The Worm

"Enjoy your fight?" Erioh asked Rin as they entered the viewing room, "I'm guessing he said something about Karura correct?"

"He said he was going to kill me and take her." Rin told him as anger filled his eyes, "He only survived because this is a competition that doesn't allow killing."

"You really are something else Mr.Tokita." Xing Wu said as Rin and Karura sat in a seat next to Erioh, "I've never seen anyone be able to use Removal outside of the Kure and Wu Clans. Not to mention you even managed to adapt the Kure Style into your own."

"I'm starting to think there isn't anything you can't do." Karura said as the door opened behind them. Rin looked over his shoulder to see three men he didn't recognize walk in. He looked at Erioh and Xing Wu but they clearly didn't know either.

"Who are you?" Erioh asked them and one of them stuck his tongue out. It had a tattoo of a centipede and he had a crazed look in his eyes.

"I'll handle it." Rin told them as he stood up and faced the three men, "I'm in a good mood so if you leave now-"

"Idiots." Karura sighed as Rin caught the arm of the man who tried to stab him with a knife. Rin sighed before he pulled the man forward and kneed him in the nose and put his hands in his pockets as the man fell limply to the floor and the other two began to attack Rin. Rin dodged all of their attacks with ease as he did quick back and side steps to avoid them.

"He's making fools out of those two." Xing Wu said as he watched Rin toy with them, "I fully understand now why he has your respect."

"I wouldn't allow just anyone to be with Karura." Erioh told him with a chuckle. As Rin was dodging them he looked at Karura with a smile.

"You wanna handle these guys?" Rin asked her and before the two men could react Karura had broke one's jaw with a kick as she jumped over the chair. The man didn't even get a sound out as Karura dislocated his neck and he collapsed to the floor. Rin and Karura smiled at each other before they both turned to the last man. Rin redirected the man's fist downwards and as Rin was bent over Karura put her hands on his back and planted both of her feet on the man's face. Rin spun and hit the man in the chest with an Ironbreaker, knocking him to the ground. Rin and Karura raised their legs up and slammed their feet into his chest making the floor under him crack.

"Your teamwork is a good as ever." Erioh told them while clapping before pulling his phone out. Xing Wu looked at the two of them and he finally processed why Rin was the future head of the Kure Clan.

"You have my respect Rin Tokita." Xing Wu said as he watched the two young adults sit back down. Rin leaned his head back and closed his eyes as he thought about why the Worm would attack the Kure and Wu Clans. It had to be because of his relationship with Ohma. Rin heard the door open again and the sound of the bodies being brought out of the room.

"Why don't you fight more often?" Rin asked Karura as he opened his eyes, "You're strong and you'd do really well in my opinion."

"Grandpa told me that girls like me shouldn't be in the fighting world." Karura explained and Rin could hear the hint of sadness in her words. He understood why Erioh would tell her that but she was also a Kure and war was in her blood.

"Karura you're an adult. You don't have to listen to petty things like that. Hell look at Raian, he doesn't care what anyone else says as long as he gets to fight." Rin told her low enough for only her to hear him, "If you wanna be a fighter then I'll back you but we're still going to finish school as well."

"I know but I don't want my Grandpa to get mad." Karura told him as she looked at Erioh then back to Rin, "Plus I know what's going to happen if he does."

"Don't worry about that. I'm not going to do anything unless he does." Rin told her as he gave her a kind smile and she took a deep breath before walking over to Erioh with Rin.

"Hey Grandpa?" Karura asked Erioh who looked at then with a raised eye brow, "I want to become a fighter like Rin and Raian."

"Where is this coming from?" Erioh asked while looking at Rin, "I thought you were happy with your normal life."

"I am but I've also wanted to be a fighter for a while now but I didn't want to make you upset." Karura explained and Erioh took a deep breath before looking at Rin again. Rin shook his head and pointed at Karura and Erioh sighed.

"If that's what you want then so be it but you're still finishing school." Erioh told her with a smile and shocked both of them. They had expected more of an argument from the old man.

"Thank you Grandpa!" Karura told him happily before going back to her seat. Erioh and Rin stared at each other before Karura called them over.

"Was this your idea?" Erioh asked as they walked slowly back to the chairs. Rin smiled as he locked eyes with Erioh again.

"I brought it up but I didn't push anything. I just told her that if she wanted to be a fighter then I would back her up." Rin explained calmly and Erioh nodded his head as they sat down and watched as Ryuki's fight began, "She just wants to be her own person and I won't let anyone take that away from her."

"For once we agree on something. Perhaps I've been overprotective for too long. She's an adult now and she doesn't need me anymore." Erioh told him sadly and Rin chuckled while shaking his head.

"She'll always need you but she also wants to be able to make her own choices." Rin said as they watched the two men fight, "Not that either of us would ever stop her."

"I think this is the longest we've ever had a serious conversation." Erioh told him as the match took a turn for the worst before they felt Ryuki's murderous intent and Rin noticed his centipede tattoo, "He's trying to kill him."

"When it comes to Karura then I'll take anything serious." Rin told Erioh not wanting to stray from the conversation, "Her and the Kure Clan are my top priorities but Karura will always come first."

"I understand." Erioh said as he processed what Rin said. Rin had come a long way from the battle hungry boy he met two years ago and he was proud. Karura stood up and stretched her arms as she began to walk towards the door.

"Be careful." Rin told her and she nodded. Rin and Erioh continued to talk for a while when Erioh's phone vibrated catching both of their attentions. Erioh read the message and jumped out of his chair.

"Rin go find her now!" Erioh yelled and Rin was instantly running out of the room, "We'll catch up!"