Chapter 38

The fallout…

He never thought…

He didn't even ask them…

Who was Kechizu?

Junpei fell into a moment of pure madness. Wanting the brothers to accept him, to have the name Kechizu, however was quickly challenged to it. If he was to be Kechizu, he has to look like him, which he didn't.

After that, Junpei became determined. He always felt there was something within him that he could unleash, to bring about what the brothers desire. To become Kechizu, he will do whatever it took!

But, when the alteration became something non human… something… monstrous, he began to panic. His human mind began to take over again, thinking how wrong this was. 'You are doing this for the sake of being different… WHY?' his mind screamed at him.

More of his body altered, changing and turning this odd greenish blue before the brothers. They didn't look away from him. They kept watching everything closely. "Who are you?" Choso demanded of him. "Do you want to be Kechizu? Or are you Junpei?"

He couldn't take the changing anymore. "I'm JUNPEI! I'M JUMPEI!" he screamed over and over again. "I don't want to change anymore! Stop this, please… please…" his eyes soon would roll back. He collapsed to the ground then and there.

But that was when things got weird.

He found himself in an odd space, yet there was nothing around him. "What… where?" he whispered. Peering down at himself, he found that his hands were back to normal, his spine too, he was back to what he was before… but how?

Then he heard it.

The strange laugh that he inherited began to fill the empty space.

"What… whose there!" he shouted.

The laughter only grew. "Couldn't handle it?"

The voice… it was a disturbing voice.

Suddenly, something appeared from the corner of his eye. Junpei turned and stumbled back. That greenish figure Choso showed him, the painting he made… this… this was Kechizu!

He calmed himself slightly, Kechizu continued to smile towards him. "You… you're the one who gave his life to save mine…"

"Not exactly, but sure"

He settled a little more, but realizing everything he said about Kechizu… not wanting to become him…

Junpei prostrated.

He was on the ground, lowing his head. "I am SO SORRY for what I said before… I… I didn't know… I also… UGH!" he was angry at himself. "I had no idea…"

Kechizu, despite his appearance, still bore that massive smile. "I don't blame you, I had no control over what I became either…"

Slowly, Junpei stood up once more. "I… Why?" he asked bluntly. "Why did you want me to return in your place? To be their brother and yet… I'm not like them… I'm not like you either… I… I just feel out of place in a sense."

Kechizu snickered once more. "Because of the promise you made me. You will watch out for my brothers. Since I wouldn't be able to do so." Kechizu explained. "I cannot speak much of it, something prevents me from doing so, but you need to be the one to protect them. Had I returned… there would be no one to keep them safe." Kechizu came closer.

"Did you really think I would throw my life away, a chance at being reborn for nothing? I have seen you through the eyes of my brother, I never knew I was a big brother either! But Yuuji… he trusts you. He will take your word over mine had it comes down to it. I also know you are training harder to make yourself stronger… I am not against you changing yourself, for I would have done the same. Perhaps that was part of me influencing your past actions in wanting to be different…"

"Oh…"

"But worry not! I am not taking over you. I am rather enjoying it…"

"Take over me?" Junpei whispered as he peered at Kechizu. "You… you could do that too, couldn't you?"

"Our souls are one in the same right now. What you lacked to be reincarnated came from me, therefore we are one!" Kechizu snickered a little. "But I am enjoying the sights I see through you. You made my brothers so happy… I never thought it was possible."

It was an odd conversation to have, and yet… Junpei understood the situation before him in a sense. "So… are you content here?"

"I don't mind it, as I said, I live and see things through you. Besides, if you need help. I'll step in, why do you think you can't be transfigured anymore?"

He froze, he didn't realize that this was a true reason. Was Kechizu making sure that he can't be? "It was you? You're blocking it?"

"Partly, you trained long and hard to make certain you don't get altered again… next time you see that Mahito bastard, give him a good ass kicking for me too!"

Junpei smirked but nodded to him. "Deal," he vowed.

"Just keep your promise… I have a feeling sooner than later, it will happen…"

"Huh?"

Before he could get any more information, his eyes opened. The world was a blur at first, and yet, as he slowly came too, Junpei inspected himself. He was back to his string bean form, much to his relief!

"Have you calmed down now little brother?"

He jumped. Choso was seated at his bedside! "Did… did you wait for me to wake up?"

He nodded. "Do you feel better now?"

Junpei nodded to him. "Choso… I'm sorry…"

"It's quite alright. Believe it or not, Satoru warned us of teenage outbursts, it was our first time handling something like that… it was oddly refreshing."

He forced a snicker, but paused. "Kechizu… you had a very good little brother… and I'm sorry I took him from you…"

Choso peered over to him oddly. "You did nothing of the sort. This was Kechizu's choice, not ours. Despite him being the youngest from the nine of us, I have no doubt he did this within reason as well for his own belief. Besides, we didn't lose him, we still have him with us, and he lives through you. We still have our brother, just different, and we don't mind the least bit."

"Yeah, but… I'll be more careful from this moment on. Again, I'm sorry for my actions…"

He would lower his head to the brothers later that day, but they laughed it off.