The Masho Series
“Destinies”
By Rekka-chan
Part Two: Questions
Rajura casually strolled through the busy streets of Shinjuku, his hands in his pockets and his one cool blue eye looking strait ahead. People would occasionally steal a glance at him as they walked by, wondering who in the world he was and where he had come from. A foreigner? A rich playboy? Rajura’s strikingly handsome features, clothes, and black eye-patch caused more than a few questions to swim around peoples’ minds. He didn’t seem to notice them, though. He had his own business to attend to.
He couldn’t help but think back to earlier that morning. It was dark and cold, the temperature almost unbearably frigid. It was a little after dawn that Rajura had awoken from his sleepless rest. He had the same nightmare again. The Kuroi Kikoutei appearing before him, Naaza, and Anubisu in a strange, twisted world. Death, apocalypse, pestilence--it was surrounding the armor, radiating such evil and hatred.
Never in his entire lifetime had Rajura been so afraid. The Kuroi Kikoutei reflected visions of demise and destruction both inside and out of Rajura’s own heart. It was like nothing he had ever experienced in his entire life. It was horrible and so frightening! Nothing scared the former phantom demon general--until now. The nightmares felt so real and each time he "died," he felt more nerve-wracking each day. He wasn't sure what to make of it.
Rajura had finally arrived to his destination. It was a local coffee shop near the library and high school district. Rajura would normally go to the coffeeshop after work and have some coffee; on many occasions he would bring a book from the library and simply read there.
Today was different though. He did not come for coffee or to read. Rajura stopped by the doors as he found two men sitting inside at one of the tables, apparently waiting for him. One of them had short blue hair, tan skin, deep blue eyes and had a noticeable scar that ran through his left eye. The other man had short green hair, pale skin, purple eyelids, and beady black eyes. Both men looked oh, so very tired, as if they hadn't slept in weeks--just like he.
Wordlessly Rajura entered the coffeeshop. He gave a swift hello to the man behind the counter before taking a seat with the two men.
"Anubisu, Naaza," he greeted in a monotone voice.
"Rajura," Anubisu greeted back the same tone of voice.
Naaza just nodded at Rajura, looking worried.
"I take it you had the dream again?" Rajura inquired in a low voice, his eye gazing down at the table.
The other two men nodded in unison. Anubisu said, "Woke me up a little before dawn. It's just a good thing I didn't have to go to work today because otherwise I wouldn't have gone. I'm a damn nervous wreck because of this."
Naaza nodded again. "Same here. I could barely function at the place I work. Tetsuro, an associate of mine, told me to take the week off..." He sighed.
Anubisu, Naaza, and Rajura just sat there in silence. None of them knew exactly what to do. They remembered the dreams very well. The Kuroi Kikoutei, Shuten, the killing, the chaos... every night it was like this. It was driving them near the brink of insanity. They weren't sure how much more they could take. They didn't want to drag the Samurai Troopers into this. They knew very well that the five teenage boys wanted nothing more to do with the yoroi and the pain it caused them. But after what Ryo had told them the situation with Suzunagi and how they acquired new armors... that just went over their heads. No, if they were to figure this predicament out, they would solve it by themselves.
"Can the dream... will it become a reality?" Naaza asked, his voice strangely quiet. And it contained a hint of fear--something he never spoke with.
"Don't be stupid," Rajura hissed, keeping his voice down so others wouldn't hear. "It's just a dream..."
Anubisu shook his head. "That isn't like you to say such a thing, Rajura," he interjected. "You are the one who can see visions and speak of prophecies. You should have at least given this dream of ours some thought."
"Maybe I don't want to."
"What?" Both Anubisu and Naaza gazed over at the white-haired man in shock.
Naaza then commented dryly, "You sound like a child, Rajura."
Rajura glared at him but did not move from his seat. Instead, he answered, "Perhaps I just want to be a normal person again. Perhaps I just want to forget that I've ever turned evil. Perhaps... I just want to live a normal life. Is that so wrong to ask, Naaza? Anubisu?"
The two men shook their heads and both apologized. Rajura sighed. "Look, I know you two feel the same way. We had hoped to live in the Mortalword after all this time. But ever since we came back, the dreams have haunted us."
Silence fell upon the trio. None of them knew what to say or do next. After all they have been through, all the pain and suffering, this was their reward. To endure full remorse of what they have done. It was like whoever was doing this to them, did not want them to forget what they have done to others during their time as demon generals.
"Well this certainly helped us a lot," Anubis said darkly as he stood up from his seat. "What the hell are we supposed to do about our situation, gentlemen?"
Naaza sighed while Rajura just remained reserved in his own thoughts. Anubisu growled in frustration and walked out of the coffee shop. Wordlessly the other two followed him outside. They caught up with him. Anubisu gave them no regard of their presence, instead he kept walking as though they weren't there.
The day went by agonizingly slow for the three former demon generals. They were nowhere near figuring out their situation. They still did not want to go talk to the Troopers about it. They wanted to figure it out on their own but it was difficult to say the least...
It was nearly midnight when Anubisu, Naaza, and Rajura reached Tokyo Tower. The city was quiet and the sounds of the night could be heard. The moon was full and shone silvery rays with stars twinkling in the dark skies. The lights of the tower were lit in which all of Tokyo could see. A few people walked by to get to wherever they needed to go. Never the less they were not obvious of the three former demon generals and if they were, they could care less. Overall, it was quiet.
Or so they thought.
“Help me! Somebody please help me!”
The three men turned towards the dark streets and were rather surprised to discover somebody rushing up to them. It was a little boy, no more than ten years of age. He had short black hair, tan skin that looked scratched and dirty, and wide, wet green eyes that showed mixed signs of fear and agitation.
“Please help!” he screamed, his voice shrilled.
Suddenly he tripped and fell onto his knees. Naaza hesitated, but he quickly made his way to the little boy. Kneeling beside him, he helped the boy to his feet.
Goodness, he thought to himself, he's so thin and his whole body is trembling. Was it because of him? Questions and doubts flooded his mind in a flash but they were soon washed away when the boy wrapped his arms around his waist and buried his face into his chest, sobbing.
“Y-You’ve gotta help me!” he cried. “Before it’s too late!”
Naaza pulled him away slightly so he could look down at his face. “What is it? What’s the matter? First of all, what is your name?”
The dark-haired boy sniffed and replied, “Akio. Yatakoru Akio. Now there’s no time to waste! You have to help me please!"