Flashback ten years to visit a girl
(This entire chapter is based off of a memory of an OC who will appear later on in the story. It would have happened approximately eight and a half years before Rai met the chasers. But as the chapter title suggests, in this fanfic it would have happened about ten years ago. I do not own TCC.)
A young girl sat on a stone that served as a chair. She couldn't find the tears to cry or the strength to overcome her problems. Once again she was lucky to have just scars, bruises, cuts, broken bones, and little to no food. "Why?" she muttered. "Why does my brother despise me so much?"
The door to the home opened and the little girl couldn't hide the look of fear as her brother walked in. she huddled herself in the corner as much as she could hoping he wouldn't see her but she knew he saw her as soon as he spoke. "Stand up little worm!"
The girl tried to stand up but as a result of broken bones and blood loss from the cuts she fell back onto the stone. Among the broken bones were three broken ribs, a bone in her foot, her left wrist, nose, jaw, knee, ankle, elbow, and all fingers on her right hand. Had she known how to count she would have known that she had fifteen broken bones in total.
Her brother glared as he grabbed her by the shirt and lifted her up. "I told you to get up and you stay on your stone?" She was fast to respond. "How can you expect me to be able to stand if I don't have the strength to do that?" Her response angered her brother who bashed her into the wall and held her there. He reached with his spare hand into his card holder and swiped it. "Tai Chi Ki-uck Pummel!" he yelled.
Mere moments later, the girl was on the floor in a broken heap. The number of broken bones went up and she was unconscious. The brother smiled cruelly and was about to continue when someone appeared behind him and said "Get out of the house, boy." The new person was an older man with reddish-orange eyes messy gray hair. The younger boy would have said no but he saw something on the older man that revealed something that drove fear deep into his heart. He ran away.
The older man smiled an evil smile then knelt at the side of the young girl. He pressed his index and middle finger on the side of her head. "Wake up my little one," he said gently. The girl opened her eyes. "What are you called, young one?" he continued in his soft voice. She shook her head. "I don't know my name. My brother won't tell me." "Well, since you don't know you're name I'll think of one for you. Is that okay?" The girl nodded. "Little One, why does your brother treat you this way?" "I don't know. I think it might be because I'm blind, weak, puny, and useless and more."
The old man smiled so evil that it would have scared the little girl if she saw it. 'Perfect,' he thought. 'I can manipulate her so that I can retire.' He brushed some curly blond locks of hair out of her face. "I can help you. I can give a power that will scare your brother away, give you sight, strength, and purpose. Of course you would have to train, and give some things up but in the end it will be worth it for you."
The girl silently got excited. "Tell me, what do I have to do?" "I'm a Tai Chi. You do know what the Tai Chi is, right?" The girl nodded. "I am old, Little One. I long to retire but no one is willing to take my place. No one messes with Tai Chi because of our power. We can use any symbol. I could continue with my job but as I said earlier I am old. I need someone young with full potential. I need someone like you."
The girl gave it some thought. "I'll do it." He smiled. "I'm glad to finally find an apprentice. I should warn you now that there will be a little pain involved but it will not be as bad as the pain from your brother. Now for a name…it would not be good for my apprentice to not have a name. I think I'll call you Mem."
Mem smiled as her new name was said. "I like my new name, Sir. Is there anything I can call you?" He thought for a moment. "Call me Master H or just Master." Master H placed his hand on Mem's shoulder and an orange glow appeared, filling the room. Mem's wounds and injuries healed and she regained her health and strength.
Master H smiled as he thought of the years of training to be had. "Mem, I truly am glad that you accepted. I'll start by teaching you to use the Tai Chi 1000. With the way you'll learn to do it, it won't matter if you're dragonoid or tigeroid. Do you understand?"
Mem nodded, "Yes Master."
(Mem is an OC obviously but her brother is not. If you follow the hints you might figure out who he is. Further hints of who he is will come in later chapters.)