SOD: So, uh, remember how I mentioned the backstory would be around 10 chapters? Yeah... Make that about 15 to 20. Good news is I just finished chapter 12 so... ya.
Andrew: I will never watch anime again. I will never watch anime again. I will never watch anime again.
SOD: Huh? Anderu-san, are you still rocking in the corner?
Andrew: I will never watch anime again. I will never watch anime again. I will never watch anime again.
SOD: Alright. While I try and fix Andrew's mentality, you all enjoy the story! Lemme know your thoughts as always! I'm curious to hear them!
"Sometimes I forget that you're only 12." Yujiro sighs.
After accepting the position, both were escorted to their guest rooms. Now both are sitting in Relon's.
"Oh? So when we're not fighting or when I'm not being put into a situation that makes it difficult for me to say no to, you forget I'm twelve? A boy? A child?"
"With the way you were holding yourself against the king of Erebonia, yes. Had me sweating there for a second."
"Well, I'm sure you'll be sweating again soon."
"Hmm?" He turns to Relon seated at the table across from him, Yujiro feeling the air warming up.
"It's time you told me, Mister. I already know a good amount about the Wandering Beast but tell me the real story. How do you know all of these top figures? Why are you setting me on this course that no ordinary kid can do? And finally, just who is Yujiro Namikaze?" His heat dying down as does his sentence.
All Yujiro can do is look on before releasing a sigh.
"I remember a time you were so reserved. It seems like only yesterday I found you." He stands opening the door.
"... Mister?"
"Let the royal family we'll be stepping out for a while. We should be back in a day or so before we offically start as the princess' bodyguards."
"Yes, sir." A soldier salutes leaving.
"What are you...?"
"Come on." He calls heading out onto the balcony.
"Wait!" Relon grabs his jacket and sword following after him. "Where are we going?"
Grabbing a lantern, Yujiro opens it facing Relon.
"Light it." He orders.
"Can you at least tell me what's going on?"
"Just do as you're told and light it!" He orders once again making Relon flinch.
Complying, he ignites the candle inside only for Yujiro to blow it out placing it back on its rack.
"I thought you wanted me to light it! Why blow it out?"
Without answering, Yujiro squats down before launching high into the evening sky landing on a building far in the city.
"Where is he going?! Partner, let's go!" Relon jumps off the balcony landing on his sword.
Taking a hold of the cloth, the two speed off to catch up with the man into the evening sunset.
Jumping high into the sky, Yujiro jumps from one district after another landing somehow without crashing and within seconds, he's out of Heimdallr with Relon close behind.
He gives off such a rambunctious vibe normally but this is the first time I've seen him like this. Just what's going on?
Hours pass, Relon having caught up to the unresponsive man as they fly/jump through the night. The only light sources being the full moon and the flame burning from the tip of his sword propelling him forward.
He hasn't stopped his pacing. Then again, it isn't hard to tell where we're headed.
Flashbacks to a burnt down forest covered in ash and soot comes to mind.
Ashland. The dead forest which still radiates heat as if on fire. The very forest Mister put out with a single punch. The source of the flames still remain a mystery to the public but... could those flames have something to do with me?
Eventually they come to a road dividing the forest. In front of the the famed land Relon originated.
Taking a step forward, the light crunching of ash and soot comes as Relon looks back to Yujiro. Relon knows anything he asks will be shot down, but there's one thing he knows Yujiro will answer.
"Where did you find me?"
Unresponsive, he begins walking forward, Relon behind him and the sword hovering at the boy's side. Minutes pass and they halt before a dead tree no different than the dozens around it. Walking forward, the boy can only stare at it before slowly placing his left hand on it. Taking in the sensation he has come to familiarize with, his hand ignites catching the tree on fire.
Remaining unresponsive, Yujiro eyes the boy's action before walking towards the base of the mountain. Glancing once more at his birth tree, now a light in the darkness, he walks after the man. Not long after, they reach the foot of the mountain.
The entrance is gone?
Knocking, he doesn't find the wall reinforced.
"Grrrrr!"
Whipping around, Relon grabs his sword igniting it to find themselves surrounded by wolf-like monsters. Six in total. Out the corner of his eye, an unnatural amount sheer killing intent surges out. Relon widens clutching his chest having trouble breathing glancing at Yujiro before back ahead to see the wolves all explode into dark puffs of energies, his will dying down as Relon coughs for air.
He killed those wolves... with just his pure killer intent! So... dense! Whatever is going on, he's beyond on edge!
Slowly rising, he looks to Yujiro.
"Is there... supposed to be... something here?" Relon breathes out as he places a hand on the wall before them.
Out of nowhere, a red symbol emerges as the wall rises.
"Whoa..."
Did it react to my touch?
"Let's go." The man finally speaks.
"... What's in there?" Relon steadily asks, his question stopping Yujiro in his tracks.
"Answers." He walks off.
"Answers...?"
Flashback
Yujiro.
"If you ever want to ask me anything, I'll answer to the best of my abilities."
Relon.
"How do you know all of these top figures? Why are setting me on this course than no ordinary kid couldn't do? And finally, just who is Yujiro Namikaze?"
Present
"You knew something about my past and didn't tell me?" He asks, his voice surprisingly calm.
"I didn't find out until after I told you I'd answer as best I can."
"Oh..."
"Do you hate me?"
"No. Like I said before, you were just protecting me. So thanks, Mister."
Wordlessly eyeing the boy, they continue inside. The air itself noticeably warm.
"Steel yourself."
Relon pauses taking in his words before releasing his partner.
"Ready?" It nods igniting its flame to use as a torch before the trio continues down the eerie cave.
Soon, the heated walls begin to open up revealing a large opening.
"What is this...? A burned-village? In a cave?"
Before them stands dozens of wooden huts with triangular posts scattered throughout the large room.
"Partner, can you light those torches?" At his request, it takes off lighting one after another with Relon taking a look around leaving Yujiro to his thoughts.
There's not a trace of the burnt bodies anywhere. No odor. No visage on the ground. Whoever came certainly did a good job hiding their tracks.
Stopping before the first hut, Relon notices something.
"Mister."
"Yeah?"
"Were these on fire when you were last here?"
"Yeah. You noticed it too, huh?"
"These huts are burnt but they don't look damaged in the slightest. Unlike the trees."
"Makes you wonder what's going on, huh?"
"Do you have an idea?"
"Only a guess."
"Then we just have to look around." Begins to head inside.
"Kid. You know, don't you...? About the residents' fates."
A shift in the moist atmosphere doesn't hide the knowing feeling Relon gives off refusing to look at the man.
"I had a feeling." He looks over his shoulder at the man. "But I've prepared for this for a while now." This surprising Yujiro. "Why are you surprised? Don't tell me you forgot I was twelve again." Relon lightly chuckles looking around himself. "The odds of this being my village, actually encountering a survivor, or even finding anything on my own family are unlikely. I won't get my hopes up."
Looking forward, he enters a hut.
(Strengthen thy heart for the hardest choices are never the easiest. I think I finally understand what you meant that day, Vic.)
Deep down, I always saw the kid as a son. Because of that, I grew soft. I refused to show him this out of not believing he was ready but because I've grown to care for his feelings.
He begins walking towards the hut.
I left the kid for two years and in those two years, that passive boy once frightened of his powers became a little man before my eyes. Strong, confident, smart. I thought these two years would do us both some good but in the end, I ended up missing him more than I realized. Finding myself talking as if he was there was awkward at first.
He opens the tent to see Relon lookin around the in-tact residence.
Looking at him now, he ain't no little kid. He was right about one thing; I forgot at times he was merely a child. Looking at him now, the way he presented himself in front of their majesties, and in our fight, I see him as a kid no more. More like a little man but a man nonetheless. But does that mean I can't see him as a son? Ugh, I didn't want to marry but in the end, I still ended up with a kid. Though I'm grateful for the son that I've gained.
Sitting down on the tent's carpet, he grins.
Is this what fatherhood is like, Teo? Vic? If so, I can see why you two cherish your own kids so much. Then again, I suppose I'm in that boat now too. One we three will forever sail together... Shit, I'm sounding like Vic.
"For a tent, it sure is spacious. Then again, this whole area is housing dozens of tents." Relon sighs looking at the story books he's found.
Is this really my home? If so, which tent is my family's? What happened to everyone? Why was I found outside and not in here?
Flashback
His mother's words.
"Live so that one day we can be reunited as mother and son. I love you. No matter what."
Present
Mom, what happened here to make you leave?
Eyeing another shelf of books, he resumes his rummaging flipping page after page, book after book.
I have questions that need answers and I'm in the place to find them. And I'm not leaving until at least one is answered!
With that last thought, he picks up what seems like a journal. Opening it, he notices something fall out of a page.
"Hm? What's this?" He picks it up. "A note?"
"What's it say?"
Heero, I'll be using this journal to leave notes from now on. I'm heading out to get some supplies. Don't forget we'll be practicing your firebending later so I'll meet you further in the cave's training grounds. - Your brother, Zechs
"There's something else written at the bottom."
Where did you go, Zechs? It's been three days. Don't tell you were killed?" - Your brother, Heero Lucinance
"Lu...cinance? Then... this really is my home..." He looks around the tent.
"Take your time." A moment of silence follows.
"Thanks, Mister. I'm good now. That's one question answered though I'm guessing you knew that part didn't you?" A nod. "Thanks for letting me figure it out on my own. Now, I want to see if I can find some more."
The others are worried too. myself especially. The clan is praying for your return. Come home soon, brother. - Your sister, Relena Lucinance.
"So I did have a clan. The Lucinance clan."
"Are there any other notes?"
"No. The rest of the journal is blank. Could it be these huts were made to be flammable but hold a resistance to it? If so, why?"
"Possibly to ward of intruders?" Yujiro suggests.
The interior of the home looks neat as can be aside from dust, but the outside is burnt...
"Hmm. Mister."
"What's up?"
"Can you tell me about the day you came here?" One look at Relon's face told him everything he needed to verify.
"Nothing much aside from the burned bodies."
"Burned bodies?" At that, he steps out followed by Yujiro.
"What are you thinking?"
"Something I learned over the last two years." He picks up a torch before placing his hand into the fire.
"We know I'm immune to fire." He switches hands even putting his face in the fire to seem unfazed. "I find it odd that the clothes I wear are but I'm not complaining."
"Your point?"
"How could people who can't be harmed by fire burn to death?"
"... Huh? That is a good point."
"Exactly. It doesn't make sense. A hot iron, boiling water, fire, none of it harms me. The iron and water felt naturally warm and the fire doesn't even feel like it's there. If heat sources don't cause harm to my clan and I, then the question becomes..."
"What does?"
"In the journal, it mentioned the training grounds being further inside. That seems like a good enough place to start." Relon suggests.
"Good point, these huts aren't going anywhere but I have to wonder one thing..."
"Yeah. Who took care of the bodies?"
After placing the torch back, the duo walks further down the the rows of tents for Relon to stop.
"What's up?"
"The wall was open when you came the last time, right?" Relon asks, the clogs in his brain turning rapidly.
"Yeah, why?"
"Let's say, hypothetically, it only opens for my clan. If it was closed when we got here and it opened when I touched it, then that means the day you came and found the bodies..."
"We had just missed the survivor!" The hulking man states calmly.
"And the only survivors I know of are my mom, that guy she was with, and my sister..." A look of defeat crosses his face. "We were so close and we never knew..." Shaking his head, he resumes walking with Yujiro.
Not long after, they reach another large portion of the cave. Noticing something above, Relon calls forth his sword as it flies to the ceiling igniting what seems like a bonfire upside-down. The light from the fire reflects onto hundreds of now visible crystals, Yujiro whistling at the sight.
"You can definitely tell from the scorch marks littered all over the floor and even walls. Some of the crystals are missing due to some marks in the wall. Your family seemed like a fiery bunch."
"... Good one." Relon snorting his laughter.
"Gotta find the good in every bad situation."
"Yeah, you're right. Thanks, Mister."
"Anytime. Though it seems like nothing really is here. Wanna head further in?"
"Yeah."
Minutes later of further descendance into the depths of the cave, the two arrive as what seems like an empty portion.
"A dead end?"
"No. Stuff like this usually has a secret passage. Try touching the wall somewhere."
Walking to the other side of the room, Relon does as instructed.
"Nothing's happening." There must be something. Oi, mind giving me some light oh great sword." Yujiro calls, the sword hovering over as Relon ignites a flame in his hand as he continues the search.
"Hey, Mister."
"Yeah?"
"Since we're looking for... something. Would you mind finally telling me about your life?"
"... I suppose I've held off on it long enough."
He takes a deep sigh before beginning.
"Your situation is similar to mine. I didn't know my parents either." Relon stops to look with surprised at the man across the room, the darkness between them. "For years I wandered around Erebonia. I was a small child in a big, dangerous, world. Constantly on the run from food vendors I stole from because no one dared give the time to help a both with tattered clothing. I only had one goal in mind; survive."
"Then one day, I met another boy. He too was an orphan just like me. It was the first time I saw someone else living like me. You could say I was fascinated by the sight. Here was someone who use the same tactics I did to survive. Someone who was in the same position as myself. Someone who understood the hardships of being alone. I watched as he managed to snag a few fruits before taking off. The food vendor didn't even see it coming." Yujiro gives a chortle before his demeanor shifts.
"Unfortunately, the authorities were right around the corner. Bumping into them, he didn't waste a second in getting to his feet and hightailing it out of there. I saw all of this unfold and for some reason, I acted. All I can say is that I didn't want someone like me to have their fate sealed so early in life. With that, I stepped out of my hiding spot which happened to be a alleyway catching the boy's attention. I'll never forget it. That look in his eyes. They were pleading for help yet at the same time, they were filled with relief at the mere prospect of actually getting help for once in their life."
"To say that we gave the cops a chase that lasted hours would be an understatement. We ran like- no. Because our lives were on the line. Once we finally lost them, we were so out of breathe, we both ended up laying on the beach into the next morning. It was then that I had learned his name; Exio. He didn't know his last name like I did and we both got to talking and before long we were working as a unit. One person distracting and the other grabbing as much grub as they could. We ended up staying in one location for a week and when security got buffed, we traveled to the next. Rinse and repeat."
"A year later, it felt like we had become brothers. Always watching each other's backs. No longer were we in ragged clothing. We had managed to steal some proper clothing. We had two sets. One for stealing and one as a disguise. A more noble-like look. No one ever realized the difference. It was around then that it happened. We found another one. Another orphan. A girl this time. Her name was Cecily. Unlike either of us, she wasn't a thief. No, she was too pure for that. She was sitting on the side of the road asking for change."
"When we approached her, that was the second time I saw it. Hope in the eyes of one who has given up on it all. We both extended our hands and she didn't hesitate for a second. Our duo had become a trio. One that had gained a new goal. Find those with unfortunate fates and change i
them." He pauses from his search.
"One after another, we found kids of varying backgrounds but orphans still the same. We called ourselves the Dreamers. We all eventually thought up our own surname."
"Namikaze."
"That's what the others thought when I told them but no."
Others?
"No, the name we thought up together was 'Kizuna.'"
"Kizuna? As in bonds? Wait..."
"Seems you realize it. Yeah, we were the notorious Kizuna Thieves from long ago. Though we didn't rob from nobles and we weren't armed mercenaries."
"That was all a lie...?"
"Yeah. Exio, Cecily, Arthur, Zeken, Jiren, Luffy, Yubei, Hatsume, Brian, the twins Keena and Kena, Christopher, Nana, Silvy, Asta, Baki, Charlotte, Perosephone, Morrigan, Eugeo, and myself. Eleven boys and ten girls. The 21 of us wanted something that connected us together. Cecily was the one who came up with it after days of us all brainstorming. EverydayAnd there was Exio leading everyine with Cecily and myself next to him. Everyone looked up to the three of us. Though I'm pretty sure everyone considered Exio a leader. I for one did. Ever since gathering the others, I never considered myself the hot shot. And the others agreed. Our days went from sad and struggle-filled to happy and joyful. If only those days could remain that way..." His tone becoming somber.
"..."
"A year later, we had all split into three groups of seven. Exio, Cecily, and I leading a group each to gather rations. The usual. It all went fine, we stole, we ran, we regrouped at our temporary hideout, we ate, we laughed. And then they showed up. The authorities had tailed one of our groups all the way back and called for reinforcements. Our temporary hideout was the sewers so we were prepared to flee. At least, that was the case until they raided us guns pointed at all of us." Yujiro clenches his fists trembling.
"I thought I was going to die right then and there. The memories of my feeble life, the meaning behind the name Kizuna. It all came rushing to me like a bullet. And when it it, I was stricken with fear. All we could do was beg for forgiveness. Not that it mattered to them. We were all silenced by a single shot in the air. The commander from the looks of it was the one behind the gunshot. He began to state how it is against the law to steal. All that jazz. Some of us tried to defend ourselves as no one would help us. Exio was the loudest of us all while I was to afraid to speak. The power a single weapon could do to one's mentality, especially a child, was overwhelming."
"Eventually the commander had heard enough of our protests. Exio ignoring the man questioned what we were to do if no one would help us, the less fortunate. The officer responded with a single answer. 'Simple. Roll over and die like the maggots we are. For anyone abandoned either means one of two things. One, they were simply an accident and were never meant to be born. Or two; Aidios had given up on us and there was no future. So the best alternative instead of jail is to assist the Goddess in ridding the world of us.'"
"Don't tell me..."
"Yeah..." His voice now seething with anger. "Without any hesitation, he raised his pistol and fired. It took a moment to realize who had been shot as Baki suddenly dropped to his knees and then to his side... The proof; a hole through his skull!" Yujiro punches the wall. "In a split second, our odd group became an even 20 split down the middle. All we could do was cry and mourn but they didn't give us the time for such a thing." His anger receding as it becomes somber once more. "One soldier kicked Baki over as the sounds of rifles cocking gained our attention as one thing ran through all of our heads; run."
"Finally having snapped from my stupor, I opened the back entrance and was the first out. Turning back, everyone made a beeline for it as the sounds an flashing of gunshots rang throughout the tunnel. I closed my eyes holding the entrance open until at once, all was silent. I wanted to know who had survived. I wanted to believe every shot the officers had fired missed. I wanted to believe that there was a way the remaining 20 of us had all escaped unharmed. I wanted to so bad! I prayed to whatever God or Goddess was out there witnessing this."
"In the end, all that praying, believing, and hoping didn't matter at all. I slowly opened my eyes only snap then wide at the horror- no. The massacre that my family had become the victims of. Laying before inside the hideout, mere steps out of the back entrance, and in between laid 17 bodies on top of each other. With Christopher, that added the tally to now 18 dead corpses. bullet wounds bleeding through their backs. 'Relon!' I looked in the opposite direction seeing Exio and Cecily deeper into the sewers. They were the only survivors. I looked back at the officers reloading their rifles. I looked at my dead family one last time burning the horrid sight into my eyes and ran."
"We ran, the police hot on our trail the whole time. Exio an I were fine but Cecily was tiring out. That was when Exio planned that we should split up. Both Cecily and myself refused the idea but with Cecily being almost worn out and splitting up increasing the odds of us escaping, Exio won the argument. Before either of us could state a point against his idea, he ran out gaining the mens' attention before taking off in the opposite direction leaving us in the clear. The plan was to meet up at the emergency point in the woods. We had a few boats prepared for when we would leave the city."
"Climbing up a ladder, we resurfaced in an alleyway near the harbor. Carefully traversing the city to not be spotted, we made it by dark. It wasn't long after that we heard footsteps approach us. Thankfully, it was Exio. Though when we revealed ourselves to him, horror set back in. Holding his shoulder, bruised everywhere stood my brother. Seeing us must have relieved him for he fell to the ground right before us. The adrenaline from whatever happened must have kept him going. That was our best guess. Rolling him over, we pleaded that he told us what happened and he did."
"After separating from us, he quickly lost the police before resurfacing near the middle of the city. Sneaking through the city, he had just stepped out when out of nowhere he was hit off the road and down the side of a hill. Attempting to get up, he looked only for someone to step on his head back to the ground. Out his peripheral, he saw it was the bastard officer that killed the others with a sinister sneer on his face. He went on and on about cleansing his city claiming to be the protector from evil such as us."
"Exio realized that during the man's speech, the force behind his foot had weakened and Exio took advantage shooting up grabbing a pistol from the commander's waist. After breaking away, both aim their gun at the other and for a moment, nothing before they shot. Exio killing the man dead from a shot to the head, but not without getting shot..." He turns slowly to face Relon only to point at where.
"His... heart?" Relon whispers trembling.
"It amazed us both how he could have kept going after a wound like that. But it seemed to have finally took his toll as Exio coughed out blood. There I sat holding my brother's dying hand. He told us about wanting to live for the live of the 19 of them. He looked me dead in the eye and asked to protect our last sister. Me, the coward. Me, the good-for-nothing that could only close his eyes and watch as his family was massacred. Me, the boy that when the time really mattered, failed the only family he had. I tried to tell him through wails that I couldn't do anything without him and I'd just let everyone down. But he said none of that was true."
"He then went on to tell me how during his chase, he ended up back at the hideout and he found something. Slowly, he reached into his pocket pulling a slightly bloodied paper. Cecily read it for us. In it, it detailed how all 18 of our deceased brothers and sisters thought so much of me. Exio saw me as the true leader. Not himself. It turned out none of the others thought the same. They all looked up to me. Learning this, I could only cry. Words were beyond the realm of possibility at that point. He asked for one thing. Something for both Cecily and myself."
"'Don't let deaths stop you from enjoying your lives.' Even on his dying breath, he wished for us to smile. Look towards a brighter tomorrow. We were Kinuzas. Our bonds went beyond death itself he said. Live with no regrets he said. Take care of one another he said. And for the last time, he called my name and I looked at him. He told me everyone was smiling back in the sewers. Every single one including Christopher."
"His final words then came. 'Go. Live the life you were meant to live.' Before either of us could say anything, lights became visible in the distance. The police had caught up. When we looked back down, Exio was no longer with us... Everything he told us on repeat. Wiping the tears from my eyes, I took Cecily's hand. We bid farewell to Exio and ran. We put as much rations onto the two boats and we vanished into the night sea. Looking back, we saw lights all along the coast followed by a single gunshot... It didn't take a genius to know who that gunshot was for. Turning forward, we road into the night sea with no destination in mind as long as it was away from there." He gives a sigh sitting crisscrossed covering his face.
So that's why... Mister saw himself in me and didn't want for my life to possibly end up like his.
"By time we reached shore, rumors of the so-called Kizuna Thieves had been apprehended and 'dealt with accordingly.' The police didn't even notify the public of Cecily and I's whereabouts so we were in the clear. We didn't have to worry about anyone recognizing or ratting us out. But it was at this moment that I vowed to become strong so the mistakes of my past wouldn't be repeated. And Cecily the same. Months later while wandering, we ended up in Celdic where with one look, a man of the church took us in."
"We couldn't see what his ulterior motives were. When we asked why he was taking in two 12-year-olds, he explained. He too was an orphan and had a rough life. He ran an orphanage and could tell with one look on our faces we've been through. We didn't even have time to thank him before tears made their way onto our faces. We had found a new family. The man who took us in was kind, strong, yet he was always smiling cheering up the less fortunate. Cecily and I were the oldest at the time and we would remain that for the next five years. The man having adopted Cecily and I as his own a year later upon our arrival. And his name... was Minato Namikaze."