And Chapter 43.

Because why not?

Also, while it is not yet exactly at 50k, I know from the statistics the posting of this Chapter will bring the number of views we need for it, so yeah.

This fic has once again reached the 50k views milestone.

Not quite as impressive as the 87k the initial version of Kenshi had. Before I deleted it. Like an idiot...But yeah.

Thanks ya all for the support.

It's kinda lacking the same presence in the reviews (-_-) but I can see, shitty as the fic is, it has some solid love coming in.

And this being my first work I ever published for others to read, it has some meaning to me, ya know?

So yes.

I am very grateful, and hope ya all will be sticking around to the very end.

Now, for the Chapter…

There's a lot of talking going on. Before I realized it, one of the three scenes to be found in this Chapter has over 4.8k words. So yeh.

Half the Chapter's is only a discussion. Judge me -_-

I also wanted to give a deeper look into the OC, Fuzen, and how he ticks and that is what I did. Or well, tried to?

We'll explore the little bastard more as we move forward so yeah, don't worry. All questions about him will be answered in time.

And for once, I also had a bit of help with writing the scene with a certain golden-haired Sword Princess, so shout-out to my homie for the help.

Thanks, D. You're the best.

(No, you aren't -_- Don't get arrogant and get yo ass back to writing)

But yeah, that's about it.

I hope you enjoy the read and see you down below.

Kay bye.

XXX

The smell of boiling stew from the kitchen down below, the creaking of old wooden floor, a dimly lit interior thanks to the small windows…

It was not the first time he had set foot inside the building, but the rather bad conditions still managed to steal his attention for but a fleeting moment.

He was inside a not so well known inn in the southern part of Orario, the place where the Takemikazuchi Familia decided to stay at for the time being. Not exactly a dream, temporary residence but he could understand why they decided on it.

Cheap rooms.

'I guess it's too soon for them to take a loan…'

Indeed, many Familia took loans to buy or build their Home but that was still out of reach for the Takemikazuchi Familia. No one in their right minds would loan that amount of money to a new faction with only rookie Level 1's as it's members. Chances were, they would die within the first month anyway, at least that is what most people believed.

And they weren't exactly wrong: mortality rate among new Adventurers was rather high.

Then again, the contract could be signed by the Patron Deity, but if all their members died then it could be generations until the debt was fully paid back by a single individual. Again, no one in their first mind would be alright with that, either.

So they'd need to bite through it for at least one more year, raise up their reputation a bit, show everyone that they didn't come to Orario just to bite the dust. Then they could plan on moving out of inns and to a slightly more hygienic location.

But that wasn't why he was here to to begin with.

Having made their way up to the room the three entered and he was pointed towards the small table on the right side. There wasn't a whole lot of furniture besides that to be found: two beds on either side of the room in the back towards the only window shedding light inside and one wardrobe at the foot of the left side bed.

That was it. He could tell that besides sleeping their Familia did not have a lot of uses for the rooms they were renting.

"I apologize again for taking so long. " The older man voiced with a faint laugh as he pulled one of the two chairs back and sat down. Fuzen waited one more moment and then pulled the second chair back, thinking the wait to be respectable enough. He was in their home after all and did not plan on being disrespectful.

Once he sat down he shook his head. "Think nothing of it, Takemikazuchi-sama." Behind the God was Mikoto, the girl standing with both hands behind her back. It was of course etiquette for a member of a God's Familia to be there whenever their Patron Deity were engaged in talks with members of different factions.

It showed a certain level of cautiousness, after all. Usually this duty fell to the Captain or a higher ranked member of one's Familia, but seeing how everyone except for Mikoto was out in the Dungeon to earn money, the girl herself was an acceptable choice. However...not all of her actions were acceptable.

"You're too far back." His words seem to confuse both the God and the girl, so he decided to explain. "Your position. If you want to quickly draw your sword both the chair and your God are in the way. Bad spot to try and protect him from an attack coming from my position."

"A-Ah. I see…" Mikoto nodded sheepishly and moved a couple steps to the side of her God, gaining a nod from from the boy. Takemikazuchi observed the brief exchange with a faint smile before leaning back into his seat.

"So, you said you gained Loki's approval?"

"I have. Just a short while ago. You may ask Yamato-sama, she was there. I am not lying."

His defensive words certainly surprised the God, but he decided not to ponder on them. "And now you are here to gain my approval as well." It wasn't a question but a fact and Fuzen nodded. "Very well. Then, what do you think allowing Mikoto to train under you would entail?"

It took him a second but Fuzen understood what the question was meant to ask. Not the procedure itself but rather the possible ramifications which would potentially follow if he allowed this to happen. "If you are worried about either consequences or limitations following one's entry into my martial school, then there is little reason for worry. We are neither monks nor samurai. As such, we have no rules limiting one's freedom or shackling our actions. Our members may pursue other goals in life, like a trade for example. There is also nothing which would be against starting a family or the pursuit of love. One may also travel if they so desire, as there is no rule saying we need to keep to one place. Remaining with one's Familia is also a given, as our martial school is not something which requires serving a specific Deity. Well, seeing how I am part of Loki Familia now…I guess that is obvious enough." He finished with a shrug.

"That certainly sounds like a very good martial school."

"Well, our origins are humble and we have done our best to maintain it that way." The boy replied.

"How so?" inquired the God.

The question slightly irked Fuzen, as he knew that Takemikazuchi as a God of Warriors who had lived a long time in the Lower World was aware of his martial school. Why he was asking this now, he had no idea. Nonetheless he decided to humour him. "The Lightning Sword Style started with an ordinary woman who lost her family to the greed and unfairness of the world, and who in turn decided to take up arms against that unfair world on her own. Our origin does not have a heroic calling or some great threat to thank for."

"What then, if I may ask?"

He let out a long sigh. The history of his martial school was not something he liked to talk about, since it was such a strong contrast to his own actions. "...Bandits."

The girl looked at him with a raised eyebrow. She was not downplaying the threat which were bandits, even he could tell that much. Instead, she was more like...surprised to hear it, maybe?

"Mhm. Our history can be traced back to an era of turmoil. Back then, hundreds of years ago, the Far East was at conflict with itself. Wars were ever present and the lack of order affected the people. Our esteemed Founder was one of those people. A farmer living in a village whose name was lost to the winds of time. And she lost everything when a group of bandits decided to plunder her remote village. She lost both her husband and children to the attack. But she survived, and took up the sword to fight against that injustice. She was not some master swordswoman or noble. Nor someone blessed with a Falna from a young age. She was just...a farmhand." He shrugged.

The God nodded as he crossed his arms across his chest. "Hitomi Minamoto."

"Ah. You know her by name. I'd expect nothing else from a God of War."

"Haha. How could I not? The deeds she achieved in her lifetime are worthy of remembering for generations to come. It is up to Deities like me to make sure such individuals are remembered."

Fuzen could respect that mindset, and so he bowed his head ever so slightly. "Thank you for including our esteemed Founder and sole Grand Master to that list, Takemikazuchi-sama."

"Think nothing of it. I am certainly very happy that same respectable martial school has extended an offer to open it's doors to our Mikoto. However, I have to ask…"

The boy lowered his head, awaiting the God's question. Suffice to say there were far more questions Fuzen was not allowed to answer than not. He had thought about possible questions and how to answer them while not fully answering them. Yet, there was one question he hoped would not come up…

"What happened to your martial school?" And of course, Takemikazuchi had to ask exactly that question. "The Lightning Sword Style was well known and active...until about a decade ago."

Inhale…

It's not that he had any reasons to hate the God. He was calm and collected, not to mention honourable from what Fuzen was able to make out. And yet, in that moment, he couldn't help it.

Exhale…

Because that was the one question which did not require smoke and mirrors, the question which he had no good reasons not to answer truthfully.

"...A massacre."

"Hm?" Both Mikoto and her Deity raised an eyebrow at the answer. It was understandable. After all, even as a God of War and an individual no doubt very familiar with the martial world, even Takemikazuchi would have no way of knowing what happened to them. He would know that they ceased to be active, but not the reason as to why.

"You are right. About a decade ago the Lightning Sword Style and it's sub-schools ceased all activities in the Far East. Because we were massacred down to just one member in a single night."

The silence that followed mirrored the surprise of the two. It was hard to imagine: a whole martial school wiped out like that. Even if it's members were only half as strong as Fuzen himself, even if they were just a quarter as strong as him...they would still be strong. So then, the real question would be…

"Who did it?"

It was a good question. A logical one, too. "I don't know." However, it wasn't one he could answer.

Because he truly did not know.

"As you can tell by my age, this...incident happened before I was even born. And Hachiman-sama was, thankfully, not present at the gathering so he had not seen this man, either. So I don't know who did it, nor their motives for wiping out our martial school. Only one survived the slaughter, and...well. Stuff."

His abrupt ending to the explanation confused the two listening in. If the God had to guess he was trying to put an end to the discussion at hand. And he decided to go along with it. "Very well. Then, back to the original topic, which is Mikoto. Say you take her under your wing. What then?"

Fuzen gave a faint nod as if thanking the God for not pushing onto the matter of his school's massacre anymore, then leaned forward ever so slightly. "If you give me your approval, and more importantly, if Yamato-sama decides she wants to take the offer I made her...Then we would need to start from the basics. Train, in other words."

"What kind of training?" The girl asked.

"The kind of training meant to push one beyond their limits. However, I am not talking about your current limits."

The God in the room pondered on his words for a moment. "What do you mean?"

"...The Lightning Sword Style require it's Disciples to be aware of both sides of the spectrum. We start our training while blessed so that we can get accustomed to power. The strength, speed, reflexes, durability and other aspects which are enhanced by the Falna, in other words. Once a certain amount of time had passed and the Disciple in question has a good grasp on what their enhanced selves can do, their Falna is sealed off so that they may once again descent back to the limits of a mere mortal. That is where the real training begins."

"Their Falna is sealed?" Takemikazuchi asked surprised. "I knew there had to be a reason the Disciples of your martial school were so strong, but to think you'd go this far...But, why?"

Fuzen exhaled.

What he was about to say next was not easy. After all, if they for any reason decided to turn down his offer he would give them information which had been closely guarded for a long, long time.

And yet, at the very least, he wanted to be honest with the girl.

He wanted to throw away the smoke and mirrors, and tell her exactly what she would get herself into if she accepted.

So that the mistakes of the past would not be repeated.

Exhaling once more he made up his mind and reached inside his robes, drawing out a knife of peculiar design: a Magic Weapon, crafted by Tsubaki no less. He placed it on the table and inhaled. "At the core of my martial school, the core of our strength in other words, is a power. I shall keep it unnamed for now, however. It is a power not even you, Takemikazuchi-sama, probably heard about. After all, it is a power unique to living, mortal beings. No God nor Monster can ever hope of using it: it is solely the power of mortals, a potential we have because we are alive and because we will, one day, die."

Fuzen placed his hand above the knife and then slowly lifted it up, the knife mirroring his motion and hovering above the table without being touched. This action gained the undivided attention of both God and girl, their eyes fixed on the hovering blade. Fuzen then drew his hand to the side and the knife followed him. "This power is the core to many abilities some would, rightfully so, consider...hmm. Unnatural."

He then grabbed the handle of the knife and dragged the blade across his left palm. Both Takemikazuchi and Mikoto were aware that he was putting pressure into the blade: his skin was getting pushed inside, after all. But no blood was drawn.

It was as if his skin was resistant to wounds. However he then dragged the blade once more across his palm and this time, a cut was visible as were a couple drops of blood.

"It is not Magic, though to the fully ignorant it may appear just as that. But, it is not. A closer comparison would be a person's inner strength manifesting into the real world, if that helps." Next the knife in his hand burst into flames, Fuzen having activated the magical properties inside. And then he clutched the flaming blade with his left hand.

Mikoto was about to yell at him for doing something like that, but soon realized there was no smell of burned skin and flesh. No scream of pain. Not even a change in expression noticeable on the boy's face.

A couple of seconds later he placed the knife down and held his palm open for them to see. There was not even one hint of damage. No burns, no red skin, nothing.

"As I just demonstrated, there are many uses to this power we of the Lightning Sword Style become able to use after our training is complete. Of course, as a swordsman I focused solely on the abilities that would help me on my path. Making items hover is not useful to me, yet that ability is still something I can use by default, if that wording helps."

"...And to learn to use this power, training without a Falna is necessary?" Takemikazuchi finally asked after a couple of moments of silence, the man slowly processing what the boy had just explained to them.

"That would be the requirement, yes. One of them that is. Simply discarding the boons given to us by the Falna is not enough. If that were the case then a lot more people out there would be capable of some of my feats. One's training needs to be closely monitored and immediately stopped if the wrong...steps, let us call them, are taken. It is training, yes, but it is also a procedure in which all steps must be achieved correctly, and at the right time."

"...And how long...does this training take?" Mikoto asked.

"Depends. I began my training when I was three years old. Then when I was seven I was sent to proceed with my actual training after my Falna was sealed. This is what we call the Initiation. For me it took a bit over one year. However...you are twice as old as I was. Both your body and your will are no doubt stronger than mine were at that age. Not to mention, we don't need to get you accustomed to the Falna, as you already received it and made use of it's boons for years now, correct?"

"That's right."

"Then my guess would be anywhere between four to six months. Perhaps eight. It depends on how quickly you can learn to control the power at the core of the abilities I just demonstrated. Following that...I would proceed to teach you the Techniques of my sword style. That is the part that may take years, seeing how our movements are...not something those who did not undergo the Initiation are able to perform."

It wasn't the strangest thing she heard today, but it nonetheless confused Mikoto. "What do you mean by movements?"

"...Remember how we made our way to Takemikazuchi-sama's workplace after leaving my Familia's Home? Why do you think you were unable to catch up to me, despite the fact I was walking while you were running?"

She gasped as the words reached her ears. She had been very confused by how that was even possible, she was literally running across the city as fast as she could yet still unable to catch up to him. Now, after his demonstration and he explanation that followed, that confusing situation made far more sense. "That was...one of your abilities?"

"I wouldn't call it an ability all on it's own...but yes. Our martial school teaches us to move differently. To breath differently. In a way, you could say that we are taught to maximize the most basic of actions and transform them into a skill of sorts, one which you can use in battle as well. The simple act of breathing, walking, tensing muscles and so on, each of them, if used at their highest potential, can become a crucial addition to one's repertoire of abilities."

To Mikoto it sounded almost like something out of the books, but she found little reason to doubt his words either way. If his demonstration was not enough, his feats spoke for him. Mikoto doubted any other Level 2 individual was as well-known in Orario as him, after all.

"All the perks aside, however, there are downsides I should mention, too." The boy said with a sigh. "First of all, your growth will be affected."

"Wait, you mean my height?"

"...No, I mean your Status." He answered as he gave her a long look, confused as to why her physical height was the first thing that jumped to her mind. "To go through the Initiation is to...uhhh...crap this is hard to explain...Uhh...is to become something more than just mere human." Their confused looks told him his words did not really reach them. "Uhh...You don't like, grow another pair of arms or anything. Nothing dramatic like that. But you become slightly more...superior. Kind of like, how steel is better than iron. Imagine your current self as an iron sword and your future self after the Initiation as a steel sword. You'd still be the same, but improved in every sense of the word."

'I've been spending too much time with Collbrande-sama, that's for sure.'

Nonetheless it seemed as if his comparison did the trick and the girl nodded in understanding. Naturally, she was not yet aware of the process itself but at least she would know what to expect.

"And how does that impede one's growth?" The God asked next, and it wasn't an easy question at all.

"That is...slightly more difficult to explain. In truth, I am sworn to secrecy not to reveal this information to anyone outside of my martial school." It was the truth, thus why Takemikazuchi nodded in understanding. However, Fuzen could at least try to vaguely explain it to them. "With that said...I believe thinking of it as an exchange of sorts would be a good start. This power of mine is not something one can achieve without sacrificing something first, and one's ability to update their Status at a normal, expected pace is one such sacrifice required."

This applied to Fuzen as well, besides the downsides of his Skill, Inazuma no Michi which came after his Initiation. In a way he doubted he would ever reach Level 4 or something higher even if he survived into his thirties and forties.

Then again, he also doubted he'd need to live that long to begin with.

"…Just one?"

Takemikazuchi was sharp, Fuzen would give him credit for it. He didn't let any words slip by. He was glad to notice this: with some chance, some of that cautiousness rubbed onto his Child as well. "Yes, just one. Other such risks I can only reveal to Yamato-sama, if she comes to accept my offer. Provided you give us your approval, of course. However…"

Fuzen clasped his hands together on the table, leaning forward ever so slightly. "I'd be best for you, Yamato-sama, to understand that this training is not something just anyone can do with enough willpower and hard work. Of course, they have their own role to play, but overall the closest comparison to it would be...a gamble."

"A...gamble?"

"The Lightning Sword Style was created by the weak, for the weak. It was created so that those without talent can defeat those with talent. It's heresy against everything natural, in other words."

"...What do you mean?"

"It goes against the law of nature for the inherently weak to defeat the inherently strong. Imagine an antelope killing a lion. It would throw the cycle into chaos, would it not? And yet that is what my school does: it teaches ants to topple dragons. It gives the weak power. Of course, you could also draw on the Falna to say that my metaphor is wrong, but the truth is, the way you grow as part of my martial school is very different from the blessing of the Gods. However, a power that you were never meant to possess...It would be best if you were ready to risk your life to obtain it, should you accept my offer."

Both the God and the girl understood he was not joking around, he meant every word he spoke. And yet a training where you could die..."Is it really that risky?"

At the question Fuzen exhaled and leaned back into his seat, his gaze falling down to the floor as he re-lived a bit of his past. "...When my Initiation began, there were six others. Seven of us, all young and striving for power. One lost his family to the army of a lord invading the region he lived in. Another narrowly escaped from a brothel after being sold by her parents for less money than you'd sell your old clothes for. We were all eager and motivated to become strong, so that we could both avoid and prevent such things from happening again." He looked up at the God, the same blank expression on his face as always. "Alas, I am the only Disciple of the Lightning Sword Style."

It didn't take them longer than a second to understand what he meant. The God frowned at the thought while Mikoto seemed to have a hard time coming to terms with it. "Do you mean...they died? While training?"

"...Obviously enough." The answer came bluntly and without hesitation.

"I don't get it." The God exhaled as he crossed his arms, pondering on this piece of information. "What is Hachiman thinking? This is not something he would do…"

"Hachiman-sama simply does what he believes is best. As do all of us." There was a very clear indication in those words that the discussion was over, something Takemikazuchi was well aware of.

He wouldn't say he was exactly friends with Hachiman, but they knew each other from back in Tenkai, and their thoughts aligned on many matters. Perhaps it was because they were both martial Gods, or perhaps they simply were similar. Whatever the case, he knew Hachiman was not one to use children like that, to risk their lives recklessly.

Because his calmness and patience was almost second to none.

Even so he took the hint and decided against further questions regarding Hachiman. "Very well. Then, Fuzen-kun-"

"Just Fuzen is fine."

"...Then, Fuzen. I have one last question for you. Everything else we can discuss after you answer."

The boy nodded, ready for whatever it was the God was still doubtful about.

"What do you plan for Mikoto?"

"Hm? I already told you, did I not? Start with training and then-"

"Ah, sorry, sorry." Takemikazuchi lifted a hand to stop Fuzen. "Let me rephrase that: What is it that you want to achieve by accepting Mikoto into your school?"

"That would be…"

What?

What would the reason be?

He stopped mid-sentence as the words remained stuck in his throat. He had already planned what he would say, but that felt wrong. It felt as if it was a lie.

'I made her the offer because I was about to possibly die…'

No.

No, that was a lie. It was the initial reason as to why he posted the Quest, yes.

But it was not the actual reason.

'I wanted to assure the survival of my martial school…'

No. That's was all wrong, too.

'I wanted to follow tradition…'

No. No. No.

All wrong.

It was all wrong!

He looked up and was met with the stare of the God of War. His usual goofiness was gone, replaced with an expression one could associate with a Deity who represented such an aspect of humanity. He was not questioning Fuzen's lack of response, but his eyes seemed to gaze into his very soul.

And it pissed him off.

'Don't...look at me like that. Don't...patronize me…'

He felt his eye beginning to twitch and so Fuzen got up from his seat, making a bee line for the door. "I'm going now." That was all he managed to say before he closed the door behind him.

The two still remaining within the room shared a moment of silence before the God voiced his thoughts. "I'm sorry, Mikoto. I don't know if you want to take up his offer or not, especially after hearing the risks, but I can't approve of this when he is unable to be honest to himself."

"Hmm? What do you mean?"

"...Just that he never received the guidance he needed. But he's smart. He'll understand. And then he will come to tell us his answer." He replied with a sigh as he stood up and moved to the window on the far side of the room. "Still, I wonder...That Hachiman. What the hell has he done…?"

XXX

It wasn't fair.

No matter how she thought about it, it just wasn't fair.

'Why did that girl...get the chance to learn?'

Ais thought to herself as she sat down on the stairs outside of the Manor. Following the meeting requested by Fuzen she headed outside wishing to train, but found little motivation to do so.

The reason for that was, of course, Mikoto Yamato.

Throughout that meeting Ais had been unsure how to react or feel about what she was hearing. She was never very expressive to begin with but the happenings of today...they got to her.

Why exactly...well…

If she had to guess, it was probably jealousy.

'Why? What is so special about her?' she couldn't help but ask herself over and over again, seeing how not all of her experience with the young Adventurer were rays and sunshine, especially regarding his fighting style.

He had gone so far as to not only be willing to kill her because she tried to learn his style, but also proclaiming out loud he would do it without a hint of hesitation. And now, someone who wasn't even a Level 2 managed to be more than worthy of properly learning it directly from him than her, or anyone else from Loki Familia for that matter.

So, Ais couldn't help but keep asking herself the same question over and over again:

'Why?'

She didn't question the girl's potential. Ais knew next to nothing about her, she could not do it. However that light she noticed in the girl's eyes told her enough.

Mikoto Yamato had not seen lost anything.

She had not suffered.

And that is why she couldn't think of it as fair.

The girl hadn't been through the same suffering she had, living with the constant thought of the death of her parents, of the black, winged Death that threatened to take away everything she cared about.

She hadn't trained as much as she did, doing her best to improve by diving deep into the Dungeon, staining her hands and soul in the process. And yet, here she was, a new fleshed Adventurer with a spark of light in her eyes; someone who hasn't experienced despair at all.

Getting an offer promising power and strength from what Ais believed to be the best swordsman in Orario.

If there was a deity up there who was in charge of what was right, then clear they weren't being fair.

And yet, she wondered.

'Why am I so hooked up on this…?'

It was no secret that her relationship with the boy was...wobbly, to say the least. They had started off as strangers when he first joined, the day he walked up to Loki Familia and asked for a duel with the famous Sword Princess.

A duel he had won, of course.

Suffice to say he had garnered her attention from day one and she kept a close eye on him from that point onward. Before long they became comrades.

Well, as much as awkward people like them could become comrades, that is.

She had even managed to get him to spar with her on a regular basis. Things were looking up: she was even learning valuable lessons from him.

And then she messed everything up.

Failing to understand how important his sword style, his honour was to him. Thinking he would forgive her if she only apologized.

It was not often she found herself thinking 'Ah, I'm going to die'. However, that day had been exactly that. There was no maybe: she would have died for sure.

To this day that was one of her mistakes she regretted the most, because she could both see and feel how much she had shattered his trust. And everyone in the Familia knew he was not one to trust too easily.

However, as much as their relationship reached rock bottom, his reappearance after the Altena debacle brought with it a most shocking surprise. He had apologized to her.

To be honest Ais still had no idea what he meant when he said she saved his life, neither the fact that he was in her debt. Then again he was a weird kid to being with, so she ignored it.

She ignored it because the fact they could spar again was something far more important to her. It wasn't as often as before, nor was it as pleasant as before knowing she had fully shattered his trust not that long ago.

Yet slowly but surely, they were getting...well, somewhere.

And that is why it made no sense to her.

She knew she was not jealous because of that. Ais already knew there was no chance she would ever be given the same offer as Mikoto Yamato. Her mistake from the past made sure of that.

And she was aware of it.

'...So why am I feeling like this? In the end he is still part of the Loki Familia. All that's going to change is he will take time off to train that girl-...Ah.'

That was right, he was going to train her.

Something which would take time.

And seeing how, despite being just a Level 2 member, Fuzen was frequently attached to the Second Group of their Familia, as well as the various other duties he took on, like his art gallery...When would there be time for them to spar anymore?

'...So that's it…'

Realizing what her frustration was really about Ais pulled her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around them.

Some would laugh at her reason for being jealous, even someone as air-headed as Ais realized this. But to her, those spars meant a lot.

Of course, it's not like she was out of options: she could always spar with Tione or Tiona, Finn or Gareth...But, it wasn't the same.

The Amazon twins would fight her just because they liked fighting.

Finn would spar with her and check on her progress.

And Gareth? He would simply go along with her request until she no longer felt like sparing.

She was grateful to all of them whenever they agreed to it.

She really was.

But...it wasn't the same.

Crossing swords with Fuzen was...different.

It was hard to explain, but whenever their swords crossed, it felt like...Like there was something else she could look forward to.

Her one goal was still to defeat the dragon that took everything away from her. That would never change until her rapier was covered in it's blood, it's corpse lying lifeless on the ground before her.

And yet, when she sparred with Fuzen, it felt as if...As if she could chase something else, if only for those few minutes.

Another goal.

It felt as if she had not stained her soul red and black all those years for nothing.

It felt as if her sacrifice had not been in vain.

When their swords crossed, she felt no hate, no anger and no pain.

She didn't judge herself, nor did he judge her.

It was something only swordsmen like them could understand.

A voiceless language, a voiceless conversation.

A moment where goals didn't matter, hate didn't matter.

Neither the past mattered, nor the future.

A moment where only the present, that moment where their swords crossed mattered.

And that would be gone now.

It was not something she could look forward to anymore, because he would cross swords with Mikoto Yamato now.

'That is...somehow unpleasant…'

She thought to herself as she lay the side of her head on her knee and closed her eyes. With the rays of the sun on her face and the gentle wind caressing her skin, Ais slowly drifted into sleep, not having drawn her rapier at all despite that being the reason she came out into the garden in the first place.

XXX

Though his anger had calmed down, he nonetheless still felt frustrated at what had happened just a short while ago.

He had revealed that much, did his best to hide as little as possible. He tried to be honest, no hiding information nor the truth about the hardships that would follow if she would agree.

And even so, his motives had been questioned.

'What does it matter what I want to achieve by offering it? That girl would become stronger than ever before, nonetheless. Damnable Gods and their fucking bullshit…'

He realized that he was starting to go down a route he did not like, so he exhaled and grabbed his tea, taking a long sip from the cup.

Not that it helped calm him down, nor his urges.

Sitting there on the porch overlooking his garden he could sense the Ki signatures of the women inside, moving around as they went about their daily activities: cooking, cleaning, arguing.

Munch

He could feel them, their calmness, their sense of safety traceable in the stable vibration of their Ki. Part of it was because they were no longer in the Pleasure District. Another part, he was told, was thanks to his presence.

Which was ironic.

So damn ironic.

Ironic, because right now he wanted nothing more than to cut them open.

Munch

Same thing had happened back at the Twilight Manor as well: he knew what Loki was about to do, yet when the order came every he wanted nothing more than to jump on the Goddess, the person who accepted him twice in her Familia, and rip her apart, cut her into pieces and stain the walls red with her blood.

All that kept him from doing it was the pressure which pushed him into the ground.

And when it ended and he was free once more?

His desire did not change at all.

The bloodlust was overwhelming, trying to overthrow any kind of rational thought in his mind and take over.

What scared him the most was the fact that the possibility wasn't a 'maybe', but a 'when'.

Munch

It wasn't all that different when the God of War questioned his motives: had he not walked out of the room as soon as possible he doubted he could have kept himself back. And there were no Level 5's and 6's to keep him at bay back there.

'...Can't even enjoy my stupid victory.'

He thought maybe it would be different.

He was older, smarter, stronger. More experienced now than he was a couple years ago. If he only used it once, surely he could keep the downsides under control.

How stupid he had been to trust in himself.

How stupid it was for anyone to trust in him.

His Familia and the East District, all of them were utter morons for trusting him.

A certain Amazon had once told him that he was dull and boring. That he should try and have some fun for once.

She, too, was stupid.

Would he allow himself to act his age, to have his sort of fun, then people would suffer.

People would die.

And they would die while hearing his laughter echoing in their ears.

Munch

That is why he did not allow himself to be a child.

To be irresponsible.

To be immature.

That was not an option. It never had been.

And still, even so, he was just barely holding on. Ever since his fight with Sakda he felt his sanity slowly slipping away, day by stupid day.

He sighed and took another sip of his tea. It was getting lukewarm, a sign of just how much he had been lost in thought. A useless endeavour to be sure. Because no matter how long he thought about it, it wouldn't change reality.

This wasn't a fairy tale after all.

Reality wouldn't change just to make him feel better.

It wouldn't bend in his favour, he knew this much. If anything, the opposite would happen.

Because he could not change.

'...Haaa...Wonder when it all went wrong…?' He couldn't help but immediately chuckle at the question which popped up in his mind. It was a rhetorical question after all, and one whose answer he knew all too well. 'When you were born all wrong, that's when.'

It didn't matter.

That is what he would have liked to tell himself.

But that would be a lie. It did matter. Of course it did. But still, even so...it didn't matter.

He still had a goal.

He still had a duty.

And sanity or no sanity, none of that was any kind of excuse not to see any of the two fulfilled. Nothing would ever count as an excuse for that.

A hand found it's way to his face and he rubbed his eyes half unconsciously. He was tired. Very much so. The day had not been very eventful until now, but it had been very tiring. Very, very tiring.

Sluuuuurp…

"...Don't slurp." He voiced as he looked to his side, to the small girl sitting besides him. "It's not very lady-like, Alya."

The girl stopped, looked at him with the corner of her eye then finished slurping her tea before putting the cup down. "Sorry."

"Haa...Should I hire a tutor to teach you manners, as well…?"

The girl in question grabbed another one of the slices with jam he prepared for her and looked to the side. She had no idea what a manners tutor was, but she already had many tutors and she didn't like any of them. The thought of yet another one...it scared her ever so slightly. "A-Alya is good. I don't need another one."

"...Is that so?"

It had not been long since the girl awoke from her latest sleep. Just as Fuzen arrived home after his talk with Takemikazuchi she woke up and wanted out because she was hungry. He prepared what she wanted, tea and slices of bread with strawberry jam for her, yet instead of eating in the dining room she decided to come and sit by his side.

It wasn't often Fuzen questioned children: they were weird to begin with but just today her actions irked him ever so slightly. He really had wanted to have a moment for himself.

Now that she was once again awake and materialized he doubted he would have any such moment for the next couple of days. "You sleep less now, Alya. Are you feeling better?"

"Mhm!"

'...Well, it's been months now since she first manifested. It's not surprising she would need me less and less. She can already go almost a whole week without needing me for stability...I guess now is as good as time as any.'

"Alya."

"Hm?"

"Tomorrow, I want you to meet some people."

"People?"

"Yes."

It wasn't something spontaneous, either. In truth he had given the order to Yamamoto a while ago. Before the first encounter with Sakda, before his will was broken for the first time. Back then, he thought he was not a good influence for the girl.

Now, he knew for sure that he wasn't. "They live here, in this District."

"Can I play with them?"

"Well...I guess? I don't know if anyone their age would be able to keep up with your energy, however."

"What do you mean?"

"...I put you up for adoption, Alya. A while ago, in fact."

A moment of silence followed as the two turned their heads to look at the other. The girl narrowed her eyes as she continued to munch on her slice of jam. But it was not anger or frustration that were reflected in her eyes.

It was confusion.

"...What's that?"

"...It means I decided that you will be living with other people. Not right now, but soon."

And just like that she was gone. She put the slice of jam down on the tray and got up, running away from him and around the right side of the mansion. Obviously with her sub-par speed he could have easily caught her, but...Fuzen guessed he could allow her this much.

"...Haaa"

Despite the headache he felt creeping up on him he got up from the porch and followed Alya's trail. It wasn't a hard guess, anyway. There was one place she always ran to when something happening which she didn't like…

"Nghhh"

And that was the tree by the side of the mansion. Her choice of a hiding spot certainly cemented Fuzen's thought that kids were weird.

"…" While it was impressive she already managed to pull herself up as high as she did, her quick escape made Alya take another route up the tree than usual and now she was hanging while holding onto two branches, trying to lift her leg up to reach another branch but failing miserably to do so. "...Haaa"

After staring at her for a couple of moments he drew his sheathed sword and using the scabbard's end he helped by pushing her up by her lower back. Her leg now finally reaching the branch Alya turned around, hugged the trunk and puffed her cheeks at Fuzen just two or so meters below her.

"...Alya."

"I don't wanna!"

"...That is for me to decide."

"I don't wanna!"

"I checked them all out. They are good, loving people. Whoever you decide to stay with, they will take good care of you-"

"I DON'T WANNA!"

By now a couple of the others came out to check what the commotion was, but quickly made their back inside as Fuzen gave them a sign to do so. It was a common sight, after all. Whenever she didn't want to eat something, or whenever she didn't want to do her homework Alya would always run up to the tree and climb up, staying there until she was no longer forced to do something she did not like.

In truth, she was quite the brat. It made Fuzen wonder sometimes if Ais or Aria had been the same when they were kids themselves. And by what he saw so far...he guessed there was a high chance they had been just that.

With a sigh escaping his lips he neared the tree and sat down on the ground, letting his back leaning against the trunk. It was fine that the girl was standing up to herself but this really wasn't the time for her stubbornness to take over.

He could force her, of course.

It wouldn't be hard to put her to sleep and force her to stay with someone else. It also wouldn't be hard to order someone to keep a constant eye on her so she wouldn't run away.

If he so wanted, he could control her life without leaving her any room to fight back.

But...he did not want to take that route.

Fuzen had a belief, one he had kept onto for most of his life. A belief that just because your life is bad, it doesn't justify making life bad for other people. That is why he did not think worse of people who had it better, nor did he think less of them for having naive beliefs and mindsets brought forth by their inexperience.

If anything, he was sort of glad. Glad that they didn't experience the same bullshit he did, and that they didn't get changed for the worse because of it as he was been.

So, while very tiring, he would try to find a way to persuade Alya without any of that.

'...Then again, where do I start? I don't know how normal kids think nor their level of understanding…'

Fuzen looked up at the girl still puffing her cheeks at him. "I have a good reason-"

"No!"

It wasn't going to be easy, that much was clear.

Fuzen himself did not understand why she behaved like this. It's not like he spent that much time with her, nor was she that attached to the other residents of his mansion as she slept a lot. Overall there was no reason for her to be attached to his place nor to the people, himself included.

And it wasn't like they would drop off all contact from the beginning. He planned for her to visit regularly in case he needed to let her inside, to stabilize her. But her reliance on his grew less week by week. In about a year he theorized she would be able to live in the physical realm for good, and then they would break contact.

By then she would no longer need him, so that seemed like the right thing to do. Naturally, he would keep to his promise and keep an eye on her from a distance, making sure nothing happens to her.

It was a chance for a normal life. All the people Yamamoto found for him, they were couple unable to conceive children by themselves. He checked them all out, their history, their jobs, their Ki signatures. None of them were bad people.

And while he had no idea what a family was meant to be like, he had no doubts she would be happy.

Yet despite all that, she wanted to stay here, with him.

With a murderer.

That could not be allowed to continue, for her own sake. Luckily so far he had felt no urge to cut her open like he did with everyone else, his Goddess included, but how long would that continue like that?

How long?

Now more than ever he needed to hurry.

Getting Alya away from him, introducing Mikoto to the Lightning Sword Style, getting a move on the next step on his path, fulfilling his duty...He needed to be quick about it, maybe even speed things up. Because before long he would slip up and then he would be hunted down like a dog.

That much he was aware of. No other fate awaited people like him after all.

"...Alya, do I look like an adult to you?"

"You act like one." The girl responded almost instantly.

"Well...yes. But I am not one. I'm just eleven years old, I can barely take care of myself. I cannot take care of you."

"But I'm happy!"

"...Being happy and living in a safe environment are two different things, Alya." He voiced as he looked up at the girl but it seemed his words did not truly reach her.

"I am safe!"

"...No. No, you are not."

"But you are here!"

"...And that is why you are not safe."

"You kept me safe from the flames!"

Her response managed to get a raised eyebrow from Fuzen. He had no idea what she meant by that, as he could not remember ever doing that. "...What do you mean?"

"The black flames. You kept me safe from them."

'Black flames? The hell is she going on about…?'

"...Alya, get down here." He voiced as he looked up at her. Her reluctance was not something he was about to put up with. "Now."

Before long she climbed down with a bit of help from Fuzen and sat down by the tree besides him. "Now. Tell me what you meant."

In her own words, which were not very clear for that matter, she tried to explain to him something about a dark world and black flames, and how Fuzen guided her out of it, how he washed away her fear and hatred.

This was not something he remembered doing. And he realized why: this had all happened when he was still tending to Ais and her rampaging Ki. It all happened when he linked their minds together.

He remembered none of it. A large reason for that was because subconscious actions like that were not meant to be remembered, even the book passed down in his martial school said the same. Inner worlds were not something one could navigate consciously. At most, the one performing the mind link could try to control what happened inside by strengthening their willpower and focusing solely on the reason they were performing it in the first place: to help the one the ritual was performed upon.

All else was done subconsciously.

And yet…

'This one remembers that time this clearly? I only had a hunch of sorts about what could have happened back then. At least this explains why I felt like I was burning alive following that ritual. Still…'

Alya had also explained how he had guided her across the lake of flames, but she also mentioned that his appearance was different. She knew it was Fuzen, but explained the differences to him. 'Seems even my inner self is a rotting carcass. Ironic, really. I'm amazed she still feels comfortable sitting besides me, despite remembering that.'

There were actually many questions that arose following her explanation of what happened back there. Most of which questioned the limits of his Ki abilities, but... those were questions for another time.

"Alya. The one who saved you from the flames, that was not me."

"Yes it was." She replied instantly, narrowing her eyes at his strange statement.

"It's more complicated than that. That was someone...I wished to be, I think. But it wasn't me. It wasn't the one sitting besides you right here, right now."

"...I don't get it…"

"Yeah...Yeah, neither do I."

A moment of silence passed as the two stared at the sky above them through the branches of the tree. "You like hero stories, don't you?" Fuzen asked after remembering the various books he had found inside her room, most of which were hero stories.

In the blink of an eye the girl threw her arms up in the air as a bright smile took over her lips. "I do!"

"I see. Then, what do you think of the villains in those books?"

"I don't like them. They always hurt people."

"Yes. They do, don't they?" He nodded and turned to look the girl in the eyes. "I'm also a villain, you know?"

"...No you're not." The way she replied almost made it sound as if the girl had been personally offended by the statement.

It was a cute gesture, Fuzen would agree to that.

But it mattered little.

"Believe me. I am. And that is why I want you to live with other people. Because I don't want to hurt you."

"Do you...do you hate me?" He didn't fail to notice that Alya made herself smaller.

"No. I don't. There are only two people in this world I truly hate, and you are neither of them."

She seemed confused by his words. "Then why would you hurt me?" The longer the conversation went, the more she began to lose him. Fuzen was aware of this, but even so he had to try.

He had to make her understand why she needed to go and be away from him.

"...It's not something I want to do, Alya. I don't…Haaa...It's not something I want. But I will do it, anyway." He managed to pull off a sort of smirk, despite how strange the expression felt to him. "Because I'm a villain, remember?"

"...That's stupid."

"...It is, isn't it?"

"You're weird, Mister."

"...I told you not to call me that. We're not that many years apart, Alya. Five, at most."

"But you act just like the tall tutors."

"…"

Silence fell over them once more as they simply sat there, neither speaking again. Fuzen knew that she had not understood what he was trying to replay to her. She probably still thought his reason for trying to send her away were unjustified.

It mattered little.

Once she grew up, she would understand. And it was fine if she hated him now for his actions if it meant she was safe and happy. To begin with the only reason he kept her by his side was because of her inner instability. But her reliance on him would soon come to an end.

He only hoped it would be sooner rather than later.

"Mister, do you hate hero stories?"

The question was sudden and not something he expected. "Hm? Yes, I do."

"But why?"

"I just do." He shrugged. "Though, there is one I don't hate. Just one."

"Which one?"

"You wouldn't know of it. It's a story from a long time ago, and I doubt the protagonist was a hero to everyone."

"Tell me, tell me!" She begged as she grabbed his arm and shook it.

"You want me...to tell you a story?"

A couple of quick nods were her reply. "Mhm!"

"...It's not like your usual hero stories, however."

"Just tell me already!"

"...Haa...Very well then."

Though unsure at first Fuzen slowly began to tell Alya the story of the esteemed Founder of his martial school. How she grew up a normal person like everyone else.

How she lost everything to the greed of man.

How she decided to stand up and get stronger, for that which had been lost, and for that which she could still protect.

Her journey of training which took many years.

The strength she had gained during her training, a strength which had gained even the attention of a newly-descended God.

How that very same God of War begged to be allowed to help her reach her true potential while kneeling to the woman.

Their journey together across the eastern part of the world, a journey of adventure and discovery. A journey which, after many years of searching, allowed the woman to find a power not magical nor divine in nature, but a power of humans, and humans only.

How despite the passing of years the woman's swordsmanship only became more and more potent, a swordsmanship so refined it inspired the greatest blacksmith ever born in the Far East to forge a blade which could withstand it's unleashed power. A blade which took years until it's creation.

A masterpiece that to this day, some six hundred years later, still surprised mortal and divine blacksmiths alike with it's unquestionable quality and it's unique, mysterious properties.

Then he told the girl about the wars the woman single-handedly ended, the strong opponents she defeated, the hope she brought to regions ruled by fear and oppression. About the people that were inspired by her actions and steadfast beliefs, people who decided to walk the same path as her.

They who became the first generation of the Lightning Sword Style, people who had decided to defy their fates marking them as weak and strive for something more.

A story of one which before long, turned into a story of many. Their life-long quest of becoming stronger, better, fairer as both swordsmen and people, alike.

A story of ordinary people embarking on an extraordinary quest, a story of an otherwise unremarkable woman who had reached the peak of human potential. A woman who, in her very long life never once updated her Status after she was granted the Falna by the God she managed to impress with her sheer dedication and hard work alone.

A story that ended when, in her old age, the woman stood against a great Monster which came up from the depths of the sea, a monster so strong whole armies could not hope to defeat it, and killed it with a single strike of her sword.

A strike behind which she had placed the last embers of her life. A strike which was said to have cut the very seas open. A strike which for six hundred years, those who followed in her shadow tried to recreate, to no avail.

His story came to an end and not a moment later he heard the excited claps of the girl besides him. Turning his head to look at her he noticed how overly excited Alya was after the story. "That was amazing! Miss Hitomi is incredible!"

"...She is, isn't she?"

"That part where the fought against the assassins was incredible! I didn't know swords could be used like that! And the final battle-!"

Fuzen silently listened to the girl's excited ramble, nodding ever so often as she asked him about things she was still not fully sure she understood well.

Indeed, the girl had gained a new, exciting story.

And Fuzen himself, through the retelling of the one story that fascinated him as a child gained the answer to Takemikazuchi's question.

It had been an easy answer but without the story he doubted he would have found it anytime soon.

It wasn't a lie that he initially sought out someone just to make sure the Lightning Sword Style would not die with him.

However, he had lived through his battle with Sakda. As unexpected as it was, he managed to survive.

And with his survival that reason for seeking someone fit for the Lightning Sword Style fell. In it's stead, however, came another reason.

A reason born from his usage of Rupture and the realization which followed his actions: that change was impossible.

That change was but a pipe dream.

That he had no right to call himself one of those who followed in the shadow of Hitomi Minamoto, their esteemed Founder.

And that is why he now sought it in another.

The unblemished, true form of that sword he saw all those years ago.

Fuzen was glad to have realized what the answer to that irritating question had been. Now he could move up with his plans because of it.

And still, despite being glad at having found it...as with all things, it was only bitter-sweet.

XXX

"So, did you like it? The story?"

"Alya liked it! A lot!"

"I see. That's good, then."

"You're still up for adoption, though."

It wasn't even a second later that the girl took off running again, no doubt towards another tree she could climb up and stay there, believing herself to be out of reach. "I said I don't wanna!"

'...Cute, I'll give you that. Cute, but futile.'

XXX

Believe it or not, this was a fast Chapter. Only took me like, 2 days to write.

Which is not something very common for me.

And hey, I also got around to keep my promise of having Alya pop up again in the fic.

There's gonna be a lot more of her as we move forward, so yeah. If you like the mini-Ais she'll be here for a while, yet.

Hope the scene where Fuzen reflects upon himself was not too confusing. And if it was, remember that I (almost) always reply to my reviews and PM's, so you can just ask me about stuff you are uncertain about.

Hell, we are already 43 Chapters into this fic without counting the omake ones, so if enough questions come my way I'll even do a Q & A, either as a notice or within the Author Note.

I think that would be justified and somewhat helpful to ya all seeing how long this fic is getting.

Might help some people decide if they want to stick around or just drop the story if it goes down towards a path they aren't really hooked on.

So yeah, I'm willing to do that if enough of you mates have stuff to ask. (I won't reveal major spoilers, of course)

Anyway, that's about it.

One more Chapter behind us, and who knows how many more ahead of us.

Hope you enjoyed the read and see you around soon.

Kay bye.