[fieldbox= Rizen and Tsubaha - Affinity Chapter 1: Worn Down Shrine, #00ffa5, solid]
[Month of Renewal, 14th - Evening / Jiaojing Province, Maolan Forest, Worn-down Shrine]
"W-where is this...?"
Rizen is slumped on the ground, stomach down. His face kissed the hard and cold ground. His ears picked up noises, chatters of people around him, voices that he deemed to be those of friendly in nature. His eyes half closed, wandering around the immediate premise as he tried to turn his stiff neck sideways, with cheeks glued to the floor, only to hear a screeching crack afterwards.
"Ouch! My neck!"
But alas, instead of quickly standing and prepping himself up, the boy maintained the awkward position, seemingly unable to bring himself up from the ground.
"W-what did I... Oh... Right...!"
In a span time of few seconds as he slowly rotated his body to the side, Rizen seems to have recalled his situation. The festival, the tournament, the new friends he met, the poison, the bells..... The bells. He started to move his hand towards the pockets of his pants, nothing. The inside of his coat, nothing. He moved his hand frantically until he realized that the only places for him to keep his bell is his coat and his pants, nowhere else.
Still maintaining the awkward position, Rizen's eyes started to widen, perhaps it dawned upon him that things have gotten bad. But as much as he would like to rise up and join his new friends, the people he met on the festival, he cannot bring himself to do it. More like, he is not able to get up. His eyes darted around, pupils widening, trying to lock into someone to ask for their help. Obviously the go-to person would be the one who is currently letting her voice be known to the others.
And there she is, Tsubaha Mori. Someone Rizen knew from years ago. He remembered the day when a good friend of his brought a small girl to the Wushu school. That small girl is now in front of him, a formidable combatant, headstrong rather, with brilliant techniques. But still, there is something off about her, something that Rizen cannot put his finger on.
This is not the time to ponder on such matter however,
"Tsubaha-chan can you help me up.... I think the poison got me quite bad... I kind of feel limp and powerless..."
Still slumping on the ground, Rizen tried his best to turn his head at Tsubaha, an awkward smile on his face.
"So they got you too then? You're not the first one here who had it really bad though. Here."
Complying, Tsubaha managed Rizen into a slightly less ackward sitting position of sorts. With him settled down, she pulled back and sat herself back down. How regrettable, she seemed pretty spry. The poison or whatever it was that had gotten him didn't seem to get here. Was that just a sign of him growing old, maybe?
"You surprised me. I didn't think you'd be, well you know. Back like this..."
Yes, a bit different from the girl that Tsukaha had brought in from that time - it seemed like it was a whole other lifetime ago. Rizen could recall the other students and their fascination and disdain for the unorthodox style of swordsmanship she practiced. But, seeing the two blades at her side only confirmed that she had stayed true to that style up through now instead of conforming.
Rizen wasn't entirely sure what Tsubaha had thought of him. She definitely did not get along with Tsukaha though, even though she'd brought the girl into the School in the first place.
She generally didn't get along with the other adherents, but she'd fight with them - or maybe more appropriately - have sparring sessions with them just as much as any other student. But, that was years ago, when she was flailing about with wooden training swords with the others in her age group. The fact that the little girl from back then was now the slightly less little - and armed for combat, really drove home the passage of time for him.
The kids who had looked up to him back then were fighting in the tournament too, even. And, given the current climate in Shang, some of them may have even fought against the Migrants.
Some of them had already died in the name of Shang.
Just seeing anyone he recognized still here was a sort of relief in that regard.
"...Are you okay, Rizen?"
"Huh? A-ah yeah, I feel better! It's just..... I think the poison affected my stomach the most..... Like food poisoning, feels like you want to..... You know...? Heheh!"
With a rather awkward hand gesture, Rizen tried to move the conversation on, eager to hide the fact that he was lost in his memories. The sight of Tsubaha reminded him of the length of his journey, it has been quite a long time since he started, yet it feels like it was just yesterday.
He can't remember exactly how she looked before then but she must have been smaller than she is now. But was Tsubaha always this small? When was it, the last time he visited Jiaojing? A year ago? He didn't recall seeing Tsubaha, just like the time before then, the girl was always missing whenever Rizen went back home.
Was it because they didn't get along, Tsubaha and Tsukaha? Not only with her sister but with the whole Wushu school students? Did those people bully her? Rizen has started to feel it even stronger now, that something's off with Tsubaha, but surely it can't be the case!
"But maaaaan..... Didn't think this year's festival would be such a pain in the ass! Well, a rather exciting pain in the ass, actually! Now with all this mass poisoning and bell stealing shenanigans, this is more like a wild survival goose chase compared to......."
It was just a split second, but Rizen stopped himself short of completing his sentence. "Compared to 2 years ago, where I was humiliated badly", that's not a very pleasant memory to remember, but alas, being the loudmouthed boy he is, Rizen continued with an obvious fluster and strained awkward smile on his face, trying to shrug off embarrassment,
"... compared to the ones before! Dangit! Time really flies huh?"
Even though he is still in his awkward sitting position, colors started to come back to Rizen's face, and with his jovial attitude, it's rather hard to think that he was crawling on the ground moments before.
"And so...!", still sitting, Rizen slapped his thigh, shook his head a bit, and continued with a big grin,
"Look at you now! You're taking the initiative to group us together! You've really grown! At this rate, I think Tsukaha will face some difficulties!"
before stopping with an awkward panicked smile,
"..... W-wait... or am I wrong? That's what you're here for, right?"
Tsubaha stood herself up. Seeming to do so out of some sort of internal fervor that was burning inside her.
"I'm here to get Tsukaha. The bells and everything else here is secondary. And... when I find her it's gonna be one on one for sure. There's no way I'd want to drag all of you in to help me in a fight that important."
Oh, so that was it.
Tsubaha and her sort of inexplicable vendetta against Tsukaha, even though the latter had brought her to the Wushu School in the first place. But, it was a bit concerning.
This was the field. In a tournament. Everyone here was wielding real weapons, not wooden training instruments. A fight between those two could quickly turn deadly. Rizen could recall his memories of Tsukaha. Even back then...
No wasted movement. Strong and decisive. Against most opponents, they're defeated almost effortlessly. Yes, she was the headmaster's favorite among the sword adherents.
The two never had to fight against one another due to the school forbidding sword students from sparring from unarmed students. But, needless to say, if Rizen was at the top of the hierarchy on the unarmed side, then it was a given that she was right there beside him on the sword side.
Tsubaha must've been aware of that.
Was this why she chose to chase after and Challenge Tsukaha in this tournament in particular? A situation where failure meant death?
"...So what about it Rizen? You want to join us too, then?
"Of course! It's not like I have any other options now! The archers would get me if I run away right?"
Still unable to move from his awkward sitting position, Rizen answered Tsubaha enthusiastically. He couldn't help but to get fired up by Tsubaha's passionate declaration of war against her sister. Reality, though, struck him soon thereafter, as Rizen became more pessimistic and started to let out a deep sigh,
"... maaan... now that I think of this situation..... My goal here is not for the wish... but I'll be a pincushion if I want out...! That shitty headmaster geezer is probably laughing his ass off now!"
True enough, Rizen's wish seems rather paltry compared to those of his new friends, criminals who wish to be freed and forgiven, or even Tsubaha's, to claim fame and glory as a Swordmaster. An imperial dinner with the King and a nice evening chat about the state of war? Everyone and their grandmother would look at you funny. And out of nowhere, Rizen just have to bring the headmaster in, emphasizing the bad blood between them.
For those in the wushu school, Rizen's motive is clear as crystal. They know that Rizen is on a quest to perfect his self-styled martial arts. Some scoffed at him, on how the former star is willing to bow his head to a stranger just to learn simple techniques such as a leg sweep. If anything, Rizen is probably here to learn more techniques from strong opponents rather than to have a wish fulfilled by the King.
"But you know Tsubaha-chan, I think we're very similar, you and I, yet also very different!", claimed Rizen as he crossed his arms and rubbed his chin. His eyebrows were raised, as when one gets an epiphany,
"We're very focused on getting stronger, but the way we pursue it..... Uh, you know, our motivation....." , his sentence was paused midway as his brows furrowed,
".......... Rrrrh! I'm not good at thinking! What was it that I want to say?"
Rizen might not be able to formulate his thoughts well, but he's getting somewhere. For starters, there are a few fundamental differences between the two of them, and the most glaring one is that Rizen abandoned his pride to start anew while Tsubaha clung to hers as her main motivation to get stronger. Or perhaps, it is not pride that fuels Tsubaha, but something more dark, something that Rizen couldn't put his finger on, as he still couldn't shake off the very weird feeling he got from the moment he saw Tsubaha.
"... But you know what I'm saying right, Tsubaha-chan...? Or maybe you don't..... I don't even understand my thoughts that well..... Damn I'm stupid!"
Tsubaha let out a breath of air and shook her head.
"...I won't even pretend to understand all the stuff that you're thinking about, Rizen. I have my goal in this tournament, and that's basically it."
She eased one of her hands onto her blades, taking a relaxed pose.
"Training on my own and sparring against the other adherents is about as far as I can take myself. I've trianed and trianed as hard as I could, but I've reached my limit with the opponents and places availible to me here in Jiaojing. The old man who taught me the Ikkikari style is gone - and there's no way I'd be able to find another one who could teach me out there."
"So I've decided now's the time I'm going to have to face down Tsukaha. There's no turning back. Facing her in this tournament is exactly the kind of stage I want."
Even if it meant to the death.
"Rizen, if I fight against Tsukaha. Please don't interfere, okay?"
"..... Uh... "
Rizen paused for quite a while, fidgeting his fingers, both thumbs rubbing on each other.
"..... eeeehh... "
His eyes resemble arcade pinballs, pupils jumping left to right, up and down. A nervous smile on his face and while biting his lower lip, Rizen replied with a cracking voice,
"... No prom- I-I mean, no problem! I won't!"
Rizen's excitement faded away and the weight of Tsubaha's statement has started to sink in.
Tsukaha is monstrously strong and skilled. He couldn't remember if she ever held back before.
Tsubaha is very stubborn and would probably choose death over giving up. Her eyes were straight as an arrow when she asked Rizen to not interfere.
"Oh man, she's gonna get killed won't she?! No! She can do this! Oh wait! But.....!"
His mind worked in overdrive, numerous hypothetical scenarios and questions keep on popping in his head.
Why must they fight? What happened between these two? What spurred Tsubaha's fighting spirit? What is that "off" feeling about Tsubaha that kept on bugging Rizen?
With his brows furrowed, Rizen rubbed his chin back and forth, pinching it in between his thumb and the rest of his fingers.
He started to close his eyes, mind focused on the two sisters and their details.
Tsukaha..... Strong, skilled, brilliant, elegant, with a slender body.
Tsubaha..... Stubborn, small, petite... uhhhhh..... small... small.....!
"!!!"
Rizen's pupils visibly enlarged, his mouth agape, jaw slightly dropping.
How can it be? It took him this long to realize it, that "off" feeling he got when he saw Tsubaha.
"T-Tsubaha-chan!"
He grabbed Tsubaha by the shoulders and looked at her straight in the eyes,
"I-I'm sorry for not realizing it earlier! Now I know why! It's okay! I believe in you!"
With eyes full of kindness, he pat her on the shoulders once more,
"So you must believe in yourself! You can overtake Tsukaha!"
and gave her a thumbs up with a big grin,
"You'll grow taller someday, you're still in puberty! And no! Bigger boobs don't mean they're better!"[/QUOTE]
"W-w-wwhat are you even getting at!? You weirdo! How would that even have to do with anything about being able to fight!?"
Tsubaha responded abrasively.
"Traveling out in the wilderness must've messed up with your mind. Seriously. What would make you say that kind of nonsense?"
At this point, after such a boisterous reaction, Tsubaha calmed herself. She breathed out, as if letting the rest of her general apprehension ease off into the air.
"I'll go ahead and forget you said that, this time." Regaining composure, she continued in a calmer tone.
"You and Noriko are probably the only ones in this band that I recognize, so... I'll be counting on you two... at least no be not as likely to stab someone in the back."
"Well met - again, I guess."
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