1- Finally the second chapter... Thanks for all the reviews!
2- Ann, thank you!
3- Things in italic are memories.
4- YGO!Zexal is not mine!
5- Sorry for the mistakes... English is not my first language.
6- Enjoy!
"Yuma, come back here!"
Akari shouted, calling her little brother, who was running through the crowd, excited, laughing loudly, bursting with childlike joy.
The little one was wearing traditional clothes: a beautiful male kimono, in a light purple tone, with small embroidered flowers and a red sash at the waist. The feet wore sandals made of wood, everything of the best quality.
People on the street were in a hurry, decorating the front of the houses with beautiful flowers and colorful ribbons.
It was the season when the cherry trees bloomed, leaving the landscape around the village beautiful, almost heavenly. The wind carried many petals, lining the floor with pink, like a storm of flowers.
The light emitted by the lanterns made of paper that were hung on wires crossing the only existing path through the village, though cleared by sunshine, gave a touch of joy over the place, making clear that all the inhabitants were celebrating.
Yuma had fun, passing beneath the legs of some men, running toward the local temple, where the celebrations would be conducted.
The sanctuary has always been a sacred place, with giant statues and several trees around. Yuma never really understood why his grandmother and sister go there every day and kneel before the so-called "gods", but the boy knew that they could attend any request if they give something in exchange...
To reach the temple, the red-eyed had to climb a long stairway that gave access to the building that housed the beliefs, offerings and statues representing the gods. It was so quiet there; you could hear the birds singing, the rustle of leaves, even a creek, however that particular day a group of people was playing a celebrating song, breaking all the peace to give room for laughs and joy.
Being a very important occasion, the villagers had prepared everything at its best: food, lodging, festivals, music ... Hoping that the new leader chosen by the emperor was well served and satisfied, getting out of there with a good impression, so, probably, in times of need the small town would receive help from the noble hands of the Shogun. It was a unique opportunity in the eyes of the wisest of the town, they had to take advantage!
Yuma watched as piles of offerings were mounted inside the temple. He imagined that everything would be given as a gift to the new commander of the lands, and for a moment the little one realized the importance that the Shogun should have...
"Yuma!" – Akari had finally managed to reach the boy – "Never run from me, okay?!" – She was angry, or rather worried, but ended up hugging her brother.
"Oh, you are there Yuma" – Haru said when she arrived, seeing the two grandchildren together – "It's a beautiful day, huh?"
"Yes! Granny, did you see how much food?!" – Yuma's eyes shone with wonder with such abundance. Haru just laughed, amused by the animation of her young grandson.
~xxxx*xxxx~
Not far away, traveling in a kind of wagon that had many details and colors, being pulled by beautiful and strong animals, making clear that belonged to some noble, were two peculiar people.
Both had skin as white as marble, it would be like to touch the purest silk. Spiky hair, disheveled. Clothing of the highest quality, the best fabric that could exist. The faces, with delicate features, were painted with a thin layer of powder, highlighting the beauty of these creatures, but something curious rested on the right eye of them: one band, which hid the eye.
Although they are extremely similar, they had their differences.
The blacks and rebels highlights contrasted with the whitish of the other, as well as the clothes, which were completely opposite color. The personalities also did not resemble at all, while one had a triumphant smile on his lips, the other focused on the landscape outside of the driving, apparently without noticing what was happening around him.
"Come on brother, you can not appear in public with that boredom's face" - said the black-haired.
"I do not know how to pretend like you..." - Replied without even looking at the other.
"I don't understand what you're complaining, Astral..."
Astral shifted in his place, touching the band around his eye, hiding it, trying hard to ignore his brother.
The truth was that he didn't want to be there, traveling from village to village, "showing" himself to people who were now under his power. With a sigh of weariness, the boy could see a village in the distance.
~xxxx*xxxx~
It was very hot that day. The cicadas sang hidden in the trunks of trees, and despite all the noise, peace ruled the place.
Sitting on the wooden floor, Astral was looking at insects with his one showing eye.
The house where he lived was huge, worth of a powerful leader like his father, a great leader, chosen by the emperor to rule over the lands of that province.
The young man was very proud of his father, and therefore strove to be educated the same way, unlike his brother, who showed total disregard for his family, only interested in his own growth and interests. However, Astral still had some sympathy for him.
"Lord! I bring very bad news!" - A man said when he finally found the white-haired.
~xxxx*xxxx~
Yuma heard a huge outcry, getting the message that the long-awaited Shogun had come after a whole day. Everyone was very excited, running toward the entrance of the village, wanting to welcome the guests.
"Come on Grandma!" – Said the small, barely containing the animation.
Haru just laughed, saying she hadn't the strength to go to the beginning of the village and then return to the temple, which would be in any way where the Shogun would present himself, but gave her grandson permission to go there as long as accompanied by Akari.
It did not take long for the siblings being in the midst of people, trying to see what was happening, but only getting to see a coach and some soldiers walking toward the temple.
~xxxx*xxxx~
Astral looked at his brother and then to the man, who held the post of bodyguard of his father, wondering what's so terrible had occurred.
It was true that his father had left to travel, having to go into enemy territory first, but Astral knew the caravan was very well protected, beyond the fighting skills that the man had. In other words, Astral was confident that no one would overthrow his father.
"As you know, the title of Shogun is hereditary, passing to the children of the old leader..."
Began the man, calling the attention of the brothers.
"And I come to say that now is the obligation of both of you assumes the responsibilities as the new masters of this land..."
"What are you saying?" - Astral said, standing where he was – "Where is my father? He is in charge of such obligations, we're still preparing to follow his steps."
The man appeared to be sad, looking away to the ground, sighing loud before revealing what Astral feared most.
"Sorry, but he was killed during the trip..."
~xxxx*xxxx~
When the caravan was on the stairs of the temple, the carriage stopped and two guys went down.
Some people were silent, seeing the dazzling beauty of both, while others celebrate. Yuma, in turn, wondered which of them was the new Shogun.
"Akari, look, his eye is golden!" – Exclaimed the child who was on the shoulders of the girl, finding curious the fact that both have an eye bandaged.
One member of the caravan approached the center of the place, and after calling the attention all was pure silence, including the music, which stopped sounding.
"Today is a very important day for this town and also for the province that we all live."
The man's voice echoed.
-"Today our new leaders will present themselves!"
The spiky-haired boys went to the man's side, facing all the inhabitants of that village.
"These are now bearing the title of Shogun!"
~xxxx*xxxx~
Astral was inside the room, feeling lonely, useless ... Thinking that now nothing could be done, unless a funeral worth of the name of his father.
Quietly, someone crept into the room from Astral, watching from afar.
"Sad?"
The boy with whitish hair turned quickly, seeing there, standing near a window, his brother. On the lips a smile and a twinkle of madness in the eye.
"What do you want?"
"Well, take it, we all die one day... We must now occupy ourselves with our mission and follow in the footsteps of that man."
"Do not refer to him with such neglect ... He was our father."
"Correction, he found us somewhere and decided to play at being a father."
Astral clenched his fists.
"If not for such kindness, surely we would have died. If he had not adopted us as his children, what future would we have?"
His brother just laughed.
"Don't be mad Astral! It's unquestionable that we should now appear as the new Shoguns, the rest doesn't matter!"
"And how do you suggest we do this? You know very well that only one of us can become the new leader..."
"Of course not! At least one good thing that man has provided… We both assume, and that the people get used to the idea, we will travel to each of the villages. Thus no revolt will be armed!"
Astral just ignored the other. He knew what his brother was planning ... Blinded by power, he was planning ways to win the support of the people...
Actually Astral didn't care about it; the pain felt by the loss of his father was immense, to the point of he didn't care about the crazy plans.
~xxxx*xxxx~
After a brief introduction, the black haired boy came forward, displaying an exuberant smile, speaking to all people, trying to transmit a calm feeling.
"From now on, when any of you need anything, I will take charge of supplying those needs!"
The people celebrated, and once again the man in charge of the caravan took the lead.
Yuma watched every one of the noble members who were there. Most looked tired, and the brothers who looked alike behaved quite differently. One, the white-haired, was inactive, not even watching the ceremony. The other brother smiled, and it gave chills to the Tsukumo. When the red eyes of the boy met with the golden one of the black-haired, Yuma shivered, feeling his body go through something horrible, seeing something in that color irises so unusual that the little one had never ever seen. He could not describe what that feeling was, but he felt that he could be swallowed by that ferocious look.
"All welcome the shoguns: Astral and..."
"96, you can call me number 96..."
Maybe someone could find this a little confusing, but, with the others chapters the story will "shows up" xD
Review please!
