Master Elder had brought him to the temple a moon ago, from the filthy streets of a city that was two mountains and half a valley over. He had been loitering alone, as was his wont, waiting for the next victim from whom to filch a wallet, when sandaled feet came into his view. He was prepared to look up lazily with a defiant look in his eyes, like the character he oft adopted when old men noticed him—the usual reaction was a bark of amused laughter, a ruffle on his hair, a coin, and a speech goodbye of "Continue on with your life, my boy." By then he would have been fingering the rich man's wallet and hiding it beneath the folds of his dirty cloak. This time, though, it was an amused chuckle that came even before he could raise his head.

"Don't even think about it. Stand up, come with me."

When he finally raised his head he found out that the owner of the voice was a slight, lean man whose face was covered with a mask of swirls. Only one eye was visible, and it was made of glinting glass. Another man, a pale, longhaired slip of a thing with belligerent eyes was following him, holding what seemed like a satchel and umbrella. They were both staring at him, and in his abruptly numbed state of mind he followed—standing up and fell into step behind the pale man, the three of them in a short, single file.

For eight and ten days they walked, over the two mountains and along the half of the valley, before they reached the temple, where he was given a corner with a cot where he could sleep, and a slab of rock with which he could put his belongings, which only consisted of his dark, tattered cloak, a circular metal necklace of no worth, and the clothes on his back. He was given steady meals three times a day, and was given the task of cleaning the temple, helping Master Elder and Master Apprentice with their tasks, and carrying all of the heavy things—which included Master Elder's satchel. He obeyed, but not without his usual defiant air. He did all of these silently, but he never talked about himself, or his motives, or his past. Master Elder seemed satisfied, though. Master Apprentice was a different thing altogether—the looks he gave were increasing in hatred day by day.

It was just a fortnight later, during the Master Elder's tea before bed that he, ignoring the disapproving look on Master Apprentice's eye, announced, "You are now ready to witness the Awakening of the Oracle."

The next night he did, and aside from the Lady Oracle, he knew that he himself was awakened, too, the goose bumps stirring the skin in his arms and thighs and the back of his neck. And someplace else that evoked too human emotions in him—he never had so much difficulty suppressing himself than at that moment.

Had someone been alive to teach him what that feeling was, he would be able recognize the heady feeling as unadulterated lust.


[tbc]


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a/n: oh, and sasusaku forever and ever, the girl is sakura, it's not karin. karin won't be showing her face here..i think.