Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Chapter 2 - Passing of the Crown
As they ride through the city, the peasant demons bow to Eiji.

When they finally get out of town, Nara looks around wide eyed in amazement.

"Those books don't compare to the real thing do they?" Eiji asks.

Nara shakes his head.

The two of them ride off at full gallop. They come to a small village and rest for the night. Over the course of the next year and a half the two of them will of visited most of the villages in the demon realm.

They ride into a very small village one afternoon and are greeted by the village elder.

"Welcome travelers." He says.

"Thank you. I was wondering if my son and I could work for a room and a meal for the night?" Eiji asks.

"Of course. Please follow me." The elder replies and leads them to the rice fields, "Misaka, would you kindly show them what to do." The elder says.

She looks up and wipes the sweat from her forehead and loses her tongue when she sees Nara.

"I believe I remember how to do this." Eiji says and tries to plant some rice.

The woman next to him laughs and corrects him.

"Come on, Nara. Get over here." Eiji says planting rice.

Once the sun set Misaka ran from the field to her house and quickly cleaned herself up while Nara and Eiji walked with her mother.

"Please make yourself at home. It's not much but it's comfortable." She says opening the door.

Eiji sits down and looks around.

"I was born in a house a little smaller then this." Eiji says taking the tea from her.

"Is that so? Where did you say you were from?" She asks.

"What is now called the capital. It used to be nothing but farm land." Eiji replies.

"Oh where are my manners, my name is Amaya and my daughter Misaka was the one who ran off earlier. Wonder where she went?" Amaya says.

"I'm Eiji and this is Nara." Eiji replies.

"Hey mom, where are the visitors stayi...." Misaka says opening the door.

Amaya drags her in and closes the door.

"Hey, Amaya did you see that visitor? Damn!" A woman says opening the door.

"I did. Meet Eiji and his son Nara, Kasumi." Amaya says.

Kasumi sits next to Eiji and whispers into his ear. He spits the tea back into his cup and coughs a couple times.

Kasumi gets up and stops at the door. She winks at him and runs off.

"Her husband left her awhile ago." Amaya says.

Misaka kneels next to Nara and her face is a bright red.

"So what exactly do you do?" Amaya asks while they are eating.

Before Eiji can answer the door flings open and the elder is kneeling there.

"Lord Eiji, please forgive us for not realizing who you were earlier." He says.

Eiji laughs and helps the man to his feet.

"It's quite alright. This was the first village to actually let me work for our meals. There is no need to give us any special treatment. I grew up in a village just like this. And it has been a real honor to do hard work again." Eiji says.

"But you are Lord of the Demon Realm. You shouldn't be doing manual labor." The elder says.

"Relax. It is something I wanted to do. And tomorrow morning, we will help plant some more rice." Eiji says.

"But..." The elder says before Eiji stops him.

"Consider it an order, if you'd like." Eiji says.

"This is the future Lord of the Demon Realm?" Misaka says to herself looking at Nara.

"Why do you blush every time you look at me?" Nara asks.

Misaka turns an even deeper red.

"Is there something on my face or something?" Nara asks rubbing his hand around his mouth.

Misaka bolts out the door and Amaya laughs to herself.

"I think she likes you. I have never seen her so quiet or girlish before." Amaya says to Nara.

Nara looks at her confused for a second before finishing his meal.

The following morning before the sun has even risen, Eiji is up and cooking.

The smell of the food wakes Amaya.

"What are you doing?" She asks.

"Making breakfast." Eiji replies, "Please sit down and enjoy."

Misaka walks out a little bit later still half asleep with her yukata practically falling off of her.

Amaya clears her throat and motions for her to cover up. Her face turns a deep red as she sees Nara looking at her. She lets out a loud scream and dives under some nearby blankets. Nara shrugs and continues eating.

Out in the fields Misaka is talking to her friends as they plant.

"Did he see anything?" Emiko asks.

"Everything." Misaka replies.

"Well, then its settled. You are going to have to see him naked." Kagome says.

Emiko and Misaka look at Kagome wide eyed.

That evening while everyone makes their way home, Kagome, Emiko, and Misaka head for the hot springs.

Nara walks back with Eiji and Amaya, covered in mud.

"I don't understand why those girls would throw mud at me." Nara says picking some off.

Amaya giggles and says, "There is a hot spring up that path. Go get cleaned up."

"They made sure he was going to bathe." Eiji says.

"I'm betting this is a plan to see him naked after he saw Misaka naked at breakfast." Amaya says.

Eiji nods.

*****************************

At the hot spring Nara undresses and rinses off the last of the mud.

"Stupid girls." Nara mutters and dumps water on his head.

He sits in the hot spring and relaxes.

Outside, Emiko puts a "Closed for Cleaning" sign up and runs back to her friends.

"All set." She says.

"Good. Ready?" Kagome says grabbing Misaka's leg and hoists her up.

Emiko grabs Misaka's other leg and hoists her up as well.

The three of them sit on the tree branch and try to peek in.

"I can't see anything." Misaka says looking through the branches.

Kagome drops down and runs off.

"She wouldn't?" Emiko says.

A couple minutes later they see her enter the bath area.

Kagome quietly makes her way to the hot spring and stops just before getting in.

"Mind if I join you?" Kagome says.

"Nope." Nara replies.

She takes a deep breath and gets in the water.

After her nerves calm down she looks over at Nara who is reading the book which is on a large floating chunk of ice.

"So does this make you nervous bathing with a girl?" She asks.

"Nope." Nara replies.

Emiko and Misaka both enter and get in the water quickly.

"What about now? You have three beautiful naked girls sitting around you." Kagome asks.

"Nope." Nara replies.

"Why not?" She asks.

"I usually bathe with the maids or the female guards and female soldiers at home." Nara says.

"..........." Kagome, Misaka, and Emiko say together.

*****************************

A month later Eiji and Nara return home. To their surprise the city has grown quite a bit.

They ride through the castle gates and are greeted by the guards.

Daisuke comes running down the steps and greets Eiji and Nara.

"About damn time!" Daisuke says giving Eiji a hug.

"What? You have done fantastic since we left. The city has grown a lot." Eiji says.

"I know but this job is tiring. I don't see how you manage to do all of by yourself." Daisuke replies.

"Hikaru you look as beautiful as ever." Eiji says as the woman makes her way down the stairs holding a small infant in her arms.

"So the lazy bastard finally returns home?" Hikaru says and gives him a hug.

"I see you two still found some time for fun." Eiji says looking at the baby.

"Of course. I mean who wouldn't when your wife looks this good." Daisuke says and kisses Hikaru on the cheek.

"You still aren't getting any." She shoots back.

"Anyway, Eiji, this is our son, Shin. He was born just a couple days ago." Daisuke says proudly.

"Congratulations. Well, why don't you three head home for some rest. I think I can handle things around here." Eiji says.

*****************************

A few months go by and Daisuke is still at home. A couple days before Nara's seventh birthday, Eiji calls him into the throne room.

Nara enters and sees several children about his age standing around holding weapons.

"Nara, come here." Eiji says from the front of the room.

"What's going on? Do I have to fight them?" Nara asks.

"No. No. Nothing like that. It's time for you to chose your familiar. Someone that will have your back and someone you can confide in." Eiji says.

"Like Daisuke?" Nara asks.

"(Chuckles) Something like that. All of these children are children of guards, soldiers, maids, and children from the city." Eiji says and nudges Nara forward.

Nara looks at each child and their weapon while the parents watch on. He finally chooses a young girl with a bow.

"What's your name?" Nara asks.

"Kareen." She says sheepishly.

Her parents hold each other excitedly and try to contain their joy.

"Have you made your choice?" Eiji asks.

"Yes. I pick Kareen." Nara says and grabs her hand.

"A good choice. Thank you all for coming." Eiji says.

Kareen's parents run over and hug her.

"As we discussed earlier, your daughter shall move into the castle and will continue her training." Eiji explains to her family.

"Will we be able to visit her?" Her mother asks.

"Of course." Eiji replies.

Nara looks her bow over and is amazed by it.

*****************************

The day of Nara's birthday, he is awakened by a unfamiliar presence in his room. He jumps up and points a sword right at Kareen's throat. She stands there wide eyed and trembling.

"Please forgive me." Nara says putting the sword away.

Kareen swallows hard and tries to calm her heart that his beating a mile a minute.

"I am just not used to your presence yet. It may take a little while." Nara says.

Kareen calms herself down and nods.

"Master, Lord Eiji would like to see you in the dining room." Kareen says and bows.

"Thank you." Nara says and dresses quickly before following her to the dining room.

"I can't believe you slept through half of your birthday." Eiji says patting Nara's back.

Nara looks at him as they sit down to lunch. After they finish eating, the two of them walk through the garden together. They stop at Hiromi's grave.

Both of them are quiet and stare at the grave. The silence is broken by Eiji.

"She would be very proud of what you've become." Eiji says and pats his head.

Nara remains silent and wipes a single tear from his eye. He looks at it closely and wipes it on his pant leg.

"Come on." Eiji says and walks off.

As they enter the throne room, they are greeted by dozens of people.

"Nara!" Misaka shouts and makes her way through the crowd with Kagome and Emiko right behind her.

"Misaka. What are you three doing here?" Nara asks as they give him a hug.

"Release him or die." Kareen says with her bow drawn and aimed straight at Misaka's head.

"It's alright." Nara says looking back at Kareen, "I know them."

"Yeah! We are his friends." Emiko says.

"And this is his future wife." Kagome adds and shoves Misaka onto Nara.

"I have friends?" Nara says to himself.

Kareen blushes then glares at them before storming off.

*****************************

"Little Eiji! Its been a long time." A very muscular guy says patting Eiji on the back hard enough to nearly knock him to the ground.

"Kyuso? Is that really you?" Eiji says hugging Kyuso.

Kyuso puts Eiji in a headlock and rubs his knuckles into his head. Eiji goes limp and once he feels Kyuso's grip loosen a bit, he breaks free and puts him in a sleeper hold.

"Still quick, I see." Kyuso says with a laugh.

Eiji releases him and shakes his hand.

"I haven't seen you since the day we took the Eastern Lands over." Eiji says.

"Yeah, I went home and wounded up getting married." He says rubbing his neck. A beautiful woman walks up and puts her arm around his.

"I see." Eiji says looking at the woman.

"This is Jealousy. Jealousy this is a good friend of mine, Eiji." Kyuso says introducing them.

"Pleased to meet you." Eiji says and kisses her hand.

"A pleasure." Jealousy says smiling.

"Excuse me for a second." Eiji says as he spots Amaya out of the corner of his eye.

"So glad you could make it." Eiji says greeting her.

*****************************

"Why are you here?" Nara asks again.

"We got a royal summons." Misaka says proudly and holds up the summons.

"Why would my father summon you?" Nara asks.

"Cause it's your birthday, dummy." Misaka says.

"Why don't you give him his present?" Kagome asks.

"Yeah, the entire way here you talked nonstop about giving him your present." Emiko says.

Misaka blushes and becomes real bashful.

"I will. Eventually." She says softly.

*****************************

"Lord Eiji, what a pleasure to see you again." Amaya says and gives him a hug.

"Where is Misaka?" Eiji asks.

"I believe she is with Nara." Amaya says as a man walks up to her and puts his arm around her shoulders, "This is my husband, Tanaka."

The two of them look at each other for a few long tense moments before Eiji is the first to speak.

"I remember you. You were one of the first groups to attack us when we were headed for Lord Osamu's castle." Eiji says.

"You have an excellent memory to remember that far back. Yes, that was me and once our leader was slain you gave us the option of joining you." Tanaka replies.

They shake hands and Amaya lets out a sigh of relief.

"There you are Eiji." Kyuso says patting Eiji hard on the back again.

Eiji turns around.

"I want you to meet my boy." Kyuso says.

Jealousy stands there holding a young child, about six months old.

"His name is Ta." Kyuso says.

"It seems all of us old battle veterans have settled down for the family life." Daisuke says with Hikaru next to him.

"NARA!" Eiji shouts. He runs over and stands next to his father.

"Kyuso you remember Daisuke. Tanaka this is my faithful General Daisuke. Daisuke. Tanaka and Kyuso." Eiji says introducing them.

"Are you expecting?" Hikaru asks Amaya.

"Yes. It's a boy." Amaya replies.

"How can you tell?" Jealousy asks.

"He kicks harder then my daughter did." Amaya says.

"What will his name be?" Kyuso asks.

"Sessaru." Tanaka says proudly.

"So, we have Ta, Shin, Nara, and Sessaru." Eiji says with a laugh.

"I have a feeling our children shall become good friends one day." Tanaka says.

*****************************

They converse for a couple more hours till the cook comes in and announces that dinner is ready.

Everyone heads to the dining room.

Nara is surrounded by Misaka, Kagome, and Emiko.

Kareen follows behind glaring at the three.

Kagome nudges Misaka and she blushes.

"Fine." She says to Kagome.

She grabs Nara's hand and stops.

"What is it?" Nara asks.

"Close your eyes. I am going to give you your gift now." Misaka says.

Nara closes his eyes and Misaka blushes as she moves in to give him a kiss.

Kareen raises her bow and fires.

Nara turns at the last second and Misaka kisses his cheek.

Nara stands there stunned by the arrow sticking through his hand. Then the pain sets in. He hollers in pain and Eiji comes running into the hallway with Daisuke right behind him.

"What the hell?" Eiji asks looking at the arrow.

Daisuke examines the scene and notices a bit of a kiss mark on Nara's cheek.

"Allow me to handle this." Daisuke says and grabs Kareen by the arm.

*****************************

In a room down the hall Daisuke sets Kareen on a box so that she is eye level with him.

"I see that you have fallen for Nara and out of jealousy tried to stop that girl from kissing him." Daisuke says.

Kareen lowers her head.

"It's alright. But in the future try not to shoot Nara. Tonight is a bit different. There is a demon here that has brought everyone's jealousy out regardless of age. Now, go and apologize to Nara and Lord Eiji." Daisuke says and sets her back down.

*****************************

Nara has his hand bandaged and is sitting near Eiji with an open seat next to him.

"Please forgive me. I am deeply sorry for shooting you with an arrow." Kareen says on her hands and knees bowing.

"It's alright. Take a seat next to Nara." Eiji says.

*****************************

Months pass and Nara and Eiji are sparring in the training hall while everyone watches.

Kareen and Daisuke watch as well.

"Are you Lord Eiji's familiar?" Kareen asks.

"Ha ha ha ha. Is that how it looks? (Kareen nods.) Well, I was originally his General for his army but since everything is at peace that title doesn't fit. I guess you could call me his familiar. I just started to take that role on when he became Lord and haven't stopped." Daisuke explains.

Kareen nods.

"Although I don't think he sees me as his familiar but more as a close friend." Daisuke continues.

Nara stumbles back from a punch to his head and holds it in pain. The pain amplifies and intensifies suddenly. He drops to his knees and screams in excruciating pain.

"Sorry but that trick won't work a second time." Eiji says rubbing a scar on his stomach.

Daisuke stands up and leans on the railing.

"Eiji, I don't think he is faking this time. Something seems odd." Daisuke shouts.

Nara's head throbs and the wind seems to be drawn to him.

Eiji cautiously approaches and examines Nara closely. He doesn't see anything strange and puts down his fists.

"You okay?" He asks.

Nara grits his teeth and gets up slowly.

"I'm fine. Let's continue." Nara says shaking his head.

The pain subsides and Nara takes his stance.

They resume the fight and Eiji pops him in the head again. Nara screams and a burst of energy sends out a shockwave that knocks everyone to the ground. It's so powerful that it cracks the walls of the training hall.

Nara goes berserk and violently attacks Eiji. Everyone scrambles to their feet and rushes to pull Nara off of Eiji. They struggle and finally pull him off and pin him to the wall.

Eiji has dozens of deep wounds all over his chest and neck.

"Help me up." Eiji says struggling to breathe.

Daisuke helps him up while a couple guards run for the doctor.

"Guess this is the end for me." Eiji says while looking at Nara snarling against the wall with his hands bound behind his back, "Always would of thought I would die in battle against my enemy and not my son."

"The doctor is on his way just hold on." Daisuke says reassuringly.

"No, my time has come. My vision is starting to blur." Eiji says, "Promise me you will look after him."

"Of course I will." Daisuke says.

"Good. You were always a great friend." Eiji says coughing up blood, "Let him go. He needs to finish what he started." Eiji says struggling to stay standing.

The guards release Nara and he viciously attacks Eiji. Once Eiji is dead, Nara collapses next to him.

Daisuke puts his hand on Nara's head and notices horns have broken through his skin.

"Guess these are responsible for that rage." Daisuke says to himself.

"What should we do?" A guard asks.

"Take Nara to his room and have the doctor bandage his head but be sure you don't touch these." Daisuke orders as he points to the horns.

"And what about Lord Eiji?" Another guard asks.

"Help me carry him to his wife's grave." Daisuke says.

*****************************

The next few days everyone inside the castle is deeply saddened by the loss of their beloved Lord. Daisuke wanders the halls of the castle and sends everyone home. He has them tell everyone in the city that he has an announcement and to gather at the front gates.

The following morning Daisuke stands above the gates and looks out at the entire city before him.

"It saddens me deeply to inform you that Lord Eiji has been slain. (The crowd gasps and whispers amongst themselves.) I know most of you are saying I did it but that is not true. Lord Eiji and his son Nara were sparring and during which, Nara's powers awoken and he killed his father. (The crowd once again whispers amongst themselves.)" Daisuke explains to the crowd.

As Daisuke leaves his ears pick out several people whispering about murder. He glares at them and they run.

"Have the guards stay alert. There could be some backlash of this." Daisuke says to the guard captain.

*****************************

Another two days go by and Nara finally wakes up. On the floor next to his bed, Kareen sleeps curled up in a ball. Nara covers her up and leaves. He walks through the empty halls of the castle.

In the throne room, Daisuke sits with his head buried in his hands.

"What's wrong?" Nara asks.

Daisuke looks up and smiles at Nara.

"Have a seat." He says getting off the throne.

Nara sits and looks at Daisuke.

"Nara, do you remember anything from the past few days?" Daisuke asks.

Nara shakes his head.

"I'm not one to beat around the bush so I will just say it. Earlier this week you and your father were sparring and your demonic powers awoken. In the surge of power you slayed your father." Daisuke explains.

Nara stares blankly at the floor as the shock settles in.

"How can this be?" Nara asks as his emotions get the best of him and he cries. Daisuke consoles him while he lets it all out.

"General! We have a problem." A guard says running in.

"What?" Daisuke asks.

"It seems the peasants have banded together and are staging an attack on the castle." The guard replies.

Daisuke runs with the guard to the castle gates.

"Have the archers take their positions on the wall and the pikemen behind the gate." Daisuke orders.

He stands above the gate and looks down at the peasants.

"What is it you are trying to do?" He shouts.

"Just hand over the child and this can all be avoided." Someone shouts back.

"Why? So you can kill him? Don't be stupid. (The archers take their positions and aim down at the crowd.) This isn't necessary. You want to kill the only descendant of the greatest Lord this land has ever seen?" Daisuke asks.

The crowd quiets down and quits trying to break down the castle gates.

"Tell me. How do you know that Nara didn't kill his father just to take the throne?" A man shouts from the crowd.

"How many of you have children? How many with children that had a sudden surge of power and caused damage to your home or store? Or to even someone else in your family?" Daisuke asks quieting the crowd further.

"We all loved Lord Eiji. He was fair and brought peace to this warring land. I was there when Lord Eiji died. He had no grudge against his son for what happened. He, instead, asked me to care for him. So if you wish to continue this meaningless assault then I shall have no choice but to defend this castle that Lord Eiji, himself, helped build." Daisuke adds.

The crowd puts down their weapons and looks at Daisuke.

"I know what you are all fearing but I do believe that he is like his father and the peace shall continue." Daisuke shouts.

The crowd disperses and Daisuke calls off the archers. As they walk pass Nara a few of them glare at him.

"Why does everyone hate me?" Nara asks as Daisuke walks up to him.

Daisuke grabs his hand and the two of them go for a walk through the garden.

"It's not so much hate but fear. They fear change. They are afraid that you are going to be different from your father and go on a rampage." Daisuke says.

"But that makes no sense. The entire Demon Realm is under my father's..... I mean..... my control. Why would I do that?" Nara says.

Daisuke laughs and pats Nara on his back.

"I forgot you use your head more then most. I guess that's true. I see you surpassing your father. I'm not sure how yet but my gut tells me that you will do something even your father never thought of." Daisuke says as they stop at Eiji's and Hiromi's graves.

"Take your time. I'll be inside." Daisuke says and leaves.

*****************************

Four years pass and now Nara is eleven years old. With the help of Daisuke, he has taken the role of Lord quite well. Quickly the citizens of the Eastern Lands have forgiven him and accepted him as Lord of the Demon Realm. Word spreads and slowly the entire Demon Realm accepts Nara as Lord.

Kareen's skills with her bow have greatly increased. At ten years old she is teaching the new archers while holding her own against veteran archers.

Only a few small groups tried to overthrow Nara but with Koji's (Koji's father from Sessy514's story) intelligence on the groups, they were quickly squashed.

One afternoon, Nara is sitting in the library reading his book. He turns the page and something catches his eye.

"The Human Realm?" He says to himself.

Nara puts the book down on the podium and reads over the spell. A blinding light fills the library and Nara looks at the portal before him.

He puts his hand inside and he is instantly sucked in.

A second later Kareen enters.

"Lord Nara dinner is ready." She says looking around, "Lord Nara?"

*****************************

A couple weeks pass and Nara returns through a portal that has appeared above the bath. Nara falls out and lands in the bath.

He gets up and turns to come face to face with an arrow tip.

"Lord Nara?" Kareen asks before dropping her bow and covering herself.

"Sorry." Nara says and bolts out of the bath.

"DAISUKE!" Nara shouts as he sprints through the halls and straight into the throne room.

"Nara? You returned?" Daisuke says.

"I was in the Human Realm. It was incredible. That had carriages but they were covered in metal and were incredibly fast." Nara says excitedly.

"You were where?" Daisuke asks shocked.

"The Human Realm." Nara replies.

Daisuke sits back down.

"What's wrong?" Nara asks.

"I didn't think it was possible to actually go there anymore." Daisuke says in shock.

Nara explains everything he saw to Daisuke, who sits there amazed.

"I am going to go back and see what else I can learn from them." Nara says.

"When?" Daisuke asks.

"Tomorrow. They are just so interesting." Nara replies.

"Be careful. I have heard from my father's generation that at one point there was an open portal between our world and theirs. At first they accepted us but one of their children died while a demon was nearby and instantly we were blamed, then hunted down. Any demon they saw they killed. I don't know if they have changed since then." Daisuke explains.

"I will." Nara replies and heads to bed. He stops and turns toward Daisuke.

"Why don't you go see your family? Or have them come here." Nara says and closes the door.

"He is just like his father." Daisuke says with a smile.
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