Last Chapter, Sora was almost killed by Asuka's classmates, with their meeting ending with blood gushing from his head while keeping his attacker, Ikaruga, from receiving a similar gash. His injuries were later healed by the elderly master, Hanzo, headmaster of the Hanzo National Academy, who had just informed him that he was accepted into his school.
His wounds healed, Sora was ready to continue the day with Asuka, who took the time to introduce her friends, Yagyu, Hibari, Ikaruga, and Katsuragi.
Sora was somewhat welcoming towards 3 of them while he had VERY little tolerance for Katsuragi for nearly killing him by accident. Sensing his hostility towards a fellow classmate, the teacher of their class ordered that Sora and Katsuragi face each other in a Sparring Match...
Kagura Hearts
Chapter 7 ~ Sora VS Katsuragi
Sora followed his classmates into a secret slide entrance, where he was taken down the slope and into another room, which looked suitable for P.E., rubber ball games, and cheerleading practice. Something like a traditional school's Training Room…
Sora looked around and noticed the teacher was missing, so he asked, "Um, Asuka, where's the teacher?" Asuka answered, "Give him a second, he loves to do-."
(POOF)
"(coughing)...this."
As the teacher appeared before his class, who lined up horizontally, Hibari then pulled Sora over to stand next to her, making Yagyu rather irksome. Hibari then explained, "Our teacher loves to surprise his students with Smoke Bombs. It seems odd, I know, but just let it slide, OK? He's really a nice teacher." Sora then said, "S-sure, I'll behave."
"-I don't expect Manners in my class, boy. I expect Victory, the main goal for every Ninja, Assassin, or Spy, is to gain Victory in their Missions and if possible, return alive." The teacher said, making Sora bow in fear, "Y-yes sir, Mister-...wait, who are you?" Yagyu chuckled as she said, "4 of the classmates introduced themselves, and besides Katsu, we actually forgot to introduce our own Teacher." The teacher shook his head in disappointment as he said, "...I suppose even Ninjas can make mistakes. I am Kiriya, the teacher of this class, but you will call me Sensei, is that understood?" Sora nodded, "Y-yes Sensei!"
Kiriya smiled and said, "Asuka has brought your letter of recommendation to the headmasters, and has told us MUCH about you already. You seem to be quite capable against the Heartless already. But as you may have noticed, a battle cannot be fought alone. You are far from home, according to the Halo above you, so, until your duties are done, until graduation, and until I say so, you will be working together with Hanzo Kunoichi, as their 6th Ninja."
Sora looked at his new companions, but immediately looked away when it came to Katsuragi…
Kiriya then said, "You are in fact here because of a dispute you have with a new teammate. What separates her from the friends you know and the friends you made in our world?" Sora closed his eyes, thought for a few seconds, and said, "If I had to answer…I would say she doesn't consider the feelings of her friends."
Katsuragi's eyes burned with rage as Sora continued…
"She doesn't care who she harassed, how she touches them, and if her approach could cause an ally to almost break their head open. The friends in my world, they took their time. We each got to know each other slowly, and with care, until, when we trusted one another, pats on the back, the head, shaking hands, holding hands, and even hugs, became second nature to us. I trusted and loved my caring and careful friends, not only because we have faced the unknown together, but because we trusted one another to watch our backs. I have…I have that same vibe from these guys…except her. She embraces her pervy urges too much to be a true friend."
Kiriya then looked at Katsuragi with a disappointed scowl, while Katsuragi seemed to be thinking about what Sora said…
Kiriya then said, "The thing about kids is, you need guidance before going out into the world. And as hard as it is to accept, the two of you are on the same side now. I would like that mutual alliance to actually grow between you two…and not sexually of course."
"WHAAAAAAAAAAT?!" Sora and Katsuragi's faces turned red as their eyes widened.
"YOU'RE TELLING ME I'D HAVE THE HOTS FOR MY OWN TEAMMATES?!" Sora asked. Kiriya then answered, "It's not uncommon, Sora. Love is often found on the battlefield, and according to headmaster Hanzo, each of these women are of perfect ages each for a young man like yourself to marry-." Sora then argued, "Forget it! Last thing I want to do is take advantage of someone, especially friends!" Kiriya chuckled and said, "I guess the headmaster was right, you're his exact opposite. There's obviously somebody special waiting in your Realm?" Sora then said, "Yes…and I'm sure she'll be heartbroken to know the boy she asked to 'never change' literally changed from single to…to…well, a freaking pervy-polygamist! No offense."
"-Sounds like someone's too chicken to try, I mean, this guy DIED, people die, and people move on all the time! Doesn't mean his lady-friend will do the same." Katsuragi claimed. Sora however argued, "You don't know my friends!" Katsuragi then said, "I know PEOPLE, 'Mr. Hero', and as hard as it may be to hear, they WILL move on, giving up on the past and focusing on the future, just like the latest phone or convenience, you will be WASHED UP whether you return or not!"
"That's enough! We came to the Dojo for one reason, Keyblade Master, and that reason is to settle a dispute. Sora, Katsuragi, stand in the arena lines!" Kiriya commanded.
Sora and Katsuragi then approached a large rectangular-painted area on the floor that came from a puff of smoke. Katsuragi bragged to her friends while Sora was stretching and preparing alone…
"This world isn't something you have to fight, Sora."
Sora turned around and saw Ikaruga, who offered him a towel, "In case you were sweaty." Sora bowed to Ikaruga and took the towel. Sora then said, "You should be with your friend…I don't qualify since…well, I-I'm sorry-." Ikaruga then said, "Sensei was joking about the whole 'Marriage' thing, don't take it too seriously. In fact, Sensei wanted to give you an idea, in case you…fail your mission." Sora then explained, "If I fail, I get trapped in the Final World again…I'll never see my friends, I'll never see Kairi, I'll…be stuck in Limbo, disappearing into thin air. The only positive side is Heaven…assuming if the stories are true." Ikaruga however asked, "...what if you were ALLOWED to stay?"
Sora looked at Ikaruga as she explained further, "The truth is none of us, not even you, truly know what will happen if you fail…or even if you win. You may actually have the option to stay with us, just as a certain other Halo-Wearer chose to live alongside her sisters. You may in fact…feel more at home here with us than-...no, no that's not for me to say. But still, while in this realm, you could at least try to have a relationship with one of us? As of this moment, you are considered a single man, and who knows? Maybe you can learn how to date girls here, and maybe socialize with them, learning the best ways to hang out with Kairi before the next mission takes you-."
Sora started to blush from what Ikaruga said to him, making the swordswoman stop and say, "P-perhaps I was asking too much from you, I-I'm sorry, I'll just-."
"Were you…asking me out on a date?" Sora shyly asked, making Ikaruga blush tremendously while Kiriya appeared behind Sora and told him, "Katsuragi's waiting, Sora, it's time." Sora nodded, and made his way to face his classmate…
Katsuragi smirked as she cracked her knuckles and stretched her legs. And when Sora stood against her, Kiriya explained, "The rules are simple, since this is a Dojo, we will not be using any sorcery or weapons. You will fight with everything you got, fists, kicks, and all martial arts. However, any action below the belt will count as an immediate disqualification! Is that understood?" Sora and Katsuragi nodded to Kiriya, making the teacher pull out a bell and a drumstick…
"Let's see how pure of heart you are when fighting the opposite sex!" Katsuragi smirked.
Sora however said, "Don't worry, I don't plan on punching you. I plan on simply forcing you out of the Ring. Believe me, I'd love nothing more than to tell you out, Pervert, but I have a feeling that with you, words won't be enough." Katsuragi then said, "...Look, you may think I'm not right in the head, that I'm willing to let a little blood run through the floors…but with me, there are 3 things to keep in mind…"
(DING-DING) "LET THE MATCH BEGIN!"
"My name is Katsuragi, my skills involve throwing people off guard, AND I LOVE MY FRIENDS JUST AS MUCH AS YOU LOVE YOURS!"
Katsuragi then surprised Sora with a right hook to the cheek! The punch nearly pushed Sora out of the ring, but the Keyblade Wielder would not allow that. As Sora rubbed his cheek, Katsuragi said, "I get you Sora, you don't want to violate girls, you don't want to hurt us, and if I'm right, I'm guessing you died fighting the man who did just THAT to your little Kairi, and you don't want to play his game. But you're not him…you're fighting a match against a warrior! Man or Woman, you can't deny that we are BOTH Warriors! That means when I want to see a fellow warrior show me what he or she has for skill, then believe me brother, a punch won't hurt shit! Your punches will PROVE to a warrior you're strong, and believe it or not, it has been done like that for YEARS! So don't be afraid, gimme all you got!" Sora clenched his fist, and decided to accept Katsuragi's challenge!
Sora nodded at Katsuragi, making the girl smile and give a 'come at me' hand gesture.
Sora then rushed at Katsuragi and threw a few punches, each one blocked by Katsuragi, who countered with a kick, making Sora stagger for a second, then surprise Katsuragi with a backflip over her head, and following with a swift grab for her arm and a mighty toss over his back!
Katsuragi however managed to spin around to the side, remaining inside of the ring while punching Sora in the gut and knocking him over, only for Sora to grab her by the wrist and pull himself back up while head-butting her and throwing her to the opposite side, further away from her side of the ring and back to the middle…
"That's not all I got…but I'm willing to keep going if you want?" Sora asked…
…until Katsu gave him a cute smile, making him blush…
THEN grabbing him and tossing him out of the ring with a mighty force of strength! The throw left a crater on the wall from where Sora crashed, while the girls cheered for Katsuragi. Sora started to feel a little woozy, perhaps from the experience from earlier, but he was still helped up…
…by Katsuragi herself. She then said to him, "I left something out too…a true warrior…knows they made a mistake, and knows how to make things right. I'm sorry I scared you and made you fall earlier…and seriously, I'm sorry about the gash to your head." Sora felt genuinely relieved from Katsuragi's apology, while Asuka said, "They wouldn't be my friends if they didn't have their soft sides. And Sora, you're as soft as they come." Sora blushed as Kiriya approached the group and said, "I hope you've learned, Sora, that you can't judge every book by its cover, especially not our Class Clown here."
Sora and Katsuragi looked at each other and smiled, while Sora said, "...Katsuragi, I'm sorry about the way I treated you too, you may have had your reasons for-."
(SMOOCH)
Katsuragi surprised Sora, Asuka, AND the class by kissing Sora on the cheek. She then said, "Hey Sora, my friends, they call me Katsu…so I'm looking forward to being your friend too, OK?" Still somewhat flushed from Katsu's kiss, Sora smiled and said, "...Sayuri wanted me to make new friends in this world, so I guess it wouldn't hurt to have one more friend. Alright Katsu, I'm looking forward to this friendship too."
The two gave a friendly fist-bump, while Kiriya said to them, "The school day is almost up, so it's nice to see my students getting along before the day's end. However, now we must determine where you'll be sleeping. After all, you can't just spend the night at Asuka's apartment again, can you?" The class looked at Sora awkwardly while Sora admitted, "We…had difficulty trying to get ready before school…" Asuka then said, "There's nothing wrong with a massage, so don't feel too bad about it. Your joints were so stiff."
"-ANYWAY, did Miss Sayuri leave you with anything, like a place to sleep?" Kiriya asked. Sora answered, "...no, I'll bet she even took that roomy boat she used to bring me here."
Katsuragi then pulled the girls over and whispered a plan to them…
They mumbled and giggled, leaving Sora wondering what they were planning, until the ladies stopped, and Asuka said, "Sora, let's see if that boat is still in the Harbor! There's a chance Granny left that boat for you to live in!" Sora remained unsure, but looking at the girl's willing faces, he said, "...alright, let's see if it's still there after class…"
End of Chapter 7
Next Chapter...
Sora has a home! And his new friends are EXCITED to see the inside of it!