Chapter 5: {Revealed Secrets ~ Part 2}
Ayano, Kazuma, Ren, Aoi, and James went for a walk in the nearby park. "We talked it out and…" Aoi paused, "well… you're going to learn the truth sooner or later. So we decided we should tell you all we know…" "And… well… it's a lot. We should start at the beginning…" said James. "Ayano. Do you know how your mother died?" Ayano stopped walking. "My mother? What does she have to do with this?" "Just bear with us…" said Aoi. "Well… I was told she died during childbirth…" "That's… not exactly true…" said James, a spark of sadness in his eyes. "Mizuki - you're mother – she had a lot of secrets. She kept them from Jugo out of fear that they would drive him away… but… I know the truth." James had an intense look of despair mixed with anger twisted on his face. "You're mother survived the childbirth… it was after when she died… protecting you…" Ayano and Ren's eyes opened wide with horror. Kazuma stood still, no expression on his face, and said nothing. "What do you mean she died protecting me?" Ayano said, fear in her voice. "You are a Kannagi from your father's side. You're mother isn't a Kannagi. It's her family's lineage that got you involved in-" Suddenly there was a shirtless man wearing a hooded brown trench coat in front of Ayano. ("I didn't even sense his presence") thought Ayano and the boys in shock. It was then that Ayano realized the cloaked man had blocked a dozen knifes thrown at her. Their intention: to kill her. Before giving the attackers a chance to monologue, the man moved to attack, and just like that, they dropped, dead. All but one. The leader was left alive, most likely to send a message to his leader. He scampered off, and the man turned quickly to run after him. As he turned Ayano saw three giant scars from claws, under his coat.
[A giant lion was released from his iron prison and lunged to kill a defenseless Ayano. She closed her eyes, expecting to feel massive pain, but heard a loud grunt instead. She opened her eyes in horror, seeing a boy wincing, blood dripping down his shoulder. "W-Why did you-" "Because I love you too much to see you get hurt!" he screamed at her."]
"Wait!" Ayano pleaded to the cloaked man. He stopped and turned over his shoulder, his face hidden by the shadow of his hood. "Why… why'd you protect me? Do I… know you?" she asked. The man said nothing, bowed slightly, then left. Ayano looked where he stood for what seemed like a long time. ("I know him… I know I do… but who is he?...") "Ayano. I apologize. Telling you out here is too dangerous. Let's head back to my clinic." said James. The boys began walking to the clinic. Ayano stood there, still stunned and confused at what just happened. "Ayano." said Kazuma lightly. Ayano snapped out of it at the sound of his voice. "I… I'm coming…"
They went back to the clinic and walked inside. "Aoi, do you smell that?" "It smells like something's burning…" said Aoi as they ran to the kitchen. They saw a big black smoke cloud, a man coughing in the midst of it. The man opened the window, clearing the room from the smoke. "Hisoka! When did you get back from France?" said Aoi in slight surprise. "More importantly" said James, "What poor animal was butchered by your cooking?" "We thought you went to France to get BETTER at cooking." Hisoka laughed, embarrassed "I guess I was destined to be bad at cooking. Hmm?" he looked over at Kazuma and Ren "Are these customers? Forgive me. Hisoka Campbell. Their cousin." He bowed deeply. "Ayano. It's good to see you again. You've grown to be a fine young woman." "Do we know each other?" she asked. "When we were younger. I suspected you wouldn't remember me. My appearance has changed a lot from when I was a boy. You however, look almost the same as you did." "I'm sorry… I can't remember you…" Hisoka laughed. "It's fine. Like I said, I have changed a lot. James, you were going to tell them something?" he hinted. "Hmm? Oh yes. It almost slipped my mind."
"We were talking about your families lineage…" said James. "Wait. Is he allowed to hear this?" asked Kazuma, pointing at Hisoka. "He as well was directly involved in that incident. He can hear it." Said Aoi in reply. "As I was saying… you are not a Kannagi from your mother's side. She kept it secret from even your father, for fear of driving him away. You are from a powerful clan called the Sukai clan." "If they're so powerful, why have we never heard of them?" asked Ren. "The Sukai were a clan with immense power and influence over other people. I dare say the Sukai were the strongest in the world." "Were?" asked Ayano. "The Sukai are all but extinct. That's part of why you have not heard of them. The Campbell family have been protectors to the Sukai for generations. That is why we protect you. That, and the bond the four of us share from that day…" James trailed off. Aoi spoke. "That dream you had, Ayano… As we said, it was preparation for a tournament. Was there a man in your dream?" "There was…" "We have tried to find out who he is, but have failed each time. We do know he was once a scientist of high stature, a lesser-known one. But he went rogue and began experimenting on humans. We don't have much more information on him, thus we call him Doc." "wait" Ayano said "You said he was experimenting on humans? Does that mean that he…" "Yes" James spoke up again. "He experimented on you. You and thousands of other children. Aoi, Ash, Hisoka, and my late sister Meena, they were experimented on as well. He was trying to bind the souls of demons inside their bodies but we are unsure why. So many children died with just the preparations…" "The preparations were horrible. You needed to have a strong body just to survive that part… Most of the girls died during the preparations… The girl you saw chained to the wall… you were supposed to kill her. But you didn't. He was trying to break you, to break us. He made all the strong kids compete in a tournament… myself included. I thank the gods that you escaped before you had to do that. I however… took countless lives…" Aoi continued "The government found out what he was doing so he… erased the evidence… You, Ash, Hisoka, and myself were the only ones who survived. James was forced to help Doc, or he would've killed our parents and Meena. But even after all that… the building holding them captive was burned down and they died when the ceilings collapsed…" he trailed off. "There is another thing we should mention" said Hisoka. "There was only one person who was a success." He looked at Ayano. Kazuma looked at Hisoka, fear and anger mixed in his eyes, for he knew what he would say next. "Ayano. You were the success…"
Ayano looked over at James and Aoi, her eyes reflecting Kazuma's emotions. They turned away, unable to look her in the eyes. "Me? Why?" "We forgot to mention the secret about the Sukai clan…" said Aoi. Hisoka interrupted him, knowing he wouldn't be able to say it. "The Sukai clan did the same thing Kazuma did. Their ancestor made a contract with the Spirit King of the Wind. Ayano, Mizuki was from a family of Wind magic users." "I'm afraid it's true." said James. "They kept that secret from the world. They kept the knowledge of their family's existence to a bare minimum. All because they were Wind magic users. There's something else you should know." He stopped, thinking, then spoke up again. "After you were born your aunt, Mizuki's sister, she took you from her. Only she and her sister knew about her marriage to a Kannagi and that was their agreement for letting her marry Jugo. Your father knew nothing of this though. I told Jugo that you were stillborn. Your father told the Kannagi clan that you were in intensive care, rather than saying you had died. Mizuki had to give up her first born daughter to the Sukai, to have her become the next leader. They expected you to gain your mother's power of Wind, but you instead gained the power of your father, Fire. When they realized this four years later, the exiled you from the family. You had lost your memory though and – it's ironic, really – you're father found you and decided to "adopt" you as "Ayano" his "lost" child. He had no idea you were actually his daughter."
[Ayano wondered in a daze down the street in her burned and tattered hospital gown. ("where am I?") she thought. Jugo was walking in the opposite direction and saw Ayano. He ran over to her as she teetered to the ground. Jugo held her in his arms. "Are you okay?" he said frantically, to no reply. ("She's still breathing… I'll bring her to James.") He brought Ayano to James' clinic. Upon seeing Ayano, James eyes opened wide for a moment, then returned to a normal state. Jugo looked at him "why are your clothes burned?" "Ah. My guest Sh- Hisoka, my cousin… He burned his food while cooking. But that's not important. The girl?" He pointed at Ayano. "Is she alright?" "I'm not sure. I found her wandering the street." James examined her throat, then her eyes, and then the cuts on her arms and legs. He put an oxygen mask over her nose and mouth. "She has a few nasty cuts, I'll put ointment on them. She also has some smoke in her lunges, the oxygen should clear that out. It looks like she's been awake for more than 24 hours. Some rest will help." "She would be about the same age as my daughter… and she sort of looks like Mizuki…" Jugo trailed off. Ayano, still conscious with her eyes closed, opened her eyes at last. "Where am I? Do I know you?" she asked groggily. James hushed her and stroked her head. "Can you tell me your name?" "I…I don't remember…" she said, thinking as hard as she could. "You're my daughter. Ayano." said Jugo. James looked at him, a bit startled, then said to Ayano "Your hurt and your body needs to heal, so get some sleep." As if she was cast under a spell, Ayano passed out. "Jugo?" asked James. "James… I told my family that my daughter was in intensive care. She doesn't remember who she is… so until she can remember, I will take her in as my daughter." James looked at him with an odd expression. "What about your family?" "When she remembers who she is, I will tell my family the truth and step down as the head of the Kannagi's." James said nothing for a long time, only stared. "Alright. When she heals I'll release her to you."]
Ayano bent over clutching her head, throbbing with pain. Before James could react, Kazuma ran over to her and placed his hands on hers. ""I'm right here." he said softly. "We're all right here. You don't need to fear your past." Just like magic, Ayano felt her pain fade. She had finally released the breath she didn't realize she was holding. As her breath stabilized and the throbbing subsided, she stood up, a new determination in her eyes. "Ayano?" Ren asked with concern. "It makes sense now… why my father treated me strangely…" James glanced at Ayano, then looked at Aoi.
James was going to say something, when a figure appeared. "Isn't that…" Ayano trailed off. "Yeah. It's that thing that attacked you." replied Kazuma. Aoi, James, Hisoka, Ren, and Kazuma entered their fighting stances. "Wait." Ayano said. "I don't think it was trying to attack me the first time. I think it just got nervous when Kazu came. I think it's trying to… speak to me…" She approached the figure as Kazu grabbed her shoulder. "It's okay. It isn't trying to hurt me. I'm sure of it." She shook free of his arm then reached out to the figure. The figure reached out to her as well. Their hands touched and Ayano once again saw a bright white light.
["Ayano." A man said smiling at her. Ayano stared at him. "Ash?..." she said cautiously. He simply smiled lightly back at her in reply.]
(Thanks so much for reading Chapter five! PLEASE review. I have many people reading, yet only about 3 have given reviews. Your reviews make the future chapters better so please PLEASE review. And suggest things I could do for future chapters. ~MoonGoddessLunaDLC)