Beginnings and Ends (10)

Kodak looks at Kiko, annoyed by what just transpired. "What?" Kiko asked Kodak, wanting to know why he's giving her such an annoying stare. "I didn't know this would happen; hell, I didn't even know revenant existed in his soul!"

Kodak slaps his hand straight on his face, still annoyed at the severity of the situation.

Ashiro then looks down at his hands, flames started burst out, engulfing his entire arms. 

"SHIT! HOW DO I TURN THIS OFF!?" Ashiro yelled, panicking at the flames erupting from his arms. 

Kuroi then appears suddenly, confused by Ashiro running around.

"What the hell did you do Kodak." Kuroi says while grabbing him by the collar.

Kodak smacks his hands off, glaring at Kuroi. "I didn't do shit. Plus, can't you just seal his unstable revenant like you did with me?" 

Kuroi groans in frustration with the current situation placed upon him.

"I can't."

Kodak's face stares blankly at Kuroi.

"Huh!?" He says, standing confused by Kuroi's answer.

"What do you mean you can't!?" Kodak's voice echoes through the alleyway as he grabs Kuroi by his shirt's collar. Kuroi smacks his hands off his shirt.

"The only reason I could seal yours, is because your revenant is related to Kiko and I. Just cause you're blessed with god-like abilities, doesn't mean you can just make things go your way." 

Kodak walks away and over to Ashiro, wondering what he can do to help his friend.

"Kiko, what is going on with Ashiro's revenant?" Kodak asks her, wanting to know what he could do for his friend.

Kiko looks at Ashiro, looking at him very focused.

"He'll just have to wait for his avatar to manifest in his revenant. In most cases most revenant users know what their abilities are based on bloodline or heritage."

Kodak nods his head, but he thinks about what Kiko just said.

"What's an avatar?" Kodak asked confused.

"A divine being that teaches the user about revenant, for the sole purpose of making that user strong as their potential takes them." Kiko explains thoroughly to him.

"If that was the case then why were there three avatars in my subconscious?" Kodak says, wondering what that red haired man was.

Kiko's face turns pale and grabs Kodak's shoulder.

"What did this third avatar look like?!" Her voice went from calm and mellow, to a desperate tone that didn't want something or someone to be found out.

"He was wearing a white montsuki with a black withering flower design on the back of his outfit. He had pale white skin and his hair was a dark shade of red." Kodak says, trying to remember what else that pale man did against him in their fight.

"He took the physical form of my late sister and said that I shouldn't let my mother and sister's killer walk alive." Kodak says, trying to describe the pale man with greater detail.

Kiko looks at him in shock from what this man sounded like.

"Listen to me Kodak and I'm only gonna say this once." Kiko says while looking into Kodak's eyes intensely with fear.

"Okay, what is it?" He asked confused.

"(Wait a minute, is she scared of that man?)" Kodak pondered, thinking about the pale man.

Kiko takes a deep breath and opens her mouth. "That man's name is Fukushū Fujiwara, the disgraced one of the Fujiwara bloodline and that man is a Yokai." 

"Like the monsters in those Japanese legends?" Kodak chuckled to himself.

"This is not a laughing matter!" Kiko's body immediately shrouds itself in a dark energy, similar to Kodak but more defined and compact. The ground beneath them cracks all over and some of the rubble even begins to arise.

He looks at Kiko's rageful aura surrounding her and decides to be a little more serious about the whole situation. 

"Calm down Kiko, remember what we're here for." Kodak says, referencing to Ashiro.

She looks at Ashiro again and whispers into Kodak's ear. "Look at Ashiro, his revenant is calming down." 

Kodak looks to his left, Ashiro's flaring flames were beginning to cease until nothing was left. Ashiro watches as these flames disappear, looking back up toward Kodak.

"The flames are gone!" Ashiro exclaimed with a wave relief washing over himself and Kodak.

Kiko and Kuroi then walk to Kodak, pull aside from Ashiro.

"Keep a close eye on Ashiro. Cause one day Godai may try to influence that boy, and when that day comes. You'll have to make a decision, do what your heart tells you Kodak." Kiko says, her hand placed on his back.

Kuroi signals Kodak to talk with him in private on the other side of the alleyway. Kodak lets out a breath of annoyance, but walks over cautious with what he wanted.

"So? What do you need Kuroi?" Kodak asks, thinking about Kuroi needed to talk about in private.

"Your mother and sister's killer is making a move, make your move or do you want their deaths to be in vain." Kuroi's words stab at Kodak like a rusted blade, his fist clenched tightly but deep down he knows that Kuroi was right.

"I get it Kuroi, plus you're not the only one to tell me that." Kodak says with a face full of determination.

Kuroi looks at Kodak and smiles softly, "You'll be ready soon. So don't lose sight of your newfound determination and search for other goals that help motivate that fire I see in your eyes."

Kuroi walks away from Kodak, but before he leaves he says a couple words. "He's coming Kodak, And I'm not talking about Jashi or even the new group of revenant killers he's trying to form."

He then vanishes with Kiko back into Kodak's body. Kuroi thinks for a moment and looks behind him shocked at the figure. "Fukushū!?"

The figure appears from the shadows and it was the same person who seemingly fought Kodak.

Fukushū speaks to Kuroi and Kiko, anger and disbelief spread across their two faces. "Kiko, Kuroi. How are my favorite descendants doing?" Fukushū's tone was overly friendly, Kiko didn't trust it and clung to Kuroi. Her hands started to shake violently and she was beginning to hyperventilate. Kuroi feels the fear and trauma from Kiko's body language. 

Fukushū starts walking over but as this happens Kuroi explodes, his aura ripples throughout the domain. Kodak then feels a dark energy brewing inside himself and falls to his knees.

"(WHAT THE HELL!? WHAT'S HAPPENING TO MY BODY!?)"

Kodak started holding his sides in pain. Ashiro hears his friend groaning in pain and immediately rushes over. "KODAK! HANG ON I'LL GET HELP!"

Kodak stands up weakly and tries his best to ignore the pain his body is feeling. The pain was unbearable and it took everything just to stand, but regardless Kodak ignores the pain to the best of his abilities. "Sorry Ashiro-San I tripped and landed on my side." 

 Kodak brushes his legs and continues walking to school with Ashiro.

Kuroi's aura continues to ripple through the domain but he feels Kiko tug at his shirt.

"Don't do it Kuroi. Your aura is tearing through the domain along with Kodak's physical and spiritual form. If you keep this up he'll die!" Kiko's voice sounded desperate and as she tried talking him out of it, Cracks form on her body. Kuroi's face turns pale with fear and lets up on the immense aura he was giving off, freeing Kiko, and Kodak of the pain.

Fukushū starts laughing and begins taunting Kuroi's empathy. "HAHAHAHAHAHA!" His laughter angers Kuroi deeply, but he looks at Kiko and ignores the immature opponent in front of him. He feels Kiko's hand on his own, it felt peaceful and still. Like the whole world was stopped when their hands enveloped one another, True partnership is what they had at this moment.

Fukushū looks at them and it annoyed him a little bit but regardless, he tries angering Kuroi once more.

"Looks like the great Kuroi is nothing more but a mere plaything for the fallen princess of calamity." Fukushū says, while pointing at Kiko.

Kuroi looked at Fukushū, shaking his head, his face looked disappointed and pitiful. "Why do you act like this Fuku." 

Fukushū's eyes widen at the name Kuroi just called him. "Tch, You changed Kuroi. You were so powerful and ruthless. Then this harlot changed you." He said, referring to Kiko. "You're the Demonic Sword of the Remnant Clan, not this slave to a touch-starved princess." 

Fukushū's anger rises even further as he screams at Kuroi. "WHY DID YOU OF ALL PEOPLE CHANGE!" His anger didn't subside as he screamed louder. "You were so strong and yet you let her you use you like some type of fucking slave!" 

Kuroi stays quiet and just looks at Fukushū, piercing into his soul. "I consider you a brother Fuku." his words touched Fukushū for a moment but he scoffs at him.

"I killed my brother, just like you."

A vein pops through Kuroi's forehead but he tells himself to keep calm, for Kiko's sake. "If that's all you can say Fuku, then we're done." He looks at Kiko and smiles at her. "I'm gonna show our friend the door." Fukushū puts his hands up ready to fight but Kuroi just starts walking up to him calmly, uttering only a single, but it sends chills rippling down Fukushū's spine.

"Restrain!" The single word echoes throughout the domain and Fukushū feels his body becomes trapped in chains, Kuroi presses his thumbs on Fukushū's forehead and chest. He begins to disappear. Fukushū struggles to break free and begins screaming at Kuroi, "IF I GET OUT YOU'LL BE WISHING YOU WERE DEAD! THAT BOY'S POWER WILL BE MINE!"

Fukushū fades completely and the domain becomes dead calm. Kiko walks over to Kuroi and questions him, "What did you do to Fukushū?" 

"I sealed him into a 5th dimensional realm outside of Kodak's incomplete domain that we all exist in." Kuroi explains thoroughly to Kiko.

Kiko looks at Kuroi confused, "I thought you couldn't use that technique anymore?" 

"I can only use it once every 10 years, since this wound limits me, along with that bastard cursing me from all those years ago." Kuroi lifts his shirt, revealing a nasty wound on his ribs that looked twisted and distorted. He feels his body to weaken as he falls to the ground. 

Kiko catches him and holds him, A bright light illuminates from Kiko's hand and Kuroi feels his strength returning. "I won't let you fall as long as I exist." Kiko says, while a peaceful smile spreads across her face. "But who cursed you Kuroi?" She questions him, wanting to know who or what caused this to Kuroi.

Kuroi chuckles to himself, "You're so damn nosy." 

Kiko pouts at Kuroi's accusation of her, "You're so mean!" She says while Kuroi chuckles to himself. He then abruptly stops and looks at Kiko when his eyes had nothing but overbearing seriousness. "I kept this secret from you and the rest of the Fujiwara Clan for the simple reason it would cause a war between the Fujimoto and Fujiwara Clans."

Kiko listens to Kuroi's deep explanation, her trust wasn't broken but it had her suspicious of what else he could possibly be hiding.

"The one who cursed me was your cousin of the Fujimoto clan, Suzuko Fujimoto. But she goes by a title that you know very well."

Kiko stands up and backs away from Kuroi, her lips start trembling. She could barely speak, the simplest words felt like a damn curse to speak. "W-w-w-what is the title she withholds?"

Kuroi's face gets nervous as sweat drips down his face. But regardless of his fears he still proceeds to explain Suzuko's twisted alter ego. So with the feeling of easiness filling into his mind Kuroi opens his mouth to speak the truth.

"She's one of the 5 Calamities, Suzuko is known as the Calamity of Lust." Kuroi looks at Kiko's face, it was filled with a traumatic look of despair.

"Kiko are you ok?" Kuroi asked, concerned for her mental strength. He reaches out to her but his hand is slapped away, this had never happened before. Kiko's eyes swell up with tears, dripping onto the dark ground. Her mouth opened, speaking harsh but truthful words. 

"You knew that Suzuko was the Calamity of Lust?!" Kiko screamed at Kuroi. "You didn't even think to tell me! Stop assuming my mental will could be broken so easily. I fought in the global war that caused us to be brutally tortured, so don't assume I'm weak as those shitty higher ups say about me!"

The ground begins to shake as Kiko drops to her knees and starts to cry even more profusely than before. "I-I-I-I'm not weak right?" Tears pour out of her eyes, clouding her vision. She continues to weep as Kuroi stands there, frozen by regret. "(It's my fault, and for that I apologize Kiko.)"

Kuroi finally takes a step and kneels down, hugging Kiko. Her weeping was slowly easing up, she felt Kuroi's warmth as he chanted, "Warmth." Her body began to heat up with a warm nostalgic feeling.

Kuroi's eyes start to tear up but he wipes them away immediately. "You're not weak Kiko, Out of all the ruthless enemies I fought and defeated you're by far the strongest. The emotional strength you have to amplify your usage of Destructive Battle Arts is astonishing, Your strength is far greater than mine. So please do it for me, believe in yourself strongly."