CHAPTER 21: THE ACCEPTANCE
I am standing in a dark void. No matter where I look, there is only darkness. I have no idea how I get here. The last thing I remember is that I am feeling so tired after the training and decided to take a break on the sofa. I guess I must have fallen asleep and currently in my dream. However this place does not feel like the astral plane. It does not seems like a vision as well because nothing has appeared. As I am standing there wondering what to do, a beautiful whistle can be heard and Ouryu makes his appearance.
"Ouryu? Is this your doing?" I asked and immediately felt foolish. As far as I can remember, Ouryu has never spoken. The only sound I ever heard from him is that beautiful whistling sound. However to my surprise, Ouryu speaks. His voice is just as beautiful, sweet and yet powerful.
"What is your true desire, Mai? The last heir to the Higuchi family," said Ouryu.
Ouryu's question confuses me. My true desire? How should I answer that question. There are a lot of things that I want from this world. I am no angel. I'm just a human after all.
Ouryu speaks again, "Close your eyes, give me permission to see your heart."
I obey and I feel the strangest sensation. I realize that Ouryu is inside of me, assessing my heart. Then, I feel him leaving my body and I open my eyes again.
"Your true desire usually reflects your biggest weakness. However it can also be your strength. I'm pleased with you, child. You are qualified to have me," said Ouryu.
Upon hearing Ouryu's acceptance, something else happens to me. I can feel a warm strength flowing from within me.
"Child, I see that your mother had put a charm on you. A charm that block your memory. You have gained some of them but there are still things that you do not know yet. You are ready to know the truth now. Do you want me to remove it from you?" asks Ouryu.
'The truth? Am I strong enough for it?" I asked.
Then suddenly that beautiful voice that has always been calling out for me appears again. This time I know whose voice it is. It has been my mother's voice.
"You are ready now, darling."
I nod as a sign of my agreement and Ouryu starts to shine. Memories that have been shielded from me return and I am transported to watch what really happen at the time when I was trapped in the car with my parent and Uncle Shigure.
The darkness circles the car and immediately starts closing in. Uncle Shigure reacts by chanting a spell and put a protective shield around the four of us.
"I can't keep the protective shield forever. Sooner or later I will run out of energy. He had planned well. He attacks us during the solar eclipse. He knows that Ouryu will not be able to use his full power," replied Uncle Shigure in distress.
"What is this darkness?" asked my father.
"It's an ancient spell. It will immobilize its victims and at the same time informs the spell caster about our whereabouts. I manage to stop it from giving out our location with the protective shield. However once the shield disappeared, he will know where we are," answered Uncle Shigure
My father shuts the car engine. He knows that he can't do anything anymore. We are trapped. He unbuckles the belt and slowly moves to the back seat. He takes my mother's hand and gives her a reassuring squeeze. He is probably trying to calm my mother. He gently pat my head... well my younger self's head. I'm currently watching the event as a spectator.
"Shigure, how long can you put up the shield?" asked my father.
"Only for another one hour," replied Uncle Shigure.
"I don't have special power like you or Tohru. However I can buy you some times. Do you think you have enough energy to create illusion and use it on me?"
My mother immediately understood what my father is trying to do.
"No, no! It's too dangerous. If he finds you, he will kill you," cried mother.
"It's the only way, Tohru. If Shigure can create the illusion to make me looks like him, I can get out from the car and run to distract the spell from you. You will have time to escape," said father.
Mother starts to cry. My younger self follows suit. Uncle Shigure seems to be thinking about my father's plan.
" It's the only way. However, you will not go alone. I will disguise you as Tohru. The two of us will run away from the car. Hopefully it will work. Tohru, please take the wheel. Don't worry. I will try to protect Kyo," said Uncle Shigure.
Mother reluctantly takes the front seat. Uncle Shigure moves to the back seat and my younger self takes his seat, my mother. Uncle Shigure sets to work. Father looks just like mother. My younger self does not find the situation odd. My memory reminds me that I have seen my uncle do it quite often during our training. Mother has already started the engine. The two of them immediately get out from the car and the black cloud goes after them. Mother takes this opportunity to drive the car away.
However not even a few minutes later, something causes the car engine to stop working. My mother frantically tries to start the engine but to no avail. Suddenly there is a loud thud and something crash into our window shield. That something turns out to be my father and Uncle Shigure. Their body is covered in blood and they are no longer moving. My younger self starts to cry. My mother knows that the plan has failed, both her brother and husband gone from this world. The spell caster has arrived to finish his work. My mother immediately picks me up and embraces me.
"Mai, listen! I am going to use a forbidden spell. This spell will protect you and at the same time cause great casualty to the person who tries to hurt you. However, this spell will use all of my life force. I won't be able to be with you any more, my dear." said my mother with tears in her eyes.
"No, I don't want to be alone! I want to be with you."
My mother hugs me and continues, "Darling, we will never go away. We will remain in your memory. You won't be alone. Ouryu will be with you and you will meet new friends in the future."
"No, No! I don't want new friend."
"I want you to be happy, honey. I will take away all the bad memories. When the time is right, you will remember everything. Be brave, my little one," and she begins to chant the spell.
I see my younger self getting drowsy and fells asleep. Lights start to shimmer around my mother's body. She grows weaker as the spell continues and at last becomes lifeless upon completing the last syllabus of the spell. Outside of the car, a man dressed in black is approaching the car. With inhuman strength, he pushes the car towards the river. As the car falls towards the watery grave, he starts to laugh. However the laughter turns into a shriek of pain as the man find himself being enveloped in bright light and Ouryu takes me back to the dark void.
"Child, are you alright?" asks Ouryu with concern.
I cannot answer him. How can I be alright after witnessing the murder of my family members.
"Mai, you need to be strong. The spell did not kill him. It only weaken him, forcing him to hide himself in order to retain his power," my mother's voice appears again.
I nod my head and wipe my tears away. I realize that all this time, my mother's spirit has been watching over me.
"Mother, I will take care of myself. You don't have to worry about me. Please rest now," I said.
With that,my mother disappears. I can feel her presence going away. My mother can finally go and be with my father and Uncle Shigure.
I turn to Ouryu, "Can you explain me about the person who attack us at that time?"
"A long time ago, he is the person who try to steal our power. He managed to take away my brother and sister, killing the other medium. He would have done the same to me but my medium managed to stop him and trapped him with a spell. However the spell grew weaker and he managed to escape," replied Ouryu.
"Will he be coming after me too?"
"He will for he wanted my power to finish the thing that he had started. Mai, you have my acceptance now. You can now use my power. Learn how to use it wisely," said Ouryu.
Hey! Sorry for the late update. Enjoy the latest chapter!