Monday, August 14, 2006

   ReIncarnation, Chapter 2

Here we go. I'm posting the entire chapter, which is about 5 pages on Microsoft Word. Get ready for some reading!

(NOTE: If you need to read the first chapter, just check out my back entries. You'll find it sooner or later ^_^.)

Chapter Two: The Clash of Wind

Rikkan’s Wind Saber moved with seemingly impossible agility, slashing through the air with a low whistle. Hirocho evaded his blade, however, and struck back with his own oversized weapon. Rikkan parried it, and the sequence continued. The guards watched, their mouths hanging open, at the display of ability before them. They were lucky spectators to a rare event. And the cycle persisted.
Hirocho thrusted his large, club-like weapon forward. Rikkan parried it away, and slashed ahead. Hirocho was waiting for this opportunity, however, and ducked under the approaching blade. Rikkan saw what was happening, but was too late. Hirocho’s weapon burst upward and struck him lightly on the chin. He jumped back, stunned. Hirocho took advantage of the situation and rushed forward, expecting to finish the battle with one blow. He swung, amused, but connected with nothing but air.
“Looking for someone?” Rikkan asked from behind him. Hirocho swirled around, his face in disbelief.
“B-but how?!” Hirocho asked, his mouth agape.
“Wind, by its very nature, is quick. All I have to do is harness its speed.” Rikkan explained simply.
Of course!! Hirocho’s mind put it together. But for him to acquire it… He shook his head. Prodigy, again. This might take longer than he assumed.
Hirocho raised his enormous weapon “Prepare to be amazed by my strength!” he began with a grin.
“Stop posturing and get over with it,” Rikkan said.
Insolent whelp!! Hirocho thought again. But for once, he agreed with Rikkan. He muttered something under his breath and began to focus his energy. His hand began to resonate with the power of earth. He could feel his aura growing. The ground began to shake with his might. Hirocho’s face was stuck in a grimace.
A large crack appeared in the ground. It stopped at Hirocho’s feet. Then it began to split into multiple crevices. Giant chunks floated to his glowing palm. They convulsed and changed shape, then attached to his hand.
“More of the same, Hirocho?” Rikkan asked, but his jive went unnoticed. For Hirocho was completely focused on the weapon he was building, which was now extending its length. It now reached over five feet.
Hirocho grunted. As he lifted his now massive weapon, his guard gasped. The mighty club held erect, attached to his arm. “Rikkan, now you shall see what I can do,” he breathed. With these words, Hirocho slammed the club down fiercely; cracking the ground and making his guards jump with terror.
Rikkan’s eye’s narrowed. He stood still and battle ready; the Wind Saber still swirling restlessly around his arm. “Are you ready?” he asked simply.
Hirocho responded by rushing forward, the club held high. Rikkan, who was expecting a head-on attack, ran to meet him. Their weapon’s connected, and Rikkan bounded above him. Hirocho turned and met the falling blade. He broke Rikkan’s hold and skidded away.
They stood away for a moment, eyes making death-glares. Then Hirocho broke the silence with an astounding cry. “Simply amazing!” he yelled. The boy had warmed him up, most definitely. Hirocho shook his club at Rikkan. “You’ve got skills, boy, I’ll grant you that. But you haven’t the patience nor the time to learn the discipline required with them. This makes you weak, and I’ve taught you better, haven’t I?” He waited for a response, but the teen merely returned his stare.
“Quiet as always, eh? I know what it’s like. You’re filled with the fire that comes with one’s first real battle. You’re mouth’s stuck shut, and all you want to do is hit something.” Hirocho entered his stance. “You’ll get your chance.” Oh, yes, he would, thought Hirocho silently.
Rikkan’s mind was a whirlwind. He couldn’t think straight. Through his haze he saw Hirocho preparing to continue their bout. Suddenly everything cleared, and Rikkan had one thing on his mind: escape. Escape from the wretchedness that was his life here at the camp. Rikkan wanted to rejoin his brother, and his former teacher was in his way. Nothing would stand so long as Rikkan said it was not so. With this thought in mind, Rikkan charged recklessly.
Hirocho was shocked completely for the second time in minutes. What was the idiot boy thinking? All of a sudden, he was on Hirocho, swinging with reckless abandon. Hirocho futilely struggled to protect himself from the raining blows, but in mere seconds he was down.
“Cease!” he cried, but it was lost in the confusion. The boy had all his routes covered. Hirocho was savagely kicked in the face when he began to become extremely angry. He roared, and the ground began to shake once more. Rikkan was forcefully blasted off of his past mentor and landed a few yards away.
Hirocho gasped for breath. Reduced to this in mere seconds, and there were witnesses? Hirocho would not let it stand. He doubled up as pain stabbed into his chest. He would have plenty of bruises tomorrow morning, he reckoned. Hirocho found the strength to stand up somewhere, and glowered at Rikkan. At least, he could see, the boy was breathing heavily, but with reasonably less marks on his person.
Rikkan stood finally. He could see with distaste that his hands were shaking. He would have to exercise better restraint in the future. Rikkan looked at what his ex-teacher had been reduced to, and realized the full extent of his attack. He would have to call it off. “Give up, Honda. It’s over.” He extended his hand, as if to help him stand.
Hirocho managed to gasp out a single word, “No.”
Rikkan heard the decline, and he was amazed. Even now the old man would not give up. You had to feel pride for the old guy. He managed a small smile, but it quickly went away as Hirocho got to his feet. He was staring daggers at Rikkan. “Oh, crap,” Rikkan was able to say before he was thrusted into battle once again.
They kept up with each other superbly, considering what they had gone through. It was a deadly game of cat and mouse, as Rikkan, the smaller of the two, evaded the large swings of Hirocho’s club. The length of the battle was getting to him, however, and his stamina was wearing. Hirocho detected this and used it to his advantage. He swung more heavily, and caused the battle to go on much longer.
Finally they parted. Rikkan was dripping with sweat. His legs trembled with exhaustion. Hirocho saw it and decided to finish the duel. He assumed the necessary position for the earthen move he would perform.
Rikkan realized his plan, for he had witnessed this move many times before, often times he the target of it during training sessions. It was the Ground Shatter technique, and it was a very powerful move used in dire situations. For Hirocho to use it now mean only one thing: Rikkan was to not make it out of here alive.
Hirocho focused all of the energy, or chakra, in his body to his feet. He could feel the strength of his body fading and the immense power that now lied within his feet. He crouched down, and then with a mighty grunt he leaped into the air. Rikkan backed away and prepared himself for the landing. And land Hirocho did, with a massive split of the ground. It broke apart loudly and several crevices were lifted up higher than he.
Rikkan moved into action at once. He scaled the huge crevices, jumping from one rock to the other. Hirocho was moving as well, and they met upon the highest one. Knowing what the other was going to do, they ran at each other, their weapons meeting in the middle. There they continued their battle, with much swinging and grunting. Hirocho got the upper hand in the battle, however, and forced Rikkan back. Rikkan was eventually pushed to the edge of the rock and struggled to stay on.
“This ends now, Rikkan,” Hirocho breathed in Rikkan’s face.
“No, it doesn’t!” Rikkan cried. In one swift move, he moved under Hirocho and deactivated his Wind Saber. Grabbing Hirocho’s arm, he made a small whirlwind around his hand and attached it to Hirocho’s.
“Hey! What the–” Hirocho began, but his unfinished question was stopped by Rikkan, who was now behind him.
“Now it ends, Hirocho,” Rikkan said, and lifted his foot above the prostrate Hirocho.
Hirocho managed to see Rikkan’s movement. “Uh, oh ” he started, but he didn’t have a chance to finish as Rikkan smashed his foot into the back of his head hard enough to break the whirlwind and send him crashing into the crevice that he created.
The guards’ mouths hung open stupidly. They gaped at their fallen commander and were oblivious to Rikkan, who still stood on the cliff, panting hard. He stayed there for a moment longer, then he jumped, landing lightly near the exit. He took one last look at his past home for seven years, then, with a swish of his cloak, he ran through the gate that separated him from freedom. The guards made no move to stop him, and even if they did, they would fall effortlessly. Rikkan was going to his brother.

Hope you enjoyed it. Later.
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