Leaves blow in the wind fluttering across the cloudy sky. Hiro walks alone down a lonely path. It doesn’t feel the same. His bag rhythmically shuffles from side to side as he continues onward. The trees whistle either side of him as he shivers from the cold air. He looks around him taking in a deep breath in the process. He is alone for the first time in his life. No reassuring voices, no smiles, no warmth.
He looks to the ground with sorrow in his eyes. Every now and then he pauses and looks back rethinking leaving his mother. Her words ring in his head. He can’t stop.
“She’ll be ok… We’ll all be together again.”
Hiro continues down the path until the sun is completely blocked by the large trees standing either side of him. He sighs before taking a break by one of them. He sits against the base of the tree alone. He leans against his bag as he lies watching the small drops of rain making their way through the leaves.
He turns to stare upwards as he reaches his hand out and smiles, “I promise… we’ll smile together again”. He slowly brings his hand down and places it on his chest, “I’ll find you”
Birds welcome the morning as Hiro yawns while slowly waking up. He stretches and pulls the bag back onto his shoulders before pressing onwards silently. Only the noise of the forest accompanying him.
After some time of walking alone he comes across another signpost and once again he of course can’t read it. He sighs and closes his eyes. He spins around in a circle with his finger pointed in front of him. Eventually he stops in the way opposite to the sign saying, “The capital”. The path ahead looks long and intimidating but Hiro smiles softly and takes a step forwards.
Hiro strolls alongside a large flower bed. All the flowers are wilting away as he slowly runs his hand through the middle of them. His eyes widen slightly as he sees a small village begin to arise over the hill.
A small stone wall surrounds a quiet village. The entrance is inviting as Hiro looks around and walks in. There is barely anyone around as he walks into the centre of the village. A fountain stands alone surrounded by little buildings with small swinging wooden signs decorating most of them. Hiro stares at each one puzzled unable to read any of them.
Hiro can’t take his eyes off the fountain planted in the centre of the village. He grins as he gets closer. He looks down in the water as it sparkles back at him. His reflection sits alone. “You would’ve loved this mum…”
He takes a seat on the cold stone and continues to stare at the water with a glint in his eye. He slowly guides his hand towards the calm water as his finger grows closer to his reflection. The fountain is unlike anything he’d seen before.
Just as his finger touches the cold water, in the blink of an eye, a body smashes through the nearby building and crashes through the fountain destroying it.
Hiro stands with his finger still out as if still touching the water. He stares blankly as he realises what just happened.
“Huh?” He stares confused as a man walks out of the rubble of the building,
“I told you to leave me alone!”
Hiro points at himself as if to ask if the man was talking to him.
The man raises his hand and aims at Hiro, “What the hell are you looking at?”
Hiro just stares blankly at him. The man stares back at him confused before shaking his head and turning his attention back to whatever just flew through the fountain.
The man stares forward nervously before he hears a voice, “Hey?” Hiro speaks softly to the man.
“Stop talking to me!” The man screams as he points his open palm back at Hiro
Hiro points to the destroyed fountain, “That was pretty cool looking… why’d you destroy it”
The man gives a confused reaction but just before he can grow even more confused he hears movement from the dust.
A boy with long black hair slowly gets up as he shakes the dirt off of his expensive looking clothing. He stretches as he grunts, “That kinda hurt dude…”
The man’s eyes widen as he watches the boy slowly get back to his feet, “You… how are you still standing?”
The young man slowly opens his eyes to reveal a glimmering emerald colour. Even Hiro is taken aback.
“Seriously, you can change gravity… that’s annoying” He cracks his neck as he looks fed up.
The man grunts before raising his hand. As he does so the boy shoots up into the air. The man sweats as he uses all of his effort to change the gravity in the area around the guy. The boy’s body shoots up into the air flapping hopelessly alongside the rubble from the fountain.
Hiro stares up in shock before turning to the man. The area surrounding the boy gives off a yellow misty glow reminding Hiro of that power that destroyed his village three years ago.
Hiro’s eyes fixate on the reminiscent glow of power as the man shouts up, “I really didn’t want to hurt you… my kids n-need me!”
The boy doesn’t react as he floats in the air.
The man hesitates, “I’m sorry kid… It’s just th-“Hiro slams his fist into the man’s chin completely knocking him off balance out of nowhere. His control on the gravity around the boy weakens as he begins to hurtle towards the ground.
The man slowly regains his balance. Hiro’s fist stings as he waves it around. In an instant the boy’s eyes begin to sparkle. His eyes begin darting around as a glow emanates from them as they lock on to every bit of debris falling alongside him.
Time seemingly slows as the man grabs Hiro by the throat. His hands glow with a yellow mist. Just as he goes to harm Hiro the boy’s foot slams into his stomach flinging him back into the destroyed building. His body smashes into the glass and wood that was once the wall of the local tavern.
Hiro can only watch as the boy walks towards the man and dispatches him with one kick to the jaw.
“Damn I was supposed to do that myself…” He sighs into his hands and turns towards Hiro.
He peers Hiro’s way with his glowing eyes.
The boy isn’t that much older than Hiro as his hair lies long and jet-black. The glow of his green eyes fades as he stares. His presentable appearance is completely different to the rugged Hiro.
“Thanks I guess” Hiro can’t really react as he racks his brain trying to understand what just happened.
As Hiro tries to figure out what’s happening the boy lifts the man and ties him to a pole nearby. He makes sure his hands are pointed upwards. He pats himself down as he gives a sigh of relief.
“What are you doing?” Hiro stares the boy’s way as the boy completely ignores him. He doesn’t acknowledge him as he just walks straight by.
Hiro hurryingly jogs to catch up to him and walk by his side. “Who was that?”
The boy ignores him and walks on.
“Why’d your eyes glow?”
The boy groans slightly annoyed
“Why do you look rich?”
The boy picks up his speed as he tries walking away but Hiro just keeps up
“Can you fix the water thi-“
“Shut up!” The boy stops and swings around to look Hiro in the eyes.
“Damn…” Hiro stares at him blankly as the boy unclenches his fist and walks away with a frustrated sigh.
The boy turns towards a carriage sitting by one of the village exits. Hiro’s eyes sparkle as he stares at the carriage. “I’ve never seen one this close before… I’ll need to tell mum when I see her”
The boy talks quietly with the man in the front seat. He clearly doesn’t want Hiro hearing what he’s saying as he hides his mouth from him.
Hiro doesn’t care what they’re talking about and just focuses on the large wooden wheels as they slowly roll away. “Woah…”
The boy walks away from the village as Hiro quickly follows behind.
The boy stops once again, “Why are you following me?”
Hiro looks around clearly guilty, “Huh? Follow? Me? If anyone is following here it’s you buddy”
The boy rolls his eyes and continues on. Every step he takes seem to garner a new question from Hiro slowly pushing him closer and closer towards his breaking point.
Eventually he turns around ad grabs Hiro by the shoulders. “Please… I’m begging you leave me alone”
Hiro slumps over slightly as his smile drops, “Oh… ok”
The boy nods satisfied as he turns and leaves. He stops as he hears Hiro sighing from behind. He fights with his own conscience as he tries to stop himself from turning back around.
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He groans as he turns, “Fine… What’s your name?”
Hiro smiles, “It’s Hiro”
The boy ties his long hair back as he nods, “I’m Asahi- Y-yeah Asahi” He clearly stopped himself from saying more but Hiro didn’t notice.
“Anyway Hiro… why are you following me?”
Hiro thinks for a second, “I need to find someone… and you seem pretty capable”
This piques Asahi’s interest somewhat, “Who?”
Hiro smiles sadly as he looks down at the flowing grass at his feet, “Someone important to me was taken… I need to find them”
“Taken?” Asahi raises an eyebrow as Hiro nods in response. “Where?” Hiro shrugs, “Who by?” Hiro shrugs again, “Why?” Hiro shrugs once more.
“Do you know anything!” Asahi shouts while shaking his fist in anger
Asahi sighs as Hiro stares at him blankly, “Well good luck I guess… where is it you’re going now?”
…
Silence sits for a worrying amount of time until Hiro eventually shrugs causing Asahi to fall over in disbelief.
“You’re kidding me right?” Hiro stares back completely serious. Asahi debates in his head whether to help him or not. To his inner anguish he can’t let Hiro be alone.
With a groan and a face palm he says, “Fine… I’ll let you come with me to the capital”
“The capital?” Hiro tilts his head in confusion.
“They’ll probably be there… or at least there might be some information”
Hiro smiles and jumps onto Asahi, “Really?”
Asahi looks regretful as Hiro dances around him. Hiro shouts out to the skies, “I’m coming for you Kyoko!”
Asahi grabs Hiro by the collar as he pulls him in close and with a look of disgust grumbles, “First rule… never do that dance again.”
Hiro awkwardly lowers his arms slowly, “Second rule… don’t ask me any stupid questions”
Hiro blinks clearly not listening.
“Lastly you will do exactly as I say… ok?” Asahi grows annoyed as Hiro stress off into the distance not listening to a word he says. “You’re kidding me, right?”
Hiro laughs as he fastens his bag on his back. “Let’s go!”
Asahi grabs Hiro’s bag and turns him around, “It’s this way…”
Hiro laughs, “Was just testing you”, Asahi looks unamused.
As the two head for the exit they walk by the man that they just fought being shoved into a nearby carriage. The man shouts after them, “You are bastards you know that!”. Tears begin rolling down the man’s face as Asahi just puts his head down and keeps on walking by.
“My daughter…”, The two men Asahi spoke to earlier slam the door on the man’s face.
Hiro looks back at him confused, “Why’s he crying? Didn’t he attack you?”
Asahi just walks ahead leaving Hiro slightly confused but ultimately, he brushes it off. The two leave the village together with Hiro trailing behind the clearly experienced Asahi.
Hiro yawns and stretches, “How long now?”
Asahi looks fed up with Hiro, “I told you it would take a week, didn’t I?”
Hiro sighs as he kicks rocks in his path. He looks forward to Asahi as he confidently strides in front of him.
Hiro grows curious in his boredom, “So… how’d you move so quickly back in that village?”
Asahi doesn’t acknowledge the question.
Hiro rushes forwards and catches up to him. He flings his arm around his shoulder and points right at his green eyes, “These were glowing right?”
Asahi rolls his eyes as he lets out an annoyed groan, “Didn’t I tell you to always follow behind?”
Hiro looks at him, “You did?”
Asahi sighs as he slides his arm off his shoulder, “We’ll be outside the capital in a few days so please just be quiet until then?”. Hiro groans in response as he slowly falls back behind Asahi
Night arrives as the moon hangs over the two as they continue walking. Hiro struggles behind a confident Asahi as he huffs and puffs.
“Can’t we stop?” Hiro speaks through large breaths
“But I’m so close to getting rid of you?”
“What?!”
“Oh sorry I meant I’m so close to getting rid of you…”
Hiro stares at him blankly, “You just said the same thing”
Hiro grins as he shrugs, “Heart wants what it wants I guess”
Hiro flashes an exhausted expression filled with desperation at Asahi begging him to stop. Asahi looks up at the moon as it beams down at the two through the trees.
He sighs, “Fine”
Hiro cheers out as Asahi looks around for a spot to camp out.
A rock sticks out from a small hill and protects a small patch of grass below from the weather. The two of them set up camp together underneath the stone. Asahi does most of the work as Hiro throws smaller rocks against the larger stone causing Asahi more annoyance.
The fire crackles under the stars as a slight breeze blows through the makeshift camp. The two of them sit by the fire huddled into themselves. Hiro looks longingly at the empty spot beside him that was once filled by his mother. Asahi sees the sadness in his eyes which is something he hadn’t seen in Hiro to this point.
“You have someone to find right? Is it a parent?”, Hiro shakes his head as that glimpse of sadness resurfaces on his face and his deep brown eyes. Asahi stares at him closely analysing him, “You have parents?”
Hiro looks up at him before Asahi averts his gaze embarrassed by his own intrigue. Hiro smiles as he looks back down at the fire, “My father died a few years ago… and my mother…”
Asahi looks at him with sympathy, “She died too?”
Hiro smiles and shakes his head. He looks up to the sky, “I know she is under this same sky… waiting for me to get back”
Asahi looks up to the stars as the decorate a deep blue ocean above. He smiles ever so slightly, “My mother is among the stars somewhere… She died when I was young”
Hiro looks at him with slight shock and sadness, “Sorry to h-“
Asahi quickly interjects, “Don’t be… I’m sick of people caring more about her death than her life”
Hiro chuckles ever so slightly causing Asahi to jump up embarrassed. “H-hey I was just opening up there d-don’t laugh!”
Hiro smiles softly back at him, “I’m sorry it’s just that you’re right… I’m sure she was great”
Asahi sits down slowly slightly taken back with Hiro’s response. He leans back and gazes upwards to the sky. The stars glimmer against his emerald eyes. They both lie back silently taking in the picturesque sky above.
Hiro reaches up towards the sky as he thinks of his father “You think we’ll ever see them again?”
Asahi places his hand on his chest “I don’t know… If only this power would let me see the past…”
Hiro turns his head towards Asahi and stares at him in confusion. Asahi stands and pats himself down, “I’m gonna head to bed…”
They wave each other a good night as Hiro is left to himself staring at the stars. He spots a flower dancing in the wind over head as his eyes widen. He watches it flow overhead and be taken away by the wind. Will I ever see you again father? He leans backwards and slowly drifts off to sleep.
The two walk along a dirt path as Hiro walks closer to Asahi than he was before. Asahi seems to have warmed up to Hiro’s presence in the time they’ve spent together. Hiro thinks to himself before shouts to Asahi,
“Hey so who are your family anyway?”
The question makes Asahi jolt up for a second before trying to play it off, “N-Nobodies… why?” He grows nervous as his eyes shift to either side.
Hiro shrugs, “Was just wondering… I mean how did you get the whole, glowing eyes thing?”
He really doesn’t know about the bloodlines? Where the hell is he from? Asahi looks backwards as Hiro looks around taking in his surroundings not paying attention to Asahi’s suspicious looks
A huge gust of wind blows the two to a stop as trees sway and dust flies past them. Hiro walks forward confused until his eyes widen in pure amazement.
A huge valley sits before him as it hangs way below them. Water trees ad creatures flying can be seen from their height. Flying creatures circle below them as a massive fog cloud covers most of the ground way below.
Hiro can’t take his eyes off t as Asahi looks around, “Should be around…”
Hiro stares down in excitement, is this really what the world is like mum
Asahi shouts Hiro over to him as he stands beside a long swaying bridge connecting either side of the valley.
They both staring forward with slight fear in their eyes. The wind blows it from side to side making it look unstable. The wood looks old giving even less hope to their well being
“W-We really have to cross?” Hiro swallows nervously as Asahi nods.
Asahi begins to look around “Well if we walk long enough it will connect so we don’t have to Hi-“
He turns to see Hiro completely gone. He looks confused until his eyes shoot open at the site of Hiro running full pelt across the bridge. His feet slam against the rickety wood as it creaks and sways under him. Asahi plants his hands on the back of his head as Hiro jumps onto the gras son the other side.
Hiro jumps up with his arms in the air and cheers. Asahi’s jaw drops as Hiro dances on the other side.
Asahi breathes heavily as he lies on the floor beside Hiro as he laughs.
Hiro stares downwards, “How the hell was this made anyway”
“Huh? Oh, some say the just happened others say it was the war of the gods… who cares though we’re on the other side now”
Hiro scratches his head, “War of the gods?”
“Well to be more specific the original champions…”
Hiro’s eyes sparkle as he clasps his hands together, “Tell me more!”
Asahi stands and looks at his puppy dog eyes, “No”
Asahi heads off with a disappointed Hiro in tow.
The two stand before a gate with a brick road on the other side. Hiro looks through confused
“What’s this?” He tries shaking it open before Asahi pulls him back
“We’re almost there now calm down” Asahi pushes the gates to Hiro’s embarrassment
Hiro stares closely at the sign attached to the other side of the gate, “What does it say?”
“The capital is only a day away…” Asahi sighs with mixed emotions
“So what is the capital anyway?” Hiro scratches his chin deep in thought. His mother and father never told him anything about its existence.
“You don’t know anything about it? That’s odd… well it’s the greatest city in the world” He smiles proudly as Hiro’s face lights up in response. Asahi eats up to praise for his beloved city.
“Trust me Hiro…. You’ll be blown away”
“Like that canyon?”, Hiro looks at Asahi awaiting his answer with bated breath
“Yep” Hiro jumps up and down around a smug Asahi as they make their way along the brick path.
The two continue walking until the light begins to fade. The only thing lighting their way now are the dim street lanterns that flicker either side of them. Hiro yawns as he rubs his eyes and Asahi keeps his eye out for any nearby camping spots.
A shout comes from the darkness ahead. They both freeze in place with fear running through their bodies. Their fear only grows as they hear footsteps growing closer from the unknown. Hiro and Asahi step closer to one another as whatever it is approaches.
“COME BACK HERE!” A deep cry from ahead near enough stops their hearts as they stiffen in fear. Hiro grabs hold of Asahi as they share each other’s fear.
The quickening footsteps begin to match their heartbeats as it grows quicker and louder.
Asahi screeches and slams his eyes closed as a figure flies out and slams into the both of them. Asahi jumps to his feet terrified as he brings up his clenched fists.
His fear completely disappears as he stares down at the scene unfolding in front of him.
A girl lies on top of Hiro as he screams, “A MONSTER IS EATING ME ASAHI!”
Hiro wriggles around for dear life as the woman screams at him, “I’M NOT A DAMN MONSTER!”
Anger becomes further etched on her face as she grabs Hiro by the collar, “You tow are gonna get me caught!” Just as she jumps up they hear shouting coming closer to them.
Asahi looks at the fear in the woman’s eyes and groans before grabbing both Hiro and her and lobbing them into the nearest bush as they crash into the darkness.
A man with a symbol drawn onto his slim looking armour stands before Asahi breathing heavily as his hands hold himself upwards against his knees. “Boy have you see-“
He pauses in shock as he sees Asahi’s face, his eyes widen as he gets into a proper stance, “I-“
Asahi just points down the road with an unamused face, “Go”
The man stutters his way to a thank you before sprinting down the path. Asahi sighs and rolls his eyes as he walks over to the bushes. “You two can come out now”
The woman pats herself down and instantly thrusts a finger in Asahi’s face, “Who the hell said you could throw me!”
Asahi looks just as annoyed as he stares back at her “And who gets angry after I just saved your ass from whatever that was”
She pouts as she looks away, “Don’t talk about my ass and get a haircut”
Asahi looks at her angered as he holds his hair in his hands
Hiro slowly gets up as he ruffles his hair, “The monster is scarier in the light”
The woman growls and grabs him by the shirt and begins rocking him back and forth with force shouting in his face as Asahi looks on annoyed.
Finally, the woman calms down as she gets all her anger out before she coughs awkwardly. “I guess I should thank you right?”
Asahi sighs as he stands beside a beat-up Hiro. As the woman stands in the light the two get a proper look at her. Her hair is a dark red and is tied up at the back. Her clothes are ragged much like Hiro’s and she wears broken goggles on her head.
Hiro fixates on the goggles, “Oh, I think I broke your goggles”
She pulls them off her head, “Nah they’ve been broken for a while I need new ones”
Hiro smiles as he reaches out his hand, “I’m Hiro… you are?”
She sighs “My name’s Isamu”
The three stand under the dim lights of the outer capital as the wind blows under a bright moon. With a handshake between a smiling Hiro and an unimpressed Isamu their fates were tied.
This handshake was just the beginning for their journey together.