8 - Book Name, read it at the end

(This fanfic is one of my oldest works so forgive me.)

"Let me ask you....friend, have you found the answer to the question, I wanted to know?" A deep young mans voice sounded out. His long dark purple hair, that was braided at some parts, moved with the wind, that blew ever so slightly, a purplish white band covered his eyes, a black kind of scarf around his neck, that went under one of his arms, and went down his chest slightly, his white rode split at his legs, a long black hakama that covered them, his arms that were exposed, that only had black guards that covered half his forearms and hands. Which had two white clasp, one at his wrist and the other, right under his joint at the elbow. His not skinny or big arms that were extremely muscular showed, having scars here and there. At his feet he wore, white long boots covered by his rode. His face calm as he turned his head around himself, listening to the world. His tan skin shining in the suns glow from above.

(Image here)

"Yes, I would give Anything for her, I think it gives me strength kaname, the strength to keep stepping forward....now that I answered your question with what I believe, will you tell me yours?" the two teens spoke as the cheering from the crowd felt like it was muted.

"I knew you would say something so hero like, Ikki" I said, showing a genuine smile and laughing.

"Yeah, you always called me that....now honestly tell me what I want to know" ikki said, smiling and looking at my face that was all smiles.

"Yes.....yes, listen to me ikki, all power has a price, you know this better then anyone, is that not why your body is like that, why you say you don't want anything? Yet you still want the power to protect your love ones, even if you don't say it with your mouth, your actions are clear? Greater power to protect those you love" I said, shaking my head a little.

"I know, to protect them i will need power, for that I must grow even if it causes me pain, but.. is that your answer kaname?" Ikki said, walking forward a little and getting ready.

"No, that conversation is for another time, we have kept them all waiting for long enough.. right?" I said, listening while Ikki looked around not hearing any more noise, the lack of cheering made the silence all that much more deafening.

"I guess your right, could I ask you.. one more thing? why? Why do you fight? even if you hate it..." ikki said, looking to me.

"Why? I'm not some wise man or A philosophy major.....I'm just a guy, who gave up everything in his pursuit of the way of the sword.. in that right, I am truly just an idiot." I said, remembering the past.

"You can say that again, yet here I am, can I make a request? and in turn I will do the same, let us talk through our swords, for my loved ones, and for those who helped me. I can only promise you this." ikki said, holding his hand by his hip like a scabbard was there and putting his hand above it. Pulling, as a katana was materialized.

"With all my strength, I will defeat all of yours" ikki said, holding his sword with two hands and pointing it at me.

"*ha, you know.. I have always liked that saying of yours, *sigh, when I was a kid that Is a path I followed. Out of respect for our friendship, and the amazing people you aloud me to meet. I will show.." I said before hearing a yell.

"Stop kaname, please don't!" A girls voice was heard before I could finish. Being pulled back by another girl, who held her mouth.

"Stop it, it is his choice" one of the girls holding her said, looking at us yet no one could hear but them.

"*sigh, watch closely Ikki, because.. I will show you, where this path will take you, and the price i had to pay for it." I said, turning my head back to him with a smile on my face.

"Thank you" ikki said, listening to the announcer.

"The boy that started at the bottom vs the blind boy, who never wanted to fight, in this post final, these swordsman.. no these friends, there battle begins now!" The girl announcer shouts.

"Let's go ahead!" The Monitor high above their heads sounded out, as the match officially started.

"Ittou shura!" Ikki shouts as his body turning black for but a second, only for his power to skyrocket, while a burst of white aura came from his body.

"Good ikki.. now come, my sword." I said, tapping my foot on the ground, the floor below, rippled like water as a whitish purple hilted sword, started to rise from the ground. It's hilt was strange but what stood out was the ring that was fixed to a part of the hilt.

"No stop please!" The 2 girls yelled at the same time, being into the fight we heard them but only slightly.

"Watashi no itami ni sumu." - ("live in my pain.") I said as i held my hand on my blade, my other hand on the ring as I changed stances, the hand that held the hilt by my head and squatted slightly. My body pointing towards him, at the front and the entire Arena cracked.

"The seventh Secret sword, Riko!" Running forward, with his sword down but at me, he shouted. "I knew, I really did.. I knew from the beginning, that you hid it, and that I didnt have your power, so I have to gather it all! and force it out!" Ikki said to me, as he moved almost in slow motion.

"Maybe, maybe your sword will reach me.. oh how I wish.. but, let me show you" I said. pushing my leg out infront of me.

"I.. I don't need one minute! all I need is one second! sharpen my soul! Push through!" Ikki said.

"Very well ikki. Now awaken.. show me the pain they held! Come show me my mistakes!" I said not moving.

The world looked like it stood still as i opened my paths.

"Beginning sword, Suzumushi!" I said as the world came crashing down on him, for a second the world turned black, the sound, wind, everything stop but soon came back.

"Use it all!" Ikki said.

My body emitted so much pressure the crowd hit the ground as my skin let off a aura. I watch as he was going to hit the ground, with a slight smile I spoke.

"Cancel" I said, the crowd getting up, all but my friends and girl. They watch as ikki stumbled but stood. The girls watched my smiling face, yet they both held out one of their hands.

"You idiot.." the girls said, holding their other hand at their hearts.

"Why!" Ikki said as I stopped him from using his final technique.

"it is your win, show them they can't hold you" I said, as I let go of my sword. While his blade was inches away from me.

"What is going on?" Stella said, looking over at the girls.

"I don't understand, from what I saw he could have beaten Ikki" nagi said, looking at the two in the arena.

"Your right, but at the last second that boy kaname stopped" kurono said, looking back at the old man.

"That boy, he could have won it all, why would he" nangou said, opening one of his eyes.

"That's just who he is, he wants to see Ikki move forward, something he couldn't do" one of my girls said, bitting her lip.

"He will be ok.. I know it." another of my girls said, holding the other while crying.

"Why are you crying, what exactly did he do?!" Stella yelled, looking at the girls and then the arena below.

"Like he said all power, has its price" one of the girls important to me said.

"Wha..." nagi was going to say until.

"Ahhhhh!" I yelled out as I looked up to the sky.

"Kaname! What's wrong!" Looking at me yell in pain, as he tried to reach down. My back leaning up as a purple aura surrounded me in a circle.

"It is ok, Ikki step away, you asked me before.. you wanted to know, were I got all these scars." I said, looking down at him with a smile.

Hands came from the ground like phantoms, giant tengu like guards pulled themselves up as they grabbed each of my shoulders and pushed me down.

"Now, Give it back ten fold, release my sword." I said as a group of people like phantoms, appeared holding swords in their hands, as they held them up and stabbed them down into my back and through my chest.

"Ahhhh!" I let out a low yell, enduring the pain.

"Kaname! We need to go" one of the girls yelled, getting up and running down to the arena.

"Let's go!" The other girl said as they ran after her.

Stella and the others looked at the arena as they held there hand infront of there mouth. or had shocked looks on there face.

"All power has its price, one he must pay....this boy" nangou said, looking at what was happening.

"Something like this..." nene said, holding her fan infront of her face.

Ikki's group of people stood and ran down as they watched Ikki look at me with a scared, and yet almost shocked expression.

The phantoms swords pushed down into the ground as they went through me, and a sweet voice could be heard. Yet the woman who stood within the phantoms couldn't be seen.

"You have paid the price, brother" the voice said while they all disappeared.

"Kaname!" One of my girls said, catching me as I fell forward.

The other came as both rubbed my face or hair, looking at my robe that came open, seeing the stab marks.

"Idiot!, you can't do this to yourself anymore!" The white haired Loli said to me. Tears hitting my cheek.

"What will happen if you can't handle it next time?!" Another black hair girl said, trying to wipe the blood from the stab wounds away.

"Never, your forbidden from using it again!" The Loli above me said, her voice full of anger yet she was soft.

Reaching up I rubbed each girls cheek to wipe away there tears.

"It's fine, girls..." I tried to say but they yelled at me.

"We said never again!...please kaname" the girls yelled at the same time.

"I will try....ok loves" I said, looking at Ikki and he rest looking over at us.

"Kaname, I would have never asked if I knew this...." Ikki tried to say, looking down at me.

The girls in there protective mode looked at him with sharp eyes.

"No it's ok girls, I wanted to show you" I said, rubbing the white haired girls cheek once again.

"Kaname, why" Stella asked coming up to hold Ikki.

"I want to see how far he could go, so I couldn't stop him here and show him. In the pursuit of strength you...there are things you can't take back" I said holding up my hand in the sky.

"You did all this, so I could move forward and to not make your mistake" ikki said, with a greatful look.

"Yeah, it's your win, so you better win this tournament" I said, feeling the sun shine down on my skin. "Oh how I wish.. to take it all back.." I said lowly as I fell asleep from the back lash.

"I will, kaname" ikki said, holding his hand up as the Monitor said, winner.

"The winner is the boy from the bottom."

The girl announcer said, all her excitement gone.

The crowd was silent as they knew it was his win, but couldn't get past what they saw. Ikki and his friends said nothing as they helped Ikki leave the arena, while the girls helped me up.

This is just one of the endings in this story, but to understand this, let's start at the beginning. About a story of a forgotten boy who did everything, to reached the summit in the path of the sword. At a price he could never pay. Follow him as all he longs for is a normal life.

- chivalry of a failed knight cross over