Cold air swept around me as I awoke the next morning. I rose to my feet and examined my surroundings in the daylight. The graveyard was a wreck. Tall trees surrounded me, and the brilliant yellow sun shined through them to warm me. For just a moment, I felt great. Then I remembered what happened to my mother. Cold reality slapped me in the face. I fell to the ground, weeping.
She was gone…Forever. What could I do? I could see her face again, looking out towards my brother. I could hear her voice, telling him that she loved him. Yet he was the one who abandoned her! He was the one that ran away like a coward! Mother didn't want us to be hurt, we should have acted just as selflessly. But instead Dante hid under his bed. The anger I had felt the last night came back to me, and my hands started to shake. I finally reached my limit and took my anger out on the nearest object. The stone mausoleum next to me was already collapsed into the earth. I slammed my fist into it, and the entire structure came down in a cascade of crumbling debris. I stepped back in surprise, shocked at just how easy that was. I remembered again what had happened before. Something inside me was unleashed. Some sleeping force, dormant for years, had finally awakened.
Eager to feel it the power yet again, I closed my eyes and looked deep within myself. I found it, the light that called out to me. All I would have to do is just answer the call, and it would trigger that transformation. Unable to resist, I reached out to that power and felt it once again flow through my body. As before, I changed. This new form felt stronger, and above all, invincible. I breathed in the power, and all the feelings that came with it. It felt good. No, it felt great! Excited, I ran off into the woods at full speed.
I found out that not only was this form stronger, but it was faster as well. I sped through the woods, with the trees whizzing past me. Dodging them left and right, I let out a yell of excitement. Unsheathing Yamato, I started cutting into the trees as I passed them. My blade was but a silver blur in the soft light of the forest. With one final slash, I stopped running. I slowly replaced Yamato in its scabbard. It gave a resounding ring as it clicked into place. At that, the line of trees behind me fell to the ground with a great thud.
I smiled to myself for a moment, but the smile slipped off my face as I felt that power slipping away. My body faded back to its normal state and the light within me vanished.
"What?" I asked myself, "What's going on!?!" I didn't understand why the power slipped away. I tried to reach back into that source of power in an attempt to re-establish my connection to it. But it was gone. Remembering the last night's events, I tried to figure it out. After my first transformation, I had lost the power and collapsed to the ground. I assumed it was because of the injuries I received and the resulting weakness. But perhaps there is something more to it than that…Either way, I figured it was just some form of exhaustion and it would require some rest before I was able to trigger the transformation again.
That afternoon, I began to train in my transformed state.
All of my normal techniques were significantly amplified. The attacks from Yamato were faster and more deadly, especially the long distance slashes. I trained for as long as I could, but each and every time the power went away, I was left again in my normal state. That did not stop me, and I just kept going until I could do it again. On and on the cycle went. I repeated it for hours.
However, that evening it dawned on me. I had no place to go. No family, no friends. Even worse, I had no food. I could have hunted for something, but I wouldn't have known how to cook anything I might catch. With my stomach rumbling, I set out, away from the woods. As the twilight sky faded into blackness, I happened upon a small town. I recall my father going to a nearby town for supplies every so often. I was lucky to have actually found it. The town appeared aged at first, with cobblestone streets and old fashioned buildings. But as I neared the city center, it began to look more modern. Street lights dotted the town square, and convenience store signs glowed with a dull yellow light.
The streets were empty, and no one could be seen inside any of the stores. The town was obviously very traditional, and obviously family-oriented. Each person relied on each other like family. No one needed anything at this hour, so they are all at home asleep or spending time with their actual families. No one was around to help me get food.
Should I steal something? I asked myself. I shook the thought away. Stealing is for scoundrels and thieves; People with no honor. I wouldn't steal even if it meant my starvation. Then what do I do?
My thoughts were interrupted as a strong hand grasped me by the shoulder and spun me around. Shocked, I tried to scramble away, but the strong hands held me tight.
"Don't worry, kid!" A man's voice said, "I'm not going to hurt you!"
I stopped squirming, and looked up to see a tall, dark-haired man. I suddenly felt foolish for actually being afraid of this human, even if it was just for a moment.
"I've never seen you around here before," The man said, "And its not wise for children to be out on their own at night."
"I'm not a child," I replied hotly as I drew Yamato. The man put his hands up in the air cautiously.
"Hey, hey, kid!" He backed up a step, "Watch where you point that thing!"
"Who are you?" I asked, "Why are you bothering me?"
"I just work at the general store over there," The man answered, "My name is Gabriel. I saw someone wandering around the streets and just came out to see who it was."
"Why?"
"Because we had a problem with a thief earlier today, I wanted to stay here all night just in case he came back."
"I am no thief"
"I see that…" Gabriel began shaking, "Can you put that away, it's kinda making me really nervous."
Glancing at the moonlit blade, I sighed and sheathed Yamato. Gabriel visibly relaxed.
"So if you're not here to steal stuff," Gabriel continued, "What are you doing here at this time of night?"
"I'm here for food and supplies." I answered plainly, "I don't have any money, but I'm willing to work for what I need." Gabriel crossed his arms and looked down at me thoughtfully.
"No, Most definitely not a thief." He pointed out, "I'll talk to my father and we'll see what we can do for you."
"Thank you very much"
"Do you have a place to stay?"
"No."
Gabriel smiled and turned around.
"Follow me then." He walked down the street and I hurried after him. We arrived at a suburban house, not more than 5 minutes walk away. The house was average size, and painted Yellow with white trim. Gabriel walked up to the door, and I stayed behind on the sidewalk. He turned to me and beckoned me to come closer. Nervous, I walked up to the door with him. I could hear the sounds of children playing.
"It seems my wife let the kids stay up late tonight." He smiled and opened the door, "Come on in. Make yourself at home."
Home. The word seemed hollow now that my own home was destroyed. We walked through the door and into the light of the house. Gabriel was older than I had initially realized. He must have been around 40. His wife walked into the room and stopped short upon seeing me. She wore a white apron over a salmon-colored dress. Her dark blonde hair flowed down past her shoulders with little imperfection.
"I expected everyone to be asleep," Gabriel said, not noticing the startled look his wife gave. His wife smiled and took off her apron.
"I wanted to make sure you got home alright." She said, "Who knows what a thief might do if you confront him…I-Is this…Him?" She gestured toward me, looking rather worried at the sight of my sword. Gabriel laughed.
"You think I'd bring him in here if he was?" He walked over to his wife and hugged her, "Don't worry dear, he is just in town for food and supplies. Unlike the thief, he wants to work for it."
"Oh," She said quietly, she looked at me, "I'm sorry."
"Its Ok," I responded, "Thank you for helping me."
"I will insist that he stay with us," Gabriel told me, "For now at least. I can always tell with people, and you seem like a nice person."
"I appreciate you saying so." I replied, "And I don't think I'll be staying long. I have much to do."
"Dear," Gabriel said as he turned to his wife, "Can you make some tea?"
"Sure" she responded as she turned towards the kitchen. Gabriel and I sat down in the living room on two comfortable chairs.
"Do you have any family around?" Gabriel asked me, "Is that who you're picking up supplies for?" I felt myself visibly wince. I looked down at the floor and held back the urge to cry. Gabriel noticed my reaction.
"Are…Are they alright?" He asked with serious concern. I looked up at him, trying quite hard to hide my real emotions.
"No, they are all dead." I knew quite well that Dante was probably still alive, but I didn't want to complicate things.
"I'm sorry…" Gabriel looked rather sad upon hearing that. I have never since met someone with that much genuine concern for a complete stranger. Gabriel's wife came in with the tea and sat down on the couch.
"Here you go, dear" she said as she handed me a cup, "By the way, do you have a name?"
Time slowed for a moment.
My mind raced. I couldn't tell them my name! If the demons know my name, then they might keep an eye out for it so they can find me again and kill me. Something had to be done.
Time sped back up, and I used the only name I could think of.
"Yes," I replied, "My name is Gilver."
"Pleased to meet you Gilver," she said pleasantly, "I am Rebecca"
The sounds of children talking came closer, and four children entered the room. Two boys and two girls stood before me, staring. The girls were obviously the oldest and the youngest, and the boys were probably in between, though I couldn't tell which was older.
"Whoa!" One of the boys said, "Nice hair!" The rest laughed.
"Now that's enough out of you, John!" Rebecca scolded, "Gilver here is our guest."
"Gilver?!" the other boy yelled, "What kind of name is that?" I took no offense since it was the only name I could come up with and did sound kind of silly…
"You, too, James!" The other boy shrank back behind the others. The older girl smiled at me.
"I think it's a cute name," she said. She was about my age, and all I could do was blush. The younger girl giggled, she couldn't have been more than 5.
"Gilver here has no place to stay here in town," Gabriel explained to his children, "So I offered to let him stay here for as long as he needs."
"We could use more smiles in the house," Rebecca said sweetly. Her husband nodded in agreement.
"Now, all of you off to bed," Rebecca commanded gracefully, "Gilver, honey. We've got an extra bed in the boys' room. They'll lend you some night-clothes, won't you boys?"
Sam and James nodded. They turned around and walked to their room.
"Go ahead, dear" Rebecca encouraged me, "Off to bed." I stood up, bowed and went into the hallway, stopping just out of sight. The two boys were already in their room, no doubt figuring out some prank. I felt odd for some reason. Like I couldn't trust this family. But I needed a bed, and food. This was the only way I get those without dishonoring myself. I entered the boy's room and was met with a white pillow heading straight for my face. Reacting instinctively, I leaned backwards and let the pillow pass over me. At the same time, Yamato came out of it's sheath and pressed against my attacker's throat. John stood there with his eye's bulging and I instantly realized this could compromise my welcome here. I sheathed Yamato and John relaxed.
:I-I'm sorry, Gilver," The boy stammered, "It was just a joke…"
"No," I said quietly, "I am sorry. I have just had a rough couple of days…I have been rather edgy." John was still a little shaken, and I figured that he would never underestimate another opponent in his life. John looked down at Yamato in its sheath.
"Is that yours?" He asked. I nodded in reply. "That's a big sword." James came out from under the bed. "What were you doing under there?"
"Hiding," James replied, "I knew that if you tried to hit Gilver with that pillow, something would happen. And I didn't want to be around when it did."
"Well, I'm glad you have my back," John said sarcastically as he rolled his eyes. "Anyways, you heard mom. Bed time."
