Chapter 20: Time to get things right
Ryoma Suzuki was someone who always wanted to be clear with his words, as he promised not to do anything against Mai while she was training, that meant that he was giving her enough time to become stronger, since that fight against Andy, other 7 months have passed, months in which Genzo and the Shiranui ladies were trying as hard as they could to recover the dojo, but until then, the three had to distribute their time between training and helping on Kana's store, a way of thanking her for letting them to live there
11 months have passed since Mai left South Town, and with just 4 months she was showing some promising improvements, after other 7 months, her body was starting to show the results of the training, her burned skin has almost returned to normal thanks to the medicines, but that was not her only change, her body, even if not so much like a soldier, started to become a little more muscular and her hair become larger
This was shown while she was waking up, during the week, she had Sundays to sleep more, even if later on that day she had to continue her trainings under Genzo's orders or of her mother, on her bed, she just decided to sit down and look at her hands
-Just months ago, I wouldn't have figured that my life could change like this.
She started to do something interesting, on her left hand fire started to appear but then, with her other hand, she started to pull the fire like it was a rope, a new technique it has to be
-And still, I don't know if this is enough to finally fight against Ryoma, in Genzo words I need just little things to become a proper Shiranui master- then she smiled -Things can change a lot.
Mai received a message to her cellphone while she was sleeping, it was from Yuri
-We are going to travel today, hopefully early tomorrow we arrive; it has been a long time since we meet each other.
She smiled but then, the door of her new bedroom was being knocked, but once she opened it a punch approached to her face, blocked it with one hand
-Good attempt Genzo sensei.
-Your senses are improving a lot- he said with a smile -Time to go upside.
Both sensei and student went to the roof, once there both witnessed an interesting scene, Shina was taking a little bird on her hands
-What's happening, mom?
-Oh dear, this little baby fell here without being ready to fly, I don't know if he can make it on his own- then Shina closed her eyes, concentrating her energy on her hands, the blue aura started to appear
-What is she doing? - Mai asked
Once she finished it, the bird looked fine, but Shina on the other hand looked pretty tired, and started to gasp
-Thank god I was on time.
-What was that, Shina?
-A power that should be used only on emergencies because of its risks- Shina then took seat -Is the ultimate nature related technique, what I call Miracle, at cost of some of your energy you can use this technique to heal another person, animal or plant and even regenerate some injuries, but it is risky.
-How much? - her daughter asked
-Well, as you can see, right now I'm really tired and sweating, and it was only for healing a little bird, trying to do the same for a person could make the healer to have really terrible symptoms, just imagine if the benefited person is badly injured or at the verge of death…
-It could mean a possibility of death for the healer- Genzo concluded
-Exactly, learning this technique is still useful but just to use on specific cases- Then Shina left the bird on the floor -Now I'm feeling better, do you want to know how to use it?
-Well mom, it sounds interesting but risky at the same time -Mai laughed a little
Hours later both Mai and Genzo started to concentrate their energies on their hands, Mai's natural energy color was different from Genzo, as she had blue energy, Genzo had a purple one
-You did it fine- Shina was monitoring everything -The aura needs to be calmed and you have to concentrate on the purpose of healing, but most importantly, once you know who are you going to heal, try to imagine the person or animal injured part to be healing.
-That is not that easy to say mom, we have nothing to heal.
Shina on that moment used some pyrokinesis to hurt a little part of her left arm, it hurt but now she was a little injured
-But why? - Mai asked
-Try with this, is not as big as your own one was, so there will be no risks after all.
Mai was not totally confident, so Genzo proceeded -I will try.
Once he started the process, he felt how fast his energy was getting drained because of it, but after some minutes, Shina's arm was healed again, but Genzo started to feel dizzy
-No way Genzo, please sit down.
The old man was helped by Shina and Mai, he had to recognize something
-If I try to use this technique with someone who is badly injured or even nearly dead…
Shina didn't let him to complete it -Don't say it, just don't use that technique anymore… damn I had to figure out it, your age is a huge obstacle to use this technique properly.
Mai started to think about it -So, no way to heal my burning myself, but it is risky, I still need to be patient with this.
On that very moment, Kana appeared with a cellphone on her hands
-Genzo, this is important, is from the judge.
The women were patiently watching Genzo receiving the news
-Understood- Then he smiled -Tomorrow to the tribunal with Mai blood test results, if those are similar with the registers, we will finally retrieve the dojo.
That was a reason to celebrate as everyone was happy
….
But of course, not Ryoma, he learned that the judgement will be on the next day thanks to Laura
-Thanks again, damn I just left her too much room.
-Would you want to do something against this?
He started to think about that -Don't kill the judge, just injure him, try to make it look like it was an accident.
-We will proceed, sir.
Ryoma and Laura were on his personal gym, taking seat on the ring he started to look at the roof
-And up to this point, probably Mai Shiranui has become strong enough to be part of my personal elite, so the time to start testing will probably arrive tomorrow.
…
The tribunal was just a small room with some chair, in that one, Mai, Genzo and Shina were waiting, and waiting… and waiting, some minutes have passed since they arrived there, because of that the old man started to feel anxious
-I don't know… we are going to enter into a judgement against my son and his Lightning Crows, probably this will mean a risk.
-Don't you think that they could make something to delay or cancel the judgement?
Genzo then opened his eyes -Of course, we need to ensure that the judge will arrive here.
Shina then said something -You're right, but now, how can we know where he is?
Genzo started to think about it -To the secretary, ask her and if she doesn't want to tell, give her some money.
Both Mai and Shina nodded and went on the mission
Moments later and after asking the secretary that was on a room behind the tribunal, both mother and daughter started to run to the left of the building they were leaving
-Daughter, are you ready for anything? As I know, your fight against Ryoma.
-Is my destiny mom, mentally I'm ready for anything that bastard will throw at me.
-But her army, what Kana said…
Mai started to think about it -Probably, we need to take care of that, but right now, his first defeat will be at the tribunals- Then Mai called the judge, hopefully waiting for him to answer, first attempt to no avail, second attempt… -Hello, mr Tanaka?
-Who are you?- he said from the other side of the
-I'm Mai Shiranui, I'm calling to know if you are coming to the tribunal.
-I'm coming sure, but you don't have to call me for that, I have a family you know…- The man, the classic fat guy on a suit was driving on an avenue but then he watched something on one of the mirrors, a black car was approaching to him -What the hell, Is someone chasing me?
-Chasing… Lightning Crows!
The judge felt really angry with the situation -Fuck it, now what can I do to avoid them?
-Send me your location mister, I will go with my mom to help you.
-Right, that you were a fighter also… ok, I'm trying to send it to you.
After running for some other seconds, Mai received a map location, a point was moving there
-Fine, we are not really that far- but Mai was starting to click something else
-What are you doing, daughter?
-Asking for reinforcements- she smiled
….
And those reinforcements were just arriving to Kyoto's airport, once received, Yuri smiled to King
-I suppose that it is time to test our new powers
King moved her hand, showing a little of ice on it -I wanted to have more time for it.
-But our improvements were really surprising, hopefully we can put some order on this city.
…
Moments later on a narrow avenue, the judge was trying to get rid of the chasing car, but to no avail, at one moment the car surpassed him and then stopped, making the judge to stop also
-Dammit- then he witnessed how 4 gangsters were getting out with metal bats and staffs -Thank lord they are not using guns.
-Get out of the car now, motherfucker!
The crows started to destroy the car while one of them was trying to open the door, once he realized that the judge will not allow it, he destroyed the glass on the door and opened it from the inside, taking the poor man outside
-Now is time for you to…
-Kacho sen!
One fan impacted one of the gangsters but the others managed to cover themselves, but then it returned to Mai's hand, of course it had to be with Nature Manipulation, but there was something different on her weapons
-Thanks, Genzo sensei for this
Then a little memory, during the other 7 months of training, Genzo managed to give something special for Mai as a gift, once she received them, her eyes were wide open
-I told you before that I can obtain something better than your regular fans, as two of them were destroyed, I give you this 3, totally metallic and of course harder than the other ones.
-Thank you so much sensei- and again she hugged him for the gift
Now on our present times, the judge was trying to escape while the attention of the gangsters was fully concentrated on the Shiranui ladies, but then one of them took out a gun
-Go to the hell bitches!
Mai and Shina had to avoid the attack and cover on some walls, with those weapons the battle would be pretty difficult
-Damn, 4 against 2 is not a big deal, but with them using guns…- Shina was saying
-Shit, where are my reinforcements?
-We are going to kill you two, you can't hide forever!
Thinking if they had to fight with the risk of getting hurt, Mai and Shina went to fight but on that moment…
-Venom Strike!
The one with the gun was hit by a powerful energy attack, before any of the gangsters could react properly
-Kohou ken!
Another energy blast went to one of the gangster's head, it would mean just one thing
-King, Yuri, you're here!
Both mentioned just gave the thumbs up, but on that moment the remaining two gangsters, both Mai and Shina nodded to each other
-Boxing Day!
Hitting the faces of both of them, the problem was easily solved, once that was finished, Mai just remained silent while looking to her friends
-It has been a time; don't you think about it? - and then the three hugged each other -I'm glad to see you once more.
-We are happy also- but of course King noticed immediately the physical changes that happened to Mai -Wow, is not necessary to hear anything to guess that your training was an intense one.
Mai just smiled and then Yuri noticed Shina -You should be Mai's mother, right.
Shina nodded -Shina Shiranui is my name, and you must be Yuri Sakazaki.
-Yes, I am, and she is…
-Cécile Levasseur, Right?
The lady just looked to Mai, she just laughed a little -She doesn't like to use nicknames ha ha.
-Well, I'm fine with that, nice to meet you miss Shiranui.
Then on that moment, Mai remembered something -The judgement, we saved the judge just moments ago, we need to return to the tribunal!
-Judgement? - Yuri asked
-I will explain you all later, for now we need to return- But Mai then realized something -But only if we had a car...
-The taxi that sent us here is waiting just some streets from here- King said -So then, let's go.
The ladies went as fast as they could to follow King
….
Moments later on the tribunal it has passed some hours between testimonies, debates and everything else, then the judge said
-Time for me to analyze all the documents and get a verdict- he left the room
Everyone was sitting and waiting for the resolutions, on one side Mai was just anxious, especially because on the other side were not only the family that took the dojo by property, but Ryoma also, she was able to hear something
-If we lose the dojo, get prepared for a lawsuit- one man said to Ryoma
And the mafia boss was pretty nervous because of that, after 15 minutes the judge appeared and took seat
-Evidences shown and documents signed, the true owner of the Shiranui Dojo is Mai Shiranui, as stated on Hanzo Shiranui testament and proved via test blood, so the purchase of the dojo will have no effect starting tomorrow, today the temporary owners will have time to get out all that they possess, end of the session.
-Yes, justice is finally served! - Mai yelled
While she was celebrating that victory, the other family just said something to Ryoma
-Get prepared for the lawsuit, son of a bitch.
And looking how the group was leaving, Ryoma went to talk with the winners of the judgement
-How funny isn't it? If I were you, I wouldn't celebrate that much.
Mai then stood in front of him -Yeah, a classic treat, right now you don't scare me Ryoma.
-Hum, You and your friends also don't scare me, enjoy this, while you can.
As he was leaving, both Yuri and King stared at him, the French woman just humped
-So, he is the bad guy that was giving you so many problems.
-Not so many but here he is, I will never forgive him for hurting Andy- but then Mai sighed -Hopefully things turn out to not be as bad as people is rumoring
Once the entire group was outside and walking to take the next bus, Yuri decided to ask something to Mai
-So, about that tournament…
Mai touched her on her forehead -Yuri, now it doesn't matter, you're here today and that's the only thing that I have to care now.
-Thanks for understand Mai, hopefully you can come on another opportunity- King said with a smile
Shina and Genzo were happy for hearing the three, specially of how Mai was reacting -These three have a really strong friendship- the woman said
-Ja, I'm proud of the knucklehead of your daughter, she can surprise me when she wants.
But Mai wanted to do something-Well, speaking about that…- The kunoichi rapidly slapped both of her friends on the back of their heads, even if she was smiling -That was for leaving me alone!
As she started to run, her friends wanted some retribution for the slap -Hey, that was not fair! - Yuri was the first one to try to catch her
-You two, don't leave me alone! - King was the next one to join the chaos
That scene made both Shina and Genzo to realize that the three were really similar
-Now I probably know why Mai is like that- Said the sensei
-Yeah, at least the three are happy.
But sometimes, things cannot be as one wants, specially talking about Ryoma Suzuki, as he called somebody
-Time has arrived, we must be kind of careful, but we are going to send her an important number of our tropes, the time to turn the myth into reality has come.
From the other side of the line, Guldo was the one listening the calling -Understood boss- and then the big man walked to the outside of a building, there it was a big group of people -Listen to me idiots, the time to raise hell has arrived!
It was a huge yard, in it lots of people were there, some smiled, some others celebrated, but one thing was clear, Ryoma started to lose patience