Kokoro hammered at the straw dummy with the side of her fists, jostling the its upper torso left to right. She occasionally kicked the where the dummy's pretend knee would be and swung an elbow hook to the side of its head. The humidity of Tsumi Sand Grounds was particularly brutal today, and Kokoro began to work up a sweat in her black hoodie, but she did not mind. She was alone, and, contrary to popular opinion, she liked how humid the training grounds were. Its antithesis was much more unbearable, in her opinion. Plus, the heat got Kokoro pumped, pushed her body to its limits. The heat tested her endurance with each training session, and Kokoro would not dare turn down an opportunity to harden herself such as that.
She finished her rep with a leaping high kick. Her foot, charged with explosive power, launched the dummy's head across the training area, causing it to crash into the sands and roll. Kokoro panted heavily and watched the faceless potato sack head tumble away like a runaway tire. She looked back at the headless dummy. "I'll fix it later," she exhaled as she shuffled to the water cooler outside of the training area.

Grabbing a styrofoam cup, she pressed the button on the faucet, and a stream of crystal clear water poured into the cup. She could feel the coolness of the water seep through the sides of the cup already. She quickly brought the cup to her mouth and chugged all of its contents in one huge sip. Chills went down her spine as she felt the ice cold water dribble down her throat. She reached down to fill it eagerly as if she had never drank water before.

This was her regiment everyday. Wake up, eat, train, eat, sleep. Repeat ad nauseum. Despite the daily predictability, she actually enjoys this routine. The predictability gave her life order and total control of her day-to-day schedule, and she saw comfort in that. Her mind, nevertheless, still wandered about the possibilities of a sudden change, new challenge to test her abilities, maybe something fun. Perhaps during this average training session, something exciting will occur.

Heero made his way to the sand grounds a little later then normal today as his sleep was not the best. He took a deep breath and felt the humidity, truth be told the heat did not bother him he was used to it by now. As he entered he noticed his teammate practicing on a training dummy. From the looks of things she was strong. Heero sighed as he walked up to her, he wanted to see if she would mind a spar with him as he needed to train. "...Hi W..wanna spar?" He said shuffling his feet. His long red hair was in its trademark pony tail and blew in the wind as he waited for her to respond.

Kokoro, as she guzzled down another water, turned to see her teammate Heero walk up to her. Kokoro recognized him immediately from his signature desert-colored hakama and his long red hair. She waved and gave a toothless smile. Heero nervously asked if Kokoro wanted to spar with him. The tall girl blinked and nodded. "Sure," she chirped. Something new had come her way. She pondered for a moment about official parameters of the match, unaccustomed to one-on-one fights as she was. "So... I guess whoever taps out or runs out of Chakra or passes out loses." Kokoro's mind wandered again, thinking perhaps she could make this sudden occurrence more fun. "Is there... anything else we should do? I heard some people... make stakes... or something." Kokoro had no idea what she would do, despite suggesting the idea. The first thing that came to mind was possessions or money or something of that kind. Kokoro threw the cup next to her bag as she stretched her lower back by leaning to the side.

Heero scratched his head as his teammate explained the rules "So... I guess whoever taps out or runs out of Chakra or passes out loses." Said Kokoro but then she paused for a second and continued "Is there... anything else we should do? I heard some people... make stakes... or something." Heero thought over what she said for a minute then stuttered out his reply. "A..A bet? I..I guess w..we can, Bu..but its gotta be hi..high stakes so..so we fight our best.." Heero hoped he could get stronger by fighting at his best.

This was definitely going to be challenge. Heero suggested that the stakes be really sigh so that both of them fight at the top of their game. Kokoro bit her bottom lip. She knew she'd have to move out of her comfort zone. Her bright yellow eyes moved up and to the right as she pondered a stake with such high risks that the only option would be for her to win, lest she never lives it down. Very little was coming to her. She thought harder, thinking of what she was most comfortable doing then thinking of the opposite. Then, an image came to her mind, an image so chilling to her that she could not help but shudder. She began to speak, but all that came out was hoarseness. She cleared her throat and said, "W-well. I... Okay. So if I lose... I'll... sing and dance..." Her whole body tightened as she spoke. "...in the middle of the village. A-and I'll wear w-whatever you want... I guess..." "But," she exclaimed assertively, "if I win and you lose, I'll get to put some makeup on you and put you in a dress and parade you through the village." She paused, calming down. "H-how's that?" she asked excitedly. "Are those high enough stakes?" She held out her hand to be shaken, if he liked the parameters.

Heero gulped as the terms for the little bet was made, he did not like the thought of having a makeover at all and then going into the village no less! With a shaky hand he reached out and shook hers. No backing out now. With a deep breath he backed away from her to put a little distance between them and put his hands behind his back to prevent her from seeing any hand signs. He was a little shaky as the implications of the fight dawned on him. His face grew serious as he awaited Kokoro's move.

Heero hesitantly shook Kokoro's hand. She tensed. If I lose... she thought nervously. No, I won't lose! I have to win! Heero made his way to the other side of the training area. Kokoro watched with sternness. She could see that Heero was a bit shaky. Kokoro was too. Heero put his hands behind his back, which made her slightly more nervous. She then gave a long exhale, but it barely stopped her shaking hands. It's okay, just think. What do you remember from your first day of training? Kokoro bit her lip again. She was drawing a blank. Well, I know he's a Kenjutsu specialist. Close combat with him may be a challenge, consider he has a weapon and probably can't dodge his attacks well enough. Maybe if I level the playing field... She brought her hand into a seal. Yes... I think this will work.

She let the Chakra flow throughout her body, and the sensation was tingling every bone, every muscle. She shouted, "Water Release: Hidden Mist Technique!" and she gave a mighty exhale, streaming a dull grey mist from her mouth. The mist acted like a gas, filling the length of the training area, lingering in a thick haze. The humidity of the Tsumi Sand Grounds acted as a catalyst, thickening the fog at a rapid rate. Kokoro soon became obscured within the mist, but it only appeared very dense to Heero since it was kneaded with her own Chakra. Kokoro could still see a black silhouette where Heero used to stand.

Perfect. Now some of this... She made another seal with her hands. "Doppelgänger Technique!" A sudden puff of smoke bursted in front of Kokoro, and two identical copies of her emerged from the smoke. All right. Let's go. One of the illusionary copies gunned straight towards Heero. The clone, however, did not attack him but stayed in a defensive pose with her feet planted firmly on the ground with her arms in a frozen defensive position. It planned to block, but Heero's attacks would slip right through it, and it could not do any damage to it. As the clone ran towards Heero, the real Kokoro and the other copy would run around the left perimeter of the area, aiming to be on the same side as Heero's right flank. Kokoro eyed the silhouette intently, seeing what he'll do next.

Jutsu Used:

Heero's eyes widened as the arena filled with a thick fog. He knew one thing: He did not like being blinded.  Heero Kept eying the silhouette until it was no longer there.  His hands blurred as the hand signs flowed forth. The plan was simple yet complex He first used his clans signature jutsu : Yami no Katana: Yasei Surasshu! After the jutsu had completed he used the doppelganger jutsu to mask which one was the real him. He put one of his doppelgangers in the center and the others around in a circle, that way she would attack the one in the middle being guarded rather then him. He himself stepped in line with the other 'guards' and waited for his teammate to strike.

Spoiler:

Chakra 195/200

(( Sorry its so short, ill do better next post))

Kokoro watched as the silhouette of Heero unveiled a sword but not from a sheath that she could see. That sword, she thought. He used that during our first day of training. And... where did it come from? She did not let her mind wander too much, though, and as she finished her thought, Heero performed the Doppelgänger technique Kokoro just did, creating five identical clones. They shuffled around and created a circle around one. Kokoro had lost the real one in the confusion. Damn. That puts a dent in my plan. Hmmm... She pondered for a brief moment, still on the defensive in the heat of battle. She formed another hand seal followed by one more. She took a massive breath then exhaled until all of her breath escaped from her body. To the naked eye, nothing came out of her mouth other than air. In a matter of a minute, though, tiny globules of water will start to form all around the arena, floating weightlessly in every direction. They will collect more water and start to expand. They will continue to grow until they are the size of baseballs. All right. Now... The real Kokoro dashed forward towards the circle of Heeros and stood in a defensive position about 3 meters away, just like her clone. The other remaining Kokoro continued to move to the left around the perimeter again until she was 180 degress from where she was at the beginning of the match. When the clone reached that position, she gained speed and began to charge at the circle. When she was 3 meters away, she high into the air, soaring above the heads of the Heeros, and landed next to the Heero in the middle. The clone wound her elbow back for a strike to the head. Depending on how the Heeros acted next, the real Kokoro outside the circle would make her next move.

Jutsu Used:

Heero smirked, his little plot had worked and Kokoro attacked the middle. With a poof the fake was gone but that was all Heero needed as he and his clones thrust at the same time. Heero at first thought he had won but, his heart jumped when what he thought was his teammate was nothing more then a clone! It was then that he realized there where many floating globes of water floating around the arena."Shit! This is bad!.. OH wait I have a Idea!" He thought as he sent chakra down to his feet to anchor him, then, taking aim at the place where he seen the most bubbles he braced. "Fūton: Daitoppa!" He called out as his jutsu took effect causing many of the bubbles to fly back out of the way. "This will buy a little time I hope..." He thought hoping his teammate would show herself.

Spoiler:

Chakra 185/200

The Heero in the middle of the circle vanished in a puff of smoke as the Kokoro clone attacked it. Kokoro maintained her rigid defensive position and squinted. Well, one down, five to go. She had hoped that by sending the clone to attack the one in the middle that she could draw the attention of the real Heero to attack. Suddenly, every single copy of the boy in the hakama took their swords and thrusted forward, but, much to their dismay, their blades would pass right through Kokoro's clone. The clone then dissipated in a burst of white smoke. Kokoro continued to stand with complete sternness. That doesn't help me. Which one is the real--? Just then, Kokoro noticed the Heeros watching the globes of water floating around the arena. One of the images of Heero made a sturdy stance and shouted the name of a jutsu. Without even using a hand seal, a gust of wind blew violently from behind him and created a pathway of open air, pushing the globules aside. Kokoro shielded her face from the stray sand with her arm. She tried to hid her grin. There you are!

Kokoro turned in the direction of the real Heero and wrapped her fingers her hand in a seal. A surplus of Chakra flowed to her fingers and hands. As quickly as she could, she dove her hands into the sand, and the sand parted as easily as if it were water. Kicking up bits of sand and dirt, Kokoro drilled her hands deeper and deeper into the ground, submerging first her arms then head then upper torso. Before long, Kokoro disappeared underground, leaving a crudely made hole. The remaining copy of Kokoro began to sprint. She gunned towards Heero's position, albeit slowly, leaping over any copies in the way, and pulled back her arm. The real Kokoro planned to emerge from the ground before her clone could land a punch. By performing the Double Suicide Decapitation Technique, Kokoro attempted to break the surface underneath the real Heero's feet, grab his ankles, and pull him beneath the surface, leaving only his head showing. Kokoro leapt from underground like a dolphin breaching the surface of the ocean, landing a good distance in front of her teammate's position. She panted, exhausted from the digging, and covered head to toe in dirt. I so hope that worked... She turned around anxiously to see if her jutsu was successful and bit her lip hard.

Jutsu Used:

As soon as the way had been cleared Heero darted forward threw the path he had made. The whole idea was to get away and catch his breath as well as restore his vision. Heero glanced back only to see a hole where he had been standing before. "That was close! She is tricky." He thought as it dawned on him how close he had came to losing.  His head spun a little as he breathed heavily, for a while he had been becoming increasingly tired when fighting. He pushed the feeling of tiredness away again and focused once more on the fight. "I have to go on the offensive else I'm going to lose.." He thought as he raised his sword in front of him. He looked over and watched as Kokoro emerged from the ground covered in dirt. Heero focused more chakra into his hands to show a jutsu he had never used in combat before : "Brute force." He said once he felt the jutsu start to work. He was fast but he lacked strength so by using this jutsu he hoped to at least put his teammate on the defensive. He did not know if he could win, but he had to try for himself.

With the jutsu flowing threw his veins he sprinted at his dusty teammate, he was faster but she was no fool and he knew it. As Heero neared striking distance with his sword he spun to the outside of her to begin his strike. "TaikōKubiKatto!" He shouted as his blade neared the back of her neck at full speed."Please let this work I wont get another chance if it don't..." He thought solemnly.

Spoiler:

Chakra 175/200

(OOC: I just ranked up to Chuunin, but I'll still be fighting as a Genin with jutsus I had before the rank up and Genin stats. :) )

Her worst fear. She missed. Kokoro's skin crawled with goosebumps. Her body became rigid as stone. Crap! Where is he? She quickly rotated her head to face in front of her again. Even before she fully turned around, she could see from the corner of her eye Heero charging at her with blinding speed. Kokoro's heart stopped. He's so fast! Now fully facing his opponent with wide, frightened eyes, she saw Heero prepare his sword, positioning it behind him. I have to do it now! I have to! Heero strafed to the side, twisting his upper torso but keeping his legs firmly still.  Without giving a second thought, Kokoro grasped onto her fingers tightly. Her hands pulsed with warm Chakra. "Now!" she shouted.

Dozens of high pitched hissings, like balloons losing their air, sounded from every angle of the training area. There was a loud pop like firecracker followed by five more and then fifteen all at once.  Obscured by the mist, all the globules suddenly began to burst simultaneously with alarming force, like an active minefield. The ones in sight distractingly frothed and spurted thick brown foam. Kokoro saved this as an ace in her sleeve when she had no other alternative, and she was not about to waste this opportunity.

She leapt towards Heero, concentrating a burst of Chakra into her feet and sending her momentarily soaring in mid-air. If he's only the slightest bit distracted, that will help. In her leap, she rotated her body to the side, hopefully evading Heero's spinning strike. She reached out her hands to grasp the back of his head. In those seconds of uncertainty, Kokoro prayed desperately that she would. She had practiced this technique countless times before. If she was successful, she would yank his head downward, adding force to her already impressive strength with a small concentration of Chakra to her elbows. The momentum of her fall and her hold on his head would send him flying head first into the ground. Kokoro imagined that she would pin him down next, pressing her knee onto the back of his chest and hold his right arm in an armlock by wrapping her arm around his. Her foot, as customary for a submission, would be firmly on the sand. This was only if she was successful. She did not want to speak too soon.

Jutsu Used:

Heero's sword was nearing his target when the sound of popping filled his ears. The distraction was brief but it was all that was needed for his sword to change course slightly, that combined with the evasive maneuver Kokoro was preforming caused a narrow miss. His eyes darted up only to see two hands trying to grab his head. Heero bared his teethe as he jumped back causing her fingers to graze his cheeks as he pulled back. Instead of pulling out of reach completely he flew into his next jutsu : Absolute Inscription. Letting out a loud yell he dove right back into the action slashing at Kokoro rapidly, however, he knew if he let up even for a moment he would be eating dirt. He hoped it would at least be enough to distract her so he could get a moment to catch his breath.

Spoiler:

Chakra 165/200

(( Sorry its so short, ill post better next post ))

Kokoro experienced the closest shave of her life. Startled by the chaos, Heero's sword was diverted a hair off from its curve. Kokoro narrowly strafed past the tip of the blade, which stared down at her right between the eyes. A warm rush ran through her body, but she was not done yet. Her hands lurched forward towards Heero's head like hungry beasts to prey. She stared at him with her bestial eyes glimmering. She saw Heero show his teeth. Kokoro leaned forward more and curled her fingers. Her grip, however, snagged the open air. Heero's face was moving beyond her reach. Kokoro's eyes bulged. In an act of desperation, she dragged her fingers across his cheek, but her opponent moved so fast that her efforts resulted in nothing more than a gentle brush on his skin. Kokoro's heart sank. Dammit! Too slow again!

Kokoro landed on the soft sand. Her back leg slide slightly, and she stumbled. Before her feet even touched the ground, Heero started to regain momentum towards her. He yelled as a warrior would on the front lines and dashed towards Kokoro with his blade brandished. Kokoro, who had just barely recovered from her technique, attempted to regain her footing. The stress was overwhelming her. She tripped over her own feet, for her nerves clouded her memory of her technique. She tried to leap backwards in a retreat, but Heero's speed was devastatingly fast. Kokoro rose up her arms in crossed formation, shielding her face. She clenched her teeth and looked to the side, baring for the worst. In the blink of an eye, Heero rose his blade and swung. The cold steel sliced through the sleeve of Kokoro's hoodie. A splatter of blood escaped her wound and fell to the sand. Kokoro winced. The strike was followed by another and another and another, all quick, all precise, all hitting Kokoro's sleeve.

Kokoro slid backwards onto the sand and panted. She rose her arms to inspect them. Her hand tensed. Each movement stung her whole arm. She looked in horror as her whole sleeve was in tatters and her arms were covered with countless thin, bleeding incisions. Her fists tightened, and her arm throbbed with seething pain. An unbridled rage arose from her gut up through her chest, through her throat, and exploded out her mouth in a roar. The tendons in her neck tightened, and her razor-sharp teeth were in full view. "Why am I so slow?! Why did I screw this up?!" She glared out Heero with burning eyes. "You're really good," she panted heavily, "but I got cocky. That won't. Happen. Again." Kokoro's bestial nature encoded deep in her bloodline began show, evident by the gravel in her voice. She dug her right leg in the sand behind her and bent her left knee forward. She held her bleeding arms up in a sturdy defensive guard. Her yellow eyes never diverged from Heero. Chakra began to build in her right knee and in her foot. She stood as still as a statue, with only the rise and fall of her chest distinguishing her as a living person. I'm not getting anywhere with what I'm doing. I gotta work harder, try something different. I think Thunder Tail should work.

As Heero's attack slowed he realized how futile it had been, all it had managed to do was piss his opponent off and boy she was scary! "why? why am I so afraid? All the time im always stuttering and whining, and for what?! I killed the asshole who hurt me, why am I still living in fear?!" Heero nearly heard the gears in his head spinning as he thought deeply about his own fear. Was it really so hard to be confident like everyone else? Was it so hard to have faith in himself? With a shaky hand Heero raised his trembling left hand "Stop shaking! I refuse to be afraid!" Heero yelled out as he made a small cut with his sword. The blood dripped from his hand and the shaking stopped. "All I have been doing is running from myself....everything in my life seemed to be one nightmare after another due to my own fear, and for what?! No more, no more will I run! im sick and tired of it!" Heero said eyes downcast and his voice rising with every word. He wanted them to hear, he wanted all of Suna, no the world to know that Kuroka Heero was no longer afraid!

His eyes rose with his head as he looked at his opponent, suddenly she did not look as terrifying as he had first thought, she was just like him. "I know.. I know your just like me running from the world afraid of what may happen or what people will think. It took me fighting you to realize how screwed up I am and I thank you for it, however now that I know who I really am again I Cant back down from this fight. I am Kuroka Heero and I will win!" He called out, He felt like a new man, he felt alive for the first time since the murder of most of his clan. His stance deepened and with his new found focus and determination he resolved to win. "HAAA!" He yelled as his vacuum blade slammed the sandy ground in front of both of them. Without waiting he ran threw the falling sand straight at his opponent with his sword in a relentless fury of slices all aimed at the weakened arm of his opponent. His idea was to make her faint from the already bleeding out arm. He hoped it was enough.

Spoiler:

Chakra : 155/200

Kokoro's outburst seemed to spook Heero. She held her guard as she watched him loudly castigate himself for being afraid all the time. He hand-waved the fact in his rant that he killed someone for hurting him. Kokoro blinked and her brow lowered slightly. Heero raised his blade, and Kokoro's elbows locked in a defensive position. But instead of attacking her, Heero sliced his trembling hand, letting the blood drip down his palm and onto the fine brown sand. His hand then stopped shaking. Kokoro's eyes widened, but she never lowered her guard for a second. Despite her firm exterior, Kokoro's heart seized with a twinge of sadness. He spoke of how he was tired of running away from his fears and how he wanted to be brave. I know how you feel, Heero, she thought. She resented her solitude, but she feared what people would say or do to her. She was in limbo. Only recently has she ventured on the prospect of friendship. She felt a kinship with Heero. He wanted to be brave; she wanted to be accepted. Heero then turned to Kokoro, thanking her for showing him how much he needed to change and declaring that he will not lose. Kokoro's grin was fueled half by happiness and half by pride. "Good," she said. "Neither will I."

The entire battlefield became brighter. Kokoro's gaze shifted in every direction, and she saw the mist begin to break into smaller, separate and dissipate. The hissing and popping began to die out, and the foam melted into clear blue water before disappearing as dark brown patches into the sand. Oh no! Not now! My cover! Heero cried out and slammed his sword into the ground, causing a blast of wind that propelled a wall of sand upwards. Kokoro, initially shocked, readjusted her right foot behind her. She still felt the Chakra pulse in her foot from before. Heero broke through the wall of sand with his sword ready to strike. He bolted toward Kokoro with near incalculable speed. If I can't hid from him or evade him, then I'll just face him head on. When Heero closed in, Kokoro exploded her Chakra-charged foot outward in a powerful front kick. "Bokator: Thunder Tail!" If the kick impacted his chest, Heero would find himself on the ground sooner that he would know it. Kokoro would then undergo her Jujutsu submission technique, pressing her left knee onto Heero's chest and grounding her right foot. For good measure, she would deliver a side-knuckle strike to Heero's temple with all of her might. What Heero had yet to experience was Kokoro's unparalleled strength. Because of her rigorous training and Kikawa bloodline, the force of the Genin's strikes were similar to a Special Jounin's. The fight had just reached a new level of intensity with both combatants giving it their all.

Jutsu Used:

Heero's new found determination had fueled not only himself but his opponent. As he advanced he could see a foot rising to kick him but his forward momentum was to much for him to avoid. The kick landed with a thud as the wind was knocked out of Heero. Suddenly Heero found himself on the ground on his back, The worst part was it had been enough to make him release his weapon summoning jutsu. "Shit....." He was disarmed and tired and staring defeat in the face. In the back of his mind he resolved to buy a regular sword for times like this. "I guess im screwed aren't I?" He asked looking up from the ground.

(( Sorry its so short ^.^'))

Chakra 155/200

The whole event happened so quickly. As Kokoro jutted her foot outward, she felt her knee seize. Heero's weight and more was transferred directly onto her foot. She heard a grunt. Heero's feet lost their traction, and he toppled over backwards onto the sand with a solid thud. Kokoro blinked. It worked! She thought, elated. Even better, the sword dissipated into nothingness. He was now vulnerable. This is my chance! Kokoro bent her knees and leapt forward, slamming her knee onto his chest. She looked down at him in a powerful, dominant position. Heero looked upward and asked coyly, "I guess I'm screwed, aren't I?"

A smile creeped in the corner of Kokoro's mouth. "I guess." She then lurched her free foot forward, pinning his right arm to the ground. "Sorry. I can't take any risks." Thrusting her right arm away from her, she formed a fist. Like a grim hammer, Kokoro swung her rock-hard fist down towards Heero's temple. The impact, he would find, would be jarring powerful. If Heero did nothing, the side of her fist would slam against the side of his head, hitting him with force equal to a Sp. Jounin's punch. Kokoro could see victory in her reach, and a sudden surge of happiness and relief washed over her like a wave crashing on the shore. It's over now.

95 Chakra

"Sorry. I can't take any risks." Was the only warning Heero got as Kokoro's fist came flying. Heero did the only thing he could do and braced for impact and putting his arms on top of his head to try and soften the blow. The punch made contact and slammed into him with a jarring force. He could feel his left arm break as the force of the blow shoved it down onto his temple. He could see the stars form and darkness over take him. As his mind faded to unconsciousness his only thought was he had to get stronger.

((PS sorry its so short but its kinda hard to make getting knocked out longer))

Heero immediately reacted to Kokoro's attack. Heero lifted his arms to his head in an attempt to cushion the blow. Nevertheless, her fist crashed into his head with startling force. Heero's eyelids gradually closed, and he went limp. Kokoro blinked. "I... I did it..." She leapt to her feet with a grin, practically hopping. "I did it! I did it! I did it! I... didn't think this through," she stated bluntly as she stared at Heero's unconscious body. "I think I hit him a little too hard," she said as she winced. Kokoro leaned forward on one knee. Scooping up his back, Kokoro pulled him upright. Hoisting his body above her head, she straightened her knees and, with a grunt, slung Heero over her right shoulder. Heero, much to Kokoro's surprise, was very lightweight. She turned around to exit the training grounds. "I'm sorry, Heero," she whispered softly, "but I'm glad you aren't afraid anymore." She smile brightly as she effortlessly carried her squad mate, her comrade, her friend towards the Suna Hospital.

**Exits Thread**