I found a 'typo' in the last chapter! ~whacks it~ I called the older brother "Yukio" instead of "Nii-chan" like Kage (Makoto) usually calls him…sorry this was a really hard chapter to write…and classes are exhausting me…. Sorry!
Chapter 22: The Past Part 4
"Uruha Ikazuchi…?" I repeated, looking up at nii-chan with wide eyes. His hands were balled into fists and he was gritting his teeth. "Who's that? Are they strong?" Nii-chan swallowed and attempted to compose himself before looking down and meeting my gaze.
"Uruha…they work for Mori Kouran; they're his elite fighters," Nii-chan murmured, wiping a bead of sweat off his face. "I haven't heard about Uruha Ikazuchi, but if any of the rumors are correct…it will be a tough fight."
I looked at him. I could sense he was nervous, that he was worried about the fight. If this Uruha Ikazuchi group was a tough fight, and it was only the first one…how could we survive through the whole Urabutosatojin?
"D-Daijobu nii-chan! We can beat those guys!" I said, attempting a grin and lifting one of my bokkens into the air. "Otou-san is very strong!" I tapped the bokken against nii-chan's forehead. "Nii-chan's strong. And…I hope I'll be strong enough to protect Okaa-san!"
~*~*~*~*~
I saw the long-haired man walk towards the platform. He was smiling widely, either to some personal thought or to the screaming horde of fan-girls that were making hearts at him. Murmurs from people in the crowd behind me made me wonder what nii-chan was worrying about.
"Raiha-sama! I love you, Raiha-sama!!"
"Keh, that's a guy? Looks more like a girl. He's gonna lose for sure."
"What did you say?? Raiha-sama will never lose!!"
"Hai hai."
This guy looks like a wimp! I thought, agreeing with the Raiha-fan's neighbor, as our opponent tripped on the stairs and fell on his face. And he's the only one on the whole team! We'll go to the next round easy!
"So, who should go first?" Otou-san thought out-loud, alternating glances between me and nii-chan, and the long-haired Raiha onstage. I grinned and waved my arm in the air.
"I'll do it!" I shouted, whipping out one of my bokkens. They both looked down at me. I scratched my head. "Well…he looks really easy, so…I'll prove that we're strong! I'll take down this Raiha guy, and we'll go to the next round!" I grinned at the three of them. There was a small silence.
"Team Kage… Please chose your first fighter!" the announcer said, bouncing up to us, her rabbit ears flopping in front of her face. I smirked and stepped forward, only to be brushed back by Nii-chan's arm.
"Nii-chan??"
He looked back and me and gave me a half-smile. "I'll try my skills against the famed Uruha." Nii-chan stepped up onto the stage. I quickly rushed forward to stop him but was blocked.
"Nii-chan no baka! He uses a sword!" I shouted, trying to get loose from Otou-san's grip. "I'd be more matched against him than you!" Nii-chan was silent as he stood opposite of the smiling bishonen.
"He's worried for you."
"Eh?" I looked up at Otou-san, who was gazing at Raiha and Nii-chan.
"Yukio's information on the Uruha was correct, at least with this man," Otou-san murmured, letting go of me and straightening. "He may not look like it, but he's extremely powerful…." He slipped his hand in his pocket, where I knew the madougu orb to be.
"Uruha Ikazuchi versus Team Kage! Round one, Raiha VS Yukio!" The rabbit girl stood between the two fighters, her arm held up. I swallowed, as our opponent stayed smiling, his hand not reaching for the sword hilt that stuck up on his shoulder. The crowd's cheers died and the clock was set at zero. "Start!" She lifted her hand and quickly jumped back, yelping as Nii-chan rushed forward.
Raiha smiled and dodged Nii-chan's punch with ease, drifting back and forth to avoid his kicks. Nii-chan gritted his teeth and continued attacking, speeding up his attacks. The ninja's eyes widened as he barely dodged a punch to the face.
"Heh, you can't look down on me, Uruha," Nii-chan said, smirking, as he spun-kicked at the ninja. I stepped forwards involuntarily as the ninja blurred out of sight, nii-chan loosing his balance and stumbling. "Damn! Where'd he go?" Nii-chan spun around, looking for the elusive ninja.
"Nii-chan, behind you!"
Raiha's sword flashed out of its sheath as Nii-chan spun around. He grunted and rolled to dodge, a red line appearing down his cheek as if by magic. Straightening, nii-chan wiped the blood away and pulled out two metal arm guards from a pouch at his waist. Raiha stopped and smiled, waiting for nii-chan to put on his guards.
"Feh, you don't have to wait for me, Uruha. Come at me anytime."
"Are you sure about this, Yukio-san?" Raiha asked, smiling and going chibi. I winced as the silence of the crowd turned into fan-girl screams. Nii-chan didn't reply, but rushed at the ninja again. "I'm sorry, but Kurei-sama will be angry if I take so long in the first round ^^."
"Urusai!" Nii-chan shouted, his steel-clad arm blurring towards Raiha. Still chibi, the ninja scratched his cheek with a finger then disappeared, reappearing behind nii-chan. I saw his eyes widen before collapsing face-first onto the ground, a long, red, bloody slash down his back.
"Nii-chan!!" I avoided otou-san's restricting grip and ran towards my brother, who hadn't moved. The rabbit girl blinked and scuttled over to his side. She knelt and looked at his face before straightening.
"Yukio is unable to fight! Round one goes to Uruha Ikazuchi!"
I turned nii-chan over carefully, hearing otou-san and okaa-san coming up behind me. "Daijobu deska, nii-chan? Ne, nii-chan!" He looked at me, his eyes focusing and unfocusing.
"Look out…he's…strong…"
I looked at nii-chan's pale face as otou-san lifted him carefully up and carried him off of the stage. Placing him on the ground as gently as possible, otou-san mumbled to okaa-san. Her face paled but she nodded and smiled at him, touching nii-chan's face.
Otou-san nodded and stood up, walking towards the stage, where I still stood, staring at nii-chan's blood.
"Team Kage? Please send your next fighter!" The rabbit girl said, looking nervously at the crowd.
"We give up," Otou-san said calmly, a slight smile on his face. I looked up at him, at the look of regret on his face. "I give this match to you, Uruha Ika~"
"YOU'VE GOTTA BE JOKING!!" I shouted at otou-san. "HOW THE HELL CAN WE GIVE UP??"
"Makoto…please…" okaa-san placed her hand on the side of the stage, looking up at me. "Don't worry about me…I just don't want you getting hurt…"
"I don't care if I'm gonna be hurt! I'm going to protect you, okaa-san! I won't lose!" I drew my bokkens and stepped forwards, pointing one at the rabbit girl. "I'm the next fighter!"
"Makoto!" Her voice was panicked, nervous, begging.
"But…" The rabbit girl looked at otou-san then back at me. Otou-san sighed once then stepped off the stage, holding okaa-san back. "Then…Round two…Raiha verses Makoto!"
I can't lose…I can't! I have to protect okaa-san! I…can't lose!!
I rushed towards the ninja, who had lowered his sword. The glowing blade rose as soon as I attacked, blocking attacks from both bokkens. I growled and caught the sword between the V my weapons formed and kicked the ninja solidly in the stomach. Raiha fell back a few paces before straightening, a hand resting against his stomach. The goofy smile was still in place.
Dammit…are my kicks too weak to affect him? Then…
I attacked again, slashing at the man with one bokken. As soon as he blocked it, I punched at his stomach with the other's hilt. One sword always loses to two, even if they're two bokkens. The grin fell off my face as Raiha casually caught my fist and smiled down at me.
"Like I said to your brother, Kurei-sama will be angry if I can't help him later on." With a smile, I was sent flying across the stage to come crashing to the ground. I sat up painfully, amazingly still with my bokkens in hand.
"Itai…" I looked up at the ninja, who was casually standing there. "Kurei...he's the bastard running this death tournament?? Why the fuck does he want people to kill each other? Why do~"
"Kurei-sama wished for this tournament to happen, yes," Raiha interrupted with a calm voice. "But, it was Mori-sama who organized it."
"Mori…Kouran?" Raiha nodded once. "Why?" The ninja looked uncomfortable for the first time.
"I can't tell you that." The smile dropped off of his face and his eyes narrowed. My eyes widened as I felt killing ki emanating from him. "Now, I must finish this match. I don't like fighting kids, but…" He disappeared and reappeared behind me, sword raised. "…if Kurei-sama orders it…I shall." A silver arc flew towards me.
Okaa-san…
I saw darkness and I heard the shouts of the crowd and the sound of wood hitting the floor. There was no burning pain…nothing of a light at the end of a tunnel. I opened my eyes and saw Raiha standing above me, death in his eyes, his sword sheathed once again. I looked down and saw there was little but the hilt left on both my bokkens. Swallowing, I tried to stand up.
I can't give up…even without my weapons…I can't…
I struggled to my feet, but collapsed half-way. My legs weren't responding. "Dammit…why can't I stand? Dammit, stand up!!" I shouted to myself, hitting my leg with a shaking hand. I saw the rabbit girl come cautiously towards me. She knelt at my side.
"Can you still fight?" she asked, nervously looking at me. I glared at her, making her flinch and inch back.
"I can still fight!" I shouted at her, struggling to rise once again. I couldn't even make it to my feet. Is this because of fear? Am I so afraid to fight this man…if I lose… okaa-san…okaa-san… The bokkens fell from my hands as the trembling increased. I'm scared…okaa-san…Rabbit girl moved closer to me, looking at my face before making a decision and standing up, an ear flopping into her eyes.
"Makoto is unable to fight! The second round goes to Uruha Ikazuchi!"
Two wins…even if otou-san wins…it's all over…okaa-san…gomen…I couldn't protect you…I was too weak…I was afraid…I…
"Makoto?" Otou-san came up and lifted me easily. I didn't reply. He brought me off stage and laid me next to nii-chan. "I will protect your okaa-san. Don't worry." His peaceful face turned serious as he left, turning his back on us. I closed my eyes in shame, not wanting to meet nii-chan's gaze.
At least nii-chan fought…at least he didn't give up because he was afraid…
"Final round! Uruha Ikazuchi's Raiha verses Team Kage's Kazuo! Start!"
I heard gasps from the crowd, other than that it was silent. Whistles were heard as Raiha's sword flashed through the air. Otou-san's grunts echoed through the silence as he dodged attacks and retaliated. I heard okaa-san's scream.
"Kazuo!"
I opened my eyes and forced my trembling body to sit up. Otou-san was on one knee, holding his shoulder. Blood leaked from between his fingers. Raiha stood in front of him, the smile back on his face as he fingered his sword.
"Are you going to give up, Kazuo-san?"
Otou-san didn't reply, but stood up, wiping his hand on his pants. Taking out his madougu orb from his pocket, he held it in his right hand and glared at the ninja. "I dislike violence, Raiha. But, I will not give up now. Not after my sons have fought so hard to protect their mother." Raiha's eyes had widened upon seeing the orb, and his chibi face became serious again.
Shadows engulfed otou-san, hovering about him. "I want to know why Mori Kouran called this Urabutosatojin." Shadow blades formed as Raiha stayed silent. "If you can't tell me…" The blades shot forwards, stabbing at the ninja who dodged and knocked them aside. Raiha threw multiple kunai at otou-san, eyes narrowing more as the shadows caught them.
"If you have to know so badly…it's because of a girl," Raiha said, straightening and beginning to circle otou-san.
"A girl?"
"Mm. A single girl that Kurei-sama has discovered." Raiha's voice dropped so I could barely hear it. I crawled to the side of the stage and shakily stood up to listen. The crowd grew louder again, cheers for our team as well as shouts for Raiha. "I believe it's foolish to call together all the Uruha for one girl…but it was Mori-sama's orders, and Kurei-sama's wish to fight that boy again."
"That boy?"
"…I've talked too long…Let us continue." Shuriken flew through the air and were blocked by a wall of shadows. They traded attacks for a few moments, each dodging and retaliating in a flash. A slash appeared on otou-san's arm as he was too late to stop one. He flinched and nearly dropped the madougu orb, the shadows fading slightly. Raiha appeared in front of him, inside the wall of shadows, sword already curving downwards.
Blade met blade as otou-san formed a sword made out of shadow, blocking the ninja's attack. I saw otou-san smirk, for the first time. "I taught my sons everything they know. While I don't fight with two swords, I'm sure my one sword technique will be enough for you."
I had never heard otou-san talk like that, or fight like that… It was strange, hearing him…he sounded a lot like nii-chan, when he was fighting. I watched as otou-san became a different person, a fighter, a man who wielded a madougu without qualms, a man who was trying to kill another. I tried to remember the meaning of otou-san's name… but my mind flew back to the fight as the two fighters jumped apart.
Otou-san was breathing heavily, with multiple wounds, while Raiha was wounded in some places, but still looked ready to fight. Raiha looked at otou-san's face before exhaling and scratching his head.
"Hanabishi Recca and Sakoshita Yanagi," Raiha murmured, smiling sheepishly. He glanced at otou-san once more. "You're a really stubborn man, Kazuo-san." Otou-san grinned and took a deep breath.
"Thank you for telling me, Raiha," Otou-san replied, straightening and tightening his grip on the madougu. "I know you didn't have to, but you did. For that I thank you… But…now I must finish this fight. For my wife," He glanced at okaa-san. "And for my sons." He gave us both a fond look, which then turned serious again. "And for myself." He raised the hand that held the madougu and it glowed brightly.
I saw Raiha's eyes widen and his hand fly for something attached to his belt. I saw otou-san's determined face. I saw the whole stage disappear into darkness. The whole crowd was stunned into silence, they all leaned forward, mouths agape. I stood silent for a few moments…before trying to drag myself onto the stage.
"Makoto, stop! You can't do anything now!" okaa-san said, getting hold of my gi.
"But…"
"Okaa-san's right, Makoto…" I looked up happily to see nii-chan sitting up. "We can't do anything for otou-san…it's all up to him now…" I nodded slowly and watched the darkness.
What was going on in there? Who's winning? Is otou-san still alive? He has to be… or else the darkness would disappear… Is Raiha dead? Not yet…or else otou-san would've stopped the madougu…But…can otou-san do it? Then, I suddenly heard a grunt of paint. It wasn't otou-san, so a grin broke out on my face. He did it, otou-san did it! He got that ninja bastard! He might not've killed him…but…it's only a matter of ti~
"Raijin!"
There seemed to be a light glowing from within the shadows. I looked at it, shocked. The shadows twitched suddenly, then dissipated as if blown away by the winds. I first saw the ninja, standing tall but breathing heavily, holding his right arm. There was blood running down it, but I couldn't see what had made the wound. And…there was otou-san, lying on the ground. He still clutched the madougu orb; he still looked ready to fight. He was dead. The ground about him was destroyed, and his white gi and pants were stained, burnt looking.
I half-heard the rabbit girl's whimper as she went up to otou-san and looked at him. She held the microphone in two quivering hands and murmured into it. "T-Team Kage's Kazuo…is…unable to fight…Round three goes…to Raiha…"
"Raiha-sama!"
"I can't believe that girl won…"
"Raiha-sama is a guy! How dare you!!"
"Whatever he is…what did he do just then? That Kage guy looks roasted."
I tried to block out the sounds.
"So…the result is three wins and zero losses…so…Uruha Ikazuchi…is the winner!"
I tried to fight back as men appeared to take away okaa-san. Nii-chan struggled to help but fell down again. They knocked me out of the way, and took okaa-san by the arms. I pushed myself back up, but they had disappeared into the crowd. Something cool hit my back and I picked it up, looking at the dark madougu orb. Raiha stood over me, smiling, with otou-san in his arms. He deposited otou-san's body next to nii-chan…murmured something that sounded like an apology…and disappeared into the crowd.
The images began breaking up…Dragging nii-chan to the hospital wing… Sitting by his bed, hoping he would recover. Feeling the orb in my pocket. Seeing the Hokage in their second round match. Seeing Hanabishi Recca, the flame wielder for the first time… Seeing Sakoshita Yanagi, the reason why the Urabutosatojin was held, for the first time. I watched all of the Hokage's matches, saw how their madougus hurt people, and saw how they hurt people to protect that one girl. Otou-san had died because of that one girl, nii-chan died because Hanabishi was fighting Kurei, to save his princess. Okaa-san disappeared. I was all alone…all because of her…
[End flashback]
I looked at the Hokage. In the few years that had passed, they hadn't changed. They still would fight, would kill, to protect that girl. I narrowed my eyes. More people would die, more people would be hurt, and more families would be destroyed because of her and madougus. I couldn't let that happen.
TBC
I know…finally…I finished this chapter…and finally finished the flashback… it'll go back to Koganei's POV…bet everyone's glad to hear that? ^_^ I'm really sorry it took me so long…it was about a month? Sorry…thanks for the reviews + being patient with me!
Emily: I updated….after a very very long time…and I'll try to keep on going… which probably means a while before I update again ^^;
Yami no tenshi: etto…I don't really understand your comment in da last review ^^; either I'm really slow…or really sleepy tonight ^^ oh well…thanks! ^_^
Schizo13: hmm…yeah I didn't update quickly *sweatdrops* sorry bout that… and midnight also hasn't updated? Or might of…I don't remember ^^;
Moonlight2: um…I was thinking that we never got to see the first round of any Uruha fights ^^; so…they had to fight someone to get to the top :P keep on working on ur fic, and…I'll try writing more of HMR…not sure when I'll be able to…not sure why but for my 2 anime fics…ideas aren't really coming to me ^^; only for my Out of the Norm one…