Unknown Chapter

The Two who are One

Darkness filled the courtyard and surrounding area, dragging fear with it.  The rogues looked around, nervous from what they had just witnessed.  “Oi,” one whispered to his friend he knew still stood next to him, despite the all-consuming blackness.  “What the bloody hell just happened?” 

“No idea,” the second replied, trying to pierce the darkness with his eyes and ears.  Since neither sense detected anything, he continued.  “Somethin ain’t right though.  First that weird lightning hits blowing out all the damn torches, then those red eyes appear, only to disappear again a second later.”

“I wonder what ha-GAAAAHH!!!”  The first rogue broke off in a scream.

“Oi!” the second rogue spun towards the source of the scream where his friend had just been.  “James, you alright!?”  There was no response.  “JAMES!!”

“hahahahaha…”

A disturbing cackle of menacing laughter sent a shiver down the spine of every rogue in the square, all of whom were fully focused on where they believed it came from.  Dark blue flame spouted to life where the fires of the torches once burned.  The flames were suspended in the air above where they should have rested, yet the light they gave off illuminated the courtyard, casting dark shadows over every surface.

“Hahahahahaha…”

The laugh resounded once again, causing the rogues to look around nervously in the hallow light.  One by one they noticed the figure standing in the center of the square, and where the laugh had come from.  Genshu stood, legs spread wide, holding his head in his left hand and right hand open in front of him, palm up.

“Hahahahahahaha, HAHAHAHAHAAAA!” he laughed, seeming almost hysterical.  “Yessss…”  The word hissed past his lips as he stood up straight, holding his fists up to the sky.  “At last… AT LAST!  HAHAHAHAHA!!!”  he loosened up, taking a deep breath and let his hands drop to his sides.  “Ahhh… It’s been far too long since I’ve been able to leave that blasted cage.”  He seemed not to even notice the rogues around him, or the headless corpse at his feet. 

Alan, who had been observing the entire time, noticed who lay dead.  “James…” he whispered.  Clenching his fists, he challenged the man who murdered his fellow rogue.  “Hey, bastard!  What the hell are you mumbling about!?  Come here and fight me!!” he yelled as he notched his bow once more.

Genshu didn’t even seem to notice.  “That blasted girl has made it impossible for me to take control for all those years” he continued to mumble, stretching, and apparently testing his body.  “Though in the end, I suppose she is the reason I was given control, even if it was by her death.  And what is this?  The first seal is cracked?  My my, young Genshu has more potential than I thought…”

“HEY” Alan yelled in his frustration.  “Don’t ignore me Kenrai!”  He aimed his bow and let an arrow fly.  It screamed towards Genshu, aimed straight for his head.  His head rose as he caught the arrow in his right hand, inches away from his face.  He turned slowly, piercing Alan with his gaze, a psychotic smile lighting his face in the dark light.

“ah yesss…” he said slowly, turning to fully face the rogue.  “You are the one… the one he wants dead…  Alan, I believe?”  He tipped the arrow towards him.  “A pleasure to meet you, my fellow bringer of chaos and ruin.  You may call me Ryu, the Dark Dragon.”

“What game are you playing at?” Alan asked, annoyed.  “Your name is Genshu Kenrai.”

Ryu chuckled.  “In part, yes, I am.  Yet at the same time, I am not.  We are two souls in one body.”  He paused, a shiver running up his spine.  He smiled widely and began speaking to himself again.  “I feel it, your hate, your rage… Very well then.  For the sake of our bond, I will slaughter them for you…  I will carry out your rage and give you the revenge you so desire…”

He looked up at Alan once more.  “I’m terribly sorry, but I’m afraid that my other self wants you and your little band to be massacred.”  He flipped his katar to their battle positions, smiling with glee.  “You did kill his love after all.”

Faster than anyone could see, he threw the arrow back at Alan.  Alan stood his ground, expecting his cloak to keep him from harm.  “Fool…” Ryu laughed as dark blue flame sparked to life at the arrow’s tip.  It stuck home, hitting Alan square between the eyes, piercing his skull and his brain beneath.  He was dead before he hit the ground.  The rogues witnessing this stared in disbelief.  Their attention snapped back to Ryu as he laughed menacingly. 

“Unlike my other self, I am proficient in both physical and magical combat.”  He shivered again, staring at the ground with a hand over his right eye and a grin lighting his face.  “Learn well young Genshu, your rage fuels your strength…” he said slowly.  “With it, and with me, nothing can stop you…”  A black symbol burst to life above his left arm, made of the same bluish-black fire that lit the square.  It was solid at first, but quickly snaked into a thin line of smoke which wound it’s way around Genshu’s body.  He looked up through the twisting smoke, his red eyes gleaming with bloodlust once more.  “I’ll not hold you back any longer… The first seal is opened, and my time is short…”  He crouched down, clenching his fists over the grips of his katar.  “Come young one… SHOW ME THE STRENGHT OF YOUR RAGE!”

The smoke around him burst away and in a flash, Ryu had a rogue by the neck.  The frightened man struggled for a moment before Ryu snapped his neck in his hand, dropping him to the ground.  The rest of the rogues didn’t even have time to react before a shadow flew among them, faster than their eyes could fallow.

A shrill scream split the air as a rogue collapsed backwards, his stomach ripped open by Ryu’s blade.  Chaos ensued.  Every rogue who tried to run was killed.  Screams and yells rose on the night air as Ryu carried out Genshu’s will.  Ryu found no greater pleasure than death.  He moved from rogue to rogue, killing each one a different way.  The opened seal gave him the speed and strength to do whatever he pleased.  The rogues w moved as slow as clouds on a windless night to his eyes.  The men themselves could be torn apart as easily as rice paper.

Ryu reveled in the bloodbath, laughing as he tore a man’s heart from his chest, moving instantly to decapitate the next.  One by one, they all died.  Some slow, some fast.  Genshu wanted these men dead, and Ryu was all too happy to oblige.  He moved among the few remaining rogues, selecting one in particular.  He moved in front of the man, pausing long enough for the man’s fright-filled eyes to register him, then drew back his arm.  He flung it forward, palm out.  As it made light contact, he whispered “chi strike…”  The man exploded backwards, his upper torso completely obliterated aside from a rain of blood.

Ryu stood slowly, laughing at the fear in the eyes of the last three rogues as they watched what was left of their companion splatter against a wall.  Ryu walked over slowly, constantly laughing his psychotic laugh.  The rogues watched in horror as he approached, not knowing what to do.  Running meant death.  Staying still meant death.  Fighting meant death.  What could they do?  Twenty feet away, Ryu seemed to blink out of existence.   

The rogues stared, not knowing what was going on.  Did he leave?  Had they been saved?  They looked around as they dared to hope.  One even smiled after a minute.  “Whew… I guess he left or somethin…” one said, looking over to the smiling rogue.  “Oi, I  know we just got saved and all, but this isn’t the time to be smiling.”

The smiling rogue didn’t respond.  In fact, he didn’t even move.  “Oi,.” The other rogue tried again.  “You aite? Oi!”  He reached out to touch the man’s shoulder.  Before his hand made contact, the man began leaning sideways.  He fell as the other’s watched, exploding into tiny bloody pieces as he struck the ground.  The other two rogues fell back away from the bloody pile, screaming.  They tried to crawl away, but stopped as Ryu snapped into existence in front of them.  His hair covered one eye as he looked down at them, pure joy mixing with the bloodlust.  

“For those who anger a Dragon…” he began quietly.  One rogue jumped up and tried to run.

One step.

“There is...” 

Two steps. 

“No…” 

On the third step, the man stopped dead, Ryu’s blade stuck full in his stomach. 

“Escape…”

Ryu shoved both hands into the rogue’s stomach, then ripped him in half, tossing the two bloody chunks to the side.  Blood stained his blades and hands as he approached the last rogue.  The man coward against a wall, frightened not even coming close to describing him.  Ryu slammed a blade into the wall next to him as he cringed, staring wide eyed into the red pools of hell that were Ryu’s own.  “Young Genshu has a request of you, the last of your petty band…” he whispered into the man’s ear.

“Die…”

He grabbed the rogue by the face, throwing him into the air.  As the man spun helpless, Ryu split into a thousand of himself, each one making a slashing pass at the flailing rogue.  No solid part of that man ever hit the ground.  There was only blood.  Ryu landed in the center of the square, slowly taking in the scents of death, reveling in the silence that fallowed it. 

“It seems my time is almost up for now…” he said slowly, staring down at his bloodstained hands.  The symbol from before appeared once more over his left arm, sinking down into the flesh to be sealed once again.  “Remember well what I have done this day, young Genshu, and how I did it…  For your rage is your most powerful weapon, and I am your most powerful ally.  You and I are one, wither we like it or not.  Learn well from me young one…  For only I can grant you… the power you need… to fulfill your hearts desire… and bring back…the one… you… love…”  His eyes fluttered shut, and he fell backwards onto the ground and into sleep.  The flames that had lit the square died down slowly, the shadows receding from the blood-filled square.  In mere seconds, Ryu had obliterated all 100 rogues.  None survived.  As the darkness fell in around Genshu, Ryu was placed under restraint once more by his eternal seal.  “This won’t be the last time I am able to break free…” he knew.  “So long as that girl remains dead, It will be easier for me to break this cursed seal from time to time…  But so long as I can have my share of blood now and then, I can have patience…  For I will always be a part of you, young Genshu… We are Two, yet at the same time...  We are One…”

Chapter 11

Yet to be named

“Kate…”

A shadow detached itself from the side of the archway that marked the town gate as Genshu moved towards it.  Kate was staring straight at him as he approached.  Unshed tears were clear and evident in eyes turned hard from her loss.  Genshu stopped a few feet away, the emptiness of his eyes challenging the hardness of Kate’s.

“So…” she was able to choke out after a moment of silence.  “So you’re finally leaving…”

“I am, and you know why.” Genshu answered, his voice void of emotion. 

Kate took a deep breath, gripping something behind her.  She relaxed a bit as she let out a sigh, breaking the locked gaze that she had held.  “I knew you would leave one day…” She began.  “I’ve known since the first day you came into our family…”  A tear slid down her cheek, her steel resolve breaking.  “We aren’t related by blood, but you are still a son to me.”

Tears fell faster now from her eyes, yet her voice remained strong enough not to shake.  “My daughter has been stolen from me, and now-” She broke off in a sob.  “Now I must loose you too…”

She cried openly as Genshu stared, unwavering.  Without warning, he moved forward and embraced Kate as she wept.  In a few minutes, she regained control of herself as Genshu pulled back and looked into her eyes, while still holding her shoulders.  Kate was shaken to see that despite his compassionate act, his eyes were still empty. 

“You cannot loose me” He said slowly.  “For I am already lost.”  Kate stared back as though he had slapped her.  She was almost reduced to tears again, but stopped when he continued.  “When I was lost before, Luna found me and saved me.  Twice.  Now it is my turn to save her.”  He let go of Kate and started towards the gate once more.  “I’ll bring her back.” He said over his shoulder.  “Have faith, and let not your heart fall to fear.”

Kate took comfort in his words, finally revealing what she held behind her back.  “Before you go, take these.”  Genshu stopped and turned.  “They are from Rob and I, to help you on your way.”  She explained.  “They are relics of the Dragon Clan.”

In her hands were three metal objects of various sizes.  Kate walked to where Genshu stood, placing the two small items on the ground, and holding the large one to him.  It was a piece of armor, a shoulder plate, in the shape of a dragon’s head.  Its eyes shone with a soft yellow glow.  “It is said that this will protect members of your clan from any assault, be it physical or magical.  As far as we know, it works so long as you have contact with it, and the attack is directed to the plate itself.”

Genshu nodded in understanding and thanks as he strapped it to his left shoulder.  He felt a strange surge flow through his body, almost a warm breath, emanating from the armor.  He closed his eyes, welcoming the breath.  After a moment, it subsided, though Genshu could still feel its presence, as if it was a living being that had just become a part of him.  He opened his eyes, somehow knowing that they now shone the same piercing yellow of the dragon head.

Kate was not surprised at all by this change, as though she had expected it.  She reached down and picked up the next object, another metal dragon head with a clip in the back.  She handed it to him, saying “this has the same enchantment in it as a mage places on a butterfly wing, though this will never loose its magic.

Chapter 10

Family Bonds

“Jersey!”

A middle-aged woman burst through the doorway of the large house that Luna, Genshu, and Jersey were just walking up to.  “Hi mom!”  Jersey called as she was swept into the woman’s arms.  The woman was in hysterics as she gripped her daughter tightly before releasing her, looking Jersey over frantically.

“Oh thank heavens your back safely!  Are you hurt anywhere?  Are you alright?” the woman asked over and over, barely giving Jersey time to respond.

“Take it easy mom, I’m fine.”  Jersey laughed as she wiggled free of her mother’s grasp.  “Don’t get so worked up.  I’m fine, see?”  Jersey ran around her mother in demonstration.  Her mother let out a sigh of relief. 

“I’m so glad…  your father and I just received word that you had been kidnapped!  We were so worried, and just about to go looking for you.”  The woman looked over Jersey’s shoulder and seemed to notice Genshu and Luna for the first time.  “Who are these people with you?” She asked before whispering, “are they the ones who kidnapped you?”

Jersey laughed even harder this time, then walked over to where Genshu and Luna were standing.  “Of course not mom!  These two saved me!  Nugget got rid of the bad men all by himself.”  She said, gesturing towards Genshu with her right hand.

“Nugget?” her mother asked.  “You mean this boy here?  Honey, I’ve told you a hundred times, its ni-chan, not nugget.  I know your still new to Japanese, but the two words aren’t THAT far off.”

“meh meh, same difference” Jersey responded.

Her mother stood up and sighed before smiling over at Genshu and Luna.  “thank you both for saving my daughter.  We never thought that anyone would sink so low as to try to kidnap a little girl to get at our family’s money.”  She took a moment to bow her thanks.  “Is there any way we can repay you?  If you would like a cash reward, we would be happy to oblige.”

“reward?” Genshu asked aloud.  “What for?  I just did what anyone else would have done.”

Jersey’s mother blinked back in surprise.  “You don’t want a reward?”

“I don’t want any money, if that’s what your asking” Genshu responded, scratching his head.  Before he could continue, his stomach made itself heard.  He looked down and placed a hand over it.  “But now that I think about it, I am kinda hungry…”

Luna and Jersey giggled as Jersey’s mother laughed outright.  “It’s getting rather late, so a hot meal is the least we can offer.”  She smiled as she asked “would you stay with us for supper?”

“Well I’d like to…” Genshu answered.  “But Kate told us to be back before dark.”

“Oh, don’t worry about that.” Luna said before raising a hand to her mouth, pinched her tongue with two fingers, and blew a sharp whistle.  “I’ll have Nina tell mom what were doing.  She’ll be fine with it.”  She smiled as a hawk’s cry pierced the air above them.  A small hawk, only about the size of Luna’s head, dove out of the sky, stopping only a few feet from the ground, coming to a soft landing on Luna’s outstretched arm. 

“This is Nina, my best friend since I was four years old” Luna gestured to the resting hawk.

“Hi there” Genshu smiled at the hawk and held out a hand to it.  Luna began to protest, thinking that Nina would not react well to a stranger, but stopped as the hawk fluttered off her arm and onto Genshu’s outstretched fist.  Nina eyed him closely as Genshu stared right back, no hint of fear in his eyes.  After a few seconds, the hawk let out a quiet peeping sound, nodding its approval.  Genshu nodded in return, moving so that his arm was close enough to Luna’s for the hawk to step off easily. 

“I don’t think I’ll ever get used to that ability of yours…” Luna said with a crooked smile as Nina took her place on Luna’s shoulder.

“All I did was say hello” Genshu said with a shrug.  “Nothing special.”

“Well, whatever it is, its still amazing.”  Luna laughed, then turned an eye to the hawk on her shoulder.  “Now then, I need a favor from you.”  She didn’t say anymore, simply stared into the hawk’s eye.  After a moment of this silent communication, Nina gave another screech, then took off into the sky once more.  Seeming satisfied, Luna turned to Genshu once more.  “She’ll tell mom for us, so we can stay now if you want.”

“Awesome.” Genshu answered back before turning to Jersey’s mother.  “I guess we can stay then” he grinned widely. 

“I’m very pleased to hear that” the woman answered with a returning smile.  “Forgive me for asking” she continued, “but would you happen to be Luna Andres and Genshu Kenrai?”

“Yea, how’d you know?” Luna answered first.

“I heard you mention Kate, an old friend of mine, as your mother” she explained.  “I’ve never actually met you before dear, but I’ve heard all about you.  Your mother is quite fond of you.”  She smiled at Luna, then nodded to Genshu.  “And everyone in town knows your name by now.  Word spread fast about the young boy who fearlessly rushed the undead monster in the square yesterday, easily destroying it.”  She hugged Jersey to her before continuing.  “And now you’ve saved my daughter.  You are going to become quite famous around here.”

Genshu looked away and scratched his head, not bothering to hide his smile.  “Like I keep saying, I just did what anyone else would have done.  I’m no hero or anything.”

Jersey’s mother laughed as a man joined her.  “You returned our daughter to us safely, and for that, we see you as a hero.”

“Dearest” Jersey’s mother said, turning to her husband.  “Tell everyone to start cooking.  We shall have a feast tonight to celebrate!”

Genshu grinned widely at the thought. 

Jersey’s father noticed and laughed.  “It seems we’ll have to prepare quite a feast.  I get the feeling that this young man will give us a run for our money.”

Jersey’s mother laughed as well.  “We’ve been chefs for twelve years, I don’t think we’ll lose to this young man’s stomach.”

“I’ll do my best!” Genshu answered with confidence.

Everyone there laughed again as Jersey’s father gestured to the doorway.  “Well then, shall we go inside?”  He started towards the door, but paused before going in.  He turned to his wife and asked “who are their parents again?”

She smiled as she answered.  “Don’t you remember?  The girl is the daughter of my old friend…”

“Kate…”

End of Chapter 10

 yes it took all summer, but here it is.  i duno why, but i just didn't like somethin about writing this chapter, so i got it over quick, hence why its so short :x  im gona post what i have of 11 now, but don't worry, its gona be a longer one XD.

btw, that new profile pic is a sketch of Genshu done by my good friend Seth.  He's doing a full-blown avatar for it soon, as well as some other crazy art for the story.  can't wait! >3 rock on Seth! (he ish teh uber artist o doom /ok.  Mayu kicks ass too! >3).  hope to have more art posted on here later XD

Later,

Genshu Kenrai