The trip took Shingi and Rain a week to take. They ported the boat in a small city. Shingi looked around in amazement then said "Wow, it's so beautiful here." He looked at the Cherry blossom trees happily.
"What you've never seen a cherry blossom tree before?" Rain asked. "No actually I haven't" he answered back then continued "So where to now?" as Shingi said this Rain grinned. "To Metal's" she replied as she continued walking while Shingi fallowed.
The two arrived in front of a large building, as Rain opened the door heat seeped through in a sudden burst which didn't seem to bother Rain at all. "Dakou? Where are you? It's Rain" she called as she closed the door behind Shingi. A large man with soot over his face came over to the two of them and said " It's been a while Rain, and who might this be with you?" "This is Shingi he is Shinmaru's only son" Rain replied.
"Ah I see" Dakou said as he almost waddled over to another room then disappeared for a few seconds then came back with a Katana in his hand. "This was made for you Shingi for the very day that you would come here accompanied by Rain" Dakou explained as he passed the Katana to Shingi then continued to talk. "You see that is the Sword of the Four war gods" he finished. "The four war gods?" Shingi asked. "The four war gods are The Azure Dragon of the east, The White Tiger of the west, The Saffron bird of the South and the Black tortoise of the North. Rain's sensei will explain more to you." Dakou told Shingi.
"Do you know anything about the four war gods Rain?" Shingi asked as he and Rain headed to Rain's sensei. "Uh.. I do know some things about them, like they each represent an element." She admitted. "Oh I didn't know that" Shingi answered. "Well you just heard about them from a 700 pound man. Here we are" Rain replied as she stopped. She opened the door then closed it after Shingi entered.
A short man walked over to them he was old and short from ageing. "Ah if it isn't Rain" he said as he adjusted his glasses then he added "And if I'm not seeing double you have some one with you" he finished. "Yes Sensei, this is Shingi he is Lord Shinmaru's son" Rain told the elderly man "We've come to hear about the Four war gods and to Train Shingi" Rain added. "Ah yes which means he must have the Sword now then eh?" the old man asked. "Indeed" Rain answered.
"Well at the moment your Katana is nothing but a sword with a mighty title, the sword must gain the powers awarded to you from the war gods. To do this you must complete the trials of the four war gods." The elderly man told them. "Oh I see, then it'll get their powers?" Shingi asked. " In a sense yes, but I must train you the proper use of a sword, Rain would you be so kind to let me teach him in solitude?" The elderly man asked as Rain nodded then headed out the door.
She came back three hours later to see Shingi with a book with a glass of water filled to the top on his head. "Sensei how is this supposed to help him?" Rain asked. "Balance and determination, so that he doesn't ruin the book with the water while he walks." Her Sensei replied. "Sure it is…" Rain thought to herself "but I'm gonna think of it as making him look like a naïve idiot." "Time to go now head to the White tiger's cave" Rain told Shingi. "Oh okay!" he answered as he took a quick step causing the water to spill on him and the book. "That was my favorite book!" the Sensei yelled.
"Wow who knew he'd get so mad. Geeze it was just a book" Shingi sighed. "Ya one on ancient herbal tea recipes" Rain told him.