Trip to Paradise

It's been a while since Xander started going out at night to hospitals to train his cure and 'miraculously' heal people. Due to his increase in Body and Spirit stats he rarely needs sleep (meditation) at night anymore, though he still only goes out three times a week and never to the same hospital twice in a row.

It was one of those nights, when he was on the roof of a local hospital, that he felt her "Shigure, what are you doing here?"

Xander turned to face the Beautiful weapon mistress. She was wearing her usual outfit of purple half Kimono, which left little to the imagination but stirred it strongly all the same.

"I follow" she replied softly as her nature allows

"And to what do I owe the honour of this lovely lady's presence?" Xander spoke with a flourish

A soft blush lit up the dark rooftop as she looked away from her object of interest "Miu told us about the date"

Xander stood there for a second as the gears in his mind became oddly audible "want to go on a date?" he blurted out

Shigure's blush was now as bright as the sun as she turned completely away from Xander "Hn" she replied

"And Miu is fine with it?" Xander asked just to be sure

His answer came in the form of childlike excited nodding… minus the smile and big bright eyes…

Still looked cute though.

So cute in fact that Xander instinctively pulled Shigure into a soft hug causing the weapon mistress to stiffen and almost pull out one of her hidden kunai because of her ingrained instincts.

"Your too cute for my heart, you know that?" Xander whispered into her ears causing her to stiffen more but only for a moment before tentatively returning the hug.

When was the last time she hugged someone… when was the last time she was hugged by someone… when was the last time someone patted her back and told her it was ok.

It was what Xander was doing as tears streamed down the eyes of the young woman that became a grand master level martial artist at an age much too young because of necessity as it is the only way she knows.

She was releasing it all as the embrace Xander gave her released all her pent up frustrations, even if she never knew she had them. She cried for some time, but never sobbed, just tears streaming down her eyes and Xander held her throughout the whole thing.

Though his mind was preoccupied with something else.

[Blessing of a sister of existence: Love] [Blessing]

[If a woman likes you to a certain degree, she will be willing to share you with other women…

Among other things.

- Tender kiss

You are able to transfer and receive emotions through your kiss.

- Comforting embrace

Your embrace will assist the person you are embracing in dealing with their emotional turmoil.]

This was the reward for the quest that neither he nor scarlet knew existed, nor did the system explain it to them, but hey, you don't look a gift horse in the mouth.

The kiss was from Miu and now the embrace from Shigure, Sweet.

---

That night Xander had an impromptu date with Shigure, where they rode his bike across town. Though never through residential areas as the VMAX was never known as a quiet bike.

At the moment they just finished having a break in one of those night time ramen stalls. Xander walked towards the bike with Shigure's hand in his "we should head home, it's getting late"

Xander was promptly stopped by Shigure tugging on his hand. As he turned to face her she surprised him with her face being only inches away from his own.

"Kiss" she demanded with a serious face that rivalled Willow's

Xander smiled and did as she ordered

After all, who was he to argue with the pretty lady?

---

Time went by and summer break finally came to be. Miu was more than smart enough to test out of High school, but she wanted to experience it whatever that means.

It was after the first week of summer, that a letter came to Ryozanpaku

"So we got invited to a southern island?" a sceptical Ryuto asked "that sounds somewhat familiar" he added thoughtfully

"It's probably for the martial arts tournament" Kenichi chimed in as he was holding a duffle bag "I'm ready"

"TOO FAST" echoed the shouts of several decuples

Furinji chuckled "Yup, the invitation is from Yami"

The mood instantly changed as the masters released their Ki. Sakaki had his bloodthirsty grin on "They dare invite us like this"

Kensei continued "They are courting death"

'Ah, I shouldn't have introduced those Xianxia novels to him' Xander thought with regret

---

As the eight fists were disciples of Ryozanpaku, they entered the 'D of D' tournament as well and so the old wooden boat couldn't fit them all. So Xander Ryuto and Natsu (Hermit) spent some money and got a Yacht for everyone.

Sakaki raided the booze; Apachai raided the fridge and so on and so forth till they reached the Island. It took little time to reach the paradise island named Despair island… it's what the touring lady called it.

The Island hotel was luxurious to say the least, it was that night though that Xander believed the trip and accompanying trouble was worth it.

The girls, his girls, were dressed to impress, and he was impressed. Kisara turned out to be one of those noble ladies that had a doting father but hated dressing up, didn't mean she didn't know how to though. She was able to utilise her expertise to dress the girls

Thus the drooling Kenichi.

"Humph, you better appreciate it" she told him in her own "tsun tsun" way as he took to calling it, much to her ire

"I love it" he smiled gently at her, knowing it was how to defuse her attitude. He got it from doing so during their date.

When the girls heard about the impromptu date with Shigure they wanted one too. Renka took care of scheduling it and Xander was just brout along for the ride.

Again, who was he to argue with the pretty lady?

As the party progressed, Xander released several Ghosts to identify the 'Big Wigs' in the party. None of them is a good guy and by the end of the tournament, none of them would have the company… except some who actually are good guys…

Scarlet will handle it.

That was the phrase Xander took to whenever he had to deal with hacking or business or whatever it was assistants do. He gave her the parallel mind and told her to argue with it when it came to these things unless both minds were needed. It was his mind after all.

The party music was interrupted promptly by the announcement of some master called Laughing fist Diego. He jumped on stage and started announcing stuff.

He was interrupted however by another, infinitely more annoying (to Xander) voice "if this is truly the premier tournament then why weren't the shunpike alliance invited?"

"How did he get here?" Ukitake asked the group

"umm" everyone turned to Thor "I saw him in the Yacht engine room when I got lost, he said he was along as an engineer…"

"…"

"So what do we do with him?" Hermit asked as Niijima was now running from a very irritated Diego

"He'll be fine" Xander shrugged "he can probably survive a nuclear blast so a master can't do much to him"

'What is he a cockroach?' every one wondered

Niijima however, had another thought "KENICHIII. SAVE MEEEE" he screamed as he ran towards their group in a pattern that caused the gaurds to miss Niijima every time they took a swing at him.

Xander made no move to help or any move at all. he simply gave a deadpan look towards Niijima as said young man… alien?... dived behind Kenichi for safety.

"YOU RUIND MY SHOW" Diego shouted at Niijima "I LIKE YOU. YOU'RE IN" he grinned causing several of the younger people to face palm.

It turned out to be a lucky stroke as each group was allowed a single team of three.

So Ryozanpaku had Miu, Kisara and Freya

Shinpaku alliance had Takida, Ukitake and Siegfried

And Ragnarok had Odin, Berserker and Hermit

Kenichi told everyone why he didn't participate and they agreed.

He was simply too strong for the under 20 tournament.

It didn't mean he wouldn't fight if he was personally invited, and by the disgruntled look on Diego's face, his invitation was on the way.

Team Kenichi had Kenichi