Passing On Knowledge. [Kira]

[Kazuki Akimoto]

Two weeks passed without incident.

Two weeks since his collapse.

Two weeks since the realisation that the 'all-powerful' Kazuki Akimoto was no longer as 'all-powerful' as he'd like to remember himself. Injuries that plagued him for years finally catching up, the former figurehead of Varron Academy had been confined to a hospital bed for the first week, and restricted to the barest of efforts by his loved ones for the majority of the second. It wasn't a comforting notion, but he understood that they reacted solely out of concern for his wellbeing. No grudge could be borne for their position, and he took their assistance without much argument.

However, he couldn't sit around doing little for much longer, it was beginning to drive him up the wall to sit around the penthouse. Not least the fact he was being kept on an 'enforced' tee-total standpoint, but the fact that all he was really able to do was sit and think. Today was a particularly bad one for that, considering the others weren't around. He'd been invited by Kira, Rocco and Reiko to go with them, but had elected otherwise, his mood not really the best at the start of the day. Inwardly, it depressed him a lot to consider his current situation, and it wouldn't be fair to let them be privy to that lousy feeling he was giving off.

That, above all else, was the worst thing about it. Of course, unlike before he managed to think very little about his past and the things that he had yet to pay penance for in his life, but one thing remained with him like a splinter in his brain, worming into his thoughts and lingering like a bad itch.

'How much did this really weaken me...?'

To Kazuki, it was a matter of pride above all else. Not for being the 'top dog' or such petty things, but because no matter what position he would take -correction, that he had already begun to take-, he knew that there would always exist a possibility that he would need to fight again. Not for the thrill of it, or for the competition between rivals that he did mostly, but a true fight that in losing, would cause those close to him to suffer.

His strength was for them above all else, now. He had fought for the worst of reasons as well as the best, and more than once had put himself in the position of risking death for the people closest to him, but if he was forced to do so again, would he actually be strong enough to do what was needed?

A short grunt escaped his lips as he pushed himself up from the stool he sat at, a small glass of water being pushed aside as he did so, he walked from the kitchen and made his way upstairs. Pulling out a gym bag, he sifted through the wardrobe and picked down a few things, folding them over and stuffing them into the small holdall before zipping it over and tossing it onto the bed. That done, he dropped down to his knees and moved aside a few things before coming across what he was looking for.

Finding the small parcel at the foot of the wardrobe, set in a box about a foot or so at each side, he pulled it out and set it on the bed. That done, he left it as it was. Its use would take place later on. For now, he had one last thing to get. That, unlike a lot of the things in his wardrobe, was set aside and easily located. He kept it where he would always know it would be, but until now, hadn't been so much as touched in close to a year. Even now, its presence being required was not one it would have originally been required for...Picking up the cloth-swathed item, he slung it under one arm and picked up the bag, pulling the bedroom door closed behind him.

Stopping before he left the penthouse, he picked up his car keys quickly, surprised that he had to remember to pick them up, and shook his head. Setting out, he locked up behind himself and hopped into the elevator to the parking lot in the buildings basement, finding his car. Flipping his phone out before stepping in, he knocked out a quick SMS to Kira.

Hey, hun. No rush, but when you're finished up with the others, go back to the penthouse and check my bedroom. Something for you there. After that, come to Legion. It'll make sense, so trust me. Love you. Kaz.

~A little later~

His attire different to that he'd left the apartment in, he sat cross-legged on the small tatami mat under him, his eyes closed and a certain serenity about his face. With his breathing slow, but even, the Asian held a calm state about himself as he waited for her arrival.

Considering the best part of an hour would have passed, at the very least, when the door opened to the surprisingly spacious room, he would speak quietly to greet her.

*"Take a seat, if you would...?"*

The abrupt reversion to his native tongue these days was unlikely to catch Kira off-guard these days, and as she would take her seat, he let out a long breath, taking another one back in and slowly lifted his head up from the slight slump it had been set at before, opening his eyes and looking at her straight in the eyes.

There wasn't a smile, and his face held an 'aura' of firmness on it. When she was settled, he spoke again, a little more volume to his voice, considering his previous comment would have been almost a whisper.

*"If you have any questions, now would be the most opportune time to ask them...."*

[Kira Karyuudo, Hikari]

[( I'm not gonna cover what they were doing. I've got no inspiration for that. x-x )]

Kira shuffled into the penthouse behind Rocco and Reiko, clutching a couple bags in her hands. She could admit she was curious still from Kazuki's text-message she'd gotten while they were still at the mall. Still, she was laden with things she had to put away, and went about her business with that, first dropping off her bags in her room before hauling the rest to the kitchen to set the food away. After that, she wandered back to her room to unpack her own purchases for the day.

She'd been pondering over something for a while now, and continued to muse over it today. Kira felt she'd come to her decision on the matter, but had yet to tell Kazuki. She figured she could...after she found out what he wanted her to come to Legion with...well, whatever it was that was on his bed.

Thinking of that, she made her way upstairs to the second floor and into his room. She picked up the package and peered into it, becoming more and more intrigued, and more and more confused. Still, she picked up the package and made her way downstairs.

"Hey, Rocco, I'm heading over to Legion now. Be back in a bit."

He called back a response, which she ended up cracking a grin at, and then she made one last stop at her room, grabbing up her keys and cell phone.

~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~

She hadn't taken the opportunity to change at home, but took a couple minutes after arriving at Legion to swap clothes before sweeping her hair back into a braid. Leaving her other clothes in the box, she dropped it off before asking for Kazuki's whereabouts.

Slowly opening the door, she glanced around, surprised somewhat.

"…okay…"

Kira shuffled in, stepping lightly upon the matted floor to sit in front of Kazuki, facing him as she settled into a sitting position, legs crossed.

"Kazuki, laugh if you want, but what is this all about? What is this for, exactly?"

[Kazuki Akimoto]

*"Oh, I assure you I won't be laughing. Since you ask, I'll explain. First and foremost, I've been intent on getting myself out of the penthouse lately, after all I can hardly keep myself cooped up just because of a little tumble. Also, I figure you and I should do more things together."*

There was a sense of deadpan humour in his words, as if given the choice he would have otherwise smiled, but instead kept a straight face as the words passed to her. Instead, however, his eyes shifted over her supplied attire, and a single nod was given, mostly to himself as he doubted the cryptic gesture would make much sense to her.

*"Joking aside, let me explain. You might or might not remember once upon a time ago that there were talks for you to receive training, proper training, from us. Now, certain....events made that plan something of a sideline project, but I'm intent on following through with it. The fact that I'm not at perfect health means that I want all of us, the others included, at your best ability to defend yourselves. Call it a morbid concern, but let me be blunt. People have come after you to get to us once already, I don't want to take the risk that you'll ever be in that position again without a real chance. Do you understand what I mean, Kira?"*

There was a sharp glimmer in his eyes as he gave his explanation, and with a slight twist, he reached to his side and drew the cloth-covered object beside him to his front, between the pair. Flipping the loosely covered material off of it from both sides, he set the familiar weapon at a perfect right-angle to himself a moment before lifting it, drawing Izou from its sheath a few inches, but keeping the majority of the blade in the immaculate scabbard. Turning it towards himself, he looked down below the hilt at the imprinted text that was visible on the exposed section of the sword.

We become great not by the actions of our past, but by the intentions for our future.

It was a very simple quote, and its meaning was quite obvious to anyone in relation to the older male. Sliding the blade back into its sheath, he set it down again and looked up towards his better half.

*"This sword is Izou. I can't remember if I ever showed it to you in the past, but this is perhaps the most valuable thing I own. In time, you will learn to use it, along with all the knowledge I have of Aikido. We'll begin immediately, but first of all, do you have any other questions?"*

This time, a small smile did creep onto his face, and he watched for any reaction she gave along with any other words or thoughts she might voice.