Chapter 5
There was no way to open the eyes.
'Hmm, perhaps this may be more complicated…'
Despite the fact there was consciousness within Toshi, the trouble was that there were now two of them. However, one was clearly stronger than the other to take over the body. The event that led up to this occurred no longer than a few days ago.
In fact, it was an opportunity that couldn't be wasted.
Trapped within an orb for thousands of year, the very soul that was held on to and convent by his greedy uncle. Waited for the perfect moment to escape. His hope decreased with each passing millennium until… his opportunity came.
Upon the name of a single person, he knew his time to act was now. And he took that chance.
Escaping is one thing, it's another to take form again.
The once great dragon Tatsuo would regain himself, reclaim his power the moment he obtains a body. Such ideas are easier said than done.
Tatsuo would admit, he didn't know where he had ended up, but he could sense something in his surroundings. It was a mindless travel since he didn't understand the world he had fallen into, where to go or what to do. He merely wondered but ended up trapped in a strange device that didn't permit him to exit.
Before long, a body was thrown in.
'Oh? A prospect…' Tatsuo thought to himself. The creature was strange; a hybrid of sorts that he never knew existed. A fusion between curse energy, sorcery and human, it struggled for a moment, until it learned its fate.
Apparently this creature will be nothing more than a battery in this machine. Either way, all Tatsuo had to do was wait.
The machine hummed and revved, the hybrid was quick to weaken and then, the body began to breakdown into black dust and smoke. 'I cannot let the whole thing be destroy…' Tatsuo thought. When the hybrid collapsed, he took his opportunity. Tatsuo used what remained of his strength and was able to jump into the being's mouth and force his way down into the body.
BADUM!
'Ah, a heart beat… good… but…' he waited as the heart came to a stop. 'Now, I can make it my own!'
Tatsuo was quick to establish himself within the body, with his power he repaired everything taken and then felt his strength infuse into the corpse.
'Please…'
However, as he was conditioning the physique, he heard a whisper. "Huh? Are you still alive? Your consciousness should be all but gone! I am rather impressed"
The soul domain established. Tatsuo stood in his true form within as he contemplated what to do with his new form now. Yet, this little bit of consciousness remained. It appeared nothing more than a glowing orb of white light. "I will humor you, what do you wish of me? You want your life and body back don't you?" he asked bluntly.
'My children…'
This, caught his attention. "Children you say?"
'You can have my body, but please… save my children. Don't harm them... in return, you can do what you wish with me… but please… my family…'
This was a first for Tatsuo.
In the years he had been alive, he has never heard a male, besides himself, plea for the sake of his children. And he felt this lone being was being sincere. Tatsuo sensed the outside world. There were plenty of humans for certain then…
Strange…
"I sense three young dragons…" he muttered.
He didn't quite know what to make of it, the young dragons outside and yet among humans? From what he could recall, dragons have yet to even approach beings of the earthly realm. Perhaps things have changed in that time? But it didn't matter.
"Since it is your death wish, I will grant it, but… I am curious to you." He gave this consciousness some of his power. "Do not cross over until I am finished with you"
Then he opened his eyes.
For the first time, in thousands of years, Tatsuo saw the world. However, the current setting he was in won't do the least bit. He surged his energy and blew up the container he was in.
When that happened, the mortals dressed in black froze as he walked out of the device. He peered about and saw them trying to attack a red dome in the corner. "I take it the young are hidden in that? And yet, why would you be attacking them?" Tatsuo asked.
"It lived?! HOW IS THAT CURSE ALIVE!?" one shouted in protest.
"It matters not, I intend on keeping a promise…" he lifted his right arm up, then Tatsuo felt something ooze from his sides. Only then did he notice the odd body adaptation. "Ah, this body has some surprises… let's see what is this substance?" he extracted a large orb of red fluid from himself, it appeared like blood but wasn't. Either way!
He stretched out his hand, and then his fingers took aim at the men in black. "Now, die"
The red fluid suddenly flew, it struck the mortals once as they were quick to drop dead. None survived the strike. "Mortals are not very hearty are they…" he muttered.
Tatsuo took a moment to test the body. He kept its likeness since it looked rather serious. He then realized he had many eyes all over his body so he could see anything and everything around him. "What a particular being…" he muttered.
But then he turned to the red dome.
Tatsuo approached and shattered it. He was taken aback to see three young children, grasping one another and trembling in fear. "Please! Don't hurt us!" one child cried.
"I promise you I won't."
They froze, suddenly, they looked up and into his face. Tatsuo smiled to them warmly, however…
"Where… who are you? What did you do to our father!"
"I doubt this being was your father, child. You are dragons." He said to them.
"He's our father! GIVE BACK OUR FATHER!" the other son shouted. He would admit, these children are rather brave as they stood up and prepared themselves.
This… was different. "Since when are children concerned about their fathers? Are fathers not the ones who should be protecting the young?" he asked of them.
They sniffled and yet, remained firm. "We… want our dad back!" one son said defiantly. "GIVE HIM BACK OR MOM WILL BE UPSET!"
Mom…
Ah, he didn't consider this, but… did this mortal know his wife was a dragon?
He peered at the children once more, but then, he noticed her…
The little girl who hid behind her brothers…
"You have a sister…" he said and peered pass the boys. But they tried to block his view. "I won't harm her, but she looks familiar to me." He explained.
They refused to move, but the sister gently pushed them aside, she kept her head low but, the moment their eyes left. Tatsuo felt remarkably strange. Those eyes, reminded him of his mate. There was something about this… no… there is something about the children.
He leaned in a little more, before taking in their scent.
BADUM!
His heart… why was his heart resonating with them?
"Your mother… do you know her name?" he asked.
The children nodded. "Syrax" the daughter whispered.
Badum, Badum, Badum!
"Syrax… is your mother…" he whispered.
Then, this mortal…
He sighed. "This complicates things… very well then," he said and began to walk away. But the children were quick to follow, the boys grabbed hold of his pants, trying to prevent him from moving any farther!
"NO! YOU ARE NOT LEAVING! NOT UNTIL WE GET OUR FATHER BACK!"
He smiled to them. Tatsuo leaned down and then whispered. "Sleep" to them.
Their eyes rolled back and they passed out. "Now then, I do believe I need to ask this boy what he knows, it's a good thing I didn't send him on his way yet…" Tatsuo released his hold on the body and went back to the soul domain.
#
Toshi felt this once before.
Just as he was on the brink of death before Sukuna saved his life, and yet, he doesn't feel pain, he doesn't feel anything in fact. It all feels… merely like a dream.
Toshi didn't know how he could see, speak or even move at this point. But, what he did see was nothing less than daunting.
A massive red and black dragon sat before him rather patiently.
"Oh good, you are aware… now then boy, before we continue, we need to discuss things. For example, explain to me your children and your mate!"
'Explain?' Toshi thought. 'What is there to explain?'
"Don't play dumb with me, boy. The fact that your offspring are dragons is not something that happens to mortals. In fact, just in the time I took in the world, I sensed a few however. They were far between… Now then, tell me again how you have a dragon for a mate."
He didn't know how he should reply, let alone if he should answer this dragon. He has never seen one like him before, and yet, Toshi couldn't help but wonder. 'Is Lady Tiamat like this in her true form?'
"Tiamat? You speak of Tiamat?!" he demanded. "How do you know TIAMAT?!"
Toshi didn't answer.
'I won't say anything more, I don't know your intentions, I refuse to put my family and friends in harms way.'
"Stubborn are we? Very well then, you leave me little choice." The dragon reached over, Toshi couldn't fight his way out of its grasp when suddenly, and he was rushed towards the dragon's mouth… and swallowed whole…
