Catch-22: The Training Session III
By: M14Mouse
Summary: Futaba and Yu watch Mona's training sessions with Haru.
Disclaimer: Don't own them.
Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever."
― Mahatma Gandhi
"Mona is ripping off your training methods, Support Buddy," Futaba said next to him.
They found a nice little ledge to watch Morgana's training sessions. They finished their research fairly early. So, they decided to come and watch the others. Of course, they brought snacks. That's why Bob was sitting on Futaba's head with a lollipop in his mouth. Black Frost was sitting on his lap and munching on some cookies.
"Oh, I think that he is building on what I taught the others. It is rather nice to see," He said.
"Ms. Oracle needs a hat. Your head is too cold," Bob said.
"I don't need one. My head isn't cold because you are on it."
Bob looked thoughtfully for a moment.
"You're right, Ms. Oracle."
"I'm always right."
"Hee Ho," Black Frost said.
"Can it, Toothless," Futaba said as she stuck out her tongue.
Black Frost stuck out his tongue right back at Futaba.
He just chuckled softly at the pair.
"Ooo…she is going to try it," Bob said eagerly.
He turned his attention back to Morgana and the others. The others were sitting to the side and watching Morgana and Haru train. Skull and Ume were close by waiting for instructions.
"I did this one before. It was fun. Skull dodged beautifully toward the end," Ume said.
"I was flailing, Ume," Ryuji pointed out.
"Also true."
"We aren't throwing any balloons and balls. Your weapons are strong enough to reflect Noir attacks with her ax. Her body adjusts to the weight of the weapon."
"I won't be destroying your weapons, will I?" Haru asked nervously.
"Sensei brought me this bat for this lesson. No big deal," Ryuji said as he looked down at his bat.
"It is fine by me. There are plenty of swords down here," Ume said with a shrug.
"Okay, Skull. You're up first."
"Okay, what do you want me to do?"
"Telegraph your attacks. I want Noir to see them coming. Once your bat is beat up enough that it is unusable, we will move to Ume's swords. Everyone ready?" Morgana said.
"Ready," Ryuji said.
"Ready," Haru said with a nod.
"Go GO NoIr! Go Go SkuLl Go!" Slime shouted happily.
He watched for a few minutes of Ryuji and Haru exchanging blows.
"You know, I wish that I had a weapon." Futaba said.
"What type?" He said.
"A laser gun."
"Hmm…I think the problem is that some shadows use lasers and it would confuse them."
"I thought about that especially in our latest palace. Oh, how about a cannon?"
"I don't think Necronomicon can hold a cannon."
"It also doesn't have a hat. It can't be a good cannon," Bob said.
"You and hats…I don't get it. No, the cannon is going to be ultralight and small. Super small cannon. Me and Necronomicon must run the numbers," Futaba said.
"Hats are great. They protect the head. You need a hat, Ms. Oracle, to protect your head."
"Probably a good idea since you work in such a tight space," He pointed out.
"Hee Ho," Black Frost said.
"I don't understand you but I can tell you are making fun of me," Futaba said as she narrowed her eyes at him.
Black Frost ate a cookie at her comment.
"Ouch!" Ryuji shouted as he dropped his bat and rubbed his fingers.
"Oh, I am so sorry! Oh…I am…" Haru said as she dropped her ax and rushed over to help Ryuji.
"I'm fine. No big deal. See? Nothing's bleeding or broken."
"I will be the judge of that," Hiroko said as she glided over to Ryuji.
"Hand."
Ryuji's eyes from her to Haru then back again. He gave her his hand. She took it and examined it. She hummed softly as her hand glowed.
"You are correct. There is nothing broken. It will be sore but I cast a healing spell to lessen the pain. Ms. Queen and Mr. Joker will make sure that you don't do anything unnecessary for the next day," Hiroko said with a gentle smile.
"We can do that. Right, Queen?" Ren said.
"Of course," Makoto said with a nod.
Ryuji's eyes looked panicked as he glanced over at Ren and Makoto.
"Do we have an understanding?" Hiroko said.
"Yes…yes…yes, ma'am."
She smiled again as Ryuji's face turned bright red.
"Thanks, Skull. Uhh…I'm glad that you're alright. Uhh…Ume, you're next!" Morgana mumbled.
"That was super awkward," Futaba mumbled to him.
"I had a talk with Mona. Apparently, Joker and Queen had a chat with Skull. This awkwardness is a start. They will figure out their balance," He said.
"So, there will be no more fighting."
"Oh, they are going to fight but not enough to cut each other down. That wasn't good for either of them."
"Ahh…they are growing up."
"All of you are. As your Sensei, you have no idea how proud I am."
"Ahh…you're making me blush. Stop it!"
He chuckled.
"You no longer wear that doll head around. You hide behind Joker less often around the others. You are coming apart from the world again. Queen is no longer afraid of shadows or chasing them for that matter. I have seen self-confidence grow in Skull, Joker and Panther. The self-doubt that has plagued Mona has seemed to have lessened."
Futaba just stared at him. Her face was turning as red as Ryuji's face. All of his students have trouble taking compliments. They should be proud of themselves. Sadly, compliments to them have come with a price tag. It shouldn't and he is working on that.
"Hee Ho." Black Frost said as he offered her a cookie from his box.
She mumbled as she grabbed a cookie and started munching on it.
He patted Black Frost's head and he snuggled against him.
"Wow…your hair is even turning redder," Bob said.
"HEY!"
He chuckled as he turned his attention back to Ume and Haru.
"We brought it, Ms. Mona!" Nom Nom said as he rushed into the area.
"Thanks, Nom Nom. Thanks for the help, Ume," Mona said.
"It was a pleasure, Mona. It is good to see the puppet gain her strength," Ume said.
"Thank you for your help. But may I ask why you call me a puppet?" Haru said with a bow.
Ume looked at her critically.
"You bend too easily for others but I expect that string will break soon enough. So, half of a puppet then."
Haru stared at her.
"LETMEGO! LET ME GO!" The shadow shouted as it came into view. A Decarabia struggled in the ropes that twisted around its body. Takeshi and Takeo dragged the shadow behind them. Mint was in front of the little group and Ivy was in the back.
"Will you shut up? Mona said that you couldn't die for me. Annoy me anymore and you will," Mint said happily as she waved her knife around Decarabia's face.
That instantly made Decarabia shut up.
"Okay, Joker, Queen, and Fox are up next. We are going to work on teamwork. Phantom Thieves are strong as individuals but together? We are unstoppable. It is all in part because of our teamwork," Mona said.
"We won't be hurting one of your friends, will we?" Haru asked.
"No."
"Nope."
"He should have died for me."
"Nah."
"ByE ByE!"
Futaba snickered next to him.
"Okay, everyone line up. Takeshi and Takeo, when I give the signal, let the shadow go," Morgana said.
He watched them get into formation.
"Joker is our leader. You will be following his lead. I will observe from the side lines. Panther and Skull will step in if there is real trouble. Don't worry, Noir. We have your back," Morgana said.
"Right…Right," Haru said nervously.
"Ready?" Morgana asked everyone.
"Ready," Everyone said. He watched them slip into the fighting stances with their weapons drawn.
"You know, we need some cool super move," Futaba said.
"Hmmm? Is there a reason?" He asked as he turned his attention from the fight to Futaba.
"Well, they can do super awesome attacks and we can't."
"I thought our attacks were flashy enough as is."
"Nah. Not flashy enough. Boom and Bang!"
"Do you want another cannon, Ms. Oracle? I don't think that it will fit."
"Nah…Although, the cannon is a good idea. What could we do? What could we do? Oh…OH! What does GOMP do? Beside the whole roots out of the ground thing. Boring too"
Veles started to laugh.
I thought the lassie was better at insults than this. For all of her brains, she isn't very bright. You did talk to her, Disco Ball?
I am not a Disco Ball.
So, I take that as a no. She is going to cause more harm than good when she is like this.
"Hmmm…."
"What are you giving me that look? Okay, he isn't boring. Gee, I was trying to lighten the mood. I…."
He waved his hand.
"True. We are very bored. We don't have tentacles or glow in the dark. Although, we did figure out that we can drag shadows down to the darkness and leave them there forever. Not flashy but effective," He said mildly.
Instantly, her mouth shut.
"Sensei won," Bob said.
"Hee Hoo." Black Frost said.
"HEY!" Futauba mumbled.
"If you want a super awesome attack with me and Veles, it isn't going to happen now or be flashy. Veles isn't flashy and neither am I. If Izanagi is flashy, then that is a bad thing."
Very bad.
Yup. You're dead.
Hee Hoo!
Death awaits.
He chuckled at his personas. He turned his attention back to the fight. Haru was doing well with the group. He could see caution in her movements. Her eyes were on the others as she was playing following the leader. She wasn't seasoned like the others but she made up for it with determination.
"You can be flashy…that moves in the tunnel…" She mumbled again.
She likes that cat with a piece of sushi. She doesn't let go, does she?
No, she doesn't.
"I was flashy on purpose. Your lives were in danger. I would rather be flashy than my students dead."
Now, she looked like you kicked her cat. She called me grumpy.
She pouted.
Since surprising me didn't work, she is moving on to trying to anger me. She likes to push buttons. She wants to find my limits.
It seems to be a lot of work.
He shrugged his shoulders.
At least, she throws her heart into it.
"Why don't you react like those adults? Honestly, Dad would be upset by now." She mumbled.
"Because I am not like most adults. Until you realize that, we aren't able to do the "super" power move that you want," He said with a grin.
"Sensei is very wise. You should listen and you get a super move. I will get hats. Everyone will be happy," Bob said.
"You and hats…I swear…" Futaba mumbled.
"And you get your super move, remember that?"
"Hee Hoo."
He chuckled.
"Panther, you're next!" Morgana shouted.
He turned his attention back to the others.
"Okay…what do you want me to do?" Ann asked as she approached the pair.
"In the past, you and Sensei worked on your communication with your persona. I want you to guide Noir through the process," Morgana explained.
"But…but…why me? Why not you?" Ann said in a slight panic.
"I always had a persona. I don't remember not having Zorro. Joker has multiple personas. So, that won't help much."
"Why not ask Sensei!?"
"Because he left this task up to us. You don't want to disappoint him, do you?"
Ann made a horrified face and he could see his students shrink into themselves.
He frowned.
Was he that scary?
No, laddie. You are worse. You love them and protect them. They know that. Between you and the coffee man, if you two ask them to jump, they would drag out a measuring stick to make sure that they jumped high enough.
Very insightful but the coffee man?
He doesn't make beer. Until then, he is the coffee man.
"Okay…I will do it for Noir and to show Sensei," Ann said as she took a deep breath. She offered the palm of her hands to Haru. Haru paused for a moment before putting her hands on top of Ann's hands.
"Close your eyes. I want to find your persona's voice."
"But I don't know what she sounds like," Haru said.
"Oh, you do. She is the little voice that you should have said something. She is the voice that tells you something is wrong. She will be the first to tell you that it is okay to be afraid but she is here now. She is the voice that you shouldn't be afraid of anymore. You can stand up and look them in the eye. Can you hear that voice?"
"Sort of…she is whispering."
"What is she saying?"
"I am not sure. Something about fate and a princess. She has an accent ... .I think," Haru said with a small giggle.
"Good. Anything else?"
There was a moment of silence then she shook her head.
"I can't hear her anymore." Haru said as she stepped back. She looked down at the ground and frowned.
"Hey. Don't worry about it. When you get stronger, she will get stronger,"
"And…she will probably never shut up after that," Ryuji added.
"Yes, he comments on my art all of the time. It is lovely that he has such a good eye," Yusuke said.
"Yes, I hear her all of the time on my bike," Makoto added.
Haru looked at them in awe.
"We are lucky to have Mona and Sensei. They really helped us out and guided us," Ren said.
Morgana's face turned bright red.
"You guys…"
"Thank you everyone. I think I need to face my father…to make her stronger."
Ann nodded.
"We will be here for you."
"Hell, yes, we are," Ryuji shouted.
"Of course, we will be," Yusuke said.
Suddenly, he felt something grab his jacket.
"HEE HO!"
Black Frost pointed his finger behind him. He turned to see Futaba clinging to his arm. She had a really determined look on her face.
"This is getting too sappy. I have already added this to my promise list. We are going to go and make a super awesome move that they can't ignore. We are truly going to wow them!"
Promise list?
He could point out what he said before but he didn't think that would work. Something was on her mind.
"Oracle?"
"You are going to be an awesome Support Buddy and I will be an awesome Navigator. Together, we will be unstoppable!"
"How do you propose we do that?" He said in amusement.
"First off, trust building. We are going to do a time-honored tradition."
"What is that?"
"We are going to watch some anime."
Anime? Is that another form of porn that she keeps looking for?
End of The Training Sessions III
A/N: Yes, Futaba and Yu will have a super move (similar to a Show Time). Another thing that I had planned before Royal came out. Haru's fiancé may…or may not make it to the end of the fic in one piece. Too bad, right? XD Speaking of Royal, I beat it and I was disappointed? I don't know. I like some elements of it but I felt it was drawn out too much. I didn't like the ending as much as the first. I normally do a second play through but I may not do that Royal. Anyway, thanks for the wonderful reviews, kudos, favorites, etc. You guys are awesome.