"Humph."

And that's sigh number ninety-nine. Swear, if she crosses number one hundred I'm gonna lose my mind. For the past few days she's been sulking around. Moping. Depressed. Sad. On the verge of tears. There's plenty of ways to say it. One thing I know for sure, is that it's got to stop.

From the table, I watch her lean on the porch railing. I can tell that she's thinking about something…well of course she is…I mean, her mind is stuck on something. Don't know what it could be. All I know about her is that she's a ninja who came from some sort of glade, made good grades in school so she's smart, and that she's a surprisingly good cook.

Heck, I'd be more than willing to be better acquainted with her if the bad blood wasn't so thick between us. Sure, she might be over it, but it's been hard getting sleep after that one night. This new plan I got is dependent on her. If she steals from me or just plain ditches…I'm sunk. I gotta make sure that won't happen.

Within the brief moment of time I spent in my mind, Ibuki drew in another sharp breath. The windup rung through my ears. And just as expected…

"Feh."

That's it!

I claimed the spot next to Ibuki beside the wood railing. My presence, I felt as though, hadn't phased her. Her eyes remain half-lidded and aimed out toward whatever she's gazing at within the forest. Ibuki's demeanor is somewhat off-putting. A little eerie even. My ears prick up when another drag of air flows into her nostrils.

"AHEM."

"Huh," the ninja finally snaps to, "What's up? We got work to do?" I shake my head, "Not right now." For a minute or two we just sit together in quiet harmony.

Then I break it in two.

"The hell's your problem?"

Ibuki snaps her head toward me, "Eh? What?" Crap. That sounded a lot smoother in my head. "I mean," I start standing with hands on hips, "Why have you been moping around? Ya haven't said much in the past few days. Ever since I found ya looking at yer phone."

"Uh, it-it was nothing," murmured Ibuki, "Nothing important."

"Ya sure?"

"Positive," Her eyes couldn't meet mine. She's still in despair.

"Doesn't sound like nothin'."

"Well it is."

For us to completely put this thing completely behind us we need...ugh what's that word..."Comfort? Closet? Clumsy? Clothes sure?"

Ibuki whipped her head around, "Are you trying to sound something out?"

Shit! Was I talking out loud?

"Didn't say anything." I said, still thinking of some way to get a reaction from Ibuki. Another warm breeze of wind blew by. For some reason, I started thinking about kites. Then, I remembered this annoying thing my brother did after flying kites. I imagined my hand as a kite and let it soar in the air or just a few inches in the air, to be realistic, then I let it whish and fly around only to be truly controlled by the air. Next would come the part where it crashes into a tree. In this case, Ibuki's shoulder. I jab my finger hard into her shoulder. Then I do it again. And again. And again. Until she swatted my hand away.

"Leave me alone," she growled. Letting those words just fly by. I dive right into her and grab her arms, "What the hell are you doing?!" We tussle and wrestle each other off the porch. Together we roll along the grass until I'm able to wrap my leg around hers and gain control. Both my arms keep her pinned to the earth as I watch her face seethe with a snarl, "So. You still got some fight in ya."

"Huh?"

I grabbed her hand, yanking her from the ground, "Come with me! I think I know what's good for what ails ya." I waved her to follow my path. My stride directed in the path of the dojo.

Just as expected, the sight is just as sad as it's ever been. The dojo windows are still busted out from the treacherous Tosa storms. The Rindoukan karate sign is hanging by a single nail. No doubt the interior has been collecting dust and forest debris for a while now. Just the thought of any kind of strange vermin making the dojo their home sent shivers up my spine.

Might as well see how bad it actually is.

The doors skid along the rusty track with an eardrum shredding screech. That screech is nostalgic to me. It had been there since my very first memory of the dojo.

I'm the first one to step in. My nostrils drowned in the aroma of musty heated wood. Aside from the huge collections of dust, leaves, branches, bugs here and there, cobwebs dangling from the ceiling, nothing has changed about this place. The memories here are as deeply embedded as the tiny splatters of someone else's blood on the wall scripture. I ran my hand along the paper. It reads-

"This place is a mess," Ibuki scratched her head, "What are we here for exactly? More chores?"

I turn to her and bring a grand smile on my face. She seems uneased by this. Probably due to the rare chance that I rarely do I ever give such an expression, but the excitement calls for it, "Let's beat the shit out of each other!"

Ibuki stepped back, no doubt mistaken by my means of aid, "What? I-I don't understand."

"What's there not to get? This is my way of helping you out of this funk."

"No wonder why you don't have many friends."

"Hah. Please. Save the talking for after," I spoke drawing my arms from the gi top and flinging it across the room. My torso isn't bare. A wide strip of red fabric covers my chest and keeps itself wrapped around my upper back. I stick my arms out as far as they could go and contort my body in controlled movements. Stretching before a battle, one of the key components to victory. Yet, this one won't be about winning, rather than understanding. To learn about a fighter, at least someone who knows how, is to spar. Each punch, kick, and block can tell stories of how they came to be. Similar to the formation of mountains, forests, and cities.

With one final push of my hands, I can feel the ki flowing through my being, "One more thing. When I said let's beat the shit out of each other...I meant it. Fighting is a way to learn about someone through the power and technique of their fist. A great warrior once told me that. So, please. Don't hold back."

Ibuki said no more, yet offered a nod of confirmation.

Good.

I settle myself right into my fighting stance and so does she.

For a while nothing happened.

As I thought. She's going to be hesitant.

…

I had to make the first movement.

With the explosive power of my legs I leap through the air and swung down with a powerful karate chop that struck nothing but the floorboards beneath. I turn my head to see Ibuki already in the air. The ninja contours her body and comes back to my direction with the speed of a bullet.

A flat palm to the jaw. A punch to the sternum. A throw across the room put my ass on the ground. "Damn. That was really fast," I swipe the spittle from my mouth as I rise, "I'll show her what speed is."

Ibuki jumps from the ground for an aerial strike. My response? A firm fist in the air. I punch her midsection so hard that she's sent up again. Quick on my feet I do it again with the same result. This time Ibuki flies higher. I jump again until we are both at the same height and I send her into the corner with a powerful downward kick.

She bounces once off the floor then flips to her feet. "Those are some damn good acrobatics," I mumble to myself. I bring my hand outward, beckoning her to come get some.

She dashes forward and I do the same. I throw a punch with my right hand and she does so with her left. At the same time, I threw out my left hand to grab her right hand and I see her right hand coming for my left. Our fists made their connection, rocking our heads back. Yet, the vice grip we kept around each other's wrist didn't break. Ibuki threw out more punches than I could count, the jabs rattled my head around. Although, I too kept the strikes coming, going for power instead of speed. Each hit I landed had more strength than the last.

Just then, the sneak clocked my right in the throat. Adrenaline coursed through my veins at such a devastating hit. I yank my still held arm back and headbutt her right in the nose. The yelp she let out confirmed a critical hit.

Ibuki reeled back, covering her nose with her hand. A thick trail of blood oozes from beneath, running down her face, staining her outfit in the process. Her eyes narrow following a tightened mouth. She quickly dashes toward me and grabs my arms. A bright blue swirling emits from wherever and blows up! I saw Ibuki getting further away as I was flung back. The skin on my arm slightly sizzles from the mysteries energy.

I look up to see Ibuki approaching. She stands over me and outstretches her hand. Blood continues to flow from her nose. Even little droplets rain onto my gi. We both continue to stare each other down. Our chests rising and lowering with the fast, heavy breaths we take.

Despite her face swelling, she smiles.

I smile back and take her hand.

Today, the battle is won.