AKITO
Akito was enjoying his sticky buns sitting on the roof when he heard a small whimper that would have gone unheard if it wasn't for his Qi enhanced hearing, without making any noise slowly he crossed the roof to peak down the alley on the other side. He saw a small child crouching on the ground holding himself tightly with tears flowing down his cheeks.
By the looks of it, the kid was hurt and in considerable amount of pain. Aki was no healer but he could take the kid to one. Just as he decided to climb down and help him, he felt another presence approaching. Staying back, he waited for the person to show himself and to his surprise it was same the woman whom he had already seen twice now.
Misaki Tokugawa, the younger sister of Kijuro Tokugawa, was famous across the cultivation realm just like her brother. Aki had heard about her exceptional control over air.
Even though fire and air compliment each other, he was never able to master air. He could only wish for the amount of control over air that woman has achieved in his dreams.
He was curious why a noble woman such as herself was walking into this back alley. He masked his Qi and slinked back to keep himself hidden from her.
The moment Misa entered the alley her eyes zeroed in on the kid who was crying on the ground. She was not the one for giving comfort, if it was Izumi onee-chan she would have probably hugged the kid and whispered sweet nothings in his ear and healed his pain.
But she felt awkward and unnatural to do that, so the only thing she could think of was perhaps the food would cheer the kid up. She crouched down at the level of the kid who flinched when he saw a woman right in front of him.
Misa tried to appear less harmful as possible though it looks like she didn't succeed much. Quickly, not wanting to scare the kid more she thrusted the bag containing sticky buns into his hands.
The kid was surprised but he still looked scared. Misa indicated him to open the bag, looking fearfully at her he opened the bag to find the buns. The child had a face of astonishment as he saw more than five sticky buns in it.
He looked at the stranger in wonder thinking why would she give him this but then his wonder changed into anger. He thrusted the bag back to her.
"I will not work for you and I don't need your food take them back." He shouted angrily curling more into himself trying to make himself small.
Misa was shocked that the kid would think that she had some hidden motive to feed him some food. Surely the kid can see that she doesn't look like a bad person. She was a noble lady, what would she gain from harming a frail child.
"I don't need anything from you." She quickly tried to reassure him and pushed the bag back to him.
"Rich people don't give anything for free, they always need something in return, tell me what is it that you need." The child gritted out angrily but he kept the bag with him.
So that's how it is, Misa observed the kid who was glaring at her and she knew that whatever she answered now would decide the course of this conversation.
"Alright, tell me what's your name?"
The boy watched her sceptically then sighed as he answered, "Yuji Takase."
"Tell me, Yuji Takase-san, have you heard of Mount Haven sect right up this mountain." Misa asked him indicating the looming mountain in the background.
"I am not stupid everybody knows about the Mount Haven sect." The kid rolled his eyes as he sat down leaning back at the wall.
"Have you ever thought of becoming a cultivator?" Misa asked hoping a positive reaction from him.
She had already sensed the kid was born with Dantians and meridians, she just needed to convince him. The earlier shift in the Qi was caused by this kid, she was sure of it.
(Dantians are the Qi focus flow centres, important focal points for focusing and meditating. Whereas it's through Meridians that the Qi flows in the body.
Basically, Meridians are like pipes or highways for Qi and Dantians are like reservoirs or vessels for Qi.)
"Beggars should not have these ridiculous dreams." The boy spoke with a fierce emotion.
"And who told you this."
"Nobody but it's the truth."
"What if I tell you that it's wrong? What if I tell you that Mount Haven takes younger kids and train them."
"Then you are lying, sects only take disciples who have crossed the Qi Gathering Stage." (Basic stage of Soul Cultivation which is completed when you hit 15yrs of age.)
The kid was right most cultivating sects only recruit from the competitions held in Mount Haven sect which was ongoing right now and she herself was participating in it. But their sect also had programmes for taking in younger children early on who have potential to become a cultivator.
"Do you know who I am?"
"No." The child looked petulantly down.
"I am Misaki Tokugawa, daughter of heir of Tokugawa clan, my grandfather is the leader of Mount haven and I give you my word that what I said is true." The kid's eyes grew wide as she continued to speak, his eyes filled with surprise and wonder.
"You are the sister of Kijuro Tokugawa-sama."
"Yes, that too." Misa rolled her eyes of course the kid was a fan of her brother.
Akito who was silently eavesdropping till now couldn't help it when a small involuntary snort left him. He disturbed the balance of his Qi making Misa to pinpoint him immediately.
Misaki immediately sensed the presence of a cultivator just above her; she snapped her eyes towards the intruder. It was him again, why was it that ever since this boy has stepped foot in the mountain, his presence has been haunting her.
She can't believe it, of all the people to find her it has to be this new celebrity of the mountain. His amused smouldering eyes were locked in onto her as if scrutinizing her layer by layer. Curling her lips in distaste at the boy who was smirking at her, Misa turned her attention back to the kid.
"Wait, you could be lying right now, how am I supposed to know you are telling the truth." Misa huffed and rolled her eyes at the suspicious nature of the kid. Nevertheless, she took out the plaque containing the Tokugawa clan sigil (a flying phoenix) and showed it to the kid.
"Do you believe me now." The child nodded slowly as he took in the information about who he was speaking to.
"So, you did not answer my question. Do you want to become a cultivator?" Misa asked him again expectantly.
"Yes." A small whisper was heard in the entire alley.
"Good, eat those and then you can come with me." Misa spoke as she dusted her cloths standing up, if they started fast then maybe she can present this case to her brother first.
"I can't." The child spoke sadly.
"Why not?" She asked surprised.
"I promised my friends that I would not abandon them." He spoke softly fumbling with his fingers. Misa's heart thundered with the familiar emotions. She felt the respect for the kid increasing as he spoke with such loyalty.
"I cannot promise you that your friends will be eligible to be a cultivator until I see them myself. If they are not, they will have to stay back." Misa spoke softly as she explained the kid.
"I cannot abandon them here, who will bring them food. They are not very bright and they get easily fooled." The kid spoke getting more panicked and his eyes glistened with tears.
"Look, how about you bring your friends to me and if they do not have any meridians then we can find them a place with the merchants in the mountain. That way you will be at least together in the mountain."
Misa spoke placatingly to convince the child. She herself was not sure if this would work out but she trusted her brother, he will definitely find a way. Kijuro was not someone who will throw out helpless kids to street, he will help her.
"Yes, I would really love that." He jumped up happily still clutching the bag of food.
"Do you know, the Hermit's pound at the base of the mountain?"
"Yes, isn't that where a huge fish lives."
"It's not a fish, it's a mythical beast, but yeah exactly there meet me two hours prior to sundown with your friends. I will take you up the mountain with me."
"Yes, I will be there."
"Don't be late, we can't climb the mountain if the sun goes down." Misa warned him as an added measure.
"Yes, yes, I promise. I am going now." He clutched the bag and ran off before Misa could even ask him to show his injured hand. She sighed deciding she will ask Izumi onee-chan to see to it once they reach up.
Misa looked up the roof to find the boy still watching her with an amused smile. She glared at him which made him smile more. Annoyed by his presence Misa huffed and walked away, it was very childish of her to act so petulantly but she was maybe teensy bit jealous of his control over fire.
to be continued--------