The Vilnipolya Sich Part 1

The next day Hikari awoke with the sun as he usually did at home though usually without the shouting, back home someone would think there was a fire with all this yelling and ruckus. Hikari was also tired, probably the most tired he had ever been on account of yesterday's work and his late night talk with Aiko. Chad came up and handed him a bowl of oatmeal, it reminded him of the rice porridge of home, he was glad to have it. The work of that day was much like the work of last night, haul x crate to y place though now y place was some sort of big treaded vehicle. And once again the relentless pace was enforced through more and more shouting that Hikari couldn't understand. Hikari only got so much as a few glimpses at Aiko as he hustled around the collapsing camp box, crate, barrel, or whatever in hand; she was putting in the work as were all the fan dancers though they were preoccupied with their equipment and that of tents surrounding them. Yet what seemed most amazing was the largest animal Hikari had ever seen, like a building sized pig with a leg for a nose, ears bigger than its head, and tusks as long as its legs that pointed forward instead of up. This particular one was even more amazing in that it was using its massive size and strength to help load heavy equipment onto the larger trucks. The rest of the animals with the carnival were smaller and packed into cages or were in the process of being so. Hikari gawked at the giant beast for too long however and was quickly shouted at by another worker which made him jump and run back to the work. At lunch everyone was given a baked potato to eat before being sent back to work. By what would be dinner time of that day everything was loaded into its place and people were being shepherded into the various vehicles. Though he missed it at lunch Hikari saw what Chad told him was an elephant shrink down and turn into a person. Which both amazed and disgusted Hikari at the same time. He never knew that there was any sort of magic beyond his Rightful Cultivation and the idea that a man could turn into an animal of his own will was an affront to that system entirely. The man himself was a ratty and disheveled looking Daionian that covered himself in animal furs and various bone trinkets. Chad ended up being made a driver for some treaded vehicle while Hikari was herded into a bus with absolutely nobody he knew or could communicate with. No Chad, no Aiko, and no more Bataar, the closest he came to recognizing anyone was that he saw in another seat that shapeshifter in the furs he seemed happy enough to close his eyes and chant to himself in his seat to the annoyance of everyone around him judging by the looks on their faces. Yet another new rhythm of travel was born for Hikari though it was a miserable one for the most part. Days on end of driving through the steppes, packed into the bus shoulder to shoulder, surrounded by inconsiderate people whom he can't communicate with. It'd only be his night time rendezvous with Aiko that would preserve his sanity as Chad seemed perfectly fine with this crowd and with this rhythm of travel, though it likely helped that he was one of the drivers. It was also during this time he noticed the shape changer always seemed to linger in the general area around Hikari and Aiko as they talked, and he often gave her the side eye as he passed.

It'd be after three days like Bataar said that the carnival caravan would finally hit the border between the Grand Daion Khanate and the Vilnipolya Sich, as miserable as he was Hikari was somewhat happy that both he and Chad somewhere in another vehicle had successfully crossed what would be the longest leg of their journey. The border was nothing like Hikari had ever seen before, a giant concrete wall with rolls of razor wire spooled on top before a shorter but equally long chain link fence. They stopped before a large open section in both fence and wall that was swarming with armed men, many of whom didn't look much different than the leader of the carnival except being younger and having different colors of hair alongside their arms and armor that didn't look too especially different from what Chad was wearing and weilding back in the Ōgasanmyaku. The caravan would be stopped at the opening for hours during which Hikari would reflect on his journey so far. He wished him and Chad could ride with Bataar the whole way across the world, with Aiko at his side. Even then he'd settle just for being able to talk to any of them right now, but Chad was the driver for a hauling vehicle, Aiko was packed in a van with the other fan dancers, Bataar was driving his own truck somewhere out East, and Hikari was stuck in this hot bus bored out of his mind. Henrika Henrika, when would they ever actually get to Henrika? Eventually the armed men let the caravan pass after Hikari managed to spot the exchange of cash between the carnival leader and what could be assumed to be the leader of the soldiers. Yet still after it took another day and night for the carnival to reach a new town where they would actually set up. It was far smaller than the city they first sailed to when he and Chad arrived in the Grand Daion Khanate, though still much bigger than the average Muryowa village. The architecture was far different as well, with strange domed roofs that resemble an upside down onion with a bunch of multi-colored striations coming down them.

Then came all the work of unloading everything and setting it up which also took a while. Then it was back to lugging boxes around by day and moonlight midnight chats with Aiko at night. By now Hikari had gotten over his stuttering problem by following Aiko’s own advice, he just talked to her the same way he'd talk to Shinzo, Bataar, or Chad and they got along swimmingly just like she said. Still there was an underlying sadness about the whole thing Hikari felt, on account of his not being able to be honest or at least fully honest with Aiko about his past. He wanted to really bare his soul in full to this woman but he was terrified to do so because of what happened back in the city. Still he told what he could and she told what she was willing, usually stories from the road traveling with the carnival or after she first ran away from home. And the two became fast friends because of it. Though the discussion one night in particular really stuck out to Hikari. “So now that we've crossed the border, when do you think you and your friend will be striking off?” Aiko asked as she sat in the grass against Hikari. “When the carnival quits going West I suppose.” Hikari responded as he leaned into Aiko a bit. “I'll tell you when I hear we're changing course. When you start making plans to hit the road, come tell me. I want to give you something to remember your time here by. Having you around has made being here a lot nicer.” Aiko responded before he gave Hikari a gentle peck on the cheek, for she knew with this lifestyle you had to take what you could when it came up. Hikari turned red as a beet and touched his cheek while Aiko chuckled and stood up before walking to her tent. “Don't forget Hikari.” Aiko said as she walked off while Hikari felt like his heart was gonna beat out of his chest. Hikari would find himself unable to fall asleep that night with how much his mind raced.

And once again a pattern of travel emerged, set up near some town, work like a dog for a week, pack up, ship out, repeat again and again. All in all Chad and Hikari had probably travelled with the carnival for a few weeks and few more days. Hikari would have long wanted to leave them behind and get back on the road with Chad if it weren't for the fact he was so deep down desperate to woo Aiko. Chad didn't much seem to mind either, and while his Vilnipolyan wasn't great he spoke plenty other languages and proved to be a real popular sort even more sociable than Shinzo though maybe not as much as Bataar was. Though one evening right before Hikari could do his usual slipping away for his nocturnal rendezvous with Aiko, Chad would find him first. “Word on the grape vine is that there's a change of plans. Some sort of fighting has broken out in the West so after the next stop the carnival is gonna start heading South instead and cross the border into Elíachoúma. I recommend we keep riding along and then split at the next stop, it's been fun but damn slow going.” Chad elaborated quickly and clearly. “We have a couple more days here don't we?” Hikari asked wide eyed at the implications. “Ya, what's got you worked up about it?” Chad answered before he asked. “Nothing I'm just surprised is all, don't worry about. Let's go with your plan and leave at the next stop.” Hikari assured as deep down he panicked at what he was going to tell Aiko in a way where she may actually join their travels like he wanted. Still Hikari went on to talk with her that night as usual all the while thinking about how he was gonna say what he wanted to say to her. The next day passed about the same but the day after Hikari would finally come clean and tell Aiko as they sat out in the grassy fields that made up this land much like it made up Daion. “I heard there's been a change of plans, after our next stop the carnival is going to go South instead of West, so me and Chad are probably going to go our own way next stop…” Hikari stated with nervousness flooding his spirit. “Oh I know, I was just wondering when you were going to tell me.” Aiko responded with a smile “You did? But I thought you were going to tell me if you found out?” Hikari stammered again. “And I thought you were going to tell me before you left, and you did. You may have waited until the last second but you did.” Aiko answered with a smile before her surprisingly strong yet soft dancer's hands took Hikari's face and she would bring her painted red lips to Hikari's.

Hikari wide eyed for a moment in shock before instinct took over and he closed his eyes and kissed Aiko back. It was his first kiss and it already felt like his blood was going to boil from his veins as his heart rate picked up. It would Aiko who started and would eventually break the kiss with a smile as Hikari sat there dumbfounded and stammering to himself. “You're not broken enough to follow me back to my tent are you?” Aiko laughed at Hikari's love struck stupor. Hikari shook his head and took a breath. “N~no not at all, lead the way.” Hikari spattered out before standing up with Aiko and taking her hand. Aiko would smile and lead the two of them around the perimeter of the camp with nothing but the crickets and a wandering fox seeing their nocturnal retreat. Aiko would slip her head into the tent real quick, then giving Hikari another smile and sliding the both of them into the tent before sealing the flap behind them. There they both laid on Aiko’s sleeping bag that she zipped open and laid out for the both. There still they kissed each other like a man gone mad with love and a woman that knew what she wanted and how to get it. It was the unspoken agreement that they were to make love then and there was made and Hikari couldn't find any qualms with it in accordance with rightful cultivation. Soon kimonos began to be pulled at and Hikari could see Aiko’s soft pale skin like silk woven from clouds while Aiko saw Hikari's rugged farmer's tan like fine copper polish leather. Yet as they kissed and that critical joining of souls came ever closer Hikari's heart pounded harder and harder, like a blacksmith’s hammer in his chest, and he broke into a nervous shake as he couldn't think. There they were on the precipice of the act with everything open and exposed right there to fit perfectly with each other when Hikari lost his nerve. His mind flooded with panic as Aiko tried to soothe and reassure him with a hand on his face before he jump to his feet and run out the tent flap in a panic like the biggest fool in all Vilnipolya. Once the cold breeze of the night air hit his delicates and allowed him to catch his breath Hikari realized what an idiot he had been. He gathered his wits and courage outside and decided something. He was going to tell her everything, his true origins, the real reason for the trip, and what he wanted for the both of them. And should she agree and still want to do so then truly make love to her in the honest, loving, and rightful fashion. Hikari turned around and marched back to the tent sword in hand as he instinctively grabbed the thing as he ran out in his panic.

Yet instead of the relieved or possible angry half naked Aiko he expected on his return he would find the shape changer knelt over her with a hand over her mouth and another reaching for his own belt as he had Aiko pinned and struggling like hell beneath her. Hikari realized in an instant what he was trying and saw red. If he had lost his nerve earlier then he had lost his mind completely now as he bared his teeth and nearly growled through them before reaching for his sword. “Get your fucking paws off her you damn animal!” Hikari screamed in a blood curdling fashion before unsheathing his sword and slashing at the shape changer's neck in his rage, wanting to cleave his head from it completely. Though between his weakened cultivation causing his sword to only give a dull red and yellow glow instead of its usual burningly bright brilliance of crimson and gold and his rage affecting his swordsmanship the slash only sank halfway into the shape changer’s neck before getting caught on his spine. Blood sprayed like a waterfall all over the shape changer, the tent, Aiko, and Hikari as Hikari pulled his blade free of the man’s neck. The shape changer grabbed his throat trying to stop the bleeding as he stumbled at Hikari attempting to shape shift into one of the carnival lions before dropping dead not even half transformed and only halfway out of the tent. Hikari ended up out of the tent on instinct alone but when reality flooded back to his mind and the blood that he feared so much coated his blade, hand, and kimono he lost it. Hikari turned and threw up all over the grass before he began to cry and shake uncontrollably at the realization of what he just did, he just killed a man in a rage. Right behind him was the body still twitching and gurgling in its death throws, and behind it still was a shocked Aiko. Hikari looked behind him and met her gaze, her mouth moved like she said something but either he couldn't hear or couldn't understand it before in a panic he ran away. He had no idea what Aiko’s last words to him would be, as stumbled around the perimeter of the camp. Looking at his sword the steel blade practically drank the blood that soaked into it, its evil nature satisfied by the death it wrought. Hikari tried to cultivate his energy only for nothing to happen. Had he completely strayed from the path of rightful cultivation with this action, or was his complete panic keeping him from cultivating? He didn't know and that made him panic more as he resheathed the blade in its saya not knowing to wipe the blood off the blade.

Wandering outside the perimeter of the camp trying to properly recover himself with his kimono until he stumbled upon Chad relieving his bladder against a hill in the dark. “We have to leave now!” Hikari yelled out to Chad who jumped in surprise then jumped at seeing the blood soaked Hikari. “What in the Hells did you do?!” Chad yelled out as finished in one burst and rezipped his pants. “I~I I killed someone!” Hikari sobbed in grief and madness. “Why?!” Chad yelled and Hikari tried to explain but couldn't get the words out in an understandable fashion so he led Chad to the body where Aiko had long fled the scene. Chad had grabbed the body and flung the thing down a steep hill by the camp to where only then Hikari could partially explain what had happened. “Sounds like the bastard got what was coming to him then. You stay out here, I'll grab our pay and packs and we can run off.” Chad explained and Hikari nodded in agreement before Chad did exactly what he said and the two ran off towards the setting moon leaving the carnival, the corpse, and Aiko all behind.