“It seems like you and Hina are close.” Raion said as he was running besides Doriama.

“Close is an understatement.” Doriama laughed as the continued to run towards the clan’s base.

“What is your relationship with her anyways?”

“We go way back. But that story is for another time.”

Both Raion and Doriama traveled a great distance after passing the gate. They traversed through the woods, passed rivers and even across mountains before reaching their destination.

“It’s right up ahead.” Doriama pointed as the closed in on the base.

Raion and Doriama finally stopped at the location. It was a small farming village. The fields weren’t large, but it had an abundance of different items growing. As both of them continued walking into the village the farmers who were hard at work slowly popped up their head one by one looking at the two.

“Hey is that...”

“Yeah I think you’re right he is...”

“NO WAY!”

Whispers. Murmurs. Talking. Until finally an eruption of excitement blanketed the farmers.

“DORIAMA’S BACK EVERYBODY!”

All the farmers gathered towards Doriama and Raion showing their excitement. Doriama turned towards the farmers and raised his fist in the air.

“TONIGHT WE’RE GOING TO PARTY!”

All the farmers raised their fist in unison.

“Wow they really love you here.” Raion tacked on as he saw the enthusiasm in everyone.

Doriama waved them goodbye and both of them headed deeper into the village until the stumbled upon a small pub.

“We’re here Raion.”

Doriama pushed open the door.

“I’M HOOOM-”

A fist came and punched Doriama in the face.

“IDIOT.”

A man shouted at Doriama as he twisted his fist on top of Doriama’s head.

“Umashiro, nice to see you again.”

Doriama grabbed the top of his head in pain.

Umashiro was a tall man with short brown hair. He was wearing a butler type get up that was black and white. Umashiro looked at Raion.

“I see you brought a visitor.”

Doriama stood back up and patted Raion on the back.

“Yup, this is going to be our candidate for the tournament.”

Umashiro’s jaw dropped as he stared at Raion. Umashiro closed his eyes sighed heavily.

“You know Doriama, they’re not going to let him participate.” Umashiro turned to Doriama once again. “Even if they did let him participate, we have way more capable members than him.”

Umashiro turned towards Raion.

“No offense kid, but I don’t know how good you are, so I can’t just blindly trust a stranger.”

Raion looked back at Umashiro.

“I understand. No offense taken. This was something that was just sprung on me to be honest.” Raion laughed faintly. “Having said that, now that I’ve been given this opportunity, I’m not going to let it go.”

Raion stared down Umashiro.

“But you know...for a clan’s base, this village is pretty small no?”

Umashiro darted his eyes towards Doriama. Doriama looked away from Umashiro.

“Well for starters, our base used to be A LOT bigger until someone had to go and commit a taboo.”

Doriama whistled in the air.

“Now now, the past is in the past.” Doriama interjected. “Let’s worry about the future now shall we?” Doriama wrapped his arms both Umashiro’s and Raion’s neck.

“Let’s talk about the tournament.”

Umashiro peeled Doriama’s arm away from him.

“There’s nothing to talk about, he can’t enter. He doesn’t even have our clan’s mark.”

Doriama looked at Umashiro right in the eyes.

“You can’t mean...”

Umashiro turned towards Raion and pointed at him.

“You’re gonna give him the mark.”

Doriama nodded. Umashiro let out another sigh.

“Alright. I’ll go get the stuff.”

Raion looked surprised.

“I thought you’d be against this from the way you were acting before.”

Umashiro shrugged his shoulders.

“Well normally I would, but the boss here is stubborn once he’s made a decision.”

Umashiro went into the back of the pub and grabbed a bunch of items and placed them on the counter of the pub. Raion made his way to the counter and looked at the items.

“These look like mixes for a drink...”

Umashiro and Doriama smiled at each other.

“YEP!” They both shouted in unison.

As Umashiro was preparing the ingredients, Doriama began talking to Raion.

“Since you’re quite new to this mark giving thing let me explain the procedure on how this works. Each clan has their own ritual of giving their mark to their new members. So members go through a trial, others complete task, some even isolate themselves for months to get it. It all depends on the clan’s leader. For us, we drink a special mixture which sets your body in a state for me to pass my mark to you.”

Raion thought about it for a second and brought up a point he remembered.

“But you said it’d be like two weeks for me to get this mark.”

Doriama laughed.

“Yeah it’s supposed to be two weeks of drinking. The drink is strong and you’re body has to get accustomed to the changes.”

“Wait...”

Doriama patted Raion on the shoulders.

“That’s right we’re going to fit two weeks of drinking in three days.”

Raion’s eyes widened.

“Hold up...I’m not really a good drinker...”

Doriama wrapped his arms around Raion’s neck.

“Don’t worry, after these two nights, you will be.”

Raion’s face was in anguish from the thought of it.

“Aww shit...”

END