1 Awakening
I wonder when it all started…
Memories that aren't mine, wait, no, they are mine. Just long been sealed away by… me. It all happened on that fateful day. When my father asked me to join him in meeting this so-called warrior with a "dragon's eye". There we meet a man named Shin Natsume. This is where it all started for me. The day when my worldly views were parted open like the sky itself. There are people out there with powers like this!
People that have the power of the supernatural!
There I meet a woman named Mana Kuzunoha, a pretty Onee-san with black hair that wears glasses. But all my instincts were telling me that she is a dangerous woman. There we waited as she waved.
"Oh? Who is this cute little guy Dogen-sama?"
"That right there is my son Masataka Takayanagi. Say hello to the pretty Nee-chan Masataka."
"Yes, Father! I am Mastaka Takayanagi and I am 14 years old! Nice to meet you, Nee-chan!"
"Aw~ aren't you just the cutest"
"Don't treat me like that nee-chan I'm a grown-up too you know!"
"Hai~ Hai~"
As I ended the conversation with the pretty nee-chan I noticed a man riding a bicycle going toward us.
'That must be Shin huh?' I mussed to myself as a watched the man get closer to us.
"You're late," said the pretty nee-chan.
"If you're going to be late I wish you would at least call. Did you come all the way here on that bike?"
"I had something to take care of… I borrowed the bike from the station," replied Shin.
My father looked at him for a while before he spoke.
"Beating your friends half to death is just "Something to take care of?"
'Eh? Beat up, friend? Is that a new trend now?' wondered me as it sounded like there was a new trend coming.
After my father said that, Shin stared at my father for a second only for the pretty nee-chan to interrupt him by saying.
"Won't you greet him?..."
Unto which the man proceeds to lay down his sword?-
'He has a sword?'
- To the ground as he addressed my dad.
"It's been a while master of the Gaokishi clan fighting division. Master Takayanagi Dougen"
Unto which my dad proceeded to ask me and the pretty nee-chan to wait in the car.
"Kuzunoha-kun and Masataki, could you leave me and Shin together alone?"
"Kay" I proceed to head to the car that was parked close to us.
"But…" the pretty nee-chan wanted to say something only for my father to cut her off.
"There's not a one in a million chance that something will happen here" replied my father as I continued walking toward the car. I proceeded to keep walking while thinking 'One in a million chance? That means the chances of something happening are never zero. Man, I don't want to be that type of person when I grow up, leaving it to chance…"
As I continued to muse on philosophical things I opened the car door only to be met with a greeting from the driver.
"Hello there, Young Master." To which I replied.
"Hello" and then silence. The awkward atmosphere seemed to thicken only for it to be broken by the pretty nee-chan entering. Deciding to start a conversation of some sort, I asked her name since she didn't tell me her name when I introduced myself.
"Hello! Pretty nee-chan I never did get your name!"
"Ara~ how clumsy of me. I'm Mana Kuzunoha, the girlfriend of that man right there talking to your dad."
"Eh? He's your boyfriend? That's so cool. What's a boyfriend?" with my response she giggled as she responded.
"Eh~ how rare~ that's rather cute of you Masataka-chan. Well, a boyfriend is someone that you can rely on and vice versa…"
She proceeded to talk about what a boyfriend is supposed to be and what a girlfriend is only for them to go through one ear and out the other as I still have no clue what she was talking about. This continued on for quite a while till I noticed a group of cars heading our way.
"Eh? Mana nee-chan there's a lot of cars coming." that seemed to take her out of her blabbering about boyfriend and girlfriends. As she paid more attention to the convoy of cars heading towards us.
She then proceeded to get out of the car and waited for the car to stop, which it did. And there a man came out with a bloodied fist heading towards Mana nee-chan's boyfriend, Shin-san.
"Yo Shin, I've been lookin' for ya," said the man as he greeted Shin.
Only for Mana nee-chan to reply instead.
"Hello, why are you here Bunshichi-kun?"
'Hhmmmmm that's bad manners' I mused 'he wasn't even talking to her. Is she perhaps jealous that he greeted her boyfriend without her permission? Is that what boyfriend and girlfriend are? Wow being grown up is weird'
The man named Bunshichi proceeds to continue talking about a transmitter and Mana nee-chan proceeds to brag that she makes sure that her boyfriend at least has 3 transmitters on him at all times.
'Wow! So this is a boyfriend and girlfriend relationship complete paranoia on everything they do, fascinating! So this is what being in a relationship is like.'
Only for Bunshichi to cut her off her bragging spree.
"SHUT. THE. FUCK. UP. I WASN'T TALKING TO YOU UGLY BITCH!"
'Wow that went from casual to that was a violation real fast' I laughed to myself as I was yet again introduced to the grown-up world.
Mana nee-chan was shaking.
'Is she gonna cry?' I asked myself only for it to be answered with her wrathful voice.
"FU CHI'EN!! Why did you allow him to come all the way out here? You know that we have an important meeting today! FU CHI'EN!" roared Mana nee-chan as she berated that poor guy.
It was then I saw a man get out of the car and proceed to apologize to her.
" I am sorry, lady Kuzunoha. But, I understand how it feels a little bit. Please forgive me."
"Don't let your personal feelings interfere with your job…"
"Though, I want to know what the reason for carelessly handling the memory stick to Mitsuomi-sama. Because of the careless way you handled that, I saw it to myself to investigate it"
As the man named Fu Chi'en said, I saw Mana nee-chan tense up only for it to be broken by the man himself saying that it was just a joke.
"Everything is fine though, right? It looks like Bunshichi-kun wants to fight Shin-san so why not let them?"
"I mean those two are the stars of the school right?... So it is their fate to fight sooner or later."
"FU CHI'EN, Shut your mouth!"
'I don't really know what is happening but this looks so cool! Are they fighting? I mean father taught my brother how to fight and he told me he will start teaching me soon too.' So I couldn't help but to be excited to see how the man with the dragon's eye fought with the other man.
It was then the man named Bunshichi started talking to Shin again only for him to be met with silence. It was then that Shin-san started laughing like a madman.
"Hey, Bunshichi you're irritating" It was then the atmosphere changed.
"You came all the way out here without thinking about anything, just pretending to be my friend the whole time, all full of yourself! Lookin' down on everyone with a condescending look on your face. Don't you pity me!!"
'Uh. oh.' was all I could think from all the scary aura he was releasing.
Then it happened. The start of the battle.
"Toudou Academy 3rd year student, enforcement group president, Natsume Shin!!!" replied Shin as his dragon's eye activated.
"Here for a face-to-face confrontation!"
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A little while after the Shin-san introduction the battle started.
Bunshichi cocking his right arm getting ready for a punch. He suddenly paused, like he was attacked. Sweating like he just ran a marathon, he stared at Shin-san with trepidation. It was then he rushed at Shin-san.
"Damn you!!" heading straight toward Shin-san he stopped yet again as he flinched like he was just cut by a sword. Breathing heavily he stared at Shin-san only to retreat when Shin took a step forward.
"What's wrong Bunshichi? Your expression looks like your body's been cut in two" mocked Shin-san as he stared at Bunshichi with his dragon's eye.
Bunshichi-san was shaking on the spot as he stared at Shin-sans. Only for his aura to change completely after finding his resolve. He then took a deep breath and took a stance. Only for his leg to be impaled by Shin-sans thrust.
"GUAAAA, that hurts bastard!" as Bunshichi utter those words he sent a right hook towards Shin-san only for him to be launched away by Shin-sans attack.
Bunshichi flew across the street and onto a car. He was chased by a relentless Shin-san. There I witness the most brutal spectacle I've ever seen in my whole life. There Shin-san just continued to stab Bunshichi's-sans legs, quite possibly crippling him forever. It was then I heard my dad say something to Mana nee-chan.
"Mana…. Sometimes, I really deeply feel how powerless I am. Courage, Justice, Benevolence, Wisdom, Gratitude, Sincerity, Honor…The Seven virtues of martial arts. For these last 10 years, those are the foundation I have been using to teach Shin, but even with that he has fallen and become Vile, Inhuman, and Cruel. In reality… Martial artists and most "People" give in to magical power based on violence." with that my dad concluded and Mina-nee looked at the Shin-sans backed with disappointment and hurt feelings.
She then went to slap Shin-san and took his sword away. It was then Bunshichi-san who we thought was crippled and unconscious, who proceeded to punch the car he was leaning on to lunch himself toward Shin-san.
"SHIN!!" yelled Bunshichi as he delivered a devastating left punch toward Shin. launching him towards one of the cars. He then proceeded to make fun of him along the lines of.
"You can't use your dragon eye without using your Katana" He then stood up and continued to mock him.
" What? you fall on your knees with one punch? Ya wimp"
"You might want to return that, he'll lose," said my father towards Mana nee-chan. And as he has said it did happen.
On what can only be called a royal pummeling. Bunshichi launched multiple punches. Uppercuts that launched Shin into the air. A right hook with enough power to launch him back to the hard concrete road.
"Take it. Take the sword and don't hold back."
Shin-san looked at Bunshichi. He then started running towards Mana-nee only for him to fall down due to Bunshichi throwing a side mirror he ripped from a car.
He then launched the most powerful uppercut I've seen. Launching Shin-san into the air as he grabs hold of his shirt. He asked why he was involved with my father and how he betrayed his friend's trust and how useless he is without his katana. He then launched Shin-san toward a car denting half of it.
After that the men around him got rilled up telling him he did a good job and how manly it was. I don't know if I was the only one that saw it this whole fight but, Shin-sans obsession with the Katana had nothing to do with his fighting prowess. Even now as he struggles to crawl toward the Katana, I saw how his eyes were turned into slits. It was then that I was sure that he didn't need the Katana at all, the desperation I saw on his face was not that of the desperation of losing, but the desperation of losing himself to the eyes and quite possibly doing something that he might not forgive himself for. It was then Bunshichi-san delivered the last strike by kicking him with his left leg effectively knocking out the dragon-eyed warrior.
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After that fight, we watched as the ambulances carried Shin-san and Bunshichi-san away to be taken care of. This still remains one of the most memorable memories that I have.
That night I stared at the ceiling if my room. It was then I heard it. No, more precisely I heard them. My Masters.
---------------------------------------------------
'Hhhmmm? The brat can finally hear us'
'So it seems'
'Hm'
'Hey kid, we know you can hear us'
"Um… who are you, sirs? And how are you talking to me? Please don't eat me I don't taste good, I promise!" I replied freaking out about the things that I am currently experiencing.
'HAHAHA! How amusing Kid! We are not here to eat in fact we ourselves don't know what we are doing in your mind.'
'Did they just say mind? They are in my mind?' freaking out at the possibility of having multiple people on my head I asked them the most important question.
"Um… so you said my head right? So.. can you read my mind?"
'Hohohoho, no kid, we know that place is off limits and no one wants to have someone listening on their train of thought no?'
"Hahaha.. Thank you" whew that was a relief now that is out of the way to the more important topic.
"So.. um what are you doing in my head then? Mr?" with curiosity killing me I waited in silence as one of the people finally replied to me.
'Well you see kid, as one of them said before, we ourselves do not know why we are in your mind, well to be precise your mental plane, though we can guess what it is we have yet to confirm it. First, we will need you to go to your mind plane to meet us.'
"Um… ok... But how do I do that exactly?"
'Go to sleep and then I'll do the rest
"Got it!" Following their instruction, I tried to sleep only to fail due to my excitement of the unknown and my curiosity about meeting the so-called persons in my mind. Not wanting to waste any more time I decided to take one of the sleeping pills I saw in one of our cupboards. After taking it I as lights out within 5 minutes.
'Huh? Where am I?' I asked particularly no one as I looked around my mind place.
'You are finally here kid' replied an old man with weird eyes that was sitting cross-legged while floating in the air. With black orbs revolving behind.
'Hoho… you are younger than expected' said an old man as he crosses his arm behind him.
'Hey, Kid! You finally managed to get here!' replied an energetic kind looking old man wearing a Dobok.
'Hmm…. took you long enough brat' replied a stern-looking old man with a cane and long white beard.
'Umm.. sorry about that, I kinda didn't know you existed till tonight. Hehe'
'That's fine kid, we just manage to make a connection due to you getting exposed in that bloodlust a while back. And if you were wondering that was also the reason why you could watch them witting wetting yourself' replied the old man with weird eyes.
'Oh! Um.. thank you then gramps for that' as I said that I did a bow to them to express my thanks and respect towards them.
'Good now that we got that out of the way, we need to discuss the main reason we are here.' said the old man that has his hand behind him.
'Oh.. yes I would also like to know the main reason why you guys are here in my mindscape, I mean you guys are welcome to stay but it might be a bit awkward in certain situations, hehe.'
'Why aren't ya a kind-hearted lad? Ya, remind me of my grandson, that little rascal, hahaha" replied the old man that was wearing a Dobok.
'Well, first I will introduce myself, grandpas! My name is Masataka Takayanagi, and my current goal is to become stronger than anyone else in this world!' I introduce myself with so much enthusiasm, that the grandpas in front of me laughed.
'Hohoho' x4
'Well, that's good then lad, because we just figured out why we are here and that is to train you to inherit our powers. My name is Jin Taejin and I will be Taekwondo Instructor, well to be precise Renewal Taekwondo!' Explained the kind looking old man, no, Jin-jiisan.
'I guess I am next, the name is Bang, Silver Fang, I will be teaching you the Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist and quite possibly the rest of my skill sets' said Bang Jii-san.
'The next one will be me. I am Hagaromo Otsutsuki, I will be teaching you how to be yourself, mind and body, and how to control the power you will inherit from me.' said Hagaromo-jiisan.
'And lastly me. Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto I will be teaching you how to use the sword, your spirit, and tea ceremonies. You better get ready brat this will be a bumpy ride' I gulped as he said those words while totally ignoring the last thing he said he was gonna teach me.
'So how are we gonna do this ojii-sans?' I gulped hoping the training won't start right at this moment.
It was Hagaromo ojii-san that answered.
'We will give you a day to get ready, from what we can feel we only have 2 years to stay before we leave your mind space, but you do not have to worry, me and Genryūsai-dono can lengthen it by 100 times so you will need to leave only a part of you out there while the rest of you will stay here to train. Luckily for you are a talented lad so you can leave 5% of you out there while the rest will stay here and train here with us. The only exception for this is when you are in danger, then we will take over your body and then proceed to take care of the problem. All the things you have to worry about is to focus on your training, got it?'
I nodded like a chicken pecking on kernels as I was too excited not knowing what type of legends was standing before me and what type of hellish training I will be undergoing.
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I woke up the next day taking a deep breath knowing that I won't be seeing the outside world for quite some time. I then proceed to eat and do my daily chores. Then nighttime came. Then I was back in my mind space, this time with a different look, it looked like paradise in m mind, not knowing this will become my most hated thing for the rest of my life.
'So kid I will be taking control of your body for a second to input it so it leaves a generic life you would have lived if you didn't meet us. Are you ready? Take a deep breath then we can start.' so I did then I became disconnected from my body.
---2 Years later--- "Mr. Nice Guy"
"Why does the laundromat have to be broken now?" grumbled an annoyed Masataka as he slung his laundry at his back heading towards one of the laundromats that are near him. He feels like something big is about to happen and happen it did. It started raining.
"Gah! Why now of all time I need to wash my clothes!" he started running only for him to see the guy named Ryuzaki that was famous for being a sexual harasser. Not knowing what went over his brain he decided to tail him only for him to witness Ryuzaki almost force himself on some girl with brown hair. The word is almost due to him being there.
"Hey Bastard get away from her!" throwing a right hook towards the guy he dodges to the right as he positions himself to my blindspot. Only for him to meet my knee that I chambered prior to attacking him. Knocking him out of his stupor I proceed to give him a quick jab in the jaw before he hit the ground to make sure he won't stand up. Grabbing a piece of sheet, I placed it upon the scared girl as she sobs in them.
"Sorry about that I could've stopped him from ripping your clothes had I known he was gonna do that" After apologizing to her and trying to comfort her, I grabbed the knocked-out person and toss him out of the house.
"Do you have anyone you could call?" I asked her to which she nodded and proceeded to call someone. Seconds later I heard it connect. After that, I continued around the place not bothering to talk to her as I do not know how to handle situations like these. Minutes later I heard a yell from a familiar voice.
"CHIAKI! Where are you!" to which the woman yelled back.
"Here! At the living room!" then I heard loud thuddings as a giant black man came rushing in to hug the girl.
"Are you okay you weren't hurt were you?"
"No. that man right there helped me before it happened," she said as she pointed at me.
This time the Big guy looked at me and yelled in surprise "EH!? Masataka Senpai?! What are you doing here!? Wait, no, I know what you are doing here I meant Thank you Senpai! Thank you!" said the big guy also known as Bob Makihara.
"No need to thank me I'm just doing something that everyone should/would do and apologies for getting here quite late I could have prevented that had I acted way earlier"
To which Bob just shook his head.
"No. Still thank you senpai! Things could have gotten worse have you not interfered. Thank you so much!" said Bob as he kneeled in a dogenza position.
"Hmm. All is good and hopefully, you'd stop causing trouble in school, which I highly doubt, anywho see ya at school." I turned around and walked out of the door only to see a blonde-haired boy, Souichiro Nagi. The man that broke a piece of my heart and almost awakened something in me. We stared as we pass each only to be broken by a yell.
"Souichiro-sama!" yelled a girl that broke a piece of me as she continued on not even looking at me. The Nice guy who solved the problem.
----Feelings----
I started my morning while releasing my stress on the poor punching bag. Only for it to be interrupted by the "Captain".
"Owie I broke twelve of them huh?"
"Even though your ribcage hasn't healed from what the punks did to you… Don't overdo it Takayanagi!"
"Hey! What are you saying I even took out that Ryuuzaki by myself! And look aren't I fine now?" I bragged as I tapped by ribcage only for me to fall down and bug myself into a fetal position from all the pain.
'Though it is quite surprising with how he is progressing' Thought Maya Natsume Captain of the Juken Club. As she pondered over it she was interrupted by two guys coming into the dojo.
"Yo senpai been a while!" replied the barbarian named Nagi Souichiro. Then my nightmare proceeds to continue with their next sentence.
"Toudou Gakuden freshman, Nagi Souichiro, Bob Makihara. From today, joining the Juken CLUB!" x2
Then the blonde barbarian then proceeds to talk.
"In 3 months we'll become stronger than anyone!"
While his declaration sounded cool and bragging to the rest for me all I heard was a condescending way of saying he will trample over the efforts we have done in 3 months, the nerve of the man. Deep breath, it's fine for me for the day of my awakening is coming soon. And since my first love did not go well I shall place it on the person I admire the most.
It was then that "Captain" decided to use our Golden Week vacation to conduct a training camp for the newbies, and what better place is there to be than in the middle of the Natsume Residence.
*Gong*
*Gong*
*Gong*
That was all you could hear with the voice of the "Captains" yell.
"Wrong!? How many times do I have to tell you! Here I'll show you again!"
"It's like this! HA!"
*PAHGOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH*
"Hear that Sound? That's how you do it! Sheesh how can you be so bad at this Takayanagi only took three tries to perfect it!" she continued to berate the poor blondie, though it does make my nose longer as she praises my accomplishment.
"Well, I'm sorry that I am not him! But I'll do better! Now I understand the theory behind it I'll get it soon" and so the gongs continued.
The "Captain" then placed her eye on Bob who was listening to also explain why they need to learn this technique and how they will need it if they ever want to help them with the challenges that are coming. I continued looking at them with a smile till I heard a voice beside me.
"I haven't seen you so happy in a long time sister….." I heard her say to them, though they couldn't hear it as it was drowned by the gongs and the "Captains" yells.
I stared at them as a sign.
"Summer gonna be fun…"
"Yes…"
Not knowing it will be a major turning point of my life.
*Clang*
*Clang*
I was woken up out of my trance by the loud sound and a voice following it.
"Ok, Come on! Dinners ready. DINNER!"
I stood up from where I was sitting down only to notice that I sat there for quite a long time since it was turning night time.
I then heard the "Captain" deny the two knuckle boys of their meal possible to help him with the technique that he was learning.
'Sigh, I guess I'll have to do some training for tonight' I got out of my musing as I stared ahead not knowing this will be the night where the last semblance of me might remain.
I balanced myself on a sword as I stare into the void. Then suddenly my body moved. Kicking the sword with terrifying precision towards my hands while being airborne I held it in a quick draw position till I landed then.
*Swoosh*
I then sheathed it as I looked at the ten leaves that were reduced to dust.
"Eh? What just happened? It didn't feel like it was me that was doing it. Wha.. what just happened" asked myself out loud not knowing that due the end of the two years were ending and my powers that "I've" trained are starting to seep into my physical body.
*Clang!*
'Hmm? That's not the usual sound I kept hearing the whole day' curious I picked myself up to go check what was happening. There I saw Souichiro hitting the pan behind it instead of the normal punch he's supposed to be doing, he managed to transcend the level of "reverse Striking". As I admire his handy it reminded me of the time when I first did it myself.
'Was it the gift strike or was it the sixth? I don't remember Only for me to be brought out of my musing when the "Captain" Spoke beside me.
'When did she get here?'
It's like he doesn't even understand just how powerful of a thing it is he's doing now… He's already transcended the normal level of "reverse striking".
'Wow, that sounded like what was just in my mind~'
"That man… Maybe he might really be able to do it… in merely 3 months… Stronger than any of us!!" said the captain disbelief showing on her face, not knowing the man beside him has only been functioning at 5% of his whole talent while functioning on an input that was given to him 2 years ago.
'Stronger than us? In three months? For you maybe, but for me….. Hmm? What was I just thinking about as I got out of thinking I looked at the man Nagi Souichiro and smirked. Not knowing why I then left for an open clearing.
There by my lonesome, I sat down as for the first time in a while I tried meditating. Thinking about all the things that are happening to me.
'First was the introduction of the "Captain's" sister, my first love, which was dashed the same day, it never did hurt me it just felt that it was unfair. A man just came out of nowhere and then *bam* now you have a girl chasing after you.' I took a deep breath as I continued musing.
'Then again it was but a one-sided love, hormones most likely, so I turned to the "Captain" one I knew for quite a while now. One I knew would not fall for the brash and loudmouthed type of a guy, one that was one of the strongest warriors I know of.' as I continued meditating I heard a *plop* sound just beside me. Thinking nothing of it I decided to check it out.
'Maybe I can take a dip, though I haven't sweated that much it wouldn't be so bad to take one and rest' as I near the place of the sound there I saw what I could only describe as the end of my stay at the Juken Club. There I saw the "Captain" Maya Natsume kissing the Blonde hair boy Souichiro Nagi.
After that, I walked lifelessly towards a room, only for me to just decide to perch on a tree branch and just go to sleep there. I wanted to just give myself a little bit of breathing room as I think about what I should do next. As I stared at the sky I stayed for the whole night thinking 'now what?' this whole time. Then morning came, and as the sun's rays hit my face, it woke me out of my stupor as I stretched. The whole night I attempted to get an answer only for me to hit an answer that came out of nowhere.
"Oh well it is, what it is, I'll just let it run through its course it's always Mr. Nice Guy that gets left behind. Not knowing your hurting him but wanting him to be there with you the whole time." as I said my thoughts out loud a single tear dropped left my face.
'Eh? Did the morning dew accumulate in my eyes? yeah right~' I smiled it off as I continued walking leaving my lonely back for no one to see...
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As I continued my walk I saw the Capt- no, Maya Natsume's little sister Aya Natsume. As she saw me she went for a slow jog to my position with a worried disposition.
'Let me guess where is Souichiro-same?'
"Um.. excuse me Takayanagi-senpai do you know where-"
'See~?'
I cut her off by pointing to my right where I can see Maya Natsume's Kimono.
"There," I said pointing at the tree where the Maya Natsume's clothing hangs by the tree.
Looking at where my finger was pointing, Aya Natsume ran towards it as she took it only for her to see her naked sister taking a bath.
"Ah! What are you doing there nee-sama! Get dressed Takayanagi-senpai is close by!" She berated her sister for being so vulnerable.
" For the first time in a while, I worked out a good sweat… What about you?" replied Maya Natsume.
" Don't say stupid things!! Everyone's gonna be here so… Hurry up and wear your clothes!" said Aya Natsume as she threw her sister's clothes at her.
Caching it she explained why she was naked by not so by herself.
"I was with the brat until this morning, my body is the one that's exhausted"
"With Souichirou-sama?... now that you said that where is he?"
"Hmmm? Well if you are looking for that guy, he's sleeping over there" pointed Maya Natsume at a sleeping Souichirou Nagi.
It was then that she started teasing her sister implying something might have happened to them. It was then Maya Natsume replied.
"It might be your "Dragon's Eye".... No quite possibly your feminine intuition… You should believe in yourself. It's good to be proud"
She paused then.
"..... This guy, if he doesn't become your "Husband," I think I may fall in love."
"Eh?"
That was all I needed to hear before I stopped leaning on the tree, as I left without the sisters knowing I was there in the first place.
'I think I may fall in love. Huh? Feminine intuition? Bunch of nonsense. If such a thing existed then they would have felt 'him' they would have felt 'me' the real 'me'... Huh? Real me? What am I thinking about?' as I ponder why it felt like there was an outside interference in my thinking not knowing that I was but getting influenced on what will happen when that faithful day ever come.
----Awakened----
After what happened in the training camp. Maya Natsume decided to reward us. To which everyone agreed. At first, I wasn't planning on going at all. Since I've been planning on leaving the place anyway. Yup, I decided that I won't be needed anymore, well they will need me when they remember that I exist. One of the major reasons that I joined was I felt like this was gonna be my last outing with the "Captain" and probably the last time I will be calling her "Captain". And the other one was my instinct was telling me to go.
Here we are sitting around the table as Bob and his girlfriend Chiaki play bowling. Here I just stared into the void, wondering why there are cracks forming in my vision. I looked at Maya Natsume and Nagi Souichirou sitting together, while Aya Natsume sits beside me. Which Surprises me since she could have taken the seat to the left of Souichirou. I could feel her emotions in turmoil, quite possibly from what her sister said to her from back then, Or quite possibly something completely different altogether. It was then she stood up and proceed to bowl.
As I sat there I looked across me as Maya Natsume and Nago Souichirou talked, completely ignoring my presence. Since I didn't have anything else to do I decided to stay as is and listen in.
Then Maya Natsume decided to talk.
"What's wrong…. Are you bored?"
Then Nagi Souchirou replied. One that actually makes sense in his position.
"It's not that I'm bored… It's just. If we have time to play around like this, I'd rather practice, compared to you guys, I've got a ways to go, but somehow, I… Think I've gotten stronger"
To which Maya Natsume replied by picking up his hand and placing it on her forehead using healing chi heal it.
"They say… "chase away your worries, and it will heal your spirit. It's also an important part of your training to foster the courage to rest your body look at this... Your fist is quite beat up… You have to take care of it."
From the outsider's point of view, it didn't look like she was using healing chi to heal him, but more like flirting. Had I not seen it that night I would have also believed it. It was then I felt it. A burst of a familiar dragonic aura. I looked towards the female washroom as I smiled.
' No wonder I fell for her. It wasn't because of feelings.' No, it was more of a memory. A memory that was long sealed away waiting for the time for it to come out. Maya Natsume then proceeds to stand up heading toward the woman's washroom.
" Captain, you might want to use the other one instead" whilst I point at the one opposite where her little sister was. I would have gladly let them fight it out. But due to a certain input making me Mr. Nice Guy I couldn't help it.
Of course, Maya Natsume looked at me weirdly.
"Hm? What do you mean Takayanagi-kun?"
"No never mind Captain, I was just being nice" I replied whilst smiling.
It was then I felt movement. Multiple people surround us. It was then I stood up as I heard a crisp *slap* from one of the female stalls. I signed to myself so she did activate it huh?
I then stood up as the two Knuckle buddies looked at me. Cracking my next. Bob launched a right roundhouse kick toward the poor guy that got too close. It was then someone decided to attack Nagi only for him to be backhanded by his left hand.
"Come on I'll kill ya all!!" Said the duo.
As I waited no one came to notice me or attacked me at all and that made me snap. Tapping the shoulder of both the knuckles boys in front of me I told them to leave it all to me.
"Bob, Nagi go ahead and check on the girls. Chika-san, Aya-san and Maya-san still havent come back yet. Please go as I need to blow a little bit of steam. Ok?" I told them as I faced them with a smile.
I then turned my back to face the horde of mobs in front of me.
"Hey, Bob remember the question you asked me at the cafeteria?"
"Huh? Oh? That?"
"Yep! That… here's the answer to your question. No, No one is stronger than me in school" as I ended my sentence I launched myself with a turning kick sending one poor guy on the way of my foot flying and creating a path as he hit the mobs that were behind him.
"Go!" I yelled to the jaw-dropped Nagi and Bob as they used the freed space to run away.
"I've not been feeling so well this time, it's probably because I haven't been fighting for a while, now for you unlucky lot, pray to tell that my brother comes here because you aren't enough!" as I finished my talking out loud I launched myself to the mad not caring if they hit me or not. It was at this moment where I just let loose and embrace what little Mr. Nice Guy was left of me before I became 'me'.
----------
As I finished off the last of the mobs that were crowding the bowling alley, I decided to check on Bob and Chiaki only for me to find them in one of the rooms.
"Hey! There you guys are! You guys good?"
To which Bob replied.
"Yeah we're good, just a few thugs chased after me. Nothing I couldn't handle."
"Yeah well let's go upstairs then maybe we'll see the rest of them there ."
So we did we proceed to head up the elevator and suddenly stopped at the 4th floor. And there I finally meet my brother after a long time. Bob immediately froze up as he felt my brother's intimidating prowess.
I stood there looking at him, Mitsuomi Takayanagi my older brother. I was then brought out of my musing with him first insulting me.
"With only a hundred or so opponents ya look all battered and bruised, did you get weaker Masataka?.... TRASH! You are shaming the Takayanagi family name" To which I only replied with a smile.
"Brother! It's been a long time!" I greeted cheerfully as he seemed takin' aback from what I just said.
He then proceeds to back-slap me away sending me flying away from Bob and Chiaki. I smiled to myself as if I could have dodged it or countered it, but I just wanted to taste the power behind the attack of the strongest man that took out the former Dragon's eye user.
I then slowly got up as the woman that was beside my brother proceeded to blabber about, only for me to silence her mouth with a right hook followed by a left uppercut effectively knocking her out of the fight. I then sat down at one of the benches as I watch my brother try to give his speech on how it would be better if Bob was under him. Bob's girlfriend gave him the power-up he needed with a solid hit at the back of his head. What happened next could only be called a royal pummeling as Bob was knocked out with a punch as his brother stood there taking all the blows that headed his way.
He then looked back at me probably expecting me defeated on the ground. Only to be shocked as he looked at where I am sitting down.
"You know you could have told me that you were sick and dying, oh and sorry about her she was a bit too weak for me." I wasn't expecting a reply from him I just wanted to probe to see if what I have been hypnotized was right so it was such a surprise when he did. Even though he didn't answer my question.
"It's none of your business…" replied Mitsuomi with his usual cold and stoic self. To which he continued.
"Are we here to fight or what?"
"What? You don't like talking to your younger brother? What it's only been two years right? Since your Coup d'etat…" I replied to him mockingly as I tried to copy his tone of voice.
"Enough! Are we gonna fight or are you just gonna keep blabbering about?" As I was about to reply I was interrupted by Maya Natsume our Juken Club Captain.
"Stop! Enough! You aren't ready yet!" Said our Captain to which I complied.
I knew I wasn't ready, but I can feel that something is about to awaken. So I ripped a piece of cloth from one of the thugs that I'd beaten up and proceeded to make a makeshift, brace for the Captain's right arm which looked badly damaged.
"Thanks Takayanagi-kun~"
"Your welcome Natsume-san~" I then turned around and started walking off, not wanting to stay anymore in this place as I see the cracks in my ' eyes start to widen.
"Well if we are not fighting I'll be going ahead~, See ya tomorrow guys" I waved my hand as I kept walking, my friends not knowing this will be the last time they will see 'me'.
I continued walking without thought only to be roused when I noticed I was standing In front of a lake.
'Have I been walking that long that I didn't even notice where I was heading? Something really weird is happening to me It was then the crack from my eyes fully broke open and I blacked out beside the lake. It was there that I was fully reborn back to the real 'me'.
----------------------------- Inside his Mindscape
'You are finally here
'Huh? Who is speaking?'
'It's me, or more precisely you'
Said the blurry figure that looked exactly like me.
'Huh? So it was you huh, the one that's been influencing me this past few weeks.'
'Yup~ that indeed is me, I believe I don't need to explain anything since I'm pretty sure if you didn't know then, you know now.'
To which I nodded.
'Welcome back, me, it's finally time for us to be whole yet again.'
'Indeed it is time'
----Lake----
As the last word uttered by the previous me that was running the body we finally fused into a complete person, there on where Masataka's Takayanagi lay, a layer of grass enveloped his body as his body started transforming. First was his skin, it all started peeling off, then his muscles, and lastly his bones, all of it turning to ash only to be gathered at one point where it started to look like a cocoon.
Several minutes passed before the cocoon then turned transparent. If there was a person watching it, they would see that the first one the reform are his eyes, as they turned crimson, and then purple then back to his usual eye color, black. Then his body reformed, first were his bones, bones that looked like they were scorched by the sun itself, then the muscles, one that could be mistaken as a solid piece of metal, and lastly his skin.
The skin looked normal, but do not let it fool you as it can fend off even the full might of a supernova. Then lastly black spheres started manifesting outside the cocoon where his back faces, and also an old-looking cane that floated in front of him. Nature seemed to move on a whim as the grass grew long, making a perfect bed just under the being, and flowers decorated the lake he was at. It was then the cocoon broke off as the man, hugging himself in a fetal position slowly floated down toward the bed that nature provided him.
It was then the being opened his eyes. Eyes as black as the night sky.
'Huh? I guess I'm finally back to my body. Thank you gramps I'll cherish this moment. But it seems we have a problem I might have made myself too powerful for anyone to face~... oh well… I guess I'll just have fun and amuse myself.' said the being as he proceed to have a small smile on his face.
He then looked at the night sky as he uttered.
"There is no equal to me below the Heaven and on the Earth, For I alone Reign Supreme"
As those words were uttered every Supernatural User, felt something in their soul shake, as the dragons in them gave their host an instinctual warning, not knowing a being of great power has awakened.
