A Ninja's Reveng(closed)

"Awww can't I stay up a little later Ronin? Please?" Claire asked with a frown. Fiona chuckled a little and shook her head. "You heard him. Now once you finish your treat it's bed time." Fiona told the child before dipping herself some more stew. Claire tried her best not to eat too fast but eventually it was gone and she went to bed. Once Claire was snuggled up next to Sentinel, Fiona turned to Ronin and smiled. "Well?"

Ronin swallowed and rubbed a hand across his face before he spoke, his voice soft and unsure. "I wanted to ask if you'd like to....well..." His face turned red again and he couldn't find the right words.

If I would like to what Ronin?" She asked tilting her head to the side slightly. She was truly curious about what he wanted to ask her.

Ronin set his bowl down carefully and moved so that he was beside her. Ronin kept his face down and adjusted his hood every so often before he finally lifted his head and planted a kiss on her lips before he quickly withdrew, his face as red as blood. "Sorry." he said quickly.

Smiling she leaned back in and kissed him in return before pulling back. "Don't be." She said with a smile. Her own face beginning to turn red.

Ronin coughed once and rubbed a hand against his face for a moment before he looked around. "I was wondering..." he said slowly, his voice faltering for once. "Would you....would you like to..." Ronin cursed himself and his emotions for making him like this. He wanted to get the words out but he couldn't. Finally he took a hand of hers in his and planted it against his bare cheek. This action alone told her that he was allowing her to see his face for the first time.

Smiling she looked at him. "You have a handsome face." She said once his mask was moved out of the way. "But then I already knew that you did." Closing her eyes she leaned in and kissed him again.

Ronin grunted, though he kissed her back and closed his blue eyes. A hand went up to her jaw and gripped it lightly. He loved her and that, to him, was all that mattered at that moment.

Smiling agenst his lips she wrapped her arms around him, leaning on him slightly. Once the kiss was over she pulled back. "I love you Ronin." She said in a hushed voice.

Ronin was shaking and he didn't know why. "And I you." He managed to say quietly before he yawned.

Why don't we get some sleep? We can continue Clair's training in the morning." She told him with a smile as she laid on her back on the ground.

Ronin gave a nod and took the pot off the heat. They'd have to finish the stew off tomorrow. With a yawn, Ronin laid down by the fire and closed his eyes. Yes. Fiona was the one he wanted to continue his legacy.

Smiling Fiona moved closer to him. She felt much better when she was closer to him. She didn't sleep right away, however. She stayed up thinking mostly to herself about what the future held for them. This was definitely the man she wanted to be with. And she was sure her father would have liked him as well. After a long while, Fiona finally fell asleep.

(poof)

"Meditation helps your soul to become one with everything around you." Ronin explained in a hushed voice, the noise of the waterfall behind them. His eyes were closed and he was sitting cross legged in the grass, his hands folded neatly in his lap. Sentinel was grazing nearby, though far enough away for the noises to not reach them. "Once you've mastered this, you will have learned true inner peace. And then your movements, your actions, your body will become more precise."

Both Fiona and Claire sat on either side of him. Both following his lead. Claire didn't quite understand what this had to do with fighting the bad guys who had killed her momma and grandpapa. It was clear she was getting frustrated with this. She wanted to learn to fight.

Ronin took a deep breath and exhaled slowly before he himself opened his eyes slowly. He said nothing and instead shifted his eyes over to Fiona. As quick as a ninja, he moved without disturbing either of the ladies. He reappeared over the water and sent a shuriken flying towards Fiona. He knew that she'd be able to react quickly enough to stop it from doing her any harm. He was testing her. To him, mediation helped to sharpen the senses and the reflexes of the body. Becoming one with nature and everything around you helped to keep you sharp and at peace with yourself.

Fiona's eyes snapped open as she quickly got out of the way. The shuriken sticking in the ground right where she had been sitting. Looking up she smiled at him and chuckled lightly."You missed dear."She said as she stood up and dusted herself off. Claire's eyes were wide as she looked from the shuriken to Fiona and then to Ronin a little confused.

Ronin straightened himself up and dusted himself off before he crossed the ground back to the shuriken and picked it back up. He twirled it in his fingers for a moment before he looked down at the child who had been charged to him. "Meditation, dear child, sharpens your senses and makes your body more responsive. Your reflexes are heightened. Nature gives us so much if we're willing to tap into it. The only way to do that is through meditation. It's more important than you might realize."

That was amazing..." She said as she looked at the shuriken. "How did you know she would move?" Claire asked as she looked up at him curiously." Fiona chuckled. "You forget, I was his student before you," Fiona said as she moved over to the water to splash some cool water on her face.

"And in time, possibly on your sixteenth, you'll be able to do the same. If you heed the meditation lessons and learn to connect with nature. Once you've connected to everything around you, you will find your inner strength and where you fit in in our Brotherhood."
Ronin said and sat back down beside the child. "Now, come. Let's try to center your breathing and sync it with the sound of the water or the wind."

Ok." Claire said as she closed her eyes and began meditating once again. Slowly she began to calm her breathing until she was relaxed. She did exactly as he told her too, trying her best to be a good student.

"Find something to sync your breath to." Ronin instructed quietly as though to not disturb the sounds of nature. "The water, the air, the trees...anything here in nature can help you sync your breathing."

Nodding claire began to listen to the river and began to sync her breaths to it. She felt so calm and relaxed and could almost feel nature around her.

"Now listen. Listen with your body and soul, not just with your ears." Ronin instructed. He himself had synced his breathing with the wind in the trees and could hear nature speak, as it were.

Claire did as she was told. She seemed to be doing well to Fiona but she wondered what Ronin was thinking. Claire closed her eyes listening with her body and soul. She wanted to do her best and she was trying hard to do that.