Kira and Suzuka lay in each others arms watching as the sun slowly sank. By Suzuka's clock they only had three more minutes left together. In only one day Suzuka had fallen in love with Kira and she knew it. She took a breath and sat up looking down at her with a soft and sad look on her face.
"Is it time?" Kira asked.
"Almost." Suzuka said pulling her Kimono over her shoulders.
Kira sighed and sat up to help Suzuka tie her sash around her waist as Suzuka put her hair up in its usual style before turning to look in Kira's eyes. Suzuka leaned in and softly kissed her on the lips before letting Kira get dressed herself. Kira grabbed a Katana off of its rack over her bed and turned back to Suzuka with tears in her eyes.
"I'm ready." She said.
They walked out into the classroom and faced each other in the middle of the room.
"One minute." Suzuka said looking at her watch.
Kira stepped up to Suzuka and wrapped her arms around her waist and kissed softly and lovingly on the lips. They held the kiss for the full minute until Suzuka's watch beeped signaling the beginning of the twilight hour.
"It's time." Suzuka said as a tear rolled down her cheek.
Kira nodded as she took a step back and took a fighting stance. Neither moved fore almost a full minute until Suzuka rushed in. Her strikes were precise though so were Kira's blocks. Kira was well trained in swordplay and Suzuka knew it. Kira let off a set of her own strikes nearly landing one to Suzuka's ribs but it was narrowly evaded. Kira was a different person than the one that Suzuka had known only an hour before. She couldn't see the soft eyes that she was lost in just moments before. Now they were eyes that showed no mercy. Her soft loving hands now gripped the hilt of the Katana with expert skill and her soft lips were pressed tightly together.
Can she do it? Suzuka thought. Can she kill me? I can't let her.
Suzuka pushed Kira back knocking her off balance and brought her sword down on her arm. There was a muffled snap as the bones snapped from the force of the strike followed by a sharp cry of pain from Kira. Her cry of pain shot straight to Suzuka's heart. Suzuka closed her eyes as Kira continued to cry in pain, then suddenly it stopped. Suzuka opened her eyes and saw Kira kneeling on the ground holding her twisted arm with her head bowed.
"Finish it." She sobbed as tears fell to the floor.
Suzuka gripped her sword tightly and raised it above her head ready to fulfill the contract. She closed her eyes and took a ragged breath.
"I love you." Kira said leaning forward.
Suzuka's eyes snapped open and her sword slipped from her hands as she dropped to her knees beside Kira and put her hands under her chin. Kira looked up with tear filled eyes and looked directly into Suzuka's own teary eyes.
"I can't," Suzuka said putting her arms around Kira's waist and helping her to her feet. "I Love you."
Kira groaned as she was led into the bedroom and laid on the mat.
"Lay still, I'll take care of your arm."
In only a few minutes using ordinary materials Suzuka had set the bone in Kira's right arm and fashioned a cast and sling.
"How's that?"
"It hurts."
"I know it does." Suzuka said appologeticly. "I'll make a tea with a pain killer that will help."
She pulled out a small pouch from her Kimono and crushed a few tea leaves and a flower into the tea kettle and set it to boil.
"I'm sorry I did this to you." Suzuka said lightly touching the cast.
"Its ok, I'll be fine."
"I know. But I should have listened to my heart and not have fought you in the first place."
"Suzuka, don't worry about it." Kira said with a small laugh. "I'm not blaming you."
"You may not blame me but I'm going to feel bad for a long time."
Kira leaned forward and pressed her lips to Suzuka's wrapping her good arm around her waist. Suzuka felt better instantly as Kira's kiss washed over her. At the same time the pain in Kira's arm vanished as she kissed Suzuka. In only a matter of seconds their kimonos were on the floor next to the mat they were laying on fully in their activities as the tea began to boil letting off a sweat aroma.
