novachrysalia | Oh the river, oh the river

Oh the river, oh the river

For as long as they had been training together, Lightning knew one thing: Natsuru was really bad at hiding how she felt sometimes. This didn't bother the older woman as much as it should. Frankly, she was warming up to an idea in her head that might make things more awkward than they should.

Sometimes Lightning is not one to think things through if she really wanted it done. Like when her friends and herself rushed out to save the world. That... could have been thought through a lot more. Tempers got the better of them.

She did wonder if Natsuru had sensed any change in their routine. Light doesn't care anymore just what Natsuru was supposed to be genderwise, dammit, she just wanted to start something and go from there.

So it's with a lot of impatience that she waits at the beach for the other girl to show up. "She's going to be late..."

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Things were much more confusing on Natsuru's side of things. Ever since she'd... changed, she'd also grown a lot closer to Lightning. There had just been so much she needed to relearn, no matter how naturally she seemed to take to her new body. So she'd decided to train more, under the strongest and most reliable woman she knew.

Even then, her feelings were all mixed up. Light wasn't just strong, she was also beautiful. The more time they spent together, training or otherwise, she just felt increasingly drawn to her. There were countless times she'd probably been caught flushed with embarrassment or awkwardly trying not to steal a glance. Like a schoolgirl with a crush on her teacher, though they're much closer in age than that.

"Ah... sorry!"

The girl's voice calls out as she finally comes into view, only a moment or so late. No one but Light would be able to guess that she'd ever been male. While not exactly screaming confidence, the way she dressed and every element of body language had all become so feminine. That wasn't at all related to Light's training... she'd never instructed Natsuru in how to present herself. It just seems to have happened naturally over time.

She finally catches up to where Light had been waiting, looking both embarrassed and a little out of breath. "... Am I late? I hurried over as fast as I could..."

Lightning nodded. "You're about ten minutes late. You need to manage your time better."

She steps over to a set of weights and looks at Natsuru. "We're switching things up for now. You'll be putting weights on your ankles and wrists. Then we'll do some hand to hand combat. Got it? Your stamina needs more work."

There was another reason she wanted the weights. It was a lot easier to catch someone off guard if they were encumbered by something heavy. She picked up one of the weights and tossed it as Natsuru. "They're two and a half pounds each. So that's an extra ten pounds of weight on you. They point of this is stamina building, and speed. When you're used to the weight in a few days, you can see how much faster you are when you take them off."

Natsuru knew better than to make excuses. So she doesn't even try, instead replying with a soft, apologetic "Yes, ma'am."

After being late, the last thing she wants is to disappoint Lightning any more. She listens carefully to her instructions. At first, she looks puzzled at the concept of using weights. But as the older woman explains, she thinks she understands the reasoning behind it. "Ah... okay..."

Of course, she still looks a little worried, since this is Lightning she'll be sparring with. She catches the weight easily enough, but hesitates for just a second before she starts to strap it on.

"... We'll be doing this for a few days?"

She knew there would be hesitation. There is just one more catch, Natsuru. "You're not to take them off until I tell you to. They're waterproof. If you want to be trained, we'll do it right. You're going to be wearing them until you can easily do every task you usually do, as if the weights weren't there."

Lightning came over with the others and knelt down. She placed the weights around Natsuru's ankles, intentionally letting her hands brush the other girls calves. To see how she would react. The last two go on her wrists. "How does that feel?"

"W-Wait, what?! Every task...?"

She didn't realize when Lightning said for a few days, she meant full days! It catches her by surprise so much, she doesn't even react to her teacher attaching the weights to her ankles until she feels that gentle brush of hands against her calves. Predictably, her cheeks start to turn a little pink, and she tries to pretend she didn't notice. But she's really in a bit of a daze until Light's voice brings her out of it.

"Feel? I-I didn't feel-"

Wait. The weights. She's talking about the weights.

"I mean... it's fine! I think..." They feel comfortable enough, except for the whole... weight part. But that's the point, isn't it? To get used to that?

"I have to wear these while doing everything? Not just training?"

Seeing her student so flustered as hard to keep contained. She wanted to smirk at her. So instead she walked over to the box the weights came from and closed it. The pink tinge on Natsuru's cheeks was adorable.

When she stands, she looks at Natsuru sternly. "If you want to get better at training and defending yourself, don't complain. I could have started with the five pound weights. If you don't want to wear them, find someone else to train you."

It was made to sound like a threat. Though Lightning couldn't keep some of the mirth out of her voice. To say she was amused right now would be an understatement.

That look always pierces right through her, making her stand up just a little straighter. Even while she can't quite get the thought of the surprisingly gentle brush of Lightning's hands against her calves out of her head.

"N-No, it's... I won't complain! I just wanted to be sure..."

Her blush just deepens even more at how easily Lightning is able to fluster her. She'd never expected to end up training with someone so strong and beautiful. Despite her best efforts to stay professional and focus on her training, that strength and beauty together quite often set her heart racing before they even started a session.

She honestly believes Lightning hasn't noticed. Why would she ever notice her like that, after all?

Natsuru's reply just makes Lightning shake her head. This always happened. Every time something new came up, this would inevitably happen. It was a constant that Light could count on. Something she thought of as routine.

She nods and walks a few feet away, raising her guard. "Alright. Try and land a blow on me with the weights on. Hand to hand. One hint of your power, and I'm laying you flat on the ground, got it?"

Best way to get a girl close enough to pin down was hand to hand. It would give Lightning an excuse to do so. Though training came first. Wait till Natsuru was worn down a bit.

"Okay."

She nods in agreement, her face turning more serious. It's hard to just set aside all those confused feelings, but it's something she's had to learn to do. Not that they ever quite go away when sparring with Lightning. She'd be ashamed to admit sometimes she gets caught off guard, just by being so physically close to her. But for now, she's able to take a stance and clear her mind enough to focus on her task.

The weights are throwing everything off; it's almost instinct to try and compensate. However, while she puts more strength into her movements, they're still noticeably slower. The initial strike she goes for is far too easy to read, and leaves herself more open than she intended.

Just like her name, Lightning strikes fast. She grabs the younger girl at about the elbow, pulling her close, then using her leg to sweep Natsuru off of her feet before dropping her like a sack of potatoes. Her last move is to slam her fist into the ground next to Natsuru's head.

"Don't go for moves you're used to. Try to work with the weights."

Light stands and moves a few feet away again. No helping Natsuru up. That would be showing kindness during training.

It's so fast, it feels almost instant. One second, she's attempting an awkward strike, the next she's hitting the ground and looking up at Lightning.

... Wait, is she blushing again? She seriously has to get her head in the game here. Slowly, and a bit shakily, she pushes herself back up and gets to her feet. Lightning always took this so seriously... but then, that's why Natsuru wanted her to train her in the first place.

She takes a deep breath, and readies herself again. Try to work with the weights... she's not sure really how to do that. Still, she gives it another shot. This time, instead of moving with more force, she tries something that feels a little more natural. As a result, she moves in and strikes a lot faster... however, it noticeably drains her more than usual already. It may not take long to wear her down at all for this first session.

There was the blush. That came faster than previously. Though Lightning didn't know of it was from embarrassment or a crush. Not like she could ask Natsuru.

Not fast enough. Sorry. Lightning counters even faster this time and literally lifts Natsuru off of her feet and right over her back. Once again the ground will be Natsuru's best friend.

"Better. But still predictable."

It could be both? But if Lightning is determined to figure it out on her own, she... probably can pretty easily. Every time Natsuru seems to flush a little more, it's from being up close with Lightning.

She certainly isn't blushing as much after that thrashing she just took. With a groan, she slowly manages to raise herself back to her feet.

"I'm trying my best!"

It's not meant as a complaint. Much. She's already feeling pretty worn out, but she pushes through. This time, she tries a feint that should get Lightning's attention and give her a chance to slip in closer for a quick strike. Assuming Light doesn't predict that too, or use her speed advantage to counter before Natsuru can land a hit. Again.

Lightning watches Natsuru attack. Feints were a classic move with people who were trying to throw off their enemy. That was something she did a few times as well.

Though she had a hard time keeping her fighting instincts from kicking in. Like at this moment.

Natsuru might be in for a long recovery once Lightning's legs moves up and slams into the other girls ribs and stomach. Habits die hard.

That was definitely a mistake. Natsuru gets the wind kicked right out of her by one of those legs she'd definitely been caught stealing glances at once or twice.

It's like her brain reboots and forgets it's in training mode. Stumbling forward, she barely manages to catch herself on her mentor while she tries to catch her breath again.

Lightning mentally counts to ten before grabbing the back of Natsuru's shirt, tossing her several feet away from her. It showed favoritism to go light on a trainee.

"If that had been an enemy you had grabbed onto, you'd be dead right now."

The poor girl lands in a heap. It takes a few moments for her to collect herself.

"I know! I just... wasn't expecting..."

She trails off without finishing that sentence. This is what she wanted, after all. Lightning is tough, much tougher than her. She knew she wouldn't go easy on her.

While she takes a minute to recover, she looks up at Lightning again. And there's that blush, right on cue. Having such an intense crush on your combat mentor is probably not a good idea, but here she is. Trying not to fantasize and to focus on reality instead.

At least that's one thing she's gotten really good at in their training sessions so far.

"Expect everything. If you dive down low, assume the enemy is going to counter by aiming high. If you go high, they'll come down on you. Fix your weak spots."

Lightning sees the blush and smirks. "Unless you're dstracted. Then all of this advice is useless. Get your head out of the clouds and assume I am trying to kill you. Which... at this rate might just accidentally happen."

"I'm trying! Really..."

Oh, dear. She'd tried her best to hold this back, knowing that Lightning is only doing her best to train her properly. But her emotions are starting to get the better of her.

"I know this is important, but I can't... it's too much. I'm not as strong as you are..."

She looks away, clearly ashamed at her outburst but unable to deny it's exactly how she feels. She wipes her tears on her arm, but one thing she doesn't do is take the weights off. She still wants to train, she just feels terrible that she's not living up to Light's expectations. Even if she is barely used to this body... she should be stronger, like the woman she admires so much...

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Oh the river, oh the river

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