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Story... A dark story. Of a 'Dark Soul' (kinda long) |
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(started about two years ago... and i haven't written since. needs a lot of changes and editing. I need to get motivated.)
Dark Soul
Little Girl: Mommy Mommy Mr. Stranger just woke up.
Mother: I told you not to go in there! Stay here.
The mother gets up and walks into the back room. when she opens the door she saw the man sitting on the bed. Cautiously she goes to a chair by the bed.Mother: How are you stranger? You've been out for quite a while, we thought you wouldn't make it when we found you.
Stranger: Where am I... What happened...
Mother: Well...
Stranger: TELL Me!
Mother: Well, when we found you on the south-shore you were in pretty bad shape.
Stranger: So your saying that I'm not from around here...
Mother: Well i didn't exactly say that. Well our country has ben in war for the past year now and you may have been one of the soldiers. We found you with those things over there.
She points to the corner nearest the bed.
Mother: Do you, by chance, know your name?
Stranger: My name... is... Katsume i think... yes its Katsume...
Mother: no last name? We couldn't find any identification.
Katsume: Not that i can remember at least...
He begins to get up and walk around the bed to look at his bag. but is stopped when the little girl comes in screaming and crying into her mothers arms.
Mother: What's wrong. why are you crying...
Little Girl: They're hurting him... They're killing daddy...
Mother: Stay here! and this time i mean it.
She walks out the door of the room not bothering to close the door. Katsume hesitates to look into his bag but then looks in to see the contents. He found the essentials for traveling long distances. Not only that but weapons too. A pair of gauntlets And a pair of specialized boots. After rummaging through the contents of the bag he ties it closed, tosses it over his shoulder, and begins to walk towards the door. He pauses to look at the little girl, something seemed erie about her, like he... knew her. but he dismissed the idea and walked out the door. Out-side the house he spots two rather large men standing over a smaller man and the woman he was talking to running towards them.
Man: Get back Lennette, Don't come any closer!
She just keeps running despite his plea. As soon as she got close to the man Katsume assumed to be the child's father one of the large men stepped in her way, picked her up and threw her like a toy into the pillar in the middle of the near-by fountain.
Katsume unthinkingly runs to the fountain to try and help her. But to his suprize there was nothing. He swipes at the water in bewilderment. No body, no blood, nothing but what should have been there... water. He lifts his head to look back at the men but they were gone. he looked all around him, but there was nobody. is biggest thought right that moment was to get out of that town. Then he remembered the girl. Worried he ran into the house, but as soon as he entered he noticed something wrong but he kept going anyways. he ran into the back room to find an empty chair. He ran back into the living room and found that the whole room had been destroyed. The couches were burnt and one split into two, pictures no longer hanging from the wall, it looked like a struggle. But could a child put up such a good fight.
Now outside again he decided that it was time to run and time to ponder later. He runs looking for the towns exit. As soon as he found it he broke to get out. Reaching the open gate He was flung back. Dazed he slowly got to his feet and walked to the gate. He cautiously put his hand on where he had hit to discover that there was a barrier. Confused he walks back slowly into the village square and tried to figure out how to get out of this situation.
He began to run the opposite way to find another exit. running around the corner of the house he is knocked back several yards from the house. This time not by a barrier but by a creature that looked to be two times as large as himself coming around the corner. Getting up again he puts on his gauntlets and shoes from his bag but freezes at the sight of the thing in the creatures right hand. It was the limp body of Lennette swinging with that motion of the creature. Anger filled his eyes and he was blind with rage. He charged the creature and punched it square in the gut, launching the creature back about ten feet. He then charges again leaping in the air about thirteen feet in the air. more than humanly possible. And kicks but the creature had him.
His leg had been caught by the creatures right arm. He was swung wildly and thrown into the air. He landed into the pond, the water broke his fall. Getting up gasping for breath he got out of the fountain. He had lost sight of the creature and was looking around. He was then picked up by the monstrous right hand of the creature, the the creatures other hand came up and wrapped around the other, It was no longer holding Lennette's body. Pain came rushing into his whole entire body and the creature began to squeeze the life out of him. he couldn't breath.
When he was close to losing consciousness the creature dropped him. Landing on his back knocked what little breath that he had in him. Finally able to breath he could think. "Why did it drop me." Struggling to stand he began to look around. the Creature was holding its face, and on the roof of the building to the right of the creature two people were running on the roof. They started to run towards him and jumped of the roof. One had thrown a small bottle at him but shattered just before reaching him. A small purple hazy mist hand enveloped his body but soon dispersed afterwards. He had felt stronger and had the stamina that he had lost back. he was back to normal. When the two people had gotten to him he had began to get up.
???: Hurry up we don't have much time. We need to get out of here, this creature is too strong for us.
Katsume: I can't
As he said that he had began to charge the creature again. His eyes pure with rage and his heart torn with pain, his right hand began to glow. He struck the dazed creature with such force it was ear-shattering. The creature didn't get pushed by the force but it appeared to turn into nothing but particles. Bewildered Katsume stepped back staring at his hand. His hand still aglow, the creatures particles began to draw to it. when it was over he just stared at his hand, he took the gauntlet off and stared at his had, then at the gauntlet. It had began to transform, to go through a type of metamorphosis. It changed color and shape and it shrunk in size before settling back down. The other gauntlet had done so in the same manner without him noticing until it was over. Their new shape were more like gloves than gauntlets.
He had taken the Glove off and were staring at them while the two other people who had watched from a distance came closer.
???1: What was that?
???2: Who are you and... what are you?
Katsume: I don't know what that was.
Katsume had put the gloves on only to discover that they were lighter but had more force to it than it did before. They were... better... stronger.
???1: Look here my name is Tsuki and this is my older brother his name is...
???2: Bakure. now tell us who you are.
Katsume: My name is Katsume... and i don't know much else about myself besides that. And who are you, I mean what are you guys doing here.
Tsuki: We are here looking for people. Are you the only one here?
Katsume sat quietly staring up at the two people in bewilderment.
Katsume: I don't know, the people who were taking care of me disappeared. There were two other guys here but they disappeared with the others. Do you know what's going on?
Tsuki: We think its that creature that you fought. Whenever there were people missing there were sightings of that creature. We had also run into it a couple of times. We were looking for it to hoping to find a clue on finding our...
Bakure: Shut up! He doesn't need to know what we are doing! We don't know anything about him! How can we trust somebody we don't know!
Tsuki: Stop! You don't trust anybody! Look, Since our parents disappeared you've been angry and aggressive. We need help and so does he. I think that he needs it more than we do.
Bakure went quiet.
Tsuki: Katsume, we're going to look around the village for any people and supplies, But we're leaving within right afterwards. Your invited to come along if you want. Meet us at the entrance if your going to come with us.
Katsume: Yeah... Sure thing...
Tsuki and Bakure walked away in their search. Katsume sat there for another minute Thinking about what he should do. He thought the creature had come because of him and thought there would be more. But alone he would surely die. He got up and grabbed his bag and walked into the peoples house who had taken care of him. He looked around the house one more time in search of the girl. He had wondered if he had a family, if he had a wife and children... would they be worried about him. Why had the girl looked so familiar. He figured that he would never find out any of his own questions.
Katsume left the house and headed for the entrance of the village. When he got there they were waiting for him.
Tsuki: so you decided to come.
Katsume: Well i've really got no choice in the matter. I don't know this land or the people inhabiting it. Look, Bakure, I don't mean to intrude but you people are my only chance.
Bakure: ... Whatever
Tsuki: OK Lets get going.
Katsume: But what about the barrier?
Tsuki: The creature set that barrier. so therefore you get rid of the creature you get rid of the barrier.
Katsume Walked out cautiously with his hands in front of him to discover that there was no barrier. Finally out of the village he takes a good lay of the land. Large mountains to the North. A strong wide river to the East. And an ocean to the South. And a large forest to the west.
Katsume: You guys came from that forest?
Tsuki: No we took a ship here. this is our first time out on this side of the continent.
Bakure: Ikeda Forest...
Katsume: What's after this?
Tsuki: After this forest is the town of Daisaku. Its supposed to be a town of commerce. We might find somebody you know there. There may be some clue to help you remember something.
Katsume: I doubt it. I doubt that I'm even from this continent...
Together they set off for Ikeda Forest. Every once and a while Katsume would find himself staring at Tsuki and would quickly turn away when he saw that he was staring. He felt some kind of feeling for her but he soon dismissed it when Bakure looked at him in a hard gaze. When they reached the forest they stopped.
Bakure: Its getting kind of late. We don't want to get caught in the forest in the dark. There's no telling what's in there. Its best if we rested out here instead of sleeping in the forest.
Tsuki: Your right. We will have to wait till morning until we navigate this forest.
Bakure: Katsume can you go gather some wood for a fire. Me and Tsuki will set up camp here.
Katsume: Sure...
Katsume heads into the forest while the other two went to prepare camp.
Bakure: Tsuki, look i don't want you to go near him, i want you to keep your distance.
Tsuki: What's your problem Bakure, He is a perfectly good person like you and me. Why cant you trust him.
Bakure: Didn't you see him when he did whatever he did to that monster. He has a power that we don't know anything about and until we do know he could be as dangerous as that monster... maybe even worse.
Tsuki: Thats bull. Its like me with my magic, Very few people know how to do it besides you and I. There is more to him than what we can see, that i know. But we can't single him out because he has something we haven't seen before. He can be a very valuable asset to what we're trying...
Katsume: You think this is enough for the night.
Bakure: Sure, thats enough.
Bakure and Tsuki finished setting up in silence. once they finished they had the fire going and an awkward quietness. Everybody just stared blankly at the fire until Tsuki spoke up.
Tsuki: What did you do to that creature in the town?
Katsume: I don't know... it was strange, my hand was glowing and i hit the creature. then my gauntlet began to change. now they're gloves and the make me feel as if i had more strength than normal. almost like they evolved or something... Have you ever seen something like that before.
Bakure: No we haven't.
Tsuki: Well i kinda have. but not with a weapon, or even an item at that. But my magical abilities had grown. Not just growing stronger but changing into a more damaging attack. Before it was just a little ball of flame that i could make but now it has more substance and I can control the direction it moves in.
Bakure looked puzzled.
Bakure: You never told me about this. Why?
Tsuki: Look at the way you treated katsume. Do you think that i would want to be treated like that.
Bakure: No... its just... Its different, your my sister.
Tsuki: Its no different than it would be for someone else and you know that. It scared me at the fact that you would treat me differently.
Bakure went silent.
Tsuki: We need to rest up. The forest might be more challenging than we think.
With that said, Bakure and Tsuki went into the tent but Katsume stayed behind and stared at the fire. He was tired, yes, but he had too many things on his mind to sleep. He wanted to try and sort things out before he went to sleep. But it kept persistent with him. He began to nod off and close his eyes...
He dreamed of many things, like the little girl. He dreamed about what had happened in the house, what had happened to Lennette and her husband. The creature had done something to the people in that village and he couldn't do anything about it. He was burdened, and he felt guilty. Lennette, the man, and the little girl... gone. Then some other person he didn't know flashed by in this dream... he thought it was the little girl but this one was older and more familiar...
He jerked up as he awoke from his sleep. The fire was nothing but embers now and it was close to morning. He was in a cold sweat.
Tsuki: Are you alright?
Katsume Looked around to find Tsuki a couple of yards behind him.
Katsume: ... yeah... I'm fine... I think
Tsuki: Then come with me. I want to show you something.
Katsume looked puzzled. He worried at the fact that Bakure was still asleep and that he could wake up and think something.
Tsuki: Come on we don't have much time before my brother wakes up.
Katsume looked back at the tent then back at Tsuki.
Katsume: Are you sure?
Tsuki: Yes, now hurry up.
Katsume reluctantly got up and followed Tsuki. She led him down the forest border and up onto a cliff. He looked off to the right to see nothing but ocean as far as the eye could see. Tsuki had stopped but Katsume didn't notice and he walked right into her.
Katsume: Sorry.
Tsuki: Sit down. I want to show you... well you'll see.
Katsume sat down and stared at Tsuki wondering what she was going to do. She held out her hand and fire suddenly burst from her palm. She did the same thing with her other hand but it wasn't fire that burst out but core of lightening. Tossing both of them up she stared at Katsume. The two balls came down and hovered above her head.
Tsuki: This is my power. I can control the Mystical Magic. I wonder... can you do anything like this? My brother doesn't approve of me showing my abilities.
Katsume: I don't know. i didn't even know that i could fight until i fought that creature. I don't know if i have any special abilities. And i don't really know what happened to my weapons either. this is all new to me.
Tsuki: I was hoping you might know how so i wouldn't be alone. I feel to different because i can do this.
Tsuki walks over to the cliffs edge and sits down. Katsume gets up and is startled by the balls flying by his head. The balls fly into the air and disperse. Katsume stares up for a little while longer and then looks at Tsuki. She just stared into the distance. Katsume walked over and sat next to her.
Tsuki: Thats not the only thing i wanted to show you though.
She pointed to the south-western part of the sea.
Tsuki: The birth of a new day.
Katsume looked in awe at the sight. The burning sea and the rising sun had the most stunning look to it. He just stared and stared. Finally he looked at Tsuki and she had this faint smile as she stared at him. He wanted to say something but couldn't. After a minute or so she got up and stretched.
Tsuki: It's about time we got back. My brother will be up soon and might think something if were not there.
Katsume got up and they began their walk back to camp. On the way back Katsume had again caught himself staring at Tsuki but she didn't notice. He couldn't quite take his gaze off of her until he heard something come from the nearby woods. He looked into the forest but couldn't see anything. He looked forward but didn't completely dismiss it. The way back had seemed much longer than the way there but that didn't bother them at all. Again Katsume heard the sound from the woods. Katsume stopped.
Tsuki: What's wrong? why'd you stop?
Katsume: You can't hear that?
Tsuki stared at him in a confuzed manner. The sounds were getting louder and louder. Tsuki heard it and turned to look at the source. Katsume felt it, it was something big, Dangerous. The sound had stopped abruptly but they didn't take their eyes off of the forest. The silence was awkward and strange.
Tsuki: What is it?
Katsume: I don't know... Keep on your guard.
The sound continued again then stopped. The trees were moving a bit further in.
Tsuki: Think we should run?
Katsume: Yeah, go for it. RUN!
They dashed off and the sound started again. The sound was louder and more aggressive and it was coming towards them. The noise had stopped and They looked to their left to see something leap out of the trees. It was a rathe big creature, but it wasn't as big as the one that Katsume had fought, but it looked similar to it. The only other difference was that it looked more vicious. Katsume didn't have his weapons and neither did Tsuki. They couldn't run because they would end up in a corner and they couldn't go around because it was definitely faster than they were. They're only choice was to fight weaponless.
Tsuki: What are we going to do?
Katsume: We have to fight through. We have no other choice.
Tsuki: This one looks stronger than the other one.
Katsume: It is... Look try using your ability to hurt it while i distract it.
Tsuki: I don't know if i can. i've never used it in a battle before.
Katsume: You've got to try.
Katsume began to rush forward while tsuki began to bring up a bigger fireball. The creature brought down its hand to try and strike Katsume but he dodged it just in time. Tsuki had the fireball and threw it at the creature. The creature caught it in its hand. It now had its sight on Tsuki. Katsume ran around the creature and struck the creature in the back. It did nothing. The creature then swung its arm backwards and caught Katsume in mid air knocking him into the ground. Tsuki tried another fireball but the creature was too close. It swung its arm at her and hit full contact sending her flying backwards and knocking her out as she hit the ground. Katsume got up in pain and saw Tsuki get hit.
Rage consumed Katsume as his eyes began to burn like fire. He felt numb inside. He didn't want this to happen again. He didn't want to see another life disappear. His whole body burned with rage as he fell to his knees. He didn't know what to do.
Katsume got up and looked at the creature who was closing in on Tsuki. He began to run towards the creature. He needed to draw the attention of the creature away from her. He swopped down and picked up a rock and threw it. As he withdrew his hand back from the throw he noticed that the rock was now like Tsuki's fireball. He stopped and looked down at his right hand in amazement. His hand was engulfed in flame.
Realizing that he didn't have much time he took his attention of his hand and started charging the creature again. The creature was no longer going towards Tsuki but was turned around clutching its back. He had hit the creature square in the back. Closing in, the creature had let go of its back and was ready to attack Katsume. Katsume scooped up another rock and threw it. This time the creature blocked it. by the time the creature looked back at Katsume it was too late. He was right beneath the creature. He jumped up and, with his hands still ablaze, struck the creature directly in the chest sending it flying an landing on its back. The creature was no doubt dead but what about Tsuki.
Rushing over to her he checked his hands. They were no longer ablaze. He lifted her and tried to wake her. She stirred but did not wake. At least she was alive. The sun fully up he hurried back to the camp. Along the way he found Bakure walking his direction.
Bakure: What did you do to her!
Katsume: It wasn't me we were attacked by a creature. She needs to be healed.
Bakure: Give her to me.
Bakure took Tsuki and ran back to the camp where the supplies were. Katsume Stared after them but did not follow. He stood there one more second before passing out. Back at the camp Bakure was tending to Tsuki when he noticed that Katsume hadn't followed. He didn't care though. Tsuki came around and opened her eyes after the phoenix down. Bakure then wrapped her wounds and and used a potion to help her get her energy back.
Tsuki: Where is Katsume?
Bakure: ... i don't know he didn't come back...
Tsuki: What do you mean he didn't come back. What did you do to him.
Bakure: I didn't do anything, he was on his way back when he ran into me. He gave you to me and i came back to the camp. What did he do to you.
Tsuki: Look, if anything he saved my life. A creature attacked us and i got knocked out. It's not his fault. I'm the one that failed.
Bakure: Fine I'll go look for him.
Tsuki: I'm going too.
They left and began to look for him. Bakure stopped where he and Katsume met.
Bakure: This is where we meet up. I didn't pay attention to if he followed or not.
Tsuki: Lets continue to look.
They continued down the border until they reached the point where the creature had attacked. There were marks all over the ground which showed that there was a fight. There were burn marks on the ground and a huge spot that look like something huge had slid there. There was no sign of the creatures body or Katsume. They continued down the ridge and on towards the cliff. There they found more scuffle marks, but more importantly they found Katsume. He was in bad shape but he was alive. Tsuki went over to Katsume. He was awake. He stared up at her and tried speaking.
Katsume: ... It tried... to... follow you guys...
Bakure came over and used a couple of potions. It gave Katsume enough strength to sit up and speak better.
Tsuki: Where is the creature?
Katsume pointed at the cliff.
Katsume: I made it fall off...
He gave a thin smile and laid back down. Bakure had walked over to the cliff and looked down at the creature. The creature was black and burnt and... dead. Tsuki looked and Katsume's singed sleeves of his shirt.
Tsuki: How did That happen. How did your clothes get burnt.
Katsume: Well... it's weird... you see my hands... they caught on fire and it didn't burn me. I think its something like your magic. All i know is that it drained me. I passed out for a few minuets and when i woke up the creature was heading your way. I managed to push it all the way back here and over the side of the cliff.
Bakure: I see... and what were you both doing away from the camp to have the creature attack you.
Tsuki: I showed him my magic.
Bakure: ... Thanks... For protecting my sister. Look I've got no more potions on me so we have to get back to the camp so i can heal you.
By the time they got back and finished packing the camp it was well past noon. If they wanted to get through the forest before night fall they had to go now. They couldn't possibly have anymore delays like earlier. With everything packed they began to trek through the forest. The path they took broke many times and soon they were lost.
Katsume: Hey i think we passed this same tree before.
Bakure: Lets just keep going.
Katsume had stopped for a quick second and placed a pattern of rock by the tree. He had to catch up to them before he lost them. By the time he caught up to them they were back were they started from.
Katsume: Look i told you we came through this exact area before.
Katsume pointed at the rocks he had put up as a marker.
Tsuki: Lets try and go in another direction. Maybe we'll find a way out.
Bakure: Fine... Lets head North.
They began to walk north and found an opening in the forest. In the middle was a well and further back there was a house.
Tsuki: Lets go ask them if they know how to get out.
They walked past the well and to the door of the house. Bakure knocked but there was no answer. He knocked again. Still no answer. Tsuki heard something coming from behind the house and they all went to investigate. There was a man chopping wood. The man looked up at them for a quick second and then went right back to work chopping the wood.
Tsuki: Excuse me sir do you know which way to get out of the forest. We're heading towards the town of Daisaku .
The man struck down hard on the wood and lodged the ax in the stump. His gaze hard and his body tense.
???: There is no getting out of this place. I've tried for searched and never found a way out.
Tsuki: Are you sure there is no way out.
???: Yeah, there is no way out. Look i've been here for about seven years. My wife and my child died about five years ago. My son was attacked by a creature and my wife was perfectly fine and then one morning she was dead. This forest is a curse. But you better get comfortable because your stuck.
Katsume: Sir, What's your name. I'm Katsume and this is Bakure and Tsuki.
???: I'm Kage. Now if you don't mind I need to finish my days work before nightfall. It gets really cold at night.
Bakure: Would we be able to stay in your cabin tonight. We would like to get out of here as soon as we can and we would like your help at all if possible.
Kage: ... Sure it doesn't matter to me I haven't had company since i got here. Look i've tried to leave this place countless times, its basically one continuous loop. You guys can explore but be sure to
be back by nightfall. Its dangerous outside at night.
Bakure: ... thanks...
They went to look around but ended up just going into a continuous circle until they found one area where you could walk but if you turned left or right you would basically end up in the same spot. They quickly turned around because night was soon to fall and they didn't want to get lost.
Back at the cabin they knocked and Kage answered
Kage: Come in and have a seat. I'm sure you all are hungry so I'm preparing dinner right now. It's not much but its enough.
They entered the cabin to the smell of comfort and meat. They were hungry and couldn't wait. Kage had left to check on the food and Tsuki and Katsume sat on the couch while Bakure remained standing. Everything here had come from the woods, the wooden table and chairs. He had a full furnished house and only himself to use it all. Kage comes in the room with the food in his hands and sets on the table and returns to the kitchen to get the rest. He returns with the rest of the food and plates and utinciles made of wood.
Kage: Its been so long since i've seen anybody but myself. It makes me happy yet sad at the same time.
Tsuki: Why does it make you sad.
Kage: Because you guys are stuck. You guys have no way out. I wish i could've stopped you guys from even coming here in the first place.
Katsume: Well we're here now and we need to figure a way out.
Kage: We'll do that after dinner. For now dig in.
They ate a plentiful dinner and had joyous conversation. This was everyones time to relax, it was also the first time they had had a feast like this in a long time. For Katsume this was only the second time he was this happy since he awoke. They all decided to wait until tomorrow to discuss how to get out of the forest.
For Katsume it was a sleepless night. He sat up all night thinking. He was trying to figure himself out. But by morning he had figured nothing. He gotten up to get something to drink but was startled by Tsuki leaning against the doorway.
Tsuki: You know talking to yourself wont help any.
Katsume sat back down and Tsuki went and sat down next to him. She stared at Katsume who just stared at the floor.
Tsuki: What's wrong?
Katsume: I've got nothing. nothing at all. I have no life, Friends, nothing.
Tsuki: So you don't consider me a friend...
Katsume: Thats not what i mean.
Tsuki: Then what do you mean.
Katsume: I mean I'm nothing. I have no past and i don't think i have a future either.
Tsuki: You don't need a past to have a future. Why don't you start over and make a future for yourself.
Katsume: It's hard to think that you could have a family and you don't even know who they are. I could be married and not even know.
Tsuki: Hey we should go into the kitchen they're waiting for us.
They left the living room and entered the kitchen. Bakure and Kage were already sitting at the table talking to each other. Their conversation stopped as the two of them sat down.
Bakure: Well we think there may be a way to get out of here. It involves walking down that path that we found yesterday. We've go to be prepared though we don't know what could be down there. There could even be another one of those creatures.
Kage: Thats the same place my son was attacked so I'm pretty sure there is something dangerous out there. I'm going with you guys though. I want to get out of this place for good.
Tsuki: When are we leaving?
Bakure: As soon as everybody is ready.
Tsuki went upstairs and Katsume went back into the living room. This was going to be the first time he is going to use his new weapons. He put on his gloves and shoes and went back into the kitchen.
Kage: Is that all you got?
Katsume: yeah... what, should i have more.
Kage got up from the table and went over to a closet in the walkway. He grabbed a coat and tossed it at Katsume.
Kage: Here you can have this. It lets you hold more items and provides protection from some things. I got it the day before I got stuck in this place. I had one for me, my wife and son.
Katsume put on the jacket. It felt light and sturdy on him.
Katsume: Thanks...
Katsume went back into the living room and put a few potions, ethers and phoenix downs in the jacket pockets. Katsume thought that the jacket would have gotten heavier but it stayed the same weight. Katsume went back into the kitchen where everybody was waiting.
Bakure: Everybody ready?
They all nodded in agreement and left out the back door. They all headed down into the path that they had discovered earlier. This time there were smaller creatures on the way but were easily dealt with. The path was longer than they had expected. They had stopped for a short break and to recuperate.
Tsuki: So what to you think is causing this barrier?
Bakure: I'm thinking its one of those creatures similar to the one at the Goé Village and the one Katsume fought.
Katsume: do you think you'll be able to defeat it. It could be more than we can handle right.
Bakure: Well look at it this way you were able to defeat both of them by yourself. And now there are three more of us here to help.
Katsume: But those were fluke wins. I don't know how to use my abilities at will.
Tsuki: I didn't know how when i first figured out that i had a special ability. But i tried and tried until one day i did it. I set it as my goal to find out how and i did it. Maybe you need to set a goal and go after it. Or maybe you'll just figure it out one day. There's no telling what will happen.
Kage: Hey i think we should continue on and find a way out. I hate this place. I've always hated this place.
They set off down the narrow path again in search of the source of the barrier. A little further down the path split in two along with the barrier.
Tsuki: Which way now.
A silence followed her question as if nobody knew. Everybody paused for a few moments longer.
Katsume: I think we should go left.
Bakure: We'll go right.
As Bakure led them he looked back at Katsume and gave a small grin. Turning back forward he notices something different than it was before. About thirty yards further the trail began to open up into a wide, dark field despite the time of day. They cautiously continued on into field but didn't continue once they found out that there was nothing there. They had all turned around to go back but the path wasn't there.
Tsuki: Didn't we come from that way.
Kage: Yeah, but its not there.
Katsume had continued to look around incase there was something here. But he didn't see a thing. He turned around to talk but was speechless by the sight he saw, or the lack of seeing. They were no longer there. Now in a smaller field he felt a strange presence.
Tsuki: Hey Katsume do you see anything... Hey do you see anything.
Getting ready to shout she turns around only to see Kage and the field surrounded by darkness. Katsume had disappeared.
Tsuki: Kage where is Katsume.
Kage Stood silent and didn't move. He was like a statue. His body was slowly but steadily disappearing. She looked to her right to see if Bakure was still there but the same thing was happening to him too. Both of them had fully disappeared and she was by herself. She looked around and her but saw nothing. Her worst fear had become, Everybody had left her. Fear had enveloped her and she began to hear things. She dropped to her knees crying, wishing that somebody was here, anybody.
Bakure thought that Kage had led them into a trap and began to worry. But he was to worried to notice that something was now there. He frantically began to look for a way to get back. While he was searching he was picked up and thrown into the air. Bakure landed on his feet and looked towards where he had originally been standing and saw that nothing was there. He looked around and still saw nothing. He resumed his search on a way out but was alert.
Kage on the other hand had received a welcoming party. There were many creatures where he had gone and the only thing on his mind was survival. His time to die wasn't now. He had become surrounded and he was extremely outnumbered. He had to think of a way to get out. One creature had jumped at him but it was stopped by downward vertical strike. the ax was stuck inside the creature so he swung it around and around hitting the other creatures and sending them flying. He hit a tree and the creature had become dislodged and cut in half by great force. Another jumped at him but he countered with the blunt side of his ax. He continued till there were none left. But There did remain one hidden in the shadows.
The darkened field had confuzed him. He couldn't really see but he knew something was there. He worried about the others but he needed all of his attention here. He saw something move directly in front of him but it stopped and he couldn't see it anymore. He walked toward where the movement was but he still couldn't see it.
While bakure was looking he again was thrown into the air, But this time he was ready. He flipped in the air and saw the creature. Just slightly bigger than he himself and they looked almost the same as the ones from before. He landed and quickly dashed towards the creature. The creature turned around and jumped over Bakure and landed on him pushing him into the ground.
Bakure: Damn it's fast.
He got up and looked around for the creature, but again it was nowhere to be found. Bakure was angry now.
Bakure: Chrono!
As he yelled out the time looked as if it slowed down. But Bakure only increased his speed, and sight. Now he could see the creature, but it was still moving fast. The creature just kept running around Bakure. Bakure moved slowly to try and make the creature think that he was still slow. It worked and the creature dashed at him from behind. Bakure Jumped up into the air and over the creature and sliced down with his sword hitting the creatures arm and slowing it down significantly. He landed and picked up after the creature. It evaded a couple of his attacks but then it ran its self into a corner. Bakure looked at the creature cowering in the corner with anger.
Bakure: Banishing Wind...
Bakure swung his sword at the creature and it hit full on and the creature split into two. But its body never hit the ground. Instead it turned into tiny particles and began to come towards him. He panicked and began to run, but as he began to run his speed returned to normal and he had to kneel down because it left him weak. The particles surrounded him and just sat there for a couple of seconds. Bakure was confused until the particles began to close in on him. They didn't attack him or hurt him in any way, they didn't even touch him. All they did was cover the sword which he had stuck in the ground when he went to his knee. It was completely covered with the black particles and nothing could be seen. They began to slowly sink in, but when the sword was revealed it was no longer the same as before.
Bakure: Is this what happened to Katsume?
He picked up his sword and put it in its sheath and he noticed something else different too. The sheath had changed shape too. But he didn't bother to examine it at the time. He still needed to find a way out.
Tsuki was calm now but she was still scared. Standing she made a makeshift torch with her fireball. She looked around and saw what looked to be like a rock in the center of the field. Cautiously she walked over to it. It looked like a solid rock. She put out her hand to touch it. It felt like it too. The top of the rock began to move. But it was slow and soft like it was breathing. Tsuki stepped back and tripped over herself and lost control of the fireball. It flew into the air and hit... whatever it was. The thing stirred and then sat up and startled Tsuki. Tsuki got and decided that distancing herself from the thing would be best.
Katsume was sitting down thinking of a way to get out when he was thrust backwards by a burst of wind. Dazed and confused Katsume got up to see a darkened figure on the opposite side of the field. Katsume Slowly walked out into the center and so did the figure on the other side. For a second he began to think that he had a twin, but when they got closer to each other Katsume realized that it wasn't even human. It had the same similar body build as him, same hair, and same weapons. It was a creature known as a mimic. The mimic gave a quick punch to Katsume's stomach sending him airborne for a slight second. As soon as he landed on the ground he fell to his knees. He was taken by suprize again with a punch to the face. Katsume had to get himself together or else he might die.
He had lost sight of the mimic, he looked around and was hit from the right by another burst of air. Katsume withstood it and charged at the mimic. He hit it with at strong blow to the head and sent it into a tree. The mimic got from the tree and threw an air slicing kick. Katsume was whipped this time and with another burst of air. He stumbled back and charged again. The mimic threw another slicing kick but katsume jumped into the air to avoid it but was still hit by a burst of air sending him flying. Katsume landed on his back and the wind was knocked out of him. Slowly he got up. He was angry now. He ran towards the mimic and did a spinning air kick and it didn't make contact but he still hit the mimic with that same burst of air that he had been hit with. The mimic stumbled back and was disabled, this was Katsume's opening. He flung himself forward and began his onslaught. The mimic took blow after blow. One last kick sent the mimic flying into a tree. With the mimic just about dead he walks over to the tree and gives one more destructive blow to its head. The mimics body turned into nothing but a puddle. Katsume used a potion on himself and began to walk away. The puddle burst up into particles and Katsume Quickly turned around and was ready for another fight. But he quickly let his guard down and held out his hands. The particles surrounded him in a type of vortex and then it drew into his gloves and also his boots. His boots went to a drastic change, they weren't even boots anymore they were almost like regular shoes. His gloves became metallic looking and a bit heavier but he himself had gotten stronger so they felt normal on him.
Tsuki had gotten far as far as she could go, there was no running because of the barrier. The creature took a long while to get up, but when it finally got all the way up it was about three times taller than her. But luckily it was slow. She noticed the creature from the monsters of the ancient times before they were all banished to another world. It was called a stone golem. It turned around and spotted her. With its eyes black as coal she didn't know that it had spotted her. Bur when it began to walk towards her she thought otherwise. She remembered her last time she had to fight and what had happened to her only because she was scared. She couldn't be scared this time or she would surely die. There was nobody around to save her.
Katsume had given up trying to figure a way out of this wretched place. So had Bakure. All they could do was wait for something to happen.
The golem had now began to walk toward her. Each step it made a loud thundering sound as it touched back onto the ground. She made another fireball and threw it at the golems chest. It hit it square in the chest but it didn't phaze it, it just kept walking towards her. It brought its arm back a bit then flung it forward. It had more speed than she had expected because it used it's whole body. She dodged it nonetheless by running underneath the golems legs. Now was her chance to try everything she had because it would turn around too slow to stop her. She tried fire again but it still didn't work. She tried the wind but that had no effect either. She used water and nothing happened, then she finally used electricity and it had a big effect on the golem. By the time she had used electricity the first time it was half way around. she ran back to distance herself again and tried another electric attack but it didn't work. It was closing in on her and she was desperate because she was getting tired. She tried everything one more time, Fire, Wind, Water, and Electricity. Still no effect. She was at a lost when she realize that water was a conductor of Electricity. She used electricity again on the wet golem and it stopped in its tracks. She thought it was over but it began to tip forward. She ran to the left and dove out from the area and landed on the ground. Then came a loud crash, then silence. She got up and saw that a pile of rubble remained. She was tired and sat down but then she saw something glowing in the rubble but didn't bother to work her way through it all.
Kage was tired after the giant swarm was defeated. But he knew it wasn't over. He used a potion on himself and got ready to go again. The thing he was about to face off with was three times bigger than the smaller ones he just finished off and it was just as fast. Kage stood up and the creature charged him Kage stepped to the side and swung the blunt side of the ax into the leg of the creature sending it into the ground. It slowly got up, but when it was completely up its leg was fine. He know knew that he had to defeat the creature before it had time to recuperate. It began to charge him again. He jumped into the air and slammed the blunt side of the ax into the ground as he landed that sent a quake through the ground and made the creature off balance. He ran up to the creature and jumped on its back. He had it now as he picked up his ax in preparation for the swing. On the decent of the ax the creature lifted from the ground and sent Kage into the ground and his ax on the other side of the creature. He tried to run around the creature but was knocked back by the creature. He had no way to get to his weapon and no way to fight back, except for the forbidden art that he had once used, which was kind of the reason he got stuck in the first place. Kage went into another stance and then he lifted his right foot and brought it back down softly. But then something else had happened, The creature was lifted into the air by the earth it was standing on and then impaled on the way down. After that attack, Kage had no energy left and he collapsed.
Tsuki had managed to get up and heal herself with a potion. She was curious about what might be at the center of the rubble but she was also cautious. Something could still happen and then she would be in trouble if she wasn't ready. She wadded through the pile of what was to be the golem and reached whatever was casting off the glow. She had to dig through the rubble to get to it, but what she found was an ancient relic. When she picked it up everything began to change around her. The ground shifted and the trees moved, what was left of the golem began to fade away and she began to see her brother fading in along with Katsume, but she didn't see Kage.
She ran over to Katsume and Kage but they weren't fully there yet. When they had fully appeared Bakure went to talk to Tsuki but Katsume stood there and looked around. He Ran right past the two of them and kept going. Bakure had followed and so had Tsuki. Katsume stopped and knelt down by Kage who was passed out on the ground. Kage began to open his eyes by the time that the other two got there.
Kage: Are we out yet.
Bakure looked around, everything seemed to be the way it was before they had all been separated. He walked to the edge of the field and looked back at them. Kage was sitting up now and was watching him. Bakure stepped into the forest and nothing happened he just kept going. Bakure turned around and Kage went silent and fell onto his back.
Kage: Thank goodness.
Bakure: How about we go back to your cabin and we'll head out to leave the forest tomorrow.
Kage nodded his head in agreement. They all went back the way they came from with Tsuki leading the way and Bakure and Katsume helping Kage get through. When they reached the cabin Bakure and Katsume went and took Kage upstairs into his room. Tsuki went into Kage's sons old room and laid out on the bed. Bakure went to the Spare room and Katsume went into the living room and sat in the chair. He sat up and thought about what other abilities he had or about what his past might have been like. He tossed away his thoughts and tried to sleep, but it wouldn't come. there was nothing he could really do. And without help he couldn't do anything. He needed Bakure and he needed Tsuki, they were the crutches for his broken mind.
He heard footsteps coming down the stairs and he tried pretending to sleep. He thought it was Tsuki and that she came down to check on him.
Tsuki: I know your awake.
Katsume: What are you doing up you should go back to sleep.
Tsuki: Well its hard to when you have Kage snoring and my brother mumbling in their sleep. On top of that i keep hearing you talking to yourself.
Katsume: I don't talk to myself.
Tsuki: Ok Mister "What would i have done if they hadn't come." Whatever you say.
Katsume: Look its hard for me. I basically have to make a whole new life.
Tsuki: Look its hard for me too. I mean i have to watch out for my brother and you. And even though i haven't lost my past i did lose something that had a big role in it. Were in the same boat here. You look like you could use some company tonight. How about i join you down here. That bed isn't too comfortable anyways.
They stayed up and talked about the events in the forest and the new abilities. Morning was about to break when Bakure came down and joined their conversation. Everybody was getting closer. They were becoming more like a family as each day passed.
Kage came down and they all began to get ready for the trip through the forest. They didn't know how long it was going to take so they gathered as much as they could carry. Tsuki remembered the thing that she found in the Golems remains and took it out of her bag and examined it. To her it looked to be some kind of jewel. It looked delicate and very valuable.
Kage: What is that you have there?
Tsuki: I don't exactly know. I think its some kind of jewel.
Katsume came in from outside and startled Tsuki. She almost dropped the jewel But caught it with her arm where it began to sink into her skin. It scared her and she let it drop. Katsume came and picked it up. He brought it close to his face to examine it himself. He didn't worry because he had his gloves on and it were having no effect on them. When he brought it away from his face he remembered something he had read before about jewels that look like this. But he looked on in awe by the fact that he remembered something from his past. He looked at his glove as if he was trying to look for something microscopic. When he found what he was looking for he put the jewel in the exact spot he was looking for. The jewel sunk in a little and settled where it was.
Katsume: I read something before about this jewel. These are one of the sacred jewels that one of the Great Warriors used when fighting with the Great Sorcerer to help banish all the creatures. They gave them special abilities that they learned over time and boosted their power. But you see there is more to it than that... No other weapons could use these jewels, None at all. Each warrior had their own individual weapons that had three imprints. This was the only way to use these jewels.
Tsuki: How do you know all this?
Katsume: Well its kind of in my blood. The weapons that the warriors used stayed in the family.
Bakure: So your saying that your one of the descendants of these Great Warriors.
Katsume: Well... yes. I know that it sounds weird but its true. One of the warriors was of the Taka Family and that is the family I'm from. Besides the Taka family there were seven more families. But there was one more family, the Great Sorcerers family, But they were said to have all died during the war after the time of peace after the creatures were banished.
Tsuki began to look up and down her weapons to find out if they were used by one of the warriors. She didn't find anything at all on them and she was disappointed.
Katsume: There was said to be one warrior that didn't use a weapon though. She was of the Shimazu family.
Bakure looked puzzled.
Bakure: Katsume wait... I.. i mean Tsuki and I are from the Shimazu family. What does that mean.
Katsume: Well two of the people were of the Shimazu family. They weren't related but they were married. The woman had her imprints on her hand and the man had a sword.
Bakure looked at the sword that his father had given him and found that there were three imprints in the hilt of the sword. Tsuki had began to examine her hands but found nothing. Then she remembered the three strange marks around her right wrist she had thought were bug bites as a kid. They too were descendants of the Great Warriors.
Katsume: That explains what happened to my weapons too. The Evolution of the weapon depends on your skill. That was another ability the weapons had. Or in Tsuki's case, the strength of her elements grows. Now there is only one more thing i need to remember. I need to remember what i was here to do.
Kage remained silent. He figured it was none of his business anyways. After they got out of the forest he was planning on staying in the next town anyways. All he wanted to do was get back into his normal life and nothing else. He didn't want to marry again. He didn't want another family. He just wanted to live again.
Katsume: I... was down here to find all of the descendants of the Great Warriors. I don't remember why but i know its something big. But until i know I'm not leaving your sides.
Kage: Look, after we get out of the forest I'm not continuing on with you guys. I want to stay in Daisaku village and live a normal life. and anyways I'm not one of the descendants your talking about. I would just get in the way.
Bakure: Thats fine... We don't want to involve anybody who doesn't need to be involved anyway. All i know is that the creatures are coming back and they aren't going to stop unless we do something. There is probably a lot more to it than we already know.
Tsuki: I think we should get going now. We really don't have a lot of time to get out before nightfall in the first place. We really don't know how long it will take to get out.
Bakure: She's right, We need to leave right now.
Everybody picked up their things and left out the back door and began to head west. Time progressed slowly and so did their journey out of the forest. Tsuki began to get tired but they could not afford to stop. The forest had seemed endless and night was very close. They were about to stop for the night until they saw some far away lights past a couple of trees. They continued on and they came to the end of the forest. They were now free. They were not going to stop though. Daisaku village was only a few more miles away.
When they got to the village all was quiet except for the people in the bar near the entrance of the town. Since this was a major town of commerce there were many inns to keep the people happy. They found in inn towards the back that had a vacancy and they stayed there. Kage had went to the Bar to celebrate his return to the real world, the world that had forgotten about him.
Tsuki: So i guess its back down to three.
Bakure: We needed his help and he needed our help. It was a winning situation for both of us. We need to concentrate on what we are going to do next.
Katsume: We can talk to some of the locals to find out what the next closest town is.
Tsuki: Katsume... why do you think that the creatures are coming back.
Katsume: The spell that kept them separated from our world must have broke.
Tsuki: But how could that happen. there are no more sorcerers anymore are there. I mean they all died off during the war right.
Katsume: There is a possibility that there are some on another continent. Or the monsters may have just gotten too powerful and broke the barrier that separated them.
Bakure: I think we, As in Tsuki and I, should concentrate on our problem. You don't need our help anymore now that you've gotten your memory back.
Tsuki: Then tell me what we are going to do next. There are no leads and there are no clues. Right now we are at a loss. Katsume What are you planning on doing?
Katsume: I think that I'm going to continue to look for the rest of the descendants. Between that time and now i should have the reason i was looking for them.
Tsuki: Then we will go with you. Its not like we have anything better to follow. And maybe we will be able to find some clue as to what happened in Miame village.
Bakure: Well for now lets get some rest. We do kind of deserve it.
 Oryn-X · Fri Feb 16, 2007 @ 04:30am · 0 Comments |
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