This chapter contains material that I do not own, they are the property of one of the following: Akira Toriyama, Yoshihiro Togashi, Rumiko Takahashi, Tite Kubo, Masashi Kishimoto, Eiichiro Oda, and Yuji Naka. Please support these excellent artists.
“No, no you're not completing the ball!” Pahhur flickered a perfectly round flame in front of me. “It's more comfortable to throw, and tends to explode on contact if you round it out fully.”
“For not knowing a lot you're certainly bossy.” I retorted, filling out the flame in my hand.
“Hey I at least know how to create a solid fireball.” She was way too proud.
“Pahhur-chwan!” Sanji was going off again. Since Pah decided to help out those of us that tended towards fire energy Tech put out a notice and reserved a training chamber for us. Sanji, unfortunately, was among those who stopped by.
A few others showed up at one point or another. Particularly this one guy, Zaraki. He came in, beat up Pahhur, and left. Vegeta did something similar a few days later. The room was fairly quiet, so long as one ignored the love cook dancing around in the corner. Pahhur seemed to put up with him far more than most of us.
Today though, we had someone I didn't expect watching us. Hiei was one of the strongest fire users in the base. He hadn't done anything but support the wall so far, but he was watching me. I tried to shrug it off and focus.
I needed something larger than a regular fireball. It was great that I could do it, but even Ranma knew more techniques than what equated to an energy blast. I needed a technique. I felt a hand on my shoulder.
“Do you want to find what you seek?” Hiei was standing next to me. I nodded slowly, he grinned. “Follow me.” He walked away, calmly like nothing had happened. Regaining my composure I sprinted to catch up.
We stopped at one of the general training rooms. Without saying a word he leaned back against the wall. I guessed I had to watch to room. There were a ton of strong people, they were all sparring, preparing for the upcoming battle. So many abilities and techniques flew across the room. I caught sight of a familiar face.
“Yoruichi-san!” I called out to one of my teachers. She had stopped after a while, saying I needed to grow a little more on my own.
“Ah.” She motioned for a time-out with the guy she had been effectively beating before kicking off the air and landing next to me. “Akane-san.” She looked over me and grinned. “You look stronger.”
“Yeah I've got the fireball down, but I think I need something else.” I could feel Yoruichi looking me over. She grinned.
“I have an idea, you're body seems the right type to handle this, and it'll be interesting to see what fire energy does to the technique...” She clapped her hands together. “But first we should find fire retardant clothes.”
“Okay, the basic idea of this technique is you use your energy to enhance your body; at higher levels it allows you to move faster and hit harder. The downside is it is hard to then use your energy as a ranged attack as well.” I nodded.
“Now. Draw on your energy; but instead of pushing it into a ball, let it spread around your hand.” I watched as a red glow began to coat my hand. “Good, this is what most people call an aura. The strength varies depending on how much energy you have at your disposal. Now focus, and increase the surface area. Try and coat your whole body.”
By the time I could spread the red glow around myself, it was so dim it was almost imperceptible.
“Not good. I know you've got more in you than that.” She suddenly lit up, a white aura coating her body. “This is about the normal level. I know you can manage this.” However despite all our efforts, we were stumped. I simply couldn't draw out enough energy.
“What emotion are you drawing on?” Yoruichi finally asked. “I mean, what do you think back to when you draw out your energy. I blushed a little.
“Just... Well mostly Ranma.”
“Ooh?” She gave me a crude smile.
“Not like that! He just pisses me off! Always flirting with the others, rubbing it in my face. He's always teasing me, just because he's stronger!” She hadn't stopped smiling in fact she started laughing.
“Oh young romance. I love it.”
“It's not like that!”
“You're engaged right?”
“Our parents decided that!” She hadn't stopped laughing.
“So you're drawing on jealousy then.”
“I'm not jealous.”
“Uh-huh. Anyway, jealousy is a fairly weak emotion, we need to find something else.” She acted like I wasn't even talking. “Strong emotions are the key to strong energy.” I sighed, giving up. “What you need is something more inspiring.” She seemed to be thinking.
“Well what do you draw off of?” I asked. She just gave me a coy smile.
“You know resolve is a strong one. You should hear that Naruto kid's little speech, it's quite inspiring. Desire is another good one. Ichigo draws a lot from that emotion. The strongest by far are love and hate; but they're very fickle. Most of the time lasting only a little while. Duty would work too.” She just kept rambling until it looked like I had dropped my question.
“Alright, alright, so what do you suggest?”
“Find a higher calling.”
“What?”
“Right now you are focused on you and what you want. I know there's more strength in you, because deep down you have some very strong desires. The desire to protect people.” I opened my mouth, but lost my words. “When you have been dealing with people as long as I have, you can tell these things.”
“But I'm not that strong. I can't protect people. Ranma is always the one...”
“Ah but you are strong. He knows it, the people here know it. Heck you rank high on our charts drawing just on your jealousy. Now, imagine this. A Solarus baring down on a defenseless child.” That was easy for me, I remembered what happened just a little while after waking up. My body reacted immediately, like flood gates opening power rushed through me.
“See, you can do it.” She said, I opened my eyes and looked at myself in the reflective surface. My entire body shown with a strong red glow. “That will only get stronger, the more you learn to control it. Come on, let's get this fine tuned; maybe we can get you on the front lines.”
In no time war had come.
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