Rin was a son of a carpenter -- an irrationally strict, controlling, and aggressive/intimidating man, who seemed to think of his children as lesser beings bound to his will, as their 'father'. Rin was too proud and headstrong to go along with it in spirit, even if he felt forced to in body. Inevitably he often tried to do what he wanted in secret as he could, but for the most part he was controlled in every aspect of his life.
He wanted to become a ninja, but his father would hear nothing of it, stating that he would work for his business. He knew even if he found someplace to run away to in the village, his father would come after him and drag him back if he had to.
At some point, he spent some time talking with people who were familiar with local flora, their medicinal properties and edibility, as well as some hunting techniques. After preparing some basic survival supplies, he set out.
He travelled to nearby villages, but they one after the other turned the dirty-looking pauper away. Rage and frustration built up in him, at the coldness and shallowness of people, feeling helplessly affected by their selfish whims.
At some point, cold, hungry, tired, and disspirited, he gave up completely. This carried on for a long while. Until on one day of the almost-mindless hell of hopelessness and despair, he rose shakily to his feet. 'Ninja. How nice. I want to be better. Have more.'
He tried some improvised martial arts movements -- punches, kicks, steps, rolls -- but soon found himself overcome with weakness and exhaustion. He then resolved to a course of hunting and gathering to regain is strength. While at rest, he often recalled some of the stories he had read in his time in the village. He imagined what he could have done in different scenarios, using stealth, deception, preparation, tools, and all the cunning he could muster.
At one point, during some martial arts practice, he was becoming quite bored with it all. Tired physically and mentally, tired in a way that no amount of rest could remedy -- these days operating mostly on unthinking impulse -- he began to weakly make slow, flowy movements, almost like a dance. His hands made arcs and dips in a slow, endless flow.... 'How nice....'
Without really thinking about it, he began incorporating these pleasant movements into his combat practice.
* * * * *
"Ah, pleasant day for a walk in the woods, it is. A little lunch and then I'll be on my way." As the old man crouched to open his bag, he suddenly paused. "Hm? That was...." He moved calmly, purposefully through the forest. Silently.
* * * * *
Looking beyond the foliage of nearby saplings, his eyebrows raised slightly, followed by a small smirk.
* * * * *
Rin hadn't noticed the man's approach. He was too tired. And he was too tired to especially care that he hadn't noticed. He sat with his head on his knees, panting shallowly. 'I don't know... if I can keep this stuff up....'
"Hello there, young lady." Rin looked up with a worn out expression.
"H... Hi."
The man gave a kind smile and nod, then a slight look of surprise passed over his face. He blushed a bit with another smile. "Oh, apologies, I thought you were a female."
"Mh."
'Wait... why was this guy pleasantly greeting some grubby kid in the wilderness?' Rin's posture stiffened slightly, his face gaining a sense of focus.
"Oh, I mean you no harm. I was just taken in with your little performance there!"
"performance...? Oh, I was just doing... some fighting practice..."
"Oh? I've never seen one such as that before, isn't that interesting."
The boy gave a little sigh -- a sad sigh, he realized -- then took a gulp from his battered waterskin.
"Isn't it dangerous out here? There's no telling what kinda folk you might run into in a place like this.... Hey, where do you live? You look like you could use a nice bath, you do. And smell it," with a humorous wink.
At the man's words, Rin gave an earnest, attentive look, then another sad little sigh. "This is where I live, gramps. Not much soap out here."
"Oh, come now. Why don't you come with me and get a nice hot bath and a warm meal in you!"
Rin gave a suspicious look. "A 'warm meal in me', huh.... Hmph, I guess I can't really refuse at this point. But just so you know, I bring my own 'cutlery'." He casually revealed a good-sized knife tucked into a belt.
"Is that so...? Well, I'm afraid your 'cutlery' is due for a bit of sharpening." Another wink.
"I never said this is all I have."
The man waved his hand dismissively. "Hrm, enough of this. The offer stands, and besides, I could use some company on my way back home."
Rin rose with an incoherent grumble, and began to follow the man with cumbersome steps. Then he knew no more.
