Ch 5

When I had awakened, I was still in the graveyard next to Grand-shire's stone. Next to my hand was a shiny black pearl. Lifting it for closer inspection I realized it had demonic powers attached to it. Using my own powers I watched as it grew and levitated over my head, I quickly realized that it had become a gateway to another world. Curious, I flew into the center of the void to find this new world.

The place that I emerged into was full of giant bones and boulders the size of mountains, there were giant skeletal remains from deadly demons in different sections of this vast waste land. Skeleton birds with long beaks and long flat wings flew around in flocks. I quickly leaped onto one's back lightly before landing further down onto a skull of a giant dog demon, his body wasn't anywhere to be found, but I felt like I knew this one.

"Where am I?" I wondered outloud.

As if answering my question, a fierce wind blew in and the same deep dark voice spoke again.

"You are in a world between the two worlds, heaven and hell. This is the formal graveyard of demons, one can only pass through into this world twice before being trapped here forever. This world is the Boarder of the Afterlife."

I draw my sword snarling, "I am tired of these games! Tell me who you are and what do you want from me!"

"I am here grandpup, I am here."

My eyes widened as I glanced back down to the giant skull I was next to, the same fog drifted out of the eyes over its head to form a tall cluster of bright light. Inside the light there was a tall figure in ancient armor with a flowing kimono that bore my the symbol of my clan. The long flowing silver hair also reminded me of someone I knew.

"G-grand-shire?"

"Took you long enough pup." The voice that now came from the light chuckled warmly.

I sheathed my weapon and bowed my head out of respect to my elder, "What is happening?"

My elder's ghoast shock his head, "I never thought I would see the day that my great and terrifying grandson would break down into despair over a spoiled brat. Why didn't you simply wait a little longer for a mate?"

I found myself kneeling as if I was going to be scolded again as a child, "I have no excuse, I could have stopped everything from happening..."

"Oh, really? How?"

I sat down and crossed my legs shacking my head in thought, "I-I don't know, I'm just weary and tired of all the corruption and greed."

"Did you try to denounce your father?"

I shook my head, "No, I could never do that to mother..."

"Did you try running away to form your own empire?"

"I cannot abandon my responsibilities and duties to my household and lands that I shall inherit!"

"Have you thought of killing your father and his followers?"

I shook my head, "I have never killed my own kin."

The voice became louder in a snappy response, "Then what are you complaining about?!"

I held my ground as the gust of wind carrying the ghost's protest pushed against my tall frame. My monmoko tail and hair whipped into the wind behind me.

I answered in return once a wind had died down, "Your right, I shouldn't be complaining, you always told me to adapt to a situation no matter what."

"There is always a solution to every problem, whether it be in battle or not."

I nodded my head in guilt, but my Grand-shire make a reassuring sound.

"Well you didn't mark her, she won't be able to share the same life-span as you, and this will make things somewhat easier when your mate is found."

I lifted my head, my eyes wide, "How can this be? After what I have done, I don't deserve such happiness."

"You desire what is good and honorable pup, that is nothing to be ashamed of! Your two sons will help you transform not only your lands, but they will also make this world become aware of their sins towards each other. Our dream of peace will not occur in your lifetime, but your future children and their children will be the ones to carry on the kami's desires for a world where demons and humans accept one another."

Two sons? The entire world would be impacted? But in my travels I have learned that the world is a bigger place with more countries than I can count. I have been told that some are not even discovered yet.

"But how can this be? How will all of this take place?"