Rain had painted the streets of Tokyo in silver streaks by the time Kimara arrived at Amy's House. She wore a hoodie too big for her, the little white Sabrelynx cub curled in her duffel bag. Niva's pale blue eyes peeked out occasionally, her breath lightly frosting the zipper.
Amy opened the door before Kimara could knock. "Hey sis, you're early."
Kimara offered a small grin. "You said we'd train. I didn't want to be late for a fight."
Amy stepped aside, letting her in "So has kaz told you when he plans to move back home" Kimara asks Amy "girl oh please y'know that boy only does things on a random whim, probably gonna call me late one night like 'BABE I NEED TO MOVE BACK HOME'", they both burst out laughing.
Her Family home was cozy as always—the air warm and filling ,shelves in the living room were filled with books, training gear, and photos of her family. The walls were radiating with warmth and the space carried a calm serenity that felt like the opposite of the Yazumèi estate.
Niva poked her head out of the duffel. Her small fangs glinted.
"...Is that what I think it is?" Amy blinked.
"Yeah. A Frostviel Sabrelynx." Kimara sat on the couch, unzipping the bag so Niva could stretch. The kitten leapt out, landed on the wood floor with barely a sound, and gave a curious yowl.
Ryusei, who had been lounging by the window, turned at the noise and raised an eyebrow. "You Yazumèi kids and your defiance of all law and order. Truly heartwarming." He chuckled
Kimara rolled her eyes. "You've known Kaz long enough to not be surprised."
"I'm not. Just impressed."
Amy knelt beside Niva, extending a hand. The kitten sniffed it, then let out a tiny, frosty sneeze. "She likes you," Kimara said, a hint of pride in her voice.
"So, just the two of us tonight?" Amy asked after Ryusei excused himself.
Kimara nodded. "Kaz has made it clear he doesn't want us involved in what's coming. But we both know that's not realistic."
Amy's voice softened. "He just wants to protect you."
Kimara's eyes lowered. "I know, not just me but you too. But I'm tired of being protected. I want to fight too. To be someone that can protect him. Protect all of us."
They made their way out back into the cleared training space. Amy tossed Kimara a practice staff. Kimara caught it with one hand, twirled it, and set her feet.
"Let's see what you've got, frost girl." The spar began slow. Amy circled, light on her toes, her motions graceful like a dancer. Kimara mirrored her, staff low, eyes narrowed.
Amy struck first, a feint to the left that turned into a rising arc. Kimara deflected, countering with a diagonal sweep. The wood cracked sharply as their weapons met.
Niva watched, ears perked.
Amy flipped back, her feet barely skimming the floor as she launched forward again, jabbing twice, spinning, sweeping low.
Kimara jumped, staff angled, then channeled a pulse of icy breath through her fingertips. The ground under her frosted, giving her footing a frictionless glide. She twisted mid-air, spun horizontally, and struck.
Amy caught it barely with the end of her staff, sliding back with a grin. "Nice! Using Niva's aura already?"
Kimara grinned. "She rubs off on me."
Their next clash was a blur. Amy's fire flickered at her palms—controlled sparks. Kimara's frost crept along her grip. Staffs became lightning rods. Each impact sent out flashes.
Amy lunged, fire trailing behind her. Kimara ducked, rolled, and struck upward with an icy crescent.
Amy parried, but a shard of cold cracked across her shoulder. She hissed.
Kimara paused. "You okay?"
Amy laughed. "This is exactly what I needed."
The girls had been sparring for nearly twenty minutes, snowflakes conjured by Kimara's fingertips clashing with Amy's fiery footwork.
Their laughter echoed off the brick walls of the training yard behind Amy's house, where a privacy shield kept curious eyes away.
Kimara lunged forward, conjuring a blade of darkened frost and aiming a swift diagonal slash toward Amy's shoulder.
Amy spun to the side, evading just in time. "You're getting quicker," she huffed, beads of sweat forming along her brow.
"What can I say this weather's good for reflexes," Kimara teased. She swept her leg, trying to catch Amy's footing, but Amy leapt over it—then something changed.
As if some instinct buried deep within her had snapped awake, Amy didn't land lightly. She landed like a comet.
Her palm glowed bright pink for just a second—pure, raw energy rippling across her arm like fluid fire. With a sudden forward step, she unleashed a pulse of bright pink force that cracked the ground beneath her and sent Kimara flying backwards through the air.
Startled, Kimara managed to land in a half-roll, sliding through the snowy grass, coughing as she stared at Amy with wide eyes.
"A-Amy?" she gasped. Amy stood frozen, her hand still glowing faintly. Her expression was a mix of horror and awe.
"Oh my god—I didn't mean to! I swear, that just happened—" she rushed over. "Are you okay?"
Kimara coughed again, but then—laughed. A rich, warm sound.
"You... you could've blown my spine out," she chuckled, sitting up. "That was crazy!"
Amy's panic turned into sheepish embarrassment.
"I think you've got something locked inside you," Kimara said, eyes glittering with interest. "Kaz saw something in you. And I think I just got a glimpse of it too."
Amy blinked, surprised. "You're not mad?"
Kimara stood and dusted herself off. "Mad? Girl, that was amazing."
She stepped closer, resting a hand on Amy's shoulder. "You're stronger than you think. And if we keep training... we might both be ready for what's coming."
Amy smiled softly, a new sense of confidence forming. Let's keep going," Kimara said, conjuring her frost-sabre again with a grin. "Just try not to vaporize me this time."
They reset. Breathed. Then charged again.
After another half an hour, they collapsed onto the floor, chests rising and falling. Their staffs were discarded, and Niva was curled between them like a referee.
Kimara stared up at the ceiling. "You're amazing, y'know that?"
Amy turned to her, one eyebrow raised.
"I mean it," Kimara said, voice softer now. "Kaz has brought home girls before. But you... you stayed. Even after seeing what we are. What we do."
Amy brushed hair out of her face. "Because I know who he is. And who you are too. You're not just some mob family. You're people worth fighting for."
Kimara sniffed. She didn't realize her eyes had welled up a bit until Amy nudged her.
"You don't need to be Kaz's little sister. You're Kimara Yazumèi. That's already powerful enough."
Kimara smiled. "That's why I want to fight beside you, you came and you saw and you never judged." Amy reached over, squeezed her hand. "Then let's make sure we're ready."
Niva purred.
The room grew quiet again, only the sound of the city outside echoing beyond the walls.
And somewhere far away, another shadow stirred—a man with white eyes and twitching fingers, sensing the growing power of two girls who refused to be sidelined.