Chapter 52

"This time I will win!" Tsuuruko announced confidently. Her dark short purple hair billowed in the wind as she stared condescendingly at Midori Kinasaki who held onto the hilt of her sword but was merely on her knees, coughing weakly. "Just admit defeat and die."

The silver haired girl looked up defiantly and spat blood out of the corner of her mouth.

"If you really think…" she grunted, getting up onto her feet shakily. "That's all it takes to defeat someone like me…then you really can't call yourself a martial artist," she smiled dryly, wiping her mouth.

Tsuuruko's lip twitched.

"Then you shall die a FOOL!" with a sudden rush of speed, Tsuuruko charged towards Midori, her blade's point at the ready, pointing for Midori's major organs.

Midori raised her katana and the blow was parried. Nevertheless, with the blocked attack, Tsuuruko sashayed past Midori and groped for the holster on the other side of her waist. She took out another sword and slashed Midori's side.

Just in time, Midori backed out of the attack with only shredded clothing and a blood stain spreading around the cut.

"Tsk!" she gripped her side, stumbling back. Tsuuruko straightened, two swords at each side.

"Now watch me win!" Tsuuruko swung the two swords simultaneously. Midori jumped back just as Tsuuruko sliced the thin air between the silver haired girl and her open wound.

Damn it! Midori ducked just as she tried to decapitate her. This damn injury is making it really difficult for me to move! Thus isn't good—Midori squealed a half-hearted, "NYA!" when Tsuuruko nearly cut off her sword arm.

"I've got you now!" Tsuuruko cheered, her large eyes watering with bloodlust. Her blade hit the Midori horizontally down her body.

"Will you stop that!" Midori yelled, her skin flushing an embarrassed pink as she attempted to cover up her front. With a tear of material, she tore her dress off and tied it conveniently across her chest and legs.

It's a good thing I've gotten used to Shigure-sensei doing that to me. Somehow, Midori sweat dropped, I have a feeling she enjoys it.

Just as one of Tsuuruko's blades was at Midori's feet, she raised her other one.

Midori widened her red eyes.

She placed a foot on the blade at her feet with one sandaled foot and lifted her other leg to Tsuuruko's wrist. It was thrown out of her hands a great distance.

"Nooo!" the child prodigy looked over her shoulder desperately.

Midori kicked her side and she heard the satisfactory sound of a bone breaking.

Tsuruuko slid backwards a few feet before she took out shurikens out of her pockets. She threw them at Midori.

She searched for cover just as the first shuriken flew past her nose. She's pretty accurate! A wisp of silver hair fell to the ground.

"DIE!" she roared.

Honoka breathed heavily.

She grasped the railing behind her as if for dear life. She felt her pulse quicken in her chest as blood dripped from the tip of her lower lip down to the cold linoleum floor.

She raised her eyes and met her brother's gaze.

"Do you give up yet?" Kenichi asked.

"Don't go easy on me," was all she replied saying. "Stop using jujitsu and actually hit me."

Her brother tilted his head. He shook his head and lowered himself into an expert Chinese kenpo stance. Hands extended, he struck at Honoka so quickly she barely dodged the first attack.

However she was able to press herself against the railings and jump onto them, just as a fatal blow nearly hit her side.

Kenichi struck again.

Honoka placed her feet on the railing and slid down the deck banisters towards the front of the ship.

Kenichi followed her down without hesitation.

Honoka backed away just as Kenichi surged forward and kicked her in her abdominal area.

Blood spilt out of her mouth easily.

She stumbled onto her rear but got back up quickly.

Kenichi settled himself into a stance. Honoka blanched. "Strongest Combo Number 2!"

Honoka gritted her teeth against the Karate move. "Shutou Yokogan Men Uchi!" "Ti Khao!" Honoka's head shot back in a shower of blood.

Her feet felt as though they would cave in under her weight. I-If he finishes this combo I'm done for!

"Tanba—"

Honoka widened her brown eyes. I know this move!

Her fist tightened at her side and she lowered her head and surged forward.

Her fist connected with Kenichi's.

A small blast of ki reverberated all around them. Kenichi paused.

Honoka exhaled and inhaled calmly. She raised her head.

She realized her fist was bleeding from the inside out through the sheets of material wrapped around it.

"You shouldn't have blocked it," Kenichi stated.

Honoka's mouth opened in a twisted grimace of pain. She examined her fingers that were twitching in pain. She dropped to her knees and the stinging became a full blown agony coursing through her fist throughout her body like blood pumping around her body.

Owowowowowowowowowow.

"You should be unable to use that fist for a very long time. If that happened to your fist from just blocking me," Kenichi stood above her. "Then you can imagine what actually fighting me would be like. Please," his face softened. "Honoka, stop fighting this. Let's just go home."

His hand reached out to help her up.

Honoka slapped his hand away.

She got up by herself. Her eyes looked up, the brown in them positively aflame.

She raised her injured fist and punched Kenichi across the face. He blinked in surprise.

"I told you," she growled. "To not go easy on me!" she shouted, kicking his abdomen in anger. It was enough to send Kenichi back onto his back.

Her fist left a trail of blood behind her as she stumbled towards him. She had on the most determined look on her face.

"You know I'm more strong-willed than you," Honoka's canines showed in a snarl. "So if you'll fight to the very last breath, I'll fight until they drag me into the very pits of hell. That's five seconds. Get up," she cracked her knuckles.

Kenichi blinked up at his little sister. She tilted her head belligerently, a menacing ki surrounding her person.

"Very well," Kenichi got up and nodded. "I will be as serious as the circumstances allow. You will be the one exception to the rule."

Honoka smiled despite the circumstances. "I will be the first girl you fight seriously," she observed. "I won't go easy on you, y'know."

"Seikuken activate!" Kencihi raised his hands, an invisible barrier forming around him.

Honoka mirrored his movements. Well, this is possibly the second time I've had the chance to try this out. "Seikuken activate," she whispered.

Brother versus sister match-up? Kenichi is actually going to fight? And the truth behind Ren's past is revealed in the form of the character Tatsumiya!