"98...99...100. I'm done!" Yuuki Rito finished her daily planks and threw herself on the floor from the exhaustion of starting to exercise at a very young age.
Just a few weeks ago he talked to an alien who pretended to be a god on his planet and gave him his powers to accomplish what he never could and he could rest in peace. Until now he could not believe what destiny would have prepared for him but he would not complain, Raijin gave him the choice if he wanted to follow that wish and he did not show any doubt.
Since that decision he set out to do an exercise routine so that when he reached adolescence he would be in shape but every child always thinks that it would be very easy.
How wrong it was.
The first few days were hell, he couldn't even do a few planks, let alone squats. In the running environment was the worst part, he needed several bottles of water to survive running just a few meters and even had, to his shame, to ask one of the nearby houses for some water to get home.
'This is hell' That thought always echoed in his head even though he knew it was his fault that he had to follow it if he wanted to keep his promise.
To his luck the days soon turned into weeks and the saying goes 'What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger', he has to give his father credit for that saying but thankfully he got used to the exercises until the workouts became less strenuous and even a part fun.
But so far his greatest accomplishment is being able to trigger his powers voluntarily and that he discovered it by pure chance. 'Thank you Mikan' That thought she said it from the bottom of her heart transporting her memories to the exact moment.
It happened at breakfast, his sister was training to improve her cooking when their mother no longer had enough time to cook for the two of them and although he appreciated it very much since he was lousy in the kitchen, a part of him that used to be very innocent because he was a child started to think about various things throughout his time training.
He should do some things for Mikan because if she learns to cook it wouldn't be good for him to be a lazy bum doing nothing, maybe he should do something else as part of his training. Cleaning the house may not be exercise for some but the reality is that it is physical effort that is needed but before he thought more about it thoroughly his sister already had the dish ready in front of him.
"Look Onii-chan, my first self-made dish" Mikan pointed to herself as she took pride in her accomplishment.
"Oh, congratulations Mikan. Well your onii-chan will taste it to judge how good it tastes " That was a lie since he didn't care if it tasted good or bad he would always please her by giving her a thumbs up.
That's what a true brother does.
"'Good' Mikan on the outside had a scared expression as if his answer could be the trigger for an emotional pillar of her.
'Relax Mikan your brother won't fail you.' Grabbing the a part of the obento on the table she popped it into her mouth.
Mikan felt as if it was an eternity to wait for his response and even thought time stopped when his brother didn't respond to having the food in his mouth. Many beads of sweat were on his forehead so without further ado he asked "So, how was onii-chan?"
Rito had his hair covering his gaze to make his sister more nervous and after a few seconds he showed his typical brotherly smile "Mikan, this was much more delicious than mama cooks."
"Really, then from now on I'll tell mom that there's no need for her to cook!" The little sister was jumping all over the room so that she finally jumped into her brother's arms and buried herself in his chest. "Thank you, onii-chan!"
Rito reciprocated the hug "What are you thanking me for if it's your own effort that came out yummy!"
Mikan turned her head away from his chest and focused her gaze on her brother's eyes "If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have the desire to cook something, mom says that when you cook you always have to do it thinking of someone and that someone is always you" Mikan at the end of her statement let out one of her typical sisterly smiles.
Rito blushed a little at the statement but took it to mean that he was touched by his sister's wishes. She stroked the girl's head and spoke "I think I'd better finish the food so it doesn't get cold so could you get me some water to go with it please?"
Mikan turned away from his brother and nodded his head and headed for the kitchen and out of Rito's sight. In the time that Mikan left to serve him water, Rito was thinking several things, among them other things related to his powers if he were to get control of them.
The first was to tell Mikan. She could keep the secret but she had certain doubts about whether it was really worth it and would not get her into her future conflicts, so much were her doubts that at one point she got a mental image of the same man who devastated the planet of Raijin attacking Mikan. That activated something in him that when he looked at his hands they were full of lightning and sparks at a new level.
"But how is this possible..." Rito whispered looking at his hands and in an attempt to turn them off he shook them but nothing. He had to think of something before Mikan came until again the image of someone snatching Mikan from him came to his mind and triggered lightning to shoot out of his hand and hit the wall.
Then Rito understood.
'It's anger' he had to calm down and breathe so Mikan wouldn't see him like that. Once, twice even three times he breathed and the mental images stopped consequently the lightning also stopped being in his hands.
"Onii-chan here's your- what happened on the wall!?" Mikan when he entered he expected to find his brother happily eating his food in peace not that in front of him he would find a not so big hole in the wall. He never expected that.
'Now how do I explain that?' Rito's thoughts were racing to answer something sane so he wouldn't be labeled weird and that included that he was still a kid so the excuses might not be too elaborate. "Mikan well...something happened...I don't know..."
'Damn this isn't working' Rito observed that his sister was making a thoughtful face and then fixed her gaze on his brother as if she was a mother finding her son red-handed "You're hiding something. You've been acting weird for a few weeks now, you've always had a serious look on your face since the temple thing and now I'm finding a hole in the wall. don't you Onii-chan trust me to tell me what's wrong with you?" Tiny tears peeked at the sight of her brother.
"Mikan..." Rito didn't know what to say to her, he was holding in his thoughts about her being killed by that person so that what happened before wouldn't happen to her and her powers would activate but seeing the teary look on her face it was worse that she wouldn't trust him for keeping a secret from her so he decided. "Mikan I need you to sit down, the explanation is a bit long." He was mentally grateful and cursed that he doesn't have to go to school today.
"Ok, onii-chan" Mikan obeyed his brother and sat next to him.
Rito sighed and came up with how to start "Ok Mikan this will seem strange and even a little crazy but I want you not to tell anyone, not even our parents can you Mikan?" Rito looked at her expectantly for her answer and seeing her nod with a determined look he proceeded to do as planned. The same thought as before came to his mind and he raised his hand for Mikan to see the result.
Mikan at first thought it would be something like his brother found something mysterious in the park like a stone, plant or something else and doesn't want to share it but never in his wildest dream did he think that his hand would suddenly get blue lightning bolts. "O-onii-chan tu-tu ma-mano!"
"Yes I know, crazy right? and that's just the beginning" For a few hours or so Rito through mimicry and many attempts made Mikan understand his situation, his destiny and and what following him would entail.
Mikan blinked several times, which for him meant that he was processing everything, and spoke calmly "So you say that the reason why onii-chan was acting weird was because a space being gave him his powers to fulfill a revenge from long ago, you received them because your soul was very identical to that being's and you accepted so that his soul can rest in peace did I miss anything?"
"No, I think that's all" Rito spoke with the same tone as his sister but inside he was a little scared. It's true that he seems to mature thinking about things that only an adult should think about and making decisions like that too, but to know that your sister took the whole situation in stride about aliens and overthrowing an entire kingdom and she was only 6 years old.
At that moment he knew he underestimated Mikan's ability to adapt to situations.
"Aren't you scared or something?"
Mikan held his hand to his chin in a thoughtful pose for several seconds until he spoke with an adult tone "I know Onii-chan agreed to that because he wanted the alien to die happy, you're always very kind to others so I didn't see it weird that you ended up in this situation despite everything you told me but..." Mikan changed to a slightly sad face and collapsed him on the ground hugging him "Even though I don't want onii-chan to do it I know you won't listen to me so I'll go with you!"
Rito opened his eyes wide and tried to pull Mikan away from him to talk to him but he held on too tightly so it was his turn to speak "Mikan I know you want to help me but the path I'm taking is too dangerous so reconsider-"
"I DON'T WANT TO!" Rito managed to see his sister's face but what he saw was a lot of tears and snot some on her clothes but not that he cared "You will go far away and I don't want to stay alone, so I want to go with you."
"Mikan you still have mom and dad with you..."
"For how long?" Mikan looked like a mess, it hurt him to see her like this "Dad and mom aren't home much, you're the only thing I have here and if you leave I wouldn't have anything left"
For Rito to take Mikan with him was the furthest thought he had regarding his plan but he would rather die trying than see Mikan cry every day for his departure so he had to think better and in the end he decided "Mikan, look at me please."
Mikan was a little surprised by the serious tone her brother was taking, thinking that again he was going to tell her that he wouldn't take her she was about to cry again but Rito spoke "Mikan are you sure about accompanying me, it could be dangerous and I'm not even sure if I can make it".
Mikan stopped crying and with her right arm she tried to wipe her tears and snot to answer "I-I want to go with you, I don't care if it's dangerous I...solo... I want to be with onii-chan!"
Rito sighed and like a child cursed in his mind 'I hope I don't regret this' Taking his sister might be a lousy idea but it would be worse if she is not with him after all before his goal his father instructed him to take care of his sister no matter what. Besides a small part of him believed that in time she would find other reasons to stay and would give up her idea but until then he would grant her "Ok Mikan you can go with me".
Mikan saw the look on his brother's face and immediately knew he wasn't lying but he had to be sure "Really?"
Rito could see that she wasn't sure so he smiled and stroked her head "Yeah, really."
"Great!"Mikan threw herself back into him hugging him in the process, she should have noted that Mikan likes to hug a lot. "Thank you onii-chan, I love you."
"I love you too Mikan."
Mikan this time separated from him at will and stood with his fist up "You'll see that I won't be a hindrance, if you need help training you can count on me." Mikan then came up with an idea on how to help and commented pointing at him "Besides since you're bad at cooking I could be the one to cook on the trip."
"Oh, great idea Mikan" Rito was happy about it but mentally kicked himself for not remembering something as vital as that.
"Ju, ju you'll see I'll be so good that it won't be a problem to cook alien food" Mikan after that left for the kitchen that was sure to become his own personal space.
From that day on she did not hide her powers from Mikan and even used them sometimes to test them, already knowing how to activate them through anger, knowing that in the future she would not need that emotion, and that at the beginning it scared her because of how they came out of her hands, but as the days went by she got used to it.
Returning to the present after doing her routine exercises and resting on the floor she stood up to enter the bathroom and relax but on her way down the corridor she found a little surprise. His sister in tolla about to enter just like him.
"Oh, Onii-chan just in time, come on, let's take a bath together." Mikan walked over to him and pulled him, he didn't need that since he would get in anyway, and helped him into the tub by undressing him.
The minutes passed helping each other wash with Mikan shampooing Rito's head and him helping to rinse Mikan and vice versa. At this point Rito was rinsing his head while listening as his sister hummed a song. "Excited for tomorrow?"
Mikan stopped humming to reply cheerfully "How can I not be, I'll finally help onii-chan train at the temple to become stronger!"
Rito discussed with his sister how he made a deal with his father again so that she can accompany him to the manga studio with him, plus when she asked why he only said that he lied to his dad about what he wanted to be which earned him a disapproving look from his sister.
The thing was that from now on Mikan would go with him to test his lightning attacks, before when he went alone all he did was physical exercise and try to trigger his powers without success, now that he could trigger them it was a matter of practicing to learn.
"I hope you also remember one of the things you have to do."
Mikan thought about it for a while until he remembered it "Keep an eye out for anyone coming."
"Good" Rito threw all the water out of the tub to wet Mikan's hair and when she was about to complain about it her brother came up and kissed her on the forehead "Thank you for what you are doing, I couldn't have asked for a better sister."
Mikan being surprised by the kiss just smiled and replied "And I couldn't have asked for a better onii-chan".
Finishing washing and drying off the two left the bathroom in towels and each headed to their rooms thinking about the next day.
"Do you want to carry me on your back?" Mikan shook her head confused at her brother's request.
They were both outside the Yuuki residence, exactly at the entrance, dressed and ready to head to the temple or as they would call it from now on 'Training Temple'.
Rito just gave him a guilty smile "I've given it a lot of thought and carrying you would increase my physical stamina plus you would help me with my training."
Mikan puffed out his cheeks a little "It sounds like you're treating me just as weight to carry."
"No, that's not what I meant, I just want to take advantage of everything to become strong so would you help me please?" Rito bent down for her to climb on his back.
Mikan didn't take long to answer "Fine onii-chan, I just hope you don't say I'm too heavy" She would find it embarrassing if her onii-chan said she was heavy but she promised she would help him so if being carried was for her benefit she would do it.
"Thanks Mikan, easy even if you are I'll put up with it."
Mikan frowned slightly but settled on her back anyway. Rito feeling the weight on top of her settled her so she wouldn't fall and stood up. 'Oh hell, it's really heavy' Rito at first wobbled from side to side as Mikan watched him.
"You saw onii-chan you can't stand up so put me down."
Rito hearing that stood up in his static position and then got in position to get out "Easy Mikan this is just ... The start!"
"Uoooooooo"
Mikan was startled when his brother suddenly charged towards the temple without braking. The road was long in parts but still Rito didn't put her down at any point, she thought it's probably because of her running around the neighborhood she once told him as part of her exercise routine.
Her ramblings came to an end when they met at the entrance of the temple. Rito lowered Mikan off his back and sat down on the ground to catch his breath. "Okay Mikan I need you to climb on top of the wall and let me know when any person comes near here okay?"
Mikan watched the wall and liked it, at first he wanted to watch his onii-chan train and he believed that from where he would watch people pass by he wouldn't be able to see him but the height of the wall gave free view of the whole temple and most importantly his brother.
Mikan unassisted Rito climbed up without help and with a smile told his brother that he could start.
"It's time" Rito positioned himself and went over what he would do. He would try like the other time to throw a lightning bolt from his hands and have it land on the bottle he found behind the temple wall where he positioned it on top of a log. It was a simple target and now it did not matter much the power or the force with which the lightning comes out but that it reaches the target. Raijin mastered the technique to a beastly degree so he would too.
The lightning was being charged and then launched from his hands so that in the end it would deflect and fall into a tree over there. He clicked his tongue at the huge distance from the target and where the lightning struck.
"Amazing onii-chan, keep it up."
Rito looked away to find his sister cheering him on from atop the wall, he couldn't help but let his tongue click into a smile. It was time to get serious about training and in a small proportion show Mikan how great he was.
This time he would try to use only one hand while the other hand holds it to direct the aim of the beam that doesn't go too far out of range, less power but better aim and the result...
The back wall is with a big black spot, but Rito smiled, even though he didn't hit the target the distance was shortened. I knew from the beginning that it wouldn't be easy but I won't give up'. And so attempt after attempt to hit the target proved unsuccessful causing the white paint on the wall to turn almost entirely black.
After a few more attempts he could no longer do it and collapsed on the floor, a sign that he had exhausted all his power.
Mikan saw that her brother could no longer continue so she got down from the wall and worried but still excited and approached him "Great onii-chan, it was fun to watch you train but I think it's too late to continue" Rito looked at the sky and noticed that it was already sunset, she was right.
"Yes, I think it is" With a jump he stood up and they walked to the entrance of the training temple and then crouched down.
Mikan saw him and grumbled "Onii-chan is too tired to even carry me, you can do it tomorrow."
"Come on Mikan I still have the strength to do it plus I know a shortcut in my walks that we can try to get there faster."
She just sighed at the answer and climbed back on his back "Don't blame me if I start to get used to you carrying me like this."
Although she couldn't turn her head Mikan saw her brother let out a laugh "I don't think there's a problem".
Thus the Yuuki brothers continued their journey until they arrived, knowing that the coming days there would be new things to experience.
