Sun Tzu "The Art of War".
Chapter 1: Laying Plans.
8.
Kurìmo za Rabitto
7 days before the Barley.
Strategy is one thing that could make a difference in a war… Even one as desperate as this. Sonikku knew it all too well… If there was something he's been able to learn over the multiple years of his still rather young life, was that a good devised battle plan was a fundamental element in any kind of conflict… Sure, a positive result was not a guarantee because of the unpredictability of Chaos… But as the old saying went: you never know.
Sonikku was a lucky individual… More than he wanted to be. He had lost all the wars he's been part of yet, somehow, he managed to survive them every time, for a reason or another…
He would often think that his life was nothing more than a toy in the hands of a superior Godlike being… He would dismiss the thought immediately after. It was of no use being worried for such topic, he was alive, that was the only thing that mattered… And he was experienced enough to know how a war works.
But that knowledge, of course, would have not been enough… Not this time.
They weren't against a common group of bandits, nor a regular Mobian army… They were against Dokuta Egguman, the human who swore to take over the world with his robotic army. The one who caused the death and / or robotization of thousands… The one that killed his parents.
It burned him from the inside, the simple thought of reliving the tragedy of that night, although he did not have many memories of it, he could still remember the flames… And the screams.
And… Him.
Shado… His brother… Saved him.
He shook his head. It was just too painful, for more than one reason. He couldn't think of him as a brother anymore, because it would have contrasted with his primal goal…
He had to kill Shado for what he'd done to his sensei… And he will do it… As soon as he would have had the chance… Despite what a certain vulpine would have thought about.
The cobalt hedgehog turned his head. Teirusu was still walking behind him, his blue gaze was relaxed and carefree… The genuine gaze of a boy of his age. He seemed rather happy, which was anti-climatic since he was 7 days straight from probable death.
Teirusu had told him about his relationship with Shado, although he conveniently skipped the part related to their encounter, he's been his Kaosu master and surrogate brother.
Brother.
Was he just Sonikku's substitute? Or was it honest brotherly love?
Whatever the truth may have been, nothing could distract him from the fact that, no matter the vulpine's feelings, he was still going to kill his former brother…
He was going to be the one who would crush the boy's happiness for good… And, of course, it bothered him.
He diverted his attention back to the piece of paper he was holding in his hands. It was a rather simple drawn map of the Knothole village and his immediate surroundings.
In order to achieve a significant edge in a war, the full knowledge of the battlefield was fundamental… Too bad, this village was not an impregnable fort (quite the opposite, in truth) and they only had 7 days before the harvesting of the Barley… The chosen date of Dokuta Egguman's arrival.
Knothole's only protection was a metal gate that surrounded all the area… Apparently, the village has been built after that gate. Tikaru explained to him that it was a "memento" of the ancient wars between humans and Mobians. It amazed him how such old relic could still be so darn solid to this very day… It will definitely come in handy if the enemy will choose to attack in mass.
There were other problems, though. Sonikku and the other Kaosu were the only trained warriors and there was not enough time to properly train the inhabitants for the upcoming assault… They were all alone, just like chosen saints for martyrdom.
"A ring for your thoughts." The smooth voice of Ruju za Batto, who's been walking beside him for a while, interrupted his unhealthy pondering.
He turned his head to stare at her hypnotic eyes… Yes, he was looking at her eyes and NOT at her breasts. He was a gentleman, after all.
She was smiling in her sweet way. He smiled back. How could anybody frown in front of such perfect feminine specimen? She was already well applying her role… To light up others' mood.
"I was just wondering…" He began.
"Yes?"
"… What the heck was I thinking when I accepted to take this desperate task!?"
She looked excessively bewildered for a second, before answering.
"Do men actually think!? Wow… That's a shocker!" She laughed quite aloud…
And every man in the world felt the sudden urge to roll his eyes.
"Funny…" The hedgehog muttered before resuming his doing.
From behind the two older Kaosu, young Teirusu was admiring the place… The village was simple and rural, and surrounded by beautiful and untainted nature. It fascinated him the view of such lively simplicity… He'd never had the chance to just admire the majestic spectacle of Nature and its relative livelihood. Currently, he was marveled by the people that lived in this heaven.
They were all humble farmers, with humble huts and humbler expectations… They were just a bunch of nobodies in the eyes of the world and yet… They were persons with their own interesting stories and backgrounds… All individuals that suffered because of other people's conflicts or just famine. They were to be admired for their persistence.
The vulpine's gaze glued itself over the form of his beloved sensei. He was trying to teach to a small group of Mobian, the basics of self-defense. He wasn't having great luck but if there was a thing the fox knew about Shado, was his tenacity. He smiled at him and resisted the urge to call him, he didn't want to cause any disturbance.
He noticed how Sonikku pretended to ignore him… And just sighed.
A little further, Nakkuruzu could be seen teasing another small group of villagers… Biggu and Maiti were in it. Apparently, he was trying to mock Biggu's pitiful attempt of a
soldier-like march, he would occasionally bounce here and there, making faces and exaggerating his every moves like a clown would do… His well done mockery managed to cause everybody to laugh… Especially the small kids that gathered there to watch.
"Who dares laughing at the great Nakkuruzu!!?" He yelled in an obvious joking tone right before starting to chase the children… They would laugh all the time and the echidna with them.
Amazingly enough, the potty-mouthed, short tempered rodent… Was excellent with children. He seemed to be a natural born clown, he was even red, by the way. Teirusu couldn't help but chuckle in amusement while seeing Nakkuruzu being overwhelmed by a bunch of kids, jokingly crying for mercy. The kids conceded him mercy but he had to take each and every one of them on a piggyback ride, in turn.
It is indeed true that no one can judge a person on first impression… In fact, Teirusu's first impression of the echidna has been anything but positive, to say the very least. He was glad he's been proved wrong by Nakkuruzu's recent (surprisingly childish) behavior.
The fox's mind wandered over yesterday's events… When they met Nakkuruzu's sister, Tikaru. It has been a surprise, to say the least, to find his sister here…
Later that same day, Tikaru gave them a short summary of their story.
Both Tikaru and Nakkuruzu were children of farmers… But their parents were killed because of a conflict that had nothing to do with them. They both had been adopted by this village's former chief. Nakkuruzu, however, despised the farmer's life, he wanted to be more than that… That's why he left.
And was soon forgotten by the others… Except his sister, of course.
Knowing about Nakkuruzu's past, made the vulpine feel more sympathy over the former- echidna-now-forced-piggyback-horse-for-life. He couldn't wait for the chance to get acquainted to him.
His face suddenly brightened even more as soon as he posed his azure eyes on the pink female hedgehog of his dreams…
Emi Rozu sat on an old wood chair right out of her hut, she was stitching some vest-like material, he could tell. Tikaru sat beside her, occasionally chitchatting with her and laughing at the red clown's expenses. The older echidna was her best friend and, apparently, the closest thing to a mother she has ever had.
Emi Rozu was a war orphan… Just like Tikaru and Nakkuruzu used to be… Just like most of the children of this troubled time, used to be. She and Maiti grew up together in this village, they were like brother and sister… Therefore, Maiti would become overprotective towards her. Luckily, their unofficial "mother" has been able to guarantee her personal emancipation over the years.
Teirusu called her name in a greeting manner. She immediately took off from her seat and entered her home in a rush, bringing the vest with her.
Needless to say, the two-tailed vulpine was baffled by her reaction, at first… Then he just realized she had all the rights to be afraid of him. He somehow, managed to forget about his condition over the past couple of days… But now, it was deadly clear once again. His uncontrolled actions scarred her mind. He was a beast… A demon who's only purpose is to kill his enemies…
Fine.
He was going to do that… Against Dokuta Egguman's minions. He was a Kaosu, after all, war was his path… Even though, it was not a chosen path, but let's face it! How many times in our life can we actually choose our own way?
Another flaw in the "Kaosu Jutsu": the choosing of a personal path it is not something one can have for granted… It is a privilege not too many people can aspire.
If Teirusu will be able to survive the impending battle… He'll may be able to live his life the way he wants. Then again, not even this eventuality was a certainty.
Nothing in Life is certain… Neither an individual's emotions nor the result of a war.
The only thing we can do… Is hope.
His current train of thoughts managed to distract him from reality long enough to get himself lost into the beautiful (and ominous) Mystic Ruins' forest… There was no sign of both Ruju and Sonikku.
"Damn… Where did they go?"
He began looking for them, only to eventually come across a gorgeous daisies' field. Marveled by such genuine beauty, the kit's most hidden and childish instincts kicked in and he found himself bathing into the flowers like a dog… He was a canine, so the comparison fits.
After a few moments of fun, he relaxed and stood lain on his back, admiring the trees and almost napping… Until the acute noise of girlish giggles startled him.
He snapped out of his trance and stood erect on his now sitting position in order to notice the source of the aforementioned giggles. He had no difficulties whatsoever in finding it…
She was just a few meters from him… With a few daisies in her hands. The giggles had stopped abruptly.
She was a very young rabbit child, several years younger than the teen vulpine. She wore an orange kimono that fitted well with the tan color of her fur. She had big, long ears that went down her head from the back… And, by the looks of her innocent brown eyes, she was rather scared.
Both fox and rabbit stood still in their positions for a few minutes, staring at each other like predator and prey right before the inevitable chase… Perhaps it was that kind of instinct that kicked in when the bunny girl started to run towards the opposite direction and the two-tailed fox boy immediately darted in hot pursuit… Almost on fours.
She was pretty fast, being a rabbit and all, but Teirusu eventually caught up with her and managed to get a firm grip on her smaller arm.
She began to cry.
"NOOOO!!! DON'T EAT ME!!! PLEASE, LET ME GO!!!" She screamed while desperately trying to escape the boy's hold.
The vulpine was genuinely bewildered by her words, why would he even want to eat her? The last time he checked, he was not a cannibal… Well, not on purpose… And NOT on children.
"Ehi! EHI! Calm down… I'm not going to eat you! Why would think that?" He tried to reassure her, apparently not to avail. She continued her unjustified whining.
"LIAR!!! MOM TOLD ME ALL THE FOXES ARE BAD! THEY EAT RABBITS LIKE ME!!!"
And now, anything was sadly clear. The transplantation of an age-old fear into a naïve young girl. Yes… It was true that feral foxes used to eat feral bunnies due to Mother Nature's doing… But that was before the dawn of evolution and the birth of the Mobian race.
Still… Certain fears are hard to die.
Teirusu's expression softened dramatically. He felt genuine sadness and sympathy over the naïve young girl.
He sat on the ground while still holding her arm, assuming the most reassuring expression he could master… That seemed to work a little bit as the rabbit, probably out of tiredness than anything else, calmed herself down.
"I won't eat you." He simply said, she still wasn't convinced, he could tell. "Are you from the village?" He then asked, wisely trying to change the topic.
She timidly nodded in response.
"What is your name?" He asked.
She hesitated for a few moments before responding.
"K-Kurìmo… Kurìmo za Rabitto."
"A beautiful name." He smiled. "I'm Teirusu and I'm one of the seven Kaosu that are going to protect your village from all those mean robots."
She was finally convinced. He let her arm go. She didn't run away.
They talked for a few minutes under the shade of the old sequoias. Kurìmo was an angelic little kid, Teirusu could say, cute and innocent, selfless and kind… Once you get to know her better.
Again, first impressions are often wrong.
She told him her story… She lived in the village since her birth with her mother, Vanira. Her father was unknown… Probably a bandit.
Being older and more experienced, the fox had no problems in reading through the words of the younger bunny… And what his mind devised from her simple story, managed to send shivers through all his spine.
Her mother has been raped… And she was the result.
An angel… Born in Hell.
After several minutes of acquainting, the little kid was enough in confidence with the fox to even call him "oni-chan". Quite a progress, I must say.
When the sun finally set, the two friends departed.
"Bye, Teirusu-san!" She joyously said right before running away while still giggling.
He saluted her as well… Then he just punched himself in the stomach.
His eyes were now showing something different from the kindness he's been masking himself with since he met her… They were showing…
Hunger.
Feral hunger.
"No… No… I can't let this… Happen."
Old fears die hard… As well as instincts.
It is such a tragedy… To be sapient animals.
