Chapter 89: On the other side... 1
"PANTALONE!"
Over Pantalone's office, Scaramouche entered with a pissed look, little lightning currents going cross his body.
"Quite earlier this time" Pantalone smiled, his eyes not leaving the work "Or it has been quite long time, the time over the Abyss is difficult to deduce."
"FUCKER! It wasn't Pierro. This fucking trip was your idea!"
"So you have discovered, eh?" Pantalone smiled completely fearless "Yes, it was my idea. You can punish me in anyway that you want. I am ready."
Scaramouche's eyes shined with malice, the air around him started turning heavy.
"Cu!" "Cu!" Pantalone started coughing as he felt weaker and weaker.
"Tch! Dying old fucker" Scaramouche clicked his tongue and sat over the sofa.
"So how did it go the trip?" Pantalone asked disregarding the attack from now. "Has Allen grown? Has he got used to killing?"
"I'm happy to announce you that he is dead" Scaramouche stated.
Pantalone's gaze froze for an instant, his work stopped, and he quickly returned to his smile "You must be joking."
"Did it seems like I'm joking?" Scaramouche grinned.
"Did you really kill him for Tomoki?" Pantalone accused "I wanted to see how you react against him, but I supposed that your obsession with Niwa wouldn't be that much."
"Don't talk about him!" Scaramouche glared Pantalone "This has nothing to do with him. Just as we enter the Abyss, Allen fell to the inner layers."
"And you didn't do anything?" Pantalone asked.
"He was quite unlucky to step over a temporary hole. That's all" Scaramouche answered "I already said that I won't take care of him. With him falling over the inner area, there's no way for him to survive, as even if he is able to luckily last some time, he would only be able to wander until his end."
"It's a pity. I was curious about how his story will end" Pantalone closed his eyes for a second, thinking about him "Whatever." He turned to Scaramouche "Prepare your report of the Abyss, you can send me your expenses later." He said before returning to his papers.
"And I am the puppet" Scaramouche looked with disgust at Pantalone before leaving the place, leaving Pantalone with his work alone.
"It seems that there's really no happy ending" Pantalone whispered looking over the window, just as a constellation appeared over it, with two shining stars.
"Hm!" Pantalone hummed "It seems that you haven't reached your end yet, Allen."
...
'I do not have talent' These words had followed me all my childhood. Etiquette, dancing, swordsmanship... It did not matter the teacher, they always compared how I was lacking in contrast with my older brother and even my mother.
Everyone around me could not help to be disappointed with me, however, it did not matter to me, because the truly important ones, my family, loved me tenderly with all their self, not minding my shortcomings.
That was also the reason that made me want to improve, not for the people that looked down at me, but for the ones that show me their love.
When my parents fell ill and were close to their death, I knew that I needed to improve. If it was not for myself, for my brother who needed to carry now all the weight of the Kamisato Clan.
I was aware that I did not possess the talent, but if that was the case, I will offer all my effort. If it took 100 attempts to learn something, I will make that 100 attempts!
I closed my eyes, isolating myself from the outside, feeling myself over a white space. In front of me, a perfect copy of my mother appeared and started swinging her sword. Her breathing, her steps, her muscles, I can see it all and in this white space, I train to try to imitate her, learning the Kamisato Art.
It wasn't only swordsmanship and my mother, I replicated the teachers, learning by repeating hundred of times the lessons until I was able to accomplish it. It worked over tea ceremony, dancing, calligraphy and most of it, but somewhat it never completely worked for swordsmanship. It did not matter how many times a swung the sword, I could not replicate it.
That was until I met him. Allen.
Allen told me that I was burning myself that I needed to rest, nothing that brother had not told me before, but he went over, he made me realize my error. I was not my mother. With a different body and strength, I could not completely replicate. I did not need to have my mother's style, I need it my own Kamisato Art.
I was happy to discover the problem but in the end I was even happier when Allen became my friend, showing me how funny it could be to spend time with him, even making Sayu also my new friend. That made me discover what I wanted in this life. I wanted for these moments to never end, and I wanted the strength to protect them and I would put all my effort into it.
*Clank* *Clank* Over the white space, I faced my brother, both clashing our wooden swords.
Left side, right side, lateral, stepping back, all of my brother's movements recorded in my mind, being able to discern the next move thanks to hundreds of times I faced him in this space. He was stronger, quicker and more talented, but I had countless opportunities and my effort.
"Now!" I swing my sword at his opening, clashing with his sword and throwing it away before pointing it at my brother. For the first time, I was able to best brother in a duel.
"You won, Ayaka" My brother said with a smile as I pointed at him. Exactly as like in my mind, I was able to best him in reality, the movements were exactly the same.
"Now that you have won, I can no longer stop you. You will be in charge of the public image of the Kamisato Clan." My brother announced with a complicated smile, really having wanted it to happen a little later, letting me continue being a child.
Suddenly, from the sky descended a blue pillar over me. Looking up, I was able to look at the new constellation, my constellation, Grus Nivis.
"Even the gods are accepting it." brother said looking at the sky "From today you will be the Shirasagi Himegini.
"Yes" I nodded seriously as I knew I approached my dream.
"Are you still thinking about Allen?" Brother asked worriedly.
Allen, my best friend who was exiled from Inazuma by the Shogun herself after the death of his adopted family.
"I was unable to do anything at that time, but I will not repeat the same error. I will become stronger and more influential for the Shogun-sama to recognize me, requesting her Allen's return."
"I will not stop you, but remember what Allen usually said. Do not push yourself too much" Brother warned full of worry "Allen is intelligent, he knows how to take care of himself. I am sure he is fine." brother said before leaving me alone.
"Allen" I closed my eyes, returning to the white space with Allen appearing in front of me with his cute smile.
His image had not changed at all since he left against me who had grown in our time apart.
"Let's start" swords appear over both our hands and we charged at the same time.
*Clank* *Clank* The swords clashed multiple times.
"How?" I am now stronger and quicker than him as his image hasn't grown at all, but I am unable to force him to yield.
*Clank* *Clank* How every time that I face him, he changes, unlike the others?
*Clank* *Clank* How is he becoming stronger?
*Clank!* He parried my sword, putting his over my neck "I won" He smiles declaring the victory.
I am unable to stop my shock, seeing his style and how it has evolved with each combat, reaching what it was now and still winning against me "Allen... How are you using the Kamisato Art?"
*Fush* Turning over the sky, I saw the sword and shield constellation with two shining stars quickly recognizing it "Who are you really, Allen?"
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