So yeah. It's been a while. But I'm not giving up yet. I'm doing a full rewrite of this story. Then I'm seeing this through. Summer is soon to begin, and this needs to be done. So let's get on with it. I have also decided to change when Tatsumi arrives in the Capital to at least a day earlier. Plot reasons.
I believe this was the part when I said "Onward to Plot!" but I've changed as a writer. It would be grammatically incorrect for me to use that. Too bad I don't care. Onward to Plot!
Oh, and we're doing it in third person. From a fan suggestion.
He phased through the thick brush, thinking as if he had heard him.
"...I feel as though... he has arrived..." The man said. "Perhaps greetings are in order..."
He dropped down off the ledge, watching the brown-haired boy walk by.
"Hmm. He carries himself joyously. I'm surprised that he would be the first," he whispered. The boy walked forward without a care in the world, until seeing an First-Class Earth Dragon erupt from the ground. He grinned upon seeing it, and charged forward with reckless abandon. He effectively sliced the arm off before it tore apart a caravan. Moving with lightning quick speed, he then sliced the body into multiple segments, letting the beast fall to the ground. When the dust cleared, He turned and grinned. The caravan drivers moved forward, but the man had seen enough.
"I am sorry... that the grin you have will become more sinister," The man sighed, disappearing.
He reappeared on top of a mountain, where an Air Manta flew overhead, heading North. He knew who rode it, as the temperature dropped tremendously. While it did, it blocked out the sun above the Capital, almost as if the city was in shadow. Fitting.
"Just as Humans eventually rot away, countries collapse, as well. Even the Imperial Capital, which has prospered for a thousand years, in now a living hell of corruption."
The man stepped forward, looking down to the forest that he was in mere seconds ago. His eyesight, while damaged, allowed him to see the boy he previously watched enter a cave. He gave a chuckle as to how the boy entered the cave.
"Evil spirits take Human form and run amok, claiming everything as their own," he said, gazing back at the Capital.
"Those evils which Heaven cannot judge... They will be dealt with in the darkness."
The man warped away, to places unknown.
"Tatsumi..." he said, picturing the boy's face in his mind. "...Or, shall I say, Wrath... I wish you luck."
"Sayo? Ieyasu?" Tatsumi stumbled around, believing he heard their voices. "Where are you?" He threw his bag down to run faster.
As he charged through the forest, heading to what he believed to be the origin, he stumbled, and tripped into a cavern.
Tatsumi yelled, as the cave went down for a long way. It seemed to be a bottomless pit. Of course, Tatsumi knew that it was unlikely that it was bottomless. He would no doubt smash into the cave floor, and end his journey there. His one chance was to attempt to slow his descent, and fast; he was beginning to see the floor rise towards him.
With a yell, he plunged his sword into the wall, driving it in only halfway, which slowed his fall, but also snapped his blade in two. He landed hard on his side, holding half a sword and possibly having some broken bones.
"Damn it..." Tatsumi moaned. He was able to roll onto his stomach, in a less painful position, and then crawl to the ledge and lean up. He was stuck, with possibly broken ribs, and no way to get back up. If this was the home of a Danger Beast, he would be easy food.
"Well... I guess that's that. I can yell for help, but if a creature passes by, it could launch into the cave and end me," Tatsumi said. He laughed dryly.
"Ironic that after killing... huff- Danger Beasts, I die... huff- from falling..." He said. Tatsumi was still determined to do something, so he looked around, trying to find something that could help conceal him, or help him up. He looked to the wall, and saw, to his surprise, a metal door. Intrigued, he slowly crawled over to it, doing his best to not be in pain. He reached the door, and, at great pain, turned the knob. After falling shortly after, he gazed around at the room, which appeared to be somewhat library like. Tatsumi had never seen so many books concentrated in one place, as the printing press was only recently developed in the Capital.
He continued to crawl, making his way to a nearby chair, and pulling himself unto it. He leaned unto the desk, and read the book that was splayed open.
Log 37B. I've done it. I was able to develop a miracle cure, mending bones in mere minutes. Labeled C73, I am going into hiding until I can refine hundreds more to give to those in need. Thus far, I have established 3 base camps, with this current one only having one, but others having-
Tatsumi, being moronic, instantly stood up, before growling in pain and falling down. After reading that, he thought he had found a way out of his problem. He crawled to the shelf and, with great effort, stood and grabbed out a chalice labeled C73. After taking only a small sip, he decided to drink it all. It wouldn't hurt him.
Tatsumi fell and writhed in agony. It was as if his flesh was being consumed by a corrosive acid. Upon further inspection, he saw that his very skin was splitting, in lines, as if he was struck by lightning. They stretched from his legs and arms all the way up to his neck. Two perfectly line up on his face.
From these crevices, blood did not spew forth. What did was something that would have interested Tatsumi, if he wasn't screaming from pain.
From the cracks, fire spewed forth, and enveloped his entire body.
Tatsumi was to be cooked alive.
Wrath.
The one who rode the Air-Manta, the one the Man saw, experienced an incredible increase in temperature. A quick glance back showed something that surprised her. A perfect spire of flame rose from the ground to the Heavens. She tapped the beast with her heel, digging it into its flesh, causing the beast the fly downwards. A clearing could not be found, so one was made, creating a slick, icy plain. The source came from the earth itself.
What frightened- no, perhaps that would be the wrong word. What excited her was that the fire ended, retreating back into a cave. At the bottom was a figure that was enveloped in flame. Curious, she jumped to the base of the cave, landing gracefully. She gazed at the creature, which took a human like form.
Could it be some exotic Danger Beast? I only know of something with these qualities, the fabled Epsilon-Class Beast, but those are mere stories.
She cocked her head to the side.
Which begs the question, what is it? Human, perhaps? It wouldn't make sense if the person was actually on fire, and the only Teigu similar would be Rubicante, but it burns absolutely. Not a Shingu, they were less powerful... What an enigma.
She was about to advance before the creature vanished in a black flare.
Most wouldn't be able to see, but a person had appeared for nanoseconds, and warped away in a black flash with the creature in tow.
Hmm... it seems that is valuable to someone. No matter. If it becomes important, I need merely deal with it upon my return. I have a rebellion to quell.
And with that, the Woman jumped up and landed perfectly on the Air-Manta that was attempting to flee.
"Who said you would be back in control?" She said sickeningly. "You are under my control."
What she had seen defied explanation, but one thing stood out to her.
It was if that creature was the manifestation of the world's fury, its Wrath.
Tatsumi jolted upwards, his head smacking someone's hand.
"Easy. You have no broken ribs, but you still are pretty bruised up," A man said.
"Jeez. I thought that medicine was supposed to help. All it did was make me pass out," Tatsumi groaned, causing a sharp intake of breath from the Man.
"Do you not remember anything from afterwards?" He asked. Tatsumi shook his head no.
"...That is unfortunate."
"Hey, may I ask what your name is?" Tatsumi asked. The man paused, almost as if he was debating what to say.
"Kitama," he replied after a long silence.
"'To come to the void'?" Tatsumi asked. Kitama shrugged.
"If you wish to interpret it that way, feel free," He grunted. "Now, I applied some local painkillers to the affected area, so you should be fine to go. You may feel a bit stiff tomorrow, but other than that you're fine."
"Hey, hang on. How did you find me?" Tatsumi asked.
"Well, I heard a yell, and I followed it to the large hole in the ground. I put two and two together and, being an experienced climber, got you out."
"Oh, well- Thank you!" Tatsumi grinned.
"Alright, you go on ahead Tatsumi, you were going to the Capital or something, right? You were close to the path, so I assumed."
"Yeah, I better get back on track." Tatsumi stood up, being in little-to-no pain, and continued onward.
"Thank's Kitama!"
"Wait. If I were you, I'd wear this."
Kitama passed Tatsumi a blood-red wig and a mask with four prongs.
"Uh... why?"
"Conceal you identity. If people in the capital think you are a naive idiot, they'll trace you back to you village and take everything you own. Just, for your sake, do it."
"Alright..." Tatsumi was weirded out, but nonetheless put the things on, which seemed to please Kitama greatly. "Well, thank you for healing me and giving me... this... stuff. But, I must go. Take care!"
"Good luck, Tatsumi. Be wary..." Kitama faded off as Tatsumi cleaved through the brush.
"Hang on..." Tatsumi said. "I never said what my name was..."
After that revelation, Tatsumi's hand began to shake. Looking at it, he saw a symbol form on it. It was blood red, and was somewhat like a circle with three sharp lines coming from it, with a gap in between. The symbol looked familiar, but also looked- Powerful, as if a mere symbol could be described as such. It radiated Might.
"Huh. Wonder if it's a side effect from the pain-killers?" Tatsumi looked it over quizzically. "Oh well. I'll just cover it with a glove, keep my hands from getting scratched through here.
That was the point when Tatsumi realized the clothes he was wearing weren't his. They were black with blood red lines in strange patterns, running down the cloak. The inner outfit was a blood red shirt, and he wore pants with the texture of Denim, but with the same pattern as the cloak.
"O-kay then..." Tatsumi was baffled at what was going on. Now, instead of having his normal clothes, he was wearing something exotic, that was sure to get him noticed. Then he remembered the wig and the mask Kitama gave him, which at first seemed weird, but he now realized matched with the outfit perfectly.
He was also MUCH closer to the Capital than he previously realized.
"Hey, I might have beaten Sayo and Ieyasu here!" He shouted in victory. He'd made days worth of progress after being... immobilized...
"You know, I'm going to stop questioning things," He sighed. He reached for his sword, only to realize that his old one had broke, and been replaced by one that boasted a longer blade, and fit right in with the color scheme.
Jeez, can someone spell OCD?
Yeah, it's O-C-D. Like you said.
Tatsumi was weirded out by his mind answering itself, which normally didn't happen, but was too excited about being by the Capital.
He continued onwards to the gate.
With his unique appearance, he made more than a few heads turn. Strangely enough, he wasn't nervous. It was a complete shift in personality from how he would have reacted had the same thing happened when he wasn't wearing the outfit. He was extravagant, almost as if he was an actor onstage. He managed to get the attention of a girl who had a similar fashion sense, but at the far end of the spectrum. She was dressed in all pink, from her hair, to her shoes. Her eyes were even pink.
"Damn, that's actually kinda cool," He muttered. The girl began to walk up to him, looking like a pissed off Sayo. Experience had showed that what would follow would be bad.
"You!" She shouted, in a loud voice.
"What?" Tatsumi responded, imitating confusion. She pulled him aside and started berating him.
"Do you have any idea how much attraction you are getting? You'll probably get killed because some thief thinks you look ridiculous! You're new in town so I'll tell you: You wearing that only makes you stand out! You country bumpkins don't know anything do you? Stop being moronic and dress normally, you fool!" She continued to yell and say rude things, insulting him under the guise of "helping".
Tatsumi placed his hand to his chin, coming up with a snarky remark.
"That makes sense, I guess..." He said.
"See! I'm always righ-"
"But, if that is true..." He leaned forward so his face was inches away from hers.
"Then why are you dressed up like cotton candy at the fair?"
DAMN IT.
This was worth it.
The girl began to sputter, her face going red as she tried to come up with some kind of retort. With that said, she was also completely unprepared for the whiplash effect that took place. Tatsumi assumed she thought he was a simple country boy who wanted to show off, and he was right. The comment was equivalent to a slap in the face.
Tatsumi began to walk away, but asked what her name was.
He was told it was Mine, but could barely remember it after the malice filled words that came after.
"I hope you die!" She ended, her face full of fury.
Tatsumi whirled around.
"I thought you didn't want to draw attention, Mine?"
The entire crowd was no watching, and chuckling to themselves.
"Take care, Mine," Tatsumi said, leaving Mine to her own fury. He spotted a yellow haired, rather- scantily clad... woman hold Mine back. Then mention something about talking to him.
Tatsumi put his hand up to his head and sighed.
"Man, can't I catch a break?" He groaned as the Yellow haired woman walked over to him.
Yeah. I really intend to change a lot of this. I'm going to post this now, and when I reach the point where I originally stopped, I'm going to get rid of the first section. But things change, so perhaps not, eh? Anyways, hope you enjoyed this part of it. See you in the next chapter.