5

"What a tragedy."

Daichi had said, as he walked beside his son through that burnt village, their boots clacking on the hard, snow covered ground. The spell protecting the village had been broken. There was nothing left except that statue of a lion's cub in the centre of the village.

Those were the ruins of a lost kingdom.

Rin traced the cubs perfectly carved face, he could never tell how Loid was feeling. The only thing keeping him from giving up was his brother. Rin clenched his fist.

He must bring him back.

"Why did you make that deal, son?"

Rin walked past the statue, his dad following him. Genki was in its sheath on Rin's back. He had summoned it so that he wouldn't have to spend his energy materializing it every time he needed it.

'I know. You are strong.'

The lion's words flashed through his mind. Loid couldn't be more wrong.

"I have my reasons."

Walking to the outskirts of the village, he stopped in front of a colossal boulder.

"What could you possibly get from having a lion's spirit? Are we moving that boulder?"

Rin tapped the stone twice. DISPERSION.

The boulder broke into small pieces. Thousands of them. Daichi stepped back as those stones fell to their feet.

"There's a way out of this valley? Good job", Daichi rubbed Rin's head much to his dismay, before going past him and on the now revealed path.

"That lion could be dangerous. Are you sure you want to trust him?"

Rin followed his dad, reaching a small clearing away from the village, tall pines trees guarding that snow covered patch of earth. There were mountains far away, thier peaks piercing the grey sky above.

"I don't need to trust him."

"But you want his loyalty? This is one nice place. I need your mom to see this."

"He has something I seek. Don't step into that magic circle."

Daichi laughed,"Telling your old man to be careful. Boy, I could sense that circle the moment I had stepped out of that village."

Rin picked up a stray twig and threw it in the circle. It got burnt a little.

"Such a weak spell."

They looked at each other, Daichi smiling but not wider than his son. They had found the one they were looking for.

How many days had it been?

Three days, perhaps.

Three days since Damian had last seen the world outside that cave he had taken refuge in. A shiver went down his spine and he hugged his cape closer to his small body. He had neither food nor water. His gray kimono was torn from many places and his bare feet were red and swollen.

But he could bear all that.

He was a lion spirit, he could survive without food and water for days.He could endure the cold and the pain too.

But the only thing that scared him was the thought of not seeing his brother again.

His ear perked up at the slightest rustling on his roof.

Intruders.

He was up on his feet, his short black hair swaying by his action.

His cave was under protection. They wouldn't be able to intrud-

"Ow! Ow! Ow!"

They fell from ceiling, a human boy landing on a man. Damian's mouth hung open. What happened to his protection?

He put together his hands, making the shape of a dog.

"TSUKI!"

A spirit dog - white fur more beautiful than the moon itself- appeared in front of the little boy.

"Ugh! My neck hurts. You brat! Why must you land on me?",Daichi got up from the ground, rubbing his neck.

Rin rolled his eyes,"What happened to ' I'll keep him safe', huh?"

Daichi smacked Rin's shoulder earning a glare in return. Turning his head, he saw the boy they were looking for.

"You must be Damian. I have been searching for you."

Rin stepped in front of his dad,"We have been looking for yo-"

Tsuki pounced at the boy. Rin jumped back just in time, unsheathing Genki. The dog snarled before pouncing once again. Rin bent his knees, steadying himself. He swung his sword. A single slash and that spirit faded away, its howl echoing in the air.

"Tsuki!", the boy leapt forward, tripping on a stone and falling on his face.

"Ooh", Daichi winced. Reaching the boy, he bent over but mere inches away from the boy's head, Daichi's finger caught fire; a small red flame. He pulled his hand back.

HEAL UP.

Daichi blew away the flame, his skin instantly recovering.

"Nice, kid. You are quite powerful", Daichi smirked. He was truly appreciating the boy's skill. He had caught him off guard.

Impressive. But his runny nose and teary eyes were contradictory to his power. The boy got to his feet, his knee scrapped. Rin could see his hands trembling as the black haired boy put them together.

BEAST SPIRIT

A crimson glow surrounded boy as the ground rumbled violently beneath their feet.

The boy changed. From a child to a lion. A lion spirit; eyes red, fur black, claws sharp and fangs bare.

"Magnificent", Daichi said.

"Wait till you see Loid's form", Rin said walking towards the spirit. It roared, shaking up the walls of the cave.

"Calm down. We are not enemies."

Rin's attempt at calming the beast was in vain because in a split second, a paw had smashed into the human, throwing him across the cave.

"Rin!"

Daichi was beside him the next moment, an eye at the lion, the other at his son who was holding on to his side.

"This feels like deja Vu."

He clearly remembered the hit he had got from Loid the other day, though he had crashed into his door instead of a wall. Rin got on his feet. Pushing his sword into his dad's hands, he smirked,"Hold on to Genki for me."

"What? What are you thinking?",Daichi broke into cold sweat, looking at his son and then at the sword in his hands.

"Don't freak out, dad. I'm not gonna get myself killed."

Daichi kicked him in the shin,"Your jokes are awful. Be quick. Don't make me come and drag you out with your ear."

"Yeah, yeah."

Rin raised a hand, tracing a magic loop glowing with his signature blue fluorescence. With a turn of his finger, it flew over towards the beast.

ENTANGLED VINES.

Vines came out of the circle and the spirit got entangled in them. The next moment, the lion was on the ground, subdued. Damian looked up at the human standing in front of him, clear blue eyes matching that sapphire earring in his right ear.

Was this the end? Would a human be the one taking his life? How humiliating! His brother would be so disappointed in him.

But. But. He'd rather see him scolding him for his shortcomings than to die without even a glimpse of him.

'Just one last time, brother. I beg you.'

There was a change. The lion morphed and the next second, that kid was lying there, imprisoned by the vines. Damian closed his eyes, a tear trailing down his nose and falling on the ground.

A snap of the human's fingers and the vines disappeared.

Why was he letting him go? Rin knelt in front of his curled up body, whispering ever so quietly,"I know you don't have any reason to trust me but I'm here to rescue you. Loid's waiting for you."

Rin witnessed the change in the little kid's expression. His lower lip quivered, tearing filling up his eyes, he sniffed and then began crying. Rin patted his small head. His wails were loud, his small hands holding Rin's shirt as if he was afraid of waking up and finding out that all that was nothing but a dream.

Loid was waiting for him.