Nobunaga attempted to unite the land using the Genma and ruling with an iron fist. However, the Onimusha were able to halt his blind ambition. The Genma Lord vanished amidst the flames of Honoji Temple, his corpse was not discovered neither was a trace left of him. The Genmas set off hiding, without a Lord to support them nor aid them. Who was the next to rule this land next? A man that goes by the name Hideyoshi Toyatomi, formerly known as Tokachiro Kinoshita. He used to be nothing but a cruel trickster. Nonetheless, he was Nobunaga's retainer, soon he took his place after his demise.
Many have thought by Hideyoshi ruling the land the terror and dread that spreads across the land shall halt. Hideyoshi succeeded in uniting the land. Little did the people know that the past events were nothing but a prologue of a more dreadful nightmare.
Death has stretched its arms to capture all who cross the borders of Japan under Toyotomi's command. Those who were aboard the San Filpe were massacred mercilessly, was it the work of the Genma or Toyotomi's soldiers. None lived to tell the tale. The ship final travel was to the harbor of the Forbidden City of Sakai.
An ominous star appeared in the night's sky, colouring its center with the dim hues of crimson and scarlet. The appearance of the strange star was followed with countless natural disaster. The volcanoes erupt wrathfully, burning countless of villages and suffocating lots of citizens. A massive earthquake dug the solid ground, causing the fall of Fushimi Castle in Kyoto. Hurricanes swept the life out this land, leaving nothing but crows feasting upon the dead.
What shall be the fate of this country? We shall discover as the events of our story uncovers.
Kyushu lays at the South-East of Japan, it is famous for its active volcanoes. On this vast land lived a little child like no other. A lad with distinctive appearance, his tresses were as golden as the desert's sands. His skin as pale as snow, with eyes coloured in deep blue. For a child, he was taller than average. The children mocked him and played, the adults scorned and harassed his Asian mother.
On a rainy night, soldiers sent from Nagoya Castle under Hideyoshi's order invaded the village that lays in Kyushu. The youthful woman were mostly captured, all men were mercilessly butchered. And as for the children, their body parts were taken as trophies. Only little did survive the sudden invasion.
The second a certain mother heard the desperate screams echoing outside her humble cottage, she barred the door from the inside in hopes of them forsaking this desolated cottage or the least to buy herself a time to hide her beloved son. She rushed into the bedroom where she found her son peeping from the window, trying to catch glimpse of whatever havoc is being wrecked outside with his pair of curious eyes.
"Roberto!" Yelled the mother in an apprehensive tone, before the lad could respond she pulled him away from the window into a crouching embrace. Hoping to hide him from the soldier's eyes.
"Roberto. . . I'm sorry. . . I wish if I could stay with you a while longer, there's still. . . So much I want to show you. . . So much I want to teach you. . . You are a gentle and passionate boy, please. . . Be strong and live well, my son. . ."
Her caring words escaped her trembling lips in the form of soft whispers. Her slender fingers dug to his clothes. Without knowing what may happen to the two this time, Roberto spoke in a unshaken tone.
"Mother, don't say that. You needn't to fear at all. I'll protect you, like always."
Her eyes flooded with tears, the dark flames of despair engulfed her heart after hearing those words. A smile adorned her frightened face.
"N-no. . . Roberto, this time. . . I'll protect you. I promise to save you."
"Mother?"
The bar that was placed over the door did not keep those blood thirsty soldiers from coming. However, it did buy the two some time to say a proper goodbye.
The General dressed in red came along with two regular soldiers in the room where the two were hiding, all what was visible to them was the visage of the back of a crouching woman. She was humming a short lullaby in her child's ear.
"Fetch that woman. She'd make a fine tree."
Demanded the General in a vicious voice, the two soldiers only obeyed and each were dragging her from her arms yet she refused to move. It was only a matter of time the General loses his tolerance, he pierced his sword to her chest swiftly.
"Tch. . . You chose death over becoming of any use to the Lord. Let's head out, we are done here."
They departed from the small cottage with satisfied grins plastered on their facial features. With widened eyes he stared at his dying mother, his hand brushed against her wound wiping the blood off in hopes of all the pain would go away once the blood disappears. But no matter how much blood he swipes, only more poured out. He yelled and cried out for his dying mother, but he was only responded with soundless moans. At that time, the lad was acquainted with a different level of despair. One that can never bring his loved one back, one that none could save him from his solitude.
After spending hours grieving for the woman who loved and raised him, he carried her lifeless body and placed her on the wooden surface of the bed. Reorganizing few of her misplaced ebony locks with his fingers gently.
His hand gripped on her tightly, lightly squeezing. Miserable blue eyes settled on the visage of his mother, a hand brushed against her eyes, closing her opened lids.
"You'll always be the Masterpiece in my heart. . . engraved in my soul. . . Mother."
Weeks passed and those who survived remained in their mournful state, a few decided to forsake this village and its unpleasant memories. And others decided to rebuild the village. However, they weren't successful; due to the lack of youthful workers.
The days that followed that tragic night were all rainy, no villager was fortunate to see the light of the day. Only the gray clouds that coated the sun completely. The smell of death has spread all across this small land. Beneath the wet soil hid the rotting the bodies of the dead.
Ever since that day of grief, Roberto was taking care of a rose his mother always watched over for several years. She told him that this crimson rose was a gift from his late father. This rose was her garden, her soul mate, and her world.
Those several weeks then became passing months, the rainy sky waved at this land its final goodbye. As the spring rushed in to greet it once more from such a long time. Those depressing clouds abandoned the heavens, and the sun stretched its brilliance across the region.
Spring is the most pleasant season of the year. It is when the shy flowers blossom beautifully, holding its petals proudly. And when the little canaries gather along, singing the merry song of joy.
What Spring displays from beauty made the lad recollect a poem he read in a book that he adored so dearly. A poem reflecting the wisdom and the philosophy of an author by the name Hans Christian Andersen.
"Life is a shadow that flits away
In a night of darkness and woe."
"Life has the rose's sweet perfume
With sunshine, light, and joy."
【 After Tragedy Comes The Quest 】
A priest traveled to this forsaken village at the first day of Spring. He wore the most sweetest and inviting smile. His sapphires traveled here and there until they settled upon a young boy with a unusual appearance. He marched forth to the lad who was showing the blossoming rose that he had inherited the play of the Spring.
"Did you know my boy, that roses have their own literature to teach?"
Words spoken by the elder in a tone coupled with wisdom and a unlimited capacity of kindness. Such captivating words captured Roberto's heed. He averted his gaze to the priest's visage. Despite his poor vision, all what he could see was the radiation of light focusing on a single individual. His presence itself was so settling.
"Tell me little one, are you living alone?"
He was responded with a slight head shake.
"Would you like to accompany me then? I'll take you to adventures and have you meet new friends." He requested in a soft and inviting tone, the lustrous light he gave off was so divine it almost looked as if he was an Angel sent from the Heavens above to rescue this child.
"Papa. . . ."
Whispered the he who endured countless of tragedies alone. The aura this priest gave off was somewhat Father-like. Roberto has never known his father. Nonetheless, he knew that his mother loved him so dearly and treasured the rose he gave to her.
The priest stretched his hand towards Roberto, gesturing him to tug on it if he decides to come. Several seconds passed until he took his hand. And at that moment, he knew he was saved, from this burden, this pain, this solitude.
The choice was finally made, and the two set off to a voyage traveling to Sakai Osaka. There, Roberto will discover his new home, and his new family. Could this possibly be the end of his tragedy? And a start of a whole new fortunate chapter in his story?
All questions shall be answered while the pen's ink adorns the silky paper.
