Chapter 1: Legends, The Sea, and Busses
OOC: Real sorry it took this long. Been really busy with school.
A long time ago…
Over two thousands years ago an island on the southern peninsula, Onigashmia, was captured by a group of Oni. Oh, it wasn't a big island, however, it was a gift from the gods, we couldn't just hand it over to foreign Oni. To re-conquer the island, the Shogun immediately formed a group of soldiers and crossed the rough waves to Onigashmia. However, the opponent was an Oni. It was strong and used sorcery.
As the Oni lord conjured his dark spells, an unearthly aura rose among black clouds. Strong rains and winds turned the sea stormy. The difficult tides bore into the ships bottoms and the sea became very difficult to travel across. To make matters worse, there was an explosive storm, like a colossal giant from Norse mythology, the Shogun couldn't lay a finger on it.
Whether it was a curse, or another one of the Oni's spells, a plague appeared and spread across the land. With plague, came famine, earthquakes, typhoons, and droughts. The situation had almost detorited to the point that the Shogun considered surrender. After ending for two years, things finally changed for the best. The population had been reduced to one half, when the king of time told the princess of Japans a revelation from Ryuujin-Sama, the Dragon God. If the princess followed those words, the Dragon god would cure the pestilence. However, the problem persisted.
The island was still occupied by Oni, and because of the summoned storm, no one could cross to the island. The princess continued praying diligently day and night. A white cat with red eyes, was said to be her only companion during her vigil,
"Please, Dragon god. Cure this disease and stop the storm." She pleaded
The princess prayed for three years to the god that lights the sea and he finally answered.
The sea turned bright Lapis Lazuli, the Youki, water imps, disappeared into the ocean. The water became calm once again. The ships could now cross. This time they would reclaim Onigashima. The Yashi-Gari, and Samurai warriors got excited and gathered their ships, but…
The princess had used her last drop of life…her glossy black hair turned pure white and she died, screaming. According to some variants of the legend, her soul colored Lapis Lazuli seeped out of her body, and formed into a black gem. Afterwards, her brother, the Shogun's son, took the gem into his possessions.
Her death roused her brother. He was appointed leader by his father, the Shogun. He used the ships as a decoy, and with a retuine of three people, he snuck over to the island. Once a year, at a certain place and time, a secret path to the island appear, that way, the group could sneak over, but after that, a ferocious battle broke out. Leaving the lesser Oni to his comrades, he headed to the oni lord, and drew his bow. To counter the prince, the Oni gathered massive rocks, and began to throw them, raining rocks down. Would the prince run out of arrows? Or would the Oni run out of rocks to throw? After five minutes, the Prince changed his strategy. Firing to arrow at once, the prince struck the Oni-king's eye.
"How dare you?!"The oni lord screamed. Holding his crushed right eye, his face seething with rage, he started to cast a spell,
The drops of his blood turned to black Miasma. The rising Youki blocked the light coming from the sea, and enveloped the Oni-lord.
With rumbling in the ground, the Miasma grew, expanded, and became thicker. The clear wind blew and...
An ox, blacker than the void appeared. It was the size of a small hill, with the ferocity of a tiger. Yellow eyes, glowing, it flung sharpened horns and kicked at the ground.
A normal soldier would have given up without a fight. However, the prince was a mighty warrior, and knew endless courage
The target, not moving, was struck by many arrows, but never got injured, and the quiver soon emptied. This was no ordinary Oni. Like gods of an ancient lineage, its blood was special, and was a demon god. Then of course, weapons made by humans would do no harm, but against a divine sword, the oni should fall.
The shogun faced the ox-shaped oni and threw away his bow. In its place shone …
"In the name of the Blue Palace, Dragon god, Ocean's king, lend your power! Cleave this Oni's head" he shouted, bringing up a massive sword, that shone Lapis Lazuli,
The rush of a sword, the wind cleaved, an impact. An ox's head tumbled to the ground in a spray of black blood.
And so, the oni who lost their king fled like little spiders on the wind. The oppressed people of the island gave their allegiance to the shogun…
"And so, Onigashima was reclaimed, and all ended on a happy note…"
Aoi-Sensei finished her tale. Yawning, I sighed in disappointment. I will admit I was wrapped up in the story at the start and middle, but in the end, it had a cliché ending like a fairy tale.
Glancing up at Aoi-Sensei , I let out a disapproving puff. She was wearing simple white sweats, along with a pair of track pants. She looked like a PI teacher, instead of the advisor to the Literature club. Her brown hair was very messy, and her glasses were crooked on her face. Her arms were crossed, and she wore a serious expression, which soon faded, replaced by a warm smile.
So it was just a story after all...
After the applause died down from the other students, I slight sound reached my ear, calming vibrations, the source was the bus's engine hitting rough patches on the road. The bus itself was the shame shape as a train, but it sounded more natural than going over gaps in a rail. Well, as natural as a machine could be. We were originally on a train in the afternoon, but we had since transferred to a bus, which we've traveled on for a good while now.
"And that students is the Oni legend of Unasaka."
The story teller gave a bow.
Though not a charter bus, it would not be strange to have a tour guide but…Sensei holding a mike in one hand and wearing sweats didn't look like one,
"Yes! Yes! Aoi-Sensei!"
An excited voice could be heard from behind me. Responding, Aoi-Sensei said,
"Yes, what is it?"
Aoi-Sensei no doubt rivalled a real bus guide in terms of storytelling. An expert in classics, she also knew many Fairy Tales, both Eastern and Western. Anyway,
When both teacher and students were on a bus, it usually signaled that an event was happening. And since it was summer vacation, you could infer that event was a training camp. The same excited voice from before spoke up,
"Unaska… who would have guessed where we're having training has such a legend?!"
Heading south, today we started training camp. Well…I use the word loosely since that training was reading piles of old books and some physical activity mixed in.
Again, that excited, loud, and annoying voice, entered my ears,
"Maybe we're going to learn the ultimate Oni extermination skills from a mysterious old man?!"
"Who knows?" Aoi Sensei teased.
"Awww what kind of answer is that, I can't stand this situation Sensei!" The voice practically shouted, annoying me greatly. It belonged to the highly energetic first year, Momoko Akita. Who was flailing her brown pig tails around, as she poked her head behind me. Before I could tell her to politely shut up, a kind, and quiet voice addressed Momoko from across me.
"Shhhh please keep your voice down, Momoko-Chan . Homura-Chan's trying to sleep."
Madoka Kanama, said, gently brushing the hair of the girl who was sleeping on her shoulder. Lighting patting the sleeping Homura Akemi on the head, Madoka gave Momoko an apologetic look. The first year had her pink hair done in ribbons, while Homura had her black hair done in braids. The glasses she usually wore were safely tucked in her shirt's pocket.
Momoko nodded her head eagerly, obviously not wanting to disturb the constantly ill girl. Homura had just recently had a heart surgery, and had been hit the hardest from the constant traveling, and had fallen asleep a good four hours ago. Becoming quieter, but not losing her energy, she questioned me,
"What do you think Osa-Senpai?"
I responded in a deadpan tone, "Yes Momoko, an old man is going to teach us an ancient secret sword technique…"
Momoko poked the girl sitting beside her,
"See Zawachii? Osa believes me!" A quiet and caring voice answered her,
"Momo-Chan, don't bother Shouko-Sempai." I turned my head to face Yasumi. Her brown eyes were downcast, and her skin looked paler then usual. I asked, with concern in my voice,
"Yasumi, are you all right?"
"I'm…fine Shouko." I could tell by her voice, as well as her paler than normal completion she was lying. Sighing, I let the issue slide. Like Homura, Yasumi wasn't the healthiest of people. I worried about the both of them constantly, I was their upper classmate after all. It was my duty, as their sempai, and their friend.
"Mmmhhh...yes..."
Speaking of friends, I snorted, and turned to face my best friend, Ayoishiro. She was sleeping on my shoulder and drooling. Smiling blissfully, she said,
"Not there... lick there Shouko..."
I slammed my elbow into her rib, which caused her to open her eyes, and hug me tightly,
"Oh Osa...I was just dreaming about you..." She said, winking at me. Punching her lightly on the arm, I said strictly,
"Keep me out of your perverted fantasies "Hime-San". Or i'll throw you into the sea."
Glancing outside of the window, I could see that the sun was starting to go down, with its bright rays of light turning an orangish color. Beside the road which our bus drove over, was the Southern Sea, which shone brightly under the light. When the former president told me that the training camp would take place beside the eastern sea, I was indifferent. Our school was by a lake, so I saw a large body of water every day, nothing to be excited about. But for some reason when I told the other club members, everyone became even more ecstatic about the training camp.
When I was a little girl, Grandmother would take my on all kinds of trips. She always loved traveling, occasionally , Natsu-nee, my older cousin would come along with us. , Natsu-nee was the one who kindled my interest in Kendo. Her skill in the sport was unmatched; she even made it to the nationals. They nicknamed her The Rook, for her inconveniently and deceptive swordsmanship.
Perhaps the reason going to the sea didn't really excite me was because I had already been there before when I was younger? Most of my memories of that time were blank, and I didn't really remember any specifics of were we went on are excursions, so it was a possibility.
My grandmother she...liked seeing unfamiliar things...
Like how you'll grow tall if your raised in a place with a high ceiling...
If the items in the world become larger, people grow large,
And in the summer of my third year of high school,
I went on a journey
Though it was summer camp, it was still a journey,
Riding by train than by bus,
We went towards the Sumner sea...
Aoishiro Opening (Watch) watch?v=HGWd6RFc-8c