Here we are at Chapter 21. It's time for a little stroll down memory lane with Fuyumi. I do not own Code Vein or Skeleton Knight. They belong to their respective owners. I only own my OCs. Here's chapter 21. Enjoy.
Chapter 21: Story
A couple days have passed since Fuyumi and Emilia's date in the city. Things have calmed down for everyone. Meanwhile, Anelia was working with Elane in mercenary work to gather some extra funds and to help Elane acclimate more to human society. It was a bit difficult for her to get used to being around so many humans, but she is adjusting. However, Fuyumi has something planned for all of them. And the time is now. Inside the duke's manor, Fuyumi has gathered Emilia, her family, Ser Conrad, Sebastian, Anelia, Umi, and Elane.
"Fuyumi, not to sound concerned but why did you call all of us here?" Emilia asks.
"I called you all here for the same reason. There's something I need to tell you all," Fuyumi sits on the couch opposite everyone else.
"What is it?" Anelia asks.
"For Emilia and Anelia, we are engaged, and I love you both. But if we're going to be married, then I don't want there to be secrets between us. As for Elane, since she'll be traveling with us, she may find out eventually, so I decided it best to get it over with now. The truth is I am not on some traditional journey that's part of my people's customs. I have lied to you all, on a few things,"
"What are you talking about?" Emilia gets a little scared now.
"It would be best if I start from the beginning. Let me tell you... the story of my homeland... My homeland was a strong society. We were largely at peace, and had made tremendous advances in science, history, medicine, and many other things. It was a grand place, full of joy... But, nothing lasts forever. One day... they came..." Fuyumi begins her tale.
"They?" Duke Joseph inclines.
"No one knows their origins, only what they did. Suddenly, without warning, large spikes erupted from deep beneath the land, all across the country. They tore our cities apart, destroyed the landscape, and killed millions of innocent people. These spikes came to be known as the Thorns of Judgment. Our society was decimated in practically an instant. However, that wasn't even the worst part. The worst part... was what came after the spikes. These monsters started sprouting forth from wherever the Thorns came from, and they lived for only one goal: destruction. They tore through the rest of our cities, and killed any who survived the Thorns. They weren't goblins. They weren't orcs or bandits. They weren't undead, or even dragons, or even demons. They were something new entirely, and something far worse. My people dubbed them... Horrors," Fuyumi explains.
"Horrors... Something worse than demons or dragons," Eleonora mutters in worry.
"My people tried to fight them, but nothing worked. None of our weapons worked, no strategy. They just wouldn't stop, and our people were dying all over again. My people were pushed to the brink of extinction, until one day, they found a solution. A way to fight the Horrors. A new kind of weapon. Researchers from my homeland created a small creature known as a BOR parasite. These little creatures granted us the key to fight back, but in the most unconventional way possible. The BOR parasites, when injected into the heart of someone who had already died... They brought that person back to life. And I don't mean as an undead or a zombie. I mean fully, COMPLETELY alive, just as they were before they died," Fuyumi adds.
"Wait, you mean they found a way to revive their fallen soldiers? Not with magic, but with some... some insect?" Conrad asks, stunned by this.
"I know it sounds strange, but it's the truth. However, the BOR parasites did more than just bring back the dead. They changed them. Those brought back were no longer human. They were something else entirely. These beings are called... Revenants... And I am one of them," Fuyumi places a hand on her chest.
"Fuyumi, are you saying that you're... not human? But, you look just like a human," Emilia asks.
Fuyumi shakes her head, "Our appearances don't change when we are brought back. I was human, once upon a time, but when these catastrophes began, somewhere down the line... I died,"
"Oh, by the goddess," Eleonora gasps.
"I died... and then I was brought back to life as a Revenant. You must understand, this new plan was not made easily. Many of the survivors didn't like the idea of bringing back those that already died, just to fight and die again. But... we had no other option. It was either that, or face extinction. The situation was that dire. However, having our life back was more than that. As revenants, we were gifted with powerful abilities, born from our new, unique blood codes. You could say they were like magic," Fuyumi holds out her hand, conjuring a small frost shard above her palm. "Each person born had a different blood code that granted them different abilities. We then created new weapons to fight with alongside our new abilities. We fought back, started gaining back lost ground. There was finally light at the end of the tunnel, but it was not without losses. The BOR parasite gave Revenants another powerful ability. Even if we die, we still come back to life. In a way, revenants became immortal," Fuyumi says.
"Immortal. You mean, they can never die?!" Conrad is flabbergasted.
"No, not entirely. Only as long as the BOR parasite connected to our heart remains intact. If we lose our heart, then a revenant truly dies. Worse, our bodies disintegrate into ashes. Nothing left behind. Nothing to mourn. Many revenants died this way," Fuyumi clarifies, laying a hand over her heart. "Revenants protected their hearts with great caution."
"I see. My apologies. But still, to have the power to revive, even after death. It's honestly astounding. Almost like a miracle," Conrad notes.
"Do you really think this is a miracle?!" Fuyumi lets a little anger out, stunning him into silence. "That there isn't some price to pay for this power? Ser Conrad, great power... great power only comes at a great cost."
"Fuyumi... what kind of cost?" Elane asks.
"Each time we die and revive, we aren't completely whole. Each time we die and revive... we lose some of our memories," Fuyumi says sadly.
"Your memories?" Anelia gasps.
Fuyumi nods, "Yes. They are always at random, and usually a small portion. Sometimes, you may not even notice it. Until you start dying more and more, and the lost memories pile up. In a way, you start to lose yourself a little each time,"
"Fuyumi... What about your memories?" Emilia is almost afraid to ask.
"I have no memories of my life as a human, before I became a revenant," Fuyumi says. This makes all the girls in the room gasp in horror, while the men remain silently shocked. "I know my name is Fuyumi, but that is all. I simply took on Kusanagi as a last name when I came to this land. I can't even say if it is my real last name. I have no recollection of who I was when I was a human. I do not remember my home, my family if I had one, any friends, hopes, or dreams and goals. I remember nothing. Worse, if a revenant loses all their human memories, then they would start losing their memories as a revenant too. I've lost most of those as well. Although, I lost all my human memories and some of my revenant memories, my circumstances in this matter are different from others. But there is something else I need to focus on first. As Revenants, we don't grow hungry. We can eat foods, but we don't need it to survive. However, there is something we do need to survive. Revenants... need blood to survive," Fuyumi confesses.
"You need... blood? Like a vampire?" Anelia is spooked.
Fuyumi nods, "Yes, we need blood to survive. Unlike vampires, we do not die by sunlight or other methods that are used to kill them, though. We are somewhat similar, yet different. Humans that couldn't fight would donate so we could survive and continue to fight in their place. For the record, when I came to these lands, I never fed on humans, only on animals, and some monsters if need be. I don't want to feed on humans if I can help it. Especially vile humans like bandits or corrupt nobles. I don't want their disgusting blood inside me. It's a personal thing for me. Getting back on point, this thirst for blood brings along another terrible price... If a revenant doesn't get blood in time, the BOR parasite within our hearts will spread and we start to lose ourselves, our sanity, our last traces of humanity. If nothing changes, then a revenant transforms into a mindless monster we call... the Lost,"
"The Lost?" Elane asks.
"When a revenant becomes lost, their thirst for blood drives them mad. They lose themselves completely, attacking even those they once called friend. And worse, no matter how much they may drink, their thirst will never be quenched. Once someone is lost, they can NEVER come back. Believe me when I say that becoming lost is a fate far, FAR worse than death. Those that are lost can never find peace. To add insult to injury, during all those conflicts, a terrible mist known as Miasma was born. It doesn't affect humans, but it's dangerous to revenants. If we breath it in, it worsens our thirst, and brings us closer to becoming the lost. We created these special masks that protect us from the miasma, but if they get damaged, then that's it. I... I knew someone like that. His name was Oliver. I only knew him a brief time, but he was kind. We could've been friends, but his mask got damaged, and he breathed in too much miasma. He turned into one of the Lost. When that happened... I was left with no choice... I had to... I had to kill him," Fuyumi allows a small tear to drop from her eye.
"You... you killed your friend?" Sebastian asks, horrified.
"You think I had a choice? I already told you, when someone is lost, they can never come back. It was the only kind of peace I could grant him, before he ended hurting innocent people, something I knew he never wanted to do. Believe me, my people have tried many times to find a way to undue the transformation, but nothing worked. And I mean NOTHING. Our life was not a fairytale where everyone gets the happy ending. It certainly wasn't like that for me for a long time," Fuyumi retorts.
Her words stop any kind of rebuttal from coming forth.
Duke Joseph gets them back on track, "You said these revenants, your people, were fighting back against these... Horrors. What happened afterwards?"
"We were fighting the Horrors, but things were tough, and even as we were gaining ground, we were starting to lose it again, too. However, one person among us showed an incredibly high level of compatibility with the BOR parasite. Her name was Cruz Silva. Her powers were far greater than any other revenant. She became the hope for our people. All our dreams were riding on her... But, just as I said before: great power comes at a great cost. The power within her grew, and it became harder to control. It tormented her for so long. She tried to fight it because she didn't want to let the people down. But, in the end... that power consumed her. What was once my people's greatest hope... became their worst nightmare. She became known as the Queen. She succumbed to madness, but she was not like the Lost. She attacked us all without any hesitation or mercy. Our main target changed from the Horrors and the Lost to the Queen. Many died by her hand, and anyone that accidently drank her blood would go insane and join the ranks of the lost. Her blood was much different than anyone else's. I had actually died by her hand once before during that time. One day, we sent out another team to track her down and kill her. I was on that team. It was me and one other person. His name was Jack Rutherford. He was a bit of the serious type, but he was very reliable and committed to his mission of stopping the queen," Fuyumi thinks fondly to that time.
"We set out to find the Queen, and after facing some resistance from the lost, we finally found her. She was just as strong then as the first time I fought her. However, we received aid from our leader, Gregorio Silva, Cruz's father. He was strong in his own way. And he didn't hesitate to try and the kill the one he once called daughter," Fuyumi says.
"Wait, he wanted to kill his daughter, even though she was this Queen?" Joseph asks.
"I heard that before she lost her sanity, Cruz and her father were very close. But, after she changed and he was reborn as a revenant, their familial relationship came to an end. I never really understood it; how he could try to kill his daughter without hesitation, but perhaps he felt that was simply his burden to bear. In order to save those that could still be saved. During the fight, I lost my mask, but just as the Queen was about to finish me off, Jack distracted her. This gave me the chance to deal the killing blow," Fuyumi then engages the tail from her blood veil. "You see, these special clothes are known as Blood Veils. They are also our weapons in battle. I had a different one at the time. They drain the blood of our enemies when they deal damage and help restore our strength," Fuyumi retracts the tail. "Anyway, I dealt the killing blow, and the queen was no more. Our greatest threat was finally gone... but the story was not over. I ended up drinking the Queen's blood, and I started to lose myself. Silva and Jack knew what would likely happen to me. To spare me from that fate, and while saying that my actions to save our people would never be forgotten, Jack... destroyed my heart and killed me for the last time,"
Emilia gasps, "He... he killed you? Destroyed your heart? His own partner?! That's... That's..."
"It was the only way. Death would've been a mercy when it comes to the alternative. I do not blame Jack for what he did. I might've done the same thing if our roles had been switched," Fuyumi notes with a sad smile.
"Except... That was not the end, was it. You sitting here now is proof of that," Sebastian notes.
"Yes. While it wasn't immediate, my body did in fact bond with the Queen's blood. I was compatible. The carrier of the blood. It would only be after who knows how many years before I would revive again. But, when I did, the world around me was much different, and I... lost all my memories. I didn't die as much as other revenants, but I lost more memories than any of them. However, when I woke up... she was there,"
"One of your companions you told me about?" Anelia asks.
"Yes, Io. She found me and helped me. She told me that her duty was to stay by my side and attend to me, though I didn't understand it at the time. She showed me this large white plant called a blood spring. These blood springs are similar in look to the mistle out in the garden, but much bigger and far more important. From blood springs, sprout blood beads. Little red seeds filled with blood that revenants need to survive. Blood springs and mistle also have the ability to clear away the miasma that is so dangerous to my kind, making the air safe to breathe for us without our masks. After going through some hardships, we met up with another person I would call friend, Louis. He said that he was researching blood beads and their springs. He brought Io and I back to his home, where we met Yakumo, Murasame, Coco, and Davis. Louis told us about the current situation of our home. After the death of the Queen, Silva and his forces created a levy system where revenants had to find and turn in blood beads to his new government, which would then be distributed to the populace. He also took in the surviving humans for protection. They would have to donate blood, but they were given food, shelter, clothing, and protection from revenants who were basically like criminals. Around the land was a massive red mist-like wall that prevented anyone from leaving. It became known as the Gaol of the Mists. Silva's forces maintained order in the Gaol, but it was hardly peaceful. Over time, blood springs started drying up, the miasma got worse, and the levies started getting bad. Things were slowly getting out of hand. Louis filled us in on his mission to find the source of the blood springs in order to create a steady supply of blood for everyone. The miasma was causing real problems for them, until I came along," Fuyumi says.
"You? Does it have something to do with your abilities?" Eleonora asks.
"Yes. My blood code was especially unique. By only drinking a little blood from another revenant, I get their blood code, and their abilities," Fuyumi creates frost shards, then flames, then lightning in her left hand. "Over my journey with them, gained many blood codes, and thus, many abilities that helped me in my battles. But, more importantly, my abilities allow me to clear away the miasma. I agreed to help Louis on his quest. Along the way, I learned that he knew Cruz Silva, and was actually quite fond of her. We travelled the area, locating blood springs in order to find the location of the source. Along the way, we met Mia and her little brother Nicola. However, he died shortly after. It was also at this time that we ran into Jack,"
"Your former partner," Conrad mutters.
"Indeed. He had become known as the Revenant Hunter. Not exactly a flattering nickname. What's more, he was quite surprised when he saw that I was still alive, even after he destroyed my heart. However, we didn't know the reason for him hunting other revenants at the time. Back on topic, we continued on our quest, with Mia helping us out now. Eventually, we found the source, but it was protected by a powerful guardian. After defeating this guardian and returning their sanity to them, we found it that it was someone that Louis knew. A researcher named Aurora. She explained to us the truth hiding within the Gaol. You see, even though we killed the queen, she was not truly dead. Even if you destroyed her heart, she would eventually revive. An immortal among immortals. They tried many ways to prevent this, but none of them worked... except one. They would divide the parts of the queen's body and store them within people known as successors, individuals with enough compatibility with the Queen's parts to keep them asleep and prevent her revival. They would be under heavy watch... by Jack and Silva. Barriers were also created around them to keep them safe, but also imprisoned while they sleep. However, these successors would not last forever. Eventually, the parts of the Queen, the Relics, would start to wake up, causing the successors to slowly lose themselves. Jack, and his new partner at the time, a woman named Eva, would kill them before that happens, and then find revenants who could become the next successors. It was the only way. Aurora saw in me the power to quell the relics completely, because I became the successor of the queen's blood. It was another burden placed upon my shoulders, but one I knew I had to bear in order to protect everyone," Fuyumi explains.
"My dear..." Eleonora mutters.
"Aurora showed us the way to the source, another successor. However, as it turns out, the source was Louis' older sister, Karen. The blood springs, and blood beads, were born from her tears. It was a lot to take in for Louis. After that, we decided to find the other successors, quell the relics, and stop the queen's resurrection. As we did so, we found each successor was someone my friends knew. One of them was Mia's little brother, Nicola. The Nicola that was travelling with her was just a copy he made so she wouldn't be alone. After that, we came across Eva, who was wounded. She told us that she and Jack were attacked, and asked us for help to find and rescue him. When we found him, he told us that one of the barriers had been broken, and someone managed to remove his own relic. That person was Juzo Mido. He was the head researcher in the project that created the revenants. However, he was a selfish and cruel monster. All he cared about was his research, which focused on his version of humanity's 'progress', it's evolution. Apparently, Yakumo and him had a history, and not a good one. We went after the next successor to try and get there before him, and we did. The next successor was an old friend of Yakumo's, Emily. We saved her from her relic, but then Juzo appeared. He said that he injected Eva with something in their last encounter, that would make her lose her sanity. He tried to stop him, but he escaped. We then went after Eva, and managed to save her just in time. After that, we decided to go after Mido, and we knew where he was going. He planned to inject Silva, one of the successors, and the one who created the barrier that created the Gaol of the mists, with multiple relics to make him go insane. Doing so would drop the barrier, and cause chaos," Fuyumi frowns at the memory.
"This Mido doesn't sound like a good gentleman," Sebastian says.
"Hardly. We went after him, but he already sent out several relics, which planted themselves into Silva, who was slumbering in order to maintain the barrier. The barrier temporarily vanished, allowing us to see our oldest nightmare, the Horrors. As it turned out, they had survived and were still causing destruction outside the Gaol of the Mists. Silva was keeping up the barrier to keep them out, and even with all those relics inside him, he resisted. That barrier took up a lot of strength, and that requires blood. That's where his levy system came from. Anyway, we killed Mido and stopped his madness, but we still had to stop Silva before he lost control. And that meant that someone would have to take his place. I would've been that someone. We entered his headquarters, fought through those that went mad because of Silva. Just as we arrived, he had lost control of himself. We fought him and defeated him, but he lost control of the relics, and he became a new Queen. It was a grueling battle, and a few times, we nearly lost. But I had my friends at my side. We were able to defeat Silva, and I was preparing to take on the relics into me to seal them away. However, that is when Io appeared. All the memories we created. All the memories we found of everyone else. She didn't want them to end. So, she took on what would've been my burden. Somehow, she was able to take all of the relics within her and bonded with them completely. She became a new, massive blood spring. The Weeping Tree. She was also able to maintain the barrier to protect those within," Fuyumi then pulls out Io's golden bead. "Her last act was giving me this golden blood bead, which contains her memories. Years passed and things got better for everyone. However, there was still the dangers outside the barrier, and the fact that there were survivors out there living in fear from the horrors. Therefore, I decided to go and aid those people. I left the barrier to pursue this mission. However, shortly after that, there was a light from the golden bead, and I passed out... When I finally woke up, I found myself here in Anatolia, on this continent, far, far away from my home. I can only surmise that I was sent here for one reason or another. So, I decided to live here and help where I could. And that rest is history..." Fuyumi sighs. "Well, there you have it. My life's story. And now, you know the truth about me," she finishes her story.
The others remain silent for what feels like ages to Fuyumi.
"I admit, this is so much to take in," Duke Joseph notes.
"It all sounds like some dark fairytale, and yet... I do not feel like it is a lie, coming from you Fuyumi," Eleonora asks.
"But, why didn't you tell us sooner?" Anelia asks.
Fuyumi hangs her head, "Because... I was afraid. I was afraid of being rejected. This land is completely unfamiliar to me. All those I called friend from back home... I may never see them again. I lost all my memories once, and it almost felt like that when I came here. Then I met all of you. If I lost all of you, it would feel like I lost myself all over again. I was scared... that I wouldn't be accepted because of what I am. Anelia, Emilia, if you feel that you can't go through with it, now that you know the truth about me, then I will annul our engagements to one another. If that is what you so choose,"
Emilia slowly rises from her seat and goes to sit next to Fuyumi, "Fuyumi, look at me," she coaxes Fuyumi to do just that. Emilia stares at her with a serious expression. "I am angry... Angry that you didn't tell us this sooner. Angry that you would doubt us, doubt me, like this. Angry that you were considering annulling our engagements, all because of this," slowly, she raises a hand to caress Fuyumi's cheek. "But... I understand. Your story. Your origins. Plenty would believe you were telling a folktale. A made-up story, and would consider you insane. And, you had no idea how people would react if they knew you were human. I am angry, but I understand. You had to be sure. You told us this because you trust us enough to do so, right?"
"I told you this because I care about you, all of you. I've lost two families. I consider you all my family. I don't want to lose a third," Fuyumi replies.
"You won't... I am to be your wife. I love you, Fuyumi. If loving you means accepting that you aren't human, then I will do so without hesitation," Emilia decides.
Fuyumi's eyes widen in shock, "Emilia..." she glances over at the others.
"Had you told us this tale when we first met, I'm sure my reaction would be much different. But, you saved my wife once, and my daughter's life twice. You have helped our family, and this kingdom, multiple times now. You have proven that while you may not be human, your heart is still human. More so, if my daughter trusts you, then that is enough for me," Joseph gives his approval.
"Fuyumi, I have seen monsters. The creatures that roam the forests are monsters. Those bandits that attacked my daughter and I are monsters. Corrupt nobles like the late lord Deleshante are monsters. You are no monster; you are more human than they could ever be. I have seen how much love you have for my daughter. That, I know, is genuine. I say this as a mother," Eleonora asks.
"You helped me when I was troubled. Helped me to stand up for myself and see my own value. I always feel at ease when I'm by your side. That hasn't changed," Anelia adds.
"For me, when I hear monster, the first thing that comes to mind are the humans you kidnap my kin. Not all humans, mind you. Just those ones for the most part. But you told me freedom is everyone's right. And you helped my kin. That is more than enough to earn my trust. It doesn't make much difference whether you're human or not. Besides, I'm not human, so it's fine," Elane notes, then Umi flies over to land on Fuyumi's shoulder. "Besides, it's likely that Umi already sensed you weren't human. Maybe that is part of the reason she trusts you so much,"
Umi rubs up against Fuyumi's other cheek.
"Lady Fuyumi, it matters not what you are or where you come from. What matters is what you do. You have shown nothing but honor ever since the day I first met you. You are my ally, my friend. I swear this on my honor as a knight," Conrad places a hand on his chest in salute.
"You are marrying Lady Emilia. Just as I have served her and will continue to do so, I will do the same for you. That is a servant's duty, and my privilege," Sebastian bows.
Finally, Fuyumi looks at Emilia, "Fuyumi, I am your fiancé. I chose to stand by you, come what may. Do not ever doubt my love for you ever again, understand. It does not matter if you are human or otherwise. You are Fuyumi, no more and no less," Emilia says.
Something trickles down Fuyumi's cheek. It takes her a moment to realize that she's crying.
"Why? Why am I crying? I shouldn't be getting so emotional... Maybe, I truly was afraid. Afraid I wouldn't have a place in this world. A family that would love me. But now, I know it will be alright," Fuyumi lets the tears out and starts crying while Emilia takes her into her arms. "Thank you, thank you, thank you..." she keeps muttering, letting out the emotions that had piled up since she began her tale.
The others simply watch on, smiling that Fuyumi had finally gotten this burden off her shoulders. Finally, she knew that she had a home.
And that's the chapter. Fuyumi told her story, but to her surprise, everyone excepted her either way. Now she can truly move forward. Now with this roadblock out of the way, what other challenges await Fuyumi down the line? Until then, please Read and Review.