Chapter 22 – Aura of Negativity

The inside of this place was really big. HUGE, really. It felt like a giant school gym only without the bleachers or the basketball hoops in the way. Those really annoyed me.

Around the perimeter of the place were posters of Kenpō-related stuff and shelves filled with trophies. All 1st place ones, too. Which makes me wonder just how good this Kuroi Ryū place actually is.

I mean…Chinatsu-san comes here. So, it has to be good. Right?

"Woah…this place is truly something right, Kyouko-chan?" Ikumi-san asked me.

"Yeah…it really is. I can't believe Chinatsu-san actually comes here. Something like this doesn't really fit her."

"Yes, I know what you mean. Knowing how Chinatsu-chan is…this is something way out of left field."

""Out of left field", huh? Just how do you really see me as, Ikumi?"

"Ch-Chinatsu-chan!" Ikumi-san panicked once we noticed Chinatsu-san standing behind us. "I-I did not mean it like that! I-I see you as a really good friend! A-A great friend, actually! Really!"

"*sigh* Calm down, Ikumi. You're right, this does feel out-of-place for me. I never wanted to do this in the first place…but Misaki-senpai wouldn't quit bugging me about it. So, I tagged along once just to shut her up. But…"

"But?" We both asked.

…

…

…

"But…I-I ended up liking it. A-And I started coming here with Misaki-senpai whenever she had time away from college classes. That's…basically all there is to it." Chinatsu-san had said that all with a faint blush on her face. As if she was embarrassed to talk about what she does in her free time.

"Wow…" I said. "…well, I'm glad you found a hobby you like, Chinatsu-san. Or rather…something that you actually like to do."

"H-How moody do you think I am?!" Chinatsu-san yelled at me with an even bigger blush.

"Hey, China-chi!" Hasumi-senpai called out as she walked up to us. "I spoke with Sensei. He said that Kyo-chi and Iku-chi can join today's class. Isn't that great?"

"Really now? The old coot's more accepting than I thought." Chinatsu-san then turned to us two. "Well, with that out of the way, you two can do changed into some dōgi."

"Into what?" We both gained a confused look.

"The uniforms Misaki-senpai and I are wearing right now. Why do you think I had you two wait out here?"

"Oh…" I said.

"I see…" Ikumi-san added.

Chinatsu-san each gave us a dōgi and we went to go change. It was…a little tight around the chest. But then again, my breasts aren't that big enough for it to be an actual problem. So, I kept it to myself.

Plus…I'm pretty sure both Chinatsu-san and Ikumi-san would get highly annoyed if I complained about my chest being tight. Considering that they're both…lacking. To put it nicely.

"Heh…you two don't look all that bad in these things." Chinatsu-san said to us once we came out.

"Thanks, Chinatsu-san." I said with a smile.

"By the way, Chinatsu-chan…" Ikumi-san said. "I noticed that you put your hair up in a ponytail."

"What, this?" Chinatsu-san asked as she grabbed hold of her ponytail. "My hair gets in the way while doing this so I tie it up. No big deal."

"I see…well, it makes you look cute, Chinatsu-chan."

"C-Cute?!" Chinatsu-san started to blush hard.

"I agree. You look rather cute with a ponytail, Chinatsu-san."

"Wh-What are you…I-I keep telling you two to stop calling me cute! That isn't like me in the slightest!"

"Well…"

"I think you're VERY cute, China-chi!" Hasumi-senpai said as she joined our conversation. "Especially when you snuggle with your stuffed animals while being completely naked!"

"Wh-What?" Both Ikumi-san and I grew looks of total shock.

"M-Misaki-senpai!" While Chinatsu-san's blush grew so red that you could barely see it anymore. It was THAT bad.

"Oops. Sorry, China-chi." Hasumi-senpai rubbed the back of her head.

"Alright, everyone. Gassho!" Said a mildly old man (probably in between his late 60s and early 70s) wearing a dōgi that looked very much different from what the rest of us were wearing.

He must be the teacher…

"Hai! Sensei!" Everyone in the room (besides Ikumi-san and I) stood in a serious-like stance with both palms put together and raised in front of their faces.

It was weird…and neither of us really understood what was happening. But I guess we'll what it is along with other stuff here today, huh?

I can only hope it goes well…

"Now…before we begin today's lesson, I have been made aware that we have two new kenshi joining us today. Please introduce yourselves."

"He means you two, by the way." Chinatsu-san whispered to us. And I'm glad she did. Otherwise, we would've stood there completely confused and really embarrass ourselves on the first day.

"Morino Ikumi." Ikumi-san said with a bow.

"T…Toshinio Kyouko." I said. Also with a bow.

"Hmm…I see." The teacher said while giving us two an eerie-like glare. "Well then…welcome to the Kuroi Ryū Shōrin-ji Kenpō Dojo, Morino and Toshinio. We all here hope you enjoy your time here. However long that will be."

"Um…thank you, sir." We both said. Still somewhat creeped out from the glare from earlier.

Two hours into the class, we were taught so much about the basics of Shōrin-ji Kenpō. Its history, its philosophy, what the emblem means…and then we got into the actual technique of it all. The same moves and attacks that we saw Chinatsu-san use on Shiranui-san before.

And they were a lot harder than they looked. I kept messing up at pretty much all of them. And both my hands and feet were starting to hurt.

…

And also my butt. From falling on it too many times.

"Ouchie…" I whined.

"You feeling okay?" Chinatsu-san asked me.

"*moan* The pain's slowly going away. Thanks for the ice packs."

"You were really trying out there. Did you have the same sudden passion I did when I first started?"

"Well…I guess. At first, I was still having second thoughts about doing this. But then…after learning about the different training systems and trying it for myself…a-and seeing Ikumi-san getting the hang of it with no issues whatsoever…"

"Kiri-waza!"

*POW*

"Gyaku-tenshin!"

*POW* *POW* *POW*

"Ushiro-Ukemi!"

*SLAM*

"G…Gah…"

"Taigamae."

"She's just showing off at this point…" Chinatsu-san said with a sweatdrop as we watched Ikumi-san take down yet another classmate.

"Anyway…putting all of that together must've did it for me. But…I can't really say why. I'm not really the fighting type and my performance just now further proves it."

"Yeah, it was pretty bad. Sorry for dragging you here. I didn't really give you a chance to think about it, huh?"

"No. You didn't."

"*sigh* Figures. Another mess caused by me. I seem to be a real pro at these." Chinatsu-san said with a gloomy look on her face.

"Chinatsu-san…"

"I wouldn't exactly call this another one of your "messes", Yoshikawa-san."

"Huh? Sensei?" Chinatsu-san said as the teacher walked up to us.

"Come now, Yoshikawa-san. It is only just us in this conversation. No need to be formal with me."

"*sigh* Fine…Kenjiro."

"Huh? You mean you know each other?" I asked.

"You know how I said that a man in his 70s lives at the boarding house with me? Well, this is him. Kenjiro Mishima."

"It is nice to officially meet you, Toshinio-san." Mishima-san said with a bow.

"In fact…it was him that got Misaki-senpai and I into Shōrin-ji Kenpō. With this being his dojo and all."

"I see. Well…it's nice to meet you as well, Mishima-san."

"So, what did you mean by not being a mess?" Chinatsu-san asked. "Another one of your spiritual readings?"

Spiritual readings?

"You could say that."

"H-Huh?" I really didn't get what he was talking about.

"What I mean is…I felt this huge negative aura around you, Toshinio-san. This aura seems to be so big that it has blocked your mind of kiryoku, or willpower. Making you doubt almost everything you do in life."

"Blocked my…willpower?"

"Doubt everything, huh?" Chinatsu-san then turned to me. "Well…she's had a shitty life before meeting me. Though, I can't really say that I'm making it all that better."

"Can you give me an example?"

"A-An example?!" I began to panic a little.

"W-Woah, woah. Why the hell is this any of your business, Kenjiro?" Chinatsu-san asked. "You never brought this up in that little plan of yours."

"Pl-Plan? Chinatsu-san, what are you…"

"*sigh* Look, to be honest, Kyouko…bringing you here was completely intentional."

"Intentional?"

"I really didn't want to. Exposing you to Shōrin-ji Kenpō was one of the top things I NEVER wanted to happen. But somehow…Kenjiro managed to convince me."

"Convince you? B-But how?"

"If I may be truly honest with you, Toshinio-san…" Mishima-san said. "…I have been aware of your negative aura since the day you came by days earlier. I did not come down to meet you then because at the time…the negative aura was too much for me to handle."

"Too much, huh?" I went silent for a bit. "Well…during that time, I was conflicted with the fact that I had forgotten most of my childhood memories due to the abuse I've suffered most of my life. I've met two girls who said that we were best friends in grade school…but I just can't remember. And the guilt of not remembering them made me even more depressed. And then soon after…I found out that Chinatsu-san has suffered abuse, too."

"Ah, yes. Yoshikawa-san's abuse. When I first became aware of it, it completely collaborated her negative aura being at a dangerous level. Near uncleanable, in fact."

"Woah…"

"Hey. Don't make this about me, Kenjiro." Chinatsu-san said. "I don't need a reminder of how my life is deep in the shitter."

"Right. My apologies."

"So…what made you want to meet me now?" I asked.

"While your negative aura hasn't receded much since that day, it is combatable. All you really need is some Seihō Training."

"Seihō Training?"

"Special Zen Training that specifically focuses on healing one's spirit. As our founder, Dōshin Sō had written in his book, "The spirit and body are not separable. And that it is integral to train both body and mind as one.". By following this quote, kenshi are able to establish themselves and promote mutual comfort towards others. And then some."

"I-I see. S-So, if I do this Seihō Training…I-I'll be able to practice Shōrin-ji Kenpō well? And get rid of my negative aura?"

"How do we even know this even works?" Chinatsu-san asked.

"Well, it seems to be working for your friend Morino over there."

"Fumi-waza!"

*POW* *POW*

"Sashikomi-ashi!"

*POW* *POW* *POW* *POW*

"Ōten Yori Okiagari!"

*POW* *POW* *POW* *POW* *POW* *POW* *POW* *SLAM*

"G…Gah…"

"Taigamae! Hirefushinasai!"

"Ikumi!" Chinatsu-san yelled.

"Huh? O-Oh…I'm sorry. I guess I got carried away." Ikumi-san said with obvious guilt.

"Carried away" is a nice way of putting it…

"Well…if it can work for Ikumi-san, then I guess I can try it." I said as I stood up from the bench I was sitting on.

"You really want to try this?" Chinatsu-san asked.

"It's worth a try…if I can start having good memories again. And have a better life, too."

"Huh…" Was all she said.

I stood next to Ikumi-san as we both decided to try this Seihō Training out. But despite me giving this thing a shot, I still had some doubt about this actually working.

I hope I'm not wrong about this…

"First off, you stand perfectly still." Mishima-san said. "Then once you do that, simply repeat the phrase "sora no kiai" until you come face-to-face with your negative aura. Then…you must repel that aura from your mind to your body. Only then, can your spirit and body can become one."

"Sora no kiai…Sora no kiai…Sora no kiai…Sora no kiai…"

"Sora no kiai…Sora no kiai…Sora no kiai…Sora no kiai…"

We both kept repeating that one phrase. Trying ever so hard to come into contact with the negative aura that has blocked our minds for so long.

I wasn't sure how Ikumi-san was doing. But for me…I was actually starting to feel something.

Something…really negative.

"*giggle* Toshinio Kyouko…"

Sh…Shiranui-san…

"…so, they finally let you out of the nuthouse, huh? I must've done a damn good job at mentally tormenting you for all of middle school for you to disappear for 2 months. And now, I get to do it again one last time. How fucking lucky am I, huh?"

N-No…you're not lucky. Leave me alone…

"You're telling ME what to do?! Who the fuck told YOU to stand up for yourself, huh?!"

Leave me alone…leave me alone…

"…after all this time, you STILL haven't learned your fucking place. No matter…I'll just teach it to you all over again!"

Leave me alone…d-damnit…

I felt my mind racing and my body clinching. This negative aura was making me feel all sorts of emotions. Sadness, fear, stress…

…

But most of all…I was feeling rage. Pure undeniable rage. And it wasn't just from the recent encounter of Shiranui-san.

"Hahaha. To think a hopeless sack of shit like you is still fighting. I oughta fix that RIGHT now!"

No…no…No! Y-You…You bastard…

"LEAVE US ALONE!" I screamed to the top of my still injured throat. Scaring everyone inside in the process.

And then…

"ZANKOKU USHIRO-UKEMI!"

*POW*

*BOOM*

…

I'm not sure what I just did…but one single punch to a punching bag made the whole thing tear apart into pieces. The fluff from the inside scattering all over the dojo.

And I couldn't really say anything about it because I was busy catching my breath. As that single punch took so much of my energy.

Does that mean that…I did it right?

"H-Holy shit…Kyouko…" Chinatsu-san said.

"Wh-What? Did I do it wrong?"

"Do it wrong? Kyouko, what you just did was fucking incredible!"

"Kyo-chi, that was awesome!" Hasumi-senpai added.

"Really?!" I said in shock. "W-Wait, what I just do?"

"Zankoku Ushiro-Ukemi…"

"Wh-What?" The three of us turned to Mishima-san.

"That was a technique known as Zankoku Ushiro-Ukemi. Or Cruel Back-Passive. It's a technique that Dōshin Sō had ranked as S-tier difficulty. Many have failed to even attempt it…but to see a 15-year-old girl accomplish it so easily is beyond rare. Extraordinary, even. How were you able to activate such a technique?"

"I just did what you told me to do. I repeated the phrase…and then repelled the aura to my body."

"It's true." Ikumi-san said. "Kyouko-chan and I were doing it together."

"I see…so, in that case…the trauma causing the aura must be more severe than I originally thought. Toshinio-san…until we can find a means to control it, you mustn't use Shōrin-ji Kenpō outside of this dojo. There's no telling what kind of damage or injury that technique could do."

"R-Right…I promise I won't use it."

"So, what? Does this mean class is over?" Chinatsu-san asked.

"No, we still have an hour left. Just try to be more cautious from here on."

"*sigh* Fine, whatever."

As Mishima-san left and everyone went back to what they were doing, I sat back down on the bench. Still feeling tired from that huge energy surge I had not too long ago.

And still kinda confused as to how it happened.

"You okay, Kyouko?" Chinatsu-san asked.

"Yeah…I guess. Although, my throat hurts like hell. I think I canceled the effects of both the surgery and the cough medicine."

"Well, your voice seems to be back to normal, Kyouko-chan." Ikumi-san said.

"Huh…yeah, it is. I'm not sure how I'm going to explain this to Rukia. I was mildly whispering when I last saw her."

"Just tell her it was a miracle or something." Chinatsu-san said. "Rich blonde girls tend to be dense enough to believe anything you tell them."

"But I'm a rich blonde girl, Chinatsu-san…"

"Yeah, but you're not dense like your cousin. That dipshit will believe anything that comes out of your mouth. She's so fucking gullible when it comes to you, you know."

"Uh…" Ikumi-san and I didn't really know what to say to that and gained rather huge sweatdrops.

Something tells me Chinatsu-san will never like my cousin…

"Ha…Shin Shoryuken!"

*POW*

"Taigamae! Mi-no hodo-o shirinasai!" Hasumi-senpai shouted as she had hit another punching bag in such a style that looked oddly familiar.

Wasn't that…

"Hasumi-san. I keep telling you to stop with the Street Fighter moves." Mishima-san scolded her.

"Aw! But Street Fighter is fun! It's like Shōrin-ji Kenpō but with wombo combos!"

"Shōrin-ji Kenpō and Street Fighter are two completely different things."

"Boo! Help me out here, China-chi!"

"Sorry, Kenjiro. But I'm siding with Misaki-senpai on this one." Chinatsu-san said.

"Honestly, you two…" Mishima-san facepalmed. "…moves from a video game should not and cannot be implemented in Shōrin-ji Kenpō."

"Wanna bet? I'll prove you wrong right here right now. Hahahaha."

This oughta be interesting…

Chinatsu-san walked up to the same punching bag Hasumi-senpai was using and took a deep long breath. Once she spun around once and landed her foot on the bag…

"Shippu Jinraikyaku! Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaa…YAH!"

*BOOM*

…She pretty much kicked the thing to smithereens. The only thing you could see on it were the multiple footprints she left on the poor thing.

"Taigamae! Watashi no kuso no ikari o osorete kudasai! Hahahahaha!"

"Alright, China-chi!" Hasumi-senpai cheered.

"*sigh* May our founder forgive us for this unusual day…" Mishima-san said with a huge facepalm.

"Shōrin-ji Kenpō sure is interesting isn't it, Kyouko-chan?" Ikumi-san asked me.

"Yeah…it sure is."

Author's Note: Thanks to Chinatsu, Kyouko and Ikumi are know well-inversed in Shōrin-ji Kenpō. But…Kyouko may have a little more power than she's intended to. Due to the memories of her past.

So, just an FYI…some of this stuff here about Shōrin-ji Kenpō isn't true at all. There are true facts in here. But some I completely made up to make it fit with the story. It's kinda hard to fully understand otherwise.

Hopefully, it won't take another month to update this story. But at this rate, I can't make any promises. Thanks for reading. Later.