Standard Disclaimers Apply
The Twenty-Eighth Hour: Soft
Maybe Itachi was just really soft, she thinks. They are currently standing at the position where they started. The only way she knew this was by the stake sticking from the ground, assuming he hadn't moved it.
He hadn't pinned her up onto the stake again, which she had expected since that was enough "free time" on her part, but instead, he merely sat down. She followed and did the same.
"So what am I supposed to do right now?"
"You wait," he says, "unless you want more pain."
He was giving her an option. What kind of criminal gives options?
Not that she was complaining.
"But just waiting is boring," she complains. Then an idea pops into her head, and Itachi starts to regret being so soft on her. "Let's spar!"
He nearly facepalms.
The Twenty-Ninth Hour: Lecture
"On a daily basis, would you spar with your enemy?"
"No."
"What do you think the outcome would be if you did?"
"I'd give all my techniques away."
"And?"
She sighed. "And my fighting style."
He was not impressed. "And?"
"And my weaknesses."
"And then what happens?"
She thought for a bit. "I'd die."
He thought that was a very pessimistic way of looking at things, but it was a valid answer. "Good."
"It's good if I die?" She seemed incredulous, and on the spur of the moment, seemed to have forgotten that while they were not necessarily fight-to-the-death enemies, they were still on opposite sides of the battlefield.
"I did not say that. I meant your answer was good."
She was skeptical of him, but he could see that she was a little heartbroken under the layers of the façade she wore. He hates seeing it.
"Fine."
"Fine?" She perks up a little, and he thinks it is very adorable.
"We can spar."
The Thirtieth Hour: Beautiful
He tries to convince himself that he will not give himself away, and that on the contrary, she would give everything away. She had already shown her personality to him, but that does little on the battlefield. Seeing her fighting style, strengths, and weaknesses is bound to do him good.
Besides, he was a little itchy for action.
Right when he agrees to the fighting session, her eyes light up and she jumps up into a fighting stance. She doesn't yell out "I'm coming" (he's a little disappointed at that, but then he mentally curses himself for thinking like a perverted old man), but instead charges at him right away.
She is not the fastest he has seen, and the pain all over her body is restricting her movements, but she is still quick. Her kicks fluid, her punches powerful, her confidence radiant, she is definitely one of the best fighters he has ever seen.
And more than that, she is beautiful.
The Thirty-First Hour: Spar
He only evades, because he does not want her to see too much. He times his parries and blocks so that they just avoid her attacks. He does not want her to see his speed.
But then she pushes harder, increasing her strength and speed at the same time. He sees that this is not coming from her muscles, but from her chakra, willpower, and heart.
Without realizing it, he increases his speed to dodge her strikes, at times even striking back at her.
He delivers a few successful hits, but she recovers quickly and counters just as fast.
And without realizing it, he enjoys their little exchanges.
The Thirty-Second Hour: Captivating
She is captivating to both the eye and the soul. Her fiery spirit burns wildly, affecting him in the most pleasant of ways. Seeing her full attention on him, trying to anticipate his next move, sends a small fire to his heart. He is the only one in her line of vision. He is the only one invading her mind.
She is growing hotter and hotter as they fight, the sweat rolling down her forehead and neck in beads. He finds that oddly captivating.
He contemplates on whether to decrease the temperature in his illusion or not, but realizing that she could catch a cold, he decides not to. (It is also because he wants to see her even hotter, but he hides this thought in the back of his mind.)
Although her attacks are precisely aimed at vital nerves and he is certain she is serious, he finds her strikes gentle and pleasing.
But it is the gleam in her eyes, the confidence she has in him, that arouses him the most.
She knows he can dodge it, so she attacks.
A/N: What's wrong with me? I don't know. / Sorry for the late update! Been a bit busy lately. Thanks for reading! As always, please continue with the reviews! Thank you!