~3~
Later that day, Susanoo was back at HQ. She was blowing of some steam in the training room. She was practicing on her kendo while using a training dummy. Mainly, doing head shots.
“It’s not a baseball bat, Halberstam!” a strong female voice with a sharp Japanese accent echoed. “Use the katana as if it was an extension of your body and follow through with leverage. Not just power.”
“Funny, you went from player to coach. Now you are instructing me, Leiko Aoibara.” Susanoo said.
She could hear a noticeable thud and rustling on the other side of the room.
“Are you the new weapons master here?” Susanoo asked.
“With many have been dismissed by your daddy, we now making do of what we have.” Leiko said. “Now, choose your blade!” she ordered.
Without even turning around, she would stroll over to her gym bag to get her water bottle, “It’s been a long day, Aoibara. But I could use one of your ice cherry flavored coffees though.”
Susanoo picked up her stainless-steel water bottle for a drink, only for it to be skewed, knocked out of her hand and nailed to the wall with a frozen ice sickle. Her hand was trembling and not from the sudden chill that immediately filled the room.
“That was uncalled for…” she said to herself.
Susanoo would turn around to see Leiko charge at her with a swing. Using her instincts she would dodge roll out of the way. She knew Leiko was pissed off about something, so Susanoo wasted no time rushing the table.
They were so many edge weapons that she was not familiar with. She is doing this on purpose! Susanoo screamed to herself, relenting on taking anything. Unbeknownst to her knowledge, a Bidor Malaysian Golok.
She barley turned around and Leiko lunge at her again with an overhead attack, in which she dodged again.
Finally, Susanoo was somewhat ready, gripping the weapon with her dominant right hand. In front of her was a strong chiseled Japanese woman with short light cyan hair and percing light red eyes that was taller than her. The smirk and determination on her face. She was holding an icy-blue colored Scorpion Sword.
Of course she had to make light of the situation, “Hubby on his long buisness trip again?”
Leiko only responded to violence as she attacked with controlled anger.
Susanoo have always been a defensive mastermind when it comes to swordplay, but only with a katana. The slight shortness and heaviness of the Bidor Malaysian Golok was hard to adjust. Leiko’s skills of Filipino Martial Arts like Kali, Eskrima and Arnis became of legends as her yuki-onna tribe created their own unique fighting style while using cyromancy.
To say that Susanoo was overwhelmed was an understatement.
Leiko hand trapped her wrist holding the weapon. It was enough pressure to loosen the grip and disarm Susanoo’s weapon. Putting the cold icy blade to her neck, claimed the easy victory, “Bidor Malaysian Golok. Broader handle requires less pressure and a curved grip.”
Shoving her back, Leiko could feel Susanoo’s pride dwindling.
“I wonder if you treat your own daughters this way!” Susanoo throwing shade.
“Do worry about them. Unlike most females I know, they don’t let their parents or their genders give them a free ride! Now, fight!” Leiko ordered.
Enraged, Susanoo would pick up any long blade and charged at Leiko—only for Leiko to break it in half. Recovering from the shock, Leiko swung at her neck, but quickly dodged. Susanoo would quickly retreat by sliding under the table, coming out the other side to pick two identical tantos.
“COME ON!” Leiko roared.
Susanoo would jump on the table, jump and lunge at her—Only for Leiko to easily sidestep and give her an elbow to the neck while she was in midair. This will send her tumbling to the floor.
“Dogs usually have their paws on the ground!” Leiko criticized as she rushed a downed Susanoo.
But Susanoo would quickly get on her feet. She would improvise her defense as Leiko easily adapted to her dual wielding techniques. They were some instances where Leiko could have taken an arm, stabbed a leg or even worse.
Then, Susanoo did something clever. Leiko was about parry one of her tantos, Susanoo would let go on purpose. Susanoo would rush in and do belly to belly suplex and hold her remaining tanto to her neck.
Gaining her confidence back, “Yield.” Susanoo demanded.
“You didn’t kill me. You sacrificed sure defense to for a killing stroke.” Leiko motioned down, for Susanoo to see Leiko’s icy blade to ribcage. “Be lucky this blade isn’t sharp. I had you dead, before I hit floor.” She chuckles. “This is what happens when you get frustrated for nothing.”
Susanoo’s frustration was more at herself other than Leiko. Both of them disengaged as Leiko got back up and Susanoo tried to relax.
Trying to get her second wind, Susanoo asked a burning question, “everyone hates me that much?”
Leiko scoffed, “You don’t understand, Susie,” Leiko mocked. “160 years. 160 years we haven’t had this much separation between the Society and Order and between ourselves. And coincidently, this happens when we are headed to another world war that would lead to millions of us being dead!” She then got into Susanoo’s face. “And Marky can talk his shit all he wants about the Third Rev. He never saw the depths of depravity and violence like we have as he looks at spreadsheets Facebook Pages. So yeah, I need to see what kind dog you are! We are called monsters, but they are ones who have no problem discriminating, enslaving and killing their own kind. So just imagine what they will do to you, little girl. They don’t give a shit— they are brutal!”
Susanoo tried her hardest not to cry, since it was the truth.
At least, Leiko shared some kind words, “You are strong and smart, but that doesn’t mean anything. If you don’t know how to use your own power effectively, then why even bother? We need to be ready.”
Showing a mother’s compassion, she gently rests her hands on her cheeks.
With a nod, Leiko leaves so Susanoo can collectively think about it.