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$str = "<b>~Here
you go, off to compete~ <p style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px;
min-height: 15px;\"></p>~Nerves stack up inside of you, getting
closer and closer to bursting~ <p style=\"margin: 0px; line-height:
16px; min-height: 15px;\"></p>~Will you pop? Or will you get
yourself evened out?~ <p style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px;
min-height: 15px;\"></p>~*~*~*~ </b><p style=\"margin:
0px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 15px;\"></p>The bright sun
rays slipped through the octagon shaped windows and shined right into
my eyes. I woke up <p style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px;
min-height: 15px;\"></p>squinting with an explosion of bright
orange and red colors behind my eyelids. This is why I should sleep with
a <p style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;\"></p>pillow over my head. I quickly took the pillow out
from under my head and slammed it over my face. \"Five more minutes,\" I
grumbled. <p style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;\"></p>It only took a mere five seconds before a distinct
sinking feeling shot down my spine. I shot out of bed, my pillow flying
somewhere in my room. \"The sunrise!\" I shrieked. <p style=\"margin:
0px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 15px;\"></p>Oh no, no, no,
no, no! <p style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;\"></p>The sunrise is supposed to be the start of the
training day. All the students wake up, eat breakfast in the <p
style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;\"></p>Mess Hall, and are expected to be lined outside in
the grass field by the time the sun is up. Here the rays have just
blinded me and I'm still in bed and my pajamas. In other words, I'm not
just late, I'm super late. <p style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px;
min-height: 15px;\"></p>The morning gong rang, sealing my
fate. A gong sounds off to signal the start and end of a training day,
<p style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;\"></p>without fail, every single morning. The fact that
I'm still in my disheveled state when I heard the gong means how badly
things will be for me later on. <p style=\"margin: 0px; line-height:
16px; min-height: 15px;\"></p>I quickly rushed to my dresser
and tried to keep it together while I changed into my workout clothes.
The <p style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;\"></p>Kitsune Clan assigned every student an outfit to
train in... and a purple nightgown wasn't part of the ensemble. <p
style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;\"></p>\"How can I be late?\" I shrieked to myself, \"I've
never been late before! This is impossible!\" <p style=\"margin:
0px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 15px;\"></p>Once I was
dressed in my proper clothes, I skidded out of my room and down the
hallway of my sector <p style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px;
min-height: 15px;\"></p>house. \"Cassie-Chan! Yami-San! Luna!
Are you guys here?\" I cried out. <p style=\"margin: 0px;
line-height: 16px; min-height: 15px;\"></p>Where were my
teammates? Surely they didn't just leave me alone. Cassie or Yami are
always the ones who <p style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px;
min-height: 15px;\"></p>wake me up, it's been that way since
day one. I've only been at this clan a month, just like my other four
teammates. The five of us are considered 'fresh meat' in the clan and if
a fresh meat is late for training... <p style=\"margin: 0px;
line-height: 16px; min-height: 15px;\"></p>I remembered the
punishment that Kuroi once told me about: <p style=\"margin: 0px;
line-height: 16px; min-height: 15px;\"></p>\"One time I saw a
kid do eight-hundred push-ups,\" Kuroi said gravely. <p
style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;\"></p>He's my sector leader who has been here the past
three years, the only senior member among us in Sector 7.
\"Eight-hundred push-ups?\" I questioned back to him. <p
style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;\"></p>Kuroi nodded. \"He had to do two-hundred of them on
his tongue.\" \"No way,\" I gaped. <p style=\"margin: 0px;
line-height: 16px; min-height: 15px;\"></p>\"That's physically
impossible,\" Yami then stated. <p style=\"margin: 0px; line-height:
16px; min-height: 15px;\"></p>Kuroi shrugged his shoulders.
\"Hey, I'm just telling you fresh meats what I saw.\" <p
style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;\"></p>\"What happened to the kid who had to do it?\"
Cassie inquired, joining in my curiosity. <p style=\"margin: 0px;
line-height: 16px; min-height: 15px;\"></p>My team leader threw
both his hands up. \"I'm pretty sure he's dead.\" The memory ended. Oh
no. I'm gonna die. <p style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px;
min-height: 15px;\"></p>Forget calling out for my teammates. I
ran to the front door, slid it open hastily, and nearly tripped out the
<p style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;\"></p>door. Maybe if I make it to the grass fields in
time, I can just stand there I've like been there the whole time. But
this is a shinobi clan, which makes all my teachers highly trained
warriors themselves. There's no way I'm gonna slip past people of their
level. <p style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;\"></p>The brisk fresh air hit my face and sent a layer of
goosebumps down my arms. It was the beginning of September, the month
where summer bids farewell and autumn says hello. <p style=\"margin:
0px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 15px;\"></p>I bounded down
the steps of my sector house and skidded to a stop. In front of me were
all five of my <p style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;\"></p>teammates, just standing there on the front lawn
of our sector house. There was Sector 7's leader, Kuroi Kaze, Teruko
Cassie, Hanran Nigaru, YamiTsuki, and Yami's little sister, Luna. <p
style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;\"></p>Speaking of Luna, the little kid was the first one
to notice me. \"Morning, Tabby-Chan!\" she exclaimed with a smile on her
face. <p style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;\"></p>I looked at Luna with widened eyes. \"What are you
so happy for?\" Surely she knows that our whole sector <p
style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;\"></p>was late for training and now we're all gonna die.
Surely! <p style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;\"></p>Luna blinked a few times, even scratched her
pixie-cut head of jet black hair. \"I guess I'm happy because I had egg
drop soup for breakfast,\" she then answered, \"and I'm happy that
Cassie-Chan let me brush her hair, 'cause it's really soft and stuff.
Oh, and I'm happy that the bruise on my arm turned purple because I love
purple! Yeah, all these things are great.\" She smiled. <p
style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;\"></p>I smacked my palm to my forehead. \"No, Luna. We're
all gonna die!\" I hissed. <p style=\"margin: 0px; line-height:
16px; min-height: 15px;\"></p>She looked left, looked right,
left again, and back at me. \"Right now?\" <p style=\"margin: 0px;
line-height: 16px; min-height: 15px;\"></p>\"Don't you see?
We're late for training, Luna! It's way past sunrise. Now we're gonna be
punished by one of <p style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px;
min-height: 15px;\"></p>the teachers, and it'll probably be
Sensei Akira because she's the scariest.\" I huffed out a big breath of
air. Why do I have to explain this stuff, she should know what her fate
is. <p style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;\"></p>Yami, Luna's older brother, stepped over closer to
his sister and myself. \"Um, Tabby-Chan, you didn't see the <p
style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;\"></p>note I left you, did you?\" he asked me. I shook my
head no. \"Oh, well I left you a note explaining that Sensei Akira left
our sector a note,\" Yami explained. <p style=\"margin: 0px;
line-height: 16px; min-height: 15px;\"></p>\"Ha! You left a
note about leaving a note! You're so funny, bro,\" Luna chuckled. I
don't recall ever seeing a note. \"I never saw one,\" I told him. <p
style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;\"></p>Yami bowed his head once. \"My apologies,
Tabby-Chan. I thought you would see it. Nigaru-San was the first <p
style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;\"></p>one to wake up and he saw that Sensei Akira put a
note on our door. She told us not to show up for training and <p
style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;\"></p>to meet her outside the sector house at 6:00
sharp.\" <p style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;\"></p>My eyes drifted up to the skies overhead. \"That's
like, forty-five minutes away,\" I awed. <p style=\"margin: 0px;
line-height: 16px; min-height: 15px;\"></p>Yami nodded. \"This
was the first morning ever where you could have slept in. I thought you
would have <p style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;\"></p>wanted to. Sorry for making you panic.\" Yami was
genuine, as he always was. <p style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px;
min-height: 15px;\"></p>He was my best friend in the clan,
only a year younger than me at twelve compared to my thirteen. He was a
<p style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;\"></p>great companion, even if he was a little odd at
times. Yami had bright silver hair and pale white skin. The best thing
about him were his chocolate brown eyes; they always gleamed with care
and concern. <p style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;\"></p>\"It's okay,\" I finally sighed, remembering how to
breathe at the same time. \"I was just scared, that's all. But <p
style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;\"></p>it's alright.\" <p style=\"margin: 0px;
line-height: 16px; min-height: 15px;\"></p>\"Scared? Ah come
on, Tabby-Chan!\" Luna exclaimed. She began to bounce back and forth on
her heels and balls of her feet, until Yami held her down by putting a
hand on her head. <p style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px;
min-height: 15px;\"></p>The little girl was the youngest member
of this clan at eight years old. She was Yami's sister, however, the
two <p style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;\"></p>looked nothing alike. Where Yami was pale, Luna's
skin was a dark tan. She was short and on the scrawny side, <p
style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;\"></p>with wild hair that went in every direction. It was
always amusing to see the two stand side-by-side knowing that they're
related. <p style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;\"></p>\"So what if I had written a note about Yami
writing you a note?\" Luna then asked me. \"Then that would <p
style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;\"></p>mean that I wrote a note about writing a note. Ooh!
And Sensei Akira wrote the original note, so that's three <p
style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;\"></p>notes.\" <p style=\"margin: 0px; line-height:
16px; min-height: 15px;\"></p>Yami patted his sister's head.
\"Sorry sis, but that's not our biggest concern right now,\" he said. He
turned <p style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;\"></p>back to me, \"So what do you think is going on? I
don't see any other sectors waiting outside, I think we're the <p
style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;\"></p>only ones Sensei Akira wanted to see.\" <p
style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;\"></p>I looked around me to see if he was right. The
Kitsune Clan is a huge school that goes on for miles and miles, all
surrounded by a jutted stone wall. There are thirteen sector houses,
each built with pagoda-styled roofs and <p style=\"margin: 0px;
line-height: 16px; min-height: 15px;\"></p>wood and bamboo. The
Kitsune Clan divided their students up into thirteen sectors, each
sector with seven members each. All the houses are lined up in a row,
therefore I would have seen if any other students were standing outside.
<p style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;\"></p>Yami was correct, the only ones out here were the
six of us. We were Sector 7, one member short of a completed team. I
thought about my answer to Yami's posing question. <p style=\"margin:
0px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 15px;\"></p>\"I have no
idea,\" I yawned. Yeah, I didn't think about my answer for too long.
Luckily, it didn't take long for the answer to present itself. <p
style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;\"></p>There was a shift in the morning air. I don't know
what exactly changed, I just know that something in the <p
style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;\"></p>present atmosphere wasn't the same as before. There
I was, standing outside with my heart racing and <p style=\"margin:
0px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 15px;\"></p>tiredness still
in my bones. Yami and Luna were standing right in front of me, with
Cassie not too far off, and <p style=\"margin: 0px; line-height:
16px; min-height: 15px;\"></p>Kuroi standing with his legs
apart and arms crossed like some big shot. <p style=\"margin: 0px;
line-height: 16px; min-height: 15px;\"></p>The only one who was
quite a distance away was Hanran, the middle boy of our sector. Hanran
was the type of guy who not only liked his space, he demanded it. He was
farthest away from everyone with his back to us. <p style=\"margin:
0px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 15px;\"></p>Actually,
Hanran is what tipped me off in the first place. He turned his head and
looked in Cassie's direction. <p style=\"margin: 0px; line-height:
16px; min-height: 15px;\"></p>\"Nigaru-San?\" Cassie asked
after a long moment went by with Hanran still staring at her. Like me
and Yami, Cassie and Hanran were close in age as well. She was sixteen
and he was seventeen. <p style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px;
min-height: 15px;\"></p>Hanran continued to be silent, however,
he began to take slow and cautious steps towards us. \"It's time,\" he
said in a very low voice. <p style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px;
min-height: 15px;\"></p>Before I could ask what Hanran meant,
Luna threw her arms in the air and exclaimed, \"I've got it!\" \"Got
what?\" I asked her. <p style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px;
min-height: 15px;\"></p>\"I remembered the real reason why I'm
so happy! It's because Nigaru-San caught a frog and he let me hold it.
<p style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;\"></p>It was all slimy 'n stuff and squishy,\" Luna
answered. Her brother shook his head. <p style=\"margin: 0px;
line-height: 16px; min-height: 15px;\"></p>\"That was three
weeks ago,\" Hanran merely pointed out. <p style=\"margin: 0px;
line-height: 16px; min-height: 15px;\"></p>\"I know, I've been
happy about it ever since,\" Luna grinned. <p style=\"margin: 0px;
line-height: 16px; min-height: 15px;\"></p>That was all there
was to say about that subject. What Hanran was referring to became
obvious; Akira <p style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;\"></p>appeared before us, the teacher we were waiting
on. Just like that, our Sector 7 was in the presence of the <p
style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;\"></p>Kitsune Clan's second-in-command, Akira Miyamoto
herself. The woman had her fighting uniform on; a black cat suit with a
crimson red sash, and two matching red straps over the shoulders to make
an 'X' shape. These were not her usual clothes. She was dressed for
battle. <p style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;\"></p>Oh no, I realized, she's dressed for battle! <p
style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;\"></p>\"Hey Sensei, whaddya doing here so early?\" Kuroi
then asked. For the first time that morning, I heard my <p
style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;\"></p>sector leader speak, and he still had the same
brash and rude tone as last night. <p style=\"margin: 0px;
line-height: 16px; min-height: 15px;\"></p>Akira merely lifted
an eyebrow. She slid a hand into her red sash and showed a silver kunai
was between her fingers. <p style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px;
min-height: 15px;\"></p>Kuroi cleared his throat. \"I mean, uh,
morning Sensei.\" He knew that kunai threat was for him. I smirked on
the inside; my team leader always tries to act like a big shot. <p
style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;\"></p>Everyone else was polite with their greetings, all
except Hanran who chose to stay silent. Big surprise. \"I'll <p
style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;\"></p>make my point right now,\" Akira then said, her
voice loud and clear. \"You're all coming with me to Viper <p
style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;\"></p>Country, we're going to the Black-Sho Clan for
Battle Month. We depart in fifteen minutes. Pack light and take <p
style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;\"></p>your weapons with you. Once your fifteen minutes
are up, meet me at the front gates of the school. Do not <p
style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;\"></p>make me wait on you, Sector 7.\" <p
style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;\"></p>Once Akira finished speaking, she turned on her
heels and started to walk in the opposite direction of the sector
houses. <p style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;\"></p>\"Wait!\" Yami shrieked. <p style=\"margin: 0px;
line-height: 16px; min-height: 15px;\"></p>Akira turned her
head around and eyed him. \"What?\" <p style=\"margin: 0px;
line-height: 16px; min-height: 15px;\"></p>Just one look from
our teacher, and Yami was frozen with fear. \"U-uh-um,\" he stammered.
He shook his head <p style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px;
min-height: 15px;\"></p>and got himself together. \"Sensei,
what exactly is Battle Month? I've never heard of this.\" <p
style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;\"></p>The shinobi woman didn't even blink. \"Kaze-San
knows,\" she answered simply. \"Let him explain it.\" <p
style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;\"></p>After that, Kuroi came undone. \"Oh spirits, why do
I gotta explain it?\" he growled, \"I mean, it's enough that <p
style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;\"></p>I've gotta mentor these fresh meats, now I've gotta
clue them in on the obvious, too?\" <p style=\"margin: 0px;
line-height: 16px; min-height: 15px;\"></p>Whish! <p
style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;\"></p>Kuroi fell to the ground with a loud bang... a
kunai jammed through his shirt and keeping him pinned to the <p
style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;\"></p>ground. He thrashed about, trying to loosen the
kunai from the compacted dirt, but it wasn't working very well. <p
style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;\"></p>I had to stop myself from laughing out loud. This
was too rich! <p style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;\"></p>\"Now you six only have ten minutes to pack,\"
Akira then stated. She eyed Kuroi especially, \"Better talk fast.\" With
that, Akira walked off. <p style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px;
min-height: 15px;\"></p>\"I swear!\" Kuroi hissed from the
ground. He was a big guy; 5'10\" in height and built like a bear with
all his <p style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;\"></p>muscle. It was funny to think that a simple kunai
from Akira's belt could keep him on the ground. But that <p
style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;\"></p>wasn't a surprising occurrence for Kuroi Kaze. He
was the one at this school with a \"bad boy\" reputation; he <p
style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;\"></p>used to be the only one in Sector 7 until the rest
of us joined about a month ago, after all. The only thing Kuroi <p
style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;\"></p>cares about is being badass which means he's a guy
who just wants to fight and brawl all the time. He's so <p
style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;\"></p>annoying! <p style=\"margin: 0px; line-height:
16px; min-height: 15px;\"></p>Kuroi did manage to get himself
unstuck. Except, now his shirt has a big hole in it. Just like all the
other shirts he's had on when Akira threw a kunai at him. <p
style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;\"></p>~*~*~*~ <p style=\"margin: 0px; line-height:
16px; min-height: 15px;\"></p>We made our way back inside the
sector house without a word. Once we were inside, it didn't take long
for the chatter to start. <p style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px;
min-height: 15px;\"></p>\"Are you gonna tell us about Battle
Month?\" I asked Kuroi. <p style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px;
min-height: 15px;\"></p>He scoffed, \"Do I look like I wanna
waste my time explaining stuff to you?\" <p style=\"margin: 0px;
line-height: 16px; min-height: 15px;\"></p>\"You had no problem
popping off to Akira,\" Hanran then commented. He spoke with his same
indifferent <p style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;\"></p>tone of voice. <p style=\"margin: 0px;
line-height: 16px; min-height: 15px;\"></p>Kuroi ignored the
middle boy. \"Yeah, whatever. Battle Month is the biggest waste of time,
ever.\" <p style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;\"></p>\"Yes,\" I said, \"but what is it?\" <p
style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;\"></p>My team leader probably figured that we weren't
going to stop pestering him. He went into his room (which <p
style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;\"></p>we separate by room dividers) and chose to talk
when he wasn't in the open with the rest of us. \"Battle Month <p
style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;\"></p>is like a tournament. It's held by the thirteen
ancient clans spread across the five countries that make up Shaaku <p
style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;\"></p>Den.\" <p style=\"margin: 0px; line-height:
16px; min-height: 15px;\"></p>I exchanged looks with Yami. We
both had no idea what he just said. <p style=\"margin: 0px;
line-height: 16px; min-height: 15px;\"></p>\"Wait, I'm
confused, is Kaze-San telling us a story? 'Cause so far it's pretty dang
boring,\" Luna commented. <p style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px;
min-height: 15px;\"></p>She looked hopelessly lost. <p
style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;\"></p>Yelling came from Kuroi's room. \"I'M TELLING YOU
LOSERS WHAT BATTLE MONTH IS!\" he shouted defensively. <p
style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;\"></p>Luna didn't know why he was upset. \"So tell us,
old man!\" <p style=\"margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;\"></p>Kuroi stepped back out into the hallway with a new
shirt on.";
echo htmlWrapThing($str,10);
<b>~Here
yo
u go, off
to compete
~ <p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px;
min-height: 15px;"></p>~Nerve
s stack up
inside of
you, gett
ing
close
r and clos
er to burs
ting~ <p style="margin: 0px; line-height:
16px; min-height: 15px;"></p>~W
ill you po
p? Or will
you get
yourself e
vened out?
~ <p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px;
min-height: 15px;"></p>~*~*~*
~ </b><p style="margin:
0px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 15px;"></p>The b
right sun
rays slip
ped throug
h the octa
gon shaped
windows a
nd shined
right into
my eyes.
I woke up
<p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px;
min-height: 15px;"></p>squinti
ng with an
explosion
of bright
orange a
nd red col
ors behind
my eyelid
s. This is
why I sho
uld sleep
with
a <p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;"></p>
pillow ove
r my head.
I quickly
took the
pillow out
from und
er my head
and slamm
ed it over
my face.
"Five more
minutes,"
I
grumbl
ed. <p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;"></p>It o
nly took a
mere five
seconds b
efore a di
stinct
si
nking feel
ing shot d
own my spi
ne. I shot
out of be
d, my pill
ow flying
somewhere
in my roo
m. "The su
nrise!" I
shrieked.
<p style="margin:
0px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 15px;"></p>Oh no, n
o, no,
no
, no! <p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;"></p>Th
e sunrise
is suppose
d to be th
e start of
the
trai
ning day.
All the st
udents wak
e up, eat
breakfast
in the <p
style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;"></p>M
ess Hall,
and are ex
pected to
be lined o
utside in
the grass
field by
the time t
he sun is
up. Here t
he rays ha
ve just
b
linded me
and I'm st
ill in bed
and my pa
jamas. In
other word
s, I'm not
just lat
e, I'm sup
er late. <p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px;
min-height: 15px;">
</p>The morni
ng gong ra
ng, sealin
g my
fate
. A gong s
ounds off
to signal
the start
and end of
a trainin
g day,
<p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;"></p>
without fa
il, every
single mor
ning. The
fact that
I'm still
in my dis
heveled st
ate when I
heard the
gong mean
s how badl
y
things
will be fo
r me later
on. <p style="margin: 0px; line-height:
16px; min-height: 15px;"></p>I q
uickly rus
hed to my
dresser
a
nd tried t
o keep it
together w
hile I cha
nged into
my workout
clothes.
The <p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;"></p>Kit
sune Clan
assigned e
very stude
nt an outf
it to
tra
in in... a
nd a purpl
e nightgow
n wasn't p
art of the
ensemble.
<p
style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;"></p>"How ca
n I be lat
e?" I shri
eked to my
self, "I'v
e
never b
een late b
efore! Thi
s is impos
sible!" <p style="margin:
0px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 15px;"></p>
Once I was
dressed
in my prop
er clothes
, I skidde
d out of m
y room and
down the
hallway o
f my secto
r <p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px;
min-height: 15px;"></p>house.
"Cassie-C
han! Yami-
San! Luna!
Are you
guys here?
" I cried
out. <p style="margin: 0px;
line-height: 16px; min-height: 15px;"></p>Whe
re were my
teammate
s? Surely
they didn'
t just lea
ve me alon
e. Cassie
or Yami ar
e
always
the ones w
ho <p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px;
min-height: 15px;"></p>wake
me up, it'
s been tha
t way sinc
e
day one
. I've onl
y been at
this clan
a month, j
ust like m
y other fo
ur
teamma
tes. The f
ive of us
are consid
ered 'fres
h meat' in
the clan
and if
a
fresh meat
is late f
or trainin
g... <p style="margin: 0px;
line-height: 16px; min-height: 15px;"></p>I r
emembered
the
punis
hment that
Kuroi onc
e told me
about: <p style="margin: 0px;
line-height: 16px; min-height: 15px;"></p>"
One time I
saw a
ki
d do eight
-hundred p
ush-ups,"
Kuroi said
gravely.
<p
style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;"></p>He's my
sector lea
der who ha
s been her
e the past
three ye
ars, the o
nly senior
member am
ong us in
Sector 7.
"Eight-hu
ndred push
-ups?" I q
uestioned
back to hi
m. <p
style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;"></p>Kuroi
nodded. "
He had to
do two-hun
dred of th
em on
his
tongue."
"No way,"
I gaped. <p style="margin: 0px;
line-height: 16px; min-height: 15px;">
</p>"That's p
hysically
impossibl
e," Yami t
hen stated
. <p style="margin: 0px; line-height:
16px; min-height: 15px;"></p>Kuroi
shrugged h
is shoulde
rs.
"Hey,
I'm just
telling yo
u fresh me
ats what I
saw." <p
style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;"></p>"
What happe
ned to the
kid who h
ad to do i
t?"
Cassi
e inquired
, joining
in my curi
osity. <p style="margin: 0px;
line-height: 16px; min-height: 15px;"></p>M
y team lea
der threw
both his
hands up.
"I'm prett
y sure he'
s dead." T
he memory
ended. Oh
no. I'm g
onna die.
<p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px;
min-height: 15px;"></p>Forget c
alling out
for my te
ammates. I
ran to t
he front d
oor, slid
it open ha
stily, and
nearly tr
ipped out
the
<p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;"></p>doo
r. Maybe i
f I make i
t to the g
rass field
s in
time
, I can ju
st stand t
here I've
like been
there the
whole time
. But
thi
s is a shi
nobi clan,
which mak
es all my
teachers h
ighly trai
ned
warri
ors themse
lves. Ther
e's no way
I'm gonna
slip past
people of
their
le
vel. <p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;"></p>The
brisk fre
sh air hit
my face a
nd sent a
layer of
goosebumps
down my a
rms. It wa
s the begi
nning of S
eptember,
the month
where sum
mer bids f
arewell an
d autumn s
ays hello.
<p style="margin:
0px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 15px;"></p>I bound
ed down
t
he steps o
f my secto
r house an
d skidded
to a stop.
In front
of me were
all five
of my <p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;"></p>t
eammates,
just stand
ing there
on the fro
nt lawn
o
f our sect
or house.
There was
Sector 7's
leader, K
uroi Kaze,
Teruko
C
assie, Han
ran Nigaru
, YamiTsuk
i, and Yam
i's little
sister, L
una. <p
style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;"></p>Spe
aking of L
una, the l
ittle kid
was the fi
rst one
t
o notice m
e. "Mornin
g, Tabby-C
han!" she
exclaimed
with a smi
le on her
face. <p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;"></p>I
looked at
Luna with
widened e
yes. "What
are you
so happy f
or?" Surel
y she know
s that our
whole sec
tor <p
style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;"></p>was
late for t
raining an
d now we'r
e all gonn
a die.
Su
rely! <p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;"></p>Lu
na blinked
a few tim
es, even s
cratched h
er
pixie-
cut head o
f jet blac
k hair. "I
guess I'm
happy bec
ause I had
egg
drop
soup for
breakfast,
" she then
answered,
"and I'm
happy that
Cassie-C
han let me
brush her
hair, 'ca
use it's r
eally soft
and stuff
.
Oh, and
I'm happy
that the
bruise on
my arm tur
ned purple
because I
love
pur
ple! Yeah,
all these
things ar
e great."
She smiled
. <p
style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;"></p>I smac
ked my pal
m to my fo
rehead. "N
o, Luna. W
e're
all
gonna die!
" I hissed
. <p style="margin: 0px; line-height:
16px; min-height: 15px;"></p>She lo
oked left,
looked ri
ght,
left
again, an
d back at
me. "Right
now?" <p style="margin: 0px;
line-height: 16px; min-height: 15px;"></p>"
Don't you
see?
We'r
e late for
training,
Luna! It'
s way past
sunrise.
Now we're
gonna be
punished b
y one of <p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px;
min-height: 15px;">
</p>the teach
ers, and i
t'll proba
bly be
Se
nsei Akira
because s
he's the s
cariest."
I huffed o
ut a big b
reath of
air. Why d
o I have t
o explain
this stuff
, she shou
ld know wh
at her fat
e
is. <p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;"></p>Y
ami, Luna'
s older br
other, ste
pped over
closer to
his siste
r and myse
lf. "Um, T
abby-Chan,
you didn'
t see the
<p
style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;"></p>note I l
eft you, d
id you?" h
e asked me
. I shook
my
head n
o. "Oh, we
ll I left
you a note
explainin
g that Sen
sei Akira
left
our
sector a n
ote," Yami
explained
. <p style="margin: 0px;
line-height: 16px; min-height: 15px;"></p>"Ha! Y
ou left a
note abou
t leaving
a note! Yo
u're so fu
nny, bro,"
Luna chuc
kled. I
d
on't recal
l ever see
ing a note
. "I never
saw one,"
I told hi
m. <p
style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;"></p>Yami
bowed his
head once.
"My apolo
gies,
Tab
by-Chan. I
thought y
ou would s
ee it. Nig
aru-San wa
s the firs
t <p
style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;"></p>one to
wake up a
nd he saw
that Sense
i Akira pu
t a
note
on our doo
r. She tol
d us not t
o show up
for traini
ng and <p
style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;"></p>t
o meet her
outside t
he sector
house at 6
:00
sharp
." <p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;"></p>My ey
es drifted
up to the
skies ove
rhead. "Th
at's
like
, forty-fi
ve minutes
away," I
awed. <p style="margin: 0px;
line-height: 16px; min-height: 15px;"></p>Ya
mi nodded.
"This
wa
s the firs
t morning
ever where
you could
have slep
t in. I th
ought you
would hav
e <p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;"></p>wanted
to. Sorry
for makin
g you pani
c." Yami w
as
genuin
e, as he a
lways was.
<p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px;
min-height: 15px;"></p>He was
my best fr
iend in th
e clan,
o
nly a year
younger t
han me at
twelve com
pared to m
y thirteen
. He was a
<p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;"></p>great
companion,
even if h
e was a li
ttle odd a
t
times.
Yami had b
right silv
er hair an
d pale whi
te skin. T
he best th
ing
about
him were
his chocol
ate brown
eyes; they
always gl
eamed with
care
and
concern.
<p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;"></p>"It's ok
ay," I fin
ally sighe
d, remembe
ring how t
o
breathe
at the sa
me time. "
I was just
scared, t
hat's all.
But <p
style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;"></p>it'
s alright.
" <p style="margin: 0px;
line-height: 16px; min-height: 15px;"></p>"Scare
d? Ah come
on, Tabb
y-Chan!" L
una exclai
med. She b
egan to bo
unce back
and forth
on
her he
els and ba
lls of her
feet, unt
il Yami he
ld her dow
n by putti
ng a
hand
on her he
ad. <p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px;
min-height: 15px;"></p>The
little gir
l was the
youngest m
ember
of
this clan
at eight y
ears old.
She was Ya
mi's siste
r, however
, the
two
<p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;"></p>looked
nothing al
ike. Where
Yami was
pale, Luna
's
skin w
as a dark
tan. She w
as short a
nd on the
scrawny si
de, <p
style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;"></p>with
wild hair
that went
in every
direction.
It was
a
lways amus
ing to see
the two s
tand side-
by-side kn
owing that
they're
related. <p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;">
</p>"So what
if I had w
ritten a n
ote about
Yami
writ
ing you a
note?" Lun
a then ask
ed me. "Th
en that wo
uld <p
style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;"></p>mean
that I wr
ote a note
about wri
ting a not
e. Ooh!
A
nd Sensei
Akira wrot
e the orig
inal note,
so that's
three <p
style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;"></p>n
otes." <p style="margin: 0px; line-height:
16px; min-height: 15px;"></p>Y
ami patted
his siste
r's head.
"Sorry si
s, but tha
t's not ou
r biggest
concern ri
ght now,"
he said. H
e
turned
<p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;"></p>back to
me, "So wh
at do you
think is g
oing on? I
don't se
e any othe
r sectors
waiting ou
tside, I t
hink we're
the <p
style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;"></p>onl
y ones Sen
sei Akira
wanted to
see." <p
style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;"></p>I
looked aro
und me to
see if he
was right.
The
Kits
une Clan i
s a huge s
chool that
goes on f
or miles a
nd miles,
all
surro
unded by a
jutted st
one wall.
There are
thirteen s
ector hous
es,
each
built with
pagoda-st
yled roofs
and <p style="margin: 0px;
line-height: 16px; min-height: 15px;"></p>woo
d and bamb
oo. The
K
itsune Cla
n divided
their stud
ents up in
to thirtee
n sectors,
each
sec
tor with s
even membe
rs each. A
ll the hou
ses are li
ned up in
a row,
th
erefore I
would have
seen if a
ny other s
tudents we
re standin
g outside.
<p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;"></p>Yami w
as correct
, the only
ones out
here were
the
six o
f us. We w
ere Sector
7, one me
mber short
of a comp
leted team
. I
thoug
ht about m
y answer t
o Yami's p
osing ques
tion. <p style="margin:
0px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 15px;"></p>"I
have no
idea," I y
awned. Yea
h, I didn'
t think ab
out my ans
wer for to
o long.
L
uckily, it
didn't ta
ke long fo
r the answ
er to pres
ent itself
. <p
style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;"></p>There
was a shif
t in the m
orning air
. I don't
know
what
exactly c
hanged, I
just know
that somet
hing in th
e <p
style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;"></p>presen
t atmosphe
re wasn't
the same a
s before.
There
I w
as, standi
ng outside
with my h
eart racin
g and <p style="margin:
0px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 15px;"></p>ti
redness st
ill
in my
bones. Ya
mi and Lun
a were sta
nding righ
t in front
of me, wi
th
Cassie
not too f
ar off, an
d <p style="margin: 0px; line-height:
16px; min-height: 15px;"></p>Kuroi
standing w
ith his le
gs
apart
and arms c
rossed lik
e some big
shot. <p style="margin: 0px;
line-height: 16px; min-height: 15px;"></p>T
he only on
e who was
quite a d
istance aw
ay was Han
ran, the m
iddle boy
of our sec
tor. Hanra
n
was the
type of g
uy who not
only like
d his spac
e, he dema
nded it. H
e was
far
thest away
from ever
yone with
his back t
o us. <p style="margin:
0px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 15px;"></p>Ac
tually,
H
anran is w
hat tipped
me off in
the first
place. He
turned hi
s head and
looked i
n Cassie's
direction
. <p style="margin: 0px; line-height:
16px; min-height: 15px;"></p>"Nigar
u-San?" Ca
ssie asked
after a
long momen
t went by
with Hanra
n still st
aring at h
er. Like m
e
and Yam
i, Cassie
and Hanran
were clos
e in age a
s well. Sh
e was sixt
een
and h
e was seve
nteen. <p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px;
min-height: 15px;"></p>H
anran cont
inued to b
e silent,
however,
he began t
o take slo
w and caut
ious steps
towards u
s. "It's t
ime," he
said in a
very low v
oice. <p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px;
min-height: 15px;"></p>Be
fore I cou
ld ask wha
t Hanran m
eant,
Lun
a threw he
r arms in
the air an
d exclaime
d, "I've g
ot it!" "G
ot
what?"
I asked h
er. <p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px;
min-height: 15px;"></p>"I r
emembered
the real r
eason why
I'm
so ha
ppy! It's
because Ni
garu-San c
aught a fr
og and he
let me hol
d it.
<p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;"></p>I
t was all
slimy 'n s
tuff and s
quishy," L
una
answe
red. Her b
rother sho
ok his hea
d. <p style="margin: 0px;
line-height: 16px; min-height: 15px;"></p>"That
was three
weeks ag
o," Hanran
merely po
inted out.
<p style="margin: 0px;
line-height: 16px; min-height: 15px;"></p>"I know
, I've bee
n
happy a
bout it ev
er since,"
Luna grin
ned. <p style="margin: 0px;
line-height: 16px; min-height: 15px;"></p>Tha
t was all
there
was
to say ab
out that s
ubject. Wh
at Hanran
was referr
ing to bec
ame
obvio
us; Akira
<p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;"></p>appeared
before us
, the teac
her we wer
e waiting
on. Just
like that,
our Secto
r 7 was in
the prese
nce of the
<p
style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;"></p>Kitsune
Clan's se
cond-in-co
mmand, Aki
ra Miyamot
o
herself
. The woma
n had her
fighting u
niform on;
a black c
at suit wi
th a
crim
son red sa
sh, and tw
o matching
red strap
s over the
shoulders
to make
an 'X' sha
pe. These
were not h
er usual c
lothes. Sh
e was dres
sed for
b
attle. <p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;"></p>O
h no, I re
alized, sh
e's dresse
d for batt
le! <p
style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;"></p>"Hey
Sensei, w
haddya doi
ng here so
early?" K
uroi
then
asked. Fo
r the firs
t time tha
t morning,
I heard m
y <p
style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;"></p>sector
leader sp
eak, and h
e still ha
d the same
brash an
d rude ton
e as last
night. <p style="margin: 0px;
line-height: 16px; min-height: 15px;"></p>A
kira merel
y lifted
an eyebrow
. She slid
a hand in
to her red
sash and
showed a s
ilver kuna
i
was bet
ween her f
ingers. <p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px;
min-height: 15px;"></p>
Kuroi clea
red his th
roat. "I m
ean, uh,
morning Se
nsei." He
knew that
kunai thre
at was for
him. I sm
irked on
the inside
; my team
leader alw
ays tries
to act lik
e a big sh
ot. <p
style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;"></p>Ever
yone else
was polite
with thei
r greeting
s, all
ex
cept Hanra
n who chos
e to stay
silent. Bi
g surprise
. "I'll <p
style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;"></p>
make my po
int right
now," Akir
a then sai
d, her
vo
ice loud a
nd clear.
"You're al
l coming w
ith me to
Viper <p
style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;"></p>Co
untry, we'
re going t
o the Blac
k-Sho Clan
for
Batt
le Month.
We depart
in fifteen
minutes.
Pack light
and take
<p
style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;"></p>your wea
pons with
you. Once
your fifte
en minutes
are up,
meet me at
the front
gates of
the school
. Do not <p
style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;">
</p>make me w
ait on you
, Sector 7
." <p
style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;"></p>Once
Akira fini
shed speak
ing, she t
urned on h
er
heels
and starte
d to walk
in the opp
osite dire
ction of t
he sector
houses. <p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;">
</p>"Wait!" Y
ami shriek
ed. <p style="margin: 0px;
line-height: 16px; min-height: 15px;"></p>Akir
a turned h
er
head a
round and
eyed him.
"What?" <p style="margin: 0px;
line-height: 16px; min-height: 15px;"></p>
Just one l
ook from
our teache
r, and Yam
i was froz
en with fe
ar. "U-uh-
um," he st
ammered.
He shook h
is head <p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px;
min-height: 15px;"></p>
and got hi
mself toge
ther. "Sen
sei,
what
exactly i
s Battle M
onth? I've
never hea
rd of this
." <p
style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;"></p>The s
hinobi wom
an didn't
even blink
. "Kaze-Sa
n
knows,"
she answe
red simply
. "Let him
explain i
t." <p
style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;"></p>Afte
r that, Ku
roi came u
ndone. "Oh
spirits,
why do
I
gotta expl
ain it?" h
e growled,
"I mean,
it's enoug
h that <p
style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;"></p>I
've gotta
mentor the
se fresh m
eats, now
I've gotta
clue the
m in on th
e obvious,
too?" <p style="margin: 0px;
line-height: 16px; min-height: 15px;"></p>W
hish! <p
style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;"></p>Ku
roi fell t
o the grou
nd with a
loud bang.
.. a
kuna
i jammed t
hrough his
shirt and
keeping h
im pinned
to the <p
style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;"></p>g
round. He
thrashed a
bout, tryi
ng to loos
en the
ku
nai from t
he compact
ed dirt, b
ut it wasn
't working
very well
. <p
style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;"></p>I had
to stop my
self from
laughing o
ut loud. T
his
was t
oo rich! <p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;">
</p>"Now you
six only h
ave ten mi
nutes to p
ack,"
Aki
ra then st
ated. She
eyed Kuroi
especiall
y, "Better
talk fast
." With
t
hat, Akira
walked of
f. <p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px;
min-height: 15px;"></p>"I sw
ear!" Kuro
i hissed f
rom the
g
round. He
was a big
guy; 5'10"
in height
and built
like a be
ar with
a
ll his <p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;"></p>m
uscle. It
was funny
to think t
hat a simp
le kunai
from Akira
's belt co
uld keep h
im on the
ground. Bu
t that <p
style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;"></p>w
asn't a su
rprising o
ccurrence
for Kuroi
Kaze. He
was the on
e at this
school wit
h a "bad b
oy" reputa
tion; he <p
style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;">
</p>used to b
e the only
one in Se
ctor 7 unt
il the res
t
of us j
oined abou
t a month
ago, after
all. The
only thing
Kuroi <p
style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;"></p>c
ares about
is being
badass whi
ch means h
e's a guy
who just
wants to f
ight and b
rawl all t
he time. H
e's so <p
style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;"></p>a
nnoying! <p style="margin: 0px; line-height:
16px; min-height: 15px;">
</p>Kuroi did
manage to
get himse
lf
unstuc
k. Except,
now his s
hirt has a
big hole
in it. Jus
t like all
the
othe
r shirts h
e's had on
when Akir
a threw a
kunai at h
im. <p
style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;"></p>~*~*
~*~ <p style="margin: 0px; line-height:
16px; min-height: 15px;"></p>We m
ade our wa
y back ins
ide the
s
ector hous
e without
a word. On
ce we were
inside, i
t didn't t
ake long
for the ch
atter to s
tart. <p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px;
min-height: 15px;"></p>"A
re you gon
na tell us
about Bat
tle
Month
?" I asked
Kuroi. <p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px;
min-height: 15px;"></p>
He scoffed
, "Do I lo
ok like I
wanna
was
te my time
explainin
g stuff to
you?" <p style="margin: 0px;
line-height: 16px; min-height: 15px;"></p>"
You had no
problem
popping of
f to Akira
," Hanran
then comme
nted. He s
poke with
his same
indifferen
t <p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;"></p>tone o
f voice. <p style="margin: 0px;
line-height: 16px; min-height: 15px;">
</p>Kuroi ign
ored the
middle boy
. "Yeah, w
hatever. B
attle Mont
h is the b
iggest was
te of time
,
ever."
<p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;"></p>"Yes," I
said, "bu
t what is
it?" <p
style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;"></p>My
team leade
r probably
figured t
hat we wer
en't
goin
g to stop
pestering
him. He we
nt into hi
s room (wh
ich <p
style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;"></p>we s
eparate by
room divi
ders) and
chose to t
alk
when
he wasn't
in the ope
n with the
rest of u
s. "Battle
Month <p
style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;"></p>i
s like a t
ournament.
It's held
by the th
irteen
an
cient clan
s spread a
cross the
five count
ries that
make up Sh
aaku <p
style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;"></p>Den
." <p style="margin: 0px; line-height:
16px; min-height: 15px;"></p>I exc
hanged loo
ks with Ya
mi. We
bo
th had no
idea what
he just sa
id. <p style="margin: 0px;
line-height: 16px; min-height: 15px;"></p>"Wai
t, I'm
co
nfused, is
Kaze-San
telling us
a story?
'Cause so
far it's p
retty dang
boring,"
Luna comm
ented. <p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px;
min-height: 15px;"></p>S
he looked
hopelessly
lost. <p
style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;"></p>Y
elling cam
e from Kur
oi's room.
"I'M TELL
ING YOU
L
OSERS WHAT
BATTLE MO
NTH IS!" h
e shouted
defensivel
y. <p
style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;"></p>Luna
didn't kno
w why he w
as upset.
"So tell u
s,
old ma
n!" <p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 16px; min-height:
15px;"></p>Kuro
i stepped
back out i
nto the ha
llway with
a new
sh
irt on.