Finally chapter 13 is done, I suppose two chapters more and this fic will be finally completed! Unbelievable, isn't it? But true...
Shaman King belongs to Hiroyuki Takei...I wish I was his daughter, I'd be poking him all day long for Hao drawings...--
Mappa Douji is a 1 chapter manga by Hiroyuki Takei that explains Hao's bitter childhood, Ohachiyo also appears in there, so there you go, I wasn't making this up! xD
Chapter 13: Forbidden love for two...and a broken soul for one
The long haired shaman opened his eyes slowly, finding himself floating in a strange dark void, he could see some images around him, wars, events, he understood right away he was time traveling.
Finally, the images stopped, and he was standing in a small hill, an old tree stood in front of him, and he saw a small boy with brunette hair and a ponytail, his skin was pale and he was talking to a leaf spirit.
"That boy..."
"Hey you, there!" screamed an older boy appearing from the other side of the hill accompanied by other two children.
The little boy looked afraid and stepped back until he reached the tree and was cornered.
"The demon boy!" said one child, pointing at him "you are cursed and will curse all the village!"
"You were talking alone! You must be planning on killing us, humans, aren't you!"
"I...I was talking with my friend and..." stuttered the little boy, with a frightened look, trying not to tremble.
"My father saw your crazy mother talking alone too!"
"Yeah, she is a witch!"
"She should be burned! Let's tell the priests about it!"
"You leave my mommy alone!" the little boy charged against the oldest of the boys, hitting him awkwardly, the other boys pulled him off and threw him against the tree, the little body made a strong "thud" and fell on his knees, tears falling down his eyes.
"Monster!" said the other boy throwing a stone at the little child, harming his forehead which started bleeding.
"It hurts, stop!" said the little boy, putting his hands on his eyes and weeping softly.
"Hahaha crybaby!" then two of the boys got some long branches from the tree and started striking the boy, who just curled himself in a ball, protecting his face and exposing his back.
"Ow..." he started crying, he knew he couldnt do anything against those kids, who were bigger and stonger than him, what could a 4 year old do against tree 10-12 years old bullies?
Hao stared, he finally remembered he was that boy, that small boy that could see spirits, that little boy that would only talk alone, and everybody would call a monster, a demon a menace for humanity.
"That's enough!" came a female voice from behind. It was a beautiful woman, with long, blond hair and a red kimono, a pair of beautiful eyes, the same as the kid's.
She was carrying a bucket full of water, which she threw over the boys, who ran away immediately.
"Just wait, witch! My father will come for you!"
The woman ignored the little brat, and kneeled where the boy was, wrapping her arms around him and bringing him close to her.
"I'm sorry I was so late...I am so sorry, my baby..."
"Mommy! I'm glad you came, and it's not your fault" said the boy, sobbing and hugging the woman
Asano hugged him tighter and kissed his head, then she carried him and both headed home.
A single tear made its way from Hao Asakura's black eye, even though he didn't have a heart, he still had his memories...and his soul.
-Why are you crying?-
"It's you again, isn't it? The one who is me, and at the same time it isn't, the one who has always been with me but I have never been with you?"
-You are correct, why are you crying?-
"...I don't know why..."
-Why are you here?-
"I need to find Lyserg, seems I landed in another time..."
-Do you know that woman? I wish you had your heart...-
"Why do you wish that?"
-That is your mother, Asano Ha...and your name was Asaha Douji back then...-
"My mother..."
-...Hurry to another era, we don't know how many time you have left-
Hao nodded, with his blank expression, and was surrounded again by that silver light, but he was transported just a few days ahead and was standing in front of a small cottage in a beautiful field, There was a priest, with an ugly and perverse expression as other samurais tied Asano to a chair in the house.
"Will you change your mind and be mine, Asano Ha?"
"Get lost, you pig!"
"A witch, totally...sadly a beautiful one" said the priest, grabbing her chin and passing his hand on her shoulder slowly, with any good intentions at all.
The woman spat at the man's face, he cleaned himself, now with a furious look in his eyes.
"How dare you, bitch! Just wait and your son will have the same fate as you!"
"No! Leave my Asaha alone!"
The henchmen started pouring oil on her, and throwing dried branches and hay, with an evil smirk on their faces.
"Goodbye, Asano Ha" said the priest, throwing a lantern, and in no time, the house was covered in flames, the woman didn't scream, she just whispered before dying "I'm sorry Asaha, please forgive me!"
Hao felt pain in his hand and finally realized it was bleeding, since he was clenching his fists really tightly.
"She was killed..."
-Why didn't you do anything, Hao?-
"...I don't know..."
-How come?-
"I don't have a heart, though my soul...is crying"
-...-
"I wish...I have done something...now it's too late, finally my memories came back, they killed my mother mercilessly, I was left alone...hiding...they wanted to kill me too...I wanted to die...But I met a demon...my first true friend...-
-Asaha...-
"You said I was greedy before...He used to think like you...I believe I disappointed him... when I killed that priest in revenge...he told me killing him would just make me a human like him...but I wouldn't listen, my heart was drowned in resentment and sadness, anger... and desperation...I was too young...But I followed the same path still I do...Humans are...despicable"
-Do you remember his name?-
"He was named Ohachiyo...and I was Mappa Douji... Mappa, which means demon child, because I wanted to destroy all the humans...since I was a monster..."
-I can't believe you still remember me...It's been such a long time-
"So it's really you..."
-What an indifferent reaction, but I came back to you cause I missed you, and you still have that purity, I can't believe you haven't lost it, and that boy could be salvation from the nightmare you have been living in until now...-
"I need to save him...Lyserg Diethel..."
-I will help you, Mappa Douji...-
" Thank you..."
-Focus your memories and soul on that Diethel boy, remember why you want to save him and the consequences of failure, now summon the time again...It should work that way-
Hao did as told, and was again wrapped in silver and transported, now he was standing on the Big Ben, he was in England, finally. He jumped down, landing safely, startling a couple that was passing by, but he didn't even notice them and made his way to Lyserg's house, hurriedly, he knew he did not have any time to lose.
Finally he was outside the house, but couldn't get in, when he tried harder and even tried to burn the door, he would feel tired.
"Why can't I enter?"
-There is a great dark aura surrounding the place, you must be careful, Mappa Douji, this isn't normal at all-
The aura now made itself visible and it started getting bigger and bigger, until it was the size of the spirit of fire itself. It had red glowing eyes and it was all black, except the forehead that had a small white circle on it. The thing smiled, showing sharp fangs, and it expelled a terrible furyoku, it was really powerful, as Hao itself.
-What kind of demon is that!-
"He is...I know him..." said Hao blankly, staring at the demon
"Hey daddy, why are you with that spirit inside of you? Ahahaha he isn't worth your time, I'm really powerful thanks to you, but I need more power, you've been slacking off since you fell in love, that is just a weakness!"
-Daddy? So you are the demon that possessed Hao's soul!-
"Actually, Hao created me, I was born from the deepest part of his heart, from the pain, suffering and agony, that pain that you gave him when you awoke the mind reading ability! He has been tormented and accused, all the humans' filthy thoughts piercieng directly in his heart... oh, but who was with Hao daddy to protect him? Matamune? He stopped believing on him, you? You just walked away from him! And I have been with him always, these 1000 years! So, Hao, let's go back and feed me more power!"
"I...can't do that, I need to save Lyserg...He...needs me"
"No, you don't understand, ottosan, nobody needs you! They all hate you!"
Images in Hao's memory started awaking, he saw again his mother screaming and burning, mobs throwing stones at him and accusing him, the priest bleeding all over him, the humans' selfish thoughts, the way they harmed nature, the forests crying, the other onmyojis blaming him, his own clan killing him off even Matamune with the sadest expression he ever had. He also remembered the patch tribe calling him accursed, and Yohken, the Asakura descendant who was able to finish him off with Matamune's help again.
Hao fell on his knees and grabbed his head tightly.
"Please stop this!" he screamed as tears rolled down his face "I don't want to remember! Filthy humans! They all shall die! They all shall burn in hell!"
"Yes! You are correct, every human shall die, anybody can do it but you, do not rely on anybody, NEVER!"
"I am correct, I shall not trust anybody, I am correct...correct...correct"
-STOP THIS!- Ohachiyo appeared in front of Hao, striking the demon with a spiritual beam, managing to harm it and knock it off for a little while.
-Hao, get a hold of yourself! Lyserg trusts you, he loves you, I love you, your comrades also trust you! Matamune loves you also, but he just did what he thought was fair, don't fall against your own demon, you must control yourself!"
"Lyserg...I killed his parents...I'm really a monster! I hate myself so much..."
-Hao, stop this bullshit! - The little white spirit slapped the brunette hardly on his right cheek –This was my entire fault...I shall make up for you, I should have thought better before giving that demonic power to you...I'm so sorry, Mappa Douji...-
"Ohachiyo..."
-Please do forgive me, I couldn't let myself fall in love with a human, and a little boy too, now you are a fine shaman...-
"That means...! You left not only because I was human, but also because you..."
The spirit placed his index finger on the brunette's lips, and smiled, a warm and charming smile, assuring Hao everything was going to be ok, the next thing he did, was charge against the enormous demon in front of them, fighting with all he had, as the demon did.
Ohachiyo was almost beat up, the evil thing was way too strong, but he was wiser since he had been on earth for 1200 years already, so he knew the only way to vanish it.
"It's time to end everything..." he said with a smile and next, a white light emanated from his small body and fell directly on the spirit, which screamed sharply in pain, and disappeared in the light.
"Look this boy's heart...it has lost its black tone" said the time spirit holding the ethereal heart up
"...He managed to destroy his own demon, that's admirable" stated another
"He has the guts to be shaman king... but his heart is still grey, if he stumbles a bit, another demon of the same power can take over him, it would be easy for a demon to quickly evolve with his furyoku level..."
"Hao...I just hope you are all right..." whispered Kamakui, while Marco held Lyserg's hands with a worried look on his sky blue eyes.
"That brat...he shouldn't take this long...Lyserg, hold on"
Lyserg smiled slightly and whispered "I trust him, whatever happens, I'll always love..." he then let a low sigh and fell unconscious.
Marco held the English boy tighter, wanting to protect him, but he couldn't do anything but wait...it was so horribly frustrating.
"Hurry up...damn it!"
Hao opened his eyes after the light disappeared and saw the little white demon vanishing slowly in sparkles, all going to the sky.
"Ohachiyo...what are you doing?"
-I have already paid for my sin of giving you this cursed power, I defeated that demon, now I can finally rest in peace, can't believe I am going to heaven, thanks to you...I'll love you forever, my little pure shaman, I'm so sorry I left you back then...now please go and save that child, before something bad happens. I'll tell your mother what a fine son she has...Please take care...my shadow, my happiness...my forbidden love-
Said this, the spirit vanished with a wide smile on its face and a slight blush for he had finally confessed his love to that boy...after 1000 years.
-Goodbye...Asaha...Mappa Douji...Hao Asakura...-
Once again, water drops made their way down the shaman's face landing on the floor. He really missed his first spirit, and first true friend, maybe if Ohachiyo had confessed his love earlier, it would had been a different story for both of them...who knows?
"OHACHIYO!" screamed Hao, hitting his fist hardly on the ground. "Damn it!" He then stood up and entered the house. It was pitch dark, and the ashes from the last time were still there. He ran through the living room, then made his way upstairs, panting, his heart beating really fast, his soul was afraid, even if he was lacking his heart, his soul was awfully heavy. He finally reached the little boy's room, it was locked from the inside, so he threw the door down with a kick.
After the door fell, he saw the small familiar face, staring right back at him...with wide green eyes...and a serene expression, unlikely to have for a boy his age...
"Lyserg..."
The british boy opened his eyes slowly, missing its shine and forced another smile on his face.
"Marco, thank you for everything, I'm sorry if I harmed your feelings, I really appreciate you, please if you see him...tell him I'm sorry...tell him I love him, and tell him I forgive him from the deepest part of my soul..."
"L...Lyserg? why are you saying such things so suddenly?" said Marco, with his voice shaking, he felt his heart beating faster and the adrenaline in his body rose incredibly, fear taking over his heart and mind.
"Goodbye..." whispered the english, closing his eyes slowly, his body lost its support, he was now lighter, like a puppet.
"Lyserg? Hey Lyserg...that brat will be back soon...don't scare me...Lyserg! Please answer me!" the X-law started shaking the boy, but it was in vain, his furyoku was gone, and now he was starting to disappear, growing more and more transparent...and after a minute, he disappeared into thin air, joining the breeze in the field that ran freely thtough the beautiful flowers. Lyserg was gone.
"NOOOO!" screamed Marco, putting both hands on his face and crying desperately "MY LYSERG!"
Kamakui lowered his face, with a few tears in his big eyes "Too late..."
The time spirits were discussing among themselves "That boy belongs to us now" they said at the same time.
Hao stared, with blood tears rolling down now from his onyx eyes; he reached his right hand out slowly until he reached the still tender, yet pale cheek of the little angel. Lyserg was hanging from the ceiling of his room, with a tight rope around his little neck, swinging slowly side by side, completely lifeless, and his diary on the floor, with some blood words written on it that said "Goodbye cruel world, goodbye mommy, goodbye daddy, goodbye life, goodbye Morphin...goodbye...my ghost friend...my forbidden love...
Angsty, wasn't it? But this has not ended! What is going to happen to the strongest now heartless shaman of all? Find out in chapter 14! (bleh...that sounded like a soup opera's "next time on "insert a name here"...)
BTW-Is it me, or is this my longest chapter? XDU hehehe...