Friends

Standing over Vanessa, who is on her knees covering her stomach. I watch her with an evil grin.

"I may have one eye, but I'm not weak. Remember that." I tell her, grinning like a maniac.

"You... Bastard... You... will... die." She says, taking deep breaths after each word.

"I've heard and seen enough from you two. Both of you wait on the sidelines for everyone to get done." Kaminari demands.

Everyone had appeared to be watching our fight. Some people had astonishment on their faces, and some had anger.

"Everyone begin your matches now!" Kaminari demands.

I walk to the wall and sit criss-cross on the foam floor.

I begin to meditate. I think it's an amazing idea to try and learn how to focus on multiple sounds at once. I hear wooden katanas on wooden katanas, movement, and even the air of some people's attacks.

After an hour, everyone finished their matches. We all form the normal horizontal line.

"So a lot of people have definitely improved, but something I noticed is the people who I identified as having potential didn't improve. Which means I was wrong. Now, there was one exception, and that was Zero. Good job, Zero. But just because Zero did good doesn't mean you all get off the hook. So everyone in the potential category, besides Zero. Will be giving me 1,000 swings. Now, the people who were in the no potential category, you all did exetremly well, so I will allow you to do whatever you want." Kaminari says.

After telling us this information, Kaminari's head slowly turns to where I'm standing.

"Except for you, Daniel. You will be giving me 5,000 swings." Kaminari says, with a hint of anger in his voice.

I give him a quizzical look.

"I will not allow you to say the things you said and not get punished for it. I will not condone such things in my dojo." Kaminari says, anger now clear in his voice.

"I see." I say back.

I let Akuji out for just a couple of seconds. Stupid. I could have given all this up because of that mistake.

Myself, Magnus, Lucy, Luke, and Vanessa grab our wooden katanas again and start our swinging.

We swing at absolutely nothing for many hours. Unfortunately, I swing much longer than everyone else.

I ended up swinging for four hours straight. No breaks or anything, just constant swinging.

When I finally got done, I was drenched with sweat. My arms were numb and aching badly. My back was also aching horribly.

"Here. Take this drink." Taylor says, handing me an orange Gatorade.

"Thanks." I say.

"No problem. I know 5,000 swings sucks because my father used to make me do 3,000, and it was horrible."

"Man. Sensei doesn't show mercy, even to his own daughter."

"Yeah. Father ain't the type to show mercy until they prove themselves worthy of mercy."

"So... What is your opinion on the whole ordeal."

"Well... I'm on your side. She got what was coming to her. She has always been a bitch. Don't tell my dad, but I'm kinda glad you said those things to her."

"You said she has always been a bitch. Did you know her before the dojo?"

"Yes. We live in a small city, and her parents are one of the richest in Cañon City. Vanessa's parents like to show her off on TV. She always acts like a princess, and I hate women who act like that. When I worked so hard to get what I currently have."

"Interesting."

"Well, I better be going I guesse."

"See you later."

Taylor slowly passes me, eyeing my waists. She leans against my ear and whispers.

"Nice abs."

I look down at my stomach. Dammit. I completely forgot to buy some new clothes and change out. Why didn't anybody mention it before.

Hearing Taylor walk off, I take a drink of the Gatorade, enjoying every bit of the fresh taste.

I finished the Gatorade in seconds. Throwing the Gatorade away, I walk outside. As soon as I step onto the sidewalk, right outside the dojo door. I hear a voice say.

"That was impressive. You managed to dodge an attack that you couldn't even see. You learned something from Kaminari. What was it?"

Looking to my left, I see Zero leaning against a wall.

"Nothing that concerns you." I tell him.

"Oh, it does." He retorts.

"Trust me, it doesn't. You wouldn't be able to learn the training anyway because you have both your eyes."

"Interesting."

Zero gets up from leaning against the wall.

"Follow me." Zero demands.

I follow Zero until he leads us to the roof of a 20 story building. it's currently about an hour until dark. We both lean our arms against the ledge of the roof, watching the ever so decreasing sun.

"It's funny, really. We both are hiding something huge." Zero says, chuckling after saying this.

"Really?" I ask

"Yes. Clearly, you're not the real you right now. I have a theory. I think the real you is dark and ruthless. The real you would kill anyone who stands in their way."

"And what are you gettiing at?"

"Well, I don't quite know, really. I have too many theories to come to a conclusion, but there seems to be one theory that keeps coming to my mind."

"What's this theory."

"Not too long ago, maybe one or two months ago, there was a hero in training at the Hero Society, his name was Disrupt. Disrupt got the top scores in his exams, making him amongst the top ten in the school. pass a couple of weeks, and the Hero Society had a huge field trip. They called it, but It wasn't a field trip. It was practice for the real world. The true reality of heroes. Disrupt a long with three others fought with two villains who were trying to rob an innocent woman. In the heat of the moment, Disrupt killed one of the robbers. Pass another couple of weeks, and the brother to the robber Disrupt killed. Kidnapped, and apparently tortured, Disrupt for seven days straight. His injuries are unknown, and the house where this torturing took place was completely destroyed. Now, Disrupt has gone missing yet again, but strangely after his disappearance, a man calling himself Akuji popped up. What makes this fact even weirder is when you consider that their abilities are almost, if not the same. Disrupt had the ability to break anything he touched, and according to eye witnesses and videos, anything that Akuji touches seems to break and shatter. Just like Disrupt. Then we have Daniel Rodway. A person who can shatter whatever he touches, and when he makes his entrance into Cañon City, Akuji stops doing whatever he is planning to do."

"You're smart."

"Is that theory correct?"

"Almost 100%."

"Almost?"

"You said I stopped what I was planning. That's not true."

"What are you doing here? What are you planning?"

"I want to simply master Kendo."

"Why?"

"So I can use Kirihirakimasu. A superweapon I picked up on my journey, too, put it mildly."

"So, your Akuji then?"

"Yes. But what about you. You said we both were hiding something. I told you what I was hiding now, you tell me what you're hiding."

"I'm an assassin. I'm trying to kill Kaminari."

Shock immediately runs throughout my all body.

"Why?" I ask in shock.

"There is a huge price on his head. That's why." Zero replies coldly.