Ren's POV:-
I woke up to find myself on my bed . I remembered everything nii-san told me and felt a strange emotion flow through my veins . I got out of bed and extended my hand .
"Enrhiha , Materialise"
The sword appeared and I grasped it's hilt with my right hand and examined it's blade with my left . A sword given to the clan by the flame king himself , a sword that shows the owners authority and position in the clan ... A sword nee-san didn't want because the price was too high for her . It's not like nee-san hasn't told me herself that she never wanted to be the clan-leader , but she never told me why she accepted the position in the first place . Sure , I understood that there was probably a lot of pressure on her . But to have kept striving and training and at the same time, suffering insults about being too hot-headed , too proud , too self-centred... Honestly , She never seemed to let it bother her (except when her dad's the one saying it) so I never thought it was a big deal . But now I'm in the same position , It's like everyone's looking only at my flaws , like I have to be perfect at everything to satisfy them .
Flash-back:-
"HEEEYYY!RENNNN!"
I turned my head to see nee-san running towards me waving her hands in excitement . I let enrhiha disappear from my hand and looked at her panting and covered with sweat . It's been 3 months since I had received enrhiha and I was showing very little progress (according to my dad and all the clan elders). I wondered what was going on for her to interrupt my training . She ran until she was right in front of me and then skid to a stop . She looked at me with a bright smile .
"Hey Ren . Your friends called the house looking for you . They told me to tell you to meet them at the cafe . They said it was really important so you better get going ."
"Nee-san , did you run all the way from the house ?"
She gave me a sheepish smile
"I couldn't get a taxi"
I felt a pain strike my heart and I looked down at my hand summoning enrhiha once again .
"I can't leave . I'm training ."
I turned around and took my battle stance .
"Ren..."
I didn't turn around . I couldn't let her see my face .
"...your training finished two hours ago."
" I'm not showing much progress ,so..."
Nee-san snorted .
"Who told you that ? Genma-san, I bet . You'd think that guy had some compassion for his own son ."
"Not just dad ,...everyone ."
I felt her hand on my shoulder .
"Don't listen to them and come on . You need a break. "
I felt anger rise inside me . My fists were clenched tight as I looked away from her.
"WHY DON'T YOU GET IT ,NEE-SAN ? I'M TOO WEAK NOW . I HAVE TO BECOME STRONGER TO BE WORTHY OF ENRHIHA AND THE TITLE OF..."
"You're an idiot ..."
My eyes snapped open . Nee-san's never called me an idiot before .
"...Enrhiha's just a bloody sword and the title's just a bloody position ."
Suddenly , she grabbed my collar an pulled so that my face was facing hers eye-to-eye. All my self-anger disappeared as I took in her expression . She seemed Extremely irritated and slightly angry .
"...SO DON'T YOU DARE START LOOKING DOWN ON YOURSELF . HAVEN'T YOU WON ALL YOUR SPARING MATCHES UNTILL NOW ?..."
"Yes , but..."
"...DON'T YOU COMPLETE YOUR DAILY TRAINING WITHOUT COMPLAINT ?..."
"I guess ,but..."
"NO BUTS..."She said as she shoved me to the ground . She pointed a finger at me and gave me a firm look .
"YOU'RE NOT A BLOODY SUPERMAN , YOU CAN'T EXPECT TO FINISH SOMETHING THAT TAKES MONTHS ,EVEN YEARS OF TRAINING IN JUST A FEW MONTHS ...And Besides..."
Her voice lowered and she bend down in front of me .
"the only person you have to prove yourself to is yourself , not the kannagis , not any of the kannagis . Even if you feel as if you have a responsibility , you also have your own life and you can't let them control you ."
My eyes widened . It's true that I've been neglecting my friends . But I guess I did think that I was supposed to be the best now. Nee-san extended a hand towards me with a loving smile on her face...
"Come on , Let's go see what's so important "
I looked at her hand and then at enrhiha . enrhiha disappeared and I took nee-san's hand .
"Sure ...thanks , nee-san "
Present:-
I smiled at the memory . When we reached the cafe , it turned out to be a surprise birthday party ...for me . I forgot my own birthday . Nee-san teased me about it until I reminded her that she's done the same thing before ... I guess that that means that she's felt the same way I have .
The door opened and nii-san stepped inside , he had a half-empty bottle of water in his hand.
"When'd you wake up?"
"Just a few minutes ago ."
A moment of silence passed and enrhiha disappeared from my hand . I looked up at my brother .
" Thanks for telling me about ...that. I needed it ."
Nii-san simply smiled and ruffled my hair after putting down the bottle .
"No problem , Ren ..."
I noticed that he wanted to tell me something so I asked myself .
"What is it ,nee-san ?"
"I have to leave for a while ."
.
.
.
.
I couldn't believe my ears . Leave? Again?...
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN ,NEE-SAN? YOU JUST CAME BACK. YOU CAN'T JUST..."
He flicked my forehead .
"Calm down , It's just for a short while . I'll be back soon , just wanted to let you know so that you won't think I left for good or something ."
He looked straight into my eyes as he said that and I visibly calmed down . Then another thought struck me .
"Did you tell nee-san ?"
"...No , my ride leaves soon and the princess is currently AWOL ."
I felt anger rise inside me .
"You're not gonna leave without telling her , Are You ?"
"Doesn't look like I have a choice , tell her for me , Kay , Ren "
"...NO."
Even I was surprised by the venom in my voice. Nee-san seemed completely shocked ...for about one second . He didn't understand , he wasn't there , he left without telling her , just like he's planning on doing again ...
"...Even if it's only for a short time, you should tell her ."
"...Ren."
"..NO, you told me and you should tell her , you weren't there , you don't know..."
He never saw how betrayed she seemed , how she'd say she's fine and then at night , soft sobs would be heard from her room , how she would become lost in her training because she didn't want to let her mind wander , how it took 3 months to see her real smile again ...and that too was only because it was her friends birthday ...
"...Know what?"
"...Just tell her."
Nii-san gave me a suspicious look before sighing and saying .
"I'll wait another hour , if she doesn't come even then , I'm gonna have to leave."
"Where're you going that's so urgent?"
Nii-san seemed to consider something and then replied .
"Just want to ask an old friend what she remembers about the past ..."
"Who's she ?"
"Just someone who owes me for saving her life...don't tell Ayano it's a girl ."
I gave out a small chuckle ,..but it was a bit dark . Nee-san's feelings for nii-san were always so apparent ...but I wonder if they're still the same after all this .
"No problem , nii-san...just tell her this time ."
Suddenly a knock was heard .
"Master Ren , your tutor is here ."
"Thank you , I'll be right down."
I looked up to see nii-san give me an amused look .
"you need a tutor?..."
I scratched my neck , a bit embarrassed .
"Yeah , my grades have been slipping , so..."
"I get it ..."
Nii-san opened the door and left the room , I followed . We went our separate ways . He headed towards the front door and I headed to the study hall built Only for learning , that is one fact that is shoved into every kids brain by the kannagi elders (they really like to ...um..learn ...I guess).
"See ya , Ren"
"Bye,nii-san ,come back soon "
To one of my reviewers , The one who wrote that Ayano was the beast-child of the flame king , sorry for not being clear enough but that's not the case . The sword Ayano's using now , bloody rose , was made by the beast-child and the rose-child FOR Ayano. She's not the beast-child . The beast-child will make an appearance in the later chapters , but for now It's just going to be known as one of the creators of Bloody Rose, Thanks so much for reviewing , if anyone has a doubt , feel free to ask (though I don't know when I can reply).
Sorry for the wait but it couldn't be helped . Thanks for all your reviews , I really appreciate them .
P.S:-Sorry ,but updates will take time as I am currently banned from ...practically all technology related to T.V and computer . Bye .