Rakurai blinks and looks at the ceiling after gaining consciousness.
'W-why can't I move...what's going on? It's like I feel an immense pressure holding me down and I can't do shit about it.' Rakurai says to himself as he tries to fight the immense amount of chi energy ito is emitting.
'He only hit me once but it feels like I've been hit a thousand times, he's a damn monster.' Rakurai says to himself.
"Rakurai!" Hemori screamed as Takanashi unsheathed his Katana.
'I- I can hear everything but there's this overwhelming pressure surrounding me so bad that I can't even speak' Rakurai says to himself.
"Who are you?" Takanashi asked as he'd get into stance. The man grinned as he stared at Takanashi.
"Oh? Me? I'm Ito Yakanaki, the one that's about to kill all of you." he said in a dark tone.
Takanashi charged Ito, swinging his katana.
Ito grabbed Takanashi's Katana with his bare hand and grinned once more.
"I don't think so."
Ito breaks Takanashi's Katana and knees him in the gut then kicks him twice sending Hemori flying off of Takanshi's back. Takanashi was sent flying through the air, Ito charged Takanashi and heel kicks him to the ground then laughs.
"It's a shame I don't even have to use my weapons for the all of you."
Ito says as he stomps Takanashi.
Hemori screams causing Ito to charge at her but Rakurai fought through the domain of chi energy Ito was emitting and dashed in front of Ito, swiftly kneeing him in the gut.
Ito groaned from the unexpected blow then spit out a bit of blood before smashing his elbow into Rakurai's back and kneeing him in the chin, knocking him out cold in the process.
Ito walked up to Hemori and wrapped his hands around Hemori's neck as she struggles and cries, Ito clenches tighter and tighter until Hemori would fall unconscious. A hand gripped Ito's arm and Ito looked up, it was a tall man with a strong body and long hair and blue eyes, he looked to be in his late forties and carried a Katana.
"I'd let go if I were you Ito."
"Or what" Ito implies.
in a split second the man would grip Ito's arm , crushing it into pieces causing Ito to fall to the ground and scream in pain.
"If I see your face again, your life will be mine to take, now carry on...boy."
the man says as he walks off and goes to Rakurai, Takanashi & Hemori and takes them to his residence for treatment. after healing the injuries of the three he'd lay them all in seperate beds and let them sleep to gain back their energy and recover from the pain of the injuries.
Ito grips his broken arm and groans.
"This isn't the end, you can run all you want but you can't hide for long." Ito implies as he dashes off.
Days pass by, Rakurai gains consciousness and glanced over to see Hemori and Takanashi sleeping in the two other beds in the room, he quickly sits up and looks around.
"Hey where are we?" Rakurai says.
"Takanashi, Hemori. Wake up" Rakurai says as he gets up and walks over to Takanashi, after a while Takanashi awakens. "Hemori? Rakurai? what happened?" Takanashi asks.
Rakurai looks down and clenches his fist.
"We lost..we almost died."
Takanashi looks at Rakurai then to the side.
"Yeah we did, but the only thing we can do now is get stronger so the results won't be the same next time."
Rakurai's eyes seem to glow like a light as he hears Takanashi's words.
"Yeah you're right. We'll get stronger in no time. I don't plan on getting my ass kicked like that ever again." Rakurai says.
Hemori sleeps, Takanashi shrugs then gives a light smile. "Well then, you better stand on your words and make it happen idiot."
Takanashi implies as Rakurai nods in agreement.
The three would be interrupted by a knock at the door as the same man who saved them walks inside. "Ahh, you two have finally gained consciouness, that's surprising especially since you two sustained a incredible amount of injuries."
Rakurai looks at the man then Takanashi.
"What?- what do you mean? I mean I know we got our ass handed to us but was it really that bad?" Rakurai asks.
The man nods. "I'll explain more but the two of you need to follow me, let the girl rest."
Takanashi looks over at Hemori.
"Why is she still asleep? Why didn't she wake up when we did?"
The man responds "I did say that I was surprised to see you two awake right? After the healing treatment any normal human would need to rest for days, maybe even a week but you two recovered at a drastic rate, if I wasn't who I am my mind would be blown but now that I've had a good look at you two, I expect nothing less."
"Wait, who are you?" Rakurai asks
"I'm Taoichi Nobu." The man replies
"And what do you mean by you expect nothing less, what is that supposed to mean?" Takanashi asks.
Taoichi smirks "You'll find out soon, I have no doubts about it."
'I'm not liking the smile on his face.' Rakurai says to himself.
Taoichi walks out of the room and to the dojo area, Rakurai and Takanashi follows Taoichi.
Taoichi sits down.
"Please take a seat."
Taoichi says.
Rakurai and Takanashi sat down across from Taoichi.
"So what's this all about?" Rakurai asks as he crosses his arms.
"Listen and you'll learn." Taoichi says.
"You see, everyone in our world has this energy within our body known as chi, those who use chi can drastically enhance physical strength & condition along with mental. but only those who can channel their inner energy and master it can be on par with a Yokai or possibly even stronger.."
Taoichi says.
"So I'm thinking, the guy who attacked us could be a chi user." Takanashi says
Taoichi nods "of course, no one other then . Chi users can give out that type of damage."
Takanashi looks at Taoichi "So you expect us to learn how to wield chi energy or something?"
Taoichi shakes his head. "No not at all, all I need you two to do, is prove your worth, chi energy is no joke, use it the wrong way and you're a goner. You two need to show me your worth being chi users and that you can withstand the energy that comes with it."
"Alright , sooo... how would we do that?" Rakurai asks.
Taoichi gives a light smirk.
"We'll you'll start off by completing a few task of mine."
Rakurai and Takanashi stands up.
"Alright, sounds like a piece of cake if you ask me."
Takanashi slaps Rakurai on the back of the head. "He hasn't even told us what to do yet and you're already full of yourself, idiot."
Rakurai rubs head and laughs it off.
"Right, how foolish of me. So what is that you want us to do old man Taoichi."
"Just Taoichi is fine and you two will go the top of the highest mountain in japan, the next task is to retrieve a potent and rare plant that helps heal the human body." Taoichi said as he'd stand up and walk out of the dojo.
"What's the point of that?" Takanashi asks.
"If you've healed us why do we need to get a plant, aren't you a doctor?"
"No I'm not, no more questions. Just do what I say or remain as weak failures who can't even protect themselves or the ones around you."
Taoichi says before turning and leaving the dojo.
Rakurai walks towards Taoichi.
"Hold up a minute, why is it that you saved us? And why do you expect us to just obey your every request when we don't even know you."
Rakurai asks.
Taoichi comes to a stop. "Because you all were in desperate need of help but also its because of the spirit you two have. Although you guys were weak compared to your opponent you gave it your all. I just happened to be there at the right time and if you wish to get stronger, then fulfilling my every request is the best option."
Rakurai nods. "Okay then tell us what we need to do and more about chi"
Rakurai says.
"It's a lot for me to take in but if we're gonna get stronger this is something that is inevitable." Takanashi says.
Taoichi nods. "You two need to find a rare sakura tree and take a leaf each."
Takanashi sighs "I'm not much of a botanist." He says in a sarcastic manner.
"It's not just any average tree, the leaves give a white like glow and there's a chaotic storm near the tree on the tip of the mountain."
Rakurai looks at Takanashi "Still sounds like a piece of a cake or maybe the whole thing."
"Rakurai this isn't the time to play around, idiot." Takanashi says.
"I know, I know but it still doesn't sound much of hassle to me."
Taoichi gave a light smirk.
"I have you know, there's only three people who've made it to the tip of that mountain and back, including me."
Rakurai and Takanashi's jaws drop.
"Soo... you're sending us on a death mission?!"
Rakurai says as Takanashi's eye twitches a bit.
"It depends, whatever be the outcome depends on the two of you, question is will you prevail or fail? Haha, anyways .. I'll be watching over the girl she'll need the treatment while she's unconscious, don't worry I won't bathe her or anything, she can do that when she awakens. I almost forgot, you'll be needing these."
Taoichi throws Rakurai and Takanashi their Katana and they'd both catch them at the same time then sheathed the katana.
"I won't forget what he did to my katana.."
Takahashi whispers to himself.
"What?" Rakurai asks.
"Nothing...you ready, Rakurai?"
Takanashi asks.
Rakurai nods "I was born ready, let's do this."
The two head off into the forest as they make their way to Mount Fujiyama, the highest mountain in Japan.
[End Of Chapter]
(To Be Continued..)