Chapter Eight

Chapter Eight: Caravan Crossroads

Another hour had passed and the group had made their way to the first stop called Caravan Crossroad. This crossroad was created from the people crossing the desert in this location and meeting up there to trade last minute supplies, unload their final items, and rest before moving on again. As they arrived they were greeted by some recent arrivals to the same spot. There was a fire in the middle and several pop up stalls. People were eating and being merry before they would eventually move on.

“Let’s stop here for a bit guys.” Amane said to the group. It sounded like a command but it was more just a suggestion.

“We have to get to Areno before it starts raining.” Toshiro added. “Keep moving.”

Amane rolled his eyes. “Toshiro, if I stop, I know you’ll stop. You won’t leave me here and I’ll use that to my advantage.” He replied with a sly smirk and a laugh.

“I'd rather you didn’t.” Toshiro retorted.

“No, I agree with Amane. They may have some ingredients here that we can't get locally to wherever we stop. It’ll help us with our memory viewing.” Teo adds.

“Fine.” Toshiro reluctantly agrees. “Make it quick though. That rain could be here any moment.”

“All the more reason to stay under the local roofs.” Amane jokingly replied.

Kyra hops off the Dune Lizard and lands on her feet. “We don’t have much like this in Quadrant Two. Closest thing like this is Suisha which is a stopping place for merchants as well.”

“I remember that place. It’s where we got my cloak. Still surprised they had one to cover all this armor.” Amane said as he got off the Dune Lizard.

“Trust me I was too but Doran is a big guy so I can’t see him not stocking something bigger just in case.” Kyra replied.

“Glad he did too. It’s damn comfortable.” He replies to her with a slight chuckle.

Kitanni and Toshiro hopped off their lizard and stood beside each other followed by Teo getting off of his lizard. Amane short whistled twice signifying to them to stay put.

“I’m going to go look for some ingredients. Shouldn’t take too long as it’s not that big of an area.” Teo adds before he walks up towards the stalls. He had a plan to look for things that they could use for a number of reasons. They needed ingredients that dealt with memory and dreams. If they couldn’t view his memory directly maybe they could view it in a dream linked with him. It was all hypothetical at the moment but everything was worth a shot to help clear Amane’s name with his oldest friend.

“Kitanni what do you want to do?” Toshiro asked.

“I’m kind of curious about the area. Maybe they have special ingredients for healing as well, or poisons so I can develop immunity for the future.” Kitanni replied. “I’ll go with Teo since he’s looking for ingredients.” She smiled at Toshiro and began running towards Teo. “Teo wait up, I’ll come with you.”

Teo paused in his tracks to wait for her. “Come on now.” He replied with a playful smile.

“Thanks for waiting.” Kitanni added.

Teo and Kitanni headed off deeper into the area with the stalls to find more ingredients. They really hadn’t spent much time together on this trip by themselves but they got along well enough so that was nice to see from the rest of the group.

“What about you Amane?” Toshiro added. “Where are we going?”

Amane laughed to himself,”Nowhere. I stopped you for her.” He said pointing to Kyra.

“Why?” He replied in a confused tone.

“I have a question for you.” Kyra explains.

“Go ahead.” Toshiro states.

“Does the name Kurai mean anything to you? Amane says it sounds familiar, but he can’t place it.” She explains quickly to him.

“Kurai?” He says aloud and begins thinking about it.

Amane speaks to Toshiro,”I thought you might know since your father was basically the police force. You may have heard or seen something.”

“You’d be right.” Toshiro replies. “I remember hearing the name, well, the title. It belonged to a man from Quadrant Three. Supposedly passed down the line of a group of assassins. Shadow manipulators to be more precise. The Midnight Monastery used to train people in that art.”

“Right, right. I remember.” Amane added. “It’s supposed to be close to that mystical and mythical compound.”

“Yeah, which I’m surprised you didn’t find honestly. How long did you search in your exile?” Toshiro asked.

“Most of it. I stayed at the base of the mountain where you found me.” Amane retorted. “It’s like someone was forcing me back using a blizzard but no matter what happened, I always ended up back at my camp.”

“Sounds like cryomancy to me.” Toshiro added as sweat came down his face from the heat. “A blizzard of cryomancy. That’s a huge level in my opinion. Covering the whole area in a blizzard so much that people are prevented from entry.”

“You could be right about that. It did feel almost alive.” Amane replied.

“Guys. Focus.” Kyra said laughing to herself.

“Right, sorry.” Toshiro replied. “The title Kurai was passed down to the best but I hear the group was destroyed in battle with the Sorcerer. Seems like one escaped now or is using the name.”

“That does seem to be the case considering I’ve fought him.” Kyra adds.

Toshiro folds his arms,”And you’re still alive, why?” He asked curiously.

“Said that he had orders to not harm me from my other uncle whom I’ve never met.” Kyra explains. “He also created what he calls Underworld Chains and bound my arms and legs to the wall.”

“That is definitely a skill that comes from the Midnight Monastery. I’m sure of it, due to my father talking about it years ago at this point. I was more timid then and honestly, it freaked me out but so did the Cold Stare.” Toshiro replied with a slight shiver down his back.

“Are you good over there?” Amane asks.

“Just thinking about that ability freaks me out. Chains from out of nowhere.” Toshiro replied.

“You have ice from out of nowhere.” Amane retorts. “I have fire from out of nowhere. We’re the weird ones, too.” He laughs to himself.

“You’re the weird one.” Toshiro blurts out. “Chains seem like spiritual harnessing to me.”

“They could be…”He paused. Not many people had that ability and he really only knew of himself and his father. Could that group have been part of his clan at one point? It was something he had to look into now. “Only one way to find out.”

“Fight him.” Toshiro states.

“Exactly.” Amane retorts.

Kyra interrupts them,”Just be careful if you do. He’s faster than I am.”

“Then we’ll have to train your speed, Kyra.” Amane added with a serious look. “Maybe we can find something in Areno.”

“If we ever get there.” Toshiro jokes. “We’d have to stop making stops first.”

“We’ll see.” Amane replies with a smirk.

“Quick change of subject, Toshiro.” Kyra adds and then continues,”Are you and Kitanni a couple now or what?” She says with a smirk.

Toshiro’s face turns bright red as he thinks about it as he tries to make his face colder with cryomancy to hide the blushing. “I’m not sure. Truthfully - and I’ll be entirely honest, I have strong feelings for her and I think she does for me as well.”

“We know that already...Toshi.” Amane laughs. “You sat beside her bed all night after carrying her into the room. She brought herself out here through the dangers of the Palace Area to stay by your side.”

Kyra speaks to Toshiro,”He’s right. It’s been very obvious.”

“Because the two of you aren’t obvious? Come on. The difference is I’m not lost in my emotions about her while you both seem to only be halfheartedly embracing it.” Toshiro says in defense of his actions and his emotions.

Kyra and Amane both look away from each other as he says that. Neither of them know what to say at this point, and definitely know that they can’t dissuade things due to their interactions. Amane wasn’t very good at expressing his emotions, but when he was around Kyra, they just came to surface. He trusted her with his life but he couldn’t explain the feelings he had for her. Kyra wasn’t sure how to express her feelings with him openly either, and she knew his mission came first.

“That’s what I thought.” Toshiro stated.

“I’m not going to say anything besides this: the mission comes first.” Amane added. “At this point in my life, the need to complete my mission is greater than the need for a love life. If it happens, it happens though, and I hopefully won’t miss that chance.”

“I agree with Amane. We don’t even know if we’ll make it out of this, but as he said: if it happens it happens.” Kyra said in agreement.

“It happened for me...and it happened before I left Quadrant Three. She looked after me during my cryo-sleep. She visited me after the two funerals. She stayed by my side. She brought me food. She took care of me. At first I felt like I just owed her for everything but in the end I realized, I really did care for her.” Toshiro replied. “She means a lot to me.”

Amane smiled at him happily,”Then I wish you the best for your future with her. “

“As do I.” Kyra added with a smile.

“Thanks.” Toshiro stated. “I don’t know what she sees in me though." He says with a laugh.

“You can cook.” Amane jokes.

“You can keep the house cold.” Kyra adds.

“You’re sensitive and artistic.” Amane continues on.

“Stop it.” Toshiro says sternly. “Were you both planning on this conversation?” He asks.

“No.” Amane states. “I just know you. You were my closest friend for most of my life. I’ve seen every side of you.”

“That’s a good point.” Toshiro retorts.

“You guys continue behaving and talking to each other. I’m going to check out the area and see what there is.” Kyra states as she runs off to shop. She was looking for seeds for her pouch.

Amane and Toshiro stare at each other for a minute in silence after she walks away. They hadn’t been alone together in a very long time and it was just awkward. Amane sighed and took a few steps back to the Dune Lizard and grabbed a sword off of it. “Spar with me.” Amane demands.

“Sure.” Toshiro agrees. “Rules?”

“Sheathed blades only. Each hit is a question answered.” Amane replies.

“Why the game?” Toshiro asks.

“We can’t talk to each other without getting into a fight.” Amane retorts.

“That’s true.” Toshiro adds.

Amane and Toshiro walk a little bit away from the dune lizards and begin sparring. Toshiro blocks Amane’s overhead slash with his sword horizontally and pushes him back. Toshiro swings his blade up sideways which Amane blocks. The two start getting faster with Amane taking the first hit.

Amane paused on his first hit and had a question in mind and as soon as he opened his mouth he forgot. “Sorry I forgot what I was going to say.” He said with a slight chuckle.

“Well, think of something.” Toshiro demands.

Amane pauses again,”What did you meditate on when you were on the beach?”

“I meditated on the events of our fateful day in Quadrant Three.” Toshiro replied.

“Did you come up..never mind. I need to get a hit again.” He laughed.

“One question at a time.” Toshiro retorts.

Amane engages him again and begins swinging his sword slightly faster. Toshiro blocks again and parries the attack then counters hitting Amane in the shoulder.

“Nice hit.” Amane states.

“Thanks.” Toshiro replies. “What happened to your mother?”

“That day after we separated, I headed home. While on my way, I heard a group of guys talking about how they killed someone and how it’d demoralize my father and myself. When I got there, my mother was lying down covered in blood. She kissed my forehead and touched my face. I had streaked blood from her fingers on my face and a dried, bloody lip mark on my forehead.”

Toshiro began attacking him faster again trying to get more answers, but was easily blocked by Amane, who was keeping up without a problem. Seeing a simple opening to allow a hit, Amane slowed down, allowing himself to be hit by Toshiro.

“You did that on purpose.” Toshiro states.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Amane said with a smirk.

Toshiro rolls his eyes and sighs,”What happened after that?”

“That’s why I got hit. I knew you were curious.” Amane laughs. “I woke up surrounded by dead guys and our fathers. I don’t recall anything else happening at that moment.”

“I remember what happened during that time.” Toshiro stated.

“It's too bad that I don’t. I don’t remember anything between those two points.” Amane replied.

Amane and Toshiro continue their sparring with questions. The two increase their pace again and Amane scores another hit on Toshiro, as he hits him lightly on his collar bone.

“Sorry, I wasn't trying to hit you there.”Amane apologizes for the slight inconvenience.

“Don’t worry about it.” Toshiro replies. “Question.”

“Why did Kitanni come with you?” Amane asks him, confused. “Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind. I was just surprised.”

“Honestly, that’s a good question. I think she came to help me if I got injured fighting you.” Toshiro replied to his question. “She’s protective of me.”

“I guess that’s a good enough reason.” Amane retorts.

Toshiro swung his sword down out of nowhere trying to score a cheap shot and was easily blocked. Amane laughed to himself, seeing that Toshiro clearly had something he wanted to ask, but he wasn’t going to give a free shot at anything. Amane quickly swung his sword for the right side and was blocked just as easily as Toshiro’s last one.

“Here comes Kyra.” Toshiro says with a sly smile.

Amane turns his head slightly to check and is immediately hit by a stabbing motion. He shakes his head and rolls his eyes while continuing to shake his head. “That was cheap.”

“You’re easily distracted.” Toshiro laughs to himself. “A hit is a hit.”

“Sure is. Question away.” Amane states.

“What is going on with you and Kyra?” He asks bluntly. “Don’t think I’ve ever seen someone drag you around like she did for your foot race.”

Amane places his blade into his sash and starts walking. “Come with me. I don’t want them to come up in this conversation.”

Toshiro holsters his blade into the back of his jacket and follows behind Amane. He wasn’t sure what was entirely going on, but he was curious to see what Amane had to say. When Amane stopped behind a building he stopped behind it as well and waited for his answer.

Sighing, Amane begins to speak,”Truthfully, I don’t know. There’s something about her I just feel drawn to. Not to mention after using so much of my energy fighting your team, and then you. I used up a good bit of energy and my power was draining due to the armor. I went to attack the general and my power just fizzled out. I hit the ground in the forest. She saved me from being taken back to Yama Zengo. She was my first friend after everything happened.” He said the last part looked down due to his past experiences.

Toshiro leaned up against the wall as he listened to Amane speak. He knew that Amane had been through the worst since everything started, but he wasn’t aware of every feeling that was going through him. Now he had an idea of what he was fighting. “Not going to question this too much since it seems pretty obvious to me. There’s definitely some feelings for her in there that are more than friendly. Feelings you’ve pushed down because of this mission, because you don’t think you’re going to make it. That’s all the more reason to accept them and live as normally as you can.”

“You may be right, Toshiro, but it doesn’t feel natural right now to bring feelings into this. I feel the same way about you and Kitanni. I worry about you all as is, but a romantic relationship in the middle of fighting? Life or death, I can’t give priority to anyone. We all have to be in top form without the worry of: is our girlfriend okay? Is our boyfriend okay? I can’t let a relationship supersede my mission. Peace is important for everyone and I can find love later, after this is over.” Amane replied sternly, but clearly emotional about it. He knew it, Toshiro knew it, everyone probably knew it, Amane had a crush on Kyra and it was as simple as that.

Toshiro shook his head and sighed deeply. Nothing about Amane had changed too much on this topic. It was clear he was still trying to avoid his emotions about it. Not that it had happened before to his knowledge since they were usually together when they were younger. “You never know, Amane. It might make you stronger in the future to have that connection.”

“The future isn’t right now. Like I said earlier, if something happens, it happens. No reason to jump into something right now. I haven’t known Kyra for that long.” He states in response. He wasn’t against it happening, it just wasn’t in the front of his mind, especially since he didn’t think he’d survive.

“Stubborn as always.” Toshiro sighed and stared at Amane. “Eventually those feelings are going to come out and you’re going to have to deal with it.”

“Today is not that day, old friend.” Amane replies with a laugh. “I don’t want to promise myself to anyone when I’m not sure of my future.”

“That’s understandable.” Toshiro agrees. “Tell me something though.”

“What do you want to know?” Amane asks.

“Why are you trying so hard to prove to me what happened?” He bluntly asks, seeing no reason to beat around it.

“Ah. Kitanni, told you I see.” Amane took a deep breath and cleared his throat. “Toshiro, we’ve been through a lot in our lives. You were my first, closest, and best friend. One event turned everything around and I don’t really understand why, because I don’t know what happened for sure. I just want my friend back, and I’m doing what I can to make that happen. We’ve had each other’s back for years.”

Toshiro didn’t know what to say after hearing straight from Amane. There was nothing different about it when Kitanni told him, but hearing it coming from him, hit his emotions differently. This was his oldest friend basically pleading to him for a chance. He didn’t know how to respond.

“You don’t have to say anything.” Amane looks over to see the others returning back. “However, we should get back to the lizards.”

“Yeah.” Toshiro said quietly.

“If you want to talk more just ask me: Question Spar. I’ll know what you’re talking about.” Thinking about it, Amane paused and nodded to his own inner thoughts. “We should share this technique with others. It’d help us open to each other more.”

“I don’t see a purpose to that, Amane. We get along with everyone else.” Toshiro says with a stern look.

“True enough. We’ll see how it goes in the future.” He replies.

Amane and Toshiro walk back to the lizards before the rest of the group arrives and places their swords back on the bags. There was no reason they needed to know that they were sparring to get along. Amane was letting it go for now, but if it brought him and Toshiro closer together he’d use it. Toshiro was thinking about their conversation and the trading of blows for questions. He thought if they were already fighting they wouldn’t be really fighting.

“What were you guys doing?” Kitanni asked.

“Talking.” Toshiro replies.

“Well, that’s surprising.” Teo adds.

“Same thought I had.” Amane retorted before he asked his own question. “Did you find anything useful?”

“Found some ingredients. Minerals for dreamscaping and shared dreaming. A few things that help with retaining memory, and helping keep your memories. It could all be helpful.” Teo responds to him. “We’re getting somewhere on that front.”

“I’m glad to hear it. I’m excited to know that we’re moving forward with this.” Amane replied.

“There is another stop coming up, I’d like to take a look at. It’s supposed to be even more like a small merchant town before Areno.” Teo adds.

“Let’s check it out too.” Kyra replies.

Kitanni came up and put her arms around Toshiro's neck and pulled him down to her. She whispered into his ear,”Did you two get along while we were gone?”

“As much as we could. We just talked.” Toshiro replied. His face was slightly red because she was so close to him and he wasn’t used to doing this in person.

She kissed his cheek, ”I’m so glad that you two got along. He doesn’t seem like a bad guy.”

“You’re right...he doesn’t.” Toshiro added. He definitely did seem like the same Amane he had always known.

“Did I miss something?” Teo asks.

“Just some conversation.” Amane replied. As he watched Kitanni and Toshiro, his mind lingered on the last part of the conversation with Toshiro. He didn’t want to put her in danger or the group in danger by being more involved but he’d be lying to himself if he didn’t want to be close to someone...that someone being Kyra.

Kyra was also watching their interaction and wasn’t sure how she felt about it either. She knew her father was after her about getting married, and had been trying to set her up. Her father had tried to set her up before she left and she turned them all down based on their reputations. She only wanted to be with someone with ‘gray eyes’ which was an Arenian trait that only the Elder had in Quadrant Two. The person she was talking about though was: Amane.

Kyra and Amane were on a path towards being together...they just didn't know it entirely yet.

“There’s another stop in another couple hours or so. Are we ready to go?” Teo asks.

“I’m ready.” Amane replies.

“As am I.” Kyra adds.

“Same.” Kitanni agrees.

Toshiro says,”Let’s get going then.”

Kitanni gets on their lizard followed by Toshiro behind her. Kyra gets on the lizard  in front of Amane and is excited about it. Teo gets on his lizard after adding the new ingredients to his bags. They began their second ride to the next location. The clouds were rolling in and the skies were becoming dark but not just from the stormy weather but the sun was going down too. Between their crazy morning with Teo’s trial, and the traveling through the desert, it was beginning to get late.

Amane had the reins in his hands still and Kyra was sitting in front of him with his arms basically wrapped around her. Kyra had a smile on her face and Amane had a soft smile on his face as well. Toshiro and Kitanni were sitting the same way, which is what made Kyra want to change their position.

Kitanni leaned back into Toshiro and started talking to him,”What did you guys talk about?”

“A few different things. The day his mother died. Relationships. Why you came with me? The reason he was trying to prove to me what happened.” Toshiro replied.

“Oh.” Kitanni replied with a somber tone in her voice. “He told you?”

“He did but he didn’t seem mad at you or anything like that.” Toshiro stated. “Informational for sure.”

“Are you getting along better with him now?” Kitanni asked.

“I don’t know but we seem to have a better understanding of each other. I’ll tell you this though: he’s got some issues wanting to form deeper relationships.” He explains. “He’s too focused on his mission that he thinks forming a more romantic connection would hinder him.”

“Hasn’t he been alone for a while? And he’s been raised as a warrior before everything else, at least according to you.” Kitanni paused for a second before continuing. “I can see it clearly as the day where his romantic interests lie.”

“As can I.” Toshiro retorts.

“The difference is: you can see it and I can feel it. The emotional bonds he’s made with all of us are clear, and he uses them to keep us safe. All of us. I don’t think he wants to jeopardize all of us for one, even if it's clear that he wants to be something more with our Elven Princess.” Kitanni states. “He’s learning.”

Toshiro snickers under his breath. It was so simple for Kitanni to see everything that was going on, and he wasn’t sure if it was a power of empathy or if she was very observant..or both. “You’re a dangerous woman when it comes to information.”

“Easy to tell when you’ve been in love for a while. You can generally see it after that.” Kitanni states.

“What do you think Kyra is feeling; if you’re so good at this?” Toshiro asks out of curiosity and as a joke.

“From my own perspective, I think Kyra is just as confused about her feelings, but she seems to understand her emotions better than he does his. She changed her position clearly so his arms were wrapped around her.” Kitanni stated with confidence in her own opinion.

“I can definitely see that being the case. I do think they’ll end up together sooner or later. I think Amane needs time to come to it on his own terms. I also don’t think he wants to get involved because he doesn’t think that…” He paused. “Never mind, I shouldn’t say that.”

“Little late now, Toshiro.” Kitanni says with a slight laugh. “What’s going on?”

Toshiro sighs deeply knowing he had said too much now. “Before he went off to the war, we met in person one last time. He told me that he didn’t think he’d survive his destiny. He believes he’s going to die in this battle against the Sorcerer. Which would explain why he doesn’t want to get involved.”

Kitanni nodded in agreement now seeing the side that was supposed to be hidden from everyone. He fought for everyone, and didn’t want to jeopardize everything he was working for. It wasn’t that he didn’t care about romance, it was that he was needed elsewhere at the time. “I’ll do my best to not let it slip.” She says with a slight worry and giggles in her voice.

“I hope so.” Toshiro stated.