The Half Breed Bandit : Awakening And Annihilation

Chapter 3 - Hejeiken

"Hokushin, are the monks ready for battle?" I ran a hand down my face. I appointed new positions for everyone as I seen fit. Kurama is my second in command and Hokushin became the general of the army I'm trying to form to stand against Danoraya's battalion. Being king is starting to make me feel my actual age.

Hokushin nodded, "Yes, sir. The monks are in top shape and the new recruits should be here in the morning. We shall train relentlessly until she attacks."

Good. I knew putting him in charge was the right decision. That's one less thing I have to worry about at the moment.

Hokushin bows and turns to leave, but pauses as he notices me fidgeting in the chair. He chuckled, "Not very comfortable, is it?" I shook my head, "No, not at all. I don't understand how Raizen sat here for so long like he did."

Hokushin smiled, "Our king fashioned his throne like that on purpose. He didn't want it to be comfortable because it would have made him complacent. He didn't want to lose focus on expanding his monarchy just because he was sitting on a more plush chair. He never sat down much anyways back then, as I'm sure you can recall."

His face smile faded as he sighed, "After meeting the human woman, however, he forced himself to sit there. It added to the torture he was putting his body though. For hundreds of years, never moving from it until Yusuke showed up. King Raizen definitely was a puzzle. If you would like a pillow, just ask and I'll bring one."

I thought about what he said, "No. If it was good enough for Raizen, then it's good enough for me." Hokushin smiled, obviously happy with my choice, and bowed, "Very good, sir. I'll go start their training for the day."

A familiar presence stood behind the door. After a knock on the door, I called out to him. "Come in, Kurama. I've already told you a hundred times you don't have to knock."

Kurama opened the door and strolled in, looking miserable. He has been an absolute wreck since Baashti's soul was captured by the witch. He and I are 600 years apart in age and as of now he looks older than I am.

In his human form, he has bloodshot eyes with dark circles under them, but his fox form just shows sadness. He's in his red head form today seeing as he just came from human world. He nodded and mumbled a hello of some sort then made his way over to the table I brought in specifically for research on the dragon. It also held defensive tactics against Danoraya. Kurama was standing on the side for Baashti.

My eyes grew wide and I headed over with my hopes high that maybe he found something. "Good morning. You look tired."

Kurama sighed, "That's an understatement. I don't think I have slept in at least five days. Funny how I never need much sleep, but now that I have had none it is wearing me down."

He rubbed his eyes and gestured to a scroll he was carrying, "Anyways, I think I've found something." He pulled the scroll he had tucked under his arm out and spread it open on the table. Then he opened a notebook that looked tattered and threadbare.

"The portal Baashti and I discovered was hidden in that cave in Mount Olympus, you remember? Well the portal door had precise markings and the language was that of the witches. That didn't make sense to me. Why would the Ligetenatans use witch language to activate the entrance to their realm? Well I think I have somewhat of a theory. Katana showing up here is a mystery and always has been. The Ligetenatans have hated other demons according to their legend so why would they send their prince here? They would have had to be extremely desperate. Something bad would have had to happen there to send an infant with his power locked in a stone to any realm alone, much less here. What I believe is since the last time the race of demons had set foot here, the witches were trying to take over, correct? So I think the portal has witch language because that's what the lightning demons think everyone here would speak. It's not a very good theory, I know."

He blew out a breath and then tried to cover a yawn, but failed. I felt sorry for my friend. He was so exhausted. 

"Another theory is they used this language becaus the witches created the portal and it's a trap. I am not for certain that anything I could come up with right now would hold any merit. I'm so exhausted that I can't sleep nor do I want to."

Bloodshot eyes stared me in the face as they welled up with tears, "Do you know that the last time I seen her awake, I didn't even talk to her? I just watched her walk away onto the platform to fight Danoraya, stupidly assuming she would kill her with no problems. Before she got on the platform, I seen her turn around and look for someone. Apparently she couldn't find them and just kept walking."

He put his face in his hands, "She was looking for me Hejeiken. Me. Everytime I close my eyes, that's what I see. I replay over in my mind Baashti scanning the crowd searching for me all while I'm hiding in the shadows because I was perturbed by what she said to me after our fight when I conceded to her. She pretty much told me we wouldn't work because of my life in human world and her life here. To my absolute dismay, she's right. Baashti and I had a chance after Raizen's drastic life change. She moved to the canyon away from his watchful gaze and I was alone with her a lot more after that. I could have made her happy and our love would have been epic. Now though, what do I have to offer her? I'm not half the demon I used to be. Literally. I'm more human than anything else. She would be miserable in human world and would grow to hate me. I won't be able to live with myself if that happens."

Before I could try to answer my friend with words of comfort, I heard a voice from the doorway cut in. "Well she's damn sure not going to want you if you keep whining like that. You seriously need sleep Kurama. Your big brain is what we need the most on this trip and you won't be helping us or my sister if you are still in this current state when we leave in the morning. So if your not going to sleep for yourself, do it for her."

My son, who I didn't even hear enter, was leaning against the doorframe. He is the only one who has never knocked since I've became King. He always just waltzes right in. It doesn't bother me. It actually amuses me.

"I came to tell you goodbye and collect Kurama. I'll send word as often as possible. Give me every update of Baashti's wellbeing. I want to stay here with her, but I'm afraid these fools will screw something up with these ancient demons and I'll lose her forever. That is something I will not tolerate."

He then nodded at me and walked out of the room. Kurama clapped me on the shoulder after rolling up his scroll. Wordlessly he shuffled out of the throne room to hopefully get some much needed rest.