*While Raika was busy fighting against Aika, Sanada and Gael were fighting each other in the streets of Orion. Sanada wielded his sword against Gael’s bo staff made of light. The two would cross weapons with each other, parrying each other’s attacks where Sanada’s sword held up against the weapon of light. Every now and then, Gael would throw in a kick or punch to try and hit Sanada but would fail. Normally, Sanada would capitalize on the mistakes made by his opponents, but he was so fascinated by his wild and innovative moves of Gael that he wanted to see more. As the two fought against each other, either man couldn’t help but smile as they were enjoying themselves*
(Sanada): *Inner Thoughts* Amazing. He wields that staff like a madman and fights as if this was the last fight of his life. Each move feels like reckless abandonment but each one is actually a transition into the next one and allows him to keep his opponent guessing what he’ll do next and where it’ll come from. He leaves himself open in a few areas and takes a lot of unnecessary risk, but with the proper training he could become a serious opponent.
(Gael): *Inner Thoughts* Damn it samurai! You are just. . .so cool! I’ve thrown some of my best moves at this guy. Moves that would have confused everyone and allowed me to take them down, yet this guy just maintains a cool face and counters them. Even when I try to lure him in for an attack he doesn’t take the bait. I never would have imagined there were guys like him out there in the world.
*The two continue to fight with Sanada going on the attack and pushing Gael backwards. Sanada swings his sword with grace as one swing slightly made contact with Gael’s cheek causing a cut. Blood begin to slowly drip from the cut which distracts Gael momentarily and Sanada took full advantage of this short distraction by going in for the kill. Sanada tries to sweep the legs of Gael with his sword, but Gael jumps in the air doing a backflip to escape Sanada’s attack and put some distance between him and Sanada. Gael takes his thumb and wipes the blood from his cheek all while smiling before he threw his staff at Sanada. The staff began spinning through the air rapidly towards Sanada with Gael running behind it. Sanada sliced through the staff resulting in a bright light being released which blinded Sanada as he lowered his sword to the ground. Gael turned right to run along a wall and jumped just as he was right above Sanada. Gael prepared to strike Sanada only for Sanada to dodge the attack by taking a step backwards. Despite missing Sanada, Gael managed to recover by tucking his head to slightly row through the air and land on his back where he quickly rolled to his feet to turn around and see Sanada staring at him with a smile*
(Sanada): That was a good move.
(Gael): Thanks. I really thought I had you there.
(Sanada): I’m surprised you didn’t strike from below.
(Gael): I couldn’t. You lowered your sword. If I would have came at you directly, you would have slashed right through me. Therefore, the only option was to strike you from above.
*Sanada was stunned by Gael’s fighting instincts. Sanada had in fact lowered his sword to protect himself expecting Gael to attack from below*
(Sanada): Impressive. Truly impressive. Tell me, who taught you how to fight?
(Gael): Nobody. I always kept getting beat up by bigger kids, so I created my own fighting style. I call it: Wild Moon Style.
(Sanada): *Chuckles* I like it. It’s a style that suits you quite well.
(Gael): Thanks. Usually when I tell everyone the name, they laugh at me.
(Sanada): There’s nothing to laugh at. You recognized your weaknesses and strengths and created your own style of fighting that no one can copy. I think that’s something to admire and respect.
(Gael): Wow. You’re making me embarrassed over here.
*Gael’s tail wags happily behind his back*
(Gael): Well, that’s enough talk, let’s get back to the fighting.
(Sanada): Why? We seem to be having a good conversation. Is there really a need to fight? You don’t seem to follow the same mindset as everyone else in Red Moon.
(Gael): I don’t let prejudice blind me. I know there are good humans out there.
(Sanada): Is that why you stopped your allies from bombing our medical station?
(Gael): I didn’t know anything about that! I only attack people who can fight back or deserve a good beating. I would never attack innocent lives like that.
(Sanada): Just like I said previously, your mindset doesn’t match up with that of Red Moon, so why do you fight beside them?
(Gael): Not much choice. I didn’t know who my parents were. Spent most of my life growing up on the streets until Blood Moon took me in along with other street orphans. At first, things were great. They took us in, gave us food and shelter, and even educated us. Then the new regime took over and everything changed. You had to work in order to get food, classes were replaced with fighting classes and shelter was only provided to those who showed results.
(Sanada): I was under the impression that joining Blood Moon was voluntary.
(Gael): It is. But if you had to choose between joining them or being left to defend yourself out in the wilderness against Eclipses which would you choose? I wish I was like you. If I had your resolve and power, I would have sliced those guys up and freed everyone.
(Sanada): It’s not too late. When I first heard about you, I was interested in you. Nothing in this life happens without reason. The fact that we have met here and now is proof of that. I believe it was fate that brought us together today and now we have a choice. We can continue to fight until one of us is left standing or we can help each other. Help me accomplish my mission and I can help you find a better life. One that doesn’t involve you throwing yourself into danger, but if you enjoy danger then I think I know a good job where your skills could be put to good use. The choice is yours, now make it.
*Gael pauses to think for a second*
(Gael): Just out of curiosity. If I choose not to join you and decide to stop fighting. What happens then?
(Sanada): I will pursue and kill you. You could possibly come back and try to attack me or my teammates. I won’t take that chance and this time I won’t be holding back.
*Gael broke out into a cold sweat at Sanada’s statement. While it’s true he was holding back as he was interested in the samurai, he knew the samurai was also holding back way more than him. Gael knew he wasn’t the smartest, but even his instincts were telling him that if this fight were to continue and they both started to fight seriously, the end results would be his death*
(Sanada): Well, what do you say?
(Gael): I’m in. I don’t want to lose my life and joining up with you seems like it’ll be fun.
(Sanada): *Chuckles* Trust me, as long as you’re with me, there will always be something fun to do.
*Sanada and Gael walk up to each other to shake hands. As they shake hands, ten soldiers from Hargus show up and surround them*
(Soldier #1): Freeze! Put your hands in the air!
(Gael): It’s okay! This guy’s with me. He’s just a normal citizen.
(Soldier #2): What normal citizen walks around carrying a sword while wearing a dress?
(Soldier #3): Yeah, he looks like a freak.
*Within an instant, Sanada slashed through the two soldiers to kill them instantly*
(Sanada): It’s a samurai’s kimono you uncultured swine.
*The soldier standing by the two soldiers Sanada just killed was shocked by the amazing display of speed before he returned to his senses and a look of rage appeared on his face*
(Soldier #4): Why you piece of shit!
*As the soldier prepares to shoot Sanada, he gets taken out by a dropkick courtesy of Gael*
(Gael): Well, I guess this can count as my letter of resignation.
(Soldier #1): Fire!
*The remaining soldiers begin firing at Sanada and Gael. With their backs to each other, Sanada and Gael deflect the bullets being fired at them with their sword and bo staff*
(Sanada): You ready to do this?
(Gael): You bet, bro!
*The soldiers run out of bullets and stop firing*
(Sanada): Now!
*Sanada and Gael run in opposite directions towards the remaining seven soldiers. Sanada reaches three soldiers quickly and begins his attack. He manages to cut the arm off of one soldier before slashing him across the chest to kill him. Sanada than quickly slashes through the second soldier diagonally across the chest leaving his back turned to the third soldier. The third soldier tried to take advantage of Sanada’s back being turned and attack from behind, but Sanada sensed the attack coming and thrusted his sword back to pierce the third soldier through the stomach. Blood soon gushed from his mouth and stomach as Sanada retracted his sword and swiped it to clean off the blood as the soldier fell to the ground. Gael ran to the other four soldiers where he threw his staff at the head of one soldier to knock him out as he fell to the ground backwards. Two soldiers tried to punch him, but he ducked underneath their punches to sweep their legs. As the soldiers begin to fall backwards in the air, Gael returns to his feet and gathers light magic into his hands to form one tiny energy ball of light magic in each hand. Gael hovers his hands above the soldiers’ chests before firing off the energy balls of light. The soldiers hit the ground hard and fall unconscious. The final soldier took out a knife and lunged toward Gael trying to stab him, but Gael grabs the arm and judo tosses him to the ground. Gael maintains a hold of the soldier’s arm with his right arm as he lifts his left hand in the air to gather light magic. Within seconds his hand begins to glow a bright white color*
(Gael): Wild Moon Style: Wild Pulse!
*Gael slams his hand down into the chest of the soldier releasing a surge of light magic through the body of the soldier causing internal damage. The soldier soon passes out from the pain.
(Sanada): Nice work.
(Gael): You too, bro.
(Sanada): Bro? When did I become bro?
*As the two talk, the soldier that Gael dropkicked earlier had recovered and was preparing to shoot Sanada in the back. Sanada of course sensed this and tilted his head a little to the right where a lightning bullet passed by Gael’s head and then Sanada’s head to hit the soldier through the head and killing him instantly. Gael quickly turned around prepared to fight whoever shot the bullet only to see it was Raika*
(Sanada): Thank you for your assistance, Raika.
*Gael lowered his guard as Raika approached them*
(Raika): Don’t mention it. So what’s the story with this pooch?
(Sanada): He has decided to help us on our mission. You don’t mind right?
*Gael walks up to Raika wagging his tail and smiling up at her*
(Gael): Hey bro! Is sis here your partner? She was cool too. The way she saw through Aika’s trick and everything.
*Raika blushes a little from being called sis and cool. She starts to pet him on the head making his tail wag even more. Normally, Gael would object to being treated like a kid, but for some reason, he liked the way Raika petted him on the head*
(Raika): *Chuckles* I like him. He’s wild but at the same time cute. Does he have a name?
(Gael): Oh yeah, I never did tell you guys my name. It’s Gael. Gael Tristan.
Author’s Notes: Hey guys. Hope you liked this chapter. Looks like Shadow Eye has recruited a new member to the order. Look forward to seeing this dog run wild in the chapters to come. Having Gael join was always planned and I wanted him to have a background and relationship with the group that was different from Jin. Jin is more knowledgeable on knight matters and under the tutelage of Jin and Ryuuji. Gael on the other hand is more street smart and will be under the guidance of Sanada and Raika. How will their relationship play out? You’ll just have to wait and see. Thanks for reading and I’ll see you next time.