((Sharing here so people actually see.))
Trigger Warning: Stab. Wound. Fighting.
Haruka- A young apprentice who just started learning how to fight. She’s strong willed and won’t back down until she succeeds with her task.
Isamu- A former apprentice of sensei who fell into the dark path. For one reason or another, she can’t say no, especially when it comes to fighting. She is the most skilled because of this.
Kanta- A fire blooded apprentice who has been following the light path for years. He was sensei’s only other apprentice when Isamu was around, and he feels deeply about her descent.
Ami- A bright and friendly apprentice who joined soon after Isamu’s descent. She and Kanta are very close because of this. She adopted Haruka right away, treating her like a little sister.
———-
“Again!” Haruka shouted, not taking her eyes off her opponent.
“You’re so weak! You’re going to die, Haruka. You don’t have a chance!” Isamu laughed.
Haruka wouldn’t back down despite that truth. She had only recently started her training. They had watched her slowly grow in her skills. Haruka was relentless, she refused to stop until she won, no matter how many duels she lost to get there. That wasn’t a problem when it was Kanta, Ami, or their sensei, but Isamu? Isamu wouldn’t give her a break. Isamu was going to allow Haruka to continue challenging her until she got bored and ended it, permanently. Everyone knew how this would end.
Isamu grinned, lashing out expertly with her katana. Haruka blocked frantically, automatically on the defence. The fight was over before it began, Isamu disarming her easily.
“Again!” Haruka cried, scrambling for her weapon. She, for the briefest moment, looked up at her fellow students and friends. The two pupils stared helplessly from the balcony looking over the fight. There was nothing they could do now. Haruka had challenged Isamu for them, sacrificed herself for them, and they could do nothing to stop the duel, not from up there.
Quickly, Haruka was disarmed, this time cut badly on the arm. She frantically reached for her weapon, holding it up in defense.
“Again!” she shouted, trying to be more aggressive. Her attempt only landed her empty handed and a cut on her other arm.
Kanta and Ami clutched the railing, shouting support and suggestions to their young friend. The duo had been training for years. They were highly experienced, talented fighters, but they didn’t stand a chance against Isamu. She had been badly beating them before Haruka, who they had told to stay back, put a stop to it by calling for a one on one duel.
“AGAIN!” Haruka cried, refusing to relent.
It was clear in Isamu’s expression that she’d had enough. She abruptly disarmed Haruka and stabbed her in the chest.
Haruka gasped, still for a moment in shock and looked up at her screaming friends in the balcony as she fell to the ground. The tournament hall dispersed, allowing Kanta and Ami to race to their friend. Isamu cleaned off her blade and began walking off.
“Shhhhh, shhhhh, Haruka, it’s okay, shhshsh it’s okay,” Ami soothed, trying to comfort Haruka. The young girl gasped for breath, deeply pained by the wound.
“ISAMU!” Kanta shouted, holding up his katana.
She turned around lazily. “She didn’t give me a choice. She wouldn’t stop. You know I couldn’t say no.” And with that she left, Haruka gasping for life as she walked away.