Blaze Of Shadows [A World In Embers]

A Shadow's Imitation

Ryu found himself in the realm of his subconscious, his otherwise identical twin known as his subconscious had a somewhat expressionless mask slipped on his face. " What do I call you?" Ryu asked, raising an eyebrow in curiosity.

" You may give me any name you so please, however, I can hardly see the use since I'm part of you" it replied. " Okay I'll name you Kage, can you tell me the source of my powers?"

" Your lineage was one that once consisted of shadow weavers but during a time of it's rampant misuse, Lord Tetsujin decided to take away the power flow. However because you were a powerful shadow weaver in your previous life, you still had an affinity for shadows and enclosed spaces"

" But if he stopped the power flow years ago why did he open it again? If he saw the need to close it the first time why did he open it now?" Said a confused Ryu. " I am sorry Ryu but that is one question I cannot answer" Kage replied with a stoic expression.

Ryu gazed on while his mind raced. " Your mind is still troubled" Kage observed. Ryu was about to lie but then thought better of it, after all, it would mean lying to himself. " Yes..." Ryu began then changed the topic. " How would I know if I would be able to go up against Hikari when next we meet, I'm not exactly as strong as him to be honest" Ryu said.

" No... You're an army and therefore stronger than him" Kage said, a little forcefully. " However I can train you if you wish" Kage proposed with a hint of a smile in his voice. " Yes okay" Ryu agreed.

" Then let us begin" Kage said serious now and charged forward. " As your subconscious, I can do anything you can in this realm " he mummured. Ryu met himself on the ground in microseconds.

" You're too slow!" Kage grinned. " Come on!" Ryu breathed and got up, suddenly noticing kage with a sword. " Pick up yours" Kage nodded to Ryu who did so eagerly, Ryu was faster an d more confident with a weapon.

" I wish you luck Ryu" Kage taunted and charged again pressing attack after attacks on Ryu who focused on defense. " You fight me as you would an innocent human, I will remain as long as you remain alive, unleash your potential" Kage advised.

Then the tempo of the training changed to something somewhat vicious, Ryu seemed to have come unhinged and released a sharp barrage of attacks, thrusts and slashes with the hope of bearing down on Kage's defense.

" Good " Kage mummured and continued on defense while at the same time, he bid his time until the perfect moment -by then of course, Ryu wasn't expecting it -Kage delivered a shadow infused jab to Ryu's left shoulder. The jab which had hit him with the kinetic energy of a thousand kilotons of TNT sent him flying and crashed him to the ground in a flurry of dust.

***

Meanwhile Hanzo was in their tactical room during a late night work on the situation, the rest were in their beds sleeping but sleep had successfully managed to elude him, he was of average height and build with spiky brown hair and eyes, given some dedicated time to himself he was handsome unlike Hayato who was handsome in a rather rugged kind of way, Hanzo's boyish features gave him a rather gentle attractiveness which was now marred by lack of sleep. He recalled the conversation with Kenshi and the others earlier.

***

"... Well... This certainly complicates... Things" Hanzo said and swallowed, Kenshi had just told them about the encounter between him and Kenji. " Is there any chance that he might be after your head?" Hayato asked in concern.

" Well ... it's a possibility... right?" Kasumi replied. " Well we better hope not" Ryu said through clenched teeth. " If this is what he wants, then I will respect it..." Kenshi started. " Chikusho! Uncle what you did was right in the very basic sense alright? If he had any sense he should applaud you for getting rid of that scum bag!" Ryu fumed and everyone kept quiet, it was the first time he had ever called Kenshi Uncle.

***

Since then he had been a little disturbed with the thought of if anything should happened to Kenshi under his watch, the fact that Ryu would go berserk was imminent but he would not be able to stop it, if it happens and he would be as helpless as everyone else.

His heart sank with dread of how Hikari might want to exact his revenge and he knew within himself that he should be held as responsible as everyone else for standing by to watch the death of a man who had been more of a father to him than his actually father.

***

Ryu came crashing into the earth with enough force to crumble a small mountain. " I've never heard of someone literally being beaten by his conscience" Kage sneered. " Let me know when you're ready for a real challenge." " No wait" Ryu said through gritted teeth and charged forward.

If anything their continued duel had made minor changes on Ryu's resilience, stamina and speed which Ryu was about to utilize, with a few minor thrusts and parries Ryu got into position for his only devastating... " "Kage no Shūen" (Shadow's End)" Ryu called and watched the air distort in preparation, he waited for the precise moment and fired the attack which hit it's Mark with Kage as the target.

However instead of a full blown explosion, Ryu got a shock, Kage managed to hold the attack and convert it to his own. " "Kage no Shūen" "Kage no Shūen" Kage mummured in a fast gutteral expulsion while Ryu watched, transfixed by shock as he watched his attack grow to become Kage's own.

Kage continue his chant, breaking off only to say. " My turn Ryu!" He fired it back with a final loud yell and the shadowy projectile began it's supposed deadly return to it's initial owner now turned target, leaving a deal of devastating tendrils of Darkness in it's wake...