As Tsukiyomi regained his consciousness, his eyes flickered to the bright sunlight which quickly faded behind clouds. But once his eyes were in complete focus, he felt a soft breathing on his head. He sat up quickly, realizing he was lying right next to Tadashi. It wasn't really like the two had a choice of where to sleep in the room either. Tsukiyomi scooted out from underneath Tadashi but before he completely got up he heard Tadashi mumble, "I'm sorry, father." Tsukiyomi was confused by this. What happened to Tadashi's father?
Tsukiyomi quietly left the room to find a huge window at the end of the hallway. The view of the window showed all of Morphian. It was disgusting. Nothing was clean and the air in Whither wasn't fresh. As he watched out the window, Tsukiyomi remembered the debate he and Tadashi had had last night. He had to admit, he was putting himself in danger by wandering around on his own without the things he needed most. But he thought it was strange for Tadashi to offer himself to accompany Tsuki when the two had basically just met.
The suns were set at about 9am when Tsukiyomi went back to the room. He reached the sliding door, opened it about halfway, then back away with a, "Sorry!"
Tadashi had been awake, taking off his blouse and Tsukiyomi had walked in by accident. All Tsukiyomi could think was 'Shit, shit, shit, shit, you idiot!'. The door opened and out came a fully clothed Tadashi. "S-Sorry! I should've knocked first. I didn't know you were awake." Tsukiyomi ranted.
"You're alright. It was my bad for being silent about it." said Tadashi.
How the hell can this guy be so calm?! If someone had walked in on Tsukiyomi undressing, he would've chased after them.
Tsukiyomi noticed that Tadashi kept eyeing his hair. "What?" Tsukiyomi said, trying to get to the point of the problem, "You got a problem with the way I put my hair up?"
"No, it's just messy." Tadashi replied. Tadashi didn't talk a lot but that didn't bother Tsukiyomi. Tadashi liked to keep to himself. Tsukiyomi started to walk off, thinking that Tadashi had forgotten about their debate. But he jumped when he realized Tadashi was following him. "What do you want to eat?" Tadashi asked, surprising Tsukiyomi.
"I thought you left?!" Tadashi shook his head, walking right next to Tsukiyomi as they left the Tao Li inn. "And right as I thought you had forgotten about what you said. I was kinda hoping you would.." Tsukiyomi said, disappointed.
"Well, I didn't and I'm keeping my word about accompanying you. You'll just have to learn to accept other people in your life." said Tadashi. Tsukiyomi grumbled and realized that from this moment on, all his freedom was gone.
They took off after a while, traveling through Morphian, both of them wearing their cloaks. They stopped in Morphian town to get food, Tqadashi paying of course. He sold herbs and plants and things he finds on his journeys and gets money in return. The only good thing about Morphian, according to outsiders, was the fish that people sold. In general, they sold everything from everywhere. Tsukiyomi stayed close to Tadashi as the two approached a stand selling fried fish on skewers. As the two paid and ate their breakfast, a short man holding a sign was yelling about something that caught Tsukiyomi's attention. "COME ONE, COME ALL!" He said, "GO TO WALL CLORINA TO SEE THE VERY FAMOUS PERFORMANCE OF THE CHANDELIER CHILD! ONLY THIRTY VELDONIAN COINS! HELD IN THe GRAND CLORINA THEATER, HER BEAUTY PERFORMS THERE! TIS' SAID SHE CAN TELL YOUR FATE AS WELL! COME ONE, COME ALL!"
It indeed caught Tsukiyomi's attention. A fate seeker? And who was this 'Chandelier Child'? Tsukiyomi tugged on Tadashi's sleeve. "I want to go.." he said, trying not to sound greedy. Tadashi looked concerned. "Now, I don't want to force you out of Whither. It seems you've never been out of wall Whither." said Tadashi. Tsukiyomi shook his head. "I wanna go. I want to see my fate."
The two started walking away from the man that continued to chant. "You really believe that last part?" Tadashi asked, his hands wrapped around his satchel.
"It wouldn't hurt to try. There are a lot of things in life that are made up and a lot of other things that are real. But maybe there is someone who can help me remember." Tsukiyomi said, Tadashi smiled and nodded. "Well then," he said, "We better be prepared to travel then. The fastest route on foot to wall Clorina would be through Left Whither and then travel the burnt city, Pelling, and through those abandoned wall gates will lead us directly into Clorina. The Pelling gate has been abandoned and unused for a long time now but it is still possible to enter and exit. If we're leaving now, we might as well go back to the hut and take the things we need for traveling." Tsukiyomi nodded. And that is exactly what they did. They traveled back to Welt and back to Tadashi's little hut he stayed in. Tsukiyomi was thinking that Tadashi knew a lot about traveling. It would be his first time going to a different wall since Whither was the only wall he currently recalled ever staying in.
Back at the hut, Tadashi prepared his satchel, filling it with more money pouches and paper currency, his journal he always carried, and two loaves of bread in case they got hungry, and a map. Tadashi then came over to Tsukiyomi and tightened his cloak with a pin. It was a rose pin. "Clorina is a region of cold and winter." said Tadashi, putting Tsukiyomi's hood over his head. They then left to cross over to Left Whither through the ruins. They could get caught for it was unsafe to go through an abandoned area in any wall. Tadashi held onto Tsukiyomi's cloak as they went through the rubble, a small path leading the way to the gate. It wasn't like Tsuki was going to run away. They suddenly heard voices yelling through the burnt buildings and rubble. The voices that Tsukiyomi recognized as corps hunters. "Over there!" said one of the voices. A voice of a young girl then spoke, "On it! I got this one!" said the girl. Tsukiyomi ran ahead of Tadashi, holding onto Tadashi's hand. Chasing them was a girl with indigo hair, a Hunter uniform and a bow and arrow. She was indeed fast. Out of all the hunters, Tsukiyomi had never seen her before. She stared right at him. She had a look of anxiousness and worry, almost as if she wasn't prepared enough to be a hunter. Tsukiyomi saw the gate and pulled Tadashi with him. The girl was closer but still far behind them. "Why are we running?" Tadashi asked, trying to slow down but Tsukiyomi kept pulling him forward.
"Just come on!" Once they passed through the gate, they kept running. Tsukiyomi looked back at the girl who stood at the gate. She looked disappointed but Tsukiyomi felt like she let them go on purpose. Tadashi slowed down, so did Tsukiyomi. "Who was that?" asked Tadashi, catching his breath. A cold chill blew Tsukiyomi's cloak. "I don't know," he lied, "Sorry to get you caught in that situation."
They were finally in wall Clorina. The two stood in a plaza surrounded with snow covered shops and tall buildings. Tsukiyoki bent down to pick up the snow. He was intrigued because he couldn't remember the last time he saw snow in Whither. The snow melted on his warm hands. It was peaceful and quiet around them. Humans, demons and even some yokai gathered around the streets and walked in all directions.
Tadashi pulled out his map. It was a map of all the walls. They were looking for the Clorina theater where the man said the Chandelier Child was performing. Tsukiyomi looked around, everything looked like a theater building to him. "The theater is close by, walking distance. The performance should start soon anyway." said Tadashi, as he led the way.
The ground was covered in snow, perfect white snow, only an inch on the brick roads. After a little walking distance from the gate, the two approached a huge, white stone building. A sign on the building read, 'Clorina Theater Presents: The Chandelier Child'. They walked in and Tadashi paid for two tickets. They were taken into a huge auditorium with many seats. Hundreds in rows and on the balcony of the auditorium. Lights and lanterns hung from the ceiling and candles lit the edge of the stage. Humans, demons, and yokai all sat in the seats, almost filling the whole theater. As Tsukiyomi and Tadashi took their seats, the lights began to dim. On the stage the red curtains flew open as a small figure appeared which stunned everyone. The candle lights on stage began to light themselves. When the man said Chandelier Child, Tsukiyomi didn't know this person was an actual child. She was a yokai, a candle yokai. She had long, curly cream orange hair, two curled ram horns and a tail with a lit candle on the end, as well as fawn legs and hooves. She wore a pretty blue dress with petals on it. Her hair hid her left eye but it seemed she only had one right eye. Music began to play and she began to sing.
Tadashi nudged Tsukiyomi and whispered, "When it's over, we'll go backstage and ask her." Tsukiyomi nodded and continued to watch. She sang in tongues but Tsukiyomi could tell it had something to do with Rose. he was shocked at how someone as young as her could sing so well. She had to be a professional. It was stunning how much air support she had and how long she could hold out her voice. Tsukiyomi worried she didn't speak english, which out of the three languages most spoken in the walls, english was the biggest. Of course there were other languages but only three were the most spoken.
The song and music ended, the girl bowed and walked off stage eventually and people began to leave. Tsukiyomi and Tadashi snuck on stage and behind the curtain, almost running into the child. "What are you two doing back here?" she said, "Back here are performers only!" Tadashi stood in front of Tsukiyomi.
"Apologies, ma'am. My name is Okami Tadashi and this is Tsukiyomi" The girl's face lit up.
"Wait, so you're THE Minakami Tsukiyomi?" she said, a small smile forming on her face. "You two are just the people I've been waiting for.. Come with me then." But before they could follow the girl, a man walked out from the other side of the stage. Tsukiyomi and Tadashi quickly hid in the curtain. "Ahh, Miss Lazhu! Astounding performance tonight!" the man said to the girl. She bowed to him and replied, "Thank you, Director. I'll be on my way now." The director left and Tadashi and Tsukiyomi came out from the curtain. They then follow the girl out of the theater. She was leading them to a huge building at the edge of the wall. It had a huge clock on the outer part of the building. "By the way," the girl began to say, "My name is Lazhu. Even though I am young, I know many things. And if I am not mistaken, I am taking you to the Clorina Cathedral of Time."
The three walked into the cathedral. And Lazhu began to explain the cathedral.
"The Cathedral of Time is home to many yokai as well as myself. People say that I am a descendant of one of the original wall leaders or Rose herself. Although, I do not know if that is true, for I can not see my own fate. I assume you must be wondering why I know you, Tsukiyomi. And it is because I have seen your timeline."
"My timeline?" Tsukiyomi questioned, "I think I might be slightly confused." Lazhu led them down a marble hallway. She sighed, "Just follow me and you'll understand."
Lazhu's hooves echoed against the marble floor as they walked down a hall. Murals of Rose and former wall leaders were suspended on the walls of the hall and alongside those were carvings of mythical creatures that once were said to roam the earth. Big gold encrusted doors that were open led to church-like rooms with pews and rooms that looked like a library with all kinds of books and scrolls and scriptures. And at the end of the marble hall were two large iron doors. Tsukiyomi looked at Tadashi, whose eyes glistened in fascination. Lazhu opened the iron doors and inside was unworldly. The floor was that of a pocket watch, a white pedestal in the middle. Behind the pedestal was a globe model with rings lining it, symbolizing the movement of the two suns and the three moons. The globe was dark but only one area was green and natural, obviously symbolizing the walls. Separate rings were aligned on the counterpart of the model, indicating other planets and stars. The room was large and bright, a heavenly sensation when you walked in. On the pedestal was a book and a stopwatch.
"Welcome to the room of time and life. This is where people come to see their fate, meaning their past life, their past, and their future. By looking in that book on the pedestal, you are able to find everything living inside the walls. But it only works if their name and face is recorded by the individual's memory. Things the individual has forgotten were not recorded in the person's timeline. Using the stopwatch, you are able to go back in your past life, your past or in your future and see it. This is all possible using the mana and spiritual energy and power given by the Time yokai who are here. You are allowed to look, but I recommend not going too far ahead in your future. It could harm the soul and mind. And Tsukiyomi, You might be surprised." Lazhu said, then leaving the two in the room, closing the doors. Tsukiyomi walked over to the pedestal, Tadashi followed. He grabbed the stopwatch which was imprinted with the words 'Past Life, Past, Future'. "Where are you going first?" Tadashi asked, Tsukiyomi stared at the stop watch. He was intrigued and fascinated. "Lazhu said that I would be surprised with my past life. I do like surprises. Might as well start there. In the beginning." He switched the pocket watch to 'Past Life' and immediately, the scenery around them changed. It looked nothing like the walls. It seemed that they had traveled to a time before the walls were built. Tsukiyomi stared at a grassy hill and saw a figure appear. The figure in wore a red cloak with a sword in their hand. They had long, black hair, put in a ponytail just like Tukiyomi. Maybe it was him. Another figure appeared beside the first one. It was a yokai…or..was it a demon? But that figure was a female with red hair, tied in a bun and her teal dress made her look like royalty. The figure in the red cloak knelt down in front of her. And then it seemed that Tsukiyomi and Tadashi had gotten closer and could hear the dialogue. "Tsuki, you don't have to bow to me everytime we see the castle. You're being dramatic!" said the woman with red hair. The other figure then spoke, but sounded exactly like Tsukiyomi. "If I am your apprentice, that means I need to show you respect, Lady Bloodmoon." Tsukiyomi and Tadashi were shocked as the red haired one sighed and said, "You also don't have to address me like that! Oh, Tsuki, you are a strange being full of wonders!" Tadashi Turned to Tsukiyomi as the scene faded away back into the original room. "R..Rose…You were Tsukiyomi…you were Rose's apprentice!" Tadashi exclaimed, Tsukiyomi was in shock. It was unbelievable. How could a 'curse' such as himself be THE apprentice of Rose Bloodmoon. The scene then changed again, but only into an image. It was still Tsukliyomi's past life. Humans, demons, and yokai all sat around a table, Rose and the apprentice Tsukiyomi at the end of that table. "And-And this is part of the prophecy!" Tadashi continued to rant, Rose, her apprentice, and the leaders discussing the idea of the walls to protect people from the darkness that began to spread. I-I recognize them all, all the leaders! T-There's leader Zenniinthean a-and General Dakai, Madam Dorphian, Forsythia, and everyone!" Tadashi was overjoyed to finally know that it was all real and that it was all true. The scene changed once again. A bloody battlefield with corpses. And there was Rose. she was crying. And in her arms was Tsukiyomi. Tadashi continued, "After the war against the evil, savage yokai, Rose lost her apprentice after he was stabbed with a spear that was said to have been cursed. She never left his side just as he never left hers whilst doing his job. After his death, the walls were finished and built. And built for the reason that caused his death. To protect others from the dying world." Around them, the scene continuously changed, creating a story. Tsukiyomi still had a hard time believing that this was all his past life. He was the same person, just younger and forgetful. Tsukiyomi changed the stopwatch again to 'Past'. A scene of a broken house in a place that was unrecognizable to Tsukiyomi, a pregnant woman and a small child. It was Tsukiyomi's mother and him as a child. But why was she pregnant? "This must be my current life. And that..must be my mother. I guess..she didn't abandon me, but….I'm certain she did." Tsukiyomi said as the scene faded away. The iron doors opened and in walked Lazhu. "Your mother was a kind woman by the name of Tamashi Tsukiyomi. She kept her maiden name after your father, Yuxuan Jiao, left her. He left her pregnant and sick. But she took care of you and loved you dearly. And at this time she was pregnant with your sister." said Lazhu. Again, Tsukiyomi was surprised.
"I-I..have a sister?!" He exclaimed, and Lazhu smiled.
"Tsukiyomi, you have a lot of things you nor I don't know about." Tsukiyomi wanted to know more. He wanted to find his sister. "Well, where are they now? Where can I find my mother and my sister?" he asked as Lazhu's smile slowly faded away. "Your mother died a couple years after your sister was born. You decided to leave and that's when you were taken by demons, leaving your sister somewhere. This question can not be answered by me though. Her whereabouts are currently unknown. Although, some people claim that they know someone who, suppose your sister, is known as Mei Lian." Scenes continued to change but they were parts in Tsukiyomi's life that he wished he didn't remember. So he looked away. Away from the torture, the pain, harrassment, the hate, sadness, loneliness, helplessness. All of the things that made him want to end his life.