Facing the Storm

by Wilson, Yumoyori

  I took control again, and I had to take a shaky breath. Everything she said was true and I was having a damn hard time accepting such truth. James moved away then and turned to face White-Eyes. "You never said that. You said people abandoned you after you became disabled and turned their backs on you. You wanted revenge and N.R.O. was supposed to revoke the bad people who put you in this predicament. Yet, you put yourself here."

  I could tell James was doing this more for show than anything, knowing damn well White-Eyes was sick in the head, but with all this new information, he really was an evil person trying to dominate the world.

  "I was the victim! NOT that child! She should have been killed! Yet they took her side because she had power! You think they would listen to me with this fragile appearance versus a little girl who wanted to protect her stupid friend?! They took her side because she'd benefit and those who wanted a higher position in N.R.O. would get it if she was the leader. She took everything away from me! Half my soul, my dream company, my vision. EVERYTHING!"

  "But you forced me to kill her and take her soul. So you're admitting that Storm hasn't moved on but is in some place with all these souls extracted to one day use as physical magic power to ensure no one defies you when N.R.O. takes over Homatomashi and unleashes war on the world."

  White-Eyes couldn't answer, his eyes glared at me and James cursed. "You should be reported. No, this whole shit show should be over with."

  "You'll defy me?" White-Eyes questioned.

  "I've never been fully dedicated to you! You fucking raped me whenever you were at your strongest! You let Erica tie me up and do whatever HE wanted and put a seal on me so I couldn't reveal who the fuck he really was. You used everyone around you all down to this moment. Erica tried to kill Crimson because you swore in exchange for Crim's soul, you'd free Storm's and put her soul back together!"

  I looked at James who was trembling in anger. "You think I've been blindly following you like the fool you've made me be. Well, your fool plan has failed. Right as we speak, all your followers are being arrested, and that plan of bombing multiple areas of Homatomashi which included the Emperor's palace has been discovered and nullified. It's over."

  White-Eyes looked stunned by his words and James turned away to look at me. "Crimson, leave."

  "Excuse what? I'm not leaving," I snapped back and looked at him with pleading eyes. I can't leave you!

  "Just g-"

  "James Hamilton, take out your sword."

  My eyes widened when James body went rigid and he cursed, his hand reaching for the right side of his hip where in seconds, a sword materialized. He pulled it out of its scabbard and aimed it at me.

  I lifted my gaze to see his fearful one and I looked at the tattoo that he'd gotten from the Great One, waiting for it to activate, but it didn't.

  "You think you're the only one who has an upper hand. You think I didn't know what you were doing? You're so attached to that woman like a fucking dog. I asked you multiple times to kill her and yet you couldn't. You loved her and would do anything to keep her alive. You really thought I'd give you freedom? Unless I die, you'll never be free from me. That Great One thought she could help you. I guess she didn't factor in that if she dies before the seal is activated it becomes ineffective."

  "No...you killed her!" I snapped.

  White-Eyes laughed then, the sickening sound made my stomach turn. "Easy prey and a delicious soul to add to my collection."

  White-Eyes continued to laugh and, with a sigh, he looked at me as James shook, trying desperately to fight off the hold on him. "Seeing as my story means nothing to you, why don't we end this. James. Kill Crimson Jiyuna by striking her in the chest."

  I lifted my hands up to grab my swords, but with a blink of my eyes, something went straight through my chest; James’ wide tear-filled eyes locked onto mine. He stood there before me, my mind attempting to catch up as to how he'd gotten to me so quickly.

  White-Eye's cynical laugh echoed around us while I tried to take a breath, feeling the warm liquid that I knew was blood begin to stain my fighter’s outfit.

  "No...no," James whispered, tears rolling down his cheeks and I bit my lip.

  Storm...

  "Do not fear. I'll make things right. I'll...try...please....forgive me, Crimson."

  James pulled his sword out then, and I let out a weak scream before my knees buckled. I fell to the ground just as I heard the doors open. My Kitsune ran to the surface then, and my eyes locked onto White-Eyes.

  I won. That's what matters...right?

  Yet, I still felt like I'd lost the battle as I took my last breath.

  I stirred awake, feeling something lick my cheek while something else nudged at my forehead. "Five more minutes."

  "Woof!"

  "Woofa!"

  Opening my eyes, the first thing I noticed was the cherry blossom tree above me. The warm breeze passed carrying a few of the pink petals with it, and the fresh scent flowed into my nose and left me even more confused.

  It was night time, the sky above that peeked through the branches of the tree was a dark blue with multiple stars. Urufu head popped into my line of vision and she began to lick my left cheek while something licked my right, which I figured was Mizuko.

  "Where...am I?" I croaked, feeling disorientated. My body was tired, and I fought to sit up, but my eyes were beginning to close. Something nudged next to me to keep me from falling to the side, and it took me a few minutes to gather enough energy to open my heavy eyelids once more. I looked up to see a teal like a creature, its scales a mixture of teal, sapphire blue, and purple. Dragon?

  "RyuJinnSu?"

  He lifted his head to look at me, blowing a stream of smoke from his nostrils before he leaned in to press his head against my forehead.

  "Hey, you," I whispered. "Thanks. I don't feel too well."

  "Kiku."

  "Bru-Ra!"

  I lifted my head with RyuJinn to see Chiryoshi and Fushichou hovering around us. I took a slow look at all of my familiars and noticed the pocket watch that rested against my chest. I also noticed the very purple-red scar on my chest that triggered what had happened who knows when.

  "How long...have I've been unconscious?" I wondered.

  "Seeing as time is super fast here compared to the living world, only a few minutes."

  I lifted my gaze to see Storm standing near the cliff, making me realize I was back at the hilltop and sitting under the cherry blossom tree.

  I tried to stand or even move, but I whimpered and RyuJinn let out a puff of smoke which I figured was his way of telling me to stay still. For added measure, Uru and Mizu put their heads on my lap to force me to stay put.

  Storm turned around and walked towards me, stopping a few feet away. She wore the same outfit like our last encounter in this place; the traditional kimono with white and sapphire blue petals. Her silver strands were left down, and her silver eyes locked onto mine.

  "Storm..."

  "Crimson," she replied with a soft smile. "Seems you should thank that ex-boyfriend of yours."

  "Huh? James...what did he do?"

  "He's smart enough to always have a backup plan," Storm praised, turning her head to look at the horizon of floating souls.

  "What do you mean?" I asked weakly.

  "Did you know the Great One has nine lives?"

  "Huh? She's a cat shifter?"

  "Bingo. Father didn't know such information and ensured she was captured and killed. The people delivered a soul to him, and he had it like he normally does. He didn't know that wasn't her soul, but a fabricated one. The people hired to kill her worked with James. Sure, Great One lost one life, but she still has eight lives and is currently helping the guys keep your soul from leaving your body as you heal."

  "No way...but heal? There's no way I can heal from that wound."

  "Ah right. He never told you what that nasty liquid was for." Her expression softened as she looked at me. "The liquid you drank was an immortality drink. It's com
monly used by Kings and Queens right before war. It's essentially how many royalties survived the wars when they were struck down. It gives the individual 24 hours of being immortal. Any wounds you take will heal while giving the impression the person is dead. The only side effect is your hair goes silver." She winked at me and I stared at her long hair.

  "That's why..."

  "If you lived a life like mine...with a father like mine...death is normally at your door." With a sigh, she looked back at the horizon. "You feel weak because a part of your soul is here right now while your other half is on the side of the living. I just wanted to let you know that...and..." She trailed off and faced me before I watched her kneel on the ground and bow her head to the floor.

  My jaw dropped and my Kitsune tilted her head in shock. Even my familiars all turned their attention to her and I could feel their mixed emotions of confusion.

  "Gomennasai, Crimson Jiyuna," she apologized before slowly lifted her head to continue. "When I died...I was angry but more importantly, I wanted revenge. I thought if I manipulated the people around me, and you, I could get what I wanted. I craved happiness and was so blinded by my determination to acquire it, that I lost sight of all the opportunities I had."

  She took a deep breath and continued. "I harbored a lot of hate within myself. Hate for the situation I was born into and the life I had to live. I just wanted to be happy. To be able to play and be like the normal kids and be given free rein to love Eric for who he wanted to be. We didn't ask to be what we were, but we wanted to make the best of our short lives. Yet...in the end, we never got that chance because we were too focused on seeing through tunnel vision, rather than looking all around us."

  She lifted her head to the sky and whispered, "I once wanted peace. I truly did, because it meant I wouldn't have to kill or hurt people anymore. I was tired of it. Exhausted of being a tool for everyone else. Yet, when I died, I thought I could use you to exact my revenge because I didn't know what else to do. I didn't know what love was until I met Erica...and to be honest, he didn't know how to show his love or compassion because it had been beaten into him that a reward was earned when he validated someone or accepted lashes from my father. He shouldn't have done what he did to you...and I apologize on his behalf."

  She bowed her head again and rose up. "Having a bit of my soul reside inside of you made me realize what a fool I'd been. I was surrounded by men who accepted me and could have easily helped me, yet I didn't want to take the chance. I ignored the love they could have given to me, for Erica, when I honestly could have shared with them the truth and worked together to get us out of this mess. I should have trusted them, and this is my result."

  She looked at my familiars. "I also should have allowed my familiars to guide me back on the right path. Even though I was doing wrong, you stood by me, even when it pained you to do so. I'm sorry for treating you guys like prisoners in my pocket watch rather than companions who could aid me in the problems I was dealing with."

  The five of them were quiet, but I knew they accepted her apology. Their silence was because Storm was no longer their Master, so her words held little weight on them anymore.

  "You should go back now. You can't stay here much longer." Storm suggested.

  I wanted to get up, but my body felt so heavy. "How?"

  "Just relax and close your eyes. Think about the people you love, and you'll return to the living. Your familiars are using their magic to be here with you, but they're also waiting for you on the living side."

  "Storm...can I ask you one more thing?"

  "Sure."

  "What happens now? I mean...you're stuck here? All these souls are stuck here?"

  She gave me a sad smile and slowly nodded. "No choice, really. You'll need to talk to the Great One to get a full explanation on Soul Bending but finding a Soul Bender is very difficult. The one who helped Father did it as a favor, but that was only because he was still technically in power and he's left the country. Also, no one would possibly take the task to free all these souls."

  "But...they're innocent," I countered, trying my best to stay a bit longer.

  "Yes...but the person who put us here is gone. What obligation does anyone else have to free thousands of souls? Soul Bending is extremely draining on the body and requires a water dance before other rituals to release a certain number of souls. It would essentially take a year, one ceremony every month to release hundreds of souls. It's too energy costing with no benefit on the Soul Bender."

  "Can I do it?"

  She blinked and turned her head to stare at me in shock. "Why would you?"

  "Because I can? I mean I CAN do it, right? You have the gift. When your soul leaves, will that gift remain?"

  "Yes...but-"

  "Then I'll do it."

  "You have no obligation to."

  "Don't need one. I don't think it's fair to you all to be here."

  "I will remain here."

  "Why? Are you bound or something?" I asked.

  "No...but...I hurt you all. Why would you free me?" She gave me a conflicted look and I sighed.

  "I forgive you, Storm Yuna."

  She knelt there, speechless at my words. I continued. "What you did was wrong...but you realize that. It's also thanks to you that I'm alive. You could have let your father strike my soul and take over my body. Even as a half soul, you had the gift like your father and could have gone stealing souls while running your empire. You could have chosen to become like your father, but you didn't and that deserves forgiveness. Everyone makes mistakes. Everyone commits sins...but everyone deserves forgiveness."

  Tears formed in her silver eyes and she bowed her head again. "Arigato...Crimson."

  A small smile formed on my lips and my eyes began to close.

  "Storm...we won't tell the public who you really were. I'll keep your legacy as it is...maybe stick with the name Crimson Storm so people don't forget the sacrifices you did make for our country, and for keeping me alive. I don't know how long it will take me to learn and do Soul Bending...successfully. But...I will. As long as I breathe...I'll bring change, and eventually help you cross over."

  I opened my eyes just slightly to see her nod as sobs escaped her. With a smile, I whispered, "As for Eric...I forgive him too. I don't know if it will be ever possible to undo him being earthbound, but I'll try. I don't know what awaits either of you when you leave this earth one day, but I hope...I hope...the ancestors will be...just as forgiving..." I trailed off, my eyes coming to a close.

  Before my mind drifted into the dark abyss, I heard Storm Yuna's final words.

  "Sayonara, Crimson Storm. May your legend live on and the next path you take, lead Homatomashi...no, the world, to a brighter future."

  ONE MONTH LATER...

  "Oh, HELL NAH! How the sizzling hell did Mr. Bipolar snag a second place spot in dating OUR Hottie?"

  "Our? Our as in me too, McHot whatever you are. Sit the fuck down, it’s dinner time!"

  I watched Malachi and James duke it out as they attempted to set the dinner table.

  "It's Hottie McHot Pants, dammit!" Malachi huffed.

  "You're so loud. Sit your sizzling ass down already." Quil sighed, looking annoyed.

  "Quil! You're my boy! Why aren't you defending me?!"

  "Fair is fair. He asked her before the rest of us." Quil sighed again.

  Haru chuckled as he brought a large bowl of rice to the table. "He was smooth."

  "Smooth like a baby's butt," James emphasized with a smirk.

  "Fuck you!" Malachi snapped.

  "Why is everyone so loud?" Aki whined, walking into the kitchen looking like he just woke up, his tails out and his ears twitching a few times.

  Yoshi, who sat at the head of the table, sighed. "Ignore them. They're arguing over who gets to take Crimson on a date now that she's off bed rest."

  "Oh. I guess I'm third then." Aki yawned, walking over towards me.

  "Huh, THIRD?!" Malachi and Quil exclaimed while James shrugged.
r />   "Aki asked when Crim woke up if they can go on a date and she told him there was a line."

  Aki nodded, reaching my side to lean down and give me a sweet kiss on the lips. "Hey." He whispered.

  "Hey. How was your nap?" I asked, my tails happily moving back and forth while my Kitsune ears twitched at his closeness. My Kitsune was running around happily, feeling excited at Aki's presence.

  "It was good until a few loudmouths woke me up," Aki replied and pulled the chair to sit on my right side.

  I turned to James who chuckled and sat on my left side. "They're just upset I'm smarter than they think."

  "We are not!" Malachi announced.

  "I can agree with Malachi on this one," Quil added.

  "Fourth," Haru declared.

  "Fifth." Yoshi yawned.

  "Sixth," Itsuki who walked into the room announced.

  There was a moment of silence, and we turned to Quil and Malachi who just looked pissed off.

  "This is so unfair," Quil grumbled.

  Malachi nodded. "It's okay. We're better together anyway. We'll just take Crim on a double date and get her a tub of green tea ice cream. She'll love us forever."

  "She's right here." James sighed, using his left hand to point at me.

  "And she already loves you guys, so I don't see how the bribery is helping your case," Aki added.

  "Whatever!" Malachi and Quil said together and we all began to laugh.

  "WOOF!"

  "WOOFA!"

  "KIKU!"

  "BRU-RA!"

  I turned my head to the door and smiled at the entrance of my familiars; Father, ChiyoChi, and Yomato entered the kitchen.