Chapter 1

It was a cold an foggy morning in the town of Arias. Two men were walking towards a clearing near the forest. The older one, was Derek Michaels, former Marine Special Forces Opp. With him was Arriann Michaels, his son. Derek was 6'3, short dark brown hair, about 240 pounds, ALL muscle. He had the softest blue eyes, anyone had ever seen. Arriann on the other hand was an almost replica of his father. Almost. He had shoulder length straight black hair. 6'0 feet 200 pounds and like his father all muscle. That's were things started going in different directions, Arriann had an odd color of eyes, his were a perfect shade of gray. They were carrying a duffle bag each. To Arriann, this was a weekly exercise, training with his father. Derek had spent a long time in Japan, as a result of his Marine duties, and took up Japanese sword fighting as a way of discipline. In their bags, there was body armor, a wooden practice sword and an actual long murumasa. When they reached the clearing they both separated from each other and lay out the items in their bags.

No sooner had each grabbed their practice swords were they rushing each other. When they met head on, both were smiling. You wouldn't think a father and son could fight and enjoy it, but here they were fighting to their hearts content. Perhaps as a result of Derek's training or Arriann's natural ability with a sword, neither really knew which it was, they countered and parried the others movements sometimes just millimeters from the blade striking their body. Back and for until someone landed a direct hit. After a brutal head on confrontation they backed away, a little out of breath, but still raring to fight more. Their practice swords were practically near breaking point, they next clash would break them. Indeed it did. As the swords met in front of them, they shattered into pieces. Both looked shocked... this had never happened before. Arriann couldn't help laughing, he looked at his father and punched him in the arm.

"I told you, i wasn't going to let you beat me again old man!" he said between bouts of laughter. Derek looked at his son, with one can only say admiration. "Yea son, no shit" he chuckled. Arriann walked back toward his bag, his father looked at him.

"He may be only seventeen, but he is more mature than most adults my age, if I'm right then he is going to need that maturity along with the training I've given him."

Derek sighed before turning and heading towards his own bag. After placing their body armor on, they walked up to each other bowed. Time for martial arts training. You wouldn't think people could move that fast, but here they were father and son, fighting each other as best as they could. Derek's words still echoed in Arriann's mind "If you don't try your hardest, then you will never get better, and neither will I." They went at each other with combinations of kicks and punches trying to knock the other down. After an hour, both were still standing, out of breath and not one of them had hit the floor yet. Derek raised his hand. "Enough, I think were both even at long last. You maybe better with a sword than I am, but your fighting skill is the same as mine." Arriann looked at his father, then he bowed. "I have something for you, son, come with me." he helped Arriann to his feet and they walked back to Derek's SUV near the entrance of the trail. "Now I know your birthday isn't for another week, but I just cant wait any longer, now considering out sparring this morning I think its a fitting present." Arriann looked at his father in wonder. "just what did you get me, old man?" he asked in a joking manner. Derek chuckled at being called old again. "You cant be young forever son. Now I know you love long murumasa's, and the longest you've found is 4 1/2 feet. I found you one that is 5 1/4 feet long, and sharp like I've never seen before." Arriann looked stunned, he had wanted a murumasa that was at least 5 feet for as long as he could remember. Derek lifted the rear-windshield, reached in and pulled out round long container, and handed it to Arriann. "I had them place it in here, I hope its to your liking." Derek watched his son's face as he opened the container and pulled out the murumasa in its sheath. It was All black, as Arriann pulled the blade out, the winded stated blowing a bit harder. You would think it would be hard to pull the blade out, nope, in one swift motion the blade was out. The wind just died down after the blade was out. "Thanks, dad... umm dad?" Arriann looked around and Derek was no where in sight, only a desolate parking site...