The Return: Part One.

(Sequel for The Awakening fan fiction for Kartos. Involves my OC's Kokushin and Zalam and Kartos' OC, Lesser.)

"Not many customers today.." Beatrice said sighing to herself as she dusted the floors of the Oakbourne Inn. The rooms silence came to an end as the sound of the door opened, immediately the innkeeper's head shot up.

"Oh, welcome! Will you be staying the night?" She asked. The man simply nodded, "How much?" He asked. The butch innkeeper looked at the guest. He wore garments from clearly another land, and his face was covered in a hood, unable for his face to be seen.

"The pay is ten coppers a night for the rooms on the lower level. For rooms on the second level, the price is five silvers. For a stay in the top level, you will have to pay one gold." Beatrice explained. The man looked at her pondering his decisions. She was a short but round woman with crimson locks. Her face has freckles and the brightest green eyes. "Lowest level." He answered, pulling out ten coppers from his pouch.

Beatrice gave a genuine smile as she took the pay, pulling out a key ring from under the desk. "Thank you kindly! Right this way." She said, as she led the man to his room. "The halls were surprisingly cleaner than he imagined. He was suddenly interrupted from his thoughts when the sounds of children echoed down the hall.

"Liona! Merdok! What are you two doing!?" The woman said in a scowl. The heads of two children peeked out from behind the corner. "Behave yourselves!" She snapped as the two came out from hiding. "I'm very sorry about that." Beatrice said. "It's fine." The man responded.

Beatrice looked back at the children. "Come on now, we have a guest." She said, unlocking the door and gingerly opening it. The children suddenly ran into the room and just as quickly a groan escaped the innkeeper. "Oh, children." She said, causing the guest to chuckle. He looked around the room. It was simple. A bed, and a bath. Not quite a bath really, but a very large tub of water that could fit at least two people.

"Now. The water you'll need for bathing is already poured, the bed has been furnished. All other essentials are at your disposal. Also, if you are to spend another night here, you will have to pay another payment of the same that you paid before." Beatrice instructed as the kids had quieted down, "Thank you." The man said, placing ten more copper in her palm, as well as ten gold pieces. "Sir? You have paid far too much for the room." Beatrice said, confused. "It's not for the room. You and your children are in need of food and clothing, are they not? This is a token of thanks for your hospitality." He said.

Beatrice let a tear run as she smiled sniffing. "Oh! Thank you!!" She cried, latching on to the man. "Woww!!! Is that real gold!?" One of the children, the boy, asked in suspense. Beatrice and her son were busy marveling at the pay in their hand as the other child, a little girl with pigtails walked up to the man. "Mister? Where are you from?" She asked. The girl, Liona, had red hair like her mother and green eyes as well. She was holding a stuffed animal in her little arm as she looked up at the man. "Liona! Manners, child!" Beatrice scolded, causing the two children to scream giggling out of the room.

"I do hope you'll enjoy your stay, Oh I'm so sorry. I never asked your name." Beatrice said looking into the man's face as he took of the hoodie. "Kokushin." He replied, receiving a nod and smile from the innkeeper. "Well, Kokushinboku. I do hope you enjoy your stay. Dinner will be finished in twenty minutes, I do hope you will come down to join us?" Beatrice asked in an invitingly tone. Kokushin nodded and she saw herself out.

"Now children, we will be having Mr. Kokushin joining us for dinner. Don't be disrespectful. Especially you, Merdock." Beatrice said pointing a finger. "What? Why me?" The little boy asked, trying to wear the most innocent face he could manage. "Don't you be coy with me, child. Now, you two wash your hands. AND USE SOAP." She stated clearly as the two darted for the sink.

Kokushin neatly cut the edge off of the meat on his plate, chewing it and savoring the flavor. He noticed the three looking at him, waiting for an answer. "This is very delicious." The black haired man said. "I made it!" Merdock said, his sister giving him a scoff. "No you didn't! Ma did, you kept dropping the spices!" Liona said. "Well YOU kept dropping the dishes!" Merdock retorted. Beatrice shook her head in defeat as Kokushin simply smiled in amusement as the two siblings went on.

"Mr. Kokushin! Is that a real sword!?" Merdock asked in awe seeing the man's sheathed black blade. "It is." He said. "No, Merdock. No." Beatrice suddenly said, causing a frown to appear on the boy's face. The boy obviously wanting to see the weapon himself. "Ah, allow me to take your plate." The mother said, taking the empty dish from Kokushin. Beatrice went to the back of the kitchen, leaving then man and two kids behind.

"Mr. Kokushin? Where are you from?" The little girl asked the same question from before. "Yeah, you don't look like your from around here!" Merdock added. "What did I tell you two about manners?" Beatrice asked coming back from the kitchen. "But Maaaaa..." The two moaned. "It's no trouble." Kokushin said. The two smiled in glee as the listened to the man begin, the mother doing the same.

"No, I'm not from around these parts. I'm from a land far away." Kokushin began. "How far away is it?" Merdock interrupted, being shushed by the two ladies. "Very far away. A land known as Edora."

"Edora? I have heard a lot about the place. I've even heard as much as the tales of witch gunslingers." The red headed innkeeper mentioned. "The tales are true." Kokushin assured. "What's a witch gunslinger?" Liona asked.

"In the land of Edora, there are sorceresses who use bullets to cast powerful spells. They are known as Witch Gunslingers. They can summon powerful dragons."

"Were there any guy witch gunslingers?" Merdock asked, getting a look from his sister. "They're not called guy witches. They're called wizards." Liona corrected him. "Oh." The boy responded. "Ive heard only of the witch gunslingers. I don't recall hearing of any wizards." Beatrice said to herself before Kokushin spoke up.

"There was one. Long, long ago." He began seeing the three listen closely with great interest, "Long ago, there was a great war. A war of gods. The gods of both dominions clashed for dominance. The gods of light eventually began to overpower the dark gods. One of them, a goddess named Yamatoshime, the devil goddess created a warrior from a black tree. The man was a powerful spell casting gunslinger as well as a swordsman. The man, however, was too powerful, and even turned against those who he was fighting for. The remaining gods then worked together to seal away the warrior back into the black tree from where he came. By doing so, the gods learned of balance of good and evil."

There was silence from hearing the tale until the little girl spoke up. "Where is the black tree?" She asked. "The black tree was actually found in a temple at the farthest reaches of the world. However, the seals on the tree which kept the being dormant were old and weak. The slightest touch was able to break the locks placed there. The warrior went into the world, holding a great hatred towards his creators and those like them." He answered, seeing Liona's mouth make an "o" shape.

"So, has the warrior begun his journey?" Murdock asked with his head tilted. Kokushin looked out the window, gazing at the night sky. "Yes. Yes he has."