• 149 •

Background color
Font
Font size
Line height

Two more days passed, and the fighting tournament finally commenced. 

The crew was dressed to impress, their yukata and kimono came in various exotic designs along with geta, all standing out from one another.

Hana was dressed in a yukata with floral prints, its colour was ranging from blush at the top of the yukata before becoming pink towards the end of the yukata. Her obi had a matching colour with her blue eyes, and she wore the hair stick that Xue had bought for her long ago as her wavy, long red hair cascaded down to her waist. 

Meanwhile, Cecil was dressed in a yukata of circular prints with a criss-cross design that was only seen on the ends of her yukata. The top of her yukata was completely plain and white, with black lining the openings and ends of the yukata. Her obi matched the colour of her raven-coloured hair, and she did not wear a hair ornament unlike Hana. 

Kiyae was dressed in a yukata that had a short skirt instead of a long one. Its design was simply black and white, with the top of her yukata being white and the bottom being black. There were  diamond-shaped prints lining the sleeves. Her obi was completely black, and her skirt had brown lines that connected to the brown ribbon at the center of the skirt. 

She opted for a short skirt for her yukata, simply because it was easier for her to move around. 

Xue was dressed in a kimono instead, the outer layer had a splash of dark blue over it while the inner layer was completely white. The designs of the clothes were not as ostentatious as compared to the girls of the group, and his hairstyle remained the same, clean and partially swept to one side. 

K’xug had the same design as Xue, where there was an outer and inner layer. His outer layer was utterly black, and his inner layer was white. The sides of his clothes were lined with rectangle-like shapes imprints of the same colour of his copper-brown hair. 

K’xug’s hair had started to grow out, reaching until the ends of his neck, and he could not be bothered to keep a neat hairstyle. 

Whereas, Ryo and Haru had matching outfits with tousled hair. For Haru, his outer layer was red, while his inner layer was black with tiny floral imprints on his sleeves. On the other hand, Ryo had it the opposite, where his inner layer was red and his outer layer was black. 

Yun was the one who dressed simply out of them all, his yukata was a mixture of light blue and white with floral imprints and a red obi. His spectacles remained the same, and he kept his hair tied neatly into a ponytail. 

They stood in front of the coliseum, and everyone in the town was streaming into the coliseum, excited to watch the yearly fighting tournament. 

“Captain…” Kiyae sighed, glancing around. “Why is it that you are always asking us to dress like this whenever we are preparing for a big fight?” 

Haru grinned, huffing proudly. 

“If we are charging in head first, we should be dressed like we are ready for it!” 

Yun furrowed his eyebrows. “There’s no logic in that.” 

“Is there any logic in captain’s words?” Ryo muttered out, yawning as he ruffled his hair. “This clothes makes it hard for me to sleep in.” 

“Tch, what do you guys know?” Haru grumbled out. “Even men can dress nice too!” 

K’xug looked down at his clothes, marvelling in its design and texture. There were no such clothes available in the heavenly realm, and he was fascinated. 

The mortal realm has a lot to offer. 

I definitely prefer it down here. 

K’xug nodded to himself, and he met Hana’s eyes. 

Hana was gazing at him, a shy smile on her face and K’xug blinked rapidly at her, tilting his head. 

“K’xug, you look...great!” 

K’xug smiled slightly at Hana, gesturing to Hana. He shared the same sentiment towards Hana’s appearance as well. 

You look great yourself. 

Hana’s smile grew wider, and she giggled. 

“Hmmm,” Cecil glanced down, musing. “Can we even fight properly in this?” 

“Don’t worry, Cecil,” Kiyae laughed, giving her a side hug. “If there is one thing Haru considers in clothing, it’s how you can move around freely in it while fighting!” 

“Yes, exactly!” Haru nodded along. 

“That’s...a weird thing to consider,” Xue added on, before narrowing his eyes at Kiyae. “Take your hands off her.” 

“Hmph,” Kiyae embraced Cecil tightly, spitting her tongue out at Xue. “Don’t wanna.” 

Cecil smiled before she noticed something, sniffing at Kiyae’s clothes. “Kiyae, your perfume smells really nice. Where did you get it from?” 

“Eh? Perfume?” Hana popped her head out from behind K’xug, hopping over. “Oh, Cecil is right! It smells really good, where did you buy it from Kiyae! I want to get one too!” 

Kiyae grinned happily. “You appreciate perfumes too! See, I went shopping for some cute dolls and stumbled upon this stall…”

The ladies got into a discussion about perfumes quickly enough. 

“Yo, Xue!” Haru threw his arm around Xue’s shoulders. “When you go into the tournament, remember to take your time.” 

Xue only gave Haru a look, but did not make a move to throw Haru’s arm away. “...why?” 

“Tournament is all about enjoying the fights! Why do you want to rush into winning?” Haru grinned, gesturing animatedly. “Aren’t I right?” 

K’xug was beside Xue, overhearing Haru’s words and he nodded to himself. 

That sounds like what...a battle junkie would say. 

Speaking of battle junkies…

K’xug glanced towards Ryo who popped into the conversation with a gleam of excitement in his eyes. 

“The captain is right!” Ryo displayed his enthusiasm for once, which was rare. “The thrill of fighting a strong opponent is what a tournament is for!” 

Xue closed his eyes, his arms across his chest. “There are three people in my entire life I would consider as strong opponents.” 

“Oh, who is it?!” 

“Who who?!”

“One of them,” Xue pointed to K’xug beside him, and he narrowed his eyes after that. “And the other two…”

K’xug glanced at Xue, knowing the answer and he immediately ended the conversation abruptly by waving his hand in front of Xue. 

Everyone of them knew K’xug couldn’t speak now, not that he wanted to remain quiet the entire time. 

Xue looked at K’xug, and K’xug just raised his eyebrows at Xue, nudging his head at the coliseum. 

Ryo noticed K’xug’s movements and he looked down at the ground, contemplating. 

“I wonder if the opponents they meet in the tournament will be strong enough.” 

“...that’s right,” Haru laughed nervously, scratching his head. “These two fellas here are...abnormally strong.” 

After all, Xue and K’xug were not mortals at all. It was obvious how their strengths differed from others, Haru and Ryo had a fair share of getting beaten up in their sparring sessions against Xue and K’xug. 

“How much longer are you going to lean on me?” Xue made a face at Haru, shrugging Haru’s arm off his shoulder. “Get off.” 

“What are you supposed to be?” Haru guffawed, smacking his hand on Xue’s back. “The type to act cold to the people you like? Hahaha!” 

Xue stumbled forward from that smack that resounded loudly on his back, and he widened his eyes at Haru. 

K’xug looked at Haru, nodding in agreement. 

The Xue in the past was benevolent to everyone. 

Even if he is cold now, he is still benevolent to the people he favours on the inside.

“He does seem like one.” Ryo agreed as well. 

“Stop making assumptions of your own,” Xue glared at the three of them. “I never said I was that type.” 

“Ryo, Kiyae, captain, and the others,” Yun adjusted his glasses, looking at the coliseum. “It’s almost time.” 

Their conversations amongst themselves eventually died down, and they looked at the coliseum once again. The people streaming in were dying down. 

Haru looked at Yun, nodding his head as he cleared his throat. 

“Alright, everyone knows the plan!” Haru stretched his hand out.

“Yes, captain.” Kiyae laughed, putting her hand on top of Haru’s hand. 

“Aye, captain!” Ryo joined in, grinning.

Yun nodded quietly, joining in as well. 

At this point, the group of four looked towards Cecil and the others expectantly. They were clearly waiting for them to join in. 

Hana stepped forward first, throwing her hand in with a beam. “I’ll do my very, very best!” 

“For the children, and for Shin,” Cecil stated, placing her hand on top of theirs. “I’ll do my best as well.” 

K’xug looked at them huddled together, their hands joined together and he frowned. 

Are we really doing something cheesy like this? 

Hana giggled, reaching out and pulling K’xug in. “Come on, there’s nothing wrong with doing a cheer!” 

Xue was the last one, and just like K’xug, he did not look upon something like that. However, with everyone looking at him, especially Cecil, it was hard to say no. 

“...fine, I got it,” Xue sighed, joining in reluctantly as he placed his hand on top, looking to the side. “Just get on with it.” 

All eight of them joined their hands together, huddled in a circle as they smiled at one another. Well...everyone except Xue who looked to the side. 

“Alright, the eight of us!” Haru exclaimed with a wide grin. “Let’s charge in with a bang!” 

“...” 

“Why a bang?” 

“Captain, you are so lame.” 

“Like always.” 

“Bang!” Hana giggled, mimicking the way Haru said it. “Bang bang!” 

Cecil couldn’t help but laugh. 

K’xug smiled slightly to himself. 

Xue pressed his palm against his forehead, shaking his head.

“What’s wrong with my words?! Going in with a bang is not lame!”

“...ugh.”

“Let’s just get this over with…” 

“Three, two, one!” 

They threw their hands up into the air. 

***

S

hin sat on a stool, staring at the painting in front of him and all around him on the floor were portraits of the self-proclaimed pirate crew, including Cecil, Hana, K’xug and Xue. The sunlight streamed in via the opened wooden windows, shining down on the scattered portraits on the floor. 

It had only been two days, but the two days here in his tiny, quiet room with the only company being the sun and the moon...Shin missed the rowdiness of the party. 

The painting in front of him was a drawing of a particular raven-haired woman. In the drawing, she was offering her hand to aid the person, a gentle smile on her face as she bent down. This time, it wasn’t a rough sketch and a polished drawing, and anyone who saw this would be compelled to take the hand of the raven-haired woman. 

Shin sighed and he placed his paintbrush aside. 

He brought his legs up onto his chair, hugging his knees as he stared at the painting of Cecil Lan. 

“I knew it,” Shin whispered to himself, dispirited. “I shouldn’t have gone back to them.” 

Shin closed his eyes, hugging his knees closer towards him.

“I shouldn’t have...taken their hands.” 

Shin opened his eyes, and all of a sudden he was back in the alleyway, injured and Cecil was there, offering her hand to him. He breathed out slowly, closing his eyes once again, not taking her hand. 

I shouldn’t have taken her hand. 

...but now that I did, I realise what warmth is. 

Though, it is a warmth I may never be able to feel again. 

Shin opened her eyes, looking back at the painting and he exhaled shakily. 

“I miss them all.” 

The door to his room slid open, and the person that entered the room hollered out his name. 

“Oi, Shin, it’s time,” the person said, nudging his head. “You wanted to see the master, don’t you?” 

Shin lifted his head up, looking at the doorway. 

It was a rugged and brawny man with short, spiky carnelian red hair and he was carrying a greatsword over his shoulder with one muscular arm. The man was dressed in black, roguish-like clothes with a scarf around his neck, and the clothes certainly did not fit with the clothes in this continent. 

There was a scar that cut across his nose, and his eyes were fierce with a hint of cruelty in them. 

Shin only stared at the man without a word, not moving from his seat. 

“Ah, that’s right, you haven’t met me before,” the brawny man let out a sigh, using his other hand to scratch his head. “This is why I hate it when masters bring newcomers into the scene.” 

Shin tilted his head. “Who?” 

“The name’s Goro,” the brawny man responded. “Now hurry and follow me, the master hates it when people keep him waiting.” 

Shin placed his legs down, standing up from his seat as he grabbed his paintbrush and walked towards Goro. 

It was then Goro noticed how dirty Shin was, and clicked his tongue, shoving him back into the room. 

“Wait, you are too dirty,” Goro growled out. “Go and change, the master won’t talk to you like this.” 

“...” 

Shin looked down at himself, noticing the smudges of ink all over his clothes and face.

“Oi, get someone in here to help this kid!” 

Almost instantly, a few servants started flooding into the room, bringing Shin away. Shin did not put up a fight, since the only reason he ran away from the orphanage was to find the master. 

Finally. 

This is the last step I need to take. 

Shin ducked his head down, a shadow hung over his head as he allowed the servants to drag him to the bathing area. 

***

The four of them awaited for the staff of the coliseum to bring them into the venue. Cecil and Xue were in one team while K’xug and Hana were in another team, since the four of them decided going in pairs was good enough.

After all, Xue and K’xug together were enough to overpower almost the entire contestants in this tournament. 

However, they were still sticking together as one team in the tournament, which meant that they were in the same block.

The coliseum was gargantuan, the seating area could cater to thousands of audience and the arena was surrounded by a pool of water with no way across it. Of course, this wouldn’t pose a problem with those of the second form of water elemental powers. 

They were all led to the backstage, and the contestants were wandering  while chattering amongst themselves. The contestants wore a variety of clothes and some of them even wore armours. 

“Alright, the four of you…” the female staff smiled amiably at the four of them. “You will be in category B or block B.”

“What does that mean?” Hana questioned. 

“Hmmm, you’ll likely be the first to participate,” the staff member explained. “It always starts out with people from A fighting against B.” 

“How do we know which team we would be fighting against?” Cecil asked this time around. 

“That’s the charm about this tournament,” the staff member continued smiling with fake enthusiasm. “You will know nothing about your opponents!” 

Cecil recalled the discussion she had with Haru and the others, realising that Yun and Kiyae were right. 

We will know nothing about our opponents until we step onto the arena. 

Also, they also warned about how everything about the tournament would be changed instantly. Since the one in-charge of this tournament were the enemies of Haru and the others…

Cecil recalled the most important rule of this tournament was that they do not condone killing, and there were other rules. Hence, in order not to be disqualified, Cecil wanted to obey the rules carefully which led her to her next question. 

“What are the other rules of this tournament, other than not killing someone?” 

The staff member remained smiling, nodding. “There are no other rules, that is the only rule implemented.” 

Cecil gaped openly. 

Hana tilted her head. 

Xue and K’xug seemed like they had already expected this answer. 

“That’s...that’s all?” 

“Yes, that’s all.” 

It was then Cecil realised why there were some people who wore armours like no tomorrow, and carried around a dozen weapons that were literally hanging off their clothes. 

At that moment, the host of the tournament started to hype the audience up, his voice echoing throughout the coliseum. The staff member bowed towards Cecil and the group, informing them to prepare themselves to step onto the arena to show themselves to the audience. 

Even an introduction is needed? 

Cecil furrowed her eyebrows. 

What a showy tournament. 

“It seems like the heavenly realm isn’t the only realm that likes tournaments,” Xue mused out. “Even mortals enjoy them too.” 

K’xug nodded.

Hana placed her finger on her lips, pouting to herself as she made a troubled noise. 

The three of them looked at Hana, and Cecil waved her hand in front of Hana’s face. 

“Mmh?” Hana hummed, looking up. 

“What’s wrong, Hana?” 

“I’m...I’m worried.” 

“Worried?” 

“Am I…” Hana trailed off, still pouting. “Am I strong enough?” 

Xue sighed, a small helpless smile on his face. “Hana.” 

“Mmm?” 

“Have more confidence in yourself,” Xue stated. “We have seen you staying up training yourself with practicing with your element and your bow.” 

K’xug nodded, he could vouch for it since he guarded her from the shadows. 

“Xue is right, Hana,” Cecil smiled. “Besides, did you not want to become strong...to show someone you could be strong?” 

Hana perked up, nodding her head vigorously. “That’s right! I have practiced a lot--” 

All of a sudden, Hana felt a piercing pain in her head and she gasped, squeezing her eyes close as she clutched her head. 

“Hana?!” 

Hana shook her head, frowning to herself. “Uhm...it’s nothing--” 

Once again, the piercing pain came back and it amplified, causing Hana to scream out as she clutched her head. 

“Who...are...you?” Hana winced out, tears filling up her eyes. “I don’t…” 

Hana trailed off, her eyes closing and she collapsed without warning. 

K’xug caught her just in time, wearing a panicked look on his face. 

Xue and Cecil glanced at one another, an anxious and knowing look in their eyes. 

Hana’s memories, they are returning again. 

They looked back at Hana in K’xug’s arms, completely unconscious. 

***

Pt. 1

《 start 》

Hana Katae. 

Remember. 

You have to remember.

You cannot forget. 

You...have to repay for what you’ve done to them. 

To all of them. 

《 stop 》

***

Pt. 2

《 start 》

The other two I consider as strong opponents…

That is something that will never change about them. 

Whether they are my friends in the past.

...and whether they are my enemies now. 

Strong opponents. 

That’s what they will always be. 

《 stop 》

***

Author's Note: I think I spent almost half of the chapter describing their clothes. Please kill me, what have I done. It's not even beautiful descriptive writing, it is atrocious, what am I even

You are reading the story above: TeenFic.Net