Trials of the arcana-chapter 1

Trials of the Arcana
Chapter 1

A pale light of the moon spilled into the room, somehow it brought out the deep red colour of his remaining eye. Awkwardly he turned over and propped his head on the armrest of a rather sorry looking sofa. Blankly he watched the shadows play across the floor before finally deciding to sit up. Absent-mindedly he ran his hand through a mass of brown hair and stretched the lethargy from his body.
The silence was broken by a soft mumbling from a dark corner of the room. Rhys was curled up on an armchair fast asleep; his hair had fallen into his sleeping face, whilst his slender arms were wrapped around a pillow. Tsubasa could never fully understand why Rhys always looked troubled…even in his sleep. Or maybe it wasn’t so surprising- His mother was dead, his father had mysteriously disappeared, and his older brother had gone in search of said father. He was truly alone. On that thought he covered him up before going outside.
The cool air felt good against his face, a nice contrast to the night’s humidity. Thoughtfully he looks up at the moon. It was the last night of the full moon- A small smile crossed his face as he recalled the lycanthrope he was fighting the next day would be deprived of his source of power. However even without the lunar influence, a lycanthrope is still a formidable opponent. They still possess the agility and stamina that surpasses that of any human or beast. In that sense Tsubasa was at a disadvantage already, especially since he has no sight at all in his left eye, not to mention he has no supernatural abilities. However what he did have going for him was his talent as a martial artist, and the fact that he’s the kind of tenacious bastard that wouldn’t die even if you killed him.
“I guess I can’t just sit around….”
On that note he began his training.

“UWA!!!”
Tsubasa lay sprawled out on the middle of the concrete, drenched in water. “What the hell did you do that for!?”
Rhys just stood there, bucket in hand grinning manically ,eventually he shrugged. “Well…I did try to  wake you normally but you just growled at me.” His face took on a mock seriousness expression. “You know- I just saw you sprawled out on the floor, mouth wide open…. I thought I was doing you a favour by giving you your dignity back.”
“You little shit! How is this any more dignified!?” Tsubasa sat there soaked and mildly irritated. “Well?”
Rhys just smiled “Dunno”
“Dunno!?- Is that all you have to say!?”
“Well…yeah…”
“Hmm you two seem pretty energetic today.” – A young woman sat cross-legged on the wall, her head slightly tilted with a mischievous smile on her face. She was average height, long brown hair tied back into three braids….to be honest she wasn’t particularly stunning, though she had a kind of boyish charm…..who knows. “You haven’t changed a bit ‘Basa-chan”
“How many times do I have to tell you not to call me that?”  Tsubasa turned his back in some attempt to hide his frustration. Kira’s smile widened, she knew that she was getting to him and that she wasn’t done with it…not by a long shot.
“How about…” She paused for a moment…”When you can at least give an honest smile, though I feel hell will freeze first”
“…….I’m gonna take a shower……..”  He walked into the house.
“If you want I can scrub your back for you!!” Kira called after him. She didn’t get a response however.
“Um… Kira-san”
“Hmmm”
“Are you sure its right to tease him so much?”
“Rhys. It had to be done….that guy is way too serious. Not to mention it’s so damn easy.” She started to laugh. “Besides I think Hell’s still probably quite humid this year.”
“Err… yeah….probably.’’
Kira gently poked him in the ribs. “And you aren’t any different”…..”All you do is study them medical book thingies- You need to live a little”  
“It’s just….well…” He began.
“Well…?”
“I feel I’m in the way somehow. I mean, if he wasn’t taking care of me- He wouldn’t have to fight” Rhys clenched his fists in frustration and looked away. “Tsubasa isn’t exactly 100% healthy. He never rests properly after getting injured…..Every time I tend to his wounds he re-opens them in the next fight….he’s also half blind on top of that. How can I live with myself knowing that he’s going through all this just to support me and not do anything in return?”  Kira placed an arm over one of his shoulders and gave a reassuring smile. “Rhys, he wouldn’t do this unless he didn’t want to y’know….. It’s not like him to be forced into doing something.” She gazed at the sky and recalled how she and Tsubasa used to live together. “I remember when my uncle first brought Tsubasa to live with us. He was a mess he was unconscious, and badly wounded on his back. Even to this day I have no idea what happened to him before that moment….but he never smiled…not once.” Her face turned serious…an expression that seldom appeared on her usually mischievous features. “His only means of expressing himself was to get into fights all the time…. I was so worried for him…so I understand how you feel” “I think….. Fighting was what made him feel alive. When I first watched him at it…He looked at peace with himself, so different from the desolate looking Tsubasa I knew.”
“But it doesn’t make any sense at all…. Kira. He’s slowly killing himself!”
A gentle sigh left her mouth. “I know…. But I think he’d be happier if you had a little faith in his abilities….He’s not a weak willed person. If you watch him fight tonight you’ll understand what I mean.”  There was nothing Rhys could say to that, so he just nodded. “I know….That’s why I study all these medic books, it’s the only way I can help since I’m not legal to fight just yet.”
“So that’s it?”  She smiled, “Well, to be honest I think that your brother asking Tsubasa to look after you has been a positive thing.” Her smile widened as Rhys just looked baffled.
“In what way is it?” He questioned.
“Lets face it, Tsubasa’s never been a people person has he? So having you around has forced him to open up a little, since you are always around.” Rhys looked further bemused as he was distracted by something on her head.
“Um…… Kira-San?... I forgot to ask but why are you wearing cat-ears?”
“Oh…these?” She said- pulling at them. “These are for my new outfit, at the next convention I’m gonna go as ‘Whassherface’ from DiGi…something….Do they suit me?”
“Err….well…its different” He started.


The sound of the running water was having a calming effect on Tsubasa, he was no longer feeling agitated about Kira’s teasing, he’d even nearly forgot about the fight later that evening. He shut his eyes as the water ran off his broad shoulders and down his back… his mind was clear.
Without warning a sharp pain seared across his shoulder blades, which snapped him out of the shower induced daze he was enjoying, he winced as it persisted. Though this time it was much stronger…. Again it happened, now it felt as though his back was on fire… he pressed it against the cool tiles to soothe the pain…however his efforts were fruitless. One more surge of pain was all he could take before it all went black….

……He opened his eyes to see that he was standing face to face with what seemed like himself…though much younger. He was probably not older than fourteen. Both of his eyes were the colour of blood. Tsubasa ran his fingertips lightly over his injured left eye and traced the line of the scar without thinking…He couldn’t imagine himself with both eyes anymore, it felt as though his injury was made an eternity ago.
The young boys face twisted in pain as he fell to his knees –His forehead touched the ground and with a final scream two large black wings had burst out of his back. Tsubasa cringed in empathy, holding onto his own shoulders….wait….maybe it wasn’t empathy at all. He went pale as he’d realised he was going through exactly the same thing, except when he looked at the hand that had clutches his shoulder was covered in blood. Then he turned his attention back to the boy, who was now standing upright staring at him with soulless eyes… with the same broken expression he, himself used to have.
The child spoke…”We are children born from sin…we can’t avoid our inevitable fate. Even you know the price.”
Tsubasa lost it. “ This is the stupidest fucking thing I’ve ever heard!! Where do you get off on screwing with my mind like that!?”
“ It seems that you have forgotten….. Let me help refresh that memory of yours Tsubasa-Sama.” With that the child faded into the darkness. Once again he was gripped by pain…. Slowly he looked over his shoulder not really wanting to see what was there. What he saw was a woman, she was tall with jet black hair and radiant white wings which cascaded out of her back… she cried crimson tears which accentuated her pale skin. In her hands she held a large black  wing… some of the muscle fibres were still attached… she looked nauseous…even regretful. Softly she murmured “I’m sorry….”
She pulled one last time, then the wing came free. Tsubasa cried out in agony…..

Rhys jumped backwards as Tsubasa suddenly sat bolt upright. “Shit. Tsubasa, you scared the shit out of me.”  Tsubasa looked down. “I’m sorry.. I made you worry.”
“Tsubasa you look really pale..Are you really okay?”
“He’s right.” Kira nodded “You seem really out of it”
Tsubasa looked at them both, hating the concerned looks on their faces… it was too much of a hassle to explain what had happened. If he told Rhys about the pains… he worries even more… There was no point in putting more weight onto his little shoulders. He forced a laugh…” I’m fine…. I just ran the water too hot and I got light headed so…I kind of passed out heh.”
They exchanged glances…not entirely satisfied with the answer before leaving the room. Rhys turned around “ You are such a crappy liar, you know that? Hehe. But that’s fine… Oh…. And one more thing…..” he began. “ I think you’ll be needing these.” He threw in a pair of jeans. Tsubasa looked down and was shocked as he realised he was still butt naked. “Umm…” Kira popped her head round the door grinning madly…. “Don’t worry Basa-chan…. I took plenty of pol-a-roids. Hehe” That did it- Tsubasa launched a bar of soap at her head… he was still really embarrassed. She evaded it with ease. “ Better luck next time =^_^=  “.