Description: After being too overt with Safiullah and losing control with Mimiru, Dante speaks with Kain, and finally kinds the key to what has hampered his progress...
Behind the Heinlein mansion stands an example of a very old method of construction for fighting rings. Simply a pit of sand, lined with rounded rocks in roughly similar sizes. Easy to set up, the sand soaks up any blood that is spilled, and it provides for an area to fight with no real surprises, but also forces one to be aware of one's footing. Quite a useful setup, really.
Kain's not standing in that circle, though. No, he's standing a few feet away from it, his back facing toward the mansion as he stares out into the woods. He's called Dante here for a discussion. Specifically, one about the art of subtlety. There is something to be said for relying completely on one's own power to do whatever one wishes, consequences be damned. And that something is, "It's incredibly stupid."
No, Kain quite believes in the first part of that. But he's also not so foolish as to underestimate the power of weak people banding together, particularly when they have a great many weapons and economic clout. It seems Dante needs some PR lessons in order to deal with them.
This meeting was coming; Dante knew such rather well. Making mistakes are unacceptable with Kain as a mentor; This has been known and proven countless times. Being left alone to figure out many intricacies has been a mixed blessing in that regard; That Dante can already summon flame is probably a very good sign, but that it's tainted and poisoning him is the bad, for instance. After approaching, wearing only the black and blue facsimile that so thoroughly echoes the contrasted man opposite, Dante settled immediately cross-legged before him, bowing forward with both palms up. A show of respect more then compliance; An admittance he did wrong, without the overt show of weakness or desired mercy. "...I did not intend to try to kill him at the start." is explained, the rasp a bit heavy. He just finished dealing with Southside individuals only a few hours ago, the foremost of which... Well, it was a hearty workout and easy victory, but summoning the flame for extended periods is always taxing and painful thereafter. "I wished him to give a message, and he spat in my face. I thought it would be best sent by injuring him. ...And I did not take into account those who were watching. At the onset, it was nothing but a simple street fight." He does shift his head upwards, green eyes seeking Kain's own. There's no fear visible in the well of emotions, which is understandable. Only shame. But something is stirring in the back of his head, a weird amalgamation.
Kain doesn't even turn to look at Dante's entrance, at first. When he does move to look at his student he simply stares down at him, not saying anything for several long moments. "If you are going to flaunt your status as my student, I expect better behavior from you in the future. Don't hesitate to beat people when they need it... No one really cares. It's only when you cross the line to actually maiming them that it begins to become a problem. People know that I am... not a nice person. I would prefer, however, to limit the number of people who know my /true/ intentions. It's much easier to move about when you don't have to worry about would be 'heroes' attempting to stop you."
Kain turns away from Dante again, crossing his arms behind his back as he once more stares out at the woods. "And even when no one is watching, be careful. You can do whatever you want to members of Geese Howard's Syndiate... They won't take any losses public, nor involve such petty things as the police. Those who do not have their own secrets to hide may not show that level of discretion, however. Not every weak person needs to be exterminated by hand, anyway. Their times will come, let them have their pitiful little lives until then."
"I've not been such a fool as to flaunt that. The only time has been with Safiullah. ...And he survived. You will be happy to know, however, I discovered that the boy is a mole of Yamazaki's. Very valuable to the mercenary. He was displeased." A small bit of information garnered mayhaps through that chain of events, which is added thereafter with a thoughtful expression on his lean features. "And that they plan to attack Gedo soon. ...I would assume they wish to keep who orchestrated it secret. I believe we could orchestrate a war between the Syndicate and at least Gedo. I have heard rumors that even the second in command of Southside assaulted Kyosuke in his own school... It might bear investigating." Of course such has probably been known by Kain as well, but it can never hurt to offer his own thoughts. Usually. Depending on how inane they are.
There's silence, and a nod that is unseen. "Many who I have fought I have great difficulty with, however. I did not think my lack of battle experience would create such a gap. Especially... Mimiru Kasagi." The latter has a tinge of emotion to it. Bitterness. "She is supposed to be a frail whelp, but almost overtook me. I lost control. ...I am sure you sensed it. I allowed Jiro Kasagi his arrogance by toying with him in our first fight and losing by a slim margin, but..." As does not need to be said, Mimiru was unintended. And pulling a 'Jiro' with his Ankoku fire, even for a space of fifteen seconds quickly quelled -- first time or not -- is hardly something minute.
"Mimiru has been... surprisingly compliant. I think her overall potential is relatively low, but she has at least enough to be somewhat of a useful tool. I would not trust her with anything of any real importance, but she may yet prove useful. She was far more willing than her brother to kill someone she knew. As for Jiro..." Kain sighs with a shake of his head, turning his gaze skywards.
"He would have to be even more of a dolt than he is not to pick up /something/ from my training. At the very least, the beatings he took improved his stamina. Still, I expect your progress will rapidly improve." Oh, it had better. "In the meantime... I would suggest keeping quite in public, and choosing carefully what you say to anyone in private. I do not need to have another student become a liability."
"I knew you had trained her, and that she remained under your care. But her progress is remarkable. But my assessment is she will get nowhere with her background. She lacks the foundation, even with her kill, and refuses to use the full capabilities..." Dante's of course only saying what Kain already knows, so merely tapers off and shakes his head in a bewildered fashion. "Jiro is very powerful." Dante says. It's some long seconds between the last portion. "...He is simply useless in the mind and control. But I have no intent to let you down after this investment. I do not expect your mercy for failure... In fact, it would surprise me. After all, I wish for your dream as well. A world free of weakness. ...I am merely on my first steps on your path, and have found them awkward and painful. But soon I shall gain my footing, and soon I shall earn it." There would be another pause, still settled in the complacent position upon the ground. "Yet it is my fire I wish to cleanse. I am unsure why it is so tainted. ...But it was not an intended effect; Merely one I integrated to my advantage. When can we begin training to purify the conduit?" Not unsaid is the fact that 'It will probably kill me if not fixed', but one need only look at Grant to see that Kain would allow even his best friend to become a martyr for strength.
To be fair, Grant chose his path long before any choice of Kain's came into the picture. And there are sacrifices that must be made when one attempts to wield a dark power. Although it would be ideal not to have his student suddenly drop dead from his own power. "It depends on where the problem is. Perhaps there's a problem with the way you draw upon that power. Perhaps your body simply is not strong enough to handle it. If it is the latter, you may be able to improve over time. If the former..." Well, it should be pretty obvious where that's going.
Turning back to Dante, Kain looks over his student. "To start, I would suggest drawing on low levels of your power over an extended period of time. Whether or not you can do that without damaging yourself should provide insight on where next best to proceed."
To Kain's eye, it's probably both. Not only is Dante drawing out more power then his body can safely handle, but he's forcing it in an incomplete state. The result is fire, but in a sort of manner that, compared to Kain, is beating a rock against itself. Very primitive, but in a bizarre kind of way also effective. It will be a few years progression to worry about it killing him however, and only if unchecked. Being already able to do Kain-esque feats without even doing it properly is... something maybe only a few other people can, notably those of Orochi blood or Kusanagi bloodline. "Hrrm..." One hand opens, and a palm full of purple fire ignites. It rattles again; It shouldn't make a sound like that, most certainly. Likely the impurities of the chi reacting to the air. Already he looks to be in pained. "Ah... where I summon the fire... I feel it spread. Like a wave. The more I summon and the longer I use it, until my whole body aches in agony. I have tried for weeks to endure it, but it has never gotten better, only worse..." And degraded his body from a rather impressive physical specimen to the lithe, sickly figure seen today.
Kain shrugs for a moment, looking rather unconcerned. "There are distinct limits to how much one person can actually teach another about the manipulation of chi. Far too much of it is tied into the very nature of the wielder's being. I can teach a person the steps they need to take to first tap into it, and to a certain extent how to wield it... But most of it is up to them. If you cannot find your answer... Then no one can." That doesn't sound very hopeful, does it?
Kain pauses for a moment, then holds up his hand. A blue glow surrounds it as he reaches down to lay his hand on Dante's head. "Meditate on the source of your power without actually drawing on it. Learn to recognize all aspects of it. And this is, ultimately, what you seek." And then raw power floods through Dante's body. But it's not the burning, painful chi he recognizes... Even if Kain's methods are dark, the power he wields is still the power of life, though he can also wield it as the power of death. But right now? What flows through Dante feels incredible... Heightened senses, a feeling of enlightenment... Really feeling /alive/. For as long as it lasts, anyway. Kain removes his hand after a few moments, slipping it back into his pocket. "I can show it to you, but you have to find it yourself."
While this might frustrate Jiro and cause one of his inexplicable fits of perpetually asking questions that have already been answered, Dante merely nods his head and instead internally reflects on such. His true and total independence might be what makes him a less exasperating student; Show him once, tell him once, and that is enough. This is the first he has brought up his peculiar chi, and it likely never will again. To Grant mayhaps if he returns, or even the Yagami heir who he knows is scorched in the same way -- but not his mentor. Yet it seems to be the sudden flash through his body, recognizing the source and the sensations, that causes almost a distant lightbulb to flicker on his head. "...So you do not purely draw from the darkness? You weave the power as you will it?" Dante then slowly opens his hand, and again summons that flame. There's that wince of pain, and the sound of a serpent hissing. But his eyes narrow, and some tension begins to leave. Slowly, the sound begins to die down. The fire actually seems hotter, significantly more potent, even if he loses control a moment later and it dissipates. "...You have given me much to think about." Standing up, Dante gives a formal bow. His etiquette was only learned from Kain, but he knows when to use it. "I shall waste your time no longer and return to my training. You should hear no more of my mistakes. ...And Jiro shall be ready for his execution before long."
Log created by Dante, and last modified on 20:05:44 03/23/2007.