Ah, Friday. After your fun chat with Usagi and the fact that the snow has finally stopped, you don't feel half bad. Over breakfast, your grandfather asks how your training is going...
"Natsume, how have your progressed," he asks, between enjoying a cup of steamingly hot coffee. "Have your efforts borne fruit yet?" His voice is casual and patient, not the normally stern and solemn routine you get in the dojo.
"Nothing...as of yet sensei," Natsume answers quietly. "Though, I have an idea that might bring me closer to the answer. I intend to try it during today's training."
He nods once, "As you will, Natsume." Raising his mug up and sipping, "If your work does succeed....when you work does succeed, I will be waiting for you.
Now...perhaps your time would be better served in the dojo instead of lingering over Kurumi's cooking," he comments with a actual, if small, smile.
"Grandfather, I didn't make all of this to have it go in the trash," your sibling calls from the kitchen, fuming slightly.
Despite her sister's comment, Natsume does not spend long with breakfast. Before long she's dressed and inside the dojo. She had been repeating Usagi's advice in her mind all night, and the more she did the more it made sense. Now she was more than anxious to see if it bore fruit.
"I have make my ki branch out in a thousand different paths," Natsume recalls. "Like creating a thousand extensions of myself."
Knowing full well that creating a thousand off the bat was impossible, she decides to start small and create at least one branch....
As you finish your meal, your sister and grandfather are arguing back and forth lightly, the joys of family life radiant as you head out to work.
On concentrating, you slowly form and manipulate your ki to your desires...from your force, a tiny wisp of energy branches out, like a tiny, glowing rod protruding from your chest...
She can feel it forming, but she does not break her concentration. It was a good start, but it felt weak. She needed to make it stronger, more solid...
You force your ki to respond to it, to reinforce it...slowly it seems to grow harder, more solid...then...ugh!
You accidently lose your concentration sligthly, the ki branch falling apart and reabsorbing into your life energy. You were getting somewhere, though...if you hadn't just dropped the ball, maybe, just maybe...
It may not have worked this time around, but at least she could see the light at the end of the tunnel.
'I think I'm beginning to understand how I can apply this,' she thinks. 'Potentially, there are alot more uses for it than just the Thousand Horde Slash technique, and I'm pretty sure grandfather knows that.'
Whatever the case, it was going to take quite a bit of practice if she was going to create more than the small wisp she just barely managed to manifest.
"Well, I can't just stop here, I have to keep trying," Natsume says with determination.
This around she extends her right arm. Perhaps it would be easier to visualize and maintain if she simply imagined as an extension of her own arm.
'I can imagine it flowing out from my arm, like I'm trying to make it longer...,' she thinks.
With your will strong and your ki willing, you slowly cause your arm's ki to extend past your fingertips. An inch....two inches...four.....six....seven inches branch off from your fingers, a glowing and indistinct extension to your arm made of pure ki energy.
It ripples slightly as you move your arm, but doesn't dissipate from it' It's shimmery and yellowish, like opaque sunlight.
'I never imagined it would be so difficult to maintain,' she thinks as her brow creases in intense concentration. Natsume's eye search the dojo briefly before falling on a nearby rack of shinai. 'If I can manage to just reach that rack, I can move on to the next step.'
It's a mere six inches away. The first two inches come well enough, yet after that...the struggle increases, sweat forming on your brow and under your arms as you focus. Three inches...harder....pushing....four inches.
It's painful now, in a way, like you're detaching your own skin...hurts....five inches....getting there...just....more....got it! With a final extension, you see the cords of ki make contact with the rack.
"Focus...past the pain....," she says outloud through gritted teeth. Merely thinking to herself was becoming too much of a chore. "Its a part of me...an extension of me...it doesn't hurt."
Slowly, methodically, she tries to get at least one of the tendrils to wrap the closest bamboo practice sword, trying to imagine it was her fingers wrapping around the object.
"Just...a small bit more," she says.
Extending through your pain as the branch splits into three, you reach for the bamboo practice sword....
Grasp.
With a final effort, you take it into your ki hand for just a moment, before the exertion causes the entire branch to crackle and break apart. Some of the energy flows back into you, while a fair deal of shining motes of light scatter all about, like a beautiful Christmas display.
Natsume collapses to her hands and knees as sweat pours down her face in waterfalls. She was close, so close, but the pain and exhaustion were just too much for her to cope with.
'I'll get it soon, its only a matter of time now,' she thinks. 'I never thought such a technique were possible...I'll master it no matter what....'
She manages to get back to her feet, and immediately decides that a small rest in her nice comfortable bed is in order, before staggering back to the house....
As Natsume staggers off and away into the house, a moment later another enters the dojo. His smile is proud, even as he shivers from the cold he endured. "Well done, Natsume. Such talent...." he comments, as he idly flicks one of the remaining ki spots into oblivion.
---
It's an easy sleep, yet a surprisingly short one. You stir around lunchtime, visions of your ki in dreams guiding you back awake. The next day or two passes well enough, your studies in ki progressing slowly. You grasp the concept now - it's more about executing it. As you head into the dojo on Sunday morning, perhaps your're ready for another breakthrough...
If your grandfather wasn't waiting for you, anyway.
"Natsume," he nods once, "Have your labors bourne fruit yet?"
"Yes, sensei," she answers after bowing immediately. "I believe I am very close, but I still require more practice."
He nods, "If your efforts are coming along this well...display your prowess, Natsume," Grandfather says, dropping into the solemn teacher role with ease. "Show me what your young, vital ki can do."
"Yes, sensei," she replies. 'Lets hope I put on a better performance than last time...'
Like the first time, she raises both arms and focuses her attentions on the ki that envelops them. Her target is the same shinai rack she first used for practice.
'I already know I can grab onto one with my ki, I just need to try lifting it now,' she thinks.
Her brow creases as she wills the small tendrils to extend from her aura. Slowly, methodically, she inches them forward. It is no less painful than last time, but at least now she is getting used to the exertion, she doubted her aura would suddenly fail her like last time, at least not as soon.
'Just have to keep focus...'
She crosses the gap after several stretched seconds, managing to grasp one with equal success. Now came the hard part, trying to move the object now that she had her 'hands' on it......
There is a struggle, as your energy meets the cold weight of the blade...grasping it...
Pulling on it...yet as if by a miracle, it slowly rises up into position as if in your own very hand!
'YES!' she cheers internally. 'Just a little more, just have to bring toward myself...'
Not dropping her concentration, she slowly carries the shinai back towards herself, being extra careful not to loosen the grasp her tendrils have on it.
It returns ever so slowly, as you carefully retract and retake the ki ventured forth into you. Inches on inches pass by as your branceoff shrinks away, untill...
It's done. You hold it in your own, solid, real hand as if you had walked over and taken it yourself.
Natsume breathes a deep sigh of relief as she takes in the practice sword in her hand. She was quite sure the attempt would fail.
"Currently, this has been the fruit of my training, sensei," she declares as she turns back to her grandfather.
Nodding, "This is good, Natsume. Already, you show potential with this..." voice trailing off, he nods. "You begin to understand..."
"I still find it difficult to create and move them, but I hope I can overcome that obstacle through more training," Natsume explains. "Hopefully I reach a high enough level that I could perform the 1,000 Horde slash technique..."
"In which case, sensei," she continues. "I was hoping you could demonstrate the technique one more time..."
A chuckle there, "Now, Natsume...I only use the techquince when I fight seriously," he notes. "I bent the rules once to help you...but if you wish to see it again...
On guarde?" he asks, a ki sword appearing in his hands. "Granddaughter, can you withstand even the worst and learn all the while?"
"We shall see, sensei," she responds, creating her own ki sword.
Nodding, and moving with speed that still rivals that of the foes you faced from that supernatural ice storm, Grandfather strikes out at you!
* Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 2d6 and gets 9."
* Hatbot --> "Mugetsu rolls 2d6 and gets 3."
Striking out fiercely, his sword meets yours as you automatically go into a defensive post, holding his blade back an inch from your face. "Come on, Natsume," he taunts, "Surely my heir can do better than just block?"
Without a word, Natsume pushes off against her grandfather's blade to gain some distance between them. She then pushes forward with as much power as her legs can provide and aims sweeping slash toward her sensei's side.
* Hatbot --> "Mugetsu rolls 2d6 and gets 9."
While your strike is good, he shows supernatural speed, flowing like a stream to the side! Without wasting a single step, he drops into a kneel, a sweeping slash aimed at your ankles!
* Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 2d6 and gets 7."
* Hatbot --> "Mugetsu rolls 2d6 and gets 9."
The slice opens shallow cuts across your lower ankles, the top of your socks neatly bisected! Blood trickels from these, even as your Grandfather rises. "Natsume," he thunders, "Do not be so absorbed in this that you forget the basics of protecting your legs!"
(Edit - only 9 damage, as he's holding back in a spar.)
Natsume cringes as the sting of the cuts flare as she hops back. He could have easily cut her feet clean off if he wanted to. It was a stern reminder just what kind of opponent she was up against.
'He moves so quickly,' Natsume thinks, her mind racing to come up with a strategy. 'How does he do it? There must be some method to it...'
Everytime they sparred she felt like the tortoise to it his hare. If she wanted to get closer to his level, she would have to be able to at least get within his range.
'He must be using ki somehow, normal human muscles just shouldn't be able to accomodate such speed, especially at his age,' she thinks. 'Maybe if I could see how he does it...'
She tries to concentrate on her sight. She could see his manifested sword easily enough, if she could only see the rest of his aura, then maybe she would have a clue...
* Shai`Hulud --> "Mugetsu rolls 2d6+2 and gets 12."
* Shai`Hulud --> "Anastasia rolls 2d6+2 and gets 6."
* Shai`Hulud --> "Mugetsu rolls 2d6 and gets 10."
You think, for a moment, you see light around him...his entire body, not just his sword....it's....
Yet any time to actually register and ponder it is lost, as the flat of his ki blade smacks your hand! Yelping, you feel your blade fall and fade into motes of ki, broken. (9 damage)
Stopping and shaking his head, "Natsume..." he sighs. "You can't be that passive. I learned many things in the middle of combat, but you have to press on all the while or the only ones who will benefit from your learning shall be your anscestors." Dismissing his sword, "Come. We'll bandage your legs and practice this afternoon after you ponder on your mistakes here."
To that, he begins to walk, then, "And for your hesitation, I hope you at least saw or learned something. I hadn't even gotten to the 1000 Horde Slash yet."
Natsume rubs the sore side of her head, having been thoroughly humbled.
"I apologize for my absent-mindedness sensei," she says as she follows her master out.
He nods, ignoring the blood droplets that stain the floor as you hobble out. Once you make into the house, he has you sit while he gets cloth, bandage, ointment and towels. However, instead of simply calling Kurumi, he bends down and starts to work on it himself.
Silent at first, he soon breaks that, however. "So...did you learn anything," he asks outright. "I would hope such an extravigent pause would lead to something fruitful."
"The reason I paused..." she starts. "I was trying to get some sense of your aura...to see how it is that can move so swiftly. I managed to see the light of your ki surrounding your body but..."
He nods once, not warning you as he applies a stinging ointment to your cuts. "Everything about the human body relates to your ki in one manner or another. When you truly master it..." Getting a bandage and starting to wrap your wound, he pauses momentariily.
"When you truly master your ki, your body becomes the ghostly force that means little, not your ki. Indeed...a well tuned body is merely a temple for your ki energy."
"Your body becomes a temple that means little..." Natsume repeats. "So far, I've only used my ki to make constructs...extensions of my ki...but what if I used for a purpose inherent to myself..."
"I don't know if your friend does it the same way," he comments, as he focuses on getting your binding good and tight across his delivered cut. "But...it is the modus how we break what most consider the bounds of human possibility.
How we strike thousands of times in an instant, or how we parry aside blows that could cleave mountains? The body without trained ki is capable of little. It warps with age, becoming ruins. With it...one can maintain the other, but not the other way around."
"The body creates the ki...I never thought of it like...," Natsume pauses midsentence as something snaps to her attention. "You said, the way my 'friend' does it. What friend are you talking about?"
"Ah...."
It's rare for your Grandfather's voice to hesitate, let alone sound off put or embarrassed, but this seems to have done the trick nicely. "You had a friend over a day or two ago," he points out. "While in the kitchen, I overheard parts of your discussion."
Finishing his work on your ankles, he rises to sit on a nearby cushion. "From what I heard...she is also talented?"
"Ah...I see," Natsume responds. She had no idea he had been listening in. Why hadn't he introduced himself to Usagi if he was there the whole time? "Yes, she has talent. Though her skills lie on a decidedly different path from my own."
So much for keeping Usagi and her powers a secret......
He simply nods to that, rising right up after a moment of thought. "Will you be ready for the afternoon training session," he asks, "If so, I would like to try this again."
"Yes, I will be, my wounds are not that severe," she answers. "Grandfather...what exactly did you hear my friend and I talking about?"
He hesitates again, pausing once he reaches standing fully. "Ah...I heard...enough.
For that, I apologize, Natsume." Giving you a small bow, he goes on. "Be that as it may...perhaps we can have her over again and discuss matters. She appears to understand these mattersw e are dealing in well."
"I see," she says, not completely satisfied with his answer, but there was not much she could do about that. "Yes, having her over would be nice. I can formally introduce her to you and Kurumi."
'How long was he listening in on our conversation?' she thinks. 'That certainly isn't like grandfather...why would he do something like that?'
He nods once, with approval. "I would much like to see the effects she has wrought on your training, Natsume.
Has she not?"
"Oh, yes, she has enlightened me to a great many things," Natsume says. "The only other I know with such extensive wisdom is yourself, sensei."
'She's not a fighter, but he still seems interested..' she thinks at the same time. 'Maybe I'm just overreacting....'
"Then I'm sure our meeting with be most productive," is his comment, as he finally ups and leaves. "I would very much like to meet the woman you idolize, Natsume, moreso now." His tone is brisque, but you think you detect a hint of...interest?
"Well, that was certainly an interesting twist," Natsume says with a sigh. She would have to be more careful with the people she brought over, lest grandfather took a sudden shining to THEM as well. "Anyway..."
Her grandfather expected them to resume practice before the day ended, and there were at least two point she needed to practice before then....
"Kurumi?" Natsume called as she peeked inside the kitchen. Sure enough, there was her younger sister washing the last of the dishes from the morning's breakfast. "I was wondering if I could ask you a small favor..."
Humming softly to herself, the melody of one of those pop tunes that infest the radio and school conciousness, Kurumi nods. "What is it, Natsume-chan?" Letting the pan soak in the sink, she wipes her hand on the pink apron she got last Christmas. "Grandfather doesn't want you to shovel the snow, does he?"
"Eheh, no, at least not yet," Natsume laughs nervously. "Actually, I was kind of hoping if you could help me with my training. Theres something new I want to try out."
"Oh," she says, in relief, before, "Wait, your training? Do you need me to hold a practice dummy or something," Kurumi asks, curious as she sheds her apron. "I don't mind, but...what do you have up your sleeve?"
"No, its nothing like that either..." Natsume says, trying to clarify. "Just, come with me to the dojo, I want to do this where we won't be disturbed."
Without trying to explain any further, she leads the both of them to the training hall. Silently she leads Kurumi to the center and simply motions for her to stand there.
"I just need you to stand very still," she instructs. "I'm...going to try and see your aura..."
"My aura," she asks in mild confusion, but does as you ask. "Like that stuff Grandfather's always talking about lately?" Shrugging as she waits for an answer, she spreads her stance a bit and settles in, waiting as still as she can.
"Yeah, the very same," Natsume answers while at the same time trying to focus her vision, the same way she did while sparring with grandfather. "I tried it before, but it didn't work very well. I'm hoping I can get a better grasp of it if I practice...."
* Hatbot --> "Mugetsu rolls 2d6 and gets 3."
You fall into an intense concentration, your mind working towards what you had briefly grasped before.
....
.....
..............
Kurumi stays still in your labors, as....it's strange. You feel...you keep feeling, and maybe it's your imagination, but you thought you felt a shift in your sight. Yet, you don't see anything around Kurumi save for the sunlight coming in from the window and making the entire room morning radiant.
'I...could've sworn I felt something....' Natsume thinks. 'But I'm not seeing out of the ordinary. Am I doing something wrong?'
She recalled clearly, when she was sparring with her grandfather she could just make out the shape of his aura, before she got smacked in the face at least....
'Why could I see it then and not now....' she thinks for a moment, then, a small inspiration comes to her. "Kurumi, you still practice with the bow and arrow right?"
"Grandfather makes sure that I stay in practice," she confirms, taking your words as a sign she can move her stiffening limbs. Wincing slightly as she rotates, "I guess I'm not too bad with one. Why?"
"What do you do when you're about to shoot an arrow?" Natsume asks. "How do you prepare?"
"Um...." Kurumi pauses, looking upward slightly as she thinks. "Oh...how is it that Grandfather went through it, it's perfect for this....oh yes.
Focus on your target, as if it's the only thing in the world. See it with your mind and not your eyes or hand, and fire truly." Smiling at the memory, "In other words, I just aim carefully and shoot, usually."
"Do you think you could do that right now?" Natsume asks. "Pretend you're holding a bow and preparing to shoot a target. Just like you do for real or in practice."
"Alright..." With that, she turns and poses, as if holding a bowstring back...
You concentrate...slowly. It's hard work, harder than even running or fighting is. A purely mental battle of the will against your limits and reality, fearsome foes indeed.
....
.....
............
Ah! Squinting past the brutually bright sunlight, you see... the weakest blue aura around Kurumi, flickering... You manage it for a few seconds, before you let loose a breath you weren't aware you were holding; the vision snapping apart. The impression was that it's not near as THERE was Grandfather's was, however.
'Kurumi's aura likely just isn't as strong as grandfather's, so its not as obvious,' she thinks as she stops to catch her breath. 'But at least I managed to see it again....though its uses to me are limited if I can't use it in the midst of battle.'
"Thank you Kurumi, you can stop now."
"Whew," Kurumi sighs, stretching out again. Taking a moment to fully work her stiff and sore musclature, "Did you find what you wanted, Natsume?"
"Somewhat...but not as quickly as I'd wanted," she answers. 'So depending on the strength of the person, it can be a low shimmer like Kurumi, or as bright as the sun like grandfather.'
Regardless of the strength of the aura, she had to be able to use the skill quickly and easily if she wanted to use it in a fight.
'Alot easier said than done, it requires almost as much concentration as the ki extensions I've been developing, though not nearly as much energy,' she thinks. 'I suppose it all goes hand in hand. When I master one I'll master the other, hopefully.'
"Kurumi, what else did grandfather teach you about kyudo?"
"Mostly just the basics. I can shoot an arrow fairly well, but he's never taught me the sort of things you've seemed to have studied." Smiling a bit, "I guess I always wanted to cook and take care of the man of the house and the tomboy instead."
"Eheh, thats a full time job as it is," she laughs. "Well, I suppose thats it then."
The first part of practice was finished, now came the second...
'Grandfather moves too fast for me to compete normally, I have to somehow find a way to match him,' she thinks. "From this point on Kurumi, all you need to do is watch me."
There were two possible ways she could think of, one much harder to grasp then the other.
'Better to get the easier method over with, I'll try that first,' she thought she stared down at her legs. 'A grasp of one's ki can allow the person to do the impossible. Up to this point, I've only been focusing ki for use outside my body...'
As she rambles to herself, she focuses again. This time rather than her vision, she seeks to focus the majority of her ki to her legs.
'If I concentrate my energy to my legs and feet, I wonder what the reaction will be?'
Focusing intently on your desired action, you try and guide your ki into your legs.
Hm...
.....
A minute or so later, you note your legs are, if nothing else right away, are getting a bit warm. Your feet twitch...
'Hmmm, not much of a difference,' she thinks. 'Hm, better give it a small test...'
She takes a few practice hops before dashing forward...
Doing so...your legs burn slightly, but you swear you just moved far faster. Kurumi blinks, even as you wince at the hot sensation down there. It's like you just ran a few miles, by the way your limbs complain.
"Natsume," she says slowly, "THat was...what did you just do? Your legs glowed!" Kurumi's voice is with awe at this, staining her voice strongly.
"Ow ow OW!" Natsume cringed as she immediately went to work rubbing the numerous cramps that had just popped up out of both legs. "Who knew this kind of ki control would be so painful?!"
Upon hearing Kurumi's startled outburst she looks over to her.
"They were?" she asked. They had felt warm, and slightly tingly, but they were really glowing? "Kurumi, how fast was I moving to you?"
"Like two glowing sticks at Christmas time," she nods, in wonder. "You moved...it was strange. It was like one of those fast forward videos. A lot faster than you usually do."
"I was?" she asks with greater excitement...which quickly vanishes as the nagging pain in her legs return. "Obviously its not something I can keep up for very long."
She had been learning more about ki and its uses recently than she ever had been, but it seemed every new application she uncovered came with equal or greater amounts of difficulty. Whether it be physical strain, concentration, or both.
"I'm amazed grandfather can keep it up like he does, its like he doesn't try at all," Natsume sighs. "I guess the only to overcome it is with practice..."
"Grandfather can do that, too," she asks, curious at your revelation. "If he can....Natsume, why don't we get him to help you if it's hurting you? It's no good if you're beating yourself up even more doing this, especially if he can help."
Nodding, in full awareness of the likely first answer, "Because you look like you're really hurting."
"Yeah, that's probably the best way," Natsume agrees. "We should be resuming the training fairly soon, come to think of it."
Kurumi agrees, "Then, why don't we go have lunch before that? With what you're doing, you need to take better care of yourself."
Beginning to walk out, "Especially if you insist on going to fight like you do." Said softer, it still carries to your ears.
"I guess that would be a good idea," she said, even as she wondered what that last comment was all about.
He followed her back into the kitchen, deciding it would be best to try and make something for herself for once....
"Err, Kurumi, is there something wrong?"
Stopping in the kitchen, Kurumi shakes her head carefully.
"No...I'm just worried, I guess," Turning away and sighing with closed eyes, "I had a nightmare last night...that you didn't make it back from the mall, and..." Looking at you - no tears, even though she is distressed, clearly -, "Just worried, I guess," she repeats.
"What you're doing now, it seems so dangerous than before. Before...it was just kendo training, right? Now...?"
"Yeah, I can hardly believe it myself," she says with a short laugh. "I just go wherever my training leads me, even if its as far away from kenjutsu as it is now."
She glances at Kurumi, who still has a deeply worried expression all over her face.
"I certainly can't explain why you're having these dreams, but you don't have to worry. I promised I would never leave you alone and I meant it," Natsume says. "I don't like seeing you worry, so regardless of the danger I'm going to keep training so I can't be defeated by anything."
Despite her worry, Kurumi smiles at your words. "Then...you'd better be good at that training, sis. If you get yourself killed, I'll go all the way to the afterlife to yell at you!"
Going to get her own lunch besides you, "So don't, okay?"
"Now I really don't want to die, the last thing I need is you screaming at me in heaven," Natsume laughs. "I know I asked this before, but you should really consider trying this training yourself. You already have a grasp on it with your kyudo training, and you'd be amazed by what you'd be capable of."
Laughing with you at first, Kurumi sombers as you spell out your desire. "Ah...I don't know...." she begins, slowly. "I mean...I'm not as driven for this as you are, Natsume-chan. You spend all your time in the dojo, while I'm happy going in there a few times a week." Carefully choosing her words and staying slightly guarded, "Besides, who would take care of you and Grandfather if I spent more time training?"
"We do rely on you quite a bit don't we? We really should try and change that, you deserve more time for yourself." Natsume thinks. "Also, you really shouldn't use what grandfather and myself do as an example. You don't necessarily need to learn how to use ki to fight. There are alot of other more constructive ways to use it."
Blushing slightly at the former, "No...I don't mind, Natsume," Kurumi says, warmly. "I don't mind cooking and cleaning...it'll make me a good wife someday, too."
Pausing as you go on, "Well...it would be nice if I could move faster for the outdoor chores," Kurumi admits, smiling as she mentally ponders the concept. Chuckling, "If you really want, I can try. I don't know how good I'll be, but..."
"A good wife?" Natsume repeats. She idly imagines her younger sister verbally whipping her man into shape to the incessant mantra of 'Yes, dear'. "I'm sure it will be a blissful life to the person fortunate enough to be your husband. Well...that is if they survive grandfather, you know how he is with other men in the house."
She recalled the last potential boyfriend Kurumi had over. Their grandfather had requested to have a private conversation with his possible new son-in-law. Not five minutes later the poor lad was sent screaming from the house in sheer terror...
"Eheh," Natsume laughed nervously at the thought. "But really, there are alot of applications other than what you've seen me do. I don't recall if I've mentioned her to you yet, but a good friend of mine uses her power to heal. She's capable of healing most injuries in a matter of seconds."
She personally had only experienced it once, after a particular 'sparring' session with Ann went awry....
"Or, even if you don't want to go that far, there other things you can learn to make your life more convienient," Natsume continued. "Like...this for instance..."
She raised an arm toward one of the cupboards close by. This would be an excellent time to demonstrate one of her new skills to Kurumi. She started channeling ki into the arm, she intended to use her ki tendrils to open the cupboard and take one of the plates inside.
Kurumi watches in appreciation a you manage it, though you feel the ki drain as you finish.
"That could be useful," she concedes, applauding lightly at the feat.
"Ki is capable of anything your imagination can concieve," Natsume says while taking a breather. "Its all up to you as to how you want to use it."
"Like the brain is supposed to be," she notes, warming to the idea before..."Ah, lunch," she blushes, going to turn the stove on.
"Natsume-chan," she says, "Why don't we talk about it a bit later. I said I'd make Grandfather warm stew for lunch."
"Ah, of course," she relents. "Tell grandfather, whenever he comes down, that I'm ready to begin whenever he is."
She hopes, it was not like she had a total grasp on everything she just learned today.
'How long is he going to be in his room anyway?' she thinks. He said they would continue later in the day, than vanished up into his room. 'I wonder what he does up there by himself...'
She shrugs at the thought, whatever it was it was his business, though given his apparent interest in her personal life while she was not aware, she would be slightly justified in delving deeper.
'I'm sure he didn't mean to...it was probably just coincidence...and timing,' she convinced herself.
As she left her sister to her cooking chores she idly wondered how she could pass the time without going back to the dojo yet again. Even with her dedication, she could only take so much in such a short amount of time. Then, a thought crosses her mind....
'Its not like I'll call her...I'll just get her number and call her later,' she thinks as she walks into the living room, picks up the phone, and dials the operator. 'I'm...sure she's still very tired...the last thing she needs is people calling her...I imagine."
"Could I get the number for the Mizuno residence?"
You go through the proper lines, waiting for your line to be processed.
"Mizuno...could you specify a personal name? There are 27 Mizunos currently in the Greater Tokyo area," is the reply you get. "Or an address?"
"T...twenty seven?" Natsume balks. She did not think it was that common a name. "Err...ummm...is there a Mizuno Ami in the listing?"
If Ami had any parents, she did not know them. She could only hope that Ami had her own phone line....
"Let's see....Amiru....Ami...we do have an Ami listed with a Sakura Mizuno," the operator replies, giving yout he numer.
After a thank you and hanging up the phone, Natsume stares at the number she scrawed on the nearest piece of paper she could find.
"Maybe I should call now...just to make sure I have the right number...," she says to herself. "Its not like I'll talk to her...I'll just say I wanted to make sure it was the right number...thats all. I'm sure she won't mind..."
It did not seem to take much effort to convince herself of anything, since she suddenly found herself dialing the numbers...slowly...one by one....
Indeed, your fingers seem to defy your mind again. At least this time, it's only to dial a phone number.
Ring...Ring...Ring...
"Mizuno residence," is the answer, a male voice picking up. Sounds kind of familiar, though.
"H..hello," she started. So far so good. "I...was wondering i...if Ami...was home..errr...yeah."
Guh, why was she having such a hard time simply asking if she was home?!
"Oh, th...this is Natsume," she adds on quickly. "Kusanagi Natsume, I...think she's knows my name...I hope."
And the winner of the Semi-Annual Twit of the Year Award goes to.....
OOC - Haru-chan! Let's give her a big hand!
Fuck, I should at least only insult her viciously on IRC. <_<
IC -
"Natsume?" the voice picks up a notch gently. "This is Artemis. How are you doing since Tuesday, anyway? Feeling better?"
"Oh, Artemis! I'm sorry I didn't recognize your voice right away!" Natsume says, a wave of relief washing over her, at least for the moment. "Yes, I've been doing fine. Just a bit of rest and I was as good as new."
"That's good to hear," he says kindly, going on. "We were worried, since everyone was worn from that mess." Going on further without giving you a word in, "I don't know if you've heard, but the woman Celcia was using looks to be recovering. Good news there."
"Yes, that's great news! That poor woman deserves another chance," Natsume agrees. "Ummm...I was wondering...how Ami was doing. Is she okay?"
"Ami? She's doing...alright," he says, slightly more guarded now. "She's still recouperating, but it's nothing that should last much longer.
Though, regardless....Thanks for the help there. Never got a chance to say so, and you made sure Ami stayed safe from that Oxyite statue."
"It was no problem at all, really," Natsume says, hoping Artemis would not somehow see the blush on her face. "I was glad to help."
She cleared her throat before continuing.
"Umm...well...if you could, can you tell Ami I called?" she says. "I..was kinda worried...and...I wanted to see if she was okay...uhhh...yeah."
"Sure...If you give me your number, I'll have her call you back when she feels up to it," he offers. "Oh, and that reminds me...you know Usagi? We should go talk to her about this...she'd probably want to know."
"Oh, of course," Natsume says before giving Artemis her number. "Yes, I do know Usagi. She and I talked at length recently...I told her all about the encounter at the mall."
"Oh...in that case, I suppose I might see you when you or Ami visits," he says cheerfully enough. "If you're feeling better...I'll let you go," he says, making to hang up.
"Uhhh..yeah, bye," she manages to get out before Artemis hangs up. With a deep sigh she hangs the phone on her end. "At least I know I got the right number."
It also seemed Ami was okay, according to Artemis. That was great news.
'I would've liked to hear her voice though...,' she thinks idly, before quickly slapping herself out of her stupor. "ANYWAY, I'd better get to the dojo. Grandfather likely wants to start soon."
OOC : Snicker, snicker, snicker.
IC:
A little bit of time passes befor Grandfather comes to the dojo. NOdding once as he enters, "Natsume, are you more prepared now," he asks, getting right to business.
"That remains to be seen," Natsume responds. She obviously doubted how 'prepared' a few hours of experimenting made her. "In these past few hours, I've made a few revelations. I hope to see the results of them now."
"Really, Natsume," he asks, "Do you believe you have found the secrets you have been seeking?" Raising one grey eyebrow, he waits for you to reply, amrs crossed against his chest.
"I believe so, though I still require more training to perfect them," she says. She manifests her ki sword and takes a stance. "I shall demonstrate them now. Enguarde!"
Your Grandfather does the same, but holds his ground. "Come, Natsume," he smiles grimly, beckoning you on with a slight bob forward of his blade. "Show me what you have learned, my granddaughter!"
'So he's giving me the first shot, I'd better not waste it,' she thinks. At once, she begins focusing ki to her legs. 'This is going to hurt, but if I'm prepared for it, I should be able to bear it.'
* Hatbot --> "Mugetsu rolls 2d6 and gets 2."
Your legs spring into life, glowing white as your ki burns! Feeling great speed into your body, you rush forward and make your attack! A simple downward slash, yet hopefully powerful enough to make a great impact!*
Hatbot --> "Mugetsu rolls 2d6-1 and gets 5."
Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 2d6 and gets 6."
Grandfather's eyes widen momentarily as you rush forward, a detail barely pressed into your mind as you travel far faster than you ever expected! Only the sparking hiss of two ki swords meeting slows you at all! Grandfather just barely got his sword up in time, pinned back as the two press against each other.
"Natsume..." he murmurs, before smiling darkly. "Excellent!"
* Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 2d6 and gets 8."
Using that, he pushes against it, falling back and seperating by using the momentum gathered! Yet you clearly hold the advantage at the moment, as he regains his posture...
'Perfect, that went alot better than I expected!' she mentally cheers. 'Hm, should I try seeing his aura now? No...I have the advantage, I need to press it!'
With that she begins focusing ki into her legs again.
'I'll try another high speed attack while he's unbalanced!' Natsume thinks, her excitement growing. 'It is possible? Will I actually be able to beat grandfather?!'
* Hatbot --> "Mugetsu rolls 2d6 and gets 5."
* Hatbot --> "Mugetsu rolls 2d6 and gets 5."
* Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 2d6 and gets 10."
Again you press your advantage, on your teacher like a gale! This time favoring a spinning swipe at his arm, you score a hit! A little bit of blood is drawn by the slash!
Grandfather winces at the blow, Natsume's success at finally hitting evident. Wasting no more time with words, Grandfather slides into a graceful swooping swipe of his blade, making a v-line for your shoulder!
* Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 2d6 and gets 6."
* Hatbot --> "Mugetsu rolls 2d6 and gets 2."
Using your speed again, you dash back and away from the blow! Grandfather comes around into it into a butterfly stance despite his injury.
"Natsume...you have grown..." he murmurs, again waiting for you. "Are you ready now, granddaughter?"
The past two attempts had worked out smoothly, but despite that she could still feel the strain beginning to accumulate in her legs.
'Should I try for a third time?' she thinks. 'No...I'd better tempt not fate too many times in one fight, and its possible he's gotten used to my new speed. I also need to find an opportunity to test the aura-reading ability.'
Shifting her ki katana to a one handed grip and aims an index finger at her opponent.
'I don't think I've used this in a fight against him yet,' she recalls. 'Let's see how he reacts to it!'
* Hatbot --> "Mugetsu rolls 2d6 and gets 10."
You fire, a streak of your ki energy shooting out...
And but wide, instead leaving a smoking hole in the dojowall. Fuck, that's gonna take some spackle to fix.
Grandfather nods at it, but not turning his gaze from you as he rushes forward! A powerful blow with the flat of his blade is aimed at your stomach, to knock the wind out of you!
* Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 2d6 and gets 9."
* Hatbot --> "Mugetsu rolls 2d6 and gets 4."
Falling back a second time and losing more ground towards the door, Natsume evades, sucking in her taunt stomach muscles!
Grandfather barely lands, though, clearly intent on pressing. "This is what you want! Prepare!" he calls quite loudly, obviously making a show of it...
She hops back to try and gain some distance. Once again she takes a chance and tries for another speed boost to try and regain the initiative.
'Its been nice to me so far, I just hope I don't jinx it,' she thinks as she prepares.
* Hatbot --> "Mugetsu rolls 2d6 and gets 11."
This time, however, youf eel a pull at your legs! You barely move, your body protests and muscles complaining! As this happens....
* Shai`Hulud --> "Anastasia rolls 2d6 and gets 2."
* Shai`Hulud --> "Anastasia rolls 1d6 and gets 6."
* Shai`Hulud --> "Mugetsu rolls 2d6+2 and gets 11."
OOC - I would like to say, for the record, that all these dice bots fucking suck dragondick. Thank you.
IC:
"Prepare for the Thousand Horde Slash!" Grandfather cries, his aura becoming white hot and visible, blinding you! Far faster than anything your mind can register, pain exploding outward, then...
Blissful unconciousness, your body overwhelmed by the assault on top of the ki expended.
OOC - New thread. -_-