#jikaryu

Loud music rang throughout the bar, the room was full of laughter and drunken banter from its patrons. At least that’s how it was. Tonight the establishment was visited by a familiar but unwelcome face. The room quieted down when he entered the front door, the chime of the bell drawing the attention of everyone within the vicinity. Some sneered, others snickered ridiculing him under their breath. No one openly mocked however, for fear of the bar-keeper's wrath. Drunken brawls were common in his establishment but he wouldn’t tolerate anything that bothered his best customer. Not to mention the damage the guy could do if a fight did break out.

Every now and then a cocky piece of work would start something but most stayed back when his usual drinking buddy was with him. Tonight he was alone, and he caught the eye of a young keronian looking to make a name for himself; the fool. The visitor sat down at his usual seat at the edge of the bar, motioned for a drink and flipped his long ringed ears over his shoulders. The keronian came sauntering up and tapped him on the shoulder. Turning slightly he was met with the slit pupils of his red-rimmed, teal eyes.

“Whaddya want? Can’t ya see I’m trying to enjoy a nice drink here?” He grumbled in his rough dialect. Eyeing the keronian, he went to take a sip of his drink. With a smug smile the keronian lifted his hand and bumped the base of the glass, spilling it onto the visitor’s lap.

“Oops. Poor half-breed missed his mouth. Do you need someone to teach you? Or did your filthy blood give you a tiny brain as well as an ugly mug?” the keronian chuckled loudly, which was echoed by the other patrons in the room.

“Boy, you are gonna wish you had not done that.” The bar-keeper spoke as he shook his head, slowly stepping back from the counter. The Keronian turned to look at the bar-keeper in confusion but his attention was diverted by the sound of cracking followed by the ringing made from the shattering of glass. Before he could comprehend what was happening, a bloodied fist connected with his face and he was sent sailing through the air and out the open front window of the bar.

“And stay out!” the bar-keeper called after him “You alright there Hirere? Do you need any first aid?” he asked, gesturing to his hand. Glass shards had lightly pierced his skin which was more rugged than a full-blooded keronian. Hirere looked at his wounded hand and plucked out the glass shards, drops of blood trickling in thin lines down his large forearms.

“Nah, this is nothin’.” he licked the trailing blood which seemed to have stopped flowing already. “Just hit me with another one Keep. You know I’m good for it.”

The bar-keeper nodded before sliding him a bottle of the cold stuff. He chuckled softly and motioned to the rude patron’s makeshift exit. “I knew there was a good reason I left that open today.”

Hirere smiled behind his drink, and responded “Least my aim has gotten better.”

The bar-keeper gave a single loud laugh, remembering the times Hirere’s antagonizers had gone through the walls in previous incidents.

While Hirere tossed a few back the other patrons paid their tabs and slipped out the front door, leaving him and the bar-keeper as the only ones left inside.

It was when Hirere was several bottles of various liquors in that it happened. Silently as though it had never been there to begin with, the front door softly glided open.

The bar-keeper only noticed the figure entering the building because he was facing the door, had he not seen the door open with his own eyes he would have believed they had teleported there out of thin air.

Looking back and forth between Hirere and this strange person he couldn’t help but notice how similar they looked. The ears were much shorter but no doubt they were the same kind as his. They also bore similar markings though they differed greatly on the face. The big pink bow the visitor wore around their neck told the bar-keeper that this creature was female, though his guess was as good as any others. She also boasted 3 horns similar to Hirere, though hers were silver and the center one spiraled openly like a ribbon made of silver had been twirled and frozen in place.

The bar-keeper alerted Hirere nodding in the new comer’s direction “She someone you know?”

Confused Hirere turned slowly to look over his shoulder, catching an eyeful of the strange figure. He was struck by their similarities and remained silent for a moment. “No.” He answered the bar-keeper before addressing this other being.

“D’ I know ya?” he asked her, eyeing her from head to toe and back again. She smiled in response, the strange material that dragged behind her quivering slightly.

“I’m your twin sister.” she answered. Hirere and the bar-keeper stared at her in disbelief for a moment.

“Twins? Sorry but we don’t look exactly alike.” Hirere laughed. She tilted her head, seeming disappointed by his response.

“Well there’s really no telling how one will look when you are half Keronian half Draconian. Such a thing has never existed before us.” Hirere froze for a moment, her lack of humor told him she was being serious about being twins. He looked to the bar-keeper who raised his hands and shrugged.

“Looks like you two have a lot of catching up to do. I’ll be in the back if you need me.” he pointed to the door behind the counter and disappeared behind it moments later.

Seeing as he had been abandoned by his favorite liquor provider (and realizing he had to deal with this whole thing sober) Hirere turned his attention back to his supposed long lost twin.

“Alright, what’s this about? If you’re really my twin where have you been this whole time?” Hirere inquired. Seeing as he was alone when they other kids found him abandoned on the streets it was clear that she had been elsewhere.

“I was no where. Well actually to more accurate I was dead.” She pondered the confusing answer. Hirere looked at her with irritation.

“Yeah right. I think this joke has gone far enough. Why don’t ya tell me what yer really after.” He scowled, already growing tired of this sick joke.

“Tis no joke brother. I have been sent by the gods of our people to find you and teach you our ways. To teach you of your origin.” there was a look in her eyes that was dead serious, her intensity made Hirere want to shiver.

“Alright. Prove it.” Hirere sat back on his stool smugly, reaching back to grab his drink and take a sip only to be disappointedly reminded that he had already drank it all.

“Prove what?” she asked in confusion. Hirere sighed and placed the empty bottle out of reach so as not to trick himself again.

“Prove that you’re really my sister. That you’ve been dead all this time. What are our parent’s names?” Hirere asked.

“Hokiki and Jikan No Ryu- err… Jikaryu. But you wouldn’t know that Ko No Ryu.” She crossed her arms and seemed impatient.

“You’re right but you still had an- wait what did you call me?” He asked her, caught off guard.

“Ko No Ryu, or Koryu. It is your proper name. Or what you would have been named had mother done as intended and not abandon you.” He didn’t know what he disliked more. The fact that she had just called his name improper or the fact that his mother had indeed abandoned him.

“Alright, enough fun and games. Who are you and what do you want? I’m not buyin’ this twin bullshit.” Hirere growled.

“I am Zenkai No Ryu; Zenkaryu. I am your sister, and I am here to find you.” she pointed one of her long clawed finger towards his face. “It would appear that talking will do me no good so I must show you the truth.” taking the hand that had been pointing at his face, with fluid movement she brought it up to the bell around her neck and tapped it once.

Before Hirere could respond the echoing chime of the bell resounded around the room, seeming to bend and wave as though a chorus of bells were being rung around the room. He stood from his seat as the view of the room shifted and changed, suddenly they appeared to be floating in space.

“What the fuck?!!” Hirere flailed in confusion “What the heck is this?” he asked.

“Just a glimpse of my power dear brother. First we must go back, to the beginning.” The stars began to shift and move until they found themselves floating above a strange planet. In the distance he could see a keronian ship approaching.

“This was the home of our father’s people. Long since vanished from this world.” she pointed to the ship “Our mother, Hokiki was an archeologist and studied the ancient histories of these places. Seeking to broaden the knowledge of the Keronian race.”

With a wave of her hand, the sound of a chiming bell rang again and the scene shifted. Crumbled buildings on an overgrown mountain terrain surrounded them, in the distance at it’s peak a large temple stood. Zenkaryu spread her arms wide indicating their new surroundings.

“The homeland of Father’s people, long abandoned since they left this plane for another. Though none left willingly. Their departure was sudden and unexplained. Our mother sought to regain the lost histories of our people and hoped to unlock the secret of their disappearance.” as she spoke a green frog with bright blue eyes, golden hair and a large pink bow passed by.

“Is that my-” Hirere began to ask “Our mother, yes. Hokiki the great archeologist and explorer. Her work uncovered the answers to many mysteries and many lost histories were found because of it.” Zenkaryu answered.

Trudging up the hill, stopping to investigate the plant life and the abandoned houses. Eventually heading up towards the temple in the distance. As if following her they were brought inside the temple, carved stone in a language he had never seen before covered the walls and stone sconces burned with flames that should have gone out long ago.

“Wait how are those burning if no one is here?” Hirere asked, he received no answer as he was shushed by Zenkaryu who nodded her head in the direction she wanted him to look.

“Unbeknownst to her, this temple had many traps to keep out intruders.” as if on command the green frog was swallowed by a large pit fall trap, large bloodied spikes lay at its bottom.

Hirere instinctively tried to jump into action but Zenkaryu held him back, her eyes reminding him that none of this was real.Before she fell to her death a shadow swooped in and scooped her up in mid air, carrying her to safety. Hirere breathed a sigh of relief as the shadowy figure lowered the green frog to the safety of the ground. She fell backwards in surprise as his wings flapped behind him, settling finally when he stood with both feet on the floor.

“That was a close one, a second later and you’d have been shredded to pieces. You don’t look like a space pirate, and our enemies have long since died out. So who are you and what do you want here?” the figure was a blue dragon, taller than a Keronian and had distinct facial markings. Hirere recognized the twin rings on the blue figure’s tail, they were much like his own rings that he wore on his ear like appendages.

“Hey he has rings like mine.” Hirere pointed out, curious to what the connection was. Zenkaryu smiled “Yes those rings are common for our people, even us half breeds get them. I’m sure when you were a child you noticed a faint glowing halo prior to the existence of the rings you wear now yes? That is when the rings begin to form as your powers manifest. I however never made it to that age and was gifted this runed bell by the gods in place of those rings.” she explained.

Hirere just nodded silently remembering the period of days when a strange halo of light began to form around his ears when he was in his adolescence. Even more confusing was when the rings appeared in their place one day. He had never entirely questioned the rings because something about having them just felt right, maybe it was his instincts.

It was then that Hirere recognized the scarf. Around the blue figure’s neck was a red bandana scarf similar to the one that Hirere wore. He picked up the tip of his scarf with his large pointed fingertips and rubbed it gently. He treasured this scarf, he’d had it his whole life. It was as much a part of him as the rings and markings on his face. Zenkaryu watched him quietly but did not say a word.

While they had been speaking they missed Hokiki explain herself to the blue dragon, but they returned their attention in time for him to respond.

“I’m Jikan No Ryu, Jikaryu. I’m the only one of my people remaining miss Hokiki, the rest have all gone.” He explained.

“Gone? Gone where? Why did they leave you behind?” Hokiki asked, adjusting her glasses as she stood back up and brushed herself off.

“Can’t say I know why I’m the only one left ma’am. But the others seem to have lost control of their powers and slipped between the cracks of time to another plane of existence. Could happen to me any day now I guess, for some reason though it just hasn’t.” Jikaryu shrugged.

His movement drew Hirere’s attention to Jikaryu’s large hands, they looked just like his and this Zenkaryu that claimed to be his sister also shared similar features. Her ear appendages were not long like Hirere’s but rather short and close to her head, Jikaryu also had them short but his were sharp and pointed instead of rounded like theirs. They also shared the same markings on their limbs and faces, the only differences being colors and alertnate shapes. Hirere had splotches where Zenkaryu had diamonds and Jikaryu had triangles. He had to admit that their similarities were uncanny.

The scene faded and Hirere stood alone with Zenkaryu. They were surrounded by darkness while she spoke. She held her hands in front of her chest, as if she was holding something.

“Helping Hokiki learn about his people Jikaryu taught her how to read and speak the ancient language of his kind. They spent months together compiling all their history. Sharing their love for learning and keeping lost history alive it was only a matter of time before they fell in love.” as she spoke light pooled into her hands, forming an orb that solidified like glass. It floated upwards and expanded like a crystal ball.

“It wasn’t long after that we began to form.” The large orb showed an image of a pregnant Hokiki held close by Jikaryu, as couple clearly in love.

“Eventually our mother had to return to Keron, not wanting to separate and having no reason to stay on Dracon our father went with her. He became a citizen of Keron and they were married.” Flashes of a happy couple danced across the crystal ball.

“However, the day finally came for our father to be called to the other world. Like his people he too vanished without a trace.” Zenkaryu paused to glance at Hirere as the crystal ball showed their distraught mother pick the red scarf Jikaryu always wore up off the ground.

“She searched far and wide for him, not understanding what had happened. Even though when they met he had warned her that this might happen someday.” Zenkaryu closed her eyes for a moment.

“It was then that she decided that she had been abandoned…” The crystal ball cracked as them image within it changed to a crying Hokiki kneeling before a mirror in her home.

“In her grief, her sorrow, and her rage… She decided to rid herself of all reminders of Jikaryu, thinking him to have betrayed her.” Hokiki stared at her reflection in the mirror, before grabbing a knitting needle off the dresser next to her. “ALL of them.” Zenkaryu’s voice echoed as Hokiki’s hand came down with the needle, and as if the impact had struck the orb it shattered into dust.

A few moments of silence went by, before the faint sound of a crying baby could be heard. The darkness around them dissipated and laying on the floor of Hokiki’s room were two small infants. One green, one a light pink. The green one, obviously a tiny Hirere was the one crying loudly. The pink one however let out a faint and pained mewling sound that grew quieter with each attempt. It only took a few more breaths before the pink baby stopped breaking. The eyes closing and seeming to sink in slightly, and the tongue turned a pale grey.

Hirere covered his mouth, feeling disgusted by what he had just seen. Zenkaryu twitched uncomfortably beside him.

“It feels odd watching myself die, but die I did. Not yet ready for this world my frail body could not withstand the premature birth. You however have always been a fighter and refused to go so easily.” Zenkaryu smiled at Hirere, he fought to survive as a baby and had been fighting his whole life. He’d even made a career out of fighting.

“Mother could not kill you outright, she was a terrible fool but she was no monster. So she had to find another way.” The vision shimmered and they were then shown Hokiki wrapping Hirere in the last remaining reminder of their father; his red bandana scarf. She attached a note and carried him to the familiar slums of Keron, disguised in a trenchcoat and face mask she left her remaining child to live or die at the mercy of the streets.

“This is of course where your tale begins but I am sure you already know that story very well.” Zenkaryu distracted Hirere from his wandering thoughts.

“It was many years till mother returned to Keron, having returned to her work exploring lost worlds. Her ties with high powers on Keron removed all evidence of her connection with you, having ever had children or Jikaryu’s own existence.” Zenkaryu explained.

“When she learned more of your survival and the life you had lead if finally dawned on her.” Hirere looked at Zenkaryu, confused by her words. “Father’s warning.”

The familiar scene of the planet soon hovered beneath them once more. Again a Keron space ship approached.

“Thinking of nothing she could do, and knowing all she had learned of father’s people she returned to his planet and the Temple where they met.” Inside the temple looked the same, only this time they were brought to the innermost sanctum where a large altar lay at it’s heart.

“Begging for forgiveness she flung herself at the mercy of the Gods of our father’s people.” Zenkaryu’s tone had become ominous, as she had explained Hokiki ran up the steps to the altar and flung herself upon its base. Her tears and cries spilling out.

“The Gods forgave her. For a price.” Zenkaryu spoke softly, her voice hollow. Before Hirere could ask anything of her, voices echoed out.

“MAY YOUR SINS BE REPAID WITH THE LIFE THAT WAS LOST.”

Suddenly the empty sconces around the room lit up with fire, flashes of light circling around the room. With a sudden ‘pwoof’ Hokiki went up in flames. Her screams echoed throughout the empty halls, scraping within Hirere’s eardrums. He shut his eyes, wrapped his arms around himself and ground his teeth together.

Then there was silence. Opening one eye to peek, He saw the pile of ash that lay where his mother had stood moments before. The embers glowing faintly as the fire went out. But the ashes were not still for long. They seemed to shift and move as something beneath them stirred. It was only a few moments before a figure slowly arose from within the ashes. Standing there, staring vacantly as she did when she was a newborn babe was Zenkaryu.

Her features now matched the person standing beside him, as opposed to the pink baby with blue markings and green eyes. Looking closer he could see that one of her eyes had remained the same pale green that it had originally been, the other had changed in her rebirth.

He thought it was over, but the Zenkaryu in the vision, suddenly bent down to pick something up from the pile of ash. It was the large pink ribbon their mother Hokiki had worn. Realizing that the current Zenkaryu wore it now as their mother had, much like he wore their father’s scarf.

“Alright, alright I believe you now.” Hirere raised his hands in surrender. He expected some smart quip about having taken so long or something. Instead he elt a sudden pressure and opened his eyes to see Zenkaryu hugging him, both of them standing alone in the pub once again.

“Uhhhhh….. ok ?” Hirere responded by tapping her lightly on the arm. She released her hold, her eyes less serious now. Looking into their depths it was hard to believe this was the same person that had just changed the whole freaking room to outer space. Her expression held a vast ocean of innocence.

“So what now?” Hirere asked. She looked at him with a vacant expression. He slapped himself in the forehead, understanding that she hadn’t thought that far.

“You don’t have any idea what else to do now do you?” she shook her head, answering with a bit more vigor than he would have liked. He sighed and waved her away.

“I guess you can stay at my place with me. Here’s my address and a key, go on ahead without me.” she took the address and the key and happily wandered off.

“And don’t get lost!!!” Hirere called after her. He sat back in his seat and slumped against the counter. “I need some time alone to process all this….” He picked up his bottle and tossed it back, only to be disappointed in himself for yet again forgetting it was empty.

“Hey bar-keeper I need another round out here!” He called out. Placing the bottle down on the counter he sighed loudly. “It’s gonna be a loooooong night….”

Armed with her knew knowledge, powers and second chance at life she sets off on her mission.

Years later Hokiki returns to planet Keron. It isn’t long before she learns of the life he has lead and his accomplishments in the military.

When reading over his documentation she notices a side note mentioning an ability to manipulate time. Time. It all comes rushing back to her.

She remembers speaking with Jikaryu about his people and what happened to them, how they slipped through the cracks of time. How he feared one day it would happen to him and he would just simply be gone.

She realized her folly and in her shock and despair she could see nothing to do but return to his home planet and beg the Gods of his people for mercy and forgiveness.

It was then she received and answer...

Remaining unscathed within the ash and cinders, lies Hokiki’s bow.

The Gods speak to their reborn child, welcoming her back to the world. They bless her with not only cosmic powers, but the one other thing she was refused the day she was born- a name.

Zenkaryu, in the style of her father’s people (Her True Name 灰燼の竜)

They gift her a bell inscribed with magical runes to help her regulate her powerful gifts, in place of the traditional dual rings of their race.

With their vast omnipotence, the Gods convey the stories of all those that came before her. Including the events that led to her parents meeting, as well as her own fate.

Slipping the bell onto her mother’s ribbon, she ties it around her neck.

Reborn with the power of the Gods,

stained by the ashes of her mother’s sins.

Her features altered from her rebirth, her physical form now resembles that of her father’s people.