Izuku and His Dragon Maid

Chapter 18: A Boy's Dream

        "Beyond every dirt road," a young sixteen year old boy began, "is just another village of dirt." Holding a spear in his hand, he thrust it at and around the hay dummy in front of him. "But at least it's one I'm proud to call home," he unleashed a flurry of jabs and stabs that lasted for ten seconds before stabbing the dummy in it's head. The boy panted after wasting most of his energy on trying to extend his breaker art. Sweat rolled down his face and all around his body as his muscles began to cool down from being overheated. He got out of his stance and held his spear in one hand as he wiped his brow with the other. "Morning, Onii-Chan! Are you ready to head to the city today?" A small girl wearing rags said from behind the boy, "yeah, I was just practicing, Yui-Chan." Yui smiled, she looked highly up to her brother, "alright, let's leave when you're ready then." Her brother sighed and sheathed the spear in a makeshift leather scabbard than was slung over his back. "I'm ready now, so we can go," he turned to face her and was faced with her dirtied face. "Oh come on Yui," he pulled a rag out of his pocket, "you know we can't go to the city looking like we just bathed in dirt." He wiped the muck off of her face, "but why, Kazumi-onii?" "If you don't have a clean face, then city goers look down on you as if you're worse than refuse."

When the last bit of dirt came off of Yui's childlike face, it gleamed brightly with the sun's rays that reflected off of it. "There we go," Kazumi stood up as he spoke and put the rag back in his pocket, "much better." She wasn't particularly fond of him treating her like a child, she may have looked like one but she was only two years younger than him. "Kazumi-onii, you know that I'm not a child anymore," he scoffed and turned his back to her before beginning to walk towards the entrance to the village. "What was that supposed to mean!?" She yelled out as she began to follow him, "well, it shows that I found that funny. You're fourteen and want me to treat you like your older," he waved to his red headed girlfriend as she passed him. "Yet you continue to act like a child that's only begun to walk." She crossed her arms and turned her head away from him, "no I do not!" Kazumi just sighed as he continued on his path, the wagon was in sight and sacks of goods were being loaded into it. "Fine, then act like an adult the entire way to and back from the city, then I'll treat you like an adult." He waited for her to shout something absurd, but only heard an "okay," from her. He chuckled before grabbing the last sack and climbing into the back of the wagon and setting it down.

        He walked through the hull of the cart and lifted one of the flaps up to reveal the seat and his father standing next to it. "Good morning to you, Otoshi-San," Kazumi said with pride and a warm voice. His father's left eye was shut, "good mornin' to you as well." He pauses before speaking again, "so I take it that yer' travelin' to the city?" Kazumi climbed into the seat and sat down before grabbing the horses's reigns and nodding. "Alright then, make sure yer' sister doesn't git hurt," his father struck him a cold gaze that froze him. "Or else," his heart pounded in his chest as a savage feeling of hate and fear arose within him. His face, however, was normal, despite the obvious emotions that were trying to boil over and consume him. His father pat the wooden side of the seat before walking off, but Kazumi didn't notice, instead staring off into the air. "Kazumi-onii?" He felt a tap on his right shoulder, causing him to jump, he turned to face his sister who was equally surprised. "I just wanted to ask if you were alright," he furrowed his brow. "Well, you were looking off into the distance for a minute or so, so I wanted to see if you were all right." His eye twitched as an image of a bamboo pole shooting down and hitting him in the back, "y-yes. I'm fine," he could hear the thwacks as it the vision continued, "then let's head out before nightfall." Yui said, causing Kazumi to take a deep breath and striking the martingale lightly, causing the horse to start trotting off on the road.

•••••••••••••••

        Kazumi looked at the open field that was coming up in front of them, to their right was a forest. After checking the sky for the sun, he could tell that it'd been two hours since they left. "How are you doing back there, Yui-Chan?" He looked over his shoulder, and after a few moments she popped her head out of the flaps. "Nothing behind us, so I don't think that we'll be attacked," Kazumi chuckled. "You know, I think I like this Yui more than the old one," he turned back toward the road. "You sound much calmer and sophisticated than the old one;" he formed a lip deep smile. "Indeed," was all she replied with, causing him to chuckle even more. So he turned his head back around; an arrow whizzed past his head from the right. "Yui, get down!" He pulled the horse to a stop, before jumping off and grabbing the spear on his back. In the woods to his right he could see four bandits, and there was a large possibility that there'd be more. Another arrow was nocked and fired off; Kazumi ducked below it as he ran towards them. A third arrow was nocked, but Kazumi was close, close enough to jump and thrust his spear into the foe's neck. Killing him instantly and leaving him three more enemies, "come at me!" He yelled, the biggest one moved towards him, suddenly, the loud noise of a tree snapping sounded throughout the landscape. This petrified the big man as he could see what caused it, leaving him open for Kazumi to stab in the throat. He fell into his knees and tried to hold his throat closed, he tried to get up and strike back at Kazumi, but his leg faltered and he fell to the ground. Kazumi focused himself on the other two, who were now running away, which confused the fighter.