"FIGHT!"

And like that, in a mere instant, ferocity struck.

CLASH!

Before Ikkei could even process her movement, Fujiko had already darted towards the boy, clashing her sword against his. The cold metal blade began to scratch against the sheath, which surprisingly didn't create a blemish or mark despite the girl's physical strength against it.

"Ikkei's using the family blade, huh?" Hachiyo asked.

"Of course. Everything from the blade itself to the sheath was made with Erometal. That stuff couldn't get a scratch on it if it split the planet in half." Adachi bragged.

Fujiko flashed out of sight, breaking the clash as she approached from another angle. Ikkei was quick to notice and held his sword upwards, blocking Fujiko's advance from above him. The girl tumbled onto the floor, rolling along the ground before springing back to her feet.

"Good block. For a samurai, you're not too slow. But then again...I'm just getting started."

"You've got some force...for a shinobi." Ikkei grinned childishly, this time bursting forward with an attack. Despite fighting for his future, Ikkei found pleasure in battles that weren't on the steaks of life and death.

Fujiko took this lightly, cracking a smile of her own as she deflected Ikkei's attack. The two traded clashes for a moment, sparks flashing from each connected hit like a shower in every direction.

"It's so hard for me to take you seriously...how can you fight with your blade sheathed? Doesn't it bother you?" Fujiko quipped.

"Cutting people up isn't my style. I'm more of a...one and done kinda guy."

"That's...kind of pathetic."

Fujiko dashed out of sight again, appearing behind Ikkei and slashing with a bout ending blow. And with the flick of his wrist, the sheathed sword flipped to his back, deflecting the strike seamlessly.

Fujiko dashed backward, recalculating her approach.

"How the hell can you block that fast?"

"Kagemori family secret!" Ikkei joked, shrugging comically.

"You slick bastard...you can't block forever!" Fujiko dove towards Ikkei yet again, her slashes becoming much faster and focused. She began changing angles with each swipe, getting blocked perfectly each time. She then began flashing in different sides, trying to catch the boy off guard. Effortlessly he continued to block, his smile getting bigger.

Fujiko yet again stopped her attacks, sliding backwards with an angry expression.

"Watch me." Ikkei taunted.

"How can you expect to win a fight like that? Are you dense?"

"You may not get this yet, but this fight doesn't just stand as a wager, but also as my job interview. Me getting a career as a Samurai is riding on this. So naturally, I need to display the best of my abilities. You followin' me?"

"So, you're saying all you're good for is blocking?"

"Course not. It's just one side of me. Since you're quite fast and aggressive, I decided to show off my blocking skills first. But you clearly want to see what else I can do, so why don't we switch things up a bit?"

"Finally you're on the offensive. Without all those cheap blocks of yours, I'll be sure to end this in a single attack!" Fujiko growled.

"And Fujiko Shimazu steps up to the pitch!" Ikkei joked, laughing a bit as he took a batter's stance. Enraged by his cocky and comedic attitude, Fujiko lashed out with a burst significantly faster than what she had produced before.

"And here comes a speedball!" Ikkei shouted before smacking Fujiko with the blade recklessly in a single, well placed swing. The attack sent the girl into the wall, breaking it clean as she flung into the next room.

"My apologies, Lord Shimazu! I'll find a way to pay for the damages..." Ikkei apologized.

"The damages are no trouble. I'd be more concerned for the wellbeing of my dau--"

Just before Hachiyo could finish his sentence, a shadow flash struck Ikkei through the chest, appearing behind him in a cloud of dust and debris. It took the boy a second to process, but he had just been slashed across the chest, blood beginning to ooze from the wound.

Fujiko, now battered a bit, was showing signs of wear and tear in her uniform. Her face had some slight cuts and bruises from the impact, but otherwise, she stood strongly. Ikkei winced a bit in pain, but otherwise ignored the slash as he began to take off his blazer.

"Don't start freaking out now. That cut was just deep enough to scare you. You won't bleed to death..." Fujiko spat.

"Believe me, I could tell. I've been cut up pretty bad in my life. That one felt like a paper cut." Ikkei teased. Despite all his quips and cocky remarks, the boy did not underestimate her once since the fight began. He could already tell the two were almost identical in power, and his attempts to anger her were only in good fun. Now, Kagemori undid his tie and flung it to the ground, opening a few buttons of his dress shirt. A single, now slightly bleeding cut was visible from his upper chest.

"Come at me again. Promise I won't swing as hard this time."

Fujiko dashed without so much as a sign, this time being met with a counter attack rather than a block. The force from the clash was significantly stronger now, Ikkei applying more effort now offensively. The red haired teen retaliated by pushing back with her own strength, flicking sparks about even more. The two were locked, unable to budge on one another. Almost in agreement, the two backed off, breathing heavily as they stared each other down.

"Someone's been working that arm out pretty good. Those pervy magazines must work wonders!" Fujiko snapped with a witty insult of her own.

"Magazines? Oh no, you've got it all wrong. I'm a baseball player, and one of the best in Tokyo at that. Ikkei Kagemori, number 17, the Slugger from Sotoya Street. What you're seeing here is nothing but pure arm work outs and batting practice mixed in with my father's sword style. But, that's just me. Why don't you tell me what you're working with?"

Fujiko scoffed, taking a second to reply as she made a frustrated but cute face.

"I'm a shinobi of the Shimazu family, soon to be one of it's best at that. Women in our lineage have never picked up a sword, so I'm the first. I was just taking this fight at first to be another scrimmage, but it can be much more than that. I'm going to beat you to show my father Shimazu women can be just as strong! You hear that, father?" Fujiko shouted.

Hachiyo, who now had a much more stern expression on, grunt a bit at the remark.

"I'm not very fond of my daughter picking up the katana as a shinobi. Shimazu women have never shown interest in combat before, so I'd never be able to tell if it's cut out for her. She's proven herself thus far to be quite formidable, but I'm still not quite too comfortable with the fact of her getting injured or killed in battle." Hachiyo explained to Adachi.

"Very reasonable. The women in your family after all are the primary successors, correct?"

"Yes. It's family tradition. The first born daughter will always become the next head of the clan, if they come about. Since my parents didn't have any girls, I got the position. But in this case, even with her older brothers in the picture, Fujiko is and will always be considered next in line, which is also part of the reason I don't quite condone her fighting. But...I just can't stop her. She's my little girl and if being a shinobi makes her happy and content, I can't help but support it just a tad."

"Of course. There should be a fine line between being a father and the head of a Great Clan. I'm glad you can distinguish and cater to both."

"Well...I certainly try."

"Father, do you need to tell everyone about our business!?" Fujiko spat loudly.

"Relax, Fujiko. Adachi and the entire Kagemori clan are close friends. Now, continue as normal." Hachiyo said, crossing his arms as his attention shifted back to the fight. With a roll of her eyes, Fujiko locked back onto Ikkei, who was picking his ears in boredom.

"That's disgusting, you oaf! Get your fingers out of your ear! Don't you have any respect for women?"

"Of course. Force of habit. Ready to continue, Miss Shimazu?" Ikkei smirked yet again, taking fighting stance with his sword before him.

"Oh, I'm not just ready to continue. I'm ready to end this. What do you say we go at it just one more time, full strength? I wanna see what you can really do!"

"Sounds fine by me. Just remember...you asked for this."

The began to charge themselves with great intensity. The room filled with anticipation as tension built, ready to snap at any moment. Hachiyo, who began to sweat under the pressure, raised his hand slowly, only for it to shake in place as he watched the two prepare themselves.

"Trust her, Hachiyo." Adachi said calmly, placing his hand on the Shimazu's shoulder.

He couldn't bare watch any longer.

"Stop! Stop it here!" Hachiyo declared, running in between the two.

"Hachiyo...is everything alright?" Ikkei said, lowering his sword.

"No. I can't be comfortable with this. I don't want to see my little girl get hurt anymore. Especially by the man I want to protect her." Hachiyo declared.

Ikkei looked at him puzzled, but began to realize what he meant seconds later.

"Are you saying what I think you're saying, Hachiyo?" Adachi questioned.

"Yes. Ikkei, despite your odd bushido and young age, you are quite the capable warrior and equal to my daughter in strength. Because of this, I am deciding to hire you on the grounds you act as my daughter's protector." The man declared.

Ikkei's face lit up like a christmas tree.

"THANK YOU SO MUCH SIR! I WILL DO YOU PROUD I SWEAR! I PROMISE I'LL BE THE BEST SAMURAI YOU'VE EVER HIRED! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!" Ikkei shouted, bowing in front of the man over and over energetically.

"Are you sure about this, Hachiyo? I don't mean to ruin your decision and my son's opportunity, but having a samurai that can't take a life is hard to consider as the one responsible for your daughter's safety." Adachi added.

"Of course, and believe me, I thought about that. But, since the two are so equal in power, and because my daughter will continue to train and practice the ways of a shinobi, I suspect the two will fight alongside one another rather than Fujiko relying on him for protection. If anything, the both of them will get stronger...and as I see it, tackle any problem that comes towards them together."

Adachi smiled brightly.

"I like the way ya think, Hachiyo."

Ikkei calmed down as he collected himself, grabbing his blazer from he ground.

"So you're telling me this blowhard is gonna have to protect me!?" Fujiko shouted.

"Now Fujiko, don't be so cross. You know how I feel about you being a shinobi. I merely want this in place to keep you safe. I'm not taking away your right to pursue your dream. I'm just aiding in that pursuit."

"Hey Fujiko, I know I kinda came off as a cocky asshat back there, but I do wanna say that it was all just for fun to get ya riled up. I figure anger and intense emotion can really push someone to fight at their absolute best, so I played it up to show the best of both of us. I'm sorry if I went a little too far there...I promise I'm not like that naturally." Ikkei laughed as he rubbed his hand behind his head, grinning with rosy red cheeks.

Fujiko blushed a bit in response, looking away as she considered his statement.

"Well, I guess I'm sorry for being a bit rough. I'm not all that accustomed to meeting and having to fight new people. But don't take that too far. I'm still not comfortable with you yet. And as far as I'm concerned...you're my number one rival from here on out." Fujiko declared.

"See? You two are already making amends, and planning to get stronger while doing so! Nothing wrong with a good little rivalry to push you to do your best! Right, Adachi?" Hachiyo said, nudging his large and masculine friend.

"Of course. This could be very good for both of them. I'm glad you found good reason to hire my son. We're both very great full." Adachi said.

"Great. Well if you'll come with me, we'll get that cut of yours patched up and work out a contract. Sound good?" Hachiyo began, preparing the leave the room.

"Of course...boss." Ikkei smirked, giving a confident thumbs up.