Well, here we are, the next chapter, focusing on Vega's past. Hope you all enjoy it!
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-14 years ago, Shishio Island, East Blue-
A man was walking through a cemetery. He was dressed in a blue, traditional Japanese-style robe, and had long black hair that was tied into a ponytail. He looked to be quite old, about 50 years in age. He was resting a rose on a grave.
"My beloved wife Toruko," He said silently to himself. "It has been 30 years since your death, but I feel as if you're still with me. Here is a rose, the flower that you adored so much." With that, he began to get up and walk away, when he noticed a child looking over two other graves nearby. The child looked to be about seven and was wearing funeral clothes, as if his parents just died. The man looked at the graves. They said "Dondiego Maria" and "Dondiego Fredricks" respectively.
"Oh, are those your parents?" Asked the man.
The child looked towards him, the man was expecting the child to look sad but instead he just looked rather emotionless. "Yes." Answered the child. "My name is Dondiego Vega."
"Are you mourning for them?" Asked the man again. Something in this boy had piqued his curiosity.
"Not really," Said the young Vega. "I was just wondering."
"Wondering? About what?" Asked the old man.
"My father killed my mother." Revealed Vega in a surprisingly relaxed tone. "And then he killed himself. Why did he do that? I can't figure it out...."
The old man was now even more curious about this boy. "I wouldn't know that." He said. "Your name was Vega, wasn't it?"
"Yeah." Said Vega.
"If those are your parents, you must not be orphaned now, right?" Asked the old man.
"I guess." Answered Vega.
"Then would you like to come live with me? My name is Kenzo." Said the old man.
"Why would I do that?" Asked Kenzo.
"If you came and lived with me, I could teach you my sword style." Said Kenzo. "I used to be a master swordsman, though I'm far past my prime now. Well, what do you say?"
"Hmm," Said the young Vega. "Alright, sounds interesting."
"Well, this is my place." Said Kenzo. "What do you think?" The place was also a very old Japanese-style house, with the small shingles and the sliding doors.
"Not bad," Said Vega. "When are you going to teach me this sword style?"
"Alright then." Said Kenzo, who then went to get something. A few minutes later he was back with a large, rolled-up sheet. He then rolled it out on the floor, revealing swords of all sorts of kinds.
"W-what's with all these swords?" Asked Vega in amazement.
"My style is called the Nibekkotoryu." Said Kenzo. "It involves the usage of two completely different swords, both which can be used at a master level. Choose any two of these you want, they will become your partners for the rest of your life."
"Hmmm," Said Vega. "I'll take that one." He said, pointing to a Kodachi. "And then...that one." He pointed to the Claymore.
"Are you sure?" Asked Kendo. "Can you even lift that Claymore?"
"Of course!" Said Vega, as he grabbed it with both of his hands and tried to pull it up as hard as he could, but could only move it a couple of inches off the ground before having to drop it due to it's weight.
"See?" Said Kenzo. "Why don't you try something else?" He suggested. "Perhaps maybe."
"NO!" Said Vega suddenly in a determined voice. "I want to use this! I'll do whatever it takes!" With that he began trying to lift it up again.
Kenzo was surprised by this. "What a child!" He thought. "At first it looked to me as if he didn't have a care in the world, and now suddenly his face shows pure determination and effort!" He then grinned to himself. "It seems I was right in choosing this child after all..."
"Grrr..." Said Vega as he again failed to pick up the Claymore. "Oi, old man!" He said. "You got any weight lifting things or anything?"
"Sure, right this way," Said Kenzo. "But from now on, you have to call me 'Sensei'."
-2 years later-
"S-sensei!" Yelled Vega, who looked to be about 9 now. He was rushing out of the house to where Kenzo was, meditating on the lawn. He was carrying a Claymore in one hand, and a Kodachi in the other.
"Oh? You're finally able to do that?" Asked Kenzo, opening an eye from his meditative state.
"Huff...That's right!" Panted Vega. "But I can only hold it for 5 minutes right now, so hurry up and train me!"
Kenzo looked back at him for a moment. "Very well." With that, he reached under his sleeaves and presented two swords. One was a standard katana. The other however, looked to be some type of dagger.
"That's it?!" Said Vega. "Those two lightweights?!"
"Vega, this is an important lesson." Said Kenzo. "You must never underestimate the 'quiet strength'. If you are ready, come."
"Alright then!" Yelled Vega as he ran towards Kenzo and slashed his Claymore down, though Kenzo expertly blocked it with his katana.
"A frontal approach, just as I thought." Thought Kenzo as he readied the dagger. "But he's wide open now. If this was a real battle, I would have skewered him to pieces with this dagger. I'll stop it inches from his neck and show him that..."
"HE-YAH!" Yelled Vega suddenly as he slashed the Kodachi at Kenzo's ankles, causing him to step back, and for the briefest Kenzo's stance looked like that of an awkward one, Vega didn't miss it and slashed the Claymore again, which Kenzo blocked just in time.
"W-what was that just now?" Thought Kenzo. "He...he knew I was going to do that! Not only that, he knew I was aiming for his face, so he attacked towards my legs, which not only would I not see coming, but it would throw my stance off! Just what is this kid?"
"Hey old man, is that all you got?" Asked Vega.
"Not yet." Said Kenzo. "Earlier you said you can only hold that for 5 minutes, correct? In that case it's merely a matter of time!"
With that, they continued to spar for a couple of minutes, and sure enough, eventually the strength of Vega's arm holding the Claymore was wearing down.
"Grrr....dammit!" Yelled Vega as he tossed the Claymore aside. "I'll just fight with this then!" With that he grasped both of his hands on the kodachi and rushed towards Kenzo. However Kenzo easily deflected this, and knocked the sword right out of Vega's hands.
"This is another thing to remember, Vega." Said Kenzo. "If matched against a regular sword like that with two equal fighters, the Nibekkotoryu always triumphs. It would be useless to go on. Now then, shall we take a break?"
"Tch...alright..." Grumbled Vega. A few minutes later, they where inside the house, drinking some herbal tea.
"Do you like tea, Vega?" Asked Kenzo.
"I dunno." Said Vega, before trying. "It's decent, I guess." Suddenly, a voice boomed out from outside the dojo.
"OI KENZO! GET YOUR ASS OUT HERE! I KNOW YOU'RE IN HERE!" The voice boomed. Kenzo and Vega rushed out side to see a man who looked to be in his sixties, though he still had a muscular build to him. He wore a simple sailor hat that covered his gray hair with a matching gray mustache. He wore a green overcoat over a red and white striped shirt with black pants and shoes. Attached to his back was what looked to be an ordinary sword, though it was twice the usual size of one.
Kenzo grinned. "So you've finally found me, Aglovale."
"Sensei, who's that guy?" Asked Vega.
"Hmm, I suppose I've never told you about myself." Said Kenzo. "You see, I used to be a pirate."
"You where a pirate?" Said Vega. He didn't really see his master as that type.
"Yeah, he may not look it now but he was quite the fierce one." Said the man named Aglovale. "And I was a bounty hunter, always after you, but you where always one step ahead!"
"Well, how are you?" Said Kenzo. "Are you still a bounty hunter at that age?"
"Now, I gave up that reckless hobby up years ago." Said Aglovale. "But, my dream for the title of world's strongest swordsman still burns within me! I am here to defeat you, whom I could never beat, to move my way up!"
Kenzo just smiled. "Very well then, I accept your challenge." He then turned to Vega. "Vega, you shall watch this."
"O...okay." Said Vega.
Moments later, they where standing in the field behind Kenzo's home. Both swordsmen had their swords at the ready.
"HERE I COME!" Roared Aglovale as he grabbed his large sword and charged at Kenzo, who deflected the blast. For a few minutes they went at it like this, neither saying a word. Finally, Kenzo spoke.
"It seems.....as if I've grown old..." He said.
"...Indeed." Said Aglovale.
"May I say one more thing?" Said Kenzo.
"What?" Asked Aglovale.
"It's not to you, it's to my student." Kenzo then turned to Vega. "Vega!" He said.
"W..what?" Asked Vega, unsure of why his master would want to talk to him at a time like this.
"In my room, in my desk," Said Kenzo. "There are scrolls containing the secrets and keys to mastering the Nibekkotoryu. You're a smart kid and overflowing with talent, I'm sure you can learn from those."
"Wait, sensei!" Said Vega. "What do you mean by tha..."
"YAAA!" Yelled Aglovale as he deflected Kenzo's sword and slashed down his own. Kenzo tried to stab him with his dagger but the reaction time was too slow. Agloavle's sword was slashed down on his body, causing blood to squirt out of a large line going down his body. Kenzo fell to the ground, dead.
"...It...is done." Said Aglovale, who reattached the sword to his back, turned around, and began to walk away.
"SENSEI!!!" Screamed Vega in his thoughts. He looked towards Aglovale "THAT BASTARD!!!!" He thought as he was ready to charge at him with his bare hands, but then he noticed something fall down from Aglovale's turned face "...Tears?"
-11 Years Later-
Vega sat, meditating. Next to him was a portrait of Kenzo, with a candle burning in memory.
"Sensei," Thought Vega to himself. He was now wearing his normal clothes. "I have learned much in the time since you have left, but just in the Nibekkotoryu. I have also learned about my father. He was a drunk, and killed my mother in one of his drunken rages, and then killed himself after realizing his guilt. I also have learned why Aglovale shed tears that day. You two, while rivals, where also friends, and he was forced to kill you to advance in the contest that is to become the world's strongest swordsman. I do not mourn for your death, as not mourning as what made you find me in the first place. But, I shall bring honor back to the Nibekkotoryu, by becoming what you where killed for, the world's greatest swordsman. But I won't end there. That's right, my aim..." He thought, standing up and pointing to the sky "IS THE HEAVENS!"
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And there you have it! Next chapter shall be returning to the present plotline, be sure to look forward to it! And as always, be sure to comment, reveiw, and give some feedback!
