I'M ALIVE. But seriously, I'm so very, very, very, VERY sorry for my sudden hiatus. School and life just pretty much kicked me in the gut and killed my inspiration. It might take me awhile to get all of my inspiration but just know that this is just to let you guys know I'm still kicking. Anyways, enjoy this piece of crud of a chapter. ^^;;

Light's Reflection in a Shadowed Mirror

Chapter 6: Light Unveiled to the Past

"Master Raigeki, please come out. It's dinner time and your father is patiently waiting to start dinner with you," one of the servants said. Raigeki had been sitting in his room for eight hours now, not coming out to do anything. This worried everyone since Raigeki was known for his energy. "Your father is very sorry for yelling at you."

"Just go away! I don't care if he's sorry," Raigeki shouted angrily. After a few minutes of silence, the servant left just as the previous had. Raigeki stared out the window in his room. The forest surrounding Ennersville was on the horizon. It didn't help since looking at the forest reminded Raigeki of the horrible defeat against the Vulcans. "But it was worth it in the end... at first. Gosh, why did father have to keep some stupid book a secret, though? He probably just said it killed people just to get me not to look inside it. Maybe it has stuff about mother in it..." Raigeki laid back down on his bed. Thinking about his mom made him wonder so much. Hikari had told Raigeki that his mom was a wonderful person and she had the same energy as him. Other than that, nothing.* The young Ryuusaga had no knowledge if his mom was dead or alive. If she had left, been kidnapped, or anything. "I need to know what's in that book."

The young Ryuusaga sat up and got off his bed. He had a plan. He had an excellent plan, but it would only work if his dad didn't expect a thing.

Raigeki walked downstairs and toward the dining hall where his father would be. Just as he reached for the handle, a shout echoed from the hall. Raigeki peeked into through the keyhole and saw Hikari pacing. "Pl-Please, Lord Hikari... calm down... the servants and maids are doing what they can to convince Master Raigeki to come out..."

"I need to talk with him... I put all my anger out on him. It wasn't right." Hikari stopped pacing and stared out one of the grand windows, guilt openly present in his reflection. "And... he needs to know..."

"But I thought you wouldn't tell him until his fourteenth birthday..." the servant stated, obviously shaking nervously.

"...With everything that's going on... one of us might not make it to that day...**" Hikari said in a monotone voice. Raigeki backed up from the door a little, letting all of the info digest. His father was going to tell him what? About his mom? Raigeki looked down. Should he go through with his plan...?

"Well... I'll know after tonight." Raigeki opened door slowly and looked at his dad with the same angry look as earlier. But instead of being natural, it was more forced. "Hi, father..." Hikari quickly looked over to his son and came toward him.

"Raigeki, I... I really am sorry for earlier. Everything was just stressing me out..." Hikari apologized sincerely. He looked away, shame crossing his face.

"It's fine, father. Let's have a nice dinner now," Raigeki said, a partly fake grin spreading across his face. He wanted to ask so many questions. But not now. He didn't want his father to know he was easedropping. Hikari nodded and the father and son sat down, enjoying their meal. After a quiet dinner, the Ryuusagas got ready for bed. Hikari had not mentioned one word about Raigeki's mother or the book to him the entire time. The young Ryuusaga was beginning to doubt what he had heard. "Maybe he's not going to tell me afterall..." Raigeki thought as he finished gettng into his sleepwear. A knock sounded from the door, making the young mage look at the door. "Come in." Much to his surprise, it was Hikari. "Maybe I was wrong..."

"Raigeki... sorry if I'm interrupting you but... we need to talk." Hikari walked over to Raigeki, looking at him sadly. "It...It's about your mother... I'm sorry that I didn't tell you sooner about her... I was... I was going to tell you about her on your fourteenth birthday but... certain events might cause one of us to not make it to that day." Hikari took a deep breath. To Raigeki, it was obvious his father hadn't truly talked about this subject in years since it was so sensitive for him. "Like I've told you before, your mother was a wonderful person and you took after her a lot. She was... quite strange at times too but that's what made her so special. We promised we would have a future together..."

"Then what...? She left?" Hikari shook his head.

"No... it was on your first birthday... your mother and I had to go get your present since it was being hand-made personally. We wanted to make it perfect. After getting your present, we headed back. However, trouble came around about half way back. A bunch of rogue mages ambushed us. I would have been able to fight them off but... they restrained me. Then they... killed her.. slowly and painfully. Only after a few seconds of hearing her scream, I snapped. I tried to get out of their hold but... but by the time I got out of the restraints... sh-she was already so close to death." The older Ryuusaga shook a little. Raigeki could see why this subject was so hard for his father. It reminded him of a broken promise. Of what he couldn't protect.

"Father... you... you don't have to keep going if it's that hard for you." Hikari regained his composure and shook his head.

"No, it's fine... but you can guess what I did at that point." Raigeki nodded. He was quite sure his father would have beaten them into a senseless pulp or even killed them if he was that enraged. "After that, I brought your mother's body back and had her buried in the garden, among the morning glories."

"Wait... how did no one find out?" Hikari sighed and stared out the window.

"I cleaned up the wreckage myself and turned those mages in. But not in the degree of murder but in the degree of assault. I only did that so news wouldn't spread, but I had to threaten them before turning them in. After that, I made each servant swear on their lives they wouldn't tell a single soul. I... I didn't want anyone to know that I failed to protect my wife... your mother..." Raigeki stared at his father. He knew for sure the book had nothing to do with his mother now. His father wanted nothing to remind him of the one person he couldn't protect so a book would be out of the question.

"I want to go through with my plan but... father just told me about mother... and why she's not here. But if I don't do this tonight, I'll never find out what's inside of that thing." Raigeki took a deep breath. "Thanks for telling me about mother... it means a lot. And I'm sorry for how I acted earlier..." Raigeki mumbled. Hikari turned his attention back to his son and smiled a little.

"It's fine and you're welcome... well, time for us to get some sleep. Good night, Raigeki..." Hikari ruffled his son's hair and walked out.

"Good night, father..." Raigeki stared at the door. He was going to regret his decision.

References:

*Hikari never mentioned anything else about Raigeki's mother because it was always so painful for him to dwell in those memories, both the good and the bad. The two of them always got along great though. But since her death, Hikari's never been able to get a word out about her before remember the horrendous day of her death.

**This is a reference to the plague. Even though Raigeki doesn't understand right now, Hikari is taking many precautions toward it.

Sorry this is so short. My inspiration is seriously dead. Anyways, I hoped you guys enjoyed this. Bye for now.