Chapter 8

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Rin Masuta clapped his hands and laughed in delight at his new trainee. Rin was watching his little butterflies work their magic in the dojo, but as always lately, his eyes had fell completely on the newest recruit. A sensation, that one, Rin thought to himself and stroked his beard in a thoughtful fashion, which he always did, even though he wasn't thinking. He just needed to maintain his reputation amongst the youngsters, as their wise leader. But I am wise, I am, Rin nodded, cogitative. Then his eyes narrowed as they once again laid eyes on the trainee – the fruit of his mastermind – who came up to him where he was sitting cross-legged on the floor. Rin closed his eyes and sipped his tea peacefully. 

"How did I do, sensei?"

Rin held up his hand, with eyes still closed. He spoke with a hint of a japanese accent. "I told you to call me Masuta."

"Of course, Masuta. How did I do, Masuta?"

"Well..." He rubbed at his beard again. "I was just thinking that-" he paused to reach for his bowl of noodles and slurped them loudly an deeply, ending with a big 'aah' as he swallowed and patted his stomach. He put down the bowl on the floor beside him. "I was just thinking that" he paused again. "What was I thinking?", he more or less asked himself rather than the trainee, and looked down to the floor in a thinking manner as he never once took his hand of the beard. "Oh yes," he snickered. "I was thinking that you are the fruit of my mastermind." He started chuckling softly. "But then I remembered: Fruits can't fight very well, can they?" He let his head fall back as he started laughing hysterically at his own humor, holding his stomach as he did so.

The trainee before him smiled meekly and glanced around, rubbing the neck awkwardly. Rin kept laughing between heavy breaths and almost started coughing.

When Rin was done giggling, he wiped at his eyes. "Hoohoo", he let out, his body still shaking lightly from laughing. "Ahh... Joke aside." He waved it off with his hand and smacked his lips. "You did a great job!"

"Thank you, Masuta." The trainee bowed and Rin patted his head absentmindly. Then Rin remembered something. 

"Ooh!", he said, causing the trainee to jump a little at the sudden outburst. "How is it that they say? That word.. Hmmmm. Awesome!, "he beamed. "You're awesome... Red"

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The water splashed cold in his face, staining his grey shirt slightly. He moved his hands down to hold onto the brink of the porcelain sink and looked up into the mirror. He sensed a change in himself – in his very nature. He examinined his face, letting his gaze trace every bone, every mark and every curve; almost as if he would see the alteration happening, if only he were to look close enough. Meeting his eyes, staring back at him in the reflection of the mirror, he felt like he was confronted with himself for the first time. He couldn't even remember the last time he had stopped to look at himself. Like really look at himself. Now that he was actually face to face with the 17 year old boy that supposedly was him – he didn't recognize the lines in his face. He didn't look 17. His outer appearence said he was atleast above twenty while his dark eyes held the same mature depth of an aged man. Only duller; close to dead

Aidan had been faced with a difficulty the day before: A bothersome notion. What went through his head that day on the slope when he realized that the man who hugged his target, was Nate, he didn't really know. But as the realization had hit him, it hit him hard, resulting in shutting off all residual feelings of concern. Then as he had carried out his mission, he had danced with death. And it had felt good. He liked not caring; he liked killing. He had to face the reality: No one could ever get close – Not even himself. From now on, he would be completely and utterly turned off. To anyone else, he'd seem the opposite – like he was coming out of his shell. But that would be an act, the truth concealed by his progressed facade. He would strive forward as the ultimate assassin, apathetic but devious, only living for the kill. 

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PART 2: THE ALTERATION

Chapter coming soon.... 

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