New Dawn | Fighter in the Wind

[晶光 歩夢 Shoukou Ayumu]

I have to make it back… I did not anticipate such a long line at the marketplace booth… in addition by the time I entered the stalls to find out that my favorite booth ran out of chives…

Ayumu pulled out his golden pocketwatch, and with a click he flipped open the arabesque lid, and peered at the time. Among clockwork hands and adorned faces… 5:11 pm.

Knitted brows: Curfew is at 6:00 pm.

Ayumu continued sprinting down Main Street, making a left turn here, right turn there, pounding his feet against the cobblestone path. The streetlamps around flickered on as his sunset-tinted hair fluttered past his face, his eyes a stubborn blue, and his mouth downturned and slightly ajar.

He stopped suddenly to catch his breath, and glanced upward. In this particular part of the town, the streets twisted and turned upon itself. Although Cross Academy sat so high up on that hill forefront center, Ayumu noticed, quite to his dismay, that weaving in and out along public roads would take more than an hour. As he huffed and puffed, hands on his knees, and bent double with his eyes watering slightly and beads of sweat running down his temple. he tasted iron on the back of his throat… and looked off to the side. An alleyway, black and dark… so dark that one could barely see through to the other end.

Ayumu, however, already knew what lay on the other side. A straight path through to the Academy… With this shortcut I can easily cut down my travel time by walking only 40 minutes… Yet… It did not take an idiot to figure out that this dark tunnel is the source of many unsavory rumors: Some say that once you entered one of the town’s alleys, you never made it out alive…

He shook his head, still somewhat out of breath. He clutched nervously at his shirt, a futile effort to calm his nerves… It’s either this or I’m late… It’s most likely just a rumor adults make up to keep kids in sight. I’m not a kid, and I’m certainly not going to trip and give myself tetanus. Ayumu, against a protesting voice in his head, ran straight into the alley… Letting the darkness absorb him from daylight.

A few moments later his eyes adjusted, the pupils dilating to the new surroundings. Ayumu traced out the thin outlines of rubble on the ground, trash pails, brick and mortar walls…

He nervously chuckled inwardly. See, nothing else… Just keep running…

Ayumu sprinted down… for what felt like forever… soon, he saw a pinprick of light down the other end: That portal of red never seemed so welcoming. He ran, and almost gave a shout of joy. Almost.

His skin tingled eerily, and someone pounced right to the ground… right before him. Hair straggled dirty blonde shielded what seemed to be bloodred eyes –Ayumu could not make eye contact, and just as well. From behind the dirty curtains of hair one hears the slurp and drool and… maniacal laughter. Ayumu froze, his pupils pinpricks in his eyes, and his body frozen in cold, dank fear. FEAR.

The creature before swayed from side to side, but stopped suddenly. In an instant it flexed down and leapt up, falling toward Ayumu, its wrinkled skin pulling back the sockets of its eyes and fangs dripping saliva. In a reflexive motion Ayumu jumped backward, only to cut himself with scrap metal. Oh shit. He looked onward to see the deranged monster tilt its head back and cackle like a beast, a, “Kikikiki.” It stopped laughing, and just stuck its head up in the air…. before snapping its head forward. It stalked toward Ayumu, his hand stretched out before him.

As his heart struggled to leap from the ribcage Ayumu shook terrified on the ground… To his terror his mind would not work, and it refused to stay calm. It helped little that the threads keeping his sanity together, the chi pathways that were arranged to keep him in one piece… slowly rearranged themselves… And suddenly they fell apart. Pain and fear and darkness enveloped Ayumu as he recalled in full blown horror the torture exacted upon him by that vile pureblood… Ayumu whimpered as he relived the nightmare while watching helplessly another one unfold… in the form of a Level E vampire beast.

[Youhei, Nobunaga 信長 洋平]

Yu sat there on a nearby dumpster as he watched his student's encounter with the Level E, how long he had been there was the question, it seemed like a while judging from the way he casually made himself comfortable. His legs were crossed and he was flipping through pages in a folder; the folder in question contained a list of every single Day Class Student at Cross Academy, Yu's index finger ran over the over the name -- 晶光 歩夢 then slowly moved down towards a picture that went with the name. Ayumu-Kun, he repeated the name in his mind as he slammed the folder shut to look down at the young man who had been whimpering on the ground before the monster. Level E Vampires were the weakest of the group, considered the grunts; Yu had taken down numerous of these kinds of vampires so it always made him laugh a bit whenever he found someone being tormented by one. The boy, Ayumu, gave one show Yu would never forget, as he managed to jump backwards and cut himself, it was just priceless.

"Well, Well, Well." The hunter's voice echoed throughout the alley winning the attention of the boy as well as the vampire, normally Yu wouldn't subject to saving another male but there were two exceptions when it came to Ayumu. The first one, "Ayumu-Kun, I always thought you were a girl..." He muttered, and the second, "As your PE teacher, allow me to give you a special lesson today." The truth of the matter is, Yu always admired Ayumu, there was something deep within the boy which reminded the hunter of himself. To Yu's knowledge not so long ago Ayumu had a confrontation with a certain vampire at the academy, it ending with him getting injured or so Yu heard. That kind of experience probably created a seed deep within his young student, a seed of resentment towards vampires, perhaps there was even something else Ayumu desired after such an experience, the desire to become stronger.

"Ayumu-Kun," He spoke once more in a soft voice, "You got yourself into this mess, and you will get yourself out of it." Yu looked around for a weapon for his student to use.

Bingo.

Yu pulled out an old broomstick from the dumpster, after a bit of examination he simply tossed it over to Ayumu. "Now Ayumu, how do you expect to protect your fellow classmates if you can't even take care of some grunt?" Yu jumped back onto the dumpster making himself comfortable once more. "Do you want the same thing that happened to you to happen to your close friends? No, you want to get stronger." Yu looked down at his student with a look of passion in his eyes. "Ayumu do as I say and you will survive this ordeal only to reach one step closer to your goal." Yu spoke as his eyes moved to the Level E vampire who continued to swaying side to side. "Watch her opponent closely; for you must be able to read his movements through his habits, normally vampires have the tendency to do something before striking. Ayumu, you are a very intelligent individual, today use your brains to take down this opponent because you won't be doing much with the broomstick." Of course Yu who was wielding two pistols and a Katana would've given his student more of a upper hand, but where was the fun in that. If anything was to get out of hand, Yu would be there to protect Ayumu in two seconds flat.

Let's see how young Ayumu does...

"Oh and by the way, more are coming." He added with a grin.

[晶光 歩夢 Shoukou Ayumu]

To Ayumu’s extreme surprise there was already someone else in the alleyway. Furthermore, it was his teacher, Nobunaga-sensei…. His Physical Education Teacher?!

For a strange reason that Ayumu could not quite place a finger on, his teacher seemed much stronger than he lets on: He seemed to lounge on the dumpster more than sit on it… Yet how attentive his eyes were. Is his relaxed pose just a façade? Analyzing facial expressions: Assuredness and calm. Proposed success rate against opponent: 99.97%

Before Ayumu could let out a sigh of relief, his teacher stated, "Ayumu-Kun, I always thought you were a girl..." At this, Ayumu’s face blushed pink, forgetting his surroundings to berate Nobunaga animatedly with a fist. He stopped abruptly, however, when his teacher offered ‘to give him a special lesson.’

Ayumu listened on without turning his head back, reflecting in that brief moment, Reflection to string, "You got yourself into this mess, and you will get yourself out of it”: Either prompt is followed or possibly lose vital function. Reflection on string, “how… expect… protect… classmates if you can't… take care… grunt?”: Negative. I have no fellow classmates to protect. Reflection on string, “Do you want… close friends?...” Again, negative, I do not have ‘close friends’ to protect… Wait… I do have someone I don’t want to betray: my benefactor.

Ayumu looked down at the broomstick as he realized this, and listened on with intensified determination. Yes, I do need to get stronger.

He turned back toward the Level E, observing carefully: The swinging limbs, the slashing hair… "Oh and by the way, more are coming.

“Wha-?!” And suddenly the index finger on the Level E twitched as it lunged forward. Ayumu defensively swept up the broom against the dirt floor, straw slapping shrapnel and junk into the monster’s face, temporarily distracting it. Ayumu’s eyes were steely blue in the cover of approaching darkness, the adrenaline pumping like hydraulic pumps that powered the pipes in the ground below him. For now, he had forgotten how tired he was moments ago, how he panted outside the alleyway. Now, he was being reborn.

Estimated time until opponent’s recovery: 2.5 seconds. Analyzing broom shape: Undesirable drag on brushes. Eliminating. Ayumu stamped off the lower part of the former broomstick, the old threads unraveling easily from neglect, and the grey, moldy straw fluttering apart.

Ayumu looked up: The level E continued to sway, side to side, shifting its weight from one foot to another… However, it now moved faster. Ayumu held out his spear defensively, across his left shoulder and right hip with both hands. He watched the other’s left index finger closely…

It swung forward, as Ayumu tensed his muscles and further narrowed his eyes, bracing for impact with his whole body.

[Youhei, Nobunaga 信長 洋平]

This was indeed the most dangerous part of town; these alleyways are famously known by Hunters as a den of vampires. Around every corner, behind every dumpster, within the abandoned buildings that surrounded the alleyway. Vampires; red eyes that shined in the darkness indicating where they were lurking, and there was about a dozen pair of red pupils looking in their direction.

They were surrounded.

Yu noticed it, but it didn't really bother him much, and Ayumu's adrenaline was pumping so much from dealing with just one vampire that he was probably too busy fighting for his life to notice. However, Yu did give him a warning.

The hunter's narrowed eyes looked watched over his student. For someone who was just out of breath not too long ago, his student was doing fairly well, not to mention the fact he was using just a broom. To be honest, Yu didn't really think Ayumu had it in him to be able to compete with a vampire in the way he was at this moment. Yu applauded Ayumu but it didn't show in his actions as he showed a sign of un-interest by the way he kicked back on the dumpster with his arms folded behind his head. However he was paying close attention, with his experience fighting Level E's he could easily read their movements, he also had a better understanding on what their strengths and weaknesses are when facing one in combat.

There was a slight intermission as the vampire began swaying from side to side; it was beginning to grow impatient and Yu was becoming more interested as he slowly sat himself up on the dumpster. His eyes darted over to who removed the brush from the broomstick turning it into what looked like a spear in Yu's eyes; the way he held it. It was a bold move indeed, placing the 'spear' directly out in front of him and use his entire body and the speed the vampire was moving at to 'impale' it. However, even though he used his entire body, it wasn't enough for Ayumu didn't really weigh much and the Vampire was moving at a more incredible speed. The outcome would most likely be the broom being blown away from the impact causing Ayumu to lose his balance making him instant vampire food.

And that was a bad thing, mind you.

The snap of Yu's finger echoed throughout the alleyway, he wanted his student's attention towards him. In the background the vampire continued to rush towards Ayumu what would seem like a loud battle cry, as it neared a grin ran along Yu's face. "Ayumu," He spoke softly, despite the situation however he was very calm and collected. "Familiar with bull fights? When he is just about a foot away from you, sidestep and counter him from behind, you can do it." The hunter instructed his student with a bit of encouragement as he continued to watch.

[晶光 歩夢 Shoukou Ayumu]

The level E shifted slowly through time: Well, at least that's how it appeared to Ayumu. In his mind's eye the frames were slowed down enough to view the beast's advance in a series of frozen snapshots. The heat of the moment boosted his dynamic visual acuity.

Calculating odds of success Momentum is the product of mass and velocity Substitute weight and estimated time of impact over the distance 220 pounds by 22 mph approximately equals 960 kg-m/sec Own weight is 106, so I need to displace at a rate of at least 44 mph to survive impact in cranium, thoracic region, and knees. Success rate: 0.3% My chances aren't good 0.5 seconds until collision.


All the while as Ayumu thought this, his leg was torn and bleeding from the cut earlier, that irritant breeze ruffling though his hair of rouge tinge, and his eyes focused sharply. Unbeknownst to him now, his blood attracted the attention of many more Level E's. They crawled out of the shadows like wisps of midnight, forms indiscernible, but certainly there.

He heard something in the wind. Feedback gathered: Sidestep...counter...behind. As though in a shock Ayumu's mind went numb with confusion as he continued to stab forward while trying to make something of the phrase...

Luckily for him his body attacked automatically. His survival instincts kicked in violently, jerking him to the right even as he initially lunged forward out of fear. The spear clipped onto the Level E's chest, however, and stabbing pain like boiling water stormed out through the shoulder and down his arm. He crashed down to the ground, eyes watering in pain as he bit back on a whimper, right arm cradling his other one gently. He yanked down on his arm sleeve. To his quiet horror he saw a lump protrude forward, grotesquely, below the surface of his snow-white skin. I have dislocated my shoulder.

He laid there, his back against the rough, dirty ground. A brief moment in time when he looked up at the sky. A beautiful dark blue, clouds enveloping cremes of orange and pink. All beyond those dingy windows and scanty clotheslines..To get back home...

Not. Immediately a pair of crimson eyes and fiendish mouth, hair straggling and nails clawing... Leaping down from nowhere, slobbering fangs aimed right at Ayumu. Good bye. And he screwed his eyes shut.

...But he's not dead. Ayumu opened his eyes wide, one a time. The Level E remained suspended over him crumpled, lifeless eyes frozen, maw gaping like a dangerous cave. That rancid breath of rotten fish and molding bread engulfed Ayumu, as he stared in numbing shock up at the beast, drops of his blood pattering onto his throat. Numb... He looked down, and to his surprise saw his right arm gripped tightly onto his makeshift shaft, his knuckles pallid in exertion while blood flowed down his fingers.

It seems that I tilted the spear up right before he landed on it, right through his heart.... But since when? The adrenaline rush that pounded through Ayumu ebbed... and his hand relaxed, allowing the impaled monster to collide into cement....

He weakly sat up, and wiped off the sweat and blood on the brow with the back of his right hand, flicking the excess off into the side of the alleyway, only for the drops... to splatter onto an aging man's face. His eyes were wild with red, and his fangs were bared as he giggled maniacally, fangs protruding. Looking around, there were many more. Multitudes of them swarmed by, like rabid dogs hungry before an injured rabbit.

"Oh, and by the way, more are coming." Ayumu groaned out in exasperation, annoyed that the supposedly "responsible adult" sat there just for the show. He tried to summon his resolve, but his exhausted body wouldn't do that for him. His dislocated shoulder clawed at his sanity with torturous pain.

[Youhei, Nobunaga 信長 洋平]

Claps echoed through the alleyway as Yu jumped down from the dumpster and approached his student completely oblivious to their position at the matter. Despite sheer luck Ayumu was able to handle himself pretty well against a Level E, something that would've probably proved impossible for someone of his stature and thus his display motivated the hunter. In Yu's eyes Ayumu was a strong individual indeed. A grin ran along his face as he looked down on his student, passion burning in his eyes, as the edge of his lip curled he spoke down to Ayumu. "Not to shabby, I mean..." He paused catching a look at Ayumu's face, the boy was on the brick of passing out, and Yu was aware of the dislocated shoulder. "Perhaps now is not the time for criticism," To be honest, despite his carefree attitude deep down after seeing Ayumu go through so much he had second thoughts about allowing the poor boy to fight so soon, least he could've probably done was lend him a sword... Yu smacked himself mentally.

"Sorry, Ayumu. I'll make this right watch." He said unaware if the boy heard him or not. The vampires were beginning to close in on them, prowling and lurking. Yu slowly removed his Red Leather Jacket revealing two guns at the back of his waist and a Katana sheathed at his side. But for now, he wouldn't have use for any of them. Yu tossed the jacket on Ayumu's to shield his eyes. "Take it easy for now, Ayumu; I'm going to take care of our little problem." His voice soft yet his face showed firmness and his eyes which was at one point full of life became pitch black.

Yu placed his boot on the face of the impaled vampire before driving the 'spear' from the chest of the beat, blood shooting from the wound. "Arrrrghhhh!" He released a furious battle-cry which halted the vampire's advance which was only about a couple feet away from both Yu and Ayumu. Yu quickly turned around to face it, in an instant the 'spear' pierced through the stomach of the beast, but he didn't stop that as there were more behind, using his feet he continued to drive the impaled vampire into a small group piercing about another two, maybe three. He released the 'spear' taking a step back before kicking the butt of his weapon driving it further through the bodies he had pinned. Yu turned his head just in time to witness another group making their way towards his student, foolish move. Yu gave the weapon a tug withdrawing it, the weapon in question was stained with anything you could name, blood, guts, sweat, and tears. Yu snapped the broomstick in half tossing before tossing the dull end at one of the vampires in order to provoke them.

"GET AWAY FROM HIM!" He spat before charging at them, as one lunged he side stepped and continued his approach, once he reached the second one he quickly reached his head around it's back holding it still as he drove his weapon into it's stomach multiple times before grabbing it by a lock of hair in order to drive it's face into the cement, blood escaping it's mouth as it coughed. As for the last one, it attempted a swipe at his head but Yu managed to duck under the attack. He now had a clear view of all his enemies, a grin ran along his face.

"Ayumu, what is that? Five kills? Six?" He asked even though the boy probably wasn't able to answer. "I thought so too." He continued reaching around his back pulling out the pistol with the letter 'A' engraved into it; Angelo was used when dealing with multiple enemies, it doesn't pack a powerful punch like it's sibling but when used with the Katana, it served it's purpose. Yu reached around to his hand grasping the Katana by the handle, the blade sung as he left the sheath. Orochi, a katana which was said once belonging the 'Serpent King' then belonged to the 'Demon King', Nobunaga Oda who had slain Orochi. Yu was the last known relative of the so-called 'Demon King' and thus has the right to bear the Katana.

Without hesitation Yu quickly dashed at the remaining vampires, sparks from gun fire and sounds of blood gushing filled the air.

When it was all over Yu knelt down beside Ayumu. "Oy, you still alive over there?" He asked taking deep breaths in between words. "It's starting to get late, we need to head back now, keep your eyes covered." He stated as he crouched low with his back turned to Ayumu, he looked over his shoulder.

"If you can't walk, get on my back."

[晶光 歩夢 Shoukou Ayumu]

Many don't realize the insanity and the fear that erupts from being in the dark while everything, EVERYTHING happens outside of those walls.

Ayumu is fine with Silent darkness. He has lived with it so long ago, in that dark closet, his only sanctuary with his biological "parents." That musky smell of old decaying drywall was his, and the black inkiness that enveloped his senses were, to him, a delight. Drifting in and out of sleep, Ayumu would be in control of himself, a small curtain of solace that held him together.

Then... There's the other kind of darkness. The kind where it acts more as a blanket, a blindfold that suffocates.

All around, Ayumu could hear the sickening squelch of blood, guts, and fallen flesh making plopping sounds upon the dirt floor. Even beneath the musky smell of tanned leather the horrid smell of rotting carnage enveloped him, nearly making him sick. Ayumu's consciousness faltered briefly.

He woke up again, however, when Nobunaga-sensei shouted for something to get away. That quick sound shuddered him awake. "Ayumu, what is that? Five kills? Six?" At this his eyes widened in horrified surprise. Did he just say... Six? Is he even human? Or am I just... weak...

Ayumu drew his knees closer to his chest, as he waited, soon hearing the cling and clang of bullets being fired off in angry rounds and the sickening squishing sounds of something wet splattering pavement. Ayumu tried not to think too much about it, but he had a pretty good idea what those were.

Silence.

Ayumu felt Nobunaga's presence close in. As thankful as he was for his piggyback offer, however, Ayumu's pride would not allow it. There were a lot more questions he wanted to ask, but those would be left for another time. Somehow, Ayumu knew that Nobunaga would reveal easily where his insane strength came from.

He stood up quickly, the jacket like some ill-made ghost cape of red covering him. "Thank you, but no, Ayumu is quite capable of walking-"

The usually calculating and careful Ayumu would have noticed this sooner, but because of the events that just transpired, he did not.

If possible, darkness seemed to black out some more, and Ayumu felt himself weak in the knees... and everything crashed.

Ayumu tried to stop himself, but instead tripped, and went crashing downward onto his knees, unconscious before he even touched ground.

[Youhei, Nobunaga 信長 洋平]

Youhei stood watching over his shoulder in amusement as the weakly boy declined his offer and slowly rose up, supported by what looked like feeble and wobbly legs which were ready to give out at any moment. But it was no time to be amused, his face turned into a more firm expression as he too rose up to his feet turning his body towards Ayumu awaiting for the right moment to act. His voice had a tender tone to it, but the expression on his face would’ve told the boy otherwise if his face was shielded. “Ayumu-kun, it'a far too early to-“ He cut himself off.

There was an almost stillness in the air as the boy slowly began to plunge into the floor knee first; Youhei’s eyes widened at the sight of this as he acted.

Just before the boy touched the ground two arms reached out as quickly as possible; one wrapping around his slender waist to hold him up, the other one locking around his knees scooping him off his feet and there they stood. Youhei had what seemed to be the unconscious Ayumu cradled in his arms peering down at the jacket which continued to shield his face; an unfilled smile appeared on the hunters face as he turned towards the direction Ayumu was heading before this mess; back to the academy, it was getting rather late.

“It's far too early to try to act tough,”

He continued as he made his way forth leaving the gruesome scene behind him, “someone like you, it’s going to take some time before you can do the things I am capable of…do not get me wrong however, in time if you work really hard you’ll be a very strong individual, perhaps even stronger then me.” His voice was both tranquil and deep as he spoke in the same tone he did when he first made his presence known. Even though the boy was probably unconscious he continued to speak as he continued making his way through the narrow alleyways.

“Until that day comes, you need to comprehend that being tough is fine and all, but it’s never a bad thing to have to depend on someone else, okay?” His eyes motioned downwards to the boy (expecting some type of response) as he continued walking.

It was still pretty bright out (what time was it anyways?) and there were some people roaming the main streets, so it would’ve looked pretty awkward for the two of them to emerge from the alley in the position they were currently in. It was best and quickest to follow the allies until they made it close enough to the academy, there was no need for concerns of another attack however there was no doubt in Youhei’s mind that they were still being watched. “Ayumu-kun,” The hunter called out once more in his usual tone as he made a quick cut around a corner leading to a broad and isolated path; the sounds of his boots stomping on the stone pavement would be a good indication that they were out of the alley if the boy in his arms was actually awake and alert. Was he? “Ayumu-kun,” He called out once more almost halfway down the street; just a little further and they would see the main gates to the academy. Youhei just prayed that the boy would somehow regain consciousness by that time; so he just kept calling out to him in hopes of some type of response.

[晶光 歩夢 Shoukou Ayumu]

I don't want to wake up. I still have a few more hours of sleep until I wake up and cook breakfast. Mmm, maybe I should try to aim for more fruits in my breakfast today, and then I'll-

"Ayumu-kun."

His eyelids flutter briefly like the quivering wings of butterflies, and they snap open to reveal a shock of innocent blue that plunges anyone's soul into warm quiescence. He would have been waking up in his dorm room, but the blood splatters on the side of his face indicate otherwise. His skin pale and lips the color of cherry blossoms, he coops like a small creature within Youhei's strong arms, peering up stoically with the expression of one into Youhei's concerned, hazel eyes, and time froze.

It takes only a couple of milliseconds for Ayumu to register that he, a young man, was being carried bridal style by his physical education teacher. His eyes narrow above his bashful cheeks and his brows indignantly swoop down as he protests, "Let one down at once! And since when were one and Nobunaga-sensei on first name terms?!" while he kicks his legs and bucks his feet. His peppery attitude spices his windchime voice that jingles furiously in the storm that is his indignation. Ayumu attempts to push himself away and believes he can fall out the cradle to the ground on his feet-

His writhing is rewarded with a smarting pain that ignites from his left shoulder through the thin chest. Ayumu spasms with a gasp that drains the color from his face and crumples in defeat, his right arm stifling the left one from further movement while his eyelids squinted shut. He clenches his teeth in pain and annoyance.

He quiets down like this, and makes no eye contact as he asks, voice muted, "How can one become stronger? One is weak, and causes no end to worry for his important people." He questions this whilst he thinks of those vase of Stygian roses and letters from his benefactor, his venerated one, and nibbles upon his lower lip to fight back rebellious tears that never erupt.