A week seemed to have gone by as after the night of the sleepover, mostly things had started to calm down, the members of the Black Bulls seemed to have adjusted to life in the safehouse, despite one of them being under house arrest. At the moment, a couple of them had been currently training as the others had been handling most of the chores in the house.
Karasu, Feodora and Liam had been currently sparring while Jubei, Sachiko, and Vandy had been watching; though Vandy looked to have a book on his lap as he had been hypnotized.
The three of them weren't just sparring--They were sparring with what looked to be a blue light rope attached to their waist. With each hit they took from one another, they found themselves being pulled towards the center. Each of them looked to have their set of bruises and yet they still kept it up.
Karasu had been halfway towards the center as he had a wooden sword, while Liam had his own set of wooden batons while Feodora had on training gauntlets as for a moment they were catching their breath.
"Ha!" Liam said with a smile, "How do you like that?! I'm winning this little spar match!"
"I'm just getting started, wolf-deer boy!" Feodora said with a smirk.
"Don't get overconfident!" Karasu said before they went at each other again.
"Go Feodora!" Vandy cheered.
"Kick their butts Liam!" Jubei yelled.
"You got this aniki!" Sachiko cheered.
"You sure you two should be sneaking away from your studies to watch this?" Karasu said to Vandy and Jubei before he was socked in the face by Feodora and pulled more towards the center.
"No way!" Vandy said, "This is more fun and these days humans learn by doing! Least that's how Luck puts it."
Jubei added as she looked to be eating popcorn, "Yeah who cares about books!"
"Well don't blame us if that Stuck-Up of a brother sees you!" Feodora said before she blocked a baton from Liam. She pulled on the rope as Liam let out a yipe before she head-butted him causing him to cry out. Though he was pulled to the center, he couldn't help but smile.
"Not bad for a human!" Liam said, before he spun the baton, "But you're gonna see why I was not only one of the top Hunter, but among the top 5 of the Warriors Guild!"
"And you boys are gonna see why I was named the top in my class!" Feodora said, "So get ready to cry!"
"Oh you're both on!" Karasu said as he readied his wooden blade. Though before the three of them could charge as the kids watched in anticipation, the three of them were taken back when they fell backwards into the ground as they each let out a cry; they looked to see that the rope had been cut.
"What the--!?" Karasu said as the rope vanished.
"What gives!?" Liam said, "Who stopped our spar match!?"
"Hey, the hell are you guys up too?"
They looked over to see that Yami had just entered the back porch as they couldn't help but jump. "What?" Feodora said, "We were training!"
Yami had said as he placed his sword in his sheath, "that's training? More like Amatuer sparring if you ask me"
"YOU ARE REALLY ASKING FOR IT!" Liam shouted before he was held back by Feodora.
"It's training in my book." Karasu said as he stood up and brushed off the dirt, as he spun his wooden blade, "This is how we trained to fight in the slums of the capital. As Vandy put it before, we learn by doing."
THWACK--Went the sword as it hit Karasu's foot when he dropped it. He cried out as he hopped on one leg while rubbing his toe. Feodora, Liam, Vandy and Jubei couldn't help but snicker.
"I meant to do that." He groaned as he rubbed his foot.
Yami groaned as he said "Learning by doing. So this is the result? Hate to break it to you but that method is real amatuer for a magic knight. Even Sword Boy knows how to wield a sword better than you and he joined a year ago."
"Look, I appreciate the concern--" Karasu said as he winced when he placed his foot on the ground, "--And I don't know when you got yourself in this country, but I've got a handle on it just fine working as a thief for the past two years--"
"News flash, you aint a thief anymore." Yami said as he lightly tapped his head, "Rules changed for you the moment you took the Entrance Exams."
Karasu only laughed sheepishly, "Right--Even after all this time, sometimes that escapes me"
"Don't worry Karasu, you're still cool!" Vandy cheered.
"Gee, thanks." Karasu said as he rolled his eyes.
"Don't worry." Yami said as he patted his head. "This time, I'll be teaching you how to wield a sword...The RIGHT way."
Karasu froze up at this while the others just looked plain shocked at this sort of thing.
"... Nani?" Was all Karasu could say.
***
Before anyone knew it, breakfast had been served to the ones staying in the household. Though during their time in the safehouse the Magic Knights and young Princess had eaten in a separate dining area other then the Captains, which no one didn't seem to mind. Since they were allowed to have their own private conversations.
"YAMI'S GONNA WHAT?!" Asta, Pluck and the Triple A's exclaimed as they had been in shock.
"Yup--" Karasu said as he spread some butter on the toast, "--Just out of the blue he said he was gonna teach me how to use a sword the right way. His words, not mine."
"It's true we were there." Feodora said.
"I thought that Captain Yami and Jack would be teaching Prism during her duration in this safehouse." Noelle said.
"He told me they're still gonna--" Karasu said, "--Though until they can get the Tater-Tot to emerge from her room after what happened during the Scare Dare challenge, Cap said he's gotta do something to pass the time."
Pluck had said, trying to process, "so wait...you mean to tell me...you're a beginner with the sword?"
Karasu scoffed, "Oh how you wound me Pluck. If I was a beginner I would've been dead a long time ago."
"Then what level are you?" Asta asked.
Karasu thought about it, "I would say--I'm an intermediate. I'll be honest--Most of my previous jobs when I was a thief I was improvising when I fought."
"You just went with the flow?!" Aisling exclaimed, "Man, talk about risk!"
Pluck shook his head as he said, "Rookie mistake #1: never improvise. That's how most swordsmen get killed."
"But I survived, didn't i?" Karasu asked, "Granted I was almost killed on SEVERAL occasions but I managed."
"Almost killed?!" Aine exclaimed.
"And next time, that might not be the case." Pluck told him
"I don't get it--" Asta said before he pointed to his sword that had been sheathed though had rested against the chair, "--That sword is like Yami's isn't it? Should it be easy for you?"
"Not exactly." Karasu replied, "Back where I'm from they're several different types of swords, and each one has a more distinct style. Cap's got a katana which is easier to wield. Mine is called a Nodachi. And even I'll admit, it's a bit more difficult to wield, but I think I've got the hang of it."
"You see, there's the problem." Pluck said. "Using that type to improvise makes room for more mistakes."
"Why not just change swords then?" Feodora asked, "You know when you save the money, you just ask for a custom job."
"Yeah, you can make it like Yami's!" Asta said.
Karasu only chuckled softly at this, "I wouldn't even if I could. This sword is the only thing that's left of my family when Sachiko and I came over. Hell, I wouldn't sell this even if my life depended on it."
Most of the group looked shocked at this. "You mean your sword is an heirloom?" Brenin asked as his tail swayed a little.
"Yup." Karasu replied, taking a bite from the toast, "We had warriors in my home country too, we called them Samurai. They weren't like Magic Knights, but they could hold their own in a fight. My uncle told me it belonged to my father. And before that, it belonged to my grandfather. And now it's mine."
"So in other words.." Pluck said "That blade is your family sword?"
Karasu nodded, "Call it fate or some crap like that, but this sword was one of the few things that survived when Sachiko, Yoshi and I were shipwrecked into your country. Strangely enough I always thought of it as my guardian angel even after everything that's happened."
"Wow--" Asta said as his eyes sparkled, "--That sounds so cool!"
"And I thought our family was the coolest thing we ever heard!" Aidan said.
"Have you ever taken lessons before?" Jubei asked, "Can you please teach me?!"
Pluck only gave a light tap as Jubei shouted "ow!"
"If you're banned from knives you are DEFINITELY banned from swords." Pluck said "besides you'll poke someone's eye out."
"My uncle showed me a little." He said, "If it wasn't for him someone would've beheaded me by now. He wasn't an expert himself, but at least he gave me a fighting chance."
"That explains how you're an intermediate." Feodora said before she was nudged by Karasu causing her to laugh.
"Even so, you still have a long way to go before you can catch up to me and the captain." Pluck said as he finished with his book. And did a few stretches. "And speaking of, I might as well refresh my memory on my own."
"But aren't you an expert already?" Asta asked. "Why do you need to train?"
Pluck said as he pinched his ear, "Just because I'm smart doesn't mean I can automatically remember. Practice makes perfect as one would say, Asta."
"Right, sorry." Asta said in a pained voice.
Pluck let go of his ear before he turned to Addeline who was eating her grapes. "Make sure those two study while I leave for 30 minutes."
"QUACK!" Addeline said as she gave a salute.
"You're gonna ask Yami to teach you?" Saorise asked, before she got nervous as she tugged on her ears a little, "He's still mad at us for taking Prism on that challenge."
Noelle added, "And that we broke the house arrest. We're lucky they didn't extend it for her. Whose idea was it to do that challenge again?"
"I've actually forgotten." Aisling said, "I guess we got so scared it slipped our minds."
"Yeah, I can't remember either--" Asta added, "--It's still weird."
"Yeah..it's like it never crossed our minds.." Pluck said, "Weird…"
Jubei soon drank up her juice before she let out a burp. "I don't know about you--" Jubei said before she pulled out a knife, "--But I'm gonna do some haggling today!" She soon hopped off the table before she went towards the door, "See you guys later!"
"JUBEI NO!!" The Triple A's, Pluck and Vandy shouted as she ran out the door.
"NO HAGGLING TODAY!!" Aisling yelled.
Pluck groaned before he said "Addi."
"QUACK!" Addeline said as she got her stick and gave chase.
"Welp--" Feodora said before she stood up from the table, "--Wish I could bear witness to what Yami's got planned for you, but he apparently put me on grocery duty. Gotta decide today's dinner too." She soon went out the door as she gave a wave, "Catch you guys later."
"Try not to punch anyone!" Asta called out.
"No promises Dum-Dum!" She said before she kicked the door open and headed out.
Asta soon finished what was on his plate at a fast pace, before he sighed with relief, "After everything that's happened--We need to figure out what to give Prism for a gift!"
"You still haven't found one yet?" Aine asked
"No--We're REALLY having trouble deciding!" Asta said.
"He's right." Karasu said., "Though sorry I can't help out today."
"No worries--" Asta replied with a wave, "--Brenin and Saorise don't mind helping me out!" He soon turned to them, "Right guys?"
"Of course!" Saorise said, "It's the least we can do for you after saving her life!"
"Besides, we don't like to see her down either." Brenin said, before he turned over to Liam, as he looked to be rubbing his shoulder underneath his brace as he looked to be in pain, "You should help us too. I know you want to make Prism smile."
"I know--" Liam said, groaning slightly, "--Though before that, I'm gonna go check on her."
Asta soon noticed how Liam looked, "Hey, are you oka--?"
"I'M FINE." Liam said, sounding aggressive as it made Asta flinch, "I'll see you in a bit." With that exited the dining room and headed up the stairs.
"Uhh--" Karasu said, "--What was that about?"
"Did he seem off to you?" Noelle asked.
"Who knows." Pluck said. "Well no time like the present, time to be productive in my practice, some people should do the same instead of loafing around like a princess." he eyed Noelle as he gave a girl before he left.
Noelle jumped before she looked as she asked "He was talking about me, was he?"
"Oh no..." Aisling said before she added. "Yeah, it was about you."
Noelle scoffed as she said, "What a peasant!"
Asta sighed as he sat back in his seat, "Man--You'd think after I told him that Prism was okay while we were in the dungeon I thought he'd warm up."
"Don't worry--It's just Liam being Liam." Aidan said, "Like Prism said, he ain't exactly used to us humans. If you were in his shoes you'd understand."
"Prism did say he went through a lot right?" Noelle asked, "I know she told us that you guys were taken from your families and sold off, but she wasn't specific."
Brenin and Saorise looked at each other as they each had their own looks softening. "Let's just say--" Brenin said, "--The person that held us prisoner before he tried to sell us off, made him do something that Therians aren't supposed to do."
***
Liam had gone up the stairs and went towards the room down the hall that had been close to Yami's room. As he kept his head low and kept a grip on his shoulder, he ended up not seeing who had been in front of him as he ran into as he had jumped at the sound of plates clattering. He jumped when he saw it had been the Captain of the Golden Dawn William Vangance as he had been holding a tray of half eaten food; his ears had been on alert as he seemed to have tensed.
"My apologies." William said, "I didn't see where I was going. Are you alright?"
"Ye-Yeah." Liam replied, stammering slightly, as he struggled to keep eye contact, "So-Sorry."
"Your name is Liam, right?" William said, "One of the Princess's Familiars?"
"Ye-yeah." Liam replied nervously, "Did she tell you that?"
"She spoke about you and the others often." William said, "I apologize that we didn't get to meet sooner, but I had my own missions to attend to I'm afraid."
His ears twitched slightly, "It's--It's okay. You're just doing your job." He soon looked at the food, "Did you just come from Prism's room?"
"She didn't finish her plate, though at least she's eating." He replied, before he noticed the look on Liam's face, "Don't worry. I'll admit she's still shook up from the storm but I have no doubt in my mind she'll bounce back. She's the child of a King and a Warrior after all. Though it couldn't hurt to get help from a comrade of ours."
Liam's ears twitched curiously, "Your comrade?"
"You'll see soon enough." William said before he soon stepped past him, "Now if you'll excuse me." Liam watched as he descended down the stairs as he couldn't help but have a serious look in his eyes.
He soon huffed, "He's even as cryptic as him… It's kind of creepy."
Liam soon approached Prism's room as he could faintly hear the sound of a guitar playing just behind the door. He soon gave a knock on the door.
"It's open." He heard her call out.
Liam soon opened the door to find Prism sitting on the floor as she had been against Adrien, while the little spirits sat on her lap. "Liam…!" She said as he noticed the shadows under eyes, "... Is everything okay?"
Liam groaned, "It's my shoulder--It started acting up."
Prism's gaze softened slightly as she set aside her guitar. "Do you--Think you can look at it?" He asked.
"O-Of course." Prism said.
Liam soon made himself comfortable on the bed as he removed his shirt and brace; revealing what looked to be a scar in the form of a whip slash. Prism sat just behind him as she examined it while Adrien started to soothe it with his licks as she looked at the discoloration around it.
"It's really still hurting you?" She asked.
"Yeah…" Liam replied, "... All that time surviving in the dungeon I'd forgotten all about it. Though now the pain is back in spades." His ear twitched slightly as Adrien bellowed, "Do you think you can do something? To help it subside?"
"I think so." Prism replied, as she rummaged through her bag, "I have some herbs I can use for your scar, I just need to crush and mix with Adrien's saliva." She soon got out a set of medical herbs and a grinder bowl, "Just give me a minute."
"Are you sure you can do that?"
"Did you forget? My uncle Nolan was an expert on medicine in Airedale--He taught me everything he knows."
Liam only huffed as he smiled, while he couldn't help but recall. "It might not be as good--" She said, rubbing her eyes a little, "--But it'll help you with the pain."
"I'll learn to deal with it." Liam said before he had a thought as Prism started to crush the herbs. He looked over his shoulder as he saw some of the Spirits had been in a shade of blue while the rest looked normal. It was then he had a thought come over him.
"--Hey Shortcake…" Liam said, "... Do you remember the first time we met? The night you found us?"
Prism flinched slightly before she recalled as she had a small smile, "I remember. That night--I was looking for a lunar flower for Aunt Teita when she came with dad and Lemiel. I snuck out of the house, and went near the border--"
"Then you heard Brenin." Liam said, "Being the crybaby he was back then. You followed the sound, and then you saw us, we saw you--"
"I set you free, and we ran to the village together, no questions asked." She finished, "Mom and Uncle scolded me for almost being seen by outsiders the night I came home with the three of you. That was not one of the best introductions that you guys had with my family. You saw how scary my mom can be."
Liam huffed as he recalled the memory, before he looked to the window, "I still can't believe--The world has gotten so different since we left. It's gotten more crowded actually."
"It's not as different when you think about it." She said as she finished crushing it. She held the bowl before Adrien opened his mouth, allowing some of his saliva to drip into it; she started to mix it till it turned a dark green color, "Though, at least Uncle Lemiel would be happy to see that everything, he, dad and Licht worked for wasn't all for nothing. With Julius being the Wizard King, the Clover Kingdom is in good hands."
"Wizard King… That name still sounds corny."
"Uncle Lemiel would've told you otherwise, knowing him."
"... I guess."
He winced slightly as he felt the mush of the herbs get smeared on his back; Prism started to work along his back before she went over his chest. "Are you getting along with the others?" Prism asked curiously, "Asta, Feo?"
"I know you said they're your friends, but I can't just get rid of what happened to me." Liam said, "What that human put us through. That human Yami especially. I would kill him, but I know how upset you would get if I did that."
"They don't mean any harm." Prism said, "They really are nice people. I know it doesn't seem like that with how they come off of others, but they really have good intentions."
"It still won't change what one of their own made me do."
Prism's look softened, "Brenin told me, you did that so that he and Saorise wouldn't get hurt. You didn't have a choice. I know I would've done the same."
Liam soon had a sneer on his face, "It's because of that human, I have to deal with this damn pain all the time! If he didn't force me to shift then I wouldn't--" Liam soon started to groan again as Prism immediately went to his aid. "Take it easy Liam--" She said as she scratched his ears and massaged his back, "--You'll only aggravate it."
"I'm sorry--" He said, before he growled, "--But I won't ever forgive human's for how we were treated…"
Prism gave Liam a pat on the head, like he had been a wolf in that moment while Adrien bellowed, and the little spirits made themselves at home on his and her shoulder.
Neither of them seemed to have realized that Yami had been outside the room door as he had listened to their entire time. He soon had a thought come over him, "So that's his reason, on why he hates humans so much… Seems like Lizard Girl won't be the only person I'll be keeping watch on."
***
-Later-
Before Karasu knew it, he had been in the backyard again, this time he didn't find himself alone, rather he had been with two more people. The second person he didn't really expect as it had been Liam who didn't look the least bit happy to be there. Yami had stood in front of him, Liam himself and Pluck as they were set on the back porch.
"How the hell did this even happen?" Karasu thought to himself as he couldn't help but make a face, "What is even going on right now?"
He soon said as he took a puff from his cigarette, "glad you came Deer wolf. Today, we're gonna be training with two people. I'm gonna show you how to actually use a sword, instead of that amateurish training you had been doing earlier."
"It's not amateurish." Karasu said.
"WHY THE HELL AM I EVEN HERE!?" Liam yelled, "YOU JUST DRAGGED ME OUT HERE!"
Pluck said, trying to calm him down, "easy Liam. let's not choose Violence today."
"Oh, I'm gonna choose more than violence today!" Liam said as he showed his teeth to Yami.
Yami gave him a sneer, "Hey buddy, lose the fangs if you want to keep them."
"Go ahead and try to take them from me--" Liam said as he was ready to draw his sickles though Pluck quickly stopped him from doing so. Pluck said to Yami with a nervous smile, "I'm SO sorry about him. He gets like this a lot."
"GET OFF ME BARBADOS!!" Liam yelled as he thrashed.
"Look--" Karasu said as he pinched the bridge of his nose, "--Can we just get this lesson over with?"
"Right--" Yami said before he drew his blade, "--Let's see that sword of yours."
Karasu sighed before he stood, and took his sheathed blade. He drew it as Pluck's eyes couldn't help but sparkle while Liam looked a little dumbfounded. "Now what?" Karasu asked.
"Show me how you swing." Yami told him
Karasu looked a bit confused though he only nodded his head in reply. He took his stance and placed both of his hands on the handle. With all of his strength he swung hard and fast with the strength he had; or at least that's what he thought, till he found himself hitting the ground courtesy of Yami.
He let out a cry of agony as he hit the floor hard, while Pluck and Liam jumped.
"What the hell!?" Karasu exclaimed, "What was that for!?"
"You're doing it wrong." Yami said before he took his sword, "this is how you do it."
Yami soon took a deep breath before he had gotten into a more proper stance before he took one powerful swing which left Pluck and even Liam in awe.
"Wait! But that's what I just did!" Karasu argued as he stood.
"There's a difference." Yami told him. "Your stance was sloopy."
"My stance?"
"For one thing--" Yami said before he pointed at his feet and then hands, "Your footwork is crooked, and the way you hold your sword is forceful."
"Well--" Karasu said genuinely shocked, "--That's not what I was taught."
"Really?" Yami said "And who taught you?"
"My uncle showed me." He said, "The rest of it I just kind of went with it."
Pluck said as he shook his head, "rookie mistake."
"And you think you can do better?" Liam asked.
"Sword Boy here actually knows the basics on how to hold a sword." Yami told him.
"Rhetorical question." Liam said as he growled.
"Seriously though--" Karasu said, "--There's no need to beat me when I'm down. Like I said, I survived for two years."
Pluck said to him, "then why are you making Rookie mistakes?"
Karasu flinched before he said, "I told you I'm NOT a rookie. I'm intermediate, there's a difference."
"You're intermediate?" Yami asked "Here's food for thought, Intermediate Swordsmen don't hold the sword the way you hold them."
"Hey, at least I'm still alive and kicking here." Karasu said, "My uncle may not have been the best teacher but I'm still breathing thanks to him."
"Well, new plan." Yami said "starting today, you're a beginner in MY sword school."
At this Karasu looked shocked before it changed into somewhat of a sneer, "... What?"
"Did I stutter?" Yami said. "Now let's start again.
"You're gonna start from scratch just like that?" He said, "That your way of mocking me Cap?"
"Nope." Yami told him. "You're gonna learn how to hold a sword, the proper way. As taught in my country." He soon took a puff, "At least in the part where I came from."
Karasu could feel himself shake as he felt something boil up inside while his hand shook. It hadn't been not but a moment later before he reacted as he gripped the bandaged arm that held his blade. "Damn it!" He thought as he could feel underneath his bandages started to move around, "I'm trying to keep myself from losing it, but the Cap here isn't making it easier for me! Just calm down! Get a grip!"
"Hey, what's up with you?" Yami asked
"No-Nothing!" Karasu immediately replied, as he went to put his arm behind his back, "It's n-"
Suddenly Karasu had been taken back when his bandaged arm thrusted his blade towards Yami. With a metal clang he had been able to block his attack as Pluck and Liam jumped at the sudden action.
"How did he--?!" Liam exclaimed, "--I didn't even see him move!"
Pluck exclaimed trying to process, "Was it an Ial step just now?!"
"Crap!" Karasu cursed in his head as he could feel his bandaged arm move around again while he gripped it, "I let my guard down again! It tried to kill him! This is bad! This is bad!"
He could hear Yami sigh before he spoke again, "hey Bad Luck boy, what's with that start up, i didn't even say go."
"No--This isn't--" Karasu tried to say before stopping himself as he started to think again, "Damn it! What should I even say?! I can't let anyone know about this curse, but I can't just say I attacked him out of the blue! What the hell am I supposed to--"
He was soon cut off as he found himself tripping again before he was punched right in the face, causing him to nearly stumble and fall, though he had been able to steady himself. "What the hell was that for?!" Karasu exclaimed.
"Hey, it got that tick of yours to stop right?" Yami asked as he waved his hand.
"Huh?" Karasu said confused as he shook his grip from him; he felt that the bandages had stopped moving completely and even clenched his hand a few times. He just looked plain shocked by this, "I have control again? That's never happened before. How did--"
"Let's just say I learned from experience." Yami told him, "Now how about you attack me again?"
"Wait what?" Karasu said shocked, "Why would you--"
Yami responded before he could finish his thought, "Trust me."
Karasu had been hesitant but held his sword in hand and took a deep breath. With a cry he charged at Yami and attacked as if he had been an enemy. He started to attack him hard and fast though Yami blocked every single one.
"Yep, just as I suspected." Yami said before he blocked and pushed him back, "If you ask me, if you were intermediate you should have landed a hit, but i blocked every single of your attacks."
"Meaning?!" He said as he caught his breath.
"Meaning--You still have a ways to go before you get to where I am." Yami clarified, "So yeah, you're not intermediate or beginner...you're an amatuer beginner."
Karasu looked dumbfounded while Pluck had been put into shock. "So that whole 'I'm an intermediate' was a lie?" Pluck asked.
"Yep." Yami said as he took a puff.
Karasu let out a sigh as he slapped himself in the face, "You read me like a damn book."
"Hey, don't worry." Yami said. "You have two experts by your side."
"Two?" Karasu asked.
Yami pointed to Pluck, "Sword boy here is an expert on all these swords. After you learn from his notes, you'll get down to the basics. He'll even throw in a pop quiz here and there to look sharp."
Pluck told him, "and just like I told your sister, i will not go easy on you."
"So--" Liam soon said as he scratched his ears, "--What am I here for?"
Yami replied, "Oh you and I are gonna work on your recuperation."
"Recuper-what now?" Liam said, confused as he tilted his head.
"Hang on--" Pluck said, a bit confused, "--the healing mages in Airedale said he didn't need recuperation."
They were taken back when they saw Yami had picked up a brown ball, "I'll be the judge of that--"
Yami soon tossed the ball toward Liam as immediately he reacted; though out of instinct he used his left arm. As he lifted it above his head, he felt an intense pain burn through as he let out a cry. He immediately retracted as the ball flew just over his head.
"Liam!" Pluck exclaimed out of worry as he ran over to him, before he gave Yami a look, "Why would you do that?!"
"What?" Yami said, "Needed to see what I had to work with."
Pluck had told him, "what part of the Airedale healing mages say he didn't need recuperating do you not get?!"
Yami soon argued, "really? Looks to me he needed it."
"ARE YOU TRYING TO KILL--" Liam started to shout before he was cut off when Pluck hugged him. He soon told his captain, "Captain Yami I let you tell us to surpass our limits but this really takes it too far! What if his injury gets worse?!"
Yami soon told him, "what are you getting worked up for? If he really couldn't use his shoulder, he wouldn't have tried to catch the ball just now. You said those healing mages didn't need it. It seems to me they lied to you."
Pluck flinched at this as he said "Wait...you mean--" at this Pluck was livid as he couldn't believe it, the healing mages from his home village had lied to him. He soon let go of Liam, before he began to sit in a position and began to meditate, taking Karasu back.
"That's freaking me out, what is he doing?" Karasu asked.
"He does that everytime he gets mad." Liam said as he gasped for air, "Especially if someone's lying to him."
They heard Pluck say, "Exit out angry thoughts....only calm.."
"He gets like this if it involves someone who he knows well." Liam said. "Which is why the shortcake never tells him a lie."
Yami said as his eyebrow twitched, "I can see why.."
They soon heard Pluck let out a scream before he resumed meditating again, "Inner peace."
"Should we--" Karasu started to say.
"Just--" Liam said as he rubbed his shoulder, "--Give him a minute."
Pluck finally took a deep breath as he stood up straight while fixing himself. He soon had a smile " there...all better."
"Good." Yami said before he tossed a wooden sword at his head as it hit him with a thwack, "Get practicing sword boy."
Pluck had said as a large bump could be seen on his forehead, "Okay okay." he turned to Karasu as he said "come on, i'll help you practice."
"Sounds good to m--" Karasu said, though before he could finish a familiar white snake soon emerged from his shirt as it shocked most of them.
"WHAT THE WHAT?!" Pluck exclaimed.
"Oh...hey there." Karasu said, awkwardly, "When did you get there?"
Yami said "Okay, what the hell just happened? How did you get that snake?"
"We uh--" Karasu said, "--Found him in the house we snuck into. He just sort of stuck to me."
"Well get him unstuck." Yami told him, "You got some work to do."
"I would but--" Karasu said as he took the snake from his neck. The moment he had been at arms length he quickly slithered around his arm before setting himself back where he was, "--That happens."
Yami groaned before he turned to Pluck "Where's your duck?"
"She's----occupied." Pluck told him.
Yami had a look that meant really as he said "of course.."
Karasu only shrugged before the snake hissed towards Pluck causing him to jump back when he showed his fangs.
"Geez!" Pluck exclaimed "I'll back off!"
"Guess he doesn't like you." Karasu said.
"I can see that." Pluck said. "If Addi were here she would give him a whack.."
Yami soon sighed before he said "Dark Binding."
Soon the snake found it's mouth bound before he was pulled off, shocking them. "Wait a second--" Karasu said as Yami took hold of it's tail and mouth while it started to thrash aggressively, "What the hell are you--"
Yami had told him, "You'll thank me later." He took out from a box what appeared to be a glass cage before putting the snake inside of it, and setting it on the porch making sure he couldn't get out, which had shocked them. The snake seemed to have glared at Yami as he let out another hiss while showing his fangs.
Liam gave a whistle, "Be lucky Saorise didn't hear that one."
"What did he say?" Pluck asked.
"Well my snake is a little rusty--" Liam replied with the wave of his hand, "--But he's saying that he's a mongrel and other things I'd rather not say out loud."
"Sounds about right." Karasu thought as he rubbed his arm again.
"Oh don't complain." Yami told the snake, "You'll come out when he's done."
The snake let out a hiss as it trashed about.
"Okay, that's a bit too crazy even for me to translate.." Liam said, "I'm pretty sure he called you something that rhymes with a weasel."
"There's a word like that?" Pluck asked.
"If I said it out loud, you would have to wash out your ears." Liam replied, scratching his ears.
Pluck paled at this sort of thing before he said, "is that so?"
Yami's eyebrow twitched as he said, "Well wherever you found him, when this is over you put him back."
Karasu looked shocked by this sort of thing as he looked at the snake. He couldn't help but think back to where the snake had been and what had lingered within. "That's--" He said, "--Something I don't think I can do."
"Hmm? Why is that?" Yami asked. "Surely its owner is looking for him, right? Plus you know how the others will freak out when that guy slithering around."
"Even so--I don't think I can." He said, "I don't think the snake doesn't want to go back."
Yami gave a quizzical look at this as he said, "What?"
"Call it a hunch but--" Karasu said, "--I just think he didn't like being with whoever owned him in the first place. I don't know that for sure, but it's a feeling I got from him."
As Yami saw the snake still trying to escape as he hissed, He scratched his head before he asked Karasu, "and you're sure of this?"
Karasu nodded, "His body--I felt it shaking when he wrapped himself around me."
Yami let out a sigh before he took a wooden sword and tossed it over at Karasu, "well, better start training and when you finish, you and the snake can spend some time with each other."
Karasu looked a bit shocked and yet relief washed over him. He soon bowed his head, "Thank you Cap."
Yami merely waved his hand as he said, "Think nothing of it, really."
Karasu and Pluck had been practicing their stances with the wooden swords provided; Liam had just been nearby as Yami had been nearby as he had been getting him to do push ups, or at least trying to. By his fifth pushup, Liam ended up hitting the ground with a groan as his shoulder had been bothering him again.
Yami told him, giving him a pat on the back, "Don't mind it, no pain no gain."
"Easy for you to say--" Liam growled, "--Are you trying to kill me?!"
Yami gave a laugh as he replied, "Nice joke. Now come on, try again."
Liam only groaned as he started to resume again, trying his best to work through the pain.
At that moment Karasu cried out in sheer pain as Pluck had hit his wrists. "Now what did I do?!" Karasu exclaimed as he shook out his hand.
"You were slow in your moments." Pluck said "plus your swinging was too fast, try to go with the rhythm."
"What rhythm?!" He said, confused.
Pluck sighed as he clarified, "In simpler terms, you have to pace yourself. If you move too fast, you'll miss a step. Move too slow and you'll leave yourself open. Got it?"
"Noted." Karasu said before he took his wooden sword.
Pluck soon held his sword as he had been ready to attack, "now let's try again."
The midday sun had been high in the sky as this time Yami had been participating in this lesson. He didn't seem at all surprised that he was blindfolded.
"Okay the blindfold." Karasu said "there's a reason why you had me wear it right now."
"It's gonna be important in your lesson." Yami told him. "You're gonna be sensing ki, rather than using mana as a sixth sense."
"Seems easy enough." He said, "And I take it you planned on doing this lesson with the tater-tot?"
Yami replied as he had his sword ready, "She's gonna have to start learning sometime. So let's see how well your sense of Ki is."
"Say no more." He said, "I'm a bit better at this then I am with--"
Karasu had been cut off as he had nearly been hit by Yami's sword. Karasu was quick to counter and block his swings before he finally tripped on his back courtesy of Yami. "Ow…" He groaned.
He could hear Yami clicking his tongue as he said, "I knew it, you're a beginner in Ki sensing too.."
"Oh you hurt me.." Karasu said.
"How much did your Uncle tell you about Ki?"
"He didn't tell me much about it--All he told me was that Ki exists in all living things, and that my dad used that trick to best his enemies when he fought as a samurai." Karasu's face soon softened, "Though, I know it didn't always save him.."
Yami only sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose, "great. Talk about complicating things." He soon got him to stand on his feet, "We gotta A LOT to work with."
"You think so?" He asked him.
"I know so." Yami said before he swiped at Karasu as he was able to knock him over with ease.
"Ow…" Karasu groaned again as he had been on his side.
Yami took a puff as he said "this is gonna be a long day."
Liam let out a cry of agony as he looked to have dropped what looked to be a dumbbell to which Yami immediately turned over to him. He said as Liam rubbed his shoulder, "Walk it off. Give me ten more."
"Ten?!" Liam said as he double taked.
Yami asked him "Did I stutter?"
Liam growled at him as he bared teeth, "I'm REALLY gonna kill you."
Pluck gasped as he gave Liam a smack on the head, as he had been seen reading a book, "Liam no! What would Prism say?!"
"What did you say?" Yami said as it made Pluck flinch.
He immediately said as he laughed sheepishly, "No-Nothing Captain Yami!"
***
Another set of hours had passed them by as this time around, Karasu had been trying to keep up with Pluck as he had been blocking every attack he threw at him.
"Come on Karasu!" Pluck said as he attacked. "You gotta stay focused!"
"Could you slow down first!?" Karasu said as he felt another hit on his arm.
PLuck had only told him, "remember what i mentioned about being too slow."
"Geez, how did my sister deal with your teachings?" He asked, before he ended up dodging again.
"She knew the risks." Pluck told him, before he took another swing at him, which Karasu had been quick to dodge. Though Karasu had been quick to trip Pluck before he could get the chance to attack him. Pluck clicked his tongue before he said with a smirk, "As do I."
"Just kiss and make out already!"
The two boys jumped to see Aishling with snacks; along with her had been Aidan and Aine as they looked to be enjoying the show.
"Yeah, kiss him bro!" Aidan said, "You know you want to!"
"WHY ARE YOU THREE WATCHING!?" Karasu exclaimed.
"We got bored." Aine said with a shrug.
"Shouldn't you be studying?" Pluck said
"We finished them already!" Aisling said as she munched on the popcorn.
"ALL of them?" Pluck asked
"Yes." The Triple A's replied.
"And you sure you didn't just rush through them like you normally do?" Pluck asked, making them flinch.
Yami soon noticed the three of them as they each flinched slightly by his stare. He said to them in a death threatening tone of voice, "hey..who said you brats can watch?"
"Pluck did?" The Triple A's said awkwardly."
"When did I say that?" Pluck asked as he gave them a raised eyebrow.
"OH NO HE'S ONTO US!" Aidan shouted.
"THE SCAM'S NOT WORKING!" Aisling yelled, "TIME TO BAIL!"
The Triple A's quickly made a mad dash out of the yard--Or at least it would've been that way were it not for Yami's restraining magic.
Yami turned to Pluck as he said "well, what should be their punishment for bailing?"
Pluck said "hmmm, Cleaning Addi's pen before she comes back."
"YOU MONSTERS!!" Aidan yelled.
"I'M TELLING MA AND PA!" Aine exclaimed.
"WE HAVE RIGHTS!!" Aisling yelled.
Yami said to them with a glare, "you heard your brother. GET CLEANING."
"Sir yes sir!" The Triple A's immediately said before they dashed into the house. Liam only scoffed at this as he had been seen doing the trunk side bending, "You guys are spineless." It hadn't been long before he cringed at the sudden agony as he let out a cry.
"Why does it keep hurting?!" He exclaimed as he rubbed his shoulder.
Yami told him, "Doesn't look remediated, is it?"
"WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN?!" Liam shouted.
"Don't worry about it." Yami told him. Now keep going."
Liam only mumbled to himself as he resumed the stretches, "I'm REALLY gonna kill him…"
"Just try it." Yami said, taking Liam back as his ears perked up, though he still couldn't help but growl at him.
***
Karasu had been out of breath by the time the daylight had been replaced with stars; his body had been practically littered with dirt and bruises as he had been trying his best not to collapse out of exhaustion as he had been trying to focus his mana into his blade; Pluck and Liam had already gone inside the house as they were doing what Yami had assigned them to do. Though as the purple light emitted from his blade, as he had been trying to extend it; though it looked to be on the verge of breaking apart as it had been flickering.
Yami told him as he had been surveying it this time around, "Just focus bad luck boy. Your blade is an extension of your body, therefore it's another place for your mana to go. Allow your mana to flow through it as if there were blood in your veins."
Karasu had been taking deep breaths as he had been trying to stay focused; though as he kept it up, he could feel his arm beginning to throb. Finally he collapsed to his knees as the purple blade vanished. "Damn it--" Karasu said, "--This seemed a lot easier when I'm out in the field. That's about all I can do Cap."
A moment later he felt a slap on the head courtesy of Yami himself, "Ow!"
"Is that ALL you can really do?" Yami asked.
"Well yeah--!" Karasu had said, "--I mean I'm trying to do what you're telling me at least!"
"That sounds like an excuse for holding back." Yami argued.
"But it's not one--!" He started to say before he cut himself off, "--At least I don't think it's not."
"Well if that's what you call trying--" Yami soon said as he took a puff from his cigarette, "--Then it seems like you're only fooling yourself. If you were trying, you wouldn't be exhausted at all."
"It's not that I've been lying--" Karasu said, "--I just--Didn't think to work on it before all of this. I thought unlocking my spells in my grimoire would be enough."
Yami gave a look before he sighed as he said "There's more to mana than spellcasting you know?"
Karasu looked to Yami as he asked "what do you mean?"
"I'm saying there's more to mana than spellcasting, you gotta think out of a box." Yami told him while he tapped him on the head, "It's not just used for levitating crap, and attacks. Way I can best describe it is that it's similar to how you sense Ki.
"Ki?" Karasu asked.
Yami nodded as he said "Try to focus clearly on your surroundings. Focus on both your mana and Ki."
"Focus on both of them at the same time?" He said surprised, "That sounds impossible."
Karasu felt a smack on his head again as he nearly let out a shriek. Yami soon told him while giving a look, "what did i just say?"
"You didn't have to hit me, all I said was that it sounded impo--OW!!" Karasu started to say before he was smacked again, "DON'T DO THAT!"
"Then stop saying it's impossible." Yami told him, "You're going through a different set of rules this time! Time to push past your limits!"
Karasu couldn't help but have a look, "That again?" He soon flinched when he felt his threatening aura again. He could only say, "Ju-just my luck.." It hadn't been long before he felt Yami grab his head. Yami soon told him with fire in his eyes, "well? Got something to say?"
"N-No sir! Not at all sir!" He said nervously.
Yami said with a huff, "Good." He soon let him go, "Now go ahead, and try again."
"... Right…" Karasu said awkwardly. He took a deep breath before he held his blade in hand. Placing both of his hands on the handle, he took a deep breath as he started to concentrate; his grimoire glowed beside him as it hovered.
"Jinx Magic--Cracked Horseshoe."
The blade extended as it became illuminated with purple; it had started to revert to the large long blade. He had been trying his best to keep it stable as it started to shake again. Karasu could feel himself starting to get dizzy as he felt his head start to throb as well as his arm. It seemed as though it had started to still itself until--
"Karasu!"
The sound of a familiar voice took him by surprise as an image he had been all too familiar with passed him by; he could feel a sudden cold air surrounding him before he found himself drowning. Not a moment later, he nearly stumbled himself as he dropped his sword as his breaths had been shortened as he felt his arm practically burning as he grasped again.
"Wa--Was that--?" Karasu said as he hissed through his teeth before he looked to his arm, "No--It couldn't--"
Yami took a puff as he said, "you asking me?
"I--" Karasu said before his expression changed a little, "--I don't think I can try that again." He soon possessed what looked to be that of fear, "... I don't think I can EVER do that again."
"You sure?" Yami asked
This time Karasu didn't answer as he went inside the house, taking the snake out of the cage as he did. He would've gone inside if Yami didn't stop him as he felt his hand on his shoulder.
"Hey, why are you running? Just because of one slip up?" Yami asked.
"It's--" Karasu tried to say, "--More complicated than that… I just can't do that again."
"You keep saying you can't." Yami said "I have a feeling, you just won't do it. What's holding you back?"
Karasu froze at the question as he couldn't help but recall a certain memory that made him pale up. He could feel his arm throb as it shook again. "I--" He tried to say, before he stopped himself, "--I just can't. Not again…"
Yami was confused at first at what he meant he soon began to say, "Well good news we made some progress, a little word of advice, don't let whatever's holding you back limit you from becoming something greater."
Karasu flinched at this sort of thing as he could hear the tone of his voice. He felt Yami give him a pat on the head before he told him, "You'll be alright Bad Luck Charm boy."
Karasu only sighed, as a thought soon came over him. He loosened his grip on his arm just as "Cap, I--"
BOOM--Went the house suddenly as it made them both jump; they heard Feodora let out a shriek. "FIRE! FIRE! CRAP THERE'S FIRE!" They heard Feodora yell.
"HOW DO YOU EVEN BURN THE MEAT?!" They heard Pluck shout.
"WE KNOW HOW TO DO THIS AND WE'RE ONLY YOUNGER THAN THE TRIPLE As!" They heard Vandy shout
"DAMN IT! I TOLD YOU I'M AN ASSASSIN! NOT A DAMN COOK!" Feodora yelled.
They heard Asta shriek, "NOW THE POT POTATOES ARE ON FIRE!"
"AH CRAP!" Feodora shouted, "WHY DON'T YOU PUT IT OUT DRAMA-LLAMA! YOU'RE THE ONE WITH WATER MAGIC HERE!"
"I'M TRYING DON'T RUSH ME!" Noelle yelled before a geyser of water went crashing out the window as they shrieked.
"YOU STUPID SILVA! WE SAID PUT OUT THE FIRE! NOT CAUSE MORE PROPERTY DAMAGE!" Pluck shouted
"YOU DO IT THEN, BARBADOS!" Noelle argued.
"YOU CAN KISS AND MAKE OUT AFTER WE PUT OUT THIS FIRE!" Jubei shouted
Yami's eyebrow twitched, "The one night that Beanpole decides to play hooky."
"That looks--PRETTY bad." Karasu said.
Saorise suddenly came running out of the house as she had been letting out a shriek as the tail of her dress had been fired. "CRUMBS! TRUFFLES! SHIITAKE MUSHROOMS!" Saorise yelled, "PUT ME OUT!!"
"POT PIES! KETTLE CORN! WHY ARE YOU SHOUTING THINGS?!" Feodora yelled as she had been in the doorway, though she looked to have patches of burns on her.
"QUICK HELP HER!" Asta exclaimed as he looked to be in the same condition
"DON'T RUN WOMAN!" Liam yelled as he tried to catch her to get her to stop running.
"SAORISE, STOP RUNNING AND WE'LL PUT YOU OUT!" Brenin yelled as he had been chasing her while she was screaming.
Pluck soon came running out as he had been holding a sword made of water, as he ran at Saorise like a madman,
"HOLD STILL WOMAN!" He soon splashed it on her as if she had been drenched in an instant. Saorsie sighed with relief as she shook out most of the water while her ears flapped a little. "Bime i elena that was close…" Saorise said with a sigh.
Pluck soon wiped the sweat off his forehead while everyone else looked relieved. "Another job well done." Pluck said.
Vandy soon paled as he had a look of horror, as he pointed behind him, "Uh… Bro?"
Pluck looked behind him as he immediately hid his sword behind his back when he realized that Yami had been soaking wet. "Welp--" Karasu said, as he went over to the side, "--It was nice knowing you."
"We'll--Leave you boy's to it." Feodora said as she took Asta inside.
"Bye bro!" Vandy said as he waved and went in.
"Though you were a pain--You were still loved." Jubei said as they went inside.
"H-HEY!" Pluck shouted
"So long!" Liam said before dragging Brenin and Saorise behind him before they could argue; Brenin let out a yipe as he had been pulled by his tail.
Pluck paled as he heard the door lock; he could feel Yami's threatening aura intensify. "Um…" Pluck soon said as he shivered as he smiled awkwardly, "... That was an accident?"
Yami put out his cigarette before Pluck made a mad dash screaming bloody murder. Yami shouted as he gave chase, "GET THE HELL BACK HERE SWORD BOY!"
"I DON'T WANT TO DIE TODAY!!" Pluck yelled as he dashed away, "WHY DID I JOIN THIS DAMN SQUAD?!"
Yami shouted, "QUIT COMPLAINING AND FACE RESPONSIBILITY!"