Chapter 2.2 "Instinctual Ideas"

Curtains flapped and birds chirped while the wind piped mellowness to the inside through its morning tone. The noises even if gentle, were like continuous thunder inside Ren's ears while he dozed in bed. The open balcony gave the cold morning winds a way inside, and he shuddered as if he was bare from how brisk all felt.

"U-ugh... d-did I forget the door to t-the b-balcony open?" Ren's teeth clattered as he hugged himself in bed to keep cozy. He kept still even afterward awoken—his whole will had remained with the yesterday. Now he wouldn't even pick up the blanket he had kicked away while sleeping to shield himself.

He grunted. Was so exhausted but was unable to rest for a plethora of reasons. So he stood still for some more minutes nevermind the cold, his obligations, and the awful noise.

Even so, the morning was merciless—this one in particular. Ren did not know what time it was but the clarity of the outside transformed his room inch by inch. Until a rare sun came peeping through the horizon's line and its light rushed inside thoroughly.

Ren groaned, helpless against the brightness purging the comfortable dark behind his eyelids. He was forced into squinting his eyes finally before he could open them for a first this morning. Only then did he realize how wearied they were. It felt like rocks scrapped against his inner lid however carefully he directed his vision wherever at.

"Ugh..." He flinched at the pain, fingers massaging his globes.

The reason for all this was the minuscule time he'd had to sleep. His family's and the Kozukis' fault for talking for so long... especially Oden! he thought, fingers massing his temple this time. I can't even count the hours I spent in that dining room yesterday for the meeting. It even extended into today's early hours with all their chatter... ugh.

Sighing, he tried getting up, but his body was as stiff as when he finished sparring with his father. He grumbled, fell back down, and gave up for some more minutes, mind devoid of thought while he lay there. He would've fallen asleep again had it not been for the more daring birds that came all the way to his balcony to chirp—cry—as if begging for food.

"Fuuh..." He finally sat on the bed stretching. Mind's even hazier today... bad timing though since today marks my studying renewal, he thought rueing over it, and forced in his mind his bed would be another redundant thing within the usual clock of twenty-four.

He rose from it yawning and mused, "Sun's peeking in the morning?" He immediately saw the body of light that shone through his curtains and window. It was an unusual sight for the ones up the mountain—barely a few days where the morning was sunlit there.

"Looks like that time of the year is coming. Weird thing it will probably match with my ceremonial birthday." He noticed the coincidence and wasn't sure if he liked it or not.

Seeing no maid would appear this early—as he preferred it—he went to do his bathroom-ly routine alone. There he began ruminating while brushing his teeth.

Why did that man need to speak as much as he did...? Half of what he said at some point sounded like gibberish only. His voice being annoying didn't help at all too... and I couldn't even leave to change my clothes. Terrible, Ren, terrible...

He glowered at his reflection in the mirror wishing he had done it comically. He had to laugh at himself after to make even.

But anyway, regardless of how I feel about him... looks like his whole idea is actually usable they said, and is a decent long-term plan. It's just that... it is not something our clan can help with on a whim.

Ren finished in the bathroom and went straight for his closet for some presentable clothing. He laughed—yesterday's trauma would be lasting it looked like. Meanwhile, he applied his mother's method of remembering wordy topics so he wouldn't forget as easily... Repeating.

The two biggest problems with the first stage of the project we decided at the meeting were: products from these farms won't travel as far as desirable due to their fragility; they tested many times and forget whichever means of transport and storing used... none went a good distance with the goods before they became uneatable. This would then force us to build a lot of these all around Wano to facilitate efficient transport. However, the money required to build even one farm is already high... and building a lot of these? Can't even imagine it. That's also why they came for Father's approval and blessing.

But then comes the second thing and the component impeding the success of this... Oden didn't consider the limited resources we have in Wano when revising the layouts. He said that after his travels, what he saw in the exterior gave him so many more ideas as to how he could improve the project, and now, for it to be as functional and efficient as he envisioned—and that's important he said—we must gather all the resources needed.

Ren forgot all about clothing as he began to contemplate strongly, hand on the chin even. This really was the biggest opportunity for his dream to come true. The only reason he was even remotely considering Oden's idea on a positive note.

He recalled the genuine interest his father showed during the meeting. It even seemed he was going to support and finance the idea. However, because of what that would imply, he said he was postponing the decision.

Hah... cowards. Ren frowned but he knew he should have expected it—... as much as everyone else knew there was only one option to solve the country's famine. And that was to venture outside their land borders. Either to bring materials back for the project, learn more about food-preserving matters. Or really, anything else that would be helpful.

However, how could they? It had been so long since Wano's borders closed and for them to be as daring as to be the ones to open them again... it almost pushed Oden's idea out the possibilities wholly.

But Ren could not let it go this easily. This was his dream—to venture outside this land. Because all he heard about it spoke freedom. And all of it came from one person, the freest one he knew—his uncle.

He was a man who would go out or come back to Wano if he only wished. Someone who always told him the most inexplicable and fun stories he could only dream of. The stories of his trips land out.

Now he waited for when he would come back. He was old enough to follow him now and there was no way the man would refuse his service—a very usable service if he may say.

But he could not push the thought away that he had a perduring bad luck. He had waited right. But four years had passed since his uncle last left. This was his longest trip Ren knew of and he hadn't sent a message to signal his wellness or whereabouts or his return a single time.

And so he sighed soundly. Less than a week away from the ceremony and from being bound to this place forever, he thought and prayed.

Because what he needed right now was a miracle.

Ren realized he hadn't moved for a whole minute now. Kept overthinking as always. Thinking if his uncle would even come back home. Thinking his coming of age was nothing but an elaborate cage that would have him rotting in this country. What else could he deem it if he would have so many responsibilities the office would be his second home?

That's why I need to go before I become the heir...! But I won't have a say in this as per... he thought, not expressing an ounce of frustration outward. Keeping it for himself and himself. As per.

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The Ashikaga family,

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For hundreds of years, they have been the guardians of Wano, expulsing far all that posed a threat to the common and the land. And as such, they would be the ones then to guide the country into abundance's path.

The most common tale told about the Ashikagas was that they were bound by the heavens to this land to protect it as punishment for an unforgivable crime they had done. However, the skies as pitiful as they were, had sent down a divine dragon that would bless them with power and fortune no other had. And so, they could perform their task with no interference.

Because of the dragon's gift albeit their crimes, the Ashikagas swore they would keep the people of this land out of harm's way no matter what. It was an eternal promise.

The dragon, satisfied with the resolve shown, was said to later go into a deep slumber inside Mt. Fuji and even today is said to reside there.

This single tale of unknown origin, coupled with the many times they paved the way for the country to flourish, remained their prestige atop all the other families and clans in the land for hundreds of years.

This would also mean that most things in Wano are centered around them, and by that, the presence of the dragon's head—or the patriarch—will always be of utmost importance. Otherwise, the dragon, or Wano, will not ever function toward amelioration.

When one rises to the position of patriarch, whichever personal feelings they hold are like pebbles compared to the responsibilities that follow. Pebbles that are meant to be kicked toward bottomless ponds.

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Ren brushed himself off of the monomania consuming his thoughts.

"Really stupid..." he mumbled on the idiocy people went to length with these tales.

Suddenly, however, something entered his senses.

He warped his view, face bothered, to the door to his room.

"This early...?" He squinted when he realized the type it was.

Two knocks came from the door and a second later, a maid entered his room. It was the youngest in his most recently earned maid squad, Aki.

"Uhh... hello. What is it?" Ren asked in his most polite tone and while wearing an untightened kimono still. Mayhaps revealing a fresh middle section. Mayhaps having his chest muscles slip into brief view.

For their comparable age-set, his build was the most aesthetically pleasing possible for the average girl. And so, Aki's face flushed when she saw it, hands roving about to cover her embarrassed eyes, eyes on which kept searching for a peek.

The spruce maid seemed shyer for some reason when no other accompanied her, Ren noticed and raised a brow.

"I-I apologize for intruding, Young Master, but your mother had previously asked me to call you for your studies the earliest you'd wake up," she spoke, bowing slowly as she regained her composure.

"Ah, yeah..." Ren scratched his head. Why was she being this shy around him? From his knowledge, they didn't talk much besides the formalities implied in their servant-employer relationship. And it wasn't that long of a relationship too if he recalled.

"I'll go-... I'll be there in an i-instant," Ren said-fumbled, making it obvious he shared her nervousness. Maybe it was the talking to a girl close to his age he'd say‎—she was sixteen he had overheard. But it was not like he ever got nervous next to other maids his age too. So he was confused by himself.

"I see. Then, if you'll excuse my leave..." Aki bowed again, turned, and wasted no time to leave the room. Before she closed the door though, her eyes traveled to Ren a last time and trails of rosy cheeks were the last he saw before she warped away.

The thud of door meeting frame reached his ears finally. And as if he had been holding it in for a while, he sighed the heaviest he had in a long time. Weirdly, his heart had been pounding like crazy the whole time his eyes were set on her and he had no idea why.

Is this some instinctual, natural-borne premonition I have for detecting inbound enemies? Ren thought and laughed off the thought and his heart rate.

He went in front of a full-body mirror to fix his clothes and saw his whole midsection was open for viewing. He blushed and groaned. "So that's why she was... ugh..." He became as red as a tomato. "Wouldn't she tell the others I'm indecent? What if she thought I was being improper on purpose? Did I come off as creepy? I swear I'm not like those other pigs in the house... agh..." He grunted more like he panicked as his hands went to cover his face but not the shame.

Still, when he recalled his bawdiness, he slapped himself. Not once, but until his cheeks were so red one wouldn't be able to discern the reason they were red in the first place.

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Ren huffed and pumped his chest as he came face-to-face with it, though maybe, he hadn't done it with as much vigor as he would have desired for the task inbound.

Now, the same torture of always commences. He grinned nervously while facing the corridors of his house for the millionth time, his for-ages-known enemy.

Even though he knew these like the lines on his hand, it was troublesome traversing them nevertheless. They were just that big.

He sighed off the facade of an energetic young man and occupied his mind with whatever else while he began the monotone way. At least this seemed like a good occasion for me to use that beauty I had been itching to... My kimono made to look like violet plums! Hehe. He must have patted some invisible dust off the cloth how nothing flew out.

Mm... though, I hope Mother will forgive me when she sees I don't remember much of what she taught me about ancient language. Truth is I've ditched most classes this year and the past. They knew it but allowed it since I wanted to focus on training for the ceremony. Ah, maybe I should get something to eat... mm... maybe not. Probably taken too long already. I shouldn't have wasted time in bed—

"Ren!"

Ren swiveled on his feet, posture awkward and same for the face he had on. "Huh?" He swore he had heard some voice calling from behind as he looked back.

It was small and barely seeable how distant she was on the corridor, but he was sure he knew who that was. He cocked his head to the side while squinting just to be sure she was the one who was making her approach. He squinted them a bit more and finally his vision and memory failed on failing him.

"Sen?!" he yelled, sounding shocked. "What are you doing here?! I thought you were going to lock yourself for some months to train alone!"

The one in the distance was his older sister who had secluded herself in one of the training yards the week before, saying she would stay there for at least a year as she wanted to further hone her skills with the sword.

Though that seemed kind of untrue now how she was in front of him.

(Ugh, a pest has appeared.)

Ren crossed his arms. It was weird she wasn't answering him back. Only her figure kept increasing in his view as her legs gyrated in full potency toward him in worrisome unhingedness. Her face was sprayed with sweat like she had run a marathon too.

Maybe it is because she's too far and can't hear me? And why is my ear itching so much?

For some seconds Ren stared at her come to him, until something turned right the corridor behind her and began running after her.

"What the hell?!" Ren yelped, his gaze so wide his pupils could have been four.

The floor, which for a while only trembled, now shook as if an earthquake had ensued, the tottering rhythmic as if borrowing from the gallops of a horse.

Ren swallowed the wrong way. "What is that thing, Sen!?" he yelled, palms surrounding his mouth to spread the sound.

"Reeen!! Help meeee~!" But she just shouted again forget his calling. For some reason she was giggling while all this unfolded too.

What is actually wrong with her?! Ren thought, worry worsening. He had been stuck in place for the entirety of this. He could only watch as the two menaces covered the distance between him and them in seconds left.

What am I supposed to do?!

Ren cracked another stare at the thing behind, and suddenly he had an epiphany. Wait... isn't that the Kozuki's boar?! He then looked back at Sen, her face beaming a smile. What is she doing with it?! Wait, this isn't the time... I must act quickly! Ren anxiously prepped himself. Is this why she can't hear me? Its steps?

Ren's ears turned itchier by the second with the shaking. Two breaths. Three breaths. Four breaths. But he inhaled until in his mind all unnecessary thinking was excluded. He grasped the katana he always carried with him by the hilt and held the position, halting off its unleashing until the ambit between him and his target would be enough he could slice the thing into porkchop.

And it continued approaching.

The fifth breath. And the moment he was waiting for came as he shouted: "Imperial Charge—!" His katana slid on the scabbard as he cited the attack, whistling inside as the blade scraped against the sheat, and while not even half a second had passed at that moment, someone had still acted quicker.

"Stop." A sudden voice came as if a singular droplet had met the ocean. However, in this motley of happenings, everything around him was much more memorable. Because only his steps carried no sound. Only his feet wouldn't rustle. The single subversion in this maniacal setting. And so Ren held his breath when he appeared in his front—in the boar's front too—without a warning he would spawn in.

But as bewildered as he was, he still had to stop himself or else he would cut the man in half. His muscles twitched as he switched gears, the pain excruciating, and he barely managed not to explode into action—though he trusted the judgment of the man before him.

Meanwhile, the man stood still while he waited for his voice to do all the work. It was a surreal sight; the creature listened as if his pet even though they hadn't met ever. It braked frantically until right before him and its eyes shrunk to the size of dots. Dots that had deemed through maybe not a rational thought but an instinctual cue, that it better not.

Sen stopped by Ren's side, puffing her nose and tapping his shoulder and talking in her brightness of always. But Ren was entranced. The type of strength the man omitted was like a magnet for the gaze.

"I see you are a smart boar," the man mused, and the beast flinched. "Had you covered a bit more distance between us... I fear thinking wouldn't have remained as one of your privileges."

The boar moved not an inch after the man ruined its confidence in its own beastly power. It only kept trembling and shaking and quivering for a good, unending second. Then, when it got a hold of itself, it ran back to wherever it came from while causing mini-earthquakes—and itching some more ears.

The itching was what awoke Ren out of his trance as he finally looked at the whole, not just the man. And he swallowed all the fear and admiration he had fostered in this moment back deep and away. But for what?

(You know why.)

"My students," the man finally spoke while turning to face both with a thin smile. He then nodded toward Ren. "I see you managed to stop yourself after I came in. That was commendable, Young Master."

Ren reciprocated the nod quietly while Sen jumped toward the man, punching in his direction with the fluidity only a master of their craft could have—though Ren wondered how as he saw she would barely train.

"Hyaap! Huup!" She kept punching, but the man simply stepped sideways every time her fist approached him, negating her a single hit would connect.

"That was my exercise of the day, Teacher! Why did you scare him away?!" She spoke and continued her flurry until he grabbed both of her fists.

"There were noise complaints, my dear student." He smiled.

She grunted as he let her go. "So, are we having classes or not?"

The man looked like he had considered answering for a second. But he began walking away before that, having his hands hold each other on his back like any other scholar would. That was a sign for them to follow—they knew—and Ren and Sen began their trot side-by-side after him.

Ren looked at his sister's face for a moment. He saw scribbling there today, probably his imagination playing him a magician's trick as his parents would tell him. But he was feeling twice the weird today. It is coming. Everything was, even if slightly, becoming foreign—I am coming—his recent and old memories, faces, and even places. All of those were as if at a country's length away. Today especially...

I am coming.

Noticing him staring over, Sen smiled and waved simply. Ren did the same but he gave her a small nod too. She was the older sister and had an air about her sometimes—the chosen one they say.

"Today your mother will have full reign of your studies." Their teacher started abruptly. "Do note I won't be able to interfere in the slightest and will only be accompanying you two today. She's been anticipating this for the longest, your return to studying with her I mean, so be careful not to show boredom or discontentment." He chuckled.

"Eh... but I wanted to have your classes too..." Sen said pouting.

Ren observed his teacher's whole garb. He was wearing the simplest outfit a scholar would use, which was a long-sleeved robe of black and white. And because of no adornments too, the highlightable part of him was his black and graying hair he had in a ponytail that arrayed his back like iron sprung into a spear, pointing downward and barely swaying as he walked. His eyes one couldn't see, only the long lashes as he kept them closed, were the last condiments for the product to be sublime mysteriousness like all was a backdrop for something more meaningful. And he was in his forties looking as jovial as he did.

Ren huffed and puffed. Again and again. Huffing and puffing. One, two—

Say something.

"Uff... Teacher?" Ren started, something urgent feeding him anxiousness. He thought of something quickly. "Can I ask what the Kozuki's beast was doing here?"

"I apologize, Young Master... I've just realized I haven't told you about Kozuki Oden's six-day stay here. I suggested it and the patriarch permitted his stay here himself, though it wasn't much necessary."

The anxiousness went how it came. "Ah, that's... okay I guess," Ren said, tone reluctant at how he would probably see the man—pest—more frequently.

"Also, the boar just decided to tag along for some reason and we allowed it the manor's purlieus," the man said and continued in not so much of a hurry so the next words would set in. "Though... I don't really remember the time I permitted it to come inside the manor on any occasion." He glaringly looked at the culprit of all this mess.

Sen noticed the jab and, "Ahah-hah... erm... my training was really boring so I decided to use the boar to spice things up... then things somehow developed into this." She scratched the back of her head as she blew small awkward laughs out.

Ren face-palmed at her antics.

"But teacher," Sen said quickly, disallowing the shame from marinating further and held her hands above her head to feign smoothness. "Aren't only great warriors with grand accomplishments permitted to stay here? Of course, I heard about his feats on Kuri and I know that he accompanied that Roger—whatchamacallit... but it shouldn't have been enough for him to be allowed here, right? It's usually through the accumulation of great acts for the good of the people that some are allowed here as guests of honor. He shouldn't have the catalog still... I think. The last was that Hammer of Glory samurai or so wasn't her?"

The man chuckled in response. "Mmm... let's just say that I, as this clan's vice-leader, found him amusing and allowed him to stay here for a couple of days. Don't worry as I'm monitoring him to the best of my capabilities as is deserving for one his caliber."

"Eh... only for that...?" Sen pulled her lips. Men and their odd thinking.

Ren thought her doubts unnecessary as much as he would hate to admit it. He was not Wano's Most Famous for no reason.

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