Tamashi extended his arm out to Rai.

“I agree, so let’s shake on it.”

The electricity flowing throughout the room abruptly disappeared.

Rai glanced down at Tamashi’s hand. His facial expression appeared to be muted.

The sound of walking diverted Tamashi’s attention to his left. Sensei had lifted himself off the ground. As he began a slow walk towards the other two, he wiped off the blood on his mouth with his arm and reached into his pocket for his cigarette box.

“Tamashi, I would advise you to put your arm down. It seems that Rai may have some intentions that I failed to take into account.”

Sensei eventually completed his walk to the group. He proceeded to place his left arm on Rai’s shoulder as he used his right to place his cigarette in his mouth.

“Just so we’re clear, Rai, I am not forcing anyone to join Kita. I did not put forward any conditions prior to training Tamashi.”

Rai called off his visual lock on Tamashi’s hand in order to engage Sensei’s green stare.

“Why would I believe that, old man? You always have ulterior motives.”

“I simply trained Tamashi in order for him to realize his full potential, whether he ever does walk the path of joining Kita, or if he ever becomes an independent of sorts. It’s my duty to ensure the future of the Elemental Warriors.”

Rai countered Sensei’s gaze with his own cool blue glance.

“Yeah, you keep telling yourself that. You believe you were chosen for some high-and-mighty job when, in reality, you simply never gave the job out to anyone else.”

“Rai, no matter your words, I will not allow you to leave this house while possessing Tamashi’s body. Therefore, the fight will not happen.”

“You keep telling yourself that, old man. You keep believing that you have control over me.”

“Rai, those conditions will not-“

“Jiji-sensei, please stop for now.”

Sensei and Tamashi glanced at each other, as if they were trying to read each other’s minds.

“I want to do this. Please allow me to, Jiji-sensei.”

For a moment, Sensei remained silent while glaring into Tamashi’s eyes.

Eventually, Sensei closed his eyes, while simultaneously reforming his facial expression into a frown.

“You shouldn’t agree to this, Tamashi, but it’s your decision. I will not interfere.”

Tamashi turned his head back towards Rai.

“Are you gonna shake my hand, or is something bothering you?”

Rai’s mouth slowly formed a reserved smile as he moved to shake Tamashi’s hand.

“Alright, then. I can’t wait to take over your body, Tamayo.”

As the skies in the outside world became overcast, gray light poured through the window. The shadows that reflected off of the duo created the illusion of a black-and-white image. As the two began to make contact with their hands, Sensei observed from a position in front of the window, with only his earthly green eyes visible among the deep shadows obscuring his face.

Tamashi and Rai’s right hands came into contact. A gray ball of lightning formed around the due, quickly enveloping them. In less than the tick of a clock, the ball exploded into a shower of gray sparks, filling the air with a shower of dull beauty.

Sensei, who had been left behind, quietly maintained his physical position.

‘Now, Tamashi’s first real test begins.’

——

Savior: Original Story by OneSevenEight

Episode: Framed Perspective - Part 24

——

Tamashi opened his eyes to the discovery of being back in the Void.

As he glanced around to set his orientation, Tamashi noticed that Rai was standing a distance way.

The vibrant orange light of the void radiated off of the two twin-like boys. The soundscape was eerily absent from Tamashi’s ears, except for the subtle sound of slight breeze flowing through the area.

The orange light that encompassed the area appeared to mix with Rai’s hair to form a white-blonde hue.

“In case you weren’t listening, Tamayo, I’ll tell you the rules one more time. They’re pretty simple: you land so much as a light tap on my face, and you win. I win if you can’t do that in 60 seconds. You understand, right?”

Tamashi glanced up at the sunset-like sky, contemplating his current situation. As he rose his head, a slight gust of wind manifested in the area, rustling his shining black hair.

After taking a moment to think, Tamashi lowered his head to make eye contact with Rai. With the wind yet to cease its barrage on Tamashi’s hair, he confidently gave his response.

“I understand. Just let me know when my time starts, Rai.”

Rai lifted his finger and swirled it in the air. A ring of lightning appeared above the future battlefield.

“That’s gonna be the timer. When the circle is gone, time’s up. This may be the last minute of your life, Tamayo, so I hope you’re ready.”

Tamashi responded with a wide grin.

“Oh yeah, I’m ready. I’m ready to win.”

Rai lifted his left arm up into the sky as he maintained a muted facial expression.

“Alright, we’re staring in three…”

Tamashi dropped into a lunge position.

“Two…”

Tamashi locked his line of sight onto Rai’s figure.

“One…”

The wind abruptly dispersed. As Tamashi’s hair settled, his ocean blue eyes appeared to be brimming with hope and perseverance.

“Go.”

——

“YOU CAN DO BETTER THAN THAT, BRI!”

As Bri continuously dodged blades of wind being thrown at her, Kaze embraced the job of being a coach.

“COME ON, BRI, AREN’T YOU SUPPOSED TO BE THE- Wait, huh?”

As Kaze abruptly stopped producing blades, Bri took a knee. While recovering from the exercise, she began to question the sudden stop.

“What’s going on, Kaze? I was keeping up, no problem.”

The Seishin of Wind and her Riyosha were training in a vast, flat field with naturally short grass.

“Oh, I guess it’s nothing. I just noticed a surge of lightning in my mind. Maybe Rai’s up to something?”

Bri lowered her head, staring at the ground with enough intensity to set a blade of grass on fire.

‘I’m sure it’s begun. Tamashi is taking on Rai. We’re about to witness the birth of a new assassin.’