RPGenesis: Hiroshi's World

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				Main Site Navigation Home Fan Art Gallery Game Reviews About RPGenesis Link Title here Contact Us Forum Hiroshi's World Prologue Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven Chapter Twelve Gaming Platforms Playstation Portable Nintendo DS Playstation 2 Xbox Gamecube Credits Site ©ms_nintendo Layout © Oritsuru
	Hiroshi's World! Chapter Eleven: Boundaries of Love Where we last left off, Shinji, the elven boy joined the group. Like Sakura, Shinji was a boy who did not know where he came from. They are not only on a journey of peace and salvation, but also on a journey of truth. With help from their companions, perhaps the threads of their pasts will be unraveled... Kajin: So... where to? Sakura: Well... you heard the Boss. There's a Spirit on each point of the continent: the one furthest north, south, east, and west. It seems as though Pyros was the furthest West, and Zephyr was the furthest to the East. Rikku: Wow! We crossed the continent? It didn't seem that far... Kajin: Well... probably because I used my Speed of Fates. The width of the Eastern Continent isn't that wide at all either. It's the length that's sort of... long, I guess. It'll be difficult getting the spirits in the North and South. Orochi: If what the Boss said is true, then the remaining spirits are the spirits of Water and Earth. The spirits of the primary elements are supposed to be on this continent, right? So far it's proven to be true... Shinji: Which means spirits of the secondary elements are on the Western Continent; the spirits of Lightning, Ice, Light, and Darkness... Kajin: You're pretty knowledgable, kiddo. Shinji: Well... there's one for every element that governs this planet, right? It's a pretty logical and simple theory, really... Rikku: I wonder how we'll get to the other continent... assuming we'll get there at all... Orochi: We can worry about that later. For now, let's try and find the closest Guardian. It looks like... the closest one is to the south. Rikku: Well, then what are we waiting for? Let's go! They headed south, but didn't realize how far they were actually supposed to go. Around one eighth of the way, they decided to take a short break by a hot spring. Kajin: My back KILLS!!! Isn't anyone else tired?!?!? Rikku: You're such a wimp. Orochi: Actually for once I agree with Kajin... the journey to the southern-most point will take longer than we hoped for. I'm ready for a break. Shinji: You said it! Hey, why don't we relax in the hot spring or something? Sakura: That's a good idea. Though... I'm not so sure I want to be in the same hot spring as Kajin. Rikku: I'll second that. Kajin: thinking to self Am I THAT unattractive? Shinji: It looks like there are two seperate springs. I guess one is for men and the other for women. Man: HEYYY!!! You wanna bathe in the hot springs? Cough up some dough!! Rikku: Do we have any money at all? Kajin: What, are you stupid?!? Kajin reached into his cloak and fished out a handful of gold coins. It was part of the sum that he had withdrawn from the Momorin Orb back at the Momorin Ruins. He handed it to the man in charge of the hot springs. Kajin: Is... this enough, sir? Man: Whoa, you kids sure are loaded! Hmmm... yep this'll be enough for five people. You're free to use the springs. Orochi was the first to get into the men's spring, with nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist. He made sure no one was watching, wrapping a towel around the lower half of his face. He never revealed it to anyone. Even when he was fighting, he always wore his assassin's mask. Kajin then came, followed by Shinji. Kajin: Ahh... this is so relaxing! Too bad they had to make seperate springs! Orochi: Uggh... can't you get your mind out of the gutter just once? Kajin: Um... well, let's see... nope. Shinji: Hey, Orochi. Why... do you cover your face like that all the time? Orochi: I have my reasons... Kajin: Heh, I'll bet he's just afraid to get kissed by a girl! Orochi gave him a good whack on the head. GLOMP!!! Kajin: OWW!!! That hurt! Orochi: It's part of my culture, you idiot. The people of the Kusanagi clan wear masks like this to hide their face, because they're theives. It's to protect our identity. Shinji: Are you really a theif, Orochi? You don't seem like the theif type. Orochi: No, I'm not. The only theif here is Mr. Pervert over there points to Kajin Kajin: Hey, I steal in the name of justice! Orochi: sarcastically I suppose that means you feel women up in the name of justice as well? Shinji: So if you're not a theif, why do you wear it? Orochi: It's because... I do not want to allow myself to forget the past. I do not deny who I am. I am a proud shinobi of the Kusanagi clan, and I will do whatever it takes to avenge the deaths of my family and friends... So that people will know that the Kusanagi are not finished. So that they'll know... that we still have a chance. That chance... is me. Shinji: Sounds like you're really determined... Kajin: We all are. Though we are all here to help Sakura on her journey, we each have our own paths to follow. We're too weak to follow them on our own, so we depend on the strength of our comrades to help us. In a sense... it's as if our hearts beat as one. Orochi: I want to avenge my people, and Kajin wants to avenge his people as well. Kajin: I'm not sure what the girls have in mind, though. Meanwhile, in the other spring, Sakura and Rikku were chatting away about, well, I'm sure you know what girls are always talking about. Oh, and yes, they're wearing towels as well, covering from below their shoulders to their knees. So please, spare the fantasizing. Rikku: I wonder what Kenji and Dad are up to back in the village. Sakura: I actually sort of forgot about them during the course of the journey. I wonder what they're doing as well... Rikku: I'm sure Kenji's really worried about you. He doesn't know that we have so many people with us to help out! Or that you have amazing summoning powers now! Sakura: Do you think we should send them a letter? Just so say that we're alright? I'm sure he'd be alleviated to hear from us. Rikku: Hehe try not to write a love letter, now. Sakura: blushing Heh... heh heh... who said anything about a love letter? Rikku: Your face, that's who. Haha you're blushing, Sakura! Sakura: N-No I'm not... Rikku: You don't have to be shy about it, you know. It's not like I'm gonna tell anyone. Sakura: Shy? About what? Rikku: Duh, that you're in love! Sakura: WHAT?!? Don't you... think that's a bit far? I mean, he's my teacher! That's just... scandalous! Rikku: That's first love, that's what it is. Love has no boundaries. Sakura: Really? Hmm... Sakura had a sly expression on her face. Sakura: So then, Rikku: who do YOU like? Rikku: That's the stupidest question I ever heard. Love is pointless. I don't have time for it. After all, none of the guys in Kozuka are really worth it... Sakura: Who said it had to be someone from Kozuka? Rikku: It's the village law. Don't you know? Some matchmaker chick chooses a man and a woman once a year, to wed. The names are picked at random, because people are too busy to decide for themselves. But raising a family is essential to bearing more children, and making more ninjas, which makes bigger armies and economy. However... it is said that for more than one couple to wed a year puts a curse on the village or something like that. We didn't believe that legend until... Sakura: Oh yeah... until Koji was kidnapped... Rikku: Yeah... then we believed the curse and followed the customs like we were supposed to. Sakura: So going back to the matchmaker... what if your name never gets chosen? Do you remain single for the rest of your life? Rikku: They say only the people that deserve to raise a family, and deserve to be in love, are picked. So I guess it's not totally up to chance... the spirits of love sort of... guide the matchmaker's hands as she picks the names out of a pile. That's what my dad told me. Sakura: Even though I'm not a true villager from Kozuka... I'll still probably have my name in that pile somewhere... Rikku: Yeah, most likely. When you think about it... love only has boundaries for us, really. That boundary is the borders of the village... Rikku got out of the spring, and went to change back into her clothes. She turned to Sakura and yelled from afar. Rikku: You might wanna come out soon! We have to get back on track, don't we? Sakura: Yeah, just give me a few more minutes!! Sakura thought about what Rikku told her. She was restricted to marry only a man from the Kozuka village. It would be a bit dull, she thought to herself. After all, that's the way most of the Kozuka men were like. But not Kenji. He was a bit different. Being her teacher made Sakura's life in the village seem more enjoyable than it really was. She thought to herself vaguely what life would be like if they were to get married. Sakura: I don't know what Rikku's talking about... I can't see the two of us together at all. It's too... wierd... She got out of the spring and went to follow Rikku. Sakura: thinking to self It's marriage that really has boundaries, not love... They aren't really the same... are they? It was around mid-day and the group was finally out of the hot springs, and in their usual apparel. Kajin: So... what were you girls talking about? Sakura and Rikku: Nothing. Shinji: Really? So you guys just sat there for an hour doing nothing? Sakura: Well... Rikku: We talked about how love has no boundaries. Kajin: You don't say... Kajin half-way managed to put his arm around Rikku's shoulder, only to find himself getting slapped accross the face. Rikku: Scratch that. Kajin: owwww... why is everyone hitting me today?? They headed further along the path to the south, hoping they were getting nearer to solving the mysteries of the Guardian Spirits. Meanwhile, very far to the west, Kozuka-sensei was examining an envelope that he found at his doorstep. Elder: What in tarnation... oh? It's a letter! And it's for you, Kenji! Kenji: Huh? A letter for me? He opened the envelope to find a piece of parchment with writing all over it. The handwriting seemed familiar... Kenji: This is... Sakura's writing! He pored over the letter, excited to hear how the journey was going, and glad to know that she was still, you know, alive. He read it out loud. Dear Kenji, Hi there! It's me, Sakura! I hope you and the elder are doing alright back in the village. Me and Rikku are safe and sound, thanks to some of the friends we've met throughout our journey. There's Orochi, a powerful swordsman, Kajin, a twin-bladed theif, and Shinji, an archer just like Rikku! We've already captured two of the Guardian Spirits: Pyros, the spirit of Fire, from the Kokichi volcano, and Zephyr, the spirit of wind, from Mt. Momorin. It's kind of wierd having the power to call them whenever I want to... but it's kinda cool, too! I only wish you could see me now, as a powerful summoner, instead of the weak ninja I was before I left the village. I'm sure... you wouldn't be disappointed. As soon as I find the four spirits that live on this continent, I promise I'll come back to Kozuka to visit you guys. Take care, Sakura Elder: Take care? Sheesh, she couldn't have written "love" or something? It's so much shorter and to the point... Kenji: W-What? Father, I do hope you aren't suggesting what I think you are. Elder: No, I'm not suggesting. I'm just stating the facts. Kenji: You don't think-- Elder: Yep. Why else would she have taken all the trouble to write you a letter? I tell ya, kids these days need something to propell themselves to do something, or they just won't do it! What ever happened to the good ol' "do it because you're supposed to" thing? I miss the olden days... Kenji: Well... I am glad that she and Rikku are safe. I'm glad they have some friends tagging along to protect them. Now I won't have to worry so much... Elder: Do you think they can pull it off? The Guardian Spirits aren't exactly pushovers, ya know. Kenji: I have faith in Sakura's new abilities. And in Rikku's archery. And... I trust that their friends are powerful as well. I'm sure they'll be just fine. Kenji left their shrine-house and went back to teaching children how to properly decapitate a squirrel using shurikens. Eww. Kozuka-sensei sat in the shrine, thinking to himself. Elder: It will take more than strength alone. There is more to being strong than having physical strength. Kenji... someday you will understand that. The people of the Kozuka village were alleviated when they heard the news of Rikku's and Sakura's safety. They were also quite impressed when they heard of Sakura's newfound powers. She definitely would no be welcomed as the same person when she returned to the village later on. The heroes went further down the roads, wondering where the paths might take them. Life is a path of uncertainty, when you live on the planet Gaia. Sakura and the others are learning that more clearly each day, as their journey progresses. What spirit lies in wait at the southern-most point of the continent? Will the group be a match for it? Find out in the next chapter of Hiroshi's World And let's hope Kenji's faith isn't going to waste-- because who knows, there could even be a bride on the line.