Shadow: Heya gang! Back for more? Im glad you are because things start to get interesting at this point! So dont let me keep you!
Hikaru: Although my friend wishes, the only thing that belongs to him is me. Re: Zero belongs to their respective creators. Please enjoy.
Hikaru stood his mouth agape as he stood on a hilltop, overlooking the burning village below. "N-no..." He gasped, hearing the screams below. He suddenly darted towards the village running through the burnt fields as he made it into the town square. He trembled as he gazed upon the piles of burning bodies. Some of which he horrificly recognized as friends and family. "N-not again!" He cried out, turning around to see a small group of red cloaked cultists. His eyes widened as it turned into a hideous glare. "You..." He snarled as he darted after the group. "I will make you all pay!" He suddenly stopped. Trembling, Hikaru wasnt an adult, but a mere child.
"Wh-what happened!?" He glanced at his wardrobe, his coat and attire were gone. Leaving toddler clothes that adorned him. His eyes widened in horror as the black dragon tattoo on his shoulder was gone. He suddenly spun around and bolted away, tear's fell from his eyes as he leaped and jumped over burnt carcasses of the village inhabitants. He skidded to a hault, crying out in terror as his burnt parents lay before him. Reaching out with their mouths agape. Hearing the cult drawing near broke him of his trance. "The mountains..." He cried, running away. Reaching the base of the tall black mountains, dark clouds loomed the sky as thunder and lightning rattled the earth. Hikaru immediently began climbing.
"I...I have to make it to the top...Sensie...he will help me..." He sniffled, slowly making his way up as his tired limbs began to slow him down. Seeing the top of the mountains, Hikaru's eyes widened. "Sensie!" He screamed. His eyes widened, molding from the rocks in the mountain. Were Suburu, Emilia, the maids. They're expressions changing as the skin on their faces melted into hideous burnt skulls. Hikaru's eyes widened with terror as they reached out for him, it was at that moment that a chunk of rock he was grasping broke free. Hikaru screamed as he plunged high off the mountains of Asgorath.
"NO!" Hikaru screamed as he abruptly sat up from his bed. "Hikaru!" Emilia cried as she burst through the door with Suburu and Rem in tow. He panted softly as he stared in horror at the sheets on his bed. "Hikaru!? Whats wrong?" Suburu asked as they rushed to his side. "It...was...just a dream..." He muttered softly. "A dream?...Hikaru are you sure?" Emilia asked worringly. "Of course, why wouldnt it-" He stopped as he glanced around the room at the various large holes that were in the walls. "What...happened?..." He asked in shock. Everyone remained quiet for a moment. "We heard screams, and loud booms. It shook the whole mansion Master Hikaru..." Rem answered quietly. Hikaru tried to roll out of bed, but a sickening crunch echoed the room as he cried out in pain and collasped. Everyone rushed to his side as he glanced down at his legs. To his horror, they were broken and twisted.
Everyone gasped as Hikaru let out a cry of pain, but it soon faded as two lights began to illuminate the room. He looked down as Rem and Emilia were healing his legs. "Everything will be alright Hikaru, just relax." Emilia looked up at him with a smile. As Hikaru panted, he managed to give a weak smile as he suddenly closed his eyes and lost consciousness.
Hikaru's eyes fluttered gently as he opened them, peering up to the rays of sunshine that illuminated the ceiling. He winced slightly as he tried to sit up, but to his surprise he felt a hand press on his chest. Looking over, it was Emilia. "Hikaru, you shouldnt try to move." She spoke softly. He slowly rested his head on his pillow, glancing at all the holes in the walls he had made. "Heh, Mathers wont be too happy about this. Two days of employment and Ive caused a lot in damage." He sighed as he stared up at the ceiling.
"Hikaru...your dream...what was it?" Emilia asked softly, his eyes widened a bit as images of the nightmare flashed in his mind. "It was nothing.." He muttered. "Please. Tell me." She answered quickly. Hikaru hesitated, glancing up at Emilia then turning away. "I...fell off the mountain..." Emilia gasped a little in response as Hikaru rolled out of bed and shakily stood on his feet. "Hikaru you shouldnt be on your feet!" Emilia rushed to his side. "Im fine Emilia. I promise." He smiled weakly turning to the door. "Hikaru, please dont die..." She said softly, causing him to stop. He turned around to face her. "You hide it very well, but every since I saw you fight at the loot house. You are in constant pain. Your body is so badly damaged every movement causes you agony. Please...no training for today. Promise me..." She looked up at him worringly. His expression of shock turned into a soft smile. "I promise Emilia." She returned the soft smile as he turned and exited the room.
As Hikaru walked down the hall, he winced softly as he placed a hand against the wall. "She was right, my body is screaming in pain. It's getting worse every day. But I have to press on." He muttered to himself as he made his way to the lobby of the manor. "I promised her I wouldnt train today. So I need something to do...I wonder what the maids are up to?" He muttered as he made his way into the kitchen. There, the three were busy peeling potatoes. "Oh? Hikaru what are you doing out of bed? Shouldnt you be resting?" Suburu asked. Hikaru smiled and waved his hand. "I dont do well with resting."
He replied as he goes over and picks up a potato and a knife and begins peeling it neatly, everyone stared a bit surprised. "We didnt know you knew how to cook Hikaru." Rem stared, he smiled as he began to peel another potato. "Senseis favorite meal was steamed potatoes with roasted garlic. Ill have to get you some potatoes from his garden sometime." He replied. "Speaking of which, Suburu was really wanting to go to the market for some reason. Do you want to go Hikaru?" Asked Rem. He replied with a nod. "Of course, Id be happy to help." He replied with a smile as he set another peeled potato on a stack that he had quickly created.
Throughout the village near the manor grounds, Rem watched curiously as the village children played with Suburu and Hikaru. Suburu was busy wrestling some of the older boys while the more younger children climbed on Hikaru like a play set. "He's so strong, how can he do that?!" demanded as a young girl sat atop Hikaru's shoulders. While a few sat and hung off of his extended arms. He laughed softly as Suburu was having trouble keeping his ground against the older boys. "When I grow up I want to be as strong as Hikaru!" The girl atop his shoulders claimed. "Nuh uh! I want to be as strong as Hikaru!" Another protested. "Hey! What about me!?" Suburu exclaimed as a shy blue haired girl approached the group, holding a small brown puppy. "Woah! A puppy!" They all exclaimed as everyone hopped off the duo. Except for the girl that sat atop Hikaru's shoulders.
"Hey there little guy." Suburu smiled as he reached out to pet the dog, to everyones surprise. The pup growled and suddenly chomped on Suburu. He jumped back as he howled in pain, the bite bleeding slightly. "How odd, he's never done that before..." The girl whimpered as Hikaru approached her. "Dont worry, sometimes they feel threatened is all." He smiled softly as he reached out to pet the pup himself. The dog once again snarled as he opened his jaws to bite, but it froze as he looked up at Hikaru giving him a nasty glare. To everyones surprise, the pup whimper and backed down. "Odd...he only attacks adults..." Hikaru muttered to himself.
"Suburu, we should get back and treat that wound. Before it gets infected." Rem spoke up as she approached the duo. "Youre right Rem, it kinda hurts." Suburu smiled nervously as Hikaru set the girl down that was atop his shoulders. He smiled and patted her head. "Run along now children." He reolied as he hoisted two large barrels of good atop his shoulders. They waved as the group turned to leave. "Maybe he's just protective of kids." Hikaru smiled to himself, looking over to see lamps attached to trees. Only they werent lit. "Someone should light those soon, its getting dark." He muttered as they made their way out of the village.
Once back at the manor, Hikaru laid in his bed. Twitching his leg. "Man...not being able to train makes me itchy..." He spoke to himself. "Maybe I can do a few crunches...its more of a workout than training...no...I promised Emilia." He sighed as he sat up, leaving the room. "Do I even know how to relax?" He asked himself as he made his way through the halls. He reached for a door to Emilia's study. "Maybe Emilia is up for a chat." He smiled as he knocked before entering, he was surprised to see Beatrice sitting in a chair in her library. "Oh...Sorry Beatrice. I didnt mean to intrude." Hikaru smiled sheepishly as she looked up at him. "Its alright, you can stay if youre bored I suppose." She replied, Hikaru smiled softly as he closed the door behind him.
"Funny, I remember you throwing Suburu out. What makes me so special?" He asked a he approached her. "You saved Emilia and Bubby, that makes you okay I suppose." She responded, turning a page in her book. Hikaru sighed. "Like Ive told everyone else, without Suburu I wouldnt have saved anyone." He tried to defend Suburu. Beatrice closed her book, causing him to perk up a bit. "Youre right I suppose, but Suburu is very abnoxious and arrogant. Beatrice doesnt like it, and neither does Emilia." She replied. "I know, but he has a good heart. Thats enough in my book." Hikaru commented as he pulled up a chair. "Youre willing to protect him with youre own life?" Beatrice stared with a blank expression. Hikaru smiled softly. "I will protect him, and everyone here with my life. That goes for you too." He replied, causing her blank expression to blush. "Beatrice doesnt need protecting." She huffed. Hikaru chuckled as he reached up, to Beatrice's surprise. "What are you?..." He patted her head. "Maybe you dont, but Im here to help if you need it."
"F-fine...I suppose." She answered quietly. Hikaru kept his smile as he glanced down at the floor, his expression changing to surprised as he saw a book titled. "The Legend of Asgorath." Hikaru reached down and picked it up. "Whered this come from?" He asked. "Emilia borrowed it for awhile, she returned it not too long ago. She was trying to understand your past I suppose." Betty replied as Hikaru skimmed through it. Stopping on a page that depicted a large black dragon with red eyes. He smiled softly and closed it. "Thanks for keeping me company Beatrice." He smiled to her and turned to leave. "Youre welcome, I suppose." She replied as she watched him leave. Opening the door, Hikaru found himself back out into the lobby closing the door behind him.
"Hikaru..." Emilia squeaked as he turned to see her approaching him. "Emilia? Whats wrong?" He asked as he noticed her worried expression. "Some children have gone mission in the nearby village...Suburu and Rem went looking for them..." She replied. "Why?..." Hikaru's eyes suddenly widened as he remembered the dog, how it bit Suburu and tried to bite him. But didnt bother the children. "It wasnt protecting them...It was preying on them." He muttered in realization."Stay here." He turned to Emilia as he suddenly turned and bolted for the door causing her to gasp. "Be careful!" She called from the door as he already reached the gate. "Damn it!" He cursed, remembering the lamps. "They werent lamps! They were barriers! How could I have been so careless?" He muttered as he ran down the trail. "Hold on, Im coming!"
Shadow: Finally, Hikarus true power shall be witnessed in the upcoming chapter! Stay tuned! As always, constructive criticism and a fave! Stay Golden.