~Chapter 5~
~Training Begins...Now~
A/N: Thanks so much for Corvor Issa! I can definitely turn his tragedy into a story line! Hope you like him!
Hikina and Alairia started out the day with Kurama. He was not teaching plant techniques however. His morning class was devoted to teaching his pupils martial arts and various weaponries. He was aided by his oldest son Kuron who was adept with swords, daggers, staves, and throwing starts. Kuron had inherited Youko's good looks, even if he didn't possess the same cold beauty. Hikina's mother had already schooled her quite well in martial arts and she was quite adept with short swords and daggers. For a half hour, she sparred with Alairia who quite honestly didn't stand much of a chance. She'd been sent to the school with very little prior training in martial arts. "Hikina." Youko called. "Stop wailing on your partner a moment and come here. Alairia, you go ahead and spar with Kage." Kurama led her over to a group of more advanced students.
"Hikina, this is Runko, Shyu, and Yan. You will spar with them for the remainder of the half hour. You are too advanced for your friends." Hikina looked nervously at the three boys.
Runko sneered at her. "So the little girl wants to play. Come on then, let's see what you have."
Hikina growled. She may be small, but she had a lot of power in her and she was much faster than the older boy. She darted around him, using her speed to confuse him before landing a few well-placed punches to his face and torso. His anger fueling him, he managed a strong punch to her jaw that sent her flying back and reeling. She landed as gracefully as she could and darted back to the boy. This time, she ducked under his attack and with an upper cut to his jaw, sent him sprawling.
"Hikina!" Youko barked. She jumped and turned to face him. "These are not your enemies. It is not useful to knock them out." He reprimanded.
"I'm here to become the strongest I can." She replied with some confusion. "How is that possible if I do not give everything I have?"
Youko sighed. She was right. Corana had probably been training her as long as she'd been walking. Youko would have to spar with her during class from now on. "Why don't you start learning the staff." He decided. "I know it's a weapon your mother doesn't use and I'm determined to teach you SOMEthing new." He smiled ruefully. Hikina's blue eyes lit up and she raced over to Kuron to learn the basics.
The next hour was spent with Darktydes learning healing skills. This was one class Hikina was looking forward to, since her mother had never taught her anything of that nature. Suchi was in that class with her so she and Alairia sat next to him, smiling encouragingly. Hikina noticed a shadow standing at the back of the room looking less than pleased to be there. Actually, he was glaring at what MUST be his mother at the front of the room. The boy was black from head to toe. He had black wolf ears and black hair and a black wolf's tail sticking out of his black fighting pants topped with a loose black shirt. The one spot of color was a golden horn sticking out of his forehead. He was barefoot and, unlike his mother, he had feet instead of hooves. He felt someone watching him and turned his head to see the new girl, Hikina he'd heard someone say. He glared at her and she returned the look and turned away.
"Ok everyone, today we will be working on minor cuts and bruises." She divided the class into pairs. Alairia went with Suchi and Hikina found herself face to face with the black haired boy, Corvor. Upon closer observation, he appeared to be a few years younger than Hikina.
"You'll probably be another incompetent like the rest of them." He muttered and sighed as he took the dagger his mother had passed to each group and slit his arm. "Now what you do is...." Despite his obviously superior attitude, Corvor was a good teacher. Hikina was able to cure minor cuts and bruises fairly well by the end of their two-hour period. He nodded his approval. "What's your name again?"
"Hikina. You can call me Kina if you like." She offered, trying Alairia's approach at being super friendly, since her death glare obviously didn't faze him at all.
"Corvor's my name. It's short enough." He flashed a small smile at her.
"Is Darktydes your mom?" she asked. "My mom used to be friends with her apparently. It was all news to me when I got here though."
"Yeah. I work mostly with her and Kurama, being best at healing and plant attacks. They're really nosy." He wrinkled his nose.
Hikina chuckled. "I know what you mean. Kurama invited me to his rooms last night and gave me a talking to about my attitude towards my mom." She grinned ruefully.
"Yeah he does that to me a lot too. I just usually nod and glare and move on with my life." Corvor saw Lair coming over and went to leave. "I'll see you later. Your friend's just a bit to perky for me."
Hikina watched him walk away with a small smirk on her face until Lair interrupted her thoughts. "Jeeze, you really are the smirker. C'mon..I'm STARVING." She dragged Kina once again to the dining hall. "It's too bad you had to get partnered with Corvor." Lair was rambling. "He really had a bad attitude."
"He's a good teacher though." Kina defended.
"Whatever, so's Suchi, but he doesn't hold his abilities over your head. He's really mean to his mom sometimes too. I don't think he's forgiven her for letting his dad go."
"What happened to his dad?" Hikina asked, suddenly interested.
"No one knows. He came in one night. It was really dark and stormy. The perfect entrance for a thunder wolf neh? And then just as suddenly, he left. No trace. Most people think he didn't leave by his own choice. Him and Darktydes were just as close as can be so they say." Lair was piling food onto her and Kina's plates.
"So they say? You mean you don't know?" Hikina asked her friend.
"Before my time sweetheart. He left before Corvor was even born. Which makes no sense. I heard Neko say once that he'd been really excited about having a kid. Anyways, he doesn't like Kurama much either so he can't be good can he?" Lair laughed.
Hikina chuckled at her friend. "Just because he doesn't fall for the hottest thing that crosses the street doesn't mean he's evil."
"Speaking of Kurama. I heard him telling Arctic that you're gonna have to spar with him from now on so you don't hurt the rest of the class. Where'd you learn those moves?" Her friend continued, pretty much ignoring the last comment.
They chatted amiably throughout lunch and left to meet for their final class that they would have together today. They would be with Arctic, discovering their ice techniques.
"Ok class. Today we will be concentrating on creating swords out of our ice energy. This can be a convenient weapon for any ice demon as one can usually spread the ice from the sword to the body of the opponent if they get a good hit in. Now to form the sword..." Arctic continued in detail on how to focus your energy to form the sword. Hikina closed her eyes and focused and was rewarded with a gasp from the rest of the class.
"Now class, what you see here should not have been achieved yet. I asked for a simple ice sword." Arctic was explaining. "What happened with Hikina's sword, is two parts of her blood are so thoroughly mixed that she will have a hard time separating the two. It seems Ice and Fire are that way. She has summoned an ice sword wreathed in the Darkness Flame of the Makai. By combining two or more of your elements, you can create an even stronger attack and weapon." Hikina was feeling her energy depleting quickly as it was sapped by the sword. "Hikina, attack this dummy, I want to see what you do with the energy." Hikina hastened to obey before she lost all her energy. She focused on spreading her energy outward after she'd stabbed it and it was soon encased in a box of ice. Darkness flame sprouted then and devoured the dummy. Hikina released the sword and stepped back, breathing hard and sweating.
"Quite impressive." Arctic nodded, pleased. "Now class, each of you form your sword and attack a dummy. Hikina, come here a moment." Hikina obeyed, trying to stop her body from shaking from the effort. "Sit down child before you collapse." Arctic smiled gently. "That took a lot out of you. Don't worry, your energy will grow with training. The rest of the class will get tired soon as well. Have any of your other elements combined before?"
Hikina nodded. "Wind and Shadow. I can make a tornado of shadow monsters that can attack my enemies. It's rather small and weak right now though." She replied.
"What about earth? Has it ever asserted itself?"
Hikina shook her head. "I've never had control over any earth elements, but neither has my mother, so maybe, like her, I merely inherited the blood, not the ability." She shrugged.
Arctic nodded. "It's a possibility." Hikina felt her energy returning as the class slowly began to tire, and a few zealous members passed out. By the end of the period, she felt ready to at least pay attention in the next class, which was Air. The only one of her new friends that was in that class was Ametsuchi. She waved to him and fell into step beside him.
"Why the long face Suchi?" She asked.
"I just am really no good at this class. I can't even fly yet." He mumbled sadly. "I've just never been good at anything having to do with fighting."
Hikina blinked. "Flying's not a fighting technique. It's a form of expression." She grinned.
Suchi gave her a weird look.
"Really Suchi. I can barely contain myself from flying when I'm really happy." She insisted. "I can help if you want. Being raised by a Wind demon and all I'm really good at it."
In fact, the instructor, a disgruntled looking male air/thunder demon by the name of Kaizen was so pleased with Hikina's flying abilities, that she was assigned to instruct three younger students who weren't so good; Suchi, Kaira, and Buyou. Under her careful tutelage and positive encouragement, Kaira and Buyou were hovering capably by the end of the class and Suchi was beginning to fly around a bit clumsily, but with a smile on his face.
After that class, they had an hour of break before dinner and then another three hours before lights out. Hikina took the hour break before dinner to train outside. There were dummies and various training equipment in the courtyard of the castle and Hikina formed her Icicle of Darkness Flame and began to attack ruthlessly, trying to build up her energy as fast as possible. Kage came down to get her for dinner and was amazed to find her still weakly attacking the dummies. "Come on over achiever. You can come back out after you've had some food." He grinned at her. Hikina dispelled the sword and followed him, sweating and shaking, into the dining hall.
Kuron approached her during dinner. "I would like to train on staves after dinner in the courtyard if that is ok." He offered.
Hikina nodded emphatically with a mouthful of meat. He chuckled at her and walked away.
"Easy there girl. You're gonna wear yourself down in one day." Kage grinned at her.
"MMnn MPssbl" She replied with her mouth full.
"What?" Kage laughed.
Hikina swallowed. "Not possible."
"Can we fly some more tonight?" Suchi asked suddenly.
Hikina grinned and nodded. "Of course. Meet me in the courtyard at 9. That should give me enough time with Kuron."
Corvor walked up to her, arm bleeding. "Heal me." He commanded.
Hikina sighed and smirked up at him. Still eating with one hand, she raised her other over the wound and in second, it had sealed into a scar. A little more energy and even the scar disappeared. "Good. But next time, don't waste energy on getting rid of the scar." He nodded and disappeared with his tray down the rows.
"What a jerk." Lair growled.
"He's right." Hikina was dizzy now. "Give me more food." She commanded Lair, waving weakly at her plate. Lair gave her a strange look, noticed her pale skin and immediately complied with lots of meat. Hikina dug in like it was her job.
When the dinner hour ended, she rose and went out to meet Kuron. They talked about theory and basics for a while, waiting for food to digest and then he tossed her a staff and they began training. They were still beating wood upon wood when Suchi interrupted. "Excuse me Kuron. I don't mean to interrupt, but Kina promised flying lessons at nine." He said meekly.
Kuron looked at the kid in shock. "What did you do to him Kina?" He grinned. "He never speaks up."
Kina blinked. "I didn't do anything." She protested.
Kuron laughed. "Go on. Flying will cool you off nicely after the work out you've had."
Kina grinned and led Suchi away. He was growing more and more comfortable forcing the wind to support him.
"You're biggest problem Suchi," Hikina told him. "Is you have no confidence. If you can't trust yourself to manipulate the wind, then you can't trust the wind to hold you. That's the key. Trust in yourself." She sped skyward, daring him to follow her. He did, but lost confidence on the way up and began to plummet. Hikina didn't have time to fly down and catch him. Her Jagan flew open and she used its power to bind him and control his fall. She lowered herself easily and gracefully and unbound him. The effort had made her Jagan start to throb. She'd never attempted a move like that. "I'm sorry." She gasped, her head about to explode from the effort. "I pushed you too much. Don't worry. You'll get there." She grinned easily up at him.
"Are you sure?" he asked wistfully.
"Cross my heart and hope to die." She replied with a smile.
"Thanks." He grinned up at her. "For helping me. And saving me." He chuckled.
"All part of the job description." She grinned. "Let's go on in. I need to bathe badly."
They both laughed at that and made their way indoors. Hikina washed herself and her clothes in the bathing room and laid her clothes out on a chair to dry for the morning. She fell asleep almost as soon as her head hit the pillow, exhausted, but satisfied, with the days trials.
A/N: Ok so hope you liked the chapter. She had a busy first day don't you think? LOL. Tell me what you think. Damn I think this is the longest chapter I've ever written.
~Training Begins...Now~
A/N: Thanks so much for Corvor Issa! I can definitely turn his tragedy into a story line! Hope you like him!
Hikina and Alairia started out the day with Kurama. He was not teaching plant techniques however. His morning class was devoted to teaching his pupils martial arts and various weaponries. He was aided by his oldest son Kuron who was adept with swords, daggers, staves, and throwing starts. Kuron had inherited Youko's good looks, even if he didn't possess the same cold beauty. Hikina's mother had already schooled her quite well in martial arts and she was quite adept with short swords and daggers. For a half hour, she sparred with Alairia who quite honestly didn't stand much of a chance. She'd been sent to the school with very little prior training in martial arts. "Hikina." Youko called. "Stop wailing on your partner a moment and come here. Alairia, you go ahead and spar with Kage." Kurama led her over to a group of more advanced students.
"Hikina, this is Runko, Shyu, and Yan. You will spar with them for the remainder of the half hour. You are too advanced for your friends." Hikina looked nervously at the three boys.
Runko sneered at her. "So the little girl wants to play. Come on then, let's see what you have."
Hikina growled. She may be small, but she had a lot of power in her and she was much faster than the older boy. She darted around him, using her speed to confuse him before landing a few well-placed punches to his face and torso. His anger fueling him, he managed a strong punch to her jaw that sent her flying back and reeling. She landed as gracefully as she could and darted back to the boy. This time, she ducked under his attack and with an upper cut to his jaw, sent him sprawling.
"Hikina!" Youko barked. She jumped and turned to face him. "These are not your enemies. It is not useful to knock them out." He reprimanded.
"I'm here to become the strongest I can." She replied with some confusion. "How is that possible if I do not give everything I have?"
Youko sighed. She was right. Corana had probably been training her as long as she'd been walking. Youko would have to spar with her during class from now on. "Why don't you start learning the staff." He decided. "I know it's a weapon your mother doesn't use and I'm determined to teach you SOMEthing new." He smiled ruefully. Hikina's blue eyes lit up and she raced over to Kuron to learn the basics.
The next hour was spent with Darktydes learning healing skills. This was one class Hikina was looking forward to, since her mother had never taught her anything of that nature. Suchi was in that class with her so she and Alairia sat next to him, smiling encouragingly. Hikina noticed a shadow standing at the back of the room looking less than pleased to be there. Actually, he was glaring at what MUST be his mother at the front of the room. The boy was black from head to toe. He had black wolf ears and black hair and a black wolf's tail sticking out of his black fighting pants topped with a loose black shirt. The one spot of color was a golden horn sticking out of his forehead. He was barefoot and, unlike his mother, he had feet instead of hooves. He felt someone watching him and turned his head to see the new girl, Hikina he'd heard someone say. He glared at her and she returned the look and turned away.
"Ok everyone, today we will be working on minor cuts and bruises." She divided the class into pairs. Alairia went with Suchi and Hikina found herself face to face with the black haired boy, Corvor. Upon closer observation, he appeared to be a few years younger than Hikina.
"You'll probably be another incompetent like the rest of them." He muttered and sighed as he took the dagger his mother had passed to each group and slit his arm. "Now what you do is...." Despite his obviously superior attitude, Corvor was a good teacher. Hikina was able to cure minor cuts and bruises fairly well by the end of their two-hour period. He nodded his approval. "What's your name again?"
"Hikina. You can call me Kina if you like." She offered, trying Alairia's approach at being super friendly, since her death glare obviously didn't faze him at all.
"Corvor's my name. It's short enough." He flashed a small smile at her.
"Is Darktydes your mom?" she asked. "My mom used to be friends with her apparently. It was all news to me when I got here though."
"Yeah. I work mostly with her and Kurama, being best at healing and plant attacks. They're really nosy." He wrinkled his nose.
Hikina chuckled. "I know what you mean. Kurama invited me to his rooms last night and gave me a talking to about my attitude towards my mom." She grinned ruefully.
"Yeah he does that to me a lot too. I just usually nod and glare and move on with my life." Corvor saw Lair coming over and went to leave. "I'll see you later. Your friend's just a bit to perky for me."
Hikina watched him walk away with a small smirk on her face until Lair interrupted her thoughts. "Jeeze, you really are the smirker. C'mon..I'm STARVING." She dragged Kina once again to the dining hall. "It's too bad you had to get partnered with Corvor." Lair was rambling. "He really had a bad attitude."
"He's a good teacher though." Kina defended.
"Whatever, so's Suchi, but he doesn't hold his abilities over your head. He's really mean to his mom sometimes too. I don't think he's forgiven her for letting his dad go."
"What happened to his dad?" Hikina asked, suddenly interested.
"No one knows. He came in one night. It was really dark and stormy. The perfect entrance for a thunder wolf neh? And then just as suddenly, he left. No trace. Most people think he didn't leave by his own choice. Him and Darktydes were just as close as can be so they say." Lair was piling food onto her and Kina's plates.
"So they say? You mean you don't know?" Hikina asked her friend.
"Before my time sweetheart. He left before Corvor was even born. Which makes no sense. I heard Neko say once that he'd been really excited about having a kid. Anyways, he doesn't like Kurama much either so he can't be good can he?" Lair laughed.
Hikina chuckled at her friend. "Just because he doesn't fall for the hottest thing that crosses the street doesn't mean he's evil."
"Speaking of Kurama. I heard him telling Arctic that you're gonna have to spar with him from now on so you don't hurt the rest of the class. Where'd you learn those moves?" Her friend continued, pretty much ignoring the last comment.
They chatted amiably throughout lunch and left to meet for their final class that they would have together today. They would be with Arctic, discovering their ice techniques.
"Ok class. Today we will be concentrating on creating swords out of our ice energy. This can be a convenient weapon for any ice demon as one can usually spread the ice from the sword to the body of the opponent if they get a good hit in. Now to form the sword..." Arctic continued in detail on how to focus your energy to form the sword. Hikina closed her eyes and focused and was rewarded with a gasp from the rest of the class.
"Now class, what you see here should not have been achieved yet. I asked for a simple ice sword." Arctic was explaining. "What happened with Hikina's sword, is two parts of her blood are so thoroughly mixed that she will have a hard time separating the two. It seems Ice and Fire are that way. She has summoned an ice sword wreathed in the Darkness Flame of the Makai. By combining two or more of your elements, you can create an even stronger attack and weapon." Hikina was feeling her energy depleting quickly as it was sapped by the sword. "Hikina, attack this dummy, I want to see what you do with the energy." Hikina hastened to obey before she lost all her energy. She focused on spreading her energy outward after she'd stabbed it and it was soon encased in a box of ice. Darkness flame sprouted then and devoured the dummy. Hikina released the sword and stepped back, breathing hard and sweating.
"Quite impressive." Arctic nodded, pleased. "Now class, each of you form your sword and attack a dummy. Hikina, come here a moment." Hikina obeyed, trying to stop her body from shaking from the effort. "Sit down child before you collapse." Arctic smiled gently. "That took a lot out of you. Don't worry, your energy will grow with training. The rest of the class will get tired soon as well. Have any of your other elements combined before?"
Hikina nodded. "Wind and Shadow. I can make a tornado of shadow monsters that can attack my enemies. It's rather small and weak right now though." She replied.
"What about earth? Has it ever asserted itself?"
Hikina shook her head. "I've never had control over any earth elements, but neither has my mother, so maybe, like her, I merely inherited the blood, not the ability." She shrugged.
Arctic nodded. "It's a possibility." Hikina felt her energy returning as the class slowly began to tire, and a few zealous members passed out. By the end of the period, she felt ready to at least pay attention in the next class, which was Air. The only one of her new friends that was in that class was Ametsuchi. She waved to him and fell into step beside him.
"Why the long face Suchi?" She asked.
"I just am really no good at this class. I can't even fly yet." He mumbled sadly. "I've just never been good at anything having to do with fighting."
Hikina blinked. "Flying's not a fighting technique. It's a form of expression." She grinned.
Suchi gave her a weird look.
"Really Suchi. I can barely contain myself from flying when I'm really happy." She insisted. "I can help if you want. Being raised by a Wind demon and all I'm really good at it."
In fact, the instructor, a disgruntled looking male air/thunder demon by the name of Kaizen was so pleased with Hikina's flying abilities, that she was assigned to instruct three younger students who weren't so good; Suchi, Kaira, and Buyou. Under her careful tutelage and positive encouragement, Kaira and Buyou were hovering capably by the end of the class and Suchi was beginning to fly around a bit clumsily, but with a smile on his face.
After that class, they had an hour of break before dinner and then another three hours before lights out. Hikina took the hour break before dinner to train outside. There were dummies and various training equipment in the courtyard of the castle and Hikina formed her Icicle of Darkness Flame and began to attack ruthlessly, trying to build up her energy as fast as possible. Kage came down to get her for dinner and was amazed to find her still weakly attacking the dummies. "Come on over achiever. You can come back out after you've had some food." He grinned at her. Hikina dispelled the sword and followed him, sweating and shaking, into the dining hall.
Kuron approached her during dinner. "I would like to train on staves after dinner in the courtyard if that is ok." He offered.
Hikina nodded emphatically with a mouthful of meat. He chuckled at her and walked away.
"Easy there girl. You're gonna wear yourself down in one day." Kage grinned at her.
"MMnn MPssbl" She replied with her mouth full.
"What?" Kage laughed.
Hikina swallowed. "Not possible."
"Can we fly some more tonight?" Suchi asked suddenly.
Hikina grinned and nodded. "Of course. Meet me in the courtyard at 9. That should give me enough time with Kuron."
Corvor walked up to her, arm bleeding. "Heal me." He commanded.
Hikina sighed and smirked up at him. Still eating with one hand, she raised her other over the wound and in second, it had sealed into a scar. A little more energy and even the scar disappeared. "Good. But next time, don't waste energy on getting rid of the scar." He nodded and disappeared with his tray down the rows.
"What a jerk." Lair growled.
"He's right." Hikina was dizzy now. "Give me more food." She commanded Lair, waving weakly at her plate. Lair gave her a strange look, noticed her pale skin and immediately complied with lots of meat. Hikina dug in like it was her job.
When the dinner hour ended, she rose and went out to meet Kuron. They talked about theory and basics for a while, waiting for food to digest and then he tossed her a staff and they began training. They were still beating wood upon wood when Suchi interrupted. "Excuse me Kuron. I don't mean to interrupt, but Kina promised flying lessons at nine." He said meekly.
Kuron looked at the kid in shock. "What did you do to him Kina?" He grinned. "He never speaks up."
Kina blinked. "I didn't do anything." She protested.
Kuron laughed. "Go on. Flying will cool you off nicely after the work out you've had."
Kina grinned and led Suchi away. He was growing more and more comfortable forcing the wind to support him.
"You're biggest problem Suchi," Hikina told him. "Is you have no confidence. If you can't trust yourself to manipulate the wind, then you can't trust the wind to hold you. That's the key. Trust in yourself." She sped skyward, daring him to follow her. He did, but lost confidence on the way up and began to plummet. Hikina didn't have time to fly down and catch him. Her Jagan flew open and she used its power to bind him and control his fall. She lowered herself easily and gracefully and unbound him. The effort had made her Jagan start to throb. She'd never attempted a move like that. "I'm sorry." She gasped, her head about to explode from the effort. "I pushed you too much. Don't worry. You'll get there." She grinned easily up at him.
"Are you sure?" he asked wistfully.
"Cross my heart and hope to die." She replied with a smile.
"Thanks." He grinned up at her. "For helping me. And saving me." He chuckled.
"All part of the job description." She grinned. "Let's go on in. I need to bathe badly."
They both laughed at that and made their way indoors. Hikina washed herself and her clothes in the bathing room and laid her clothes out on a chair to dry for the morning. She fell asleep almost as soon as her head hit the pillow, exhausted, but satisfied, with the days trials.
A/N: Ok so hope you liked the chapter. She had a busy first day don't you think? LOL. Tell me what you think. Damn I think this is the longest chapter I've ever written.
