A Tale of Two Seeds

Chapter 7 – Evil Grows

Morning dew covers the ground as Kazuya watches Jun breath deeply in her sleep. His eyes travel up and down her sleeping form. They finally come to rest on the contours of her lovely face. A face he has known for only a short while, but it is a face that he has also known for a lifetime. "I love her," he thinks to himself. With this thought in mind he slowly leans back against the giant tree. Thoughts of revenge and power cross his mind. He thinks of his empire, HIS empire not his fathers. Then he thinks of her. Whispering softly,

"I could leave it all for you. I will leave it all."

With these words a giant burden is lifted from his heart to be instantly replaced with an even greater weight. A sudden pain rips through his chest and his breathing comes in short soft gasps. Then the dark voice speaks from inside.

"YOU WILL DO AS I COMMAND! FROM THE MOMENT YOU CALLED MY NAME YOU WERE MINE! I HAVE LET YOU CONTROL YOUR LIFE TILL THIS MOMENT! NOW YOU MUST COMPLETE THE BARGAIN WE MADE!"

"I will not! Things have changed."

The voice grows suddenly quiet and Kazuya stops breathing.

His eyes open and he is in another place. It is the place of his dreams. The dark expanse seems to go on forever and a dark blue light illuminates everything. "Where am I," he thinks and the thought echoes throughout the expanse. In the distance a bright light approaches and from the light steps a familiar figure. He can see the soft curves and the gentle face.

"Jun....what are........You are not Jun!"

A deep frown crosses Kazuya's face as Jun's small form steps near. In every aspect this creature appears to be her. She steps close and slowly reaches her hand toward his face.

"Of course it is me.....Kazuya you know that I......LOVE YOU."

As the last words echo from the Jun things mouth her voice lowers evilly and she brings her hand hard across the side of his face. Staggering from the force of the blow, Kazuya crumples to the ground and clutches his injured face. Looking up at the form of his love Kazuya sees her eyes begin to glow a deep red. She smiles evilly and an small dark chuckle escapes her lips. She stands tall then and from all around the dark becomes darker and the sound of nothing becomes thicker. She looks down at Kazuya once more then simply says, "NOW!" and explodes in a shower of dark light.

Momentarily blinded Kazuya shakes his head to clear the image of his love's exploding body from his mind. Looking up at last he sees a large form standing in her place. A form of pure evil. Sharp claws protrude from its hands and feet. Giant wings rise up from its massive back. Its eyes glow red like the fires of hell. Rising to his feet Kazuya stands his ground in front of the menacing figure. With no fear in his voice he asks,

"Who are you?"

The evil being walks slowly around Kazuya. It chuckles every now and again. Then when it is in front of Kazuya it suddenly turns and speaks directly into his face.

"DON'T YOU KNOW?"

"DON'T YOU REMEMBER?"

"I AM YOU!!!"

With sudden clarity the memory appears in Kazuya's mind......

Alone at the bottom of the cliff. Broken, bleeding, with death nearby a dark voice speaks.

"What do you want?"

Barely able to speak the words the boy replies,

"To live"

"NOT GOOD ENOUGH! WHAT DO YOU WANT?"

"I wa I wan.....I WANT REVENGE!"

"YES!" the dark voice shouts, then quietly, "Just ask me. I can give it to you. All you have to do is ASK!"

"Give it to me! I WANT IT ALL!!! HE WILL PAY!!!

Lightning crashes overhead and a large form appears next to the boy. It's giant clawed hand reaches high into the air and then thrusts down through the boys chest, grabbing the boys still beating heart. The scream of pain is mixed with a scream of ecstasy as the beastlike figure rips the heart from within and crushes it between its claws. The dark blue form then begins to melt and settle in the dark wound, filling every pore. The boy's eyes open and....

Once again the dark chamber appears before Kazuya. The revelations he has seen have shocked him to the core.

"No. This cannot be."

The beast circles him once again.

"I OWN YOU. YOU BOUGHT YOUR LIFE WITH YOUR SOUL. YOU ARE MINE!"

The demon grabs Kazuya and drags him over to a small clear pool.

"LOOK! Tell me what you see!"

The crystal clear water of the pool ripples, distorts, and then a picture forms. A small young woman lies under a large tree. Near her sits a man. The man then turns and looks up through the pool and stares Kazuya in the face. A large eye seems to have formed in the middle of the mans forehead, and the man is smiling a dark evil smile.

"What do you see?"

"It is me, but I am different."

"FOOL! IT IS I YOU SEE! I CONTROL YOUR BODY AS WELL AS OWN YOUR SOUL."

"What use do you have for me then? Why not just kill me?

"I still have need of you for now, so today I give you a choice."

"YOUR ONLY CHOICE."

"OBEY ME AND JUN LIVES, OTHERWISE SHE DIES NOW!"

Looking at the clear pool, Kazuya can see the man walk close to Jun. The man's fist raises in the air and sharp claws form at the ends. Looking away Kazuya quietly states,

"I will serve you."

"SWEAR ON HER LIFE."

Looking up at the dark being hatred flows from Kazuya as he responds,

"ON JUN KAZAMA'S LIFE I SWEAR I WILL SERVE YOU!"

The devil smiles then calmly speaks,

"Go. Kill your father. Enjoy this, I give it to you as a gift."

The devil fades and Kazuya opens his eyes and takes a deep breath. Looking down he sees his hand still poised to strike. Unclenching the tight muscles, he slowly kneels down and looks at his love. Watching her slow breathing sends the pain of loss and regret rolling through his gut. He touches her face for the last time with the knowledge that he can never see her again. Rising quietly he walks to meet his fate. He now knows what must be done.