Boryu = Subaru
Karen = Hiren
Seiichirou = ?
Arashi = Ran
Kamui = Kamii
Yuzuriah = Gojin
Sorata = Kuta
Tooru = Toshoku
The man walked through the dark forest. He was about 22, tall, short black hair. His face wrenched into that of pure distress and grief. He limped, obviously in pain, but did not care. He wore a white trench coat, covered in not only his blood, but also the blood of his sister.
Hokuto.
Boryu had let his sister die.
The matter could not go unforgiven and unpunished. Could not be forgotten. He would never forgive himself, and what of the people on Ten? Would they ever forgive a murderer? Murderer of his own flesh and blood? Of his sister.
"Hokuto…" He couldn't walk anymore, it was too far, too painful. His arms crossed over the deep flesh wound on his stomach and he collapsed to his knees. "HOKUTO!!!"
Meaningless,
worthless piece of flesh, I feel the same to you as I do that rotting piece of
wood, and the dead corpse of you 'dear' sister.
Screams were heard through the woods then.
***
Kamii woke up suddenly. He could feel something, something dark. He sat up in bed and surveyed the dark room. His windows were closed, so no light filtered into the room. He quickly threw his blankets off and was out of bed, he grabbed the nearest candle and matches and soon he could see his room.
There was his bed, covers on the floor. He was standing by his bare dresser. Nothing was on his floor except his blanket and clothes from yesterday. His desk in the far corner, covered with papers and books. Most of them very old, he was translating them, because his mother… couldn't.
Suddenly he heard a banging sound mutely through the wall. It was coming from the front door of the house. Kamii lived in this house for 'gifted' teens. He and three other teens had been put here to master their magic. Hinoto, their leader, had set the whole thing up. The older magic users, Hiren and 'Seiichirou' cared for the house. Nobody knew why Hinoto had set this whole thing up, but Kamii wasn't too sure if he wanted to know.
Hiren was a tall, thin woman with wavy red hair that went down to her shoulders; her eyes were almost red as well. 'Seiichirou' had broad shoulders and short wispy brown hair. He was tall. And he always wore glasses, hiding his light blue eyes.
Kamii opened his door carefully and peered outside, he stuck his candle a little ways out so he could see through the dark wood halls. Nothing. Frowning he walked out into the wall walking carefully, silently. If not for the light, you wouldn't even notice he was there.
Kamii reached the banister of the stairs and looked down. Still nothing. He heard nothing more, but he knew whatever made the sound, had made it just outside the front door. He held his breath and began to descend the stairs.
He set his candle down in a holder on a desk. He opened a drawer in the desk and rummaged through until he found the keys. The door was always locked in the night. Everyone was so paranoid.
With a sudden rush of adrenaline, Kamii swung the door open; ready to fight off any offender who could lurk out there. What he found was not an offender though. A boy, no man, young adult, he was crumpled up and the foot of the door. As the door opened he fell into the hall, his head landing on Kamiis feet.
Blood… blood everywhere. The mans face anguish stricken, a huge gash on his stomach. So much blood… he was going to die.
Something happened to Kamii right then, he couldn't quite explain it, but the sight of blood, the thought of death drove Kamii back to a place his mind didn't want to go, back to his mother. Back even farther too…
"AHHHHHHHH!!! NOOOOO!!!" Kamii yelled, like it was he dying and not the man before him. He lost balance and fell to the ground, in an effort to not fall he hit the desk, the candle toppled over and darkness consumed him. His screams continued.
He wasn't in the hall anymore. His mother was forgotten. He stood before a man, a dead man, tall, dark, and handsome. Dead. His head cradled in his arms. Blood, there was so much blood!
"KAMII!!!" The yell entered the hall, but it didn't stop his creaming. It was Kuta, he, Gojin and Ran had heard the screams and were all huddled there. Second later Hiren and 'Seiichirou' joined them; in a flash Hirens hand was seemingly on fire, giving light.
"Boryu?" 'Seichirou' mumbled taking in the sight before him. The man was alive, but he needed medical attention now.
"Kamii-Kun!" Gojin cried in an attempt to wake up her childhood friend.
"FUMA!!! KOTORI!!!"
***
Boryu slowly came around, and slowly he opened his eyes to figure out where he was. He could see a brown ceiling… wood. He turned his head to one side and winced and he came face to a window, the shutters open and light poring in. Must have been morning. There was an empty desk as well; in front of him he could see some blankets piled up at the end of the bed.
He then turned his head to the other side and saw him. He could only vaguely remember the boy before he passed out, and there he was, Kamii, sitting by the bed. He was leaning against the wall, asleep. Boryu smiled a bit. He could remember him. When Kamii had moved into this house, him and Hokuto left…
Hokuto.
Boryu held his breath and shut his eyes tight trying to forget, trying to push away the tears he knew would come. How could he have let it happen??? Why did it happen?
"You're awake," the solemn voice filtered through his mind, he opened his eyes to see the groggy looking fifteen year old stare at him. Boryu nodded. "We were scared you'd… die… Uh…Boryu right?"
"Yes… Kamii-San. Remember me huh?" He said, he wasn't smiling, and no amusement was in his voice. If Kamii did remember a Boryu… it wasn't this one.
"What happened to you?" He asked almost too bluntly, he regretted his words the second he saw Boryus eyes wince again, from the pain of memory. Don't ask where his sister is, he though bitterly to himself. Do NOT ask that.
The door opened and Hiren walked in. She looked pleased that Boryu was awake, but her happiness washed away when she saw Kamii sitting there beside him.
"Kamii-Kun… you should be in bed…" she warned slightly, not loosing her temper. She was worried about the teen; ever since his mother died he had been distant, of course. Last night… last night nobody could explain. He was crying, screaming, reaching out to people not there. He hadn't stopped until he passed out from exhaustion, which wasn't until noon the next day.
That was almost a week ago, and they had been caring for both. Kamii had been asleep until yesterday. He couldn't remember the tantrum, and if he dreamt at all, he had no memory of that either.
"I'm feeling fine," he said shrugging off the concerned woman.
"Kamii," she persisted. He looked at her, her eyes were pleading. He didn't want to cause trouble for the woman, so he sighed and reluctantly left. "How are you feeling Boryu-Kun?"
"…Fine…" he replied. He knew Hiren quite well, 'Seiichirou', her and him grew up in this house together, under the care of Hinoto. He guessed that Hinoto had left the house now, gone to be Tens leader full time.
Ten… the village of Ten. It was one of the first villages to be made after the War. This and Chi were supposedly the first. Neither were very big though. There were thousands of villages, but all kept a small population. Mostly because people kept moving away from their villages to go farm, and then after a while people would go to the farm, more villages were made.
Hiren sat down in the chair Kamii had inhabited for the past twelve hours and grabbed Boryus hand, gently squeezing it as a form of comfort and friendship. Then she asked the question all were wondering.
"Borya-Kun… where's Hokuto-Chan?" She asked, her eyes sympathetic. Boryu looked up at her, his mouth trembling, then tears began to role down his cheeks.
"She's dead," he muttered, the tears coming faster and strong. "She's dead… because of me she's dead!" The two leaned together in an embrace, Boryu crying freely now, not as hard as Kamii had been, but hard enough.
***
It has begun.
Hinoto said, or rather thought, to the two adults in front of her. 'Seiichirou' and Hiren had been called to her chambers when Boryu awoke. Hien, Souhi and Daisuki were waiting in the next room, the three of them already briefed in the matter.
"It…" 'Seiichirou' started to mumbled in disbelief.
"The War…" Hiren said finishing the thought. No, it was too soon. There weren't enough of the magic users!
"No!" Hiren yelled out. "I refused to believe that damn prophesy!"
It is real. Hinoto reassured and reminded her. I watched on as Kamui write it himself. It is my prophecy.
Hiren trembled with anger. Watched on? You're blind you stupid git! There cannot be a war! Not now, they were just children, she was practically a child herself. And Toshoku and Hokuto just died. They had needed them. They needed so much more time!
I understand your frustration… I made Kamui write that in case I died before this War.
"We have no choice but to fight…" 'Seiichirou' mumbled absent-mindedly.
I am sorry…
but this is so.
He curtly nodded and turned to his long time friend. Hiren looked down at the floor in anger and sadness. 'Seiichirou' nodded to her and looked back to Hinoto.
"I guess we better tell the kids…"
***
"Oi! Neechan!" Kuta greeted Ran as she came down the stairs. Her long black hair was done up in a high ponytail, her brown eyes fierce as always. She was wearing a long black coat and travelling clothes underneath. She held a bag, inside were extra clothing, candles, medical kits, etc. Things one would need to go off and fight in a war. Kuta wore his usual blue jacket, prayer beads, and for some reason has holding his priest staff.
He never used the staff, but he sure as hell like it. His short black hair was cut shorter at the sides, giving him that rebellious looks. His brown eyes looked terribly happy for someone who might just die.
"Don't call me that Kuta-San," she glared daggers at the teen who backed down with a nervous smile on his face, he liked bugging Ran, but not to the point where she would lash out and kill him. Ran looked around. "Where's Kamii-Kun and Gojin-Chan?"
"Here Ran-Chan!" Gojin smiled and Inuki trotted down the hall with her. Gojin loved saying her name. It rhymed dammit! She loved that! Ran could only roll her eyes and join Kuta at the foot of the stairs and Gojin continued to giggle to herself. "I don't know where Kamii-Chan is thought…"
"I'm right here," Kamiis voice came from the stairs. Boryu, 'Seiichirou' and Hiren all came down with his as well. The seven of them all looked at one and another thoughtfully. It was the beginning of what they had been training for all their lives, the beginning of their lives.
The beginning of the end.
"Ready?" Hiren asked wearing her seductive smile.
They all nodded, Gojin and Kuta smiling and giving thumbs up. They felt like they could take on the whole world.
(Just before I wrote this I
managed to lose my kanji dictionary… I think it's at my sisters' house. Anyhoo,
in my haste to put this up, I'll translate Seiichirous name into something
else. Hinoto, Hien and Souhi are supposed to be the same. Hokuto I don't have
her name in kanji, so I couldn't change her name. Daisuki… well, there's
another one. Good thing, those were the other names are all changed to my
liking. Anyhoo, I hope you like, plot is evolving nicely, and so are
characters. Go me go. Please review! And hope you had fun reading.)