A/N: Thirds up. Discalimer is, or should be, on the first chapter. All applicants and accepted applicants, a note: Sorry, but it clogs up my scedual. Keep a look out though, i might select you for another story. Sorry.

This is an unpolished, yet completed chapter, and will be fixed when contact with my prereader is established again. ON with the story.

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Perspiration made itself known, as Keitaro moved back into another stance, ready to continue the lesson. He had only been there for five months, and he already had a permanent spot in the Aoyama clan. He had changed too. No longer was he the scrawny young man, shying away from anything that could harm, i.e. girls, women, swords, etc. Instead, he faced them with confidence not previously known to him. His words turned collected, no longer stuttering when convicted of foul play. But he still was one who worried, and he worried about his spirit.

They had moved onto chi, however his spirit was never present with or in the chi, and his newly aquired friends, along with himself, had started to worry.

Wairily, he circled Tsuruko, taking in her stance, movement and breathing. Anything to identify how she was going to go at him next. Eyes twitched, lungs heaved, chi was swerling about the room, trying to ensnare the other, and bend it to their respective masters will. Time seemed to slow, the whole world seeming to stop in anticipation…and she moved. Fast.

Barely moving quick enough, he blocked it, only to receive another warning at another angle. Their chi started to follow their movements, amplifying their power, speed, skill. Soon they were lost to the human eye, going so fast, only those trained could pick up movement. Robes swirled, swords met resistance, bouncing off each other. Each movement was coordinated and precise. Again and again, the sequence of strike, turn, twist, parry, was played. Nothing could stop the continuous dance of blades. A foot lashed out, tripping Keitaro.

"FINISHING STRIKE!"

Almost nothing.

Tsuruko's blade came down fast and swift, stopping a millimeter from Keitaro's chest.

"Game…(gasp) over…" came the exhausted voice of Keitaro.

"Yeah. Work on your stamina though. Great job though." Tsuruko replyed. She was breathing heavily, but not to the same extent as Keitaro. She too had sweat covering her brow, her face red with racing blood as it was still overactive, trying to get to all places at once.

"You held back though Tsusuko-sensai."

"Only to test your endurance. Come Keitaro, tomorrow we will battle again, and this time you will use your spirit." Keitaro gulped. He hadn't told anyone about his dilemma. "Go take a shower, it'll refresh you. Dinner will be served soon."

Bowing to each other, they took off in separate directions.

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A New Hope

Chapter 3

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Keitaro thought about his position. Not the position of his physical self, rather the rash choices that seemed to be fixated inside him, begging to be brought into action. He sighed, his place in a corner of the garden defiled only by stray leafs, floating on the gental air, and a few birds that deemed him to be not an immediate threat. Looking towards the horizon, the sunset in a beautiful picturesque area, framed by the southern mountains, and let out a deep sigh.

"My, my…what do we have here," A voice floated down from above, feminine in tone, yet strong and demanding.

"If you knew what I'm going through, then you would know exactly what you have here." Keitaro through the words civilly upwards to his hidden friend.

"But I do know what I have here, my brooding friend. And I know exactly what is going on in your mind. One just has to look at you."

Keitaro smiled, and called upwards, "Then what am I thinking then, O' great Satsuna. Come, tell me."

Satsuna, hidden by the branches, smiled then spilled the beans. "Well, your mind is clouded in doubt. You acknowledge that you are a great warrior, nearly unsurpassed in speed and technique. However, you worry that your gifted spirit, the one you so perfectly melded with, is not…what's the word…listening to you."

Keitaro was surprised to tell the truth. He was prepared for some strange story that would be made on the spot, but she nailed it. With unsurpassed accuracy. "How did you…"

"…Do that?" she cut him off. "I went through the same thing. Every once in a while, a spirit has trouble fitting in with its 'host' so to speak. It's a recognized problem, and not unheard of. However, the last one before me who had 'our' problem, was initiated into the school not two hundred years ago. It's a forgotten anomaly."

"How did you fix it?"

"…I was forced into a fight, five years ago…I nearly died…"

Keitaro looked down, ashamed that he brought up a painful experience. "Sorry…"

"No, I need to get this out." She sighed. "It was night, a thunderstorm blocking out the moonlight…"

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5yrs ago

Kyoto, 2345hrs

Rain was pelting down, the air hot and humid. Flashes crossed the sky, lightning illuminating a young woman, not 17 years old. Soaked to the bone, her clothes clung to her. To the casual observer, she was just another caught out in the rain, a group of people talking to her. Reality was different, as a figure lashed out, causing her to buckle over, a cry of pain hidden by the crash of lightning.

"Whore. How (the sound of a fist striking skin sounded) Dare you embarrass (another hit) Me!"

The men surrounding them, most of them young adults, older teenagers, chuckled at the sight, none moving to interfere.

"(cough)Please, stop i…" another hit, interrupted her speech.

"Shut up!" and another barrage of pain came her way.

Another stepped forward, something gleaming in his hand as he gave it to her assaulter, who grinned with delight. "Well, times up, we must be going. However, there might be a delay with you making it to your destination…"

He advanced on her, his hands revealing the small knife passed to him, causing her to scramble backwards, away from him and the knife, only to be stopped by a brick wall lining the alley. "Please…stop."

"Don't you worry now dear, we will…after we have finished." He stopped in front of her, his hands on their way to her clothes and neck. Grabbing her, he pulled her up to him, the knife pressed against her throat. "Any last words?"

Her head, previously facing away from him, turned around, her eyes shining with an inner light. "Yeah. Go to hell." With that, she grabbed his wrist and pressed on its pressure points, causing him to cry out as he dropped the knife. She head butted him, making him flinch, and with her might, she punched him in the gut, her Ki swirling around her fist as he flew back three meters.

She glared at the semi-circle surrounding her, and in a surprisingly strong voice, declaired one thing. "Who's next."

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Present time

"…What happened was what I suspected, they ran like the cowards they were, while one stayed shouting at them. Needless to say, when I tapped him on the shoulder, he ran screaming like a little girl."

Keitaro gazed at the red sky, the sun no longer visable, yet still wanting to shine, giving a last ditch effort, as Keitaro envisioned the scene within. Silence reigned.

"So what do you think I should do…Satsuna? Hey, Satsuna!"

"Eh, sorry. I lost myself there. What do I think you should do? Go discover yourself. Explore Japan as a new person, while trying to unlock the door between you and your spirit."

Keitaro nodded, having thought of the same scenario himself. "Thanks, I better go prepare then. I'll be leaving early."

"Hey, Kei?"

He looked up at her, seeing her frame upon a topmost branch, her blue eyes boring into his, framed by raven hair on a tanned face. "Yeah?"

Reaching around her neck, she unclasped a small charm, Kanji engraved upon it, declairing protection for its wearer. "Here, you might need it. If I think I know where your going, you will." She dropped it into his hands.

"Thanks Satsuna. I'll return it when I get back."

"Don't bother, I have others." She declared as she pulled another one seemingly out of nowhere.

"Good evening then. I'll see you later."

Keitaro strode off, his friend watching his back. "hmm, I wonder if these charms work…" she muttered, before she too, started back to her room.

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0435hrs

the next day…morning…whatever

Keitaro slipped down to the gates, silence never once betraying him. Dressed in a traveling set of Hikama and Gi, he held a travel satchel, containing clothes, food, and necessities.

"Where do you think your going." A voice demanded from behind him, causing him to jump.

"Tsu…Tsuruko. I-I not going anywhere."

She raised an eyebrow. "Don't lie to me Koteh, You know I don't take well to lies."

He gulped.

"Well…"

He gave in. "I going to discover myself, and my spirit…Tsuruko-sensai, I have no-no contact with the spirit inside."

Her eyes widened in realization. "Then you…That explains why I couldn't really sense him in your ki…

He nodded. "I talked with Setsuna, she…She gave me the idea."

"Wait here." She demanded of him and took off.

'Well, that went well. But at least she understands…I think I'll miss this place. It's the only place that I've been where I get respect, and I get to explain things…I wonder how things are going back at the Inn…' he trails off that thought, knowing how much pain the place had brought him.

Tsuruko arrived at his location quickly, a long object in her hands.

"Tsuruko, what's that?"

She held up the item with both hands. "A samurai needs a sword right? I had this made for you. It was crafted in this school. Look after it."

Keitaro received it gently, his hands coming into a tight grip around it. A plain black sheath, cased the bright metal inside. The olive green lace around the handle creating a comfortable grip, stopping at the guard, which had orchids imprinted into the brass. Keitaro was speechless.

"I've tested the blade, and it's very well balanced. It's also been oiled, so it'll be a while before its next cleaning."

Keitaro nodded in thanks, a smile crafted onto his face. "I guess this is farewell for a while."

She nodded. "Goodbye Keitaro. Come back safe. We will be waiting."

With that, the two embraced, and he took off into the early morning fog.

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A/N: What did you think, Good? The sword recieved is based off my own (and it is balanced, oiled, but no sharb edges. If only you could see it...). Anyway, R&R, please. I like the responses i'm getting. I'm signing out now, Till next time. and don't forget, Review.