World: Warring States (Feudal Era)

Period: Muromachi (Sengoku-judai)

Date: Sunday, August 27

Location: Adyta Citadel-Training Halls

Time: 5:34 pm

Sounds of shouting and blunt impacts rang out through the large chamber of the cut off house as the miko Saerai trained with her master.

"Too slow!" her Shishou snarled, shoving Saerai and her partner apart. He turned to the miko sharply. "Left palm, right palm, right uppercut, left sweep, over, pin!" he demonstrated for the fifth time, his movements quicker then the blink of an eye. Saerai groaned and turned back to her partner.

She repeated the moves a lot slower than he had showed and missed her landing on the front flip, slamming down onto her back. "Aie!" she cried out in pain, biting her lower lip and slowly sitting up. Her master yanked her up and shoved her back forward while she rubbed her backside.

"No time for mistakes! Keep going!" he snapped at her as her partner retook his stance. She nodded and stepped towards him, then did the routine again and stuck the flip this time, pinning her partner to the ground by stepping on his chest right below his throat.

"Better…now, next. Current, switch, falling star, uppercut, kickback." He called out, not demonstrating the new combo this time. Saerai did her best to copy it by memory but at the uppercut she lost her balance and fell forward, her partner slamming down on her. She cried out again and her master threw the 'dummy' off, yanking her to her feet.

"Enough for today. Go wash up." He muttered while grabbing hold of Saerai's partner by the wrist roughly. "Your mother will fetch you in an hour's time." He called over his shoulder while dragging the boy with him. Saerai sighed and walked off, still rubbing the bruise now forming on her back.

(5:51 pm)

After grabbing a towel and a clean kimono, Saerai made her way down the lavender-lined path towards the hot spring. She pulled off her training armor, haori, and hakama and tossed them beside the bank. She then pulled her hair free from the topknot and waded into the hot water slowly, steam rising up as she did. Once she was in far enough where the water went to her shoulders, she positioned herself back against a rock lining the pool.

She then let out a heavy sigh, looking up at the moon. "It has been over two moon phases. Why have you not returned?" she called out softly, then looked down to the water with another sigh. She then closed her eyes and sunk down a bit more in the water till in reached her chin, laying her head back against the rock.

Only a few seconds later, some twigs and leaves crunched from the forest behind her and she slinked down deeper into the water, her ears pricking forward in attention. The sounds grew closer, like footsteps, followed by rustling not far behind. She slowly reached back to the ground behind her and searched for some kind of big stick.

Once she found a branch suitable, one that looked capable of knocking one out quite easily, she held her breath and sat in silence. As the foot steps grew both closer and quieter, her grip on the branch tightened. She raised it as the approaching person grew behind her but a hand quickly shot out, snatching the branch and the other covering Saerai's mouth.

Her eyes widened and she began to struggle to pull away, at the same time trying to scream, her calls muffled though. "Saerai, it's alright. It's me." A young male whispered into her ear from behind, slowly removing his grip from her mouth. She shot around to see the dog-demon from a few weeks before kneeling in front of her with a lazy grin, his group of wolves gathered not far behind him.

"Touga!" she cried out in joy, jumping up and throwing her arms around his neck. He hugged her back then they both blushed. He quickly pulled away and turned around to his wolves as she rushed to the bank across the spring and snatched her towel, quickly wrapping herself. She brushed her hair back behind her shoulders and wiped the water from her face.

"Are you decent?" he asked then gave his wolves a light sneer. A few of them huffed with a shake of their head and the corner of their lips tugged up in a smirk.

"Yes." She replied, sitting down on a rock beside the spring. Touga turned and smiled at her.

"Sorry I didn't return sooner. I've become the new lord over my clan! Everyone bows to me and obeys whatever I say." He informed her proudly, then gave a chuckle. "Just thought it was time to take a small break though."

"Well, I am glad that you did. I missed you." Saerai told him then blushed a light pink.

"Hey, wanna go somewhere together?" he suddenly asked, springing forward and growing real close to the female. The sudden action almost made her fall over back wards.

She steadied herself and met his gaze. "Um…sure. Where to though?""

"I want you to meet a friend of mine first. Then he'll take us somewhere." Touga replied before jumping to his feet. His wolves gathered closer though kept their gaze locked on the miko. He held out a hand to her and they eased partly.

She grabbed the hand and pulled herself up, making sure the towel stayed in place. "Alright. Just let me get dressed and I'll be right out." She told him before rushing inside. She then came back out with a knee length navy and white kimono on, with sleeves to the elbows, and silver trim. Her hair was pulled back into a braid then looped at the top, making two small loops near the back and the braid seemingly shorter.

Touga's breath left him and he took a stumbling step forward. "Well…Milady. Shall we..go now?" he asked, breathing deeply.

The miko gave a soft laugh and grabbed hold of one of his arms. "Alright then, lead on."

He placed his other hand on hers and held it firmly. "Hold on tight and leave everything to me." He whispered as his wolves began trotting into the forest. While she was still in confusion, he pushed off from the ground and bolted forward, the surroundings flashing by.

"Dog demons of my clan are none for their speed. Only one other clan can even match us." He said proudly to her with a grin and she just gripped his arm tightly.

"Is this safe?" she cried out, noticing how they had passed the wolves and left them behind at what appeared to be miles back.

"Safe? Hah! What's life without risks?" he said with a laugh and jumped up out of the trees, soaring down once free from the forest.

"Time to show you what a real youkai is."