Awakening - June 3, 2016 - Fukuoka Japan: Ranmaru Vizzini
Ranmaru sits up quickly and stares at his hands, half expecting them to be blood stained and holding the knife in his hands. He decides to take a cold shower. After he's calmed his nerves a bit, he packs a small grooming bag, a weapon bag for his 2 kodachi and heads to Shoufuku-ji.
Initially, the ride to Shoufuku-ji is calm and event-free. However, that changes when Ranmaru hears a loud bang and the cab starts losing control.
"We've blown a tire!" The driver says, trying to regain control of the car.
Ran lets out an exasperated sigh while thinking "You've got to be kidding me."
"If I live through this, he's never going to let me hear the end of it."
The car is traveling less than 50 km/hr, so Ranmaru jumps out of the car, tucks and rolls as appropriate. There is no sign of whoever or whatever blew the tire.
Ranmaru grabs for the phone in his pocket. If it's still functional he'll dial 119 and report the situation anonymously.
The driver does manage to come to a stop. He looks too terrified to move really, but otherwise seems unharmed. He's a bit too far to walk to the temple, but he is not far from the subway.
He is able to reclaim his stuff from the poor driver, who looks as though he is seriously thinking a career change.
Ranmaru gives him a little extra cash and heads to the subway. he takes a breath and leans heavily against a support beam while he waits for the train.
Fortunately, there are no additional attempts on Ranmaru's life. At least none that he notices. Possibly the presence of the crowd is a factor. The ride to Shofukuji is uneventful.
The monks admit Ranmaru into the temple where Sasori (clad, rather uncomfortably in temple robes) is sitting with Gentle Wind.
"Good morning, Vizzini-san."
Throwing out all politeness, Ranmaru holds up one finger "1) I don't have to cut my hair or anything like that right?" he adds a second finger, "2) Can you shield my dreams, or teach me how to do it before I pass out?"
"Bald might suit you." Sasori says mildly.
Gentle Wind glares at him. "No, there is no requirement regarding hair. And as for your dreams, we can teach you some techniques. We value discipline over mind and body. We should be able to help you."
Ranmaru chooses to ignore Sasori's comment. He bows humbly on his knees. "Please teach me."
Gentle Wind nods gravely. "I will be pleased to begin your training in the ways of our Brotherhood. Please understand that being Akashiyama is a lifelong venture. Your training will be difficult but I believe that you will do well."
He smiles slightly. "Brother Sasori will begin your orientation." That gets a sharp look from Sasori. "Teaching is a humbling experience, Kouga. You could use some of that."
Sasori is not terribly pleased, but he bows his acquiescence.
Ran clenches his jaw sharply. If learning to control his dreams and not be attacked every time he walked outside meant learning from this man, then so be it. Inwardly, he promised to make Sasori's life just as difficult for him as the other man would undoubtedly make for him.
Ranmaru also bows humbly. "I most humbly thank you for burdening yourself with me."
The day has hardly begun, and yet he already wants to crawl into bed and rest; yet he'll fight off sleep as long as he can. Days if need be.
Sasori takes a long look at his new student and says "I don't have any use for an exhausted Initiate. Go to bed. They'll show you to a room."
Ranmaru looks at him defiantly. "I won't sleep. I can't." he lowers his head.
Gentle Wind gives Sasori a prodding look. Sasori sighs and stands. "Come this way." His tone does not invite argument.
Ranmaru stands and follows quietly.
Ranmaru is led to a room that is empty except for a tatami mat, a futon, two incense burners. He takes a seat between the burners with the same posture as he would at a board meeting.
"Lay down."
Ranmaru hesitates. His trust of Sasori is minimal at best, for all he knows the past two days have been some perverse joke meant to weaken him to desperation. Or that the man before him is about to defile him in a temple, or make him dance the hula with a tutu... he has no idea where that last bit came from. With a sigh he decides, in the end, what choice does he really have and lays down as instructed.
Sasori places incense in the braziers and lights them, causing the room to fill with a deep rich scent. Then he takes what looks like a small tuning fork out of his sleeve, strikes it against the edge of a brazier, causing a fine, piercing ring that lingers in the air.
Then he begins to speak in a deep sonorous voice. After a moment, Ranmaru recognizes that he's apparently reciting the corporate licensing policy. He does not have time to process it, as he falls asleep.
He does not dream.
Ranmaru wakes up sometime feeling as if all the weight that he carried with him the past month since the dreams begin was lifted. He wouldn't term what he was feeling right now as better than sex, but the pure relaxation he feels is comparable.
An evil smile forms at the corner of his lips. Yup, definitely comparable to the morning after. His smile brightens as he thinks about that one time with the twins.
Sasori, who hadn't moved from his place between the braziers except to apparently get a hold of a copy of the newspaper, looks at Ranmaru with a raised eyebrow.
"I hadn't realized you were so athletic. That will be useful in your training."
Ranmaru's smile widens, not the least bit disturbed. "Thank you." he sits up, letting the memory slip. "So wear do we begin.. teacher?"
Initially, the ride to Shoufuku-ji is calm and event-free. However, that changes when Ranmaru hears a loud bang and the cab starts losing control.
"We've blown a tire!" The driver says, trying to regain control of the car.
Ran lets out an exasperated sigh while thinking "You've got to be kidding me."
"If I live through this, he's never going to let me hear the end of it."
The car is traveling less than 50 km/hr, so Ranmaru jumps out of the car, tucks and rolls as appropriate. There is no sign of whoever or whatever blew the tire.
Ranmaru grabs for the phone in his pocket. If it's still functional he'll dial 119 and report the situation anonymously.
The driver does manage to come to a stop. He looks too terrified to move really, but otherwise seems unharmed. He's a bit too far to walk to the temple, but he is not far from the subway.
He is able to reclaim his stuff from the poor driver, who looks as though he is seriously thinking a career change.
Ranmaru gives him a little extra cash and heads to the subway. he takes a breath and leans heavily against a support beam while he waits for the train.
Fortunately, there are no additional attempts on Ranmaru's life. At least none that he notices. Possibly the presence of the crowd is a factor. The ride to Shofukuji is uneventful.
The monks admit Ranmaru into the temple where Sasori (clad, rather uncomfortably in temple robes) is sitting with Gentle Wind.
"Good morning, Vizzini-san."
Throwing out all politeness, Ranmaru holds up one finger "1) I don't have to cut my hair or anything like that right?" he adds a second finger, "2) Can you shield my dreams, or teach me how to do it before I pass out?"
"Bald might suit you." Sasori says mildly.
Gentle Wind glares at him. "No, there is no requirement regarding hair. And as for your dreams, we can teach you some techniques. We value discipline over mind and body. We should be able to help you."
Ranmaru chooses to ignore Sasori's comment. He bows humbly on his knees. "Please teach me."
Gentle Wind nods gravely. "I will be pleased to begin your training in the ways of our Brotherhood. Please understand that being Akashiyama is a lifelong venture. Your training will be difficult but I believe that you will do well."
He smiles slightly. "Brother Sasori will begin your orientation." That gets a sharp look from Sasori. "Teaching is a humbling experience, Kouga. You could use some of that."
Sasori is not terribly pleased, but he bows his acquiescence.
Ran clenches his jaw sharply. If learning to control his dreams and not be attacked every time he walked outside meant learning from this man, then so be it. Inwardly, he promised to make Sasori's life just as difficult for him as the other man would undoubtedly make for him.
Ranmaru also bows humbly. "I most humbly thank you for burdening yourself with me."
The day has hardly begun, and yet he already wants to crawl into bed and rest; yet he'll fight off sleep as long as he can. Days if need be.
Sasori takes a long look at his new student and says "I don't have any use for an exhausted Initiate. Go to bed. They'll show you to a room."
Ranmaru looks at him defiantly. "I won't sleep. I can't." he lowers his head.
Gentle Wind gives Sasori a prodding look. Sasori sighs and stands. "Come this way." His tone does not invite argument.
Ranmaru stands and follows quietly.
Ranmaru is led to a room that is empty except for a tatami mat, a futon, two incense burners. He takes a seat between the burners with the same posture as he would at a board meeting.
"Lay down."
Ranmaru hesitates. His trust of Sasori is minimal at best, for all he knows the past two days have been some perverse joke meant to weaken him to desperation. Or that the man before him is about to defile him in a temple, or make him dance the hula with a tutu... he has no idea where that last bit came from. With a sigh he decides, in the end, what choice does he really have and lays down as instructed.
Sasori places incense in the braziers and lights them, causing the room to fill with a deep rich scent. Then he takes what looks like a small tuning fork out of his sleeve, strikes it against the edge of a brazier, causing a fine, piercing ring that lingers in the air.
Then he begins to speak in a deep sonorous voice. After a moment, Ranmaru recognizes that he's apparently reciting the corporate licensing policy. He does not have time to process it, as he falls asleep.
He does not dream.
Ranmaru wakes up sometime feeling as if all the weight that he carried with him the past month since the dreams begin was lifted. He wouldn't term what he was feeling right now as better than sex, but the pure relaxation he feels is comparable.
An evil smile forms at the corner of his lips. Yup, definitely comparable to the morning after. His smile brightens as he thinks about that one time with the twins.
Sasori, who hadn't moved from his place between the braziers except to apparently get a hold of a copy of the newspaper, looks at Ranmaru with a raised eyebrow.
"I hadn't realized you were so athletic. That will be useful in your training."
Ranmaru's smile widens, not the least bit disturbed. "Thank you." he sits up, letting the memory slip. "So wear do we begin.. teacher?"
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