On the third day of training, Akeno is preparing breakfast for everyone in the training ground. Ever since the talk she had with Koneko on the first day they arrive here, she became meek and only watch Koneko from the side and prepared all living necessities for everyone. Kisuke doesn't know what happened to her and Koneko when he left them, but he wouldn't refuse free help. He even started teaching her some techniques in housekeeping to elevate her efficiency.
Akeno did everything is was told and listened to every word he spoke which almost creeped out Kisuke, but with Aika trying her everything to pour the frustration of her training to Kisuke because of the machines that he invented to accelerate training, Kisuke didn't mind Akeno much. Aside from 'Dodgeball of Death', Yoruichi also used 'Treadmill of Death', 'Jumprope of Death', 'Obstacle course of Death', 'Balance ball of Death', 'Stress ball of Death' and many more which are all devised by Kisuke and all named by Aika.
In between the 'Death Sentences', Yoruichi would teach Aika Flash Step, basic Zanjutsu and basic Hakuda. Due to her awakened nature as a Shinigami, she's learning everything at a remarkable pace. Although all this time, she hasn't transformed into Shinigami due to her lacking Reiatsu-Ki she can use.
Kisuke also made some candy pills that he infused with his own Reiatsu-Ki for Aika to take and temporarily activate her Shinigami powers but he chooses to hide it first as she doesn't need it now.
Throughout Koneko's meditation, if she's not doing anything, Akeno is always 20 meters around her. During her watch, Akeno would sometimes witness Koneko's cat ears would catch some white flames. Akeno immediately asks Kisuke about this phenomenon and the latter only laughs and found it intriguing which frustrates Akeno more. Kisuke accompanied her to watch how is Koneko and also witnessed these white flames, "Hooh~... So that's it... It looks like she already has some success which is good news. Don't worry about her too much, Himejima-san. She's doing great."
"What are those white flames?" Akeno couldn't help but asks.
"I'm not really sure... But if I have to say something, it's probably the attribute which she is most adept with." Kisuke rubbed his chin as he answers.
"Why are you letting her do this if even you don't know about this?" Akeno turned to his direction and felt incredulous at this reckless guy.
"Because I think it's the most effective way to prime Senjutsu. Remember this, No matter how strong you become, you shouldn't neglect control as that is more important. As for why, you have to think about it yourself." Kisuke replied to her and turned around to get back to his Power Collector and check some of its properties and if they'll be useful for something.
"What if you can get stronger but you have to use a power that you don't like?" Akeno suddenly asks at Kisuke's leaving back.
Kisuke stopped walking but didn't turn around, "Set your priorities straight. Like any other adults tell you, separate what you want and what you need. If you can have or protect what you need by using a power that you hate, then the answer for me is pretty obvious. You're extremely fortunate that you have a choice like that. Others don't even get a chance to protect what's left of them. Don't be a spoiled brat." He then resumed walking.
Akeno was pissed at his last words and about to call out to him, but as she processes his first words, she stopped her self and fell into another deep contemplation about herself. As her thought process advances, she bit her lips and clenched her fist. Akeno understood what he means but she still can't accept it. She really is a spoiled brat.
Koneko finished her training session and opened her eyes which was greeted by Akeno's frustrated face, "Akeno-senpai, what's wrong?"
"N-nothing! How are you? Are you done? I've prepared food for you, but if you want to bath first, Urahara-kun said that you can use the hot spring." Akeno stood up and immediately returned to her normal expression.
"Then I would like to take a bath first." Koneko didn't think more about it because she felt Kisuke's aura slowly moving away from here, 'Kisuke-senpai probably said something to her again.'
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On the fifth day of training, Akeno prepared to leave but only Koneko and Kisuke are present to send her off. Yoruichi and Aika are still playing their death games. Aika would even sometimes provoke Yoruichi to release some of her stress. Kisuke thinks that she's getting addicted to the stimulus that near-death situations produce, "She's broken." Yoruichi couldn't disagree with Kisuke.
"Koneko-chan... I have to go... Please take care of yourself." Akeno patted Koneko's head and she nodded. Akeno then faced Kisuke, "Thank you for taking care of me these past three days. I won't forget your words." Akeno bowed slightly towards him.
Kisuke nodded with a serious expression and said, "As your teacher, I have nothing else to teach you with the way of housekeeping. But this isn't certainly the end of your journey. Go forth and start your adventure Master Maid. Wherever you go, you'll become a fine maid."
"Wait! That's not what I talking ab---" Before she could say more, Kisuke, with a wave his fan, sent Akeno outside with teleportation magic.
"Kisuke-senpai... I think she wants to say something." Koneko's mouth twitches at Kisuke rude act.
"Dun wanna heart it." Kisuke grinned and started walking back, "Let's go Koneko. Ignore that Apprentice Maid for now. You're the only one who has the possibility to beat that Fried Chicken. We'll start your training now."
"Apprentice? Didn't you say she's already a master?"
"She doesn't deserve it due to the way she acts."
Koneko tilted her head in confusion.
"... bout!... Where is this?" Somewhere within the Kuoh Town, Akeno suddenly appeared inside a cosplay shop that specializes in maid attires. Akeno was dumbfounded at her situation and recalled Kisuke's last words to her, 'That bastard seriously thinks that I'm a maid now!?' A note suddenly dropped in front of her and she picked it up. Written in it is Kisuke's message, "Before you start your adventure, an armor that will accompany you to your countless battles. By the way, I recommend you take the one at the corner of the shop 2nd item from the last one on the 3rd aisle."
Out of curiosity, she followed his direction and saw a skimpy maid outfit that reveals her underboob and plump legs is she is to wear it. "That bastard! And how did he know such obscure shop like the back of his palm?" Akeno then proceeds to read the rest of his message, "I discovered it by chance and I thought that it'll be useful for something like this. Praise me!"
Akeno wanted to spit on the paper but due to her upbringing, she can't do such uncouth action, "F^ck you! What useful!? You pervert!" But she couldn't stop herself from cursing out loud. "The first thing you have to do is to keep that temper of yours. Your master wouldn't like it unless he/she has some special hobby."
Reaching this point, Akeno crumpled the paper without reading further and incinerating it with her lightning. Strangely enough, as the ashes fell to the floor, it formed words, "Geez, don't use magic in public. That's common sense! I shall demote you to Apprentice Maid Akeno-chan for this act! I hope you learn your lesson!"
"AHHHHHHHHH!!!!" Akeno's shout filled with anger echoed throughout the shop and the street it is in. She had to use magic to erase the memories of those who witness her and walked out of the shop with flushed face, "I'll remember this, you damned pervert!"
I hate Mondays, hahaha.
Enjoy~
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"Start my training? Aren't I already training for these past five days?" Koneko asks Kisuke while they're walking back towards the place where Koneko would always meditate.
"Well yeah... But the way you are now, you won't be able to touch that Fried Chicken even if you caught him off guard. You can take a few hits from his 'Queen' but that's about it. You can't count on that master of yours. She might be able to strategize but she can't beat the Fried Chicken. Himejima-san might be able to do it with her holy power, but something is stopping her from using it and I doubt she'll be able to overcome her fear without a good catalyst. Issei is too weak to pull out the power of his Scared Gear. Kiba-san, although he has potential, he's a normal fighter right now. Lastly, Asia-san is a pure healer and can only be beside one of you, and that will be your master's side for sure. In other words, your group has no chance of winning as the trend goes." Kisuke didn't change his pace and explained the situation to Koneko.
"... Then what should I do?..." Koneko stopped walking and looked down biting her lips and clenching her fist.
"That's up to you... How much do you want to risk it?" Kisuke also stopped walking and faced her.
Koneko looked up and saw his serious expression without a trace of his former nonchalant attitude. She shook when she looked at his eyes which contains rare strictness, "... How much should I risk?"
"Haah... Koneko... Why are you asking me that? Didn't I tell you that it's up to you?" Kisuke let out a sigh but he continued to look at her.
"But-" Koneko started to shake under his stare as fear slowly surfaces.
"Koneko, I won't be here forever to decide for you. I'm giving you this chance now to do something you yourself decided without me pushing you to a choice." Kisuke interrupted her and continue speaking. He has to remind Koneko now that her future is hers and should not be easily given to others.
"..." Koneko is speechless. Since the beginning, even though she's trying to distance herself from the others, she's been looking for something or someone to lean on. But when she finally found it, she's being tossed away. Her thoughts halted into a full stop as she stares at Kisuke blankly.
Kisuke already expected this, but he didn't expect that she'll be this dependent on him which isn't good. "You'll be walking this path on your own in the future as even I don't know what lies ahead. All I can do is give you occasional guidance, but even that would certainly stop as you move beyond the realm that I can't understand."
"...Senpai..." Koneko called out to him be she still doesn't know what to say.
"Don't mistake me as your master. As I said since the start, Yoruichi and I started this out of a whim to see where you could go. I'm just someone who shamelessly meddled with your life and give you a startup push in a certain direction."
"..." Koneko now felt that he's getting farther away from where she couldn't reach him. Now he's even denying the relationship she thought they have. 'What is he saying!? What's happening!?' Aside from fear, doubt is also starting to take root on her mind. No matter how much she tries to resolve herself to continue what she's doing despite the chances of losing control of herself, it's still the trauma that shaped her childhood and couldn't discard it easily even after knowing the truth about her elder sister.
"Are you scared? Of which one? Are you are not mistaking it for being scared of losing control yourself to the fear of the unknown future?"
"...What...?" Just as she's about to lose grasp of reality, his words awaken her, 'Fear of the future?'
"Every time you look at Aika gritting her teeth to continue her training, what comes to your mind?"
"I'm jealous of how she could let go of her worries and do what she wants regardless of the consequences that might haunt her further in the future," Koneko answered blankly without thinking too much about his question.
"Right? You're jealous, but of what? Think about it again."
"Of how she let's go of her worries?"
"In other words, your jealous of that idiot's ability to forget about things and just do what she wants."
"..." Koneko stayed silent but she could now understand a little what he's trying to say.
"You never got jealous of her ability to overcome her training nor her luck for not losing control of herself even though you two are on the same boat that can sink anytime."
"I'm scared of the future?" Koneko muttered.
"It's true that it became your trauma when you thought that your elder sister became insane and killed you, former master. But what scared you the most is the fact that your sister suddenly left you and you didn't know what to do."
"Ah... I get it..." Koneko got a glimpse of light in the dark hallway, 'I'm just hiding behind the fact that I'm scared of hurting others when the truth is I just want someone to carry me and lead the way so that I wouldn't have to think about it again...'
Koneko wiped the tears that are accumulating in her eyes and looked straight to Kisuke's eyes, "Yes... senpai. I'm scared of what would happen in the future. I don't know if I can still be with Buchou and the rest the way I am. At the start, I thought that I'm just scared of hurting them if I use Senjutsu, but it looks like what you said is the truth, I'm afraid that they would turn their backs on me if I become like my sister... I don't want to be left alone again..." Even though she just wiped her tears, it started falling again.
Kisuke finally smiled and patted her head, "Now that you finally know and admitted it to yourself, that means you already started on something instead of running away from it. I'll be honest, I'm no psychiatrist, so I don't really know how to cure your trauma aside from pointing it out to and force you to face it."
Koneko wiped her tears again and shook her head, "No... I'm very thankful for what you've done. So please don't call involving with me shamelessly meddling with my life. If not for you I'll be running away all this time without me even knowing it. I just have a request, senpai."
"Hmm? Go ahead."
"Please don't ever turn your back at me."
"Hmmm... let's see... I guess I shouldn't do that if you're asking me." Kisuke pretended to be hesitating, but for Koneko, it's the most reassuring answer.
After a few moments of silence that calmed her down, Koneko once again faced Kisuke, "Senpai, please teach me how to beat up that Fried Chicken."
"It won't be easy~." Kisuke knew that Koneko would still depend on him but she already started moving forward which is already enough for him.
"Yes, I know... By the way, senpai. I want to experience losing control of myself once under your watch. If I can't run away from it, I'll just embrace it."
Alright~ Calm down~
I'm no psychiatrist so I don't know if I'm doing this right. So please don't throw any axes on me.
It might look like some forced character development, but please forgive this author.
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Anyways,
Enjoy~
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