Gessen Instructor Pt. 2

The first day of formal training began. Hajime had all the girls meet outside for a warm up session; sparring between the girls. He did his best to create match ups that would be suitably challenging but by the end the girls looked as though they had barely fought at all. Yumi looked poised, Minori bounced around and Shiki complained she wouldn't be able to wear an outfit due to a mark left by Murakumo.

 

Hajime wondered if he was being too easy on them. They needed something more substantial in order to improve their skills. Hajime thought over their upcoming tests and eyed the boisterous Minori who ran in circles with the demand someone chase her. His plan formed in front of his eyes.

 

"Minori, let's play a game of tag." Hajime watched Minori's eyes light up. "Pretend we're all 'it' and you're the last one in the game. You can run anywhere between here and the city. Go!"

 

Minori blitzed her way across the school grounds and leaped over the walls. The girls watched their only chance of catching her disappear over the horizon. "Time for target acquisition: chase her down and bring her back safe and sound. You have until sundown."

 

Shiki nervously laughed "You can't be serious?"

 

"Run!" Hajime yelled.

 

The girls panicked and raced after Minori's trail. They split into pairs and and raced down the mountain towards civilisation. If they could successfully follow a safe distance from Minori they could wait until she stopped and box her in. Yumi and Yozakura teamed up while Shiki and Murakumo fanned out to their right. There was a kilometre between them.

 

They reached the city and took to the rooftops. With each step they launched themselves great distances and blinked from building to building. To any potential witnesses they were simply a figment of the imagination. Yumi and Yozakura gained ground on Minori when they were ambushed. "Oh! Someone to play with!" If the black school uniform wasn't enough of a give away, the blonde hair and curled smile were. Ryouna dashed towards Yumi and Yozakura and brought them into a barrier.

 

"We don't have time for this!" Yozakura growled.

 

"It's no matter we'll sweep her aside and get back to the chase." Yumi twirled her fans and sent a wave of ice that trapped Ryouna and Yozakura followed with a slam that sent her flying. Both girls met Ryouna in the air and quickly left her stripped. The blonde masochist fell to the ground and the barrier was down.

 

"You're busy huh? Don't let me keep you." Ryouna's playful smile shifted to wickedness. "See you again real soon."

 

Yozakura believed it was too easy but Yumi reassured her partner and they continued on. Ryuona had costed them time but the trail was still warm and the two finally found Minori as the sun set. They expected a struggle but instead found Minori with ice cream cones in both hands.

 

Minori was startled by the sight of Yumi and Yozakura and tried to flee but ended up bumping into the waiting arms of Shiki. Rather than celebrating victory however Shiki bemoaned the fact Minori had gotten chocolate on her clothes. Right on her chest too as if boys needed any more reasons to stare at her breasts. Hajime came out of hiding; he'd followed the girls and watched their progress from afar. He congratulated the girls but then he noticed one was missing. "Where's Murakumo?"

 

"She said she had to go deal with something and that she'd be right behind me." Shiki tried her best to reassure everyone, including herself, but no one would be convinced. Hajime gave the order to go and find her.

 

Shiki lead them to Murakumo's last known position and they found her nearby circled by the girls from Hebijo. She had been beaten and meekly shuffled about in a vain attempt to escape but was constantly shoved back to the centre. Ryouna's battle before was merely a distraction to keep Gessen's veterans busy while they picked off a straggler. Miyabi stepped forward to gloat "Well it looks like the bait worked."

 

The girls of Gessen and Hebijo charged each other and vanished into a barrier leaving Murakumo and Hajime behind. The instructor rushed towards Murakumo but was stopped in his tracks by the tinkle of a bell. A masked woman stepped out of the shadows "What are you doing? You're not meant to interfere."

 

"I don't know who you are but stay out of my way." Hajime turned his back on her but his brash ways simply enticed her to pull him into a barrier. He was fast enough to block her first attack but she swiftly followed up and he was slashed sending his clothes in tatters. She was nice enough to leave his pants on.

 

"I'm Suzune and you're interrupting my lesson plan." What followed her introduction was a series of rapid attacks that Hajime couldn't repel and he was struck down in defeat. She didn't boast after her win instead she reprimanded him "You'll get them all killed someday if you stay on this path." As if to prove a point she dropped the barrier just in time to see the outcome of the other fight.

 

The Gessen team had gotten their hits in and taken Hebijo down to just their leader but none of the girls were in any condition to continue. "What's wrong Yumi? Are you tired?" Miyabi rubbed salt into the wound. "No matter, watching all of you and your instructor limp home is more than enough for me." She looked over for Suzune's approval and when satisfied with the outcome left Gessen, and their instructor, to their shame.

 

Hajime rose to his feet and took the worn down and weakened Murakumo into his arms "Let's head home." He took the lead and girls followed. They relied on the fading sunlight to mask their movements and even with their bruises and scrapes they still made good time. The whole journey not one word was spoken. Hajime put the weight of this defeat on his own shoulders and he felt that he'd already lost the trust of his students.