In the Wake of What Follows
Chapter Nine: Curious Creatures
For the next three days, Genkai trained Terra with a fierceness she had lacked in their previous sessions. Terra hadn't wanted to believe it was even possible, but Genkai managed it. She wondered if it was due to her comment about being nice, but didn't voice it. She was too busy watching the severity of Genkai's cough getting worse as each day passed. If it wasn't Terra's commentary, Terra worried the pickup in training was because Genkai was beginning to treat the days as a race against time.
On the fourth day, her coughing fit persisted, but it wasn't until the fifth day that Terra was able to force the old woman to bed. "You're not well," Terra repeated. "You're straining yourself. Training me isn't a matter of priority. With the wedding on top of it, it's been too much excitement for you."
"You're not a doctor." Genkai smacked Terra on the back of her head. "Too much excitement," she grumbled.
"Fine. Then maybe I'll call Kurama to come take a look at you," Terra threatened.
The old woman cursed but settled into bed. "Call Hiei," she said.
Terra didn't need to. As she rose and turned to the door, the dark demon was already there. She wondered again at her sudden inability to pick out his energy. Even as he walked towards Genkai, Terra could feel nothing but the normal prickling sensation she got around demons and the fire of his body heat. She gained no clues from his face, which was as expressionless as ever. Except, his eyes. Maybe Terra was just imagining it, but they seemed to hold a hint of sadness. She couldn't be sure.
"Your human body is giving out on you," he stated simply, not hint of malice in his curt voice.
Genkai barked a brash laugh. "It would seem that way. Unfortunately, despite my protests, I've become old." She locked eyes with Terra. "And you're right. I should be in bed." Genkai didn't sound happy about the idea. For someone as active as the old lady, the thought of bed rest was practically a sin. "For making me, you bring this on yourself." Terra didn't know what Genkai meant until she turned her attention back on Hiei. "I want you to continue her training for me."
Terra visibly stiffened. Genkai was tough, but Hiei was ruthless. She was still sporting bruises from his one day of substitution. Hiei, beside her, sneered at the idea. "I don't see why you care so much about the stupid woman. She's still weak despite her time here." Terra kept her face neutral, ignoring the insults Hiei said as if she hadn't even been present.
"You don't give the girl enough credit," Genkai said with a cough. It rattled in her chest and they both waited for it to settle before continuing the discussion.
"You've never been one to give anybody credit," the demon remarked. He cocked his head to the side like a dog trying to better hear a dog whistle. "It's not something as trivial as you both being female, is it?" He sounded disgusted as if Genkai were dirtying herself for stooping so low.
Genkai, for her part, found what Hiei said hilarious. "Don't be such a dumbass, Hiei. I see her potential. You can't judge her until her training's complete. Six months."
"Hn," Hiei snorted. "It doesn't matter. I won't train the thing."
"I'm not a thing," Terra snapped.
He glared at her with hatred behind his eyes she hadn't seen in quite some time. "You're a human," he spat. "You're nothing."
"Genkai's a human," she started.
Before she could construct her argument, Hiei cut her off. "Human and dying at an age that is less than my own. Your kind is weak by nature. Training to make yourself strong won't be worth my time." He turned to Genkai with a stone face. "I did the one day as a favor, but taking over is out of the question."
Throughout their argument, Genkai remained calm as if all was goin gas she planned. The wrinkles at the corner of her eyes crinkled as she smiled at Hiei with a look containing all the strength she once possessed. She didn't say a word.
Terra could feel an anger towards Hiei gather in her stomach, but she kept it there, not deigning him with another outburst. It's not like she even wanted Hiei to take over, so she shouldn't be fighting him on the matter. Instead, Terra bit her tongue and knelt next to Genkai's futon to pour the woman a cup of tea.
"It's fine," she told Genkai. "I don't want to study under him anyway." Genkai took her teacup but still looked at Hiei as if she had won something. "I'm going to call Kurama," Terra continued. "See if he can come take a look at you. I'm not a doctor, but you are sick. That much is obvious."
As if to prove Terra's point, Genkai had a short coughing fit. Terra had to take the tea away so the old woman didn't spill it all over herself. When Genkai stopped, Terra could hardly believe the triumphant look still hadn't left Genkai's face.
"Why do you look like you've just won a deal with the devil?" Terra asked, trying to figure out what she's missed.
"Because I have."
Terra looked up to Hiei, who still stood at the foot of Genkai's bed. His sneer had grown in size and Terra wasn't imagining the growl of a feral animal coming from his throat. When his eyes snapped to hers, she flinched instinctively.
"What did I miss?" she asked, looking between the two in confusion.
Genkai took her tea back and sipped it with a sly smirk. "Hiei will train you."
Before Terra could ask what changed Hiei's mind, he had left. A chill from his energy shot through her for just a moment as he walked away. Her eyes stayed on the doorway, not understanding any of what just happened.
"What do you have on him?" she wondered out loud.
Genkai shook her head, smugly watching her. "You."
Terra scoffed, looking back out the doorway. "Me? How is that supposed to work?"
"Hey may not seem to care about things," Genkai said, also looking out to the hallway, "but he's a curious creature. He only wants to understand what intrigues him." She set her tea down on the side table. It clacked against the wood like a sounding bell. "You intrigue him. Just as you intrigue me."
Terra pushed for further explanation, but Genkai refused to say more on the matter. After convincing Terra to start up the PlayStation and hand the remote over, Genkai dismissed her.
Terra sat in her room that night, staring out the window and ignoring the itch under her skin that wanted to climb the roof. She didn't want to chance an encounter with Hiei. Genkai's words tumbled through her mind over and over again, but they still didn't make sense.
How was she so interesting?
Her energy hadn't manifested physically, but did that really matter? That was an advanced technique or for people with as much natural psychic energy at Kuwabara. Her struggles seemed common for a psychic apprentice, despite Genkai's complaints. There had to be more to it than that, but what it was Terra could only guess. It was obvious in the way Genkai talked that she wasn't telling her something.
Terra sat up all night. The mystery tugged at the back of her mind like a flashing light in the distance. It kept drawing her attention no matter how much she tried to ignore it. She wanted to visit the roof again. Something about the fresh air always calmed her down enough to sleep once she was ready to come back inside. Without it, Terra never seemed to get comfortable.
Now that it was only the three of them at the temple, Terra had attempted to change rooms, but after the first night of tossing and turning in a hall lined with empty guest rooms, Terra returned to her previous spot. Somehow, knowing that someone was nearby made her feel less alone in the dark, even if it was Hiei. Still, his energy sometimes lashed out at her, and she would escape to the roof to breathe before returning to bed.
Terra was up and dressed before the sun had made its way back through her window. She went to the bathroom and washed her face. The lack of rest was evident in her eyes when she caught herself in the mirror. She splashed some water on her face and blinked. It was enough to keep her awake, but she was unable to stifle the oncoming storm of yawns.
She made breakfast for herself and Genkai and brought it to Genkai's room. Mid meal, Genkai whacked the end of her chopsticks on Terra's wrist the third time she yawned. "Stop that," the old woman snapped. "If you're going to complain about my health then I'm going to start scolding you on your awful sleeping habits. I'm always surprised you're able to stay awake when our sessions are over. Yet you bathe and stay up long and get up early," she grumbled. "Yusuke would just pass the fuck out. I'm obviously not working you hard enough."
Terra shook her head, stifling another yawn. "I'm fine. I haven't slept more than a few hours a night in a long time," she said. Even before the summer, Terra often woke up due to nightmares. They had lessened some with Jeremy's help, but all in all it had been four years since she got a good sleep more than two nights in a row. The reality was, Terra still feared closing her eyes at night. The remembering was sometimes worse than the actual events. The added stress of Hiei being her new instructor didn't help any. Terra felt that Genkai already knew what plagued her. The old woman wasn't a fool, after all.
"Hmph."
They didn't talk as they finished their meals. When Terra set up Genkai's Xbox for the day, Terra made a note to ask Kurama to pick up some games before he came up. They had talked a bit about how bad her cough was before he promised to come up in a few days when he could get off work.
Terra thought back to the summer. It really was serendipitous that Kurama had been there to save her. If only Kuwabara and Yukina had been at the temple, they might not have found her in time, even with Yukina's healing abilities. Kurama had been checking up on Genkai's health for some time, longer than even Terra knew. She worried what his prognosis for the old woman was.
Hiei was waiting for her when Terra entered the dojo. He pushed himself off the wall like a shadow come to life. "Double your weights," he said, not really looking at her.
Genkai had started her on weight training only a week and a half into her stay. Four kilograms had been strapped onto her wrists and ankles. At first, Terra could barely move with the extra thirty-five pounds. She still struggled at times. The idea of a full seventy pounds, thirty-two kilos, pulling her down as she tried to block Hiei's vicious attacks was frightening. Terra tried to not let that show. She went to the closet on the far side of the room and took out the weighted cuffs.
"And the poles," he added.
She hadn't used them since the first time Hiei stepped in for Genkai. Terra took them out and tossed one of them to her demon instructor. He caught it without even looking. With a wary eye on him, Terra made her way from the closet and to the center of the room. She didn't want to be attacked without warning. Despite her caution, he still managed to surprise her.
"Relax your shoulders," he said. The command was stern, yet somehow soft, almost as if he cared. Terra couldn't pin it down.
She stood frozen in the center of the room and put her attention back on herself. It was clear she had become tense in his presence. When she wasn't able to loosen up, he gave an irritated tsk and stalked nearer. This only made Terra tense up more. Her heart sped, and muscles tightened.
"You'll only hurt yourself like that," he said, stopping only a yard away. The pole in his hands rested against his shoulder lazily. "If someone were to attack you now, it would tear your muscle fibers and cause you to use too much energy. Relax." Hiei's eyes snapped up to meet hers.
It was a challenge. Tension sparked between them. She couldn't understand his angle, his apparent "curiosity" in her, but it was obvious how little Hiei still thought of her. A stupid child playing at being a martial artist. She wasn't like Yusuke or Kuwabara. She hadn't been some street punk, picking fights and living for the thrill of it. Terra knew she didn't fit into this world. All she wanted was to no longer be afraid to live. The only accomplishment she had really made so far was admitting that to herself. Still, Terra remembered the clench of her hand around a kitchen knife, ready to do whatever it took to defend herself. Survive. That's what Terra wanted to do. If that meant becoming a fighter, she would.
Under his nerving gaze, she let her muscles smooth down her back. She let her shoulders drop and chest open. It was hard to ignore her body's natural desire to brace itself against the barrage of attacks expected from the demon before her.
"Hold out your pole."
She did. Hiei tied a strip of red cloth at the end of it and signaled for her to pull it back to herself.
"These are for practice, like wooden swords. The end with the tie is where the blade would be of a naginata. It's a favored weapon by women of this area. And you're slow, so something you can use to keep opponents at a distance will be an advantage." He spoke quickly and precisely. A general detailing out a battle plan. "Everyone should know how to use a weapon. If you master one, you can use that knowledge to better understand how all other weapons work. This will help you defend yourself when needed." He studied her face for a moment before his lips tweaked into a frown. "You're confused." It wasn't a question, but rather a statement of disbelief. Terra could pick that much up from his tone of voice.
"Not at what you're saying," she replied hesitantly.
"Then what?"
She thought about ignoring the question and just telling hi to get on with it, but if Hiei was willing to listen, she supposed she should take advantage. "Well," she prompted, "compare this to last time."
Hiei's expression didn't change, although a shadow of an eye roll threatened his features. Everything about his look screamed he couldn't stand her stupidity and inferiority. "Last time I was for assessing your strength and ability for myself," he said brusquely.
"And?"
"And what?"
"What did you asses?" she asked in earnest.
"Hn." Hiei crossed his arms, the pole resting between his shoulder and elbow, and stared her down. "You may be gaining in strength, but when put to practice you would be killed. You have no instincts for combat."
Terra merely nodded. She'd never been in a real fight before, so it didn't surprise her to hear she didn't have much instinct for it even in practice. Hiei narrowed his eyes at her, as if he couldn't grasp why someone wouldn't defend themselves when called weak.
"Genkai has been training you to gain strength and stamina. She's also informed me of your dabbling in martial arts." A sound like a humorous laugh passed his lips. "While you absorb stances and movements quickly, without a sparring partner, your work in that area is as proficient as one of your little dances," he sneered.
Terra tried to maintain her blush and stay relaxed. It was one thing for Kuwabara to have caught her dancing in the morning, but she hated that Hiei had seen it. Dancing wasn't something sacred, but the time Hiei had seen her, Terra had been vulnerable. She had danced for the first time in years, remembering the movements as the music pulled her across the floor. It had been emotional, and he had intruded on it. She didn't like that she was being judged by him for it, either. Fighting was different. It was a specialty of hers, not his. Meanwhile, dancing was one of the few things she was good at. To compare the two seemed wrong, somehow.
Terra spun the pole in her hands like a color guard flag a few times in an attempt to distract herself. When she looked back at Hiei, he seemed to be waiting for a reaction she would not give. "So, how do you use this thing?" she asked.
With his own pole, Hiei slammed hers level. She nearly toppled over in the process. With what could only be described as a gentle aggression, Hiei adjusted her stance with a pole. "Ground yourself," he snarled when his actions almost knocked her over again. Terra shifted her center of gravity, putting her weight more on her heels. When Hiei was finally satisfied with her beginning stance, he stood in front of her ad told her to hold the pose.
Genkaia had done that a lot. Terra had sometimes spent a whole hour maintaining one form. Balance, strength, control, and patience. After some time, Hiei took his pole and took the stance.
"Follow my movements," he commanded.
He moved painstakingly slow. It was like a frame by frame and Terra's limbs could hardly handle the weight he had put on them. Still, she refused to falter, even as her muscles began to shake. In near unison, they moved with such intensity it deafened out the silence between them.
They went on that way through to the afternoon, taking the strike combo over and over with only the slightest increase in speed. Rarely would Hiei speak up. When he did, it was to yell at her: adjust her grip, bend her knee more, relax her shoulders, or some other aliment in her stance.
Genkai joined them at some point, presumably showing up when Terra had missed lunch. It took a moment before Terra noticed her. In the few seconds she was distracted, Hiei darted to a mere step away. He held the edge of his pole just under her chin. Even without a blade, it was dangerous in his hands. Terra gulped. His speed was terrifying.
"You cannot afford to lose focus. Ever," he snapped.
Terra carefully moved her head out of the way of his wooden weapon before nodding. At a normal pace, Hiei moved back to where he had been instructing her and carried on. Terra followed, movements precise. Even with her careful refocusing on the task at hand, her mind was fogged with how Hiei could move faster than her eye could see.
When he finally dismissed her, Terra felt as if she could feel every single muscle in her body – all of them protesting to their brutal treatment. This was worse than anything Genkai had ever done ton her. When she dropped the weights, Terra's body felt so light it could just float away. The idea of picking them back up again to put them away was too much. But Hiei wasn't going to clean up after her and Genkai wasn't going to pay her any favors.
She pushed off dinner until she could soak in an ice bath. It was fucking winter and Terra was voluntarily putting her body into a tub full of ice so that her muscles didn't twitch right off her body. By the time she made it to the kitchen, her stomach was all but eating herself. Genkai waited until Terra had finished most of her meal before talking.
"Hiei's a very impatient person," she told Terra, hedging into the conversation with a wicked triumph gleaming in her eyes. "I was surprised with how he handled you today."
"You're not the only one," Terra scoffed. "He apparently is intent on actually teaching me instead of just pounding the shit out of me like last time."
Terra caught Genkai's smirk as the old woman lifted her tea to her lips. She was like the cat who caught the canary. Whatever Genkai was so smug about, Terra assumed it had more to do with the demon than her. Even still, it was starting to get on Terra's nerves.
"What?"
Genkai drank her tea, taking her time before answering. "Curiosity and impatience leads to anger and frustration. Not all curiosity can be satisfied so quickly."
"Is that a remark on me, or Hiei?" Terra asked with a sarcastic roll of her eyes. Hiei was apparently curious about her, that's what Genkai kept saying, and to absolve his curiosity he needed to take his time to learn. But Terra was now also bugging Genkai for answers. She didn't appreciate Genkai getting so cryptic all of a sudden. The old lady had a plan, and they had both clearly fallen into her hand.
"Do you like the weapon?" Genkai asked.
Terra shrugged, annoyed at the change in subject. There was no reason to push it, though. "I guess what Hiei said makes sense. If I can master one, then I'll be able to understand more of combat in general. Can use that to help defend myself."
Genkai nodded in agreement. "You're quite reasonable," she said contemplatively.
Reasonable didn't sound right. It wasn't that Terra was reasonable. What was so reasonable about giving up on life in the city to live in a temple with strangers? What was reasonable about giving up on grad school and her career in psychology for not leaving her room in six months? Where was the reason in ignoring all the signs she needed help? Terra was a logical person controlled by her emotions. Inner turmoil was a constant state as she tried to ration out her feelings. Her feelings drove her. Logic gave her a road which she insisted on following, despite the pitfalls in reason.
Right now, it made sense. The road was learning the weapon, an extension of her martial arts training – an extension of herself. Terra wanted to be stronger in every way possible. She had become so much stronger in just over a month. It made sense to keep going, so that she could maybe one day live up to what she was comparing herself with.
The night she, Jeremy, and Conner were attacked sprang forward in her memory. Conner and Jeremy were pretty strong in their own right. Conner played rugby in high school and both of them surfed. If any of them had a weapon, would the night have gone any different? Would Terra need to be stronger than human in order to save her friends from those demons? Stronger than human in order to save herself instead of just . . . rescued like some damsel in distress.
Or would none of it make a difference.
"You looked troubled," Genkai remarked.
"I'm always troubled," Terra replied.
"Come on," Genkai said, motioning Terra to hurry up with her chopsticks. "You should get to bed early. Start catching up on all hours you've stayed awake for no reason."
"You know, Hiei gives you a run for your money. I might actually pass out tonight," she laughed.
"You're not paying me," Genkai snorted. "What do I care?"
"Your old lady pride," Terra teased. "Ousted by a demon brat."
"If I punch you in the face, that'll know you out," Genkai said. "Then I'll be the reason you sleep a whole night."
Terra held her hands up in mock defense. "Sorry, Granny. You're right, you're the best."
