Chapter 1: Eyes That Can't See.
Every night they chase me… Loneliness and regret chase me.
Once again, Kenjii had woken up sweating and panting. It was his second restless night on that ship, and the nightmares didn't seem to be any close to ceasing.
And another time, he had stood up to go get some fresh air, only to be sidetracked by the strange smell of the captain's pipe in the gunpowder room.
- Oh… - He greeted the boy. - So you came down from the moon tonight, too.
- You gotta be a bogy, not a demonic spirit. - Kenjii groaned, frustrated at how easily the man had lured him to his presence once again. - Do you always wander every night?
- The smoke tastes better in the nights when the air is more fresh.
- Sounds like a contradiction to me. - Kenjii leaned to the wall with his back, letting the wind blow on his neck from the hatch. The smell of the sea combined with the smoke of the Captain gave him an odd feeling.
- Ah! Ah! If you tried to smoke you would understand. - The man smiled to himself. - Maybe they would fade a little.
- Fade…?
The captain faced him with a sincere smile and lifted the finger between his eyes. - The wrinkles on your forehead.
- …….-.-x
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- He is like that the whole day. - The ship's boy and his friend peeked past the door of the captain's room, watching Kenjii sitting on the floor in a corner, with some maps of the Far East at his feet. His chin wasn't touching the chest, so they figured he probably wasn't asleep.
Yet he was keeping his head quite low, hiding his eyes to the sunlight coming from the window. - He's always in the Captain's room looking at maps. But he doesn't even read them most of the time… He just looks like… to be refusing human contact.
- Well, after all, even though he is a samurai, he still is a boy. - His friend shrugged. - Conversely, if we showed to be worrying about him, he could feel annoyed. Let's let him do as he pleases.
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I have been on this ship for six days now…
…Still no sight of the new continent.
The sleepless nights continue.
If I fall asleep, nightmares haunt me.
But even when awake…
The moonlight… is overwhelming.
- How is mister Kenjii doing? - Asked a pirate approaching the ship's boy, who had been staring at the door of Kenjii's room for a while.
The hub looked at him with a frown. - Well… he locked himself in his room since yesterday. He hasn't touched any food either.
The pirate rolled his eyes and shook his head, pushing the ships boy aside to enter the room. He opened the door and walked in, trying to see in the darkness that welcomed him. - Excuse me. Mister Kenjii… are you feeling sick…?
He couldn't even finish his sentence before Kenjii moved on him like a shadow, unsheathing his great katana instantly. The blade stole a sparkle from the candle in the hand of the ship's boy behind the pirate, before reaching the throat of the unwelcome guest, stopping at an inch from cutting it.
- A–-AAAHH! - The pirate screamed, stumbling backwards and falling on his back, staring at the samurai in terror.
Kenjii's expression wasn't very different from the pirate's. His face covered in sweat, he was staring at what he had almost done in shock, yet with its blade still pointing at the pirate. - Ugh…
- F-Forgive me! - The pirate and the hub ran away, letting the candle fall on the floor and turn off. Kenjii finally lowered his arm, staring at the blade shining one last time, before the darkness swallowed him once again.
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The captain was surprised to find Kenjii in the gunpowder's room before him. The boy didn't even turn his head to greet him. He was just there, sitting on the captain's favorite crate, looking at the sparkling ocean.
Maybe the captain should've scolded him. Tell him how shocked his men were to have a guest ready to kill whoever approached him in his room. Yet he didn't find it necessary. The captain knew far too well what that boy had gone through.
- You want to return to the moon? - He simply asked, smiling as usual.
Kenjii stayed emotionless. - I have no place to return.
- Right. I guess with those lifeless eyes… - Said the captain lighting his pipe. - …You wouldn't even manage to see it.
- Ah! Ah! - Kenjii laughed. And it was the most scary laughter the captain had ever heard. The laughter of someone who was approaching madness. - It is true… What an honorable samurai am I? How can you assign such a strong title to a miserable person like me? It makes me sick. I feel like I'm constantly smelling like fresh blood for what I have done. All the people who have died on me…
The captain looked down at the boy, but didn't reply. He wanted to hear it all.
- What can they know about how I felt during all of my life?
To turn my back at the others is so easy…
- Troubles never stopped coming… I went through all of them… All of them!
…However…
- I've lost the count of all the sick things I had to fix to keep on living by myself…
…The regret of betraying someone's faith is awful.
- I've left them to not be left!
The loneliness, the madness, the guilt are oppressing.
- I did it all to not suffer!
This life…This life is so heavy.
- Maybe in the end… - The captain finally spoke, inhaling some smoke. - If you keep gasping it's because you try to keep all the smoke inside.
- ….?
- It's like you said. - The old man nodded. - Life is like a good pipe smoke. When it's done burning… without a warning… it disappears in a handful of smoke. To bring all this burden on your shoulders… it's like inhaling smoke down in your lungs. These blackened lungs… are your 'karma'. As for the smell of blood… well… maybe you're just smelling the blood flowing in your veins. Willing or not, you are alive.
**********************************
After that night, Kenjii's nightmares started to diminish, and he didn't visit the gunpowder room anymore. Ahead of him lied a new journey, and a new fate. He didn't know what was waiting for him, but at least now, he knew what he was going to do.
Keep on living, without regrets for his past, and find his own path to return to be an honorable samurai.
However, without the nightmares haunting him anymore, he started to hear something new. A voice in the darkness, away from the moonlight.
Who's your favorite character? 5 votes
last edited 737 weeks ago by Blue KJ
To be an interesting, intriguing, well-written character, there needs to be something to allow the audience to relate to them. That is what the problem is with who wants their character to be "perfect". Perfect characters will never be strong, and strong characters will never be perfect, because WE (those who read, who watch, who RP) are not perfect.
"What makes a strong character is how they deal with their flaws, their fears, their turmoils, their troubles that get in the way. That's what makes them relatable." – Doug Walker
"What makes a strong character is how they deal with their flaws, their fears, their turmoils, their troubles that get in the way. That's what makes them relatable." – Doug Walker
Chapter 2: The Boy and The Treasure
- Ah… Look who honors us with his presence.
Kenjii turned away from the ocean, that he had been staring at with a blank gaze for a long time now, to watch the old bearded pirate who had greeted him in Norg. He didn't bother giving a vocal reply.
The man walked next to him and leaned against the ledge, scanning the horizon. - I think this is the first time I see you up here on the deck. Got tired of growing roots in your room?
- Hmph, - He finally spoke, looking back at the sea. - Not like there's much entertainment here. Nothing but water as far as the eye can see.
- Spoke as a true midlander.
Kenjii questioned him with a slight frown.
- You really need to do something about that glare of yours, before it puts you in trouble. - The man grinned and turned around, his elbows on the ledge. - When you live in the middle of the ocean for so long, you start to see the differences from a sea to another. The water changes.
- So how close are we, now? - Kenjii didn't bother trying to see any difference in the water surrounding the ship. It was the same as always to him. Wide, deep and wet.
The pirate scratched his beard. - We're almost outside of the Gugru Blue, in the Western Aradjiah waters. Probably we've already passed the Mamook Peninsula.
- That's the vaguest position I ever heard.
- You sure love to complain, kid.
Kenjii looked up, towards the Captain's Room. - Why do we stay so far from the coasts?
- Hah! - The pirate's laughter was almost a bark. - If you saw what those freaks in Al Zahbi throw at us when they see us, you'd prefer getting lost in the sea forever, too.
- What kind of….? - Kenjii was interrupted by the loud voice of a galkan pirate who had just come outside, calling for everyone.
- STOWAWAY! STOWAWAY! CALL THE CAPTAIN! STOWAWAY!
- Stowawhat?
- Oh, this will be interesting. - The pirate next to Kenjii stood up, and started walking towards the crowd who had formed around the stairs that led inside. - You wanted some entertainment, midlander? Come and see now.
It didn't take too long to Kenjii to walk through the crowd. Many of them still remembered about how he almost murdered one of them in his sleep a couple days before. The 'stowaway', what the samurai later learned meant 'clandestine passenger', was in the middle of the circle, pushed down on his knees by the brutal strength of another galka and an elvaan.
It was a very young boy, an elvaan kid, with short bright red hair. Kenjii couldn't see his eyes, as the galka was keeping its head down with one hand, so that his long fringe would hide most of his facial traits.
Kenjii looked at the stranger's clothes. He was wearing a standard kenpogi, with some haidate and a pair of gaiters he couldn't recognize. His hands were tied behind his back.
- LET ME GO!! YOU'RE HURTING ME!! - He screamed, almost growling at his gaolers, who just reacted by pushing him down and down, until his chin hit the wooden floor of the deck.
Kenjii could sense the excitement and amusement of the crew around him. He didn't feel the same. As much as he hated elvaans, the way that kid was being treated was too much. But he decided he didn't care enough to speak.
The captain finally arrived, and the crew let him in the circle even faster than before. Kenjii still had a hard time believing such an old hume could manage to keep the control and respect of so many big and barbaric men.
- Well, well… what do we have here?
- Captain! We found this rat in the cargo room! He was trying to take that rare treasure! - The Galka yelled, pointing at the young elvaan.
- That's a LIE! - The boy screamed back. - I was looking for FOOD! I'm damn HUNGRY! I HAVEN'T ATE IN TWO DAYS!
- Wha…!? So YOU were the one that stole the food supplies in the bulk!!
- Now now… - The captain spoke quietly, raising one hand to intimate silence. - First of all, let go of his head. I want to see his eyes.
His men obeyed, and the galka took his hand off the boy's head, pulling his shoulder backwards so that he was forced to look up at the captain. Kenjii could finally see his eyes, of a strong golden shade.
The kid looked around with a scared expression, like a mouse looking for an escape, before his eyes met with Kenjii's and widened. The samurai was confused by that strange look, but managed to hold any possible reaction. When the captain spoke again, the boy finally looked away from Kenjii.
- So, unless you can fly or are some very ungraceful kind of merrow, I assume you are here since when we left Norg. Is that correct?
The boy didn't reply but he frowned at the strange insult the captain had addressed to him.
- So why are you on this ship? Didn't your mom tell you that it's not wise to hitch a ride from strangers?
The crowd laughed, and the boy clenched his teeth in a primate growl. - I wanted to reach the Middle Lands. But I had no idea it would take so long for a ship!
The pirates laughed harder, except the captain who simply smiled at him with tolerance. - I am afraid you picked the wrong ride, kid. The Middle Lands are far away behind us now, and there's no way we'll return to them for a long time.
- What!? - The boy's eyes widened in shock, and he looked at all the pirates one by one with disbelief, before turning to the captain again. - B-but where are we headed then? I must go back! I have to find…!
- We'll reach the Far Eastern coasts of Aradjiah in a few days, if the wind favors us. - replied the captain.
- The… The Far East!? - The boy was now literally shaking on his knees, looking up at the captain in terror. - You… You are from the Far East?
- Maybe some of us used to be. But once you become a pirate, you are from nowhere but the sea.
- Captain, look! - Said the elvaan, who had been holding the boy's right shoulder for all that time. He moved the kid's head to the left rudely and pulled his kenpogi slightly, so that the back behind the kid's neck could be revealed to everyone. Kenjii saw a tattoo that he couldn't recognize on it, displaying a two-headed serpent.
The captain's smile disappeared. - Aht Urhgan, I see…
- Let me go!! - Cried the boy.
- What do we do with him, captain? If we take him there, he's likely dead. - Finally asked the bearded pirate Kenjii had been talking with. The silence fell on the crew, while everyone waited for the leader's verdict.
It took him a minute to finally speak. - Well, we can't make him jump off the ship either. For now, we'll keep him here, maybe in the Far East we'll manage to find someone willing to take him back home.
This seemed to cause the rage of the crew.
- What if he's a spy!?
- Captain, he's aggressive!
- He bit my arm!! - Yelled the Galka, pointing at his forearm showing the print of a strong bite.
- You gotta be really hungry for trying to eat such an uninviting meal. - The captain grinned at the boy. - But I need my men, you see. I can't let you swallow them up one after the other.
He then turned to the ship's boy. - Go take the chains.
The boy looked up again, even more afraid than before.
- Sorry kid, but my men are uneasy. I'll have to lock you up in the cargo until we get there.
Kenjii then watched the boy forced to stand up and pushed back downstairs. While he was walking away, dragged by two men, he turned his head and looked at the samurai once again. His golden eyes looked at him with curiosity and almost… awe?
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I hear a voice.
Kenjii opened his eyes and gave them the time to adapt to the darkness of his room in the middle of the night. The ship around him was creaking loudly, shook by the raging waves of a storm outside. The samurai turned his head to the hatch, looking outside.
The sparkle of a sudden lightning filled his eyes, causing a sharp pain to the head. He turned back to look at the ceiling, now focusing on the sounds. He was positive someone had called him. A voice he had already heard for the few past nights. A call for help. But whose?
He thought it was probably an illusion, a bad joke caused by the many noises he wasn't used to on that ship. Thankfully, the journey was almost over. This storm was probably the first and last he would've had to experience in the sea and…
- …Help me…
He gasped and sat up, looking around. This time it was not an illusion. But where did it come from? Kenjii began to wonder whether that ship was infested with ghosts. Wandering souls asking for help. He knew they existed, he had seen them in the Gusgen Mines when he was a teen, and didn't like them. He stood up and, while tying his blade to the belt and putting his osode on, he started to rebuild the structure of the ship in his mind, trying to remember which rooms were near his.
He walked outside, and slowly approached the door next to his. He knew there were members of the crew sleeping in there. Slowly, he opened the door and looked inside, waiting for a lightning to illuminate inside.
Everyone seemed to be asleep, and no one to be talking in his sleep either. He closed the door and went to the other room to the left of his.
There were nothing but cleaning tools and old weapons there. After entering and making sure no one was inside, not even a ghost, Kenjii knew there was only one other room. The cargo beneath the cabins.
*****************************
Without any hatch to look outside, the darkness in the room was too thick to let his eyes see anything. Kenjii moved his hand to the left, trying to get an idea of his surroundings. He found the door jamb, then a rope hanging to the wall, and a shelf next to it.
He stopped when he finally recognized what he was looking for: an oil lamp. The tip of his fingers immediately became greasy, so he had been lucky enough to find a full one. As he opened the glass cage with a creak, he could hear a metallic sound coming from the other side of the room. Something was there.
He reached over his bag and searched for an uchitake, that he then brought in front of his face, and closed his eyes to focus.
- Katon. - He whispered, and the tool immediately caught fire. He quickly moved it in the lamp's cage to turn it on, and then closed it and looked around.
As he concentrated to find the voice's owner, every sound coming from the outside vanished. He was about to give up and go back, when his eyes noticed a golden sparkle reflecting the flame of his lamp.
- You…
The kid of Aht Urhgan was staring at him with the attention of a scared prey.
Kenjii hadn't noticed him at first because of his position. The pirates didn't have any mercy for the intruder of the Near East. With chains at both his feet and hands, he had been locked into a wooden cage that was barely high enough for him to sit in it. The straw in it seemed to suggest that it was usually used to jail small animals.
After a minute necessary to accept the shocking sight, Kenjii approached the cage with a stern glare.
- Hey…! Is that you that keeps calling me?
- Huh…? - The boy looked up at him through the bars. - Who are you?
Kenjii's right eye twitched nervously as he recognized the voice. The kid had been calling for help for all these nights, even before getting caught? But why?
- Your insistence is annoying. Stop it, am I clear?
- I didn't call anyone! - The elvaan pouted, clearly lying.
- If I hear you talking while I'm trying to sleep ONE more time, I swear I'll… - Kenjii was interrupted by the strong sound of an impact, and the ship around him shook violently. The many screams of the crew followed, and he could hear them walking out of their cabins above the room he and the kid were in. - What the…!?
He turned around. From the hallway he could see a pulsing orange light… something was on fire.
- W-Wait! Don't leave me here!! - Called the boy behind him, stretching his arm out of the cage.
Kenjii turned too look at him for a second, then placed the lamp on the shelf he had found it on, to leave some light in the room. - I have to go. - He said, and once again he turned his back to him.
**************************************
(At the same time)
- What's going on!?
- Another ship with Far Eastern flag came out of nowhere! They hit us on the south-western side! They broke in… and…
- AAA… WAAAHHH! - A pirate screamed, before falling dead on the deck, with a great katana in his chest.
- This is too easy, kyah! - Said the croaking voice of a Yagudo, who knelt on the corpse to retrieve his weapon, before facing the crew. - So this is the so decanted vessel of the Smirking Skull?
- S-Since when does the Yagudo Theomilitary have her own ships? - The bearded old pirate looked up at the ship next to theirs. The flag was of the Far East, no doubt on that. What could that mean?
- Kyah… We are looking for a treasure. If you don't want to suffer, you better bring it to us! - Replied the Yagudo, shaking his head under the rain. - It's some crate coming from the Middle Lands!
- The Middle Lands…? What do you birds want from the Middle Lands!?
- The treasure… You know what I'm talking about, quawk? - The Yagudo walked forward, while other beastmen jumped on the deck behim him. - It seems to be something very small, but with the power of a legendary creature. Quite a nice toy, kyah! But we don't care… We want the reward those greedy smoothskins promised for it, on that ship! You better hurry and bring it here!
The crew kept staying on guards, their blades unsheathed towards the beastmen.
- They are mercenaries… - Hissed the bearded pirate.
- W-What are they talking about? What is this treasure? - Asked one of the crew.
The Yagudo looked around, then towards the stairs that led inside the vessel. - We know it's on this ship, kyah! - He turned around as a pirate tried to attack him and grabbed his throat, lifting him from the ground. - The point is… If you decide to protect it, we will kill all of you, one by one! Understood?
- Wait.
The crew, and the invaders, turned around to see the captain Nasaki.
He was standing outside of his cabin, above them. His arms crossed on his chest, and a calm smile on his lips. - I am the captain of the Smirking Skull, and I know what you are looking for. It's in my room, locked.
- Kyah! Kyah! Kyah! The Captain would be this decrepit old man?! Nice one! - Laughed one of the other Yagudos, tilting his head in amusement.
- C-Captain!
- He he he… Keep underestimate elders, and you're going to get burnt. - Nasaki grinned, as a roaring flame raised from the Yagudo's feet, swallowing his feathers with haste.
- Kyah!?
- Damn you, cursed old warlock!
- Very well… - The captain smiled. - Let's see if you can take the heavy burden of my life.
*************************
When Kenjii walked outside it took him a few seconds to adapt his eyes to the light of the storm around him. The crew was in front of him, watching something that he couldn't see. He approached, and pushed a couple of them away. What followed was one of the most terrible stages he had ever seen.
Many dead Yagudos were laying on the deck, more than a dozen. Their feathers burned, flying around the ship with the roaring wind of the storm, and their thick blood mixing with the rain on the dark wood of the ship. In the center, a Yagudo samurai fell first on his knees and then on his face, in front of the captain. The old man was sitting against the ledge, with a great katana skewering his chest. He was still breathing.
Kenjii looked at the men of the crew. They were silent, staring at their captain in shock, with their blades almost to the floor. No one was moving.
After making sure no enemies were left standing, the samurai walked over Nasaki.
- Old man…
- Oh… here you are. - The captain smiled up at him, putting one hand in his coat and pulling out the pipe from it. - Well, you know… I'm usually fine with this kind of blokes, but I'm a bit out of shape. Ehhh… You can't really help aging.
- Or maybe you just smoke too much -.- …. - Kenjii replied, watching him lighting the pipe.
- Ah! Ah! Ah! When you talk in that disagreeable tone, you really remind me of when I was your age. - Said Nasaki, inhaling some smoke. - You don't feel anymore… the burden of people's life on your shoulders. Do you?
- … - Kenjii looked toward the other ship. He could feel croaking voices coming from there. Another wave was incoming.
- My men will keep them busy… Demon of the moon. - The captain reached over Kenjii's hand, with a darksteel key in his fingers. - Take the small box in my room… and leave with a boat. The storm will hide you from them.
Kenjii took the key and looked at it, as Captain Nasaki of the Smirking Skull passed away at his feet. A handful of smoke raised from his pipe, before it fell and hit the wood of the deck.
- Curse you smoothskins! - A Yagudo screamed, jumping on the ship with some fellows. - How dare you, kyah! We will cut your ship in slices!
The pirates stumbled, and slowly recovered their fighting stances, growling at the beastmen, thirsty for revenge. - FOR THE CAPTAIN!!
- Pfh…
A thunder echoed on the ship, and everyone turned to watch Kenjii.
- What's wrong with you, Midlander? - Asked someone.
- Pfh… Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah! - Kenjii raised his head, turning towards the Yagudo. - Did you hear him..? It's always the same crap…. Always telling me what to do.
He unsheathed his Zanbato, and dashed forward, striking the first birdman in the stomach. The others watched their companion fall on the deck, with many exclamations of surprise.
- Well…? What's wrong with you guys? - Kenjii whipped the great katana in the air, getting rid of the blood on it, before going back in position again. - Whoever wants to die, come forward! I'll do you the favor of staying alive. I'll live for you, too!
*************************
- Captain Marco!
The bearded pirate who had let Kenjii on the ship, now promoted to new captain, pulled his sword out of a Yagudo's back and looked at the ship's boy. - Any more left?
- I don't see them coming, sir!
- Very well. - Marco looked around at all the laying corpses on the deck, and then turned to Kenjii. - Thanks for helping our men, Midlander. You did very well.
Kenjii nodded, looking at the former captain Nasaki in silence. He hadn't fought to help them, he knew that far too well. He had just acted haunted by the rage for that old man's death.
His thoughts were abruptly interrupted by a strong explosion, as another cannon ball fired from the other ship, and hit the Smirking Skull. The vessel shook violently, and he could see wooden fragments fly around from the side of it.
- Damn it! There's still someone on that ship! - Captain Marco pointed at the two galkas of the crew. - You two go on it and kill whoever is still there!! The Yagudos can't ride ships, so it's probably some human, but I want no prisoners, understood!?
Prisoners…
- You three, go check the holes downstairs, and report the damage to me as soon as possible!
- Yes sir!
Kenjii watched everyone scatter to do their job, forgetting what he was trying to remember. Marco approached him, and pointed at the cabin.
- We're probably going to have to leave this ship and take that other one. Go take what the Captain Nasaki asked you to, and your belongings.
The samurai nodded again, and ran upstairs to the Captain's cabin.
The room was all messed up because of the hits the ship had taken. All the maps were scatted on the ground, and a window had shattered, scattering all the glass on the floor. The table and the chair had slided against the right wall.
Kenjii had to search between all the junk on the floor for several minutes before he found what he was looking for. It was a flat wooden box, with a silver locker to the side. It was long enough to contain something like a book, but it was too light, and shaking it revealed no sound. From what he could tell, it looked empty. What sort of treasure could've been in there?
He walked outside, right as the two galkas appeared on the ledge of the attacking ship.
- Sir! The ship is empty!
- What!? - Marco approached them, whipping his blade in frustration. - Are you telling me the ship fired at us by ITSELF!?
- I don't know sir, I guess whoever was left on it warped away!
- We are too far from land for any warp spell to work!
- M-Maybe they warped on another ship somewhere!?
- Rrrr…. - Marco turned towards the stairs. - What are the news down there!?
The hub appeared on the deck. - It's too damaged to be repaired. We're swamping, captain!
- Dammit… Take everything you can and move on the other ship! NOW!
Kenjii followed the others and ran to his room, grabbing all what he had left in it and putting it in his bag. Thankfully it wasn't much… He looked at his feet, trying to remember whatever else he could've needed, when a sparkle of fire through the floor caught his eyes.
The boy!
*********************************
The samurai dashed towards the cargo as fast as he could, dodging the pirates in the hallways, walking in the water. The stairs to the bottom part of the ship were already flooded. With water up to his knees, and the box of the captain in one hand, he reached the cargo room where the boy was kept. His cage was almost entirely filled by water, and the kid had to thank the fact that it was made of wood and started semi-floating, keeping him alive.
- HELP!! - He screamed as Kenjii walked in.
- Damn it… - Kenjii could barely see him, as the oil lamp had fell in the water and turned off. He placed the box on the shelf and slowly walked to grab the floating cage. - Stay against the bars and don't move, you hear!?
The kid obeyed, shaking, and pushed himself to the other side of the cage, causing it to almost roll over. Kenjii quickly grabbed the zanbato and hit it with all his strength to the side, making sure to not cut through all of it.
The kid emerged from the water with a gasp, and raised his hands. - The chains! Please cut the chains, too!
- There's no time for this now! - He yelled.
- But I can't walk!
- You stupid… troublemaker! - Kenjii dived and grabbed one of the kid's legs and pulled it up, rolling him upside down. He then wrapped the chain around his blade and then moved it with a strong whirl, breaking it. He then let it go, allowing the kid to emerge once again.
- What the hell was that about!? You didn't even warn me to catch some air!
Kenjii did the same to the chain on the kid's hands and then hit him on the head with a strong smack. - Shut up and follow me!
The kid nodded, but as they walked outside of the room he quickly turned back. - Wait!
- I'm not WAITING! - Kenjii growled at him, but then saw what he came back for. The kid had returned with the treasure box in his hands, that Kenjii had completely forgot. How did he know about it?
- Sorry… You forgot this inside.
- Whatever, make sure you don't lose it and hurry up!
As they ran, or almost swam, through the hallways up to the deck, Kenjii noticed there was no one left inside. Was it too late?
- MIDLANDER, HURRY UP! - Captain Marco called them as they reached the deck, waving arms at them from the other ship.
The two started to run towards the footbridge when the Smirking Skull creaked violently and bended on one side, causing them to stumble.
- Oof..! - The boy shook his head, trying to stand up.
Kenjii thrust his blade on the floor and used it to keep himself standing, reaching over the elvaan kid. - Take my hand!
- Y-Yes… - He almost did it, but then screamed in horror, as he saw the treasure box slide away, over the ledge, and fall in the water. - NO!!!
Kenjii stretched his arm, trying to grab him. - Forget the damn box!
But right as his fingers touched the boy's hand, the kid simply let himself slide to the ledge, and jumped in the water.
The samurai stared blankly at the scene, completely in shock.
How did that happen? Why did that have to happen to him?
- MIDLANDER! GRAB THIS ROPE!
Kenjii didn't even look at the rope. The raging waves under him had sort of hypnotized him…
He didn't want to turn his back and let someone die again.
- MIDLANDER!!
Before he even knew, Kenjii let his sword go, and the sharp cold of the ocean's water embraced him, swallowing him in the darkness.
- Ah… Look who honors us with his presence.
Kenjii turned away from the ocean, that he had been staring at with a blank gaze for a long time now, to watch the old bearded pirate who had greeted him in Norg. He didn't bother giving a vocal reply.
The man walked next to him and leaned against the ledge, scanning the horizon. - I think this is the first time I see you up here on the deck. Got tired of growing roots in your room?
- Hmph, - He finally spoke, looking back at the sea. - Not like there's much entertainment here. Nothing but water as far as the eye can see.
- Spoke as a true midlander.
Kenjii questioned him with a slight frown.
- You really need to do something about that glare of yours, before it puts you in trouble. - The man grinned and turned around, his elbows on the ledge. - When you live in the middle of the ocean for so long, you start to see the differences from a sea to another. The water changes.
- So how close are we, now? - Kenjii didn't bother trying to see any difference in the water surrounding the ship. It was the same as always to him. Wide, deep and wet.
The pirate scratched his beard. - We're almost outside of the Gugru Blue, in the Western Aradjiah waters. Probably we've already passed the Mamook Peninsula.
- That's the vaguest position I ever heard.
- You sure love to complain, kid.
Kenjii looked up, towards the Captain's Room. - Why do we stay so far from the coasts?
- Hah! - The pirate's laughter was almost a bark. - If you saw what those freaks in Al Zahbi throw at us when they see us, you'd prefer getting lost in the sea forever, too.
- What kind of….? - Kenjii was interrupted by the loud voice of a galkan pirate who had just come outside, calling for everyone.
- STOWAWAY! STOWAWAY! CALL THE CAPTAIN! STOWAWAY!
- Stowawhat?
- Oh, this will be interesting. - The pirate next to Kenjii stood up, and started walking towards the crowd who had formed around the stairs that led inside. - You wanted some entertainment, midlander? Come and see now.
It didn't take too long to Kenjii to walk through the crowd. Many of them still remembered about how he almost murdered one of them in his sleep a couple days before. The 'stowaway', what the samurai later learned meant 'clandestine passenger', was in the middle of the circle, pushed down on his knees by the brutal strength of another galka and an elvaan.
It was a very young boy, an elvaan kid, with short bright red hair. Kenjii couldn't see his eyes, as the galka was keeping its head down with one hand, so that his long fringe would hide most of his facial traits.
Kenjii looked at the stranger's clothes. He was wearing a standard kenpogi, with some haidate and a pair of gaiters he couldn't recognize. His hands were tied behind his back.
- LET ME GO!! YOU'RE HURTING ME!! - He screamed, almost growling at his gaolers, who just reacted by pushing him down and down, until his chin hit the wooden floor of the deck.
Kenjii could sense the excitement and amusement of the crew around him. He didn't feel the same. As much as he hated elvaans, the way that kid was being treated was too much. But he decided he didn't care enough to speak.
The captain finally arrived, and the crew let him in the circle even faster than before. Kenjii still had a hard time believing such an old hume could manage to keep the control and respect of so many big and barbaric men.
- Well, well… what do we have here?
- Captain! We found this rat in the cargo room! He was trying to take that rare treasure! - The Galka yelled, pointing at the young elvaan.
- That's a LIE! - The boy screamed back. - I was looking for FOOD! I'm damn HUNGRY! I HAVEN'T ATE IN TWO DAYS!
- Wha…!? So YOU were the one that stole the food supplies in the bulk!!
- Now now… - The captain spoke quietly, raising one hand to intimate silence. - First of all, let go of his head. I want to see his eyes.
His men obeyed, and the galka took his hand off the boy's head, pulling his shoulder backwards so that he was forced to look up at the captain. Kenjii could finally see his eyes, of a strong golden shade.
The kid looked around with a scared expression, like a mouse looking for an escape, before his eyes met with Kenjii's and widened. The samurai was confused by that strange look, but managed to hold any possible reaction. When the captain spoke again, the boy finally looked away from Kenjii.
- So, unless you can fly or are some very ungraceful kind of merrow, I assume you are here since when we left Norg. Is that correct?
The boy didn't reply but he frowned at the strange insult the captain had addressed to him.
- So why are you on this ship? Didn't your mom tell you that it's not wise to hitch a ride from strangers?
The crowd laughed, and the boy clenched his teeth in a primate growl. - I wanted to reach the Middle Lands. But I had no idea it would take so long for a ship!
The pirates laughed harder, except the captain who simply smiled at him with tolerance. - I am afraid you picked the wrong ride, kid. The Middle Lands are far away behind us now, and there's no way we'll return to them for a long time.
- What!? - The boy's eyes widened in shock, and he looked at all the pirates one by one with disbelief, before turning to the captain again. - B-but where are we headed then? I must go back! I have to find…!
- We'll reach the Far Eastern coasts of Aradjiah in a few days, if the wind favors us. - replied the captain.
- The… The Far East!? - The boy was now literally shaking on his knees, looking up at the captain in terror. - You… You are from the Far East?
- Maybe some of us used to be. But once you become a pirate, you are from nowhere but the sea.
- Captain, look! - Said the elvaan, who had been holding the boy's right shoulder for all that time. He moved the kid's head to the left rudely and pulled his kenpogi slightly, so that the back behind the kid's neck could be revealed to everyone. Kenjii saw a tattoo that he couldn't recognize on it, displaying a two-headed serpent.
The captain's smile disappeared. - Aht Urhgan, I see…
- Let me go!! - Cried the boy.
- What do we do with him, captain? If we take him there, he's likely dead. - Finally asked the bearded pirate Kenjii had been talking with. The silence fell on the crew, while everyone waited for the leader's verdict.
It took him a minute to finally speak. - Well, we can't make him jump off the ship either. For now, we'll keep him here, maybe in the Far East we'll manage to find someone willing to take him back home.
This seemed to cause the rage of the crew.
- What if he's a spy!?
- Captain, he's aggressive!
- He bit my arm!! - Yelled the Galka, pointing at his forearm showing the print of a strong bite.
- You gotta be really hungry for trying to eat such an uninviting meal. - The captain grinned at the boy. - But I need my men, you see. I can't let you swallow them up one after the other.
He then turned to the ship's boy. - Go take the chains.
The boy looked up again, even more afraid than before.
- Sorry kid, but my men are uneasy. I'll have to lock you up in the cargo until we get there.
Kenjii then watched the boy forced to stand up and pushed back downstairs. While he was walking away, dragged by two men, he turned his head and looked at the samurai once again. His golden eyes looked at him with curiosity and almost… awe?
**************************
I hear a voice.
Kenjii opened his eyes and gave them the time to adapt to the darkness of his room in the middle of the night. The ship around him was creaking loudly, shook by the raging waves of a storm outside. The samurai turned his head to the hatch, looking outside.
The sparkle of a sudden lightning filled his eyes, causing a sharp pain to the head. He turned back to look at the ceiling, now focusing on the sounds. He was positive someone had called him. A voice he had already heard for the few past nights. A call for help. But whose?
He thought it was probably an illusion, a bad joke caused by the many noises he wasn't used to on that ship. Thankfully, the journey was almost over. This storm was probably the first and last he would've had to experience in the sea and…
- …Help me…
He gasped and sat up, looking around. This time it was not an illusion. But where did it come from? Kenjii began to wonder whether that ship was infested with ghosts. Wandering souls asking for help. He knew they existed, he had seen them in the Gusgen Mines when he was a teen, and didn't like them. He stood up and, while tying his blade to the belt and putting his osode on, he started to rebuild the structure of the ship in his mind, trying to remember which rooms were near his.
He walked outside, and slowly approached the door next to his. He knew there were members of the crew sleeping in there. Slowly, he opened the door and looked inside, waiting for a lightning to illuminate inside.
Everyone seemed to be asleep, and no one to be talking in his sleep either. He closed the door and went to the other room to the left of his.
There were nothing but cleaning tools and old weapons there. After entering and making sure no one was inside, not even a ghost, Kenjii knew there was only one other room. The cargo beneath the cabins.
*****************************
Without any hatch to look outside, the darkness in the room was too thick to let his eyes see anything. Kenjii moved his hand to the left, trying to get an idea of his surroundings. He found the door jamb, then a rope hanging to the wall, and a shelf next to it.
He stopped when he finally recognized what he was looking for: an oil lamp. The tip of his fingers immediately became greasy, so he had been lucky enough to find a full one. As he opened the glass cage with a creak, he could hear a metallic sound coming from the other side of the room. Something was there.
He reached over his bag and searched for an uchitake, that he then brought in front of his face, and closed his eyes to focus.
- Katon. - He whispered, and the tool immediately caught fire. He quickly moved it in the lamp's cage to turn it on, and then closed it and looked around.
As he concentrated to find the voice's owner, every sound coming from the outside vanished. He was about to give up and go back, when his eyes noticed a golden sparkle reflecting the flame of his lamp.
- You…
The kid of Aht Urhgan was staring at him with the attention of a scared prey.
Kenjii hadn't noticed him at first because of his position. The pirates didn't have any mercy for the intruder of the Near East. With chains at both his feet and hands, he had been locked into a wooden cage that was barely high enough for him to sit in it. The straw in it seemed to suggest that it was usually used to jail small animals.
After a minute necessary to accept the shocking sight, Kenjii approached the cage with a stern glare.
- Hey…! Is that you that keeps calling me?
- Huh…? - The boy looked up at him through the bars. - Who are you?
Kenjii's right eye twitched nervously as he recognized the voice. The kid had been calling for help for all these nights, even before getting caught? But why?
- Your insistence is annoying. Stop it, am I clear?
- I didn't call anyone! - The elvaan pouted, clearly lying.
- If I hear you talking while I'm trying to sleep ONE more time, I swear I'll… - Kenjii was interrupted by the strong sound of an impact, and the ship around him shook violently. The many screams of the crew followed, and he could hear them walking out of their cabins above the room he and the kid were in. - What the…!?
He turned around. From the hallway he could see a pulsing orange light… something was on fire.
- W-Wait! Don't leave me here!! - Called the boy behind him, stretching his arm out of the cage.
Kenjii turned too look at him for a second, then placed the lamp on the shelf he had found it on, to leave some light in the room. - I have to go. - He said, and once again he turned his back to him.
**************************************
(At the same time)
- What's going on!?
- Another ship with Far Eastern flag came out of nowhere! They hit us on the south-western side! They broke in… and…
- AAA… WAAAHHH! - A pirate screamed, before falling dead on the deck, with a great katana in his chest.
- This is too easy, kyah! - Said the croaking voice of a Yagudo, who knelt on the corpse to retrieve his weapon, before facing the crew. - So this is the so decanted vessel of the Smirking Skull?
- S-Since when does the Yagudo Theomilitary have her own ships? - The bearded old pirate looked up at the ship next to theirs. The flag was of the Far East, no doubt on that. What could that mean?
- Kyah… We are looking for a treasure. If you don't want to suffer, you better bring it to us! - Replied the Yagudo, shaking his head under the rain. - It's some crate coming from the Middle Lands!
- The Middle Lands…? What do you birds want from the Middle Lands!?
- The treasure… You know what I'm talking about, quawk? - The Yagudo walked forward, while other beastmen jumped on the deck behim him. - It seems to be something very small, but with the power of a legendary creature. Quite a nice toy, kyah! But we don't care… We want the reward those greedy smoothskins promised for it, on that ship! You better hurry and bring it here!
The crew kept staying on guards, their blades unsheathed towards the beastmen.
- They are mercenaries… - Hissed the bearded pirate.
- W-What are they talking about? What is this treasure? - Asked one of the crew.
The Yagudo looked around, then towards the stairs that led inside the vessel. - We know it's on this ship, kyah! - He turned around as a pirate tried to attack him and grabbed his throat, lifting him from the ground. - The point is… If you decide to protect it, we will kill all of you, one by one! Understood?
- Wait.
The crew, and the invaders, turned around to see the captain Nasaki.
He was standing outside of his cabin, above them. His arms crossed on his chest, and a calm smile on his lips. - I am the captain of the Smirking Skull, and I know what you are looking for. It's in my room, locked.
- Kyah! Kyah! Kyah! The Captain would be this decrepit old man?! Nice one! - Laughed one of the other Yagudos, tilting his head in amusement.
- C-Captain!
- He he he… Keep underestimate elders, and you're going to get burnt. - Nasaki grinned, as a roaring flame raised from the Yagudo's feet, swallowing his feathers with haste.
- Kyah!?
- Damn you, cursed old warlock!
- Very well… - The captain smiled. - Let's see if you can take the heavy burden of my life.
*************************
When Kenjii walked outside it took him a few seconds to adapt his eyes to the light of the storm around him. The crew was in front of him, watching something that he couldn't see. He approached, and pushed a couple of them away. What followed was one of the most terrible stages he had ever seen.
Many dead Yagudos were laying on the deck, more than a dozen. Their feathers burned, flying around the ship with the roaring wind of the storm, and their thick blood mixing with the rain on the dark wood of the ship. In the center, a Yagudo samurai fell first on his knees and then on his face, in front of the captain. The old man was sitting against the ledge, with a great katana skewering his chest. He was still breathing.
Kenjii looked at the men of the crew. They were silent, staring at their captain in shock, with their blades almost to the floor. No one was moving.
After making sure no enemies were left standing, the samurai walked over Nasaki.
- Old man…
- Oh… here you are. - The captain smiled up at him, putting one hand in his coat and pulling out the pipe from it. - Well, you know… I'm usually fine with this kind of blokes, but I'm a bit out of shape. Ehhh… You can't really help aging.
- Or maybe you just smoke too much -.- …. - Kenjii replied, watching him lighting the pipe.
- Ah! Ah! Ah! When you talk in that disagreeable tone, you really remind me of when I was your age. - Said Nasaki, inhaling some smoke. - You don't feel anymore… the burden of people's life on your shoulders. Do you?
- … - Kenjii looked toward the other ship. He could feel croaking voices coming from there. Another wave was incoming.
- My men will keep them busy… Demon of the moon. - The captain reached over Kenjii's hand, with a darksteel key in his fingers. - Take the small box in my room… and leave with a boat. The storm will hide you from them.
Kenjii took the key and looked at it, as Captain Nasaki of the Smirking Skull passed away at his feet. A handful of smoke raised from his pipe, before it fell and hit the wood of the deck.
- Curse you smoothskins! - A Yagudo screamed, jumping on the ship with some fellows. - How dare you, kyah! We will cut your ship in slices!
The pirates stumbled, and slowly recovered their fighting stances, growling at the beastmen, thirsty for revenge. - FOR THE CAPTAIN!!
- Pfh…
A thunder echoed on the ship, and everyone turned to watch Kenjii.
- What's wrong with you, Midlander? - Asked someone.
- Pfh… Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah! - Kenjii raised his head, turning towards the Yagudo. - Did you hear him..? It's always the same crap…. Always telling me what to do.
He unsheathed his Zanbato, and dashed forward, striking the first birdman in the stomach. The others watched their companion fall on the deck, with many exclamations of surprise.
- Well…? What's wrong with you guys? - Kenjii whipped the great katana in the air, getting rid of the blood on it, before going back in position again. - Whoever wants to die, come forward! I'll do you the favor of staying alive. I'll live for you, too!
*************************
- Captain Marco!
The bearded pirate who had let Kenjii on the ship, now promoted to new captain, pulled his sword out of a Yagudo's back and looked at the ship's boy. - Any more left?
- I don't see them coming, sir!
- Very well. - Marco looked around at all the laying corpses on the deck, and then turned to Kenjii. - Thanks for helping our men, Midlander. You did very well.
Kenjii nodded, looking at the former captain Nasaki in silence. He hadn't fought to help them, he knew that far too well. He had just acted haunted by the rage for that old man's death.
His thoughts were abruptly interrupted by a strong explosion, as another cannon ball fired from the other ship, and hit the Smirking Skull. The vessel shook violently, and he could see wooden fragments fly around from the side of it.
- Damn it! There's still someone on that ship! - Captain Marco pointed at the two galkas of the crew. - You two go on it and kill whoever is still there!! The Yagudos can't ride ships, so it's probably some human, but I want no prisoners, understood!?
Prisoners…
- You three, go check the holes downstairs, and report the damage to me as soon as possible!
- Yes sir!
Kenjii watched everyone scatter to do their job, forgetting what he was trying to remember. Marco approached him, and pointed at the cabin.
- We're probably going to have to leave this ship and take that other one. Go take what the Captain Nasaki asked you to, and your belongings.
The samurai nodded again, and ran upstairs to the Captain's cabin.
The room was all messed up because of the hits the ship had taken. All the maps were scatted on the ground, and a window had shattered, scattering all the glass on the floor. The table and the chair had slided against the right wall.
Kenjii had to search between all the junk on the floor for several minutes before he found what he was looking for. It was a flat wooden box, with a silver locker to the side. It was long enough to contain something like a book, but it was too light, and shaking it revealed no sound. From what he could tell, it looked empty. What sort of treasure could've been in there?
He walked outside, right as the two galkas appeared on the ledge of the attacking ship.
- Sir! The ship is empty!
- What!? - Marco approached them, whipping his blade in frustration. - Are you telling me the ship fired at us by ITSELF!?
- I don't know sir, I guess whoever was left on it warped away!
- We are too far from land for any warp spell to work!
- M-Maybe they warped on another ship somewhere!?
- Rrrr…. - Marco turned towards the stairs. - What are the news down there!?
The hub appeared on the deck. - It's too damaged to be repaired. We're swamping, captain!
- Dammit… Take everything you can and move on the other ship! NOW!
Kenjii followed the others and ran to his room, grabbing all what he had left in it and putting it in his bag. Thankfully it wasn't much… He looked at his feet, trying to remember whatever else he could've needed, when a sparkle of fire through the floor caught his eyes.
The boy!
*********************************
The samurai dashed towards the cargo as fast as he could, dodging the pirates in the hallways, walking in the water. The stairs to the bottom part of the ship were already flooded. With water up to his knees, and the box of the captain in one hand, he reached the cargo room where the boy was kept. His cage was almost entirely filled by water, and the kid had to thank the fact that it was made of wood and started semi-floating, keeping him alive.
- HELP!! - He screamed as Kenjii walked in.
- Damn it… - Kenjii could barely see him, as the oil lamp had fell in the water and turned off. He placed the box on the shelf and slowly walked to grab the floating cage. - Stay against the bars and don't move, you hear!?
The kid obeyed, shaking, and pushed himself to the other side of the cage, causing it to almost roll over. Kenjii quickly grabbed the zanbato and hit it with all his strength to the side, making sure to not cut through all of it.
The kid emerged from the water with a gasp, and raised his hands. - The chains! Please cut the chains, too!
- There's no time for this now! - He yelled.
- But I can't walk!
- You stupid… troublemaker! - Kenjii dived and grabbed one of the kid's legs and pulled it up, rolling him upside down. He then wrapped the chain around his blade and then moved it with a strong whirl, breaking it. He then let it go, allowing the kid to emerge once again.
- What the hell was that about!? You didn't even warn me to catch some air!
Kenjii did the same to the chain on the kid's hands and then hit him on the head with a strong smack. - Shut up and follow me!
The kid nodded, but as they walked outside of the room he quickly turned back. - Wait!
- I'm not WAITING! - Kenjii growled at him, but then saw what he came back for. The kid had returned with the treasure box in his hands, that Kenjii had completely forgot. How did he know about it?
- Sorry… You forgot this inside.
- Whatever, make sure you don't lose it and hurry up!
As they ran, or almost swam, through the hallways up to the deck, Kenjii noticed there was no one left inside. Was it too late?
- MIDLANDER, HURRY UP! - Captain Marco called them as they reached the deck, waving arms at them from the other ship.
The two started to run towards the footbridge when the Smirking Skull creaked violently and bended on one side, causing them to stumble.
- Oof..! - The boy shook his head, trying to stand up.
Kenjii thrust his blade on the floor and used it to keep himself standing, reaching over the elvaan kid. - Take my hand!
- Y-Yes… - He almost did it, but then screamed in horror, as he saw the treasure box slide away, over the ledge, and fall in the water. - NO!!!
Kenjii stretched his arm, trying to grab him. - Forget the damn box!
But right as his fingers touched the boy's hand, the kid simply let himself slide to the ledge, and jumped in the water.
The samurai stared blankly at the scene, completely in shock.
How did that happen? Why did that have to happen to him?
- MIDLANDER! GRAB THIS ROPE!
Kenjii didn't even look at the rope. The raging waves under him had sort of hypnotized him…
He didn't want to turn his back and let someone die again.
- MIDLANDER!!
Before he even knew, Kenjii let his sword go, and the sharp cold of the ocean's water embraced him, swallowing him in the darkness.
last edited 737 weeks ago by Blue KJ
To be an interesting, intriguing, well-written character, there needs to be something to allow the audience to relate to them. That is what the problem is with who wants their character to be "perfect". Perfect characters will never be strong, and strong characters will never be perfect, because WE (those who read, who watch, who RP) are not perfect.
"What makes a strong character is how they deal with their flaws, their fears, their turmoils, their troubles that get in the way. That's what makes them relatable." – Doug Walker
"What makes a strong character is how they deal with their flaws, their fears, their turmoils, their troubles that get in the way. That's what makes them relatable." – Doug Walker
Chapter 3: Welcome to the East
It was the noise of crashing waves that woke up Kenjii from his dream. He couldn't remember what kind of dream, but he didn't care. He had more important things to do… like figuring out where he was.
He was laying on his back, under a dead tree. Through its branches, he could see a clear sky, with a strong orange shade. It reminded him of the summer dawns in Gustaberg.
He turned his head to watch the sea, and tried to lean on his elbows. A sharp pain climbed up from his shoulder up to the head, forcing him back down. With a deep breath, e closed his eyes and slowly massaged it with his left hand, trying to remember the most recent events..
Fenrir had almost killed him because of his weakness, and then he had left the Middle Lands to recover his shoulder. He had boarded a pirate ship, and there he had spent many sleepless nights, thinking of his mistakes, haunted by guilt and regret of what he had told to Avina…
Avina…
- Who's Avina?
Kenjii opened his eyes and sat up instantly, realizing he wasn't alone on that beach. Next to him was the boy of Aht Urhgan, the red-haired elvaan, the 'stowaway', sitting cross-legged. He was looking at him with an idiotic expression.
- What…?
- Who is Avina? You called for them several times in your sleep.
The samurai glared at him, unable to find any word to reply, and the kid simply glared back. After a minute, or maybe two, Kenjii finally decided there was nothing to be said and stood up, checking his armor and making sure he was still uncut.
He looked down and found his gobbiebag, still in one piece. After looking at the inside briefly, he mentally thanked the goblins for figuring out how to make waterproof bags and then put it on his good shoulder, turning around from the beach and the little boy.
*******************************
*Clank clank*
After some struggle Kenjii had finally found what it looked like to be a road in the dead woods of that place. The surrounding area was barren and desolate, but he didn't really notice. His mind was somewhere else, far away.
*Clank clank*
How did he get there? Was that the Far East?
*Clank clank*
What had happened to the pirates? Did they survive the storm?
*Clank clank*
Would he have been able to find the druid Shigure by himself? Was there any hope for his shoulder to fix with the Far Eastern medicines?
*Clank clank*
And what would he have done after that? Go back to the Middle Lands?
*Clank clank*
But how? And more importantly…
- Just how far are you going to follow me!? - He snapped, turning to the boy behind him.
The kid stopped, and the clanking noise of the chains at his feet with him. He blinked at Kenjii for a moment. - Why are you so mad?
- Listen, kid… - Kenjii said, placing a hand on his hip in frustration. - I freed you from that cage, and that was that. Go where you want!
The boy looked at the chains around his wrists, doubtful. - I am happy that you helped me get out of there, but… - He pulled one of them, trying to get rid of it. - …I don't even know where we are. Or worse yet, I don't even know where to go.
Kenjii frowned in irritation. - What…?
- When I fell in the water, I had barely the time to catch this. - The little elvaan put out the dreaded flat box from his kenpogi and stared down at it. - Then I saw you falling down, and the ship started to break in pieces… I couldn't even think… All I did was take a piece of floating wood and move us on it. I've lost consciousness shortly after… I don't know where that took us… I don't even remember how close we were to the land before I passed out…
- Forget it. - Kenjii looked away, slightly embarrassed at the idea that the boy had saved him from drowning.
- You're right. Ah, but I do remember my name still! My name's…
- It doesn't matter.
The young elvaan looked up at Kenjii, intimidated and confused.
- I don't care who or what you are. - The samurai continued, glaring at him with cold eyes. - Hurry up and disappear, or else… I'm gonna beat you, shorty.
- But… - The kid stuttered, his eyes as big as never before.
Sensing an incoming weeping from him, Kenjii turned around to walk away.
- What kind of manners are these!? How haughty you are! YOU BOILED FISH-EYED PUNK! STUPID!!!
Kenjii froze on the spot, and looked at him over his shoulder. - You really have a lot of guts… YOU IDIOTIC MIDGET! - He yelled, hitting his head with a punch.
- AAAH! - The boy cried, and looked at him with rage. - Why the hell did you actually hit me!?
- Shut up! Or I'm locking you in the first cage I can find!
- Nobody asked you to free me!
- I did it just because you won't stop annoying me with your calls for help!!
- I've told you I didn't call any–
Kenjii was about to hit the elvaan another time, when a noise behind him warned him that they weren't alone anymore. The welcoming committee had arrived.
*********************************
- Hey… look at that.
- They don't seem to be speaking our dialect. What do you guys think?
- The man's accent sounds Western. And the kid… We sure found quite a strange duo.
The thugs were speaking in a strong dialect that Kenjii didn't catch much, even though he knew some of the Far Eastern terms thanks to his training with Master Ryoma. He examined the equipment of those indigenous blokes. They didn't have anything great, but he knew it would've been hard without his zanbato.
One of them approached with a big grin, a nasty-looking ax resting on his shoulder, and spoke with something vaguely similar to Kenjii's dialect.
- You sure must be really motivated to come in a place like this. - He said, looking down at them from behind his glasses. - Thanks to you, we found something to exercise on.
- Hey… Are these bad guys? - The boy asked that with extreme innocence.
Kenjii placed himself in front of him, his eyes firm on the rogues. - Begone and fast, shorty.
- Eh?
- If you stay here, you'll get in my way. Run away while you're on time.
The thugs laughed at Kenjii. - Why, you think you can fight us?
- You sure got determination, boy!
Kenjii slowly got himself in the fighting stance for hand-to-hand combat, even though he was doubtful he could still remember any move. - Keep jabbering, you garbage.
The taller of the three approached Kenjii, slightly beating his combat staff on his palm. - He he he… This will be fun.
The samurai had barely the time to move a step forward, before seeing the elvaan kid jumping in front of him with great speed.
- What the…!? - Kenjii growled. - Out of the way, shorty!
He would've kept cussing him out, if seeing the kid hit the thug with a powerful kick on the jaw hadn't left him speechless.
The thug fell a couple yalms behind, hitting a tree and losing consciousness. The man who had spoken their language charged the elvaan boy, his ax ready to strike.
- You damn brat!!
The kid swiftly hit the ax's handle with the side of his right hand, snapping it in two parts, and the head of the weapon rolled at the feet of the third rogue with a hiss in the air.
- Who… who the hell is that!?
- He's a monster!!
- Bleeeeeeeeeeeh! - The kid stuck out his tongue at the thieves, watching them pick up their companion and run away. - That'll teach you!
"He really is a monster…" Thought Kenjii, still frozen in shock at what he had just seen. "Even with those chains at his arts, he managed to swim and fight without much effort… Elvaan strength will never cease surprising me."
- Eh? - He finally awoke from his thoughts, noticing the kid had collapsed on all fours. - Are you hurt?
- Ugh… - The kid didn't reply, and Kenjii for a moment thought it was something serious, when a loud grumble from the boy's stomach replied in his stead.
- …. This isn't possible -.-x - Kenjii facepalmed, and then looked at the kid through his fingers when he started giggling.
- He he… He! He! He! I'm starving! - He said, and by the sound of his voice, Kenjii could tell the kid was crying. - It's strange… I'm happy my stomach is rumbling. It's the first time I feel something that isn't fear since when I left home months ago.
Kenjii lowered his hand and stayed in silence, unable to find anything to say.
- But you… You know, earlier… - The boy looked up at him, his face streaked with tears. - …I told you I didn't call anyone. But actually… I did nothing but call for help… all the time… even in my sleep. I was sad, very sad, but… I had no one to call.
He looked back down, and finally stood up, wiping the tears from his face. - And so… I just kept calling for anyone… I never stopped calling. And in the end… you arrived.
Kenjii frowned when the kid's eyes met with his again.
- Please… Tell me your name… - Asked the boy, with an innocent smile. - So next time… I'll call you the right way.
- I am Kenjii Asgard. - The samurai finally replied after a minute. - A Samurai of the Tenshodo.
- …Jii?
- No. Kenjii Asgard, Samurai of the Tenshodo.
An awkward silence fell on the two, and Kenjii could almost hear the noise of the engines in the kid's head running, while he was trying to memorize.
- Then I'll call you Kenjii!
Kenjii sighed and started walking away again. - Do as you please. -.-
- Kenjiiiii!
- …
*Clank clank*
- Hey, Kenjiiiii!
- What?
*Clank clank*
- He! He! Ke… Ken… Jiiii! Right?
- Stop it.
*Clank clank*
- Kenjiii, I'm hungry!
- Eat some deadwood, you shrimp!
- My name's not Shrimp! It's….
It was the noise of crashing waves that woke up Kenjii from his dream. He couldn't remember what kind of dream, but he didn't care. He had more important things to do… like figuring out where he was.
He was laying on his back, under a dead tree. Through its branches, he could see a clear sky, with a strong orange shade. It reminded him of the summer dawns in Gustaberg.
He turned his head to watch the sea, and tried to lean on his elbows. A sharp pain climbed up from his shoulder up to the head, forcing him back down. With a deep breath, e closed his eyes and slowly massaged it with his left hand, trying to remember the most recent events..
Fenrir had almost killed him because of his weakness, and then he had left the Middle Lands to recover his shoulder. He had boarded a pirate ship, and there he had spent many sleepless nights, thinking of his mistakes, haunted by guilt and regret of what he had told to Avina…
Avina…
- Who's Avina?
Kenjii opened his eyes and sat up instantly, realizing he wasn't alone on that beach. Next to him was the boy of Aht Urhgan, the red-haired elvaan, the 'stowaway', sitting cross-legged. He was looking at him with an idiotic expression.
- What…?
- Who is Avina? You called for them several times in your sleep.
The samurai glared at him, unable to find any word to reply, and the kid simply glared back. After a minute, or maybe two, Kenjii finally decided there was nothing to be said and stood up, checking his armor and making sure he was still uncut.
He looked down and found his gobbiebag, still in one piece. After looking at the inside briefly, he mentally thanked the goblins for figuring out how to make waterproof bags and then put it on his good shoulder, turning around from the beach and the little boy.
*******************************
*Clank clank*
After some struggle Kenjii had finally found what it looked like to be a road in the dead woods of that place. The surrounding area was barren and desolate, but he didn't really notice. His mind was somewhere else, far away.
*Clank clank*
How did he get there? Was that the Far East?
*Clank clank*
What had happened to the pirates? Did they survive the storm?
*Clank clank*
Would he have been able to find the druid Shigure by himself? Was there any hope for his shoulder to fix with the Far Eastern medicines?
*Clank clank*
And what would he have done after that? Go back to the Middle Lands?
*Clank clank*
But how? And more importantly…
- Just how far are you going to follow me!? - He snapped, turning to the boy behind him.
The kid stopped, and the clanking noise of the chains at his feet with him. He blinked at Kenjii for a moment. - Why are you so mad?
- Listen, kid… - Kenjii said, placing a hand on his hip in frustration. - I freed you from that cage, and that was that. Go where you want!
The boy looked at the chains around his wrists, doubtful. - I am happy that you helped me get out of there, but… - He pulled one of them, trying to get rid of it. - …I don't even know where we are. Or worse yet, I don't even know where to go.
Kenjii frowned in irritation. - What…?
- When I fell in the water, I had barely the time to catch this. - The little elvaan put out the dreaded flat box from his kenpogi and stared down at it. - Then I saw you falling down, and the ship started to break in pieces… I couldn't even think… All I did was take a piece of floating wood and move us on it. I've lost consciousness shortly after… I don't know where that took us… I don't even remember how close we were to the land before I passed out…
- Forget it. - Kenjii looked away, slightly embarrassed at the idea that the boy had saved him from drowning.
- You're right. Ah, but I do remember my name still! My name's…
- It doesn't matter.
The young elvaan looked up at Kenjii, intimidated and confused.
- I don't care who or what you are. - The samurai continued, glaring at him with cold eyes. - Hurry up and disappear, or else… I'm gonna beat you, shorty.
- But… - The kid stuttered, his eyes as big as never before.
Sensing an incoming weeping from him, Kenjii turned around to walk away.
- What kind of manners are these!? How haughty you are! YOU BOILED FISH-EYED PUNK! STUPID!!!
Kenjii froze on the spot, and looked at him over his shoulder. - You really have a lot of guts… YOU IDIOTIC MIDGET! - He yelled, hitting his head with a punch.
- AAAH! - The boy cried, and looked at him with rage. - Why the hell did you actually hit me!?
- Shut up! Or I'm locking you in the first cage I can find!
- Nobody asked you to free me!
- I did it just because you won't stop annoying me with your calls for help!!
- I've told you I didn't call any–
Kenjii was about to hit the elvaan another time, when a noise behind him warned him that they weren't alone anymore. The welcoming committee had arrived.
*********************************
- Hey… look at that.
- They don't seem to be speaking our dialect. What do you guys think?
- The man's accent sounds Western. And the kid… We sure found quite a strange duo.
The thugs were speaking in a strong dialect that Kenjii didn't catch much, even though he knew some of the Far Eastern terms thanks to his training with Master Ryoma. He examined the equipment of those indigenous blokes. They didn't have anything great, but he knew it would've been hard without his zanbato.
One of them approached with a big grin, a nasty-looking ax resting on his shoulder, and spoke with something vaguely similar to Kenjii's dialect.
- You sure must be really motivated to come in a place like this. - He said, looking down at them from behind his glasses. - Thanks to you, we found something to exercise on.
- Hey… Are these bad guys? - The boy asked that with extreme innocence.
Kenjii placed himself in front of him, his eyes firm on the rogues. - Begone and fast, shorty.
- Eh?
- If you stay here, you'll get in my way. Run away while you're on time.
The thugs laughed at Kenjii. - Why, you think you can fight us?
- You sure got determination, boy!
Kenjii slowly got himself in the fighting stance for hand-to-hand combat, even though he was doubtful he could still remember any move. - Keep jabbering, you garbage.
The taller of the three approached Kenjii, slightly beating his combat staff on his palm. - He he he… This will be fun.
The samurai had barely the time to move a step forward, before seeing the elvaan kid jumping in front of him with great speed.
- What the…!? - Kenjii growled. - Out of the way, shorty!
He would've kept cussing him out, if seeing the kid hit the thug with a powerful kick on the jaw hadn't left him speechless.
The thug fell a couple yalms behind, hitting a tree and losing consciousness. The man who had spoken their language charged the elvaan boy, his ax ready to strike.
- You damn brat!!
The kid swiftly hit the ax's handle with the side of his right hand, snapping it in two parts, and the head of the weapon rolled at the feet of the third rogue with a hiss in the air.
- Who… who the hell is that!?
- He's a monster!!
- Bleeeeeeeeeeeh! - The kid stuck out his tongue at the thieves, watching them pick up their companion and run away. - That'll teach you!
"He really is a monster…" Thought Kenjii, still frozen in shock at what he had just seen. "Even with those chains at his arts, he managed to swim and fight without much effort… Elvaan strength will never cease surprising me."
- Eh? - He finally awoke from his thoughts, noticing the kid had collapsed on all fours. - Are you hurt?
- Ugh… - The kid didn't reply, and Kenjii for a moment thought it was something serious, when a loud grumble from the boy's stomach replied in his stead.
- …. This isn't possible -.-x - Kenjii facepalmed, and then looked at the kid through his fingers when he started giggling.
- He he… He! He! He! I'm starving! - He said, and by the sound of his voice, Kenjii could tell the kid was crying. - It's strange… I'm happy my stomach is rumbling. It's the first time I feel something that isn't fear since when I left home months ago.
Kenjii lowered his hand and stayed in silence, unable to find anything to say.
- But you… You know, earlier… - The boy looked up at him, his face streaked with tears. - …I told you I didn't call anyone. But actually… I did nothing but call for help… all the time… even in my sleep. I was sad, very sad, but… I had no one to call.
He looked back down, and finally stood up, wiping the tears from his face. - And so… I just kept calling for anyone… I never stopped calling. And in the end… you arrived.
Kenjii frowned when the kid's eyes met with his again.
- Please… Tell me your name… - Asked the boy, with an innocent smile. - So next time… I'll call you the right way.
- I am Kenjii Asgard. - The samurai finally replied after a minute. - A Samurai of the Tenshodo.
- …Jii?
- No. Kenjii Asgard, Samurai of the Tenshodo.
An awkward silence fell on the two, and Kenjii could almost hear the noise of the engines in the kid's head running, while he was trying to memorize.
- Then I'll call you Kenjii!
Kenjii sighed and started walking away again. - Do as you please. -.-
- Kenjiiiii!
- …
*Clank clank*
- Hey, Kenjiiiii!
- What?
*Clank clank*
- He! He! Ke… Ken… Jiiii! Right?
- Stop it.
*Clank clank*
- Kenjiii, I'm hungry!
- Eat some deadwood, you shrimp!
- My name's not Shrimp! It's….
last edited 737 weeks ago by Blue KJ
To be an interesting, intriguing, well-written character, there needs to be something to allow the audience to relate to them. That is what the problem is with who wants their character to be "perfect". Perfect characters will never be strong, and strong characters will never be perfect, because WE (those who read, who watch, who RP) are not perfect.
"What makes a strong character is how they deal with their flaws, their fears, their turmoils, their troubles that get in the way. That's what makes them relatable." – Doug Walker
"What makes a strong character is how they deal with their flaws, their fears, their turmoils, their troubles that get in the way. That's what makes them relatable." – Doug Walker
Chapter 4: The Far East and the Near East
Note: From this point and on, the language used by the characters will be the Far Eastern dialect (AKA Japanese IRL), and it will be all fully translated in English for a better understanding. This is why you won't see japan-like words in this story (like -san, or -sama, or -chan and others). See it as if this was a Japan movie with English VAs. Kenjii is speaking it too, even though he uses an accent that clearly allows the others to recognize his origins. If he, or anybody else, will use a different language, this will still be written in English, but in bold. I decided to write it this way because I think mixing Japanese words with English would've just ruined the text. So there, if you wonder why in this Far Eastern story you aren't seeing any Japan-like term except names, it's because of this. Bear with me if you don't like this style lol.
(That day, in the middle of the night)
- SHION!!
Kenjii ran through the main street of the village, panting. The houses around him were silent and dark, and he could find no one along the desolated path.
Is it too late?
The boy's scream suddenly echoed in the night. - I said give it back! Let me go!
Kenjii almost stumbled on his own feet, and quickly turned left, running towards the big house on the top of the village's hill. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest, when Shion's voice grew louder.
- No… NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
*************************************
(The previous day)
- You don't look very well, Mr. Kenjii.
Kenjii looked up at the village's medic, while putting his shinobi gi back on. - Thanks for checking it out everyday.
The medic waved his hand in the air, suggesting it wasn't a big deal, and then handed him a cup of herb tea.
- Not like I can do much about it. I really hope the man you're looking for will be able to help you out. But seriously, take care of yourself. You seem to be aching everywhere.
- Yes… I'm not well at all lately… - Kenjii nodded and drank slowly the tea.
…Since I met that loudy being…
- Eyes and neck were the first to suffer….
Nobody knows what he's gonna do when you look away from him, he won't stop running left and right.
- ….Then my throat and abdomen started to hurt….
For the first time in my life, I've learned that raising the voice strongly affects the stomach.
- ….Then the legs…
That little monster got short legs but is unexpectedly fast when he got to run away. Lately I often wake up in the night because of calf cramps, damn it.
- …Even my shoulders are sore.
After all, since he's so small he barely reaches my chest, when he raises his eyes to me without even the slightest shame, I grant him the favor to look back at him.
- …And then….
…And then.
- Now, now… - The medic patted Kenjii's right shoulder gently. - At this rate, you will be dead before even reaching my age. I think stress is your main problem, so try to relax and give it time.
The distant, lively sound of the village's bell echoed from the window, and the two turned around to listen to it.
The medic smiled and took Kenjii's cup back. - Well then, sounds like lunch is ready. Go at the eatery, it will help you get better. I'll see you there soon, Mr. Kenjii.
Kenjii stood up and bowed his head slightly to the doctor, and turned around after the greeting was countered.
**************************
He was still not used to the bustle of the eatery. Everyone in the small village gathered there to eat twice every day, except the headman.
After the first few days, the people there had finally got used to the newcomer's presence, and Kenjii had managed to find his own usual place in the big dojo.
He'd sit at the end of the second table, in silence, listening to the others' chatter and slowly learning the dialect of the Far East.
Every now and then, after making sure nobody was looking at him, he'd take a loaf of bread or a fruit and quickly hide it in his bag, to then go back at staring at his food and eat in silence.
That day though, the villagers next to him were talking about something that caught his interest.
- Theft at the eatery's kitchen garden?
- What about it?
Kenjii looked up from his dish, with a frown. The men didn't seem to notice, and just kept talking.
- Exactly. Mostly edible raw stuff, like fruit. - Said one of them. - Not only the accumulated supplies at the Stock, but even the ones in the yard's warehouse.
- Maybe it was some gigantic rat!
- Can't you be serious for a change? I'm thinking it was a person, or maybe… a monster.
- … - Kenjii quickly drank his water and stood up.
- Done already? - Asked one of the villagers, looking up at him. - I thought the doctor Aoshi said you needed to eat more to recover or something.
- I'm full, but I'll go get some rest now. - Kenjii walked away without bothering to check whether his excuse was good enough or not, and exited the eatery.
******************************
He looked around, making sure nobody was following him, and then walked quickly to an isolated shack at the northern edge of the village, hidden behind the warehouses, and previously used to store cleaning tools.
Kenjii had personally requested that they'd let him use it as a personal place to meditate at, and after some questions and confused looks, they had let him claim it.
But the truth was…
*SBAM*
Kenjii walked in fast, and closed the door behind himself. - Hey…
- WAAAH!
Shion backed away from him, scared by the sudden entrance and unable to recognize him, as the light coming from the door behind Kenjii was nearly blinding him. He calmed down only after it was shut.
- Ah… It's you, Kenjii. You nearly gave me an heart attack! - He said with a welcoming smile, and handed him one of the many fruits who were laying on his lap. - Wanna eat something, Kenjii? You know, the fruits of the tree back here were awesome!
- As I thought… - Kenjii's right eye twitched, and he quickly approached the boy to smack his head. - THIS IS ALL YOUR WORK, STUPID SHRIMP!
- OUCH!! - Shion groaned, massaging his head with both hands. - Can I know why you hit me!?
- SHUT UP!! IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY I TOLD YOU TO NOT WALK OUTSIDE OF HERE! - Yelled Kenjii, raising his fist again, but holding himself from landing it.
- I… was hungry. - Whined Shion, looking at his feet. His ears slightly lowered in sadness.
Kenjii crossed his arms. - I bring you food three times a day already…! -.-x
Shion lowered his hands and looked up. - Anyway… For how much longer do I have to hide in here?
- Try to be patient. This is a big village, and you are of Aht Urhgan. - Kenjii sighed in irritation. - When Mr. Shigure comes here from that far away city, I will meet him with the headman to determine where I will get sent.
Shion tilted his head, confused.
- If we manage to find a boat or a caravan to take you home, you wouldn't be forced to stay here.
- … - Shion's eyes grew bigger, and he swallowed in anxiety. - Hey, Kenjii..
- What? - Kenjii opened his bag and placed his saved food on the floor. - If it's about the food, I will give you more. But you must not walk outside of here.
- … Okay….
*********************************
(That day, afternoon)
"It's been five days already since when we arrived to this village, and that brat has always been hidden in there."
Kenjii was walking towards the shack, with a fast and nervous pace. The people around him seemed too busy working to notice him.
"For now, everyone listened to my request to not approach this shack, but maybe the moment has really come…"
- Hey, shrimp… - He called, opening the door slowly. - I'm going at the headman's place for a summoning. Follow…
His voice died as his eyes landed on Shion's sleeping body. He was on the floor, curled in the blankets he had given him. The expression on his face was angelic and peaceful, making him look even younger.
Kenjii stood there, watching him, leaning against the door frame with a forearm.
- Pfh… He really looks like a bundle. - He muttered, as the shadow of a smile touched his impassive lips.
Oh well… If it's just for one more night… It won't matter.
Kenjii closed the door quietly, and walked away from the shack, heading to the headman's house.
****************************************
(That day, late evening)
"Today…. Kenjii is not coming."
Shion was staring at the door. Sitting, his arms wrapped around the knees, and a blanket around himself. His amber eyes were blank, reflecting the moonlight that was filtering through the bars above the door frame.
He looked down at the fruit and bread and flasks of water Kenjii had left there that afternoon.
"There's lots of food… and warm blankets too… But Kenjii isn't coming."
The boy sighed and placed his chin on his knees. "Why won't he show up? …. It's already so dark."
Wait… Maybe it's dark because Kenjii isn't here.
"Now that I think about it… Kenjii… He said that he had to find someone to take me home."
"Did he leave me here? Am I alone again?"
"It's like back in that cage…"
"Nothing passes through here…"
"Not my hands… Not my voice…"
Shion grabbed the flat box he had so bravely rescued from the raging waves of the storm, and held it tight against his chest.
Not even light.
Kenjii, I can't reach you.
**********************************
(At the same time)
- The bite of a dragon, huh?
- Yes. - Kenjii was sitting on his knees, in front of the headman. He would've never guessed that Shigure Aotsuki, the medic that doctor Momberaux had so strongly suggested him to meet, was a Tarutaru.
- Hmmm… - Shigure was checking his shoulder, running his fingers along the scars on the front and back of Kenjii's right shoulder. - Well, no wonder you can't fight very well anymore, kid.
Kenjii frowned, and turned to look at him with a questioning look.
The doctor scratched his black topknot. - How to say… Dragons fangs are constantly overheated by the flames coming out of their mouth. This means that when they cut something, the flesh around their bite will burn, and cauterize. Once this happens, the regeneration process of your body is strongly slowed down, if not arrested.
At those words, Kenjii's breath stopped. He blinked a couple times, and then deeply inhaled, trying to calm down. Slowly, he shook his head. - But there's something you can do…?
Shigure crossed his arms in thought. - Well, of course there is! Doctor Mambarex surely didn't send you over here just to have you listen to what he could've easily guessed by himself!
"Mambarex…?"
- I do have medicines that will accelerate your regeneration process and possibly restore the muscles of your shoulder. But I'm afraid this is a very long process. It might take years, with the most optimistic expectations.
- …I have all the time it will take. - Kenjii replied after a few seconds of thought.
- Are you sure? Don't you have a life over there in the West?
Kenjii felt as if he was punched in the stomach. He stammered for a second. - N-no I don't…
- You are still so young. It's a pity to waste so much of your life here just to be able to fight again.
Kenjii glared at him. - Fighting is all I have now. I need strength to protect my dear ones.
- The dear ones you're going to not see till your thirst for power is satisfied?
- …
After a one minute of staring contest, the Tarutaru finally gave up with a sigh. - Very well. But I'm warning you… you will have to reduce the stress on your shoulder to a minimal level, possibly not use it at all.
- But… I am a samurai.
- What kind of blade did you use?
- A zanbato. - Said Kenjii raising an eyebrow. He didn't understand what did his weapon had to do with his problem.
- A ZANBATO!? - Shigure stomped in anger. - No wonder the shoulder won't heal! Those are heavy! This is probably why you are so short, too!!
- What…? - Kenjii's eye twitched.
- Your physique is too frail for this kind of weapons. What the hell did your parents think when they let you become a samurai!?
Kenjii was speechless. Was it true? He did it wrong all along…? And how could nobody know this where he trained?
Wait… Zeid knew. Maybe that was why he refused to train him as a Dark Knight. It was all clear now…
- No heavy weapons for you until I say so from now on. That is, if you want to be my patient. - Continued Shigure. - If you want to still fight, I suggest you dust off your magic skills a little.
Kenjii looked down at his hands, clenched on his legs. He didn't know any magic to fight with…
How frustrating. After so many sacrifices and struggles to get there, he was seeing every door to the solution of his problem shut down in front of him. How far could his bad luck get?
- So, - The headman, a black-haired Mithra with a yellow hairband finally spoke, putting down her tea cup. - Do you want me to prepare a bed for your stay, Mr. Aotsuki?
Shigure shook his head, while emoting Kenjii to put his gi back on. - I can't stay. The boy will come with me… There was another conflict with Aht Urhgan at the western town of Usashi*. I heard there were many injured.
- Curse those Aht Urghan dogs… - growled the headman with a pout. - We lost some men to them a couple months ago, too.
Kenjii looked at her. - Why does the East hate Aht Urhgan so much?
The doctor scratched his topknot again. - We're at war, though the reasons are not to be known outside of the Mikado. Of course there's lots of rumors… But for now we're at a stalemate. More than a war, ours are mere skirmishes lately. Still some of the younger ones here get too cocky and try chew more than we can bite.
- Rumors?
- BOSS! - A hume girl ran in, gaping the dojo's doors.
- What is it!? Can't you see we have an important guest? - Nearly roared the mithra, twisting her tail in anger.
- We found an intruder in the village. He's just a boy but… he seems to have stolen something and is hurting whoever approaches him!
****************************
(And now…)
- Who are you!?
- What are you doing!?
Shion was staring up at the villagers who had found him, fear holding him in its cold grip. - Ah…
- Who the heck is this dirty brat? Where do you think you are, you scum! This is a respected village!
- Where did you come from!?
- There's a mistake, I… Kenjii has… - Shion stammered, so many things were running through his mind, that he couldn't even get one sentence straight. All of a sudden he remembered Kenjii's words…
"Listen well… If they find you here, I'll be in trouble."
He wouldn't have betrayed Kenjii.
Shion tried to escape, but his run didn't last long. The men had cornered him and a couple of them grabbed his arms, holding him firmly. He screamed.
- Stop, kid!
- So it was you, stealing all our food supplies from the kitchen garden!
Shion felt something moving under his kenpogi. The treasure box had slipped out and fell on the floor.
- What is this? - Another man picked it up. - Surely something else you stole, huh!?
Why?
- He got an Aht Urhgan tattoo! Call the headman!!
Why, Kenjii…? I'm calling you.
- NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
I'm calling you!!!
***********************************
Kenjii ran in the house where he had heard the screams coming from. The men of the village were all there, surrounding Shion. The kid was trembling on the ground, his hands holding his head. Kenjii could sense a strange aura coming from him.
It didn't took him too long to recognize it.
- STAY AWAY FROM HIM!!
- Huh? - One of the men turned around to see Kenjii, confused. But his look quickly shifted to sharp pain, when Shion stood up and hit him in the stomach with extreme violence.
The group quickly backed off. - Ugh… What's going on!? He didn't have this strength before!
- He went berserk. - Said Kenjii walking past them, looking at the boy. - The raging trance that a monk can go into with a secret technique that pummels through the enemies defenses with repeated blows that are quicker than the eye can follow.
- You mean the Hundred Fists!?
Kenjii nodded. - He must've fell in trance because of overwhelming fear. He's still too young to control the powerful chakra of a Monk.
Kenjii stepped forward towards the kid. - You stupid shrimp…
The boy turned to look at him. His golden eyes sparkled in the night.
"I can't move… If I do, he'd probably kill me." Kenjii remained tight-lipped. "Am I feeling fear? Me?"
- Don't mock me, midget. - He clenched his fists, and that was the signal for Shion.
The elvaan dashed forward, charging Kenjii will all his berserk fury. Kenjii had only one instant to react.
He moved forward, right as Shion prepared his first fist, and dodged it. Knowing he wouldn't have been able to see the next one, he grabbed the boy's head with his right hand and slammed him to the ground.
He bent down on him, his hand still on the Shion's hairline, and looked at him in surprise.
The kid's face was streaked with tears, his big amber eyes glued on Kenjii's.
- I… I… - He stammered between sobs. - I thought… I was alone… again.
- I would never leave you… alone. - Said Kenjii softly, so that only Shion could hear him. - You are too incompetent!
He turned towards the villagers, to show everything was fine now, and let Shion go. When he turned to look back at him, the boy's eyes were closed, his sleeping angel face was there again.
*****************************
(The day after)
- I'm sorry! - Shion had reached Kenjii in his room, as he was preparing his stuff to leave the village with Shigure, and was now bowing to him over and over.
- I'm really sorry! For some reason I don't remember anything about yesterday… Maybe because I wasn't really in me…
- Fine. I'll spare you for this time. - Kenjii was relieved that the boy couldn't remember his words from last night. Thinking back at it, it wasn't like him to say stuff like that to someone.
- Jeez… You've been alone on that island for months, and now you can't behave for one night.
- Huh? - Shion stretched, looking at the flat box on Kenjii's bed. He took it in his hands and stared down at it. - Well, you know… I can't really explain but…
- Unlike then when I was alone in the jungle… since when I've met you, Kenjii, everything… is more…. 'full'!
Kenjii looked at the boy, and at the happy face he had while saying that, and felt he was about to blush. He turned away irritatedly, finishing to prepare his gobbiebag.
- I didn't understand a thing of what you said. How about you try speaking human language? -.-
- What!? -.-x
****************************
- …And this is why he's coming with us. - Said Kenjii emotionless, pointing at Shion next to him with his thumb.
- Hello! I like Tarutarus! They look so tasty!
Shigure facepalmed at the two, while they took place on the caravan. "This isn't possible…. -.-"
*Disclaimer: Usashi is a name I made up completely and there are no hints of such a town existing in the Far East. If a future expansion or reference in game will come to prove me wrong, the text will be changed accordingly.
Note: From this point and on, the language used by the characters will be the Far Eastern dialect (AKA Japanese IRL), and it will be all fully translated in English for a better understanding. This is why you won't see japan-like words in this story (like -san, or -sama, or -chan and others). See it as if this was a Japan movie with English VAs. Kenjii is speaking it too, even though he uses an accent that clearly allows the others to recognize his origins. If he, or anybody else, will use a different language, this will still be written in English, but in bold. I decided to write it this way because I think mixing Japanese words with English would've just ruined the text. So there, if you wonder why in this Far Eastern story you aren't seeing any Japan-like term except names, it's because of this. Bear with me if you don't like this style lol.
(That day, in the middle of the night)
- SHION!!
Kenjii ran through the main street of the village, panting. The houses around him were silent and dark, and he could find no one along the desolated path.
Is it too late?
The boy's scream suddenly echoed in the night. - I said give it back! Let me go!
Kenjii almost stumbled on his own feet, and quickly turned left, running towards the big house on the top of the village's hill. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest, when Shion's voice grew louder.
- No… NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
*************************************
(The previous day)
- You don't look very well, Mr. Kenjii.
Kenjii looked up at the village's medic, while putting his shinobi gi back on. - Thanks for checking it out everyday.
The medic waved his hand in the air, suggesting it wasn't a big deal, and then handed him a cup of herb tea.
- Not like I can do much about it. I really hope the man you're looking for will be able to help you out. But seriously, take care of yourself. You seem to be aching everywhere.
- Yes… I'm not well at all lately… - Kenjii nodded and drank slowly the tea.
…Since I met that loudy being…
- Eyes and neck were the first to suffer….
Nobody knows what he's gonna do when you look away from him, he won't stop running left and right.
- ….Then my throat and abdomen started to hurt….
For the first time in my life, I've learned that raising the voice strongly affects the stomach.
- ….Then the legs…
That little monster got short legs but is unexpectedly fast when he got to run away. Lately I often wake up in the night because of calf cramps, damn it.
- …Even my shoulders are sore.
After all, since he's so small he barely reaches my chest, when he raises his eyes to me without even the slightest shame, I grant him the favor to look back at him.
- …And then….
…And then.
- Now, now… - The medic patted Kenjii's right shoulder gently. - At this rate, you will be dead before even reaching my age. I think stress is your main problem, so try to relax and give it time.
The distant, lively sound of the village's bell echoed from the window, and the two turned around to listen to it.
The medic smiled and took Kenjii's cup back. - Well then, sounds like lunch is ready. Go at the eatery, it will help you get better. I'll see you there soon, Mr. Kenjii.
Kenjii stood up and bowed his head slightly to the doctor, and turned around after the greeting was countered.
**************************
He was still not used to the bustle of the eatery. Everyone in the small village gathered there to eat twice every day, except the headman.
After the first few days, the people there had finally got used to the newcomer's presence, and Kenjii had managed to find his own usual place in the big dojo.
He'd sit at the end of the second table, in silence, listening to the others' chatter and slowly learning the dialect of the Far East.
Every now and then, after making sure nobody was looking at him, he'd take a loaf of bread or a fruit and quickly hide it in his bag, to then go back at staring at his food and eat in silence.
That day though, the villagers next to him were talking about something that caught his interest.
- Theft at the eatery's kitchen garden?
- What about it?
Kenjii looked up from his dish, with a frown. The men didn't seem to notice, and just kept talking.
- Exactly. Mostly edible raw stuff, like fruit. - Said one of them. - Not only the accumulated supplies at the Stock, but even the ones in the yard's warehouse.
- Maybe it was some gigantic rat!
- Can't you be serious for a change? I'm thinking it was a person, or maybe… a monster.
- … - Kenjii quickly drank his water and stood up.
- Done already? - Asked one of the villagers, looking up at him. - I thought the doctor Aoshi said you needed to eat more to recover or something.
- I'm full, but I'll go get some rest now. - Kenjii walked away without bothering to check whether his excuse was good enough or not, and exited the eatery.
******************************
He looked around, making sure nobody was following him, and then walked quickly to an isolated shack at the northern edge of the village, hidden behind the warehouses, and previously used to store cleaning tools.
Kenjii had personally requested that they'd let him use it as a personal place to meditate at, and after some questions and confused looks, they had let him claim it.
But the truth was…
*SBAM*
Kenjii walked in fast, and closed the door behind himself. - Hey…
- WAAAH!
Shion backed away from him, scared by the sudden entrance and unable to recognize him, as the light coming from the door behind Kenjii was nearly blinding him. He calmed down only after it was shut.
- Ah… It's you, Kenjii. You nearly gave me an heart attack! - He said with a welcoming smile, and handed him one of the many fruits who were laying on his lap. - Wanna eat something, Kenjii? You know, the fruits of the tree back here were awesome!
- As I thought… - Kenjii's right eye twitched, and he quickly approached the boy to smack his head. - THIS IS ALL YOUR WORK, STUPID SHRIMP!
- OUCH!! - Shion groaned, massaging his head with both hands. - Can I know why you hit me!?
- SHUT UP!! IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY I TOLD YOU TO NOT WALK OUTSIDE OF HERE! - Yelled Kenjii, raising his fist again, but holding himself from landing it.
- I… was hungry. - Whined Shion, looking at his feet. His ears slightly lowered in sadness.
Kenjii crossed his arms. - I bring you food three times a day already…! -.-x
Shion lowered his hands and looked up. - Anyway… For how much longer do I have to hide in here?
- Try to be patient. This is a big village, and you are of Aht Urhgan. - Kenjii sighed in irritation. - When Mr. Shigure comes here from that far away city, I will meet him with the headman to determine where I will get sent.
Shion tilted his head, confused.
- If we manage to find a boat or a caravan to take you home, you wouldn't be forced to stay here.
- … - Shion's eyes grew bigger, and he swallowed in anxiety. - Hey, Kenjii..
- What? - Kenjii opened his bag and placed his saved food on the floor. - If it's about the food, I will give you more. But you must not walk outside of here.
- … Okay….
*********************************
(That day, afternoon)
"It's been five days already since when we arrived to this village, and that brat has always been hidden in there."
Kenjii was walking towards the shack, with a fast and nervous pace. The people around him seemed too busy working to notice him.
"For now, everyone listened to my request to not approach this shack, but maybe the moment has really come…"
- Hey, shrimp… - He called, opening the door slowly. - I'm going at the headman's place for a summoning. Follow…
His voice died as his eyes landed on Shion's sleeping body. He was on the floor, curled in the blankets he had given him. The expression on his face was angelic and peaceful, making him look even younger.
Kenjii stood there, watching him, leaning against the door frame with a forearm.
- Pfh… He really looks like a bundle. - He muttered, as the shadow of a smile touched his impassive lips.
Oh well… If it's just for one more night… It won't matter.
Kenjii closed the door quietly, and walked away from the shack, heading to the headman's house.
****************************************
(That day, late evening)
"Today…. Kenjii is not coming."
Shion was staring at the door. Sitting, his arms wrapped around the knees, and a blanket around himself. His amber eyes were blank, reflecting the moonlight that was filtering through the bars above the door frame.
He looked down at the fruit and bread and flasks of water Kenjii had left there that afternoon.
"There's lots of food… and warm blankets too… But Kenjii isn't coming."
The boy sighed and placed his chin on his knees. "Why won't he show up? …. It's already so dark."
Wait… Maybe it's dark because Kenjii isn't here.
"Now that I think about it… Kenjii… He said that he had to find someone to take me home."
"Did he leave me here? Am I alone again?"
"It's like back in that cage…"
"Nothing passes through here…"
"Not my hands… Not my voice…"
Shion grabbed the flat box he had so bravely rescued from the raging waves of the storm, and held it tight against his chest.
Not even light.
Kenjii, I can't reach you.
**********************************
(At the same time)
- The bite of a dragon, huh?
- Yes. - Kenjii was sitting on his knees, in front of the headman. He would've never guessed that Shigure Aotsuki, the medic that doctor Momberaux had so strongly suggested him to meet, was a Tarutaru.
- Hmmm… - Shigure was checking his shoulder, running his fingers along the scars on the front and back of Kenjii's right shoulder. - Well, no wonder you can't fight very well anymore, kid.
Kenjii frowned, and turned to look at him with a questioning look.
The doctor scratched his black topknot. - How to say… Dragons fangs are constantly overheated by the flames coming out of their mouth. This means that when they cut something, the flesh around their bite will burn, and cauterize. Once this happens, the regeneration process of your body is strongly slowed down, if not arrested.
At those words, Kenjii's breath stopped. He blinked a couple times, and then deeply inhaled, trying to calm down. Slowly, he shook his head. - But there's something you can do…?
Shigure crossed his arms in thought. - Well, of course there is! Doctor Mambarex surely didn't send you over here just to have you listen to what he could've easily guessed by himself!
"Mambarex…?"
- I do have medicines that will accelerate your regeneration process and possibly restore the muscles of your shoulder. But I'm afraid this is a very long process. It might take years, with the most optimistic expectations.
- …I have all the time it will take. - Kenjii replied after a few seconds of thought.
- Are you sure? Don't you have a life over there in the West?
Kenjii felt as if he was punched in the stomach. He stammered for a second. - N-no I don't…
- You are still so young. It's a pity to waste so much of your life here just to be able to fight again.
Kenjii glared at him. - Fighting is all I have now. I need strength to protect my dear ones.
- The dear ones you're going to not see till your thirst for power is satisfied?
- …
After a one minute of staring contest, the Tarutaru finally gave up with a sigh. - Very well. But I'm warning you… you will have to reduce the stress on your shoulder to a minimal level, possibly not use it at all.
- But… I am a samurai.
- What kind of blade did you use?
- A zanbato. - Said Kenjii raising an eyebrow. He didn't understand what did his weapon had to do with his problem.
- A ZANBATO!? - Shigure stomped in anger. - No wonder the shoulder won't heal! Those are heavy! This is probably why you are so short, too!!
- What…? - Kenjii's eye twitched.
- Your physique is too frail for this kind of weapons. What the hell did your parents think when they let you become a samurai!?
Kenjii was speechless. Was it true? He did it wrong all along…? And how could nobody know this where he trained?
Wait… Zeid knew. Maybe that was why he refused to train him as a Dark Knight. It was all clear now…
- No heavy weapons for you until I say so from now on. That is, if you want to be my patient. - Continued Shigure. - If you want to still fight, I suggest you dust off your magic skills a little.
Kenjii looked down at his hands, clenched on his legs. He didn't know any magic to fight with…
How frustrating. After so many sacrifices and struggles to get there, he was seeing every door to the solution of his problem shut down in front of him. How far could his bad luck get?
- So, - The headman, a black-haired Mithra with a yellow hairband finally spoke, putting down her tea cup. - Do you want me to prepare a bed for your stay, Mr. Aotsuki?
Shigure shook his head, while emoting Kenjii to put his gi back on. - I can't stay. The boy will come with me… There was another conflict with Aht Urhgan at the western town of Usashi*. I heard there were many injured.
- Curse those Aht Urghan dogs… - growled the headman with a pout. - We lost some men to them a couple months ago, too.
Kenjii looked at her. - Why does the East hate Aht Urhgan so much?
The doctor scratched his topknot again. - We're at war, though the reasons are not to be known outside of the Mikado. Of course there's lots of rumors… But for now we're at a stalemate. More than a war, ours are mere skirmishes lately. Still some of the younger ones here get too cocky and try chew more than we can bite.
- Rumors?
- BOSS! - A hume girl ran in, gaping the dojo's doors.
- What is it!? Can't you see we have an important guest? - Nearly roared the mithra, twisting her tail in anger.
- We found an intruder in the village. He's just a boy but… he seems to have stolen something and is hurting whoever approaches him!
****************************
(And now…)
- Who are you!?
- What are you doing!?
Shion was staring up at the villagers who had found him, fear holding him in its cold grip. - Ah…
- Who the heck is this dirty brat? Where do you think you are, you scum! This is a respected village!
- Where did you come from!?
- There's a mistake, I… Kenjii has… - Shion stammered, so many things were running through his mind, that he couldn't even get one sentence straight. All of a sudden he remembered Kenjii's words…
"Listen well… If they find you here, I'll be in trouble."
He wouldn't have betrayed Kenjii.
Shion tried to escape, but his run didn't last long. The men had cornered him and a couple of them grabbed his arms, holding him firmly. He screamed.
- Stop, kid!
- So it was you, stealing all our food supplies from the kitchen garden!
Shion felt something moving under his kenpogi. The treasure box had slipped out and fell on the floor.
- What is this? - Another man picked it up. - Surely something else you stole, huh!?
Why?
- He got an Aht Urhgan tattoo! Call the headman!!
Why, Kenjii…? I'm calling you.
- NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
I'm calling you!!!
***********************************
Kenjii ran in the house where he had heard the screams coming from. The men of the village were all there, surrounding Shion. The kid was trembling on the ground, his hands holding his head. Kenjii could sense a strange aura coming from him.
It didn't took him too long to recognize it.
- STAY AWAY FROM HIM!!
- Huh? - One of the men turned around to see Kenjii, confused. But his look quickly shifted to sharp pain, when Shion stood up and hit him in the stomach with extreme violence.
The group quickly backed off. - Ugh… What's going on!? He didn't have this strength before!
- He went berserk. - Said Kenjii walking past them, looking at the boy. - The raging trance that a monk can go into with a secret technique that pummels through the enemies defenses with repeated blows that are quicker than the eye can follow.
- You mean the Hundred Fists!?
Kenjii nodded. - He must've fell in trance because of overwhelming fear. He's still too young to control the powerful chakra of a Monk.
Kenjii stepped forward towards the kid. - You stupid shrimp…
The boy turned to look at him. His golden eyes sparkled in the night.
"I can't move… If I do, he'd probably kill me." Kenjii remained tight-lipped. "Am I feeling fear? Me?"
- Don't mock me, midget. - He clenched his fists, and that was the signal for Shion.
The elvaan dashed forward, charging Kenjii will all his berserk fury. Kenjii had only one instant to react.
He moved forward, right as Shion prepared his first fist, and dodged it. Knowing he wouldn't have been able to see the next one, he grabbed the boy's head with his right hand and slammed him to the ground.
He bent down on him, his hand still on the Shion's hairline, and looked at him in surprise.
The kid's face was streaked with tears, his big amber eyes glued on Kenjii's.
- I… I… - He stammered between sobs. - I thought… I was alone… again.
- I would never leave you… alone. - Said Kenjii softly, so that only Shion could hear him. - You are too incompetent!
He turned towards the villagers, to show everything was fine now, and let Shion go. When he turned to look back at him, the boy's eyes were closed, his sleeping angel face was there again.
*****************************
(The day after)
- I'm sorry! - Shion had reached Kenjii in his room, as he was preparing his stuff to leave the village with Shigure, and was now bowing to him over and over.
- I'm really sorry! For some reason I don't remember anything about yesterday… Maybe because I wasn't really in me…
- Fine. I'll spare you for this time. - Kenjii was relieved that the boy couldn't remember his words from last night. Thinking back at it, it wasn't like him to say stuff like that to someone.
- Jeez… You've been alone on that island for months, and now you can't behave for one night.
- Huh? - Shion stretched, looking at the flat box on Kenjii's bed. He took it in his hands and stared down at it. - Well, you know… I can't really explain but…
- Unlike then when I was alone in the jungle… since when I've met you, Kenjii, everything… is more…. 'full'!
Kenjii looked at the boy, and at the happy face he had while saying that, and felt he was about to blush. He turned away irritatedly, finishing to prepare his gobbiebag.
- I didn't understand a thing of what you said. How about you try speaking human language? -.-
- What!? -.-x
****************************
- …And this is why he's coming with us. - Said Kenjii emotionless, pointing at Shion next to him with his thumb.
- Hello! I like Tarutarus! They look so tasty!
Shigure facepalmed at the two, while they took place on the caravan. "This isn't possible…. -.-"
*Disclaimer: Usashi is a name I made up completely and there are no hints of such a town existing in the Far East. If a future expansion or reference in game will come to prove me wrong, the text will be changed accordingly.
last edited 736 weeks ago by Blue KJ
To be an interesting, intriguing, well-written character, there needs to be something to allow the audience to relate to them. That is what the problem is with who wants their character to be "perfect". Perfect characters will never be strong, and strong characters will never be perfect, because WE (those who read, who watch, who RP) are not perfect.
"What makes a strong character is how they deal with their flaws, their fears, their turmoils, their troubles that get in the way. That's what makes them relatable." – Doug Walker
"What makes a strong character is how they deal with their flaws, their fears, their turmoils, their troubles that get in the way. That's what makes them relatable." – Doug Walker
Chapter 5: Sin and Perdition
The shuriken hissed in the air and stabbed the sack, causing some sand to fall out of it.
- Wow! Twelve out of twelve! - Shion clapped in enthusiasm, while Kenjii approached the sack to the other side of the yard to retrieve the shurikens. - Your aim is awesome.
- Hmph, - Kenjii checked the edges of the weapons, before putting them in the case on his belt. - It's nothing impressive when the target can't move.
- You aren't asking me to be your next target, are you?
The samurai, or rather, the temporarily retired samurai and now ninja, sighed. - Don't tempt me. Are you ready?
Shion groaned. - The evasion training again? But we did it this morning already! Didn't doctor Shigure say you need to not strain yourself?
- I can't stand still without nothing to do for so long. - Kenjii shook his head and looked over the yard, at the bustling streets of the town of Usashi. - And apparently there is no job for us today.
- I've got a job.
- Eating doesn't count.
- Awwww…. - Shion's ears lowered, but only for a moment, before twitching at the noise of footsteps behind them. - Doctor Shigure!
- Hello, friends. - He greeted them, looking then at Kenjii. - How are you doing? I see you're getting used to your new style quickly.
- Not entirely new, but yeah… I didn't think I'd have to pick up katanas and shirukens again.
- Hmm, I see, I see. Very well, but do not overdo it with training, understood? - Shigure glanced up at the hume, with a searching look.
Kenjii rolled his eyes. - And how are your patients doing?
- Oh, fairly well, thank you. I am sorry that I have to force you outside of the infirmary while I work, but your little friend is a tiny bit too noisy for me to do my job well.
- I understand. - Kenjii crossed his arms, while Shion pouted and walked back to look at the street. - But were you here to tell us something?
- You really aren't the ramble type, eh? Yes, there is a job for you actually. And it seems to be something big, too..
- You mean it comes from the Prefect? - Kenjii had worked for him in the past weeks, with Shion's help.
Him and the little boy had now quite a reputation in town. The handyman of the West and his loud assistant.
- Yes, and not only him. I heard that it was the town's militia itself that asked him to look for you two… Or something like that. Doesn't sound like an ordinary Search and Seizure job. I just hope it doesn't involve the Tengu.
The tarutaru then looked past Kenjii and nodded. - I think your pet is assaulting your baggage over there.
- Wha…? - Kenjii turned around, and saw Shion rustling in his gobbiebag. - Hey–-! Who told you you could touch that!!
- I'm hungry!! - Whined the kid.
- Well, you can't eat my bag!
- But there's food in there, I saw an egg… AHA! - Shion screamed in triumph, pulling out a chocobo egg from the gobbiebag.
Kenjii's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly ran and took it off the kid's eyes. - You are NOT eating this. It's not even edible!
- Well of course, we'd have to cook it first. - Said the boy with a blink.
Shigure giggled from behind his glasses. - I'm afraid it's a little too late for that.
- What do you mean? - Kenjii had barely the time to finish the sentence, when the egg in his hands shook violently, with a loud crack.
- Oh look, you broke it!
- Shut up shrimp, I didn't! - Kenjii's eyes dashed from the boy to the taru and from the taru to the hatching egg, and then quickly knelt down to place it on the ground.
The three stared at the egg in awe, as the little beak of a chocobo chick peeked from under the thick cracked shell.
The top of the shell then suddenly lifted, under the pressure of a small chocobo head. It seemed to look around, but the shell was covering his eyes completely.
Shigure gently removed the shell from above the chick's head, and it looked around, stopping on Kenjii and chirping at him happily.
- Congratulations, Kenjii. - The doctor smiled warmly.
- Ooooh, Kenjii! You're a MOM!
- Do you even listen to the crap you say, shrimp!? - Snapped Kenjii, glaring angrily at the boy and then immediately turning back to the chick, when he noticed it had crawled out of the egg and started to walk towards him.
- Ugh…! Stop…! Go to Shigure, not me! - He stammered, pointing at the doctor.
The old tarutaru shook his head. - It's yours Kenjii. You were the first thing it saw, this automatically makes you its mother to it.
- WHAT!?
- He he! Besides, Kenjii lovely kept its egg next to himself for all this time! - Shion laughed heartedly, and the chocobo turned its attention to him.
Kenjii facepalmed. - It was a gift… I wanted to drop it at Jeuno's stables before…
Before that fight…
The memory of the day Avina had given him the chocobo egg hit Kenjii's mind with violence. He was so surprised that day…
The day he had planned to tell her everything about his decision to leave the Middle Lands… But she had misunderstood his intentions, and anticipated him with that gift… And in change he had given her a star.
He looked up at the sky, almost as if he could see it through the light of day, in his memory.
- Before? - Shion's voice brought him back to reality.
- It doesn't matter…
The chocobo chick was lightly pecking the boy's finger. - Aww… It's soooo cute!
- You can have it -.-
- But it's yours, Kenjii!
Kenjii stood up. - I've never raised a chocobo!
He moved to walk away, but the bird quickly lolled in his direction, climbing on his tabi and flapping his tiny wings with a loud chirp.
- Well, - Shigure smirked at the frustrated face of the hume boy. - Looks like you're going to have a crash course.
***************************
- You're so awesome!! - A girl exclaimed enthusiastically, when the dice rolled another 11.
The galka at the other side of the table sulked. - You're spoiling me, Kage. Please have some mercy.
- Don't you think it's a bit too early to start whining? - The black haired elvaan picked his dice again and brought them to the face of one of the many girls standing behind his chair cheering him up.
She blew on the dice and then winked at him mischievously.
- The night is still young, the true game starts now! If I win this round, I'm paying drinks for tonight. - Kage grinned, preparing to roll.
- Come on!
- You must win for us!
- Man, you girls are always all on his side. - Whined the Galka.
- Of course we are. - Said a red haired mithra, approaching Kage's chair with a drink, and handed it to him.
She ran her fingers through his black hair with a soft smile. - Say Kage, where's that warrior friend of yours? This place is so quiet since when you two stopped hanging out together….
- … - Kage placed his dice back in the pocket and stood up. - I think I'm done for the night. Boss, put everything on my tab!
- Kage, wait!
- See you~!
The elvaan walked out of the tavern, and disappeared in the darkness of the night.
- You stupid! - Snapped an elvaan woman at the mithra. - Didn't you know that when people start talking about Masaki, Kage gets all moody?
- What? Why?
- I have no idea!
Kage walked down the main street of Usashi, his vest resting on his shoulder. Over his head, the stars of Leviathan were shining brightly.
He looked down at the street, turning left heading for his home, far in the outskirts.
"I make bets to eat…" He thought. "…and seducing a woman with some obvious joke, my nights pass without much concern. To live is so easy it makes me sick."
The important thing is to not look at anyone.
- They wonder what happened to you, Masaki… You're just a hazy memory already…
He turned right, and his words died in his throat, at the sight of the corpse of a hume man on the ground, in a pool of blood.
"Who is this guy?" The elvaan approached the man. He was wearing a white and blue cloak, hiding most of his traits. All he could see was some blond spiky hair coming out of the hood.
Kage checked his wounds and had to hold the urge of throwing up. "Ugh..! I think I can see his intestine!"
- Hey… Are you dead?
The head of the hume slowly lifted in reaction.
- Ah, so… you're still alive! - exclaimed Kage, tilting his head.
The man moved his head a little more, and Kage could see his left eye through the thick golden hair.
He's… smiling at me?
**************************************
- A massacre?
- That's right. - The prefect of Usashi, a tall bearded hume, nodded to Kenjii and Shion slowly. - It happened a few days ago. A whole one hundred army of our nation died at hand of the Tengu.
Shion's eyes widened. - one hundred!?
- The militia wants your support in finding the culprit.
- If the Yagudo.. err…. the Tengu, were the ones slaying down those men, why are you looking for a culprit? The beastmen did it. - Said Kenjii, raising an eyebrow.
- The point is, those men were lured against the Tengu. And this was all because of one man in their ranks. A traitor, who was supposed to heal the wounded and raise the fallen.
Kenjii and Shion looked at each other, with a doubtful look. Kenjii had never heard of stuff like that happening in the Middle Lands.
- His name is Hikari. Will you follow the orders?
Kenjii nodded. - Yes, I will.
- Chirp!
The prefect frowned. - What's that thing on your head…?
- ….-.-x
- Oh, Kenjii, she likes your hair!
- Shut up, shrimp! We're leaving!
**************************************
Hikari woke up in a bed. His first attempts of moving immediately warned him that he had been bandaged tightly on all his wounds.
He looked around and recognized his glasses on the commode next to him. After putting them on, he gave a closer look at the room he was in.
There wasn't much, only a few spare furnishings, mostly covered with crafting tools and other stuff to make a living without having to rely much on money. The disorder in the room suggested him that the owner didn't have a job.
- I guess I didn't make it… - He muttered.
- Are you saying my place is Hell or something!? - A young voice snapped from the hallway.
Hikari turned around to see a tall elvaan man walk in, his ebony eyes immediately inspected him, and when they gazed into Hikari's green eyes, the hume felt intimidated.
- Slept well?
- Yes… Thank you.
- Thank goodness. - The elvaan stretched and sat on a chair next to the bed, slowly starting to work on a piece of wood with a sharp knife. - The doctor said it could've taken you a month to recover enough to regain consciousness. I was starting to wonder how long would I have been sleeping on my hammock.
- I'm sorry… - Hikari looked down, his hand slowly reached his chest. He could feel his heart pummeling. - Excuse me…. Are you the person I owe my life to?
- Disappointing, isn't it? - Asked the elvaan, stopping the cutting for a moment to observe his work.
Hikari frowned. - What…?
- Waking up here. You wanted to die, no?
The silence filled the room, and the elvaan started to cut his piece of wood again.
- No… - Hikari finally replied, pushing his glasses up with a finger. - I think this is how it had to be. I don't know how to thank you.
- During this week you have been laying in my bed and I took care of you. Your organs were literally coming out of your body… But I think the doctor managed to put them back in place, so you should be fine.
- I think so.
- For now, just sleep and don't move. You'll be back standing in no time. Oh and… - The elvaan stood up and winked at Hikari. - This is the first and last time I let a man get into my bed.
***************************
- I'm back. - Kenjii walked through the infirmary, and reached Shigure's room.
When he finally found the doctor, he backed away slightly. Shigure was standing in the middle of his room, with mud everywhere, even on himself. He was surrounded by a deep black aura.
- Welcome back… Kenjii. - He growled.
- What happened…? - Kenjii looked at the muddy prints up to the walls. He had an horrible feeling.
The tarutaru simply pointed at the opened door on the right. Kenjii walked in and his jaw nearly dropped.
If Shigure's room was dirty, the room he was seeing now could've been considered clean only in the middle of Pashhow Marshlands. Mud and dirt were everywhere he could land his eyes on.
Sitting in the middle of it, there was Shion, covered in mud, playing with some living mud covered with yellow feathers.
- Ah! Welcome back, Kenjii! - He greeted him with a big smile.
- I couldn't stop him… - Cried Shigure laying on all fours, with a deep blue shadow of depression mashing him.
Kenjii knew the lore. He quickly, yet calmly walked up to Shion, stared down at him and after making sure there was at least a spot on his head not covered with dirt, he hit him with a strong smack.
- YOU STUPID SHRIMP!
- WAAAH! - Shion raised his arms to shield his head, and even though Kenjii hadn't hit her, the chocobo chick emoted the same gesture. - THAT HURTS! WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU!?
- ARE YOU SERIOUSLY ASKING ME!? ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND!? GO SHOWER AND CHANGE YOUR CLOTHES AT ONCE!!
Another smacking sound echoed in the infirmary.
- OUCH!! THAT HURTS!! OUCH OUCH OUCH!!
- And bring that chocobo OUTSIDE!
- FINE, YOU HEARTLESS JERK!
- Shut your trap before I kill you! Man, if only I knew giving you more freedom would've caused stuff like this, I would've never asked that smith to remove your chains!
After his shower, Shion noticed Kenjii was already preparing to go back outside. - Are you leaving again?
- That's correct. They asked me to find that person, after all. And you know the rule here. If we don't gain money, we are not eating.
Shion hadn't bothered to listen to the rest of Kenjii's words. He was staring at him with big puppy eyes. - Then take me with you!!
- Forget it! Why should I bring an animal along?
- WHO'S THE ANIMAL!? - Shion pouted.
- You're not even aware of your own nature… How lame.
He turned to exit, but Shion quickly moved ahead to face him, a determined sparkle in his eyes. - I don't want to be alone!
- … - Kenjii saw himself in that boy for a moment. Since when his mother died, he had lived with only his muted brother. And after that, always by himself. But was that what he really wanted?
Of course not.
- Hurry and finish to dress up, or I'm leaving you here. - He kneeled down and opened his hand to the chocobo chick, who quickly jumped on it. - I'll go wash this thing up for a little. -.-
*********************************
- 10…
Kage stared at the hume's roll. - You sure are good at this, aren't you? It's the first time I can't beat someone at this.
- I'm sorry… ^^; - The blond smiled softly.
- With all this luck, I'm shocked you managed to get hurt like that…. HEY! - Kage turned towards the window at the noise of a strong hit against the glass. It was the hume's chocobo again.
Kage stood up and went to window, opening it. - I thought I told you to never do that again! You'll break my window!
- KWEH! - Replied the bird in protest, in a red feathers ruffle. It then clumsily inserted its head through the window frame and turned to look at the hume.
The hume laughed softly. - I am sorry… I'm afraid it's his lunch time.
- I better go feed it then… - Kage groaned and pushed the bird's head outside with one hand, closing the window. - If I don't want it to break in from the back door like yesterday.
- I spoiled him by letting him live inside my house when it was a chick.
- What a lovely master, no wonder he found you here so fast. - Kage sat back on his chair and threw the dice, rolling a 8. - Your turn.
The hume picked the dice up, but didn't throw them. He stared at Kage for a minute before finally speaking.
- You still haven't asked me anything… about me.
Kage looked at him. The hand holding the dice was slightly shaking. - I don't care. - He replied.
The hume seemed surprised, and then sighed. - I know that this is going to cause a disturbance, but… May I ask you to host me until I can move?
- Got some plans?
- No but… There's still one person that I must find. - The hume replied, throwing the dice.
- Oh. I'm sorry, it looks like to be a 11.
- What the heck!? Maybe you should know that I make a living with this! What are you, a pro!?
The hume shook his head. - I've always been good with this kind of games. But to be good at reading the game is useless when you don't have Lady Luck by your side.
- Good at everything but excelling at nothing type, huh?
- I think so ^^;
Kage grinned and picked up the dice. - Same here.
************************************
- What is this…?
Kenjii was looking down at the strange dessert the waiter of the tavern had just brought to his table.
- It's an Irmik helvasi, a cake from you-know-where! - Said Shion enthusiastically.
- You should be careful when ordering food from that place. Until you wear those clothes, you look like everyone else here, but if people were to know…
Shion waved Kenjii's words off and cut a slice of the cake, serving it to the hume. - I had to order it! Today we're celebrating!
Kenjii looked confused. - Celebrating what?
- Our first Fellows Month-versary! - Shion accompanied that with arms wide open.
Kenjii blinked in silence, a stern look on his face. The little chocobo chick on his shoulder kept looking at him and Shion back and forth, trying to understand.
- What?
- I'm pretty sure you just made up that celebration… and that word, too.
- But we have been traveling together for a month! We can't just treat this like any normal day! - Shion started to eat his piece of cake happily.
Kenjii rolled his eyes with a sigh. - If you say so. Don't get too used to this though. Soon as we can find someone headed to Aht Urhgan, you are out of this place.
The boy stopped eating, and stared blankly at the cake in his dish.
- I… don't want to go home.
Kenjii finally had a taste of the cake and decided it wasn't too bad. - Why not?
- I have to go to the Middle Lands.
- It's nearly impossible to get you on a ship heading there. The rides are very rare and…
- But I have to! - Shion suddenly beat his fists on the table, drawing the attention of some nearby costumer.
Kenjii looked around and when he saw the other people stopped looking at them, he turned back to the boy. - Why?
- Because that's where my sister is.
- You sister? You ran away from home to find her?
Shion shook his head.
- Your parents sent you alone to find her, then?
Shion shook his head again. And Kenjii fell in silence, doubtful.
The boy gave him the answer. - I have no one anymore. My parents died shortly after I was born. I.. lived in the streets until now.
- Then how do you know you have a sister?
Shion frowned. - Everybody in town would tell me that. They kept saying my parents abandoned their first child on a ship during a fight with the Far East…
- And how did that bring you to Elshimo?
Shion started eating again. - I did the same thing.
Kenjii blinked. - The same thing what?
- I took a boat and let the wind and the sea lead it.
- You what? -.-
- It was all I could think of! - Shion pouted. - If I lived, it means it wasn't a bad plan after all!
Kenjii facepalmed. - You are really hopeless, shrimp. - He then moved to take some more cake, but stopped as he realized the chocobo chick had assaulted it. - Hey–!
- Haven't you found her a name yet? - Shion smiled at that scene and caressed the bird's back with a finger. The chick chirped in delight, her beak full of cream.
- I don't care about giving her one. I'm not even sure I should let her eat this.
- I'm not sure about what chocobos eat either. Say, how about SweetCream?
- Never heard of that food.
- I mean as her name!
- How can you call a chocobo like some damn cake!?
- But it sounds tasty!
Kenjii's head had a sweatdrop. - You really can't think of anything else, can you?
Shion finished his portion and crossed his arms. - Well, what can you think of then?
Kenjii looked at the chick for a minute, his eyes narrowed in concentration.
- VoraciousScrounger.
- That is AWFUL!
- But she is! Just look at her!
The boy shook his head with a sigh. - You are going to be a terrible father, if this is how you take care of things.
Kenjii glared at him coldly. - You mean I should do stuff like, jump off a ship during a storm to take care of some box?
- Ugh…! Stop scolding me for that! We lived, that's the important thing.
The ninja leaned back on his chair, relaxing. - I still don't get why would you do something crazy like that.
Shion seemed unable to reply for a minute. - I don't know… I just… felt it was important to me. Looking at it makes me feel better, even if I don't know what's inside it.
- I remember that pirate who caught you said you were trying to steal it.
- I was hungry and thought it would contain some food!!
- …-.- - Kenjii looked at the chocobo as she had just finished the cake, and was now cleaning her beak with her wings. - Maybe we should just find someone that can break its magic seal and open it, after we find this guy.
Shion fell quiet again for a bit. - Kenjii…?
- What?
- This Hikari…. Do you think he's a bad person?
- How am I supposed to know? All they told us was that he's a hume white mage with green…
Kenjii was interrupted by the squeaking voice of a young mithra two tables away from his. She was talking with a hume and some other women of different races.
- Has anyone seen Kage around lately? - She was asking, in a loud whining tone. - Even last night he wasn't here!
- Didn't he have like… found some wounded person and took him home a couple weeks ago?
- The medic said it was a hume with a gentle face and green eyes.
- Kenjii? - Shion watched his fellow stand up and walk to the table in silence.
- Hey you… - Kenjii placed a hand on the table the man was sitting at, under the curious looks of the females. - Tell me in detail about this hume.
The man grinned. - What a cute ninja we have here! Interested in boys?
He slowly raised a hand and reached over Kenjii's hair. - I could tell you everything, but in change…
He couldn't finish his sentence, freezing at the touch of a katana blade against his throat.
- What were you just saying, you scum? - Asked Kenjii coldly, his hand firm on the katana's handle.
- Kenjii… O.O;!
- Chirp..! O.O;!
The shuriken hissed in the air and stabbed the sack, causing some sand to fall out of it.
- Wow! Twelve out of twelve! - Shion clapped in enthusiasm, while Kenjii approached the sack to the other side of the yard to retrieve the shurikens. - Your aim is awesome.
- Hmph, - Kenjii checked the edges of the weapons, before putting them in the case on his belt. - It's nothing impressive when the target can't move.
- You aren't asking me to be your next target, are you?
The samurai, or rather, the temporarily retired samurai and now ninja, sighed. - Don't tempt me. Are you ready?
Shion groaned. - The evasion training again? But we did it this morning already! Didn't doctor Shigure say you need to not strain yourself?
- I can't stand still without nothing to do for so long. - Kenjii shook his head and looked over the yard, at the bustling streets of the town of Usashi. - And apparently there is no job for us today.
- I've got a job.
- Eating doesn't count.
- Awwww…. - Shion's ears lowered, but only for a moment, before twitching at the noise of footsteps behind them. - Doctor Shigure!
- Hello, friends. - He greeted them, looking then at Kenjii. - How are you doing? I see you're getting used to your new style quickly.
- Not entirely new, but yeah… I didn't think I'd have to pick up katanas and shirukens again.
- Hmm, I see, I see. Very well, but do not overdo it with training, understood? - Shigure glanced up at the hume, with a searching look.
Kenjii rolled his eyes. - And how are your patients doing?
- Oh, fairly well, thank you. I am sorry that I have to force you outside of the infirmary while I work, but your little friend is a tiny bit too noisy for me to do my job well.
- I understand. - Kenjii crossed his arms, while Shion pouted and walked back to look at the street. - But were you here to tell us something?
- You really aren't the ramble type, eh? Yes, there is a job for you actually. And it seems to be something big, too..
- You mean it comes from the Prefect? - Kenjii had worked for him in the past weeks, with Shion's help.
Him and the little boy had now quite a reputation in town. The handyman of the West and his loud assistant.
- Yes, and not only him. I heard that it was the town's militia itself that asked him to look for you two… Or something like that. Doesn't sound like an ordinary Search and Seizure job. I just hope it doesn't involve the Tengu.
The tarutaru then looked past Kenjii and nodded. - I think your pet is assaulting your baggage over there.
- Wha…? - Kenjii turned around, and saw Shion rustling in his gobbiebag. - Hey–-! Who told you you could touch that!!
- I'm hungry!! - Whined the kid.
- Well, you can't eat my bag!
- But there's food in there, I saw an egg… AHA! - Shion screamed in triumph, pulling out a chocobo egg from the gobbiebag.
Kenjii's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly ran and took it off the kid's eyes. - You are NOT eating this. It's not even edible!
- Well of course, we'd have to cook it first. - Said the boy with a blink.
Shigure giggled from behind his glasses. - I'm afraid it's a little too late for that.
- What do you mean? - Kenjii had barely the time to finish the sentence, when the egg in his hands shook violently, with a loud crack.
- Oh look, you broke it!
- Shut up shrimp, I didn't! - Kenjii's eyes dashed from the boy to the taru and from the taru to the hatching egg, and then quickly knelt down to place it on the ground.
The three stared at the egg in awe, as the little beak of a chocobo chick peeked from under the thick cracked shell.
The top of the shell then suddenly lifted, under the pressure of a small chocobo head. It seemed to look around, but the shell was covering his eyes completely.
Shigure gently removed the shell from above the chick's head, and it looked around, stopping on Kenjii and chirping at him happily.
- Congratulations, Kenjii. - The doctor smiled warmly.
- Ooooh, Kenjii! You're a MOM!
- Do you even listen to the crap you say, shrimp!? - Snapped Kenjii, glaring angrily at the boy and then immediately turning back to the chick, when he noticed it had crawled out of the egg and started to walk towards him.
- Ugh…! Stop…! Go to Shigure, not me! - He stammered, pointing at the doctor.
The old tarutaru shook his head. - It's yours Kenjii. You were the first thing it saw, this automatically makes you its mother to it.
- WHAT!?
- He he! Besides, Kenjii lovely kept its egg next to himself for all this time! - Shion laughed heartedly, and the chocobo turned its attention to him.
Kenjii facepalmed. - It was a gift… I wanted to drop it at Jeuno's stables before…
Before that fight…
The memory of the day Avina had given him the chocobo egg hit Kenjii's mind with violence. He was so surprised that day…
The day he had planned to tell her everything about his decision to leave the Middle Lands… But she had misunderstood his intentions, and anticipated him with that gift… And in change he had given her a star.
He looked up at the sky, almost as if he could see it through the light of day, in his memory.
- Before? - Shion's voice brought him back to reality.
- It doesn't matter…
The chocobo chick was lightly pecking the boy's finger. - Aww… It's soooo cute!
- You can have it -.-
- But it's yours, Kenjii!
Kenjii stood up. - I've never raised a chocobo!
He moved to walk away, but the bird quickly lolled in his direction, climbing on his tabi and flapping his tiny wings with a loud chirp.
- Well, - Shigure smirked at the frustrated face of the hume boy. - Looks like you're going to have a crash course.
***************************
- You're so awesome!! - A girl exclaimed enthusiastically, when the dice rolled another 11.
The galka at the other side of the table sulked. - You're spoiling me, Kage. Please have some mercy.
- Don't you think it's a bit too early to start whining? - The black haired elvaan picked his dice again and brought them to the face of one of the many girls standing behind his chair cheering him up.
She blew on the dice and then winked at him mischievously.
- The night is still young, the true game starts now! If I win this round, I'm paying drinks for tonight. - Kage grinned, preparing to roll.
- Come on!
- You must win for us!
- Man, you girls are always all on his side. - Whined the Galka.
- Of course we are. - Said a red haired mithra, approaching Kage's chair with a drink, and handed it to him.
She ran her fingers through his black hair with a soft smile. - Say Kage, where's that warrior friend of yours? This place is so quiet since when you two stopped hanging out together….
- … - Kage placed his dice back in the pocket and stood up. - I think I'm done for the night. Boss, put everything on my tab!
- Kage, wait!
- See you~!
The elvaan walked out of the tavern, and disappeared in the darkness of the night.
- You stupid! - Snapped an elvaan woman at the mithra. - Didn't you know that when people start talking about Masaki, Kage gets all moody?
- What? Why?
- I have no idea!
Kage walked down the main street of Usashi, his vest resting on his shoulder. Over his head, the stars of Leviathan were shining brightly.
He looked down at the street, turning left heading for his home, far in the outskirts.
"I make bets to eat…" He thought. "…and seducing a woman with some obvious joke, my nights pass without much concern. To live is so easy it makes me sick."
The important thing is to not look at anyone.
- They wonder what happened to you, Masaki… You're just a hazy memory already…
He turned right, and his words died in his throat, at the sight of the corpse of a hume man on the ground, in a pool of blood.
"Who is this guy?" The elvaan approached the man. He was wearing a white and blue cloak, hiding most of his traits. All he could see was some blond spiky hair coming out of the hood.
Kage checked his wounds and had to hold the urge of throwing up. "Ugh..! I think I can see his intestine!"
- Hey… Are you dead?
The head of the hume slowly lifted in reaction.
- Ah, so… you're still alive! - exclaimed Kage, tilting his head.
The man moved his head a little more, and Kage could see his left eye through the thick golden hair.
He's… smiling at me?
**************************************
- A massacre?
- That's right. - The prefect of Usashi, a tall bearded hume, nodded to Kenjii and Shion slowly. - It happened a few days ago. A whole one hundred army of our nation died at hand of the Tengu.
Shion's eyes widened. - one hundred!?
- The militia wants your support in finding the culprit.
- If the Yagudo.. err…. the Tengu, were the ones slaying down those men, why are you looking for a culprit? The beastmen did it. - Said Kenjii, raising an eyebrow.
- The point is, those men were lured against the Tengu. And this was all because of one man in their ranks. A traitor, who was supposed to heal the wounded and raise the fallen.
Kenjii and Shion looked at each other, with a doubtful look. Kenjii had never heard of stuff like that happening in the Middle Lands.
- His name is Hikari. Will you follow the orders?
Kenjii nodded. - Yes, I will.
- Chirp!
The prefect frowned. - What's that thing on your head…?
- ….-.-x
- Oh, Kenjii, she likes your hair!
- Shut up, shrimp! We're leaving!
**************************************
Hikari woke up in a bed. His first attempts of moving immediately warned him that he had been bandaged tightly on all his wounds.
He looked around and recognized his glasses on the commode next to him. After putting them on, he gave a closer look at the room he was in.
There wasn't much, only a few spare furnishings, mostly covered with crafting tools and other stuff to make a living without having to rely much on money. The disorder in the room suggested him that the owner didn't have a job.
- I guess I didn't make it… - He muttered.
- Are you saying my place is Hell or something!? - A young voice snapped from the hallway.
Hikari turned around to see a tall elvaan man walk in, his ebony eyes immediately inspected him, and when they gazed into Hikari's green eyes, the hume felt intimidated.
- Slept well?
- Yes… Thank you.
- Thank goodness. - The elvaan stretched and sat on a chair next to the bed, slowly starting to work on a piece of wood with a sharp knife. - The doctor said it could've taken you a month to recover enough to regain consciousness. I was starting to wonder how long would I have been sleeping on my hammock.
- I'm sorry… - Hikari looked down, his hand slowly reached his chest. He could feel his heart pummeling. - Excuse me…. Are you the person I owe my life to?
- Disappointing, isn't it? - Asked the elvaan, stopping the cutting for a moment to observe his work.
Hikari frowned. - What…?
- Waking up here. You wanted to die, no?
The silence filled the room, and the elvaan started to cut his piece of wood again.
- No… - Hikari finally replied, pushing his glasses up with a finger. - I think this is how it had to be. I don't know how to thank you.
- During this week you have been laying in my bed and I took care of you. Your organs were literally coming out of your body… But I think the doctor managed to put them back in place, so you should be fine.
- I think so.
- For now, just sleep and don't move. You'll be back standing in no time. Oh and… - The elvaan stood up and winked at Hikari. - This is the first and last time I let a man get into my bed.
***************************
- I'm back. - Kenjii walked through the infirmary, and reached Shigure's room.
When he finally found the doctor, he backed away slightly. Shigure was standing in the middle of his room, with mud everywhere, even on himself. He was surrounded by a deep black aura.
- Welcome back… Kenjii. - He growled.
- What happened…? - Kenjii looked at the muddy prints up to the walls. He had an horrible feeling.
The tarutaru simply pointed at the opened door on the right. Kenjii walked in and his jaw nearly dropped.
If Shigure's room was dirty, the room he was seeing now could've been considered clean only in the middle of Pashhow Marshlands. Mud and dirt were everywhere he could land his eyes on.
Sitting in the middle of it, there was Shion, covered in mud, playing with some living mud covered with yellow feathers.
- Ah! Welcome back, Kenjii! - He greeted him with a big smile.
- I couldn't stop him… - Cried Shigure laying on all fours, with a deep blue shadow of depression mashing him.
Kenjii knew the lore. He quickly, yet calmly walked up to Shion, stared down at him and after making sure there was at least a spot on his head not covered with dirt, he hit him with a strong smack.
- YOU STUPID SHRIMP!
- WAAAH! - Shion raised his arms to shield his head, and even though Kenjii hadn't hit her, the chocobo chick emoted the same gesture. - THAT HURTS! WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU!?
- ARE YOU SERIOUSLY ASKING ME!? ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND!? GO SHOWER AND CHANGE YOUR CLOTHES AT ONCE!!
Another smacking sound echoed in the infirmary.
- OUCH!! THAT HURTS!! OUCH OUCH OUCH!!
- And bring that chocobo OUTSIDE!
- FINE, YOU HEARTLESS JERK!
- Shut your trap before I kill you! Man, if only I knew giving you more freedom would've caused stuff like this, I would've never asked that smith to remove your chains!
After his shower, Shion noticed Kenjii was already preparing to go back outside. - Are you leaving again?
- That's correct. They asked me to find that person, after all. And you know the rule here. If we don't gain money, we are not eating.
Shion hadn't bothered to listen to the rest of Kenjii's words. He was staring at him with big puppy eyes. - Then take me with you!!
- Forget it! Why should I bring an animal along?
- WHO'S THE ANIMAL!? - Shion pouted.
- You're not even aware of your own nature… How lame.
He turned to exit, but Shion quickly moved ahead to face him, a determined sparkle in his eyes. - I don't want to be alone!
- … - Kenjii saw himself in that boy for a moment. Since when his mother died, he had lived with only his muted brother. And after that, always by himself. But was that what he really wanted?
Of course not.
- Hurry and finish to dress up, or I'm leaving you here. - He kneeled down and opened his hand to the chocobo chick, who quickly jumped on it. - I'll go wash this thing up for a little. -.-
*********************************
- 10…
Kage stared at the hume's roll. - You sure are good at this, aren't you? It's the first time I can't beat someone at this.
- I'm sorry… ^^; - The blond smiled softly.
- With all this luck, I'm shocked you managed to get hurt like that…. HEY! - Kage turned towards the window at the noise of a strong hit against the glass. It was the hume's chocobo again.
Kage stood up and went to window, opening it. - I thought I told you to never do that again! You'll break my window!
- KWEH! - Replied the bird in protest, in a red feathers ruffle. It then clumsily inserted its head through the window frame and turned to look at the hume.
The hume laughed softly. - I am sorry… I'm afraid it's his lunch time.
- I better go feed it then… - Kage groaned and pushed the bird's head outside with one hand, closing the window. - If I don't want it to break in from the back door like yesterday.
- I spoiled him by letting him live inside my house when it was a chick.
- What a lovely master, no wonder he found you here so fast. - Kage sat back on his chair and threw the dice, rolling a 8. - Your turn.
The hume picked the dice up, but didn't throw them. He stared at Kage for a minute before finally speaking.
- You still haven't asked me anything… about me.
Kage looked at him. The hand holding the dice was slightly shaking. - I don't care. - He replied.
The hume seemed surprised, and then sighed. - I know that this is going to cause a disturbance, but… May I ask you to host me until I can move?
- Got some plans?
- No but… There's still one person that I must find. - The hume replied, throwing the dice.
- Oh. I'm sorry, it looks like to be a 11.
- What the heck!? Maybe you should know that I make a living with this! What are you, a pro!?
The hume shook his head. - I've always been good with this kind of games. But to be good at reading the game is useless when you don't have Lady Luck by your side.
- Good at everything but excelling at nothing type, huh?
- I think so ^^;
Kage grinned and picked up the dice. - Same here.
************************************
- What is this…?
Kenjii was looking down at the strange dessert the waiter of the tavern had just brought to his table.
- It's an Irmik helvasi, a cake from you-know-where! - Said Shion enthusiastically.
- You should be careful when ordering food from that place. Until you wear those clothes, you look like everyone else here, but if people were to know…
Shion waved Kenjii's words off and cut a slice of the cake, serving it to the hume. - I had to order it! Today we're celebrating!
Kenjii looked confused. - Celebrating what?
- Our first Fellows Month-versary! - Shion accompanied that with arms wide open.
Kenjii blinked in silence, a stern look on his face. The little chocobo chick on his shoulder kept looking at him and Shion back and forth, trying to understand.
- What?
- I'm pretty sure you just made up that celebration… and that word, too.
- But we have been traveling together for a month! We can't just treat this like any normal day! - Shion started to eat his piece of cake happily.
Kenjii rolled his eyes with a sigh. - If you say so. Don't get too used to this though. Soon as we can find someone headed to Aht Urhgan, you are out of this place.
The boy stopped eating, and stared blankly at the cake in his dish.
- I… don't want to go home.
Kenjii finally had a taste of the cake and decided it wasn't too bad. - Why not?
- I have to go to the Middle Lands.
- It's nearly impossible to get you on a ship heading there. The rides are very rare and…
- But I have to! - Shion suddenly beat his fists on the table, drawing the attention of some nearby costumer.
Kenjii looked around and when he saw the other people stopped looking at them, he turned back to the boy. - Why?
- Because that's where my sister is.
- You sister? You ran away from home to find her?
Shion shook his head.
- Your parents sent you alone to find her, then?
Shion shook his head again. And Kenjii fell in silence, doubtful.
The boy gave him the answer. - I have no one anymore. My parents died shortly after I was born. I.. lived in the streets until now.
- Then how do you know you have a sister?
Shion frowned. - Everybody in town would tell me that. They kept saying my parents abandoned their first child on a ship during a fight with the Far East…
- And how did that bring you to Elshimo?
Shion started eating again. - I did the same thing.
Kenjii blinked. - The same thing what?
- I took a boat and let the wind and the sea lead it.
- You what? -.-
- It was all I could think of! - Shion pouted. - If I lived, it means it wasn't a bad plan after all!
Kenjii facepalmed. - You are really hopeless, shrimp. - He then moved to take some more cake, but stopped as he realized the chocobo chick had assaulted it. - Hey–!
- Haven't you found her a name yet? - Shion smiled at that scene and caressed the bird's back with a finger. The chick chirped in delight, her beak full of cream.
- I don't care about giving her one. I'm not even sure I should let her eat this.
- I'm not sure about what chocobos eat either. Say, how about SweetCream?
- Never heard of that food.
- I mean as her name!
- How can you call a chocobo like some damn cake!?
- But it sounds tasty!
Kenjii's head had a sweatdrop. - You really can't think of anything else, can you?
Shion finished his portion and crossed his arms. - Well, what can you think of then?
Kenjii looked at the chick for a minute, his eyes narrowed in concentration.
- VoraciousScrounger.
- That is AWFUL!
- But she is! Just look at her!
The boy shook his head with a sigh. - You are going to be a terrible father, if this is how you take care of things.
Kenjii glared at him coldly. - You mean I should do stuff like, jump off a ship during a storm to take care of some box?
- Ugh…! Stop scolding me for that! We lived, that's the important thing.
The ninja leaned back on his chair, relaxing. - I still don't get why would you do something crazy like that.
Shion seemed unable to reply for a minute. - I don't know… I just… felt it was important to me. Looking at it makes me feel better, even if I don't know what's inside it.
- I remember that pirate who caught you said you were trying to steal it.
- I was hungry and thought it would contain some food!!
- …-.- - Kenjii looked at the chocobo as she had just finished the cake, and was now cleaning her beak with her wings. - Maybe we should just find someone that can break its magic seal and open it, after we find this guy.
Shion fell quiet again for a bit. - Kenjii…?
- What?
- This Hikari…. Do you think he's a bad person?
- How am I supposed to know? All they told us was that he's a hume white mage with green…
Kenjii was interrupted by the squeaking voice of a young mithra two tables away from his. She was talking with a hume and some other women of different races.
- Has anyone seen Kage around lately? - She was asking, in a loud whining tone. - Even last night he wasn't here!
- Didn't he have like… found some wounded person and took him home a couple weeks ago?
- The medic said it was a hume with a gentle face and green eyes.
- Kenjii? - Shion watched his fellow stand up and walk to the table in silence.
- Hey you… - Kenjii placed a hand on the table the man was sitting at, under the curious looks of the females. - Tell me in detail about this hume.
The man grinned. - What a cute ninja we have here! Interested in boys?
He slowly raised a hand and reached over Kenjii's hair. - I could tell you everything, but in change…
He couldn't finish his sentence, freezing at the touch of a katana blade against his throat.
- What were you just saying, you scum? - Asked Kenjii coldly, his hand firm on the katana's handle.
- Kenjii… O.O;!
- Chirp..! O.O;!
last edited 721 weeks ago by Blue KJ
To be an interesting, intriguing, well-written character, there needs to be something to allow the audience to relate to them. That is what the problem is with who wants their character to be "perfect". Perfect characters will never be strong, and strong characters will never be perfect, because WE (those who read, who watch, who RP) are not perfect.
"What makes a strong character is how they deal with their flaws, their fears, their turmoils, their troubles that get in the way. That's what makes them relatable." – Doug Walker
"What makes a strong character is how they deal with their flaws, their fears, their turmoils, their troubles that get in the way. That's what makes them relatable." – Doug Walker
Chapter 6: Tainted White Magic
- Mr. Kage.
The black-haired elvaan looked up from his piece of wood, whose shape had now turned into a fine cup.
- Can I have two minutes of your time? - Asked Hikari with a bow of the head.
- You're out?
- Yes.
Kage nodded, tilting his head, and then went back at his woodworking.
Hikari sighed, and took a chair to sit in front of him.
- Before I go, there is something that I wish to tell you.
Kage stopped working, but didn't look at the hume.
- I am responsible of the death of many people…. Many men that I couldn't protect because of my corrupted mind. My white magic is tainted with blood, and can no longer heal the wounds, nor raise the fallen. - Said Hikari, and when he noticed his own hands were shaking, he clenched them in fists on his legs.
- After I'll have accomplished what I have intended, I'm ready to face any punishment. I will always be grateful for what you have done for me. I didn't expect anyone would've helped a person as I am.
- As you are?
Hikari nodded, pushing his glasses up. - A traitor.
Those words seemed to strike the elvaan hard, as the cup fell off his hands. Yet he only said - I see.
Hikari stood up and approached the door. - I think it's time for me to go.
Kage frowned, watching the hume's back.
Maybe I needed to meet someone like him… Masaki…
He stood up, and picked the cup from the floor, before placing it on the table. - Can I at least know your name?
Hikari stopped in front of the door. - It's…
Someone knocked. The two fell quiet and looked at the door.
Hikari backed away from it, and Kage approached. - Just a second.
They knocked the door again. Kage nodded to Hikari, and waited for the hume to walk to his left, so that the door opened could hide him from that unexpected late guest.
Kage opened the door and looked outside. It was already pretty dark, and there were not many lights outside. It took him a little to adapt his eyes and see. - Yes?
- I'm sorry for the late hour. - Said a young, cold voice. Kage looked down.
The voice belonged to a young hume in shinobi clothes. His accent was strange, not one Kage had ever heard. Probably from somewhere in the West.
- I am looking for a person. - Said the hume, looking at Kage with deep blue eyes. - A hume around 20 years old, with green eyes. He's an escaping criminal, guilty of many murders.
Hikari's eyes widened hearing the voice of the man from the West.
- His name is Hikari.
- Really? - Kage smirked slightly. - I'm sorry, I don't know anything about him.
****************************
Kenjii was getting really impatient with that elvaan guy. Hikari had to be there: after he had almost killed the costumer at the tavern for touching him, he had spit out everything about "Kage" and his guest. Also, the red chocobo the Prefect had told him about was right there out of the house.
But what was most irritating was the moronic grin Kage had lied to him with.
- Don't try to fool me. They say you've helped him, in town. If you have nothing to do with him, let him go at once. Hide him in your house, and you will be reported as an accomplice.
- I told you I don't know anything. - Kage examined him closely. - And since when does the militia hire people from the West?
Kenjii decided he had enough of that guy. He pushed him away with his good shoulder, and reached over the doorknob…
But Kage stopped him by grabbing his forearm.
The ninja looked up at him with cold eyes. - Let me go now.
- What if I say no?
Kenjii gave him a physical reply. Using the arm the elvaan had grabbed, he pulled him down and quickly kicked his stomach with his right knee.
- Ugh…! - Kage fell on all four. - You bastard…!
Kenjii ignored him and grabbed the doorknob, but soon as he did it, he felt the strong hand of the elvaan grabbing his shoulder tightly.
As a sharp pain climbed up his head, Kenjii could do nothing but turn around, and a solid punch hit him in the face, making him stumble forward.
The two stared at each other, both standing, both boiling in rage.
- I swear I'm going to kill you. - Growled Kenjii, wiping the blood from the left corner of his mouth.
Kage was still holding his stomach with one hand. - You sure aren't an ordinary ninja.
- Don't get too cocky now. Out of my way!
- Sorry, as charming as they may be, I'm not used to pander to guys.
Kenjii's eyes narrowed. - Such a strong will to die.
Kage smiled mischievously. - Fine then, why don't you tr…
He couldn't even finish, before a sharp star-shaped shuriken hissed in the air and stabbed the door frame, a few inches from his head.
- You little jerk…
Kenjii had already a second shuriken in his hand. - Try me.
That was when the door suddenly opened, and a blond hume came out of it. - Mr. Kage, no!
- Don't come fucking out! - Yelled Kage.
Kenjii dashed forward. - That's him!
The elvaan was faster than him. Grabbing his arm again, he threw Kenjii against the wall, and mashed him against it with his weight, holding his arms with both hands.
- Bastard…! - Kenjii's katana slipped out of his hand, to the ground.
- Sorry, man. - Kage looked at Hikari. - Run away! Now!
- But…
- JUST GO!
Hikari ran outside and whistled loudly. The red chocobo Kenjii had seen earlier immediately approached.
- Damnit… SHION!
As planned, Shion jumped down from the roof of the house at his call, and quickly moved between the white mage and the chocobo.
- A friend, I see. - Kage growled, still against Kenjii.
- I just have to block him, right? - Asked the boy, scratching his head.
- Just move your ass -.-X
Shion nodded and charged the hume. But before he could land a hit, a sphere of energy hit his stomach, pushing him backwards.
"A Chi Blast!?" Kenjii was not sure he had managed to see well, due to his position. "Just what kind of white mage is that?"
- Wow… - Shion inhaled deeply, and then looked towards Kenjii with a bright smile. - Kenjii, this guy is awesome!
- STOP ACTING LIKE THIS IS A DAMN GAME, SHRIMP!
- Okay, okay! - Shion looked back at Hikari, who was still holding his chest in pain. His wounds were still aching. - I gotta say I'm quite demotivated, though.
- COMPLAIN ONE MORE TIME, YOU BRAT, AND I SWEAR…
Kage started to yell to. - WILL YOU JUST STOP IT, YOU STUPID NINJA!
- HOW DARE YOU…
- ENOUGH! - Hikari screamed, and fell on his knees, panting. The three stopped yelling and all looked at him. - Please listen to me….
He looked towards Kage and Kenjii. - That man has nothing to do with me. So please… let him be. It is true, an army died because of me…
He coughed, but kept talking.
- But I didn't kill them! I just couldn't heal them! Because… My healing magic… is tainted. One month ago, to the village where I lived, came a man at the head of a big group of the Tengu.
Kenjii felt Kage's grip weakening, but he knew he would've hold him back quickly, if he tried to get free now. He decided to wait, and listen to what the white mage was saying.
- They have slain all of us… My family, my friends, the school I worked at… - He could feel Hikari was crying now. - I've lost everything!
- I'm sorry… - Shion whispered, totally losing the few combat spirit he had, and losing his guard.
- I tried to move on… I really tried… But that day during that training with the militia army… I sensed the presence of the Tengu nearby. I just couldn't stop.
- You tried to avenge your dear ones by yourself…? - Asked Kage, in shock.
Hikari nodded. - I went there but… They quickly surrounded me. I would've died if the others hadn't come to rescue me. But when the Tengu started overwhelming them, my magic was… It was gone! I couldn't heal them!
- I watched them die in front of my eyes, just like that day at my village!! - He stood up, clenching his teeth. - I know that what I have done is wrong, and that not even my life will pay back for those that have died that day. But I have… just one more thing to do… Please give me some more time.
The chocobo approached Hikari, and bent down to let him mount. Once up, Hikari looked at the three men, one by one. - I'm sorry.
The red chocobo and his master ran off, leaving nothing but dust and a cold wind behind themselves.
********************************
Betraying someone's expectations… Shouldn't mark you as a traitor.
Masaki….
- So his name was Hikari.
Kage leaned against the wall, looking outside from the window. It was so calm out there now, it didn't look like there had been a fight a few minutes ago.
Kenjii looked at him. - He really didn't tell you anything?
- I didn't ask him. We all have our secrets.
- And what are yours?
- You wouldn't care. - Kage looked back towards the kitchen, and saw the monk boy assaulting his sushi supplies. - HEY! THOSE ARE MINE!
- Oh, sorry. Can I have some?
- You already ATE some, you damn shrimp!
- My name is not Shrimp, it's Shion!
- Shrimp, Shion, Chimp, whatever!
- Stop bickering or I swear I'm killing both of you…! -.-x
The plate of sushi fell from the hands of the two fighters, and Kenjii's chocobo lolled happily up to it to eat.
The two elvaans looked down at it in frustration. Kage facepalmed. - Look at what you've done…!
- Why did you help him? - Asked Kenjii.
Kage blinked at him, as if the question had surprised him. He had never really thought about it until now. - I am… not sure.
- I don't think he's mean. - Said the boy, stretching his arms and yawning.
- To be an assassin doesn't necessarily mean you're evil. - Kenjii shrugged. - Either way, we can't let him go.
- You still think he's guilty!? - The black-haired elvaan glared at him. - You don't believe his story, do you?
- Whether I do or not is not of your concern. I am just following the orders. - Kenjii looked up at him with a stern glare. - Besides, if we don't go after him, he's probably as good as dead.
- What…?
Kenjii crossed his arms. - I think he's going to try and fight the Tengu again.
He looks so much like him…
After a minute of silence, the ninja went to the door. - Shion, we're leaving.
- Okay…! - The boy kneeled down to pick up the little chocobo and then followed the hume. They were almost outside when Kage finally recovered his words.
- Take me with you.
To let you die would probably be a favor at this point… And that's not likely of me.
************************************
- That's enough, RedCrystal.
The chocobo stopped, and Hikari felt a sharp pain on his chest. He leaned forward, holding his abdomen with one hand.
- Kweh? - The chocobo turned its head to him, his big brown eyes were full of care for the master.
- I'll be… fine. - Hikari slowly dismounted. - But we're in Tengu territory now. You must leave.
The bird shook its head frenetically, ruffling all its feathers.
- You've been a better friend to me than most. I can't let you come. - Hikari looked down the hill they had reached. - If you run back in town, I'm sure you will be able to find someone that will take care of you.
- KWEH! - The chocobo moved forward, but its master stopped him with one arm against its neck.
- I'm sorry this is all I can do for you… - Hikari looked down, and then slapped the bird as hard as he could.
Scared at the sudden hit, the bird ran away, but immediately stopped, hearing Hikari falling on all fours, groaning in pain.
Hikari raised his head to the animal. - I said LEAVE! Please…
RedCrystal didn't move.
"I see how it is…" Hikari slowly stood up, and inhaled deeply.
- Flash.
Soon as the spell hit the chocobo and blinded it, the man dashed away, as far as he could, out of its sight.
"Forgive me, Red…"
He closed his eyes, holding the tears for the pain and sadness, when he started to hear the calls of his bird.
He was deep inside the Tengu territory when the cries finally stopped. Panting, he looked back one last time, and then slowed down to a walking pace.
"Mr. Kage… will he be all right now? There was nothing I could do to help him…" Hikari looked at the bandage around his left hand. "I will never be able to return the favor to him…"
The confident smile on his face… and the buried sadness in his eyes…
If only I could've been like him. I am unable to do anything… even pretending…
The memories of his family, his girlfriend, his students, their smiles and happy faces assaulted him.
"If only I could've…"
- We were waiting for you, kyah!
Hikari didn't even have the time to look around, before he was grounded by a strong kick on his back. With a groan of pain, he slowly looked up.
Three Tengus were towering over him, their black, beady eyes reflecting the moonlight.
- How nice of you to come back to us and make our job easier!
- Ugh… I am here…. to kill you all! - Hikari tried to crawl away from them, but one of the Tengu grabbed his cloak, and lifted him up.
- The sacrifice to the Fiery Bird must be completed, kyah!
**************************************
Kage froze on the spot, and looked around. He was feeling his heart pounding in his chest.
Shion stopped and looked at him. - What is it?
- Nothing. - Replied the man after a few.
What is this really bad feeling?
Kenjii looked at them from over his shoulder. - Don't slow down. According to what the villagers said, it's somewhere in the woods past this hill.
The two elvaans nodded, and started walking again. The group was proceeding in silence.
It was Kage to break it after some minutes. - What are you gonna do to him once you catch him?
- Very affectionate, aren't we?
- I saved his life. I'd hate to see all my hard work go to waste now.
Kenjii stopped, and turned around to look at him. - I don't know, nor care, about what punishment Hikari is going to go through. - He said coldly. - Only the prefect, or maybe the Mikado itself, can decide for him. A traitor is a traitor.
Kage walked up to the ninja with incredible speed, and grabbed his gi. - Listen well, you punk. I don't give a crap about your traitor talk. He's a victim. Should I do it even just by myself… I will NOT let him die! I…
The hume pushed him away, looking at Kage with disgust. - Pathetic.
- What!?
- What do you hope to achieve? You really think you're altruist, going all out for that guy? - Kenjii started walking again, leaving Kage and Shion behind. - I don't know what kind of dirty secret you're hiding. But my impression is you are the one that wants to be redeemed here.
The elvaans looked at the ninja walk away, heading over the hill.
- That asshole… who the exactly is he, anyway? - Muttered Kage.
Shion brought his hands behind his head. - He's my fellow!
- Eh?
- We celebrated our first Fellow Month-versary today! ^^
- You made that word up, didn't you? - Kage looked at the kid with a sweatdrop.
Shion pouted, and was about to say something back, but the chocobo on his head chirped in joy, catching his attention. - Huh?
- Chirp!
The two looked back towards Kenjii, and realized he had been approached by an adult, red chocobo.
***********************************
- Nothing personal, smoothskin.
Hikari was thrown against a tree for the second time. He opened his eyes in pain, but there wasn't much he could see anymore. His glasses were broken.
- If we don't help with the sacrifice, our tribe will be destroyed. You understand this is something we can't afford, kyah?
- Your tribe isn't any more worth than my village was, to me. - Hikari panted, and stood up holding his left side.
Another Tengu croaked in anger. - You're still standing!? Stupid hume.
- White mages are notorious for their faster organic regeneration. - The first Tengu shook his head, as if sighing. - But this will only make you suffer longer, smoothskin.
- I will not die before you. - Hikari opened his left hand and a floating globe of light appeared on it. - You better be prepared!
"This will probably be my last shot… My energies are abandoning me. Forgive me, everyone…"
- Go ahead and suicide yourself with your own little spell, kyah!
Hikari stumbled and prepared his cast, but right one moment before the chi blast, someone grabbed his arm tightly and pulled him backwards.
In surprise, Hikari lost his concentration and the magic orb faded away. He fell on his knees and looked up. In front of him, was the elvaan kid he had fought before.
- WHY ARE YOU SO STUPID!? - He yelled.
Hikari blinked in surprise, and his hood fell backwards. - What…?
- A friend of mine always used to tell me… that White mages are blessed with the gift of Heaven, and that they are the reincarnation of angels come to protect us! - Screamed the boy, his fists clenched. - Why would you throw away such an important gift!?
Hikari's eyes widened at those words. He stammered, trying to say something, but no word came out.
- I'll take care of this. - The boy turned his back to him and faced the Tengu. - You stay there and take care of me if this turns out bad!
- But.. How did you…?
- Kweh! - RedCrystal approached Hikari, and pecked his hair gently, tilting its head. On its top, he could see a little chocobo chick, chirping happily at its new friend. Hikari gave them a sad smile.
He noticed someone was dismounting off his bird. It was the shinobi he had seen with the boy before. He looked down at him with an emotionless face.
- That day, when you charged the Tengu by yourself… You wanted to die, didn't you? - He asked, and the question pierced Hikari like an arrow made of ice.
- …
- It wasn't real desire of revenge. You are less tainted than you think.
Hikari lowered his head. - What do you know…
- I know.
The ninja wasn't looking at him anymore. Hikari had the feeling that man wasn't lying. Perhaps he was someone who had wished real revenge, someone who had lost everything, just like him?
- Please leave…! I don't want people to suffer trying to save me again! - He cried, looking back up at the ninja.
He looked at him from over his shoulder. - Nobody will save you. You are the only one who can.
- But…!
- You want to die? Feel free. It's a good escape route. But be aware: If you die, nothing is gonna happen. Live, fight, and maybe something will change.
The Tengu were looking at them irritated. - Kyah! Who are these, buddies of yours!? They won't make any difference!
A metallic sparkle flashed in the night, and a long, sharp eastern spear cut through the air, stabbing the first Tengu to death. The others backed away in surprise.
Hikari watched Kage approaching the corpse, and retrieving his weapon. - We are not friends. We are creditors.
- Mr. Kage…
- About time you'd make it here. - Muttered Kenjii.
- Shut up, you bastard! You should've let me mount on the chocobo too, instead of running off with your brat and leave me behind!
- You are too bulky.
- WHAT!?
- Kenjii, can we take down these birds now?
The ninja didn't reply to Shion. He looked back at Hikari. - It's your choice.
- I…. I am sorry, but…
- I'm SICK of your sorries! - Kage growled at the white mage. - Man up already!
- Yes… - Hikari slowly stood up, joining his hands in prayer. - If I… If I can't do anything for the lives that have been lost in front of me… All I can do is live. Live, and save as many lives as I can. This is my choice!
A blessed radiance enveloped him, and then his rescuers. In front of the shocked looks of the Tengu, Hikari performed his first Benediction since the day he had lost his dear ones.
*******************************************
Kenjii hadn't felt that good in years. The magic of that hume was really powerful. The Benediction has healed his wounds, and his spirit felt eased. The guilt for Avina, the sad memories of his mother's death, the desire of revenge against the demons who had slain her, and even the pain at his shoulder.. Everything felt lighter than before.
But he also knew Hikari's energies were almost gone, and there were still those Tengu to get rid of.
- Kyah! Silly smoothskins think they can win with some fancy light? How fools! - They croaked.
- I'll show you MY fancy light. - Grinned Kage, assuming an Hasso stance with his spear. Kenjii realized only then that the elvaan was a samurai.
- Looks like we need to cooperate. - Said the ninja with a sigh. He looked back at Hikari. - I'm counting on you, too.
- I'll do my best.
- Together!? - Kage looked confused. - Hey, I'm not used to teamwork anymore! We were killing each other a moment ago. And now we're all buddy buddy against some birdmen!?
- Forget it, guys! I got this! - Shion charged the birds, his immense combat spirit overwhelming him. The birds guarded up, intimidated.
- About cooperation…^^; - Said Hikari, but he couldn't finish, as Shion immediately tripped on his own feet, and fell-to-face on the ground, in front of some confused beastmen.
- Ouch…!
Kenjii facepalmed. - He really kills my reputation daily.
- Are you okay? - Asked Hikari loudly.
Kage was simply frozen in disbelief.
- Yes.. I'm fine.. It's this stupid bag that made me stumble! - Shion whined, looking at Kenjii's gobbiebag on the ground next to him. - Kenjii, please don't ask me to bring it for you again!
Kenjii quickly approached him, grabbing the bag. - You are really good at nothing, shrimp!
- Stop calling me SHRIMP!
- Fine, you stupid MIDGET!
- RRRR….!!
- DIE, KYAH!!! - The Tengu charged them, their weapon above their heads, and Kenjii was almost positive he would've been unable to evade them all, before a sudden flash of red light coming from the bag blinded them.
- What the heck…? - Kage couldn't see what was happening from his position back, next to Hikari.
- Chirp! - The chocobo chick jumped on RedCrystal's head happily, as if she knew what was going on.
- That light…! - Screamed a Tengu, backing away from the two.
Kenjii was ignoring them now, too busy rustling in the bag. - What was that…?
- Maybe it was a firework. - Tried to guess Shion.
- I don't have fireworks with me, you stupid… - Kenjii's words died in his throat. - The treasure…
He pulled the flat box out of his gobbiebag. The red light seemed to be coming from its slot. - The seal is gone.
Shion looked at it curiously, tilting his head. - But how…?
- I think it was thanks to Hikari's magic.
- Really!? - Shion looked back at Hikari. - I knew you were awesome!!
Hikari and Kage looked at each other in confusion, and shrugged.
- What are you waiting for? Open it!
- The spoils of the Fiery Bird! - A Tengu croaked, catching everyone's attention. - We can't fight them, kyah!
Another nodded. - We must report to them. NOW!
Kenjii, Shion, and the two Far Eastern guys watched the beastmen retreat with all haste, in disbelief.
Hikari and Kage finally approached the two, and the hume asked. - What were they so afraid of…?
Kenjii looked at him and then at the box, and slowly opened it to see what kind of mysterious treasure from the Middle Lands he had been transporting for so long.
- Mr. Kage.
The black-haired elvaan looked up from his piece of wood, whose shape had now turned into a fine cup.
- Can I have two minutes of your time? - Asked Hikari with a bow of the head.
- You're out?
- Yes.
Kage nodded, tilting his head, and then went back at his woodworking.
Hikari sighed, and took a chair to sit in front of him.
- Before I go, there is something that I wish to tell you.
Kage stopped working, but didn't look at the hume.
- I am responsible of the death of many people…. Many men that I couldn't protect because of my corrupted mind. My white magic is tainted with blood, and can no longer heal the wounds, nor raise the fallen. - Said Hikari, and when he noticed his own hands were shaking, he clenched them in fists on his legs.
- After I'll have accomplished what I have intended, I'm ready to face any punishment. I will always be grateful for what you have done for me. I didn't expect anyone would've helped a person as I am.
- As you are?
Hikari nodded, pushing his glasses up. - A traitor.
Those words seemed to strike the elvaan hard, as the cup fell off his hands. Yet he only said - I see.
Hikari stood up and approached the door. - I think it's time for me to go.
Kage frowned, watching the hume's back.
Maybe I needed to meet someone like him… Masaki…
He stood up, and picked the cup from the floor, before placing it on the table. - Can I at least know your name?
Hikari stopped in front of the door. - It's…
Someone knocked. The two fell quiet and looked at the door.
Hikari backed away from it, and Kage approached. - Just a second.
They knocked the door again. Kage nodded to Hikari, and waited for the hume to walk to his left, so that the door opened could hide him from that unexpected late guest.
Kage opened the door and looked outside. It was already pretty dark, and there were not many lights outside. It took him a little to adapt his eyes and see. - Yes?
- I'm sorry for the late hour. - Said a young, cold voice. Kage looked down.
The voice belonged to a young hume in shinobi clothes. His accent was strange, not one Kage had ever heard. Probably from somewhere in the West.
- I am looking for a person. - Said the hume, looking at Kage with deep blue eyes. - A hume around 20 years old, with green eyes. He's an escaping criminal, guilty of many murders.
Hikari's eyes widened hearing the voice of the man from the West.
- His name is Hikari.
- Really? - Kage smirked slightly. - I'm sorry, I don't know anything about him.
****************************
Kenjii was getting really impatient with that elvaan guy. Hikari had to be there: after he had almost killed the costumer at the tavern for touching him, he had spit out everything about "Kage" and his guest. Also, the red chocobo the Prefect had told him about was right there out of the house.
But what was most irritating was the moronic grin Kage had lied to him with.
- Don't try to fool me. They say you've helped him, in town. If you have nothing to do with him, let him go at once. Hide him in your house, and you will be reported as an accomplice.
- I told you I don't know anything. - Kage examined him closely. - And since when does the militia hire people from the West?
Kenjii decided he had enough of that guy. He pushed him away with his good shoulder, and reached over the doorknob…
But Kage stopped him by grabbing his forearm.
The ninja looked up at him with cold eyes. - Let me go now.
- What if I say no?
Kenjii gave him a physical reply. Using the arm the elvaan had grabbed, he pulled him down and quickly kicked his stomach with his right knee.
- Ugh…! - Kage fell on all four. - You bastard…!
Kenjii ignored him and grabbed the doorknob, but soon as he did it, he felt the strong hand of the elvaan grabbing his shoulder tightly.
As a sharp pain climbed up his head, Kenjii could do nothing but turn around, and a solid punch hit him in the face, making him stumble forward.
The two stared at each other, both standing, both boiling in rage.
- I swear I'm going to kill you. - Growled Kenjii, wiping the blood from the left corner of his mouth.
Kage was still holding his stomach with one hand. - You sure aren't an ordinary ninja.
- Don't get too cocky now. Out of my way!
- Sorry, as charming as they may be, I'm not used to pander to guys.
Kenjii's eyes narrowed. - Such a strong will to die.
Kage smiled mischievously. - Fine then, why don't you tr…
He couldn't even finish, before a sharp star-shaped shuriken hissed in the air and stabbed the door frame, a few inches from his head.
- You little jerk…
Kenjii had already a second shuriken in his hand. - Try me.
That was when the door suddenly opened, and a blond hume came out of it. - Mr. Kage, no!
- Don't come fucking out! - Yelled Kage.
Kenjii dashed forward. - That's him!
The elvaan was faster than him. Grabbing his arm again, he threw Kenjii against the wall, and mashed him against it with his weight, holding his arms with both hands.
- Bastard…! - Kenjii's katana slipped out of his hand, to the ground.
- Sorry, man. - Kage looked at Hikari. - Run away! Now!
- But…
- JUST GO!
Hikari ran outside and whistled loudly. The red chocobo Kenjii had seen earlier immediately approached.
- Damnit… SHION!
As planned, Shion jumped down from the roof of the house at his call, and quickly moved between the white mage and the chocobo.
- A friend, I see. - Kage growled, still against Kenjii.
- I just have to block him, right? - Asked the boy, scratching his head.
- Just move your ass -.-X
Shion nodded and charged the hume. But before he could land a hit, a sphere of energy hit his stomach, pushing him backwards.
"A Chi Blast!?" Kenjii was not sure he had managed to see well, due to his position. "Just what kind of white mage is that?"
- Wow… - Shion inhaled deeply, and then looked towards Kenjii with a bright smile. - Kenjii, this guy is awesome!
- STOP ACTING LIKE THIS IS A DAMN GAME, SHRIMP!
- Okay, okay! - Shion looked back at Hikari, who was still holding his chest in pain. His wounds were still aching. - I gotta say I'm quite demotivated, though.
- COMPLAIN ONE MORE TIME, YOU BRAT, AND I SWEAR…
Kage started to yell to. - WILL YOU JUST STOP IT, YOU STUPID NINJA!
- HOW DARE YOU…
- ENOUGH! - Hikari screamed, and fell on his knees, panting. The three stopped yelling and all looked at him. - Please listen to me….
He looked towards Kage and Kenjii. - That man has nothing to do with me. So please… let him be. It is true, an army died because of me…
He coughed, but kept talking.
- But I didn't kill them! I just couldn't heal them! Because… My healing magic… is tainted. One month ago, to the village where I lived, came a man at the head of a big group of the Tengu.
Kenjii felt Kage's grip weakening, but he knew he would've hold him back quickly, if he tried to get free now. He decided to wait, and listen to what the white mage was saying.
- They have slain all of us… My family, my friends, the school I worked at… - He could feel Hikari was crying now. - I've lost everything!
- I'm sorry… - Shion whispered, totally losing the few combat spirit he had, and losing his guard.
- I tried to move on… I really tried… But that day during that training with the militia army… I sensed the presence of the Tengu nearby. I just couldn't stop.
- You tried to avenge your dear ones by yourself…? - Asked Kage, in shock.
Hikari nodded. - I went there but… They quickly surrounded me. I would've died if the others hadn't come to rescue me. But when the Tengu started overwhelming them, my magic was… It was gone! I couldn't heal them!
- I watched them die in front of my eyes, just like that day at my village!! - He stood up, clenching his teeth. - I know that what I have done is wrong, and that not even my life will pay back for those that have died that day. But I have… just one more thing to do… Please give me some more time.
The chocobo approached Hikari, and bent down to let him mount. Once up, Hikari looked at the three men, one by one. - I'm sorry.
The red chocobo and his master ran off, leaving nothing but dust and a cold wind behind themselves.
********************************
Betraying someone's expectations… Shouldn't mark you as a traitor.
Masaki….
- So his name was Hikari.
Kage leaned against the wall, looking outside from the window. It was so calm out there now, it didn't look like there had been a fight a few minutes ago.
Kenjii looked at him. - He really didn't tell you anything?
- I didn't ask him. We all have our secrets.
- And what are yours?
- You wouldn't care. - Kage looked back towards the kitchen, and saw the monk boy assaulting his sushi supplies. - HEY! THOSE ARE MINE!
- Oh, sorry. Can I have some?
- You already ATE some, you damn shrimp!
- My name is not Shrimp, it's Shion!
- Shrimp, Shion, Chimp, whatever!
- Stop bickering or I swear I'm killing both of you…! -.-x
The plate of sushi fell from the hands of the two fighters, and Kenjii's chocobo lolled happily up to it to eat.
The two elvaans looked down at it in frustration. Kage facepalmed. - Look at what you've done…!
- Why did you help him? - Asked Kenjii.
Kage blinked at him, as if the question had surprised him. He had never really thought about it until now. - I am… not sure.
- I don't think he's mean. - Said the boy, stretching his arms and yawning.
- To be an assassin doesn't necessarily mean you're evil. - Kenjii shrugged. - Either way, we can't let him go.
- You still think he's guilty!? - The black-haired elvaan glared at him. - You don't believe his story, do you?
- Whether I do or not is not of your concern. I am just following the orders. - Kenjii looked up at him with a stern glare. - Besides, if we don't go after him, he's probably as good as dead.
- What…?
Kenjii crossed his arms. - I think he's going to try and fight the Tengu again.
He looks so much like him…
After a minute of silence, the ninja went to the door. - Shion, we're leaving.
- Okay…! - The boy kneeled down to pick up the little chocobo and then followed the hume. They were almost outside when Kage finally recovered his words.
- Take me with you.
To let you die would probably be a favor at this point… And that's not likely of me.
************************************
- That's enough, RedCrystal.
The chocobo stopped, and Hikari felt a sharp pain on his chest. He leaned forward, holding his abdomen with one hand.
- Kweh? - The chocobo turned its head to him, his big brown eyes were full of care for the master.
- I'll be… fine. - Hikari slowly dismounted. - But we're in Tengu territory now. You must leave.
The bird shook its head frenetically, ruffling all its feathers.
- You've been a better friend to me than most. I can't let you come. - Hikari looked down the hill they had reached. - If you run back in town, I'm sure you will be able to find someone that will take care of you.
- KWEH! - The chocobo moved forward, but its master stopped him with one arm against its neck.
- I'm sorry this is all I can do for you… - Hikari looked down, and then slapped the bird as hard as he could.
Scared at the sudden hit, the bird ran away, but immediately stopped, hearing Hikari falling on all fours, groaning in pain.
Hikari raised his head to the animal. - I said LEAVE! Please…
RedCrystal didn't move.
"I see how it is…" Hikari slowly stood up, and inhaled deeply.
- Flash.
Soon as the spell hit the chocobo and blinded it, the man dashed away, as far as he could, out of its sight.
"Forgive me, Red…"
He closed his eyes, holding the tears for the pain and sadness, when he started to hear the calls of his bird.
He was deep inside the Tengu territory when the cries finally stopped. Panting, he looked back one last time, and then slowed down to a walking pace.
"Mr. Kage… will he be all right now? There was nothing I could do to help him…" Hikari looked at the bandage around his left hand. "I will never be able to return the favor to him…"
The confident smile on his face… and the buried sadness in his eyes…
If only I could've been like him. I am unable to do anything… even pretending…
The memories of his family, his girlfriend, his students, their smiles and happy faces assaulted him.
"If only I could've…"
- We were waiting for you, kyah!
Hikari didn't even have the time to look around, before he was grounded by a strong kick on his back. With a groan of pain, he slowly looked up.
Three Tengus were towering over him, their black, beady eyes reflecting the moonlight.
- How nice of you to come back to us and make our job easier!
- Ugh… I am here…. to kill you all! - Hikari tried to crawl away from them, but one of the Tengu grabbed his cloak, and lifted him up.
- The sacrifice to the Fiery Bird must be completed, kyah!
**************************************
Kage froze on the spot, and looked around. He was feeling his heart pounding in his chest.
Shion stopped and looked at him. - What is it?
- Nothing. - Replied the man after a few.
What is this really bad feeling?
Kenjii looked at them from over his shoulder. - Don't slow down. According to what the villagers said, it's somewhere in the woods past this hill.
The two elvaans nodded, and started walking again. The group was proceeding in silence.
It was Kage to break it after some minutes. - What are you gonna do to him once you catch him?
- Very affectionate, aren't we?
- I saved his life. I'd hate to see all my hard work go to waste now.
Kenjii stopped, and turned around to look at him. - I don't know, nor care, about what punishment Hikari is going to go through. - He said coldly. - Only the prefect, or maybe the Mikado itself, can decide for him. A traitor is a traitor.
Kage walked up to the ninja with incredible speed, and grabbed his gi. - Listen well, you punk. I don't give a crap about your traitor talk. He's a victim. Should I do it even just by myself… I will NOT let him die! I…
The hume pushed him away, looking at Kage with disgust. - Pathetic.
- What!?
- What do you hope to achieve? You really think you're altruist, going all out for that guy? - Kenjii started walking again, leaving Kage and Shion behind. - I don't know what kind of dirty secret you're hiding. But my impression is you are the one that wants to be redeemed here.
The elvaans looked at the ninja walk away, heading over the hill.
- That asshole… who the exactly is he, anyway? - Muttered Kage.
Shion brought his hands behind his head. - He's my fellow!
- Eh?
- We celebrated our first Fellow Month-versary today! ^^
- You made that word up, didn't you? - Kage looked at the kid with a sweatdrop.
Shion pouted, and was about to say something back, but the chocobo on his head chirped in joy, catching his attention. - Huh?
- Chirp!
The two looked back towards Kenjii, and realized he had been approached by an adult, red chocobo.
***********************************
- Nothing personal, smoothskin.
Hikari was thrown against a tree for the second time. He opened his eyes in pain, but there wasn't much he could see anymore. His glasses were broken.
- If we don't help with the sacrifice, our tribe will be destroyed. You understand this is something we can't afford, kyah?
- Your tribe isn't any more worth than my village was, to me. - Hikari panted, and stood up holding his left side.
Another Tengu croaked in anger. - You're still standing!? Stupid hume.
- White mages are notorious for their faster organic regeneration. - The first Tengu shook his head, as if sighing. - But this will only make you suffer longer, smoothskin.
- I will not die before you. - Hikari opened his left hand and a floating globe of light appeared on it. - You better be prepared!
"This will probably be my last shot… My energies are abandoning me. Forgive me, everyone…"
- Go ahead and suicide yourself with your own little spell, kyah!
Hikari stumbled and prepared his cast, but right one moment before the chi blast, someone grabbed his arm tightly and pulled him backwards.
In surprise, Hikari lost his concentration and the magic orb faded away. He fell on his knees and looked up. In front of him, was the elvaan kid he had fought before.
- WHY ARE YOU SO STUPID!? - He yelled.
Hikari blinked in surprise, and his hood fell backwards. - What…?
- A friend of mine always used to tell me… that White mages are blessed with the gift of Heaven, and that they are the reincarnation of angels come to protect us! - Screamed the boy, his fists clenched. - Why would you throw away such an important gift!?
Hikari's eyes widened at those words. He stammered, trying to say something, but no word came out.
- I'll take care of this. - The boy turned his back to him and faced the Tengu. - You stay there and take care of me if this turns out bad!
- But.. How did you…?
- Kweh! - RedCrystal approached Hikari, and pecked his hair gently, tilting its head. On its top, he could see a little chocobo chick, chirping happily at its new friend. Hikari gave them a sad smile.
He noticed someone was dismounting off his bird. It was the shinobi he had seen with the boy before. He looked down at him with an emotionless face.
- That day, when you charged the Tengu by yourself… You wanted to die, didn't you? - He asked, and the question pierced Hikari like an arrow made of ice.
- …
- It wasn't real desire of revenge. You are less tainted than you think.
Hikari lowered his head. - What do you know…
- I know.
The ninja wasn't looking at him anymore. Hikari had the feeling that man wasn't lying. Perhaps he was someone who had wished real revenge, someone who had lost everything, just like him?
- Please leave…! I don't want people to suffer trying to save me again! - He cried, looking back up at the ninja.
He looked at him from over his shoulder. - Nobody will save you. You are the only one who can.
- But…!
- You want to die? Feel free. It's a good escape route. But be aware: If you die, nothing is gonna happen. Live, fight, and maybe something will change.
The Tengu were looking at them irritated. - Kyah! Who are these, buddies of yours!? They won't make any difference!
A metallic sparkle flashed in the night, and a long, sharp eastern spear cut through the air, stabbing the first Tengu to death. The others backed away in surprise.
Hikari watched Kage approaching the corpse, and retrieving his weapon. - We are not friends. We are creditors.
- Mr. Kage…
- About time you'd make it here. - Muttered Kenjii.
- Shut up, you bastard! You should've let me mount on the chocobo too, instead of running off with your brat and leave me behind!
- You are too bulky.
- WHAT!?
- Kenjii, can we take down these birds now?
The ninja didn't reply to Shion. He looked back at Hikari. - It's your choice.
- I…. I am sorry, but…
- I'm SICK of your sorries! - Kage growled at the white mage. - Man up already!
- Yes… - Hikari slowly stood up, joining his hands in prayer. - If I… If I can't do anything for the lives that have been lost in front of me… All I can do is live. Live, and save as many lives as I can. This is my choice!
A blessed radiance enveloped him, and then his rescuers. In front of the shocked looks of the Tengu, Hikari performed his first Benediction since the day he had lost his dear ones.
*******************************************
Kenjii hadn't felt that good in years. The magic of that hume was really powerful. The Benediction has healed his wounds, and his spirit felt eased. The guilt for Avina, the sad memories of his mother's death, the desire of revenge against the demons who had slain her, and even the pain at his shoulder.. Everything felt lighter than before.
But he also knew Hikari's energies were almost gone, and there were still those Tengu to get rid of.
- Kyah! Silly smoothskins think they can win with some fancy light? How fools! - They croaked.
- I'll show you MY fancy light. - Grinned Kage, assuming an Hasso stance with his spear. Kenjii realized only then that the elvaan was a samurai.
- Looks like we need to cooperate. - Said the ninja with a sigh. He looked back at Hikari. - I'm counting on you, too.
- I'll do my best.
- Together!? - Kage looked confused. - Hey, I'm not used to teamwork anymore! We were killing each other a moment ago. And now we're all buddy buddy against some birdmen!?
- Forget it, guys! I got this! - Shion charged the birds, his immense combat spirit overwhelming him. The birds guarded up, intimidated.
- About cooperation…^^; - Said Hikari, but he couldn't finish, as Shion immediately tripped on his own feet, and fell-to-face on the ground, in front of some confused beastmen.
- Ouch…!
Kenjii facepalmed. - He really kills my reputation daily.
- Are you okay? - Asked Hikari loudly.
Kage was simply frozen in disbelief.
- Yes.. I'm fine.. It's this stupid bag that made me stumble! - Shion whined, looking at Kenjii's gobbiebag on the ground next to him. - Kenjii, please don't ask me to bring it for you again!
Kenjii quickly approached him, grabbing the bag. - You are really good at nothing, shrimp!
- Stop calling me SHRIMP!
- Fine, you stupid MIDGET!
- RRRR….!!
- DIE, KYAH!!! - The Tengu charged them, their weapon above their heads, and Kenjii was almost positive he would've been unable to evade them all, before a sudden flash of red light coming from the bag blinded them.
- What the heck…? - Kage couldn't see what was happening from his position back, next to Hikari.
- Chirp! - The chocobo chick jumped on RedCrystal's head happily, as if she knew what was going on.
- That light…! - Screamed a Tengu, backing away from the two.
Kenjii was ignoring them now, too busy rustling in the bag. - What was that…?
- Maybe it was a firework. - Tried to guess Shion.
- I don't have fireworks with me, you stupid… - Kenjii's words died in his throat. - The treasure…
He pulled the flat box out of his gobbiebag. The red light seemed to be coming from its slot. - The seal is gone.
Shion looked at it curiously, tilting his head. - But how…?
- I think it was thanks to Hikari's magic.
- Really!? - Shion looked back at Hikari. - I knew you were awesome!!
Hikari and Kage looked at each other in confusion, and shrugged.
- What are you waiting for? Open it!
- The spoils of the Fiery Bird! - A Tengu croaked, catching everyone's attention. - We can't fight them, kyah!
Another nodded. - We must report to them. NOW!
Kenjii, Shion, and the two Far Eastern guys watched the beastmen retreat with all haste, in disbelief.
Hikari and Kage finally approached the two, and the hume asked. - What were they so afraid of…?
Kenjii looked at him and then at the box, and slowly opened it to see what kind of mysterious treasure from the Middle Lands he had been transporting for so long.
last edited 688 weeks ago by Blue KJ
To be an interesting, intriguing, well-written character, there needs to be something to allow the audience to relate to them. That is what the problem is with who wants their character to be "perfect". Perfect characters will never be strong, and strong characters will never be perfect, because WE (those who read, who watch, who RP) are not perfect.
"What makes a strong character is how they deal with their flaws, their fears, their turmoils, their troubles that get in the way. That's what makes them relatable." – Doug Walker
"What makes a strong character is how they deal with their flaws, their fears, their turmoils, their troubles that get in the way. That's what makes them relatable." – Doug Walker
Chapter 7: The Third Terrestrial Avatar
Daybreak had just started over the town of Usashi.
Kenjii was leaning with his left shoulder against a column of the large arcade around the Prefect's palace, looking up at the orange sky. The star of Avina was still up there, competing stubbornly with the rising sun in a shining contest.
It was one of the last stars to disappear in the daylight, almost as if challenging the Goddess of Dawn herself. At that thought, Kenjii felt the urge to look away, down to the streets that were just starting to slowly fill with life.
- What are you looking at?
Kenjii turned his head slightly, looking at Hikari from over his shoulder. - Nothing… Just another day starting.
The white mage approached him, lowering his hood to let a fresh breeze blow through his spiky hair. He inhaled deeply. - It must be a beautiful view.
Kenjii gave him a questioning look.
Hikari looked at him, and smiled embarrassed. - Forgive me. I'm farsighted. And…
He pulled out his broken eyeglasses from a pocket of his cloak. There was almost nothing left of their lenses.
The ninja reacted rather quickly. - Can I have a look at it?
Hikari blinked in confusion, watching Kenjii rustling in his gobbiebag intently, and handed him the glasses. - Of course..
Kenjii quickly found what he was looking for: a sheet of glass and one of his light crystals. He took the glasses from the white mage's hand, and knelt down to start the synthesis.
It was an easy one, repairing ordinary items was one of the first things he had learned to do with crystal synthesis, when he was still a child. It had been handy many times in his childhood, alone with his brother in that big house…
The light crystal flashed between his hands, and a new pair of eyeglasses landed in them. Kenjii stood up and returned the item to the white mage, who inspected it closely with a surprised look.
Hikari put the new eyeglasses on and blinked in astonishment for a second. - My… Thank you very much, sir Kenjii.
- Don't mention it… I didn't do it for you. - Kenjii went back to his position, looking at the city. - I just can't stand broken things.
Hikari tilted his head, a soft, tolerant smile on his face. - Is that why you came to this continent?
Kenjii lowered his eyes, repeating the man's words in his head, and then turned to look at him with a frown.
Hikari looked at Kenjii's right shoulder. - May I have a look at that, too?
- It's nothing you can help with. - The ninja shook his head slowly. - No one can. Only time, and doctor Shigure's medicines.
Hikari nodded. - I should have guessed that… After all, if my Benediction couldn't heal it…
- You said you have been unable to heal anything for a long time. Maybe you just need some time… But don't pick the toughest targets like me right away… - Kenjii was interrupted by the loud noise of the palace's doors opening. A tarutaru girl in a yellow yukata walked to them and bowed.
- The Prefect is now awake and ready to receive you. However, to ensure his safety, we ask that the criminal Hikari wears these. - She said, handing a pair of tama steel handcuffs towards the blond.
Kenjii looked at them and shook his head. - They aren't necessary.
- It's fine. - Said Hikari, taking the handcuffs before the Tarutaru could say anything in protest, and wearing them.
She looked at him with a surprised blink and then nodded. - Very well. Please follow me now… The leader of the militia is already on the way to take part in the process that will judge your crimes.
Hikari looked at her and then at Kenjii, before following them inside the Prefect's palace.
******************************************
Kage was walking down the main street of the town, still drowsy. He hadn't slept much after his return home. Not like he wanted… But he didn't have anything else to do.
RedCrystal, Hikari's chocobo, was slowly following him, looking around anxiously for his master.
"Take care of him for me, please., he said… Yeah right.. I've never been able to even grow a flower. Soon as I see him again, I'm returning this cursed thing to him…"
But would he have seen Hikari again? After that strange treasure had saved them from the Tengu assault, the white mage himself had asked that stupid shinobi boy to lead him to the Prefect, without hesitation. What would become of him?
Were all his efforts to save him in vain?
"You are the one that wants to be redeemed here."
What did those words mean? Was he truly moved only by the desire to correct his mistakes?
"Live, and save as many lives as I can. This is my choice!"
What was all that big talk about life and choices for then? A whole facade?
"Live, fight, and maybe something will change."
- Yeah, right… Oof! - Kage's thoughts were abruptly interrupted by something hitting his stomach with force.
He looked down, and found out he had collided with the red bright hair of an elvaan kid. - Aren't you…?
The boy looked up at him, with big, golden eyes full of surprise. - Huh…?
- You're that kid…!
- Oh! Hello, Uncle Kage. Sorry, I didn't recognize you…
Kage's right eye twitched, and he pushed the kid's head down with one hand. - What's this "uncle" talk?! I'm not that old yet! You can call me Brother, if you really have to!
- Kage!
The elvaan raised his eyes from the kid, to see a couple men running to him. The kid swiftly hided behind him.
One of them was the bartender of the local tavern. - Thanks for stopping him!
Kage looked at the kid. Shion, if that was his name, was glaring at the two with anger, and a shade of what he recognized as fear.
- What is it?
The bartender pointed at Shion. - That boy was wandering inside the tavern's kitchen without permission! We have no idea where he came from!
- I have seen him before. - Said the other man. - He's the pet of that guy from the Middle Lands. I heard he's a troublemaker when his master isn't keeping an eye on him. He was probably trying to steal something!
- I'm not a PET! - Growled Shion, stepping in front of Kage, glaring daggers at the two. - And I wasn't trying to steal anything! I was just looking for SweetCream!
- What I said.
Kage raised an eyebrow at the trio arguing, and looked down at the boy. His kenpogi was slightly slack around the neck, probably due to the rushed escape Shion had from the tavern.
From where he was, he could see the part of a tattoo he easily recognized. The brand of Aht Urhgan.
- Don't worry about him, boss. - He said, placing a hand on Shion's shoulder, right on top of the tattoo, as the men approached the kid.
The bartender looked irritated. - What? You mean he is your acquaintance?
- Actually… - Kage knelt down, his hand still on Shion's shoulder, and approached his face next to his, looking at the two men. - He's my secret son.
- …. Your… o.O
The bartender and his buddy were stunned, looking at the elvaan they had known for so long.
Shion was blinking in confusion, but didn't speak a word.
- Come on now, can't you see we have the saaaaaaaaaaaame eyelashes?
- I… I suppose… Sorry, man.
- Yeah Kage… We had no idea… when did this happen?
Kage stood back up, and swiftly picked Shion up and put him on the chocobo, looking back at the humes with a big grin. - He wouldn't be a secret son if I told you now, neh?
He then turned back and proceeded in the direction Shion was taking before crashing into him, leaving behind himself a very confused duo.
*****************************************
- First you tell me you are not old enough to be my uncle, then to call you 'brother', and now… - Shion looked down at Kage, who was walking next to the red chocobo. - You go around saying I'm your son? You are so confusing.
The man sighed dejectedly, and grabbed the bird's reins to pull it into an empty roadside between some houses. - Why? How old are you?
- Fifteen.
- Oh, then you are really too old to be my secret son. You're so short, I thought you were much younger…
- I'm NOT short! Why did you do that anyway? - Shion pouted at the samurai, and started to look around.
Kage looked up at him. - You would have preferred that I had left you there? People here aren't very welcoming to people of the empire, you know.
Hearing those words, the kid turned back to look at the samurai, with wide eyes. The question was clear on his face.
- Keep that kenpogi tight. - Answered the samurai, and smirked as Shion immediately tightened his belt, checking his shoulders after. - You did a very good job with your accent. I would've never thought you were from there. Where did you learn to speak our language?
- Doctor Shigure taught me. - Shion glared at him, slightly afraid. - You… You're not going to tell someone, are you?
- Nah. - The samurai shrugged. - So, what were you doing in the tavern?
- I was looking for SweetCream.
- You're hungry?
- It's not food! It's Kenjii's chocobo! - Shion grimaced, as his stomach suddenly grumbled. - But I do am hungry…
Kage chuckled. - Lost your pet, eh? How did that happen? It seemed really fond to you.
The monk frowned. - I think she went looking for Kenjii.
- And why were you checking the tavern, then?
- Checking the tavern eventually lead me to you, so it wasn't a bad plan after all!
Kage nearly staggered.
- That ninja with that weird accent? - Kage looked in the distance, towards the Prefect's palace. - He still isn't back?
- No… They have been gone for many hours now.
- You seem very upset. - Kage was looking at him again, and Shion felt a grip at its stomach when he spoke. This time it wasn't hunger.
- I'm just… - He stammered. - I wonder what's gonna happen to Hikari. And to the treasure, too.
- … - Kage decided it was best to not talk about the white mage's fate. Shion was still a kid, and the last thing he wanted was to cause him to whimper. - Why do you care so much about that thing?
Shion shrugged. - I don't know… I just feel it's important to me. It even saved us from those beastmen, didn't it?
- I guess.
- Kweh! - RedCrystal called loudly, his head turned to the left. They had just passed a small square surrounded by four houses, with a big peach tree in the middle.
- Huh? What is it? - Shion and Kage stood in silence, looking at the tree. The red chocobo called again, and this time a lively chirp replied to it.
- SweetCream! - Shion dismounted and ran to the tree, looking up at its blooming branches. The chocobo chick was up there, looking around in anxiety.
Kage patted RedCrystal. - Good job. - He said, approaching the tree with it.
Shion was calling desperately at the chick. - SweetCream! Come down! I've been looking for you for over a hour!
- Kweh! - RedCrystal seemed to be supporting the kid.
- SweetCream!!
The little bird kept ignoring Shion, chirping loudly for her master.
Shion pouted in silence for a moment, and then exploded. - You BAD chocobo! Come down NOW before I kill you and eat you for dinner!! VORACIOUS SCROUNGER!!
Kage raised an eyebrow and looked down at Shion. - Hey now, what is all that for?
Shion sighed and turned to him. - I thought that maybe if I sounded like Kenjii she would've listened to me.
- You mean he is like that to it…? - Asked Kage with a sweatdrop.
- Only when he isn't mad.
- Jee… - Kage walked down the tree and raised his head to the chick. - Hey, Missy!
The little chick stopped calling, and looked down at Kage, blinking curiously.
The samurai smiled brightly and brought his hand to the branch she was at. - Come to papa, sweetie.
Shion's jaw dropped at the sight of the baby chocobo hopping on Kage's hand, and letting him bring her down. - How did you do that!?
Kage chuckled and caressed the chick. - Ladies are my specialty.
He put the chocobo on RedCrystal's saddle. - Here, keep each other some company for the time being.
RedCrystal turned its head to look at the little chocobo with curiosity, and the two started to gently peck each other playfully.
Shion sighed in relief, and then smiled. - See? Going to the tavern and running into you helped me find her, in the end. Exactly as I planned!
- Your concept of 'plan' is really fucked up, kid.
The boy shook his head and looked back at the tree. - No, seriously. Thank you. I don't know what to say to Kenjii if I had not found her before his return.
The samurai watched Shion scanning the tree, probably looking for some fruit. - It's too soon for that, shrimp.
- Awwww…. - The kid's ears lowered in depression for a moment. - Hey! You called me shrimp again!!
- I did. - Kage brought his hands behind his head and stretched, looking at the chocobos for a moment. The smell of food reached his nose. - Say, how about something to eat?
The monk's eyes widened and started sparkling. - That would be AWESOME!!
- I'll pay. In return, I'd like to hear about how you and that ninja boy met. And about that box, too.
- Deal!
***************************************************
- Hikari is dead.
This was all what Kenjii had been able to say, before Kage jumped up from his chair and grabbed him by the gi's collar, pulling him to his face.
- Wait a damn minute! What does that fucking mean!? - He growled, glaring daggers at Kenjii. - Weren't you the one making him speech about keeping on living!? Huh!?
- Nobody has the right to contest Hikari's decision on his own fate. - Kenjii pushed Kage away. - Neither I or you.
The silence had fallen in the tavern. Kenjii could feel the gaze of everyone around them on himself and Kage, but didn't bother to look. He was so tired…
The talk with the Prefect and the militia's representative had been long and difficult. Kenjii had been hired for many tasks around the city now, but that was the very first time that he had been involved in something concerning such a serious matter.
He had done all he could…
- Boss, put everything on me. - Muttered Kage, snapping Kenjii out of his own reminiscence. He then stormed outside, hitting the ninja's shoulder with his as he passed him.
Kenjii groaned lowly, massaging it. He knew Shigure wouldn't have been happy about it. He then looked at Shion.
The kid was still sitting at the table Kenjii had found him and Kage at, after looking for them all over. Shion's eyes were widened, his mouth slightly open in disbelief. He had been unable to speak since Kenjii's arrival in the tavern.
- What are you waiting for, shrimp? Swallow the rest of your dinner and follow me home. - Ordered Kenjii, looking away.
He felt a grip at his stomach when he saw the boy stand up without finishing his portion and run outside with a weak cry.
Kenjii let a silent sigh, and looked down at the chocobo chick, who had reached his tabi as usual and was now flapping its little wings anxiously, with loud chirps.
He knelt down and picked her up. - Hopefully he'll forget quickly, with you around keeping him busy.
The bird tilted her head, staring at him with a concentrated look.
- You're both babies after all. You know, there's this thing in the Middle Lands called Kamp Kweh and… Oh, why am I talking with an animal now?
- Chirp!
- Yeah, chirp, whatever.
************************************
The next two days passed slowly. Kenjii had continued his training by himself, ignoring everything else. He didn't bring Shion with him on his daily assignments.
The young monk still hadn't forgotten the events concerning Hikari and Kage. He was spending his days alone in his room, barely eating anything. He had even stopped taking language classes with doctor Shigure.
The old tarutaru didn't know what to do with them. He had taken care of many people in his life, but he knew this was nothing he had ever dealt with before. After trying to get the two to talk to each other again a few times, he was about to give up on the two fellows.
Until that day…
- Mister Shigure Aotsuki, I presume?
The doctor looked up from the surgical tools he was cleaning, to meet the eyes of a tall elvaan man with two long black braids over his shoulders. He was accompanied by two humes, and their uniforms looked familiar.
- It is me, indeed. - He replied, pushing his glasses up. - You don't look hurt. To what do I owe the visit of the militia here?
The man looked around, and then nodded to his fellows, who started to walk towards the other rooms. - We were informed that you are hosting two illegal immigrants in your infirmary. A young man from the Middle Lands, and an elvaan boy…
Shigure frowned. - I do am hosting a man and an elvaan boy, if you are talking about Kenjii and Shion. But I am aware that the militia has already received their services not too long ago… So why…?
- Today we are here in the name of the Mikado. - Interrupted him the elvaan, glaring down at him. - I trust that you will not oppose to your Head of State.
The tarutaru's eyes widened. - The M-Mikado? But what does this mean…?!
*****************************************
Kenjii was sitting on his bed, elbows on his legs, staring at the treasure box. It was on Shion's bed, next to his.
He didn't have a good feeling about it.
The night the box had opened, he wasn't so impressed by its content. But there were still so many unanswered questions…
Who had put that box on the ship, and who was it sent to? Why did those Yagudo want it? And why did they fear it so much? How did Hikari's Benediction break its magic seal?
And why did that boy feel it was so important to him?
The day he had brought Hikari to the Prefect, he had shown the treasure to them, telling all of what had happened. Thanks to his testimony, Hikari's version of the men slaughter was much more believable, and he thought the box was an important element to prove it.
But perhaps it had been too much important… In a way even Kenjii was unable to get.
The Prefect had declared Hikari's sentence, and then forbidden Kenjii to leave town until further instruction.
Kenjii recognized that feeling. He had felt it many times during his journey with Avina and her group. Something big was coming.
He inhaled deeply, and lied on his bed, looking up at the ceiling. The memories of his times as adventurer of the Middle Lands started to flash in front of him. He had been through so many things… and what had changed now?
Nothing…? No.. Something had changed. He was alone now.
There was no one to hide behind anymore, someone to entrust with the responsibility of taking decisions for him. It was all up to him now.
But that was the right choice… wasn't it?
"Life is divided into horrors and miseries." He couldn't remember where had he heard or read that sentence, but right now he could believe it all. The real question now was on which of those sides was he now?
He turned his head to the left, to watch what he was starting to accept to be his chocobo. The chick was sleeping serenely on the pillow, next to his head. It would occasionally flap her wings, or ruffle her feathers with a slight chirp, as if dreaming of something exciting.
"What would Avina think in this situation…?" Kenjii frowned, realizing he had just wondered about the monkey again, and shook his head trying to get rid of the thought. It didn't work.
She would probably look at me with that mocking grin of hers and say something corny. "There is no certainty of tomorrow, if you want to be happy, then be happy." Blah blah blah…
He noticed something moving on the pillow and looked to the left again. The chick had woken up, and was now staring at the folding doors to the other side of the room.
Kenjii looked in that direction, and a few seconds later he could hear running steps coming to it. He sat up. - What the…?
- KENJII!! - Shion stormed in, opening the door wide. - Kenjii, help!!
- What's going…!? - Kenjii didn't finish his sentence, at the sight of the elvaan man walking in after the kid.
- Calm down, you pathetic beast. - Hissed the man, grabbing Shion's arm and then looking down at the ninja. - Kenjii of Quon, isn't it?
Kenjii quickly stood up, and the chocobo chick rolled off the bed with a thud. - Who are you?
- It doesn't matter now. You two will follow us to the Prefect's palace now. - The elvaan quickly spotted the box on Shion's bed. - And you will take that with you, too.
*****************************************
Shion and Kenjii were conducted at the palace of the Prefect. The boy didn't like that place… It was full of mean-looking men and he wasn't allowed to run around and explore. It reminded him too much of the white gate in Aht Urhgan.
He looked up at his friend, who was walking next to him. - Hey, Kenjii…
- Be quiet. - He snapped, without even looking at him. His eyes seemed focused on their surroundings. Kenjii was analyzing the path their were taking through the numerous corridors and rooms, as if he was studying a possible escape.
Shion pouted, and then looked down at SweetCream with a frown. She was in Kenjii's gobbiebag, with her head outside, looking around with confusion and slight fear. Occasionally, she'd quickly dive back inside, afraid of some sudden noise.
The elvaan man with those long braids stopped in front of some sliding doors, and opened them.
- Go inside, and wait there. - He said, stepping away. Shion felt himself pushed inside by one of the other militia.
Kenjii followed him in, and then looked back at the doors slamming closed. The place was so quiet, Shion had the impression to be able to hear the noise of the burning candles on the walls.
- What's going on? Are we in trouble? - He asked, looking back at the ninja.
Kenjii didn't reply, and placed his bag on the floor to let the chick out.
Another voice replied in his stead. - This sure doesn't look like an invitation to some tea.
The two turned their head towards the large glass window that formed the room's eastern wall. Leaning against it was a familiar-looking young man with an eastern spear.
- Kage!! - Shion ran to him with a smile. - What are you doing here?!
He got up off the window and shrugged. - I was hoping you guys would tell me.
- I had a feeling this was your fault, instead. - Said Kenjii, without moving from where he was. He was inspecting the room closely.
Kage moved to him quickly, and glared down at the ninja. - You always talk as if everyone were Vana'diel's disgrace. - He hissed through clenched teeth, his eyes narrowed.
- Your birth was the first and worst of Vana'diel's disgraces. - Growled back the hume.
- Don't fight!
- You should listen to the little boy, there. - The strict voice of the Prefect interrupted them, as he entered the room from another sliding door. He looked at each of them. - Welcome to my palace, once again.
- Save that garbage for your friends! - Snapped Kage, clenching his fists and turning to him. - Why did the militia come to my place and force me to come here?! I didn't do anything wrong! That bunch of assholes…
- This has nothing to do with Masaki, mister Kage. - The Prefect sat on a pillow at the center of the room, and gestured to them to sit in front of him. - Now, if you please..
Shion looked at the samurai. He seemed suddenly more relaxed after those words. Who was this Masaki that seemed to fluster him so much?
Kenjii brought the kid back to reality, grabbing his left shoulder firmly and pushing him towards the pillow on the left. Shion reluctantly obeyed and sat down, while the ninja took place between him and Kage.
He looked at the fourth pillow lined next to Kage. - Is someone else coming here?
- Will you stop talking? - Hissed Kenjii, glaring down at him. Shion frowned, looking away intimidated. He didn't like when the hume was nervous. He'd always vent on him with his cold voice.
The little chocobo jumped on Shion's lap and looked up at him tilting her head, as if trying to comfort him. This made the boy feel much better.
The Prefect nodded. - Yes, two more people will be here shortly. I have some things to ask you first, though.
The three looked at each other, and then back at the man, in silence.
He looked at Kenjii. - Did you bring it here?
The ninja nodded after a couple seconds, and pulled the treasure box out of the gobbiebag, placing it in front of the Prefect. Shion opened his mouth to say something in protest, but Kenjii anticipated him with a cold glare, intimating silence.
- That thing again? - Kage observed the Prefect opening the box and looking inside it for a brief moment, before closing it again. - What about it?
- You will learn the matter of this meeting soon. All I ask you is to stay calm in front of what you will see and hear at this place today. - The Prefect looked at Shion when saying this. - All of you.
The kid's eyes dashed from him to Kenjii a couple times, and then he nodded frantically, swallowing in anxiety.
- Also, nothing of what will be said in this room will leave. Am I clear?
- Just what kind of business are we getting ourselves into? - Asked Kage, shifting position irritatedly.
- I cannot answer that until all three of you accept the conditions. - Replied the Prefect, turning to him.
The silence fell in the room again, and after a minute Shion was the first to speak. - I accept.
Kage looked at him and then snorted. - Whatever, I accept too.
Kenjii took longer than them to reply. He was staring at the box intently, as if pondering about all the possible outcomes of that situation. He then silently nodded, inhaling deeply and looking at the Prefect.
- Very well. - The Prefect clapped his hands twice, and the sliding doors he came from opened again.
The three turned their heads towards the guests coming in. It was an automaton like the ones Shion had seen around Aht Urhgan often, and a familiar white mage.
- Hikari! - Exclaimed the boy, jumping up.
- You're alive! - Kage followed him, his jaw nearly dropping.
He turned to look at Kenjii, but the ninja didn't give him any answer. Even though he had been able to hold his surprise, his eyes were well open and firm on the hume.
Hikari bowed calmly. - Hello, everyone. It's good to see you all again.
- But how!?
The Prefect nodded and then gave Kage a cold glare. - If you will go back sitting, everything will be explained. I thought you had accepted to stay calm.
Kage looked at Hikari again, and the white mage smiled warmly in return, taking his sit next to him. The automaton slowly imitated him and sat next to the Prefect.
- Shion. - Kenjii's voice slapped the boy back to reality. Shion didn't like to be called "shrimp", but he had learned that being called with his own name by the midlander only meant something serious was about to happen. He and Kage went back to their pillows, still looking at Hikari.
- Very well, looks like we are all here. - The Prefect indicated the white mage with a nod. - I see the fate of mister Hikari here seems to be the most pressing matter, so we'll start from there.
Hikari nodded back to him and then looked at the group. - If I'm still here, it was all thanks to your words in my defense, mister Kenjii.
Kage and Shion's eyes immediately dashed on the ninja, and Kenjii could almost feel the electricity in their gazes. He slightly lowered his head, embarrassed. - I didn't have the impression they did much. I only said the truth.
The Prefect nodded again. - I think mister Hikari is giving you excessive credit. As a matter of fact, his life was saved by his own talent.
Kage raised an eyebrow. - Talent?
- Technically we do not know if it could be defined as "talent."
The three almost jumped off their seats at the sudden new voice that had filled the room. They started to look around in every direction, trying to find its owner.
- We came to learn that Hikari had been unable to cast any magical spell in a long time before his last Benediction, so it is possible that what you have called 'talent' may have been the mere result of an incredibly powerful magic burst.
- Where the heck is this guy talking from? - Asked the elvaan samurai, nervously.
It was then that Kenjii's chocobo jumped off Shion's hands, and lolled quickly towards the automaton sitting next to the Prefect. She looked at it, tilting her head in both directions, and then chirped in call.
Kage's eyes widened and he pointed at the automaton. - Was that coming from that THING!?
Kenjii turned his head back towards the front, and saw that the Prefect and Hikari were actually looking at the machine.
- Hikari! Your automaton can SPEAK!
The white mage shook his head at Shion. - It's not mine. I don't understand anything about ancient technology.
The automaton turned its head towards the Prefect. - I think it is time that you introduce me.
The Prefect agreed, and indicated the machine with his left hand. - Whom you have before you is the person that granted Hikari's life to be saved, as well as the owner of the treasure you have been carrying with you for all this time.
- A pleasure to meet you.
The room immediately filled with an overwhelming silence. The three young ones were staring at the automaton, each of them showing their reaction to the introduction quite clearly on their faces. Shion's eyes were open in surprise, Kage's narrowed in concentration, Kenjii's twitching in irritation.
Kenjii was the first to speak. - You mean…
Shion followed him. - This is…
- …Quite a strange tarutaru. - Kage turned towards the other two, who were now looking at him as if he was a moron. - What!? I've never seen anything like that!
The Prefect cleared his throat to catch back their attention. - What you actually see here is his automaton. For security reasons, it is best that he doesn't reveal his identity nor presence to anyone in the area. All what you need to know is that who's speaking is a representative of the Mikado.
- The Mikado!? Why would a member of the Mikado want to talk to us? And how can this automat speak for him?! - Exclaimed Kage.
- It's "Automaton", you idiot. - Muttered Kenjii.
- I didn't ask you, dandy ninja.
- Call me like that again and you're dead.
- What if I kill you first?
- Go ahead. What won't kill me it's only good to pain my ass anyway.
- I think it's ventriloquy… isn't it? - Asked Shion, still looking at the automaton in excitement.
The two litigants stopped, and focused back on the conversation.
- Interesting. How do you know about it? - Replied the automaton, turning its head towards the kid.
Shion was taken aback. - Well… uh… I'm… I've met a very good puppetmaster one day. He offered me some food.
- I see. There aren't many of us in this side of the continent. You must be… very lucky. Your name is Shion, correct?
The monk looked at Kenjii, and then back at the automaton, with a nod. - Yes.
- I was told you saved my treasure from the waves of a terrible storm, and that you have been taking care of it since then. I thank you for that.
Shion scratched his head. - I just felt it was important… I don't know.
The automaton was quiet for a minute, then an hissing noise came from under its black turban. The three leaned forward towards it, noticing the sparkle of a lens.
- Don't mind it. It's just an attachment.. an analyzer. - The automaton finally spoke again. - Shion, I might know why you feel such a strong affinity to my treasure.
- Really? I want to know! - Shion slammed his hands open to the floor, barely holding his curiosity.
The automaton nodded, and then took another minute before speaking again.
- Take off your kenpogi.
***********************************
Kage's throat dried up at the words of the automaton. He looked at Shion.
The kid was in silence, his eyes widened, unable to hide the fear and shock of the request. He seemed to be perfectly aware of what being from Aht Urhgan meant in the Far East.
Kenjii frowned at the representative of the Mikado. - Is it really necessary? I don't understand how could this…
- I will. - Shion interrupted him, and the ninja glared at him, but he ignored him. He gulped. - You said nothing of what happens in this room will leave, right?
The automaton nodded after a few seconds.
- Okay… - Shion opened his kenpogi slightly and made it loose. He did it quickly and clumsily, as if trying to get done with it as fast as he could. He then took it off his shoulders, and turned his back to the group so that everyone could see it.
Hikari had to lean forward slightly to see past Kage. - Oh my… - He said, when he spotted the tattoo of the two-headed serpent. - You're…
- As I thought. - Said the voice coming from the automaton. Its lens zoomed in some more, watching Shion's shoulder. The chocobo chick hoisted herself slightly, trying to reach it.
- Can I put it back on? - Asked Shion, looking at it over his shoulder. After getting no reply, he put the kenpogi back on his shoulders and tightened it, turning back to sit normally.
He looked at Kenjii, who then turned from him to the Prefect. - What are you going to do to him now?
- Nothing. Just as you agreed to never talk about this meeting, we have too. - Was the man's answer. - At the same time though, we will grant you no protection in case you will be caught by the people outside.
- This isn't important now. - Shion shook his head nervously. - Please tell me, why is that thing so important to me?
- You have lived under the influence of the Astral Candescence. - Said the automaton. - Its Astral Wind has a great effect on the perceptive powers of living beings tied to astral magic. Or that is the rumor, maybe you would know better than me, do you not?
Shion blinked in confusion. - I have never seen the Astral Candescence. Only the Generals are allowed into the Hall of Binding…
- Watch your mouth, shrimp. - Interrupted him Kenjii. Everyone looked at him. The ninja was glaring at the automaton. - Are you trying to use this as an excuse to steal information about your enemy from a kid? He probably doesn't know half the crap he talks about, anyway.
"I think that's the most boor way to show someone's care I've ever seen…." Thought Kage. He didn't like that hume, but he knew where his concern was coming from. He was worried for that elvaan kid, even though he didn't want to admit it.
- That is not a part of our ploy. But I'll change the question, if it bothers you. - The machine turned back to Shion. - Do you have any summoner in your family, Shion?
Shion looked at Kenjii and at the automaton a couple times before answering. - Yes.. My mother was a summoner.
- That's the answer, then. You see, this treasure has some astral power in it, too. Just like you do. It is perfectly normal that you feel this affinity to it.
- Astral power? - Asked Kage. - That THING?
The automaton nodded to the Prefect, and the man opened the box again very carefully. He then put his hands in it, and lifted a red large feather, long about as much as the box itself, or Shion's forearm. It had some golden highlights on the edges, something that Kage had never seen on any chocobo feather.
The Prefect placed it in front of the Automaton, on a purple pillow at the center of the low table between them.
The automaton's analyzer zoomed again. - Yes, this is it. I am glad that it came here safely from the far Middle Lands.
- So, that feather has really some astral power? - Asked Shion, looking at it in awe.
- Do you know what it is, man of the middle lands?
Kenjii looked at the item briefly before nodding. - Yes. It's a Phoenix Feather.
- What!? - Exclaimed Kage and Hikari in chorus, turning to the ninja.
- You gotta be kidding me! - Added the samurai, before the automaton spoke again.
- What do you know about the Phoenix?
The hume looked up to the wall in front of them, to the Far Eastern flag hanging on it. - I don't know much. It is a legendary creature of myth, I think? In our country those feathers are used by craftsmen to make some items imbued of magic power. I don't remember which exactly…
- Wait wait wait wait! - Kage interrupted him again, and Kenjii looked at him angrily, but he didn't mind it. - You mean this thing can be found all over your country!?
- I didn't say that. - Snapped the ninja. - It is quite a rare item, but I have seen some before. Just not many.
- The FUCK!?
- Calm down, Kage. - The Prefect raised his voice, and the samurai quietened. - I'm sure there's an answer to that, too.
The automaton looked at each of them, and then stopped at Kenjii. - Since you don't seem to know about it, maybe it's better that I explain this first. Do you know what avatars are?
The ninja nodded. - I know what I've learned from my caretaker and… personal experience. The avatars are celestial and terrestrial powers, able to manifest in the forms of weaker spirits by connecting to a summoner.
The automaton nodded, but said nothing, pushing Kenjii to keep going.
The ninja sighed and looked down, trying to remember something. Kage started to wonder what kind of things could have been seen in the Middle Lands.
- I know that the celestial avatars are the sleeping gods of the Legend of Vana'diel. There is one for each of the six elements, and they have their own constellations. - Continued the ninja.
- Weren't the elements eight? - Asked Kage.
Kenjii looked at him for a moment, in thought. - I have fought the prime avatars, magical beings summoned by the celestial avatars themselves in their slumber to test us. But I have seen only six of them…
He rustled for a few seconds in his bag, and pulled out a stellar chart. - Here. Garuda of the Gales, Leviathan of the Tides, Ifrit of the Flames, Titan of the Tremors, Shiva of the Frost… and Ramuh of the Storms. - He said, pointing at each constellation.
Hikari looked at it intently. - What about Darkness and Light?
The automaton stood up and leaned above the table, slowly raising an arm and placing it on a group of stars. - Shion, do you know what this is?
The kid looked at it intently, and frowned. - Yes, that is the Iron Colossus.
- And this? - The machine moved the metallic arm to another group of stars.
- The Dark Rider. A prophecy says he will emerge to cause chaos in the Empire, and the Iron Colossus is the great ancient that will fight him at the time of Judgment: Ragnarok.
- Light and Darkness. - The automaton sat back. - Maybe you have never heard of them in the Middle Lands, but these are what we believe to be the eight celestial avatars. Now, do you know about the terrestrial avatars?
Kage looked back at Kenjii. His eyes were sad, in a way he had never seen before. It was like if he was fighting against some horrible memories. - Yes, I do.
- Well?
Kenjii didn't reply. He looked away from the chart and the feather, down to his hands clenched in fists.
- Do you need some water?
- No. - Kenjii raised his head again, and looked at the automaton almost angrily. - I have met the terrestrial avatars. They are both powerful gods, born from Vana'diel to protect it. Unlike the celestial avatars, they can die. I have helped in the revival of one of them. Fenrir, the Guardian of the Moon.
- Woah! Did you really do that!? - Exclaimed Shion, looking at him with shiny eyes. - You are SO cool!
- I didn't do anything. I just assisted some adventurers… - Muttered Kenjii.
- The Middle Lands are always so fascinating. The continents where the astral forces gather… But I am afraid your caretaker didn't fill you in very well.
- I learned about the terrestrial avatars by myself. I haven't said nothing wrong…
- Well, as far as I know, there's five of them, not two. - Replied the Automaton. - And their role is more specific than you think. They are protecting five places at this world, secret shrines* very important to Vana'diel.
- Secret shrines? - Asked Hikari. - I didn't know about this. What are they?
- We do not know, and I can't give you any information about our sources. But this is not our business now. - He turned back to Kenjii. - Phoenix, the Bird of Resurrection, happens to be a terrestrial avatar too. Just like Fenrir.
- Wait, what the heck!? You mean our goddess is some minor animal, created by the world? - Kage almost stood up in shock, but Hikari hold him down by an arm.
- Watch your tongue, you impudent. - The Prefect warned him again. He then asked the automaton to keep going.
It looked back at the feather again. - Terrestrial Avatars may be minor gods compared to those worshiped in the Middle Lands, but this doesn't make them unworthy our adoration. In fact, if it wasn't for her, the Far East would've ceased to exist long ago.
Hikari frowned. - What does this mean?
- Unbeknown to the general population, the Fiery Bird goddess sacrificed itself to fend off a powerful attack aimed at our nation. Phoenix is no longer at this world.
Hikari and the Prefect gasped in shock, and Kage would've exclaimed again, if only he still had the force to do so. How was that possible? How could've this happened?
- But who could've destroyed a god…? - Asked Hikari, barely able to speak.
Kage growled. - It was Aht Urhgan, wasn't it!? Those cursed dogs!
Kenjii and Shion turned to him, and Kage could see sadness in the kid's eyes. He immediately felt sorry for what he had just said.
- It wasn't the Empire. This happened many years ago, before our war with Aht Urhgan even started. - Said the automaton. - Our sources informed us that the attack Phoenix protected us from was coming from yet another terrestrial avatar.
- Terrestrial Avatars attacking each other..? - Kenjii sounded confused. - What avatar was it?
- We do not know. All we know, is that their clash had place in a nation called Tavnazia, to the west of the Middle Lands. So that's supposedly where the other avatar is.
The ninja shook his head. - But Tavnazia fell into ruin during the war… There's nothing left there.
- Nothing… but this. - The automaton looked at the feather again. - It took us many tries, and many feathers were retrieved from the Middle Lands before. But at long last, I think we managed to find the real Phoenix Down.
**********************************
- What do you mean, the real Phoenix Down?
Kenjii didn't like the topic of the meeting one bit. He was there to heal his shoulder, to forget what he had done in the Middle Lands! What was all that talk about avatars all of a sudden? The memories of all his past experience with Avina pained him, making him feel helpless.
- We have reason to believe that this feather could actually contain a shard of Phoenix's soul. - The Automaton looked at the Prefect, who took the feather and put it back in its box with the same care he had pulled it out. - This is where you come in.
- Me? - Kenjii frowned.
- All of you.
- But what do you want to do with it? - Asked Kage, crossing his arms nervously.
The machine took some time to reply. - Nothing for now, aside protecting it from someone who wants its power.
Shion blinked. - Ah, that ship?
Kenjii looked at him. - You mean the Yagudo?
- What's a Yagudo?
The ninja shook his head and turned to answer the white mage. - It's how we call the Tengu in my country. A ship with Far Eastern flag approached ours when we came here. They were after this feather.
- That would explain the reaction of those other Tengu… - Hikari's eyes saddened at the memory.
- I've been informed of the incident, but I fear that the Tengu is not our direct enemy. From what the Prefect told me from your reports, it seems that someone is controlling those beastmen at the moment. And we might know who.
- Who would be so crazy to befriend those fiends? - Shion grimaced. - Ugh…
Kenjii looked at him. - Is it that disgusting?
- Eh? - The kind scratched his head. - Oh no, I'm just getting hungry. Talking so much is stiffening me.
- Why do I bother asking… -.-
- We have been at war with the Empire for a long time now, but our recent political changes are toning down our skirmishes. - Continued the member of the Mikado. - But still, some of our veteran fighters refuse to leave the front lines of battle. One of them in particular, raised a faction of rebels with the intent to strike the Empire with a powerful attack, a power beyond anyone's reach that we have never used before, and that could probably lead our country to victory once for all.
Shion focused again. - W-What? Who is it!?
- His name is Kuro Kaminari and he's after the revival of Phoenix.
The group exclaimed in disbelief, especially Kage and Shion. - But how would he do that?
- He is gathering its spoils. Remaining parts of the Phoenix who seem to have her spirit in them. They are planning to control it and attack the Empire with it.
- But would that actually work? - Asked Hikari. He turned to Kenjii. - Is that how Fenrir was revived?
Kenjii looked at him, trying to remember. - Something like that but… I'm not sure. I'm not into magic stuff much.
- While the rebirth of our goddess would be truly a grateful event, this is not something that the Mikado is willing to allow. We are here today because we decided to stop them. - Informed him the machine. - This is why we did our best to find the Phoenix Down before them.
Hikari nodded. - Yes. I don't like the idea of Phoenix being under someone's control… Plus, if it attacked the Empire now that the flames of battle are finally settling, a new war would burst. No one would accept the wipe of a full country and all its innocent inhabitants.
- Don't say that! - Shion cried at the thought. - We can't allow something like that to happen!
- And that's not all. - The automaton stood from its pillow, and the chick jumped away in fear, before running back to Kenjii. - It seems that in order to revive the Phoenix, Kuro Kaminari ordered many massive sacrifices. He is attacking many villages around the nation, without sparing women nor children, in order to restore the Fiery Bird's resurrection.
- What!? - This time, it was Kenjii to exclaim. He felt his blood boiling in his veins. Never he had heard of such an atrocious action taken from a human to another human.
- They think they are in the right. They justify their actions by saying that the people used in the sacrifice will be resurrected once the Phoenix is revived. - Said the Prefect. - But their method is too vague to trust it.
- Even if it was true, I would never do something like that! - Said Kage, slamming a fist on the floor. - What are they thinking!?
- Wait… - Kenjii turned to see Hikari. The white mage was shaking, his eyes widen in terror. He still managed to speak a few words. - Then… My village…?
The room fell quiet again, before the automaton found the courage to speak. - Yes… They seem to have been hiring the Tengu for their murders. We don't know if they are allied, or threatening them in some way.
- Excuse me… - Hikari stood up and walked to the large glass window, opening it and running outside in the balcony.
The others looked at him leaving in silence. The chocobo tried to follow him curious, but Kenjii took her in his hands, and hold her gently but firmly. He looked at the automaton. - What do you want from us?
- To stop them.
- What about the imperial forces? Or the militia? - Asked Kage.
The automaton shook its head, swinging the tip of its turban. - If we move official armies, we'll only create panic between our people. We can't risk a civil war to rise because of this. The four of you have been touched by this treasure by chance, and have proven yourself worthy of the Mikado's trust. What we ask you, is to travel as an anonymous group, find Kuro Kaminari and stop its experiments to revive the Phoenix. For the sake of the whole East.
The machine and the Prefect looked at each other with a nod, and then the man spoke. - So, what is your answer?
- I'll do it! - Shion jumped up, his eyes full of determination and fists clenched. - I can't allow them to destroy my country! And they are killing innocents too, right? That is just not fair!
- This is not a game, Shion. - Said Kenjii calmly, looking up at him with a cold glare. - Do you realize what they have said? These people could try to kill us. You could die. Do you not care?
- Of course I do care! - Exclaimed the kid. - But… I just know that, if I was one of those people, I'd want someone to do something to help me! We just have to go find this guy and beat him up for good!
Kenjii facepalmed. - Is that your plan?
The monk scratched his head. - I'm not good with plans. They always take time that you could spend kicking someone's ass! I mean, maybe now it seems everything is calm but… If you look at the water pot, it's never boiling. If you look away, the water boils and overflows! Got it?
The group replied with an embarrassing silence and lots of weird looks. Only Kenjii's chocobo seemed to agree, flapping her wings with a loud chirping cheer.
- Hmph, the kid sure has guts. But I'm out of this. - Said Kage, shaking his head.
The Prefect opened his mouth to speak, but he was interrupted by Hikari's return.
The white mage didn't look too well. He was sweating, and breathing heavily, as if he had just came back from a run. His face was still pale. - I'll do it.
Shion walked to him. - Are you okay?
Hikari smiled weakly at the boy, and ruffled his hair gently. - I'm fine now, thank you. And I'll be honored to have you by my side in this. You are very brave.
The kid nodded energetically, and then turned back to watch Kenjii and Kage. The ninja looked away.
- Bah! - Kage stood up, and stretched. - But I'm not changing my mind. Hikari has his personal reasons to go, and the kid.. well he's either crazy or he just cares about that stupid feather too much. But I got my own life to work on. I don't see why I should dive into this mess with ya'll.
He picked up his spear and walked away, with a two-finger salute. He had almost reached the door panels when the Prefect spoke.
- Kuro Kaminari's clan is named the Snowstorm.
Kage froze on the spot.
- You know that name, don't you, Kage?
- Heh… - The samurai turned around, glaring daggers at the Prefect. - You kept your Ace in the Hole for the last game, didn't you?
- Nobody is asking you to stay.
The elvaan man erupted. - So WHAT if I help you guys!? What will be of Masaki!? Tell me the truth! You bastards would execute him, wouldn't you!?
Hikari and Shion looked at each other, in confusion, and then kept following the debate.
The Prefect shook his head. - This mission isn't an official operation. As I said before, we'll act as if this meeting never had place. If you succeed, there will be no parade for you, no award… and no court. The traitor will be free as the wind.
- You better not be fucking with me. - Kage pointed the spear to the hume. - Or else I'll cut that head of yours and make it a jar for my post-drunk belch.
- Ew… - Shion grimaced. - So are you with us? I'm confused.
Kage looked at him, and his cold expression turned into a smirk. - Looks like we get to be playmates for some time, kiddo.
- YAY! - Shion jumped in joy, and then finally looked back at the ninja. - Come on Kenjii, you're the only one missing!
Once again, Kenjii found himself at a loss of words. His mind was running wild, haunted by his memories and nightmares. As he had foreseen, a new adventure bigger than him was towering over him, and he didn't know how to face it.
It took him a few minutes to reply, hardly. - Why should I help you?
The automaton walked closer to him. - You're right. You are not of the Far East nor the Near East, you have no reasons to help us. But are you asking me to take decisions for yourself?
Kenjii frowned. What that the truth? Was he really unable to take decisions for himself? He thought about it. He had the impression he had taken many decisions.. but were they truly his? Or was he just… being pushed from a place to another like a piece of wood in a storming sea?
- Well?
- I feel this is a game I can't win… - He stammered.
The automaton tilted its head, and for a moment it lost balance, almost falling. - From any point of view, life itself is a game you can't win. Your birth is only the beginning of your death.
Kenjii's eye twitched in irritation. Was that guy trying to convince him to change his mind, or not?
- But… - The machine continued. - You look like you've lost something important. Do you really think you can find it by just staying in an infirmary all day?
The ninja looked at the automaton, impressed by his words. Observing it, he had the strong impression that whoever was controlling it was grinning to him in that moment. A friendly grin, like the one of an accomplice. Someone who knew the whole plot.
It was just like the captain of the Smirking Skull.
He stood up slowly, and picked up his gobbiebag as the chocobo hopped in it, as if she was ready to start the journey ahead.
- I'll help you.
- Very well. - Said the automaton.
The Prefect stood up as well and bowed. - Kenjii, Kage, Hikari, Shion. I wish you all good luck. May the goddess watch over you.
Kenjii and the others looked at each other and they all nodded in silence, before heading to the door.
I'll take my own decisions now, monkey. And I'll show you.
The Prefect and the automaton watched the party leave the room, and after Shion's food-demanding voice had faded in the distance, the man looked down at the machine.
- Do you really think they will make it?
- Blessed is he who expects nothing, as he'll never be disappointed.**
*It's the Mothercrystals, I preferred to keep this unknown to Kenjii for future RP purposes.
**Alexander Pope (1688-1744)
Daybreak had just started over the town of Usashi.
Kenjii was leaning with his left shoulder against a column of the large arcade around the Prefect's palace, looking up at the orange sky. The star of Avina was still up there, competing stubbornly with the rising sun in a shining contest.
It was one of the last stars to disappear in the daylight, almost as if challenging the Goddess of Dawn herself. At that thought, Kenjii felt the urge to look away, down to the streets that were just starting to slowly fill with life.
- What are you looking at?
Kenjii turned his head slightly, looking at Hikari from over his shoulder. - Nothing… Just another day starting.
The white mage approached him, lowering his hood to let a fresh breeze blow through his spiky hair. He inhaled deeply. - It must be a beautiful view.
Kenjii gave him a questioning look.
Hikari looked at him, and smiled embarrassed. - Forgive me. I'm farsighted. And…
He pulled out his broken eyeglasses from a pocket of his cloak. There was almost nothing left of their lenses.
The ninja reacted rather quickly. - Can I have a look at it?
Hikari blinked in confusion, watching Kenjii rustling in his gobbiebag intently, and handed him the glasses. - Of course..
Kenjii quickly found what he was looking for: a sheet of glass and one of his light crystals. He took the glasses from the white mage's hand, and knelt down to start the synthesis.
It was an easy one, repairing ordinary items was one of the first things he had learned to do with crystal synthesis, when he was still a child. It had been handy many times in his childhood, alone with his brother in that big house…
The light crystal flashed between his hands, and a new pair of eyeglasses landed in them. Kenjii stood up and returned the item to the white mage, who inspected it closely with a surprised look.
Hikari put the new eyeglasses on and blinked in astonishment for a second. - My… Thank you very much, sir Kenjii.
- Don't mention it… I didn't do it for you. - Kenjii went back to his position, looking at the city. - I just can't stand broken things.
Hikari tilted his head, a soft, tolerant smile on his face. - Is that why you came to this continent?
Kenjii lowered his eyes, repeating the man's words in his head, and then turned to look at him with a frown.
Hikari looked at Kenjii's right shoulder. - May I have a look at that, too?
- It's nothing you can help with. - The ninja shook his head slowly. - No one can. Only time, and doctor Shigure's medicines.
Hikari nodded. - I should have guessed that… After all, if my Benediction couldn't heal it…
- You said you have been unable to heal anything for a long time. Maybe you just need some time… But don't pick the toughest targets like me right away… - Kenjii was interrupted by the loud noise of the palace's doors opening. A tarutaru girl in a yellow yukata walked to them and bowed.
- The Prefect is now awake and ready to receive you. However, to ensure his safety, we ask that the criminal Hikari wears these. - She said, handing a pair of tama steel handcuffs towards the blond.
Kenjii looked at them and shook his head. - They aren't necessary.
- It's fine. - Said Hikari, taking the handcuffs before the Tarutaru could say anything in protest, and wearing them.
She looked at him with a surprised blink and then nodded. - Very well. Please follow me now… The leader of the militia is already on the way to take part in the process that will judge your crimes.
Hikari looked at her and then at Kenjii, before following them inside the Prefect's palace.
******************************************
Kage was walking down the main street of the town, still drowsy. He hadn't slept much after his return home. Not like he wanted… But he didn't have anything else to do.
RedCrystal, Hikari's chocobo, was slowly following him, looking around anxiously for his master.
"Take care of him for me, please., he said… Yeah right.. I've never been able to even grow a flower. Soon as I see him again, I'm returning this cursed thing to him…"
But would he have seen Hikari again? After that strange treasure had saved them from the Tengu assault, the white mage himself had asked that stupid shinobi boy to lead him to the Prefect, without hesitation. What would become of him?
Were all his efforts to save him in vain?
"You are the one that wants to be redeemed here."
What did those words mean? Was he truly moved only by the desire to correct his mistakes?
"Live, and save as many lives as I can. This is my choice!"
What was all that big talk about life and choices for then? A whole facade?
"Live, fight, and maybe something will change."
- Yeah, right… Oof! - Kage's thoughts were abruptly interrupted by something hitting his stomach with force.
He looked down, and found out he had collided with the red bright hair of an elvaan kid. - Aren't you…?
The boy looked up at him, with big, golden eyes full of surprise. - Huh…?
- You're that kid…!
- Oh! Hello, Uncle Kage. Sorry, I didn't recognize you…
Kage's right eye twitched, and he pushed the kid's head down with one hand. - What's this "uncle" talk?! I'm not that old yet! You can call me Brother, if you really have to!
- Kage!
The elvaan raised his eyes from the kid, to see a couple men running to him. The kid swiftly hided behind him.
One of them was the bartender of the local tavern. - Thanks for stopping him!
Kage looked at the kid. Shion, if that was his name, was glaring at the two with anger, and a shade of what he recognized as fear.
- What is it?
The bartender pointed at Shion. - That boy was wandering inside the tavern's kitchen without permission! We have no idea where he came from!
- I have seen him before. - Said the other man. - He's the pet of that guy from the Middle Lands. I heard he's a troublemaker when his master isn't keeping an eye on him. He was probably trying to steal something!
- I'm not a PET! - Growled Shion, stepping in front of Kage, glaring daggers at the two. - And I wasn't trying to steal anything! I was just looking for SweetCream!
- What I said.
Kage raised an eyebrow at the trio arguing, and looked down at the boy. His kenpogi was slightly slack around the neck, probably due to the rushed escape Shion had from the tavern.
From where he was, he could see the part of a tattoo he easily recognized. The brand of Aht Urhgan.
- Don't worry about him, boss. - He said, placing a hand on Shion's shoulder, right on top of the tattoo, as the men approached the kid.
The bartender looked irritated. - What? You mean he is your acquaintance?
- Actually… - Kage knelt down, his hand still on Shion's shoulder, and approached his face next to his, looking at the two men. - He's my secret son.
- …. Your… o.O
The bartender and his buddy were stunned, looking at the elvaan they had known for so long.
Shion was blinking in confusion, but didn't speak a word.
- Come on now, can't you see we have the saaaaaaaaaaaame eyelashes?
- I… I suppose… Sorry, man.
- Yeah Kage… We had no idea… when did this happen?
Kage stood back up, and swiftly picked Shion up and put him on the chocobo, looking back at the humes with a big grin. - He wouldn't be a secret son if I told you now, neh?
He then turned back and proceeded in the direction Shion was taking before crashing into him, leaving behind himself a very confused duo.
*****************************************
- First you tell me you are not old enough to be my uncle, then to call you 'brother', and now… - Shion looked down at Kage, who was walking next to the red chocobo. - You go around saying I'm your son? You are so confusing.
The man sighed dejectedly, and grabbed the bird's reins to pull it into an empty roadside between some houses. - Why? How old are you?
- Fifteen.
- Oh, then you are really too old to be my secret son. You're so short, I thought you were much younger…
- I'm NOT short! Why did you do that anyway? - Shion pouted at the samurai, and started to look around.
Kage looked up at him. - You would have preferred that I had left you there? People here aren't very welcoming to people of the empire, you know.
Hearing those words, the kid turned back to look at the samurai, with wide eyes. The question was clear on his face.
- Keep that kenpogi tight. - Answered the samurai, and smirked as Shion immediately tightened his belt, checking his shoulders after. - You did a very good job with your accent. I would've never thought you were from there. Where did you learn to speak our language?
- Doctor Shigure taught me. - Shion glared at him, slightly afraid. - You… You're not going to tell someone, are you?
- Nah. - The samurai shrugged. - So, what were you doing in the tavern?
- I was looking for SweetCream.
- You're hungry?
- It's not food! It's Kenjii's chocobo! - Shion grimaced, as his stomach suddenly grumbled. - But I do am hungry…
Kage chuckled. - Lost your pet, eh? How did that happen? It seemed really fond to you.
The monk frowned. - I think she went looking for Kenjii.
- And why were you checking the tavern, then?
- Checking the tavern eventually lead me to you, so it wasn't a bad plan after all!
Kage nearly staggered.
- That ninja with that weird accent? - Kage looked in the distance, towards the Prefect's palace. - He still isn't back?
- No… They have been gone for many hours now.
- You seem very upset. - Kage was looking at him again, and Shion felt a grip at its stomach when he spoke. This time it wasn't hunger.
- I'm just… - He stammered. - I wonder what's gonna happen to Hikari. And to the treasure, too.
- … - Kage decided it was best to not talk about the white mage's fate. Shion was still a kid, and the last thing he wanted was to cause him to whimper. - Why do you care so much about that thing?
Shion shrugged. - I don't know… I just feel it's important to me. It even saved us from those beastmen, didn't it?
- I guess.
- Kweh! - RedCrystal called loudly, his head turned to the left. They had just passed a small square surrounded by four houses, with a big peach tree in the middle.
- Huh? What is it? - Shion and Kage stood in silence, looking at the tree. The red chocobo called again, and this time a lively chirp replied to it.
- SweetCream! - Shion dismounted and ran to the tree, looking up at its blooming branches. The chocobo chick was up there, looking around in anxiety.
Kage patted RedCrystal. - Good job. - He said, approaching the tree with it.
Shion was calling desperately at the chick. - SweetCream! Come down! I've been looking for you for over a hour!
- Kweh! - RedCrystal seemed to be supporting the kid.
- SweetCream!!
The little bird kept ignoring Shion, chirping loudly for her master.
Shion pouted in silence for a moment, and then exploded. - You BAD chocobo! Come down NOW before I kill you and eat you for dinner!! VORACIOUS SCROUNGER!!
Kage raised an eyebrow and looked down at Shion. - Hey now, what is all that for?
Shion sighed and turned to him. - I thought that maybe if I sounded like Kenjii she would've listened to me.
- You mean he is like that to it…? - Asked Kage with a sweatdrop.
- Only when he isn't mad.
- Jee… - Kage walked down the tree and raised his head to the chick. - Hey, Missy!
The little chick stopped calling, and looked down at Kage, blinking curiously.
The samurai smiled brightly and brought his hand to the branch she was at. - Come to papa, sweetie.
Shion's jaw dropped at the sight of the baby chocobo hopping on Kage's hand, and letting him bring her down. - How did you do that!?
Kage chuckled and caressed the chick. - Ladies are my specialty.
He put the chocobo on RedCrystal's saddle. - Here, keep each other some company for the time being.
RedCrystal turned its head to look at the little chocobo with curiosity, and the two started to gently peck each other playfully.
Shion sighed in relief, and then smiled. - See? Going to the tavern and running into you helped me find her, in the end. Exactly as I planned!
- Your concept of 'plan' is really fucked up, kid.
The boy shook his head and looked back at the tree. - No, seriously. Thank you. I don't know what to say to Kenjii if I had not found her before his return.
The samurai watched Shion scanning the tree, probably looking for some fruit. - It's too soon for that, shrimp.
- Awwww…. - The kid's ears lowered in depression for a moment. - Hey! You called me shrimp again!!
- I did. - Kage brought his hands behind his head and stretched, looking at the chocobos for a moment. The smell of food reached his nose. - Say, how about something to eat?
The monk's eyes widened and started sparkling. - That would be AWESOME!!
- I'll pay. In return, I'd like to hear about how you and that ninja boy met. And about that box, too.
- Deal!
***************************************************
- Hikari is dead.
This was all what Kenjii had been able to say, before Kage jumped up from his chair and grabbed him by the gi's collar, pulling him to his face.
- Wait a damn minute! What does that fucking mean!? - He growled, glaring daggers at Kenjii. - Weren't you the one making him speech about keeping on living!? Huh!?
- Nobody has the right to contest Hikari's decision on his own fate. - Kenjii pushed Kage away. - Neither I or you.
The silence had fallen in the tavern. Kenjii could feel the gaze of everyone around them on himself and Kage, but didn't bother to look. He was so tired…
The talk with the Prefect and the militia's representative had been long and difficult. Kenjii had been hired for many tasks around the city now, but that was the very first time that he had been involved in something concerning such a serious matter.
He had done all he could…
- Boss, put everything on me. - Muttered Kage, snapping Kenjii out of his own reminiscence. He then stormed outside, hitting the ninja's shoulder with his as he passed him.
Kenjii groaned lowly, massaging it. He knew Shigure wouldn't have been happy about it. He then looked at Shion.
The kid was still sitting at the table Kenjii had found him and Kage at, after looking for them all over. Shion's eyes were widened, his mouth slightly open in disbelief. He had been unable to speak since Kenjii's arrival in the tavern.
- What are you waiting for, shrimp? Swallow the rest of your dinner and follow me home. - Ordered Kenjii, looking away.
He felt a grip at his stomach when he saw the boy stand up without finishing his portion and run outside with a weak cry.
Kenjii let a silent sigh, and looked down at the chocobo chick, who had reached his tabi as usual and was now flapping its little wings anxiously, with loud chirps.
He knelt down and picked her up. - Hopefully he'll forget quickly, with you around keeping him busy.
The bird tilted her head, staring at him with a concentrated look.
- You're both babies after all. You know, there's this thing in the Middle Lands called Kamp Kweh and… Oh, why am I talking with an animal now?
- Chirp!
- Yeah, chirp, whatever.
************************************
The next two days passed slowly. Kenjii had continued his training by himself, ignoring everything else. He didn't bring Shion with him on his daily assignments.
The young monk still hadn't forgotten the events concerning Hikari and Kage. He was spending his days alone in his room, barely eating anything. He had even stopped taking language classes with doctor Shigure.
The old tarutaru didn't know what to do with them. He had taken care of many people in his life, but he knew this was nothing he had ever dealt with before. After trying to get the two to talk to each other again a few times, he was about to give up on the two fellows.
Until that day…
- Mister Shigure Aotsuki, I presume?
The doctor looked up from the surgical tools he was cleaning, to meet the eyes of a tall elvaan man with two long black braids over his shoulders. He was accompanied by two humes, and their uniforms looked familiar.
- It is me, indeed. - He replied, pushing his glasses up. - You don't look hurt. To what do I owe the visit of the militia here?
The man looked around, and then nodded to his fellows, who started to walk towards the other rooms. - We were informed that you are hosting two illegal immigrants in your infirmary. A young man from the Middle Lands, and an elvaan boy…
Shigure frowned. - I do am hosting a man and an elvaan boy, if you are talking about Kenjii and Shion. But I am aware that the militia has already received their services not too long ago… So why…?
- Today we are here in the name of the Mikado. - Interrupted him the elvaan, glaring down at him. - I trust that you will not oppose to your Head of State.
The tarutaru's eyes widened. - The M-Mikado? But what does this mean…?!
*****************************************
Kenjii was sitting on his bed, elbows on his legs, staring at the treasure box. It was on Shion's bed, next to his.
He didn't have a good feeling about it.
The night the box had opened, he wasn't so impressed by its content. But there were still so many unanswered questions…
Who had put that box on the ship, and who was it sent to? Why did those Yagudo want it? And why did they fear it so much? How did Hikari's Benediction break its magic seal?
And why did that boy feel it was so important to him?
The day he had brought Hikari to the Prefect, he had shown the treasure to them, telling all of what had happened. Thanks to his testimony, Hikari's version of the men slaughter was much more believable, and he thought the box was an important element to prove it.
But perhaps it had been too much important… In a way even Kenjii was unable to get.
The Prefect had declared Hikari's sentence, and then forbidden Kenjii to leave town until further instruction.
Kenjii recognized that feeling. He had felt it many times during his journey with Avina and her group. Something big was coming.
He inhaled deeply, and lied on his bed, looking up at the ceiling. The memories of his times as adventurer of the Middle Lands started to flash in front of him. He had been through so many things… and what had changed now?
Nothing…? No.. Something had changed. He was alone now.
There was no one to hide behind anymore, someone to entrust with the responsibility of taking decisions for him. It was all up to him now.
But that was the right choice… wasn't it?
"Life is divided into horrors and miseries." He couldn't remember where had he heard or read that sentence, but right now he could believe it all. The real question now was on which of those sides was he now?
He turned his head to the left, to watch what he was starting to accept to be his chocobo. The chick was sleeping serenely on the pillow, next to his head. It would occasionally flap her wings, or ruffle her feathers with a slight chirp, as if dreaming of something exciting.
"What would Avina think in this situation…?" Kenjii frowned, realizing he had just wondered about the monkey again, and shook his head trying to get rid of the thought. It didn't work.
She would probably look at me with that mocking grin of hers and say something corny. "There is no certainty of tomorrow, if you want to be happy, then be happy." Blah blah blah…
He noticed something moving on the pillow and looked to the left again. The chick had woken up, and was now staring at the folding doors to the other side of the room.
Kenjii looked in that direction, and a few seconds later he could hear running steps coming to it. He sat up. - What the…?
- KENJII!! - Shion stormed in, opening the door wide. - Kenjii, help!!
- What's going…!? - Kenjii didn't finish his sentence, at the sight of the elvaan man walking in after the kid.
- Calm down, you pathetic beast. - Hissed the man, grabbing Shion's arm and then looking down at the ninja. - Kenjii of Quon, isn't it?
Kenjii quickly stood up, and the chocobo chick rolled off the bed with a thud. - Who are you?
- It doesn't matter now. You two will follow us to the Prefect's palace now. - The elvaan quickly spotted the box on Shion's bed. - And you will take that with you, too.
*****************************************
Shion and Kenjii were conducted at the palace of the Prefect. The boy didn't like that place… It was full of mean-looking men and he wasn't allowed to run around and explore. It reminded him too much of the white gate in Aht Urhgan.
He looked up at his friend, who was walking next to him. - Hey, Kenjii…
- Be quiet. - He snapped, without even looking at him. His eyes seemed focused on their surroundings. Kenjii was analyzing the path their were taking through the numerous corridors and rooms, as if he was studying a possible escape.
Shion pouted, and then looked down at SweetCream with a frown. She was in Kenjii's gobbiebag, with her head outside, looking around with confusion and slight fear. Occasionally, she'd quickly dive back inside, afraid of some sudden noise.
The elvaan man with those long braids stopped in front of some sliding doors, and opened them.
- Go inside, and wait there. - He said, stepping away. Shion felt himself pushed inside by one of the other militia.
Kenjii followed him in, and then looked back at the doors slamming closed. The place was so quiet, Shion had the impression to be able to hear the noise of the burning candles on the walls.
- What's going on? Are we in trouble? - He asked, looking back at the ninja.
Kenjii didn't reply, and placed his bag on the floor to let the chick out.
Another voice replied in his stead. - This sure doesn't look like an invitation to some tea.
The two turned their head towards the large glass window that formed the room's eastern wall. Leaning against it was a familiar-looking young man with an eastern spear.
- Kage!! - Shion ran to him with a smile. - What are you doing here?!
He got up off the window and shrugged. - I was hoping you guys would tell me.
- I had a feeling this was your fault, instead. - Said Kenjii, without moving from where he was. He was inspecting the room closely.
Kage moved to him quickly, and glared down at the ninja. - You always talk as if everyone were Vana'diel's disgrace. - He hissed through clenched teeth, his eyes narrowed.
- Your birth was the first and worst of Vana'diel's disgraces. - Growled back the hume.
- Don't fight!
- You should listen to the little boy, there. - The strict voice of the Prefect interrupted them, as he entered the room from another sliding door. He looked at each of them. - Welcome to my palace, once again.
- Save that garbage for your friends! - Snapped Kage, clenching his fists and turning to him. - Why did the militia come to my place and force me to come here?! I didn't do anything wrong! That bunch of assholes…
- This has nothing to do with Masaki, mister Kage. - The Prefect sat on a pillow at the center of the room, and gestured to them to sit in front of him. - Now, if you please..
Shion looked at the samurai. He seemed suddenly more relaxed after those words. Who was this Masaki that seemed to fluster him so much?
Kenjii brought the kid back to reality, grabbing his left shoulder firmly and pushing him towards the pillow on the left. Shion reluctantly obeyed and sat down, while the ninja took place between him and Kage.
He looked at the fourth pillow lined next to Kage. - Is someone else coming here?
- Will you stop talking? - Hissed Kenjii, glaring down at him. Shion frowned, looking away intimidated. He didn't like when the hume was nervous. He'd always vent on him with his cold voice.
The little chocobo jumped on Shion's lap and looked up at him tilting her head, as if trying to comfort him. This made the boy feel much better.
The Prefect nodded. - Yes, two more people will be here shortly. I have some things to ask you first, though.
The three looked at each other, and then back at the man, in silence.
He looked at Kenjii. - Did you bring it here?
The ninja nodded after a couple seconds, and pulled the treasure box out of the gobbiebag, placing it in front of the Prefect. Shion opened his mouth to say something in protest, but Kenjii anticipated him with a cold glare, intimating silence.
- That thing again? - Kage observed the Prefect opening the box and looking inside it for a brief moment, before closing it again. - What about it?
- You will learn the matter of this meeting soon. All I ask you is to stay calm in front of what you will see and hear at this place today. - The Prefect looked at Shion when saying this. - All of you.
The kid's eyes dashed from him to Kenjii a couple times, and then he nodded frantically, swallowing in anxiety.
- Also, nothing of what will be said in this room will leave. Am I clear?
- Just what kind of business are we getting ourselves into? - Asked Kage, shifting position irritatedly.
- I cannot answer that until all three of you accept the conditions. - Replied the Prefect, turning to him.
The silence fell in the room again, and after a minute Shion was the first to speak. - I accept.
Kage looked at him and then snorted. - Whatever, I accept too.
Kenjii took longer than them to reply. He was staring at the box intently, as if pondering about all the possible outcomes of that situation. He then silently nodded, inhaling deeply and looking at the Prefect.
- Very well. - The Prefect clapped his hands twice, and the sliding doors he came from opened again.
The three turned their heads towards the guests coming in. It was an automaton like the ones Shion had seen around Aht Urhgan often, and a familiar white mage.
- Hikari! - Exclaimed the boy, jumping up.
- You're alive! - Kage followed him, his jaw nearly dropping.
He turned to look at Kenjii, but the ninja didn't give him any answer. Even though he had been able to hold his surprise, his eyes were well open and firm on the hume.
Hikari bowed calmly. - Hello, everyone. It's good to see you all again.
- But how!?
The Prefect nodded and then gave Kage a cold glare. - If you will go back sitting, everything will be explained. I thought you had accepted to stay calm.
Kage looked at Hikari again, and the white mage smiled warmly in return, taking his sit next to him. The automaton slowly imitated him and sat next to the Prefect.
- Shion. - Kenjii's voice slapped the boy back to reality. Shion didn't like to be called "shrimp", but he had learned that being called with his own name by the midlander only meant something serious was about to happen. He and Kage went back to their pillows, still looking at Hikari.
- Very well, looks like we are all here. - The Prefect indicated the white mage with a nod. - I see the fate of mister Hikari here seems to be the most pressing matter, so we'll start from there.
Hikari nodded back to him and then looked at the group. - If I'm still here, it was all thanks to your words in my defense, mister Kenjii.
Kage and Shion's eyes immediately dashed on the ninja, and Kenjii could almost feel the electricity in their gazes. He slightly lowered his head, embarrassed. - I didn't have the impression they did much. I only said the truth.
The Prefect nodded again. - I think mister Hikari is giving you excessive credit. As a matter of fact, his life was saved by his own talent.
Kage raised an eyebrow. - Talent?
- Technically we do not know if it could be defined as "talent."
The three almost jumped off their seats at the sudden new voice that had filled the room. They started to look around in every direction, trying to find its owner.
- We came to learn that Hikari had been unable to cast any magical spell in a long time before his last Benediction, so it is possible that what you have called 'talent' may have been the mere result of an incredibly powerful magic burst.
- Where the heck is this guy talking from? - Asked the elvaan samurai, nervously.
It was then that Kenjii's chocobo jumped off Shion's hands, and lolled quickly towards the automaton sitting next to the Prefect. She looked at it, tilting her head in both directions, and then chirped in call.
Kage's eyes widened and he pointed at the automaton. - Was that coming from that THING!?
Kenjii turned his head back towards the front, and saw that the Prefect and Hikari were actually looking at the machine.
- Hikari! Your automaton can SPEAK!
The white mage shook his head at Shion. - It's not mine. I don't understand anything about ancient technology.
The automaton turned its head towards the Prefect. - I think it is time that you introduce me.
The Prefect agreed, and indicated the machine with his left hand. - Whom you have before you is the person that granted Hikari's life to be saved, as well as the owner of the treasure you have been carrying with you for all this time.
- A pleasure to meet you.
The room immediately filled with an overwhelming silence. The three young ones were staring at the automaton, each of them showing their reaction to the introduction quite clearly on their faces. Shion's eyes were open in surprise, Kage's narrowed in concentration, Kenjii's twitching in irritation.
Kenjii was the first to speak. - You mean…
Shion followed him. - This is…
- …Quite a strange tarutaru. - Kage turned towards the other two, who were now looking at him as if he was a moron. - What!? I've never seen anything like that!
The Prefect cleared his throat to catch back their attention. - What you actually see here is his automaton. For security reasons, it is best that he doesn't reveal his identity nor presence to anyone in the area. All what you need to know is that who's speaking is a representative of the Mikado.
- The Mikado!? Why would a member of the Mikado want to talk to us? And how can this automat speak for him?! - Exclaimed Kage.
- It's "Automaton", you idiot. - Muttered Kenjii.
- I didn't ask you, dandy ninja.
- Call me like that again and you're dead.
- What if I kill you first?
- Go ahead. What won't kill me it's only good to pain my ass anyway.
- I think it's ventriloquy… isn't it? - Asked Shion, still looking at the automaton in excitement.
The two litigants stopped, and focused back on the conversation.
- Interesting. How do you know about it? - Replied the automaton, turning its head towards the kid.
Shion was taken aback. - Well… uh… I'm… I've met a very good puppetmaster one day. He offered me some food.
- I see. There aren't many of us in this side of the continent. You must be… very lucky. Your name is Shion, correct?
The monk looked at Kenjii, and then back at the automaton, with a nod. - Yes.
- I was told you saved my treasure from the waves of a terrible storm, and that you have been taking care of it since then. I thank you for that.
Shion scratched his head. - I just felt it was important… I don't know.
The automaton was quiet for a minute, then an hissing noise came from under its black turban. The three leaned forward towards it, noticing the sparkle of a lens.
- Don't mind it. It's just an attachment.. an analyzer. - The automaton finally spoke again. - Shion, I might know why you feel such a strong affinity to my treasure.
- Really? I want to know! - Shion slammed his hands open to the floor, barely holding his curiosity.
The automaton nodded, and then took another minute before speaking again.
- Take off your kenpogi.
***********************************
Kage's throat dried up at the words of the automaton. He looked at Shion.
The kid was in silence, his eyes widened, unable to hide the fear and shock of the request. He seemed to be perfectly aware of what being from Aht Urhgan meant in the Far East.
Kenjii frowned at the representative of the Mikado. - Is it really necessary? I don't understand how could this…
- I will. - Shion interrupted him, and the ninja glared at him, but he ignored him. He gulped. - You said nothing of what happens in this room will leave, right?
The automaton nodded after a few seconds.
- Okay… - Shion opened his kenpogi slightly and made it loose. He did it quickly and clumsily, as if trying to get done with it as fast as he could. He then took it off his shoulders, and turned his back to the group so that everyone could see it.
Hikari had to lean forward slightly to see past Kage. - Oh my… - He said, when he spotted the tattoo of the two-headed serpent. - You're…
- As I thought. - Said the voice coming from the automaton. Its lens zoomed in some more, watching Shion's shoulder. The chocobo chick hoisted herself slightly, trying to reach it.
- Can I put it back on? - Asked Shion, looking at it over his shoulder. After getting no reply, he put the kenpogi back on his shoulders and tightened it, turning back to sit normally.
He looked at Kenjii, who then turned from him to the Prefect. - What are you going to do to him now?
- Nothing. Just as you agreed to never talk about this meeting, we have too. - Was the man's answer. - At the same time though, we will grant you no protection in case you will be caught by the people outside.
- This isn't important now. - Shion shook his head nervously. - Please tell me, why is that thing so important to me?
- You have lived under the influence of the Astral Candescence. - Said the automaton. - Its Astral Wind has a great effect on the perceptive powers of living beings tied to astral magic. Or that is the rumor, maybe you would know better than me, do you not?
Shion blinked in confusion. - I have never seen the Astral Candescence. Only the Generals are allowed into the Hall of Binding…
- Watch your mouth, shrimp. - Interrupted him Kenjii. Everyone looked at him. The ninja was glaring at the automaton. - Are you trying to use this as an excuse to steal information about your enemy from a kid? He probably doesn't know half the crap he talks about, anyway.
"I think that's the most boor way to show someone's care I've ever seen…." Thought Kage. He didn't like that hume, but he knew where his concern was coming from. He was worried for that elvaan kid, even though he didn't want to admit it.
- That is not a part of our ploy. But I'll change the question, if it bothers you. - The machine turned back to Shion. - Do you have any summoner in your family, Shion?
Shion looked at Kenjii and at the automaton a couple times before answering. - Yes.. My mother was a summoner.
- That's the answer, then. You see, this treasure has some astral power in it, too. Just like you do. It is perfectly normal that you feel this affinity to it.
- Astral power? - Asked Kage. - That THING?
The automaton nodded to the Prefect, and the man opened the box again very carefully. He then put his hands in it, and lifted a red large feather, long about as much as the box itself, or Shion's forearm. It had some golden highlights on the edges, something that Kage had never seen on any chocobo feather.
The Prefect placed it in front of the Automaton, on a purple pillow at the center of the low table between them.
The automaton's analyzer zoomed again. - Yes, this is it. I am glad that it came here safely from the far Middle Lands.
- So, that feather has really some astral power? - Asked Shion, looking at it in awe.
- Do you know what it is, man of the middle lands?
Kenjii looked at the item briefly before nodding. - Yes. It's a Phoenix Feather.
- What!? - Exclaimed Kage and Hikari in chorus, turning to the ninja.
- You gotta be kidding me! - Added the samurai, before the automaton spoke again.
- What do you know about the Phoenix?
The hume looked up to the wall in front of them, to the Far Eastern flag hanging on it. - I don't know much. It is a legendary creature of myth, I think? In our country those feathers are used by craftsmen to make some items imbued of magic power. I don't remember which exactly…
- Wait wait wait wait! - Kage interrupted him again, and Kenjii looked at him angrily, but he didn't mind it. - You mean this thing can be found all over your country!?
- I didn't say that. - Snapped the ninja. - It is quite a rare item, but I have seen some before. Just not many.
- The FUCK!?
- Calm down, Kage. - The Prefect raised his voice, and the samurai quietened. - I'm sure there's an answer to that, too.
The automaton looked at each of them, and then stopped at Kenjii. - Since you don't seem to know about it, maybe it's better that I explain this first. Do you know what avatars are?
The ninja nodded. - I know what I've learned from my caretaker and… personal experience. The avatars are celestial and terrestrial powers, able to manifest in the forms of weaker spirits by connecting to a summoner.
The automaton nodded, but said nothing, pushing Kenjii to keep going.
The ninja sighed and looked down, trying to remember something. Kage started to wonder what kind of things could have been seen in the Middle Lands.
- I know that the celestial avatars are the sleeping gods of the Legend of Vana'diel. There is one for each of the six elements, and they have their own constellations. - Continued the ninja.
- Weren't the elements eight? - Asked Kage.
Kenjii looked at him for a moment, in thought. - I have fought the prime avatars, magical beings summoned by the celestial avatars themselves in their slumber to test us. But I have seen only six of them…
He rustled for a few seconds in his bag, and pulled out a stellar chart. - Here. Garuda of the Gales, Leviathan of the Tides, Ifrit of the Flames, Titan of the Tremors, Shiva of the Frost… and Ramuh of the Storms. - He said, pointing at each constellation.
Hikari looked at it intently. - What about Darkness and Light?
The automaton stood up and leaned above the table, slowly raising an arm and placing it on a group of stars. - Shion, do you know what this is?
The kid looked at it intently, and frowned. - Yes, that is the Iron Colossus.
- And this? - The machine moved the metallic arm to another group of stars.
- The Dark Rider. A prophecy says he will emerge to cause chaos in the Empire, and the Iron Colossus is the great ancient that will fight him at the time of Judgment: Ragnarok.
- Light and Darkness. - The automaton sat back. - Maybe you have never heard of them in the Middle Lands, but these are what we believe to be the eight celestial avatars. Now, do you know about the terrestrial avatars?
Kage looked back at Kenjii. His eyes were sad, in a way he had never seen before. It was like if he was fighting against some horrible memories. - Yes, I do.
- Well?
Kenjii didn't reply. He looked away from the chart and the feather, down to his hands clenched in fists.
- Do you need some water?
- No. - Kenjii raised his head again, and looked at the automaton almost angrily. - I have met the terrestrial avatars. They are both powerful gods, born from Vana'diel to protect it. Unlike the celestial avatars, they can die. I have helped in the revival of one of them. Fenrir, the Guardian of the Moon.
- Woah! Did you really do that!? - Exclaimed Shion, looking at him with shiny eyes. - You are SO cool!
- I didn't do anything. I just assisted some adventurers… - Muttered Kenjii.
- The Middle Lands are always so fascinating. The continents where the astral forces gather… But I am afraid your caretaker didn't fill you in very well.
- I learned about the terrestrial avatars by myself. I haven't said nothing wrong…
- Well, as far as I know, there's five of them, not two. - Replied the Automaton. - And their role is more specific than you think. They are protecting five places at this world, secret shrines* very important to Vana'diel.
- Secret shrines? - Asked Hikari. - I didn't know about this. What are they?
- We do not know, and I can't give you any information about our sources. But this is not our business now. - He turned back to Kenjii. - Phoenix, the Bird of Resurrection, happens to be a terrestrial avatar too. Just like Fenrir.
- Wait, what the heck!? You mean our goddess is some minor animal, created by the world? - Kage almost stood up in shock, but Hikari hold him down by an arm.
- Watch your tongue, you impudent. - The Prefect warned him again. He then asked the automaton to keep going.
It looked back at the feather again. - Terrestrial Avatars may be minor gods compared to those worshiped in the Middle Lands, but this doesn't make them unworthy our adoration. In fact, if it wasn't for her, the Far East would've ceased to exist long ago.
Hikari frowned. - What does this mean?
- Unbeknown to the general population, the Fiery Bird goddess sacrificed itself to fend off a powerful attack aimed at our nation. Phoenix is no longer at this world.
Hikari and the Prefect gasped in shock, and Kage would've exclaimed again, if only he still had the force to do so. How was that possible? How could've this happened?
- But who could've destroyed a god…? - Asked Hikari, barely able to speak.
Kage growled. - It was Aht Urhgan, wasn't it!? Those cursed dogs!
Kenjii and Shion turned to him, and Kage could see sadness in the kid's eyes. He immediately felt sorry for what he had just said.
- It wasn't the Empire. This happened many years ago, before our war with Aht Urhgan even started. - Said the automaton. - Our sources informed us that the attack Phoenix protected us from was coming from yet another terrestrial avatar.
- Terrestrial Avatars attacking each other..? - Kenjii sounded confused. - What avatar was it?
- We do not know. All we know, is that their clash had place in a nation called Tavnazia, to the west of the Middle Lands. So that's supposedly where the other avatar is.
The ninja shook his head. - But Tavnazia fell into ruin during the war… There's nothing left there.
- Nothing… but this. - The automaton looked at the feather again. - It took us many tries, and many feathers were retrieved from the Middle Lands before. But at long last, I think we managed to find the real Phoenix Down.
**********************************
- What do you mean, the real Phoenix Down?
Kenjii didn't like the topic of the meeting one bit. He was there to heal his shoulder, to forget what he had done in the Middle Lands! What was all that talk about avatars all of a sudden? The memories of all his past experience with Avina pained him, making him feel helpless.
- We have reason to believe that this feather could actually contain a shard of Phoenix's soul. - The Automaton looked at the Prefect, who took the feather and put it back in its box with the same care he had pulled it out. - This is where you come in.
- Me? - Kenjii frowned.
- All of you.
- But what do you want to do with it? - Asked Kage, crossing his arms nervously.
The machine took some time to reply. - Nothing for now, aside protecting it from someone who wants its power.
Shion blinked. - Ah, that ship?
Kenjii looked at him. - You mean the Yagudo?
- What's a Yagudo?
The ninja shook his head and turned to answer the white mage. - It's how we call the Tengu in my country. A ship with Far Eastern flag approached ours when we came here. They were after this feather.
- That would explain the reaction of those other Tengu… - Hikari's eyes saddened at the memory.
- I've been informed of the incident, but I fear that the Tengu is not our direct enemy. From what the Prefect told me from your reports, it seems that someone is controlling those beastmen at the moment. And we might know who.
- Who would be so crazy to befriend those fiends? - Shion grimaced. - Ugh…
Kenjii looked at him. - Is it that disgusting?
- Eh? - The kind scratched his head. - Oh no, I'm just getting hungry. Talking so much is stiffening me.
- Why do I bother asking… -.-
- We have been at war with the Empire for a long time now, but our recent political changes are toning down our skirmishes. - Continued the member of the Mikado. - But still, some of our veteran fighters refuse to leave the front lines of battle. One of them in particular, raised a faction of rebels with the intent to strike the Empire with a powerful attack, a power beyond anyone's reach that we have never used before, and that could probably lead our country to victory once for all.
Shion focused again. - W-What? Who is it!?
- His name is Kuro Kaminari and he's after the revival of Phoenix.
The group exclaimed in disbelief, especially Kage and Shion. - But how would he do that?
- He is gathering its spoils. Remaining parts of the Phoenix who seem to have her spirit in them. They are planning to control it and attack the Empire with it.
- But would that actually work? - Asked Hikari. He turned to Kenjii. - Is that how Fenrir was revived?
Kenjii looked at him, trying to remember. - Something like that but… I'm not sure. I'm not into magic stuff much.
- While the rebirth of our goddess would be truly a grateful event, this is not something that the Mikado is willing to allow. We are here today because we decided to stop them. - Informed him the machine. - This is why we did our best to find the Phoenix Down before them.
Hikari nodded. - Yes. I don't like the idea of Phoenix being under someone's control… Plus, if it attacked the Empire now that the flames of battle are finally settling, a new war would burst. No one would accept the wipe of a full country and all its innocent inhabitants.
- Don't say that! - Shion cried at the thought. - We can't allow something like that to happen!
- And that's not all. - The automaton stood from its pillow, and the chick jumped away in fear, before running back to Kenjii. - It seems that in order to revive the Phoenix, Kuro Kaminari ordered many massive sacrifices. He is attacking many villages around the nation, without sparing women nor children, in order to restore the Fiery Bird's resurrection.
- What!? - This time, it was Kenjii to exclaim. He felt his blood boiling in his veins. Never he had heard of such an atrocious action taken from a human to another human.
- They think they are in the right. They justify their actions by saying that the people used in the sacrifice will be resurrected once the Phoenix is revived. - Said the Prefect. - But their method is too vague to trust it.
- Even if it was true, I would never do something like that! - Said Kage, slamming a fist on the floor. - What are they thinking!?
- Wait… - Kenjii turned to see Hikari. The white mage was shaking, his eyes widen in terror. He still managed to speak a few words. - Then… My village…?
The room fell quiet again, before the automaton found the courage to speak. - Yes… They seem to have been hiring the Tengu for their murders. We don't know if they are allied, or threatening them in some way.
- Excuse me… - Hikari stood up and walked to the large glass window, opening it and running outside in the balcony.
The others looked at him leaving in silence. The chocobo tried to follow him curious, but Kenjii took her in his hands, and hold her gently but firmly. He looked at the automaton. - What do you want from us?
- To stop them.
- What about the imperial forces? Or the militia? - Asked Kage.
The automaton shook its head, swinging the tip of its turban. - If we move official armies, we'll only create panic between our people. We can't risk a civil war to rise because of this. The four of you have been touched by this treasure by chance, and have proven yourself worthy of the Mikado's trust. What we ask you, is to travel as an anonymous group, find Kuro Kaminari and stop its experiments to revive the Phoenix. For the sake of the whole East.
The machine and the Prefect looked at each other with a nod, and then the man spoke. - So, what is your answer?
- I'll do it! - Shion jumped up, his eyes full of determination and fists clenched. - I can't allow them to destroy my country! And they are killing innocents too, right? That is just not fair!
- This is not a game, Shion. - Said Kenjii calmly, looking up at him with a cold glare. - Do you realize what they have said? These people could try to kill us. You could die. Do you not care?
- Of course I do care! - Exclaimed the kid. - But… I just know that, if I was one of those people, I'd want someone to do something to help me! We just have to go find this guy and beat him up for good!
Kenjii facepalmed. - Is that your plan?
The monk scratched his head. - I'm not good with plans. They always take time that you could spend kicking someone's ass! I mean, maybe now it seems everything is calm but… If you look at the water pot, it's never boiling. If you look away, the water boils and overflows! Got it?
The group replied with an embarrassing silence and lots of weird looks. Only Kenjii's chocobo seemed to agree, flapping her wings with a loud chirping cheer.
- Hmph, the kid sure has guts. But I'm out of this. - Said Kage, shaking his head.
The Prefect opened his mouth to speak, but he was interrupted by Hikari's return.
The white mage didn't look too well. He was sweating, and breathing heavily, as if he had just came back from a run. His face was still pale. - I'll do it.
Shion walked to him. - Are you okay?
Hikari smiled weakly at the boy, and ruffled his hair gently. - I'm fine now, thank you. And I'll be honored to have you by my side in this. You are very brave.
The kid nodded energetically, and then turned back to watch Kenjii and Kage. The ninja looked away.
- Bah! - Kage stood up, and stretched. - But I'm not changing my mind. Hikari has his personal reasons to go, and the kid.. well he's either crazy or he just cares about that stupid feather too much. But I got my own life to work on. I don't see why I should dive into this mess with ya'll.
He picked up his spear and walked away, with a two-finger salute. He had almost reached the door panels when the Prefect spoke.
- Kuro Kaminari's clan is named the Snowstorm.
Kage froze on the spot.
- You know that name, don't you, Kage?
- Heh… - The samurai turned around, glaring daggers at the Prefect. - You kept your Ace in the Hole for the last game, didn't you?
- Nobody is asking you to stay.
The elvaan man erupted. - So WHAT if I help you guys!? What will be of Masaki!? Tell me the truth! You bastards would execute him, wouldn't you!?
Hikari and Shion looked at each other, in confusion, and then kept following the debate.
The Prefect shook his head. - This mission isn't an official operation. As I said before, we'll act as if this meeting never had place. If you succeed, there will be no parade for you, no award… and no court. The traitor will be free as the wind.
- You better not be fucking with me. - Kage pointed the spear to the hume. - Or else I'll cut that head of yours and make it a jar for my post-drunk belch.
- Ew… - Shion grimaced. - So are you with us? I'm confused.
Kage looked at him, and his cold expression turned into a smirk. - Looks like we get to be playmates for some time, kiddo.
- YAY! - Shion jumped in joy, and then finally looked back at the ninja. - Come on Kenjii, you're the only one missing!
Once again, Kenjii found himself at a loss of words. His mind was running wild, haunted by his memories and nightmares. As he had foreseen, a new adventure bigger than him was towering over him, and he didn't know how to face it.
It took him a few minutes to reply, hardly. - Why should I help you?
The automaton walked closer to him. - You're right. You are not of the Far East nor the Near East, you have no reasons to help us. But are you asking me to take decisions for yourself?
Kenjii frowned. What that the truth? Was he really unable to take decisions for himself? He thought about it. He had the impression he had taken many decisions.. but were they truly his? Or was he just… being pushed from a place to another like a piece of wood in a storming sea?
- Well?
- I feel this is a game I can't win… - He stammered.
The automaton tilted its head, and for a moment it lost balance, almost falling. - From any point of view, life itself is a game you can't win. Your birth is only the beginning of your death.
Kenjii's eye twitched in irritation. Was that guy trying to convince him to change his mind, or not?
- But… - The machine continued. - You look like you've lost something important. Do you really think you can find it by just staying in an infirmary all day?
The ninja looked at the automaton, impressed by his words. Observing it, he had the strong impression that whoever was controlling it was grinning to him in that moment. A friendly grin, like the one of an accomplice. Someone who knew the whole plot.
It was just like the captain of the Smirking Skull.
He stood up slowly, and picked up his gobbiebag as the chocobo hopped in it, as if she was ready to start the journey ahead.
- I'll help you.
- Very well. - Said the automaton.
The Prefect stood up as well and bowed. - Kenjii, Kage, Hikari, Shion. I wish you all good luck. May the goddess watch over you.
Kenjii and the others looked at each other and they all nodded in silence, before heading to the door.
I'll take my own decisions now, monkey. And I'll show you.
The Prefect and the automaton watched the party leave the room, and after Shion's food-demanding voice had faded in the distance, the man looked down at the machine.
- Do you really think they will make it?
- Blessed is he who expects nothing, as he'll never be disappointed.**
*It's the Mothercrystals, I preferred to keep this unknown to Kenjii for future RP purposes.
**Alexander Pope (1688-1744)
last edited 729 weeks ago by Blue KJ
To be an interesting, intriguing, well-written character, there needs to be something to allow the audience to relate to them. That is what the problem is with who wants their character to be "perfect". Perfect characters will never be strong, and strong characters will never be perfect, because WE (those who read, who watch, who RP) are not perfect.
"What makes a strong character is how they deal with their flaws, their fears, their turmoils, their troubles that get in the way. That's what makes them relatable." – Doug Walker
"What makes a strong character is how they deal with their flaws, their fears, their turmoils, their troubles that get in the way. That's what makes them relatable." – Doug Walker
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738 weeks ago