Hiruko gave me a cloak, similar to that of the tower robes Nada wore. After I had dressed, Hiruko guided me to the door. For a while he simply sat outside and watched the night, and so it came as a slight surprise when he ordered me to get up.

“Get up, already, Aaron. We need to start moving, now.” I didn’t question him, and ask why we had sat in the first place, due to the recent events.

I staggered slowly, overcome by tiredness, Hiruko occasionally gloating, telling me that I should’ve napped when I had the chance.

I followed mirthlessly, though Hiruko seemed to be enjoying this trek. The night drove on, but the path remained peaceful, as did the air for Hiruko was content in the silence and I dared not speak to him until he had calmed from the earlier incidents.

Nevertheless, I soon moaned out, “Rest...?” Hiruko turned to stare at me and I closed my mouth and continued walking, despite hearing a small satisfied snicker at my reaction when the black cat turned around. I continued to groan until Hiruko gave in, and we sat under the moon for a few minutes.

“We have hours left before we rest again, Aaron.” Hiruko grinned at my reaction. “Use this time well.” At that I lay back on the grass and placed my arms behind my head, watching the stars.

As I lay, there was a loud rustling from the shrubs and Hiruko yowled, his back arching. I grabbed Senshi and unsheathed him, pointing him to the bushes. A figure came through and as soon as she saw us, she scrunched up her face and closed her eyes, bowing low.

“I’m sorry General...I didn’t expect to see you here.” Hiruko smiled and I lowered Senshi.

Nada stepped through, brushing off twigs and leaves. “I was travelling to see you...as I promised.” She smiled and continued, “And night seems to be the only time the General lets us off...”

Hiruko’s laughed and stepped forward to greet Nada. “Well, he always was a bit uptight! But seriously Nada,” he sat examining her partially torn robes; “You could’ve found Keira and asked her to take you.” Nada smiled and nodded.

“I searched for her and I tried to find our Lieutenant, George, but they were probably in a meeting...”

Hiruko shook his head at this. “No...both are prone to slacking. I’ll call Keira now...it’ll be easier than dragging him along.” Hiruko set his stone-face on me and I became still until he had wandered off to call Keira.

Nada stepped forward and in an instant she had passed me. As I turned she grabbed the remains of her tattered robe as she jumped down and lay on the grass, folding her arms around her head for support as I had done.

I stood uncomfortably watching her, a small smile spread across her face as she gazed at the stars above her. Nada had grown exceedingly wary when she entered the Soul Tower – not at all like the graceful warrior I had first met. However, I could still see that girl dancing, perplexing me and anyone who dared cross her path, and that this was partially an act. The shyness she seemed to embrace was to protect her job and her life...or perhaps it wasn’t? I had not forgotten her doubt when she told me of how Vice had broken her death to her. She seemed quite certain she still lived.

But why would Vice, the person who was to attack us, bring her here? Yet another question loomed up before me.

Did Nada know that Vice was the enemy?

Nada turned her head to me as my brow furrowed with confusion.

“Come!” She patted the grass with her hand and left it by her side, not bothering to return it to her head. I obeyed and jumped down to lie beside her, despite the loud snicker of Senshi growing in my mind.

“I can tell you’ve grown in strength.” She whispered. “What have you been doing?” Still she gazed at the stars and did not turn to me, and still I simply shrugged, refusing to answer.

I dropped my hand to the grass, and ever so slowly I edged it closer to her own, breathing harder at each moment.

I dared a glance at her hand and that’s when I saw them; pink and jagged along the delicate skin of her wrist, they protruded like unfriendly thorns on an innocent rose and before I could stop myself I had grabbed and twisted her hand to see them more clearly. The girl shot up like she was on fire and tugged at me to drop it, but then I think she saw the look in my eyes and she stopped fighting. She was breathing so heavily; I imagined her heart pumping in the confines of her chest, like a mouse after flight, and I let my fingers trace over the scabs that had formed. When I looked up to her she was terrified.

“Why do you do this?” I murmured, sliding my finger up the arm where there were scars like faded chalk.

She sniffed and shrugged, for a moment pretending none of this mattered to her, but when I didn’t let go of her wrist she pulled it from me, swallowing slowly. “I get lonely.”

“Yeah, but…” As much I hated myself, I had never been able to fathom the idea of bleeding for the hope of feeling. I’d been told once that because I could never do that to myself, I evidently still had some self-respect, but nonetheless, this crippling sense of helplessness that constantly surrounds me is an indicator this persona was wrong. “Doesn’t it hurt?” I continued.

She smirked. “That’s kinda the point.” She moved her knees up underneath her and hugged them close to her chest. “I…” She looked down. “It didn’t start because I died or anything… I’ve had my reasons for many a year.”

“No matter the reason, I can’t possibly fathom why you would...” I trailed off at the look in her eye and looked away, nodding slowly. “I wouldn’t be surprised if you had started because of this place.”

She drew her eyes up to me. “D-do you-”

I shook my head and turned away before she had a chance to finish.

She swallowed. “I usually wear bracelets and stuff.” She snorted. “But really, if I legitimately didn’t want people to see, I wouldn’t do it where they could, eh?” She smiled at me but I could tell it was a farce. Sometimes, when you’re so used to wearing a mask it becomes obvious when others are wearing one.

And it had to be Hiruko to ruin it.

Bursting through the bushes with a laugh, and Keira’s smooth voice, I quickly rose up as Nada realised the closeness of our hands.

“It seems we will get to the Tower far quicker than we expected. Remember, Aaron, when I told you of the sword’s powers, and how some Katana have two abilities when others have only one?” I nodded, but Nada’s face looked confused; for she knew nothing of Hiruko training me, or of what we were speaking. “Well, I did not mention that some Katana are powerless, in the sense that they only have a soul within a sword, and no special abilities. Keira’s Katana, Kasuka, is one of these, and so instead of the sword obtaining power, the user does. That is, Keira always had a power, but it was only unleashed when she came in contact with her Katana. Keira’s power is Furai meaning ‘to fly’. You saw the other night when they came,” he used they to refer to the men that had appeared outside my window, “of how she came and departed?” I certainly did. Keira had been back to the Tower in an instant, and it confused me of why Hiruko did not do the same thing to get us both there quickly. “It was using this method – the same method we will be using to get to the Soul Tower.” Hiruko stepped back and Keira moved forward, smiling at Nada and grinning at my opened-mouthed expression.

“Most people aren’t accustomed to the speed, so please turn away if you feel the need to dispose of any excess.”

She sounds like an air-hostess. I said.

You do understand what she means by excess don’t you? Senshi’s voice became strained at the thought.

Nada stood unsure of what was happening, until Hiruko strode around to her and sat. “Here. I’ll explain.” Hiruko told Nada of the confirmed sighting of Vice (however he did not deny the ‘fishy’ reason, so that I wouldn’t have to explain my reasons for lying to her) and asked if she wished to join in on helping. He was ready to leave until both Keira and I nudged him back down.

“You’re forgetting one little detail.” It did not come to me as a surprise that Hiruko did not wish to speak of his past, but he shook his head and said, “Not yet. Once we reach the Soul Tower, perhaps, but there’s something I need to confirm.” Nada rose up and breathed out.

“So...you’re going to battle them?” She asked me. I nodded before shaking my head, noting that she herself had a Katana. “Or...we’re going to battle them.” Her face lit up as she caught on to what I meant. Happily, she laughed and I proceeded to tell Hiruko as she danced happily in the moonlight behind me.

He nodded, “We need all the help we can get. But...before we leave, how about we see how good she really is?” Hiruko cocked his head and raised an eyebrow, but as he spoke I shook my head.

“There’s no way I will fight her.” I said it sternly.

“There’s no way she’ll appreciate you for dismissing her as a weak girl, either.” Hiruko purred this out in a matter-of-factly way. I called out retorts, but he shook them off and walked regally to Nada.

“What is the name of your Katana, young lady?” Quickly Nada, pulled out her sword and held it flat against both of her palms.

“She’s called Osamaru.”

An obviously well behaved sword. I whispered, to Senshi’s distaste.

“And yours, Aaron?” I sighed at Hiruko, but nonetheless pulled Senshi out and lid him as Nada had done. “This bundle of joy is called Senshi.”

I don’t care if that was said sarcastically, it was still a compliment! Senshi boasted happily at my groan and Hiruko smiled slightly, leaning back to Nada and explaining our tight relationship.

“You don’t have to prove yourself, Nada. This is simply to see what level you are at. That is a completely different matter to Aaron, to see how well I’ve trained him, and if he was worth my time.” Hiruko smiled slyly as I stared blankly at him, and he swiftly returned back to Keira.

I called out the words, “Power of the Katana Senshi, flow into my flesh and bone so that I may wield his strength with my own!” And the flash of silver light flowed out into the air, before returning to the sword and climbing swiftly upwards to my body.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Nada stepped forward and called out, “Power of the Katana Osamaru, flow into my flesh and bone so that I may wield her strength with my own!” I was interested to see what colour represented her Katana. In an instant a flash of dark purple had sprang out from her sword, and it quickly coiled up, caressing her as Senshi’s power did until it had sunk away into her skin. I couldn’t help but admire it, but I couldn’t help but see the expression on both Keira and Hiruko’s faces. It was the same one that Hiruko had used when I first approached him about his past. I shook the strange feeling from my mind and proceeded to fight.

Nada was quick and nimble and my sword was blocking her attacks for a few minutes until I called out, “Shippou Tsuki Strike!” Now the silver light struggled to remain in my control and it flew out from both our swords, hitting Nada back. I moved closer, for she was already on her feet again, my silver moon coming down from the sky for another hit. She looked to me and then at the sky and called out rapidly, “Murasaki Tsuki!” I gasped at her words. Yet another moon? Hiruko said that they were rare powers, yet now three among the four of us (not including the Katana) had one as their power. Hiruko and Keira were frowning, however Hiruko seemed very certain of something.

A ball of purple swept out from Osamaru and the two attacks blocked each other until each gave way and returned to their swords. I advanced still, Nada returning to her fighting position and attacking me again.

I could hear Hiruko murmuring something to Keira. “Is it possible? We may only need Aaron...yet it seems that she is the other...meaning that they are true...?” This made me far more confused than I would have liked, but I forgot this quickly as Nada came at me again.

****

It was several minutes before Hiruko came towards us, neither one of us having landed a blow to the other. “Finish up. You are both equal.” Senshi snorted but I shook hands with Nada anyway. Nada sat with Keira as she offered her food, but I drew Hiruko away for him to explain his whispering.

“What is it, Hiruko? Just because you have owned up about your past doesn’t mean you’re allowed to keep other secrets from us. What were you two talking about?”

I hadn’t noticed that I was holding Hiruko from the scruff of his neck and shaking him vigorously and so his loud yowls and scratching ticked me off completely. I threw the cat down and stared at him until he had recovered.

“It seems that we may not need you to uncover the prophecy, Aaron, but nonetheless I shall show it to you. Nada will be a great help to us in the coming months, it seems. And,” he paused, smiled and looked me in the eye, “she, too, was trained by her Division, so don’t look too concerned. It’s not all natural. However, it seems that because she rarely does any fighting, she may have been placed in an incorrect Division. I shall have to break the secret of my leaving to the Governance for him to understand what we must do to fight back against the three that appeared. All we be explained, soon enough.” And with that, Hiruko had swung around and had already made it back to Keira.

I sighed and walked over to meet them.

“All right, everyone!” Keira called out merrily, holding out her arms for us all to latch onto. The rest of us, especially Hiruko (who had undoubtedly experienced this before, along with the faint cries of Senshi telling me to hold onto him) grouchily moved to place a hand on her arms.

“And don’t let go or you’ll go flying with…little chance of survival.”

No matter how daunting she made it sound, she kept grinning as though she was happy about the whole thing. Hiruko jumped to her shoulder and dug his claws into her robe, with not so much as a slight snort at my face, for my confused expression was apparently funny to him. I gripped Keira’s arm and placed my other hand down to steady Senshi and stop him from yelling out abuse. Nada smiled at her sword, occasionally widening her eyes and nodding her head, speaking to it. I couldn’t help but stare.

If that’s a civil conversation, what do we look like? I whispered.

Senshi simply snorted, You mean, what do you look like. I could do anything here that you wouldn’t notice!

I closed my eyes in disgust. Just what have you been doing?!

I have done nothing… just yet. Senshi voice was stern, but he failed in being serious; smirking as he spoke.

Keira breathed in. “Ready?” We all nodded, Hiruko’s claws flexing and digging in further (Keira occasionally tilting her head for him to stop it, as though it tickled her). Abruptly, there was a hard rush of air against my face and I found that my hand had dropped from Senshi to grip Keira’s arm with two hands. It was lucky that he had been strapped on, for he would have dropped into the forest below, (hopefully never to be found), but for now he took no notice of my hand leaving his hilt.

Surprisingly enough, it only took a few seconds before we had reached the gates of the Soul Tower. Keira dropped down gracefully from the sky and Hiruko jumped off, glad that the ride hadn’t affected him too much. Nada and I placed our hands to our heads, almost in accompaniment to the groans of our Katana.

Hiruko stepped forward and whispered to the door (which seemed to moan in response) before walking through the door, without it opening. Keira bade us over and we followed her close to the door. However, Nada and I were cautious, so I told her to step back. I held out Senshi and tapped at the door, however he went straight through and so I followed him in.

Why’d you do that for?! You’d risk the life of your own Katana for yourself?

I sighed at him. You wouldn’t have died, just gotten hit against a door, which did little to you last time I tried to punish you. I remembered back to my hard hammering him against the floor and Senshi’s sarcastic cries for both attention and pain came through my mind slowly after.

Nada stepped through after me, smiling as she went, passing me without a word. Her hand was clutched against her Katana and she avoided my gaze, stepping around the corner to meet Hiruko and Keira.

I stood, mouth-opened and completely unimpressed.

So much for astonishing her, eh, Aaron?

I ignored his taunt, now being incapable of losing it in front of Nada. Picking him up slowly, I placed him back in hi covering and strapped him around me.

I muttered, “Right.,” and trudged slowly to Hiruko.

“…take both of you to the Prophecy Room at the side of the Soul Tower and then we’ll deal with the intruders.” Hiruko didn’t bother to note if I had followed, which I found particularly rude, and instead padded over to Nada to see if she was comfortable. Keira walked back to me and smiled.

“He’s seemed to take a particular interest in Nada.” She whispered. “She has good fighting skills and is of great importance to us, as are you.” Keira skipped away after that, not explaining her words. I shook my head in disbelief.

People around here liked to not explain their actions.

Keira was extremely attached to Hiruko, but Hiruko’s connection with Nada did not seem to affect her. I began to wonder what the past battle had been like. How many casualties? How could three men cause that much trouble?

Senshi cleared his throat. They are people of the Hyouga tribe, remember. They can control water. He spoke clearly and slowly, imprinting the thought in my mind. What are humans made up of? The very water in the atmosphere can be used to their advantage, Aaron. Every – single - drop. I shook my head out of the confusion and walked to Hiruko and Nada.

“Are we ready?” Nada nodded, but Hiruko looked up and frowned slightly.

“Are you alright, Aaron?” I smiled and nodded, obviously unconvincingly, as Hiruko’s frowned remained, but nonetheless he walked away, Nada and I following.

The Soul Tower was centred in the middle of a huge maze-like town. I felt as though I could explore it for days with my friends, steal whatever I wanted and laze in the sun for the remaining hours. But then, I remembered.

That was my old life.

****

Nada skipped ahead of as all, Keira following enthusiastically, guiding her through the busy crowds and pulling her away from every shop she stopped at. Hiruko had to yell out to stop any person from stepping on him, and when we finally caught up to Nada and Keira, Hiruko settled for Keira’s shoulder.

I sulked behind, my head still caught in the past and the present. Hiruko may have been able to drive the Hyouga away with his loyal friends and Keira by his side, but this time, would I defeat them?

Keira walked through the crowd, the sea of people parting to let us through. If it wasn’t for their authority, I alone would have never have made it through the mass, that is, without being flung to the ground and being walked on several times. Once through the market, there was yet another gate, however here there were guards.

Both guards were dressed in Tower Robes, slouching against the door crossed-armed. One had black, ruffled hair that looked almost uncontrollable. The man lent against the gate, his eyes frowning into the distance. His Katana was long and ornately decorated, but every-so-often it would move of its own accord by swinging back and forth.

Like a spoilt Prince… I thought. It was, indeed, an extremely good match. Being such a handsome sword made the Katana like a Prince. Whether it’s soul had been previously, or its holder treated it like one, the sword acted spoilt, always wanting the attention of the guard.

It did not surprise me when the guard grabbed the blade of the sword and pulled it to his face, whispering something to him (most likely a threat, like those I used against Senshi) and placed him back in his covering, the sword not daring to move.

The other guard, who had been standing some seconds before, was now lying on the floor, a bruise appearing on his forehead, drooling slowly. In his hand he held a bottle of sake, nearly full, and his Katana, a rather scrawny-looking grey sword, with dark black and grey coverings.

Guy can’t hold his liquor, Senshi snorted, unlike someone I know. If you had never met Hiruko, how many bottles of sake would you have drunken in the last two weeks? He’s kept you so busy and tired that you won’t even dare touch a bottle, along with the constant fear of what he’ll do to you if you do.

I groaned and then stopped. Have you even had sake in your lifetime?!

Senshi paused for a moment, considering this. If I told you,and it was the answer you wanted, you wouldn’t ever shut up about. How dumb do you think I am?

I guess you’re never in the mood for compliments, Senshi. There was a slight chance I would have praised you, there.

In some cases, the word ‘idiot’ could be used to be a compliment. For example, ‘Aaron is the single most idiotic person in the entire two worlds.” He laughed.

What?! How is that a compliment?! What are you thinking?! “What is wrong with you?!” I drew Senshi and bashed him on the pavement. “You’re full of yourself, you know-…” I paused and cleared my throat, placing the moaning Katana back in his covering and turned to face the three concerned faces. Hiruko had his head bent, eyes wide and mouth partially opening, forming a crafty smile, while Keira played with her hands, staring at Hiruko worryingly. Nada was the only face I didn’t want to see.

“Did we miss a conversation, Aaron?” Hiruko’s cunning laugh came shortly after.

I looked up to Hiruko. Although his face was happy, his eyes were certainly not. He knew I was worried about everything. He knew that I knew I wouldn’t usually let my words slip from my mind. I had grown out of that.

He knew I was concerned about the fact that I didn’t know who I was anymore.

I knew nothing.

Hiruko grunted and turned to continue walking, Keira grabbing him immediately and placing him on her shoulder. I heard him curse and moan about how cold her hands were and how delicate his body was and how he knew where he was going so she shouldn’t be so overprotective, but Keira merely laughed and told him to breath when speaking.

Nada moved closer, smiling. “It happens, Aaron.” She moved her hand to take my own, but I drew my hand away, staring at her with gritted teeth. I sat down staring off into the distance.

“Everything goes wrong for me, Nada! Life went wrong for me! I don’t know anymore, everything’s moving too quickly for me. He’s teased me, that cat. He gave me a taste of blood and now I can’t live without it. What about afterwards? If we do defeat the Hyouga tribe, life will be boring! Even the Soul Tower won’t live up to my expectations. And what if we lose? What then? We sacrifice the life of everyone for our own?!” Nada frowned then smiled, bending down to me.

“What if indeed.”

I threw her off me. “Something’s…something hasn’t been there for a while. Something’s missing from my soul. For a while I thought it was my sister. But, I think I’m beginning to think…I’m beginning to realise that…”

How…romantic. Senshi whispered.

“Argh!” I stood up and threw the sword against the wall. It hit and bounced off the wall to the floor. I sat down again, pulling my legs towards me.

Oh, you’re evil…ouch.

“Can’t you see I’m in the middle of something! Do you ever just shut that goddamn mouth of yours?”

Nada closed her eyes and put her hand on my own. I paused for a moment, hoping.

But I was wrong.

Nada grabbed my hand, staring at me for a moment, and then swiftly she rose pulling me up with her. She turned and walked to Hiruko.

Halfway to the pair she turned to me. “We will win.”

That was the Nada I first met.

I paused staring off as she sauntered away. I cautiously turned to the wall and walked over to retrieve Senshi from the ground. Bending down I picked up the Katana. Senshi…if you stopped being yourself, you wouldn’t end up damaged all the time.

You’re depressed…! I smiled and sighed.

I’m sorry, Senshi. I don’t believe I have been the best of friends recently. I…haven’t been the best to myself, either.

How modest! Senshi spoke, but I could hear the strain in his voice. He knew, for once, that I was right.

I’d lost myself.

I had always been hiding. I had always felt shattered. I…was always lost.

Admitting weakness… requires strength. Yet…

I was still weak.