Just to avoid any confusion. The Blazblue's character by the name of Jubei is set to appear in this chapter as Darvish Hali of Samarkand. In simple terms, both Darvish Hali and Jubei of the Six Heroes are one and the same. This has even been hinted in the Summary Section of this fanfic. Okay everyone read, review and enjoy.
Ragna and Terumi charged at each other. Both sharp blades perfectly colliding with each other in a musical harmony. Whatever swing Ragna made with his Zweihander would be blocked by Terumi. Whatever slashes Terumi attempted with his quick butterfly knives would be blocked by Ragna. Sometimes even if both of the blady orchestra players attack each other simultaneously, they would simply compliment each other's metallic tunes.
Ragna was hoping that his Zweihander would give him a basic advantage in a sense that even if Terumi manages to block his attack, the huge weight of the Zweihander combined with Ranga's raw power would be enough to shake his (Terumi) body sufficiently to make him fall down at least or break his wrist at best.
However, none of that happened. Sure, Terumi body shook whenever he blocked Ragna attacks. But it was a kind of collision he could have easily bear. But Ragna, on the other hand, was already feeling a bit weary as he was carrying much, much heavier blade on his hand.
"Ragna-Chan! That is not the only trick that I have in my sleeves." Terumi deviously smiled as he released his Ouroboros snake aimed for Ragna's head.
Just in a nick of time, Ragna manages to dodge it as the snake crashes on the empty cases of sharab (alcohol) bottles. Wait! Was this sharab warehouse? Why was there even sharab cases lying on this warehouse in the first place? Isn't it suppose to be illegal? There were so many questions in Ragna's mind right now. But now he must focus on defeating Terumi first.
"You lucky devil hehehehe..." Terumi immediately jumped at Ragna and then attack him with his twin butterfly knives but Ragna was able to hold his attack at a standstill. At this point, both were using their brute strength to push each other unsuccessfully: "That was my trump Ragna-Chan."
"SO TRUMP THIS! SKELETON FACE!" Ragna shouted as he successfully shoved Terumi away with his Zweihander. But Terumi instead of falling down on the ground did a perfect backflip like an experienced gymnast.
"You're tired Rags. Let me put you to a long peaceful sleep." He then began his fresh assault on the tired swordsman. Whenever Ragna swings his giant sword at Terumi, the green haired bladesman would easily dodge it and counterattack by giving cuts to Ragna arms, legs, and his chest with his butterfly knives: "AHHHHHHH!" Ragna screamed in pain.
"DID THAT HURT RAGNA-CHAN? WAS THAT PAINFUL? OF COURSE, IT WAS. YOU ARE SCREAMING LIKE A LITTLE BISH! AHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Terumi cackled.
Ragna knew by this point, he had expended most of his energy. By forcing himself to attack Terumi with his brute strength alone; he was sacrificing precision for wild swings which allowed that little snake to dodge his attacks easily. Ragna decided to change his strategy this time around. He would sacrifice his powerful blows for the precise attack. This is what he needs to do right now. So he begins to assault Terumi with this new approach in mind.
As expected Terumi was not able to dodge Ragna attacks as he now was forced to block. This played right into Ragna's hands. Terumi himself was getting tired. So with each powerful yet focused blows from Ragna, Terumi was slowly but surely losing his stamina. He was already feeling the visceral intensity of Ranga blows as he blocked. This went on and on until Ragna was successfully able to disarm one of Terumi's butterfly knives. Now Terumi was left with only one knife to defend himself with.
"One down. One more to go bish." Ranga gleed.
"Ahhh my lovely, naive Ragna-Chan. You think I'm gonna lose to a cockroach like you? Then say hello to my BIG FRIEND." As Terumi released his large snake at Ragna.
Ragna rolled out of the way in a very Dark Soulish manner. This was officially his boss fight. The Ouroboros was a bigger threat to Ragna than that Idiot King Terumi.
"Ohhhhh! Nice dodge Ragna-Chan. But you'll have to do better than that."
Just as the humongous snake came within a touching distance of tearing Ragna's gluteus maximus apart, he was able to make a huge, ninja-like leap into the air just in a nick of time.
This was certainly a dirty tactic from Terumi, as he wanted to make sure that Ragna would not be able to go into the toilet in the near future again. Going into the toilet was the second most favourite waking up in the morning activity for Ragna; breakfast being number one. Dam! Terumi was devious. Though Terumi being evil for Ragna was not a major shocker.
"Ragna-Chan why are you avoiding this poor thing? He just wanted a bite at the Big Mac-arse...hahahaha...You know it's one SOLID SNAKE once you get to know him...hahahaha... As Terumi patted his snake. The Ouroboros then followed Ragna into the mid-air.
"Dam it!" Ragna hissed as the Ouroboros snake came within the touching distance of harming him. Terumi's giant, metallic snake might be quick. But its large frame also had one critical disadvantage, which Ragna could use in his favour. When it looked like the snake was about to eat Ragna, he immediately used the ceiling of the warehouse as a launching pad to get down quickly. The snake couldn't stop in its tracks, as it was traveling at a great velocity and was forced to crash out of the ceiling of the warehouse. Thereby buying Ragna some time.
Ragna knew this wasn't the end for that persistent buster. He would come back to haunt his as again. He was counting on it.
"Ragna-Chan hahahaha! That was brilliant wooohooo! You have entertained me quite well. But, unfortunately, this is the end for you." As the snake broke through the roof to enter the warehouse again.
"I thought this was your work out. You're doing nothing but lazying around." Ragna shot back.
"Hehehehe...I guess you're right..."
Ragna then held his Zweihander to his eye level and from its reflection, he observed that the Ouroboros snake was positioning itself behind him. The Ouroboros snake and Ragna were positioned at twelve o'clock; whereas was located Terumi at two o'clock. That gave Ragna an idea.
First, there was a close-up shot of Ragna's eyes. Then there was a close-up of Terumi's (perpetually closed) eyes. Then the camera pans to Ranga's hands and then it pans to Terumi's hands. As if both of them were cowboys who were about to go into a duel. Finally, in between them, a single leaf passes by.
"Full-steam ahead...Cho...cho.." Terumi smiled. As if on cue, the snake raced towards Ragna at an insane speed. Ragna remained calm as he focused on looking at the Ouroboros snake's reflection from his sword. When the giant vermin came at a suitable distance Ragna quickly stabbed his Zweihander into the ground and immediately jumped into the air. The Ouroboros snake, after getting its head rammed against Ragna's Zweihander changed its course from twelve o'clock to two o'clock where Terumi was situated at.
"Oh sit!" Was all Terumi could say as he was being involved in a powerful collision with his giant, metallic pet, which resulted in both of them crashing on the nearby crates.
When Ragna landed back to his feet he exclaimed: "STRIKE!"
Terumi was already seeing a lot of stars on a clear, blue night. Ragna then offered his hands to Terumi: "I hope you like the taste of your own medicine?" Ragna joked.
"Hahahahhahaha...You always crack me up." As Terumi accepted Ragna hands and got up. Suddenly both of them heard the voices of the police officers whom they were trying to evade all night.
"CHECK EVERY HOUSES...!"
"LEAVE NO STONES UNTURNED...!"
"FIND THEM AND BRING THEM TO ME...!"
When Ragna turned around he saw that Terumi was already on the other side of the room as he held aloft a secret trapdoor on the floor: "I don't know about you Ragna-chan. But I'm outta here."
"I'm coming too dam it!"Both Ragna and Terumi jumped into the hidden trapdoor. It didn't have any stairs as it was more like a slide; a very long, scary slide.
The trapdoor automatically closed itself. The police of Baghdad immediately enters the warehouse where Terumi and Ragna were engaged in a Mortal Kombat not so long ago: "SEARCH EVERY NOOK AND CRANNY OF THIS GOD DAM PLACE!" The head of the police barked as his men begin the search.
Meanwhile Back to Ragna and Terumi
It was not a short slide, in fact, it was a long one as Ragna found out. He was screaming like a little girl or more appropriately like a fearful bear who had just crapped his pants: "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
"WEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! ISN'T THAT FUN RAGNA-CHAAAAN?" Terumi wailed in joy.
"TERUMI YOU SIT HEAD! I'M SO GONNA KILL YOUUUUU! WHEN I GET MY HANDS ON YOUUUU!" As the slide ended both Terumi and Ragna ended up in the underground sewers. Ragna then tried to compose himself and processed all the information he got so far. Right now they were in a secret passageway that was directly connected to the warehouse that was being owned by Terumi. On the warehouse, there were some cases of Sharab (alcohol) being stored there. Terumi being the suspicious guy he is. Ragna concluded that he is running a smuggling ring that involves alcohol: "Terumi! You're running a bootleg operation. Aren't you?"
"Hey, Ragna-Chan how is a guy suppose to make an honest living?"
"It's not an honest living. Dam it!" Ragna grabbed Terumi by his collar
"What's wrong Ragna-Chan? You seem agitated."
Ragna tightened his grip on Terumi's collars: "You wenker! Everything is wrong. Why the hel did you attacked that police officer in the first place? Now we're both wanted men thanks to you. I might even have an ugly as wanted picture of me on the streets that would create a strong urge in me to tear that dam thing into pieces."
Terumi touched Ragna arms that were holding his collar and then gave out a creepy smile: "Ragna-Chan! Is that the thanks, I get for saving your stinkin as?"
"THANKS? FOR WHAT YOU ASHOLE?"
Terumi finally opened his golden, snake-like eyes: "Ragna-Chan do you really think that they weren't going to arrest you before my...cough...intervention?"
"OBVIOUSLY YOU PRICK!"
"Then why did those police officers harassing you while disguised as Mr. Merchant Guy from Resident Evil 4 huh? Not only that, but they were even about to assault you. Or how about they know your name for a change. Doesn't any of that sound suspicious to you?"
"What?"
~Flashback~
The boss of the five, no four police officers was breathing in a menacing manner: "SEIZE BOTH RAGNA AND THAT WEIRD COMPANION OF HIS NOWWWWWWWWWWWW!"
"Furthermore Ragna-Chan you even called me out by my own name on Garghabazar and that actually broke my heart. Now they also know I am."
"HA..HA..HA..HA..HA..HA..HA..HA..What..the..hel...is...going on...HA..HA...?" Ragna was breathing heavily.
"I don't know Ragna-Chan. But it would be a good start if you remove your hands from my collars."
"HA..HA..Oh sorry..HA..HA.." As Ragna removes his hands from Terumi's collars. Things were getting more & more mysterious. Whatever Terumi said had a logical reasoning behind it. Those undercover officers clearly knew who Ragna was. There was no doubt about that. They (undercover cops) were also about to attack Ragna before Terumi's intervened. Maybe, just maybe, Terumi vicious attack on one of those cops made a bad situation already worse. But one thing is for sure, those coppers were clearly looking for Ragna.
But why would they be looking for Ragna in the first place? He didn't do anything that was harmful to the state's interest. He wasn't a terrorist or a vicious criminal. Was it simply because Ragna was investigating into his family disappearances and the cops didn't want him to look into the matter any further? That theory in itself was ridiculous as he didn't tell them (police) that his family had disappeared when he went to the Kazi (a person who serves both as the chief of police and judge of a city) office for his personal inquiry.
Maybe they only came after Ragna when the clerk at the Kazi office became hysterical on seeing the piece of paper containing the Japanese word 天/Ten. The clerk even raised his sword on Ragna's throat and demanded where he got that piece of paper from in the first place. One thing is for certain. Things were not what they seemed.
"You also owe me both a thank you for saving your as and an apology for being an ungrateful twerp."
"AAAAAHHHHH! I hate it when you're right. But thanks Terumi for saving my worthless as and sorry for my outburst earlier."
"None taken Rags. Now if you would be kind enough to follow me." Ragna gestured Terumi to lead the way.
Two weeks later
Ragna was still fruitless in his search regarding the current whereabouts of his father Joeseph and his younger brother Jin. To make matters worse he couldn't even locate Jin's foster father Andrew anywhere; in order to get straight answers from him. Ragna was starting to fear that either Andrew himself was missing along with his family or Andrew himself was behind his brother and his father disappearances. The latter theory in itself was self-contradictory as Andrew had practically raised Jin like his own son and he (Andrew) would never do anything that would cause harm to his biological brother Joeseph unless there was some sort of conflict between them (Joeseph & Andrew) that Ragna wasn't aware of.
The only clue that Ragna had right now was the strange calligraphy given to him by Noel and supposedly authored by Jin. He needed to find out what that dam symbol (天) actually meant in the first place. To find out answers Ragna was heading for the Ancient Library of Alexandria in the Al-Kindi Street, Harithiya district of Baghdad.
On his way to the library, Ragna realized that the chaos had erupted throughout the Al-Kindi Street. Most of the houses in the neighborhood had burned to the ground. A young, beautiful woman by the name of Arzoo was frantically crying on seeing her husband Babak being surrounded by a mob who intended to give him street justice: "NOOOOOOOO! I BEG ALL OF YOU TO RESTRAIN YOURSELF! OUR HOUSEHOLD WOULD NOT LAST LONG WITHOUT OUR BREAD WINNER!"
A priest who seems to be leading the mob replied: "Hold off your tongue female conspirator! You should be thanking Almighty Lord for these men are not punishing you for murdering and then serving little Hayo dead body in your rice dish to your neighbors. Your husband life must be forfeited in the name of justice."
"THESE ALL ARE BASELESS SLANDER PRIEST! I COULD NOT EVEN FATHOM ON MARTYRING THE POOR CHILD OF MR. MIYAZAKI! I LOVED HIM LIKE MY OWN FLESH AND BLOOD!" Arzoo pleaded.
"NO MORE LIES WITCH! WHY WAS RIFAN FOOD POISONED AFTER CONSUMING YOUR ACCURSED DISH? SURELY YOU DID NOT FEED HIM GOAT MEAT!"
"I KNOW MY BARGAINING POSITION HAS WEAKENED! A GOAT MEAT WAS THE MAIN INGREDIENT IN MY DISH. MRS. DUMAS, OUR MAID WOULD BE WILLING TO TESTIFY MY CLAIMS! SHE PREPARED THE DISH WITH ME!" The beautiful Arzoo was literally crying.
"NO MORE LIES HARPY! YOUR STORY STILL CANNOT EXPLAIN THE DISAPPEARANCE OF LITTLE HAYO!" The priest reprimanded.
Babak who tried to put up a brave face in front of his wife assured: "It's okay my love! Be brave for the sake of our daughter." As slight tears streamed down on Babak's face.
Ragna scanned his surroundings and then he realized that the police officers of Baghdad were acting as mere spectators on this entire drama. They would rather allow this mob to kill an unarmed man rather than to stop it.
Ragna realized that he was wearing a black dress. Black dresses were usually worn by the minority and persecuted creed of Baghdad, Cathlers. Which the woman Arzoo and her soon to be executed husband Babak also belonged to. Cathlers had worn black dresses as a sign of historical mourning; as their creed founder Saint Klaus The Silent and his family were brutally murdered by then Emperor Rayazid The First. Because of Saint Klaus refusal to endorse the Emperor Rayazid as the rightful ruler. This event created permanent cleavage in the great religion of Glosticism.
Ragna was obviously raised in the majority Eaglers creed. However, if he stayed in this place any longer, the mob could mistake him as one of the Cathlers and would blame him for the murder of little Hayo. He would share the same horrific fate as that of Babal. Ragna didn't want to end up like that. So he ran as fast he could and dashed straight towards the Ancient Library of Alexandria. But to his bad luck, it was closed. Ragna then violently knocked on the library door in desperation. When this didn't work, he was then forced to ram his shoulder onto the door to get the librarian attention, but it was to no avail.
Today was definitely a bad day for Ragna. He thought that he could finally get his answers from the library regarding the true meaning of the Japanese letters 天/Ten, but ironically it was closed. Not only that, there was an angry mob out there that was about to kill an unarmed man. They could also hurt Ragna if he is not careful. Another fine mess Ragna had got himself into since he had set his foot in this chaotic city.
Ragna then spotted the librarian running outside in fear. Ragna ran after him and then restrained him: "WHERE ARE YOU GOING? YOU NEED TO OPEN THE LIBRARY NOW."
"HAS SANITY ABANDONED YOU SON! TURN AROUND AND WITNESS THE HORROR! YOU EXPECT ME OPEN THE LIBRARY AT SUCH DARK TIMES?" The librarian answered.
"I DON'T CARE! I NEED TO BE AT THE LIBRARY NOW!"
"UNRESTRAIN ME, FOOLISH BOY!" The librarian then shoved Ragna as he ran away. Ragna was about to chase the old fool when he heard a bloodcurdling scream of a little girl. It was Arzoo's and Babak's six-year-old daughter: "AHHHHHHH FATHER! PLEASE, SOMEONE OR ANYONE, SAVE MY FATHER!"
Ragna turned around and he saw that the crowd of two hundred people had already begun their street justice. They attacked downed Babak with heavy logs, hammers and steel pipes. Babak was screaming like a slaughtered animal. His feet and his arms moved frantically as a reflex response to each vicious blow from the mob. Babak's blood was flying everywhere and the members of the mob who were closest to the accused man (Babak) were covered most with Babak's blood.
So violent was the attack, even the beautiful face of Arzoo received her share of her husband's blood. She was no longer screaming as she was in a state of shock, but her six-year-old daughter was still frantically screaming on seeing her father being viciously executed by the crowd. This was an odd sight for sure.
But the mad crowd was not done yet. The kept on attacking the dead or at least unconscious and unmoving body of Babak. There was still blood coming out that carcass which both dumbfounded and disgusted Ragna. He couldn't look any further. He was about to throw up any time now.
But suddenly Ragna heard a familiar gruff voice: "Pain is all I can see...ere...I know fur shure and it was caused by misinterpretation of one's intention."
On hearing the said voice everyone attention was immediately shifted to that mysterious person. He was a white, cat, beastkin with two black tails. He wore a yellow hooded jacket and had an eye patch on his right eye. It was surely a bipedal beastkin. Ragna knew who he was. It was his spiritual teacher Hali the famous poet cum Darvish or aka as Jubei; One of The Six Heroes.
The priest who was leading the mob shouted: "RETURN TO YOUR ABODE BEASTMAN! THIS PLACE DOESN'T CONCERN YOUR KIND!"
"I'm pretty shure that it is my concern boyo. I see that an innocent person is almost condemned to death..."
"WHAT IN LORD'S NAME ARE YOU BLABBERING OLD MAN?" Said one of the mob members.
"What I'm saying is that Mr. Miyazaki's son is alive and well."
"You speak lies grimalkin. We know for certain that young Hayo was murdered and then fed to the unsuspecting, God-fearing Eaglers of this town by this harlot." The priest pointed his index finger downwards at the beautiful Arzoo who still in a state of shock after seeing her husband gruesomely murdered.
"Then under the spirit of Lady Themis, this woman should be punished for her crimes. Not poor Babak. She was the one who murdered little Hayo for her rice dish."
"We have spared this fragile woman from the sword of justice on compassionate grounds." The priest countered.
"You and I know full well that this execution was no substitute for compassion. Although, I do say young Arzoo is one fine woman."
"What are you implying Jubei?" The priest was clearly agitated now.
"Only my friends and my students are allowed to call me by that name. But for you and the others, I'm Hali, The Travelling Darvish. What I'm trying to imply is that all of you have executed an innocent person. Babak was innocent."
"HA..HA..HA..Control your tongue you Grimalkin..I'm the father of the Cadbury Cathedral...If so I wish. I could drag your body through the entire streets of Baghdad.." Preist started to breathe heavily.
"Oh, you could do that? What got you so agitated? The entire crowd must have wondered Molan (religious scholar cum priest), Eustace Kirby?
"HA..HA..HA..How did you know my name?" The priest was still breathing heavily.
"Lucky guess Molan Kirby! Ah, Mr. Miyazaki! Come forth, my friend. I have got good news for you. Your precious little son is alive and well."
"That's a lie." The priest replied.
"Is that so well learned Darvish?" Mr. Miyazaki asked hopefully as he came towards Hali.
"Mr. Miyazaka, what I'm about to do right now might seems like a miracle but it is actually a product of mundane hard work. Little Hayo say hello to your papa for me." Jubei said as he raised his jacket to reveal a shivering Hayo. The sight of still alive Hayo brought a sense of shock to the public.
Mr. Miyazaki immediately hugged his child: "Son are you ok? Are you hurt?" Hayo immediately started to cry: "Father I was so scared. I promise father! I would never play with other kids outside our home again. Father just promise me. That you would never abandon me."
Mr. Miyazaki hugged his son tightly as he took him in his arms: "I would never abandon you my son, promise. Thank you, Darvish for your kindness. I'm eternally grateful to you." With that, Mr. Miyazaki went on his way home.
"But priest we killed an innocent man?" Said one of the mob members. The priest couldn't answer their questions as he felt that Hali had destroyed his reputation within few minutes.
The priest then started to clap: "CLAP! CLAP! CLAP!...Well done Hali! Well done! You might have fooled the entire crowd with your grand performance but you didn't fool me. You are the true perpetrator behind little Hayo kidnapping. We know the truth."
"Huh, the truth? Should I be franker then? I found little Hayo under the basement of Cadbury Cathedral where you regularly hold your services ."
"LIES! LIES! LIES! GRIMALKIN! YOU WERE THE ONE WHO KIDNAPPED LITTLE HAYO. JUST SO TO SPREAD MISCHIEF IN THIS LAND! THE BLOOD OF POOR BABAK LIES IS IN YOUR DIRTY PAWS!"
"Am I being accused of almost murder of poor Babak? I accused you of the almost murder of Babak the farmer. You Molan (religious scholar cum priest) Kirby had set your lustful eyes on Babak's woman, Arzooo. While you couldn't attain her by legitimate means, you sought a more unsavory path of accusing the poor fellow of murdering of little Hayo. Which would eventually result in his almost death at the hands of the mob. After that, his woman would be yours for the taking."
"I'm happily married to my wife for FORTY YEARS! HOW COULD YOU ACCUSE ME OF SUCH VILE THINGS? I EVEN HAVE GRANDCHILDREN! THIS HAS GONE LONG ENOUGH OFFICERS! ARREST HIM FOR SPREADING SLANDERS AGAINST ME! ARREST THAT BEASTKIN!"
"Leave now while you still can Molan Kirby. If you insist on accusing me of any more of unsavory things, I wouldn't mind exposing more of your dirty little secrets in return."
"HA..HA..You haven't se...en the...last of...me...Darvish...Mark my words...I...willl get you someday...This isn't the end..." With that, the priest known as Eustace Kirby went away.
Finally, Arzoo came to her senses and started to cry: " Waaaaaah! But Darvish? This doesn't solve anything. My husband was cruelly murdered! No amount of justice could bring him back...Waaaahhhh...!"
Jubei patted the young woman head: "My beautiful child. Weren't paying attention to anything I said at all? Your husband was almost condemned to death. Let me paraphrase that. You husband is not dead but is on the verge of it."
Arzoo immediately grabbed Hali's hand: "Please kind sir bring him back from the dead if you have to...Waahhhh! I beg of you sir waaaaahhh!"
"My child! I don't practice the forbidden and the evil art of necromancy! I am incapable of giving life to the dead. But I can...heal his wounds."
Out of nowhere Babak suddenly stands up as if he was alive. He was perfectly alright; there were no wounds or gashes on his body. The only thing that pointed out to his recent execution by the mob was his bloodstained shirt. His wife and his daughter immediately ran towards him: "Honey...Is that really you?"
"It's me...I'm all right...I..t's a...mira...cle.." The wife, the daughter and the husband Babak embraced each other tightly.
"What's going on? Did you bring him back from the dead?" Asked one of the mob members.
"Only Lord Jesus is capable of such deed. I'm rather a healer." Hali smiled.
One hour later
Hali was talking with Mr. Miyazaki: "Some issues need to settled here, Mr. Miyazaki. Since you were indirectly responsible for the wrongdoings that happened to Babak the farmer. It would only be logical that you would pay a sum of Twenty Five gold coins as a compensation for the trouble that was faced by Babak's family."
Mr. Miyazaki nodded: "That is a reasonable demand well-learned Darvish! I will honour our agreement."
Hali then continued: "Good! As for others. Since most of you have torched your neighbours' home, it would be a good start to ask all of you fine people to put out the fire from the victims' houses and contribute your financial share in the rebuilding of their homes." The mob all agreed to Hali arrangements.
Hali then began his sermon to the crowd: "Belonging to a different creed, having not the same opinions as yours is not a Kanker that needs to be severed. Differences need to be appreciated and respected." Jubei then pulls out a rose, a sunflower and a jasmine flower from the garden: "Some of you prefer roses, some of you are fascinated with the beauty of this sunflower and others like me can't resist the sweet smell of jasmine." As Jubei inhaled the fragrance of jasmine flower: "Why are all of these flowers so beautiful you say? Because they're all so different. Because they are all so unique."
"A bee that stings provides us with honey. A shark that attacks humans, protect the ecosystem from jellyfish. Nothing that exists in this world is beyond purpose. Every face, every race, every creature, every feature, every opinion, every nationality and every creed. Each and everything in this world has a grand role to play in this universe. We all contribute to the collective beauty of Mother Nature. By hating on each other uniqueness we destroy that very fabric of nature. So let us respect and appreciate each other differences. Let us celebrate each other uniqueness! Let us all become one!"
When Hali completed his speech. The entire crowd erupted into a cheer. Ragna knew that his teacher Hali or better known as Jubei (One of the Six Legendary Heroes) was quite charismatic. Wherever he goes, he would always attract new followers to his Sufi (Mystic) order.
Ragna recalled that he used to be a lost soul just like the rest of them. He used to hate Cathlers at some point in his life. As he was raised in an Eagler family after all. But when the constant stream of gruesome violence that erupted between Cathlers and Eaglers claimed lives on both sides. Ragna began to reconsider his theological philosophy. That's when he decided to seek Jubei at his shrine in Samarkand, Uzbekistan for answers. He wanted to find a solution that would unite both of the creeds together under the banner of the great religion Glosticism. Which used to be one when creedal issues divided it (Glosticism).
The minute he set foot on Hali's (Jubei's) shrine the minute all of his life's question began to unravel for themselves. With every step, he made towards Jubei new answers began to appear in his mind. When he finally reached Jubei he was fully content. Ragna was then convinced that Jubei is the final solution to end creedal violence. Just like he managed to stop one today.
"That was a nice speech right there Master Jubei."
Hali turned around and spotted his old student: "Rawgnnnaaa! Nobody calls me by that name besides you...Came to say Salaam to this old beast?"
Ragna then bowed: "Master Jubei...I'm in a deep mess...Can you listen to my problems? I don't have anyone else talk to..."
"Rawgnaaa! My ears are always open for you. Let it rip."
Half An Hour Later At Chai Khana (Cafe)
Both Ragna and Hali were seated on a chair with teas served on their table.
"So let me get this straight." As Hali sipped his tea: "Slurp!...Your father Joeseph and Jin have gone missing for a few weeks now. You tried to file a police report at the Kazi office but you were unsuccessful at that. Plus you have no clue where Andrew Kisaragi is in the first place. Let me ask you, son. Did you try asking others for help?
"I did Master Jubei. I asked Edgar Vermillion, but he was simply not willing to cooperate...I don't even know whether he has any credible knowledge on my family disappearances...or not." Ragna then hands over a piece of paper to Hali containing the word 天/Ten: "The only clue I got so far is this strange Calligraphy that I got from his daughter..."
Hali took the paper from Ragna: "Hmmmm...You mean Noel?" Ragna silently nodded.
"Let me see...Hmmmmmmm...Ten...Interesting, it's definitely Japanese...Sorry, sonny, this old beast is as badly learned on this matter as you are. But I can definitely help if you would like?"
"Oh really Master Jubei..?...Thank You...thank you so much...I'm just curious...How could you help me if you don't even know what this calligraphy means in the first place..."
"Don't be simple sonny! All I'm capable of performing is this deed!" Jubei then raises the piece of paper containing the letter 天/Ten and immediately releases it into the air, thereby flying far, far away.
"FACKKKKKK! WHAT KIND OF HELP IS THAT OLDMAN...? I GOT THAT REPRODUCED FROM A JAPANESE CALLIGRAPHER, GOD DAM IT! IT'S BOTH EXPENSIVE AND DIFFICULT TO FIND THOSE DAM JAPANESE CALLIGRAPHERS IN BAGHDAD..." Ragna panicked.
"Was that paper valuable?"
"OBVIOUSLY OYAJI! IT COST ME NINE FACKING GOLD COINS!"
"Hehehe...If something important in life, then you need to chase after it."
"GREAT FACKING ADVICE OLD MAN!" Ragna screamed as he began to chase after the flying paper.
"Hehehehe...Atta boy." Jubei smiled once he was alone.
The piece of paper containing the word 天 was flying away at great speed. Ragna was having a hard time at keeping pace with it. Suddenly the piece of paper elevated to such great heights that it forced Ragna to use his parkour skills to jump on the roof of a house. Ragna jumped from one roof to the another just to chase after that dam piece of paper. He was already running on empty.
Ragna knew he had to take a risk in order to reclaim that piece of paper again. So he made a huge ninja-like-leap and finally caught the paper in mid-air: "YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Ragna screamed in delight. But his victory was shortlived as he realized that he was still mid-air and he could fall back to earth in quite a painful manner: "FACCCCCCCCCCCCCCK!" Ragna screamed in fear of the impending doom.
But Ragna fall was broken by a pottery stall. After the dust had settled, Ragna head was covered by a giant pottery: "MUFFFFFFFF...UMMMMMMMM..." Ragna screamed as he struggled to remove the ridiculously huge pottery from his head. He finally manages to remove that dam ceramic utensil from his head.
"DAM YOUUUU JUBEIIIIIIII!" Ragna screamed. He then spotted a tiny, brown-furred monkey who wearing a sleeveless maroon jacket and a matching fez hat. Ragna immediately recognized who that tiny monkey was: "Abu is that you?" Ragna gasped. It was indeed Abu; the pet monkey of Ragna's childhood friend Aladdin. If Abu was in Baghdad, so was Aladdin. Abu goes wherever Aladdin goes.
The tiny monkey still looked at Ragna curiously, which made him chuckle nervously: "Haahahaha...It's me, Abu...Rags...Your maste...erm...I mean your partner friend."
Out of nowhere, Abu slapped Ragna: "OUCH! THAT HURT ABU!" Abu then slapped Ragna again: "OUCH! WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU DAM IT?" Abu slapped Ragna third time: "OUCH! Oh! You're gonna play that game? I can play that game even better!" Ragna finally slapped the little monkey in the face: "EEK..EEK..EEK.." The tiny monkey screeched in anger as it responded to slap Ragna in the face even more ferociously.
"Take this monkey brain!" Ragna tried to slap Abu; but the tiny, brown monkey did something unexpected. Abu thanks to his quick, primate reflex, immediately bit the slapping hand of Ragna before it contact with his (Abu's) face: "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH! YOU BIT ME! YOU DAM MONKEY! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Ragna screamed in pain.
"DAM IT! LET GO OF MY HAND! AAAAHHHHHHHHH!" Ragna began to punch the tiny monkey constantly. Abu was persistent and kept on biting Ragna's fingers. With one last yet powerful blow from Ragna, Abu was forced to leave our hero fingers alone and thankfully intact.
"HAVE YOU GONE INSANE ABU?" Insane was a word that was alien to Abu. As the little monkey ferociously screamed like a mad animal: EEEEKKKK...EKKKKKKK...EKKKKKK..." He suddenly attacked Ragna on his face: "AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! ABUUUUUUUUU! NOT THE FACE! ANYTHING BUT THE FACE!"
Abu finally listened to Ragna's pleas for sparing his beautiful face and but the little monkey went for something far more sinister and relatively more ugly in exchange: "NO..NO..NO..NO..Don't try to gouge my eyes OUTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!" Ragna screamed in pain when the monkey did exactly what he feared the most.
"ABUUUUU! YOU LITTLE SITTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!" Ragna screamed in pain as he crashed into another pottery stall.
Ragna immediately heard a male scream after the aforementioned crash. He wouldn't blame that guy for screaming like a little girl, as that crash was as epic as that of Wall Street Crash. He couldn't see him, as luck would have it, his head was again covered by another ridiculously large pottery. If that guy was that much scared after that pottery stall crash. Wait till he sees Ragna new makeover courtesy of Abu.
Ragna finally manages to remove the large pottery from his head. Abu immediately jumps on the roof of one of the houses in the neighbourhood. He concluded that it wasn't worth the effort to chase after the little vermin. He immediately tried to locate the male person who had screamed just now.
Ragna was easily able to find him. That person was wearing a green, hooded cloak. On the backside of his cloak was a familiar sign 天: "Ten?" Ragna read it out loud. It was exactly the same Japanese letter that was supposedly calligraphed by Jin. Ragna even rechecked the paper in his hands to confirm it. Both of the signs were one and the same.
Jubei's crazy antics actually worked and it led him to this man who wore a green, hooded cloak with the same Japanese letter 天 (Ten) on his backside. This was what he was looking for all along. No matter how deep the problem is, Jubei would always solve it in the most mysterious of ways.
Sure, Ragna was forced to do a ridiculous task of chasing a piece of paper, while falling down from great heights, destroying two pottery stalls in a single day and to put a cherry on top, getting viciously attacked by Aladdin's pet monkey Abu. But Ragna was ultimately grateful towards Jubei for his mystical yet stupid ways for solving mysteries.
"Dhoes...BREAD..EYES...Vamiraisin...?" Ragna ears were still ringing now as he smashed his head on various potteries, after being attacked by yours truly Abu. That green cloaked guy, said a lot of things. The only things that Ragna could actually make out were "Bread", "Eyes" and "Vampiraisin". None of those words made any sense except for one. Ragna had a hunch that Vampiraisin actually means Vamirherzen, his family name. How did this green-cloaked dude know Ragna's family name in the first place? They've never met before. What does even "BREAD", "Dhoes" and "Eyes" meant in the first place?
When Ragna got up the green-cloaked man immediately ran away: "WAIIIIT!"
Ragna started to chase after this suspicious individual. That green-cloaked guy was pretty quick but he also used some distraction tactics like throwing random crates, boxes or bird cages-whatever he could get his hands on-in order to slow down Ragna. However, those tactics didn't work as Ragna was an expert parkour artist being trained by some of the best monks of Savafif order.
"BUDDY YOU CAN RUN! BUT YOU CAN'T HIDE!"
The green-cloaked guy then pleaded for help from a group of chaukidars (night watchman/security guard of the neighborhood) nearby: "Vampirherzen! Stop him!" Yup, Ragna was now dead sure that it was Vampirherzen, not Vampiraisn; as much delicious as the latter name sounds. This suspicious individual clearly knew what his family name was. He also had that sign 天 (Ten) on the backside of his cloak. Ragna would make sure that this man will talk after he gets his hands on him.
"Fear not. We'll handle him." One of the chaukidars (security guard) assured him. The green-cloaked man nodded and then he ran away.
"Where are you headed off to son?" One of the chaukidars asked.
"You're in my way oyaji. Get out." Ragna hissed.
All of the chaukidars started to laugh at Ragna's demand: "HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA..." Ragna then realized there were at least fourteen chaukidars who were coming after him now. He couldn't take on all of them at once. To make matters worse, he was already on the verge of losing that green-cloaked dude.
One of the chaukidars tried to right punch Ragna in the face. But he responded by ducking it and immediately grabbed hold of chaukidar's right arm. Ragna then finished him off with three kicks on his kidney and threw him far away.
The second chaukidar charged at Ragna. He responded by spearing (tackling) the fat chaukidar Roman Regins style and both of them crashed onto the third pottery stall. Ragna immediately proceeded to punch the downed chaukidar in a vicious manner. However, his constant stream of punches was immediately stopped by a third chaukidar who grabbed Ragna from behind.
Ranga was completely restrained by the third chaukidar. The fourth chaukidar came forth and immediately punched Ragna on his face and on his guts: "AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!" Ragna screamed in pain. It had hurt a lot. Those beefy chaukidars really packed a punch.
Ragna then gave a powerful flying kick on the nose of the fourth chaukidar thereby crashing him (fourth chaukidar) onto the fourth pottery stall. Thank God! The proprietors of those pottery stalls were away for evening prayers. If they had been here, they would've definitely hounded Ragna's as just as these chaukidars were doing quite perfectly.
Ragna was still not free. He was still being restrained by the third chaukidar and there was a danger that one of his colleagues would show up anytime now and deliver a knockout blow to Ragna while he is at it. Ragna was pretty sure he wouldn't get up after the ten count. So he (Ragna) made a powerful reverse jump that made both Ragna and the third chaukidar crashed onto the fifth (& hopefully last) pottery stall.
Dam it! It's official now. Ragna was now the scourge of the pottery kind everywhere. Beware! This SS-class criminal has attempted a mass pottery-cide in a single day. Pottery Enemy Number One. Ragna The Bloodedge. Remeber the name of ceramics products greatest enemy.
Ragna then got up and so did the third chaukidar. So he smashed the third chaukidar head with a pottery jar that he found nearby. Thereby knocking the fatso out in a single blow. Another chaukidar tried to attack Ragna but he responded by smashing his head with another pottery jar and again knocking him out.
More and more chaukidars (Watchmen) were ominously coming towards Ragna. Sure, pottery jars were effective weapons and all, but Ragna couldn't realistically expect to take on all of them at once. Plus, time was not on his side, as that green-cloaked man was getting farther and farther from Ragna's reach. He had to do something and fast.
Ragna then spotted a firewalker practicing his firewalking skills on hot coals, before his upcoming performance at the bazaar. Just near the firewalker, was a large stack of three hundred or so crates. This gave Ragna a wicked idea. Maybe he could use that jumping technique that his friend Aladdin taught him long ago.
When the hordes of chaukidars came at a suitable distance, Ragna decided to run and then leaped over the bed of hot embers using the head of the firewalker as a launching pad and jumped himself to safety. While all of the foolish chaukidars badly burned their feet on the bed of fiery, hot coals while chasing after Ragna: "OOOH! AHHH! OHHH! AAHHH! OOHH ! AHHHH!" As they screamed in pain. Just like Aladdin did that to those harebrained guards of Agrabah when he was still a street rat.
Ragna climbed on the top of three hundred crates stack. Then, he cut down all the ropes with his knife that was holding all of those crates together. And finally, he pushed down the top half and the middle half of the stack that made rest of crates fall down in a domino effect.
By the time the horde of chaukidars arrived, they were assaulted by the large sets of crates falling on top of them. When the ensuing chaos settled, most of the chaukidars were buried six feet deep under the huge piles of broken crates. With that, Ragna ran after the mysterious, green caper. If he ran fast enough he could still catch his man on time.
So Ragna ran off at his maximum speed. After few minutes of running or so, he finally manages to locate the still running green caper. It seems as if he wasn't expecting the chaukidars to holdoff Ragna for much longer. Good for him. Never underestimate Ragna, The Scion of Vampirherzen family. The green-cloaked man then hurriedly enters a posh, five-storied building. Ragna could see that this building was constructed using expensive materials. On the top of that building, was a particular Gear Wheel symbol of a golden colour.
When Ragna tried to enter that building he was pushed violently on his as by one of the guards: "Rights of admission are reserved to members only." He rudely said.
"Fack you man! Why did you have to push me so hard? Besides I'm a member."
"You're not fooling anyone. Begone!"
"So how do I become a member then?"
"Scram street rat! Anymore question from you, me and my brothers wouldn't hesitate to use our fists against you." Replied one of the guards rudely. Ragna just shook his head in disbelief.
He then scanned his surroundings. He noted that this particular building was heavily guarded. Which actually dumbfounded Ragna. If this place was indeed a socializing club, why was this building as heavily guarded as if it was a fort? It made no facking sense. Who were these guards even trying to protect in the first place? The ambassador? The duke? Or even the king perhaps?
"Try as you might. You won't be able to get inside this building through unscrupulous means. As you've already observed that it is heavily guarded. But remember this well, young warrior. Your answers lie in the archives room of this building on the third floor." Said a mysterious hooded individual, who was wearing a black cloak.
"Who the fack are you?"
"I'm just a well-wisher young warrior. And so, I bid you farewell." After that, he turned around and started to walk towards the darkness of the streets. On the backside of his black cloak was a very familiar Japanese symbol 字: "Ji" Ragna read it out aloud. Ragna was dam sure that it was very much the same Japanese symbol that he had seen on that tiny yellow badge that was being worn by that Indian, beastkin belly dancer Makoto Nanaya. Were these two people connected somehow? Ragna wanted to confirm that.
"HEY WAIT?" Ragna screamed as he chased after the mysterious individual. When Ragna came out of the darkness of the streets and into the area which was lit by the fire torches; that mysterious, black-cloaked individual was nowhere to be found. It was as if he had disappeared into thin air.
"WHAT THE HEL IS GOING ON HERE?" Ragna hissed. Things are now getting more and more interesting for him. Ragna didn't really know whether this mysterious, black-cloaked individual was his friend or his foe.
I'll admit this chapter was quite dark. So, for this reason, I tried to balance the serious tone of this chapter with lots of humour. The great thing about this fanfic is that I've got most of the story figured out; even the ending...erm...somewhat. So no more writer's block for me woohooo! This is Howlin Blood speaking over and out.