(Thirty minutes ago, just before the battle between Double and Kashikoi commenced.)
"What are you saying, vessel? My father? Just what the hell are you saying!" Kazu yells.
The two stand face to face, Kairoji''s once laughter-filled visage now etched with questions, taken aback by Kazu''s confusion yet maintaining a stoic countenance.
"Are you that clueless when it comes to your father? You never took the time to learn who he is?" Kairoji asks.
"No... because I thought he was dead," Kazu says.
Kairoji''s eyes widened as Kazu''s words sank in, causing him to realize that Kazu had been abandoned. The mess created by Joki, Double, and Kazu was nearly impossible to overlook. The fact that Kazu''s father had never searched for him underscored the true nature of the man he was reminded of.
"I won''t sit here and try to make you wait for an answer. I''ll tell you straight up, your father is alive, but his whereabouts are unknown," Kairoji says.
"How do you know this? What relation do you have to my father?" Kazu says.
The rain poured even louder over Kairoji and Kazu, a look of fear etched on Kazu''s face, while Kairoji displayed one of sympathy, as if he could understand and relate to everything Kazu was feeling.
"I met him a long time ago, and we did business together. Your father did a lot of bad things to me though, things I will not name," Kairoji says.
Kairoji had been under the assumption that Kazu was in cahoots with his father, fueling the rage he felt for Kazu, but as he looked at Kazu, he saw nothing but a scared and confused boy.
Kairoji takes his right arm and points at Kazu''s sword. Kazu looks down and notices his sword going from a full of light aura to a dark and gloomy one, just like he saw when he was inside the cabin.
"Sakusei''s aren''t what''s unique. What''s unique are the abilities people possess that come strictly from either inheritance or are crafted from the user''s own means. The ability to teleport is only possible because of the aura you possess. It''s special, just like your father''s, which is the sole reason I brought you here," Kairoji says.
"Then you can help me! I have nothing to do with my father. Surely that has to mean something, right? Allow me to know more about my father so that I can understand what he''s done," Kazu says, tears running down his face.
"Yeah, you''re right. I''ll help you, kid," Kairoji says.
Kazu smiled, a look of relief washing over his face. But as quickly as the smile appeared, Kairoji began to stride towards him. Extending his hand, he sought a handshake.
Kazu puts out his hand, looking to shake hands with Kairoji and join him, but suddenly, Kairoji palms Kazu in the chest as his hands begin to glow white.
"Why? I have nothing to do with my father. Why are you..." Kazu says.
"I''ll honor my word, I''ll assist you, but that doesn''t mean my objective has ceased. I still need a vessel with an aura like yours, for what it''s worth. I''m sorry," Kairoji says.
Kairoji''s body starts to glow white, and Kazu''s body follows suit, albeit more gradually. The sensation of drowning overwhelms Kazu, rendering it difficult for him to speak.
"Listen, kid, in your final moments, I''ll bestow this onto you," Kairoji says.
(5 Years In The Past, April 19th, 1815, Louisville, Kentucky.)
A field of smoke had erupted, and through that smoke came a man named Valor, who had been holding a picture in his hand.
Valor picks up a radio and begins signaling to someone.
"Eleven years old, correct? The child is still alive? Don''t search for him. Leaving him alone is the safest option. He''s my son, so he''s likely to do a lot of damage if you push him over the edge. He could be dangerous," Valor says, dropping the communication device on the ground.
"Not that I''d be scared of your kid, but that''s your flesh and blood. Shouldn''t you..." Before the man he signaled to could finish his words, the communication disconnected.Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.
Valor ends the connection and proceeds to walk into the destroyed city of Louisville. As he walks for two hours, he notices a group of people coming out of an abandoned warehouse with huge bags in their hands.
''I don''t think I''m fit to do it anymore — to take care of a kid and risk everything. It''s scary, but that''s all I am, after all. I''ve accepted that I''m a coward, but I don''t care.'' Valor reflects inwardly.
"Hey!" One of the men yelled.
Valor had widened his eyes, as he had now noticed the people in front of him. Valor had been so deep in thought that he completely zoned out everything around him.
The man leading the group of people was Kairoji, who had stood there with an angry expression.
"You know, deadbeats like you get killed for much less. Leaving your kid behind? You must have a death wish," Kairoji says.
"Leaving my kid behind? Ahh I see now, you or one of these men had taken my friend hostage. Oh well, no friend of mine would be taken out by a bunch of weak men," Valor says.
Kairoji''s face contorted with even more anger as he swiftly charged at Valor, accompanied by all of his men. Valor deftly drew his sword with his right hand, and in a flash dispatched every single one of Kairoji''s men, leaving only Kairoji himself alive.
"Let that be a lesson to you, rebuild your men, and come back to face me one day. Don''t you ever think to face me without your ability either?" Valor says.
"You haven''t even touched me, I haven''t even shown you what I''m capable of, but you''re already talking to me like this fight is over?" Kairoji asks.
"Considering you couldn''t even save a single one of your men, and you''re in perfect range for me to cut your head off, yes," Valor says.
Valor walks off into the distance, his back facing Kairoji, but too scared to make a move. Kairoji sits on the ground, and screams out of frustration.
As Valor continued to move forward, he noticed a woman in the doorway of the warehouse he was heading towards. He tries to walk past her, ignoring her presence, but she laughs, catching his attention.
"You don''t even pay me any mind. I''m going to guess this is your territory, right? Yet you didn''t cut me down the moment you saw me?" The woman said.
"I see no reason to cut down weak people, but make yourself comfortable if you want. It doesn''t matter to me," Valor says.
As Valor takes a seat, the woman begins to walk forward, lighting a cigarette as Valor closes his eyes.
"You know, I didn''t go out because of those men. They were ruthless, but since you cut them down, I guess I''m in your debt," The woman says.
"I don''t like owing people, and I don''t like people being in debt to me, so don''t worry about it," Valor says.
The woman takes a picture, and puts her hand out to Valor. Valor reacts and quickly snatches the photo. The photo had been of him holding his son, with a smile on his face.
"Is that your son?" The woman asks.
"Listen, I appreciate you handing this back to me, but you''d best mind your damn business," Valor says.
"Alright, alright, I won''t ask any further. It just seems to me that you care a lot about him, he''s rather young in that photo though," The woman says.
Valor, now sitting up, begins to think about his son, times where he used to smile and feel genuine joy.
"He''s dead to me now, I don''t even wanna think about him," Valor says.
(Present Day)
"That''s all I can tell you, your father was a ruthless swordsman. Killing anyone who stepped in his way, I practically fought and clawed my way into getting this information. Once I did, I made it my personal mission to find him, but you ended up being... different than he was," Kairoji says.
Kazu''s face turns pale, and sorrow is the only emotion evident on his face. Kairoji takes on a serious expression, and holds his hand out.
"Thank you for telling me. I wish I could return the favor by allowing you to use me as a vessel. But things have changed," Kazu says.
Kazu kicks Kairoji in the chest and pulls out his sword. Kairoji''s hand glowing white had been due to the activation of his ability. Once the white in his hand completely goes away, Kazu will become the vessel for Kairoji.
"You called me a coward earlier, but looking at you right now. It looks like you were planning to take the coward''s way out, and end this fast. I won''t allow that. I may not be Double or Joki, but I am still a threat," Kazu says.
Kazu grabs his sword with his right hand and swings it at Kairoji''s legs. The slash only hitting Kairoji''s right leg, but Kairoji quickly jumps out of the way after taking the damage.
"This is the thanks I get for telling you about your father? Why won''t you just shut the hell up and die?" Kairoji says, pulling out a dagger from his scabbard.
"Because I realize that dying wouldn''t be fair, I wanna do to that scumbag what he did to me. Leaving me out, and then being too much of a coward to even acknowledge that I was a child that could have died on my own. I''m lucky to be here, so no, I won''t just die, and if you get in my way, I will end your life," Kazu says.
Kairoji stands there and begins laughing. His laughter is loud but can only be heard by the two of them as they stand off in front of each other.
"Just like earlier, you trusted me. But in the blink of an eye, I betrayed you. They will do the same, and you won''t be strong enough to defend yourself once they do. What will you do then?" Kairoji asks.
Kazu started charging his aura, his thoughts already painting a grim picture of potential defeat in the impending battle. Kazu never confronted an opponent with such overwhelming odds against him, without any allies by his side. Yet, despite the encroaching fear, a smile crept onto his face. It was a small gesture, an attempt to muster confidence amidst the uncertainty of the situation. With every surge of power, he drew upon that smile as a source of inner strength, determined to win against Kairoji.
"Who knows, I just know that we refuse to follow behind the evil people who feel what''s happening in the world is right. Double, along with Joki, will emerge victorious in this battle. And me? I''ll do the best I can to take you down as well," Kazu says.
Anticipating Kazu''s teleportation, Kairoji swiftly shifts his dagger into his right hand, poised for the imminent clash. True to his anticipation, Kazu materializes and swiftly swings his sword with his left hand, meeting Kairoji''s blade in a resounding clash. With this dramatic clash, the battle between Kazu and Kairoji begins.