Author's Corner

Wow. Here I am again. My muses are sick right now, so I'm leaving them alone in peace.

Welcome to chapter 17 of B & D! I'm so happy I am catching up to my vaunted 23 chapters I had had posted before!

Is it just me, or are my chapters getting longer? Hmm... Anyways, enjoy a new chapter that will star two bumbling trainers (guess who) and a new rising star of B & D!

Disclaimer: Speak no evil, see no evil, hear no evil. I own naught.

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Striding imperiously down the middle of the path to Junko Town, Anastasia, Risika, and their respective bishies made their way into the tiny, dusty town in Fushigi Yuugi territory. It was similar to a certain town in Sairou of the Fushigi Yuugi anime. Everywhere there were trainers running around like mad, buying rare weapons, food, and clothing, with their Genbu Shichiseishi bishies in tow. Those bishies were mostly Subaru types, some old, some young.

Anastasia had insisted on stopping at Junko town in hopes that they might find someone to duel with, she was afraid of letting her bishies get rusty. Risika didn't care one way or another. She really wanted a new bishie, that was all. Stopping a bit wouldn't hurt her goal.

The bubbly trainer saw a sight that made her blood leap with excitement. Anastasia saw a Kenshin. A Kenshin was extremely difficult to capture, whoever was his trainer must be no ordinary one. She wanted to duel that trainer.

Unfortunately for Anastasia, Risika caught sight of Kenshin's trainer first. Casually walking up to a young girl with dark brown hair and eyes that were adorned with glasses, with a beauty mark on her left upper cheek. "Is that your Kenshin?" Risika asked curiously.

Erica smiled uncertainly. "Who is this girl?" she thought. "Yes, he is," the young trainer replied hesitantly.

"Great!" Risika exclaimed. "I challenge you to a duel!"

Anastasia heard her friend's words, saw the trainer, and facepalmed. "Damnit, that girl is an idiot! Her sama is no where near trained enough to defeat a Kenshin!" she thought furiously.

For the first time that day, Erica grinned. Right after spending $2,000 on a sword for her powerful bishie, she was recieving a challenge from an obviously inexperienced trainer. "Fresh meat for the taking," she thought sadistically. "I would be honored to accept your challenge, if I may set the stakes," Erica murmered, keeping her eyes down to hide the crooked smile blossoming on her face. The dark haired trainer wasn't really cruel, she just knew when to jump at the opportunity, she was a shrewd bussiness woman.

Riska nodded her agreement. "Sure, what's the stakes?"

"Let's say three hundred dollars."

At that flat statement, Anastasia felt her blood boil. She was furious that that trainer was daring to take advantage of Risika's inexperience.

"Ok."

Mouth dropping open, Anastasia stared at her friend. "What?????!!!!" was the only thing that the flabbergasted girl could think.

"I have a few errands to run at the moment. I would like to meet you at the gym at the west end of the village at sunset. Are we agreed?" Erica kept a slight smile on her face that she schooled to be friendly and open.

"I'm cool with that. See ya at sunrise!" Risika said excitedly. Her blood was racing, this was going to be fun! Or so she thought. Anastasia knew that her friend was going to get toasted. Nice and crispy. But, thankfully, only in a metaphorically way. The duel was one Risika would never forget, it taught her to think things through carefully, not to challenge recklessly.

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Well, that's all for now. My mind might hiccup some more stuff later, so review! Ja ne!