'Damn, what is this feeling? It feels... comfortable, relaxing. But then again, where am I?'
"Welcome to your world, Toshirou-sama."
His eyes shot open. Lying on his back, his gaze was met by the light of the sun. Steadily, he sat up, looking around for the person that called his name.
All around him was a beautiful vast land of winter and spring. Somehow, both seasons were combined as one, creating a beautiful landscape with winter trees that held snowflakes as leaves and fresh green grass, clean and smooth to the touch. Some trees bore strawberries and grapefruits and they blended with the winter trees.
The sky was clear and blue, the sun was bright but in a perfect way, casting a warm glow on the world around him. The breeze was gentle and cool, as well as soothing to the soul. He felt relieved, elated even. It was a pleasant feeling, and he wasn't even sure that such a place could ever exist in the world.
"It's lovely, isn't it?"
He looked behind him and was surprised at the person he saw. A beautiful woman, about his height or some inches shorter, he reasoned, with long dark-blue hair far lighter than his mother's despite it being the same colour and gentle sky-blue eyes that gazed back at him with a lovely smile on her face. Her bangs were cut evenly across her forehead, stopping just below her eyebrows, while the rest of her hair flowed down to her lower back.
The woman was dressed in a slim open back dress, whitish-blue in colour, which looked expensive to the sight. The dress accentuated her excellent curves and figure, reaching down her legs and stopping at her bare feet. Her ears wore shining diamond earrings, which suited her perfectly.
"Who... Who are you?" Toshirou asked.
"I am you." She replied with a smile. Her voice was smooth and gentle, like a mother speaking to her youngling.
Realisation dawned on him. He stood up and faced her properly, her identity registered in his brain.
"You're him... That man that was speaking to me! But now you're a woman! How!?"
"My, my," she chuckled lightly, "I've always been a woman. It's wrong of you to mistake a woman for a man, don't you know?"
"Oh, um... Sorry about that. But your name.. your name... your name..." He rubbed his head furiously, trying to recall what it was.
"Yes, that's right! You're Fuyutsuki!"
"My, that's correct. That is my name." She replied, smiling amusedly.
"I see." He sat back down on the grass and placed his head in his palm. A monotone expression came over his face, similar to the ones he always bore. "I'll let that one slide for now. I really don't appreciate being laughed at, but then again, where are we?"
"This is your world. It always existed within you, from the day you were conceived. It resides within you, and I in you also." She smiled.
"Inside of me, huh. I'm honestly surprised such a beautiful place could exist inside me. It's almost weird." Toshirou said.
"It's not weird. That's just who you are. This world is a manifestation of your very soul. When you're unhappy, this world is unhappy, when you're sad, this world is also sad. How you feel drastically alters the atmosphere and surrounding of this world." She spoke softly.
"I see. So you know everything, huh." Hanging his head low, he let out a bittersweet chuckle, and his eyes were downcast.
"Toshirou-sama,"
Her touch was as gentle as her voice and calmed his spirit in many ways. He felt a connection with her, like they were truly one and the same person, and relaxed into her palm on his cheek.
"We are the same. I am merely the manifestation of your conscience, thus cannot be separated from you. Your thoughts are my thoughts and your feelings are my feelings. In the whole world, I am your only confidant, the only one who truly understands you. So let us be together, through the waves and banters of life, and I will give you strength to persevere, and to conquer obstacles in your heart."
"Do you really mean that?" Toshirou asked.
"Yes, I do." She replied.
"Thank you, Fuyutsuki, and call me Toshirou. Just Toshirou is fine, but if it would make you uncomfortable, then, by all means, call me whatever suits you best."
She smiled warmly and stood up. Looking around, she brought her gaze back to him and said, "Our time is up, they're calling for you."
"Yeah." He replied, lifting himself off the ground as well.
"Remember, this place is always ready for you. It belongs to you. You're welcome to your world anywhere and anytime." The woman said.
"Don't worry, I won't forget. Later, Fuyutsuki."
"I will also see you again, Toshirou-sama."
His eyes closed and all he saw, was pitch black. It felt like he was floating, going downhill towards an unknown destination when suddenly, he felt himself lying on something soft.
He opened his eyes slowly, and the familiar scent of pinewood and a faint scent of sunflowers made him remember where he was.
"Toshirou-nii..."
Without bothering to lift himself, his gaze trailed down the bed. There Joel was, with his head in his arms as he slept at the foot of the bed.
In his sleep, he murmured softly, Thank you for saving us, Nii-san.
At this point, Toshirou sat up. His features softened hearing the words the boy spoke.
'This kid... really sees me as an older brother, huh.'
Once again, he looked around the room, not seeing Raynell or Sung-nim present. It was just the two of them. Two lonely boys wandering the earth together.
He noted his clothes were still the same as he wore them earlier, but somehow there was no pain in his body. He looked at his arms and torso, expressing surprise seeing there were no scars nor bandages on them. Placing his hand on the intersection between his shoulder blade and neck, he felt nothing there. No wound nor scar.
Instinctively, he turned his head right, and a broadsword stood on its blade by the wall, beside the bedpost.
The sword was huge, even to Toshirou. He was sure it was almost as tall as he was, if not as tall. The shape of the sword astonished him as well, but he couldn't deny that it was a pretty damn good sword.
The sword was pitch black, like midnight, and its surface was smooth and glassy, like that of a mirror, so much so that he could see his reflection on it. The sharpened blade of the sword, however, was as white as snow, which was the only notable difference between it and the rest of the sword. It showed him his reflection as if gazing into his very soul.
Unlike normal swords, the hilt of this one was located on the blade, by the right lower side, at the end of the sword that stood on the ground. In other words, a hollow space near the end of the sword served as the hilt. Even just by looking at it, he could tell it was razor-sharp. Drawn to the blade, he lightly placed his index finger on its edge. Blood trickled down his finger, then came out gushing in plenty. Though he placed his finger lightly on it, the cut was deep, very deep.
As he gazed at the injury, unexpectedly, a pale blue light emanated from it and it healed up completely. No wound, scratch, or scar, which made Toshirou surprised, though his face failed to reveal it.
'It really is her... Fuyutsuki. She's here with me.'
He grinned slightly, taking another glance at the sword then back to his hand.
"Toshirou-nii?"
"Yo. Did you sleep well?"
His eyes met Joel's orchid-purple ones. Joel widened his eyes and leapt towards Toshirou, wrapping his arms around his neck and hugging him with all the life in him.
"K-kid?" Toshirou asked, surprised.
"I'm glad... I'm so, so glad," The boy cried.
Toshirou heaved a sigh, with a small smile following it closely.
"Daijobu. Everything's alright now. You don't need to worry."
"Toshirou... -san?"
The teen looked up to see Dae, Yeong-ji, Sung-nim, and a teary-eyed Raynell, at the entrance of the room.
"Knocking is an option. Making your presence known is another option. The least you could've done is one of those." Toshirou said. He was about to say more, but Raynell running and leaping on him, shut him up.
She and Joel hugged him tightly, and as much as he wasn't used to physical intimacy, he didn't push them away. This was the least he could do for putting them through what they went through.
"She's been waiting for you to wake up." Sung-nim said, smiling softly, "Welcome back, Aosaki-kun."
"It's good to be back, Lady Sung-nim." He replied, returning a smile to her.
"Good job coming back from the dead, Aosaki," Dae spoke, feeling a bit uneasy seeing her only daughter embrace a boy so intimately. She guessed her motherly instincts were kicking in after a long time now.
"I never actually crossed over to the other side, you know. I won't kick the bucket that easily."
"I'm happy to hear that, Aosaki-kun." Yeong-ji smiled at the teen.
"Yeah, thank you, Yeong-ji-san." He replied, relaxing into the embrace Joel and Raynell had over him.
...
"So, what happened while I was out?" Toshirou asked, still sitting up on the bed.
After all, pleasantries had been said and done, both feudal lords took seats at both sides of the room, while Sung-nim escorted the two children, Raynell and Joel, out of the room to get ready for the feast later that night.
"Do you remember what you did before you went unconscious?" Dae asked him.
"No, not really. All I remember is calling out Fuyutsuki's name. Nothing after that comes to mind."
"Fuyutsuki?" Yeong-ji raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah. That's her name."
Looking towards the direction Toshirou pointed, they saw a midnight broadsword standing beside the bedpost. The surface and edge of the sword were so smooth and sharp, they felt like it was already piercing through them.
Dae gave a low whistle. "Dang, that's one fierce-looking sword."
"Aosaki-kun, where did you get that sword?"
"From myself... I guess. She has always been with me, it's just that I've never really allowed her in. She's my divine weapon, the embodiment of my being."
His words left them in awe, and deep in thought. He spoke like the blade was alive, like it was a person, but yet, there was a distinct tone in his voice that indicated the sword was still a tool, a mere weapon, but of course, their thoughts could be wrong.
"Hmm.." Dae crossed her legs, "Well, that's a good thing at least. I don't know exactly what you went up against to get that sword, but you saved our bacon big-time back there. Any second later, we'd have been frozen to death. Both inside and outside."
"Azahel somehow survived, and was about to destroy the entire city," Yeong-ji added. "It was like a bad dream, everything including the air itself was frozen. Down to our blood and bones, everything was freezing up, and at an incredible rate too."
"You destroyed the dome he created, breaking it to dust and killing Azahel in the process as well. I've never seen anything like it before, that burst of power that came out from you." Said Dae.
"And you were all okay after that?" Toshirou questioned.
"Yeah, we were. Thanks to you, Aosaki." She smiled at him, something she had never done to him before, ever since they met. She was already a pretty woman, but Toshirou was surprised at how much her smile increased her beauty. Her silvery-white eyes shone was so much appreciation, that Toshirou couldn't help but turn pink and look sideways.
Yeong-ji's limestone-coloured eyes flickered from Toshirou to Dae repeatedly. He let out a sigh and looked down at the wooden floor.
"At least wait till he's eighteen," He muttered, "Besides, I don't think Raynell will be too excited if her mother falls for the boy she admires."
"The hell?!!" The desk broke down as a result of the impact of her fist.
"Hey, Yeong-ji-san,"
The feudal lord gazed up to see Toshirou staring at him with dark eyes.
"Repeat that... I dare you."
He put up his arms in surrender with a nervous smile on his face. "It was a joke, a joke."
"Well, I don't appreciate jokes like that," Toshirou said, taking his eyes off him.
"Same," Dae chimed in.
"Sorry, sorry." He apologized.
"That aside," The teen's voice became serious, "Where's the Thessalonica?"
"Oh, that?" Yeong-ji propped his head up, "It's gone."
"It's gone?"
"Yes, it's gone," Dae said. "For some reason, when everything settled down and we came to get you, the artefact was destroyed, broken into pieces and utterly useless. It could have as well been pieces of glass. But I think it's because of what elder Byung-jin said, the Thessalonica belonging to you. If it has filled its purpose, then there's no need for it to exist anymore. I'm sure that much you understand."
"Yeah, I do. If that's the case, then everything has been resolved. You don't have to fight anymore, you're not having disputes anymore, and you can strengthen the relationship between the two villages. That's a good thing, isn't it?"
"Indeed it is," Yeong-ji said. "And it's all because of you, Aosaki-kun. The curses placed upon us by our ancestors has been lifted, and in the process, you've ascended to becoming a new being. There are no words that can fully express the gratitude in my heart."
'Yeong-ji...' Dae's features softened. It was the first time she had seen him like this, throughout the years she had known him.
"I'm not going to take credit for liberating both villages, it wasn't just me who did so, but you're welcome. In any case, I have a way you can repay me."
Yeong-ji was surprised. "Oh?"
"But I'll keep that to myself, till after the feast," Toshirou replied.
"I see. I look forward to hearing what will be demanded of me."
Both he and Dae stood from their respective chairs. Casting the azure-eyed male one final glance of gratitude, they exited the room, to make preparations for the coming party.
'What a day.'
Toshirou fell back on the bed, revelling in the softness of the mattress. Stretching his body and popping his joints, he looked towards the ceiling with an expressionless gaze on his face.
'I want to see you all again, Kaa-chan.' A sad sigh escaped his lips. 'If only you were here... Chiaki-nee.'