The Lights of Infinity - Prologue: Darkness before Light
AN: No
one ever seems to do much for the Mashos, so I decided to do something
about it. I mean, whatever happened to them? They get stuck in
Youjakai with Kayura?! (Ack!) Hidoi yo! So, here I go, giving
them their own freedom (not to mention their own lives!!!). ^_^
Hope you enjoy it.
The Lights of Infinity
By
Patience
Prologue:
Darkness before Light
A flash of brilliant light was
all he could remember. Koma Toshitada floated in nowhere as the
darkness slowly crept in on him. Then, a streak of light passed
in front of his eyes. "Eh?" he spoke, his words echoing
in the strange place. Before he knew it, a soft violet light surrounded
him. "Do not be afraid," it spoke. Toshitada looked
at it, shocked. "Where am I?" He asked. "Limbo,"
the light spoke, bobbing in front of him. "A world between
realms." "Why?" Toshitada asked. "Because
your body is dead," the violet light replied. Toshitada looked
at the light with a furrowed brow. "It is? Then why am I
here? What am I?" The bobbing light paused as three other
colored lights streaked like comets behind it. "As a soul,"
it replied, "you're still very much alive, and carry a great
amount of power." The light bobbed softly in front of his
face. "I am here to guard you as a soul," it told him,
"and guide you back to the New Ningenkai." "New
Ningenkai?" He asked. "Because of your noble sacrifice,"
the light spoke as it flew around him a few times, "your
five warriors were successful, and won peace." Toshitada's
face brightened into a smile. "I knew they could do it."
He told the light confidently. "Yes," the ball of light
replied. Then, other voices interrupted.
"Come, come," they spoke.
"Come with us." "We're taking you to a safer place."
"Hai," the amber ball of light supported. Toshitada
looked at the flashes of colored light, and was surprised to find
Yamanouchi, Sasaki and Kuroda wrapped up in one of each. "Where
were you guys?" Toshitada asked. "Shiranai yo,"
Sasaki replied, watching a blue ball of light fly around him.
"I think we're all in the same place," Yamanouchi concluded
as he motioned to the darkness around them. "Since this little
ball of light found me," he spoke of the amber flashings,
"nothing has changed." "Un," agreed Kuroda.
"But why are we here?" The little green ball of light
that had been zipping around him stopped on his nose. Kuroda looked
cross-eyed at it. "Because we're taking you to a safer place
than this," the light replied. "But aren't we supposed
to be dead?" Sasaki asked, confused. The soft blue ball of
light floated in front of his face. "Your bodies are dead,"
it spoke. The three other men looked at the blue light in shock.
"The Light of Honor speaks the truth," the amber ball
of light revealed. "Then, what is this place?" Yamanouchi
asked. "Limbo," the amber ball replied. "It's the
world between Ningenkai and others realms," the green ball
spoke, "but it is unsafe for wayfaring souls such as yourselves
here." "That's correct," the blue light replied.
"Therefore," the amber ball of light began, "we
are taking you as you are now to separate safe havens."
"Hai," the lights of
Honor and Patience agreed. "Except for you," the violet
light of Soul bobbed around Toshitada. "I will guide you
to the New Ningenkai, but you must use your own power to get there.
I am not strong enough to take you there all by myself."
"Why not?" Toshitada asked. "I will tell you when
we arrive, for the explanation is an intricate one." It replied.
Toshitada nodded at it. "Alright," he agreed. "Come,"
the violet ball of light said as it zipped around him. "We
must hurry now," it spoke. "Your new body is ready,
but a body is nothing without the soul." Toshitada looked
back at his comrades to tell them he'd see them again, but the
other three balls of light were already whisking them away. "Mata
ne, minna!" Toshitada yelled, but they were all too far away
to hear him. "Hayaku!" urged his little companion. "You
must hurry!" The ball of light streaked around his body.
"I can help you with your speed, but that's all I can do."
It offered. "Iku yo," Toshitada nodded at it. The ball
of violet light flew around him faster than he could track it,
and they took off like a blur.
In a dark desert, a soft flash
of blue light brightened the sky. Sasaki floated down to the sand
in his bare feet. He could not feel the cool temperature of it,
though. Sasaki looked around. "Why is it so dark?" he
asked. "Even the moon is dark," he observed. "You
still are the Yami Masho," the blue light replied. "The
yoroi and territory that come with the title were destined to
be yours," it answered. "You still have control over
darkness," the Light of Honor replied. "However,"
the blue ball spoke as it circled around him, "you are no
longer the entity known as Anubis. You are-" "Sasaki
Kujuurou," he spoke, with a grin as he cut the ball of light
off. "Myself," he finished. "That's correct,"
Honor confirmed. "But why am I here in this safe haven
as you call it?" Why is it that Koma is the only one that
gets to go to the New Ningenkai?" The light floated a few
inches from his face. "I am not strong enough yet to take
you to the New Ningenkai," it replied. "Nor have I found
you a new body." Sasaki looked at himself and found he was
dressed in his family's classic armor. He dismissed it, and wore
only the pants and undercoat. "But what about Koma?"
He asked. "The Light of Soul found a body for Koma faster
than we could find bodies for you and your comrades," Honor
spoke. "Koma has also lived in the Human Realm longer than
yourselves, and knows what modern day Japan is really like."
"So?" Sasaki asked. "What's stopping you?"
"I told you," the Light
of Honor repeated, "I am not strong enough to help you out
of here yet. You will have to wait seventeen years for me."
"Seventeen years?!" Sasaki shouted in shock. "Naze?!!"
"Because I need the time to gather my strength," the
ball of light replied. "When seventeen years have passed,
I will have found a body for you. It may not be human, but when
your soul connects with it, you will be able to become human again.
It will be up to you to stay strong so you can communicate with
the body I find, so I can find you." Sasaki wrinkled his
brow. "But you know where I am now," he told the ball
of light, confused. "Hai, but the real me will not. You see,"
the blue light explained, "I too will need a body. It will
need time to grow and become strong so I can help." The blue
ball of light zipped around Sasaki's soul again. "I promise
that when the time comes in seventeen years, I will be strong
enough to get you out of here." Sasaki looked at the ball
of light. "But what if the real you doesn't remember where
I am?" Sasaki questioned. "I never told you I'd be doing
this myself," the blue light spoke. "The real me will
most likely not remember where you are, let alone remember who
you are." Sasaki looked at the Light of Honor confused yet
again. "Why?" He asked. "It comes with the territory,"
the blue light replied. It whizzed around Sasaki again. "I
promise," Honor paused, " I will come back for you.
I always honor my promises." It floated in front of his face
for a few seconds. "I must go now," the Light of Honor
spoke. "I have much to do. I will return," it spoke
as it dashed up to the sky and disappeared like a shooting star.
"Seventeen years" Sasaki mumbled to himself. "What
am I going to do with seventeen years?"
In a quiet park, a man with olive
green hair regarded his surroundings. "What is this?"
He asked. "It is a sanctuary," the amber ball of light
answered. "Sanctuary?" He asked. "Hai," the
Light of Ethics confirmed. "A sanctuary from evil, of the
likes of Arago." Yamanouchi narrowed his gaze at the mention
of the evil entity's name. "You cannot be harmed by him here,"
the light told him as it circled around his body. "It is
impossible here. In Limbo, he could find you and torture you untill
you broke free again." Yamanouchi shuddered at the word "torture".
The light circled around him, trying to provide some comfort.
"Luckily, we found you." "Who's we?" Yamanouchi
asked. "We are the Lights of Infinity," the amber light
responded. "Entities that will always survive for the greater
good. I am the Light of Ethics," the light spoke, introducing
itself. "Ethics," Yamanouchi repeated. "Hai,"
Ethics confirmed.
Yamanouchi looked down as a large
anaconda slid past his feet. "Is this some kind of snake
sanctuary?" He asked the ball of light. Yamanouchi did not
look amused. "Not really," the amber light confessed,
floating infront of his face. "It is a sanctuary for those
who carry the blood of Naga," Ethics revealed. "Oh,"
Yamanouchi replied. "That makes sense." "Though
your yoroi and power were manipulated by evil hands," the
light told him, "Naga has called you here for now."
"For now?" Yamanouchi questioned. "Hai," Ethics
repeated itself again. It whizzed around Yamanouchi, getting ready
to speak again. "In seventeen years, I will have found you
a new body," the light prophesized. Yamanouchi just watched
and waited. "I will be strong enough to help take you to
the New Ningenkai, where Koma will be awaiting your return."
"Why do I have to wait?" Yamanouchi asked. "Because
I need to become stronger than I am now, and that takes time."
The light replied. "You will have to stay strong as well,
though you will have Naga's help to communicate with your new
body." He nodded. "I will find an appropriate body for
you, not to worry." Ethics reassured Yamanouchi. "When
your soul finally connects with your new body, you will be human
again." Ethics declared. Yamanouchi smiled. "Your new
body may not be human, though." Ethics warned. "I think
I can deal with that," Yamanouchi said confidently. "Good,"
Ethics replied. "How am I supposed to reunite with my body?"
He asked the amber ball of light. "The real me will come
and get you," Ethics told him. "The real you?"
He questioned. "Hai," the little amber ball of light
replied. "I too need a body. The real me will be that person."
The Light of Ethics flew around his soul a few more times. "I
won't remember who you are, not where you are. The real me will
need your assistance," Ethics told Yamanouchi. "So,
I will have to help the real you find me?" Naotoki asked.
"Hai, so da yo." The ball of light replied. "Alright,"
Yamanouchi proposed, "I think I can handle seventeen years
without torture." He watched the little ball of light intensely.
"Nan desu ka?" The Light of Ethics asked. "Why
won't you remember me?" Yamanouchi asked, genuinely concerned.
Ethics bobbed infront of his face for a few minutes, silent. "Because"
it paused, thinking of the rest, "I will not be what you
see me as now in seventeen years. I will merely be reflected in
the attitude of the real me. The true Light of Ethics." It
circled around him. "I will do what I believe is right,"
it confided. "Rescuing you felt right," it spoke with
ease and sincerity. "As long as you help me, I will come
back for you," the light promised. "How do I do that?"
Yamanouchi asked. "Try to find peace," the light suggested,
"and listen to Naga." The light circled around Yamanouchi
again. "Naga will protect you when I cannot. Don't hesitate
to use his power when you need it," Ethics offered. Yamanouchi
nodded with an easy smile. The first in a long time coming. "I'll
be waiting," he told the little light as it floated infront
of him. "Mochiron yo," the light replied. "Ki o
tsukete!" Ethics spoke as it flew away; back up to the sky
from whence it had came from.
Yamanouchi looked around at his
settings again. He dismissed his classic armor to the sand-colored
tunic and pants he'd worn before. He looked at them and smiled.
The outfit had been his favorite. He walked forward, deciding
to explore his personal safe haven.
In a darkened maroon sky, a green
light flashed. It winked off of chains surrounding them, and darkened
figures. Kuroda looked around himself before he touched the ground.
"What is this?" He asked the little light. "It
doesn't look like any safe haven to me," he criticized. Kuroda
looked closer at the scene that surrounded him as his feet finally
reached the ground. His brow raised as the memory crept into his
mind like thick fog. "This is" he trailed off.
The green light zipped around him as he finally realized where
he was. "My home town," he sadly said. "Not quite,"
the green light said, trying to comfort him. "it's an illusion."
"An illusion? Naze?!" Kuroda hotly asked. "Why
are you placing me in an illusion? Especially this one?!"
The green light sighed regretfully. "I'm sorry the memory
is such a painful one, but look carefully around you. What seems
out of place?" it asked. Kuroda did as he was instructed.
"They're not moving," he spoke. "No one's
moving! What did you do?" He accused the little green light.
"I didn't do anything," the little light defended itself.
"This is an illusion sanctuary, for those such as yourself
who have mastered such powers." "I see," Kuroda
said sharply. "Those soldiers believe that they have been
paused in time by a powerful goddess," the green ball explained.
"Of course, this is all in their heads." The light informed
him matter-of-factly. "So?" Kuroda asked. "What
does that have to do with me?" "You have a new mission,"
the little green light replied. "But in order to complete
it, you must stay here for seventeen years." "Nani yo?!
Seventeen years?!" Kuroda asked. "Hai, seventeen years,"
the light replied sternly.
"In seventeen years, you will be able to live in the New
Ningenkai, with a new human body." Kuroda looked at the light
with a furrowed brow. "It's going to take you seventeen years
to find me a body?" he asked, a little angry. "Patience!"
the light sharply spoke after making a funny noise like a raspberry.
"I need to gather my strength to get you into Ningenkai first!"
It whizzed around him, full of energy. "You need to keep
your strength up and use that endurance you've been gifted with!"
The light instructed. "What do you mean?" Kuroda asked,
surprised. "Your new mission is to help the real me find
you in seventeen year's time, and make contact with your new body."
The Light of Patience informed him. "In order to stay strong,
you must keep these soldiers in suspended animation untill I return
for you." "How is that supposed to keep me strong?"
He asked, curious. "You can still use your power of illusion,
Gen Masho," the green light commented. "Gee, I didn't
think I'd lost it," he replied sarcastically. "Iie,"
Patience replied. "You've mastered it, ne?" "Mochiron
yo," Kuroda hastily replied. "I thought so," the
light spoke. It floated infront of his face. "What
are you?" He asked. "I am the Light of Patience,"
the light answered. "When I leave, you must cast your illusion.
You need to remember to pace yourself,"
it stressed. "Nin," Kuroda replied. "Or did you
forget so quickly, little light? I know what I'm doing."
He finished offensively. "Oh, really?" The Light of
Patience asked. "Then you know that the real me will have
a body and not remember you or where you are?" Kuroda looked
at the ball of light with a frown. "I knew that," he
defended himself. "Well, you know everything, ne?" Patience
asked. "Do you know that your new body may not be human?"
"Nani yo??" "Hai, so da yo. Demo, when your soul
connects with it, you'll be human again. Don't worry about it."
Kuroda still frowned at the little ball. "Remember,"
the little ball of light instructed, "pace yourself, and
find the real me in seventeen years." "How am I supposed
to know who the real you is?" Kuroda asked, worried. "I'll
be the only one who won't see you," it replied. The little
green light flew around Kuroda a few more times. "I must
go now and find yourself and I bodies. I shall return," it
said. "You'd better," Kuroda told it. "Be patient,
and I'll get here sooner!" the light shot back. "Ja
ne!" It said as it disappeared through a mirror.
Kuroda stood still as he concentrated.
"Toki o wasure," he murmured as the soldiers who had
started to move stopped. Kuroda looked around himself and decided
to keep his family's classic yoroi on after dismissing his modern-style
yoroi. "Stuck with Menagi for seventeen years," he said
bitterly. "Yaro," he commented. Kuroda slowly walked
away from where he had landed, trying not to let the bitterness
he held for Menagi Yosuke eat him alive. It was Menagi that had
gotten him tangled up in the Gen Yoroi in the first place. When
he reached a hill above his hometown, Kuroda sat down and took
a long look at it. He took off the breastplate and shoulder guards
that alleviated the strain of carrying his scythes on his back,
and placed them beside his helmet. Kuroda shut his eyes, and began
to meditate.
It was nighttime when Toshitada
and the Light of Soul reached their destination. They softly landed
in a darkened room, which was filled with artificial noise. The
whoosh of sterile air and small lights had Toshitada looking around
himself. "Watashi-tachi wa doko?" He asked the
small violet light. "A hospital," the light replied.
"Where are the noises coming from?" Toshitada asked.
The light glided over and softly illuminated the face of an eight-year-old
boy with auburn hair. There was a big tube connected to his mouth,
helping the boy to breathe. His eyes remained shut, and he had
a neutral look on his face. Toshitada looked at the boy with both
shock and sorrow reflecting in his eyes. Then, he looked angrily
at the violet light. "Are you implying that I take this boy's
body from him?!" Toshitada demanded. "No," the
Light of Soul gently replied. "I imply nothing of the sort."
The light floated over to Toshitada's side. "This boy is
about to join his family where he rightfully belongs," it
told him. "And where, pray tell, would that be?" "With
his mother and father," the light replied. "This child
lives with another family that is not his own. He became depressed,
and put himself in this condition," the Light of Soul explained.
"Since he has mistreated his body so, he has permission to
join his family, and is letting you live physically again."
The violet light flew around Toshitada. "He's giving his
chance to you. Accept it." "Demo!" Toshitada objected.
"His soul has already joined his family. This body will die
without you in it. It will be wasted, and you won't get a second
chance." The Light of Soul flashed brightly infront of Toshitada's
face. "I mean it," it told him. "How do I"
Toshitada asked. "That is what you must do for yourself,"
The ball of light replied. "I'm not strong enough to help
you there."
Toshitada furrowed his brow. He
had no idea how he was going to do this. All of his morals were
screaming at him that this was wrong, except for the one tiny
little voice talking to his heart, telling him it was right. The
right thing to do. Toshitada sighed. He'd be putting the boy's
body back into the same situation, only with himself as the biggest
part of it. In effect, it wouldn't be the boy, but Toshitada.
He stared at the lifeless body as he contemplated his situation.
The foster parents would be expecting the same boy, only to find
one who had a complete change of heart. Someone who wanted to
live. He would be living a new childhood, completely different
than the one he'd lived hundreds of years ago. He'd have a father
figure and a mother figure. No brothers or sisters, but that would
be alright. "It would be so different, so strange,"
Toshitada thought as his hand grazed the boy's hand. "I'd
have a father who doesn't go off to fight every day. And I'd actually
have a mother that isn't so silent and far away from me."
He shut his eyes. "However, that still wouldn't change where
I came fro-"
It was hard to breathe.
Toshitada's eyes flashed open
as the violet ball of light floated infront of his face. His mouth
was as dry as a desert, and Toshitada wanted to breathe on his
own. In his green-blue eyes, the Light of Soul saw panic. "Hit
this button!" It commanded as it dashed to a small control.
Chibi-Toshitada smacked the button over and over again with his
small hand. When a nurse came flying in, the Light of Soul hid
behind the bed. The nurse looked at Chibi-Toshitada who was flailing,
and walked up to his side.
"Calm down," she spoke,
taking his flailing left hand easily in her hands. "You're
going to have to be calm to get this out," the nurse instructed.
She carefully took the tape off of Chibi-Toshitada's mouth. "I'm
going to count to three, then I want you to take a deep breath,
and I'll take this out." She spoke, smiling gently at Chibi-Toshitada.
He nodded as best as he could manage. "One, two, three,"
the nurse counted. Chibi-Toshitada took a deep breath, and she
pulled out the pipe. Sterile air made loud whooshing noises as
it hit him in the face. "Water," Chibi-Toshitada rasped
as he let out his breath. The nurse quickly and deftly poured
a small paper cup of water and handed it to him, which he drank
greedily. He almost choked on the first mouthful, then slowed
himself down after that. "More please," he asked when
he had gulped down the last of it. the nurse poured him another
cup. "You'll have to try and go back to sleep after this
one, Koma-san," the nurse instructed. "If you need anything,
just press that button again," she told him as she left.
Chibi-Toshitada looked at his
hands as they gripped the paper cup. "They're so small!"
He said, then surprised at his voice. "What happened to my
voice?" He asked the now visible violet ball of light. "You're
physically alive now as well, remember?" it reminded him.
"Mochiron yo," Chibi-Toshitada replied. "Why did
she call me Koma-san? Doesn't this boy have a different name?"
"No," the light replied. "You've officially been
reborn," it informed him. "So my name is still Koma
Toshitada?" he asked. "Hai, so da yo." The light
confirmed. "You still have one last mission to complete,
therefore, you were reborn." Chibi-Toshitada nodded at Soul
seriously. "Wakateau," He replied. "In seventeen
years, you will be able to find your comrades again, and they
will be able to join you here in this realm." "So, Yamanouchi,
Kuroda and Sasaki have a chance too?" he asked, his eyes
full of hope. "Hai," the light replied. "But you
will not be able to do it yourself. You will need to find the
real us." "The real you?" Chibi-Toshitada asked,
leaning forward towards the Light of Soul. "Are you an illusion
of Kuroda's doing?" He asked suspiciously. "No, I'm
no illusion. I exist," it told Chibi-Toshitada. "In
seventeen years, I will have a body. My light will be reflected
in the soul I find. You will have to find the other three Lights
of Infinity. They will be the only ones who can retrieve your
comrades since they put them in their safe havens in the first
place." Chibi-Toshitada nodded. "Alright," he replied.
"How will I know who you are?" The Light of Soul paused
for a moment, trying to think of an answer. "We will all
be together when you find us. All four of us will have something
that is the same color that we are now. You'll have to look carefully,
and use your heart." "Okay," Chibi-Toshitada agreed.
"The family of the Kaosu will protect you while I grow when
I find my body. You will not be doing their busywork, for you
need to gather your strength as well." He smiled. "It's
okay," he said. "I'll find you in seventeen years. I
won't forget." "Good," the light gently replied.
"When you complete your mission, you will receive your yoroi
back." "My?" Chibi-Toshitada asked. "The
Oni Yoroi?" "Hai," replied the Light of Soul. "It
rightfully belongs to you. It chose you. The lady who you gave
it to is merely guarding it untill you need it again." "And
that will be in seventeen years?" Chibi-Toshitada asked.
"Hai," the light replied. "I will also have armor,
along with the others," Soul told him. "You will have
to help the real us find it." He nodded. "I understand."
Soul flew around him. "I have to go now," it told Chibi-Toshitada.
"Okay," he replied. "Mata ne," he told the
light. "Mata ne," Soul softly replied. It flew through
the window, and Chibi-Toshitada watched the violet light fade
into the nighttime sky.
He settled back into his pillows
and looked at his small hands in wonderment. Seventeen years was
plenty of time to grow. Yet, estranged still with his new body.
Chibi-Toshitada laid his head back, and shut his eyes. Eventually,
he wouldn't have to worry about feeling so strange. However, Chibi-Toshitada
still had one lingering thought:
Where would he be in seventeen
years?
Japanese vocab
|
Hai - Yes |
Hai, so da yo - Yes, that's right |
Hayaku - Hurry |
Iku yo - Let's go |
Ki o tsukete - Take care |
Mata ne, minna - See you later, guys |
|
Mochiron yo - Of course |
Naze - Why |
Shiranai yo - I don't know |
Un - Yeah |
Iie - No |
Toki o wasure- Forget time |
|
Yaro - Bastard |
Watashi-tachi wa doko - Where are we |
Demo - But |
Wakateau - Understood |
|
|
