Out On A New Journey

"Well-Well would you look at you." Mugen turned around. He heard a familiar voice, one awfully familiar. He didn't like it. That sarcastic tone, the cocky hum presented with every slur... It annoyed him greatly. "It's you!" Mugen watched Tsuki descend the ladder, carrying a rather large frown on his face.

"Haha! Miss me Muggy-boy?!" He exclaimed upon touch down. The male turned to him, his long black hair still reaching his shoulders. His grey eyes were one to boast about. They were calm to every blaze of the moment, a modest contrast to the sparks of fury present in Mugen.

Mugen took hold of the thunder shot and drew an arrow from the quiver. Luckily for him, he hadn't lost a single arrow. Every arrow he's shot had been recovered. To say he did so to prepare for Tsuki would be an overstatement. "Huh? Hey now, I'm no-" An arrow pierced his right cheek, denting the wall behind him. "I'm done with this. You said it yourself. You'd train me to kill you..."

Mugen lowered his aim to take a proper look at his enemy. Yet, Tsuki couldn't help but to put his hands together. His applaud echoed throughout the empty opening of the ditch. "Bravo! You've gotten stronger, taller and bulkier as well! Quite dashing I must say. Now, what type of women suite your taste? Next on the agenda is making you a man!"

"Tch! Should've known. You weren't interested in fighting me were you?" Mugen sighed. There was a rage boiling inside of him. He wanted revenge for his father. He knew what was happening. Tsuki was dressing a wound... Or for a better use of words, he was trying to 'Steer Mugen away from his vengeance.'

"What was that? I'm no liar. If you wish to feel pain, I'd say come at me!" With a lick of his lips, he drew Mugen's kodachi from the sheath. The time had come. The time of battle between two men.

Neither were experts with the weapons given to them. It was a swap of fighting style! Mugen had the bow belonging to his enemy; Tsuki too had the same fate.

Mugen fired an arrow instantly, blinding to the very eye. The speed almost mimicked lightning as it flashed through the air. The arrow made its way to Tsuki's forehead, to whom barely avoided it. Another arrow followed but again, it was dodged seemingly last minute. "Damnit!" Mugen became heavily irritated. The young man was already fed up! It was almost as though he wouldn't accept anything that didn't hit.

"What an amateur... Predictability won't get you anywhere." Tsuki mumbled to himself. He started walking towards Mugen, slicing the incoming arrow in half. "How?!" The boy grit his teeth, losing his cool in a matter of seconds.

Despite the overwhelming speed, Tsuki just dodged and dodged and dodged and dodged!!!

'Think... How's he doing this?' Before he knew it, Tsuki was just infront of him. About a whole metre to be specific. His arrows were running dry as well. From the full set of 50, he only had three left.

He released another arrow but again, it was dodged, tearing pieces of skin away from Tsuki. "Another miss, man your bad." He holstered the blade to Mugen's neck, catching him off. "Prediction... Learn how and where the opponent fires. If I can't predict what your doing, I can't dodge the overwhelming speed."

Mugen clenched the bow tightly and hissed. "Whatever..." He turned his face away. Was he still no match for him? He couldn't believe this. It wasn't even a fight! "Well whatever. Here!" After sheathing the kodachi, he gave it back to Mugen alongside his extra scabbard.

Mugen exchanged Tsuki's bow for his weapons. "Now-Now... Don't be sad. You'll get there in no time! For now, you'll have to tag along with me. I still need to teach you." Tsuki knocked his knuckles onto Mugen's forehead, grabbing his attention. "Let's get going kiddo." He states with a rather bright smile.

Mugen had grit his teeth. He felt small. Truly, he was still no match for Tsuki. Perhaps he could get lucky this time around, but stand up to him? That's something entirely. "Tch! Fine... Just let me say goodbye to the old man." Mugen turned, yet he saw no one. "Where'd he go?"

Tsuki placed a hand onto his shoulder. "My father isn't a fan of mine. He's grateful for your company I'm sure of it. Your equal." Mugen turned back to him, "Your father?"

"I beg your pardon? You mean to tell me that you didn't take his name?" Mugen nodded with a scowl. "He didn't tell me so I didn't ask." Tsuki sighed before backing away and climbing up the ladder. "Whatever... He's retired from combat. His name's Tatsuki Senkō since your oh-so interested."

"Don't care..." Mugen replied, just beneath him. "Ouch... Your pretty harsh aren't ya?" He replies, finally reaching the top of the ditch.

Mugen couldn't see a thing. The blazing hot sun assaulted his eyes. "Graugh!" Isolated from the sun for three whole months... The repercussions left him in awe. Infact, he couldn't even open his eyes, much less climb further up the ladder. "That reminds me be-careful. The sun's kinda maybe sorta your enemy now." Tsuki chuckled, finding joy in this boy's silent suffering.

Mugen conditioned his eyes by covering his eyes and taking a peep. He could feel the overwhelming heat attacking his skin. A wave of dust assaulted his pores, a harsh wind passing them by. "Nothing like home, they say..." He Tsuki took sight of the village once more with a light smile. "Well... See you later Okubo Town." After closing his eyes, he released a sigh.

After paying his respects, Tsuki grabbed Mugen by his wrist and continued onwards.

"Hey! My eyes haven't adjusted yet!" The boy complained.

"Yeah-Yeah! Let's just go. We're getting the other members together."

"What? I'm not strong enough..." Mugen responded quickly.

"Oh that's fine. We'll be working together to take down a more powerful foe. The ones who truly killed your father. The Westerners." Mugen stopped, fighting against Tsuki's strong tug. "Your blaming others for what you've done?" Finally, Mugen opened his eyes. "No... But hear me out. Your father loved this country. The people who made it this way... The people who killed your father... The invaders... The Westerners.... They're our enemies. You nor I can get revenge. So I'm asking you... For Yamato and this country, that you help me in regaining our land!"

Mugen was breathless. He didn't know what to say. He bit his lip before sighing. "You've gotta promise me...", "What's that?" Tsuki responded.

"Promise me that when we do kill the sonuvabitch that orchestrated this plan that you'll fight me... Four on one!" Mugen exclaimed

"W-What? Have you gone insane?!" Tsuki replied,

"No... I'll be strong enough to rival my father one day. I'll save the land and kill you all when that day comes." Tsuki didn't know how to respond. He could see the determination in this boy's eyes. It was unfaltering. He was serious to every word.

"Haha! You've got it Mugen! I hear ya!" He turned away from the young man and faced the cruel wasteland, "Prison Of The Samurai, Here We Come!"