Elemental Fate Chapter 5

Plans? Who needs plans?

Elemental Fate chapter 5

We’re going to skip ahead now because training was all I did for two months and all that really changed was that I was getting fewer and fewer bruises. I’m not sure if that meant I was becoming a better fighter or just better at getting out of the way. On the other hand I had been promoted to the use of wooden swords. I enjoyed my sparring sessions a lot more after that. Chise hadn’t lied either; she felt well within her right to attack me during my sparring sessions but I was not allowed to use physical attacks with her only my Wind Element. Unfortunately the only thing I’d managed to accomplish in these two months is how to air dry her hair. My Water ability had improved to the point where I could make it rain. That was useful for the crops but not much else. Both Chise and I had to reign in our tempers quite a few times due to the lack of improvement in my primary Element. She told me that a Shikigami’s personality can’t affect their human partner but I swear I didn’t lose my temper half as much before I met her.

It was two days before the traders came when I made a huge break in my sword training. The day that I managed to knock the blade out of my father’s hand. He actually smiled at me. Not that he’s mean or anything but when your father acts like a strict and unrelenting teacher for two months you tend to appreciate the small things.

“Well done, Kazuyuki, Your training with me is now done. I would like you to continue practicing with Hiroshi or Haru. It would not do to go through all that effort if you don’t keep it fresh. Your training with Chise however, will continue.” He finished in a softer tone well aware of my setback in that particular subject.

“Yes Father.” I replied, bowing my head.

He walked over and put his hand on my shoulder. “Do not be hard on yourself. You have accomplished more in two months than what would have been taught in a year if we had the proper time. Your Elements will improve so have faith.”

I nodded my head but didn't feel very confident. How long would it take before I saw real progress? I wasn’t sure, but I had constant reminders from Chise that this evil villian, Kieran, was still after her and could show himself any day. I was nothing more than dead weight Elemenal-wise at that point and often thought that if I were Kieran, it would be the perfect time to strike. Then I remembered to try and suppress those thoughts because Chise had a tendency to smack me upside the head whenever she noticed my line of thinking.

Two days after I finished training with Father, the traders came to the village. The traders were a big deal for us because they were our only link to the other countries. These people were given permission by the High Council to travel throughout the five countries and trade with others. The High Council, by the way, are elected representatives from each country. I’m not really sure how they get elected because our representative has held her position since before I was born. I do know that she is well liked with her people.

Anyway, this story really got in motion during the time the traders were in Fuuta. Things will never be the same for me.

I was outside in the fields, finishing my chores, when Hiroshi came up the hill. He had gone down to the village center with the others so I was surprised to see him back so soon.

“Is something wrong Hiroshi? I’m almost done here and then Chise and I will head down too.” I called out.

He remained silent until he came right up to the fence.

“You may want to reconsider. There are two strangers in black cloaks asking around for Chise. No one is telling them anything. Yet.”

Chise appeared, floating above my head. “So, Kieran is finally making a move?”

“We have no way of knowing yet but that’s what I was thinking as well” Hiroshi said, looking grim. “So far these strangers have been behaving within our rules so the council has no cause to stop them.”

I put my farming equipment away and then walked back to where they were. “That seems kind of sloppy though, doesn’t it? Practically announcing that he’s here and looking for Chise.”

“Actually it’s not.” Chise said. “Because now, if I want to remain hidden and protected I have to stay within the barrier. That makes me a cornered target. They’ll find me eventually; your father said so himself.”

I sighed and rested my arms on the fence. “I guess that means we’re staying here then.”

Chise frowned. “You can still go Kazu. It just means I’ll have to stay.” She knew I wanted to go but now was not a time to be childish when doing what I wanted could impact Chise and my family.

I turned to her. “It won’t be long until word gets around about who they’re looking for and I know at least one person who would be more than happy to share everything, including the fact that we’re partners. Don’t forget we’re together on this. Besides, I should spend my time on more important things, like Elemental training.”

Chise smiled. “There’s no denying that you need it.” She looked into my eyes very carefully before sighing. “Alright, alright. You convinced me.”

Hiroshi smiled. “Good. I’ll go inform father. I’m proud of you, Kazuyuki, that was a very mature decision.” He ruffled my already messy hair for a few seconds before I could bat his hand away.

“Yeah, yeah. Go back down already. You don’t want to leave Kaede waiting for you.” I grinned when Hiroshi left in a hurry, not needing to be told twice.

Chise leaned closer to me. “Kaede?”

“Hiroshi’s fiancee. They hope to be married before the end of Spring.”

“No one for you?” Chise teased.

I shot a look at her. “No, and I expect anyone I do meet will have to get your seal of approval first.”

“Obviously. Your choices affect me as much as they do you.” Chise huffed.

I tried to keep from laughing as I turned towards the field that we usually practiced in. “I’m beginning to see why they made it so partners are the same gender.”

“Perhaps” She conceded as she floated next to me. “But it’s because I care. Only the best for my Kazu.” She finished in the manner one would use when talking to an infant or more accurately, their pet.

I stopped dead in my tracks and she floated past me. “Please don’t ever do that again.”

Chise started laughing. “Your face was hilarious!”

I glared at her “Are you going to keep laughing or are we actually going to work on my Elemental training?”

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The next day, Haru volunteered to stay at the house to spar with me. He tried to cheer me up by claiming that there were fewer traders than usual and all of them were “pretty grumpy” and tight-lipped about why. That was very odd because last year everyone was in high spirits, especially the traders when money was concerned. There’s one exception, he said; a caravan group we’ve never seen before and they don’t seem to have a care in the world. They’re the life of the party down there, he told me, and that unfortunately they were only in Fuuta until tonight and then they were heading off.

We got our sparring equipment out and only traded blows for about an hour when Mika came running up the hill. She must have been running for a while because her hair had come loose from it’s bun, and her face was red. As soon as she reached us she doubled over to catch her breath. Haru and I looked at each other but waited until Mika could speak before we asked any questions.

After about a minute she stood up straight but still clutched her side. “Kazuyuki, you and Chise need to hide. Those strangers know you’re here and they’ll be coming for you!”

Chse, who had been sunbathing up in the trees, jumped down and landed right next to me. “Well, that took less time than I thought. Who spilled the beans?”

Mika give a humorless laugh. “Who do you think it was? I saw him skulking off behind the mill so I followed and then overheard him talking to those strangers. I ran straight here after that.”

I shot Chise a look. “I told you it would be him. Which other Morinakin do you know who would sell out one of their own? One who has never liked me and who you make out to be a fool. That guy is nothing if not vain.”

“If it really is that Daichou guy then he’s more insecure than I thought. He has no idea what he’s thrown himself into.”

“He definitely doesn’t, but he would have done it anyway.” I replied, rolling my eyes. “I’m not going anywhere either. We still have the protection for now, and as they know where we are there’s no point in hiding. They would just go after you to find out where we were.”

“What, so you plan to stand there, greet them, and invite them in for dinner?” Mika asked, putting her hands on her hips. “How typical. You know, your stubbornness is going to get you killed!”

I glared back at her. “No, I’m not going to just give in to them but I’m not going to hide either. What’s accomplished by hiding?”

“Staying alive.” Mika muttered.

“Running away from my responsibilities, like a coward? I won’t do that. I said as clouds seem to gather and darken the sky. I looked up and felt certain that it was going to rain.

“What happens if you get killed? How do you think your family would feel? How would Chise feel? Did you think about that at all? No, all you care about is your stupid pride!” Mika shouted, her face red. The sky rumbled in agreeable anger.

I snapped my head down and glared at her. That temper of mine that was always close to the surface, showed it’s ugly head. “There you go again, telling me what to do because you know best. I think I’m old enough now I can make my own decisions. If Kieran is a man, he’ll face me instead of sending a couple of lackeys after us. I mean that’s---”

“Quiet!” A voice called out accompanied by a flash of lightning and the rain began to fall so hard we were soaked in seconds. Nishant got up from where he’d been hiding under a tree for shade. He wasn’t looking at any of us but at a spot ten feet from where we were standing. The trees were thicker there and, in the current weather, it was completely dark. Except for a pair of glowing red eyes.

The rest of us went absolutely still and with the lack of other noises the storm became a loud roar. My back went rigid as I heard a voice in my mind. It felt foreign and wrong like a stranger entering your house uninvited who then sat at the dinner table expecting to be served.

<You called?> The voice purred. His amusement (the voice was definitely a he) was quite clear. Out of the shadows came the large body of a Northern Great Wolf. It’s fur was still thick from Winter with hues of white, brown, and black. His eyes continued to glow sinisterly.

I don’t know what wolves are like where you come from but wolves or any creature from the North are much larger than normal. Most think that it’s due to how large the Svata Hora mountains are but I don’t know how true that is. What I can say for certain is that the wolf that slowly stalked closer to us was only a few inches shorter than me.

He came to a stop a few paces away and gave a snorting laugh. <You’ve chosen a real winner with this one Bird. At least your last pet knew how to answer when spoken to.>

My face grew hot with embarrassment and anger. I couldn’t decide which made me more angry: being compared to Chise’s former partner, his use of the word pet, or the fact that he purposely chose to call Chise “Bird”. “Who are you and what do you want here?”

The wolf actually smirked at me before continuing on towards Chise. <This one definitely lacks the brains. Is he to your liking too?> HIs voice dripped with amusement.

I turned around and was surprised to see Chise standing rigidly still, her face completely void of emotion. I tried to Mindspeak to her but her mind was like an impenetrable wall keeping everything out. I doubt she even realized I was trying to reach her. I had never seen Chise like that and it scared me more than I would have thought. I reached in my pocket and gripped the stones Chise had me practice my wind Element with. I threw them at the wolf, putting some of my wind behind them. They shot towards him quicker than I had expected but he dodged them as easily as if I had casually tossed them at him.

“You know, it’s rude to ignore someone when they’re talking to you.” I called out.

He turned his head slowly and his glowing red eyes met mine. <So is throwing stones at someone but we always tend to forget our own rudeness, wouldn’t you agree?>

Haru took a step forward. “Well? Are you going to tell us who you really are? I can tell you’re using that wolf as a puppet.”

<How ingenious of you to figure that out, Do you require a pat on the back?> The wolf responded dryly while rolling it’s eyes before looking back to me. <What do you think pet? Don’t you agree that this is a conversation best had between the three of us?>

I glared at him. “I might, if you call me by my name and not “pet”. It’s Kazuyuki. Names are very important. Don’t you agree, Kieran?” I mimicked the same tone he had used.

<It seems you have a brain after all! Very well, Kazuyuki, I will address you properly. Count yourself lucky. I don’t do that very often.> The smirk never left his voice.

“Thrilled.” I grounded out. I sighed before turning to the others. “Go wait inside. I doubt we’ll get anything from him otherwise.”

Mika and Haru opened their mouths to argue but Nishant once again stopped an argument by pushing them in the direction of the house. He took one last look back at Chise and I before ushering the two inside.

Kieran waited a few seconds before turning his head back to us. <That’s better. Now, Kazuyuki, to business.>

My eyebrows scrunched together. “What business?”

<You asked me why I am here, so I’m telling you. The Bird and I have unfinished business and I would like to give you a very unique offer.> Kieran suddenly sounded very friendly and likeable.

“Unless you’re offering to get off my family’s land and never come back, I’m not interested.” I replied with more confidence then I felt. His friendly manner was making me nervous.

He padded closer to me and before I could back away he had the wolf’s paws on my shoulders. <Don’t say that. We’re just getting to know each other. My offer is simple: allow me to take the Bird back and I won’t kill your family.> The wolf’s claws dug into my shoulders slightly. <Do we have a deal?>

I tried to pull away but he wouldn’t let me move. He was waiting for an answer and it wasn’t going to be yes. This meant I had to figure out how to keep him from harming my family and taking Chise. My thoughts were interrupted when a large ball of fire hit me. The wolf immediately pulled away and tried to put the fire out while I stood there unaffected by it. Chise floated a couple of inches off the ground, fire billowing dangerously in each open palm. It took me a second to realize that she had feathery wings that were partially open. Her hair blew around angrily and she glowed slightly in the dim light.”

“Get. Away. From my partner.” She growled out as she sent another ball of fire at the wolf. It seemed like she had finally snapped out of whatever daze she had been in.

I looked around trying to see where Kieran had retreated to and managed to locate the wolf’s glowing eyes roughly ten paces away to my right. “What was the point of you coming here? I think you already knew what my answer was going to be so why ask it?”

I hear a coughing like laugh in the distance. <I may not be human but I believe I understand your species better than you do. Humans make so many decisions every day without any real conscious thought. However, it’s the extremely important decisions that stay with you, good or bad.> He walked a little closer, so I could just make out the wolf’s body. <Just like how the Bird made the mistake of getting closer to her partner than was acceptable. Can you believe that? Her own partner! Disgusting. I’d like to think I did her a favor by ending that little charade as soon as possible.>

I stood there shocked. His comment about Chise having been in a relationship with her former partner hadn’t even sunk in when it was replaced by the realization that this guy had murdered Chise’s partner not out of mutual hatred or an obstacle to be removed, but simply to prove a point. It was like he thought himself a father disciplining his child with tough love. I may live a sheltered life but I’m sure no matter where you’re from that’s not okay.

<Shocking, I know. I’m sure you can imagine the scandal that caused in the Shikigami Realm. I thought they were going to take action against the Bird but shame on me to think the Shikigami Council would actually do anything besides sit on their asses and moan. Therefore I came up with a way to kill two birds with one stone, so to speak.>

It wasn’t until she had finished speaking that I realized that my hands were clenched up into fists so tight my nails were digging into my skin. My voice shook slightly when I spoke but I was too angry to care.

“No, what shocks me is your complete disregard for life. You’ve done nothing but insult and threaten the people I care about. You claim to know humans better than I do but your persuasion skills are laughable and you give off the feeling of a creepy old man.”

Chise laughed harshly at that. “How appropriate. Leave now old man and go lick your wounds. Or would you prefer to have more charred fur?” She held up her palm where a ball of fire still crackled in her palm dangerously.

The wolf’s eyes narrowed. <Very well but remember this: I tried to end things on peaceful terms. It was you who chose open conflict.>

“Peaceful terms? You call threatening my family peaceful terms?” I called out over the rain as it increased its intensity.

<Indeed, I do. I could do infinitely worse.> The glowing eyes of the wolf grew dim and then disappeared all together.

I waited for a minute or two to see if he was still lurking in the shadows. I only looked away when I suddenly felt warmth next to me and the rain seemed to shy away. I turned to see Chise standing next to me but was determinedly avoiding my eyes.

“He’s gone.” She said. “He was always a pompous a*s who had to have the last word.”

I looked at her carefully. “The two of you seem to know each other more than just captor and prisoner.”

She turned away and began walking towards the house. I felt the loss of heat and the rain fell down on me again but I didn’t care. I remained in my spot.

Chise turned back. “You’re not coming?”

“Not until you talk to me properly, no.” I said rather defiantly and she looked surprised. “You’re my partner, Chise. We have to work together, but I can’t when I hardly know anything about you. What he said about your partner doesn’t bother me. What does, is that I should have heard it from you, not him.”

She looked away. “I… I didn’t know how you would react and I didn’t want to make a new partnership awkward. I was young and stupid. I didn’t realize my  choices would have such large consequences.”

I walked over and put my hand on her shoulder. “You’re not responsible for the actions of a mad man. There’s no way you could have known what would happen.”

Chise looked over at me and smiled slightly. “Right.”

She took a deep breath. “So now that we officially pissed off the “mad man”, we need to come up with a plan. There’s no way he’ll just leave us alone.”

“Right….” I replied as I rubbed the back of my head.

We made our way back to the house and I didn’t want to think about anything else but a warm bath. The front door opened up and Mika came running out.

“Are you guys finally done? Come inside and get warm.” She had only taken a few steps when I saw two shadows behind her.

I only started to shout a warning when she was grabbed and a knife was pressed against her throat.