Chapter 1: Spear and Bow. Understanding.
I do not own anything from any media.
Opening 1: Fade - One Reason
Yami was experiencing a nightmare, causing him to shift in his bed. This got Miyabi to wake up to see him struggle against it. Sweat was permeating from his skin.
'Oh no... Tsubasa-san is having a nightmare...! I have to try and wake him up!' She thought.
She was reluctant to touch him, but seeing the pained expression said otherwise.
"Tsubasa-san, wake up! It's a nightmare!" Miyabi said.
Yami didn't wake up. He continued tossing and turning on the bed. His sleep wear top was partially open, briefly showing a horrific scar on his chest.
'My God... H-how did he end up with such a scar like that...?' Miyabi thought, seeing it.
Eventually, his scar began to painfully bleed. This shocked Miyabi, who was watching. Yami eventually woke up, breathing heavily.
"T-T-Tsubasa-san! Are you okay!? You're bleeding from your chest!" She frantically exclaimed.
Yami partially covered his face with his left hand, trying to calm himself down. He noticed blood was staining his sleep wear.
'Those cursed nightmares... Each time I experience them, my scar bleeds painfully. It's a physical reminder of that terrible incident…' He thought.
By then, he noticed Miyabi looking at him with a worried expression. He realized that she saw him suffering deeply from his nightmares.
"Don't talk about what you saw just now... It's a private topic of discussion that I don't want to share." Yami said in a solemn tone.
"A-are you okay though? Your chest was bleeding pretty badly…" Miyabi persisted.
"It's nothing." Yami said.
He grabbed his school uniform and went to the bathroom. There, he brushed his teeth and got himself dressed, providing some space for Miyabi to change.
"I'm done changing." Yami called out.
"O-okay." Miyabi meekly responded.
She then went in the bathroom to get ready for the day. She noticed the bloodstained pajamas from Yami in the washing machine.
"Um... Tsubasa, would it be okay for you to check that wound of yours? I-It did look deep…" Miyabi suggested.
"This scar opens at times. Don't worry about me." He refuted.
Miyabi sighed in concern, but relented.
"W-We should head to the cafeteria to eat." Miyabi said.
Yami nodded in response. He didn't bother speaking to anyone.
######
Upon arriving at the cafeteria, several students noticed the pair. This got Miyabi very nervous.
"Hey, isn't that the Irregular who can change his Blaze at will?" A boy gossiped.
"Yeah, that's him. He's living with that girl as well." Another male said.
"Aren't co-ed Duos allowed in this academy?" A female student asked.
"The system makes sure they reach Absolute Duo, according to the academy president. I wonder if those two will be okay." Another female pondered.
This had the effect of Miyabi meekly looking away from the crowd. Yami remained indifferent, not paying attention to the gossip.
'Rumors travel fast here, I suppose... It's nothing to pay attention at.' He thought.
The pair managed to pick up their breakfast to eat. Yami was an assortment of fruits and meat. Miyabi had a vegetarian meal with miso soup instead.
"W-we can sit near the window of you want." Miyabi suggested.
Yami nodded and sat down at a table near the window.
"Itadakimasu." The pair said.
They began eating their breakfast quietly. It was a peaceful time for them till two people came by. It was Tomoe, the blue haired girl in his class. Near her, a bespectacled boy was nearby. He had sandy blonde hair with sharp green eyes.
"Good morning, Tsubasa." Tomoe said.
This interrupted Yami's meal, making him look at the girl talking with him.
"Mine if we join you?" She asked.
Miyabi answered, albeit in a shy tone.
"I-I-It's okay. You can join us." She quivered.
Yami nodded his head, keeping quiet.
'Torasaki Aoi... His Blaze is more of a close combat type. I recall seeing them as a pair of katar. He does appear to be the martial artist.' He thought.
"Okay, if you two say so..." Tomoe responded.
Tomoe and Aoi sat down at the table. When they sat, she noticed Yami's and Hotoka's meals.
"You have quite a green breakfast there, Tsubasa. A bit one-noted there." Tomoe said.
Yami sighed in response. He then spoke to Tomoe in a calm tone.
"I tend to switch my meals daily to balance my nutrition intake." He said.
Tomoe was surprised on how he spoke, noting the calm tone of his voice.
"That's good to know. Always know to balance your meals." She lectured.
Yami merely nodded in response. The silent answer was making Tomoe curious, but it irked her of his lack of response.
"In any case, are you two alright in your living situation?" She asked.
Yami sighed in response. He didn't expect the question so suddenly.
"Is that why you wanted to sit here...? I can let you know on this... We're able to handle our living situation just fine." Yami explained.
Tomoe was surprised on what he said. Miyabi noticed that he began to speak a little frequent than usual.
"It looks rather...awkward, despite the academic regulation in maintaining Duos." Tomoe said.
"Rest assured... I consider Miyabi as a comrade. Sure, she is shy with me and of men in general, but we'll be able to put aside our differences. To learn is to adapt and to adapt, you become stronger." Yami said.
"I-I see..." Tomoe said, impressed on how he was able to answer in a mature fashion.
Aoi looked at Miyabi for a brief moment. This made her react and caused her to lean on Yami's shoulder, covering her face. This made him look at her in response.
"Don't feel afraid, Hotoka-san. I'm sure Torasaki-san is friendly." He reassured.
This got Miyabi to look at Yami's face. It made her blush red in response, making her cover her face with a napkin.
'This might take a while for her to get used to... Her shy behavior might make her feel less confident.' Yami thought.
"Still, you two are resting in the same room. Don't you to feel uncomfortable knowing this?" Tomoe persisted.
"We have separate beds so we can sleep at our own without invading one's privacy. To help accommodate her shyness, I let her sleep at the bed closest to the bathroom so she will feel more comfortable." Yami explained.
"I see... Well, enjoy your day." Tomoe said.
Yami sighed in response. Truth of the matter was, he felt dreadfully nervous of staying with a girl. He was respectful to them.
######
In the classroom, everyone arrived till their teacher came in. Yami was at his seat to the far right at the back, keeping to himself. Rito began explaining the lesson.
"People who've been gifted Lukifers get physically and mentally stronger. This allows said people to manifest their soul as an entity, granting them power. So, how does the soul manifest?" She lectured.
Torasaki stood up to answer.
"The soul manifests as an embodiment of our power called Blaze." He answered.
"Bingo, glasses boy!" Rito teased.
"It's Torasaki!" Torasaki responded with irritation.
Rito continued with the lesson, ignoring Torasaki.
"The chosen people suited for Lukifers who can use a Blaze are? How about you, silent boy?" She questioned.
Yami stood up, reluctant to answer.
"The people who can used said Blaze are known as Exceeds, due to their unrivaled strength." He said calmly.
"Bingo! Now, a Blaze is a weapon of simple construct. They can be stabbing weapons like swords, axes, spears or even unusual! Our two cohabitating Irregulars here are prime examples!" Rito pointed out.
"I'm only a roommate to a comrade, Professor." Yami muttered.
"I'm not 'cohabitating'. I'm currently a roommate." Tooru said.
By then, the students were looking at the two boys. Both felt uncomfortable from their staring. Tooru sat down nervously while Yami glanced at the students.
"It's a tense subject to talk about. Don't ask how or why." He said, clicking his tongue.
Tomoe looked at him, showing a concerned expression.
"Okay! Let's continue with the lesson!" Rito said, breaking the tension.
Yami sighed in slight relief. He began to think on what his current academic life would be.
'Somehow, I could foreshadow odd occurrences that are about to happen.' He thought.
His thought were cut off as Rito continued on the lecture.
"As such, Lukifers are like physical enhancers! Almost similar to a multiplier of your strength! However, it doesn't mean you get stronger with each time alone! Isn't that right, silent boy?" Rito said to him.
"One has to train one's self to reach greater strength in body and mind. This helps accommodate the backlash from the sudden strength increase." Yami answered.
"Exactly as you said! Therefore, our curriculum has heaps of battle training. This will be a good time for you all to start training to get strong!" Rito encouraged.
'Sounds like an excellent opportunity to train my skills and body.' Yami thought.
"In any case, Lukifers have levels. You can raise said levels through the Rite of Sublimation. It is always held at the end of the term. As silent boy said, without training, those levels won't rise! If you don't go up a level in a year, you will be expelled. We don't want that to happen to you all." Rito solemnly stated.
'So, train hard to stay or leave the academy... Reminds me of the clan dojo that I used to train at.' Yami thought in nostalgia.
"Speaking of training, we'll be hosting a battle training soon! Be ready for it tomorrow!" Rito finished.
######
Yami was at the gymnasium of the school. It looked more of a dojo than a normal school gym.
'This is perfect to train in. Hotoka-san on the other hand might need some help' he thought.
By then, a sudden attack came from Tooru. This made Yami ready to fight.
"I want to see how well versed you are in martial arts. Seems like you know how to fight." Tooru said.
"Don't hold back…" Yami stated.
By then, the students noticed them practicing their martial arts. Sounds of heavy beating were heard.
"Wow... The Irregulars know how to fight real well." A male student said.
"We should work our training so we can get strong." A female student commented.
The people noticed Yami making graceful flips to avoid Tooru's attacks. He then performed a straight punch before quickly going behind his back and dealing an open palm strike. Tomoe noticed the exchange and was shocked.
'That technique is like the one in my dojo...! How did he learn that!?' She thought in surprise.
By then, Tooru aimed to kick his head. Yami reacted by slowly opening his hands and suddenly grabbing the attacking leg quickly, binding him. Yami then spun the leg so quickly, he tossed Tooru to the ground.
"Impressive... You kept your composure and took me down without a scratch. Let's take this up a notch." Tooru persisted.
Yami adapted a Shito-ryu stance, ready to train himself. Tooru dashed forward with a spinning side kick. This left him open as Yami then performed a simple uppercut which forced Tooru to block, pushing him back.
"That's some uppercut... I can tell you have been training yourself." Tooru complimented.
Yami then switched his stance. His palms were open and facing forward, giving him a relaxed posture. Tooru proceeded to attack him. Before he knew it, he was caught in a joint lock by Yami.
"Whoa... You also know aiki-jūjutsu as well?" Tooru asked in surprise.
Tomoe was surprised on what she saw. Yami was keeping a calm composure and outmatched Tooru. Miyabi noticed the graceful fighting style and was amazed from it.
'That form of martial arts looks graceful... I-I wonder if I can learn it.' She thought meekly.
Tooru was eventually tired from the lack of stamina. He then switched out to take a breather.
"Don't focus too much on power, Kokonoe-san. It's useless if it doesn't connect properly." Yami lectured.
Tooru was surprised on what he said and nodded in response. By then, Julie came up to him.
"I want to have a practice spar with you." She said in a calm tone.
"What purpose?" Yami questioned.
"To grow stronger." Julie answered.
"Very well…" He conceded.
"Ja" Julie responded.
Yami and Julie stood at opposite sides, ready to spar. Immediately, she quickly dashed forward, intending to get the first strike by a kick. Yami saw what she was about to do and quickly dodged from the left. He then swiftly grabbed Julie's leg and pinned her to submission.
"Never rush in to battle. It leaves you open." Yami said.
He then released his hold, allowing her to move back. Everyone was surprised on how he was sparring.
"He knows two different martial arts. That's amazing." The students complimented.
Yami nor Julie didn't pay attention to the comments and remained focused on the spar. They performed several attacks, ranging from kicks, punches and dash attacks. All were either blocked, dodged, or countered. The sparring looked more like an intense battle between martial artists.
"I never seen such an intense spar like that..." Tomoe watched in awe.
"What else does he know...? He looks as though he has been training his whole life." Aoi said.
The spar got more intense, leaving Julie and Yami exhausted. They were breathing heavily as sweat poured from their bodies. He then realized why the spar was prolonged.
"So you're learning how my fighting style is…" Yami deduced.
"Ja. It helps me learn how to fight better." Julie answered.
"Although a good talent, it has a flaw." Yami stated.
Before Julie could answer, Yami sidestepped to the side and performed a powerful uppercut. This got Julie sent flying in the air. Before she could land, Yami caught her before she hit the ground. She winced from the powerful blow.
"How? I didn't know you had another technique like that…" Julie said in surprise.
"That's from Shito-ryu. The Dragon Uppercut. You may be able to mimic fighting styles, but your body cannot handle the strain from it." Yami answered.
"Ja. It was a good spar." Julie bowed.
"Likewise…" Yami answered with a respectful bow.
He then walked back to where Miyabi was. She looked amazed from seeing the fight.
"T-T-That was an amazing spar. Um, Tsubasa-san... C-C-Can you teach me how to fight? I-I-I'm not very proficient in martial arts." Miyabi stuttered.
Yami gently placed his left hand on Miyabi's head to soothe her tension.
"Don't worry. I'll help teach you a style that fits well for you." He said.
Miyabi nodded in response and had a calm smile. Tomoe was impressed with how he sounded calm and well behaved. She walked up to him to speak.
"I can see that she trusts you. She was uncomfortable with most of her classmates, yet she tolerates you just fine." Tomoe pointed out.
"Despite our...living situation, we were able to overcome our personal issues. It was hard at first, but we were able to endure it." Yami said.
Tomoe noticed the brief pause from him. She was confused as to why he made that sudden stop.
"I see... In any case, I'll spar with someone else. Try to protect Hotoka-san. She looks rather delicate." She said in concern.
"Although I'm not much into teamwork, I'll make sure she remains safe." Yami said.
He then looked at Miyabi, who was starting to quiver from his stare.
"It's time I showed you how to know aiki-jūjutsu. Let's start by learning how to bend your joints in a graceful manner. Think of making your arms move gracefully like a snake." Yami explained.
He proceeded to show how to bend his limbs in a slow, elegant way. Miyabi was able to follow along, learning the technique rather well.
"Now here comes the hard part. You'll have to stretch your legs as well. The purpose of this is to improve flexibility for them so you can move fluidly. This will also allow you to utilize all four of your limbs individually." Yami continued.
Miyabi initially found it difficult, but she started to grasp the concept. Her training in joint flexibility allowed was showing improvement. Tomoe was watching with interest as Yami helped her learn a new fighting style.
"It seems that you're quite flexible, which is a bonus to learn this style. Now, in terms of attacking, generally people use a simple punch. While it is a simple attack, it has its flaws. Punching a person only works well on hard points, like the chest or the head. Plus, it only affects the area it impacts. For the softer areas like the abdomen, you utilize open palm strikes. They provide the power and force necessary to incapacitate. It's like a sudden wave that damages the opponent's soft tissue." Yami lectured.
He then showed how to perform the open palm attacks. Miyabi was able to see how the attack was displayed and attempted to mimic it. She was able to perform the attacks more gracefully, compared to Yami, who's more rigid.
"B-but Yami, how come you looked rigid than me?" She asked.
"Males have a tough time trying to be flexible. Their joints are not as spaced as a female's. In my case, I couldn't proficiently perform with this style alone. Because of this, I had to learn Shito-ryu and mixed it with aiki-jūjutsu, allowing me to balance this issue." Yami answered.
Miyabi understood what he meant and continued her training. She was able to grasp the technique from the simple attack.
"Now, the last lesson. You have to utilize both punches and open palm strikes. Try to perform a two hit combo on me." Yami ordered.
Miyabi was reluctant but proceeded. She then performed a slight punch to his chest and an open palm strike on his abdomen. This made him almost lose his breath.
"Noticed how you were able to inflict that much force on me? That's scratching the surface on aiki-jūjutsu. Meaning, you're able to grasp the basics. Even with that, you can devastate an opponent. However, don't let it get to your head. Since you used the basics, it's easy for an opponent to counter. We'll continue the practice of this style tomorrow." Yami finished.
Miyabi smiled in response. She felt slightly stronger on learning the style. It also increased her confidence in battle.
######
Yami was at the shower room in the gym. He was bathing to clean himself from the sweat.
'Hotoka-san was able to grasp aiki-jūjutsu just fine. She'll be able to fight in that style just fine. For now, I have to keep training her' he thought.
His thoughts were interrupted when he heard Aoi come inside the shower room.
"You're quite a teacher for Hotoka-san, Tsubasa-san." He said.
"Just doing what is best for her." Yami stated nonchalantly.
"Even so, you were always a quiet person and not getting involved with others. What's the sudden change in your personality?" Aoi asked.
"I originally intended to be a loner. Seeing this school runs on a Duo system, I have no choice but to change my belief in this." Yami said.
Aoi was surprised on how he sounded. Yami intended to be a loner, yet he was starting to show signs of socializing.
'Time to get out of the bath... I've been bathing long enough…' Yami thought.
######
Yami was back to his dorm room from outside. He heard the shower running and remained outside.
'Miyabi's a girl for starters... I shouldn't invade on her privacy.' He thought.
By then, the shower suddenly stopped. Yami heard Miyabi coming out of the bathroom. He knocked on the door to let her know.
"O-oh, Yami. Please wait outside a bit. I need to get my pajamas on." She nervously said.
Yami remained outside in a patient manner. He was sitting on the floor, thinking of recent events.
'It has been two days since I came here. I need to make sure I keep getting strong.' He thought.
By then, Miyabi's voice called out from the door.
"It's okay. You can come in now." She said.
Yami reluctantly went inside. He was nervous internally, despite keeping a serious look. Upon entering his dorm room, he saw Miyabi wearing a one-size-fits-all pajamas. It was yellow and short sleeved with white frills at the ends.
"Um... I-I'll prepare some tea." She stuttered.
Miyabi was becoming more nervous. She felt very insecure with a boy, especially when it comes to sleeping arrangements. Yami knew she was very reluctant to speak so he remained silent.
'Better for me to keep quiet so I won't make her too nervous for now...' He thought.
By then, Miyabi brought two cups filled with green tea. Both sat at opposite ends of the table. They decided to talk to each other.
"N-Ne Tsubasa-san... I-I'm kind of curious as to what happened this early morning." Miyabi stuttered.
"You're referring to the case in which I was having a nightmare... I understand your curiosity but I don't wish to share it yet. It's from my past that I don't want to explain yet." Yami said.
"E-even so, you looked as though you were being tortured from something." Miyabi said in concern.
"Believe me when I say this... No child should go through from what I've seen... It's...a hellish sight…" Yami said reluctantly.
Miyabi made a quiet gasp, but was curious about him. She decided to ask a different question.
"I-I also realized about your full name. Your name means 'dark wings'... Why did your parents named you like that?" She asked curiously.
"My parents gave me my first name due to my black hair. The surname 'Tsubasa' is from a splinter group of a clan." Yami answered.
"A clan? What was it called?" Miyabi questioned, curiosity brimming.
"It was called the Amemone clan." Yami revealed
"The famous Amemone clan...!? I heard about them…!" Miyabi said on slight shock.
"Yeah... You could say that the people who are called 'Tsubasa' were part of the clan. However that no longer matters." Yami said.
Miyabi remained silent, unable to ask for anything. She then decided to talk about herself.
"I-I see... For me, I was with a fairly normal family. I was then selected to join Kouryou academy because of my body's records into accepting the Lukifer." She said.
"Where were you prior to coming to this school?" Yami asked.
"I-I was in an all-girls school at my last year." Ahe shyly responded.
'That explains her nervous behavior among guys. At least I know where her confidence issue comes from.' Yami deduced.
"I see... That's rather surprising." He said.
"Um... I-I hope it doesn't sound rude, but what were the Amemone clan famous for? I only heard of what they have done through tumors but I know nothing else about them." Miyabi asked.
"That's quite a topic to discuss, but I'll share this with you... The Amemone clan and the Tsubasa family had a particular genetic abnormality: the eyes." Yami said.
"What about the eyes?" Miyabi asked.
"When a member of the Amemone or Tsubasa family experiences a powerful emotional shock in any situation, the sudden shock releases a unique energy signature. The energy reacts on the optic nerves of the person in question, changing it. They then become the clan's most prized eye technique, the Tengan." Yami said.
Before Miyabi could ask any further, Yami caused his eyes to change color. His eyes bled from an ice blue color to a crimson color, almost like blood. There was a unique, outlined black circle near the pupil. A small, full black circle was shown on both eyes. This shocked Miyabi who saw them.
"This is the Tengan. These eyes alone have several unique abilities. The physical power it gives is near precognition, allowing me to read an opponent before reacting. The trick is, my body cannot follow the reaction time from my eyes so I had to train myself harshly to respond immediately from almost any attack that comes." Yami said.
"Are there any other techniques?" Miyabi asked curiously.
"Right now, my Tengan are in their initial stage. When it has three full circles on the outline circle, it's mature. I won't reveal much about it yet. Using these eyes requires energy from the spirit, similar to how we manifest our Blaze. However, this energy is called chi. Leaving it active for a while will cause some strain, but it doesn't cause damage." Yami finished explaining.
Miyabi had a close look at the eyes. She was mesmerized by the appearance of the Tengan. This made Yami nervous enough to turn his eyes back to their blue color. The crimson color faded and the icy blue irises came back. She was amazed to see the same eyes now in s blue color.
"We should head to bed. It's been a long day so we should be ready for training tomorrow. I'll teach you more on your fighting style." Yami said.
Both turned their lights off and slept quietly. Not once did they protest in their sleeping arrangements.
######
The next following days, Yami and Miyabi were attending classes in listening Rito's lectures. After some time has passed, they ended up going to the gym to train themselves. He was able to train her through aiki-jūjutsu with little problems. It nearly left her exhausted, but Yami helped Miyabi recover from stamina loss.
"I told you not to strain yourself. If you feel tired, take a breather for a bit." Yami lectured.
Miyabi sat down near a wall to relax herself. She watched as Yami sparred with Tooru. It made her smile to see how he was doing. He was performing acrobatic flips and executing graceful attacks to stop his opponents.
At some point, Miyabi requested a spar from him. Yami agreed, wanting to assess her skills and strength. Much to his surprise, she was able to adapt and overwhelm him, despite learning the basics. This made him use his Tengan in response.
During the lunch breaks, Yami switched his meals from meat to vegetables in a daily manor. Tomoe often took notice of it and provided extra to him. This made him give a deadpan stare, mentally telling her 'I usually don't eat this much in leisurely manner'.
During the night, Miyabi often watched TV on the Animal Planet show. She watched with a cute expression, seeing a hummingbird flying by. Yami briefly looked but his fatigue got the better of him. He crawled to his bed tiredly and fell asleep. This made Miyabi look to the now sleeping Yami with a curious gaze. She watched at his sleeping form, finding it appealing.
'This is what a boy looks like...?' She thought in question.
She attempted to touch his face, but Yami shifted in his bed somnolently. This made Miyabi gasp quietly, realizing what she was doing.
'I-I shouldn't do this... He's just sleeping but I don't want to cause any trouble to him…' She thought.
Miyabi sat down on the floor, watching the television. She also got exhausted and went to sleep.
######
The next day in the evening, Yami was about to head out to the gymnasium for more training. He encountered Tooru and Aoi.
"Waiting for your partner?" Aoi asked.
"Yeah... I can't seem to leave her all alone." Tooru answered.
"What about you, Yami?" Aoi questioned.
"I'm heading out for more training." Yami responded.
"It can't be helped for you... You want be stronger for Miyabi's sake. As for you, Tooru, you're acting like Julie's caretaker." Aoi said.
"Only if you know, Torasaki-san... Only if you know." Yami joked, leaving the boys.
Tooru noticed Aoi leaving him as well. He quickly called his friend.
"Tora. Don't forget your Duo application tomorrow." Tooru reminded.
Aoi looked at Tooru for a few seconds, confusing him.
"I know." Aoi responded.
######
Back in the gym, Yami began to practice his skills harshly. There was no one inside, providing him all the space he needed. He was moving at extreme speeds. The Tengan in his eyes were active.
'I need to react more quickly... I have to move fast enough from the visual information so I can counter without slipping…' he thought.
He then summoned his Blaze and separated the bow. Yami then hurled one of the blades in the air like a boomerang. He began to will the blade to attack him, forcing him to block or dodge the flailing sword. Unknown to him, Miyabi heard the sounds of clanging and went in the gym. She saw the harsh training that he was doing.
'He has been training this much to get strong...? I don't think I can make it like that... I have to also train as well.' She thought.
Reluctant, she went in the gym. This got Yami's attention, noticing Miyabi.
"Enjoyed seeing the show?" He asked.
Miyabi blushed as she could see his slim yet muscular body through the shirt. It was wet from the sweat being perspired from his skin.
"I-I-I heard the noise from the gym and wanted to know what was happening. I-I didn't know that you could t-train yourself with your Blaze like that." She stuttered.
"It's a unique attribute that it possesses. Whenever I throw one of the parts for the bow, it returns like a boomerang. I often use this method to train my reflexes, especially when it comes to me at high speeds" Yami said, blocking off the flying blade.
"I-I see... I also want to spar with you again." Miyabi said in a shy tone.
Yami stopped his training and quickly caught the flying blade. He reattached it from the pommel, forming the bow. He then dispelled it, making it vanish in orange-red flames.
"Are you sure you want to become train with me? This won't be like how we spar during the day." Yami questioned.
"I also want to become strong. I don't want to become a burden to you…" She answered.
Yami sighed, knowing she wanted to become strong. He decided to help her.
"Summon your Blaze and come at me with the intent to kill. Don't hold back." Yami ordered.
Miyabi reluctantly nodded in response. She then summoned her Blaze. It formed into a long pyramid-shaped lance. Yellow rune-like lines were running at the edges. The lance was heavy for her, judging how she was struggling to lift it.
"So that's your Blaze... Let's continue." Yami said.
Miyabi charged at him with the lance, surrounding it with energy. It was stamina draining for her. The moment she got close, she lost her strength to wield it properly. Yami sighed in response.
"Hotoka-san... Blaze represents one's soul. Therefore, the lance shouldn't weigh heavily on you." Yami lectured.
"I know... B-but this one is rather hard to wield." She said.
Yami looked at her Blaze for a brief moment.
'Hmmm... A Blaze represents the soul so it's likely that she may have some sort of complex that makes her feel uncomfortable. Her personal fears may also be a factor…' He thought.
"Try to relax your thoughts so you can wield the lance. Don't let its weight fool you. A calm mind will allow you to wield the Blaze with excellent proficiency." Yami ordered.
Miyabi closed her eyes to focus on wielding the lance. She felt the weapon suddenly become lighter in her opinion. Before she knew it, it was so light, she can swing it with little difficulty.
"Now that you have a calm mind, let's begin." Yami said.
He then charged forward. This prompted Miyabi to swing the lance in reflex. The side of the lance managed to hit him, causing him to slide back 12 feet away. He grunted from the force.
"I'll admit from your strength. That Blaze of yours is powerful... If you continue training, you may be able to overwhelm me." Yami complimented.
This got Miyabi to blush in response, hearing him praise her for the display. She then noticed him charging forward.
"Don't hold back. Just fight." Yami said.
Miyabi didn't anticipate the speed he was moving in. To compensate for the lack of speed, she spun in place with the lance. It forced Yami to jump into the air. Miyabi then thrusted the lance to him, making him block the sharp tip before it touched him.
"Impressive... I'd say that you can adapt in combat so you can attack opponents who have an advantage." Yami said.
The next hours were filled with loud sounds of clanging in the gym. Miyabi and Yami were at their limits after sparring with their Blaze active. During the spar, Miyabi was able to gain a better grasp on her lance. This allowed her to attack without feeling the weight.
"We should end this spar... It been a few hours and the sun is setting." Yami pointed out.
Miyabi nodded and went to the female's bathroom to wash off the sweat. Yami went to the male's bathroom to do the same thing.
######
Yami and Miyabi were outside of the gym, walking back to their dorms. They noticed the cherry blossoms nearby.
"How beautiful…" She said.
Yami looked at the trees, seeing the petals floating down to the ground. Some landed on his shoulders.
"Um... Tsubasa-kun, whom will you be paired with as your Duo...?" Miyabi asked.
Yami sighed in response. He didn't want to join with anyone, but he couldn't find the right answer.
"I'm more of a lone wolf, Hotoka-san... I usually don't pair up with people." He said.
"E-even so, the school requires you to join with another person as your Duo." Miyabi stuttered.
Yami exhaled with a defeated sound. He then muttered to her, which she was able to hear.
"I don't have anyone in particular to be paired with as a Duo." He said.
Miyabi then looked at him with surprise. She was very shy to make a request but she willed herself.
"I... I..." She said nervously.
Yami waited patiently as Miyabi was struggling to say what she wanted.
"...I want to be paired with you as my Duo." She said.
Yami was surprised on what she asked. He calmly placed his left index and middle finger on Miyabi's forehead in a gentle way.
"If that is what you're requesting, I will comply with what you ask" he said.
Miyabi was surprised and smiled on response. She felt happy, knowing that the same person who was training her, is now her Duo.
######
Back in the dorm room, Yami was asleep. Miyabi was awake and noticed how he was sleeping quietly. She took notice on how peaceful his expression looked.
'It's like I'm seeing a different side from him... I-I shouldn't get this close to him though... I'm probably invading his privacy.' Miyabi thought with a blush.
Yami groaned in his sleep, causing him to turn at Miyabi. She then saw the scar on his chest. This made her look at it with slight fright, seeing the surrounding skin turning red and tender.
'The scar is starting to bleed again...' Miyabi thought.
The bleeding wasn't as severe as seeing him having a nightmare. It looked like a thin red line on his sleepwear.
'It's hard to believe that he bleeds from his scar a lot... One day, I hope it stops…' She thought.
######
The next morning, Yami and Miyabi were at the office on an early time. A woman was ordering the students to make a line. They were waiting in line to fill the Duo application.
"Are you sure about this, Hotoka-san? Once we fill out that application, there's no turning back." Yami questioned.
"I-I'm sure... I'm also nervous about this, but I'm certain with being as your Duo." Miyabi answered.
Yami closed his eyes on silent acknowledgement. They began to fill the application.
"Okay you two. I need to have you two pledge your Duo-hood." The woman said.
"A pledge?" Yami asked.
"You two need to put one Blaze on the other and recite this pledge. This will make your Duo official." The woman said, handing the paper to recite the pledge.
Both Yami and Miyabi had a faint blush. They were very nervous to declaim the passage they need to say.
"We'll be back in a moment..." Yami said in a nervous tone.
Miyabi also followed along, finding Yami outside. He was still flushed on what he was about to do.
"Tsu-Tsubasa-kun, are you okay?" Miyabi asked.
"J...just nervous... Like I said, if you intend to pledge your Duo-hood with me, it's okay. I'll do what I can to help support you and train you to become strong." Yami said.
Miyabi was slightly moved to tears. She was glad on what he said. Both of them summoned their Blaze. Miyabi's was on Yami's as they made their pledge.
"So bound, we two shall remain together always to the best of our ability. In joy, sorry, and health - until death do us part." They said in unison.
Both made their Blaze disappear. They had a red blush on their face.
"It felt we were pledging ourselves in a wedding…" Yami said in an introverted tone.
"I-I-It does sound like it... M-my heart was racing from the pledge." Miyabi stuttered.
"Let's head back to our dorm so we can ease our thoughts off... Having a troubled mind can be rather hard to focus." Yami stated, hiding his blush.
Miyabi nodded as they went back to their dorm room.
######
Outside at night, Rito was singing happily. She then showed a menacing smirk.
"The mock battle will be exciting. I wonder how the rookies will fair against me." She said in a deeper, dark tone.
Ending 1: AAA - With You
-The scenery shown was a cloudy, night sky. Yami was looking at the sky, sitting on a tree branch. His scar glowed red.-
'Yes. Yes. Yes. (I'll take you to the higher stage. Now you got blazin'.) X2'
-The scene shifts to Miyabi, who was near the tree that Yami was sitting on. She had a solemn expression marred on her face as she watched the night sky.-
'namida wo kakushita tsuyogari na kimi no egao
kata wo daku koto sae sunao ni wa dekinakute
yoake no mukou ni donna mirai ga atte mo
shinjiru koto de shika kaerarenai'
-Yami and Miyabi were shown in different poses near to each other. He was facing the opposite direction while having a pained expression, clutching his chest. Miyabi closed her eyes as she felt the breeze from the wind blowing at her. The scene shifts to different people wearing black business suits. All had an evil expression.-
'miushinatte ita kokoro no KAKERA
futari de sagashi ateta shunkan kitto'
-Yami then looks back at Miyabi, who was waiting for him. Both looked at each other, seeing their pain in their spirits.-
'kowashite
oikakete kiri hiraita ano sora de
Seeking my way
hitosuji no hikari ni naru with you'
-Yami was seen fighting against the people in business suits. He had his Blaze in hand. Miyabi also followed along with her Blaze. Both were actively fighting against them. Yami then held his Blaze in bow form and launched an arrow. Miyabi then made her lance push forward, creating a shockwave. Both are then shown in a peaceful landscape where there was vibrant green grass with cherry blossoms nearby. The camera zooms in to see their hands interlock before the scene shifts to their Blaze joined together.-
Wow. Talk about a lot of writing. More to come.