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"uhh... damn old man..." Tsukasa grumbled under his breath as he slowly regained conciousness. His entire body ached, bruises covered every inch of his skin but he felt oddly at easr. Sure, he had lost miserably, but he knew the old man had figured this would happen. Somehow the old man knew Tsukasa would never agree to be his student so the old man had tricked him by getting him to attack.

He lifted his torso into an upright position and felt a warm dry rag fall from his forehead. He picked it up out of his lap and looked at it. The rag was actually a handkerchief that had a floral pattern embroidered with blue and silver sequins. He lowered it and looked around the sparing ring he was laying on and noticed Jona laying on the ground a little ways away from him. She was sleeping on the tatami mats with no pillow or blankets; every once in a while she would shiver from the cold or groan in her sleep. He stood up slowly, his body felt in agonizing pain but he rose to his feet. His eyes darted around the ring trying to find a blanket or something to place on her, but he didn't see anything.

"Stupid girl... you didn't bring a blanket with you..." Tsukasa muttered silently. He sighed a little and removed his shirt as he walked up to her. He gently placed it on her and to his surprise it covered most of her curled up body. Clenching his fist he created a ball of fire which he placed beside Jona to keep her warm. He smiled a little as she gripped onto the shirt and curl a little closer to the fire.

"It isn't much... but it'll help a little..." He whispered and turned away from her. They were on the corner ring on the far side of the dojo. He jumped off of it and almost fell from the pain in his leg. Cringing a little he regained his balance and started walking towards a door a little ways away from him. He arrived at the door and could feel a slight draft through the cracks in it. He placed his hand on the door and was just about to push it open when he heard a foot step behind him.

"Leaving so soon young demon?" Asked Masnashi with his normal calm voice.

"My name is Tsukasa old man..." Replied Tsukasa.

"I didn't ask for your name." He said smoothly. "I asked if you were running away."

"Don't count on it... I will have you at my knees before I leave..." Tsukasa said in a low growl.

"Good. Training begins promptly at dawn. If you're late or not awake you do not get to train, nor do you get any food or drink."

At this Masnashi turned and seemed to vanish into a wisp of smoke. Tsukasa stood there for a moment blinking at the sight he just saw. He sighed again and walked back to the ring he started on. He climbed back onto the ring and saw that Jona was still sleeping right where he had left her. He sat down next to her and continued to replace the fire ball he placed near her to keep her warm. He looked down at his bare chest and took hold of the pendant his mom had given him for his birthday a year before he was thrown into the portal. He crossed his legs into the indian style sitting and started to meditate as his mom had taught him. He stayed in that position for the rest of the night.

Morning came slowly and eventually the dojo filled with monks and other trainees. None of whom even came close to being around the tree rings that surrounded the corner one Tsukasa was on. Once one of the trainees snuck behind the mats to try and grab Jona to "save her from the demon." but Tsukasa didn't find this humerous, and before the guy had a chance to come near Jona he was pinned against the wall by his neck. After a yell to release him Tsukasa dropped him and watched him scurry out of range. No others tried to get Jona after that but they began to converse among themselves and every once in a while he heard the word "demon" in their words.

Masnashi arrived when the first light of the new day had just broken over the horrizon. He looked around and smiled warmly at everyone gathered in the area.

"I see we are all gathered for the morning training... Hmm... it seems the little one is still asleep in the corner." He said with mild intereset. "Has no one woken her up?"

"We can't get near her elder. That demon is protecting her like she is his property." Said one voice from the crowd.

"I see..." He said softly and walked to the ring near Tsukasa. "Is this true young demon?"

"..."

"Jona. Awake child, we are about to begin our morning training."

Jona shifted a little and yawned, stretching up and knocking the shirt off her. She sat up and smacked her lips a little before yawning again.

"Come now Jona, we must begin shortly. Please return our young demon's shirt to him and join the other women in the morning chores."

Jona blinked for a moment at the shirt in her hand, turned a little red and tossed it to Tsukasa before running into the hallway and disapearing into the distance. Tsukasa grabbed his shirt and threw it on before turning back to the room, glaring with his normal hatred shining through. The room was now loud and buzzing with what Tsukasa figured was rumors and slanderous filth about him.

"Now then, quiet and we shall begin out morning training..." Said Masnashi calmly. "Our first order of business is..."