“As the hours pass and the ashes fall, the storm fades and leaves you now, what remains- an ever mess, that life is gone, forever more.”

A figure drowned in shades of gray pressed forward in the midst of a black abyss, their coat tails streaming behind them with each and every step, darkness pressing outward from within and advancing their state. In the light their figure would illuminate a brilliant white, utterly spotless, with only the blackness engulfing their form present- short their face. Half of their face was visible, the hood and shadow cast by their cloak of gray shrouding the top portion above the nostrils. Only a partial scowl visible protruding on pale skin, a lip curled down protruding an air of disgust in the form of their frown.

Their steps echoed, metallic with each clunk, echoing off of iron walls. A glimmer of brown hair, or perhaps a very dark dirty blond, swaying around and over their cheeks. Lights up above continued to flicker, old and rusted warehouse overhang lights. Bulbs cracked, some dimmer than dim and even a little reddish. It was a hallway they prowled forward through, gliding like a serpent through the corridor in light and dark.

As the figure rounded a turn the fabric of their cloak flapped, a gloved hand raising up and wielding a mask. A mask, blank in expression, and overall relatively dull. The only features of true note- a black and white star upon the forehead, surrounded in a red and magenta painted flame. And then the scar over the right eye, diagonal right across, carved into the mask rather than being painted like the flame.

The mask was placed to their face, the hood pushed back ever so revealing their masked face entirely now. The hair, shown again in the light, now silvery white- a lone sapphire blue right eye somewhat aglow beneath that mask and very much visible. And as the lights went out yet again their form would be mostly obscured, short of part of their wardrobe, and the entirety of that mask which remained visible even in the darkness itself.

The end of the hall neared, evident by the creaking of metal and a door opening, shining a dim light upon the now-masked entity. Their steps changed, no longer thudding echoes, instead clanking as they stepped out upon a catwalk one and then two. The hatch open and to their right. Around them, several identical individuals of white hair, blue eyes the same as the figure’s right, though all of them were cloaked in black robes with red stars etched upon the shoulders, chest, and back.

Rain pounded the metal sheet roof of the outside, cascading echoes sent in. This figure themself bore a white cloak, patterned with a different symbol entirely- almost appearing to be an eye with tendrils. Their head tilted forward and their gaze moved outwards, off of the catwalk. The entire surrounding room was nothing more than a rusted worn down factory. Equipment in disrepair lay all around, broken glass scattered across the floor, ceiling panels dead upon the ground; though that is not what this figure was taking in.

Down on the factory floor before them were several more in black. Unlike the multiple lookalikes standing with the masked figure, those on the floor were all somewhat custom. One man, dressed as a gentleman with a cloak draped around their shoulders, appearing rather elderly with long gray hair. Another, a woman of blood red hair, dressed in a skintight black jumpsuit with a shortcut black jacket over top and black shorts, the former of which held red stars over each of her shoulders. And then in the middle a man in a black long coat decked with silver fur wherever the fabric ended, patterned with the dark red stars.

The last man with a lone left amber-colored eye, stared up at the masked figure. This man’s expression was particularly sour, scowling- his wavy brown hair covering one eye and casting shadow over the other. Behind them, several dozen SWAT-dressed people in nothing but black, the same red star patterned across their chests front and center. The masked figure’s eye narrowed into a fine almost-glaring glare. Water dripped through the broken roof above, streams of it dripping down and pooling as puddles on the factory floor.

“Leon,” they spoke, a relatively hoarse and distorted, deep-pitched masculine voice, “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

“You know damn well what this is about Cylux- your little alliance with that bastard Arkaza. When did you think it appropriate to tell us, eh?!” Leon spat, his tone full of rage.

“Ah, so you’ve come all of this way just to discuss that,” the masked figure replied.

“Heh, ‘discuss’ he says, yeah we can go with that,” the woman chuckled to herself.

Leon then stepped forward, his right arm shot out, pointer finger pointing straight at Cylux, the look of total and excessive rage looming, “Your use of Arkaza, and the very essence of what you did with Azala, it is sickening. The Hive will no longer require your services as a result of your actions… and… because we can not allow for a loose end to continue lingering, we’re here to ensure that no threats befall us in the near future.”

“Hoh?” Cylux replied, unmoved, “So you’ve come all this way just to kill me? So I see; though I would very much implore you to reconsider your position here, Leon Sycamore. Do not forget that this is not yourplaying field, you’ve entered the unknown that is my dwelling.”

At once, all eight of the lookalikes stepped forward, their hair covering their eyes as they stopped at the edge of the catwalk, overlooking the Dharkanians below. The SWATs backed up a touch while the woman and the older man stepped forward, side by side with their leader, the leader of whom was now scanning the lookalikes- “Art of Dancing Shadows eh?”

“Considering your aim moving forward… anything you seek to accomplish here will not be without cost. Are you in a position to proceed with such risk that may compromise your grand plan? I would reconsider this one, old friend.”

“Nrrgh… Cortez, Tori, with me. Our combined might will be more than enough. Look alive!”

Without another word, all three shot high into the air, all with single leaps, all jetting ahead, all aimed right at the bodies and Cylux. And as they closed in the eight did not waiver, nor did Cylux, whose head simply lowered, their narrowed gaze turned into a glare. At once all of the lookalikes dropped low, their right hands touching the walk- and then BAM, out they flew, leaving the masked figure behind who simply gazed out. The three and the eight, launching for one another, not another word spoken in that moment short of the thoughts racing in their heads.

“Conflict in life is inevitable. The fire is fanned by our interactions with the world. From the flames we rise anew. We are grown by it, shaped by it, guided by it. A world of peace will never be an option- for if it were, we as humans would no longer evolve as people. Though when a fire grows out of control and ravages the lands, it falls to the cosmos or individuals to fight back those flames before they consume everything. With the fates holding out, it leaves only the latter, and for someone to move forward to answer the call.”

The crack in the wall caught Milo’s attention as he felt the cold, rough pattern against his hand. It was early in the morning, the only sound that could be heard was his light breathing as he took in his environment yet again. Despite growing up within his enclosed room – he has never felt so safe before. The rooting wood floor that creaked with each step soon became his favorite pastime. Milo knew he needed to make a dent in the wall if he genuinely wanted to live, but the young man found comfort in his own space. Soon, time passed by – as it always does. People kept moving about in their daily lives, making friends, meeting their loved ones – time passed by for them. Yet for Milo, who sat in his room all day, time meant nothing. It got harder and harder for the teen to figure out what was reality and what was fiction – his mind playing games with him as he stared up at the ceiling, enjoying the soft fabric that his bed provided for him. The walls seemed to close in, however Milo found more comfort in this. Despite his mind screaming at him to get up, he lies in bed as more time passed. Seconds become minutes, minutes became hours, hours turned into days, and days, – turned into months. Milo resembled that of a rotting corpse, his dirty skin sticking into the bed like a parasite would to its host. The walls seemed to have gotten closer, so close that Milo could feel the pressure of the four frames against his bed. Yet the young male still didn’t have a desire to move. All the motivation, the desires that his classmates have – Milo never got. So, he stayed in his room during that past year, his body making a permanent dent into his mattress as the teenager couldn’t be at more peace with himself. As he closed his eyes one last time and felt the walls enclosed on his frail body.

The war has lasted for less than a day. Tenno’s Household Guards has achieved an overwhelming victory by ease. In fact their duty is just akin of making sure no body has slipped through the net. Because most of the opponents have already been slaughtered by HIM,

A tall blind with a 10 feet long golden kata kamayari (片鎌槍）

Now there are only less than 10 samurais in front of him. Gathering behind these soldiers are dozens of pathetic crying women, children and oldies. They know they are going to die soon together with their masters,

Okada Ryuichi and Yoshie Toyo.

These two old men are standing tall in front of the blind, though. Ironically, for the two who were supposed to compete to the death but now relying on each other as the sole solidarity, this is the best collaborative battle they have managed to fight.

They can each smile with no regret to welcome their imminent deaths, as a true swordsman, a proud samurai.

Toyo moves cautiously apart from his partner, step by step around the left hand side of the Blind, until he reaches the back of the him, in a perfect semicircular trail. Keeping a distance of at least 20 feet in between.

Their opponent has a supreme ultra-human sense of motion and sound way beyond visionary. Toyo and Ryuichi know so well.

Toyo finally stops at a point that three of them forming a straight line. He knows that this will be the last combo they can perform.

They have to perform it in their effort, though the chance to win is almost none. They synchronize their breathing, their movement. Toyo then yells,

But instead of charging towards the back of his opponent, he jumps quickly towards the right hand side of him.

An almost inaudible “woosh” is accompanying an extremely powerful, intensive but invisible blade slashing from the left of the Blind,

A string, coated with diamond dust!

As Toyo moved around the Blind, he laid the “String Blade” onto the floor, with Ryuichi holding another end of the string. It is so light that this made no sound at all. The string formed a semi circle with the Blind being right at the centre. So when Toyo moved vigorously and quickly away from his partner, transforming the curve into a straight line, the flying string became a deadly blade almost voiceless!

Almost doesn’t imply none. The Blind immediately thrusts the Kamayari onto his left- CLING! It stops the string blade!

The partners moves right at once, in the way trying to tie the Blind with the string. If they succeed, the string can easily bisect him once it contracts.

The Blind suddenly jumps in the midair. He then uses the spear to coil the string from above.

He lands and pulls the string to draw them both towards him!

It is exactly what they have predicted to happen! Toyo takes advantage of the momentum and dashes towards the Blind with his hardest and strongest slash!

Toyo cannot witness how successful this blow ends up to be. Instead he sees -his own body and then his partner, his shocking family and finally the floor.

His headless body falls on the ground while his last blow was in vain.

His partner, Ryuichi cries out in a mixed feeling. His tanto, holding in his left hand, is stabbing right at the heart of the Blind while blood is squirting from his upper right arm without the forearm. Right before he was pulled to the Blind, Ryuichi use his tanto to cut off his right forearm where the string blade is attaching onto a metal wrist band. This changes his trail immediately and he could just manage to dodge the sweep of the deadly spear as well as to rolled to the front of the Blind and thrust him with the tanto!

He could not stop laughing because the last combo was finally performed in perfection. Though his partner is dead and he predicts he will follow soon, the thrill of piercing the almost unbreakable defense of the Blind, the legendary Saint Five member, still overwhelms him!

But the laughter turns to shocking silence as he realizes the peculiar feeling of stabbing a scarecrow instead of the flesh of a human body.

His trembling hand slowly pulls out the tanto- it is CLEAN, as his own blood has been wiped away by SOMETHING .

”WHAT….THE HELL ARE YOU?!”

The Blind smiles and he swings his kamayari once again!

Blood splashes onto the floor.

Youta has shut down all the connections to the whole city, allowing limited access with 24 guarding and surveillance.

People inside the city knows what is gonna to happen to them soon. But inside of giving hope, everyone of them is trying the best to protect home. Men are training themselves to fight with the army. Women are harvesting farmland, preparing military rations and sewing/mending uniforms and armors. While teenage girls will look after others infants and kids. Youta has housed the weak and oldies inside his own castle. Motoya is assigned to protect them together with Asano Kouichi.

They are standing on the castle wall this morning.

”Tomorrow is the deadline. And this place will never be the same as before.” Kouichi says anxiously. “We saved the people here long time ago once from the hateful rulers of Tenno. I believe we can save them once again! We love them. We love this city. That is why we build our home here. And we love and respect Youta Sama. Everyone believes in him.”

Motoya listens. He knows he shouldn’t but he just keeps thinking of his home.

“Motoya san, I am sorry about the things being happening in your clan. Youta Sama has told me.”

Motoya looks at him.

”but I believe that your father is right! Let be gone by be gone! A man should try his best to live on the inheritance of his family, to carry on the love and hope, making use of them the will power to serve others! This should be the true destiny of you, Motoya san!”

”Yes. I believe in my family. Although I cannot fight with them, I know they will fight in a glorious  way til the end, not for the pride and reputation of a clan, but for the true JUSTICE and EQUALITY of Mankind.”

“I,” Kouichi stands solemnly, “salute to your family and you!”

Motoya smiles and nods.

”Well….let us fight for the same here for this lovely place, Kouichi san.” Motoya puts his hand on Kouichi’s shoulder and encourages him.

”Thank you. It is my honor to fight my last battle with you, Motoya san!”

”No.”Motoya smiles and replies, “there will still be many many more battles to be fought in the future. Tomorrow we will win!”

Kouichi looks at his eyes, in which he finds absolute confidence, an unquestionable faith, as if it is an indisputable fact.

”Why, what gives you such a strong belief?”Kouichi wants to believe too- he needs Motoya to persuade him.

Motoya holds the Holy Sword tightly and points It to the East,

“Because I believe in her, Sora San!”

Motoya smiles and says, “Don’t waste time here. Let us go down and complete our last drill with others!”

They descend from the wall. Before they join the others, Motoya visits the great hall inside the castle. There he finds Otama Ai.

”How are the others? I hope we can keep up their spirit. Unity is as import as strength for us to win this battle.” Motoya says.

”Everybody is good. They believe in each other especially their ruler. Just that some of them are complaining why can’t they join the fight. Women here are tough. Some can be tougher than men.”Ai is smoking her pipe while she is playing with her tanto.

“Then how about you? Do you trust him?”

”……….he needs to prove that. Everyone can bluff. But in face of death, he face the true testament to his honesty.”

”But you still choose to stay along by his side, til the end….I think that’s the biggest motivation to Youta already.”

”I choose to witness the truth by my own eyes.”

”I believe the answer would worth the wait. I can see integrity and probity in Youta. He is true to himself and his people as well.”

Ai squints and sucks hard her smoking pipe. Then a teenage girl with a serious face rushes to her with a bucket of knifes and sharpened wedges.

”Ai san! Please examine these!” She presents the content to Ai carefully.

”Good. Yui. Please help distribute to everyone.”

”Yes!” The girl nods and rushes to the women and the oldies.

”At last, one should trust no one but her own self.” Ai blows out a series of smoke ring and continues proudly, “and don’t look down on WOMEN!”

Motoya laughs and replies without hesitation, “I guess you forgot who is my SENSAI already.”

SHE is going to rewrite History.

Sora’s hands are shaking. She opens the sealed envelop Aki just passed her, written outside:

To my love, Sora. From Haru.

Aki is dancing and singing in her room alone. It is a small hut situated a few hundred meters from Haru’s ruined Eastern Village. Since the massacre broken out, the village has become a ghost town, haunted and no human dares to come close. On the other hand, Aki can dwell in her small house without any disturbance since then.

“Mother left. And big sister has left Aki too. Now Aki has to live here alone….”the girl stops dancing and finds a chair to sit down. “Aki misses big sister. She is good to Aki. We travelled to a lot of places together. She taught Aki to fight, to hunt and

to dance.”

”So… you have been traveling with Haru so long? Do you remember when she said goodbye to you?” Sora hardly suppresses her tears and asks.

”Aki couldn’t remember when. But big sister brought me here and told Aki to stay here until the FLAME hurts Aki….the moment the Sakura blossoms, the cicidas sing, the forest turns orange and the snow flakes fall….”

“Aki saw the Sakura and so I put on MOTHER’s armor and set off. Big sister said IT will bring me to find you. Because you will be carrying this” Aki then points at the HELL BLADE.

Sora understand now. She can also “sense” the connection between the sword and an unidentified signal source, a moving emitter keeps tracking her and been following her until she stationed at Shikoku at last. There is some kind of resonance between the Sword and Mornga’s red armor.

Aki stands up and her eyes suddenly turns reddish, even her voice changes dramatically,

”Successor, now open the envelop and face the TRUTH yourself!”

Sora remember that voice, the one who stood on the roof top of the Tazu Ryokan and teased her.

She takes out a letter inside the envelop, written by Haru,

”I seldom write. You know that, Sora. Writing is never my style. May be it is because of the Enlightenment? I guess my skill has been improved! Hahaha! Since you are reading this, I don’t think I should introduce Aki to you. But as you see, she is a poor child. Mornga sure was not a good mum. But she did love her. And if love can save people, I hope you can use those you preserved for me to save her.

Don’t you see that? She is just an innocent baby, a blink sheet of paper that deserves to fill up by grateful and beautiful words of love. If ever fate has treated us badly and made us apart, I wish it treats her nicely this time. Because fate has allow us to find her.

Mornga was regret to have given birth to this child- the most forbidden part for her kind. Love was more likely a curse than a blessing to them. Mornga knew that when she discovered the FLAME on her child’s back- the scar which can only be found on Mornga. She could finally make sure one thing- she had created another Mornga to this world!”

Sora stops reading for a while as she discovers Aki is playing with herself again like a baby girl.

“Every Mornga should find her Successor to inherit the Hell Blade. Because it is the only way to get rid of the CURSE by passing it down to the next generation, via the Enlightenment by the Kami of FLAME, the Demonic Dragon.

The saddest part was- Enlightenment was supposed to happen ONCE AND FOR ALL for each Succession. This means the Dragon will only fulfill the wish of ONE MORNGA only, leaving the other on Earth to suffer the torture of the curse for her rest of life!

Mornga had made up her mind. So when she gave me the Hell Blade, she begged me one thing- to kill her so that the Dragon would pass down the curse of her daughter, the Sole MORNGA in the world, to me.”

Sora closes her eyes. The faded memory emerges in her mind once again-

“Thank…you….and please….look after Aki until you find someone who can…..give LOVE AND HAPPINESS to her.”

Mornga died with her weird smiling face. Haru’s shaky hands were holding the Hell Blade, with Mornga’s blood still dripping from the tip of it. She looked at the girl who was sleeping heavily in the bed- an innocent and beautiful face sparko like a baby.

Haru’s mind was in chaos. She had been beaten by Mornga and taken to her house after she was {forced} to inherit the Hell Blade. Here, Mornga healed her wounds, introduced Aki to her and told her everything about MORNGA- the origin, the FLAME and MISTAKE she had made to give birth of Aki.

Haru felt pity of Aki, and hoped to save her by whatever means, mysteriously but affirmatively, deep in her heart.

She didn’t hate Mornga. And killing a person you do not hate or even having sympathy for, made her feel guilty and frustrated. Because on the other hand she knew that may be the only chance to save Aki.

Those rages and depressions were the catalyst to trigger the summon- the Demonic Dragon was descending from above. Haru looked at the girl, who was still sparko on the bed, as if the encounter was happening in dimension of space time that could only be experienced by the Dragon and the Successor!

“Why…..YOU LOOKS DIFFERENT FROM THE ONE I EXPECT! Who are you, MORTAL?”

”…….I am Haru, Haru of the Fire House of Tenryu Dojo!”

The creature coiled in the sky. It squinted as if it was considering something seriously.

“HARU! SUCCESSOR OF THE HELL BLADE! Your Rage and Despair have Summoned ME! Now, are you ready to INHERIT MY POWER!?”The creature  glee at last and asked.

”Do it! Do it now, you bastard!” Haru had been waiting impatiently. She yelled to the Dragon.

”WATCHER! Your silly tricks cannot fool me! Both of these GIRLS would be ENLIGHTENED by my hatred and wrath!”

Red smog raised from the floor and covered Haru and the Dragon. Haru felt a piercing thrill and stimulus running all through her body. Pains and pleasure overwhelmed every cells inside her.

The smog slowly died out. Haru breathed heavily on the her knees. She rushed immediately towards Aki. She was still asleep.

Haru examined her back. The urgly lumpy scar was still there.

”DAMNNNNNNNN!” Haru yells in anger and forlorn. She rushed out the hut and knees on the muddy ground.

“Why I cannot save her!? Why do you have to fill me up with so much pain and sorrow!?” Haru was holding her head vigorously as if she wanted to squeeze the answer from it.

BOTH OF THESE GIRLS?

Haru suddenly had a very bad feeling about her loved one, Sora! She stood up and looked up the sky. There, she saw a soothing light shinning on her face:

A beautiful creative surrounded by a heartwarming bluish aura was slowing descending.

”HARU THE PATHFINDER! Your Thirst for True, Your Battle for Soul have summoned me! Now, are you ready to inherit my wisdom and power?”

Sora is shocked! She cannot imagine that Haru and herself had both been Enlightened by BOTH DRAGONS, yet in a reverse order!

But if Haru had experienced the blessing of the Kami of Aqua, why did she choose to fight me at last? Why did she choose to sacrifice herself instead of accompanying her in this tedious, perilous and turbulent journey, as per THE PROMISE she made to me?

PATHFINDER….what does that mean?

“Aki was woken up by the screaming of the Big Sis. Aki saw Aurora and Thunder in the sky. It was scary but beautiful…..Aki told Big SiS MUM WAS FALLEN ASLEEP, then she gave US a big hug and said everything would be fine…..”

Sora keeps on reading,

”We set off for my last journey the day after. I first investigated the conspiracy via the only surviving bandit who attacked my village and figured out how Tenryu Dojo was involved. Sadly as I rushed back to the Dojo, it was too late….. YOU HAVE KILLED ALMOST EVERYBODY!

The Dragon didn’t lie….IT must have come to you afterward and opened your Evil Mind already!

(Sora’s hands are shaking! She has no idea of what Haru was writing about! Wasn’t she the JUDGE WHO IMPOSED LYNCHING? She recalls her memory and ensures that she had spared their lives before she left the Dojo….she keeps on reading)

My journey for the Truth and Redemption continued. Sadly we were always a few steps  lagging behind the Evil Subconsciousness inside you. Every criminal you punished and captured in the name of Justice, would finally perished mysteriously inside the jail or at places where they were exiled.

My hypothesis was proved right. There was a MONSTER breeding inside you, waiting for a chance to consume your mind and soul. It lured your subconsciousness at night, took control of your body and forced you to commit all those murders, including the whole Tenryu Dojo!

I must save you! So I kept following you, both to protect you from the assassins sent by Tenno and the Royalty, and to seek the chance to elicit the bloodthirsty MONSTER that the Dragon had implanted in you.”

Sora’s eyes are watering and the scene Haru smiled and turned around to execute her last Diabolic Blow keeps looping inside her mind.

Now she understands- How Haru elicited her to perform the Diabolic Sword in order to release the most savageness and berserk inside her. And how Haru put down the fire of vengeance and rages by LOVE and SACRIFICE!

“Haru had placed the right bet on you. But it costed her own life. Till then, when I was suggested to follow you and your partner, I haven’t noticed any weird berserk behavior of our Holy Successor…..”The Red Eye Aki suddenly appears again.

Sora cannot and need not to cover up her anguish of longing for her love, the guilt of her untold crimes committed by her dark side as well as the gratefulness for the redemption of consciousness that Haru had sacrificed her own life in order to bring along to her. Tear drops run down her face. She quickly moved Haru’s letter away from them. She needs to keep it intact.

Haru seldom writes. This letter is precious to us.

Sora feels the loved one somewhere around. She closes her eyes, imagining Haru standing in front of her,

”Sora. I am sorry that I broke my promise. I cannot accompany you any more. But my spirit and love will long live in your heart. And I hope you can look after Aki for me. I am sure your wisdom and endeavor will finally save her, just like I save you, from the inferno.

There is at last an interesting farewell present I should give to you. It is a scroll Aki’s mother had given me as our meeting gift. Aki should be keeping it for me.

Oh, dear. This must be the longest one I have written in my life. I hope it is not too difficult to read at least. So. It has come to the end at last.

Goodbye, my Love. And don’t ever look back. There are so many interesting things that will keep you busy in the rest of your life to look forward to. And I am sure you will find the best in your own way eventually!

Haru, your love.”

Aki’s innocent and lovely face bumps into Sora when she finishes reading. Her beautiful eyes, though always squinted, are clear and twinkling.

”So this is the PRESENT Big Sis wants Aki to keep until you arrive here.” She rushes to her bed and takes out a scroll from underside of the mattress.

It is an inked drawing. It must have been soaked in rain water. Some inked part had been washed running in a mess that spoiled the whole composition. Yet Sora can still recognize the original content of the drawing:

A picture of Two Dragons, coiling their bodies together, facing each other.

Strangely one of the dragon has its facial part being torn and removed, leaving a hole there.

”It ….looks like a kind of riddle, is it? Haru?”

Aki suddenly screams terrifyingly. She reaches out both hands to scratch her back!

”IT HURTS! IT HURTS!” Sora notices her lumpy scar turns burning bloody reddish if it is about to burst!

THE FLAME!

Sora tries to hold her tight to avoid her to hurt herself. “Stop! Aki! Take a deep breath! You can overcome it!” In fact Sora doesn’t have any idea of how to ease her pain and to calm her down.

Aki starts howling like an animal and her eyes are turning all red now, from the sclera to the iris, all red! And she struggles herself out from Sora’s embracement.

She pulls out a tanto from her kimono and thrusts at Sora’s abdomen.

Sora doesn’t dodge. She lets the blade stabbed into her tummy. Then she holds Aki’s hand tight.

Warm blood is bleeding from her wound and tints Aki’s forearm completely red. The warmth and the strong odor become a sedative to the lunatic little beast.

“It is alright now…..don’t be afraid! I will….save…..you!”

Aki’s ragged breathing gradually returns to steady and normal as Sora holds her tight. Her tanto still remains in Sora’s abdomen. But her hand doesn’t tremble with anxiety any more.

”Aki….feels good in your hug….Aki likes Sora.”

”I like you too, Aki.”

I must be too tired. After all I have flee for several days non-stop across hundred meters from the city.

Damn!

He examines his feet which are covered with abrasions. He reluctantly pulls out thorns and gravels inside those wounds. Pain does make his mind clear and keeps him awake.

But not clear enough to reveal the path that lies ahead of him.

Those Shoguns! I shouldn’t have trust those speculators! But damn! I am a fugitive wanted by the Royalty! Who else would dare to risk their lives to cover me up? Except those speculator warlords!? Well, if Uesugi Youta doesn’t have that guts, HE should have.

Hikirichi struggles to get up. He knows he can not take rest. The hounds can be right after him.

But I will survive, in this dog-eat-dog world! I don’t need to be the strongest. See who is the smartest after all!

He keeps going WEST.

Yeah…but holy shit!

WHAT DID I JUST DREAM ABOUT?

My head feels foggy, and my body aches as my eyes flicker open to the bright lighting of the room. I half expect to hear beeping or bustle coming from outside the room, but alas, nothing but silence meets my ears. Pausing for a moment as I look around, I can't help but wonder where I am. I try to remember, but I'm met with a pounding ache in my head. I'm in no hospital room; it appears like a normal bedroom. Among the walls are pictures littered with memories of people I don't know; a desk sits centered with the bed I lay upon; it too has memories; and a laptop sits idle. I half attempt to get out of bed, taking note of the bed set that matches everything from the sheets to the pillows. Eventually, I stumble my way around the messy house filled with strangers memories and find the bathroom. I splash cold water on my face again and again until I sink to the floor and cry. The memories come flooding back—the screaming, the fighting, the breakup, and then the drinking. This is no strangers house; it was mine and theirs. A love once rooted so deep has now left me with an empty chest. As I let out a scream one thought bounced inside my pounding head.

I wish the hangover amnesia had lasted just a bit longer.

--Written for a contest--

In this thing alone

I’m an auditorium with no one in the seats

I’m the speaker on the stage with no one to listen

No one there to hear what i have to say

No one there to care

But then again… why should they

Why should they have to sit in those empty seats

Just to get to know me

Sure i got a crew but that shit don’t matter to you

No one cares what i’m going through

All that matters to them is the scoop

The news, the gossip

I’m in this thing alone like i always have been

But maybe i need some one to chime in and maybe i need someone to step in line and ask me whats going on

Are you ok

Is everything alright

Maybe i need someone to fill in the seats in my empty auditorium maybe I need to know i'm not alone. Maybe I need someone to speak up and help me. Maybe I need someone to understand.

To understand me understand the things i’m going through

I feel like a fish drowning in water

Drowning in sorrow and regret

No one to save me

Or grab me out this miserable sea of tears

I’ll just keep drifting and drifting until i  drift so far away

i completely vanish from existence

But maybe i want to vanish

Maybe its the best thing to do

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Thanks for reading! <3

hey this is my 1st ever blog (but who rlly cares?). my name's Cameron, I write stuff, I'm pansexual. my BFF died last year. I don't have a lot to say. I guess I'm just doing this cos there's not much else to do except stare at the ceiling. tell me, someone, have you ever thought about madness? Like, will I know when I go crazy? I guess that's what this is. I lost all my friends, my family disowned me, I don't have pets anymore. there's no one to talk to, so I'm doing this.I'm finding a way to amuse myself while I wonder how crazy I am.Well, that's a fun thought. I'm serious though.gtg but if you read this, pls comment and...yeah. bye

On the day of the eclipse is the best day for a witch's spell. For those four minutes of total darkness. Magic goes nuts. Well, that’s what Rose knows from what her mother told her. Now Rose is working on her own ritual, she really hopes it will work. On the day of the eclipse Rose sets everything up and starts the spell. But something goes wrong, the spell didn’t work. She went to her mom crying about and her mom explained it has to be when it’s totally eclipsed. Rose’s mom carries Rose back to the ritual room and tries the spell when the sun is covered. This time it works Rose is over the moon that it works. Spell she was working on is a spell where you can see a rainbow at night. She’s so happy it finally worked. Roses mother is very proud of her too. The end.

After Ace showed me around, we decided to seat with our parents who were already expecting us to join them, Ace mother kept looking to the door from time to time, I could clearly see she was expecting someone but before i could ask who the visitor was, a familiar but grown face walked in.

Jason, I screamed, struggling against Ace grip on my wrist, happy and sad at the time to see him. I had no idea he was coming tonight, I guess my parents already did because,  they couldn't hide their smile.

With the strange turn of events happening today, am positive my parents knows more about Jason than I do so, am not going to ask the obvious.

Audrey, meet Jason my older son, Mrs Demetriou said introducing him to me but i guess you two already know each other.

I nodded in shock at the mention of "Older Son" but it all made sense now. Scooting over so he could seat beside me, he chuckled, you're one fiesty tigress he sneakered pulling me in for a hug.

I smiled at the nickname I love.

Jason is someone I had a crush on before he transferred to another school, same time I started liking Ace, more like he was my first love.

Ace never knew about the magnitude of my feelings for Jason until tonight, I can see the look of betrayal in his eyes when I  accidentally mumbled how much Jason absence affected me.

I know my friends think am in love with Ace but the truth is, I only liked him for having a striking resemblance to Jason & until now I never knew they were brothers.

Tears pulled in my eyes, I inhaled his masculine scent and the memory of us when we were younger flooded back in, he's different now. Although he looks older than Ace, Ace is attractively built and more handsome than him.

Susie died, I whispered to him.

I am not aware of that he said, releasing me and scooping my face in his palms, I'll buy you another cat and we can name her Susie okay.....

You never looked back, why?

Am sorry, believe me when i say it hurt me so much leaving you here and I never for once stopped thinking about us.

I believe you I said, squeezing his hands in reassurance, he smiled before clearing his throat, have you told her he ask nonchalantly to no one.

Leave it, she doesn't need to know right now Ace said.

Oh really, cause the last time I checked, this does not concern you and she has every right to know, since it involves her.

Are they talking about me, I think to myself in silence fiddling with my phone pouch.

The news willl only cause her to be unhappy and she doesn't deserve that Ace argued back weakly,  you could see he was unsure of whatever it is he is saying.

Are you sure about that, Jason asked mockingly.

Mom suddenly smiled at me, then, Jason drew me closer to his side, she deserves to know, he said that directly in my face like he really needed me to know this conversation was all about me.

She doesn't Ace roared, causing me to freeze. Have never seen him so worked up before, everything he does is always calculated, tonight is very unlike him.

The power he was radiating made the atmosphere to be damp, even Jason was frightened at first but masked up the fear before looking at his parents.

Ace, his father warned.

He wanted to say something but when his eyes fell on my face, I was stunned when he suddenly calmed down.

Audrey, your parents and I just signed a marriage contract of you and my son Jason, you will be getting engaged to him next month while your parents and i will plan the wedding Ace mom said.

The memory of Jason giving me a promise ring came back and I find myself agreeing to the engagement and wedding plans without any complaints.

I read the contract signed by my parents and realized that not only will Jason become the heir to the gang throne but will also inherit the family property/ multi billion dollar businesses.

Mr and Mrs Demetriou emotions remained the same, my parents face also look more relaxed than when we came in. They should be, their only daughter is about to be wedded to a soon to be billionaire, am not materialistic in nature but I just love the sound of it.

I look to Ace and he has his eyes on some place else, why do I feel a pang in my heart? Maybe because I feel sort of guilty for misleading him but it's not like Ace and I was entangled in any romantic relationship.

I thought the night will end right there after the breaking news of my wedding to Jason but, i got another shocking news when his mom talked about Ace engagement to the school bitch Estella.

Why? I ask.

Everyone looked at me and, I immediately showed my phone to them, pretending I was reacting to a message on whatsapp.

Thankfully they bought my lie. There is no way am going to have her as my sister in-law, was I really mad at that or something else, I couldn't tell yet.

Seeing her at school was enough torture for me but, having her as Ace wife, means twenty four hours torture, I think to myself but there was something else bothering my mind, something I couldn't really pin.

Am tired, i can't wait for this night to be over, all I want to do right now is hop on my bed and get some sleep.

Jason, grabbed my phone and put his number in. When he gave it back to me, I added a love emoji to it before saving it and giving him mine.

All this time Ace didn't validate my presence, am disappointed at him for doing that. Finally, he got up and walked away without looking back at anyone.

Until we left, Ace never returned. Which left me pondering over why he couldn't just be happy for his brother's wedding arrangements?

Or be happy for me.

On a halloween night, just as every year, the five friends went to Richie’s house, the richest guy in town.  He has haunted themed mansions (yes, plural), plushies and full size candy bars for trick or treat, and fantastic, authentic decorations. Akya, Dalla, Wollip, and Emolk love to go to the haunted mansion on  990 Person Ave. , owned by Richie. But this time, like any story ever written, something happened色

They walked inside the dark and mysterious mansion. As I said, maybe you're wondering, there ARE five friends, but Vicky hates scary things, she’s not quite enthusiastic about it. Still, all of them started their journey to each door they meet just as clock strikes 8.

As they meet the very first door, claw marks were scratched on the door along with blood dripping and seeping through the door to the long red carpet on the hallway. Without hesitation though, Dalla opened the door. “Ah!!!” yelled Vicky as a large werewolf model showed its face from the ceiling. Except for her though, everybody just calmly walked inside to explore. “How fake can this year’s decoration be?!” complained Emolk.

For the rest of the night, the five friends went door by door as they proceeded along the red carpets with blood marks, scary eyes, and weird creaking sounds from the floor boards. Finally there was the last door, it was already half past 9. “It looks like it’s just a storage room without anything” said Dalla. Still, Akya opened the door with curiosity. What the door lead to was no storage room, instead, it was a dark black corridor with dim lamp-styled lights on the side. “This feels weird” said Wollip. Even so, the unusualness of this new discovery didn’t scare them away but made them want to explore deeper.

The first door they meet, it was covered with glossy black paint and intricate carvings of ravens, flowers, and other patterns. Emolk opened the door, what he saw was creepy mechanic dolls. He walked inside and the door went SLAM! There was no turning back, the door was locked so Emolk just walked around the room. He felt there was something looking at him, planning something, but when he quickly turned, there was only a mechanical animal, probably from an abandoned park. Gradually though, Emolk realized all the mechanic dolls had a red glow in their eyes in turns. Then, all of a sudden, all of the mechanic dolls started to move. “Mommy! Mommy!” said one of the dolls, but all of their voices became distorted and their eyes glowed with an eerie red. Some exploded with a high pitched sound while others bit on to Emolk, twisting and ripping his flesh piece by piece, until his body was only ashes with the explosion fires. Emolk yelled in pain, but nobody could hear.

That was it, gone.

TO BE CONTINUED……

Adrian was on business trip after whatever happened and how he behaved with her he just felt that he could use this opportunity to go on a business trip but inner information was that he was just embarrassed to face her when he was traveling around he met a person  with brown hair, clean shaved fair skin brown eyes and oval face he was really handsome who could attract as many girls he wanted to, he  soon became a really good friend of Adrian his name was Zen Mallick"So you do business investment ""Ya because I like to explore world and I am currently looking in NYC for an business investment do recommend me if you have some in your mind""Of course I can infact why Don't you invest in Rains Corporation its my company it will be win win situation for both of us""OK, I think I can use this opportunity"He smiled at him"Sia get things prepare in NYC Mr. Mallick will invest on our company""OK sir" she replied"So now I m already investing on your business tell me about yourself like how many girlfriend you have in NYC "Those word's from Zens mouth gave a wave of flashback in his mind which he was trying to avoid from a very long time"I don't have any girlfriend's in NYC but yaa I am getting married to a girl I don't like at all , you know she always smiles even if you are taunting her or saying things in a sarcastic way and she pretended to be ugly before me just because she didn't wanted any problem do I create problem, no I don't know why she did that and whenever I try to ask her , it's my personal life Mr. Rains that's what she says , I really just can't tolerate her and recently I got to know that she frequently have dinner with my best friend what does that mean she is my fiance she should have some etiquette and for God sake my name is connected with her she have to understand but she said , it's my personal life Mr. Rains I am just tired of her""Ohh Ohh hold on my friend you are describing her like that I have a feeling that you are deeply in love with her and its nice btw that ugly pretended part were you serious like how a girl can do that it's insane and by listening to you I want to meet her like rn"

" She is not your type""I will decide that after meeting her, and stop getting jealous you nerd I won't interfere in your so called hateful relationship" he giggled by saying"I didn't say that, it's just so annoying to me and I hate her with my whole heart""Whatever"

On the other hand Lisa got called from Sia that she need to prepare all the documents because someone is investing on there company, though she didn't know who was investing name will be filled on the spot so she need to wait for 2 hours

***

Adrian and zen reached NYC Jessa went airport to pick them up when she saw Adrian she ran and hugged him, Adrian jerked"What are you doing?""Just hugging you baby, I missed you so much"Zen coughed so both of them turned to him"So she is the fiance you mentioned adrian""Fiance??" Jessa looked at Adrian with questioning face"......." Adrian didn't said anything"I am not his fiance but will become later, I am his girlfriend Jessa Williams""It's seems I had heard your name before Ms Willams""Yaa I am CEO of tiara, you must have heard it, its an cosmetics startup now its quiet famous""Ohh! Nice to meet you, Iam Zen Mallick I invest in companies and also the founder of ZM ""Nice to meet you to Mr. Mallick""I am going to company you may leave now" said Adrian"I will go company with you darling""BTW when you guys are getting married, Adrian mentioned you as his fiance if you guys tell me then I can longer my stay at NYC"Adrian gave no look"I am glad he mentioned me as his fiance, but when he will officially propose me I will immediately will get married to him" she said happily"OK! Now we may leave its getting late" said AdrianZen noddedTwo of them reached company  forcing tantrum Adrian convinced Jessa to leave when they reached sia took them to meeting room where Lisa was arranging everything when the door of Meeting room opened , Lisa saw the investor Aswell Zen saw Lisa they both ran to each other and hugged each other tightly when Adrian saw that he was shocked as well as an unknown inner anger was developing inside him, after a while Lisa and Zen splitter"You look so so beautiful, ig my company and contact help you a lot these years " Zen commented by smiling"Ohh just shut up you pervert, I am just changing and I like the fact that you came back let's have dinner together today Riana will be mad after seeing you this handsome and successful""Ya let's go together"Adrian coughed" I didn't know Mr. Mallick you knew my secretary from before""Ohh she is my best friend and if I knew beforehand I should have invested long ago to spend time with my bff"He said by seeing her" what ever , let's head to work, Ms. Johnson you may leave now Sia will take over the meeting""But Mr. Rains sia told me that I was the one handling this meeting""So what I am saying sia will volunteer and that is my final decision, you may leave now thankyou""Okay Mr. Rains"She was leaving when zen stopped her"Let's meet for dinner""Ahh Ms. Johnson I forgot to tell you, you are working overtime tonight"She glanced at Adrian"Sure sir" with smile on her face Lisa saidWhen both Adrian and Zen done with the meeting"So how you know her""She is my childhood best friend, why did you asked btw why your girlfriend doesn't know that she is your fiance and tbh her personality is completely different from what you described""It's different because she is not my fiance""What do you mean?, please elaborate""Actually she is my ex girlfriend who still not moved on so she still behave like my girlfriend but as because she is good Nature girl I don't want to hurt her,I will  tell her about my fiance""So who is your Fiance?""Your best friend and my rival Ms. Lisa Johnson ""Are you serious, I have to talk to Lisa its not done" saying this he left Adrian was still confused Zen directly entered Lisa's cabin and said"Are you getting married to Adrian?"She was shocked but she admitted the fate and told him everything they were still on the cabin he was seated before him"If you don't like him you should not marry him""It's not in My hand father has no other option and I am really worried about his health""Are you agreeing to do marriage""There is no choice ""There is still one option left ""What?""A contractual marriage, if you do a contractual marriage of 1 year it will be easier for both of you and I can still have chance on you" he said by winking his eye"It seems reasonable for me let me think about it""Do it women, its a brilliant idea now I may leave either your boss will kill me for wasting his secretary's time""Okay bff thanks for your great idea"He leftLisa thought deeply about the things Zen told

Later Lisa walked towards Adrian's office she knocked"Come in "She entered"Mr. Rains these are the documents you have to sign "He took the files"Mr. Rains there is something I want to discuss with you""Go ahead, bubu"Ignoring him she continued"Let's do a contractual marriage of 1 year, this will fulfill our parents wish and our company will make profit too"He got up from his seat walked towards her grabbed her by her waist and pulled her to his torso "how you cameup with this idea, it's not bad at all  and I won't die in this one year hope so let's talk to our parents""You agreed to me Mr. Rains" she asked by making a questioning face"Yes I agreed to you bubu , let's marry early so that we can divorce early"She nodded

Chapter 1: "The Call of Duty"

The city never slept, and neither did they. Alex and Maya, partners in both crime scene cleanup and forensic investigation, stood outside the imposing warehouse, its shadow casting a foreboding presence on the dimly lit street. The flickering lights of emergency vehicles painted the scene in hues of red and blue, a stark contrast to the darkness that enveloped the night. "We've got a 10-55, Alex. Multiple casualties," Maya said, her voice steady despite the gravity of the situation. Alex nodded, his jaw set with determination. "Let's suit up and get in there. We can't afford to waste any time." With practiced efficiency, they donned their protective gear, masks obscuring their faces as they prepared to enter the scene of yet another tragedy. The air was heavy with anticipation, the weight of the unknown pressing down upon them like a suffocating blanket. Inside, the scene was chaotic. Flashing lights illuminated the grim tableau of violence, blood staining the floor in a macabre mosaic. The stench of death hung thick in the air, a nauseating reminder of the horrors that had unfolded within these walls. Their task was twofold: clean up the aftermath of the carnage and ensure that no unauthorized individuals contaminated the evidence. With gloved hands and meticulous attention to detail, they set to work, each movement deliberate and purposeful. As they worked, meticulously collecting samples and cataloging evidence, a disturbance at the perimeter caught their attention. A group of shadowy figures attempted to breach the police cordon, their intentions clear. Without hesitation, Alex and Maya sprang into action, intercepting the intruders before they could compromise the integrity of the crime scene. "Back off! This is an active investigation," Alex commanded, his voice brooking no argument. The intruders faltered, confronted by the steely resolve in Alex's gaze and the unwavering determination of Maya at his side. Reluctantly, they retreated into the night, their plans thwarted by the vigilant guardians of justice. As the first light of dawn broke over the city, Alex and Maya surveyed the scene one final time. Amidst the chaos, they discovered the victims—a tragic tableau of lives cut short by violence. The body of a young woman lay sprawled on the ground, her lifeless eyes staring blankly at the ceiling. Beside her, a man slumped against a wall, a single gunshot wound to the chest marking the abrupt end of his existence. "It's senseless, Alex. Every time we come to these scenes, it's just senseless," Maya said, her voice heavy with sorrow. "I know, Maya. But this is why we do what we do. To bring closure to the families, to seek justice for the victims," Alex replied, his tone equally solemn. Maya sighed, her shoulders sagging beneath the weight of their shared burden. "I just wish there was more we could do. More we could change." "We can't change what's already happened," Alex said, his voice firm. "But we can make sure those responsible are held accountable. And maybe, just maybe, we can prevent it from happening again." After looking at the crime scene, Maya and Alex start to clean up and put their belongings inside a box. As they closed the boxes, Maya asked Alex " Hey, Alex. What were their names again?"   " I think it was Mark and Annie?"  Alex replied. Maya, after Alex gave her their names, started to write on the box, Alex notices what Maya was doing and asked her what she was doing, Maya replied "Well, I was thinking that we should write their names on the box of their belongings, just for the remembrance for their family, give em one last gift, y'know?"  Alex nods and begins to write the couple's names on the box and cleaned up the mess inside the apartment and left. They brought the small boxes and placed in on the shelf as they drove to the funeral home. As they arrived, they open the back of the van and get the boxes from the shelves. After they take out the boxes, they open the door of the funeral home and greet the grieving families, they pay their respects to the fallen and gave the families the boxes of belongings from their children. As they hear the sorrows from both families, the two cleaners couldn't help but feel bad about the situation they're in. They enter the van then drive to their house. As they were driving, Maya was sitting in the passenger seat, feeling all down because of what happened earlier. Alex then tries to comfort her and focuses on driving, but then, something bad happened, the tires of their van were punctured! Alex and Maya were confused and proceeds to get out of the vehicle, as they exit the van, they see a group of shadowy figures, as they squint their eyes, they saw the people from the crime scene earlier! Both of them were filled with anger, because of what they did to the couple and what they did to their vehicle. Alex confronts them and says " Just couldn't go quiet huh?"  The criminals laugh at them and said "Why would we? We got caught by you people, we know that you're gonna report to the police, but I think you already know that we're not gonna let you go."  Alex, getting filled with more anger, said " Try us, you already did enough damage, you bastards."  As the criminals hear what he said, they continue laughing, but as they were making fun of the two cleaners, Maya grabs a gun from her pocket and shot one of the criminals, the criminals stop laughing and opens the back of their vehicle, grabbing guns. The two ran and entered their van, opening up a compartment from underneath the shelves of their equipment and continues to grab a shotgun and a single sticky grenade. As they went outside, Maya threw a sticky grenade from under their car and slid it under the engine of the vehicle of the criminals. Some of their henchmen get affected by the explosion and lays down on the street, losing a couple of limbs. The criminals continue to shoot at Maya but they forgot about one person, Alex, who grabbed the shotgun, began to shoot numerous criminal henchmen and runs to them and pulls out a sticky grenade and begins to stick 4 of them all at once, Alex laughs and presses a button that would detonate all of the grenades. They kill every single one of them and calls the police. The two of them proceeds to give a report to the officers before arriving at their home. The two cleaners rest up and prepares for another day of crime scene cleaning.

End of Chapter 1.