Spirit Unbreakable

Riumi couldn’t remember if he had felt the pain first or had felt himself falling first. In the end it didn’t matter, he was still on the floor and everyone was still looking at him. The pain he felt wasn’t the pain of falling to the floor from his desk, but a sharp blow that had connected with his ribs. My ribs? That was a dream wasn’t it. He got up off the floor and sat back in his seat. He glanced around the room glaring at those who were chuckling at his embarrassing fall. This stifled most of the laughter.

“Are you all right, Riumi? You look ill, Riumi,” Matsumoto said.

Riumi just looked at him unflinchingly. “I’m fine,” he gruffly replied.

Inside, he didn’t feel fine at all. He felt like someone had hit him with a bamboo poll, or a dragon tail. He clutched his ribs expecting to feel bruises forming, but he felt no pain at all, just lingering pseudo-pain from, a dream? Was I sleeping? It felt so real. It didn’t feel like a memory at all, it felt like it had been happening at that very moment. But that was impossible. He was here, in history class, not in some underground cave. I can’t fly. I’m just tired from practice.

His stomach lurched with regret. He hadn’t spoken to Mikomi since they had come back from Sanzen-in. Their promise to meet the next day to search the Web had been forgotten once he had learned that a Guardian was coming to town the next week. He got lost in the thought of a chance to take the Guardian Exam; it had consumed him. If he passed, he could leave school, leave the Takahashi residence, and he would be free to go anywhere he pleased, as a Guardian. He could travel to any country, any city, or any other spot on Earth. The information that he had received from Aacron was useless if his movements were restricted. He had to pass the Guardian Exams, and so, Kendo practice had consumed every spare moment he had, Levanith as forgotten to him as Mikomi.

Today was the exam day, and he couldn’t let fragmented memories get in his way. He had to be focused. No matter how good he thought he was at swordplay, Riumi had never been up against a master. If he was to beat a Guardian, it would take all his concentration.

The bell rung and students began filing out of the class. Riumi hung back, leery of the crowd. He noticed Hiroshi lingering as well, and finally gathered his things and left with him.

“You look like hell, Riumi-san,” Hiroshi said. It was unusual for Hiroshi to show concern for anyone. I must look really terrible.

“Haven’t slept much lately,” Riumi mumbled in reply.

“Because of the Guardians being in town? Are you going to take the exam?” Hiroshi asked. He suddenly seemed very excited.

“I’ve been thinking about it,” Riumi said.

“Are you serious? They haven’t accepted anyone so young in over twenty years?”

“Which means they have accepted them in the past,” Riumi said.

Hiroshi grinned. “You have to let me come.”

“If I let you come, the entire school will be there,” Riumi said. He didn’t mind suffering Hiroshi’s antics during kendo club, but this exam would decide his whole career. He couldn’t suffer the distraction, or the embarrassment. He would look like a juvenile if a fan club showed up, they wouldn’t take him seriously.

“Oh come on, I know what this means to you. I just want to be there for you, as encouragement. Everyone needs someone to root for them, neh?” Hiroshi slapped Riumi on the back and laughed.

Riumi stopped walking and turned to Hiroshi, his face stone. “I don’t need someone to cheer me on.” Hiroshi’s smile faded and he looked at Riumi trying to reflect back his demure face.

“So serious all the time. You need to loosen up.”

“I think you’re ‘loose’ enough for the both of us, Hiroshi,” Riumi replied and continued walking. Go away.

“I take that as a compliment,” Hiroshi said. He veered off down an adjoining hallway. Riumi sighed, relieved from his absence. Of course Hiroshi would take that as a compliment. Shouldering his bag, Riumi stepped out the front door and into the bright afternoon.

“You’ve done it all without me haven’t you,” Mikomi’s voice didn’t have its normal accusatory tone, she just sounded hurt. Riumi stopped the moment he heard her. She was standing with her back pack in her limp hand, dragging it in the dust. It looked like tears were ready to spill from her eyes at any moment. Riumi had never seen her like this before.

“What are you talking about,” Riumi said, he wasn’t sure if he felt more annoyed or guilty.

“Aacron’s dragon. You’ve done it all on your own, I just know it. I really didn’t think you would leave me out, I thought you were just being you, you know?” The tears were spilling now and she was hiccoughing as she tried to keep them in. Riumi set his bag down and kneeled in front of her, close enough that he could speak to her without being overheard.

“I haven’t done anything like that, Chiisai. I’ve had other things to do,” Riumi replied.

Mikomi looked at him like she didn’t believe him, and that hurt Riumi the most. He was angry now.

“Fine, don’t believe me. It’s not like I care if you hang around,” Riumi said releasing Mikomi. He picked up his bag and continued walking. He heard Mikomi give one more sniff and she trailed after him.

“What was more important than finding your dragon?” Mikomi asked, reassured now that Riumi was acting himself.

“The truth isn’t good for anything if you can’t act on it. I’m giving myself a means to do that,” Riumi said.

“How?”

“By becoming a Guardian?” Riumi said.

“What is a Guardian?” Mikomi asked.

“Why do you ask so many questions?” Riumi snapped. He hated explaining things to people. He wasn’t a textbook, so why did everyone think they could treat him like one.

“If you answer some, I will have less,” Mikomi replied.

It was sound logic, he couldn’t refute the truth of that, but it didn’t make him any happier to have to explain. He gave an exasperated sigh.

“You know a long time ago there were weapons that covered the whole of Earth called firearms?”

“Those are kind of like the weapons that the Enforcers have right?” Mikomi asked.

“Yes, like those, except they shot balls of steel at the targets rather than energy or sound. They couldn’t set the lethality of the steel, it killed.”

“How barbaric,” Mikomi said grimacing.

“Exactly. In those times, they had a law in America that said that anyone could have one of these, and a lot of countries had no laws at all about them until soon it got so bad that people walking to school or work were not safe from the people who had these weapons. So they made a law when the nations allied and became one that banned these firearms.

“Unfortunately, there were still a lot of people out there that want to harm others. So, to help protect those people, they enacted a treaty that allowed a certain amount of people to exercise the Arts again,” Riumi said.

“The Arts,” Mikomi asked.

“Sword fighting and other forms like these. They limited the use of the Arts so that only certified smiths, masters, and apprentices could make or carry weapons. Most masters either constructed a training hall and taught others these Arts, or they became Guardians. Guardians are the only people on Earth besides the government Enforcers that can carry a weapon. When you become a Guardian, you are registered with Allied Earth and can go to any country on Earth, no questions asked.”

“But what do Guardians do?” Mikomi asked.

Riumi looked at her and shook his head. “Guardians do exactly what their name suggests; they guard and protect, usually a person, sometimes an item of great worth. They are hired by whoever can afford to pay a Guardian’s fee.”

“So they are like Ronan?” Mikomi asked.

“In a way, yes.”

“Is that where you are going right now, to become a Guardian?”

“Yes, Chiisai.”

Mikomi was wrong, the more questions she asked, the more she had. Why can’t she just leave me alone?

“Can I come and watch?”

“Can I stop you?” Riumi asked as he continued walking down the street.

“Thanks,” Mikomi said and ran to catch up to Riumi as he rounded a corner. “How much farther?”

Riumi rolled his eyes and sighed. Patience wears down any mountain, Riumi thought as Mikomi continued with her endless chatter. He couldn’t figure out why she thought he cared what she had to say, and he knew that even if he told her to keep quiet, she wouldn’t listen. It was pointless. I hope all my clients aren’t like her. Then again, I get to choose them, and I’m sure I didn’t get a choice with Mikomi. No one got a choice with Mikomi.

They reached the exam building after a short walk, and when it finally came into view, Mikomi’s chatter died away. She looked at the building and watched the stream of people wandering toward it.

“I didn’t know there were so many Guardians,” Mikomi said in amazement as she watched the various people walk into the building and out of sight.

“They aren’t Guardians yet,” Riumi replied shouldering his bag and continuing on. “Only a handful will actually qualify.”

Riumi and Mikomi entered the stream of applicants and entered the building. Once inside, Riumi gestured to one of the seats that lined the hall. “You’ll have to wait here, at least for the written exam. If you let the receptionist know that you’re here with me, she’ll tell you when or if I have the spar. I’m sure you can watch that.”

Mikomi sat down in the seat nearest the receptionist, noticing that most of the remaining seats where empty.

“Not a lot of people here really,” Mikomi said.

“Not a lot of people not taking the exam you mean,” Riumi said. He turned away from Mikomi to join the line and nearly collided with a nearby applicant.

“Riumi-san?” the boy said looking at Riumi in surprise, it was Kazuhiko.

“Kaz, I didn’t know you were taking the Guardian Exams,” Riumi replied.

“It’s kind of in the family actually. I’m applying a little earlier than normal, but my father thinks that this might be the only eligible Guardian to come to the area for the next five years and he doesn’t want me to wait much longer. Besides my spars with you have sure helped to hone my skills. I wish you the best,” Kaz replied.

“The same to you,” Riumi replied.

“If I may be so bold as to ask, what inspired you to take the Exam?” Kaz asked. He seemed hesitant to ask the question. Riumi felt the same way about answering.

“A chance to see the world,” Riumi replied cautiously.

“You planning to finish school?” Kaz asked seeing that he hadn’t gotten the usual brush off from Riumi.

“If personal things don’t get in the way,” Riumi replied.

“Personal?” Kaz inquired.

“I think it’s your turn to register,” Riumi said evading the question. Kaz noticed the shut off expression that covered Riumi’s face, gave a quick apologetic bow, and took his place at the counter. A few minutes later, it was Riumi’s turn at the counter. After giving the receptionist his name, and a hand scan verification of citizenship, he was ushered into a nearby room with row upon row of desks. Taking a deep breath, Riumi entered the room and shuffled to the back taking up an unoccupied seat.

He noticed that the front of the room was filling up rapidly, whereas the back was staying fairly empty. Everyone seemed to want to be noticed by the examiners. Riumi scoffed at them, glad to see that Kazuhiko had been at least sensible enough to choose a relatively safe position in the middle of the room. He couldn’t believe that anyone would think that the examiners would show such favouritism to those that tried so hard to stand out. He wanted to be chosen based on ability and skill. Guardians are supposed to blend in and be unnoticed.

His resolved soon wavered. He couldn’t help thinking that where they all seated themselves might be a part of the test. Sitting up at the front could symbolize bravado, a willingness to guard your charge at all cost. Choosing the back could show fear. Or it could mean exactly what it means to me, a place to be unseen, or I could be over thinking the whole thing.

Riumi took another deep breath, closed his eyes, and just listened as he waited for the rest of the candidates to filter into the room. He would just have to live with his choice now. If the exam really had already started, choosing a new seat now would just seem indecisive.

He heard the footsteps filtering in all around him. As the room filled to its capacity, Riumi could hear less and less people roaming the isles. As it filtered down to the last few, Riumi could hear footsteps coming close towards him. He felt the presence of the person pass behind him and heard a startling whisper in his ear.

“Sleeping already?” The voice was raspy and seemed more amused than annoyed.

Riumi opened his eyes reflexively and turned to look at the man behind him. He was tall. His hair was black as pitch. His eyes were the brightest blue Riumi had ever seen on a person, though being in Japan for so long, he hadn’t seen many people with blue eyes besides himself, and his were more grey than blue. The man was smiling at Riumi, which made him frown.

“One’s eyes being closed doesn’t always mean lack of consciousness,” Riumi said.

“From what I’ve seen, those that choose to sit in the back are either tentative about what this exam implies, or they don’t care to be noticed. Which are you?”

“I’ll leave that up for the exam to determine,” Riumi replied. So, seating is part of the test, which means punctuality is as well. The man nodded his head slightly at Riumi and walked away, leaving Riumi with the feeling that despite his evasion of the question, he had given the man the answer he was looking for. He sighed and listened as the woman at the front of the room laid out the instructions of the exam.

“- There are no wrong answers on this test, so there is no use cheating. Stealing someone else’s answers will only mean that we are not determining your profile, but that of the other person, and the person you are cheating from may not have the personality profile we are looking for. Be honest.

“With that said, you have as long as you need to finish this exam,” the woman finished her speech, pushed a button on her desk, and the touch screens on the desk filled up with random questions, each desk displaying a different exam question. Riumi looked down at his desk. The words, ‘Why are you here?’ were staring back at him. No multiple choice? Riumi grinned. I’m going to fail miserably.

Riumi knew the psych profile they were looking for here, with multiple choice he was almost guaranteed to pass the exam with flying colours, but with open ended questions, he was sure to fail. How do I know I’m not lying to myself? Do I really want to tell them the truth? How much is too much? What do they want to hear? He could hear the instructor’s words ringing in his head, ‘be honest.’

He wrote simply: to discover truth, clicked enter, and moved onto the next question.

What is truth?

Riumi looked at the question shocked. The computer program was pretty sophisticated if it was interacting with Riumi’s answers. He hesitated and glanced around the room. The instructors all seemed to be staring at the students, watching their reactions and responses. Riumi made eye contact with the woman at the front of the room, and after a few seconds of her passive expression, he looked back down at the screen.

Truth is perspective to those who behold it.

Who determines right and wrong?

Riumi was beginning to feel unnerved by the questions. Was it really important for him to become a Guardian? How else am I going to discover who I am?

Inherent in each individual is the ability for good and evil. Each person has a conscience that they either listen to or chose to ignore. To listen to it is to do right, to ignore it you work wrong.

Why were guns banned?

Riumi glanced around the room again. He didn’t see anyone else that was as uncomfortable with these questions as he was. They all seemed to regard the questions as trivial. He watched the hasty replies of each candidate around him. All of them seemed to be rushing towards the end, like they couldn’t get through the questions fast enough. There is no time limit, why are they in such a hurry?

Guns make killing a game. All you have to do is pull a trigger, it feels to the wielder of the weapon as if they are not actually killing the target, merely pressing the trigger, the bullet was an after effect. They didn’t even have to think to pull the trigger. Guns desensitized and brutalized war. They effectively killed compassion and trivialized human life. Life means nothing if it can be taken so easily. With the Arts, you are close, personal, you must face your opponent, you must come to the realization that you are going to kill another human and you must consciously make the decision to take that life, guns don’t give you that choice, they take it from you.

Can you take a life?

Riumi sat there staring at the question, the cursor blinking ominously at him. It was such an easy question, yes or no. Yes, determined his fate, no closed it. He placed his fingers on the screen and typed: I don’t know.

The screen went blank and Riumi sat at it looking forlorn. Honesty has just killed his future. Why did I only get five questions? He was sure that there had been more than five questions that those around him had to answer. They all said yes. They didn’t wash out. Riumi felt a light pressure on his back, the woman from the front of the room was behind him now; he hadn’t even noticed that she had moved.

“If you would follow me please,” she said, gesturing to a door at the far side of the room. Riumi nodded and got up from his chair numb. The woman opened the door and waited for Riumi to step through. When he was through he turned to wait for an explanation from the woman, however, she just smiled and gently closed the door.

“We only ever chose one,” the raspy voice spoke. Riumi turned to regard the man behind him. It was the same man from before. He gestured for Riumi to join him at the small table that was standing in the otherwise unadorned room. Riumi sat in the empty chair across the way, still silent. The man slid his Flimsy over to Riumi. Riumi took it and looked at the displayed contents, Riumi’s exam contents lay in the field.

He looked up at the man. “It was you? You were asking me the questions?” Riumi said.

“I have an uncanny knack for picking the candidate. All the others get a standardized exam, but the one I choose gets special treatment. You were honest to the last, even if you felt that you were giving the wrong answers,” the man said.

“I don’t understand. I was sure that I’d washed out with that last question,” Riumi replied.

“If you had said yes, I would have misjudged you. We do not become Guardians to take lives, Takahashi Riumi. We are here to preserve it. You won’t know until you are faced with the choice, and even then, taking a life once does not mean you can do it again the next time. Each encounter will determine its own outcome. ‘I don’t know’ is exactly what I needed to hear from you.”

“So what now?” Riumi was calm. He set the Flimsy on the desk and slid it back to the man.

“Now we spar. I’m Damian Ravvon, Guardian first class,” Damian said holding his hand out to Riumi. Riumi clasped his wrist in a friendly grip.

“What would you have done had I not answered your questions to your satisfaction?”

“Like I said, there is only ever one candidate, which I choose. If you don’t live up to my expectations then we don’t gain a new Guardian at this exam.”

Riumi released his grip. “There is only one chance at this then, I mean for me.”

“That’s right, Takahashi-san, so don’t mess it up,” Damian said. He led Riumi through another door and into a tatami lined sparring room.

“I was just –” Riumi stopped unable to voice his words.

“Is there something wrong, Takahashi-san?” Damian asked.

“Well, it’s just I promised Mikomi that she could watch.”

“Your sister?”

“No, just a… nuisance,” Riumi replied. Damian just smiled.

“I’ll make sure that she is called in. She won’t be a distraction? I could always get the receptionist to disallow her observation.”

Riumi paused, thinking about this, it wasn’t like she needed to be here. She was a nuisance. He shook his head. “No, it’s fine.”

“Well then, I’ll let you choose your preferred blade while we await her arrival,” Damian said and gestured to the far side of the room where blades of all types hung on the wall. Riumi strode over and without hesitation grabbed a simple katana from off the wall. Testing its weight and stability, he slashed it through the air a few times. Satisfied, he went to the centre of the room.

“You have a good eye,” Damian replied as he took his own weapon from a bag in the corner of the room.

Another test. He was eager to start now and get this over with and was wishing now that he had said yes to Damian’s offer. It would have meant not waiting for Mikomi to get here.

Small footsteps could be heard seconds later as Mikomi bounded into the room, a grin spread across her whole face. Riumi gave her a stern look, cutting off whatever she had been attempting to say, and he gave her no more attention.

No sooner had Riumi looked at Mikomi than he felt movement in front of him. Damian was coming at him without even the slightest bit of warning. Riumi felt a surge of anger rising and just as quickly it abated. Damian had given him the warning; Mikomi had indeed been a distraction. Riumi took a step back and sideways putting up his sword as a shield as Damian’s sword came down in the exact position that Riumi had stepped into. Riumi used as much force as he could muster to break the contact and backed away another step.

“I didn’t think you would be a passive fighter,” Damian said and he came at Riumi again, this time his blows coming at him like a blur. Riumi didn’t respond, just kept parrying the blows, not letting a single one land. After a few more minutes of battle, Riumi took a deep breath and pushed Damian’s attack backwards.

“I’m not,” Riumi finally replied and took two steps forward, drawing attention to his right hand which held the katana, he tossed the sword into his left and counted, one, two, three, four, five, and it was done. Damian knelt on the floor with Riumi over him, sword at his neck. “I was just feeling you out.” Riumi wore a hard expression, and he was breathing rapidly.

“You are not remorseful,” Damian said putting his hand up to the blade of the katana as a gesture that they were done. “What has made you so hard at such a young age?”

Riumi removed the katana, his face softening. “It’s complicated.”

“You’re very skilled you know. In all my years as a Guardian, I have never been beaten so quickly. Actually I’ve rarely been beaten at all.”

Riumi, who had been putting the katana back on the wall, looked back at Damian . “You mean I didn’t have to win this fight?”

Damian shrugged. “Most people don’t win their entrance spar. It’s more of a personality test than a skill test. Skills come with experience and age. Make no mistake, skills in the Arts are a major factor in determining whether you qualify or not, but they are not the deciding factor. If we feel you have the measure to withstand this lifestyle, we’ll provide what training you need. In your case, however, I’m not sure that you’ll need much training. Just a final test on the rules and code that you must uphold, and your oath,” Damian smirked at the look on Riumi’s face; he looked shocked. “What were you expecting?”

“Well, not this exactly. I don’t think I was expecting anything really,” Riumi said.

“If you hadn’t been expecting anything, you wouldn’t look so dazed,” Damian said slapping Riumi hard on the back. “Come on, it’s just the formalities we have to go through now. Mikomi can wait here.”

Riumi lost his dazed look at the mention of Mikomi; he had forgotten she was here. He looked back at her and his face flushed a little at the expression on her face. If he thought she was a nuisance before, it was going to be worse now. She looked awe struck, beaming with pride, as if Riumi’s accomplishments here were a direct result of her interference. Riumi shook his head.

“She can go home,” Riumi replied. He saw Mikomi go from awestruck to angry in a matter of seconds.

“I will not!” Mikomi replied.

“You will, unless you want to be alone in this room for the next couple of hours,” Riumi replied.

“But, I –” Mikomi started, then looking at Riumi, stopped. His face was firm. There was no arguing with him when he was this way. Giving a loud exaggerated sigh, she got up from the floor and headed to the door. Stopping halfway there, she turned and looked at Riumi, her eyes glassy. “I’ll see you tomorrow won’t I? We still have to find Aacron’s dragon.”

Riumi stiffened at the mention of the comb, and giving a sideways glance at Damian, he nodded. Satisfied with this, Mikomi left the room. Damian was smiling at Riumi.

“Dragons, eh? In that case, I have just the place for you to acquire your weapon,” Damian said as he dug into his pocket. He pulled out a card and handed it to Riumi. “They’ll have exactly what you are looking for, as well as one of the best blades you can find.”

Riumi looked at the card. It was worn and faded, but he could read the name of the shop. It was located in Osaka, only a short train ride away.

“What else could I need besides a sword?” Riumi asked as he tucked the card away in his pocket. Damian just smiled.

“Sorry, did I say that?” Damian asked. Riumi frowned. He could tell Damian was playing with him. It was the same look that Aacron had given him before he had given Levanith to him.

Strange, now that he related the two incidents, Damian looked an awful lot like Aacron. If they are related than he probably knows about my past as well. That would make the card a clue. Riumi felt the outline of the card through the fabric of his jeans as he followed Damian into another room.

Rumeum’antra in Osaka, another clue to his past.