The Road to Recovery

[Hayate_Amatsukami]

This story takes place directly after the events of my last solo found here. Enjoy.

Life became hard for the former lord of Yukon in the recent weeks. He hadn’t recovered the strength to leave the care of the Lolitch family. They were a sweet farming family who toiled away working the rich earth to provide for their little community. Hayate had been bed ridden for the last fourteen days dealing with infection and constant pain. The wounds from his battle against Hiruzen were sever, the worst he had ever been given. Unlike his fights in the Citadel the monks didn’t revive him to full health, this was real life.

Sitting against the nightstand next to him was Hayate’s sword Yamato. His spirit guardian hadn’t spoken to him in some time now and it was begging to bug the samurai. Why hadn’t he been able to talk to his friend and ally? Was it something he did? Was this permanent?

Hayate hadn’t ever been without Yamato’s guiding presence and for the first time truly felt lost and alone. He curled up in his bed as best he could trying not to press to hard against his surgical scar. The gravity of his situation started to bring the young swordsman down as his mind wandered. He thought about how many things could have gone wrong for his friends as they fled the state of Akashima. He thought about how the other noble families would defame him and his name. He simply thought about how his life was going to change from here on out.

Honestly he was just happy to be alive.

“Oh you’re up,” a big breasted woman said as she walked into Hayate’s little room carried a basket of bandages and other medicinal items. “I guess you should be getting your strength back little by little. I should be surprised how quickly you’re healing, considering the state we found you in and how hard you clung to life.”

“Thanks Delanie,” Hayate said not knowing how else to respond. If it weren’t for Delanie and the rest of the family the young swordsman wouldn’t even be here. “I swear that I will repay every ounce of kindness you have shown me.”

“Well before you can do that you need to get better. It’s time to change the bandages.” She said as she began to undo crusty blood stained wrappings he had around his left shoulder. With each layer she removed it sent almost unbearable shoots of pain to his head. He bit his lip and proceeded. “You should be able to get back on your feet in a few days. But for now just let us treat you wounds.”

If Hayate would have made it to Whitevale maybe they could have saved his arm, or even Radasanth. But out here in the hills it was the best their doctors could do to save his life. There wasn’t anything they could do about his mangled tatter limb when they found him. After coming to terms with it Hayate thought about how this could be playing a role in why he hasn’t been able to speak to Yamato. Only time would tell.

[Hayate_Amatsukami]

He started small at first only trying to stand on his own two legs for a few moments. Then he went on to walking to the door of his room and back. But bit by bit Hayate proceeded to get stronger. He hadn’t a choice in the matter. Lord Osiris had already been waiting on him for this long and Hayate couldn’t wait to see how his family and friends faired on their trip. He had to get going soon.

Why, where have you gone? Hayate thought to himself hoping Yamato would answer him. But to his dissatisfaction he heard nothing in response. What do I need to do?

For the longest time Hayate relied heavily on heavily on his partner and even now he struggled without him. Thinking back to what his father and grandfather said to him many years ago Hayate remembered that Yamato felt the same pain that he did. Maybe he was just inert and recovering just like the former master of Yukon. Or maybe it was
something much worse, something that couldn’t be help. The very though made his skin crawl and want to hop off his flesh.

His recovery had been going as well as it could be expected and Hayate was almost ready to leave. But despite his protest the Lolitches still insisted he wait until the end of the
week. They had arranged passage for the young swordsman back to Radasanth on a local trader’s caravan leaving out in a few days. Hayate was in no shape to try and attempt the trip alone and accepted under the condition that they allowed him to return in a few months’ time to repay his debt.

It had officially been three weeks since the Lolitches had taken Hayate in and today he was finally strong enough to leave. He had been walking for a few days and found the strength needed to make it back to Radasanth, which was only two days’ worth of a ride from here. So with all the hospitality in the world Hayate waved goodbye to the family that had cared for him vowing to return the favor in the future. The young swordsman did leave behind a number of jewels he had managed to save from his estate as payment for the time being.

He hoped that whatever was stopping him from reaching his partner would soon come to an end. Or at very least he hoped that when he met back up with Shinsou that he could help him out in some way or fashion. In his heart he knew that Yamato was still there, he just couldn’t see him.

[Hayate_Amatsukami]

The trip to Radasanth had seemed to drag on into infinity as the hours turned into days. Hayate choose to keep to himself mostly not bothering to talk much with the others whom he traveled with. There were four others not including the trader whom they were all riding with. No one that looked like they could be part of Hiruzen’s army but you could never be too carful. Hayate spent most of his time slumped over with his hood obscuring his face.

He let his eyes wander over to a young boy and his sister sitting in the rear of the covered wagon. They looked to be about old enough to start competing in the citadel and judging on the swords at their hips that might be where they were heading. Hayate thought fondly of his two exciting bouts in the arena knowing that if these two would have a good time. Maybe learn a thing or two to take back home with them like he did. The others with them didn’t look like much and Hayate disregarded them almost completely.

The sun was beginning to set on their second day on the road and to everyone’s aggravation they hadn’t yet arrived. Though they could start to see the skyline of the great city in the distance they wouldn’t make it there before dark. Come to think of it, where was Hayate even going? He knew Shinsou had a small place there but the odds that he would be there were slim. If he remembered correctly Lord Osiris should be in Whitevale helping the refugees move into their new homes. But that was weeks ago surely by now Shinsou would be back in Radasanth.

Regardless if he had a plan or not Hayate knew he had to make it to Whitevale as soon as possible and would seek another caravan as soon as morning came. He wondered how they would all react when they say their disfigured leader. He wondered how long it would take before Shina would come over and slap him for being so reckless. But mostly he wondered how long it would be before Hiruzen came for them.

The might of the Shogun of Akashima was astronomical. Hayate hadn’t ever seen it for himself until the other night and couldn’t help but be defeated outright. Hiruzen used some form of aura to boost his speed strength and endurance to superhuman levels. Nosdyn, the Hadian Demon, was the closest person Hayate had ever fought that simply over powered him. But Hiruzen put the demon to shame make even quicker work of the duo.

Was that the reason Yamato is quiet?

Had Hayate lost the worthiness to control the Spirit that guarded the Amatsukami for generations?
Surely not, he had just risked his life to do that very thing.

Why then?

[Hayate_Amatsukami]

To say that the former lord of Yukon was distrusting of armed guards and soldiers would be an understatement. Until now the only people whom he had dealt with were the men of the Shogun’s army. And after their assassination attempt Hayate found it hard to believe that the people they viewed as sentries and vanguards of good weren’t anything more than organized thugs. The former lord quaked with anxiety as the caravan grew closer to the gate of the city and closer to the guards that patrolled it.

After a few more hours the trader’s caravan had reached the sprawling gates of the capital of Corone. It was dark now and the only people to greet them as they entered were the hand full of guards that monitored the comings and goings of the main gate. They seemed to be observant enough as they eyeballed about everyone who came in more or less. Hayate was still on edge though as he passed through customs but managed to hold himself together and draw any unwanted attention to himself.

It wasn’t that he thought that he may have been fallowed but in light of his discoveries in Akashima the young lord was skeptical that all soldiers were alike. They were out to make money to feed their families, which meant blindly fallowing the directions of their superiors. It was a dangerous combination when the need for supplies and food outweigh the personal morals of people. Regardless of his conflicting opinions Hayate made it through into the vast capital.

To the young swordsman’s surprise there were still plenty of people up at this hour. As he walked through the marketplace on his way to the Silver Cup Hayate payed close attention to the faces that passed him. Even now, this far from Akashima, he was paranoid someone might have been watching him. The Silver Cup was the name of small tavern Shinsou spoke of the last time they met and was probably the best place to start looking for him. Maybe he could at least get some information out of someone in the joint.

It wasn’t a very hard place to find.

“Come in, sit where you like.” A young bar maiden said greeting Hayate at the door, a she was a real looker too. With her passionate red hair and bright blue eyes the young lass was an exotic beauty, as far as he was concerned. He could already see why Lord Osiris was fond of this little place, between the friendly staff and less than refutable patrons it was sure to be a hell of a lot of fun at time.

Hayate made his way to the bar resting all his weight on his right arm. Even after all the time he spent with the Lolitshes Hayate was still a very weak man. After a few deep breaths the young lord looked up to the man behind the bar and ordered a stiff pint. First things first after all he needed to numb the pain.

[Hayate_Amatsukami]

“What the hell happened there.” The bartender said as he handed Hayate a flagon of his strongest swill.

“Would you believe I fell?” Hayate said chuckling a bit as he grabbed the wooden mug and brought it to his lips. It was decent to say the least and the young swordsman took a big gulp.

“I’ve seen a lot of shit man. That don’t look like any fall I’ve ever seen. “The he said as he turned and started to wipe down the wooden bar top a few steps away. There were a number of others sitting around but nobody close enough to hear them. “So what was it, a bear?”

“I wasn’t mauled by a bear.” He wanted to just blurt out the answer but couldn’t. “I’m looking for a man.”
The barkeep raised an eyebrow.

“Does the name Osiris mean anything to you?”

There was a pause. There was tension so thick it could be cut and served on a platter.

“I think you need to leave…” the man behind the bar said as glared down the one-armed man. “Anyone looking for him better not be looking for trouble.” He said as he revealed knife from under the table between them. This started to escalate unexpectedly and Hayate knew he had to setting things down now while he still could.

Calmly Hayate reached into his pocket and pulled out a sliver of fabric folded up. He undid tit as best he could and placed it on the bat top in front of the man. He studied it for a moment shifting his gaze between the inscription and Hayate and back again. This was the best the young swordsman could do was present his Brotherhood patch and hope for the best. Shinsou said that they worked for the people, surely this would be a good sign in a place like this.

“Boy, why aren’t you wearing your patch?” he said lowering his knife and leaning in closely to keep his voice down.
Hayate only gestured to his missing arm and shrugged.

“Right, I guess it would be hard to sew it onehanded. Apologies, but I don’t tend to divvy out information to just anyone. Luckily for you this patch is as good as gold in here.” Finally Hayate had found a friendly face among all these foreign strangers.

“I’m just looking for Whitevale and my family.” he said under his breath.

“You must be new if you haven’t been to Whitevale yet. But I can do you one better than that. How about you ask Shinsou yourself” the barkeep said.

“He’s here?”

“Not now, but I can tell you where to find him.”

The two brotherhood agents continued on for a while and eventually Hayate learned that Shinsou was set to arrive back in town if a few days’ time. While he has had enough waiting around and thought that anymore time waiting would just be a waist this was the best he could have hoped for. Maybe Lord Osiris would be able to shed some light on why he couldn’t talk to his sword anymore.

Maybe all of Hayate’s troubles would soon be behind him.

[Hayate_Amatsukami]

It was a very nice gesture of Jacob, as Hayate later learned the barkeeps name, to comp a room in the Silver Cup for the one-armed man for the night. To say that it was a hole in the wall would be an understatement but at least for the first time in weeks Hayate felt safe. As he sat on his bed and relaxed for the first time in a while the young lord thought back to the events that had transpired recently. Even just the thought of Hiruzen made the pain from his shoulder intensify and pulse though his body. Maybe in time he could work though this but for now it was debilitating.

The sounds of the streets still filled the air even at such an early hour of the morning. Hayate found it hard to even close his eyes but he forced himself to. He wasn’t a very strong man by himself but he didn’t show a level of self-control fighting the urge to drink his sorrows away in the bar below. Even it was the smart thing to do in this riches to rags situation he was in. Finally sleep overcame the boy and he drifted into a deep slumber.

Sleep well master…

The next morning came quacking and Hayate figured he only got about four or five hours’ worth of sleep. It was enough though as he had a very busy day ahead of him and couldn’t afford to sleep the day away. He quickly dressed himself and left the Silver Cup in search for some a man Jacob recommended he find while he was in town. While they were chatting last night Hayate mentioned that his weapon had been damaged in his last fight and Jacob said Mitch was the best man in town to look at it.

Mitch was another member of the Brotherhood that operated a small shop across town where he and his brothers worked the forge for a number of people. He was told to look out for the huge sign of a half-naked woman hitting an anvil with a hammer. The directions were simple enough and Hayate found the armory in practically no time. As he approached the store he could hear the loud clangs of steel hitting steel and he knew that he found the right place.

Inside there was a rather lengthy line of customers ahead of Hayate all watching as the three brothers worked on their items. While there were a bunch of people in front of him Hayate didn’t have to wait long before as the bothers worked so quickly that they had all been helped in only an hour. Normally that would ring and alarm in his head but based on how Jacob talked about Mitch and the Bovov brothers this didn’t really surprise him that much.

“Alright brother,” Mitch yelled out pointing to Hayate. “You’re up next.

[Hayate_Amatsukami]

Hayate walked over to and unhooked Yamato from his waistband placing it on the counter top before him. Mitched looked at the beaten man and then at his weapon before grabbing it by the sheath and picking it up. He seemed to be guessing its weight by the way he held it in his palm. Hayate observed the man from head to toe and found the filthy Brotherhood insignia on his work shirt. It was small and covered with black soot and god knows what else but it was there.

“This is a very nice sword,” he finally said to Hayate as he unsheathed Yamato and began to study its craftsmanship. “It must be from Yukon by the looks of these etchings.”

“It is,” Hayate was surpised how quickly Mitch Bovov came to that conclusion. It was true that some of the finest weapons came out of Akashima but to be able to narrow down the exact district is a talent not many others had. “Looks like I came to the right place.”

“I’m the best with a hammer in all of Radasanth.” The dirty man said with passion. He seemed to be a jolly guy in his mid to late forties. His brothers looked to be a number of years younger than him maybe in their late twenties the two of them. He clearly was the head of the shop and his brothers his apprentices.

“Then please,” Hayate said opening up the top fold of his robe to show the patch Jacob sewed in to Mitch. “I’d like it restored.”

“Then it’s your lucky day my friend. There is an account open for just such occasions and this won’t cost you a cent.” Mitch said as he quickly turned and left for the forge a few feet behind him in the rear of the store. He must have had some kind of agreement with the brotherhood because when he returned after a few minutes of tempering the katana he refused to take any form of gold Hayate offered. That must be one of the perks of being in such an organization. Even still as Hayate was leaving the armory he left behind a small stack of gold pieces as a tip for the man fine work.

It was mid-day by the time the one-armed man left the forge and as he walked back across town started to crave a hearty meal. It was just his luck that there were a number of food carts and street vendors about so finding something wouldn’t be very hard. Finally the boy settled on a large mouthwatering hunk of lamb that looked too good to pass up. After that the day seemed to get away from him as he toiled around the city doing what he could to prepare to leave for Whitevale as soon as possible.

[Hayate_Amatsukami]

On his way back to see Jacob at the Silver Cup Hayate found himself in a very peculiar situation. Trying to save some time as night came quicker than he thought it would Hayate decided he would take the shortest route possible. This brought his to a, how do you say, scummier part of town. And as he walked the putrid smelling streets of this seldom cleaned area he came across a scene that stopped him in his tracks.

As he was about to turn the corner onto a discrete alleyway he figured would take him pretty close to his destination he spotted something. A woman was walking alone with a number of packages. Already this was a bad decision of her part as Hayate notice the people around here looked like they wouldn’t take no for an answer if they wanted her. It sickened Hayate to the stomach knowing that thugs like this lived everywhere and his run-ins with such people back in Yukon weren’t outliers.

Hayate took it upon himself to fallow the woman for a bit sort of like her secret bodyguard trying to see her safely to a more inviting part of town. He trailed behind her at a distance making sure that if she turned around he could duck out of site. He didn’t do it for any kind of gratification; he did it so that he could sleep at night knowing this woman would be fine. From around the corner Hayate watched as she started to struggle holing the parcels and dropped a few on the ground. Hayate fought the urge to run up and help her gather them opting only to watch for now.

This was the right decision though as when she bent down to get them two men appeared about ten yards in front of her. They turned a corner laughing and hollering at one another presumable liquored up and based on appearances weren’t the most refutable of citizens. It didn’t take long for the two of them to spot the woman in her helpless situation. They acted just how Hayate thought they would. With lust in their eyes the two men leapt towards the woman.

“Grab her!” one man yelled.

Just then Hayate stepped into action leaving the corner he was hiding behind. Even though he was an injured man he could stand by and let anything happen to this girl. So as if he had all the strength in the world the young man ran in front of the woman kicking one of the men to the ground with a powerful roundhouse. He watched as his heel struck the man square in his jaw sending him into the stone wall beside him.

The other man hadn’t a chance either as Hayate quickly used the hilt of his sword to hit his in his gut. The man froze for a moment before vomiting a bit and passing out. Hayate then turned to the girl who had already gathered her things and offered her his hand.

“Let’s go,” he said tugging at her sleeves. “I don’t want to stick around when their friends come looking for them.”

“Oh- Okay” the woman said as she quickly fallowed behind the swordsman. They didn’t say much more to each other as he smuggled her back to a better part of town.

[Hayate_Amatsukami]

Her name was Ana and she had been walking back to her father’s shop around the corner from the Silver Cup. Her father had sent her to receive the packages he had missed being delivered earlier in the week. Though she was told to stay in plain sight like she always was Ana was trying to get home quickly. After about ten minutes of her and her father thanking Hayate for saving her life the young man was on his way back to the inn.

He had grown tired from the long day and need to try and catch up on the rest he missed the night before. Hayate tried to play it off as he walked through the main hall of the Silver Cup dodging looks left and right. He tried hard not to let anyone know how venerable he was in this state. But it wasn’t easy to hold back his grunts when phantom arm sent shoots of pain up his spine with every footstep. He waved to Jacob who had offered him a drink but headed up the stairs towards his room instead of talking.
Hayate has had enough for one day and despite it only being around nine o’clock at night he passed out on his bed.

You did good today master…

Hayate woke up in the middle of the night covered in cold sweat. Did he just hear someone? The young lord looked around the room into all the dark corners and even under his bed. He couldn’t have been mistaking it; he heard a voice in his sleep. Then it dawned on him as his eyes caught his sword leaning in against his night stand.

Was it Yamato?

Can you hear me? Hayate tried to telepathically reach his partner. Answer me if you can!

But there was only silence.

[Hayate_Amatsukami]

The young lord knew that he hear the voice of his partner in the middle of the night and for the entire next morning that was all he could think about. He had come the realization that his family was more than likely okay and safe based on the impression Jacob gave. And he knew that Shinsou would be meeting him soon to begin their training. But the only thing he cared about in right now was reconnecting with his best friend and partner.

As he sat nestled in the back corner of the Silver Cup sipping on his drink he focused hard on the connection they shared. Since birth Hayate had always been able to talk to Yamato so this couldn’t have been a permanent thing. But how could he fix the problem? Hayate had already gotten the sword returned to form by bringing it to Mitch. On the surface his sword looked perfect, but within there must still be issues.

What happened when I passed out? He thought to himself remembering he collapsed during his last fight. Hiruzen had ripped off his arm and then the rest was a mystery to the young lord. How did he get to the Lolitche’s farm in the first place? Did the Corpse King take him all that way? These questions and more raced through Hayate’s head as he waited the day away.

Finally after hours of mindlessly doing what he could to keep himself going his waiting had payed off. Jacob hollered of him to come over to the bar for a moment and informed the young lord that Shinsou had just made it back to his place not far from the Silver Cup. Hayate was overjoyed to hear the good news and took his leave of the tavern quickly thereafter. This was his chance to ask all the questions he could. He would be able to hear of the well being of his brothers and sisters as well as see if his new Lord knew why he couldn’t communicate with his partner anymore.

After leaving a nice stack of coins on the bar Hayate was happily on his way to see the man who changed his life.

Soon Yamato, He tried to say to his partner weather or not he could hear him. We will be together again.