Chapter 18

Resurrection

Solomon's Chambers

A Year Later

Kisuke is standing over the bed with Tatsumaru's unmoving body. The wounds have been cleaned and bandaged. "There is nothing more that I can do for him. The wounds won't heal properly until he awakens and that is if he wakes at all," Kisuke said more to himself than to Tatsumaru. Kisuke leaves the room and closes the door behind him. He heads to the Council Room to find Solomon.

Council Room

Solomon is sitting his chair, his left hand resting on his forehead. The All-Father looks up as Kisuke approaches his chair. "What is the outcome of your examination?" Solomon asked.

"The wounds are bandaged and clean. The serum that Shun created has been given to Tatsumaru. However, nothing has changed in his condition…" Kisuke reported.

"Hmm, it would be best to keep this between us for the time being. I don't want to get Mitsuru's hopes up just yet," Solomon said. As if on cue, Mitsuru walks into the Council Room he is closely followed by Ylfordts and Aporro Granz.

And speaking of the devil, Mitsuru arrives right on cue. Damn, I wish I had some good news for him… Kisuke thought. Mitsuru's face is once again an impenetrable and expressionless mask. The brief relationship he had shared with Tatsumaru is buried deep inside his mind. His hands are tightly clasped behind his back; he is wearing the gloves that Kikaku had given him.

Ylfordts has his long blonde hair loose around his shoulders. His hands are at his sides, and his long gray robes reach the floor. He has a happy look on his face.

Aporro, Ylfordts' twin brother, has his long pink hair loose around his shoulders. There are round rimless glasses over his playful light blue eyes. His white-gloved hands are at his sides. His red-orange robes reach the floor. "Lord Solomon, how are you doing today?" Aporro asked.

"I'm fine, thank you for asking. How about yourself?"

"I'm great. Things are running well for my Clan as well."

"Things are also going well for the Centaur Race," Ylfordts added. Mitsuru's voice carries a lot of venom as he speaks; his eyes, which are a harsh yellow, are narrowed to no more than mere slits.

"Do you two ever shut the fuck up? You two talk too damn much!" Ylfordts looks at Mitsuru as if he just was struck by him; his face has a horrified look on it.

"What's his problem, Lord Solomon?" Ylfordts asked. Mitsuru sits in his chair, his arms folded over his chest, his eyes closed, and his legs crossed at the knee.

"He has been like this since Tatsumaru was killed a year ago by Yaichiro Tajiri," Kisuke answered.

"The Dragon God is dead?" Aporro asked.

"Sadly, he is. I'm part of the reason why he is…" Solomon said. Mitsuru scowls at Solomon, hatred in his yellow eyes and voice.

"If you hadn't stripped him of his Godhood, he'd still be alive!"

"Stop reminding me of that…" Solomon said in a low voice. A man runs into the large circular room. He has long light brown hair that falls past his shoulders. His white cloud patterned blue robes fall just above his feet. His dark brown eyes are wide in shock. He is also wearing sapphire blue boots. His name is Isaaru Goro.

"Lord Solomon, you have to come quickly!" Isaaru said urgently. Solomon looks at Isaaru rather startled from his thoughts.

"Why? What has happened?"

"Lord Solomon, he must have awakened at last," Kisuke said quietly. Solomon stands up hurriedly. He crosses to the door and follows Isaaru to his chambers. Mitsuru watches Solomon through narrowed eyes.

The Corridors

"When did he awaken?" Solomon asked.

"Just a few minutes ago, I believe. He is still gravely weak though," Isaaru answered.

"Is anyone with him?"

"Seiryu is with him now."

"All right then let's hurry up…"

Solomon's Chambers

Tatsumaru is lying down on Solomon's large bed; he is awake but unable to move around. The damage to his right shoulder and his waist makes it virtually impossible for him to move around to begin with. Seiryu is standing on the left side of the bed, leaning over the ex-God. He looks up when he hears the door open. "Lord Solomon, good of you to join us. I was watching Tatsumaru while Isaaru went to get you," Seiryu said.

"How long has he been awake?" Solomon asked.

"He has been awake for about an hour now…"

"Where is Mitsuru? I have to find him…" Tatsumaru said faintly.

"You are in no condition to move around and look for anyone, especially that bastard!" Isaaru said rather rudely. In a flash of movement, too fast for any of the Gods to see it coming, Tatsumaru is out of the bed and holding Isaaru by his throat.

"Mitsuru is not a bastard! He is merely hurting deep down inside and everyone refuses to give him any comfort," Tatsumaru snarled.

"That's because he refuses the offered comfort…" Isaaru strained to say.

"Please let go of Isaaru, Tatsumaru, he didn't mean what he said…" Solomon spoke up. Tatsumaru puts Isaaru down again. He rounds on Solomon as his anger builds. He roughly backhands Solomon so hard that the All-Father hits the ground hard. Isaaru is rubbing his neck slowly. Seiryu watches the proceedings without moving or speaking. Solomon staggers to his feet as Tatsumaru advances on him. Tatsumaru grabs Solomon by the throat and squeezes tightly.

"Why the fuck should, I listen to the likes of you? The very man that took my Godhood, because of the divorce that my ex-wife filed! I did not warrant any reason to lose my powers! Your damn customs are cruel and unusual!" Tatsumaru snarled in Solomon's face.

Tatsumaru drops Solomon, allowing his hand to return to his side. Solomon hits the floor again and this time stays where he lands. Isaaru helps Solomon up and keeps him standing.

"I'm sorry, Tatsumaru, I really am. Suzaku told me what happened when I awakened that day a year ago. He told me that our customs needed to be changed," Solomon said meekly.

"That doesn't help me now, you dickhead! If you haven't noticed, I'm no longer allowed to go near Mitsuru! I have no means of subduing his powers or of making him feel wanted! I love him…and he thinks I'm dead…"

"Well theoretically, you did die that day at the hands of Yaichiro. He killed you using the Dragon Lance. Mitsuru imprisoned him in the pits of Hell with the curse of Eternal Suffering," Isaaru put in. Tatsumaru backhands Isaaru hard.

"Shut the fuck up you useless piece of shit!" Tatsumaru yelled.

"Mitsuru became a hard impenetrable shell again after your death. He truly loves you and he has given up all hopes on ever seeing you again…" Solomon said.

"Still yet, I wouldn't have died if my powers were not drained making me Mortal – I would have been able to fight Yaichiro had I had my powers still! This is your fucking fault, Solomon!"

"Honestly, you were only supposed to lose your Godhood, not all of your powers. That was Yaichiro's doing, not mine."

"Regardless, I cannot confront Mitsuru. I had an egg inside me. Even that was taken from me because of your actions, you dickless bastard!" Tatsumaru touches his stomach with his left hand. "It died as soon as I lost my Dragon form."

"Mitsuru knows about the egg. He found it clutched to your chest while you were in the Hellbound Cellar. That's another reason why he went after Solomon."

"I can't go to him he will hate me. I am no longer the God that he fell in love with…"

"You never know, he might still love you –"

"Shut the fuck up, Solomon! 'Might' is a damn far cry from 'he will' love me! He –" Tatsumaru started. Seiryu touches Tatsumaru's bandaged back with his hands releasing all of his powers back into the body from which that came. Tatsumaru staggers on his feet trying to regain his balance. He steadies himself and turns to face Seiryu. Seiryu has his arms crossed over his chest merely looking at Tatsumaru. "Why would you give me my Godhood back?"

"That power was yours to begin with. I gave up my Godhood when I chose you as my Successor in the 1600s," Seiryu answered. Tatsumaru looks at Seiryu bewildered.

"Thank you Lord Seiryu." Isaaru in a way has regained his calm composure.

"Solomon, should I continue to hide Tatsumaru's Aura from Mitsuru?" Isaaru asked.

"Yes, that way he can be presented as a surprise to Mitsuru." Shun walks into the room unannounced.

"I want to have the pleasure of presenting Tatsumaru to Mitsuru. Since this whole procedure was my idea. Mitsuru has returned to his apartment in Italy. I will bring Tatsumaru to him there," Shun said. Solomon is still shaken from Tatsumaru's vile demeanor upon awakening.

"Sounds reasonable enough," Solomon reasoned.

"Good luck and safe journey," Seiryu said.

"I will keep hiding Tatsumaru's presence until he has been reintroduced to Mitsuru," Isaaru said.

"Fair enough. After all, it wouldn't be a surprise if Mitsuru sensed Tatsumaru coming," Shun said.

Will Mitsuru be happy to see me after this year of withdrawal that he has suffered due to my death? Tatsumaru thought as he follows Shun out of Solomon's chambers and down to Earth.