Crimson Rose

»♣«Diciassette: Sparring Buddy

Scarlett's POV

I wipe the sweat on my forehead with the towel. After been on bed rest, well more like being forced by Luca. My ankle have finally heal. 

My knuckles feel numb after all the punches I gave the sand bag, body is glistering with sweat. I need to burned all the fat that I earn all the time I didn't workout. After working out I feel so refresh and light.

"That hit the spot" I drank a mineral water. The cool water cool down my dry throat.

I cool myself down under the fan. I decided to take a shower because my body was sticky from all the sweat. Luckily there a shower room in the training room. I end up wearing black and white singlet and brown short. My hair is still a little damp from the shower.

"I want to do some sparring...but Rei is still not back" I huffed. I don't know when Rei will come back. I'll call him later asking about that.

"Why not I be your sparring buddy" I turned around and saw Bennett was leaning against the training room wall. "Or maybe you are thinking, I'm not strong enough to spar with you?" I think he take my silent as a rejection.

"Its not that" I said.

Bennett start to walk to me. I stood at my spot. He then stand in front of me.

"So what is the reason? You have fight with Hunter, Xavier and Shawn but not me. Why is that? I think I can do much better than them".

That was kinda tough question. "Er...I don't have any specific reason just...uh...okay fine. Give me half an hour. I just done working out for 5 hours. I need a rest for a bit".

Bennett smiled brightly before he take me to the bench. "Sit here. I gonna make some sandwich for you before we start our battle for you to regain your energy back".

"Ham and cheese sandwich would be fine Bennett".

"Alright then" Bennett walk out of the training room. My eyes stay on his frame until its disappear out of my sight.

Why did he want to spar with me so much? Maybe he want to assess my power or something. I think that's it, maybe as a leader he need to know his teammates strength.

Based on guys have told me about Bennett a few days ago in the game room, I can guess that Bennett may or may not be a sadistic. But that was just my hunch. Maybe through this sparring I'll know about that and the extents of his strength. When I was on the bed rest they have a mission, Xavier and Shawn didn't tell me full version of the story just a little bit of that, yet it was not a full version.

They also avoid speaking about how Bennett handle the monster just he managed to kill the monster. When they do like that make me want to know more about what have happen.

It is have to do with the hell monsters? Did he have a secret like me? I gonna find out when I fight him.

"Princess!!" I jolt from my monolog. Shawn was running at me. "It is...true...that you...gonna fight...Bennett?" Shawn was panting I guess he ran here from where he was before.

"Take a deep breath. That's more I like it. Yeah. Bennett asked me to spar with him" I explain to Shawn.

"Are you sure about that mistress?" Xavier sat beside me.

"Yeah. Is there something wrong about that?".

Shawn hold my shoulder "No. Just asking. Just remember to be careful with Bennett okay".

"Why?".

"Just promise that you will be careful okay" they sound worry...I wonder why?

"I promise".

"So when the fight start?" Shawn sat on the other side of me.

"I asked Bennett to give me a rest for half an hour because I just finishing working out".

"So that is the reason why you smell so nice" Xavier sniffed my hair.

"Am I only smell nice after I shower" I want to tease Xavier a little.

"That's not what I'm trying to said. What I meant is...you smell clean?" It sound like a question. Xavier fidget in his seat. His hand still touching my hair.

I just smirked. Shawn hit Xavier hand away "Please keep your hand to yourself".

Xavier was about to said something but stop when we heard the door opening. We all look at the door. Bennett is holding a tray, while Hunter open the door for him to get through. They walked inside with Luca at the back.

"Scarlett this is the sandwiches I make. I just hope it will satisfied your appetite".

On the tray there is 2 plate of sandwiches. One grilled cheese and the other one ham sandwich. There also a glass of milk.

"Don't worry I'll eat it. Thanks by the way" I start to eat the sandwich. It was delicious.

"So you gonna fight Bennett huh" Hunter said. He was standing opposite of me. I just nod my head because my mouth is full "Good luck".

Half an hour was up and was time for me to fight Bennett. I stood up, he understand what I'm doing and stand up.

"Scarlett and I will starting our fight soon. Can you guys monitoring us in the control room. If its okay with you, would you mind we use the simulation room Scarlett?".

"I'm fine with it" I lightly stretch myself. "I actually was about to asked you about it".

We walked to the simulation room together "So what kind of stage you want to use?" Bennett open the door for me.

"I want to use a battle ground. You know, where they play chariot. Collo something...I can't remember it".

"Oh you mean Colosseum" I nodded. "We'll be using the Colosseum" Bennett speak when we are inside and the door was closed.

"Okay" Xavier's voice bounce on the wall.

The simulation room start to fill with sand. And finally we are inside the Colosseum. It's look like the real Colosseum at Italy.

"So how you guys want to do this?" Xavier speak on the speaker.

"Because I have choose the place, I'll let Bennett decide that" I look at Bennet who is standing beside me.

He bow slightly "If you insist. How about there will be not be a time limit. You win if your opponent tap out or passed out. The entire Colosseum will be our stage. How about that?".

"Sound good to me".

"If both side agree this battle will start in 30 seconds from now. Please go to your side. Are you ready?".

I show them thumb up. "If Scarlett ready I'm ready" Bennett said.

"If you guys ready this battle will start now" the sound of the siren can be heard.

I quickly ran to Bennett in attempt to make him unconscious by giving him a hook kick on the temple. Beside I want to test it on Bennett to see what will happen. He also dash at my direction,when I think I was in the distance to deliver the kick. I swiftly did it. But something unexpected happen.

"You don't think you can win this battle that easily are you?" he blocked my kick using his right forearm while smirking.

"One can wish for that" before I can make any distance between us he grip my left ankle before throwing me to the side.

I managed to get my bearing and jump on my feet. I try kicking his side but Bennett manage to block me with his leg and put me on arm lock.

I escaped the arm lock,standing up I look at him "So you learn martial art huh".

"Of course. I learn boxing and judo for 10 years you know" his innocent smile didn't help to cover the excitement glint in his eyes.

10 minutes passed and we still fight with our bare hand. None of us draw our weapon, we also still didn't break a sweat. Bennett have threw a few punch at me but I put my guard up. He didn't joke when he said that he learn boxing.

"You are good Bennett".

"You are not bad yourself Scarlett. But I'm sorry to say that our MMA fight stop here. Let try this other time okay. I'll get a little serious right now".

Suddenly I fell my right leg being wrapped by something. Looking down I saw a chain wrapping my leg out of nowhere. Before I could use my right hand to reach the scythe clip my right hand also being wrapped by chain. Both of the chain led to a black circle.

Without wasting any second I quickly take the clip using my left hand, kissing it before throwing it to the air "My name is Scarlett Drachen, I summons Crimson Rose to aid me".

I want to jump to get the scythe but the chained retrain me. Both my legs was wrapped by the chain. So fun. Did you notice the sarcasm.

He just look at me from where he stood. "I caught ya now Scarlett".

"Not so fast" thanks god I manage to catch the scythe as it fall right in front of me. But my relieve moment was cut short.

"Don't waste your time Scarlett those chain was enchanted. It will not break if you just swing your scythe at it".

"Maybe you are right. Normally swinging the scythe will not break it...unless I use this, Sharp as blade, pierce and cut all the thing without difficulty" I swing my scythe at the chain and this time it broke.

He look quite shock "Okay I didn't see that coming. But I didn't means you win".

I have to think a way to make Bennett surrender. But how? I can't just kill him or asked him to surrender himself willingly because he didn't look like that sort of person. Which means I have to wait for opportunity.

Everytime I tried to attack him,he'll restrain my movement by wrapping those chain on my limps. I was planning to knocked him off by hitting the back of his head. It was difficult with all those chains. I broke the chain that wrap itself at my throat and waist.

"I think you are strong enough for me to summons him" Bennett suddenly said. Ah I see, so Bennett is a summoner. So that's meant he was testing me to make sure I can handle what ever he was about to summon. Bennett bite his wrist and let the blood trail to his palm. I just stand there looking at him, is it bad that I want to know what he will summon? He touched the ground with his bloody palm. "From the Japanese legend I call for you. Nine tails creature with wisdom and powerful ability under the moonlight. I summon you, Kitsune. Fight by my side".

Air begin to shift, the cloud turned to gray and the temperature drop a little. A lightning strike behind Bennett. I cover my eyes with my hand from the lightning flash. Stood behind Bennett is a figure. He wearing a Japanese priest kimono with fox mask covering his face. He have long silver hair and silver tails. I think he have around nine tails behind him. His hair was so long that it almost reach the ground. 

The sky turned clear again. I can feel the sun ray on my skin "This is kitsune and that's all you have to know. Kitsune take her scythe away" Bennett short introduction. Kitsune nod before he vanishing.

I think it's not a good sign when he missing right now. Out of nowhere he suddenly appear in front of me. I saw in slow motion that he about to grab my scythe. I kicked his hand away and drop myself down when he about to use his silver tail to grab my body. I jump away from him. Making sure I'm a good distance away from it. When I ran in hope to get away from Kitsune, Bennett caught me using his chain making me stumble to the ground.

I get sand in my mouth. Kitsune didn't let me rest because he quickly wrapped one of his tail on my waist.

"I'm sorry Kitsune" I swing the scythe, cutting his tail and Bennett's chain in the process.

The tail that was about to wrapped around me laying limply beside Kitsune. Using my hand I push myself up and on my feet.

"You don't have to be worry about that. Kitsune's tail can generate itself" I saw the tail generate itself. It almost like a hell creatures I guess. "Right now you have to give all your attention to me and only me. Who know maybe next time when, you are careless I'll caught you with my chain or Kitsune will take away your scythe. So beware".

I can't attack Bennett with Kitsune around. Everytime I tried to attack him either Kitsune will block it using his hand or Bennett's chain get in the way. Kitsune have sharp claws. I guess that how he manage to block my scythe. He also successfully landing an attack at me. I have claw marks on my left sleeve where he miss to grabbed the scythe and slice my arm. 

Blood trail from the wound. Thankful I just wore a tank  top and a short. I were to wear something long sleeve, it will be uncomfortable because of the stickiness. 

I don't know how but Bennett's chain wrapped around both of my legs before he pull it. Making me fall on my knee "Are you gonna give up now Scarlett? I'm quite disappointed that you didn't fight me with your full power".

I cut the chain off, before jumping up and landing a few feet from Bennett and Kitsune who is standing by his side.

"If that what you want then I'll give you a sneak peek of my full power". Using my right thumb I gather blood from my left hand. Before spreading it on the scythe blade I take a breath "Using my blood and through Crimson Rose. I summon thee Ningky the Absolute Zero. The one that control ice, appear in front of me. Serve me as my familiars".

Bennett just watched from afar. No doubt waiting for something to happen. The clear sky start to turn darker more darker than earlier, before little white dot falling from the sky. It was snowing. Fog start to gather around me. The cold wind numb my wound. The fog start to thicker itself before dismiss showing a figure hiding inside the fog. The snow also stop falling.

The figure was kneeling in front of me. He have snow white hair and a pair of ice blue eyes. He was wearing a white jacket with black collar and white pant. Some of his shirt was cover in ice. His forehand and his legs until his knee was covered by ice.

"I'll be serving you and only you milady".