Young Writers Society

(((Ya, it's cool.)))

"I think we all could." Skylar aid as she ran.



(((Sorry my brain is gone. I just hgad three guys flirting with me and ya I'm a little ticked off)))

After one exhausting hour, they finished running. All three of them nearly collapsed beside the pool. Ivy had been watching from a lawn chair beside the water, with Sahara sitting attentively at her side. When they all sat down in front of Ivy, she said, "Very good. Take some time to rest, because in fifteen minutes you'll be running another five laps."

They all looked up at her and shouted, "What!?"

"My legs are on fire! I can't run another five laps so soon!" Skylar said.

Sahara stood up and said, "Stop complaining, or I'll be running right behind you. You won't like what'll happen if I catch up to you."

Skylar flinched, she didn't like the sound of that.

"Ivy?" Kai said. "Excuse me for asking, but why do you have us running, too? Isn't it our Tsurekin that need to get stronger?"

Ivy smiled when she said, "The greatest weapon you have is your bond with your Tsurekin. Your hearts must be as one if you want to become strong enough to defend yourselves against members of the Tsurikansen. As your bond with your Tsurekin grows, more powers will awake. Not only in your Tsurekin, but within all of you, as well."

"What do you mean by that?" Sean asked.

"When the time comes, you'll find out for yourselves. Now, rest while you still can. Your fifteen minutes started when you all sat down."

Skylar took a deep breath as she tried to steady her breathing so that she could get rest for a few minutes.

"Times up." Ivy said. Skylar moaned and got up and started running with Tala next to her.

"Hey, you needed to get in better shape anyway." Tala smiled. She glared and kept going her legs burning. Push past the wall you'll be ok. She kept telling herself as she ran. She tried to think of something other then the pain in her body. "There you go." She kept running listening to Kai and Shaun behind her. She focused her mind on running, moving in rythme. She didn't think about how many laps she'd gone, just kept her eyes focused forward.


*Sorry, short*

(No problem. The new site looks pretty cool, doesn't it?)


Another painful hour later they finished their five laps. This time they really did collapse next to the pool. Their entire bodies were in pain as they struggled to catch their breath.

Ivy stood up from her chair. "You all did very well for your first day of training. Now that I know what your limits are I can adjust your training accordingly."

Skylar glared at her. "You mean this was a test?"

"More or less. You can all rest inside, I'll tell the cooking staff to start on dinner."

"Except Kai and Ryukin," Sahara said. "You two will be coming with me."

"Can we have a chance to catch our breath first?" Kai asked.

"Now," Sahara growled. Kai groaned as he got to his feet and followed Sahara. "A leader does not groan, he takes the pain like a man."

Sahara, Kai, and Ryukin went to the far side of the property, behind a wall of foliage where nobody could see them. Ivy had already gone inside.

After a few minutes Skylar felt well enough to sit up. Sean still lay beside her on his back. With a breathy voice, Sean said, "What do you think Kai's special training is going to be like?"

"I don't know, but I bet it's going to be harder that what we just did," Skylar said, feeling sorry for Kai.

"Wanna go watch?"


(If Skylar decides to go with Sean to watch Kai's training, make sure they do so without being seen.)

**Ya, looks great, I'm still trying to figure it all out. I'm not a fan of the PM stuff though. We'll see how it all goes.**

Skylar nodded. "Sure, but not for long or Ivy will come looking for us." She replied. They walked over to the area and hid in the bushes. Tala laid next to Skylar and closed her eyes.

"Recharging." Skylar whispered with a smile. Sean nodded and they turned their focus back to Kai and Ryukin.


**I don't know what the training is going to be.**

The three of them were standing in a small clearing. Kai and Ryukin were on one side, and Sahara was on the other.

"So, what's our training going to be like?" Ryukin asked. The running had drained him as well, because his voice was a little breathy.

"We are going to fight," Sahara said.

"Okay, just give me a moment to catch my breath."

"Your enemies will not wait for you!" Sahara jumped forward, brandishing his mighty claws and sharp teeth.

Ryukin reacted quickly and managed to move out of the way, but as soon as Sahara landed he slammed Ryukin in the side with his arm, sending the dragon to the ground.

"Ryukin, are you all right?" Kai shouted.

"I'm fine," he said as he got back to his feet.

Sahara began to pace a circle around Ryukin. As he moved, he said, "How can you expect to protect your master with movements like that?"

"I can protect Kai just fine!" Ryukin said.

Sahara stopped when he was between the dragon and Kai. "Can you now?" He suddenly spun around and faced Kai. The metal sphinx let out a roar and charged him. Kai yelled his surprise and tripped as he tried to move back. For a moment it looked like Sahara was aiming to kill Kai, but he stopped with his claws a few inches away from his face.

Sahara moved back from Kai and said, "You have failed to protect your master, and now he is dead." He turned back to Ryukin, and Kai let out a breath he hadn't known he was holding. "Your biggest mistake was letting me get close enough to your master to attack him. What would you have done had I not stopped?" All Ryukin could do was look at the ground.

Sahara turned back to Kai. "And you!"

"Me?" Kai asked, still a little shocked from the stunt Sahara had just pulled.

"Why were you not giving orders to your Tsurekin? Not once did you tell him to attack! You must work together, as a team! If you do not give your Tsurekin direction during battle, you're simply leaving him to fight on his own! If you cannot lead your own Tsurekin during battle, what hope do you have at leading The Aushaulten?"

Skylar let the breath out she didn't know she was holding in as she watched.

"We can learn from this too, while resting." Sean whispered.

"Ya." She replied as she watched.

"Kai, you have to fight too, not just Ryukin. And Ryukin, there will be times where Kai can't give you orders and you have to act on your own accord." Sahara said.

"We will be working more on this later," Sahara said. "But for now, there is something else you need to learn. Do you know what it is that sets us apart from other Tsurekin?"

"We are descendants of the Tsurekin Lords," Ryukin answered.

"That is correct. But, if that were the only thing, we would not be able to defeat them when the time comes."

"So, there's something else?" Kai asked.

Sahara nodded. "Our inner rage."

"Inner rage?" Ryukin asked.

"It is what unlocks our true strength in battle. Without it, you cannot hope to defeat Draco the Dragon when he awakens."

"So, how strong can Ryukin become if he masters his inner rage?" Kai asked.

Sahara turned around until he was facing the edge of the clearing. His eyes began to glow red. He opened his mouth as a bright yellow light began to grow inside. In a few moments, the light became an orb of light. Sahara roared, and the next thing everyone saw was a yellow beam shoot out of his mouth and through a tree. When the beam disappeared, the tree it had hit fell, allong with the five that were right behind it. It was as though the light had sawn right through the trees, leaving a cut so clean as smooth as glass.

"Maybe this is when we bow out incase they decide to use this hedge as target practice." Skylar whispered. Sean nodded and they slipped from teh hedge after she woke up Tala. They walked to the house.

"A jucuzzi sounds nice. Cause we're going to hurt real bad in the morning." Sean said. She nodded. "What are you thinking about?"

"Sahara could've killed Kai. Tsurekin aren't going to keep from trying to kill us. I think it might weaken our Tsurekin if they do. We're not ready for this." She replied. "None of us are and that scares me. I don't want Kai dead, or you."

"We'll be fine, we're going to be training for a while." Sean replied. She nodded.

"But even with the training, will we still be ready. We'll have less time and training then the others." She said as they got to the living room in their quarters.

"Your worrying to much." He laughed.

"Maybe so, but their legit worries." She sighed.

Sahara continued their training for another hour. The Tsurekin sparred, and Kai shouted out orders to Ryukin the whole time. They only stopped when Ivy came looking for them when dinner was ready.

"So, what did you all think of your first day of training?" Ivy asked when they were all seated.


(All I could think of, I'm about to go to bed.)

"I rather P.E. at school." Skylar smiled.

"That wouldn't get you ready for an attack." Ivy replied with a smile.

"I know." She smiled as she took a bite of food. She hadn't been this hungry in a while, well sense her parents abandoned her. She quickly shook the thought from her head and chewed her food before swallowing it. "This is good."

"The cooks know how to keep a body fed well." Ivy replied.

"I won't disagree." Sean smiled. "It is very good."

"I think we're all going to sleep very well tonight." Kai said. Skylar nodded looking over at him.

"I think so too."

**This is the first story I've written in forever that two characters haven't fallen head over heels in love in the first few pages in a long time. It's kinda nice to build up more background. **

(I know. It just seems kinda tacky when two characters fall in love the same day they meet. )


"Be sure to get lots of rest," Ivy said. "Tomorrow is going to be even harder." That earned a groan out of both Sean and Skylar.

They ate the rest of their dinner in silence. At least they tried to, but half way through they heard a loud explosion from outside. They all jumped out of their chairs and rushed outside with their Tsurekin in tow. Ivy, on the other hand, seemed to take her time with getting up.


Kai and the others made it to the area where the explosion had come from. Part of the large brick wall that surrounded the mansion was knocked over, and the cause of it was right in front of them. Taura, the Tsurekin that had attacked Kai at his apartment, was standing in front of the wreckage.

"So, this is where you've all been hiding?" a male voice said. Sitting on the top of the fence just left of the wreckage was a man with large muscles. He wore black jogging pants and a red tank top that body builders usually wear while they're working out. His hair was naturally brown, but the top of his head was dyed blonde. They could only assume it was Bulgar, Taura's master.

He smiled and said, "It's been a long time since I've seen this place."


(Ivy will show up after your next post.)

(((Ya, but sadly I write alot of stories like that. Guess it's the girl in me that believes in love at first site even though I know it really isn't all that true)))

Skylar looked at the Tsurekin then at the guy. Tala made a growling sound at her feet.

"Your friend is back, Kai." She said softly. She didn't like this at all.

"I noticed." He replied. Ryukin was standing at his side as they looked at the guy.

"Come on out and play." The guy laughed from where he was standing. "Cause if you don't we'll come in, and I really don't think you want to destroy that nice looking mansion."


(((I didn't really know what you were planning. So ya. )))

"You have a lot of nerve showing your face here, Bulgar," a voice from behind said. Kai and the others turned to see Ivy and Sahara approaching. "When Jirran defeated me you were one of the first to betray me."

Bulgar's smile widened even more. "Well, isn't it my lucky day? I'll get to take you all out in one night." He looked at his tsurekin and said, "Taura, why don't we have a little fun before we finish our business here?"

"Gladly," the minotaur said in a deep, raspy voice.

Ivy looked at the others and said, "Stand back, I'll handle this." Kai and the others nodded and moved out of the way, giving her and Sahara enough room to fight. When they were out of the way, she said, "You're too arrogant for your own good, Bulgar. You're not as strong as you think."

"I'm the one who should be saying that," he said. "Taura, it's time to play."

"Sahara, remove these two from my sight," Ivy said.

"As you wish, Miss Stone."

Taura let out a loud roar before rushing forward. Even as the enemy approached, Sahara did not move. It was only when the enemy Tsurekin was within ten feet that he struck. On second Sahara was standing, the next he was nothing but a blur slamming into Taura's body. The large Tsurekin practically flew, landing on his back behind the wall he had torn down.


(The enemy is still going to get back up, just so you know.)

Skylar bit her lower lip as the Tsurekin got back up and Sahara stood like a statue again. Taura charged and Sahara again sat still until Taura was close and then Sahara charged and tore into the other Tsurekin again.

"Remind me never to get on Sahara's bad side." Skylar whispered.

"Try having him charging you and coming inches from your face." Kai smiled. Skylar remembered the scene from earlier.

"I'll pass." She replied watching the two still. Sahara always managed to stay between the other Tsurekin and Ivy. It wasn't to hard sense he was always knocking the other one down.

"If we can fight like that after the training, I say bring it on." Sean smiled.

"I agree." Tala replied.

"He's had years of practice though." Skylar replied. "We'll probably get close, but who knows if we'll get that good."