"Aiko...I'm coming... Just hang in there!" he shouted, not caring that she couldn't hear him.
As he rounded a corner, Yasuo crashed into a man on his way home.
"Sorry!" called out Yasuo as he continued running. He was answered by a slew of curse words that he never knew existed. Undaunted, he continued running.
But to where? There was no reason for this feeling he had, but it was leading him somewhere. This feeling told him that Aiko was in trouble. It wasn't a twinge, it was something more than that.
He made up his mind. He would continue to follow this feeling. If it was wrong, Aiko would be fine. If he was right...
He dreaded to think of it. But it kept trying to pop into the front of his mind. He shook his head and picked up his pace.
Behind him, he heard a car slow down as it approached.
"Yasuo!"
Yasuo nearly tripped and fell flat on his face.
"Dad?"
"Yasuo, get in the car," Hayashi said.
"No way! Dad, I know you don't believe me, but Aiko is in trouble! She needs me."
"I know, son. But I know where she is."
Yasuo stopped dead in his tracks and faced his father.
"What? How?" Yasuo asked as he slid into the passenger's side.
"Newspaper. The Taisens are having a fancy party at that hotel of theirs." Hayashi hit the gas, and the car sped off.
Clipping his seatbelt together, Yasuo glanced at his father and noticed for the first time the headband he wore.
"Dad? What's that?" Yasuo pointed at the symbol on his father's headband.
Hayashi tightened his grip on the steering wheel.
"Son, what do you remember about your mother?" Hayashi asked carefully.
"Mom?" Yasuo paused and thought carefully. "She was . . . beautiful . . . " He closed his eyes and pictured his mother's smiling face as his father smiled softly.
"Yes. She was . . . " Hayashi could feel tears welling up in his eyes. "But she was more than that. She was unique."
"Dad . . . " Yasuo began.
"Listen to me, Yasuo. Your mother . . . she wasn't an ordinary woman. She was a descendant of a tennyo."
"What?" Yasuo wasn't sure he could believe what he had heard. "You mean like in the bedtime stories she used to tell me?"
"It's not just a bedtime story, son. This symbol," he tapped the symbol on his forehead. "Is the crest of the tennyo. By wearing it, one becomes shielded from the powers of other tennyo. But this will only work if it has been infused with the energy of a tennyo."
"Dad, you're joking, right?"
Hayashi reached into his pocket and pulled out the necklace.
"This headband and necklace were infused with your mother's energy. She wanted you to have the necklace." Hayashi blinked rapidly as thoughts of his wife threatened to steal his concentration from driving.
Yasuo took the necklace from his father's fingers. He was positive that his dad was crazy. But looking at him and touching the necklace, Yasuo knew his dad wasn't totally crazy.
As he slipped the necklace on, Yasuo felt a sense of security.
"Mom . . . " he whispered as he touched the chain again. Meanwhile, the car slid to a halt.
"We're here," announced Hayashi as he turned, he found Yasuo already standing outside of the car.
The feeling hadn't gone away. If anything, it had gotten stronger.
Yasuo's heart froze as he heard Aiko scream. That was all he needed to send him racing off towards the sound of her voice.
Someone was screaming. The sound hurt her ears. Aiko opened her eyes and found that she was screaming. Pain shot through every inch of her body. She was surrounded by a red haze, and through it she could see a figure laughing maniacally.
There was a bright flash, and Aiko felt her shoulder rip open. She didn't dare to look at the wound, and shut her eyes tightly once again. She knew that if she did, she'd lose her mind. She wanted it to end. The laughing, the pain . . . everything.
"Please let it end . . . " whispered Aiko. "Oh god . . . let it end . . . "
"AIKO!" someone shouted. "AIKO! HANG ON!"
Aiko opened her eyes and saw someone standing with his back to her.
"Ya-Yasuo?" she managed hoarsely.
Yasuo cast a cocky grin over his shoulder at her.
"Hey Sunshine. I'll be with you in a minute," he turned back to face the woman in front of him. "Who are you and what the hell are you doing to Aiko?"
"She must pay. Misaki must pay." Fire burned in Ayane's eyes. "I am Ayane! The one whom Misaki forsake."
"Ayane? Ayane Hishi?" Yasuo asked confused as the woman cackled.
In the next instant, a ball of energy was headed straight for Yasuo.
"Foolish human. Trying to protect what can not be protected!" cried Ayane.
The energy ball split into several spots of light and hardened into crystals. Yasuo's eyes grew wide, but he didn't move. He would protect Aiko. Gritting his teeth, Yasuo spread his arms in an attempt to further shield Aiko.
A crystal shard shot towards Yasuo's chest. Yasuo watched in disbelief as it shattered and disintegrated before it could pierce through his clothing. That shard was immediately followed by others, and while they forced him back with each impact, he was unscathed.
Both Ayane and Yasuo were dumbfounded.
"What are you?" snarled Ayane as she prepared to launch another attack.
"He's my son," Hayashi said as he appeared behind Ayane, pressing a knife to her neck.
"Dad!" cried Yasuo.
"Yasuo! Take Aiko," ordered Hayashi. When Yasuo hesitated, Hayashi shouted, "GO!"
Yasuo turned to face Aiko, who looked at him blankly.
"Let's go," he said.
Aiko nodded and Yasuo watched as her eyes rolled up into her head and her body crumpled to the ground. Swearing, Yasuo tossed her over his shoulder and carried her towards the car.
Ayane watched them leave silently.
"You," she said firmly. "You and your son bear the mark of Tennyo. How is it that mortals like you know of it and are able to use it?"
"My wife was a tennyo. She gave it to us so that we would be safe," answered Hayashi. "She was a gentle tennyo and very beautiful. Nothing like you."
Ayane's eyes flashed as she whirled on him.
"YOU! YOU ARE A MORTAL MAN WHO HAS TAINTED A TENNYO! YOU WILL PAY!"
The force in her voice sent Hayashi flying through the air. Yasuo returned from the parking lot and saw his dad sailing through the air and landing in a tree.
A dark red aura enveloped Ayane. it pulsed with the hatred consuming her heart.
"Despicable thing," murmured Ayane as she floated to the bench Hayashi lay on. "Your death will be painful."
Terror filled Yasuo's heart and prevented him from crying out.
Hayashi was hurt badly, but he was alive. He groaned and touched a hand to his forehead. Instead of the headband, he felt flesh and blood. Looking up, he saw Ayane poised to deliver another blow.
"Damn . . . " thought Hayashi as he shoved himself off the branch and onto the ground so many feet below. He landed hard and heard several bones break. Pain shot through his body, blinding him.
Yasuo saw his father fall. He watched in horror as Ayane landed next to the body of his father. He scrambled as fast as he could toward his father, praying that he'd get there in time.
Aiko's eyes fluttered open. Her body hurt in several places. She could feel blood ooze down her arms, chest and legs with every heart beat. She lay in the backseat of a car. But whose?
Sitting up, she noticed someone had covered her with a jacket. The tag read "Tachikawa." It was Yasuo's jacket.
Yasuo.
Aiko's eyes widened. That stupid boy! If that crazy bitch was still around . . .
Fighting against the pain, Aiko got out of the car. She could see Yasuo with his back to her, staring at something.
"Yasuo!" she tried to shout, but only produced a raspy sound. Aiko watched as he took off in the direction he had been looking.
Sighing irritably, she hobbled towards the spot he had been standing.
Hayashi chuckled as he lay on his stomach. He was going to die. He knew it. He couldn't move anything.
"Dad!" he heard Yasuo yell.
"I'm sorry, Yasuo," whispered Hayashi. "You're on your own now."
Ayane raised her hand, and a dark aura began to form around it. She aimed at Hayashi's heart.
Yasuo seemed to be moving in slow motion. His legs were so heavy. He wasn't fast enough. He wasn't fast enough!
Hayashi heard his son's anguished cry and felt a tremendous pressure around his heart. Briefly, Hayashi wondered if his son's eyes were filled with tears. He didn't want to make his son cry.
Yasuo knelt beside his father's body. He could barely see anything through his tears.
"Dad?" Yasuo gently shook his father's body. "C'mon dad. This isn't funny. Get up."
Yasuo sniffled and wiped furiously at his tears.
"Dad . . . Come on . . . You can't leave me. YOU CAN'T LEAVE ME!" Yasuo gripped his dad's shoulders tightly and sobbed onto his back.
"Dad . . . " Yasuo whispered as the tears began to flow freely.
A terrified shriek brought Yasuo out of his misery. He sat up and saw Aiko sitting on the ground with Ayane hovering overhead.
Rage washed over Yasuo and clung to his heart.
"No. Not again. Not again . . . " Yasuo walked purposefully towards Ayane. "Stop."
Ayane leaned over Aiko and raised her hand.
"Where are your celestial powers now, Misaki?" Ayane sneered and prepared to deliver a death blow.
"Stop it," came a commanding voice. Ayane faltered.
"Who dares to interfere?" snarled Ayane as she whirled around and was nearly blown backwards by the tremendous amount of energy she felt.
"I do," Yasuo said, he was enveloped in a bright light. "You won't harm her, or anyone else, ever again."
"Tch. Little bastard. Go now, before I deal with you like I dealt with your father," Ayane hissed.
At her words, the glowing around Yasuo's body dimmed.
"Dad . . . " whispered Yasuo. He cried out as he felt his heart begin to break. He doubled over and clutched at his chest.
"Hmph. That was easy . . . " murmured Ayane as she turned back to Aiko.
Yasuo clutched his chest. His father . . . his father was gone. What would he do? He was all alone now . . .
Yasuo felt his heart break even more. There was no one . . . no one left for him. Shutting his eyes tightly, Yasuo screamed in frustration and sadness.
"Yasuo!" screamed Aiko. "YASUO!"
At the sound of her voice, his heart broke into several pieces.
"Aiko . . . " he whispered as a brilliant flash of light enveloped him once again. Aiko covered her eyes and Ayane paused once more.
"No . . . " growled Ayane. "It can't be."
Aiko couldn't believe her eyes. Yasuo wasn't Yasuo anymore, but someone else . . . His long dark hair glistened blue in the moonlight while his tanned skin begged to be caressed. His eyes were closed, but when they opened, they were the loveliest golden color Aiko had ever seen.
"Yasuo?" breathed Aiko.
The being once known as Yasuo smiled softly at Aiko.
"Yes and no. I am Kiyosumi."