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[X] Head to the dojo and do some practice swings.

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Lady Yuyuko starts walking back to the dining room before half-ghost can reply. Youmu opens her mouth, as if to argue, but at the end, she closes it. If the ghost princess wants to keep secrets, then she can't do much about it. She certainly can't force Lady Yuyuko to talk. In any case, this topic is already dead.

"Love grows sweeter with time," says Yuyuko suddenly. "Take it easy~"

The half-ghost turns completely red this time.

"W-what? Don't misunderstand this!" cries Youmu. "I-It's not like I care about that violent idiot anyway..."

The ghost princess only giggles as she continues walking.

"I'm not falling for him," she mumbles in protest to no one particular. "No, it's not that..."

She closes her eyes for a moment, remembering the strange dreams of the past few days.

"He is just... familiar somehow," whispers Youmu to herself.

By the time she opens her eyes, the ghost princess is nowhere in sight. Her gluttonous mistress must be feasting on the food already. Really, now! Yuyuko is far too carefree when it comes to strange and important events. Vincent's disappearance might even be a sign of another incident!

"..."

No. Lady Yuyuko would tell her if something bad happened to him. If anything, she seems to be pushing them to become a couple. As if such a thing could ever happen! It would never work out. Her place is here in the land of the dead, while his is in the realm of mortals. Besides, she can't abandon her duty to the House of Saigyouji. Her father entrusted her with this responsibility before he left on his journey.

"Master," whispers Youmu.

Youki Konpaku left many years ago, leaving her to care for the ghost princess. He never explained his reason, and she never asked. Before anything else, he was her master and teacher. It would be improper to speak out of turn or argue. He must have had his own reasons. As a student of Konpaku swordsmanship, she did what was expected of her. She accepted his last order without question.

But deep inside, underneath the facade, the half-ghost knew her own feelings.

She missed her father.

...

"Haa.. Haa.. Haa..."

Youmu lies on her back as she catches her breath. She feels completely exhausted, and she can barely move. Even her ghost half has grown limp. Seems like she overdid it this time.

Instead of heading back to the dining room, the half-ghost decided that she should do some practice swings at the dojo. Partially to complete her daily training and partially to clear her head, it seemed like a perfectly good idea. Unfortunately, the training only reminded her duel with Vincent.

Before she realized it, she was practicing her most powerful sword techniques as she visualized a rematch. For some strange reason, she kept imagining him as not only keeping up with her speed, but completely blocking her every attack. She could even visualize his confident smirk as he toys with her. The ghost hunter could easily find weaknesses in her own imperfect technique.

"..."

Slowly, Youmu sits herself up and wipes the sweat off her brow. This is getting ridiculous. Why is she getting so worked up anyway? She only met the damn idiot a couple of days ago and not in the best circumstances.

When she tried to help him, that fool knocked her out, tied her up and gagged her. He even found a way to place a sealing barrier on her ghost half's core. Where Vincent learned such a complex technique, she would never know. If it weren't for the seal, she would have beaten him senseless by now. But why is it, then?

Why is it that she feels so worried about him?

"Get it together, Youmu," she whispers to herself. "This isn't like you."

The half-ghost forces herself to stand. A glance tells her that no one else is in the dojo.

[ ] Head for the bath to clean yourself up and relax a bit.
[ ] Return to the dining room and have some breakfast.
[ ] Investigate the guest room where Vincent was staying.
[ ] Wander aimlessly around the grounds for a while.
[ ] Go back to your room and prepare to leave Hakugyokurou.
[ ] Custom