PART FIVE

P A R T F I V E

Story by

Jesse Brewer

Kendo-Man created by

Jesse Brewer

Written by

Jesse Brewer

K E N D O M A N

Reids walks towards the matt

The referee looks at Reids

Reids's opponent looks at Reids with a curious look

REFEREE

Son, where is your gear?

Reids thinks for a second

REIDS

I forgot about it. I'm sorry. Give me a second.

The referee sighs

REFEREE

Hurry up. We've already waited long enough for you already.

Reids bows and clicks his tongue

Reids turns around and runs towards his parents

After Reids puts on his gear he clicks his tongue one more time

Reids breathes in then out

Reids runs toward the match pad

Reids clicks his tongue

REFEREE

Finally ready?

REIDS

Yup!

Reids's opponent stands up from where he was sitting, waiting patiently

Reids's opponent stands on the other side of the matt

OPPONENT

I'm ready too.

REFEREE

Okay, you two. This will be a three-point match. No tripping, throwing, or any strangles. Have discipline.

The referee looks at Reids

REFEREE

Are you sure you're ready?

Reids clicks his tongue

REIDS

Ready than I'll ever be.

REFEREE

Okay.

The referee moves out of the way of between the two fighters so he can get a clear view of the fight

REFEREE

Take positions!

Reids takes his unique stance with his one arm. Shows a traditional kendo stance but modified to suit his disabilities

Reids's opponent takes his stance showing a normal traditional kendo stance

REFEREE

Fight!

Reids clicks his tongue

Reids and his opponent start to slowly walk toward each other

Reids and his opponent stops three feet away from each other

OPPONENT

Quit the fight. I don't want to hurt you.

Reids takes a slow deep breath then breathes out

Reids clicks his tongue

Suddenly in a blink of an eye Reids lunges toward his opponent

When Reids opponent realizes this he tried to block Reids's strike

The force of Reid's sideways slash knocks his opponent's bokken out of the way of his body

REIDS

Kiai!

Then Reids spins and hits his opponent in the side

The referee, Reids's parents, and everyone watching stopped for a second to look in awe at Reids

Reids jumps back away from his opponent

REIDS

Learn that I am not some weakling! My disabilities mean nothing. What only matters is the swing of my sword!

Reids's father smiles

REIDS CONT-

I am a swordsman like everyone here. Treat me as such. Cause if you don't

Reids gets into a fighting stance

REIDS CONT-

I will sweep this tournament like a tsunami never seen before.

Reids's opponent looks at Reids with a shocked look

Everyone looking at Reids gives him a shocked look

After a few seconds to regain their composure everyone went back to their previous activities, with Reids's parents still watching the fight

The referee looks at Reids then at Reids's opponent

Referee points at Reids's opponent

REFEREE

Point! One point to Reids.

Reids's opponent takes a few steps back and gets back into his fighting stance

Reids and his opponent slowly walk towards each other

They stop after a few feet and then begins to slowly circle each other

OPPONENT

My name is Nick. what's yours?

REIDS

Reids.

NICK

If you want to be treated like a normal swordsman. Then so be it.

Nick taps the end of Reids's bokken

Nick then moves to the right, where Reids doesn't have an arm and lunges a thrust at Reids's throat

NICK

Kiai!

Reids clicks his tongue and senses the incoming attack

Reids moves his bokken in the way of the strike blocking the hit

Reids uses the weight of Nick's attack and slides across Nick's sword

REIDS

Kiai!

Reids motions his sword and slides it across Nick's throat then spins out of the way of Nick's body to Nick's backside facing the opposite way of his opponent

Referee points at Reids

REFEREE

Point! Two points Reids, Nick zero.

Nick turns around and looks at Reids in shock

Reids turns around and goes back to his starting position

Nick does the same

Nick looks at his sensei

Nick's sensei nods

As soon as Reids goes back to his combat position Nick lunges at Reids with a diagonal swing to Reids's left side

Reids blocks the blow with his bokken

Nick jumps back to assess the situation

Nick slowly walks toward Reids as Reids stands perfectly still in his stance

Nick taps tips with Reids

Nick raises his sword over his head and does a light swing downward at Reids

Reids clicks his tongue and blocks the attack

Nick, before he reaches Reids's sword, then changes the direction of his sword and circles it downwards

NICK

Kiai!

Nick changes his position in a flash and hits Reids in the side

Nick jumps back to his original position

Referee points at Nick

REFEREE

Point! Reids, two points! Nick, one point.

Reids is surprised but regains his composure in a few seconds and goes back into his fighting stance

Reids takes a few steps forward

Before Reids could click his tongue Nick lunges toward Reids

Nick knocks Reids's bokken out of his stance and lunges a thrust at Reids's throat

NICK

Kiai!

Nick thrust hist Reids

Nick jumps back to his original position

Referee points at Nick

REFEREE

Point! Nick, two points! Reids, two points. The next point will decide the winner of this round!

Reids looks at the referee with a surprised look

Reids clenches the hilt of his sword

OLD MAN REIDS

Will my story end here I thought. I had so many doubts running through my mind. But no matter what negativity came, I came to one consensus. I will win.

Reids takes a deep breath then breathes out

Reids clicks his tongue

Reids gets back into his fighting position

Nick gets back into his

Reids's mom looks at her son with a worried look

Reids looks in the direction of his opponent with a fierce glare that can be seen through the required helmet

Nick has a chill run through his spine

It's like Reids level of concentration was so narrow it could rival the most powerful of swordsmen

Nick shakes off the feeling

In the blink of an eye, Reids lunges toward his opponent and strikes him

Nick blocks Reids first strike

Nick pushes Reids back

Without delay, Reids raises his sword over his head and starts to plunge his sword down onto his opponent

Nick blocks the strike with a loud "SMACK!" coming from the bokkens

Nick struggles to hold back Reids

All that could go through Nick's mind is "how could he be this strong with only one arm?"

Nick begins to parry Reids strike and spins to slash Reids's left side

Reids's relents his downward slash and barely moves out of the way of his opponent's attack

Reids, in a split second, changes his stance to a thrust position

As Nick lost his balance from missing his previous strike he sees as Reids run towards

Then in a flash

HAKAI! Is heard

Reids hits Nick in the chest with his thrust

The referee looks at Reids with shock

Referee points at Reids

REFEREE

Point! Reids wins this match!

Reids loosens his grip on his sword and takes a few steps away from his old opponent

Reids turns around towards Nick

Reids bows with bokkeni in hand

REIDS

Thank you for the great match!

Nick looks at Reids with a surprised look

NICK

No, thank you!

Nicks bows to Reids

NICK

I guess you're full of surprises.

Reids raises his head back to his normal posture as Nick does the same

Reids clenches his hilt

REIDS

So this is what it feels to win.

END