Chapter 15
The training of Taimanin went as planned; the teams of two fought the same teams. Maki was in the tam with Aki, Mai with Shig. Ren was a bottle holder, who was trying to help to analyze the battles. And Pavel was practicing with Masami. They went to the farthest part of the training field in order not to disturb the combatants and not let others to bother themselves.
"How about to practice mental part?" Pavel asked her, when they were on a good distance from their class, "I think it's a good thing to prepare mind and then we can have a combat practice." then he suddenly raised his voice, "Oh, yes, we need wooden weapons too, in order not to wound…"
"No need." Masami shook with her head; "Sooner or later I'll have to practice with real one, so why not to mix it?" she looked at her spear.
"If you say so." Pavel smiled he was proud of Masami, who didn't look for easy ways, "Well, take a good position for meditation." Masami nodded and did what was told, she took the pose of lotus and looked at Pavel, "Well, how was it next." Pavel pondered, "Try to imagine a calm place."
"And what about closing of eyes?" Masami slightly smiled.
"It's automatically." Pavel smiled too, Masami closed her eyes, and focused, "Well, try to feel warmth over your body, and then how it comes to you head." Pavel calmed down, for a little, 'Well, now she must think about the warmth, if I remember it right.'
Masami was sitting in this position for some time, some part of students have already done their training, and decided to watch at their training, when the classmates came too close, Pavel looked at them and showed them to return back and not bother them. However, the part of the class only went on a small distance.
"What do you feel now?" Pavel asked her.
"Peacefulness, I think." Masami replied.
"Good." he nodded and then added, "Now, try to imagine yourself holding your spear." Masami nodded, "You're swinging with it and killing a demon." Masami frowned, Pavel felt it, 'Well it'll be difficult for her for this moment.' he sat next to her and put his hand onto hers, "Don't worry, the demon is defeated, and you're the winner." Pavel said warmly, "Now open your eyes." Masami opened them her fore head was sweaty, but her face tried to stay calm, "See? You could do that, just imagine that you kill some scum from time to time, and it'll help you too."
"Understood." Masami nodded wiping off the sweat, "It was difficult."
"I belive you, but still you could handle it." then he got up, "How about to have a practice now?"
"Yes, let's start." Masami quickly agreed.
Then they start to practice their battle skills. Pavel knew that it was difficult for Masami to fight with a real weapon, so he slowed down his pace and let the girl attack him. While Pavel only protected. When he wanted to attack he said it to Masami and then the girl protected her herself.
The viewers were watching the fight with some interest and excitement. They even were discussing the battle.
"Man, they're like a teacher and a child." someone suddenly said, "Masami's movements are so predictable."
"What would be with you if you were on her place?" Maki said to her classmate.
"I didn't mean anything bad." the student quickly replied, "I just tell what I'm seeing."
"How do you think will she be the Masami we knew?" some girl suddenly said, whispering.
"I hope, yes." Aki said, "After all she deserves to be like everyone else."
Ren suddenly came to the main crowd and started to watch their practice. Her eyes were moving from Pavel to Masami and then back to Pavel. She squeezed her fists likewise she didn't like something in their battle.
'Why I feel something strange seeing them together?' she was watching at them, 'Could it be…?' she stopped her thoughts suddenly, 'No, it can't be love. We know nothing about each other, so I can't belive that it's really love, but still what if…'
The battle continued for some period of time, Masami started to feel more comfortable and even tried to do some combinations, Pavel felt it, and like the way the girl started to feel more bravery.
But still the training of the groups came to its end, and Pavel with Masami decided to stop too. Pavel turned his head and saw his classmates still watching at them.
"Man, this guys doesn't know what politeness means." he chuckled.
"Don't pay much attention." Masami replied with a slight smile, "After all, they don't see me often after training, so it's easy to understand them."
"I see." Pavel chuckled, "How about to practice with wooden weapons in the evening?"
"I don't mind, but this time you're to be careful." Masami looked at him.
"I won't be careless this time." Pavel laughed, remembering his loosing during previous practice.
They went to the class which started to stand into the line in front of the teachers.
"Well, for today it's over, you can spend the rest of the day whatever way you want, but tomorrow practice, won't be that easy." Oleg said watching at them, "You may be free." then the students went to in a group somewhere they only knew, and Oleg started to shake a little.
"Hey, are you fine?" Sakura asked him with a worrying voice.
"Yeah, just need to rest and everything will be fine." Oleg replied to her.
"Is it because of that seal you used?" Chikeko asked him.
"Yes, it demands a lot of power, it seems I should have practice in using them." he rubbed his nasal bridge, "No need to worry." he wanted to go further, but he couldn't as he was grabbed by Sakura.
"Come on, I'll bring you to your place." she chuckled, holding his hand.
"What?!" Chikeko exclaimed, "I'll do that!" she took another hand, 'That Sakura!'
"Girls, I just need to rest, nothing more nothing less." Oleg replied, "I can go by myself."
"We'll make sure you want fall somewhere on a half of the way." Sakura chuckled.
Then both of them led their colleague to the rest room, where he could have some rest.
"Pavel wait." Ren suddenly grabbed Pavel's hand.
"What is it?" Pavel looked at her with surprised eyes.
"Don't you have any plans right now?" Ren said somehow confused, as if she didn't know what to say next.
"Well, no." Pavel shook with his head, 'Does she want to call me on a date?' he thought.
"How about to have a little snack?" Ren suddenly said, "We didn't do that since the last walk to Inageya. So why not to do that again." she looked at him.
'Dream on.' Pavel, sighed, "Yeah, why not." Pavel chuckled, 'However, this time she offered this, maybe she wants to tell something?'
The sun started to go to the horizon, but the students still had plenty of time to spend the way they wanted. Pavel and Ren were walking pretty slowly, they were silent. Ren didn't know how to start the dialogue. But Pavel decided to disturb confusing silence first.
"You were really impressive today." Pavel said watching at the sky, "I even could over run your attacks."
"You were good too." Ren was glad Pavel started the talk, "I thought it'll be easier to fight you, however you became stronger since our first sparring."
"Thanks for praising." Pavel rubbed his head, "But I was just confused then, that's why I was so frustrated."
"What do you mean?" Ren didn't understand, Pavel pointed at her fight a finger and turned his head away, Ren lowered her head and became red, "You know, you're quite pervert." Ren replied to him, her voice was serious and distrustful.
"I didn't mean anything bad!" Pavel protested, "I just mean you look amazing and…" Pavel stumbled, 'The hell I'm saying.' he wanted to run as far as he only could.
"Well thank you for the compliment." Ren turned around her face which was red, 'Why am I embarrassed so much?' Ren felt the same.
They walked still trying to talk to each other they changes the themes, and little by little shorten the time which they spent for walking to the café.
"The café is free, so you can take whatever you want, for breakfast, lunch and dinner." Ren said to Pavel.
"Not bad, I'd like to have some fried fish with rice."
"Sounds like you've became a real Japanese." Ren chuckled, "Don't you want to eat something Russian?"
"Of course I want!" Pavel replied immideately, "But still no one cooks such food in Gosha, so I get used to eat Japanese food."
"And what would you like to eat from Russian cuisine?" Ren asked him again.
"Well, maybe some soup? Or some hot dishes, like goulash or pilaf." Pavel replied in a joy likewise he was about to eat them now.
"I see." Ren looked at the sky.
"By the way." Pavel suddenly said, "I know almost nothing about you. What you like, what you dislike your hobbies, except swimming, of course."
"The same with you." Ren replied to him.
"After all I did a small presentation for you with Aki and Maki." Pavel smiled to her.
Ren smiled too, "Well I remember it not well, so let's do a proper one."
They came to the café, Pavel and Ren glanced it over and saw that it wasn't full right now. They took a seat next to the window and could see a beautiful park not far from them.
"How about to have a walk after having dinner?" Pavel suddenly asked her.
"And what about training with Masami?" Ren asked him.
"It'll be in the evening, so I have plenty of time right now." Pavel answered to her.
The waitress came to them and gave them the menu; the teens quickly decided what they want to eat. Ren took miso soup, while Pavel took fried fish with rice.
"This place is really cosy." Pavel looked it again, "Some warm atmosphere is felt here."
"I always prefer to eat here during our practice camp." Ren replied, "This place has a really tasty food, as if it was made at home."
"Do you visit it often?" Pavel asked her with interested.
"I come here each summer for several weeks." Ren replied, "For practicing with sensei."
"You're very diligent." Pavel smiled, "Your parents must be really proud of you." Ren flinched hearing these words and lowered her head, Pavel quickly understood, what the girl thought about, "Ren, I… I didn't want to…"
"No need to apologize." she turned her towards him, "After all, there's no your or your countrymen fault. So don't lay it to you heart."
"I see." Pavel replied, "And, what have happened? I don't insist if you don't want you can…" he wasn't able to finish his statement, because of Ren.
"It's good to speak out to someone; the incident with Masami taught even me some new things." Ren sadly smiled, "As I know, they were captured by Edwin Black when I was a child. As Igawa-sensei told they were promising Taimanin, but during one of their missions they suddenly disappeared, however after some time, they were found, dead, of course." Ren whispered, she sobbed and continued, "However, I wasn't alone, my grandmother was taking care of me, and at the same time I had help from Aki and Maki." she looked at the window, "I don't know what would happen if I hadn't them nearby."
"This really a terrible thing." Pavel said, "Now I understand why you training so diligently."
"Yeah, I want make this damn vampire pay for his crimes against all humans, not only for afflictions he did towards me."
"You shouldn't do that alone." Pavel said, "You'll do absolutely nothing being all alone, your friends must be nearby and help you during this fight. And, if you need a help I do whatever it's needed to help you." Pavel's voice was serious and firm.
Ren's eyes were widened she looked at him with surprised eyes, she felt how her heart started to pound faster.
"I don't know, what will happen in the future, but still if you need my help just call, and I'll try to find a way to help you."
"Thanks."' Ren smiled, it was the first and sincere time when she smiled like that in front of Pavel, "I appreciate your kindness and help."
Pavel looked at her, her face was happy right now, and it wasn't a pageant, he wanted to say something but the waitress came to them and put their dishes, wish a slight smile. Pavel quickly turned away from her, and Ren still was watching at him with the same smile.
'He is so funny sometimes.'
"Damn vampire, with aura! If not him I could get this damn Taimanin, and my beasts are not so strong to fight him." Etienne was keening walking by the corridors of their base, "How I hate this damn blood sucker!"
"I hope this blood sucker is not me." Etienne heard a voice behind him, the gray haired man turned around and so Walter himself.
"No, just some bothersome vampire interrupted my hunting." Etienne replied.
"Wasn't it Edwin Black?" Walter narrowed his eyes, "As I understand, he started to interfere in our business; Mystic told he sent some demon knight to fight us."
"Demon knight?" Etienne reasked the man, "As I know, demon knight are serious opponents, isn't Tardis the one who defeated several knights himself?"
"Yes, his powers are equal to their ones, but still there some knights, whom he won't be able to defeat." Walter said, "However the one I saw escaped as she saw me, I must admit she was really beautiful."
"Not every day you praise someone's appearance." Etienne smirked, "My vampire used trident, and could use aura."
"I see." Walter smirked, "Nothing to worry about, just some spineless creature."
"And the other one was a white haired woman with a sword and a dagger, she used wind ability and as I noticed she is a halfblooded vampire."
"I don't know who is she, but I've seen her too, during the last seal destruction." Walter replied, "Quite an interesting instance, however Igawa Asagi and that one eyed, are more interesting."
"The leader of 'Red Division'." Etienne corrected him, "So, what are you going to do to her?"
"Right now nothing." Walter replied "I haven't go much time to deal with this insects, I have to find the next seal."
"Any trail of it?"
"No, but still I can feel some impulses." Walter replied, "I hope it'll be exposed sooner or later."
"And what about Celine? Is she looking for it too?" Etienne asked him again.
"No, she has another mission." Walter replied, "She and her so call guide are looking for minions of Edwin Black, who are to be disposed."
"And that boy? Where is he, I don't see neither him neither these little sluts with Torch."
"They're killing demons in order to improve physical power of the boy." Walter replied to Richar, "I don't know will it be fruitful, but still hope he will awake at least something. And what about my request is everything going as planned?"
"Honestly the cells don't want to spread." Etienne confessed, "I don't know why, but the boy's power impact didn't give anything. However there were some strange anomalies."
"What do you mean?" Walter didn't understand.
"Well, the cell are spreading, but they can't form a needed system, maybe it's because of their immune system, I have something to try, but I'm not sure will it be fruitful or not."
"I know you can do everything, after all you're the first one by brains here." Walter chuckled, and did a turn, "Well I'll leave you for now, I have to check something." Etienne nodded.
Walter covered himself and appeared in front of Mystic and Naomi.
"Did you call for me?" Walter asked Mystic.
"Yes, I need your advice." Mystic replied, "It seems I found something, but I don't know is our target or not."
Walter closed his eyes, and took a deep breath then he suddenly opened his eyes.
"So little and weak calling." Walter pondered, "It seem that it's what we're looking for." he smiled.
"But I can't understand where is the source, as if it's somewhere underground or something like that."
Walter put his hand onto the ground.
"Difficult to say, the noise is so weak that I can't even tell where it is too. However, I believe you're right." Walter guessed then, "But still where."
"Will we continue the searching?" Mystic asked him.
"Yes, but I will continue it, the leader told you have another mission." the vampire replied.
"What is it?" Mystic didn't like the words of the demon.
"As he said you must try to capture some Taimanin, for our organization."
"I see, so we officially start fighting against them?" Mystic asked him don't liking the idea.
"I wouldn't say so." Walter said, "We are to do everything secretly, in order to make them think someone else captured them." Walter explained.
"Difficult to say." Mystic replied, "NOMAD and Incubus Faction can join forces with Taimanin and then they attack us."
"That is mine headache." Walter smirked, "At least Black won't even dare to oppose us in direct battle, at the same time, I want to pay him a visit, this scum allows attacking us, so he is to know how to act towards us."
"Will you take Celine too?" Mystic asked the man.
"No, it'll be enough one of me for that." the vampire king turned around, "Now go; I have to focus on the location." Mystic nodded and then he and Naomi headed somewhere they only knew and Walter continued to stay in the dark alley, where they were a while ago.
The three teachers quickly reached the rest room and Oleg onto the sofa. Oleg seemed fine now, but still his arms were shaking a little.
"Do you need something like tea or coffee?" Chikeko asked him with a worried voice.
"Tea is good." Oleg replied to her with slight smile.
"I'll bring it." Chikeko nodded and ran out of the room.
"Finally our deal was done." Sakura looked at him with er casual smile, "However, I wanted to see you in your old uniform."
"You would laugh a lot if you saw me in it." Oleg chuckled, "It was pretty for me to wear it even during my years of being a student."
"Didn't you decide to wear it." Sakura asked him.
"No, Maria chose it for me, and her brother helped her to persuade me to put it on." Oleg replied her, "These old days." he said thoughtfully.
"By the way, you were fighting really good." Sakura quickly tried to return Oleg back to the present, "If not Pavel I would lose to you. These seals are quite a good thing; you could dodge all my attacks."
"I tried to do everything secretly, but this boy could notice it somehow." Oleg chuckled, "He really grown up."
"Do you really know him for that long?" Sakura asked him.
"Yeah, for several years." Oleg nodded.
"It's can be only my imagination, but I some of us found that you three are like a family, you treat Pavel as if he is your child." Sakura said to Oleg.
"I noticed that too." Oleg turned his head to the woman, "In Russia I along with Maria received the same compliments. After all we're not the best teachers in Russia."
"Maria because of her subject and you?"
"Because, I'm boring." Oleg smiled.
"You should just make your lessons interesting." Sakura chuckled, "For example show some practical part during your lessons or something like that."
"I'll try." Oleg nodded, "Sakura, I wanted to ask you about something, it can be personal, but still…" suddenly they heard steeps out of the room and then they saw Chikeko in the doorways.
"Here." Chikeko put the cup of hot tea next to him onto the table.
"Thanks a lot." Oleg smiled to Chikeko.
Sakura felt something inside her seeing how Chikeko was taking care of Oleg, she was watching at them and couldn't guess what it was. She decided to leave the room and have a walk. She wasn't in a hurry, she decided not to think about Oleg, and disturb of him.
'Interesting, has this guy, sis was talking about, appeared again? She seemed very scared of him. Is he really that strong that even Black can't stand against him.' Sakura left outside and took a deep breath, 'Well, it's almost three months, but our life changed a lot after working with them.' Sakura thought taking purchase onto a column of the building, 'Will we be able to defeat these new guys? After all, they're a real pain in the ass. I even couldn't defeat that Pegasus, and that guy in the cloak sis fought, I even can't imagine what he can do if he fought sis on equals.' Sakura frowned, 'One organization and such a headache.' Sakura chuckled, 'It's impossible to predict, what will be tomorrow because of them.'
Sakura continued her way; she decided to have a snack too. So she went to the café where she good deal with her hunger, she quickly reached it, and when she entered it she saw some people inside it, but her eyes stopped on the farthest table by the window.
'How interesting.' Sakura grinned, she quickly ran to the table and said, "It's quite unexpected to see you two cooing so warmly."
"Sensei!" Ren exclaimed quickly turning around.
"Sensei, please don't do such things!" Pavel join Ren, as he was scared too.
"Sorry, sorry." Sakura smiled as little child, "I just couldn't do anything with it. But still I'm glad you two started to act more friendly, the way Ren greeted you after our mission, was really one of the most memorable for me."
"Sensei, please don't mention me about it!" Ren begged the teacher.
"By the way, you two were really good today." Sakura sat next to them, "Pavel didn't you think to stay, with us? We need such hunters, if you want sis could do something about it." Ren was surprised of that question; she even wished to know the answer, what the boy would give.
"Well I wouldn't mind at all." Pavel smiled, "But I don't think our government will allow doing that, it's really observing over almost o each hunter and we all are the protectors of our country."
"But still they could try to make an exception for you." Sakura tried to make him to answer more directly.
"Right now we're to deal with the Law, and then we can think about it." Pavel looked at Sakura then at Ren, "Only after it can be decided."
"I see." Sakura nodded, "How do you think of doing a mission with me when we return back to our duties? Just the two of you with me?" Sakura chuckled.
"Really?" Pavel and Ren asked the woman, but then quickly calmed down.
"Yeah, but I have a request for you can you try to drag Chikeko somewhere? Just for an hour or so?"
"I don't think it'll be a problem, but why?" Pavel didn't understand what it could give to the woman.
"That's a little secret." Sakura winked to the boy and when the same waitress came ordered two hamburgers for herself.
"Are you sure you don't need anything?" Chikeko asked Oleg with a worried voice.
"You're treating me as if I'm ill." Oleg laughed, "I just overtired, you shouldn't act so caring about me."
"But still, what if something goes wrong?" Chikeko's voice was worried, "And I won't be nearby?"
Oleg looked at the woman, with serious eyes, "Chikeko, can I ask you a question?"
"Yeah… what is it?" Chikeko asked him.
"Do you like me?" Oleg asked her with a serious tone.
"Ha?" Chikeko exclaimed, "What are you talking about?"
"You're just an opened book." Oleg replied with a slight chuckle, "Did you really think I wouldn't notice that?"
Chikeko stumbled, she turned her head towards the floor, her beautiful cheeks were red as tomato, and her fingers, started to tremble.
"If I say yes, will it change something?" Oleg was asked not being watch.
Oleg sighed; he turned his head to the roof and didn't know what to answer. Then he looked at Chikeko with warm eyes, as if he wanted to say her something good and pleasant.
"I must apologies, but I can respond to your feelings." Oleg replied.
"Is it because of Sakura?" Chikeko stilled didn't watch at him, but her fingers started to tremble.
"No, I think because of my scars of the past." Oleg said sadly, "I can't explain it properly, but I think I still have some feelings towards Maria. I want her to overpass what happened with us, and return her former always cheering and happy Maria I knew her once."
"But what if you can't if she doesn't let you do this? Did you really think about it?" Chikeko said, "The problem is that you must live in present and try to leave past in the past, you can't change what has already happened."
"Maybe you're right." Oleg sighed, "Maybe not. The problem that my heart still belongs to her, and I don't think I'll be able to accept your feelings."
"Does that mean you don't want to move further too?" Chikeko looked at him, "And prefer to stay on the same place along with her?"
"Probably." Oleg nodded, "Maybe it's wrong, but that's what I want to do." Oleg got up and hugged Chikeko, "You're a good woman, Chikeko. Kind, helpful you cook well, you'll knock everyone so dead with these qualities."
"I won't give up." Chikeko mumbled.
"What?" Oleg didn't hear what the woman said.
"I've said I won't give up!" Chikeko quickly got up too and wiped her tears off her eyes, "You'll make sure you'll forget the past, and will start leaving future! That's a promise! I'll make everything to steal your heart! Remember it!"
Then Chikeko ran out of the room leaving Oleg in puzzlement and misunderstanding.
"That was really strong." Oleg couldn't belive to what he just heard, "Maybe I shouldn't be so frank with her?" Oleg wanted to follow her, but stopped as he wasn't sure it was a good idea, "No, she need some time to cool down. Right now she is on emotions; it will be pointless to talk to her." Oleg sat back onto the sofa again, "Do I really live in the past?" Oleg pondered seriously.
Aki and Maki decided to spend the rest of the day together again. They were walking and talking to each other pretty much, enjoying each precious minute of their time. They were walking by the park, then they went to some lake which wasn't far from the main building of the island. They sat on a bench which wasn't far from the water and started to talk.
"Today's training was really good, you even could display yourself." Maki said watching at the lake.
"You were good too." Aki hugged Maki, "You started to fight more properly and well-coordinated, even sensei noted it."
"Thanks for praising." Maki chuckled, "But still it's only because I was in a group with you, I got used to your commands and ideas." Maki replied, "Do you remember the fight of sensei and Pavel with Ren?" Aki nodded, "They're really good Taimanin, if they fought us, I don't think we would be able to win."
"But still we could give them some troubles." Aki didn't want to hear anything about losing, "With your super power we would find a way to defeat them."
Maki go up from the bench and stood in front of the boy. She was in her battle uniform; the boy was in it too.
"Do you really think we could beat the?" Maki asked Aki with a joyful voice, "It's so sweet that you think like that. How about to have a something to eat, I'm kinda hungry, after such a row training."
"I don't mind." Aki chuckled, "Let's go, I think it must be pretty empty now."
They headed to the café which wasn't far from them. They spent their way to eat chatting about everything. They reached the café pretty fast; when they entered it was almost empty. Only two tables were busy, Aki and Maki glanced at the presenters, and didn't recognize them.
"Phew, there's no one from the class." Maki was glad that no one visited the café now.
"Yes, it's a little awkward for me to tell that we're dating." Aki said with a lowered voice.
"Why?" Maki didn't understand his confusing.
"Well, I still can't belive that you liked me all that time. I thought we're just good friends. I just don't want them to laugh at me own stupidity." Aki confessed, but Maki laughed, "What's s funny?"
"You've just admitted that." Maki chuckled, "I can't belive you finally did it."
"So that's what you mentioned." Aki smiled kindly too.
"Maki finally, I found you." both young Taimanin, turned around and saw Pavel who seemed quite exhausted.
"Pavel? Have something happened?" Maki asked him with an excited voice.
"No, nothing serious, I just wanted to have a talk with you, it's about Ren." Pavel answered.
"Okay." Maki nodded, "Order me something sweet, Aki." Aki nodded and then went to the table.
Pavel and Maki left the café and stood not far from the main door, they sat onto the bench. Pavel took a deep breath.
"What happened, I hope you didn't bother her? You're in such hurry, like something serious happened." Maki asked Pavel.
"Well, I just wanted to give something to Ren." Pavel said to Maki, "After all her team has lost today, and I would like to know what I could give her for a cheering present."
"Well." Maki pondered, "If you really want you can give her, some flowers or a chocolate box, Ren really likes it." Maki bowed her head to her right, "Or you can try to give her a training she likes to train too."
"Do you really think it's a good idea? I mean chocolate? What kind of it she likes more?"
"White one, if you want you can take it in a sweet shop, it's not far from here." Maki pointed to the left, where was Pavel, "I think they're still opened."
"Thanks a lot for your help, I'll try my best!" Pavel nodded and got closer to Maki, he licked her cheek.
"What the hell you're doing?" Maki flinch and quickly got up from the bench.
"Sorry it's a Russian tradition. Don't you do that in Japan?" Pavel raised his eyebrow.
"Hell no!" Maki exclaimed, "I hope you'll never do that again." she wiped his salvia from her cheek.
She turned around and went to the café leaving Pavel alone.
"Has something happened?" Aki asked her, "You're shouting a while ago."
"Pavel is really strange today." Maki said as she took her place, "Licked my cheek all of a sudden, and said that's Russian tradition."
"What?!" Aki quickly got up too, and ran out of the building.
"Aki, wait!" Maki turned around, and headed after the boy.
Both of them ran out of the café, Aki started glancing over, but didn't see the person he needed.
"Has he gone already?" Aki looked to different sides, "He is fast."
"Aki, don't pay much attention to it." Maki tried to calm him down, "It could probably be some tradition, Russia is a big country and he didn't tell us about traditions in Russia."
"I don't know tradition that or not, but licking cheeks is a disgusting thing, when I see him, I'll talk with him about it."
Maki could drag Aki back to the café somehow, but still after some calming word, Aki was nervous.
"Wow, your fighting skills becomes really well." Pavel dodged Masami's lunge, "Working like this you'll be to return in action pretty fast." Pavel replied with a smile.
"Thanks." Masami replied and tried to do another attack, "You do well too, this time you didn't lose from the first try." she protected herself form the boy's lunge.
"I think soon Maria Sergeievna will be able to start her treatment." Pavel said, "And you'll be able to be back to your ordinary life."
"I wanted to ask, how this therapy looks like?" they stopped their combat.
"Difficult to say." Pavel replied, "I don't have mental abilities, so it's difficult to explain. She will sneak into your memories, and will do something there, in easy words, you're to defeat you fears and worries."
"Interesting to know how it will look like." Masami sighed.
"Don't worry, you'll be able to do that." Pavel put his hand onto her shoulder, "You're a very amazing girl, I don't think something will be able stop." Masami reddened slightly.
"Thanks, but without your help I wouldn't be able to start returning to the former condition." Masami replied, "By the way!" Masami quickly said, "We decided to play a couple in front of your family, should I know something about them?"
"Oh, yeah." Pavel slightly hit his head with his palm, "I told you nothing about it." they sat onto the floor of the gym, "Well, my mother is Alexandra, brother is Vladimir his wife is Elena, and my friend is Denis. Theirs is also my uncle, his name is Mikhail."
"And what about your father?" Masami raised her eyebrow.
"Well, as my mum told me, he disappeared, when I was a child, according to her words, he was a anti-demon hunter too, however, my brother was born an ordinary, while I have the powers to be the same he was."
"That mean you know absolutely nothing about him, that's really awful." Masami looked at the boy.
"Knowing he save people, like I do is enough for me." Pavel smiled, "I think that also made me to continue my attempts to become a good hunter, but still not having special abilities is a really bad for me."
"You shouldn't worry about it that much." Masami tried to cheering him up, "I don't have them too. And several of our mentors don't have the as well. Someone like Yatsu Kuro revealed his powers being an adult. So we can find our power every time, we're just to work hard in order to get this time closer."
"You're right here." Pavel nodded, "We just to wait, when we know our powers." Pavel chuckled, "One more round or that's enough for today?"
"One more." Masami smiled, he helped her to get up, and then they continued their training
Chikeko was walking by the park all alone; her head was raised towards the dark sky. Some people were having a walk too. She didn't pay much attention, on what was happening around her, her pace was slow and her head was full of thought, which were devoted to the Russian teacher.
'I must make him to forget about Maria and make him to pay attention on me.' she thought, 'But how to do that? Mere cooking won't be enough for that.' she put her finger onto her chin; maybe I should invite him on a date? In that way I can show myself from a good side, to put up something beautiful and stylish, to go to the cinema or a theater, then somewhere to eat, and then have a walk somewhere, and then try to bring him to bed somehow.'
Chikeko thought a lot, but still couldn't think a perfect plan, her thought stopped on the bed; she imagined lots of lustful things, which she and Oleg would do in it. Chikeko sat onto a bench and turned her head to the Taimanin who were in the park right now.
"Sensei?" Chikeko heard a voice behind her, "Didn't know I would meet you here."
"Pavel?" Chikeko seemed surprised to see, the Russian boy in the par, "I thought, you should be with your friends."
"I just wanted to buy some chocolate for Ren." Pavel showed a box of sweets, "After all her team has lost today, maybe it'll cheer her up a little."
"If someone tried to cheer me up." Chikeko mumbled.
"What?" Pavel asked the woman not hearing her words.
"Nothing." Chikeko sighed, "Pavel, can I ask you a question?" Chikeko asked him suddenly, "How do you think can I attract Oleg somehow?"
"What do you mean sensei?" Pavel raised his eyebrow.
"I mean, do you know about his relations with Maria?" Chikeko asked another question.
"Well." Pavel pondered, "Difficult to say, I think their connection is strong."
"What do you mean?" Chikeko looked at him.
"They often go to different missions and have walks together." Pavel replied.
"Did you see them together?" she asked him again.
"Yes, but I didn't tell them I saw that." Pavel replied with a nod.
'I see.' Chikeko thought, 'So they still going out together, could it be really possible that they still maintain their relationship?'
"Sensei? You're acting strange, are you alright?" Pavel asked her with a worried voice.
"No, nothing." Chikeko go up and hit her chicks, "A box of sweets you say? I think I'll do the same for Oleg. Thanks for a thought." Chikeko waved him, and headed somewhere she only knew.
Pavel only shrugged with his shoulders, and headed further.
Ren was training with Mai, two students, tried to break through their defense and do at least a single scratch. Ren was careful, while Mai's style was a little daring and brave. Mai attacked Ren with her katana, while the tanned girl tried to protect herself.
"Are you going to attack me?" Mai asked Ren.
"Do you think that I'm that stupid to attack you?" Ren parried another attack, "If I try you use your ability and attack me back."
"Smart." Mai responded, "Then I just continue to attack you."
'Damn, I can't even find a moment to attack.' Ren thought, 'Maybe if I just dodge and then…?' she did a step back and tried to make a wide swing with her short blade.
"Wow!" Mai didn't seem to predict such a trick, "That was close, interesting."
"Finally could break through your protection." Ren chuckled, "Let's finish for today; we still have some practice tomorrow."
"Yes, it's time to go to the springs." Mai agreed with her friend putting her katana back into the sheath, which was on her back.
Ren did the same, and then they went outside the training ground. Their way was to the hot springs, which was pretty far from the hot springs, so they decided to have a talk.
"Could you have a little chat with Pavel today?" Mai asked Ren.
"What?" Ren looked at Mai.
"Don't tell me you didn't go to eat with him." Mai said to Ren, "I saw how the two of you went to the café."
"Nothing goes away of your eyes." Ren sighed, "Yeah, we had a little talk, after the training. And it was pretty good I must say, didn't know I say that, but I think he is a good guy, and we can trust him."
"You finally understood that? You really are a stubborn type." Mai chuckled.
"Hey, I'm just cautious." Ren didn't like the way Mai replied, "And, I think I feel something strange, when I'm alone with him."
"Love?" Mai asked her.
"I don't know." Ren shook with her head, 'Probably it could be that, but could I really…?"
"Wow, Ren didn't know you trained too." she hear a voice on her right, Mai and Ren turned their heads and saw Pavel in the company of Masami.
"Just wanted to prepare for tomorrow." Ren replied to him, "And what about you?"
"The same." Masami replied calmly to her classmate.
"Interesting what teachers have for tomorrow?" Pavel said thoughtfully, "Maybe some group fight? Or something like that?"
"Probably." Ren answered, "After all, we almost always work in groups, so we're to know how to improve our teamwork, nothing special." then she turned to Masami, "Masami, how are you today? Nothing troubles you?"
"No, not at all." Masami replied, "I'm fine, and what about you?"
"Fine too." Ren nodded to the girl, "Listen, how about to eat something with us all tomorrow after the main practice?"
"I don't mind." Mai agreed quickly, "I don't have any plans for tomorrow, so why not."
"You became livelier." Mai suddenly said, "It's good to see you like that."
"Do you think so?" Masami asked the blonde girl, "I think I'm still the same."
"I think Mai is right." Pavel and Ren replied together in one moment, "After all your gloominess, has vanished a little." Ren added.
"And you became more talkative." Pavel chuckled too, "That's a real progress, I must admit."
"Thanks for praising, but I think I'm just the same old Masami you used me to know." Masami turned away from them.
Ren and Pavel chuckled at such statement, while Mai kept silence.
"Oh, guys here you're." the team saw Maki in front of them, "Barely could find you."
"Maki? I thought you're with Aki." Ren was quite surprised to see her friend with the childhood friend.
"Well, Aki went to the hot springs, but I decided to find you, and give you a cheering present." Maki scratched her cheek, Ren didn't understand.
"What do you mean?"
"Here." Maki stretched a box of chocolate, "Your team lost today, so I thought it would be good to buy you something sweet."
"It's surprising to see you to do something like that." Mai looked at Maki with interest, "What got into you?"
"Ah, just decided to do something good for a friend, didn't know that it's illegal thing." Maki pouted her cheeks, don't liking that her friends didn't appreciate her sign of friendship.
"Well, thank you for that." Ren took the box, "I'm really pleased." Ren thanked her friend, "Are you going with us to the hot springs?"
"Yeah, but I still have to do something, Sakura wanted to talk something about to me, so I'm trying to find her too."
"She must with Hirata and Oleg-sensei." at the resting facility, Ren replied, "I saw them going there in the afternoon."
"Got it!" Maki exclaimed, "See you in the hot springs!" Maki waved with her hand to the team and Ren to the right.
"Well, that was really strange." Ren relied, when Maki disappeared from their sight, "Didn't know Maki can do something like that." Ren opened the box and took one sweet, which was white like the others, "They're good." she seemed to like the sweets; Maki gave her, "If you want take them." Maki stretched out the box, all of presenters took by one sweet and eat it.
"She has a good taste." Pavel said to Ren, "Do you like white chocolate?"
"Kinda." Ren nodded and took another one.
Then the team slowly went to the hot springs talking to each other about the day, which was about to end and about upcoming training.
When they came to the springs Pavel went to the male part, while the girl went to the female part.
'Man, why I didn't give her chocolate? What an idiot I am!' he scolded himself, he didn't notice how he bumped into something, "Oh sorry, I thought too much!" Pavel apologized and when raised his head, he saw Aki, who seemed nervous and disgruntled.
"Pavel, can I talk to you about something?" Aki said seriously.
Pavel was surprised, the way Aki talked to him, "Yes, has something happened?" Pavel asked him being worried.
"Why did you lick Maki?" Aki asked him still being serious.
"What?" Pavel asked the boy and then laughed, "Man, you know how to merry people." But Pavel saw that Aki didn't laugh, "Wait, are you seriously talking about that?"
"Traditions or not, you shouldn't lick other people, it's disgusting." Aki said watching at his eyes.
"Wait, who told you that I licked Maki." Pavel tried to understand what was going on.
"Maki herself." Aki replied, "You asked her about what to give to Ren as a present and then licked her."
"I didn't nothing like that." Pavel tried to persuade his friend, "I even didn't talk to her today."
"Pavel we're friends, but I'll warn you not to do anything like that again anymore." Aki wanted to leave, but Pavel quickly grabbed his wrist.
"I tell you, I didn't do anything like that!" Pavel raised his voice, "Do you seriously think I would do anything like that?"
"I don't know, but I don't think Maki would lie about that." Aki pulled his hand out.
"When I saw Maki she told nothing about that." Pavel said to the boy, "After all I saw her only twice today. During the training and on the way to the hot spring, she gave chocolate to Ren and then went to look for Sakura."
"Are you nuts? Maki is in the hot spring, we came here together." Aki's eyes were widened.
"Wait, what do you mean she is in the hot springs?" Pavel struck dumb.
"We spent this day together." Aki replied to him, "And she told you to give white chocolate to Ren."
This time Pavel's eyes were widened, "When do you say I licked Maki?"
"I think it had been about seven o'clock." Pavel's question was answered.
"I couldn't do that, because I was training with Masami." Pavel quickly replied, "And not long ago, we left the training ground, along with Ren, Mai. They can tell you too, that Maki gave Ren the white chocolate!"
"I don't understand, if you didn't lick Maki and you didn't give the chocolate to Ren, then who did that?" Aki looked at Pavel with the same glance.
"I don't know." Pavel replied, "But I don't like that, could it be some kind of training on looking for some strangeness in our lines?"
"Do you really think the sensei would do something like that?" Aki asked the Russian boy.
"I can say." Aki pondered, "We're to ask Oleg Semenovich about it."
"If what happens is someone's trick, how we cannot be sure Oleg-sensei is a real one?" Aki asked him.
"In Russia we were taught how to oppose shape shifters, we must make a secret word will. It'll be Baikal." Pavel looked at Aki seriously.
"Baikal, I remember it." Aki nodded, "Does sensei, know about it?" Pavel nodded.
"Maria Sergeievna thought it." Pavel nodded, "We've never dealt with them, but still we created our own method to know, who is who." then Pavel suddenly turned to Aki again, "That Maki we've encountered was going to look for Sakura! What if she wants to do something to her?"
"We're to split!" Aki exclaimed,
"Yeah, look for Oleg-sensei I'll go to look for Maki or sensei, remember tell him Baikal." Pavel said and then both of them rushed out of the hot spring.
Sakura was walking by the corridors of the resting facility; she took off her Taimanin uniform and was walking in a T-shirt with shorts. She wasn't in a hurry as she decided to spend the evening all alone.
'Interesting, will Ren and Pavel make Chikeko busy?' she thought, 'That Chikeko always interferes, when it's doesn't needed. However, I could make our relations better, that incident was really a mess, why the hell I agreed to take part in it?' Sakura took a deep breath and then exhaled, 'Sis, you're too suspicious sometimes.' Sakura hook with her head.
She slowly came to the resting room, where Oleg supposed to rest. She opened the door, and saw the Russian, who was reading some book; she glanced over and saw that Chikeko was absent.
"And where is our miss caretaker?" Sakura asked Oleg with a slight chuckle, "I don't know, I've just got up."
"What a mystery." Sakura sat into the armchair, "And didn't you tire to wear your uniform? I don't think it's light as our ones."
"On the contrary, it's doesn't hinder my movements." Oleg replied to Sakura, "I like to sleep in it from time to time."
"I see." Sakura replied, "Listen, did you want to talk to me about something? When Chikeko entered the room, I mean."
"Ah, yes." Oleg nodded, "But I don't think you'll answer it." Oleg closed the book and put it onto the bed side table.
"Why? I'm not like sis and always try to answer fairly." she chuckled.
"I see." Oleg nodded, "Who were those people you lost one was turned into the meat ball."
Sakura flinched hearing that, her face turned from casual merry one, to sad and even gloomy.
"That's what you wanted to know." Sakura sadly said.
"If you don't want you can…"
"No, that's all right." Sakura wiped the teachers, which started to form in her eyes, "These two were brothers, and a part of our family."
"Do you mean they were not your blood relatives?" Oleg asked her.
"No, Asagi adopted them long ago, and they became our family quickly after that." Sakura replied to him, "Their names were Kyousuke and Kosuke. Long ago, when sis and I stopped being Taimanin she was about to marry Kyousuke, but she dragged back in action, because of our elder man. But this old scum betrayed us and because of him Kyousuke was trapped and turned into a demon by Oboro." Sakura took a pillow, which was on the back of the armchair and squeezed it, with her legs and arms, "I tried to help them, but I was trapped too, both of us were tortured for a long time in Chaos Arena. Sis was forced to fight him, and then killed him." Sakura did a pause.
'Poor thing.' Oleg thought, watching at her.
"At least she was killed him, but not someone else." Sakura added after a moment, "And the fate of his brother is much worse than his one."
"As I understand, the meat ball is Kosuke." Sakura nodded.
"For me he is like a nephew." Sakura said, "During one of his missions he was captured and turned into that disgusting ball. Sis could barely steal him from Oboro's paws, I don't know what could happen to him if sis would fail." after a pause she continued, "The problem is that we don't know how to treat him, sis and I looked a lot of books, but found nothing about such things."
"You wanted to know about me, didn't you?" Oleg got up and too the chair which wasn't far from him, he put it next to her armchair and sat onto it, "Hearing that, I understood that both of us had difficult past. You and your sister suffered a lot, I belive much more than I did." Oleg did a pause, "The only thing is that I have is sorrow and pure anger about Anatoly's leaving." he looked at Sakura, "Do you remember I told you I also can use mental abilities?"
"Indeed." Sakura replied.
"I had a good person, who became for me like a father during my practicing them." Oleg said, "But then he betrayed me too."
"Who was he?" Sakura asked him.
"Przemislav Wojciechowski." Leg said easily.
"What?!" Sakura exclaimed.
"Yes, it's shocking." Oleg sadly smiled, "But it's true. When I was a beginning teacher, I took a vacation to Poland, because I've heard about his mysterious ways of treating mental diseases. In the beginning he didn't want to hear anything about me, and said I'm mistaking, but after some time of insisting he gave up, and told me that he is the user of mental powers. I've been studying with him for a year and half, but suddenly he told me to leave and forget about him. And after some years I knew he joined 'The Third Law'."
"This really sucks." Sakura said after a minute of silence, "Almost all your life was in lies." she sadly looked at him, and put her hand onto his ones, "Both of us can't find happiness."
"Yes as if both of us are cursed for eternal loneliness. But you have a good thing, your sister is always around you and you can have a warm talk to her, when it's needed. While I'll stay all alone like always."
Sakura got up and make him fall onto the floor.
"You're wrong!" she replied to him, making him to surprise, "If you want…" she tightened her grip on his hand, "I will always be around to give you a hand! I'll listen to you and perhaps I'll try to give you a good advice."
"Sakura?" Oleg didn't know what to say,
"I promise, I'll never abandon and betray you, and will always be by your side, I'll do whatever it's need to help you." Oleg hugged Sakura with his free arm.
He put it onto the back of her head and got her closer to him, his lips pressed against hers.
"I promise, I'll find a way to cure your nephew." Oleg said when their lips were separated, "No matter what."
Sakura kissed him again, and Oleg didn't resist to that. He hugged her tighter, his free hand slowly came to her butt, but then they heard step out of the room.
'Shit! Someone is coming.' Oleg thought.
Sakura quickly jumped and returned to the armchair, while Oleg grabbed the book and put on a semblance he was reading.
"Sensei, didn't I bother you?" Oleg and Sakura saw Maki in the doorway of the resting room.
"Maki?" Sakura was wondered to see the girl, "Has something happened?"
"I wanted to have a talk to you." Maki said watching at Oleg, "I want to ask you an advice about Aki." she said with a trembling voice.
"Oh, that's all what you wanted?" Sakura chuckled, "What is it?"
"I wanted to ask you personally." Maki said more quietly, "It's something personal to ask."
"Okay, let's talk outside." Sakura nodded, and looked at Oleg, the man only nodded, and watched the girls go out of his sight.
When the girl left Oleg looked at the threshold of the room and came to it.
"A sand?" Oleg slid his finger, by some strange dust, "Were they on the beach?" Oleg returned to his book and then in several minutes Aki rushed in to the room.
"Sensei! Have you seen Maki?!" he exclaimed.
"She was here a not long ago, and asked Sakura to have some chatting about you." Oleg replied to the boy who tried to restore his breath.
"Baikal!" Aki exhaled loudly.
"What did you say?!" Oleg quickly closed the book and came to his student, "Did Pavel tell you that?" Oleg asked him again.
"Yes, and we have a problem! It seems there are two Maki and one of them is a shape shifter."
"What?" Oleg's eyes became widened, he returned to the threshold, "Did you go to the beach with Maki?"
"No, we were in the café and park, we didn't go there at all." Aki replied still not understanding what was going on.
"Then Sakura is in a great danger." Oleg got up, "Go and find Hirata-sensei try to find those, who fought 'The Third Law' and bring them here!" Oleg ordered then, "I'll go and look for Sakura!"
"Sensei, are we under attack?" Aki asked him, "I don't know, but pay attention on the sand, it seems the doppelganger uses it for changing."
"Understood." Aki nodded and was about to run after his friends.
"And where is Pavel?" Oleg asked the boy.
"He went to look for Sakura and Maki." Aki replied.
"Shit, that reckless boy! Fine, go and call the rest, do not inform to the rest right now, or we'll cause a panic."
"Got it."
Then both of them ran out of the room heading to different sides, both to find their friends and close people.
This is just a part from my little vacation, hope you all guys engoy the days of New Year marry and happy, with New Year again to you all!