The Samurai's Apprentice(part 2)[private, flashback]

Age : 25 Posts : 175

[6 years ago]

The sound of clashing wooden blades clunked throughout the matted room of the dojo. A red haired boy, his hair spiked in all directions, dashed forward, his wooden bokken in hand. His opponent was an older boy with blue hair, the top of his head covered with a yellow bandanna. His weapon was that of a modified bokken, this one with a blade on both sides, creating a sort of double-sided wooden glave. The right side of the blue-haired boy's weapon intercepted the red-haired boys blade. He quickly used his opponent's forward momentum to spin around, forcing the red haired boy off balance and following through the attack with the left blade of his polearm, stopping his blow just before striking his head.

An imposing figure, wearing a single eye-patch sat upon a raised platform, watching the two spar. as the victor was decided he raised his right hand. Instantly the two stopped fighting and stood next to each other. "Well done, Surge" he said toward the blue-haired boy. "however, it would be embarrassing if your younger brother had already surpassed you. Your victory was to be expected, your control has improved as well." he then turned to the red-haired boy. "Crono, you still have a long ways to go, but you lasted much longer than I expected against a much stronger opponent." Reaching into his kimono he pulled out a small jug of sake and took a swig before replacing it into his robes. "Alright, that will be all for today. Surge, I'll see you tomorrow morning. Crono, After your classes. " The two brothers instantly shouted their understanding in unison with a resounding "Hai!" before bowing in respect to their master.

Crono rushed to the back of the room and began gathering his belongings as his brother snuck up behind him and patted him on the head, messing up his already messy hair. "You did good today, Crono". The younger brother smirked.. "Still not even close to you, Nisan" His voice hid his disappointment. His spars with his older brother were rare occurrences, and it seemed that no matter how strong he became, his brother always got even stronger. He felt like he was swimming upstream and wasn't making any progress.

The two brothers began walking home, the street lights were dimmed as night had already fallen. Crono's eyes stared at the ground as he followed his elder brother to their home, lost in thought. "Why can't I get stronger?" he questioned himself. Years of training and he still was left in the dust. "We're here" Surge announced. Crono looked up and found them not at home, but rather at their father's grave. "Crono, you have gotten stronger" he began to speak. "to honor father, we will grow stronger." Surge's hand slid across the cold stone of the memorial, his eyes closed as if he could feel his father's presence once again. "One day, my brother, I will take my place as Shogun. When that day comes I can only hope to be worthy of his legacy. Until then, I will train, I will endure, but most importantly... I will inspire. " he paused for a moment. "My burden is to lead our clan, yours will be to protect it."

The red-haired boy looked confused. Surge grabbed his hand and placed it upon the gravestone. "There will come a time, when you are able to tap into that boundless power that is sealed within you. When you do, No one will be able to stand against you. Not even I. " He took a breath, a soft fog left his nostrils from the chilled air. " When that day comes, you must be strong. If you aren't that power will destroy you. I will not let that happen, brother." He looked into his eyes. "I swear this upon father's grave. We will grow strong." he nodded. "Together".

Later that night Crono sat alone on his bed. His brother's words ringing into his head. "We will grow strong, together". It wasn't a statement, no. It was a pledge to their father. They would honor his memory by making sure his legacy was secure. But it wasn't the promise that left him awake, alone in his room. His brother said, "We". How could he ever grow strong? No matter how hard he tried, he was always left behind in the long shadow cast down by his brother and the even longer one left from his father. But he said "we". He didn't say He, or I. He made the promise that Crono would also grow strong. How would he assure that he would grow strong. How would he make sure that Crono would be strong enough to control the power within him...

"There are many different forms of strength"

a voice echoed in his head. A voice he had not heard for quite a long time. It, however, was a voice Crono would never forget.

"Kokuo?"

He spoke aloud. His voice piercing the echoing silence of the dark room. But no reply came. Taking a deep breath, the youth remembered his training. He closed his eyes and began to open his mind. The dark abyss of his room suddenly being replaced with the familiar surroundings of the Bijuu Island. As he opened his eyes again, he once again stood face to face with the colossal five-tailed beast. He had spoken to the beast quite a few times sense their first encounter, however this was the first time, the beast had actually called to him.

"Konichiwa Kokuo-sama" the boy bowed to the beast. It had been a long time sense he had feared the demon living within him, but that didn't mean that he hadn't built a relationship with the beast based on mutual respect. Onimaru had warned him, that while he may be trapped within, one day Crono's life could depend on him. Just like with everyone else, his life could be held the beast's hands. Even being a chakra demon did not exempt him from treating the beast with any less respect then he would anyone else as per his lessons in Bushido. Maybe that was why Kokuo had opened up to him, perhaps it was the fearlessness that he saw in his eyes. He wasn't sure what it was. He may not have tamed the beast, but Kokuo had become a respected friend and a unlikely mentor.

The beast bowed his head, in a gesture of respect before speaking once again to the young boy. "There are many different forms of strength, Crono." Crono turned around. "But, how am I going get stronger when the world grows stronger around me?" . the white beast seemed to smile beneath his tree prison. "then you pick up the world, and gain it's power" Crono was speechless. pick up the world? The dolphin-horse continued. "If you fight a stronger opponent, be smarter. find his flaws, exploit him, use the world to be stronger. " Crono bent down to the pool of water, and dipped his finger into the water before turning around. "Can I ask you something?" the false liquid dripped off of his finger and quickly vanished before hitting the sand of the island. The tailed-beast looked at the child. A question to ask a question? "Speak freely, child." Crono debated asking the question still.

"I mean no disrespect, but... Is that how father defeated you?" Kokuo was caught off guard by that question. He never really saw himself as being truly defeated. He thought for a moment, the false moon reflected off the false lake shimmering in the ever present night sky. "Your father was not stronger then I, you are correct." he stared into the child's eyes. " Your father saw my rage, and used my own anger against me. I was powerful, but my rage made me blind. And with all of my power, I had not the vision to see the trap I was led into. " the beast's head looked up to the sky. "I have had 9 years to think about that mistake, trapped underneath this tree. You would do well to learn that lesson."

Crono looked up at the demon that was trapped within the roots of the giant tree. "I am sorry, I shouldn't have asked." The bijuu lowered his gaze back to the child. "You have treated me with respect and have shown extraordinary character. The same cannot be said with most human." he reminds me of the old man, perhaps it was best that I was sealed here. The beast thought. He found that was slowly becoming quite fond of the child. He had had many previous hosts, and none compared to the heart this one showed, especially at such a young age.

Crono's eyes closed once more, opening once again to find him inside of his room. The beast had given him a lot to think about. Laying back on his bed Crono's eyes closed one final time. This time however, the world he entered was one of fantasy and illusions as he drifted off into a deep sleep.