The Half-Saiyan's Resolution

[Nam Reikonaga]

It’s been a few days since Nam’s confrontation with the saiyan that murdered his mother. As he sat in the corner of his lifeless home, Nam lost himself in deep thought, trying to organize his thoughts as he bit a piece of toughened keratin from the tip of his thumbnail. He didn’t know where the saiyan had disappeared, or why he was spared. All he knew was the hatred that filled his heart. And as he sat there, in the corner, he began to recall everything that happened in the past days…

The injured half-saiyan awoke to the rays of the mountain sun. He coughed and opened his eyes as he came to. A weird looking creature was sniffing him out, but ran away with a squeal after he realized the human was alive. Nam couldn’t make out what it was, for his sight was still blurred. It seemed like a dog to him, or perhaps a wolf, but he would probably never know for sure.

As the four legged animal disappeared into the horizon, Nam attempted to get up on his legs, but tumbled back down into the small crater which was bedding him all night, and coughed to the dust that lifted upon impact. His injuries were still live and painful, but he had stopped bleeding. He laid there for a while, trying to process the past events…
His eyes suddenly widened as he remembered his mother’s death, and tears crawled down his face. After this, he focused his energy and commanded the winds to lift him up from the roasting surface of the Rocky Mountains. He slowly floated away, heading towards his mother’s empty shell.

Nam picked himself up from the corner in his room. It was time to go to Kikoukenjutsu. He was already dressed though, so all he needed was his scabbard. It was tough, his mother’s funeral was a few days ago, and he was going back to school as if nothing happened; but he had to face reality, Sakura was his producer, now that his mother is gone, he had to find a way to maintain himself. The real question now is –what will he do next?

“I’ll be awaiting your return, Mr. Reikonaga.” Nam’s butler said, opening the door for him. Nam had told him that he didn’t need to stay; he told him that he wasn’t sure how he was going to pay for his services, but even so, the man insisted on staying, he just couldn’t bare leaving Nam alone, especially not now. Sure, as the only son, Nam inherited all of his mother’s wealth, but that wasn’t going to last unless he found himself some sort of job.

Nam was walking to Kikoukenjutsu today. He wasn’t in the mood to fly, and he thought he could use the time to reflect on his life and decide what he’ll do from here on out. What now…? No matter what he thought about, they always lead back to the memory of his mother’s death, and the face of her killer, one he would remember till the ends of the universe.

Revenge: That was the hot topic of Nam’s mind these days. A few days ago he asked himself why he was fighting, -And now he got his reason. He needed to become stronger, he needed to learn the proper use of his sword, he needed to master his Energy Wave, he needed to go back to the basics taught by Victory School, for he let his mind lose all reason during the fight. A flash back crossed his mind –the image of the pure saiyan, breaking through his red barrier as if it were thin glass. It made Nam bristle, the thought that he was still so weak. But perhaps this was a lesson: He should never assume he’s the strongest, cause someone will come and burst your bubble. Instead, assume you’re the weakest, and train to become the strongest…

Nam arrived to Kikoukenjutsu. At the entrance, a pink-haired girl had been waiting for him with her usual katana by the side. The two stood there, staring at each other in the silence.

[Nam Reikonaga]

“I heard…” Villa said. Nam remained silent and resumed walking. The pink haired woman followed behind him, “what will you do now?” Nam froze, as if he were deciding on what to answer.

“I’m not sure yet…” he finally said. They continued walking towards the school. Inside, was just like before; people training on every corner. Nam left his scabbard resting on the wall and grabbed a wooden sword, preparing himself to spar with Villa.
The kendoka grabbed her bamboo sword and positioned it lined with her eyes, facing the tip toward her adversary, Nam. With a battle cry, she engaged in attacks as Nam focused on blocking them off.

“So, you’re just gonna pretend as if nothing happened?” she swung her bokken across in a straight line. Nam crouched and attempted a low kick to her ankles, but she hopped out of the way.

“Of course not,” he replied. Nam and Villa charge towards each other and meet in a power struggle.

“Then what will you do?” she insisted. “–Try to focus your energy onto the sword, that’s why you always lose when crossing blades.” Villa pushed forward and forced Nam to recede. He stopped to observe her bokutou and suddenly noticed the blue chi enveloping the bamboo. He then focused his own ki and his wooden sword glowed red. Villa smiled to his achievement and charged at him once more. “Well?” she began slashing with more confidence as Nam blocked her attacks with more efficiency.

“I told you… I’m not sure yet…” he replied, still holding off her attacks, until he bumped into a wall; which caused him a bit of panic as his opponent let go a fierce thrust, planning to end the match. Nam simply ‘rolled on the wall’, escaping what could’ve meant death as she had pierced through the wall that had him cornered. “Are you TRYING to kill me!?” he exclaimed rhetorically.

Villa smiled as she removed her bamboo sword from the wall’s newly handcrafted window. “I know what you’re planning. Stop hiding it,” she said, ignoring his last statement. Villa got into her stance and pointed her index finger at Nam facing toward the roof and curling back as if saying, ‘come get me’. Nam took the bait and ran at the cocky female. “You’re planning to go after that saiyan, aren’t you…” she said, while easily blocking off Nam’s attacks. She then noticed Nam got sloppy, which meant she was right at the center. Villa then forced a deadlock unto him, to get into whispering distance.

“N- Reikonaga, listen to me…” she managed to get over him; Nam arched his left foot, covering his body with his wooden blade, which was carrying the weight of Villa’s bamboo sword. “Revenge isn’t the answer, in the end –it will only destroy you…” she said. Nam knew what she was saying, but he just couldn’t bring himself to listen; he couldn’t look into her eyes; he didn’t want to respond, for he feared his voice would tremble and the tears he’s been holding back would overflow and leak through his eyes.

“I-” he began, but stuttered at the intent. “I have to become stronger…”

“And when you get stronger, what do you plan on doing?” she inquired, already knowing the answer. But she wanted to hear it from him and confirm it.

“Don’t you get it? If I don’t do something about this, it’ll never stop. First, my mother, next it’ll be the world. We have to show them that they can’t ju-,“ he was interrupted.

“You’re not a hero!” she began, this time, loud enough to grab everyone’s attention. “That’s why we have authorities, to take care of these things. You don’t have to do a thing!”

Nam pushed her away, winning the deadlock. “Then why are we even doing this!?” he yelled. Nam wasn’t the type to scream, but he couldn’t help it. “Why are we getting up every morning? Why is there so much emphasis on fighting schools if you’re not going to fight off the saiyans!?” the furious half-saiyan grabbed his scabbard and tossed the practice sword to the ground.

“Where are you going?” Villa demanded.

“From now on… I train alone,” with this said; Nam made his way out of the room.

[Nam Reikonaga]

“HAHAHAHA!” an irritating laugh made Nam stop in his tracks and turned as a guy walked out of the building and into the school grounds. He wore the school’s symbol on his traditional kendo uniform. “You’re the worst sword player I’ve ever known. How do you plan on getting stronger on your own without proper training techniques?”

This got Nam thinking. The person walked towards Nam, stroking his blond hair, he tossed Nam the wooden sword he had left behind. “How ‘bout you show me this determination of yours? Show me how far that ‘innate skill’ you think to possess will take you.” The guy drew out his wooden sword and got into battle stance. “Here goes… you ready?” the guy said. He wasn’t expecting an answer though, as he immediately charged in with a battle cry. Nam was still angry and wasn’t planning to hold back. He didn’t know whether this was his saiyan half speaking, or if he was truly out of it.

Nam focused his ki and enveloped it around his practice sword. The person closed in and prepared to strike. Nam held his sword, waiting for it to make contact with his opponent’s, but apparently his adversary had some tricks up his sleeve as he used what appeared to be the Zanzoken technique; the male kendoka disappeared in front of Nam, and attacked from the rear. But instinctively, Nam turned around and quickly intercepted his attack. “Not bad, let’s see how long you can keep it up.” The guy stepped back and raised his free hand to the front.

It took a while, but Nam suddenly realized his opponent was performing the basic ‘ki blast’ when a yellow ball of light energy formed onto the palm of his hands and soon was propelled towards Nam.

“Are you crazy!? You’ll damage the school!” Nam gripped his two-handed sword; right hand under guard and left hand in the pommel, and repelled the ki blast into the air. He then proceeded into a dash; his body engulfed by his red aura. A booming sound reverberates in the entire school as their weapons clash into a deadlock. Nam’s opponent was now sweating. It seemed as if he was cringing to the power Nam was emitting.

Nam smiled, “what happened to all of that big talk earlier?” he teased. He then pushed further and sent the guy crashing into the wall. Not enough for it to tumble down, but enough for it to crack.

“Is this what your mother would’ve wanted!?” Nam cringed and looked back at Villa, who had been standing behind him. “Look at yourself Reikonaga! You’re consumed by rage…”

Nam was silent. He closed his eyes and loosened his body; soon his wild hair his settled down and his aura dispersed. He dropped the wooden sword and began walking toward the exit.

“Don’t isolate yourself…” Villa said.

“I won’t…” he assured. “I just need to do some things… Okay?” he looked back over his shoulder and smiled, followed by the sound of the expansion of chi as he blasted out of the school, engulfed in his red aura once again and disappearing into the clouds.

(Done, I’d like PL xP)

[Gray Callahan]

1000 PL