Title: A Herald's Wings
Author: Dreamwind
Disclaimer: Herald Alexian, YoShen, Telver and the people known as "the lost" are all my ideas and as such are mine to play with as I please. * note: no characters were harmed in the making of this fic. *
Flashback when either YoShen or Alexian are talking to the other in their native tongue. These are used for the person who's POV we aren't in. It means we can understand what they are saying but the other characters cannot.
Herald Alexian shifted the bits of cooking meat in the boiling water. He felt absorbed by the simple action, as if by focusing on this then all the rest of the world could just fall away from him. It had been a very long three days and he already knew it was going to continue to be a very long and trying time for him. What had happened three days ago just wasn't covered in the training a herald received at the collegiums. Herald Alexian looked out of the corner of his eye at the strange young man sitting on the other side of the room. The young man didn't move he didn't make any noise it was unnerving. Alexian had already had the urge to go over more than once and make sure the young man was still breathing.
As if the young man knew Herald Alexians thoughts, he looked up at Herald Alexian and just stared at him with those deep black eyes. The fire crackled and popped and for a moment lit up the young mans face in a soft golden glow, making him look like a young man and not the mysterious person he seemed to really be. The darkness that seemed to cling to him disappeared and replaced the image with that of a young man walking into something he didn't understand. Herald Alexian looked away from the boy and back to the cooking stew, or what he could get to pass for stew. His mind began to flow backwards, remembering all that had transpired in the last few days.
Herald Alexian woke up screaming. His screams woke up Herald Telver and the companions. Alexian's companion stared at him with worried eyes as he stood and began packing. He had to hurry there wasn't much time. He spoke rapidly to his elder Herald and soon they were astride their companions and speeding down the forest path. His foresight couldn't be ignored, even if it meant that he would be late arriving at the next destination on their circuit. He had to get to the part of the forest he saw and save the boy from the bandits before it was too late!
Wind whipped out at their faces as they rode through the night. The sounds of distant fighting rose up in the otherwise calm night. As they got nearer Alexian and his companion, Yelsa, could just make out the shapes of nine large bandits facing off against one lone boy who appeared to be unarmed. Seven more bodies were strewn about, cut into bloody pieces. The boy was gracefully dodging the attacks but he was so covered in people that he couldn't strike back without getting grabbed by an enemy. Yelsa sped up, her legs moving faster than Alexian had ever seen her move. Her body crashed like a rockslide into the attacking bandits. They fell and were trampled to death as Herald and Companion stormed into the fray.
Alexian shouted at the exotic young man as they came closer. Herald Telver had drawn his sword and held it high as he followed Alexian into the battle. Alexian found his body moving while his mind disappeared into a void, there was nothing but the fighting. The sound of steel on steel, the smell of fresh spilt blood, and the maze of fallen bodies was all that Alexian was aware of. His sword sunk through the leather armor and into the bandits flesh. A blast of cold air brushed past Alexian and crashed into two of the bandits, slicing them cleanly in half. Alexian spun around wildly looking for the sorce of the wind. Two more bandits rushed at him, one fell dead as he walked into the path of the mysterious wind, the other continued on his course and was killed as one of his fellow bandits fell on him, sword burring deeply into his abdomen. Alexian spun around and took down another bandit coming up behind him. A scream cut through the battle haze that had taken over Alexian and he spun around just in time to see Herald Telver fall. Alexian screamed, but his scream was nothing to the heartbreaking cry the herald's companion let out. The remaining bandits fled as the two companions rose up on their hind legs screaming and stomping like banshees.
Alexian stumbled over to where Telver lay bleeding. Tears poured down his face and Alexian collapsed next to him. Alexian sobbed for a long time, his head burred on the other herald's chest. Finally when he could cry no more Alexian felt the soft touch of Yelsa's nose on his back. He hugged her and just stared at were Talver's companion came to rest against him. The companion's body was mud splattered and covered in gore. He looked up once at Alexian and laid his head down on his chosen's chest and stopped breathing. Slowly a strange calm that always came during grief settled over Alexian and he remembered the boy they had come to save. The boy was standing in a pool of blood, bodies lay at his feet and a dark stain of blood was on his shoulder. His long black hair was a wild mess that was coming out of the leather thong at the base of his skull. Alexian took a deep breath and moved through the bodies towards the boy. He reached out toward the young man. The boy recoiled away from Alexian's touch, glaring at him with eyes of void black ice. "It's alright, I'm not going to hurt you. Their gone and you're safe now."
The boy looked away and stood up. His hand clutched his shoulder and Alexian could hear a cracking sound as the boy put his shoulder back in the socket. The boy took a few more steps, heading deeper into the forest. He stopped and turned back looking at Alexian and Ylsa, who had just come back. The boy pulled his head back towards the forest motioning for Alexian and Ylsa to follow him.
* * *
The strange man in white continued to gaze into whatever slop he considered to be food and YoShen just sat back and watched. He didn't understand this man. Truth to be told, he didn't understand a lot of things about what had happened. All he understood was that because of this man he was a living ghost. So he was none to pleased with the situation he found himself in. After all he had been doing just fine until those two men in white had shown up.
YoShen was proud of himself. It was his first night alone in the shadow forest and already he had found a suitable place to sleep and meditate until he reached the astral plane and met his spirit guide. He had been on the astral plane and sure that he was nearing his spirit guide when he had been blasted off the plane by a hand wrenching him of the ground. His eyes had opened wide and he had nearly been blinded. The fire that he had been sitting in front of him seemed as bright as the sun as his night-adjusted eyes caught its glow. That one moment was enough for the bandits who had caught him to finish fishing him out of the cave and into the forest. The man had a cruel face, criss-crossed with scars. Next to scare face was a man who was missing an eye, and another who seemed to be in reasonable health save for a slight blue cast around his lips. There were more men behind them but YoShen couldn't make them out or how many there were. It wasn't good odds, but he wasn't about to hand himself over to them without a struggle. Focusing on everything Elder FaLi had taught him, YoShen decided that it was better to die fighting than to go with the white skinned devils. YoShen cracked his knee into scar-faces groin as hard as he could. The man dropped him and YoShen ran away from them as fast as he could. The men cursed and made their way after him. YoShen was fast though and as agile in the forest as any deer.
Deeper and deeper he went into the forest. He couldn't let them find the village. The people of "The Lost" must stay lost. Outsiders couldn't be allowed near his people. YoShen dodged between the trees and rolled out of the way as one of the bandits shot at him. Close shot. The bolt was imbedded in the tree near his head. YoShen leaped into the open and made a break for the field not three paces to his right. The bandits followed and YoShen whispered and swung his arm in a slashing motion at the bandits. Two of the bandits screamed as an invisible blade of wind cut them in half. The other bandits were startled but didn't stop heir advancement. K'So. (1) They rushed him and YoShen found it nearly impossible to use his invisible blades. He managed to cut four more down before he heard the vague sound of thunder rumbling up from the earth. Riders were coming in hard and fast, two from the sound of it.
The riders crashed into the bandits running them over. YoShen turned away from the new arrivals and concentrated on the bandits around him. Thanks to the charging horses the bandits had backed up enough so that he could call up his invisible blades of wind. Two bandits were cut down by his wind and more fell from the attacks of the white men. There was a scream from somewhere and YoShen caught sight of one of the white men fall to the ground dead. The other was rushing to his side while the two horses ran off after the two remaining bandits. YoShen stood back watching as grief swallowed the man whole. For a moment YoShen thought the man would follow the other into the next realm. Perhaps he was belonging to the dead man? Whatever the relationship YoShen didn't want to get too close to the man or the beasts right then. Their emotions were whipping out his thoughts, swallowing him into their grief.
When the man finally got control of himself and looked back to YoShen, he realized what had happened. This man dressed in white had saved his life. YoShen could have saved himself, but this man had come at risk to his own life and entered into the battle. YoShen's honor could ask nothing less than to take this man and the body of his friend to the city of "The Lost." YoShen pointed his head toward the vague area where his home lay hidden beyond the edge of the forest.
The fire crackled and popped and YoShen was brought out of his daze. When he looked back across the fire he saw that the man in white, who he now knew was called Herald Alexian, was fast asleep. On the mans face were dried tears. Even now a few new tears trickled down the path of the old ones. The white horse was asleep as well. They had curled up together and fallen asleep. Hmm. They must have thought him asleep. Oh well, the more fool they be if they think he would sleep while he was honor bound to protect Herald Alexian. YoShen continued to stair at the two sleeping figures even as the wind danced around him and told him what was happening in the night. As the night wore on, YoShen found himself thinking more and more about everything that had happened.
YoShen could tell that the strange man was furious that he had somehow been forced to follow YoShen to some unknown destination. The man's aura lashed out at YoShen, making his own aura radiate with frustration. The man was angry at the loss of his comrade and YoShen was angry as well, but that didn't mean he was going to bore holes in the man's back with a glare. Fortunately, as they got deeper into the territory of "The Lost" YoShen noticed how the man was beginning to calm down. He was looking around with his mouth hanging open. He was "catching flies" as Okasan (2) always said. YoShen suddenly wanted to laugh, but he dared not. He had to stay dignified just as all the "Lost" were. Especially now. When they passed the large garden statue he heard the man behind him gasp and stop moving. He turned and looked at the man as he approached the statue. The man's hand hovered over the large jade dragon. He seemed mesmerized by the symbol of the clan of "The Lost." The jade dragon, guardian of the forest, was intricately carved out of a mammoth block of pure jade. It's serpentine body danced and looped around in a knot until it's gaze was back to being at eye level with the gaijin (3). The man was trapped in the dragon's gaze. The magic had caught him and his horse-thing. Hah. "Fool." YoShen walked over to the gaijins, placed his hand over the man's eyes and spoke in a whisper meant only for the wind's ears. When he removed his hand the man turned and looked at him and blinked.
YoShen turned away from the emerald green eyes that seemed to pull him into them, just as the statue had pulled the gaijin in. He started forward again, not moving too fast lest the gaijin be left behind. The man moved to follow and they continued into the entryway of the village. He could tell the wall that seemed to appear out of nowhere impressed the man. Another jade dragon rested over the large double gateway in the wall. Above the wall two guards watched YoShen and the stranger approach. YoShen stopped and called a greeting up to the guards, "I am YoShen of The Lost, son of Elder ChiHa and the lady Hato. I return from my quest of manhood with the stranger of the white spirit."
The guard nodded to the other who opened the gates. "Be well and enter." The two guards watched the gaijin and his white spirit horse as they crossed the threshold and into the city.
My God, look at this place, Ylsa! I've never seen anything like it.
The white horse whinnied and nodded. YoShen snorted and turned back to look at the two. They looked as if they had never seen a city before. Stupid gaijins, they were gonna' get themselves run over by the traders. YoShen grabbed the gaijin's hand and the reihns to his spirit horse and dragged them out of the roadway. They followed him through the maze of flat marble streets. The way they both seemed to keep their mouths dropped open was incredibly asinine, but they were obviously impressed. As they should be. This was after all Shiratoshi, the white city. It was impressive. The outside world lay hidden from view inside the walls just as the city was hidden from outside the walls. The buildings were all made out of stonewood, a special type of tree breed specifically for building. It was used for every building and wall in the city. If one didn't know what it was they would think the entire city was made out of the marble that was the roadway.
Incredible. How did your people create all of this? Where are you taking us? How did you make this roadway? Why are all the people staring at us?
"Baka. (4) I don't understand what the hell you are saying, so just be quiet. You are making a scene!"
The gaijin just looked confused and shocked at the outrage in YoShen's voice. The gaijin looked away from YoShen's glare and sighed. YoShen noted the glazed look in the mans eyes and realized his was speaking, or trying to speak, mind to mind with the spirit horse. Well, the gaijin would stop trying to use his telepathy when he realized the city's magical shield prevented telepathy. From the outraged glare YoShen could feel burning a hole in his back and it was obvious the gaijin just figured out something was blocking his telepathy. Good, he wasn't a complete idiot. Maybe he could teach him that telepathy was a dreadful thing to have. A most dishonorable curse.
YoShen looked around and found the street his was looking for and motioned the gaijin to follow him. They would take him to Shinigami's temple and have the body of the man and his spirit horse given the proper death rites. Perhaps that would calm the gaijin. Then they could go the temple of the elders and YoShen could find out what his new fate would be. YoShen sighed. He was dreading that visit. He could guess what would happen to him and it was not something he would wish on his worst enemy. Too soon they were leaving the temple of Shinigami (5) and heading down another road to where YoShen's fate lie in waiting. It was not turning out to be a good day. The gaijin had not liked having to leave his friends bodies in the care of stranger's especially since he didn't understand what was going to happen to the bodies.
Why can't I speak to you, Ylsa? What have they done to us?
The spirit horse neighed loudly and nuzzled the gaijin. Absolutely disgusting. His behavior with that animal was beyond perverted. Why anyone would allow an animal, even a spirit one, to bind to their souls together like that was beyond YoShen's comprehension. The elder's were not going to like this. No, they wouldn't like it at all. His life was never going to be the same and was all because of this baka gaijin. YoShen stood staring at the sprawling white temple, well it wasn't really a temple just a small palace that everyone referred to as a temple. Maybe it was a temple at one time but now. Now it was just a place for the elders of the city to sit around and prattle at each other. It was the place where he was going to find out what was to be done with him. "I can't prolong this any longer. One way or another I'm going to find out and they'll think better of me for coming to them instead of hiding like a coward."
The gaijin looked at YoShen confused. I wish I could understand you. This is all very frustrating. YoShen ignored the gaijin and walked into the temple. The gaijin sighed and followed. Stay here, Ylsa.
The gaijin watched YoShen take of his shoes and followed suit. Just past the entry way a dark haired woman in a kimono waved them into the council room where the elders were waiting. The woman bowed and backed out of the room closing the paper screen door. YoShen bowed and sat on his knees. "My Elder's I have come to seek your council on my fate. I have spent a night in the Shadow Forest and braved its horrors alone. I faced a group of gaijin bandits large in number and took down eight of them on my own, but my life was saved because of this gaijin and his companion."
Elder FaLi looked deep into YoShen's eyes and sighed. He had always been partial to YoShen and YoShen could guess how hard this was for him. "You took down eight bandits on your own?"
"Hai, Elder FaLi."
The elders talked amongst themselves for a moment before turning back to YoShen and the stranger. "This man and his companion saved your life. So where is his companion now?"
"His companion was killed in battle, Elder FaLi. I took him and the body of his spirit horse to the Temple of Shinigami."
The elders nodded and spoke amongst themselves again before grilling YoShen as to the details of the actual battle. How it started and how it ended. It took several hours for the elders to question YoShen. Not just the battle was question but what YoShen had observed as the behavior of the gaijin and his spirit horse. The elders seemed pleased at first about how honorable the gaijin appeared to be. However, that respect was lost the moment YoShen spoke of the soul-bond between the spirit horse and the gaijin. It got even worse when they learned that YoShen believed the man capable of telepathy. The ice-cold glares being short at the gaijin should have caused the man to at least flinch but nothing happened. The gaijin remained sitting still watching them all very calmly. Finally they spoke to YoShen.
"You have fought with valor and dignity, YoShen son of ChiHa. You have shown great courage and honor in giving the proper respects to a man who died with honor. You are a wise man and this council is proud to give you the ranking of 'man'. Tonight we shall give you the tattoo that shall represent your rank of man to all the people of The Lost. No longer shall you be YoShen, son of ChiHa, tonight you have become KazeHa." Elder FaLi paused to take in a deep breath and a look of sadness and grief moved through his eyes. YoShen swallowed hard. "Your life was saved however by this gaijin and his companion who gave his life for yours. It is this council's decision that your life would have been forfeit were it not for the gaijins. As such it is this council's decision that your life among The Lost shall be forfeit and placed into the care of this gaijin. You have been ruled as a ghost until such time as you can repay your life debt. However, as of the raising of the sun you may no longer walk among the people of The Lost or set sight again on the empirical city of Shiratoshi . At dawn it would be best that you and the gaijin no longer be within the city walls. The body of the dead gaijin and his spirit horse shall be placed in the death jars and given into your care, that they may safely make it back to their home."
TBC...
Translations:
1. K'so - means shit in Japanese
2. Okasan - means Mother in Japanese
3. Gaijin- means foreigner in Japanese
4. Baka - idiot; stupid
5. Shinigami - God of Death; the Great Destroyer
6. The city is called Shiratoshi which literally means the white city.
7. YoShen's father is called ChiHa which means Bloodblade. It was a name he earned when he reached manhood.
8. YoShen's new name is now KazeHa which means Windblade. Get it?
7
Author: Dreamwind
Disclaimer: Herald Alexian, YoShen, Telver and the people known as "the lost" are all my ideas and as such are mine to play with as I please. * note: no characters were harmed in the making of this fic. *
Flashback when either YoShen or Alexian are talking to the other in their native tongue. These are used for the person who's POV we aren't in. It means we can understand what they are saying but the other characters cannot.
Herald Alexian shifted the bits of cooking meat in the boiling water. He felt absorbed by the simple action, as if by focusing on this then all the rest of the world could just fall away from him. It had been a very long three days and he already knew it was going to continue to be a very long and trying time for him. What had happened three days ago just wasn't covered in the training a herald received at the collegiums. Herald Alexian looked out of the corner of his eye at the strange young man sitting on the other side of the room. The young man didn't move he didn't make any noise it was unnerving. Alexian had already had the urge to go over more than once and make sure the young man was still breathing.
As if the young man knew Herald Alexians thoughts, he looked up at Herald Alexian and just stared at him with those deep black eyes. The fire crackled and popped and for a moment lit up the young mans face in a soft golden glow, making him look like a young man and not the mysterious person he seemed to really be. The darkness that seemed to cling to him disappeared and replaced the image with that of a young man walking into something he didn't understand. Herald Alexian looked away from the boy and back to the cooking stew, or what he could get to pass for stew. His mind began to flow backwards, remembering all that had transpired in the last few days.
Herald Alexian woke up screaming. His screams woke up Herald Telver and the companions. Alexian's companion stared at him with worried eyes as he stood and began packing. He had to hurry there wasn't much time. He spoke rapidly to his elder Herald and soon they were astride their companions and speeding down the forest path. His foresight couldn't be ignored, even if it meant that he would be late arriving at the next destination on their circuit. He had to get to the part of the forest he saw and save the boy from the bandits before it was too late!
Wind whipped out at their faces as they rode through the night. The sounds of distant fighting rose up in the otherwise calm night. As they got nearer Alexian and his companion, Yelsa, could just make out the shapes of nine large bandits facing off against one lone boy who appeared to be unarmed. Seven more bodies were strewn about, cut into bloody pieces. The boy was gracefully dodging the attacks but he was so covered in people that he couldn't strike back without getting grabbed by an enemy. Yelsa sped up, her legs moving faster than Alexian had ever seen her move. Her body crashed like a rockslide into the attacking bandits. They fell and were trampled to death as Herald and Companion stormed into the fray.
Alexian shouted at the exotic young man as they came closer. Herald Telver had drawn his sword and held it high as he followed Alexian into the battle. Alexian found his body moving while his mind disappeared into a void, there was nothing but the fighting. The sound of steel on steel, the smell of fresh spilt blood, and the maze of fallen bodies was all that Alexian was aware of. His sword sunk through the leather armor and into the bandits flesh. A blast of cold air brushed past Alexian and crashed into two of the bandits, slicing them cleanly in half. Alexian spun around wildly looking for the sorce of the wind. Two more bandits rushed at him, one fell dead as he walked into the path of the mysterious wind, the other continued on his course and was killed as one of his fellow bandits fell on him, sword burring deeply into his abdomen. Alexian spun around and took down another bandit coming up behind him. A scream cut through the battle haze that had taken over Alexian and he spun around just in time to see Herald Telver fall. Alexian screamed, but his scream was nothing to the heartbreaking cry the herald's companion let out. The remaining bandits fled as the two companions rose up on their hind legs screaming and stomping like banshees.
Alexian stumbled over to where Telver lay bleeding. Tears poured down his face and Alexian collapsed next to him. Alexian sobbed for a long time, his head burred on the other herald's chest. Finally when he could cry no more Alexian felt the soft touch of Yelsa's nose on his back. He hugged her and just stared at were Talver's companion came to rest against him. The companion's body was mud splattered and covered in gore. He looked up once at Alexian and laid his head down on his chosen's chest and stopped breathing. Slowly a strange calm that always came during grief settled over Alexian and he remembered the boy they had come to save. The boy was standing in a pool of blood, bodies lay at his feet and a dark stain of blood was on his shoulder. His long black hair was a wild mess that was coming out of the leather thong at the base of his skull. Alexian took a deep breath and moved through the bodies towards the boy. He reached out toward the young man. The boy recoiled away from Alexian's touch, glaring at him with eyes of void black ice. "It's alright, I'm not going to hurt you. Their gone and you're safe now."
The boy looked away and stood up. His hand clutched his shoulder and Alexian could hear a cracking sound as the boy put his shoulder back in the socket. The boy took a few more steps, heading deeper into the forest. He stopped and turned back looking at Alexian and Ylsa, who had just come back. The boy pulled his head back towards the forest motioning for Alexian and Ylsa to follow him.
* * *
The strange man in white continued to gaze into whatever slop he considered to be food and YoShen just sat back and watched. He didn't understand this man. Truth to be told, he didn't understand a lot of things about what had happened. All he understood was that because of this man he was a living ghost. So he was none to pleased with the situation he found himself in. After all he had been doing just fine until those two men in white had shown up.
YoShen was proud of himself. It was his first night alone in the shadow forest and already he had found a suitable place to sleep and meditate until he reached the astral plane and met his spirit guide. He had been on the astral plane and sure that he was nearing his spirit guide when he had been blasted off the plane by a hand wrenching him of the ground. His eyes had opened wide and he had nearly been blinded. The fire that he had been sitting in front of him seemed as bright as the sun as his night-adjusted eyes caught its glow. That one moment was enough for the bandits who had caught him to finish fishing him out of the cave and into the forest. The man had a cruel face, criss-crossed with scars. Next to scare face was a man who was missing an eye, and another who seemed to be in reasonable health save for a slight blue cast around his lips. There were more men behind them but YoShen couldn't make them out or how many there were. It wasn't good odds, but he wasn't about to hand himself over to them without a struggle. Focusing on everything Elder FaLi had taught him, YoShen decided that it was better to die fighting than to go with the white skinned devils. YoShen cracked his knee into scar-faces groin as hard as he could. The man dropped him and YoShen ran away from them as fast as he could. The men cursed and made their way after him. YoShen was fast though and as agile in the forest as any deer.
Deeper and deeper he went into the forest. He couldn't let them find the village. The people of "The Lost" must stay lost. Outsiders couldn't be allowed near his people. YoShen dodged between the trees and rolled out of the way as one of the bandits shot at him. Close shot. The bolt was imbedded in the tree near his head. YoShen leaped into the open and made a break for the field not three paces to his right. The bandits followed and YoShen whispered and swung his arm in a slashing motion at the bandits. Two of the bandits screamed as an invisible blade of wind cut them in half. The other bandits were startled but didn't stop heir advancement. K'So. (1) They rushed him and YoShen found it nearly impossible to use his invisible blades. He managed to cut four more down before he heard the vague sound of thunder rumbling up from the earth. Riders were coming in hard and fast, two from the sound of it.
The riders crashed into the bandits running them over. YoShen turned away from the new arrivals and concentrated on the bandits around him. Thanks to the charging horses the bandits had backed up enough so that he could call up his invisible blades of wind. Two bandits were cut down by his wind and more fell from the attacks of the white men. There was a scream from somewhere and YoShen caught sight of one of the white men fall to the ground dead. The other was rushing to his side while the two horses ran off after the two remaining bandits. YoShen stood back watching as grief swallowed the man whole. For a moment YoShen thought the man would follow the other into the next realm. Perhaps he was belonging to the dead man? Whatever the relationship YoShen didn't want to get too close to the man or the beasts right then. Their emotions were whipping out his thoughts, swallowing him into their grief.
When the man finally got control of himself and looked back to YoShen, he realized what had happened. This man dressed in white had saved his life. YoShen could have saved himself, but this man had come at risk to his own life and entered into the battle. YoShen's honor could ask nothing less than to take this man and the body of his friend to the city of "The Lost." YoShen pointed his head toward the vague area where his home lay hidden beyond the edge of the forest.
The fire crackled and popped and YoShen was brought out of his daze. When he looked back across the fire he saw that the man in white, who he now knew was called Herald Alexian, was fast asleep. On the mans face were dried tears. Even now a few new tears trickled down the path of the old ones. The white horse was asleep as well. They had curled up together and fallen asleep. Hmm. They must have thought him asleep. Oh well, the more fool they be if they think he would sleep while he was honor bound to protect Herald Alexian. YoShen continued to stair at the two sleeping figures even as the wind danced around him and told him what was happening in the night. As the night wore on, YoShen found himself thinking more and more about everything that had happened.
YoShen could tell that the strange man was furious that he had somehow been forced to follow YoShen to some unknown destination. The man's aura lashed out at YoShen, making his own aura radiate with frustration. The man was angry at the loss of his comrade and YoShen was angry as well, but that didn't mean he was going to bore holes in the man's back with a glare. Fortunately, as they got deeper into the territory of "The Lost" YoShen noticed how the man was beginning to calm down. He was looking around with his mouth hanging open. He was "catching flies" as Okasan (2) always said. YoShen suddenly wanted to laugh, but he dared not. He had to stay dignified just as all the "Lost" were. Especially now. When they passed the large garden statue he heard the man behind him gasp and stop moving. He turned and looked at the man as he approached the statue. The man's hand hovered over the large jade dragon. He seemed mesmerized by the symbol of the clan of "The Lost." The jade dragon, guardian of the forest, was intricately carved out of a mammoth block of pure jade. It's serpentine body danced and looped around in a knot until it's gaze was back to being at eye level with the gaijin (3). The man was trapped in the dragon's gaze. The magic had caught him and his horse-thing. Hah. "Fool." YoShen walked over to the gaijins, placed his hand over the man's eyes and spoke in a whisper meant only for the wind's ears. When he removed his hand the man turned and looked at him and blinked.
YoShen turned away from the emerald green eyes that seemed to pull him into them, just as the statue had pulled the gaijin in. He started forward again, not moving too fast lest the gaijin be left behind. The man moved to follow and they continued into the entryway of the village. He could tell the wall that seemed to appear out of nowhere impressed the man. Another jade dragon rested over the large double gateway in the wall. Above the wall two guards watched YoShen and the stranger approach. YoShen stopped and called a greeting up to the guards, "I am YoShen of The Lost, son of Elder ChiHa and the lady Hato. I return from my quest of manhood with the stranger of the white spirit."
The guard nodded to the other who opened the gates. "Be well and enter." The two guards watched the gaijin and his white spirit horse as they crossed the threshold and into the city.
My God, look at this place, Ylsa! I've never seen anything like it.
The white horse whinnied and nodded. YoShen snorted and turned back to look at the two. They looked as if they had never seen a city before. Stupid gaijins, they were gonna' get themselves run over by the traders. YoShen grabbed the gaijin's hand and the reihns to his spirit horse and dragged them out of the roadway. They followed him through the maze of flat marble streets. The way they both seemed to keep their mouths dropped open was incredibly asinine, but they were obviously impressed. As they should be. This was after all Shiratoshi, the white city. It was impressive. The outside world lay hidden from view inside the walls just as the city was hidden from outside the walls. The buildings were all made out of stonewood, a special type of tree breed specifically for building. It was used for every building and wall in the city. If one didn't know what it was they would think the entire city was made out of the marble that was the roadway.
Incredible. How did your people create all of this? Where are you taking us? How did you make this roadway? Why are all the people staring at us?
"Baka. (4) I don't understand what the hell you are saying, so just be quiet. You are making a scene!"
The gaijin just looked confused and shocked at the outrage in YoShen's voice. The gaijin looked away from YoShen's glare and sighed. YoShen noted the glazed look in the mans eyes and realized his was speaking, or trying to speak, mind to mind with the spirit horse. Well, the gaijin would stop trying to use his telepathy when he realized the city's magical shield prevented telepathy. From the outraged glare YoShen could feel burning a hole in his back and it was obvious the gaijin just figured out something was blocking his telepathy. Good, he wasn't a complete idiot. Maybe he could teach him that telepathy was a dreadful thing to have. A most dishonorable curse.
YoShen looked around and found the street his was looking for and motioned the gaijin to follow him. They would take him to Shinigami's temple and have the body of the man and his spirit horse given the proper death rites. Perhaps that would calm the gaijin. Then they could go the temple of the elders and YoShen could find out what his new fate would be. YoShen sighed. He was dreading that visit. He could guess what would happen to him and it was not something he would wish on his worst enemy. Too soon they were leaving the temple of Shinigami (5) and heading down another road to where YoShen's fate lie in waiting. It was not turning out to be a good day. The gaijin had not liked having to leave his friends bodies in the care of stranger's especially since he didn't understand what was going to happen to the bodies.
Why can't I speak to you, Ylsa? What have they done to us?
The spirit horse neighed loudly and nuzzled the gaijin. Absolutely disgusting. His behavior with that animal was beyond perverted. Why anyone would allow an animal, even a spirit one, to bind to their souls together like that was beyond YoShen's comprehension. The elder's were not going to like this. No, they wouldn't like it at all. His life was never going to be the same and was all because of this baka gaijin. YoShen stood staring at the sprawling white temple, well it wasn't really a temple just a small palace that everyone referred to as a temple. Maybe it was a temple at one time but now. Now it was just a place for the elders of the city to sit around and prattle at each other. It was the place where he was going to find out what was to be done with him. "I can't prolong this any longer. One way or another I'm going to find out and they'll think better of me for coming to them instead of hiding like a coward."
The gaijin looked at YoShen confused. I wish I could understand you. This is all very frustrating. YoShen ignored the gaijin and walked into the temple. The gaijin sighed and followed. Stay here, Ylsa.
The gaijin watched YoShen take of his shoes and followed suit. Just past the entry way a dark haired woman in a kimono waved them into the council room where the elders were waiting. The woman bowed and backed out of the room closing the paper screen door. YoShen bowed and sat on his knees. "My Elder's I have come to seek your council on my fate. I have spent a night in the Shadow Forest and braved its horrors alone. I faced a group of gaijin bandits large in number and took down eight of them on my own, but my life was saved because of this gaijin and his companion."
Elder FaLi looked deep into YoShen's eyes and sighed. He had always been partial to YoShen and YoShen could guess how hard this was for him. "You took down eight bandits on your own?"
"Hai, Elder FaLi."
The elders talked amongst themselves for a moment before turning back to YoShen and the stranger. "This man and his companion saved your life. So where is his companion now?"
"His companion was killed in battle, Elder FaLi. I took him and the body of his spirit horse to the Temple of Shinigami."
The elders nodded and spoke amongst themselves again before grilling YoShen as to the details of the actual battle. How it started and how it ended. It took several hours for the elders to question YoShen. Not just the battle was question but what YoShen had observed as the behavior of the gaijin and his spirit horse. The elders seemed pleased at first about how honorable the gaijin appeared to be. However, that respect was lost the moment YoShen spoke of the soul-bond between the spirit horse and the gaijin. It got even worse when they learned that YoShen believed the man capable of telepathy. The ice-cold glares being short at the gaijin should have caused the man to at least flinch but nothing happened. The gaijin remained sitting still watching them all very calmly. Finally they spoke to YoShen.
"You have fought with valor and dignity, YoShen son of ChiHa. You have shown great courage and honor in giving the proper respects to a man who died with honor. You are a wise man and this council is proud to give you the ranking of 'man'. Tonight we shall give you the tattoo that shall represent your rank of man to all the people of The Lost. No longer shall you be YoShen, son of ChiHa, tonight you have become KazeHa." Elder FaLi paused to take in a deep breath and a look of sadness and grief moved through his eyes. YoShen swallowed hard. "Your life was saved however by this gaijin and his companion who gave his life for yours. It is this council's decision that your life would have been forfeit were it not for the gaijins. As such it is this council's decision that your life among The Lost shall be forfeit and placed into the care of this gaijin. You have been ruled as a ghost until such time as you can repay your life debt. However, as of the raising of the sun you may no longer walk among the people of The Lost or set sight again on the empirical city of Shiratoshi . At dawn it would be best that you and the gaijin no longer be within the city walls. The body of the dead gaijin and his spirit horse shall be placed in the death jars and given into your care, that they may safely make it back to their home."
TBC...
Translations:
1. K'so - means shit in Japanese
2. Okasan - means Mother in Japanese
3. Gaijin- means foreigner in Japanese
4. Baka - idiot; stupid
5. Shinigami - God of Death; the Great Destroyer
6. The city is called Shiratoshi which literally means the white city.
7. YoShen's father is called ChiHa which means Bloodblade. It was a name he earned when he reached manhood.
8. YoShen's new name is now KazeHa which means Windblade. Get it?
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