Chapter 53:

"Now…we could do this the hard way…"

A gun cocked repeatedly at the guard's head. His sweat was flowing full-force down his face as his eyes watered in fear and his mouth was a white line across his pallid face.

"or, we do this the easy way."

"I don't know, honest I don't know—"

The black haired girl stared, her green eyes penetrating as a smile curled one corner of her pink lips. Across her cheek was a small sticker in the shape of a star hidden by bangs of dark hair as she pushed it back easily.

She sighed.

"You see," she shook her head, toying with the gun tiredly. "That's not the answer I wanted," she tapped her temple with the side of the gun. She lowered it suddenly. "So I simply won't accept it."

"Wait oh God please wait!" he wailed, raising his hands above his head. "Akira! You want to know where Akira went? I'll tell you just please get that out of my face!"

"Just protocol," Tatsumiya grinned, tucking her gun back into her holster on her thigh. "Besides, you get much more information this way. And it's also more interesting," she winked.

The guard gave her a sidelong glance before muttering. "Follow me."

Tatsumiya climbed the stairs after the guard, her feet pumping under the steel steps as the ship swayed violently. There was a large grunting noise that alarmed the guard. Tatsumiya played a hand on her hip and stared up at the swaying ceiling.

"Here it—" he trailed off. He stopped mid-step.

"What?" her eyes widened, trying to look over his shoulders.

Up another set of steps—Miya wondered how many there could have been in this damn part of the storage section—was a wooden door splintered at the hinges.

Broken.

Immediately, she jogged up the steps and ran into the room. She searched all around for signs of life. Her eyes alighted on the giant hole in the wall and the water pouring out of the huge gash.

It was deep enough to submerge the soles of her combat boots in clear water as Tatsumiya strode across the room.

"Ren-chan," she murmured. She looked up at the ceiling again. "So you've come for him too, I see."

Midori slid across the floor just as another shuriken hit her arm. She jumped a little, but before the blade could seep in, she callously amputated it.

Tsuruuko threw another one just as Midori lifted her sword to block it.

She danced across the deck, much to Tsuruuko's chagrin.

"Damn you!" she hollered. "Stay still!"

Just a little longer…

"Just a little longer!" Renka urged.

"I can't!" Ren whined.

"Yes you can!" Renka intoned bossily, placing his arms straighter up in a Chinese Kenpo stance. She slapped his weights in place and shackled them, placing the key in her pocket.
"Until you accomplish this you can't leave."

"Waaaaaah!" Ren wailed just as Renka dug for the key angrily.

"You little crybaby!" she mocked, looking around to make sure Ma Kensei wasn't around. "You'll get me into trouble—"

"Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"

"Alright!" Renka roared, unshackling him. Ren Aihara's fists fell to his sides tiredly.

"Thank you," he mumbled, wiping his eyes.

"Sure," she said sarcastically. However, she stared over at the green field opposite. "Hey, Ren-san? What do you think of the new kids?"

Ren looked up.

There were the two of them again, staring meekly down at their feet, too shy to approach anyone nearby. The girl with green eyes stared at Ren momentarily before looking away, red coloured her pale skin. The boy stared dejectedly at the house behind Renka and Ren with a scowl.

"They seem so strange."

"Well so were we!" Renka insisted. "C'mon!" she grabbed his shoulders and forced him forwards. "Let's go say hi!"

"Wha—no!"

"Yes!" Renka declared.

Ren's face flushed in embarrassment. "But I don't want—"

"Oh you can't always get what you want!" Renka said briskly. She shoved him roughly.

"Then what about you?"

The two children stared at the pair.

"I'm Renka," Ma said confidently, placing her hands on her hips.

"…"

"Ren…" Renka warned.

"I'm Ren Aihara," he bowed.

The boy stared at the foreigner. He recoiled into Renka's arms unwillingly. The depth of the green within their eyes was overwhelming…so piercing.

"I'm…Akira," the boy said slowly, As if willing him to understand.

The girl stared at Ren in horror, before getting up and bolting up the hillock.

Ren blinked. All he remembered was the image of her receding back and her curls of midnight black hair.

That was possibly when his black hair fetish was established.

"What are you doing?"

This was directed at Midori, who was running across the deck looking like a complete chicken. "I never took you for a coward!" she taunted, but to no avail.

Midori thoroghly ignored just as Tsuruuko threw a second from final shuriken.

Found it!

Midori gripped the discarded sword from before and raised it.

Tsuruuko widened her eyes. Then gritted her teeth in annoyance.

Of course, how could I have been so stupid? Of course she was looking for the sword I dropped. But it doesn't matter—

Midori smiled.

She twirled both swords easily in either hand in circular motions.

Tsuruuko threw a shuriken.

Midori lifted her katana.

She threw a small throwing knife.

Midori cast it aside easily. The swords still swung like propellers at her sides.

Tsuruuko raised her sword.

"DAMN YOU!" she yelled, striking Midori's side.

Midori tilted her body back and with a flash of anger in her eye, she cast down her heavier katana on top of Tsuruuko's sword.

Tsuruuko's sword began to crack.

"Th-th-tha—" Tsuruuko looked down in disbelief.

Just as the sword exploded, Midori kicked her aside easily. Tsuruuko slid across the floor, curled into a ball weakly. She cringed.

I'm-I'm losing again…I can't…l-lose…not like be-fore…If I could just reach that shuriken—

Tsuruuko extended an arm weakly. She felt her muscles pop in the joints as she stretched. She could hear Midori's sandals clacking across the floor.

Tsuruuko felt tears water her eyes, her cheeks and then her hair.

She looked up in fear.

"The boy from before isn't here…a-are you going to ki-kill me this time?" Tsuruuko's eyes were filled with tears, as Midori's figure danced in and out of focus.

Midori's silver hair danced in the breeze just as the sun's rays fell upon her stoic face. Her red eyes were unreadable as she raised Tsuruuko's sword and spun it.

She grasped the hilt suddenly and opened her eyes, her pupils contracting.

Midori stabbed and with a jolt, Tsuruuko closed her eyes.

She felt no pain.

Her eyes opened hesitantly.

Midori glared down at her.

Her sword lay between her legs, stuck in the wooden floor, blade first.

Tsuruuko's breathing stabilized.

"…"

"Why?" she whispered.

Midori grimaced.

"I don't follow the Path of Asura anymore," Midori replied calmly. She turned on her heel. "I'm not willing to compromise my newfound beliefs for someone like you," she walked away coolly, waving a hand around flippantly. She heaved her katana over her shoulders tiredly.

Midori made her way across the abandoned deck. She hesitated when a slight plopping sound interrupted her thoughts. She blinked.

She lifted her foot.

Water?

"Water," Akira panted.

Ren poured the water from the spring water bottle over his head. He slapped his back.

Akira ran back into the ring.

"WIN!" Ren bellowed.

Akira gave him a thumbs-up sign.

The air was thick with the smell of blood and sweat, as the sun began to set over the small village. Men and women alike thronged the rings in the bars, watching their children fight, seemingly, until one lost consciousness. Ren never really paid attention to how dangerous these exercises were. His father had told him that it was only important to focus on winning and everything came later.

Akira almost immediately knocked out his opponent.

His fists were raised in victory, as Ren walked out of the club. The sun was beginning to return into the base of the hills. He threw a towel over his shoulder and sighed tiredly.

By the bridge, he saw a girl, clothed in Chinese attire: but it wasn't Renka.

Hers was a strange green colour, that matched perfectly the serpentine of her eyes. She looked over her shoulder, over her folds of black hair.

"What are you doing?" he asked stupidly.

It was pretty obvious: waiting for him.

She blushed slightly. Miya shook her head and piped up. "I came here to give you this."

"Oh, yeah," Ren blinked. He searched in his pocket. "I nearly forgot."

"Ah," Kenichi grunted. "I had almost forgotten Elder took you out for a few days for training," he said.

Honoka refused to reply.

Kenichi's eyes narrowed.

He rushed forward, checking how strong her barrier was. His fist extended and simultaneously Honoka side-stepped.

Her elbow went into his back before he realized what had gone wrong.

Honoka stepped back.

"Ah," Kenichi murmured. "It's not bad. Not bad at all," he got up onto his feet.

Honoka narrowed her eyes. Six seconds.

She ran straight at Kenichi, but was met by his large range of defense. Even if she attempted to strike, she would definitely be taken down or countered. She swerved again.

"Caught your rhythm!" Kenichi exclaimed, grabbing Honoka by the collar.

Honoka bristled and her eyes assumed a look Kenichi thought was scarily familiar. She twisted and gripped his wrist over her shoulder.

She attempted to flip him.

"No way!" Kenichi refused, countering the attack and sending Honoka tumbling.

What was that look just now? Kenichi allowed his fists to rise in a defensive stance.

"How strange."

"What?"

"It seems that Honoka has gained the ability to imitate."

"Oh," blonde hair flowed in the wind. "She told me, she was taught by a lot of people before the masters at Ryouzanpaku."

"So she was actually the one who grew up around martial arts? Hohoho, how interesting."

"Why do you ask?"

"Honoka is showing some similarities to a martial artist I know."

"I-I don't understand?"

"Just watch."