? The Path of Fire (Path of Light and Fire Book #1)(Completed) ?

Chapter 20: Mirror

Mirror dashed forward, surprisingly quick for his size, and swung for his neck. Sakima ducked the sweep of the axe, then rolled to his right as the axe thudded into the ground.

"Why do you hunt me?" Sakima. "I can't be you!"

Mirror shrugged. "You ask the wrong question. You should ask yourself why you fight me."

"I'm not fighting you! This is who I am!" He gritted his teeth as the father bear's death cry rung in his ears.

I always find new ways to disappoint him.

Switching to a tiger stance for reach, he sprinted inside the man's range. The man pulled his axe up to defend, nullifying Sakima's gambit. He needed something so out of character that his Mirror would not see it coming.

You won't beat me.

When Mirror swung, instead of ducking, he jumped into the air. He cleared the axe and crashed into the man's skull with the heels of his boots.

There was a satisfying crunch under his feet and Mirror's head snapped back.

He pushed on the man into a backflip. Landing with in a crouch, he sprung forward to thrust his blade through the man's heart.

Instead, he was met with the axe haft into his stomach.

He felt the whoosh of air leaving his lungs and collapsed to his knees. As he gasped for air, the other Mirror gave him a boot of his own. He twirled through the grass and his sword flew from his hands. His head whipped as he slammed into a tree trunk.

Why I am not broken?

He pushed to his feet and jumped at a loud crash. Mirror's great axe vibrated in the center of his sword.

"You won't be needing that anymore." He left the axe in the ground and dusted his hands. "That was a pretty risky move. You would have had a weaker man. But then again we aren't weak, are we?"

"Why didn't you kill me back there?" Sakima clenched his fists. "I would have killed you."

"Maybe you have already killed me." He chuckled, wiping sweat from his brow. A nasty red bruise streaked his right side of his forehead, and he winced when he made contact.

Sakima sat cross-legged on the ground. "Does it work?"

Mirror rubbed the stubbed on his cheek. "In a way. As the KoHeika, my wife and I come to an arrangement. That is until she gives birth to the heir. Then she outs Hatsuto and I, initiates a coup and tries to turn my son against me. I kill her of course, but it greatly undermines my power."

Sakima nodded. "That sounds right."

Mirror shook his head. "No. That's your worst fear. Not that you'll make that choice."

"How do you know?"

"I don't." Mirror shrugged. "Why are you here?"

Why am I here? Is it power? Or something more.

"I'm here to find out why can't do what the others can. Why am I the weak one?"

"No one who goes what we have gone through is weak. You are the Hidenka. You do not cower! You make them accept what you are!"

Sakima nodded.

No more fear.

He closed his eyes. When he opened them, shards of rock hovered in front of him.

It was always there. Right in front of me.

Colors flashed through his vision. The forest and Mirror were gone and he was alone in the void.

A flowing dress?

He ventured into the void. Something was waiting for him. Or someone.

A woman? A very beautiful woman.

He'd never found a woman attractive before. And even now he didn't want to woman in his bed, but he felt a pull to her. Her hair was dark as a raven's wings, her skin fair and had a smile to match the moon's light. That face.

Mother?

"My dear Sakima," she said. "My loving boy. You have learned much in this journey of yours. And you will learn more."

"Come back with me, mother," Sakima said. "I need you with me. I can't face the world alone."

She rubbed his cheek. "You are my fierce warrior, just like the bear of the Kuwa forest. You flatter me by saying you need me. It is I who needed you."

He grabbed her hand. "They will pay for what they did to you. I will not rest until every single Guan has tasted my blade."

"I know you will, my love. You have Hatsuto and you have friends that will accept you. If you let them. Do that for me."

Sakima nodded.

No more hiding.

She touched his forehead and for a moment he saw everything that he could do and be. Then it was gone. One piece of information remained. He knew it to be true, but he was not sure how.

"Find him. And use your Path well."

When he opened his eyes, she was gone. He felt his Path then. It was always there beneath the surface, begging for release. Telling him to be strong, smart and courageous.

I will mother.

He was now whole and he could return to his world when he wished. However, things were about to get much more complicated and it had nothing to do with him.

There was a sixth Serien.