He was alone. Again. Seijun marched through Adonai's forests, wearing scorched apparel, with no destination in mind. The chilly wind had little effect on him; his brown eyes remained fixed front, and his monotone face disguised any emotion he was potentially feeling.
The lacerations he received from Choji were still visible on his back, refusing to heal entirely. The cuts on his skin were perplexing, especially since Seijun had healed from worse injuries moments after receiving them.
After the recent events, the boy felt robbed of his humanity. He felt like a puppet—a bystander in his own body. He briefly remembers ravaging the hut he used to stay in, killing Choji and then many of the other adults. What horrified Seijun the most, however, was the final image of him staring the other slaves down with a fist full of fire. Seconds later, everything had gone dark, and he knew why.
The boy also knew what happened afterward.
Seijun was painfully aware of the beast inside his soul—the entity with a separate conscience. He could feel its hateful heart beating alongside his; he could feel its presence in his mind; and he could not ignore the feeling of being watched at all moments of his life.
The worst part of his life was that he could not end it.
He attempted to purge his own life, but the fiery beast thwarted his plans. When Seijun wanted to be alive, he was dead; when he wanted to be dead, he became immortal. There was no repose, love, or peace. Only the blazing teeth of the wicked demon engulfed his essence.
Suddenly, Seijun's skin began to crawl, his eyes widening as he looked around with urgency thrumming through his veins. He had felt this feeling before; he could remember it well. The day he was abducted and forced into labor, moments before the adults found him on his own. After a few seconds of his eyes flitting through the bushes and trees that filled his surroundings, he saw the source that unsettled his mind.
Bright green eyes.
It was an imposing figure towering above the bushes it stood behind, the shadows of the trees obscured any of the individual's details. Seijun had no idea whether he would ever see this entity again, and he was not sure if he wanted to.
The shadowy figure extended its arm outward, beckoning Seijun to come closer with the curling of its index finger. Seijun felt the desire to step forward—to follow the figure obediently.
"Who are you!?" The brown-eyed boy hollered anxiously, grinding his teeth together.
*FWOOSH!*
Fire clung to Seijun's skin, heat radiating off of his body dangerously.
"I will hurt you if you don't step into the light!"
The figure remained still, its green eyes gazing at Seijun without blinking. Eventually, its hand retracted into the shadows, causing the boy to be unnerved. The figure then decided to glide backward, venturing into the forest while still keeping his eyes on the boy.
"No!"
Seijun gave chase, sprinting after the shadowy figure.
*FWOOSH!*
The boy disintegrated every tree and bush in his way, hoping to strike the figure directly. Confusingly, none of Seijun's attacks were even close to colliding with his target, his fire being swatted away by an invisible force. The shadowy figure's speed was also eclipsing the boy's.
The scenario lasted an indefinite number of minutes, wreaking havoc on the forests. Fortunately for Seijun, the dark figure halted at the end of a hill, standing amid the sun's brilliant beams.
"What are you!?" Seijun screamed, stopping a few feet away from the figure.
"Two years." The figure spoke abruptly, its voice sounding warped.
The boy perked up, raising a brow. "What!?"
The individual lifted a hand, the same as previously, and pointed outward, beyond the hill. Seijun's breath hitched as he spotted a vast village, his brown eyes searching the various residences and people who lived within its boundaries. The boy was wary of society, remembering how everyone he had ever met had treated him.
"In two years, a prince will be born. Regashi will be his name." The figure revealed.
Rightfully, Seijun scoffed and said, "Not sure how you know when someone will be born, but why does it matter to me!?"
"You are the perfect candidate."
Seijun's flames grew in intensity as he heard that, his eyes narrowing. "Candidate? I don't like being selected for things."
"So you do not wish to free yourself from your bindings?" The figure queried invasively, lowering its arm.
The boy stepped forward, reeling his right arm back slightly. "Don't claim to know me!"
"Kaminari, Asami, Reberu, Heiki. Do you not miss them?"
Seijun paused, blinking repeatedly, as he heard the figure utter the names of his past friends. It had been years since he had heard of them. His heart thumped at an increased pace as the flames that covered his body flickered.
"Regashi will take you to them. He needs your help. He needs to fix the world. Will you join him?"
It was risky, stupid, and potentially fraudulent, but Seijun had nothing. The boy peered at the ground pensively, his black hair swaying in the wind as he contemplated his next set of words. Would he agree? Decline? Where would he end up in the next few years in either scenario?
After some time, Seijun responded:
"What do I need to do?"
XXX
Since then, Seijun has remained in the village to which he was taken. The village's name happened to be Furusato, and he hid amid the big throng and buildings. He recently turned eighteen years old and rarely had personal contact, despite the large population. Two years later, a prince was born, just as the shadowy figure had said. The kid's name was Regashi Ketsueki.
Seijun watched the prince grow up, observing him from the shadows. One day, however, Seijun locked eyes with the small boy and was thrown for a loop. Regashi Ketsueki had bright green eyes that immediately reminded him of the shadowy figure. It was terrifying. Seijun brushed the feeling aside and never left the prince's side.
Seijun was wondering when he should intervene and speak to Regashi directly, ask him about his plans for the future, and see if staying in Furusato was truly worth it.
Then, one fateful day arrived.
"Hello."
Startled, Seijun looked down and spotted the brown-haired prince, who was now fourteen years old.
Seijun cleared his throat and greeted the boy, "...Hi."
Regashi grinned, his green eyes shining. "I'm glad you decided to stay."
Time seemingly stopped for the vessel as he heard the boy speak to him.
"What are you talking about?"
Regashi chuckled, his gaze never wavering. "You stayed for me. You want to help me, right?"
Seijun clenched his jaw, staring down at the prince with a questionable gaze. The kid knew more than he let on. Seijun rubbed the right side of his face, brushing his red sideburn.
"What do you intend to do?" Seijun queried, narrowing his brown eyes.
This was the start of Seijun's loyalty to Regashi Ketsueki.
XXX
If Imawashiki learned anything from being next to Regashi, it was that the prince was the most terrifying being to ever live. The brown-haired Ketsueki was capable of anything, it seemed. If Regashi wanted somebody dead, they might as well not have even been born; if Regashi wanted something for himself, the object might as well have been already in his possession; if Regashi wanted to rule, he was already an overlord.
It was impossible to subdue Regashi, no matter who you were. He knew everything, he saw everything, he could do everything.
Imawashiki did not know what he feared more: a reality where he would never find his old friends or the current one that housed Regashi.
Despite the fear and chaos that ensued, Imawashiki was confident in one thing—Regashi would change the world from its nightmarish ways, and that was all that mattered to him.
XXX
{PRESENT TIME}
*FWOOSH!*
Imawashiki continued to unleash a barrage of fire onto Kaminari Nozomu, currently remaining on the planet Venus after flinging his opponent onto its surface. After a few moments, the fiery abomination closed his hand, purging the fire that escaped from him.
Nozomu looked up at his opponent warily, his lighting still cackling. "Seijun?"
The fiery abomination looked out into the vastness of space, his brown eyes softening.
"...What do you think you're doing?" A deep voice grumbled in Imawashiki's head.
The fiery abomination clenched his fist, raising it to his head.
"I can't let you continue, Moeru." For the first time in decades, Seijun spoke.
A growl was heard within Seijun's mind. "You can't remove me, vessel! You are nothing without my power!"
Seijun inhaled, though Venus did not offer much oxygen like Earth. "Then, I'll handle you once and for all."
*CRUNCH!*
The vessel of Moeru punched himself in the skull, his fist piercing through his head and rendering him immobile instantaneously. Blood seeped from his head as his eyes rolled upward. His flames disappeared as his body fell downward, colliding with Venus's cold surface.
Nozomu dashed forward, standing a few feet away from Seijun's body. The red scales that once morphed the vessel of Moeru's skin started to peel, falling off of his unconscious body, and revealing his normal human flesh.
Inside Nozomu's head, the dragon made of lightning spoke, "Brother… he's challenging Moeru for control."
The white-haired man crouched down, placing his hand on Seijun's shoulder.
"Then all we can do is hope he wins."
XXX
I will admit these chapters are sort of wonky, but I am getting the plot out one way or another! I took too long of a break and my writing brain has gotten rusty, which sucks! However, I hope you enjoyed and stay tuned for more!
Have a Great Day!
Peace - Cr1ticalz_