Chapter Nine


Following his duel, Akira, having been humiliated by Tifa and letting Sasuke and Kenta down, had taken a spare kodachi that was hanging in his room. Cloud worried that Akira would commit suicide following his loss to Tifa, watched as Akira instead tied his hair into a ponytail and sliced his hair clean off. He had decided that following his loss to the Kyokugenryu Karate fighter, that he would live his life as a monk, but Cloud talked him out of it.

"You can't win all your battles," Cloud had told him. "Tifa once told me that you can gain more by learning from your defeats rather than gaining an empty victory. So learn from this battle, Akira, rather than make a choice you will regret for the rest of your life."

After Cloud had left to tend to his wife's injuries (having suffered numerous bruises from Akira's final attack, showing that she did not go through this battle unscathed), Akira pondered Cloud's words. They were the exact same words that Kiba had told him shortly before he had gotten married.


Right now, Akira is currently on the phone with his older brother.

"So your sword was broken," Kiba Yukinori said from the other line. "You called me at a very bad time, Akira, for Tamaki and I are about to leave for Boracay in the Philippines for our wedding anniversary. We won't be able to get a replacement sword until after I come back, which will be within the next month. So tell me something, Akira. What happened?"

"Big Brother, do you remember Tifa Lockhart?" Akira asked. "You fought against her when I was a young boy, remember?"

"I did. What does she have to do with anything?"

"It appears that Tifa has some history with Haruno," the now short-haired kendoist explained. "That weakling has hired both Tifa and her husband to act as landlords for the next two months." Akira paused for a moment. "Big Brother, she is the current Shihan of the Shinden Tsushima-ryu Battojutsu and Kyokugenryu Karate. I thought that style was nothing but a myth."

"And knowing you, my dear little brother," Kiba surmised, "the thought of having a female landlord was too much for you to stand, so you challenged her to a duel, right?"

"Yes."

"And you lost to her. Am I right so far?" Kiba guessed. "Then, more than likely, since you don't take losing too well, you tried to get a cheap shot and she used the Kassatsu technique to destroy the Shisui blade, correct?"

Akira nearly dropped the phone. Kiba was correct on all counts.

"I'll take your silence as a yes," Kiba said. "I told you that your misogynist attitude would get you into trouble one day, Akira. But Tifa was the last person I would expect for you to lose to. And you said that she is married now?"

"Yes. Her husband is American and is also a martial artist. Big Brother, how did you know about the Kassatsu technique?"

"Along with the Toma nite kiru nari, the Kassatsu is one of the Shinden Tsushima's most deadliest techniques," Kiba replied. "I'm surprised to hear that Tifa has made it into a Battojutsu technique. Akira, the practitioners of both Kyokungenryu and its kendo style are very powerful indeed."

"You sound like you admire her," Akira noted dryly.

"I do, both as a fighter and as a practitioner of Kendo," Kiba paused for a moment. "She was the only person who managed a draw against me, and you know that I give my all whenever I fight. Yes. I think a duel against the Shinden Tsushima-ryu Shihan is in order."

Akira gritted his teeth.

"And stop grinding your teeth," Kiba added. "That's very unbecoming of a Shihan."

Akira squeaked.

"I have to go, Akira," Kiba said. "I will visit you in a couple of weeks."


As Akira was on the phone with his brother, an all-boys Karate club, thirty strong, had just arrived at Konoha City. All were dressed in their white Karate dogis, each with a level of mastery and experience. They were on a mission: find the woman who had defeated Akira and take their revenge.

Through Akira's personal fan club, the Karate club received word that Akira was defeated by a woman. Almost immediately, the Karate and Kendo clubs were up in arms over this travesty.

Now the school that Akira attended was a boys-only high school and was fiercely proud of its martial arts programs, particularly Kendo, Judo, and Karate clubs. Its Karate club captain was a senior who goes by the name of Hayate Kusanagi, a friend of Akira (and also suffering from the same female-hating tendencies as his Kendo counterpart), and a second-degree black belt in both Kyokushin and Gojuryu Karate.

However, when the Kendo club found out that Akira was defeated by the same woman who had knocked him out back at the mountain temple, they immediately backed off, seeing as how they knew what she was capable of.


[Shortly after Akira's defeat]

Inside the all-boys gym, the Karate Club was practicing, with Captain Kusanagi watching, arms folded, when a schoolboy, dressed in a gakuran, ran into the gym. "Captain Kusanagi! Captain Kusanagi!"

Hayate turned to the intruder. "What is it?" he asked, rather annoyed. "Can't you see that I am holding class here?"

"It's Akira!" the boy replied. "He was defeated in a duel yesterday!"

At that comment, the entire Karate Club stopped what they were doing and turned to the boy, whispering amongst themselves.

Hayate, however, was in disbelief. "Akira? Defeated? Impossible. He is one of the top kendoists in the school. How can he be defeated?"

"He challenged a woman to a duel and lost! And she destroyed his sword!"

Gasps were heard throughout the ranks.

"And what is the Kendo Club going to do about this travesty?" Hayate asked.

"Nothing. They know this woman from before and dare not to challenge her."

"Worthless spineless cowards," Hayate spat out. "Who is this woman who dishonored Yukinori?"

"An American woman by the name of Tifa Lockhart. She is friends with Alice Tsukagami."

Hayate snorted. "Regardless of the fact that she is friends with the school's sponsor, she has not only insulted Akira but has insulted this school! We must take our revenge!!"


And that's how it started. From what Akira's devotees had told them, Tifa was one of two interim landlords that Sakura Haruno had hired while Sakura was on vacation. The other was her husband, an American male who was also a martial artist. They found out that Tifa had an apprentice in the martial arts.

Within several hours, Hayate had laid out his plan: arrive in Konoha City and find Tifa Lockhart. Once she was discovered, attack her en masse. And should her husband or student try to interfere, then worse for them.


Cloud was at the market with Riku, picking up some items for dinner. Denzel had decided to tag along at Tifa's request to bring her some herbal tea, which would help with the injuries she suffered from following Akira's match.

On their way back to the dorm, they passed a boarded-up restaurant, which Riku stopped and regarded sadly. Cloud caught the look in the young boy's eyes. "Are you okay, Riku?" he asked with concern.

Riku gestured to the closed-down restaurant. "This used to be my home before my parents had gotten divorced," he replied sadly.

Cloud was about to say something when several men - four in total - and not much older than Kenta appeared and surrounded the three. All of them reeked of alcohol and Cloud suspected that they were armed.

"Hey punk," the leader said. "Hand us your money and we will let you go."

Cloud didn't respond. Instead, he pushed the leader aside and walked onward. However, that didn't deter the men as they surrounded the trio once again. Cloud's suspicions were confirmed as two of them pulled out weapons; one with a knife and the other with a baseball bat.

"You shouldn't have done that," the leader said. "I've never killed an American before." He turned to the other three who were watching Denzel and Riku closely. "Make sure that no one sees us. You can have the other two."

At that moment, Cloud attacked. He swatted the knife aside and landed two punches to the leader's face as Denzel pulled Riku to the side.

With the young boy being watched by Denzel, Cloud let off some steam by using the would-be criminals as target practice. Quickly turning to the second man, Cloud also landed several punches to the guy's face. Spinning around, he stretched out one leg and caught both of them with a powerful spinning back kick, sending them both to the ground.

Riku was mesmerized as Cloud continued to fight the four men.

Cloud turned back to the other two, now that their friends were no longer of any concern. He planted one foot into the other guy's solar plexus, sending him crashing through the restaurant's boarded doors, leaving only the leader. Still holding the knife in his hands, he lunged at the former Interpol agent, who simply punted the knife into the air and broke it with a well-aimed kick.

That was more than enough to tell the guy that running away was the best choice of action.

Unfortunately, he didn't get too far, since he skidded to a halt in front of the group of men dressed in white Karate dogis. Apparently, they had witnessed Cloud's fighting abilities. The leader finished the guy off with a punch to the head.

"Scum," the boy muttered, who didn't look that much older, probably around Akira's age. He looked at Cloud. "You're pretty good. You wouldn't happen to know Akira Yukinori by any chance, would you?"

"I am one of the two acting landlords at the residence he is staying at," Cloud replied. "What do you want with him? Who are you anyway?"

"I am Hayate Kusanagi," Hayate introduced himself, "a senior captain of the Karate Clube. And we don't want you, we want the woman who defeated him in a duel."

"I know her," Cloud replied, not liking where this conversation is going. "She is my wife."

"And my guardian and sensei," Denzel added. "What do you want with her?"

"She has insulted the Kendo Club," Hayate replied, "and our school by defeating Yukinori in combat. She must pay for this injustice." He sized Cloud up. "I have no quarrel with you. You seem like a rational man and I will let you pass if you don't interfere."

Cloud shook his head. "I can't. If you have any quarrel with my wife, then you have a problem with me."

"And me," Denzel butted in gently pushing Riku to the side. "Find Tifa and get her over here as fast as you can."

Riku nodded and ran off.

Hayate sighed. "Too bad. I was hoping you would see the reason. But you decided to side with the female. And you will be made an example before we go after your dear wife."

"Does Akira know about this?" Cloud asked.

"He will soon enough," Hayate replied matter-of-factly. "Get them!!"


As the fight began, one of the male Karate members made it to Kenzo's teahouse and was starting up the stairs when he saw Akira coming down the stairs, dressed in casual clothes, since it was his day off from training. "Mister Yukinori!"

"What is it?" Akira asked, obviously annoyed.

The male karateka bowed. "Yukinori-Senpai, I have good news! Captain Kusanagi will avenge your loss to the female."

Akira blinked. "What do you mean?"

"He is currently fighting the female's husband and student," the man replied.

Akira visibly paled. Riku was there with Cloud and Denzel and if he had gotten hurt…

"Akira!!!"

The Matsushiro kendoist's chain of thought was interrupted when a breathless Riku came running around the corner before skidding to a halt. "Cloud and Denzel are being attacked by a group of boys!" the young boy panted.

It was at that moment, Tifa, who was at the cafe, overheard Riku as he exited Kenzo's cafe. "What about my husband?" she asked, not sure if she heard right.

The male karate fighter turned and faced Tifa. "You! Prepare to face justice" He leaped at Tifa…

…only to have the Kyokugenryu Karate master grab him out of the air and pin him against the wall. Turning to Akira, she asked, "Did you know anything about this?" she demanded.

Akira shook his head. "No! I would never put Cloud and Denzel in danger like this."

Tifa tossed the boy to the ground. "Where are they?" Tifa demanded.

"Near the old restaurant," Riku replied. "It's not too far from here."

"Go inside the cafe and wait for me there," Tifa ordered. She turned to Akira. "I'll deal with you later," she said before she turned and ran off.

Akira looked at the fallen Karate fighter. "You have dishonored yourself by doing this," he said before turning and running back up the stairs to the Pekara House.


The Karate Club had swarmed the American martial artist and the apprentice en masse. However, despite being one of the school's top martial arts teams, they had never faced the likes of Cloud and Denzel.

Three of the boys were sent flying back from the impact of Cloud's powerful kicks, knocking several of the charging boys over. One of them leaped into the air, foot outstretched in a jumping kick. However, Cloud leaped into the air, grabbing the boy, and flung him back to the ground.

Denzel, being Tifa's ward and apprentice in the Kyokugenryu Karate, showed that all of his training was not in vain. His version of the Kyokugenryu Karate was more eccentric than his guardian's traditional style but still effective. Spinning low to the ground, foot outstretched, Denzel swept one boy to the ground and kicked his hand in the torso, propelling him to several of the other boys, knocking some of them over while a couple jumped over to the sliding body.

The assault continued.


Akira ran into his room. Rushing over to his sword rack, he quickly remembered that his sword was destroyed following his match with Tifa. Racing out of his room, he ran to the second floor and into the empty landlord's room. Tifa's sword was resting nearby, laid out on a sword rack that Tifa had recently crafted.

Without thinking twice, Akira grabbed the sword and ran out of the landlord's room, praying to whatever gods were listening, hoping that he wasn't too late.


Several minutes had passed since the assault had begun. A battered and bruised Cloud and Denzel faced off, back-to-back against a equally battered Hayate and the Karate Club.

"What the hell is going on here?!" a familiar voice bellowed.

The Karate Club, Hayate, Cloud, and Denzel turned to the sight of a very furious Tifa storming down the street. "Who the hell are you?" she barked at Hayate, "and why are you attacking my husband and my ward?"

"It's you," Hayate said. "You're the one that defeated Yukinori!" He smiled coldly. "You came just in time to see your pathetic ward and your American bastard pay for your transgressions."

He turned back to Cloud, only to receive a solid punch to the face from the aforementioned former Interpol agent.

"Stay out of this, Tifa," Cloud said in a cold tone. "I will handle this one myself." He turned to the others. "Anyone who interferes will deal with me."

The tone of his voice was dead serious and given the extensive injuries that the majority of the Karate Club had suffered, they knew damn well that the former Interpol agent could back up that threat.

Hayate nodded in approval. "Do as he says. This one is mine," he ordered his subordinates before turning to Tifa. "You get to watch as I take your husband apart. No one has beaten me."

"Just you wait," Tifa retorted. "My husband is full of surprises."

The two males faced off. Both Cloud and Hayate went into their stances. Hayate saw that Cloud had lowered his stance so that his hands were nearly at the same level as his waist. Hayate smirked to himself, taking it as a sign of weakness and moved in.

Big mistake.

It was a trick that he had learned from Genesis Rhapsodos. Lower your stance, and the opponent will attack. Only Tifa was smart enough not to fall for something like that. But Hayate was anything but, as he attacked with a roundhouse kick to Cloud's face. The former Interpol agent swatted the blow aside and landed a punch into Hayate's abdomen, which was followed by an elbow to the torso, forcing Hayate back.

He then caught Cloud with a blow to the face and swept him to the ground. Cloud rolled out of the way to avoid the incoming foot to the face. When Hayate lunged at the American man, Cloud somersaulted over him and planted both feet into the back of Hayate's head, knocking his face down on the ground, with Hayate letting out a small cry as he landed hard on his knee.

"Crack Shoot!!" Cloud cried, jumping and spinning his whole body forward with his leg extended, aimed for Hayate's head. Out of reflex, Hayate rolled out of the way and Cloud's foot made a small impact crater on the ground.

The fight between Cloud Strife and Hayate Kusanagi continued as Akira came onto the scene.

Even with an injured knee, Hayate fought on, landing several powerful shots at Cloud. But the Kung-fu master had the upper hand. Hayate's head rocking left to right from his repeated kicks. Then Cloud grabbed him, punched him in the gut, and landed a right across his face, causing Hayate to spin a complete 360 degrees.

As Hayate stood stunned, Cloud, even though his body was sore, decided to finish this match. What he did next shocked even Akira.

Cloud charges towards Hayate, and hits him with a shoulder block, followed by a punch and multi-hit Rising Tackle, completing the Rising Force.

Hayate landed on the ground, at Akira's feet. Even though he was defeated, Hayate was defiant. He looked up and saw Akira looking down at him, unsheathed sword in hand, Hayate laughed, even though his ribs were sore beyond belief. "Akira, you're here. I thought I tried to get revenge for you, for losing to the female, but the man was too strong."

Akira's grip on the sword tightened. "You have no right to interfere with my personal affairs, Kusanagi," he replied coldly. "And you attacked two innocent men. My quarrel is with the female, not them."

"But…but…" Hayate sputtered.

"You attacked two innocent men," Akira said in a cold tone. "And one of the residents of the Pekara House was with them! Now what would happen if Riku was attacked?! I've had enough of you, Kusanagi. Tenkū no Mai!"

[WHAM!]

Akira's ki attack met its mark, lifting Hayate cleanly off the ground and sending him crashing into the other battered Karate Club members. They knew when Akira gets angry, his sword skills really come to light. They immediately took their wounded and retreated.


Back at the Pekara House, Cloud was getting his injuries treated by Tifa, while Kurama and Riku were tending to Denzel. Upon finding out that the Karate Club had attacked both Cloud and Denzel, Alice had demanded that the Karate Club apologize for this slight against her friend's husband and ward, or else the Tsukagami Foundation would stop sponsoring the Karate Club.

"So they were looking for me?" Tifa asked as she applied some rubbing alcohol on Cloud's busted lip. Both he and Tifa were in the landlord's room. Tifa was on the futon, with Tifa facing him as she worked on his injuries.

Cloud winced slightly. "Ow. Yeah. They must have heard about your match with Akira and came to take revenge."

There was a knock on the door. When Cloud allowed the person to enter, it was Akira, holding the sheathed sword in his hand. He kneeled down in front of the two landlords, placing the sword at his side.

"I did not know about this," Akira said, bowing low. "Kusanagi acted on his own. I am sorry that this has happened and I hope you can forgive me for this."

After a long moment, Tifa spoke. "I believe you, Yukinori."

Akira looked up. "What?"

"You are a warrior of honor, despite where your thoughts lie on the female gender," Tifa surmised. He looked at the sword beside him. "I see you find the Muramasa Sword to your liking."

Akira blinked. "Muramasa Sword? Isn't this the cursed blade of the Haruno family?"

"Was cursed. I had Master Zangan purify it." She pointed to her own weapon, which was leaning at the far corner of the desk. "I had the Muramasa Sword purified at Sakura's request."

Akira slowly picked up the blade. In his rush to aid Cloud and Denzel, he failed to see the differences between Tifa's sword and the one he was holding in his hand. The sword was perfect in every way, not unlike his old sword. "I think I will hold on to this sword, for the time being," Akira said, bowing one more time before leaving.

As he closed the door, he stopped for a moment and sighed. He was certain that Tifa was going to evict him, but this change of events had made him look at himself. 'Maybe Cloud talked to her,' he thought. 'Or maybe not all women are not as evil as I once thought.'

As he continued to wrestle with himself, he walked back to his room. Changing out of his clothes and into his hakama, the Matsushiro heir walked to the rooftop, sword in hand and after a week without training with a blade, resumed his thousand-strike training.