Kenichi: Not just her disciple

I do not own Kenichi.

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AN: Hello readers. Thank you for patiently waiting for another chapter. I am still only updating about once a month. My main focus is still on my Familiar Of Zero story.

Sorry for the long wait. I know some of you have been pretty anxious after the way I ended the last chapter.

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Chapter 5

Black Book

Saori takes a deep breath in anticipation of what might be on the other side of the door and then lets it out.

She slowly opens the door and sees Shigure standing there.

She takes in Shigure's appearance. She takes note of her slender but toned build; the long Hair; Pale skin; the purple stocking that emphasize her legs; the rather short, pink kimono; the purple choker around her neck; and the fact that she is well endowed. She also sees the sword strapped to Shigure's back.

She crosses her hands in front of her.

"Hello. How may I help you?"

Shigure senses something about Saori but can't put a finger on it.

A moment of silence passes between the two as they stand there staring at each other.

'Is she going to say anything?' Saori wonders to herself.

Tension starts build with each passing millisecond.

"Is . . . . Kenichi . . . . here?" Was softly uttered by Shigure.

"Are you from Ryozanpaku?"

'Based upon her looks, I think that she might be Shigure.'

Her suspicions are confirmed with a nod from shigure.

Saori shakes her head.

"My son is not here."

While putting a hand on her chin, Shigure starts thinking over the situation.

'He said that he was going to be here. Where else could he have gone?'

She preps to jump away.

"Wait."

Shigure looks back over to the woman that greeted her.

"I know where he is going, but you have to come inside for a bit to find out."

Shigure gets an annoyed look.

"But . . . Kenichi. . " Shigure starts.

Saori crosses her arms as well.

"Can wait." Saori finishes with a very simple but authoritative tone.

With a forced agreeing nod from Shigure, Saori leads her into the house.

'I knew that there was going to be a guest.'

She motions to the couch.

"Please have a seat."

Shigure sits down very elegantly, and Saori sits down across from her.

'She seems like such a well-mannered girl.'

Saori crosses her legs and puts her hands on her knees.

'She has a very commanding presence.' Shigure notes.

"So what is your name?"

"I'm . . . . Shigure . . . Kosaka."

"I am Saori Shirahama. I am Kenichi's mother."

"Nice . . . .to meet. . . you."

"So I have a very sincere question to ask you." The protective mother asks.

Shigure just does her typical blank stare.

"Why is it that you are here and not Miu?"

This startles Shigure, and she shifts nervously in her seat.

'She must know.'

"I . . . . . . . . . . . . .wanted to see. . . . him."

"What about Miu? It is my understanding that he really likes her."

"Mmmmmmmmm."

"If you want me to tell you where my son is, then you have to do better than that."

Shigure sighs.

"Miu . . . doesn't . . . feel . . . the same."

Saori tries to keep her composure as she begins to talk again.

"That's funny, because I thought that they were getting along quite well. Did she have a change of heart? So how did he find out?"

Shigure takes a big gulp.

'She would probably not be happy to hear that her son was deceived, but I think it would be unwise do lie to her about what happed.'

"She . . . was asked . . to . . deceive him."

Saori stands up and starts pacing around the living room.

'I am glad I knew about this before she came here. Otherwise I probably would have really blown up.'

"So I entrusted my son with your dojo and this is how we get repaid?"

Her words pierce Shigure and she looks at the floor as sadness and shame fill her emotions. She could sense in Saori's voice how badly that the trust that she gave her and the other masters at the dojo was compromised. Even though she did not know, she still feels ashamed that this happened.

"I . . . didn't know."

"So only some people knew?"

She nods.

"So are you here to bring him back to Ryozanpaku?"

The seriousness in Saori's voice is not the only thing that Shigure notices.

'Is that Ki?'

Shigure shakes her head.

"Are any of the other masters coming?"

Shigure shakes her head again.

"Kenichi . . . only told . . . me . . where . . he . . . was going. I . . . wasn't . . .followed."

'So he only told her.'

"That is interesting to know. So why are YOU here?"

"He . . . is. . . my disciple."

"Is that all?"

Shigure gets a confused look on her face.

"I . . . don't . . . understand?"

"Is he really only a disciple to you, or do you have deeper feelings for him?"

Saori still sees the confusion in Shigure's face.

"I have something to show you. Maybe after you read it, then you will tell me your answer. How about some tea for now?"

Saori gets confirmation with Shigure's nod.

Shigure watches Saori go into the kitchen for a couple minutes and then rushes back out and upstairs.

After a rather short period of time, Shigure watches her come back down.

'Why did she change into a yukata?'

The yukata she is wearing is solid blue in color with a white belt. The lower half of the yukata is lined with white flowers with a triangular spike of them along one side.

She goes back into the kitchen and comes back out a couple minutes later with a long-spouted brass teapot and a large teacup.

She sets the empty teacup in front of Shigure.

"Because you are a fellow martial artist, I am going to show you something that even my children have not seen me do."

Shigure quirks an eyebrow.

'Fellow martial artist? I thought I felt something about her.'

Saori starts to hum a particular tea pouring tune and starts to flip the pot around by twirling the handle.

As she continues, she zones more and more into her movements.

She starts performing what Shigure could describe as a dance with the teapot.

Saori slowly starts filling up the teacup by pouring from various positions. She even pours some from behind her back and over her shoulder.

The pot gets switched between her hands and twirled around in very precise but flowing movements.

She grabs the top of the spout and swings it around like a hammer.

The yukata's sleeves and lower half flow beautifully with each movement, greatly emphasizing each turn.

She finishes after a couple of minutes doing this. Not a single drop was spilled.

Saori bows to Shigure.

'I didn't know his mom had this kind of talent.'

"That . . . was . . . . wonderful."

"Thank you Shigure. This was something that I learned a while back. It is actually a Chinese art that I modified to suit my own purposes. It is mostly used for show, but I have been in some actual tea pouring fights and won. I also know several other cooking martial arts. I mainly just do it on the side while the kids are at school and my husband is at work."

"Why . . . doesn't . . . Kenichi know?"

"I didn't want to bring the kids into that lifestyle unless they did it themselves. I may let him know soon, once this little dilemma is over."

She leaves the room.

Shigure starts to drink her tea.

'What did she mean by deeper feelings?'

Saori comes back holding a black book with a dragon on the cover.

A flashback to when she was reading books in Kenichi's room comes to her.

'Isn't that Kenichi's?'

"My son left this here when he left to go to the place I told him to go. It is a personal journal of his. I happened to read a couple pages when it fell open. I know it's not polite to share people's personal stuff, but I think that you should read it too. Perhaps you can give me the answer I am looking for when you are done reading."

"O . . . . kay." Shigure says in confirmation, but with some apprehension.

Saori gives it to Shigure and walks away.

Shigure sips her tea while she starts to read the book.

Reading first few pages was already a grueling task to her. She read about his first experiences with Miu and how beautiful and amazing she was.

She feels annoyance and furrows her eyebrows.

'Why is she having me read this? It is all about Miu.'

As she reads, she notices that he takes an odd break from talking about Miu.

He starts talking about his first experience with her and how she nearly killed him with a shuriken while peeking into her room.

'I couldn't help but stare for that moment though. I was captivated by her beauty. I never thought that my only female master would be so beautiful. I hope she never finds out that I think this though. She might kill me.' Was one of the sentences he wrote.

She blushes from him calling her beautiful.

She puts a finger to her chin.

"Why would he think that I would have killed him though?"

She continues reading.

She finds many sections about Miu, but she finds more statements about her as she goes along.

'I found out that Shigure has actually been hanging out around the dojo more often ever since I showed up. I am not even gonna try to understand why though. But it is really nice to see her around for some reason.'

She thinks about what he wrote for a moment.

'I never really noticed the change. When did I start doing that? Why did I?' She wonders.

"Shigure was really sweet today. . . I think. . . In her own way. She tried to give me samurai helmet today. She was trying to give it to me today before my first training with Apachai.'

'He was hit so hard the day before that he didn't remember that he did have training with him already.' She reminisces over that day. Wait. Did he say I was sweet?'

'She seemed worried for me for some reason. I walked away without taking it. I kind of feel bad that I did that. She offered it to me after all.'

'I still think that he should have used it.' She thinks as she reads.

'I've found Shigure staring at me every now and again. It really startles the crap out of me sometimes because it's like something out of a horror movie where the person is stalked and then killed. But the feeling doesn't last long. It's Shigure's thing. It's not so bad as long as if it is her. What does she find so interesting about me though?'

'Do I really do it that much?'

She starts thinking about all the times that she did stalk him.

'Hmmmmm. Maybe I did. Why do I do it so much?'

'I know that I should only be thinking of Miu, but I have started to become really fond of Shigure.'

Her heart flutters from his statement.

"He's . . . fond . . . .of me?"

'Is it wrong for me to have any kind of feelings like this for my master? Who am I kidding? I am only her disciple. It's not like she would have feelings like that for me.'

She touches her chest from the confusing emotions that she sensed from his statement and her own.

'I sometimes wish Shigure wasn't there to catch me every time I try to run away, but I suppose I might actually really run away if she didn't catch me though. I have to admit it though, It's really cute to see how proud she gets when she captures me. I wonder though. The look is almost as if she was a proud hunter who caught a wild beast.'

A smile crosses her face.

'It would be pretty amazing if she captured me and took me away with her and had some kind of romantic getaway instead.'

Her cheeks become deeply flushed from the thought of what he implied and having a romantic evening alone with him.

'Why am I even thinking that? It's not like that would ever happen, and I have to keep my focus on Miu.'

'Why do I feel hurt from that last statement I read?'

'Miu's confusing statements really make it hard to figure her out. I have been finding myself thinking about Shigure even though I shouldn't.'

'Is it really that wrong for him to like me?' She questions.

'I've gotten used to Shigure sitting on my back while I do pushups. I think she must have gotten used to it too because she does it all the time now. I have to admit that sometimes it is very distracting. I can't help thinking about that beautiful butt of hers that is sitting on my back.'

"Hmmmmm?"

She turns to look at her butt.

'He likes my butt? I will have to remember that.' She thinks to herself and smiles proudly from the fact that he likes her butt.

She shakes her head.

'Why did I just think that?'

She continues reading.

'Furinji Island was quite the experience. I got to see Miu in a bikini. That was awesome.'

Shigure frowns.

'Shigure looked hot too, but I wish that she would have worn a regular bathing suit though. Oh well. Shigure is Shigure after all. I doubt she will ever wear a swimsuit, let alone a bikini.'

'What's wrong with my bandages and fundoshi? They are comfortable.' She mentally remarks.

'Why did everyone have to turn down my idea of trying to deepen my relationship with Miu though?'

'I guess now I understand why so many of the others were adamant that that wasn't going to work.' She frets.

'I wish it didn't turn into training though. But I am glad I managed through it though. I feel stronger from it though. Especially from Shigure's help.'

She makes a proud motion with her fist.

'Something else really amazing and beautiful happened during that though. '

Puzzlement strikes Shigure's facial features and thoughts.

"What . . . could . . . he mean?"

'I swear that I saw Shigure smile. It was hard to tell from the sunlight, but I know she did. This really makes me happy. I can't stop thinking about it. I also feel closer to her now.'

She touches her chest again.

'Shigure's been coming to dinner every day since we've come back from the island. I am really happy to see that. She's even been sitting next to me. It kind of makes me sad because Miu has never sat next to me.'

'He really loved her. Unfortunate.' She sadly thinks.

She goes on to read another entry.

'I can't believe what happened. Instead of landing into a wall from another one of Apachai's punches, I was caught by Shigure. She jumped in the way. I still don't understand why she did it. It certainly was nice to not hit the wall though. Her embrace was nice too. As much as I love Miu, I have to say that it was really enjoyable being held by Shigure. She smelled really nice too.'

Shigure blushes again.

'I think that if I didn't have Miu, that I would be falling madly in love with Shigure.'

With another flutter of her heart, she touches over that sentence in the book.

'I really need to find out how Miu feels about me.'

She shakes her head. Sadness starts welling up inside of her. His declarations about her and everything that has occurred start getting the better of her emotional barriers.

'Shigure visited me just now. I think that I must have had her worried. She came down from my ceiling just to feed me dinner. It actually was really comforting. I have to admit that I really enjoyed everything about it. I enjoyed being fed by her even though I protested it at first. Then I got to feed her too.'

She touches her mouth as she reflects.

'I enjoyed it too Kenichi.'

'If only I would have had the chance to try to date her instead of Miu. I wonder if she feels the same. Gahhhhhhhh! Who am I kidding! Why in the world would she feel like that for me? I am just her disciple and she is my master. How could she? Everyone always says how week I am. I don't think I am even strong enough to even protect Miu let alone someone like her. Why would someone as strong as her like a man that isn't anywhere near her level like me?'

"But . . . . . Kenichi . . . . I . . "

Tears start to fall on the page she was reading.

'Tears?' She wonders in surprise.

"You like him don't you?"

She nearly jumps out of her skin at the sound of Saori's voice.

She looks up to see Saori sitting across from her.

She is back into normal clothes and without her apron.

"I am sorry. I didn't mean to startle you. You were really involved in that book."

A huge blush of embarrassment floods her face. The weapons expert starts wiping the tears away.

"What . . . did . . . you . . . ask?"

"You really like him don't you?"

The blush stays on her face as she starts to finally realize what all of her confusing feelings and actions really meant.

She nods in response to Saori's question.

Kenichi's mother gives her a soft but genuine smile.

"So now what?"

"I . . want. . . No . . . Need . . . to see . . him."

"As a master or as a woman?"

"A woman."

"Good."

Saori looks at the clock and then back to Shigure.

"Follow me into the kitchen please." She says to Shigure.

Shigure follows her into the kitchen and Saori starts cleaning her teacup.

After looking around the kitchen, she notices that there is a gigantic spatula haging up high on one of the walls.

Saori notices the weapons master looking at it.

"That was something I picked up after meeting a young girl named Ukyo that specializes in okonomiyaki."

After washing the cup and the plate that goes with it, Kenichi's mom looks over to Shigure.

"Are you planning on wearing that to go see my son?"

Shigure nods and then Saori shakes her head.

"What's . . . wrong . . . with . . . this?" Shigure asks puzzledly.

"If you go to him while wearing that, then he will surely think that you are probably there to retrieve him. You need to go to him as a woman, and not as a master. I guess it can't be helped. You still have plenty of time. So we are going shopping before you go see him. And you can't say no because I refuse to tell you where he is at until afterward."

Shigure slumps her shoulders.

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A/N: Thank you for reading my Kenichi story. I hope you enjoyed this chapter.

FYI – the tea pouring thing that I depicted in this chapter is actually a real thing. I came across it while doing some researching. There isn't really a fighting form of it that I know of though. I recommend watching it. My description of it probably doesn't do it justice.

I just posted a new story under the Daily life with a monster girl category It is called Monster Musume: Drago's Quest. It is probably only to be a few chapters long, but please read and review. Thank you.