Note: Thanks for the reviews…. Correct me on my grammar because I'm writing differently than I normally do so if u see a mistake, PM me… hah… I hate grammar…. I'm NOT an English major, ok?!
***flails self to floor and throws a ten-minute tantrum***
How you say my OC's name: Ah-ku-Me ;p
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"You have trained long and hard for this moment, Akumi, you are ready to take upon the journey and honor of avenging our people."
Akumi Tigahari stands before all in her village, dressed in the honorary cloth of her people. Silken materials made from the finest muletar's in their land caress her skin, making it feel like the steady flow of water from the Yakitan River instead of clothing. Her bright, sky blue eyes stare up at one of the few elders that were male, his white hair a stark contrast to his black, ceremonial robes. His frail hands rest upon her shoulders and she straightens, ignoring locks of her hair that fall from their binding into her eyes. Her mentor, her teacher, and who she considered to be her father smiles as her while carefully pulling her hair back behind her elven-shaped ears. He turns to one of his younglings, someone just entering their phases of training, and they come forward, bowing while producing a plum colored pillow and on them are the weapons Akumi have been training with since the ripe age of three. These, however, bore the crest of her people, and are made of the finest metals found in the south of her world.
There are many names for these weapons, she remembers, but her people call them dogi. Metal shaped into three separate prongs; the paired weapons are deadly in the right hands. Her mentor at first pressed her to use the taki, or swords as some call them, but upon seeing her fast and sharp movements and her boredom of the taki, he had switched to the dogi and ever since then she has grown into the warrior she hoped her birth father and current mentor would be proud of.
Akumi watches as her master, Kenji, deftly lift the weapons from their pillow, turn to her, then get down on one knee. She inhales sharply, for never had he gone down on one knee before her in her entire life. Others around them follow suit and swallowing the sudden panic in her throat her slightly shaking hands take the weapons. They were the right weight and she would enjoy breaking them in later, but for now she turns to her people and crosses the dogi above her head, the pointed ends gleaming in the setting sun. Her people erupt in a frenzy of cheers and she knows she is on the right path.
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Much later, Akumi awakens with a start in her bed. Sweat makes her hair stick to her forehead and the back of her neck and the thin layer of sheets are a tangled mess around her legs. She had the dream again, the same dream she's had for a few weeks now. Always the same she is battling the one, HIM, the enemy she is to eliminate for her people, and something goes wrong. She reaches out to someone, a green blur who screams out her name but it is too late. She rubs her chest, where her own dogi slices through in her dream. Hands shakily pull her legs free of the sheets and she gets out of bed. Going to her window she walks through the sheer curtains that led out onto her balcony. Sighing, her hands rest on a railing and her eyes move up to stare at the three moons.
There is a story about them, how three goddesses waged war on each other, each wanting this land for their own. So consumed in their hatred for another they forgot all else and angered by his daughter's scorn their father entrapped them each into a moon to forever glimpse at what they wanted so badly, but could not have because of their hate. The purple moon held Isolde, powerful and able to maneuver water with a single thought. The red moon was Andel, the more wrathful of the sisters it is said her armies took out numerous villages without mercy and that the sound of the howling wind that frightens children at night is actually her battle cry. The blue moon was Lenora, the more peaceful of the sisters she had tried to claim peace numerous times but in the end, she ended up swept away in the battle like the rest of them, a story that is now told to all children to keep their anger in check. Her, especially, when she was a younger sprout without a care in the world for the rules: and often getting in trouble by her mother or elder cousin.
"Akumi? Darling why are you awake?" asks a soft voice behind her and Akumi turns to see her mother standing in the doorway wearing her deep blue night dress and matching robe. Her snow white hair hung in loose curls around her angled face, her brown eyes almost looking black in the night.
"I had that dream," said Akumi, frowning before looking up at the red moon. "It was so real."
"I am sorry, daughter," said her mother, Kimi. "Do you wish to talk about it?"
"No. I am fine." Akumi looks at her mother, a frown marring her face. "Can you tell me again? How it was like before the war?"
Kimi nods before motioning her daughter back into her room. Akumi follows, glancing behind her at the blue moon once more before entering her room. She sits beside her mother, curling her legs beneath her. Kimi tucks a strand of almost black hair behind her daughter's ear before putting her hands in her lap.
"Long ago, before you were born, a being came to our planet."
"Ch'rell," whispers Akumi.
"Yes," said Kimi. "Ch'rell... Before, we were a peaceful place. Then he came and all war broke out. Many died and when he left we found that all who were left were the women and children. He had taken our men, your father included, into slavery. Where he went is unknown but what he left behind is the key to finding him."
"And I am to use it tomorrow," said Akumi, straightening in her seat. "I will bring vengeance upon our people."
"Oh, Akumi, I lost your father and now I am losing you as well."
"Mother, we spoke of this. I am ranked highest of all the elite…"
"Who are made of women who should be focusing on finding a boy and-"
"Mother, I am only seventeen cycles, and all the boys around here are not for me. They speak out of turn and are rude and have no respect for a female warrior. This is what I am to do, and tomorrow I will go through the portal."
"And if you never come back?" asks Kimi, eyes large and wide.
Akumi looks deeply into her mother's eyes.
"Know that I love you."
"Akumi," whispers Kimi before she pulls her daughter to her chest and holds her. "I love you, so, little bird."
"And I you, mother."
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"Are you ready?" asks Kimi, finishing up her daughter's hair, braiding the strands out of her face and back into a binding atop her head.
"Yes," answers Akumi, rising from her seat. She looks at the full length mirror in her room. She was dressed much differently than she had been yesterday. Black silk surrounded her body, light armor made by a blacksmith donning her body in the important areas. Braids secure, Akumi pulls the covering for her head up, the final wrap around her face masking all but her charcoal lined eyes. Her dogi are strapped to her thighs, her gloved hands flexing around the handles before she steps away from the mirror. "I am ready."
Kimi nods then steps aside as Akumi exits the tent she had been allowed to ready herself in. Drums beat steadily as she makes her way forward through a throng of people. They part, eyes anxious. She heard whispers, some wishing her luck and others saying she was being put up for the slaughter. She ignored those, instead focusing on her master that held a sword wrapped in cloth, a sword that was said to be most powerful. It was a gift from the Gods, and those that have wielded it before have perished, and that is what she feared most. What if she was not worthy? Would she end up a pile of ash like the others before her?
Slowly her master unravels the cloth, the gleaming sword flashing where unfamiliar symbols were etched. This is the sword the gods from the Third Earth had bestowed upon them, the head of the realm known by one name: Daimyo. His messenger, Gyoji, had said that only one with true honor and heart would be accepted into the battle to avenge the wrongs of her people, and Akumi was hoping she was it.
Meeting the eyes of her master she held his gaze and breathed in deeply before turning out to the crowd. Her eyes met her mothers and she gave her mother one last nod before reaching out and taking the sword. At first, nothing happened, and then she felt a spark that traveled up her fingers to her wrist. She held on, not letting go of the sword as others had, and grit her teeth as more and more sparks erupted. Some gasped and stepped back, others remained rooted on the spot as a large bolt of lightning exited the sword and wrapped itself around Akumi. The light got blindingly bright then suddenly it was gone…
Along with the sword and Akumi.
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Disorientated, Akumi stumbles slightly, hand reaching out and bracing on something solid to steady her swaying body. Blinking rapidly she takes in the feel of damp stone and green spots fade away to darkened sky and large buildings that put those in her village to shame. Lightning, similar to the kind on her home planet save for it was a bright blue instead of green, pierces the sky, making her jump along with the sounds below her.
Also, the heavens were emptying onto her, drenching her from head to toe. Peering over a ledge she swallows in slight fear from the height she is at, hand that is still on the sword clenching with worry as a monstrous boom makes her jump as lightning once again webbed in the sky.
"You are a fierce warrior," she says out loud, scolding herself. "Be strong. Do not act like a sprout exploring the world for the first time."
However, she was exploring THIS world for the first time. Sighing, she closes her eyes and opens them with a new resolve. The Gyoji said that the sword would bring her within striking distance of Ch'rell so he had to be near. So, ignoring the pouring rain, flashing lighting, and terrifying thunder she narrows her eyes and begins to explore. Some things, like the vents from air ducts and even a stray cat breaks her concentration but the all familiar sound of metal on metal she remembers from training has her body silently moving in one direction.
What she sees when leaping from one building to another startles her. There, off in the distance, she sees something familiar. Something, no, someONE from her dreams. HIM. A flash of green wielding two long taki slashing as others wearing black garments surround him. A part of her becomes mesmerized as she observes him taking down one opponent after another. His grace and training is clear, his strikes sure, but she also sees he is tired. When one wave is taken down another arrives and soon he is standing on the surface, rain pouring down his body, victorious. Then others arrive and Akumi lets out a sound of protest as they turn invisible, taking him down to his knees.
A part of her was conflicted. She was there for a reason and one reason only but seeing HIM in distress has her sheathing the sword at her back and taking out her dogi. Calculating her best route she sprints forward only to gasp in horror as he is tossed over the edge of a building.
"NO," she gasps, sliding to a halt and watching in horror as he falls. Then, miraculously, he grips onto a ledge and stops his decent, making her sigh with relief and then be nothing but impressed once again. He keeps surprising her, but the fall has made him even weaker and now she was more resolved to get to his side. Then, for some reason, he stills and blinds himself with his eye covering. Before she can wonder as to why he is slashing at thin air and sparks erupt before men fall to the ground. He had used his hearing to find the enemy! Impressive, so impressive she was perhaps a little jealous. His skill, it was fascinating and just… Her inner girl was impressed, and that was all she was to say on the matter!
He is on the run after the blind victory and she follows, blending with the shadows as she was taught and he stops once again to battle others when suddenly, a large and massive being steps forward. He is monstrous, at a towering height and Akumi knew, as the green creature was tossed back, that it was time to enter the battle. As the man comes forward with a large, metal pipe she jumps, lightning flashing her silhouette onto the buildings surrounding her, and kicks out at the man's face.
The man, not having expected the attack, stumbles back: dropping his weapon with a clang onto the rooftop just as the one Akumi was protecting got to his feet, a single taki in his grasp. Her eyes slide to his and he grants her a nod of thanks before lashing out with a forward, aerial kick: foot planting in the middle of the man's chest and making him stumble back and fall into a structure that crumbles on top of him. He turns and speaks a single word to the others and they are so startled they rush away, leaving her alone with the creature.
He turns to her and his eyes widen, as if he recognizes her. He speaks to her again and she shakes her head. She cannot understand his language and luckily her race has a gift that the gods blessed them with. Slowly she stashes away her dogi then lets the covering atop her head fall and once again the creature before her gasps and this time he speaks more ferociously and Akumi wonders at that moment that if she even understood his language, if she'd have caught what he said.
Grasping the armored chest of his body her fingers curl into his plates and pulls him forward and as the lightning flashes and the rains pour she presses her lips to his. His voice breaks with a slight squeak and his body tenses as her tongue comes forward and connects with his. Her people call this "The Connection" and his culture calls it a…. kiss. Yes, kiss would be the right word for it.
She hears a clatter and realizes he has dropped his taki to the ground and with a final sweep of her tongue she pulls back and looks up at him. His face is taking on a funny hue of red and his eyes are closed. She is also certain his breathing is elevated.
"The connection is complete," Akumi whispers.
"C-connection?" he gasps, eyes opening, looking dark and almost dangerous.
"To understand your language a connection must be made." Akumi's head tilts to the side. "I had to make the connection."
"I… Oh. Oh! Ah." He rubs the back of his neck, looking embarrassed. Why, she wonders. "I see."
"You are a wonderful fighter. I've been watching you and the way you took on the enemy was… very impressive."
And like that he tenses, eyes darting to the shadows, as if remember where he was and what it was he was doing.
"Thank you for your help, but it's dangerous. I cannot let you be in danger because of me."
"I am looking for someone. Ch'rell, do you know him?"
"I… no."
"Oh," she says, frowning in disappointment. "I must find him. You are hurt and weakened from battle. Let me help you. My people would be most upset if I ignore someone in need."
"You keep saying "your people"," he says, picking up his taki. "What do you mean?"
"I will explain," answers Akumi just as a shadow flashes in her peripheral vision. "As soon as we are not involved in battle."
"I am Leonardo."
"Akumi."
"Come, Akumi, we must get to the others."
Others? Before she could question he was off at a sprint and she was behind him, dashing between more strange buildings as the shadows started to enclose from all sides. A part of her was excited for the battle, never having fought outside of training, but the inexperienced part of her faltered at the number of opponents closing in. They were in trouble.
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Coming to the ledge they halt, feet sliding due to the water standing on the rooftop. Leonardo whirls around, katana drawn as the mysterious girl, Akumi, draws out her own sai. His heart is still racing from the kiss, his FIRST kiss, something he shouldn't even be thinking of with Hun and about twenty of his men closing in. Gasping for breath, Leonardo centers his mind, pushing out all thoughts of his first kiss, the girl with the beautiful elven shaped ears, and focuses on his enemies before him. He has to get them out of here, and fast, so with a roar he lurches forward. Slice, dodge, flip, kick, slice, punch, leap, block, kick, and soon they all just stop and bow. Confused, Leonardo looks around and halts when seeing four mysterious men behind him, holding an array of weaponized bo staffs and wearing what resembled samurai attire: red eyes glowing menacingly in the dark. The girl whispers something he doesn't understand and suddenly she is leaping forward and he follows, they land in a puff of smoke, their enemy now down by Hun instead of the rooftop they had been residing.
"Are they, as you call them… Demons?" she asks, her soft voice trembling slightly.
"No," said Leonardo. "Just really good."
"Oh…narphel!"
"What?" he asks.
"I believe it is the same "curse word" you use for excrement."
"I… oh."
Then suddenly, they all turn as a group. Hun, Foot Ninja, Foot Techs, and the new warriors he has yet to battle bow and a sudden sense of dread fills him. Slowly, he looks in the direction they are bowing, and everything fades away.
"No," he whispers as the figure in the distance stands like a statue. Were his eyes playing tricks on him? All the blood drains from his face and he almost, almost drops his katana in shock, for there: standing in the shadows…
Is the Shredder.
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TBC!
Reviews loved and cherished! :)
Definition: muletar- a sheep-like creature with a single horn on its forehead, usually black or white