done too much for us already.”
26 put down the canister she was holding and scowled at Kanjou. “Normally, I’d agree with you, Kanjou, but we need food.”
“And we also need Shinrai’s help. He’s putting his own life on the line because he believes that we can save this country. I won’t be a further burden to him.”
“What about our lives? We’re risking just as much as he is! If not more!”
Kanjou put out his hands and silently pleaded for 26 to keep her voice down. “Please, not with Roni in the next room,” he said. “I’ll think of something, I promise.”
26 groaned and rolled her eyes, then smiled at Kanjou. “Alright, fine. But only because you’ve never steered us wrong before,” she though for moment, then frowned at him, “Just don’t go doing anything stupid, Kanjou. This group is held together by you. If you were gone, I don’t think Roni and Fushi would ever recover.”
He nodded, a touch of sadness in his green eyes. “I know. Trust me, I know.”
When Fushicho wandered in to the training room, she wasn’t surprised to see Andrea there. The silver-haired girl stood in the center of a mat, her arms raised and legs poised, awaiting the movements of a foe that lay in her mind. Fushi stopped and watched from just inside the door as Andrea launched her body it action, grace mixed with fury as her fists and feet smashed through the air in a ballet of deadly force.
Andrea moved her way down the dusty, bedraggled mat, pretending to block, strike, and throw a string of enemies that existed only in battles past. She ended the set with a flying kick, landing in a crouch at the end of the mat directly in front of Fushi.
The red-head let out a round of clapping, causing Andrea to lift her head and look up at her. Fushicho smiled. “That’s was beautiful,” she said.
Andrea stood and looked Fushi directly in the eyes. She didn’t say a word and Fushi got a clear, long look into the depths of her blue pupils before Andrea turned away, heading back toward the other end of the mat.
“Have you ever thought about teaching martial arts?”Fushi called after her, stepping on to the mat.
Andrea paused. “No,” she replied after a moment, “I prefer to keep my skills as sharp as I can instead of wasting time baby-sitting other people.”
“I think you’d be a great teacher. You have a lot of knowledge that would be useful to others.”
Andrea offered no reply to that, so Fushi continued, “How long have you been studying?”
“More than half my life.”
Fushi could sense that something was bothering Andrea– something aside from the normal chip on her shoulder anyway. She wasn’t as good at reading people as Roni or Kanjou, but she knew a hawk from a handsaw. It wouldn’t take anyone who was paying attention long at all to see that Andrea battled with herself to hide something.
“That long, huh?” Fushicho replied, continuing to walk onto the mat. “I’ve only really been training for three years myself. Kanjou’s a great teacher, but there’s only so much he knows.”
Andrea turned, “Is there something you want ?” she snapped. “Is it a crime to try to have a conversation with someone you’re going to be fighting alongside?”
The Tiger thought for a second. “You know,” she said, smirking, “my old sensei always told me that a martial artist does not know someone until they have been in the ring together.” She put her fists up and snapped her legs into an offensive stance. “How about it? Unless leader-boy hasn’t taught you how to spar yet?”
Fushi hesitated, knowing there was no way she could beat Andrea. Well, I doubt a friendly spar would hurt. Maybe it will help me understand her a bit more so I can help the others reach out to her. Seems to be the only type of talking she wants to do anyway. With a shrug the red-head put up her fists and widened her stance. “Alright, but just a friendly spar, right?” she said.
“Of course,” Andrea
26 put down the canister she was holding and scowled at Kanjou. “Normally, I’d agree with you, Kanjou, but we need food.”
“And we also need Shinrai’s help. He’s putting his own life on the line because he believes that we can save this country. I won’t be a further burden to him.”
“What about our lives? We’re risking just as much as he is! If not more!”
Kanjou put out his hands and silently pleaded for 26 to keep her voice down. “Please, not with Roni in the next room,” he said. “I’ll think of something, I promise.”
26 groaned and rolled her eyes, then smiled at Kanjou. “Alright, fine. But only because you’ve never steered us wrong before,” she though for moment, then frowned at him, “Just don’t go doing anything stupid, Kanjou. This group is held together by you. If you were gone, I don’t think Roni and Fushi would ever recover.”
He nodded, a touch of sadness in his green eyes. “I know. Trust me, I know.”
When Fushicho wandered in to the training room, she wasn’t surprised to see Andrea there. The silver-haired girl stood in the center of a mat, her arms raised and legs poised, awaiting the movements of a foe that lay in her mind. Fushi stopped and watched from just inside the door as Andrea launched her body it action, grace mixed with fury as her fists and feet smashed through the air in a ballet of deadly force.
Andrea moved her way down the dusty, bedraggled mat, pretending to block, strike, and throw a string of enemies that existed only in battles past. She ended the set with a flying kick, landing in a crouch at the end of the mat directly in front of Fushi.
The red-head let out a round of clapping, causing Andrea to lift her head and look up at her. Fushicho smiled. “That’s was beautiful,” she said.
Andrea stood and looked Fushi directly in the eyes. She didn’t say a word and Fushi got a clear, long look into the depths of her blue pupils before Andrea turned away, heading back toward the other end of the mat.
“Have you ever thought about teaching martial arts?”Fushi called after her, stepping on to the mat.
Andrea paused. “No,” she replied after a moment, “I prefer to keep my skills as sharp as I can instead of wasting time baby-sitting other people.”
“I think you’d be a great teacher. You have a lot of knowledge that would be useful to others.”
Andrea offered no reply to that, so Fushi continued, “How long have you been studying?”
“More than half my life.”
Fushi could sense that something was bothering Andrea– something aside from the normal chip on her shoulder anyway. She wasn’t as good at reading people as Roni or Kanjou, but she knew a hawk from a handsaw. It wouldn’t take anyone who was paying attention long at all to see that Andrea battled with herself to hide something.
“That long, huh?” Fushicho replied, continuing to walk onto the mat. “I’ve only really been training for three years myself. Kanjou’s a great teacher, but there’s only so much he knows.”
Andrea turned, “Is there something you want ?” she snapped. “Is it a crime to try to have a conversation with someone you’re going to be fighting alongside?”
The Tiger thought for a second. “You know,” she said, smirking, “my old sensei always told me that a martial artist does not know someone until they have been in the ring together.” She put her fists up and snapped her legs into an offensive stance. “How about it? Unless leader-boy hasn’t taught you how to spar yet?”
Fushi hesitated, knowing there was no way she could beat Andrea. Well, I doubt a friendly spar would hurt. Maybe it will help me understand her a bit more so I can help the others reach out to her. Seems to be the only type of talking she wants to do anyway. With a shrug the red-head put up her fists and widened her stance. “Alright, but just a friendly spar, right?” she said.
“Of course,” Andrea
Similar Books
