"Remember, discipline and patience, do it again."
Akali readied her stance for another attempt, her master's eye detailing her every move. Mastering the kama and kunai was a painfully slow process.
The training hall Akali and her master occupied was simple yet effective. From the inside, all that was visible to the untrained eye was a large wooden room with four large support trunks lining the corners of the room. The trunks were nearly three feet across and rose up nearly 30 feet to the arched ceiling. Various mats were spread across the floor of the training room, as well as simple straw training dummies.
With kama and kunai ready, Akali began to slowly bend her knees, transitioning her body into a position of control and athleticism. She struck first with her kama, her sickle-like weapon rustling the strawman's sternum. In what seemed like less than a fraction of a second, she followed up with the kunai, piercing the dagger square between the dummy's eyes. She straightened her legs and looked up at her master, waiting for the feedback she knew was coming.
"You're slow." Her master's words aggravated her to the point of visible displeasure.
"Are you serious Shen? That is as fast as anyone in this monastery could perform that move. Probably faster than you could do it too." She let out a slight "hmph" as she crossed her arms and angrily stared at her master.
"Come with me." Shen spun on his heel 180 degrees and made his way toward the large square opening in the room's wall.
Every training room was designed with an open concept and spectating other training sessions was commonplace at the monastery. Privacy was not exactly a right afforded to those who trained with the Kinkou.
Akali began to follow after Shen, her mind running through the possible punishments she may have earned herself following her outburst. Shen wasn't a cruel master, but discipline was common in the form of extra training. After exiting the training room, they swiftly walked through the cafeteria making a straight-line path for the outdoor training area that was directly adjacent to the dining hall. The dining hall was quite large, and never at full capacity from what Akali remembered. Must have been designed when the Kinkou were many, Akali thought to herself.
Shen led her through the cafeteria and down the steps leading to an outdoor training area. There were at least 15 to 20 Kinkou training out in the fields. Some trained in stamina, others in strength, and some in weapon mastery. Akali's mind was certain some form of extra training awaited her within the next few minutes. They made their way across the flat, grassy plain that was no more than 100 square yards. Beyond the well-kept grass of the field was a steep downward sloping hill littered with trees and large boulders. There was a small stream at its base.
As Shen reached the border of the field and the slope, he continued on down the hill, nimbly weaving between tree and rock. Akali followed his steps, avoiding all the natural barriers. After a minute or two, the slope began to level off as it morphed into the bank of a river. Small patches of sand flanked the crystal-clear stream. Beyond the furthest bank was a clearing occupied by a large flat boulder. A large Ionian tree shaded portions of the rock.
It was spring and nature looked as vibrant and whimsical as ever. Akali paused when she reached the sandy riverbank to take in the forest around her. She had never been extremely interested in nature, but she could not deny it's beauty, especially at the current time of year.
"Join me on top of the boulder." Shen issued his request as he leaped over the small stream with ease. Moving with fluidity and control he scaled the three-foot-high boulder in the blink of an eye and proceeded to sit with legs crossed, waiting for Akali to join him.
Akali leaped over the seven feet that covered the distance between the banks and scrambled to the top of the boulder. She followed the actions of her master and sat legs crossed, evermore confused at the meaning of their forest escapade. They sat in silence at the center of the stone slab. The sun beat down on the fraction of rock Akali and Shen occupied. They sat in silence for a short time. Akali observed Shen, who was sat directly across from her. He seemed completely focused yet distant at the same time. Finally, he broke the silence.
"Why are you here?" Shen's eyes locked with Akali's. His distant state evaporated and was replaced by complete focus on Akali. Her stomach fluttered for a brief moment. Something about his intense stare always made her feel strange. She didn't see it as 'bad strange' but more of a 'good strange'.
"Well, because you told me to meet you on this boulder." She said sarcastically, knowing that wasn't the answer Shen was looking for.
"The Monastery, Akali. Why are you here?"
Jeez, that's a pretty loaded question, Akali thought to herself.
"I want you to answer for yourself. Why are you here?" Shen emphasized Akali's individuality.
Akali began to think, running through the possible answers that floated around in her mind. She answered with what came to her first.
"I'm here to train and fulfill my duty as the Fist of Shadow."
"Good. I wish for you to understand something Akali." The feeling of compassion in his voice actually startled Akali, as emotion wasn't something Shen expressed very often. "My role as Grandmaster of the Monastery requires that I train you. I wish for you to know that the roles of master and apprentice are not present because of any disparity in skill or potential. It would not surprise me if you became twice the ninja I ever was. More than anything else, I want you to succeed."
This sudden heart to heart almost brought Akali to tears. Ever since the passing of her mother, validation was something she could only rely on herself for. She thought back to her outburst earlier that morning and the feelings she harbored. The feelings that her master saw her as inadequate. Shen's validation was something she had always wanted but never truly expected getting. Knowing someone who had helped her grow and develop approved of her warmed Akali's soul. She couldn't help but break into a smile.
"I'm aware my training and disciplinary measures may come off as harsh, but you need to understand I do this not for myself, but for you as well Akali. I called you slow earlier because I know you can be faster. It would bring dishonor to me and would be unjust to you if I did not do everything in my power to ensure you reach your maximum potential. I care about you, Akali. You and your future." Shen finished speaking and was greeted by silence and a clearly jubilant apprentice.
They had been training with one-another for nearly four years now. This was the first time Akali had ever heard Shen speak in such a way. She thought back to when they initially began training. She was barely 15 and Shen was 18. She had looked up to him since she was young, and now that they were both adults his recognition of her talent was even sweeter.
Akali couldn't control the smile that played across her lips. The warmth in her heart was something she hadn't felt since she was much younger. Her glee manifested itself into a physical form when, despite better judgment, she leaped across the stone to embrace her stoic master.
Shen reeled as the projectile that was Akali's body struck his own. Upon contact, Akali couldn't help but squeeze. She didn't think, she just did what felt right. Her arms crossed behind Shen's neck and her legs wrapped themselves around his lower back. Her embrace was so tight she levitated above the lower half of Shen's body, clinging to his top-half like a koala to a tree. Akali was so filled with emotion that Shen's actions, or lack thereof, didn't concern her in the slightest. He hasn't thrown me off or punched me, I think this is fine she remarked to herself.
Shen took his right hand and awkwardly patted her on the back twice. Akali felt the pats, which to her felt more like rigid, open hands lightly slapping her shoulder blade. Her head had been locked to the left of Shen's head, their ears perpendicular, and after feeling the pats she returned her head to center, catching Shen's masked face directly. What she saw was extraordinarily… neutral. She thought her random display of affection would have at least evoked something out of Shen, but from what she could see he maintained stoic. She couldn't tell if she was disappointed, but she expected some kind of response, positive or negative.
They sat there with eyes locked for what seemed like hours but was no more than a few seconds.
Akali began to return to her senses and her emotions began to wither away when confronted by Shen's emotionless eyes and mask. Her glee was soon replaced by overwhelming embarrassment. Realizing she was still clinging to Shen's dark blue robe, she quickly detached from him and returned to standing. Her cheeks flushed red and the awkward nature of her actions were coming back to bite her in the ass. In a state of panic, and not wanting to face the recipient of her hug, she turned and leaped off the rock. She bounded over the stream, kicking up sand in her wake, and disappeared from Shen's view with the haste of a well-trained ninja.
Akali did not sleep that night. Her emotions ranged from petrified to content.
Shen cares about me and my future.
This knowledge filled her with a sense of accomplishment and pride. The flipside to the coin was the fear of possibly irreparable damage to her relationship with the Eye of Twilight. She dreaded having to face him the next morning at their training session. What is he going to say? What should I say? Should I just pretend like it never happened? Possible courses of action rifled off through her mind. She wondered and debated with herself until exhaustion overcame her and sleep put her mind to rest.
The next week was uneventful. Shen didn't mention the incident and Akali had no interest in reminding him of the encounter. As time and training continued on, the awkward energy around the whole event dissipated and their relationship returned to its state of emotionless normalcy. As all awkward memories tend to, the day on the rock never truly escaped Akali. It never escaped Shen either.