In Pursuit! [Granite Mountain]

[Salvation]

Location: Granite Mountain

An audible pop could be heard as Shuken's physical body came to occupy space within Valucre at an incredible rate. Cloaked in black his form stood out in the heat of the day as he stood atop Granite Mountain. His natural vision and elevation allowed him to see for miles from where he was perched. Leaning his head back he sighed loudly, he was not at all enthused with the task that lay ahead of him. However he knew that it was of utmost importance that he succeed. Clearly the avatar of his brother Kalen, the one known as Gen Tatsu had recently been at this very spot.*

Shuken could not only feel the remnant energy of Gen's specific energy signature, but also he could feel the disturbed electromagnetic fields Gen had left behind. The question was why? The Zenith was certain that if there were a battle here recently that there would also be remnants of an opposing forces resonance. Since there wasn't it could only mean that Gen was attempting to use his power for something, but what? Pondering this for only a few moments longer, Shuken shrugged it off. Soon enough he could ask the man himself.

"He headed in that direction."

"I know."

"So what are you waiting for?"

"Setheus wants to find Gen. Setheus will also know that I just left Ayenee. I'm not going to allow him to find the avatar because I was foolish enough to lead Setheus right to him. Consequently I predict a....yup. They're already coming."

In the distance a dark cloud-like form was shifting and swirling toward Shuken. It was quite apparent that Setheus was not going to waste any time, and had already dispatched some of his pathetic henchmen from The Faction to confront Shuken.

"What is he thinking? He knows you'll kill every single one of them."

"Obviously then, he's not trying to kill me. He's trying to stall me."

As the cloud formation came closer it began swirling into a funnel and broke most unnaturally from the cloud cover up above. Descending quickly upon the top of Granite Mountain, the black smoke-like swirls cascaded all around the edges of the mountain top until almost demonic looking shadow ninja were formed around him. Shuken was not alarmed by any means and casually walked more toward the very center of the newly formed arena. His enemies moved in kind, closing the circle in on him while he moved, and then stopped as Shuken stopped.

"Didn't I kill enough of you morons in Ayenee for you to know not to come after me?"

The dark shinobi that surrounded him said nothing in return, but Shuken could tell that they were all tentative to begin attacking him. Something wasn't right, but he couldn't quite figure out what it was yet.

"Alright fine, I guess I ran into a non-social bunch this time."

"How long is this going to take you?"

"What are you timing me?"

"Maybe I should, at least that would make it less boring."

"You know Obsidian, you complain a lot."

"If you didn't give me so much to complain about, I wouldn't do it."

"Right. Anyway, four seconds. Go."

In a dark blur Shuken had produced one of his escrima from underneath the folds of his cloak. Like a black Flash he raced around the moronic assailants taking heads off as he blazed past them, save for the last. This one he gripped by the throat and lifted them from the ground as all the bodies around them kissed the granite.

"You know you guys run off the same basic principle as Puddies. Weak as fuck but think your numbers can save you. Tell your master I wish this was him."

Taking the blunt end of his escrima he drove it into the pawns eye socket until the black sludge that comprised their insides leaked from the back of its head. Within a few moments after dispatching them all, they began dissipating into dark puffs of smoke that swirled away in the wind.

Sheathing his weapon after cleaning it off, Shuken gazed in the distance in which he knew Gen had went. "Well, time to get the show on the road I suppose."

"That was five seconds."

"Fuck you."

Spoiler:

*Referencing a post I will be posting later as Gen, but takes place before Shuken's arrival.

[Salvation]

Spoiler:

This scene takes place before the actions in the previous post.

Standing poised atop Granite Mountain the shinobi began a series of movement with his Bo, slow at first but quickly gaining in momentum. The metal staff began to hum slightly as he practiced a free-flow of movement. Testing and gauging the range of motion of the weapon that had just recently been enhanced. After some time searching out resources available to him through barter, and individual endeavors Gen had obtained two pieces of vibranium with attributes that were polar opposite from one another. After practicing and forging the metal himself he attuned his Tenkai to accept the two pieces at the tips.

Though his movements upon sight would look fluid, Gen knew that he was slightly off. He could feel the sonic vibrations alternating the natural rhythm he normally had. While practice would solve this problem, he was pleased with the core power that the clashing metals surged through the weapon. While the Tenkai was a strong weapon it was more flexible and would conduct electricity extremely well. The strikes delivered were shocking and debilitating, but the concussive force behind the strikes were weak. Now the two vibranium pieces would add a concussive sonic pulse within the core of the staff. Ultimately making the force behind each blow stronger and more impacting.

After a short time of practicing with his newly formed weapon, Gen took a break and moved to sit along the edge of the mountaintop. On one side lay a mountain range that separated Granite Mountain and the city called Last Chance. On the other was a lush forest that seemed rather expansive. Gen enjoyed the duality this mountains view had to offer. Soon his mind would begin to wander entering into a meditation state. Usually during these times Kalen would begin communicating with Gen, and he suspected that it would happen once again. There was just too many things he had recently become uncertain about, he needed guidance.

"What is it that troubles you my son?"

"Well, it's hard to explain. I want to be the hero of a nation, I want to protect the masses. But not only do they not even know who I am, or what I'm capable of. Something tells me they wouldn't begin to understand or appreciate the magnitude of what I would be doing for them."

"So you wish to receive accolades?"

"Yes. No, well...kinda. I don't want anyone to fall at my feet and praise the very ground I walk on. But I do want people to see me as their hero. The one they can count on."

"A hero to one, can be a villain to another."

"What does that mean?"

"Actions you take that you perceive as heroic could very easily be seen as villainy in the eyes of others. For example, you could see yourself as a freedom fighter for a nation. But an opposing nation could view you as a terrorist. Things are never as black and white as they appear on paper. It's like looking at a mechanism, you see the wonder of the machine all the while not taking the time to notice all the minute pieces that make the mechanism work. It's the small things that most don't notice that makes the difference. In this day and age large emphasis is put on seeing the 'bigger picture'. While there is nothing wrong with this, sometimes you have to step back and admire the little things that make the world go 'round."

"So you're saying to view the whole picture, not just what is defined as the 'bigger' part of it."

"Exactly."

"Sorry, but I don't see how this helps me with my problem."

"And that's my point."

"What?"

"You're looking at the endgame, the big picture. You want to be a hero. But it's the small things that make you a hero."

"How so?"

"I'm not going to give you all the answers, that would defeat the purpose of you experiencing existence. What I will say is that without altering your view on what is heroic, you'll never achieve the level of heroism that you wish to obtain."

"Alright, well that's not the only thing that's bothering me."

"I know. Tanso and Tenrai are safe. In fact Tanso is part of the reason why I've come to you."

"Why, what did he do now?"

"It's not what he did. It's what he is, same as you. You two have become very important targets for my younger brother Setheus. In fact very shortly you will have to leave this mountaintop and hide."

"I don't hide."

"This battle is not one you need to fight, it's not about pride. To ease your mind, you would have won the battle heading your way. But what is more important than the battle is the knowledge that can be obtained from it. And that's what Setheus wants, information."

"But where do I go?"

"Head toward Last Chance, the activity in the city will help to disquise your energy signature. Shortly after you arrive there, someone will be coming to find you."

"Who?"

"You'll know the moment you see them. Trust me."

Without another exchange Gen had felt himself drifting back toward reality. The view of the mountains returning to him. When he stood up he faced the direction Last Chance was in, he wondered. Was this the beginning to his next great adventure?

[Salvation]

Shuken merely took flight from atop Granite Mountain and soared toward the city of Last Chance. While in flight he admired the scenery from above as he rose in the air thinking to himself how beautiful it was, and how inevitably there was someone who would probably come along and ruin it all. Not after too long he had stopped above the city and peered down toward it. The population wasn't staggering, but there ranged quite the varied array of supernatural life-forms. Knowing that someone would take notice of his presence he decided to make it less ominous and descend to the ground.

Fortunately where he would land would just so happen to be in front of a small run-down Inn. The same place Gen had rented a room just a little earlier. Shuken wondered for a guy who doesn't do anything but practice and travel how Gen always seemed to acquire money. Then he remembered what Setheus told him long ago and thought that was rather convenient. . .

^{Moments before..}

The run down inn Gen had paid to rent a room in luckily had a small bar inside of it. The old hag working there didn't seem very pleased with her job at all, and needless to say it wasn't the cleanest of places. But then again Gen had heard there weren't any 'clean' places in Last Chance. He wasn't very surprised when the woman gave him a weird look when he only asked for a water. After taking it he walked away from the bar to sit at one of the tables, as he sat back to take a drink he could feel something in the distance. Something faint.

At first to him it felt like a shimmer of a heartbeat, growing slightly more powerful as it came closer. Gen set down his drink and began to peer in the direction he felt, but he couldn't yet see what it was. Normally anything like this he would be able to see an entire form on the electromagnetic spectrum. But this was just a pulse of that energy, in fact too strong of a pulse not to be a complete sentient form. Still peering in its direction as it had descended and stopped right in front of the inn. Sooner than I expected, damn. I paid for the room already. Leaving his water on the table he stood up and went toward the door.

-------------------------------------
^Presently..

Shuken Takano meets Gen Tatsu

Shuken was a little surprised the first time he saw Gen, he hadn't expected his eyes to be so unnatural looking. But then again the mans whole existence was unnatural, and that was partially the reason Setheus wanted to get a hold of Gen. Curious as to what the world looked like to the avatar, wondering whether or not he could mirror in his mind what Gen saw.

"So you're the one who's come to babysit me."

"Are you saying that you're a baby and you need a babysitter?"

"No." Gen looked sternly at the resonating presence in front of him, slightly irritated. "Why do you only appear to be a mass of electromagnetic energy without a form?"

Shuken looked back at Gen and smirked for a second. "Oh, yeah. Between being able to mask my own presence and the constraints in which the realm of Valucre places on its inhabitants, it's quite easy to resonate the slightest frequency to be minimally detected. Here.." completing his form knowing there wasn't a formidable adversary anywhere nearby. "..better?"

"Interesting. Yes, thanks." Gen began getting uncomfortable standing awkwardly in front of the inn. Looking around there weren't many people among them, even so he still wasn't relaxed. "Think we should go to a uh.. more private place?"

"Yeah kid, sure. Let's go.."

Shuken again took flight and rose above the city, quickly darting east and soaring through the sky. Heading toward the shoreline he looked back and saw Gen following behind, though not flying. Beneath his feet was a sleek metal construct, through it he conducted the EM pulses necessary to levitate. Essentially Gen's power over electromagnetism was quite exemplary, the problem was that when generated from simply his body, the waves could become uncontrollable the farther they radiate from him. Conducting this energy through metal allowed for more precision at further distance and more stored power.

"Who are you the Silver Surfer?"

"Who?"

"Never mind, the shoreline is coming up. We can talk there and I doubt anyone will intrude. I hate to tell you this but, you're too slow. I could have been there already. I'm gonna give you a hand.."

Through his own abilities with EM and kinetic energy he gave Gen a boost. Their speed increased exponentially making their trip only last a few moments. When they arrived they both descended to the beach, landing softly enough to only affect some of the nearby sand. Both of them gave a glance around and noticed just down the beach there was a pier. Shuken looked toward Gen and gestured to it.

"That private enough over there for you?"

"Sure."

As they walked together toward the pier Gen had taken his Tenkei and reduced its size, then put it away. "So what's going on?"

"Figured you'd ask that. Well to tell you the truth to give you the whole picture would just be wasting our time. So I'll just tell you the important stuff you need to know." Gen had nodded to Shuken's words, which slightly surprised the Takano. Most people wouldn't live with just some of the details, they'd want them all. "You and your buddy Tanso are something of a mystery, a puzzle if you will. There's a guy named Setheus who wants to solve that puzzle. The problem is that if he does that, the lands of Terrenus and all other lands in Valucre would be in a lot of trouble."

"Aren't they already in a lot of trouble?"

"Huh.. well. I guess they are, smart ass. Anyway they'll be in even bigger trouble."

"Yeah yeah. I guess you don't know much about Terrenus or Valucre. There's always some big threat against civilization, terrorist attack, this and that every other week. What makes this Setheus guy such a big deal?"

"You aren't going to take this seriously are you?"

"Not unless there's a reason so I'll just keep wondering why so serious?"

"Did you do that on purpose?"

"What?"

"Never mind. Well let me see if I can put this into perspective for you. First of all, Setheus is a Takano, the brother of the very being who created you. Secondly, only a fraction of his power is enough to create entire armies. Third, he rivals your precious Gaia, so even she cannot contain every bit of what he does. Hence why some of his creations happen to make it within the realm."

"So what's the big deal about me and Tanso? We're nothing special."

"On the contrary, you two are very special. You two may be the only path to destroy Kalen."

[Salvation]

"What? Wait wait wait.. did you just say 'destroy Kalen'? Hold on, now that I think about it.. who the hell are you?" Clearly frustrated Gen wondered if it were even possible to accomplish what he was hearing this man say.

"Oh now you're curious as to who I am. Who writes your lines? Oh, yeah. Any way, my name is Shuken Takano." Pausing so the weight of the name would fall upon the avatar, as it did Gen's expressions changed from confusion to astonishment.

"So.. you're?"

"That's right, your creators younger brother. Though if it makes you feel any better I don't consider Kalen or Setheus as my brothers. The only thing we have in common is our unique bloodline."

"Okay then wait, if you don't consider Kalen as a brother why are you helping him?"

"I have my reasons. Mostly I'm not sure what may happen if Setheus achieves his goal, I haven't been able to see through to the end of that scenario. If what I think is going to happen if Kalen is destroyed then it's in my best interest to stop Setheus too."

"What do you think will happen?"

"I can't tell you that."

"Why?"

"Because the asshole writing this doesn't want me to and it's as simple as that. Honestly I could have had this all figured out and done with if his feeble whims weren't constantly getting in my way."

"What are you talking about?"

"Look, I just can't tell you. But what I can tell you is that we need to find Tanso as soon as possible. This realm hinders psionic leylines, making it difficult for everyone except the extremely adept from probing this part of the multi-verse. Which is just a big long explanation as to why I can't just go 'Sword of Omens, give me sight beyond sight' and find the guy."

"You are extremely weird."

"Oh I could tell you about some weird shit pal, but instead of wasting time blowing your tiny mind. How about we go find Tanso? So... any idea where he might be?"

"No. But I have an idea on how we might be able to find him."

"You have an idea, great. Let's hear this idea."

"Well the idea here is that Tanso and I are pretty much like two halves of a whole right? Well if that's the case then our weapons probably are too. My Tenkai can lead us to his Tenken."

"That sounds extremely gay."

"I have no idea what that means."

"Your staff will lead you to his staff."

"I don't get it."

"It means it's a great idea, lead the way kid."

Gen stepped away and moved down along the beach. Producing his Tenkai he commanded it to form to it's normal size. Hoping that the alteration of the vibranium metal didn't disrupt the connection between the two avatars weapons.

Spoiler:

"This narration is completely homosexual. He produces his 'staff' and commands it to grow to it's 'normal' size. Then he's going to find his buddy with it?"

"More like his butt-buddy." Psionic laughter ensues.

"How do you deal with being the only cool character this douche has created?"

"It's pretty much like living a back-handed compliment."

"You poor bastard."

Willing his weapon to channel to its counter-part, it began resonating a distinct frequency that became stronger to the west. Looking toward Shuken he smirked half amused with what he had accomplished and half delighted the addition didn't compromise the weapon. "He's due west."

"Well of course he's due west you moron, we're on the east coast of Terrenus."

"Yeah, but this will lead us directly to him, to the west. Before we go, mind telling me what it is exactly that makes Tanso and I so special?"

"I'd rather tell you both at the same time."

"Fair enough."

"Alright, let's move out."

Both men had once again taken to the air, Shuken wasn't sure what he would make of this Tanso character, if he was anything like Gen it didn't look promising. As they flew an eery overwhelming familiar feeling began to creep up on Shuken. Apparently something in Palgard was calling out to him.

[Salvation]

It had been six months time that Shuken had played guardian over the fledgling Gen. Countless times he has saved the young one from assassination attempts at the hands of Setheus and his minions. In that time they had traversed over much of the realm of Valucre. Experiencing the life on the run so to speak. This path however was also laid by Shuken to help reveal to him the lineage of those he once knew in Valucre. Once the path was done Shuken had come to a great realization, and for the first time in a long time Shuken became excited at the prospects.

However before he made this epiphany, Shuken was allowed his first and only chance to ever speak to his older brother Kalen. The meeting did not go well, and Shuken learned that the bond they shared was only from a long dead clan, and the abilities their blood gave them. At the end of the meeting they parted ways fully understanding their individuality. The last words they would ever say to each other..

"The only reason you protected Gen for these last six months was so that you could know for yourself how to destroy a True God."

"You're right, I thought there was some mystical answer. Some definitive power that could destroy the great Kalen Takano. I found out all it takes to destroy a 'true god'. Is to not believe in them."

After that Shuken returned from the pocket dimension he and Kalen spoke within, and was standing alongside Gen Tatsu. Looking at the boy, Shuken was relatively surprised at the amount of improvement he had made. Capable now of propelling himself at greater speeds than he used to, but still not anywhere near as fast as Shuken. He could tell that clearly Gen was fashioned for this world. He was a limited creation made by the whim of a forgotten god. In all his time protecting him, it had never occurred that he was a doomed being to begin with. Made to born and die here in this time.

"Well kid, it's over. Setheus won't be coming for you anymore, and now you're free to roam the world again on your own."

"So you're just going to leave now that it's all over? I.. thought you were going to continue to train me."

"Sorry Gen. I'm not the kind of person that should be training you. You can now go make your own path again, learn in your own time. Besides, I've seen what is to come, and the future looks much more exciting. You take care, maybe I'll be around again sometime to see you. Don't play with your pole too much."

You couldn't help yourself could you?

Of course not. I'm me.

"You're a strange man Shuken. I wish you the best. Try not to be too much of a dick."

A psionic record scratch played in Shuken's mind as he stared at Gen.

Maybe you did teach him something after all.

Shuken smirked "I'll try to work on it kid."

With a lazy salute, Shuken's form disappeared with an audible pop creating a concussive wave as the matter aligned itself back to normal. Gen turned around, standing atop Granite Mountain once more, peering out over the world. Thinking to himself.. Am I really fucking back where I started? This adventure was bullshit.

And the stamp of Shuken would live on!