There was a thud on the mat of the Echizen family dojo the next morning. Ryoma quickly rose from his hard fall to throw himself again over his other shoulder. He then went into a sort of crouching position with his legs at a perfect right angle. He started moving from his hips in a wave-like motion, and at the peak of the wave, he strode forward with a powerful punch at his imaginary opponent's center.

Nanjiro Echizen chose this exact moment for a surprise kick to the back of his son's head after quietly sneaking in. Ryoma turned to block, but only to find his father's big toe tap him on the forehead.

"You still have a ways to go," mocked Nanjiro. "Wanna spar, boy?"

"No, I was just leaving," Ryoma said coldly, already beginning to walk away. His father was the last person Ryoma wished to spar with at the moment - not now, not before he was ready.

"You know you'll never beat me practicing forms on your own," Nanjiro said to his son's back. Ryoma then looked over his shoulder at his smirking father.

"I'm not," Ryoma said simply, then turning back around and leaving. It was a warning.

"Then come back to helping me teach classes here, you brat! The kids miss you," Nanjiro yelled after his son's retreating figure. After he'd gone, Nanjiro smirked to himself. His son still had a long ways to go.


AN: Okay, I know I said RyoSaku moments were coming soon, and they are! This little chapter just had to be in there, and this was the only place for it. Don't worry, this is still a romance story!

On another note, I think this is the shortest chapter ever. Ever.