Chapter 1: SORROW
{This Light Novel Series Is Set In The Japanese Shōwa Era.}
Author: GigaTOONZ
"XENO HUNTER: BLOOD OF FATE"
CHAPTER.01
Title - SORROW
Kazuki - [Narration]
...Have you ever
closed your eyes...
[Narration]
And just imagined...
[Narration]
That you could be
anything you wanted
to be?
[Narration]
...A hero.
[Narration]
...A villain.
[Narration]
Good...
[Narration]
Evil...
[Narration]
One truly can't exist
without the other.
[Narration]
And people will
always have to make
the difficult
decision of choosing
which side they stand
for.
[Narration]
That's just the
nature of life.
[Narration]
...But what IS life?
[Narration]
Well...
I'm not quite sure
what the right answer
is myself.
[Narration]
But...
If i had to say...
[Narration]
Life is simply
just...
[Narration]
...A STORY.
[At night, The door of an ancient, lost shrine slowly opens. Two young archaeologists, Makura Kayne and Saburou Hakito walk in along with their fellow, young archaeological teammates. They all survey the area.]
Makura - Oh...
Wow!
Incredible!
Who knew something so
amazing was hidden
in such plain sight?
Hahaha.
[Saburou sighs.]
Saburou - Jeez Maku.
Do you always have to
get so excited every
time we do this?
Makura - Oh!
Well...
Hakushi - Ahahahahaha.
I guess Saburou is
kinda right.
Hagoma - Yeah Maku, you do get
overly excited
everytime we do this.
Kiba - For Maku, overly
excited is an
understatement!
If only my little
sister Leiya could be
more like that.
Leiya - Ah!
H-Hey, why are you
always picking on me?
Kiba - Sorry Leiya, but a
beautiful face will
only get you so far.
If your ever planning
on winning a man over,
you'll have to be more
confident in yourself.
Leiya - Kiba!
Kiba - Hehehehehe.
[Leiya bashfully looks at Makura and smiles to herself. Kiba notices this.]
Kiba - Oh!
[A childishly devious smile grows on Kiba's face.]
Kiba - Hehhh?
Leiya - Ah!
W-What is it?!
Kiba - Oh, nothing, nothing.
Leiya - Grrr!
Makura - Kiba, quit teasing
your sister already!
She IS still new to
all of this so of
course she'd be shy on
her first day.
Leiya - Y-Yeah!
Th-That's why!
Kiba - Hehh?
Reeeally Leiya?
Leiya - I swear Kiba i'll kill
you!
[Saburou sighs and leans on a wall. He then brings out a rubik's cube from his haori and begins to solve it.]
Saburou - Besides, its not like
we ever find anything
interesting anyway.
[Saburou completely solves the rubik's cube.]
Saburou - Nothing's ever even
worth much in the very
least.
[Makura smiles.]
Makura - It doesn't always have
to be about money,
Saburou.
Saburou - Yeah?
Well i beg to differ.
You know far better
than i do how much
you and your family
NEED money right now.
Makura - Ah!
Leiya - Oh...
[Makura's expression saddens, which brings down the mood of all the other archeologists.]
Saburou - Oh!
That was insensitive
of me.
I'm sorry, Maku.
Makura - No...
Saburou - Oh?
Makura - ...Your right!
While my passion may
be with archaeology...
Sometimes i do really
wish it paid a little
more.
Nothing would make me
happier than giving
my mom and my younger
siblings a better
life.
[Makura brings out a picture from his haori. He stares and smiles at the picture of him, his mother and his two younger siblings, Kazuki Kayne and Kaya Kayne.]
Makura - [Thoughts]
Kazuki...
[Thoughts]
Kaya...
[Saburou smiles.]
Saburou - You're a good guy
Maku.
Makura - Oh!
Saburou - Your family is lucky
to have someone like
you to look out for
them.
Trust me.
Makura - Oh...
[Makura looks around and sees the other archeologists smiling and nodding in agreement with Saburou's statement, making Makura smile as well.]
Makura - And you're a good
friend Saburou.
You all are.
Lets head deeper
inside.
...I have a pretty
good feeling about
this.
[Deeper in the ancient shrine, the archaeologists walk through a large, long, bronze encrusted corridor. Leiya continuously and bashfully stares at Makura from behind until Kiba slaps her in the back and pushes her forward.]
Leiya - Ahh!
Oh...
[Leiya looks back at Kiba and he smiles at her, encouraging her to move forward.]
Leiya - Mmmm.
[Leiya hesitantly walks over to Makura's side.]
Leiya - Uh...Umm...
Makura - Oh?
Leiya, is everything
alright?
Leiya - Ah!
Y-Yeah!
E-Everything's fine!
...Hey, Makura.
Makura - Please, it's okay to
call me Maku.
Everyone else does.
Leiya - Right. Maku.
S-So, that picture
earlier...
Makura - Hmm?
Leiya - The one with you and
your family.
Makura - Oh, right.
Leiya - Well, if you don't
mind me asking,
why wasn't your father
in it?
Didn't you have one?
[Makura smiles.]
Makura - ...Ahh, he died a
month before that
picture was taken.
Leiya - Ah!
I-I'm really sorry!
I-I didn't mean to-
Makura - Ahahahahaha.
Why are you
apologizing?
You didn't do anything
wrong.
My father was a good
man.
He cared about nothing
more than his family's
happiness.
He always told us, "We
Were The Greatest Joy
Of His Life".
...Through out his
life, he's always been
a very strange man.
When i was just a kid,
time and time again,
i'd witness him
perform incredible,
physical feats that
some people would
consider near
impossible.
His body never
showed any signs of
stress or fatigue.
It was...like he
wasn't even human.
Leiya - So, what happened?
[Makura frowns.]
Makura - Well...
One night, out of the
blue...
He just passed away.
Leiya - Ah!
Makura - Not because of natural
death...
But because
apparently, he was
sick.
Leiya - Oh!
What kind of sickness
was it?
Makura - ...No one knows.
Up to this day...
No one knows!
Leiya - ...I'm so sorry Maku.
Makura - Don't be.
I couldn't care less.
Leiya - Ehh?!
Why?!
[Makura smiles.]
Makura - ...My dad always told
us, that even if he'd
die in the next
second, he'd have no
regrets.
It was kinda scary to
hear that.
But it WAS true.
Because according to
him, he had already
lived a full and happy
life.
That makes me happy as
well.
[Leiya smiles. She and Makura continue their joyous conversation, making Kiba smile behind them.]
Kiba - Oh?!
[Kiba stops and notices something on the wall.]
Kiba - Everyone, come see
this!
Makura - Oh?
Leiya - Oh?
Saburou - Oh?
[Everyone heads over to Kiba.]
Leiya - What's wrong Kiba?
Saburou - Did you find
anything?
[Kiba remains silent and focused on the wall.]
Makura - ...Kiba?
Kiba - ...Notice anything
strange about this
wall?
Makura - Oh...
[Makura looks at the wall.]
Makura - Ah!
Of course!
How did we miss that?!
Leiya - What do you mean?
I don't see anything
odd.
Saburou - As an archaeologist,
you always have to
learn to pay the
closest attention to
the tiniest details
as much as possible.
Leiya - R-Right!
Saburou - Now look more
carefully, and tell
us what you see.
[Leiya walks closer to the wall and stares carefully at it.]
Leiya - Hmmm...
Ah!
I see it now!
The wall is completely
made up of dark
bricks!
Yet that one in the
middle is slightly
lighter than all the
rest!
Saburou - Correct.
[Makura smiles.]
Makura - Good job Leiya.
Leiya - I still don't exactly
understand what it
means, though.
Hagoma - It simply means this
brick was set here far
after the rest.
Hakushi - But what kind of
person builds a wall
and places the middle
brick last?
Saburou - That is pretty odd.
What do you think
Maku?
[Makura walks over to the wall and gently places his hand on the strange brick.]
Makura - ...I think there's
more to this than
meets the eye.
[Makura accidentally pushes the strange brick deeper into the wall.]
Makura - Ah!
[The entire shrine begins to violently rumble.]
Kiba - Ah!
Leiya - W-W-What's happening?!
Saburou - Everyone, hang on!!
Makura - Ngh!
Ah!
Look!!
[The giant wall in front of the archaeologists slowly, vertically splits in half and opens a path into a hidden room emitting a mesmerising, radiant, gold light. The rumbling slowly ceases.]
Makura - Is everyone okay?
Leiya - ...Maku.
Look.
Makura - Ah...!
[All the archaeologists stand in awe for a few moments, then cautiously head into the room. They find themselves in a giant, solid gold encrusted hall, overflowing with golden relics, jewels of countless varieties and numerous otherworldly treasures.]
Saburou - What in the...?
Makura - Woah...!
Leiya - ...What is this place?
Hakushi - Who knows?
Kiba - Look at all this loot!
[Makura kneels on one knee and picks up a tiny gem.]
Makura - This place must've
probably been some
kind of ancient
treasury.
Leiya - ...Its so beautiful.
There isn't a single
bit of dust or grime
anywhere.
[Saburou smiles.]
Saburou - Ha...Hahahahahahaha.
Makura - Saburou?
Saburou - I can't believe we did
it.
After all this time...
We finally did it.
Makura - Oh?
What do you mean?
Saburou - It means our search
has finally come to an
end.
Just look at what
we've discovered!
An ancient treasury?!
Makura - Oh!
[Saburou places his arm over Makura's shoulder.]
Saburou - Haha.
Hell, with this, we
can all live our lives
in the finest luxury
this world has to
offer.
Hagoma - Sounds good to me.
Kiba - I could go for some
luxury.
[Everyone begins to laugh. While laughing, Leiya turns to Makura and notices he isn't laughing. Rather, he looks concerned.]
Leiya - Oh?
Maku?
Makura - ...Saburou.
Saburou - Hmm?
Makura - ...I think it'd be
best...if nothing left
this room.
Leiya - ...Eh?!
Kiba - Oh?!
Hagoma - Oh...
Hakushi - Oh...
Saburou - ...Heh?!
Are you...Are you
nuts?!
What do you mean "It'd
Be Best If Nothing
Left This Room"?!
Makura - ...I don't know why.
But for some reason...
I'm getting this
strange feeling all of
a sudden.
Just being in here
makes my skin crawl!
Its almost like...
Almost like...
Like we're being
watched!
Leiya - Ah!
Saburou - ...Tsk!
"Like We're Being
Watched"?!
Don't give me that
bullshit!
[Saburou grabs Makura's jacket and forcefully pins him on a wall.]
Makura - Urk!
Leiya - Maku!
Kiba - Saburou, that's
enough!
Saburou - Out of all the
people in this room,
i expected you to be
the one person that
would never try to
stab us in the back!
Makura - What are you-
Urk!
[Saburou tightens his grip around Makura's collar, slightly choking him.]
Hakushi - Saburou, we said
that's enough!
Saburou - Admit it Maku!
You want all this for
yourself, don't you?!
The only thing stopping
you from achieving that
goal is us!
Is that why you're
trying to get rid of
us?!
Makura - Are you insane?!
[Makura aggressively pushes Saburou away.]
Makura - What has gotten into
you all of a sudden?!
[Saburou breathes heavily in anger.]
Leiya - Oh...
Makura - Saburou...
There IS something wrong
with you, isn't there?
Saburou - Ah!
Makura - I've known you for as
long as i can remember.
Not once have you ever
been the kind of person
to burst out in a fit
of rage or paranoia,
regardless of the
situation.
Saburou - Just what the hell are
you saying?!
Makura - I'm saying my suspicions
were right.
There is something off
about this place.
And its affecting your
sense of logic.
Saburou - Kuh...!
[Makura walks over to Saburou and gently places his hand on Saburou's shoulder.]
Makura - Calm down, Saburou.
Just take a deep
breath.
Saburou - Ngh...
[Saburou slowly takes a deep breath and eases up.]
Saburou - I'm sorry Maku.
I really don't know
what came over me.
[Makura smiles.]
Makura - It wouldn't be fair
to say it was your
fault.
[Saburou smiles. Leiya then sighs in relief.]
Leiya - You two really had
me worried there.
Makura - There wasn't any
need for you to
get worried, Leiya.
Saburou and i have
been best friends
ever since we were
kids.
While we may have
our arguements
every now and then,
our friendship can
never be severed by
anyone or anything.
[Makura and Saburou do a special fist bump, making Leiya smile.]
Leiya - That's really sweet.
Kiba - In a shitty sort of
way.
[An annoyed smile grows on Leiya's face.]
Leiya - Ahaha.
Besides, if anyone
were to ever stab us
in the back, everyone
knows....it'd be Kiba.
Kiba - Heh?!
O-Oi, how dare you
say that to your own
older brother, you
dimwitted brat!!
Leiya - Hah?!!
You dummy!!
It was a joke, moron!
Kiba - Hah?!!
Leiya - Shithead!!
Kiba - Hah?!
Hagoma - Oi!
Knock it off!
[Leiya and Kiba keep on arguing while Hagoma tries to separate them.]
Makura - On second thought,
maybe it'd be a good
idea if we did take
a thing or two back
with us.
Saburou - Why the sudden
change of mind?
Makura - ...The fact still
remains that my hunch
about this place
giving off a bad vibe
may be nothing more
than just a hunch.
Most likely, it could
be my mind simply
playing tricks on me.
Hagoma - And Saburou's
earlier, aggressive
behaviour?
Makura - There is a chance it
could've just been an
emotional spike.
After all, getting
frustrated isn't
something abnormal
for someone who does
what we do.
Hakushi - Hmmm?
Maybe.
Saburou - So, what do you want
us to do?
Makura - ...The possibility
of my suspicions
being wrong about
this place is too
great.
And if those
suspicions did turn
out to be wrong, we
would all be making a
grave mistake leaving
here empty handed.
Saburou - I suppose your right.
Makura - Furthermore, this
place DOES still
remain an uncharted
region.
There could be a lot
more to this than we
know of.
I believe that
should call for
further research and
investigation.
[Saburou smiles.]
Saburou - Couldn't have said
it better myself.
[Makura smiles.]
Hakushi - We should at least
take a look around.
There could be some
information that'll
shed more light on
how this place came
to be.
Makura - Right.
It'd be best if we-
Leiya - You useless...
Makura - Oh?!
Saburou - Oh?!
Hakushi - Oh?!
Leiya - Brainless,
irresponsible, good
-for-nothing, *****
*******************
*******************
*******************
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LEIYA'S REMAINING INSULTS TO KIBA WERE TOO VULGAR TO BE HEARD BY ANYONE.
Makura - Ah...
Hakushi - Ah...
Saburou - Ah...
Makura - Maybe, we should
start searching.
Saburou - Right.
Makura - Oi!
Hagoma!
Kiba!
Leiya!
Hagoma - Hmm?
Kiba - Oh?
Leiya - Oh?
[Makura, Saburou and Hakushi walk over to Leiya, Kiba and Hagoma.]
Leiya - What is it?
Makura - We've decided to
make a quick survey
around the area.
See if any of you
can find anything
that may contain a
bit of information
about this place.
Leiya - Right.
Hagoma - Right.
Kiba - On it.
[The archeologists split up and search around the large treasury hall. While searching, something catches Leiya's eye on the wall.]
Leiya - Oh!
Hey, Maku, i think
i found something!
[Makura walks over to Leiya.]
Makura - What is it?
Leiya - Take a look at
this.
Makura - Ah!
[Leiya shows Makura a large wall covered in strange, ancient hieroglyphics.]
Makura - What in the...?
[Leiya inspects the wall.]
Leiya - It...looks like
ancient
hieroglyphics.
Makura - Ancient
hieroglyphics?
Oh!
I remember you
mentioning something
about studying those
a long time ago.
Think you can find
out what it means?
Leiya - I'm not so sure.
These hieroglyphics
are like nothing
i've ever seen
before.
Maybe i can make out
a little bit of what
it says but it'll
take some time.
I'll do my best to
see what i can get
out of it.
Makura - Alright.
Good luck.
Leiya - Thanks.
Makura - Oh, right, before i
forget...
Leiya - Oh?
Makura - When this is all
over, you should
come by to meet my
family sometime.
Leiya - Ah!
Makura - I'm sure they'd be
delighted to meet
you.
Plus, it'd be a
great way for us to
hang out.
[Leiya smiles and heavily blushes.]
Leiya - Um, y-y-yeah.
I-I'd really like
that.
[Makura smiles.]
Makura - Great.
Till then i guess.
[Makura turns around and leaves. Leiya childishly jumps up and down in joy and excitement. She then quickly composes herself and turns her attention back to her work. Makura walks towards Saburou who thoroughly inspects another wall.]
Makura - Hey!
Saburou!
Saburou - Oh?
Makura - Find anything yet?
Saburou - Well, it may be
nothing really, but
this part of the
wall does sound
pretty hollow for
some reason.
Makura - Hollow?
Saburou - Mmm.
Right here.
[Saburou gently knocks on the wall with his knuckles, making a hollow noise.]
Saburou - I'm gonna try to
open it to see
what it is.
[Makura nods to Saburou in agreement. Saburou uses a mallet and breaks open the hollow part of the wall. He then puts his hand inside the hole and searches around.]
Makura - Find anything in
there?
Saburou - Just...a little...
more...
Ah!
I think i grabbed
something.
Kiba - Well pull it out
ya dunce.
Saburou - Don't you see me
trying?!
Hrghhh...!
Kiba - Pull it out!
Pull it out!
Makura - You can do it,
Saburou!
Boom! Boom!
Leiya - [Thoughts]
Boys WILL be boys.
[Saburou struggles, and pulls out a strange, large, extremely filthy, grime covered, spherical, petrified object.]
Saburou - Eh?
Makura - Eh?
Saburou - Dwahhah!
Gross!
Gross!
Gross!
[Saburou throws the strange, petrified object away and cleans the filth from his hands.]
Makura - What hell was
that?!
Kiba - Calm down you
idiots.
That was probably
just a petrified
rock or something.
Saburou - What was that
doing in the wall?
Kiba - Who knows?
[Saburou walks over to the strange, petrified object and picks it up.]
Saburou - What is this
anyway?
Kiba - Hmmm...
It might not be a
rock after all.
Look at the weird
shape.
Makura - You may be right,
Kiba.
[Makura pays closer attention to the strange, petrified object.]
Makura - ...Up close...
It almost like...
Leiya - Maku!
Makura - Oh?
What is it?
Leiya - There's something
odd about these
hieroglyphics!
They're made using
strange patterns
and languages i've
never seen before!
It's really
difficult to make
out what it
says, but it
seems to be telling
a story of some
sort.
Saburou - A story?
About what?
Leiya - I'm still trying to
figure that out.
It DOES have some
relation to this
place.
Though it doesn't
speak exactly of
how this treasury
came to be
Makura - So what does it
speak of?
Leiya - ...Something else.
Kiba - What could it be?
Leiya - Didn't i just tell
you i'm still
trying to figure
that out!!!
Kiba - Heh?!
Why are yelling at
me?!
Leiya - God damn it Kiba!
Just get back to
work and leave me
be!
Kiba - What?!!
Hmph!
[Kiba walks off, angrily.]
Kiba - Tch!
She didn't yell at
Maku or Saburou
when they asked!
Makura - Ahahahahahahaha.
Saburou - Ahahahahahahaha.
[Saburou holds up the strange, petrified object.]
Saburou - Maybe we could take
this back to the
lab for further
research.
Makura - Mmm.
Saburou - Though, this thing
really is pretty
filthy, isn't it?
I wonder how long
it's been in there?
[Saburou dusts the strange, petrified object with his hand. A tiny, jagged part, sticking out of the object cuts and wounds one of Saburou's finger.]
Saburou - Gahh!
[Unaware to everyone, a drop of blood drips from Saburou's wound and seeps into a crack on the strange, petrified object as Saburou throws it to the ground.]
Makura - Saburou!
Kiba - Are you alright?
Saburou - Urgh...!
Yeah, don't worry.
Its just a scratch.
Hakushi - That could get
infected.
I'll help you patch
it up.
Kiba - You really
shouldn't mess
around with
strange, jagged
objects you find
lying around, you
know.
Saburou - Jeez, thanks for
the amazing advice,
Kiba.
Kiba - Ah!
Why can't anyone
give me a break
today?!
Saburou - Hahaha.
Fine, fine, i guess
that wasn't fair.
Thanks for your
concern Kiba.
You're a good
friend.
There.
Are you happy now?
Kiba - Oh!
A-Ahh.
You bet i am.
[Kiba's smile grows wider. Makura smiles as well. The men keep on chatting while Leiya still concentrates on the strange hieroglyphics on the wall.]
Leiya - ...Ah!
[Leiya's loudly gasps in horror by what she realizes.]
Makura - Oh?
Leiya, what's
wrong?
Leiya - ...That thing you
were holding
earlier,
Saburou-San...
When you got
hurt by it...
...Did any of your
blood touch it?!
Saburou - Oh!
Y-Yeah.
Just a drop,
though.
[Leiya begins to slowly step back as she trembles in fear.]
Saburou - ...Leiya?
Leiya - ...We've all
been wrong about
this!
Makura - Wrong about
what?
Leiya - ...This isn't
a treasury!
Makura - Oh!
[Leiya turns and faces everyone with a horrified expression.]
Leiya - ...Its a
tomb!
Makura - Ah...!
Kiba - Ah...!
Saburou - Ah...!
Hagoma - Ah...!
Hakushi - Ah...!
Saburou - ...A tomb?!
[Makura begins to tremble in fear.]
Makura - ...Leiya!
...Just WHAT was
buried in here?!
[Leiya looks at Makura with tears flowing out of her eyes and down her cheeks.]
Leiya - What have we
done?!
[The gates leading in and out of the tomb instantly close shut. All the archaeologists gasp in surprise.]
Saburou - What the...?!
Kiba - Hey!
[Kiba runs to the gate and tries to open it.]
Kiba - Ngh!
Kuh...!!
Gah!
Damn it!
It won't open!
Makura - ...What's going
on?!
[The strange, petrified object lying on the ground behind everyone beats once. Everyone gasps in horror as they slowly turn around and look at the strange, petrified object on the ground.]
Kiba - ...What the...?!
Saburou - ...What was that?!
Just now....
Did that thing
just...?!
[The strange, petrified object beats once again.]
Makura - Ah!
[The strange, petrified object begins to continuously beat again and again. Everyone watches in horror as the strange object's petrified shell begins to crumble apart.]
Kiba - Ah!
Leiya - Ah...ahhh!
[The strange object's petrified shell crumbles apart more and more. Makura gasps in horror by what he sees.]
Hagoma - Oh...!
Hakushi - My...!
Saburou - God...!
Makura - God...!
[The strange object's petrified shell completely crumbles apart, revealing a beating, blood-drenched heart. Everyone begins to step back slowly and tremble in fear.]
Makura - Kuh...!
[Makura holds his beating chest. The entire shrine and tomb becomes completely dark.]
Makura - Ah!
Saburou - Ah!
Kiba - What the...?!
Leiya - Ahhh...!
[The entire sky outside the shrine turns completely black.]
Leiya - W-W-What's
happening?!
[The part of the ground where the heart lies on starts glowing red.]
Makura - Ah!
[The heart begins to levitate and hovers in the air. An ominous, deep, humming sound begins to play all around the shrine and in the tomb.]
Makura - Ah!
[Thoughts]
What the...?!
[Makura looks around frantically as the ominous, deep, humming sound gets louder and louder.]
Makura - Ngh!
[Thoughts]
Where's that sound
coming from?!
Saburou - Maku.
Makura - Oh!
Saburou - ...Look.
[Makura looks at the hovering heart. Numerous eyelids appear on the heart and begin to slowly move.]
Makura - Ah!
[The numerous eyelids on the heart all slowly open up completely, revealing numerous demonic-looking eyes. All the archeologists gasp in horror.]
Makura - What...is that?!
[Every eye on the heart simultaneously look towards the archaeologists.]
Makura - Ngh!
Saburou - Ah!
Leiya - Eek!
[The whole shrine begins to rumble as the heart begins to materialize four long, extended, vein-like tendrils from itself.]
Makura - Oh!
Leiya - W-What's it
doing?!
[The four extended, vein-like tendrils are positioned around the heart like arms and legs.]
Makura - It's...
[The heart materializes organs around itself.]
Makura - ...It's...
transforming!
[The heart materializes a full, humanoid skeleton around the organs and itself. Veins, tissues and muscles materialize around the humanoid skeleton.]
Saburou - Ah!
[Skin materialize around the humanoid skeleton, forming a huge, mysterious, humanoid figure. Hair then grows on the head of the mysterious, humanoid figure.]
Makura - What in the...?!
[As the mysterious, humanoid figure opens it's eyes, a huge wave of energy bursts out of his body and sends the archaeologists flying into the air and falling on the ground. The wave of energy bursts out of the shrine and spreads across a huge landscape, causing a heavy, deadly storm.]
Makura - Ngh...!
Urgh...!
[As the archaeologists stand up from the ground, the rumbling stops and a creepy, utter silence fills the atmosphere.]
Makura - I-Is everyone
alright?
Saburou - Ngh!
Yeah!
Kiba - I'm good.
Hagoma - Me too.
Leiya - S-Same here.
Hakushi - Urgh!
What just
happened?!
Makura - Ngh!
I don't know.
My head's still
spinning.
Leiya - Urgh!
I feel like i just
got hit with a
giant sledgehammer.
Makura - We need to find a
way to get out of
here and regroup
outside.
Everyone-
Ah!!
[The archaeologists gasp in fear as they witness a tall, muscular, mysterious, humanoid figure standing in the dark and staring at his hand. The archaeologists begin to step back and tremble in fear.]
Makura - What...
The hell...
Is that...?!
[Leiya vigorously trembles and sweats in fear, but Makura gently holds her hand to calm her down. She firmly tightens her grip around Makura's hand.]
Makura - Nobody...move.
[As the mysterious, humanoid figure slowly turns and looks at the archaeologists with his red demonic eyes, an intense pressure slams them.]
Makura - Urk!
Ngh!
[Thoughts]
...Why...why can't
i move?!
[Thoughts]
...It's him!
[Thoughts]
Just his stare is
almost ripping me
apart!
Ngh!
[The mysterious, humanoid figure turns and looks at his hand again. He slowly clenches and tightens his fist.]
Mysterious - ...It seems...
Humanoid
Figure I've been reborn.
[Another intense pressure slams the archaeologists from the mysterious, humanoid figure's voice, making Saburou cough out blood.]
Makura - Saburou!
Saburou - Ngh!
[Thoughts]
Damn!
[Thoughts]
Even his voice is
like thunder in
my head!
[The mysterious, humanoid figure turns and walks over to the archaeologists.]
Mysterious - You...
Humanoid
Figure Humans...
[The archaeologists all tremble in fear. The mysterious, humanoid figure looks at Leiya and holds her face while inspecting it.]
Mysterious - Hmmm...
Humanoid
Figure I guess humans
have gotten even
weaker than i
remember.
[The mysterious, humanoid figure tightens his grip around Leiya's face and begins to crush it.]
Leiya - Argh...!
Kiba - Kuh!
Bastard!
Makura - Ah!
[Kiba pulls out a knife from his jacket.]
Kiba - Get away from my
sister!
Makura - No Kiba!
Hagoma - Don't!
Hakushi - Don't!
Saburou - Kibaaaaa!!!
Kiba - Arghhh...!
[Kiba tries to attack the mysterious, humanoid figure with the knife but instantly stops.]
Kiba - Ah...!
[The archaeologists gasp in horror by what they see. Kiba looks down and sees the mysterious, humanoid figure's arm in the form of a long, large, mutated tentacle, shrouded in demonic-looking eyes deeply impaling his stomach.]
Leiya - Ah...!
[Kiba coughs out large amounts of blood.]
Mysterious - ...Weak.
Humanoid
Figure
Kiba - Urgh!
...Man!
What in the world
have we done?
I'm sorry Leiya.
I guess this is it
for me.
Leiya - Ah!
No...
Kiba...
[Tears begin to flow out of Leiya's eyes and roll down Leiya's cheeks.]
Kiba - Maybe this is it
for you too.
Maybe not.
[Kiba smiles and looks at Leiya.]
Kiba - But i hope you
make it.
Leiya - Ah...!
Kiba - Goodbye, little
sis.
[The mysterious, humanoid figure pulls out his arm from Kiba's stomach.]
Kiba - Urk!
[Large amounts of Kiba's blood gushes out of his stomach as he falls to the ground and dies.]
Leiya - B...B...Big bro?
Arghhhhhh...!!!
[Leiya begins to cry bitterly over her dead brother as she cuddles him in her arms.]
Makura - ...Kiba.
[The archaeologists all stare at Kiba's dead body in horror.]
Leiya - Uwahhhhh...!
Kiba...!
Kibaaa...!
[Leiya continues to cry over her dead brother. As Makura watches in horror, the mysterious, humanoid figure turns to him.]
Makura - Ngh!
[The mysterious, humanoid figure raises his Mutated arm at Makura.]
Hakushi - Ah!
Makura, look out!!
[The mysterious, humanoid figure tries to slash Makura with it's mutated arm but Hakushi quickly pushes him out of the way.]
Makura - Urk!
[By pushing Makura out of the way, Hakushi takes the hit and gets slashed in the process.]
Hakushi - Argh!
[Makura falls to the ground.]
Makura - Ngh!
[Makura gasps in horror as he looks at Hakushi's massacred body, still standing.]
Makura - Ha...Hakushi!
[Blood gushes out of a large wound on Hakushi's chest.]
Hakushi - Ngh!
[Hakushi coughs out blood and slowly turns his face to Makura. He smiles at Makura right before dropping dead to the ground. Saburou and Leiya watch in horror.]
Saburou - ...Hakushi!
Leiya - No!
Hagoma - Hakushi...
Kuh...!
You monster!
Why?!
Why are you doing
this?!
Mysterious - Hmm?
Humanoid
Figure Why indeed?
Why do people do
the things they
like?
[The mysterious, humanoid figure fiendishly smiles.]
Mysterious - For pleasure, of
Humanoid course.
Figure
Hagoma - Ah!
You're insane!
Just what the hell
are you?!-
Urgh!
[Hagoma slowly looks down in horror and sees the mysterious, humanoid figure's mutated arm impaling his chest. Blood gushes out of Hagoma's chest.]
Hagoma - Kuh...!
[The mysterious, humanoid figure's fiendish smile grows wider right before pulling his arm out of Hagoma's chest.]
Hagoma - Urk!
[Hagoma falls to the ground and lays dead in a pool of blood. The remaining archaeologists stare at the gruesome sight in horror. Tears seep out of Leiya's eyes and roll down her cheeks.]
Leiya - Hagoma...
Saburou - [Thoughts]
...It's all over!
[Thoughts]
He's just killing
us one by one!
[Thoughts]
After everything
we went through...
[Thoughts]
...This can't be
it!
[Makura slowly and stealthily puts his hand behind his back.]
Makura - Saburou...
Saburou - Oh!
Makura - Run.
Saburou - What?!
Makura - ...Take Leiya...and
run!
[Makura pulls out a small sack from his jacket.]
Makura - Hrgh!
[He throws the small sack in the air. The sack opens up and powder pours out, spreading all around the shrine and making the place difficult to see in.]
Makura - Run!
Saburou - Ngh!
[Makura grabs Leiya's hand. She, Makura and Saburou run away from the mysterious, humanoid figure and towards the closed exit. The mysterious, humanoid figure's mutated arm violently flails towards the archaeologists.]
Makura - Ah!
Get down!
[The archaeologists quickly bend down and dodge the attack, making the mysterious, humanoid figure's mutated arm miss them and shatter the tomb's closed exit to pieces.]
Makura - [Thoughts]
Yes!
The exit's been
opened!
This is our chance
to escape!
Everyone-
Ah!
[Another mutated arm flails at the archaeologists without them noticing.]
Saburou - Ngh!
[Right before the mutated arm hits the archaeologists, Saburou pulls Leiya out of the way of the mutated arm.]
Makura - Hrgh!
[Makura then quickly kicks Leiya hard, sending her flying through the tomb's exit.]
Leiya - Gah!
[The mutated arms rapidly and violently flail, slashing Makura, Saburou and Leiya right before she flies out of exit, ripping her left arm off, ripping both of Saburou's legs and his left arm off and splitting Makura's upper and lower body in half.]
Leiya - Ahh!
[Leiya flies far out of the tomb and roughly falls to the ground.]
Leiya - Urk! Argh!
[Leiya lays motionless on the ground for a while.]
Leiya - ...Kuh!
Ahhhhhh...!
[Leiya holds her bleeding, severed arm as she rolls around on the ground, screaming and crying in agonizing pain.]
Leiya - ...Ngh!
[Leiya slowly stands up and staggers a little before gaining balance.]
Leiya - ...Maku!
Saburou-San!
[Tears seep out of Leiya's eyes and roll down her cheeks.]
Leiya - Kuh...!
[Leiya hesitantly turns around and cries as she runs out of the shrine and escapes.]
[Back in the tomb, Makura drags his upper body and crawls to Saburou. He and Saburou grab eachother's hand.]
Makura - Sa...burou.
Ngh!
Are...you alright?
[Saburou Coughs out blood.]
Saburou - Idiot.
Do i look alright?
[Makura and Saburou smile at each other.]
Saburou - Ahahahahahahaha.
Makura - Ahahahahahahaha.
Saburou - Well...
At least i'm doing
way better than
you are.
Makura - Oh, you are so
rich.
But...
I guess i can't
really argue with
that, can i?
Saburou - ...This is it, huh?
...The end for us.
Makura - ...Yeah.
And probably the
end...of thousands
of lives as well.
Saburou - ...Because of us.
Makura - ...Yeah.
[The mysterious, humanoid figure walks to Makura and Saburou.]
Mysterious - ...It seems you
Humanoid managed to help
Figure one of your
friends escape.
You two...truly
surprise me.
You're no Xeno
Hunters.
So to be able to
still be alive
with such
injuries is no
small feat.
Makura - Xeno...Hunters?!
Saburou - Heh.
What the hell is
that supposed to
be?
Mysterious - All your other
Humanoid friends died the
Figure moment they were
fatally wounded.
But yet, here you
two are...
[The mysterious, humanoid figure smiles.]
Mysterious - Laughing at
Humanoid death.
Figure
Makura - Ngh!
Saburou - Kuh!
[The mysterious, humanoid figure raises its arm at Saburou and Makura.]
Mysterious - Only at the moment
Humanoid of death, do beings
Figure truly gain a great
desire for power.
How will it play
out for you?
Saburou - ...Hey, Maku.
Makura - Yeah?
Saburou - ...You think God
will ever forgive
us?
Makura - ...Probably not.
Saburou - ...I see.
[Saburou smiles.]
Saburou - That's a shame,
huh?
[Makura smiles.]
Makura - Yeah.
It really is.
[Thoughts]
Kaya...
[Thoughts]
Kazuki...
[Thoughts]
...I'm so sorry.
[Still holding hands, Makura and Saburou slowly close their eyes, and everything fades into darkness.]
Kazuki - [Narration]
...Any story can
be told by any
man.
[Narration]
And every man is
the hero of his
own story.
[Narration]
My name...is
Kazuki Kayne.
[Narration]
And welcome...
[Narration]
To my story.
________________________________________________________________________
[7 years later, in the morning, a young, thirteen year old boy, Kazuki Kayne, pulls a large farming cart home through the thick snow.]
Kazuki - [Thoughts]
...What a beautiful
day.
[Thoughts]
But man, am i
tired.
[Kazuki leaves the cart outside and heads into his house:A small cabin.]
Mother - Kazuki?
Kazuki - Oh?
Mother - Is that you?
[Kazuki's mother comes out of a room on a wheelchair and moves towards him.]
Mother - It is you.
I had no idea you
were back already.
[Kazuki's mother smiles.]
Mother - Judging by your
smile, i suppose
your day went well.
Though, it must be
stressful traveling
to the farm everyday
on foot and handling
everything by
yourself.
Maybe it'd be best
if you took a break
and didn't go for a
while.
[Kazuki's smile widens. He walks over to his mother, crouches down and warmly hugs her.]
Mother - Oh!
[Kazuki's mother smiles and hugs him back.]
Mother - I know, i know.
I love you too.
[Thoughts]
You may not be able
to speak...
But i always know
what's on your mind.
[Thoughts]
My little Kazuki.
[Thoughts]
If your father and
older brother were
alive today, they'd
be so proud of the
man you've become.
[Thoughts]
You've gone through
so much in your
life.
[Thoughts]
And yet...
[Thoughts]
You still remain so
Kindhearted and
caring towards
others.
[Kazuki's mother looks down and notices wounds and blisters on Kazuki's hands from overworking himself on the farm. She sighs in concern.]
Mother - [Thoughts]
Still...
[Thoughts]
Sometimes you tend
to care too much
about others, and
too little about
yourself.
[Thoughts]
And i fear that
could someday
become a great
setback for you.
[Thoughts]
No...
[Thoughts]
Soon enough...
[Thoughts]
It'll become your
greatest strength.
Hiroto - Onii-Chan!
Kazuki - Hmm?
Teruko - Onii-Chan, your
back!
[Kazuki's younger brother and sister, Hiroto Kayne and Teruko Kayne, come running towards Kazuki and hug him, making him smile.]
Hiroto - Onii-Chan, i have
something to show
you.
Teruko - Mhmm!
Me too!
Me too!
I made this
beautiful painting
today.
Wanna see mine
first?
Hiroto - Oi!
Back off Teruko!
I asked him first!
Teruko - Hehhh?!!
You back off Hiroto!
I'm older, so i say
he's coming with me!
[Teruko childishly hugs Kazuki's arm to indicate her ownership over him.]
Hiroto - Heh.
Don't bother.
[Hiroto hugs Kazuki's other arm in thesame manner as Teruko.]
Hiroto - Everyone knows
Onii-Chan likes me
way more than he
likes you.
Pehhh...!
[Hiroto mockingly sticks his tongue out at Teruko.]
Teruko - Ah!
Th-That's a lie!
R-Right?!
I AM your
favourite...
Right, Onii-Chan?!
Mother - Hiroto.
Teruko.
Stop tormenting your
older brother.
Hiroto - But Teruko
started it!
Teruko - No i didn't!
[Hiroto and Teruko continue to childishly argue. The door of the cabin then opens.]
Kazuki - Oh!
[A beautiful, blind, young girl: Kazuki's younger twin sister, Kaya Kayne, comes in with a tray of vegetables.]
Hiroto - Oh?
Teruko - Oh?
[Hiroto and Teruko stop arguing and smile cheerfully.]
Hiroto - Looks like
Nee-San's done
picking vegetables
from the garden.
Teruko - Welcome back,
Nee-San.
[Kaya's smile grows wider.]
Kaya - Thank you, Teruko,
Hiroto.
Mother - Welcome back, Kaya.
Ahh...
You really picked a
lot of vegetables
today, didn't you?
Kaya - Mhmm.
[Kaya hands over the tray of vegetables to her mother.]
Mother - What would i do
without you Kaya?
[Kaya warmly hugs her mother.]
Mother - Oh!
Kaya - Thank you, Okaa-San.
[Kazuki's mother smiles and warmly hugs Kaya back. Hiroto and Teruko run to Kaya and hug her. Kaya swiftly turns to Kazuki with a devious smirk on her face.]
Kazuki - Oh!
Kaya - Heh.
And i can tell
Kazuki's back too.
Kazuki - Oh!
[Thoughts]
I didn't even say
anything and she
already knew i
was here.
[Thoughts]
Well, i guess a
really good sense
of hearing DOES
come in handy when
you're blind.
[Thoughts]
Or maybe it also
has something to do
with the fact that
we're twins.
[Kaya walks over to Kazuki.]
Kazuki - Welcome home,
Kazuki.
[Kazuki smiles. Kaya then gently grabs Kazuki's hand.]
Kaya - C'mon, lets go
inside.
Hiroto - Ah!
Teruko - Ah!
Hiroto - Hey, we had dibs on
him first!
Teruko - Hey, we had dibs on
him first!
Kaya - Heh.
Ya snooze, ya loose.
Hiroto - Ah...! Nee-San...!
Teruko - Ah...! Nee-San...!
Kaya - Ahahahahaha.
Alright then, lets
make a deal.
If you let me have
Kazuki for today,
i'll read you as
many stories as you
want tonight, deal?
Hiroto - Hmmmm? Deal!
Teruko - Hmmmm? Deal!
[Everyone starts laughing, making Kazuki's smile grow wider.]
Mother - That will have to
wait, though.
Breakfast is almost
ready...
But i do need some
kombu to finish it.
Kazuki.
Can you please head
down to the market
and buy some?
[Kazuki nods "Yes".]
Mother - Kaya.
please get some
water ready for
Hiroto's and
Teruko's bath.
Kaya - Hai.
Hiroto - But i don't want a
bath!
Teruko - Me neither!
Kaya - Sorry, but this
isn't up for debate.
[Kaya smiles deviously.]
Kaya - Today, you're
bathing with me.
And i'll make sure
to be extra
thorough.
Hiroto - Ah!
Teruko - Ah!
Mother - Tomorrow, we can all
head down to the
market to sell some
fruits and
vegetables from the
farm.
Kaya - Right!
Hiroto - Right!
Teruko - Right!
[Outside the Kayne residence, Kazuki's family waves him goodbye as he walks off and makes his way to the distant market.]
Hiroto - Bye.
Take care.
Teruko - Be safe, okay?
Kaya - If you don't hurry
back, i'll eat all
dessert.
[Kazuki's mother's expression turns concerned. Kazuki waves back to his family and walks off.]
[Kazuki walks through the thick snow in the forest.]
Kazuki - [Thoughts]
...Our lives might
not be so easy...
[Thoughts]
We don't have much
money, but we
manage to get by.
[Thoughts]
There hasn't ever
been a time when
our impoverished
lives bothered us,
though.
[Thoughts]
However...
[Kazuki gets a quick flashback of his blind sister and crippled mother.]
Kazuki - [Thoughts]
...Our lives
weren't always like
this.
[Thoughts]
There was a time
when everyone was
truly happy, and
no one ever had to
get hurt.
[Thoughts]
But happiness is
like the wind.
[Thoughts]
Sometimes it
comes...
[Thoughts]
And sometimes...it
goes.
[Thoughts]
I'll never forget
the day that
tragedy happened.
[Thoughts]
Even though it was
seven years ago...
I'll never forget
that day.
[Thoughts]
...That cursed day!
[FLASHBACK]
[At night, a six years old Kazuki and Kaya sit and laugh with their mother in their small home.]
Kazuki - [Narration]
I remember it like
it was yesterday.
[Narration]
Mom was telling us
funny stories to
pass the time.
[Narration]
Things really did
get boring when
my older brother,
Maku, moved to the
city to work as an
archaeologist.
[Narration]
But it always felt
nice when he came
back home to visit.
[Narration]
At that moment, it
seemed as if that
warm, beautiful
night should've
never come to an
end.
[Narration]
But then...
[Narration]
In a flash...
[Narration]
...It all came
crashing down.
[A deadly, heavy storm falls upon the Kayne residence and the village it's situated in. The storm ravages their home with them in it.]
[END OF FLASHBACK]
Kazuki - [Thoughts]
At that moment...
It was like the
whole world was
spinning around
me.
[Thoughts]
Luckily, there were
no casualties in
the village that
day.
[Thoughts]
Honestly speaking,
we were the ones
who suffered from
that storm the
most.
[Thoughts]
Still, it is very
surprising.
[Thoughts]
Not once has our
village ever been
hit by a storm
that fierce
before.
[Thoughts]
What on earth
could've caused
something so
horrible?
[Thoughts]
It was almost as
if that storm
...wasn't even
natural.
[Kazuki sighs in depression.]
Kazuki - [Thoughts]
After that day,
we all lost
something.
[Thoughts]
Mom became crippled
and could never
walk again.
[Thoughts]
Kaya lost her sight
and became
permanently blind.
[Thoughts]
Never again would
she be able to
look at all the
beautiful things
she loved the most.
[Thoughts]
The blue sky...
[Thoughts]
The green grass...
[Thoughts]
Her family...
Kazuki - [Thoughts]
...And as for me?
[Kazuki stops walking and gently holds his throat.]
Kazuki - [Thoughts]
...After i took a
horrible hit, i
could never tell
my family how i
loved them anymore.
[Thoughts]
I could never...
tell them anything
anymore.
[Thoughts]
...And as if all
that wasn't bad
enough, my older
brother was
reported dead four
days after
everything had
passed.
[Kazuki sighs in depression.]
Kazuki - [Thoughts]
And we were just
barely coping with
everything that had
happened so far
too.
[Thoughts]
But...
[Kazuki smiles.]
Kazuki - [Thoughts]
Even with all
that...
[Thoughts]
Kaya...
Mom...
[Thoughts]
They never stopped
smiling.
[Thoughts]
They never stopped
being happy.
[Thoughts]
And neither will i.
[Thoughts]
No matter what.
[In a small village, Kazuki walks through crowds of people in the market streets.]
Kazuki - [Thoughts]
I realize that i
haven't really
given you all a
proper introduction
to where i live,
have i?
[Thoughts]
Welcome to Buena
Village.
A beautiful place
of wonders,
harmony, and above
all, peace.
[A random man violently gets tossed out and breaks through the window of a pub.]
Random Man - Shit!
Kazuki - [Thoughts]
Hahh...
It truly is
wonderful here,
isn't it?
Wine - Oh?
Seller Ohayou, Kazuki-San.
[Kazuki waves a hello to the charcoal seller.]
Market - Ohayou, Kazuki-San.
Woman 1 Thank you so much
for fixing my fence
the other day.
Charcoal - Oi, Kazuki-San!
Seller I owe you one for
helping me chop
those firewood
yesterday.
You are reading story XENO HUNTER: BLOOD OF FATE at novel35.com
You're a life saver.
Kazuki - [Thoughts]
Ahaha...
I-It was nothing,
r-really.
Market - Kazuki-San.
Woman 2
Kazuki - Oh?
Market - Please accept these
Woman 2 as a token my
appreciation.
[The woman hands over a basket to Kazuki.]
Kazuki - Oh...
[The woman's smile grows wider.]
Market - For being so kind
Woman 2 enough to look after
of my children last
week while i was
away.
Kazuki - Oh!
[Thoughts]
I really can't
accept this.
[Kazuki tries to give the basket back to the woman but she gently pushes it back to him.]
Market - [Whispers]
Woman 2 By the way, those
are "Agemochi".
I know their your
favourite snack,
so don't even try
to pretend.
Kazuki - Ah!
Hah...
[Kazuki eyes light up in joy as he smiles excitedly. He then accepts the gift, ties it on his back, bows his head to the woman to thank her and continues to head off.]
Charcoal - Such a kind boy,
Seller isn't he?
Market - ...Its a little sad,
Woman 2 isn't it?
Charcoal - Hmm?
Seller What is?
Market - ...That despite his
Woman 2 kindness, a great
tragedy awaits him.
A tragedy bound to
change his life and
the very person he
is forever.
I don't know why...
But i can just feel
it.
[Kazuki walks through a small alley in the village market.]
Kazuki - [Thoughts]
Buena Village is a
pretty small place.
So naturally almost
everyone knows
everyone.
[Thoughts]
Still, not anyone
can just simply
waltz in and start
living here like
it's easy.
It's takes a while
to get used to the
way things work
around here in
[Kazuki stops walking and takes a step backwards. A large vase suddenly drops from above and shatters on the ground where Kazuki stepped away from. Kazuki expression becomes a little frustrated.]
Woman 1 - Ahhh!
My bad, Kazuki.
[Kazuki looks up and sees a woman in a cabin looking down and waving at him through a window.]
Woman 1 - Ahaha.
You know clumsy old
me.
Kazuki - [Thoughts]
That's right.
I also know that
this is the
seventh time you've
nearly killed me
this week.
[Kazuki smiles.]
Kazuki - [Thoughts]
Well, i guess
things never really
get old here, do
they?
[Kazuki waves a hello to the woman and walks off.]
Kazuki - [Thoughts]
...There are two
secrets about me
that only my family
knows.
[Thoughts]
Two secrets...that
i could never bring
myself to show
anyone else.
[A little girl carrying a basket of fruits walks past Kazuki.]
Little Girl - Ohayou Gozaimasu,
Kazuki-San
[Kazuki smiles and waves to the little girl as they walk past each other.]
Kazuki - [Thoughts]
The first secret of
mine...
Would be-
[Kazuki suddenly senses a strange vibe of danger.]
Kazuki - Ah! Kuh!
[As the little girl behind Kazuki walks away, a large, old piece of wood sticking out of the roof of a cabin above her cracks, snaps and begins to fall towards her.]
Little Girl - Oh?
Ah! Ahhhh...!!
[Kazuki swiftly dashes, carries the little girl and jumps out of the way of the large wood before it crushes her. They both breathe heavily.]
Little Girl - You...You saved my
life.
[The little girl hugs Kazuki.]
Little Girl - Thank you so much,
Kazuki-San.
[Kazuki smiles and pets the little girl's head.]
Kazuki - [Thoughts]
...The first secret
of mine...
Was THAT.
[Thoughts]
...Ever since i was
born, i've always
possessed a
freakishly powerful
sense of
perception.
[Thoughts]
In simple terms...
[Thoughts]
I'm a clairvoyant.
[Thoughts]
Before i was even
able to open my
eyes, i could
already sense and
decipher the
presence of
everyone around me.
[Thoughts]
Seeing as how i was
a baby back then...
Feeling something
like that was very
scary at first.
[Thoughts]
The same thing can
be said for Kaya.
Being my
younger-twin
sister, she was
born nearly thesame
time as i was.
[Thoughts]
And as such, she
was...gifted as
well.
[Thoughts]
Kaya was born with
a unbelievably,
god-like sense of
hearing.
[Thoughts]
Even from the
moment of birth,
she was already
able to detect and
decipher the sound
of anything and
everything around
her.
[Thoughts]
That's why she's
able to get by well
enough, even while
being blind.
[Thoughts]
Over the years,
we've grown
accustomed to using
these gifts to help
others in anyway we
can.
But revealing them
would only cause
complications.
[Thoughts]
Complications...
that i'm aware of.
[Thoughts]
How?
Why?
When?
[Thoughts]
I don't wanna be
forced to have to
answer those
questions anymore.
Because i honestly
don't know the
answer to them
myself.
[Thoughts]
Besides, the only
thing we want is to
have a normal life.
So its better to
keep everything
hidden for now.
[Kazuki helps the little girl stand up.]
Little Girl - Ahh!
Kazuki - Oh!
[The little girl falls down and holds her knee in pain from being wounded earlier by averting the falling wood.]
Little Girl - Ngh!
My leg!
[Kazuki smiles. He kneels down and gently holds the little girl's leg as tears trickle down her cheeks. He then gently places his hand on her knee.]
Little Girl - Oh...
[Kazuki closes his eyes and slowly breathes in and breathes out through his mouth. Suddenly, strange, purple, glowing patterns appear around Kazuki's hand and spread to the little girl's leg.]
Little Girl - Ah...!
Kazuki - [Thoughts]
...When i was just
a little boy, my
parents would
always tell me of
how i was born to
be special.
[Thoughts]
I discovered that
if i could focus my
mind hard enough,
i could slightly
ease the pain on
any injury i
came across.
[Thoughts]
I still have no
idea why in the
world i'm capable
of doing this.
But i do know that
i'm only capable of
slightly nullifying
the pain on someone
else's injuries.
The same can never
be applied to me.
[Thoughts]
That...
Is my second
secret.
[After a while, the patterns on Kazuki's hand and the little girl's leg slowly disappear. He then takes his hand off her leg and helps her stand up.]
Little Girl - My leg...
It doesn't hurt that
much like it did
before.
How did you-
[Kazuki smiles and places his finger on the little girl's lips signalling her to keep quiet.]
Little Girl - Oh...
[The little girl blushes. Kazuki then leaves and begins to walk off.]
Little Girl - Kazuki-San!
Kazuki - Oh!
[Kazuki turns around and catches an apple thrown to him by the little girl. She smiles and runs off. Kazuki smiles and eats the apple as he continues to walk away.]
[In the village market, Kazuki purchases some kombu from a girl, Sumiko, in a small shop.]
Sumiko - Here you go Kazuki.
I can't say i didn't
expect to see you in
this terrible
weather, though.
[Sumiko hands over a small basket of kombu to Kazuki.]
Sumiko - ...You sure are a
hard worker, aren't
you?
But it really isn't
safe for you to be
out in this snowy
weather.
Try not to push
yourself to hard,
okay?
And be careful on
your way back home.
[Kazuki smiles.]
Kazuki - [Thoughts]
Sumiko never stops
worrying about me,
does she?
She's kind of like
a big sister.
[Kazuki bows his head to Sumiko and begins to walk away.]
Sumiko - Bye.
[Kazuki begins to head out of the market.]
Anna - Senpaaaai!
Kazuki - Oh?
[A beautiful, young girl, Anna Fubuki, runs towards Kazuki along with some other friends.]
Anna - Ohayou, Senpai.
Kazuki - [Thoughts]
Anna...
[Kazuki smiles.]
Anna - I'm glad i ran into
you Senpai.
The others and i
were just getting
ready to leave.
Kazuki - Oh?
Anna - Didn't i tell you?
We're heading to the
city.
Kazuki - [Thoughts]
The city?
Anna - You look a little
surprised.
I guess i did forget
to tell you, didn't
i?
Sorry about that.
You're probably
wondering why we're
heading to the city,
huh?
...The truth is,
Buena Village may be
a really great
place...
But its getting
harder and harder
everyday to make a
living here.
It took a lot of
time and a lot of
hard work.
But we finally have
a chance to make it
out there.
Friend 1 - Mhmm.
And when we do,
we'll head right
back here and turn
this village into a
paradise.
Kazuki - [Thoughts]
That's kind of
easier said than
done.
But i do admire
their enthusiasm.
Friend 2 - Our plan may take a
while but we have
high hopes that
it'll work.
And what better
place to start than
the 'Capital City Of
Gomaa"?
Kazuki - [Thoughts]
Gomaa City?
Friend 3 - We'd really love for
you to come with
us.
But we're guessing
the last thing you
want right now is to
leave your family
behind, huh?
[Kazuki smiles.]
Friend 2 - Well, we better get
busy loading up.
Friend 3 - Bye Kazuki.
Friend 1 - See ya.
Anna - Umm, you guys go on
ahead.
I'll catch up with
you later.
[Kazuki and Anna's friends head off. Anna turns to Kazuki and smiles.]
Anna - Walking back home by
yourself must be
really boring,
right?
[Kazuki smiles. He and Anna then head off together.]
[Under the thick, snowy weather, Kazuki and Anna walk home together.]
Anna - Hey, Senpai.
What do you wanna be
when you grow up?
[Kazuki looks at Anna a little annoyed.]
Anna - Ahh!
Sorry Senpai, i
completely forgot!
You can't speak!
[Kazuki smiles.]
Anna - ...Senpai.
I'm scared.
Kazuki - Hmm?
Anna - Going to the city:A
whole new
environment.
Leaving you and your
family behind...
The only family i
ever had.
Kazuki - Ah...
Anna - This is something i
need to do.
But is this really
something that i
want?
[Anna sighs in depression.]
Anna - Who am i kidding?
I'm still thesame
weak, dumb girl i
was before when you
saved me.
[Kazuki smiles. He picks two agemochi from his basket and gives one to Anna.]
Anna - Oh?
Arigatou Senpai.
[Anna smiles and takes the agemochi. She and Kazuki begin to eat heartily as they walk home together.]
Kazuki - [Thoughts]
Anna really hasn't
changed from when
we first met, has
she?
Shy, whiny,
insecure.
[Kazuki looks at Anna and his smile widens.]
Kazuki - But i guess she is
a little more
assertive than she
was five years ago,
huh?
[FLASHBACK]
[In the forest of buena village, three boys laugh as they bully Anna. One of the children throws her to the ground.]
Child Bully 1 - Hehehe.
What's wrong garbage
girl?!
Gonna cry?!
Child Bully 2 - I can't believe she
actually cleans
people's trash for
a living!
Child Bully 3 - MAN she stinks!
[Anna snivels as she lies on the ground.]
Child Bully 1 - Be sure to come by
my house tomorrow,
okay?
I made my garbage
EXTRA special for
you!
Child Bully 3 - Here!
Lets even help her
get started!
[The boys pick up the sack of garbage and sewage Anna was carrying and dump it all on her head.]
Child Bully 3 - Wow!
I didn't think she
could stink even
more but i guess
anything is
possible, right?
[Tears flow out of Anna's eyes and roll down her cheeks as she cries.]
Child Bully 1 - Now, why don't we
have some more fun?
Hehehe...
[As one of the boys tries to raise Anna's skirt and assault her, a rock is hurled at his head and forcefully knocks him to the ground, knocking him out.]
Anna - Ah!
Child Bully 2 - What the...?!
[The boys notice that the one who threw the rock was Kazuki as he walks over to them.]
Kazuki - [Thoughts]
Yare yare...
These kids never
get tired, do they?
And here i thought
i'd get to have a
peaceful walk home
today.
Child Bully 3 - Heh, you just made a
big mistake pal!
[One of the boys punches Kazuki hard on his cheek.]
Child Bully 3 - Eh?!
[The boy notices that Kazuki didn't even flinch from his punch. Instead, Kazuki menacingly looks at the boy.]
Child Bully 3 - Umm, i-i'm s-sorry?
[Kazuki backhand slaps the boy with little effort and sends him flying into a tree and smashing it's branch.]
Child Bully 2 - Ah!
[Anna gasps in surprise. Kazuki turns and stares at the last boy with a menacing frown.]
Child Bully 2 - Ahh!
We're sorry!
We're so sorry!
[The last boy quickly picks up his two friends and runs away.]
Kazuki - [Thoughts]
Eh?!
[Thoughts]
But i Haven't even
done anything yet.
Oh...
[Kazuki looks and notices Anna staring at him. He then walks over to her.]
Anna - Eek!
[As kazuki reaches Anna and kneels down, she gets scared and quickly averts her gaze. He then gently holds her head back up by her cheeks and cleans the garbage on her face and hair with some water.]
Kazuki - [Thoughts]
There.
[Kazuki pets Anna's head and brightly smiles at her, making her blush.]
Anna - Wh-Who are you?
Kazuki - Oh...
Hmmm...
[Kazuki uses his finger to write on the ground, spelling his name.]
Anna - Oh!
KA-ZU-KI?
...Can you talk,
Kazuki?
[Kazuki nods "No" and writes of how his throat was damaged a long time ago.]
Anna - Ah!
I-I'm so sorry!
Are...you alright?
Kazuki - Oh!
[Kazuki blushes. He then smiles and writes, asking her if she's alright.]
Anna - Oh!
Mmm...
I'm...fine.
Kazuki - [Thoughts]
This girl must've
been bullied all
her life.
She literally has
zero confidence.
[Kazuki writes and asks Anna where her parents are.]
Anna - I...I don't have
parents.
I...I don't have any
friends.
[Anna's eyes overflow with tears.]
Kazuki - [Thoughts]
She's all alone.
[Kazuki smiles and writes that he'll be Anna's first friend.]
Anna - Ah!
You...You'll be my
friend?!
Kuh!
You're lying!
No one would ever
want to be my
friend!
You'll...You'll just
end up hating me
too.
[Kazuki writes that he won't hate her.]
Anna - Ah!
Mmm...
I-I'm not very
smart, and really
boring to be around.
P-Plus i...smell
really bad.
[Kazuki writes that he's enjoying being with Anna.]
Anna - B-But...
...Will...you truly
be my friend?
No matter what?
[Kazuki brightly smiles at Anna. She blushes as she stares into his eyes.]
Anna - [Thoughts]
...Such kind,
beautiful eyes.
[Thoughts]
As bright as day,
and as purple as
amethysts
themselves.
[Kazuki extends his hand to Anna. She happily smiles and excitedly holds his hand.]
Anna - "Anna".
Kazuki - Oh?
Anna - My name...
Its "Anna".
Pleasure to make
your acquaintance...
Kazuki-Senpai.
[END OF FLASHBACK]
[Kazuki smiles at Anna.]
Anna - Ah!
S-Senpai, why are
you staring at me
like that?!
Kazuki - Oh!
[Thought]
Shoot!
I had no idea i was
staring!
[Kazuki and Anna blush.]
Anna - W-Well, you can...
stare if you want
to.
Kazuki - [Thoughts]
Eh?!
Did she just...
[Anna blushes even more.]
Kazuki - Oh!
[Kazuki becomes flustered as he and Anna quickly avert their gaze from eachother. As Kazuki and Anna walk, they pass two women who catch Kazuki's attention.]
Woman 1 - [Whispers]
My God!
The cases just keep
getting higher and
higher, don't
they?!
Kazuki - Hmm?
Woman 2 - [Whispers]
I can't believe no
one's safe anymore!
Yesterday,
seventeen deaths
were already
reported!
And i here it's
even worse in the
city!
[Whispers]
Now, no one wants
to be out at night.
[Whispers]
Not anymore.
Woman 1 - [Whispers]
They're all afraid
of being killed
and devoured...
[Whispers]
By the "Xenos"!
Kazuki - Oh...
[At the Kayne residence, Kazuki and Anna arrive and meet everyone working outside.]
Teruko - Hahhh!
Onii-Chan's back!
Hiroto - Oh!
Mother - Oh?
Welcome home Kazuki.
[Hiroto and Teruko run and tightly hug Kazuki.]
Anna - Konnichiwa, Mrs
Kayne.
Mother - Konnichiwa, Anna.
Hiroto - Anna-San!
Teruko - Anna-San!
[Hiroto and Teruko jump and hug Anna.]
Anna - Ahahaha.
Hey little guys.
Oh?
Hey Kaya.
Kaya - Good to see you
again Anna.
What brings you by?
Anna - Eh?
Umm, w-well...
[Anna blushes.]
Anna - I...guess i just
wanted to have one
last walk with
Senpai before i head
off to the city.
Kazuki - Oh!
[Kazuki blushes, making his family try their best to hold back their laughter.]
Kaya - I really can't
believe you're going
to the city, though.
Things just won't be
thesame here without
you.
[Kaya hugs Anna.]
Anna - Oh!
Kaya - ...Take care of
yourself, okay?
[Anna smiles and hugs Kaya back.]
Anna - I will.
[Anna walks over to Kazuki's mother, and hugs her.]
Anna - Thank you so much for
taking care of me all
these years.
Mother - You don't have to
thank me for anything
Anna.
You've always been a
daughter to me.
And i couldn't be
happier to see the
woman you've become.
Be careful out there.
Anna - I will.
[Hiroto and Teruko hug Anna.]
Hiroto - Goodbye Anna-San.
Teruko - If you don't come
back to visit, i'll
never forgive you.
Anna - I will.
I promise.
[Anna walks to Kazuki.]
Anna - Senpai.
Do you remember this.
Kazuki - Oh?
[Anna brings out a beautiful, blue scarf from her bag.]
Anna - This is the scarf you
gave me when we first
met.
As a symbol of our
friendship.
I've always kept it
close to me since
then.
Kazuki - [Thoughts]
There are a lot just
like it.
Who knew it was that
special to her.
[Anna puts on the scarf.]
Anna - You were there for me
when no one else was.
That day, you really
did save me.
I'll always wear this
scarf as long as i
live.
So everyone can know
...that i have a
friend.
[Kazuki smiles. He and Anna hug eachother.]
Anna - Goodbye for now.
I'm sure we'll meet
again one day,
Senpai.
Kazuki - [Thoughts]
...Ahh.
I'm sure we'll meet
again too...
Anna.
[Kaya smiles deviously.]
Kaya - Oi, Kazuki.
You forgot to kiss
your girlfriend
goodbye.
Kazuki - Ah!
Anna - Ah!
[Kazuki and Anna's faces get flushed red with embarrassment.]
Anna - A-Anyway, i'll be
off now!
G-Goodbye!
Kaya - Ahahahahaha!
You-You should've
seen your faces!
So-So priceless!
Ahahaha-
E-Eh?!
K-Kazuki, wh-what are
you-
[Kazuki grabs and pinches Kaya's nose and cheek.]
Kaya - Itai! Itai! Itai!
Itai! Itai! Itai!
Itai! Itai! Itai!
Onii-Shan! Onii-Shan!
I'm showy! I'm showy!
I'm showy!
[The Kayne family waves goodbye to Anna as she walks away and heads off. Kazuki's expression becomes a little concerned.]
[FLASHBACK]
Woman 1 - The cases just keep
getting higher and
higher, don't they?
Woman 2 - And i hear its even
worse in the city.
Now, no one wants to
be out at night.
Woman 1 - They're all afraid
of being killed and
devoured...
By the Xenos!
[END OF FLASHBACK]
[Kazuki expression becomes even more concerned. He and his family then head into their house.]
[In a small city, Kazuki and his family are carried along the busy streets in a rickshaw.]
Hiroto - Umm, mom.
Why are we here
again?
Mother - Because today's
the day your older
brother's final
archaeological
discoveries are
being revealed in
the museum.
It's something he'd
want us all to see.
Teruko - "Older...Brother"?
Oh!
You mean big bro
Maku?
[Kazuki's mother smiles nods a "yes".]
Mother - ...You two never did
get to know him, did
you?
Makura was always a
kindhearted soul,
much like your
older brother and
sister.
He was always so
peaceful, and never
got angry no matter
what.
And no matter how
busy he was, he'd
always try to find
time for his family
alone.
Just like his
father.
Just like YOUR
father.
Hiroto - Oh...
Teruko - Oh...
[Hiroto and Teruko's expression saddens.]
Hiroto - ...I really wish we
got to know him
more.
Teruko - ...We're sorry, mom.
Mother - Hmm?
Teruko - We're sorry we can't
feel what YOU'RE
feeling right now.
Hiroto - This must be really
hard for you, huh?
Mother - Oh...!
[Kazuki's mother smiles.]
Mother - It's not as hard for
me...as it is for
them.
[Hiroto and Teruko look at Kazuki and Kaya and notice the depressed expressions on their faces. Kazuki still ponders on the former two womens' discussion.]
Mother - [Thoughts]
...With every
second...
[Thoughts]
Our fate draws
near.
[In a museum, a tour guide presents various archaeological items to Kazuki, his family and a group of other tourists. Kazuki suspiciously keeps on looking left and right.]
Kazuki - [Thoughts]
Something's not
right.
We've been going on
this tour for hours
now but i haven't
even heard one
thing about Maku's
achievements.
[Thoughts]
Are they trying to
cover something up?
[Thoughts]
Maybe-
[Kazuki suddenly senses a highly powerful vibe.]
Kazuki - Ah!
[Kazuki looks around frantically.]
Kazuki - [Thoughts]
What the hell was
that?!
[Kazuki deviates from the crowd and walks to a strange door. He opens it and finds himself in a large hall.]
Kazuki - [Thoughts]
...What is this
place?
[Kazuki walks around and notices numerous, strange archaeological items.]
Kazuki - [Thoughts]
Why are all these
items here?
Shouldn't they be
on display?
[Thoughts]
They do look pretty
exclusive, though.
Ah!
[Thoughts]
Wait!
Could these be
Maku's findings?!
Are they...hiding
them here?!
Why?!
And what was that
vibe i felt
earlier?!
[Kazuki stops and stands in front of a large figure covered under a tarp.]
Kazuki - [Thoughts]
...What are these
people trying to
hide?
[Kazuki pulls the tarp off the large figure.]
Kazuki - Ah!
[Kazuki tries to move back but falls to the ground in fear and shock.]
Kazuki - [Thoughts]
Wh...Wh...What...
is that?!
[Kazuki stands face to face with an ancient looking humanoid skeleton multiple times his size.]
Kazuki - [Thoughts]
Woah...!
[Thoughts]
...Was this...
a person?!
[Thoughts]
Is that even
possible?!
[Thoughts]
...It looks so
ancient!
[Thoughts]
Were the museum
authorities really
planning on keeping
this hidden?
[Thoughts]
Wait!
This museum is
affiliated with the
government, isn't
it?!
Could they be
be involved in all
of this?!
...Oh?
[Kazuki notices something on the skeleton's neck.]
Kazuki - [Thoughts]
What is that?
[Kazuki uses a nearby ladder to climb up the skeleton and reach it's neck. He finds a strange, grime covered cloth around the skeleton's neck.]
Kazuki - Hmmm...
[Thoughts]
It...looks like
some kind of piece
of cloth.
[Kazuki touches the strange, cloth on the skeleton's neck with his hand and suddenly begins to have several strange, horrifying visions.]
Kazuki - Ah!
[Kazuki quickly takes his hand off the cloth and the visions stop. He breathes heavily in fear.]
Kazuki - [Thoughts]
...What...was that
just now?!
[Kazuki touches the strange cloth again but nothing happens.]
Kazuki - [Thoughts]
...Was i just
seeing things?
[Kazuki sighs with relief.]
Kazuki - [Thoughts]
...Maybe i'm just
being paranoid.
[Thoughts]
Maybe i'm just a
little tired.
[Kazuki gently feels the strange cloth.]
Kazuki - [Thoughts]
This thing is
pretty filthy.
[Thoughts]
I guess that's why
the people who
found it didn't
pull it off.
They probably
didn't even notice
it because of all
the dirt.
[Kazuki tries to moves a little on the ladder but his leg slips off.]
Kazuki - Ah!
[Thoughts]
Oh, no!
[Kazuki accidentally pulls the strange cloth off the skeleton and falls off the ladder.]
Kazuki - [Thoughts]
Ahhhhhh...!!!
[Kazuki roughly lands on his back and rolls on the ground.]
Kazuki - Urk! Argh!
[After a few seconds, Kazuki slowly staggers and sits up.]
Kazuki - Urgh...!
[Thoughts]
Ow...!
[Thoughts]
That really hurt my
back...!
Oh?
[Kazuki notices the skeleton's strange cloth in his hand.]
Kazuki - [Thoughts]
...I wonder how much
money i could get
if i sold this?
First, i would have
to clean it up.
[Kazuki dusts the strange cloth and cleans the grime off it with his hand.]
Kazuki - Oh!
[Kazuki notices several strange kanji writings on the cloth.]
Kazuki - [Thoughts]
...Why are there
writings on it?
[Kazuki looks at writing closely.]
Kazuki - [Thoughts]
They...look like
Japanese Kanji.
[Thoughts]
It says...
[Thoughts]
"IT IS NOT OF THIS
WORLD...
BUT TRULY A GOD!
[Thoughts]
EVEN SO...
IT IS GREATLY
FLAWED!
[Thoughts]
WITH YOUR SOUL...
[Thoughts]
WITH YOUR MIGHT...
[Thoughts]
WITH YOUR BLADE...
[Thoughts]
SEVER THE LIGHT!
[Thoughts]
THE END IS NEAR!
DEATH SHALL YIELD!
[Thoughts]
READ THIS CURSE...
[Thoughts]
AND YOUR FATE...IS
SEALED"!
[Thoughts]
...It doesn't say
anything else.
[Thoughts]
What kind of person
would write
something like this?
[Thoughts]
And just what do all
these words even
mean?
[The strange cloth slowly begins to glow.]
Kazuki - Ah!
[The strange cloth begins to glow brighter and brighter. It then floats up and begins to levitate in the air.]
Kazuki - [Thoughts]
...What the-
[Suddenly, the strange cloth morphs into a gigantic, ragged, red, demonic-looking cloth, shrouded in blood and smoke. Kazuki gasps and begins to tremble in fear.]
Kaya - Kazuki.
[In a long corridor, Kaya blindly feels her way through, looking for Kazuki.]
Kaya - Kazuki, where are
you?
[Back in the hall, the demonic-looking cloth moves closer to Kazuki. It then forms a large, unholy, horrifying face in it's middle. The face stares at Kazuki then fiendishly smiles at him.]
Kazuki - [Thoughts]
Someone...
[Thoughts]
Anyone...
[Thoughts]
Please...
[Tears flow out of Kazuki's eyes and roll down his cheeks as he trembles on the ground in fear.]
Kazuki - [Thoughts]
Help!
[The demonic-looking cloth suddenly moves at blinding speed and aggressively wraps itself around Kazuki's neck.]
Kazuki - Urk!
[The demonic-looking cloth aggressively flings Kazuki around the room and forcefully smashes him into numerous walls, tables and archaeological items.]
Kazuki - Ugh! Urk!
Gah!
[The demonic-looking cloth slams Kazuki on the ground and lifts him up on his knees. It then strongly tightens itself around Kazuki's neck and begins choking him.]
Kazuki - Arghhh...!
Gah!
[Kazuki horrifically coughs out large amounts of blood. Tears flow out of his eyes and roll down his cheeks as he cries.]
Kazuki - [Thoughts]
Please...
[Thoughts]
Please...
[Kazuki's eyes and mouth begin to glow.]
Kazuki - SOMEONE HEEEELP...!!!
[A huge, strange beam of light shoots out of Kazuki's eyes and mouth and into the sky.]
[In the corridor, Kaya hears Kazuki's thunderous cry.]
Kaya - Ah!
[The museum and the whole city violently rumbles as Kazuki screams. The sky turns black and the clouds violently swirl around a giant, red ring of light from Kazuki's beam, causing heavy, murderous cyclones to blow throughout the city.]
Kazuki - ARGHHHHHHHH...!!!
[After a while, the huge, strange beam of light slowly stops and fades away, making everything calm down and slowly return to normal.]
Kazuki - Ughhh...
[The demonic-looking cloth slowly vanishes. Kazuki then falls to the ground and faints in a pool of his own blood.]
[From a greatly far distance, the strange beam of light and the calamity in the city catches the attention of the earlier shown mysterious, humanoid figure.]
Mysterious - ...So the war
Humanoid continues.
Figure
[The mysterious, humanoid figure fiendishly smirks.]
[In the early evening, at the Kayne residence, Kazuki slowly wakes up from his coma while lying on a futon.]
Kazuki - Ughhh...
[Thoughts]
What happened...?
[Thoughts]
Where am i...?
[Kazuki looks around.]
Kazuki - [Thoughts]
...Am i...back home?
Oh?
[Kazuki notices Kaya sleeping on the ground with her head resting on his chest. He smiles and gently strokes her cheek with his thumb, making her slowly wake up.]
Kaya - Mmhhh...
[Kaya gently holds Kazuki's hand and smiles as she opens her eyes.]
Kaya - So your finally
awake, huh?
You gave us quite a
scare, you know.
[Kaya sits up.]
Kaya - We found you lying
on the ground
unconscious in the
museum so we
brought you back
home.
Mom brought a local
doctor to check on
you but he found
nothing wrong.
You must've just
blacked out for some
reason.
At least, that's
what he said.
But i didn't believe
a word of it.
Kazuki - Oh...
Kaya - Kazuki.
...You were lying in
a pool of blood.
Your blood.
Kazuki - Ah!
Kaya - Something DID happen,
didn't it?
The whole city starts
shaking!
Cyclones start
blowing!
And then we suddenly
find you lying in
your own blood?!
Kazuki...
Just exactly what
happened to you when
you left?!
Kazuki - Mhh...
Kaya - ...Do you know how
Hiroto and Teruko
cried?
Kazuki - Ah!
Kaya - Do you know how i
cried?
[Tears flow out of Kaya's eyes and roll down her cheeks as she cries.]
Kaya - I was so worried?!
What am i supposed to
do if you leave me?!
You know how useless
i am, don't you?!
Kazuki - Ah...!
[Kazuki sits up and hugs Kaya.]
Kaya - Oh!
[Kaya hugs Kazuki back and buries her face in his shoulder as she cries.]
Kazuki - [Thoughts]
Is this really how
she's felt all this
time?
[Thoughts]
And i had no idea.
[Thoughts]
I'm so sorry i made
you cry Kaya.
[Thoughts]
I'm so sorry.
[After a while, Kazuki and Kaya slowly separate from eachother's embrace. Kaya smiles.]
Kaya - I'm so glad okay,
Kazuki.
[Kazuki smiles.]
Kaya - Okaa-San had to put
Hiroto and Teruko to
sleep, but i insisted
on staying till you
woke up.
[Kaya stands up.]
Kaya - You should rest.
Dinner will be
ready soon.
[Kaya carries a small vase from the ground. She walks away and is about to step on a large nail sticking out of the wooden floor.]
Kazuki - AH!
KAYA, lOOK OUT!!
[Kaya quickly stops.]
Kazuki - Ah...!
[She slowly turns around and looks at Kazuki in unbelievable shock. The vase drops from her hands and shatters on the floor.]
Kaya - Heh?!
[An awkward silence fills the room for a few moments.]
Kaya - ...Kazuki.
...Did...Did you just
...speak?!
Kazuki - I...I can...speak?!
Kaya - H-How is this even
possible?!
Kazuki - I...I don't know!
I don't know!
I don't know!
I don't know!
I don't know!
I don't know!
I don't know!
I don't know!
I don't know!
Kaya - Kazuki!
[Kazuki holds his head in fear and begins to panic. Kaya quickly holds his hands gently.]
Kazuki - ...Oh?
Kaya - Its alright.
Everything will be
alright.
Just calm down.
Okay?
[Kazuki eases up and slowly calms down.]
Kazuki - ...Kaya.
I can't remember it.
Kaya - Oh?
Kazuki - Everything before i
blacked out...
The museum...
I can't remember any
of it.
Kaya - ...We need to tell
Okaa-San.
[At night, Kazuki's mother lights a candle and places it on a table to brighten the room.]
Mother - ...So you just woke
up and could suddenly
talk.
Is that it?
Kazuki - Oh!
Mmm...
That's all i can
recall, though.
By the way, how are
Hiroto and Teruko
doing?
Mother - Oh...
[Kazuki's mother smiles.]
Mother - [Thoughts]
Its always other
people before
himself, isn't it?
They're fine.
They were awfully
worried, but i was
finally able to put
them to sleep.
[Kazuki's mother's expression becomes very concerned.]
Kazuki - ...Okaa-San?
What's wrong?
Mother - ...Its nothing.
Kaya - Hehh...?
I still can't believe
any of this, though.
I mean, it just
doesn't make any
sense.
You haven't been able
to speak for seven
years.
Why suddenly change
now?
Kazuki - ...I don't know.
Kaya - ...Well, what should
we do to celebrate?!
Kazuki - Eh?!
C-Celebrate?!
Celebrate what?!
Kaya - Finally being able to
talk after seven
years?
Honestly, i never
knew your voice was
this light.
Its kinda funny.
Pretty embarrassed,
aren't you.
Kazuki - Grrr!
[Kazuki firmly pinches Kaya's cheek.]
Kaya - Youch!
Mother - Your sister is right,
Kazuki.
Kazuki - Heh?
Kaya - Ash alwaysh.
Umm, right about what
egshactly?
Mother - I'm not quite sure
how your ability to
speak again suddenly
returned.
But the truth is it
has happened and
there's nothing we
can do.
We can either keep on
dwelling on the
matter...
Or we simply accept
it as a miracle and
keep on living the
same way we always
have...
[Kazuki's mother smiles.]
Mother - As the happy family
we are.
Kazuki - Oh...
Kaya - Oh...
[Kazuki and Kaya both smile.]
Kazuki - Right!
Kaya - Right!
[Kazuki's mother's smile widens. She then starts to look concerned.]
Mother - [Thoughts]
It seems, my
predictions are
happening faster
than i expected.
[Thoughts]
But i can't tell
them.
Not now.
[Thoughts]
Soon enough...
[Thoughts]
Everything will
reveal itself.
Oh?
[Kazuki's mother notices a concerned expression on Kazuki's face.]
Mother - Kazuki?
What's on your mind?
Kazuki - Oh!
Well...
...Okaa-San?
Mother - Yes, Kazuki?
Kazuki - What exactly are...
Xenos like?
Mother - Ah...!
Kaya - Oh...
[Kazuki's mother's hands begin to tremble.]
Mother - ...Xenos...are
demonic...
Blood-thirsty...
Man-eating creatures!
...They kill and
devour humans!
Till this day, It's
unknown when and
where they first
appeared.
All that's known is
that they've prowled
the land for
millennia.
And only prowl the
land when the sun
goes down.
Their physical
prowess is
unbelievable!
Wounds and severed
limbs regenerate in
the blink of an eye.
And some can even
use demonic spells
and horrific magical
abilities at their
will.
They're only
vulnerable to
sunlight, or the
severing of their
hearts by the blades
of the "Xeno
Hunters".
Kaya - Who are the Xeno
Hunters?
Mother - ...The Xeno
Hunters...
Or better yet, the
"Xeno Hunter Corps".
Is an organisation of
highly skilled and
highly powerful
samurai swordsmen.
Kazuki - Oh!
Kaya - Oh!
Mother - It's a secret
organisation, not
known by many.
It consists of
hundreds of members
and has existed since
ancient times for as
long as the Xenos
have.
They've been the ones
to hunt down and kill
the Xenos for as long
as anyone can
remember.
Kazuki - Woah!
Kaya - That's a really long
time.
Mother - ...It is, isn't it?
People who claim to
have witnessed
battles between the
Xenos and the Xeno
Hunters before in
their lives all state
one similar thing.
That the Hunters use
a sacred fighting
technique that
utilizes powerful
Magecraft with
precise swordsmanship
and martial arts.
Kazuki - [Thoughts]
Magecraft?
But, is any of that
even true?
Kaya - Yeah, i mean...
Man-eating monsters?
Magic samurais?
It all sounds a
little too
farfetched.
Mother - ...And what would you
consider yourselves?
Kazuki - Oh!
Kaya - Oh!
Mother - You two have been
gifted with abilities
people could only
dream of.
Your god-like
hearing, Kaya...
Your clairvoyance
and partial pain
relieval, Kazuki...
Are things that
people would
instantly consider
"Farfetched" and
more.
Kazuki - Oh...
Kaya - Oh...
[Kazuki's mother smiles.]
Mother - This country is very
vast, my children.
And you haven't even
seen the half of the
wonders and horrors
it contains.
Kaya - What horrors?
Mother - ...You'll know soon
enough.
But you know well
what i mean, Kazuki.
Don't you?
Kazuki - [Thoughts]
...I guess she's
right.
[Thoughts]
An unbelievable
sense of feeling and
perception such as
mine isn't something
that comes around
very often.
[Thoughts]
I've always been
able to sense the
vibe of any living
thing around me.
So it all eventually
seemed normal.
[Thoughts]
I guess thesame
thing applies to
Kaya and her
powerful sense of
hearing as well.
Kaya - Tell us more about
the Xeno Hunters.
Have they really been
battling the Xenos
all on their own?
Mother - Yes.
Kazuki - Wow...!
Kaya - That's incredible!
Mother - It may be incredible,
but everything comes
at a price, Kaya.
Kaya - Oh?
Kazuki - What do you mean?
Mother - The Xeno Hunters may
be powerful...
But in the end,
they're still human
beings...
Made of flesh and
blood.
They have no way of
growing back lost
limbs or healing
damaged organs.
Even so, they still
fight the Xenos till
their last breath.
All for the sake...
of saving humanity.
Kaya - Woah...!
Kazuki - Woah...!
Kaya - Mind blown!
Mother - Till this day, very
few people believe
that the Xeno Hunters
still exist and
battle the Xenos,
protecting humans
from the shadows.
While a lot more
people believe that
the story, is only a
children's fairytale.
...A myth.
Kazuki - ...How do you know so
much about this?
[Kazuki's mother smiles.]
Mother - That'll have to wait
for another time.
It's getting late.
You two should be in
bed.
Kazuki - Awww, Okaa-San...!
Kaya - Awww, Okaa-San...!
[Kazuki's mother chuckles.]
Mother - Don't worry.
We'll have plenty of
time to talk
tomorrow.
And i'm quite sure
Hiroto and Teruko
will be excited as
well to hear you
speak, Kazuki.
[Kazuki and Kaya both smile.]
Mother - So for now, you two
should get some
sleep.
Kazuki - Hai...
Kaya - Hai...
[Kazuki and Kaya stand up and both head to their room.]
Mother - Kazuki.
Kazuki - Oh?
[Kazuki and Kaya stop walking as their mother moves towards them on her wheelchair.]
Kazuki - Yes?
Mother - Take this.
[Kazuki's mother gives him a small, neatly folded piece of paper.]
Kazuki - Oh...
What's this?
Mother - It's a note i made.
Kaya - A note?
Mother - ...Kazuki.
I want you to hold on
to that with your
life.
And don't read it
this night no matter
what.
Kazuki - Ah!
Why?!
What is it?!
Mother - For now, i can't tell
you.
But i want you to
read it only after
this night.
It'll explain some
things you need to
know from then on.
[Kazuki's mother holds his hand.]
Mother - Please Kazuki.
Kaya - Okaa-San, is
everything alright?
[Kazuki's mother smiles.]
Mother - Don't worry sweetie.
Everything will be
fine.
Kazuki - [Thoughts]
...I can sense so
much fear and
sadness in mom's
heart.
[Thoughts]
What's going on?
[Kazuki hesitantly smiles. He gets down on one knee and gently holds his mother's hands.]
Kazuki - Hai, Okaa-San.
I'll keep it safe no
matter what.
And i'll only read it
after tonight.
Mother - Thank you.
[Kazuki and Kaya both hug their mother.]
Kazuki - Goodnight, mom.
Kaya - Goodnight, mom.
[Kazuki and Kaya head off to their room.]
Mother - [Thoughts]
...Goodnight...
[Thoughts]
And good luck.
[In their room, Kazuki and Kaya lie on their futons, still awake. Kazuki holds and stares at a strange, white cloth in his hands.]
Kaya - ...You okay, Kazuki?
Kazuki - Hmm?
Oh, yeah.
I'm fine.
[Kaya smiles.]
Kaya - Are you holding it
again?
Kazuki - Oh?
Kaya - That cloth.
Kazuki - Ah, yeah.
Kaya - ...I can understand
why you're so
attached to it.
It is the last thing
Otou-San gave you
before he died.
Kazuki - ...I guess it is.
Kaya - ...Do you carry it
with you?
Kazuki - ...Always.
[Kaya holds Kazuki's hand]
Kazuki - Oh.
Kaya - ...Don't worry.
You heard Okaa-San.
"Everything Will Be
Fine"
Just try and get some
sleep, okay?
[Kazuki smiles.]
Kazuki - You're one to talk,
miss baggy eyes.
Kaya - At least I'M not the
one who gonna have to
explain everything to
Hiroto and Teruko
tomorrow.
Kazuki - Ahahahahahahahaha...
Kaya - Ahahahahahahahaha...
Kazuki - Thanks sis.
Goodnight.
Kaya - Goodnight, Kazuki.
[Kazuki and Kaya close their eyes and fall asleep holding eachother's hand.]
[In the main room, Kazuki's mother sits and waits. A mysterious wind suddenly blows out the candle.]
Mother - ...It's time.
[The earlier shown mysterious, humanoid figure appears behind Kazuki's mother.]
[In the room, Kazuki senses a strange vibe that wakes him up, making him violently cough out blood.]
Kazuki - Ah!!
[Kazuki quickly sits up. He starts to breath heavily and look around frantically.]
Kazuki - ...Kuh!
Kaya!
Kaya, wake up!
[Kazuki tugs on Kaya's shoulder, making her sluggishly wake up and sit up while drooling.]
Kaya - Hmmm?
What ish it now?
Kazuki - Something's wrong,
Kaya!
Kaya - Oh?
What do you mean?
Kazuki - ...I just felt
something strange!
Very strange!
Kaya - Your clairvoyance
again?
Kazuki - I don't know.
It's not like
anything i've ever
felt before!
It's not a human...
But it's not an
animal either.
It's something else!
...Something
different!
...Something
bigger!
Kaya - ...Kazuki?
[Kazuki looks at Kaya with a horrified expression.]
Kazuki - Kaya...
...Something horrible
is in the house!
[Kazuki and Kaya suddenly hear their mother scream.]
Kazuki - Ah!
Kaya - Okaa-San!
[Kazuki and Kaya quickly get up and run to the dark main room.]
Kaya - Okaa-San?!
Kazuki - Okaa-San where are
you?!
Okaa-San!
Ah!
[Kazuki looks in horror as he witnesses a the mysterious, humanoid figure holding his mother off the floor by her neck with its mutated, tentacle-like arm.]
Kazuki - ...O-Okaa-San!
Kaya - K-Kazuki, wh-what's
going on?!
Kazuki - ...It's...
It's...
...A Xeno!
Kaya - Ah...!
[Kaya begins to tremble in fear.]
Kaya - Ah..Ahh...!
[Kaya's legs collapse with fear and she falls on her rear.]
Kaya - Wh...Why here?!
Why now?!
Kazuki - ...Kuh!
You...You monster!
L-Let her go!
Let my mother go!
[A sleepy Hiroto and Teruko come out of their room and into the main room.]
Teruko - Whash with all the
noish?
Hiroto - Yeah, whash going on?
Kazuki - Ah!
Hiroto!
Teruko!
[The Xeno turns to Hiroto and Teruko and raises his second hand towards them.]
Kazuki - Ah!
No...
Please no...
Kaya - Hiroto!
Teruko!
Run...!
[Hiroto and Teruko become frightened and begin to tremble.]
Teruko - O-Okaa-San?!
Hiroto - W-What's happening?!
Mother - H...Hiroto...
T-Teruko...
R-Run!
[The mysterious Xeno's arm morphs into a long, serrated, mutated tentacle.]
Kazuki - Stop!
Please, don't!
I'm begging you!
Please, don't!!
Kaya - Hiroto!
Teruko...!
[Tears flow out of Hiroto's and Teruko's eyes and roll down their cheeks.]
Hiroto - N-Nee-S-San?
Teruko - O-Onii-Ch-Chan?
Hiroto - H-Help!
Teruko - H-Help!
[The mutated arm violently flails and massacres Hiroto and Teruko, splattering their blood all over the walls.]
Kazuki - Ah...!
Kaya - Ah...!
Mother - Ah...!
[Hiroto and Teruko fall to the ground and drop dead in a pool of blood.]
Kaya - Hiroto...
Kazuki - Teruko...
Mother - ...No!
[Tears flow out of Kazuki, Kaya and their mother's eyes and roll down their cheeks as they watch Hiroto and Teruko's dead bodies in horror.]
Kazuki - Ahhhh...!
Kaya - Ahhhh...!
Mother - Ahhhh...!
[Kaya cries inconsolably.]
Kaya - ...Why?
Why is this
happening...?!
This can't be
happening...!
Kazuki - ...Kuh...!
[Streams of tears flow down Kazuki's face.]
Kazuki - You'll pay...!
You monster...!
You'll pay for what
you've done!
[Kazuki quickly grabs a nearby pickaxe hung on the wall and violently charges at the Xeno.]
Kazuki - Arghhhhh...!!!
Mother - No, Kazuki!
Stop!
Kazuki - Ah!
[Kazuki quickly stops.]
Kazuki - Ngh!
Okaa-San!
Mother - Stay back!
Kazuki - Ah!
But-
Mother - Listen carefully,
Kazuki!
A lot is happening
now that i can't
explain!
But right now, the
safety of you and
your sister is
what matters!
The note i gave you
will tell you what
you need to know!
Ngh!
Now take your sister
and run!
Kazuki - B-But-
Mother - I said ruuuun...!
[Kazuki grabs Kaya's hand and runs out of the house with her into the thick snow.]
Kaya - Okaa-San!
[Kazuki and Kaya turn around and look at their mother. Tears flow out of their mother's eyes and roll down her cheeks as she smiles.]
Mother - ...I LOVE Y-
Ugh!
[The mysterious, Xeno's mutated arm violently pierces through their mother's back and rips through her stomach.]
Kazuki - Ah...!
Kaya - Ah...!
[Kazuki and Kaya watch in horror as their mother falls to the ground and lays dead in a pool of blood. Streams of tears flow down their faces.]
Kaya - O...Okaa-San?
Ah..Ahhhhhhh...!!!
Uwahhhh...
Hiroto...
Teruko...
Okaa-San...
[Kaya bitterly cries.]
Kazuki - ...Kuh!
[Kazuki struggles and fights back his tears. He wipes the tears from his eyes.]
Kazuki - ...Kaya.
[Kazuki gently places his hand on Kaya's shoulder.]
Kaya - Oh...?
Kazuki - ...Lets go.
[Kazuki wipes the tears from Kaya's eyes and helps her stand up.]
Kazuki - We can't stay here.
...Not anymore.
[Holding hands, the two last surviving members of the Kayne family run into the snowy forest. And never look back.]
THE END
TO BE CONTNUED
A WORD FROM THE AUTHOR:
Thank you all for being so patient enough to read this story to the end. Your support and patronage is greatly appreciated. I will do my very best to keep uploading newer chapters each month. Right now, i am the only one involved in the production of every chapter so it's greatly difficult. But with your love and support, i hope to be able to pull through this to the end and take you all on a fantastic adventure. If you have any questions or complaints, please inbox me and let me know. Thank you all, and goodbye for now.
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