CHAPTER 7: Of Wars and Kings

"Shu don't eat too fast." Haruka returned and joined us just when we have started eating.

"Sorry but I'm only feeling my hunger now." I grin at them and they all smile back at me.

"I… We're all glad that you have this much appetite." Ayase says while looking at her lap.

"Please give this to the patient after he finishes eating. This is for the headache but this will make you drowsy also." The nurse has returned to give some medicine.

"Thank you." Haruka takes the medicine from her and puts it on my bedside table beside a glass of water. "Now you two ladies better go home to take some rest and refresh yourselves. Thank you again for keeping watch over Shu." Haruka continues to Ayase and Tsugumi.

"Mom I want to talk with them more." I don't know why I suddenly feel that I missed these two especially Ayase. 'Maybe because I have regained my eyesight?'

"Shu they should also rest. I'm ashamed to say that because of work I have to leave your side while these two have not…" Haruka explains.

"It's ok Haruka." Ayase suddenly cuts her off. "We really should go home Shu, I look horrible already. I'm glad that you're fine now and we'll talk later or tomorrow." She looks at Tsugumi and the latter starts to push her towards the door.

"Bye bye Shu." Tsugumi smiles her mischievous smile. "I'm also glad that you're fine." Ayase gasps as she hears this last part.

"See you later Shu." She says without turning but I can see by the redness in her ear that she is blushing again.

Haruka's smile as she watches the two leaving is different. "Take care you two. Call when you get home ok?"

"I didn't realize Shu…" She says as she turns at me when they were gone then bursts out laughing as she sees my questioning face.

"Didn't realize what mom?" I ask her and her laughter grew as she heard this.

"You should figure that one on your own I'm afraid," She says while clutching her stomach in laughter then she suddenly sobers up, "and you better figure it out fast or it will be cruel to Ayase."

"Figure what? Cruel? And what's it got to do with Ayase?" I ask.

Haruka just shakes her head. "Better drink that medicine before the nurse returns." She changes the topic and gives me the medicine then pats my head. "I guess you have your own unique charms huh?"

Looks like she won't tell me even if I beg her so I try to think about what she said and what happened earlier. I suddenly realized that my hand had moved unconsciously to my side where Ayase buried her face crying out of relief.

"Since when were those two here mom?" I ask Haruka.

"They arrived here just one day after you were admitted. After my panic for your safety subsided, I remembered that they were supposed to be with you so I called them because I was worried they were also hurt." She answers me with a smile.

"And they have not left since?" There's no way those two can be that concerned about me.

"Tsugumi left a few times to get their change of clothes and went on a few interviews but Ayase has not left your side besides going to the bathroom." She smiles that mysterious smile again.

'Ayase is that concerned about me? Maybe she's just guilty because it was her that was with me that day. Yes, that should be the cause why she stayed by my side for a week.' I suddenly felt sadness. 'Why do I feel sad?'

"I think he already realized some things…" I can hear Haruka's whisperings, "or not. Fu fu fu."

"It's good that Ayase already left when I got attacked." I tell Haruka.

"Yes, it was a good thing." She answers. "I'll be taking care of the bills and the release papers so that we can go home immediately when the doctor pronounces you fit for release. Just rest here and don't do anything to stress yourself." She hugs me tightly before going out of the door.

I try my best to rest but my mind has been on vacation for eight days and now it seems like it's working overtime to make up for the lost time and my body was also well rested so it would not go to sleep. I try to occupy my mind with my course choices but I always knew what I'll take if given the chance to have my eyesight back so I find my thoughts always wandering to the last scene before I blacked out.

'Was that really Inori?' The more I think about it the more impossible it sounds.

'Why is it that I have to see her after I have decided to move on? Ayase even made a lot of effort.' My mind seems to stray also to Ayase. I can't believe that Ayase can grow even more gorgeous. Ayase will draw the eye of anyone, so that's why those thugs targeted us.

'It seems that Ayase is still unaware of her beauty because she kept on saying that she looks horrible.' I realized that I am grinning while thinking about Ayase.

'Why is it that even just thinking about Ayase makes me almost forget all my worries? I think that it's always been like this even when I have just met her. She helped me train never giving up on me and my half-assed attempts at everything.'

"Shu I have the blood examination results," Haruka pulls me out of my reverie, "there are more than the normal trace amounts of the apocalypse virus in your blood which means that you have come in contact with a source."

"But all the virus crystals were destroyed when the resonance backfired because of Inori's death right?" How can I come in contact with a source?

"I'm sorry Shu." Haruka suddenly drops to the chair on my bedside while tears started flowing from her eyes. "I have been keeping some things from you."

"Mom, what…?"

"When the Fourth Apocalypse happened the entire world was presented a chance to obtain apocalypse virus crystals. Not all people were concerned about their lives or the lives of their love ones." Haruka's revelation shocks me into speechlessness.

"Other governments acquired enough samples and quickly stored them in places where resonance can't reach them. I'm sorry Shu but I decided that you already did enough and sacrificed a lot so I didn't tell you these things." Haruka continues. "But the circumstances now are different because they will probably come after you if word of this gets out."

"Who are they mom? What are you talking about?" I don't understand what's wrong with this world.

"GHQ has also sold the formula for the void genome Shu." I gasp as Haruka says this.

"Dad's formula? With enough samples…" I cannot continue as I am horrified to think of the result.

"Yes. Other countries have developed their own 'Kings'." Haruka confirms my worst fears.

"But why would they? Haven't they seen what the virus did to Japan? Besides, the 'Kings' have no purpose now as there is no 'Queen'."

"They are using them as weapons Shu. Wars are now fought with 'Kings' on the frontlines. Not only have they done that but they also infected and cultivated people as void generators so that the 'Kings' can have weapons." Haruka has told me a horrible truth.

'That means that all the deaths were meaningless. Inori, Gai, Hare, and all of those people died for nothing.'

"Shu I'm sorry for keeping this from you." Haruka apologizes again.

"It's ok mom. It's not your fault that other people did that." I reach out for her hand and hold it in mine. "But I still don't understand why they will go after me."

"Japan is forbidden to use or develop any kind of technology which has a connection with the apocalypse virus. That is the sanction that the UN has imposed on Japan after the Fourth Apocalypse. You are not only one of the 'Kings' but you were the original 'Adam' that the queen picked." Haruka pauses as she can see that I comprehend why other 'Kings' will go after me.

'They will see me as a threat.' I can almost laugh at the idea. "What a joke. I don't have the power to draw out even my own void…" My voice trails to silence.

"Not here!" Haruka panics and grabs my left hand away from my chest. "Anyone can see the light here if you draw out your void Shu! We must test it somewhere where we can't be observed."

"Ok mom." I tell her. "I don't know what I want to happen at this moment. If I can't draw out my void then there is no reason for other 'Kings' to target me but then I can't protect you and my friends from them."

"That's why you regaining your eyesight must be blamed on the incident. The doctor is my friend and the nurse is his wife so they will keep quiet about this and post a false report saying that it was due to the incident that you regained your eyesight. I also asked Tsugumi to hack into the hospital, police, and news databases to alter or delete any reports about your incident." It looks like Haruka has this already under control.

"But I need to go back to school mom." I tell her suddenly remembering my promise with Ayase.

Haruka looks at me with a pained expression. "Is it really that important to you?"

"Of course it's important but it's also because I made a promise with Ayase and I don't want to renege on it." I answer her.

Haruka smiles that mysterious smile again. "Ok I'll agree for you to return to school. Maybe it's not a bad idea to show to them that you're doing any normal person who regained his eyesight would do but you should not go for a popular university."

"Thanks mom." I grin at her. Even after all the horrible revelations I still can't help but feel happy that I can fulfill my promise to Ayase.

"Hmm… I think you have matured a bit Shu." Haruka teases me. "I also feel that even if you don't know it yet, your heart has already realized something."

"My heart? Are we talking about voids?" I ask her.

Haruka shakes her head and grimaces. "Really Shu, sometimes I think I've neglected up some part of your upbringing for you to be this dense."

"I'm just teasing you mom." I tell her while still grinning.

Haruka looks stunned. "Shu… what do…?"

"I'm afraid you'll have to figure that one out for yourself." I return her words earlier back at her.

"Getting cheeky aren't we?" She smiles and hugs me. "Fine, keep it to yourself. I'm just glad that you're fine now."

"Sorry for making you worry." I tell her sincerely.

"I told you it is ok because I'm your mother." Haruka says while still hugging me.

I yawn suddenly. "It looks like the medicine's side effect is kicking in mom. I guess I'll be sleeping for a bit." I tell Haruka while she helps me settle down on the bed.

"Sweet dreams Shu." The medicine doesn't even allow me to respond as it pulls me into a deep dreamless sleep.

I suddenly jolt awake. There's something wrong as the lights are turned off and I can feel someone's presence.

"Who's there?" I call out. "Is that you mom?"

"Has the original 'King' returned to take back his throne?" A familiar male voice says. I can't pinpoint his location as his voice seems to come from everywhere.

"You are Yuu from Da'at right?" I finally recognized the voice. "I thought I killed you already."

"I am the will of Da'at. As long as Da'at exists I cannot die." The voice answers back.

"I don't have the power to draw out voids anymore." I lied that I already tried to draw one out. "So leave me alone."

"I can see that. What Da'at wants to know is who or where you got in contact with the virus again. Is it your mom or one of your friends?"

"Leave them alone!" For some reason the first person that came into my mind was Ayase and I can't let them hurt her more than they already did. "I've been in constant contact with them for six years so the source can't be them."

"Da'at knows that already." The voice starts to fade. "We will be watching you Ouma Shu…"

"Shu!" Haruka suddenly turns on the lights and I close my eyes because of the glare but I could have sworn that I see Yuu outside the window. "I heard you screaming. Why did you turned off the lights?"

"Mom relax, I'm fine." I try to calm her down.

"I thought that the enemy was already here." Haruka says as she hugs me tightly.

"Da'at was here." I whisper to her ear and she gasps.

"What!? What did they do?" Haruka suddenly holds me at arm's length and checks me if I have any injuries.

"They just want to know who or what is the source." I tell her. "It seems that they also don't want me to get involved."

"I wonder what Da'at's plans are." Haruka says as she resumes hugging me.

"Me too." I reply to her.