6: Defeat

"...Renko?"

…

"Renko?"

"..."

"At least answer her." CMarisa frowned.

"..."

"Renko..."

"...Hmph."

"R-Renko?"

"So this is what it's like to lose." I said, "Not very pleasant."

"At least you finally know." CMarisa smirked, "So? What are you going to do now?"

"...I'm not sure yet."

"Why don't you ask us?"

I took out my orbs, releasing my Dolls onto the table.

"You're okay." I noted.

"Why wouldn't I be?" CReimu sighed, "More importantly, you finally understand don't you? The power of a Maiden."

"...Yeah."

"You can bet that the Doll you fought isn't her only one." CMarisa said, "She may even have 6."

"...6 huh?"

"...S-Should we get something to eat?" Maribel said, getting up, "I-I'll see what they have."

I watched as Maribel run off.

"You're an insensitive kid." CMarisa said.

"...I know what she's trying to do. I just don't think it'd help."

"Ha." CMarisa said, jumping off the table, "I'll go with her. I can't stand you being gloomy."

"Where are we going?" CReimu asked as she sat on my shoulder.

"...Dunno."

CTokiko chirped from atop my head.

"Sure you didn't want to stick around?" CReimu said.

"..."

"...So? What now? Training?"

"..."

"...Great, now you're even ignoring us." CReimu sighed.

"Yo."

I looked up from my training, "...Kai."

"You're Maribel's friend aren't you?" Kai smirked.

"What do you want?"

"Get her out here. I want to see just how powerful she is."

"..."

"...Hey. You look depressed. Something wrong?"

"..."

"You lost a battle?" Kai laughed, "So that's what's bothering you?"

I frowned, wondering if telling him was one of my better decisions.

"Ha...Ha! I-Is that it?"

"What?"

"Is that all that's bothering you? If that's all then you're a worse trainer than I thought you were."

"What do you mean?" I frowned.

"Losses happen all the time!" Kai said, "It's nothing to get depressed over."

"..."

"Ahem. Still depressed? Well, I tried."

"Nice attempt." I said.

"Hey, I'm not your friend."

"I know."

"...Heh. Say..."

"What?" I frowned, noticing his tone.

"How about a rematch?" Kai smiled, "I could use a chew toy before my battle against Maribel."

"..."

Trainer Kai challenged you to a battle!

"Just letting you know, I'm not going easy on you today." Kai said.

"...Go, CTokiko."

"Tweet!" CTokiko chirped as she appeared.

"Hah, you still only got 2 Dolls? No wonder you lost. Go, CMugetsu!"

"CTokiko, Sand-Attack."

"Still using that same old strategy?" Kai smirked, "CMugetsu! Double Team!"

CMugetsu ran to the side, the Sand-Attack missing her. She began to run circles around CTokiko, making afterimages as she ran.

"Ha! How's that? I took a page from your play book! Now your attacks can't-"

"Quick-Attack."

CTokiko dove at an incredible speed, smashing into CMugetsu with shocking accuracy.

"AH! Hey!"

"Fury Swipes."

CTokiko raised her arms, claws out and began to relentlessly scratch CMugetsu.

"C-CMugetsu, Defense Curl!"

CMugetsu curled into a small ball and glowed. CTokiko yelped as her claws scratched against the hardened surface and flew away.

"Don't let her get away! Doubleslap!"

CMugetsu got up and jumped at CTokiko, drawing her arm back.

"Air Cutter."

CTokiko smiled as she drew her wing back and slashed with it, sending a disk of air flying at CMugetsu. CMugetsu yelped as she was shot out of the air.

"AH! Cheap!"

"Sand-Attack."

"AH! CHEATER!" Kai cried as CMugetsu as hit with sand.

"That's good, CTokiko." I said, returning CTokiko to her orb, "Go, CReimu."

CReimu appeared and frowned at her opponent, "You again?"

"I'm winning this time!" Kai announced.

"That'll be entertaining." CReimu smirked, crossing her arms.

"Grr...CMugetsu, Double Team!"

CMugetsu got up and ran forward, circling CReimu with afterimages again.

"Oh? At least you're not using the furball anymore."

"CReimu. Seal Needle."

"Okay, Okay." CReimu sighed, taking out her Ofudas.

With a toss, the Ofudas froze in midair. Then they began to launch themselves at CMugetsu, blasting her out of her laps.

"Don't slow down! Doubleslap!"

CMugetsu got back up and jumped at CReimu, smacking her twice in the head.

"..."

CMugetsu backed away when CReimu glared at her.

"Razor Wind."

CReimu summoned up the wind, surrounding herself with mini tornadoes. CMugetsu gulped and ran off.

"Ah, hey! Double Team!"

CMugetsu stopped and quickly ran back, surrounding CReimu once again with her afterimages. CReimu glared at the images surrounding her before shooting the tornadoes at one of the afterimages. They smashed into CMugetsu...and went through her.

"Missed?" I frowned.

"Haha! CMugetsu, Doubleslap!"

CMugetsu stopped running and charged at CReimu, landing 2 more hits.

"Yes! CMugetsu, Double Team! We won't let her hit you!"

"...Can you feel it?" I asked.

"...Yeah." CReimu said, closing her eyes.

"Then...use Razor Wind."

The tornadoes returned again, this time swirling around her more lazily.

"What's with that?" Kai smirked, "If you're not going to attack, I am! Doubleslap!"

CMugetsu broke from her laps to charge at CReimu straight on. CReimu opened her eyes, getting up quickly...and turning around. The wind followed her as they shot off towards the opposite direction of where CMugetsu was attacking...and slashed a CMugetsu from out of nowhere into the air. The afterimage behind CReimu weakened and disappeared before it could even touch her.

"H-How'd you know?" Kai cried.

"I used my Intuition." CReimu smirked.

"Think you might miss?" I asked.

"No way." CReimu said.

"Jump Kick."

CReimu jumped into the air with a smile. As CMugetsu slowly got back up, she noticed CReimu descending with her kick and yelped.

"Lost again?" Kai cried, tearing at his hair, "How could I lose?"

"You only have one Doll?" I frowned.

"W-Well...T-This was actually supposed to be a training session, but then I saw you and...I-I don't have to tell you anything!"

"Renko?"

"Maribel?" Kai cried, recognizing her voice, "Maribel!"

"EH? K-Kai?"

"I challenge you!" Kai shouted, reaching for his orb.

"I just beat you." I reminded him.

"Oh right. Damnit!"

"Renko." Maribel said, looking at me, "..."

"...I've been thinking." I announced.

"Eh?" The 2 of them looked at me.

"After my loss, I realized just how strong my enemy is. At this rate, I won't be able to defeat them."

"..."

"So I've decided...I will challenge the Gyms."

"...R-Really?" Maribel cried.

"I need more than wild Dolls to become stronger." I said, "And...I'll need more than two Dolls. But I'm only willing to have 6."

"Renko..."

"That's more like it." CMarisa smiled, "You're finally beginning to learn."

"Don't take the Gyms lightly." Kai smirked, "If I can only get one badge, there's no way you'd ever get one. Well...at this rate anyway. If you really want to, I can train you."

"I refuse."

"Gh. Hey! No consideration at all?"

"None."

"That's it! You and me! Right now, let's go!"

"I just beat you."

"Wh...I'll be back!"

Maribel watched as Kai run off. Slightly confused, she ignored it and turned to me, "Are you sure?"

"Yeah." I said, "If I want to beat Sanae, I'll need to get stronger. This just happens to be the only way."

"That's what I wanted to hear!"

"Rikako?" I frowned as I pulled out my Dolldex, "Why didn't you respond until now?"

"I had research." Rikako pouted, "And I didn't feel like talking to you when you were all depressed."

"Depressed?" I frowned, "What depression?"

"That's the spirit!"

"No seriously, did I really look depressed?"

…

"Wait...so you..."

"I was thinking." I frowned, "I was thinking of a way to defeat the shrine after I've obtained information on Sanae. I just needed some time. Though after all that, I still decided to fight Gyms and capture Dolls."

"..."

The girls suddenly began laughing.

"W-What?" I demanded.

"N-Nothing." Rikako laughed, "Y-You're a weird person aren't you Renk-HAHaha!"

CReimu tried hiding her own laugh with a snort.

"Seriously though." Rikako said, as she calmed down, "It's nice to see you finally becoming a better trainer."

"Yeah." Maribel said, "Maybe I can help. I have 4 badges after all."

"Not anymore."

"Eh?" Maribel quickly pulled out her Dolldex and opened her badge compartment, "M-My badges! Where did they go?"

"I teleported them." Rikako said smugly, "They're back in the hands of their leader."

"H-How could you?" Maribel cried.

"You're a catcher. Not a trainer."

"Can't I do both?"

"Nope." Rikako said.

"B-But..."

"What about me?" I asked.

"Eh? Oh, you're trying to take down a shrine so Gyms are probably the best idea to go."

"Right..."

Maribel sunk to the ground, sniffing.

"...Cheer up. I can still use your help. You fought them before, so-"

"Thanks." Maribel said, wiping away her tears, "Let's just hope Rikako doesn't teleport yours away too."

"Still mad about that?"

"It's been 30 seconds!"