Chapter 14: part 2

Azami frowned.

Something was really getting to her, a nagging feeling at the back of her head. No screw that, whatever it was it was making its way right to her chest. Her heart had started beating like there was no tomorrow. She eyed Lei fiercely, she sincerely hoped he'd die of seizure before he could plant his kiss.

Rae tapped her shoulders "Azami, are you feeling alright? You look really flushed."

Azami gave her a false smile and took in a deep breath. "I am alright Rae-san." she said cheerfully. The girl gave her an odd look "But your trembling." Azami was barely keeping herself in check "I'm fine!"

Azami crushed the aluminum cup in her hand.

A wry smile broke the steely visage of the woman hiding behind the curtains. She knelt down and drew the dagger hanging by her waist. "And with this…" she pressed the blade against her skin, she allowed her blood to trickle unto the kanji she had written on the floor "the seal is complete."

Purple energy crackled along all the sides of the room, the woman steeped out from behind the curtains grinning.

Lei froze, a strange sensation fluttered over him causing his hairs to rise. His gaze quickly returned to Yukino, her eyes had taken on an vacant look. "Hey, hey!" he slapped her cheeks lightly, the girl however couldn't move. Lei quickly noticed the silence, everyone around him besides the strange woman were in some form of stasis.

"I believe everything is… peachy?" a familiar feminine voice said from behind.

Quickly, Lei spun around. His eyes narrowed into two small slits. The woman in front of him was wearing a black, skin-tight, leather suit which clung to her curves perfectly. She may have kept her face under a mask but from her accent, body and the dead giveaway was her hairstyle. The woman's green hued hair was secured into a bun by three chopsticks. "Ai!" he spat.

The woman approached him "Well, Well, Isn't it a surprise… already your hitting on other girls."

Lei quickly took on a defensive stance. He knew how dangerous the woman was, he probably just caught her off guard the last time.

"It seems this stasis enchantment didn't affect you." She bit her lips.

"Would you please leave me alone!"

She raised a finger and waved it "Tsk! Tsk! I can't do that, not now."

Lei quickly assessed the situation, Fire was his forte. But seeing as to how destructive it was he needed an alternative. Something that wouldn't do much damage, then it hit him. Lei quickly finished the incantation for the energy coat.

"Let me escort you to the exit then." he cockily exclaimed. With a mana-charged jump he soared into the air, fists drawn back ready to deliver a powerful blow.

"Take this!" he shouted.

He heard an audible crack, like the sound of shattered glass. He opened his eyes, he stared with disbelief. An energy shield surrounded Ai. But she didn't know Kyrie Elison? How could this happen? Lei jumped backwards barely landing on his feet. His last attack had drained him.

"That was easy." Ai said. She bent down and sprung towards Lei. The young mage braced himself 'Not good.' He thought. The woman had twice his experience and was more learned than he was, it was only by chance that he won last time. His mana-boost was powerful, but it was difficult to sustain and it was easily fatal. Ai had begun her attack, a series of rapid kicks that he barely avoided.

"This is to easy!" Ai said between breaths. She was right, he was only blocking, he needed to find an opening—and one presented itself. Lei swung his fists upwards in a vicious uppercut, but the shield knocked his fist aside. "Shit!" he hissed, this time Ai found an opening. Her kick sent him flying backwards.

She laughed. His energy field had nearly given way. Even now it was fluctuating. Lei got up and once more took on a defensive stance 'Shit this is bad. I have to take her out, but I can't use fire… plus I can't afford spending too much stamina.' the teenager slowly edged backwards.

"Are you scared?" Ai teased.

Lei prepared himself 'Her shield would just deflect my attacks. But I've hit her twice.' Lei was sure it would only block one more attack. Ai quickly pulled out the three chopsticks from her hair, she shook her head allowing it to flow freely. Then with a graceful flick of the wrist she sent all three in Lei direction. He managed to dodge two but the third scarped his arm. His left arm suddenly felt weak.

"Narcotics." he muttered.

"Very good observation." Ai clapped her hands.

Lei kept his head bowed down, he was muttering what seemed to be curses again and again.

"Don't fret. This will be over very soon."

Lei found himself pinned against the wall. Ai was slowly cornering her prey, she had him trapped. However a wry smile broke across his lips. Lei tore the ropes restraining the pulley's counterweights sending the bags of sand falling. "Damn it." Ai hissed as she leapt backwards. The dust had greatly reduced the visibility but she still had her Kyrie Elison.

A shadow fell from the sky, Lei's lean figure was falling, his fist drawn back yet again. Ai would have laughed if the situation wasn't serious, did he seriously expect to win with the same maneuver. The barrier broke, but not before stopping his fists to a halt. Ai then caught his hand "That was foolish." Ai then noticed the grin on Lei's face, her triumph was short-lived. Lei placed his other hand on her chest, he muttered the final verse of the water ball spell.

Ai was sent flying into the opposite wall. The force of the water ball was so powerful that it left a dent on the floor.

"How did you do that!" Ai shouted.

"Simple, A delayed spell."

"D-Delayed?"

He smiled "Yes. I muttered the incantations when you had me cornered."

"But you were moving!"

"Free Cast."

Ai frowned. He had mastered a skill that took years for a Sage to learn. She smiled in spite of herself, he truly was a son of the Yang family. But he was still human. Ai pulled out five talismans from her pockets, she muttered incoherent words. "You still lose!" she threw the talismans into the air, five pools of shadows formed around them and from those pools emerged bonguns.

Ai forced herself up.

Lei collapsed on his knees, his energy coat had dissipated and his stamina was almost drained to exhaustion. As the bonguns closed in one Koizumi Azami jumped between them and their prey.

"That enchantment took some time to break." she said.

Azami bent downwards and swung her blade in an arc, the blade itself didn't touch the bonguns but they were all sent flying. "Doshi puppets. Predictable." she breathed. Ai took on a defensive pose, this was no ordinary girl, that was certain.

She bent down beside Lei. "Do you have any serious injuries?" she asked. Lei shook his head. "Good" Azami said, she elbowed him on the face. "That's groping her." Lei rubbed his face "That was totally unnecessary." he shouted back. Azami however paid no heed of him. She pointed her katana in Ai's direction.

"I challenge you." she exclaimed. Their eyes met and an agreement was made.

Ai smiled, she withdrew two switchblades from her sides. "Your sword style, it's the Shinmei Ryu correct."

Azami re-sheathed her sword and took on an offensive stance. "How do you know of the Shinmei Ryu..?"

Author's Note: I got the Shinmei Ryu thing from Love Hina.

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Thanks for reading this guys, it really means a lot to me. Sorry if this last update took loger than usual