The Way - Chapters 4 and 5

I'm back! New chapter, and there are lots more coming. This is I think the most exciting chapter yet. Enjoy!
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Chapter 4 - New Discoveries

The beginning of that week went on quickly as the staff in the Kenjirou house worked to keep their guest comfortable, and prepare themselves for a new apprentice for the master. No one yet knew rather Raine would stay, some thought he might even force her to stay. His obsession with her seemed impossible to break. He was determined to keep her there. While on the other hand, Raine was looking for any reason NOT to stay. But this proved a harder task than she thought it would. She was really starting to warm up to the place, and the people who lived there. The whole mountain seemed magical in some unexplainable way. The garden for one was either brimming with life, and in constant bloom, or on rainy days seemed to be a source of comfort. There was always something about the rain that she took strength, and comfort from. Raine had explored every nook and cranny she could of the place, other than a few locked doors, it appeared to be an ordinary mansion rested on the top of a mountain. But her nerves told her otherwise.

She had been walking down the hallway that left the front entrance past the living room and Master Kenjirou's study, and discovered a stained glass dome at the very end. The dome was made of thick stained glass, and formed a kind of half octagon. The colors were mostly of dark hues, and Raine could tell it was very skillfully made. The faces and scenery depicted in the glass told a story, but she couldn't quite figure out what it was saying. The whole thing had a mountain in the background and at the very top, on the ceiling, was the mountains peek. A dark fog or smoke surrounded it, and through it Raine could see a pair of gold eyes staring out from it like two faint stars. These eyes held her on the spot, and for a time she couldn't move, but was stuck in the trance it put her in. As she stared into those eyes, the picture became more clearer, the lines of the glass seemed to disappear.

The fog slowly swirled round, and round, momentarily clouding the eyes. When they back, upon seeing her they widened, and a deep voiced whisper could be heard throughout the hall, but incomprehensible to her. The eyes came closer to Raine, and she then remembered that she was still standing beneath the dome. Difficultly she slid her right foot back, never taking her eyes off the form seemingly wanting to devour her. The next foot then shot back a couple inches, then she was finally out of the dome, but the eyes still advanced toward her. There seemed to be now a bigger shape to it, arms, and a body under the cover of fog rose up with the eyes. Raine stared to walk backwards as quickly as possible.

But the walls on either side of her also came to life, as the painting on them played along as the dark figure reached them. Raine was now surrounded with it, and she still couldn't take her eyes off the horrible face. Its own eyes turning a burning red, now stood over her completely. She wanted to scream, to crumble on the floor in a ball and never look up again. just when her feet stopped moving the figure spoke out louder. And to her horrid surprise, a hand reached out from behind and grabbed her shoulder turning her around in a quick spin.

"Raine!" Said Kazu.
As soon as he said her name, everything cleared out, and light once again pored out from the window.
"What are you doing here?" He asked with a curious face.
"I... was... there was..." She turned and pointed to the ceiling but there was nothing there. She looked back at him lowering her arm and said. "Nothing, I, I was just exploring."
"Hmm, the lighting from the windows can do curious things, can't it?"
"Yes, it can... I guess."

The next couple of days seemed to drag on as if each day were a week in its self. When she had learned that her stay was nearing two weeks she couldn't believe it, It had felt much, much longer. Either way it was time to make a decision, she liked it here but was sure to be thrown out soon after school started, seeing as she had no gift.

It was right after dinner, Kazu had gone into his study room, and Raine wanted to give him her official answer right away before she lost any nerve. The man scared her. Candle in hand she walked down the hall to his door and knocked. The think old green door open as Kazu bid her to enter. The room was poorly lit, with only one large candle on top a messy table full of books.

"Can I help you?" He asked, eyes expectant.
"I don't need anything, uh, I just wanted to tell you, that I think I have decided to stay after all. If its still okay." She didn't know how to be formal about it.
"Hmm, you think? Heheh, you are sure now? There is absolutely no going back! Unless I personally dismiss you... which we'll make sure doesn't happen, hmm?"
She smiled timidly. "Yes sir."

"Good! Now, our first lesson will be to see where you are academically, how you fair on your reading, math skills, such things as this. Then! We will move on to more... fascinating things!" Raine smiled at him only because he expected it. She had never known anyone so controlling, he could make you do things just by the expressing on his face. But he seemed pleased enough. Perhaps it wouldn't be all that bad. She already knew her letters well and some numbers, enough for her to get by on. She wondered how much he would require her to learn.

"We will start tomorrow morning. After breakfast, upstairs. Don't be late." He took her arm and gave a genuine warming smile. "Now to bed. Good night." And he led her back out, still with the candle in her hands.

Raine woke with a sudden start, and sat up. She felt like someone had woke her, but there was only she and herself in the room. Perhaps someone had just walked out of the room. She wished people would knock more. Gray light poured in through the glass doors, telling how early it was yet. Thoughts of what she would be doing or rather not knowing what was coming gave her a stomachache. She could go back to sleep, but wide awake she decided to take a bath and maybe a walk before breakfast. After finishing her bath and dressing, the breakfast bell rang, she'd taken a lot longer than she thought in the tub. Breakfast was good but plain, and she didn't feel hungry as her nerves were all too tight.

"Are you ready now Raine?" Asked Kazu, he finished, and seeing her picking at her rice figured more waiting would prove but wasted time.
"Yes, I guess so."
"Well then follow me, and we will soon begin." He said getting up from his chair and quickly making his way out the doors.

His eyes held a light in them, and he seemed in a particularly good mood. This helped Riane to calm down a little. Following him up the long stairway she had half a mind to turn and race back down them and out the front door. But she was too scared to do even that. What was she thinking going through with this, that she could farther her education before he found no potential of the "gifted" within her. She always thought it would work, but now that it was here, she didn't know how she could have tricked herself into this.

They went to the far left corner of the building, a place where Raine hadn't seen yet. Because it was in the corner two walls, the front and left, were mostly covered in windows. The view was breathtaking, Raine could see off the cliff that the house stood on. The other two sides were made of a dark golden wood paneling. There were grooves all along the wall, and there was also a large closet, or covered bookshelf to the right. The floor was made of small dark wood boards, and the room smelled of wood. Kazu let her observe a while longer before he cleared his throat and got her attention back.

"Oh, sorry," Raine said a little embarrassed.
"You will be spending a lot of time in this room, it's good to become familiar with your surroundings." He gestured to the desk in the middle of the room. "This is yours now. Most of your studying will be done here. My desk is there before you, always facing yours."
"Oh, that's, good." Raine smiled.

"It is." He walked over to her and stood before her. Much taller then she, Raine was uncomfortable with how close he stood, but she determined, held her ground.

"From now on, you will not be calling me Mater Kenjirou, it will be but just Master. Every time you enter or exit the classroom you will bow, every morning when we first see each other we will bow in recognition. As well as every night before retiring. This room, for now, is your living space. You will spend everyday, most of the day if not all of it in here. Until you have advanced, I expect you to remember these rules along with others to come. Forgetting is not an option. I am a master and teacher of the Gifts, and not a school master. But for you it seems I have to make an exception, and teach you more academics. As long as you progress quickly as expected this will not be a problem."

He stepped away and towards the closet and opening it took out a bundle warped in pale cloth. Holding it with such care Raine couldn't think of what it might be. He set in down on his desk and started to unwrap it. "Raine, step forward."

And she did so. As the last fold was pulled back she could see something black in color, and looked to be some kind of shirt perhaps. He lifted it up and it seemed to grow longer and formed into a robe. To her amazement it flashed and shimmered like oil, or a piece of black flint. It was beautiful and she felt an urge to touch it, find out if it felt as silky as it looked.

"This, Raine, is your robe. The acceptance of a robe for the student will be one of the most important, and memorable times of life. It appears black now, and so it is. But you have to put it on before it will change. This also is a test to see what gifts you may possess, if you've acquired any yet, and in a way it helps foretell what is to come of your future."
No, no no no no! It will stay black I'm sure! this isn't good, he's going to throw me out sooner than I thought! Raine was now regretting her thoughts of wanting to touch the cloth.

"Do not be frightened of this. It is an exciting moment for both of us. Most beginners will often turn their robes a pale brown, as they haven't yet learned anything. On rare occasions will it show faint lines, or shapes. And those without a gift will be unable to turn it. Now please, turn around so I can put it on you."

"Well, per-perhaps we could do this tomorrow? I mean, maybe I should try and learn something first, before trying it on?" Raine was trying not to shake, but she was literally scared to death.
"That is not possible, putting this on your shoulders signifies my acceptance in teaching you, and of you becoming my pupil and apprentice. Now, turn around."

Rain slowly turned, and faced away from him with her eyes tightly closed. As she heard him take his first step towards her she popped open her eyes, What if it doesn't turn any color? I'll have to make a run for it then. I need to be able to see what it does. So she waited as he came closer, and stopped at her back. She stretched her arms back so he could fit the sleeves over. Slowly they went in, and slowly the robe was placed on top her shoulders. The color hadn't changed yet, but it seemed to be shrinking some, as if to fit Raine's stature and height perfectly. It was completely on then before Raine had realized. And it was still black, She slowly turned back towards him and looked him in the eyes, ready to run at any given moment.

His eyes told nothing, they didn't twinkle, nor were they dark, he just looked at her as if still waiting for the moment. Then, just as Raine was preparing to jump and make the getaway, the whole room flashed white, blinding both of them. Raine put her hands in front of her face to block the light, but it didn't seem to help. Then slowly as the light started to fade, she could open her eyes, and then realized the light had come from the robe. It was so bright that she couldn't look right at it, not for a few minutes. Once the light seemed to fade Raine looked around the room and at her master. He had on an expressing of confusion and compassion both.

Shaking from the exhilaration of it Raine took in a deep breath. "You didn't tell me blinding was a possibility." She said weakly.
"That is because it never has been. Look at your robe, it is purer then any light I have ever seen."

Rain looked down, it was true, the robe was VERY white. Not brown as Master Kenjirou had expected, but better than black.
"What does that mean?" She asked.

"Who can tell? I have never seen a white robe. It is rare to see white on a robe at all."
"Oh great, I'm the freak now."
"No, do not say that."

He circled around her stroking his chin in concentration. He had never seen anything at all like this. He was certain she had healing powers of some sort within her, and healers were some considered to be clean, and in a way pure. Could this white signify a type of pure energy, unknown yet to this world? Could she poses the power or a new element overlooked perhaps, or undiscovered? Non of his reasoning would help him to find the answer. And he didn't think it wise to ask others until more could be discovered. In the wrong hands she may be hurt, or scared by it and run. No, this would be best handled here, in secret, where he could watch over her every move, and he would do just that.
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Chapter 5 - Bored
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Sorry if the chapters a little boring. Aon is pronounced "Ong" with the "g" being silent.
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As time passed, the robe dulled in its radiance and began to look as plain cloth, very white plain cloth. It never stained, or got dirt on it. Master said this was common for a new robe. He had explained to Raine that she was to wear the robe at all times, never taking it off except to sleep and bathe. The robe was a kind of source for her power. She would need it to boost or give energy when in need of more than she herself could put out. He told her that as she progressed in her studies, and in knowledge of her gift, the robe would show it through different shapes and pictures as they slowly formed on the robe. It was a kind of painting, with more practice and experience the picture would be clearer, and better depicted.

The day Raine had received her robe, Master didn't start with studying textbooks, but decided to take the day in tales, and stories. He thought it was good for her to know the history of the Gifted. Though curiously despite her begging, he wouldn't give much detail of his own life. She knew he grew up in the area, and studied at the top school of his time, which is now in ruins from a battle fought there long ago, to which was also unexplained to her. She also got out of him that in his time they were taught much differently, but because of whatever happened at that school to end it, schools were forbidden to ever teach in the same manner. Though he had half a mind to teach her some of that here.

Today it was raining, though she usually liked it, Raine was having a hard time concentrating on her work. It was so dark and dreary, as she sat in her desk facing all the windows all she saw was fog and water. Master had made it clear once that idle and wondering eyes were not tolerated, and often changed his temper. So she was careful not to attract attention to herself as she got bored of studying letters and numbers. He was reading now, always reading. What is that he's reading anyway? she thought. Sometimes he lost rack of time reading in front of her.

Kazu had gone to his lowest level of the house, to the storage and pulled out the scrolls, scrolls he had acquired when still in school. Some that he may or may not have borrowed without permission. Some of these depicted all the gifted kind known. All their traits, and how they used them. He was on a search to discovering how, and what Raine was. She could take the life source from his body, but he didn't know yet if she could give out energy. Her white robe puzzled him the most. White was literally the only color not found on a robe. And he was on a search for any mention of white in the history scrolls now set before him.

He looked up from his own study and saw Raine, pencil on hand, eyes to the windows.
"Raine!" He spoke loudly. She jumped in her chair.
"Are you tired of studying? I am. Let's go to lunch." And they left the room without another word, much to the relief of Raine.

That was now the routine of the days spent there, study eat, study eat, study sleep. Raine was getting much better at what she was studying, she thought she could read well before, but now she realized it may not have been as good as she first thought. She got through her work much faster now. but on the downside she had more now to work on. She didn't mind it though, she soaked up every bit. She always though that the brain could hold only so much information at a time, and she told her master this, to which he replied, "It like a stomach, you think you are full at a certain point, until you try to stretch it out with more food. The more you take in, the more room you have in your brain's storage complicity" So in other words, she would never stop studying, not until her brain literally blew up with all the knowledge stored up in there. She was never aware that there was so much stuff to study.

One day a week she had off to rest or study on her own time. On one such day she was sitting on her bedroom floor looking at her robe feeling the cloth, and stretching it, trying to see if it could do anything special. It wasn't a very think material, but there was no way of seeing through it. It laid very nicely and looked heavy, but after a few days of wearing it you got used to it. It wasn't raining today and bored out of her mind she decided to try and clime off the balcony. Master preferred her to stay in her room, but she felt like exploring that day. Besides, she couldn't remember staying in one place for so long. She NEEDED to get out for her own sanity and health.

Climbing down wasn't a problem, it was getting out of the garden unnoticed that she was afraid of. Not knowing what part of the house Master was in didn't help. Running straight on was probably the only choice she had. Hopping over bushes, and leaping over beds of flowers she got through the garden and up to the short stone wall. She jumped down off it, which was several feet down the cliff. But now she was finally in the woods, finally off house grounds, and free of Master's constant watch. She hadn't been out since she first climbed the mountain that horrible rainy day. She made her way due south, the ground beneath was littered with colorful leaves. Fall was coming and the day the perfect temperature for a hike. So on she went happy and feeling refreshed to be out.

Her white robe shown like a sore thumb in the woods, but she was far out enough for no one to see her. Many hours passed, and she climbed up hill, and down steep slopes, not looking for anything in particular but simply enjoying the fresh air. She came to a hill where no trees grew, except for one very small little tree that stood almost at the top of the hill. She didn't know what type it was, but its leaves were a faded golden brown, and its bark smooth and creased. It stood lower than her, and she reached out to touch its stem. A shock sent through her heart made her gasp and pull back her hand.

"Ow!, Why'd you do that?" She asked it, fully expecting an answer. Holding her hand close to her chest she looked at it with distrust. But determination got the best of her and she slowly, but carefully, reached out to it again. It didn't bite back this time, and she was able to breathe more freely.

"Now isn't that better?" Raine's hand itched to get closer, and so she warped her whole hand around the thin stem and stated concentrating on the plant. A split second, almost so short she wasn't sure it had happened, she felt it. She felt the life within it, and she knew that the tree wasn't what hurt her in the first place, it was her own doing that hurt her. Though she didn't know how, she just knew it came from her.

She didn't try again to make a connection with it, she didn't even know for certain what she felt. The walk back took a great deal more time than her getting there. She was tired, and was unsure about her location. The house was on a cliff as far east as anyone could go, so she kept the sunset behind her and walked on. Eventually the tops of the pointy roof was visible to her. Once she arrived back to the house, exhausted she was soaked in water and mud after the rain had picked up. She thought about climbing back up the wall to her room, but there really was no point in pretending she was at home all this time. And master probably already knew she had returned.

The thought made her stomachache turn. Raine pushed on the front door, hoping it wasn't locked, she didn't know if she could bring herself to knocking on those huge doors till someone heard and opened them. Fortunately when she pushed they easily and quietly opened, unfortunately this meant they were expecting her to come through this way. Raine pushed them back in and shut them as gently as possible, but the doors gave a finale crack and boom as they sealed behind her. She shut her eyes and flinched as the sound echoed through the hallway and up the ceiling. She honestly couldn't remember the house having an echo before.

The house was dark, but light came from the dining room, and farther up on the balcony. Raine was unsure if she should go right to bed, or see if anyone was around. Walking forward she decided her heart would be better off just going to bed, but just then she spotted something in the corner of her eye and made her jump. It was Master, he must have been standing there all this time watching, for he was near the corner of the large room. He walked up slowly to Raine, hands behind his back.

"Good evening Raine." He said calmly.
"Hi..." She all of a sudden was brought back to the memory of when he first brought her here. She was wet and dripping then too.
"Where you going to let someone know of your return?"

"Yes, I was. Or, well I was trying to figure out if anyone was in the here."
"And where exactly are you returning from?"

"Oh, good question. Umm I was just walking around the mountain. And in the woods, I just wanted to explore, and exercise..." She hated how much he made her quiver.

"Exercise? You could have done that here in my garden. There is a reason for the wall I have around the property. And there is also a reason why you had to sneak out of my house, leaving without a word to anyone!"

"I'm sorry. It was impulsive. I jus-"
"And if its exercise you want!... then I think it is time we add a new subject of study. One that will be on your free days, to keep you from ever getting bored or restless again hmm?"

"Yes, Master."

"Ah, Now go! Wash your mess and don't be late in the morning."

They bowed to one another and quickly Raine turned and went up the stairs. Though the conversation was short, Raine felt as though he communicated more through his stance, and voice. She still wasn't certain if he hit, though she doubted it. Orphanages were not a good place to grow up in, that's why she hid and traveled most her life. She had hoped telling him about the tree would lighten his mood, but he didn't leave her any room to talk. Perhaps she would keep this one to herself. She saw the tub had already been filling by the help when she got entered the room. Master really did know she was coming before she was inside. Aon was there filling it with hot buckets of water, and when he finished, seeing her mood and tired face he came up to her and placed a hand on her arm.

"You know what?" Aon whispered. "He didn't even know you were gone until just recently at dinner." He smiled shyly and quickly shuffled away, bucket in hand.