Chikara

Kiyo Takamine was walking with his young son Atsuo on a rather warm December day. The snow was falling softly in his hair, and Kiyo looked back to find his son look curiously at the snow falling and melting against his skin. Zatch would be playing with the snow, shouting at me of how wonderful it was. It had been almost twelve years since Kiyo had said goodbye to a mamodo named Zatch Bell. It had been a heartbreaking parting for both of them at the end, but in their hearts the friends knew that Zatch had to go back to his world to become the Mamodo King. Sometimes when I see my son smile I see Zatch, Kiyo thought to himself. He looked back to find his six year old son lost in thought. He could see his wife's eyes staring back at him through his son, and saw himself in subtle ways. The way the child valued himself, his intelligence, and his hunger for knowledge. Atsuo was the most skilled musician in his class, partly from his mother's teaching. My son is more like Megumi than me, and I suppose you would like that Zatch.

Kiyo and Megumi had not yet told their son about Zatch or of the battle that had caused them to meet and fall in love. "It is too soon for his mind," Megumi had said when Atsuo had asked about the picture of Zatch and the other mamodo when he had been comforted during a nightmare. Kiyo had agreed. They would tell their son when he was old enough to understand. Although I find it amusing that Atsuo is able to understand the causes of World War I, and we don't know if he'll understand about the mamodo world or the battle for King. Kiyo was a historian for a living. He and his son spent many of their hours poring over books about Ancient Egypt, the Roman Empire, the Russian Revolution, the Tokugawa era, and the Chinese dynasties. Atsuo was curious about the vast library his father had in his study when he was only three years old, and had wandered in when Kiyo was studying a book. Since then, Kiyo had made a smaller bookshelf for his son so that they both could read and study various works at the same time. Kiyo liked it best when Megumi came to read to their son. Her sweet voice filled his ears, and Megumi always teased him for never getting his studying done when she was around. "Would you like me to leave?" Kiyo shook his head, thinking of his lovely beloved wife. They had been married seven years, and their love had been just as potent as it had been when they first married. Their traditions – staying up late to watch the stars, watching the dawn, and discussing the current hardships of the world – had not diminished with their Atsuo's birth or of Megumi's most recent pregnancy and the birth of their daughter Yūki. I love her now more than ever, Kiyo thought with a smile.

"Tousan?" Atsuo broke Kiyo's thoughts. The father looked down at his son, surprised that had such a serious expression on his face.

"Hai?"

"What is…the man of the world?"

Man of the world? Kiyo wondered. Where did Atsuo come up with a deep question like that?

"I've been listening to new music to play," Atsuo began. His voice was quiet, and he seemed afraid to look up at his father. "And…Yūto's oniisan showed me a new soundtrack from an anime he likes, and it was so sad, Tousan." Kiyo was startled to find his son crying with tears streaking down his face. His dark brown eyes were bright. "I don't know why, but it seemed as if the music was crying tears of blood as it played. I was wondering if you knew what the man of the world is."

"Tears of blood?" Kiyo questioned. Atsuo slightly shirked away from his father, knowing bin of how angry he could become sometimes. "That sounds like it comes from an anime." Kiyo shook his head in exasperation. "You're too young to be watching or hearing anything from Naruto Shippuden, Atsuo." His voice softened as his son remained troubled. "Why don't we watch Castle in the Sky liked we did last night?" His son's smile was all it took to calm his confused mind. Somehow the forbidding feeling remained as Atsuo excitedly exclaimed about seeing Castle in the Sky again. Something's not right, Kiyo thought as the feeling he had grew deeper embedded in his mind. Suddenly his eyes transformed into a ringed look, and without even looking at his son, he said, "Atsuo, go hide. There's a garbage bin that can conceal you from them." His slim fingers pointed at the trash bin towards the alleyway they were approaching. "Go, Atsuo."

"But Tousan…school…"

"Go!"

At that moment Kiyo calmed. He felt his son slip away from him and hide. So it's come to this, Kiyo thought as an ominous black van pulled up next to the sidewalk. He remembered thinking that he should be careful about using his power; otherwise the wrong people would get their hands on it. It's amazing how they found this out with such little information, Kiyo thought as the door opened. A tall and clean-shaven Middle Eastern man stepped out. He was wearing a black Western business suit with a blue tie, and Kiyo observed with interest that this man – Abdul Ali – had pale green eyes. Even without his power, Kiyo could sense the man had a malice plan in mind. "Takamine Kiyo, you are coming with us." He used my name in the traditional way, Kiyo thought with interest. He eyed the van, knowing with his ability that there were five other heavily armed men inside.

"If I refuse?" He forced himself to not make his voice shake.

"You will cause death and destruction to everyone you care about," Abdul said calmly, "starting with your boy hiding behind the garbage can." They know me this well. Kiyo started to panic but then remembered to calm.

"Wakarimashita." He didn't look back at his terrified son as he was led inside the van. He didn't think of the torture and interrogation he would face, or of what terrifying power he had since he had died and came back to live Kiyo's only thought was, Take care of them, Atsuo, as the van drove away.