Chapitre 24: New Routine
The next training was odd, It started when Akisame stopped Kenichi's training at 55 pushups, then the second time it happened was sparring with Miu when Sakaki stopped the training after Kenichi lost the first round. It was all too odd at the first, masters never went that easy ever, then it became all when Kenichi confronted them about it after training.
"What the hell is going here?!" Kenichi asked. All the masters gathered in the training room, sitting in rows like they were waiting for this moment. Ohma looked at all this curiously from the side of the room while resting against a wall near the door.
"I can see you all are planning something suspicious," Kenichi stated. "Just tell me."
Akisame was first to respond, but with a question: "Kenichi, do you like it here?"
Kenichi was confused for a moment, then answered, "Uh- Yes - This place is exhausting. But I like it here."
Akisame then laughed and looked at the other masters. "You heard that? It's been decided."
"Looks like the answer is 'yes'." Elder remarked.
"I knew he would agree." Sakaki smiled.
Apachai threw up while cheering. "Hooray!"
"What?" Kenichi looked more perplexed than before. "What's been decided?"
"My disciple," Akisame said, "Let me explain it to you. It's a new lifestyle planned for you, it consists of a disciple of Martial Arts and their sensei who devote their lives to learning the 'know-how' and techniques of their craft. It's a training that needs devotion of one's life, mad devotion where one could not live without Martial Arts. And you have been chosen for this lifestyle in Ryozanpaku."
As soon as Akisame finished speaking Kenichi dashed for the door.
"YOU THINK YOU'LL JUST RUN AWAY FROM THIS!" Akisame shouted and slammed his palm onto tatami mats. A wave ran through the floor flipping all the mats in Kenichi's direction.
Kenichi jumped towards the door and dodged just before a mat beneath his feet flipped over. Ohma nodded and slide open the door that moment and Kenichi passed through.
"His movements have improved," Sakaki remarked and leapt towards Kenichi from his sitting position.
"Stop it!" The elder shouted and followed Sakaki. "You will destroy this place."
Just as Kenichi reached the yard and felt the grass beneath his feet, Sakaki landed in front of him, he screamed and turned just to see the elder looming over him.
"Don't move." Elder said, resting his hand on Kenichi's shoulder and the disciple immediately froze.
Ohma still rested against the door, his eyes closed, they opened as Elder and Sakaki re-entered the room with Kenichi tied in rope.
"I'll die. I can't take even regular training without almost being killed." Kenichi cried. "Just let me go!"
"Don't fear death, Kenichi," Akisame said, "Life is but a slow process of it which begins on the day of birth."
Then Sakaki added, "Think about it. Do you really want to die of old age with regret of not exploring your body's limit?"
Kenichi heard no word, just struggled against the rope. "No, I am fine the way I am."
"Now, if you say it like that no young one would agree," Kensei stated from the side. "I can persuade him better."
"Persuade him?" Akisame looked over his shoulder to Kensei as the other master walked over to them and sat next to Kenichi.
"Now listen, there are many good things that come with living in a dojo," Kensei said.
"Like what?" Kenichi spat, then stopped struggling.
"Well for the start, you'll live under the same roof as Miu."
Then Kenichi suddenly as attentive, more than he ever was as Kensei started explaining special aspects of this lifestyle which included running into Miu, living with Miu, taking baths with Miu, and flirting with Miu among others. By the end of it, Kenichi had a whole different reaction than before.
"I want to be a live-in disciple." Then he got up grinning with excitement and left the room before saying. "I am going back home, I need my parents' permission."
The Elder, Akisame and Sakaki sighed in disappointment.
Akisame: "Is he really a good choice?"
The Elder: "He is truthful kid, that's sure."
Sakaki: "That's not an admirable method you used there, Kensei."
"It worked and that's all that matters." Kensei snickered before looking over to Ohma. "What about you, Ohma?"
"I'll pass," Ohma replied lazily, "I have my training to do in Niko Style."
******************
The next day the training routine changed, difficulty was changed considerably more. Ohma was tied to a large shovel-like device from his back to his ankles, all the while Sakaki pulled up the handle with one hand and pushed him forward while running around forcing him to run around the yard on his hands. Besides Ohma;/Kenichi was in the same condition.
"The strength of a person's legs is three times stronger than the arms. Why is that? Because normally we exercise our legs more than other limbs." Sakaki said. "Now move faster."
"How is training supposed to help?!" Kenichi cried as he almost stumbled on his hand and fell heard first.
It was Akisame who answered from the side while noting who knows what in his notebook. "If you want to truly master your body, then make your arms as strong as your legs and make your feet as versatile as your hands - By Shigure."
Next was training with Apachai in freestyle boxing, it was as always was a one-punch knockout for Kenichi. After that was a bath before dinner.
"Seriously did you get a hot spring here?" Ohma asked. His body was slumped on the edge, free, letting the warmth of water takeover him as steam filled the area. This was relaxing.
"One day, Apachai suddenly wanted to dig this area," The elder explained, "and three later these water sprang up from the hole he made."
"Whatever..." Ohma groaned as the warmth took over his lower back, "After training like hell this makes it all worth it.'
" I certainly agree." The Elder sickened before turning away, then he suddenly got up and thrust his hands into the bushes nearby.
"If you want to take a bath then come in."
Saying this the Elder pulled two figures, Ohma recognised to be Kensei and Kenichi and threw them into the water.
"What are you guys doing here?!" Kenichi screamed. "Sensei told me, Miu would be here."
"But there is only us!" The Elder said. "But don't give up on one try, you'll get your chance next time!"
Ohma slumped deeper into the water, covering half his face. 'Sometimes I forget how weird these people are.'
*******************
Somewhere else in the town, near the Girls' School, a showdown was taking place on the streets. One side was a cloaked boy that had the upper half of his face covered; the sixth fist of Ragnarok named Hermit, the other side, a few feet away was Rin Itsuka in her casual summer outfit with a filled sword bag hanging on her back.
"How many of you weirdos are there in this place?" Rin asked.
"I did not come here for a chat," Hermit said. "I came here to reclaim the territory my junior lost."
Rin snapped at him, "Look moron, me or my schools don't want to have anything with your delinquent war."
"Should have thought of that earlier," Hermit stated taking his stance. Standing sideways, front leg extended forward, the front hand extended in a chopping position, the other hand extended back in the same.
"Piguaquan," Rin muttered before taking her off her sword bag, "Looks like I have to take you seriously."
"So you know my style." Hermit snickered.
Rin said nothing and pulled out her Iaito. The blade was half her size in length and a centimetre in width.
"Fear not," Rin said taking her stance, "It's made up of an aluminium-zinc alloy, it will cut through your flesh but not your bones."
"Doesn't make much difference if the blade never touches me." Saying that the Hermit dashed at Rin.
Rin swung her blade the moment he got in range, but it one struck empty air and Hermit was nowhere to be seen.
'Where did he go?' Rin thought, and then she sensed something. 'Behind me.'
'Ryuubi: Dragon tail.'
Swiftly she performed a backward with the blunt side of her blade and she felt it strike something. She swiftly turned to see it and at the same moment, her attacker jumped backwards getting out of her range.
" Not many can block Tohatsucho-raigekikono in that position," Hermit said waving his hand in pain that he did not show in the exposed part of his face.
"Not many can block Ryuubi barehanded and not get bones shattered," Rin said, "But this has gone one too long. Time to end this."
"I agree," Hermit said taking his stance.
This time Rin dashed forward, Hermit was ready, he knew how to deflect weapons and this one was just a practice sword. He estimated the sword's range and the moment she was near him he moved back ready to move to her side for a strike, but then he suddenly stopped as a sharp pain ran through his chest. He looked down to see his shirt being split open with a bleeding cut that ran through the span of his chest to his upper abdomen.
"When did she?" Hermit gritted his teeth in pain as he stumbled back.
"The technique is called Carpenter's Square," Rin said. "How does it work? Figure it out for yourself. And Before that get yourself to a hospital and never show your face here ever again."
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone