The Great War
 

The great war between few kingdoms has began, and the kingdom to which our characters belong, doesn't really involve into that, but the nearest one, which is in good condition with the one mentioned before, asked for help, since they're lacking people. King of the first kingdom doesn't feel like giving whole army for the war he's not even involved to, so instead he sends only one mage and warrior. But enemies are aware that help, even though very small one, was sent, so they will try and get rid of our characters...

Soft summer breeze blew all over the empty fields, which were reflecting into sad, red eyes of the young man who held ancient book left by unknown and long time ago forgotten ancestors, full of their secrets and unknown writings. Sighing he watched green grass bowing in front of wind's power - it reminded him bunch of stupid people who were obediently bowing their heads in front of tyrants, the ones who were turning their humble lives into the hell. Some uneasy feeling was pressing raven haired man's heart, and some kind terror was following him by every step - just like ancient goddess, trying to warn him about danger awaiting for him in his way.

Wind innocently played with his cloak,just as it was some kingdom's flag - oh, that careless wind liked making fun at those. Hashizume let out a small sigh - there was nothing as beautiful for him as nature was, but he knew he wasn't part of it. And never will be. His long bony fingers slowly opened the book he head and went through thin yellow pages, filled by small and unknown symbols, which seemed to be understandable for young magician only. His eyes kept on running between lines, and the speed of changing pages only increased, till he has finally found what he was looking for. Certain spell, that empty fields inspired him to use.

Heir of Okami's clan slowly parted his thin lips, beginning to cast the spell. At first he didn't make a sound, but it was slowly changing into whisper, and by each time when he was repeating the magical words, his voice kept increasing. "Okami-sama!" The childish voice called, interrupting the spell. Not to satisfied with that, Hashizume closed his spellbook with another small sigh and looked at the servant boy in company of two guards. From all three, only he seemed to be alive. With a small and yet kind smile, magician gently placed his hand on boy's head, petting him fatherly. "What's that, Alex?" Boys cheeks got slightly rosier than usually, since for servant kids it wasn't usual to be treated well by such an important people. "His highness wants to see you, sir." He replied with a small bow. Ruffling boy's hair a bit, Hashizume took his hand away and looked at the sky. "Yes? I sorta knew something like this might happen. Saturn was shining brighter than Venus, and that's a sign." He looked back down and confused trio and gave them a smile, along with a small nod, then began walking towards the castle.

As Hashizume walked to the throne room, he already had his spellbook hidden in the inside pocket of his robes. Giving a polite smile to the king, wizard placed hand on his chest, and have a small, humble, delicate bow. Some kind of worrying has shined in his eyes, but that little flame disappeared just as fast - young mage seemed to be calm and self-confident. He coughed smoothly, and then looked back up at his lord, with the same little smile,making him look a bit feminine and sort of cute. "So what's the matter, your highness? What's the reason you called me, and the fair young man who's training mastery of the sword?"

Even though the young and the last heir of Okami didn't drop a single look at the warrior, and didn't even act as if he was here, swordsman wasn't unnoticed by bright red eyes of the mystic. He even did notice blonde being sort of attractive, and since it seemed they'll get to travel together - it was a bit complicated. Hashizume has been already considered as weirdo by everyone because of his abilities to cast powerful spells and tell future by looking at the stars above - he didn't feel like wanting to give himself even worse look.So just looking at him, being close to him... Was enough for the young magician. But not now - it was too soon, and it was the best to act ignorant for now.

As the king explained situation, Hashizume let out a content sigh, bowing once again. "Yes, my lord. It's such a honor for me to be chosen for this important mission. I swear by my life and wealth, I will not fail nor disappoint you. If I do - I will do what's required. " Of course, young mage meant harakiri. Even thinking of cutting his stomach open made his shiver, but such a speech obviously made king satisfied. Surely, Hashizume didn't find it any pleasing at all, nor was going to risk his life, or doing harakiri after failing... He was just.. Slippery one and the owned of the sweet tongue - ever since being little, wizard knew how to get to the most influential people, how to contact with them, get their trust, and surely, gain something good for himself from that. Looking innocent and nice, Hashi had his true face - sly, selfish, devious and... Extremely perverted.

With one more content sigh, Hashi bowed to the kind and after turning on his heels began walking towards the door. "Field trip~" He snorted on his way back home, taking out spellbook again, for no actual reason. Squeezing it tightly in his hand, Okami sighed again. "Seriously, what a dunderhead he is! He wants to not to get involved into war, so he sends ONE swordsman and ONE wizard as HELP to another kingdom. I wonder if he realizes that it will make king of those poor losers to think he's making fun and intentionally humiliating him... It will cause just one more war! Stupid people.." Hashizume shook his head and stopped for a bit, dropping a quick look at the sky. "And now Mars comes out of it's hideaway, Saturn had only few seconds to feel bright after overdoing Venus... Sad."

He walked to the humble little house on the edge of village, right next to the forest where Hashizume was collecting herbs in his pretty much free time. Raven haired man looked around, thinking what to get. Just as carefully as always, he slid his spellbook back into it's usual place - under his heart, and walked to a little wooden closet. "Soooo...Yes. Many days of traveling, weather, seemingly, will not get much colder, but even my prophecies are not always right.." Talking to himself he began picking up clothes and dropping it on the bed. In a meanwhile it was all packed into leather bag, together with some food supplies, herbs, and two more spellbooks.

Young wizard, with his stuff on his back, wlked to the main gates of the kingdom, nervously looking up at the sky. "Brighter and brighter... War is going to become rougher... And grand. It will turn into chaos.. Saturn is slowly disappearing again, letting Venus to take it's usual place, which announces passion and love.. Hmm.. Interesting. War and love. Sort of opposite things that mostly mean the same thing." Still loudly reconsidering future from the way stars are shining, though for other people they were invisible at the day time, Hashizume just stood there, not really bothering himself if he looked weird talking ti himself.

Hashizume just stood there, dreamily staring at the sky and still mumbling prophecies under his breath. In latin, mostly. Unlike most of villagers, he's been quite educated and kept seeking for knowledge - though most of people didn't believe he knew some foreign languages, as well as dead ones, so they just though young wizard was pretending to look wiser and was just talking random words that had no meaning. Even though naturally charismatic and loving attention, Hashizume didn't pay much attention at those rumors, and was just laughing together with villagers.

The feeling of something or someone watching over him and everyone, just enjoying turns and twists of events as if it was an interesting adventure book, didn't leave Hashizume for a while now. But today, after receiving more than absurd mission, this feeling has grown only stronger. Young man looked at the dark forest which was beginning right after leaving the village - today it seemed dangerous. Though he's spent his whole childhood in those woods, magician could bet there wasn't any single tree he hasn't climbed as a child. But today something about forest was bothering him. And it was a bad sign.

Hashizume was already beginning to wish that the warrior would hurry up. Tense, that he felt alone, was only growing, putting him into fear that he wasn't supposed to feel. Small part of him was nearly shouting, begging him to turn around, go to see king and tell him he will not be able to handle this mission. But what would be his explanation? Alibi? Reasons? Wizard couldn't just said he's afraid and feeling insecure about this whole thing, especially now, when he sorta made a promise he'll rather die than lose the battle.

Wizard crossed arms on his chest - it was his defense pose. Standing like this he was sort of closing himself from the outer word, not letting anyone to get inside of his head, soul, to understand his feeling. Looking calm and contempt as always, Hashizume definitely didn't look like the one at who's heart fear and doubt were boiling. He looked the same as villagers used to see him - calm, relaxed, wise, ready for everything that's in his way. But it wasn't truth. If he had a chance.. One single change... Hashi would run away like a coward.

Was he always like this? Yes. No matter how many years he's spent practicing, how many nights he's spent wandering around in dark corridors of his father manor, and how many hours were spent in dungeon with candles on... Hashizume's always been such a coward. Even now, when he was grown man, he was afraid of darkness - sometimes he was even getting frightened by his own shadow. Generally shadows were scaring him mostly at the dark time - they were changing forms, looking more and more like the scariest creatures living in the dark by each time, making Hashizume to panic. It was stupid and pathetic... But he couldn't fight it - it was something that even magic could not defeat.

The other thing that was scaring young magician - pain. Nothing was as terrifying as pain, mental or physical. Hashizume has never feared death - it was more like beginning of the new adventure, just like going to sleep. He wanted to die in his own bed, alone, and calm. But the thing what was scaring him was pain again - dying because of decease, dying because of being stabbed by sword, torn apart by wolf, or something like this... It was painful, and more than just painful, and those were the most often cases of death. And only because of that Hashizume began fearing death,fearing everything that could cause it.

Drowning deeply in his own thoughts, Hashizume didn't notice his partner coming, and came back to reality just because of his voice. "Wja- Oh! It's nothing, it's just me, coming to early." Giving warrior a friendly smile, Hashi turned back to the forest and let out a small sigh. "It will be a very dangerous and difficult journey, my friend. I can't explain you why, but I know it will." Magician nearly shivered at the sound of leaves billowing in the soft breeze. Taking a deep breathe, and still trying to look the way he's supposed to, not wanting to bother his companion, Hashizume took the first step out of the village, praying in his mind, that he's just having illusion, and asking all the gods to sanctify their mission.

Magician only frowned, not saying anything. He could already tell this trip will not be enjoyable - warrior who was assigned to be his companion... Was too arrogant. And obviously too stupid, with too weak senses. Generally type of the person who Hashizume couldn't value much. But yet again he kept silent, not wanting to fall from his partner's sword, since Kotsu didn't seem as the one who could accept critique - he looked rather simple minded-minded.

Giving a small nod, he just began walking. "I don't own a horse" Hashi finally said, looking around as if he was sure some danger would jump out of the bushes. "And generally, they're problematic.. It's hard to hide them when we stop to rest, also you need to feed them and other stuff. I better rely on my own feet. I'm used to walk big distances, so I don't really need horse."

Hashizume walked to him, looking around from time to time, with his hand under robes - keeping the spellbook ready. He nearly shivered at Kotsu's statement, and then looking at him, gave a small nod. "Silence has always been wiser, my friend... I don't talk if I don't have to. I prefer keeping my thoughts to myself rather than vomiting the useless words that make absolutely no sense, and are being said just to keep talking."

Even though he lied, Hashi felt sort of proud of his ability to sound smart. The question coming after, made him raise brows. "Well.. It's obvious that I am, isn't it?" He didn't mean to sound harsh - and he actually didn't. Hashi's face remained calm, a small smile was curled on his lips, though his heart was trembling in fear. "Though I can heal wounds as well, since my original future plans were being a healer."