CHAPTER 25: HOUSE OF FEAR (PART III)
I find myself in the astral plain. Gene is floating next to me. Ouryu is nowhere to be seen. He seldom appears unless it is necessary. The fact that I am in the astral plain could lead to the possibility of us seeing the past related to Kuroki. I look at Gene, wondering if he will guide me towards the memory. However, he just stand there looking confuse.
"I don't think we are here to see anything, Mai-chan. Something has summon us to come to the astral plain," said Gene.
"What?! Nobody has ever try to summon me to the astral plain. Is this Kuroki's doing?" I replied in panic.
"No, it is I who have summoned you," said a voice.
I turn around to see a man dressed in a traditional samurai outfit. His long, black hair is tied into a ponytail with a bandana across his forehead. He has a rather handsome face with a set of deep, black eyes. Gene quickly step in front of me, trying to shield me.
"I mean you no harm," said the man calmly.
His voice has a calming effect. I immediately feel at ease. I know that this man is not the enemy.
"Why did you call us?" I asked.
Before he can answer us, Ouryu makes his appearance. He whistles happily and goes towards the man. The man smiles gently and welcomes Ouryu with a hug.
" I am Yuuji. The first medium of Ouryu and I am also the younger brother of Kuroki," replied the man.
Both Gene and I are shocked by Yuuji's word. I can't believe that Kuroki is related to the five members of the royal family.
"We are from the Tachibana clan, one of the five royal family. My older brother, Kuroki is not always evil. I will show you my past," said Yuuji-san.
At that very moment, the scenery change and we are in a yard, outside a great mansion. Two boys are swinging wooden sword. It is easy to differentiate Kuroki and Yuuji, the colour of their eyes gave them away. Their action is supervised by a stern-looking man.
"My father, Touya is a man of great ambition. He hope that we will be able to become an officer for the king. So he has been training us in sword fight and white magic," said Yuuji-san.
Touya-san is shouting instruction, telling the two brothers to focus their energy to the sword. A few moment later, Yuuji's sword begin to glow with blue light. Touya-san is very pleased and praised Yuuji-san before criticizing Kuroki about his late development.
"We were only a year apart and threfore had a close relationship. Kuroki is gentle and take good care of me. Alas, I was doing better than him in the training. Father began to favour me. Kuroki just wanted father's approval. Jealousy began to consume him and drift us apart." Sadness is evident in Yuuji-san's voice.
The scene changes again. This time Kuroki and Yuuji has grown up into two fine teenagers. An officer from the imperial palace has come to read the emperor's order. The emperor has requested for all the five clans to send a representative who will become the medium for the sacred beasts. As soon as the officer leave the mansion, Touya-san announced that the representative will be Yuuji-san.
"This is the turning point. Kuroki-nichan is deeply disappointed. The other clan has send the eldest son. It is normal for the eldest son to be the heir. Father's decision push Kuroki-nichan to dwell into dark magic in order to gain power," Yuuji-san continues to narrate the past.
We are shown another scene. This time, we see Kuroki reading a spell from an old-looking manuscript. A skeleton clad in black robe appears from behind and somehow submerges into Kuroki. Kuroki shouts in agony and his body begins to tremble. It seems like there is a fight between two souls within his body. A few minute later, he stops moving. For a moment, i thought that he has died. The way his body slumps on the ground is similar to a lifeless corpse. Suddenly, he opens his eyes and I nearly shout in fear. He seems like a different person. There is no more trace of the gentle Kuroki. What is left is something evil.
"Kuroki-nichan found an old forbidden spell. He thought that spell will give him power beyond any human. However, it turn out to be a spell to resurrect the ancient warlock, Kishin. As soon as he is revived, he has taken control of my brother's body," explained Yuuji-san.
"What? So the one behind this is Kishin? If he has taken control of Kuroki-san's body, is it possible for us to return him to normal?" I asked in surprise.
"Alas, my child it is impossible. Too many years had passed by. He is beyond saving. The only thing you can do is to free his soul. I am afraid I do not know the way to defeat Kishin. He is too powerful. I had tried to stop him but I only managed to trap him. That effort alone had cost my life," said Yuuji-san sadly.
I cannot help but feel hopeless. I has just recently discover my power. Even Yuuji-san has failed. Yuuji-san who has been trained since young. What hope can I possibly have of defeating Kishin? Perhaps, Yuuji-san senses my uneasiness. He takes my hand and gives me a small talisman.
" My child, this talisman is given to me by Kuroki-nichan when we were still children. It is a reminder of his love towards me. I do not know how much power it contain but perhaps it will be off some help to you. Please don't be afraid of the darkness. You are not alone. You have your trusted friends besides you. I'm sure that they will be able to support you. It is time for us to depart. You need to go now. Good luck!"said Yuuji-san as he plants a kiss on my forehead.
I wake up and immediately look at my watch. In another ten minutes, the solar eclipse will occur.
Finally another chapter. Thanks for the supporting comments.