Disciples and Vessels

Days had soon bled into weeks as Akane continued with his new schedule: finish work early, go train in the table and return for a refreshing rest.

Much to Raijin's surprise, Akane was unable to use any other power apart from the speed and the body enhancements it came with. Maybe it was his body or his mind just hadn't fully accepted the change.

Work was smoother and soon his sunken eyes with dark shades under them soon went back to normal and his body became more toned.

Yuki though never stopped noticing the things that changed about him since he 'died.' Not that no one else noticed the changes—from the dyed hair to the new build to the good looks—just that they didn't know it all started after he 'died' but didn't die.

Whenever Yuki tried questioning him on something that was somehow connected to the incident at Ome, he'd just quickly divert it or find away to escape.

Akane's training flowed easily and faster than Hakuto could have possibly predicted. It was as if each day he grew stronger than the previous and soon enough, he had started beating Hakuto even when they went all out.

"One… more," Hakuto let out in ragged breaths, drenched in sweat as he pushed himself up.

"Hakuto Sensei, I think you need to calm down a bit and rest," Akane suggested in concern, standing in front of the man. He had won again, without breaking a sweat this time.

"I'm not yielding to you, boy. Old age has got be badly, but you reminded me of the thrill in a fight." Hakuto cracked his fingers and took a fighting stance.

Akane reluctantly raised his hands and stretched them before picking his own stance. His eyes became slits as he focused.

"Alright, boy," Hakuto grinned.

Akane instantly felt a shift. An intimidating aura started coming from the old man and to confirm the change in threat level, Raijin spoke up.

"I knew it, he's a disciple!" Raijin declared.

'What?'

Raijin started to warn. "Be careful Akane, this is not—"

But before he finished, Hakuto was out of sight. The speed was so immense that Akane barely registered the movement in afterimages.

Nana who was watching from the side palmed her face. "He has gotten too excited again." Then she dropped her hands and studied them. "But I don't feel the need to interrupt. Is it because I believe little Akane is a… disciple as well? No. I need to stop them before Hakuto hurts the boy."

But Nana stood still. Her body refused to move as if expecting Akane to be able to do something. "But if he does manage to hold a few seconds, then… he may really be one."

Akane turned just in time to see Hakuto's fist coming for his face. He quickly raised both hands as a shield to block, making him skid back.

He had trained her for weeks, but none of Hakuto's punches felt like this one. At some point he thought his bones were broken until his hands moved fine.

"Ah, interesting," Hakuto muttered. Raising his head, Akane noticed a purple glint in his black eyes before the man vanished again.

Akane turned with a spinning air kick, while Hakuto came from behind with a grass cutter kick that was meant to root out Akane's legs.

Both landed apart from each other before Hakuto charged in with a number of attacks that Akane blocked, but his hands felt more numb after each strike.

Eventually, Hakuto faked a punch to the gut, before raising his leg and slamming his heel into Akane's head.

Akane dropped to the ground and raised his hands that were now shaking. "I give up."

Hakuto laughed, "That was the best fight I've had in almost two decades." He extended a hand to help Akane up. "Why don't you go get some rest. That's enough for today. We will be expecting you tomorrow."

Akane smiled and took his suit jacket, bowed then walked out with a sore body that started to heal itself slowly.

Hakuto's expression became serious as he watched Akane walk down the long temple stairs. "You saw that, right?"

"Yes," Nana replied, walking up to him. "I couldn't believe it myself."

"I had to use a little of the power to confirm it. The son of Shoto is indeed a disciple," Hakuto sighed. "The Kotetsu family legacy never died, did it?"

… …

"What do you mean they're disciples? What are disciples?" Akane asked in a hushed tone as he walked the street.

"Remember when you first met them I said they weren't completely mortal, right?" Raijin answered with his own question.

"Yes, I do. You said something about god fragment or something like that."

"Exactly, a divine god can grant mortals a small fragment of their power. These mortals act as the god's own mortal forces in this world, and they are known as Disciples," Raijin explained.

Akane nodded, "So, you're saying Hakuto Sensei and Nana Sensei are connected to a divine god?"

"No, I'm saying they're connected to the subway home, of course I am!" Raijin snapped.

"What? I just wanted to confirm, ugh." Akane rolled his eyes but then Raijin explained something else.

"But, the divine gods can also interact with the mortal world themselves, through Vessels. Mortals strong enough to embody their immense power."

Akane remained quiet for a while. "Wait, so these Disciples and Vessels have been on earth for nearly how ling?"

"If you can count a thousand year after the beginning." Raijin's reply came vaguely.

Akane shook his head. "So I'm a Vessel?"

"No. The gods don't become one with the Vessel because their essence is too much to handle. The Vessels are more high grade puppets than the puppeteer themselves, but they can control disciples under their divine god."

"So, what am I?" Akane asked, utterly curious.

"You were never supposed to be alive in the first place. Strangely, you are the first mortal I have ever seen who had the potential to wield an entire god's essence, and your blood also, it was strong enough to break the seal."

"What seal?"

"I can't remember."

"So are you saying…" Akane trailed.

"Yes," Raijin approved, already knowing what he was going to ask. "You and I, together are… the Lightning God."