A New Light
Chapter 37
The Storm Part 6 Final.
----------------------------
Cruxis lake…
The crimson sun rise filtered through the trees that surrounded the majestic lake. The cool fresh morning air hovered over the lake's waters giving an element of relaxation in the ambiance where two familiar figures stood in the lake.
"You can do it Sakura!"
"Bu-but I-I can't swim Papa."
Keitaro smiled at the girl.
He stood patiently in the lake, a couple feet away from shore, where the water only went up to his waist.
But Sakura was back in the shore line, hesitantly deciding if she should go into the lake with him or not.
"Papaaaaa." she pleaded.
"Haha, Don't be afraid Sakura. I'm here with you, there's no need for you get all worried."
"I-I know that it's just."
Keitaro smirked. A plan in his head.
"Just what? You don't trust me. Waaaah, Sakura doesn't trust me any more! Waaaaah!" Keitaro lied, faking it all as he rubbed his eyes.
"Do-don't cry Papa!" Sakura took a couple of steps into the lake. "See I'm in! Don't cry Papa!"
Keitaro snickered. "Gotcha."
"Wuh!"
Keitaro reached at her with two arms and grabbed onto Sakura. Pulling her to the water.
"Nyyuu!" -Splashh!- "Ahh! Papa! I can't swim!" she said as she flailed with two arms. Splashing in every direction trying to swim.
"Um…Sakura…calm down and you will notice something."
Calming down, she did notice something.
"I-I'm floating." She said surprised.
Keitaro was holding unto both her hands for light support as she floated back side up.
"Hahaha, I-I'm floating! Look Papa!"
"Ok, now kick you feet."
She did was she was told and kicked her feet.
She started to move forward and soon she grew more excited, kicking harder and harder. All in while Keitaro guiding her gently by pulling in her two arms.
"Hehehehe." She giggled.
"Remember Sakura, if you want to swim like this, do what you are doing right now and what ever you do don't panic Just think about floating. And you will do fine."
Sakura stopped swimming, looked up at Keitaro.
"Wha?"
Sakura smiled.
"Eh?"
And tackle glomped Keitaro into the water.
"Waaaaaah!"
"Hahaha, thanks Papa!"
"Hey! Don't forget me!"
Asuna came running down the hill and jumped into the air.
"Oh uh!"
"Wahh shes coming down at me!"
"Heheheh!"
-Splaash!-
---------------------------------------------
-Splaashh!-
The sea collided against rock and sand under the cool breezy sky.
White glittering foam sprayed all over everywhere at the shoreline this fine afternoon. It wasn't a particularly hot afternoon like it usually was in Okinawa island. But instead clouds spread themselves up high along the skyline like a protective ceiling for the little island. Guarding against the sun's squelching heat.
A door flung open.
A worried Mutsumi stepped out of her house.
She held on to her long skirt from the wind's harsh speed as she ran for the beach.
"Mutsumi! What are you doing!"
"Sorry Mother! But Hitari didn't comeback at all and it's already passed launch time!" She said turning around.
Ms. Otohime got a good look at her daughter's face.
Her daughters determined face.
"All right honey! Bring the boy back." She could only say. Nodding and waving.
Mutsumi gave her a smile and ran outwards to the beach.
Looking around for any signs for a blue haired boy.
Ms. Otohime only watches as her frail, weak daughter ran out bare foot towards the beautiful shoreline.
Brave….
Determined…
Alive….
Ms. Otohime finally smiled.
"Having someone to protect can change a woman…."
But in the distance "Ara?" Mutsumi tripped face first unto the sand. "Oof! Ara? Ara?"
Ms. Otohime sweat dropped.
"Ok…maybe it's a slow change."
---------------------------
-Chomp!-
Motoko sidestepped to the right. Flawlessly dodging a bite from one of Durante's wolves.
Motoko planted her foot on the ground, twirled and -Slash!-Poof!- made the wolf disappear into thin air with a swing of a sword.
"Asuna! We're getting close."
Motoko's young apprentice vaulted into the air to avoid a pair of water orbs, twirled into the air, and came down hard, sword first, unto one of the wolves. -Slash!-Poof!-
"Yea. The ground is starting to even out. We should be up there very soon."
Two more wolves came at her. One at each side.
Asuna took a breath, summoned a bit of Ki into her weapons, extended both her sheath and sword outward in a crucified manner and-
-Wham!-Wham!-POOF!-
With a grunt she smacked both wolves dead center on their foreheads.
"Lets get moving." Motoko said, grabbing one gnarling wolf by the neck and kicking it at its exposed gut.
The wolf winced in pain for only a split second.
Motoko followed her attack up by sending it sailing into the air.
-Fwooooosh!-Smack!-Poof!-
Asuna smacked the flying wolf into thin air with the sheath of her sword.
"Gotcha. Lead the way Sensei."
The two of them continued their ascension up the mountain forest.
Fighting through the horde of wolves that await them.
But they didn't notice two small shadows that followed them.
Safely running up the mountain in the wake of Motoko's and Asuna's destructive path.
---------------------------------------
Durante stepped out of the river.
His small half naked body soaking wet from a merry swim in the river's current.
The river was of course in a middle of a clearing where the trees were a great deal apart from both sides of the river. Leaving only several yards of tall grass to separate the river itself from the edge of the lush forest. Durante looked back at the river. The river's current wasn't very rough where he was standing but a couple yards down stream it was another story. Because of the rocks and the incline downstream, the current started to get rough before dumping itself into the barely visible waterfall a good distance away.
He sighs as he shuffles through the tall grass. Getting closer to his shirt hanging from a tree branch. The tree wasn't too far off from where Keitaro was sleeping peacefully. Even after a good thirty minutes of being captured Keitaro was still somehow asleep.
Durante looked at him closely.
"No matter how you look at it. He does look like father material."
Durante snickered to himself, cracked his stiff neck and was now looking at his own body.
Scars…
Scars littered his small body…or shall he say Hitari's small body in every place imaginable. Several of them around the chest area while some extended over his shoulder and through his back and sides.
"When all of this is over Hitari." Durante said with a pause. "Your scars will be visible from now on. I won't be able to hide them with my powers anymore."
"Scars!"
"Oh yea….that's right you don't remember do you."
"Remember what?"
"Never mind Hitari." Durante stared up at the beaming sun. "…Never mind."
Quietly Durante released his gaze at the sun.
He cracked his neck once more, concentrated, and closed his eyes to only reopen them a few seconds later.
He looked down at his body. A perfectly dry body, void of any scars or imperfection.
"You will find out when the time is right Hitari. Its just that right now…isn't the best time…"
"Whatever you say Durante…"
With that finally said Durante nimbly put on his shirt and socks on. He felt the warm embrace of the sun as he tied the pair of shoes Mutsumi had given them not too long ago. But by remembering those shoes he remembered last night. The time when he was inside Hitari. Observing the long walks and shopping sprees the both of them were doing in the little island not too far from here. And he weirdly felt happy.
Hitari noticed from inside.
"Why are you in the good mood all of a sudden?"
Durante snapped back into reality. "No-nothing."
"You were thinking about Mutsumi-chan weren't you?"
"Ho-how did you know that?"
"I'm inside you…remember? I can feel some of your thoughts but not all of them."
"Oh yea...Haha I forgot about that little fact."
"Ok something is going on with you today Durante. It's suppose to be you who knows everything, not me."
"It's nothing…its just that I know your going to be with safe hands when I leave."
"What!"
"I said it's nothing. And anyways we have a guest."
"?" If Hitari could scratch his head he would have done so by now.
Then he too sensed a presence next to them.
The both of them jerk their heads to their left to only find a young teenager girl stare down at them. The girl bore long black hair that lingers down to her upper back and shoulder but was combed differently in either side of her head. The right side of her head was combed forward a bit so as several bangs of her hair covers her forehead while the left side and some of the right was combed entirely back to form a small pony tail that sprouts outwards at the side of her head. A little bit to the left. Her attire is a rather convenient outfit that accommodated for the summer heat today, which happens to be a short sleeved shirt that snuggly fit her body, short blue jeans, hiking boots and a rather large straw hat that shadows her entire upper face. Making it harder to identify her.
But the most noticeable aspect of this girl was the single sheathed Katana gripped in her right hand.
A Shinmei Ryuu Katana.
"Hello Durante…or shall I say water bending spirit Durante Atlantaga."
Durante smirked at the young girl. "Hello there miss…?"
"Setsuna….My name is Setsuna Sakurazaki. Glad to meet you."
"Wow…. Setsuna-chan. You've grown."
Hitari simpered inside.
"Why am I the only one that has no clue on what's going on!"
"I've heard a lot about you Durante."
"From your mother I bet."
"Of course. At first I thought the stories were just some sort of fairy tale. A myth. But knowing my mother and the Shinmei Ryuu, it prolly wasn't a myth. It was then confirmed when I saw both the Natsuki girls and now you."
"So you know Tenshi's girls huh?"
Setsuna nodded.
She turned her head to look at Keitaro.
"I know them because that man enrolled them to my school."
"Yea. Urashima-san seems to be taking good care of those girls. Sometimes all I here out of Asuna's mouth is him during one of our many training sections in my martial arts club."
"Figures a gentle fool would become an outstanding father huh?"
"He isn't quite a fool. Well at least that's what I heard from Asuna-chan. Sure she admits he is kinda perverted but Asuna says it's all accidental. He doesn't mean any of it and has a really good heart. That's why she was quick to be his adopted daughter."
"But it is quite ironic. Isn't it?"
"?"
"The family Asuna and Sakura were adopted in."
Setsuna was confused. Her straw hat tilted to the right a bit.
"What do you mean?"
Durante smirked. "Oops. It seems Tsuruko didn't inform you about everything."
"What?"
"Never mind that. Just leave now. It seems they are coming."
"Not yet I have one question for you."
"Shoot."
"Why won't you let them pass the initiation now? Isn't Asuna-chan good enough?"
"She is good enough but like I said to her, power and techniques are not what I am looking for. She needs to have a goal in mind. She has to have resolve in her mind. She mustn't waver at all during times of crisis. Right now she still has fear and I know all about her fears. By kidnapping Keitaro over here, I might be able to bring out those fears and make her over come them. Hopefully all this will be enough to prepare her for the life that awaits her and her new 'family'."
"I see."
"But Asuna isn't the only one I am testing."
Setsuna's eyes widened. "No…"
"Yes actually…Sakura needs to show me her stuff too. Even though her powers don't awaken until they have a spirit like me with them. I have to see her show resolve and courage. If she can show me that even though she doesn't know anything about fighting. I'll gladly pass the both of them."
"….." Setsuna was silent. Deep in thought.
"If your thinking about helping them now then forget about it. You know the rules. Only one Shinmei Ryuu clan member allowed in the initiation. Your mother should have told you that."
Setsuna looked up. "Who's helping them!"
"Why it's your lovely Aunt, Motoko Aoyama who is helping them. Both of you have grown so much since the last time I saw you girls. Now please scoot along. They are coming closer and I have to prepare."
Setsuna frowned at Durante, bowed respectively, and jumped up high.
Disappearing into the tree branches above.
Durante stretched. "Well that was interesting."
Keitaro lightly moaned in his sleep near by.
Durante looked down at the man and smiled.
"Seems like he is about to wake up. Everything is coming together….."
A strong wind blew in all of a sudden.
Kicking the boy's blue hair playfully up and down.
"………Right Tenshi?"
-------------------------------
"Aaaauuu! We finally have a break!" Shinobu joyfully said.
But she wasn't the only one happy as Naru, Mitsune, Su and Makie all sat at the same table with her. All of them relaxing their worn out bodies froma morning of serving and cooking sprees. Lunch time was over and all the patrons had left to go out and enjoy the sun. Giving them the break they all deserved.
"Haruka-san is so mean. She expects only five people working in this restaurant. We could barely cook and serve everything! We're just lucky Makie-chan could cook as good as Shinobu-chan."
"Makie! Makie! Makie! She's the class president and also the hero of the day today!" Su shouted almost falling back from her chair.
Shinobu smiled.
Makie blushed. "Thank you guys but let Naru cook next time. She wanted to."
Naru glared at Mitsune. "Yea Mitsune! I would rather be in the kitchen then out there with those damn perverts."
Mitsune rolled her eyes. "Please Naru. I was just looking out for the customers."
"What do you mean you were looking out for the customers? I was punched I think four of those perverts today."
"Naru was practically choking one of them also!"
"Hehehe, he turned all pretty blue."
"Pfft, Trust me. Its better for them to get punched in the face."
"What do you mean by that Mitsune."
"Come on Naru, I've tasted your food before and…bleh."
Naru fumed. "My food doesn't taste that bad!"
"I remember the time you prepared food for one of our friend's cat. All you had to do was take the food out of the can and its ready to be served. But no, the cat completely freakes out and ran halfway down the flight of stairs in the apartment."
"What? I thought some salt would add some flavor for the cat."
Shinobu and Makie couldn't help but snicker.
Suu fell off of her chair laughing like crazy.
"Hahahahaha Naru, the cook from hell!"
To tired to do anything else Naru sighs in defeat and pouted.
Your so mean Mitsune." She said. Watching Suu roll on the floor laughing.
Mitsune chuckles and winks. "Hey. What's best friends for."
"To tell about other hilarious stories about their best friends. Preferably Naru."
"Hehe, All right."
"Eh! No!"
"Keep going Mitsune!"
"One time when she was ten we had a sleep over and…"
"Auugh! No! Stop it! Waaahh!"
"Hahahaa. Wait! Suu stop eating Tama-chan and spit her out!"
"Nyuuu!"
"Butfff shesh so dewecious!"
Off in the shadows somewhere.
Haruka leaned on one of the walls in the kitchen.
"Good work girls."
And was smiling as the girls continued their fun chaos.
------------------------------------------
Asuna and Motoko ran out of the forest.
They were only met with tall swaying grass that reached up to their shin.
They took a good look around and found themselves in a clearing.
A river running down the middle of it.
A clapping noise.
They jerked their heads forward to the source of the clapping.
"Well well, you girls actually made it."
"Durante! Where's Papa!"
"My my someone's anxious today, glad to see your up for the first trail."
Motoko revealed her sword threateningly. "Enough of your games Durante! Where is Keitaro?"
"Why sleeping all the way over there." The two girls squint their eyes to block out the sun where the boy was pointing, and it reveals Keitaro peacefully sleeping besides a tree all the way across the river and at the other end of the clearing. Not a scratch on him. "As you can see I didn't hurt him. I wouldn't go that low you know."
"You better have now not." Asuna said with her sword trained at Durante.
"Hehe, but wait, where are the other two girls?"
"They don't need to be here. It's only us two and we are good enough for you."
"How disappointing, and here I was anticipating Sakura's lovely little face."
Asuna frowned. "You have no right to say that about my sister."
"Oh really…come and say it to my face."
"Gladly."
Asuna dropped her sheath, and gripped her sword with two hands.
Asuna glanced at the Motoko.
Motoko glanced back at Asuna.
They both nod in agreement.
And they dash forward, swords raised right at Durante.
Their two bodies literally cut through the field of tall grass right at the boy.
Durante grins. "Lets play."
He summoned a pair of water orbs out of now where and launches them at the incoming girls.
-Fwoooosh!- Clang!-Fwoooosh!-
Motoko and Asuna deflected both shots back at him.
Durante sidestepped, dodging his own attacks.
The two girls were already at him.
"Haa!"- "Haa!"
They brought down their swords at Durante.
-Clang-Clang!-Sploosh!-
Something blocked their attacks.
The palm of Durante's hand.
Durante had his two small arms outstretched, palms facing out to meet the two swords head on. Only a patch of water acting as a shield hovers in between his delicate skin and the two metal blades.
"What!" Motoko and Asuna said with gritting teeth. Trying to over power Durante's defenses.
"You girls are really after my head."
"Ngggh!"
"Well water orbs are getting old on you two really quickly. How about a new trick."
-Fwoooosh!-
Their eyes widen due to a torrent of water appearing out of nowhere. It twirled around the boys leg. It travels up his body, turns a darker shade of blue and separates, now traveling around both his small arms before-
-Splooosh!-
"Aaaah!"
"Kyaaa!"
Asuna and Motoko were forced back harshly by a splash of water.
They land a couple of feet back in a painful roll.
"Nggh. What the hell was that."
"I don't know but that was a lot more powerful then those water orbs."
-Fwoosh!-
Water inthe form of a moon crescent came screaming at them.
They gasped and ducked out of the way.
-Fwoooosh- Sliicce!-
A random tree fell down behind them. Sliced at the trunk as if cut down by a lumber jack.
"What the…!"
They looked back at Durante.
He was standing looking at them with serious eyes.
"Surprised girls? I haven't shown you my full power yet but I think this will do. Watch out though, these water projectiles are as sharp as any blade thanks to the Ki I added to them."
Another wave of water twirled up his feet and body. It split, travels around his two arms, and with a swift jab at air like a boxer in training, Durante launched two projectiles at the two.
The blue crescents came at them.
Asuna desperately rolled out of the way. Motoko did the same.
-Fwoosh!-
The grass got ridiculously shorter as the crescent shape projectile literally sliced through the grass in front of their eyes.
Asuna ended her roll in a pant, gripped her sword and charged at him with tenacity.
"Aaahh!"
Durante noticed her charge.
Water whirled around his own leg.
And a low crescent projectile was sent at her via a swift kick launch.
-Swiish!-
Asuna jumped high to avoid it.
She came down at Durante, sword trained.
Durante thought ahead, and already sent another water crescent attack at her airborne body.
She quickly tried to block with the full length of her sword.
-Clang!-
Her body went backwards. Causing her to retreat.
Meanwhile Motoko was already charging at Durante's blind side.
Yet Durante wasn't surprised.
Motoko took advantage of Durante's exposed side and prepares Ki into her sword.
A pulse of blue Ki flashed in her sword.
She clenched her teeth.
"Zan-Gan-Ken!"
A shield of water compressed themselves over Durante's body.
-Clang!-Fwoooosh!-
Her Ki attack dispersed in every direction.
No damage.
"Wh-what!"
Durante didn't even wait and summoned a water orb in the palm of his hand.
Motoko gasped in realization and starts to retreat.
Too late
-Wham!-Splurge!-
The orb impacted her stomach head on.
She was sent flying right back at Asuna.
Asuna flinched.
"Kiyaa!"
"Waah!"
The two of them went sprawling onto the grassy plain, groaning.
"Motoko, I think we have our hands full. Not him."
"I think your right."
"Hahaha, all right enough of this. I'd like for you girls to meet a friend of mine."
"Huh?"
"Wha?"
Durante took a step backward tilting his head up. He stared up at the sky and inhaled.
The tall grass around him seemingly swayed with his breath.
He concentrated his aura and started to manifest it right in front of their eyes. His aura was so full of Ki and water that it literally took the form of a mist which develops around the boy's body. Swirling like a whirlpool that could grasp you with its watery hands and suck you into oblivion. His eyes began to glow in a solid blue color as his power manifests itself more and more around his body. The girls could only slowly stand up, their knees shaking, and minds in disbelief.
"Hi-his power. I can feel his aura and…its… Frightening."
"Wha-what is he?"
Durante looked back at the girls with glowing blue eyes.
"You've met him before I believe. And he would love to meet you two adorable girls once again. Let me introduce you to my rather big friend! Come! I summon you!"
-FWOOSH!-
With a huge splash, something flew out of the river's surface.
It soared into the sky with authority, leaving a trail of water.
Durante smiles as if he already won.
The girls gasp, tilting their heads up to only see a huge dark figure coming down.
And it did.
SMASH!
The earth shook with its new found presence.
The river's current came to a halt for a mere second.
Asuna and Motoko lost their balance.
"Woah!"
"What the!"
The gargantuan figure dramatically landed besides Durante. Actually leaving a slight crater beneath its padded feet. The distant trees shook as if they too experience fear. The figure rose, and soon it stood up straight for it to glare at the girls with two white slit eyes.
And when they saw those white slit eyes.
"Nn-n-no…" Motoko took a step back.
They remembered.
"It..can't be…N-no!" Asuna shook.
There stood in front of them was their worst fear.
Their past.
A huge turtle like monster stood menacingly besides the water spirit. Equipped with two mighty arms, a huge reinforced shell, one razor sharp beak, huge feet, claws that could slice through anything, and a height that seem to tower over everyone else around it.
"Remember now?" Durante said looking up at the monster. "I'll make you remember. Get em."
The turtle chuckled, arced its back and screamed with all its might.
Practically freezing Asuna and Motoko in place.
"NGAAAUUUUU!"
STOMP--STOMP!- And it stormed at their positions with heavy feet.
-Ch-ching!-
The thing revealed its sharp claws at them and took a swipe at their frozen bodies.
"Motoko! Asuna! Watch out!"
-Tackle!-
Something came from the side, tackling Asuna and Motoko into the ground.
-Fwiish!-
The turtle monster sliced only air and stumbled forward surprised.
Asuna and Motoko looked at their tackler.
It was Sakura.
"Sa-sakura! What are you doing here!"
"Never mind that! Get a hold of yourself both of you!"
"Bu-but its-its-its-its" Motoko and Asuna both said hysterically.
Their faces etched with fear and horror.
Sakura bit her lip. And raised a hand.
-Slap!-Slap!-
"Snap out of it you guys or you'll get killed!"
Asuna and Motoko had their heads turned slightly to the side. Phased and cheeks red.
-Stomp!-Stomp!-
The monster hovered above them.
Sakura looked up slowly up and simpered. "Nyyuu…."
The water monster seemed to smile.
It brought a bone crushing foot down upon them.
They all flinched.
-Bam!-Bam!-Bam!--Ping!-Ping!-
Gun shots pelt the monster in the face and upper body. Forcing it to cover itself.
It took a step back away from the girls.
Sara came running out of the forest.
Dual handguns in her grasps and trained at the monster.
She unleashed another round of hot lead.
-Bam!-Bam!-
"Sakura-chan! Their too scared! I'll hold this stupid monster off for you. Now go and save the dork!"
Sakura gazed down at her sister and friend.
They were still frozen, phased from her slap.
Nervous and silent.
Sakura bit her lip.
She had no choice so she gathered all her courage and bolts for the river.
Leaving Motoko and Asuna behind.
A clear goal in mind.
Saving Keitaro.
-------------------------------
Sara noticed Sakura bolt for the river. About to pass the huge monster who was a bit preoccupied against her hail of bullets.
"All right, I just have to keep blasting the Turtle and she's home free."
-Bam!-Bam!-Click--Click--
Immediately Her guns went cold.
So did her face.
"Crud…"
--------------------------------
-Ping!-ping!-
The water monster backed up from Sara's fire.
Trying its best defending against the bullets.
"……………"
Until Sara ran out of ammunition.
It lowered its arms and took notice of Sakura coming at it.
Sakura slid to a stop right in front of it. Surprised.
"Um…..hi?"
With grinning teeth it took out its claws.
Sakura fearfully took a step back. Staring at the claws that was about to slice her up into bloody confetti.
"Ngaaauuuu!"
And with a shriek, it lunged at her with the swipe of its claws.
"Kiyaaa!"
Two figures came blurring from each side.
-Cl-Clang!-
Two swords met the monster's claw attack.
"Mo-Motoko? As-Asuna!"
Motoko and Asuna stood side by side, their swords in a crisscross fashion with each other. Together they effortlessly blocked the monster's fierce attack. Their faces not full of fear, but full of determination.
"You broke my promise Sakura. I told you not to come here and yet you still did."
"Bu-but."
Motoko cut her off. "But we're glad you did."
Asuna grinned.
"Because you got us back on track and on focus."
"I'll forget my fear of turtles just this once Sakura-chan. If you get Keitaro for us…"
Asuna nodded. "Get Papa Sakura. We'll hold back this thing for you"
Sakura beamed. "All right."
And she happily darted back on course.
"Now where were we again?"
"Kicking some turtle ass."
'Right….I get dibs on its legs."
------------------------
At the sidelines near the river Durante was over seeing the fight.
"Didn't expect Sara and Sakura to show up. And Sara knows how to use a gun. So many surprises."
He noticed Sakura bolt towards him.
"Well well, look who's trying to save their Papa."
Durante was about to walk up to Sakura when-
"Get out of my way!"
-Whap!-
"Auuughh!"
Durante went down on the ground. Holding his male jewels.
And Sakura zipped past by, heading towards the river.
After a full second Durante stood back up. As if nothing happened.
He grinned. "Courage and a goal in mind…Sakura Urashima…if you face your final fear and swim to your goal…you pass." He looked back Asuna and Motoko. "Asuna Urashima….face your fear…beat it…and you will indeed pass."
---------------------------------
Sakura reached the river.
She gazed down at the rivers surface and analyzed the current.
By just looking at the current and its deep shade of blue she could tell that the river was indeed quite deep and very rough.
She could remember what happened last time.
The fishing trip…
The storm…
The rough sea currents pulling her, tearing her, ripping her apart in the depth of the ocean.
A shiver crawled up her spine causing her to step back.
Yet she somehow found her self looking across the river.
Staring at a familiar face.
A familiar face she was here to save. Her Papa. Keitaro.
And suddenly all her bad memories were washed away by its own current.
And all she could remember was a couple of weeks ago, specifically at a certain lake.
In a specific trip...
With a specific person...
"Just…think about floating and I'll be fine."
She took a deep breath and dove into the river.
Swimming towards her father.
Braving the river's subtle current.
Her pendant dangling round her neck as she thought about only two things.
Floating…
And Keitaro…
-----------------------------
"Ngauuuuu!"
The Turtle monster was forced back.
"You scared Sensei?"
"No. But lets get this over with."
"I hear ya."
"Ngauuuuuuuuu!"
The beast flexed its muscles and charged at the two girls.
--Chi-iing!--
It aimed its claw attack right at their heads.
-Cl-clang!-
Motoko stepped up and blocked the attack with her sword.
They struggled against one another.
"Haaa!"
Asuna used Motoko's shoulder as a stepping stool and vaulted into the air.
"Ngaau!"
Asuna raised her sword and -Slaaaahh!-
Came down on the monster's chest with a mighty slash.
Cre-eeak- A small crack formed in its think armor.
Without loosing any momentum. Asuna landed, twisted forward and lunged at the dazed monster.
-Sl-Sl-Sl-Sl-Sl-Sl-Sl-SLASH!-
"Ngauuuu!"
The monster was forced back from the slashes.
Cre-eak!- the cracked opened a bit.
Asuna didn't stop, and soon she was joined by Motoko.
Side by side they relentlessly sliced at their fear with their swords.
-SL-SL-SL-SL-SL-SLASH!-
-SL-SL-SL-SL-SL-SLASH!-
"Sara!" Motoko and Asuna yelled as the two of them vaulted off the monsters armored chest and into the air. "Aim for the chest!"
Sara came running in. "Gotcha!" she aimed her two reloaded handguns and fired away.
BAM-BAM-BAM-BAM-BAM!-
"Ngauuuu!" It screamed as a hail of bullets pelted its chest, dazing it.
Creeaakk- The crack widened.
-Click-Click-
"I'm out, take it from here."
"We're on it."
In perfect synchronization they landed from their vault side by side.
They planted their feet firmly to the ground.
Backs against each other and the both of them facing the monster.
They twirled out their swords against each other in a cool mirror like pose.
They narrowed their eyes and started to focus...focus...focus...focus Ki into their swords.
The monster was still dazed unaware of its demise.
Ki now completely encased their swords. Asuna's sword now red. Motoko's sword now white.
They took a breath and shouted in unison.
"Shinmei Ryuu Secret Arts-"
They both lunged at it for the final time.
"Master and Apprentice Succession technique. Double!-"
They raised their intertwined swords.
"Zan-Gan!-"
Red and white pulsed together.
"KEN!"
And with their final battle cry they flung their swords down in a heavy slash.
All their gathered energy unleashed themselves from within their swords in a whirling vortex of white and red.
-SLASH!-
The earth parted like a knife to butter in a trail that ran towards the Monster's body.
The monster shook out of its daze to only see a mix of red and white before the vortex smashed into its weaken, cracked body. The monster didn't even scream as it was literally being torn apart by Asuna and Motoko's combined powers of their blades. Shell by shell. The monster convulsed, jerked, and had its mouth open from surprise. Motoko and the others smiled for victory was at hand.
-RIIIIIPP!--
The vortex successfully tore through the monsters entire armor plated body before -POOF!- it disappeared into oblivion.
"Yes we did it!"
FWOOOSH!- But the sound of their attack kept thundering around them.
'W-wah! No!"
Their faces of victory soon faded as their combined attack still had steam in it and kept going.
And it seemed to have found a new target.
"No! Its crossing the river, right at Keitaro and Sakura."
"Sakura! RUN!"
The vortex had already reached the water.
--------------------
Earlier on Sakura had successfully reached the other side of the river.
She was cold, tired, and relieved.
She ran through the clearing of tall grass and reached the edge of the forest where Keitaro slept.
"Papa!" She shook his shoulders. "Papa! Wake up!"
"Wa-wah!" Keitaro leaned forward a bit. "Whats going on? Sa-sakura is that you?"
Her face lit up. "Papa!" She leaned forward and embraced him with a hug.
Keitaro was forced back first into the tree he was sleeping on.
-Wham-
"Auugh. Haha, next time you hug me, do it a little lighter next time." He said wincing.
Sakura blushed. "Sorry Papa. But lets get out of here."
"All right."
A yell from the distance interrupted them.
"Sakura! Run!"
They looked at their way and instantly went deadpanned.
A whirling vortex of red and white came at them. It reached the river and did what moses did. Parted the river.
"Crap, we have to leave now." Keitaro said about to get up but "Auugh," He collapsed back onto the grassy floor.
"Papa! Whats wrong?"
"M-my back!"
"Your back?"
A boy's voice. "He is still injured from my chop and it seems when he hit his back onto the tree it aggravated it more."
"Du-durante!" Sakura yelped.
The blue aired boy didn't look at the two of them instead stepped in front of them.
Right in front of the incoming attack which had already crossed the river.
"Master, I'll deal with this, you just sit there and tend to your Papa."
"Did you just call me master?"
Durante nodded. "I acknowledge both you and Asuna as my masters now. You two have past my test andI wouldn't want my master's pretty face to be hurt now would I?" The vortex came ever so closer. Almost half way there. So Durante threw a piece of paper at Sakura.
She caught it andunfolded it open.
"Hurry and read that with Keitaro!"
Keitaro and Sakura didn't waste any time.
"I call upon the ancient powers of the elementals."
Hitari/Durante's body jerked from a burst of blue. His whole body now wrapped around a layer of blue light.
"Grant me access to the depths of the deepest ocean, the raging currents of the mightiest river, and the tumbling waves of the largest sea."
Hitari/Durante's eyes and mouth shot out a pillar of blue light.
"I summon Durante. Come forth and be the element of water."
And so red and white converged with blue.
---------------------
Quiet...
Sunny...
Emptiness...
An small island stood in the middle of a calm eternal sea. A single palm tree decorating the island.
Hitari stood near the shoreline.
"Wh-where am I?"
"Your in a place in between reality and fantasy Hitari."
Hitari jumped. "Du-durante!"
There leaning on the single palm tree was Durante. Except he wasn't in Hitari's body no more but in an older more teenager like body. He had a darker shade of blue hair on top of his head and his one eye was tightly closed. A scar running through the middle of his eye lid and extended down and up his face.
"Yes its me, and I've come here to say farewell."
"Farewell! This soon?"
"Yes Hitari. You and I knew this time would come."
"I know...but will I at least remember you?"
Durante shook his head.
"Unfortunately no. You will have no memory of me what so ever. "
"Bu-but that not fair!"
"Life isn't fair boy."
"I dun care! The only reason why i wasn't breaking down before was because of you! You were the only one that kept me company when i was lost! I didn't know what to do. I didn't know any family! I just had you! Now you expect me to live my life with out any memory. With out anyone to be with!"
"That isn't true Hitari."
"..."
"You still have Mutsumi."
Hitari looked at him. Wide eyed.
"Hitari...I'm sorry for leaving you, but it has to be done."
"Wait!"
But the teenage boy was gone and replacing him was a wolf.
A wolf with blue fur. Spiky blue fur. And a scar through one of its eyes.
"Live Hitari...you don't need to see anymore of my killings and violence...not any more."
"Durante! No! Wait!"
"Good bye Hitari."
The sun turned into darkness as the whole sea turned pitch black.
So did Hitari.
----------------------------
-PHLOOM!-
A blue beam surged out of the boy's body. Only to meet with a swirling vortex of red and white.
The beam intensified and completely pierced through the vortex, making it disappear. Disbanding the immediate threat before it continued to fly upwards and disappear under a veil of clouds.
"Ngggh..."
Hitari's body turned back to normal and was about to slump to the ground.
-Catch-
Motoko and Asuna gently caught the boy in their arms.
"Is he ok?"
"Yea he just passed out."
"Sara go check on Keitaro and Sakura-chan."
Sara jumped off of Motoko's back and ran towards Sakura and Keitaro.
"Keitaro! Sakura! Are you two...o...k?"
"Zzzzz"
"Zzzzz"
Sakura and Keitaro were fast asleep.
Sakura gently leaning on Keitaro's chest with a card in her hand.
A card with a picture of a blue wolf. With a scar over one of its eyes.
----End of Chapter 37----
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Back in the Hinata-sou.
Where five scrolls used to lay inside the chest. Weren't there.
Instead of scrolls hidden inside a chest, there were five different colored orbs hovering around Keitaro's room.
-Ziiiiiip!-
And in one swoop they all left through the open window and shot out into the sky.