Suna Shigure

砂紫呉

1巻

Prologue

(Hasu1 IV - 527 R.Y. 2

The moonlight crept through the trees and fell upon the solemn street corner. The houses were dark, the night calm. The soft, wispy clouds drifted leisurely past the moon high overhead. A shadowy figure stepped forth from a small house and stood silently over the small stones beneath him, observing the condition of the atmosphere as to dictate his next feat. He smiled gently and made his way to the large wooden gate at the border of the village. The dark, stone palace towered majestically over the gate itself and all the other houses. With a single bound, he stepped atop the enormous fortress where two other men were already awaiting his arrival. “Asura-san, my high priest, and Nemichi-san, my good friend and finest general, I see I’m not a moment too soon. How much time do we have remaining on the clock?” Nemichi moved his lantern toward the edge of the roof; a shrill inhuman howl blasted up from below. “Masayoshi-sama, I’m afraid we’re too late; the land is already on the verge of collapse.” Masayoshi’s heart pulsed with a fiery passion, “I can’t believe we’ve come this far only to be destroyed at our final hour. This time, another battle is just too much to deal with now that almost all our borders are hostile obeying that man. Is it him again this time?” Asura grabbed his shoulder, “You’re seriously asking that question. Who else would it be? There is no one else on the planet as cold-hearted as Tizuke himself. Knowing him, he’s probably already opened the Void. The deal doesn’t even expire for two more hours. With this action on his part, timing has reached critical at this point; let’s head down as quickly as possible.”

The three of them leapt to the outer boundaries in single file with Nemichi leading the way. The movements and voices of the creatures slowly gained more volume as they neared their site. The Seizon3 climbed forth and sought him with their hollow eyes; their sharp teeth were already clacking against each other in those horridly deformed jaws. Nemichi’s light brown hair slowly came into reach of the soft beams from Masayoshi’s lantern, “Where did Asura-san get to?” Suddenly a large orb of light descended upon the area surrounded by many more. The surface of the magnificent orbs seemed to be swirling with white and teal shades of radiance. Asura raised his staff high over his head, conjuring another large number of orbs to the area while his own sphere circled higher into the night sky until it and resembled a star. The balls drew nearer and then farther, dancing high overhead as all watched in awe. Masayoshi commented, a placid smile crossing his tensed face, “Asura-san is such a showoff.” Suddenly the numerous orbs gained rapid speed and encircled the area, varying combinations of rotations and revolutions in diverse directions and angles such that each individual body seemed to merge into one massive, spherical figure. The grand design seemed to stop moving by account of their eyes, but it was known to still be gyrating due to the immense airstreams still blasting against them. The creatures on the ground were still emerging from the void, and suddenly, the ground shook with terrible fury once more. A massive explosion of dust and rock shot into the sky; as it cleared, a figure slowly came into view, subjected to the suspended luminosity of the high priest’s own power. As he stood in the failing darkness, a row of flames crept up from the ground below his feet and spread quickly in all directions across the field.

Surrounded in darkness, the sinister being walked slowly through the midst of the flames, lining the dim path. His shadowy figure appeared almost beyond life though his arms were already quite active, feeding powerful energies into the dancing flames to his right and left, which moved and swayed at him as if to touch and worship his very iniquitous body. One achieved that goal causing the rivers of fire to rise and swallow that road and the figure within. A whisper seemed to come forth from inside the roar of the blazing inferno almost as unnoticeable as a gentle gust, which floated over the colossal army of Seizon. The beasts raised their heads, their breathing was suddenly synchronized perfectly and clearly audible. As if on precise command, the monsters rushed at Nemichi! Asura, still hovering amidst the clouds, launched the tremendous power of the sphere upon the army. As it neared the ground, a terrible whirring resounded throughout the meadow. The individual orbs once again emerged from the universal coagulated body and pelted the region below with unparalleled force, destroying all of the Seizon on the surface and sealing the Void at once. The raging fire at that moment began acting very strangely, swaying violently and leaping higher and higher into the sky until they formed a tower-like structure and disassembled, vanishing into oblivion.

All of the dense clouds of smoke covering the area slowly began to dissipate, exposing the inhuman being once again, unaffected by the vast conflagration, which had engulfed him before. He crept slowly forward, stepping ever closer to Asura, who was now making his way to stand beside his comrade Masayoshi, “Nemichi-san! Hurry and join us before he may plan his strategy!” The monstrous figure was at that moment illuminated and seen for what he really was. His pallid skin shone brightly in contrast with his long, flowing black hair. His steps ceased and he stood arrogantly with an expression of triumph on his face. His hollow, ghostly voice rang out over them, “Why, do you not know the fate of your own comrade? I’m surprised at you. I was hoping for a more formidable rivalry this time around.” Masayoshi leapt back in anger, “Tizuke, you miserable existence! Tell us what you have accomplished that makes you so confident!” The grim man tilted his head slowly and laughed, “While you were so busy destroying the Seizon, the flames swallowed your companion! His ashes now lay blown about this place, beyond hope of restoration. You pathetic mortals call yourselves a team, and yet you ignore the cries of an ally in danger. Asura-san, it has been a while since we’ve met. We wouldn’t be greeting each other now if you hadn’t fled in our last battle.” Asura’s grin shifted to pure disgust, “Tizuke-sama, you are the one who is lucky to be here at this gathering.” Masayoshi stepped forward and placed his hand on his friend’s shoulder, “We’ve lost one good man; do not taunt him into killing another.” Tizuke smirked, “You really are worthless. You talk as though you can avoid this battle. I’m here to tell you I shall not leave until I force you both to depart from life!” He shifted his back foot and delivered a menacing glare to both men. Asura, not waiting for Masayoshi’s queue, ran ahead toward Tizuke. That wicked warrior raised his head, extended his arm, and he exerted a powerful barrier around himself. “That miserable forcefield cannot match my skill and determination, Tizuke!” Suddenly, Asura, Masayoshi, and all things ceased to move. Tizuke snickered, “Silence! You useless child, do you honestly believe your skill and determination are enough?” He looked again into Asura’s face, “What a disappointment it should be for you for everything you believe with all your soul to suddenly fail. I shall watch in sheer happiness as your power you believe you have disappears and your heart plunges into infinite despair.” Motion was again reinstated with the conclusion of his statement; Asura drew his axe in midair and brought it down upon the surface of the barrier. What force! Such equivalent to a lightning storm did break forth from the edge of that obstruction. Asura yelled in agony…and was suddenly silenced as his body was reduced to brightly colored dust before Masayoshi’s very eyes! Tizuke’s laughter and sincere amusement could not be denied at that instant!

“And what of you, Masayoshi-sama? What would you seek to attempt in my destruction? You must have been close to that miserable fool, Asura. Such pain it must bring you seeing his tragic demise with fiery determination in his heart until the very last. Shall I silence yours as well?” He pressed his foot into the earth, clasped his hands together pointed to the seared ground, causing a terrible tremor. A bright light trickled from the narrow slit in the land, which split the once peaceful meadow completely through its borders. Masayoshi, standing alone against his arch nemesis, conceived a final plan as his sole option, “Being the most powerful in the village was always a blessing and a true pleasure in life, but I never once thought it would come down to this.” A blue fire burned over his chest, and his body glowed red as he launched an incredible wall from the solid ground against the newly opened Void and the seemingly infinite beings now issuing from deep within the heart of the crater. “What is life worth if you lose everything you care about? Hopes, dreams, forever lost. Life must always be preserved no matter what the cost. That’s something you never learned, Tizuke-sama. Perhaps if you had…” “It matters not,” he interrupted, “It’s in the past. One so weak as you must find his own energy in dwelling in the past. Truly ridiculous! You are not fit to live,” He waved his sword above his head, “Shall I write the final chapter of your life?” Masayoshi, in sheer defiance, struck the ground with both his fists, blasting the boulders upward into the sky. His power and colossal energies pouring from his body into the unyielding ground, the wall climbed higher and higher reaching toward the heavens. “As my final great act for my village and those I love,” he shouted, warm tears sliding quietly down his face, “I banish you, Tizuke, from this village for so long as the era may last!” As his words left his lips, his body went limp and crashed thunderously upon the cold earth. The newly erected Stone Wall of Absolute Resistance stood in magnificence, towering over the landscape, the symbol of “purity” emblazoned upon its center, a soft crimson glow emanating from deep within its core. “Ridiculous mortal,” Tizuke mumbled, “He threw his own life away for a worthless city and pathetic friends beyond his control. And for what?! My reign is nigh. This battle is not over, Masayoshi-sama. We shall meet again, and on that day, you’ll suffer significantly for this outrage…Just you wait for that day.” He laughed softly, turned his back on the wall, Ryozuka, along with Masayoshi’s corpse, and faded into the all-consuming darkness.

XXXXX (Ultra Special Comment #1)

That next day, the hazy village of Ryozuka4 opened its gates to a pair of men, clothed in deep black cloaks and slightly spherical masks colored with swirls of crimson against a silvery, pearled background5. Speaking not a word, they walked directly through the streets. The village guardsmen appeared, one placing his hand on their leader’s solid shoulder, “Who are you? You’d better have business here!” “Oh, you can be certain of that,” the mysterious voice whispered in a chilling tone of utmost condemnation, “You’re in my way; step aside.” The guardsman, instead of complying with the request, continued questioning him, “Why masks? Are you afraid someone in our village will see you and identify you? I assure the village of Ryozuka is peaceful and will do you no harm if you are truly innocent; therefore, by order of Hito Megami, defender of Ryozuka, remove your masks at once!” When the figures did not so much as move, he reached for the leader’s mask himself, when his hand was suddenly caught by a figure of an extremely taller nature, who, up until now, had not even partially shifted his gaze from the end of the stone path, “Don’t go trying to start a war. Surely, that would not go over very well on the record of a ‘defender’ such as yourself. Wouldn’t you agree?” Megami snatched his hand free of the giant man’s grasp, “It is inherent to my profession that I eliminate all dangers to these streets and the people of Ryozuka!” The slightly shorter man, still standing in front, waved his hand toward another man further down the road. “You,” he said, “come forward.” The man slowly and calmly approached. Megami reflected, “I don’t remember sensing him before…What could this be?” “Ah welcome, my friends!” he called, “I was beginning to wonder when you were coming.” Hito Megami turned to him, still confused, “You know these three?” He laughed quietly, “Of course I know them. I’m the one who called on them.” Megami looked down seeing the leader’s fingers moving in irregular patterns and continually pointing at the man, and so he persisted, “I don’t remember ever seeing you here before, sir. Why have you called these three?” The leader peered over his own shoulder, his eyes interfering with Megami’s cerebral patterns, “Return to your post.” Megami’s face suddenly changed from a look of complete disgust to one of solemn tranquility. The leader laughed with a quality of immense sinister tension engrained in his voice, “Too weak. Ridiculous!” Then his fingers ceased their irregular movements and the man, who had come to their aid, vanished abruptly. “Let us continue then.” The two walked slowly down the gravel path, toward the giant torii and the legendary Temple of Masamune6.

“The time has come, Takemura-san7. Ore-sama8 has arrived for the resurrection,” he said. Shinkan9 Takemura turned, startled, to the masked individual, who was levitating before his very eyes, “May I ask whom you might be?” “Oh, my apologies,” he said as he removed his mask, revealing a young man with shoulder-length silvery hair and hollow eyes, somewhat ghostly in appearance, almost as though there were parts of him nonexistent or even missing, “I am Kendousu Soseimaru10. I am most renowned for my powers of resurrection,” he explained with a smile. The wise old shinkan remarked, “That may be who you are in form, but nothing more. I know it is you, Hebikaosu-sama11.” His expression suddenly changed, “You’re as sharp as ever, Takemura-san,” he chuckled; now standing atop the enormous altar at the head of the chapel. His voice now grew deeper and more malicious than any other the shinkan had experienced; “I have sent this boy your way, so that I might revive that fool, Masayoshi, who was slain last night by Tizuke-san.” “Ah yes, that is correct, my lord,” the shinkan affirmed, “I have also received reports of your arrival today but did not pay much attention to them I must admit.” “Hmm, that’s not wise on your part. Not that there’s anything you know that I don’t,” the shinkan’s eyes widened as the master spoke, “Just be sure you continue to honor my name, or I’ll kill you no differently than all the others.” “Oh no, my lord, I assure you there is no need for any of your brutality here,” he panted. “Hmm, I certainly hope you are right, Takemura-san. It would be a pain to have to kill you after reviving someone else,” he laughed. “Hebikaosu is different from his usual personality. I wonder what could have happened,” Takemura thought worriedly, “If he does not calm down soon, I may end up dead for no reason.” “No reason? Do not take me for a fool like yourself, Takemura-san,” he jested. The shinkan froze, “You mean you…” “Ha! You ought to know I can read your mind as plainly as an open book,” he taunted, his voice thick with evil. “What has happened, indeed?” he thought. Takemura turned to see the other man, journeying with Hebikaosu, had vanished, “Hebikaosu-sama…” “Please,” he interrupted, a sharp gaze causing a pulsation of terror to rush through the shinkan’s body, “call me, Soseimaru, if you will. I feel it is a less frightening name for one to utter.” “You have no idea,” he thought and continued, “Well,” he nodded, “Soseimaru-sama, wasn’t there someone else accompanying you on this journey?” “Ah yes,” he explained, “That one is an old acquaintance of mine, Shinzo-san. He has gone out to gather the remains of Masayoshi-san and the others before their souls have had the opportunity to pass on to the netherworld for too long,” his eyes met the shinkan with a piercing malicious warning, “Once he enters this room again, do not speak to him, Takemura. Know that if you do, ore-sama will kill you.” Takemura simply nodded and looked toward the doorway in expectation of the other man, “Good heavens! I may die this time. Oh yeah, he can read my thoughts…plus the boy is very cute. I guess I could be a little nicer.”

“Enough of this waste of valuable time; Takemura-san, prepare the altar at once!” he demanded. Suddenly the boy’s head fell dangerously low, and his arms exhibited the properties of extreme muscular spasms. Suddenly, his voice altered as well, “I’m here. What’d I miss?” he said glancing around, “How did I get here? Umm, Mister, could you tell me what’s been going on and why I’m here?” Takemura breathed a long sigh of relief, “Yes, my boy, you must be Soseimaru.” The boy nodded his head, taking off his cloak to reveal a thin body clothed in a deep black, skintight battle-suit, two delicate teal ribbons draped gracefully across his back, connecting the two golden plates on his shoulders, “Yes, that’s right. How do you know me? Have we met before?” Takemura tried to quickly think of a clever yet logical explanation the boy would believe and in which Hebikaosu would not find some reason to murder him, “Ah yes. Well, I’ve seen you around now and then. I’ve heard of your remarkable Tensei12 skills.” Soseimaru rubbed his head in modesty, “Well, not to brag or anything. I’m just wherever people need my help.” He closed his eyes, “This old guy seems kinda like one of those creepy pond frogs that won’t leave you alone whenever you go walking. Maybe if I just close my eyes, he’ll think I’m tired and not talk to me so much. Okay.” “Soseimaru-san! Do not fall asleep!” the shinkan yelled as loud as possible. “Gaah!” the boy thought, “So much for that brilliant plan…” “Ya know what, old man? I’m gonna go check on the situation outside, okay? Okay! Glad that’s settled,” he called, making his way to the door. “No, stop!” he called after him. “Ha!” he thought, “Not likely, buddy.” As Soseimaru walked out the wooden doorway and turned the corner, he saw a figure a considerable distance from the shrine hill. “Oh well, I don’t mind going out there to help Shinzo-san, as long as I get away from that frog,” he grinned, “What a guy. No wonder why Hebikaosu-sama speaks of him that way. It’s hard to think he’s a shinkan at all.” He walked around the corner of the shrine and down off the hill, the sun shining in his eyes just as he did so, “Evil! They always build just like this! They put ‘em so they look all beautiful standing in front of the sun at sunset. Well, knock it off, stupid priests! It’s NOT cool!” The clouds looming across the sky in all directions were not helping his case. A heavy fog suddenly began to move over the land, such that he could not see his own feet, let alone Shinzo any longer. “What is that? I feel something moving around my legs! Shinzo-san! Shinzo-san!” Suddenly a low whisper caught his ear, “Soseimaru-san, calm down.” The boy gasped so loudly that it appeared he had inhaled all the fog within a five-foot radius of him! “Geez, you’re as excitable as ever, kid. Let’s go back to the shrine before the sun completely sets and the moon can climb too high in the sky. “No! Shinzo-san! I can’t deal with that frog!” he pleaded. “A frog?” Shinzo chuckled, “What sort of frog?” “You know the really old, crinkly variety that lives inside temples! I can’t stand it! PLEASE don’t make me go back, Shinzo-san!” “We’ve got to go see him. We’ve nowhere else to stay for the night. Now come along.” Soseimaru attempted to bolt off into the dying mist, but Shinzo saw it coming and grabbed the back of his battle-suit, raising him off the ground, “Sorry, kid. We must return to the indoors before this village’s midnight mayhem comes for us and all the others, who stay outside after the mist arrives.” Feeling he had reached the boy’s attention, he looked down…only to see the boy’s legs still running and swinging wildly in midair. Shinzo bent down, so he could listen to Soseimaru’s breathing pattern; all he heard was: “Creepy frog! Creepy frog!” again and again. Shinzo raised the boy’s body a bit higher, turned his back to the fields, and made his way, with the still frenzied Soseimaru, back to the warmth of the temple.

Soseimaru’s legs were already almost stopped…at least until he opened his eyes, “Ahh! It’s him again! Run for the hills!” “As you can see, Takemura-san, Soseimaru has been frightened by something in this very room,” Shinzo smiled at the aghast shinkan, “I would suggest you seal the door with a special spirit ward just in case. This time, I’ve got two good reasons for such a request, both human.” He gestured to a man draped over his left shoulder and again to the crazed boy in his right hand. “Aye, Shinzo-san, it shall be done.” “Well, don’t just stand there! Get to it!” Shinzo barked at him. The shinkan, in a panic, ran to his cabinet, grabbed some papers, and affixed them to the inside of the closed door. “Now, Soseimaru, you gonna be okay if I sit ya down?” he asked raising the boy, still by the back of his suit, even higher off the floor to his eye level. His eyes were much calmer now, his breathing as well, “I’m fine, Shinzo-san. It was all just a joke! Wasn’t it funny?” He burst into laughter at once, not immediately followed by the other two. “Whatever,” the shinkan mumbled. “Ah, right you are, Takemura-san. Let’s get on with the summoning ritual!” Takemura positioned his beautiful golden staff in the altar and motioned for Soseimaru to join him. He looked to his left, “You coming, Shinzo-san?” His comrade looked back at him and nodded reassuringly, readying the body on his left shoulder before he stood once more. Soseimaru stood with him and held his hand as they walked toward the towers of flowers surrounding the decorative altar. Shinzo placed the body on the stand, and Soseimaru mounted the steps leading to the metallic slab. “This was a just man, right? Were his acts in good faith?” the boy asked innocently. Takemura and Shinzo each looked to him and nodded in assurance. “He was an honorable leader and a powerful general, who protected this country with his life until the very end,” the shinkan recalled. “Let me forewarn you,” the boy began, “I have performed this procedure ten times to the day and have witnessed what will happen naturally, to which you must also pay close attention during your few united moments. After the completion of this ritual, upon this man’s head shall appear a horizontal letter “S,” which so starts my name as it will start with your friend’s life. As time passes, a second reflected “S” will also slowly form in reciprocation of the first “S” such that the two shall form the symbol of infinity ∞. When the symbol forms completely, the time for the resurrected body will expire, and he will die again.” The two men nodded, and the boy commenced the ritual. He thrust his hand onto the chest cavity of the cadaver. Suddenly, a strong wind whipped up from out of nowhere and blasted through the entire temple with immense strength. A loud, pulsing rhythm rang throughout the room as well; the figure’s eyes slowly opened as rings of darkness spun rapidly down upon him, forcing powerful energies to course through his dead body. Suddenly, the man sat up, a shining symbol on his forehead. “Way to go, kid! We knew you could do it!” the old shinkan exclaimed. Shinzo thought, “What power…I have never seen anything quite like it.” The boy stood, “He,” his shoulders dropped suddenly, “lives.” His countenance had changed to a much darker sense; his voice had grown deeper and far more ghostly once again. “I know that voice! Hebikaosu-sama, but why have you returned?” the shinkan inquired. “The boy’s task is finished,” he said calmly, “and I have knowledge to gain from this individual.” As the winds died down, the dead man’s eyes suddenly opened, and the demon bent down toward the resurrected soul. “Welcome back from the Netherworld, Masayoshi-sama,” he whispered with arrogance.

A tremendous surge of energy suddenly rushed through Masayoshi’s body, urging him to get away from the figure standing over him. He jumped to his feet, leapt from the altar, and stood behind the two men on the floor in attack position, “Who are you? Are you truly so evil that my soul cannot so much as near your presence?” The being answered defiantly, “I am tired of that question! I shall show you…who I truly am.” The winds returned slightly, and directly next to the boy appeared a portal, resembling a fountain spewing darkness upward and downward in a perfectly elliptical design, through which a terrible being slithered forth. It was a monstrous entity, closely reminiscent of an enormous cobra with an icy skin, which shimmered in the candlelight, its graceful, circular “wings” about its head. That snake curled his tail around and around, forming a tower-like structure at the head of the temple, upon which he positioned the rest of his body, in the idea of form, placement, and jurisdiction over the observers. Upon the back of that form was a strange design unlike any other: the Earth ideograph emblazoned upon its face. ㊏

“So this is your true form, Hebikaosu-sama?” The snake hissed, and Soseimaru stepped back up to the altar, in front of the monster, the same symbol now glowing brilliant silver upon the boy’s forehead, “Yes, that over there is my true form; however, it is impossible to speak while in that shape, thus I shall use this boy to convey my thoughts and expressions to you. I hope you won’t mind.” The boy howled with laughter, that deep, controlling voice rolling through the room. Masayoshi could hardly stand, his energy fleeting already. Shinzo looked back over his shoulder at the man, seeing his forehead with a half-completed infinity ∝. “Time has almost expired! He will only be alive to answer our questions for a moment more,” the shinkan called. “Well, find out what we need to know! Masayoshi-sama, come join me on the altar.” Obedient to his command, Masayoshi met the human in a single bound. “Ah, Masayoshi-sama,” Hebikaosu smiled, “I see that with my demonic presence removed from the boy, you are able to endure the aura. On with business, tell all of us about the ultimate weapon, which is supposedly able to conquer all others.” Masayoshi lowered his head, “The weapon is known for and wide as the ‘Fist of the Stars.’ Though it is not common knowledge where t rests, I was able to uncover that information while I was alive.” His voice lowered into a dry cough. “Well, tell us more before you die, Masayoshi-sama!” Hebikaosu demanded, his true form slinking its way back through the portal. “The Fist has been held,” his voice fell to nothing more than a whisper, “with the most powerful clan in the entire world…the Mayonaka Clan. Though the clan was slaughtered almost three years ago, there is one surviving member. If you can find him…he should have the weapon you seek, for that is the reason he slaughtered the clan.” Shinzo piped up, ““What?! I’ve never heard of it being with them!! Where is he? How old is he? What’s his name? Tell us, please!” Lord Masayoshi looked over at him, falling to his knees, “Remember this symbol in your quest to find him.” He pressed a finger on the altar and began to force energy into the wooden block, burning an image into the surface: 砂. “BEWARE THIS SYMBOL! The name is…not to be…uttered since the…project began. If you see that symbol, you will most likely…die.” Then his voice fell silent, the symbol of infinity upon his forehead was at once completed, and the lord’s body burst into flames, destroying the temple instantly. Hebikaosu, still in control of the boy, leapt upon Takemura, drawing a pair of daggers from the arms of his battle-suit, “Takemura, don’t think you’ll leave with any information! Shinzo and myself are the only ones I deem worthy of the knowledge relating to that weapon’s whereabouts!” He pleaded, “Please don’t kill me! I’ll be nice…I’ll do whatever you say. Please, Master!” Hebikaosu laughed wildly, a glimmer of life entering the boy’s hollow eyes, “I never liked you, miserable shinkan. As your final great service, DIE!” Takemura, being the coward he was, turned for the door, screamed in terror, but was suddenly silenced.

XXXXX

Chapter I

(Orb of Divinity)

The dense smoke slowly began to clear, revealing a majestic pair of breathtaking sparkling gates, which opened for the quiet being. “What sort of being do you desire to create this time, o Master Uesu? Shall it be as before with the army of demons? The sculptures of Your Greatness? The destruction of the outer colonies?” the messenger asked reluctantly, opening his journal with a pen in hand. The Master looked him in the eye, “Matsu, my mistress, Aprizetoryx13, has suggested that I make peace with the malicious gods Majinshinja, who has been destroying countless humans recklessly as of late, Mayonakamaru, who has been exceedingly arrogant now that his two true descendents are the most powerful in the universe and even his threatening and conspiring to destroy the heavens, Xetorix for his assistance in these two cases, and Zexitrinitus for his hostility toward all others except Mayonakamaru, who has been allied with him for some time. The only way I conceive should benefit us all would be the creation of five male humans to be our servants on the planets below. They cannot know of each other’s existence unless they should happen upon the conclusion themselves, so declares the prophecy I’m trying to avert. If these boys do not emerge to thwart the end of existence soon…I feel it shall be too late to stop these ruthless gods from overpowering even me.” Matsu nodded his head, his pen writing down the account, “And when do you need the boys ready?” Uesu sighed, “That’s the simplest part of this mission; I simply need each of them born randomly and at generous intervals within the next two years.” Matsu breathed a bit slower now, “So just spread out across the next two years of time? That will be easy to arrange…” Uesu smiled, patting the messenger on the back, “I knew I could count on you. Simply deliver the embryos to Divine Arm of Heaven: Epsilon14 within the next 24 hours. Upon your arrival, explain my wishes and give the list of names and descriptions to them. I am quite certain they will have no problem complying with these orders. Once you give them the instructions, they will take care of the rest. I am with you, Matsu. Now, go forth!” The messenger fell to the cloud-like floor with the quick and violent slap across his back, and he passed directly through the mirage.

“Geez. Who would have guessed that Soseijin-sama would be so agreeable in assisting Uesu? I mean sure they go way back, but I would have thought he would have at least been a little hesitant about thwarting a prophecy. Well have the male human embryos in my possession; I’ll go inform the Master before going to visit Epsilon. There are already great punishments ahead, if any of us fail this mission,” he thought with fear in his mind, “The sisters15 won’t be happy if this doesn’t work out.” The smoke once again began to cloud his vision as he entered the celestial portal and approached the gates to the Divine Sanctum of the Gods. The guard opened the entrance, and Matsu was welcomed once again by Uesu accompanied Aprizetoryx. The messenger smiled and bowed his head in reverence, “I’ve returned with the items you requested and thought I’d bring them by before I submitted them to Epsilon. I just wanted to make sure you were completely satisfied with the work of Soseijin-sama.” Aprizetoryx looked to her husband, “Do you mean you actually acted upon my suggestion for once?” Uesu met her gaze, “Of course I accepted it as a worthy suggestion.” “A worthy suggestion?” she barked, “Do you mean to say all my suggestions aren’t worthy?!” “It’s all right,” he said calmingly, “there’s no reason to get irate about any of this. I simply found your idea well-founded and acted upon it…just because I felt you ought to have a say in how things are run around here every once in a while.” She hugged him around the shoulders, “Nice recovery, Darling. Wait a minute! Are you trying to say I don’t deserve power all the time?!” He stroked her arms softly, “It’s not a good to be fighting over this kind of thing. Let’s inspect the embryos, shall we?” She flew out of his arms, “Actually…umm…I don’t have time. I have to go…brush my hair…with a million strokes,” she dragged hr hand over the set of five vials, which sat atop the table beside her, and took one in her hand, “You see, I hardly find these things the least bit interesting. I’ll just leave you two with these.” She rubbed the lip of the capsule, returned it, and blew a kiss to her husband. Uesu smiled and waved at her, the golden waves trailing behind so gracefully, “It’s a good thing that she finally left. I couldn’t deal with her much longer; she just gets to be so…well you understand. Plus she never liked this kind of thing anyway,” he bent over the five small vials, “They look quite healthy. Did Soseijin-san say anything when he gave them to you?” Matsu reflected, “He sent you his best wishes and said for me to inform you that they must be blessed with the talents through your own power. The boys will then be yours to control as pawns so long as you live; if you die, they will be grated their freedom from your control. ‘Tell him not to take that in a bad way, though it sounds they are his prisoners. It is meant to be this way so that the boys will mature the way he desires.’ Just remember, Great Master, you are the only influence these boys will ever have other than themselves. Are you sure this is what you want to do? Once you bless them, their material can never be reentered into the limited supply of his secret formula.” Uesu looked him firmly in the face, “I have never been more certain of anything in my existence. It is my intervention against a future is not friendly toward my presence here. If I don’t make this move now, I won’t be able to do it later. These boys are my final hope; I hereby bless each one!” He pressed all the fingers of his right hand into the pools of slime simultaneously. The vial pallet began to glow a brilliant red just as two bright white symbols formed side-by-side in the exact center of the solid wooden base:㊚16(五) 17. Uesu, upon seeing these both form, released his grip on the embryonic vials, “All has been established; the boys’ destinies have been confirmed. Now, it is up to you to help them begin their epic journey. I shall protect you and guide you in your own quest to the Epsilon; therefore, go quickly! I am counting on you, Matsu.” “I shall do my very best, Master. Point me in the right direction.”

Suddenly, the messenger was swallowed in a wheel of light and then immersed once again into the darkness of space, a small form drifting in the distance. A powerful and commanding voice echoes through his head, “I am counting on my divine messenger as always. He shall not fail, right Matsu?” Reinvigorated with enthusiasm, he thrust himself forward at the floating figure so far way from his current position. As he flew closer, the design became even more defined and its size quickly became astounding. He drew near and teleported onto the landing pad, where he was met by a tall woman, who bid him come inside the facility and out of the cold, “Ah, well if it isn’t Matsu, the divine messenger. I wondered what that was in space. I didn’t expect it to be a person since mortals require ships to travel through the galaxy. Well what can I do for you?” she asked as they entered the immense doors to the interior of the facility. “Oh, Thestola, it is nice to see you once again. I have been sent here on behalf of Uesu in the hopes that you would honor his request,” he explained. “Ah, what does Uesu-dono want this time?” she asked with uncertainty. “That’s exactly what I asked when I heard, but this time is a bit different,” he elucidated, “The sisters revealed a prophecy to several of the gods, one that angered Uesu by telling of a great tragedy, with a human cause, which would befall him and several others. He needs a way to manipulate the outcome so that he can escape this terrible fate; that’s where these five males come into the picture. Though I don’t know much more than that, he seems very relaxed about it for some reason. I have a feeling his wife may know something he doesn’t. But I digress; he sent me on a mission to bring you five, blessed, embryonic vials for you to harvest with your talents.” She stood silent for a moment, “Okay, so for whatever excuse he’s made for himself, he wants us to grow these five vials into humans?” Matsu chuckled, “That’s the gist of it, I suppose. You don’t buy the prophecy either, eh?” Both laughed for a moment before she continued, “Well for the sake of what he’s planning, I’ll humor him. He’s always been my favorite god anyway. He’s never asked for quite this many. The last time, he asked for only one. (I can still remember Karebu even now),” she shook her head, “Tell him his request has been accepted and that the boys will be taken off growth acceleration at age 16, released at age 18, and ready for his orders sometime between then and age 20. Can you remember all that, or should I write it down for you?” Matsu smiled, “Oh no, I’ll remember, so don’t trouble yourself. Thank you so much for understanding; I look forward to seeing you again later.” Both bid each other a friendly farewell, and the messenger returned to the Master as he had arrived. He explained everything to Uesu,” I see. So everything is set then?” Matsu affirmed, “Yes, all is taken care of for now. Just relax, and let it all occur as it will.” Uesu reclined in his chair, Aprizetoryx next to him, “So it begins, my sweet. So it begins.”

XXXXX (Ultra Special Comment #2)

(Epsilon - R.Y. 779)

“Open the chamber!” came a voice from behind the chrome door. The portal emitted a thunderous roar as a flood of frigid gases swept past their feet, too dense to rise any higher. The inspector, clothed in a deep black lab coat, bent down to whisper in the leader’s ear, “And what is the name given to this one, Kima-san?” She looked over her shoulder at the inspector, “This boy is to be called “Mirasu Sairou,” if you must know, Akira-san. If you’ll note the freezing platform before the projection, you’ll see his orb18, which is similar to all the others. He is like all his created counterparts; he has the genius of the greatest minds in all of the universe. Even though he hasn’t even been born yet, he knows more than you, Akira-san. Let’s see, oh yes; he is named for the ruler of Kestaku XI, who led his troops to victory in the Kekuteiku Wars.” Akira sighed, “I have no idea how you keep up with all this information. Anyways, it’s a nice name. Okay, so let’s recap; why are Inujinsei Tsureboru, Katsura Roku, and Mirasu Sairou t0 be born so long after Kunisaki Kyou and Minekura Ichigo? Surely you must have a reason for that.” Kima looked him in the eye, “We were given specific instructions as to the dates to birth these humans, Akira-san. We do not delve any deeper into the intent of the customer at anytime.” Akira, disgusted with such a short and explicit answer, asked, “Could I at least see the pamphlet with all this information?” She presented the folded paper to him with a smirk, “As if we would make a mistake with these details. Back to what I was saying, all the boys are to be kept in a heavy hypnotic trance-like state as to keep them from remembering anything of this place. Once the embryos are jettisoned and find the specific planets of direct designation, they’ll be installed in predetermined humans’ care, so that the processing may begin. Once they hatch from their orbs, they’ll be raised by the parents for many years, then their god-like abilities will manifest in their bodies, thus allowing them to find their way through whatever path lies before them.” Akira scoffed, “That sounds more like a game of chance than anything else…” “Look!” she interrupted with a cold stare, “You are here to inspect and nothing more, so I’d thank you to keep your inappropriate remarks to yourself. The cultural traditions of this station will always prevail, regardless of whatever you may say. We have orders and it is in our best interest to keep to them.” “”All right, Kima-san, I respect that response. I assure you that it was not my intention to arouse such passion over something so trivial. I was merely suggesting…Well, just the same, I apologize,” he said with a graceful bow, “I’ve seen what I came to inspect. Your system is flawless, as usual. I’ll be glad to report your success to the others.” Akira walked slowly down the hall, not far from Kima. “Be careful.” She told him. He smiled, “And the same to you, milady. I’m sure we will meet again soon.” The blinding flash shot forth from the base and engulfed him in an instant. With his departure, Kima sneered, “Oh Akira-san, if only I could tell you how I really feel. Oh my love, please wait for me.”

Kima turned her back on the teleportation device and made her way to the main control room, located at the rear of the station from her current position. She drifted on her “Chouchou” 19 slowly down the long white halls, the lights lining the ceiling and walkway and reflecting off the shiny surfaces onto her contrasting black dress. As she arrived at the door to the control tower, she decided the time had come to release the boys from the station’s control and send them to their designated planets. The mechanical door zipped out of her way, revealing a well-built young man. “I see you have been waiting, Takeshi-san. Have you already input the coordinates into the system?” The gentleman turned to her with a nod, “Indeed, everything is set for the jettisoning of the pods; however, I was waiting for you, the mission’s director, before I made any real decisions.” She smiled, “The inspector approved the operation; let us get this underway.” She placed her hands on the dials, “Kyou: Kotetsuga XI, Sairou: Bitrokusu Γ, Tsureboru: Demouganka, Roku: Korekusu Λ, Ichigo: Kotetsuga XI. Launch in 4, 3, 2, 1!” The launch doors opened, releasing the five tiny balls from the station, sending them on their journey. She smiled and closed her eyes, “Like a rain of sand, the boys are spread across the galaxy.” Takeshi stepped closer to her, “Umm, Kima-san…” She looked up from the observation window in front of her, “Yes? What is it?” He rechecked the coordinates she had entered, “Wasn’t Kyou to be released on Hasu II instead of Kotetsuga XI?” She glanced at her sheet, “Oh no!! I’ve made a terrible mistake and there’s no way I can turn them around now!” she cried, “Please don’t tell anyone, Takeshi-san!” He patted her head, “It’s really all right, Kima-san. Don’t worry yourself over it. Besides it never really mattered where you sent them in the first place. Let’s see…Oh no! Now that I look at it, none of the coordinates were locked in completely! They’re all still bound on the Earth default.” Her face froze, “S-So you mean…all five are going to land on Earth?! NOOOOO! This isn’t how it was supposed to be!” He embraced his crying partner, “I’m sure it will all turn out for the best. (Little does she know I’m the one who arranged this little mishap. Oh well, I’ll just let her take the heat from the boss. She was the one stupid enough to think we were friends. It’s only fair.)”

“Most Gracious Prince, I come before you with a slight problem,” Kima called as she kneeled on the floor of the dark arena, a dim light barely shining on her from somewhere high above her. A deep voice responded, “Ah what is it, Kima-san? Did someone smash one of the orbs promised to Uesu? You know his order is the most important.” “(Oh great…It figures that would be the order I had a problem with.) Umm…I kind of…discovered a problem with the main desk. (That’s the ticket! The thing just broke. Hehe… Not my fault.) I input all the coordinates for that very order, only the desk didn’t accept the coordinates as a locked status and sent all the orbs to Earth!” The prince smiled, “Oh is that all you were worried about...? WHAT?!?! On Earth?! You c-can’t be s-serious! I’ll have to deal with you for your incompetence!” She jumped back and out of her position, “No, you’ve got it all wrong! I did everything I could to stop the thing. It was the machine’s fault, I told you! (What happened to my great cover-up?! Oh man…)” “Nevertheless, you must pay the price for your failure. Now, yield to my assertive authority!” Lights, bright as the sun itself, suddenly engulfed the entire room, revealing the prince, who was sitting on his beautifully crated throne of gold, suspended over the arena. The tile walkway and platform she had been standing upon were also elevated many stories above the sandy ground, numerous unidentifiable beasts running back and forth, as though waiting for the literal catch of the day. Being deathly afraid of heights, her legs gave, sending her crashing onto the platform. The prince raised his arm high over his head, “The time has come…” he glanced around then refocused upon her motionless form below him. His gentle whisper cascaded through the dense air to her ears, “Die.” Her eyes widened as she felt the sudden inversion of the platform. The slow turning of the stage upside-down struck her and she desperately clung to the edge of the revolving table, “Stop this immediately, Master!” she pleaded, her breath fleeting fast. His only reply was a quiet and contained chuckle. The terror eating away at her mind has already begin to hasten her breathing, and her fingers were now wet and slippery. She closed her eyes and whispered, “Forgive me, my darling. I guess we just weren’t meant to be.” She pictured his face as the immense force of gravity pulled her downward to the smiling jaws of the lions and tigers waiting below. Then the lights shut off as the sinister laugh of the prince rang through the still darkness of the stadium.

XXXXX

Chapter II

フラッシュバック 20

Planet Earth: the drifting body thought to be the center of the universe for countless centuries. The calm sun rose quietly over the horizon in Capricorn just as it had those seventeen years ago. “Kyou, wake up you sleepyhead!” a voice rang down the hallway, “It’s January 19, and you know what that means! You can’t sleep your birthday away this year. Kyou Kunisaki, can you hear me?” She flung his bedroom door open, revealing a mess of a bed surrounded by numerous piles of dirty clothes. She staggered through the maze as carefully as possible, making her way slowly to the open window on the back window next to the pillows. She giggled, “Sorry, kid, but your crash test wasn’t quite strong enough to overcome the Great and Powerful Hitomi!” She pulled the undulating curtains aside and put her head out and into the brisk breeze, her hand resting on the icy windowsill, “That boy…He’s seventeen now, and yet he still insists on greeting the sun on that hill in the garden so much. Even as his mother, I wonder if he’ll ever change.” She watched his brilliant azure hair gently blowing in the distance as the wind whipped through it, the snow falling all around him, transforming the snowy hill into an even thicker shell. She sighed, “Kyou, you are so hopeless,” and the window slid shut. The house grew warm inside once again without much delay, even though the window had been open for quite a while. In the living room, Hitomi drew the shades and turned off the television. With the new silence, she ran to the kitchen and hid the cake under the counter before turning out the lights. Her footsteps were almost silent as she made her way back to assume her position behind the central island. “Now all the great Hitomi must do is…” her eyes narrowed slightly, “wait for her prey to arrive.”

Kyou’s emerald stare, directed precisely at the solar sphere, studied the leisurely drifting of the clouds as they wandered aimlessly across the sky, appearing as though painted by the perfect rays of sunlight as the divine star mounted the horizon. He thought to himself, “I can’t quite grasp it; even though I’ve come out here to watch this sight every year for as long as I can remember, something is different about it each time. It is as though some divine presence moves over my soul when I see the sunrise, something irresistible yet unmistakable. I know there is a reason something inside me wants to see this very thing again and again, but not even I can understand why. Ah well, this dawn marks the start of my new year.” He sat on the snow-covered hill until the solar reflection appeared in the Taiyō no Ike (“Pond of the Sun”). He pulled himself up off the ground, but he noticed that the snow where he had been sitting had melted, exposing the frozen, once living grass. “That’s just great! Now my pants are dripping wet, and I’ve gotta get to school soon!” he shouted, scrambling up the hill back to the main house, “Wouldn’t you know it…” He put his hand on the frigid metal doorknob and opened the door. The kitchen was dark where he was, so he reached past the microwave on the counter next to him and flipped on the overhead lights. Suddenly a loud shriek arose from behind the island in front of him, “Otanjōbi omedetō! 21” Kyou jumped back in terror, “What the--? Mom! I thought I told you not to scare me like that! Geez...” She simply smiled gently as she usually did, “I know, but I just couldn’t help it. It only comes around once a year and I just want it to be special for you. I even got you a cake and everything just like I always do. ()” Kyou, though annoyed, found it, as he always had, hard to stay mad at his mother because of her cheery disposition, “I guess I get it. So what does this cake say?” He walked over to the island and looked down at the icing, which read, “お誕王日おめて゛とう夾” 22 in a soft coral tint with matching roses. His eyes lit up, “And in my favorite color, too! Mom, you are too much.” She looked at him strangely due to his serious expression and sarcastic tone, “Kyou, now are serious or joking around like usual?” He looked her in the eye, “Of course I’m being serious…Why? Shouldn’t I be?” She closed her eyes and shook her head thinking, “Okay, he's caught on; I’ll never know the truth now,” she looked back over at him, “Never mind.”

His interested gaze faded and he looked back to the cake, “Suit yourself. So are we gonna eat this baby or what? Ol’ Kyou’s in the house and birthday cake is the best for breakfast!” Hitomi snickered, “You never change do you? Birthday cake for breakfast, but you never let me buy you anything…” He smirked, “Of course not. Presents are a waste of time and money. People are still so insistent about giving me stuff, though, even after I try to convince them otherwise,” he let out a long sigh, “I wish they would just see that I’m doing them a favor.” “Kyou, Kyou, Kyou…Just listen to you. You sound so selfless; you’re just trying to make it up to them for being so needy all year, aren’t you?” she chuckled. “What did you just…?! I am not needy! I’m just umm…what’s the word? Lazy, that’s the ticket; I’m just lazy,” he reasoned, “I may ask for a little money or a lift to the store here and there, but never anything that would qualify me as ‘needy’ as you so quaintly put.” She just smiled, “Lazy…so that’s it. So that’s the reason you practice your martial arts in the garden all the time and race the sun to the hill by teahouse every morning, even if you’re sick.” He shrugged, “Okay, okay, would you give it a rest already and hand me a plate while you’re over there?” She whirled around with the plate and slid it his way, “My, my you’re an argumentative seventeen year old already. Oh and by the way, sitting in chairs and asking for plates is proof of your neediness.” He stood up, “I already explained I’m lazy. It seems to me you’re hearing is what’s needy…” She laughed, “In time, you’ll learn that the two are inherently the same. Just the same way that nobody looks good in spandex contrary to popular belief.” He grinned and sat down in his rocking chair with a sudden shocked expression, “Ahh! What the--? Oh yeah, my pants got wet while I was sitting in the snow this morning. I’d better go change before I accidentally leave here without a dry pair on.” Hitomi called to him from the kitchen, “I don’t doubt it; I still can’t believe you went out there in the snow. Why don’t you go change while I cut the cake?” Kyou bolted out of the chair and headed for his door across the living room. He took off his jeans only to notice that not even an article of his current ensemble had been spared the snow’s icy vengeance, and so he stripped naked, throwing his clothes onto the many assorted stacks around the room. “Now, I’ve gotta put on a whole new set of clothes, and it hasn’t even been an hour since I got dressed the first time! Geez…why me? And why today?”

Now dressed in a pair of dry blue jeans and a white tee-shirt, he opened the door, his mother smiling at him with an elongated rectangular box in her hand, “It’s not much but I had this whipped up for you, since all you’re old ones are a bit outdated.” He took the box from her, “You really shouldn’t have, but…it really is nice getting presents every once in a while. So can I open it? Huh, Mom? Can I, pleeeeaaassseee?!” She nodded, and the shiny, crimson paper went flying across the room in shreds. “Oh, it’s so pretty. My jacket now officially matches the icing on the cake! You are too thoughtful.” She smiled, handing him a slice, “Aren’t I? Now it won’t matter if you spill it on yourself…cough like last year. cough” His glee changed to revulsion, “I should have known you’d remember something like that. Ah, it’s just as well. I love the color though.” He embraced her, pulling her head against his shoulder, “Why do you always do this kind of thing to me? I mean you get me all steamed up, then give me something like a jacket in my favorite color, and then I can’t be mad at you. It almost seems too cruel. I only hope I can find someone like you out there to get along with because, quite frankly, that’s the only way I think I could get through life with someone else.” “Well with my sickness, I just hope you find someone at all by the time I’m gone. I just want to make sure you’re happy in life; that’s the most I could ever ask for you,” she opened her watery eyes, “Right, Kyou?” She suddenly realized she was holding nothing more than his new jacket and leaned up against the wall, “Kyou! Where did you--?” A clanking noise came from behind her and she whirled around to see him shoveling cake into his mouth. “KYOU, I was talking to you! Weren’t you listening?!” He looked over at her with an innocent smile, his lips and nose plastered with frosting, “Oh come on, Mom. I don’t do ‘mush’. Don’t tell me you thought I could stand that kind of junk.” “Oh no, I know. I just thought you’d matured some since then. Anyway, did you see what I had them put on the back of the jacket?” She unfolded it and showed it to him; emblazoned against the coral background, the single white symbol captured his attention: 夾. “It’s my name! I didn’t know they put cool stiff like that on the back. You really are too great, Mom.” She simply smiled, “I know…but I just can’t seem to hear it enough.” As he drew the curtains back, Kyou watched the crisp snowflakes falling in sheets from the heavens, covering the already frosty ground. He placed his hand on the glass as if to touch the drifting flakes through the sliding door, leaving a ghostly handprint on the icy surface. “Mom, why don’t we ever use the fireplace, especially when the weather is fit for it? It seems like such a waste.” She shrugged, “I guess I’ve just never really thought of using it…” Kyou laughed with a hint of annoyed tension in his voice, “Well whatever. I’m gonna be late for school if I stay around here too much longer. I’ll be home at the normal time if you wanna do ‘anything’,” he said opening the door, “See ya, Mom.” Then he closed the door, sparing the inside of the house from the arctic blast. “But Kyou, your hair’s an absolute wreck!” she called to no avail, and then she sighed with a placid smile, “That boy is so hopeless.”

XXXXX (Ultra Special Comment #3)

The doors slid open, allowing the warmth to defrost him. A large mass of boys and girls appeared to standing around like a crowd of reporters at a long awaited news conference. “Hey, Kyou-kun,” called a girl’s voice, “Otanjōbi omedetō!” His face flashed a deep red, “Who are you? What’s your name? How did you get that information?” A wild giggle issued forth from inside the gathering, “What is this, Kyou-kun; ‘twenty questions?’ I was merely saying…” “Come out, and show yourself!” Suddenly a vivacious girl with short dark hair burst from the crowd, holding someone else’s hand in her own, which had not yet completely emerged from the group. Her lacey white sweater against her dark hair and eyes was the first thing to catch his attention. She tugged on the other arm and pulled out another girl similar in appearance to herself, on with slightly longer, shoulder-length hair of roughly the same hue, clothed in a black leather vest and a black skirt, who in turn pulled out a young boy, who stumbled wildly out of the growing mass. Kyou jumped back in awe, “He…He looks just like…me?! How is that possible?!” The boy smiled and bowed, “I’m very sorry, Kyou-san…I thought this was a line trying to get to the hot cocoa faster…” “How could you mistake our line to greet Kyou-kun for a hot cocoa line?!” the girl barked, “That’s so typical of you, Ichigo23! Just get lost…” “Now calm down, Izumi; it’s not like it’s his fault,” she pleaded, trying to reason, “Just leave him alone (and let us get on with our business with the fine Kyou-kun already!!!).” Izumi protested, “But we can’t just let him go after such a crucial mistake. We must have a punishment for such important violations and such. You know, Suzume, you can’t afford to be soft anymore. It’s a ‘dog eats dog’…umm…school system (especially when you insult one of the hottest boys in the country!). Justice must be done!” Kyou stepped back for a minute, trying to sort through his shock, “Wait…So these girls are my fan club? But what’s the deal with Ichigo-san over there? He looks just like me, which is creepy enough, but why don’t they just accept him? I mean we look enough alike, granted his hair is as vibrantly golden as the Tsuki no Hoshi24 with a gleam to match, just as so many people have told me that my hair resembles that of the sea. Something tells me Ichigo-san is new here, (which would also explain why I’ve never seen him before) and since they’ve known me longer, they think I’m the better match. Oh well, ‘ignis fatuus’25 I suppose. Still something’s with these girls; sure it’s obvious twin sisters, but they’re personalities are as opposite as night and day. This could prove interesting.” He zoned back in just in time to see Izumi throw a punch at Ichigo; however, the boy dodged it the instant it came close enough to him. “What?!” the feisty female ranted, “That was right on; you must have cheated! You have no class at all or you’d know the rules.” Ichigo simply shook his head, “Rules? I thought you wanted to fight. Everyone knows that if someone wants to put them in play, it is simply because the challenger feels either threatened or knows the fight is already a loss without a handicap.” Suzume made her way over to Kyou, shaking her head while her sister continued shouting at the top of her lungs, “Guys are supposed to let the ladies have a decent shot at revenge before such things! You better heed the rules, or your pathetic trickery will catch up to you in the end!” She launched swing after swing at him, each punch failing to as much as graze his body.

Kyou felt a slight tug on his jacket sleeve and he leaned down closer to Suzume, who whispered, “Kyou-kun, I must apologize on behalf of Izumi. My sister is so wild at times like this…It’s hard enough living with her as it is, but when boys get involved, it’s as though she’s a completely different person altogether. She just has such trouble controlling herself” Kyou nodded, “Yeah, I can see that. Just between us, she’s scaring me all the way over here. Wait a minute, are you two the Kurogawa twins?!” Her eyes lit up, “Yes, that’s right! Our family is known for its ninjas and prophetesses. In fact, we’ll be included in that legacy very soon, perhaps even by the time school let’s out for the summer!” “Wow, that’s soon. How are you able to train for that and martial arts and still manage to not fall behind on your schoolwork?” She looked away, “That’s the thing about it. We do fall behind, but I’m able to keep pace pretty well, unlike my sister. You see, she’s incredibly serious about being the assertive type. She just acts as though she has no weaknesses and that nothing matters to her. That is, except when it comes to you. In case you haven’t noticed, all the girls (and even some of the boys) are in love with you.” “Haha…yeah, I kinda noticed,” Kyou laughed, “Wait a minute, Suzume; did you say boys are like that, too? I can just imagine those kinds of fights; ah such art when a man fights another man on equal ground.” Suzume looked shocked, “(He's only interested in the fighting part of it? It’s like he’s not even freaked out by the love part of it.) Umm…Kyou-kun, are you a fan of fighting or something?” He simply replied with a hint of arrogance, “But of course I am, always was. Fighting is in my blood as much as it is part of Izumi-chan.” She nodded, watching her sister punching wildly in every direction, “Hmm…Well my sister’s just too insane to deal with whenever she goes into these fits. It’s as though she has a kind of ‘tunnel vision’. However, despite her appearance now, she loves Ichigo-kun just as much as she adores you. For that reason, I can’t see why she always seizes the opportunity to pick on him, but who knows? Perhaps we’ll find out, given enough time. Personally, I think you and I would get along much better than you and Izumi would.” Kyou shook his head, “I’m inclined to agree.”

He rested his head against the glass window lining the lobby walls as he watched the fight. “Umm…Kyou-kun?” she asked nervously. He looked over at her, “Well, what is it, Suzume-chan?” She clasped her hands, “Well, I don’t mean to offend you by asking such a question, but with your manliness aside, do you think Ichigo-kun is cute?” His eyes lit up as a dangerous smile crossed his lips, “Oh no, Suzume-chan. I admire that you would ask me such a question. The one thing I will always guarantee you is a truthful answer to any question; all you must do is ask. Now, even with my ‘manliness’ as you so cleverly phrased it, aside from the calculations, I do in fact find Ichigo-kun quite adorable.” Suzume seemed somewhat surprised at the response, “(He’s so shameless in admitting his true thoughts and feelings.) Umm yes…Well I’ll admit he resembles you in body, but in mind, you’ll find him quite different from yourself in more ways than one. You know, Kyou-kun…He respects you quite a lot. Perhaps you two should spend some time together. My Quintic eye sees you two becoming very close…closer than I, Izumi, or so many other ‘fans’ could ever get to you. ()” Kyou closed his eyes and slid himself down the slick glass of the window until he landed on the floor, his legs arched, “I may follow your advice in that case; however, I might like to learn more about you both as well. You know, Suzume-chan, I wouldn’t mind if we were friends.” Suzume blushed, “(Kyou-kun is so sweet, though he has difficulty in expressing his kinder side. My Quintic eye will continue to provide me with stronger and more accurate visions as my powers increase. I hope we become closer than I can envision at this point…) I’d like to be your friend, too, Kyou-kun. I also hope you’ll be able to accept my sister, despite her complexities.” He chuckled, “Perhaps…after she stops this senselessness, I will be able to speak with her. Though my inner tendencies more closely aligns with her outer actions, be glad your personality is more like my outer expression, kind, simple, and pleasant. That will help you got where you want in life much more effectively than your sister’s hand will allow.” Her face reddened, “Aw, thank you, Kyou-kun. That’s really…very…sweet. (He’s so dreamy! No wonder everyone loves him! And out of everyone else, I’m the one talking to him, and I’m not even tongue-tied! –I’m doing so well; YAY!-- I wish this heaven would never end…)”

“Give up, Izumi-chan?” the fire-headed boy asked with a hint of nonchalant concern, smilingly leaning over toward his now gasping opponent, who was now sprawled out on the floor in exhaustion. She hesitated for a moment before replying, “I cannot turn back now. I must defeat you…” Ichigo laughed playfully, “Well due to the time, I’m afraid we must postpone our game for now, but don’t worry. We’ll pick up where we left off sometime soon.” The crowd disbanded as the final warning bell sounded, reminding them of the first class of the day. Izumi picked herself up off the floor with the help of Suzume, “You really need to practice using some restraint every once in a while, you know!” Izumi scowled, “He just…GAAAH! I wish I could kill him! In fact…” she smiled, “I might even…” “Izumi,” she interrupted, “don’t say such things of people who are insignificant to your life. Kyou-kun says he’ll work on Ichigo-kun for you, so there’s no reason to worry.” Her sister was already visualizing the lovely Kyou instead of paying attention to the rest of the conversation. Suzume looked over to Kyou, only to see that he had vanished in the short time that she spent with her sister. “Well good job, Izumi!” she scolded. “What’d I do now?” Izumi barked impatiently, “Did I look at you the wrong way?” Suzume barked, “No, you idiot! With all your antics, you scared poor Kyou away! (Just when we were getting to know each other, too…)” Izumi snapped, “Why do you always blame me when the guy runs away?!” “Because it’s always your fault, you reckless savage!” Suzume countered. She barked back, “You are a liar! Are you looking for a fight?” Her sister just closed her eyes and murmured, “That’s what I’m talking about, always so offensive and hotheaded, sheesh.” Izumi erupted, “Don’t go thinking I don’t know where you live!” Suzume sighed, “As if I’ve never heard that one before; we’re twins after all, though sometimes that’s hard to believe. Anyway, we’d better get to class before we’re late.” Izumi scowled as she walked off down the hall in the opposite direction of her sister. “I wonder where Kyou-kun went…” Suzume thought.

XXXXX

1 (HAH-zuh) - planet

2 Reversal Year

3 Seizon – (say-ZAHN) – Named for the powerful chemical that created them, these are mindless, humanoid creatures with snowy fur, and each is endowed with incredible power but little powers of logic. Once human, they were coaxed by Hebikaosu into ingesting a large amount of the Seizon toxin into their bodies and lost their personalities. Now they know nothing except Hebikaosu’s own orders and commands. Sensitive to light, they are used primarily as a line of offense under the cover of darkness.

4 Ryozuka is a popular city and tourist site based centrally on water. The meeting in the above paragraph takes place next to a large square “pool/pond/lake,” which occupies a large portion of land among several houses. The “grass” is actually algae! The algae itself grows on the stony roads and ivy has colonized most of the houses. At the end of the road is a large torii through which one may gain access to the dueling arena, the meadow, or the Bliss.

5 These masks are described in reference to those typically worn by Shinobi just before a large-scale massacre.

6 The legendary swordsmith of ancient Japanese history

7 This is a humble shinkan who runs the Masamune shrine. Hebikaosu has forcibly manipulated him into doing his bidding on several occasions under fear of death. He fears Hebikaosu with all his being and tries to do as he is told without argument.

8 Here is the arrogant male pronoun ore-sama ("my esteemed self") for "I". Referring to oneself with -sama is considered to be highly egotistical.

9Japanese word referring to a “Shinto priest”

10 Kendousu Soseimaru - a 16-year-old resurrectionist who holds the power to revive any being with the touch of his right hand as long as he holds true love for that being or for an honorable reason for interfering with that destiny. Despite his high reputation and renown, he is a surprisingly short boy of approx. 137.5 cm.

11 Hebikaosu (Heh-bee-KAY-ohs) A powerful demon, he is known for his skills, especially in his art of “unknown possession,” a technique in which he controls the mind of an individual without his or her knowledge.

12 Japanese meaning “rebirth” or “resurrection”

13 Goddess of Love and War! She is both strict and defiant, refusing to give into anyone's demands. Unaffected by even the most clever implementation of persuasion, she'll send a thousand armies upon you at once for even attempting it! Her hair is long, flowing and as vibrantly golden as the sun; she has a beautiful figure and always wears a dress of black stain with red lace underneath it. Legend says that if she ever changes the color of the lace, it’s because she has found true love.

14 The legendary space station is known for specializing in human growth, development, and cloning capabilities. The station is located in the Epsilon Quadrant, from which it derives its name. Gods and high elves implore the aid of their cloning ability to test their skills of battle on targets. Though Epsilon receives many customers, they keep very low and reasonable rates and do not interfere with whatever plans their customers have for their products. Curiously enough, while females are naturally born in higher numbers than males, males (unique & cloned) are ordered in massive quantities over females each year.

15 Reference to Prima, Dasyura, Banzaga – prophetesses, these three sister goddesses see and know all things: past, present, and future, respectively.

16 “Male”

17 “Five”

18 The embryos are kept inside tiny shell-like spheres, which house the embryonic fluid.

19 A renowned brand of levitation device, the name means “butterfly” in the Japanese.

20 Flashback

21 Exclamation meaning “Happy birthday!”

22 See note .

23 Note she does not use an honorific title here. In this situation, it is very insulting.

24 References the popular legend of Enikkusu, who hid the precious golden Star of the Heavens on the moon to watch over mankind until the end of the planet should near. Though the legend is told in a positive light, many have also interpreted the story with a deceptive spin.

25 Latin expression meaning, “foolish fire.”

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