The afternoon sun had begun to sink into the horizon. Poofy, cotton-like clouds dotted the sky as brittle, brown leaves floated through the air and the calls of birds who had not yet hibernated echoed throughout the landscape.

Amongst that landscape was a somewhat small but a certainly dilapidated houses. The subtle cracks in the brickwork and the invasive overgrowth of weeds and bushes complimented the structure’s appearance.

As the passerby humans and the straggling birds returned to their respective nests for yet another night off from the story of life, creaking sounds from the well-aged house’s floorboards could be heard from the outside world. The creaking sounds were eventually followed by the sound of an opening door.

Suddenly, the ramshackle house no longer produced noise.

Tamashi and Sensei stood in the doorway to the house’s guest bathroom. The student and the teacher both appeared to be utterly confused and disgusted.

They simultaneously made the discovery that Rai had wrapped himself in toilet paper, a portion of which was wet and disintegrating,

Sensei and Tamashi both observed in silence as Rai began to question the two intruders barging through the door.

“What, I can’t act like a regular human sometimes?”

——

Savior: Original Story by OneSevenEight

Episode: Framed Perspective - Part 23

——

“Huh… heh… HAHAHA!”

Tamashi roared with laughter as Rai continued to scrape pieces of paper off his clothing.

“Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up. Just wait until you get the shit beat out of you.”

“Beat the shit out of me? As in-“

“NEVERMIND.”

“Someone’s embarrassed.”

“Why are you even back here, Tamayo?”

“I’m back to fight you.”

Rai seemed to be taken aback.

“Fight me? You’ve only been training for half a day. You’re telling me that you came back after half-“

“Yes, he’s serious, and yes, he’s ready.”

Rai and Tamashi turned their attention to Sensei, who strangely stood by without actively smoking.

“What are you getting at, oh Ancient One? No one can completely change the way they fight in half a day.”

“He might just surprise you, then.”

Rai looked back to Tamashi, who was brimming with confidence.

“What do you look all high and mighty for?”

“Because I know I’m gonna win.”

Rai’s mouth gaped open as he calculated a response. He then shifted his body to stand face-to-face with Tamashi at a moderately close distance.

His facial expression converted into a mischievous grin as strands of white hair settled over his eyes.

“Let’s see, how did it go again?… Oh, yeah. I, the Seishin of Lighting, declare a duel with Tamashi Yosha. The duel had previously been agreed to, but the conditions had not been set.”

Sensei began to question Rai’s declaration.

“Rai, what are you-“

“The condition for Tamashi Yosha’s victory is to touch my face within sixty seconds of the start of the duel. I agree to release ten percent of my powers to Tamashi Yosha in the event of his victory. In the event of my victory...”

Rai’s eyes glared directly into Tamashi’s with the intensity of a lightning strike. His grin expanded into a maniacal smile.

“In the event of my victory, I reserve the right to take over Tamashi Yosha’s body in order to permanently manifest myself into this world.”

Tamashi’s eyes appeared to glaze over with the color of white.

“What…?”

“YOU HEARD ME! WHAT DO YOU SAY, TAMA-“

All of a sudden, wind pressure and heat blasted into Tamashi.

“WHAT THE-“

As his eyes were forced closed, a thundering crashing noise filled his ear canals.

After the commotion died down, Tamashi slowly reopened his eyes.

“What… what just happened?”

Rai was embedded within the wall, with Sensei towering over and restraining him.

“Rai, I won’t allow those conditions. I’m aware that you like to do things in your own way, but you’ve gone too far. CHANGE THE TERMS.”

Rai momentarily appeared to be shocked prior to a smile resurfacing on his face.

“Let me tell you something, old man. I’ve been searching for ways for centuries to elevate myself beyond being this spirt that just lives inside people. I’ve been searching for ways to become more than just a personified element.”

Rai jumped onto his feet and grabbed Sensei by his shirt.

“I’ve been searching for ways to become a physical being. I’ve been searching for ways to become someone who doesn’t have to go through another Elemental War. One of the reasons I’ve been avoiding you idiots for so long is because you guys want to use me to start more idiotic, more deadly, more hurtful wars just because you guys are still trying to wipe out that other damn gang even though it’s hopeless and useless. It’s not going to happen. Enemies of peace will always roam the world. It still hasn’t happened and it never will happen. So don’t assume that some kid with no battle experience will ever be able to handle my powers when you’re already well aware that no one has ever fully utilized my powers. No one can handle lightning. SO DON’T YOU GET IT? I WANT NO PART OF THIS! I’ll just get myself a physical body and fully utilize my powers to protect myself!”

“GET AHOLD OF YOURSELF, RAI. You have a duty as a-“

A cough and the appearance of blood interrupted Sensei’s response to Rai.

“OH, WOW! IT TURNS OUT THERE IS A LIMIT TO YOUR BODY, OLD MAN! AND YOU THOUGHT YOU COULD OVERPOWER ME?!”

Rai released his hold and violently shoved Sensei to the side. As Sensei crumpled onto the floor, Rai approached Tamashi with a vengeful march.

“IF YOU REALLY THINK YOU CAN BEAT ME, TAMAYO, THEN SHAKE MY HAND TO AGREE TO THE CONDITIONS AND TO BEGIN THE DUEL!”

Tamashi met Rai’s eyes with a glare of shock as he processed the events that had just unfolded.

‘This guy… HE JUST WANTS TO USE MY BODY? No… That can’t be right… Can it?’

“WHAT’S WRONG, TAMAYO?! NERVES?!”

Rai began to flood the room with lighting, causing Tamashi to grit his teeth.

‘What do I do?’

“WELL, TAMAYO?!”

‘What can I do?’

“TIME TO DECIDE, TAMAYO!”

‘I know what I have to do.’

“I’M WAITING, TAMA-“

“I agree.”

Sensei lifted his head as the lightning disappeared and Tamashi formed an expressionless face.

“Tamashi, what are you…”

“I agree to your conditions, Rai. Let’s shake on it.”