The masked sun

Random thing before lessons.

5:00 am, next day,

Izumo's eyes snapped open, the darkness of the room enveloping her as she struggled to make sense of her surroundings. The first faint hints of dawn filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow that danced in and out of her vision like a playful specter.

A flickering light caught her attention, its erratic movements casting strange shadows across the room. With a sense ofurgency, she reached out towards the elusive light, only tolose her balance and tumble off the bed in a tangle ofblankets that ensnared her limbs.

As she thrashed against the constricting fabric, her armspinned to her sides and the blanket tightening around herlike a cocoon, a sudden weight descended upon her head.Panic surged through her as she realized that a shopping baghad been pulled over her face, obscuring her vision andcutting off her air supply. In that moment of darkness andconfusion, she struggled to free herself, the muffled soundsof her own frantic movements echoing in the stillness of theroom.

"KAGA!" she roared, her voice echoing through the room witha fierce intensity that seemed to shake the very walls.

Through the muffled confines of the bag over her head, shecould hear the unmistakable sound of laughter, a mockingand taunting sound that only fueled her anger further.

"That little- that little," she seethed, her thoughts interrupted by a sudden, sharp pain that jolted through her body, on her... backside... causing her to gasp in surprise.

S-she just...

Before Kaga could even react, Izumo had pinned her adversary to the wall, her arms held firmly above her head in a display of raw power and dominance.

"You," she snarled, her voice dripping with venom, "have exactly 6 seconds to explain yourself. " The air crackled with tension as she awaited Kaga's response, her eyes blazing with a fierce anger that brooked no defiance. 

"I was just have a bit of fun," Her voice lowered to a whisper, a tone of submission and deference lacing her words, "What are you going to do?I am completely under yourcontrol, sensei. ".

Realization dawned on Izumo like a sudden bolt of lightning,her eyes widening in surprise as she took a step back, her movements quick and almost clumsy in her haste to create distance between them.

Clearing her throat to regain her composure, she managed to stammer out, "We'll talk about this later. " Her voice wavered slightly, betraying the unusual feeling- embrassment. 

"For now, get ready for lessons," she continued, her tone returning to the usual firm and authoritative, "we'll start warming up. Now get out before I force you out. ".

A mischievous grin spread across Kaga's face, followed by a playful giggle that sent a shiver down Izumo's spine. "And what position will you 'force' me in?" she teased, her words laced with a hint of flirtation.

Izumo's cheeks flushed crimson with embarrassment and frustration, her patience wearing thin. "Out!" she growled,her voice tinged with a mixture of exasperation and indignation as she pointed towards the door, her eyes flashing with a warning that brooked no further defiance.

Kaga winked mischievously, her eyes sparkling withamusement as she waved a playful goodbye and skipped out the door, leaving a trail of laughter in her wake.

Izumo let out a weary sigh as she surveyed the aftermath of the chaos in the room, the faint scent of smoke lingering in the air. With a simple wave of her hand, the fires that had started to burn were extinguished, the room returning to its peaceful state once more. Collapsing back onto her bed, she closed her eyes, seeking a moment of respite from the tumultuous events that had just unfolded.

A deep, resonant voice suddenly boomed through the room,causing Izumo to startle slightly. "Very good," the voiceintoned, its presence filling the space with a sense of weightand authority.

Izumo barely lifted her gaze, her voice tinged withresignation as she muttered, "It's you. What do you want?".

The voice chuckled softly, a hint of amusement in its tone."Just because you have gone back in time, doesn't mean you have gotten rid of me. You have an important responsibility,remember what exactly it is. ".

"I am no fool," Izumo replied, her voice firm and resolute, a steely determination shining in her eyes as she prepared toface the challenges that lay ahead.

'Yet even you have not mastered the moves of reincarnation.'

"I'm blind now, is that not enough?!" She snapped. "I know what I must do," she closed her hand into a fist. "to protect Sakura, to protect my friends and family. That, however is not today. It might be tomorrow, it might be in 1 week or 40 years. But I know what I must do."

'Then don't let emotions get in the way.'

As the voice vanished into the ether, a sense of calm descended upon the room, wrapping Izumo in a cocoon of solitude and contemplation.

Izumo walked over to the window and drew back the heavy curtains, revealing a breathtaking view of the ocean stretching out before her. The waves lapped softly against the shore, their rhythmic melody a soothing balm to her troubled mind. In the distance, beyond the swaying Sakura trees, traditional Japanese houses dotted the landscape, their sloping roofs and wooden structures blending harmoniously with the natural surroundings. She could not see, but could feel the earth, the ocean.

Taking a deep breath, Izumo unclenched her fist, releasing the tension that had gripped her muscles. With a steely resolve in her blind eyes, she turned to face the rising sun, it's golden rays painting the sky in hues of pink and orange.

"I can never lose this battle," she whispered to herself, her voice filled with determination and unwavering resolve. "I will do everything necessary to keep everybody safe. " The weight of her words hung in the air, a solemn vow thatechoed through the room and out into the vast expanse of the world beyond.

"There is something," she said softly "that I can do before the lessons today."