Chapter Final 7.2: The Turning Point

After crying for a while, Akito stood up and examined the environment. "Wow, this mountain is beautiful." He said to himself as he enchanted, "gravity magic. Zero-gravity bubble." a bubble of zero gravity began to form around him, allowing him to levitate at will and move freely in the air as well. He looked down to the ground and mumbled, "this mountain, as I said before, really is beautiful." After admiring the mountain for a while, a question rose to him. "Wait, where the hell am I?" he shouted as he sandwiched his head in between his hands in distress. He then started flying off, looking for a nearby village or town. Finally, he stumbled across one village a couple of minutes away from the mountain by flying. Going down, he looked hurt, and Bueral had torn off his clothes. Landing by a nearby tree, he hid behind it and uttered to himself, "Shit, my school uniform is torn apart, and am I hurt? I can't feel anything though.'' Annoyed, he tried to walk to a nearby house, only to find himself standing still, "huh? What is wrong with me?" He uttered to himself slowly as his consciousness slipped away slowly.

The adrenaline rush that kept him up had finally worn off and caused him to start feeling every bit of strike and hit that landed on him, immediately sending him into a shock. Annoyed, the mighty self-proclaimed God spoke to himself in the darkness while watching Akito, "Fine, I will heal you, boy. You will serve a greater purpose than freezing out here."

As an hour passed by, Akito flew up from the ground and onto his feet, "eh, what happened?" He asked himself as he looked down at his body, inspecting himself. Akito found that god completely healed him. The parts of his body that had torn off of him were now regenerated fully. "Oh, a power nap. Let's go!" He assumed to himself, excited as he drew his palms closer together, clapping for himself.

The mighty God felt annoyed and angered by his efforts being swept aside as a mere accident. Somehow Akito was able to sense his feelings and stated, "it's okay, I know you healed me. I heard you speak to me in the darkness. Thanks!" bothered by the boy's actions, God scoffed him off and went into his deep slumber while mumbling, "No need to thank me, for you will serve a purpose." Brushing off this judgment, Akito began walking towards the empty road, and after looking around for a while, he stumbled across some villagers. "Hello, my fellow people. May I ask which way is Nara?" He spoke politely, fearing that the dialect between theirs would differ. Although all seemed fine as the two farmers responded, "it's that way to the northwest." But before they could speak to him any further, Akito took off while thanking them. "Thank you!" he screamed as he hid behind a tree and took off using his magical abilities. "I'm coming back. Guys, don't worry. I'm fine!" He screamed into the sky as he sped up.

Nervous and worried, the three had tears shimmering in their eyes, determined they went back and searched every corner of the park. "Where is he?" said Satoshi as he shouted, "Akito!" Spotting his brother from the air, Akito flew and landed next to him, knocking him to the ground and causing a tiny crater in the park's soil that released a smokescreen engulfing Akito. "Who are you?" Satoshi cried out as his vision became blurry, then amidst the smoke, a figure stepped forward. The figure resembled an ominous individual standing over him, power leaking out of him. It sent shivers down his spine. "Bro, I'm back, and I need new clothes immediately," said Akito as he tried clearing off the smoke around him, but it only caused him to sneeze. "Akito, are you okay?" said Satoshi as he sprinted up and hugged his little brother, "don't do that, ever again," screamed Satoshi into his brother's ears as he tightened his hold on his brother. Being squeezed too hard, Akito screeched, "ouch, that hurts. Let go, long face. I'm okay." Satoshi crying in relief for his brother's safety, the pair stood there in each other's arms. With tears of relief shimmering in their eyes, Kazuto and Yui watched from a distance. "Thank goodness," said the two as they walked up to him and put their arms around him. Agitated and flustered by the hug from Yui, Akito shouted, "seriously, let go. I need to change."

Early home, the two snuck into Akito's room through the window, "shh, fool, you will alert mom." whispered Satoshi as he watched Akito flung into his room carelessly. "Oops, Sorry," responded Akito while trying to hold in his laughter. "Shh, now hurry and change into the winter uniform and throw this one out," muttered Satoshi in a low tone.

Throwing away the summer uniform into a nearby dumpster, the two began walking towards their school, though acknowledging that they had missed a couple of periods and didn't have a good excuse. "Let's hurry," said Akito as he began walking even faster. However, Satoshi seemed interested in his fight. "What happened, and where did you go?" asked Satoshi of his little brother as they finally reached the park through the path. "A Devil. A kind-hearted Devil named Bueral. He said he was part and leader of the Sagittarius clan, flung into our club window. Grabbed me and took flight, I was barely aware of what was happening one second, and additionally, we ended up in the Mitsue, Uda district.'' He itched the back of his head and continued. "If I can recall correctly, we fought by mount Takamisanchi, and I ended up destroying some of the environment surrounding that place.'' Akito chuckled nervously.

"Did you kill him?" Asked Satoshi tensely while looking at his brother. With tears appearing in his eyes, Akito looked over to his brother and said, "yes, it was the only way. He guided me so much. Bueral and Fujel, I felt their purpose and sacrifice through every hit that he landed on me." Angered, Satoshi started going off on his brother. "What the hell do you mean, kind-hearted? What do you mean by sacrifice? They are devils, evil spirits that cause destruction! What do you mean by kind and sacrifice? I have had enough with this!" While trying to speak again, he stopped in his tracks. Satoshi couldn't move, and he looked over to Akito only to see this immense presence stare him down, with an intent to kill, Satoshi fell to the ground. "What's with you?" He questioned his little brother with rage.

"A soul should never be judged by its skin nor background. These were heroes in a devil's skin. No matter your color, clan, race, nor faith, it should never determine what kind of person you truly are." Shouted Akito at the fallen and shaken Satoshi. "Hey, calm down. I get it," replied Satoshi from fear of his brother's massive powers. Having seen enough, Satoshi stood up. While shaking, he started walking. Finally, Satoshi smiled and hid his tears behind his long black hair, understanding his brother's position. "I'm sorry. I suck at being a big brother," said Satoshi to Akito. Understanding, Akito placed his hand on his brother's shoulder and drew him in closer, and spoke, "we're in this together, and for as long as I have a purpose and a reason to protect something and someone, I will never lose." Happy, the two separated from one another and laughed while tears shimmered in their eyes.

Finally reaching the school, Satoshi raised a question to Akito. "So, what're your powers, and how did you defeat him?" Smiling and entering the school gate Akito started heading towards the entrance hall and softly spoke, "I don't know how, but I'm gaining these extraordinary visions about how to use and manipulate magic. Anyway, I will tell you after this final period." As they both parted ways and headed for their classes, Satoshi softly remarked under his breath, "visions?"

After school, the group of four met up in the club, scolded by the faculty room. They blamed the window incident on a bird. They were arranging to get the made-up story to be accepted. The faculty room agreed and took action on replacing the windows right away. Unable to call for a meeting inside the club room, they decided to walk to the park. While on the way, Akito began explaining everything to them, including the fight that took place.

Fumed Kazuto said, "why trust a devil? you can't trust an evil soul of destruction." Kazuto, while walking, turned over to Akito, shouting, "never trust anyone that etches some decent words into your heart because, for some, their lethal powers lie within their words." Frustrated, Akito replied calmly, "with him, it wasn't words that Bueral spoke out of his mouth, but the words his emotions carried. Those are the words etched into my heart." Then, scoffing at his friend, he said, "You don't have to wear a certain title to be a pure or impure soul. That all depends on you." Shocked by the brilliant answer from his usually dense friend, Kazuto smiled and said, "you are mysterious, flame master." Yui's curiosity grew more significant by the minute, causing her to yell at Akito, "who is flame master, and why does everyone you run across seem to know you?"

Akito froze, unable to answer the tricky question. Kazuto took over and said, "Perhaps Akito is a reincarnation. Perhaps he is a monster or not. Maybe that is what explains every attack on him." He examined the provided information and quickly came with an answer. "These Devils, they seem to operate in a way to make you more powerful, everyone that has come to battle you, tells you a thing or two, enrages you and falls to your hands. It is an operation, and, surely, more of them are to come and battle you." He explained to the group, causing them to stand still, unable to utter a word. Finally, Yui teared up and softly talked. "No way." Hearing this sent a shiver down Satoshi's back, "my brother? a reincarnation?" He chuckled and unconsciously said, "No, Akito's Akito, Right, Akito?" Losing his senses slowly, Satoshi howled. "Akito, who are you?" He looked to his brother and seeing his smile calmed him down.

"I don't know who or what I am, but all I know is that I will do anything to understand myself and my past." He said as he slowly turned to the group and calmed them down, "It's okay, I have no concerns. As long as I have you all, nothing will ever defeat me." Smiling, he showed them a thumbs up and said, "pain eases when pain is endured with one another. As long as we have each other, the mysteries will appear to reveal themselves." Content with his life, Akito's eyes widened to notice more of his dreams and achievements, which encouraged him to shout. "I promise you. I will find the truth behind every mystery that lays itself in front of me. I will find this "brother," and I will defeat him and whoever serves him for all the wrongs they committed." Feeling his warm aura grow into dark and empty energy, the three felt scared but safe to be with him.

"Will always stand with you." said the three simultaneously. "Thank you, guys. Anyway, who wants to go to the convenience store?" He brushed off the situation with tears in his eyes. "Seriously, why can't you take serious situations, seriously?" said Satoshi while fuming at his brother, "you stupid pig, don't just walk away." He pointed at Akito with rage filling his eyes.

In contrast, Akito walked in the direction of the store. "Hey, I'm talking to you," shouted Satoshi as he walked behind him. Happy and comfortable, Akito glanced back at his group of friends and smiled while thinking. "Whatever that has happened to me in the past, it all led up to this moment. I will never change it. Thank you, guys. I love you all."

Akito remembered his brother's frustration and remarked on it. "Hah? Stupid, long face. What made you mad?" Laughing, the three enjoyed the reminder of their day, helping Akito move past his recent actions and confusion.