Starfire72: Where have you been?

Riderofdragons: What do you mean?

Star: You haven't updated in days.

Rider: Yes, well…

Star: (looking around) Where's wraiths?

Rider: No idea.

Star: You did call off Ginryuu right?

Rider: Yeah, (mumbling) after HinaGuy749 kind of saved him.
Star: You are unbelievable.

Rider: Leave me alone.

Any way, to all who have become upset with all the crap that Kanako's been going through lately, growth comes through hardship, so please put up with me a bit longer. She gets to take a bit of a stand here any way.

To KylaranAeldin, many thanks for the explanation.

To HinaGuy749, no mushy stuff, as you put it, but I think you'll be happy with Kanako's growth in abilities here. And as for your dragon challenge (snaps fingers, a Sun Dragon lands near by) Anytime, anyplace. :-)

That's all I think, well not really, but we can deal with the rest later. So enjoy the story.

---

Disclaimer: I don't own Love Hina, wish I did, but I don't. So don't sue, I'm broke anyway.

In Search Of Her Place

Chapter Eight: Training Day

"Kanako!" Kuro dive-bombed on the goth's position. "Turn back! Run away!"

Kanako continued to run toward the bridge. "Leave me alone Kuro! Go away!"

Kuro increased his speed and caught Kanako as she reached the middle of the bridge. "You'll thank me for this later." He grabbed Kanako's collar in his teeth and pulled up.

Kanako felt her feet slowly lift off the ground. "What are you doing?" She couldn't understand Kuro's response through the mouthful of cotton cloth, but she fought at his unnaturally strong grip anyway, at least until she was too high off the ground to land safely. She gasped as something leapt from the water below the bridge and struck Kuro. With a scream she began to fall, and landed hard on the concrete. She heard something snap and screamed again. She then realized that her friend was nowhere to be seen. "Kuro?"

A few meters away Kuro fought to get free of his captor, who was holding his head like a baseball and squeezing. "Run Kanako! Get back to the Hinata-sou!"

Kanako gasped as Kuro screamed from another squeeze on his head. Without conscious thought she dropped her pack and dashed forward. She landed a punch into the demon's head. The demon's head exploded as though it were a fragile clay pot, shards of bone flew everywhere. Kanako looked down at her leg, and saw her femur was sticking out. Oddly, she felt no pain. She studied it a moment and saw that the bone was slowly moving back into her leg. A second later the bone was no longer visible, and there was no sign of any scar either.

Kuro stood and shook his head in an attempt to rid himself of one major headache. "Thanks, but, run!"

Kanako blinked as another demon appeared before her. She rolled to the side to avoid the blow just in time, using the moment to study her opponent. These demons were different than the others from this morning. The limbs were longer, and thinner. Their bodies more streamlined, and they attacked much faster. "Fine, I've had a bad day anyway." She leapt and kicked the demon in the head, and fell to the ground.

The demon looked down at her and seemed to laugh.

Kanako rolled away as it stomped it's foot and reduced the sidewalk to pebbles. "Kuro! What gives? My strength is gone again!"

Kuro bit into the skull of another demon. "I don't know…Kanako!"

Kanako turned as four demons leapt from the water and began to fall toward her. There was nowhere to escape to, and no way to fight back. The demons struck as one. Kanako screamed as a small black shadow darted into the line of attack.

A howl of pain echoed through the city of Hinata that night. Stories would be told from that night on of something that prowled the streets. There was not a person who heard that terrifying sound who would not be more careful when traveling at night ever again.

"Ku-Kuro?" Kanako fell to her knees and picked up the top half of the remains of her life long friend. Tears began to form in her eyes. "No, Kuro, please don't die."

Kuro looked up and smiled at her. "I am sorry Kanako-chan…please…run…" His eyes closed and his head lolled back as death took him.

Kanako held Kuro's small, bloody, and lifeless close to her chest and cried.

The demons, which had been continuously emerging from the water, began to move in on the woman. The closest stepped forward. "It is time Princess, you must return home."

Kanako's head snapped up with such ferocity that the demons were startled. "You!" Her single word held enough venom to kill even the strongest of beings a hundred thousand times over. "It's all your fault!" She rose still holding Kuro's body. "You! You! You killed him!" Her eyes began to glow red-hot. "Because of you onii-chan and I will never be together!" An aura blacker than and eternity of moonless nights surrounded her. "You! You've ruined everything!" Her feet left the ground and Kanako hovered in the air.

The demons began to step back honestly fearful for the first time in their existences.

"I will go nowhere with you!" As Kanako screamed her declaration, waves of black energy arched out into the ranks of her enemies. "It's all your fault! It's all your fault!" She continued to scream, her voice carrying over the demons pleas for the attacks to stop. Kanako turned as she felt a hand at her back. "Who dares?" Instantly, her power left her as she saw Keitaro's face. "Onii-chan?" Suddenly the image flicked out and was replaced by Lillith's face. "Nani?"

"They're gone Kanako-chan." Lillith pointed to the carnage that lay behind Kanako.

Kanako turned and gasped. The bridge, or what was left of it, was covered his the entrails of thousands of demons. "Kami-sama…" She whispered. "Did I?"

Ice landed a few meters away, his wings shining bright against dark backdrop. "The portal's sealed." He turned and studied the war zone. "No." He thought. "I've seen war zones, this was a massacre. These bastards never had a chance."

Lillith placed a hand on Kanako shoulder. "Come on, let's get you home."

Kanako shook her head. "No!" She pulled away and ran, heedless of the fact there was a huge gaping hole in the bridge cutting off her escape route.

Ice grabbed Kanako as she nearly fell into the water. "What did I tell you about making me chase you?"

Kanako fought free of his grip. "I can't go back to the Hinata-sou, or the other's will die just like he did!"

Ice raised a skeptical eyebrow. "Die? Who died?"

Kanako loosened her grip and showed Ice the dead cat in her arms.

"That's what you're crying about?" Ice laughed. His head spun as Kanako slapped him.

"How dare you mock his death!" Kanako screamed with tears in her eyes. "He saved me!"

Ice glared at her. "You are a fucking moron. He's a demon! Remember!" He reached out and flicked the cat in the head. "Wake up you faker, before the little girl starts crying again."

Kanako looked down in shock as Kuro's eyes popped open. "How?"

"Give me a moment Kanako-chan." Kuro floated out of her arms, and sprouted a new lower half of his body, and then returned to Kanako's arms. "And the academy award for best actor goes to…Kuro!"

Kanako blinked. "I don't understand…"

"I figured that if you became upset enough you would unleash your powers." Kuro explained.

Ice stepped back.

"Here it comes." Lillith whispered.

"You…let me think that you were dead?" Kanako asked uncertainly.

Kuro nodded. "It was the only way…"

"You insensitive bastard!" Kanako dropped the cat from her arms and punted him into the water with such force that the cat skipped across the river like a stone.

"Kanako…ow…chan…ow…wait! Ouch! I…owie…can…yowch…explain! Ouch!" Kuro called as he disappeared.

"Save your excuses you mangy fur ball!" She turned and began to stomp away. "I'm going home!

Ice allowed a small smile to cross his lips as Kanako passed him. "I like your style. Ten points for distance too…" He fell to the ground as Kanako kicked him in the balls.

"Some guardian you turned out to be." Kanako huffed and continued on.

Lillith backed away as Kanako passed her, and then turned to where Ice was trying to stand. "You deserved that you know."

"Shut up."

Lillith shrugged and rolled her eyes before turning to walk away. She stopped a few meters away and looked back. "She can't of hurt you that bad. You coming or not?"

Ice stood, now seeming unaffected. "Not. I have to deal with this mess first."

Lillith turned and continued back to the Hinata-sou. "Suit yourself."

Ice waited until Lillith left the scene to begin his work. He reached down and picked up nearby head and inspected it carefully. "No signs of any damage at all, nor any signs of regeneration." He glanced toward where he knew Kanako to be. "What kind of power are we dealing with here?" He turned his gaze skyward. "Things are hectic up there now too." He reached over his head and pulled a few feathers from his wings. He dropped it to the ground and watched as the divine light extended out and dissolved the demon remains. "Guess that means I'm on my own for clean up and repairs."

"Somebody help!" Called Kuro from the middle of the lake. "I can't swim!"

Ice rolled his eyes. "Baka." He twitched one of his wings and feather shot out into the water. He grinned as Kuro yelped in surprise.

"That's not funny Ice!"

Ice shook his head and got back to work. "That's keep him afloat until I retrieve him, but the repairs and clean up must come first."

---

Kaolla hadn't slept after Motoko had returned her to her room. Instead, she had continued her research on Ice's feather. She wondered now if the time would have been better spent sleeping as she turned an envious glance at her American friend as she snored, loudly. Kaolla again bent her head over her microscope. "I can't figure out the composition of this thing." She turned away and a slid her chair across the room to another experiment. "This one feather is putting out more energy than every power source on the planet combined."

"Dork!" Sarah yelled as she rolled over and fell off her stool. After crashing to the floor and waking herself up, Sarah stood next to Kaolla. "So? We learn anything new?"

"We?" Kaolla teased. "You fell asleep you lazy!" She frowned as she turned back to the experiment. "But, no, I seem to have hit a dead end."

Sarah followed as Kaolla slid her chair to a third experiment, which involved an extremely large piece of equipment that Sarah didn't recognize. "So now what?" She turned to face the screen as Kaolla flipped a switch. "Nani?"

Kaolla pointed to a small mark, seemingly the only black speck on the otherwise pure white feather. "This has to be a clue." She crossed her arms and leaned back in her chair, a deep frown on her face again. "I just can't figure out what to…"

Sarah looked at the spot and magnified it. "It looks almost like a shackle, or a chain maybe?" She turned. "What do you think?" She sweat dropped as she saw Kaolla running from the room drooling. "Shinobu must have started cooking breakfast." She chased after her friend. "Oh well, the experiments can wait I suppose."

---

Keitaro glanced around the table. No one seemed to have slept well, and Keitaro sighed, knowing that it was his fault. He stole a glance at Naru, and got a death glare for his efforts. He turned to see Kanako was also looking at him. Although he made no movement or change of expression, Kanako quickly averted her gaze. "A fine mess I've created once again." Keitaro thought sourly. "If only…"

"Sempai?" Shinobu passed Keitaro another helping of rice. "You've been trying to eat from an empty bowl for ten minutes now. Is something wrong?"

Keitaro took the dish and began to eat. "No, everything's fine Shinobu-chan." Keitaro felt his stomach turn as he lied to the girl, but he wasn't going to add to the clouds that seemed to hover at the dinning room table. The room was stuffy with the tension between the other residents, Keitaro knew he had to do something, but couldn't figure out what. Luckily for the hapless landlord, fate intervened in the form of a small reptile. "Well, welcome back to the Hinata-sou Tama-chan."

Tama-chan landed next to Keitaro's plate. "Hello Keitaro-dono. Thank you for the welcome."

The room suddenly became deathly quiet as the other tenants stared wide-eyed and slack jawed at the tiny flying turtle.

"Since when does Tama say more than 'myuh'?" Naru asked with a nervous voice.

Motoko pull her sword, a look of crazed fright in her eyes. "The turtle talked…another demon?" She began to raise her sword. "I've been waiting for a reason to send you to the underworld turtle. This will do nicely."

"Hold your blade." Ice ordered. "She's here for me."

Keitaro blinked. "You?"

Kuro flew into the room. "What's everyone so…" He spotted Tama and landed across from the turtle, and bowed slightly. "It's been a long time. It is good to see you again Tama."

Tama also bowed. "The pleasure is mine Kuro."

"So she is a kappa!" Motoko declared.

Shinobu shook her head. "No way! Tama-chan is to nice to be a demon."

"Hey!" Lillith teased. "Are you implying that Kuro and I are evil?"

Ice raised an eyebrow. "You want me to answer that question?"

Lillith glared at him. "You shut up."

Ice stood and began to walk from the room. "Come along Tama."

Tama nodded and flew behind Ice.

Kitsune reached under the table and pulled out her sake bottle. "Anyone else want too?"

Kaolla blinked. "My dinner is capable of speech now?"

"She's not your dinner." Sarah pointed out.

Kanako looked down at Kuro. "You know Tama-chan? Is she a demon too?"

Kuro shook his head. "I know her, sure, but she's no demon." He sat and helped himself to some of Keitaro's miso. "She's an angel."

"Please tell me you're kidding." Naru begged.

Kuro shook his head. "Nope." He turned to Keitaro. "Hey, you have a minute?"

---

Breakfast finished and Kanako found herself tailing after Keitaro and Kuro as they went up to the roof. "Wonder what they're being so secretive for?" Kanako inched closer to try and here what was being said; yet as she neared them they suddenly vanished. Kanako blinked and ran up to where they had just been. She searched for a trap door in the roof, or any other possible routes of exit, but there was nothing.

"What are you looking for?" Lillith called as she also came up to the roof.

"Onii-chan and Kuro were just here…" Kanako began.

"Oh, well, it doesn't matter anyway." Lillith shrugged. "You're the one I'm looking for."

Kanako blinked. "Me? Why?"

Lillith crossed her arms. "After last night, do you really need to ask that question?"

Kanako glanced down at the floor nervously. "Yeah, I guess we should explain to the city about the missing bridge."

Lillith blinked. "Ice already restored everything. I was talking about training you." She uncrossed her arms and waved for Kanako to follow as she went back down stairs. "Your powers have been growing steadily, but you don't know how to control them yet." She opened the door to her room and ushered a nervous looking Kanako inside.

Kanako looked around the room, surprised to see that is had been redecorated from the inn standard. Weapons of ages long past now hung from the walls along with many scrolls. Many seamed to be seals of some kind, though how Kanako knew this, she couldn't remember. "And you can teach me to control them?" Her gaze stopped as it fell on a crest hidden in Lillith's closet. It showed an image of six white feather wings at the bottom, and the head of a demon with six large horns above the wings.

Lillith closed the closest door. "I'm certainly going to try to teach you." She shrugged. "Never had to teach a demon about her powers before, it's like instinct. You just know." She pulled out a seal and flicked it into the air where it hovered.

"Instinct?" Kanako asked. "Is that why my powers only emerge when I'm in danger?"

"Could be." Lillith agreed. "The most basic instinct of any creature is to survive, but since you're a half breed though, something is getting in the way of that instinct that lets you access that power at will." She shook her head. "No, I think your problem is tied to your emotions. Anger gives you power, that seems to be your trigger."

Kanako nodded. "I think I understand." Ideas began to float through her head. She had caused terrible destruction last night in her anger. Luckily, Ice, Lillith and Kuro had been there to pull her back in quickly. If she were to lose control here in the inn with the others home, she shook her head to clear the thought away. Her mind now set, she turned to Lillith. "Where do we begin?"

Lillith smiled. "I see you've found a focus, that's good." She tapped the floating seal, and it began to change color. "This training will be strenuous for you, having focus will help." She tapped the seal as it reached an orange red color. "We'll begin with the basics, your strength. It will be your most basic way of defending yourself. If you can't master that, nothing else will come to you."

"Don't worry about me." Kanako fixed her gaze on the seal. "Granny Hina trained me in the martial arts, after that I can take anything."

Lillith smiled. "That remains to be seen, but perhaps, you are right."

---

"How'd you get your speech back Tama?" Ice pulled a cigarette from his pocket and lit up. "For once Naru actually made a good point."

Tama smiled. "My binding was changed somehow, so I can say more than 'myuh' now."

Ice nodded but looked away. "What was the damage Tama?" Ice sat on the steps at the front of the Hinata-sou smoking. "I know you wouldn't have come to find me if it wasn't bad."

Tama landed on Ice's shoulder, only to be shrugged off. Though she frowned as flew down to the spot next to him. "Heaven is in chaos right now."

Ice nodded as he tapped the ashes from his cigarette. "I figured as much."

Tama glared at him. "You figured as much?! Nearly fifteen thousand angels died last night!"

Ice stopped with his cigarette halfway to his mouth. "Fifteen? That's impossible."

Tama turned away. "What are you talking about? You know as well as I that because of the bonding how high the count would be."

"That's why I know that number can't be right." Ice replied.

"And you know that how?" Tama demanded.

Ice took another drag of his smoke. "Because I disposed of twenty thousand demons last night."

"That can't be." Tama shook her head.

"But it is." Ice stood. "Only one thing I know of could do that." He whispered, before turning to Tama. "Go back to the home office, tell the others I want a full search on this. This includes seraphim involvement."

Tama rose and began to fly off. "As you command."

Ice turned and went back into the house.

---

"Are you a moron?"

Keitaro blinked at Kuro's question. "Nani?"

Kuro sighed and landed on the roof. "That stunt with taking Kanako up to the annex."

Keitaro also sat, feeling more than a little self-conscious to be having this conversation with a cat. "I didn't bring Kanako up there, Naru was supposed to meet me."

Kuro stared at Keitaro in terror.

"What?" Keitaro blinked.

Kuro shook his head. "Your choice in women sucks."

Keitaro punched Kuro over the head, leaving a very large bump on the cat's head. His expression softened a moment later. "Why were you so upset that I almost took Kanako up there anyway?"

"Kanako's half demon, but she's also half human." Kuro explained. "But she loves you, her brother, with all her heart." He sighed. "Such thing could topple her off the borderline."

Keitaro shook his head. "I don't…"

"She has a chance to get to heaven." Kuro explained. "But if she falls in love with you, and you reciprocate, she will lose that chance." He turned a side-glance at Keitaro. "And so will you."

Keitaro blinked. "I had no idea it was that bad." He looked over the city. "Is hell really that bad?"

"To me, no." Kuro stretched out and lay down in the sun. "But I'm all demon, to humans, yeah it's pretty rough." He yawned and began to let down his barrier as he fell asleep. "Do yourselves both a favor, keep your distance."

Keitaro stood and walked away.

---

Kanako fell to her hands and knees. Her breathing was ragged and sweat poured from her body.

Lillith helped the girl to sit. "I think that's enough for today."

Kanako pushed Lillith away and stood again. "I'm not done yet." She reached out and grasped the seal again and the room faded from her view. For a moment complete darkness surrounded her, then the Hinata-sou reappeared. Kanako nodded and made her way into the building.

She made her way through the living room without incident, until she passed the mirror in the hallway. Demons began to pour through the reflection and Kanako dropped into an offensive stance. She lashed out as the first demon reached for her, shattering his skull. She spun and kicked the next, ripping his head from his shoulders. She ducked the next attack and rolled across the floor. As she stood she smashed her fist into the demon's jaw, driving the bone up into its brain. At last she reached her target. She spun and kicked the mirror over, shattering it and the portal it contained. She smirked as she looked at her handiwork. "To think I died the first time I did this run."

She moved on and passed the bath just as the doors were kicked in. She leapt away and waited for the dust to clear to see her opponents. These demons were like the ones on the bridge last night; stronger, faster, and more deadly. Kanako grinned. She stood and raised her hand to them. "By right of birth, come forward." Behind the demons a portal opened and something reached out and grasped the unsuspecting demons. The demons screamed as they were pulled into the maw and devoured. Kanako pulled a small paper from her cleavage and threw it towards the bath. Once the water portal was sealed she moved on.

She reached the roof without further disturbance. "Made it here in one piece, does that mean I win?" She screamed as something struck her in the back. Kanako rolled with the force of the blow and turned to see what hit her. A squad of demons with wings hovered above her with their claws extended. Kanako glanced over her shoulder to view the wound on her back. Nothing could be done about the new tears in her shirt, but she was relieved to see that the matching tears in her back were already healing.

She turned her attention back to the demons. "Ok, concentrate." Energy surged through her body and she lifted off the roof. She continued to ascend until she was of equal level to the demons and then charged forward. Speed gave her the element of surprise and she slew the first demon, and screamed as another demon attacked her from behind. Her concentration lost, Kanako began to fall from the sky. She watched in fear as the world rushed up at her, and felt her head crack against the ground.

Kanako gasped as reality came rushing back. Once again she was on her hands and knees gasping for air. "Damn it!

Lillith grasped the seal and removed it. "That'll make sure you don't do that again." She helped Kanako to her feet. "Come on, you've been at this all afternoon."

Kanako tried to stand on her own, and nearly fell. "I need…"

"To get some food in you before you pass out." Lillith finished. She smiled and laughed as she saw the evil look that Kanako gave her. "You've done more than enough for one day. I've never seen anyone master a bifrons summon in one day."

Kanako gave a wry smile. "Just imagine what I could do with more time."

Lillith nodded. "I'm sure. But you work to exhaustion, you won't be any good to anyone."

Kanako was silent for a moment. "Doesn't matter, the person I wanted to be good enough for doesn't want me."

---

"Ice?" Motoko stood behind the man as he sat on the roof.

"What do you want do want?" Ice asked distractedly.

Motoko walked over to were Ice sat. "The other day, you said I was untrained for the demons I would be facing."

Ice nodded.

Motoko swallowed. "I assume that you are trained, I ask you to train me."

Ice pulled out a cigarette. "You're a human, you'd never withstand the training."

"Than teach me what you can." Motoko insisted. She pulled the now silver Hina Blade from her sheath. "Why else would you give me this sword if I could not use it properly."

Ice stood. "Very well, you passed lesson one." He motioned to the roof. "We begin now."

Motoko readied herself. "Where's your sword?"

Ice smirked as his wings appeared. He reached back and selected a feather, after doing so his wings vanished again. "Right here. Now, attack."

Motoko held still, doubting that his feather could stop her sword.

Ice sighed. "You aren't going to hurt me. Now lets go."

Motoko charged and brought her sword down to hear the sound of metal on metal. She looked on in wonder as Ice's feather transformed into an enormous broad sword with a bladed wrist guard style hilt. "Impressive."

Ice grinned. "You've seen nothing." He forced her back with little effort. "I'm faster than the demons, but you're still far to slow. Your challenge is to get through my guard and injure me." He twirled his sword. "I assure you, it will be no easy task."

Motoko readied herself. "It would not be worth attempting if it were easy."

Ice nodded. "Well said. Let us begin again."

---

Shinobu and Kitsune sat in the living room watching the television. Rather the TV was on while Kitsune lay on the couch wasted and Shinobu read a magazine.

Shinobu looked up to the ceiling as the ring of clashing swords was heard. "Is Motoko still fighting Ice?"

Kitsune turned her gaze away from Lillith's room and made a sour face. "Sounds like it." She poured herself another saucer of sake. "Can't understand why she wants to be anywhere near that creep though."

"I don't think that Ice is as bad a guy as we all thought originally." Shinobu said as she closed her magazine. "I think he just doesn't know how to be around people." She shrugged. "When he's all by himself on the roof, he just seem…lonely."

Kitsune chuckled. "I wish I had your out look on the situation Shinobu." Kitsune down her booze and poured another. "I've seen guys like him countless times before, he has no redeeming qualities."

Shinobu shook her head. "Everyone has at least one redeeming quality." She turned a skeptical look on the older woman. "Besides, Ice is an angel. I doubt that you've seen guys like him before."

Kitsune sighed and poured another drink. "You'd be surprised."

"Then how do you explain the fact that Ice saved us in the bath the other day?" Shinobu questioned.

"Simple." Kitsune sat up, with some trouble due to her current BAL. "He didn't do what he did to save us, hell I don't think he even did it to save Kanako, whom he's supposed to be guarding." She downed the last of her sake. "He just did it to kill some demons, to take revenge."

"Revenge?" Shinobu was confused. "On the demons? For what?"

Kitsune smiled and started to stand so she could go get more sake. "Because the demons…whoa…dizzy…"

Shinobu watched as Kitsune's eyes rolled to the back of her head and fainted onto the couch. She rushed to the older woman's side, but shook her head with a sigh as she heard the snoring. "At least she's still alive, that much sake can't be good for you." Shinobu placed pillow under Kitsune's head and pulled the blanket up over her body before taking her seat again. She opened her magazine to where she had left off before and turned off the TV. "I wonder what Kitsune was going to say?"

---

Keitaro sat at the windowsill of his room. In his lap lay two books, one was his photo booth journal, the other was a non-descript black book. He looked out over the city as the first beams of moonlight replaced the final rays of sunlight. He gazed up at the sky and began counting the stars. He lost count after about five hundred or so, but that was ok. He just wanted to take his mind off the day for a little while, and counting stars had done that for him. He opened both books, sighed, and nodded.

He rose and climbed atop his table. "Naru? You there?"

The floorboard didn't move. "I'm not talking to you Keitaro."

Keitaro sweat dropped. "What? Are we five years old now?" He reached up and moved the floorboard and tried to climb up. "Come on Naru…whoa…red lace…"

Naru screamed. "Hentai!"

Keitaro proceeded to fall back into his room as both the rapid loss of blood at the nose weakened him and Naru's foot connected to his face. "Gomen…nasai…"

Naru glared at the unconscious landlord for a moment then covered the hole. "Damn it, I did it again."

---

Ice blocked another of Motoko's attacks. "Almost, but no."

Motoko swore as he forced her back for what felt like the billionth time this evening. "Why is it I can't hit you?"

"Cause you're slower than headless demon." Ice taunted her. He blocked another attack and pushed Motoko away. "You rely to much on your physical might, you're trying to strike a killing blow."

Motoko paused to think over his words. Power was great, but if you couldn't catch your enemy it was useless. Tsuruko had taught her that years ago, but speed and power had always gone hand-in-hand for Motoko. She nodded to herself; there is more then one way to defeat an enemy.

"You realize you'd be dead if you stood still that long, right?" Ice asked with a yawn.

Motoko shifted her stance and sheathed her sword. "Again."

Ice looked at her new stance with amusement, and then mimicked her move with a nod. "Again."

Motoko waited for the moment to present itself, the wind gusted, and she charged. She watched as Ice charged and waited until she was practically on top of him before drawing her sword. With a flash of blinding light the two combatants passed each other. Motoko fell to one knee as she completed her move, and stared at her glowing sword. "Nani?"

Ice turned. "With understanding comes knowledge, with knowledge comes power."

Motoko stood and gasped.

Ice held his arm out and showing the line of blood that dripped onto the roof. "Excellent work, I had not expected you to learn so quickly." The wound glowed and sealed without a scar. He looked up at the moon. "It has been a long day, get some rest. We can continue tomorrow if you wish."

Motoko nodded and began to leave the roof. After the day of training however, her muscled rebelled and she slipped down the roof as her leg buckled. She screamed as went over the roof edge, and suddenly stopped as she saw a flash of light. She blinked in surprise as Ice caught her in his arms. She looked down and saw that they were hovering in the air unsupported. She looked up and saw Ice staring at her in…concern? She blushed as she realized just how close she was to him. "Th-thank you."

Ice turned away and flew into the open third floor window where he set down the young swordswoman. "Whatever, just be more careful." He turned and walked away.

Motoko watched him go. "He seemed embarrassed just now, almost human." She blushed for a moment as she realized what she was thinking. "Yeah, right. Never mind that." She turned and entered her room, changed into an oversized t-shirt and fresh underclothes, and went to bed.

---

Ice entered his room and sat before the large amber crystal and let his form revert to its true nature. "I am sorry my love, it is difficult to control my heart it seems." Within the crystal, the image of a woman, seeming to sleep, was visible. A woman who bore a startling resemblance to Motoko.

---

Star: That was longer than your usual.

Rider: Yeah, well, I couldn't sleep…

Star: …? And?

Rider: And I work for the next two days…

Star: What are you hiding?

Rider: I go on vacation after that.

Star: -.- For how long?

Rider: A week…

Star: And you will be updating how?

Rider: Um…will it help if I promise to write while on vacation and I'll update when I get back?

Star: No updates for a week? (pulls out a katana) I think we need to talk.

Rider: Yipe! (turns and starts to run) She's worse than wraiths! Anyway, sorry to you all about the impending lack of update, but please let me know what you think anyway. (ducks and screams as Star takes a slash) Must go! Live safe and be well all. (whistles, jumps on Ginryuu, runs like hell)