Chapter 3

In the following days, life was essentially peaceful. Arrian and Kailynn went to school, while Helen stayed home. Saturday morning, Arrian was in the living room picking up his gear to go out training when something grabbed his attention.

Take me with you

Arrian looked around. No one in sight. " Quit messing around Kai, Im not taking you with me" he called out. No reply. Just an unnerving silence.

Take me with you

"I said quit it, Kai!" he roared out.

At that moment Helen and Kailynn walked in the front door.

"Where were you a minute ago?" he asked them.

"Outside, duh!" Kailynn said, giggling.

"Did you tell me to..." he never finished his sentence.

Take me with you

Arrian suddenly looked extremely pale. He heard the words, but neither his mother or sister moved their lips. But, he heard it, in his mind. His mind.

"Never mind, I'm going to finish getting ready, so I can train at the beach." he told them walking back into the living room. He looked at his father's portrait.

Am I going crazy, I'm hearing voices!

You're not crazy...

"What it God's name is going on with me?" he said exasperated. Placing his hands over his face, before letting them fall on the mantle where his sword lay, his finger tips barely touching its black sheath.

Grab me, use me!

Arrian suddenly opened his eyes and stared at the sword. It couldn't be what he was thinking. Deciding things could not get any more crazy he tried to see if he was what he deemed nuts.

Who are you? Where are you?

Finally, you opened your mind.

Arrian was shaking with both fear and excitement, to him it reminded him of training. Everything being internalized within his body and mind.

Who I am is rather difficult to explain... You could say I'm a soul, although thats not entirely accurate either.

Arrian felt more at ease for some strange reason, he trusted the voice, wherever it came from. He was about to be surprised.

Pick me up from the alter, but don't remove me from the sheath.

"No, fucking way!" he blurted out.

"Watch your mouth, young man!" his mother yelled from the kitchen.

Neither of them really comprehended, the double meaning of her words at this time, but they would soon.

This is fucking crazy, my sword talks with me!

Arrian, grabbed the sword and felt his arms tingle and slowly the tingle spread to his entire body, suddenly he felt really light. He pulled the murumasa to his side and felt the tingle grow more.

"Mom, I've decided to just train in the back yard" he called out.

"Be careful" came her motherly reply.

Arrian just walked into the downstairs hallway and out the back door leading to the back yard.

He sat down indian style in the middle of the yard giving him room to move later.

The back yard wasn't anything too fancy, just a lot of open grassy space. At least 100 square feet. It was however, completely fenced off from either neighbor on all three sides.

So who are you?

Direct aren't you... very well, I am Shina-Tsu-Hiko, God of Wind or Fujin either name is fine.

I have a hard time believing that.

The sword you hold, was not made by any human on earth. It was created from a piece of my body and soul.

Why would you do such a thing?

Arrian, not ALL gods are benevolent and kind, some can be cruel and do horrendous things.

You mean there's another sword like yours in the world?

Yes, while there may be other swords they haven't all been uncovered, only mine and Ho-Masubi, he is the God of Fire.

Is that really a bad thing? I mean... I have your sword, does that mean I'm going to take over the world?

Not everyone in the world is like you or your father for that matter. There are some truly evil people in the world

Like the people that killed dad.

Arrian had to open his eyes at this point. He missed his father dearly, tears were silently falling from his eyes. Suddenly, a thought crossed his mind.

Fujin, are the people responsible for my father's death after you?

I believe that your father was killed because he knew where I was and would not tell them.

Oh, no! if you stay here then people will come after us again!

Calm down, I will not allow that to happen. I will infuse you with the power of the sword. You will be my warrior, my avatar, my samurai.

Powers? Samurai, I'm just a kid!

You are ready for this and more, I would not grant you this if I felt you were not properly trained for it.

Does this mean I can avenge my father?

The probability is high you will face your father's killers.

Then to protect my family and avenge my father, I accept.

Carefully remove the sword from the sheath, if done too quickly... the results would be bad, very bad. As you progress with the sword so will your control.

Arrian slowly removed the sword inch by inch, noticing that the wind picked up as he removed the sword.

Grasping the sword in both hands he brought it to his side, he couldn't help noticing the light reflecting off it. He prepared to deal a series of blows with the blade, when he was stopped.