Post by Saito Kito on Feb 10, 2015 13:10:22 GMT -5
(Though it is written from a first hand account, this is one of the many times that Saito replayed a specific moment in life. He used his simulator and 25x the normal gravity of Earth, plus weights.)
The mountain breeze felt good against his skin. Though he was bundled tightly, his face remained for the most part uncovered. Each spec of snow that landed on his skin sunk in deep. The warrior had been long since departed from the snowy climate, and although he had been so many months away, he still felt natural in it. Saito Kito trudged on through the mountain pass. He would have brought his bike had there been an actual road to drive it on. Surely he would have run faster or flown if that would not have attracted attention to himself. The fuhrer had made it perfectly clear that discretion was important in this matter, and so once the bus had stopped at the hiking trail, Saito set off on his own. The forestry surroundings quickly turned to hard rock and snow. There was no longer a trail to be had and so Crane Master had to dare it alone. His weights had proven an adequate hindrance throughout the walk. Though they had been with him the entire time, it was only towards the end of his journey that they began to pull at his legs. Weary from his travels he had hoped for a tavern or inn to occupy the night. As it grew colder, and the light began to fall over the mountainside, it became clear that this building simply wouldn’t appear.
After another mile however a new feeling did awaken within in. It happened very suddenly, the warmth he felt when entering into it. It was as though he had walked into a bubble of Ki. He knew this because the weather was surprisingly mild. He had been walking in almost subzero weather, and so when the snow that had coated his jacket began to melt, the change in temperature was noted. It was still cold, but not nearly as harsh. Finishing his climb up the side of another hilly region he finally came to what he knew his destination to be. Down the hill was a village. Two in fact. They were clearly separate from each other as one appeared to be surrounding by a chain fence. Saito recognized the fence from the city. Businesses put them up when they didn’t want anyone to enter. Clearly he would not be welcome there. The other collection of houses appeared to be in much worse shape, and just a couple miles up from both encampments was a large tower. If he had to guess, a temple of some sort. Either way the cold was beginning to get uncomfortable and although the Master could have simply abandoned his hopes for a warm bed and set up camp for the evening, he instead opted to give the village a shot. After all, Saito had no problem with making new allies.
His footsteps made clear impressions in the hard icy snow, crunching as he finally hit the cobblestone of the village. It appeared empty. He attempted to sense out the energy of others, but nothing stood out to him. It was as though all of the people here were of a minimum power level. Understandable for a city or large collection of houses such as this, but unusual considering the fuhrer’s words. Saito thought back to them, trying to keep his mind on the task.
“The place I am sending you is a lawless land. I have been too preoccupied to handle the situation. I think this will make an adequate first test for you. Go to this land and let the people there know they are now under the governance of myself. Correct anyone who says otherwise.”
Saito had no intention of playing politics, and he certainly wasn’t going to force anyone to follow the fuhrer if they did not wish to do so. The way he said it however made Saito assume that such a mission would be dangerous. With no powerlevels of consequence here, how could there be any danger? It was with that thought that he heard the noise of rummaging around the side of the building. Making his way into the small alley between houses he saw it, a young child, no older than seven or eight, clawing through a pile of trash. The alley smelled putrid, and Saito’s initial instinct was to encourage the child to leave. He would find nothing sanitary here.
“Boy! You shouldn’t do that. Come here”
He said, digging in his pocket. He intended to give the lad a snack, one of the many ration packs the fuhrer had given him for the hike up. The boy instead elected to look up in fear at the man and run. Confused, Saito followed, jogging to the edge of the building where the alley ended. He heard the child scream and immediately realized his facial scarring. It was embarrassing to be so frightening to children. One glance caused this one to scream and run in fear. This would have been a sad turn of events if not for the immediate backlash that came from it. His senses kicked in just in time to see an ankle flying from around the corner. The heel of someone’s shoe coming directly at his face.
His right forearm came up to take the attack, His weighted wristlets giving him just enough of a distraction to make the kick a difficult one to block indeed. Turning his body around the corner to face his new threat he came face to face with what he had been least expecting. A woman. Saito had seen a few decent female fighters in his time on the lookout, though most relied heavily on Ki based techniques. Physical prowess and martial arts seemed to be a dead art, and yet she held onto it. He had little time to marvel in her impressive stance, or even to recognize what style she was so craftily perfecting. Her leg came down, and with a fierce determination came back up twice more, both kicks meeting with Saito’s forearm. After those attempts at his head had failed, she brought herself forward with a punch, one that Saito went in to grab. His style of fighting, which had grown very similar to the crane, was very judo centered. In such close quarters it made sense to attempt a restraining move. This woman would not be so easily taken. Her feet kicked off the ground and onto the brick wall to their right. Using her speed and strength the young lady ran up the side of the wall and most impressively ripped his grip from her wrist. She used the remaining momentum to flip upwards, landing atop the one story building and crouching. Her breathing had increased, though her aggressive expression had not changed.
“You are pretty tough for a merc. Most of your buddies would be down by now. Why do you make this so difficult?”
Saito was confused, and as she rose from her crouched position he responded.
“I’m afraid I don’t know what you are talking about. I don’t suppose you are the insurgency I’ve been warned about?”
His lack of understanding had brought about what would undoubtedly be a painful lesson in diplomacy. Saito had heard the word, and associated it with a group or clan. In reality he had just called this woman a rebel. Inadvertent or not, he was absolutely right. Though her cause was not against the fuhrer. She was entirely ignorant of him actually. His words had confirmed for her that he was in fact a mercenary, and for that he would pay the price. She squinted, her arms rising up above her head. Saito was curious though only for a second before his mind focused on her now charging Ki. His own finger raised instinctually. It was unfortunate how out of hand this had gotten, but he couldn’t afford to wait and see. His left index finger began to glow a bright teal, while in the palm of her hand a dark yellow began to form.
“You shouldn’t pick on children in the street!”
“You shouldn’t underestimate your opponent, or use techniques you do not understand!”
He barked back. He didn’t know the attack specifically, but the Ki signature was undeniable. This girl had met him only a moment ago and was now attacking him with what was obviously a deadly technique. Who was she? Their words were completed, and both had charged an attack of near equal strength. Saito wouldn’t fire first, but the moment her beam let loose, his ball did as well.
“Masenko!”
“Spirit Gun!”
Though they were a short distance away, it still felt like the energy took a moment to distract from one another. The beams felt so naturally intertwined that for a moment it appeared they were not even attacking one another. That however changed as the struggle began. Though Saito had already launched his bullet, with focus he could continue to push it forward. The masenko was a yellow beam that seemed ever connected to her palms. Her attack was far better suited for the struggle, and at that moment it appeared she was winning. Saito knew what he had to do. He didn’t like it, but he needed to fire a stronger attack. His own life energy needed to…
A crack, and suddenly both attacks were sent flying upwards towards the sky. The energy created a bright light that was obvious for anyone nearby, and eventually teetered off into the sky, burning up in the atmosphere. Saito reached his hand back, ready to pull out his own sword. He refused to fight an unarmed opponent in a fair fight, but it appeared a second combatant had arrived, and this one was armed. Though only his shadow appeared, he was holding something long, and he had been strong enough to deflect their attacks. When he spoke however it became clear that he was in no danger. Even his other opponent had stopped, taking a knee at his request.
“Stand down Sonya. You nearly got yourself killed”
“Master Rowen I was winning!”
She said defiantly, though keeping her head down. Saito heard their dialogue clear as day. She was obviously a trained fighter, and the respect she showed for the shadow led him to believe he was the one. The elder snapped back quickly.
“You attacked an opponent based on your own emotions! This young warrior has come many miles and I believe it to be for the very reason you were out this night. He is here to help us Sonya.”
It was time to listen, a lesson Saito had learned that this young woman had not. She continued to argue.
“Master I had him! Just one more second and I…”
“Would have been seriously injured by this young man. Or perhaps you didn’t notice his weighted gear.”
She paused, looking over to Saito. Just after launching the Spirit gun he had detached his weights. These handicaps caused him to be at half his normal strength, and the next shot he fired was going to be one without their encumberance. However as the old man spoke, he felt it was wise to begin putting them back on. Sonya looked on, suddenly confused and starting to feel a little foolish.
“And Yemma forbid he were to use the attack I saw in his eyes. Sonya, you have underestimated a true warrior. Had I not stepped in it is likely one of you would be dead.”
Dead, he hadn’t thought about that. He remembered back to his still incomplete training with Kaladar. The sage had warned him not to attempt the tri beam before their training was complete. He had not started the charging of his life force when the elder intervened, but he was right, Saito could have died simply by charging the attack, and certainly a perfect launch would have destroyed the young woman. Though his intent was likely to train her, he was in fact reinforcing Saito’s lessons as well.
“I would recognize that mug anywhere. The determined eyes…er eye, the unnecessary facial hair. You are one of Masamune’s brood. Come sir. Sonya will take you to our home”
She appeared disgusted for a moment, however once the shadow disappeared she did as he had commanded. Rising from her spot on the roof she spat out a dialogue that sounded vaguely like follow me, and then began her run. She was obviously trying to lose him. Saito however was too fast, and kept pace nicely. He noted once more that with his weighted gear, she appeared to be about as powerful as he was. This was proving to be an interesting mission after all.