Chapter 1 “Kyūseishu Hābesutā”

ELEMENT FIGHTERS

“The First”

B1--8.11.12

Chapter 1 “Kyūseishu Hābesutā” 

It is the year 1812, and it has now been 18 years since the evil military team
the Kuchiku-kan, from Kansō-chi, Hōfu, have invaded the once beautiful,
Heiwa, Megami. The Kuchiku-kan, now lead by young 18 year old,
Mushinkeina Kibishī, have taken the Heiwano people hostage in their own town.
The Heiwano are forced to work nearly entire days. The adults work 20 hours a day,
7 days a week, while the young ones of 6 to 15 years,
work 12 hours a day, 6 days a week.

The Heiwano do everything from harvesting crops under the red hot sun
and drenching humidity, to building small huts and tools,
to being forced to put on shows for the military team. The shows consist of two Heiwano, sometimes friends or family members, fighting each other or fighting one of the oxen.
As an incentive from the military to get the townsmen to accede,
the ones who come out victorious, receive a day off from the hard labor.

Young 18 year old Kyūseishu Hābesutā, has grown tired
of this painful life brought on by the treatment of the Kuchiku-kan
to the Heiwano people. The towns’ people are afraid of the military, but even more so,
of the military’s leader, the “demon’s child,” Mushinkeina Kibishī.
Mushinkeina possesses certain powers. He can control and create the element of fire.
This is what frightens the Heiwano the most, as they often see Mushinkeina
from a distance, using his abilities to have fun as he burns down trees, sets animals on fire, and melts steel objects with the mere touch of his hands.
Mushinkeina is a powerful young man with an ability that the Heiwano people had only heard of in stories passed down by their ancestors.

What the Heiwano have yet to realize, is that the also 18 year old,
“Kyū” Kyūseishu Hābesutā, much like Mushinkeina, possesses a special ability.
Kyū, keeping it secret from everyone, except his grandfather, has the ability to control
the element of water. Are Mushinkeina and Kyū alone?

ELEMENT FIGHTERS

“The First”

B1--8.11.12

Chapter 1 “Kyūseishu Hābesutā” 

It is Friday evening, about a quarter until seven. The red hot sun burning down
onto the Heiwano workers. Humidity is barely bearable. The Heiwano wear white work
clothing and large round hats to reflect back the sunlight
and keep themselves as cool as possible.

A Heiwano worker seems like he is headed home after a long day of work.
In reality, this man has just picked up his tools from the ground
and is now headed to the water well. The well is nearly 5 miles away
from where he stands, tired and in pain.
This man has been working on the field and hauling water since 3am.
He has to continue his job until 11pm and then come back
the very next morning at 3am.

The Kuchiku-kan come from a very dry land, the town of Kansō-chi, Hōfu, Japan. They came to Heiwa, nearly two decades ago, to a rich, green, fertile land.
With the passing days, Heiwa looks more and more like the dry land of Kansō-chi.
Heiwa is drying and dying. Mushinkeina and the Kuchiku-kan
have the Heiwano people farm all day long. This is killing Heiwa, literally,
from the ground up. Soon, Heiwa will die and the Kuchiku-kan will head to another town and do the same. Meanwhile, with the crops and products of Heiwa,
Mushinkeina builds a new town. A town covered in green.
Mushinkeina, with his evil humor, has named the town "Tengoku," Heaven.
Tengoku is the Kuchiku-kan's Kingdom. A real life paradise only a couple miles
from the dying Heiwa. Mushinkeina is truly a walking devil.
The Kuchiku-kan have no need for any more farming in Heiwa,
other than to kill the town. The ultimate goal of the Kuchiku-kan is to destroy
every major town in all of Japan. Mushinkeina has discovered that this
will not take another 18 years to do. Mushinkeina knows he may be able to
destroy Japan entirely in as little as one year…if no one puts a stop
to his relentless ways.

The Kuchiku-kan are true destroyers and will stop at nothing to
make Tengoku and the Kansō-chican people, the most powerful people
in all of Japan…But why does Mushinkeina want this?
Why does Mushinkeina want the Kuchiku-kan and his people
to be the superiors in Japan?? Is Mushinkeina afraid there may be others like him? Is the almighty "Devil's Child" attempting to be the only person in Japan with supernatural powers? One famous folk tale told only in Heiwa, entitled "Tondemonai,"
may actually be the reason for the destruction the Kuchiku-kan have caused,
and plan to continue to cause.

ELEMENT FIGHTERS

“The First”

B1--8.11.12

Chapter 1 “Kyūseishu Hābesutā” 

As the man approaches the well, after walking nearly 30 minutes,
he notices the rope that holds up the bucket has been torn, and the bucket
has fallen all the way to the bottom. The man, realizing he has walked
all this way in vain, takes off his hat and sits down with his back against the well
using it as shade. “What a life,” says the man, talking to himself.
“Who would of thought this once joyful, green land would become this mess.
It is nearly unbelievable. Maybe that bucket cut the rope itself.
Maybe it too was tired of this life these miserable monsters
have created for us.” He grabs a small rock next to him
and throws it with anger. He then stands and looks out toward the field.
“That old rope was what held that bucket, just like these old
legs hold me. I can only wonder what the Kuchiku-kan will
do to me once these legs, like the old rope, break.”

The man’s pensive trance is broken by a sound. “What’s that?”
He looks down as he starts to feel something on his feet. “Huh?
Wet dirt,” he asks confused. He slowly turns back to the well
as he starts to hear water dripping. . . “WHAT,” he yells frightened
as he takes a step back. “Wh.. How?” He slowly approaches
the well again as water keeps overflowing. The man notices something
to his left out of the corner of his eye. It is the wooden bucket that was
hanging from the rope. “What’s going on,” he asks himself.

As the man arrives with the water to the field. He notices the workers
are already drinking water from their wooden bowls.
“Ryōshi, you are fast today,” says one of the workers after taking
a long drink of water. “But ah. . . I. . .,” says Ryōshi looking back toward the well
as he scratches his head.

Later that night, at his house, Ryōshi tells his wife about his bizarre day.
“. . . I turn back and the water was just flowing out of the well on its own.
I just do not understand, Nikkō,” says Ryōshi staring out the opening of his tipi home.
“Maybe it rained, ha ha ha,” jokes Nikkō as she covers some bowls with food
with a piece of white fabric. “Rain, rain,” replies a frustrated Ryōshi.
“No rain out here anymore. I don’t know what that was that happened today,
but it’s not normal. I am now starting to believe those stupid stories
of old man Kyōshi. What is that one he likes to tell
the kids,” he asks Nikkō. “Tondemonai,” answers Nikkō.
“See, I always tell you not to make fun of the man. He’s been around a long time.

ELEMENT FIGHTERS

“The First”

B1--8.11.12

Chapter 1 “Kyūseishu Hābesutā” 

The next morning as the men are working on the field, they are startled
by a loud gunshot. They turn toward the village to see the approaching
Kuchiku-kan. The men keep working, but keep an eye on the
feared military team. Minutes later the Kuchiku-kan arrive.
Mushinkeina Kibishī immediately directs himself toward Ryōshi.
“YOU,” yells Mushinkeina. Ryōshi does not realize Mushinkeina is
talking to him and keeps on digging his crop row. Mushinkeina, with little patience, grabs
a handful of Ryōshi’s hair and forces Ryōshi to look at him.
“I am talking to you,” says Mushinkeina grinding his teeth.
Somebody told me last night that you managed to, somehow, bring two trips
of water in a half hour. Who helped you?! You damn well
know nobody is to help the water carrier. Who…helped…you?”
“N-n-nobody, sir,” answers Ryōshi in pain as his hair is being pulled.
“SHIRETSUNA,” yells Mushinkeina. “Get this bastard. We’re taking him with us.”
The workers all look at each other in fear. “Waru, you stay here and make sure
these peasants work the way they’ve been told. “Yes, sir,” replies Waru, firmly.
Mushinkeina then turns to his biggest disciple, Gorira Sangaku.
(Gorira stands over seven feet tall and weighs nearly five-hundred pounds.)
“Gorira, you come with me. I have a special task for you today. Ha ha ha”
The Kuchiku-kan walk away, taking Ryōshi with them.

Back at the village, the kids begin to work faster packing the produce into
big sacs made by their mothers out of palm tree leaves and sticks.
They work fast as they see the Kuchiku-kan approaching.
One of the young boys runs to get a sac, but trips over an empty wooden bucket.
The boy, frightened rolls over and looks to see if any of the Kuchiku-kan
had seen him. “Ha ha ha,” laughs Mushinkeina. “Ha ha ha ha ha.”
The boy smiles, but is quickly startled as the bucket catches in flames.
“You pathetic piece of meat,” grunts Mushinkeina. The boy breathes quickly
and squints in fear. “Is this how you work, boy? You see that bucket?
The next time I see you wasting time, you will be the bucket! Now get back to work!!”
“You shouldn’t blame the boy,” says a young man making his way into the village.
Mushinkeina turns around. “And what the hell are you doing here,”
he asks the young man. “Get back to the field.” The young man walks toward
Mushinkeina, but Gorira stands in between them. “I came for the bucket,”
he says as he walks around Gorira and Mushinkeina.
“… But I see it will no longer be of use.” “Kyūseishu Hābesutā,”
says Mushinkeina, once again, grinding his teeth.
“Get your damned soul back on that field.”

End of Chapter 1