Oh my, how time has gone by. I do believe I've been a disappointment going on hiatus – and for so long. I can only thank those of you who have read this story thus far and continue to send your support (you know who you are) :)

Chapter 12: Starting from the Bottom

"Is there anything you can do?" Crow asked as Izumi did push-ups on the floor in front of him. It was only twenty minutes into their training and already Izumi was sweating and out of breath as she struggled to lift herself up and down above the ground.

Growing up, physical education had never been one of Izumi's favorite classes, and she had never joined any sports clubs or been particularly athletic either. This wasn't to say that she couldn't do a few sit-ups or anything; she just wasn't that interested in physical activity. Now, she wished she had been more active and fit when she was still in school, as it certainly would have made Crow's training a little easier to handle from the start.

"I can do some things…but it's not like…I've been preparing to do this…every day," she replied in between push-ups to his earlier question.

"But you can't do simple exercises like this," he stated matter-of-factly.

"Yes I can… I never said how long or how many I can do… but I can at least do a few of each," she huffed and dropped her knees to the floor to rest a moment.

"Could've fooled me," he said with a frown. "You look like you're about to pass out."

Izumi bit her lip and willed herself not to throw some biting, sarcastic comment back at him. If all she had to deal with was his rude commentary on her lack of current skill then she should consider herself lucky. It was better than him kicking or smacking her around.

"I'm not going to pass out," she decided out loud once she caught her breath.

"Better not," Crow replied sharply. "If you do then I'm leaving, and you can find yourself a new helper. I've got better things to do than babysit teenagers." He walked around to Izumi's side and gave her a rough tap with his boot. "Now keep going; I didn't say to stop."

"How many more do I need to do?" she asked as she grudgingly lowered herself back down and lifted her knees off the floor.

"At least thirty. When you're done with those you can go get a drink," he said and moved over to the free weights area.

By the time he came back over Izumi was practically lying on the floor like a wet sponge, her chest tight and her arms feeling like dead weights at her sides. Managing to push herself up on her hands and knees, she let herself tilt back to sit down with her back resting against the wall, all the while doing her best to ignore the unimpressed look Crow was giving her.

"And how exactly is this going to help me win in Carnival Corpse?" she asked, wiping the back of her hand across her brow.

"Stamina," Crow answered almost instantaneously. "In case you didn't notice during your last fight, you can't always rely on your fighting skills or Branch of Sin to get you through a match. You were out of breath and all worn out by the end of it, right?" Izumi nodded. "So that's exactly why I'm starting you at the bottom. You need to have the basics down first if you want to get more serious later."

"Before you can run you have to learn to walk," Izumi offered and Crow gave her a small nod.

"Yeah, something like that. Only in your case you've got to learn to crawl first," he added and folded his arms across his chest.

Izumi let out a heavy breath and pushed herself up from where she sat, using the wall behind her for support. She wasn't even going to bother trying to get back at him for his comment, not when she was this tired. All she wanted now was a drink. After purchasing one from the vending machine near the door and taking a couple long gulps from it, she returned to her spot on the floor.

"Are you going to train me to fight once I build up more stamina?" she asked earnestly as Crow headed back over to the free weights area.

He gave a shrug. "Don't know. Depends on you."

"Whatever it takes," she replied and took another swig of her drink.

"That so?"

Izumi gave a firm nod.

"Alright then, get your ass off the floor and come over here," he told her with a jerk of his head. With a huff Izumi pushed herself off the floor and came to stop at his side by the free weights. "Now, how much can you lift?" he asked, getting straight to business once more. Izumi frowned.

"I – I don't know. I don't usually – "

"Start with ten-pound weights then. You're small, and from what I've seen, if you're as strong as you are athletic, then it's a good place to start," he instructed, cutting her off. "You're going to start with three reps of eight. Take a twenty-second rest between each rep. If you want to get stronger and win in the cage, you're going to have to work your whole body – not just your speed and reflexes," he went on, lifting the two weights with ease and dropping them lazily in her hands, the action causing her arms to jerk forward and downwards uncomfortably with the sudden added weight.

"And ten pounds is good to start with?" she reaffirmed his instruction as a question, clearly uncertain of his choice. She sounded pathetic, but in all honesty, she wasn't sure she had the strength or energy to do all he asked.

The look Crow gave her was serious, though the slight upturn of his mouth gave her the impression he was mocking her. "Whatever it takes, right? Or would you rather do this on your own?"

"No, no," Izumi swallowed, "I'll do it. Just tell me where to start." She took a step back to face him squarely as if a soldier standing at attention.

Crow nodded. "Good. Now lift your arms and start doing some bicep curls."

Izumi could barely move her arms – much less the rest of her body, her muscles numb and throbbing. On the one hand, she knew Crow's training was going to help her in her fights. On the other hand… "Damn," she muttered to herself as she rolled her right shoulder in an attempt to ease its tension, not caring if Crow noticed her exhaustion.

"Finished already?" he inquired with a raised brow and Izumi fought back the urge to say something smart.

"For the moment. At least until I catch my breath a bit," she replied instead, wiping the sweat from her brow. Had she looked in the mirrors lining the other wall she was sure the face looking back at her would have been red as a tomato from exertion. "Did you train like this - when you first got here, I mean?" Izumi asked Crow as she attempted to steady her breathing, feeling awkward at the silence that otherwise permeated the room.

"I did," was the curt reply she got in return.

More silence followed, as Izumi fought with herself on whether or not she should ask anything else. Crow definitely wasn't one for small talk, unless it was to send some half-insulting comment towards her. It was probably better not to ask, lest Crow think she was being too friendly or inquisitive. She took the risk. "And how long have you been here?"

Crow didn't answer right away, but he gave Izumi a look that expressed his annoyance at the question. "I think you've had enough time," was his only reply, the words coming out rather harsh, "now show me your Branch of Sin."

"Oh," Izumi replied dumbly, not knowing how else to respond as she realized she wasn't going to get any answers that easily. "Is it…? Do you – how…?" she trailed off, looking around nervously. Was it alright to show him? Or was that something deadmen didn't do since everyone was technically a competitor within Carnival Corpse? And the last time she practiced she had also smashed one of the mirrors and used one of the shards to cut herself. Izumi had kept some of the shards in case it became necessary to use them, but she hadn't – quite stupidly now, she realized – brought any with her to the gym.

Noticing where her delay in action was going, Crow gave an exasperated sigh. "Everyone's seen the games, kid; there's no use in trying to keep what you can do a secret. Now stick out your arm," he instructed and approached her, twisting a ring on his right hand to trigger a small row of blades to spring out.

Biting her lip in slight hesitation, Izumi lifted her right arm up for him, pulling back the sleeve as she did so. None too gently Crow grabbed her wrist and turned it upwards to bring the small blades to her skin, quickly but expertly slicing along her outer forearm. Despite expecting the pain, Izumi still couldn't help but give a small hiss at the burn that tore down her arm from the contact. As soon as he was finished Crow released his grip on her wrist and took a step back, nodding towards her as if to say 'begin.'

Recalling her previous efforts, Izumi willed the blood that had begun to drip from her arm to move upwards and collect around her hand, the familiar yet still odd feeling from before awakening within her once more. Her gaze transfixed on her hand, she watched as her blood coated it like a glove, reaching out to the tips of her fingers until it began to pile up there, the formation of claws becoming apparent. With a flex of her fingers her blood solidified, and Izumi looked up to Crow for approval. "Like this?"

Crow was silent for a moment. "Claws, huh?" the question came out rather flatly when he finally spoke, causing Izumi to frown slightly.

"Is that bad?" she asked earnestly, trying to figure out why he sounded so bored.

"I wouldn't call it the most original idea I've ever seen, depending on how you use them," was his remark.

"Well it's not like I have a say in the matter," she sent back bitterly. "If it was up to me I wouldn't have any of it, and I wouldn't be here either."

"Yeah, sure. Now show me how far you can extend them from your fingers," Crow said, dismissing her comment.

Izumi bit her tongue in frustration at his character but did as he said. She was glad she would only be interacting with the man for training; he would be impossible to be around otherwise.

There you have it. A continuation after several years. I hope it continues to be to everyone's liking. I'll do my best not to disappoint and continue this story to the best of my abilities. Thank you again for the love, and happy 2019 everyone.