Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Kazuyuki - Kazuki's Origin ❯ And So We Go ( Chapter 7 )

Chapter 6

And So We Go

 

A man walked on a worn path in a burning wasteland. He had no destination but that didn't matter to him because he had no place to return to either. He had long since forgotten the reason he had started on this path to begin with. The man was certainly weather worn; he had shoulder length brown hair that was unkempt and his clothes were little more then rags. The man's movements were lethargic as if he hadn't slept or eaten for days. He suddenly stopped and turned around. His halt in action became apparent as there was now someone standing behind him. For some reason it was hard to focus on this new arrival. The only thing that he was able to take in was that this person was covered in blood.

* * * * * * *

Kazuyuki woke with a start and then promptly fell back down on his pillow. He'd been having the same dream every night for the last month and he had yet to get use to it. It bothered him to think how someone could become like the man in his dream. He also contemplated who the one covered in blood was though honestly he wasn't sure he wanted to find out. Chise appeared at his side.

“You had that dream again, didn't you?”

He gave her a look.

“It's not nice to look in to someone else's mind you know…”

“Well when you won't talk to me about it…”

Kazuyuki simply sighed and got out of bed. He went over to a corner of his room and grabbed the clothes that were folded there. These were the training clothes that he had started with but now had tears and dirt marks all over it. Kazuyuki wished the dream had not come last night of all nights; it only heightened his nervousness for today's training. Kane had said he was satisfied with his hand-to-hand combat skills and now it was time to concentrate on learning magic. Kane had explained already that to learn magic you already had to have awakened it yourself.

Kazuyuki knew had magic because he had summoned Chise but didn't know how to call it up at will. Only when he awakened his magic could the real training begin. So in other words it would depend on him when the training would continue. With those thoughts he and Chise left the house and took the familiar path down to the training grounds where Kane was there waiting for them as always. This time however he wasn't alone.

There next to Kane was his partner and Kazuyuki's eldest brother Hiroshi. Both Kazuyuki and Chise were surprised to see him there. As they approached Kane gave them a smile that looked more like a wince.

“It would seem that we have not been as covert as I thought.” Kazuyuki looked between Kane and his brother.

“Is there a problem?” Hiroshi finally spoke up,

“As a matter of fact there is Kazu. You can't be trained by a Shikigami. I realize that he worked on your fighting skills but that is as far as Kane can go. I don't know why you've found the need to train all of a sudden but the rest you'll have to do yourself.”

Kazuyuki knew it was pointless to argue with his brother so he remained silent. Hiroshi walked past them and gave Kazuyuki a pat on the shoulder. It was his way of showing he wasn't trying to be mean. Kazuyuki looked back at Kane who gave him an apologetic look.

“I'm sorry Kazu.” He walked over to Kazuyuki and grabbed his shoulder while leaning in so he could whisper in his ear.

“Meditate at night. It might help.” He then straightened up. “I'm sorry I cannot teach you more though your father agreed to work on your weapon skills in my stead. Good luck, both of you.”

With that Kane left the training grounds. Kazuyuki and Chise looked at each other.

“Now what are we suppose to do?” Chise asked.

“Whatever we can do.” Kazuyuki replied. “Right now I think I should take my father up on his offer. The only weapon I know how to use is the plough and that won't do me any good in a fight.”

Chise continued to look worried. Kazuyuki gave her arm a reassuring squeeze.

“Kane said it himself that I would have to work it out on my own. In truth I didn't lose much.”

The two of them went back to the house and out of the early morning cold. Kazuyuki then headed to the sitting area because he knew his father would be there. And there his father sat drinking a cup of tea and reading his way through a pile of scrolls. Kazuyuki sat down next to him and addressed his father.

“Good morning father, may I speak with you?”

His father's response was to roll up the scroll he was reading and turn towards his son; giving him his undivided attention.

“I was wondering…” Kazuyuki started awkwardly “…if you could train me in swordsmanship?” His father gave him a hard look and Kazuyuki began to fear that he would refuse when his father finally spoke.

“I was told by your mother that you talked with the headman and you know what's happening.”

Kazuyuki nodded his head wondering where this was going but remaining silent.

“Does it have anything to do with why you've been training this past month?”

“A little…”

His father gave him a raised eyebrow but didn't ask him to elaborate.

“Very well.” He said. “Come with me to the storage room after lunch.”

Kazuyuki's expression brightened up and he replied with a “yes sir!” and left his father to finish reading his scrolls. As promised, after lunch the two of them headed for the side of the house closest to the snow covered fields. There was a shed where all the tools and more importantly weapons were stored. His father opened the shed door and took him to an area past the tools where Kazuyuki never dared to venture. On the back wall hung an assortment of weapons. His father looked over at Kazuyuki.

“You are free to choose whichever weapon you like and remember you are not bound to your first choice.”

Kazuyuki looked through all the weapons and his eyes fell on a pair of blades. They were smaller then a sword but bigger then a knife. He walked over to them and ran his hand over one of the blades.

“I thought you might go for those.” His father said walking over to him.

“How did you know?” Kazuyuki asked.

“Because you have the same build as I did at your age,” He then took the blades off the wall. “The perfect build for a twin blade user.”

“Are twin blades a good weapon?” Kazuyuki asked.

“Yes for those who are fast and agile. Both you have if I am to believe half of what Kane has told me.”

Kazuyuki bowed his head both humbled and embarrassed.

“You didn't see me when I started…”

His father laughed. “Only a small few are naturally gifted. The rest of us have to learn the hard way. Come, we will see what skill you have with the blades.”

His father closed the shed and led him down the familiar path to the training grounds. Once there his father turned around and put the blades in Kazuyuki's hands.

“See what you can do with them.” Was all he said.

Kazuyuki was worried at first. His father carried no weapon and he wanted Kazuyuki to attack him? It soon became apparent that he needn't have worried. His father expertly dodged every swing he made though this wasn't saying much. He had never wielded a weapon before so the blades were an unaccustomed weight and his movements were sloppy. His father was a patient teacher and instructed him from his stance to the way in which he swung the blades. It was near dusk before they stopped.

“That's enough for today. You improved a lot in a small space of time. Let's continue this tomorrow.”

His father began walking but turned around when Kazuyuki didn't follow.

“Are you coming? Dinner will be waiting for us.” His father said.

“I want to stay out a little longer. Don't worry father, I'll be back before it gets too late.”

His father gave him a nod and left the field. Kazuyuki turned around and called out.

“You can come out now.”

Chise dropped down from the tree she was sitting on.

“You don't have to hide from my father you know.”

“I know, I didn't want to get in the way.” She replied.

Kazuyuki looked down at the blades, safely sheathed, in his hands. He looked over at Chise.

“You've have experience in fighting right? How do you think I'm doing?” He asked.

She gave him an examining look.

“I think that you are a quick learner but there is no reason to think that you have to do any fighting so soon.”

Kazuyuki gave her a look.

“If you're going to go though my mind could you at least tell me before hand?”

She rolled her eyes.

“Don't change the subject.”

He sighed and was quite for a while.

“You know the dream I've been having…”

“It might just be that, a dream.” She said though her voice betrayed that she was just being hopeful.

“Oh yes just the same one I've been having every night for the past month.” He replied sarcastically. She Sighed.

“Alright I'll admit I'm worried too. Do you really think it will come to the point of having to leave?” She asked.

“I hope not but I'm beginning to fear that that dream means we'll have to and I still have a lot to learn!”

Chise put a calming hand on his shoulder.

“Do not forget that we are partners and I will do anything I can to help you.” He put his hand over top of hers and looked up at her.

“I know but I feel that I'll become more of a hindrance then help when the time comes when you need me the most.”

She gave him a sympathetic smile.

“Kazu, you try to do too much at once. Slow down and let it come when it will. I've lived a long time, (maybe not as long as Kane) and I believe that everything happens for a reason. So I was meant to be your partner. And I feel that when the time comes you will be ready to face what you were meant to do.”

Kazuyuki took in her words. He then looked up at her and gave her a small smile.

“I guess I understand what you're saying but I've never really liked that ideal; as if I have no control over my life. But I guess it's the same as saying `what happens will happen and what wont, wont.' So there's not much use in worrying about it I guess. Thanks Chise.”

He stood up ready to head back to the house only to see Chise shake her head.

“It takes too much to cheer you up. If I had known that I might not have tried.” She said with a smirk.

“Gee thanks.” He replied. Both of them laughed as they headed back to the house. The next morning Kazuyuki woke with a start after having the dream again. He got out of bed knowing it was no use going back to sleep now when in an hour or so he would be training with his father. He got dressed and then he and Chise, who wasn't as awake as he was, went to get breakfast. Kazuyuki had just greeted his parents when a scream broke through the early morning stillness. All four of them headed for the door and out to discover the source of the disturbance.

When they got about a third way down the main road they found a large group of people and heard crying. Once they reached the crowd Kazuyuki father called out,

“What happened here?”

Heads turned towards them and someone called out,

“It's Kaiko! She's been attacked by something! We called for the doctor but he is off at the next village helping with a sickness!”

Chise came forward.

“I can heal her.”

The crowd parted to let her pass. There on the ground lay a crying girl. Someone sat with her trying to calm her. She was hurt but not badly. Chise knelt before the girl and just as she had done with Kazuyuki's mother, she placed her palm above the girl's chest. A few minutes later the girl was perfectly healed only badly shaken. Kazuyuki walked over and knelt next to Chise.

“What happened?” He asked the girl kindly.

“I-I don't know…” She stammered. “I went over to get some water from the well when this black thing came out of the s-sky. Before I knew it, it a-attacked me! It had great black wings and w-was as big as a horse…those claws…” At that point she went back to crying and they could get nothing more from her. The four of them were silent the whole way back. Instead of stopping at the table where the rest of the family was gathered awaiting news, Kazuyuki led Chise back to his room. Before he had a chance to talk Chise spoke first.

“I know what you're thinking but it's too early to know for sure.

“What? You want to wait until someone else is attacked?” He cried.

“Of course not! But you don't need to act irresponsible either!”

The two stared at each other for a few minutes.

“Then what do you suggest?” He asked.

Chise hesitated.

“I'll keep watch while you train.”

“No!”

Chise reeled slightly at his tone of voice.

“Chise it's you they want remember? Don't give them extra chances to get you. I'll have to do it.”

Chise looked like she wanted to argue but remained silent. It turned out that keeping watch over the village was exactly what the people wanted. So when Kazuyuki proposed the idea, his father and brothers joined in. A week passed with no further incident and Kazuyuki was once again stuck in the position of waiting for something he knew was going to happen. Kazuyuki was just making his pass along the main road when Chise appeared next to him.

“Your father wanted me to tell you that your shift is done and your mother has breakfast waiting for you.”

Kazuyuki who had been up since early hours was happy for a chance to get indoors and warm up. It happened as they headed back to Kazuyuki's house. They heard the horrid screech of what they knew to be the Anti-Shikigami. As they looked up at the black object in the sky Kazuyuki cursed his stupidity. He had let Chise walk around in daylight. The monster landed in front of them but didn't attack. Kazuyuki and Chise both looked at each other at the odd behavior. Normally these beasts would attack without hesitation. It looked like this one wanted to talk to them first.

“We will only offer this once boy. Hand over the Shikigami Woman or it will be your death.”

At the mention of handing Chise over he sprang into action, walking in front of her and pulled the twin blades from their sheaths. The demon's eyes narrowed.

“So you have chosen death.”

Kazuyuki waited tense for action. If there was one think he had learned about fighting was never attack first; wait for your opponent to make the first move. He didn't have to wait long. The demon sprang forward at what looked to be full speed. Just as he prepared himself for impact with the demon something happened. A voice spoke from everywhere and nowhere all at once, so he could only assume that it was in his head but it was nothing like talking with Chise. The voice if anything was calming as he picked up what was being said.

(Thy time has come brave warrior. Call upon thy power to smite any foe that would stand before thee.)

After the voice was gone he began to feel a burning sensation all over his body and everything went black.

When Kazuyuki came to it was to see the familiar ceiling of his bedroom. Seconds later Chise's head came into his field of vision. She looked pale and looked him over carefully before asking,

“How are you feeling?”

He was still a little disorientated but he slowly sat up.

“Alright I guess… The last thing I remember was that demon charging and a hearing a voice inside me and then everything went black…”

He looked over at her to see if she might fill him in on what happened after that; he didn't expect her to be smiling.

“What is it?” He asked her confused.

“Don't you realize what that means Kazu?”

Kazuyuki wasn't exactly in the mood for guessing games so he replied sarcastically with,

“No. Enlighten me.”

She sighed and shook her head in exasperation

“It means you awoke your magic.”

He stared at her.

“So wait, that voice…”

“It's the spirit of the magic inside you. It will only speak to you when you have great need of it.”

Kazuyuki thought it all over and realized something.

“Chise, what happened to the demon?”

The smile left Chise and she looked worried again.

“You killed it with your magic and then fell to the ground, I didn't know if you were injured but there was no scar on you. Then the other villagers came over. I had hoped they were coming to help but they stayed a good distance away from us. At first they said nothing but hen talk began to spread about how the demon was after me.” She hesitated as if the next part was hard for her to say.

“Your parents showed up after that and helped me get you to the house but not before there was talk of holding a counsel.”

Kazuyuki looked up at her in alarm.

“But…a counsel is only held if…”

“…If they believe someone should be exiled. Your father explained it to me. I can't believe they would think to do this.”

Kazuyuki gave a laugh that held no humor.

“Chise, our country is at the brink of a world war and people are already scared. They don't want the added risk of being attacked by demons. They will do what they have to do to protect them selves.”

Chise just stared at him and after a bit of effort she spoke.

“So…so what? You're just going to let them kick you out of the country?”

She met his eyes and saw a determination she had never seen there before.

“No I'm not. I'm going to leave the country of my own free will.” He hesitated and the fire in his eyes was gone. Instead was a look of sympathy. “Chise I know you like it here but you have to admit that staying here is no longer an option. I don't want to involve anyone else.”

She sighed and sat down on his bed.

“I know. I've been trying to put it off but I guess we don't have much of a choice. Where are you planning to go?”

Kazuyuki stood up and pulled out a traveling pack from his closet and began to pack items into it.

“The easiest thing to do is to head to Hikari Kuni. I've traveled to the border city with father before so I know the way there. It will be up to fate where we go from there.”

Chise said nothing but nodded her head.

Once Kazuyuki was done packing they headed to the kitchen as quietly as they could because they counsel was still suppose to be going on and the last thing they wanted was to be heard. They were surprised though when they found both of Kazuyuki's parents and Kane waiting for them. His mother was crying quietly but his father and Kane had half smiles on their faces and seemed to say without words that he was doing the right thing.

His father walked forward and held out a leather bound velvet pouch. Kazuyuki looked at him in surprise.

“It's not much,” His father said. “but it will be enough to get you to Hikari Kuni and find a job.”

“Father I can't take this.” But his father pressed the pouch into shi hands anyway.

“You'll need it to at least cross the border.”

His mother walked up and gave him a hug, her face still wet with tears. She then held up a small parcel of food.

“Eat it wisely.” Was all she could manage to say. Now it was Kane's turn. He held out a scroll to Kazuyuki.

“I was told that your magic was awakened so I wanted to give you this. It may come in handy in a tight spot.”

Kazuyuki took the scroll and thanked Kane. His father spoke up with one last piece of advice.

“Stick to the forest until you are out of the village. If anyone saw you you'd be brought back here with a fate worse then what you carry now.” He put his hands on Kazuyuki's shoulders. “Good luck.”

With that Kazuyuki left with Chise in hiding heading away from a place he had know all his life to a country he barely knew.