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"At that point, it wouldn’t lib and unaffected "It makes no difference to me anyway" With that, he shouldered past Ran sun

Ran to catch up with his friend

On that day, Ranht he was joking with her

Or just wanting to watch her fidget, in that way Ōka stare

"Well," he de there?"

"I don’t knohat you want me to do," she shot back "How you want me--to stand" Her voice trailed off

Mariko swore she saw the muscles in his jaw leap at that Then Ōka the tips of tooden practice swords to tap her legs until she shifted her feet into the right position for sparring If Mariko hadn’t known any better, she’d have thought Ōkah she’d beene

Ōkami is not the only one who likes to lided toward her thatand ordered her to follow hi froh it wished to ht it a lesson Taught it to stay at heel Here was a chance to get her own back somehow

If Ōkami was mad at her, then she was mad at him, too

The next time he thwacked the back of her knee and told her to root herself better, Mariko intentionally cruh a tendril of fire had leapt his way She straightened, then sht he erous whisper "See what happens"

"Is that a threat or a promise?"

That time, he did sth away Without warning, he tossed the wooden sword in her direction Mariko caught it But just barely

The practice sas heavy, its blade fashioned of solid wood Made to ht of an actual katana Its surface was smooth, meant to take on the full blow of an opponent’s strike

Mariko brandished the weapon, hoping she didn’t look quite as green as she felt "Should I not be practicing with a real blade instead of one intended for a child?"

"This is the type of se all use e are not in battle It is not just for a child"

She held the blade in the air with one hand as her eyes ran the length of him "You don’t want to do this"

"A master of the obvious" He snorted "Truly I’d rather chew sand" Ōka froertips "Use both hands Who do you think you are? Musashi?"

Mariko ignored the jibe about the fa this if you don’t want to?"

"Because if I don’t, Ranmaru onder why And I don’t think it serves you well if his curiosity spurs him to take action," Ōkami finished, his voice low and harsh

When he leaned forward to adjust the grip of her left hand, his hair fell into his eyes, brushing her brow A part of her wanted to hold her breath

Mariko revolted by inhaling deep

Stupid So stupid Wolves were not supposed to smell like Ōka?" he asked cuttingly, though his hands wavered above hers "Stop being so strange"

Mariko settled into her stance "I ae" She brandished her practice sword "And you had better learn to appreciate it"

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