Always a Time to Learn
Shinko glared at the gymnasium it was amazing how swift the Kiryuin conglomerate could rebuild a place that only a few days ago had been destroyed. He entered donning Sentokitsu and carrying the Two Star Uniform on a hanger. As much as he hated it being the Fencing Captain came with responsibilities that were not just kicking around other students.
"All right guys foils up you are all going to run at me," Shinko hung the Goku Uniform along on the bleachers opting instead to wield Sentokitsu in this training session. Every member in the club nearly fainted when they saw this, considering how destructive Ryuko's Kamui had been no one would blame them.
"Most of you are One Star Students show me," the stud that initiated his transformation was pressed in and a blinding light flashed out around the black haired teenager. He knew it was time to get actually serious about the fight against REVOCs and train his team at the same time.
"You have one of those Kamui things how is that fair?" one of his teammates questioned foil glimmering as it aimed at the ground in rest. Shinko turned wielding the sword that had come from his latest encounter with Satsuki's vendetta.
"There are twenty eight of you and one of me. Plus, if you think you're my size, the Goku Uniform is sitting over there for anyone that wants to try it on," he rolled his shoulders broad sword shining along the sharpened green edge. A tension sprung from in it the form of a star as several club members circled him.' Where's Ichiro definitely thought he'd show up here,' he braced.
'Three to the left, five to right, and two ahead. This appears to be a good time to just get them all at once,' Sentokitsu, honed for fighting, remarked knowing that with the broad sword their foils would not provide enough guard to block the strikes.
Shinko nodded silently acknowledging his closet ally's advice. They all charged in massive circles that had been inched out by months of taking steps forward and back all the while dragging ten or fifteen pound weights from their arms and legs. Each end of the foil wound get close and then retract a distraction tactic to keep him on his toes.
'Twack!' one pierce out from an overhead swing coming down into Sentokitsu's shoulder which provided more than enough cushion for the One Star's strike to be ineffective. The same One Star student drew it back and did it away this time seeing it pointed down by a very capable Scottish Claymore-inspired blade.
The others pressed in for a touch only to find their their foils had met one another rather than a central target. Shinko had ducked and pressed the first One Star's foil into the ground while the others swatted at him. With a jump up all of them were separated the rest jumping up to meet their leader.
'Cling!' only one made it anywhere near the Team Captain and that was because he had ran up along the backs of his fellow students to get there. Shinko's massive blade however bisected the foil like a cheap twig and a poke from it threw the student hard to the ground. The black haired youth spun and brought his weapon back to a resting state as everyone stared at him confused.
'Technique like that is not something that is natural,' Sentokitsu noted as Shinko kept himself focused on the Fencing Club which had twenty seven members all ready to come at him. Shinko grinned rushing forward.
"No, but it does come through experience!" each one of the members had a point driven into their chest flinging them every direction possible and to the floor not a single tear appearing in the their uniforms." Every get up and come at me again like you would a Fencing Match rather than some punk that doesn't like Satsuki," they all were taken aback by his words but instantly they prepared.
"En garde!" the first swept in taking an even amount of steps to get forward but every time Shinko lurched forward he dropped back. Shinko went for a touch with the tip of his larger weapon, it missed outright as the One Star bobbed backward. He pressed forward until they reached a solid twenty feet from the start point after which Shinko poked his opposition in the chest ending the match.
Two more filled the eliminated one's spot and charged one pressing forward while the other dodged the strikes back. Shinko smiled parting their extended foils before driving both away with quick presses to the center of their well pressed uniforms. His eyes glanced over at the Two Star Uniform that was positioned against the bleachers it had been long enough for three more fencers to come and poke his blade which was placed before him defensively.
He spun and unleashed as whirlwind with his strike hurling them all back to the ground. He sheathed the mighty weapon before turning away, its green edge shimmering as it locked into place.
'You never fenced before coming here. Where did you get the technique from?' Shinko's Kamui asked as they walked forward. It seemed weird to just have it be there naturally.
"Its weird Sento. After wearing that Two Star I learned everything about the sport and using it gave my instincts a massive boost," Shinko sighed staring at its dazzling black stars. He placed both arms at his sides as his fellow fencers recovered slightly, bodies covered in sweat and scrapes from being thrown about the ground." Do you think Life Fiber fusion would give you that boost? Activating you even in the hallway suddenly made my senses come alive and I predicted a lot of what he did I just couldn't act on it," he sat on the bleachers the two green eyes on his chest looking up.
'Is that what your father meant by Life Fiber Fusion? You and I truly become one and apparently the Life Fibers that had touched you do as well,' the red Kamui asked as the doors to the gym were pushed open.
"I don't know but it looks like we have someone wanting to be a try-out," his black hair blocked the sight slightly but he could make out a Goku Uniform. It glimmered white with blue trim as most of the Goku Uniforms had but there was something off about it, like it was a replica.
"Hey sorry this practice is closed to members of the Fencing Club only. Open practices aren't until next week," Shinsuke Wannatabe stepped forward mask drawn up over his head foil and sabre tied to his belt, somehow he continued to survive as a No Star.
"Good thing I'm a member," a foil whipped out and Shinsuke found himself blasting back into the bleachers which barely withstood the impact. The foil had even barely been pushed down." Captain I'd like to challenge you for your position," the voice was all too familiar and the glowing green eyes just furthered that.
"What is this about Ichiro?" Shinko stepped forward only to have a lash from the foil ringing out from no where. It missed by a hair and crashed harmlessly off of the wall.
"You are unfit to Captain this team. Now draw your weapon," the foil of the Two Star Uniform shone out from the belt around Ichiro's waist.
"Guess this isn't a talking matter. I'll even use a foil, here I thought we being buddies," he grabbed the foil hanging from his own Two Star Goku Uniform. It was heavy and light at the same time probably from Life Fiber density.
Hours earlier...
"Hanzo," a voice called out to the Fencing Club member as he prepared his things for practice. A sheath with a sabre and foil was hanging on the inside of his locker as the owner of the voice walked towards him.
Uzu Sanageyama, Athletic Committee Head. He walked with a certain swagger, as his Three Star carried a similar glow of arrogance or was it skill? Ichiro Hanzo was rather shocked at the appearance of the Elite Four member." Uzu, sir, what do you want?" he asked reaching for his fencing helmet only to be stopped by a fresh kendo stick.
"Want? No, I'm just here to give you a message from the boss lady herself. Lady Satsuki told me to give you this," he pulled out a freshly folded Goku Uniform. It shone brightly with two stars, it had been tailored to him and him alone." Use it how you want but I think you could really lead the Fencing Club to higher places than that other guy," the green haired teenager remarked taking a series of steps away slowly as the sound of fabric being unfolded filled the locker room.
"Here I thought we were buddies," Shinko's words echoed as the blade shifted into a fine foil that shone like polish platinum. It lost the heavy and light quality and became solidly typical, changing to the purpose of the cause.' Something is up. Judging by the Goku Uniform I'd say Satsuki put him up to this,' his black hair waved over blue eyes as the foil twirled between his fingers.
"En garde!" Ichiro's words filled the room and he rushed forward. The first strike missed a spark scraping over the ground as Shinko jumped backwards. In his augmentation spec the No Star was more than capable and it showed when he slapped the end of the foil across Shinko's face throwing him to the hardwood floor with a solid thunk.
It came down again this time over a foil. Shinko pushed up and jabbed rapidly only to find that his opposition was weaving in and out of the strikes as if they were predictable. His last strike was batted down and the end of a foil slid across the bridge of his nose slitting it open slightly.
'This one even makes him move better. He was good before but now-' Shinko struck up with his own foil to prevent another long string of impacts sparks beginning to stream from between their weapons.' He's better than Shinsuke ever could be!' veins began to surface under his skintight Kamui trying to resist the push.
'You are overstretching your muscles fight smarter not harder. What were you saying earlier about instincts?' the Kamui noted the added stress as the two humans pushed against one another.
Shinko pulled back and dodged the continued momentum popping up behind his foe with the blade pointed down in a rest stance." You're right. I just need to think my way through this," the black haired youth agreed throwing the foil up to take a downward strike leaving them temporarily at a deadlock." Want to tell me what's going on here?" Shinko questioned his opponent, buying time to think.
"You are unfit to be the Fencing Club captain!" the push threw Shinko back a few feet, it was remarkable to think that he had been outmatched by a Two Star Uniform. Thoughts raced through his minds as the thin blade came down upon his left forearm stinging but not cutting the fabric that had been pressed against it. Bouncing back the usurper thrusted it forward in a stab only to find the tip of his weapon grabbed.
"How so?" Shinko pushed back on the blade tip before bringing down his Two Star's foil. It slammed hard against nothing as it had been sidestepped. He swung the sword again this time it hit the mark of an opposing weapon.' I need to focus watching him go through everything is helping but I still can't get what he's going for,' the two split after pushing back off of each other.
'He winds back too far when he comes from the left take advantage of that,' Sentokitsu must have been analyzing the same way. He did somehow integrate the instinct function of the Fencing Augmentation Spec into his own systems.
"Gotcha!" Shinko acknowledged with a smile as he weathered an onslaught of strikes. The sound of a whip whooshing through the air continued with each violent strike leaving him there to endure it until the opening made itself present.' The left is his power swing if I feint just a little he should open up enough for me to take advantage,' the foil in his hand was touched and he let it go to the ground.
Ichiro Hanzo noted it and reeled back revealing his right side completely open while he reeled back to his left. The foil in his hands was glowing but time had slowed almost to frame rates. Every time the blade progressed Shinko wrapped around the hilt of his broad sword. It snapped through the air and was about to hit when in the last possible moment the broad sword slammed into his side broad ways not to cut but to wind.
He crumpled to the ground in heap. Gasp escaped his mouth as the lung that had been concussed began to function again,. The Brief second was all it took as the broad sword was reared back for real.
"Finishing Move!" Shinko's word were colder than normal but the edge of the blade seemed to burn hotter than fire. Stars streamed out of it as the winded fencer stood back up body shaking." Murasama!" the first slash came down but was pulled back subconsciously, both Sentokitsu and Shinko were awestruck by the stoppage as a huge billow of wind cut the space between them.
Ichiro had foil raised, it crumbled into nothing in seconds the force of the blade stopping enough to break it. Shinko held the blade firm nothing happened more than that though as Ichiro instantly fell to both knees.
Shinko stopped blade slowly being moved back into the large scabbard that had been created when the blade was. Ichiro looked up from the ground confused as to why the Fencing Club leader did not punish him or even try to strike him down.
'You could have finished this off quickly,' Sentokitsu remarked boldly.
"I know," he whispered down to the Kamui before stretching both arms with a yawn." Hey!" his voice raised beyond the whisper and everyone in the hall pay attention." I have an announcement! Anyone here that wants to be a co-Captain of the team can come and take my Two Star Uniform! And you will be co-Captaining with Ichiro!" he continued to speak up as everyone in the hall rushed to the bleacher where the Goku Uniform hung only to be stopped by duo of foils.
"If anyone is leading this team it is going to be me," Shinsuke was standing with the two pointed blades aimed out backing against the Goku Uniform.
"And that is where you are wrong. You are not leading the team, no that is still up to me. You are however going to help me train these guys because frankly I'm not as good at fencing as either of you two," Shinko stepped through the crowd Kamui still glowing with power." Its a time for you to learn how to work as a true team not a group led by a dictator. We're starting team building first thing tomorrow morning, at 0600," Shinko walked out a moment later leaving everyone stunned at the reveal.
"Man, I have no clue why I'm still doing this stuff," Shinko plopped on his bed Kamui returning back to normal. The massive Two Star Mansion was empty as always but the throbbing of the cool air against his tired body soothed him.
'Because you are a good person. These people even though they are your enemies need a leader that isn't a dictator and you are providing that in the rawest form,' Sentokitsu had noted finally speaking aloud.
"You think I'm a good person? That's nice at least someone does," he looked out the window down at the slums that Satsuki had established for the No Star students. Gifts may not have been plenty but the few that he had been given were good." We need to start working on Satsuki and her Elite Four things are getting dangerous for us around here," Shinko stretched again before laying back out over the bed.
'Too true she was even trying to use one of the Fencing Club members against us. If need be, we could head straight for REVOCS HQ the only one there that we know of is Ragyo Kiryuin,' the strategic battle-clothing was not lying.
"You're right but that would be too direct. I'm fairly sure that you and I need to work some things out. We'll worry about that tomorrow though cause for some reason I'm beat," the black haired teen yawned splaying out on the bed fading into sleep.
'You're worry for Ryuko is what keeps you here. I know that you are a good friend but this is something more than friendship for your end at least,' Sentokitsu remarked to itself. Shinko was already snoring of course things like this were always happening.
The Next Morning...
'TAC!' a wooden sign was spiked into the ground. It was marked with black painted kanji that read: 'Matoi I challenge you!'
Uzu Sanageyama stood behind it in full Three Star swagger." That so? Guess I'll have to take you up on it," Ryuko smiled brightly, her red bang draped over his left eye. Sanageyama took a nervous step back before regaining composure.
"Trust me you are going to lose Matoi," he boasted leaning on the kendo stick in his right hand. It shone like a freshly polished car and it was well treat. She tensed ready for a fight.
"Don't bet on it! I'm not going to stop until I get the answers from Satsuki," Ryuko looked forward bravely. Her right hand held close to the clip of her glove knowing it was the syringe that would allow her and Senketsu to unite and truly fight against the forces that be.
'He is arrogant. That will be our greatest advantage,' Senketsu informed staring at the Kendo Champion analytically.
"You're right there is not need betting on something when you know the outcome," he snickered lining up with the silver star positioned upon the neck of his jacket. It glowed rainbow as he activated the Life Fibers.
"Yeah, you're going to lose so I might as well not throw that money away," she snickered arrogantly pulling the syringe free by tossing the clip aside.
Something is about to break. Will it be Sanageyama or Matoi? Find out in the next installment of Don't Stand Alone...
Thanks for reading folks!
~Herodan3