Chapter 3:
It was early in the morning in Clover Town there was a slight chill in the air from the night before, and the vendors were putting up their wares for the day. A boy with black hair, was being chased by a black panther in the forest near the town, "C'mon you shitty brat you summoned me to train you didn't you! Put your ass into gear!" the panther yelled at the boy who looked to be around the age of 12. The boy looked about to collapse he had in one hand a black bokken that looked old, and in the other a ball of black energy,
'Shit I knew that my endurance was going to be my downfall but god dammit I didn't mean to summon a slave driver, WHY THE HELL DID I EVEN AGREE TO SIGN THIS CONTRACT!'
"Oye shitty brat you slowed down, Heheheh I hope your ready to face the consequences." the panther had a sinister smile on his face that was accentuated by his sharp teeth the young boy looked on in horror as he started to speed up in order to stall his impending doom, "NOOOOOOO! I DON'T WANNA DIE BY THE PAWS OF A CAT!", the panther gained a tick mar, "YOU SHITTY BRAT I'M NOT A CAT, I AM A NOBLE WARRIOR FROM THE TOKIWA CLAN!" he gained a murderous look in his eyes and sped up, the child was captured in the panther's claws.
The boy was caught.
As he was being chewed up by the giant predator he thought to himself, with tears coming down his eyes, 'I'm gonna die how did it come to this, *sigh* I was idiotic in trusting it, in giving me this stupid contract….'
*Flashback*
It had been a few months, I think, since I was left in this new world. I had been training myself to the best of my capabilities but since a few weeks ago I have hit a roadblock on getting stronger, I just don't know what else to do to get stronger, I keep trying to augment the weights I can carry, how fast I can run and how long I can last while doing these things. For magic I have the basics down pat and I regularly practice the basics and my control over my magic but I can't seem to be able to get any stronger in that aspect. 'I know the basic spells but I can't seem to get the handle on the stronger and more complex spells. Maybe it would be better to go into town now to see if I can find out where I am and to see how long it would take me to get to Magnolia maybe if I don't focus on it I'll be able to come up with something new to get stronger'
The young boy nods to himself, and starts to gather his things, putting away his equipment to head into the town he had spotted while going on one of his early runs.
He changes into his best kept clothes and puts away his old and tattered training clothing.
'No need to look like a homeless person while visiting the town , even if I am one, I still have all the money from when I first came here so I can use that to buy some new clothes, and get some new training books ,though if that'll help me who knows since when I watched the anime and read the manga I never heard of my type of magic, Hell I might be able to eat something other than fish, rabbit, wild berries and nuts. I can't believe I didn't die from food poisoning.'
The boy walked with his bag on his shoulder into the nearby town early the next morning.
And proceeded to the nearest and cheapest restaurant to eat 'REAL' food. (sorta)
In the restaurant you could see a mountain of empty plates stacking up in height could only be comparable to Mt. Everest.
'I knew it food with variation is the best' tears of joy fell from his eyes.
By the end of the food feast, the young boy had eaten everything on the menu twice over. The young waitress gave him his bill with a happy smile on her face, "Here you go kid the bill will be, 3,000 jewel. I hope you enjoy your day." the young child nods at her with a happy and satisfied smile on his face, "Thanks, here." he hands the money and leaves a tip and soon leaves the establishment, unaware of the amazement of the other patrons.
He walks down the street thinking to himself. Lost in his own thoughts he bumps into someone, the old man who he bumped into falls to the floor.
"Oompf, Oh sorry sir. Here let me help you up." the old man smiles at him, and shakes his head, "No it's alright son, I may be old but I can get up myself *crack* MY BACK!", "OH MY GOD DON'T DIE SIR!"
.
.
.
"You know sir you should be more careful. You could have really hurt yourself." the boy looked at the old man he had bumped into in worry, the old man just laughed. "Young man I can still fight, I can still walk and I can still live. So don't worry. Ohoho, but on the other hand this tea is great what did you use?" the boy sweatdropped at the old man's question. "Ah, I didn't make it sir I just bought it from the stand." he points at the stand in the park they were sitting at, the old man blushes in embarrassment, "Haha, right."
.
.
.
"Alright sir, If you are alright now, I need to get going." the boy looks at him sheepishly, "I hope you have a good day sir." the boy smiles to the old man. The old man reaches for the young boys arm, "Wait kid you're looking for something to help you get stronger right,", "How did y-", " sends his regards," the young boy gains an icy look and grips the old man's arm, "How do you know about that…" the boy says in an ominous voice that doesn't fit his, before kind exterior, the old man looks at him with a serious look and a slightly off kilter grin, "You know this body isn't actually mine and if you don't let go, this old innocent humans arm will break," the young boy gains an angered look and lets go of the old man's arm, "I hope the old man is alright or so help me, I don't care if you're a demon, a god or the damn creator of the fucking universe. I will find a way to hurt you, and I will destroy you." the old man's grin widens into unnatural proportions, "Hehe, it seems he chose the right person you are strong, of course compared to meyou are but a mere insect but for a human you are mildly strong. Anyway you have no control over your aura it's leaking."
The old man was right, the boy was leaking his aura. He was in luck that it was rather late in the evening and almost nobody was around, or else a lot of people would have felt the rather chilling feeling the boy was leaking.
'Calm down, Valentine. This is why you trained so you wouldn't be taken lightly, yet I am losing control.' the boy slowly regains control of his aura.
The park returned to it's usual feeling with nothing but a slight unnatural chill in the air.
"Good it seems you have at least some control over your power, I am here to give you the next step." he looks at the old man in slight confusion, but still ready for an attack.
"Next step. For what." the old man rolls his eyes, "Humans are so very stupid sometimes. The next step for your magic. Why do you think you have not progressed it is because you need the next step to make you magic stronger, and as for your body well that's not his problem figure it out for yourself."
The young boy nods in understanding and slight wariness, "Okay. What is the next step?" The old man gives the young boy a scroll from his bag, "Here little human, read it and do with it what you want, but with me giving you that my job is done. Oh by the way help the old human home.", "Wait what?!", "Bye."
The old man's body gave out slightly, the boy catched him. 'Ara, where am I gonna take him I hope he wakes up or I'll have to find the authorities in this town. It's pretty late too, I hope his family isn't worried.'
"*groan* Where am I?", "Um, excuse me sir. Are you alright?" he looked at the old man in worry, the man nods slightly but then clutches his head, "Yes I'm fine but do you mind telling me where in Clover Town, I am young man." the boy smiles sheepishly at him, "Ah I'm sorry sir I am new to this town, so I don't actually know. Don't worry though I can help you get back home." the old man nods and smiles in thank you.
He takes the old man home after asking a passerby for directions to his home, they arrive there quickly since it was getting late. "Thank you for helping me home most people would have just left an old man like me to walk home alone." the old man smiles at the young boy, he blushes and scratches his cheek, "Haha, it was no problem sir. I hope you have a wonderful evening, and I hope your family isn't too worried.", "GRAAAMMPPSS! Your back!" a little girl ran out of the house she jumps on the old man's back, "Oh dear, Hello Ana how are you dear?" she smiles at him, "I'm fine grandpa but you should be worried about yourself Mama's real angry that you left without telling her for the whooole day." the old man gains a sweatdrop, "Of course dear. I just have to tell this nice young man something and I'll be in." the boy looks at the scene with a nostalgic look, "Well, Thank you. I hope you have a good evening as well." the boy snaps his attention to him nods and smiles.
The old man never saw the kid again until he recognized him as one of Fairy Tail's Most Wanted Bachelor's in an article his granddaughter was reading in Sorcerer's Weekly.
The young boy walked back to the central market place to get some things before heading back into the forest.
By the time he had finished shopping he had 500,000 jewel left and a full stomach.
"Okay so let's see what the thing or person or something ,I have no idea, gave to me in this scroll." he opens it and first sees a warning.
Warning:
To whomever it may concern, once having agreed to this contract you will not be able to break it until death. While it may make you exponentially stronger it is also extremely dangerous as the things you will learn may put your health and livelihood in danger. The akuma summoned while extremely strong and loyal, are also very hard to win loyalty from and to control if not strong enough, if you are weak of soul, mind or body do not attempt to sign contract. If you are then go ahead at your own risk.
"Well that is definitely something. Shit. To sign or not to sign." he looks pensively at the scroll and finally comes to decision, "I feel like I'm going to regret this but Carpe Diem, and also Fuck It!"
He continues to the end of the scroll and reads the instructions for the contract.
To complete the contract, make an incision on hand and sign name in blood, then proceed to put handprint below it. After that is complete please repeat incantation written here for summoning and contract to be complete. Please be aware that there is no going back sorry.
"Okay so that is Naruto-esque but whatever floats their boats…" he proceeds to do just that and then nothing happened.
Nada.
Zipp.
Zero.
"What the hell don't just build me up just for nothing to happen!" he looks at the scroll angrily and put it away, "God Dammit, *sigh* Oh well I'll figure out something else for training tomorrow *yawn* right now I need sleep." he puts away everything and puts out the fire and then climbs the tree he has been using as a bed.
'Shit, what am I going to do. How will I get stronger…' he falls asleep unaware of the glowing coming from his bag.
The next day he was awoken to the feeling of falling. He quickly gathered his wits and proceeded to land upright on the ground in a ready position. His bokken in hand he looks around and nearly drops his bokken in surprise of the fact that there is giant and ominous looking panther. The giant panther looks down at the young boy, in slight derision.
"Che so you're my new 'master'. You look weak and tiny." the boy looks at the panther with a glare, "Ara so you're the thing I signed a contract with." it grinned, and then smoke enveloped it. When it cleared the panther was marginally smaller about the size of an actual panther, "Ah you have some spirit in you that's good, you're gonna need all that spirit if you want to survive the training I'll put you through." he looks at him with a maniacal smile that sent a chill through the young boy's spine, he swallowed but realized his mouth was dry, 'Shit I'm scared but I can tell he at least isn't here to kill me.' the boy nods to it, "I see, I thank you then for taking the time to train me. I am in your care." the panther laughs a deeply, "Good now…. let's fight." it lunges at the boy and he dodges but barely, "What, I thought you were going to train me?!", "I am but I need to know where you are at, and how much work I have for myself. Just know that in 2 years, you will be at the very least competent. Now FIGHT!" The boy dodges but this time isn't so lucky his shirt and stomach is cut, but it is not a deep wound.
He makes some distance from the giant cat akuma and get's into a ready position his bokken and magic ready for attack and defense.
The panther starts to slowly circle and corner the boy, it starts.
By the end of the fight it was clear who won, the boy's clothes were in tatters and he had numerous bruises and cuts all over his body, he was breathing haggardly and was only standing with the support of his weapon. He was completely depleted of his magic, and his endurance was at it's end. "Che, it seems that you at least are stubborn, but you are weak I have many things to work on with you but tomorrow. As for today, you are today and pushing your body any further would be foolish." the panther akuma, disappears into a shadow.
Silence fills the forest.
*End of Flashback*
'I knew it was going to be hard and it was these past 2 years I thought I was gonna die multiple times, I didn't obviously, but shit, if I didn't wish I did at times.' The young boy had faced only the 3rd strongest in the Tokiwa clan that day 2 years ago, and was beaten soundly. He had been training with one of the best teacher the clan had to offer and had come a long way since when he first came here. His endurance and magical capacity had grown exponentially and his hand to hand and weapon skills had also grown. The teacher of the young bo- no man was an akuma by the name of Miki, he had been chosen by the leader and strongest of the Tokiwa clan to become the teacher and companion for the new and most likely last master and summoner of the most powerful akuma in existence, only serving those who hold the magic of their clan and also only serving those who are chosen by 'HIM' the young man was most likely the last to be able to summon them and not have to trade their own and many others life's for a chance to summon even the weakest of warriors.
Yet the boy was still weak, at the very least in the akuma's eyes, but in the eyes of normal human's and even magical human's he was strong, very strong, almost S-class.
"Hey, Miki-sensei I was thinking since I am competent enough, can I go into town and buy some tickets for a trip to go to Magnolia. I hear that they are having the annual Rainbow Cherry Blossom viewing and I was thinking of moving to the town and finding a job." he looks at the akuma panther, it looks up from his resting place, "I see. It is fine I had been wondering when you were going to ask for this, and after all you do need money. Keep your chin up unless you want it cut off." he said it all with the same calm tone of voice.
The young man after being caught and roughed up a little (a lot) started his training in creating Shadow Illusions, being able to create illusion with shadows to distract the enemy. The akuma stood from his sunbathing spot, "Okay show me what you can do." the teen nods.
Shadow Illusion
The panther is surrounded by the visage of a field of flowers, the sky was clear and the wind carried the scent of life and happiness. He could hear the sound of a flowing river and the chirping of birds.
Valentine attacked him from behind, but Miki dodged. Though not without some of his fur being shaved off by the shadow sword construct. The akuma nods to the teen in slight approval, "Good the illusion got better and you took that chance to attack me, but work on your illusion more and also be faster. Do not hesitate on attack but do not charge in mindlessly. You will lose your life doing either." The boy nods at his teacher, "Good now you may go into town."
Valentine goes to the train station to purchase a ticket for himself and his companion, he then went to the nearest clothing shop and bought a few new outfits since he had outgrown his old clothes and they were also tattered from overuse and training.
The girl at the front register blushed when the teen came in since even though he was only 14, cut a dashing figure that was accentuated by the fact that his training made his body muscled and his walk elegant and light in case of attack. She spoke, "W-welcome to J-jade Emporium, i-is t-there a-anything I can help you w-with." the teen looked at the girl in slight surprise and gave her a kind smile, "Oh no thank you miss." she just nodded with hearts in her eyes. He sweatdropped, 'Ara is she alright, I can actually see the hearts. I wonder if there is a hot guy outside' the teen woefully unaware of his own charms and decided to ignore the young lady at the register, 'Eh might as well let her daydream, I know I had some of those when I worked a job.' he nods to himself and continues to the men's section of the clothing store and proceeds to buy 4 pairs of black tight denim pants, 2 pairs of khaki shorts, 2 turtle necked olive green shirts, 2 white button up long sleeved shirt, a black polka dot button up hawaiian style shirt and a maroon one with black edges. As he walked to the register he came upon a black cloak with silver detailing. He came up to the register and paid 23,000 jewel, the girl still had blush and heart shaped eyes, 'Okay I kind of want to see the guy she's daydreaming about if she's kept up the heart eyes this long he must be a hot piece of ass' he waves to her and heads out the door turning his back on the melting form of the smitten girl.
He heads to the shoe store, and buys 2 pairs of black boots that were lightweight and well made, a pair of dress shoes and a pair of sandals.
By the time he gets back to the forest with everything put away in his shadow dimension, "Miki, we have to get going the train will leave in a few minutes." the panther stretches and stands, heading to exit the forest. Valentine changes, picks up his backpack, and puts on his newly bought cloak, "Wait Miki you should probably transform since they don't allow animals on the train.", "Eh they should be grateful that I , a warrior from the Tokiwa Clan, is riding their vehicle." Valentine sweatdrops, "Yeah but you still won't be allowed on if you don't transform into your human form." the panther rolls his eyes in irritation, "Fine. Che stupid humans, I despise this form it does not show my true magnificence." he says in righteousness, 'Ara I like his human form it's fucking hot I approve.' the teen gains a slightly lecherous grin. Smoke surrounds the akuma and after it clears it leaves an elegant man with raven black hair and narrowed piercing grey eyes, wearing a traditional male kimono.
"How you humans can even fight with this body I have no idea….. What are you looking at shitty brat?!" he looks at Valentine with irritated eyes as he watches the teen clean the drool coming out of his mouth and regains his composure. "Pfft, nothing anyway we need to get going or we'll miss the train."
As they board the train they get the attention of numerous women enamored by their appearances, 'Yeah Miki is a sight to be seen (his personality is different story), but it doesn't mean to act like an idiot ladies' Valentine facepalms at the females reactions and gets ready for the departure of the train.
It was the first time he was leaving the area and he was slightly sad to see the town fading from his view, 'Oh well nothing ventured nothing gained right.' he gives the town a last smile and faces forward to his new future and hopes for the best.