The Bravenheart Dojo (Medic Nin and Genjutsu Training)

[Phantom Muse]

Saotome Satoshi
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mist Shinobi - Jonnin - Genjutsu Specialist - Dragon Summoner - Hyoton Bloodline - Akkimizu Clan

Enigma of the Mist, Hazy eyes of the Ice

=-----------------------------------------------------------=

"I understand that Luna cutting herself on your dreamcatcher would upset you, and your gift breaking, but what you don't see is that Luna would love your gift either way. Its her fault for mistaking your gift for a kunai, but it was her fault for not being more carful. You must calm yourslef, and breathe. In fact make this dreamcather more better than the last, make it show how you really feel. I know i have no room really to say what you should feel and all, but everything is going to be alright. Both Luna and Yun care about you, and don't want you to be sad. You can always give themmore than just a gift, give them your love, trust, commitment, and all the other things a shinobi has for their sensei. I think that a gift shows appreciation, but there are many other things that are better than a gift. Please, i shall wait outside of your room for you to come to, but i would not be suprised if a clone of Luna and Yun come here." He was speaking outside of the door.  

[Koneko Kuromira]

*****Rini Chikongou
*****Genin | Medic in Training

Rini sniffled, sitting still as Saotome's words sank in. She drew a deep but shaky breath as she wiped her eyes off with the back of her hands. He was right, she realized. It was pointless to feel so horrible. She was overreacting. It was not the end of the world. This could be fixed -- it could be salvaged. She ducked her head, shame-faced. The worst part, Rini supposed, was the fact that she had made such a fool of herself -- and how Luna must feel! On her wedding day!

The genin almost choked up again, but she bit her lower lip and squeezed her eyes closed. No. No more tears. From now on, she would stop allowing herself to be so worked up. She was a kunoichi! She could not afford to act like this! Her eyes, when they opened, fell to the black smear on the back of her hand from her make-up. First things first . . .

Rini moved her half-made dream catcher aside and rose to her feet, moving to the bathroom that joined her room to Luna's with renewed purpose. The girl washed her face and changed from the formal clothes -- now surly ruined, but she did not want to think of that anymore -- to her normal attire. Comfortable once more, she returned to her project and tightened her jaw. She could do this. She would do this. For Luna. For Yun. For herself.  

[Mikasa Ackerman Jaegar]

A clone of Luna in an ANBU outfit sat in a large tree near the open window to Rini's room smiling. Luna was not a mind reader, but she had heard the exchange of words between the two ninja, and could see their was new fire and spirit in her gentle genin. She mumbled to herself as she watched the girl "Come on Rini, you can do it, trust yourself."  

[Koneko Kuromira]

*****Rini Chikongou
*****Genin | Medic in Training

The process was tedious to say the least, and by the time Rini finally finished, her eyes felt somewhat strained and her fingers ached slightly. But that did not matter. She had finished. It was a small success, but for some reason, it weighed heavily on the young girl. This was a turning point for her, she realized -- an epiphany of sorts. This ordeal had brought something to light that Rini had failed -- or refused -- to acknowledge, even though it must have been painfully obvious to those around her -- her teachers.

If she remained emotionally weak -- prone to breaking at the slightest of looks, words, or actions that her mind blew out of proportion -- then she would never grow physically strong. If she clung to her childish fears, she would never be the kunoichi that Luna and Yun -- and even Saotome -- believed and insisted she could be. Those were the hard, cold, and undeniable facts. Her teachers -- her friends believed in her. She could not let them down any longer.

After testing the strings to make sure they were secure -- and double-checking the hoop of wood to make sure there was not too much tension so there would not be a repeat of the last disaster -- she dug out a box from her closet and carefully packaged it. She did not want to make the same mistake again. Rini did not have enough paper to wrap the box in, so all she could do was tie ribbon around it and hoped it looked somewhat presentable. That done, she stood, dusted herself off, and stepped out of her room.

Smiling, Rini stood on her toes to wrap her arms around Saotome's neck in a tight hug. "Thank you, Saotome-san," she said, voice heavy with sincerity.  

[Mikasa Ackerman Jaegar]

Luna stood on the branch still smiling, and crossed her arms. "Well, this is where the real training begins. Rini has now realized her own abilites, and will be able to handle a lot more."  

[Phantom Muse]

Saotome Satoshi
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mist Shinobi - Jonnin - Genjutsu Specialist - Dragon Summoner - Hyoton Bloodline - Akkimizu Clan

Enigma of the Mist, Hazy eyes of the Ice

=-----------------------------------------------------------=

Saotome was looking into the night sky to then realize that the door opened behind him. He then was hugged. He didn't expect it so it spooked him. but then he smiled."Thats what friends do Rini. We support each other." He was happy that she had finished the new and better dreamcatcher. he seen that she had packaged it. It added a nice effect of giving a very special gift. He knew that Luna or Yun had to be around, to see Rini's lesson of the day. He could tell that she had somewhat got over her weaknesses and decided to moe on to a better life.  

[Koneko Kuromira]

*****Rini Chikongou
*****Genin | Medic in Training

Rini gave a faint, almost wistful smile as she released Saotomi. "Friends . . ." She hugged the gift to her chest, hesitating a moment before turning toward the doors to the dojo, uncertainty flickering across her face for a brief moment. "We should probably get back." The genin knew she could not change back into the formal clothing. For one, she was not able to do so properly on her own, and two . . . well, to be honest, it was ruined. She would just have to make due with what she had on.

At least it was clean.

((To the Wedding --> wink )

 

[Phantom Muse]

Saotome Satoshi
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mist Shinobi - Jonnin - Genjutsu Specialist - Dragon Summoner - Hyoton Bloodline - Akkimizu Clan

Enigma of the Mist, Hazy eyes of the Ice

=-----------------------------------------------------------=

Saotome then got up, and headed back to the wedding.  

[Koneko Kuromira]

*****Rini Chikongou
*****Genin | Medic in Training

Still clutching the scroll like a life-line, Rini moved quietly through the woods and to the dojo hidden there. Somewhere above her, Aki circled, following her progress with his sharp, attentive gaze. She paused at the edge of the garden, taking in the sight. The last time she had been here, she had come to an epiphany -- decided that she could no longer remain emotionally weak if she wanted to become a kunoichi that her teachers insisted she could be. "What happened?" she mumbled under her breath. "What changed? I was supposed to become stronger, not . . . " Rini sighed and shook her head, starting toward the dojo.

For a few minutes, Rini wandered about the small house, unsure of what to do now. Should she open the scroll? She shook her head. No, not yet. The genin retrieved some reading material from Luna's small library, deciding to look up that herb Neo gave her. She soon found it and frowned at the entry. Yes, it did what he said it would do, but it was addictive. She looked from the book to the herb and sighed before tossing the plant into the waste basket and returning the book to its shelf. So much for that idea. Stretching, she moved to her room and opened the window, whistling for Aki. Much to her pleasure, he swooped down and alighted on the sill, nuzzling his beak into her hair. Rini patted his head and stroked his feathers, taking comfort in his presence. "You believe in me, right? You know I'm not crazy . . . I'm not."

Sighing, Rini shifted on her bed so she leaned back against the window sill with Aki at her left shoulder. She fingered the scroll in her lap. It had been a few hours since Luna's clone gave it to her. Would now be alright? After taking a deep breath, Rini opened and unrolled the scroll before she could chicken out. It would be best to get this over with . . .  

[Mikasa Ackerman Jaegar]

Not even a second later a figure walks out from the shadow of the darkness in the room where the lamplight did not reach. "Good, only a few hours time it took you to open that." She silently walked over and took a seat in the armchair next opposite Rini's making no sound as she sat and leaned foward almost whispering "Rini, I don't think your crazy" she said smiling "If i thought that we'd be in some isolated medic lab somewhere." she laughed hoping that would be reassuring. "Now, why did you summon me?"  

[Koneko Kuromira]

*****Rini Chikongou
*****Genin | Medic in Training


Rini smiled weakly at the clone's gently jest, lifting her left hand to lightly scratch Aki's chest with her index finger. "You said we needed to talk," she answered just as quietly, setting the scroll aside and picking lightly at the embroidery on her bedspread. Now that she had summoned Luna's clone, she was starting to become nervous again. What did she want to talk about? It had been a relief when the clone told her that she did not think Rini was crazy, but still . . . if she told Luna about that voice . . . would she change her mind?  

[Mikasa Ackerman Jaegar]

Koneko Kuromira

*****Rini Chikongou
*****Genin | Medic in Training


Rini smiled weakly at the clone's gently jest, lifting her left hand to lightly scratch Aki's chest with her index finger. "You said we needed to talk," she answered just as quietly, setting the scroll aside and picking lightly at the embroidery on her bedspread. Now that she had summoned Luna's clone, she was starting to become nervous again. What did she want to talk about? It had been a relief when the clone told her that she did not think Rini was crazy, but still . . . if she told Luna about that voice . . . would she change her mind?

Luna tried to remain light and curious, like a fox. "Well I provided you with the option to talk in saying that, but in itself it was a test. If you didn't open that scroll that means there was nothing on your mind, but since you did that means theres something deeper we must look into. Now what is it little one that keeps you awake at night, for you have mentioned this to me once before, what makes your blood boil, makes your rage into the night? Your mind's eye is waiting."  

[Koneko Kuromira]

*****Rini Chikongou
*****Genin | Medic in Training


Rini hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to say -- where to start."Well, I told you about the dream. I just don't know where it came from. It was so real . . ." She trailed off, shivering. "It just stuck with me and I can't get it out of my head. I know everyone's afraid of something. You'd be an idiot to say you're fearless. I don't know it keeps prodding at me, though. It makes me feel so . . . exposed . . . like I'm missing something, almost . . . I can't explain it." She lowered her gaze to her lap, biting her lip.  

[Mikasa Ackerman Jaegar]

Koneko Kuromira

*****Rini Chikongou
*****Genin | Medic in Training


Rini hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to say -- where to start."Well, I told you about the dream. I just don't know where it came from. It was so real . . ." She trailed off, shivering. "It just stuck with me and I can't get it out of my head. I know everyone's afraid of something. You'd be an idiot to say you're fearless. I don't know it keeps prodding at me, though. It makes me feel so . . . exposed . . . like I'm missing something, almost . . . I can't explain it." She lowered her gaze to her lap, biting her lip.

Luna looked at Rini momentarily thinking...the young girl had told Luna more than she had expected. She continued cautiously "You say that it stuck with you and you can't get it out of your head? Does that mean you keep having the same dream, like a memory loop, or is it more than that like a concious being?" Luna wanted to figure out her missing piece, she did enjoy puzzles.  

[Koneko Kuromira]

*****Rini Chikongou
*****Genin | Medic in Training


Rini pressed her lips closed and ducked her head. She had not meant to reveal so much. How could she answer that without lying? She swallowed and licked her lips. "It's -- a little of both," she admitted. "At first it was just like I was hearing an echo of what the shadow-thing said in my dream, but then . . . it started saying other things -- things it had not said in my dream . . ." Rini did not look up, not wanting to meet Luna's gaze -- to see her reaction to the fact that she was hearing some alien voice in her head. Maybe she really was crazy . . . What would Luna do, then?