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~ Why do I need a friend? That's what I always want to ask myself. For what importance is it to have a friend? And what is the difference… of having a friend and not having a friend? Is there a difference? If so… I want to know that difference… ~
~ I left him… no, not only him but also them. I left them without a word. Without even bidding them a smile of farewell. But do I really have a best friend? If so, I want to meet him… not tomorrow, not later… but now. ~
"Why do we fight? Why don't I know?" "I fight because I have a special someone to protect. I fight because I have my friends." "You want to have a friend right?" "Yes…" "In that case, may I have your permission to be your friend?" "Yes… I would love to."
~ Friendship does not need any permission. Friendship can exist freely. But never use this friendship for your own greed. Friendship always starts with a smile… but how friendship really ends… I don't know the answer… ~
Chapter 7 – Flame of Friendship
Koganei hid himself in the bushes as he examines the assassins surrounding the orphanage. There were several men in black tuxedo. Most of them carry rifles while some others lifted shotguns. "Probably not much of a threat to me." He thought. One longhaired man caught his attention though, not really the man but the sword on his hand. He removed the white cloth covering his golden blade slowly as he continues to stare at the enemy.
"BLOOD! GIMME MORE BLOOD!" The sword shouted. Koganei's eyes bloated and sweat crawls down from his ear to his chin. He swiped his hair out of his left eye but still focused his attention to the sword. He blinked an eye… and silently lifted Kougan Anki for a transformation.
"Go no Kata! Bow of Darkness." Koganei whispered through his mind as he points the golden arrow to the head of the swordsman. He took a deep breath, and focuses the arrow mainly to the center of the head. He let it go after a second, and the arrow rushed towards the head. It was just an inch away from his head, but then, he evaded it and cuts it to half with his sword. Koganei's heart pounded faster… and sweatdrops troubled him even more.
"Everyone, I believe we have a guest. Back there." The swordsman jammed his thumb towards back to the bushes. He knew what's next, and he prepares for evasion. Shortly, hundreds of bullets stormed him. "Damnit. I've been discovered." He thought.
The gunshots stopped for a few seconds, and Koganei was able to buy time preparing for a strike. And after a blink of the eye, Koganei attacked and starts eliminating the gunmen. One by one, the living bodies were turned into dead corpses with his bloody blade.
"Hold your fire." Shouted the leader. And no noise was heard. He turns around to face Koganei, taking down his green hood from his body and throwing it on the ground. "Nice to meet you. I'm one of the Five Guardian Swords, Kai." He greeted confidently lifting his sword and shoving it directly to Koganei's face. "I challenge you to a fight. One on one." He declared as he continues to point the tip of the sword to the golden child.
Koganei bowed and smiled, "how could I be sure that those gunmen there will not interfere?" Kai shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. "Thought they'd help? But if you want to be sure, we might as well eliminate them first. What do you think?"
Koganei nodded. "There's no need to sacrifice anymore lives. I suggest we'd just have the fight somewhere where these children will not be disturbed."
Kai agreed. And they distanced away from the orphanage but leaving the remaining men guarding the orphanage. "I granted your wish, but now, I would suggest you grant mine." Kai expressed. "If you lose this battle, I'll kill those children there."
Koganei's eyes shrank to an evil glare. "And what if I win?" "It's simple. I'll tell you a secret about your father." Answered Kai who starts to make an offensive pose. Koganei wasted no time, and he didn't spell a word again as he charges at the ice swordsman. Koganei swerves his blade to Kai's neck, and Hyoumaen blocked it. Koganei backed away from the swordsman, and he felt something painful from his leg. "Shit. I never knew… I was shot."
******
"Mikagami… I'm sorry." Recca whispered as he sits beside Tokiya who barely opened his eyes once again. Tokiya raised his eyes, trying to trace the origination of the voice, and it came from the one whom he tried to kill. "Kin?" He asked.
Recca smiled at him in response. "I'm not Kin. I'm no longer the Kin you're talking about. I am… just your friend." Tokiya's eyes spelled a simple phrase of curiosity of the word called friend. He never dared to ask, because his actions might put him to shame, he just smiled to Recca in return, "Thank you for saving my life. I thought I owed it to you." Recca nodded, and still wears that smile. "You don't have to thank me. I did it because I wanted to. Because you're my friend."
Tokiya, hearing those words, ended up with a sigh over the bed. For what reason, he felt the same comfort as that of Kin, the warmth of knowing that there's someone who cared for him. He couldn't really explain what's the reason behind this feeling. But from what he could point out, it's a feeling he'd always dreamt to have. "How about Raiha? What happened to him?" he asked, trying to change the topic, as well as to lower the emotions tempting to make him break down.
"Raiha has already left a few minutes ago. When he realize that your safety is ensured, he told me that he has to meet someone nearby." Answered Recca.
******
"Hyoumaen, Hisame!" Kai shouted. Then, several icicles rained over Koganei. He managed to avoid most of them, but a few injected his body, causing blood to cover them. Koganei dropped his knees but pushed himself back up with Kougan Anki speared on the ground. "Damnit." He murmured.
Kai attacked again, and stretched Hyoumaen to the commander's diaphragm. Koganei barely escaped the attack, but no blood drips out of it. He fell down from his feet, and before his body completely hits the ground, he heard the sword's voice again, "DELICIOUS! MORE BLOOD!"
"Damn that sword. It drained my blood to convert them to its energy."
Kai stood before Koganei who still breathes heavily. He speared his own sword down to the ground, and Koganei felt the tension as he sees Hyoumaen directly before his eyes. "I guess you've reached your limit. Don't you think it's time to finish this?" Kai asked, looking at the soldier with a smile.
Koganei hesitated to speak a word. He pushed himself up and he stands with two legs. Preparing for his counter-attack. Kai wasted no time. He pulled his sword out from the ground and thrusted it. Koganei expected the attack, and he saw that single opening that could turn the tides. "San no Kata! Giant Pincers." He shouted as he uses the scissors to catch the sword.
Kai was stunned after the impact. And his right hand was petrified. Sweatdrops soon followed coldly. He knew what is next, and without his sword, he couldn't escape death. Koganei pulled the sword forcefully to his left while swerving to his right. Kai's arm stretched away from Koganei with his sword, making it impossible to deliver another attack for a few seconds. Koganei transformed his Kougan Anki back to its original state, the fang. And before a second would pass, he hit Kai's abdomen, resulting the fall of his enemy.
"BAM! I won." Koganei smiled. Kai fell down to Koganei's shoulder, and he tries to push Kai back up. Kai slowly opened his eyes. He tried to bring back his thoughts, as well as his body. Raising back up to his original self. "I'm alive?" He asked himself, pushing away from his foe.
"I don't want to kill anyone anymore." He whispered. Looking down, still bleeding from his mouth. Kai stopped for awhile. Not really knowing what he should do. Only thankful for a chance to live another life. "Koganei, I'm really not good in this kind of situation. But for this once, I would like to extend my thanks to you." He said, lowering Hyoumaen, symbolizing the end of battle.
Hearing those words, Koganei sweatdrops again. But this time, it's not from his fear but from a feeling he couldn't really explain. He smiled, feeling the warmth of that same unexplainable happiness. It's the first time in his life, to hear a word of thanks from an enemy. He completely forgot the pain from his wounds after those words... and complete happiness engulfed his mind and body.
Kai felt the same way as him, and he smiled before an enemy as well. But perhaps after the battle, he would just consider him as a former enemy. Kai stretched his palm, offering a shake to Koganei. Koganei, still wearing the smile, accepted the offering of friendship. "I'm sorry for what happened." Whispered Kai. Koganei bowed, accepting the sorry and expressing both apology and thanks in return.
But least do these warriors know, confusion is already wrecking havoc in the orphanage. The gunmen scattered from their positions, pointing their guns to a single target. Before their eyes, they saw a child of not more than 12 in age glowing with frightening aura. And there was an explosion, wiping out half of the troops. From that sound, Koganei and Kai shoved their attention back to the orphanage. They saw a blinding white light beaming towards the sky. They stared at each other, thinking of one common goal… to restrain that force… and when they finally reached their destination, they felt the tension even more. Before them was a blue haired child in plain with shirt and pants. His eyes are glowing with cold blue color. Neither fear nor anger can be seen in his face.
The boy stepped forward, and the warriors prepared for their defense.
End of Chapter 7
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