Welcome to Gaia! ::

~::The Pain of Truth. Part two::~

“And here I thought I had developed a fan club,” spoke a voice from high in the treetops. Kira and Nyoko glanced upward, staring into the darkened trees. Nyoko gave a shiver as he searched tree to tree, unable to see the speaker. Kira snorted, looking at a large oak to their left. “Ego check,” she grinned, shaking her finger.

A figure dropped from the oak, landing perfectly on its hunches. Yellow eyes focused on Kira and Nyoko. “I don’t have an ego, Kiraboshi,” Akito the Wolf Youkai informed the cat girl. Kira giggled. “Akito, Nyoko wanted to say hi to you,” she purred, twisting her hair around her finger in a flirtatious manner. Akito, as usual, didn’t notice her advances. Turning towards Nyoko, he raised an eyebrow in question. “Is that so?” he murmured with interest. “And why is that?”

Nyoko blushed lightly. “’Cause you’re so cool!” he exploded, arms waving wildly, as to prove a point. Nyoko swiftly stopped once he saw Akito’s irked expression. He giggled sheepishly and looked away.

Kira snickered into her hand. “Poor kitten. Thinks you’re some sort of star,” Kira said with a wink. Akito ignored her sarcastic remark. Flicking back his silver hair, he turned around. “Don’t waste your time idolizing someone. It makes you weak.”

With that said, the mysterious Wolf Youkai disappeared into the forest, leaving nothing but his words behind.

Kira and Nyoko stared after Akito. Tears formed in the small boy’s eyes. He let out a great sob and took off, racing towards the cabin. Kira heaved a sigh. Akito’s words could be so cruel, especially to a small boy. She shook her head and slowly took off after the wounded child.

Kira found the sobbing child hidden under his covers in the cabin. Sitting down lightly on his bed, she wrapped him up in a big hug of blankets. “Now, now,” Kira soothed, rocking him back and forth, “Akito hasn’t been around people much…unless you count other Wolf Youkai. They aren’t the most sociable demons, anyway. He didn’t mean to make you upset; it’s just his way.”

Sniffling back tears, Nyoko peeked out from underneath the sheets. “But…wh…why did he…haffa…be so mean?” he stuttered, wiping the water from his cheeks. Nyoko had lost his control of himself; the tears that fell glided to a halt inches from the bed. They hovered in the air like marbles, swirling in a bubble-like manner. Kira smiled; he was so wrapped up in what Akito was doing, he didn’t even realize how far along he has come.

The Cat Youkai took his small chin in her hand. “Nyoko, look at me. Akito’s right, darling. Just look,” Her voice trailed off as she moved her hand under the floating tear drop. Nyoko’s eyes grew large as he recognized his energy controlling the water. They instantly fell, splattering on the bed sheets. He jumped. “What happened?” he cried out, looking surprised.

Kira gave a giggle. “Sometimes, magic works without you knowing because you’re so relaxed. You let it happen, instead of forcing it. Once you realize what you’re doing, you can tense and loose the magic. Don’t worry. One day, you’ll be able to do magic whenever, in whatever kind of situation. But until then, we practice. That’s the only way to better ourselves.”

Nyoko gave her words some thought as he let her wipe away the remaining tears. “So…Akito-san was right, wasn’t he? I shouldn’t just want to be like him…I need to train so I can be like him!”

Kira squealed and clapped her hands. Grabbing him up in a bear-hug, she laughed, “You’re getting smarter every day! Good boy!”

Nyoko wiggled. “Aww, Mom!” he complained, trying hard to get away from her, “lemme go!”

Snorting wildly, Kira pounced on him, tickling and hugging. Screaming fake cries of distress, Nyoko finally managed to scoot away. He smiled, eyes gleaming. “Mommy Kira? Can we train tomorrow? Really? The kind you do when I’m asleep?”

Laying down on the bed, Kira gave him a suspicious look. “And since when do you know what sort of training I do when you’re asleep?”

Blushing madly, Nyoko tried to think up an excuse. “Erm…well, ya see…I…had to…um…get a drink! And I…um…sort of…wandered outside?” He grinned; that lame excuse would never work with Kiraboshi.

Shaking her finger at him, Kira winked. “Bad toad! You’ve been staying up, haven’t you?” she scolded-with little enthusiasm. Nyoko grinned wider. “Maybe just a bit,” he admitted, “but I really, really want to train like you do.”

He jumped up on the bed and swung around an imaginary sword. “Bam! Bang! Boom!” he shouted, kicking and punching the air. Kira laughed so hard she fell off the bed. Getting up, she moved some hair from her eyes. “We’ll see, sweetie. We’ll see.”

~:: Inside Training? Part two ::~

“Good boy!” Kira beamed. He was growing up so fast, and he was so smart! “Now, let’s try your meditation,” Kira began, sitting down in the middle of the floor. She closed her eyes, but opened them when she heard Nyoko groan. “Mooooom! Can’t we skip meditation today? I know how to do it!”

“Then use it!” Kira snapped, tugging him down next to her. “If you don’t relax, your energy won’t emerge! Once you master it, like I have, then you won’t have to, but until then, until I say you don’t have to, ya do!”

Nyoko gulped and closed his eyes. Mama Kira got upset when he complained. He knew she wasn’t upset at him, just upset because she knew he could do better. He sighed and began his meditation, cooling the flowing of energy within him. Soon, he was shaken awake by Kira. “Ready?” she asked him.

Nodding, Nyoko stood. Maybe Kira was right. He did feel quite calm, ready to do anything. He grinned. “Ready, Mama!”

For the next hour, Kira taught Nyoko breathing exercises. How to inhale your element; how to exhale it. How to draw water-breath from your body, from your soul.

Finally, Kira rose. “Ready?” she asked, winking. Nyoko grinned. “Most definitely!” he declared, bouncing up.

Kira showed him where to place his feet, in order to be well-balanced while he drew his energy. He felt a bit stupid, his feet spread so far apart, but he did as he was told, and glanced up for more instructions. Kira nodded. “All set then?”

“Now, when calling on your element when there isn’t any around, you have to first find the source inside you. Take a deep breath and close your eyes. Everyone’s source is in a different shape, but most water mages say their power is like a river. Mine feels more like a frozen mountaintop, but, that’s just me.”

Nyoko nodded as his eyes shut tight. He drew in a breath and slowly let it go. He tried his hardest, searching his body for the tug of water, but no matter how deeply he wanted it, no matter how hard he tried, he just couldn’t find it!

Sighing loudly, he itched his ear. Then his foot. His leg cramped; he wiggled it. He sneeze. He thought he felt a bug on his arm. His eyes opened just in time for a pillow to come in contact with his head. Thrown off balance, he fell.

“And that, Nyoko, is what’ll happen if you lose focus in a fight. Of course, you’d probably be killed shortly afterwards.”

Staring up at his mother‘s grim face, he shook his head at her offered hand. Standing on his own, he moved his feet into the position Kira had showed him before. He closed his eyes. He was tired of always complaining when something went wrong, and he was going to show his mother he could do it right!

Impressed, Kira sat back down. Nyoko was learning, alright. She thought she’d get a note to Akito. Maybe Nyoko could study a bit with him, too.

Concentrating anew, Nyoko forced himself to reach deeper. To his amazement, lights went off in his mind. Blues of all different shades, some almost green, others tinted murky black, blasted. It was overwhelming. Blackness filled every corner of his body, and he knew no more.

~:: Inside Training? Part four ::~

An hour later, Kira sat outside the cabin in the moonlight. The Muck Monsters had disappeared. “For now,” Kira growled, furious. Those damn things were worse than Wolf Youkai, she decided. “Pff, as if anything could be worse than Wolf Youkai,” Kira voiced in amusement.

A tree branch bent; leaves fell. “I’ll take that to heart, Kiraboshi,” said a silver-haired male perched in the tree. Kira giggled and leaned back, staring into the yellow eyes of Akito. “Sorry, ‘Kito, I didn’t mean to group you in with all them yuckers.”

Akito dropped to the ground with perfect precision. He pushed back his long hair and tilted his head. “Interesting choice of words, Kiraboshi. I have news, however, and will not take the time to lecture you.”

Kira purred. Akito had such a heavenly voice, no matter what he said! She didn’t respond, lost in her daydreams of the handsome wolf, until Akito tossed a leaf at her. She twitched and caught it midair, just inches from her nose. “Hm?” she asked, fingering the leaf. Akito snapped, “You should pay attention when someone speaks to you.” He growled lightly, eyeing her.

Kira giggled sheepishly. “Sorry! What news, Akito?” she asked, tossing the leaf aside.

Clearing his throat, Akito leaned against the tree. “I believe the wolf king is up to something. The Muck Monsters were his doing. Somehow, he has gotten the power to command them. A spell, perhaps.”

Kira looked shocked. “They work for him? You’re kidding, right?” Kira thought deeply for a moment. “I think you’re right. Muck Monsters aren’t smart enough to get blackmailed, or to side with someone for their own reasons. They must be controlled or something.”

Akito gave a curt nod. “My thoughts exactly. They have the IQ of a stick.”

Kira burst into laughter at Akito’s joke. Wiping tears from her eyes, Kira became serious. “Why would he do that, though? There are many more monsters in this forest that are worse than a Mucky. It seems strange.”

“Perhaps the spell is only so strong,” Akito murmured, gazing at the full moon. He closed his eyes, drawing on the power of the moon’s rays. He always thought better in the moonlight, being mostly a nocturnal beast. His eyes suddenly snapped open. “Kiraboshi, Yuki is making a disturbance,” he stated.

“EEP! I left her to watch Nyoko!” Kira screamed, scrambling up. She waved back as she shot off towards the cabin. Turning as she opened the door, she shouted, “I’ll think about it, ok? We’ll find some way to get ’em!”

Sighing, Akito rubbed his temples. Kiraboshi gave him a slight headache sometimes. Then again, he thought with a light smirk, Chihen always gives me a horrible headache.

Chihen, he thought, still staring into the moon’s bright gaze, If she was here, we’d have a much better chance. He wouldn’t admit it to anyone, nor voice it in his head, but he missed her, wherever she was. She was like an annoying younger sister. Always hyper, always hungry, always getting into trouble. He sighed again. Whatever the Wolf King had in store, Chihen wouldn’t be there to help.

“That just leaves Kiraboshi, me,…and the kid,” Akito growled, lip curled. The thought of having a mere child help in a battle annoyed him. He would just get in the way. Expecially with the way he fought now….

Akito’s train of thought trailed off. If something happened to the kid, Kiraboshi would throw herself in harm’s way to save him. Getting killed because some brat couldn’t take care of himself was a poor way to die. Growling furiously, Akito rose. Stalking over to the cabin, he banged on the door.

Nyoko peeked out, his eyes wide. He was pale, but overall seemed fine. He smiled shyly at Akito, opening the door wider. Kira stepped behind him, looking curiously at Akito. Before they could say a thing, Akito barked, “Dawn. The moss-rock. Eat well beforehand; we aren’t stopping for lunch.”

And with that said, the Wolf Youkai disappeared into the night.

Blinking, Nyoko looked up into the amused eyes of Kira. “Erm…mama?” he asked, clinging to her hip. His head spun, and he had a feeling he missed something important. Kira smoothed his bangs out before speaking.

“Congratulations, Nyoko. You’re now Akito’s student.”

::The following is a journal entry written by Nyoko::

Dear Journal,

I’m so happy! Mommy Kira gave me a notebook to write in; a start of school gift! She said I can write down all my feelings. So, here goes!

Mommy Kira’s been trying to teach me how to use my water magic ever since we discovered it. She said it would be hard to learn, but I didn’t know how right she was! I was really scared of it at first, but now I’m learning it’s just another part of me. I tried to find the source a bit ago, and, wow, Journal, it made me feel real sick! Mama says I’ll get used to it. I sure hope so.

Something’s wrong with the forest, Mommy said. She told me never to go outside unless she or Akito are there. (I think Mommy likes Akito-san!) I’m scared, but now Akito-san is going to teach me how to fight! Mommy said he’ll be a tough teacher, but she said to do my best. He’ll teach me how to protect myself even if I can’t do magic!

I’m going to school now! It’s nice, because there I don’t have to think of my training. Mommy says if I want to be big and strong and powerful, I have to train my mind as much as my body. She bought me a nice folder to keep all my things in, and guess what? I’m in Heaven’s class, too! That Pire guy is there, too, and another girl that I haven’t met. Pire seems a little bit scary, but the other girl seems nice. I think she’s shy, like me.

Well, that’s all for now. Mommy’s calling me. She says it’s time to meditate. Boy, do I hate that! But she says it’s good for me, so I’ll do it anyway.

Bye Bye!
Nyoko

While you meditate you hear a splash from outside, it sounds like it came from the front porch... Hey isn't Nyoko on the front porch? Maybe you should go and check on him.....

And there stood a very HANDSOME young boy playing with some water that he controlled to float in the air. He than turned around, there was a jingle from his earing on his left ear as he turned.
"Hi mom! Uhhh heh sorry... did I make too much noise?"
He asked staring at her as he rubbed the back of his head.
"It's kind of a long story you see I was playing with the water and before you knew it well I grew and lost control making the water hit the house... sorry mom...."
He said looking at her.

~::Attack! Part one::~

Bright sunshine filtered into Nyoko’s room, waking him from his peaceful sleep. He yawned loudly, and wiped the sleep from his eyes. Suddenly, the cat boy grinned; Mama Kira had promised to guide him through another training exercise today. He jumped up, threw on his clothes, and raced to the kitchen.

Kira was already awake, frying sausage and eggs on the wood-burning stove. She gave a cheerful wave. “Morning, darlin’! Sleep well?” she asked, patting his head with her free hand as he went to take the utensils to the table. He nodded, placing a plate, fork, knife, cup, and napkin at each place.

“You said we’d train today after breakfast, right?” he nagged once again, stirring his eggs and sausage into one big mess on his plate. He wasn’t hungry. He was way too excited to eat.

Kira glanced over. “Not if you keep pestering me,” she announced, her eyes gleaming with a hint of seriousness beneath all the jest. Nyoko gulped and went back to stirring his breakfast.

Twenty minutes later, Nyoko was sitting cross-legged in the living room, watching as Kira finished pushing all the furniture to one side. She stopped and wiped her forehead on a handkerchief. “Whew…ready then, Nyo?” she said, flopping down next to him. “Meditation,” she directed him. He nodded and closed his eyes.

He awoke, feeling refreshed and ready to go. Kiraboshi, however, was still deeply in her own thoughts. Nyoko gave her a poke. She didn’t stir. Sighing, he tried another go at meditating, but he couldn’t fall back into his mind. He was already relaxed and ready to go! Huffing, he paced the room, poked at some pictures that Kira’s roommate had drawn, counted the number of leaves on the plant in the hallway, and even put away the breakfast dishes. He was wondering if Mama Kira had gotten lost in her own head when Kira’s eyes opened.

“Mama! Are you ok?” Nyoko gasped, flinging himself on her. Kira smiled and gave him a pat. “Of course I am. Why would you think I wasn’t?”

“You’ve been out for a very, very long time,” Nyoko answered seriously.

“Oh, have I?” Kira grinned, winking. Nyoko tilted his head in confusion. Kira just shook her head and stood up. “Try releasing some energy now,” she commanded, placing herself a safe distance away.

Nyoko laughed. This was what he’d be waiting for! He closed his eyes, and reached for his power. He had almost caught a hold of it when something went wrong. It turned slippery. It fell from his grip. It swerved, jumped, and spun around. He tried desperately to catch it, but no matter how he called to it, begged it, ordered it, the power still wouldn’t come to him. Soon, everything went black…