No Hero
Chapter 8
Sai made a deadly glare at Rowen "The problem isn't that I am crazy. The problem is that YOU would not see the true conflict. Your eyes are blinder than BATS." The poor guardian of water had no supporters yet to see the light and conflict he was seeing.
Talpa took this chance to confuse the puzzled samurais minds: "What this water jerk is saying to us is that we are just idiots and a bunch of wad to him. Think about it. Would a friend do something like that?" A strong hold of silence rose upon them and no one dared to speak a word. The Ancient, himself, was stuck in this terrible situation. Who were they to believe? Why would they believe Talpa? But Talpa had his statement with lots of proofs supporting it.
Kento then started to approach Sai, in an angry matter. No… this couldn't be! Kento… WHY him? Why did he believe that worthless piece of garbage? His best friend snarled, "You cannot mean it, Sai. Tell me…what that big guy is telling is true?" He grabbed to Sai's shoulders and shook his hard, "WHY? Sai… why are you doing this to us? You have changed… into someone else! Come on SAI! DON'T ACT LIKE THIS!"
Feeling the anger rising from his friend, he backed off, "Kento… I am the same Sai you have always seemed. I have only today began to speak what is needed to be done." Somehow, Sai felt that everyone has changed sides. They were all on Talpa's side… including that old monk! This was ridiculous! Maybe he should have kept his mouth shut. But what use will THAT be? WHAT use?
Rowen then shook his head in dismay "No… this isn't Sai. Where IS he?"
Cale added, bringing his blade up, "I know Sai. This is only a cloned one! Who has taken my samurai friend? Now… you will pay… 'Sai.' You will pay dearly. You tricked us into killing our friend! And now you dare come back and act as him!"
"You're a traitor to him! A murderer! Give him back to us!" Ryo shouted, connecting and bringing back his twin swords. Ryo… not him too. How could he think such an awful thing? He could smell the fiery flame around Ryo now… and saw his own friends in tears for nothing. Sai was gone to them. But really, Sai was there… watching them.
Sage clenched his fist. He could not hold his anger anymore, "THAT'S ENOUGH! I'VE HAD IT!" He could see Sage forming up his 'Thunderbolt Cut.'
"Sage! It is me! Why you would not trust me?" Sai stammered. His voice was shaky. That must have been part of the reason they were thinking this. Controlling his voice, he then countered, "If I weren't your friend, I would not have told you this at all. I only cared about you and wanted you to know what you are doing is wrong."
Dais snapped, "Shut up, whoever you are. You have no business to take his life!"
"HIS life?" Sai bellowed, "I am him! How could you believe Talpa? He's lying! I am Sai of the Torrent! Don't you see?" Sai was helpless. Their minds would not change. Then, he said, "If you kill me, you will regret it. And you will never see your Sai Mouri of the Torrent again."
Ryo roared, "WHERE is he? Tell us before I burn you into crisp!"
"He won't you tell you, Ryo. We're going to need to find it for ourselves," Sekhmet said, just when Sage let off his powerful Thunderbolt Cut.
Sai brought out his spear but then stopped. His eyes were filled with tears when he noticed how much he had to sacrifice for such a small incident. They were once saving him… now they were fighting against him. No one knew the real Sai anymore. The Thunderbolt Cut hit him, straight through. Then the piercing Iron Rock Crusher, followed the Quake with Fear. Sai, with his eyes closed, walked through all of the sure kills. The sure kills all turned into sparks of light from the sun. But blood ran down his left eye; the gift of sight had left him again. He stared as more of the sure kills came to him and lastly… the Ancient's staff came rushing at him.
It was Sai's decision. He could either defend or dodge out of the way of the staff or let his life go as if everyone was his entire fault. He felt the golden staff made its mark; the Ancient was so angry that he could feel him trying to force the power of the staff out at him. But the staff would not. It was not generate the power against him. Sai had to think fast before Talpa made his mark. What was he to do? He could not run… his legs were injured. He was blind again and could not do anything more.
Then he remembered the wish. The wish was his only hope now. He had to use it. And he was saving it to let himself see again. He wanted his sight. But if he used the wish to have his sight back, how would that stop the confusion?
He then clenched onto his orb. Talpa stopped the group, "Wait. He is going to surrender. Surrender the orb. Surrender!"
Sai shook his head, miserably. He could not surrender. Even if his friends now had hearts black as midnight, he could not let his friends go. Then, he thought, "I was right. I have no hero for me to count on. But they do have one. The hero is me. I have to save them… even if this means I cannot see or live again."
Rowen shouted an order, "We have to stop him! Let's do it! Arrow Shock… Wave!"
"Thunder… bolt… cut!"
"Flare Up… NOW!"
Sai shrieked and felt himself fall backwards and blood gush out. When the light blemished itself, he was lying on the ground, trying to get up. He started to crawl to them… like a helpless baby. Talpa cackled, "Watch him crawl. If he wants to crawl toward death he certainly can! CRAWL!"
Sai desperately pinpointed to where the Ancient was. He then prostrated… but
yet only quickly for a hand grasped around his left hand and made him back
up… behind the person. Sai felt the strength and authority by the touch of the
hand. He could feel the strong and warm grasp of the person's hand, too. Who
was he? The person spoke, firmly, "Don't even think about touching my son!"
Sai began to feel a sense of fright coming to him. Father? Was it his father? His
voice quivered, "Father…? Is it really you? But you are the same voice I heard…"
he father's voice whispered, "Sai… I am your father. I lied to you earlier and I
hope you forgive me. I wanted to protect you… understand? Don't panic… I will
get you out of this…" Sai nuzzled close to his father, tears going down his face.
His father cooed, "It's all right. It's all right…" He stroked his son's head and
brought him close to let Sai feel his security. Sai bit his lip and managed to
smile. It was such a long time since he felt such a fatherly hug.
Talpa snorted, a rather rude and snotty one, "Father? Good grief… he has
come back from the dead! You have wasted your wish for your FATHER? Such
a wuss would do such a thing. Well… I guess I should be polite, shan't I?
Hmm… let's see which is more polite. Bonjour! Hola, senor! Ni hao! Nice to
know that you are here!"
Ryo was ready to drop his sword when Kento snapped, "Ryo! It's a trap. He
has not said anything or called for his wish. This clone is an illusion-maker!"
Ryo hesitated and so did the others. It could not be real. Yes… Kento was
right. It was not real. They nodded and kept their weapons up.
"All right… here's what you are going to do, Sai. I want you to get out of here…
you understand? This is for your own good!" Sai's father informed, shaking Sai
by the shoulders, "You have to do this for me! Tell me you will!"
"No! I want to fight with you! Please don't do this to me," Sai pleaded,
grabbing his father's arm. His eyes were huge as saucers were his father
mentioned this. "I will fight on your side. Please let me do this…!" Flying, rigid
daggers and knives came flashing at Sai. Sai started to panic and could not
make out which way the hits were going; he shielded his face. Then an icy
shield made a dome over him, and Sai was stuck inside… no way to get in… no
way to get out. "Dad!! Don't do this! Please…"
"You are one stubborn and lucky kid, Sai," commented Mr. Mouri, with a smile
on his face, "But I am sorry… I will not allow it." He opened his hand and an
unusual object appeared, glowing, in his hand. "Keep this safe and let it fly
above you. Do this for me." He, who was the only one to pass through the
dome, opened Sai's hand and handed him a handle with a roll of string. Then,
Mr. Mouri put Sai's other hand over the string, which was connected to the
handle.
Sage smirked, "You certainly seem real enough. You are too real to be Sai's real
father though… not to mention you're a pretty good clone to play with
someone's eyes. A real father wouldn't give his son a toy to play with. Hey
Dais… not bad of a scare. Try that more sometimes." Dais laughed and gave
Sage a thumbs-up.
"Don't listen to them, Sai. Don't let it drop to the ground… whatever you do!
DON'T let it drop!" Sai's father ordered, releasing the object into the air. Sai
could feel the strong tug of the gale in the air as it took flight.
"Why? Why can I let it drop?" Sai said, puzzled by the fact. His hands were still
shaky with the presence of all the samurais. His father did not answer.
"I hope he doesn't kick back and relax for long," Rowen grinned, evilly, "his
father will be in the stakes with a fire arrow… and no one can help him!"
Sai's father twisted one of his loose strands of hair and sighed, "You are a
bunch of jerks if you did not know that. You are foolish to believe a tin-man…
and ugly one in fact. Jeez, haven't you brushed your teeth? Or are you trying
to make me faint with your breath?"
"That's enough! You will pay dearly! Warlords… after him!" Talpa snarled.
"Oh dear… did I say something wrong?" Mr. Mouri chuckled and drew out a set
of flying daggers… with crystal pointed ends. The Warlords came hauling at
him, each using a counterattack to diminish and destroy the person whom was
thought as a droid. His father released a twin dagger against them, which
pinned Dais and Cale together against a tall tree.
Sai cried, "Don't father! They are my friends! Don't do this to save me! They
are confused! They do not know what is right and wrong!" Sai's hand sagged
and made the object dip from the sky.
"Then use your wish, my friend," Talpa cracked, "Grant me power and
immortality and you shall live! Wish for it!"
Sai struggled by the fact. If he wished this for Talpa, would Talpa really send
them all free? Could it really be real? His hand clenched on the thin string and
handle tighter. "I do not know what to do."
Then, he heard the same familiar voice… but it seen to be a blurry voice of an
outcast. Was it his father's? Or was it someone else totally? The voice: "Sai…
have faith in yourself… you know what down deep you want and need. Walk the
very path… but don't turn left or right or off the line… trust yourself…"
Sekhmet's blade seethed at father as Cale came down with his blazing sword. A
scream echoed, and the gale turned against Sai… as the object started to make
a deathly and drop-dead dive. Sai felt the object's sudden change in current
and direction and started to be alarmed. His hand could not control the flying
thing… though since he was three he had controlled this ever since. He heard
the same words echoing into his ears, "Don't let it drop… whatever you do…
don't let it drop…" Each time one of the warriors hit, the soaring object
lowered… almost to the grassy ground.
Sai obeyed his father's words. Don't let it drop. He could not control the gale.
He could not control the thing. He could not control his mind. He could not
believe in himself. He could believe in his father's words. Don't let it drop. Sai
whispered quietly, "I wish it could fly forever."
A blue gale swept around him and then the whole groups of warlords and
warriors, including his father. His eyes closed when parts of the misty wind
went into his eyes. All the samurais dropped their weapons beside them as this
mysterious strength flowed through them. The light blue warrior rose from the
ground and another strip of gale crossed him. It caused everyone to be on the
ground by the force. Even Talpa and the Ancient had to and both collapsed to
the dirt ground. Sai opened his eyes, seeing a vivid blue. He kept his focus till
the image was straight. His hair waved loosely as Sai saw everyone again… his
sight… it was back. His eyes looked up to see what his father gave him.
It was his and his father's kite! Sai was tear-struck when going through the
memories of remembering building this wonderful, air-born beauty. The string
used was a part of his father's old bow and arrow string. And the foundation…
was pieces of a thin, plastic pole and the stick that held the kite straight came
from his father's old grill stick. The material they used for the kite to capture
the wind came from his mother's nylon and fabric. The colors were of the seas
and there was the Mouri symbol placed in the center. The whole kite itself was
shaped as a fish… of freedom, honesty, purity, trustworthiness… the sea… the
people… and the Mouri family line.
A person's hand was on Sai's shoulder, but did not startle the poor Sai. Sai
turned around, continuous tears rushing down his face. It was Kento, all
shaken out but still Kento, "Hey bud… it's okay to cry. Don't try to hide it from
me. I should take the blame. You had to do it kid. And I was the one to make
you to. We listened to the tin-man all right. And we made the wrong choice. I
am sorry. So… sorry…" Kento…
"But… Kento…" Sai protested, making more tears torpedo down his cheek.
Rowen smiled, patting Sai's other shoulder, saying, "There are no "buts" It was
our fault. It was our entire fault…" Rowen…
Sage nodded, encouragingly, "You done the right thing. All of what you said
was true. We were too proud to admit it Sai." Sage…
"Rowen…" Sai choked, "… Sage…"
Ryo came up without saying a thing, patting Sai's back to stop his coughing.
Cale came up, knocking Sai against the head but playfully, "Thanks for giving
me that stuck up face of yours. It was really a good one too."
"Cale…" Sai whispered, feeling himself break down even more.
Anubis winked, giving him a thumbs-up, "You held on, kid. You have one of a
kind heart. I will remember always remember it, Sai." Anubis…
Sekhmet punched Sai at the chest, "I don't believe I am doing this. But thanks
anyway for all you had did… though I really do not know what it is." Anubis hit
Sekhmet at the rib and smiled. Sekhmet?
Dais landed Sai a clean cloth "Here… you probably need this for that wound of
yours. Better get it cleaned up before it is infected." Even Dais…
The Ancient looked a little startled. He both lowered their heads in submission.
Sai was shocked… especially seeing the Ancient doing this before him. "I am
sorry, Sai. What I have done is wrong. I gave you that to bring your
sorrowfulness back to happiness. Not to bring you more trouble. I am sorry.
And I thank you for doing this. I thank you for everything."
Sai nodded, and his tears were almost gone till he looked up again at the
symbol of his kite and at what he done. The tears kept going down.
"It's all right, Sai. I know I may be saying something that I should not be… but
things have to go one day. You done something… he just may have wanted
you to. Sai… I lost my parents… one right after the other. The other doesn't
even care about me… you got to let it sink in…" Ryo tried to help Sai.
"Sai… Sai…" a quiet voice echoed into his ears. "Sai… thank you… you freed me."
Everyone were in awe when they saw the fate silhouette of an 'angel.' "Son…"
Sai brushed his tears away and ran to his father's arms. His and his father's
arms met, and Sai was hugging him tightly than ever, "Father! I missed you."
Sai's father's hand ruffled his hair again, "I know… I know…"
"Why? Why did you make me do this?" Sai asked, having the sniffles.
"I was a captured angel… you would not let me go ever since. Not till now… you
finally let go… I could fly… and join our ancestors," the strong voice of his
father's answered.
"You do not want to stay here with me?" Sai whispered, "But…"
Mr. Mouri laughed, smiling, "Son… I thought you are old enough now that you
don't need me. But of course I will watch over you. I will. Even after freeing me
from your sorrows and that wretched Talpa. I know he's up there somewhere
too… and I want to give him MY piece of mind." He made a fist and a pout,
which made Shin laugh.
Sai beamed, sadly, "I am never too old to forget my father. And I have not let
you go… from my mind at least."
"Yes… but now you could go on with your life as Sai. And that is why I asked
for it from you," his father said, "… now you understand. I must leave. They
need me up there."
"Oh…" Sai felt the release but then added, "Could you do me a favor?"
His father nodded, "Yes?"
"Make sure to give Talpa a bash in the nose," Sai smiled.
Mr. Mouri waved a finger at him, "Sai… you naughty octopus."
"And always too!" Sai laughed, still crying but in happiness. "Oh yeah… you
promise you will see me again? And mom and sis?"
"Sure… even those two beloved brats, " Mr. Mouri grinned. Then, his hand took
a small, flying dagger from his white shirt, "Here Sai. You could also keep this. I
don't need it."
"Thank you… thank you for everything," Sai accepted and gave a well-certain
smile.
The vision faded and left… leaving Sai and his friends to think.
"Sai… are you all right?" Kento asked, still staring.
Sai then got up, with the help and support of Anubis and Rowen. "Hey guys…
why don't we all go home."
Cale nodded, "That's a warm place to be. Which reminds me, I am going to visit
my dad. I learned something that I didn't learn before."
"Aren't you getting a little bit soft Cale?" Dais asked.
Sekhmet thought about it and replied, "Doesn't sound all too soft. After seeing
this happen, I will am going to check on my people too."
Dais laughed and nodded in agreement.
The Ronins glanced at each other and laughed at the Warlord's conversation.
Even Sai managed to grin about it. He kept watching the kite fly… fly… before
his eyes. He sighed and quietly said, "Good-bye, dad."
(Read this next part after a few minutes if you want some 'thinking' time about
this)
*** Sai's mom's house ------
After his friends waved good-bye and headed off, Sai ran up to the door and
flung it open. "MOM! I am home! Mom!" Sai called, throwing his knapsack off.
He ran to the living room when he stopped at his steps. His eyes watered in
tears again and shook his head, not believing what he was seeing.
"What? I thought you said I could visit Mom and sister a bit!" the familiar voice
and face spoke, laughing, tickling them both.
Sai closed his eyes and said, "It is so nice to see you again. Welcome home."