A Breath of Fresh Air [FINISHED]

[Zeshin Lak-el Ury]

The momentum of the Tora-jin Rajah's blade grasp made Zeshin fly forward, his hand still on the handle of his sword. Before he could react appropriately, Zeshin found his face crashing into Rajah's elbow, his nose smashed against the hard boned corner, despite being covered by much flesh and fur, it done it's job of stopping the young man. Falling back to the ground onto his rear hard, the impact causing him to lose his grip onto his sword. Zeshin smashed the ground in frustration upon hearing Rajah's venom free taunt, burning the grass as a small trickle of blood leaked from his nose. Despite Rajah's playfull nature and good spirit, Zeshin's frustration continued to mount, not succeded in actually gaining hit, all his attacks successfully countered.

As his breathing grew heavy, his body grew significantly warmer, the blood spilling from his nose began to bubble and dry on his face. Standing to his feet, Zeshin raised his hands to the level of his waist, clenching one of his fist as he wiped the spare wet blood from his nose, most of it relativity dry now as his hand formed another fist. Zeshin's eyes now glowed a brighter blue, the light radiating from his pupils reminiscent of a sapphire with a burning center, as he starred at Rajah.

"I want my sword, and I'm going to take it back!" Zeshin said raising his fists to his face, his arms loose and his elbows down. The ground near the boy's feet began to singe from the raw power that spilled from his body, the air around him growing hotter by second.
Zeshin now waited from Rajah, standing in an orthodox stance, his naked chest raising from his deep breaths.

[Nagoyaka Rajah]

Rajah shouldn't have said that. He wished he could take it back, but he knew he couldn't now. What made matters worse was that he didn't even know that Zeshin's face collided with his elbow, until he felt the earth punched after his statement that he thought originally was out of fun. With another confused look, Rajah looked at his left elbow after using his right hand to hold Zeshin's sword, to find traces of blood on his fur. In worry, he looked at Zeshin, who was on the ground with blood flowing from his nose.

"Oh my goodness," Rajah said in worry. He started to walk towards him in concern. "I am so sorry, Zeshin. Are you okay...?"

But before he could get close enough to aid his sparring partner, he started to hear the earth's spirit cry out in agony because of an instant sprout of heat. Rajah stopped himself and once again allowed his eyes to turn green, so that he would be able to see what was wrong with the spirits around him. When he saw Zeshin through his spirit vision, not only did he see that the source of heat was coming from him, but he also started to see a beastly aura surround him as he stood back up; something that Rajah had never seen before.

Rajah's mouth stood ajar as he witnessed the raw power started to spew from Rajah's new friend. A look of worry occupied itself on Rajah's face. He knew he could sense something from the blue-haired young one, but not something as fierce as this. This made Rajah worry; not for himself, but for Zeshin.

"I want my sword, and I'm going to take it back!" he heard Zeshin say with eyes brighter than sapphires ablaze with fire. Rajah saddened his face as he continued to watch Zeshin's display of power unfurl upon the innocent forest. He had to try and reach to him. There was no other way.

"There's no need, Zeshin," Rajah said somewhat sadly as he extended the sword. He laid it as close as he could to Zeshin's feet. "I give it to you willingly."

Rajah swallowed, still with a saddened look on his face.

"I-I'm sorry for driving you this far, Zeshin," he said as he started to rub his left arm. "It was not my intention to drive you this far."

He looked at the enraged Zeshin.

"You are a good and kind-hearted person, Zeshin," he continued. "I-I didn't mean to hurt you, or tease you, especially since you called me a friend. I was glad when you did because, honestly, it's been a while... since I had a friend."

Rajah then looked at Zeshin with a face of confidence.

"So please, Zeshin," he said. "Calm down. This isn't you. You know it, Issac knows it, and I know it. You're stronger than this, Zeshin. You're stronger than this..."

[Zeshin Lak-el Ury]

Zeshin could hear the words of the Tora-jin as he empathetically attempted to calm him down, even going so far as to subdue his form and place Zeshin sword in front of him gracefully. But the anger was still there, the burning fury of passion still burned within Zeshin, a call for retaliation for the embarrassment suffered at the hands of Rajajh still ached within his soul, his jests striking Zeshin just as hard as his attacks were swatted away. Despite training day in and day out with the little spare time he had to himself, aided now be Issac who proved to be more than the lazy oaf he thought him to be, Zeshin still felt as if he would remain forever stagnant, his skills sub par and lacking behind those around him.

Zeshin starred into Rajah, his fierce blue eyes shining brighter, and he could feel his hands and body tremble, reminiscent of the night in the bar where everything changed, the only constant factor was his inability to match his opponent due to being easily provoked. Zeshin began to open his mouth there were no words to speak, clenching his hands until his knuckles turned white, flames flickering around his hands. Then Zeshin heard Rajah tell him he was stronger than that which his displayed, and Zeshin began to think about what may happen if he let his anger consume him as he'd done in the past.

"What am I doing... Why, why am I so angry..." Zeshin though to himself as he began to retrace the steps of the fight. Despite being able to see Rajah's movements, Zeshin was nether fast enough, nor strong enough to counter them successfully, much like his spar with Issac. But unlike his dance with Issac in this fight Zeshin was unable to land a single clean blow, much to his chagrin. He was angry yes, and this was due to both frustration and embarrassment, but when he looked at Rajah, he could see that he was genuinely sincere in his words, and that he regretted having pushed this far.

"I... I'm sorry." Zeshin said as he hung his head, lowering his hands and trying to subdue his anger. Once his trembling began to subside, he felt a small trickle down his cheek, watching as a tear of boiling water fell from his face to boil and sizzle on the ground. Zeshin was unaware that he began to tear up out of anger being so consumed at the moment, that when realized he was crying, he grabbed his sword and turned away in humiliation. "Thank you for the training Rajah, Issac I'm going home..." Zeshin said, beaten, his morale unable to be mended by his natural regeneration. Walking away, Zeshin let his tear fall silently, opting to only wipe his face when he was far from both Issac and Rajah.

[Nagoyaka Rajah]

Rajah felt horrible. This was one of the reasons why he was against fighting in the first place. And while he was gladdened that he was able to calm Zeshin down, he couldn't help but feel that he just committed the most unpardonable sin ever to show it's ugly head on the face of the earth. Watching Zeshin pick up his sword was one of the most comforting things he saw. But what came out of his mouth afterward just made him feel horrible all over again.

"Thank you for the training, Rajah," he said after he grabbed his sword and turned away. "Issac, I'm going home."

Rajah's mouth gaped in sadness. He didn't want this to happen. For Rajah to finally make a friend and lose him all in the same day was the most heart-breaking scenario he could go through. And he didn't want to suffer that fate again.

"Wait!" Rajah yelled to Zeshin as he ran toward the blue-haired young one. Out of his current mood, Rajah's eyes turned from his normal brown to a deep blue, signifying his sadness. By the time he caught up with Zeshin, he once again placed his hand on his shoulders, silently telling him to pause his trek.

"Please don't go," Rajah said as he got on one knee to bring himself to Zeshin's eye level, his saddened pout recognizable on his face with his now blue eyes emphasizing his depression. But when he looked at Zeshin's face a bit more closely, he could see a single tear track; obviously wiped away out of Rajah's view, but still detectable by a combination of his enhanced eyesight and the clear line in the midst of his lightly dirtied face.

Oh my, Rajah thought to himself as he stared into Zeshin's eyes with a look of concern.

Now given his nature, Rajah would have immediately embraced the young one in a hug, telling him encouraging words and letting him know that everything would be fine. But he knew better than to, especially after hearing the boy's reason for his training in the first place. So he decided to offer something more encouraging than that of a hug. He decided to offer guidance.

Rajah immediately snapped out of his saddened look and once again went into his warm smile, his blue eyes slowly starting to return to their normal color as he stared into Zeshin's eyes.

"You know," he began in a calm and comforting voice as his free hand found it's home on Zeshin's other shoulder, "I can teach you how to control that temper of yours. It will take time and a burden of patience, but it will definitely be worth it in the end."

That's when Rajah thought about it. He turned his face away, blushing underneath his fur for what he was about to ask the boy, bashful even for the thought.

"However," he started, "I was wondering... if it was possible if you could provide some shelter for me at your residence. It has been nights since I have had the comfort of lodging under a roof and asleep in a bed."

He looked at Zeshin with a pleaful gaze; he hoped to the heavens that he would say yes. But just in case, he decided to throw in an offer.

"I-If you want, my training can be payment for you," he suggested. "I-I have my own money, so I can help with the necessities like food for your household."

Rajah moved his head away from Zeshin, but continued his eye contact with the boy.

"That is," he said, "that is if you'll have me..."

[Issac Verro]

The ,last inadvertent attack on the part of Rajah had sent the once eager to spar Zeshin over the edge, and now he stood before the humble Tora-jin angry and humiliated, being attack while deemed. Issac sigh and took another sip of his drink as Rajah began to apologize profusely, much to Zeshin chagrin. Issac could feel the heat coming from Zeshin as he stood behind, hoping he would not have to intervene to restrain the boy again, know his anger left unchecked can prove to be dangerous for all those around. "I knew this would happen, that damn Rajah has the finesse of a rock." Issac said, remaining seated as he watched Zeshin regain his composure.

Humbled and embarrassed Zeshin grabbed his weapon and informed Issac he would be leaving, to which Issac replied, "See you back at the lodge." standing to his feet watching as Rajah chased behind Zeshin. Although his student did his best to hide it, ZIssac knew Zeshin wept tears of embarrassment, and the Inu-jin hoped that this would not deter him from training further. Issac could not help but to think of a similar situation in his own past the mirror the plight of his student.

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"Concentrate pup, focus your energy internally and project externally, like we've practiced." A large Inu-jin said as he held several large rocks in one hand, tossing on in the air and catching it with his other. No more than 25 feet in front him was a small Inu-jin, his clothes obviously dirty from much time spent outside in the rigors of training. "Okay, here we go, try your best son, I know you can do this. You will do this." The older one said, a gruff but warm expression on his face as he prepared to commence throwing the stones at the smaller Inu-jin.

The boy prepared himself by entering a wide stance to ground himself and pull his strength from the earth, and in no time the stone flew at him with great force. His job was to deflect these rocks by projecting a barrier, or taking control of them mid flight and directing them somewhere else, a task he was failing at miserably as he was pelted by rock after rock. Grunting thought the pain, he stood his ground, trying desperately to deflect the rocks to no avail. they struck his body, and struck his face, and after so long the small one lost focus of their trajectory and focused his energy into his hands to catch them. Intercepting the remaining rock as they now flew in multiple, when he reached out to catch them they disintegrated under his powers, the energy he wrapped around his hands shattering the as he smashed the rest.

"No..., no! I missed them all again, why is this so hard." the child fell to his knees, wiping the tears caused by both pain and failure form his face with his dust caked hands. The large Inu-jin was both amazed and disappointed at the efforts of the child and went to comfort him.

"Issac, listen to me. We can only hope to do our best in whatever we seek to do, and in order to get there we have to work. If we don't appreciate the journeys we take in this life, well never value the true beauty of the destination. Do you understand son?" Clint asked the young Issac, kneeling down to meet him face to face, his loud voice booming mores in the secluded area.

"I understand Pops, it's just... why is it so hard for me, I'm the only only who still trained with rock!" young Issac said angrily as he looked at his father.

"Some of us just walk slower than others son, come on let's go home." Clint said as he lifted his son over his head and set him on his shoulders.

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Issac walked behind Rajah as he found the boy drying his tears in the forest, and he waited until he finished speaking. "I'm sure Miss Maia would have no problem letting you stay, and it makes it easier if you have money. Zeshin go ahead and let your mother know we'll be having on more at the tavern, I want to talk to Rajah for a minute." Issac said, as he watched Zeshin nod to both him and Rajah before he walked off into the woods to find the road leading back to town.

[Nagoyaka Rajah]

Rajah's attention immediately fixed itself on Zeshin's tutor, who gave a positive answer to his question. As a matter of fact, it was almost as if he insisted. Rajah smiled at the Inu-Jin thankfully.

"Really?" he said. "Well this is excellent news indeed. Thank you so much!"

Rajah then looked at Zeshin again, smiling.

"My offer for training still stands, Zeshin," he said before he stood up next to Issac.

Now upright, Rajah placed both of his paws behind his back as his eyes once again went green. He smiled as he noticed that Zeshin's essence was a bit more tame; a bit more under control. Just knowing that Zeshin's anger was a bit more under control made Rajah just as happy as when he discovered there were definitely more beings like him with Issac.

"Zeshin," Rajah heard Issac say, "go ahead and let your mother know we'll be having one more at the tavern. I want to talk to Rajah for a minute."

Rajah reacted to the comment by blinking a bit before looking over at the fellow -Jin with a distilled look of confusion on his face.

He... he wants to talk to me? he thought to himself.

But, Rajah kept his thoughts to himself as he watched Zeshin nod to the both of them before walking off further into the woods. With a smile, Rajah then turned his head toward Issac, shaking one of his paws.

"Thank you once again, Mr. Issac for your hospitality," he said with happiness in his words. He immediately let go of his paw, placing his own back behind his back.

"However," Rajah started, "I do admit that I am a bit curious as to what you wish to talk to me about..."

[Issac Verro]

Issac paused brief, to gather his words as he reflected on what happened today. Listen with his keen hearing, he waited until he heard Zeshin's feet scuff atop the gravel of the dirt road leading back into town. Looking at Rajah Issac placed his sword inside his rob, and starred down for a moment before he looked the Tora-jin in the face. "I saw what happened today, despite you attempts to prevent it. The kid... he's not normal, not in the slightest..." Issac paused before he divulged anything to personal to a stranger, a nice and humble caring stranger, but a stranger none the less.

"Look... what I'm trying to say is don't feel bad about what happened. Your movements are rigid, stiff, and powerful, but they were not malicious in nature. As you can tell, Zeshin has an anger problem. His powers, despite his attempts to control them flare up when his emotions run high. He's getting stronger everyday, and I don't think I'll be holding back when I spar against him, not if I want to live. He's gonna be powerful when he get older, to a degree I'm not sure, so all I can say is he needs humbling experiences like this, wouldn't you agree?"Issac said, placing his hand on Rajah's shoulder.

[Nagoyaka Rajah]

Rajah listened to Issac's words and let them marinate in his mind. It was certain phrases however that had his mind start thinking much on the subject at hand, which was Zeshin.

"The kid... he's not normal, not in the slightest..."

Rajah chuckled as he heard this com out of Issac's maw, coming up with that conclusion after seeing Zeshin's beastly aura when he used his spirit magic when he became upset. And in all honesty, it was something that Rajah's curious mind wanted to find out fully.

"As you can tell, Zeshin has an anger problem. His powers, despite his attempts to control them flare up when his emotions run high."

That was something else that somewhat attracted Rajah to the blue-haired young one, for lack of better words, only because no matter how hard he tried to mind his own business, Rajah would go out of his way to help a complete stranger if necessary. That was why he offered to train Zeshin in a way that would allow him to control his anger.

"He's gonna be powerful when he get older, to a degree I'm not sure, so all I can say is he needs humbling experiences like this, wouldn't you agree?"

Rajah could feel Issac's paw rest on his shoulder, finding it somewhat comforting since he still felt somewhat bad about the incident; something else that Issac informed him not to worry about. He smiled at Issac and nodded his head.

"I suppose," he said to him.

He looked forward at the forest ahead of them and sighed.

"During my stay with the monks of Tibet as a cub," he began, "I learned how to channel my abilities over the spirits through Tai Chi." He looked at Issac.

"I offered Zeshin that same training right before you sent him off," Rajah said. "I believe it will benefit in a good step toward him controlling his anger. What do you think?"

[Issac Verro]

Issac smiled and nodded at Rajah's offer to help Zeshin with his anger. "That would be something to see indeed... just be careful not to have him completely dismiss his anger. Zeshin's passion can be his greatest strength sometimes." Issac said to Rajah, looking past the brush to the road ahead.

"Come on Rajah, let's get back to the tavern, all this excitements got me hungry." Issac, walking to where the road lie past the greenery, walking slow enough for Rajah to catch up. Issac was happy to have another Jin around, even if they were of the same particular species, he still brought the comfort of a kindred spirit with his god nature and humble demeanor.

[Nagoyaka Rajah]

Rajah heeded Issac's words when he told him about the consequences that could happen if his training would rid Zeshin of his anger completely. Then again, Rajah knew first hand that anger and passion were two different things entirely. As long as Zeshin continued to show that same passion that inspired him to become a warrior in the first place, he could develop into a mighty warrior indeed.

Issac immediately snapped Rajah out of his thoughts when he mentioned the idea of food back at the tavern. He looked up to see Issac walking slowly enough for Rajah to easily catch up. He smiled at the idea that out of the months of his travels since he left China, he finally had a home and friends to call his own.

"Right," he said as he followed behind Issac. Rajah then followed the Inu-Jin with a smile on his face, enjoying how this morning turned out for him. Thinking about it deeply, Rajah could almost compare it to a breath of fresh air.