HAT: Alriiiiight, second chapter! Hope that you enjoy it! Love is accepted, constructive criticism is welcome, and hate is a waste of time for both me and you so let's be positive unicorns and spread the love!

Disclaimer: I barely own this, just to let you know. The plot goes to Let's Read with Nella! Tiger's Curse

Kelsey bites her bottom lip as she puts on the track suit left in her room. Today is her first day of "training" with Mr. Kadam and, for some reason, she fears that it will be much worse than working out with Kishan could ever be. With each brother having told her stories of their training with the older man, her caution is upped a few levels and she can't help, but hope that he'll take it easy on her; after all for most of her life she's been nothing, but a lazy American.

Without her permission her thoughts travel to the night she walked in on Mr. Kadam practicing his martial arts. It'd been a few weeks, but it's something that comes to mind way too often. Still, the view was very much appreciated, she has to admit.

She quickly shakes her head and finishes getting ready and reluctantly lets the fear take over. She asked for this, so she shouldn't be scared, but damn it if the stories that she'd been told by Ren and Kishan didn't make her at least wary. She just needs to survive and make it though and then curse herself for taking on this task when she returns to the sanctuary of her room where the only ones that might hear her would understand her pain and be unable to mock her for taking on such an impossible task. Or at least she can only hope since one or both may or may not be inclined to do this.

You can do it, she thinks before she starts her journey down the stairs, her doubt flickering into a small candle flame. She can only hope to keep it in such a small flame that size so it won't erupt into a large forest fire if she can't dampen it or snuff it out.

"Miss Kelsey, I see that you're up and early," Mr. Kadam says with a broad grin. "I thought the boys would run you off."

"No, I said I wanted to learn so I will," Kelsey insists as she pulls her hair into a bun.

"Don't complain to me when you're on the earth begging for mercy," he chuckles, causing her to pale as he walks out.

She blinks and gets her voice back, but it's a croak. "W-wait, what?"

Kelsey is left to follow him and she does so with more reluctance than she had walking downstairs. That candle flame has turned to a powerful campfire and nearly about to turn into a forest fire if he keeps this up. She finds him stretching and decides to follow his lead without question, her breath a little hitched. Forget being nervous around Mr. Kadam because she saw him half-naked; what does he have planned for exercise and will she survive?

"We're gonna run a mile," he explains.

"Run?!" The young American asks with a strained voice.

"Jog or walk, whichever works for you," he shrugs.

She eyes the forest around them. "So... what about the deadly animals in the forest?"

"It's not that dangerous, save for the odd snake or two," he assures before he takes off.

She reluctantly jogs after him.

-2 Hours Later-

Not only did they run a mile, but right afterward they got into multiple spars, Mr. Kadam claiming that exhausted or not that she may have to fight someone and need to be able to at least fend them off for a little while, however short on time she may be.

Now, currently, she has no fame to extinguish and she's lying in the dirt, swallowing the air with deep, ragged breaths. This is the first break that's lasted longer than two minutes that she's gotten and she's never been so exhausted in her life. She's physically drained and she doesn't care if any bugs crawl on her anymore, she just wants air in her lungs and strength in her limbs so that she can go crawl into bed and rest.

"Miss Kelsey, you're not supposed to collapse!" Mr. Kadam says, grabbing her arm and standing her up. "You're supposed to walk and slow your heart rate."

"Too tired."

He sighs and supports her while walking her back to the house. "Well, you'll get better with time. This is a conditioning period so it'll take a lot of time."

"Nhn... Could I get some water?" She asks as they enter the house.

"Sure, just sit here," he grunts as he sets her on the chair. "And stay sitting up."

"No promises."

With a roll of his eyes he walks out of the living room and into the kitchen. After several minutes he walks out with two tall glasses of ice water and as soon as the glass is in Kelsey's hand she gulps down about half of the water is gone instantly.

Mr. Kadam smiles in amusement as he sips on his water and wipes his forehead of sweat. "You know, Miss Kelsey, that you don't have to continue with this."

"I know, but I want to."

He observes her for a few moments then chuckles. "You never cease to amaze me."

She smiles. "I just wanna get stronger to protect those that I love. I can't always rely on this lightning power..."

Then she comes to the realization at her words. She can't always rely on others or the tools that they've gained on quests. One day she might have to rely on her own strength to save those that she loves or even to save herself. She can't do that if she never trains or if she doesn't make an attempt at the least. She refuses to stand aside and rely completely on others and to rely on something that may be useless later. She has to rely on herself at a moment's notice.

"I admire your determination. I hope that doesn't break anytime soon," he murmurs as he takes another sip of his water.

Her eyes widen. "What?!"

He smiles sheepishly. "You can't expect warrior training to be easy, can you? It's gruesome and used to break the weak and strengthen the strong. I should hope that you are strong."

"I hope so too..."

HAT: I know it's been a while, but as soon as the inspiration came, it left, then came back again... Weird, right?

Kelsey: You make it sound like Mr. Kadam's gonna kill me by training.

HAT: You can't expect warrior training to be easy, especially when their physical fitness was a lot better back then. Natural diet and all that.

Kelsey: Well, true...

HAT: *sighs* You know, you're my least favorite character along with Ren? You're only my favorite whenever I read fanficiton, really, or on this.

Kelsey: And Ren?

HAT: *gives a look*

Kelsey: Okay, understandable.

HAT: Will you please say it?

Kelsey: Please review.