So... I'm kind of late. Christmas and family visiting and whatnot, I've had a lot less free time than usual and this kind of slipped my mind. Sorry?
016 - Chakra Control for Dummies (and being in the wrong side of prodigiousness for once)
Compared with the near miss in Honebue, the rest of the month we spend with Grandfather is pretty unremarkable. We're worked to the bone, Grandfather gives us offhand advice on how to deal with different sorts of merchants, Karin sings, our cots mysteriously end up closer every night, we go places, we do things, we meet people. The works.
Also had the stupid verbally beaten out of me. I don't know what I was thinking all those years ago when I decided that investing in a double-crossing little shit like Gato was a good idea, but Grandfather took great pleasure in disabusing me of the notion. I still have no money to invest and my investment projects are already ruined.
Maybe I could take my money to Snow? Nah, same problem, Doto will just take it and forget I exist. And them I'm not actually sure will recover from the recession anytime soon. That whole 'Let's change the country's climate with big-ass heaters' plan doesn't sound all that bright to me.
Meh, I'll think about it once I have money to actually invest.
By the time Grandfather returns us to Kusa, we're tanned by the harsh climate of Wind Country, full of experiences and knowledge we most likely won't ever use again and about done with the world in general and slave-driver relatives in particular. Unfortunately, that's kind of a permanent state of being for me, returning to Mother doesn't really change anything.
Speaking of Mother, she's there with Uzumama to pick us up when we return, and she's positively glowing. She must've used the chance to cut loose and do something special. Probably slaughtered a whole civilization into extinction or something like that.
Huh, Uzumama also looks better than usual. That's good, that's good... She's obviously enjoyed her own vacation time. I swear sometimes it's like that woman doesn't know how to take a break.
"Ran." Mother greets,
"Mother." I answer.
Then we remain silent for a while, staring at each other and vaguely aware of the way Karin tackle-hugs her own mom.
"Did you have fun?" She finally asks. There's a certain quality in her voice that hints at a hidden 'Are you feeling alright? A month with Father can't be good for anyone's sanity', but I might be imagining things.
"Can't say I didn't." Is my, technically true, answer, lilting my voice just so. 'For the love of god save me from the slave-driver. I'm about ready to sleep for a week!'
"Good." I internally slump in relief, Mother understands. "Now that you're rested we can start with your chakra training."
!
… There's obviously been some miscommunication there.
Chakra training is different from anything I've ever experienced. I mean, sure, my old life didn't have the stuff so duh, but it's more than that. We're taught chakra is used subconsciously, even without training, every time we push our bodies.
Training sticks better and achieves more, willpower directly turns into physical power... that sort of thing. It's how we can casually perform supernatural feats of skill and strength before reaching a two-digits age.
As opposed to the subconscious use of chakra I've employed so far, actively controlling it takes visualization and focus. Which doesn't only mean it feels weird as shit while it's happening, but also that it'll mess with my coordination and challenge my capability for multitasking until I get used to it.
Also, Obaa-san took a look at what I was doing and promptly declared I wasn't to put a finger near functioning seals until I had conscious control down to pat. So I'm confined to non-reactive ink and paper during my practice seals now, even while supervised.
I swear that woman is far too skittish about the art. I have never blown anything up! She seems to believe explosions aren't just inevitable, but the longer I go proving her wrong, the bigger the explosion she seems to expect. I have half a mind to prove her right, between you and me, the lack of explosions kind of detracts from all the fuuinjutsu mystique, you know?
... Getting off topic. Case is I spent the rest of my vacation trying to visualize and manipulate esoteric flows of metaphysical power through my body while dodging projectiles sent flying my way at the worst possible times. Mother's only concession to my need to split focus was to save the sharpened projectiles 'for later'. As if metal balls didn't hurt like a bitch by themselves.
It took me until we restarted at the Academy to get my perception to the point where I could begin trying to actually manipulate anything. Meanwhile, Karin took a couple of hours to get the same results. I don't think she realized she was doing something she wasn't supposed to, but if that wasn't the [Mind's Eye of the Kagura] at play I'll eat my non-existing hat.
And she didn't have to dodge the Bullet Hell of Motherly Expectations™ at the same time.
No, I'm not bitter.
Control itself, once you're done with the introspection phase, is the fine art of leveraging your willpower against the natural flow of said preternatural energies so their behaviour will be altered to fit your purposes. In other words, you have to out-stubborn your own life-force.
If my stupid Shimada blood has given something, that's sutubbornness.
Sit thigh and wait Karin, all debts will be repaid!
...Still not bitter.
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