Training
Lupin was woken from his nap when someone knocked on the door to his and Rin's room and with a loud yawn he climbed off the bed. Groggily walking over to the door and fumbling around with the handle before finally opening the door to see that one of the twins, holding a couple of bags, was on the other side.
"Yin?" said Lupin.
"Hello, Lupin. How did you sleep" said the ponytailed twin.
"Good," said the wolf with another yawn. "Whats with the bags."
"Oh, me and Yang bought you and Rin some clothes," said Yin handing over one of the bags to Lupin then looked over to Rin's bed. "Um, do you think she will wake up soon."
Looking over at Rin's bed Lupin saw that she was still curled under the blankets fast asleep. Walking over to her bed he tried to wake her up by gently shaking her shoulder only to be knocked to the ground by Rin's death stalkers tail. He quickly got back up to see a still sleeping Rin now with her tail draped over the foot of the bed.
"A-are you alright?" asked Yin.
"Yeah, apparently she going to be a tough one to wake up," said Lupin taking a couple of steps away from his sleeping sister. "Do we have something that we can use to poke her from a distance?"
Thinking for a bit then giving a small nod Yin then went off to retrieve the item in question, returning after a few minutes with a mop and broom. "Will these work?"
"I think so," said Lupin taking the broom from Yin and carefully walking over to Rin's bed and start to poke her with a broom. However, after a few pokes Rin's tail lashed out once again trying to knock the broom out of his hand but he managed to pull away just in time. Repeating this method, Rin eventually started to stir, finally sitting up in her bed with a yawn before turning to see Yin And Lupin standing in the room.
"What are you two doing" Said Rin sleepily while rubbing her eyes.
"W-waking you up," said Yin walking over to her bed carefully stepping over Rin tail and holding out the bag of clothes for her.
"With a stick."
"well when I tried waking you up you hit me with your tail," said Lupin.
Taking the bag of clothes from Yin while giving a confused look before finally noticing her tail and quickly changing back. Afterward, she started looking throw the bag of clothes before pulling out some of the items out of the bag to get a better look at them. However, Lupin was quickly shoved out of the room by Yin, who said something about how a boy shouldn't be present when a girl is changing before closing the door on him. "You can change in the bathroom at the end of the hall."
Following her instructions he went to the bathroom closing the door before looking threw the thing in his bag and placing them on the counter. However, while changing he remembered what Avian had said about how they all had a scar on them and sure enough looking down at his chest he could see one. It was thin but jagged, and a few shade lighter than his skin and went from his right shoulder to a little above his left hip. Tracing his hand over the scar his thought went to Avians suggestion about coming up with a story to tell people about their scars. However, he couldn't think of anything to explain such a huge scar to someone. Ultimately he decided that the best thing to do would make sure that he always had something to cover it up and avoid anything that would require him to remove his short.
With his mind made up, Lupin continued to get dress managing to get completely change with only a few minor mistakes. Gathering up the black clothes that he had been wearing he placed them in the bag that he had his clothes. And with everything put away he turned to look at himself in a mirror mounted on the back of the door. He was wearing a simple white shirt with black knee length shorts with a slightly oversized gray zipper hoodie and black sneakers overall it felt rather comfortable and easy to move in. Still looking at his reflection he stuck his hand in his hoodie pockets in an intimation of Yang and found that something was placed in one of them. Pulling out the item he found that it was a simple gray metal pocket watch with a howling Beowulf engraved on the front.
Placing the watch back into his pocket he left the bathroom and headed back to his room to see if Rin had finished changing into her new clothes, However before he could reach the room Yin walked out.
"Oh, your back," said Yin before looking over the boy. "Good it all seem to fit. Oh, did you find the watch."
"Do you mean this?" he said fishing the watch out of his pocket and holding it up by the chain. "What is it?"
"It's a pocket watch, you use it to tell time," said Yin but noticing Lupin confused expression she walked over taking the watch from him. "Here let me show you," she said and pressed a button on the side of the watch causing the side with the Beowulf to flip open.
"See there's a little clock on the inside," she said showing the wolf the inside. And sure enough Lupin saw that there was a small clock face within it before Yin closed it and handed it back to him. "I'll teach you how to read time later."
Hearing the door to his and Rin's room open he placed the watch back in his pocket and turned to see Rin standing in the doorway.
"How do I look," she said.
She was wearing a white long-sleeved shirt with a black denim vest over it that was left unbutton along a black skirt and knee length shorts. Her hairs still braided, but she also had a pair of hair clip designed to resemble death stalkers pincers and a small watch with a chain strap around her right wrist. And a pair of black slip on shoes with black and gray striped socks.
"You look good," said Yin
"Ya, you look cute," said Lupin.
"T-thank you," said Rin her cheeks lighting up as she tried hiding behind her bangs while Lupin snickered at her reaction to being called cute.
"So what the plan," said Rin after regaining her composure.
"Hm, oh ya! Avian wants to start your training" said Yin.
"Already," said a surprised Lupin.
"Yes but it won't be anything too difficult just some simple exercise to figure out what ability's you might have," she said with a reassuring smile.
"We're going to find out about what ability's we have," Rin said excitable bouncing on the balls of her feet.
"Yes we are Lil Bit," Yin said while patting the smaller girls head. "Just stick with your aunt Yin and you'll be using your abilities in no time."
"Wait didn't Avian say we're the same age," said Lupin.
"W-well, he's right we're all newborn except for Avian and Kodiak," said Yin losing her nerve and reverting to a more timid state. "B-but I'm five months older then you a-and my physical age is t-thirteen."
"Calm down sis. Don't let the new kid rile you up" came the monotone voice of Yang as she approached the group. "Sorry about that Yin's just excited that we're no longer the youngest members of the group anymore."
"Y-yeah" said Yin walking over to and hiding behind Yang.
"Anyway that's enough talk about everyone age, Avian and the rest are waiting for us in the living room." said Yang before heading back down quickly followed by her sister.
"Well let go then," the wolf said to Rin while following the twins down to the rest. Once in the living room the young sibling found the rest of the group waiting for them.
"Ah, there so cute in their new clothes," said Kodiak causing both of the sibling's faces to turn red with Rin hiding behind Lupin.
"Well ain't she a bashful one," Brutus said while slumped in his chair.
"Anyway if we're already let the head out to the training area," said Lupin walking out to the cars where every got into the some cars they had taken earlier. After about forty-five minutes, they arrived at what looked like an old abandoned brick building. Pulling up to the front door Kodiak and the siblings got out of her car and went over to the front door where Avian was unlocking a padlock on the front door. After unlocking the door, he opened the door allowing Brutus, who was carrying a crate, in before waving the other in before entering himself. Once inside the sibling looked around to see the building was a single floor high roof room filled with training equipment including an obstacle curse, weight, and a makeshift arena and other pieces of equipment.
"Ware did you get all this stuff," said Lupin still taking in his surroundings.
"Avians been slowly collecting all this stuff for the past fifteen years," said Brutus putting down the crate. "Or so he says.
"Really, that kind of cool," said Lupin before Brutus words could sink in and turned towards Avian. "Wait, fifteen years how old are you."
"I believe my physical age is somewhere around twenty-five," Avian said with a shrug. "But my actual age is more like sixteen. Seventeen in a couple more weeks."
"Really? then how old is everyone?" shouted Rin looking around at everyone.
"Well sis already told you how old we are," said Yang sitting down on an old couch nearby.
"Actual age nine months. Physical age sixteen" was Brutus straight forward answer as he opened the crate to check on the contents.
"And I'm ten years old with a physical age of twenty-one," Kodiak said before gaining of a disappointed expression. "Which means I still have eleven more years before before I'll start to age."
"well it's not like any of us have it any better," said Brutus. "Except for the ankle biters over there the rest of us will have to lay low for a while."
"what is he talking about" asked Rin.
"Well I told you earlier that you won't regularly age right away right," said Avian getting a nod from both of the siblings. "That because you won't age until your actual age matches you physical age are in the case of siblings until you reach the older one Physical age. In your case, I would guess that Lupin would look to be about eight years old and Rin would be Six. Which means until you turn eight the two of you will continue to look like children wich would be a little difficult to explain."
"If you want my advice I would suggest becoming nocturnal until you can start walking around in the daylight," said Brutus.
"Oh, you could hang out with my and Yang," said Yin before shrinking back at the attention her outburst brought her. "If you want" she finishes softly.
"That's enough discussion for now let's get to their training," said Avian. "Alright, you to let start with the obstacle course."
Doing a instructed the sibling walked over to the obstacle course followed by Yang and Avian, who stood in front of a control panel. "Alright will start off by testing your agility, Yang will go first so pay attention," with that said Avian pushed some button and the course sprang to life with moving obstetrical and platforms. Not waiting for a signal to start Yang took off weaving through the course at an alarming speed while avoiding anything that tried to knock her down. Reaching the end of the curse she waved back at the two siblings who stood at the start who had shocked look on their face at how effortlessly she seemed to get through everything.
"Alright Rin your up," said Avian.
"What!" was Rin's surprised response.
"Don't worry I'll slow down the obstacle speed," said Avian adjusting some setting slowing down the obstacle. "Alright now go."
Briefly hesitating Rin took off at a much slower speed then Yang and only just managing to avoid the moving obstacle. However, she only managed to get halfway before she was knocked off an elevated platform hitting the ground hard. Seeing this Lupin Ran off to check on her going through the course before Avian could turn off the obstacle. Although not as graceful he managed to move around all the obstacles nearly as fast as Yang before Reaching Rin and knelt down next to her.
"Rin, are you ok," said Lupin with open concern in his voice.
Sitting back up with no trouble Rin look around before spotting Lupin kneeling next to her. "yeah, I'm good I hardly felt anything at all. It kind of tickled" She said with a giggle. Shaking his head at his sister's antics Lupin stood up while holding out a hand to Rin and helping her up.
"Are you two ok?" said Kodiak running over to the two and checking them over for injuries followed by everyone else.
"Yeah, we're alright. Rin says she didn't feel a thing" said Lupin.
"Looks like you were Right about there abilities Avian," said Brutus. "Agility for the boy and durability for the girl."
"So it would seem," said Avian looking over at the sibling as they tried to get Kodiak to stop checking them for injuries. "I think that will be enough of the obstetrical course for now let try some weapons training for now. Brutus go wait for us in the arena."
"Alright boss," said Brutus walking over to the arena.
"Alright you two come over here and get your weapons," said Avian walking over to the crate and open it for the siblings.
Walking up to and looking in the crate the siblings found that their weapons along with everyone else carefully places within the surprisingly well-padded interior. Carefully Lupin picks up the Halbert and katana so as not to disturbed the others and handed Rin her weapon. Afterward, they followed Avian into the arena where Brutus was waiting for them while doing a couple of stretches.
"So what's the plan, boss," said Brutus.
"I want you two to attack Brutus," said Avian in a matter of fact manner.
"Attack him!" shouted Rin. "But couldn't we hurt him."
"Not likely," said Brutus with a laugh while transforming as he's bone armor encased him.
"Ok, but couldn't we still accidentally cut through his armor with these," said Lupin pointing at their weapons.
"Maybe, but highly unlikely," said Avian. "Your weapon is an extension of yourself and will grow and change alongside you and like you there unhoned and untempered. Although by human standards you could still hurt someone if you really tried, I doubt you could cut your own skin with it let alone Brutus armor. So attack to your hearts content chance are he won't feel a thing.
"That right ankle biters do your worse," said Brutus cracking his knuckles.
With that said Avian left the Arena leaving the sibling with the boar and with a quick nod between the two charged at their target. Both siblings sent a barrage of attack against their opponent only to have their attack harmlessly bounce off his armor or get casually batted away by Brutus. Even after Lupin started using his speed to increase the power of his attacks and Rin used her the spear tip of her Halbert to target potential gaps in Brutus armor they still couldn't scratch him. Quickly five minutes passed then fifteen then thirty with both siblings growing increasingly frustrated and tired as they made no progress what so ever.
Exhausted and panting Rin tighten her grip on her halberd as her frustration reached her limits and with a shout she delivered one more final strike with all her might. However unlike all the other tries the edge of the halberts blade briefly glow and this time instead of bouncing of Brutus armor it actually managed to cut clean through a one of his armor plates. But before the blade could go any further he managed to grab hold of the halberts poll and pulled it from Rin hands and tossed it across the arena. As tense silences started to fill the room, no one moved trying to figure out what had just happened and it was several minutes before Brutus finally broke the silence.
"What in the would just happened!" shouted Brutus
"I don't know," said Avian rushing into the arena. "Rin did you do something."
"I-i don't think so," said Rin worried that she had hurt Brutus.
"M-maybe i-it was h-her weapon," said Yin from outside the arena.
Remembering something from earlier Avian ran over to where the Halbert fell and pick it up to find a familiar phrase written on the blade. "Armor Bane."
"Armor what," said Brutus changing back to normal.
"Armor Bane" repeated Avian. "It means that Rin weapon possesses the ability the cut through armor easier than most other weapons." And yet again silence fell over the building as the realization that they had been seconds away from a disaster. "I think that enough training for today let head back."
Brutus looked like he wanted to say something but silently accepted Avians instructions and started to head out of the arena as something tugging on his sleeve stops him. Looking down he saw that Rin had grabbed hold of his sleeve while her eye remained fixed on the ground unable to make eye contact with the boar.
"I-i-i'm so s-sorry. I-i d-didn't mean to h-hurt you" said Rin eyes starting to tear up.
"Oi, calm down Lil Bit," said Brutus kneeling down in front of Rin. "I didn't get hurt at all just a broken armor plate. No, big deal."
"R-really, your not h-hurt" Rin said finally looking up and sniffling a bit.
"No, I'm not," he said gesturing to himself and sure enough there wasn't a mark on him. "See?"
After a while, Rin gave a small nob to Brutus, who stood up while patted her on the head much to Rins announce. "Plus if I have had my mace you wouldn't have gotten a single hit in."
"yeah, we could" Rin shouted with all traces of her earlier mood now gone.
"That's right Rin" Said Lupin walking up to his little sibling and patting her on head producing on annoyed wine from her.
"Regardless, that will have to wait," said Lupin handing Rin's weapon back to her. "Now put your weapon back then go with Kodiak she'll take you back to the house."
With a nod, Lupin and Rin left the arena quickly returning their weapons to the crate and followed Kodiak back to the car and headed back to the house. After a few minutes of driving in silence Kodiak tried once again to start up a conversation with two younger ghouls.
"So, what was it like using your weapons for the first time," said Kodiak looking at them through the review mirror. Caught off guard by the sudden question it took a while for the two siblings to come up with an answer.
"Well, I don't really know what to call it" started Rin her head tilted to the side in thought.
"But it almost felt like it was a part of my body," said Lupin head tilted in thought like his sister. "Just like my claws when I'm in ghoul form."
"Yeah, that it!" shouted Rin.
"Yeah, that sound about right," said Kodiak with a small chuckle. "We all said the same thing when Avian asked us that question. Although as he would tell you even though wield your weapons might come easy to you, you still lack the skills to use them properly. But you'll get there someday."
"Well, I can't wait until we're able to beat Brutus" Rin grumbled with her arms crossed.
"Don't worry Rin we'll beat him one day," said Lupin giving Rin an encouraging smile who smiled, in turn, before turning to look out the window.
And with that the rest of the trip was spent licensing to the whatever music Kodiak could find on the car radio.
After Kodiak and the young sibling had left Avian found himself once again examining Lupin and Rins weapons his eyes going over the word etched into both.
"So Avian what does it mean that the ankle biters already have named weapons," said Brutus looking over the weapons as well.
"I'm not sure Brutus," said Avian with a concerned look on his face. "Yin, Yang I want you to you two to keep an eye on them."
"Sure thing, bossman," said Yang.
"B-but why," asked Yin.
"Just airing on the side of caution," said the Nevermore. "Hopefully this means nothing but I would rather not get caught off guard if that not the case."
"Hope your right boss," said Brutus.
"Me to," said Avian placing the weapons back into the crate.
And with that the rest headed out with Brutus carrying the weapon crate back to the car before heading back to the house themselves.