Tidal Waves

8. Trust

"Try to be quicker."

Raven groaned as she blocked another one of Damian's hits with her katana. They had been training all morning and all Raven wanted to do was take a break. The sun's warm rays beat down on her head as she caught her breath.

"Don't hold back, I can take a hit."

His comments were beginning to grate on her nerves. She wasn't holding back, she just couldn't focus. All she could think about was his eye, considering that it was all her fault.

Before Raven could strike him, Emiko spoke up from behind her. "Let me try," she requested and took the full sword from Raven's grasp. Raven raised an eyebrow as the other girl stood beside her. "He's not that tough."

Damian narrowed his eye down at her. "You really think you can beat me?"

"I don't think, I know," Emiko said as she blocked a strike from him. "The Al Ghuls have always been a weak bloodline."

Maya widened her eyes at the comment. "Oh no," she muttered under her breath.

Her statement sparked something inside Damian. Raven didn't know what it was, but she assumed it sent him over the edge as she watched him put in triple the effort that he possessed with her just moments ago.

Damian threw down the wooden sword then drew his katana from his back. He began slowly walking towards the gawking girl.

Emiko took a step back, seemingly a little surprised by this new side of Damian. "You- You actually want to duel?" she asked before grabbing a cutlass of her own.

Damian charged at her, holding his katana in both hands. Emiko began to parry his blows, until Damian began to strike faster. They both clashed swords for a time, but it became clear who was superior. In a matter of minutes, Damian knocked the sword from her grip and placed the blade to her neck.

"First of all, you speak nothing of my personal business," he started, then added, "Second, you address me as your captain, nothing more and nothing less. Got it?"

Emiko gulped as she took a small step backward. She was speechless as Damian placed his sword back into its holster and went inside. Her dark eyes looked up to glance at the other girls before shamefully following behind him.

"Dammit," Suren commented as he reeled in his fishing rod, pulling everyone else from their thoughts. He groaned when he realized the end of his line was bare.

"I told you it wouldn't work," Maya said as she approached the boy, leaving Rose and Raven alone.

When it was quiet, Raven decided to lean over the side-railing of the ship and gaze out at the endless sea displayed before her. She hoped that they would reach her destination soon, but she knew it wouldn't be that easy. All she had was a necklace that guided her.

But, what would she do after she got what she was searching for? There was nowhere for her to go. Azarath was no place for her to live, and she knew the crew wouldn't want her around anymore.

"She's jealous of you."

The sudden comment form Rose caught her off guard. Rose was talking about Emiko, Raven presumed.

Raven turned her head to look at Rose, an eyebrow raised. "What brought you to that conclusion?"

"The way she was acting," Rose answered and looked out at the sea before continuing, "I think she wants something from him. Perhaps to get to her destination sooner, since we've been told yours is his first priority."

The thought hadn't ever occurred to Raven. "You really think so?" she questioned.

"Yes, but thinking and knowing are two different things," Rose responded before leaving the other girl alone to be with her curious thoughts. A short amount of time passed by before Raven decided to check up on him.