CH. 3 - More Friends Arrive! The Twirler Attacks the Dojo!

Come the next day at school, Wolf and Phoenix are walking out as usual when a small, brown haired boy with round yellow eyes jumps onto Wolf's back.

"Wolfy!"

He says happily before giggling as Wolf struggles to maintain her footing while laughing a bit. Another boy approaches them from behind as Phoenix smiles seeing him.

"Tadashi! Hey man!"

He smiles and high fives her. Saika then hops off of Wolf with a big smile.

"What happened to you guys yesterday?? We didn't see you at practice or anything!" He asks with a big smile.

"Yeah, kinda needed some me time." Wolf responds.

"I get that. But Teach isn't too happy with you." Saika, the small boy, says.

"Meh, Teach, smeech. I'll be fine"

Wolf responds casually. Saika smiles at her happily when suddenly Killian appears behind them with a big smile on his face.

"Hey guys how's it going?"

He says with his naturally loud tone, startling Saika as he was right in his ear. Saika freaks out and instinctually punches Killian in the nose, hard, giving him a nose bleed. Saika looks at him with a panicked, concerned look.

"Ah! Killian, I'm so sorry!"

"Nope.. my bad.. Totally forgot how easily you startle.." He says, cupping the blood pouring from his nose.

"Still a scaredy cat." Tadashi says with a smile.

"Like always." Phoenix adds.

Tadashi then looks up and sees Moshiro marching their way with anger on her face. He leans over and elbows Phoenix lightly to get her attention. She looks at him as he nods his head towards Moshiro.

"What do you think she did this time?" He asks.

"Who knows? It's Wolf. I've never met anyone more annoying." She replies.

Wolf laughs at Killian for a moment when suddenly a hand grabs her by the shoulder and swings her around. Before she can react, she gets punched in the stomach by Moshiro, causing Wolf to fall to the ground. Phoenix and Tadashi both wince at the strike as Moshiro huffs.

"Good form, Moshi!"

Phoenix cheers as Tadashi gives her a thumbs up. Moshiro looks at them and smirks a bit before getting angry again and leaning over Wolf on the ground. 

"Thanks a lot for yesterday. Since you didn't show up, I got an earful from Teach about it. You think I like to get scolded for something you did?" She asks rhetorically, fuming.

"Well… if it means anything… he scolded me yesterday too…"

She responds with a pained tone on the ground. Moshiro sighs and leans back.

"Such a pain in the ass.."

She looks at Killian sitting on the ground as Saika helps him with his nose.

"And what happened to you?"

"Saika punched me in the face."

"It was an accident!"

Moshiro chuckles just a bit.

"Pfft. This little guy was able to make you bleed?"

She asks with a smile as Killian defends himself.

"Hey! He's stronger than he looks!"

Wolf slowly gets up, shaking a bit from the punch. She puts her hand on Moshiro's shoulder.

"Yeah, just like you."

She says weakly. Moshiro gets angry and punches Wolf in the stomach, dropping her once again. They all laugh at Wolf and Moshiro for a moment until Tadashi notices Teach behind them, sees them and starts marching their way in an extremely similar fashion to Moshiro before him. Tadashi sweats a bit before stepping away. Suddenly, standing over them comically huge, Teach clears his throat causing all of them to tense up. 

"Aren't you supposed to be at my dojo by now?"

He asks menacingly. Phoenix and Saika step back as Moshiro and Tadashi step next to each other. Wolf stands up again, holding her stomach.

"Ah, I'm hurt. I don't think I can make it in today.."

She says before Teach whips her back with his hand causing her to yelp in pain. 

"Yeah, I've got a bloody nose so I think I'm gonna go deal with that-"

He says trying to sneak away but Teach catches him and slaps his back too causing them both to stumble in front of him as he continues to slap their backs, pushing them forward. They yelp in the distance as Teach chases them to his dojo, shouting at them to move faster.

"I guess that's our queue to go." He says as Moshiro follows.

"See you guys later."

They wave goodbye to Phoenix and Saika as they follow the others. They watch them for a moment before Phoenix looks at Saika.

"Wanna get some sweet bread on the way home?"

Saika's eyes light up as he gets excited.

"Ooh! Can we??"

He asks excitedly as she smiles warmly and nods before they walk away together. 

In Teach's dojo, Killian, Wolf and Moshiro do sit ups over and over again, sweating and panting from the workout in their karate until Killian shouts.

"500!"

He finishes his set and rolls backwards over his head before jumping up to a one armed handstand. 

"Hey, have you guys ever wondered what it would be like if we developed superpowers?"

He asks excitedly. Moshiro rolls her eyes and continues as Wolf responds.

"Not.. really.."

She answers between sit ups. Killian begins doing one armed handstand pushups as he speaks.

"What would we even do?"

"Don't know.. Trying to focus.."

Moshiro says between breaths. Killian's face lights up a bit as he smiles.

"Do you think that would be enough to get us into the ASA?"

He asks excitedly as Wolf scoffs a bit.

"Why would.. you wanna go there?"

"Come on, it's a super elite academy, that's gotta sound fun to some degree! And they do a lot of charity work all around the world."

As he speaks, Teach approaches them and taps on Killian's foot lightly causing him to laugh before falling over.

"Pfft! Haha! C'mon Teach! You know I'm ticklish!"

He giggles on the floor as Teach smiles at him.

"It is true, and the ASA is always on the lookout for more… unnoticed talent."

Wolf rolls her eyes with an audible huff, brushing his words off. Teach turns his attention to Wolf.

"Oh? Charity work and heroism not good enough for you, Wolf?"

"I mean, if you're trying to be a boring follower, go ahead, be my guest…"

She grumbles as Teach raises an eyebrow at her. He crouches down in front of her, softly.

"I am aware you find heroes to be boring and I do understand how you feel about the Academy, but don't be so hasty to pass judgement. The ASA stands as a symbol of peace and order for people all over the world. A place to develop Soul. Perhaps it wouldn't be such a bad thing if you did end up there."

He says gently as Wolf stares at him with her big eyes. She then laughs to herself a bit.

"Haha, yeah well don't hold your breath. Even if I wanted to, how would someone like me make it there?"

She says while looking away, a smirk on her face but her eyes read something else. Teach sighs as he stands up.

"As long as you focus on your training, you'll be able to make it anywhere."

He says with a supportive tone as Wolf pouts softly and looks away.

"Yeah right. This training isn't helping anyone, what's even the point?."

Wolf grumbles. Teach looks a bit surprised as Killian and Moshiro look at her, too.

"I can figure it out on my own.."

She mumbles. Teach looks at her for a moment before speaking. 

"You know why you're here." He crouches down and takes a knee next to her. "I thought you wanted to learn control?"

He says softly as Wolf looks at him with a look of slight disappointment in herself. She then looks away. 

"I don't need you to worry about me. I can figure it out myself."

She says softly. Killian and Moshiro look softly surprised, a little concerned, even. Teach sighs a bit.

"Wolf, yo-"

He begins to speak when a beeper goes off. He stands up and slides his sleeve over his watch as he looks at it.

"It seems I'm needed elsewhere." He says with a conflicted look. "I'm going to be late so Moshiro is in charge."

Wolf and Killian look upset as Moshiro smirks a bit.

"What??" Wolf whines.

"Why does she get to be in charge??" Killian asks.

"Because she's the only one I can trust to not destroy the place. I want you practicing your Jun Ki. And please don't complain about Tadashi getting special training, I'll know if you do."

He says while exiting the dojo. Wolf turns and looks at Killian.

"Well, I guess we gotta destroy the place."

Killian giggles as Moshiro stands up with a huff. 

"Come on, let's get started."

"Ugh, but the Jun Ki is so boring." Wolf complains.

"I don't care. Teach told us to practice it so we will."

Killian stands up next to her. 

"I agree it's boring, but Teach knows what he's doing. I wanna become strong enough to protect people and he knows how to do that."

Wolf pouts some more.

"Since when did he get to dictate my future?.."

"Since you came into his dojo and challenged him to a fight. And lost." Moshiro says, obviously annoyed by Wolf's groaning.

"Oh yeah! You got your ass kicked so hard, haha!"

Killian laughs. Wolf looks upset before thinking about Teach.

"I thought you wanted to learn control."

She gets a conflicted look before sighing loudly and leaning back on her hands. She looks up at the ceiling for a moment before looking behind her and seeing Tadashi working hard, clashing shinai with an instructor and getting lessons on proper sword form. She watches him for a moment before getting up.

"Whatever. I guess Killian's right. Teach is way stronger than I am."

She looks at her hand before clenching her fist.

"He can show me more than I know. I can always get stronger."

Moshiro sighs in relief and smiles a bit.

"Finally done whining for the day?"

Wolf smiles at her.

"Yep! Just had to get it out of my system." She says with a smile.

"You always get in a bad mood when Teach tries to tell you something. You really gotta grow out of that."

Killian says with an innocent smile as Wolf looks at him with an annoyed look.

"I'll show you something that can grow in a minute."

"hUh??"

"Shut up. Let's get to it."

Moshiro commands as the three of them begin their practicing of their form.

A few hours pass and Killian and Tadashi have already gone home. Moshiro starts taking off her gi leaving a black tank top underneath when she looks over at another practitioner approaching a tall skinny man entering the dojo.

"Hello. I'm sorry but the dojo is just getting ready to close. If you want to make an appointment- Gah!"

Before he can finish, he is sent flying across the room and smashes into a shelf. Moshiro looks at the man with a tense look.

"I am the Twirler. Bring me the strongest you have to offer."

He says as Moshiro grits her teeth. 

"Hey!" She shouts at him as he looks at her. "Come get some then."

She says as the Twirler eyeballs her. She sweats as she stances up, waiting for him to attack.

'I'm not the strongest, not even close, but I have to protect the others.'

The Twirler's eyes sharpen before he lunges at her with intense speed, twirling mid air. Shocked by his movements, Moshiro puts her arms up to block his punch. It lands and she's sent sliding back but stays on her feet. She pants as she looks at him. He stands there as she dashes towards him. She straight palm strikes at him but he dodges by leaning to the side. She quickly takes advantage of this and drives an uppercut to his face and as he's reeling from the attack, she delivers another heavy punch to his side causing him to keel over. She pulls back but leaves her fist up with an examining look.

'Did I get him?'

He then starts to stand back up, not reacting to the attacks at all.

"This is the strongest the best dojo has to offer?"

Moshiro tenses up and pulls her right arm back with an open palm.

"Hollow-"

She shouts but before she can do anything else, the Twirler grabs ahold of her face and slams her into the ground using twirling winds around his arm to enhance the force. The floor crushes beneath her as he pulls back. She coughs as a little blood trickles down the side of her mouth.

"You're not what I'm looking for."

She strains and tries to move but can't find the strength.

"Not even close."

He says down to her.

"Hey."

The Twirler looks up when suddenly a fist is slammed against his face sending him tumbling back across the ground. Moshiro looks up to see Wolf standing over her.

"You okay?"

Moshiro props herself up on her elbows, still in some pain.

"I'm fine."

She says softly. Wolf smiles a big smile and giggles a bit.

"What would you do without me?"

"Oh, shut up."

Wolf cracks her neck a bit with a casual look on her face.

"Okay, you just stay right there then."

Moshiro tries to get up, wincing a bit.

"I can help-"

"No."

Moshiro looks at Wolf who's staring at the man.

"You've done enough, I can do this on my own."

The Twirler gets up.

"Maybe it's you I want."

Wolf's expression shifts from her smile to a blank stare as she eyes down the man.

"You hurt my friend."

The man ignores her words as he lifts his leg up before stomping onto the ground, shattering it and causing debris to fly into the air. As it floats before him, he strikes the items with an open palm and twirling winds causing the items to shoot at Wolf with intense speed. Without shifting her expression, Wolf lifts her hand as all the debris collide with it, blocking the debris with ease. After a moment, the assault stops as Wolf lowers her hand. The Twirler looks surprised before grinning a crooked toothed grin.

"You are strong. Perfect."

He crouches down as twirling winds start twisting around him at high speeds.

"Twirler…"

Wolf watches him for a moment before jetting herself to the man. He sweats with a shocked look as she appears above him, her right arm pulled back with a fist. She slams her fist down upon his face and crashes him into the floor, knocking him unconscious with one punch. She stands over him.

"I don't like villains very much." 

She leans over him with an intense tone in her voice.

"But I hate bullies more. Especially when they hurt my friends."

She stands up as the man whimpers a bit. Moshiro gets up and dusts herself off a bit.

"Of course you could beat him…" She mumbles.

"Hey Moshiro."

She looks at Wolf who has her back to her before turning and smiling at Moshiro.

"Tell Teach I started the fight."

She says with a big toothy smile as Moshiro looks at her surprised.

"Anyway, later!"

She shouts, dashing off over the man in her shorts and hoodie with her bag on her shoulder. Moshiro thinks about stopping her but lets her go before looking down at her palm. She stares at it for a moment before clenching it with a frustrated, disappointed look.

'Of course you could beat him…' She thinks to herself softly. 

As Wolf runs off down the street with the sun just set, she has a look on her face as if deep in thought.

'Keeping my power back was harder this time…'

She presses her lips together tighter, narrows her brow subtly and tightens her grip on her bag strap.

'I feel it getting stronger…' She thinks with an almost worried tone as she runs back home.