Chapter 14 – Training

[Author Notes] (Character Thoughts)

The morning sunlight filtered in the small cabin, casting it's radiance upon the most unwilling of occupants. Keitaro Urashima.
Clutching his head in agony and whimpering softly, the young landlord rose shakily to his feet, only to rush into the bathroom for some much need vomiting. As he wretched his guts out, his adopted sister, Kanako woke up smiling, thinking back to the 75000 yen she had won off Haruka in a drinking bet. Haruka hadn't had the foresight needed to realize that Keitaro had the obvious advantage. "You OK?" she asked groggily.

"Yeah, great. I'm just getting reintroduced to the toilet." Came an equally groggy and sarcastic response from Keitaro as he walked out of the small restroom, towel draped over his lean frame. He sighed looking out the window. "Last night was something. Too bad we start training today." Having given his two cents, a sedate Keitaro walked back into the restroom for a shower.

Most of the families had gathered upon the top deck and were mingling as Keitaro and Kanako arrived ready for the training. At the front, seated upon a makeshift stage were Seta and two other women. Keitaro remembered vaguely that there was supposed to some sort of test. Leaning in, Keitaro questioned his sister; "What're we supposed to do?"

Before the younger Urashima could say anything, one of the women at the center stood and bellowed over the crowd, silencing them. "Ladies and Gentlemen. Welcome to Fugsaki preliminaries. As part of the elimination rounds, the families competing will be judged on three levels. Endurance, Stamina, and Execution style Combat. All in that order." The other woman stood up and continued. "The endurance test will take up the entire day. The Aoymas, Testyukya, Kadashi, Gishibuto, Meilain, Urashimas and the Dijabouta each have ten contestants. Will the visitors and supporters please separate. There should be seventy contestants here. By the time we reach the Aoi island, there will be 56 left of you."

They large group separated, and a large number of the guests left for the recreation downstairs, wishing well to the contestants. Then Seta stood up and started listing out the names of contestants in roll call. "For the Aoymas; Motoko, Hitomi, Truskito..." on and on the list went on. Keitaro spaced out until he heard his family name being called out. "...the Urashimas; Ken, Takydo, Ayane, Sasuka, Miho, Jun, Jin, Kanako, and finally Keitaro." A glint of recognition and something else passed through Seta's eyes for a minute before fading, while Seta looked up at Keitaro, who gave a half nod.

Soon, the trials began in earnest. From what the judges had said, they were going to eliminate two from each family. The trial would last the whole day, from 10:15 AM, to 10:15 PM. The families were to mix and assimilate and sprint around the main deck twenty times. This was a feat in it of itself. Then they were to do a series of testing acrobatics, mostly flips, then some technique related sword stances and attacks. Then repeat until the trial period was over. To top it all off, the judges reserved the right to hurl attacks at the contestants as part of the test.

"On your mark," the woman began, pulling out a gun, "get set," she continued as Keitaro tensed up next to Kanako, "GO!" The shot rang out in the air, signalizing the start of the tournament, and with it, a new generation of warriors.

"Did you hear something?" Kitsune said as she worked off her hangover. "sssssssshhhhuuutttttttttupppppppp!!!!!!!!" came the groggy reponse.