Ki Master

Chapter 23

Author Notes: And we have finally reached the last chapter from my backups. Which means I need to binge write again lol. So unfortunately it'll be some time before I have the next set of uploads ready to go. But at least this one will be a bit longer than the usual. I do not own Blue Exorcist.

3rd P.O.V

It was early in the morning, but instead of slumbering away Izumo Kamiki was-for whatever reason awake and restless as she tossed and turned. She bit her lip as she crushed the blanket she had over her close to her chest.

A sense of anxiety was crushing her being and it was no surprise why. The night before left her upset and unsure for the first time in ages. Her best friend-her only friend Paku, confessed that she was quitting cram school.

Words couldn't describe the pain she felt when Paku scowled at her, sending her a look of disappointment as she scolded her on how she was treating the new girl Shiemi. Something she just couldn't understand.

The country girl couldn't take the hint that Izumo wasn't interested in being friends. All she needed in her life was her familiars and Paku. That was it-but the blonde bimbo kept pushing, demanding that she be friends. It was annoying.

If she was honest a bit of guilt hit her each time she told her new classmate to do some errand for her, but she only did so Shiemi could get fed up with trying and quit. Instead all she got was sunshine smiles and optimistic responses.

Making her mood even worse. Sighing, the twin tail haired girl sits up, glancing at the girl with a frown. "Ow!" She startles, flinching as a harsh whisper reaches her ears from beyond the room she was staying in. "Shhh! Quiet Rin, the last thing you need is to wake up someone."

With narrowed eyes Izumo glances at the door. "I know I know. But you promised. There's no need for you to mad at me for waking you up." The voices were growing fainter the longer the tamer sat there, still she waited.

"How was I supposed to know that damned priest was going to be late last night?" When she could no longer hear the quiet chatter or soft footsteps is when she made her move, her curiosity peaked. As quietly as she could she slipped out of the room.

Taking careful steps to follow the pair down into the basement. Which was surprisingly spacious compared to the rest of the building. "You know the deal Rin. Do your warm ups and we'll get the show on the road." Izumo's eyes widen in surprise as she finds Ming Xia stretching in a t-shirt and sweat pants.

While Rin takes out a sword, doing a repetitive pattern of strikes in a hoodie and jeans. It was way too early for anyone to be up. But for whatever reason these two were and looking at them like this shows it was a common occurrence.

The tamer page found herself hiding behind the doorframe as they warmed up. Surprised with how focused Rin was when all she's mainly seen him do is nap during class. She'll admit he was cute in a delinquent bad boy sort of way, but he was loud and annoying for the moments when he was awake.

"I'm ready to go!" Eventually the two found themselves facing each other with a competitive aura surrounding them. "You may begin." Ming Xia looking far more alive than when she was teaching class. "Hraaaa!" Izumo watched as Rin leaped, rushing straight for their teacher.

But despite the quick distance gap shortening Ming Xia didn't even look slightly concerned as she simply raised her hand high towards the ceiling. "Let's see how you maneuver in this tiny space Rin!" Her outstretched hand closed into a fist as a black aura surrounded the woman.

With grin and snap of her finger suddenly the entire room was filled with black aura orbs. "Shit!" With of course Rin heading straight for them. "Not gonna go down that easily!" He swung his sword, slashing at the dark balls in his way.

And what ones he wasn't attacking he was gracefully avoiding. "Guess I should make things a bit harder hm?" Winking, Ming Xia took her left pointer finger and spun it in a little circle, manipulating her aura as if she were telling a dog to roll over.

Her little energy balls obeying and moving just like said dog. All flying towards her student with no mercy. "Uh oh!" The tamer was speechless as she eventually settled onto sitting, watching it as if it were a show on tv.

Sure Ming Xia gave a little demonstration on her first day about the incredible use of aura, but never had she presented it like this to the class, let alone use it on them in such a deadly way like she did with Rin.

What was more incredible was the fact that her classmate was not showing any sort of fear-no. Rather he looked like he was enjoying the dangerous challenge as he met her head on with that weird sword. Doing flips and all sorts of acrobatic tricks that no one would've ever expected out of him.

However this little tango match came to an explosive end as Rin took an all for nothing gamble and jumped high into the air, doing a series of aerial flips straight down on the elder woman. "Nice try brat." Only to bounce off a force field she raised around her.

Making him collapse into a cloud of aura balls. "Urg! Dammit!" The teen laid there on the floor, groaning in agony. Whether it was from the pain he was currently in or the fact that once more he lost neither woman could tell.

But the Ki teacher was smiling all the same. "Better luck next time hon. As much fun as that was it's time to decompress with a five minute meditation-then we'll see about pulling out some of your ki to manipulate." Grumbling the boy takes a moment before sitting up.

Slowing down his breathing as he goes about getting into meditation mode. Leaving Ming Xia to tilt her head with a slight smirk as she glances to the entry way. "Did you enjoy the little show Miss. Kamiki? You know if you wanted to join us you could've asked."

She was caught red handed, and it showed as she sported a lovely crimson face. "Wh-what!? No thanks! I don't want to be beaten black and blue like that!" Still, now that the cat's out of the bag she approaches.

Giving the woman a wary expression even though she was sitting, completely calm and chipper as if she didn't just pelt one of her students with ki. "How come you guys are up so early?" A small hum escapes Ming as Izumo joins her on the floor.

"Mr. Okumura here isn't much of a sleeper apparently, and had asked for more...stimulating, accurate representations of how powerful ki manipulation can be. Considering he's going to be studying as a knight I felt it fitting to put his combat skills to the test."

It was a sound explanation, one that was easily accepted from the young girl. "Didn't realize you were willing to do more than give lectures and meditation drills." Though the tamer could feel there was far more to this than what her professor was saying.

She couldn't put her finger to it, but something was up. Especially since she could still see a black line around Ming's frame. With narrowed eyes, she took note of how it swirled and waved slowly, reminding her of a cat's actions. As if the mint haired woman was ready to pounce.

A stark contrast to her calm expression. "I said I was going to teach you kids my way-not the exorcists way. Never said I wasn't willing to put my faith in you kids to understand my husbands perspective and manipulate it properly." And that was the total truth.

"Mr. Okumura unlike the rest of you actually listens to my babbles and actually tries to follow my meditation instructions-regardless of how vague it may be. His motivations and intent along with his own aura shows I can trust him to carry on my husband's legacy. He's not the only one with potential."

At that the two of them lock gazes for a moment before Izumo looks away. Unable to hold on due to the intensity being sent in her direction on top of the fact that she was being called out for not really caring about the class.

It wasn't like she didn't care per say. "If the look you're giving me is any indication, you can already see my ki. If you tried to apply yourself then you possibly could be at Rin's stage of trying to manipulate it freely. Again-technically you all could." But it was so much harder than summoning her familiars.

The idea felt too abstract of a thing to understand let alone try out for herself, and that's when she wasn't bored sitting in silence for twenty or so minutes each time she attended. Still... "Does the meditation really make any sort of difference?" Automatically she turns her attention towards her left.

Not once had Rin made any sort of acknowledgement towards her presence. His eyes were closed and his posture relaxed, not paying attention to anything but his breathing and the life energy flowing all around him as well as within him.

"Meditation was how Ling and I found ourselves able to feel it...though admittedly I can see through our lessons that it may not be the best approach for everyone. I'm still learning as I go as much as I say I know it. Both his theories and life itself is all about discovering and learning new things."

Ming Xia laughed, slightly embarrassed with the admission. Again however, it was true, and she won't go around saying she knows far more than her students ever will(even though its still true considering her heritage and wisdom)

If the existence she's had is any indication, there was always something new to find and delve deeply into. If the world was the puzzle, then it was up to each person to solve some part of it. Big or small, everyone had a role to play.

"Now my question Miss. Kamiki...are you willing to try? Or will you allow yourself and whatever darkness grip your heart hold you back?" And she could tell these children, this new generation of exorcists in training will shake things up quite a bit.

It's only a matter of how. "I don't know how I'd start." It was then Rin returned to reality, his blue eyes blinking as he stared at his classmate for a minute. Only hearing the tail bit of the conversation. "Then don't think. Just feel." His mother snorts, thoroughly amused with the answer.

Leave it to him to say such a cryptic thing. Something that his fellow page didn't grasp or appreciate. "How!?" She was clearly the type to think, or ponder rational logic over being emotional like Rin. Which was probably just another factor as to why he was handling things so much easier.

"Let's try a more...direct approach. Prepare to be a test dummy Mr. Okumura." He already knew what was coming, but still tensed when their teacher glared in his direction, her hand reaching and slowly pulling out a bit of his ki.

Forming it into a ball like she had done time and time again before. But instead of it being a ball of blackness, it was a bright azure blue. "Now the thing about ki, is that emotion, control, and intent play a huge factor on how it can be used..."

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxxXxX

It was taking everything within her(and a firm grip on her shoulder) to keep her still. "Calm down Ming Xia. This is standard protocol." Easier said than done as she bit her lip. Her motherly instincts telling her to rip the mans hand off and go.

Go to her son and his classmates. "Is it? You punish the kids for bickering-something they always do and then allow a series of demons to attack them when they're tired and least expecting it?" She didn't know where these specific beings came from.

If the scent and aura was any indication probably from a fellow teacher. Meaning these were more docile then that of her relatives. But it still kept her on edge that she had to hide her aura completely and watch as those children fight for their lives.

"Normally not punishing but this is a test. To see if they're capable of handling themselves when in an unpredictable danger." This was why the damn priest would unexpectantly leave only to return late into the night during this little field trip.

And though she was told in advanced of the exam it still didn't give her any sort of relief. Paku, the kind girl was unconscious, banged up from a sneak attack in the girl's bathing section. "And it had to start with them?" Izumo had only a towel wrapped around her frame, crying as she held Paku.

Her familiars tried taking advantage of her weakness, attacking her, only for Rin to show up to give her aid. Allowing her a chance to rip up the paper. "Looks like your class has some merit after all." The two students theoretically should've been finished with the number of enemies surrounding them.

But all the teachers watched in awe as the tamer switched gears. Wiping her tears she extended her hand out, narrowing her enraged eyes. "I'll be damned..." Whether it was due to her mornings' lesson or Izumo desperate to help despite the circumstances, Ming Xia couldn't say.

But regardless of why she couldn't stop the shit eating grin from forming on her face. Doing her utmost the quell her laugh as the girl managed to place a protective purple ki barrier around Rin just as an enemy tried dropping a surprise slash to his back.

Only for him to shoot out a strong blue aura ball of his own to protect her in turn. "They're working together." This was a pleasant surprise the Ki teacher never realized she needed. Actually no that wasn't true, she had always wanted her son to make friends and find a cute girlfriend to love and cherish.

However she didn't think there would be any sort of comradery to be found here. He was always keeping himself at a distance from the other students despite liking all of them to an extent. It was more common to find Rin complaining to hell and back on certain characters or when something upset him.

Seeing this though left Ming Xia feeling pride. Rin and Izumo were working side by side with ki, fighting through a horde of demons while protecting Paku. They were beating the odds. "Come on!" And the moment an opportunity presented itself, Rin grabbed Paku, gently putting her over his shoulder with one arm.

Only to then drag Izumo out with his free hand. "Wh-where are we going?!" Theoretically this should be the end of the test. They showed they could handle themselves in a dangerous situation, showed use of the lessons and skills they've learned(with some unplanned surprises) and escaped with their lives.

But Mephesto insisted this continue. "We gotta find the others! Once we regroup we can take these bastards out once and for all!" Smirking her way as he said as such. "Let us see to the full extent of what they can do. Should things look grim we'll end it."

She couldn't help growling at him. The bastard was getting a kick out of her reactions. 'Full extent of what they can do' her ass-it was more along the lines of the full extent of how much he could push her buttons before she dives in to intervene.

Sadly-this was an actual, practical exorcist exam-so her little blood curse oath wasn't taking effect. Damn loopholes. It looks like she had underestimated him this time. Well...she'll have to change that. And fast.

to be continued

Author Notes: Well ladies and gents we have reached the end of yet another chapter. I know I didn't mention it in the top author notes but I did want to say thank you to all the people who have been taking an interest in this story so far.

I'm back in school on top of my jobs so i'm more tired than ever. Along with all the other stories i've been writing and uploading it takes me time to get a good amount saved up so i'm sorry to say it's going to be some time before more of this story is uploaded again.

But i'm grateful for the support and patience you guys have. It's been making my day to see someone fav or follow my work-so I promise I Will be back Hopefully soon... Ok, time for my rambling to cease.

As per usual everyone thank you so much for reading this series. If you like the series so far please feel free to fav/follow/review as it would mean a crap ton to me. Tchao for now guys!