A Strange Dream

Ryosuke looked at Haruka for a moment, unsure of what he should do. After a few seconds, though, he turned to Ryu. "Stay here, and don't eavesdrop," he said, his expression stubborn. Ryu frowned, mumbling a reluctant "OK". Afterwards, Ryosuke and Haruka stood outside of the room to speak. "Alright, what is it?" Ryosuke asked, getting straight to the point. Haruka took a deep breath, searching for the right words. "Mr. Yamamoto," he began, "I'm not sure how to say this, but the Abyss King used black magic before the strike. The bit of residue left on Ryu's coat was enough to... well, cause extra damage."

Ryosuke furrowed his brow. "What do you mean, 'extra'?" He asked, lowering his voice. Haruka sigh, and continued. "Ryu doesn't have much time," he said, his voice a low whisper. Ryosuke's eyes widened, his brow furrowed in angry shock. "But if Chihiro can find the scroll in time, he'llー" Haruka stopped and held his breath, hearing footsteps nearby. As the footsteps became quieter, Haruka sighed, relieved no one heard. "If Chihiro finds the scroll," he continued, "Ryu will survive." Ryosuke, though still in shock, cleared his throat. "How long does Ryu have?" He asked in a low voice. Haruka thought for a moment before responding. "About two to three days before it gets bad," Haruka said. Ryosuke nodded. "Thank you for telling me," he said to Haruka, who returned the nod. As Ryosuke walked back inside the room, he couldn't stop thinking about what Haruka had said, though he tried to tell himself that Chihiro would find the scroll in time.

Meanwhile, in the training arena, Makoto and Shiro, who had been training for five days straight from dawn to dusk, while they were getting tired, Makoto seemed to be able to understand combat better. "Makoto," Shiro said, preparing for a sparring match. "Once again, come at me." Makoto nodded as he assumed a martial arts stance. 'Alright,' he thought, 'this time for sure, this time I'll win!'
Makoto charged at Shiro and tried to use a technique Shiro had taught him, but Shiro dodged before he could even get close enough. "That was too slow," Shiro said, using a hand sign to blow hot wind down Makoto's neck, the most 'punishment' he seemed willing to do. Though he had been too slow, Makoto still tried to use the same technique again, but still failed. "You can't fight an Abyss Warrior like that, Makoto," Shiro said, using this taunting as a push for Makoto. 'Why am I so slow?!' Makoto thought in frustration. 'I know Shiro's trying to help, but it's getting frustrating!! I just wish he'd stand still and TAKE A HIT ALREADY!'

Then, suddenly, Makoto seemed to bolt forward, and though he was unable to actually punch Shiro, his fist barely grazed Shiro's cheek. 'He's gotten better,' Shiro thought as he jumped backwards, dodging most of Makoto's attack. 'But he's still not strong enough,' Shiro thought. "Not bad," Shiro said, brushing the back of his hand on the spot Makoto had tried to hit. "But you weren't going full force." He then took out one of his two swords and prepared to attack in such a way that he wouldn't actually hurt Makoto. As he struck, Makoto used a hand sign to create a barrier. "You have potential," Shiro said, putting more weight behind his sword. "But the Abyss won't stop til they have the whole of Eldoria in the palm of their hands."
"I know that," Makoto said through gritted teeth, managing to push Shiro backwards a bit using the barrier. "I'm doing my best here," he shouted.

Shiro heard the pent-up anger starting to come out in Makoto's voice. 'It won't be long now,' Shiro thought with a proud grin. 'I just have to push him a bit further, but not too far,' Shiro thought to himself. "All those 'jocks' you mentioned were always stronger than you," Shiro said as he walked by Makoto, swinging his sword around. "And you were always weaker."
All this was true, Makoto knew, but somehow it hit harder than when the jocks said it. 'He's talking like they did,' Makoto thought, the old anger beginning to boil back up. 'Wait,' he thought, 'did Yui think that of me too?' Makoto began to find it hard to think straight at this point, and Shiro could tell. 'He won't go full force if I don't push him just that bit more,' Shiro thought. "Makoto," he began, his voice firm.

                                                              "Let it out."

At these words, Makoto suddenly screamed and threw a punch at Shiro, who was caught off guard and stumbled back from the blow. But before Makoto could hit him twice, Shiro used a barrier hand sign so he could regain his balance. 'It worked better than I thought,' Shiro thought as he dodged Makoto's punches and threw some himself. "Just. Stand. Still. And. TAKE. A. HIT!!!" Makoto screamed, all his old, pent-up, buried anger coming out after years of middle school and high school. "The Abyss won't stand still!" Shiro shouted, feeling his own old grudges start to surface. 'Wait, I can't,' Shiro thought, realizing what might happen if he actually got angry. 'Makoto's still only fifteen and he's never fought before. There's no way he'd be able to withstand my anger.'
Just as he was thinking this, Makoto fell to his knees, finally exhausted. He looked up at Shiro and saw the bruise on his cheek. "Did *pant* did I do that...?" Makoto asked, guilt in his voice and still catching his breath. Shiro shrugged it off and said, "No worries, puer. No real harm done." He held out his hand and helped Makoto back up. "We should rest for today," Shiro said with a slight smile, "I know you need it."

That night in the infirmary, Ryu had a strange dream. He was in the same forest that he had been in with Makoto and Chihiro when they had met Arthenraed, the Elf. At least, it looked like that forest. But just as he was about to look for a way out, he heard a voice.

                                                                    "Ryu~"

"What?" Ryu said, turning around, trying to find the source of the voice. It was a young male voice, and it sounded like this person, whoever they may be, was possibly trying to trick him. "Who's there?" Ryu shouted at the air.

                                       "You're situation is quite undesirable, no?"
           "Not only injured, but to the degree that you're bedridden for five days..."
                                                          "Heh, what a shame."

The forest seemed to get darker as the voice continued to speak. "Just show yourself!!" Ryu shouted. "You coward!!" Just then, Ryu saw a figure walking towards him. It's appearance seemed to match the voice he had been hearing, having wavy blonde hair, a dark outfit, and glowing crimson red eyes. But before the figure could get close enough for Ryu to see who exactly it was...
He woke up.