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We Share the Same Tear

~ Why do you live? ~
~ Because there is someone who needs me. ~
~ What if that someone was not there to need you? ~
~ Then living in this world would be meaningless… ~

The only one I love was taken away… the only one who needs me is no longer here… Is this the manifestation of hell? Or perhaps a hallucination of the misery worse than hell?

Chapter 10 – The Commencing

Koganei shrugged… and soon, tears dried out. The area was still blazing with the sounds of burning wood and falling posts. "How worthless I could be…" Koganei murmured, clenching his fist and bashing it against the ground where he knelt. "If I can't protect the only person I love, what more can I do to protect others?"

"I can't go on… I just can't…"

Koganei pushed back… and sat before a burnt house. His eyes went darker, and it slowly closes afterwards. "I'm already tired… tired of seeing people get hurt… tired of seeing anyone die…" he thought.

The night went deeper, and Koganei stayed frozen beneath the woods surrounding the house. Not a single breeze moved him away, and his mouth completely shuts. Then… there was silence.

*****

Kurei stepped back to his royal seat under the headquarters. He pressed his forehead against his palm, trying to think back to what Rasen has said…

"The mausoleum of lights," he whispered. As he was just about to continue, a knock against the door of the room was made. "Master Kurei…" the visitor called. Kurei then follows a command, allowing the visitor to enter. It was Neon, bearing a light yet worried smile.

"Where have you been Master Kurei? We were worried about you." She explained, bowing before a man with utmost respect. Kurei nodded and said, "I just followed the commander."

Neon crinkled, and waves her hair back, "Speaking of the commander sir, he told me that he would no longer work for the Uruha." Kurei was frozen for a moment. And then, he smiled and bowed, "He once told me about it too… sometime long ago…"

*****

When he first signed up for this underground movement, he and I had a deal. The deal was… he would work for me as much as I want him to. However, if time comes when he realizes that there is something more important for him than this job here, he would resign his position and seek that important something.

I am a bit confused at first… considering the fact that I was clueless about "THAT" something until one day, Koganei invited me to his house. I saw that yellow haired girl sleeping with a stuffed wolf. Koganei told me that he loves that person very much… and he reveals that that girl is his only family left.

I wondered… how come he doesn't have any idea about the whereabouts of his living father? I didn't care to ask him that question because I believe that he being clueless of his father's existence would be better rather than to have him search for that man.

To tell you the truth, Neon, his father was a blacksmith five hundred years ago. The name of that blacksmith is Kaima. Apparently, it would be impossible for a person to live for five hundred years. But because of the madougu called Tendou Jigoku, he was able to withstand death, and he continues to live even up to this very day.

Koganei on the other hand, was born thirteen years ago. He was a product of a madougu and human, thanks to Tendou Jigoku. Even I do not have a clue how he was able to live normally and still had a sister. But what I presume… is that that sister of his is not his biological sister. Kaima, knowing that Koganei had the power of a color, possibly had some other person adopt him.

If he hadn't done that, then Koganei could kill him with his aura… so in order to keep it from ever happening, he may have sent Koganei to Ganko's parents. On the other hand, after he left his son under the custody of the couple, he decided that he should find himself a host. That host was none other than the leader of Kai, Kouran Mori.

Kaima was responsible for the reawakening of the seven colors… in order to protect him from Koganei. The first four colors sided with him. However, on the mission to find the fifth color, one of them died. And from there, Kaima realizes that one of the remaining colors has already awakened…. So in order to counter that power, the next command was to find those unawakened colors and kill them so that he could be sure of his safety and ambition. From there, he organized the Five Guardian Swords… Raiha, Kai, Tokiya, Jisho and Hisui, leaded by the Grand Guardian named Megure.

When I discovered that one of them, Raiha, is trying to trace me down along with the other colors, I secretly created this organization in order to rival the Ura Uruha. With the help of you and the rest, we were able to restrain these guardians and yet, defeat two of them.

The two guardians we defeated however, were the weaker soldiers of the team. Megure and Raiha, the two strongest swordsmen, are capable of matching the powers of the colors. Without Koganei's help, I believe the war would be impossible for us to win.

Three days from now, I will journey to the mausoleum and grab the maximum power of this body. Whether or not Koganei would join us in this battle, wouldn't be within the range of my power as a leader anymore. Let's just hope that he would return and assist us in defeating the Ura Uruha.

*****

Neon bowed and carries a warm smile. "We'll be alright… I'm sure he'll help us." She declared. "I know it..."

Kurei smiled in return, happy to see someone comfort him in times of sorrow. "Thank you." He answered. He knew it very well… that Neon was the only one who helped him cope up with all his sins and sorrow. Neon was always there for him… and her loyalty would never change.

~ I always wanted it to be this way… I wish… I wish that this day would never end… ~

There was a short silence, and a gunfire followed after. Kurei and Neon swings their heads to the place where the bullet was fired. A few more bullets were heard falling to the ground. But after a few seconds, silence covered the atmosphere. Neon brings out her flute while Kurei brings out his own flame. They waited for the intruder to barge into the room from the front door. But they didn't expect the assassin to come from somewhere else.

The window behind them crashed, and the intruder attacks. "Lugia… you're mine." He shouted.

End of Chapter 10