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The following is a fan-based
FICTION
Bishoujo Sailor Moon + Other series in this story are not owned by me.
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Chapter 49: Blitz n' Duel
P.S. I now have a discord server! Discord .gg/ceBMM2Zz6c
A pre-fight analysis is only a fair thought to have before I had to deal with Shuzen. The man was, technically, more experienced and faster than me. There was no doubt that any power-based advantage could easily be dismissed on the ground that my opponent was someone that had spent years in the battlefield and knew enough trickeries to turn this into a dirty clash.
At the very least, I knew what was his affinity, with Seishu making a one-off comment about it - Shadow Arts. I had been split over it considering that, opposing most clans' patterns, both Asagi and Sakura had differing affinities, with Sakura being Shadows, and Asagi being... interdimensional cutter. How did that one came along? Maybe the man's wife? I had nothing to corroborate this as, from my understanding, the girls' mother was not someone that took part to missions and thus her abilities were not tested. It was also very irrelevant to the situation.
As lunch had gone through uneventfully and I left Usako under the 'kind care of Granny Seishu', I found myself standing in the battle area selected for this competition, which so happened to be a rather limiting circular spot that was picked out of the courtyard behind the manor. To the average Taimanin, this was a fine battlefield, but for someone that used very destructive abilities and tools such as myself, I found it to be extremely restraining.
Could I lament about it? In my head, I could - the same could not be done for what was a very fair rule made many centuries ago for this sort of disputes. I had expected this issue, but I knew it wasn't something done on purpose to hurt my chances. I couldn't also use the Moon Knight suit considering that the entire concept of the duel involved no armor and no live blade. This meant no Getsuga Tenshou, no bombing the fuck out of Shuzen, and... only being relegated to skills involving self-boost or ninja arts.
In preparation to this, Seishu actually allowed me to learn a skill from the Hattori Clan's book, and this one was not of the offensive kind.
(Uho 'Inameboshi' - Rank 1/5) - Use SPs to instantaneous movement over a short distance. Price: 100 SP per use. Current Max Range: 25m
Inameboshiwas actually the closest thing to Goku's Instant Transmission, providing the user with speed that exceeded the one the user averagely employed by a large margin. It was 'stronger' thanSprinton the basis that it didn't demand me to have a footing and I could actually use my SP to literal teleport within a radius of 25m. At this stage, it is quite weak, especially since Seishu could effortlessly teleport at a maximum range of 50m. By my own estimation, this skill's max rank would allow me to have maximum teleportation without any proper limit beyond those imposed by sight and 'perception' of where I was going.
Nonetheless, this was a powerful skill that gave me the edge in outpacing Shuzen in the upcoming fight and... I definitely had a few ideas on how to include it in my regular combat style. Just... I didn't intend to test that out during a fight as important as this one. And it wasn't just an important fight for Seishu, her honor, and what reasons I had to not let the Hattori Clan's Art be claimed by the other clans, but because I knew this would have been my first ever public impression upon Gosha Village. Sure, my name had come up a few times, but it was always shared between specific elements of the village - top brass of the current administration. The 'public' was blissful unaware of who Tsukino Shingo was. Only that Seishu trusted me enough to select me as her champion and heir, and that his son was willing to deign me this right by forwarding this duel.
This was all a matter of optics because, by all means, I could steamroll Shuzen withBulk Up. I was not going to lie to myself that didn't exist, or that I couldn't conjure a way to speedrun this fight. The reason I wasn't going to do that, at least not early on, was a matter of how there were individuals in the Village I didn't want to have anything to do with. Some of which were old members of the so-called 'Old Fuuma Clique', the one that was supportive of the previous Fuuma administration and were looking for any reason to have new pieces stacked against those they looked at as 'usurpers'.
Unsurprisingly, that issue didn't extend to the current Fuuma Clan. Some may argue that it is weird to think that the very clan that may have all the reasons to make a comeback had no ties with those loyalists, but, once again, it is a matter of optics: these assholes trying to subvert the order of things were supposedly loyal to Fuuma Danjou and whoever is his 'true' heir, and that isn't Fuuma Kotaro. I couldn't doubt that those under Kotaro wanted to restore control over the village, but they wouldn't sell their young leader for the old order. In fact, the entire point of the surviving Clan in Gosha was to 'restore and reform' rather than 'restore and suppress the reforms'.
A shake-up was needed, a sentiment that was shared by all the major factions in this ninja village and... that's why I had to be careful. If I was to humiliate Shuzen, I would not only have to deal with two angry Igawa sisters, but also the overall enmity of those connected to the Igawa clique, and the interest of those opposing it. So, in a few words, I couldn't go all out, but I also had to win readily rather than risk it. Sounds difficult? It is difficult, and I loathed this. I am so not going to deal with this village again for at least a few decades. Already got enough bullshit hurled my way from this side of the world.
"My name is Akiyama Sasuke, I will preside this fight as the main arbiter," The man spoke, and I realized this was supposedly the father of Akiyama Rinko and Tatsurou and current head of the Akiyama Clan, a major retainer clan to the Igawa Clan. "Introducing for the Igawa Clan and main claimant to the Hattori Clan's legacy, Igawa Shuzen."
The aforementioned man nodded as he took his position.
"Next, introducing for the Hattori Clan and current main heir to the Hattori Clan, Tsukino Shingo."
I bowed too, having taken position a while ago, looking down at the wooden sword in my hold. At first glance, it looked the kind of weapon that could break under the regular Taimanin fight, but I had the opportunity to test one of those 'blades' with Shiranui while training under her, and I knew Gosha had a way to create some sturdy training weapons that were meant to endure a lot of punishment. It was going to be my primary weapon for this fight, and I trusted it to not break upon impact.
With introductions done properly for this duel, the Arbiter got the countdown started and-
3.
2.
1.
CRACK!
And we clashed mere seconds into the brawl.
The first few minutes were all a matter of 'scouting' the kind of style that Shuzen was using, a choice of action mimicked by the older fighter as he was trying to get me understood faster than I was. He tried to hinder my efforts by throwing in some unusual feints in his attacks, but I outright tricked by him switching between my regular style and the various variants of HEMA at my disposal. I saw his confusion grow through this first phase, and it eventually culminated with a cut forming by his lower jaw as I got an opening and exploited it by landing first blood.
Shuzen immediately backed away the moment he felt a soft but searing feeling by his face, reaching for the wound and frowning at the thin cut that drew blood. He looked surprised, frustrated, and yet amused. He definitely was expecting a tough fight, and as a warrior he was definitely enjoying the moment as I was. It would be wrong to say I was a battle-junkie, but I did enjoy a good non-deadly fight once in a while. It is one of the reason why I loved to spar for training compared to fight in a battle with high stakes. Yet, despite the current matter involving some worrisome claims, I was kind of enjoying the moment.
Swords met, battle mindsets clashed, and we both learned something new. In the specific, I learned that Taimanin had a curious way to handle a fight where they had no way to determine one's style - they forced their enemy to adopt a defensive one by going on a full offensive. Shuzen's experience with a blade made him a perfect duelist as he managed to push back at me the moment the clash resumed. He made sure to not go all out on the reason he didn't want to be exposed to my strikes again and, infuriatingly enough, I found myself drawn to a deadlock with him.
I had expected this to happen in due time, just not this early on during the fight. It was the kind of situation no one liked - a high-paced exchange of blows that failed to see any break through the equalized efforts. I was not getting my ass kicked by any means, but I wasn't getting anywhere close to actually land a meaningful attack on Shuzen. I was not too happy with this situation, but I had a plan.
After all, Clan Arts were acceptable for this sort of duel and... I was quick to use mine against a hyper-focused Shuzen as the man thought I didn't have anything he couldn't outpace. In fact, he suddenly got very defensive as I started to tap my feet on the ground in a coordinated manner, perhaps expecting Nurikoboshi, but he realized that the pattern was different, barely disengaging from his guarded stance to notice me vanishing in a blur and stop right behind him. He turned to intercept me, but my wooden sword effortlessly slammed against his back. Nothing too intense, but he felt the pain as he was pushed forward and then rotate to keep an eye on me, a hand rushing to massage his lower back.
I saw irritation swelling in his eyes as he knew I was getting the best of him very fast, and he knew that he had to turn this back somehow. And with me using a Clan Art, he saw fit to use his own. Right as he dashed again towards me, I barely noticed his shadow stretched and latched onto mine. I was about to back away and soften the first impact by matching his posture, but I found my feet firmly latched to the ground. My eyes widened as I blocked the attack, but I was soon leaning back and tripping to the ground as the firm grip glueing me to the floor vanished and the momentum surprised me. I rolled away as soon as my butt landed, barely missing a hit amed at my head and then slamming away another one with my sword as I rotated back to standing.
The ensuing stalemate was even more chaotic as Shuzen started to get aggressive again, and his Shadow Arts tried to trip me multiple times. Sometimes I managed to hold through the onslaught, but I got hurt a few others when falling and getting intercepted by the Taimanin. I was still coming out on top of the man due to a factor I had considered a life-saving element that would have been crucial in the case the battle stretched for far too long - Stamina. While Shuzen was not an old man, he was no longer in his prime and he had a stamina to tend to.
The kind of stamina that was inferior to mine as he was winded while I was still raring for the skirmish. His speed decreased, his aggression weakened, and I could tell he was trying to switch the pace back to a more cautious one. Instead of risking it as this may be the prelude to another dangerous Shadow Arts technique, I decided it was high time to end the battle altogether with one trick of the Hattori Clan that Seishu pointed out back when I was training my use of Nurikoboshi: I could spam the jutsu by using the same last step to it. I could produce multiple vipers back when I had that tested out, and... I could do something similar with Inameboshi.
Within mere moments, I was a blur. Shuzen turned around to try and intercept me, but he was surprised by an attack slamming at his shin as I preserved the momentum through the multiple Inameboshi that boosted my current pace. I was also keeping an eye on not becoming too predictable with my attacks, slamming through the desperate defense erected by the older warrior, making sure not only others could see I was finally beating him, but that I was doing so with a Hattori Clan's ability. I had a feeling Seishu would have been smiling with immense pride at the sight of me winning this battle like that, disregarding I was pretty much beating the crap out of her son.
By the time Shuzen was truly out of it, kneeling as his wobbly legs couldn't handle the punishment I inflicted to his body, the arbiter stepped in.
"Igawa-san is no longer able to fight. The match is won by Tsukino-san."
There was no cheerful congratulation. The somber air following the battle didn't put anyone at ease, but I managed to cool things off a little by helping the man walk up to his daughters, ignoring the irked look Asagi was giving me, while Sakura... she looked somewhat apologetic. I could tell that both sisters were not exactly single-minded over the situation, with the oldest being frustrated in seeing their father hurting, while the youngest understanding that it wasn't a battle I could have afforded to lose.
I didn't speak with them, rather letting Senshu lead me to where her mother was and... I found her in a most unusual situation. In fact, it was so unusual that Senshu looked aghast to it. After all, as a woman that had a crappy childhood under the stern rules of her mother, to see the woman giving a lap pillow to an exhausted Usako as she clearly put the pinkette through some training.
"M-Mother!"
"Oh, you two are back," Seishu commented nonchalantly, ignoring the shocked look on her daughter's face. "I expect you won propelry."
"It was a long match, but I outsped your son."
"Good," She hummed quietly, a tiny smile on her face. "Then I guess you have exceeded my expectations and you are owed the-"
"Mother, why are you giving the cute child a lap pillow?"
Seishu paused at Senshu's interjection, frowning at the impudence. "Because the child went through the first session of training and impressed me."
Looking at Usako's stats, I could see what Seishu was all about.
Tsukino 'Usako' Usagi II
LVL. 2
Age: 9
EXP: 12/40
Title: Little Rabbit
Money: 0NY
HP: 240/240
SP: 45/45
ATK: 15
DEF: 12
INT: 9
LUCK: 2
That was a big boost considering how little time they spent together, but seeing Usako's current exhausted self as she snored on Seishu's lap, I had a feeling it wasn't a productive idea for the time being and I may have to prepare her before throwing her at Seishu. That being said, the little clash between mother and daughter was far from over.
"How come you never did something like this to me when I was her age?"
"Because you always whined about getting your knee scraped minutes into the training."
"I am your daughter-"
"My thirty-something daughter who has never been in a relationship and will definitely fail to provide me with grandchildren. Yes, I should totally pamper you more now, should I?"
The passive-aggressive sass definitely wrecked Senshu's self-confidence as she looked away in shame. "I-I am just waiting for the right one."
"Which totally isn't the toy you have hidden by the secret compartment under your bed."
Senshu closed her eyes, silent tears flowing at the biggest humiliation possible for whining over missed lap pillow privileges.
I would say that I was spared by this, but now, for legal reasons, I have to sign any government papers as 'Tsukino-Hattori Shingo' for 'winning the right to be part of that family'. I hope Usagi doesn't find out about it and...
I was hopeful now I could go back to some regular and predictable clashes with the expected foes of Sailor Moon Season II without any surprises.
AN
Next time... Shingo gets hunted down by Tuxedo Mask and his posse of bachelors trying to ask him some legitimate questions. Next time... Meta-Dad and Meta-Uncle clash over parental rights! And Usako is very much hardwired to be an uncle-girl that her canonical daddy-girl self.