Before the next blow slammed across his jaw, Brady could already taste blood in his mouth. It coupled with the sting of boxed ears, the shrill of Ling's war cries. Amongst a flurry of fists and feet, Brady stumbled backwards as a strike to the face was rapidly followed by a jab to the abdomen, a swipe to the ankles, a clip to the head, a heel to the temple repeated.

It was a fatal inescapable rhythm. Made deadlier because Brady let go the hilt. He would not fight back. Instead he rushed away, moving past the closing gawking crowd sprinting towards the north end of the park. He made it as far as the gazebo before Ling caught up with a flying kick to the back.

**

"Coward!"

"No, a friend!" Brady rasped rolling to his feet, "As children, even now-a friend. I left because the master asked. I left out of respect for your grief, though I was grieving. Didn't Lau's death mean anything to you! Tell me, who is the real coward? The man who will not fight or the man who will not accept the truth!"

There was a moment of intense stillness where the only motion consisted of caught breath and spinning leaves. The trees encircled them. The field stretched out its waning green. The gazebo lay stark center.

In that space Brady sought emptiness, striving to become the way to win without attacking. His body went automatic as Ling's pupils widened in anguish only to pinpoint in anger, the black eyes of an assassin.

Ling became the flood of fire, a rushing onslaught of destruction. His was as the lava that flows wasting everything in its path. Yet, Brady was the dam, the massive wall. No punch could land where intended. He felt endless in his capacity to withstand. And he was.

As Kai tired, Brady's defense grew more aggressive. The openings that he ignored before, like a missed palm strike, he exploited with hindering force, pushing his opponent back. Meant to frustrate, his blows did no true damage until finally Ling was thrown to the ground.

Quickly, Brady backed away putting great distance between them. He waited for Ling to crawl to his feet before speaking.

"Go home to Gigi. Your revenge is without honor."

With that he was going to disappear and pray that his friend would come to reason. But mercy was answered with hate. And Kai Ling spit upon the ground, burning with rage.

It was clear that he would never give up. There was no way to win. Brady could run away, but Ling was sure to follow. Chole, all his loved ones, would be in constant jeopardy.

The option to kill Kai Ling wasn't an option. Looking at the man was like looking at himself in the seconds of Lau's last breaths. It was like reliving that terrible day, cutting himself on the same glass that tore through Hang.

It had to stop. Calmly he stepped forward, the wind kicking up debris all around him. Strange how it smelt like quarry dust.

"Or kill me. I won't fight you." He spoke, almost a whisper, inches away from Kai.

Instantly, Ling broke both Brady's legs.

He smiled to see his enemy sprawled upon the ground.

"You are right. We were friends. What Master Chan would not teach you, I taught. Remember? That is why you could beat me…even so, I will teach you once more. Death is too easy. I learned this when I lost Gigi and Hang. Today, you will learn. You will lose--"

"-No--"

"--Yes. A life for a life? To make things even?"

As Ling circled, Brady struggled to stand. He failed.

"No! Ling hear me, listen! It is me you want! They're innocent!"

"Thier guilt lies in that you love them. You should have stayed in Hong Kong. I would have simply killed you there. Here, you have a family. I do not. I want my life back! My brother. My fiancé. Gone…" Ling cocked his head, an eagle considering his prey, "therefore, I shall take yours."

**[for the record, Brady and Ling were speaking in Chinese.]