AN:
mischievious-lil-kitsune - I did indeed. Naked? Hmm, maybe not that. those poor boys. Lol.
RobinIV - Updating! Lol. I'm not sure how long he's there in total, it's not very long.
I think this is my fave chapter, I'm not even sure why. Please enjoy!
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He hated the official orphanage; of all those there Kumo was the only one training to be a swordsman, which made him far easier to pick on. That were if his colouration was not obvious enough. He was also the only one there who believed he would be leaving; Kiri would not leave him to deal with the taunts alone.
A damp cloth hit him in the back of the head as he looked out of the window but he ignored it; the howling of the wind outside was more interesting. "Why doesn't Kumo ever do any work?" A gruff and huffy voice reached the white clad child's ears; the dark-blue clad Arashi had instantly been mistrustful of the gentle natured Kumo.
Arashi walked with a gimp due to being caught in the blast radius that had killed his parents and sisters; a thick scar kept his left eye closed at all times. His hair was a deep, almost black blue and his eyes were the purest sapphire. He would never be adopted, leaving the orphanage and going strait out to work at thirteen; with his injuries Arashi would probably only ever get work as a desk clerk or a minor crafter. Kumo's already obvious class made it easier for him to be angry and bitter.
A hand gripped him by the shoulder and turned Kumo to face Arashi, "You think your better then us?" He scowled; Kumo looked at him impassively, light green eyes showing no worry. Arashi raised a fist, pulling it back ready to strike.
"Don't be stupid Arashi," A calm voice said, a turquoise haired young girl grasped his hand. "You know as well as I do that Kumo hasn't done a lick of work since he was born."
"I have," Kumo threw in, "I've been training since I was five."
"Let me go Ame, I'll knock this smug little bastard into next year!"
"I doubt that,"
Kumo's heart skipped a beat when he realised who it was, he ran to hug his brother, who let him do so. "Brother," Kumo uttered repeatedly into his chest, voice filled with relief. Kiri glowered at Arashi, who in return did not drop his gaze; beneath his mask, Kiri smiled to himself. He took Kumo by the shoulders and dropped to his level.
"I can't stay long little brother, but in a few more days you can come home." Kumo nodded readily, green eyes filled with relief at seeing his brother again. "Today, training, come on." Dutifully, Kumo followed his brother outside to the small exercise yard. Kiri passed him a training sword with the dull ghost of a smile; even to Kumo he seemed tired and drained. "How have you been?"
"Hating it, but your not going to leave me here, are you big brother?"
"Not if I can help it Kumo,"
Kiri drew his red Maken, "Your little blue clad friend is watching us Kumo." He told him, "Let's show him what the sons of Rose Autumn can do!" Uncertainly, Kumo drew his sword into the ready position; he was initially an uncertain fighter but when he forgot himself, his real prowess was revealed.
Ame, whose own desire to be a swordswoman was great, watched the two intently out of the window. "Arashi, I think you should leave Kumo alone." Ame mused as she watched the child trying to place a blow against his stronger brother. "He's stronger then he seems - whoa what a dodge - he's really got talent you know,"
Arashi moved to her side, folding his arms across his slender chest as his good eye watched the boy skip hit after hit. "The brother of Benirrono Kiri? Of course he's talented." He growled, "Ever heard of Rozewain Aki?" He queried and Ame nodded looking towards the older boy for a few moments. "That's his father," Ame's eyes widened slightly as she looked back towards the lithe white clad boy; in part, she wondered how Arashi knew these things.
Outside, Kiri called a halt, "I wonder if you could summon yet, little brother?" He pondered and Kumo shook his head instantly, summoning came after a swordsman gained their Maken. "Hmm, you're supposed to have a Maken … but I wonder. Watch closely all right? Even if it goes wrong, not much can happen." Selected a mist bottle from his belt without looking, Kiri deactivated his mask. "The song of the days beginning," He intoned, lifting the bottle to his lips before throwing it above his head. "Sonata of the summer's dawn!" As he yelled the finishing words he sliced the bottle with his sword. A bright red light shone from the bottle and Ittouju burst from it.
Kiri looked expectantly to his brother, who nodded slightly; only recently, the nine year old had started wearing a mist bottle holster in preparation for his tenth birthday. Copying what Kiri had done, he sliced through the bottle, "Sonata of the summer's dawn!" His childish voice yelled as he did so. A bright light glared from the bottle, and he looked away; when he looked back a small white Ittouju hovered there, Kumo's summon was a rich silver white in colour and shorter then Kiri's.
Hovering along side Kiri's majestic red beast, Kumo's small slender Ittouju cut a pretty pathetic figure and he slumped disappointedly. A hand rested on his shoulder and Kumo turned, a beaming smile shone through in Kiri's eyes. "He's so small Kiri," Kumo's tones were disappointed and sad. "Especially when he's next to yours,"
"Kumo, Ittouju is like anything else, he just needs time to grow."
"Oh,"
Kiri chuckled at this softly uttered exclamation, "You'll learn more about him when you get your Maken, patience until then, little brother." Kumo nodded, he did not want to disobey his brother. "I don't want you to summon him again without me around, or until your training starts properly, clear?"
"Yes brother,"
"And Kumo, don't become a statue."
This cryptic comment drew Kumo's eyes; Kiri dispelled Ittouju and Kumo copied the movements. "In this world there are two types of people, birds and statues," Kiri went on to explain, moving to sit down on the clouds, Kumo at his side. "That boy in there is a bird, given the chance he'll sh -" Kiri bit back the word, not intending to swear in front of his younger brother. "- poop all over anyone he can, especially on statues who are immobile but strong and steadfast." Kiri looked directly towards Kumo, who could not look away. "Don't be a statue, Kumo because you can be the biggest, strongest bird if you want to be." Kiri stood. "I have to leave now little brother,"
Kumo was instantly on his feet, "No Kiri, don't leave me here!" He grabbed hold of his big brothers hand, "Don't leave me!"
Pulling his hand free, Kiri took Kumo by the shoulders, "Kumo don't do this to me." Kiri's tones held a mild beg, showing Kumo that leaving him behind was just as hard on Kiri as it was on him. "This is hard enough for me without you begging me to take you home." He stroked Kumo's cheek with his knuckles, "No more, okay Little brother? I'm coming back for you, just wait for me." Kumo nodded, Kiri stood, ruffling Kumo's hair with one hand fondly. "About a week, you behave yourself,"
"Okay, Kiri."
Escorting his brother inside after taking the training sword, Kiri pulled him to one side when the corridors were quiet. "In three days I'll meet you outside the orphanage with a training sword, here's what I want you to do …"
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Kumo sat down, eyes still on the sword as he continued to remember. He smiled, enjoying the memory of his first summon. His time in the orphanage had been awful but he had fonder memories of that time too.
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To be continued - please leave a review!