Goal?

As the sun rose, its gentle rays began to filter through the trees, touching Emma's closed eyes. She stirred, her peaceful slumber slowly giving way to wakefulness. As she opened her eyes, the bright blue sky greeted her, and a smile began to form—until she glanced down at her chest.

"Ahhhhhhhhh!!" Emma screamed at the top of her lungs, her heart racing as she saw a snake coiled on her chest. In a panic, she grabbed it and threw it away, her breath coming in rapid gasps.

Laughter erupted from above. Ren was standing on top of a large boulder, doubled over with laughter, his voice echoing through the quiet morning.

"Haha, hahaha!" Ren laughed, barely able to catch his breath. He wiped tears from his eyes, still chuckling at the sight of Emma's reaction.

"Neh! It's not funny, Ren! Why would you pull such a prank?" Emma shouted up at him, her voice filled with a mix of anger and embarrassment.

Ren, still grinning, finally composed himself. "Because it is funny! And besides," he added with a mischievous glint in his eye, "your scacred face is pretty cute, you know?"

Emma's cheeks flushed a light pink at his comment, but she maintained her glare. "You can't just do that! It's not funny!" She pouted, crossing her arms over her chest in a show of defiance.

Ren chuckled, jumping down from the boulder and stretching his arms above his head. "Why are you up so early? The sun's barely risen," Emma asked, still fuming slightly.

Ren shrugged nonchalantly. "Ever heard the saying, 'The early bird gets the worm'?"

Emma frowned, shaking her head. "Nope, never."

Ren's relaxed, cool laughter filled the air again. "Well, now you have. But it looks like the late riser might just miss breakfast. Come on, let's eat. I wouldn't want a beautiful girl like you to starve."

Emma sighed, unable to stay mad at him for long. She followed him reluctantly, still slightly annoyed but more so embarrassed by how easily he had caught her off guard. As they walked, Ren noticed her sulking and smiled to himself, knowing she'd probably have something to say during breakfast.

The two shared a quiet meal, with Emma picking at an apple, her mind elsewhere. She had spent much of the night thinking, particularly after seeing Ren's swordplay the previous day. The thought had been growing in her mind, and now, with the opportunity in front of her, she knew she had to speak up.

"Ren," she began, her voice soft but determined, "I've been thinking… I want to learn how to fight. With a sword."

Ren looked at her, his expression unreadable for a moment. Emma braced herself for some teasing or resistance, but to her surprise, he simply leaned back, a spark of interest in his eyes.

"Alright," he said with a nod. "When do we start?"

Emma blinked, taken aback by his quick acceptance. "You're… okay with it? Just like that?"

Ren chuckled, crossing his arms over his chest. "Why wouldn't I be? Honestly, I've been a bit bored lately. This'll be fun." His grin widened, and Emma couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and surprise. "Besides, it's about time you learned to wield a sword properly. Can't have you swinging it around like it's a broomstick."

Emma's eye twitched at his last comment, but she let it slide, too relieved by his willingness to argue. Her lips curved into a smile, her earlier anxiety melting away. "You're serious?"

Ren's eyes softened as they met hers. "Of course. Like I said, I've been a bit bored. And everyone should know how to defend themselves, especially someone as beautiful as you."

Emma's cheeks flushed at the compliment, but she remained composed. "Thank you, Ren. It means a lot to me."

Ren waved off her gratitude with a light laugh. "No need for thanks, Emma. I'm looking forward to it. Shall we begin now?"

Emma nodded, rising gracefully to her feet. "Yes, please. I'm ready whenever you are."

They made their way to a secluded training ground not far from Ren's base. The air was crisp and cool, the scent of pine and earth filling their senses. Ren handed Emma a long wooden twig.

"First things first," Ren said, standing in front of her, "I'm going to teach you the basics. This isn't just about swinging a sword—it's about understanding the sword as an extension of yourself. So prepare yourself."

Emma was surprised that Ren was teaching her the philosophy behind swordsmanship, not just the techniques. She nodded, gripping the wooden twig tightly. She watched as Ren demonstrated the first stance, his movements fluid and controlled. He moved like water, his body and the twig in perfect harmony. Emma couldn't help but feel a surge of awe watching him, realizing just how much she had to learn.

"Hmm, still a bit sluggish and using too much force," Ren muttered to himself, which made Emma blink in surprise. That wasn't perfect? She thought, amazed that there was still room for improvement.

"Okay, now try to mirror my movements," Ren instructed, stepping behind her to adjust her stance. His voice was gentle but firm. "Relax your shoulders, Emma. Let the sword guide you."

She took a deep breath, trying to mimic his movements as closely as possible. But as she struggled to find the right balance, Ren paused and said something that caught her off guard.

"Please, swing thinking as if you had no arms," he instructed, his tone serious.

Emma looked at him, slightly confused. "No arms?"

Ren nodded. "Yes. Imagine your arms are merely conduits for the sword, not the source of its power. The true strength of your swing comes from your core—your spirit. If you can move with that mindset, your strikes will become far more powerful."

Emma took a moment to absorb his words, amazed by the depth of his understanding. She closed her eyes briefly to center herself. When she opened them, she swung the twig, focusing on the flow of her entire body rather than just her arms. To her surprise, the twig felt lighter, and the movement smoother.

Ren smiled approvingly. "Better. Now, keep practicing that. The more you internalize this, the more natural it will become."

As the hours passed, Ren patiently corrected Emma's form, guiding her to move with precision and purpose. Though not a natural teacher, Ren's 'six eyes' caught every mistake, and his guidance was both firm and encouraging. Despite the physical exertion, Emma found herself enjoying the process, even laughing at Ren's occasional jokes.

After a particularly intense series of drills, Ren stepped back and observed her progress. "You're getting the hang of it," he said with a nod. "But you'll need to practice a lot more if you want to become truly skilled."

Emma wiped the sweat from her brow, her breath coming in short gasps. "I will. I promise."

Ren studied her for a moment before asking, "So, what's your goal with all of this? Why do you want to learn how to fight?"

Emma paused, considering her answer carefully. "I want to protect the weak," she said with quiet determination. "I want to become a Shinigami, to help those who need it. But I also want to be a healer, to mend the wounds that fighting causes. I want to make a difference in this world, Ren."

Ren listened intently, his expression softening as she spoke. When she finished, he smiled warmly at her. "Those are noble goals, Emma. You've got a good heart."

She looked at him curiously. "What about you, Ren? What's your goal?"

Ren's smile faded slightly as he looked up at the sky, his thoughts seemingly far away. For a few moments, he was silent, as if contemplating the very essence of existence itself.

What is my goal? he thought. I chose to come to this world, a world filled with danger where I could die at any moment. But I've got a head start and some power. Maybe I should just live life with adventure.

Then, with a small, wistful smile, he pointed a finger at the sky.

"My goal," he said softly, "is to LIVE."

Emma watched him, the simplicity and depth of his answer resonating deeply within her. Ren's life had always been one of survival and simplicity, but there was a profound truth in his words. To live—to truly live—was a goal as important as any other.

He turned to her and smiled, his eyes reflecting the morning sky. "And maybe, just maybe, to make a few more memories like this along the way."

Emma looks at him and just awed, she feels a warmth spread through her chest. She doesn't know why but everything about this man just make her heart beat differently.

As they stood there together, the future felt wide open, full of possibilities. Emma knew she was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead. For her, it was the path to becoming a Shinigami. For Ren, it was living life to the fullest in the world of Bleach.