Hello! Hope you've had a new time while I was off doing school. For these two chaps I'm updating today, you can thank caitlin23164 and palmtoptiger13 for. They reminded me I needed to update!

DEDICATION : caitlin23164, palmtoptiger13

My public speaking class was after that. The boy/girl was in that one. His name was Fujioka Haruhi. Fujioka didn't seem bad. At least saner than Suoh. Photography I shared with those twins (Hitachiin Hikaru and Kaoru). I forgot my note-to-self and sprinted out of that classroom too. When I arrived at 3-A for the study period, the seats next to both Ami and me were empty. We shrugged it off.

After school, I bid goodbye to Ami who was super excited to go to the host club after hearing about it from so many new girl friends. I headed straight to kendo club. I heard a shout of 'dou' and a round of applause. I slid inside and stepped to the left where the crowd was. Most of them were probably applicants to join the club. On the second floor of this room, there stood many girls squealing and jumping up and down. Although, it was strange that I couldn't hear their loud voices. I was surprised that they were even here! Kendo needs concentration. That was hard to get with a bunch of silly girls around.

{In kendo, when you hit something, you must shout out what you're hitting. That's what the 'Dou!' is. This'll make more sense later.}

"Excuse me. Fans aren't allowed on this floor."

I turned around to see a boy about as tall as me that looked just like Morinozuka.

"I'm not a fan. I just wanted to check out the club's skills."

Being around martial arts always made it harder for me to make sure my speech was formal.

"And how would you gouge our skills?"

"By going against the clubs' members."

The boy gave me a weird look. I guess the girls in the school didn't normally do this kind of stuff.

"I can't be going against anyone without the proper outfit and equipment. Especially not in this tight uniform."

"I'm Morinozuka Satoshi. Vice-president of this club."

"Morinozuka? As in the other Morinozuka? His name was something like Takashori."

"That's Takashi, also known as Mori."

He looked annoyed.

"I'll try my best to remember that."

I was trying my best to be polite.

"Everything is on those shelves over there on the left. Carbon shinai and bamboo shinai are separated and labeled."

"Thank you, Morinozuka-san. I'm Natse Hakonu."

I took a keigoki and hakama that looked like they fit me.

{A keigoki is a jacket that goes under all the equipment. A hakama is a garment separated in the middle to form two wide trouser legs. Basically, very roomy pants.}

"Where do I change?"

Morinozuka 2's eyes widened as he realized this was a problem. He pointed to the only locker room.

"Just...just change in there. I'll make sure no one goes in."

"I'll be counting on you."

I practically skipped out of glee (but refrained myself) as the prospect of practicing kendo with experienced kendoka. Ami was good, but I preferred to practice with others. She liked the fine arts more anyway. She just learned martial arts for me.

{Kendoka are people who practice kendo.}

I took my clothes outside and handed them to Morinozuka 2. He looked embarrassed. I paid no mind.

"I don't know where to put them."

"U-uh, ok. After getting on your equipment, go to that far arena over there. I'll assign some people to you."

I nodded and grabbed a men, a dou, kote, and a tare. As I put them on, I realized that people were watching me. I ignored them. Taking a bamboo shinai, I headed to the match area.

{A men is a stylized helmet with a metal grille, a series of hard leather and fabric flaps, and padded fabric flaps. A dou is a breastplate. Kote are long thickly padded fabric gloves. Tare are three thick vertical fabric flaps. A bamboo shinai is a sword made up of four bamboo slats held together by leather. The four things you can hit in kendo are some of the equipment. Men = helmet. Dou = torso. Kote = wrist. The one not listed is the throat. When you attack the throat, it's called a thrust. It's very dangerous if done wrong, so only high-leveled and experienced people can do that. Like Mori!}

My opponent laughed.

"Why aren't you using a carbon shinai? A little girl like you could use the hardness."

I smirked.

"Trust me. You don't want me to use it."

This tiny argument brought Satoshi's (I'll only be calling him that in my head. Nobody will know.) attention. He decided to direct this fight.

{Carbon shinai are just like bamboo ones, except they have carbon reinforced resin slats. Because of this, they are way harder and hurt more if the kendoka is a person who has good arm strength.}

"Morinozuka. Can all my matches be one-point matches? Don't want them to last too long."

{One-point matches mean that whoever gets hit first loses.}

Satoshi nodded. We bowed to the 'crowd' and walked towards each other holding our shinai's. He had a carbon one. We bowed and squatted.

"Hajime!" {Start!}

Just waiting a second after he stood up, I took a small step forward then a jump to hit him.

"Dou!"

I hit my target, the left side of his torso. I was sure. And yet when my back was turned...

"Men!"

My helmet was hit on the right. I burst, outraged.

"That's against the rules! Even if this weren't a one-point match, we would have to return to the starting positions after!"

"Well, you didn't hit me, so it doesn't matter! I won," he retorted.

"Why you ba-"

Morinozuka 2 butt in.

"Yukito-san. May I ask why you are clutching your torso?"

He looked shocked as if he didn't know he was doing that.

"I-I-"

"It means that you were hit. Since Natse-san is not part of the club yet, I'll let it pass. My onii-san and I will be watching you now."

Satisfied that my opponent was scolded, I rushed over.

"I'm so sorry! I thought you were experienced enough to block a simple attack like that. And I hit it so hard! I apologize."

He looked at me weird. That's the second time! Am I just some alien or something? I am not-

"I'm fine. Thanks."

I nodded and gave a small smile. My next opponent was easy too. Not very experienced. None of my opponents were. On my fifth one, I asked Satoshi why that was.

"All of the experienced ones are practicing for a tournament. They can't play."

But he looked less sure every time he said that (I asked him after every match). After all my pestering, he agreed that I could fight better people. Or 'the best of the best'. And I assumed he meant the champion of the school.

When I bowed to the crowd (it was substantially larger now), I turned surprised to see Morinozuka in front of me. He was the champion? I sat next to the kendo champion? I squatted and tried to get my mind into focus.

"Hajime!"

I stood up immediately, and we circled around each other. If this was the champion, I'm gonna give it my all. Morinozuka had a look in his eyes that screamed to me 'bored' to me. Only his eyes. They gave away everything. I lost my temper and shuffled forward to hit his head with all my strength. He blocked and saw an opening in my torso. When I stepped back, I knew he barely put any strength in that hit. Just enough to gain a point but barely. We returned to our original positions. I did the same step that I used in my first match, a tiny step then a leap. His shinai didn't move as I went forward. I pushed it to the side and hit his wrist quickly.

"Kote!"

Morinozuka looked surprised. The rest or the crowd was in complete silence unsure of whether their champion could be beaten so easily. Haninozuka stood in the crowd also when I glanced around. I frowned.

"Morinozuka. You weren't trying your hardest. I expected more."

I turned around and began walking away.

"Now, to find Ami. Hm, I probably should change-"

"Natse! Wait!" Satoshi shouted and ran after me.

"I don't have time for idiots who don't try in one of my favorite sports," I responded.

A deep voice stopped me in my tracks. "Natse. I'll try my hardest this time. I just didn't want to hurt you."

"You're sure?"

He nodded.

"This will be a regular match! Three-points, if needed!" Satoshi stated. "I shall be the referee. Hajime!"

We held our shinai, barely touching. I had to be careful now. He was paying attention at least, but I still had a feeling he wasn't taking me seriously. I would use that to my advantage.

It had been two minutes while I was thinking of several strategies, and he wasn't taking offense. With his build, he had to be good at offense. Plus, he was their champion. Why wasn't he attacking? I furrowed my eyebrows. The crowd was getting impatient too. I stepped to him looking to hit the helmet area. He got ready to block above him. I leaned down at the last second and hit his torso.

"Dou!"

Satoshi repeated what I said to declare it was an official point, though he didn't seem to want to. I didn't understand this guy. He could have easily moved his shinai down. I don't like people who let me win. We returned to our starting positions and squat down. He seemed more willing to do his hardest than before.

"Nihonme!" {Second point!}

Our shinai touched when we stood at the same time. He attacked this time. I was so ecstatic that he attacked that I almost forgot to block. Almost. I deflected. He aimed for my wrist. I blocked again. He wasn't using his strength for advantage. He and I both knew that he was stronger. At least, I thought that he knew that. Morinozuka seemed smart enough to know. He came in to attack my torso. I blocked, putting force into the push so he would step back giving me room. Unfortunately, he had the same idea. We were in a lock. Desperate, I turned my shinai in a half-circle clockwise and thrusted.

"Tsuki!" {This would be the throat attack I was talking about earlier.)

Morinozuka obviously didn't expect for me to thrust. We returned to our original positions again.

"Tsuki! Shobu ari!"

{"Victory and defeat!" The referee then points the flag to the victor.}

Morinozuka 2 solemnly pointed his flag at me.

The rest of the club started chanting, "Rematch! Rematch! Rematch!"

Morinozuka stared at me to see if I wanted to. Might as well. I've got time. I nodded. He nodded in return to me and once to Satoshi. We crouched. I was pumped up this time.

"Hajime!"

He struck first towards my right torso. Fast! I liked that he was trying. I blocked and pushed him back with my shinai. He shuffled back. He attacked again. I hit his bamboo shinai aside and his torso in a smooth back and forth motion.

"Dou!"

"Dou!" Satoshi shouted.

He was excited for this match also.

"Nihonme!"

I sprang up immediately. My opponent did the same as we both attacked each other at our top speeds while still doing excellent footwork. I spotted his shinai aiming to hit my helmet. Our shinai's clashed as I blocked but the force I was blocking was gone and 'Kote!' was heard thoughout the club room. I grinned widely (not that anyone could see through the helmet) and loved this match immediately.

Satoshi yelled to confirm, "Kote!"

He clearly liked saying his brother's point better than mine. The audience roared approval. We were in our starting positions again. Quiet ensnared us.

"Encho!" {Sudden death!}

I leaped to hit his left wrist. He pushed it away and tried to hit my torso, a move I just used on him a second ago. I immediately stepped to the side so that it wouldn't connect. I backed away slowly with mine and his shinai level. He stepped forward. I stepped back. I couldn't just keep running away though. I stepped forward, and he did the same to hit my head. I raised my shinai to deflect and took the chance when his shinai was farther than usual from his body to hit his men. I was sure to win, as my shinai was just a few decimeters away. But then...

"Hako!"

When I stepped forward to ensure my victory just a bit more, the shout echoed. My concentration broke from my name being called, and my step forward was my downfall. I tread on his hakama. This caused Morinozuka to loose his balance also. My right hand let go of my shinai which stayed in my left hand falling down. I felt something hit my helmet as I fell on top of Morinozuka, and he said a very clear declaration of men. I heard Morinozuka hit the ground with a huff of breath. My face crashed into his chest; left leg between his legs. His right leg was between my thighs. His shinai, clutched by his right hand which was by my hip, lay across my back. My shinai clattered onto the floor with my hand still holding onto it. I groaned before lifting my head. Morinozuka 1 stared back. I rolled over to my right and off of him.

"Men!" Satoshi declared and pointed the flag to my opponent. "Shobu ari!"

The crowd cheered and walked over to congratulate him.

I stood up and backed away from the group yelling, "Mori! Mori!"

Ami gave me my shoes. I gratefully accepted. She had the rest of my stuff too. We headed into the changing rooms. She kept guard. Pushing aside the curtain, I sat next to her and closed my eyes, leaning against the wall.

"Sorry, Hako."

"It's fine, Ami."

We both knew she was the one who called out my name.

"B-but you've never lost before. Aren't you sad? I know I am."

"Of course. This is just like you losing a singing competition."

"Then...why?"

"Because that match was the best. Morinozuka made me think. Made me strategize, which I've never had to do before. I usually go on instinct. I can't compare this to anything I've ever done before."

"I...I still don't get it."

"I'm fine with losing because he gave me a challenge. And I loved every minute of it."

I stood.

"Don't be sad about something like this. Come on. I think the subway is still open."

We headed out to the shelves. She carried most of the equipment. I carried the shinai. The room was mostly empty now. The host club, some lingering fan girls, and Satoshi were here.

"Takashi!" Haninozuka exclaimed. "I was so sure you were going to lose. But you won in the end!"

"No," he responded. "Hakonu won. She was aiming to hit me. Interference only made her lose. I only hit her helmet because of coincidence which I decided to take advantage of."

I dropped my shinai out of shock. He denied it. He denied winning. No one I knew would do that.

"Isn't that right, Hakonu?"

He was speaking to me. I slowly picked up the fallen shinai and turned around. It was probably fine to call him by his first name now. Satoshi can be Morinozuka now.

"Nah. It's fine. You won. But I'm going to be expecting a rematch, Takashi."

Ami stood next to me having returned from putting everything back. I slide the shinai into the shelf and walked out.

"So, let's walk to the subway, shall we? I predict it'll take an hour to get back including walking. We should stop on the way for food at..."

How was it? I'm sorry there are so many A/N's throughout the story, but I need to explain or else you won't get it.

For anyone actually experienced in kendo, could you please tell me if what I described was accurate? I'm absolutely sure that there is no way Mori could've won that wayin in real life, but I'm kind of nervous if I had explained kendo correctly or not. Thanks!

~Rin