Meanwhile…Brady & Kai Ling

Calm as the eye of a storm, Brady stood still as his opponent circled. His awareness centered as he noticed Ling’s every movement, every facet down to the cruel slant of a smile, the unyielding pain in the gaze. Yet even so, images flashed within his conscience:

Will’s blue and white box kite drifting off into the ether as the child ran;
His friend Lau as a boy when they first met, playing cat’s cradle on a train to Hong Kong;
The way they sparred together under Master Chan’s tutelage, Lau always feigning an injury at the defining moment instead of claiming victory;
Chan wishing him luck on his venture to America.

“You are a good man Kai. I do not wish to fight you.”

“Nor I you, Dog who does not deserve the honor of the death I bring.”

Catching Hang as he spied on Kai and Gigi kissing under the cherry trees;

“I am innocent! You saw what your brother did. The whole village saw. Gigi saw!”

“Do not speak her name!”

Gigi’s torn skirt, the scratches along her shoulders, her chest, the tears as she knelt at Kai Ling’s feet;

“Why? Because Lau defended her when you would not? Because Lau died protecting her when you would not! Hang attacked your fiancé and you denied her word! Hang murdered Lau in front of your eyes—and still you refuse to believe!”

Lau dying in the market place, agony twisting his features while the blood gurgled forth as he tried to speak. Instead he slumped against Hang who in a panic pushed him aside before dropping the knife and fleeing.

“No! You are the Murder!”

From the shattered glass of the lookout station, Brady peered down to see Ling cradling Hang’s broken body amongst the Quarry rocks.

“I did Not kill your brother! He robbed me of the Chance! He—“

“--No more! Your lies end Now!”

In a burst of energy, Ling struck with a sidekick to the kneecaps and a punch to the throat. Brady barely had time to throw up a defense, much less a counter attack as all memories were chased back into the past—the present meant everything.

The fight was on.