Ninpocho Chronicles
Ninpocho Chronicles is a fantasy-ish setting storyline, set in an alternate universe World of Ninjas, where the Naruto and Boruto series take place. This means that none of the canon characters exists, or existed here.
Each ninja starts from the bottom and start their training as an Academy Student. From there they develop abilities akin to that of demigods as they grow in age and experience.
Along the way they gain new friends (or enemies), take on jobs and complete contracts and missions for their respective villages where their training and skill will be tested to their limits.
The sky is the limit as the blank page you see before you can be filled with countless of adventures with your character in the game.
This is Ninpocho Chronicles.
Current Ninpocho Chronicles Time:
Marasame Mana [Leaf] -> Hasegawa Mana [Leaf]
- Thread starter Tsukino Nanami
- Start date
- Status
Old Character Name: Marasame Mana
Old Village: Leaf
Old Character Class (if you have one):
Whore of Babylon
HP: (60+lvl) x stamina
CP: (35+lvl) x chakra control
Class Feature: +1 Crit Chance, +5% Max HP
High: Melee Accuracy
Average: Genjutsu Save, Evasion, Genjutsu DC
Low: Ninjutsu Accuracy, Ranged Accuracy
Old BL/CA (if you have one): Reckless
Preferred New Username (check for availability first if you can): Hasegawa Mana
New Character Name: Hasegawa Mana
New Village: Leaf
New Character Class:
Red Thread of Fate
HP: (55+lvl) x stamina
CP: (40+lvl) x chakra control
Class Bonus: +2 Critical Range
High: Ranged Accuracy
Average: Genjutsu Save, Evasion, Melee Accuracy, Ninjutsu Accuracy
Low: Gen DC
New BL/CA: Tsuchimikado
* * * * *
Reason that the new BL/CA matches your character: Explained in the Character History
ANBU/Med-Nin/AIT/MIT?: Medical Sennin
* * * * *
Age: 21
Gender: Female
Quick Character Description:
Appearance: A beautiful girl from the Hasegawa Clan. She stands at 5'2" tall with long straight black hair that accents her pale skin rather nicely. Her pale skin also accents the pure prussian blue eyes that that seem to look into your soul with a kind and gentle heart. She generally has a smile upon her face and speaks in a rather high mannerism due to her noble up-bringing.
She was taught to not speak in contractions, but to say the full words, because it is more lady-like to speak in that manner than the vulgar and lazy ways of saying things. Mana has no need to wear make-up, being a natural beauty; one of the many things that the Hasegawa Clan are well-known for. One of her most noticeable traits is the blue magatama that sits upon her forehead.
She is typically dressed in either her medical garbs, her black leather hunter's gear, or a variety of hanbok. She is also known to occasionally wear a Miko dress when performing duties for the Hasegawa Shrine.
Personality: She is a strong-willed individual that is determined to help people in the hospital. Even if the situation is against her, she will do everything she can to help save a life. She dislikes useless fighting and actually abhors that part of her family heritage. She is very loyal to her family and her country. However, she was given a great decision to make later on in her life that may change the course of her life and the lives of those around her.
Character History: See below
Death thread: None
Profile thread: http://www.ninpocho.com/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=857
Training thread: None
Dojo thread: None
Usergroups: Registered users, Leaf ANBU, Leaf Chuunin+, Leaf Medical Nin, Leaf Visitor Access, Leaf, Development Team, Leaf Council
Jutsu Swaps: 92. Though I won't be able to afford it all.
To Medical
D Rank
Arcing Strike [3] => Mystical Hand [2]
Overhead Strike [3] => Coagulation [2]
C Rank
Titanic Thrust[3] => System Shock [2]
Crimson Flash[3] => Skeletal Fortification [2]
Swirling Grind[3] => Anesthetic Infusion [2]
Breathtaking Blow[3] => System Restoration [2]
B Rank
Broadslap[3] => Mystical Force [2]
Gamble Maneuver[3] => Medical Assistant [2]
Hyper Extension[3] => Tranquilize [2]
Goliath Toss[3] => Medical Ward [2]
A Rank
Execution[3] => Resuscitate [2]
Kill Driver[3] => Angelic Blessing [2]
Annihilation[3/4] => Regeneration [2]
Take Aim[3] => Pristine Aura [2]
Non-Elemental Ninjutsu
E Rank
Charge[3] => Transformation [2]
Rush[3] => Body Switch [2]
D Rank
Breath Control[3] => Crystal Eye [2]
Shadow Leap[3] => Cancel [2]
C Rank
Enraged Strike[3] => Barrier [2]
B Rank
Speed Boost[3] => Leech Seal [2]
Strength Boost[3] => Chakra Shield [2]
Block[3] => Rasengan [2]
A Rank
Chakra Extension[3] => Morality Sealing [2]
Eye of the Tiger[3] => Nature's Guard [2]
Dodge Roll[3] => Stardust Nova [2]
Chakra Absorption[3] => Gate of Enma [2]
Ranged Taijutsu
C Rank
Aura[3] => Critical Shot [2]
Shadow Dance[3] => Snipe [2]
Burst of Speed[3] => Scatter Shot [2]
Burst of Strength[3] => Counter Shot [2]
Awakening The Dragon[3] => Tracking Beacon [2]
Counter-Attack[3] => Catapult Discharge [2]
Anabolic Frenzy[3] => Detonation Tip [2]
B Rank
Endure[3] => Flurry Shot [2]
Limit Break[3] => Blunt Shot [2]
Devastating Aura[3/4] => Pierce Shot [2]
Myriad Aura[3/4] => Pin Shot [2]
Lingering Spark[3] => Grapple Shot [2]
Phoenix Embrace[3] => Burst Shot [2]
Scream[3] => Homing Shot [2]
A Rank
Detect Pulse[3] => Destructive Power Shot [2]
Verse of Darkness[3] => Combustive Shot [2]
After Image[3] => Glacial Shot[2]
Crippled[3] => Voltaic Shot [2]
Fear[3] => Terra Firma Shot [2]
Metal Ninjutsu
C Rank
Betrayal[3] => Steel Slam [2]
Heartbeat[3] => Quality Break [2]
Endless Gap[3] => Mercury Poisoning [2]
Body Double[3] => Steel Clone [2]
B Rank
Temple of Nirvana[3] => Alloy Spiral [2]
False Shinobi-iri[3] => Reinforced Wall [2]
Vision of Hell[3] => Iron Breakout [2]
Call of Nirvana[3] => Density Crush [2]
A Rank
Voice of the Phantom[3] => Silver Flash [2]
Screaming Pain[3] => Senbon Coating [2]
Slowed Perception[3] => Burdening Touch [2]
Victorious Dreams[3] => Superalloy Tempest [2]
Slashing Taijutsu
C Rank
Paranoia[3] => Vanishing Slash [2]
Death Viewing[3] => Lunar Steps [2]
Malevolent Shadows[3] => Whisperer [2]
Serenade of Sorrow[3] => Sword Juggle [2]
Call of Enma[3] => Zero Slash Counter [2]
Invisibility[3] => Top Spin [2]
Trauma[3] => Blade Trail [2]
B Rank
Curse of the Leper[3] => Magnum Break [2]
Charismatic Breakdown[3] => Focal Blade [2]
Ephemeral[3] => Steel Weaving [2]
Mindshatter[2] => Flight Aerial Strike [2]
Reflective Hallucinations[2] => Kill Driver [2]
Utopia[2] => Executioner [2]
Body Switch[3] => Lotus Flower [2]
A Rank
Signal Flare[3] => Zantetsuken [2]
Cancel[3] => Higuma [2]
Barrier[3] => Annihilation [2]
Crystal Eye[3] => Heavenly Sword [2]
Withering Seal[3] => Fatal Draw [2]
Buffing Taijutsu
D Rank
Chakra Shield[3] => Eagle Vision [2]
Morality Sealing[3] => Brandish [2]
Mystical Hand[3] => Basic Safeguard [2]
C Rank
Coagulation[3] => Shadow Dance [2]
Skeletal Fortification[3] => Expel [2]
Anesthetic Infusion[3] =>Chakra Absorption [2]
B Rank
System Restoration[3] => Unbound [2]
System Shock[3] => Focused Assault [2]
A Rank
Medical Assistant[3] => Devastating Aura [2]
Water Jutsu
C Rank
Tranquilize[3] => Grand Waterfall [2]
Medical Ward[3] => Rain Dance [2]
Mystical Force[3] => Impaling Hydro Jet [2]
Fire Jutsu
Angelic Blessing[2] => Dragon Fire [2]
Regeneration[2] => Searing Eruption [2]
Pristine Aura[2] => Scalding Ash Cloud [2]
Resuscitate[2] => Heat Wave [2]
Old Village: Leaf
Old Character Class (if you have one):
Whore of Babylon
HP: (60+lvl) x stamina
CP: (35+lvl) x chakra control
Class Feature: +1 Crit Chance, +5% Max HP
High: Melee Accuracy
Average: Genjutsu Save, Evasion, Genjutsu DC
Low: Ninjutsu Accuracy, Ranged Accuracy
Old BL/CA (if you have one): Reckless
Preferred New Username (check for availability first if you can): Hasegawa Mana
New Character Name: Hasegawa Mana
New Village: Leaf
New Character Class:
Red Thread of Fate
HP: (55+lvl) x stamina
CP: (40+lvl) x chakra control
Class Bonus: +2 Critical Range
High: Ranged Accuracy
Average: Genjutsu Save, Evasion, Melee Accuracy, Ninjutsu Accuracy
Low: Gen DC
New BL/CA: Tsuchimikado
* * * * *
Reason that the new BL/CA matches your character: Explained in the Character History
ANBU/Med-Nin/AIT/MIT?: Medical Sennin
* * * * *
Age: 21
Gender: Female
Quick Character Description:
She was taught to not speak in contractions, but to say the full words, because it is more lady-like to speak in that manner than the vulgar and lazy ways of saying things. Mana has no need to wear make-up, being a natural beauty; one of the many things that the Hasegawa Clan are well-known for. One of her most noticeable traits is the blue magatama that sits upon her forehead.
She is typically dressed in either her medical garbs, her black leather hunter's gear, or a variety of hanbok. She is also known to occasionally wear a Miko dress when performing duties for the Hasegawa Shrine.
Personality: She is a strong-willed individual that is determined to help people in the hospital. Even if the situation is against her, she will do everything she can to help save a life. She dislikes useless fighting and actually abhors that part of her family heritage. She is very loyal to her family and her country. However, she was given a great decision to make later on in her life that may change the course of her life and the lives of those around her.
Character History: See below
Death thread: None
Profile thread: http://www.ninpocho.com/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=857
Training thread: None
Dojo thread: None
Usergroups: Registered users, Leaf ANBU, Leaf Chuunin+, Leaf Medical Nin, Leaf Visitor Access, Leaf, Development Team, Leaf Council
Current Stats said:
New Stats after Bonus +700 said:
Jutsu Swaps: 92. Though I won't be able to afford it all.
To Medical
D Rank
Arcing Strike [3] => Mystical Hand [2]
Overhead Strike [3] => Coagulation [2]
C Rank
Titanic Thrust[3] => System Shock [2]
Crimson Flash[3] => Skeletal Fortification [2]
Swirling Grind[3] => Anesthetic Infusion [2]
Breathtaking Blow[3] => System Restoration [2]
B Rank
Broadslap[3] => Mystical Force [2]
Gamble Maneuver[3] => Medical Assistant [2]
Hyper Extension[3] => Tranquilize [2]
Goliath Toss[3] => Medical Ward [2]
A Rank
Execution[3] => Resuscitate [2]
Kill Driver[3] => Angelic Blessing [2]
Annihilation[3/4] => Regeneration [2]
Take Aim[3] => Pristine Aura [2]
Non-Elemental Ninjutsu
E Rank
Charge[3] => Transformation [2]
Rush[3] => Body Switch [2]
D Rank
Breath Control[3] => Crystal Eye [2]
Shadow Leap[3] => Cancel [2]
C Rank
Enraged Strike[3] => Barrier [2]
B Rank
Speed Boost[3] => Leech Seal [2]
Strength Boost[3] => Chakra Shield [2]
Block[3] => Rasengan [2]
A Rank
Chakra Extension[3] => Morality Sealing [2]
Eye of the Tiger[3] => Nature's Guard [2]
Dodge Roll[3] => Stardust Nova [2]
Chakra Absorption[3] => Gate of Enma [2]
Ranged Taijutsu
C Rank
Aura[3] => Critical Shot [2]
Shadow Dance[3] => Snipe [2]
Burst of Speed[3] => Scatter Shot [2]
Burst of Strength[3] => Counter Shot [2]
Awakening The Dragon[3] => Tracking Beacon [2]
Counter-Attack[3] => Catapult Discharge [2]
Anabolic Frenzy[3] => Detonation Tip [2]
B Rank
Endure[3] => Flurry Shot [2]
Limit Break[3] => Blunt Shot [2]
Devastating Aura[3/4] => Pierce Shot [2]
Myriad Aura[3/4] => Pin Shot [2]
Lingering Spark[3] => Grapple Shot [2]
Phoenix Embrace[3] => Burst Shot [2]
Scream[3] => Homing Shot [2]
A Rank
Detect Pulse[3] => Destructive Power Shot [2]
Verse of Darkness[3] => Combustive Shot [2]
After Image[3] => Glacial Shot[2]
Crippled[3] => Voltaic Shot [2]
Fear[3] => Terra Firma Shot [2]
Metal Ninjutsu
C Rank
Betrayal[3] => Steel Slam [2]
Heartbeat[3] => Quality Break [2]
Endless Gap[3] => Mercury Poisoning [2]
Body Double[3] => Steel Clone [2]
B Rank
Temple of Nirvana[3] => Alloy Spiral [2]
False Shinobi-iri[3] => Reinforced Wall [2]
Vision of Hell[3] => Iron Breakout [2]
Call of Nirvana[3] => Density Crush [2]
A Rank
Voice of the Phantom[3] => Silver Flash [2]
Screaming Pain[3] => Senbon Coating [2]
Slowed Perception[3] => Burdening Touch [2]
Victorious Dreams[3] => Superalloy Tempest [2]
Slashing Taijutsu
C Rank
Paranoia[3] => Vanishing Slash [2]
Death Viewing[3] => Lunar Steps [2]
Malevolent Shadows[3] => Whisperer [2]
Serenade of Sorrow[3] => Sword Juggle [2]
Call of Enma[3] => Zero Slash Counter [2]
Invisibility[3] => Top Spin [2]
Trauma[3] => Blade Trail [2]
B Rank
Curse of the Leper[3] => Magnum Break [2]
Charismatic Breakdown[3] => Focal Blade [2]
Ephemeral[3] => Steel Weaving [2]
Mindshatter[2] => Flight Aerial Strike [2]
Reflective Hallucinations[2] => Kill Driver [2]
Utopia[2] => Executioner [2]
Body Switch[3] => Lotus Flower [2]
A Rank
Signal Flare[3] => Zantetsuken [2]
Cancel[3] => Higuma [2]
Barrier[3] => Annihilation [2]
Crystal Eye[3] => Heavenly Sword [2]
Withering Seal[3] => Fatal Draw [2]
Buffing Taijutsu
D Rank
Chakra Shield[3] => Eagle Vision [2]
Morality Sealing[3] => Brandish [2]
Mystical Hand[3] => Basic Safeguard [2]
C Rank
Coagulation[3] => Shadow Dance [2]
Skeletal Fortification[3] => Expel [2]
Anesthetic Infusion[3] =>Chakra Absorption [2]
B Rank
System Restoration[3] => Unbound [2]
System Shock[3] => Focused Assault [2]
A Rank
Medical Assistant[3] => Devastating Aura [2]
Water Jutsu
C Rank
Tranquilize[3] => Grand Waterfall [2]
Medical Ward[3] => Rain Dance [2]
Mystical Force[3] => Impaling Hydro Jet [2]
Fire Jutsu
Angelic Blessing[2] => Dragon Fire [2]
Regeneration[2] => Searing Eruption [2]
Pristine Aura[2] => Scalding Ash Cloud [2]
Resuscitate[2] => Heat Wave [2]
"If You Don't Listen to the Lesson of History
Then You Are Doomed to Repeat It"
History:
[spoilername="Prologue"]
Prologue:
Lamentation of the Millennium Witch
Lamentation of the Millennium Witch
Hasegawa Kaname
as
“The Millennium Witch”
I have been alive for over a thousand years. I have seen the ugliness in the hearts of people throughout all of history; the disgusting greed of human-kind to the sickening wrath and hatred that these creatures exhibit towards one another. Whether their motivations are for territorial expansion, retaining power over others, the sheer longing to kill one another for sport, or for religious doctrine used to brainwash the sheep and to convert those that do not believe by force. There is nothing but darkness in the heart of all man
Indeed, I have found a silver-lining that shines through the darkness; acts of bravery, acts of kindness, and whole-hearted, unfounded self-sacrifice to better the lives of others. However, I have yet to see something that can give way for humanity to remain a worthy species of remaining on this beautiful blue planet of ours.
I have been given many names; Sorceress of Blood and Steel, Whore of Babylon, Prophet of Time. But the most popular moniker that had stuck with me throughout the entire time I’ve been alive on this Earth, the humans gave me the nickname of ‘The Millennium Witch”. I was born as Mishima Kaname, but now I am known as Hasegawa Kaname.
I have done atrocious things in my past. I have killed people because those in power wished it and I have even done things unspeakable; done things that many would consider an unforgiveable sin. But with all of those wretched things I have done when I was younger, the most abominable thing I could have done was give such an ill-fate to my own daughter, to which I named Mana.
I have given her the burden of making a choice. She is given the choice to choose between humanity, who she will love so much or to choose the Earth. One cannot co-exist with the other. From all of the years I have been alive, I found absolutely no evidence directing me that humanity could exist with the planet.
If the humans remain, they will destroy the planet; whether it will be through pollution through industry or drying up the finite resources that have been here since the planet has been conceived. Regardless of what the humans believe, this planet cannot replenish itself if the humans continue to consume. Humans are such disgusting creatures. All they do is consume everything they touch. They are like a disease in that sense. So, my daughter, Mana must choose to protect the Earth and purge this planet of the parasite known as humans.
The other choice she has to make is to protect the humans; to become their new savior at the expense of the planet’s well-being. It will be her duty to protect man-kind from all threats, whether the threat comes from the earth or from outside of earth; whether the threat comes from this dimension or from another. However, this is also one of her choices that she can make.
Live long and live well, my lovely daughter, one whom I shall give the Celestial Name of Gaia to. Live long and I am sorry for giving you such a burden. You can blame chance for being born as my daughter or you may choose to blame being born into such a cursed family such as the Hasegawa. Choose your excuse as you wish, but that is the destiny given unto you. Daughter of the Earth.
[Prologue End]
[/spoilername][spoilername="Chapter 1"]
Chapter 1:
I Will Name Her Mana
I Will Name Her Mana
Hasegawa Mana
and
Hasegawa Ren
After wandering around this planet for a thousand years, I have found someone that could accept me for who I am. His name is Hasegawa Ren. Granted, I've been observing the Hasegawa Clan since it's conception just a few years prior to the Red Rain Disaster. Well, I know how it happened, but I'll keep that to myself. <3
However, I had become pregnant with Hasegawa Ren's child. Of the thousand years I've been alive, this was the first time I would have a child. I have a vision for this child. A vision that this child would be responsible for 'correcting' the errors of humanity. To destroy humanity if they do not change their destructive ways or to protect them if she finds them worthy of it. Any moment now, my child will say hello to this destructive world. My ugly, yet beautiful child will be cursed not only with the blood that is coursing through her veins, but the cursed responsibility that I will place upon her.
My water broke, splashing water upon the ground. Following the liquid came an unnatural amount of blood. This was the first time I had cursed Lord Jashin. Something could have been wrong with my first and only child.
"Get a doctor!" Hasegawa Ren shouted towards the midwife. He said it in a desperate manner. The child being born would be Ren's second child. The first one was, indeed, the black sheep. The boy betrayed the family. Ren is also beginning to get up there in age, so this may, perhaps, be his last chance of having a child. "Hurry!"
The midwife winced a little and bowed to the master of the Hasegawa Clan and ran off to get a doctor. Ren moved towards me and placed an arm around my shoulders and placed a hand into one of mine, to assist me with having a seat. He looked up at me and there was intense strain upon his face. The look on my face could mirror his. This was my first child in the millennium that I've been alive. I do not want to lose this one either.
"You will get through this. I'll be damned if we let our child die," Ren promised.
I nodded to my husband and forced out a smile. There was extreme pain coursing through my body as another gush of blood flowed out of me. I could remember the intense pain. I haven't even experienced this kind of agony during battle.
"Damnit, Lord Jashin! Don't take this child from me! Don't you dare!"
Later that night....
The doctor cleaned up his hands as he walked up to Hasegawa Ren and ran his cleaned hands through his hair.
"Lord Hasegawa, the probability of your child to live is very slim. It seemed that the placenta was filled with blood throughout the entire development of the child. I am actually surprised that the child developed so much and remained alive. Your wife is currently asleep, but she could wake up at any moment into labor. Her giving birth to this child could jeopardize the life of both the child and the mother. I will leave it as your choice whether to save the mother or.." the doctor stated before being interrupted by a shout from inside of the living room.
"I will not accept that! I will have my child!" I shouted as I began to go into labor. Blood continued to flush out of my body as I begin to give birth to my child. The doctor and my husband ran into the living room and began to begin the birthing procedures. I pushed and I pushed. The world began to grow darker and darker.
A crying could be heard from the newly birthed child. It was a baby girl. Overcome with temporary joy, the child was cleaned up, had her umbilical cord cut and given to her father. While holding the child, his emotion of rapture and joy turned into pure dread. He turned to look towards his wife only to see her lying there still.
"Kana? Kana! Wake up, Kana!"
There was no response. Ren began to shake uncontrollably while holding his child. The doctor began to take the vitals of the sleeping mother and hung his head, shaking it as if to confirm her death. Hanging his head and closing his eyes, tears began to pour from his eyes.
Hasegawa Ren's Soulspace
Ren opened his mind's eye and finds himself within his own soulspace. Upon entering his soulspace, he is dumbfounded as to how he even performed a soulspace dive. From the henge, a large white wolf came from behind the monolithic pillars.
"Have you summoned me here, Tsukiyomi?" Ren asked. He looked at his hands, noticing he wasn't holding his newborn child.
The white wolf simply walked towards Ren's side and sat beside him, turning his head towards the Stone Henge and began to pant. Taking this as a sign to look, he noticed a strange fire coming from inside of the henge and a large bird exploded up through the henge, flying up for a moment only for it to smash back into the henge.
~Harken! All is not lost, Susanoo. Open thine eyes!~
Ren came to to reality only to notice a blinding blue light appearing from his newborn daughter's forehead. The light filled the room with warmth and brought life to everything in the room. The light seemed to reverse the aging of everything. The blinding light vanished slowly. Turning to look towards his wife, he noticed blood pouring from the woman's eyes before she lurched upwards, taking a diver's breath.
Turning over, she coughed up blood, spilling it upon the floor beside her. Once she realized where she was, she looked up towards Ren and their new daughter.
"Hello, young one. Welcome to this world," I said once I got my bearings straight. I reached out in order to hold my young, beautiful daughter. Before receiving my daughter, my husband kissed her on the forehead, where the blue magatama resided. Finally, I got to hold my daughter for the first time. She was warm. It was like holding fire in my arms. A smile came across my face as I held my ugly, yet beautiful daughter.
"I will name her Mana," I said as I leaned in to kiss my daughter on the forehead. I leaned in and whispered into her ear, "I will also give you your celestial name. A name that only you, me, and the one you love the most will know. Your celestial name is Gaia."
Mana cooed once I moved away from her. Her happiness stopped for a brief moment only for her to open her eyes.
Sanryokyougan
My face twisted into dread. Why? Why does she already have these cursed eyes? I did not ask for this!
[Chapter 1 End]
[/spoilername][spoilername="Chapter 2"]
Chapter 2:
The Terror of the World
The Terror of the World
Hasegawa Mana
Purified by the Celestial Water
Today is Mana's fifth birthday. Due to this being a special occasion in the Hasegawa Clan, she was told to go to the Water Temple and purify herself. Unfortunately, since I do not have Hasegawa blood running through my veins. Even though I could easily drain the blood from some random Hasegawa, that still doesn't work. Apparently, there is a specific gene that is identified by the Water Temple. And if you don't have that particular gene, the Water Temple would just deflect you from entering. Blah!
After returning from the Water Temple to take part in the "Purification Ceremony" her hair turned a mystical green color. Ooo! Mana looks just adorable this way! After the "Purification Ceremony" she is dressed in a special ceremonial hanbok. Everything about her just gets cuter and cuter! <3
Once she has been dolled up, she walked up to the courtyard just outside of the Hasegawa Head Family's household's main gate. Outside of the main gate, lining the stairs are the Hasegawa Branch Families. Music began to play and there was a spectacle that seemed a bit over the top for a five year old. A dog and pony show for the imperial family of the clan.
The look on some of the branch family's face shows disgust. How a young child was held in higher regard than most of the Branch Families. I am quite biased towards my daughter, but I could easily see where the Branch Families trust and loyalties lie. It certainly wasn't with the Head Family, but leaving the clan would be considered social suicide.
The music stopped as Mana stopped in her tracks. Following behind her, me and Ren stopped just behind her. A blue light shined, emanating from her forehead. A slow hand raised up towards the sky as it grew darker than black. A strange aura came from the darkened clouds and took shape just above the Hasegawa Clan gathered.
A Rank Onryo
Kankukichu
"Shit! Get Mana out of here! That's Kankukichu! A high leveled Onryo!" I shouted out. I ran over towards her to see her eyes sparkling in a dazzling display. They shifted in colors, as if to constantly mutate. This could be seen as equivalent to an Uchiha's eyes spinning.
The Branch Families began to scatter in fear. Yes, the inferior members of the clan would run in fear. They harbor hatred for the Head Family, but once something goes into complete disarray, they are the first to not stand their grounds.
A blue aura then shines from Mana's forehead and eventually envelopes her. This is the first time I have ever seen anything like this happen. "Do not fear, my family. This demon will not do you any harm," Mana's voice echoed through the estate. Her voice strangely resonated with the hearts and souls of the family members. A deep breath was taken by my daughter before she began to sing.
Mana's Song
Until We All Become One Again
Until We All Become One Again
As the song began, Mana threw her arms around in a dance while the music spilled forth from her lips. Hypnotic movements, from which she was never taught, poured from her very soul. I was very shocked to see something like this coming from her. As if compelling the rest of the family to sing, they followed her lead as if knowing the lyrics of the song. She moved like water.
With certain movements of her arms, metal fangs sprouted from the ground, piercing the demonic creature only to tear through it's body. It jerked in pain, spewing miasma from the wounds inflicted by the fangs. As the miasma began to spread, Mana spun in a circle, causing blades of metal to appear just over her and caused a cyclone of air to thrust the poisonous mist back towards the creature. She continued to make the fangs scrape along the ground, tearing through the underside of the ghostly apparition.
The spirit moved upwards out of range of her blades and began to spin itself. Mana stopped spinning and moved from side to side, remaining in rhythm with the song, causing large spires to impale the creature, causing a large roar to rage from the Onryo. I would have helped her, as well as my husband, but the two of us are in shock and awe of what is happening. How Mana, a child that turned 5 today could have such power.
Then Mana spun around for a moment and glanced at us. Her eyes. The light from her eyes cut through the darkness. The dance came to the point where she raised her hands in the air. The demon's body contorted and shot out hundreds of sharp tendrils towards the members of the Hasegawa Clan and with a swift motion of her arms, a tubular barrier appeared around each of the members of the Hasegawa Clan, deflecting the sharpened appendages. Little windows appeared in the tubular barrier to allow everyone the ability to see the happenings.
And then there was a break in the song. Mana grew silent for a brief moment before the donut-shaped barrier melted away, exposing the family once again. The melting metal then gathered below the floating orb, bubbling as it boiled. The creature made several small attacks, causing the molten metal to instantly react to deflect the strikes towards her beloved family.
"You, who threatens the life of the people I love, shall be punished and purified," spoke my daughter just before she began to sing a slower melody. Several tags appeared in Mana's hands, as if to materialize instantly and she threw the tags below the demon, causing a massive gate to appear behind the creature.
Mana's Gate of Judgment
The gate's maw opened up wide and began to inhale the creature in. As if being pulled in by a blackhole, the creature stretched and pulled unevenly towards the gate. Once the gate began to absorb the creature, Mana held her right arm out and with a twinkle from the Magatama in her forehead, a brilliant bow, as if made of the stars themselves, formed in her hand. Drawing the string back, an arrow of pure energy was created. She let the arrow go upon the last note, piercing the creature, causing it to shatter into stardust. The stardust was consumed by the gate.
Once the energy was consumed by the gate, it closed it's maw and vanished back into the ground. The bow vanished and the song ended. Mana turned to look at us once again. The eyes glowed and mutated in color, as if every color in the spectrum flashed through her eyes. Some may see her as a monster, but I see her as the Beautiful Destroyer.
"Mother... Father..." Mana said as the fangs of metal began to circle around her. Soon after the display, the fangs vanished and Mana passed out.
There were murmurs by the rest of the Hasegawa Clan. Claims that Mana was a monster for being so powerful at such a young age. Not a single word of gratitude for a 5 year old saving their worthless lives. I went over towards my daughter and put her in my arms while my powerful husband commanded to the family.
"Return to your homes. I will not allow disrespect from any of you. You all should be grateful with your lives to my daughter. Thanks to her, none of you were killed," the powerful man commanded.
The murmurs of the clan continued as they began to disperse. However, a couple of children her age ran up to Ren. "Lord Ren! Mana-sama was amazing! What kind of power was that!? Are we able to use that kind of power?" the kids asked almost in unison. Ren's demeanor instantly changed to happiness. Of course, the younger generation found something like that fascinating and didn't allow the biases and hatred held by the branch families to hold back their judgment. Their eyes were unclouded from stupidity.
Ren knelt down and patted each of the children upon the head. "Be good children. Sorry to say, that your parents do not possess the abilities that little Mana does. She got her strength from her mother."
"Awww man! But will we get strong if we train a lot?"
"Yes, you most certainly will. If you train hard enough, you may even become stronger than me," Ren said with a smile upon his face. Indeed, it may have looked weird to the children to have seen a 1 eyed man smiling at them. But these children admired my husband.
"Yah! Wahoo!" the kids said as they ran the other way in a happy manner.
Ren waved goodbye to his little nieces and nephews and stood to look back towards me and Mana. "She has problems controlling those eyes of hers. You are going to have to teach her how to control it. If it gets too out of control, she will be attracting the Onryo senselessly."
"I know," I responded with a nod. "There are many things our dear Mana needs to learn," I said as I stroked her hair.
[Chapter 2 End]
[/spoilername][spoilername="Chapter 3"]
Chapter 3:
Zero
Zero
Mana and Rei
As much as I would like to be able to narrate this chapter of my own daughter's life, I do not know much about her personal life. However, I can tell you that Mana had begun the academy at the age of 9. She had a very difficult time in the shinobi academy. *Sigh* But I suppose I shall allow the narration to take place without me.
"Weird Mana!"
"Weird Mana!"
"Weird Mana!"
The children jeered and insulted the small black haired child as she sat in the corner of the class. Word from Mana's past, of her demonstration of power from the age of 5 had spread throughout the rest of the world. The village murmured and spread word to their children. The nickname 'Weird Mana' or simply 'monster' were nicknames passed down to their children in regards to the young child next-in-line for the Hasegawa leadership. The hatred passed down from parent to child can be a terrifying torment; indoctrinating their children to terrible and mortifying beliefs and behaviors.
The hatred came from fear. The fear that, at any time, Mana could lose control over her Sanryoukyougan and draw in more and more Onryo, which endangers the village from a typically unseen threat. It was this fear that caused the Hasegawa Clan to become a rather hated Clan. Regardless of the hatred handed down by the adults of the village, the Clan continues on. It wasn't important to the Clan. But it is very detrimental for young Mana.
As the jeering continued and the torment proceeded, Mana simply sat there and took all of the punishment from the children. She knew well enough that this wasn't their fault, but the fault of their terrified parents.
"Alright, class, settle down," the instructor came in and looked at Mana for a moment.
"Hasegawa, please see me after class," he said as he adjusted his glasses.
"Yes, sensei," Mana simply answered as the class began.
Lunch time came around and Mana went to the roof of the academy to lay in the sun. The sun felt nice. This was the only time she was capable of escaping from the pestering of the others in the class. While the door was chained and locked, due to Mana's capability to control and manipulate metal, she was capable of moving passed it and replace it without an issue. Silence. This felt nice. There were no hostile words pointed towards her. A smile came across her face.
However, the sun was blocked from her face, causing Mana to open her eyes to see a smile staring down at her. This child was named Shinkichi Rei, a student in the class down the hall. Raising her hand up to shield her eyes in case Rei moved, she observed the boy continuing to smile.
"So, you do smile. Every time I see you, you always have a frown on your face, Mana-chan," spoke Rei as he had a giant grin upon his face. Mana's eyes turned to the side for a moment, pointed away from Rei.
"I am human after all and I do have the same emotions as everyone else," she said very stoically.
"Yes, of course. But Mana-chan looks cute with a smile upon her face," Rei said as he moved to sit down right next to Mana, placing his hands around his knees and stared up at the sky. "So, you come here often don't you? It's alright to come here every now and then to get away from those mean people," the boy said. The lock on the door is still locked and the chain appeared unaltered.
Mana turned over to her side. "Who are you?" She didn't seem to be interested in this boy. After all, he was the first person she had ever met that actually treated her like a person. Even she knew that the instructor was fake and didn't really care about how the children treated her. If anything, he probably felt the same way.
"Shinkichi Rei," the boy said confidently. The boy came from a humble family of the Shinkichi. The only reason Rei is in the academy is because he had the capability of using chakra; something quite rare for the family to begin with. "It is my dream to become the leader of this village one day," he stated with confidence welling up inside of him.
This caught Mana's attention, causing her to turn over. But before she could say anything, the bell rung for class to begin. She only had 5 minutes to get back to class. Rei stood up and held his hand out to help Mana up. "C'mon! We need to get back to class! I'll tell you more about my dream later, okay?"
Responding with grabbing Rei's hand and pulled herself up. She held her hand up to shield the sun from her eyes and smiled at Rei. "Alright. I will look forward to it, Rei-kun," Mana said as she dusted herself off and walked towards the door, glancing at it for a moment, noticing the lock still firmly attached.
"I'll tell you later," Rei said with a little laugh before Mana opened up the door. After the two passed through the door, she returned it back to it's locked state.
End of the day...
The bell rang and Mana turned to look towards the teacher. He wanted to speak to her after class. All of the students already left the class, leaving the two of them alone. However, some of the louder, gossipy children pressed their ears to the closed door.
"Now, Mana-chan, why do you allow these students to make fun of you? You come from a prestigious family. You should defend yourself," the teacher said before he was cut off by Mana.
"It does not matter, sensei. It is not their fault. It is their parents' fault for teaching them to hate something they do not understand or fear," Mana said before receiving a backhand by the teacher.
"Of course they fear you! You're a monster! How could a 5 year old kill a high class spirit by herself? Only a monster could do that. Both a monster born of a killer and a murderous General who has demonic blood. How ironic that a family who houses demons within their souls--" the teacher said before hearing a commotion occurring outside of the door before the class's door slid open.
"Sensei! How could you strike another student?" Rei stomped in and approached Mana only to get backhanded by the teacher, getting launched onto his back. His lips drew blood and the gossipy girls gasped as they watched on what's going on.
"How dare you approach your sensei like that!" the teacher said before coming to a realization of what's going on. "Oh, I get it. You're in love with this FREAK of a child," the teacher said as he grabbed a firm hold of Mana's hair.
"Get your hands off of her!" Rei stated, wiping the blood from his lip and attempted to approach Mana once again, but was stopped dead in his tracks upon seeing Mana's eyes. This also garnered the attentions of the gossipy girls. Their jaws dropped and pointed towards Mana's eyes. Her eyes glowed in multiple colors.
"Ah, yes! Those are the demonic eyes! You monster!" the man said as he raised his hand up to slap her. He brought his hand down to slap her, following it up with a backhand. Both strikes appeared to not faze Mana.
"You have Onryo surrounding you. You will die tonight from evil spirits," Mana said stoically. This mortified the sensei, causing him to throw the girl across the room.
"Monster! I won't listen to you!" the man said as he approached the girl only to get intercepted by Rei. He stood in between the sensei and Mana for a moment; just enough to buy Mana a bit of time to stand up. Once she stood up, he turned around and grabbed her by her hand and ran away with her. Laughter came from the sensei.
"Yes! Run away with that monster!" the teacher said as Rei pushed his way through the gossipy girls and fled with Mana to the outside until they got to a safe place away from the Academy. Huffing and puffing, the two of them catch their breath.
"Why... did you help me?" Mana asked with words split apart through gasping breaths.
"It's not right for anyone to treat anyone the way they treated you. You are not a monster. Even you said that you are a human being," the boy said, panting between every other word.
Later
The two of them made their way towards the Hasegawa Clan house.
"Thank you, Rei-kun. You are the first person to actually treat me like a human being," Mana said in appreciation of Rei protecting her from not only her classmates, but from the instructor. Rei became Mana's knight in shining armor. Upon approaching the Clan house, they noticed Rei's father standing outside of the main gate of the Hasegawa Clan household.
"Father?" Rei asked as he got his father's attention.
"Oh, Rei, perfect. I need you to follow me. Who is she?"
"She's a new friend of mine," Rei stated as he turned to look towards Mana with a big smile. Tears began to fall from Mana's face. Having someone call her friend was more than she had ever hoped for. Small hands wiped tears away from her moist eyes.
"Thank you, Rei-kun," Mana said quietly before the gate opened up.
"Well, let's go, Rei. Say bye to your friend now. We have business we have to do here," Rei's father stated.
"We can't say bye to her, father. She lives here," Rei stated. This caused his father to perk up a bit. He examined the teary eyed child for a moment and smiled.
"Then let's go," Rei's father said as the three of them entered the Hasegawa Clan District and towards the Head Family's estate.
Later..
Rei and his father sat upon their knees in front of Hasegawa Ren. Behind Ren and to his side was both Mana and Kaname. There was a strange feeling of awkwardness as there was a bizarre silence as Rei's father and Hasegawa Ren shared a cup of green tea. The sound of the bamboo fountain clicked.
"So, I understand that you wish to have an arrangement, Shinkichi-san?" the one-eyed leader of the Hasegawa Clan asked the more meager clan leader.
"Yes, Hasegawa-dono. I do wish to have an arrangement," the man said as he placed the cup of tea upon the table, slid backwards, and bowed before Ren. "I would like to offer my son into an arranged marriage with your daughter!" the man pleaded. The look of shock had struck both Rei and Mana. They both looked at their parents for a moment before looking towards one another. Almost as if it was pre-scripted, the two of them met eyes with one another and turned away; not out of disgust, but surprise and shock. A blush was painted across the cheeks of both of the young children.
"So, your child is the only one capable of using chakra in your clan hm? What do you propose is to benefit the Hasegawa Clan?" Ren asked before a note was slid towards him from Rei's father. Ren took the note and read it. He hums a couple times and nods his head, sliding the note back to him. "Very well. I will accept this arrangement."
Ren stood up and nodded his head. "But know this, Shinkichi, your son will be joining our family, not the other way around, understood?"
"Yes! Yes, Lord Hasegawa!" the man said as he stood up and grabbed Rei's hand and hurried out of the estate. While Rei was in visual range, Mana reached out towards him, almost saddened by his disappearance from her presence. Kaname quickly noticed the strange connection between the two and gave a little grin.
Mana stood up and moved on to her room, closing the door and smiled before burying her face into her pillow.
The next day...
Rei ran as fast as he could towards the Hasegawa Estate and banged on the large wall that separated the Hasegawa District from the outside world. After a few knocks on the wall, he was greeted by an elderly woman of the Hasegawa Clan. "Oh, yes?" the woman asked, causing her jaw to move up and down as if she was chewing. There were no teeth to speak of in her jaw.
"Mana-chan? Is she here?" Rei asked desperately, looking over the woman's shoulder in towards the district.
"No, you missed her. She should already be at school by now," the woman said. The look in Rei's eyes bolted open in surprise.
"Oh no!" Rei said as he turned to the old woman and bowed to her. "Thank you!" Rei said as he then took off like a dart towards the school-house.
"Kids these days. I wish more would be nice like him."
At school...
The MilPol shinobi finished cleaning up a dead body. As soon as Rei arrived, he noticed the face of the person that was gored upon the ground before a tarp was placed over his head. The person that laid there was none other than their teacher. Tears were shed from the other students and some of the faculty. He was, by no means, a popular person at the school. He was brash, sarcastic, and overall just a jerk. Other than that, he wasn't a very sociable person and kept to himself and the inner circle of students that he instantly chose as favorites. Any of those that came from a prestigious clan of any sorts were instantly on his shit-list.
"You!" one of the crying students stated as she pointed out Mana from the crowd. As if a spotlight shined upon Mana, everyone parted away from her and eyeballed her.
"I did not kill her," Mana said in a stoic voice.
"Liar! You put a curse upon him! Of course he will die if you put a curse on him! You WITCH!" the girl said before throwing her lunch box at Mana, hitting her on the forehead. Several other students followed suit. It wasn't until after the third object hit Mana that Rei stepped in front of her, shielding her from the heavy objects.
"Stop it! All of you! Mana-chan didn't do it! She tried to tell him that there was something wrong with him, but due to his hatred for her, he didn't take heed. It was our sensei's fault for not listening!" Rei said as his anger began to grow. Mana's eyes stared at Rei's lower back and slowly came to the realization that Rei stood in to protect her. A look of shock and awe was written across her face. Her eyes moved up towards his broad shoulders up to see his face. It was at this moment that her opinion changed of Rei. This man is to become her husband when they turn 18 and what a true knight he is.
"You are conspiring with a WITCH! You have betrayed humanity! How could you live with yourself!" the students stated as they continued to throw items at Rei. One of the teachers broke and pulled out a knife. This woman was infatuated with the teacher that died. She pulled a knife out on Mana and Rei and charged after Rei.
Fearing what would happen to Rei, Mana tried to push Rei out of the way, but much to her chagrin, he stayed in his place, firm as a rock. Placed in front of him was a creature. Something she had never seen before.
Rei's Summon
Mordred
The woman fell over, being startled over the sudden appearance of the guardian. Using this time to slip away, Rei grabbed a hold of Mana's hand and turned to look towards Mordred. "Keep them busy while we make our escape!"
"Yes, Your Highness," the robotic voice came from the large armor. While the Armored creation bought Rei and Mana time to escape, they came to a stop in a safe location, this time at the Hokage Mountain. The two of them huffed and puffed. Just moments after they both got there, Mordred appeared directly in front of them.
"Situation has been neutralized, Your Highness," Mordred stated before being commanded to disappear by Rei. After the command was given, Mana gave Rei a big hug and started to burst into tears.
"I did not kill him. I am innocent. I am innocent," the girl said as she dampened Rei's shirt with her tears. The only reply Rei could give right now was a pat on the back of her head.
Back at the estate...
"If I only KNEW that my son was to marry such a dreadful sorceress, I would have never--" Rei's father said before receiving a large hand over his face with enough force to push him upon his back.
"Sorceress, you say? Mana is a normal girl just like the others that attend the academy. If you knew what was good for you, you will continue with the engagement. I truly dislike it when people turn their backs upon a promise. The last I heard, your boy also possesses a rather particular set of skills that could have him classified as a sorcerer. Summoning such a terrifying creature so early in his development. Makes it no different from Mana slaying such a high ranking demon at such a young age," Ren stated before letting his hand go from Rei's father's face.
Eavesdropping, Mana's face contorted to pain. The fact that such an event from her past would come back to haunt her. So the truth behind why everyone hated her came to fruition. However, this would only be the first of many tragic incidents to occur in Mana's life.
[Chapter 3 End]
[/spoilername][spoilername="Chapter 4"]
Chapter 4/Act 1:
Birds of Prey
Birds of Prey
Phoenix
Hasegawa Mina
Today is my little sweet Mana's 13th birthday! And oh what a sweet day it is today. For the Hasegawa Clan, upon the year of their thirteenth birthday, they are now considered adults. They also go through a ceremony called "The Celestial Mirror Ritual", which only those with Hasegawa Blood can perform. Which, once again, leaves me completely out of the loop once again. But I suppose I can narrate this until that time comes.
During the Celestial Mirror Ritual, those who turn or have already turned the age of 13 this year will undergo quite a process. They begin by bathing in the Celestial Waters in the "Ritual Bath-house". Unlike other bath-houses, this one is reserved purely for the 'Purification' which is simply a big dressed up word for taking a bath with some magical water. However, this magical water has a strange side-effect which causes a person's hair to turn a lighter color, typically silver in nature.
During the 'Purification' all participants, whether they are male or female, must partake in the bath together. They are to bathe by themselves, free of chaperones, in a bath where they could see each other with no restrictions. However, this is actually part of the test. The test to prove your will and your ability to leave the material world outside. This is vitally important especially when undergoing a ceremony that has everything to do with the inside of yourself.
That's just a little backstory on what occurs just before the Celestial Mirror Ritual. I don't know what goes on during the ritual since I am not of the Hasegawa descent, nor do I have that special little gene that allows me into the Water Temple. But with that out of the way, let's get back to where we are presently.
I run an intricate jade comb through Mana's beautiful silver hair. Oh, to be blessed with such beautiful hair is something my daughter should treasure. The silky smooth texture and it's ability to reflect light is appalling. Once I was finished combing her hair, I placed the comb decoratively before the bun in the back of her hair. I place my hands upon Mana's shoulders and leaned in to whisper into her ear.
"Today is a big day for you, Mana, dear. Today is the day where every 13 year old or to-be Hasegawa finds their spiritual companion. Or in terms you will understand would be the 'Cursed Beast of Creation'. Your father had the white wolf, Tsukiyomi. I wonder what yours will be," I said to her before Mana placed a hand up to her lips.
"I hope it is something beautiful and strong. I hope it is the unicorn," Mana said with a slight chuckle.
"If that is so, then I wouldn't be able to see it, Mana dear," I mentioned. Well, if you understood the lore behind unicorns, you'd understand why. I'm not going to go in depth on it. You can wiki it. They have that now, right?
"Maybe you will have Suzaku!" I said in anticipation. Oh, what a beautiful creature that would be. It is also the same color as..
"Come now, mother. That would be too cliche`. Everyone hopes they get one of the Saint Beasts. I am certain at least 2 of the ones taking the trial with me will hope they get one."
A gong rang, echoing through the Hasegawa District. Oh! That's my queue to begin my work as the Shrine Maiden. And off I went. I returned moments later, dressed appropriately in the typical Shrine Maiden garb, holding a smoking lantern. The smoke is said to purify the area, to ward off the evil spirits. That is something we could only hope for during this event. The gong rang once more as the 5 Hasegawa Clansmen stepped up, their hair dyed silver due to the holy Celestial Water. I took a step next to my husband, in front of the door to the Water Temple, and paused. The lantern bellowed out with smoke.
Clearing his throat, my husband spoke.
Hasegawa Ren
Retired General
Moniker: "The Torrent General"
While there is a chance of death, I will be following you through this trial to ensure each and every one of you return back to us in one piece," Ren stated before holding his hand outwards, causing a strange flash of light to appear from underneath the eyepatch, causing the heavy stone door to slide open. A wisping sound is heard as air rushed into the near-vacuum-sealed cavern. Ren stepped off and walked towards the threshold of the Water Temple and turned to look back at the Hasegawa that are entering into the Water Temple.
"Follow me," Ren said. Two of the Hasegawa turned to look at one another and gave each other a big grin.
"I hope I get Seiryuu!"
"I hope I get Suzaku!"
In complete disbelief, I turned to look at the two children banter on about wanting Saint Beasts. I turned to look towards my daughter, only seeing the back of her silvery head before the heavy stone door closed behind them. *Sigh* Well, it seems this story would be rather drab if I waited for my end of the story-telling. I'll allow my husband to take over the narrating.
The five children behind me are named the following:
Hasegawa Mana: She is my daughter. She is very strong willed and has a knack for helping people with her no-violence goals. Her goals clash with the beliefs of the Hasegawa Clan. However, due to her tremendous power, she is often seen as a monster in the eyes of those inside and outside of the Hasegawa District Gates. She recently enlisted with the medical corps. I hope that her strong conviction to help others becomes her strength. Regardless of how much she asked her betrothed, Shinkichi Rei, to be at the ceremony before entering the Water Temple, only those with Hasegawa Blood or those married into the clan are able to participate in the viewing. Since Rei isn't family, he was forbidden to come.
Hasegawa Kanae: Her capacity to fight is mediocre. She came from a very low tiered branch family so not much is expected from her. She admires Mana. Due to Mana's nature, she returns the feelings of admiration towards this girl. She has a strange affinity to fire, which is the complete antithesis of the Hasegawa Clan. But it can still exist, I suppose. She didn't enlist in any particular branch.
Hasegawa Nero: I would have him tied with my own daughter with his fighting capability. However, unlike my daughter, he has a willingness to fight for what he feels is right, not necessarily what is good for the whole (which can be quite dangerous). He is quite competent with the sword, excelling above most of the adults in the clan at swordsmanship. I have a need to taking him under my wing to teach him swordsmanship. As of now, his form is sloppy, but he still has room to grow. The only thing I fear about this one, is his need to be like the wind and not stick to a firm set of beliefs.
Hasegawa Yakunosuke: I don't really have any faith in this child. He cannot formulate chakra to save his life, yet he wished to have Seiryuu as his Cursed Beast of Creation? Pah! What an insult to my brother, the last one to carry Seiryuu. But the story about him is for another time.
Hasegawa Kuno: And the unfortunate second half of Yakunosuke. Being Yakunosuke's twin, this also proves that one's ability to manipulate chakra can be hereditary. Because who could actually believe that someone born of the Hasegawa Clan is incapable of both fighting and ability to form chakra. This one wanted Suzaku. I don't have much faith in this one either.
Myself and the children entered the water temple. It was quiet, very quiet within the confines of this strange place. Most people would call this more of a dungeon instead of a blessed temple dedicated to the water. However, unfortunately, this is only the hallway leading towards the main atrium of Water Temple. The appearance is dank, with moss growing in every which direction. The moss here is actually quite special. The moss is here actually called "Glow Moss" due to it's capability of glowing in the dark. This is only possible because of the water source of the moss being the Celestial Water.
Stalagmites and stalactites appear in the cavernous hallway. I turn to look back at the children and the twins looked amazed at what they are seeing before them while the other three seemed much more focused on the task at hand. I tried to hide my smile as much as possible, I didn't want the rest of my clan to know that something so little could make someone with my history able to crack a grin.
"Come, the main Water Temple is just ahead. Do not stray off of the path," I said to the children as the three that were focused nodded their heads in compliance and followed directly behind while the twins looked around and continued to play grab-ass for a moment, only to end up catching up.
While we were traversing through the long cavernous hallway, the Glow Moss began to dissipate, turning the hallway into pure darkness. "You are forbidden from using anything to light the way. We are about to enter hollowed grounds, so do not contaminate this place with such filth," I responded. Indeed, this place is a truly hollowed place and it shouldn't be desecrated with taking 'the easy road'. Instead, it begs for strength and conviction. Not long through the darkness, a dull glow could be seen coming from a large room. The glow came from the Celestial Water that is the floor of the Water Temple. Without saying a word, I enter through the entryway.
After I walked into the entry way, the glow from the water holding me above the surface could be seen. This isn't used by chakra, but by the Water Temple allowing me to step foot upon the premises, assuming I made it through the first obstacle. I turned to look back at the 5 and awaited their entrance. First to step in was Nero. He nodded and took a step in unhindered and stood afloat upon the water temple's floor.
Nero noticed the two wolves standing behind me in my reflection. Those are my Cursed Beasts. Tsukiyomi and Fenrir.
Nero looked into the Celestial Water, or what some come to call the Yata no Kagami, or simply the Yata Mirror. Nero looked down only for a reflection to look back up towards him. The reflection looking back at him was that of the bull. I recognize this bull. This was Taurus. The reflection of Taurus moved up from the water and into Nero. Upon the spiritual beast entering Nero, he had a look of enlightenment across his face.
"Go," I simply stated to Nero before he walked out.
"I don't want to be next, Miss Mana," Kanae said to Mana only for her to simply smile back. Without even hearing her voice, I instantly knew that Mana meant to say that things will be alright. With her newly found courage given to her by Mana, Kanae stepped into the temple unhindered and looked at her reflection. Her reflection instantly showed her Cursed Beast of Creation, Byakko, the white tiger. The girl looked up at me in excitement and ran out of the Temple as soon as the spirit entered her body.
"You got Byakko!? How come?" spoke one of the twins. They were responded with a shrug of her shoulders. More importantly, she walked over to Mana and smiled. "Ms Mana! I got one of the saint beasts!" she said excitedly. Once again, she was given a smile. It wasn't her turn, but it was the twins.
"It's my turn brother!" spoke the elder one by the name of Yakunosuke. He walked towards the entrance of the Water Temple and was instantly deflected by a strange barrier. "What the hell?" spoke the kid. He growled and kicked at the invisible barrier.
"Hold on a second brother, let me try!" spoke the other twin and he attempted to walk in only to be deflected by the same barrier.
"What the hell! We have the gene to let us in. Why can't we enter?"
"The Water Temple only allows those worthy inside. It not only looks for your genetic coding, but it also looks for something deep down inside of you. Something that isn't tangible. The Water Temple is saying that you do not possess this. Unfortunately, for you two, you will have to discover these beasts on your own. The Water Temple will not reveal them for you," I stated to the twins. What a relief. I would hate to fathom what those two failures would have gotten. But they do run across the chance of being bearers of just Cursed Beasts of Ruin. And only the Cursed Beasts of Ruin. I will have to place these twins under observation until the time comes.
Finally, it was Mana's turn. Her heart could be heard through the echoing cavern. I gave her a nod only for her to pass through the threshold unhindered and to walk upon the water. However, unlike the others, there was not a reflection in the water. She looked and looked and then looked at me with a confused look on her face. This was honestly the first time I've ever seen this happen. I bit my lower lip trying to come up with an explanation, but the truth is, it escaped me. I didn't know how to answer this one to my own daughter.
Statues of Eldritch Abominations
Lining the Water Temple Walls
AKA
"The Elders"
Suddenly, the border of the Water Temple began to catch on fire. The walls of the Water Temple began to show in full color. Statues of terrifying creatures, the Eldritch Abominations, stood in prominence. Their eyes glowed and an eerie chanting could be heard coming from the statues. These statues have been given the nickname of 'The Elders' due to them seeming to act like judges.
"Elders, what is the meaning of this?" I shouted out to them. They did not respond verbally, however a strange vibration of the statues caused a strange feeling to resonate within the Water Temple. The reaction from those outside were completely lost to me as this event has my full attention.
Me and Mana looked down at our feet to see the water boiling underneath us and with an explosion of water, a large bird of fire popped through the fire and hovered just above us, as if to look through our souls. It was the Phoenix. Mana took a step towards the burning bird and smiled to it. Proximity with the creature caused the jewel in her head to glow brightly. Was she smiling at the fires of destruction that this bird represented, or was it because of it's representation of rebirth?
[Chapter 4/Act I End]
Chapter 4/Act II:
The Egg of Dreams
The Egg of Dreams
The Egg of Dreams
Back as the narrator for this chapter! It has been 2 months since the Celestial Mirror Ritual took place. I slid the door open to Mana's room, only to see her laying on her bed, looking at a strange jewel resting upon her nightstand. I haven't seen a gem like that before. Even throughout the 1000 years I've been alive, I haven't seen anything like that before. However, the look on Mana's face seemed peaceful and she appeared to be absorbed by such a beautiful jewel.
"That is, indeed, a beautiful gem you have, daughter," I commented. However, my words didn't seem to break her trance with the strange crystal. This caused me to wonder a bit. "Mana. Mana. Mana." I said as gently as I could without sounding too harsh. However, her attention remained on that enigmatic crystal. I sat at the foot of her bed and placed my hand upon her left calf. Deciding to figure out what she was so absorbed in, I looked into the crystal.
I found myself staring out upon a plain where the grass swayed back and forth with the blowing of the wind. Over the horizon of the beautifully blowing grass, there seemed to be floating mountains where life resided. A place like this only resides within the mind and in dreams. No place like this could possibly exist in the real world. Could it? No, it wold be impossible for something so serene could exist in a war-torn place. Being here, I feel at peace.
"To your liking, mother?" asked a familiar voice. I broke out of the trance for a moment to see my daughter standing in the tall grass.
"Yes. Did you create this?" I asked. I am very curious to know what is going on in this place.
"No, I did not. Unlike my Soulspace, this place seemed to have existed for, what feels like, since the beginning of time. A place filled with happiness and where there is nothing to woe anyone. A place where humanity can come to rest. I suppose if you wish to call this place something, mother, you can call it heaven," Mana stated. I know full well that my daughter doesn't believe in the concept of heaven. Her brain analyzes things too scientifically to believe that something of a heaven exists. But the entire idea of heaven; the idea of paradise is still something that could be compared to.
"There is no violence here, within the Egg of Dreams. I do not fully understand how something like this could exist, but I do have a hypothesis. This Egg of Dreams effects the waves within the limbic system. The same place in your brain that controls your emotions. However, instead of slightly altering your dreams, this place completely envelopes your dreams and takes you to another plane of existence. This place takes you inside of the Egg of Dreams," Mana said in an explanation that completely went over my head. I do not understand the physiology of the human brain as well as she does, so I will take her word for it.
"If that is so, then why can I see you here? And how many others are out there?" I asked.
"The reason you can see me, mother, is because this is another plane of reality, altogether. Unlike jumping into another person's Soulspace or another person's dream, this place exists on a completely different parallel. So it is not strange to see others who possess the Egg of Dreams within this realm. As for how many others out there that possess the Egg of Dreams? As far as I can tell, only 2 others that I have encountered. And they are both Hasegawa," Mana explained before turning her back to me and continuing on.
"This place represents the good in humanity, that through their dreams all good things can come to pass. Good things that make them happy. That is the true purpose of the Egg of Dreams. You may have noticed upon entering, that you have lost all of your impulses to partake in those barbaric rituals of yours, am I not right?" Mana asked in reference to my beliefs with Lord Jashin. To her, she believes that my contract with Lord Jashin is barbaric, but it is due to my bond with him that allowed me to be her mother and to have observed time from a distance throughout these 1000 years. However, no matter how angry I thought I would become, the anger just never came. I suppose everything she said was true.
"When did you get this thing? It seems awe~~" I said as I was interrupted by Mana. She turned around and smiled towards me with her usual, soft smile.
"This Egg came to me in a dream the night after the Celestial Mirror Ritual. I simply reached out for it and woke up with it in my hands. It seemed to resonate with the Magatama, so it does not surprise me if they are comprised of the same material, whatever material that is. I did some research into the material composition of the Egg of Dreams, and from what I can tell, there is nothing in this world that mimics it or matches it. So, I believe that this material," my daughter said before turning to look me right in the eyes.
"Is composed of the dreams of everyone in this world."
[Chapter 4/Act II End]
[/spoilername][spoilername="Chapter 5"]
Moonlit Kiss with ReiAge: 14
Yet another one of those chapters that I, Hasegawa Kaname, cannot narrate. Urgh! Well, as I mentioned before, I did not want to be the one to intrude on her love life. I wouldn't want anyone to intrude on mine, so I'll offer her the same respect. In this one, I'll let her fiance do the narrating.
Um. Hello, I'm Shinkichi Rei, and I'm Mana's fiancee. It's strange to say it that way, but over the years, I have grown to really love this girl. However, before the events of tonight, everything between us was cute and cuddly and quite innocent. Holding hands, hugging, confidence, and everything you'd expect to read in a shoujo manga. Unfortunately, the events of tonight simply add-on to Mana's frustration. Let me begin.
It has been 5 years to the day since I have been betrothed to Mana. Luckily, for us, we both have the day off. So I gathered up all the courage I could to ask Mana out on a date today. Through all the time I've been engaged to her, this is actually the first time I have asked her out on a date. I have butterflies in my stomach. As I approached the Hasegawa Clan house, I started to rehearse how I would say hello to her and think of what we are going to be doing today.
The time as come to put up or shut up. I cleared my throat and as soon as I was able to knock on the door, the door swung open causing me to trip and find my hand upon something soft. I squeeze it for a moment only to look up to a rather aggravated face. "Oh, hello Mana-chan," I said with a little laugh.
Moments later, Mana shook off her hand and I had a nice welt upon my cheek.
"Please refrain from touching me uninvited, Rei-kun? We may be engaged, but it would be nice if you still asked for permission," Mana said before giggling. She was dressed in a cute yellow sun-dress and cute white shoes. She had a long brimmed hat that was sheer, still allowing the light to shine through but enough to block the UV radiation.
"Yes, ma'am," I said with tears in my eyes. Man, that smarts.
"So, what are we doing today, Rei-kun?" she asked with a big smile on her face. Her hands were behind her back. Oh man, she's super cute! A blush came across my face and, once again, I cleared my throat.
"Well, just follow me, yeah?" I responded. She replied with a nod.
We found ourselves looking through the Grand Market. We looked over all of the wares. The look on her face showed that she was having a fantastic time. She went to a vendor who was selling funny looking masks and handed me one of the masks. She then turned and looked to one of the vendors and handed her Mana's camera and she took a picture of us in the funny masks. Of course, Mana had the peace signs held up. She took the picture and handed the vendor money for taking the pictures, returned the masks and showed it off to me. The look of happiness on her face was priceless.
"I want to go to the festival tonight!" Mana said as she tugged on my shirt. I smiled to her and nodded my head. So we took the time to part for a moment in order to get dressed for later tonight.
After we separated, I found myself interrupted by a strange, cloaked individual. He held my hand out, having a mystical ring surround my wrist. "No need to summon Mordred. I'm only here to talk to you, young master Zero," the man spoke in a raspy voice. I only poised a more firm stance. The fact that this man knew my name is suspicious.
"Then speak," I said, not releasing the pose.
"Do you not find it strange that the Hasegawa Clan has been holding you down? The fact that you, who were of lesser birth, is betrothed to someone of a much higher calibur than yourself? Do you think that it is luck or that fate brought you two together? Do you not think that your strange power has anything to do with it?"
"Impossible! The Hasegawa Clan would not want me just for my power."
"Do you really think so?" the man asked as he laughed a bit. He began to duplicate only for me to summon a portal over each and every one of them for a metal arm to appear out of all of them, slamming a large metallic fist down upon all of them except one. That one stepped back and laugh.
"What's so funny!?" I shouted.
"Your power, that is what the Hasegawa Clan seeks. To study it and to make it their own. Think about it, young master," the man said before it vanished into a black cloud.
Later that night, at the Spring Festival...
As agreed, I waited for Mana at the Huchi Temple steps. I was dressed in a typical dark blue kimono and wooden clogs. To my hip, my sword resided. I sat upon the steps, awaiting for my fiancee. She sure likes to keep me waiting. She is actually a half-hour late. But I know she will not leave me here for too long, now will she? As that thought cleared through my head, I heard a skittering just a few feet away from me.
"Sorry for making you wait," came a voice from in front of me.
Hasegawa Mana
Spring Festival Kimono
I look upwards to see a beautiful woman before me. This was the one that I am to marry. I stood up and held my hand out to her to take. "Not at all," I said to her as she took my hand and we walked down the steps towards the festival. While walking down the stairs, I felt a pair of eyes leering at me. Not only a single pair of eyes, but many many eyes. I don't know if this is lingering paranoia from the man I met earlier, or my intuition is actually helping in my favor.
Much like our date, we had fun playing the games. She laughed so much. This was the first time I've seen her smile so much. Seeing this makes my heart aflutter. The fact that I will spend the rest of my days with this woman is something that brings great joy to my heart. However, while it was her time to play, I kept an eye out for that strange person that has been shadowing me. I noticed the man simply making it obvious that he's watching, but wouldn't let Mana get an eye on him.
After she had her fill in playing a game, we got us some spring rolls and Mana tugged at my kimono sleeve and whispered to me. "Let's go to Her Mercy to watch the fireworks," she spoke. My heart beat rapidly but I gave her a nod in shock. However, this would be a good time to separate that madman from the rest of the people in the village. Mana then turned to look back at me and laughed a bit.
"Um. Before we go, I need to use the little girl's room," she said before I gave her a nod. After confirmation, she ran off to the bathroom. I turned to look towards the man following me. I then hear a voice echoing through my head.
~"That girl will one day devour you along with the rest of humanity. You do not see how terrifying this girl is. I can, I assure you."~ spoke the one shadowing me since earlier today.
~"If that is how it is, then I will cross through hell with her and become her knight"~
~"Delightfully funny human. You will suffer with the rest of the poor, wretched creatures on this planet. Nothing she will see will help her redeem humanity. She will not become humanity's savior. She will become it's antithesis."~ spoke the man before Mana returned to my side, grabbing my sleeve and tugging it. "Let's go," she said with a smile upon her face.
Ascending the mountain...
As we ascend the mountain, Mana stops for a moment to catch her breath. Yes, living a sheltered life in the Hasegawa Clan district and working long hours in the hospital can cause her to be tired of such exertion. It's strange how she became a shinobi in the first place. After a short break, we continued to ascend the mountain until we reached the top, where the large statue of the Fire Goddess stood.
We laid in the grass and stared up into the night sky. The sky was riddled with stars. So much so that even the Milky Way was viewable. A sigh came from Mana as I turned to look to her.
"The sky used to be so full of stars. Every light on the ground takes away a light from the sky," Mana said with a slightly disappointed look on her face. I didn't particularly understand what she meant by that. The sky is already so full of stars. The idea that there could be even more is completely mind boggling.
I turned my head to see the hooded figure staring at me from a distance. I stood up and spoke to Mana, "I need to use the bathroom, I'll be right back." After standing up, I went into the wooded area only to summon Mordred.
"Deal with that person shadowing me. Do it discretely," I commanded to Mordred. "Wait until the fireworks before smashing it to bits."
"Yes, my Lord," spoke the robotic voice of the creature before it vanished. I returned to Mana standing with her jaws dropped as she watched a beautiful flower blossoming.
"The Midnight Glowcup," she stated. The flower let out some of it's pollen, being caught in the wind and blown elsewhere. "It is beautiful, you agree?" she said as she looked to me as she approached me and threw her arms around me. My heart raced.
"Thump thump. Thump thump. Thump thump," she said before continuing. "Your heart plays a quick melody."
And shortly afterwards, I place my hands upon her shoulders and push her away. "I know this is something that is already well known, but," I said as I placed my hand into my kimono and pull out a small box. I took a knee and opened the box to show a brilliant ring.
Rei's Engagement Ring
"I want to make this official. Hasegawa Mana, will you marry me?" I asked her as the Midnight Glowcups create an ambient atmosphere, similar to that of fireflies illuminating the new moon night. Indeed, we were betrothed to one another due to family politics, but I wanted her to know that I intended on doing this because I wanted to.
The look on her face was priceless. Her hands covered her mouth as tears fell from her face. She nodded her head and held out her hand. The ring was placed upon her finger and as if queued perfectly with my timing, the fireworks began to explode in the air. Due to our height, most of the fireworks exploded at about our level and some just barely higher and lower than our current altitude. Once the fireworks display began, I pulled her in for our very first kiss.
However, thankfully, Mordred did his job perfectly. There was a bloodstain in the forest, with each dreadful impact on the person following me made by the heavy fists of the metal creature. After the creature finished bludgeoning the person shadowing me, it threw it off of the mountain.
After our kiss broke apart, she spoke to me, "I love you. There is... a song I want to teach you. And when we are alone, call me by my Celestial Name; Gaia."
[Chapter 5 End][/spoilername]
[spoilername="Chapter 6"]
Hasegawa KairoAge: 15
The Ghost Sabers, I know this group all too well. They originated in the Steam Empire many years before the Industrial Revolution of the Fire Country, just before The Corporation took over what we now know as Konohagakure. I know about them all-too-well due to the fact that I used to be one of the commanders of this band of killers. They are blood-thirsty, even moreso than I was in my youth, savages that would slit their own mother's throat for the right price. It seems the Ghosts of the Steam Empire have turned their ugly heads towards Konoha. It seems it's nearly my time to pay the piper.
During the time when I was a commander for the Steam Empire's Ghost Sabers, I was more well known as the Millennium Witch. A feared assassin who has killed many and bathed in their blood for the sake of Lord Jashin. I was naive to believe that the only way to appease Lord Jashin was to kill as many people as I could before I died as a tribute to Him. But those days are long behind me and I am simply known as Hasegawa Kaname.
There was a knocking at the Hasegawa Clan's Head Household's gate. Saki, our maid, walked up to the gate and spoke into it. "Who is it?" Oh, Saki. She was a sweet young girl that Ren hired back in his youth. She had lost her boyfriend, who she was living with at the time, to illness. Ren took her in to become a live-in maid. It was a cute love story between them, considering they were so close in age, but then I came around and swooped him off his feet. So much for that love story.
As Saki heard the name of a Hasegawa, she started to open the door only to have a hand grabbing her head and throwing her to the side. Kicking the door open, a man that I know well walked in through the gates with his hands in his pockets. "Well, hello there, Step-Mother. It's good to see you again," he said with a smirk upon his face.
"Kairo! How dare you show your face around here!" I said as I stood poised only to see the Ghost Saber Emblem upon his chest.
"Why do you have that emblem on you?" I said in shock. I haven't seen that emblem in hundreds of years, so why has it resurfaced once again? Remnants. That must be it. Remnants of a group of ghosts clinging to a life of killing, earning their living for the highest dollar.
"Oh? You recognize this emblem? I thought you would, Millennium Witch!" Kairo said before his hair pulled back and his body began to become enveloped in darkness. Just as he did, a flying fist came his way from an aging soldier. His fist left a great impression on the ground before him. Well, yet another thing for him to repair.
"Father! Good seeing you again," Kairo said to him.
"Shut your mouth. You're no son of mine! You've betrayed the village and our nation for what? Your freedom?" said my darling husband with his eye filled with anger.
"Don't get me wrong father, I didn't leave just for my freedom. I left for the thrill of killing people! You should ask your wife. Once upon a time, she did as well. You should have heard of some of her~" Kairo said before he got cut off.
"That's not important. What happened in the past isn't important. She's a different person now and that's the person I married!" he said. Oh, his words can make my heart melt.
"Oh! And the guest of the hour finally arrives," Kairo said as he spread his hands out and looked towards the door to see Mana rubbing her eyes awake.
"What's going on?" Mana asked before she turned to look towards Kairo and to see Saki's body flung to the side.
"What's going on, you ask? Oh, I just wanted to talk to my dear younger sister is all. Just wanted to say that the Phoenix wil fall, and the Corpse Eater (Hresvelgr) will rise up. One day, you will learn to hate humanity as a whole and become the Beautiful Destroyer," Kairo said before taking a firm punch to the face by the man he calls father.
"Don't spoil my daughter's thoughts with your bitter brainwashing! You do not belong to the family anymore, Kairo. I will give you a chance to leave. If you don't, I will kill you."
Kairo stood back and held his hands up shoulder-level as if to show he had nothing in his hands. "Fine fine. I cannot disobey an order from the TORRENT GENERAL, now can I?" Kairo said with a scowl. The way he said Torrent General had a bit of anger in it. Perhaps Kairo feels resentment for Ren being gone during the war, leaving him without a father. Perhaps that is what happened. To think that father issues turned him into a cold killer.
The gate began to close as Kairo's scowl turns into a crooked grin. He was looking towards me with the grin. "I will see you again, Whore of Babylon." With that said, the gate shut in front of him, separating him between us and him.
Awestruck about what happened due to not being fully awake, Mana turned to look to her father. "What just happened father?" the only response given to her was a curt, "I'll tell you some other time. We just need to get Kairo out of the village or kill him."
Mana didn't like the idea of killing him. From what she gathered, he was family. But after awakening a little bit, Mana turned and went over to Saki and aided her. "Saki-san, are you alright?"
But the thought of the accursed group still being around. No, something isn't right.
Meanwhile, later that night...
Sirens began to blare across the Hasegawa District as a large wildfire began to sweep through, catching all of the smaller buildings near the wall of the district on fire and quickly spreading towards the main household. Sitting upon the ledge of the outer wall was a group of cloaked individuals with a prisoner.
It began to rain, however, the rain wasn't powerful enough for these flames.
"Look upon this burning district, Shinkichi Rei," one of the hooded figures said before removing the cover from Rei's face to watch it twist in dread. "Ha ha ha! The look on your face is priceless. To think, you are going to be married to that beastly sister of mine," spoke the traitor as he removed the cloak from his face and leaned in, getting a good smell of Rei.
"Though, I don't blame her for taking a liking to you. You are quite pretty, after all. But watch this district burn. All of the people you have learned to love, all of the people that have come to accept you. All of them burning. Can you smell that? Yes, that is the smell of them cooking," spoke the bastard Kairo.
However, a stream of light caused Kairo, Rei, and the other cloaked figures to change position. Upon closer inspection, they saw her, Mana holding a strange looking bow. A bow that seemed to have been made from the stars. The look on her face was vicious and cold. The fact that someone that she would call brother is trying to harm the one she loves causes her to lose faith in humanity. Perhaps this is what Kairo wanted, to allow the prophecy to be self-fulfilling.
"Ah, dear sister! Good to see you! Glad to see you come to the party. And look at who our new guest of honor~" Kairo said before being interrupted by another beam of light from a bow made entirely out of energy. This one grazed Kairo on his cheek, causing a strange burning sensation. "Oiy! That was close. Would have been a disaster though, if you hit your fiancee, yeah?" Kairo said with a little laugh as he swung him around like a rag doll.
"Admit it, little sister. You know father only wants Rei in the family because of his strange gifts. To summon personifications of the most hideous characters invented. Have you not noticed that your pain started, during your fifth birthday? Rei was there, watching your birthday occur. How about when you first met him with the teacher dying to a terrible onryo attack? And what about this fire that cannot be extinguished. Believe me, it's normal fire. Something else is causing it to continue to burn, right Rei?" Kairo shook him again.
"I do not care if he was responsible for all of those things. It may have hurt me when I was younger, but I am a stronger person now that I have met him. Rei has given me so much! Why would I turn my back on him?" spoke my daughter.
"Oh, it won't be you that turns your back on him," Kairo said as he laughed hysterically. He knows what will happen in the future. However, during the laughter, Ren caused an ice spike to appear from the ground below to stab through Rei and into Kairo. Appearing out of the water's shadow, Ren stood up with a small geyser boosting him up to their level. The look of astonishment on Rei, Mana, and Kairo was hard to bear.
Hasegawa Ren
Eye of Odin Engaged
However, stone cold was the face my husband had. Ren melted some of the ice that held Rei to it, causing him to fall from the roof of the gate. As quick as she could, Mana jumped off and caught Rei as they both fell to the ground. Mana landed on her feet and began emergency healing on Rei. Tears were in her eyes as she buried her face into Rei's chest.
"I will not let you die, Rei. We are going to get married and we are going to have beautiful children," Mana said as she continued on and on about their future. It was dis-heartening to see Ren, a usually kind-hearted man do something so wicked. Something that would cause his own daughter pain and suffering. But why? Is it because of hatred? Because of how Kairo betrayed not only the country that Ren loved with all his heart, not only because he betrayed the family, but because Kairo betrayed him?
Oh, that's right. These two were very close back when Kairo was a young child. They both dreamed of how things would be and they both aspired to do things with one another since Kairo's mother died of an illness. The two were inseparable until Ren had to go to war. This left Kairo alone, to live by himself. Certainly, Ren kept his money flowing to the Head Household while a maid took care of the house and Kairo, but the fact that Ren had to go to war, Kairo considered it to have been betrayal in his own right. Having lived so long without his father, Kairo abandoned the Hasegawa Family, the village, and Ren. Only for Ren to return to an empty household and a letter.
Kairo reached out to his father. "Why did you leave me, father? We could have still been a family. You left me all alone." Kairo continued to reach out towards Ren, his expression not changing.
"You were the one that ran away, Kairo. Now you have made a great error by putting the entire clan in jeopardy. You would be best to atone for your sins and tell your dogs to leave the village. At least do one good thing before you die," Ren stated in a cold manner.
Weakly, Kairo raised his hand and the hooded figures dispersed, leaving the scene of the burning district. "Very good. Good bye, Kairo."
"Father? I lo~" before Kairo could let out another sound, Ren caused the ice that impaled him to sprout outward, causing an explosion of blood to shower everywhere. At this point, Rei was unconscious and the rains began to cause the fire to stop spreading and to extinguish.
The only thing that I could hear out of all of this was, "Why father? Why Rei?" over and over again. It wasn't the fact that Ren killed his own son, but to use Rei to do it.
[Chapter 6 End][/spoilername]
[spoilername="Chapter 7"]
Rei, GhostsabreAge: 16
The Hasegawa Clan. Hasegawa Ren. What a destructive, despicable clan. That shadowy figure I saw during the night of the festival was right. I should have taken his warning about the Hasegawa Clan head's lack of emotion. That beast went through me in order to kill his own flesh and blood. Things could have been handled better. Screw the Hasegawa Clan. The only one that cared was my betrothed. The only one that cared whether I lived or died in that cursed clan was Mana.
After that night, when the Hasegawa Clan District was burning, I had the chance to think. At first, I enjoyed the idea of being brought into a prestigious family, but things have changed in the 15 months since then. Yes. If the Hasegawa Clan, a clan dedicated to protecting the Country, the village, and it's people had turned their backs to me; so shall I. However, I will not do this alone. I will bring her with me. I will take Gaia with me.
"So, your name is Bool Han? You must be one of the Ghost Sabers, I take it," I said to the strangely black dressed man standing in front of me. He placed his black gloved hand up to his head, removed his hat and tipped it to me.
Bool Han
Ghost Saber
"I suppose my name precedes me, young master," spoke the blood thirsty assassin. The sole representative of the Ghost Sabers to come and recruit me. Normally, this kind of proposition would have ended in an ultimatum. To join their cause or to be taken by force and to undergo a 'mental reconditioning' that the Ghost Sabers have done in the past. But on this occasion, I have made up my mind.
"I suppose. However, before I join you, I would like to take someone with me," I said to him. That was my only condition.
"Oh? A little love of yours that you can't live without?" the man said as he placed his black hat back upon his head. He readjusted his black gloves soon after. The sound of his knuckles cracked as he tightened the glove upon his fingertips.
"Knock it off. If you want me to join your group without any resistance, you'll just follow me. After all, your leader has been trying to get me to join for many years, hasn't he?" I asked before he quickly interjects with, "She."
I paused for a moment and held my hand up and waved it as if to say whatever. "So I'm assuming that ~she~ wants me alive right? Then just bare with this and I'll come with you quietly." After all, having taken away someone from the Hasegawa Clan would be a big blow to their ego. Especially for Han, who has had history with the Shrine Maiden Kaname.
The man in black bowed low in a mocking manner to me. "Then after you, young master."
At the Hasegawa Clan House...
I was confined to my room ever since the night after the estate began to burn. I tried so hard to pull out an answer from my father as to why he hurt Rei in order to get to his son; my brother. My mind is so clouded right now. I do not really know what to do at this point. Rei has been distant from me. He is not the same person I fell in love with. The same one that protected me so many times. The same one that shielded me from the wickedness of this world. He was not that person anymore.
I felt pressure upon my bed and a familiar scent came into my nose. The smell of azaleas. That is the perfume that Saki has worn since long before I was born. The same scent that she wore when both her and my father were much younger. She must have been beautiful those many years ago. I heard that it was a beautiful love story, even though it was tragic on Saki's behalf.
I felt a hand upon my back.
"Young mistress, please don't be discouraged. The Master had to do what was necessary to protect the District. If he didn't do what he did, many more people in your family would have died," Saki said. The way she was with words was magical. It was like, no matter what she said, everything felt just fine. She has been in my life for as long as I remembered. She was with me while my father was at war and she is still with me to this day.
The bell outside rang and Saki removed her hand from my back. "Be strong, young mistress. Master has been through hell and back and he is still alive and strong. You have his blood running through your veins so I know you can endure," she said with a sweet voice before she stood up and walked gingerly outside to slowly open the gate. She turned her head inside to look towards me and shouted.
"Young mistress, it's young master Rei!" This caught my attention. I missed him so much. Without a moments hesitation, I jumped out of my bed and ran out of my room. As soon as I made it to the living room, I could see Rei. Something was not right. His face, there was not any happiness on it. I made my way down the two small steps that separated the main wooden floor of my house with the ground and as soon as my foot hit the ground, there was a slicing sound coming from behind Rei. Out from behind Rei was a strange man in black.
Terror.
Remorse.
Why?
A blade came from the man's hand, just over Rei's shoulder. The tip of the blade ran through Saki's head, leaving behind nothing but blood. Rei seemed unflinching of this happening. After seeing this, I came to a crumbling stop. I was down upon my knees in tears. Why? Someone that I loved. Something that protected me and treated me as if I was her own child. She is now gone, forever. Using Rei as a platform, the man pulled the blade back so that Saki would fall to the floor, seeping in her own pool of blood.
What hurts the most is that Rei didn't seem to care.
"Rei? Rei? Why would you let him kill her? She.. She cared about you, too?" I did not know what to say. I was dumbfounded, confused, and scared all at the same time. Upon closer inspection, I noticed a familiar emblem upon the man-in-black's throat. My eyes grew large, causing me to instantly revert to my fight-or-flight response. I shook my head.
"No.. No! Rei... Do not tell me that~" I said before I was interrupted by Rei.
"Then I won't tell you, Mana. I didn't come here to exact revenge on you. You were the only one that gave a DAMN about me after your father betrayed me! He only wanted me because of my power! Isn't that right?! Huh!? Huh?!" Rei said before he, too, was interrupted.
Hasegawa Ren
"Correct," spoke the leader of the Hasegawa Clan, the Torrent General, my father, Hasegawa Ren.
"Did you really think I would have allowed someone meager to be allowed to join the Hasegawa Clan by marriage? For someone meager to be the one to eventually take over the clan? For someone meager to be the one to marry my one and only daughter?" Father said as he walked towards Rei, holding a long spear in his hand. Gugnir is it's name.
Rei smirked and placed a hand to his side, as if to signal the strange man in black from advancing. He then moved that hand forward, only for a strange circle of runes to appear around his wrist. "Mordred, come!" he said as the same iconic metal guardian appears.
"Now, I'm glad that you said that, Lord Ren. That makes doing this much easier for me," he said with a big grin upon his face. "I still love your daughter, that hasn't changed. That is why I will be taking her with me. Even if that means it will be over your dead body," Rei said before turning to look towards me.
"Allow me to show you a song I have learned in the past, Mana," Rei said before he opened his lips and began to sing my song. I took a step back. There was discord in his voice. However, the song caused his metal guardian to change shape.
Mordred
Morganna
Atma Classed Guardian
And then they began to fight. Why? Why would they fight? All over something so petty. Why will they not co-exist with one another? We can come to an understanding. But why? Why me? The two of them, two people that I love oh so very much, are fighting for me. One of them wants me to stay living in this village, continuing to live the life of virtue and honor while the other one wishes to free me from this prison and lead me down the road to horror. Why am I so conflicted? I love my family and I love Rei. I do not wish to make a decision. Why is this happening?
I covered my head while my father fought with Rei and Mordred. The fighting will never stop.
~Just kill them all~ called a voice in my head.
~Let them bleed out~
~Kill them all. Humanity isn't worth saving. All they do is fight and there will always be bloodshed. Continuing to try to stop it is useless~
~Do it. Kali~
"I am not Kali!" I shouted to the voice in my head. This instantly caused my father to turn his head. It was as if he recognized the name. "My name is Mana!" And then a song started to play in my head, as if asking me to sing.
As I sang this song, it felt like my words could reach their souls. The fighting seemed to have ceased for the moment. Mordred vanished the same way it appeared and my father, Rei, and the man dressed in black reached for their nose. Blood was spilling from both of their nostrils. Rei took a step back with a look of horror at me. Upon seeing this reaction, my song stopped. We exchanged looks for a brief moment before the man in black stepped up and spoke into Rei's ear and the two of them turned their backs to us.
Why did I have to see this? Rei's back turned to me. Is he really going to leave me? I attempted to run towards Rei to stop him from leaving, but my father grabbed me before I could advance any further. I struggled and clawed my way through to no avail. A moment passed before Rei disappeared. I could not take this any more. I did not want to see the one I love leave me like this. How could he leave me for his own selfishness? It was at this moment that my eyes grew heavy until there was nothing.
[spoilername="Chapter 8"]
Dark Count Trethurlus
Third Baron of HellAge: 17
It has been nearly a year now since Mana shut herself in. She only went to work, ate, and used the bathroom. Those were the only times she had even left her room. The loss of Rei, the boy she loved was hard for her to deal with. The person she loved the most was taken away from her because of another person that she loved. I feel that she is at a cross-roads right now between what she wanted and what she feels was her duty to her country and her family. Fortunately, she chose her duty instead of following her heart. Though, by following her head, she got a broken heart in its place.
I knocked on her door only for there to not be an answer. I knocked once more only for a light to shine brightly through the cracks of the door. Taking a step back, I blasted the door open with a simple metal ram jutsu only to see Mana standing on her bed with a bright blue light shining from her forehead. She turned to look to me, with light pushing out of her eyes and mouth, as if she was made entirely of light herself.
"The Baron of Hell hath approached. The Third Baron of Hell hath approached. The Third Baron hath appeared in Takamagahara. I must exorcise the Baron of Hell. Trethurlus hath appeared in Takamagahara," Mana said as she held her hand out and blew a gaping hole through the wall of her room. She began to step off of the bed, however, metal steps formed just underneath her until she reached just a few steps above where her bed was and began to walk straight. As she walked, metal plates formed and floated, leaving a walkway towards the Hasegawa Clan tomb, better known as Takamagahara.
My husband appeared next to me as I stood in awe of what I just saw. "Takamagahara. That's where she's heading!" I pointed out to the metallic stairway. The dark clouds gathered and a storm was coming.
At Takamagahara....
The large stone that blocked the entrance to Takamagahara was quickly opened and the seal was shattered by Mana. It was almost as if she wasn't in control of herself. However, she wasn't difficult to track down. Through the long winding halls of Takamagahara, a large tapestry covered the walls.
The Dark History of the Hasegawa Clan
I turned to look at the tapestry only to see it move as if it was telling the story of a dark history in real time. The history showed the dark serpent striking at the Hasegawa Clan. Could this have been the Crimson Beast in Konoha's history? No, this couldn't be.
"It goes by the name of Orochi. It haunted our family for generations. Fed on our blood until my ancestor slayed it. But that isn't important," my husband explained briefly the history of the clan. It was from that moment that the Hasegawa Clan got the curse that they are well-known for.
A light exploded from the inner sanctum of Takamagahara. The place known as Amaterasu's Cave. "The Third Baren of Hell. I have finally met you. I am Gaia. I have come to cleanse you from this world, Trethurlus," Mana said as a strange barrier appeared in the threshhold to Amaterasu's Cave. I bang on the barrier to yell at my daughter. But it wasn't hurt in there, was it? No. Gaia, her celestial form took over. But why?
"Ha ha ha! Do you think a pitiful bag of meat like you could cleanse one of the four Barons of hell?" The baron asked in laughter. It raised it's large arms in the air and created multiple portals into the nether, spewing out rivers of Onryo. Rivers upon rivers on Onryo spilled out as if finally liberated from imprisonment.
River of Onryo
Laughter came from Mana as the light intensified in strength. She raised her hand up to the air, creating the Celestial Star Bow and shot a single arrow through the river of Onryo, causing them all to be instantly purified. The more the river swept into the real world, the more arrows were shot. However, Mana turned and targeted the Baron's left eye, hitting it. The portals shut off and it caused the Baron to double over in pain. Mana opened up her hand, allowing the Celestial Star Bow to completely vanish.
Strange movements came from Mana before she took a deep breath.
As she began to sing, the inner sanctum began to rumble. The song of destruction. I hit the barrier once again, but to no avail. "Mana! Stop it! That song is dark! Don't sing that song!" Upon the beginning of the song, there was an intense light that appeared in her hands. Strange, terrifying weapons appeared in her hands. These were a pair of daggers with eyes looking around at the hilt. What kind of dark power has she tapped into? Perhaps even the power of hell?
The normally blue glow from her crystal turned a blood red and then there was a flash with Mana vanishing for a moment only to reappear in different locations. Each time she reappeared, there were new gashing wounds spewing from the foul creature. Before the song ended, Mana stood on the ground as the creature's blood began to rain down upon the earth. It began to glow white and was instantly purified. The rain fell from the top of the cavern down upon her. Her eyes glowed an eerie blue color and there was a wicked grin upon her face. The only word I heard from her mouth was "Zero".
[spoilername="Epilogue"]
Hasegawa KanameHistory to be Written..
It has been several years since that incident and Mana had seemed to have forgotten the incident ever occurred. That is good. Something that dark and something that horrendous should never be let out again. However, now she is stuck with a choice. The time has come for her to make the fated choice that I gave her upon birth. To choose whether to save humanity and allow the Earth to perish or to save the world at the expense of the human race. Neither can continue on with the other existing.
Her decision will be hers and hers alone. She has worked hard up to this point and she continues to strive to better not only herself but for all of humanity. She has continued her work as a medic and has even gained the title of Medical Sennin upon the Shinobi World returning to Konoha. Even while she continued her good work as a medical practitioner, she still takes the time to exorcise the demons that are allowed to run rampant in this world.
She has become a beautiful young woman who has seen the horrors that this world and the next could offer and has suffered through enough pain. I had hoped that, upon her being born, that I could spare her from such atrocities. But the truth of the matter is, is that there is nothing I could do to stop humanity's hatred for one another, it's greed for other's things and land, and ideas that cause people to hate one another because of how they were born. I also cannot help that, through human progression, they continue to drain the earth of it's life source and continue to damage the beautiful planet.
I have served my sentence as the Observer of Time. If I had the chance to, I would allow myself to grow old and die like a normal human being could. That time will come some day. Will it be by my own daughter's hands? That will be her decision to make.
Live strong, my beloved daughter. Live strong, Gaia.
Chapter 5:
Rei
Rei
Moonlit Kiss with Rei
Yet another one of those chapters that I, Hasegawa Kaname, cannot narrate. Urgh! Well, as I mentioned before, I did not want to be the one to intrude on her love life. I wouldn't want anyone to intrude on mine, so I'll offer her the same respect. In this one, I'll let her fiance do the narrating.
Um. Hello, I'm Shinkichi Rei, and I'm Mana's fiancee. It's strange to say it that way, but over the years, I have grown to really love this girl. However, before the events of tonight, everything between us was cute and cuddly and quite innocent. Holding hands, hugging, confidence, and everything you'd expect to read in a shoujo manga. Unfortunately, the events of tonight simply add-on to Mana's frustration. Let me begin.
It has been 5 years to the day since I have been betrothed to Mana. Luckily, for us, we both have the day off. So I gathered up all the courage I could to ask Mana out on a date today. Through all the time I've been engaged to her, this is actually the first time I have asked her out on a date. I have butterflies in my stomach. As I approached the Hasegawa Clan house, I started to rehearse how I would say hello to her and think of what we are going to be doing today.
The time as come to put up or shut up. I cleared my throat and as soon as I was able to knock on the door, the door swung open causing me to trip and find my hand upon something soft. I squeeze it for a moment only to look up to a rather aggravated face. "Oh, hello Mana-chan," I said with a little laugh.
Moments later, Mana shook off her hand and I had a nice welt upon my cheek.
"Please refrain from touching me uninvited, Rei-kun? We may be engaged, but it would be nice if you still asked for permission," Mana said before giggling. She was dressed in a cute yellow sun-dress and cute white shoes. She had a long brimmed hat that was sheer, still allowing the light to shine through but enough to block the UV radiation.
"Yes, ma'am," I said with tears in my eyes. Man, that smarts.
"So, what are we doing today, Rei-kun?" she asked with a big smile on her face. Her hands were behind her back. Oh man, she's super cute! A blush came across my face and, once again, I cleared my throat.
"Well, just follow me, yeah?" I responded. She replied with a nod.
We found ourselves looking through the Grand Market. We looked over all of the wares. The look on her face showed that she was having a fantastic time. She went to a vendor who was selling funny looking masks and handed me one of the masks. She then turned and looked to one of the vendors and handed her Mana's camera and she took a picture of us in the funny masks. Of course, Mana had the peace signs held up. She took the picture and handed the vendor money for taking the pictures, returned the masks and showed it off to me. The look of happiness on her face was priceless.
"I want to go to the festival tonight!" Mana said as she tugged on my shirt. I smiled to her and nodded my head. So we took the time to part for a moment in order to get dressed for later tonight.
After we separated, I found myself interrupted by a strange, cloaked individual. He held my hand out, having a mystical ring surround my wrist. "No need to summon Mordred. I'm only here to talk to you, young master Zero," the man spoke in a raspy voice. I only poised a more firm stance. The fact that this man knew my name is suspicious.
"Then speak," I said, not releasing the pose.
"Do you not find it strange that the Hasegawa Clan has been holding you down? The fact that you, who were of lesser birth, is betrothed to someone of a much higher calibur than yourself? Do you think that it is luck or that fate brought you two together? Do you not think that your strange power has anything to do with it?"
"Impossible! The Hasegawa Clan would not want me just for my power."
"Do you really think so?" the man asked as he laughed a bit. He began to duplicate only for me to summon a portal over each and every one of them for a metal arm to appear out of all of them, slamming a large metallic fist down upon all of them except one. That one stepped back and laugh.
"What's so funny!?" I shouted.
"Your power, that is what the Hasegawa Clan seeks. To study it and to make it their own. Think about it, young master," the man said before it vanished into a black cloud.
Later that night, at the Spring Festival...
As agreed, I waited for Mana at the Huchi Temple steps. I was dressed in a typical dark blue kimono and wooden clogs. To my hip, my sword resided. I sat upon the steps, awaiting for my fiancee. She sure likes to keep me waiting. She is actually a half-hour late. But I know she will not leave me here for too long, now will she? As that thought cleared through my head, I heard a skittering just a few feet away from me.
"Sorry for making you wait," came a voice from in front of me.
Hasegawa Mana
Spring Festival Kimono
I look upwards to see a beautiful woman before me. This was the one that I am to marry. I stood up and held my hand out to her to take. "Not at all," I said to her as she took my hand and we walked down the steps towards the festival. While walking down the stairs, I felt a pair of eyes leering at me. Not only a single pair of eyes, but many many eyes. I don't know if this is lingering paranoia from the man I met earlier, or my intuition is actually helping in my favor.
Much like our date, we had fun playing the games. She laughed so much. This was the first time I've seen her smile so much. Seeing this makes my heart aflutter. The fact that I will spend the rest of my days with this woman is something that brings great joy to my heart. However, while it was her time to play, I kept an eye out for that strange person that has been shadowing me. I noticed the man simply making it obvious that he's watching, but wouldn't let Mana get an eye on him.
After she had her fill in playing a game, we got us some spring rolls and Mana tugged at my kimono sleeve and whispered to me. "Let's go to Her Mercy to watch the fireworks," she spoke. My heart beat rapidly but I gave her a nod in shock. However, this would be a good time to separate that madman from the rest of the people in the village. Mana then turned to look back at me and laughed a bit.
"Um. Before we go, I need to use the little girl's room," she said before I gave her a nod. After confirmation, she ran off to the bathroom. I turned to look towards the man following me. I then hear a voice echoing through my head.
~"That girl will one day devour you along with the rest of humanity. You do not see how terrifying this girl is. I can, I assure you."~ spoke the one shadowing me since earlier today.
~"If that is how it is, then I will cross through hell with her and become her knight"~
~"Delightfully funny human. You will suffer with the rest of the poor, wretched creatures on this planet. Nothing she will see will help her redeem humanity. She will not become humanity's savior. She will become it's antithesis."~ spoke the man before Mana returned to my side, grabbing my sleeve and tugging it. "Let's go," she said with a smile upon her face.
Ascending the mountain...
As we ascend the mountain, Mana stops for a moment to catch her breath. Yes, living a sheltered life in the Hasegawa Clan district and working long hours in the hospital can cause her to be tired of such exertion. It's strange how she became a shinobi in the first place. After a short break, we continued to ascend the mountain until we reached the top, where the large statue of the Fire Goddess stood.
We laid in the grass and stared up into the night sky. The sky was riddled with stars. So much so that even the Milky Way was viewable. A sigh came from Mana as I turned to look to her.
"The sky used to be so full of stars. Every light on the ground takes away a light from the sky," Mana said with a slightly disappointed look on her face. I didn't particularly understand what she meant by that. The sky is already so full of stars. The idea that there could be even more is completely mind boggling.
I turned my head to see the hooded figure staring at me from a distance. I stood up and spoke to Mana, "I need to use the bathroom, I'll be right back." After standing up, I went into the wooded area only to summon Mordred.
"Deal with that person shadowing me. Do it discretely," I commanded to Mordred. "Wait until the fireworks before smashing it to bits."
"Yes, my Lord," spoke the robotic voice of the creature before it vanished. I returned to Mana standing with her jaws dropped as she watched a beautiful flower blossoming.
"The Midnight Glowcup," she stated. The flower let out some of it's pollen, being caught in the wind and blown elsewhere. "It is beautiful, you agree?" she said as she looked to me as she approached me and threw her arms around me. My heart raced.
"Thump thump. Thump thump. Thump thump," she said before continuing. "Your heart plays a quick melody."
And shortly afterwards, I place my hands upon her shoulders and push her away. "I know this is something that is already well known, but," I said as I placed my hand into my kimono and pull out a small box. I took a knee and opened the box to show a brilliant ring.
Rei's Engagement Ring
"I want to make this official. Hasegawa Mana, will you marry me?" I asked her as the Midnight Glowcups create an ambient atmosphere, similar to that of fireflies illuminating the new moon night. Indeed, we were betrothed to one another due to family politics, but I wanted her to know that I intended on doing this because I wanted to.
The look on her face was priceless. Her hands covered her mouth as tears fell from her face. She nodded her head and held out her hand. The ring was placed upon her finger and as if queued perfectly with my timing, the fireworks began to explode in the air. Due to our height, most of the fireworks exploded at about our level and some just barely higher and lower than our current altitude. Once the fireworks display began, I pulled her in for our very first kiss.
However, thankfully, Mordred did his job perfectly. There was a bloodstain in the forest, with each dreadful impact on the person following me made by the heavy fists of the metal creature. After the creature finished bludgeoning the person shadowing me, it threw it off of the mountain.
After our kiss broke apart, she spoke to me, "I love you. There is... a song I want to teach you. And when we are alone, call me by my Celestial Name; Gaia."
[Chapter 5 End][/spoilername]
[spoilername="Chapter 6"]
Chapter 6:
Burning Water
Burning Water
Hasegawa Kairo
The Ghost Sabers, I know this group all too well. They originated in the Steam Empire many years before the Industrial Revolution of the Fire Country, just before The Corporation took over what we now know as Konohagakure. I know about them all-too-well due to the fact that I used to be one of the commanders of this band of killers. They are blood-thirsty, even moreso than I was in my youth, savages that would slit their own mother's throat for the right price. It seems the Ghosts of the Steam Empire have turned their ugly heads towards Konoha. It seems it's nearly my time to pay the piper.
During the time when I was a commander for the Steam Empire's Ghost Sabers, I was more well known as the Millennium Witch. A feared assassin who has killed many and bathed in their blood for the sake of Lord Jashin. I was naive to believe that the only way to appease Lord Jashin was to kill as many people as I could before I died as a tribute to Him. But those days are long behind me and I am simply known as Hasegawa Kaname.
There was a knocking at the Hasegawa Clan's Head Household's gate. Saki, our maid, walked up to the gate and spoke into it. "Who is it?" Oh, Saki. She was a sweet young girl that Ren hired back in his youth. She had lost her boyfriend, who she was living with at the time, to illness. Ren took her in to become a live-in maid. It was a cute love story between them, considering they were so close in age, but then I came around and swooped him off his feet. So much for that love story.
As Saki heard the name of a Hasegawa, she started to open the door only to have a hand grabbing her head and throwing her to the side. Kicking the door open, a man that I know well walked in through the gates with his hands in his pockets. "Well, hello there, Step-Mother. It's good to see you again," he said with a smirk upon his face.
"Kairo! How dare you show your face around here!" I said as I stood poised only to see the Ghost Saber Emblem upon his chest.
"Why do you have that emblem on you?" I said in shock. I haven't seen that emblem in hundreds of years, so why has it resurfaced once again? Remnants. That must be it. Remnants of a group of ghosts clinging to a life of killing, earning their living for the highest dollar.
"Oh? You recognize this emblem? I thought you would, Millennium Witch!" Kairo said before his hair pulled back and his body began to become enveloped in darkness. Just as he did, a flying fist came his way from an aging soldier. His fist left a great impression on the ground before him. Well, yet another thing for him to repair.
"Father! Good seeing you again," Kairo said to him.
"Shut your mouth. You're no son of mine! You've betrayed the village and our nation for what? Your freedom?" said my darling husband with his eye filled with anger.
"Don't get me wrong father, I didn't leave just for my freedom. I left for the thrill of killing people! You should ask your wife. Once upon a time, she did as well. You should have heard of some of her~" Kairo said before he got cut off.
"That's not important. What happened in the past isn't important. She's a different person now and that's the person I married!" he said. Oh, his words can make my heart melt.
"Oh! And the guest of the hour finally arrives," Kairo said as he spread his hands out and looked towards the door to see Mana rubbing her eyes awake.
"What's going on?" Mana asked before she turned to look towards Kairo and to see Saki's body flung to the side.
"What's going on, you ask? Oh, I just wanted to talk to my dear younger sister is all. Just wanted to say that the Phoenix wil fall, and the Corpse Eater (Hresvelgr) will rise up. One day, you will learn to hate humanity as a whole and become the Beautiful Destroyer," Kairo said before taking a firm punch to the face by the man he calls father.
"Don't spoil my daughter's thoughts with your bitter brainwashing! You do not belong to the family anymore, Kairo. I will give you a chance to leave. If you don't, I will kill you."
Kairo stood back and held his hands up shoulder-level as if to show he had nothing in his hands. "Fine fine. I cannot disobey an order from the TORRENT GENERAL, now can I?" Kairo said with a scowl. The way he said Torrent General had a bit of anger in it. Perhaps Kairo feels resentment for Ren being gone during the war, leaving him without a father. Perhaps that is what happened. To think that father issues turned him into a cold killer.
The gate began to close as Kairo's scowl turns into a crooked grin. He was looking towards me with the grin. "I will see you again, Whore of Babylon." With that said, the gate shut in front of him, separating him between us and him.
Awestruck about what happened due to not being fully awake, Mana turned to look to her father. "What just happened father?" the only response given to her was a curt, "I'll tell you some other time. We just need to get Kairo out of the village or kill him."
Mana didn't like the idea of killing him. From what she gathered, he was family. But after awakening a little bit, Mana turned and went over to Saki and aided her. "Saki-san, are you alright?"
But the thought of the accursed group still being around. No, something isn't right.
Meanwhile, later that night...
Sirens began to blare across the Hasegawa District as a large wildfire began to sweep through, catching all of the smaller buildings near the wall of the district on fire and quickly spreading towards the main household. Sitting upon the ledge of the outer wall was a group of cloaked individuals with a prisoner.
It began to rain, however, the rain wasn't powerful enough for these flames.
"Look upon this burning district, Shinkichi Rei," one of the hooded figures said before removing the cover from Rei's face to watch it twist in dread. "Ha ha ha! The look on your face is priceless. To think, you are going to be married to that beastly sister of mine," spoke the traitor as he removed the cloak from his face and leaned in, getting a good smell of Rei.
"Though, I don't blame her for taking a liking to you. You are quite pretty, after all. But watch this district burn. All of the people you have learned to love, all of the people that have come to accept you. All of them burning. Can you smell that? Yes, that is the smell of them cooking," spoke the bastard Kairo.
However, a stream of light caused Kairo, Rei, and the other cloaked figures to change position. Upon closer inspection, they saw her, Mana holding a strange looking bow. A bow that seemed to have been made from the stars. The look on her face was vicious and cold. The fact that someone that she would call brother is trying to harm the one she loves causes her to lose faith in humanity. Perhaps this is what Kairo wanted, to allow the prophecy to be self-fulfilling.
"Ah, dear sister! Good to see you! Glad to see you come to the party. And look at who our new guest of honor~" Kairo said before being interrupted by another beam of light from a bow made entirely out of energy. This one grazed Kairo on his cheek, causing a strange burning sensation. "Oiy! That was close. Would have been a disaster though, if you hit your fiancee, yeah?" Kairo said with a little laugh as he swung him around like a rag doll.
"Admit it, little sister. You know father only wants Rei in the family because of his strange gifts. To summon personifications of the most hideous characters invented. Have you not noticed that your pain started, during your fifth birthday? Rei was there, watching your birthday occur. How about when you first met him with the teacher dying to a terrible onryo attack? And what about this fire that cannot be extinguished. Believe me, it's normal fire. Something else is causing it to continue to burn, right Rei?" Kairo shook him again.
"I do not care if he was responsible for all of those things. It may have hurt me when I was younger, but I am a stronger person now that I have met him. Rei has given me so much! Why would I turn my back on him?" spoke my daughter.
"Oh, it won't be you that turns your back on him," Kairo said as he laughed hysterically. He knows what will happen in the future. However, during the laughter, Ren caused an ice spike to appear from the ground below to stab through Rei and into Kairo. Appearing out of the water's shadow, Ren stood up with a small geyser boosting him up to their level. The look of astonishment on Rei, Mana, and Kairo was hard to bear.
Hasegawa Ren
Eye of Odin Engaged
However, stone cold was the face my husband had. Ren melted some of the ice that held Rei to it, causing him to fall from the roof of the gate. As quick as she could, Mana jumped off and caught Rei as they both fell to the ground. Mana landed on her feet and began emergency healing on Rei. Tears were in her eyes as she buried her face into Rei's chest.
"I will not let you die, Rei. We are going to get married and we are going to have beautiful children," Mana said as she continued on and on about their future. It was dis-heartening to see Ren, a usually kind-hearted man do something so wicked. Something that would cause his own daughter pain and suffering. But why? Is it because of hatred? Because of how Kairo betrayed not only the country that Ren loved with all his heart, not only because he betrayed the family, but because Kairo betrayed him?
Oh, that's right. These two were very close back when Kairo was a young child. They both dreamed of how things would be and they both aspired to do things with one another since Kairo's mother died of an illness. The two were inseparable until Ren had to go to war. This left Kairo alone, to live by himself. Certainly, Ren kept his money flowing to the Head Household while a maid took care of the house and Kairo, but the fact that Ren had to go to war, Kairo considered it to have been betrayal in his own right. Having lived so long without his father, Kairo abandoned the Hasegawa Family, the village, and Ren. Only for Ren to return to an empty household and a letter.
Kairo reached out to his father. "Why did you leave me, father? We could have still been a family. You left me all alone." Kairo continued to reach out towards Ren, his expression not changing.
"You were the one that ran away, Kairo. Now you have made a great error by putting the entire clan in jeopardy. You would be best to atone for your sins and tell your dogs to leave the village. At least do one good thing before you die," Ren stated in a cold manner.
Weakly, Kairo raised his hand and the hooded figures dispersed, leaving the scene of the burning district. "Very good. Good bye, Kairo."
"Father? I lo~" before Kairo could let out another sound, Ren caused the ice that impaled him to sprout outward, causing an explosion of blood to shower everywhere. At this point, Rei was unconscious and the rains began to cause the fire to stop spreading and to extinguish.
The only thing that I could hear out of all of this was, "Why father? Why Rei?" over and over again. It wasn't the fact that Ren killed his own son, but to use Rei to do it.
[Chapter 6 End][/spoilername]
[spoilername="Chapter 7"]
Chapter 7:
Forever Zero
Forever Zero
Rei, Ghostsabre
The Hasegawa Clan. Hasegawa Ren. What a destructive, despicable clan. That shadowy figure I saw during the night of the festival was right. I should have taken his warning about the Hasegawa Clan head's lack of emotion. That beast went through me in order to kill his own flesh and blood. Things could have been handled better. Screw the Hasegawa Clan. The only one that cared was my betrothed. The only one that cared whether I lived or died in that cursed clan was Mana.
After that night, when the Hasegawa Clan District was burning, I had the chance to think. At first, I enjoyed the idea of being brought into a prestigious family, but things have changed in the 15 months since then. Yes. If the Hasegawa Clan, a clan dedicated to protecting the Country, the village, and it's people had turned their backs to me; so shall I. However, I will not do this alone. I will bring her with me. I will take Gaia with me.
"So, your name is Bool Han? You must be one of the Ghost Sabers, I take it," I said to the strangely black dressed man standing in front of me. He placed his black gloved hand up to his head, removed his hat and tipped it to me.
Bool Han
Ghost Saber
"I suppose my name precedes me, young master," spoke the blood thirsty assassin. The sole representative of the Ghost Sabers to come and recruit me. Normally, this kind of proposition would have ended in an ultimatum. To join their cause or to be taken by force and to undergo a 'mental reconditioning' that the Ghost Sabers have done in the past. But on this occasion, I have made up my mind.
"I suppose. However, before I join you, I would like to take someone with me," I said to him. That was my only condition.
"Oh? A little love of yours that you can't live without?" the man said as he placed his black hat back upon his head. He readjusted his black gloves soon after. The sound of his knuckles cracked as he tightened the glove upon his fingertips.
"Knock it off. If you want me to join your group without any resistance, you'll just follow me. After all, your leader has been trying to get me to join for many years, hasn't he?" I asked before he quickly interjects with, "She."
I paused for a moment and held my hand up and waved it as if to say whatever. "So I'm assuming that ~she~ wants me alive right? Then just bare with this and I'll come with you quietly." After all, having taken away someone from the Hasegawa Clan would be a big blow to their ego. Especially for Han, who has had history with the Shrine Maiden Kaname.
The man in black bowed low in a mocking manner to me. "Then after you, young master."
At the Hasegawa Clan House...
I was confined to my room ever since the night after the estate began to burn. I tried so hard to pull out an answer from my father as to why he hurt Rei in order to get to his son; my brother. My mind is so clouded right now. I do not really know what to do at this point. Rei has been distant from me. He is not the same person I fell in love with. The same one that protected me so many times. The same one that shielded me from the wickedness of this world. He was not that person anymore.
I felt pressure upon my bed and a familiar scent came into my nose. The smell of azaleas. That is the perfume that Saki has worn since long before I was born. The same scent that she wore when both her and my father were much younger. She must have been beautiful those many years ago. I heard that it was a beautiful love story, even though it was tragic on Saki's behalf.
I felt a hand upon my back.
"Young mistress, please don't be discouraged. The Master had to do what was necessary to protect the District. If he didn't do what he did, many more people in your family would have died," Saki said. The way she was with words was magical. It was like, no matter what she said, everything felt just fine. She has been in my life for as long as I remembered. She was with me while my father was at war and she is still with me to this day.
The bell outside rang and Saki removed her hand from my back. "Be strong, young mistress. Master has been through hell and back and he is still alive and strong. You have his blood running through your veins so I know you can endure," she said with a sweet voice before she stood up and walked gingerly outside to slowly open the gate. She turned her head inside to look towards me and shouted.
"Young mistress, it's young master Rei!" This caught my attention. I missed him so much. Without a moments hesitation, I jumped out of my bed and ran out of my room. As soon as I made it to the living room, I could see Rei. Something was not right. His face, there was not any happiness on it. I made my way down the two small steps that separated the main wooden floor of my house with the ground and as soon as my foot hit the ground, there was a slicing sound coming from behind Rei. Out from behind Rei was a strange man in black.
Terror.
Remorse.
Why?
A blade came from the man's hand, just over Rei's shoulder. The tip of the blade ran through Saki's head, leaving behind nothing but blood. Rei seemed unflinching of this happening. After seeing this, I came to a crumbling stop. I was down upon my knees in tears. Why? Someone that I loved. Something that protected me and treated me as if I was her own child. She is now gone, forever. Using Rei as a platform, the man pulled the blade back so that Saki would fall to the floor, seeping in her own pool of blood.
What hurts the most is that Rei didn't seem to care.
"Rei? Rei? Why would you let him kill her? She.. She cared about you, too?" I did not know what to say. I was dumbfounded, confused, and scared all at the same time. Upon closer inspection, I noticed a familiar emblem upon the man-in-black's throat. My eyes grew large, causing me to instantly revert to my fight-or-flight response. I shook my head.
"No.. No! Rei... Do not tell me that~" I said before I was interrupted by Rei.
"Then I won't tell you, Mana. I didn't come here to exact revenge on you. You were the only one that gave a DAMN about me after your father betrayed me! He only wanted me because of my power! Isn't that right?! Huh!? Huh?!" Rei said before he, too, was interrupted.
Hasegawa Ren
"Correct," spoke the leader of the Hasegawa Clan, the Torrent General, my father, Hasegawa Ren.
"Did you really think I would have allowed someone meager to be allowed to join the Hasegawa Clan by marriage? For someone meager to be the one to eventually take over the clan? For someone meager to be the one to marry my one and only daughter?" Father said as he walked towards Rei, holding a long spear in his hand. Gugnir is it's name.
Rei smirked and placed a hand to his side, as if to signal the strange man in black from advancing. He then moved that hand forward, only for a strange circle of runes to appear around his wrist. "Mordred, come!" he said as the same iconic metal guardian appears.
"Now, I'm glad that you said that, Lord Ren. That makes doing this much easier for me," he said with a big grin upon his face. "I still love your daughter, that hasn't changed. That is why I will be taking her with me. Even if that means it will be over your dead body," Rei said before turning to look towards me.
"Allow me to show you a song I have learned in the past, Mana," Rei said before he opened his lips and began to sing my song. I took a step back. There was discord in his voice. However, the song caused his metal guardian to change shape.
Mordred
Morganna
Atma Classed Guardian
And then they began to fight. Why? Why would they fight? All over something so petty. Why will they not co-exist with one another? We can come to an understanding. But why? Why me? The two of them, two people that I love oh so very much, are fighting for me. One of them wants me to stay living in this village, continuing to live the life of virtue and honor while the other one wishes to free me from this prison and lead me down the road to horror. Why am I so conflicted? I love my family and I love Rei. I do not wish to make a decision. Why is this happening?
I covered my head while my father fought with Rei and Mordred. The fighting will never stop.
~Just kill them all~ called a voice in my head.
~Let them bleed out~
~Kill them all. Humanity isn't worth saving. All they do is fight and there will always be bloodshed. Continuing to try to stop it is useless~
~Do it. Kali~
"I am not Kali!" I shouted to the voice in my head. This instantly caused my father to turn his head. It was as if he recognized the name. "My name is Mana!" And then a song started to play in my head, as if asking me to sing.
Mana's Song
The Cry of the Planet
The Cry of the Planet
As I sang this song, it felt like my words could reach their souls. The fighting seemed to have ceased for the moment. Mordred vanished the same way it appeared and my father, Rei, and the man dressed in black reached for their nose. Blood was spilling from both of their nostrils. Rei took a step back with a look of horror at me. Upon seeing this reaction, my song stopped. We exchanged looks for a brief moment before the man in black stepped up and spoke into Rei's ear and the two of them turned their backs to us.
Why did I have to see this? Rei's back turned to me. Is he really going to leave me? I attempted to run towards Rei to stop him from leaving, but my father grabbed me before I could advance any further. I struggled and clawed my way through to no avail. A moment passed before Rei disappeared. I could not take this any more. I did not want to see the one I love leave me like this. How could he leave me for his own selfishness? It was at this moment that my eyes grew heavy until there was nothing.
[Chapter 7 End]
[/spoilername][spoilername="Chapter 8"]
Chapter 8:
Rage Against the Onryo
Rage Against the Onryo
Dark Count Trethurlus
Third Baron of Hell
It has been nearly a year now since Mana shut herself in. She only went to work, ate, and used the bathroom. Those were the only times she had even left her room. The loss of Rei, the boy she loved was hard for her to deal with. The person she loved the most was taken away from her because of another person that she loved. I feel that she is at a cross-roads right now between what she wanted and what she feels was her duty to her country and her family. Fortunately, she chose her duty instead of following her heart. Though, by following her head, she got a broken heart in its place.
I knocked on her door only for there to not be an answer. I knocked once more only for a light to shine brightly through the cracks of the door. Taking a step back, I blasted the door open with a simple metal ram jutsu only to see Mana standing on her bed with a bright blue light shining from her forehead. She turned to look to me, with light pushing out of her eyes and mouth, as if she was made entirely of light herself.
"The Baron of Hell hath approached. The Third Baron of Hell hath approached. The Third Baron hath appeared in Takamagahara. I must exorcise the Baron of Hell. Trethurlus hath appeared in Takamagahara," Mana said as she held her hand out and blew a gaping hole through the wall of her room. She began to step off of the bed, however, metal steps formed just underneath her until she reached just a few steps above where her bed was and began to walk straight. As she walked, metal plates formed and floated, leaving a walkway towards the Hasegawa Clan tomb, better known as Takamagahara.
My husband appeared next to me as I stood in awe of what I just saw. "Takamagahara. That's where she's heading!" I pointed out to the metallic stairway. The dark clouds gathered and a storm was coming.
At Takamagahara....
The large stone that blocked the entrance to Takamagahara was quickly opened and the seal was shattered by Mana. It was almost as if she wasn't in control of herself. However, she wasn't difficult to track down. Through the long winding halls of Takamagahara, a large tapestry covered the walls.
The Dark History of the Hasegawa Clan
I turned to look at the tapestry only to see it move as if it was telling the story of a dark history in real time. The history showed the dark serpent striking at the Hasegawa Clan. Could this have been the Crimson Beast in Konoha's history? No, this couldn't be.
"It goes by the name of Orochi. It haunted our family for generations. Fed on our blood until my ancestor slayed it. But that isn't important," my husband explained briefly the history of the clan. It was from that moment that the Hasegawa Clan got the curse that they are well-known for.
A light exploded from the inner sanctum of Takamagahara. The place known as Amaterasu's Cave. "The Third Baren of Hell. I have finally met you. I am Gaia. I have come to cleanse you from this world, Trethurlus," Mana said as a strange barrier appeared in the threshhold to Amaterasu's Cave. I bang on the barrier to yell at my daughter. But it wasn't hurt in there, was it? No. Gaia, her celestial form took over. But why?
"Ha ha ha! Do you think a pitiful bag of meat like you could cleanse one of the four Barons of hell?" The baron asked in laughter. It raised it's large arms in the air and created multiple portals into the nether, spewing out rivers of Onryo. Rivers upon rivers on Onryo spilled out as if finally liberated from imprisonment.
River of Onryo
Laughter came from Mana as the light intensified in strength. She raised her hand up to the air, creating the Celestial Star Bow and shot a single arrow through the river of Onryo, causing them all to be instantly purified. The more the river swept into the real world, the more arrows were shot. However, Mana turned and targeted the Baron's left eye, hitting it. The portals shut off and it caused the Baron to double over in pain. Mana opened up her hand, allowing the Celestial Star Bow to completely vanish.
Strange movements came from Mana before she took a deep breath.
As she began to sing, the inner sanctum began to rumble. The song of destruction. I hit the barrier once again, but to no avail. "Mana! Stop it! That song is dark! Don't sing that song!" Upon the beginning of the song, there was an intense light that appeared in her hands. Strange, terrifying weapons appeared in her hands. These were a pair of daggers with eyes looking around at the hilt. What kind of dark power has she tapped into? Perhaps even the power of hell?
The normally blue glow from her crystal turned a blood red and then there was a flash with Mana vanishing for a moment only to reappear in different locations. Each time she reappeared, there were new gashing wounds spewing from the foul creature. Before the song ended, Mana stood on the ground as the creature's blood began to rain down upon the earth. It began to glow white and was instantly purified. The rain fell from the top of the cavern down upon her. Her eyes glowed an eerie blue color and there was a wicked grin upon her face. The only word I heard from her mouth was "Zero".
[Chapter 8 End]
[/spoilername][spoilername="Epilogue"]
Epilogue
Moving Forward/Choices
Moving Forward/Choices
Hasegawa Kaname
It has been several years since that incident and Mana had seemed to have forgotten the incident ever occurred. That is good. Something that dark and something that horrendous should never be let out again. However, now she is stuck with a choice. The time has come for her to make the fated choice that I gave her upon birth. To choose whether to save humanity and allow the Earth to perish or to save the world at the expense of the human race. Neither can continue on with the other existing.
Her decision will be hers and hers alone. She has worked hard up to this point and she continues to strive to better not only herself but for all of humanity. She has continued her work as a medic and has even gained the title of Medical Sennin upon the Shinobi World returning to Konoha. Even while she continued her good work as a medical practitioner, she still takes the time to exorcise the demons that are allowed to run rampant in this world.
She has become a beautiful young woman who has seen the horrors that this world and the next could offer and has suffered through enough pain. I had hoped that, upon her being born, that I could spare her from such atrocities. But the truth of the matter is, is that there is nothing I could do to stop humanity's hatred for one another, it's greed for other's things and land, and ideas that cause people to hate one another because of how they were born. I also cannot help that, through human progression, they continue to drain the earth of it's life source and continue to damage the beautiful planet.
I have served my sentence as the Observer of Time. If I had the chance to, I would allow myself to grow old and die like a normal human being could. That time will come some day. Will it be by my own daughter's hands? That will be her decision to make.
Live strong, my beloved daughter. Live strong, Gaia.
[Epilogue End]
[/spoilername]
Name: Approved.
Class: Approved.
IC Rank: Approved.
BL: Approved.
Stats: Approved.
Jutsus Swap: Approved.
History: Approved.
Class: Approved.
IC Rank: Approved.
BL: Approved.
Stats: Approved.
Jutsus Swap: Approved.
History: Approved.
- Status
Current Ninpocho Chronicles Time: