Chapter 3: DEATH AND VICTORY
Upon exiting the construction site, Kenji comes face to face with his killer.
"Amazing isn't it?" Asks Hitomi "You who holds the power to see and in some cases even prevent the death of comrades, friends and loved ones…….can't even save yourself. Only fools try to play god."
Kenji was at a loss, completely dumbfounded "What's going on?!" he thought "Why is she here?!"
"Quite an exceptional ability you have there. However, there are some barriers that humans aren't meant to overcome. No matter who you are, death cannot be outwitted."
It was her, the very one he foresaw to end his life. This can't be right. He had already made his way from the site before he encountered Kane. He was at least 200 yards away by the time he activated the first artificial gate. What had gone wrong? Had he been out maneuvered, or was this some blunder on his part? This would be assassin spares no time, she could not allow the time for Kenji to craft some sort of escape. He was to meet his end right here, right now. Hence, she calls forth her means of bringing Kenji to his end. A most foul and black vortex emitted from her hand. Chills could be felt just by looking at it, he had every reason to fear what came. The only way for him now was to use his gate of foresight to read his opponents moves and avoid an untimely fate. This he opened, perhaps he would be able to concoct some counter measure if given the time. This was his hope. So began Kenji's battle with the grim reaper of the human world, a being who commanded both life and death.
She hurls her gate to the floor surface, and directs it in pursuit of Kenji. This was the most effective way to rid him. She had not the stamina to keep up with him, nor did she desire to risk getting to close. All she needed was for him to touch the gate, the instant he did he wouldn't exist. Like some phantom arachnid, warping from floor to wall and from the walls to the ceilings of nearby buildings. Kenji runs for his life, the best thing to do would be to head back to the construction site; Kenji at least thought so. There he could hide and gather himself. A deadly game of hide and go seek in the thick of night. Caution was a must; any mistake he made would cause his demise. What was more, her gate blended with the surroundings. The next step he took might be his undoing. He was at a massive disadvantage. Even with the gate of foresight, would his body be able to keep up?
Now we must give attention; for a short time, to a familiar face in the world of gatekeepers. She, Yukino Houjo could sense the powers that gathered in Kyoto. Beside her stood a young teenage boy of similar stature to that of hers and wearing a basketball cap that masked his eyes under a deep shadow. He could feel it as well, this abnormal movement. "What now?"
"They gather ……
Those who destroy, those who protect…..
Those good, those not…..
Unsheathe their swords to wage war…..
A rotation of unending……."
With that said they begin their assent from New Tokyo Tower in search of this occurrence.
Kenji had managed, at least up until now to stay alive. And for the moment he had also managed to elude his pursuers. All seemed to be going his way, he had scattered several decoys throughout the maze of sorts. However, he was to be mindful that he did not over use his gate, less he end up as his old friend Sai Tomanaka had. No time to rest could be sparred; he must keep moving in order to live. There! From the wall on his right she would come at him. "No way." He thought "It should have taken her longer to find me, how is she doing this?! What's my next move?!" Kenji opts to use the last of his artificial gates. No more illusions, this would be the one chance he'd have to turn the tides. Suddenly, from behind him, Kane arose; most infuriated. Having foreseen this, Kenji is able to narrowly avoid the fatal blow. Now had come the crucial moment, his assailant came from the wall as was predicted. Alas.....
"…………."
"My name is Hitomi Suzuki, and this is my twin sister Hana. We're both 17 years old. The current world is a vast rotten waste isn't it Hitomi?A breeding ground for corruption, pettiness, and greed. The reason?Humans have proven to be a flawed creation, mistakes is more like it. Were we created flawed, or was it us who became flawed? They say the more you know the better but…….That's not true. The more man knows the more putrid he becomes. Soon enough, all the good that remains will be overtaken and shattered. This is an unavoidable truth. Oh but man……Man strives to overcome such truth, to play god. "The more we know the more we can overcome" they say, but…..pointless. That's what this world is……pointless. The only way to correct the world is to destroy it and start over. For that to happen, they're would have to be someone with an influence over life and death. Wouldn't you agree, Hana? If that's the case……we're perfect for the job. To give life or take it? To restore or obliterate? We control both!"
So the ordeal was done. Kenji had fallen victim to the gate of death. Alas, he was at his end. He could feel himself dying, not so much as pain but…..a slow, burning numbness. First his legs and now…..Now his arms were being succumbed. The more time that passed, the more his thoughts became jammed within his mind. He had failed. Having failed to save himself he would no longer be able to save those whose deaths he had already foreseen. His younger sister Ino killed instantly in a tragic hit and run. Had he been able to be there…….She wouldn't have had to cross the street alone. He had failed. He had failed to be a comfort and support to his soon to be ill mother. To know just exactly what to say and do at the exact moment and time, to show her that there was still hope……that she was still loved. His brother's wedding would be in a weeks' time but…….he wouldn't be there. Neither his sister nor his mother. As a matter of fact, there might not even be a wedding anymore. Kenji wouldn't even get to have one of his own. No wedding, no family, nor a fulfilling or meaningful life…..They were all now beyond his reach. Such thoughts ate away at him. Unrelentingly gnawing at him, his emotions, his pride, and his dreams. His heart began to beat slower and slower, while his breathes grow weaker, shorter and shallow. This last few minutes seemed like hours of merciless torture. He tried to scream but….no sound. All he truly could do was cry.
The reality was that all along he had been battling not 2, but 4 opponents. That the killer he foresaw in the construction site was in fact, not the killer but the killer's twin, Hana. It should also be noted that Hana was also mistaken for her sister as the one who appeared from the wall. Kenji's inability to perceive these and having made the choice to seek refuge in the construction site were key elements in the sealing of his fate. And the 4th? What role had he played in Kenji's defeat?
"You're not the only one with the gate of foresight." Said he "You're far superior than I and yet……it ends this way."
"……….."
"Sayonara Kenji."
Death, unavoidable? Are not sadness, anger and misfortune the same…..unavoidable? Tragic indeed, the loss of Kenji but……how many more lives must be sacrificed for the sake of a new world. What friendships must be broken? What relationships must be severed, in order to attain hope? Only time will tell.
