Chapter 4: The Trials Begin

Kazuki looked just as confused as Suija. "What is up with this, I don't understand."

"When you put your trust in me, trust that I could save the girl, you unleashed power, when you willed yourself to save her you unlocked power, when you wanted to stop that bullet you wanted power, but you never wanted it for yourself, you wanted it for her and when your willpower comes from the heart, my power is the strongest."

Kazuki looked at his weapon and his shield and knew what was going on.

Suija continued to look at him, no longer confused. "Heh, looks like I underestimated you there, it looks like you do have some power, I am sorry but when I saw how long it was taking for you to pull out a weapon I got bored."

Xanphia on the other hand was staring at Kazuki with surprised eyes. "H-How did he do that?"

Suija grinned. "Well punk, bring it on. As prize for deflecting my shot I am going to have fun with you, and then I will have some real fun with that beauty over there." He winked at Xanphia.

Kazuki stared at Suija now. "I am sorry to have to disappoint you, but you are not the one destined to get the girl in the end, I can see your future and I can tell you it isn't long."

Suija spit on the ground and raised his gun. "Die, you stupid kid!" He fired a volley of shots towards Kazuki.

All of the shots simply disintegrated. "Hah, you don't even pose as a threat!"

"Don't keep using defence, it will use up all of your energy." Came the voice of Xanphia from behind him."

"I got it, I thought I felt slightly weaker after those shots." He closed his eyes. "Come on Kaito, let's do this. I trust both my life and that of Xanphia to you."

"Good now shout, offence."

Kazuki's eyes flared open. "Offence!" He smacked his hands together and the sword and shield vanished revealing his two-handed sword. "Bring it on."

A rustling sound came from the bushes and Hiroshi stumbled out. "What is going on here?" He looked at Suija.

"This guy here shot Xanphia."

Hiroshi stood up. "Is that so?" He was already holding his shotgun again.

Suija looked at Hiroshi. "Well, looks like playtime is over, bye bye for now." With that Suija vanished into thin air.

Xanphia was still holding her leg which was bleeding rather badly. Kazuki turning around saw just how bad it was. "We need to get you to the house."

"I-It's just a scratch"

"No it isn't, it is really bad." He bent down and scooped her up off the ground. "I will carry you back to the house, so let's go."

Xanphia wrapped her arms around Kazuki's neck as to make it slightly easier on Kazuki.

Hiroshi followed behind the two of them wishing he had a camera. "My boy, may I ask you how you managed to fend off that man until I got there, it seemed almost as if no fighting took place."

"I will tell you all about it once we get to the house and fix up this wound." With that Kazuki started to sprint ahead.

Hiroshi smiled. "I am glad he has a heart as kind as this. He will need it." He too started to sprint.

The three of them arrived at the house, Kazuki laid Xanphia down on the bed and looked at Hiroshi.

Hiroshi understood instantly. "Don't worry I will tend to her wounds you just wait outside."

Kazuki smiled and then looked at Xanphia who looked back at him smiling. "It's ok I will be fine and thank you for saving me." She was now blushing.

Kazuki walked out of the room. "Who was that guy and what was he after, he didn't seem to know who Xanphia was." "Well who ever it is, I don't think he will be coming back as long as there are three of us."

Hiroshi walked out of the room and seeing Kazuki look at him concerned, smiled. "Her leg will be better in a few days, but I am afraid she wont be able to walk for the time being, maybe a day or two."

Kazuki frowned.

"Don't worry Kazuki, there was nothing you could have done to stop this."

This didn't seem to cheer him up much.

"I do however have some questions, and please stop worrying, she is sleeping right now to let the herb take effect."

Kazuki sat down and sighed. "You want to know what took place?"

Hiroshi sat down as well. "Yes, and please from the very beginning."

Kazuki explained in detail the best he could at what took place deep in the forest in that clearing.

"Why is it that my weapons, or suit or whatever it is can talk to me?"

"Hmm, I honestly can't say exactly, as this suit was not made by me, just modified to fit you. But I must say I am extremely proud of you that you managed to activate your defence under such pressure. Although the fact of you 'teleporting' in front of Xanphia seems strange and so does your defence itself."

"Why is it strange?"

"Well, like I said, I modified your suit to fit you, I never added the ability to teleport as I would not know how. Likewise I never gave your defence mode a weapon, it is impossible, you should not be able to attack, it would be suicidal. I take it you felt your energy lessen when your shield stopped an attack?"

"Yes I felt it, but how could it be suicidal? I barely felt a thing."

"Interesting, after that many attacks including the first one, it should have felt like you went down with a fever, especially if it is your first time using the defence mode." Hiroshi thought for a moment. "I would like to take your suit and research it a little if you don't mind."

"Not at all, I would like to figure out more."

Hiroshi walked up and pressed a button, nothing happened. "Weird, your suit should of gone back to normal." He pressed the button a few more times. "I don't understand, it won't come off."

The time stopped once again. "I cannot be removed, when you placed your trust in me, we became one. Please do not worry or think I am cursed or evil, but in this way we can truly react to everything as one and if you like I can tell you how this suit works and help you on your way to learning things, but everything has a time and place, please just trust me now as you have trusted me before."

Time started up again. "He says that it cannot be removed, me and him are now one, he says not to worry and I trust him."

"Him?"

"Kaito."

"He just talked to you?"

"Yes, he said not to worry and he would explain things to me piece by piece, although I still will need your training old man." Kazuki started to giggle.

Hiroshi smiled. "Ok, then I guess I will just have to test things while you are wearing the suit. As enemies have found us once already, be sure for there to be more, that is why I must test you for strength, will, reflexes and stamina and work on what needs to be done, follow me and we can start."

The two of the walked outside where Hiroshi opened a compartment under the house and pressing a button. An archery target came out of the ground.

"This will measure not only your strength, but your precision as well, watch...Activate!" He smacked his hands close and pulled out his shotgun again. He held the shotgun up and fired against the target.

Above the target digital numbers showed: 98 accuracy and 175 power.

"Accuracy is out of 100 and power out of 200, there has never been a suit to go over the 200 and therefore this machine would break if a power of over 200 were to hit it."

"you seem to forget i use a melee weapon."

Hiroshi walks back to the compartment and pushes another button, the target goes back into the ground and a training dummy pops up. "Same machine, different form, now go and don't be afraid to break it be slashing, you wont."

Kazuki closes his eyes. "Come on Kaito, let's do this." His eyes flared open. "Activate!" He pulled his hands apart revealing his sword once again. "Let's try this, I will show you that your machine can break!" He charged straight for the dummy and swung diagonally downwards from the right shoulder to under the waist on the right side.

The machine numbers starting spinning. Accuracy stopped at 85

"Not bad for a first time." Said Hiroshi laughing.

Power was still spinning. 110,120,140,175,190 "BANG!" The machine exploded.

Hiroshi's mouth dropped a meter. "H-How is that possible, this machine can handle 200, how did you go over 200?"

"Beginners luck maybe?" Kazuki chuckling.

What is this, can Kazuki's power really be higher than any other recorded person? Or was the machine just faulty?