Tack tack tack tack
Shinai clashed fast, one side advancing, while the other retreating with each step.
Hup!
"I loose."
The words felt strange to Richard's tongue. But the credit was due, where it was.
He removed the grilled mask, extending a hand to his opponent.
"Good match."
His opponent nodded and simply turned, ignoring his extended hand.
'Fine then, I guess we won't be friends.'
Richard withdrew his hand, and moved on. He never intended to be friendly with them either. It was simply him showing his respect to the skill of his opponent. And if he refused it, well, it really didnt matter to him.
Since they refuse to toast, he would only respond in kind.
He removed his glove and touched the shinai with his naked hand.
'Tracing'
And the shinai revealed its history to him. From the day it was cut, to every single day it was wielded as practice laid bare to Richard, who began recreating it inside his own world.
Fwoo
He let out a small breath and looked at the worn down shinai at his hand.
He had held himself from using this because of respect, but, considering the rejection he faced, he felt no guilt at all any more.
Now, he was going to start doing everything his way.
Richard returned to his bench, where Kojiro sat lazily, leaning against the wall.
"Where's Tonks?"
Richard asked as he sat next to Kojiro, and took a small gulp of water.
"She's gone out. Said she wanted go sightseeing again. "
"And you didnt follow her?" Richard asked, to which he replied, "You are the one my higher ups told me to keep an eye on, considering your "accidental magic" incidents. Your friend is an auror. I'm sure she knows how to behave."
On that they both agreed.
"Anyway," Kojiro commented, "You are pretty good at kendo even with your leg problem."
"I told you didnt I?" Richard replied.
Richard had skills more than enough to match the average novice and beginners. It was the more skilled people, he struggled against.
His eyes glanced at the blade at Kojiro's waist before quickly darting away. He had learned the basics, and now a familiar hunger to get more was creeping up his spine.
If he could just trace that sword...
Richard card himself down while rubbing his wrist. He needed to be more patient.
Skills need to be built up from the ground to up properly.
Since he had the basics in his head, next was to move onto the intermediate, and then to the advanced.
Still, the temptation was there.
There was a reason he had chosen Japan, even when there were a hand full of other countries that developed swordsmanship.
Its because the culture brought forward had integrated magic with swordsmanship deeply, unlike others that treated magic and swordsmanship as two different paths.
And because it became a part of the culture, it had grown into a proper aspect of the wizarding society, unlike others where hoarding the secrets had made many magic based weapons techniques fade into obscurity or simply fading with weak successors or lack of inheritors.
He looked at the one who had bested him. His shinai should provide him with more data. Richard's eyes locked onto it. However Kojiro seemed to misunderstand the sudden intensity of his expression.
"I hope you won't get into trouble with them." Kojiro said, as he placed a hand on Richard's shoulder. "They just aren't used to having foreigners around here."
Richard brushed off the hand, dismissing his concerns. "I'm not that immature to go around causing trouble just because of something that stupid. Don't worry about that. What I do want to do, is to beat him fair and square in the dojo."
"Hah!"
Kojiro made a weird sound.
"That kid is the regional kendo champion. At his level,He already has a spot for him reserved in the auror office, waiting for him to complete his education. In three years if he walked in to the office with a resume, he's going to walk out with the job in five minutes. If you can put him down on the mat, my young friend, that's the day the sun would be rising from the west."
Now that smelled like opportunity to Richard.
"How about a bet then?"
Kojiro's relaxed face immediately turned serious.
"No. I don't do bets."
"Its nothing too ridiculous." Richard quickly interrupted. "If I can match him fair and square, and win, before the end of my vacation, can you let me hold your sword?"
"You?" Kojiro looked at Richard from head to toe as if he was considering if it was a joke." With that leg of yours? Are you kidding?"
"Nope" Richard said. "And if I loose, I'll give you everything we have left of our holiday budget."
"And how much is that ?"
"Twelve galleons."
"Done!"
Richard grinned despite himself. He was confident. Even with his peg leg, he believed he could fight the regional champ.
But still, he needed to find a way to recover his leg. That was a must.
And he had some ideas, most which required the help of crazy dark magicians, forbidden books, potion masters and smart wizards.
But not yet.
Richard stood up again. And walked up to the dojo.
He lied before. He was immature. Not in nature but in wisdom.
He was going to beat the best, with a peg leg so that he would know that the entire skill he so proudly flaunted was nothing but an illusion.
Their vacation ends in three weeks. He had lots to do by that time.