A Legend of the Past a Savior of the Future
Chapter 7
the youth muttered to himself brushing away a few locks of dark hair that had blown into his face by the morning wind You have got to be the biggest lunk-head in this century!. As he tiredly hiked towards the top of the grassy hill, he couldn't help but frown. Though only a single day had passed since he had encountered the raging Demon God and had been forced out of the Emishi village, the youth was now beginning to fully realize the severity of his situation.
He stopped and crossed his arms. They say that living in SanFrancisco for ten years makes you develop a sense of survival. He frowned again and shook his head. Just who the hell was I trying to kid? With a disgusted sigh, Nathan continued on his way. And what about finding a way back home? I mean, it's not like I can just build myself a time machine out of a Delorean and Michael J. Fox my way back.
When he finally reached the top of the hill he stood motionless, gazing out at the vast miles of grassy planes and sparkling lakes that lay ahead of him. Beyond all that, stood what looked like an endless range of green mountains that towered over the land like great monuments. The incredible sight was like a scene from a painting, and Nathan couldn't help but feel minuscule before it all. But I guess whatever happens now, happens for a reason, he said laughing at his own little philosophy, and started down the hilled side, towards the green plains and mountains. Man, I've really gotta stop talking to myself.
The next few days passed like a very slow dream. Each felt like forever as Nathan continued to make his way westward, across the Japanese landscapes. In that time, he had seen forests, rivers and lakes, waterfalls, mountain ranges and many other sights that had literally taken his breath away. As an extra bonus for him, the surroundings proved to make for good paintings, for whenever Nathan got the chance he would just sit and paint with the materials the Oracle had given him.
Living alone in the outdoors did prove to be quite a challenge though. He always seemed to find himself falling victim to nature, which included the rainstorms that occur without warning, and the very hot climate of the days. But the real problems came about when the time came for him to eat. Since he was without matches or a lighter he had no way of starting a fire which meant of course, he had to eat his rice raw. He considered himself lucky that he still had a good supply of smoked meat with him.
During his journey the only other humans he had encountered were a few ox drivers guiding their oxen along the dusty roads and a traveling merchant who had tried to sell him a bamboo flute. Though everyone, whom Nathan had encountered, tried their best to act as they normally did in their daily lives, they seemed somewhat disturbed by his presence. Then again, he was probably the first white person they had ever seen.
Of course, after spending years as a social recluse, Nathan had become used to that sort of treatment from people.
After six days of traveling, Nathan finally came to his first village. Though it was a fairly small one, it was thriving in human activity. Merchants and traders haggled with the passing villagers, attempting to make a good sale;n women walked along the dusty streets carrying heavy sacks over their shoulders and atop their heads, and frail looking beggars groveled at the feet of passerbies for food. Nathan even spotted a few samurai sitting around a rice vendor, drinking mouthful after mouthful of sake. As if that couldn't top them all, he even spotted a few men and women shuffling along with classic wooden shoes on their feet. The whole scene looked like something out of one of those Japanese samurai movies he always liked to watch.
As he continued to walk along the bustling streets of the village, Nathan noticed that he seemed to attract a lot of attention from the people. He saw a few young boys gawking and pointing at him and whispering to one another, not their eyes off of his pale white face for a second. At first, Nathan didn't really mind the people's behavior towards him. But now, after what seemed like the eleven-millionth time a group of people had pointed at him as though he were a potted plant, the dark haired youth was starting to become fairly annoyed. He shot the boys a sharp glare causing them to scurry away in fear.
Snot-nosed little brats, Nathan grumbled under his breath. Suddenly, a wet ball of something splattered against his face. For a moment, all he could do was stand in a daze from the shock of the sudden blow to his head. That was when he noticed the smell, a potent odor that burned his nostrils. He wiped a hand over the spot on his face where he had been hit and looked at it, then realized what the projectile had been made from. Horse shit!
Maybe now that pale face of yours will have some color! someone shouted over a roar of laughter.
Nathan turned around and saw a rather unpleasant looking man leering at him. The man was dressed in a green tunic and had a squarish face that was covered in stubbles. He was sitting against the side of a hut with two other men, both were just as loathsome in appearance as he was. That's what you get for bringing that ugly face of yours in my sight, outlander, he said while shoveling a clump of rice into his half-toothless mouth.
Nathan wiped the remaining bit of the manure off his face and continued walking.
Don't you dare walk away from me when I'm talking to you, Outlander! the man said, getting up and walking towards Nathan. You'll leave when I say you can leave.
What're you, the Shogun or something? Nathan retorted, trying to keep his composure. The last thing he needed was this fifteenth-century lowlife to see him freaked out.
In a way, the man said. I'm Kai-ja, and this village is my village. And if a smelly piece of outlander shit like you wishes to walk out of it with their organ still dangling on their body, they've got to pay the fee. He gave Nathan a sinister grin and placed a hand on the club hanging on his belt.
Well, I'm Na-than, and I think you should get your ugly kisser out of my face.
Kai-ja stared at the young outlander with widened eyes, and looked back at his two companions who just mirrored his expression. He then looked at Nathan and glared. Are you giving me an order, Outlander?
Maybe I am. Nathan felt a drop of sweat role down his face. He had backed himself into a corner that he had absolutely no idea how to weasel his way out of. An ability which he had always relied upon when it came to dealing with Ronnie back home.
Laughing, Kai-ja stepped closer. He then reached out and ran a finger across the thick leather jacket that Nathan was wearing. Strange looking armor you have there, Outlander, he said Hand it over and I might let you walk away.
Now Nathan was pissed. There was one thing that he had never put up with, and that was having some asshole touch his jacket. He looked up at the dirty man and glared. Go fuck yourself, dick-weed!
You've got a fast mouth, Outlander. With a rough shove to the face, Kai-ja sent the youth tumbling into bamboo cage that was housing a few chickens. Let's see how the rest of you moves.
Nathan flailed his arms knocking away the hysterical chickens that were flapping around his face. When he looked up he saw Kai-ja standing over him with his wooden club raised into striking position. he quickly scrambled to one side, just in time to miss the incoming club which smashed an unfortunate chicken instead.
Oh, ho, ho! Kai-ja scoffed. I guess the little Outlander has some fight in him after all! He took another swing at Nathan who was once again able to leap out of harm's way. When the man saw an opening, he spun around and back handed Nathan across the temple.
The blow threw Nathan several feet backwards into crowd of onlookers. As he rubbed his head, he felt the strange burning sensation rising in his hands and forehead. This time, however, the sensation was flowing through his entire body, saturating into his bones and muscles like a hot river. He slowly began to rise to his feet, when he saw the rushing club advancing on him.
With a blindingly fast movement, the young outlander caught Kai-ja's wrist in an iron-lock grip. The man cursed and struggled to free his hand, grinding his yellowish teeth and spitting in the air. When he looked at Nathan's face he found himself gaping in absolute horror. For when he looked into his young opponent's eyes, he saw staring back at him not a pair of dark brown irises, but a pair of glowing spheres, no whites, no pupils, each one as red as freshly spilled blood.
For that brief moment, Nathan no longer controlled his body. He tightened his grip on Kai-ja's wrist and wrenched it in an odd angle. There was a sickening sound of cracking bones which was accompanied by a cloud of blood that gushed out from the torn flesh.
Kai-ja screamed in absolute agony as he felt his crushed wrist dangle lifelessly at the end of his arm and crumbled onto his knees. When he looked up he saw Nathan staring down at him with his glowing red eyes. KILL HIM! he screamed. THE OUTLANDER'S A DEMON!!!
What's happening to me? Nathan cried out in his mind. He fought wildly against the force that had possessed his body, but could only watch helplessly as his body continued to be controlled like a puppet. Whatever you are, stop it, now!
Kai-ja's two friends dropped their bowls of rice, grabbed their weapons and rushed towards Nathan. The taller one, a hulking man with a thick, black beard lunged towards him with what looked like an enormous mallet. When the nose of the heavy mallet was just a foot away from making contact, Nathan shot his arm outward and drove his bare fist through the cylinder of wood. The mallet exploded, sending splintery fragments of wood in all directions. The man suddenly felt a crushing pain surge through his chest, and looked down to see the the youth had used his other fist to punch him in the ribs.
I said stop it! Nathan cried out again. You're gonna kill them! For the love of God, STOP! But it was no use. The dark power was just too strong for him to control. He watched in horror as his foot launched toward's the hulking mans face, smashing its every bone.
Now there were two men who had fallen at the hands of the Outlander. The remaining member of Kai-ja's group looked on with rage coursing through his veins and bones and gripped his katana with shaking hands. There was now a wide circle of people that had formed during the fight. At the center stood Nathan, his eyes still as wicked and hideous as when the fight and turned in his favor. He was sneering at the man, as if taunting him.
With a loud cry of war, the man raised his blade and rushed towards the demon-incarnate, his eyes wide with hate. Nathan on the other hand, stood motionlessly and looked on as though the charging man was nothing more than a small insect. His sneering smile intensified.
Please, Nathan begged No more!
When the katana was just inches from Nathan's face, it suddenly stopped, as if it were frozen in time. The man tugged and pulled on the sword's handle, trying to wrench it free of the invisible force that was holding it prisoner. Nathan narrowed his eyes and snickered. Then, to the astonishment of all who witnessed it, the katana's blade bent and twisted itself into complete disfigurement.
Nathan couldn't believe what he was seeing, nor could he believe that it was he who was doing it. What the hell did the Demon do to me?
The katana gave one last shutter before shattering into a thousand fragments. Before Kia-ja's freind could even register what had happened, Nathan grabbed his head and held it in a painful clutch. He then lifted the man into the air as though he were lifting a child's toy, spun around, and hurled him into the side of a hut, smashing him through the wall.
Nathan then turned on Kai-ja who was still staring at him. W-what are you g-g-going to do to me? he asked trying to back away. His efforts to flee were cut short when the Outlander's hand wrapped around his throat and pushed him back into the dirt. P-p-please don't hurt me! he continued. I-I-I-I didn't mean it, I swear!
Are you pleading for your life? a sinister voice resonated from Nathan's mouth. How many others pleaded to you, Kai-ja? His fingers tightened around the man's throat. How many men pleaded to you before you killed them? How many women pleaded to you before you raped them?
Tears were now pouring out of Kai-ja's eyes as he cried out like an infant. he whispered.
Nathan raised his and brought it back, ready to strike once more. To err is human, he replied coldly, spreading his fingers like the claws of a tiger. Forgiveness is divine.
STOP IT!
Nathan suddenly froze, his eyes were bulging and twitching wildly. The marks on his hands suddenly began to pulsate as did the mark on his forehead. He backed away from the still crying Kai-ja and stared into emptiness. And then, without a single hint of warning, he clutched his head in pain and let loose an unearthly scream that echoed through the entire village. The youth fell to his knees and pressed his hands harder against his temples, blood was now dripping from his mouth and nose. He clenched his teeth trying to hold back the next scream, while his every nerve burned and twitched like wild fires. When he could no longer hold it back, Nathan jerked his head back and unleashed a scream that was twice as loud as his first.
A force surged outward, pushing against the ring of people and throwing them backwards. The ground vibrated as did the surrounding structures, causing them to crack. Suddenly the dirt under Nathan's feet burst upward creating a thick cloud of dust, like a small cyclone. Powerful winds howled like the screams of angry spirits, kicking up everything in their path.
When the pandemonium finally ended, Nathan was standing motionlessly with his face pointed towards the sky, a small crater lay beneath his feet. He lowered his head and looked at the staring faces of the villagers, then at the cowering Kai-ja and finally at his hands which were now trembling. Oh God, he said and ran towards the crowd, pushing his way past the people. He had to get out of there. He didn't know where he was going, but he didn't care. All he knew was that as long as he had control over his body he had to get as far away from this place and its people as quickly as he could.
Before he injured someone else.
