s.c.s. ☆ j.jh ☆ ayakashi series | ✔

jaehyun [twenty-two]

Saturday morning found you at the shrine, training with Mark and Jungwoo. This time, however, with the addition of Sicheng. Jungwoo wanted you to practice connecting your powers with your True Ayakashi, and more than one of your True Ayakashi at once. Keeping the trend of your immediate proclivity to fire manipulation, even just saying your Ayakashi's names was enough to connect your powers instead of having to say an entire phrase like you were told was normal. Which, like your accidental fire manipulation, could easily happen when you didn't want it to, so you had to train even more to properly control it.

After finally getting it under control, you elected to take a short break. As he usually did on your breaks, after being dismissed by Jungwoo, Mark went off to find Sungchan in the shrine while you stayed back with the other Tsukumo-gami, and now the Mizuchi dragon as well. Jungwoo busied himself with taking stock of his apothecary herbs, making a list of ones he'd have to restock soon. Sicheng fiddled with some water hovering above his hand, making it dance along his fingertips absentmindedly.

"Training is all well and good," you spoke up to the two of them, wanting to vocalize something you'd been thinking for some time. "But uh... what's the point if I never use it? Don't get me wrong, I really appreciate you using your time and expertise to train me but—"

"You feel as though it may be a wasted pursuit."

"Yeah."

"I have an idea," Sicheng spoke up, the thin strip of water now turning into one sphere, swirling in place.

You looked to him with intrigue, "Care to share with the class, Sicheng?"

"Me and some of my friends at my old village, we used to go on these patrols. We were just teenagers, but we wanted to make sure our village was safe. We could do something like that."

"Patrol around the city and see if any Wraiths are up to no good?"

"Then you can put your training to good use. Fighting them off, banishing them."

"We'd do the patrols at night? Once everyone's off from work and school or whatever."

"Yep. Maybe a couple times a week."

"Hm. We should talk to the other guys about it, but I'm down," you mused it over before turning to your other friend. "What do you think, Jungwoo?"

"I believe it may provide opportunities for you to use your training," he agreed, but looked rather pensive.

You paused, waiting for him to say anything else, but he didn't. So you prompted him, "But...?"

"You would want for me to come as well, correct?"

"Of course, Jungwoo!" You rushed to try to reassure him brightly. "You're one of my True Ayakashi, and have been training me, I'd love to be able to show that all the time you've invested in me was worth it!"

Instead of seeming relieved as you'd hoped, a light grimace flashed across his face, "Ah, as I feared."

"Feared?"

"It has been many years since I last left the shrine and surrounding wood..."

Then you realized what his hesitation had been about, "And you don't want to leave yet."

He turned to look out one of the windows, a long sigh escaping his lips before he continued speaking, "The world has surely changed so much, and I cannot even imagine what it could possibly be like now, even when my brother describes it to me. It is only natural to be wary of the unknown."

"And it's easier to stay here, where you're comfortable, rather than try to subject yourself to something new."

You moved to stand beside Jungwoo, looping your arm through his. He glanced over at you, and you caught his gaze, offering a simple smile.