“Look, look!”
“Ui dear, sit down.”
The taxi rolled through the city quietly and humbly as the three passengers calmly assessed the huge metropolis. It was certainly as grand as they had expected it to be. The pure cobalt sky glinted brightly against the bright sun, white clouds drifted lazily by underneath the skyscrapers that gleamed wickedly under the morning sun. It was a huge change of scenery considering they had previously lived in the country side.
Business had called though. Due to conflicting orders they were literally forced to move out in the city to deal with these problems personally. Ayumi Kurokami was more worried about what would happen to her daughter, Ui. She personally didn’t mind what happened to her own life, it was her daughter’s that concerned her. In an ironic twist of fate despite their efforts to keep Ui out of this life they were the catalyst that threw her in everything.
Satoshi Kurokami, like Ayumi, was cruelly indifferent about his own life. He wanted to keep Ui out of this just like Ayumi, and to an even severe degree; he wanted to hide Ui from everything. Oh, if only things could be that simple. All he would have to do is conceal Ui from everyone, from reality, she would disappear from existence. But nothing comes that easily.
The five year old Ui stared out of the cab window, awe-struck at the display. It was so fascinating! She had knowledge about the city from the TV shows she watched at home, and although it wasn’t as extravagant as the shows she watched it was still amazing! So many weird people existed in the city. She saw a few girls wearing weird white and black outfits, they kinda looked like the caretakers Ui had at home but a little unrestricted.
Ui wanted to take in these sights as much as she could. Her parents’ business always involved long boring meetings with weird people. Ui would have to dress up all nice and primp and have to sit still and not fall asleep, and then she would have to say – in a very sweet, but reserved voice – “it is an honor to meet you.” If they ask for her name she would have to say, “Hello, I am Ui Kurokami, it is an honor to meet you.” But that is only if they asked her name first, if not she would have to say her name only without that last part. She had to sit and practice saying that over a hundred times! It was painful but it was so the weird people wouldn’t get mad at her mommy and daddy, otherwise Ui would play in the backyard stark naked.
The only good thing that came out of these meetings was that one boy she met. His name was Yahiko Watanabe; he had a nice face and was super nice to her! In fact, she liked him so much she showed him the hiding spots she had set up all over her estate. Ui glanced at her hand, grimaced slightly she looked out the window again. When she met Yahiko she wrote his name on her hand and recited it twenty times at least. Ui decided she liked Yahiko’s name. But the bath washed her scribbling away so she couldn’t look at it anymore.
Ui’s pudgy cute face stared out the window, her bright eyes were curious and filled with wonder. Her chocolate brown hair was tied up neatly in a ponytail, it had grown out too long and her bangs covered her face. She looked more like her dad with her hair, but her crystal blue eyes were exactly like her mother’s.
“Those stingy old coots don’t leave well enough alone do they?” Ayumi huffed annoyingly; her rebellious attitude had caused trouble for her the Akiyama clan, her family. Despite their pleas not to marry to abnormal, albeit powerful, Kurokami clan she had defied their wishes and went off anyways. Ayumi was certainly powerful and beautiful being the former heiress of the matriarchal clan, in her youth she was revered as one of the most beautiful woman in the world of martial arts. Her dark hair tumbled down her shoulder and framed her face nicely, her annoyed features couldn’t conceal her naturally pretty face.
“Yeah, they don’t seem to trust us. I wonder why?” Satoshi looked over at Ayumi and gave her a goofy smile. The handsome and brave Satoshi Kurokami was not without his quips. He was an eccentric fighter and was extremely care-free. He never bothered with the business of his clan, much to their chagrin, and pursued a life of fun. But these qualities failed to betray his ruthlessness in battle.
Ayumi looked away, embarrassed. During the last meeting – two weeks ago – Ayumi had gracefully snuck away from the estate with her daughter in hand to play at the amusement park. Her reasoning afterward was just as straightforward as she is, “They were boring me and Ui wanted to go!”
The center of the tristate area was composed o an encirclement of buildings. They were immensely tall and stretched up to the sky. It was the city’s Social Circle, as they referred it. It was renowned for its amazing shopping center and culinary appreciation, it is said that in all of Arcadia you could find food from everywhere in the world in the Social Circle. Being one of the biggest hotspots of the nation and as a huge cultural magnet that statement is probably true.
Ui craned her neck to get a better sight at the skyscrapers but the cab window was closed. The driver stopped, signaling the end of the ride. Ayumi thanked the driver and handed him a hundred dollar bill, despite the fact that the amount owed was $13.23. Without another word the family stepped out of the vehicle and headed to the biggest building in the center of the Circle.
The Martial Arts Alliance was what it was referred to by martial artists all around the world. However, to the ordinary people they were known as the 9 Point Federation. It is a civil organization with the intent of introducing cultural acceptance and with the hopes of bringing the world together, starting with Arcadia. The ordinary people have no clue that an entire underworld martial arts league has formed underneath their noses. They act under the guise formed by their social cover, no one knows of their existence except the denizens within the dark world.
The Kurokami clan and the Akiyama clan were two prominent clans within the Alliance. The Kurokami clan is famous because of their impeccable sword techniques and their martial art: the Black Heaven and Earth technique. While the Akiyama clan is powerful because of their amazing ki circulation, they have an overwhelming ki presence and are so powerful and old it is said that the heiress before Ayumi was a woman that was aged a hundred seventy years but maintained the appearance of a woman in her forties. There are rumors that the Akiyama clan had discovered the secret to longevity and eternal youth. However, none have been confirmed – or denied either. The Alliance was smart with keeping their eyes on both clans and, more specifically, Ui. The martial arts world was always locked in a power struggle, the Alliance was there to keep peace but more and more powerful clans have been popping up with the intent of leading the Alliance. It is expected that one would become suspicious.
Ayumi and Satoshi, though, didn’t care for this power struggle. In fact that is the entire reason they lived in the countryside, to get away from all of this mess. But they have been dragged in again. You see, the compromise the Alliance has promised to both Satoshi and Akiyama was that if they gave up both the Black Heaven and Earth style and the secret to longevity they would leave them to live in peace. The problem with that idea is that there is no promise that everyone else would leave them alone.
There are numerous masters out there in the world that aren’t aligned with the Alliance. They are all seeking the gain power; if the secret of an ancient martial art and the method to longevity were released then both the Kurokami and Akiyama clan would suffer a severe blow and lose control. It would threaten not only Ui, but both clans. They would all be in danger of death.
Here comes the conundrum. Give up your clan’s most serious secret to guarantee a half-hearted promise of protection or live under the watchful eye of the Alliance and every bloodthirsty martial artist in the world. Both options were shit. That’s why Satoshi offered an option of his own. He suggested that both the secret to eternal youth and the Black Heaven and Earth style would die would them, that no one would inherit them. This seemed to scare everyone off and for a few months they were able to live in peace until two weeks ago a messenger from the Alliance requested their presence. They denied and everyday for a week messengers came by asking for them. Finally Ayumi had had enough and decided to go give them a piece of her mind. So, here they are.
The front lobby was a pleasant surprise. The room was extremely spacious with a few chairs and stray benches scattered about. Paintings depicting Greek mythological scenes decorated the place, large designs that assumed the form of Chinese characters – that of which meant “Loyalty and Honor” – plastered on the wall right behind the receptionist’s desk. The Kurokami family walked straight up to the front desk, feeling particularly aware of their footsteps that resonated within the room and evaporated away seconds later.
“Ui dear, sit down.”
The taxi rolled through the city quietly and humbly as the three passengers calmly assessed the huge metropolis. It was certainly as grand as they had expected it to be. The pure cobalt sky glinted brightly against the bright sun, white clouds drifted lazily by underneath the skyscrapers that gleamed wickedly under the morning sun. It was a huge change of scenery considering they had previously lived in the country side.
Business had called though. Due to conflicting orders they were literally forced to move out in the city to deal with these problems personally. Ayumi Kurokami was more worried about what would happen to her daughter, Ui. She personally didn’t mind what happened to her own life, it was her daughter’s that concerned her. In an ironic twist of fate despite their efforts to keep Ui out of this life they were the catalyst that threw her in everything.
Satoshi Kurokami, like Ayumi, was cruelly indifferent about his own life. He wanted to keep Ui out of this just like Ayumi, and to an even severe degree; he wanted to hide Ui from everything. Oh, if only things could be that simple. All he would have to do is conceal Ui from everyone, from reality, she would disappear from existence. But nothing comes that easily.
The five year old Ui stared out of the cab window, awe-struck at the display. It was so fascinating! She had knowledge about the city from the TV shows she watched at home, and although it wasn’t as extravagant as the shows she watched it was still amazing! So many weird people existed in the city. She saw a few girls wearing weird white and black outfits, they kinda looked like the caretakers Ui had at home but a little unrestricted.
Ui wanted to take in these sights as much as she could. Her parents’ business always involved long boring meetings with weird people. Ui would have to dress up all nice and primp and have to sit still and not fall asleep, and then she would have to say – in a very sweet, but reserved voice – “it is an honor to meet you.” If they ask for her name she would have to say, “Hello, I am Ui Kurokami, it is an honor to meet you.” But that is only if they asked her name first, if not she would have to say her name only without that last part. She had to sit and practice saying that over a hundred times! It was painful but it was so the weird people wouldn’t get mad at her mommy and daddy, otherwise Ui would play in the backyard stark naked.
The only good thing that came out of these meetings was that one boy she met. His name was Yahiko Watanabe; he had a nice face and was super nice to her! In fact, she liked him so much she showed him the hiding spots she had set up all over her estate. Ui glanced at her hand, grimaced slightly she looked out the window again. When she met Yahiko she wrote his name on her hand and recited it twenty times at least. Ui decided she liked Yahiko’s name. But the bath washed her scribbling away so she couldn’t look at it anymore.
Ui’s pudgy cute face stared out the window, her bright eyes were curious and filled with wonder. Her chocolate brown hair was tied up neatly in a ponytail, it had grown out too long and her bangs covered her face. She looked more like her dad with her hair, but her crystal blue eyes were exactly like her mother’s.
“Those stingy old coots don’t leave well enough alone do they?” Ayumi huffed annoyingly; her rebellious attitude had caused trouble for her the Akiyama clan, her family. Despite their pleas not to marry to abnormal, albeit powerful, Kurokami clan she had defied their wishes and went off anyways. Ayumi was certainly powerful and beautiful being the former heiress of the matriarchal clan, in her youth she was revered as one of the most beautiful woman in the world of martial arts. Her dark hair tumbled down her shoulder and framed her face nicely, her annoyed features couldn’t conceal her naturally pretty face.
“Yeah, they don’t seem to trust us. I wonder why?” Satoshi looked over at Ayumi and gave her a goofy smile. The handsome and brave Satoshi Kurokami was not without his quips. He was an eccentric fighter and was extremely care-free. He never bothered with the business of his clan, much to their chagrin, and pursued a life of fun. But these qualities failed to betray his ruthlessness in battle.
Ayumi looked away, embarrassed. During the last meeting – two weeks ago – Ayumi had gracefully snuck away from the estate with her daughter in hand to play at the amusement park. Her reasoning afterward was just as straightforward as she is, “They were boring me and Ui wanted to go!”
The center of the tristate area was composed o an encirclement of buildings. They were immensely tall and stretched up to the sky. It was the city’s Social Circle, as they referred it. It was renowned for its amazing shopping center and culinary appreciation, it is said that in all of Arcadia you could find food from everywhere in the world in the Social Circle. Being one of the biggest hotspots of the nation and as a huge cultural magnet that statement is probably true.
Ui craned her neck to get a better sight at the skyscrapers but the cab window was closed. The driver stopped, signaling the end of the ride. Ayumi thanked the driver and handed him a hundred dollar bill, despite the fact that the amount owed was $13.23. Without another word the family stepped out of the vehicle and headed to the biggest building in the center of the Circle.
The Martial Arts Alliance was what it was referred to by martial artists all around the world. However, to the ordinary people they were known as the 9 Point Federation. It is a civil organization with the intent of introducing cultural acceptance and with the hopes of bringing the world together, starting with Arcadia. The ordinary people have no clue that an entire underworld martial arts league has formed underneath their noses. They act under the guise formed by their social cover, no one knows of their existence except the denizens within the dark world.
The Kurokami clan and the Akiyama clan were two prominent clans within the Alliance. The Kurokami clan is famous because of their impeccable sword techniques and their martial art: the Black Heaven and Earth technique. While the Akiyama clan is powerful because of their amazing ki circulation, they have an overwhelming ki presence and are so powerful and old it is said that the heiress before Ayumi was a woman that was aged a hundred seventy years but maintained the appearance of a woman in her forties. There are rumors that the Akiyama clan had discovered the secret to longevity and eternal youth. However, none have been confirmed – or denied either. The Alliance was smart with keeping their eyes on both clans and, more specifically, Ui. The martial arts world was always locked in a power struggle, the Alliance was there to keep peace but more and more powerful clans have been popping up with the intent of leading the Alliance. It is expected that one would become suspicious.
Ayumi and Satoshi, though, didn’t care for this power struggle. In fact that is the entire reason they lived in the countryside, to get away from all of this mess. But they have been dragged in again. You see, the compromise the Alliance has promised to both Satoshi and Akiyama was that if they gave up both the Black Heaven and Earth style and the secret to longevity they would leave them to live in peace. The problem with that idea is that there is no promise that everyone else would leave them alone.
There are numerous masters out there in the world that aren’t aligned with the Alliance. They are all seeking the gain power; if the secret of an ancient martial art and the method to longevity were released then both the Kurokami and Akiyama clan would suffer a severe blow and lose control. It would threaten not only Ui, but both clans. They would all be in danger of death.
Here comes the conundrum. Give up your clan’s most serious secret to guarantee a half-hearted promise of protection or live under the watchful eye of the Alliance and every bloodthirsty martial artist in the world. Both options were shit. That’s why Satoshi offered an option of his own. He suggested that both the secret to eternal youth and the Black Heaven and Earth style would die would them, that no one would inherit them. This seemed to scare everyone off and for a few months they were able to live in peace until two weeks ago a messenger from the Alliance requested their presence. They denied and everyday for a week messengers came by asking for them. Finally Ayumi had had enough and decided to go give them a piece of her mind. So, here they are.
The front lobby was a pleasant surprise. The room was extremely spacious with a few chairs and stray benches scattered about. Paintings depicting Greek mythological scenes decorated the place, large designs that assumed the form of Chinese characters – that of which meant “Loyalty and Honor” – plastered on the wall right behind the receptionist’s desk. The Kurokami family walked straight up to the front desk, feeling particularly aware of their footsteps that resonated within the room and evaporated away seconds later.