Chapter 09 Part III: Skeletons in the Closet
The village's main square used to be the liveliest place. The streets leading to it were wide and lined with shops, restaurants, and apartments on both sides. In the middle stood a large, beautiful fountain, carved from polished obsidian, topped with an accurate likeness of the first Guardian of Darkness. The large fountain doubled as a drinking well, its fresh water is pumped in from a nearby spring. Here the villagers, old and young, would gather together to enjoy one another's companies. This place was built with a sense of unity and safety in mind.
Until recently, the square had lost its purpose.
Flashes of shadows and light pulsated in the middle of the square. As it faded, three figures in cloaks stood. The scene of carnage laid before them in splendid horror while a powerful rancid odor of decomposition hit them like a wall.
Bodies were scattered throughout the streets. A man was eviscerated, his intestines strewn out. Another had his head bitten off. A woman a few yards away was bisected from the waist up. To the left, an elderly couple laid together, hands locked in their final embrace. A closer look revealed the sickening sight of the woman's face torn off. The old man, most likely her husband, was missing both his legs and his chest revealed a gaping hole.
"Shinrinkage," Kimi whispered. Instinctively, she rubbed her arms underneath her cloak and fought not to throw up from the powerful smell of rot. "This place has been saturated in pure evil."
Two figures, both male, appeared by her side. They pulled back their hoods slightly to reveal their faces. One has a similar face like hers, yet more angular and masculine. The other bore no resemblances to either of his companions, yet he appeared a few years older and was quite handsome in his own way. The three looked on, horrified of the crime scene.
"How could all of this have happened?" Seiji Minamoto said sadly. "What creature could have done this?"
"That is what we're here to find out, Minamoto-san," said Kimi, her voice stern and composed. If she was appalled by the carnage, she was doing a good job of hiding it. "The better question to ask right now is: where are the survivors?" Kimi was right. The air is so still and eerie, Seiji realized there was no other sound besides theirs. There was no wind and no birds chirping. All was still and dead. "This place is so saturated with the aura of death that I can barely feel both of yours."
Having said no word since arriving, Kyochi raised a finger to his lips to silence his sister. Not a moment later that all three of them heard a faint sobbing. It was barely audible. Kyochi lifted his hand, pointing the way.
"There," Kyochi whispered.
The sobbing was coming from a building a few yards away. They turned to see that it had been partially destroyed. The doors and windows were gone while a gaping hole decorated its roof. Several beams of pillars were charred, most likely from the recently extinguished fire. The place might have once been a decent and humble home for a merchant class family, now seemed like a sad and lonely place.
Without waiting, Kyochi cautiously strode into the building. Kimi and Seiji followed suit, weapon constructs made of hard light and shadows at the ready. The building inside was ransacked. The furniture was turned, mirrors and other precious ceramic pieces were shattered. Kimi's spine shivered as she sensed a strong and foul aura in the air. If it was bothering her brother, he showed no sign of noticing.
Seiji's nostril flared as he stopped himself from clamping his hand to his face. The deathly aura reeked—no, the rancid smell of decomposition was worse here! As if sensing his cousin's discomfort, Kyochi stopped and allowed him to quickly compose himself. He then pointed before them: A man and a woman in their thirties lay dead on the floor. The woman's throat was slit while the man's face was torn off.
"They've been dead for days," Kyochi said sadly.
"I can already tell that from the smell," Seiji said. He suppressed another urge to throw up. He wasn't squeamish, but the smell of decay was so foul, he was certain that even plants would wither and die from it. Tears stung his eyes and he quickly wiped them away with his sleeves. "I would like to give these people proper funerals."
"We don't have time," Kimi said. "These people's souls will become angry and lost ghosts. If our mission is successful, we can come back with priests to help guide them to their proper resting place. For now, we must continue forward."
Kyochi nod, sadness glimmered in his eyes. He paused to listen. "Upstairs," he said quietly.
They followed him up the flight of stairs and into the last room on the left. A hand grabbed Kyochi's shoulder. He turned to glance at his sister.
"I can sense two people in there," she whispered. "Exercise with extreme caution."
Kyochi nodded and the three of them quietly opened the door. Cold silence. They were in an empty bedroom with a slanted roof.
"There's no one here," Seiji whispered. His quiet voice sounded so loud in this eerie silence.
Kyochi raised a hand to stop him. He paused to listen. The sobbing was gone. Kyochi closed his eyes and tapped into his senses. While he couldn't read auras like Kimi, his sixth sense told him they were not alone. He felt something and turned to his twin for confirmation. She nodded and lowered her eyes to the floorboard beneath them.
"Seiji-kun, a hand if you will," Kyochi whispered.
Both boys bent down and pulled the floorboard out. Its rims were wedged tight into the grooves, making it harder to lift. After a few huffs, the two boys managed to open it. Seiji had expected the hidden compartment to store clothing and other valuables. To his surprise, two pairs of eyes looking at them with fear.
An elderly man and a small child recoiled once their hiding place had been discovered. Seiji and the twins quickly assured them that they were safe for the moment and introduced themselves. The old man blinked as if he couldn't believe what he was seeing. It took him a moment to register what his rescuers were saying before he finally nodded.
He and the little girl in his arms were thin and filthy, their faces and hair caked in dirt and dried blood. Once they were pulled out of the compartment, Kyochi quickly checked them for any serious injuries. To his relief, they were only bruised and weak from hunger. Kimi pulled out a small packaged from her sleeves and gave it to them. Inside contained four pork buns she had prepared earlier before their mission. The little girl eyed it hungrily. Seeing Kimi's approval, she quickly snatched it from the Guardian's hands. Seiji glanced at Kimi, wondering if he should tell her that letting them eat while their kin is lying dead downstairs was improper. But the pair looked so weak with hunger that he held his tongue. They need answers and they weren't going to get any when these two looked as if they were about to faint. No need to urge them to eat either as the pair wolfed it down with relish. Kyochi waited for them to finish eating before asking them for their story.
The old man introduced himself as Subaru Yamamoto and he was the patriarch of this household. The little girl, who hasn't yet spoken a word, is his granddaughter, Ai.
"Who are the couple lying dead downstairs?" Kimi asked.
Yamamoto-san's face appeared stricken. "My daughter and son-in-law. They—they've given—their lives to buy us time to hide when the creature came."
The three of them waited until the old man could find his words again. "Wh—where is everyone?" he asked.
Kyochi shook his head. "I'm afraid everyone is dead, Yamamoto-san. My sister and I could sense no other living beings in this village aside from you and Ai-chan."
Anguished painted the man's face. Ai looked up fearfully. "Oka-san? Oto-san?" She asked for her aunts and uncles as well as friends.
Kyochi shook his head sadly, recalling seeing a few children amongst the dead in the street. "I'm afraid that you and your grandfather are the last survivors of Shinrinkage. Forgive us, for we've come too late you save them."
Tears welled up and lips trembling, Ai wailed. Her grandfather held her close, stroking her messy hair in a failed attempt to comfort her.
The three adolescents waited until Ai grew too tired to cry any further. Exhausted, the little girl leaned into her grandfather's beard. She turned to glance at them with such sadness that Seiji's heart felt heavy with lead. He wished they had heard of the massacre sooner. Perhaps then, Kandrakar would have sent them here earlier and more people could have been saved.
As if reading his face, Kimi shook her head and admonished him in a whisper, "No, don't focus on what could have been. Since you've insisted on coming here with us, then make yourself useful by helping with these two now."
Seiji nodded and stepped forward, kneeling so that he was at least at eye level with the pair.
"Yamamoto-san, mourning for your loss kin is understandable, but right now it would be more prudent if we could get you and Ai out of Shinrinkage—"
"No," Yamamoto-san cut him off. Holding his granddaughter closer, he gave Seiji a defiant look. "We will not go with you. Please, fulfill your mission and leave us be."
Shocked, Seiji glanced at the twins, but their faces remained stoic. Why weren't they jumping in to help him? Seiji returned his attention back to the old man. "Yamamoto-san, please be reasonable! I understand that Shinrinkage is your home, but look around you! There is nothing but death and misery here. If you leave, you will have the chance to heal and fight to reclaim your legacy!"
"Young man, I am old," said Yamamoto-san, his voice hoarse from crying. "I am too old to continue fighting. Too old to care for my granddaughter the way her mother and father would. Too old to teach her in the art of shadow-wielding. I have nothing left to give or fight for. My wife and children are all gone." He paused and coughed, his body racking from the reaction. Kyochi knelt and placed a hand on his back to steady him. "Most of my powers have waned sometime ago. Ai-chan is still so young, only four years, barely into her training age. She would need someone younger and more robust to handle her training for the next decade, but all of my kin have been taken from this cruel world.
"We have lived in Shinrinkage for centuries. It is the home of hundreds of generations of shadow-wielders. It is the only home we have ever known since your kind," he glanced at Kimi, "demonized us. Their bigotry drove us into the Dark Forest, the only place where we are free to choose how we lived and loved."
"But if you stay here, you'll die! The world has changed. There are thousands of shadow-wielders just like you living throughout Nihon!"
Yamamoto-san scoffed. "Tell me, young man, have the nobilities in the court treated you fairly? Have they allowed you fair game or demoted you to a mere assistant?"
Seiji blinked, surprised by the old man's accuracy. How did he know that he's the Chancellor's protégé?
"Don't play dumb with me, boy. I may not be able to fight with magic, but I can still sense your resentment and the darkness that's been swirling around your mind! You mean well, but you're also naïve. You think you can change this insane world but I can see those damn fools are still the same as the ones who drove my ancestors here! They haven't changed. The outside world is too alien. They will be cruel to me and Ai-chan as they were cruel to you."
Seiji was at a loss for words. He had some pride in himself when it comes to the art of debating, but the old man's words drove a spike into his heart. Whatever logical and sound argument he had before dissolved. His silence was answer enough for Yamamoto-san as he rocked his granddaughter on his knees. "Please, allow us to die here in Shinrinkage. It is our destiny."
Kimi's blood boiled, her hands clenched, turning her knuckles white as snow as she strode forward. She had kept quiet long enough and was going to give this old man a piece of her mind. Now mere inches from Yamamoto-san, her aura flared intensively, forcing him to meet her gaze. As if a sudden chill, the old man winced from her icy glare.
"I'm sorry, but I thought this is Shinrinkage, the home of some of the most powerful and brave shadow-wielders in the world. Instead, all I see is a pathetic, weak, and cowardly old man!" Kimi sneered.
"Young lady, I don't know who raised you, but clearly you haven't learned to hold your—"
"Be quiet. I'm not finished." Her tone barely raised, but it was sharp. The old man gapped, stunned by how effective she was.
"I can read your aura as easily as I can with an open book. You think you're being honorable by choosing to perish in this place. Well, let me tell you that you're doing no such thing. If you wished to die here alone, then, by all means, I would be more than happy to leave you here to perish with your dignity intact."
Kimi leaned closer and pointed a finger at the tired and sleepy child in his arms. In a lowered and even whisper, Kimi said, "But don't you dare say it's an honor when you're condemning this child to the same fate as yours. Your daughter and her husband died so that she may live. Is their sacrifice so worthless to you that you dishonored their death by robbing your grandchild of a future?"
Seiji's eyes widen, awed by her audacious words. He turned to see that Kyochi had said nothing, his expression remaining calm and unfazed.
Seiji couldn't help but agree with Kimi's reasoning. He was amazed at how well she puts weight into her words. In the year he had known her since marrying Kazumi, Seiji had never seen Kimi so blunt and outspoken. She had often kept quiet or chooses her words carefully in the presence of the Kinomoto elders. A thought occurred to him that Kimi might just be as gifted in politicking as him if she so chooses.
Seiji watched in amazement as Kimi finished her reprimanding. From her words, Yamamoto-san broke down sobbing as grief, sorrow, and guilt enveloped him. He held his granddaughter closer as the two quietly mourned for the loss of their kin and the lives they had once known.
It was then that Kyochi stepped forwards to gently assure them that they'll be safe from now. They would be taken to a place where people will take kindly to their situation. Kyochi's dark aura exuberated a gentle feeling that Yamamoto-san and Ai couldn't help but believe him.
Ai rubbed the tears from her eyes and tried to stifle her sniffling. Kyochi smiled warmly at Ai and held out his hand. To her astonishment, a flower made of black crystal bloomed in his hands. Kyochi nodded, encouraging her to take it. As she held the flower tentatively in her hand, she gasped as its center gave off a lavender pulse. It was so beautiful that she had forgotten the terrible screams and bloodshed that had been haunting her for weeks. Ai looked up at her grandfather and he felt a tug at his heart. Little Ai's smile reminded him of his daughter and he knew the Guardian of Light was right: To condemn Ai to death would be considering her mother's sacrifice and memories worthless.
"Oji-san? What's wrong? Don't you like my flower?" Ai asked.
Composing himself, Yamamoto-san shook his head. "No, my child. It's lovely as you and your mother were. And almost as precious." He stood, and bowed to the Guardians, agreeing to their suggestion to flee to Edo where he could raise his granddaughter. Ai is his legacy and in time she'll return to restore the village to its former glory.
After convincing the old man to leave, Seiji and the twins went outside to set up their magical traps for the creature. Powerful seals and magical wards dotted various buildings, but inconspicuous at first glance. Seiji tried not to pay attention to the dead still lying where they were slain. A desire to help them tugged at his heart, but there wasn't enough time to bury them all. At most, they were able to at least give Ai's parents a burial so that she and her grandfather would have a semblance of peace.
"What are our plans now?" Seiji asked as soon as the last ward was put into place.
"I shall accompany Ai and Yamamoto-san to Edo," said Kyochi.
"Shouldn't I go? You've dealt with more dark spirits and monsters than I have," Kimi said. "If you stay, you could gain a better understanding of this creature and how to stop it."
"Normally I would agree, but Edo is too alien for Yamamoto-san. It would be more beneficial for our guests to have me by their sides for the transition. I will have to explain their situation and vouch for them to a willing clan." Kyochi placed a hand on Kimi's shoulder, holding her gaze. "As a light-wielder, you have the ability to counter dark curses as well as exorcize evil spirits. Being a Guardian of Light makes you even more powerful than you realized. Believe me when I tell you that you are best qualified to stay behind with Seiji."
"You truly have that much confidence in me?" Kimi asked.
Kyochi nodded. His aura pulsated truth, and she knew that what he said is not any half-hearted attempt to make her feel stronger.
"Do you have an idea on how to defeat this thing?" Seiji asked.
"Kimi and I possess both the Jewel of Life and the mirror, Moonlight Justice. With them, we will eradicate this village of this accursed creature and bring balance back into this realm." He turned to face his sister. "Remember, this is Shinrinkagen and the Light shines its brightest in the dark."
Kimi nodded. "You always have a way with words, don't you, Nii-san?"
A moment later, Yamamoto-san and Ai emerged from their home, carrying a bag full of what little possessions they have left. They knelt in front of the make-shift tombstones that Kimi had made for Ai's parents, praying to the gods to help guide their spirits to the afterlife.
"Where will you take them?" Seiji asked.
"To the Watsuki estate," Kyochi replied.
Seiji blinked. "Your father's clan?"
Kyochi nodded. "Most of the Watsukis are shadow-wielders and the clan was founded by Lord Kazuhiko himself. Kimi and I have not had much contact with them since—our father's passing." Seiji noticed a hesitation. "But I am certain they will take kindly to our guests' plight if they hear me out."
"A wise decision," Kimi noted.
Seiji nodded, knowing the Watsuki clan is one of the most powerful clans in the kingdom. They were admired and feared by others for centuries. While considered more lenient and open-minded than their distant kin in the Kinomoto clan, they also have political enemies. Seiji remembered from his studies that around two decades ago, the Watsukis came into the spotlight in the royal court when one of their women was chosen to be the Emperor's bride. When she became Empress and bore the Emperor children, several members of her clan were elevated into higher positions in court since. Naturally, this would provoke jealousies amongst rival clans.
Unfortunately, the Empress had died from an illness years ago shortly after giving birth to a daughter. Not long after that, ugly rumors spread that she was poisoned by a jealous rival hoping to steal the Emperor's heart, but her living relatives dismissed such nonsense when their own toxicologist found no foreign substances. Since the Empress' death, the Emperor refused to take another and had allowed his wife's kin to remain in court. While the Watsukis had remained in power, they refrained from participating in certain policymaking. Seiji remembered seeing a Watsuki noblewoman in court during his demotion. She hadn't spoken out against his proposed idealism but had not come to his defense either.
"We are ready," said Yamamoto-san, a hand holding onto his granddaughter's. He thanked Kimi again for helping to bury his daughter and son-in-law. Kimi nodded in return.
Kyochi stepped closer and held his fingers together, gesturing for a teletransportation spell. A door to darkness appeared beneath their feet. Kyochi took one last glance at his sister as darkness swirled around them.
"Be careful," he said. The three of them disappeared.
As soon as her twin disappeared with his two passengers, Kimi turned back towards Seiji.
"Until Kyochi returns, we should find a place to hide and keep watch at the same time. If the creature comes, it will trigger one of my silent alarming spells," Kimi quickly glanced around and noticed a shop with an upper apartment across the street. She sensed that it was currently empty and had the advantage of a window with veiled curtains on the top floor for scanning the entire square.
"There," she decided.
It took them no less than a minute to set up their defenses. Looking out the window, Kimi could see the entire square and the main street running both ways. If the creature appears tonight, they'll be able to see it coming. Kimi and Seiji respectably took their spots on the floor a few inches apart and waited.
Minutes passed. Then an hour. Kyochi still hadn't returned and Seiji was starting to feel bored. He glanced at Kimi who was still keeping her eyes on the square. He smiled, admitting to himself that she was very beautiful. What a shame that it's masked by her serious expression. If she softened her steely eyes and unfurrow her brows, no doubt that suitors would constantly be dropping at her front door, clamoring to get a peek. But on second thought, those boys would find themselves at the tip of her daggers if she ever caught them trying to woo her.
Seiji chuckled to himself. Kimi turned her cold, blue eyes on him and shivers shot up his spine. Quickly, he tried to think of something else before she could accuse him of unholy thoughts.
"It seems your brother is being held up," Seiji said, hoping to divert Kimi's attention from his passing thought.
Kimi nodded. "His two companions are refugees from this forsaken village." Her tone was expressionless. At least her icy glare softened a bit. "The Watsuki clansmen would have questions. It would be natural for Kyochi to be delayed by them."
She returned her gaze back out the window and the uncomfortable silence fell on them again.
The silence was becoming unbearable. Seiji shifted uncomfortably in his spot. Was it just him, or was the air getting thicker? Kimi wasn't exactly making a great company, but Seiji was getting desperate. With no one else to talk to, Seiji's only salvation from boredom was to get Kimi to talk and he knew that she would be vexed if he persisted. Seiji decided to risk it.
Seiji began asking Kimi several questions, first about their current situation to her thoughts on what this creature could be. Kimi eyed him suspiciously but answered them anyway. When his questions fell into mundane topics, she turned her attention away to ignore him. Bad. He was going to have to get her to engage in the conversation more. He began to ask Kimi about her life, but Kimi refused to answer. After a few more attempts, Kimi quickly grew annoyed and turned her icy glare on Seiji.
"Why are you here, Minamoto-san?"
Seiji was taken aback. "Pardon me?"
Exasperated, Kimi turned her entire body away from the window, giving him her full and undivided attention. Facing her ire, Seiji was started to regret trying to coax her into a conversation.
"Why are you here in Shinrinkage with us? To restore your political reputation in court, or just to annoy me? With that uncontrollable mouth of yours, it's no wonder the nobles got fed up with you!"
Seiji blinked, then smiled, relieved that Kimi wasn't exactly telling him to get lost. "Forgive me, but I'm simply trying to pass the time by engaging in a conversation with you."
Kimi scoffed. "What makes you think that I would be interested in talking about myself?"
Seiji tried not to wince from her biting tone. It sounded condescending, but Seiji felt no hatred radiating from her the same way he felt from the nobles.
Since the start of his apprenticeship to Kimi's uncle, Seiji was able to meet the Chancellor's closest family members. He realized that out of all of his master's children, both full and adopted, Kimi Watsuki was the one he knew the least. She had always been cold and indifferent. Seiji had talked to Kimi countless times before, but it was always about what world she had visited and of their political structures. She had never explained any more than what Seiji had asked of her then. He had never seen her being close to any of her relatives with the exception of Kyochi. Seiji theorized that perhaps Kimi is masking her indifference with arrogance and disdain. Let's see if he can break through that shell.
"Communication is important and so is trust," he said. Kimi opened her mouth to retort, but Seiji quickly added, "I believe that to have a better outcome of a goal, one must learn to communicate well with others and learn to trust in them and their abilities. Don't you do the same as a Guardian with your brother on your missions?"
Kimi closed her mouth and said nothing as she scrutinized him. Seiji guessed that she was reading his aura to see if he was lying. In truth, he wasn't…he hoped.
At last, Kimi softened her steely eyes. "You make a fair point, Minamoto-san. Forgive me, but I am not accustomed to working with anyone else besides my brother. You're still a stranger to me."
Seiji relaxed. "Well, Kyochi-kun is still currently busy, we might as well pass the time and talk. And I insist that you address me as Seiji-kun. May I remind you that we're cousins now? Distantly of course, but that's hardly a reason to regard one another as strangers. You shouldn't be afraid to be open to changes."
Kimi frowned again, not liking his implication. "Do not mistake me as the same as my clan elders. I'm not as narrow-minded as them, Seiji-kun."
"I didn't say you were, but I agree that your elders are a bit too—conservative." Seiji paused as he got up to stretch his legs. They were getting heavy. Had he been sitting too long? "In fact, most of the nobles in court are too narrow-minded for their own good."
Kimi nodded hesitantly.
Progress, Seiji thought. At least she wasn't taking their side.
"Yes, there is tyranny everywhere, even here in Nihon. I was there that day when you were humiliated by those disingenuous nobles in the royal court." Seiji stared at her in surprise. He had not expected to hear that. Kimi shook her head sadly as Seiji sat down again. "They preached about honor and integrity as well as maintaining our cultural tradition and beauty. In reality, they are just as greedy and corrupt. Your ideals—" Kimi paused, "—they're considered too radical and dangerous because the nobles saw it as a threat to their establishment."
Seiji hadn't expected Kimi to be so observant. He had thought that she had been too preoccupied with her duty as Guardian that she would fail to notice the corruption on her homeworld. If she had been aware of the malfeasance here, then why hasn't she done anything to fix it? Just thinking about it was making his head spin, or was that from the heat?
"If you knew all of this beforehand, why not challenge them?"
Kimi sighed. "It's complicated. As a Guardian, I've created a dozen political and magical enemies over the last three years on various worlds alone. The leaders of my clan already hated me because I'm a traitor's daughter. I don't need another excuse to incur their wrath like you do, Seiji-kun."
"But if you do nothing, generations of Kinomoto will continue to suffer! You're a Guardian! Your powers could perhaps rival that of a Celestial Warrior in a few years! You speak of tyranny, yet you do nothing to quell it! The elders shouldn't hold any power over you!"
"You understand so little," Kimi shook her head.
"You may think me naïve, but I do understand! I may not have been a part of Kazumi's family for long, but I've seen and heard enough to know that many of your relatives are suffering under the thumbs of the Kinomoto elders. Despite it being from an arranged marriage, Kazumi and I were able to find love in each other. But I doubt many of your cousins are as lucky as us. Beneath all that arrogance and stoicism, I know that your kin yearns for true freedom."
"What do you know of our desires?" Kimi challenged. "You're no auraseer!"
"I don't have to be one to know you hated how the elders treated you since your parents died." Seiji knew he went too far and Kimi's cold eyes turned murderous. But he wasn't going to back down just because he hit a soft sport. "Tell me honestly, Kimi-chan, are you happy?"
"How dare you! What kind of question is that to ask of me after you had the gall to mention my parents?"
"A fair one, I might say. Tell me."
"I do not owe you an answer!"
"Are you happy?" Seiji repeated calmly. There was no hint of unkindness in his tone. "Are you happy that your elders continued to treat you so unjustly because of what your father did? Are you happy to be looked over while your brother is loved and adored simply because he's gifted? Will you be happy when the time comes for them to force you to marry someone else for political—"
A burst of pain hit Seiji's head. Disoriented, Seiji looked up to see that Kimi had slammed him against the wall, her eyes glowing white and her free hand recoil back, ready to knock his teeth out.
Seiji coughed as beads of sweat trickled down his forehead. She was so fast that he didn't register any signs of movement. But he can't back down now.
"Well?" he asked.
Kimi's eyes continued to glow furiously but she didn't meet his challenge. The glow subsided as she released him. A moment of silence passed between them again as they both sat down, contemplating.
"Of course I'm not happy," Kimi replied quietly. "I don't think I felt any real sense of happiness, at least not as long lasting as Kazumi is whenever she's fawning over you."
Seiji smiled softly. Kimi didn't.
"You're right. I'm not happy. Neither are my kin. They don't show it, but as an auraseer, I can sense how miserable most of them have become. But centuries of suppression under the rules of the elders have left most of them docile and complacent. And besides, what right do I have to be happy? As the Guardian of Light, I am a warrior, a servant, and emissary to Kandrakar and to my clan. I hold one of the most coveted positions in the universe. I am a direct descendant of the original Twin Guardians. I possess powers other light-wielders dreamed of. And yet—" Without meaning to, her voice faltered, unable to finish.
Seiji raised a hand to place it on her shoulder, but paused and decided against it. "And yet, you're not happy," he finished.
Kimi glanced back at him, her face unreadable, but her blue eyes were clear. "Happiness is irrelevant in my line of work."
"That's hardly fair," Seiji objected. "You and Kyochi-kun have done so much for us, not just Lusterians but to all those suffering from the imbalance of power in the universe! But no matter how much you've done or will ever do, you're not paid in kindness. Especially from the Kinomoto elders!"
Kimi said nothing. Instead, she gazed out of the window as she pondered Seiji's words.
"Kazumi and I have never been that close. She and the rest of my cousins are weary of me because of what my father did. As much as I resent some of them, I cannot risk their futures. They are just as much subject to our elders' control as I am. It is why my uncle hasn't done what you've suggested. He has been Chancellor for over a year thus far and has made little to no move against the elders' wishes. Punishing close family members are not beneath their levels for such retaliation."
"Is that why you're always so cold and indifferent?" Seiji asked. "I've noticed that you're never accompanied by friends or associates outside the clan."
"They would only get in the way," Kimi replied. "I find it counterproductive. I either work alone or only with my brother. You're the first that I'm forced to work with."
Seiji gave a sigh of defeat. He swiped the sweat from his brow. Why was it getting so hot? And why wasn't Kimi feeling it? He was starting to wonder if she was so cold-hearted that the heat isn't bothering her.
"I don't believe that. You act cold, indifferent, and sometimes sadistic, but I sense your true heart says otherwise."
"Please, stop," Kimi said, exasperatedly. "I know what you're trying to do. I don't disagree with your idealism, but you are also very naïve and too romantic for your own good."
"What's wrong with dreaming of creating a better society that works for the mass?"
"That's all it is: dreams! You expect me to simply just challenge the Kinomoto elders as easily as I can fly? Seiji, I may be a Guardian, but I'm still just a girl—just one person."
Seiji frowned, unconvinced. For a moment, he felt as if Kimi understood him and his idealism. But it was as if a chain was binding her, created by her elders and the very nobles who feared her capability. In this girl not much older than him, he saw someone who is deeply passionate and has the potential to shake the foundation of this world. If he could convince her to break away from the chains that bind her, she would perhaps make a very powerful ally to him.
"What you said to that old man before, did you mean it?" Seiji asked quietly.
A moment of silence befell them again as Kimi scrutinized him. She nodded. "Yamamoto-san had no right to decide how and when his grandchild dies. Her parents sacrificed themselves so that she could have a future. To forsaken her life as easily as that is as duplicitous as any tyrant."
"And yet you challenged him!" Seiji pointed out. "You felt in your heart that he was wrong!"
"Seiji, Yamamoto-san isn't a member of my clan."
"And if he was a noble from another clan? Would you still challenge him? What if Shinrinkage is the stronghold of my clan and the same situation applies. Would you still challenge him?"
Kimi blinked, unsure of what Seiji was getting at. Nevertheless, she nodded. "Yes, but—"
"You said that you're just one person, but you have more fire in that soul of yours than you realized. In your heart, you know the Kinomoto elders are wrong when it's affecting the lives of your kin. I can see it in your eyes that you want to speak out and help. But if you choose not to retaliate against your elders' wishes to protect your kin, then understand that by choosing to do nothing is just as cruel and counterproductive."
Kimi stared at Seiji incredulously, unsure of what to think or how to respond. Was Seiji right? Does she have the strength and the will to challenge her elders? Had she always been too timid before? If so, then she was just as guilty as her kin: they had become too docile and complacent to challenge a tyrannical overlord.
Dryness coated the inside of her mouth. She felt as if Seiji had just slapped some sense into her. A part of her felt shocked and another part felt—well, she wasn't certain what it is.
"I have seen and experienced the tyranny of others who wielded their powers so foolishly and selfishly, both here and on other worlds. Yet, I've rarely met a rebel who was as—" Kimi paused, scrutinizing Seiji, "progressive as you. They were passionate and liberal, yes, but not the same way as you are. You're urging me to take a stand against the Kinomoto elders despite the consequences for such an act."
Seiji nodded. "Not just the Kinomoto, but those corrupted nobles in court as well. Your elders not only influence the lives of their clansmen but the rest of the kingdom as well."
"Taking the first step isn't easy, and if I were to go against my elders' wishes, there's no going back." Kimi's tone turned more serious, her eyes harden. "It's already difficult enough that I'm ostracized for being my father's daughter. How can you expect me to take the risk without assuring victory on my part in the end? This kingdom is dictated by tradition and ritual. Many would be averse to your idealism as they were in court."
"If you are determined and strong as you were earlier with Yamamoto-san, I've no doubt that you would find a way to challenge your elders and call their actions into question without fear or hesitation."
Kimi leaned back against the wall and took in a deep breath. "Do you honestly believe your idealism will work for our clan and for all of Nihon?"
"I must, for if not I, then who?" Seiji asked. "You may not expect kindness and love from others, but you can expect some from me. You and Kyochi worked hard to ensure balance to the universe and you do make people happy, even if they don't realize it. You even put some sense into that stubborn old man! If it weren't for your brash tongue, the legacy of Shinrinkage would have died tonight. At least now, there's hope and happiness for its future. You made it happened, Kimi-chan. It was you who saved what was left of this forsaken village. Now, will you stand with me and help me save our clan and our kingdom?"
Kimi's eyes bore into him, but she said nothing. How does she respond to any of this?
"The Kinomoto elders are fools to not realize how remarkable you are." Seiji placed a hand over his heart and held Kimi's gaze. "I vow that if I ever achieved the Chancellor seat, I shall do everything within my power to help change this world for the better. I shall make life better for you and your kin, and all who walked this land of ours. I want to help you find your own happiness."
A feeling of warmth enveloped her hand. Surprised, Kimi turned to see Seiji had taken her hand is his. Disgusted by his familiarity, Kimi nearly yanked it away but then felt the genuine feelings emitted from his glowing aura. Its color was a dark purple hue like most shadow-wielders, but sparkles of light flared from him, melting into the aura like a cascading wave of diamonds. She knew he meant her no disrespect, but was trying to comfort and reassure her. It was an almost alien feeling for her, one that she wasn't sure how to feel or react. It was so comforting and true that Kimi nearly nodded in agreement. But she stopped herself. What Seiji was asking of her was huge in scale. Was she ready to take it?
"I must think on it," Kimi replied.
Seiji nodded. He knew he couldn't urge her further. He had already done enough. The rest was up to her to decide.
"Thank you, Seiji-san," Kimi said and to Seiji's surprised, she smiled at him. It was a small smile, but a genuine one at that. Sure enough, Kimi looked very pretty without her steely eyes and severe expression.
As they waited, Seiji and Kimi began to converse a little bit more with ease. Kimi felt comfortable enough to tell Seiji that aside from her job as a Guardian, she enjoys music, literature, history, poetry, art, and calligraphy. Seiji admitted to Kimi that aside from politics, he enjoys culinary arts and often wondered why his clan hasn't pursued this profession.
Their conversations veered back to politics. Seiji told Kimi of his plans to gain enough credential to take on the establishment. If their mission in Shinrinkage is a success, it would no doubt gain him the necessary favor from the Kinomoto. They'll have no choice but to support him and he'll use it to gain back his reputation. Once back in court, he'll work hard to help Chancellor Komei and will slowly implement his plans to challenge the corrupt nobles. It may take years but should he be successful, he'll become Chancellor and be powerful enough to set up a political system that gives voices to the many.
"You have taken much upon yourself. The road you've chosen to take will be full of obstacles and difficulties," Kimi smirked.
Seiji laughed, trying to shake off the headache. "You sound like an Oracle!" When Kimi's expression turned sour, Seiji quickly added, "Change and progress are necessary if we are to evolve and survive. I believe my idealism will help maintain the balance of power for all, not just the elites in our society."
Kimi scoffed. "If your reason to challenge the establishment simply because they're bad, then you're weak! But if you're challenging them because you believe that their disingenuous policy suppresses the people, then more will listen and follow you. Their status quo is an impediment towards justice for the rest of the mass."
Seiji blinked in astonishment. This girl's perceptiveness never fails to impress him.
"I think you would make a very good politician," Seiji mused. "Are you certain that you wouldn't want to be the next Oracle or the leader of the Gemini Council?"
Kimi scoffed incredulously. "I'd rather steal your idea and become the next Chancellor." Seiji frowned, unsure if Kimi was teasing.
Suddenly, Kimi frowned as she noticed Seiji's aura was dimming. And it wasn't just that, but Seiji's face was getting paler to match with beads of sweats dotting his forehead. Just as she was about to tell him, he slumped over so abruptly, it's a moment before Kimi could get to his side.
"What is it?!" Kimi cried, seeing his thumbs pressed to his temples as he struggled to breathe. When he turned to her, there was no recognition. His empty gaze went right through her.
Alarmed, Kimi grabbed Seiji by the shoulders and repositioned him. He blinked, the recognition coming back into his eyes.
"Wha—?" he gasped.
"Seiji-san, what's wrong?" Kimi released him once she was curtained that he didn't need her help to sit up straight. "You don't seem well."
Seiji shook his head, trying to clear his mind. "My head has been spinning since we got here. I supposed it's natural due to the humidity."
Kimi blinked, confused. "Humidity? Seiji-san, what are you talking about? This place is as cold as—"
Before she could finish, a bone-chilling atmosphere washed over her. There was a sense of despair and fear in the atmosphere. Kimi gasped as if suckered punched.
"Kimi?" Seiji said.
Kimi raised a finger to her lips. She slowly raised her head to peer out the window.
"Something's wrong," Kimi said. "I can't sense Kyochi's aura and we haven't heard a word from him. He should have finished by now."
There was a vague fluttering in the pit of her stomach, and the dull ache in the back of her head. She was painfully aware of the pounding of her heart. Wrapping her arm around her chest, she tried to control her suddenly frantic breathing. What was happening? Was this a panic attack? She rarely had them before, and when she did, bad things happened. Kimi felt light headed and just a little sick and when she took another step, a wave of dizziness washed over her.
Seiji must have felt it too as he kneeled over, gasping for breath.
"Seiji, what's wrong?"
"I'm not sure. This place…it…it feels so heavy," Seiji said, smiling pathetically at her. He was sweating and his breath was shallow. "It feels as if I'm at a higher altitude…and the air…is so thin."
Kimi rubbed his back, hoping that it would help. "Something is wrong. I think the creature is on its way. Its arrival must have some sort of effect on you."
"Then why…why isn't it affecting you?"
Kimi thought for a moment. "This creature has killed a village full of shadow-wielders. It must be affecting only those with an affinity with the darkness!"
Seiji shook his head. "And here I thought I would be of some help to you…and your twin."
"No, don't talk anymore," Kimi ordered. She took a quick glance out the window. There was nothing and no one. The creature hasn't arrived yet. "If Kyochi hasn't reported back, he must be still out there, weak and out of breath as you." Kimi got up, straightening her hood. A sword manifested in her hand as she dimmed its brightness from beneath her cloak. "Stay here. I'm going out there to find Kyochi before that creature arrives."
Seiji nodded as Kimi ran out the door.
As she reached the bottom level, she backed against the frame of the door, careful to sense anything. Closing her eyes, Kimi's senses reached out, trying to find her brother. She could feel Kyochi's aura across the street, radiating quietly in an alley. It was quivering softly, like a little bird trying to hide from predators.
Kimi tried to focus her magic, tapping deeper into her auraseer ability. The feeling of dread and evil was slowing saturating the air, but she sensed that it hasn't fully manifested. If she makes it across the street and grabs her brother, she'll be able to take him back to Seiji in less than two minutes and the three of them could spirit away to Kandrakar.
Glancing both ways down the street, Kimi darted for the fountain and duck. Her aura magic was on high alert for the creature. She didn't know when it was going to be here, but the growing feeling of dread was telling her that it was coming. She must hurry.
Seeing that it was safe, Kimi quickly dashed for the alley.
"Kyochi!" she called under her breath. "Where are you?!"
The alley was littered with trash and a few more dead victims. One of them was wearing the same outfit as the trader from the hospital. Kimi shuddered at the thought that one of them might be her brother's. No, his aura may be dark, but it was also warm and comforting with golden starlight pulsing from its center. He is still alive.
"Kyochi? Nii-san, answer me!" Kimi repeated, her voice now barely audible.
A hand grabbed her ankle. Out of reflex, she turned the tip of her sword towards her assailant without yelping.
"Kimi," Kyochi said. "You're…safe…"
"Kyochi!" Kimi gasped, bending down to pull him to his feet. She quickly checked for injuries and was relieved to see none. "What happened?"
"I was on my way back…to you…when I suddenly felt…" Kyochi paused between words, his breath was shallow as if he had been running.
"It's happening to you, too!" Kimi concluded. "Seiji felt weak. I think it's the creature! It must be feeding on your dark magic. I have to get you two out of here!"
She swung his arm around his shoulder and guided him back towards the house.
As they passed the fountain, the sense of dread and fear grew heavier. A crawling fear enveloped Kimi's heart and she knew the creature was here. Frantically, she glanced around but saw nothing. Is it invisible? If it was already here, then why hasn't it triggered any of their traps?
Kimi gasped, struggling to keep both her weight and her brother's up. She had never felt anything as this. This feeling of dread, of fear, and death was so overwhelming that it was starting to take a toll on her. How? What kind of creature could be this frightening?
Just as they both made it back towards the house, the heavy feeling grew unbearable. Kimi nearly fell to her knees. She glanced at her brother who was going in and out of consciousness. Kimi glanced up towards the dark stairways. She could see wisps of darkness floating around like smoke. She realized it's the creature's dark aura. Unlike Kyochi's or Seiji's aura, it reeks of death and oozes fear.
Seiji-kun! Kimi realized. The creature is here and she had left Seiji upstairs! She had to get him before it could find him! Swiftly but gently, Kimi placed her brother down in one corner of the room behind a broken table, hidden from view and raced upstairs.
The closer she got up the stairs, the more powerful the dark aura grew, threatening to make her faint. But she pressed on. Bursting in, Kimi is met with an empty room and an eerily silence.
Seiji? Kimi glanced around but he was nowhere to be seen. The ripped veiled curtain fluttered quietly from the gentle breeze. Where they had sat earlier lay a scattering of torn fabric. Puzzled, Kimi picked it up. It was from Seiji's robes, and it was still warm. Other than this, there doesn't seem to be any other sign of a struggle.
Where could he have gone?
No soon had the thought left Kimi's mind that something wet and sticky dripped on her hair and face. Rubbing it off her cheek, Kimi realized that it was blood mixed with saliva. Glancing up, her eyes gazed upon the most terrifying thing she had ever seen: Its form was that of a conglomerate of shadows, writhing and dripping darkness as if its skin was alive. Its face was indistinguishable from the rest of its body, but beneath it, Kimi could see the outline of a skull, with glowing red eyes.
The creature was huge, taking up the entire ceiling as it cocked its head at an unnatural angle, gazing down on her with hunger and interest. But it wasn't its cold-blooded eyes that made her heart stopped but what's in its mouth: a torn shirt hung from it, covered in blood.
It ate Seiji and now she was next.
To be continued…
Author's note: I apologized for taking so long with this chapter. This year's allergy season was even worse than ever for me. I'm currently still trying to recover from it. The constant painful coughing and body aches were unbearable. Needless to say, being sick for weeks caused me to lose interest and focus on writing this story. I struggled to finish it, but I could barely write more than a few sentences each day. On top of that, I was burden with more responsibilities and projects from work, so I had to constantly put this chapter on hold.
Originally, this chapter was supposed to be longer, but I am tired and sick of being ill. I'm losing motivation to even write. I am not quitting this story. I just need to find my motivation again so that I can write more and faster as I should. It will take me time, but I promised you guys that this story will be finished. Please have the patience and understanding to stick around. I'll try to get the next chapter up as soon as I can, but until then, expect some delays. *cough*
Yes, Seiji and Kimi's discussion on politics is a bit dull, but necessary because it's the driving force that will shape their destinies. And if you'll notice, what they're discussing mirrors what's going on in our world, especially in the United States. There are those in politics who are so corrupt and used to their comfortable lives that their efforts to undermine the voice of the common folks are becoming the norm. Seiji's ideals represent the progressive and democratic views a few strong politicians adopted.