20 Budding (1/2)

The next morning Kai woke up at 5 am to study. He opened his eyes as he laid with his back on his bed. Then he stood up and winced at the pain he was feeling. His body was bruised. It was a throbbing reminder of the vow he made last night. Then he took the papers that explained Lexi's physical chart and sat down on his bed and began studying it. It was quite interesting and extremely detailed. The only thing it didn't show was physical appearance. Kai could see the mapping of her nerves. He could even see the pathway of all her veins and arteries.

After reading, Kai got out of bed and went to the kitchen to fix himself a cup of coffee. He put the ingredients in and let the machine do its work. Minutes later, the smell of coffee filled the house.

Smelling the now familiar smell, Lexi climbed out her bed. She had been up since five too. Before she left the room she put on some light make-up, this was something she had always done. As she walked out of her bed her bruises began throbbing. Sometimes they would throb, other times she would feel a sharp pain jolting through her body. She opened her door and walked to the kitchen. When she was inside, she saw Kai holding a cup of coffee in his hands. When he saw her he handed her her cup of coffee. This was their morning routine so he made two at the same time.

Lexi took a hold of the cup and blew on the coffee a few times to cool it down. Then she removed some of the hairs on her face and took a sip.

Kai unconsciously mimicked her then he said, ”So are you still going to jog with me today?”

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”Of course, did you think I wouldn't because of last night?”

Kai looked away and then back at her, ”Nooo, I just thought maybe your bruises hurt too much. I thought maybe I ruffed you up too much.” He said trying to tease her.

Lexi just closed the distance between them and then pressed her finger on Kai's arm.

”Ow!” Kai exclaimed in pain.

When Kai exclaimed, Lexi raised her eyebrows revealing a smug face, ”Sounds to me like you're the one in pain.”

Kai just laughed, ”Yeah, I have few bruises here and there. You're one tough girl, my word!” He laughed again, put his cup down and then smirked, ”But don't act like, I'm the only one in pain.” He then returned the favour and started poking her too. At first, it was to get a reaction out of her. But of course, since she was prepared for it she kept quiet. When Kai saw he couldn't get her to cry out in pain he switched tactics, 'I will get a reaction out of her.' He then started poking her on her waist and other ticklish areas. Kai was using his mother's secret moves. As a doctor, she knew full well where to tickle. Kai having received many of her punishments knew how to execute it too. Kai continued his onslaught.

While Kai was trying to get her to exclaim in pain, Lexi held back her voice, 'You're not going to get me.' Kai was relentless but she was tougher. She decided that she wouldn't and that was that. Lexi had thought she was in the clear when she overcame the pain. Until she realised that Kai was no longer trying to make her feel pain but laugh. She saw his smirk and knew he was up to no good. As he was poking her she almost laughed multiple times. She held herself back so much it looked like she was having the hiccups. Even so, she fought the urge to laugh. She then put her cup of coffee on the counter and continued to resist. But then all of sudden the urge to laugh increased. It was like Kai had graduated from a novice to a G.o.d of tickling. She could feel there was a lot more thought to where he was poking and tickling. Lexi tried to hold out for as long as she could but eventually, she burst into laughter. Her laugh resounded through the kitchen. She thought that when she caved Kai would stop. Boy was she wrong, he smirked and continued to tickle her mercilessly, 'As if I'm going to stop now. This is what you get.' He laughed and continued. As he tickled her, she guffawed so much she was losing the strength in her feet. She looked like an old woman as her knees buckled and her back hunched. She was laughing so much her stomach was hurting and tears were running down her face. When it reached this point she said, ”I give up!”

Immediately, Kai stopped, that was his safe word when his mother and father had tickled him to tears. Lexi, still with her back hunched and her right arm around her stomach looked at Kai with a sour expression and pouted at him.

Kai just continued to laugh showing no remorse whatsoever. When Lexi saw her act to try to win his sympathy wasn't working she just laughed. Soon they were both heartily laughing together until Lexi exclaimed in pain.

”Ow! My stomach,” She said while holding her stomach.

When Kai heard her cry, he pumped his fist in the air. It was only then that Lexi realised what she had done. She placed her left hand in front of her eyes and then they laughed again. However, Lexi laughed in pieces as not to aggravate the pain. After they laughed, they both drank their coffee still full of smiles.

When they were done drinking, Lexi offered to wash the dishes but Kai refused, 'Rather go get changed.'

Lexi didn't insist, she did just that, she went to her room and changed into her running clothes. After was.h.i.+ng the cups he went to his room and changed into his running clothes. Then they both met each other by the door and went for a run. When they came back, Kai said he was going to go shower. But before he could Lexi told him that when he uses the toilet he must put the seat down. Kai furrowed his eyebrows but complied anyway. He had been the only child in his house and had his own separate bathroom. He had never been asked to put the seat down so he found it quite bizarre. He did wonder what was wrong with her hands that she couldn't do it herself. But they had just had a moment together and he wasn't going to open those can of worms and risk a possible argument.

Kai went to the bathroom and then showered: he changed into his work clothes, said goodbye to Lexi and then went to work.

After Kai left, Lexi showered. She also saw the seat was down so despite his unpleasant look he listened. After showering she dressed and then went to her father's work. This time not to go see her father. Lexi was exceptionally talented when it came to business and interpersonal communication. So she would often help out where she could. She knew when to switch from personal to impersonal communication. It was an innate gift. When Lexi got to the communications office everyone greeted her from their cubicles. They loved it when she was there because it meant less work for them.

When the manager saw, Lexi he came out to personally greet her. When the manager had first met Lexi he was respectful to her just to suck up to her father. However, as he saw how gifted she was his views started to change. It wasn't just the communications manager that felt this way. The other managers from the various departments felt the same way. They were all more than happy to have her succeed her father if she chose to do so when his time was up. Lexi stayed in the office and helped them until it was her time to leave. She and her father left work and went to go to and practise. After they were done practising Lexi sat by the bar and ate some food.

That is when Kai walked into the room. He had just finished his 6-hour s.h.i.+ft of mining now it was time to train with Jacques. Kai took a deep breath and steeled his resolve. When he was ready Jacques took the remote and just like yesterday he began mas.h.i.+ng the upward b.u.t.ton. Immediately, Kai felt the gravity but he stayed standing. He stood upright until Jacques, tapped the upward b.u.t.ton a few times again. When he did Kai fell to his knees.

”Get up!” Jacques the drill sergeant shouted.

So Kai did just that. With much effort, he stood up. And kept standing with all his might. This cycle continued until it was over. After he was worn Jacques decreased the gravity and they began sparring with each other. Like yesterday Jacques told him what mistakes he was making and shocked him when he was struck out (1). They continued to train like this until individual training was over.

After training, he sat down next to Lexi. He was hoping for another one of those energy waters. He couldn't deny that without it, he would never be able to fight properly. But like an angel, Lexi pa.s.sed him a bottle. He exclaimed in joy and then drank its contents.

After the hour break, it was time for their joint training. Just like yesterday, they were to fight him together. They held their kickstarters and cycled their essence lightning then they looked at each other and gave one nod before the launched at Jacques. The first string of hits were perfectly coordinated but as they continued they fell out of place again. The problem this time was that both of them were playing the submissive role. This was because of the vow they made last night as well as the bruises they were feeling. Their bodies were in pain and it would hurt a lot more if they were to crash into each other now. There were many times where they would just stand and look at each other thinking that the other would have taken the opportunity to attack.

When Jacques saw this he stopped them and shook his head, ”What now? Yesterday you had so much fight. Now you are too afraid to step on each other's toes.”

At this moment, Lexi and Kai both looked at each other and pursed their lips. The facts were undeniable this was clearly cowardly combat.

”Rather step on each other's toes or b.u.mp into each other than to do nothing. Eventually, you will know when to hold back and when to attack. Look at each other attentively. See who has the fastest charge or who has the strongest punch and then decern whether the opening requires a forceful attack or a lightning-quick attack. This is why it is crucial to know your partner's make up to the t. Only then can you make plans and start gelling together the way you should.”

Hearing Jacques's rea.s.suring speech, Lexi looked at Kai, ”Forgive me when I b.u.mp into you. Since you are so frail.”

”Hha... Forgive me if you accidentally land on the ground. It's not my fault I'm so strong.”

Then they both looked at each other while amplifying their essence lightning. Their eyes were full of vigour and resolve. Then they smiled at each other and off they went. They fought with Jacques up and down the ring. They still b.u.mped into each other or obstructed one another, a lot. However, they knew that it was part of the process and continued as if it was nothing even though their bodies were screaming in pain.

It was only about two weeks later that they were no longer b.u.mping into each other. Their movements were a lot more fluid and team-like. Lexi and Kai could finally concentrate on the finer details that happened in a fight without cras.h.i.+ng into one another. However, it was these finer details that were the hardest part. It required hours upon hours of training to be skilled at it. They still had ways to go but they had also come a long way. Today was the day they were finally going to start training with weapons. Kai had been doing individual weapons practice with Jacques and now that he had reached a certain mastery; Jacques allowed them to incorporate it into their teamwork. When they were facing the Zolma they wouldn't be fighting barehanded but with weapons.

Kai equipped his weapons onto his all-black combat gear. He had his bow attached to the back of his customizable pursuit tactical vest. His arrows were in his tactical waist pouch. His kickstarter was in the front of his vest's holster next to his shrunken spear. Lastly, his dagger was on his right leg in the thigh dagger holster.

Lexi wore her black techwear joggers with four straps at the bottom. Her pants was tucked in neatly into her black combat boots. Yet, it could not hide her beautifully shaped thicc thighs. On her left and right leg was a thigh holster for her dagger and kickstarter respectively. She also wore a black a.s.sa.s.sin's Creed Movie Callum Lynch Hoodie (2). When the hoodie was zipped open you could see a black short camisole top revealing her flawless peach white skin. Even when it was closed there was a noticeable b.u.mp near the top of the hoodie. It could not conceal her bosom. Lastly, she had her spear attached to her back in a shrunken state.