"This one I found close by the water. I'm assuming they populate there", Gurin said as she held up a blue and green spotted fruit. Like most fruits it was way bigger than her hand. She was showing Kumadori all the best spots to obtain edible fruits.
"Oh, it looks like a flower! How does it taste", Kumadori asked? His one opened eye examined the fruit closely. It really did look like a sort of flower, albeit the shape of a pear. It gave off a very sweet smell that any regular human could probably pickup right off the back. "But how does it taste?"
"Like a cloud of heaven. Possibly due to the atmosphere. It would be easier to experience it yourself though. Just remember too...", she started to say, but Kumadori went on ahead with the taste test. Without even a second thought, kumadori bit into the fruit. His facial expression was conflicted at first. He didn't know if he liked it or not with a mixed flavor., but after chewing for so long, he got a very dissatisfying taste.
"Oh my...its...well...".
"Bad? Yeah, I bet it is", Gurin said as he grabbed the fruit. That's probably because you ate the peel, before I could explain to you how it's supposed to be eaten." The hole in the fruit leaked a red juice, where Kumadori had bitten it. "The only good stuff is UNDER the green and Blue outer portion. She used her thumbs to get a good grip on the fruit, and ripped it open. "See? You eat the insides." Gurin. Scooped some of it out of one half and ate it. Then she handed the other half to Kumadori.
"Oh! That may be better then?" With a smaller bite this time, he bit into the red inside portion. "Oh my! Its so much better! Its sweet, and reminds me of my mothers' fruit bowls dishes." He grabbed several other fruits and plucked them with his hair.
"Right, right just be careful and don't overdo it. The special thing about these fruits is that they fill you up really quickly." Kumadori was too busy stuffing his face to listen however. "Kumadori? You should really...eh...slow...I guess it's too late huh?"
"What a marvelous taste! Who would have thought there were so many good fruits on this island?" There he stood, looking very portly! Though the fruit was quick filling, it didn't cause him to gain weight.
"Hahaha! You did that on purpose to get a laugh out of me didn't you?"
"Hmhm? Not easy to fool you", kumadori restored his body back to the way it was. "Anyways, it's time for your next lesson."
"I take it it will be the body control?"
"Indeed! You must begin with meditation! For only complete concentration will allow you to channel such an ability." Kumadori wanted to teach Gurin some of the techniques he knew... though he wasn't really supposed to. Even now what he wasn't even part of cipher pole anymore, they were still ultimately forbidden techniques for, civilians. He would bend the rules a bit though, since he thought the techniques would help her greatly against people who hunted devil fruit users...plus he found it hard to tell her no.
"Meditation huh? That sounds relaxing. Ok, care to lead the way", Gurin asked?
"To begin, you must ease our mind, and clear it of all distraction. COMPLETELY clear of any possible sound", Kumadori said as he sat down and crossed his legs.
"ALL sounds? That sounds pretty impossible", Gurin said as she too sat down and crossed her legs. "But if it can teach me to move my hair like that, I'll certainly give it a try."
"Even the least advanced stage of this training is very sensitive to the senses. Once you master blocking out all sounds, you will be ready to commence with the next stage. I must warn you; it will be very hard."
"It cant be any harder than keeping that knife away from your stomach", Gurin said. She recalled how much she had to stop the ever so dramatic Kumadori from committing Seppuku. One of the things that made her happy is that it became less and less often... She closed her eyes and concentrated... but it really wasn't easy to drown out all sounds. She managed to drown out some of them, but as Kumadori assured, it would require more work.
Truth be told Kumadori liked having someone to teach. With all his other colleagues already knowing most of these techniques, there was never anything to teach them. Jabra and Kalifa didn't mind the idea of COMPLETE body control, but Jabra's attention span, and Kailifa's need to do anything else other than meditating usually kept the two from being taught anything. "Can you still hear me", he asked.
"Yes. Does that mean its not going well?"
"No. Its natural that you can hear my voice. Being able to focus on certain sounds is also a step in progress."
"Oh that's good. This is very relaxing you know. This will even help me in my dragoness form."
"Wait a moment... what is that", Kumadori asked. Whenever he meditated, it was like he went into a whole other world. This world would always have a calming lull about it...but right now, there was a "bad taste" about it. He's only ever felt like this once, and when it happened, someone was interfering with his meditation. Not physically...but mentally. A better way to describe it...would be that he was picking up another signal. It couldn't have been Gurin. While she was indeed making progress, she was not in touch enough to intercept his "signal".
"Is something wrong, Kumadori?"
"Yes Kumadori. IS something wrong", a voice said. It was that of a woman's but it wasn't Gurin's voice. "Lots of room in this signal...you never know when someone could be spying."
"Who are you and how did you get into my mind", Kumadori thought.
"Years and years of training. Way more than you, that's for sure. The fact you finally noticed me means that you must have gotten stronger. I mean I've been poking around in your mind during meditation for months now." An image appeared to Kumadori...but it wasn' tat of a normal one. Whoever this woman was, she was wearing a white mask. She looked like a doll with eyes holes for eyes that were empty, and hair twisted into a bun. He could almost see a small glimpse of a yukata.
"How dare you intrude on such a personal level! I'll ask you once more! Who are you?" His thoughts were angrier the more he tried to figure out. Considering the only person, he's ever trained to do this level of meditating was Gurin, the only other person who could possibly be skilled enough to intercept him would be someone in cipher pole...but not just a regular cipher pole!
"Well, you finally picking up what I'm putting down?"
"Kumadori something's off! I feel weird all of a sudden is this natural", she asked. Perhaps she too picked up on the signal. She may have felt what Kumadori was feeling.
"While there's no purpose in me hiding anymore, I'm still forbidden to tell you who I am."
"Why must you do this!? You are a fellow cipher pole! You shouldn't be hunting us; you should be HELPING us!"
"A bit too late to be playing victim don't you think? You know as well as I do that you sealed your fate the moment you avoided being arrested. Same goes for your friends", her voice was firm but calm. "I'm only doing what I was told to do. Either way... what will you do? Will you confront your fate with dignity? Or will you take your own life first" she asked. There was a mocking tone in her voice.
"Hmph! I will not run away! No matter how much of a threat you impose!" Kumadori spoke with bravery, but truth be told, that threat was affecting him more than he thought. Even this whole other world was becoming distorted.
The imposing figure chuckled. Hehehehe. This place is becoming awfully blurry. Seems like your losing your focus. Whatever you decide, you'd better do it quickly... we're coming for you. Tick Tock Kumadori. Tick tock", she said menacingly.
Right then and there, his meditation ceased. "I will not run anymore", he shouted as he stood up!
"What!? Run from what", Gurin also shouted in surprise.
"N-nothing. My apologies. I didn't mean to disturb you."
"Kumadori...there's something going on isn't there? You've been distracted recently, and you just flipped out. I mean it's not exactly new, but I can tell this isn't like the norm."
"I am very sorry my friend...but I must leave you. Use my teachings to protect yourself", Kumadori said as he bowed.
"Wait wait, why does this sound like a goodbye", Gurin asked.
"I am very sad that it has to end this way, but I'm afraid we must part ways. I have a very important enemy to engage!"
"Enemy? Kumadori wait! Please tell me what's wrong. Don't you trust me?"
"I do trust you. Very much so...but..."
"But what", Gurin asked. "Kumadori San?"
This could be the last opportunity I have to tell you this. There are some things I must tell you about my friends and I", he said as he kneeled. He towered over her by a decent margin. I will tell you something that is supposed to be kept secret. Something Veeeery important."
"I'm listening..."
Trying to process the events of Kumadori's recent adventure was harder than Gurin thought it would be. She understood it all sure, but it was a lot to take in. "So you were an assassin...and all this stuff happened, and now people are after you? What a life", she said in sadness.
"Still not as heartbreaking as yours my dear friend." That's something they shared in common. They were both hunted at some point...and technically are still being hunted. While Gurin's hunters were of a wider variety, Kumadori's seemed to be a little more dangerous. At least from what he's been told.
"You said you won't run from a fight. You plan on fighting this 'silencer' woman? Even though she could be stronger than you?" Don't be stupid", she shouted.
"W-what?" What do you mean?"
"I'm sorry! I didn't mean it like that. I meant... why would you fight someone you know you can't beat? Especially if they want to kill you!?"
"Because running away would be even more shameful than death. A true man...would stand against any threat. And besides, if there's even the slightest chance I could win..."
"Then I'll come with you!"
"No! I cannot allow you to fight such a dangerous enemy! That would be an even greater shame!" It was clear to see that he was still nervous about this. "Gurin... you must let me do this. It might be hard to accept, but the possibility of death is exactly as such. I'm not just doing this for me...I'm doing this for my friends, and that includes you Gurin", Kumadori said. He looked as if he was starting to tear up.
Gurin didn't believe Kumadori COULDN'T beat the threat. He was clearly strong. In the pecking order of agents, he was the fifth strongest out of seven. He even showed a slight sense of confidence. Truth be told it was inspiring. "Promise me something at least. If you can't win, you just say the word and I'll fly you to safety." She had sincerity in her eyes. Kumadori nodded...but he wouldn't burden her with such a request. Though Gurin also knew he wouldn't. If the situation calls for it, she would step in to help him in any way she could. To her, Kumadori was like a soulmate. Kumadori perhaps felt the same about her. He was the most emotional of the group of course. "So, what are you going to do? You won't know when they're going to strike, do you?"
"I'm afraid not. For now all I can do is prepare. But like a lone rose, fighting against the hands of hell, I will not allow myself to be picked", Kumadori said as he sat back down.
Gurin sat down next to the tall man. "How can something so morbid sound so beautiful", Gurin asked. It was impressive. He did indeed have a way with words, even if they were drawn out. She commenced meditating as well. During his meditation, he kept seeing images of his friends. Lucci, Kaku, Jabra, Blueno, Fukurou, Kalifa, and Gurin...he had to stay alive for them!