Setting
Her stomach betrayed her, grumbling quietly and causing her to shift on the spot. It had been a few hours since she ate and it would be a reheated dinner waiting for her at home, though her mother was always really good about those sorts of things. "Uhm, okay sure, thanks," she said cheerily and followed after him trustingly. So they weren't bad people! They had just gotten off on the wrong foot. Her mood had taken a sudden upswing now that she was thinking about filling her belly. All that jogging had made her tired!
Renji looked very young indeed, only around twenty years of age. His black and silver hair was pulled neatly into a top-knot and his eyes seemed to pierce like an arrow. He watched Yuki as though he was studying her movements.
Reignhardt was very similar to Salazar. Rugged and good looking, somewhere in his mid thirties by appearance. He looked like a well seasoned warrior that exuded what could only be described as justice. He smiled as Yuki approached with Salazar. "Well well Salazar, found a girlfriend have we?"
"Nay, I found someone to take your place, seems you're coming along Reignhardt, specially round the middle" Salazar laughed and pat his belly in jest. The other men laughed heartily at the joke as Salazar sat and beckoned Yuki next to him "Sit. Eat. Introduce yourself" he said offering her a large cut of meat.
Their Captain, Olivia, was not by the fire. She was standing on the water in the middle of the River watching the moon rise.
She scooted over to her seat and accepted the cut of meat carefully in her fingertips and started chewing on the edge of it, trying to avoid any dripping juices, a futile effort as it was going to be all over her hands before long. That was okay, she would just lick her hands on her way home. The cut was a little large for her, and a moment later she stopped chewing to introduce herself.
"Oh um, I'm Yuki Nikka, I'm..." she blinked, a quizzical look crossing her face. What could she say about herself? Was this like being the new kid at school being introduced? She wasn't sure what to say. "Sixteen, I'm a nekojin like my mother, or I guess half-nekojin, 'cause my dad's just a human..." Her voice trailed off at the mention of her father and she looked away awkwardly.
"Sixteen eh? Someone round your age Renji. Looks like it may be possible for you to finally have yer first kiss" Reignhardt laughed, causing another roar of laughter. "Ah but i've already stolen a kiss from your pretty little girlfriend in the city" Retorted Renji which cause all of the men to begin speaking loudly in an uproar.
"Quiet!" Olivia's voice commanded sharply as she walked into view of the fire and all of them grew silent. "Honestly, you'll give our position away" She snapped before looking back at Yuki with cold eyes "Don't get comfortable darling. Eat and leave and forget you ever saw us. It'll be best for everyone" She said turning away from them and walking to a tent that was set up in the distance
It wasn't until Olivia's snapping that she finally spoke, and only once the woman had walked away. It was a little intimidating, but at the same time she felt a little pang of defiance in her. Maybe she was over thinking it, but it seemed like Olivia didn't think she belonged in the company of warriors, and that stirred the nekojins heart with a small fire. "She doesn't like me," she said with a small pout of disapproval, "But maybe when I'm finally a warrior she will." It was almost thinking aloud, like she didn't expect the others to hear.
Olivia's eyes were like frozen daggers piercing straight through Yuki's heart. The four men sat in silence as their Captain scolded Yuki. "Aye Lass, tha Warrior leyef ain' as gran' as et migh' seem" Lassev said in a kind tone "Alo'a bad things ter see" He chuckled.
Salazar shook his head at the situation "Still.... If she feels she can fight, who are we to stop her. I do not seem to recall a part of our code that turns away those willing to fight" He said,folding his arms and looking at Olivia. He sighed and shook his head again when he saw her angry look "As I recall it is one of our duties to prepare those who wish to lend aid"
"Enough Salazar! I have said only truth, and Truth, Justice, Retribution IS The Xyne Fangs' code. Unless you cannot recollect that!" She snapped at him. He bowed his head "Of course not Captian, forgive me, I was out of line" He said with obvious sarcasm.
"I don't mock real warriors I admire them," she answered clearly and defiantly, taking a moment to inhale air so she could continue, "I'm training myself so I can be a great warrior someday like my hero, Vegeshin Kanahashi, and then I can help people I meet and save them from trouble. No one will have to get hurt but me and-- and..." She quickly ran out of steam, realizing how silly she sounded. Red came rushing to her cheeks and her confident posture deflated with shoulders rolled down. Her last few words were more of a quiet mumble.
"And if you think that's stupid then I don't care. I'll train until I'm even stronger than you."
"Then I'll train her" Salazar suddenly blurted out and stood up to stand in between Olivia and Yuki. His face looked a little uncertain and he gulped as a small bead of sweat dripped down his cheek. He knew how bad Olivia had been in the last few months, he didn't want her to come unglued on the poor girl, there was no reason for that.
"You!?" Olivia scoffed and looked angrily at Salazar "How can you teach her hand to hand combat, Mage?" Olivia spat at him. Salazar looked at a loss for words until Lassev stood up "Ah'll train 'er in tha' Cap'n" He said also looking unsure, but the other two stood up and looked at their Captain "We will all train her Captain" Reighnhardt said.
Olivia couldn't believe what she was seeing. "Faschten o Kilaza!" She cursed in her native tongue "FINE! Train her if you will but you only have two weeks. After that time, we will see how much she has learned and we will determine if she is worth training more." She said turning around back to her tent. She cast a backwards glance at Yuki before heading into the tent.
Her eyes at least raised to meet Olivia's that one last time before she was inside her tent.
"You didn't have to do that," she said softly, "But thanks. And um... Don't, like, rely on me or anything. I can only train in the afternoons and early mornings 'cause of school and mom will expect me home before it gets too late. Oh- shoot." She fumbled around for her phone to check the time and winced. It was dark already and she needed to be getting back. But first she needed to make some kind of arrangement!
"Do you guys have phones or anyway I can contact you so I know where to go to train?" she asked with a sheepish grin.
"If you do not wish to train with us then you do not have to" Salazar said "Our training is.......intense" He chuckled, slightly reminiscing on the past. "However, should you wish, you can find us here for the time being" He informed.
All of the men stood and looked at her kindly "It was a pleasure to meet you Yuki" Reignhardt said with a bow. "We look forward to our next meeting"