Taijutsu Week 2

Friend or Foe

The second week of the academy had begun. Ayumi and her friends were once again in Taijutsu class.  At least this time the teacher had no reason to yell. As class began the boy who was sent to the infirmary last week walked in. 'Riki Katsu- was it…' Ayumi tried remembering his name.
The young boy stood face to face with Buntaro Fujihara.
"Welcome back. How are your wounds?"- Buntaro asked, looking sincere.
"Hmph. Like you care."- Riki turned his head.
" Are you going to attack me again this week?"- the teacher asked sharply.
"You bet I am!"- Riki replied as Buntaro took a battle stance.
The boy then explained that he wouldn't attempt to attack the teacher today, but rather that he'd settle the score when he becomes an ANBU.
"Strong words,boy. I hope you back them up when the time comes."- Fujihara-Sensei said with a little smirk.
Ayumi saw Riki glare at the teacher as he went to take his seat. Buntaro Fujihara then went on to explain the day's lesson- Limits. The class was told to go outside where everyone would be divided into pairs of 2. So everyone would be testing their limits against a random classmate..Ayumi wondered if that was even right to do so soon.. but hell, she liked to fight, and it's not like they would mortally wound each other.  She watched as Riki Katsu was intensely fighting with another boy. Wasn't what they were doing against the rules? Their fight had ended up with Buntaro-Sensei having to pull Riki off of the other boy. Ayumi could hear her teacher yell all the way from where they were. Somewhere else, her friends had already begun their own sparring matches.
'I wonder who my partner is supposed to be…?'- Ayumi was wondering when she heard a boy's voice talking to Fujihara-sensei.
"But teacher.. Please, choose a different partner for me! I want to switch partners!"- the voice belonged to Ayumi's childhood friend- Hissori Amimono. 'Why is he… that Hissori!'- Ayumi was thinking to herself and her mouth turned into a frown.
Soon after, Hissori was facing his white-haired friend. Apparently, his request to change partners was denied. Ayumi glared at the blue-haired boy who seemed to be looking uncertain and puzzled.
"Come here and fight me!"- Ayumi yelled.
"Wha…no."- Hissori hesitated and took a step back.
"So you don't wanna fight me?  I heard you back there!"- Ayumi kept yelling.  "I thought you were my friend!"- she screamed as she tightened her hands into fists.
"What are you…"- Hissori began but was cut off by his friend.
" Well if you won't attack then I 'm coming at you!"- Ayumi ground her teeth and charged for the boy standing not too far away from her.
Hissori was still hesitating, but there was no more time to react. Soon after, Ayumi's fist collided with his cheek.  He grabbed her wrists with his hands and pinned them down.
"IF YOU DIDN'T LIKE ME, YOU SHOULD HAVE SAID SO! WHY DO YOU PRETEND TO BE MY FRIEND?"- Ayumi was screaming, her eyes blazing into Hissori's.
"I-It's not like that!!!!"- Hissori yelled. "What are you saying??"
"I heard you! You wanted to switch partners! You didn't wanna be my partner 'cause you don't like me!"- Ayumi kept yelling.
"No! That's not the reason!"- Hissori shook his head.- "I wanted to change partners because…because I didn't wanna fight you, I didn't wanna hurt my friends!"- Hissori said, his face turning red and his eyes shut tight. He loosed his grip on the girl's wrists and she broke free. For a while they both stood silent.
"I see… I'm sorry…"- Ayumi began- "I'm sorry I doubted you…"
Hissori shook his head as if to say there was no need to be sorry.
"But you know, in the future, we need to be strong. There might come a time when we will have to fight our friends. Maybe someday fighting a friend will be the only way to help them… So next time, let's test our limits!"- Ayumi said and turned to Hissori.
"…Alright."- Hissori nodded.
'Yet…that was still kind of him…'- Ayumi thought and a warm smile escaped her as the school bell rang.