Chapter 19: The Birth of Nightmare

Setsuko was beginning to show recovery; she regained her appetite, and started regaining color. However, Dr. Ozaki knew that the Okiagari were not going to give up that easily.

Ritsuko, "Good morning, Setsuko. Today, I made breakfast for you."

Setsuko, "Oh, good morning. Thank you, Ritsuko."

"You look better than yesterday. The color is coming back to your face, too."

"I was able to sleep well last night."

"That's good."

Ozaki, "But you woke up in the middle of the night, didn't you?"

Setsuko, "Oh?"

"You spoke quite clearly for someone talking in their sleep. I thought there was someone in here."

"Oh no...Sleep talking? I'm embarrassed. Come to think of it, I might've had a dream."

"A dream?"

"A dream about Nao coming back. I wonder if it's because she was on my mind since we're having her forty-ninth day memorial service soon. I remember now. I wonder if it was the day before yesterday or the day before that day... I had a vivid dream around that time, too. I wonder if it was really a dream...I feel like...I feel like it really happened. I'm scared..."

It became clear to the doctor that this was not going to end.

"Calm down."

"I'd be so happy if Nao would come back. And if Susumu and Mikiyasu would come back, but..."

"Setsuko..."

Ritsuko looked at him for his sudden attitude change.

"I'll save you for sure, so...!"

Yuuki/Koide residence:

Natsuno and Connor were putting up charms and talismans throughout his room; he learned about Shizuka Matsuo's visit two nights ago.

Natsuno, "So, these will keep all but Tatsumi out?"

Connor, "Him and Megumi."

"How is that possible?"

"She had a good luck charm buried on top of her coffin; it grants immunity towards holy items like these."

"I see."

Ozaki Clinic:

Kyouko, "Are you alive? Do you wanna have a bean-paste bun? Here."

Ozaki was fast asleep in his chair; he hadn't slept for two nights in a row. Kyouko sighed, and took a bite out of the bun.

"I'm so bored...It sucks when the family you married into has only one man on the verge of death from exhaustion and a demonic mother-in-law."

In the same room, was a "younger" girl; her skin was practically see-through, and she carried a giant ring with blades around it. "Oh believe me darling, this entire town needs some livening up."

"You're right there, Tira."

"And it must be terrifying having to live with such a cruel mother...isn't it?" Tira had a rather creepy smile on her face. "The only thing he's useful for is money. You should have an affair with him."

"If only it were that simple..." Kyouko walked out the door and saw a younger, blue-haired man out near the gazebo. "Do you wanna have a bean-paste bun?"

The young man said, "Sure!"

When they walked in, Tira walked up to the man, and whispered into his ear "I gotcha a free ticket, Tatsumi. TeHeHe!"

Tatsumi, "Well...she's...rather...wierd! Still, she might've helped me out with this one."

Near mountain entrance:

Masao was sitting there, remembering how he was turned. He couldn't forget it. Just then, he saw Chizuka running past him.

Masao, "What's up, Shizuka? You seem to be making a lot of noise though."

Shizuka, "We want nothing to do with a hatchling like you! Wait quietly for someone to bring you food!"

She sounded rather rude.

Masao:

That Shizuka. Just because she was resurrected before me, she acts like my superior.

But what is it? What's with that gathering...

Tatsumi came in on a motorcycle, and turned to face the others.

Tatsumi, "Alright! It seems as though we've got ourselves a little issue. Setsuko, Nao's current victim, has been administered to the Ozaki clinic. At least, that's what they're saying, but it seems that Dr. Ozaki's become aware of us."

Everyone was murmuring.

"But how does he know?"

"Maybe it's because he's a doctor."

Tatsumi continued, "The Kirishikis want this done, and they want it done quickly. I don't wanna take any chances, everybody here will attack the clinic TONIGHT! I'll be coming along as well. You will follow my orders to the letter."

He then turned towards Shizuka, "Shizuka, how's our other plan coming along?"

Shizuka, "Everything is set. If I'm right, Natsuno Yuuki shouldn't live to see another day."

This, of course, alarmed Megumi. "Yuuki?!" she then turned to her superior. "Wait! What are you going to do to him?! Don't you lay a finger on him!"

Unfortunately, Tatsumi refused. "No, that we can't allow. Like Ozaki, the Yuuki boy also knows we exist."

Nao, "What's wrong, Megumi? If he rises up, you two will be together, forever."

Megumi lashed out, "What are you talking about? Susumu and Mikiyasu didn't rise! They're rotting!" But then, she snapped back to her senses, thanks to Connor's teachings when she was alive.

Nao broke down, in tears. "You don't have to be so cruel—I was just trying to comfort you..."

"I'm sorry...but that's exactly why I don't wanna risk it."

Tatsumi resumed, "Here's the deal; we still haven't turned enough people yet. That's why we can't afford the villagers to find out. I'm sorry Megumi."

Megumi, "Then...Then at least let me do it!"

"I can't do that."

"That's not fair!"

"Quiet! Not another word about my strategy. If you continue to do so, you will be purged from our ranks. I have high hopes for you...I don't wanna be disappointed."

Megumi was still not okay with the thought, but eventually, she reluctantly complied. "I...understand."

"Ok! Then let's go!"

Masao:

Natsuno's going to die? They're going to kill him?

Shall I do it?

No, impossible. It's impossible after all. It was a few days after I rose before I could attack a person.

Plus, Tatsumi's scary. Yeah...he's scary.

Suddenly,

"Masao!" A deep, distorted voice was calling Masao, "Who's there?"

"I have been searching for you, Masao." This actually encouraged him to move towards a village shrine, and saw a giant sword in the center, though his shiki instincts were trying to keep him away, until a fiery figure manifested from it. "Should I...should I know you? Wait, your hand...I remember it."

"I...am...Inferno—the demon incarnation of this sword called Soul Edge."

Masao was shocked at what he heard—demons couldn't be real, and yet here was a manifestation of a dark, evil force right in front of him. What's more, the sword changed from what looked like a Holy sword, into an intriguing flesh-covered blade with a giant eyeball imbedded in it.

"Why me?" Masao wanted to understand Inferno's intentions much more clearly.

"Even before your 'death'...you generated a powerful, dark energy...energy I want...energy I need!" Inferno was becoming more and more persuasive, "Tell me...Who do you hate...what do you desire...what do you fear?"

Masao told the demon everything, including the fact that Natsuno Yuuki was being targeted, and he was too scared to do it himself, "Think again...Natsuno Yuuki will live! He will never die!" this shocked Masao. "If you want him dead—truly dead—then...Join with me, and I will make you...UNSTOPPABLE!"

With that said, Masao—smiling, and without hesitation—grabbed the handle of Soul Edge.

Inferno began to eat away at his soul, and feed on his hatred, fear, anger, and every other dark emotion. But this host was different—unwittingly, the minds of Masao and Inferno fused, as did their voices, and bodies.

Masao Murako was no more. He had become the dreaded, azure-clad knight of darkness—NIGHTMARE.

"HaHaHaHaHaHaHaHa! I shall infect this world...with DARKNESS!"

With new power at his disposal, the new Nightmare summoned a flaming, skeletal horse to ride—ready to start his reign of terror, and seek out the missing shards.

I know what you're thinking; "I thought only a strong warrior could be turned into NIGHTMARE!" Well, Inferno actually feeds on his host's negative emotions to turn them into NIGHTMARE. Anyways, Masao's transformation isn't perfect at all. Sure, his body is far more powerful, but soon(Spoiler alert)that same power will corrupt his mind. This is because Masao became NIGHTMARE by his own will.

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