It had been blatantly apparent for some time now that she hadn't been getting the most out of her fighting style. Though these thoughts had been first roused by the ambush in the Ishi clan dojo, the answer "those were experienced shinobi" was simply not sufficient. Her inadequacy had been covered over by her ability to synchronize with her teammates, but on her own things had been falling flat since long before that incident. Though she hadn't wanted to admit it, she knew it was because of the mental-spiritual block that was creating the physical dissonance. Of course, rather than face the root of the problem, the young tinkerer had opted to do what came naturally and began rooting around in the mechanics hidden within the hilt of the blade. No longer retractable, the Nanjirou had returned to a more traditional iaijutsu style in order to expand her repertoire by installing a variety of traps into the compartment. Still, it wasn't enough.
"Some people think meditation is about emptying yourself," the voice of a kindly older gentleman had rung in her mind recently during a time of mediation, now a regular practice for the young girl, "but that just leaves you open to the darkness that seeks to infiltrate the living world. Meditation is about filling yourself, focusing on things above, the goodness of Kami." It was then that it had become apparent to her. It wasn't enough to simple be aware of her great-grandfather's chakra, but she had to quite literally fill herself with it, or "harmonize" with it as they had said at the academy when discussing how to harness elemental abilities.
When she finally managed to make contact the first time, she expected some sort of relief and the lifting of a great weight off her shoulders. Instead, she could see a violet-hued chakra just in front of her, but just out of reach as she felt her spiritual self restricted with heavy chains. "You've got to deal with them first, little one."</I><I> "Deal with what?" Rei's quiet voice followed. "Your illusions, set up by your grief, your shame, and your lies. Go find yourself, first."
Which brings us to today. She wondered if this journey she'd been embarking on these past few days would be something worthwhile bringing Danii into, if it would help as they tried to understand what it was that had happened that night. Though she couldn't say for sure without being able to speak directly with Hayate, she was almost certain from the way his chakra had responded in that moment that it had something to do with her cousin's own ancestral connection. Maybe this was something they needed to go through together.
"Maybe I am, you build up resistance that way y'know," Rei responded with a smile and closed eyes, turning her focus to the shape and color of Danii's chakra presence in the way it appeared in Reicheru's mind's eye in her meditative state, taking careful note of every aspect of it she could… just in case. Finally opening her eyes, she flashed a grin to hide the anxiety she felt about what she would be asking her kin to do here. "Why don't you join me?" she said, one hand motioning to the floor directly across from her. Sofu Ken remained on the ground between the two. "I've been doing a lot of thinking lately, about our bloodline. Made me realize I've never really asked about your personal experience, pairing with your blade and your particular heritage. When we'd talked with your grandfather it was usually more about the big picture, but if we want to work as a unit, we really should know the particulars, right? Do you mind telling me about it, about Kingslayer?" Hopefully it was a softball, but enough to get them started.
[Post 2 / 5]
[TWC: 942 / 1500]
[OOC: Couldn't remember if Danii refers to it as Kingslayer or not, feel free to substitute another name in there that Rei would know it by]
