Elemental Fate Chapter 4

Training begins!

Elemental Fate Chapter 4

I stared at him. "Wait, how will I be able to get a hit in if you have a weapon and I--" before I could finish my sentence I got a painful whack to my forehead.

"No complaints!" My father reprimanded. "Look for an opening in your enemy's defences. You have an advantage but it is up to you to figure out what that is. Chise will not help you." He lunged at me again and this time I did a weird roll out of the way that ended with me sprawled on the ground face first and I received a sharp smack on my back. "Good. You already learned from the first strike."

I quickly got to my feet and put some distance between us. I tried to look around for my options while keeping an eye on my father. The only spot that had cover was the shed but I had to go through him to get there. I could still feel the sting from the two hits I took and I felt certain that before the day was over I would have a lot more. A stupid idea popped into my head but it was all I had to go with and if it worked I might gain the advantage he had mentioned. I went for the surprise tactic and ran directly at my father. He didn't even flinch as I drew closer, he simply held the sword ready.

As soon as I was less then five feet from him he lifted the sword up to swing at me and that's when I made my move. I dropped down into a slide, sticking my foot out aiming for his leg. It was kind of a cheap move but I figured he would be forced to either continue his attack or dodge. I dug my heels in as soon as he dodged to the right and tried to use the remaining momentum to make it to the shed. I quickly moved around to the other side. I tried to calm my breathing though I knew there was no point in hiding.

"That was a very risky move Kazuyuki. An enemy might have continued swinging." My father called out.

<Not bad, Kazunari. You played to basic human instinct. Your next idea however doesn’t seem like it will work though,> Chise knew full well that just because she was not allowed to help did not mean she couldn't speak her mind.

I ignored both of them as I moved as far back from the shed as I could without being seen and then sprinted back towards it. When I got close enough to the shed I jumped, got my foot half way up, and reached out. I managed to grab the roof and hoisted myself up the rest of the way. I had to get out of sight quickly because there was no way I could have done that quietly.

I flattened myself against the roof and held my breath as my father moved around to the back. He paused there for a few seconds before making his way back around. I slowly lifted myself up and saw him standing in the front. I took a deep breath and then jumped off the roof and onto his back. My father only shifted forward slightly before he grabbed me by my neck and the next thing I knew I was lying on my back with the wind knocked out of me and a sword pointed at my throat.

"Interesting." He said again. "Your methods are unusual, I'll give you that, but you made a fatal mistake. When you were on my back you should have used the opportunity to strike then." I continued to lay there on the grass until he pulled the sword away. My father looked down at me. "You have five minutes until I go for you again. You can lie there during that time or scout out a better location. The choice is up to you."

By the end of the day I refused to get off my bed because I hurt so much...

Chise sat on her's, munching on a roll that she had gotten from the dinner I hadn't gone to. "You know why he's doing this right? It's not because he's suddenly wants to beat the crap out of you, it's to toughen you up and give you experience over a short period of time. Working with your instincts is at least half the key to staying alive."

"Just because I understand, doesn't mean I like it." I grumbled and my stomach growled out in protest as well. I blinked as another roll landed next my head.

"Once you can crawl out of bed your mother has your portion in the ice room." Chise put her head down sideways on her pillow while her legs continued to hang off the edge.

I began to munch on the roll, wanting to ask Chise about something but not knowing if she would answer or not, then I realized she would already know my question because it was in my head. I sighed before speaking. "Chise, what was your former partner like?"

Chise pretended to be surprised by the question. "Satoshi? In a lot of ways he was like you."

I lifted myself up slightly. "Really?"

Chise smiled. "Yep, he was an incredible fighter, an excellent strategist, and very mature for his age."

I stared at her. "So, how was he like me?"

Chise laughed. "Because you're like how Satoshi was when he first started. Given a ridiculous mission when he could barely wield a weapon, extremely underestimating his own abilities, but trying his best anyway. Yup, you're just like him. But differences will always be there, that's natural. I don't want you to feel like his replacement, okay?"

I grinned and held my fist out to her. "Deal."

She knocked her fist against mine. "Get some sleep. You'll need to be at your best for tomorrow."

I mumbled out a "Yes, ma'am" before falling straight asleep.

The next day went pretty much the same way as the first only that apparently the area for my training was not limited to the field outside the house and father wasn't the only one who was able to attack me. Looking back, I realized that father never really stated we were done and that he had used the word 'opponents'. That meant that anyone could attack me anywhere, just not the kitchen. I didn't know how things would improve before all was said and done but I knew one thing for sure.... it was going to be a long, paranoid, two months.... I suddenly had a newfound desire to learn how to cook.

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Hello this is Chise. Kazu is supposed to do a detailed account of things but he was going to leave out the most important part; his Elemental training. He told me that I could write this part if I really wanted to include it. I decided to start Kazu's Elemental training a few days after he stated with his father. We probably should have started right away but I didn't think he could handle both at once. The only concern I had was that Kazu had not shown any sign of his Elemental ability since he summoned me. He had the potential...if only we could tap into it.

I walked over and looked down at my partner sitting on the ground nursing his bruises. "Come on, break time's over."

"What? I just sat down!" He cried out.

I shrugged my shoulders and turned around. "Fine. I was going to start you Elemental training but I guess if you don't want to I'll go tell your father that you turned down the temporary truce I got him to agree to." I stared walking back the way I came and grinned as he hastily grabbed my shoulder.

"No no, that's okay Chise. I'm good now, I just wanted a quick rest." He tried to sound casual about it but I could tell by the slight panic in his voice he liked the idea that his father wasn't going to attack him for a while. "So what do I have to do?"

"Lucky for you I have unique experience dealing with latent Elemental ability. You showed enough while in danger to summon me, but that's too unpredictable. You need to be able to consciously use it. There are six main Elements and different abilities must branch off of one of those. Fire, water, wind, earth, light, and dark. No Element is inherently evil, that is determined by the user and their intention. For most people their Element serves as a way to attack and defend."

"Oh, you mean like how your fire protected me and burned the Forrest Cat?"

"Exactly. Now, the first portion of this training is very important." I leaned in, like I was sharing a big secret, and Kazu did the same. "We have to torture you!" I finished with a grin.

He quickly pulled back. "What?"

"Just kidding. We have to find your Element. Most people know what Element they are before meeting their partner but you're just an uncommon case. We'll test how you react to the different Elements. The tricky part is finding those who can produce the base Elements and not their own unique branch of it." I said, the last part was more to myself.

"Oh I remember that part. You mean like Mika who can do healing and that comes from light, right?"

"Yup. Well, I know a good starting point. Kazuoki, don't move."

He shot me an annoyed look but stood rigidly still.

I put my hand out, palm facing him, and proceeded to set the spot where he stood on fire. I sighed as he completely disobeyed my instructions, running around like an idiot shouting words his mother would not approve of. I waited until he had put the flames out. "You didn't need to overreact like that."

"Humans aren't fire resistant, you know!" Kazu growled out through clenched teeth, staring down at his burnt pants that looked more like frayed shorts now.

"Oh right I forgot. Let's move on." I couldn't help but be a little amused that Kazu had shown his temper. "Put this on." I tossed him a thick piece of cloth.

He caught it, looked down at it and then back at me. "What am I suppose to do with this? Make a new fashion statement?" He smiled at his own joke.

"It's to cover your eyes, moron.Haru has kindly agreed to help us with the next test and well, it would be ruined if you saw what we're setting up." That wiped the smile off his face.

I grinned as in his mind he was already going over what horrors his brother might try. Despite that he determinedly put the cloth around his head, blocking his sight. I warned him again not to move and then got everything set up for the test. Haru was particularly helpful in setting up the obstacle course. He then focused his Element to cover the area around Kazu in Darkness. I walked behind Kazu, removed his blindfold, and told him that this test required him to successfully navigate through the darkness. It was immediately apparent that Darkness was not his Element as he stretched his arms out blindly and shuffled his feet looking for anything he might hit into. This tactic did not help him because it was the reason he tripped over some sharp farming equipment, narrowly missed hitting his head on a post Haru had put in the way. His legs hit into the well and he proceeded to fall down into it with a loud splash.

I looked down the well and saw Kazu bobbing in the water. "Way to take the initiative Kazuyoshi."

"It's Kazuyuki! Help me up please." He called out.

"Why would I do a silly thing like that? It's your next test after all."

He looked down at the water he was in. "What do you mean, my next test?"

"You're in deep enough water right? We may as well take advantage of that. As for the test... Fully submerge yourself under the water and stay that way for as long as you can." He didn't respond but took a deep breath and sank down to the bottom.

Kazu's sister, who had come out after he had fallen into the well, started to get concerned as the minutes dragged on and was borderline hysterical after fifteen minutes had passed. I tried explain that I would have felt it if his life was in any danger. Had that been the case I wouldn't have hesitated to jump in after him no matter how much I hate cold water. I sighed and gave in when she refused to listen to reason.

<Okay Kazuhiro, your sister is hyperventilating. You can come up now.>

< . . . . >

<What?> I asked innocently.

We heard a splash as he came to the surface. "It's Kazuyuki..." He replied in an annoyed tone.

Haru and Mika hauled him out from the well with shocked looks on their faces. Mika asked him what happened as she handed him a towel.

He shrugged his shoulders and draped the towel over his head. "I just did what Chise told me to. I held my breath for as long as I could. When my air was almost gone I was going to head back up but then something told me I would be fine. So I let out what little air I had left and was really surprised when I realized I could still breath just fine. Chise told me to stay down for as long as I could so I just waited to be called up."

I smiled. "Congrats. It looks like you found one of your Elements."

Haru looked over confused. "'One of his Elements'? As in more than one? Is that possible?"

"Of course it's possible just very rare. For most people their Element has both an offensive and defensive ability to it. That's why I know he has two. His control over water manifested in a more passive way: allowing him to breath under water. Had it been his only Element it would have acted in a more aggressive manner to protect him from the dangers of drowning."

"Okay so what's my second Element then?" Kazu asked.

I shrugged. "Don't know. We'll find that out. But first, lunch and allow you time to dry off. Not bad Kazunori."

He glared over at me. "You're having fun with that aren't you? My name is Kazuyuki. Ka-zu-yu-ki. Get it right."

"Aww but I had so many others I wanted to try. What about Kazuo, Kazushige, Kazuki, Kazumasa..." I trailed off.

He sighed. "If it's so much trouble just call me Kazu..."

"Okay Kazuyuki." I replied and started humming as we walked over to where Mika had laid out picnic style lunch, ignoring the glare boring into the back of my head. I was having too much fun with that.

Haru spoke up part way through the meal voicing an issue I was already working over. "So if Kazuyuki has two Elements won't they have to be compatible with each other?"

"Yes. Opposing Elements would have cancelled each other out a long time ago. I believe that is what happened to some of your people who don't have an Element or partner. That is why I said its not unheard of to have two Elements only for someone to have two compatible ones. So going by that we can obviously exclude Fire, Light, and Dark. That just leaves Earth and Air. I've been thinking about how we could test Earth."

"Well it would have to be more aggressive in protecting Kazuyuki right? I know someone who uses vines, and other people can help injured trees by making tree branches grow and act as supports." Mika commented thoughtfully.

"Okay." I stood up. "I have an idea now what to try." The others followed suit and we walked some distance into the forest. Once I felt that we had gone far enough in I turned around. "Mika, I'm going to have to ask you for a big favor. We're going to need Amara for this next part but I'm pretty sure she won't if I ask."

"Okay." Mika said. "What do you want her to do?"

"....Attack Kazu. If Earth is not his Element my natural instinct to protect him will kick in and he'll be fine." I said.

The others looked uneasy as Mika called Amara out. The cat didn't look happy but as I hoped she realized that doing this would help Kazu, regardless of how much she disliked me.

I looked over at Mika and nodded to her. Amara rushed forward with her claws extended and a grimace on her face. Amara as a Cait Sidhe could move faster than any human could react to and I was hoping it would draw out Kazu's Element. Amara pulled back with force as soon as my fire surrounded Kazu; her eyes wide with surprise. No. She didn't pull back, she was knocked back. My eyes narrowed slightly. That wasn't my fire's doing. The wind whirled around the trees angrily almost in response to the attack. I couldn't help the smile that spread on my face.

The others looked over at me. Amara sent me a glare. "You expected that to happen didn't you?"

I shrugged. "I figured Earth was probably not his Element but I figured we'd still have to draw out his Air Element. What I was too stupid to realize was that he was using it since the first test." I turned to look at Amara. "Yes, I can admit stuff like that." I walked over to Kazu and patted his shoulder. "Remember the first test?"

He glared at me. "I don't think I'll forget almost getting burned."

I laughed. "That's just it, you didn't get burned. Look at what is left of your pants. That's not caused by fire; that's wind damage. It was your first time using it so it needed time to adjust. That was shown by when Amara attacked it kept in perfect balance with my fire and pushed the possible threat away."

Kazu looked down at himself in wonder. "I had these Elements in me all this time?"

"Yup. But don't relax now, this was the easy part."

He slowly raised his head up with a look of dread. "You mean..."

I grinned evily. "That's right. Now your real Elemental training has begun and it won't be separate from the training with your father either."

"What?!"