for whitesunatmidknight

[brushstrokes]

Jabi and Rin had been in the middle of training when the summon from Kouga came.

Despite the teen's protests, Jabi had sent her inside before bothering to open the message. It was brief and to the point; Kouga had never been one to waste time on pleasantries anyway. After reading, Jabi crumpled the missive in her hand. There was little to be thought about on the matter: Kouga needed her, so she would go to him.

It was as simple as that.

Comments

[brushstrokes]

The stare that she gave him was withering. "If you don't know what it means, then you're an even bigger fool than I give you credit for." This was Kantai - his jurisdiction, the land under his protection, and knowing it was the only reason she didn't tell him to go away and get lost.

[whitesunatmidknight]

Tsubasa reacted before he could remember not to be provoked. His mouth opened and he moved towards her, but it was several moments before he could answer, "This is my home, my land, and I won't be called a fool in it. Are you even sure Rin wants ... whatever it is you say she wants? Why doesn't she tell me?" His previous uncertainties about the decision to fire Jabi were fading away. He had never denied the idea that Rin might one day want to get married, but beyond that he knew very little about what it was that Jabi believed he should allow his sister to be. If it involved insulting him, undermining his authority in his jurisdiction, and Jabi's strange ways of speaking and touching someone - his answer was No.

[brushstrokes]

Jabi raised her chin in defiance, choosing to face him without any qualms or uncertainty. Perhaps calling him a fool was uncalled for, but then she wasn't one to back down when she knew she was right. "Why do you think she doesn't tell you? And before you even accuse me of such, no - I never prohibited her from telling you whatever it is that she wants. On the contrary - I encourage it." Why would she such a thing, anyway? It had never been her intention to replace Tsubasa in Rin's life. She had no plans of undermining Tsubasa in his sister's eyes - it would be pointless, and besides, Tsubasa was her brother - when it came down to Jabi and Tsubasa, Rin's loyalties would always be with her family.

"Have you ever considered that perhaps you're the reason she never tells you anything?"

[whitesunatmidknight]

Tsubasa wasn't naive enough to expect that Rin would always be as open and affectionate with him as when she was a child. He was prepared for her to grow up; he just hadn't thought that she would withdraw and refuse to listen to him. Jabi was in a better position to understand a teenage girl's concerns but he considered that, as Rin's mentor, she should have taught Rin that such things were secondary to her destiny as a Makai Priestess. "I hope Rin could speak to me any time she liked. But I have never taught her to be obstinate, and neither has anyone in my household." He felt less inclined to watch his words now that Jabi was directly confronting him.

[brushstrokes]

"And you think I did?"

Perhaps she should have invited Tsubasa to watch her training with Rin, just so all these doubts of his would be wiped clean. But such an opportunity would never come again.

"You seem to be forgetting that some things don't need to be taught. They are already innate." Couldn't he see that his sister was just as obstinate as he was?

Jabi laughed. "How interesting. All these time, when Rin refused to listen to me, I blame you for raising her that way - and here you are, blaming me for it too."

[whitesunatmidknight]

"Only children blame others. I'm talking about taking responsibility." On top of the matter of his encounter with the man in the red mask, Tsubasa didn't feel able to solve two concerns at once. He had determined that he wasn't going anywhere soon and refused to think any further ahead than that, but now that others had been affected he would join the rest of the Makai Knights to destroy the curse. Jabi's constant pressing was making it harder for him to ignore the sadness that came when he wondered what Rin's memories of him would be, "What more can I do? If you leave, she'll resent me. If you stay, nothing will change. Do what you want, it makes no difference."

[brushstrokes]

He had a valid point - not that she'd admit it.

"Why are you under the impression that Rin resents you in some way? Because she's obstinate at times? Because she doesn't follow every word you say?" Jabi shrugged that off. "She's young. She's bound to have moments when she doesn't want to follow anything, or anyone. That doesn't mean she stopped loving you as her brother."

[whitesunatmidknight]

"I don't know that she does. She will, if you leave." It wasn't the first time he'd had to face the threat of backing down from his own pride when Rin was involved. He didn't like it, but was hoping to reach a compromise that didn't involve him stating he had been wrong to remove Jabi, "you're the only friend she has. We don't know more about the Makai Knights - this curse. If it exists, I don't want her to be alone when she doesn't have to be."

[brushstrokes]

And now here he was, telling her that he didn't want Rin to be alone when a few minutes ago he all but shoved her out of his sister's reach. Jabi sighed loudly, then raised a brow at him.

"You're a very confusing man, Tsubasa," she said, just because it was the truth. Jabi considered him, and added, "Although I do find it strange that all of a sudden you're concerned with how Rin views you." And even considered Jabi a threat to it. A beat, and then, "Is there something you're not telling her?"

[whitesunatmidknight]

"You're confusing me." He'd been so sure that removing Jabi from Rin's life was the right thing to do and within a few moments she had somehow managed to overturn his conviction. He felt that at this time it was more important for Rin to be happy than him to be right, "No, there's nothing. A Makai Knight or Priestess is always prepared to die. If I expect her to see that, I have to lead by example."

[brushstrokes]

There he went again. It was hard not to suspect anything, when he was reiterating death time and again - as though he was certain something was coming at him. Given that Kantai was peaceful now, with only the threat of the curse to Makai Knights raising the concerns of Priests and knights everywhere, it was easy to derive that something had happened to Tsubasa, only he was choosing not to say it.

Yet it was not her place to pry. It had never been, even if he was giving her back the choice of whether to stay or go after her summon from Kouga had been finished. It was strange; she should gloat that she managed to make him retract his decision - but all she felt now was relief, and some dread.

"You're right," she said. "But don't go rushing to your death anytime soon - you'll only regret it if you do."

[whitesunatmidknight]

"Why would I do such a thing? I'm not going anywhere." As of yet the seal on his chest didn't seem to be having any effect on him, although it was sometimes painful when training. He had been waiting for news of any developments or suggestion of a way to remove it. A Makai Priestess might know more but since Jabi hadn't volunteered anything, he saw no reason to take her into his confidence. He believed that the force of will could overcome many things and because of this he had already decided his life wasn't going to be ended so easily. Some Makai Knights had lived to great ages, and although he was prepared to die at any time, he didn't see why he shouldn't be around to see Rin grow up, "If she won't listen to my words, perhaps she'll learn from my example."

[brushstrokes]

She had meant the words to be taken in jest, but perhaps even trying it would be in vain. Perhaps that was one of Tsubasa's faults - he seemed incapable of seeing the lighter side to everything. Jabi was certainly grateful that his sister was nowhere near his level of seriousness, and could still laugh when it was appropriate.

She was about to tell him these things when Rin herself appeared, announcing that it was time for dinner. Jabi smiled at her and, shooting a look Tsubasa's way, told Rin that she should stay with her brother and walk with him, before moving out on her own. Perhaps the two of them should start talking now, so that the Knight would at least have the peace of mind he so desperately craved.