"So this is it... the final portion of the 'prequel' arc, eh?"
"Something like that. Now be quiet... I've got some additional displacement problems to deal with here. The readers are starting to get a little rabid."
"'Rabid' my ass... you're just getting paranoid."
The Writer of Questionable Stories just grunted as he continued to scribble away at a frenetic pace.
SHAKUGAN NO YUJI?
Chapter 916: Enpatsu Shakugan no Uchite
The falling and collapsing wreckage of the Palace of Heaven's Road crashed into the city streets below, causing widespread devastation as it landed on buildings, streets, cars... and people. The impact sent up a huge plume of debris and dust.
Even as the cloud of dirt began to settle, however, the battle sprang back into action. Several of Vine's motorcycles quickly roared out their defiance as they leaped over the piled rubble. In answer, the newfound flames of the newly-awakened Crimson-Haired Blazing-Eyed Hunter roared out in answer of their own.
The remains of fierce and recent struggle lay all around. Tattered battle flags, broken swords, and battered, bloodied bodies littered the field of combat. Pieces of shattered plate armor lay strewn in the dirt.
A grimy, battered figure stood atop one of the rocks with longsword in hand. Short, fiery crimson hair and blazing eyes were his distinguishing features. A short distance away, a young woman rushed towards him.
"...Kantaro!"
Chigusa dashed up to her husband. The Crimson-Haired Blazing-Eyed Hunter wearily turned to the approaching woman in weary resignation.
"It seems that we've done all we could here. There were just too many of them, and more of them are coming. How's Sabrac doing?"
"...He's already left."
Kantaro smiled.
"I see. Well, I would expect nothing less of him. He'll carry out his word, don't doubt him for a second. He just wouldn't be the Prismatic Blade otherwise."
His gaze upon Chigusa grew slightly more intense as he continued.
"...You should escape as well now. There's nothing else left here for you."
A look of horrified denial formed on the woman's delicate features.
"But... I can't just leave you here!"
The tone in Kantaro's voice grew gentle as he continued.
"Dear, listen to me. You've known for a long time that I'm a Flame Haze. The mission and duty to protect this world and its inhabitants from the Denizens of the Crimson Realm come before everything else, much as I would love to escape and live to see another day with you."
Tears formed in Chigusa's eyes.
"But..."
"Go, Chigusa. Take care of our child. Watch over him until the time comes for the Seal to be broken, then raise him to be the next Crimson-Haired Blazing-Eyed Hunter. Sabrac will help you to make sure that Yuji grows up into a fine young man. And of course, you'll meet with Alastor again."
"Kantaro..."
The Crimson-Haired Blazing-Eyed Hunter briefly bent down and gave his wife one last, langorous kiss. Then, with a final look of fond affection, Kantaro hopped off the rock he'd been standing on and turned in the direction of the distant mountains... and the approaching enemy.
"...I love you, Chigusa. Never forget that."
"I-idiot! How can I forget..."
Kantaro chuckled for the last time.
"Of course. Now hurry and go, dear. Tenpa Jousai tends to be rather... indiscriminate with its power."
Kantaro quietly walked away. As the Crimson-Haired Blazing-Eyed Hunter receded into the distance and out of earshot, a quiet, deadpan voice spoke from the necklace tied around Chigusa's neck. Despite being spoken as a statement, Tiamat's words had a distinct, questioning undertone.
"No knowledge."
Chigusa shook her head.
"I never told him."
With those words, Chigusa slowly turned and walked away in the opposite direction... away from the inevitable demise of the man who was her husband and Flame Haze.
The sounds of battle slowly roused Chigusa into wakefulness, breaking the fog of unconsciousness that had been holding its grip on her brain. Staggering to her feet, the Specialist of Everything stumbled out of the wreckage of a collapsed office building. Some distance away, she could clearly see Drifting Eye Vine and her son, the new Crimson-Haired Blazing-Eyed Hunter, trading attacks amidst the wreckage.
The Specialist of Everything closed her eyes.
Dear, can you see this now? Our young child... has grown up into the next Crimson-Haired Blazing-Eyed Hunter.
Suddenly, Chigusa felt a presence next to her side. Sabrac was standing next to her, his gaze firmly fixed on her son.
"Sabrac..."
The Denizen spoke after a moment's pause.
"So it's finally time."
Sabrac slowly began to walk in the direction of the battle. Chigusa's voice was raised in alarmed question.
"Sabrac, where are you going?!"
"...To do what I have been waiting for all these years."
Chigusa's eyes widened in alarm.
"You mean...!"
Sabrac paused and turned back to the Specialist of Everything.
"Indeed. There's nothing left for me to do except to face your son."
"But... if you do that..."
"What else can I do? All these years, all these centuries I have waited, refraining from consuming humans out of my binding oath to Kantaro. My Power of Existence has nearly run out. The only things that have kept me going is my oath to the previous Crimson-Haired Blazing-Eyed Hunter... and my feelings for you."
Sabrac turned away and resumed his direction towards the battle. Chigusa could only watch helplessly as the Prismatic Blade continued to walk away.
"...Good-bye, Chigusa."
The newly created Flame Haze leaped into the air and summoned forth another gout of burning flame from his fingertips. Deep inside, the young man who had become the channel for a Crimson Lord revelled in his newfound power.
This... is amazing! This strength... I can do this!
Vine cursed as he now found himself at odds with an opponent that was both stronger and faster than himself.
Damn you, Crimson-Haired Blazing-Eyed Hunter! If only... if only...!
Before he could move another step, however, a fiery ring suddenly formed at his feet. Vine's eyes widened in horror as he realized that his opponent had been maneuvering him this whole time into a carefully-laid trap. As the ring of fire at his feet exploded upwards into an agonizing, searing pillar of flame, the hapless Denizen screamed out one last line in futile defiance.
"Glory... GLORY TO BAL MASQ-!"
The Crimson-Haired Blazing-Eyed Hunter tore his eyes away from the spot where Vine had once stood. Standing in front of him was Sabrac.
"...So I see you've finally reached this state. Wonderful."
Sabrac slowly circled his godson at a slow pace, much like a hungry shark.
"My oath to your father, Kantaro, is almost fulfilled. Now there's just one last thing that must be done before I go."
The young Flame Haze blinked in puzzled confusion.
"And that would be...?"
"To fight you, fully and properly. In all of our previous bouts, I have fought you with the intent to teach, to educate, to enlighten."
Sabrac's eyes glinted with barely restrained anticipation.
"Now... for me to truly acknowledge you as a true Flame Haze... I will fight you with the intent to kill."
The Crimson-Haired Blazing-Eyed Hunter took a step back.
"Sabrac..."
Sabrac brought up a hand. A huge sword, glass-like and shimmering with all of the colors of the rainbow, materialized in his hand. Bringing the weapon into a ready stance, Sabrac looked his former student full in the eye.
"Come then, Crimson-Haired Blazing-Eyed Hunter! I, Sabrac, the Prismatic Blade, Denizen of the Crimson Realm, challenge you to one last duel! En guarde...!"
KLANG! KLANG! KLANG!
With a final ring of blade against eldritch blade, the multi-colored weapon of Sabrac clattered to the floor, shattered into multiple pieces. Sabrac fell to his knees and looked up at Kantaro, the Crimson-Haired Blazing-Eyed Hunter. A tone of infinite despair filled his voice as he spoke.
"...Finish me. End it. I'd do the same for you if our roles were reversed!"
Kantaro stared down at the Denizen for a long moment, then suddenly sheathed his weapon and bent down to pat Sabrac on the shoulder.
"Why should I? We were simply fighting for the hand of a lady whom we both love. I am fully aware that you care for Miss Chigusa just as much as I."
Sabrac looked up at the Flame Haze in disbelief.
"But... but...! How can you be so confident about just letting me live!? I could easily let my jealousy get the better of me and cut you down one day when you least suspect it..."
Kantaro smiled familiarly.
"Because... I know you better than that, Prismatic Blade. Your word is far too binding. You gave your word that you would give up on Miss Chigusa the moment I won this fight. And I have. I have every confidence that you will live up to that promise. Speaking of which..."
"Eh...?"
"Chigusa wants a godfather for any children we might have someday in the future. I can't think of anyone better who might fit the bill than you."
Sabrac was speechless with disbelief.
The Crimson-Haired Blazing-Eyed Hunter quickly somersaulted out of the way as Sabrac reached out and flung a volley of prismatic daggers in his direction. The multi-colored knives embedded into the concrete wall behind where the Flame Haze had been standing and then exploded.
The young Flame Haze snapped his fingers, summoning up pillars of flame to surround the Denizen as he jumped onto a wrecked building spar and formed another tongue of fire into a spear-like shape. Even as Sabrac jumped out of the encircling flames, the Flame Haze threw his flaming javelin in the Denizen's direction.
Sabrac responded by throwing another series of prismatic knives. Even as they impacted with the flaming spear and exploded, however, the Flame Haze's fiery projectile split into multiple points, producing a hail of fiery arrows that stabbed into the Denizen's body. Sabrac nodded in approval.
"Well done, Flame Haze... That's it... Show me everything you've got...!!"
"Leave you!? Here!? NOW!? I refuse! Besides, Chigusa would kill me if I did!"
Kantaro laughed weakly as he rested on the hilt of his longsword.
"I'm not asking you to do it, Sabrac. I'm ORDERING you to do it. Somebody will need to protect Chigusa once I am gone. I can't think of anyone better than you. Besides, she's going to need somebody to help her raise Yuji into a fine young man. I KNOW you'll raise him well."
"But...!"
The voice of the Crimson-Haired Blazing-Eyed Hunter took on a slight tone of warning.
"Remember your promise, Prismatic Blade! Remember the oath you swore! I know it hurts your pride to leave a comrade on the field of battle... but there is no other way. If I do not perform Tenpa Jousai now, everything that we have striven for up until now will all be for naught. Go, Sabrac!"
Sabrac didn't move for a long time. Kantaro spoke again. This time, there was no mistaking the tone of command in his voice.
"Sabrac!"
Slowly, hesitantly, and reluctantly, almost as if he was literally tearing himself from that spot, Sabrac turned and began to walk away. Even as he did so, however, Kantaro spoke again.
"Sabrac."
The Prismatic Blade turned back to look at the Flame Haze. Kantaro smiled.
"Thank you... my friend."
Sabrac said nothing in reply as he slowly turned back to the waiting horizon and continued to walk away.
The young Flame Haze jumped into the air, narrowly avoiding the swing of the huge prismatic greatsword that Sabrac held in his hands. Sabrac laughed with delight as he took another swing at the Flame Haze that danced just out of reach.
"...Come, child of Kantaro! Legacy of the Crimson-Haired Blazing-Eyed Hunter! Come at me with everything you've got!"
The Crimson-Haired Blazing-Eyed Hunter reached out with a hand and summoned forth another pillar of fire at Sabrac's feet. This time, Sabrac was ready and waiting for it. The Prismatic Blade simply jumped into the air... and whirled in a terrific counterstroke that caught the Flame Haze in its path.
"Agh!"
The Crimson-Haired Blazing-Eyed Hunter tumbled to the rubble of the street below. Sabrac, sensing his opportunity, quickly threw a prismatic dagger in his direction and dove after him, his sword upraised.
"Get to your feet, boy! We're not done yet...!!"
The Flame Haze suddenly spun around and revealed the card he'd been hiding up his sleeve. Sabrac's eyes widened as the Flame Haze brought up his arms, revealing a long black coat that was completely unmistakable.
"The Yogasa..."
From the cloak's inky-black depths, a single multi-colored dagger shot forth... the very same dagger that Sabrac had thrown at the Flame Haze just a moment before. Sabrac was moving forwards too fast in his headlong dive to dodge it in time. The point of the dagger landed squarely in the middle of Sabrac's chest.
It was a mortal blow. Even as the point of the dagger sank into the Denizen's torso, Sabrac turned and looked to Kantaro's son. Even though his face was concealed amidst the wrappings, his eyes clearly expressed the pride-filled smile that was hidden from view.
"Congratulations... Yuji."
With a final gust of wind, the rapidly disintegrating form of Sabrac crumbled into sparking fragments of azure fire. The Crimson-Haired Blazing-Eyed Hunter was silent for a long moment, staring at the spot where his godfather had once stood.
At that moment, however, Alastor spoke from the Cocytus.
"...I'm sorry to break this moment, but we have bigger problems on our hands. The Seal is about to dissipate, and the damage inflicted by the fall of the Palace of Heaven's Road and the battles we have waged here must be attended to. I recommend using a few of the more heavily-damaged humans in the immediate area to supplement the Power of Existence we must siphon from the wreckage of the Palace of Heaven's Road."
The Flame Haze nodded.
"Right. Let's get started."
Reaching out with a hand, Yuji focused and began to draw off Power of Existence from the wreckage and a few nearby badly-damaged humans to begin the reversal. As broken concrete began to reform and wounds healed, Yuji could only smile as he realized that he'd finally set foot into the outside world.
So much to see... and so much to learn! I can't wait to-
Suddenly, he heard his mother's voice calling out to him.
"Wait!"
Turning, the young Flame Haze spotted Chigusa standing a short distance away, a look of pained alarm in her eyes.
"Mom... What's the matter?"
Chigusa sadly pointed to a pair of Torches, a man and a woman, that the Crimson-Haired Blazing-Eyed Hunter had formed in the process of leeching Power of Existence from their original human counterparts. Their hands were clasped together with matching rings, clearly indicating that they had been happily married, or at least were engaged to be married.
Standing closely next to them was a little girl with long black hair that the young Flame Haze had overlooked. In her hands was a bun of melon bread. Their daughter.
With a sharp, sudden wave of horror and regret, the young Flame Haze realized that by his actions, he'd just robbed a little girl of her parents.
"No... NO... NO...!!!"
In the silence of the Seal, the Flame Haze's screams went unheard.
A few hours later...
"...Yuji..."
The Crimson-Haired Blazing-Eyed Hunter looked up to see his mother standing over him.
"Mom... I thought that wasn't my name anymore."
Chigusa smiled as she slowly walked over and enfolded her son in a hug.
"You may be the Crimson-Haired Blazing-Eyed Hunter... but to me, you will always be my son, Yuji. And no matter what happens... I will always be proud of you."
Tears formed in Yuji's eyes, tears that he angrily fought to hide.
"M-mom... That... that little girl..."
"Hush... it's all right. Things like that happen. Everyone makes mistakes. I've taken care of the rest."
"B-but, if I... if I had been more careful..."
"It'll be all right. In any event, it's now time that I left."
Yuji looked up at his mother in shock.
"L-leave!? But why!? I thought..."
Chigusa smiled gently.
"The other members of Bal Masque will soon be here, no doubt to look for you. I'm going to draw them away in order to give you enough time to make yourself scarce and find your footing in the world. You're a Flame Haze now, Yuji. You'll be all right."
She then turned to the keychain attached to his waist.
"Alastor, could you grant me one request?"
"What is it, Chigusa?"
The Specialist of Everything turned to leave as she spoke her wish.
"...Please watch over my son."
"I will. Assuredly, I will."
"Then... good-bye, Yu-chan. Take care of yourself."
It wasn't until Chigusa's figure receded out of view at the far end of the street that Yuji finally spoke.
"...Alastor..."
"Mmm?"
"Will I ever see Mom again?"
Alastor's voice left absolutely no room for doubts.
"...I'm sure of it."
"Well, this is an interesting case on our hands."
The social worker shook her head as she handed the paper to her colleague. Her co-worker shook his head in similar dismay.
"Quite. Little girl, found in the middle of the city, nothing on her person except the clothes on her back and a bun of melon bread in her hands. Strangest case of child abandonment I've ever seen."
"Weirdest thing is... it's like her parents just vanished. Poof! Not a sign of them. Not a trace. No names, no legal records, not even any proof of residence or citizenship. At least there's a close family friend who's willing to take her in. Strange foreign-sounding name. I think it's... 'Wilhelmina', or something like that."
"Geez... what a messed-up world we live in."
"Tell me about it."
Back in the present day...
"No, no, no! Stupid pervert stalker... you don't eat melon bread like that! Don't just gobble it down! You've got to eat a little bit of the spongy part, then a little bit of the crispy crust, and then repeat. Got it?"
Yuji chuckled a bit as he watched Shana demonstrate the proper method for eating melon bread.
"Got it."
Even as Shana turned around to talk to Yuji and chew him out some more, however, she found herself seeing a very peculiar expression on the Flame Haze's face.
The female Mystes wasn't quite able to explain it, but at that instant, an expression containing something like a mixture of painful sadness and nostalgia was present on Yuji's face. Shana blinked and reached out with a hand to pat Yuji on the shoulder.
"Hey... pervert stalker... what's wrong?"
The next moment, the odd expression on Yuji's face was suddenly gone as he shook his head and smiled.
"Nothing... nothing's wrong."
Shana, miffed at being thwarted in her inquiry, pouted as she took another bite out of the melon bread in her hands.
"Hmph... idiot."
"Geez... you sure know how to put cruel twists into a story."
The Writer of Questionable Stories threw down his computer mouse in frustration.
"Well, what did you expect me to do? Besides, I was running out of ideas."
"...You do realize that you'll have a lot of angry readers on your hands after this."
Rolling his eyes, the Writer of Questionable Stories leaned back in his chair and shrugged.
"Life is short. Nobody lives forever. Big deal."
To Be Continued...?