Zoalords

Chapter 21

Murakami

"How did you know my father?"

Sho didn't know how to respond to that innocent question. Murakami Masaki as he knew him was dead, and Imakarum Mirabilis no doubt wanted him to stay dead and buried. But he had been a friend, a mentor. Kenji deserved to know the truth.

"Your father, Murakami Masaki, saved my life and the life of my friend, Tetsuro when we were attacked by Zoanoids who were after the Guyver. He joined up with us, helped us many times against CHRONOS. He taught me about Zoanoids and Zoalords, he helped me and Agito rescue Mizuki and Tetsuro when they were kidnapped and taken to Relic's Point. The original Relic's Point. We thought he'd died fighting Guyot . . ."

Kenji's eyes widened at the mention of Guyot, then hardened.

"A year later, Agito convinced me to help him attack Cloud Gate and Lord Purgstall. I didn't know that Lord Purgstall was a good man, then. But we were confronted by your father. He wasn't the same man we'd known before. He was . . . " Sho didn't know how to explain what had happened to Murakami, "Different."

Kenji could barely remember the time when his father had fought against CHRONOS. Now CHRONOS and the Council were the good guys. Did that mean that his father was a bad guy before CHRONOS?

"I . . . I remember hiding a lot. People burned down my house, killed my mom. Dad didn't want them to find me, but Guyot found me. Archanfel saved me and my dad. Guyot tried to kill both of us. . ."

Sho put a hand on Kenji's shoulder. He didn't know what to say to Kenji. He was a part of CHRONOS now, brainwashed by Archanfel, just like his father, but he still remembered the crimes CHRONOS had committed against him and his family. Did Kenji even know that it was almost certainly CHRONOS agents who had murdered his mother? It must be so terribly confusing not to know who was the 'good guy' and 'bad guy', especially for a child.

Lord Imakarum Mirabilis was headed angrily toward Sho and Kenji when Archanfel's mental voice stopped him.

Let them speak.

But he could harm Kenji. Confuse him with talk of a dead man.

He will not harm Kenji. I wish to study Sho, his mind is closed to me, so I must rely upon his words.

I don't want him filling my son's head with meaningless memories!

Are they meaningless, my child? One day Kenji will have to be told who he, and you, once were.

But I should be the one to tell him, not Fukamachi!

Do not worry, I can remove anything damaging from Kenji's mind, if it comes to that. But I do not believe that Sho will try to turn Kenji against us. He does not want to harm the child in such a way.

"Guyot tried to kill us, too. Your father protected us, saved our lives."

"Then why does he want to kill you now?"

Sho opened his mouth, but no words came.

"Why do you fight CHRONOS?"

"Because from the moment Tetsuro and I accidentally came across the Guyver Unit CHRONOS has been trying to kill us."

"We're not trying to kill you now."

"No, you're not. Don't misunderstand, I don't want to be your enemy. I'd like to be your friend. I don't hate all the people in CHRONOS, most of them are just normal people. Good people. Like you. Some of them are my friends. But some are bad people, it's them I fight. And Barcus forced me to kill my own father. I can't forgive that."

Kenji looked down at his feet, "Do have a mother? I mean, is she alive?"

"My mother died when I was about your age. My dad was all I had left."

"Like me."

Sho smiled sadly, "Yes. We have a lot in common."

"Why did you give yourself up?"

"Because I have a family now. I'm the one they want. If they have me, they should leave my family alone."

"Do you have any kids?"

"Not yet. But my wife is going to have a baby."

"Are you going to join CHRONOS now?"

"No. They'll take my Guyver Unit once the new Zoanoids are activated. They've promised to let me live, but I don't know what to believe. My life is unimportant, only my loved ones matter. I want to be with my wife, my friends. See our child grow up, live a normal life, as normal as possible after what we've been through. But if CHRONOS decides to kill me, I'm prepared. If they try to harm my family, I'll make them regret it. With or without a Guyver."

"I have to go. My dad's calling me." Kenji stood up, "I'm sorry about your dad."

"Thank you." Sho replied. "I'm sorry about your mother, too."

Once Kenji left, Sho realized that he was crying.

Imakarum Mirabilis walked quickly to meet his son. "Kenji, do you hear that? In your mind?"

Kenji opened his mind as far as he could. There was a sound, it was like a scream of pain, and he quickly blocked it out. He didn't want to feel it. "Yeah. What is it?"

"I don't know, but Lord Archanfel and I have to investigate. I need you to stay here, with Mr. Czyvek."

"Can't I come?"

"I'm sorry, Kenji. But Archanfel doesn't want anyone to see it yet." Imakarum really did not want to leave Kenji here, but Archanfel was still weak, almost defenseless. He had no choice.

"You can trust me."

"I know. But I have to do as Lord Archanfel says." Imakarum Mirabilis leaned forward and kissed his son on the forehead, "I'll be back as soon as I can."

I don't like leaving him alone, especially with Guyot still on the loose.

Relax child. Mikhail will protect him. I have a feeling Fukamachi would protect him as well. I cannot allow him to see this.

What is it?

A space ship.

To be continued . . .