Chapter : 9 : What Happened?

Ryuzin, a man with incredible powers, was once my fellow ex-fighter, someone who used to save lives.

To understand what made him the way he is now, we need to dive into his past.

It all started nine years ago. Back in primary school, Ryuzin was often bullied. He was different from his classmates—quiet, reserved, and distant. He kept to himself, which made him an easy target.

One day, after enduring too much, he snapped. In a fit of rage, he fought back, injuring the bullies so badly that some ended up in the hospital with broken ribs.

The principal called in Ryuzin's parents. After they returned home, his mother sat down beside him.

"Son, I know you're different from the others," she began gently. "You have this strength. You might think of it as a curse, but I see it as a gift. You just need to know how to use it—and on whom."

"I know, but they deserved it. I was fed up. I couldn't stop myself. I... I just felt this anger," Ryuzin said, his voice breaking.

"You need to work on that," she replied firmly.

"Okay, Mum. I'll be more careful next time," he promised.

"That's my sweet boy!" she said, smiling warmly before kissing his cheek. Ryuzin blushed and awkwardly touched his cheek.

"Mum…" he stammered.

"You haven't grown so much that you can escape my kisses!" she teased, chuckling as she stood up. "Now, what do you want for lunch?"

Years passed, and Ryuzin turned 13. One day, while his parents were out, he got a phone call. They had been in an accident. By the time they reached the hospital, they were already gone.

At their funeral, Ryuzin barely registered the words of sympathy from those around him. He was numb, devastated. His parents had been the only people who truly understood him. He clung to their words—his mother telling him that one day someone would love him for who he was, and his father's advice to believe in himself and everything would be okay.

In the days that followed, Ryuzin shut himself in. Neighbors would drop off food, but he would lash out at them, telling them to leave.

Then one day, there was a knock on his door. Ryuzin, lost in a video game and surrounded by the chaos of his messy room, barely responded. He looked dead inside as he walked to the door and unlocked it.

"Nice to meet you, I'm Hibino Kajuki," said a man Ryuzin had never seen before.

"I don't have money for whatever you're selling," Ryuzin muttered, already closing the door.

"Wait, I'm not here to sell anything. I'm here to talk about your powers," Kajuki said calmly.

Ryuzin's eyes widened. How did this man know about his powers?

"I even have a letter from your parents," Kajuki added. "Can I come in?"

Reluctantly, Ryuzin let him in. They sat in the living room, where Ryuzin wasted no time.

"Who are you? How do you know my parents? And what letter are you talking about?" he demanded.

"My name is Hibino Kajuki, as I mentioned earlier," the man said. "And I have a proposal for you. Your living expenses, school fees, and anything else you need—all covered."

"What the hell are you talking about?" Ryuzin snapped, his confusion turning to anger.

"You'll use your powers to fight demons—demons that kill humans every day," Kajuki explained.

"I didn't ask you for any of this. I don't care about anyone else. I asked how you knew about my parents!" Ryuzin shouted, standing up from his seat.

Kajuki remained calm and handed Ryuzin an envelope. "Here, your mother wrote this."

Ryuzin's hands trembled as he opened the letter.

Dear Son,

By the time you read this, I will no longer be with you. I can only hope you are safe, and I need you to know how much I love you. I'm writing this because there are things I couldn't bring myself to say to you in person. I never wanted to burden you with this, but you deserve the truth.

When you were born, a group of men came to your father and me. They told us something that shook me to my very core—you were special. You had been chosen as a savior, gifted with incredible powers. At first, I was overwhelmed with pride. My little boy, destined for greatness. But then they told me what that destiny entailed: you would be fighting demons.

I didn't want to believe it. I refused to let them take you. They promised me that you wouldn't have to fight until you were 15. They said you could grow up normally, without any worries, but deep down, I was terrified. I couldn't stand the thought of you facing something so dark and dangerous. You were just a child, my baby boy. I wanted you to have a normal life—to laugh, play, make friends, and just be a kid.

Years passed, and I watched you grow, but I could never find the right moment to tell you what lay ahead. I couldn't bring myself to explain that one day you would have to face things no one should ever have to. I wanted to protect you for as long as I could, so I stayed silent, hoping that maybe... just maybe, this wouldn't happen.

But I knew better. That's why I wrote this letter. I reached out to the organization, the one that knew about your powers, and I asked them to give this to you if something ever happened to us. I had hoped to tell you myself when you were older, but if you're reading this now, it means I never got that chance.

I know this must be so hard for you to understand. And I'm sorry—I'm so, so sorry that I couldn't protect you from this. I wish with everything in me that I could have spared you from this fate. But life doesn't always give us the choices we want.

Son, I want you to live. Not just survive, but truly live. I want you to find happiness, to make friends, and to enjoy the world despite its darkness. Yes, the path ahead is frightening, and I know you'll face things that will test you in ways you can't imagine. But I believe in you. You are stronger than you know, and I have no doubt you will rise to this challenge, even though it feels unfair.

When things get tough—and they will—I want you to remember one thing: your mother loves you. More than words could ever express. Even in my absence, I will always be with you, watching over you. And someday, you will meet someone who sees you for who you truly are, someone who will love you as much as I do. Until then, stay strong, my sweet boy. You were meant for something greater, even if it scares you now.

Live your life to the fullest, for me. For yourself.

With all my love,

Mum

Tears rolled down Ryuzin's cheeks as he finished reading.

Kajuki stood up. "Ryuzin, you're part of something bigger now. Welcome to saving the world."

Years passed, and at 17, Ryuzin was fully engaged in the demon fights. His routine was monotonous—school, fighting demons, gaming, and back to school. He was still the loner he had always been.

One night, while walking through a park, he noticed a group of guys harassing a girl. "Come with us, it'll be fun," they said, ignoring her refusals.

At first, Ryuzin considered walking away. But something inside him wouldn't let him ignore it. He approached the group, placing a hand on one guy's shoulder.

"Hey, she said she doesn't want to go. Leave her alone," he said firmly.

The guy sneered. "What, you trying to be a hero?"

He swung a punch, but Ryuzin sidestepped it easily and delivered a blow to the guy's gut, knocking him out cold. His friends rushed at Ryuzin, but he made quick work of them. They scrambled to pick up their unconscious friend and fled, shouting threats as they ran.

Ryuzin pulled up his hood, ready to leave, when the girl bowed deeply before him.

"Thank you for saving me," she said, her voice shaking.

Ryuzin didn't respond and continued walking.

The girl hurried to catch up. "Umm, my name is Shion, Shizuki Shion. What's yours?"

He ignored her and kept walking. "Please, I'm scared to walk home alone," she pleaded.

Ryuzin sighed. "I'm not your bodyguard."

"I know, but I'm really scared," she said, her voice soft.

"If you're that scared, why'd you come out here in the first place?" he asked, frustrated.

"I just needed some fresh air. I didn't think anything like this would happen," she replied with a small smile.

"Fine. Lead the way," he muttered, giving in.

As they walked, she asked again, "You still haven't told me your name."

"Does it matter? We're not going to meet again," Ryuzin grumbled.

"Who knows? We might. And I want to know the name of the person who saved me," she said shyly.

"It's Ryuzin. Izanaji Ryuzin," he finally said.

Shion's eyes widened. "Ryuzin-kun, thank you again."

"You know, your name sounds familiar," she said thoughtfully. "It's like I hear it every day, but I can't quite place it."

"Stop talking and just tell me how much farther until we get to your house," Ryuzin said, exasperated.

"Okay, okay!" she giggled.

As they continued, Ryuzin realized, *We go to the same school... She even sits next to me. I just hope she doesn't recognize me tomorrow.

When they reached her home, Shion turned to him with a smile. "I can make it from here. Thanks again for everything, Ryuzin-kun."

Ryuzin simply nodded and turned to walk away. He couldn't shake the feeling that something had changed in him. Maybe, just maybe, he wasn't as broken as he thought.

END OF CHAPTER: 9 : WHAT HAPPENED?