Episode 32: Guardon: Proof of Life

"Don't you talk to me like that!"

"I can say whatever I please…!"

Putting his hands over his ears, a young Narukami sat in the dark corner of the room, hoping to drown out the sound. Wishing it would end. His parents fought again; it never stopped. His father suddenly dragged his son out from the shadows.

"Let…go!" Narukami whimpered.

His dad threw him onto the ground and kicked the boy in frustration. Narukami just laid there, bracing himself for the incoming blows.

If only it would end…

"I'm so sorry for your loss, Naoto-kun…" an elderly lady sobbed. It wasn't just her, everyone came one by one to me, practically saying the same thing as the person before them. "Sorry for your loss. Live strong for them. If only they were still there."

Narukami looked over at the graves everyone surrounded. The graves of his parents. An unfortunate accident. Their deaths however, didn't sadden him; if anything made him feel relief.

The adults noticed this strange behaviour. Soon, people started to keep their distance from Narukami, leaving him alone. Which he didn't mind. Everyone avoided him; everyone except THEM…

"NAO~" two children called. One kept ringing the doorbell while the other constantly knocked on the door.

"Shut up!" Narukami yelled as he opened the door. "Once, just once is enough!"

The twins stood side by side, holding each other's hand. Haku frowned, "But you didn't open the door the first time."

"Yeah… that's why we just keep ringing and knocking til you open." Han grinned.

"Yes, yes… I'm very sorry…" Narukami sighed, "Well, what you want?"

The twins grinned together, "Let's play."

Narukami hesitated, "Why do you hang out with me… don't find me… strange?"

"Heh, yeah!" Han laughed.

"Huh?"

Haku continued, "But everyone's strange. That's what makes people, people."

The twins then dragged Narukami outside. The boy noticed the freshly fallen snow for the first time. Haku had already picked up a bit and threw it at Narukami.

"Hey!" the boy stared in shock.

"C'mon Nao! Throw one back!" she provoked.

No matter how much everyone else avoided me, left me alone. Haku and Han continued to visit me and play with me. Being with them made me feel… happy.

"Haku? What's the matter?" Narukami asked the girl as she sat, silently staring at the yo-yo she held in her hands. Surprisingly, it was only her here and her twin was held back at home by their mother. Narukami then realized that he didn't know anything about their family.

"I think I'll go home now…" she mumbled and bid a goodbye, leaving the house.

Why didn't I ask her then… ask her what was troubling her…

Narukami walked towards Haku and Han's place. He looked at the yo-yo in his hand, "Can't believe she would forget this…" he mumbled.

If only I noticed sooner…

"Thank-you very much!"

Narukami hid himself peering from behind the wall at that voice. He recognized Haku and Han's mother and father, bowing appreciatively to a shady man in a black suit.

"What are they…" Something didn't feel right. Narukami peered more closely and noticed a shady man carrying someone into the truck. Haku!

The boy watched as the truck drove off. He was trying to comprehend what had just happened. Haku? Was that really her? If it was, why?"

That didn't matter now. Narukami started to run after the truck. He knew he couldn't catch up to the vehicle in this form. A light enveloped the boy and he transformed into his soul, Anubis.

Letting out an eerie howl, Narukami called forth lightning bolts stopping the truck. They were quite a distance away from the town and the area was surrounded by snow and trees.

"What's this…?" one of the men, the driver got out of the truck.

Narukami transformed back to his human form, lunged at the man, tackling him. The man was surprised by the power of the blow.

"tch… a Feyra…!" he groaned. "What are we going to do, sir?"

Another man, much younger than the first, was seated in the truck with his feet on the dashboard. He slowly folded his eye mask off and peered in Narukami's direction. He leaned back yawning, covering his eyes again, "Don't care. Kill him."

Narukami noticed Haku inside and tried to get in, but was quickly pulled out.

The older man pulled out a gun, "S-sorry boy…"

The Feyra boy didn't have time to react.

"Uh…" Narukami slowly woke up. His head hurt, his arms hurt, his entire body hurt. The boy gasped at the sight of his arms, his skinny, boney arms.

"What…" he started, but stopped at the deep sound of his own voice. Narukami noticed a pool of water nearby. Dragging himself to the edge of it, he looked down at his own reflection. "Who?"

In the pool was a frail, sick looking teen with long messy white hair. A large bullet wound was visible on his forehead.

Slowly moving his hand to the wound he felt the hole. The boy quickly pulled his hand away from it. What was going on? Narukami felt weak, hungry, thirsty… confused. Suddenly he was older, his hair was not only longer, but bleached white, his voice was deeper and unknown scars were on numerous parts of his body.

"Ah, you're finally awake!" A voice called. "I was getting worried. Thought you might never wake…"

A young boy smiled. He wore a hooded robe with long bunny-like ears hanging from the hood. In one hand he held a staff. "How do you feel?"

"Wha-…!" Narukami held his mouth.

"I guess it's no wonder you're confused… it has been 7 years since I found you."

"7…?" Narukami repeated.

"I felt a strong desire to live form you," the boy sat atop a nearby boulder. Putting his staff gently next to him, he started to peel an apple. "So I went to heal you."

"…heal…?" Narukami muttered touching his bullet wound again. "Haku!" he gasped, "I have to save her…!"

The boy placed the peeled apple pieces in a bowl and started to mush them, "Don't bother, you won't be able to move for a while. First work on the rehabilitation." He helped Narukami sit upright, "Focus on getting you're strength back."

"B-but…"

"She's alright… I can tell you that." The boy stuffed a spoon of apple mush into Narukami's mouth. "I'm Lapin de Lypse, welcome to the Arcania… Narukami Naoto-kun…"

Tetsukado quietly listened as his friend shared his story.

"Ever since that day…" Narukami grabbed Tetsukado's hand and placed it over his chest.

Tetsukado gasped, "Y-you're heart…!?"

"It hasn't beated for over 8 years… I don't have a pulse. I don't need to breathe, I need to eat, but I don't taste a single thing anymore, Shin!" Narukami yelled gripping Tetsukado's hand tighter.

"I-is that even possible…?"

"Only reason I'm "alive" is because of the strong desire I had on the time of death. I died that day, Shin. I'm not even supposed to be here…" Narukami choked, "I always thought that desire was to save Haku… but I'm still here. With what happened in Porui, I think what kept me here was…"

Tetsukado frowned, "Stop! Don't say a word more than that. Tell you the truth, what you're saying is really confusing and beyond me. But…"

"But…?"

"No matter what happened or anything like that, nothing changes the fact you are my friend, Narukami Naoto. So don't keep everything to yourself!"

"Huh? F-friend? I'm not a living thing anymore. I'm not a human, or Feyra… I'm just a moving object." Narukami yelled.

"But you're still here." Tetsukado smiled and gave Narukami a quick punch on the chest.

"Ouch!"

"You feel pain, sorrow, anger, joy… isn't that what it means to be alive?"

Narukami stared at his friend in shock. He felt tears fall down from his cheek. He furiously tried to wipe them away, "I feel so stupid for doubting you even a bit…"

"Then that punch was for no trusting me." Tetsukado laughed rubbing his friend's back. "I guess technically you're actually about 8 years old, huh?"

"D-don't say that…" Narukami sniffed.

"Hey, if you came back from the dead, doesn't that make you a zombie?"

Narukami glared for a bit, but them started to giggle, "You said the same thing as Artemis…" the tears didn't stop, "Thanks… thank-you… Shin."

Episode 33 preview

The Shitenou's trap seperated Shindou and Ibuki from the rest of the team, and they find themselves in the land of the Anti-Machine Faction Guardonians. Han wanders around the planet, witnesses a fight between the factions. Meanwhile in Faram Obieus, while Lalaya was led out by Tsurugi to see her planet's truth, someone invades the palace. Someone Liberta knows very well... Episode 33: Guardon: Wings of Freedom