammed straight into the metal walls of the ship. Barely having time to even register what had happened, she was pulled again by the chain and slammed into the floor, then finally thrown onto the next ship as she kicked off the binding chains somehow. Even as disoriented as she was, Haku managed to quickly flip up on her feet, and slam into a Fire Nation soldier throwing him overboard. She just managed to push her broken nose back into position, as a huge man jumped onto the deck before her.

He was, obviously, the one who used the weighted chains to great effect. The 6 foot man seemed to be chiseled out of rock, as if he was a granite statue roughly made by a talented artist.

As he started to swing the chain in a circle above him, Haku noticed none of the other Fire Nation troops are attacking her now. Did they really expect a mere brute like that to win without the element of surprise? She had to admit that he was very strong and would likely be of some trouble however, as she was having difficulty breathing with her bruised ribs, and broken nose. There was no way for her to leave the ship however, as she had the feeling those chains of his would be able to catch her if she tried, and she wasn't sure she would survive the second round of thrashing.

The brute made his move, swinging the chains in a wide arc towards her. "..predictable.." With a simple jump, she avoided the attack, and within moments, she was close to the brute, her sword flashing towards his neck.

-CLANG-

"Quick little bugger ain't you." The brute had, with astonishing speed, deflected her sword with a simple short sword. Haku and the brute exchanged blow after blow, dodging each others attacks and deflecting what could not be dodged. Like her, the brute doesn't seem to use only his bending, but his weapons as well. With the chain in one hand, and the short blade in the other, he was a formidable opponent. If she tried to use long range techniques, the weighted chain seemed to go through her flames effortlessly, and he can retaliate with both fire and weapon. If she tried to get close, it became a dangerous gamble as he would use the chains as some sort of knuckle duster and start throwing fiery punches as well as those quick swipes of the short sword. However, he seemed to use a pattern of sorts, after every right throw of the weighted chains, he would raise it up and swing it downwards, using it as a whip.

The brute pulled the chains back, a habit he seemed to do everytime he started a right throw. As expected, he executed a right throw. With blinding speed, Haku sheathed her sword, and dashed towards the brute. It was a gamble, of whether she could reach him first, or whether he could slam the chains down first. Time seemed to slow down, as she saw every minute details of his face as it contorted to a look of surprise. Her hand pulled out her sword, the slight ring of the metal seemingly loud and shrill in her ears, as the brute's hand just barely reached the highpoint of his swing. Her sword streaked towards his neck, as the brute's hand swiped downwards towards her.

Blood splattered over the deck, Haku and the brute staring resolutely at each other.

She coughed up some blood, and collapsed on her knees. He was not aiming for her, but her sword, catching it with his chain wrapped arm, while his other arm went for a hidden crossbow. It seems that she was baited into moving exactly as he wanted, by using that 'habit' as the carrot.

"..you..are more intelligent than I thought..."

The crossbow bolt seemed to have punched all the way through her chest. At least it didn't hit her heart.