It was nightfall, Kamodichi and Ataku was slowly going back to Kamodichi's cottage. The silence between them stretched. Ataku was lost in thought. Kamodichi was battling the memories of what happened to himself. He knew why he was out here. He wanted to keep the world safe. After seeing the man who burned down his village why didn't he feel rage against him? Why didn't he drive his weapon into the man's heart? It was fear, he admitted to himself. His thoughts went to Ataku being knocked off his horse. He rode right into the impact of the traveling posse blindly. His fear of losing Ataku because of his mistake over rid what was happening and he lost the battle to Matteo. What grabbed his attention more was the weapon Matteo had. His weapon was dangerous and could kill a man just by one swing.
It was child's play to survive a raid and burned down village by him. But his weapon by itself could kill a hundred ordinary people in one swing. What kind of weapon was it? And what surprised him even more was that Ataku beat him. He knew Ataku was special no doubt but to take on Matteo after she woke up from a fall....he glanced at her. She had a blank expression on her face.
Ataku couldn't stop thinking about her dream. She couldn't be the fairy soul or what ever. She was only a regular human. She couldn't save the world, she wouldn't make it. Everyone suffered and everyone died and she couldn't do anything about it. How would she be able to save the world? she now knew that Matteo was a threat but still why would the world need saving? Ataku felt alone even with Kamodichi in front of her. What were their options, she still didn't have her memories.
They had arrived at the cottage and Kamodichi got down from his horse. He guided Ataku down they gathered his horses reins and took him behind the house. The half moon was high in the sky. The stars twinkled and shined. Ataku looked up to the heavens. She shook her head with frustration. She fell to her knees and rubbed her face. She now laid on her side, the grass now her resting place.
Sadness crept its way to her eyes. She fell asleep in the grass crying. Kamodichi found Ataku in the grass. His eyes filled with grief he then took her to one of his rooms and let her lay in a neat bed. Kamodichi sat on the edge of the bed and rubbed his face in tiredness. He dozed off in the bed with her. He had prayed they would find the answers they were looking for. He didn't find one.
Ataku woke up in the bed. The softness felt like she was back in Hokina's house again. She looked around but didn't see Kamodichi. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and headed down the hall to the living room. No sign of him here, she then looked up and didn't see his sword above the front door. She walked outside to see him at the bottom of the hill. He was shirtless holding his weapon. He wore his regular pants with armored knee pads. He was practicing his sword techniques in hand to hand combat. His muscles tighter with each firm blow to his imaginary opponent. She noticed how long his hair was. His eyes focused on his stances and attacks.
He must have felt like he needed the practice because he lost the fight, she thought. She then realized she was a knight too now and that she would have to learn from him. She slid down to him and in front of his exercise. "Ataku, what is it" Kamodichi said in surprise. "I have to learn too" Ataku said. "Learn what" he asked. "How to fight properly" she said in frustration. "I am a knight like you now, so aren't you supposed to teach me" Ataku stated. "Are you asking to be my apprentice" Kamodichi asked.
"Stop being annoying and teach me already" she narrowed her eyes. "I won't until you say you want to become my apprentice" Kamodichi said. He smirked at her. "Why do I have to say it when I can already be it" Ataku said. "Fair enough" Kamodichi nodded. "Find your battle stance" he told her. Ataku put one foot forward and drew her sword pointing it to the grass a few inches away from her foot. She narrowed her eyes at Kamodichi. "Fierce" he commented. "Let start with attacking" he began. "Or offense" he added. He took Ataku by the hand with the weapon in it. His hand was warm to her. He analyzed her weapon.
He was surprised by what he saw. He remembered the weapon being on the wall. Shinji had said the weapon was choosy about who weld it. No known knight could ever weld it for it stung anybody who did. It was called the sapphire sealer. "Kamodichi are you ok" she asked. "Yeah, I can't believe the weapon chose you" he said. "Yeah I felt like it was calling to me" she said. "Interesting" Kamodichi said. He didn't want to focus too much on the weapon. "There is a high attack, side attack and stab" he made her do the movements. "I will let you practice with that" Kamodichi said. Ataku stepped forward, she raised the sword for an upper attack then spun around for a side attack then spun around and stabbed. "Really good" Kamodichi nodded.
"In no time you'll be highly skilled if you time your blows" Kamodichi said. "I know I can do this" Ataku nodded. She was determined to help others.
