Daisuki: Hello! Sorry this took so long. We tried getting the comic ready but we had emergency expenses, and it's been delayed!
I wanted to start the comic before starting part 2 of season 1 but it wasn't in the cards this time!
Also! From now on, I will be inserting a link in the middle of the chapter so you guys can consider supporting this story!
I've tried asking before in things at the end or beginning of a chapter and even in the description, but I feel like most just want to skip those!
But I will make it easy for you to spot the commercial if you're reading this. I will write it in BOLD text so you can see it and consider it!
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The sky's beautiful pale full moon shone brightly onto the park and lake where Natsume and Ryuji started their date. Its bright moonbeams reflected onto the lake at the middle of the park near where Ryuji and Natsume stood.
Ryuji simply continued to hold the awestruck beauty in his arms.
Their faces mirrored each other, their minds still trying to process exactly all that was happening but unfortunately it was like getting an error code on repeat. Their breaths were hitched and their skin felt goosebumps spreading all over their bodies.
It slowly dawned on Natsume that she wasn't actually a girl doing a favor for her cousin but a gender bending martial artist that had been trying to get out of a bad predicament using her female form to essentially save her from getting expelled.
This occurred to her like a slow booting computer one could almost hear the sounds of the fans inside the computer case whirl up before starting.
Natsume's eyes widened and glistened in terror, her lips resembling a wobbling snake as panic filled her face! Her blush was now one of complete and utter embarrassment! 'How the hell did this happen!? What the hell is wrong with me!? Being a-a girl must be it! That's gotta be it! Because I couldn't have liked the fact I kissed a guy! A guy! Ha-ha! Twice!' Natsume thought, clearly, spiraling from how painfully in denial she was.
For Ryuji was the case closer to the opposite, he felt as though…
He was as light as a feather adrift in an endless cloudy paradise. Although his outward expression changed as Natsume's had.
Instead of someone slowly going faint from embarrassment Ryuji was stunned, 'To think I was trying to get over her before and 'she' was Natsume all this time…' he thought with a quaking breath then his eyes widened as she went weak in his arms.
"Natsume!" Ryuji worriedly exclaimed, now holding her up by her shoulders to steady her and pull back.
Gathering herself a little, Natsume's head finally stopped overloading long enough to focus her vision and see that Ryuji's looked at her with both worry and relief. Her mind rushed with the memory and sensations of their kisses.
"Are you alright? You went faint in my hands and-and!" Ryuji rambled on, before he finished though his worry became relief as a small smile graced his face.
"That-that wasn't meant to-to be a-a!" Natsume tried to deny but her mind was drawing blanks.
"Wait! Before any of that!" Ryuji stopped her and looked directly into her eyes, gazing into them longingly.
"H-huh?"
"Did you use to know me?"Ryuji asked with his expression going soft as he looked into her eyes longingly.
Yet again that image of an awkward younger Ryuji flashed over her mind's eye like a strobing effect.
"What are you talking about!?" Natsume demanded to know, right after she backed away from him.
Right after pulling away from him, Ryuji reached his hand out to Natsume. Why wasn't she elated to find out about their potentially hidden past?
"Please! Do you remember anything about us?" Ryuji wanted to know, taking one cautious step towards her.
"There ain't no us! I've never met you before!" Natsume lied, turning away and beginning to walk away, yet again plagued by that image of a younger Ryuji, 'Why can't I stop thinking about that face?' she thinks while trying to maintain her inner composure.
"You can't tell me you didn't feel that!" Ryuji exclaimed as he caught up to Natsume.
"I didn't 'feel' anything!" Natsume shouted before trying to run away now, avoiding eye contact as her hair castd a shadow over her eyes.
Clasp!
"You don't kiss someone twice like we did and not feel a thing! But there's even more to this if you just–" Ryuji began as he held Natsu's hand before she could've gone into a full sprint.
"It was an accident! I meant to give you a kiss on the cheek so you'd promise to keep Natsu's secret! Okay!" Natsume explained while trying to get her hand away from Ryuji's.
Those words made Ryuji's eyes widen for a moment and his heart ache, causing his grip to weaken and for him to squint his eyes in pain before lowering his head.
"Even if that's true! I know you like me! And-and I like you too!" Ryuji confessed, finding the courage to open his eyes again after hearing her reason for kissing him was an accident.
Natsume grit her teeth and shook her head, with her one free hand she reached a closed fist out over her heart, striking it for daring to ache right now of all times,'I don't like him! He took my first kiss! Tell him the truth! Tell him I'm a guy! Break his stupid little goody two-shoes heart!' she thought angrily, the problem was her body wasn't aligning with her actions because she just refused to meet Ryuji's gaze as her back was still turned to him.
"I-I-I-I-I…" Natsume's voice trailed slowly and timidly, she kept wanting to say something but all her mind could get out was the start, 'What the hell is wrong with me!? Say it! But my voice keeps getting all choked up!' she thought desperately, her thoughts coming out like a rapid fire gun going off.
"You can't even finish your words Honoka! It's because of our past that you probably can't-" Ryuji got as far as saying before Natsume whipped around with small tears in her eyes and a pissed off look to go with it.
"You're talking about someone else! Besides! I don't-I don't!" Natsume declared, her rage seemingly unquenchable immediately died down when she wanted to finish her declaration, 'Say it! I don't like you and I'm a guy!' her inner voice raged but once again it seemed there was an error in translation because her mouth couldn't finish what she started.
"You don't what? Natsume…?" Ryuji asked with his voice going soft and his eyes trembling, knowing that Natsume could say she doesn't like him the same way he likes her.
"I don't… I don't… I don't…!" Natsume closed her eyes, causing the tears at the corners of her eyes to fall, 'Say it! Say it dammit! Say… say… why can't I say it…?' Even Natsume's thoughts sounded as she looked, in pain and unable to say what she wanted.
It didn't make any sense to the redhead but here she was! Doing her best to get her words across but the longer she stared into those eyes the more her will to hurt him diminished, 'I'm so stupid, I let this go too far, what does it matter anyways, the guy ain't gonna' keep my secret, I should've told em' about him keeping quiet before kissing his cheek then none of this would've happened…' she thought in silence for a good while until both broke eye contact and looked down.
"I don't know what to say but I can't tell you why Natsu was in the girl's bathroom so whatever happens here it's up to you, just know that if Natsu gets expelled I'll be gone too," Natsume finally pulled her hand back gently, turning around to hold her elbow and looking at the ground with a defeated look.
"I was so focused on the whole past thing I forgot about that," Ryuji remarked before looking off to the side and narrowing his eyes a little, pursing his lips and thinking about what she said.
"I don't even care anymore, so it looks like my fate is in your hands and junk…" Natsume's voice trailed softly but sadly.
"I won't tell anyone even if it's against my better judgement, honestly, I think it's too extreme that our school has even expelled someone for this before when even that was just an accident." Ryuji spoke, his hands having lowered to his sides as he spoke,'Natsume must owe her life or something to Natsu if she's willing to be expelled alongside him,' he thought.
"I know this didn't go the way either of us were expecting but you oughta know man, I'm not your type because if you really knew me, the 'real' me, you wouldn't wanna be with me, so don't go wasting your hope on the hopeless…" Natsume explained without giving herself away as Natsu.
"Natsume, whoever or whatever you are, I'd still be there for you…" Ryuji said softly, his voice trailing, becoming bold in his declarations that he closed the distance between them and quickly leaned down to kiss Natsume's cheek,'I'm kissing you like what you actually meant to do with me,' he thinks.
Like a stray cat in an alley way when suddenly frightened the surprised girl immediately made a stunned expression before closing her eyes and sighing deeply.
"You're so stupid but you'll see what I mean, one day…" Natsume smiled weakly before she turned away from Ryuji, 'I'm sure you'll find out soon anyways, that I'm a guy and then you'll probably hate me like anyone else would…' she thinks before walking away.
Ryuji saw the literal girl of his dreams leaving, he wanted to chase her but whatever she was keeping from him kept him at bay. He wanted to say something but all the mystery around her and her refusal to tell him anything in detail left Ryuji damn near speechless.
"Even then! Natsume! I'll still be there!" Ryuji declared when he found the courage to speak again, a soft blush on his face.
Natsume slowly stopped and then looked over her shoulder calmly before softening her face, a small gracing her features as she looked into his eyes longingly.
"I'm sure you would, big guy…" Her voice trailed so softly it was as if she were whispering.
A soft electrical humming filled the room in Natsu's apartment, on the counter near the table in the kitchen was a sign that read, "Working late tonight, dinner is in the fridge. Love Mom.".
The door to the front began to slowly twist and turn until Natsume appeared on the other side of it in the hallway. She walked in with her head hanging low, a shadow casted over her eyes as she stepped in before shoving the door behind her closed with her foot.
Immediately after Natsume fell back against the door behind her, her back hitting it with a light thud before she allowed gravity to do its thing and bring her down to the floor.
Once she was low enough, she hugged her knees. All she could do was sit in silence for a little while, that moment with Ryuji was stuck on repeat, replaying over and over again.
"I'm a man dammit! I'm a man and… and I couldn't…" Natsume spoke in a deeply remorseful voice as she then lowered her head into her knees.
She felt like a cop obsessed with finding any little detail she could about a case but Natsume couldn't pinpoint why she had kissed Ryuji not just once but twice! The longer she dwelled on it the more frustrated Natsume felt.
Trying to silence her thoughts she slowly placed her hands to the sides of her head.
"Why the hell did I kiss him!? I should go kick his ass and…and…! Tell him I'm a guy and just get expelled, find a job at a dojo, get good enough to be the world's greatest martial artist and live happily ever after…" Natsume rambled with a worried voice at first but as she went on she relaxed but with a face that clearly said she was still distressed about the fact she locked lips with her rival.
"I like girls, right? But still…"
"You can't tell me you didn't feel that!"
"You don't kiss someone twice like we did and not feel a thing!"
"Even if that's true! I know you like me! And-and I like you too!"
The fang toothed lover boy's words hit her mind, haunting Natsume as she tried to drown these thoughts again by holding her head and gritting her teeth.
Thinking she finally cleared her mind, Natsume sighed calmly before relaxing her face.
Only for the younger Ryuji's face to show up again…
"All I can think about is that stupid face!" Natsume declared as she stood up, kicking off the sandals she had worn for her date.
She picked up her sandals, taking them with her. Walking over to the bathroom, she pulled her purse off and stuffed her footwear in it.
She lifted her dress over her head, all well trying to keep her mind blank.
"What was he talking about when he mentioned our past? I've never met anyone like Ryuji! Even when I was little! All I remember is training since I was little! But there's nothing past being eight I think…" Natsume tried to reason but couldn't remember anything clearly before that age.
"Probably just dumb kid stuff, maybe it's a mix up since I'm actually a guy." Natsume muttered to herself, now in nothing but panties and bra, going over to her dresser she began unhooking her bra, only her back visible as she tossed her bra off and then immediately slipped a muscle shirt on.
"But the way he was looking at me," Natsume continued to think aloud as she dragged her panties down, narrowing her eyes before stepping out of panties and then opening the drawer with her boxers before slipping them on and picking up her clothes.
A swooshing sound came from her purse on Natsume's nightstand as her date outfit was deposited into it. Forgetting she had left her phone in her purse, she reached into it and dug it out.
"Why am I still stuck as a girl?" Natsume muttered to herself as she looked at her reflection on her phone screen, 'Ever since I've known that guy, my curse has been so damn weird, is this some side-effect of the curse or something?' she thought while blushing lightly.
"I'm still wearing eye shadow," She grumbled in annoyance, going over to the bathroom. Digging around in the bathroom cabinets she pulled out a few wet wipes and slowly started stroking the makeup away.
Hating how feminine and pretty she looked while doing so, glaring at her own reflection. Once done she sighed in relief and made her way back to her room.
Forcing her mind to remain blank her lips wobbled like a snake quickly moving through a river.
"Stop thinking about it!" Natsume bemoaned loudly before flopping face first into her bed, shifting around until she was resting on her left side and covering herself in the sheets.
"Wait a minute, if I can't remember anything before being eight and if all those movies with amnesia in them that I've binged are right. I'd need some sort of trigger but in my case doesn't that mean Ryuji and I'd have to…?" Natsume asked herself before it slowly became apparent to her, making her clench the bedsheets with her right hand.
Soft cricket chirps filled the night sky over Ryuji's large dojo slash estate. The leaves rustling in the wind swayed as much as Ryuji's own hair.
At the top of the stoop and at his home's front door the disheartened warrior inserted his house key and turned it.
"Mom? Dad?" Ryuji called out as he went right next to the door and disabled their security alarm by entering a code and a keypad.
Ryuji was met with nothing but silence.
"Hello?" The fang-toothed teen asked again, he waited for about ten seconds before sighing and walking further inside.
Taking out his phone he scrolled through his messages and found one from a contact listed as "My Old Man".
"Sorry we couldn't be there to congratulate you on your first date my boy. Something came up and your mother and I were called to the field.
We realized it could even be too dangerous to risk our pride and joy."
Smiling pleasantly at first Ryuji stared at it but his smile faded as the last thing he had seen from Natsume, 'That face, even though I know she can handle herself b-but I can't help but to want to keep her safe and-and to think she was even…' he thought, his hand clenching into a fist while his face remained static.
"Still this isn't enough, why can I only remember Natsume from one moment in my life and nothing else?" Ryuji questioned himself, whispering while looking down and pocketing his phone.
Eventually he reached the door to his room and he slid it open, with a wary face he took off his headband wrapped around his wrist, tying it back to his forehead. He took his jacket off and tossed it in the clothes hamper to his right, his pants following after he unbuttoned them.
He sighed calmly as he got to the side of his bed, pulling the sheets back and getting in before covering himself with the blanket.
He looked up at the ceiling.
"Why would I be wasting my hope on you?" Ryuji asked no one, just reminding himself of Natsume's words.
"We even kissed twice and she didn't want to know more. What could possibly be holding her back?" Ryuji continued to speculate, his voice so soft and gentle while speaking as if she were actually there.
"Maybe it's because just like me, she can only remember one thing," Ryuji remarked as something started coming together in his mind, making his eyes tremble before a dusting of pink filled his cheeks.
"Wouldn't that mean Natsume and I'd have to–"
Both Natsume and Ryuji came to the same conclusion at the same time.
"Kiss again!"
The Next Day
Natsume found herself hating her life as she walked towards school since, yet again, she remained a girl throughout the night.
"So much for six hours, before all this crap I could stay as a guy for days on end, now I'm a girl every other day."
Getting bombarded by the shadows of guilt filling her heart, Natsume knew that she had hurt her rival and quite possibly herself as well. She remembered that instance where she wished Ryuji had been the Daughter of the Hero rather than the Son that he was.
"Like hell, so what?" Natsume scoffed at her own feelings, suppressing her pain in favor of looking for some way out.
"Like I said, it'd never work out. I'm a guy who's into girls! Like-Like!" Natsume declared to herself, closing her eyes and crossing her arms.
At first Natsume struggled to get anything, quite literally not having much time but dedication to mastering her art, which she remembered her father painfully drilling into her. Finally an image of Haruka appeared in her mind and she found herself blushing a little but only blushing because she imagined herself as a guy dropping to one knee and taking her hand.
"Guess she's not bad but did she have to be such a tomboy?" Natsume asked herself before sighing contently, closing her eyes and placing a hand over her suppressed chest.
Vrrrr…!
Taking out her phone she saw that she had been left a message. Tapping it with her thumb she read the text.
"Meet me at the eastside of the school after classes, I held my end of the bargain. Now it's your turn."
Natsume raises a quizzical brow before shutting her eyes and pocketing her phone,"Almost forgot about that, not like it worked out but I owe her…" She muttered.
"I ain't ever been a teacher before so this'll be new." Natsume told herself, crossing her arms with an exacerbated look.
"I'd rather be getting stronger than Ryuji instead, especially since I ain't ever beaten him as a guy. And I know I said girls are better at handling pain to Ryuji when I beat him the first time but I looked pretty ripped and last time I checked most girls aren't like me?" Natsume speculated as she placed her hand on her chin and took her phone back out to search for something.
"Says men on average are 40% stronger, huh?" Natsume raised a brow. "If that's true. That explains why I can actually hurt Ryuji as a girl and beat him, so that means I'm stronger than most girls." she thinks to herself before lowering her hand from her chin, eyes looking up as she had pocketed her phone again.
"But that also means my stupid girl form gives me an advantage, but that's all the more reason I gotta' beat Ryuji as a man!" Natsume exclaimed, then narrowed her eyes to her school as she was getting close.
Out of nowhere a rose with a sharpened stem struck the ground in front of Natsume! Some rose petals falling from it like delicate feathers.
Looking to her right, she saw a branch from a tree rattling before she flatly side-stepped Toru's obviously telegraphed attack. Though doing more than just that, Natsume kicked Toru before his axe-kick could land and before he could even hit the ground.
"Yo Toru. Come to get an ass kicking before the day starts?" She asked nonchalantly as she watched Toru's back hit the fence of someone's house.
"You cretin. Did you think the great Toru Kunomi wouldn't come prepared!?" He exclaimed, looking up as he rushed the unamused redhead.
Natsume saw him reeling his arm back for a swift right hook only for it to be a ruse, as his other arm straightened out so he could catch the pouch of sand hidden in his sleeve.
Thwack!
"Gah! You low-life! Conniving bast–!" Natsume began as she immediately tried to clear her eyes, raising her arms to fight back and defend her face, although Toru followed her movement and aimed for Natsume's stomach.
She withstood the attack, trying to gain some distance by jumping back. Shaking off as much of the dirt in her face as she could! Not holding back and taking the full opportunity, he unleashed a barrage of attacks.
Natsume felt each strike until finally she was struck on her chest, her eyes widened as although it stung very little she found the opening she needed and deflected one of Toru's attacks by dodging a punch to the face at the last second.
She finally stopped getting hit long enough for some breathing room, though, despite that she was still hit by the following attack, 'Listen to the pattern!' Natsume thought before taking three more hits.
"With this defeat! I'm one step closer to defeating the Son of The–" Ryuji's enemy shouted triumphantly while attacking.
Wham!
Natsume managed a counter strike, her eyes closed as she grit her teeth while her fist collided with her attacker's right cheek and sent him reeling back, 'Ryuji hits way harder! I got this!' she thought before getting into a proper defensive stance.
Getting hit hard enough to make Toru spin around, he reorientated himself by taking a knee before hitting the ground.
The front of his hair dangled loosely over his eye as he narrowed pupils, grinding his teeth together in frustration, 'I didn't think I'd need to use this but as long as her vision is blinded no one would be none the wiser to his defeat!' he thought, taking advantage of his knelt over position to reach into his pocket.
"With this I claim–" Toru roared proudly as he dashed to Natsume as quickly as he could, reeling his arm back but in his palm was a small collapsible nightstick.
Fighting through the burning pain in her eyes, the unarmed redhead saw through some of the sand in her eyes to make out a faint silhouette. For her it looked good enough to make out what was coming as a regular right hook, something she could counter by attacking fast enough.
A book with pictures of guitars on it went flying by before smacking into the side of Toru's face.
That stunned him, making him not just lose his weapon but also give Natsume the opening she needed to punch him again! Her sideways fist collided with Kunomi's stomach, now her enemy wasn't just stunned but now winded as he fell over on his back.
Thud!
"Natsume!" Ryuji exclaimed as he was dashing over.
Natsume froze in place but couldn't stay frozen long as she reached her hands to her eyes trying to clear her eyes. "Gah!"
"Hold on I got water," Ryuji urgently opened his book bag and then looked at Natsume but once close enough his eyes widened.
"I ain't Natsume! You jackass!" Natsume defended, since to her when she wore the bandages and deepened her voice she was Natsu in disguise.
"Show some respect dammit! I just saved you!" Ryuji countered as he opened his water-bottle.
"I didn't ask to be saved!" Natsume said through seethed teeth.
"Hold still! Dammit!" The fang-toothed teen instructed as he turned Natsume's head to face him, her closed eyes trembling.
Natsume said nothing but allowed Ryuji to tilt her chin up begrudgingly, her lips pursed in annoyance as she allowed her rival to pour some water gently over her eyes. Her eyes trembled less and less as the liquid slowly gave her back her vision.
"That oughta get most of it out. Honoki-saaa–" Ryuji's voice trailed in bewilderment, since although she was dressed up as her guy form she was still Natsume's gender.
Utterly stunning…
That was the one word he could describe, how the dampness of her hair clung to her face. How her lips when no longer disgruntled, shimmered like light pink gems.
Ryuji unknowingly became bewitched, a blush on his face spreading as her eyes fluttered open before him. Even though he didn't know why he was drawn to her, he dropped his water bottle in awe as Natsume then began clearing her eyes again with both hands.
Taking a step back The Son of The Hero came reeling from how much he had been staring. Heart racing at levels he didn't know exist,'Why the hell am I so damn nervous? This is Natsu! Remember your breathing techniques!' Ryuji reminded himself determinedly.
Behind Ryuji was Toru, still on his back, his hands warding evil until his fingers coiled inwardly like silent snakes. Calmly he arose and while Ryuji was cleaning off Natsume's eyes.
From the opposite sleeve from where he first pouch of sand came from he let another fall from his sleeve and into his hand.
As fate would have it Ryuji was backing away from Natsume and unknowingly towards Toru as he quickly dashed forward and grabbed Ryuji's shoulder before spinning him around to throw his hidden accessory straight into his eyes.
"I shall have vengeance for my face! Truly the sweetest of all–" Toru immediately returned the hit to his face by striking Ryuji with a mean right hook.
"Damn you! Argh!" Ryuji exclaimed, his face reeling back a little while he grit his teeth but before Toru could land his second attack he immediately with squinted eyes moved his head out of the way just in the nick of time.
"Huh!?" Toru for a nano second stared at Ryuji as his disgruntled look of pain suddenly became calm and tranquil.
"One must become the raging tides and the stillest of winds…"
The echo of his mother's training struck his ears, although while dodging an image of when he had been fighting Natsu came into mind to attack while being attacked.
Ryuji stood before his mother wearing a training gi, his bandanna being used as a blindfold. To the side of his head was his mother's closed fist.
He could remember the gentle breeze that swayed his hair that day…
"How many more times!?" Toru demanded to know, throwing another punch at his enemy.
Only for it to be dodged yet again, Ryuji despite being blinded didn't falter in his moves and even Toru's words failed to reach him.
"Must I always be interrupted before I can defeat you!" Ryuji's enemy bellowed furiously, his torrent of fists and kicks evaded.
"Like I said before! You talk too damn much!" Ryuji cried out in annoyance before catching Kunomi's fist.
Gasp!
Before Toru could throw another punch Ryuji got close and tightened his grip and punched Kunomi with such a strong attack that it picked the hellbent lunatic up from the ground before he fell to the ground on his knees.
Toru's eyes rolled back all the way before he even hit the ground.
Natsume heard Ryuji suddenly fighting and rather than scream or create more noise of her own she at first gasped quietly.
Immediately she went back to clearing her vision to see what was happening.
Only when it was over did she see what had happened, Ryuji's fist making Toru's form lift off the ground and dropping to his knees.
"Whoa…" Natsume uttered, staring at Ryuji as he held his fist up before slowly lowering it down.
"You okay, Honoki-san?" The fang toothed teen asked in a serious voice, turning to face her.
"Over here!" Natsume barked in annoyance, her impressed expression now replaced with one of shock and disappointment.
"Right!" The fang-toothed teen exclaimed, turning to now properly face the redhead.
"I didn't need your help by the way!" Natsume reminded her rival with a scolding voice, putting her hands in her pockets.
"I didn't mean to interrupt! I saw you and saw what Toru was going to do with that nightstick he was going to pull on you!" Ryuji defended, then suddenly started trying to shake the dirt out of his eyes.
"Nightstick?" Natsume repeated with a raised brow, looking around and thinking back to the moment after she punched Toru.
"Yeah. That asshole wanted to beat you dishonorably!" Ryuji continued trying to clear his eyes.
Looking around she spotted the hidden weapon, alongside that was Ryuji's nearly empty water bottle.
Going over she saw that there was still some water inside, even though Ryuji dropped his water bottle there was just enough for her to maybe at least improve Ryuji's vision.
At least, that's what she hoped. There wasn't much left after Ryuji used most of it to help her. Feeling bad she sighed and went over to her rival.
"Lean your head back," Natsume instructed as she went over to him and aimed the plastic bottle over his head before clearing both his eyes as best she could.
Natsume carefully cleared as much as she could. "You're lucky, looks like you didn't get hit with as much dirt in your eyes as me."
"All a perk of having a legendary blind person for a parent," Ryuji remarked with a slight fangy smile as his vision cleared.
"Figures," She added, handing Ryuji his now empty water-bottle.
"Natsu." Ryuji spoke sternly before looking Natsume in the eyes; blushing a little.
Suddenly, yesterday's events hit Natsume like a freight train.
"Well thanks for the save man! Well I guess we better get to class an-" she only got so far before Ryuji placed his hands on Natsu's shoulders.
"Natsu! I need to talk to Natsume urgently!" Ryuji pleaded, his eyes trembling softly enough for the redheaded girl to notice.
"W-why are you even bothering? I spoke to her last night! If you're gonna get me expelled, go ahead and do it!" Natsume exclaimed, accepting her fate at this point.
"Why the hell would I do that?" Ryuji questioned. "If she told you exactly what I said then you'd know that I'm trusting Natsume because there's something bigger going on here…" his voice trailed softly.
Natsume's heart skipped a beat, knowing what her rival could possibly mean by that. Her mind's eye jumped back to Ryuji's face right before she kissed him for the first time. However, surrounding that thought was Ryuji's words about having known each other in their past.
And like the many men that came before Natsume since she was actually Natsu. She became immediately scared of the idea of sharing her feelings.
"Whatever you gotta tell her you can tell me!" Natsume decided to answer instead.
Ryuji gave his rival a hard glare before sighing in annoyance.
"Fine." Ryuji replied, looking a bit miffed for a second before opening his eyes and speaking.
Natsume crossed her arms, keeping a skeptical look when Ryuji cleared his throat.
"From what I see you and her talk often enough just-just let her know that something happened. That it's even affected my parents since Natsume was a part of my past that means they were affected too, I can only assume the same goes for you too Honoki-san." He explained.
"So you want me to try and think back too?" Natsume asked, tilting her head to the side. "How long ago were we talking exactly?"
"From what I could tell, right around seven for the both of us." Ryuji thought about it as carefully as he could, looking up in wonder.
Natsume could only hum to herself while she thought back, the earliest thing she could remember was training in the woods at that age.
The clearest thing she remembered was when her father and her eight year old guy form performing a high kick at the same time while standing next to each other. There wasn't any context to the memory, only a still visual, 'But there's still that kid with the fangs, he even had the same brown hair and green eyes but he's talking about Natsume! Not the real me! Does that mean he knows? Is the guy just faking? No! After everything he's said he thinks Natsume is a natural girl but I'm not sooo! Ugh!' Natsume became frustrated by these thoughts to the point she was biting her thumb in worry and blushing nervously.
"Guess not, huh?" Ryuji asked after a while of Natsume not responding. "Well. If she remembers anything please let me know," He added, turning around and going over to pick up his book; reaching into his pocket to pull out his phone.
Natsume watched him leave and opened her mouth to say anything but couldn't find the words she needed, only acting because she thinks she should, 'What am I supposed to say? Guess maybe I'm really Natsume but I'm also actually Natsu, you're male rival at the same… surprise?' she thought to herself and looked off to the side.
Vrrrr…!
Natsume's eyes widened as she heard her phone notify her pretty loudly.
The Son of The Hero paused as that sudden pinging noise hit his ears when he finished sending a message on his phone.
Cursing her luck internally Natsume immediately unlocked her phone and doing the first thing that came to mind she turned her phone sideways as if she was using it like a video game controller.
Looking over his shoulder, Ryuji saw Natsume taking out her cell phone and pretending that the message she had gotten was just some mobile game notification.
Unsure if Ryuji bought her ruse, she continued to pretend as if she were playing some mobile game while casually walking away.
The fang-toothed teen lowered his head, chalking it up to coincidence.
Natsume was sweating bullets until finally hearing Ryuji continue walking as if it were nothing.
Even while she walked away, she still pretended to play some sort of game.
In actuality she was slowly opening her messages on her phone. Among their old texts was the one Ryuji just sent.
"Natsume-san please see me as soon as you can there's something we got to discuss"
Once Natsume felt safe enough she turned her phone rightside up again. Reading the message she narrowed her eyes and sighed heavily, 'Why do I care so much? Wouldn't this just mean I'm staying true to myself? If we wanted to know more than-than we'd have to kiss some more? Whatever I do now I got a train wreck coming my way!' she thought while walking to school, mentally preparing herself for the inevitable.
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Standing outside the front gate of the school was Haruka, hands behind her back as she looked at the ground.There was only one thing on her mind at the moment, how she could finally preserve her style and return her dojo back to its former glory.
"Today's the day Natsu." Haruka remarked to no one as she clenched her fist closed.
Taking out her phone she looked through her list of contacts and found the one labeled as her best friend. Tapping the title's user profile she then went to her messages and started texting.
.
"I got Natsu to train me!" Haruka's purple text box exclaimed over a plain green background.
"He'd absolutely be your best bet!" Chiyu's orange text box read.
"I can finally get another step closer!"
"What if this doesn't work? Are you going to admit your feelings?" Chiyu's text box continued.
"I don't have a thing for him! He ruined everything! He wanted to merge our schools!" Haruka's message exclaimed.
"Because he was trying to give you and your Dad a way out. He was willing to teach it still too…" Haruka's friend's text replied with.
"I know he's a good man and all but I can't back down after everything my family has been through."
"I won't keep pushing you but I wanna say that, you're lucky that you even have this chance with Ryuji. Do you know what I have to look forward to? My cats and whatever romcom I can find."
"I don't think it'd ever get to that point Chiyu. Thanks for always having my back though, see you at classes soon?"
"You got it! Sensei!" Chiyu responded and sent a bowing emoji.
Haruka smiled softly at her phone, it may not have been a vote of confidence but she at least reaffirmed her determination.
The long haired girl pocketed her phone before thinking back to that one instance when she said whoever this girl he was taking on a date was a lucky girl. She blushed at the implications but shook her head, 'I shouldn't just say stuff like that but he's already found someone anyways, best that we stay weird friends slash enemies…' she thought to herself, drawing to what in her mind was a logical conclusion.
"Still wouldn't anyone be lucky? He's from a family of legends and not only has his Dad been amazing, so does Ryuji." The teenage girl muttered slowly to herself.
Haruka knew all about Matsumoto's antics, the one and only hero who could do it all on his own and only became even better when he created a family to carry on his will.
Her father's various defeats at Matsumoto's hands repeated, in all her memories she remembered them all in a first person view.
Haruka wanted to be more angry but found that even though her Father had kept losing, not once had Matsumoto shown disrespect towards.
At times Matsumoto even helped carry him to safety. Still, this was the tallest mountain destiny had ever thrown her way. What was she to do? Let her style fall short?
"It's the most effective fighting style in the world, I'm stronger than a normal girl, I'm an exception but how am I supposed to fight a guy who seemed blessed with fate?" Haruka mulled over quietly, pursing her lips in anger now.
"Haruka your style is strong but it doesn't take the spirit into account and without that you'll never be where you want…"
Ryuji's voice rang out in her head, reminding Haruka of one instance of his words of wisdom.
"I gotta admit, it's pretty unfair how much stronger guys are than girls. Makes me wonder if Dad wishes he had a son…" Haruka's voice trailed, getting a little choked up she closed her eyes and calmed down.
"And I'm using the help of a man to beat another, at least he can change into a girl…" Haruka tried to look on the bright side even though it didn't really feel like much of one but she'll take whatever she can get.
In the nearby background was Natsume as she walked with her hands in her pockets and her head tilted down.
It hadn't been too long since Natsume had spoken to Ryuji. Everything was fresh in her mind, especially the fact that her secret identity was going to be found out. Not only that she was supposed to do something she thought was against her preferences.
Gritting her teeth with her eyes closed, Natsume desperately wanted something to take her mind off the unavoidable plane-crash that her life was going to be.
"Honoki-san?" Haruka called to who she thought she heard, looking to her left as Natsume approached.
Natsume hadn't heard her and couldn't help but envision herself kissing Ryuji again, remembering how wildly her heart was beating during her first kiss and even the second that had followed it.
"You're looking different," Haruka remarked in confusion as she knew that red hair but something felt off.
"Huh?" Natsume snapped out of thoughts, thankful for a distraction.
"I said you're looking different, like a puzzle with a piece that doesn't exactly fit." Haruka explained, placing her hands on her hips.
"T-That's cuz I'm a girl right now," Natsume answered, instinctively doing her guy form voice.
"Now that you mention it I can hear it and see it," Haruka commented, eyeing her up and down, able to spot the edge of her wide hips and slight chest bump.
"What can I say, I'm a real looker…" Natsume responded with a roll of her eyes.
"So, how'd it go with that thing my sister was helping with?" Haruka asked with a roll of her eyes.
"Did she tell ya anything about it?" Natsume inquired worriedly.
"Mitsuri said that she's got a strict customer confidentiality policy she refuses to break," Haruka explained, crossing her arms with a pouty look.
"Good cuz I ain't saying anything either," The redhead confirmed before Haruka could even start.
"Seriously?" Haruka asked, one of her eyes twitching a little.
"But I'm a man of my word…" Natsume's voice trailed off, realizing how odd that sounded given she stopped faking a guy's voice.
"So you're still going to train me?" Haruka asked.
"When do you wanna' get started? Today? Tomorrow?" Natsume asked while nodding her head.
"Today after classes," Haruka confirmed.
Students filled the halls as they all slowly transitioned to their next class, gossiping and talking amongst themselves. Save for one Ryuji Araya who merely walked with a vacant stare in his eyes.
His usual energetic or bored self, replaced with someone who seemed rather distracted and worried, 'I've got to stay patient, I've already waited like ten years, what's a few days more?' Ryuji panicked a little, unsure of what to think.
Ryuji absent mindly scrolled through his phone, eventually stumbling across one with the title, "Golden Sun Tournament Junior Division".
Curiously he tapped the advertisement and checked the requirements.
Eventually Ryuji was nearing the front gate to the school. Feeling a little excited about winning a trophy like his Father before him.
Mitsuri counted a stack of yen bills from her latest victims, making sure to meticulously count them all while simply thumbing the notes.
Once she finished counting she opened her eyes and at the corner of her eye she saw The Son of The Hero wandering off again.
"Uh, Ryuji-san. Where are you headed?" Mitsuri asked before she swore he'd walk into the school fence.
Freezing in place faster than a person being held at gun point, the wayward martial artist slowly looked over his shoulder and noticed he wasn't anywhere near his next class. Then he finally noticed Mitsuri stuffing something into her bookbag.
"Thanks for the heads up!" Ryuji thanked, clapping his hands together and offering an appreciative bow.
"Anytime." Mitsuri lazily commented with closed eyes.
Before Ryuji could go any further he suddenly stopped, looking over his shoulder yet again. "Remember what I said," he began.
"I know. If I step out of line you'll be there. I'm only aiming for the worst of the worst so I can cripple them as best as I can."
"I hope so," Ryuji warned.
"Enough about me! What about you and your date?" Mitsuri feigned innocence as she clasped her hands together.
Ryuji didn't know how to feel about last night, it was true that he had kissed Natsume. The one girl that had pushed him to his limits and met him on equal terms.
"O-oh! That!" Ryuji remembered how it went and his shoulders slumped.
"Don't worry about it. I guess I really should change my bet on who you end up with though." Mitsuri remarked in passing, heading back to class.
"As if there'd be anyone betting on who'd I'd end up with," Ryuji said with a rolling of his eyes and then when he looked at Mitsuri she had a sly and knowing look.
"Yeah. Of course." Haruka's older sister seemingly confirmed.
"Wait! Is there?" Ryuji said after pausing, opening his eyes in shock.
"Sorry! Ryuji-san! I really oughta get back to class!" Mitsuri yelled while waving goodbye.
"I'm serious!" Ryuji affirmed, lowering his head and rubbing the back of his neck when she didn't answer.
"Hey-hey! Brown hair, green eyes and stupid looking little fangs!" A gruff sounding male voice echoed in Ryuji's ears.
As this voice spoke Ryuji opened his eyes and saw shoes typical of one of his fellow students but as his eyes elevated to see the rest of this guy he saw that something was up. Especially considering how little respect he had for him, given the mocking he did about his fangs.
Ryuji scoffed, then looked at his enemy's hairdo and curled a brow. He had long green hair that almost seemed to form horns. He was dressed in their school uniform.
"You're one to talk with that cringy looking hairstyle." Ryuji remarked calmly, closing his eyes and lowering his hand from his neck.
"An opening!" The green-haired assailant's fist flew towards Ryuji's face.
"Not bad," Ryuji said, narrowly dodging as his attacker's fist painlessly slipped by his cheek.
"Finally! A real fight!" His enemy bellowed but was immediately stopped from saying more as Ryuji's fist slammed into his enemies gut.
"That's supposed to be my line. And even then…" Ryuji remarked as he saw this odd stranger jump back to create some distance, 'This guy's aura is like my Old Man's but even darker, no passion, just raw will to conquer and destroy…' the fang-toothed teen thought, narrowing his eyes.
"Nice hit there. If I didn't use a good bit of energy that could've ended this." He chuckles as he then suddenly appears before Ryuji.
Wham!
Getting a serving of his own medicine Ryuji now knew what it was like for those he had hit so hard before. Skidding across the ground while gritting his teeth,
Ryuji held strong and although sent back he finally came to a stop when he dropped to a knee.
"T-That's one down! Son of the Hero my-" The aura awakened man began while panting deeply.
Ryuji started slowly chuckling, shortly after coming to a stand. He wiped the blood from the corner of his lips, eyes keenly focused on the man who made him bleed.
"Still standing! Seriously!?" His sweaty and tired looking enemy complained.
Without hesitation Ryuji bull-rushed his winded foe, refusing to let himself lose still they both exchanged hits.
"Things are finally getting interesting!" Ryuji although he hated the malicious aura being emitted from his enemy he still hadn't had the thrill of a good fight since Natsu.
"Remember the name Yamato-Inoue!" He exclaimed trying his best to land a solid hit but constantly Ryuji would meet his attacks with blocks or evades, 'Left! Right! Right! Right! Jump back! Dash' he thought.
Ryuji smirked slightly as he dodged to the left, blocked an upper and lower right hook before spinning around on his heel kicking Yamato on the side of his ribcage.
"Whoa…" Natsume said after coming to a stop changing back into her guy form.
"Natsume?" He inquired suddenly, hearing her feminine voice before turning to see that instead of Natsume like he was expecting.
"H-Hey!" Natsu says, thinking he had been found out as Natsume.
Natsu waved his hands out in front of him, before he himself noticed that he was back to his guy form as he noticed his manly hands, turning his palms around while blinking.
Ryuji merely looked down, eyes trembling while remembering his earlier conversation with Natsu, 'I thought she was here, I must be hearing things, best that I focus on my enemy.' the emerald eyed martial artist thinks.
"Hell of a fight. Even without ki manipulation you're still someone to be feared…" Yamato began as he sat up shakily.
"By ki do you happen to mean aura?" Ryuji asked for confirmation.
"Aura?" Natsu mumbled loudly enough to be heard.
Yamato looked at Natsu and his eyes widened then back to Ryuji, a nervous sweatdrop forming on one of the corners of his horn tipped hair.
"Ki! Aura! Call it what you will! I'm out!" Yamato declared, reaching into his pocket and throwing a powerful glowing smoke bomb.
"Know this Matsumoto's happy little accident! The Phantom Claw will come for you!"
"That bomb was stronger than the usual ones I get hit with…" Ryuji's voice trailed in confusion, holding his arms up to keep the smoke from getting into his face.
"What's ki? And are you actually kinda hurt?" Natsu asked surprised, having calmly walked over to Ryuji.
"That's not important right now." Ryuji responded, trembling a little. "We'll be late for class!" he shouted as he ran.
Natsu's eyes went flat as when Ryuji dodged his questions and reminded them they had to go.
"This way! Stupid!"
A loud bell went off…
Standing near the front gate of the school was Natsu as he leaned against one of the pillars for their impressive school gate. Hands behind his head while looking up at the sky.
Various footsteps echoed until he heard one pair of them stopping next to him.
"Where at?" Natsu asked, leaning away from the pillar and standing up straight.
"My dojo if that's fine."
Wordlessly Natsu nodded before following Haruka as she took the lead.
Inside Haruka's dojo was Natsu still dressed in his usual school uniform. He looked around and noticed that although they were inside a well maintained dojo it didn't seem to be used that often though considering the few spider webs at the corners of the training room.
Finally his student entered the room.
Haruka entered while dressed in a compression top and muay thai shorts. She was calm and collected, everything she needed to be to reach her goal.
"Yo," Natsu greeted.
"Hello." Haruka greeted in return before standing in front of him.
"So is there any particular way you wanna' do this?" Natsu asked, punching his hand into his fist offering his sparring partner a respectful bow.
"Teach me by sparring with me," Haruka responded, returning his bow with one of her own.
"Want me to try Ryuji's style?" Natsu asked as he thought back to Ryuji's stance, mirroring his rival's defensive pose.
"That'd help," Haruka commented, looking up to think about it for a moment. "Isn't your style just a more aggressive version of Ryuji's?" she questioned.
"That's just what others think. Sometimes things can be adapted and improved." Natsu answered with a cocky look.
"Fair." Haruka responded with a slightly cocky smile of her own.
Now that they were both on the same page. They encircled one another.
"Don't go easy on me!" Haruka shouted, charging Natsu and when she was at just the right distance she released a sharp low kick.
With a slight turning of the knee, Natsu's shin met Haruka's shin at just the right angle to dissipate the force.
The impact still echoed loudly, but Haruka felt it more than he did.
Before she could ready herself, Natsu stepped within her range.
Too close!
Her elbows came up instinctively, aiming short but brutal Muay Thai strikes at Natsu's collarbone and jaw.
His hands moved with blinding speed.
Not with wide blocks. Nor with parries meant to knock them away. He cut the distance between them; his rival's style at work. One forearm jammed her elbow mid-flight. The other hand snapped forward, stopping right at her throat.
Gasp!
Haruka closed her eyes and felt a gentle tap rather than a powerful Ryuji style fist. She opened her eyes to see Natsu with calm but serious eyes.
"If that had landed you would've been done," Natsu announced.
She twisted out and answered Natsu with a hook kick to the ribs. Natsu merely held his ground, his torso barely shifting as his muscles and structure handled the blow. Haruka's eyes widened in shock.
Narrowing the gap yet again, Natsu gave Haruka no room for rest. His hands are flowing in the same manner as Ryuji's constantly and like a stream. Not aiming to easily crush her but to overwhelm her timing.
Each punch or kick forces her to guard, to give ground, to think…
That's when it hit her…
Switching her tactics, she drove forward with a push-kick, Natsu handled it but hadn't expected for her to follow it up by crashing in behind it, arms looping up and around his neck.
Haruka clinched.
She locked her grip and pulled him down into her space, plating her feet firmly. This was her at her strongest! Where technique and brutality meet.
Her knee went soaring towards Natsu.
On instinct Natsu reacted.
His forearm slammed down against her thigh, redirecting the hit hard enough to spare his ribs. Haruka still managed to hit, thudding into his side, forcing a grunt out of him.
Haruka's other knee followed!
Natsu blocked again. This time punching into the strike, knuckles thudding against muscle to disrupt the motion. It hurt. He could feel it. Haruka was much stronger than any girl he's ever encountered.
As Haruka's third knee kick came up, Natsu reached down and caught her leg, gripping just above the knee, fingers digging in with frightening determination. With a heavy grunt and a sharp twist of his hips the adaptive redhead flung Haruka over his shoulders.
Haruka's balance suddenly vanished.
She was airborne spinning so that she'd land painfully on her back.
Realizing what he had done Natsu gasped quickly before turning around and reaching his arms out to catch Haruka.
Thud!
"I took it too far…" Natsu remarked, opening his eyes at the same time as Haruka did.
For a split second, everything froze. Her face was inches from his.
Haruka could feel his breath against her skin. It was warm and steady. His eyes went wide, not shocked, just very aware all of a sudden.
The raven haired girl felt her heart thumping wildly in her chest.
"I-It's fine." She said, her eyes trembling a little.
Natsu swallowed hard. "You good?"
"...Yeah," she said softly, realizing she owed him. "Thanks for catching me."
"No prob," Natsu uttered, smiling softly.
They both looked into each other's eyes before both pulled away. Haruka jumped out of Natsu's arms and Natsu stuffed his hands into his pockets looking away with a light blush on his face.
"I think I'm getting how to fight Ryuji but I think I might need more sparring sessions," Haruka commented, unknowingly twirling one of her strands of hair.
"Yeah sure, a deal's a deal." Natsu commented, sounding like it was a duty, 'The fight is over but my heart is still racing, maybe I'm getting sick or something.' The redhead pondered.
Vrrr…
Both Natsu and Haruka took out their phones, from inside it began a message.
"Before the start of the tournament we would like to proudly announce a youth division for The Golden Sun tournament! It'll be before the main Golden Sun Tournament and whoever wins will not only claim prize money but have a chance at fighting the legend Matsumoto himself!" The announcer proclaimed, shouting in excitement the entire time he spoke.
Slowly Haruka and Natsu met at the center, their once innocent and affectionate faces now replaced with ones of sheer determination.
Inside a dark liar hidden in the shadows, a form with horn-like hair entered before bowing. Among them were seven shrouded figures.
"The claws of fate will give you one more chance, but the next time you act so reckless it will be your last…" the forsaken shadows muttered.
"Then death I shall have should I act so carelessly," Yamato answered.
Inside Ryuji's Room…
The fang-toothed teen sat on a stool in his room while tuning his guitar, until he stopped and noticed an announcement.
Ryuji narrowed his eyes…