7/08/03

Let's start the ball rolling, shall we? Here we are introduced to one of my main characters (and my personal favourite!), Shinzou! I actually hate writing for my favourite characters, because their chapters always end up three times as long as for the others… ::sigh:: Please note though, I am placing this story at the bottom of my Writing Priority list, due to the fact that I already have two well established works that need my attention. It'll probably be updated just as often though. ::=.=:: Curse my sense of reader loyalty! So anyway, let the story begin!

X.x =DOA (Dead Online Author)

Fallen : Twilight of the Soul

By Kobi-chan

THE FIRST SOUL : THE APOTHECARY

On days where the temperature soared above the ninety-degree mark even in the shade, traveling long distances by foot was not an action to be taken lightly. In fact, if you had any sense at all, you would be finding someplace dark and hopefully cool to wait out the intense heat. Which made Shinzou Hyougotani beg the question, why wasn't he doing just that?

                Instead, he trudged along the rutted dirt trail that served as a road, sweating profusely and cursing his own lack of common sense. Any pretense of shade and hope for relief had long been lost as he traveled farther and farther into the broad expanses of farmland that this part of the country was known for.

Though restrained by the headband he traditionally wore, Shinzou's dark hair still somehow managed to find its way into his eyes. He irritably shoved it back with a rough hand, thinking that long days on the road did indeed make it difficult to find time to get one's hair cut. Among other things…

A moment of distraction and Shinzou found himself struggling for balance after a careless step put his left foot into a nasty pothole. He turned his attention to the more immediate task of making sure he didn't break an ankle on the rough road, putting aside all thoughts of the many inadequacies of the life of the wanderer. And they were many. For example, he hadn't seen his parents in months and his sister in nearly a year. Family reunions were difficult when nearly all concerned members were continually scattered to the winds across the vast expanses of their homeland, and often the lands of other nations as well.

Besides, where the hell am I now anyway?

The life of the traveling mercenary was a lonely one, no doubt about it. He suddenly found himself longing for a familiar face, or even a familiar sight, just to prove to himself that there was someplace that he belonged. Belonging… it was something that most took so casually for granted, but it was also something that seemed so completely unattainable to Shinzou…

This time, he did end up flat on his face. The various small birds that were currently foraging among the growing green crops lifted their heads to look towards the sounds of one unhappy young man, cursing in the way that only those true wanderers can. Shinzou struggled into a sitting position, hindered a bit by the massive pack that was strapped to his back. Anger spent on his bout of foul language, he sighed as he inspected his now sore nose and lip.

No blood, that's good. He thought. Thank the gods no one saw me. That would have been embarrassing, to say the least. He quickly and methodically started checking for other injuries, and was almost home free when he finally got down to his ankle, which was currently swelling and turning an interesting shade of violet.

Dammit! He cursed mentally. I guess my traveling is over for the day. He quickly surveyed the area around him, and was glad to note an open area on one side of the road that was big enough to hold his small tent. Painfully rising to his feet, Shinzou limped to the little clearing, and set about making camp while attempting to move as little as possible.

Fire was his first priority, and as soon as he had one well established he settled in to take a look at his mangled ankle. Inspecting it with a practiced eye, he quickly rummaged in his pack to come up with a small package, unbound to reveal a varied collection of medicinal herbs. Shinzou may have been a full-time nomad, but he had some handy side practices as well. One of these, quite fortuitously, was that he was a master Apothecary, despite being of the somewhat tender age of only seventeen.

He used the fire and a small amount of water from one of his canteens to boil a tincture to treat the swelling, efficiently applying it and wrapping the injured extremity when it was finished. Then he began quietly calling his ki. He gathered it into a small glowing blue ball in his hand, and then transferred it to the injury. His sigh of relief was audible.

"Being able to Heal definitely comes in handy." He murmured softly to no one, "I ought to be walking again in no time."

"That's good to hear. I'd hate to have come all the way out here for a cripple." When one is talking to oneself, one obviously doesn't expect any answer, much less a threat. Shinzou's head snapped up, his eyes searching in the direction the voice had come from. His practiced senses singled out an out of place shadow among the foliage, and brought his inner eye to bear upon it. With yet another curse, he jumped to his feet as quickly as he was able and assumed a defensive stance.

"Show yourself, demon!" he demanded.

A dry chuckle answered him. "Finally figured that out, eh? Took ya long enough. I coulda killed ya a couple times over by now."

Shinzou steadied himself, attempting to ignore the renewed pain in his freshly Healed ankle. Irritation coloured his thoughts, he had been so preoccupied as to not notice a demon sneaking up on him! Of course, a combination of an injury, intense heat and personal introspection could be quite distracting. One mistake like this could be fatal, and with death there are no take backs. Well, not many, anyway. But wait, why hadn't the demon attacked yet? It had even admitted that it had had several chances already. How strange… Shinzou didn't know of anyone who would send a demon after him for anything other than separating his head from his shoulders.

And it's not a good thing that you know people who would want to send demons for that! His inner voice reminded him. He tensed as the demon seemed to make up its mind about something, detaching itself from the dim shade and emerging into the open. Shinzou eyed his unexpected adversary, not that there was much more to see. The demon was apparently a Wraith of some sort, generally nothing more than a living shadow with a bad attitude.

Shinzou frowned at the revelation of the Wraith. He didn't know whether to still be flattered that someone had bothered to send a demon, or insulted that they had sent only a Wraith, the lowest level of demon. While he faced this indecision, the demon chose to strike. It seemed quite surprised, then, when its target abruptly wasn't there. It growled as it twisted its shadowy head around to find Shinzou, who was now fifteen feet behind it.

"Attacking while your opponent in distracted is cowardly, you know." The Apothecary commented.

"You look fine for it." The Wraith snarled back.

"True. But still, I'm wondering, who sent you here? Your master obviously didn't know what he was getting you into, because your skills are pathetically inadequate."

After taking a moment to figure out that Shinzou had just insulted him, the shadow beast launched his attack anew with a cry of rage. The angered lunge was deftly avoided by Shinzou, and answered with a solid punch to the demon's left side as he passed. Though Wraiths looked quite ethereal, if you knew how they were easy to hit, and this one in particular apparently had no concept of 'defense'.

Probably used to picking on normal people, the kind he can just rip up in a couple seconds. Good thing I'm pretty much as far from 'normal' as you can get…

Recovering from the hit, the Wraith attempted another unoriginal attack, apparently not noticing that the 'head on' tactic wasn't working. Shinzou countered with a sidestep coupled with a flurry of punches aimed for the vulnerable spots around the ribcage. While things like pressure points normally wouldn't be thought to harm a demon, it was in fact true that they were forced to take on some human aspects when straying from their realm. Vulnerable aspects, that experienced persons such as Shinzou had learned to exploit to their utmost.

The Wraith staggered under the assault, barely visible but lethally clawed toes shredding the soft ground underfoot as it fought to regain its stability. Twisting like a snake, it shifted its momentum backwards to launch itself at Shinzou. Finally unable to dodge, he instead stood his ground… and let the Wraith run headlong into the Ki barrier he had erected.

"Fight me, damn you!" The shadow beast yowled.

"If you say so…" Shinzou replied indifferently, before launching himself at his opponent.

Trading blows, the two parried for openings in the others defense, aiming for the critical spots that would quickly incapacitate the other. The Wraith continued slashing swipes at the young Healer, while Shinzou made his trained punches and kicks count. He had the satisfaction of hearing the Wraith's side give way beneath the power of his punch. He wasn't sure if the shade demons had ribs, but if they did this one probably had several broken now.

"Enough!" A new voice broke into the fight. As the two combatants sprung apart, Shinzou snapped his head around to locate this new threat, surprised that he hadn't managed to pick up on this new person's approach, until he noted that the new arrival wasn't really there.

"Who's there?!" He challenged.

"Wraith! Your purpose here is served. Return to the Palace immediately!"

The shadowy demon seemed inclined to argue, turning on the intruder. "You sent me here to fight him!" The Wraith hissed. "So let me finish the job!"

"Your job IS done. Now leave, before I bring an end to your life as well." Taking the hint, the wounded demon gave one last growl before fleeing the area in a flicker of half seen shadows.

Frustrated that his earlier query had apparently been completely ignored, Shinzou tried again. "If you're here to finish what your lackey started, I hope you're much better than he is or it won't be a challenge."

The new presence finally acknowledged the young nomad. "No, I'm not here to challenge you, unfortunately. I am here to extend an invitation."

"Invitation?" Now Shinzou was just confused. Didn't they just send this Wraith in to kill him?

The voice sounded bored, like its owner was reciting a memorized speech, as it replied. "Indeed, Shinzou Hyougotani. You have passed your first test, and my master wishes that you come before him."

Well, they knew his name at least. What else did they know? And what is this about a 'test'? Shinzou decided to find out. "What are you--?"

"Enough talk. I don't have time to discuss this with you. You will come."

Shinzou opened his mouth to reply, or rather refuse, but was cut off by the surge of darkness that enveloped him from nowhere. Struggling, he attempted to free himself, but found that he was swiftly immobilized, rendered helpless. He had time for one final thought before consciousness abandoned him.

Oh crap.

NEXT TIME: 'The Second Soul : The Warrior'

As always, C&C are appreciated!