Series: Knight Tales||Title: Birth of a Knight
Characters: Shou, Barbamon||Romance: N/A
Chapters: 3-9||Words: 1,440||Total: 4,294
Genre: Drama, Angst||Rated: PG
Notes: This is an AU. A nice fantasy one. Written for remi.
Summary: Shou is the only survivor of the bloodthirsty raid on his hometown. Not even Peckmon made it. Desire for revenge keeps him going and the assistance of Barbamon gives him the tools he needs to gain what he searches for. For as Barbamon's Knight and Champion, he can make it all right again.


Days came and went. He had few visitors, mostly Sorcerimon, making certain that he regained his strength and helping him to practice walking again. Questions also came, revealing that he not only couldn't seem to speak at all, but that he couldn't read or write.

That shouldn't have been surprising either. The town had – or had had – several amenities, but a school hadn't been one of them. They'd had one when he was a small child, but before he could attend it, an accident one winter brought it burning to the ground, and no one could repair it or find someone suitable to teach.

So he, and several of the kids in town, grew older without whatever benefits education might have given them. He hadn't missed anything about that, preferring to spend his time with Peckmon instead.

The longer he stayed here, the longer the rage bubbled inside of him, getting stronger whenever he thought about what happened. He needed to get revenge. He needed it like he needed air.

Barbamon-sama would help him. He knew that; Sorcerimon reassured him on that point at every opportunity. But he wanted to talk to him about it, to make an agreement of some sort.

But talking, bargaining, required two sides of communication. If he couldn't talk, then he would have to find some other way to get across what he needed to.

Which Sorcerimon gave him nearly a week after he woke up, entering his room with parchment, pen, ink, and a book of some kind. He settled all of that on the table nearest him and met his eyes directly.

"According to Barbamon-sama's orders, I am to teach you to read and write. Once you've gained enough skill, then you can communicate with Barbamon-sama."

And then he would get what he needed so much. He struggled to his feet, eager as he'd never been to get this started.

"First we need to uncover your name. You do know what it is?"

He nodded. He hadn't forgotten that. He just didn't know how to tell them.

Sorcerimon opened the book he'd brought and began to page through it, pausing now and then to offer names. None of those were his, and he itched to know what symbols made up his just so he could point it out.

Instead he had to wait and hope that Sorcerimon would be able to hit upon it. He propped his head on his hand and listened, almost bored now, the names flowing by, one and all not his.

"Shin. Shinobu. Shiori." The names kept coming. He didn't even bother to shake his head. "Shirou. Shou."

His head jerked up, eyes wide, and he waved his hands quickly. He hadn't heard his name spoken since that last horrible night and he brightened at the sound of it. Sorcerimon looked at him.

"Your name is Shou?"

He nodded. Never had he been so glad to hear it. Sorcerimon took note of it.

"There are many ways to spell your name," Sorcerimon told him, setting some of the blank parchment where they could both read it, and writing down several combinations of symbols. Shou stared intently; without being able to read, he didn't know which of those would be the real meaning of his name. But he didn't think it mattered. "These are the ones most commonly used."

Shou bent over, fascinated, anticipating when he could make these words for himself. Voice or no voice, he would be able to communicate.

Student and teacher both lost all track of time as they learned and taught. When Floramon brought food, Shou ate without tasting a bit of it, far more interested in learning how to spell the names of his teacher and Barbamon-sama. He didn't stop learning and memorizing until long after night fell.

More time passed. Sorcerimon arrived every day, but for more writing and reading lessons instead of checking on Shou's recovery. That, they agreed, was doing very well and as he practiced walking longer every day, he gained more strength and endurance.

Two weeks after he'd begun his lessons, Shou rose up respectfully when Barbamon-sama entered the room. He held out a piece of paper, striving to hold back his nervousness. Barbamon accepted it, reading swiftly.

Barbamon-sama. My name is Kahara Shou. I'm sure Sorcerimon told you that already. Now I can tell you for myself.

I want to find the people who destroyed my home and kill all of them. I want to end them. I'll do anything if I can do that.

Please. Will you help me?

Barbamon looked Shou dead in the eyes. "That, Kahara Shou, is what I have intended to do since I found you. But for a price."

Shou nodded. He'd expected something like that anyway. Now he just waited to find out what the price would be.

"The price is yourself. Obey me in all things. Learn what I and those who I assign to train you have to teach. Become my knight and my champion, the sword of my will. I will find those who wronged you and without a doubt, you will be able to slay them." Barbamon-sama raised a hand before Shou could react. "Your training will take time. It will be years before you are ready. But I will make certain that when you are, you will be able to defeat your enemies with ease. They will expect nothing. You will mow through them like a scythe through dry grass. And when they are no more, you will face my enemies until they are no more. Is this satisfactory?"

Shou fought back tears at this offering of all that he'd ever desired since that moment he woke to the devastation of all he'd known. Slowly he dropped to his knees before Barbamon-sama, wiping his eyes, and nodding. He hadn't missed his voice save on rare occasions but now he wished that he had it, so he could tell his new liege lord how much he appreciated this chance. He would do whatever Barbamon-sama said, for his entire life, for this chance alone.

Clawed hands rested on his head. "Will you obey all my commands? Learn all I wish you to learn? Kill those I order you to kill? For all the days of your life?"

Shou couldn't speak his answer but he nodded, making his vows official. Barbamon moved one hand to his shoulder.

"Then I proclaim you my knight. Your training will begin at dawn."

The sharp-taloned hand moved now to Shou's chin, lifting his head up. Some might have thought Barbamon's features evil or twisted. In this moment, Shou didn't care. If that was what it took, he would be evil himself. Revenge wasn't evil. Revenge was justice, the justice that he would gain for himself. Very few, if any, of those in town had relatives outside of it, let alone friends. No one else would try.

He would do what they could not or would not.


Barbamon departed shortly after accepting his new knight's oath. With Sorcerimon's assistance, he had already gathered enough trainers to ensure Kahara Shou became the deadliest of warriors, the finest of blades, to be used only by him.

This would have to be done delicately. For all the rage that burned within him when it came to those who'd slaughtered his town, it would take more to get him to slay those who had done him no wrong.

Barbamon knew how to stoke such fires and stoke them well. He could have given the boy the location of those bandits this very hour and if he hadn't wanted to ensure Kahara Shou's own survival, he might well have. As it was, he knew a slow progress of obedience and death would give him the true servant that he wanted.

Far better to take one's time to achieve one's goals.


Shou didn't think he would be able to get a single wink of sleep. He had to trust that Barbamon-sama would keep his word to tell him the bandits' location. He kept the mental image in his mind as he slid into slumber, himself in shimmering armor befitting a knight, and defeating all of those who'd slaughtered his home without a second thought.

The image became a vivid dream and behind him, he could feel Barbamon's presence, overseeing all that he did, and proud of the justice that Shou unleashed upon the world. Shou almost didn't want the night to end, until he recalled this day would put him firmly on the path to his future and his revenge.

And the dream he'd had would come true.


To Be Continued

Notes: I won't leave Peckmon out forever. Shou needs his partner.