SkyGem: Guys. I am so completely floored. Seriously. Forty reviews for that short first chapter? Really? You guys are way too good to me! I mean, I thought I was done being surprised at the number of reviews I get, but nope. I'm still so shocked and so happy. You guys are really helping make this easier. And now, with this, I've got four days in a row! Can you believe it? I'm so happy! Anyways, I hope you guys enjoy this!

Matteo di Sani gasped and stumbled forward, clutching at his leg as a sharp, searing pain shot through the limb, his calf muscles contracting into a tight little knot of pain.

And just like that, fast as lightning, Sensei was standing at his side, lowering him gently to the ground and muttering under his breath.

"What did I tell them?" he muttered to himself as his cool fingers pressed to the skin of Matteo's leg. "I told them always make sure to do your warm-ups. And what do you do?"

He looked up at this last sentence, addressing Matteo, who ducked his head in shame.

Their instructor was a petite young man, with a slender build and surprisingly firm muscles. He was soft-spoken and was so young, he could have easily been a new recruit himself.

But he was talented, there was no denying that.

He moved with the tight, controlled grace of a lion stalking his prey, his stride smooth and powerful.

Thus far, no one had yet been able to lay a finger on him during their sparring sessions, although they had made an agreement early on that if any of them did ever manage it, everyone else would have to fork over five dollars each.

Sensei didn't seem to mind Matteo's lack of a reply.

He just kept massaging his calf, and Matteo couldn't help the sigh of relief that escaped him as he felt the muscles begin to loosen up once more.

His leg still felt extremely sore and tender to the touch, but the cramp was gone, and Sensei seemed to notice it.

Removing his hands, Sensei leaned back, a wide smile on his face as he ruffled Matteo's hair. From anyone else, it would have been irritating, but once again, Sensei seemed to be an exception.

"Now you be careful, okay?" he said. "Don't put too much stress on that leg or it will only become more sore. And take what da...ah...Iemitsu says with a grain of salt. He may be the Young Lion, but he's not a teacher. He doesn't know how much is appropriate for your bodies and if you follow him blindly, you could get seriously injured. Alright?"

Matteo nodded mutely, surprise and bewilderment not allowing him to verbally reply.

He watched as Sensei got up and walked back towards those children he had been teaching up until moments ago (Matteo suspected they were the Decimo's rumoured younger siblings. It didn't surprise him at all that Sensei was teaching such important children - he was so talented, he could have been Decimo's trainer and it still wouldn't surprise Matteo).

"Get up, Matteo," said a voice from behind him, and Alonso Vitolo lightly slapped the back of his head. "Mister Iemitsu doesn't like slackers, you know. If you want to impress him-"

'Impress him?' thought Matteo, still not taking his eyes off his sensei. Why exactly was it again that he had wanted to impress Iemitsu?

Matteo looked back towards where Iemitsu was walking through the lines of other new recruits, who were already sweating like crazy and looking about ready to collapse, despite the fact that they were supposedly only doing warm-ups.

"You know..." he said, trailing off. "I don't think I want to impress him anymore."

"What?" demanded Ada Martone from his other side in a voice that suggested Matteo had gone off the deep end. "Of course you want to impress him. He's the Young Lion for goodness' sake! AND he's Decimo's father! Impress him, and maybe you can get in Decimo's good books."

Matteo shook his head, slowly backing away.

"I don't care," he replied. "He's a horrible teacher and you know it. I happen to like the way Sensei has been teaching us this past month, and I think I'd much rather be taking advantage of my last day with him than try and keep up with Iemitsu."

And with that, he turned and headed over to where Sensei and the children were practising.

Sensei noticed him from a few feet away, and the beaming smile on his face when Matteo told him he wanted to continue learning from him rather than Iemitsu was definitely worth the stares that had bored into his back as he walked away from the rest of the group.

Stares that seemed to be asking, 'Are you crazy?'

Matteo wanted desperately to turn and shout at them, "You're the ones who are crazy! Can't you see that guy has no damn idea what the hell he's talking about? AND HE'S AN ARROGANT PRICK!"

But he didn't say that.

He just took advantage of the fact that he had his Sensei (mostly) to himself for the moment.

And he tried not to look too winded when one of the kids landed a kick to his stomach during one of their spars.

He did have at least SOME dignity after all.

SkyGem: The end of chapter two! It's short, I know, but this fic isn't meant to be such a very long one. Sorry to my lovelies who seemed to think it would be. But to those who don't mind short, insubstantial fics, please let me know what you thought! Leave a review letting me know if you liked it or hated it or whatever. And stay tuned and look forward to the next chapter, which will have the final showdown with the big boss ;). Nighty night darlings! Sleep well and see you again tomorrow!