Disclaimer:

All Sonic characters belong to their respective owners.

Now, on with the show!

Growth

"Let's go, Nodoka!" Sam rushed toward Sonic and Tails, and he swiped Chiharu upwards, and Sonic dodged.

Nodoka stood back as Tails flung multiple punches at her, and he shot lightning at her, sending her backward, but still up. He then began to shoot lightning bolts at her, and she was sent backward slightly by each one. Sonic shot forward to Sam in a flurry of punches, and he was knocked back next to Nodoka. "…You need to catch up with us a bit…you can't work together as well as us." Sonic said, reverting back to his normal form, his blue aura dissipating, and he was tapping his foot.

"Yeah, you gotta catch up!" Tails said, his aura dissipating as well.

"Well then what do you want us to do?" Sam said, looking at Nodoka.

"…I don't know, you two should know each other well enough by now with your make out sessions." Sonic said, and he was then slapped by a blushing Nodoka.

"I guess you two can find out how to sync up more…" Tails said.

"Although how do we do that?" Nodoka said, confused.

"…Make out sessions…" Sonic said, and was slapped by a blushing Sam, who turned away.

"I have an idea, but I need Nodoka and I to be alone." Sam said, preparing for what Sonic might say next.

"Alright. C'mon Tails, let the lovebirds be alone…" He was slapped by Sam and Nodoka, and they exited the room.

"…So, what's your idea?" Nodoka said.

"…Place your hands against mine." He stuck his hands forward, and she did so.

"Close your eyes…" She did so, and Sam followed his own instruction.

"Spread your Soul as evenly as you can through your body." Sam did so, as did Nodoka.

"Place your hand on my head, I'll do the same." She did so, as did Sam.

"…Now, place your Soul inside my head for a bit." She did so, and Sam did the same.

For those few seconds, Sam saw her just a bit of her past. It was a fairly large city, not much pollution, but in the streets, dangers awaited for those who ventured out. She was carrying a bag, and was taking it to who knows where…a group of men came, and pushed her, the bag full of fruit falling, and leaving Nodoka, her magenta dress ruined, on the floor. She picked up the fruit, and walked past the men, who were snickering, and then they began to follow her. She began to run, and they followed. She was soon in a corner, the men beating her, for no apparent reason. Eventually, the young hedgehog was in tears, and the men still beating her, she whispered something: "…Recoru…"

Time froze momentarily, and her green Swordbend awoke, and she slashed the men in the legs, and ran off, the effect wearing off and the men now on the floor in pain. "Juuchi Yosamu." She was now covered with bruises, and it hurt to walk, but she did anyhow, off to somewhere…

Sam opened his eyes, and placed his Soul back in his body, Nodoka doing the same, and they opened their eyes. "…You've had a rough past, indeed…" she hugged him, and he patted her back.

"So have you…Although it's all in the past right?" Sam nodded, and sighed.

"What was the point of that?" Nodoka said.

"…Didn't you hear anything before that little scene ended?" Sam said, thinking about that scene.

"…Yeah…it was…I forgot..." Nodoka tried to recall it, but to no avail.

"Nibai Kentai Tsurugi Kata?" Sam said, and they were glowing with a white aura, which rose, and filled the heads of both.

The white aura dissipated, and they looked at each other. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Sam asked, and Nodoka nodded.

"…Yeah. You're hungry too, right?" Sam just sighed, and then chuckled a bit.

Sonic and Blaze came into the room, and looked at the two. "Ah…good timing. Can you two try to practice fight against us?" Sam said, and they just shrugged, and got into a fighting stance.

Sonic and Blaze ran toward Sam and Nodoka, respectively. "…Nibai Kentai Tsurugi Kata…" Sam and Nodoka said at the same time…

Sam and Nodoka summoned Chiharu and Juuchi Yosamu, respectively. Sam swiped Chiharu upward, and Sonic barely dodged, Nodoka following up with a sideways slash, and Sonic stepped backward. Nodoka swiped her sword downward, but Sonic jumped into the air. Blaze, surprised, was barely cut on the arm. Sam rushed toward Blaze, and sliced sideways, Blaze stepping back. Sam realizing that Sonic was headed toward Nodoka in a spin dash, looked behind, and kicked him in ball form across the room, sending him against the wall. He grunted in pain, but was still standing. Nodoka turned around to face Sonic, Sam to face Blaze. Sonic and Blaze rushed for Sam and Nodoka, but they were back to back. "Sairai, Denkō!" Sonic shouted, a blue aura surrounding him.

"Gekido, Reiki no Honou!" Blue flames began to surround Blaze, and she ran quicker.

"Nodoka!" Sam assumed a fighting stance, and looked at her.

"Right!" She, too assumed a fighting stance, and looked at Sam.

"Nibai Kentai Tsurugi Kata: Cresent Moon Rise!" Nodoka and Sam began to spin together like a drill, Sonic and Blaze getting hit many times.

They rose slowly but surely, and when they reached a high height, they stopped, landed one final strike upwards, and landed on their feet. Sonic and Blaze landed on the ground, with many cuts on their bodies. "Nice work, Nodoka!" Sam gave her a high five, and smirked.

"Hey, are you alright?" Sam walked up to Blaze, and stuck out a hand.

Blaze got up, and walked up to Sonic without a word. "Sonic, are you okay?" He nodded, and winced from the pain.

"Yeah Blaze…I'm fine..." he got up, and did a thumbs up.

Sam began to glow red, and he tapped both their foreheads, healing them slightly. "…Not bad." Sonic said, smirking.

A beeping sound was heard, and Blaze grabbed her Sol Tracker and ran out the door, Sonic following closely. Nodoka began to cuddle on Sam's shoulder, and closed her eyes, and Sam blushed. "It isn't even cold here…" Sam said, sighing and blushing.

Well, another chapter's here! Hope you enjoyed, I enjoyed typing it, R&R, I'll see you next!

Japanese Translation:

Nibai Kentai Tsurugi Kata-Double Combination Sword Style

~ADarknessInHeaven

Aka: Sam