NOTES: After almost 4 years, this fic underwent a major overhaul to prevent it from getting scrapped. I seriously considered deleting it, but the idea behind it was so original I just had to keep it.

©: Reiji and all Gatekeepers stuff here is not mine (duh!) so if you hate them sue their creator and not me. And although Reiji is my evil twin, we are NOT blood-related (but he is still my evil twin).

Wielding Weapons

Today is my 10th birthday, yet the vermin around me are making a fuss over the party, not me. Dull-wits; they've got their priorities all wrong.

I have to get out of here.

I tried to make my way out of the crowd loitering around my house, with little hope of making it to my roo—

"Reiji! You better get dressed for your party or you won't have it!"
Then I won't. Who would want to have vermin crawling around your house enjoying themselves? Not me, that's for sure. But I'll give them the benefit of the doubt, they can have fun until they are rightfully crushed.

"Yo, Reiji! Great party!"
Bah! It's that Mr. Know-it-All again. Why the heck is that flea inside my household? He feels superior so he invites himself in and makes it seem as if it was the most ordinary thing to do. Smart tactic, bad move—he doesn't know who he's messing with.

"Great champagne, Reiji-kun!"
Hn… its just water made flavorful with poison. The toxic is not effective now but your bug eyes can't see it— water is what water does. Drink water and it may save you by cleansing you of impurities. Dishonor water by making it impure and you will face a shorter life span.

"Uh… Reiji-sama? I need to use the little boys' room if you get what I mean…"
Finally! Someone who surrenders to the laws of nature! Good my little beetle, go and have your peace, "Third door to the right along the left corridor."

Somehow I managed to make it to my room. My only sanctuary. It was a reflection of who I was, who I am, and what I am yet to be. There on my bedside, alone and wandering aroung in its cage is my pet, a spider I had caught in the backyard. Every day mother tries to take it away, and every night I take it back. For many years, perhaps until now, I have been but an observer. Limited by my age and society. Unable to do anything else.

Under my bed is the corpse of a butterfly. When I had found it, ants were already sprawling about it, tearing its flesh into bits for food. It had moved me. It was a far cry from a pang of pity. In the butterfly I had seen myself. It was of my own kind.

I reached under my bed, wanting a glimpse of the thing. It had been quite a while since I cleaned all the ants off it. It might have already given to natural decay. I felt around and pulled out--an old book I have never seen before.

It looks odd, it feels odd, and it smells awful too. I flipped through the pages until I was totally absorbed. It was a biography of a fictional character, a character who, after several assassination attempts, was killed because his beliefs were considered wild and insane just because the majority didn't agree with them. But no, he was right! Tokoma Oshishi was indeed right! He just forgot to mention one little detail: human is scum.

Oshishi was amazing. He could make life a living hell for his enemies yet still create an inferno of trepidation to those who love him. He was great with the sword; he could yield it and destroy everything in sight! He fought for what he believed was the truth, but in the end the immature world surrounding him refused to accept and destroyed him.

Aah… how I wish I could yield my own Oshishi sword. Not a true sword of a steel blade, but a sword of power which will lead to the destruction of the pests around me.

Conclusively, I closed the book after my little rendezvous with aspiration. I could hear steps coming from outside.

"Child, go to the temple before sunset! You'd want Buddha to hear your birthday wish, ne?"

Hah! Even Buddha prides himself. If I ask him to give me his powers, would he do that? No, he'd refuse competition. Right now, I will just praise him as someone of high powers.

The sun was beginning to set when I got to the temple. It was only a short distance, but I wanted to be away from the house as long as possible. Inside was all kinds off fruit, gold and other kinds of kinks being offered. Hah! These parasites give to what they don't see but to those visible, even the needy, they don't. To some, they even loath.

I kneeled down in front of a huge golden Buddha when most of the pests started to leave. Finally, I was alone. Good.

Buddha, my wish may seem silly now, but hear me out first! I wish for power. Not political nor monetary power, I ask for the power to create a mirror which will reflect to the world how it truly is. A portal through which humans will stop being such idealists and see everything in clarity. And if they remain to be stubborn... the power to crush them.

I prayed as hard as I can, even though in the back of my mind I knew I was talking to nothing but air. Yet somehow, the air around me was getting tighter. It was slowly holding me in its grasp, almost to suffocation. My eyes started to give way… what was once an idol clad in gold became a silhouette of sawdust against black. And it was slowly being eaten away… giving way to the darkness.

K3: Tokoma Oshishi is Makoto Shishio, just in case you got confused. And no, Shishio-domo belongs to Watsuki-san so if you think Shishio's great & all chase him and not me.