"Homecoming" Chapter 11
Written by: Toni the Mink
All Sonic characters that aren't fanmade are (c) SEGA
Cori the Mole (c) A-R-A-D-
Yakisoba Ryu Sensei (c) yuski
Bryce (mentioned only from hereon out) (c) Psychedelic Hurricane (AKA Jenna)
A/N: Sorry in advance that these chapters may come off as a bit "boring"... They are mostly chatty, as it is pretty much Espio reliving his memory... BUt it does shed some light in his past.
The idea of Espio having a dragon sensei from Dragon Island comes from yuski from deviantArt, though I made up some of the rules myself...
Also, friendly reminder... Nage is Espio as a child. ^^
"Uuuggh…"
Nage struggled to open his eyes. The world around him was bright and blurry. Did he die? Is this heaven?
"Take it easy, little one," a female voice soothed, "You're okay…"
A blurry figure walked into his line of sight. He blinked a few times to adjust his vision, and the figure became clearer. She was a nurse, and a reptile of some sorts… Nage wasn't sure what kind of animal she was.
Nage glanced around all over the room. He had to have been in some kind of hospital. He was in a big bed with crisp, white sheets, a nearby counter held certain medical supplies, and even the air had the distinct odor of the usual disinfectant like most other doctor offices did.
And yet… it all seemed so different. There were picture of funny looking symbols, a few decors that looked "ancient", and the nurse herself didn't even dress like a usual nurse would. Instead, she was wearing long yukata (or a "Japanese Bathrobe" as Nage once called it, before being corrected by his mother) and instead of needles and a stethoscope, she was carrying herbs and diffusers. "Where am I..?"
"You're in the medical house, on Dragon Island," the nurse responded.
Nage blinked. "Dragon… Island?"
The nurse nodded. Nage squinted his eyes, taking a closer look at her. "So wait… that means you're a…?!"
"A dragon?" said the nurse, "Yes I am."
"Yaiiigh!" Nage cried, trying to back away, but his body suddenly took its toll and ached all over.
"Easy, easy!" the nurse held out to hands to calm him, "I'm not here to hurt you. If anything, I just saved you. You almost died. But I was able to cure you. However, you still need to rest."
Nage slowly slid back into his bed. "What happened, anyway?"
There was a knock nearby. Nage looked over to see the door slide open (rather than swing out like the usual doors, man what a weird hospital!), and was surprised to see the same figure from the other night enter. This time, however, he could see her clearly. Given her hands and feet, she had to be a mole of some sorts, with light blue fur. Most of her body was covered, however, by a skin-tight maroon-colored outfit, accented with a light blue bow on the back of her head. The only part of her Nage could see were her big golden eyes. "How is he?" the ninja mole asked as she stepped inside the room.
The nurse gave a polite bow. "He's doing better," she replied before turning to Nage, "I suppose I musn't take all the credit for helping you. Had Cori here not found you and brought you to me, you surely would have died in that forest."
Nage turned to the mole, Cori. "You saved me?"
Cori wrapped her arms behind her back, "Well I couldn't very well leave you there to die. You never did told me what you were doing all alone in the middle of nowhere in that hour."
Nage grew quiet and dipped his eyes downward. If he mentioned even one word about why he left home or even where he came from, he'd surely be sent back there… He couldn't risk opening his mouth.
Fortunately, the issue was dropped once the nurse turned to young ninja. "Cori, you should be worried about yourself!" she scolded, "Your intentions were good, but you also broke a very critical protocol! If your sensei catches wind of what happened, then-"
*BONK!*
"Owww!" Cori grabbed her head in pain after a wooden, gnarled stick smacked her on the back of her head. Nage leaned over the side of his bed for a better look, seeing a small, dark green-scaled dragon with a white beard and thick glasses stand near Cori, walking stick in hand. Though he had a rather "bored" looking expression on his face, Nage somehow had a feeling he was rather upset.
"Cori!" he growled, "I am very disappointed in you! You have broken a very sacred rule of ours… You brought an outsider to our secret island, without so much consulting with me first!"
Cori turned and bent a knee in front of him. "Forgive me, Yakisoba-sensei!" she cried, "But I had no choice! He was on death's door, and I didn't know where the nearest medical center was."
"That is the purpose of a world tour!" Yakisoba grunted, "To learn the outer world and explore your surroundings, and become familiar with what is around you."
"Master… With all due respect, with the little boy's life on the line, I just didn't have time to do a training exercise…"
"If I may, sensei…" the nurse interjected, "Cori had to make a judgement call. In my opinion, it was the right call. If she hadn't brought him in when she did, the boy would be dead by now."
"Dead, you say?" the smaller dragon glanced up at the nurse.
"Yes… He had severe food poisoning, and onset pneumonia."
Nage lowered his head. He probably should've washed those berries after all…
Yakisoba stroked his beard, contemplating. "Hm… Very well, Cori. I will speak with the Dragon Council, and ask your punishment be lenient, given the circumstances…"
Cori bowed her head. "Thank you, sensei…"
*BONK!*
"Owww! Master!"
"I'm still a bit bitter over it…" Yakisoba pointed to the door with his stick, "Off you go now!"
Sighing, Cori stood back up and walked out of the room, giving Nage a quick glance before disappearing.
"Now then, boy," Yakisoba pushed up a chair and plopped himself on top, "Tell me… Why were you all alone in the forest, especially in that hour? Where did you come from? What happened? Tell us who you are…"
Nage once again kept quiet, not daring to let out one sound.
"Surely you must tell me something," said Yakisoba, "My pupil put a lot on the line to save you. I think you owe us at least an explanation."
The young chameleon wrung his hands nervously. Cori apparently was in a lot of trouble, just bringing him here so he wouldn't die. He owed her for that… But what would happen if he revealed so much as his name? Would they look him up? Find out where he lives? Send him back? To Bryce?!
He remained quiet.
The dragon furrowed his eyebrows. "Listen, boy…" he grunted, "You are on sacred ground, a place not known to many. This is a gathering of dragons… Very few of other species have the privilege to even know about Dragon Island. You shouldn't even be here. Cori should've spoken to me first, and even then I must get permission from the Dragon Council! Can you see now how serious this is? Tell us where you are from… otherwise, we will have to drop you out in the middle of nowhere again! And this time, there will be no one to save you if you are sick again…"
Nage shuddered. "… It's okay…"
Yakisoba raised an eyebrow. "That… was an empty threat, to get you to talk. We won't really do that."
The little boy turned his head away, "I'd rather die than go back home anyway."
The elder dragon was silent, though his expression remained the same. Who knows what was going on in his mind?
"Yakisoba-sensei…" spoke the nurse, "A moment please?"
Yakisoba nodded, hopping off the chair and going to the corner of the room with her. They spoke quietly to each other for a moment. Nage couldn't understand what they were saying, though were positive that it was about him. Were they going to make him leave? Send him home? Or… even kill him for being on this island illegally?
Whatever they planned to do… Nage didn't care, just as long as they didn't send him home!
Yakisoba then turned back and made his way back to the chair by Nage's bedside. He puffed on his pipe a bit. "Mura-mono…" he muttered.
Nage blinked. "What?"
"It means 'Purple One'," the dragon replied, "According to the nurse, you came here not only sick… but battered. Scars, signs of badly healed wounds, all over your body… but mostly near your…"
He trailed off, clearing his throat slightly. Nage knew, however, exactly what he meant.
"So your body is not only strained, but so is your mind, and your soul…"
Nage glanced away. "I… I don't wanna talk about it…"
"And you don't have to," said Yakisoba, "You may stay on Dragon Island for now. I will speak with the Dragon Council about this, though I am sure they may be willing to allow it. Rest for now, little boy…"
The smaller dragon hopped off the chair. "For when you are fully at health once more, you will have to prove yourself worthy of staying on this island."
"Really?" said Nage, "How?"
Yakisoba chuckled to himself. "You'll find out soon."
A Few Days Later….
"Do I have to go..?" Nage mewed as the nurse led him outside of the medical house.
"I'm sorry, little boy," she replied, "But now that you've gotten better, it's time to open your room for somebody who may really need it."
Nage frowned. "But… what's gonna happen? Where am I gonna go now?"
"You're going to come with me, mura-mono."
Nage looked up. Standing before him was none other than Yakisoba-sensei himself. "I have spoken with the Dragon Council. They have granted permission for you stay at my home with me."
"Really?!" Nage chimed, "Awesome! Thank you! Thank you, Yakasoby!"
*BONK!*
"Ow!" Nage grabbed his head, after the small dragon bopped him with his walking stick.
"Yaki-SobA!" he grunted, "Get it right next time!"
He raised an eyebrow once he heard a soft sniffle coming from the chameleon, and took a step closer. The boy's eyes were watering, and his lips quivered. "You're… not going to hurt me… Are you?" he whimpered.
Yakisoba sighed. "My apologies… I have forgotten that you have come from a broken home. Pain is something you are all too familiar with…"
Nage glanced over. "You know..?"
"The nurse told me about the many injuries she discovered on you. Clearly you had suffered much of a certain type of abuse…" Yakisoba stepped closer to Nage. The young chameleon was worried at first and stepped back, but before he knew it…
… Yakisoba had his arms around him, hugging him tightly.
"It's been awhile since someone has shown you affection, hasn't it, mura-mono?"
Nage blinked, standing there dumbfounded for a moment… then let his arms drop, as well as tears. "It has…"
"You have nothing to worry about, child," said Yakisoba, pulling back and facing him, "You are among a clan that promotes justice, peace, and most important… love."
The chameleon grew a smile.
"Of course," Yakisoba chuckled, "That doesn't mean it's peaches and cream from here on out. We ninja masters tend to be strict, tough, even at times dangerous."
Nage suddenly grew worried again, but Yakisoba placed an around around his shoulder, puffing on his pipe once more. "But it is not to make you inferior, mura-mono. We do this to make you stronger."
"Stronger?"
The dragon nodded. "Mura-mono… Have you ever considered becoming a ninja?"
"Ninja..?" Nage blinked, then waved his arms around wildly, "Like on those kung-fu movies?"
"Ha ha ha," Yakisoba laughed, then suddenly pointed his walking stick right in Nage's face. "No, son… REAL ninjitsu. The Dragon Council has allowed for you to stay with me… but ONLY under the condition that you become my new pupil. After all, if you are to stay here, you must prove your worth to them… as well as to yourself."
"Hmm…" Nage had to admit… While he never once considered the idea of being a ninja warrior, the idea sounded pretty cool. And this Yakasoby… WAIT, Yakisoba… He really had some cool lines too. Maybe one day he could get so strong he could actually beat up Bryce..!
NO! Bryce was too frightening… Nage didn't even want to remember him! Besides, after so many years, even if he becomes the greatest ninja since Naruto, who's to tell what Bryce would learn in the meantime? No… He was never going back to Rainbow Valley again. Ever! And if he can train to become a ninja, then that means he can stay on Dragon Island, away from the valley… And away from Bryce.
"I'll do it!" Nage grinned, tightening his fists.
Yakisoba's face remained expressionless, but Nage knew he was smiling. He clapped his hand on the chameleon's shoulder and led him down the road. "We start training on Monday," he said, "Tonight, however, we shall feast on beef ramen and onigiri!"
