Chapter 7:Forestry
"This place is familiar.A long time ago,a poor boy was forced by his parents to plant a seed in a glamorous forest just on the outskirts of Tokyo.He came day by day to water the plant,which turned into a tree.The tree integrated with the forest and was rumoured to be magical.It then grew a voice box and had the ability to talk.The tree was apart of the forest.There was a river in the forest.It had water that would quench thirst for a whole week.It could only be obtained if you asked the tree nicely for water,or else it would rip your head off and you would die."
The two got off there horses and approached the forest.
"How do you know all of that?"Irai questioned.
"Well,"Maku cleared his throat,then turned to Irai.
"My parents are the…"Maku stopped talking.
"My parents are both dead right now.They told me this story when I was younger.I don't know why but the story interested me.I figured I tell you so you would get your head ripped off."Irai nodded and the two ventured into the forest.
Each step made a crunching sound,dozens of birds rested on the branches of trees.There were leaves everywhere Irai and Maku stepped,vines,trees and plants everywhere they looked.
The air smelt of fresh cinnamon.Palm trees were coated with lush dates.The sun embraced at us as we looked above.
SNAP.
Something moved,it wasn't Maku,I was certain.Because it came from behind us.It was something…or someone else.
"What was that?"
"Do not move."We waited for the source of the sound to make a movement.
Maku scanned his eyes everywhere he could look.
SNAP.
Another sound.Coming from the same place where the first echoed.
"Irai,stay,RIGHT here."I nodded.Maku briskly turned around to see who was making the crunching noises.He placed his hand on his sword,ready for what was about to come out.
"COME OUT.WE MEAN NO HARM AS LONG AS YOU DO NOT TO US."
All he could see,was blackness of a cave.
SNAP.
A sharp cut echoed through the cave.Maku pulled out his sword,holding close in front of him.The sound got closer and closer.
SNAP.
The snap sound echoed through Maku's mind.He started to sweat rapidly,his blood began to feel warm.I knew because I was standing right behind him.Fear struck both our faces.His pupils got smaller.SNAP.A person jumped out of the cave with dual katanas.
Maku clashed his into the person.The man slashed and swooshed his sword everywhere,trying to give Maku a cut.
Maku dashed around the man,throwing him back.I turned around in surprisement.
"MAKU."I rushed towards the man,downslaming his waist.Then grabbing one of the katanas,going back to Maku.
"Do you even know how to use a sword?"
"No,but I am a quick learner."I panted for breath.The man jumped back up,dashing towards them.
"My sword…MY SWORD."The man ran up to me.He jumped into the air and attempted to slash through my skin.Resulting in slashing him in the stomach.
Maku dashed forward,giving a dozen small cuts on the man's face.Blood came down the man's clothes,onto the leaves.He tried to swing his sword into my face,I dodged.The man tried the same with Maku and was one inch away from doing so.He fell to the ground and turned into stone.Thick stone,in a blink of an eye.
"What?I am confused."The tree spoke in a deep voice.
"Congratulations,Genshi.I can now trust you to freely roam the forest."
"What?"Maku and I looked at each other,wondering what the tree was talking about.
"The test of faith,to see if you would protect the forest and you did.You shall drink from the river if you wish and you can continue your Journey through the forest."
We ran towards the river,both taking their hands out in a bowl shape,scooping up the fresh water.We both stood up and turned around.
"Goodbye tree!"The two of us shouted from across the distance.
"Farwell travellers!"We then left to continue venturing through the forest.
Back in the Ocean between South Korea and Japan,Rida found a map inside the boat he stole.
It was a map of Japan.Where everything was,buildings,the landmarks.
But one thing caught his eye.
The Genshi Palace,the palace he had been searching for 1 decade.
"So,that is where the palace is located."Rida chuckled to himself,"I will finally be able to take back the power I deserve and kill Kurisu's son."Rida placed the map down.He picked up the paddle sticks and started moving the boat.
Suddenly,it started to rain,the clouds covered the sky rapidly.The sunshine began to fade away.Thunder began to roar,the waves of the sea rose higher and higher every single minute.The boat began to get more bumpy.
"A wave will not stop me,NOTHING WILL STOP ME."Rida threw the paddles away in frustration,he used his arms to push the boat faster.It started working.But the waves gained higher and higher.Rida swam and swam.
Lighting began to strike the sea,dead fish began to rise onto the surface,blocking the boat.But Rida kept going.Lighting then struck the boat,causing a hole in it.A tsunami formed and it's shadow covered Rida's boat.
He quickly stopped rowing the boat,picked up the map and jumped into the sea.He put the map into his pocket,which he closed tightly,so no water would soak it.
Rida swam and swam but the tsunami went over him,crushing his body under the pressure.Everything went to black.
The sound of everything began to fade.A weird ringing sound went into his ears as he could feel nothing either.Rida was like that for about a minute.....nothing.....nothing....
Rida then woke up to see himself in the sea.
His head felt dizzy as his body was really wet.He pulled himself together and swam away from the shallow depths of the sea.As he was swimming,the water got darker,as if something was there.
He turned around slowly to see a shark opening its mouth wide open with razor sharp teeth,trying to swallow him.
Rida took a deep breath and tried to swim but the shark just…SNAPPED him.
Blood went into the water as the shark moved on.Rida stood up to be inside the dark mouth of the creature.His feet were on a slimy warm tongue.
As Rida looked for a way out,he saw gils. That's when a thought came to him.The shark kept on swimming,going up to the surface for air,when it felt something sharp in its gils.
It started to move around more and more.Rida ripped its gills off,allowing more water to travel through the shark's body.It roared in horror as blood came out,along with Rida.
He swam up to the surface,seeing no sign of land anywhere.Rida saw a rock in the distance,he decided to swim to it as the shark's blood rose up to the top of the water.Rida sat on the rock and brought out the map.
"So,you tell me where I am."He muttered to himself.Rida looked at the map to see sharks on the left side of the ocean.
"Oh so,all I have to do is go forward for a while and I will arrive in Japan."He put the map back in his pocket and took a short break.After the break,Rida got back into the water and swam to Japan.
Maku and Irai rushed out of the forest to see someone running in the distance with stretchy arms.
"Who is that?He seems a little bit familiar."Irai questioned.
"It's…Sosu!"Maku replied in fear.Behind Sosu,Kurisu was chasing after him,along with Genshi fighters on their horses.
"We need to stop him,I think he escaped from the ancient book."
"We can't stop him.Let Kurisu handle it alright?"
"But you and Father would be strong together!"
Maku shook his head and blew a whistle.Their horses came.
"I forgot to mention,they have names.Jasper and Cooper.My horse is Cooper and your horse is Jasper,just whistle,call their name and they will come."
"Ok thanks."The two got on their horses and ran in the opposite direction of Kurisu and Sosu.
"The palace must be in this direction,it might take a while to get there."
"I haven't mentioned it because a lot has been going on, but I am really hungry."
"Don't worry,we'll get food as soon as we get to the palace."
The two smiled at each other.Meanwhile,Sosu scavenged the forest and went through the vines as if it were a box of scraps.
"This way!"Kurisu exclaimed.They got off their horses and charged towards Sosu.
"Oh,do not mind if I do!"Sosu giggled as he ran towards the river to get a scoop of water.That is when the tree awoken,he grabbed Sosu by the neck and ripped his head off.
Purple blood came down his neck.But Sosu was not dead,he was alive and laughing.
"YOU REALLY THOUGHT YOU COULD KILL ME?"Sosu reattached his head and transformed his arm into an axe.He then sliced through the tree so it could die.Kurisu and his men finally came.
"SEIZE HIM!"All 50 men,who were very skilled,ran towards Sosu.He grew multiple arms that stretched out for punches.Each second,a man fell to the ground,breaking a bone,getting a cut or having a nosebleed.
Sosu laughed maniacally,he stretched his arms into knives,slashing through their bodies.
Kurisu ran towards Sosu and pulled out his sword.He cut through Sosu's dozen arms,leaving out loads of purple blood,which turned into acid.
"AHHHHH!"The men screamed as their legs burned.Kurisu began to sweat.Sosu regrew his arms.
"I am WAY to strong for you,don't you understand?"Kurisu ran towards Sosu,turning his fist blue.
He punched Sosu multiple time,sending him to the floor.He jumped back up and stretched his arms all around Kurisu,tightening him.
That is when Kurisu felt his full power.Something hurt in his chest,like a bullet shot him.His inner spirit bursted out of his chest.Blood hurled down his chest.The spirit began attacking Sosu,punching him constantly.
Blood spat out of Sosu's mouth,a lot of blood.Kurisu exploded all of the arms.He had a blue aura with mist,he had cuts surrounding him.his eyes were sapphire blue.
Kurisu started walking slowly to Sosu.
"Awakening."Kurisu muttered.
"An awakening will not kill me."Sosu laughed.
"I do not intend to kill you but trap your soul."He revealed a book behind his cloak.
The two bolted to each other,Sosu getting loads of cuts.Punch after punch,both damaged each other severely.Sosu grabbed Kurisu's arm and threw up into the air.
He then jumped with him,kicking him down to the floor.Kurisu bashed into the solid ground,creating a wave of dusk.Sosu grabbed Kurisu again and swung him side to side,stretching his arms yet again.
"I WILL NOT BE YOUR PRISONER."Kurisu grabbed Sosu by the neck,he started to strangle him as Sosu's face turned purple.
"I can and will surpass you!"Kurisu threw Sosu in the distance. He plunged forward with all his might.As Sosu got closer,the fist got brighter and brighter.
When the demon was close enough,Kurisu punched Sosu really hard in the face,causing him to break a few of his bones in his skull.
"Ah,you got me."Sosu fell to the ground as his head was shattered into thousands of pieces,they all fell right onto where his head should have been.Kurisu's awakening has now ended,the blue aura had gone,the power had gone.It was all over.Kurisu looked all over the place,red blood,purple blood,swords everywhere,bodies everywhere.
"What have I just done?My men,they are…dead.All because I put them in danger…."Kurisu began to cry softly.He spent 1 hour digging up graves for all 50 men.
After the graves were done,he spent another 30 minutes picking up flowers for his men.Kurisu then went to each grave,which took him another 30 minutes.In total,2 hours of his time was spent,caring for those who fought.It began to bring back memories from the war.
He still remembers that day,because of the trauma,Kurisu has been living with PTSD every since,so when he was scared,or sad,or alone,he could think of that wretched day.
Dead bodies everywhere,blood everywhere,screams of terror.It all flashed through his mind.Kurisu started to have a panic attack,why bother shouting if nobody could hear?He got onto the floor.Everything went blurry,everything he heard at the minute,was beginning to fade.
All Kurisu could hear was his own heart,beating,quicker by every second.
Beat.Beat.Beat.Beat.
His eyes widened,he began gasping for air,struggling to breath.His body was worrying in all types of ways.After a few minutes,Kurisu snapped out of it.He pulled himself together and got up off the ground.
"I shouldn't tell anyone about this.But my family members of course."He walked away from the graves,not knowing something.Sosu's face pieces glowed purple,hinting something.
After some time of travelling,Irai and Maku got to Irai's home.
"This is where you live?''Maku questioned.
"Yes.I spend some time in the Genshi palace as well,as in sleeping."Irai replied.
"Well,I suppose I could stay over for a while."Irai smiled,the two went into the home.As the door opened,nobody was home.
"Oh,my Uncle and cousin would be here usually,but it seems like the visit didn't last long…"
The two searched around the house for a place to rest.In one of the rooms,there was a wooden bed.Irai and Maku sat on it.
"Well,it has been quite an adventure today."Irai turned his head to face Maku.Irai stood up slowly.He looked at Maku with a frown.
"What?"
"I-I.."He was lost for words.
"Take it easy,just tell me."
"I don't think I can do this.."Irai walked over to the door
"Do what?"He twisted the knob.
"This,being a hero…a protector of this country,a protector of the world.I think it is too much pressure for me."
"Well,if your heart tells you what you want to do,then do it."Maku made a slight smile.Irai nodded
"I quit."
He opened the door as Maku followed him.The two went on their horses,(Jasper and Cooper)saying their final goodbyes.
"It has been a good time teaching you,but I will be on my way now."Irai nodded as Maku ran away into the misty distance.