Chapter 5: WHAT IS HUMAN?

The 4 evil gatekeepers are called to the presence of the most powerful of the invader movement. A shadowy figure, this one. They were uneasy, not being able to glimpse upon his true appearance left them in wonder. They could only imagine his power. Before them rest the very essence of these beings, these invaders. If A.E.G.I.S were to kill him then…..the world would return to the way it once was. Still rotten, still hopeless, still full of sadness and despair but……free from Invaders. As far as 3 of these 4 were concerned the only way to rid the world of its evil is to destroy the evil from within. These fiends can only assimilate the humans who forsake that which is human, thus when they're work has been completed, all that will remain are the ones who truly have the right to call themselves human. After that, they will band together and destroy this one before whom they stood. What of the 4th, Kane? He who seeks only for himself power, will also be dealt with in due time. The others saw him as wasted flesh, nothing more. "He shall share the same fate as them." They thought. Kane for his part also sought the lives of his so called comrades. He would kill them and become more powerful than any gatekeeper of his time, nothing short of invincible. Incidentally, this invader king was fully aware of the plots against him. Why not kill them now? Why let them have a chance at his ending existence? He was curious……

"What is human?" He asks.

His audience was silenced. They knew not what exactly he was asking, nor his motives or how to answer.

Hitomi's suspicion is aroused. "Is this some kind of feeble attempt to understand how man works?" She asked herself. "Parasites like you could never comprehend us. Why ask this?"

Hana was easily able to gather more or less of what her counterpart was thinking; consequently she turned to the Invader king and replied. "Would you mind being more specific?"

"What is it that drives your existence? From the time of our arrival, your race has proven impudent and unstable…….scattered and weak. You wage wars, killing millions of your own and yet…..you seek to unite yourselves through so called organizations of peace. Such erratic behavior is most baffling and pitiful. But even so…..over the years a select few have managed to remain constant pangs in my side. These most wretched and persistent filth…..This A.E.G.I.S, why do they continue to fight? You cannot destroy us, they cannot win. As long as humans continue to live, so too will we. And what is more……..Tell me, why have you betrayed your own race? Power perhaps? Or…..Maybe something more? Enlighten me…"

At this point it was clear that at the very least he was wary of them, of their motives and intentions. What would they say? The response which these 4 subordinates would give could ultimately decide whether they would remain in the good graces of the invader king or be cut off. They were in no condition to fight him, not yet. They needed more power, they needed to stay alive for only a little while longer. Yet another thing was of certainty, Kane could not be allowed to answer the question to which they were posed. That fool would undoubtedly get them all killed, never looking before leaping as it where. Kane ran on emotion, feeling and greed. He spoke his mind, not caring of the result. He was too dense to discern that the invader king asked this not solely because he wanted to know. This one sought to find some reason for which he could destroy them. To him, they were a convenience to have, but far from needed.

Hana steps forward. "What drives our existence? I'm not all too sure about that."

"Most puzzling." Was the response "You do not the meaning of your existence?"

"No, I do not. Simply put, humans are flawed."

"Flawed?"

"We are a failed creation, a race so full of blemishes and imperfections that we can't even envision our own existence. The result is this erratic behavior you spoke of."

She was lying through her teeth. As for him, the invader king was uncertain whether she was indeed lying or not. If what she had just told him was truth then…..did this mean that he and the invader order were also flawed? If not truth then……how have the humans been able to oppose him for so long? This was very unsettling. He needed to know. Not just whether or not this girl was being less than truthful, he needed to know more about these cursed thorns in his side, the humans. Not sure of his next move he commands that they lay low for the time being and after which dismisses three of the four. Those excused make their way from before him with haste, so that he who masterminded Kenji's death remained; Kazuna Shino. Though not set on laying his question to rest; as regards the true persona of the human race, there were more pressing matters he was concerned with. To be more specific; the next target (s) to be ridded. The first was none other than Yukino Houjo, the second being this mysterious boy. This one's identity will be unveiled some time later.

"I leave you this task." Said he "Eliminate the both of them, that is all."

Kazuna is visibly not satisfied with the order.

"Is something the matter?"

At least, from Kazuna's standpoint there was. Kane might have gladly taken this task without hesitation and by all accounts might have been found dead the next day or unable to locate them at all. The sisters were much the same. Although far too intelligent to just except such a undertaking, even they would have been unable to track down the duo. The fitting choice was Kazuna. He would locate the pair and collaborate with his counter parts just as he did with Kenji. Or so was thought by the invader king. These were characters with phenomenal abilities. Even though Yukino's power had diminished to some degree, she was still able to altar time; thus her future could not be foreseen. The boy was much the same, and his exact abilities will not be known as of yet. But even so I will say this, he bent reality to his will. Either the invader king, in all seriousness thought they do away with these thorns in his side. Or possibly, this was some suicide mission; a killing of two birds with one stone as it were.

"We don't have that kind of power, not for these two." Kazuna replied.

"You don't have the power? And yet you're able to kill a man who can foresee his own death?"

"If someone can see the manner and the circumstances in which he dies, then he can take the appropriate measures to overcome that fate." These were words spoken by Kenji himself. Although true to some degree, it was the entire truth that was realized by Kazuna and not Kenji. It must be illustrated like this:

If a man was to fall from the top of a building to the ground below, would you say he jumped or was pushed? From the perspective of those stationed on the ground it would appear that the man jumped, however someone looking from a neighboring roof top would see differently if he was indeed pushed. The same rule applied to the gate of foresight. In order to see something entirely you'd need the proper vantage point.

"Kazuna Shino, age: 17. We've been fighting the invaders for a while, humans that is. This "Keeping your enemies close" tactic is quite frankly, annoying. I don't like having to watch my back like this, day in and day out. This war, in my opinion is hopeless. How can someone save someone else, when he can't even save himself from himself? Humans are to self destructive. But all the same, it's hard to just watch and do nothing. And there you have my reason for joining the invaders. A.E.G.I.S can't get anything done; their approach is to…….lacking. It's like playing chess or shogi and your opponent has nothing but ponds and a king. Why waste your time fighting them when you can go straight to the king? And it's because of that tactic that so many A.E.G.I.S members quit or die either from battling those ponds or falling victim to their own powers. They've sacrificed…..or should I say let so many pieces die and yet they still bother slaying ponds. I can't understand it. Either way the invaders must be dealt with quickly. I, Kazuna Shino will accomplish that which Kenji Shugo could not. The invaders will be erased. That is the future I see."

"Useless filth." Said the invader king, to himself.

So Kazuna was dismissed, but none the less determined to take his abilities to a whole new level and master the weakness that he and Kenji both shared.

All of us are born the same yet different. Some fail were others succeed and others succeed where some fail. The only one who can determine whether it is failure or success that is grasped is oneself. We will see what becomes of Kazuna later on.