Fan Fiction ❯ Six Years ❯ Chapter 13

"Guess what I just found out," D said as he burst into the room.

"What?" Lee asked as he lay down the book he was reading.

"They're alive. At least they were a week ago. I got the news from Iylsha, Izo's sister."

"The major is still alive?"

"Yeah. He had an emergency at his village so he left before the whole carnage started."

"He was fortunate."

"You sound bitter. I think our chances of getting back our way of life would be even smaller if Izo had died in the battle," D said and he glanced at the book Lee was reading. "You're studying? Why?"

"What else can I do?" Lee asked.

"Come out with me. I could show you one of the human's temples. You want to see a species that's screwed up..."

"My mother will be home soon."

"Come on, Lee. Be a man for once. You really do act like a girl."

Lee stood up in anger and D folded his arms. Lee turned away from him and D watched him. He walked over to the kitchen sink and took out a glass from the overhead cabinet. He turned on the tap and filled the glass to the top.

"By going outside, you might hear some news about him," he said and Lee glanced at him.

"Do you think so?" he asked as D set his glass on the counter.

"Anything's possible. Besides, there's more to do outside than there is inside."

"All right. Let me leave a note for my mother so that she doesn't worry when she gets back."

Lee took out a pad of paper and a pen. D watched him write the note then turned away. He had forgotten how much Karu had favored Lee in school. Lee was the pet. He always did his work and it made the other demons sick.

"You really have been studying a lot. Your script looks neater than Karu's."

"Thanks. It took me a lot of practice to get it looking like that. Do you think Karu would like it?"

"I wasn't exactly paying you a compliment."

"Oh. Let's go, then."

********************************************

Kana pulled on his reigns as they neared the edge of the human village. He stared at the burned buildings in shock as Izo drew up beside him. Ryo glanced around, actually seeing true death and destruction for the first time. He turned away from the scene and lowered his head. First his father and now this place. A place that had nothing to do with his people and yet it had been completely destroyed. It wasn't fair.

"I guess they didn't want us," Izo commented and Kana stared at him.

"That's not funny. Come on, let's see if we can find some clues as to who caused this destruction," Kana said.

"Why would the enemy raze a human village in the middle of nowhere? It doesn't make sense," Izo said and Kana nodded his head.

"You're right. It doesn't make sense. That's why we need to search this area. Maybe we can find a motive for this destruction."

"General, do you remember when you told me to trust my senses?"

"Are you referring to when we had to fight in that thick fog?"

"Yes, sir," Izo said as he watched Ryo. "I think we should leave this place."

"Your reasons being...?" Kana inquired and Izo looked nervously around.

"I don't feel safe here. There's something here, but I can't place it. Please, sir. Let's just continue on to the next town. We're sure to hear news of this place's destruction at the next town."

"They're against everyone," Ryo said and Kana glanced at him.

"What was that?" he asked.

"They killed my dad, drove our people out of their homes and now they've destroyed an entire human village. A whole town that had never done anything to them. It's just like what happened at the castle only worse. Let's go to the next village, Kana. I want to grow stronger so that I can kill the creature responsible for all this."

"Izo, just what is this presence you're feeling?"

"General, I want to leave. Now."

"He outranks you, sir," Izo said and Kana sighed.

"All right. We'll press on. I just hope that feeling of yours doesn't come to haunt us later on," he replied.

"As long as we stay on our guard, we should be fine. At least that's what you've told me."

"Then our rest stops will be infrequent and short. I don't want to take any unnecessary risks. Do you understand, Ryo? You may technically outrank me, but I've got the most field experience and if you want to see your coming of age, you'd be wise to let me take charge of certain situations."

"I'm sorry, General. I just thought that was a better idea than staying here and poking around some burned down buildings. We're not going to stop this destruction if we just sit here. Surely you know that. You've been in the military most of your life," Ryo said and Kana said nothing. Izo watched him change Vengeance's direction and glanced at Ryo.

"Leave him alone for awhile. I've seen him get like this before," he said and Ryo looked at him.

"Did I say something wrong?"

"No. You said something right. Sometimes, I think the general wishes that he wasn't bound to the military and what you said just reminded him of what he actually was. We all need a reminder of what we actually are every now and then."