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I grin over Near's shoulder at Matt. "Good." Maybe this'll help his nightmares, or at least make them controllable. If it does, then maybe mine won't be so bad.

"Did you have a good day?" I ask Near.

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"Some more practice with Ryuuzaki. I'm getting better at punching and kicking." His smile took on a somewhat wicked glint. "It felt good."

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"You are improving in leaps and bounds."

Enjoyment aside.

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"There are defensive spells, though, right?"

Matt really can be that lazy.

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"There are," I agree, "but, there's also something very satisfying about dropping an opponent physically. Knowing that you physically overpowered someone, especially when they're bigger, is intoxicating. Not quite playing chicken on the M 25 type rush, but still a rush."

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"It's a pretty visceral sort of pleasure," Near observes. "I'd rather stay off of that level."

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"Speaking of the physical," before the sex jokes can come in, "Mello, do you practice aikido yourself? I could use someone to train with."

It's not one you can do by your lonesome.

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I raise an eyebrow. "I do. I haven't had a practice partner in a while. The mafia wasn't terribly supportive of martial arts." The idea of throwing L around is all together too appealing. "Are you suggesting training, sparring or a match?"

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"Training."

He glances up at Matt.

"Petrificus totalus works well."

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"Petrificus... I think Soichiro mentioned that one, actually."

He's watching L and Mello, frowning very slightly.

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I aim a glare at L. "As long as your opponent doesn't know the counter...or throw something at you while you're trying to say it."

I ease up on my glare a little. "Training is good. Near could watch and maybe pick up a few things." I would doubt that L could teach me anything, but his file didn't mention aikido so I'll wait and see.

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"That could be fun, too." Near grins, feeling an odd pleasure at the idea of watching Mello and L smack each other around. "Seeing that, I mean."

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"I miss having someone to practice with." A polite smile. "You aside, Near. It is not quite the same."

Maybe they can work up to sparring, when L trusts his own self-restraint a little more.

"Soichiro. I have only seen him twice. Is he an inhabitant here, too?"

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Matt's actually a little alarmed at the thought, to be honest. "Try not to beat the crap out of each other? More than necessary, at least..."

He takes another drink. "Yeah, he's about." Which reminds him! "Dude, you beat up an old man!"

That's to Mello, of course.

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I laugh a little. "Aikido's about throwing each other around, not beating each other up. And shuddap about that. He asked for it."

In the middle of Near's back, I start tracing the cuneiform letters I'd written during class. I wonder if he'll remember them.

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If Near had been sober, he might have; as it is, he merely enjoys the touch, with a soft pleased sigh.

"He did," Near agrees.

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L decides he doesn't want to know.

"In fact, harming your partner means you have misjudged your force, their ability, or both, and is really a reflection of incompetence. Since it is likely we are both competent, it will not be an issue. I doubt I would have suggested it, otherwise."

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"... okay," Matt says, looking only partly reassured. He's not sure if he'll come to watch.

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"Really, Matt. Aikido's main principle is to redirect the attacker's energy so it is diverted away from the target. It's not like judo or karate where you're trying to immobilize your attacker. Seriously. I haven't been injured in practice since about a month after I started, and I was five at the time."

And Near isn't getting the message. Oh, well. He seems to be enjoying it, though. I keep writing on his back, changing languages. Maybe he'll get one of them.

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When Mello switches to Esperanto, Near gets it. He takes hold of Mello's other wrist and taps Morse code lightly against his pulse.

yes but not here too public

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"Please, do not worry."

L really has no interest in putting himself in danger. Unlike certain crazy motorcycling people.

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"Okay. No more worrying. I'd be up for another drink, though. Mello, have you had anything yet? They have a hookah here and everything."

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