3. What's a Ragiard?
It had been three days since the mysterious boy had rescued Neisan from death. It had also been three day's of intense training. He had already mastered the art of flight thanks to the guidance of Jiani Kitama. Each night they had set out into the city in search of the people who had taken Jiani's father. Each night they returned empty handed. But one day, two mysterious strangers arrived who would prove very dangerous.
* * *
On the rooftop of an abandoned building, Jiani was in deep meditation. Neisan was down on the streets below, 'buying' their dinner. The sun was just setting on the horizon, casting an orange/red glow across the city. Jiani awoke from his meditation with a start when he heard the door to the roof slam shut. He turned around expecting to see Neisan but he saw nothing. Thinking it nothing more than the wind he turned back to face the horizon. But, to his horror he saw two people standing at the edge. They wore full body suits and chest armour. There was one boy and one girl.
The boy was of medium height with brown eyes and dark brown hair, which had a centre parting and two large blue strands hanging over each side of his face. The girl was taller than he, with dark, red hair tied back and two small strands down across her face. She also had brown eyes. Jiani leapt to his feet and drew his sword then yelled for them to keep back. The boy walked forward and said,
"Now now, is that any way to treat a guest."
He signalled to the girl and she shot forward. Jiani readied his sword and awaited her to get within striking distance. As soon as she got near enough he swung his sword but missed, as she ducked underneath it and hit Jiani underneath the chin.
She leapt backwards and landed gracefully next to the boy. The boy then said,
"Greetings, I am Ignacio, Prince of Rage and this is my best warrior, Rea Loire. We have come to earth to find the one known Neisan Karuberuru. I believe you know him."
Jiani looked up at them, holding his chin in pain. He thought about fleeing but Ignacio said, "Don't even think about it, We know exactly you are."
Jiani suddenly leapt to his feet and shot off the roof, leaving a white energy trail behind him. Ignacio muttered to his partner "Why do I even bother." He shot off the roof at tremendous speed, closely followed by Rea.
* * *
Neisan opened the door onto the roof of the abandoned high rise he was staying at. Jiani was no-where in sight. After a minute of looking Neisan noticed some blood on the floor. He began to worry and started to panic. He ran to the edge of the building and looked over. He couldn't see Jiani anywhere, on any side. Suddenly he remembered a trick Jiani had taught him to do. He tried to calm down and concentrate. He began to try and sense where Jiani was.
After a little while he began to feel something. He didn't know what it was or where it was but he knew it was fading. Without even thinking Neisan shot up into the air and sped off north. He didn't know where he was going but something was telling him this was the right direction. Soon he left the city and was flying over farmlands. He passed into a valley and saw flashes of energy at the far end. He began to speed up and landed a few meters from the flashes. He crept forward towards the flashes and hid in some bushes he peered out to see what was going on.
He immediately saw Jiani, who was beaten up rather badly. There were also two other people there. There was a boy standing close to Neisan and a girl who must have been doing all the fighting. Neisan started to panic and wondered what he should do. Suddenly the Boy turned around and began to walk over to where he was. Neisan thought there was only one thing to do. He relaxed his mind and concentrated. He held his hands by his face with the palms facing out and he yelled,
"Solar flare!"
A brilliant white light appeared, blinding the boy. Neisan shot out and kicked the boy in the chest, knocking him to the ground
Neisan then ran over to Jiani and stood in front of him. The boy stood up and turned around slowly, staring with rage at Neisan. Then he smiled and said. "So... you must be Neisan. I am delighted to meet you. My name is Ignacio and this is my accomplice Rea. We have been searching for you, you rebel scum"
Neisan asked "Why, what do you mean rebel, who are you anyway!?"
Ignacio again became frustrated and said, "Do you even listen to a word I say. You of all people should recognise a Ragiard."
"What the hell's a Ragiard, what do you want with me"
Came the reply. "Well, seems my cousin's experiencing a little memory lapse"
Neisan couldn't believe what he had just heard. ~ Cousin, no way ~ He thought to himself.
"I was born here, I remember seeing my birth records." He yelled at the boy "Give up, your lies won't work on me. You may have tricked Jiani into coming here, but I'm taking him away from here, and away from you two."
"Is that so, well sorry to disappoint you, but neither of you are going anywhere." Ignacio glanced over at Rea and said,
"You may dispatch of his friend now. We have what we wanted."
Rea smiled with a vile joy and charged towards Jiani. Before either he or Neisan could react Ignacio suddenly yelled out "Wait Rea, I've got a better idea." Rea stopped and turned around
Noticing this lapse in concentration Neisan picked up Jiani and slung him over his shoulder. He the shot into the air and away into the countryside. He had no idea where he was heading but he was certain that it would be as far away from those two as possible. Jiani was in an awful state and needed medical attention. Neisan decided to head towards the nearest town. He could then decide what to do. The nearest town was about two miles away, and unless he got there quickly Jiani would probably die. He put on extra speed and shot off across the landscape.
* * *
The buildings on the outskirts of the town dwarfed the two travellers on the ground. There was a sign hanging over the main gate. Firipipu looked up at it and attempted to read the inscription.
"D-R-A-K-C-A-P. Kuris, what does that say?"
Kurisutopha looked at the sign and said
"It says Drakcap, can't you read baka."
Firipipu sighed, and was just about to reply when someone called over to them. "Hey, do you know where the general hospital is?
Kurisutopha looked around but saw nothing. He then looked up and saw someone floating above them, carrying someone on his shoulder. Kuris floated up and came face to face with him. He said "We just got here. How do you know how to fly? I thought that me and Pip were the only ones."
The stranger looked down at Firipipu, then back at Kuris and said "I don't have time for idle banter, do you know where the hospital is or not? Yes, or no?"
"Yea, I know where it is, follow me." He floated down to the floor and the stranger followed him. Kuris then ran through the gate and off down the main road. Firipipu and the stranger followed him. They headed down the main road and turned off down a side road. The hospital was just in front of them. They headed up the steps and through the main doors. Firipipu took a seat while Kuris went to the counter. The stranger stood near Firipipu and asked
"So, what's your name, and his?"
"I'm Firipipu, He's Kurisutopha. Who're you." The boy replied "My name's Neisan, my friend here is Jiani. He got a bit messed up and needs help. What's taking them so long?!"
Kuris then approached, a doctor following behind him. Neisan set Jiani down on a chair and the doctor injected him with something. Jiani's eyes sprang open and he leapt up. He drew his sword and looked around anxiously, but calmed when he saw Neisan nearby. He asked,
"What happened, where are the alien guy's?" Neisan replied "I got you outta there, they would have killed you if I hadn't shown up. Now come on, we gotta stop them, who knows what they might do!"
Kuris then coughed loudly and said "What in the blue hell are you talking about, aliens, what aliens. How strong are they, I could probably beat them myself."
Neisan stared at him and then said, "Do us a favour, shut up and go find a store where they can fix this."
He clutched at the hilt of Jiani's sword and drew it. He then tossed it over to him and said, "When you're done we'll leave. Maybe we'll let you come and you can back up those words of yours."
Kuris reluctantly agreed to get the sword fixed, but said, "I was only joking you know, why should I help you fight some punk ass aliens, they aren't threatening me are they." He then turned and stormed out of the building, Firipipu close behind.
* * *
Meanwhile, Muten Roshi, Pi-ta, and Luna were heading towards Drakcap. It was there that they would rent a jet to go to Kami's lookout. Pi-ta had been there many times and knew the place well. After 2 hours of driving they had arrived. They parked the car in a gas station and climbed out. Luna immediately rushed up to a shop window and began staring through.
Pi-ta walked over to her and said
"Luna, we have no time to be looking at clothing, Roshi will return soon and we will have to leave." Luna spun round and glared at Pi-ta. She then yelled, "These aren't just clothes, it's the greatest fashion in the world!"
Pi-ta turned around and began to walk away, muttering to himself. Luna stared violently at the back of his head before returning to her previous position of staring at the million yen dresses.
Pi-ta leapt into the car and turned on the radio, leant back and began to wait. After a while he decided to go have a look around the town. He vaulted out of the car and began to walk towards a line of shops. The first was the clothes shop that Luna was in, the next few were food stores, but then a shop that took his interest came along. It was a martial arts supply store.
He stepped into the doorway and looked inside. There were four people inside, none of whom seemed to be really interested in the goods. There was a small boy looking at the attack poles, an elderly man near the kung-fu costumes, a middle aged man behind the counter who was serving a cloaked individual. Pi-ta walked over to the small boy and asked
"What are you looking at kid" The boy turned around and said "I'm seeing if they have a stick like mine" He un-slung a red baton from his shoulder and showed it to Pi-ta. Pi-ta took it from him and examined it. He asked
"Where did you get this kid, you didn't make it did you?" "No, it's my great, great grandfathers" He replied. Pi-ta studied it carefully for a little longer before the cloaked person who had been standing at the counter snatched it away from him. He then handed it to the kid and said "Don't talk to scum like him, were outta here."
Pi-ta snarled at him and said "Scum am I, would ya like to prove that, or are ya chicken!" The cloaked person ignored him and strode out through the door. The kid smiled at Pi-ta and ran out of the store after him. Pi-ta watched them walk off down the street. He inspected the goods in the store for a while and then left. As soon as he stepped onto the street a loud explosion occurred on the other side of town and two streaks of light shot into the sky and headed south.
He ran back to the car to find out if the others had seen what happened but discovered no one had returned. He settled down and once again sat in the car and listened to the radio. Roshi then left a fast food joint across the road and walked over to Pi-ta. He asked,
"I've rented the jet, is everyone ready?"
Pi-ta replied, "No, Luna's still in the clothes shop."
Suddenly there were sounds of shouts coming from the shop Luna was in. She then burst through the door holding a bag and ran over to the car. An angry staff member ran out after her. Pi-ta got ready to fight. But before they had a chance to attack a bright yellow beam leapt from behind them and struck the man, sending him flying backwards. They turned around and saw a cloaked person standing in front the car holding his arm out in front of him. Pi-ta leapt back and said, "You're the guy from the shop aren't you, where did you learn to do that?!"
"That's pretty standard you know, your not the only one who can do blast manoeuvres, I can as well as these two other guys I know."
Pi-ta stammered, then blurted out "How did you know I can do energy blasts?"
Muten Roshi then interrupted and said "Come on, everyone to the jet now."
Pi-ta began to run towards a runway behind the shop Muten Roshi had come from. The cloaked boy called over to someone and began to follow him. Muten Roshi reached into his pocket and brought out a large Hoi-Poi capsule. He lobbed it in front of them and a small plane appeared. The ramp unfolded and he clambered in. The cloaked boy leapt up the ramp and was followed by Pi-ta and Luna. A small boy then rounded the shop and sprinted towards the plane. Muten Roshi took the controls and the jet took off down the runway.
Inside everyone took a seat as the jet left the ramp and began to head north. Pi-ta suddenly yelled out "What the hell did you think you were doing, you could have been hurt."
The cloaked boy replied "Yea, right. I suppose I should let you do all the fighting because your older, well tough k'so."
Muten Roshi interrupted and said, "I'm the great Kame sennin Muten Roshi, he's Pi-ta, and that hot fox is Luna. So who are you two?"
The cloaked boy replied
"My name is of no importance."
The young boy then interrupted him, "His name is Kurisutopha, mines Firipipu, Son Firipipu Horishino. He doesn't talk too much." Muten Roshi then noticed the stick that Firipipu was carrying. He stuttered and then said,
"Where'd you get that stick boy?"
"It's my great, great grandfathers and if you want it you'll have to fight me for it! Besides, it's not a stick, it's a N'ymbo"
Muten Roshi looked at Pi-ta, then turned to Kurisutofa and Firipipu and said, "Come with us, We are travelling to find fighters to take place in a battle soon to come. We feel that you will make great allies, especially you lad."
He turned to Firipipu and said,
"Relatives of yours took place in past battles. They were all great warriors until they left us. So please, join us, for earth's sake, and my safety." Kurisutofa was not too sure but Firipipu agreed straight away. After a bit of hesitation, and seeing that Firipipu had agreed, he decided to join them.
Muten Roshi said to Pi-ta "Get the bag and give em a red one."
Pi-ta picked up the bag from the floor. He opened it and took out two red beans, he then offered Firipipu one. He looked at it and said, "What's in it?"
Muten Roshi said very blandly to him, "Just eat it." Just as he was about to Kurisutofa suddenly fired a very small, thin beam at the bean and sliced it in half. He then looked at Firipipu and said "Eat one half, it's safer"
Trusting Kurisutofa more than Muten Roshi he ate one half of the bean. He began to feel faint and began to stagger around. The world started to twirl and he passed out.
Luna decided to speak out at this point,
"Can anyone tell me what just happened. One minute I'm running from some shop owner, the next he's been blown up and then on in a plane. And what just happened to that kid!?" Everyone ignored her so she just sat down and began to sulk. Muten Roshi activated the thrusters on the jet and they took off.
