I woke the next morning violently from my sleep with the sweat glistened upon my pale skin. I took in a cool breath from the morning air and rose from my futon. I quickly made my way to the bathroom to clean up. After I wiped my face and turned the water off, changing rather quickly I left my room in hope of not looming over my violent awakening. Upon walking down the hall I encountered a most unpleasant companion, Toguro's older brother, Yuu.
I sighed slightly and bowed. "Good morning," I said with a disdainful taste in my mouth.
"Morning" His voiced cracked and he walked the opposite way of me.
I closed my eyes in relief and reopened them to find Satoru in front of me. A smirk appeared on his face "Morning Genkai." I smiled, this was a face I would rather see every morning I wake and every night before I sleep, but we were both too proud to admit what we felt.
"Good morning, Satoru," I said as we walked towards the kitchen.
"Did you already go for a morning run?" He asks as we made our way outside.
"No, Why do you ask?"
"You are all sweaty and you look tired."
My mouth twisted slightly, "No, I was about to go, I was just warming myself up that's all" I lied, not wanting to remember the nightmares.
"Then let's get going" He walked in front of me and I followed.
We fell into our routine as we ran for some time, neither of us talking, just concentrating. I wanted to speak, but I couldn't as if I was mute. After telling him about my village yesterday, I was starting to believe I could finally confide in Satoru on a regular basis and hopefully, he could do the same with me.
We suddenly came to a halt when a red blast was heading straight towards us. Satoru naturally got in front of me, his right fist glowed blue as he smashed the red demon energy blast away from us both. A demon then jumped down from the trees, trying to take off my head in the process, but I dodged sideways and with enough balance on my hands, I spun into a handstand and back down. From there I vaulted off the ground, and with my two powered up feet had directly hit the beast in his jaw, dislocating it on the spot. The monster screamed and I quickly silenced him with one spirit energy punch to the face, making his head blow up.
Satoru was still on guard, knowing that was not the beast who released the red demon energy blast. I quickly put myself back in place, standing closely behind Satoru. "Are you alright?" He asked while his eyes searched the area.
"I should be asking you that, Satoru" I could smell the flesh that had been charred on his fist, though it was nothing threatening to his life, the fact a demon did that made me anxious, slightly. There are not many demons walking the earth that can do that much damage to someone as experienced as Satoru and me.
After several long minutes, Satoru's guard went down slightly and he straightened himself back to his normal 6 foot 7-inch stance. I relaxed and walked in front of him and quickly grabbed his hand to examine the damaged. He looked at me, his eyes burning a hole into my head, "Doesn't look too bad…" The hand was worse than I described but he nodded and pulled away.
"Give it back, dimwit." He did so, as commanded. I smirked slightly to myself, sometimes I thought Satoru to be afraid of me. I closed my eyes, both my hands holding his as I began to heal his hand and within minutes it was back to its old normal self. Callused and warm, yet so gentle when intertwined with mine.
"Genkai... " He began and my eyes shifted up to his. "I've been blind and a fool." He fell to his knees, now his eyes where even with mine, I could feel his breath so close to my face, that I had to close my eyes to enjoy such a sweet scent and warmth. I then felt his hand touch my face, it is what I have been longing for ever since the first time I kicked his sweet face in. Opening my eyes again, he spoke.
"Alone in the darkness of the woods is where I've finally had to give up, to no longer hold my tongue, and my sorrows." I chuckled a little bit, even now he still beats around the truth, but he is my dimwit for that, vague and cautious to make sure to never be hurt.
"And I've been mute, wanting to speak but never able," I said quietly to him, his piercing eyes looked into mine, and into my soul. I felt a rush of heat scorch over me as if I was on fire.
However, as we professed ourselves to each other a noise caught our attention. We both sprung into our defensive stances, ready just in case that demon wanted another round. However, Haniko, one of our students came stumbling out of the bush.
"HA! I caught you both off guard" The young 10-year-old girl said loudly, and proud to have caught her teachers off guard and about to kiss.
"Look, Raiden! Master Genkai and Master Toguro where in the woods after all." She smiled and the young boy came out of the bushes as well, he was the most experienced fighter amongst our dojo, and at the age of 15 the boy had potential but had ways to go. He was a well-muscled boy, about a half of foot taller than I, white hair and crimson eyes; the boy came from a rare clan that only exists in history books.
He bowed to us both and smiled "We are all anxious this morning, we were promised quite a treat." Satoru laughed and walked over to the boy and ruffled his hair. "Yes that you all were, let's get going. Raiden, take Haniko and start heading back." He nodded taking Haniko's hand and started running back to the dojo.
Satoru turned and looked at me, the soft face was back and my heart fell from the sky into his hand. "Tonight, can we talk?"
"Of course, Satoru," he smiled and we both began to walk back to the dojo anxious to were the day and night was lead us. After a short while, we reached the compound with Raiden and Haniko and saw our others waiting outside for us. Satoru took the lead and stopped when his students lined up and bowed. "Good morning Master!"
The students said and Satoru gave a bow, "Good morning" he said and straightened himself up.
"Have we done our stretches?" The class answered in one unified voice, Satoru smiled. "Good, now as promised today me and Master Genkai, have a treat for all of you, so," He began and got into the running position "Instead of training relentlessly for today, let's enjoy a day of fun, first to the river will be rewarded." The kids smirked and all lined up next to him, powering themselves up, "GO!" Satoru shouted and all of them ran off in the direction of the river, once the dust cleared I could see him standing and waiting for me.
"You coming to Genkai?" I smiled and closed my eyes, you can lead me anywhere you fool and I'd follow.
"Beat you there, Satoru," I said racing off towards the river and with Satoru following right behind me.
