11. Rasengan?
Time flies when you’re having fun.
I’ll be almost five in two months, and life’s been good.
The threat of Hitogami still exists, but I’m no longer working myself into an early grave because of it. Nor am I worrying about my own existence, or worrying others for it. I have fully come to terms with what my life is, and what it means. Training with my father in the yard during early mornings, practicing with Roxy in the afternoons, and ending with some nightly lessons. I have reached a good equilibrium.
I can even take days off when things become too much.
I mean, I always could, but now I’m encouraged to do so. Overall life is quite carefree, and that's fine with me.
Swing. Clash.
…mostly…
Right...
Right now I’m sparring with Paul.
Dodge.
Lately our sparring sessions have gotten… ‘intense.’
Intersecting blades, me and him, going through the motions-
Strike.
-we strike wood on wood, as we practice, Practice sword vs practice sword.
…I only wish he wasn’t so competitive.
Strike.
“Ow,” I’m struck on the shoulder.
“That’s six deaths, four more and we’ll call it a day,” Paul voiced.
Yeah… Like a video game, Paul gives me ‘10 lives’ while we’re sparring and after dealing the ‘10th deathblow,’ I can rest.
Consequently I can also rest after giving him one deathblow, but… that’s a work in progress for the time being…
Can I hit you? Please let me hit you! It would do wonders for my self confidence I mean. Don’t you know… a father should let themselves get hit to boost their sons ego. Right? Right?! Now let me give you once!
How did I get stuck in this situation?
Thinking back on it, I was showing off to Roxy how I improved on reinforcement magic(fake toki), and how I’ll be surpassing swordsmen soon, now that I can layer it.
Unfortunately, I did not notice Paul behind me when I said it.
Clash. Clash.
He disagreed.
Striking swords, once from the left, another from the right. It's a dance of blades.
It’s heavy. Alright, time to up the difficulty.
“Trace on,” I cast reinforcement. A green glimmering effect washes over my body, as the spell and toki interact. This is the improvement I made. The reinforcement technique I developed, rather than the Fate version, had a few issues. Luckily as I got closer and closer to cracking it, I created something similar to a different franchise instead, specifically RWBY. Now glowing green I now have a small forcefield on my person.
Even if it is thin.
Oh that's right, I have Toki now.
How? Uh-huh…
One day I just got hit by Paul over the shoulder, swung my stick in frustration, and in that moment of frustration, my vision went white, my body felt like I was on fire, and, in one powerful thrust…
Bam… it came out.
A ‘that,’ feeling washed over me, similar to that of reinforcement, but different. It's to a lesser degree, and as such weaker as a cost. But it is still there. And as weak as it is, it is still easier to control. Granted it's not as strong as it should be, probably because I can only activate it in tandem with it's spell version, but it is an added layer of defense, and two layers, even weak layers, will always be better then one. For five minutes at a time I can fight with double defense.
Unfortunately I glow green when hit.
Paul smirked at my invocation.
Right… that…
Paul being the competitive pops he is, the moment he sees the green glow, he knows it's time to take it up a notch, and then all of a sudden his strikes get heavier, and his movements become faster. Don’t know if he’s trying to strengthen my Toki skill or what not, but I'm forced to keep up.
Whoosh. His body starts zooming about.
Clash. Our swords collide, his blade hitting mine, and my hand being forced upwards.
I make some distance, stepping backwards, reinforcing the step to get as much distance as possible.
Swoosh. Seconds later though he comes down with a swing at me, and I dodge. Can’t afford to clash in my position, I’ll lose my balance, and ‘die.’
Swing. Dodge. Swing. Dodge. Swing. Dodge...
Running circles around me, I can only see the ghost of his figure before I lose sight of him.
Clash. Dammit, we crossed blades. My sword arm forced left, he comes from the right, my torso is open, and he swings horizontally. I try to step off, only to get hit at the leg. I hobbled of into a retreat, and-
Strike. Swing. Strike. Strike. Strike. Break!
My spell is shattered.
I didn’t see his swings, but I sure felt them.
Four strikes land on my body as well as three glows, as well as what sounds like glass shattering, and that is the telltale signs of my reinforcement/toki failing.
I’ve been mercilessly beaten.
Once in the head, two over the heart, and one in the stomach. My body shimmers green under the last strike, meaning the spell is over, as well as our match.
“My win again Rudy. I think you're lasting longer,” he complimented? With a shit eating smirk on his face.
Please let me hit you.
“God dammit. Maybe if I-no that wouldn’t work, hahhh... couldn’t you take it easy on me?” I asked.
“I am taking it easy on you~”
“Riiight… that’s why you were running circles around me?”
“That’s why you were casting magic?”
“...I’m just leveling the playing field,” I defended.
I’m four dammit! Almost five!
“Heh~ Rudy’s so serious,” he throws his arm over my shoulder. “Don’t worry there's always next time."
That’s true.
“But I doubt it.” His grin is back.
Honesty just explode…
Manipulating my use of mana, I freeze the moisture over Paul’s back, and condense it, making an ice cube, and letting it fall down his shirt.
“Eeep!” A feminine scream coming out of him.
How cute. Now bye.
Free from his grip, I dashed away to Roxy’s sweet embrace.
Who the hell wants to smell like old man anyway?!
///
“My muscles are sore,” I’m now groaning in an open field.
The ban might have been lifted, but I’m still not allowed to use healing magic on myself. Something about a relapse. I can perform magic on others, just not myself. If necessary I am to look for Zenith, or Roxy, but I’m not allowed to spam it like I did in the past.
“Sure you don’t want me to heal you?” Roxy added, floating a small distance away.
“Yep, have to build up a pain tolerance somehow.”
That and I have to take into account that magic isn’t just an extra ingredient, but something imperative to the human body. Unnecessary healing might do more harm than good. The endorphins alone…
Well... I was lucky my body didn’t go through withdrawals. It’s just a theory, but not worth finding out.
Anyhow, I am now messing around with Roxy(read: playing), as it is one of life’s many pleasures. Along with helping villagers out, or even grape stomping.
Surprisingly good for stress relief.
Oh! And of course god-damned magic!
Have I ever said how amazing magic is? Cause it is~
It’s one of my favorite weekend activities when I'm not being so Rude-ly interrupted.
I snap my fingers.
Magic practice for the record, not study, theirs a big difference between the two. As one is the bane of my existence, while the other is an excuse indulge my inner weeaboo.
After recovering from a mana exhaustion fever, my control has been skyrocketing ever since. Earth, water, fire, wind, and I can control them easily. Well… within reason.
I’m not summoning a typhoon anytime soon.
Although~
Regardless, I can, and so...
I stand up, and walk a few steps away from Roxy, earning my space.
“Earth,” I stomped the ground. Rock burst from the ground.
“Water,” I whipped my hands out, and water whips flow out.
“Fire,” I turned them into fist and thrust to the sides, fire balls going in those directions.
“Wind,” I performed a jumping roundhouse kick, and let the winds spin and carry me on the way down.
“I’m the avatar…”
“What are you doing Rudy?” A sweet voice called from behind me.
“Studying?” Playing.
“Is that so,” says a floating Roxy. Doing her best Iron man impression as she has her hands by her side, creating a perpetual wind, and hovering in place.
Oh, that's right she's taken up my experiments too.
I mean... she always did, to a certain degree, but she seems to pay attention to me more.
...sometimes too much, but that's a topic for a different day.
In any case, she’s working on some flight magic we developed. It took me a while to remember the concepts of lift, and drag, but we’ve developed an early draft for flight magic. Well we say flight, but it’s really more floating in place. In a windy day wen can even glide.
There is another problem though.
I can see them... She’s wearing a skirt… I can totally see her underwear.
Not my fault. Honest. She's just so...
I'll respect Roxy's pride and stay silent on it.
I don’t know how I’ll breach it, the topic I mean, not the- you know what... forget it. When the time comes, the time comes, until then I'll put it at the back of my mind.
Like Roxy's Pant-
Begone Vile Thoughts!
Alright, but seriously, it's time for magical experiments; a.k.a: Rasengan!
Why? Because it’s the goddamn Rasengan!
If you are reborn in a magical universe, and you’re not trying to recreate the Rasengan, you surely aren’t living!
I mean… come on… Rasengan!
If you come from the real world, and then find yourself in a world of fantasy, well why not fulfill a fantasy?
“Trace on,” taking out my hand I imagine the winds swirling, around and around, and then; “Wind blast,” I send a spell, feeding it the momentum to keep it going and, then…
“Rasengan!”
Adding some more.
“Nice wind blast,” Roxy complimented, as she floated back to earth.
Do you have any idea how distracting you are?
Ignoring the flashing sensei-
nickname for later?
My control really has gone up and beyond what is normal.
The time before my sickness, when I was training every day, I was unable to see my progress because my body was too exhausted to produce any results. But after it... it felt like my body was making up for lost time with added efficiency.
Hurray, I can now start my dreams... of lifting skirts in another world. As if!
“Well, at least it’s visible now, so that’s something.”
"Wouldn’t that just make it easier for your enemies to judge?”
The fact that I can see it means that I am gathering quite a bit of mana into that wind, so that’s a plus.
But it's also true that it's very visually stimulating.
Oy, shut up sensei! Who told you to bring logic into this.
I glared at her.
“...couldn't let me have one victory could you.”
“You have enough of those. Speaking of, I heard about reinforcement. Congratulations, I know how much effort you put into it," she rubbed my head. “Although…” she puts a finger to her bottom lip. “I always thought you like analysis better."
“Ah, I still practice it, just not around sensei.”
She gives me a frown.
“You’re not sneaking off training again are you?”
“Don’t look at me like that. I’m sure you would have noticed if I was pushing myself to my limits.”
“That’s true. Wait, you made progress?”
“Kind of, here,” I reach out for her hand. “May I?”
She gives me her hand understanding my intent.
I put a finger on her palm releasing my energy into it.
“Sensei’s a mage so she can feel it right? My energy going through your hand. Flowing. I can see sensei closely, her bones, her muscles. For example… here,” I trace my finger up to her shoulder, and press gently upon it. I say see, but it’s more like echo location, or maybe an x-ray? Regardless, I’ve gotten quite good at seeing someone's insides.
Sounds more gruesome than it actually is. It's actually quite safe. No dark magic at all. None. Definitely falls under healing. Probably.
“Mmh,” a moan escapes her.
“Your muscles are a bit in a knot under the armpits. You’ve been pushing yourself flying sensei,” I say with closed eyes, concentrating on the feel of my mana.
“I-I see,” she says. “This is very-wait a minute! How exactly have you been training this if you haven’t been training around me?”
"Ummm...."
"Rudy..." She gives me a cold look.
"...your eyes are really good at that."
"Rudeus."
I noticed her staff glowing as well.
Oy! What are you doing? I’m innocent, stop that.
“Like I said… if I were doing something out of hand you would know.”
“Yet you didn't tell me you were still practicing,” she reiterated.
“...”
“I’ll tell your mom.”
“...massages…” I confess.
“...who?” she questioned.
“Lilia…”
"..."
"..."
“You’re still at it,” she puts a hand to her forehead as she shakes her head in disbelief. “I thought you’d given up. Didn’t she say, and I quote; ‘Master Rudeus should pursue woman closer his age.’”
“Wrong... She said I would be 'happier,' if I pursued someone my age, not that I should pursue someone my age. Besides, it’s strictly medical. Medical."
“Yes, yes. Of course it is. I remember, you showing me all about your 'medical expertise.' Didn’t know you were still at it.”
“Well, you can’t argue with results. Besides, I’m not the only one having romance troubles, am I.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“You know. That guy. I’ve been wanting to ask for a while, but who's the kid hovering over by the hillside?”
That’s right, lately sensei has had a hoodie wearing kid following her around.
In fact…
“Their not really good at hiding,” I peer into the horizon.
Right now I can easily see him only a hop away.
Well at least I don’t have to worry about them being a peeping tom if they're that far. I doubt they could have seen Sensei’s panties.
Probably.
“So, who is he?”
“I don’t know,” she sat down to rest.
“You haven’t asked?”
“Everytime I go to them they start running away.”
So… definitely a child…
“...good luck?”
She gave me an impassive look.
“Why do I feel you're thinking something unnecessary?”
“Just your imagination. The magic in your head is making you loopy. Want a scalp massage? I heard I'm quite good at them~"
"...I think I heard Paul saying the other day if he could extend his lessons."
"I'll be good."
I surrendered.
"Sooo… wanna catch them? We both know you can if you want to,” I added.
Not difficult. Sensei has flight magic after all.
Hop magic?
“What do you want me to do, kidnap them, and ask them?” she retorted. “If he has something to say he’ll say it. If not, then not. I have no time to entertain children.”
“Hello there!” I waved at her.
“You don’t count.”
“I’m hurt!”
“You know what I mean!” She huffed, getting to her feet, and bending slightly at her break in character. “You're as much a child as I am.”
“So I’m childish.”
Her staff starts to glow.
“I’ll quit now,” I sat down contently. I’m playful, not evil.
“Good,” she said, lowering her staff, and going back to watching me quietly. “What even is a rasengan anyway?”
“Plot armor!”
She looks at me with dead eyes.
“I’m kidding… Please don’t look at me like that. That hurts. Anyway, it’s supposed to be my trump card. My…” I put a hand on my chin as I thought about how to explain it to her “...no chant, immediate use, advanced level, size of my hand, and ready for direct contact, magic.”
“...you’re going to be a very scary mage when you grow up aren't you?”
“I prefer eccentric~” I said, a small smile on my face. “Now then,” I turned parallel to her, as I steady my breathing and concentrated on 'that,' feeling, as mana flows into my hands. “Rasengan, Rasengan, Rasenga…” I repeat as the spiraling ball grows.
I will succeed, believe it!
Rather than a spherical ball of doom, it’s more of a silvery wisp that blasts wind.
“...rasengan…”
Sensei also giving it a shot.
“...harder than it looks right?” I said, focusing on my attempt not hers.
“...Indeed, I still don’t see the application for this. A conventional wind blast uses up less energy. Why would you choose to fight in the forefront? Long range attacks are safer.”
“Just trust me on this.”
“I trust that you are too stubborn to change your mind right now,” she says, before redoubling her own efforts, and standing once more.
Who's the stubborn one?
I’ll have you eating your words soon enough sensei.
Well, at least I have her here. Two heads are better than...
Wait… two heads?
“Hmm, why not?” I said to myself. “Hey sensei, can I have some help please?”
///
I wanted to cheat.
Swimming in my chuunibyou tendencies, I forgot that the original character that I am mimicking technically cheated to bring it out in the first place. So why not I. We.
Two people really are better than one.
“So, all I have to do is put in my magical energy?”
“Yep,” I answered.
I gave her a short, but specific explanation of what I needed. She has more magical energy than me, so she’s gonna be the tank, and I’m gonna be the driver, and ‘steer,’ this wheel. Putting our energies togethers, she is my shadow clone, the wind beneath my wings, and I am the storm.
“Alright… if you say so, let’s go…” closing her eyes, I can feel a cool feeling between my fingers, as the illusory feeling of mana flows between them.
I mimic her efforts.
“...”
Breath in… breath out… try to get in sync, and…
“”Rasengan!!””
We yell out simultaneously.
Roxy’s energy rushes out of her like a dam hitting its release, and I struggle to give it form, concentrating, on molding it instead.
Burst! It explodes upon us.
“...well?"
“Yeah… probably…”
An unspoken question flows between us.
I turned to look at her.
“Ha ha ha…”
...and just burst laughing. Can’t say what’s particularly funny… I just... did.
“...ha ha…” She chuckles as well. "haha..."
Success?
Honestly… who cares~
///
That was yesterday.
As fun it would be to spam Rasengans together, I still have to find time to practice it alone.
It's not a secret. I told her. If I didn't she'd do something egregious like tell my parents. In the end, it is still a one-on-one technique, so I had to practice sometime on my own, else I'd never properly grow.
“Rasengan,” I threw a whispery wind to a tree as it scabs at the wood. Overall the tree is fine. "Needs more Oomph."
Roxy is understanding.
Paul and Zenith... not as much.
So if I didn't come all this way in the middle of nowhere, I'd probably worry them with all the loud noises.
I gotta hit while the iron is hot!
The woods are the perfect place for this. As long as I don’t stray too deep into it I don’t need to worry about any monsters, and with the added benefit privacy, I couldn't resist. No souls, no distractions, just peace and quiet.
“Gasp-”
…Is what I would like to say.
“He’s here…”
I didn’t notice earlier, because he's always hiding his usual 150 feet, but when you're in the middle of nowhere, and your only friend is your own shadow. It gets very easy to see a sliding figure.
Also their skin is pale. It reflects of sunlight.
“Well, this is new. I wonder what he wants.”
Usually he would stick to just Roxy, but it seems I'm the target of the day. I'm not sure why, but if I had to guess it probably has to do with Roxy in someway.
Girl Advise?
No probably not that.
“So this is what it feels like to be famous,” I say to myself. “Hmmm… I should buy a hat. No it won't look good on me. As for them,” I look at Roxy’s fan. “I guess I’ll ignore them… I have better things to do. Rasengan,” I chant, and go back to what matters. The winds gather as they did before, silvery specks floating within air, giving it an appearance, if only barely, as a hollow oppaloid takes form.
Pop. Like a bubble.
It’s hard to concentrate, when I know I have an audience.
“You know what, screw it. I can have always have some fun, sooo~” I peek back at the hooded figure hiding in the trees, "why not screw around a little."
It's the little things~
///
“Hey there, fancy running into you here,” I pop right next to them.
“Eep!” He yelled?
Oy, that was pretty feminine. You a girl?
Taking a look at our little guest, I look over their appearance closely for the first time, and... they do look rather skinny. They are wearing a hoodie jacket, a size or two too big for them honestly, shorts that show off their pale legs, and a plain white cotton shirt common for this era. They're around my height, maybe a little taller, all and all that would put them around, 4-6 respectively, seven if they're short, and… kind of feminine.
A girl... that's unexpected.
Always looking from afar I kinda just assumed...
It's the standard of this era for girls to wear skirts, so the possibility that they could be a girl escaped me.
…sooo… not a pervert? Unless… Yuri?
Whoosh.
...
...no I'm just being silly. At four to six, more then likely it would be...
Admirer?
In any case, she sure runs fast.
Now, now, don't be like that~ We’re barely getting to know each other.
Operation cat and mouse is a go!
Pervert, awkward fan, doesn't really matter in the end. I’m still going to chase you.
I jumped, and used some wind magic to carry me over the trees, easily over her head, and land in front of her once again.
“Hello~ Did you meet my twin brother, he’s about yay high-”
“Eee!”
She screams again and starts dashing away from me.
“...”
Okay… once more.
“Wow, we really gotta stop meeting like-” I repeat my game of hopscotch.
Whoosh.
Only for her to run past me again.
"..."
…am I being ignored?
Kudos to her. But no.
“Alright,” I drop down one more time. “I know I'm a bit scary, but at least-” she runs off.
Really?! You stalk me and my sensei for weeks, follow me into the woods, but you won't even talk to me?
“...at least banter...” I grumbled.
My witty banter means nothing if you don’t talk back. We do speak the same language, don’t we?
We continue our little game of tag after that. Her running around in the forest, and me hoping up and around again and again. At some point it became more a matter of principle, then anything else.
I don't like being ignored.
I'm not stubborn you're stubborn.
Still though… girl has a set of lungs on her.
Funny enough, if she had just built the courage to run past me, rather than turning tail and running opposite of me, we’d probably be out of this forest by now. Instead we’ve been running in circles.
Back and forth, back and forth, back…
“Hah… hah…”
Until she's run herself ragged.
Breathing hard leaning against a tree, her hands resting against it, she’s gathering her breath.
“You're done. Alright, let’s talk, I just wanted-” I reach my own hand towards her, as my hand is slapped away.
She/he is trembling a little.
…I’m annoyed…
“Alright, fanboy,” I rub the back of my hand.
She slapped me. Roxy’s little stalker actually slapped me.
"Mind telling me why you've been following me and Roxy for so long? You're an admirer? Wannabe student? Disgruntled lover?" I quipped, "Devil from her homeland? Or-"
She flinched.
“...okay... that's new. Who are you?”
A little nervous, but standing firm, they're leaning against the tree, but not saying anything. They don’t look like they want to talk.
“Why are you following sensei? What are your intentions?”
“...”
“Alright," I grab them by the collar, “here's how we’re going to do things, you are going to talk, or…” I will a wind beneath us, “you’re going to fly. Choose.”
They kick their legs in mid-air, as I lift them just a little.
Don’t underestimate my kid physique. You’re light as a feather.
“...I… ed… alk to…” she mumbled something.
“Well, speak up. I can’t hear you,” I brought them down to the ground.
They probably couldn't speak because I lifted them.
“...I just wanted to talk to her…” she said in a soft voice.
“And you’re following me, because…”
“...I was hoping you could talk to her for me.”
Ah… wait… talk? Sooo… not a pervert?
I let go.
“Talk?”
She nods her head.
“Really?”
“...really…” she whispered.
“...and that’s it?”
She nods her head vehemently. Her tiny hands tucked under her chin.
She really is tiny.
“Well… okay… if it's that much I guess I could..." I trailed off, if not a little embarrassed at my guesses, rubbing the back of my head. "Um... you wouldn't happen to be a boy from the demon continent who secretly has things for blue hair girls would you?"
"N-n-no."
"Well... alright then..." I thought of how to move on from our awkward beginnings, "Sooo... my name is Rudeus what is yours?"
"?"
...for someone that doesn't show their face, their body is surprisingly expressive.
"Right, ahem," I cough into my fist. "Anyhow, I still need you to show me your face. I'd like to-"
No!” She grabs her hood holding it down.
Really?! After all that, and you still won't?! This is why kids are sooo-
“Look... I know I can be a little scary," I reach for her hood once more, "but I'm sure we can-"
Slap.
Once again my hand is slapped.
Who is this annoying girl?!
“That's it!” I reach for her hood, and have a tug of war with her, but I’m quite forceful, and won’t be denied. "Why... are... you so..." I grunted.
"D-Dad said not to take my hood off. I... don'twanttobebullied!"
"I'm not bullying you!"
"You're bullying!"
"This is restricting!"
"I don't know what that means!"
"I'll teach you!" A moment later her hood is flipped, her face revealed, and I-
"Ah."
…her face… the face of a young girl… a young girl… with very short, very... green hair.
She is…
I stare at her, lost in her features for a moment.
Looking at me nervously, her face is clear as day, her skis as fair as snow, her corner of her eyes a little teary. She has green hair, clear red eyes, elfish ears, and a very young look… a look that wouldn't be to out there, in the cover of book.
Oh…
Seeing me stare, at the top of her head in particular, she puts her hands to the top of her hair, pressing it down, and turning to leave, “I-I-I’m sorry!”
She runs past me with tears in her eyes.
I didn't hold her.
I was... stuck.
“I promise to stay away!” Her voice carries into the wind.
I think about taking chase, but I’m not sure if I should, because that was...
“That was Slyph..."
I just met one of the main heroines, and… proceeded to bully her. That leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.
I am... I should...
...
I stayed there for a good while.
“I'm a jerk," I look at her coat still very much in my hand. “I think I played enough…”