Sato accepted the man''s help as he took his hand and rose to his feet. "Thanks. And yeah, we''re looking for Niji the Warrior Bakemono."


    The man turned to face the ships docked at the harbor. "I see. Well if you plan to take the ferry, I''m afraid you''ll have to wait a while. It''s closed down for the month."


    Sato''s shoulders slumped down, "Aw man. You''ve gotta be kidding me. Well, what are we going to do now?"


    The sea breeze blew Arashi''s orange hair around. "Isn''t it obvious?" We''ll just find another way to Silverwald Country. We''ll swim if we have to! I''m not stopping until Niji''s cold lifeless body is before my eyes."


    The green man put his hand on Arashi''s shoulder. "I want Niji dead as well. He killed my younger brother. However, there is a fine line between revenge and insanity. I suggest you remember that line well young man. Oh, by the way, my name is Hikaru Warrior Bakemono. But don''t worry no other connection to Niji whatsoever."


    Sato pointed his thumb towards his face. "I''m Sato, also a Warrior Bakemono. What up?"


    Sakura introduced herself next, "My name is Sakura, Strength Bakemono. Nice to meet ya."


    Ai jumped up, "I''m Ai, Magic Bakemono."


    Arashi shook Hikaru''s hand," You can call me Arashi. I''m the last of the Fire-Bat Bakemono."


    Hikaru scanned Arashi, "Oh so then you''re the survivor, huh? A bit younger than I excepted you to be."


    Arashi scowled at Hikaru, "Got a problem?"


    "No, not at all. In fact, I''m rather impressed. Anyway, so you kids are traveling all around without any adult supervision?" Hikaru inquired noticing the young ages of the kids standing in front of him. "If you are, would you mind allowing me to accompany you?"


    Sato looked reluctant but eventually answered, "Sure you can join us. But not as a supervisor. As a friend." Sato gave Hikaru a warm smile.


    Hikaru smiled in return, "Sounds good. Oh and Sato. I know you''re a human."


    Sato nervously stepped back, "I don''t know what you''re talking about Hikaru."


    "No use in trying to lie. It''s obvious. All Warrior Bakemono carry at least one weapon with them at all times. No exceptions." Hikaru tossed Sato a bronze sword and a sheath, "There you go. Even if you do still want to illustrate weapons. This should at least keep you from blowing your cover. Now you need to train, Sato. As you are now, you''re not nearly strong enough to defeat Niji."


    Sakura laughed, "Yeah, you would get your ass whopped."


    Sato sighed, "Could you go one day without lowering my self-esteem please?"


    Hikaru frowned, "Sakura that goes for you and Arashi as well."


    "Ha! So I guess Mister and Misses Perfect, aren''t so great after all." Sato mocked them. He was glad he finally got his chance to take a shot at them. Even if it was just a little one. Especially Sakura, he never got to mock Sakura before.


    Hikaru pointed at Sato, "However, you''re the worst off. So you''re going first. Come on." Hikaru walked off with Sato.


    Jazzy music started playing as Sakura, Ai, and Arashi walked into a restaurant. Its tables were decorated elegantly but simply with a plain white table cloth and a candle in the middle. A waiter escorted them to their seat.


    Arashi looked around the room, "Does it have to be so fancy? And why do I have to wear these things?" Arashi looked down at his brown dress shoes in disgust. They felt so stuffy he was ready to kick them off at any moment. Or burn them off...whichever came first.


    Sakura answered Arashi as she sat down, "Because it''s a public place. Haven''t you ever heard of no shirt no shoes no service?" She carefully placed her napkin on her black dress.


    Arashi fumbled with his black tie. "No. But that means I can take off my pants, right?"


    Sakura sweatdropped, "Do that and I''ll kill you."


    Ai clacked her red heels together, "I wonder how big brother is doing."


    A gray blade came thrusting down on Sato''s sword he held just inches above his head, causing sparks to appear. Hikaru swirled around and thrust towards Sato''s backside.The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    Sato ducked and rolled out of the way. He took a few breaths while on his knees for a while before Hikaru came dashing towards him. Their distance easily closed in a matter of seconds.


    Sato readied his sword. Hikaru knocked it out of Sato''s hands with his blade. He pointed the sword towards the middle of Sato''s face just an inch away.


    "You lose," Hikaru put his sword back in its sheath.


    "Damn," Sato cursed as he got up rubbing the grass stains on his black jeans. "This bites."


    "You have to think of the sword as an extension of your body. Otherwise when you fight it seems rough and flawed. Become one with the sword. Once you do that your movements will flow more naturally, allowing you to focus on not handling the sword but instead defeating your enemy. Got it?"


    "Got it! Sato''s eyes had a burning determination in them now. He was ready to get stronger. "Okay! Let''s go again, Hikaru!"


    Hikaru smiled, "Now that''s what I like to hear. Hikaru bent his knees and held his sword firmly in front of his body. He gave Sato a come and get it gesture.


    Sato picked up his sword, which to his surprise hadn''t disappeared yet. He slashed his sword at Hikaru only for it to be quickly countered. He brought his sword down from above and Hikaru blocked Sato''s attempt.


    Hikaru attacked, his sword coming from the left. Sato made a close quick counter knocking the blade back.


    A man walked into the restaurant where Sakura, Ai, and Arashi were. He walked up to the counter, metal chains dangling from his baggy jeans. People stared at the man''s bare feet sticking and unsticking to the polished and waxed floor with every step.


    Once he got up to the counter where the hostess was standing, she looked nervous. "Um, sir. I''m sorry to say this. But you''re out of dress code. So I''m afraid you''ll have to leave." She stared at the man''s black muscle shirt with a gray skull emblem on it.


    The man flipped his long brown hair from the back to the right side of his face revealing his bat wings, "I''m sorry. I will just be a minute." The man made a murderer''s grin, "Is Yamagata Satoshi here?"


    Everyone in the room started mumbling about this, "Yamagata Satoshi". Sakura and Ai looked at each other uncomfortably. Arashi had fallen asleep with lettuce in his mouth. The man walked up to their table. "I''m looking for him on orders of Niji, the Warrior Bakemono."


    Arashi woke up as soon as heard this and grabbed the brunette man by the shirt, "Where is Niji?" He didn''t know who this guy was and he didn''t care. All that mattered was he knew where Niji was. And Arashi was prepared to do anything to get that information.


    The man just laughed, "I knew that would get your attention. Now allow me to introduce myself. I''m Yoshi, Wind-Bat Bakemono. And Niji''s right-hand man. I''m here on a mission to kill Yamagata Satoshi. And I know you''re his friends. So where is he?"


    Arashi tightened his grip on Yoshi, "If you tell me Niji''s location. I''ll give you Sato."


    Sakura and Ai both objected, "Arashi no!"


    Arashi turned his head towards them while still holding a smirking Yoshi. "Why not? I told you before. You''re not my friends. So don''t be surprised if I end up selling you out." Nothing was going to stop Arashi from getting to Niji. And if he had to hand over Sato, Sakura or Ai or even his right arm, then so be it. He was getting his revenge no matter what he had to do.


    Yoshi laughed again, "You know what? I like you kid. It''s too bad. I don''t play bargainer." Yoshi smashed his fist against Arashi''s face. He opened it and a blast of wind blew Arashi back slamming him into the wall on the other side of the room.


    "You are so dead now," Arashi kicked off his dress shoes and clasped his hand around his tie burning it with his flaming claws.


    Hey, that was Hikaru''s tie you know," Sakura warned Arashi.


    "Whatever, kind of in the middle of something else right now." Arashi charged for Yoshi, his arms following in the back. He brought his claws forward enveloping them in orange flames. "Die!" Arashi slashed away at Yoshi, not once making direct contact. Not even the heat from the flames was injuring Yoshi. "What?" Arashi was shocked he hadn''t managed to even make a scratch on Yoshi. Was he really not able to kill? If that was the case then how would he get his revenge?


    Yoshi''s eerie murdering grin returned to his features once more, "You done? Okay then, my turn." Yoshi remained in the same position as a huge hurricane started brewing in the restaurant.


    Everyone started panicking running around or jumping out the windows for their lives. Sakura tried to calm them down, "Hey everyone, please don''t panic okay?" All of the civilians ignored Sakura.


    Yoshi raised a fist at Arashi. As soon as he opened it a huge blast of wind shot out, knocking Arashi through the wall landing outside on the street. "Pathetic," Yoshi scowled, his gray eyes glaring down at Arashi. "Don''t you know your fire is useless against my wind? By using my wind I can shield myself from your fire, redirect it or just plain put it out. You''re no match for me kid. Even if you did somehow survive the massacre of the Fire-Bat Bakemono. Us Wind-Bat Bakemono are always one step ahead of you low-lives." Yoshi''s wind cut up Arashi leaving several deep wounds on his face and body.


    Arashi screamed in pain as Yoshi''s wind attacks became greater and greater with every blow. Yoshi laughed, "Now this is fun! I wonder how long it''ll take you to die?" An aura of wind surrounded Yoshi as he levitated into the sky. "Let''s find out!" This time Yoshi started off with an open palm. He closed it and in response all of the air around where Arashi was standing collapsed in on him.


    Arashi let out a loud scream as blood poured from his mouth. Yoshi smiled, "And again!" He repeated the same pattern only this time the attack was more devastating as he had focused in on a smaller radius around Arashi. Arashi''s scream was even louder this time. Even more blood poured out from his mouth and nose. He could barely move any part of his body besides his right arm and left leg.


    Yoshi grinned like the mad man he was, "I''m enjoying your pain. But you know what they say, third time''s the charm." Yoshi repeated his attack bringing his hand forward and closing it, causing the air around Arashi to collapse once more this time only stretching out as far as Arashi''s own width. Dust blew up from the collision."Bye-bye."


    Yoshi frowned, "What? No screaming?"


    The dust from the attack cleared up and Arashi was still standing, blue flames swerving around him. "No screams. Not from me anyway." He closed his fist causing the blue flames to become larger. "Now, let''s see how long it takes you to die. Ready? Go!"