Chapter IV - Chiibi's Training

AN: Yehey! Chapter four is up and ready for firing! Still, normal disclaimer applies.

They set out to the hill where it overlooked the city, bright with lights and such, and saw Yuki staring straight at the mountains.

"This is the place where Yuki thinks a lot." Aki whispered to Chiibi. "This where Kio 'departed'".

Chiibi nodded and looked at Yuki, who looks as if he is really thinking hard. Then silence fell. Nothing was heard except the wind blowing.

"There is a war coming," Yuki said at last. "we need to be prepared."

Everyone nodded except Chiibi.

"Wait?" Chiibi stared. "How did you know?"

Yuki smiled. "Because you started it."

Chiibi was shocked at the reply. "Wait, what did I do to start this war? I didn't even fight that Scythe guy. So what?"

"He seemed that you are a challenge by the way he sensed you." Yuki continued. "He's going to try and defeat you, Chiibi. And he's gonna make sure of that."

Chiibi became tense. Aki sensed that and put her hand Chiibi's shoulder.

"Don't worry, we're going to help you." Aki said.

"And we too..." Sunichi said.

"Don't forget us." a voice called from the darkness. They looked towards the source. It was Shira and Asagi.

"Oh good," Yuki said. "Shira, Asagi. Progress report."

Shira answered. "Artisan Yuki, we have arranged the things you have asked us. The plan is a complete go." Asagi nodded and winked at Chiibi.

"Good, thanks guys." Yuki replied. "You may go now."

Then, just like ninjas, they disappeared.

Yuki then looked at Chiibi. "Your training will start at the weekend. You will find it in a peculiar way." Then he started to walk away with the 3 artisans. "Oh, be careful. Scythe's ninjas can be anywhere."

Chiibi was there staring at the walking group.

"Come master, let's go home" Kureifume said, snapping Chiibi.

"Yes, let's"

The next day...

"New classmates?" Chiibi asked.

Shu nodded. "I just heard from the principal. There will be four new classmates that came from Tokyo. (by the way, they live in Kofu, in the Yamanashi province.)"

"And I heard that they came from a clan of artists. Good ones at that." Kai added.

BING, BONG, BING BONG...

All of them straightened up when they saw Asagi come to the room

"Stand" the caller said. They obliged.

"Greet"

"Good morning, Sir Ashikage!"

"Sit"

As they sat down, he began to write "New students" in the blackboard.

"You can come in now," he said. And from the door came four teens, who Chiibi recoginzed.

"Hi, I'm Yukimura Sunikudo." one teen said, making Chiibi crash a bit.

"I'm Aki Toragawa"

"Sunichi Gai here."

"I'm Kail Kaizer, it's nice to meet you." Kail made a wink that made most of the girls blush.

"So that's why they look so familiar." Chiibi thought. " Why on earth are they here?"

"So finally the introductions have been done," Asagi said. "Guys, you can seat at the empty chairs over there." He pointed at four empty seat beside Chiibi. Yuki sat beside Chiibi, then Aki, Sunichi and Kail followed.

"Well then," Asagi continued. "You can have the remaining homeroom time to get to know your new classmates."

As soon as Asagi left the room, Chiibi immediately held Yuki at the collar.

"Why are you here?!?" Chiibi grunted, with matching evil eyes. Big sweat drops appeared at the back of the four artisans' heads.

"Relax, Chiibi," Yuki replied. "We are here for your training and protection."

"What?!?"

"Relax, Chiibi, relax." Aki said.

"Um, Chiibi" Kai interrupted. "You know these guys?"

A sweat drop appeared at Chiibi's head.

"Oh yeah," Chiibi replied. " um... uh... I met them at Tokyo. Yeah, right... I met them at Tokyo when we were there. he he"

Sweat drops appeared at her head and at the artisans' heads.

So class went through smoothly. Well, except for the few girls who liked Kail. Man, they stuck to him like glue. It's like he just formed a cult.

"I think you should shoo the girls already, Kail." Sunichi said.

"Can't help it," Kail said. "its not like I really look good, right?"

Then a smack from Aki's fan went to Kail.

"Oww!" Kail said.

"Idiot." Aki whispered.

Sunichi laughed. "Whahaha! Kail, an idiot!"

"Why you!" Kail replied, following a rumble between him and Sunichi.

Yuki only smirked, then saw Chiibi with Reimel and the Ho-Chins.

"Hi, Chiibi." He said, making them turn their heads. "Um, may I know who are your friends."

"Um," was the only word that passed Chiibi until Reimel interrupted.

"Hi, I'm Reimel Yan." Reimel said.

"I'm Shu Ho-Chin"

"And I'm Kai Ho-Chin"

"Really?" Yuki said, making his jaw drop. "You are Ho-Chins?"

"Um, duh." Reimel said, knocking lightly on Yuki's head.

"Why, do you know something about our clan?" Kai said.

"Who wouldn't?" Yuki replied. "The Ho-Chins are a clan of warriors that once helped the Legendary Artisans of Kofu. It was said that they gave the leader, Yu-o Ho-Chin, two magical swords, namely Go-san and Shin-san, to aid their clan if trouble befalls them."

"You created the swords?" Chiibi asked him, telepathically.

"Yup," he replied, also telepathically. " But technically the blacksmiths of our clan made it. We just infused power into the swords."

Reimel's jaw then dropped. "Really? Is it true?"

Shu nodded. "It's true, me and Kai are now the heirs of the swords." Yuki's and Reimel's jaw dropped even more. A sweat drop appeared from Chiibi's head.

"Hey!" Reimel then exclaimed. "If you have swords, why didn't you save us from those terrorists in the first place?"

Kai and Shu sweatdropped. "Um," Kai said. "We are not allowed to bring our swords to school." Reimel crashed.

Yuki, who still had his jaw dropped, suddenly regained form. "So it's true. Um, Shu and Kai, would join us in our training? The four of us are practicing sword arts at the Ashikage temple at Saturday. Bring your swords, 'kay? Oh, and Chiibi, come with them also."

"What about me?" Reimel said. "Can I come?"

"Sorry, Reimel. But our master can only permit three visitors. I'm really sorry."

"Oh that's ok." Reimel said and thought. " That's ok. I'll just sneak and watch. Hehe"

"Ok, bye then." he said and winked at Chiibi. Then, went to his group.

"I'm sorry Reimel," Chiibi said. " That jerk, why I ought 'ta"

"No, don't" Reimel replied, who knew what her friend was about to do. "I'll be fine."

"Oh well," Shu said. "So what do we do today?"

Reimel's face suddenly beamed. "Karaoke!!"

"Sure," Chiibi said. Then they walked out of the school.

At the same time, Yuki was telling the other Artisans about what happened.

"Oh really," Kail said. "So the swords are still there, huh? Yu-o chose his heirs well."

Aki nodded. "Now we're ready for Chiibi's training."

All of them nodded.

At night, Chiibi was again lying at her bed and staring at the ceiling.

"Anything troubling you master?" Kureifume asked.

"Oh nothing, Kureifume." Chiibi replied. "I was only wondering, how old are you guys?"

"Um, it's hard to count. Maybe a five centuries or so."

Chiibi whistled. "No wonder Yuki knew Kai and Shu's ancestors. You lived for that long?"

"Yes, master. In fact, Yu-o prophesied about his descendant, your friends."

"Really?"

"Yes, master. He said that two descendants of his will help the artisans in a war years from when he said that. He lived in the Nara period."

"So he was talking about Kai and Shu?"

"Yes, master."

"Kuriefume, you can call me by my name."

"Um, yes... Chiibi."

Chiibi smiled and went to sleep.

So Saturday came, Chiibi went to the Ashikage temple and already saw that Shu and Kai are there.

"Hey, guys." Chiibi said, waving her hands to draw attention.

"Hi, Chiibi." Shu said. "We were just waiting for you."

"Hey," Kai said. "There's Yuki."

They turned to see Yuki in battle gear, with a real samurai sword sheathed on his side.

"Hey Yuki," Chiibi said.

"Hello guys," Yuki replied. "Come already, the guys are already having their fight."

They went to the dojo, finding Sunichi and Kail in battle. Sunichi was having the upper hand, happily toppling Kail with his moves that really came from his favorite character, Bakunetsu-maru.

"Heavenly Shockwave Slash!" Sunichi said, bringing a sword in his other hand and performing Bakunetsu-maru's move. Kail got hit and went up helplessly.

"And the winner is," Aki, who was referee, said. "Sunichi!"

Chiibi and the others clapped while Sunichi bowed.

Yuki suddenly stood up. "Guys," he said. " Its time."

All of them nodded. Then, watery substances encircled them, each with his and her color: blue for yuki, red for Sunichi, green for Kail, and pink for Aki. Afterwards, they were replaced by people who are in their thirties, still wearing the same clothes as their younger selves, only bigger.

The Ho-Chins were taken aback.

"You-you-a-ah-are-th-the-art-ar-Artisans!" Shu said.

Yuki nodded. "Yes, we are."

Kai then noticed something. " Hey! In a portrait of ancestor Yu-o with the Artisans, the Artisans were five. Where is the other one?"

"She has fought a war and never came back." Aki replied. "But there is a replacement for her."

"Who then?" Shu asked, wondering if they will replace Kio.

Yuki smiled. "I know what you're thinking. No, you are not here to be chosen but to train the fifth artisan." He then looked at Chiibi.

Kai noticed this and got the idea. "No wonder she is acting strange, Chiibi is the fifth artisan!"

Then, someone who was watching them from the door suddenly tripped when she (clue!) heard the statement. All of them looked at the person.

"Reimel!" Chiibi said. Reimel stood and pointed a finger at them.

"Aha! Now I know why you all are acting weird. You have powers!" Then she cried a waterfall. "Why did you not tell me?!" Sweat drops appeared at the others' heads.

"Well you see,..." Chiibi started to say but Yuki interrupted her.

"Whats done is done." Yuki told Chiibi then faced Reimel. "Reimel, please keep this a secret."

Reimel nodded. " I got it, I solemnly swear that I will keep this a secret. Say, how did you become so young."

"That, my friend, is a power we Artisans know and have the power to make it possible." Aki then said.

"Hey," Chiibi said. "When can I do that?!"

"Oh right," Yuki snapped, almost ignoring Chiibi. "Let's get down to training."

He then placed Chiibi on one side of the dojo and Kai and Shu opposite her. The others just sat away from them, including Reimel.

"This will be fun!" Reimel, in chibi form, said. " Good thing I brought this." Then she held out a video recorder." Sweat drops appeared on the three Artisans.

"Ok," Yuki told Chiibi. " I'm going to teach you on how to use your characters powers on yourself. Watch." He then summoned Harutomo and called Yugi (the real Yugi). But instead of the replica, a duel disk came out of the picture and went to Yuki's arm.

"What the-" Chiibi thought. "How did he do that?"

Afterwards, Yuki picked a card from the deck, smiled and said, "Summoned Skull!"

Suddenly, the Summoned Skull came from the deck. Chiibi's eyes bulged from her sockets.

"H-ho-how-di-di-d-did-y-yu-you-do-that!" Chiibi stuttered.

"Easy," Yuki said. "Just order your chosen character to give you his or her power. Now you try it."

Chiibi then called on Kuriefume, flipped the pages where Kenshin Himura was drawn.

"Kenshin, I ask of you to lend me your powers." Chiibi said.

"As you wish, Chiibi." Kenshin replied, telepathically.

Suddenly, a ray of light covered Chiibi, almost blinding the others. Then after the light disappeared, Chiibi stood there. She is in the same battle kimono, but she stood straight and seemed to smile. Then she materialized a sword, a reverse-edge sword.

Yuki smiled. "Great, you learned quickly. Now it's time to test your powers." He then nodded at the Ho-Chins.

They nodded back and unsheathed their swords, Go-san for Kai and Shin-san for Shu. Suddenly, auras appeared from under them and their attire changed to battle gear. Each gear has japanese armor that really looked tough.

"Now..." Yuki said. "Duel!"

The Ho-Chins charged rapidly at Chiibi. When they were near, they made a slash but was blocked. The two then back flipped away from Chiibi. Then Chiibi made her move. She charged to them and at a blink of an eye, she prepared for a...

"Hiten Mitsurugi!" she yelled and made the slash at Kai, sending him to the wall.

"What the-" was all they could reply.

Then Chiibi made a come-and-get-me stance, prompting Shu to attack, which she did. Pretty soon, they were in a slash-fest, slashing and parrying and slashing and blocking, you know the drill.

"Wow, Chiibi can easily adapt to her powers." Sunichi said. Kail nodded. The two just kept on slashing and slashing until Shu back flipped.

"I had enough of this..." Shu said. "Windcutter slash!"

Shu just slashed the air and a blade silhouette came charging at Chiibi.

"This ends now!" Shu thought. "What the-!"

"What the" was right. For the moment the blade was close to Chiibi, she disappeared.

"Where is she?" Shu said, looking around.

"I am right here." Chiibi's voice replied. Shu looked around and saw an air-borne Chiibi with her sword ready for a...

"Hiten Mitsurugi!" she yelled and made the slash directly at Shu's midsection. Thus, skidding Shu towards the wall.

"Duel over!" Yuki said. "The winner: Chiibi!"

Everyone was amazed at what Chiibi did. They didn't even clap at the announcement.

Chiibi then ran towards the Ho-Chins. "Are you guys ok?" Chiibi asked. She saw that Kai and Shu were bleeding. "Oh no, they're hurt!"

Aki smiled. "Don't worry. I got it." She then went to them, summoned her necklace, Shizuka, & placed her hand on the wounds. Then, green rays shot out of her hand and in seconds, the wounds were healed. "There, all done."

Chiibi nodded and faced Yuki ."Yuki," Chiibi told Yuki. "I think they had enough."

Yuki nodded. " At least you got to know one lesson. I think that's enough for now."

"Hey, let's go for some ice cream." Aki said.

Chiibi nodded. "Sure, my treat."

"YAHOO!" everyone nodded.