Tsume kept half an eye on her familiar, trying to follow the conversation. "Well, that's all right. I make a lousy student."

"She's not kidding," Kuromaru warned Hayate solemnly. "She really does."

Tsume reached out and poked him with her foot, only to get a doggie smile in return. "I'm not that bad."

"Yes, you are."

"Well, there you go," Tsume said, turning with a laugh to Hayate. "On the highest authority--I make an awful student. Maybe you could just show us what I'd be learning, and I can decide from there." Her smile turned a little wry. "I'm not sure my doc'd appreciate me wrenching my chakra around to learn something new, anyway." She wasn't sure she could, even if she wanted to--and swordwork generally meant some sort of energy support. At least, it did when you weighed about what the sword did.