Chapter 8 " Looming Darkness"

Sara slowly opened the backyard door and sneaked down the stairs toward the pond, just like her usual routine.

She always stayed up late behind her parent's backs. Once she reached the pond, she sat down and swung her legs in the water.

The cool sensation in her feet was what she loved the most. It was oddly relaxing. Looking at the distance within the trees, there was a dark cave entrance. It was where her parents fell in love before a village was built here.

She gazed up at the moon with all its glory when something moved. She saw it at the corner of her eye. She gazed to her left and spotted a deep crimson butterfly coming toward her. Confused, she opened her hand to welcome the flying creature. " Hey there beauty," she said. Once the butterfly landed on her hand, a dark liquid sprouted from it until her hand was covered in blood.

The butterfly then fell and lay motionless in her hand. Fear started to creep on her. That can't be right, however, she could feel it in her heart.

" Oh my god.." Sara whispered, terrified. She stood up and started running back to the house, screaming. " Mother! Father!"

She busted into the family room startling her parents. . She jumped into Kazama's arms and buried her face in his chest, crying.

"What happened, my dearest?" Kazama asked, worried.

Sen rubbed her child's shoulders. " Talk to us. Did you have a bad dream?" Her mother asked, concern evident on her beautiful face. She exchange worried glances with her husband.

Sara gazed up at her father, her eyes were watery.

"Something terrible happened, I just know." She opened her blood-covered hand and showed them the butterfly. Kazama and Sen exchanged looks, confused.

"Kondo, the boy who stayed here for a time. He is hurt and angry." Sara continued. " Something terrible happened. I just don't know what it is," she whimpers, burying her face in her father's chest. "Please help him," Sara pleads to her father.

"It will be alright, I promise," Kazama reassures her. Kazama has never seen his daughter act like this before. He tightens the hold on his daughter. In a state of panic, Kazama gently placed his daughter in his wife's arms and opened the door, he peeked into the hall and called out to his servants. "Bring me Shiranui and Amagiri right away. It's an emergency." If that Prophecy is true, then darkness is coming.

He must think of a way to protect his family and his people from whatever is coming.

Toshi gathered the medicine from the drawers, as it was agreed upon. He would take his supplies with him. He could hear patients in the other room talking to his boss. It sounded like the man got his work cut out for him. As luck would have it as if his work wasn't enough, it looks like the weather was brewing another storm. .

At last, his bag was full, he took one step and was suddenly hit with a horrific pain like a cold blade stabbing his heart multiple times. The bag fell from his hand, spilling its contents on the ground.

Toshi held his chest, biting his lips, so he won't scream, but this was too much. He bent over the desk to apply pressure against his chest, sweat trickling down his face. Was this the moment his life would come to an end? Away from his family?

He could hear the footsteps of the doctor coming, he slid the door open, confused. " Toshi, are you alright?" He asked.

Toshi looked like he just painted his face white. The doctor could see that there was an obscene amount of sweat on his face. Concerned, he held Toshi's shoulder and gently made him sit on the ground.

"Breathe, son," the doctor said. He placed three fingers on the side of his neck, checking his vitals. The signs looked like a heart attack, however, for some reason, he felt nothing abnormal about his pulse. Toshi reached with his hand and tapped the doctor's forearm.

"I'm fine." His voice was trembling which showed that he was not fine at all. Toshi was never the type of man who loses his calm demeanor. "I need to go home now." For some reason, he felt the great urge to go back and check on Chizuru.

"Please stay for a moment, let me help you with something," the doctor pleaded.

Toshi pushed himself to his feet, at first it felt like the room tilted with him, but still, his balance returned. " Chizuru. " He whispered. He must hurry back, right now.

….

With every step he took, his heart raced.

Something is terribly wrong there. Coming out of the other side of the tunnel, the Valley looked the same. However, there was an unbreakable silence in the air.

Relax, just go call out to your family.

He held onto his sword and started running for the house, ready to see his precious family. He would have dinner and then spend the night loving his wife.

Reaching the entrance, his eyes spotted the door was broken. Blood splattered over the old wood. A loud caw startled him. He staggered slightly and his eyes glanced up at the rooftop of the house. There, multiple red eyes staring at him.

Those birds again, why are they here?

A choking feeling consumed his throat and he hurried inside. " Chizu…" He was cut off by the scene before him.

There was a man at the steps, blood covered his head, mouth agape in a permanent expression of pain and horror.

A few feet inside, his son was standing in front of a body with raven hair. Kondo faced him and at first, he couldn't quite comprehend what was going on, until he stepped closer to them.

His beautiful wife was covered in blood, there is no sign of her beautiful skin, and her face is barely recognizable. Her hair was made darker in color due to the massive amount of dried blood.

From the darkened house, Kondo's eyes burned crimson rays more toxic than the sun.

Blackening power poured out from his core. His knuckles cracked themselves, snapping so loud they killed the silence.

"Son?" Toshi felt his legs buckle and he fell to his knees.

Stunned, he crawled closer and lifted Chizuru's head to rest in his lap, his back hunched over her. Analyzing what they had done to her, just like in the drawing he saw years ago, of a white-haired man hunched over a woman covered in blood.

At first, there was silence inside. Emotions swirled nonstop in his chest. Each new wave was a hot trail of agony as slim shoulders shook in each rake of sentiment through his frame.

He felt shame and anger, burning just under his skin. Then, a deep emptiness filled his heart as the feelings brewed over and boiled past his seams.

He could no longer hold it together, he let out a cry of agony. Tears rolled down his cheeks nonstop.

He kneeled over and kissed her bloodied forehead. " I'm so sorry," repeating the words over and over. Chizuru just cannot leave him like this. She was supposed to outlive him.

Toshi has always been known as cold. The type that won't show his emotions to anyone. He grieves in his own strange way but not this time.

His life was ruined and he is to blame for it. If he hadn't left to meet his boss, none of this would have happened.

"Kondo…" He said, glancing up at his stone-faced son. " What…." He wanted to ask what happened to him but didn't find the word to express what he felt.

" Father," The boy said. "They killed her." His voice warbled, speaking incoherently as tears welled in the corner of his eyes.

Failing to realize that Kondo just called him Father instead of Papa. Toshi held onto the boy. He was his only family, what was left of Chizuru.

He buried his face in his son's shoulder allowing all the hurt he felt out to the surface. Toshi sensed Kondo's abnormal body heat, for the few seconds he held onto him. Like the boy was suffering from a terrible case of fever, just like the last time he was sick.

Toshi kissed his son's cheek before he gently placed him to the side. Chizuru needed to be put to rest.

He placed his hand under her knees and his other hand held onto her shoulders.

Though he felt weak, he lifted her up and stood for a moment, looking at her mutilated face. The girl who loved him so much chased him around until she broke the ice and made him admit his own feelings toward her.

He never imagined their life to end like this. With a heavy heart, the widower carried his partner out into the forest. There, among the rare plants and flowers, he chose to be her resting place. The amount of grief he felt was overwhelming.

He dipped his fingers in the dirt and started to dig. He recalled how many times he did this. Inoue, Kondō, Sanan, Heisuke, Souji. Now his beloved wife, Chizuru.

Why is he the one to always survive? His own tears slowly watered the earth.

Kondo watched from afar, his eyes never left his mother's corpse. He knew he won't see her ever again. After Toshi finished digging with his bare hands, he climbed up and his legs buckled once again, unable to hold back his pain.

" Come say goodbye to your mother." Toshi choked on the words. He didn't need to say another word.

Kondo fell on his mother once again, just to get a feel of her warm embrace one last time.

"It has begun, I promise mother." He addressed her. " I will never forgive their transgression."

He never wanted to let go, but it was time.

Toshi lifted him off her and he carried his wife in his arms once again, his fingers ran through her hair. " I'm sorry." He whispered. " I broke my promise." He leaned in and kissed her one last time.

He placed her at once in her grave and buried her. There was nothing but silence that followed the father and son.

Toshi had no choice but to bury the dead man on the other side of the valley, the dead deserve enough respect for burial, even if he loathed him for what he has done.

He picked up his boy and took him to the bedroom, where the two of them would sleep.

They didn't even feel like washing out the blood and dirt or change their clothes.

Toshi wrapped his arms around his boy, he needed to assure the child that he is not alone.

His father will always be there for him. Once again, Toshi felt his son's body heat. His high fever never changed. He held the boy's forehead to check, and it was flaming hot. " My goodness." He whispered and left the bed. Sleep was a luxury he couldn't offer that night.

He brought a bucket filled with water and took a seat to the left of his son. Most of the night, he worked to break Kondo's fever.

Until it was early morning, a bit of light started to spread in the darkened sky.

Toshi felt like his entire body was aching, he stretched his arms and then covered his boy with the blanket.

Depraved of sleep, he opened the backyard door and felt the chill in the air. The vibrant light of dawn did nothing to ease his pain.

Once again, there was an eerie silence in the valley. He couldn't even hear crickets. Nothing but the waterfall in the distance.

The horrific sense of emptiness he felt at that very moment was something else.

He was tired and grieving…no one was there to help him. He was alone. Furthermore, he covered his face and sobbed.

" Father!" Kondo called out to him. Toshi breathed and wiped his tears before he faced his son once again. His mouth formed a slight smile as he saw the boy standing at the door, his hair disheveled, and he looked dirty all over.

" Do you feel better now?" He murmured." Come on, you need to shower and try to rest afterward."

At first, Kondo said nothing, like he was contemplating what to say next.

He went over the threshold and looked into his father's eyes. " We shall move this instant. Justice for my mother."

That was the moment Toshi realized something is seriously wrong here. He always called her mama. Recalling back everything he heard. The boy's speech has changed!

He held his son's face in his hands. " Please, we need to calm down first, take a shower, and relax."

Kondo's face contorted into an obvious fury. " No, this is beyond disrespect. It's like I'm a lesser being, I will show them." He screamed. His fury was begging to be unleashed, a power pulsing within him.

Toshi knelt down to his son's level. " I beg you, calm down. We will track down the culprits, I promise. Just take a moment to breathe."

Kondo's face was immediately red. " Breathing is a human limitation, I am beyond such weakness."

" My son, please ther…" Toshi was cut off. Kondo simply walked back to the house, leaving his father alone with his thoughts.

Kondo never spoke like this to him. He placed his hands on his hips and started to pace back and forth in the backyard. What could he do to ease this situation? It's like the walls are closing in on him. He needs to grieve as well, but how could he do that when he needs to worry about his baby? His knees quivered until he collapsed, upon the ground, and for the first time since his teenage years, he cried out. " Aiya!"

…

Kondo returned to his room and closed the door, fighting back the urge to slam his fist into the wall. So much anger, like a mountain sitting on his chest. He pulled the white flower from his pocket and stared at its clear petals. Sara! It's been days since he saw her last time. Oh, how he wished to see her again, but she was far away. Then again, the girl would probably call him a monster once she sees that he has wings.

It's a fact he started to accept, he was alone in the world. He was called a king. He must learn to have the authority, show them all that they cannot hurt him, and get away with it. " King Michaelis, come. It is time." A disjointed voice echoed in his mind, calling him out of the house.

Determined, he slid the door of his room open, the house was filled with a white blanket of mist to the point he couldn't see his own hands. Breathing, he stepped forward to the broken entrance. The entirety of the outside world was covered in a cold mist. He stepped out of the house and could see nothing. There was only the Celestial singing, a heavenly choir engulfing the valley with its lost aura.

" Behold the day of glory,

At last, awakened by the whispers of dawn.

With the beast inside you

There's nowhere they can hide."

Kondo made fists and started walking in a straight line, without much care about where he was stepping. The ravens cried in the sky, and the grass withered into dark brown the moment he went past it. Like the world, itself has switched to welcome him…the demon king who will bring forth nothing but misfortune and pain to those who cross him. Out from the parting mist, they showed up. Figures cloaked within scarlet robes, flaming eyes covered within masks. They seem to have skeletal features beneath pale flesh, drably held to the frame by little more than pasty blood. Crimson fire spat out from above until it made a barrier around the boy. One by one, the cloaked figures bowed before him until their faces touched the grass. " Hail our king Michaelis."

Kondo crossed his arms and called out. " I'm ready."

" You have a great power within you.." A deep, husky voice from within the mist spoke to him. " You don't need anyone, not even your father. We all are your loyal subjects…all you have to do is say the words.."

A moment of silence dominated the place. He thought to himself: he has all the power, all he had to do is accept himself and speak the words. Chizuru's mutilated face never left his mind, the way he was all helpless, hiding beneath the floor while they killed her.

" Never raise your sword against the unarmed and the innocent." That phrase was a lie, told by his father. He saw nothing but prejudice from those humans.

There is no going back now.

His decision has already been made. Kondo glanced up at the swirling mist, and with no hesitation, he spoke the words. " I'm your king…" He yelled, " You shall answer to me, or you will face my wrath."

The wind increased with each word he spoke, becoming a tornado, and he is its heart.

" The threads that bound our fate has been cut." The demon from within the mist spoke again, his tone was that of a ravenous animal, patiently waiting for its meal.

" The promised time has come at last." In the corners of his eyes, he spotted shadows of beings that could never be, coming closer to him. He shot straight up like a bolt of lightning. His eyes searched the place. He felt a cold sweat wash over his skin and a piece of cloth fell on his lap.

It took him a second to realize that was a dream, he was in his room, and there was a bucket of water next to his bed. Near the door, there was a tray for breakfast.

Must be my father's doing. He thought. Looking at the window that overlooks the backyard, he saw his father sitting there on the freshly trimmed grass, while the morning sun had risen. Looking back at his room, it was time to try and explore his powers. In the left corner of the room, there was an extinguished candle.

" Alright." He whispered and focused on that candle. Pouring all of his thoughts unto this, he raised his hand and flicked his finger in a smooth motion. The candle had come alive all on its own, and it brought a slight orange glow to his closet.

His heart fluttered at what he just did. He needs no one, he will be fine on his own. Tears clawed their way out of his eyes once again, until his face was drenched. "Mother!" he cried silently.

…..

Coming back to the house, Toshi slowly opened the door to his son's room.

The tray he brought is still there... Untouched.

Kondo was in the corner of the room, his arms wrapped around his ankles and his face hiding in his knees.

"Son, please. You cannot do this." Toshi whispered as he sat next to him. The boy did not answer, however, he glanced at him and the father could see his eyes were swollen and red, he must have spent most of the time crying.

"They won't break us." The boy said. " Come with me and I will lead you to them."

Toshi's eyes dropped to the ground, worried beyond belief about how he would react to this again.

" If we move blindly now, innocent people might be caught in the line of fire and..." He paused for a moment once he noticed Kondo's angry eyes.

"So they get to get away with this?" Kondo asked. " Why should I care about who is innocent?"

"I didn't say that." Toshi replied." It's just, perhaps it's better if we find another dwelling and-"

The boy cut him off and slammed his fist to the ground." If it was you or me, my mom would be halfway to the village already, ready to take them down."

"Listen to me. We will search for clues about who attacked her, and they will be punished." Toshi continued. " Your mom won't shed blood needlessly."

"That's..." Kondo's annoyance boiled within him, and he stood up, hands on his hips. " What are you doing?" The boy screamed, and then there was silence once again.

Kondo crossed his arms and whispered." You know what," he said and wiped his tears. " I'm leaving tomorrow, I will announce myself in the middle of their village."

Toshi heaved. " What happened to you, Kondo?" He asked, " You are not yourself anymore."

Trembling, the boy knelt down to his father and touched his face. Kondo paused for a moment, looking at Toshi dead in the eyes. " Don't you miss mother? She died because you weren't here to protect her." Kondo's hands slid over to Toshi's chest, and he rubbed around his heart. " Don't you wish to heal your broken heart? All you have to do is accept my plan, so you could find peace and closure. From the promise you failed to keep."

Kondo's eyes had a vibrant red glow to them once again ." Or do you want to face the same pain when you buried Sanan and Heisuke that day?"

That was absolutely manipulative of his son to play with words like that, to remind him of the guilt he felt. He can no longer recognize this boy sitting in front of him. Kondo was always sweet and innocent and just want to play around. How did he even know about the death of his comrades? About his promise? He never told him about that.

" How do you know any of that?" Toshi asked under a bated breath.

A half smile formed on Kondo's face. " I can see it in your heart like an opened book." He answered.

For the first time in however long, Hijikata of the Shinsengumi felt the cold clutches of fear claw at his heart and render him speechless. Unsure what to say or do about that.

"You cannot do this alone. The path is dangerous." He tried again. " Give me some time to spy on them."

"I don't care." Kondo replied, angry again, he pointed with his index finger at his father's eyes." You cannot talk me out of this. It must be done. With or without you."

Toshi reached out and pulled him into his chest. " You are scaring me, baby. Please stop talking like this."

A grieving son that won't listen to him. Toshi wasn't even sure how much time he had left before his own death. Then what would happen to his boy? Where would he go? Kondo would be left with no family at such a young age.

The only reason he was still sane, is because of the need to protect his boy and make sure he has someone to care for and love him before he turns into ash. Revenge was not his first priority.

" You are the one who needs to stop, should you continue to care for their feelings then I do not wish to be by your side."

The words made Toshi's blood freeze in his veins. Looking down at his boy. His words felt like he just gotten stabbed.

" Don't you ever say such words again," Toshi yelled, anger mixed with grief." I'm your father, we will help one another through this."