Kuroi no Mahou
Heart of Gold
…
Taro choked a cry as he felt his hands being bound. Barbed wires were tightly intertwined around the teen's wrists, and the tang of blood hung in the air. Unknown creatures with terrible glowing eyes surrounded Taro and cackled evilly.
" Tsubas—!" rasped Taro out loud but was quickly intercepted by a slap across the face.
A girl with blonde and white long locks glanced sardonically at Taro. Clad in a black and pink striped dress, knee high pink socks and black school shoes, She is a famous spoiled brat of Hell's finest followers and an owner of Hell's second Fujutsu Object, the Flute of Requiem.
Throwing a spoiled glance at Taro, this 3'11", eight-year-old knew she had the upper hand. " Who knew you had to be so easy to catch! And I thought you're a good White Magic caster! You're just like your weak human friends!" Her fair German accent had an edge.
Taro weakly glanced at the little girl—and he said " Siding with the bad guys—who ever taught you that? Are you Nazi?"
The girl pouted back " Want to have a taste of ultimate power, weakling? I'll gladly play you a funeral song with my flute right now!"
" Why? Why capture me? What have I done wrong to you?" asked Taro, as his wrists tightened painfully causing him to stifle a moan.
The girl meanly smirked " I forced my cousin to let me have this chance to avenge him!"
" Who?" but seeing the expression on the child's face, Taro's face went pale " No…Don't tell me…"
" Yes." The grim smile on the child's face broadened as she slowly puts her mouth on the mouthpiece of her flute…
A melody arose… Reluctant at first. But as the melody lengthens—Taro began to scream in pain. The melody became melancholic and decisively grim with occult. The girl's eyes sharpened as Taro's shouts grew louder. The melody's tone pierced high notes that sounded like appalling shrieks. But—the demons around her calmed at the sound.
From afar, Tsubasa can hear the notes… Deafening and high, he already faltered for the fifth time in his journey. His energy slowly wearing out… He'd probably collapsed moments ago if it weren't for his determination to save Taro. But even as he flew nearer, the sounds began to stiffen his wings.
As the girl paused in between her melody, Taro heaved a sigh of relief—but he never faltered for his wrists began to sting. As Taro looked above—he can vaguely see the moon… So white and dreamy… His brows furrowed noticing a small black blotch of a silhouette… A pair of wings glowed forth… All of a sudden he couldn't help but smile despite the circumstances.
" Why are you smiling?" growled the little girl as her eyes widened suspiciously.
Taro looks down on the ground and bites his lip—the German eight year old stiffens as she starts to play—when…
" TARO!"
A blinding light began to descend before them. The demons around the toddler cowered before the light. Taro's eyes widened with hope as the figure before them stood. The girl arched her eyebrow and speaks gruffly " Who in the name of Führer are you?"
Then like the swiftness of a windstorm descending, the figure smiles down. " It's Tsubasa, kid."
"Tsubasa?" gasps Taro as he struggles to untangle the barbwires. " Help! I'm here!"
Tsubasa smiles " I know. I came here to save you."
" You idiotic demons! It's him! Kill him!" orders the girl in her German accent as she points at Tsubasa.
Tsubasa gulps as his stance faltered a bit in front of the bloodthirsty demons. Hoping he couldn't consume his energy, he angrily frightens them off with a blinding and radiant light of his wings. Then with a few of his tricks, he lets the wind unbind Taro's wrists. The girl loudly curses in German and plays the flute…
In a loud booming sound—the two soccer teens cringed at the shrill tone of the flute. Tsubasa grabbed the barbwires as the wind circulates around it, then it finally unbinds. He flings Taro over his back and then decides to use his last bit of energy to escape from the bratty girl. With the wind aiding them, Tsubasa flaps his wings forcefully—both knocking the girl backwards and making them ascend…
Tsubasa weakens gradually due to the lack of energy, and only after long seconds of hovering, they were high, gliding with the wind—and very far away from the little girl… From his back, Taro laughs " Oh my gosh! I was gone for years and look how I found you again! With wings! I mean—how!"
Tsubasa weakly smiles as he soars once more and heads for home, on the way, Tsubasa said " Taro, do me a favor and don't stray away from me. They could go and torture you."
"Why? Why would they? Why were there demons and magic-like things!" asks Taro confusedly as his head speaks for him.
Tsubasa coughs deafeningly as he tries his best not to tip Taro off his back—but the weight along with the loss for energy was enough to make him collapse any time now. Soon, Tsubasa gave up… He strains and tells Taro to get off.
" Wh-What? But we're—up high!" Taro replied in a frightful voice.
"Please! Believe me Taro…" rasps Tsubasa. Seeing the hopeful yet weary look on him, Taro nods and closes his eyes shut.
Before he knew it, he dived. Tsubasa groans loudly as he beckons the wind to let Taro land on the ground softly… A zephyr wind answered to his call as it flowed around Taro. Then, with a soft thud, making him land on his feet. But—for Tsubasa, he didn't plan to fly down…
He plans to fall…
Without knowing—The Nankatsu Captain's wings disappeared… And there was nothing to break his fall. Taro gasped as he rushes under Tsubasa, in the process making him throw backwards due to the crushing weight…
Turning him over, Taro settles him comfortably over his knees and wipes the pearls of sweat on the teen's pale face. " Tsubasa…"
Taro's wistful black eyes filled with sorrow—as he didn't stop himself from retaining the sad tears that makes his demeanor look ethereal and mysterious… Succumbing himself to a nonstop of tears, he hopelessly tries to drag Tsubasa home. Bringing Tsubasa's hand over Taro's shoulder, Taro slowly heaves Tsubasa off the ground as he awkwardly walks down the street— which is three blocks away from the Nankatsu Captain's house…
It has been a week. Tsubasa has not yet awakened from his coma. Stuck in the hospital, the soccer teen's condition went nationwide. Teams ranging from Otomo to Hanawa, Shutetsu, and Musashi, Furano and even Tohou went to visit the comatose player. A few of the finest came by personally. Yet, Tsubasa wasn't awakened and his condition—still growing worse. Yet, Sanae, Taro and Matsuyama chose to stay with him.
" I don't understand…" mumbled Taro, who was baffled by the idea of Tsubasa dying once and was reborn by God to save the world from being taken by Lucifer and the forces of Black Magic.
Sanae believed the idea and asked Matsuyama to do a few tricks. The Furano Captain muttered an inaudible incantation and with only a flick of a finger, he made his own hanker chief combust in flames. Then, he untangles his bandanna and clasps it between his balled hands. Then, he muttered the same incantation as last time. Surrounded within wisps of light, he strikes a pose with his seven-foot whip. Taro glances down as Matsuyama sigh.
" Look, Tsubasa there overdid himself! He still has four people to find! And if he doesn't stand now, the whole world will be in danger. Believe me."
Taro tries to register all that Matsuyama had said, " I guess… I burdened Tsubasa by coming all the way here… I was attacked when I got here. He sensed it and came all the way to rescue me from—from a small kid with a flute…"
Sanae raised her eyebrow " Small kid with a flute…?"
" That kid, Taro, is going to kill you! What kind anyway?" explained Matsuyama as he paced around the room.
Taro heaved a breath and spoke " That kid, is German. And she even—well—told me… that—she was…uhh…"
Sanae bit her lip as her eyes threatened to commit suicide " Please Taro… Just go on with it. Maybe your information will be useful for Tsubasa when he wakes up."
Taro hated to say it—but he did… Soon—the few words echoed in Sanae and Matsuyama's head… " That kid's—Schneider's cousin…? No—way…"
" Oh my Gosh… Schneider? But—if he's trying to kill Taro—then…" Sanae gasped at her next few words…
Taro understood her look… " Genzo… Oh no… Please—not him too…" soon he felt cold as tears start to run down his face…
Matsuyama growled loudly as his pacing hastened… He clenched his hands as if he threatened to kill someone… " That is it! I'm gonna wake up Mr. Big Shot!"
But Sanae stepped a foot forward and threatened " If you lay a hand of your White Magic on Tsubasa—you'll get corrupted—am I right? SO STOP IT! Don't hurt Tsubasa! "
" Then what shall we do? It looks like Tsubasa isn't going to wake up sooner than we expected." Matsuyama groaned heavily as he settled on the nearest chair to cool down.
The silent Taro stared blankly at Tsubasa. Around his face, dry tears are visible and his arms still ached from the straining and also extremely weak from carrying Tsubasa. He only begged for help… Please wake up Tsubasa… Please…
-Opening his eyes, Tsubasa finds himself in a waning hallway… With arch windows to his right and ebony black colored wall to his left. He walked—but sees no use to do so… He turns around and wasn't surprised to find a person gazing out the arch window.
With short coal black hair and eyes so navy blue in the distance that covered them. The figure turns its head towards Tsubasa's direction. A satin long pleated skirt with a plain white color, and a navy blue kimono on the top. In between was a dark pink bow. Hung over her kimono was a fine white colored pearl." Tsubasa Oozora, are you still up to the task?"
" Frankly, I don't know what to do…" replied Tsubasa in an impassive voice.
The woman approached him and spoke strongly " You know what to do. In order to fulfill your task, you need hope. And hope is what drives you to do this. And because you are here right now, I reckon you indeed lost hope. You lost hope from your wings—and so soon too."
Tsubasa gritted his teeth and brusquely replied, " What do you need to tell me?"
" Not to lose hope Tsubasa. Why am I telling you this? Because I'm your trainer in White Magic, I'm a Miko no Shiroi. What powers up your wings is within the title itself—Hope. With energy and hope, you can find the four—and I believe in you."
"Hope… Hope is what thrives me to do my best in a soccer challenge."
" Yes Tsubasa. Now, I shall give you one clue to find all of the chosen four. They are the closest to your heart. When I say these—who comes in your mind?"
" Genzo and Taro! You mean—they are…?"
" Shh. Don't tell it to me. Tell it to your head. " Smiles the Miko. " Just wake up already, Tsubasa."-
Soon, he felt his eyes open. A hazy light wisp was lingering around him. Then before he knew it, Sanae, Taro and Matsuyama were rejoicing. " Huh? Wh-What's wrong…" whispered Tsubasa in a hoarse tone.
And then, he clearly saw everyone. Sanae has tears in her eyes; Matsuyama was smiling happily at Tsubasa and Taro was also in tears but—he's illuminating…
" Taro? I don't know what's going on… But you're glowing." Mumbles Tsubasa out loud.
Taro scratches his head as Matsuyama and Sanae inspected Taro. Not a glow was in sight. " Umm, Tsubasa? Are you still dizzy?" questions Taro queasily as his skin felt a heat rise.
But unexpectedly, Tsubasa rises from his bed and observes Taro. And he came to a conclusion " Taro! You're—you're… You're the second one!"
Matsuyama gapes at Taro while Sanae arches an eyebrow " I'm so sure of it!" grins Tsubasa as he energetically flings himself off of the bed.
" Tsubasa! You're standing!" gasps Sanae as she retains her startled position in her seat.
When, suddenly, Tsubasa calls forth his wings and Sanae gasps in wonder. Tsubasa approaches the shocked Taro and puts a hand forward, beckoning him to hold it. Taro doesn't hesitate and grabs his hand… When a bright interaction occurred. The room glowed fervently and a gust of wind surrounded the two friends.
Taro smiles angelically at Tsubasa who grins in return, and then once they parted their hands, Taro heaved a relieved breath " I am if you say I am, Tsubasa. You even proved right! But—I don't know how to—do… err, White Magic."
" If you ask me," Tsubasa smiles sheepishly " I don't know how to do White Magic too. I just did this because of the Wings of Hope."
Sanae weakly giggles and Matsuyama slaps his head " Tsubasa, you're such a cheat. You can do magic without even doing some incantation—because you have your Wings of Hope! You just out did me in soccer—now magic too? You're too unbelievable, Tsubasa—and there's also no exception in your case, Taro. Because you're just going to end up like Tsubasa!"
The room bursts into a fit of laughs but immediately died down… Sanae glances strictly at the Nankatsu Captain.
" Hey, wait a minute, Tsubasa!" spoke Sanae in her stern voice " Why are you out of bed so early? You almost had the whole nation on the brink of losing you!"
" Well I was—I don't know…" Tsubasa was cut off…
Without thinking, Sanae threw herself in Tsubasa's arms and continuously punches him, as tears start to go out once more " I hate you Tsubasa! You did it again!"
Tsubasa picks up a worn out smile " I'm so sorry for being reckless and all, Sanae."
Taro interrupts them " Wait, Tsubasa, do you have any idea where the next person could be?"
" It's probably Genzo. I had that feeling." Responds Tsubasa as he quietly leans back on the bed and faced the window behind him.
" What? Genzo?" startles Matsuyama, " Do you know what this means, Taro?"
Taro failed to draw back the tears—Tsubasa faced the three with a curious look. But—all the three offered was a melancholic and grim expression… " Look Tsubasa…" Matsuyama starts…
Silence gloomed beneath Tsubasa… Bad news everywhere… Genzo—was attacked? Taro was attacked because he was one of the chosen four. Now, they're going after Genzo, which Tsubasa didn't doubt to be one of the chosen people. " I must—go to Germany." Was all he said.
" Are you crazy, Tsubasa? No way you'll survive that place!" protested Sanae, as she recalled what the people tried to do with Taro.
" It's very important Sanae! Now that I know what to do, I need to help Genzo—and fast… Before—before… Schneider captures him."
" I'll come with you Tsubasa." declared Taro as he stood from his seat, his eyes filled with still determination.
Matsuyama also stands up from his seat and exclaims out loud " You'll be taking me along, for now."
With the three's announcement, all that Sanae could do was brood terribly… Tsubasa walks towards Sanae and held her firmly on the shoulders—he vows" We'll be safe Sanae. I promise you—I will come back to Japan alive and with Genzo."
Sanae stops her tears and smiles sadly at Tsubasa "…But I'll be missing you, Tsubasa…"
Soon, the three thought to escape the dreaded hospital and go to the airport. Or maybe fly towards Germany, but that'll be suicidal for Tsubasa. Stealing an airplane was stupid. How could they go to Germany without being spotted and then back to Japan? Their visas weren't valid anymore, much to their luck. A request for a game— Probably, but that will take too much time.
" No way, you two are hopping on my back for a ride!" exclaims Tsubasa as he points to his back that looked awfully vulnerable.
Taro ponders loudly " Then how can we go to Germany? Steal one of Genzo's planes? That'll be unruly."
Matsuyama smirks widely and pats Taro on the back " Unruly, yes… But nice going, Taro. I'll go with a plan like that."
" Stealing Genzo's private plane? How? Can you three even pilot a plane?" questions Sanae who was sitting at the corner of the room, who overheard their discussion.
" Duh, it's like we can use White Magic easily." Grins Tsubasa as he saw Matsuyama and Taro grinning at each other.
Sanae rolls her eyes and glances on the floor. Her inner mind still worries for Tsubasa. Well, Sanae. Boys will be boys.
Thousands of miles away from Japan, Germany was silent… But further closing in, it looks like things are going to be tricky… Even for the famous SGGK—Wakabayashi Genzo…
Picking up his soccer shoes, Genzo was tired from today's practice. And unusually, Schneider was absent. To make things suspicious for Genzo, he felt like he was being stalked all day. Yes, he was condemned by Germany from the start but this is already weird. Japanese curfews? Genzo thought that they're just taking the tourists and overseas workers seriously. Above all, with the Germans treating him like some puny kid, he isn't going to give in that easily. " Man, whatever happened to Axis Powers?" thinks Genzo loudly as he nonchalantly walks down the street.
But, looking behind him, he sees someone follow him… It was none other than his German friend, Schneider.
' Schneider! What happened? You were absent in today's practice!' a relieved Genzo speaks to Schneider in German.
Schneider approaches him and just smiles. Karl Heinz Schneider was said to be the greatest European player and leads the Hamburg team. He also has an alias, The Kaiser. He leads a very outstanding attitude and level-headedness, but now, he seemed totally off.
' Genzo, do you believe in Black Magic?' asks Schneider in a forced sympathetic German voice—feeling a sort of hatred slowly seething in him.
Genzo replies laughing ' Certainly, Karl you don't mean that do you? Sure. Let's see you float on air.'
Schneider's eyes pierced Genzo as a manic smile broadened on his face—Genzo felt humiliated. So the German sneers in his accent ' I mean it, Wakabayashi. I' very serious…'
Suddenly, Schneider grapples Genzo by the collar and raises him up. Surprised, Genzo shouts angrily, trying to hold Schneider's hands back ' what the heck are you doing! Put me down!'
' No Japanese can order me! You'll dearly pay!' growls Schneider back at Genzo. Suddenly, a furious heat started to sizzle beneath Schneider's hands…
Genzo struggles heavily, already in a panic of what's happening to him. He didn't know Schneider had immense strength nor—very hot lava-like hands… In one strong throttle, Genzo was thrown on the cemented area—with pieces of the cement flying everywhere. Genzo can't believe what has become of Schneider…
' Schneider… What—are you doing…? Are you going to kill me…?' spoke Genzo, while wiping the blood trickling from the corner of his lip.
The German player only glares at Genzo, a smirk slowly creeping from his face seeing how awfully vulnerable Genzo looks like while asking for mercy. But—Genzo grimly smirks back.
' You want to fight, huh?' Genzo grits his teeth as he balls his knuckles angrily. 'Because I'm not going to give up so easily.'
Schneider only bursts laughing at Genzo. Then, he swiftly swings his left hand… A violet aura projected all around Schneider as a large gauntlet appeared in place of his left hand… A mix of red and violet colors and with sharp claws protruding from the knuckles, with hot molten lava trickling from its fingertips, he waved it off in front of Genzo. Then, with one vigorous blow down on the ground, the cement cracked with hot lava coursing within it. Genzo easily evaded with a long leap to his right, but he stumbles on the ground.
Before him was an unknown Schneider… He shakes his head violently, trying to keep a rational mind up and alert.
What the heck's wrong with Karl! He isn't like this before! Genzo then knew he was no match for Schneider. A gauntlet that controls lava? Is that magic or something?
Then, he remembers what Schneider told him a while ago… No way… Black Magic? I can't be dreaming…
If Genzo only had anything to counter Schneider's attacks—he would've faced him head on. But now, he just did what was going to result in pure mortification… He turned tails on Schneider.
But, he didn't chase him. He knew he can take Genzo on any day… He can't run from Hamburg nor defend himself… He was in a country with unknown cultures. And soon, he'll taste Genzo's blood… A blood of a chosen one…
Licking his lips, Schneider can't wait…
Genzo ran quickly. Never turning back, he knew Schneider was savoring himself out of Genzo's humiliation. He can only think of one thing now—even if the person he wants to be with was thousands of miles away…
To be continued…
A/N: Ha, ha. Genzo's turn to be sizzled.
