Chapter 4: BREAKING BARRIERS

{This Light Novel Story Is Set In The Japanese Shōwa Era.}

Author: GigaTOONZ

   "XENO HUNTER: BLOOD OF FATE"

           Chapter.03

         Title - BREAKING BARRIERS

[In Mira's cabin, Kazuki sits on the floor and stares at his father's white cloth in his hands. Kaya sways her legs up and down while sitting on a futon behind Kazuki. Just then, the door opens.]

      Kazuki - Oh?

        Kaya - Oh?

[Mira comes in and walks over to Kazuki and Kaya.]

        Mira - ...Let's go.

[Kazuki places the cloth under his futon. He and Kaya then get up and follow Mira out of the cabin.]

________________________________________________________________________

[Outside Mira's cabin, Kazuki and Mira stand facing eachother while Kaya sits and sways her legs back and forth on a tree stump.]

        Mira - Before we start, i

               want you to put this

               on.

      Kazuki - Oh?

[Mira gives Kazuki a black blindfold with a large, white moon Kanji written on it.]

      Kazuki - Heh...?

        Mira - What is it?

      Kazuki - Another blindfold?

               You're not gonna hit

               me again, are you?

        Mira - Oh!

               Jeez, what am i, a

               monster?!

      Kazuki - Maybe.

2.

        Mira - What did say?!

      Kazuki - Nothing!

[Mira sighs.]

        Mira - I'm not gonna hit you

               again.

               Not yet at least.

      Kazuki - Eh?!

        Mira - This is different.

               Just like mine, that

               blindfold bares the

               kanji of the moon.

               It's meant to signify

               that from now on,

               you'll be a student

               under MY training.

      Kazuki - Oh, i see.

               But...why a moon?

[Mira smugly smirks.]

        Mira - Because the moon...

               Is cool.

      Kazuki - [Thoughts]

                That was so lame.

        Kaya - [Thoughts]

                That was so lame 

        Mira - Besides, haven't you

               two ever heard the

               story of the moon

               goddess.

      Kazuki - Oh?

        Mira - I say that legend

               says...

      Kazuki - Eh?!

3.

        Mira - That long ago, three

               beautiful goddesses

               born from the

               almighty God himself

               descended upon the

               earth.

               There was the moon

               goddess, Tsuki...

               The sun goddess,

               Suyumi...

               And the youngest of

               them all...

               The beast goddess,

               Megami.

               At one point, these

               three sisters got

               into a horrible

               arguement.

               Megami, being

               youngest and most

               animalistic among

               them, lashed out at

               her sisters in anger,

               severely hurting

               them and making them

               run away in fear.

      Kazuki - Heh...?

        Mira - Yes.

               Much later on, the

               injured and helpless

               moon goddess, Tsuki

               was found by an early

               ancestor of the

               Makoshima clan.

        Kaya - Heh...?

        Mira - Yes.

               Not knowing Tsuki was

               a goddess, he used

               all the money and

               resources he had to

               help her recover

               back to full health.

4.

               The moon goddess was

               so touched by the

               man's kindness that

               she rewarded him by

               sacrificing her own

               physical form and

               and using it to bless

               the man and all his

               descendants.

               After that, her

               spirit returned to

               the moon where it

               would peacefully

               watch over the land

               and forever be at

               rest.             

               That's why till

               today, any person of

               Makoshima clan, or

               anyone closely

               related to the

               Makoshima clan who

               proudly and

               respectfully carries

               the symbol of the

               moon is blessed with

               good fortune.

      Kazuki - Ah...

        Kaya - Ah...

      Kazuki - [Thoughts]

                She seriously made

                that up?

                There's no way

                that's true.

        Kaya - [Thoughts]

                Liar.

        Mira - Hmm?

               Why are you two

               staring at me like

               that?

      Kazuki - N-No reason.

               By the way, i've been

               meaning to ask...

5.

               You said you were

               gonna train me,

               right?

               Does that mean you're

               some kind of Xeno

               Hunter trainer?

        Mira - ...Sure, let's go

               with that.

      Kazuki - What the-

               You're not even

               trying!

[Mira's cat walks over to Kaya and climbs on to her lap and lies down there. Kaya smiles and pets the cat.]

        Kaya - So, what ever

               happened to the sun

               goddess?

        Mira - ...I have no idea.

        Kaya - [Thoughts]

                Of course.

      Kazuki - ...Was Megami that

               much stronger than

               her sisters?

               I mean, to be able

               chase them away like

               that...

        Mira - ...No.

               Megami was actually

               highly weak compared

               to her sisters.

      Kazuki - Oh!

        Mira - Actually...

               "Highly" might be a

               bit of an

               understatement.

      Kazuki - Oh...

        Mira - Well, that's enough

               story time for now.

6.

               You should know...

               Uhhh...

               Ummm...

               ...What was your name

               again?

      Kazuki - Eh?!

      

        Mira - Whatever, i'll just

               call you Kiboi.

      Kazuki - "Kiboi"?!

[Kaya struggles to hold back her laughter.]

        Mira - You should know,

               Kiboi, that once you

               put that blindfold

               on...

               You can only take it

               off when you've

               completed your

               training.

        Kaya - Ah!

      kazuki - What?!

        Kaya - What happens if he

               takes it off before

               he completes his

               training?!

        Mira - ...Then he would

               permanently cease to

               be my student.

      Kazuki - Ah...!

        Kaya - Ah...!

        Mira - Training to become a

               Xeno Hunter was YOUR

               choice to make,

               Kiboi.

               Not mine.

               But i can only train

               you if you're truly

               willing to commit.

7.

[Kazuki begins to look unsure of himself.]

        Mira - Do you accept this

               condition?

[Kazuki turns and looks to his side at Kaya. He then smiles and turns back to Mira with a reassured expression and nods a "Yes" to her.]

      Kazuki - I do.

        Mira - Good.

               One more thing before

               we start...

      Kazuki - Oh?

               What is it?

[Mira pulls out a piece of paper from her Yukata and hands it over to Kazuki.]

      Kazuki - Oh...

[Kazuki opens the piece of paper.]

      Kazuki - Ah!

               Is this-

        Mira - It's your mother's

               note.

      Kazuki - Oh!

        Mira - I figured it'd be

               best if you at least

               knew what it said.

      Kazuki - [Thoughts]

                ...Last time, the

                words were so

                smudged that i could

                barely make it out.

               [Thoughts]

                She must've

                re-written the note

                so i'd be able to

                read it.

[After reading the note, Kazuki smiles with tears in his eyes. Mira sighs.]

8.

        Mira - Need some time

               alone?

      Kazuki - ...No.

               I'm glad i got to

               read this now.

               If i had read this

               note before, there

               would've been a lot

               i didn't understand.

               I may not understand

               everything yet.

               But i understand

               enough for now.

               Thank you,

               Makoshima-San.

               You truly are a nice

               person, aren't you?

        Mira - No not really.

[Kazuki's expression becomes a little annoyed at Mira.]

      Kazuki - A-Anyway...

[Kazuki bows his head to Mira.]

      Kazuki - I'm honoured to be

               under your training.

               And i'll make sure to

               give it my all from

               now on.

[Kazuki lifts his head up and puts on his moon blindfold.]

      Kazuki - ...I'm ready...

               Sensei.

[Mira smiles.]

        Mira - Good.

               Because your training

               to become a Xeno

               Hunter...

               Begins.

9.

[In the thick snowy forest, Kazuki trains.]

        Mira - Focus!

               Don't let your

               thoughts waver!

               If you truly are

               determined to be a

               Xeno Hunter, you'll

               have to know

               everything there is

               about becoming one?

      Kazuki - Ngh!

[Kazuki runs and swerves around many trees and obstacles, dodging them while being blindfolded.]

      Kazuki - Hrgh!

[Kazuki quickly jumps and flips over a huge log and lands on the ground.]

      Kazuki - [Narration]

                It's been five

                months now since my

                training with Sensei

                started.

               [Narration]

                After many bumps and

                bruises, i'm finally

                getting used to

                maneuvering my way

                around the forest.

               Ah!

[7 arrows fly at Kazuki's head but he senses it with his vibe detection technique and dodges it.]

      Kazuki - Urgh!

[Kazuki runs and jumps over a huge pit of jagged spikes and lands safely on the ground.]

      Kazuki - Ngh!

[Kazuki continues to run.]

10.

      Kazuki - [Narration]

                My progress is slow.

                But at least i can

                say i HAVE made

                progress.

               Hgh!

[Kazuki jumps, grabs a tree branch swings over a trip wire.]

      Kazuki - [Narration]

                I'm quite different

                from the person i

                was five months ago.

               [Narration]

                I'm much stronger

                now.

               [Narration]

                And it's all thanks

                to Sensei.

[Kazuki lands on the ground.]

      Kazuki - Ngh!

               Ah!

[Kazuki rapidly dodges as a large axe swings from the trees and nearly cuts him in half.]

      Kazuki - Eeek...!

               [Narration]

                Sensei's training

                style is quite...

                unique, in its own

                way.

[In the forest, Kazuki kneels and stares at a large deep pit full of jagged, rocks.]

        Mira - Get in there!

[Mira kicks Kazuki's butt and sends him falling into the pit.]

      Kazuki - Ahhhhh...!

11.

               [Narration]

                Sensei and i have

                thesame ability of

                sensing the vibes of

                all living and

                non-living things.

               [Narration]

                The only difference

                is...

               [Narration]

                Sensei is actually

                blind.

[In the forest, Kazuki continues to run and dodge more obstacles.]

      Kazuki - [Narration]

                It came as a

                surprise to me at

                first.

                But now it doesn't

                seem so strange.

               [Narration]

                According to Sensei,

                even without her

                eyes, she's capable

                of seeing things

                normal people could

                only dream of.

                She can see what a

                person looks like.

                She can see what a

                person's wearing.

                And it's through her

                clairvoyance

                technique and years

                of practice that

                she's capable of

                something so

                amazing.

               [Narration]

                Right now, i know

                i'm nowhere near

                Sensei's league in

                anything.

               [Narration]

                Except in crop work

                of course.

12.

               [Narration]

                Sensei stinks at

                that.

               Ah!

[While running, Kazuki senses another obstacle's vibe in front of him.]

      Kazuki - Ngh...!

[Kazuki quickly knee slides under a garrotting wire. He barely dodges the wire and it slices a part of his forehead, making him bleed.]

      Kazuki - Ngh!

               [Narration]

                Soon enough, i

                learned that this

                blindfold isn't just

                meant to be a

                uniform or make me

                look cool, according

                to Sensei of course.

                But it's also meant

                to completely cut

                off my sense of

                sight, making me

                depend solely on my

                clairvoyance and

                instincts to avoid

                danger.

[Kazuki continues to run and dodge more obstacles and traps.]

      Kazuki - [Narration]

                Right now, it feels

                really strange and

                uncomfortable.

                But as time goes on,

                i'm getting more and

                more used to it

                everyday.

               [Narration]

                According to Sensei,

                she's been doing

                this ever since she

                was blinded by the

                age of eight.

13.

               [Narration]

                ..."Blinded"...

               [Narration]

                She's never once

                told me how that

                happened, though.

               [Narration]

                I guess some

                stories, are just

                too painful to tell.

               

[Much later on, Kazuki crouches and breathes heavily after a hard day of training.]

      Kazuki - Ngh...!

               ...I guess i better

               head back.

[At night, Kazuki comes back to Mira's cabin. He looks over to his side and sits on a large tree stump. He crosses his legs together, deeply and slowly inhales then exhales and starts to meditate.]

      Kazuki - [Narration]

                Everyday...

                After i finish

                training...

               [Narration]

                I always try to find

                a little time to

                meditate.

               [Narration]

                Concentrate my

                thoughts on the one

                thing that i'm

                aiming for.

               [Thoughts]

                Focus...

               [Thoughts]

                Focus...

[Kazuki gets a quick, painful flashback of his family's death.]

      Kazuki - Ngh!

14.

               [Thoughts]

                Focus...

[Kazuki gets another painful flashback of his family's death.]

      Kazuki - Kuh...!

               [Thoughts]

                Focus...!

[Kazuki has one last painful flashback of his family's death, making him jolt up and begin to breathe heavily.]

      Kazuki - ...Maybe that's

               enough training for

               today.

[Kazuki gets up and heads into Mira's cabin.]

[In Mira's cabin, Kazuki gently closes the entrance door.]

        Kaya - Welcome back, Kazuki.

      Kazuki - Oh?

[Kazuki turns around and finds Kaya and Mira kneeling down at a table, drinking tea.]

      Kazuki - Kaya...

[Kazuki smiles. He then walks over to Kaya and Mira and kneels at the table with them.]

        Kaya - How was training?

      Kazuki - Fine.

               Or it would've been

               if Sensei didn't

               secretly ditch me

               mid-training.

        Kaya - Eh!

        Mira - I didn't secretly

               ditch you.

               I just left.

      Kazuki - Umm, i don't really

               see the difference.

               And why did you leave

               anyway?!

15.

        Kaya - Was there some

               important matter you

               needed to attend to?

        Mira - ...I was hungry.

      Kazuki - So blunt!

        Kaya - So blunt!

        Mira - What, i get hungry

               too you know!

      Kazuki - Umm, r-right.

[Kaya pours some tea in a cup for Kazuki.]

      Kazuki - So, what have you two

               been up to anyway?

        Kaya - Nothing much.

               Mira and i have just

               been chatting.

        Mira - Mhm.

      Kazuki - Chatting?

        Kaya - You sound a little

               surprised.

               We ARE girls.

               So it's only natural

               we get along.

               Besides, you're not

               the only one Mira's

               been teaching things

               you know.

        Mira - Mhm.

      Kazuki - Oh...

               R-Right.

               Oh!

[Kazuki notices a bandaged cut on Kaya's arm.]

      Kazuki - Kaya, your arm!

16.

        Kaya - Oh?

               Oh, this?

               Ahaha.

               I...might've

               accidentally cut

               myself with a knife

               earlier.

               B-But don't worry!

               I'll learn from the

               pain and be more

               careful next time.

[Kazuki holds Kaya's arm pulls her closer to him.]

        Kaya - H-Hey!

      Kazuki - Stay still, will

               you?!

[Kazuki gently places his palm on Kaya's injury and slowly inhales and exhales. The strange, purple, glowing patterns appear around his hand and spread to Kaya's arm.]

        Mira - Ah!

        Kaya - Oh...

[After a while, the patterns slowly disappear from Kazuki's hand and Kaya's arm.]

      Kazuki - Does it still hurt?

        Kaya - Only a little now.

               Thanks, Kazuki.

[Kazuki smiles.]

        Mira - You really ARE full

               of surprises, aren't

               you?

      Kazuki - Oh?

        Mira - I never thought i'd

               see someone else in

               this era capable of

               performing Magecraft

               like that.

      Kazuki - Magecraft?

        Mira - Oh!

17.

               You really don't even

               know what that is?

      Kazuki - Well, not on a

               professional level.

[Mira sighs.]

        Mira - ...Baka.

      Kazuki - Hah!

        Mira - Well, i guess it

               can't be helped.

               It IS a bit of

               a long story, so

               let's leave it for

               another time.

      Kazuki - Hai...

[Kazuki gets up and clears the table.]

        Mira - So what's for dinner?

      Kazuki - What the...?!

        Kaya - Come to think of it,

               i'm kinda hungry too.

      Kazuki - Wha-

               O-Oi!

               Didn't you two just

               eat a few minutes

               ago?!

        Mira - Well, we're hungry

               again.

        Kaya - Jeez, Kazuki.

               You're really gonna

               deprive two

               beautiful, innocent

               girls of food?

      Kazuki - Heh?

        Mira - How cruel.

      Kazuki - Heh?!

18.

        Kaya - You know Kazuki, you

               really ought to start

               pulling your weight

               around here if you're

               ever gonna be a true

               man.

        Mira - I agree.

[Kaya and Mira nod to eachother.]

        Mira - Mhm.

        Kaya - Mhm.

        Mira - Mhm.

        Kaya - Mhm.

      Kazuki - Ah...

               Why are you two so

               much in sync?

        Kaya - C'mon Kazuki, me

               hungry!

      Kazuki - Ugh...

        Mira - Besides...

      Kazuki - Oh?

[Mira softly smiles.]

        Mira - I like your cooking.

      Kazuki - Oh!

[Kazuki blushes.]

        Kaya - [Whispers]

                ...Oi Mira, he's

                blushing again,

                isn't he?

      Kazuki - Kaya!

        Kaya - Sorry, sorry.

[Kazuki sighs.]

      Kazuki - [Thoughts]

                These two are all

                but innocent.

19.

               Fine, what do you two

               wanna eat?

        Mira - Yahoo! Ahahaha...

        Kaya - Yahoo! Ahahaha...

        Mira - In that case, since

               you're feeling so

               generous, let's have

               Yakitori.

        Kaya - Ooh!

               Or how about Sashimi?

        Mira - Or maybe Onigiri.

        Kaya - Tempura Udon would be

               nice.

        Mira - Let's just eat them

               all.

        Kaya - That's genius!

[Mira and Kaya continue to happily decide, making Kazuki smile.]

[7 months later, a well-built Kazuki trains with a Katana in the forest.]

      Kazuki - Harghhh!

               Hahh!

[Kazuki practices his sword swings, parrying and slicing multiple traps, shot and thrown at him.]

      Kazuki - Hgh! Hrgh!

               Ngh! Hahh!

               [Narration]

                It's been exactly a

                year now since my

                training with Sensei

                started.

               [Narration]

                Now with a sword in

                my hands, i train to

                near death on a

                daily basis.

[Kazuki runs through the forest with a scabbarded Katana in his hand and maneuvers his way through several obstacles.]

20.

      Kazuki - [Narration]

                At first, the

                feeling of

                constantly carrying 

                a sword around

                severely hindered my

                overall movements.

[Kazuki runs and tries to maneuver his way through several vines hanging from the trees but his katana gets caught in them.]

      Kazuki - [Narration]

                Ah! Wahhh!

[Kazuki tries to free himself but ends up getting horribly tangled in the vines.]

      Kazuki - [Narration]

                Despite Sensei's

                wisdom, she wasn't

                much of any help

                when these kind of

                things happened.

[Mira runs and tries to untangle Kazuki but ends up horribly tangling herself with him.]

      Kazuki - [Narration]

                However, after a

                while, Sensei WAS

                able to help me

                correct all the

                flaws in my

                movements, making it

                easier to maneuver

                my way around any

                obstacle while

                holding a sword.

               ...Nine hundred and

               ninety!

[Kazuki does one-handed push ups with Kaya and Mira sitting on his back.]

      Kazuki - Kuh...!

               Nine hundred and

               ninety one!

               Nine hundred and

               ninety two!

21.

        Kaya - You can do it,

               Kazuki!

               I believe in you!

               Don't give up!

               Don't give up!

               Boom! Boom!

      Kazuki - Kuh...!

               [Thoughts]

                Sensei's a little

                too heavy if you ask

                me?!

        Kaya - Just one more,

               Kazuki!

               Just one more!

      Kazuki - Kuh!

               Harghhh...!!!

               One thousaaand!

[Kazuki falls to the ground in fatigue.]

      Kazuki - Ughhh...

        Kaya - Ahh!

               Kazuki!

               Stay with me, Kazuki!

               Stay with me!

      Kazuki - Kill me.

               Just kill me, Kaya.

        Mira - Oi.

               I never told you to

               stop.

               Get up.

[Mira Karate chops Kazuki's head.]

      Kazuki - Ugh...

[Much later on, Kazuki and Mira stand and face eachother while Kaya sits on a boulder, eating a rice ball.]

      Kazuki - [Narration]

                This one of the most

                difficult parts of

                my training.

22.

               [Narration]

                Normally, Xeno

                Hunters mainly use

                swords in battling

                Xenos.

               [Narration]

                However, it's

                essential for all

                Xeno Hunters to know

                how to defend

                themselves without a

                sword, should the

                need ever arise.

               [Narration]

                Which is why Sensei

                is also training me

                in the arts of

                hand-to-hand combat.

               [Narration]

                Apparently, Sensei

                created her own

                form of martial

                arts.

                A fighting she calls

                the "GURASSIGAMA",

                which involves moves

                that are mainly

                based on deflection,

                submission and

                grappling.

                As well as straight

                up striking attacks.

               [Narration]

                However, the thing

                with the GURASSIGAMA

                is that it 

                specializes in

                nearly all striking

                attacks being

                performed using the

                legs while still

                maintaining balance

                when subduing your

                opponent.

               [Narration]

                Which makes it a

                whole lot more

                difficult.

23.

[Mira takes a fighting stance.]

        Mira - ...Come at me.

[Kazuki takes his fighting stance but suddenly finds himself being flipped.]

      Kazuki - Eh?

               Gahh!

[Kazuki gets slammed to the ground by Mira.]

      Kazuki - Ngh...!

               [Narration]

                Sometimes i forget

                just how strong and

                fast really Sensei

                is.

               Damn it!

               [Narration]

                It really pisses me

                off the way she ends

                our fights using

                zero effort, though.

               [Narration]

                Sometimes, i think i

                really do wanna kill

                her.

[Kazuki gets up and charges at Mira.]

      Kazuki - Ahhh...!

[Kazuki throws several, powerful punches at Mira but she easily deflects them.]

      Kazuki - Ngh!

               Hrgh! Hargh!

        Mira - Hgh!

[Mira throws a rapid blow at Kazuki but he flips backward and dodges it.]

      Kazuki - Ngh!

[Kazuki does a hand stand and spins in different directions, using his legs to deliver several, powerful kicks to Mira.]

24.

      Kazuki - Ngh!

               Hrgh! Urgh!

               Hahh!

[Mira effortlessly deflects and dodges all of Kazuki's attacks.]

      Kazuki - Kuh!

               Harghhh!

[Kazuki delivers a devastating kick to Mira but she easily grabs his leg before it hits her.]

      Kazuki - Eh?

[Mira punches Kazuki and sends him flying high up into the air.]

      Kazuki - Yahhh...!

[After a long while, Kazuki falls back to the ground next to Mira, sitting down and drinking a cup tea.]

      Kazuki - Urgh!

        Mira - Hmm?

[At night, Kazuki and Mira return to the cabin.]

      Kazuki - Ugh...

        Mira - Quit moaning already.

               It's making me

               uncomfortable.

      Kazuki - It's your fault for

               not knowing a thing

               about restraint!

        Mira - "Restraint"?

               Do you really think i

               haven't been holding

               back against you all

               this time?

      Kazuki - Heh?!

               Wait, you're telling

               me you've been

               holding back?!

25.

        Mira - Well, of course i've

               been holding back.

               I mean, if i didn't,

               you would've been

               dead a long time ago.

      Kazuki - I don't think that's

               something you should

               be telling your

               student.

        Mira - Ahahahahahahaha.

               Fine.

               Then i'll leave you

               with this.

[Mira lifts up her index finger.]

        Mira - Lesson one, Kiboi.

      Kazuki - Oh?

        Mira - Your biggest problem

               is that you've been

               focusing too much on

               building your muscles

               and strength and not

               enough on

               Strengthening the

               force you generate

               with each strike.

      Kazuki - I'm not quite sure i

               follow.

        Mira - Striking speed,

               Kiboi.

               In simple terms, what

               you lack...is

               acceleration.

      Kazuki - "Acceleration"?

        Mira - Tell me, Kiboi.

               How exactly is force

               determined?

      Kazuki - Force?

               Ah!

               By multiplying a

               moving mass by it's

               acceleration.

26.

        Mira - Correct.

[Mira clenches her fist and throws a light punch at Kazuki.]

        Mira - Imagine if a person

               with a muscle mass

You are reading story XENO HUNTER: BLOOD OF FATE at novel35.com

               of EIGHTY kilogrammes

               threw a punch at an

               accelerating speed of

               about TWENTY metres

               per second.

               How much force do you

               think that person

               would generate?

      Kazuki - About one thousand,

               six hundred newtons

               of force.

        Mira - Exactly.

               Now imagine if a

               person with a muscle

               mass of only FIFTY

               kilogrammes threw a

               punch at an

               accelerating speed of

               about SIXTY meters

               per second.

               How much force do you

               think THAT person

               would generate?

      Kazuki - That would be...

               Ah!

               Three thousand

               newtons of force!

[Mira smiles.]

        Mira - Do you follow NOW?

               Muscles ARE useful,

               but too much of it

               CAN be a hindrance

               from time to time.

27.

               Right now, i'd say

               your body still has

               room to put on a few

               more pounds.

               But while you're

               doing that, try to

               also focus on

               increasing the amount

               of force you're

               capable of generating

               when you strike.

               That'll give you a

               way bigger edge over

               any opponent multiple

               times your own size

               and strength.

      Kazuki - That sounds easier

               said than done.

[Mira smiles.]

        Mira - Everything is easier

               said than done.

[Kazuki's expression becomes concerned. Mira then roughly pats his back.]

      Kazuki - Gah!

               

        Mira - Don't worry, Kiboi.

      Kazuki - Oh?

        Mira - I know that Soon

               enough, you'll be way

               stronger than i could

               ever be.

      Kazuki - Ah!

               Really?!

        Mira - No.

[Mira shatters Kazuki's hopes.]

        Mira - C'mon, lets go

               inside.

      Kazuki - H-Hai...

[Kazuki and Mira head into the cabin.]

28.

      Kazuki - We're back, Kaya!

               Oh!

[Kazuki and Mira find Kaya sleeping on a futon. Mira smiles.]

        Mira - She probably tried to

               stay up all night.

[Kazuki smiles.]

      Kazuki - ...I should take her

               inside.

        Mira - I think that would be

               best.

               Be sure to clean

               yourself up after

               you're done.

      Kazuki - Right.

[Kazuki carries Kaya into a small bedroom and lays her down on a bed. He then smiles and gently strokes her cheek.]

      Kazuki - Good night, Kaya.

               Sleep well.

               From now on, i'll

               work even harder...

               So i can always be

               there to protect you.

               I promise.

[Kazuki goes to his room and begins to take off his dirty clothes. His expression becomes concerned.]

            [FLASHBACK]

      Mother - [Thoughts]

                Hiroto, Teruko,

                me...

               [Thoughts]

                Our deaths were

                inevitable.

                There was nothing

                you could've done.

         [END OF FLASHBACK]

29.

      Kazuki - ...How did she know?

[Kazuki looks over at his father's white cloth on his futon for a while. He then puts on a towel and leaves the room.]

[In a small corridor, Kazuki walks to the bathroom to take a bath. He sighs in exhaustion.]

      Kazuki - Man, i'm tired.

               Guess it just means i

               worked up a good

               sweat today.

               Well, nothing better

               than a hot bath after

               a good workout, i

               guess.

[Kazuki opens the bathroom door and heads inside.]

      Kazuki - Ah!

[Kazuki accidentally walks in on Mira towel-drying her hair.]

        Mira - Hmm?

      Kazuki - Ah...

[Kazuki looks down and notices Mira only wearing a dark blue bra and panties as well as her blindfold.]

        Mira - Hmm?

      Kazuki - Heh...?

[Kazuki blushes and becomes flustered.]

      Kazuki - S-S-S-S-Sens...sei...

        Mira - Kiboi?

      Kazuki - Uhh, i, umm...

[Kazuki tries to step backwards but trips.]

      Kazuki - Wahh!

        Mira - Kiboi, look out!

[Mira quickly grabs Kazuki's hand to stop him from falling but he accidentally pulls her down with him.]

30.

      Kazuki - Wahhh!

        Mira - Wahhh!

[Kazuki and Mira fall and slam the ground.]

      Kazuki - Ugh...

        Mira - Ugh...

               Kiboi, are you

               alright?

      Kazuki - Ahh, i...think so.

               What about you-

               Deh!

[Kazuki realizes that face is dangerously close to Mira's large, bust.]

        Mira - Oh!

      Kazuki - F-F...

[Kazuki quickly gets up and runs out of the bathroom.]

      Kazuki - Forgive me,

               Senseeei...!

        Mira - ...Oh...

[Mira gets up and walks over to a large mirror. She stands and stares at her highly voluptuous figure, making her blush and begin to look self-conscious.]

        Mira - Mmm...

[The next day, early in the morning outside Mira's cabin, Mira inspects Kazuki practicing his sword swings.]

        Mira - Your swings are a

               little stiff.

[Mira walks over to Kazuki.]

        Mira - Try relaxing your

               shoulders a little.

[Mira places her hand on Kazuki's shoulders.]

        Mira - Like this.

      Kazuki - Ah!

31.

[Mira gently massages Kazuki's shoulders and eases them up, making Kazuki blush.]

        Mira - There.

      Kazuki - Th-Thank you, Sensei.

        Mira - Umm, hey, Kazuki.

               About last night...

      Kazuki - Heh?!

               I-I really am sorry

               about what happened!

               I'll accept any

               punishment-

        Mira - N-No!

               I-It's okay, really!

               I just...

               Well i...

               Umm...

[Mira begins to blush.]

      Kazuki - Oh...

               Sensei?

[Mira smiles.]

        Mira - Forget it.

      Kazuki - H-Hai...

[Mira's smile widens.]

        Mira - I'm impressed by how

               much effort you've

               put into your

               training.

               You've come a long

               way.

               But there ARE a few

               more steps left for

               you to climb before

               you're ready.

      Kazuki - Ready for what?

32.

        Mira - ...To learn one of

               the most crucial

               parts of becoming a

               Xeno Hunter.

      Kazuki - Oh!

        Mira - Think you can do it?

[Kazuki smiles.]

      Kazuki - Hai!

[After an, epic training montage, Kazuki and Mira stand in the forest while Kaya sits and sways her legs back and forth on a tree stump.]

      Kazuki - [Narration]

                Today, Sensei

                introduced me to one

                of the most crucial

                parts of becoming a

                Xeno Hunter.

               [Narration]

                A part that i never

                knew of.

               Kinetic...Arts?

        Mira - Yes.

               The Xeno Hunters

               utilize a sacred

               sword fighting

               technique known as

               the Kinetic Arts.

               It basically helps

               increase their

               overall physical and

               mental abilities when

               battling a Xeno.

      Kazuki - Ah!

               Really?!

[Mira points her index and middle finger to her blindfolded eyes.]

        Mira - See, the Kinetic Arts

               is a special psychic

               technique.

33.

               It was first derived

               from the ancient

               Shinto religion

               practiced in the

               early eras of Japan.

               When you use the

               Kinetic Arts, your

               heart beat

               drastically speeds

               up.

               But at the same time,

               your entire body and

               mind goes into a

               complete Zen state.

               Because of this Zen

               state, your brain and

               heart release two

               special serums

               into your

               bloodstream.

               When these two

               serums merge

               together, they form a

               catalyst which seeps

               into your muscle

               fibres, causing them

               to densify.

               This gives you enough

               strength, speed and

               stamina to hold your

               own against any Xeno

               you encounter.

      Kazuki - Wow!

               [Narration]

                Sensei really speaks

                in such a strange,

                captivating way.

               [Narration]

                She always makes

                everything so easy

                to understand.

        Mira - By the way, Kiboi...

      Kazuki - Oh?

34.

        Mira - The powers of the

               Kinetic Arts are

               mainly based on the

               elements of nature.

      Kazuki - Elements?

        Mira - ...Water...

               Earth...

               Fire...

               Thunder...

               The appearance AND

               mode of performance

               of the Kinetic Arts

               greatly follows these

               certain elements.

               However, some Kinetic

               Arts HAVE been

               created as branches

               derived from other

               Kinetic Arts.

               Some even bearing no

               relation to natural

               elements, what so

               ever.

               By utilizing the

               Kinetic Arts

               technique, the user

               is validly capable of

               manifesting a

               physical, psychic

               projection of their

               own fighting spirit,

               using their swords.

               This makes their

               slashes more powerful

               and precise, thereby

               more effective.

      Kazuki - I see.

        Mira - The Kinetic Arts i'll

               be teaching you isn't

               a branch, but a

               highly augmented

               version of the Water

               Kinetic Arts.

35.

               My own personal

               creation.

      Kazuki - Ah!

               Woah!

               Really?

               What's it called?!

[Mira smiles.]

        Mira - You should already

               know that by now.

               It's called...

               The Moon Kinetic

               Arts.

[At the top of a huge waterfall, Mira, Kazuki and Kaya stand together.]

        Mira - Every Kinetic Arts

               has a specific number

               of styles that can be

               performed.

               Some styles are more

               powerful than others,

               but in the end, they

               all serve for

               different uses,

               having their own

               benefits, as well as

               drawbacks.

               The Moon Kinetic Arts

               has a total of nine

               styles, and you'll be

               learning each and

               every single one of

               them.

               The human heart beats

               at a normal resting

               rate of about sixty

               seven beats per

               minute.

               To use the Kinetic

               Arts, your heart has

               to reach a rate of at

               least seven hundred

               beats per minute.

36.

      Kazuki - What?!

               That's impossible!

               W-What if can't?!

        Mira - ...Let's begins.

[Kaya places her hand on Kazuki's shoulder to reassure him.]

        Mira - Now...

               Draw your blade.

[Kazuki slowly unscabbards his katana and holds it upright.]

        Mira - Breathe...

               Focus...

               Clear your mind of

               Unnecessary thoughts.

[Kazuki slowly inhales then exhales. As he focuses, suddenly, his heart nearly bursts.]

      Kazuki - Gah!

[Kazuki drops his sword and falls to his knees.]

      Kazuki - Agh...!

        Kaya - Kazuki!

[Kazuki violently coughs and gasps for air as blood pours out of his mouth and seeps out of his eyes through his blindfold.]

        Kaya - Kazuki!

               Kazuki, are you

               alright?!

[Kaya gently holds Kazuki and supports him from falling.]

        Mira - Pathetic.

      Kazuki - Oh!

        Kaya - Oh!

        Mira - ...How could i have

               wasted my time with

               someone so pathetic?!

      Kazuki - Ah!

37.

        Kaya - Tsk!

               What did you just

               say?

        Mira - It's just as i

               suspected...

[Mira walks over to Kazuki and Kaya.]

        Mira - I specifically told

               you that your body,

               mind AND spirit were

               all equally involved

               in performing the

               Kinetic Arts.

               But you didn't

               listen, did you?

               You failed to realize

               that memorizing the

               concept of the

               Kinetic Arts is

               completely different

               from actually being

               able to perform it.

               Admittedly, your

               mental capabilities

               DID grow undisputably

               massive over the

               course of your

               training...

               But your body and

               spirit still have

               absolutely no idea on

               what their supposed

               to do.

      Kazuki - Kuh!

        Mira - ...Just what the hell

               have you been doing

               all this while?!

               I'LL tell you!

               You've done nothing

               but wasted my time!

38.

        Kaya - Kuh!

               Back off, Mira!

               Kazuki's been doing

               nothing but working

               himself to death for

               a whole year all

               because of YOUR

               training!

[Kaya stands up.]

        Kaya - Despite the horrible

               harshness and

               coldness you showed

               towards him, he still

               followed YOUR

               teachings to the core

               without question!

               Is this what he

               deserves after

               everything he's been

               through?!

        Mira - "Everything He's Been

               Through"?

               Ahahahahahahahahahaha

               hahahahahahaha!

               You two really think

               you're special, don't

               you?

               Alright...

               Let me tell YOU

               something, Kaya...

               For millennia,

               hundreds of millions

               of people of this

               vast country have

               been through the

               exact same thing you

               have and even worse.

        Kaya - Oh!

        Mira - Don't think your

               different just

               because you survived!

               All you are is just

               another victim who

               joined the fray!

39.

        Kaya - Ah

        Mira - ...I won't lie to

               you, Kiboi...

      Kazuki - Oh!

        Mira - Performing the

               Kinetic Arts is no

               easy feat.

               A significantly high

               amount of people HAVE

               died from trying to

               learn it time and

               time again.

      Kazuki - Ah!

        Kaya - What?!

        Mira - Sometimes, your heart

               Could end up blowing

               right out of your own

               chest.

               Other times, your

               brain could melt away

               and liquify itself

               under pressure.

               ...I'll say what i

               said before...

               Training to become a

               Xeno Hunter was YOUR

               choice to make.

               Not mine.

               But i can only train

               you if you're truly

               willing to commit.

               So tell me, Kiboi...

               What will it be?

[Kazuki ponders for a while. He then picks up his sword and stands back up.]

      Kazuki - Ngh!

               I won't back down!

40.

        Mira - Oh!

      Kazuki - Not now!

               Not when i've gotten

               this far!

               For Kaya's sake...

               And for the sake of

               every innocent person

               out there...

               I won't back down!

        Kaya - Oh...

[Kazuki wields his blade. Mira's head droops and her expression saddens.]

      Kazuki - [Thoughts]

                Father...

               [Thoughts]

                Mother...

[Kazuki's heart begins to beat faster and faster.]

      Kazuki - [Thoughts]

                Hiroto...

               [Thoughts]

                Teruko...

[Kazuki strengthens his grip around his sword hilt.]

      Kazuki - Give me strength!

________________________________________________________________________

[In the forest, Kazuki falls to the ground and catches his breath. His entire lower arms are covered in numerous scars from his training.]

      Kazuki - [Narration]

                It's been three

                whole years since my

                Sensei first

                started.

               [Narration]

                After three whole

                years...

41.

               [Narration]

                Finally...

               [Narration]

                I had done it...

               [Narration]

                I learned the

                Kinetic Arts.

               Ugh!

        Kaya - Kazuki!

[Kaya runs over to Kazuki and helps him stand. As she supports him, Mira walks over to them.]

      Kazuki - [Narration]

                ...It was there and

                then that Sensei

                said to me...

        Mira - There are two more

               things you need to

               do.

               Follow me.

[Kazuki picks up his katana and holds Kaya's hand. Together, they follow Mira deeper into the forest heavily covered in fog. Mira then stops.]

        Mira - Kiboi...

               This is the time to

               decide whether you're

               truly ready for this

               or not.

               If you choose to go

               further...

               There's no turning

               back.

[Kazuki's head droops in self doubt. Kaya gently holds Kazuki's hand.]

      Kazuki - Oh!

[Kaya smiles.]

        Kaya - It's okay, Kazuki.

42.

               It's okay to say no.

      Kazuki - Ah!

        Kaya - There's no shame in

               knowing when to give

               up.

               Knowing your own

               limits and accepting

               them is truly what

               makes you brave.

               So, whatever your

               decision is...

               In these eyes...

               No brother could ever

               compare to you.

      Kazuki - Kaya...

        Kaya - You've been working

               so hard and giving

               everything your all

               since the beginning.

               Saying no once

               wouldn't hurt you,

               would it.

[Kazuki smiles.]

      Kazuki - I guess not.

               But it would hurt

               you.

        Kaya - Oh!

      Kazuki - In more ways than you

               know.

               Thank you, Kaya.

        Kaya - Oh...

[Kaya smiles.]

        Kaya - Right!

[Kazuki turns to Mira.]

43.

      Kazuki - I'm ready, Sensei.

[Mira's expression saddens.]

        Mira - Very well.

      Kazuki - Oh!

        Mira - ...Every five years,

               an entrance exam is

               held in the Sumiwaru

               Forest far from here.

               It's meant to recruit

               new members into the

               Xeno Hunter Corps.

               If you can pass my

               final test, you'll be

               eligible to

               participate in the

               entrance exam.

      Kazuki - So, what's the final

               test?

        Mira - ...Right now, we're

               standing in a very

               sacred part of this

               forest.

      Kazuki - Ah!

        Mira - Soon enough, it'll

               grant you a

               challenge: A barrier.

               What you have to do

               is break that barrier

               before the sun rises.

               Right now, it's still

               dark.

               But i'm not sure how

               much time you have

               left.

        Kaya - What happens if he

               doesn't break the

               barrier before sun

               rise?

44.

        Mira - ...Supposing he

               doesn't die before

               then, he would lose

               his way out of the

               forest, being trapped

               in this fog for life.

        Kaya - Ah...!

               What?!

               You're just saying

               this now?!

               How could you let

               him-

      Kazuki - Kaya!

        Kaya - Ah!

      Kazuki - I said i'd do it,

               didn't i?

[Kaya expression greatly saddens. Kazuki then smiles and pets her head.]

      Kazuki - ...I have one

               question before i

               start.

               What did you mean

               when you said

               "Supposing I Don't

               Die Before Then"?

        Mira - The barrier you'll

               face will only be

               based on what YOUR

               mind projects.

               If it's a burden you

               carry that keeps

               weighing you down,

               it'll manifest itself

               into an entity with

               the sole aim of

               ending your life.

      Kazuki - Ah!

               I see.

[Kazuki turns around and walks alone, deeper into the forest to face his barrier.]

45.

        Kaya - We'll be waiting

               right here for you

               when you get out!

               So be careful, okay?!

        Mira - [Thoughts]

                Good luck.

               [Thoughts]

                Please be safe.

[Kazuki completely disappears into the thick fog.]

[In the heart of the forest, Kazuki stands, surrounding by thick fog. He slowly inhales then exhales.]

      Kazuki - I can do this.

[Suddenly, the thick fog increases and begins to slowly swirl everywhere.]

      Kazuki - [Thoughts]

                What the...?

      Mother - Kaaazukiii...

      Spirit

      Kazuki - Ah!

[Kazuki begins to breathe heavily and look around frantically.]

      Kazuki - [Thoughts]

                What was that?!

               [Thoughts]

                That voice...

               [Thoughts]

                Why did it sound so

                familiar?!

      Mother - Kaaazukiii...

      Spirit

               Kaaazukiii...

               Kaaazukiii...

      Kazuki - Kuh!

               Whoever you are, stop

               hiding and wasting my

               time!

46.

               Show yourself!

               Show yourself!

[Kazuki breathes heavily. He then unscabbards his blade and takes a fighting stance.]

      Kazuki - [Thoughts]

                ...Focus.

               [Thoughts]

                Focus...

               [Thoughts]

                Don't waver.

               [Thoughts]

                Remember what Sensei

                taught you.

[Kazuki gently touches the moon kanji on his blindfold.]

      Mother - Kaaazukiii...

      Spirit

               Kaaazukiii...

      Kazuki - Ngh!

[Kazuki watches and concentrates on a suspicious looking part of the fog.]

      Mother - Arhhhh...!

      Spirit

[A forest spirit rapidly leaps out of the fog and tries to kill Kazuki but he quickly deflects it with his sword.]

      Kazuki - Urk! Ngh!

[The forest spirit lands on the ground behind Kazuki. He then quickly turns around.]

      Kazuki - Ah!

[Kazuki slowly lowers his sword as tears flow down his cheeks from his blindfold. He sees a forest spirit, greatly resembling a hideous, mangled, deformed version of his own mother.]

      Mother - Ehehehe.

      Spirit Hehehe.

[Kazuki watches in horror as two more hideously, deformed spirits, resembling Hiroto and Teruko emerge from the fog.]

47.

      Mother - Kaaazukiii...

      Spirit

      Hiroto - You...not...save...

      Spirit us...

      Teruko - Only...save...your...

      Spirit self...

      Mother - Kaaazukiii...

      Spirit

      Hiroto - Hate...you...

      Teruko - Hate...you...

      Spirit

      Hiroto - Hate...you...

      Teruko - Hate...you...

      Spirit

[Kazuki stands lost in thought.]

      Kazuki - [Thoughts]

                How long has it been

                now?

               [Thoughts]

                Right.

               [Thoughts]

                It's been three

                whole years since

                they died, hasn't

                it?

               [Thoughts]

                It's funny how at

                first, i thought i

                lost everything.

               [Thoughts]

                I thought i was all

                alone.

               [Thoughts]

                But after we ran

                away that day...

               [Thoughts]

                I could feel a warm,

                soft hand holding

                mine.

48.

               [Thoughts]

                And when i looked...

               [Thoughts]

                I saw Kaya...

               [Thoughts]

                My little twin

                sister.

               [Thoughts]

                I saw the look on

                her face.

               [Thoughts]

                Even though she was

                badly hurt...

               [Thoughts]

                Even though her

                heart felt so much

                pain...

               [Thoughts]

                She only ever showed

                concern for others.

               [Thoughts]

                Never herself.

               [Thoughts]

                It was then i knew

                that i didn't lose

                everything.

               [Thoughts]

                I still had a

                beautiful treasure

                that i had to

                protect.

               [Thoughts]

                Three years is a lot

                of time.

               [Thoughts]

                Kaya and i HAVE

                grown a lot since

                then.

49.

               [Thoughts]

                If it were back

                then, i would've

                instantly been

                broken by those

                words.

               [Thoughts]

                But i'm not thesame

                person i was before.

               [Thoughts]

                I'm not a helpless

                kid anymore!

[Kazuki wipes the tears from his cheeks.]

      Kazuki - I...

[Kazuki lifts his katana and takes his stance.]

      Kazuki - Am a Samurai!

      Mother - Kuh...!

      Hiroto - Kuh...!

      Teruko - Kuh...!

      Spirit

      Kazuki - You're not my family!

               By befouling their

               beautiful faces,

               you've insulted the

               Kayne family name!

               For that...

               I'll end you all!

[The three forest spirits let out a horrifying shriek and rapidly charge at Kazuki. They try to kill him from all directions but he parries all their attacks with his sword.]

      Kazuki - Ngh! Hah!

               Urk! Kuh!

[The three spirits land on the ground and all merge together, forming a gigantic, hideous, womanlike creature.]

      Kazuki - Ah!

               Kuh!

[The gigantic spirit creature lets out a horrific shriek and charges at Kazuki.]

50.

      Kazuki - ...I've had enough.

[Kazuki takes a strange stance with his blade and focuses. He slowly inhales then exhales.]

      Kazuki - MOON KINETIC ARTS!

[Thick veins protrude from Kazuki's face and lower arms. His heart then begins to beat faster as the gigantic spirit creature closes in.]

      Kazuki - SIXTH STYLE!

[The gigantic spirit creature's stomach opens up a huge mouth, shrouded in numerous jagged teeth and tries to devour Kazuki.]

      Kazuki - BURSTING...

[Kazuki lifts his blade up in the air.]

      Kazuki - CRESCEEENTS...!!!

[Kazuki violently swings his sword down, unleashing a powerful, vertical, slash in the form of purple water containing smaller, exploding, yellow crescents, shrouding his blade.]

      Kazuki - Arghhhhh...!

[Kazuki's attack blows the gigantic spirit creature to pieces, ending it once and for all.]

                             THE END

           TO BE CONTINUED

                       

    

    

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