I've returned with chapter 11 after nearly getting myself killed by those examination tests. I know that my story isn't a good one and not much people read this... Anyway, here's the next chapter, read it or not, it's up to you guys.
I was scared of myself…
I was sacred … of "him"…
The day I decided to change myself was the day "he" appeard…
"He" is selfish… "he" is cruel… "he" loves to hurt the others' feelings…
"He" appears every time I can't control myself…
……………………
"He" is …… me………
Colt slowly opens his eyes…
He sits up and takes a look around the room. Rocky and Tum tum are still sleeping next to him. Colt suddently smiles. Last night, Rocky asked Colt to come to his room to sleep with him and Tum tum. In a strange place, far away from home like this, sleeping with your brothers lying next to you might comfort your feelings a lot.
After changing his clothes, Colt stands up and goes outside the room, he decides to go looking for Koutetsu, to ask him what they will do for the day. It didn't take too long for Colt to meet Koutetsu, he is standing in the yard.
"Mr. Koutetsu!"
Colt calls his name and comes closer. Koutetsu turns around and smiles:
"Sleep well, Colt?"
"Sort of. What are we gonna do today, anyway?" Colt replies with a smile.
"Training." Koutetsu answers "Colt, from now on, I'm your master."
Colt widens his eyes. Koutetsu continues "Your brothers will have their own masters later. The Elder told me to be your master, I will take responsibility for your training."
"Hmm… Okay I guess. When will our training start?" Colt frowns.
"Now."
Colt doesn't seem to look surprise, he was waiting for this answer, Koutetsu can't just drag him out here for nothing.
"Fine to me." Colt smiles "What's my first lesson, master?"
Koutetsu nods. Then without a warning, Koutetsu jumps forward to attack Colt. Colt quickly moves aside to dodge him. But…
He disappears?
Colt widens his eyes. Suddently Koutetsu appears behind him…
For a second, Colt falls down on the ground… Koutetsu was too fast! Koutetsu runs to Colt and kneels down.
"Colt, are you ok?" Koutetsu worrily asks.
Colt slowly stands up, he smirks.
"Master Koutetsu… please… don't go easy on me! I'm here to learn the way of ninja, and I'm not going to give it up! If you go easy on me, I will never achive that goal!"
Koutetsu looks Colt with a surprise, then he smiles "It's gonna be very hurt, I warn you. Are you sure?"
Colt nods then he stands up, prepare for another fight.
Koutetsu attacks again…
*************
It's him again……
"He" is standing there… looking at me mockingly… with my eyes…
Then "he" smiles… with my lips…
"… you're such a weakling…"
……………
"Colt! Wake up!"
Colt slowly opens his eyes. Koutetsu is sitting in front of his eyes "Colt, are you ok? I gave you an excessively heavy beating last time, you fainted away."
Colt rubs his eyes. It was just a bad illusion… then he looks at Koutetsu and gently nods "I'm still alive, don't worry."
Koutetsu signs with a relief, then he helps Colt to stand up.
"I'm not sure about this but… you still have one excersise to go before ending today's training. And you doesn't look so…well."
"What are you saying?" Colt frowns "I will complete this excersise no matter what! I'm not that weak!"
"Are you sure?"
Colt nods firmly. Koutetsu signs then he points at the forest "Your wolf is in the forest. And you need to find and bring him back as soon as possible."
Colt nods "I understand. I'll find him in no time!"
Colt turns around, heading to the forest. Koutetsu calls after him "Do you need me to go with you?"
"No thanks! I can do this on my own!" Colt replies and soon he disappears within the forest…
************
It's gonna be dark soon…
Colt's panting. He's hungry and tired. His entire body is aching. Oh, right… I just want to have quick nap…
No! Mustn't give up! I must find Snowie before it's too late!
Colt talks to himself. He just keeps going and going in the forest, not knowing where to start… his head is dizzy…
Colt trips and falls, he lies there, panting for a few seconds, then tries to get up again. And there, standing in front of his eyes is…
"A bamboo forest?"
Colt mumbles. Then he stands up, staring at the bamboo forest curiously. Should I go in? It somehow gives me a creep. Is Snowie in there?
After hesitating for a while, Colt's curiousness has won. He slowly steps forward the forest and enters it. Fog is rolling around him. Colt turns around.
Where is the exit? It has disappeared!
There's no way out! The fog is too thick! It's no use turning back now, all he has to do now is keep moving forward, hope that he will soon find an exit.
……………….
Wrong way again…!
Another bamboo wall standing in front of Colt's eyes. It's feeling like that he was trapped within a maze.
What should I do now?
Colt is confused. Where should I go? He's feeling his way, trying to get out of here. Suddently, he hears a noise. Colt turns around. There's someone who is standing in front of him, so that's mean he wasn't alone in this stupid bamboo forest?
"Hey!" Colt comes closer to the stranger, the fog is so thick that Colt can't see his face clearly.
Closer and closer…
There he is…
He's smiling … with Colt's lips… Looking at him with his own eyes.
"It… can't be…?! It can't be possible!"
Colt can't believe in his eyes. That person is … HIM.
"Who are you?" Colt yells, he begins to feel scare.
The "other Colt" keeps smiling, then he replies with the same voice as Colt's "Don't you get it? I'm you. I'm Colt."
"That's a lie!" Colt steps backward "How-how could this be possible?"
The "other Colt" comes closer, Colt steps backwards "I'm your worst nightmare."
Colt relizes that the "other Colt" is holding a sword, while Colt has no weapon. He just doesn't understand! Why is "he" here? Colt turns around, trying to run away from him. He will kill him!
Colt runs within the thick fog, his heart is beating faster. Is this a dream? Colt is panting as he's running. There's no exit! No way out! He's surrounded by bamboos, trapped inside a maze with a guy who looks exactly like him, trying to kill him on the spot. Colt keeps running until he reaches a dead end.
Great, now what?
Colt can feel that "he" is getting closer. It looks like that he doesn't have much choices. Colt prepares to fight. The sound is getting closer…
The sound of trampled leaves…
Colt is ready to face him, to face himself…
Someone appeares from the thick fog…
"You're…" Colt widens his eyes.
There, standing in front of him, is a boy around his ages, with an outstanding silver hair and grey eyes.
"Who are you?" Colt asks, he suddently feels safe.
The boy doesn't answer, he grasps Colt's wrist.
"Hey!" Colt yells "Where-where are you taking me?"
The boy stops for a second, he turns aroud "Do you want to get out of here or not?"
Colt looks at the strange boy "You know the way out of here?"
The boy nods, then he leads the way "Follow me. We must hurry before that guy show up."
"That guy?"
"I mean the other 'you'."
Colt says no more, he lets the silver-haired boy lead him. The fog is fading away …
************
"Thank you for taking me out of there." Colt is sitting on the ground, panting.
They've gotten out of the bamboo maze, the boy doesn't reply to Colt's thank-you. Colt slowly stands up, looking at his savior.
"Who are you anyway? And why do you help me?"
The boy looks at Colt with his mysterious grey eyes "You're allright now, I guess?"
Colt nods "Yeah… sort of… but who are you?"
The boy doesn't answer, then he turns around. Colt yells "Hey, I still don't know your name!"
"It's Shigeru!" The boy answers then he disappears.
Colt sits down again. He's confuse. What is that bamboo maze? And why is there another Colt in there? Who is Shigeru anyway?
When will those questions be answered? He know not.
Colt stands up, he still has an important mission: finding Snowie.
*************
"Good job, Colt! You found Snowie! You returned after Rocky though."
Koutetsu compliments Colt as he comes back with Snowie walking by his side. Colt rubs Snowie's head.
"I found him near a river. But, master Koutetsu, I want to ask you something."
"What is it?"
"In the forest, I found a bamboo forest. When I entered it, I couldn't find the exit…"
"…You entered that bamboo forest?" Koutetsu widens his eyes.
" Yes. And… I met another 'me' in there. What was that bamboo forest?"
Koutetsu looks nervous. He frowns "We call it 'The Trial of Fear'."
"The Trial of Fear?"
"It's a magical maze was created by Masaki the young shaman. It's used as the final test for ninjas. In that maze, the ninja will have to face with his worst enemy – his fear. And if he can beat his fear and get out alive, he will become a real ninja."
"Fear? What exactly does that mean?" Colt frowns.
"For example, you met yourself in there, right? That's mean that you're your worst enemy, you're afraid of yourself. The forest knew that, so that it created another Colt."
Colt widens his eyes, so that's what happened!
"But, Colt, how can you get out of there? With you level now, it was impossible!" Koutetsu asks.
"Someone saved me." Colt answered, he remembers the silver-haired boy.
"Who?"
"I don't know really. He said his name was Shigeru, then he disappeared."
"Shigeru? Strange, no one in this village has that name… anyway, I'm glad that you're still in one piece."
"Yeah… I'm glad, too…" Colt smiles.
**************
It's getting dark…
Colt is rubbing Snowie's head. Tonight he will sleep with Snowie. To Colt, Snowie is not only his companion but also his guardian. Colt feels safe everytime Snowie lying by his side. Colt sees Tum tum walking in the hall, he must be very tired by now, like him.
Colt remembers what happened in the forest. He was scared… and confused. The Trial of Fear was scary, it knew what you scared of, and created them to haunt you, to chase you. But Colt knows one thing for sure…
If he wants to become a real ninja… he must defeat himself.
(to be continue)