18
The twin of respect
The worm feels of the bird –
Is a crippling fear
Later, when she returned home that afternoon, her mother greeted her with a warm smile and a hug.
"Welcome home, Ina-chan. How did your training go?"
If Inazuma's skin tone had allowed it, she would have appeared very pale.
"Fine, Mum," she muttered, trying not to sound too shaken. Her mother apparently took her quiet response as a sign of fatigue from the training, and offered her daughter some fresh-baked cookies.
"Maybe later."
Inazuma quickly made her way to her the bathroom. She pressed her palm against the surface of the mirror and stared blankly at her reflection.
The image of her shadowy face stared back at her, apparently unperturbed. She closed her eyes, her heart pounding as she remembered the glint of the blood and the smooth, hesitant feel of the kunai holster's buckle under her forefinger.