No Quarter

Arc I: A path built walking on

Prelude: Time

With the temperature dropping enough to feel pain on your cheeks and nature laying its first white blanket on the ground, one would find it very difficult not to appreciate the picturesque maze that the forest spent nurturing for decades. Sure enough, two children, presumably brother and sister, were basking in all its glory that was winter. The pristine snow that was bright enough to blind, and the dazzling icicles dispersing the light, giving them a palette of colours were trademarks of a stunning winter landscape.

Tackling each other and rolling on the ground, covering themselves with snowflakes on the feathers that their jackets sported, and producing a laughter that would certainly melt hearts away, even the coldest ones. They were the literal definition of two young souls who lived their fairytale. However, as with every fairytale, there was always this one witch who would want to destroy it. Only this time, it wasn't a witch, it was two men wearing black cloaks.

They instantly froze upon noticing them. Looking them directly in their eyes, they could notice these were no ordinary men.

The taller one was older, presumably in his late thirties. He had black hair which covered his left eye. It was obvious thanks to his look that he had seen a lot in his life. On the other hand, the shorter one, had this eye gauging scar on his right eye, running down to the middle of his cheek. He looked no older than fifteen, maybe sixteen. But the way he was standing and the reflection on his eyes tell a different story, one of hardships. Spiky blond hair with a ponytail was probably the only thing that gave off a childish energy.

As they stood there for a good half minute, the children were beginning to wonder how to react. Should they run? No, bad idea, they'll catch them right away. Should they talk to them? Talk to them about what? They were starting to feel cold, and with the fear they had in them they started to shake. Noticing this, the blond kid flashed them a wide smile, making the kids have question marks above them. What he did next surprised them even more. He kneeled and with his hands scooped up snow and started forming a ball. He then threw it lightly at the boy, hitting him in the head and consequently fell. The boy instantly turned to face the blond one, but all the he could see was the blond's grin.

"Well, what are you standing there for? Are you going to be a man and stand and fight for that girl?" he said with a kid's voice.

Both of the children were confused, but watching him grinning, they started to replicate that grin and instantly began forming snowballs. They threw them at him, starting a snowball fight. In moment's notice, their laughter was back, filling the forest again with life.

The other man however, was stoic as ever. His deep black eyes never changed their direction from the blond kid. Inside he could only marvel at the blond kid. Some characters are stronger than other they say, and he was a testament for the stronger ones. This scene brought back a fleeting memory from, well, 2 years he thinks. It was even around this same spot that happened.


"You do realize I'm going to make you eat your own words right?"

Dragging behind him was this obnoxious child which had its arm bandaged, its face battered and he was putting all his effort just for walking.

"Those are some words for someone who looks in your condition. Try to realize what you are caught up in right now and stop squeaking like some brat," he retorted.

But the kid wasn't having any of it. He ran in front of him and their gazes met. The determined look the kid had on his face was screaming "I'm going to prove it", to him, to everyone.

"I'll become strong enough to handle things on my own, I'll become strong enough to destroy them and protect everything that is dear to me, but more importantly, I'll become strong enough to prove it to you that I am worth that much, and you'll have no option other than to accept that fact as reality, voluntarily."

Anger and rage in his eyes were his main drive. Anger and rage from disappointment in himself. The kid wasn't something new to him, on the contrary. His path was all too familiar to him. It was like looking in a mirror. Except, and despite denying it, he knew this one would handle it in a very different way. And in no way would he mention it to anyone how much his curiosity was directed at the kid's drive to prove himself to him. It was one of the more entertaining things happening.

Grabbing his hair and putting them face to face, he said "For your sake, your family's, the village, and mine, I hope that's the case."


He expected a lot out of the kid, but he never imagined that he would go that far.

"What's wrong Sensei?" the boy asked, on the ground. The kids were on top of him, making him eat snow while he was laughing at the top of his lungs.

"Nothing, just admiring your stupidity and the way it connects you to people." He walked over to his student, which truly has grown up. "Get up, a lot of people are waiting for you," he said as he continued walking past him

"Oi Sensei, don't tell me you're getting worried now." The boy was smirking so "in your face" that it took all the willpower not smack him. He knew his Sensei all too well.

His Sensei however, turned around. He gave a small but genuine smile, one his student thought he wasn't capable of retracting his facial muscles like that. "Not anymore. It's time to go home".

His student just mimicked his smile, "Finally, dattebasa."


A/N: Enjoy this. All reviews welcome. That's it.