The Power Within

A month of training went by with disciplined precision. The training regimen consisted of a 6-mile run, 800 push-ups, and 2 hours worth of sparring each day. After the training, Kurashi's lean frame became even more toned with muscle, his movements now swift and methodical. With his sharpened mind, his blade now moved with precision, as if he had years of experience as a swordsman. Through the improvements of the training, his demeanor has yet to change.

4:30 a.m, October 25, 2020...the day after the training has ended, Kurashi and Hikari walk to the cliff edge. With the sun still down, the cool grey breeze of the early morning flows passed them as they walk through the streets.

"You've made a lot of improvement Kurashi.", Hikari stated in acknowledgment.

"Have I?", Kurashi questioned with his hands in his pockets.

"Yeah, it's surprising that you have made this much progress in such a short amount of time.", Hikari said with a sense of reassurance, "You've developed quicker than I did when I was your age...I kind of envy it".

"Why?", Kurashi said quietly.

Hikari looks over to Kurashi in confusion.

"What is the real reason you took me in?", Kurashi questioned softly.

"Huh? I've told you already, its because you have vast pot-", Hikari stated before getting cut off.

"No...what's the real reason you took me in?", Kurashi questioned again.

The two walk briefly in silence before Hikari finally spoke up.

"Your father...he did a lot for me, and I wouldn't be who I am without him...I am truly indebted to him, so it's only logical that I pay him back for his guidance.", Hikari stated with sincerity.

Kurashi remains silent after hearing Hikari's reasoning, as if he expected the response.

Upon reaching the cliff edge, Hikari suddenly came to a halt while stating, "I think it's finally time".

Kurashi stood in silence behind him, the wind gliding through his hair.

As Hikari turned around to face Kurashi, he said in a serious tone, "It's time that you grasp your power".

As Kurashi kneels down at the edge of the cliff, the world around him seems to hold its breath while he looks off into the horizon. The darkness of the early morning enveloped the view, with only a few faint stars blinking above.

"Close your eyes Kurashi.", Hikari stated.

Kurashi slowly closed his eyes, the view in front of him fading away.

"What do you see", Hikari questioned.

"Nothing...", Kurashi responded.

"Relax...take a deep breath, and let yourself sink into your own consciousness. Find the light and let it guide you. Only then will you find your answer.", Hikari stated.

His back straight, eyes closed, shoulders relaxed, and hands gently resting on his knees, Kurashi slowly took a deep breath.

"There is no further advice I can give you.", Hikari said as he walked away, "I'll leave you be...".

Two days pass, marked only by the midnight sky and the soft hues of dawn. Kurashi has still yet to make any progress within the passed time. Even with the lack of advancement, Kurashi remained vigilant, tuning out all outside distractions. 

Night fell when Kurashi's eyes fluttered open, finding himself engulfed in a realm of profound darkness. It wasn't the typical darkness of the night, but an abyssal void that seemed to stretch endlessly in all directions. It was as though he had stepped into a world untouched by time, where the boundaries of reality blurred into obscurity.

Slowly, Kurashi pushed himself up from where he had been kneeling, feeling the eerie stillness of the air. With each step he takes, small ripples spread outwards from where his foot touches the ground, creating a gentle splashing sound that reverberates through the emptiness around him. As he continues walking, Kurashi becomes aware of a subtle pull, a gravitational force that seems to draw him deeper into the vast emptiness.

A dim white light then came into view, piercing through the veil of utter darkness. As Kurashi approaches, the blur sharpened, revealing a radiant white orb, suspended in the void. He calmly extended his right hand, reaching out for the orb. As his fingers drew near, his hand was repelled by an unknown force. It was as if an invisible barrier surrounded it, keeping Kurashi from ever making contact.

Without any progress, Kurashi took a step back from the orb to reassess the situation. After a brief moment, Kurashi with a resolute breath, stepped forward once more. He laid his right hand back on the orb and closed his eyes, surrendering himself to the unknown.

The force that once stood between Kurashi and the orb slowly began to dissolve, fading away like a wisp of smoke in the wind. Kurashi's hand descends further into the surface of the orb, his consciousness seamlessly merging with its boundless energy. With a firm grasp, Kurashi closed his hand around the orb, his fingers wrapping around its ethereal form. In that moment, a blinding white flash emitted from his right hand, forcing him to open his eyes.

When Kurashi opened his eyes, he found himself kneeled by the cliff edge once more, the familiar landscape stretching out before him. Adjusting his eyes back to the real world around him, the sound of an approaching presence became more vivid.

"You back Kurashi?, Hikari questioned as he walked up to him, "How did it go?"?

"I...I don't know.", Kurashi said quietly as he stood up, turning around to face Hikari.

"The light...did you find it?", Hikari asked.

"Yeah...", Kurashi responded.

"Already huh? This kid never fails to impress me.", Hikari said under his breath.

"What now?", Kurashi questioned.

"Just listen to me for a second", Hikari stated in a serious tone", "The Ito clan were known were known for their psychokinesis, or simply put, their mind prowess. Each branch of the clan specialized in their own abilities such as mind reading, mind control, precognition, and memory manipulation. The strongest branch of the Ito clan, the one which you descend from mastered the art of telekinesis".

"Telekinesis...so that was my father's ability?", Kurashi questioned in a monotone voice.

"Well, your father was a special case. Originally a telekinesis user, he found a way to inherit the mastery of the other branches abilities as well.", Hikari responded in a formal tone, "The art of each branch are strictly passed through to their descendants, so no one knows how your father was capable of achieving such a thing. With that said, it rises a question. Would you inherit the same skills of your father or rather just the skill of your branch"?

There was then a moment of silence.

"Kurashi, toss your blade on the ground.", Hikari stated.

Kurashi hesitates for a second before unsheathing his katana with deliberate care, tossing it to the ground before him.

"I want you to visualize the blade coming back to your hand.", Hikari said with his arms crossed, waiting patiently for Kurashi's next move.

Focusing, Kurashi sensed a stable connection form between his mind and the katana, like an invisible thread weaving through the fabrics of reality. Hikari's gaze suddenly widened as he watched the katana arise from the ground, defying the laws of gravity as it drew toward Kurashi's outstretched hand. The blade then settled into Kurashi's grasp, and with practiced ease, he slid it back into its sheathe.

"Very impressive as usual.", Hikari stated with a sense of relief, "Let us call it for today, you made some sizeable progress".

Kurashi nods his head in agreement, his hands placed in his pockets.

At the house, Hikari tended to the stove, the flickering fire casting a warm glow over his features. Meanwhile, Kurashi sat patiently at the kitchen table.

"How does it feel to unlock your ryokukami?", Hikari asked in a curious tone.

"I don't know...how is it supposed to feel?", Kurashi responded in a monotonous voice.

"Huh?", Hikari stated with uncertainty, "Maybe fulfilled or joyous"?

"I see...", Kurashi said under his breath.

Hikari finished cooking at the stove and plated the meals.

"Here, this was my favorite as a kid", Hikari said as he placed the steaming dish in front of Kurashi.

The meal, a bento box, consisted of grilled chicken, sushi rolls, rice, and steam veggies.

"You lived here by yourself?", Kurashi softly questioned.

"Yeah...", Hikari stated as he sat down at the opposite side of the table.

"3 bedrooms...isn't that excessive for just one person?", Kurashi responded quietly as he picked up his chopsticks.

Hikari remained quiet for a moment.

"Well, my mother and brother used to live here, but...they've moved on.", Hikari stated with a gentle smile.

They ate for a bit before Hikari broke the silence.

"Kurashi...what I said before about your father being the only reason I took you in. There was more to say that I didn't tell you. You see...with my families passing, I was alone...empty.", Hikari stated with sincerity, "When I needed it the most, he took me in. He was like the father that I never had...and with you being his son. It's kind of like I'm meeting my long-lost brother".

"It seems he thought of you as a son as well", Kurashi responded with quiet reassurance.

After finishing their meals and heading to bed. Terrible news would emerge the following day.