Fire Arc

On a journey

Navy blue eyes stared up at the midnight sky, it was filled with twinkling stars and the moon hung on the sky like a painting on a wall. The boy lying down wore a blue bandana with murky yellow stripes, he had long bluish-black hair tied into a ponytail. Explaining his clothing is not required, as they are not important right now.

The bandana boy was lying down on a grassy hill near his home, one of his legs were lazily slumped over the other.

This boy was Kouji Minamoto.

Kouji moved his gaze from the shining stars and decided to stare at the tranquil moon.

Kouji loved the sight of the moon, it sends off a soft glow every time you look at it. It was calm; it was beautiful, unlike the sun. The sun was pretty, yet it was not calm.

The sun gave off this intense feeling; the bandana boy didn't know how to describe it. The sun was like a hot-headed boy, a boy who doesn't think before acting. It was like a naïve boy.

Kouji noticed soft footsteps nearing him, "Kouichi" he asked, "How'd you know it was me?" the new voice, Kouichi asked. "I just recognise it." Was Kouji's reply.

This Kouichi was Kouji's older twin brother. He had short bluish-black hair and navy eyes. The only differences between the two twins were their hair, and personalities. Kouji was cold, but was warm on the inside. Kouichi was warm, and warm on the inside.

"Father wants us to go find something, something about stones and crests." Explained the older one while sitting down next to his brother. "He still believes that legend, what is he, a kid?" Kouji always hated how his father believed in legends, even though he believes in them himself, "But you believe in them don't you?" asked Kouichi. "I guess." The bandana boy replied coolly, "But that's different."

After that, the twins just sat – or lying down in Kouji's case – peacefully, staring at the moon and stars above them.

Now, you must be wondering what legend the twins are talking about. Before any big events starts to happen, allow me to explain.

A very long time ago, before there were humans living on the planet of Kigiku, the gods decided they were lonely. They, of course, decided to create humans, but they were also worried that the humans will lack something. So the gods created precious gemstones (or stones, or crests). There were nine stones in total, and three main ones.

The first main stone was a fiery, orange colour. It was like a sun with eight sides. This stone was called the stone of Fire and Courage, or for short, Fire Stone. It symbolized the sun.

The second main stone was a deep, azure colour. It had the shape of a moon, except in the middle was a circle. This stone was called the stone of Light and Friendship, or Light Stone. It symbolized the moon.

The third main stone was a rich, yellow colour. It was shaped like a small star with a tail. This stone was called the stone of Darkness and Hope, or Dark Stone. It symbolized the stars.

Now onto the other stones...

The fourth stone was a soft, lavender colour. It had the shape of a weird seed, or teardrop. This stone was called the stone of Wind and Kindness, or Wind Stone. It symbolized dreams.

The fifth stone was a light, amethyst colour. It had the shape of a pair of glasses, but one circle was bigger than the other. This stone was called the stone of Thunder and Knowledge, or Thunder Stone. It symbolized the power to be able to learn.

The sixth stone was a rose, pink colour. It was like a flower, it also had eight sides, like the first gem. This stone was called the stone of Earth and Light, or Earth Stone. It symbolized different feelings, like happiness.

The seventh stone was a passionate, crimson colour. It had the shape of a heart. This stone was called the stone of Ice and Love, or Ice Stone. It symbolized the desire to help one in need of help.

The eighth stone was a cool, grey colour. It had the shape of a cross, with triangles in every corner, like shining light. This stone was called the stone of Steel and Reliability, or Steel Stone. It symbolized trust.

The ninth stone was a calming, lime green colour. It had the shape of a teardrop. This stone was called the stone of Water and Sincerity, or Water Stone. It symbolized honesty, or to be precise, to be honest with one's own feelings.

You must be wondering why I haven't said, "The last stone was the stone of Water and Sincerity." That is because that stone is really not the real last stone.

The ten gods created the last stone. It was a warm, black colour. It was shaped like fire, and it was also shaped like a 'D'. This stone was called the stone of Aura and Magic, or Aura Stone. It symbolized life, death, and magic.

The gods turned the last gemstone into actual stone, and hid it somewhere mankind will, probably, never find. With the god, Agni, guarding it.

After the gods created the gemstones, they decided it was finally time for humankind. They created all kinds of humans, some big, some small. Some mean, some nice. All different types of humans, like different ice cream flavours you find these days in super markets.

The creators of mankind then handed the precious gems to their most trusted worshippers. Agni, the God of Flames, passed the stone, or crest, of Fire and Courage, to a man called Alda.

The God of Light Lobo, decided to pass the crest of Light and Friendship, to a man name Beo.

God of Darkness, Dusk, gave the crest of Darkness and Hope, to a man called Lowee.

The Goddess of Wind, Zephyr, gave the crest of Wind and Kindness, to a kind woman named Kaze.

Next, Kabuteri God of Thunder passed the crest of Thunder and Knowledge to a wise man called Beetle.

God of Earth, Gigas, gave the crest of Earth and Light to muscular man called Grum.

The crest of Ice and Love was given to a priestess called Kumo, by the God of Ice, Korika.

The crest of Steel and Reliability was given to a blacksmith called Sakkaku, by the God of Steel, Mercury.

Crest of Water and Sincerity was passed from the Goddess of Water, Rana, to a rich but kind lady called Calma.

After the gods had passed down the gems, Agni went to the place, which held the stone of Aura and Magic. Using his powers, he melted the black stone into a ruby then shrunk it, until it was the same size as a coin (in their world Oniyuri) and placed in in the weird circle on top of a dagger. After the crest was moulded with the dagger, it glowed and it changed.

The hilt of the dagger was warm orange colour; there was a grey stone at the end, while the cross guard of the dagger was a crimson red colour with fire patterns etched into it.

Agni passed the dagger to a very, poor, but kind man. The flame god told the man to always keep it safe, and to never let it fall into the hands of evil. The man kept his promise and passed down the dagger generation from generation, keeping it safe.

Of course, the other gods knew about this, but they knew Agni gave the crest to this man for a reason, so they let him be.

Right now, and right now, the different stones are scattered all over the lands of Kigiku.

Kouji, with his twin brother Kouichi, sat opposite their father. Their father wanted them to go find the precious gems, or else the balance of the world will be disrupted. "It's just a legend!" Kouji yelled with his arm crossed, "Kouji, it is not just a legend, my ancestors were in possession of the crest of Light and Friendship for four decades. It is real, please Kouji, only you and Kouichi can do this" the twin's father tried to explain. "And why us? You can always find someone else." Kouji reasoned, "You two have strong auras, it will help greatly when finding the stones. And also you two are twins so the aura is even stronger." This did not make any sense but Kouji gave in.

"Fine, I'll go." Was Kouji's answer, he looked at the older twin, Kouichi nodded. "Wonderful! Thank you Kouji, Kouichi. Now go pack your bags and some food, you will need them."

The twins headed for their bedrooms. Even though the Minamoto family was rich, they shared a room together because they needed each other's company.

Kouji pulled out a satchel from under his bed and stuff a little bit of clothes in it, "I'll carry our daily needs and what-not, you can hold the food and stuff" Kouichi nodded, stood up with his satchel, and went to the kitchen to get food.

Kouji sighed when his brother left, he had had no idea why he wanted to go, maybe because being cooped up in the house was boring. He shrugged and stuffed some socks in the bag.

The next morning, the twin's mother gave both of them a necklace, it was a thick, glass ball with a chain attached to it. "Keep them in here" she said to them, the two brothers were confused at first, but then realized she probably meant the stones.

"Father, can I ask again? Why can't we ride horses?" Kouji complained to his dad, and he just told him, "The horses are scared of the stones". Kouji sighed and headed towards Asagao, which is north of Amaririsu (the twin's home), while waving goodbye to their parents.

The two boys kept walking, and walking. Asagao wasn't that far away from their home, but it was still far away. After three hours of walking they sat down and rested for a bit. Asagao was still three hours away.

Kouji pulled of his bandana. The younger boy was wearing brown short-sleeved shirt with a long-sleeved white shirt underneath, and hazelnut pants.

The older boy wore the same thing, but his brown shirt was a lighter shade, and underneath was a black long sleeved shirt, with light hazelnut pants.

The bandana boy pulled out a map from his satchel and examined it, "When we get to Jasumin we'll need a new map for that city you know." "We'll find one somehow," replied Kouichi, "want some bread?" Kouji nodded and the older one gave him some copper coloured bread.

"Thanks" Kouichi just smiled.

After finishing their little meal, they set off to Asagao once again. "Have you ever been to Asagao Kouji?" Kouichi asked, Kouji shook his head, "I've been to Hyakunichisou, but no Asagao. I heard they have a inn mixed with a blacksmith." "That's one weird combination" and Kouji nodded.

Then it returned to silence.

About three hours of walking later, the two twins arrived in Asagao. "Excuse me," Kouichi asked one of the merchants nearby, "but do you know of any inns?" The merchant nodded and pointing in front of him, "Keep walking, then go to the very end of the right, it's there" "Thank you sir" Kouichi thanked the merchant, and went to find the inn.

The inn was covered with coffee coloured wood; above the entrance was a sign that said 'Bole Inn'. Next to the inn was a little woodshed like house. It was covered in burnt, brown coloured wood, with a broken sign hanging on the side that said 'Blacksmith'.

Outside the inn, the twins saw a boy will auburn, coloured spiky hair sweeping the floor with an old broom. He had a pair of round goggles and he had brown-blue eyes, he wore a redwood coloured shirt and pants.

The boy looked up and saw the twins, and then he opened to the door to the inn and shouted, "Kuya!" "What is it Dai? Customers?" came a voice from in the inn, "Uh-huh!" he replied. Then almost straightaway another boy stepped out of the inn.

This boy about the same age as Kouji (definitely shorter Kouji thought), he had chocolate brown hair and rust coloured eyes. He wore goggles on his head like the other boy, except his were square shaped. The boy was wearing a red short-sleeved jacket like jacket, a long-sleeved yellow shirt underneath, and light brown pants.

The boy smiled at the twins, "You two looking for rooms?" the boy asked, Kouichi nodded while Kouji rolled his eyes 'What do you think we're here for?' "Yes, unless the inn is already filled?" the older one asked. "This is inn is never full, even though all the travellers come here." The boy replied, "Come inside, I'll look for keys" he opened the door and held it, waiting for the twins to go in.

Kouichi nodded and dragged Kouji in. The yellow shirt boy turned towards the other boy, "Dai, get them some tea, it's going to be a while before I find the keys" "Uh-huh" was Dai's reply before going inside to the kitchen. Then the chocolate haired boy went in as well.

"Finding the keys is going to be a while, I told Dai to get you two some tea, there's some chairs over there" the chocolate head pointed towards a couple of chairs near the entrance, while Kouichi went to sit down, Kouji decided to lean against the wall.

"What are your names?" the chocolate head asked, "I'm Takuya, but some people call me goggles." "I can see why," Kouichi softly laughed, "I'm Kouichi". The older twin sent a glare to Kouji as if saying you better introduce yourself. Kouji sighed and glared at the floor, "And I'm Kouji, we're twins, as you can probably tell" "It's really nice to have siblings," Kouji stopped glaring and looked up at Takuya, who was facing his back to him, "You don't feel lonely, and you can trust them. Dai's like a brother to me, even though we're the same age"

"Dai? That boy with auburn hair?" Kouji questioned, he was a curious person. "Yup, that's Dai. His real name is Daisuke though. He doesn't know how to talk properly, so he talks in broken sentences, or something like that."

At the mention of Dai, the auburn hair came into the lobby area - where the other three were – carrying a tray with two cups of tea. "Kuya. Guests. Tea." "Thanks Dai" Takuya said to the auburn head while fiddling with a wood puzzle.

The auburn head walked towards Kouji and gave him a cup of tea, "Thanks" Kouji said, and then he went towards Kouichi and gave him a cup of tea too "Thank you" Kouichi said with a smile when accepting the cup.

Dai nodded and moved to where Takuya was, "Kuya. Help?" said Dai before sitting down next to Takuya who was sitting cross-legged on the floor fiddling with a wooden puzzle the size and thickness of a book.

"That'll be great, thanks Dai" Takuya said before handing the book sized puzzle to Dai, he turned towards a confused looking Kouichi and Kouji, the twins thought 'If he is finding keys, why is he playing with a wooden puzzle?'

"Mr Saku, the owner of this place and the blacksmith place, is always scared that someone might steal the keys, so he placed them in a wooden box with a puzzle on top, it's apparently a really difficult puzzle, but Dai can do it. Sometimes I can do it, if I'm lucky" explained Takuya. 'What if some else can easily do the puzzle?' Kouji thought, but kept that to himself.

"Kuya. Finish. Key?" "Oh, right, get uh, the key for room 8" After several clinking noises of the keys, Dai finally dragged out a silver key from the box "Eight." "Thanks Dai, here's your keys, your room is upstairs," said the chocolate head to the twins.

The older twin took the keys from Dai, nodded thanks and headed upstairs to their room, will Kouji following after.

In the evening, while the twins were off touring the town of Asagao, Takuya and Dai were in the kitchen making dinner for the both of them, and Mr Saku. The two boys were discussing... about potatoes…

"Potato. Cooked. Mushy?"

"I don't know either Dai, you would think potatoes would be hard after cooking it, but then it turns soft."

"Potato. Melt?"

"Maybe they did melt."

"Reaction. Chemical?"

"Do potatoes have chemicals in them? We'd you learn that word Dai?"

"Merchant."

"Oh right, the merchant, of course. I hope you didn't learn any colourful language from him."

"Language? Colour?"

"Swearing Dai, I hope you didn't learn any of that."

The innocent little Dai shook his head while peeling off the skin of a potato.

"Oi! Goggles!" came a new voice from the back door of the kitchen, the back door squeaked open revealing a man with white hair. "What is it Mr Saku?" the goggled boy asked as he looked up from peeling the skin off of a potato.

"We're runnin' outta of iron and bronze, go make a trip to Sakura tomorrow will ya?" the man, Mr Saku, said in a cracking voice, "Ok then." replied Takuya. Then the man left.

"Kuya? Days? Leaving?"

"Yeah, guess I'm going to Sakura tomorrow."

The auburn head frowned with a sorrowful expression, "Kuya. Miss. Lonely."

"I know Dai, I'll be lonely too, but Mr Saku needs the materials."

Dai pouted before returning to peeling potato skins.

In the morning, as the twins exited their rooms to hand back the key to Takuya. the younger one asked his older brother,"Kouichi, where are we heading next?" "I think we should go to Bijozakura, it's closest." replied the older boy, Kouji nodded and continued walking to where Takuya should be, but it was little Dai staring at a chair near him with a glum expression.

"Here's the key to our room, um, Dai" Kouichi said as he put the key on the counter. Daisuke looked up, still holding his gloomy face, "Thank." He went over to the key, picked it up, and stuffed it in the wooden box behind the counter before going outside.

The twins also followed suit. They had agreed last night that they would try to find weapons in Asagao before leaving. When they got outside, Dai was clinging onto Takuya's arm not letting go, while the chocolate brown brunette was cleaning the handles of some swords.

From outside the blacksmith shed, you can see there were different types of weapons, what were they doing in the blacksmith place?

"Dai, I'm trying to clean these swords, could you maybe get off of me please?"

"Kuya. Leaving. Letting go. No."

The twins were confused at the scene but decided to go inside the blacksmith shed, also receiving a 'good morning' from Takuya. Mr Saku who was banging a hammer on a sword greeted the two boys inside the shed.

"What do yer two need?" the white haired main asked the two lads in front of him.

"We're looking for a weapon," replied Kouichi, while Kouji was examining a katana.

The hilt of the katana was wrapped in a midnight blue cloth, while the cross guard was a sky blue. The blade of the katana was a silvery-blue colour. Next to it was the case of the weapon, it was azure colour with gold spirals decorated it. Kouji picked up the katana and placed it in its cover. "I'd like this katana please" the bandana head said to Mr Saku, who smiled.

"You have good eyes boy, that katana won't break that easily, goggles made the hilt." Kouji was surprised at this, "Ah, I remember when he was so scared, but then made it perfectly well and beautiful–"

"Mr Saku! Didn't I say that you shouldn't sell that katana? I made a horrible hilt, it was my first try." A voice from outside said, the twins recognized this as Takuya. "It's not horrible." Countered the bandana boy, "How much is it?" he asked the white haired man who was telling Takuya, 'Listen to bandanas'.

Mr Saku looked at the katana and thought about it, "Thirty oniyuris" Kouji nodded, fished a sack of money from his satchel. Taking out a white coloured, round shaped coin like thing with a flower etched into it, he placed the money on the counter behind the white haired man.

While Kouji was doing this, Kouichi looked around and spotted a two section staff, the older twin had used them once, and he was pretty good at it if he does say so himself.

The two section staff was made out of a sturdy looking wood, a long chain on top connected the two wooden sticks. Kouichi picked up the staff, it wasn't too heavy, but it was heavy enough to knock any enemy out cold. "I'll take this thank you," the older one walked to where Mr Saku is, "How much is it?" asked Kouichi.

"Thirty oniyuris and four uris" was Mr Saku's answer. Kouichi took some money from the sack which Kouji hold, and placed the white coin and another cream coloured coin with a sun etched into on the counter.

"Ey lads," the twins looked back (they were heading out already), "You two know how to use those weapons? You heading to Bijozakura?" asked Mr Saku. Kouichi answered for the both of them, as usual, "To answer your first question, yes, we learned back at home. And to answer you second question, yes we are."

"Goggles!" the white haired man yelled suddenly, "What is Mr Saku?" asked Takuya as he entered the shed carrying five sparkly swords and a Daisuke clinging onto him, "Show these lads where Bijozakura is ey, yer know why." Finished the Mr Saku, then he went back to banging the what ever he was banging before with his hammer.

"We don't need a guide, we can go to Bijozakura by ourselves." this was Kouji complaining that they should not let Takuya guide or help them whatsoever.

"You'll need my help," this was Takuya trying to convince the younger twin to let him help, "The forest to Bijozakura is like a maze, nobody can just easily walk through it and expect them to arrive at Bijozakura. And also, you might be... swallowed without knowing…"

Kouji thought about this, if Takuya was right about the forest being a maze, they would need him, since he obviously knew his way around. And if something about being swallowed then… Kouji sighed, "Fine."

"Look, I don't really care you don't want my help, but I don't want you guys getting swallowed in there." Takuya knew why Mr Saku suggested that he was a guide; he didn't want the twins to experience what he experienced. The eating despair, Takuya shivered at the thought of this.

"Thank you for helping, Takuya. But um, about this swallowing thing you're talking about…" Kouichi said confused, 'What is the swallowing thing?' thought Kouichi, "Don't worry about it," said Takuya with a smile, but that smile soon turned into a expressionless expression, "You'll know about the swallowing thing when we get there".

"I'm going to pack some stuff, then we can go" said the chocolate head went into the inn regaining his smile, while the twins and a glum looking Dai was waiting.

"Kuya. Thank." The twins turned towards Dai, they had no idea what Dai had said. "Kuya. Nice. Help." "Um… what?" Kouichi decided to ask. "Kuya! Nice! Help! Thank!" now Dai was frantically waving his arms around as if trying to swim in invisible water.

"Sorry Dai, um, we don't really know what you're trying to say…" Kouichi is very confused while Kouji is trying to decipher what Dai had said, "Are you saying that we should… Thank Takuya for helping us?" asked the very clever Kouji while Dai furiously nodded his head, "And that he is nice? To help us?" Now you would think Dai's head nodding with throw his head off. Good thing it didn't.

Takuya suddenly emerged from the inn into the outside world. The chocolate head was wearing his signature goggles. He wore what he had worn yesterday, red short-sleeved jacket like jacket, a long-sleeved yellow shirt underneath, and light brown pants. He also wore russet colour boots. He was wearing a sand coloured satchel, he also wore a brown belt which held two daggers, one a normal plain looking, and the other was a bit fancy.

The hilt of the dagger was warm orange colour; there was a grey stone at the end, while the cross guard of the dagger was a crimson red colour with fire patterns etched into it. The dagger's scabbard's throat (the tip) was a gold colour, the tip being gold as well. And lastly the middle was also a red with fire patterns etched into it, like the cross guard.

The glum looking Daisuke jumped onto Takuya, hugging him, but was kind of choking him instead, "D-Dai! C-Can't breath!" Takuya managed to get out. The auburn haired boy quickly let go and bowed in apology. When Daisuke stood up straight, his eyes were watery, as if about to burst into tears. "Gah! Dai don't cry! You know how I am when I see someone cry!" began Takuya who put his arms around the shorter boy. Yes, Dai was shorter.

Kouichi looked at Daisuke, 'He must really like Takuya…' thought Kouichi. Kouji was looking elsewhere, 'Weird relationships…' though Kouji.

"Daisuke!" Takuya exclaimed and Daisuke looked up at him, while trying to wipe away tears that were trying to fall down, "I'll come right back when I get the stuff Mr Saku needs from Sakura! Ok? So you better watch the inn! And don't you dare feel lonely!" Daisuke slowly nodded and Takuya leaned forward to kiss him on the forehead.

"Well, be a good boy Dai!" he let go of the auburn hair and turned towards the twins, "Let's go shall we?" and walked towards the forest with the twins which was located a few metres away. "Uh-huh!" called Daisuke from behind.

And thus, Kouji, Kouichi and Takuya, are off on a journey to the ghostly looking forest.

Chapter 1 END