Chapter 11 – Endless Resolve – Practice Makes Perfect

Author's Note: I do not own the Buso Renkin series and the characters of the original series. I own only the original characters of this fic, Sakuya Mutou, Kaworu Jounouchi, their siblings and friends, Phalene, some members of the Alchemist Army, and the enemy, the Tetsujin Juusan. Buso Renkin is the creation of mangaka, Watsuki Nobuhiro.

Also, though it's been more than half a year since I last updated this fanfic, I've been reuploading the previous chapters with updated and fixed content, such as new lines, grammar and spelling errors. Feel free to reread the old ones, and leave a review about them and this chapter. Even let me know of any further mistakes! Thank you for reading!

–

Shusui watched Sakuya and the boy named Kabuto attack each other head on with their shinai. While Kabuto successfully blocked each of Sakuya's hits, he was left on the defensive. "Her fighting style is unorthodox," Shusui said to himself aloud, "but her offense is impressive. It's only been a week, but Muto has grown exponentially." Kaworu didn't say anything at Shusui's commentary. But they watched as Kabuto stepped back into a ready stance; he looked beat.

Sakuya also stepped back, catching her breath as well. "Damn!" she exclaimed. "Can't land a single hit, but you're pretty good, Kabuto-kun!"

"I can say the same about you, Sakuya-san," Kabuto replied. "Maybe you'll win today. If I recall, I've won each of our matches each day since we first sparred, except for yesterday."

'That's right,' Kaworu thought. He had remembered their battle from the previous day well. 'Sakuya-kun tied up the match, but she struck the same time as Kabuto-san at the same time as he in the last round. She hasn't won a single match, but…' He looked at Sakuya intently. 'Her stamina and form is improving. Because of the weight of her Buso Renkin, her attacks with a shinai are too quick due to the difference of weight. However, she's noticed this on her own, and even takes these matches to heart in our own training matches. Sakuya-kun is growing…'

Her eyes fixated on Kabuto, she gripped her shinai tightly. "No one landed a point, right? I don't know kendo very well, but this is still the first round, right?"

This caught Shusui's attention. "Right. Each of you have yet to land a single point."

"Then let's make this interesting." Kabuto grinned as his silver-haired brother in the back raised an eyebrow. "A single-point match. And the rest of the students can call it a day."

Kuwagata sighed a little at Kabuto. 'His games are so damn annoying. I wanna go NOW!'

"I will allow it," Shusui nodded and held up his hand. "Begin!" As soon as he said the words, Sakuya and Kabuto were so close to each other, shinais locked. They glared at each other as they tried to push the other back. Soon, they both retreated and counter-attacked again. The result was the same as before, but the attacks were so intense. Kaworu, Shusui, and Ouka Hayasaka couldn't believe what they were watching. A sparring match, but it looked like a battle of life and death.

"Show me, Sakuya-san!" Kabuto roared. "Show me that endless resolve you displayed in our first match!" He slammed down on Sakuya's shinai, which brought her to her knees. She looked up and pushed Kabuto's back, pulling back her weapon to the left side of her waist. While Kabuto staggered back with his shinai in his left hand, he turned his weapon back so the "blade" was under his arm, and he swung his arm forward and horizontally.

Sakuya ducked under the slash, which surprised Kabuto, and pointed her hand upwards. 'An iai!' Kabuto, Kaworu, and Shusui thought as Sakuya's eyes gleamed. In a quick movement, she brought her arm and Shinai upwards, the sound of the bamboo hitting the chestplate echoing throughout the gym. Each of the students, Kuwagata, Kaworu, Shusui, and Ouka were all silent, shocked by this turn of events as Kabuto's shinai fell from the air behind Sakuya.

"P-Point! Match belongs to Muto!" Kabuto was in shock, as was Sakuya. The two looked up/down at each other, and soon they bursted into a laughing fit. The other students cheered as they crowded the two, who both took off their helmets. Kaworu simply smiled as he stood up from his sitting position. "You taught her well," Shusui whispered silently to Kaworu, who looked up at him. "Okay, everyone, class is over for the day!"

–

Sakuya was in the girls' baths in the dorm as she freshened up from her match. Her body felt so sore, but not as it was in the beginning. "I've grown…" she said to herself with a triumphant smile on her face. "Kaworu's training helped a lot…and sparring with Kabuto-san's fun. I feel a bit stronger every day…"

Soon, she realized that she wasn't alone as she heard Yumi's loud voice enter the baths. "Ah! It's Sakuya!" she exclaimed and tackle-hugged her bare back. "You're never here before us!"

"I heard you've taken up kendo," Ouka smirked, sitting next to Sakuya. "Against Kabuto Kusanagi of 2A, right?

"Oh, I've heard of him!" Mihoshi rang. "I heard that he has a twin with silver hair named Jinsuke. But it's strange that they don't look like each other." Sakuya thought about it at first, remembering the rude silver-haired boy with a split down the middle of his hair. She could slightly see the resemblance. "You're lucky, Sakuya-kun. A lot of the girls in our year are pretty jealous of you."

"Feh, that's stupid." Ouka then took one of the water bins and dumped the cold water on Sakuya, who shrieked. "Just because he's good at sports and good looking doesn't mean he's everythin'. But word is that you've been sparrin' with him every day this week, and today you kicked his ass. Good for you!"

"W-Well…" Sakuya said nervously as she shivered slightly.

"Eh? Sakuya's a natural samurai!" Yumi exclaimed and tackled Sakuya again, fondling her breasts. Sakuya gasped and pushed the blue-haired otaku off, and the four of them began to laugh.

–

Kaworu stood outside the faculty office with his arms crossed. He was wearing the Ginsei Academy school jacket over his normal dress shirt as he looked around. Then he looked down at his white armband. "…Sakuya-kun's skirt is somewhat shorter than everyone else's," he muttered to himself. "I wonder how the staff allows it…"

"Kaworu-kun," said Ouka Hayasaka as she walked towards the tall blonde. She smiled as she placed her clipboard by her side. "Surprised?"

"Not really. After a week, I figured that you and Shusui-sensei were placed here under orders." He smiled back and shook Ouka's hand. "It's somewhat weird to call you both sensei, but you two did help me out back then."

"We did more than help you, Kaworu-kun. You've grown into a good Warrior. When I heard that Kazuki-kun's daughter had also become a Warrior, I was surprised at first. But I also found it not surprising. She's just like him."

Then Kaworu looked up at his fellow Warrior. "I'd have rather not get Sakuya-kun involved, but she chose her path on her own. All I can do is support her." Ouka giggled a little and placed her hand on Kaworu's shoulder. Shusui had walked down the hall to meet up with the two in front of the faculty office, and they all entered the room.

There, a young woman with wavy blonde hair and Tokiko were waiting for them. "Warrior Hanaka Busujima!" Kaworu exclaimed.

"Hi!" she replied with a smile and waved.

"Good, you're here," Tokiko sighed and got off the desk she was sitting on. "Busujima and I discovered a few things, so we thought to brief you here. Principal Rokumasu will also be joining us."

Shusui blinked a bit and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Rokumasu-kun? Well, he has helped us a bit. It's best to fill him in as well."

"I don't think that's necessary," said a voice from the principal's office as a young man with short sandy hair, glasses, and a goatee walked to them. This was Koji Rokumasu, once Kazuki's friend, now principal of Ginsei Academy. "I'm aware of the situation already. I've followed the rumors around and already came up with my own deductions. But please, go on."

The five of them looked at Rokumasu with blank expressions, speechless of what to say. All they thought was, '…Who is this guy, really?'

–

At a café near the school, Kabuto leaned on the nearest lamppost, looking down at his cell phone. Then he turned his gaze to the moon. "We've come this far…" he said to his brother, who sat on the curb as he guzzled down a can of soda. "Kami-sama will be expecting us to succeed where Yata failed."

"Heh," Jinsuke, or Kuwagata, grinned as he crushed the can with his bare hand. "Yata was th' lowest ranked of us, anyway. I may be just one number ahead, but I'm STILL stronger than 'im."

"I applaud your confidence, Kuwagata," Kabuto smirked as he looked down at his twin. He was silent for a bit, and Kuwagata noticed this.

"Somethin' wrong, onii-sama?"

The auburn-haired Homunculus snapped back to reality and shook his head. "It's nothing. Nothing at all."

"Kabuto-saaaan!" a female voice called out to him. He and Kuwagata looked up to see Sakuya, dressed up in outing clothes. She was wearing a slim tank top with a belt around her waist, and jeans that went down to the middle of her calves. "Sorry, man! Did you wait long? Is Jinsuke-san joining us?"

"Stuff it, woman," Kuwagata hissed and left the two.

"Make sure to get the thing done before coming home!" Kabuto called out to him, and Kuwagata just simply waved as he disappeared into the streets.

Sakuya raised an eyebrow and turned to Kabuto with a smirk. "I assume he's the younger brother. You're the type to dump errands on him, aren't you?" Kabuto simply smiled and let out a slight chuckle as the two of them entered the café.

–

Inside, the waitress gave Kabuto black coffee and Sakuya green tea. "I have to thank you, Kabuto-san," Sakuya smiled widely. "You really helped me out with all of our sparring matches. I'm surprised that after a week, I finally beat you!"

"In battle," Kabuto replied, "you only have one shot, Sakuya-san. A single strike can mean the end of your life." Sakuya knew that all too well. "That may have been kendo, but you should always treat each match as if your life depended on it. Each strike must have the intent to kill, and each strike must carry the strength of your resolve to win."

Sakuya sipped her tea, and then looked up at Kabuto. "So did you have those feelings in our match as well? You weren't holding back, right?"

The teen didn't say anything. He sipped his black coffee, which Sakuya took notice of. Then he said, "Who do you fight for?" This question caught Sakuya off guard. "You said that you owe someone. You want to be stronger for that person. Do you use the word 'stronger' in a figurative or literal sense? I'm kind of curious."

The blue-haired girl kept silent for a bit. How would she tell Kabuto about the reason for her wanting to take up kendo? That because of Kaworu, she is able to live again; because of Kaworu, she was able to see her mother and fight for her father? She smiled lightly and looked down at her green tea. "…He…expanded my world," she sheepishly said, and Kabuto's eyes widened with interest. "I've explored a part of the world I never thought was possible. I've done things I never thought I could. It's because of him…I feel so alive, like I can do anything."

"Do you like this boy? Is he a boyfriend or something?" Kabuto didn't know why he'd ask such a question. It was something out of the ordinary.

Sakuya blinked and blushed. "N-No way! Everyone keeps saying we are, but I swear, we're not!" The air between them became tense, and Sakuya couldn't find the words to continue the conversation. As she checked her cell phone, she frantically stood up from her chair. "Th-that was fun! Thanks for everything, Kabuto!" Kabuto looked up at the mention of his name without the honorific, and Sakuya caught herself. "I-I mean, Kabuto-san! Kabuto-SAN!"

The Homunculus looked at Sakuya's red face and began to laugh. Sakuya started to laugh as well, and the tension began to ease up. "Let's do this again, Sakuya." Now Sakuya looked at Kabuto, and she smiled and nodded, leaving the café. As the girl left, Kabuto stood up from his chair, and he opened his right eye. "Alright then…let's begin…"

–

Kaworu waved good-bye to Tokiko and Busujima as they left the school grounds. He was surprised by how late their meeting ran. But he had an idea of what they have to look for. "Like Reiko Motomiya, Papillon's new apprentice, apparently," he said to himself, "our targets are also students. But there are countless students to choose from that simply ruling out one or ten won't do much for our investigation. So…how-"

"Kaworuuuu!" Sakuya called out to the blonde as she ran up to him. She had a big smile on her face.

He noted Sakuya's expression and shifted to the side. "Something good happen?"

"You can say that," Sakuya replied. "How about you, Kaworu? You seem like you were deep in thought."

"You saw Warrior Chief Tokiko on the way here, right?" Kaworu looked around and placed his hands into his pockets. "She and few other Warriors were discussing other Homunculus locations, possibly even the Tetsujin Juusan. It's possible that there are Homun…what's wrong, Sakuya-kun? You've been staring at me since you got here."

"Oh! Sorry!" Sakuya laughed, rubbing the back of her head. "I was just thinking on how good you look with the Ginsei Academy uniform jacket. It really suits you, Kaworu."

The blonde looked down at his jacket and chuckled a little. "Well, the skirt of your uniform is a lot shorter than most. But I think it suits you as well." Sakuya blushed and puffed up her cheeks. As Kaworu laughed, he heard the sound of something flying towards them. "Watch o-"

"WATCH OUT!" Sakuya pushed the two of them away from each other as a spinning blade flew right past them. Kaworu was amazed on how Sakuya had picked it up and react faster than he did. The two of them watched the blade fly towards the top of a nearby building to its owner, a grinning young teen with silver hair split down the middle looking down at them. "No way…J…Ji-"

"Jinsuke Kusanagi," Kaworu growled, taking out his Buso Renkin. "I thought so. He's a Homunculus, and assuming that's his Buso Renkin, probably a humanoid Homunculus."

"But…but that means…" Sakuya looked behind her and gasped, diving towards Kaworu as a tornado flew past them, blowing down a nearby tree. She looked up, and her eyes widened. "K…Ka…" Looking down at her with a tomahawk in his hand was Kabuto. His right eye narrowed, and he smirked. "Kabuto-san…" With the tomahawk in hand, the Homunculus jumped at Sakuya and slashed down at her. She defended with the broad side of her buster sword, but the shock of the impact made her stagger a little. "Kabuto-san! Why? I thought we were fri-"

"Friends?" Kabuto sneered and kicked her back to Kaworu. "I…WE don't need friends. My brother and I are Homunculi, and all we need are ourselves and each other. I am Kabuto, XI (11) of the Tetsujin Juusan!"

"And I'm Kuwagata." Kuwagata jumped down from his building perch and detached his bladed boomerang to form two scimitars, curved blades. He then slashed down at Kaworu, who defended with his Garden of Eden claymore Buso Renkin. "XII (12) of th' same group! We had t' wait for a while before we were allowed to act, so we played th' role as good students of Ginsei Academy! You two never woulda never seen it comin'!" The silver-haired Homunculus jumped back from the slashing Kaworu, who growled at his opponent. "But most of all, lookin' at your pretty face, with your long blonde hair and purple eyes, REALLY pissed me off, and I REALLY wanna kill your ass right now!"

Kaworu and Sakuya were back to back, holding their swords outward as Kabuto and Kuwagata had the two surrounded. "Sakuya-kun…" Kaworu motioned to his partner, and Sakuya nodded. They pushed off of each other's backs and launched themselves at their opponents: Kaworu and Kuwagata, and Sakuya and Kabuto. Kaworu slashed first, but Kuwagata used his dual blades to deflect and counter. He began to rip at Kaworu's jacket, and the blonde started to slash furiously. "Fall, monster!" he roared and slammed his sword down, but the Homunculus jumped farther back.

"You mad?" Kuwagata grinned. "Is it because I tore your uniform? This little thing?" He stuck his scimitars into the ground and took off his Ginsei Academy jacket, wearing only a baggy tank top. Then he threw it into the air and slashed it to pieces. "Ha! It was a good cover while it lasted, but now we just gotta remove you two from our sights, and onii-sama and I can-" He didn't finished. Kaworu had stuck his sword into Kuwagata's right shoulder. "AAAAGHH!"

"You talk too much…" Kaworu growled and turned the blade, but Kuwagata pulled himself off before he could. The wound began to heal at an accelerated rate, and Kaworu was back on the defensive against Kuwagata's enraged attacks.

"I'll kill you, you effing blonde!"

Meanwhile, Sakuya lifted her Grand Gaia and slammed it down. She was off mark, as Kabuto stood next to it. "I see why your timings with the shinai were so off. You're used to swinging that heavy thing around, huh?" He lifted his tomahawk to his face. "Not like my Eye of the Storm. I can handle this thing as if it were a shinai." He spun the tomahawk by its leather strap, and wind formed on the blade, spinning into a wheel. He shot the wind wheel at Sakuya, and it cut at her shoulder. "My Eye of the Storm can generate wind blades. From small wheels like this to twisters like before. You're at a disadvantage, Sakuya-san. Admit defeat."

Sakuya staggered back, but she caught grip of the cloth from her Grand Gaia, and the cloth began to shine. She glared at her opponent and pulled on the cloth. "You talk too much!" she roared as she grabbed the hilt and swung to Kabuto's side. The auburn-haired Homunculus was slow to react, using his Eye of the Storm to dull the strength of the Grand Gaia by a bit, but not by a lot, as well. He ended up jumping over it, though his leg was caught. The wound began to heal, and Kabuto stood upright. "Why, Kabuto-san? Why did you get close to me? Why is it like this now?" Sakuya was confused and distraught as she pulled her Buso Renkin back, holding it over her shoulder. "Was…everything you said to me a lie?"

Kabuto didn't say anything. He hung his head low and closed his eyes. Then he said, "In battle, you only have one shot. A single strike can mean the end of your life. Each strike must have the intent to kill, and each strike must carry the strength of your resolve to win." He opened his eyes and held out his Buso Renkin at her. "If you want my answer, then defeat me in battle, Sakuya Muto-san!" The sound of a branch snapping caught his ear, and he quickly turned around to defend from a katana Buso Renkin. He and Sakuya gasped at the user. "You're-…!"

As Kaworu and Kuwagata continued their assault, the Homunculus pulled back and attached his two scimitars together by the hilt. The outer curves were facing opposite directions. "Go, Scissor Vortex!" roared the Homunculus as he through his blade at Kaworu like a disk.

Kaworu sunk his Garden of Eden into the ground and held out his arm. "You shall not enter my Eden!" he exclaimed, and the Buso Renkin bursted into golden flames. But Kuwagata saw this coming. He grinned and shifted his right hand to the right, and the spinning blade went around Kaworu. "What?" It flew towards Kaworu's back, and the Warrior pulled out his Buso Renkin from the ground to dodge. The blade had cut on the right side of his stomach, though. "Ugh!"

"Ha! Think I'd attack without knowin' what your Buso Renkin can do?" Kuwagata jeered. "I can control an' change th' Scissor Vortex's spinning directions! And I can keep it goin' as long as I want to! I'm gonna cut'choo up an' have ya for dinner, blondie!" But as soon as he caught his blade, the sound of objects flying caught his ear, and Kuwagata jumped back. Arrow-like needles were embedded into the ground, missing their target as the lined up in front of Kaworu. The two of them looked up at the building Kuwagata once stood on. "You!" they exclaimed.

A woman with long hair lifted her left arm that held a bow with a heart-shaped handle, and a pink cupid automaton with butterfly wings flying next to her generated new needles. "Having trouble, Kaworu-kun?" the woman giggled.

"You're…Ouka Hayasaka!" Kaworu watched the woman jump off of the building and skillfully scale down to lamp posts, landing into the school grounds.

"Tch. Another annoyance. I'll take both of you on!"

"Watch who you're talking to, pal!" the automaton yelled. "Ouka, let's teach him a lesson!"

Ouka smilled devilishly and held up her arm. "Teaching lessons is in my job description, after all. Fire, Buso Renkin of Archery, Angel Gozen!"

"You're…Shisui Hayasaka…" Kabuto growled as he held the man's katana back. But his Buso Renkin was smaller, so it didn't have enough strength, so he jumped back from the man and held his Buso Renkin by the strap.

"It's SHUsui," Shusui scoffed as he looked up at Sakuya. "Are you alright, Muto?"

Sakuya was in awe. She wasn't aware that Shusui…was also an Alchemist Warrior! "Kaworu! Did you know about this?" she called out to him, only to find that he was fighting alongside with…her teacher, Ouka Hayasaka! "AND THAT, TOO?"

"Now's not the time!" Kaworu called back as he defended from Kuwagata while Ouka fired at him.

"My sister and Jounouchi can take care of themselves. Attend to the matter at hand, Muto!" Sakuya nodded to Shusui and readied her Grand Gaia as Kabuto looked at the two. "Prepare to fall by my Buso Renkin of the Samurai Sword, Sword Samurai X!" The tide had turned. The ambushing Homunculi were now being ambush, and two veteran Warriors had joined the fray! "Let's go, Muto!"

"Right!" Sakuya replied, and the light of her Buso Renkin's cloth shined bright. "Take this, Kabuto-san…no, Kabuto! Grand Crusher!"