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"So Geno… have you already decided on what to do?" "Yes. I'll seal off its power… and I will never use its power again." "I see." I remembered lifting a yellow orb. Engraved on it, was the word "Tiong", meaning Center. And then, various colors of light shines before me as I hand this orb to a man I remembered calling Shiro.
In that dream, he called me Geno. And in that dream, I have a friend named Shiro. Someone who closely resembles someone I know… Shinryu.
"So Kin… have you already decided what to do?" "Yes… I'll keep that power. And I will use its power to protect." "I see." I remembered keeping a black orb. Engraved on it, was the world "ji", meaning ground. And then, various colors of light shines before me as I take this orb in from a woman I remembered calling Kagero.
In that dream, she called me Kin. And in that dream, I have a friend named Kagero. Someone who closely resembles someone I know… Fushichou.
~…and when I first saw that weapon, I held it… then, I looked at the devil who killed my father…~
Chapter 3 – I Will Always Smile At You
"Commander, I believe we should go back to our headquarters now, or we might not make it in time." Mikoto suggested as she carries several plastic bags shaded with various colors. "Err… I still can't make up my mind. I can't decide which am I going to buy." Koganei replied as he lifts two boxes of sweets. On his left was a heat shaped box of candies and his right was a rectangular chocolate bar. He looks left and right. Murmuring several words and biting his lips. Trying to think which would be better.
Five minutes later, Koganei still seems to be unable to choose what should he pick. Finally, Mikoto decided to voice out saying, "Why don't you just buy them both?" "Err… I would love to but I only have enough money to buy one." Koganei cried. "Geez… I'll put the blame on you if I can't go back home for Christmas. You want me to just choose one for you?" asked Mikoto who seems a little bit annoyed. "Huh? Well… I guess I'll need your help." Koganei answered with a smile that calms Mikoto down.
Several minutes later, a plane was readied and everyone were boarding. Some waving back to their leader. Some just left him with a smile, and some boarded without a wave of goodbye. Mikoto sat beside Koganei, who still carries the chocolate bar he bought earlier. "Commander, don't you think you should rather leave that gift on that drawer on top?" suggested Mikoto. "Please stop calling me commander when we are not on a mission. I feel uneasy with it." Koganei answered with a smile. "Oh is that so? Then I'll do that." Responded Mikoto. "About this chocolate, I'll be just fine holding it. Thanks." "Your sister does mean a lot to you ne?" Mikoto asked. "Indeed. I can't even sleep a night without thinking of her. But this job should come first before my family." "I know. And perhaps that's the same reason why I have to leave my husband alone for a while." "Your husband? Mokuren right? The one who looks after Ganko?" "Right." "I was just wondering. Last night, I felt really scared." "Why?" "It's just that, I felt Ganko's crying for help. I felt that my sister is in danger." "Just calm down. Mokuren will surely protect your sister. She'll surely be fine. I trust him… and you trust me right?" "I guess so…"
After a few hours of flight, Koganei faced Mikoto and saw her sleeping silently. He sighed a little as he turns his attention to the bar of chocolates on his lap. Somehow, I still feel scared. I still feel Ganko needs me… he thought as he slowly leaned against his seat. Koganei yawned. Bored without someone to talk to, he decided to sleep as well.
******
"What? The commander will be arriving soon?" Mokuren asked shivering as he holds a black cellphone near his ear. "Ye… Yes… understood." He added after a few seconds of silence.
"Ganko! Come over here." Mokuren shouted as he presses the red hang up button of his phone. Ganko numbly walked towards Mokuren still with her tears falling down. "Your brother will arrive later tonight… and will stay here for a week. I want you to behave properly for the time being he's here. If at anytime you tell him anything I don't want you to say, I'll kill him." Warned the tree spirit. Ganko bounded with fear, answered him a yes by bowing slowly towards him.
Mokuren left the place, and Ganko was left alone. After a few minutes of staring blankly into the space, she smiled. Wearing the smile of a new hope she always wished. Just a week would be enough for her. In that short time, she could probably stay happy. At least feeling a comfort of saving her from the misery she had with the evil desires of Mokuren.
******
"Five colors of light have already awakened. And there are only two more remaining light left." "What? You mean aside from us, there are still three more?" "Yes. But there's a very little chance of the sixth and seventh light to awaken. Both of them have already decided to seal off their powers in the Mausoleum of Light together with their ancestors." "But what if they are able to recover them?" "No need to worry. I've sent one of our elite swordsman to kill the fifth color." "What do you mean? Our elite swordsmen aren't enough to do the job. We should handle this ourselves." "Don't worry. He hasn't fully awakened yet. He is still half-human. On that state, our swordsmen can defeat him."
******
Another hour passed, and finally the plane landed. Everyone waved goodbye to each other, some shaking their hands, some kissing their families and some just walked straight to the exit.
"You sure Mokuren will come?" Koganei asked as he pulls his long sleeved sweater and looks at his watch. "He's really an idiot, ya know? He's been like this ever since I married him. Sometimes I wonder myself why did I marry that slob." Responded Mikoto with her arms crossed.
A few minutes more, they finally saw the face of Mokuren as he runs happily towards his wife. "Mikoto!" he shouted. Mikoto smiled to him as she points to her wife a friend beside her. "Koganei Kaoru, our commander." Mikoto introduced. "Oh… so you're the one they call Koganei. Nice meeting you little fellow." Mokuren cried as he offered a shake on the thirteen year old assassin. Koganei smiled to him a little, and raised his hand, shaking the hand of the husband of a friend. "Your palm is cold. Anything wrong?" Mokuren asked. "Oh… it's nothing. I just feel cold perhaps." Koganei answered as he shyly looks down. "Is that so? Maybe I should offer you a ride to your house then? So you don't have to walk all the way?" Mokuren asked still wearing the smile. "I guess now that you mentioned it, I probably would appreciate it too." Koganei replied with his usual grin.
After a few minutes, everyone decided to pack up and sit on the car. Mokuren offered the front seat to Koganei and he accepted it with a smile. Mikoto sat on the back along with several different bags of goods and delicacies while her husband inserts the silver key on the right side of the driving wheel. And after a short while, everyone felt the engine running as they prepare for their destination. "Darling, look at your friend there, he's holding that ever since we boarded the plane." Mikoto commented with an insulting but funny voice. Koganei smiled at Mokuren as he saw a friend's face looking at him with a smile, or so did he thought. "How sweet. That Mikoto at the back never ever brought back sweets like that." Mokuren commented. "Hey jackass. Who dja think should be the rightful person to bring that thing to who huh?" Mikoto asked angrily. Koganei laughed out to the couple. Saying that he never saw any couple quarreling because of a mere chocolate. "That's her usual behavior. No wonder why she looks like a cat." Mokuren added who is still smiling on the front seat. "And maybe I should call you a dog then," Mikoto replied. And several more disastrous words were thrown until they finally reached Koganei's house. "Thanks." Koganei said as he steps out of the car still holding the red chocolate bar on his left hand. "See ya on New Year's Eve. Thanks for joining us." Mikoto shouted as Koganei walks towards an old abandoned house. Koganei turned back and smiled to his friend. And as he sees the car drives away from him, he turned back again, heading towards his old house… and as he opens the door, he saw something moving from the shadows. He was stunned for a moment as he stares on it on the front door. When he heard the chocolate bar hits the ground from the grip of his hand, he shouted, "GANKO!!!!!"
End of Chapter 3
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