Elders (ft. Tsu & Isaac) [Complete!]

[SirBlazeALot]

Scenario


Tsu and Isaac go on their first mission together to find a family heirloom stolen by the Cobras.


Time


Tsu and Isaac's 2nd year


Location 


On the edge of East District and south district, making their way to an abandoned building the cobras shack up in. 


@theglassangel

 

[SirBlazeALot]

Let's take it back two years and talk about the two ninjas who lead the Blue Dragons currently, and who they were as second years still learning the ways of the Dragon. Tsu didn't look too different, the biggest difference was her hair. It hadn't yet grown into the long shimmering green it is in present time, it was only about shoulder length. And instead of wearing it in a high ponytail like she does now, it was tied into a low ponytail that rested on her back. Mentally, she was eager to prove herself. Eager to accept any mission, any challenge, and to feel the rush of battle. Not quite as calm as she will become as a 4th year, but despite her skills her sense of humility remained as strong as ever.


Isaac, she did not know well. They'd seen each other at Ascension during training sessions, knew each other's names, but they didn't hang out in the same social circles. Tsu was actually sort of intimidated by the guy. He always had this fierce look on his face, like he was ready for anyone to step up to him. She knew he was a sword fighter but she hadn't challenged him to spar. Rarely did she ever challenge people in her own year. She always wanted to learn from the upperclassmen, so she'd go to them instead.


The two of them had been tasked with recovering a family heirloom, a golden dragon statue that had been stolen by Cobras from the current Elder's grandfather's house. Their Elder would have done it himself, but their intel that week revealed that the burglars were young and like many Cobras, lacked formal training. And there was talk of a rather profitable smoke shop in East District being exploited on the low by Tigers, so the Elder was investigating that today. Still, to Tsu this was an important mission, it was personal to their Elder, and it was a chance to get to know the powerful swordsman better.


She arrived at the designated meeting spot on the border and bowed in greeting her partner. "Good afternoon, Isaac," Despite the fact that they'd both gotten there early, Tsu apologized for being late. "Sorry I'm late, I must have underestimated how long it would take to get here from my house." She looked up at the boy with a determined smile. "But I'm ready to go if you are." 

 

[theplasticdemon]

Isaac waited patiently. Well, speaking of patient, that wasn't always something he was known for. While he drastically grew from a 2nd year to a second in command, appearance -wise, he just looked like a younger version of himself. There was still a fierce look to his eyes , but it was less refined than usual and looked more like a resting fierce face, if that was a thing. His hair was a bit shorter and he was about 5'11, and slightly less buff than he was now. That, and he wasn't as proficient with his hand-to-hand strength, his prowess in martial arts only mediocre. He depended on his odachi for most of his combative purposes either way. Isaac still felt eager to please, his naivety and insecurity still remained.


At first, he didn't know what to think of Tsu. She was just a name to him and they seemed to hang out in different social circles. Either way, he wasn't very approachable with his fierce look and 'do-gooder' demeanour. Isaac never concerned himself with other people's business, so he let the Elder do whatever he needed. Though... being in Cobra territory was still jarring to him. A part of Isaac had been lost in that district that he could never get back. "Good afternoon." He responded tersely, bowing, but shook his head at her mention of being late. "You're quite early actually. Pardon me, I must have overestimated the time it would take for me to get here." 


Isaac stood up, straight as a board and held an arm out towards the girl. "I'm always ready, Tsu." Straightening the badges on the pocket of his uniform, he waited, returning her determined smile with a dutiful glance.

 

[SirBlazeALot]

Tsu looked at his arm, a bit puzzled by the gesture for a moment before accepting it. Most boys didn't do things like that, but she chalked it up to him potentially being an old soul, kind of like herself. "I suppose it is better to be early for our mission," she mused. "We have to get that statue back before the Cobras can sell it." Talking about their mission seemed like the best way to break the ice between the two. "It's quite an honor, isn't it? That the Elder would trust us with a mission related to his own family?" 

 

[theplasticdemon]

Isaac quickly dismissed Tsu being puzzled. It didn't make sense why more Dragons weren't raised with politeness. His grandparents always told him to hold out his arm for others, no matter who they were or how close they are to himself.


Hearing Tsu talk about the Cobras or even mentioning them made the boy grit his teeth worryingly. "Yes, it's good to hurry along, I suppose. Cobras will sell anything, even prized heirlooms. No, especially heirlooms." Isaac stared straight ahead as he fumbled with his gi, speaking rather bitterly. He always did that while he was nervous but usually passed it off as being a bit of a neat freak. "It is an honour, but Dragons as a whole should be honourable regardless." Isaac stated. Wow, what a conversationalist.


"Though, an opportunity to do good is always valued... simply unbelievable they would do such a thing. No shame or humility at all."

 

[SirBlazeALot]

Tsu nodded along in agreement, hoping to hide how nervous she was now. "Y-Yes of course, we're nothing without our honor," she replied, trying to sound just as devoted, if not more so to the gang's ideals than he did. But that seemed nearly impossible. Isaac appeared to live, breathe, eat, and sleep honor. No wonder why he was chosen for this mission. And if she was too, that meant she had to match his devotion. On top of that, she was getting the vibe that he didn't like her. It wasn't the same "lol she's a girl probably weaker than me" vibe some of the other dudes in the gang gave off, it was more of a vague sense of negative energy. She couldn't quite put it into words. She didn't know that this was just... well this was just Isaac and he had a past with South District.


"Cobras are... lost. Barbaric at times. I don't think they'll ever change their ways. I don't respect them as much as I respect the others. B-But of course, none of them outclass the Dragons. But at least they seem to have a code. Even if it is just... greed on the Tigers' end." The little hideout the Cobras were rumored to be staying in was an abandoned building in an area known as "The Fields", short for The Fields of Rubble, due to the debris everywhere from the demolished buildings. It wasn't a far walk, unfortunately. A vagabond from The Fields could easily cross over into East District, all that separated the two was a freeway. "Have you ever fought any Cobras?" Tsu asked curiously, attempting to keep the conversation going. 

 

[theplasticdemon]

Isaac bit the inside of his mouth in pent up frustrations. "You are correct, I have little respect for anyone who stoops that low. No exceptions." He didn't seem to have as much contempt for any of the other gangs but damn, the Cobras really got to him. Unlike the girl holding onto his arm, he wasn't trying to keep the conversation going. It was more like trying to get it over with. He was tense and he felt that if Tsu wasn't there, he would probably throw up in the debris.


With a focused glare, he looked at Tsu as she asked her question. "Hm." Furrowing his brows. "When I was young, but I wouldn't consider a real fight due to... interruptions. After that, I have not ever made contact with a Cobra, nor do I look forward to." Isaac answered briefly as he stared straight ahead. He wasn't quite comfortable with sharing such personal information about his past and made that clear in his tone. "No wonder they call this the Fields of Rubble. All garbage and not even a single sight of nature." He said bitterly at the gritty scene before him.


"This must be it. Seems to be the only building in sight compared to the rest of the garbage." Isaac withdrew the large sword. Looking up at the scene before him, he beckoned her to go first like he was used to. Politely, he bowed towards the girl Tsu, his arm around her own, extending his free hand out to see if she wanted to enter the building first or if she wanted him to.

 

[SirBlazeALot]

Tsu had, at this point, managed to tussle with all three gangs, but in limited capacity. It was never on their own turf, only in Rose district or East District, and she was never alone. And each time so far had been a victory. However, she'd been years into her sword training and was in high school. She now realized the vibe she was picking up from Isaac... it was fear. She didn't address it, of course not. That would only make it worse. "Y-Yes... the Elder says that the Cobras aren't what they used to be. He told us that they poisoned themselves, or... bit themselves and that the generation we're dealing with is merely a product of their surroundings. Looking at this place...a field of destroyed homes and dreams... it's hard not to pity them. But that doesn't excuse their actions."


The few standing walls in The Fields were covered with graffiti. Various names and phrases and just pictures in general. Many of which depicted snakes and more specifically, Cobras. One with a careful eye would even notice a tag that read "Anansi". The deconstructed building they were about to enter was bare bones, and of course, covered in graffiti. This was definitely the place. Tsu drew her blades and entered before Isaac as he allowed her to. Her steps were careful and silent. She could hear music coming from the upper level of the tall building. That was without a doubt where the Cobras were, partying it up and probably doing drugs. Tsu began her ascent up the long stairwell...

 

[theplasticdemon]

Isaac opened the door for the woman and followed in soon after. He tried to block out all the Cobra symbolism and attempted to maintain some self control without breaking down. His hair began to spark slightly in the static while his bright scarlet eyes began to light up with every step. Isaac's hand began to shake as the floor creaked. He was pretty sure it was just his imagination, as the building was obviously concrete and lacking in any sort of interesting features. Still, once he made eye contact, Isaac appeared to stiffen. However, he wasn't going to be perceived as weak. No, not by a landslide.





"We're with the Dragons and we've come to take our heirloom back." Isaac shot them the most intimidating look he could muster. This effect was doubled with the electricity flowing through his body whenever adrenaline got the better of him. Without hesitation, he whipped out his odachi, which was almost as long as he was tall. However, there was something wrong with his energy. His sword hand was shaking, but only to where Tsu could see. The burglars however, simply laughed at him. They were much older than he was, in their 4th year. 





"Oh... this?" A cloud of smoke exited one of the members' lips as he put the heirloom on display near the corner of the room. The group laughed. "Looks like the Dragons sent their biggest losers to come find this thing." Isaac's grip on his sword tightened. Flashes of what had happened so long ago crept up his mind. The way the group of burglars laughed at him so long ago, when he was only a child. Only young and vulnerable. There were so many of them, it resembled the incident so well.





He was his child self again. 10 year old Isaac, with the same determined, electrifying glare stared back at him weakly. Though, there was something they still both had. A small ball of lightning emerged from the palm of his hands as he threw them at one of the burglars. The shot had missed but short-circuited the source of music, an old boombox. At the realization of what he had done, his hands were practically having a mini earthquake as they gripped onto the handle of swords. So much so that his knuckles turned white.





"Fuck, they want a fight or something... let's give them one." The same boy exclaimed, though in an angrier voice. They began to stand up from their sitting positions and make their way towards the two.

 

[SirBlazeALot]

Tsu wasn't one for trash talk. She liked to let her swords do the talking. Isaac apparently did as well. She noticed his hands shaking, but she chalked it up to adrenaline and a side of effect of his electrifying Chi. Her own heart was beating so fast she thought it was going to burst out of her chest. She took her stance as the battle commenced.


There were five guys, each of them with varied weapons. We'll call them Butterfly Knife, Baseball Bat, Black Chain, Brass Knuckles, and Tonfas. This little hideout of theirs looked like it was meant to be a three bedroom apartment though none of the rooms had doors. As soon as they entered and the trash talking began, Tsu studied the environment and concocted a plan. "This way!" Tsu sheathed one of her blades and blew a heavy gust of wind at the five of them to push them back and buy her and Isaac enough time to dip past them an into a hallway.


Tsu stopped behind one of the doorways. "Stand here!" Tsu positioned herself in the doorway and readied her sword as the five gangsters came thundering down the hall, whooping and hollaring with Butterfly in the lead. But the hallway was narrow, so only one of them could face Isaac at a time, and with Tsu standing in the doorway, Butterfly would have to worry about fighting two people, while they would only have to worry about fighting one. 

 

[theplasticdemon]

Isaac immediately ran towards the end of the hallway, but made sure there was space in the back for him to run back and forth but his pride got the better of him as he sent a shockwave through Butterfly and knocked him down with the large handle of his sword. He wanted the fight to end as fast as possible, but as a result wasn't thinking like he normally would in combat. It felt like Tsu wasn't even there and he was all by himself again. Though, killing any of the burglars wasn't his intention, he still wanted the fight to be over quickly. The length of his sword quickly causing them to surrender until he got them onto the ground, swiftly cutting clothes and even some of skin.


To make more space on the battleground, he stepped on Butterfly, whom had been on the ground and hopped over him to jump and land another hit on Bat. Isaac let Tsu battle Chains and Knuckles. Tonfa, the unlucky fifth, would have to wait until whoever knocked out their opponents the fastest. Bat's weapon went flying as electricity surged through his body. He ended up destroying some of the foundation with his energy as he focused his spare lightning into Bat's chest. Two down, and now he had to help Tsu. He moved quicker than usual with chi surging through his body.


However, with the sudden burst of unreliable energy when landing onto the ground caused him to short circuit and let go of his sword as the electrical current overwhelmed him. What resulted was anything he touched causing shocks of pain towards both him and Tonfa. As a result, the walls behind him caught fire from the current. Luckily, it wasn't as big as a typical house fire, but little sparks leapt off him. Wiping off beads of sweat, he cooled down. It was already too late as he began to beat him near the abdomen region with his weapon. Isaac grabbed his weapon as another surge flowed through his body.


This was where he got carried away. Isaac flipped the boy over as he was doubling in pain. Actually facing him and looking at the guy could have easily done enough damage to Isaac as he was. This random, unaffiliated Cobra was the unwitting victim of his insecurities and deeply rooted anger of the gang. "My family..." He growled spitefully as angry tears crept up to his normally fierce features. "My family... Look at what you have done." The air around the two could easily reveal that this was more than some fight between burglars. It felt like the younger Isaac would be getting his vengeance. Lost in his own world, he began to punch the boy. "No shame!" He yelled to himself in a trance. A punch. "No humility!" A punch. "My mother..." He grit his teeth. Another punch. "My father..." Another punch. If this wasn't stopped, Isaac would have easily killed him.

 

[SirBlazeALot]

The plan didn't go as expected. Isaac's rage and Tsu's lack of tactical communication resulted in Chain and Knuckles forcing their way into Tsu's door, leaving her to fight them in the nearly empty room. Tsu focused on Knucles, the more aggressive of the two. As he sent heavy punches her way, he backed Tsu into a corner as she dodged and blocked his attacks with her free arm. She grunted heavily as one of her blocks hit his forearm so hard he lost his balance and nearly teetered over. 


Tsu swung her blade and hit the back of his neck, a blow that would have cut off his head if Tsu didn't use a reverse blade sword. Knuckles went down but that block exposed Tsu's forearm and Chain was able to wrap his weapon around her arm and pull her forward. "Gotcha now!" Chain shouted as Tsu lurched forward and fell face first, dropping her sword. Tsu sat up but was tackled by Chain and he struggled to pin her. "Stay...down...bitch!" 


"N-Never!" Tsu blew a huge gust of wind from her mouth and pushed Chain back into the wall. She recovered quickly and drew her other sword. Just as Chain stood up, she stabbed him through the shoulder and pinned him to the wall. He screamed in agony, but he was cut off as Tsu slammed her fist into his face and knocked him out. She withdrew the blade while breathing heavily and let Chain fall to the ground. With her two guys KO'd she retrieved her other sword and left the room to go find Isaac and see if he needed help. 


Quite the opposite though. Someone needed saving from him. She found him beating one of the boys to a pulp. "L-Lei Gong! He's had enough!" Tsu grabbed his forearm on his next punch and pulled backward. "Control yourself!" 

 

[theplasticdemon]

Isaac yelled out in frustration. Angry tear-stained features looked back up at Tsu, wide in shock but still absent from the present. "Emerald... they never have enough!" He spat out, the static remaining dormant in his hair and eyes. His grip remained tight on the boy but not after he was pulled backward by his arm. Immediately, he remembered that there was a mission ahead. He had to remain professional for his own sanity. Without causing any harm to Tsu, he stood up by himself. Without saying anything to Tsu, he walked alone from the hallway and faced the hierloom by the floor. Isaac had known that he was going to break down at the sight of these Cobras. And he was right.


Even just being here when he was young, would Isaac consider himself another one of their victims? Was he poisoned, just in a different way, by the Cobras? Isaac stared at the object for a long time without speaking. He had stopped shaking by then, though his posture grew stiff and still like a statue. Wiping away another stream of tears, he just stood there. Slowly, but surely, he took a deep breath. Holding the heavy, intricate heirloom in his first arm, he walked to face Tsu in the hallway.


It was like realizing his own chaos. Small bursts of flame encompassed the small space between them. The boy's bloody body was on the ground with the other two he had defeated. Realizing he was also holding onto his sword, he tentatively withdrew his odachi back in its sheath. "Let's leave." He bowed in apology and offered his arm once again. Isaac just hoped that Tsu doesn't ask him any questions about the Cobras. But either way, his honour demanded he provide an explanation...

 

[SirBlazeALot]

Tsu took a step back in shock as Isaac turned around. She hadn't a single idea what made him so upset. Was he like this everytime he fought the other gangs? Was it something specific just to Cobras? Or perhaps this group of boys? "Wh-What's wrong with you?" she murmured, reaching for her sword hilt with a shaking hand in case she'd have to incapacitate Lei Gong herself. This was not their way. If Lei Gong tried to kill these boys, the Elder would have their asses, but more importantly, it would just be wrong. 


But it didn't come to that. Isaac stood up and walked off. Weary to follow him, Tsu reluctantly went after him, trying to gather her words. She saw that he'd retrieved the statue and was ready to go, but this time, she didn't take his arm. "We need to talk," She responded with concern in her voice. Looking around, she wondered if more Cobras would be stopping by here soon. "But this isn't the proper place," she walked ahead of him and out of the apartment and out of the building. Once they were outside and on the path away from The Fields, she asked him, "What happened to you back there? You could've killed that man!" 

 

[theplasticdemon]

Isaac felt his heart burn like it had moments ago. He solemnly exited the apartment and alongside her. It was one of the hardest things to explain, because that would mean showing his vulnerability. He never had to share that part of himself. But that was what he was about to do, because of his own honour. When she asked him a question, Isaac immediately stopped. What the boy ended up doing was bowing in front of her. Head down and averting eye contact, the hierloom was on the ground, against his heart. Yes, he does this whenever he makes a mistake or does anything he considers to be dishonourable.


"Yes, I am fully aware of that. I-I apologize, I had lost control of myself and my abilities... he had already been knocked out and I had let my personal woes take over me without any thought for honour. I deserve full repercussions... forgive me." He explained why he did it, but not necessarily what had made him lose control. There was no excuses for his behaviour and he already knew this. Though... Isaac immediately regretted his decision. The boy was innocent and did not deserve another beating. Still, the way he apologized was still a bit old-fashioned and extreme. I mean, bowing in front of a girl your age to apologize?

 

[SirBlazeALot]

"I-Isaac..." Tsu whimpered softly as the boy took a bow. For Tsu, he didn't need to go into anymore detail. What exactly his personal woes were didn't matter to her. "Isaac," she repeated more confidently, taking a knee next to him. "H-Honor isn't everything." It felt like she broke the law saying that, as if she'd smoked a bong in front of a police station, or bitch slapped a teacher. But in her heart she knew it was true. "Honor is just... the pride that we take in our code. But our code is much more than pride. W-We're able to take pride in it because our code is just. We are just. I may be wrong...but t-to me... that is more important." She rested a hand on his shoulder. "As your sister in arms, of course I forgive you. B-But I'm more concerned about... about..." Tsu bit her lip felt her chest growing heavy. "About you, Isaac. I-I want to help you! I want to h-help you never lose control like that again! I-If one of the first years had been with you, they wouldn't have stopped you... and a life would have been lost. A-And more than that...I-I'd like for us to be friends. I don't want to pry but... I'd like to offer a umm... a listening ear for you. Perhaps venting will prevent you from l-losing yourself like that again?"

 

[theplasticdemon]

Isaac looked on at her in confusion as she knelt next to him. Most people didn't react that way when he apologized. He looked on in even more confusion as she explained that honour wasn't all that there was. After a while, he then came to an understanding. Tsu was right, and she didn't need to explain anything. Isaac never really thought that honour was everything, but it was indeed a big part of his life. Honour was what kept him from falling apart. A friendship was still a really odd thing to offer someone you didn't know that well, especially after that outburst, and offering a really personal aspect of himself...


"Tsu." His features had calmed down almost exponentially. "Thank you for your offers. You... are truly kind, compassionate and honourable, but you must understand that it's a difficult thing to talk about. It stems... in family and has resulted in deaths... and permanent consequences. Something I had no control over because of how young I was... and the reason I live with my grandparents." He alluded to the incident. "I have not been the same person nor have even stayed in the East if this incident had not happened. I, cannot, as someone of honour and discipline, burden you with such issues." Isaac shook his head. "My venting comes in the form of... training, my studies and meditation. Also, this experience has greatly enhanced... my awareness of how much control I have." The boy stood up and offered his hand. There was still one thing he had yet to address.


"Though... I would like us to be friends. We have some classes together, if I'm not mistaken. Y-You can also train with me if you wish... or if you need any help with your studies." He wasn't very good at this, taking a deep breath and blushing.

 

[SirBlazeALot]

Tsu face warmed as Isaac's own softened. The woe, stress, and shame dissipated and even if she couldn't see him in this moment, she could feel a shift in his energy. He'd given her enough pieces of his story to draw a broad conclusion of the trauma he'd suffered. And though broad, it was accurate enough for Tsu to know, or feel, without needing all of the disgusting details. She did believe however, that as his new friend, together they could carry the weight of his burdens and hers, and the rest of their brothers and sisters. And yet, she still hadn't even conceived of becoming the Blue Elder in her fourth year. That's just the kind of person she is.


She stood up with him and took his hand firmly. "I understand, Isaac," she began. Unlike him, Tsu wasn't nervous at all. Not anymore, now that he'd gone from a monstrous and terrifying vengeance seeking warrior to a bashful and awkward young boy. In fact, Tsu felt inspired and motivated by her new friend, and the determination was evident in the eyes that earned her namesake. "If training, studying, and meditating is how you vent, then I would be happy to do all three with you anytime you wish." When she separated their hands, she held out her arm so they could intertwine them together once more. "In fact, I was planning on reviewing for Mr. Yamaguchi's exam tomorrow when we finished here. Would you like to join me?" A big smile lit up Tsu's face. "I've already made flash cards~" 

 

[theplasticdemon]

Isaac sighed lightly in relief. He was glad that this whole issue was resolved and that Tsu hadn't asked him what happened in absolute detail. At that point, if that were to happen, Isaac would have cracked and avoided the subject entirely. He nodded politely. "I will consider that... thank you." His tone was much more relaxed as they separated hands. Though, Isaac turned a light pink as she took his arm, without him even offering it to her. "I would like to... but I typically study straight from the textbook." Isaac responded awkwardly, mustering up a shy smile. He was a traditional guy through and through, even in his study methods. "O-Otherwise, I would be happy to join you." He walked away from the rubble and back in the direction of East Shima, feeling unusually at peace with himself.