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Title: Of Cats and Magic

Chapter: 8

Author: Riko Gonzalez

"Welcome to our new apartment," Timothy said to the two magical girls.

"Did something happen to the old one?" Ruko asked.

"There was a little accident," Riko responded.

"Little? You burned it down," Timothy spoke up.

"I said that was an accident."

The three stood in the entrance to the apartment, Riko and Ruko both holding

bags. Ruko was actually holding two bags --- one for herself and one for

Timothy. Riko was just holding one.

After Riko had burned down their last apartment --- Ruko wasn't with them at the

time --- she and Timothy had went straight to that magical girl boot camp. Now

that the boot camp was over, the three needed a place to stay. Luckily, Timothy

quickly found the group an apartment. The apartment had a living room, a

kitchen, a dining room, a bathroom, and three bedrooms. There were enough

bedrooms in the new apartment for all three of them to get their own. That meant

that even Timothy would get his own bedroom, and he was a cat --- a blue, winged

cat but still a cat.

"This is the living room. Just leave the bags here for now. I'll show you two

the rest of the apartment, and then we can decide who gets which bedroom,"

Timothy informed.

***

Later that day, after they had become situated in their new apartment, the group

headed out. As it turns out, the apartment complex was located at the edge of a

forest. Not far into said forest was a large clearing. That is where they were

currently gathered.

"What are we doing here?" Riko inquired as she took in the scenery. It really

was a rather scenic location.

"We are here for training. The one-eyed worm fight showed us that you still have

control issues. You literally set nonflammable stone ablaze back there. While

logic need not always apply when it comes to magical girls, it wasn't like you

were trying to set the cavern on fire," Timothy answered.

"At least I took out the worm."

"True, but I hear that the resulting fire is still raging. No one seems know

when or even if that inferno will ever die down," the winged cat responded.

"Anyway," Timothy glanced between the two catgirls as he continued, "I've had an

idea. Ruko should try training you. As a physical type, she excels in enhancing

her physical prowess with her magic. This form of magic requires a high level of

focus --- in other words, control --- on the part of the magical girl. As such,

I figure training under Ruko may be just what you need. Focus is what you seem

to lack after all."

"I concur," Ruko added. "Learning to focus your power inward for physical

enhancement should help."

***

A cool breeze blew through the clearing, quietly rustling the soft grass. Riko

and Ruko stood facing each other, the clearing's center between the two. Riko

held her staff in her hands, clearly posed for battle. Ruko just stood there in

a rather relaxed posture.

"Come at me," the taciturn magical girl said, her amethyst eyes watching her

cyan-haired friend.

Riko rushed forward, swinging her staff towards the blonde. The next moment, she

was on flat on her back, cringing in pain. Ruko had not only blocked the staff

attack, she had used the weapon to flip Riko up and over her. Turns out that the

grass --- as soft as it was --- didn't make that good of a cushion.

The pink-eyed catgirl climbed to her feet, dusting herself off in the process.

She threw a quick glare at Ruko, who wasn't so much as winded, before bending

over to pick up her staff.

"Again," her taciturn sparring partner said.

Riko gritted her teeth and grasped her staff like a bat before swinging it with

all her might. The result was exactly the same. Ruko easily caught the strike

and swung her poor opponent around, leaving Riko flat on her back once more.

Ruko just watched as the buxom magical girl regained her footing. Once Riko had

readied herself once more, the process repeated itself again and again and

again.

Riko tried coming at Ruko from various angles --- even tried using her staff's

length to trip the other women up. The result, though, was always the same. She

always found herself flat on her back after one of her attempts. In a physical

fight, Ruko was quite obviously out of her league. Still, that was no reason to

give up. This was training after all.

Again, Riko climbed to her feet, her body not quite as steady as it had been

earlier, her breath coming out in soft pants. The training was taking a toll on

her. She hadn't reached her limit, though. She would improve. She was sure of

it. For now, though, she needed to concentrate on the opponent before her, the

seemingly immovable blonde.

***

The sun had begun to set. In the resulting reddish glow, Riko lay on her back,

her breath coming out in deep pants. She could hardly move at this point. Her

body was racked with pain from repeatedly slamming into the ground again and

again and again.

"That's enough for today. Good work," Ruko commented.

"G-Good... work? I-I couldn't... even land... one blow on you," Riko managed

between pants. It was quite obvious that she was disappointed in herself over

this. True, she was well aware of Ruko's skill, but she figured she could have

at least landed one hit.

"Most people can't keep up with me. You did seem to improve somewhat, though.

Need help getting up?"

"N-No... I-I'm good."

The cyan-haired catgirl momentarily managed to force herself to her feet before

stumbling back to the ground.

"I-I guess... I could... use some help."

The blonde offered her hand to her pink-eyed friend in response. Riko grabbed

Ruko's hand and pulled herself up before losing her footing and falling into

Ruko.

"I'll help you back to the apartment."

As the sun continued to set, the two wheat-skinned women headed back to the

apartment complex. As for Timothy, he had already gone back to their apartment

earlier in the day.