Dear Ikko, Day 51
Last night I stayed with an elderly man who looked as though he needed some company. I sat down with him on his porch and he quietly poured me some tea. Once he had finished, he looked up at me and caught my gaze directly. It was then that I saw it. That same strange, almost canine likeness about him that I had seen in Rina.
Later that night, after a delicious raw steak dinner, I knew there was something very strange going on. So I asked him about it. Well, first he interrupted me and told me his name—Rinji, and I responded with my own. Then, he told me that there was an ancient secret only known to him and the people like him.
Rinji said that he was part of a forgotten race of people called the Blood Guardians. They were the ninja protectors of the blood-predators, meat eating mammals that circled the globe. He then pulled a pendant out of his shirt that looked exactly like the one I had, except his was much older. I pulled Rina's out and compared it to his. He said that the pendant identified a Blood Guardian and his of her rank which was known by the metallic element that makes up the moon and star in the middle—bronze is at the bottom, then copper, silver and gold. The higher the rank, the closer the Guardian is to physically becoming a predator. This is the ultimate goal of a Blood Guardian.
Then I asked why Rina had given her pendant to me—her identification, her future. Rinji explained that once a Blood Guardian is joined with a human in holy matrimony, the Guardian must give up his or her position as Guardian and must serve under his or her partner.
I felt sad that someone with such a beautiful soul such as Rina had to give up that great gift that she loved so much. But, after I thought about it, I remembered Koroku standing behind her in the kitchen; when they had shared that kiss. Maybe she gave up Guardianship for something, or someone, she loved even more. That kind of dedication is inspiring.
Then, Rinji taught me something very important. It was a jutsu of his own invention that he had used frequently on Guardian missions. He called it the Silver Claw Jutsu. It took me a while to learn it accurately, and I have the split fingernails to prove it. But, eventually, I got it. I hope. I think it could come to good use in the future.
After we had finished talking and training we slept. I left in the morning, thanking him and telling him I would stop by to visit on my trip back to Koroku and Rina's house.
-Ippiki Ookami