A/N: I'd like to thank everyone for reviewing my fanfic. Your encouragement is very appreciated. It has come to my attention that my tactician seem's to be going Gary Stu...
Ehh... I'm not particuarly concerned. There are some excellent fanfics out there and they are also Mary-Sues, Gary Stu's... whatever...
If I think it's going a bit too far then I'll relent a bit. Besides... a more powerful protagonist calls for a more powerful antagonist (Evil Snicker). Don't worry. Renzin will have more then his fair share of demons to face, both physical and mental. Not to mention Muramasa... (Insert Maniacle Laughter Here)... but I digress. I haven't steered anybody wrong yet and I'm not about to start now.
This specific chapter is rated M for extremely nasty scenes. Sexual content is implied. Reader beware.
Chapter 2- The Strange Pair
Tactician Renzin's POV
The soft, quiet melody that graced the plains of Sacae had echoed through the deepest corners of my mind, soothing me as if a mother to child. The stars shined down in all their wonderful glory upon Elimine's fields. The sweet scents invigorating me. Empowering me to a sense and filling me with it's calm. In all honesty, it's been ages since I've ever been this at peace with myself. Ever since I first drew the blade of Muramasa.
Muramasa...
Perhaps I was the only one that could truly realize this calm since the blade I carry influences the very opposite. Where the plains bring great calm, the Muramasa in the end will leave you only with insanity... chaos. There is no peace. To wield it is to wield hell. Atleast that's what I've believed for the last thirteen years since drawing the blade. Thirteen years...
Thirteen years can really change a man. It was a sword of desires. A sword of great and terrible destruction. A weapon that I could only begin to fathom how much it's changed me, warped me and twisted me. And I shivered at the thought of how much worse it could have been if Master Litana hadn't taken me under her wing. The blade itself is insanity, or your insanity magnified beyond anything you could imagine.
So I savored this peace... this eternal calm as Lyn and I rode through the darkness. Her horse Lafira, was surprisingly strong being able to carry both Lyn and I as well as a satchel carrying a small amount of supplies. I held onto Lyn's waist tightly as she leaned forward and picked up speed. Normally I would have prefered a different arrangement if it weren't for the fact that I knew next to nothing on how to ride a horse. Not to mention that it was Lyn's horse and Lyn's superior ability to navigate the plains...
Well you get the idea.
For the most part the ride was silent with only the constant beat of Lafira's hooves to keep me from completely drifting off to that peaceful oblivion that is sleep. Instead I tried to reflect on the most recent of my troubles and the whole reason why I wasn't traveling alone. The only reason the Lorca were destroyed was because I let them be destroyed. I heard their plot completely by accident actually while I was staying at an inn on the outskirts of Bulgar. I turned a blind eye and let them be. I just didn't care. It was none of my business. I had and still do have enough on my plate as it is.
I held her scarred broken body in my arms. Long silver hair in clumps caked with dirt and blood while cold, lifeless blue eyes stared into my own. Her tear stained cheeks only emphasized her pale face and blue lips. The town continued to burn as the remaining survivors scrambled to gather their most precious belongings stopping only to glance briefly at me and the innocent martyr before turning back to there own devices. Why? Didn't they care? She's dead! She's dead and they did nothing but save their own worthless hides. Why couldn't someone save her? Why couldn't I save her?
"Because you're weak."
I turned around looking into the face of the man that killed the innocent girl I now held in my arms. The same man I held nothing more than the deepest of hatred.
That last thought jolted me from that line of thought as guilt gripped my being. I thought I had moved on but still my past plagues me, haunts me, wants me to give in to my insanity. To immerse myself in chaos and truly take my revenge on those that most deserved it. No... to give into Muramasa was to truly wish death on all. Even those that I cared about the most.
And I don't want to cause anymore grief then I had already bestowed on Lyn all thanks to my ignorance. Silently I hoped the tavern was still open by the time I returned to Bulgar. I really needed some hard cheep ale.
-
As it turned out my hopes were in vain. We had arrived in Bulgar well past midnight, the buildings mere shadows to my tired eyes. I had to admire Lyn who didn't seem the least bit tired, riding her steed as steadfast as we began. I admit that I'm not too used to long outings preferring camp for the night rather then continuing on forsaking sleep. So you could imagine the smile to my face that we had managed to find room at an inn for the night. How ironic it was the same inn that I took shelter in as I did before Lyn's tribe was slaughtered.
I dismounted Lafira on shaking knee's. It's amazing how much time not walking can really wear you down. It also seems that my first impressions on Lyn were a bit to hastily made. She slouched as soon as she dismounted and yawned tiredly. So she's human afterall...
"Hey Lyn. I'll take the satchel."
She gazed at me with a look of exhaustion, relief, and some slight reluctance. After what seemed like forever though she nodded relenting.
"Thank you Renzin."
I unhooked the satchel as well as removing the mount so Lafira could lay down comfortably and followed her into the inn. The wooden walls and carpeted floors were a welcome change to the great out doors, my tiredness making the idea of a warm bed that much more appealing. At the desk was a woman in her mid thirties with blue hair that went just below her shoulder blades. She possessed the hazel eyes of a woman that had drank too much coffee then was healthy, giving her a slight case blood shot. However she was clearly alert inspite of how tired she looked. The sound of someone scrubbing dishes meant that there was someone in one of the back rooms. Not that it really mattered right now.
This time I took the lead, walking to the front desk, leaning on the fine cedar wood.
"Well if it isn't Renzin!" She said in mock anger though the sneer was fairly convincing. I arched an eyebrow as she walked around the counter towards me while Lyn backed away slightly. Then to my surprise, she wrapped her arms around me in a hug so tight that I couldn't breathe!
"Nice..." I gasped. "To see you too Melody."
"What's this? You never write! You never visit! Have you been eating well? How's Litana?"
"Geez... If you let go... I... might just... be... al...i...ve...t...o ...tell... y...ou."
She released me immediately and I fell to the floor face first in a heap. Then Lyn walked up to me and helped me up. "You know her Renzin?" She asked. I was surprised that her words had a slight edge to them but I ignored it for the time being none the less.
"You can say that." I replied, rubbing my now sore nose.
"Know me?" Melody continued. "Heck I've only patched him up about twenty times."
Here we go... "What can I say? I'm a glutton for punishment."
"You know... If you keep this up, you'll kick the bucket long before I do."
"I don't doubt it... but man what a way to go."
Lyn and Melody huffed at my response, while I scratched the back of my head feigning embarassment.
"What's with the sour expression? I'm in one piece this time." I pointed out with a tinge of pride.
"This time..."
"Alright! I'll be more careful. Is that okay with you Melody?"
"As long as I don't have to set back any bones, I'm fine."
I rolled my eyes.
"And you Lyn?"
"Just don't die on me okay?"
"Yeesh... I'm not gonna die!"
"You better not!"
"Okay okay! You've got two rooms for us Melody?"
"If you got 100 gold I do."
Taking a pouch from my satchel, I untied the holder and tossed her several coins amounting 120 gold. I wouldn't mind a little extra service and the prices where surprisingly cheap. She tossed me and Lyn a key and headed into one of the back rooms.
"Bret you good for nothin! Get those rooms ready! We have guests.
-
Lyn's POV
I really don't know what's wrong with me. I wasn't like myself at all. As soon as Melody claimed to know Renzin and my tactician himself confirmed it... I don't know...
Why was I being so cold?
Renzin knew a woman at the inn. Big deal. Nothing wrong with that right? It's normal. It's socializing. Infact If what I heard is the truth, Renzin is alive today because of her. So why am I so angry? I wasn't happy about it, I knew that much. Maybe I was just thinking too much of it. Maybe I was just tired and didn't need to deal with anything else for the night. That seems logical enough I guess. I was just tired and cranky. So that's what I decide upon but why wouldn't I believe myself?
The night had gone by fast. Too fast for my tastes. Normally, I wake up with the sun for my daily ride and every thursday, I go visit Florina. Things are different now. Now that I've found Renzin. I'll need to talk to him eventually anyway. Maybe... perhaps hopefully he can train me. I've seen him first hand. Someone doesn't get that good without having some kind of training in one form or another. I'm pretty good with a sword... but compared to Renzin... well I've got a long road ahead of me. I'f I'm ever going to get revenge on the ones responsible for the deaths of my parents and my tribe, I'm going to need his help.
'I've only patched him up about twenty times.'
Was what Melody said about Renzin really true? How does someone that skilled end up being beaten so badly? Maybe Melody could tell me what was going on with him.
And then maybe I could see the man behind the demon.
Getting up from the covers and placing on my battle robe I headed down the stairs, passing by Renzin's room on the way. If he was still sleeping, I didn't want to wake him... yet. I wanted to speak with Melody first. As soon as I headed down the stairway, the scent of cooked meats and vegetables graced my senses. I didn't notice how famished I was. Then again, my stomach always found a way to make room. I could never pass up anything that smelled that delicious.
"Mornin Lyn!"
I turned to find Melody with a pot boiling over a fireplace. The blue haired woman smiled humming softly to herself. For a moment I thought I recognized what she was humming but the thought was lost under the much more forceful growl of my stomach.
Apparently Melody heard it too.
"Hungry I see? Well have a seat. Breakfast should be ready in about ten minutes."
"Thank you for your hospitality."
"Thank Renzin. He paid for it. Speaking of which, the boy's been up and about for two hours now. He's out. Said he needed to check up on something but would be back by noon."
"Oh? Did he say where?"
"Nope. Just said that he's going out and would be back by noon."
Muttering a curse under my breath, I turned to sit down at the table. I was surprised to find that the table seemed to be made of Sacaen carpentry. Intricate patterns ran from the table rim down to each leg with expert craftsmenship. Needless to say I was quite impressed. Actually it only took another seven minutes before I found myself sitting infront of a beef and mushroom stew and a large mug of cider.
"Mornin Mom."
Melody and I turned around to find another girl of about twelve years of age with shoulder length blue hair similar to Melody's with light hazel eyes and a cheery expression on her face.
"Good morning Kairi."
She smiled at Melody and then turned to face me. "Who's this? One of Renzin's friends?"
"Yes. Her name is Lyn."
Melody sat infront of me while Kairi took her fill from the pot smiling contently, and silently praying to Elimine before taking a bite. I found myself in the same position, giving a brief thanks myself and then took a bite.
And I was in ecstasy. The blend of beef and mushroom along with some herbs and spices I couldn't quite identify had been a perfect combination, the soothing mixture running down my throat, and warmth filling my entire body.
"Wow..." I breathed out.
"My specialty." Melody admitted.
"How did you..." But before I could get another word out, she held out her index finger up to her face.
"Nah ah..." She smirked. "Family secret."
I slumped, a bit frustrated but I accepted her answer. In either case I was more interested in something else.
"Um... Melody, could I talk to you about Renzin?"
Kairi blinked at me while Melody simply took another bite of her stew, chewing slowly and then downed it with cider. After she was done, she closed her eyes and crossed her arms.
"Go ahead."
"Umm... did you really mean you treated Renzin over twenty times from injuries?"
"I did say something under those lines didn't I... yes I have treated him many times. Some of them more serious then others but the fact is same. Renzin's a frequent visitor weather he likes it or not."
I sat there, my mind trying to digest this information.
"How bad were his injuries in the worst case?"
"Sorry... Inn Keeper/ Healer/ Patient privilege. I can't tell you unless he okays it."
"Fine then..." I sighed. Then something else popped into my head.
"How did you and Renzin meet?"
Melody arched an eyebrow and cocked her head to one side.
"Huh? Oh I get it. Your jealous."
What?
"P-pardon?"
"Don't misunderstand. I'm happily married with a big loveable oaf for a husband and a blessing for a child."
I felt a tinge of relief wash over me but I still don't know why...
"Child? Oh Kairi."
Kairi just shook her head exhasperated.
"Oh yes. Kairi has been one of the best things that's ever happened to me. Actually, Kairi is the very reason I've ever come across Renzin at all."
-
Melody smiled while holding on to Kairi's tiny hand. The girl now five years old looked at her surroundings as if she saw it for the first time with a look of pure innoncence and curiousity. It was that time of the week again where they had to go to the market and buy some last minute groceries for their inn. However Melody was more or less hoping that this simple chore could turn into more of a ritual between mother and daughter.
"Bread... check. Eggs... check. Cooking wine. Check... so what else... oh yes. The Potatoes."
What she didn't notice at the time was at some point while she checked her list, Kairi had slipped away from her fingers.
"Kairi?.." Melody began, finally noticing that at some point they weren't holding hands anymore. She looked around in the midst of the crowd that seemed to pass by, completely oblivious to her cries.
"Kairi?" Her cry became more frantic as it was becoming more evident that she wasn't going to respond.
"KAIRI!"
Some time later...
A man in a dark green cloak walked out of Erol's Tavern with a smile on his face. In his hands, he heald a small white carton but it was what was in the carton that interested him more.
Taking two chopsticks, he twirled the noodles expertly around them and brought it to his mouth.
"Man, I love beef lomein!"
His sword hung loosely at his backside, many but himself actually noticing it at the time. Twirling more noodles and making sure there was some beef inbetween, he took another bite and rounded the corner.
(BAM!)
Before he even knew what was happening, he was on the ground, the wind knocked right out of him while his noodles splattered on the pavement right next to him. Several other edible goods fell all over too but none of them belonged to him.
"Ow..." He said as he sat up and rubbed the back of his head.
Melody cursed under her breath. She had been so focused on finding Kairi that she didn't pay attention to where she was going and in the end... well... ended up on her rear. She turned to the boy she accidently knocked down. He looked to be around fifteen, with short brown hair and green eyes. He wore a dark brown tunic and trousers with darker brown boots and a dark green cloak which seemed to conceal a sword sheathed on his back. Melody got up brushing herself off and then walked over to the stranger who seemed to be staring in sheer horror at the mess of noodles to his side.
"Um... excuse me. I'm sorry about that. Are you al..."
"MY BEEF LOMEIN!"
Melody stopped as she continue to stare at the man who was going into tears. Renzin picked up the carton and continue to stare into oblivion.
"Beef lomein I hardly knew thee..."
"Uh... hello? I was hoping that maybe you could help me."
Renzin turned to find a woman of about 25 with short blue hair wearing a white cotton blouse with a red full length skirt, along with a gold bracelet and a diamond ring.
"Help you? You bump into me, making me spill the most delicious noodles in all of Elibe. You don't even ask me for my name and you want me to help you?"
"Yep."
"Okay." He stood up, almost as if nothing ever happened at all. "So what's the problem?"
"Kairi... she's missing..."
"Kairi?"
"My daughter."
"How long?"
"About two hours."
Renzin nodded. "She couldn't have gone far then. Where was the last place you saw her?"
"The market place. I was getting potatoes."
Renzin nodded. "What does she look like?"
"She's only five. Blue hair like mine, light hazel eyes like my husbands... uhh... she wore yellow play clothes... umm.."
"Don't worry. That's enough. By the way... names Renzin."
"I'm Melody." They shook hands.
-
Kairi had never been this scared. After seperating only briefly from her mom, she found herself hopelessly lost. She continued to wander through the outskirts of Bulgar while the crowds simply ignored her, finding their own business that much more important. What was worse was that no matter what she did, everyone seemed to ignore her.
After two hours of hopelessly wandering, she found herself in a dark alleyway and still no closer to finding her mother.
"And what would you be doing here little girl?"
She turned to find a large man with gray hair and a beard with a scar that made him blind in one eye. It was that same eye that made her want to run for her life. Suddenly two more men in similar cloth came out from the shadows, axe in hand each of them grinning.
"Hey Boss? What do ya' want us to do with 'er?" He was grinning.
The old man threw his head back and laughed.
"Well... I think the market is as good a place as any. She's a little young but heck some of our clients are actually into that sort of thing."
Two more bandits came from behind and grabbed Kairi's arms and jerked her hard, dragging her to the other's of the group. In absolute terror, Kairi called out.
"MOMMY!"
Even before her cry was cut short, the ones that grabbed her began to scream in agony, one due to a knife stapped right in the back of his neck and the other who was impaled from his backside and through the heart.
"Kairi!"
The girl turned to find her mother accompanied by a boy much younger. His sword seemed to glow faintly red as he glared at the three bad men in the alley. But that didn't matter anymore. Mommy was there. Mommy was there. She immediately ran up to her and jumped into her arms.
"Baby... I'm sorry." Melody cried as tears formed in her eyes. "I'm so sorry..."
"Melody! Take Kairi and get as faraway as you can! Quickly!"
She staired at Renzin for a brief moment concerned but then nodded and left but not before she heard him say...
"Let the song of Death be heard once more..."
-
Lyn's POV continued
"Inspite of Renzins words, I didn't run far. Not far enough not to hear the screams that followed shortly. I was worried and I returned after bringing Kairi back to my husband."
She shook her head.
"I've never seen so much blood... It was horrible and at the same time... it was beautiful. Renzin stood at the center of the alley way with countless bodies of the same monsters that wanted to take my Kairi away. His injuries... there were so many... and yet he stood there as if it didn't bother him."
Melody shook her head.
"When he turned to face me... his eyes... they weren't green... but red containing a malice I couldn't even begin to comprehend. Then he dropped to his knee's. His hands held his head as his eyelids shut tight... and he screamed so loudly that I had to cover my ears."
She shivered.
"I'll never forget that scream. This boy... cried out to the heavens as if he'd gone through hell and back. When he opened his eyes again... they were green once more... and I notice how weary he was..."
"All I wanted was some noodles... that's all..."
"And he collapsed right there... unconcious..."
Next Chapter: The Knights of Lycia
A/N: Demon Possesion? Could be... but probably not. This was actually going to be a much longer chapter but I find myself really hard pressed for time these days. As if working two jobs wasn't difficult enough. Sain and Kent in the next chapter along with a surprise early appearance. I won't say who but don't worry, I'll have as much fun writing it as you will read it.