#ketsuo

[old-skull]

[edgardlops]

the art of ketsuotategami

[ap86]

Orphans Will Chapter 13 Rough Draft

Ketsuo came to after that supernatural and otherworldly experience, “What the hell was that all about?" 

Ketsuo walked down the stairs with sheathed sword bouncing off his hip. He felt a new sense of confidence, knowing that he can now use his own creation. 

"Hey, boy,” Ryuu spoke. Ryuu was dressed in his military uniform, “Have you done it?”

“I didn’t learn much from, but the power should be turned down,” Ketsuo nodded to Ryuu, “Say, Ryuu-san, what do you resonate?" 

Ryuu, who was leaned up against a wall, gave a slight giggle, "I am not a resonator in the sense of fighting. I am a resonator in a sense of evaluation.”

This caught Ketsuo by surprise, “What? What do you mean? You’re Vice Admiral! Surely you must be powerful." 

"I am boy. I didn’t acquire my position through mere talk. I earned my title,” Ryuu took out one of his twin swords, “Can you answer a question for me?" 

"Yes Sir.”

“Can you explain to me what resonance really is?” Ryuu put the sword back in its sheath and waited for an answer.“ 

Ketsuo swallowed, "Resonance is the hidden energy in everyone’s body that allows the resonator to achieve certain powers. Only a select few can resonate.”

Ryuu shook his head, “That is a correct,and incorrect answer, boy,”

Ryuu pointed to his chest, “Resonance is the power is and isn’t a hidden energy. The people do not know they have resonance. Only a select few know how to activate it. A resonator does not achieve certain powers from using his or her own’s resonance. Resonance enhances abilities, and not just combat abilities at that, boy,” Ryuu then pointed to his head, “Resonance is also compatible with the brain. Lawyers and doctors for example unknowingly use the resonance that manifested in their brain to become successful. The military openly welcomes any resonator in UA territory, and only the elemental resonators are in their own team. I am one of the rare resonators. What I lack in elemental firepower, I gain in evaluation and velocity resonance. ”

“What is that Ryuu-san?” Ketsuo asked.

“Evaluation resonance,” Ryuu pointed to Ketsuo, “Is the ability to sense the resonance of other people to a maximum degree. I am a master dual swordsman as is, so while I was disappointed in that I couldn’t have any combat resonance, evaluation worked to my advantage. I am not only able to sense energy, but my evaluation of the battlefield is so acute, I can even predict moves before they are even thought of. Like a chess match. As for my velocity resonance, I've trained so much to the point where my body can react as quick as my mind. I can foresee any attack from any one fighter I focus on, and be able to parry and strike whatever I foresee in time.”

“Was your power so incredible that you were able to skip ranks?” Ketsuo asked in awe amazement.

“No boy,” Ryuu chuckled, “I met a girl, about four years ago. I think she is about your age now. Her name is Rin Kimura. She is one of the most powerful girls I’ve ever met.”

“Rin Kimura… Where have I heard that name before…”

“Rin Kimura is a dual resonator. Like me. She is a prodigy in both tactical strategy and restoration resonance. She has helped me countless times when I needed it.” Ryuu said.

Ketsuo paused for a moment, “How did you become the Vice Admiral? What was your advantage?" 

Ryuu grinned, "You’ll meet them soon enough. We are leaving for Tokyo tomorrow. You and Yoshiro are to meet the members of your squadron.”

Ketsuo was a little confused, “I don’t know anything about the military. How can Yoshiro and I lead a team?”

“You will take orders from Lance and I until we see you can act independently. Then you will be promoted.”

Fujimoto was gushing over the TV screen. He was watching cartoons while Yoshiro was eating lunch, “Oooo they’re sooo cute!” Fujimoto cooed as he saw little cartoon puppies whimpering on screen.

“Erhm, Sensei?” Ketsuo was trying not to laugh as he was watching his stone cold, wise Sensei, acting like a child.

“WHAT?!” Fujimoto boomed angrily. Ketsuo fell back on his ass in fear, “Oh, it’s you. Hello young one. I take it you have understood the sword?”

Ketsuo’s hand gripped the handle of the sword, his knuckles turning white from the amount of force he put in frustratingly, “No Sensei. If anything, this raises more questions." 

Sensei looked at Ketsuo sympathetically. Sensei saw a simple young man in front of him, but behind that facade was layers and layers of complexity that even Ketsuo himself didn’t know, "I don’t think there is anything left for me to teach you. Lance taught you well, and I only refined your techniques and skills. Experience will complete the rest of your training,” Fujimoto got up from the sofa and shook Ketsuo’s hand, “Be careful. It is a DANGEROUS world out there. Until we meet again." 

Sensei turned to Yoshiro who had just finished his meal, "Get up Yoshiro, it is time for you to leave.”

Ketsuo saw a different Yoshiro. He didn’t change much physically, but he was more quiet. He stood more confidently than before. Ketsuo didn’t need to hear Yoshiro boast about how good he was, the pride oozed out of his pores without him having to do anything. Yoshiro had his armor on at almost all times, it fit his body perfectly and was never to tight nor to loose. He walked to the closet and grabbed a large trench coat, and the proceeded to button it all the way, so that only his face and boots were showing, “I’ll return, Sensei, and when I do, my power will dwarf yours!” Yoshiro pointed at Sensei while shouting, and walked out the door. Ryuu followed him outside, starting the car and closing the door behind him, leaving Ketsuo and Fujimoto alone. 

They both chuckled, “Who knows how much the both of you will change when I next see you. I’ll have to spar with you the next time we meet. Good luck.” Fujimoto said.

Ketsuo smiled at Fujimoto, “Till next time Sensei.”

Ketsuo let go of the handle of the sword, and walked outside to meet with Ryuu and Yoshiro.

To be Continued…

[ap86]

Orphans Will Chapter 12 Rough Draft

This battlefield was different than the others that Ketsuo remembered from his dreams. He wasn't in a forest, he wasn't retreating to an abandoned, torn down high school, he wasn't looking at the aftermath of a battle. He was over them, literally. He could see resonators bombarding each side with flashing beams of fire, electricity, and water. He could see each individual duel between every weapon wielder. Ketsuo swallowed, and looked up at the sky, which cast a familiar pink glow. He looked back at the battlefield, and saw himself fighting. The fighting Ketsuo kicked an enemy soldier into a large group, and looked up, staring at Ketsuo through flashing pupils as jolting as electricity itself. The Ketsuo in battle then turned his head and stared at the edge of the battlefield. There were two gigantic portals on each end, and one of them was active.

Ketsuo blinked, dazed and confused, he analyzed his surroundings. 

The room was cool, and slightly damp. Dust grazed the wooden floor. It would've been a pitch black room if it wasn't for the room having one window that had sunlight fill the room. That sword of his was relaxing in its sheath, propped against a wall. 

Ketsuo had dozed off in a chair directly across from the sword, "Oh yeah... Fujimoto put me in here..."

The night before...

"You do know it was impossible to engrave that number on the hilt don't you? How did you manage to do it?" Fujimoto asked Ketsuo.

"I don't understand it either. I can't explain most of what has happened the past few months!" Ketsuo spoke, "I just put all of my resonance into that sword as per your instruction  Sensei."

"But at the end, your resonance skyrocketed. For a split second, it seemed more powerful than any other military resonator I've trained... Say.." Fujimoto tossed the sword, already in its sheath, to Ketsuo, "Unsheathe the sword, I'm curious about something."

Ketsuo unsheathed the sword only for an unbelievable amount of resonance to engulf Ketsuo's body. "Ryuu-san what is that?!" Yoshiro shouted as they were spectating, "I don't know boy, but it looks like he's put more energy into that sword than he can handle!" Ryuu shouted. 

Ketsuo glanced at the blade itself, and saw those eyes in the reflection again, What is that? Ketsuo thought. Suddenly the sword started to get more and more powerful until Ketsuo was forced to sheathe it.

"I understand now." Fujimoto said, "You have yet to understand your weapon. Let the weapon teach you." Fujimoto motioned Ketsuo to walk inside with him. 

Fujimoto lead him to a dark room, and placed the sword on a wall, and pulled up a chair facing the blade, "I want you to meditate, be at peace with yourself. Find yourself in that blade, and understand what makes it and you so powerful."

Ketsuo lifted the sword, still in its sheathe, and swung it around. He was treating it like it was a spear with the exception of not throwing it. Moving a sword like a spear worked out flawlessly in that the sword felt as light, if not lighter than one of his spears.

"What the hell are you?" Ketsuo unsheathed the sword.

The spark that came with the blade as he unsheathed it temporarily blinded Ketsuo with the amount of electric resonance the sword actually contained. Ketsuo shut his eyes, but when he opened them, he was in a desert, with a pink sky. 

This looks so much like my dream, Ketsuo thought, But where are the portals? 

Ketsuo looked around, it looked like he was in just another barren land, like in his dreams. All of a sudden, a strange, hooded man showed up. 

"Hello Ketsuo," The hooded figure spoke. This man was slightly taller than Ketsuo, and had his entire body covered in clothing. He had his hood up, and he wore a large trench coat that hid his body. All Ketsuo could see was the mouth; a grin that was more sincere than anything he saw from the past, and the future. 

"Who are you." Ketsuo asked. He could not feel any resonance emulating from this guy, but he felt so intimidating to Ketsuo. 

"You surprised me when you created that sword. I had expected you to mature a lot more before you would even think of creating a weapon with such resonance. You are not yet prepared to learn of the truth." 

"What truth?! I just wanted to be able to use the sword. The power in this sword is too high for me to even contain, and who are you? What is that power that I get when I open the sword? These dreams that I am having, what the HELL do they mean? Why am I he--"

The man lifted his hand up, as if to silence him, "You will find those answers in due time. I will deactivate the Orphans Will from your sword and leave the power hidden dormant in your body. You will open it when you are ready. For now Ketsuo, you must find your own path. You must live your life the way you want to live it. Shape yourself into who you want to be, and you will learn the truth, and gain the power when the time is right. You are more experienced than I thought, but you will need more experience before you can see me again." He's going to need a lot more experience before he can use our power, the hooded man thought to himself. 

Ketsuo looked at the hooded figure with confusion, "What have I learned from this? Sensei told me that the sword would teach me everything, and your telling me I'm not ready? I've been more ready for anything than I've ever been!"

"You have yet to realize the joys of life before we can tell you. If you were to learn now, the amount of information given to use would probably break you." The hooded man said, "Don't worry, you will know when and how to come back later, and I'll be waiting. Farewell."

"Wait--" Ketsuo was interrupted by the amount of light that exploded from the hooded man, a blinding light flashed, and in an instant, Ketsuo was back in the dark room. It was now night, and the light from the blade which illuminated the room started to fade. 

Ketsuo sat in pure darkness, assessing and analyzing everything that had happened just now. He had the sheathe in one hand, and the blade in the other. 

"What did he say," Ketsuo whispered to himself, "About deactivating something in the blade? What truth does he mean?"

To Be Continued...