Current mood:	Bordom.
Current music:	Ayumi Hamasaki
Entry tags:	30kisses #25: fence, rubedo jr. x momo, xenosaga

[Archive] #25: Fence (Fencing by 100_series)
Title of the work: Fencing
Author: 100_series
Pairing: Rubedo Jr. x MOMO
Fandom: Xenosaga
Theme: #25: Fence
Disclaimer: The characters and likenesses presented in this fanfiction are not my property, and I will not use them for profit in any way shape or form. They are property of the creators of Xenosaga.


"Fence"
30kisses Challenge #25 - Fence
(The characters and Xenosaga belong to their creators and not me)

Thanks to Chuckie_um who gave me the inspiring idea for this fic in a random chat one day.

- - - - - - - - -- -

As an unwilling witness to the scene that laid before her, Shion let a heavy breath of air out of her lungs in frustration. "Why are you doing this?" she asked, though she didn't really want to know the answer. Jin had somehow found one of those disturbingly revealing traditional Japanese robes in a small person's size, and as a result Jr. now looked just as ridiculous as he did with his bare legs showing each time he moved. In his hand, the short red-haired boy held a katana. "And hey!" she shouted. "That's my sword!"

"You never use it so don't complain," Jin replied, as he showed the deceptively childish young man how to hold the weapon. As he examined the stance the boy took, he realized that this wasn't mere fooling around. Jr. was already proficient at the basics of sword combat due to his training as a biological weapon as one might expect, and took to moving with it quickly.

"Heh," Jr. chuckled, as he struck a pose. "This is really cool, I gotta say."

Shion rubbed her head and decided to leave Jin's training room before she had a limb cut off. "You look like a girl," she grumbled as she left and stepped outside into the back yard. There, MOMO was puzzling over a garden that had no plants in it, only perfectly smooth grey ripples of sand and rocks.

"What... is this?" she asked.

"It's a stone garden," Shion groaned. "I dunno... I think it's tacky." MOMO tilted her head, befuddled.

"OW, CRAP!" came the shout of the loud-mouthed young red-head from the paper and wood building. "How the hell did you just do that?"

Shion and MOMO turned their heads. "Injured himself even quicker than I expected," Shion said, unsurprised. MOMO however, flew into the room in alarm to see what was the matter.

"A reckless head-on attack will never work with a sword," Jin instructed, standing over Jr., who was sprawled on his back. Shion's sword had been flung across the room. "You must carefully predict your opponent's movements and wait for the moment to strike efficiently."

"Maybe this really isn't my style after all," Jr. grumbled, nursing a gash on his upper right arm.

MOMO knelt beside him and began looking the wound over. "You shouldn't play with sharp things," she said. "Why not use practice swords? Wooden ones?"

"Its not the same thing, MOMO," Jr. replied with a pout. "I wanted to use real ones."

"I'm sorry for striking you," Jin interjected with an earnest apology, loosening his posture. "I have to say I was a bit reckless myself, and that you have some considerable inner talent. Otherwise I would not have injured you."

"Nah, it's okay," Jr replied with a grin. "It's just an accidental scratch, and I asked you not to take it easy on me."

Shion stood at the door, wondering why she had to be related to such a weird person. "I'll go get some nano-spray," she sighed. "Could you manage not to chop up any of my friends before I get back?"

"I don't have any around," Jin realized. "I sent it back with all of the doctor's equipment I didn't need. Should have bought some before hand."

"Nah it's nothing," Jr. said, pulling his legs into his familiar cross-legged sitting position. With the robe on, it was awkward and he pressed it down. "I'll be okay."

"Don't be silly," MOMO said, and reached out to take his arm. He allowed her to do so, watching with interest as she closed her eyes in concentration. The onlookers fully expected to witness a healing ether spell, but instead the girl stuck out her tongue and licked the bleeding gash with her tongue, much like a cat. Jr. was mortified and began to blush violently red as her lips closed over the wound as if to seal it, and then pulled away. Shion watched stunned into silence, and even Jin was a bit shocked.

"Umm.... What did you do that for?" Jr. asked, bright blue eyes wide open. He looked down at the injury and realized that it no longer hurt, and that the wound was no longer bleeding freely. "Huh?"

MOMO looked up at him innocently, as if nothing strange at all had just happened. "Oh," she said. "I just temporarily reprogrammed my own nano-repair systems to mend your skin and applied it directly." She smiled brightly. "Now no one has to go to the store!"

Jr. took his arm back and tried to hide the color rising in his face. Shion stifled a laugh as he did so. "I didn't know realians could do that, MOMO," she said. "Good idea." MOMO took the compliment without realizing the humor intended.

Jin however, was more inclined to tease the young man who reminded him so much of his sister. "Should we fence some more? I could try to bust your lip next."

Jr. stood with his nose wrinkled in mild anger and embarrassment. Shion laughed, and MOMO looked up saucer-eyed unsure of what the joke was about. "I'll show you!" Jr. challenged as he picked up the sword. A brilliant, confident grin appeared on his face as he resumed his stance. "Stand back, MOMO! I'm gonna teach him a lesson!"

Shion shook her head in dismay and left. However, MOMO continued to watch the lesson unfold, clapping whenever Jr. actually gained on the great sword master.

"You're sure you've never done this before?" Jin asked.

Jr. smiled. "Hey, its like I always say, with her on my side, I can't lose!"

MOMO sat at a safe distance kneeling politely. "Yay!" she cheered. "I love you, Jr!"

"H-Huh? What?" Jr. froze and his head whipped around for a short moment before he was sent sprawling again by Shion's tall older sibling. He hit the ground on his back with an "oof!"

MOMO gasped and shot up again to treat him. "Oh no, I thought that was what fans are supposed to cheer! Did I say it wrong?"

"Oh yes, and don't let yourself be distracted," Jin said. "You should concentrate on-"

Jr. was not amused as he rose to a sit from his crumpled sprawl. "I swear to God Jin, if you say numbers and battle strategy, I'm slugging you."