The three adventurer's lounged on the deck of the boarding ship, Aline and Paolo bored out of their minds while Shinzo tried to fall asleep.
"I'm bored," Paolo mumbled, leaning out the ship.
"I want to cook," Aline mumbled.
Shinzo rolled his eyes from his spot on the beach chair. "Stop whining. I'm trying to sleep."
Paolo and Aline turned to him, their eyes narrowing at his insolence. "Says the guy that pestered us to come outside."
Shinzo turned his head away, closing his eyes. "Well I want to sleep now, so be quiet."
Aline sighed. "You're such a child always acting entitled, I'm sure life always hands you everything on a silver platter."
"What would you know about me," he snapped before turning on his side to sleep. At some point during the silence that had followed after, the lulling of the ship took him to dream world, the elements of his past coming back to him.
.....
"Everyone this is Ren," thirteen year old Shoto said, pointing at a ten year old boy in their karate uniform and short brown hair.
Everyone greeted him, but he didn't pay attention, his brown eyes scoping out the place until they landed on Shinzo. He pushed past the other members, standing above Shinzo who stood cross legged on the floor with the rest of the students.
"I saw you on the newspaper a few days ago. It said you've learnt and can control two forms of anima at such a young age and are developing the third right now."
Nine year old Shinzo at the peak of his entitled king status lifted his chin. "That's right, want an autograph."
"No I want to fight you."
Shinzo silently scrutinized the older boy before scoffing defiantly. "You don't seem to know who I am that is why you want to challenge me."
"You don't know me either that's why you underestimate me."
Shoto smiled at the tension between the two boys, holding both their shoulders. "I think that's a great idea. Maybe you'll learn something, Shinzo."
Shinzo's arrogance knew no shame, his head lifting higher than before. "I'll teach you what it means to challenge me."
The two boys got into position to fight, members of the dojo sitting down to watch. Shinzo didn't have a hint of hesitance in his stance, believing he would retain his fifty win status.
"Bow," Shoto stated. The two bent their heads low, raising it back up right after. "Now begin."
In an instant, the boy slid behind Shinzo, using the side of his hands to chop his neck. Pain erupted in the affected area, Shinzo falling flat on the ground.
The dojo became silent, the boy staring down at a stunned Shinzo. "Looks like the prodigy I was hearing about was just a loser in the end." He sighed dejectedly. "And here I was thinking you would be a real challenge."
Everyone watched the fallen king rise to his feet, his hair cascading his face. Ren smirked. "Are you crying?"
Shinzo's head shot up, his glare lethal. "As if," he snapped. "A real man holds his head with pride even after a loss because at the end of the day a loss is a way to grow even stronger."
The boy stared at him then burst into laughter. "Forget what I said before, you're actually quite interesting." He turned his back to him and started walking off.
"Wait!" the boy turned back to look at him. "How many forms of anima do you use?"
"I use the Metis form."
"Just the Metis form?"
"Yup, and through hard work and dedication I'll use this power to become the greatest martial artist."
Shinzo scoffed at the comment, dissing the possibility completely. "I can't allow you that pleasure because I'm the one who will become the greatest martial artist."
Ren laughed. "You have to beat me first before you say that."
"I will. Just you wait Ren, I'll keep getting stronger and stronger, and finally I'll beat you."
"Whatever you say Mr. Prodigy."
After that, the young boy started training hard. Every chance he got he would challenge Ren who remained undefeated. In that time span, he had mastered a third anima form, Metis form, in addition to the two forms he had before, the Cessa and Ferro form.
He had fought instructors and even a few professionals and had won each battle, but when it came to Ren he would lose completely.
"Did you hear Shinzo?" Shoto asked as he poured rice into Shinzo's plate one day.
He ate out of his rice. "Hear what?"
"Ren and his family are planning on moving away."
Shinzo's plate clattered to the ground, breaking on impact. "When are they leaving?"
Shoto hummed. "This evening."
Shinzo reached over the table, grabbing his brother's collar. "How could you not tell me this earlier?"
"I thought you knew."
"Well I didn't."
He ran out of the room, running to Ren's house as fast as he could. He noticed Ren and his mother coming out with boxes as he closed in to their house.
Ren sighed. "I wasn't planning on telling you."
"Why? How dare you leave when we haven't settled the score?"
Ren looked at his mother who smiled, ruffling his hair. "I'll be waiting." She walked away.
Ren turned to the younger boy, dropping his box on the ground. "This is the final fight. You ready."
"Who do you think I am?"
Ren smiled. "As expected of you."
The two got into positions, bowed and began the fight. Ren was about to land a kick on Shinzo's shin but he swiftly avoided it. Their fists punched and their feet's moved, this being the first time they had battled so fiercely.
As Shinzo made to land a punch to his head, Ren grabbed his arm and flipped him, his back hitting the ground. Shinzo breathed heavily on the ground, Ren hovering above him.
"My win. That makes it a hundred"
For the first time in his life, Shinzo was crushed. He lay on the ground, breathing heavily. His eyes watered, but he forced himself not to let them dropped. "Why?"
"Because my conviction is stronger than yours." Ren bent in front of him. "For you, it's all about strength, but for me, I have something to protect."
Ren stretched his hand out to Shinzo. "To be great, a person must have the conviction to move forward. Find that thing you need to protect. Be it honor or your friends. Find it and I guarantee you'll surpass me."
Tears flowed down Shinzo's cheeks and Ren grinned down at Shinzo, hands on his cheek. "Ah, so you can cry."
"Shut up jerk." He covered his eyes with his arm. "One day I'll beat you. Just you wait Ren. I'll find you and beat you. Then I'll become the greatest martial artist."
Ren laughed. "Sorry, but I'm the one who will become the greatest martial artist." He took Shinzo's hand and dragged him up. "But at the very least, I can't wait to see the sort of martial artist you become."
"Ren!" came his mother voice.
"Duty calls." He shook Shinzo's hand, the shadows of the setting sun casting down on them. "Always remember Shinzo, greatness comes from conviction, so when we meet again. Show it to me, the conviction of a man tied to greatness."
He let go of his hand and waved. "Goodbye Mr. Prodigy."
"Don't call me that," Shinzo shouted.
Ren snickered, walking away with his head held high, drifting into the distance. That was the last time our dear Shinzo set his eyes on him, but the promise of greatness still withstood the test of time.
.....
"Shinzo, Shinzo wake up."
Shinzo yawned to the sound of his captain's voice, the sea breeze blowing on his face. "What?"
"I can see Kartus island," he said, pointing at an island far off in the distance.
Shinzo stretched his limbs, bringing back life to his sleeping muscle before rising to his feet to meet his excited captain by the side of the ship.
A cup of something cold got pushed into his hands, Aline not clearly looking at him. "I might have said too much this afternoon. Forgive me, I can be a little hotheaded and talk too much."
Shinzo looked down at the cup of Margarita in his hands before turning to the embarrassed cook before sighing. "Don't act all sweet, it's disgusting."
"Why you… I'm trying to be civil since we're going to be crew mates so better…"
"Thank you."
Her face flushed pink, looking away from him to look at the sky. Paolo snickered from the other side of Shinzo. "You guys would make a cute couple."
Aline insulted him while he just laughed at her awkwardness. Shinzo remembered Ren's words, smiling silently. Together with these people, he would find his conviction.