The Day of Thunder

"Well, most of the people I trained with learned it for when people demand that...most duels are still", he looked sideways. "Really just beating the hell out of each other."

She nodded, “It is good for that too. As long as you don’t pick a fight with a bigger group.”

She tilted her head, “And you? You look like Sora a bit when you move. Probably something from the Hikaru in there?”

"All the mastery of Bayushi's technique is largely lost on me due to having viciousness beaten into my bones as a child, yeah", he said. "There's no problem you can't solve by taking punches to the face and hitting back harder, apparently."

He rested a hand inside his kimono. "Though mixing the two is something I intend to master one day."

“I’ll have to make sure you get out of here alive then.” She said with a smile and a wink.

He nodded along to that. "You will, it would be regrettable to let these good looks leave ningen-do early. I should at least live long enough to squander them."

“See to it that you squander as little of yourself as you can.” She said with a soft smile.

He seemed to consider her words for a moment.

"I will, but in this place...there's words we can say and meaning we can give, but after the thunder blooms across the sky all that will remain are the memories of what happened. I'm not planning on leaving regrets here, but all I can do is face whatever comes."

“We will face it… and we will win.” She said firmly.

He smiled at that. It was a beautiful dream, winning.

Though, he didn't think he would ever want to trade his cynicism for Kumori's confidence. It wasn't his style.

"You're right", he said eventually. "We will, as long as we're prepared to do what it takes."

“That can be a dangerous phrase Norikage.” She said with a warm but serious look.

"Well I am very edgy", he chuckled. "But you have to admit, a winner take all match can't be approached lightly. If you aren't willing to sacrifice, will you even be able to change things?"

She shook her head, “Not saying don’t sacrifice… Just don’t be tricked into sacrificing the wrong thing.”

"I swear my good looks and barbed wit will stay intact until the end", he held up a hand in pledge. "Do not fear, Shiba-hime."

She returned the gesture with a look of affection, “It’s your good heart I’m more concerned with…”

"Hey now", he said, taking a step back and bowing slightly. "If you get all sincere on me like that I can't guarantee your safety even in public."

“All I have time for anymore is sincerity…” She said with a soft smile.

“I’ll go back to playing games if I’m still around in a week or so.”

"You'll be around", he said with a smirk. "Fate would never deny me the worry."

Or choices to regret.

He put a hand on her obi, tugging her closer.

"And I need to worry, it's the only thing keeping me awake."

“You don’t need to worry about me.” She said with a smile as he drew her close.

“I can kick your ass… Which means I’m the one who needs to be protecting you.”

"Martial strength isn't what protects people", he said. "It's courage."

He kissed her, plain and pure for a long moment.

"As long as I'm standing, you're standing", he said and put his forehead to hers. "Let me have my worry."

She flushed as his lips parted from hers and she nodded as she gazed into his eyes.

“Only the good kind of worry though…”