Fan Fiction ❯ Six Years ❯ Chapter 16

Kana watched Izo shake his head and sighed his head and sighed. Izo had protested quite loudly at his most recent camouflaging idea but it had to be done. The major's hair color was something that might arouse suspicion so Kana had created a temporary dye for the major's hair. He had made a dark russet color and at first, Izo had refused the request and Kana was forced to give it as a command.

"Go sit in the sun and let it dry while I take care of the excess," Kana said and Izo grumbled as he sat on a sun-drenched rock.

"Why do we have to take such extreme precautions?" Izo asked.

"It's been two years and no one's challenged us. Levin might be furious by now and..."

"Hold it. Where's Ryo?"

"Right where he should be. Sleeping."

"Keep watch in him, sir. I'm going to check something out."

Kana watched as Izo disappeared into the brush. He had caught sight of the major's slow change of forms and hoped he was making the right choice.

Ironclaw lay in wait, studying Kana carefully. This had to be the infamous demon general in hiding. If only he would show his true self, that way he could be fully sure. Ironclaw picked up his blowgun and aimed it at the general.

"I don't think so," Izo growled and Ironclaw spun around in shock.

"Where...where did you come from?" he asked as his hands began shaking slightly. Izo drew his katanas and Ironclaw stared at them. The hilts seemed to be made of gold and crafted in such a fashion that it looked like a jewel encrusted serpent was spiraling down the core of the hilt. A black tassel hung down from a ring infused at the base of the hilt and Ironclaw blinked his eyes as if he were trying to disprove his senses.

"You're..." he gasped as Izo pinned him to a tree.

"Since we both know who I am, why don't you tell me your name and what you're doing here," Izo said as he watched Ironclaw's movements.

"You already know what I want so either hand him over or kill me. Make a mistake, though and you'll be dead."

"You don't know how many times I've heard that," Izo said as he swung his swords. Ironclaw watched in shock as his blowgun fell from his hand in two parts. Izo looked at him coldly as he pointed to the blowgun.

"You're next," he hissed as Ironclaw brought his knee sharply up into Izo's crotch. Izo flinched slightly then retaliated with a cut to Ironclaw's chest. Ironclaw winced in pain then reached into his pocket and withdrew a dart. He jabbed it into Izo's arm where it stuck for a few seconds, then fell off due to Izo's armored skin.

"Go ahead and finish me off but the tip of that dart was poisoned. You won't last a week," Ironclaw growled and watched as Izo delivered the final blow. Izo watched his body fall to the ground and reverted his skin back to its cool, sleek state. He raised his right arm and gazed at the spot where Ironclaw's dart had made impact.

It was a small hole but a rash had already begun to emanate out from the center. He tried to come up with the list of known poisons that Karu had once given out but he remembered that he had been absent from classes that day. Going to the river and fishing had seemed to be a much better use of time at that point in his life. He shook his head as he made his way back to camp. Kana would have the answer. He stepped through the brush and Kana laid down his sword.

"I was getting worried," he commented as Izo walked up to him.

"You may still have cause to worry. Take a look at this," Izo said and held out his arm. Kana looked at his mark for a moment then placed his mouth over it. A few seconds later, he drew away.

"Your enemy said you wouldn't last a week, correct?"

"Right. I bet you know what it is, right?"

"I do, and I know how to cure it."

"Cure what?" Ryo asked as he walked up to them.

"Izo has been poisoned. Stay here and be on your guard," Kana said as Vengeance walked up to him.

"Where are you going?" Izo asked as Kana mounted his steed.

"I'm getting the ingredients for your cure. You are to stay put and that's an order," Kana said and Izo watched him ride off.

"You're not going to die. I won't let you. Too many people have died already," Ryo said and Izo smiled slightly.

"You've got a strong sense of justice, kid. That's good. It's a good trait for a leader to have. Your father and Karu have taught you well."

"Where are you going?" Ryo asked as Izo stood up.

"I'm going to my horse," Izo replied as Firerain walked up to Izo and allowed him to stroke his nose.

"You're not supposed to move. Kana gave you an order."

"I'm not leaving or anything. I'm just getting something out of my bag."

"You're still disobeying orders by moving."

"Look, kid, I'm going to go nuts if I don't move every once in awhile."

"I don't want to lose you. So many people have died already."

"I'm not gonna die. I can't leave the general like this. He's gotta get my hair back to normal."

Ryo grinned for a moment then watched as Izo patted Firerain's side. The horse snorted for a moment then shook his head.

"You love Kana, don't you?" Ryo asked and Izo looked at him.

"Perhaps, but the love is not deeply returned. The general is bound to his rank and sadly, the past. He will never see me the same way he saw someone else a long time ago," Izo replied.

"So you don't have anyone?"

"I have my rank and my duty to our people."

"Well what do you do when there are no fights?" Ryo asked as Izo unbuttoned his shirt.

"If I'm needed, I go home. If not, I practice or visit faraway towns," Izo said as Ryo laid his arms on Firerain's back. The horse glanced back at him for a moment then turned away.

"What's the rest of the world like?"

"That's right. You've never been outside the castle walls before. Sometimes Karu can put too much emphasis on book learning."

"He made me bring along scrolls."

"He did? Let me see one."

"They're sorta buried in my bag..."

"I don't blame you, but a lot of his lessons are worth knowing," Izo said as he watched Ryo walk over to Nightwing. He leaned back against a tree and shut his eyes. His entire arm was burning now and he didn't want to alarm Ryo. The boy had already made him promise that he wouldn't die but death was so unpredictable. He wasn't close to death for he had suffered such a cold numbing feeling once before in his life but he knew that if Kana didn't return soon with the antidote's ingredients, he would enter that finalizing state of emotions again.

"I found them!" Ryo cried as he ran back to where Izo sat. "Are you okay?"

"I was just thinking," Izo said then smiled reassuringly. "I'm fine. You've got a handful there."

"I know. Most of it's science and history. I've got some math too."

Izo took a scroll from Ryo and unrolled it. He gazed at Karu's neat and precise script for a moment then grinned.

"So he's still teaching this way. Kid, this is the exact same lesson I learned when I was your age. I would have thought by now his lesson plan would have changed."

"When were you my age?"

"When? Let me think....almost forty years ago, I believe."

"You ARE sorta old," Ryo said and Izo smiled.

"I am older than your father, I must admit that. But I'm not all that old. Not like some of the elders."

"Like Karu and D's grandfather?"

"Palis? Oh yeah, he's an old one. How long do you think he's been gone?"

"I don't know. I'm not a good judge of time. Are you all right Izo?" Ryo asked and Izo closed his eyes in pain.

"I'm fine. Really," Izo said as he forced a smile.