Don't Look Back – Chapter 26
Bonding In More Ways Than One
((Rin's POV))
I really wanted to get some staff practice in… but I just couldn't find out the best way to do it. So, one night, I grabbed it and snuck down to the practice rooms in the basement. I slipped into one, thinking no one was there, but Kentoku must have had the same idea.
He had a staff in his hands and was practicing some forms like he always did. But something was different about this occasion. His eyes were closed, and he wasn't practicing steps. He was dancing. His silver hair was flying out behind him, catching in the light of the lamps, making it glow.
I took my own hair out of its low ponytail and gripped my staff tighter. I walked up to him, and tired something. I was curious to see how in tune he was with his surroundings. Timing it right, I swung.
To my shock, he blocked it like he was waiting for it. He attacked me, and I barely blocked it. We danced across the floor until he knocked me on my feet. Point proven: he was good.
"If I knock you down, you tell me one thing about yourself that I don't know." He said softly, not even opening his eyes.
I stood up and nodded, "All right."
"Close your eyes… wait for it to begin."
"You know, I'm not as good as you."
"Nonsense. Of course you are. You just think that you cant'. Try it."
I sighed, knowing that nothing good was going to come out of this. But I closed my eyes anyway, and blocked his attack that he sent me. I was stunned. I actually did it! My confidence grew, and I soon found myself sitting on the ground again.
"You became to confident." He told me softly. "Now, one thing about you."
I stood up and thought for a few seconds. "I'm the oldest out of six children."
"Six? Are they all alive?"
"Knock me down again and I'll tell you." I said smugly, lashing out with my staff. After a few blows, I heard his body hit the ground. "And you thought that you would only be learning stuff about me tonight."
"I'll admit that's what I was thinking. Obviously not." He said with a chuckled, getting up. "Let's see… anything in particular you want to know about?"
"Lavanya?" I asked without thinking.
"I guess I can do that," he said, and my eyes flew open. He was kidding right. His were open too, and they were twinkling in the little light of the room. "Lavanya was actually five months pregnant with Haku and Perun before we married."
"No way!" I cried, not believing Kentoku would do something like that.
"I'm honest. Believe it or not, I was actually a lot more reckless before I was captured."
"You know, I have a hard time believing that." I said, leaning on my staff. "I think I'm going to have to see you do something reckless before I believe you."
"Is that so?" Kentoku smirked, lashing out with his staff. But this time his eyes were open. He could see what exactly was happening, which made him lightning fast. He knocked my feet out from under me, but caught me before I fell. He brought me close to him in about the space of two seconds, and I found myself leaning my head back to look at him. His blue and violet eyes were dancing with laughter as he leaned down, "Is this reckless?"
"No." I said, my heart racing.
"It's not?" He asked me, tilting his head to the side.
"No it's not. Reckless is something that you do before thinking about the consequences."
"Ah… I see." He said, winking at me before he leaned down and kissed me. I was so surprised I didn't try to fight back or pull away. He broke away and picked me up. I was still trying to recover from the kiss, I didn't even think about what I was doing. All I was concentrated on was not falling. So, I wrapped my legs around his waist.
He wasn't really expecting me to do that either. So, I found myself with my legs around his waist and him holding me up. Yeah… so not what I was thinking about doing tonight.
He smiled up at me, "Well, we're both a little reckless, don't you agree."
"I can go for that…" I said weakly, still trying to get my head back on my shoulders.
"Are you okay?" he asked me.
"To be honest, I'm not sure." I said with a giggle.
"Oh if you're giggling, you are far from okay." He said seriously.
I couldn't help it. Just the irony of the situation was funny! I began to laugh. He joined in, setting me down. I had to say that I was slightly sad; I liked being taller than him.
Kentoku spoke through his laughter, "I think we… -laugh- should get some… -laugh- some sleep, what about you?"
I couldn't speak at the moment, so I just nodded in agreement. He picked up both staffs, and handed me mine. I took it, but he yanked on it, drawing me to him again. He put his staff behind me, holing me there. He kissed me again while I was breathless, and I had to admit… he was getting more reckless by the minute.
He walked me back to my room, which was actually right across the hall from his, seeing as Perun had moved in with Amaya.
"Good night… Rianna." He said softly, giving my hand a kiss. Ever since we left the basement, he slowly transformed back into the Kentoku everyone saw. The cool, collected, and strict man that never laughed. I was beginning to sorely miss the man that laughed, teased, and kissed me. Where there two of them? The thought scared me.
Kentoku noticed a far off look in my eyes and held onto my hand. "Is something wrong?"
I shook my head and took my hand out of his. "Nothing's wrong. I'll see you tomorrow morning." I turned to enter my room, but he caught me by the arm.
"Look, I know you're confused-"
"How am I supposed to not be? You show me man that loved life downstairs, but then we get up here and it's like I don't know you!"
"I know…" he said softly, looking deep in my eyes. "I hate it just as much as you do. The thing is… I don't really remember that other man. I'm trying to find him. All I need is some help and patience."
I blinked a few times. Was the great Kentoku asking for help? Did I hear correctly?
"I just don't need any help. I need help from someone that can me laugh… someone I care about. Please Rin… just hang in there."
"Do you… do you want me to help you?"
A slow smile crossed his lips. "Will you?" he asked me in a barely audible whisper.
"Only if you want me to." I said, my heart beating fast.
He leaned down and kissed me softly on the lips. "Thank you Rianna."
I went into my room and shut the door. I leaned against it and smiled, putting a hand over my heart. Maybe this wasn't going to be so bad…
((Amaya's POV)) – ((A/N: She's been neglected… so has Perun. Oh dear…))
I was leaning on the bridge railing, looking up at the stars. I breathed in deeply and sighed. Life was just going smoothly right now. Perun and I had escaped together, fought together, teased Haku and Chihiro, bonded together… and now we were getting married.
I hated to betray the people that had raised me even though I knew that what they were doing was wrong. I'm just not the betraying type. But if I hadn't… I probably would never be getting married to the man of my dreams.
"There you are…" someone whispered, coming up behind me and gave me a quick hug.
"Here I am." I replied, leaning back into Perun. We starred up at the stars for a while before he leaned down and kissed my nose.
"Have I ever told you how much I love it that you became shorter when Chihiro freed you?"
"You like that I'm shorter?" I cried, turning around to face him.
"I like that you fit into my arms…" he said, pulling me closer to him. "I like that I can rest my chin on top of your head…" he put his chin on top of my head, and I sighed. For some strange reason, I always felt so much more protected when he did that. I was fully in his arms, and he was making sure that nothing was going to take me away. It was kind of sweet really. "I like that I can pick you up now…" he said with a chuckled, picking me up and setting me on the rail. "I like that I can put you on a rail like this and you don't tower over me…"
I laughed, leaning my forehead against his. "Hmm… now that you mention it, I don't think I mind that much either…" I slipped off the rail and wrapped my arms around him. He held me tightly and I closed my eyes. I leaned my head against his chest and breathed in his scent… clean linen sheets. It may seem clichéd, but it's true. I never really realized how much I loved that smell until now. He chuckled when he heard me breathe in deeply and kissed my hair.
Many things are romantic. A man doesn't have to take you on a date and dance in rain for it to be romantic. Just being held is fine.
((Chihiro's POV))
"Haku, where are we going?" I asked for the eighth time that night.
"You'll see!" he replied happily, dragging me through the bathhouse. I rolled my eyes; I quickly found out that he wasn't going to tell me.
So, I followed him down to the lower floors and found myself in an open room with wood floors and a few couches along the walls. It was very cozy, and I noticed had a record player in the corner. "Haku… where are we?"
"In the earlier days of the bathhouse, Yubaba used to host concerts. Well… rather a talented lady musician would come and play her harp for the spirits. Everyone loved her, but after the war started, she went missing and was never found. Sometimes she would hold dance contests with the powerful spirits who held human forms like us. That's why you see a record player."
I nodded, "That's good to know, but that still doesn't explain why we're down here."
"Well, I did say that I would giving you dancing lessons." Haku said, grinning.
I laughed, pointing a finger at him, "Oh I should have known better than to think that you forgot about that!"
He chuckled and jogged over and turned on the record player, and the orchestra came through. He taught me a dance that I thought was a mix of the waltz, tango and quickstep… or something like that. But I knew for a fact that this was not something anyone's ever seen back in the human world. It was fun, and Haku and I danced through it once perfectly.
"Well done!" he said with a triumphant smile and walked over to the record player.
"Wait… are you teaching me another one?" I asked.
He shook his head as he put another record on. "No… I'm treating you to something…"
"Should I be afraid?" I asked as he came back over to me.
He looked at me sternly, "No! You should enjoy this."
He took my hand in his and twirled me. We began to dance the one he just taught me as the man's voice rang out through the empty room.
Look into my eyes and you will see
What you mean to me
Search your heart, search your soul
And when you find me there you'll search no more
Don't tell me it's not worth tryin' for
You can't tell me it's not worth dyin' for
You know it's true
Everything I do…
I do it for you
The music was slow and soothing, and the dance was much to fast for it. So, Haku stopped dancing. I was slightly confused, but ended up grinning when he pulled me in close and we slow danced there on in.
I had to admit that the man's voice wasn't perfect, but you could hear the emotion in his voice. He meant it what he was singing.
Look into your heart you will find
There's nothin' there to hide
Take me as I am, take my life
I would give it all, I would sacrifice
Don't tell me it's not worth fightin' for
I can't help it, there's nothin' I want more
You know it's true
Everything I do…
I do it for you
There's no love like your love
And no other could give more love
There's nowhere unless you're there
All the time, all the way
I leaned my head against his shoulder, and let him guide me. I was completely content with closing my eyes, swaying to the beat, and feeling Haku's arm around me. Just then, he let go of my hand and wrapped it around my waist, which made me smile. I put my free hand over his heart and let his heartbeat become mine.
Oh you can't tell me it's not worth tryin' for
I can't help it, there's nothin' I want more
I would fight for you
I'd lie for you
Walk the wire for you
Yeah I'd die for you
You know it's true
Everything I do…
I do it for you
I lifted my head up and kissed Haku lightly on the cheek. "Thank you. I needed something like this."
He kissed me gently. "Don't worry, I did to. I think all of us really need a break. Thank the gods we have it now." He leaned down to whisper something gently in my ear:
"I mean it… the song."
I smiled, "I know." I whispered back.
((End POV))
The Next Day
Kentoku was practicing the next morning down in the basement, remembering when Rin stumbled upon him. He'd been really reckless that night, seeing as she could have rejected him… but she didn't. And that made him secretly delighted and more open to the idea of moving on. He heard the door open, turning around to see whom it was, and a smile crept over his face.
Rin jogged over with a staff in hand; tapping his lightly, "Ready to be knocked down?"
Kentoku winked, "Only if you want to be knocked down first." He replied.
But before either of them could land a blow, the door opened again and Haku, Chihiro, Perun and Amaya filtered in. Haku jogged over to his father, the other three close on his heels.
"We know how to do it."
"Do what?" Kentoku asked.
"Bond together. We just figured it out." Perun answered, grinning.
Their father nodded, a triumphant look in his eyes, and told Rin to back away to the wall. The two older spirits watched the four younger ones in the center of the room.
They stood about a few inches apart in a circle, facing the inside. Perun was the first to move. He held his hands out in front of him and a small ball of blue appeared in the middle of the circle. He thrust his power behind his voice so it was heard throughout the entire room.
"Holy ocean, gentle water, lend me thy power!" he cried, and the crashing waves of an ocean were heard. The glowing blue ball grew larger.
Amaya went next. She held her hands out before her and spoke in a clear voice, "Mighty trees, trembling earth, lend me thy power!" The sound of an earthquake rumbled following her words, but the room did not shake. A mass of green energy joined the blue ball, the two colors swirling around one another.
Next came Haku. "Summer breezes, powerful storm, lend me thy power!" His voice boomed out over the clap of thunder and rain. A mass of silver joined the green and blue ball at the center.
Last was Chihiro. She held her hands out just like the three before her, and spoke her words of power. "Burning embers, raging fire, lend me thy power!"
Rin winced as she heard the cackling of a powerful fire. Kentoku discreetly put an arm around her shoulders as a mass of burning red joined the ball in the center. When the fire element reached it, the ball began to shine. The four dropped their arms and the ball grew in size.
At once, they all spoke. "Bind us together!" Their words were followed by a loud crack. The four all turned to their right at the same time, and stepped in, merging with the growing ball. With an almost blinding flash, the four became one.
The glowing faded, and they were gone. And in their place was a lone woman with long brown and red hair. Her eyes were shining emeralds with bright silver flecks. On her right arm was a bright blue tattoo of water, her clothes earthy tones.
She turned her insightful eyes to Kentoku and Rin. "My name... is Ariadne."
A/N: ((giggles madly)) Oh just love this. Never fear, I was going to get a song in here. :) Ahaha! Who is Ariadne? Well... you may know, but it's still fun to ask...
Ariadne means most holy in Greek Mythology... it's fun to find cool names, trust me.
ScarletFlameHiem
XxLil-AngelxX
StrugglingArtist
Mushrambolover
Priestess Kohana
xX44th DreamMasterXx
White Dragon 69
Princess of the Wind
Lillix Vail
Kataan
annoying-little-girl
mistress of mist
Thank you all for reviewing! And no one knew what the song was... ((sniff)) Well, it was "Come Rain Or Come Shine" by Frank Sinatra. Yes, I'm serious, Frank Sinatra. ((lol))
-Vincent's Angel of Chaos-
Disclaimer: Song is (Everything I Do) I Do It For You by Bryan Adams. Oh joy.