{Date: 10/12 - Wednesday}
{Time: 2:00 PM}
I sat back against the bleachers on the sidelines, letting out a soft exhale and closed my eyes. I felt a hand on my shoulder, looking over and noticing Sayoko smiling at me with warmth. I sat up and straightened myself, preparing to listen to what she had to say.
"Good stuff down there. I can see why you were made to be an Honorary B Rank. By the way, what is that move called? The one where you hold your wrist and strike them?" Sayoko said, tilting her head slightly.
I played back the moment I used it against Cherry, realizing it was always my main finishing move, even when I was in Judgement. "I've never really given it an official name for it. I always used it in my executions while on missions with Judgement..."
"I've always either called it Star Execution or Lightning Retribution. I want to combine it with my Quick Attack and my Extreme Barrage...call it something like Star Attack and Lightning Barrage or something," I answered, shrugging my shoulders and looking at my hand.
"Well, quite the innovative one aren't you?" Sayoko teased with a soft laugh then noticed Yumeji preparing for her match against Kikyo. "Welp, my sister and her girlfriend are up..~"
Yumeji hopped up and down, her battlesuit appearing on her body as she prepared herself. She began stretching and warming up with jabs at the air. "Heh!~ I just thought of an amazing idea!"
Kikyo opened her eyes, pointing her katana at Yumeji, her battlesuit appearing upon her body. "And what would that be, Yume?"
"Let's make a bet...if you win, I'll do all of the chores for a month with no complaints! If I win...Shower Time in the morning!~" Yumeji smirked at Kikyo, crossing her arms with confidence.
Kikyo blushed at Yumeji's suggestion, grunting softly and shifted a bit, her legs closer together. She couldn't help but to feel flustered by the deal, but it was one she couldn't refuse.
"Fine...but when I win, I expect the dorm to be flawless!" Kikyo agreed, getting into her stance.
"Oh yeah, let's get this started!~" Yumeji giggled, getting into her stance as well.
Liao Ru noticed both Yumeji and Kikyo were ready, holding her hand out. She blew her whistle, raising her hand. "Begin!"
As soon as the match started, the battlefield around Yumeji and Kikyo shifted into a basic grassy arena. Yumeji smirked at Kikyo, immediately dashing toward her and launched a flying kick.
Kikyo evaded her kick then dashed forward, slashing down at Yumeji, her sword slicing through the air. Yumeji evaded her slash, performing a NY Fkare and landed a direct kick to Kikyo's face. Kikyo groaned as she was knocked away, skidding backwards and shook her head.
"Here we go!" Yumeji called out, sprinting forward with a fiery punch.
Kikyo opened her eyes and dodged her punch, grabbing her arm and flipping her over her back then sliced through her. Yumeji's time clone vanished, slowing down time. Yumeji stood a distance away, aiming her twin pistols at Kikyo and fired two bullets.
Kikyo felt her body moving in slow motion, but she managed to swing her sword at the right moment and deflected her bullets just before the Time Dilation ended. She got into her stance and stomped her foot down.
Yumeji smirked at Kikyo, twirling her pistols around then got into her stance. "That was a nice warm up, but now it's time for me to get serious..~"
I glanced at Sayoko, nudging her lightly. "How did Kikyo do that? She timed her swing right while her time was slowed.."
Sayoko giggled, glancing at me then back at the battle. "It's Rivalry Synergy. Yumeji and I have known Kikyo since we were kids, and those two were like soulmates. You could never get them apart. Naturally they know everything about each other, especially when it comes down to battle."
Yumeji watched as Kikyo moved around the arena, watching her feet and moved along the arena as well. Kikyo lowered her sword, moving forward then dashed toward Yumeji, slashing at her swiftly. Yumeji evaded each slash, parrying the next slash with her pistol then fired an energy blast at her with the other.
Kikyo grunted as she was knocked back, stumbling quickly then caught herself. She looked up, noticing Yumeji in front of her then ducked under her roundhouse kick. Kikyo was now on the back foot of Yumeji's onslaught, dodging her physical strikes and deflecting her bullets.
I leaned closer as I watched the two battle. It didn't seem like one of competition, but out of the love for the moment. The two looked like Spirits dancing under the sun, both radiant and beautiful. I couldn't help but to be drawn to the fight itself.
Yumeji laughed as she backflipped multiple times to avoid Kikyo's attack then sprung up into the air. "It's been a while since we fought like this!~ Good thing I've been training with Big Sis and can show you my newest technique!"
Kikyo watched as Yumeji landed in front of her, flourishing her katana and got into her stance, her blade shimmering with life under the sunlight. "New Technique? What are you talking about?"
Yumeji stared at Kikyo and smirked at her, her Spirit Energy flowing around her. Her blue eyes began to glow golden, her powers awakening. I couldn't help but to shudder from just her aura alone, my eyes slightly widening.
Orishi watched as well, smirking at Yumeji and crossed her arms. She used her Spirit Sense on the battlefield, her expression showing a moment of shock then she let out a soft laugh. "This crazy girl is actually going for it..."
Kikyo braced herself for Yumeji's next move, sensing time had completely stopped for her. A spark of Spirit Energy flashed beside her then Yumeji appeared at her side, landing a flying kick to her cheek. Kikyo groaned as she flew backwards, time stopping against with her in the air.
Yumeji travelled through the stopped time quickly, getting into place then stopped time once more to reach her next time clone. She bellowed as she charged up, leaping forward and striking Kikyo with another fiery flying kick. Kikyo groaned as she was sent flying into the arena wall in a blink of an eye.
Everyone around the arena was in awe, not expecting Yumeji to actually pull her technique off. Orishi clapped her hands and stood up, laughing and cheering for Yumeji, gaining a soft laugh from Sayoko.
Kikyo slowly stood upon her feet, groaning lightly. She looked ahead at Yumeji, holding her stomach then blinked for a few seconds to regain her vision. "What the heck was that..?"
"While I was leaning to slow down time longer like Orishi does, I messed up a time clone and it was cracked. When Big Sis touched it, instead of slowing down time, it completely stopped it for half a second," Yumeji explained, placing her hands on her hips.
"Fractured Time Clone...my new Technique allows me to stop time for the length of my last Fractured Time Clone. I can set a Fractured Time Clone each time I get hit at just the right moment that I set my clone. Rhetorical Knowledge is an E Rank, but Raw Battle IQ, I'm the best in the world!" Yumeji smirked, getting into her stance.
'Stopping time completely? She learned that from Professor Orishi? How do I counter this..?' Kikyo thought, bracing herself for Yumeji.
Yumeji smirked at Kikyo, shuffling her feet then her energy began bursting around her body in an excited manner, awakening her Burst Mode. Her aura began forming gauntlets on her arms, cat like ears to her head and a tail behind her. "Kugo Technique: Cheetah Fist!"
I grunted softly as I felt the burst of energy radiating from the stadium, Genesis holding on to strands of my hair to avoid getting blown away. "This energy..!"
Yusa placed her hand upon my shoulder, sharing her Spirit Energy with me to boost my power level to be able to adapt to B+ Ranked Energies. "Even Spirit Energy itself contains Fallen Energy. Burst Mode is what Valkyrias use to dispel that energy and in doing so, Fallen Energy is radiated everywhere..."
I leaned against Yusa, my eyes glued to the battle below. I watched in pure awe and admiration for Yumeji and Kikyo, seeing them in a new light. Genesis calmed down, sitting upon Yusa's shoulder and kept gathering data for her training systems.
Kikyo focused even more, taking a deep breath and exhaling. 'My Soulmate...Yumeji Kugo are certainly a Fool, but even a Fool can be tricked. You can stop time with your Fractured Time Clones, but with that alone means nothing. How many do you have..?'
Kikyo scanned the arena using Spirit Sense to check for each of Yumeji's clones, finding them all scattered around the arena. Suddenly, time stopped, Kikyo frozen in time for a moment. Before she knew it, Yumeji struck her with a fiery punch to her cheek, her golden eyes glowing within the frozen time.
Kikyo groaned as she was blown away then recovered onto one knee and slid backwards. She got up quickly, evading each of Yumeji's strikes, grunting at each of her near misses. Yumeji backed off Kikyo, throwing her off guard then taunted Kikyo by pointing toward her.
"In Burst Mode, my Time Manipulation is amplified," Yumeji began, snapping her fingers with a smirk. "You better dodge..~"
Kikyo rose an eyebrow, her heart thumping and immediately sensing an attack then evaded it by stepping backwards. She stumbled a bit, readying her katana. 'What in the Origins was that..?'
"Instantaneous Strike..~" Yumeji said, snapping her fingers again.
Immediately, Kikyo was struck by an invisible force, knocking her off balance then a barrage of Kikyo's Time Clones began striking her at once. While Kikyo was getting pummeled, Yumeji dashed forward at high speed using her last Fractured Time Clone to stop time.
'This is it!~ Shower Time!~' Yumeji thought as she launched a flying kick.
Kikyo tried her hardest to move in frozen time, but alas her attempts failed. With a deep desire, she tried her hardest, using every bit of will...finally, a crack. Kikyo opened one eye, perceiving Yumeji strike in frozen time, evading her strike.
Yumeji's eyes widened in disbelief, her mind swirling with thoughts—miscalculation? No, she knew she was on target, she couldn't have miscalculated when she froze time. She knew the duration couldn't have conveniently ran out since time was still frozen.
Yumeji landed on the ground, standing up straight and glanced back at Kikyo. She stared at Kikyo for a moment, finally gathering her words. "You dodged..."
Kikyo held her katana out, her back turned from Yumeji. She sheathed her blade slowly, taking a deep breath then exhaled, lightning crackling around her body. "Yume... you do remember my clan is your clan's rival, right? My Uncle, Mifune Maeda, taught me the arts of the Bushido."
"I know that but it can't beat my Mom's Time Skip~" Yumeji smirked, jabbing the area with a chuckle.
Kikyo giggled as well and opened one eye, a tomoe symbol forming in her eye, her Marking Vow awakening. "First I'll remind you of an old technique...Single Mist."
Before Yumeji could react, Kikyo was already behind her. Kikyo sheathed her katana, a delayed slash striking Yumeji, causing her to groan and fall to one knee.
Kikyo looked back at Yumeji, her right eye shining brightly. "The Maeda also train with Instantaneous Strike, and with my clan's Marking Vow, The Vow of Bushido, while in Burst Mode...I can never miss while I have my sights on you..."
Yumeji smirked a bit and slowly stood up, turning around to face Kikyo. "Heh...it's been so long since we've gotten this serious..~ I like that look in your eyes...gets me all heated..~"
"Alright, enough. Back to the fight!" Liao Ru playfully scolded, shaking her head with Misao softly laughing behind her.
I stared at the battlefield, glancing up at Yusa with my arms wrapped around her. "Isn't Quick Attack an Instantaneous Strike?"
"No, it's an Imperceivable Strike, different from an Instantaneous Strike. Iaijutsu and Iaido practices Instantaneous Strike, which is the act of striking instantly before anyone but you notices," Yusa explained then pointed at Kikyo.
"What Kikyo did was an example of it, her Single Mist was an Iaijutsu Technique. She practices Iaido and Iaijutsu. Imperceivable Strikes are when you're moving so fast, your opponent can't properly perceive you. You're overwhelming their senses," Yusa finished, looking back down at me.
"This fight is getting intense. So much data...the new age looks very promising!" Genesis said, continuing to scan the battle.
Yumeji took on her battle stance then unholstered her pistol, setting a Time Clone and using her Time Dilation. She began firing multiple bullets at Kikyo, but Kikyo's sights were set. Within a blink of Yumeji's eye, Kikyo was already behind her, sheathing her katana.
Yumeji groaned as a delayed slash struck her at her midsection, causing time to resume at normal speed. She grunted softly, trying to figure out how Kikyo was now faster than her time abilities. Kikyo dashed toward Yumeji, leaping toward her while flourishing her blade.
"You won't be faster than my Bushido Techniques!" Kikyo bellowed, slashing down at Yumeji.
Yumeji evaded Kikyo's slices then sensed Kikyo appear behind her at lightning speeds, but as soon as she pivotef around, Kikyo already struck her. Kikyo began her assault, a barrage of swift slashes then knocked her away with a kick.
Yumeji recovered, using her Spirit Sense to perceive Kikyo's speed during her Single Mist. She noticed trail of lightning, looking over her shoulder and noticed Kikyo behind her. Instinctively, she set a Time Clone to activate her Time Dilation.
Yumeji looked at ahead, noticing her trail of lightning flashing then set another clone at the moment she was struck to create a Fractured Time Clone. Time resumed, the delayed slash striking Yumeji and blowing her away.
Kikyo noticed Yumeji standing up, readying herself then noticed her smile. She stared at her for a moment, Spirit Energy bursting around her body as she entered Burst Mode. "Unlike you, I reserved my Burst Mode. Now prepare to do the chores for a month!"
Yumeji chuckled and closed her eyes, taking a deep breath and exhaled. 'No shot she doesn't see the glaringly obvious Fractured Time Clone. I doubt she would let me pull that off again...Just one lucky shot...'
Yumeji began stretching her legs then crouched down into a running start. "I'm not as fast as you without my Time Dilation, but in a fight, I'm just too unpredictable...~"
"Come, Yume. Let's finish this," Kikyo said, her left eye shining brightly.
Yumeji immediately dashed toward Kikyo, tossing up one of her pistols then kicked it at Kikyo, sending the firearm spinning toward her. Kikyo deflected the gun, sending it into the air and rushed forward with a forward slash.
Yumeji evaded then slash then snapped her fingers, one of her time clones catching her pistol and firing an energy bullet at Kikyo. Kikyo evaded the bullet then rushed forward. Kikyo clapped her hands together, each of Yumeji's clones appeared around Kikyo.
"Kugo Technique: Temporal Barrage!" Yumeji bellowed, commanding each one of her clones to strike Kikyo instantaneously.
Kikyo closed her right eye, focusing her senses in her Marking Vow within her left eye. She began perceiving each Time Clone, striking down each one one by one. She bellowed as she slashed all around her, destroying each clone then rushed toward Yumeji.
Yumeji launched herself forward as well with a flying kick, using her Fractured Time Clone to stop time completely. She landed on the ground upon one knee, time resuming and the arena was in silence. Kikyo's sheathed her sword, her aura disappearing then she fell to the ground.
Liao Ru went to call the match until she heard Yumeji groan from Kikyo's final Single Mist, looking at her as she fell to the ground. "This match ends with a No Contest! A Draw!"
I couldn't help but to clap for the battle, inspired by their show of strength and smiling brightly. "That was amazing...I can't wait to be at their level one day...maybe then..."
Yusa placed her arm around me and smiled. "You will be on that level one day, but it's one step at a time..."
I looked at Yusa and rolled my eyes at her. "I know that, Mom..."
Yusa laughed softly, holding me closely. I couldn't help but to smile at her, enjoying spending this quality time with her. It was like with her, my worries could all flutter away.