Before the rise of a new dawn, before any single man or woman would wake from their peaceful slumbers the thundering echoes of a voice already resounded throughout the great halls of the Ganryu manor. A kiai, his warcry, came at intervals accompanied by the whip of his bokken gliding through the air. A single wooden sword held in one hand, the young swordsman struck down imaginary foe upon imaginary foe, every single one that his mind conjured possessing the same exact face. His still healing left arm was tucked underneath his chest, just between the collars of his kimono, he used the seams as a makeshift support. It had been a few weeks passed since the battle that had shaken up the entire world, an attack on The Land of Frost. He had just barely made it out alive along with a few other survivors, most were not so fortunate. Many innocent lives had perished that day, only the first battle among the many still to come. His golden eyes shifted fiercer, brows furrowed eyeing down the target in front of him. The wrath of his blunt edge crashed to its neck, shattering each piece of the dragon's bones like glass along with its life. Another image would rise, and just as quickly he would knock it down. Kyousuke had been up at it for hours far before this moment. He was unable to rest, not even for a single minute despite the comforts of his warm bed. He could have ended everything then and there when he faced the dragon head on, but he didn't… he couldn't. He wasn't strong enough when hell rained from the skies, when it mattered most, and now he refused to rest until he fulfilled the oath he made under the snow. Slay the dragon.
His anger built up as memories of his failure slowly crept inside his head. His kiai grew deafeningly strong, the wooden floors of the dojo forming cracks underneath the pressure of his will. Mirror images of the dragon increased, surrounding him from all sides. For every single one he cleaved two took its place, but he did not falter. He coursed lightning through his body, speed increasing dramatically to quell the growing numbers. Yet no matter how fast he was, no matter how quick his blade flowed from each target, it wasn't enough. When before he struck with two heavens, now he could only wield one sword. He was half of himself. Finally he was overrun. They reached for his left arm, all in one united movement. He felt the muscles on his arm tightening, a phantom grip crushing his limb. He couldn't do anything, he couldn't move. All he could do was summon every ounce of anger within him and shout. Every image of the dragon dissipated. A force expelled from his body crushing craters where he stood and destroying the entire room. It shattered everything, tossing the few pieces of furniture as if a storm had passed. The wood was ripped to shreds and the concrete had been crushed. He took heavy breathes, slowly lowering the beat of his heart. His eyes scanned the room, or what once was. He didn't know how, he didn't know why, but ever since that day he felt different. Something within him had changed, a greater power now within his body. It was raw and still far from controllable, but he felt it. Senjutsu.
He felt movements a few rooms away, flickers of natural chakra, far before his ears could hear the footsteps. Soon he was proven correct. A woman came rushing in, dressed in the white kimono of the manor's servants. She slid the door open with a slam, leaning one hand on the wall to catch her breath as she spoke. "Kyousuke-sama, are you al-..." Her words halted, vision brought to the devastation inside. "I'm fine." He spoke with a cold voice, head turned back to look at the servant from the corners of his eyes. "R-... Right." She paused, trying to gather her thoughts. "Um… Kaida-sama asks for your presence outside the manor." The heir’s head returned to his front, wooden sword held up in the basic stance. "Tell her I'm busy." His right arm would move before she could speak in response, cutting the air with the same downward cut over and over again. "It's an urgent matter… she says." Immediately he lowered his weapon, turning and walking towards the exit where the servant stood. He bent down just before the door frame, picking up the rack of swords that had fallen along with all the other furniture. He returned the bokken and made his way towards his quarters. "Then tell her I'll be late." He said, passing the woman through the door frame.
He walked the hallways, a small commotion caused at the dojo he had come from, but he did not so much as look back. He took the wooden stairs to the highest level, eventually reaching his own room. His kimono dropped down to the floor as soon as he entered his private quarters. He walked to the bathroom within his room, already a hot bath had been prepared in anticipation for his arrival. Before anything he would look himself in the mirror. His body was the same as it was, no scars or marks of the battle. Not even his left arm looked to be any different. He clenched his fist, but felt no strength. Medical ninjutsu had done its part in his speedy recovery, but still nothing was the same. He entered the bath, laying himself back with plenty of room to spare. For awhile he simply closed his eyes, and soon fatigue would overcome his anger. He fell asleep. An hour would pass, finally he receive his rest.
His eyes opened to the sounds of knocks. It was another servant reminding him of his mother's summons. The heir stretched his body and got up from his short nap, water dripping from his body. He washed himself in the shower one final time before wrapping himself in a bathrobe and entering his wardrobe. He donned his usual choice of clothing, a white long sleeved shirt with a black vest. This time though he didn't bother with a tie, keeping his shirt buttoned down to his chest. He stepped out to his armory, right arm reaching for his new katana and attaching the sheathe to his hip. His left arm would reach as well for its pair, though his limb would shake as he stretched it out. He clenched his fist and retracted his arm, instead wearing a black brace around the arm that would be strapped on the opposite shoulder for support. With that he'd drape a coat over his shoulders and make his way for the spot outside the manor where his mother awaited. Whenever his mother wished to talk outside the manor it was always at the same place, a mountain peak that looked over even the heights of the Sasaki district. It was there that they would often exchange most words that were simply just that, no responsibilities nor expectations for the future. Just mother and son.
And so he left, exiting the manor through the main entrance. A myriad of stairs aimed downwards greeted him, but before that came another that walked towards where he had just come from. His golden eyes immediately fixed to her figure, head faced forwards while his eyes wandered. Though it was more of his instincts as a shinobi that caused his eyes to identify her at once, now he found himself drawn to her. She was beautiful, with irises colored like valuable emeralds. She wore a black kimono, one that looked similar to the one worn by the academy's students. Unlike them, however, she was far closer to his age. They passed each other, and for a brief moment he continued walking to the stairs. Suddenly she turned to his direction, a movement sensed by his newly acquired abilities of senjutsu. He would turn back too, but by the time he had the girl already went on to her destination. He stayed for a moment, trying to piece together her identity. The lack of simple greetings that he would often receive from others already made it known that she hadn't known who he was, at least not by face. To him, she too was a mystery, surely he would have remembered seeing such eyes had they met before. A moment passed and his mind wandered away from the girl, the heir walked down the long and grandiose steps, leisurely walking at a steady pace to reach his own destination.
The winds were strong and the atmosphere thin, but he was already used to it. "Mother," He called, prompting the older woman stood at the edge of the mountain edge to turn her red eyes towards him. "You wished to speak with me?" Kaida turned fully towards him, closing the few steps that separated them and placed a hand on his shoulder. "I did." She spoke, her face expressing the slightest hints of worry.
"Everyone has heard of what you did, and all of us are proud of you… none more so than I, but you are still young. The world does not rest upon your shoulders, and neither are you compelled to take in all its weight… at least not yet. Whatever happens in the coming months, whatever war befalls our country know that you are not its cause, know that you did all you could to stop it. You are young, and already you have proven yourself a hero willing to give up his life for the sake of the greater good, but you still have far to go. Do not run so hastily towards a quest for power in hopes of being at the front lines when all falls. I know that eventually you will be all that you aspire and more, but for now use your head. Live."
His mother's words brought a heavy breath to exit his chest. His eyes looked down, a small weight lifted off his chest. Slowly they would rise, the light in his golden eyes returning. He looked to her, breathing out once more and then nodding once. Rare were the moments when they exchanged such words, but at times when he needed it most she was always there. "Would that be all?" He asked, still eager to return to his training despite her words of wisdom. She brought a hand to subtly stroke her chin as if in deep thought. "Now that you have asked, no. I know you, you might listen but you'll just as quickly go back to overworking yourself. Perhaps it was my fault for instilling that attitude within you, but still you have to rest. One of the academy teachers is out and a substitute is in need. I want you to go and teach… there's a particular student that I believe might interest you." She said, with a sly smile written on her lips. The heir made a very audible sigh, but bowed and nodded. "As you wish." He spoke with an exaggerated tone accompanied by a sudden turn. He walked away, though he could feel his mother's eyes still watching from behind. "Thank you." He whispered quietly, the range of his natural chakra allowing him to notice the smile placed on her lips as he gave his gratitude.
With the sudden shift in his schedule he had little time to spare before his class was set to start. He rushed back to the manor, nearly bursting in full speed. Luckily the tailors of the Sasaki clan kept combat in mind when designing their clothing. Despite his speed, not a single creese or sign of struggle would be present in his suit. He arrived just in time looking none the worse for wear. He slid the wooden door open and took two steps to enter, closing the entrance behind him. "Good morning." He greeted, eyes scanning the entire room to acquaint himself with the faces of his newly acquired students for the day. He halted for a moment, the face of one green eyed lady catching him off guard. Oh. Suddenly he realized what his mother meant. Like all parents of high standing she had always sought to marry him off to some family that would further their political position. Seeing her emerald eyes made it so clear that this was another of his mother's attempts at an arranged marriage. Or at least the start of one. In his mind there was no way she was just any normal girl, at the very least she was a princess of some far away land he had yet to hear of. Slowly he unclasped the brace supporting his left arm, he hung the piece on a coat stand beside the door at took to the rack of wooden swords. He took one in each hand and proceeded to the center of the room where all of the students stood within the squared space. Already he could tell that the children’s eyes were lit with excitement all awaiting the next words coming out of his lips. It wasn't often after all when they would receive a lesson from the heir himself. “I am Kyousuke, and I will be your sensei for today.” He said, allowing the one out of place girl the common courtesies. He followed his words with a brief bow, one that the children would follow. He gestured for all to sit, while he remained standing. “Now, since it is my first time seeing any of you, please introduce yourselves one by one and tell me a little about yourselves.” The children shifted in their seats, some nervous and others excited. “Starting with you.” His voice commanded softly, finger pointed towards a boy in the front row.
After the boy introduced himself the line broke down, the children hadn’t realized that he had chosen the one at the front to place an order. Introductions devolved into who the kids would pick on to go next and eventually there was only one person left. It was her, the green eyed lady that he had met just earlier ago. “Your turn.” He said, awaiting the next words to exit the girl’s lips. He would take in her answer and remember her name, afterwards he would order each to sit outside the center where only he would remain. “Today’s lesson will be about defense.” Immediately one child made his disappointment known with an audible ‘awww’. He turned to the child, almost looking serious for a moment before flashing a smile. “Alright then, how about I teach you all the importance of defense.” His eyes scanned for a suitable partner, his right hand extended the bokken he held towards the green eyed lady. “Since you’re the only one my age, would you do the honors of being my partner?” He asked, urging for her to take the wooden sword and guiding her towards the center of the squared ring. He shifted his bokken from one hand to the other, holding it up with his right. He stood a few meters shy of her in a sideways stance. “Now, try to strike me.” He ordered.
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