With Christmas break winding down, Nat now found herself in a unique situation. After asking her parents the dhamphir teen was pleasantly surprised to see they had listened. Nat now gazed intently at the five tailed kitsune that was going to teach her how to fight.
Standing in her finished basement, Nat now studied the kitsune carefully. Akira was dressed in dark blue robes, form fitting yet comfortable with pants that tapered off, ending just past his knees exposing his orange, furry, digigrade feet. Akira certainly looked like a warrior, a fact Nat decided to ask about.
"How come you're dressed like a Jedi?"
"These are the traditional attire of a samauri," Akira stated. "My people have a deep connection with Japan. Adopting much of its culture and dress."
"So the samauri copied the Jedi?"
Akira sighed, the kitsunes shoulders slumping as he pinched the bridge of his nose. Dealing with teenagers and pop culture could certainly be tiresome. "Let us begin our lesson Natalia," he groaned.
Natalia now quickly made her way to the center of the room, the teen bouncing with excitement. She was finally going to learn how to defend herself. "Okay I'm ready," she said excitedly. "What do we do first?"
****POW*****
Natalia fell backwards onto her rear, the teens nose throbbing. Akira had punched her in the nose, the kitsunes speed far quicker than she had anticipated. Worse, she wasn't sure what lesson Akira was trying to teach her. A fact she now voiced to her teacher.
"Oww what the hell," she moaned. "You punched me in the nose!"
"You didn't block."
"Of course I didn't block," Nat exclaimed. "I don't know how to fight! I thought you were going to show me how! You know like in the movies, wax on wax off that kind of thing."
Akira sighed, his face stoic as he gazed at the young teen. "You watch too many movies Natalia MacGregor." Reaching out a hand, the kitsune now assisted the teen to her feet before dusting her off. The teen sporting a sour look as she locked eyes with Akira.
"I was under the impression you had some rudimentary skills," he stated. "Given your vampiric nature. I appear to have been mistaken." Taking a breath Akira now gazed at the girl, this was going to be a challenge. "Given your...for lack of a better term, inexperience, perhaps we shall start slow. "
Over the next hour, Nat found herself pushed to her limits. While Akira declared that he was taking it easy on her, Nat had her doubts. As Akira explained, kitsune relied upon their natural abilities while attacking. It was this ingrained ability that the kitsune now tried to instill in Natalia. Given her dhamphir nature, Akira believed Nat could adapt the kitsunes fighting style into her own. Collapsing to the mat after yet another sparring session though and Nat had her doubts.
"Damn it," Nat hissed, slamming her fist into the mat. Akira appeared stoic, the kitsune gazing at his student. "You are getting better Natalia," he stated, reaching down to help the grlirl to her feet.
"Says you," Nat grumbled. "Its hopeless! You keep saying to embrace my power but I just can't! I don't know the first thing about being a dhamphir." Akira nodded, a sympathetic look crossing his face as he listened to the teen. "Let us take a break."
Nat sighed, taking a seat next to Akira. As the kitsune now handed the girl a bottle of water, he felt he should try to boost the girls confidence. "Natalia you may not believe it but I understand where you are coming from."
"Yeah right," Nat scoffed, taking a long swig of water.
"I'm serious," Akira said warmly. "You see I too have had trouble embracing my kitsune nature." Nat raised an eyebrow, wondering what her teacher was talking about.
"For centuries I focused on combat," he said. "Foregoing my kitsune nature for the way of Bushido. Kitsune as a race are deeply magical in nature. Instead of embracing this magic, I let it wither. However, I learned that to deny one's nature is to deny a part of oneself." Nat now watched as the kitsune flicked his wrist, a ball of light appearing before them lazily floating before the pair.
"I'm still relearning my magic," he said. "I denied it for so long that it is taking time to respond, like a plant that has been denied water. However, as I nurture it it grows."
"Okay," Nat said softly. "But your magic seems like a good thing. My powers though, well, they're scary."
"How so?"
"Well I mean the only vampire I only ever knew was my mom," Nat shrugged. "And she always told me to be weary of vampires. I've been scared of letting anyone even know I'm part vampire my entire life. I don't want to be a monster."
"It is not what we are that makes us a monster but our actions."
Nat paused, taking in Akiras words. They made sense, honestly, Nat was far removed from being a monster. She was different yes, but her powers didn't make her something hideous. "Wow you should write fortune cookies."
"Thats Chinese I'm from Japan."
"Sorry," Nat blushed.
Akira chuckled, giving his student a warm smile as he now helped her to her feet. "I like you Natalia MacGregor," he smiled. "You have a good heart, now let us continue my student. I look forward to watching your progress."