Rain drops hit the windows of the solemn orphanage, bathing it in an air of sadness. Inside, many of the children either rest in their rooms or chat quietly in the attic or basement, yet one particular boy stands out. As others exhibit an air of positivity within the quiet sadness, he alone falls in line with it, standing alone by the window in the main hall. Standing quiet and unmoving.
The Grey Rose, a well known orphanage within Zutphen village in netherlands was known for housing a mysterious amount of children. Many never knew where they came from and many more appeared overnight. Amongst these children the most mysterious of them was Kayo. No one knew where he came from, or why a child with Japanese features was doing in such a place. But though it was weird, he wasn't the first. There was tons of kids of different ethnicity within the orphanage. It truly a world of it's own. Plus, the caretaker of the orphanage was never seen. Ever. Yet no one questioned or adopted from it.
Kayo sighs as he keeps staring out, already lost in the sound of the rain, the quiet within the orphanage and the silent murmurs of the other kids. He stands alone, his young body cold and shivering but his determination to stand watching unyielding.
"So how long you gonna stay like that Kay?" A voice disturbs the cycle.
"Ah-I don't know," Kayo responds as his brilliant yellow iris eyes turn to the person behind him.
As Kayo turns, his eyes examine the figure standing before him, a taller, brown haired guy with red highlights in his hair and apple green iris eyes.
The guy ruffles Kayo's crimson red hair," Well, sorry to disturb, but it's time to head to bed."
"Can't I stay up a little longer?" Kayo wonders.
"Your a seven year old. So no. Get a bit older and reach my age. It's just eight more years after all," the guy shrugs. Kayo nods, though his face remains serious," Now come on, help me close the curtains."
They fist bump and start closing the curtains around the place. After a while, they meet again by the stairs. The guy ruffles Kayo's hair again as the sound of rain echoes all around, suppressing the silent chats of the other kids.
"Okay. Let's go," the guy tells Kayo.
"Ah-Axel, some of the windows, they're getting cracked the harder the rain falls," Kayo mentions as the two go up the stairs.
"Hm?-Oh Yuh-Yuh-I noticed. Just ignore it. The weather's just rough tonight," Axel bellitles. All the windows break.
Axel and Kayo look back as the curtains fall and the sound wind and rain howl throughout the corridors and hallways.
A tornado slowly forms along the river and slowly it gains momentum toppling and destroying the village as it makes it's way to the orphanage.
"Ah-Kay, let's go to the basement okay," Axel tells him. Kayo nods.
They rush down the stairs and run through the glass littered hallway, each step making a sound that fades into the roar of the storm. They rush, Axel holding onto Kayo's hand as the tornado approaches.
They rush, their pace slowing with each step. Axel looks around and notices a space in between the floor boards. He stops and takes another out.
"Kay, get in," he commands as the tornado starts pulling them forwards it, it's roaring winds drowning out his words.
Axel looks at Kayo and grabs his arm. Axel pushes Kayo into the space before getting yanked by the wind into the tornado which starts destroying the orphanage. Kayo watches as Axel smiles as he disappears into the tornado. Kayo just falls silent as the tornado destroys everything except the foundation of the most buildings.
...
...
...*yawns*
The morning sun bathed a forest within it's golden glow, waking it. In the forest an older Kayo rest, hidden in a bush, dirty and ragged.
Tears drop from his eyes as he slowly opens them. He sits up.
'Morning. Need to find food again,' he summarises.
He gets up and makes his way out of his hiding spot. He staggers through the forest, his figure thin and haggard. He walks around, searching for berries and fruits. He walks quietly, looking around. After a few more steps, he sees a berry bush. He smiles and rushes over to it.
He kneels before it," Finally, something to eat that isn't scraps," he says tear fully.
He starts eating the berries gleefully, his mouth stuffing ten to twelve in at once.
As he dines, he hears a sound. He rolls into the bush, uncaring of the thorns hurting him.
From a far distance a massive black wolf preys through the forest, searching, not for a meal, but for something. It lurks through, ignoring defenseless deers and scurrying rabbits as it makes it's way towards the berry bush. Kayo holds his breath as it closes in. It sniffs the air around the bush and turns to leave.
'Just leave!!!' he screams in his head. It stops and turns to the bush again and in a swift movement, it destroys most of the berry bush, revealing his hiding spot.
He jolts up and starts running ignoring the pain his body is feeling as the wolf chases after him. He keeps sprinting but the wolf starts closing the distance.
'Why is this thing chasing me?! Most of the times when I hire, the predators ignore me, but this thing. Why?!?!' he wonders as he tries to lose it, turning and zigzagging, but the wolf tails him.
He takes a sharp turn and slips and in that instant, he falls down and starts rolling down banging and rolling against tree trunks and rocks as the wolf follows him. He rolls down into a cave and bangs his head against a rock as the wolf catches up, but stops at the cave entrance.
He lies there, bleeding from several places. His vision blurs slowly as the wolf growls and eyes him hungrily. Suddenly a tall figure passes him and goes towards the wolf. The wolf charges the figure, but without a movement from the figure, it gets blown away.
"Don't worry, I'll keep you safe," the figure says as Kayo blacks out.
...
...
...
A fire crackles, it's heat providing warmth to the room and the frail weak redhead boy in the room. He opens his tired eyes and takes in the scene before him, a warm fire and on the opposite side of the fire, a tall muscles bald man with a white beard wearing beach trunks sits in a lotus pose preparing something in a bowl.
"Where am I?" Kayo asks.
"Your in a cave. Well my cave," the man says as he looks at Kayo lying on the animal hide mat.
"Ah-" Kayo looks around more, realising he's inside the cave and he's not far from the entrance to it. He sits up slowly.
"So, young one, who are you?" The man asks.
"I'm Kayo. From the Grey Rose orphanage. I'm a survivor," Kayo explains.
"Hm-Nice to meet you. I'm Tengoda. I saved you," the man, Tengoda, explains.
Kayo looks at him shocked as he realises all his wounds are-gone.
"How?" Kayo wonders.
"It's nothing. I'll explain when your older. But for now eat," he gives Kayo the bowl which has soup.
Kayo looks at it, a bit suspicious. He sighs and gulps the entire bowl of soup down. He gags as Tengoda laughs.
"What is in this?!" Kayo exclaims.
"Nutritious things. You'll get used to it. But for now, let it settle in," Tengoda tells him. Kayo nods.
"So-Why did you save me?" Kayo asks.
"I don't know. Just felt like it. You can stay here as long as you want, but on one condition, if you agree," Tengoda proposes.
What's that?" Kayo wonders.
"Let me train you. Eventually, when you do leave, you'll need to be stronger. So, do you agree?"
Kayo looks down and muses. He looks at Tengoda, then the fire and finally the outside. He sighs and nods. Tengoda smiles.
"Good. How old are you anyway," Tengoda asks as he stands up and goes deeper into the cave.
"I'm ten, I think," Kayo says as he follows Tengoda.
"Ah-Well I hope your ready," Tengoda tells him. "Cause training starts now."
They arrived in a part of the cave with two boulders with a rope tied to them. Kayo looks at them confused.
"Your going to pull these to the cave entrance for me. Alright," Tengoda tells him as he turns and leaves,"Good luck."
Kayo stares at the boulders, a bit shocked. "Seriously?"
Kayo grabs the rope and starts trying to pull it. He keeps trying until the ropes snap. Then he tries to push them, not stopping until his body gives out and he's down on the ground, tired. Tengoda returns.
"Hm-Seems you moved them a bit,"Tengoda tells him.
"Really?"
"Yes. But still, you failed," Tengoda moves them back into place with one hand effortlessly," Now get up. Time for a bath."
Kayo shivers in a ice cold pool of water alongside Tengoda who seems relaxed and at peace.
"Why?" Kayo asks
"It increases the body's endurance and resistance," Tengoda shrugs as Kayo slowly stops moving. So, are you enjoying the bath?"
"I think I'm getting frostbite," Kayo freezes up.
"Man, this is gonna be hard."
After that, they're in an open area in the cave, where there's a wooden dummy with four limbs waiting for them.
"This one seems simple," Kayo says, abit relaxed in his full white clothes,"Also thanks for the clothes."
"Your welcome. Plus, if you think it's simple, go for it," Tengoda tells him.
Kayo breaths and rushes at the dummy. He punches it in the center and in that instant, the dummy hits him in the head before proceeding to batter and pound him down until he's on the ground sobbing.
"Ouch," he whispers. Tengoda helps him up," Are we done?"
"One last exercise. Get up," Tengoda stops supporting him and he nearly falls,"Your last exercise will help you learn how to take a hit. Ready?"
"Sur-" Tengoda punches Kayo into a wall, causing him to cough up blood. Kayo collapses.
"Well, that was pathetic. That was the weakest punch I've ever given. But, maybe he'll get used to it. He is still a child," Tengoda carries him and lays him on the mat, then he starts preparing another bowl of soup as the sunsets.
After a while, Kayo flinches. He opens his eyes slowly and he's greeted by the sight of a bowl of soup. He weakly gets up and quickly drinks the soup. He gags.
"You'll get used to it," Tengoda tells him.
Kayo nods,"So, how's your first day of training?"
"Hell," Kayo replies," How long am I gonna train like this for?"
"Seven years. By then, when your ready, you can leave the cave to see the world."
"Hm-" Kayo looks out of the cave into the night of the forest, a beautiful and quiet vibrance evident and brought out by the moonlight," Okay. I'll bare it."
"Good. Now get some rest. You have a long path ahead of you."
Kayo nods as he lies down on the mat, the sounds of the night serving as a soothing lullaby. He yawns and closes his eyes.