A New Life [IO]

Kokai Goka stared out to the smoldering ruins, her eyes dried, empty of tears. The fear that seared her village, her home, left nothing but ashes. There was no trace of her parents. Only charred and smoking wood. 

Kokai called upon them, but her eyes could summon no more tears. Instead, the occasion sob left the pit of her stomach as she watched in horror the remaining buildings cave in under the pressure of blackened planks. She cradled Sumairu in her arms, the hint of sizzled cloth wafting his face. "It's going to be ok," she muttered, her voice moist with snot and saliva. In truth, she did not know. And she was scared, more scared than she ever had been. But Sumairu couldn't  know that. He was strong, perhaps underestimated by his sister often. But Kokai could not help but act as his protector and guardian.

The Goka looked upon her brother's face, noticing his scar, the mark of her failure. And this, this cruel sacking of her home, the death of her parents, this was the second failure. 

Visions of the future swelled in Kokai's mind, swirling in a vague torment that reminded her of what she had lost. She struggled to face her brother once more. "We need to leave," she said, the words paining the pit of her stomach. It felt as if she had drank lava. "Those bandits will come back for whatever they can scavenge." Through the sorrow in her words dripped the venom of hatred, if only a tinge.

WC: 256

The events of the night had happened so fast Sumairu had barely had time to process it. He wasn't even sure it was really happening. The 14 year old boy watches as the thing he hated most in the world washed away the things he held most dear. Fire was evil, that much he knew. But fire never acted alone, it was always created whether by accident or guided by the hands of men.

"Why would they do this" The boy would ask aloud as he stood yards away from his burning childhood home. He couldn't comprehend this, not at an age such as his. His right hand would wipe the tears running from his eyes as he listened to his sister, she was telling them they had to go.

The words sent a shiver down his spine. They were now orphans with nowhere to go... This was the only place they knew. How could they leave it?

"I don't want to!" He'd shout.

WC: 164

Kokai looked down at the grassy ground upon hearing her brother’s words. The plants had been charred, leaving a once luscious and green plain a mile of obsidian black that crunched and crumbled with every footstep. “I don’t know,” she struggled to get out.

Hearing her instructions, Sumairu shouted, “I don’t want to!”

Kokai bit her lip, her eyes writhing in pain. She swallowed, holding back the pulsing groan from her throat. “Listen to me, Sumairu,” Kokai started, but something caught her eye. Something buried under the burnt boards of wood. Kokai stopped, walking forward.  “Come here,” she said, not breaking eye contact with the object.

The young woman knelt, sitting on her knees as she reached forward, removing the planks of wood. The charred boards stained her fingertips with black, but underneath them laid something beautiful.

A Sakura Tree.

In this valley of death remained something living, flourishing. And though its blooms were few, the pink flowers were the brightest thing in this dark country. It had to live. It had to grow.

Kokai remembered her mother, Hanako and her father, Katsu. They loved these trees, and they and their daughter often sat outside to watch the blossoms slowly drift to the ground. It was the most peaceful moment Kokai could remember.

Now that peace was something different. Despite the smoldering fires, this peace was cold. But there was a warmness in Kokai’s heart. A warmness from this tree, this new gateway to her memories. And that would comfort her along this difficult journey. And she hoped it would comfort her brother.

“Here,” Kokai said, reaching down to grab a blossom. She took the small flower in her hand, and handed it to her brother. “I want you to have this.”

Thunder echoed throughout the sky, bringing a flash of light to the otherwise grey and dark plain. “Come on, Sumairu. We need to go.”


WC: 572

Sumairu was on the verge of a mental breakdown, his thoughts and breaths alike were scattered. At the current moment he lacked what he needed most in this situation. A clear mind. Between the roaring fire, the blood curling screams of the people burning in their homes, and the sound of the retreating bandits, The fourteen year old boy was more than distracted, he was horrified.

"Listen to me, Sumairu" His sisters voice snapped him back to reality. "Come Here"

Trying his best to listen he'd waltz over to the voice of his sister, "What?" He'd ask confusedly. Did she know something he didn't, she seemed to be calm, hopeful. None of which made any sense for he to be in this moment.

It was then that the girl picked a flower up off of the ground, a petal from a sakura tree. For the briefest of moments the boy was sheltered by the thought of the trees that had lined the walkway up to their house. "Thank you" He'd say as he tucked the flower away into pocket for safekeeping.

"I think I'm ready" He'd say as he followed his sister away from his home and into uncertainty.

WC: 363

Kokai watched as her brother took the flower, giving him a faint but warm smile. Thunder once again crackled throughout the sky, as if the gods themselves were striking drums. “We need to get to shelter. Come on.”

Kokai stood, giving Sumairu a quick hug before they moved on. Water began to trickle down onto the plains, and, with every drop, the kindled fire burning their home hissed. “The forest should be a good spot. We’ll be away from that lightning.”

The young Goka took in a deep breath as she traversed the flat area with her brother, feet splashing the small pools of water that muddied her boots. The tree line was not far, but the threat of lightning was very real, as was the possibility of tornados.

With each step Kokai took, the thought of her parents tried to find their way into her consciousness. Her scarlet eyes glanced at her brother, and she pursed her lips in thought. No. She couldn’t think of her parents. They had to make it, and they had to make it on their own. There was no more time to mourn, not for her at least. But to take that from Sumairu? That couldn’t be allowed.

Still, the need to defend themselves was necessary. Life as a missing ninja was said to be difficult… and dangerous. If a village could not shelter them from bandits, then other rogue ninja would prove an even greater threat. Kokai knew the bloodlust in people now. In the past, there were only stories. But this was real, and she wouldn’t let another family member fall. Never again.

“When we get someplace safe, I’m going to train my ninjutsu. I won’t ask you to do the same. That’s up to you. But we have to be strong now. We have to be brave. You have to be brave. Ok?”

WC: 885

“Metal?” Kokai repeated, moving her lips to the corner of her mouth? She thought for a moment as she ran across the splashing ground. He must have another project in mind. Good. Maybe that will take his mind off of things…

“Alright. Do you remember that cave we used to play in? Where I broke my ankle and ended up in a cast for a few months?” she said with a faint and warm smile. “I think that used to be a mine. It’s close by. We should be able to find some materials for you there.”

The pair maneuvered, now reaching the forest. Further inside was a large cave structure, riddled with moss and hanging vines. “This is it, Sumairu,” Kokai said as thunder clapped once more in the sky. It echoed through her, sending a chill down her spine. “This should double as shelter. Let’s get inside.”

Kokai pushed aside the vines, allowing Sumairu to pass through. “It’s gonna be dark in here. Watch for snakes.”

WC: 1053

Kokai reached into her robes, withdrawing a small scroll. It was one of the few items left over from her home, but it still bore the scars. There were several holes within the scroll, the parchment had browned in numerous places. The Goka took a deep breath, biting her lip as she unraveled her scroll, using the flashes of lightning to read the characters marked on the parchment.

It was a jutsu, the Rasengan. Kokai’s studies of ninjutsu had progressed, and, thankfully, she had within her ability to learn one of the most powerful ninjutsu techniques. This was not to be an easy challenge. Along with the missing words and the flashes of light, the Goka wasn’t particularly certain of her chakra reserves. The jutsu was very costly, or at least it seemed that way.

There wasn’t time for second thoughts however. Kokai glanced at her brother, peering through the darkness of the moist cave. He was getting to work. She needed to as well. They were alone now, with no protection. She had to be that defense, and while Rasengan wasn’t the most applicable jutsu, it was still something. Kokai inhaled deeply, squinting her eyes as she tried to decipher the text on the scroll.

“Wow,” Kokai said, reading through the jutsu.

“I don’t understand any of this.”

WC: 1272

Strolling further back into the cave Sumairu would find what appeared to be the entrance to the abandoned mineshaft his sister had been talking about. “Kokai! The boy would call out before hesitating with his next words. “I’m going to explore this mine for a little bit, I’ll be back in a few” The young goka child would say as he retreated further into the mineshaft, passing several wooden structures that appeared to be holding up the series of caves.

Rails and torches that hadn’t been lit in years lined the tunnels for as far as the eye could see. It would be some time before Sumairu found what appeared to be an abandoned mine cart, the iron crate seemed to be filled to the brim with tools, left behind by the workers who used to maintain the mine. Hammers, nails, pickaxes, saws, even a hard helmet, not to mention even more iron piled in at the bottom. All here for the inventor to work with.

A smile would appear on his face as he pushed the iron cart along the tracks back in the direction he had came from. “Kokai! Look what I found!” The younger brother would exclaim as he peered out of the entrance of the mine, clearly impressed by his find. “I think I can use this to build what I had in mind Kokai, I think it’s gonna work out”

WC: 1222