R & R longer note at the end

Yumi returned with Kagura as she saw everyone sat laughing with Asuka as she looked over with a smile, Naraku leaned with her back against a tree she slowly looked up seeing Kagura walking to her with a smile the grey haired girl walked to her friend as she pulled her into a hug as she remembered what could have been.

"I'm glad you're safe" Yumi whispered as Asuka smiled returning the hug as the others smiled, no matter the results of their bouts the two girls had always remained friends Yumi broke the hug as Asuka smiled looking towards Kagura and Naraku glad to see the two were still around.

"Thank you Lady Kagura and Naraku" Asuka said as the two girl's looked over curious "For overseeing our match, it just seems like I have a lot more training to do". Asuka laughed nervously as she scratched the back of her head, Kagura locked eyes with the brunette she could hide her true feelings from everyone else but the black haired girl saw through it, Asuka was frustrated by her loss.

"Are you going to be heading back to Hanzō?" Yozakura asked as she got up grabbing a lunch box from her bag "Eat first at least". Asuka smiled as she waved the girl's kindness away claiming she wasn't hungry as she excused herself with a low bow waving goodbye to her friends as she headed off, Kagura watched as she turned to Naraku who nodded slipping away as she followed the brunette.

XXX

Asuka walked through the trees checking behind her every so often making sure she was alone, hearing the sounds of a stream she headed in its direction stopping at the water's edge staring into the water seeing her own disappointed reflection as she stomped into the water out of frustration as the calm surface rippled.

"How did she get so far ahead?" Asuka asked to the empty clearing as she kicked some loose stones pacing around "In terms of power Yumi and I had always walked side by side but now she's so walking ahead of me, getting further out of my reach. Has she always been stronger than me? Has she just been holding back all this time making fun of me?" Naraku lent against a tree listening in on the girl's thoughts, her presence concealed now understanding why her companion had sent her to check up on the brunette as she watched her kick more stones throwing herself onto a rock as she held her head down.

"Is it even possible to get to where I need to be?" Asuka spoke out once more, Naraku looked on she had always observed the other shinobi who visited the shrine they had always looked happy but now this girl looked depressed, defeated by her friend had obviously taken its toll. Unable to watch any longer Naraku made to leave however something stopped her, she felt a power building behind her as she looked over her shoulder her eyes locked on the stream as she saw something she couldn't explain.

"Weakling" said a deep voice as Asuka's eyes shot up falling off the rock she had been sitting on as her eyes widened in shock, stood on the other side of the stream was none other than the vision she had seen in her dream the loose stones remained in place as the figure walked forward toward her other self. Her eyes seemingly filled with disgust as she looked at her weaker self, the green aura flaring at the ends.

"How did she get so far ahead? Has she always been stronger than me? Has she just been holding back all this time making fun of me?" the second Asuka mocked the brunette "The ramblings of a weakling, I can't believe that I came from you. You lost to someone who has pushed themselves to the state you wish to be at and now your all depressed, sat on a rock kicking stones like a child. What do you think your friends in Hanzō would say if they saw you like this? What do you think she would say?" Asuka's eyes narrowed as she looked at her ascended self, she could feel a rage beginning to build this vision was what she wanted to accomplish, she thought of her friends of the person she had started this journey for as her rage boiled over.

"Shut your mouth already!" Asuka charged as she gripped her weapons drawing them as the vision smirked, with one slash the vision was gone the brunette panted as she looked around. Why had she seen this? Was this her mind playing tricks on her? No, this was something more holstering her weapons she clapped her hands against her own cheeks as she smiled, a loss was a loss but now wasn't the time to be sad, now was the time to continue training.

She looked over her shoulder back towards the camp smiling as the image of Yumi appeared in her mind, today was a loss but next time it would be her win, turning on her heel Asuka let out a breath as she headed home Naraku stayed hidden as a small smile played at her lips, she was beginning to understand just what it was Lady Kagura enjoyed about these girls.

XXX

"What do you mean you lost to Yumi?" Katsuragi had asked as Asuka recounted the events of her outing while trying to prise the blonde's hands off her chest "I never knew Yumi was so strong".

"Well she got a huge power up, will you let go of them already?" Asuka protested wondering where her blonde team mates grip strength seemed to come from, she sighed as Katsuragi reluctantly let go as she went to sit down fixing her shirt.

"So let me get this straight" Yagyū said as she sat cross legged listening to the conversation with her eye closed "Your dream indicated an ascended power which you are striving toward for more than one reason. Yumi has managed to achieve her ascended form which you were overwhelmed by, then you got depressed for a loss, saw your ascended form while awake?" Asuka nodded as Yagyū finally opened her eye looking at her friend and leader, her stoic expression remained the same as she contemplated her next words carefully.

"What is your next move?" she asked finally as she turned to glare at the approaching blonde "I'd advise you rethink your next move very carefully". Katsuragi huffed as she sat back down, Yagyū turned back to Asuka who was deep in thought what was her next move? There were still two more people she had planned on challenging but what if they were like Yumi? What if they had already reached their ascended forms?

"My next move" Asuka began as she looked up Katsuragi and Yagyū looked to her as she stood with a grin "I'm going to get stronger, I'm going to achieve my ascended form, I'm going to fight Homura and Miyabi". Without looking back the brunette slid the door open making her way past a confused Hibari and Ikaruga who had returned from training, the two entered the room as they closed the door behind them looking to the two others in the room for answers.

"Don't worry" Yagyū said as she closed her eye once more "She'll be fine". Hibari smiled as she skipped over to the cupboard rummaging for some snacks as Ikaruga locked her hands with Katsuragi's in a test of strength trying to prevent the blonde's advances.

Sometimes when your down you need yourself to pick you back up, so Asuka's stronger self decided to help her in a not so flattering way, then oyu have a friend like Yagyū who helps you sort your feelings out and a friend like Katsuragi who's hands may actually be part vice

Well guess we will find out if Asuka's plans come to fruition and of course we must know, did Ikaruga manage to win a test of s strength with a determined blonde pervert