Ryozanpaku Second Disciple

Disclaimer: Ryozanpaku is own by the six masters of martial arts, they also own Kenichi and in this story Honoka. I, on the other hand, only own the plot line.

"So," Honoka sweat dropped as she stared at what appears to be a statue wearing a material arts shirt, "what am I looking at again, Master Akisame?"

"Well, Honoka," Akisame smiled, "this here piece of work is the 'Throwing Buddha Dummy' made particularly for your first technique exercise…"

"The 'Throwing Buddha Dummy'? It sounds like it's being insulted as I humiliate it…"

"…insulted as you humiliate it…?"

"Yeah, after all you named it after Buddha, but then you call it a 'dummy' and I'm supposes to throw 'Buddha' to the ground like I throw a 'bad guy'. So it does feel like I'm insulting and humiliating Buddha…"

"…Right, putting that aside, let's get on with the exercise which will involve my 'Throwing God Dummy'…"

Honoka sweat dropped. "…You just…changed the name…"

Nearby, Kenichi, Miu, and Sasaki watched as Akisame continued his lesson.

"How nostalgic," Kenichi giggled, "I remember this being my second technique training session…"

"Huh?" Miu backtracked, "I thought it was your 'first' technique training session…"

"Stupid," Sasaki huffed, "You taught him how to do that 'foot work', remember?"

"…Oh yeah, I forgot about that…"

"Hey, Master Sasaki," Kenichi began as they now watch Honoka trying to throw the statue, "you think she'll be alright?"

"Who knows?" Sasaki replied, "you two are almost totally opposite. I you got no talent but you're a workaholic and make up for it while your sister got some talents but may not be able to take it…so it's kind of hard to see how it would turn out…"

"…Insult me more about me being talent-less, why don't you…"

Honoka huffed; Honoka puffed; Honoka pulled. But no matter what she did, she couldn't move the statue.

"Jeez," Honoka strained, "why is it so hard to move it!"

Akisame laughed. "Well, you need to think about the center of gravity as well…"

Question marks popped out of Honoka's head. "T-The center of gravity…?"

"The center of gravity is the area of the body that keeps one solid on the ground," Akisame pointed to the statue's waist, "for most humans, it is around the waist area…" He then pushed the head of the statue, tipping it slightly, before pushing the bottom of the leg, shifting it slightly. "Simply put: if you amply force to either ends of the center of gravity…" With that, he sent the dummy flying to the ground. "…you can easily knock them down…"

"S-So cool!" Honoka exclaimed before recapping, "right! The center of gravity…!"

"Alright," Akisame stated as he reposition the statue to standing again, "lets continue…"

Later that day, it was Kensei's turn to teach.

"Alright, Honoka-chan," Kensei grinned, "I'll be teaching you the fundamental of attacking and defending at the same time…"

"You can attack and defend at once?" Honoka asked, "Is that even possible?"

"Oh, it's possible," Kensei chuckled, before noticing the glaring eyes of Kenichi and Miu, "W-What's wrong with you two?"

"Oh, nothing," Miu grumbled, "just making sure you don't do anything 'unnecessary'…"

"Everything I do is necessary," Kensei insisted before adding, "no matter how impure it may seem…"

Kenichi and Miu sweat dropped as Sasaki just snorted.

"Anyway, Honoka-chan, watch carefully," Kensei suddenly got into a stance that look like a combination of 'head-butting' and 'long stride', "you can't escape your enemy by stepping back; instead you should step forward and attack at the place where they can't retaliate…Now you try it…"

Obeying, Honoka try her best to mimic the stance.

"No, no, no," Kensei shook his head as he went over and readjust her body, "your head should be low enough to be able to bypass any attempted punch but high enough so that you don't smack into someone's poor manhood. And don't from fist with your hand, you need them to grab their leg. You also need to make your stride longer to get into the belly region…"

"R-Right," Honoka noted, noticing that Kensei was 'having a little fun' while adjusting her.

"Master Kensei!" Kenichi screeched, "Stop HARASSING my sister!"

"I'm not harassing," Kensei insisted, making a foolish face, "I'm just correcting her stance…"

"Yeah~, sure you are~! You pervert!" Miu booed.

"So," Honoka stated, as if nothing was happening, "Master Kensei, is my body low enough yet?"

"No, you going way to low," Kensei half sighed and half giggled as he reach for her chest region to 'readjust' her rise, "here, let me he-…"

But before he could continue, Honoka gave Kensei a hard elbow into the face just as he got too close to dodge.

"Oh~, sorry, Master Kensei," Honoka innocently apologized as she watch Kensei roll all over the ground holding his nose, "But I could have swore that I saw a mosquito flying around me so, by coincidence, I took it out right as I got a chance! I wasn't trying to hit you, Master Kensei…"

Miu and Kenichi blinked before bursting out laughing.

"Well," Sasaki smirked, "she definitely got one HUGE mosquito…"

"APA!" Apachai cheered, "Now it's Apachai's turn!"

"Right! Lets get started Master Apachai," Honoka grinned as she smash her two boxing mitts together.

"…A-APA…"

"Huh? What's wrong, Master Apachai?"

"APA! Apachai is not use to Honoka call calling Apachai 'master'…"

"Oh! Then how about if I just call you Apachai-san again…"

"APA! Apachai like that!"

"Okay, now we can start again!"

Sasaki, Kenichi, Miu and now Shigure watch as Apachai directed Honoka's punches.

"Fortunately for Honoka," Kenichi huffed, "Apachai can go really easy on kids…"

"I'm glad," Miu sighed in relief, "I don't want to see the look on either of their faces if Apachai accidentally sent her to hell for a bit…"

"Alright, Honoka!" Apachai cheered, "You're doing good! Great! Now dodge this!"

Apachai suddenly aim a fast punch to Honoka only for her to duck and try to punch Apachai in the chin, which he blocked.

"Aw! I nearly got you!" Honoka pouted, but still kept trying.

"Honoka was close!" Apachai complimented, "Apachai better watch out from now on!"

"Stop it, Apachai-san, you're making me blush…"

Apachai sent another punch, this time without a warning, and sent Honoka to the ground with swirls in her eyes.

"Oops!" Apachai panicked, "Sorry Honoka! Apachai forgot to warn you! Please don't die!"

Laughing, Honoka got up. "Don't worry, Apachai-san, I'm not dying! But what was that? I didn't even see it coming…"

Blinking for a moment, Apachai smiled. "APA, Honoka just need to watch the enemies' shoulder movement next time so Honoka not get surprise…"

"Right…shoulder movement…got it!"

"Well," Shigure spoke, "they sure are having a lot of…fun…"

Miu and Kenichi stared at Shigure; they can tell that she wanted to teach Honoka, but they both know that it was almost out of the question.

The key word, of course, was "Almost"…

"Hey, Shigure-san," Honoka called over to the group, "when I'm done with Apachai-san, you be next right?"

Shigure blinked. "Um…sure?"

Honoka giggled. "I can't wait!"

Blinking again, Shigure couldn't help but smile.

"…Why are we training with rollup newspaper?" Honoka asked, finding Shigure and herself holding a roll of newspaper.

"This way it would be safer," Miu explained as set down the last of Shigure's hidden rapiers next to a pile of Sai, Knives, Chains, Shurikens, Darts, and of course the katana known as the "Secret of the Steel" (her main weapon).

"Fighting with newspaper," Shigure mumbled, "isn't…helpful…"

"Yeah," Honoka huffed in agreement, "at least let her us use knives…"

"No," Kenichi hurryingly exclaimed, "Absolutely not! You'll be killed!"

"Shigure-san doesn't kill! It'll be alright…"

"Then what do you call THAT?" Kenichi pointed to Kensei who was pinned to the wall by a couple of shurikens and his hat sliced in half.

"It was Master Kensei's fault for being how he is…"

"Well, yeah, but…"

The Elder, whom had decided to watch with everyone, suddenly start laughing.

"Honoka-chan has such high confidence," the Elder remarked, "but Honoka-chan, before wanting to use blades, why don't you try besting Shigure with a newspaper first! Then we'll talk…"

Honoka looked at the Elder skeptically, before sighing. "Okay fine, we'll do your way…"

"Boo," Shigure replied to the Elder in similar manner.

"Master Akisame," Kenichi turned to the Philosophical Jujutsu Master, "will Honoka come out of this alive?"

"To be honest I hope so," Akisame mused in worry, "You were smart enough to avoid most of her lesson, of which I approve, but Honoka thinks of Shigure as a friend rather than just a teacher. That is dangerous in the world of Martial Arts, especially in Shigure's line of work…"

"APA," Apachai panicked, "I hope Shigure won't cut anything off!"

"At best," Miu sweat dropped in worry, "Honoka will only lose some of her hair…"

Sasaki made no comment as he watch Honoka and Shigure square off.

Back with Honoka and Shigure, Shigure had gotten into a stance.

"Take your…stance," Shigure directed.

"Uh," Honoka got into what she think is a stance, "like this?"

"What?" Shigure mumbled as she whacked Honoka's weaponless hand, "are you asking me to take your…hand?"

"Ouch…"

"Since you're so open," Shigure poked a few places on Honoka's body, "I can see all of your vital spots…clearly."

"Ouch!"

"When holding a…sword, stand so that your opponent can only see your…side. And no matter…what, don't expose your…neck. Because if you are struck…there, it's game…over."

"Opponent only see the side," Honoka repeated, readjusting her body accordingly, "don't expose your neck…"

"Place your unused hand on your…waist, and hold your sword in a straight…line, and hind your body behind…it…"

"Hands on the waist…sword straight…body behind the sword…got it!"

"Now, try to strike…me…"

Honoka held her position, trying to find an opening…waiting for the moment to come.

After about a minute of doing nothing, Shigure made the first strike, trying to pass Honoka's "sword".

Seeing the move, Honoka whacked the roll of paper away before charging in herself.

Seeing the assault, Shigure moved her body to dodge the strike before striking at Honoka's outstretch arm.

Thinking fast, Honoka made her arm go limp before whipping it back up toward Shigure's neck.

Surprised by the move, Shigure duck out of the way swung her "sword" upward.

Honoka quickly leaned back before using the roll of newspaper to block the attack.

The two pause for a moment before Shigure motion to stop.

"Well…done," Shigure smiled while Honoka gave a sigh of relief and everyone else blinked at the display, "Are you sure you're a beginner…Honoka?"

"Yep!" Honoka replied, before looking at her "sword" doubtfully, "but apparently I still have a long way to go before I can start using actual weapons…"

Blinking again, Kenichi cleared his voice.

"Ahem," Kenichi began, "uh, Honoka, where did you learn a move like that?"

"Huh? What move?"

"Well," Kensei smirked, "he was talking about how you almost got Shigure in a corner…"

"Oh! You mean when my arm went limp?"

"Uh, yeah?" Akisame mused, cupping his chin in curiosity, "that was a very unusual technique you did there…"

"APA," Apachai voiced in agreement, "Apachai thought your hand turn into an upside-down cobra!"

Honoka laughed as she scratched her head in embarrassment.

"Oh it's just a trick my childhood friend came up with for countering attacks to outstretch arms! Nothing fancy…"

"Childhood friend?" Miu hummed in thought.

"Yeah…but I don't know if she knows martial arts or not though…"

"But," Sasaki smirked, "it was helpful enough not get you losing so easily. Not bad…"

Honoka blinked. "Uh…thanks…"

"In fact," Sasaki continued turning away, "when you're done, lets see how you'll fair in Karate, shall we?"

Blinking again, Honoka smiled. "O-Okay! I will!"

"What's this?" Akisame smirked, "I thought you said you wouldn't train another disciple…"

"Idiot," Sasaki snorted, "she's Kenichi little sister! To me, they're almost like the same person…"

"Hmm," Kensei hummed, "I could…vaguely…see the logic behind that…"

The Elder began to laugh. "How interesting, maybe I'll pitch in for real this time too…"

"WHAT!" Everyone exclaimed.

"Just kidding…"

Everyone performed an anime fall.

"Jokes aside, I think it is time to…slowly…begin training for combat with weapons using only bare fist…"

"I…agree," Shigure mumbled as she picked up her katana.

"Huh?" Honoka voiced, suddenly a bit worry, "you mean people can fight weapons with their bare fist?"

"Of course," Sasaki grunted, "why do you think Karate was started?"

"APA!" Apachai cheered, "Muay Thai was made to fight against nasty bad guys with weapons! So it's okay…"

"Really? I didn't know that!" Honoka exclaimed, before noticing Shigure readying her sword, "Wait a minute…I don't think I'm ready for this! I don't know much moves still!"

"Honoka-chan," the Elder spoke up again, suddenly serious, "what is the most important in martial arts?"

"Huh? Um…strength? No, it's got to be skills…"

"NO!" the Elder suddenly roared, "IT'S COURAGE!"

Honoka blinked as the Elder continued. "If you don't have courage, you can't focus on your opponent's opening! Without courage, your strength will whittle, and without strength, you can't use your skills! That is the real point for anyone who takes lessons from Shigure, the Maiden Prodigy of the Weapons and Swords! To build up COURAGE!"

Honoka blinked for a moment, considering the Elder's words, before narrowing her eyes slyly.

"I thought," Honoka sneered, "you said that you weren't going to pitch in…"

"…Uh," the Elder sweat dropped as everyone waited for his explanation, "I'm…only giving you some wisdom! It's not what you think…"

"Sure it isn't," Sasaki smirked, "you're a horrible liar, old man…"

"…Takes one to know one…"

"WHAT?"

"Anyways," Honoka interrupted, "if this really is training for courage, how do I know when I have enough?"

"Oh," the Elder laughed, "You'll see! Shigure, please begin and try to put her in near death situation every now and then…"

"Wait…what?"

"Okay," Shigure mumbled, ready to pounce, "Prepare yourself…Honoka…"

Honoka blinked for a moment before turning to her big brother. "…Should I take that as her meaning 'Honoka run! I can't stop myself anymore!'?"

"Oh yeah," Kenichi nodded in panic, "you should be doing it now…"

"Hey, I just got a great idea," Akisame smirked, before booting Kenichi beside his little sister, "Kenichi can use more courage, so why not kill two birds with one stone?"

"Wait…WHAT?"

"Here I…come," Shigure then leapt towards them.

Outside, if anyone was passing by the great door of Ryozanpaku at this time, they can faintly hear the sound of moving winds, chopping woods…and the collective scream of the Shirahama sibling.

I hope you had enjoyed this chapter. Please review my story.