"Oh? I take it you're interested in joining our dojo?" A man with a black beard asked.
Just being in his presence put me on guard. Even with just a glance you could tell this man was just oozing with power.
I shrugged, "I mostly just want somewhere to train so sure."
The man had an interested look on his face as he observed me. I returned his glance with a confused look which snapped him out of it. He let out a laugh while tightening his belt.
"Well if you want to train then you've come to the right place! Now tell me, what fighting form do you specialize in?" He asked.
I gave the man another confused look. I never dealt in hand-to-hand combat so I never had any forms. I always just used a sword for my fights and even then I didn't have any special styles I used.
"Well aren't you special. You're practically oozing with the fighters spirit and yet you know almost nothing." The man said, stroking his beard.
"Well I've always just used swords in my fight so maybe that explains it." I said as an attempt to answer this man's curiosity.
The man brought both hands behind his back and let out another laugh. When he stopped his eyes felt sharp. Different from what they first were like.
"I'd like to see what you know so far. I'll have you challenge my best pupil. Akari, show him the power of our dojo."
The girl who had been sitting to the side had picked herself up and walked to the middle of the room where a large mat was. I walked over to the mat and prepared myself.
"Begin!" The man yelled.
Out of reflex I reached to my side to pull out Genki but remembered that I left him at Akio's place. As I went to readjust myself, Akari was already right in front of me and attempted to jab my stomach.
I went to block her attack but realized too late that she was about to use her other hand to attack me. As her hand got closer and closer to my neck, a sudden flame began to burn inside me.
I somehow managed to dodge her attack and create some space between us. The whole room suddenly grew quiet. Even Akari had stopped her assault and was looking at me.
"So that's what I was sensing before." The man said, laughing to himself.
"Is it ok if I go all out for this one, Sensei?" Akari asked, still looking directly at me.
"Of course."
Aura went all throughout her body in a near instant. It wasn't anything like mine or Ichiro's. It had a somewhat serene feeling to it. Almost as if it were flowing water… wait a second.
I looked down at my hands and saw that I had managed to activate my aura again. I would have let out a small cheer but Akari had jabbed me in the gut.
"It's not a good idea to take your eyes off your opponent." Akari said, before jabbing me multiple times in the stomach.
Her movement was swift and effortless. There was no unnecessary movement at all in her attacks.
"Wave Crash." She said, using the palm of her hands to hit me in the stomach.