Chapter 12
Loren pinned Kento to the ground. They had been engaging in hand-to-hand combat, when Loren did a kick-punch combination she had learned in Kickboxing. Loren was the victor in the round with Kento, but he was only the 1st round. Loren helped Kento up, making sure she ready incase he decided to attack again, "You did a good job," she smiled
"Thanks," Kento said in an embarrassed tone.
"Don't tell me I've wounded your pride," Loren laughed.
Kento didn't respond.
"I think you have," Cye smiled.
"Not funny," Kento shot back.
"So whose next?" Loren asked.
"I am," Rowen said.
As the hand-to-combat continued from Rowen onward, Loren learned from missed blows and direct hits how to engage in combat. Loren was graceful, but still a little rusty on her moves. Practice didn't stop until Mia called for lunch.
As Loren and the five Ronins ate lunch, Loren began to tell jokes ranging from government officials in America to popular misconceptions about many religions. After lunch, everyone began to spar with his or her respective weapon.
If Loren was rusty with hand-to-hand combat, she was a very different case when she trained with her weapon. Loren practically was in rhythm her weapon. Sage could feel her aura; she was more in tune with her armor than without her armor, but he also noticed that she had a wild aura. Loren probably didn't meditate or know how to do it properly, but Sage knew that if she did meditate and kept a daily training schedule, she would be a strong bearer that would be unstoppable. After practice, Sage approached Loren, "Do you know how to meditate?" He asked.
"No," Loren said, "why do ask?"
"I was reading your aura," Sage replied in a straightforward manner, "you have so much potential, but you can't harness all of your power without mediation."
"Are you going to teach me?" Loren asked.
"Of course I'll teach you," Sage smiled.
"Thanks," Loren smiled, "do you want to start after dinner?"
"Sure," Sage smiled.
Loren was quickly getting a handle on her meditation, Sage had been teaching her the basic breathing and concentration techniques until she could do them on her own. The first time was difficult, but soon she was getting a handle of it. The control was showing in Loren on a day-to-day basis. It was only Thursday, and already she had managed to defeat Sage in hand-to-hand combat. Loren was practically unbeatable in weapon training, but the most important change was Loren's temper control. She wasn't yelling a whole lot and seemed much calmer. Sage had warned the others to keep Loren on the training and meditation cycle, in case something happened.
Loren still practiced with Midnight Serenade and sang at clubs every Friday night. Loren could take her fame in strides, but there was always something nagging her. No matter what club she sang at, Naotoki was always there, watching her performing. Loren finally put her feelings aside and started to talk to Naotoki. Soon they both grew to like each other, and tried to dance together at the clubs she was performing at. Needless to say, the Ronins were not thrilled at the thought of Loren having a boyfriend, but there was nothing they could do about it. Naotoki had surprised Loren one evening by asking her how do the the Hip-Hop moves she did. Loren was a patient teacher as she taught Naotoki (Sekhmet) the basics. Loren and Sekhmet's relationship had many surprises, but the biggest surprise for Loren came on Monday when she was in Masinori Center. She was walking to the stage, when she heard someone playing the piano. Loren had listened to music played on a piano before, but this music was different, almost enchanting, and soulful. As Loren walked in, she saw Naotoki playing the piano.
Loren silently listened to Naotoki play until he finished. Loren clapped at the musician, startling Naotoki. "That was beautiful," Loren smiled.
"Thanks," Sekhmet (Naotoki) smiled.
"Have you ever thought about becoming a professional musician?" Loren asked.
"No," Sekhmet said.
"Why not?" Loren asked.
"When I play," Sekhmet lied, "I need a voice to accompany me."
"Are you looking for a singer?" Loren asked.
"I was wondering if you would be my singer?" Sekhmet asked.
"We should see how well we do together," Loren stated.
"When do you want to rendezvous?" Sekhmet asked.
"At 3 o'clock, after my 2:30 class." Loren smiled.
"Then I'll see you then," Sekhmet smiled.
Loren sang as Sekhmet played the piano, Sekhmet had to admit that Loren had a beautiful voice and a fiery soul, but his job was to bring her into the Dynasty. The only problem was that Sekhmet didn't want to bring Loren into the Dynasty. They had been talking for a long time in the clubs, but Sekhmet felt a possessive, protective feeling when he was around her. No one was going to take Loren from him, including Cale or Dais. But Sekhmet was at a loss, how could she love him if he was capable of putting her in danger? He had to tell her the truth, but now was not the time. "That was beautiful," Sekhmet said.
"Thanks," Loren smiled.
Sekhmet started to turn red, "I was wondering if you would..."
Loren smiled, "Are you asking me out on a date?"
"Yes," Sekhmet said, turning a bright shade of crimson.
"What do you have in mind?" Loren asked.
"A walk at the Botanical Gardens," Sekhmet suggested.
"That's fine." Loren said, "What time do you want to pick me up?"
"How does 7 o'clock on Saturday sound?" Sekhmet said.
"I'll see you there," Loren smiled as she picked up her book bag to leave.
Loren pinned Kento to the ground. They had been engaging in hand-to-hand combat, when Loren did a kick-punch combination she had learned in Kickboxing. Loren was the victor in the round with Kento, but he was only the 1st round. Loren helped Kento up, making sure she ready incase he decided to attack again, "You did a good job," she smiled
"Thanks," Kento said in an embarrassed tone.
"Don't tell me I've wounded your pride," Loren laughed.
Kento didn't respond.
"I think you have," Cye smiled.
"Not funny," Kento shot back.
"So whose next?" Loren asked.
"I am," Rowen said.
As the hand-to-combat continued from Rowen onward, Loren learned from missed blows and direct hits how to engage in combat. Loren was graceful, but still a little rusty on her moves. Practice didn't stop until Mia called for lunch.
As Loren and the five Ronins ate lunch, Loren began to tell jokes ranging from government officials in America to popular misconceptions about many religions. After lunch, everyone began to spar with his or her respective weapon.
If Loren was rusty with hand-to-hand combat, she was a very different case when she trained with her weapon. Loren practically was in rhythm her weapon. Sage could feel her aura; she was more in tune with her armor than without her armor, but he also noticed that she had a wild aura. Loren probably didn't meditate or know how to do it properly, but Sage knew that if she did meditate and kept a daily training schedule, she would be a strong bearer that would be unstoppable. After practice, Sage approached Loren, "Do you know how to meditate?" He asked.
"No," Loren said, "why do ask?"
"I was reading your aura," Sage replied in a straightforward manner, "you have so much potential, but you can't harness all of your power without mediation."
"Are you going to teach me?" Loren asked.
"Of course I'll teach you," Sage smiled.
"Thanks," Loren smiled, "do you want to start after dinner?"
"Sure," Sage smiled.
Loren was quickly getting a handle on her meditation, Sage had been teaching her the basic breathing and concentration techniques until she could do them on her own. The first time was difficult, but soon she was getting a handle of it. The control was showing in Loren on a day-to-day basis. It was only Thursday, and already she had managed to defeat Sage in hand-to-hand combat. Loren was practically unbeatable in weapon training, but the most important change was Loren's temper control. She wasn't yelling a whole lot and seemed much calmer. Sage had warned the others to keep Loren on the training and meditation cycle, in case something happened.
Loren still practiced with Midnight Serenade and sang at clubs every Friday night. Loren could take her fame in strides, but there was always something nagging her. No matter what club she sang at, Naotoki was always there, watching her performing. Loren finally put her feelings aside and started to talk to Naotoki. Soon they both grew to like each other, and tried to dance together at the clubs she was performing at. Needless to say, the Ronins were not thrilled at the thought of Loren having a boyfriend, but there was nothing they could do about it. Naotoki had surprised Loren one evening by asking her how do the the Hip-Hop moves she did. Loren was a patient teacher as she taught Naotoki (Sekhmet) the basics. Loren and Sekhmet's relationship had many surprises, but the biggest surprise for Loren came on Monday when she was in Masinori Center. She was walking to the stage, when she heard someone playing the piano. Loren had listened to music played on a piano before, but this music was different, almost enchanting, and soulful. As Loren walked in, she saw Naotoki playing the piano.
Loren silently listened to Naotoki play until he finished. Loren clapped at the musician, startling Naotoki. "That was beautiful," Loren smiled.
"Thanks," Sekhmet (Naotoki) smiled.
"Have you ever thought about becoming a professional musician?" Loren asked.
"No," Sekhmet said.
"Why not?" Loren asked.
"When I play," Sekhmet lied, "I need a voice to accompany me."
"Are you looking for a singer?" Loren asked.
"I was wondering if you would be my singer?" Sekhmet asked.
"We should see how well we do together," Loren stated.
"When do you want to rendezvous?" Sekhmet asked.
"At 3 o'clock, after my 2:30 class." Loren smiled.
"Then I'll see you then," Sekhmet smiled.
Loren sang as Sekhmet played the piano, Sekhmet had to admit that Loren had a beautiful voice and a fiery soul, but his job was to bring her into the Dynasty. The only problem was that Sekhmet didn't want to bring Loren into the Dynasty. They had been talking for a long time in the clubs, but Sekhmet felt a possessive, protective feeling when he was around her. No one was going to take Loren from him, including Cale or Dais. But Sekhmet was at a loss, how could she love him if he was capable of putting her in danger? He had to tell her the truth, but now was not the time. "That was beautiful," Sekhmet said.
"Thanks," Loren smiled.
Sekhmet started to turn red, "I was wondering if you would..."
Loren smiled, "Are you asking me out on a date?"
"Yes," Sekhmet said, turning a bright shade of crimson.
"What do you have in mind?" Loren asked.
"A walk at the Botanical Gardens," Sekhmet suggested.
"That's fine." Loren said, "What time do you want to pick me up?"
"How does 7 o'clock on Saturday sound?" Sekhmet said.
"I'll see you there," Loren smiled as she picked up her book bag to leave.