Beginnings And Ends (15)

Kodak looks at the reporters storming Satsujin, he rushes over quickly. But doesn't use revenant as not to draw attention to himself. As he gets closer Kodak is able to hear the questions from the reporters. "What's your opinion on your daughter's death."

"Are you the reason for it?" 

"Are you the masked killer?"

Satsujin just stood there denying any questions involving his family or the masked killer. Kodak's anger soars. He didn't give a shit what happened to himself but his family was a whole separate topic.

Kodak ran up the hill and etched closer to the annoying reporters. His face was full of anger and even bloodlust. Satsujin then notices out of the corner of his eye that Kodak was sprinting towards him and the reporters.

He yelled at the reporters with a furious tone. "GET THE FUCK AWAY!"

Kodak blocks the path of the reporters using his arms. He then starts to push them back. "I get that you need to do your job but stop getting my family caught up in this shit. The door then slams shut loudly. Satsujin sits down on the couch and looks up at the ceiling, fed up with the reporters. Kodak walks into the house, taking off his jacket and boots at the door.

Satsujin looks at Kodak suspicious. "Where'd you go earlier?"

Kodak thinks for moment, not wanting Satsujin to find out about how he was the one who fought Maeko and Yami.

"I.. was walking with Ashiro. But I saw two people."

Satsujin's hands squeezed tightly, his anger was flaring. It was like an unstable volcano about to explode.

He began to think to himself. If one of those people were responsible for his daughter, he would stop at nothing to bring them down. "What did they look like Kodak?" Tension began to build in the room, it felt suffocating and nerve-racking. Kodak took a deep breath, trying to be somewhat honest with Satsujin. But not to reveal his newfound abilities, sweat dripped from his forehead and onto the carpet. "There was an old couple, but something felt off. The presence they had was terrifying and when they moved slightly, everyone around us died. It was instant, I grabbed Nao and Atsuo trying to flee. But I noticed them walking over to Ashiro with ill-intentions. I rushed forward and grabbed him, running back to the siblings. But, Nao was dismembered and Atsuo was going into shock." Kodak explanation was then cut short by Satsujin.

His normal red eyes suddenly glitched, it was like a virus on a computer. Satsujin grabbed Kodak by the face with both of his hands, his eyes continued the glitching sequence. He didn't feel like the Satsujin he knew. He suppose to be strong and tough, but kind.

Instead this version of Satsujin had a twisted look in his eyes. It was unsettling to say the least, Kodak jumped back yelling at him to knock it off. "What the hell are you doing?! I get that your daughter died but that doesn't give you a reason to take it on me Jin-San. We'll talk later, I just need some rest, good night Satsujin."

Kodak walks down the hallway to his room, what was that? It was like Satsujin was changing into something. Something vile and psychotic was hidden within him. Then again Kodak didn't really know what Satsujin's life was back in Korea, hell he could've been what his surname suggested. A killer, a monster. 

Kodak then slaps his face, ridding of the thought that Satsujin could be a cold blooded killer. He was such a gentle father and the love he had for his wife was immeasurable. "(I refuse to believe that he would kill anyone.)"

Kodak sat down on his bed and called out to Kuroi. "What do I need to do for training my revenant?"

He looks at Kodak and smirks at his question. "Bout damn time you asked. So here's how you'd train it." While Kuroi goes into a deep and detailed explanation about how to train revenant, Satsujin stares at the ceiling. 

He worried about his family, why were they getting attacked? They posed no threat but he and Kodak did. He also wondered what that feeling was when he grabbed Kodak, was it anger? No, it felt different it was like someone else was influencing. 

A figure appears behind Satsujin, almost like how Kuroi would go into his astral projection. "Well, who knew that this man was an unintentional reincarnation of me. A failed one, a inferior one."

Satsujin suddenly feels chills going down his spine and jolts his head around, looking at a man. His face was badly scarred and his outfit was old, it seemed to be from the heian period. 

Satsujin just stood there and wondered what this man planned to do. "Who are you? What do you want?" He called out to the mysterious man. But no simple answer, just a name and a complicated response.

"My name is Jashi Onizuka, and you my friend have just hit the jackpot."

Satsujin looks closer at the man, confused by the response. "W-w-what...?"

Jashi's voice spoke once more, it was commanding and powerful. "Sit, and I will tell you everything you want to know." Jashi then smiled, it was creepy and unsettling. Satsujin didn't trust this man, putting up his hands ready to fight him. Jashi looks at him surprised, smirking at him. 

"I'm glad to know my successor is not easily frightened nor cowardly enough to run."

Satsujin didn't let his guard down, not wanting to know what this man wanted or needed. "(I can't trust this guy, he's too unpredictable. Plus this energy feels similar.)"

Jashi walks closer to Satsujin, causing him to back away. "Stay back Jashi. I'm warning you!"

Kodak continues his meditation, focusing on his energy. Revenant surrounds his room, not leaving the room, but staying in the radius of it.

"(My usage of radial and enhancement aura has gotten vastly stronger in terms of quality, output, and even quantities. It's honestly scary how huge my talent is, despite Kuroi telling me I have only my basic abilities unlocked. But I have a bad feeling for some reason, my body is screaming at me to check in on Satsujin. He just lost his daughter, I need to give him some space.)"

Kuroi looks at Kodak and then at the door. "(That revenant, it reminds me of someone.)" He walks out of Kodak's room, looking over at Satsujin as his eyes widen in horror.

"(JASHI!? I GOTTA TELL KODAK!") Kuroi's body then becomes still and he looks behind himself staring at Jashi extending his right hand. He puts his left pointer finger on lips, shushing him. "Shhh, we can't have you ruining the game. So I'll let you off with a warning." Kuroi holds his head in pain and tries to scream for help but no sound comes out. "(CURSED REVENANT!?)"

His vision becomes blurry and his eyes start to close slowly. Rain then starts to pour outside as thunder echoes through the dark night.

Kuroi falls to his knees and his vision goes black. Satsujin just looks at the power and dominance that Jashi had just displayed, it was amazing.

"(Power, how could I have forgotten. It's amazing and only power can do anything to make things right, wait no. I gave up on that, these aren't my emotions and ambitions.)"

Satsujin looks to his left and sees Jashi's hand on his head. He jumps back and anger floods his mind. "I refuse to be manipulated again!!!"

Jashi scoffs at him and puts his hand on Satsujin's head. "Let me remind you of who is in control." A memory plays back in Satsujin's mind. It was one of his abusive parents, mainly his father Jaaku Tensai.

He remembered sparring a boy about the same age as him but the difference in power and martial arts was too much. He blocks the boy's every attack, countering him with a grab to his shoulders. He leans his back leg, driving his knee straight into the boy's liver. A loud crack sound echoes through the room as the boy screams in pain.

Satsujin looks at his father and shakes his head. "I can't dad, he's down. Is that too much to ask of me?"

His father walks up to him, kneeling down and smiling.

"Come on son, just kill him. Look at him, so weak and pathetic."

Satsujin looked at his father, suddenly a sharp pain shoots across his body. He looks up and sees his father had punched him straight in his gut, it was no different from the other times. He was cruel and chaotic, he forced Satsujin to kill any opponent in martial arts, saying it was nothing more than what weaklings deserve. But despite how much his father beats him for disobeying and lashing out at him. He had Aiya, she was the light in his life and when they first met it was like heaven and hell meeting.

They both bowed at each other, she smiled at Satsujin and stuck out her hand. "Let's do our best Jin-Kun~"

His face got red and he could even look at her, but the moment he looked back at her. He felt a warm and fuzzy feeling bundling up inside of himself.

His father yelled at him. "WHAT ARE YOU FUCKING DOING, KILL THAT BITCH!!!"

Satsujin then felt something new when Jaaku yelled at Aiya, rage.

He jumped at his father, beating him down mercilessly. "LEAVE HER OUT OF THIS!!!"

Blood spills over the room as his father begged him to stop, but he refused. His father struggled to move out of the way and continued to beg his son for mercy.

"I'm doing what you want father! Are realizing what a fucking monster you've created!"

His father didn't answer as Satsujin bashed his elbow into his face, breaking his jaw. "ANSWER ME YOU BASTARD!!!"

No answer came, Satsujin's eyes go blood red as he screams out in anger. "GRAHHHHHHH!!!!"

His hands beat on the lifeless body of Jaaku, blood covers the wooden floors of oak. He looks at hands drenched in the crimson color, this is not what he wanted. Aiya then puts her hand on Satsujin.

"It's okay Jin-Kun, just let it all out. I'm here for you." Satsujin's eyes start to fade back to their normal color. He turns around hugging Aiya and crying his heart out on her sleeve. "I-I-I-I'm... sorry..I didn't mean to."

Sorrow fills the room as the other martial artists around them just look at Satsujin in disgust and fear. Whispers fill the room of gossip and assumptions.

Satsujin feels his head start to ring as words overlap in his mind. "(Killer.... Monster.... Like him... Murderer.)"

But they suddenly stop and Satsujin looks up and sees Aiya. "Calm down Jin. I know you're in pain but push through. For me, please?"

The memory ends and Jashi steps back. "Looks like you're not as cold-blooded as I thought. No matter, when the time comes you'll plead for me and I will welcome you with open arms. My son born of blood."

Jashi disappears, almost fading into thin air. Satsujin walks to his room, looking at his wife. He runs his hand through her hair. "I need you my love. You're the only thing that's stopping me from reverting to my old ways. And I know that's selfish but if anyone else dies before you. I might lose it and stray back to the way of Jaaku."

Kuroi wakes up and rubs his head in pain. "(What happened? I was training Kodak in the ways of cultivating revenant and then I saw Jashi. It was like nothing happened but everything did at the same time.)"

Kuroi walks back to Kodak's room, seeing him and Kiko fast asleep. "I guess we'll have to see if Kodak can handle the cursed and cruel world of revenant."

[Wednesday 7:45 AM]

Kodak wakes up, the sun shines through his curtains as the smell of Ginger scented candles fills the room. Giving him a boost of energy to climb out of bed, despite the fatigue he endured from cultivating and circulating his revenant.

"Jeez, my whole body aches."

Kuroi and Kiko wake up, springing up from the bed. Kiko stretches, letting out a slight moan from stretching her tired body. "Kuoi why do we need to train him until 11 at night?" She says, visibly upset at not getting as much as she used to.

Kuori chuckles to himself and ignores Kiko's whining. "You know exactly why. With the new threats showing up even in this incomplete era of revenant. We need Kodak to be ready for the worst, but at the rate things are going. Jashi might be a problem."

Kiko looks at Kuroi, nervous. "Do you think he'll recreate what he did back in the heian era against Kodak and the others? I really like that Akari girl."

Kuroi smirks and thinks for moment about Kodak's friend group. "I like that Ashiro kiddo. He's got grit and perseverance, but then again I'd rather stick with this idiot." Kuroi says, while pointing his thumb at Kodak.

Kodak then slips while trying to get his shirt on and hits the floor hard. Kiko snorts in laughter and rolls on the ground holding her sides. "Hahahahahaha!!!!"

Kuroi looks at Kodak, watching him struggle to put on his uniform and continuing to fall on the floor. "Like I said he's an idiot."

Ashiro then walks in and watches the absolute chaos going on in Kodak's room.

He stares at them for a moment before immediately exiting the room. "(He's still the same idiot I admire.)"

He walks into the kitchen, grabbing a bowl, spoon, milk, and a box of cereal. Satsujin exits his room and pours a cup of coffee. "(My headache is splitting my head apart.)"

Ashiro turns on the stove, cooking eggs, bacon, and even some toast. "(Nothing like a good breakfast to start the day.)"

The moment the toast was done Kodak runs by, taking a piece of toast with eggs on it.

Ashiro glares at Kodak as he runs out the door with his breakfast. "GET YOUR OWN DAMN FOOD!"

Satsujin smirks while sipping on some coffee. "I still don't know how you both have such energy in the morning. It's almost like you both share a brain cell."

Ashiro ignores his father's teasing and walks back to his room. "I'm getting ready for school." But he stops short of his bedroom and looks back at Satsujin. "Hey Dad?"

Satsujin turns his head over to Ashiro. "Yeah, what's up Son?"

"When is the anniversary for the diner again?" Ashiro asks, curious about the family restaurant. 

Satsujin replies to Ashiro's question with no hesitation. "It's on Friday at 9:30 PM. Why the sudden question?"

"I wanna take my friends there and see them attend such a huge event for the restaurant, plus it's Kodak's birthday on Friday. Think of it as a way to repay Kodak's kindness to everyone."

Satsujin thinks back during the past couple of weeks. "(He had to deal with Nao's death even after mother and sister's deaths. But this can't be all about Kodak, I mean this would help Ashiro as well.)"

[Tōzai Gakuen 3:45 AM]

Kodak walks through the halls of his school, thinking about the recent events. "(What her name again? Maeko, I forgot things that aren't relevant. But that's the first time I felt blood on my hands. Will I have to do it again? Will I have to take a life in order to save someone?)"

Kodak's train of thought continues on and on. Thinking about how he could save Nao or even his own family. Kodak's negative thoughts were suddenly interrupted and a familiar voice called to him. "Kodak, listen you block head!!!"

He immediately turns around, looking behind himself to see Fumiko was the one calling to him.

"I've been trying to talk to you all day. You've been in the cafeteria alone and even in the study hall you've just straight up ignored me and the others. So I ask this one time, what the hell is going on with you?!"

Kodak looks at Fumiko, her eyes were like amethysts brightening up a dark cave. And her face was oh so beautiful, as it always was. He inhales deeply and exhales. Kodak begins to wonder about if he should tell the truth about revenant to Fumiko.

"Fumiko are you-" Kodak's question is suddenly cut off.

"Finally gonna tell me about revenant? I already know, my avatar told me as much as she could within causality ranges." 

Kodak smirks at Fumiko and pats her on head. A warm feeling then engulfs them both, it felt nostalgic and even somewhat romantic.

They feel their revenant reacting to one another. It was like something within them was calling out to one another. A memory then floods their minds.

A village filled with happy children and crowds of gleeful couples fill the area.

Kodak looks behind him, seeing a woman dressed in a lavender kimono. The outfit had an emblem of a flower with a sword across it. The woman's face also seemed nostalgic and what was even more interesting, is the fact she was emanating revenant. 

He walked up to the woman and called out to her. "Who are you? Why am I here?"

The strange woman didn't even react to him, walking through him. Almost like he never existed in the first place.

Fumiko looks across the area, calling Kodak's name multiple times. "Kodak! Where are you?"

She then kneels down and extends her hands outwards. "(Basic revenant: Radar!)"

Her revenant expands across the village, almost engulfing it completely.

"(This village, it's full of revenant users!? I can't even find Kodak inside this dense area of energy!)"

Fumiko continues to struggle finding her friend, until an energy similar to Kodak picks up on her radar. She bends her knees, breaking the ground beneath her. "(Basic Revenant: Blitzing aura!)"

"(Over the past couple days my avatar has taught me that revenant has different styles and basic techniques, thus I achieved a couple types of techniques: Ghoul's hand, Radar of Revenant, Radial Aura, Blade Aura, and Blades of Revenant.)"

She dashes across the village at blinding speeds, passing by every child and adult. But something was off, it was like she wasn't even there.

"(What the hell?! These people don't even notice me?)"

She pushes the multiple theories she had to the back of her mind, continuing to search for Kodak. As Fumiko runs further and further she finds the energy source of what the radar sensed earlier, wanting to leave this weird village and find her friend she rushes even quicker to the source.

"Kodak-" A face of confusion spread across her. "Huh? You're not Kodak."

To her surprise it wasn't her friend, but a man with scar slashed across his face. He wore a black yukata with a katana held by his side. But what was even more interesting, was the fact he felt like Kodak.

Fumiko wondered to herself about the strange yet nostalgic man she saw In front of her. "(This guy feels like Kodak, their attitude. Hell, even the way they stand. But regardless of the physical and psychological things they do, this man feels like a fully realized version of Kodak.)"

The man looks at Fumiko and smiles, it felt comforting. "(No doubt about it he smiles just like Kodak.)"

Fumiko looks at the man and watches as he walks past her. His voice then called out to someone behind her. "Kaguya-San! How have you been?"

Fumiko's ears perk up at the name. "(Kaguya?! That's the same name as my avatar's.)"

She bolts her head around and looks at the person, seeing a woman dressed in a lavender kimono. Fumiko looks closer at the woman and tugs on her own collar, revealing the same symbol on the kimono.

"(W-what the!? It's the same symbol, but what does it mean?)"

Fumiko's radar then picks up another revenant source behind a woman and extends her hand outwards, picking them up with seemingly an invisible hand. "Kodak!" Fumiko immediately undos her technique and rushes towards him. The two of them hug each other deeply, their revenant's begin to react and a thumping sound can be heard almost like a heartbeat,

Kodak then senses a powerful revenant, immediately looking behind him and sees the man. "(That's the same man I saw in my dream! What's he doing here, and what does he want?)"

The two of them release their hug as Kodak gets in front of Fumiko, putting his hands up. His body then explodes with revenant. "(Basic Revenant: Martial Aura!)"

His body glows a dark blue, almost violet color. The man suddenly looks behind him, directly at Kodak. His revenant shrouds his body with a dark and deep shade of aura. Kodak and the strange man's auras begin to resonate with one another. Almost like an unfinished tune that was close to refinement.

The man's voice called to him, it was commanding and powerful. Like a natural born leader. "Complete it Kodak, you're so close to finishing the last formation of your family's martial arts."

He looks at him confused. "How do you know the Kawanari battle arts?"

The man chuckles and pats Kodak on the head, he jumps back and shoots a small burst of kinetic energy. The man simply moves his head as the energy blast grazes his left cheek. "Back the fuck off!"

The man smirks, but suddenly glares at Kodak.

"It's called destructive battle arts, and the reason I know it is because I made the damn technique kiddo."

Kodak then senses two energies disappearing. He looks behind and sees that both Fumiko and Kaguya were gone. "FUMIKO-SAN!!!"

He then turns his attention back to the strange man. "Who are you?" Kodak keeps his guard up and his aura increases in output, even catching the man by surprise. "(Impressive, he's emanating the output of low tier A-rank. At his age he would be considered a prodigy, but he's not the only talented one here!)"

Kodak's focus on the man only sharpens, like the craftsmanship of a well honed blacksmith. "I'll ask again, who the fuck are you!"

The man smirks and unsheathes his katana, the energy of it lightens Kodak's eyes. "I'll tell you who I am. I'm the Destructive Ruler: Kenji Fujiwara."