For the boy, it was a ninja-to – the standard issue side arm for all ninjas, and often the primary weapon of choice. As for the girl, hers was something unorthodox. Strapped on her right forearm was a weapon best describe as a pair of slashing claws, which were in fact two thin, durable blades mounted on the specially designed arm harness.

Both fighters were conducting the exercise for the benefit of an audience of two-dozen or so youths – of both sexes and of similar ages as the boy in the fight. All had mixed feelings on the participants of the match, particularly of the woman who happen to be their sensei. One boy, with a dreamy look on his face, was absorbed with fantasies over his teacher.

[Sigh] “Isn’t Kasumi-sensei something? Those alluring legs, that perfect body, that divine face. I swear she looks like a megami. Don’t you think so Sasuke? Sasuke?” Receiving no response, the boy irritably gave the one called Sasuke the glare, failing to notice the distant look on Sasuke’s eyes.

“Huh? Oh I’m sorry, I wasn’t listening,” said Sasuke, trying to be apologetic after realizing he was being spoken to.

The boy reply angrily, “Yeah right! Here I am talking about how kawaii our sensei is and all you can say you’re sorry! When are you going to act normal Sasuke?”

“He doesn’t need to listen to such things from anyone Hiroshi. I’ve heard that a special relationship exist between the sensei and him.” A stout boy sitting beside the two joined in the conversation. Sasuke’s eyes narrowed dangerously upon hearing what he perceived as hearsay coming out of the fat boy’s mouth.

“What do you mean Gouru? Tell me! What is this special relationship between Sasuke and Kasumi-sensei?” asked the one called Hiroshi, a tint of jealousy forming in his expression.

Ever the tactless oaf, Gouru was obliged to Hiroshi’s request. “Well, I hear that Mondo-san asked Kasumi-sensei to console Sasuke when he lost his family during the war. Since then they’ve become very close ‘friends’.”

“No?! Sasuke you sly dog you. Why didn’t you tell us about this? Why hoard all the juicy details all to yourself? C’mon tell us, what she like?

“Really Hiroshi, it’s no big deal. We’re just friends…” ‘Friends’, the word gave Sasuke a feeling of déjà vu.

“But I also heard that Sasuke here was dumped by the sensei some time ago. It seems Kasumi-sensei met someone during the revolution in the Scarlet Moon Empire. Some great hero that single-handedly defeated the emperor. That’s why Sasuke’s has been acting so distant. That’s why…” Gouru never got to continue, as forceful hands grabbed him by the collar of his shirt, hands belonging to an enraged Sasuke.

“You just SHUT UP Gouru!!! Or I swear I’ll…I’ll…”

“SASUKE!! What’s the meaning of this?!”

Sasuke sensed all eyes were on him, the center of attraction. He felt ashamed for his outburst, for letting a lout like Gouru to get the better of him. Now he had to come up with a valid excuse for his behavior to the teacher.

“It’s nothing sensei. We were just having some misunderstandings over some petty things.” Answered Sasuke, releasing Gouru from his grip.

“Petty huh? Well instead of wasting your time bickering over trifling concerns. Let us see how’d you progressed in your training, shall we. Hiroshi, I saw you earlier! Don’t think that you’re off the hook? You will be next after Gouru. Sasuke to the center, NOW!”

Sasuke’s face was a grim mask, but he dutifully complied in humbled silence. Taking his position opposite his teacher, Sasuke drew his sword and went into a fighting stance. Kasumi did the same with her ‘claws’.

“BEGIN!”

Sasuke went for the initiative, going for a vertical slash, which Kasumi easily stopped with her ‘Sakura’.

“What’s wrong with you Sasuke? Why have you been avoiding me all this time?” whispered Kasumi to Sasuke’s face. Their weapons were locked in a hold. Sasuke kept silent. Instead of answering he pushed further his advance, hoping to bring down his opponent.

Kasumi chose to break the standoff, jumping backward a few feet away from the despondent boy. Sasuke charged forward, giving no chance for the ninja girl to act, swinging the flat of his ninja-to toward her midsection. But she wasn’t there anymore.

Sasuke looked about for his adversary. There was no sign of her around the clearing, until the boy-ninja’s senses told him to look up. Sure enough it was her – Kasumi, descending from air like a bird of prey, her ‘claws’ poised to strike its quarry. He was able to raise his weapon in time to parry the attack. The force of the blow nearly buckled him off his feet. Sasuke managed to stand firm.

Taking advantage of the boy’s defensive reaction, Kasumi pleaded to the boy in hushed tones and said: “Please Sasuke, talk to me. Are you still angry of what I said before?”

“What do you think?” responded Sasuke hoarsely through gritted teeth as he kept Kasumi’s Sakura at bay with his ninja-to. Mustering what strength he could, Sasuke pushed back his oppressor. He immediately renewed his assault on the ninja girl, slashing, slashing and slashing.

“You’re becoming reckless in your moves Sasuke. That won’t go well for you in a real fight.” commented Kasumi after dodging two of the boy’s attacks and catching the third with her Sakura. The boy’s sword got trapped between Kasumi’s twin blades.

“What do you care?” Sasuke’s eyes were getting blurry with rage that threatened to smother his reasoning.

“But I do care…” Kasumi said in a hurt tone and look.

“Oh, do you huh?” Seeing that he had hit a soft spot, Sasuke made a sweeping motion with his right leg, tripping a startled ninja girl in the process. With his ninja-to free, Sasuke moved in to deliver the winning strike that would end this match on the lying and momentarily helpless Kasumi.

[CLANG]. The girl recovered quickly, parrying Sasuke’s decisive attack.

Slightly annoyed, Sasuke applied more force into his drive, hopeful that the ninja girl would admit to yielding. “What about that other guy? The one you met during the war. What are your feelings towards him?”

Kasumi did not answerer. She just continued holding back the boy’s push. But Sasuke saw the answer in Kasumi’s eyes. He saw the reprehensible admittance in those blue eyes of hers, sealing his suspicions.

“Just as I thought. You disappoint me. And to think that we had something special with each other…UGH!!!” Sasuke doubled in pain as Kasumi kicked him flat on the stomach, sending him staggering a few paces back.

“…I’ve just had with you!” said an indignant ninja girl. Nimbly flipping herself back to a standing position, Kasumi quickly intercepted the still dazed ninja boy.

“What does it have to take to get into that thick head of yours Sasuke?” Sasuke was on the defensive. Desperately blocking every strike the ninja girl was giving him. He had never seen Kasumi this angry before, and it unnerved the boy-ninja to witness it for the first time. His anger, quelled for the moment was replaced with dread.

“…I like him. No. I love him. Is that what you wanted to hear? Huh!” Tears were bordering her eyes, but did not trickle as she fought to hold them.

Suddenly, time seemed to come to a stand still as both fighters halted in their tracks. Both relaxed in their endeavors while frozen in a classical pose – an angel triumphant over a devil. Sasuke was beginning to feel sorry for upsetting the ninja girl.

“As for us? There always has been a something special between the two of us. But not in the way you think it to be. You’re too young to understand…”

‘Too young?’ thought Sasuke as his sympathy for the girl was starting to disappear. ‘Obviously, Kasumi doesn’t take me seriously. And even so, she still sees me as nothing more than a younger brother to her. Sure. I do admit being a little bit too short and young for her, but I know deep within my heart, my feelings for her are true.’

‘No Kasumi, you’re wrong. I do understand, more than you think.’ mused the ninja boy with conviction. His softened expression suddenly transformed back into that of a frown once again. Anger was returning into the boy’s eyes. Kasumi noticed this and was deeply saddened.

“I see. You still won’t listen,” said Kasumi. She gave out a sigh and closed her eyes in contemplation. Opening them again with a fierce look, she spoke. “You’re so stubborn, insensitive and self-centered. You think you’re so special? Well think again. The world does not revolved around you Sasuke. For goodness sake, GROW UP…”

The rest of ninja girl’s words were drowned by heavy emotions building up inside of Sasuke. Each feedback uttered by Kasumi and directed at Sasuke was more painful than any wound inflicted by any sword or arrow on the boy-ninja. He was cornered like a dog with nowhere to run. But such a dog was more dangerous when cornered. It tends to bite back. That’s how Sasuke felt. He wanted to bite back. His mind strained for words, anything to get back at the ninja girl, anything. Then it came to him. A word. He did not know or cared how he thought of it. He just had to say it.

“YOU ARE A SLUT!”

“…NANI!!! SASUKE, YOU JERK!!!” She was furious like hell. Kasumi immediately concentrated on her Shrike rune.

Before he knew what was happening, the ninja girl was all over Sasuke, locked in her inescapable grip. Both somersaulted into the air with Sasuke being the first to make contact with ground in a very painful manner, knocking the wind out of the boy.

Regaining her composure, Kasumi soon came to the realization on what she had done.