Chapter 131 — A Friendly Spar
Chapter 131 — A Friendly Spar
Koneko
The training itself wasn’t much different than what I had been doing on my own.
I would focus on my Ki until I could coat my hands in Touki.
Then I would strike the target until my concentration slipped or my Toukai gave out.
What was odd was everyone else being present.
Buchou was sitting at the table reading papers with the glasses she would wear when she wanted to concentrate.
Akeno-senpai was casting lightning over and over until she had to pause to recover.
Thankfully the sound had been reduced to only a muffled boom due to the magic circle that was around her.
Asia-senpai was encouraging Gya-kun as he struggled to do pushups.
And Yuki-senpai stared at us.
The change around her was obvious when she entered her ability.
The visuals were obvious.
The black fur with the red tips at her ears and tails.
The clawed fingers that were gripping the edge of the cushion she sat on.
The crimson lines beneath her skin that showed when she shifted in place.
And her eyes.
The inhuman slit pupil and the rings around her irises.
They seemed to almost glow and draw you in, in a way that made it hard to break eye contact.
But her presence was the biggest change.
The air around her felt heavier when she changed into her state and lighter when she left it.
You could feel the weight of her gaze as she watched you in an almost hungry manor.
I had to suppress a shiver as her eyes shifted onto me as I practiced with my Ki.
Yuki-senpai had been shifting in and out of her state as we all trained in the room with her.
Sometimes she would stay in it longer than others.
She would always lock onto someone as soon as she entered it.
She would watch them until she left it again or she switch to watching someone else as they trained.
When she would start to seem restless she would exit the ability and take a moment to breath before starting again.
Once or twice she actually started to get off the couch while in her state before coming out of her state.
The first time was slow, like she was struggling to stop herself.
The second time wasn’t.
She was on her feet in an instant.
We all stopped our respective training when she stood.
She looked around the room with an unblinking gaze before she came out of her state and stumbled forward slightly.
Asia-senpai and I had gone to check on her, but she had waved us off saying that she only needed a moment.
That was the largest reaction that came from Yuki-senpai in the hour we spent training in the room.
Then Buchou moved to the center of the room and gathered everyone’s attention once more.
“Alright, that’s enough for today. It was short, but we don’t want to overload Yuki on the first try.” She looked at Yuki-senpai. “That being said, would you want to try sparring for some combat experience in Malediction’s Embrace? Only if you’re feeling up to it.”
She said the last part much softer.
Like she was afraid of pushing Yuki-senpai to decide anything.
“I… I think we can try sparring,” Yuki-senpai said. “We can keep it simple and short, to make sure nothing happens.”
“Okay. Then for your opp—“
“I’ll do it.” I said cutting Buchou off.
She blinked once.
“Are you sure Koneko?”.
“…I’m a [Rook],” I said. “I’m strong and tough, so I’m the best choice for a sparring partner. And it will help me train my Senjutsu more too. Akeno-senpai won’t be able to use holy lightning without risking serious damage to Yuki-senpai. So it makes the most sense.”
Akeno-senpai was giving me a questioning look that I ignored.
“That’s true. Is that alright with you Yuki?” Buchou asked.
Yuki-senpai searched my face for a moment before nodding to Buchou.
“Then the two of you should head to the mats and the rest of us will watch and get ready to intervene if need be.” Buchou said.
“D-don’t worry I can use my eyes to stop both of you if something happens!” Gya-kun said.
“Thank you, Gasper-kun.”
“…good job, Gya-kun.”
Gya-kun ran over to one of the couches and sat with Asai-senpai after we thanked him.
Buchou sat on the other and Akeno-senpai leaned on the side of Buchou’s couch.
I stood near the center of the room, arms at my sides, trying not to look as aware of everyone watching as I felt.
Yuki moved to stand across from me.
Her posture was too still.
Yuki-senpai almost never looked nervous in the ordinary way.
She seemed tense, like she was already anticipating something going wrong.
“…it will be fine, senpai. I won’t beat you too badly.” I said.
That got a smile out of her.
“You seemed quick to jump at the chance to hit me, Koneko-chan. Maybe I should be worried that you will.”
I let out an amused huff.
“Now don’t bully our little Kohai, Yuki-chan.” Akeno-senpai callled out sweetly.
I gave her a flat look.
Akeno-senpai pretended not to notice.
Yuki-senpai looked even less amused than I did.
“I’m the one in a bad match up,” Yuki-senpai said.
“Well I could switch places with Koneko-chan if you’re worried Yuki-chan.” Akeno-senpai said.
“We should start.”
My voice came out flatter than I meant it to, but that was better than sounding annoyed.
Yuki-senpai’s eyes shifted to me.
Buchou stood from her seat and stepped forward, just enough to make it clear the teasing part was over.
“This is a simple spar. Koneko, you will be focusing on your Senjitsu, and how you use it in a fight. Yuki, you are only to use your state ability and defend yourself. You can try to win the spar, but if we see you going too far or acting off, we will intervene. Gasper, you will need to be ready to use your Sacred Gear to stop them, Asia you will be ready in case we need healing, Akeno and I will subdue Yuki with Koneko’s help if need be.”
Buchou paused as she looked at Yuki-senpai and I.
“Is that alright with the both of you? We don’t need to do this today if you don't want to.”
Her voice was quieter and more concerted when she spoke to us.
I looked at Yuki-senpai.
I was nervous, but I wanted to help her training.
“… it’s fine, Buchou. We can do this.”
Yuki-senpai studied me for a moment before replying.
“If Koneko-chan says it’s fine with her, then it’s alright with me.”
Buchou nodded.
“This is not about winning. It’s about control.” Her expression turned serious. “If I call for a stop, you stop immediately. Understood?”
Yuki-senpai and I nodded.
Buchou looked between us one last time.
Then her eyes rested on Yuki-senpai.
“You may begin.” She said as she moved back to her seat.
Yuki-senpai closed her eyes and let out a slow breath.
Then the air near her changed as her tails and ears began to darken.
A subtle heaviness spread through the space between us.
I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand up as she opened her eyes.
The dark purple rings around her irises had reappeared, and her now narrowed pupils dilated slightly as they locked onto me.
It was still Yuki-senpai.
But it was also not just her.
Everything about her felt slightly off and her presence now put me on edge instead of at ease.
I realized that I had been too distracted when Yuki-senpai suddenly moved.
I brought my arms up just in time as she slammed into me and drove me backward across the floor.
It wasn’t enough to injure me, despite her claw-like nails leaving red lines on my arms.
I pushed her back and formed Toukai on my hands as I heard Asia-senpai gasp as Yuki-senpai rushed forwards towards me again.
Her hands came at me quickly, one against my shoulder, the other trying to get past my arm so that she could control my movement.
I twisted against it, dug in, and tried to strike back, but felt her body slide away instead of taking the direct force.
She quickly backed away, keeping herself at an arms length as she adjusted her stance to move again.
She knew she wasn’t stronger than me, and that she would go down in a few hits if I could get them to land.
I am a [Rook] and she understands that means she’ll never beat me in a contest of strength, so she would likely try and get me off balance.
She moved in more cautiously this time as she sent out a jab at my shoulder again.
I was ready this time and caught her wrist.
I pivoted, trying to throw her across my hip so that I could pin her.
She dipped low, let the motion carry her sideways instead of up, and her shoulder brushed against my stomach as she slipped under the attempt.
I stepped back at once.
So did she.
For half a second we faced each other again.
Her breathing was steady.
Mine wasn’t.
I felt on the back foot since I had let myself get distracted.
Then Yuki-senpai smiled.
It wasn’t nice like the ones before.
“What’s wrong, I thought you were going to give me a beating?” She said coyly.
“It’s just a spar, senpai. We are supposed to be practicing.” I replied.
“Well I think I’m going to win, and when I do…”
Her eyes moved over my body quickly before she grinned at me.
Heat touched my face immediately.
I tightened my stance.
“Stop talking.”
Her smile sharpened.
“Did that make you mad?” She tilted her head just slightly. “How cute.”
Akeno-senpai made an amused sound near the wall.
I ignored her.
Yuki-senpai started to move again but I was ready to meet her this time.
My forearm crashed against hers as she tried to push me off balance with a blow.
I was ready for it and swung my other arm with a hook into her side as she tried to move closer to me.
My Touki covered fist sent her up and back where she rolled once before coming up in a crouch.
She held her side with one hand and took a shuddering breath before glaring at me.
She came at me more recklessly this time.
She moved like she wanted to grapple me and I sent out a jab and prepared another for where she might dodge.
She dipped under my fist and redirected my other arm up as she stood.
I started to overpower her as she grabbed my other arm to stop me from sending another punch at her.
He knee struck the side of mine causing me to lurch as she moved closer and got a better grip on my arms.
“Give up,” she murmured.
I frowned as I started to push her back.
“No.”
She tried to move past me, but I was able to adjust my stance and keep her in front of me.
I sent out jabs covered in Toukai, but she kept close and was able to shift before they struck and dodged the blows.
“You could let me win now and save us both the effort of me getting what I want.”
My ears heated.
“Yuki-chan.” Buchou said sharply from the side.
“I’m only talking,” Yuki-senpai replied.
Her eyes never left mine.
I let her grab my arm when she lunged at me again.
I used it to pull her close and hooked the back of her knee with my leg and drove her down.
I would turn her plan of grappling against her and pin her to the floor.
Yuki-senpai dropped with me, not resisting the fall so much as making it messy.
My weight went over her.
My hands found purchase.
For half a second I thought I had her.
Then something caught the ankle of the leg supporting me.
A tail.
I realized it too late.
She yanked sharply, and my balance vanished under me.
It changed from me driving Yuki-senpai to the ground in a controlled manner into the two of us crashing to the floor together.
The floor hit hard on my front.
The breath was knocked out of me for a brief moment.
I went to get up, but felt a weight on my back as Yuki-senpai pulled one of my arms back, locking it behind me as she completed the pin.
Her chest was against my back and her weight was pinning my hips to the floor.
I went still for a split second out of pure surprise.
She had gotten both of us to the ground, but the way we landed had ended in her favor.
Of course it had.
I could feel the heat of her body through our clothes.
I felt my pulse jump at the contact as I debated forcing her off of me with my superior strength.
Buchou’s voice cut across the room.
“Reset.”
Yuki-senpai didn’t move.
For one second, I thought maybe she was just ending her ability and needed a moment.
Then her free hand slid over my side.
Something that did not belong in a normal spar.
My breath caught.
“Y-Yuki-senpai,” I started.
Her nails scraped along my side as I twisted under her, trying to get free
Her weight only settled more firmly as she increased the pressure on my arm trapped arm.
The room had gone very, very quiet.
“Yuki, get off of her,” Buchou said again, sharper now.
Yuki-senpai didn’t respond.
I drew in a breath to say something to Buchou when her face pressed into the side of my neck.
I jolted and then froze.
My hand tightened against the floor.
She spoke right against my skin.
“Mine.”
My whole body locked.
Her mouth touched the crook of my neck.
I felt her teeth press hard against my skin.
Akeno
When Rias called the spar to end and Yuki-chan didn’t move I realized something was wrong.
I had been paying attention to her while I had trained.
Her new ability changed her in a familiar way.
That hungry look in her eyes that I found myself wanting to coax out of her was there, only more.
It was present in her immediately after she changed and it was worse than normal.
The way she looked at us was heavier.
That hungry gaze of hers was deeper and almost feral in it’s intensity.
I couldn’t decide exactly how I felt about it yet, but it had been very distracting when it was pointed at me while I was training.
And now Yuki-chan had Koneko-chan pinned beneath her.
Koneko-chan should have won in a straight fight against Yuki-chan, but she had been distracted at the start and the intensity of Yuki-chan’s attacks was surprising.
I couldn’t blame her for losing the first spar, and I knew that she couldn’t let it happen again now that she knew what to expect from Yuki-chan.
“R-Rias-san? Should we do something?” Asia-chan asked.
Rias was already frowning as she watched the two of them.
“I-I can use my eyes on them to stop them if you want me to Buchou.” Gasper-kun.
She nodded.
“Be ready.” She said. Then much louder, “Yuki, get off her.”
Yuki-chan still didn’t reply.
I took two steps towards them.
Rias turned to Gasper-kun.
I saw Yuki-chan move her head closer to Koneko, but the angle was to awkward to what she was doing.
“Gasper, go ahead a—“
Rias was cut off by a shriek of surprised pain from Koneko-chan.
I was moving immediately and halfway to them already.
“A-Akeno-senpai, you’re in the way!” Gasper-kun cried.
“Get them apart!” Rias shouted to me as she followed close behind.
I could see that Yuki-chan’s face was pressed against the crook of Koneko-chan’s neck.
Koneko-chans face was flushed pink and her surprised look of pain was quickly switching to confusion.
Yuki-chan shifted against her and Koneko-chan let out another surprised noise.
But this time her voice changed to something more breathy before she quickly cut it off.
I would have taken the time to poke fun at Koneko-chan if it wasn’t for the fact that as Rias and I grabbed Yuki-chan to get her off of her, Yuki-chan wrenched herself free and turned on us with a snarl.
A low, warning sound tore out of her throat.
Her inhuman eyes narrowed at us as her tails thrashed behind her in agitation.
She took a step towards us as Gasper-kun and Asia-chan arrived next to us.
Then Koneko-chan shouted at her as she stood.
“Yuki-senpai!”
Her voice sounded more annoyed and frustrated than anything else.
At that Yuki-chan faltered.
She looked back at Koneko-chan before looking back at the rest of us.
Her eyes looked lost rather than hostile like they had before.
She shut her eyes and clutched the sides of her head as she started to change back.
The heavy pressure disappeared and her fur quickly lightened back to its silver-white color.
When she opened her eyes they were normal again and she immediately turned to Koneko-chan.