[Ushinamichi - Atop a random building]

Rain pours from the dark skies above; they gracefully coated the equally grim city beneath it. The city was dim, surrounded by red lanterned lights and a calming sea breeze. This was the port city of Ushinamichi, reknowned for its trade and economical advancements ever since an unknown leader has climbed the hierarchy and overthrew the previous government. The whole world has viewed is one of the most dangerous cities to live in, but provides a great economical opportunity. It was a 50/50 gamble, anyone who had nothing could make something happen in this city. The city's reputation only got more infamous when their new Atama usurped his power to ascned as the city's governing body.

"There's a lot on your mind.. I can tell." A female voice rang out, walking towards the man sitting on the edge of a tall building, overlooking all the others. She held an umbrella, presumably to shield her colleague from the torrents of water falling from the sky. "You have a habit of drenching yourself in rain. You'll catch a cold."

"You dote on me too much, woman." A baritone voice rang out, blinking several times as he gazed behind him. "This is the only time I have to relax. In the serenity of rain I feel at peace with this world."

"...Peace, huh?" she said, eyes darting up at the grey skies above. "Does such a thing even exist? In this chaotic world?"

"Heh.." a smirk curled up the male's face. "You need not be so serious, Ms. Gassenarl. You must learn how to enjoy the simple things in life. Peace can easily be attained, it is your mind that creates these chaotic thoughts."

A short moment of silence.

"..Do you hear the pitter patter of the drops, the calming breeze that hits your face, the distinct, salty smell of the sea, the howls of the wind keeping your mind at constant stasis? There is peace in being one with the elements." The man said, closing his eyes as he took a deep breath.

"I can sense emotion, I can hear the echoes of your mind. You are not at peace, Aurelius."

"...." The man only smirks and lets out a slightly hearty laugh. "Could you have mistook the silence as chaos? I presume you could not hear anything from me, Gassenarl."

"Hn.." The woman closed her eyes shaking her head. "I couldn't."

"Then you are the one not at peace, friend. If you think moments of silence is potential crisis, you create more chaos in your mind." Aurelius breathed deeply, his gaze locked onto the the waves crashing onto the supports holding the city up from the sea. "You need to let go of our past."

"How can you say that when what you're doing right now is an act of revenge? Isn't it hypocritical to say that?" Gassenarl raised her voice a bit too high, answering in such a manner of haste.

"To clear me of my transgressions, it must be done. You, my dear, should unlock that chain and clasp it onto my leg, as did the others. Once I've succeeded in doing this, I can wipe my past and think about the future. But for now, I cannot adjourn. I must keep moving forward, for all of us."

The woman shook her head, sighing in complete frustration. "You should not forget that you are not alone in this. You need not be the self-proclaimed martyr you wish to be--"

"It is not martyrdom, Gassenarl-- it is justice." the male barked out, his teeth slightly gnashing when he had said the final word.

"...Why do you even need to do this, Aurelius? We're satisfied with life here in Ushina. To bring pain to other people is against our code." Gassenarl remarked, her eyes scrunching in confusion.

Aurelius' eyes were half-lidded as if he was thinking of something deeply. "...Do you remember that day.. the day we were forced to forget.. everything."

[??? - underground city - in the distant past]

The scene shifts into an even darker city. The walls were giant, with embellishments to them, as if the entire city were planned to be built. Structures were everywhere, some mettallic, some stone. Everything was lit solely on the natural light that came above; which was limited. And the manmade lights the society has constructed throughout this underground city. Sounds of explosions can be heard from above, screams of people and crying children.

"You wait for us, Aurelius.. We'll be back home before you know it." a woman with white clad hair said as he kissed the forehead of her son.

"Where are you going, mama? These are the bad people you were fighting, right?" the little white-haired boy shakily said.

"Don't worry, son. Mama and Papa are just going to have a little talk with these men." the taller male, presumably his father said as he knelt down and kissed his son. "You should go with them, son. We'll be back before you know it." a beam of reassurance fostered into the father's face as he saw his son walk away, hoping and trusting they would come back.

With the child secured, the woman glared at the man. "Don't hurt him. Take us instead." the mother said, hands shackled along with her husband.

"A trade's a trade. I hope you won't regret it." a man said as he smoked on his tobacco; puffing out a plume of smoke. He wore a black, leather robe matched with a black turtleneck and an eyepatch strewn over his right eye. "Don't worry, kid. We're just having a little talk with mommy and daddy."

The nearby infantry engages in conversation:

"These two.. they're that dangerous power couple, right?" "Their psionic abilities are unmatched in the battlefield, Yliaster's finest. I still can't believe we got them backed into a corner. With their son at hostage no doubt." "Why aren't they retaliating? Shouldn't they be able to get out of this scot-free?" "Yoshiyuki-sama got them drugged with a new anasthetic that renders their abilities null. It's quite an edge for the top tier prisoners." "I'm guessing these two are an exception, huh?" "...Sadly. It's.. disorienting how we're tasked to do this by the higher ups. It's so.. immoral." "That's the fundamental principle of it. War.. never changes."

"You think this is right? I mean, we're going against the orders of Raiji-sama. We're just tasked to execute them.. not.. that." "Captain Nobuyuki is the leader of our quadrant, we have no choice. Plus, Raiji-sama didn't say anthing about doing.. that." "But didn't Kashikoi-sama specifically said that the orphans be brought under his care?" "Yeah.. that's trouble brewin' too. Captain Nobuyuki and Commander Kashikoi has been at each others throats for months now. If he somehow finds out.." "I've been hearing Captain Nobuyuki thrashing in his office as usual. Commander Kashikoi probably hindered one of his strategies again." "Those two are not good for each other." "I wonder how the captain gets a cool head sometimes and just accepts the hindrances. He's been so cordial to Kashikoi-sama too."

"Stop bickering and get to work. These nuisances have been waiting for their just medicine. We're giving them what they deserve." the military commandant said as he glared at his men giving them an insightful interpretation of his authority. The men willingly followed suit towards the room.

[??? - unknown hallway]

The young boy from earlier was walking with the armed men and had met a tall, almost middle-aged man. He seemed to be in the 26-30 range. He also had long, beautiful and shining silver strands of hair. The man walked up to him and smiled.

"Take him in with the others, I'll be monitoring his movements from this day forth." the man said to the armed men.

"Understood, Kashikoi-sama. But the captain wants us to get him to the PA room specifically for some reason." one of the men said.

"Another one? His actions are concerning, but I have full trust that he's not doing anything suspicious." the man tapped his finger onto his chin. "You've taken four children under my care now, do you swear upon your oath that you are abiding by the rules? We're trying to give these children a new life."

"We swear, sir." one of the men said, his fingers twitching slightly. Kashikoi tok notice of this and seemingly shot an evil glare at the armed men. Normally, he would tap into their psionic brain pulses to determine their thoughts, but with the enemy using psychic users to keep their army at bay; these men were given anti-psionic channelers. In short, there was nothing he could so to attain intel.

"Carry on then." Kashikoi said in a low tone as he entered one of the rooms labeled "Orphanage". the lingering discomfort Kashikoi felt grew as he took seat with all the children.

[??? - unknown room]

"Wh-Why are you strapping me on this chair?" Aurelius spoke, his voice shaking in fear. The room was dark and only a lamp above him was his source of light. Four more lamps opened and it had four more chairs under them. Four more children strapped onto those chairs. The one beside him was a yooung girl who had long, beautiful and brunette hair. The one beside her also had brunette hair but was a boy. He had lush green eyes. And the last two were boys with blonde and black hairs. They were all in the precarious position he was in. All strapped and bound onto the chairs.

There was only one thing in front of them: five large TV screens. --Just then footfall was heard and an middle-aged man appeared before them. It was the military captain from earlier.

"Now, you're all here because I have only one thing in mind to describe you little rats. Yer all a by-product of nuisances. Everyone related to you in one way has been a great irritation in this war; it's a compliment if you look at it the other way." The man smiled deviously smoking on more of his tobacco. "They laughed at my face at every victory they got and I'm just there powerless to do anything. I harbor no hatred on you children, but I know they'd gladly die for Yliaster. I don't take kindly to those who've spite me. I'm a very vindictive person."

The captain pressed a button and opened the five televisions simultaneously. In front of the blonde boy, a grown man with battle scars over his face. He wore an eyepatch and was tied to a chair. It seems he was smoking a cigarette, probably his final request. The blonde boy's eyes dilated as he saw this man; he seemd familiar to him.

"Uncle!" the boy exclaimed with a slightly Scottish accent. "..Please, get him out of there, I beg you!"

"Got any last words, Jackripper?" the captain said, glaring at the screen.

"..By the seven seas, I knew ye'd get back at me this way." the man said, chuckling with a slight slur. He seemed to have a Caribbean pirate accent. "I asked for parley on lil' ole' Zander. But it seems mopin' about it won't do nuttin'." Puffing out his last breath of smoke, he spat out the cigarette. "Your father would be laughin' right now, seeing as I'm about to see him soon. But, listen, boyo. We've lived a rough life out on sea together and I'm happy to see you've grown so much. A fine man ye've become! Aaharharharhar! ...But my death will only spark up those cannons in your heart, a strong-headed lad like ye and all. Shoot a cap in these bilge rats' arseholes fer me, will ye? Aye aye?"

"..Aye.. aye." the blonde boy said, tears relentless falling from his eyes.

"I'll see ye in the next--" Before the man could say his goodbyes, he got shot right between the eyes.

"UNCLE!" the blond boy protested as he tried to rip off his shackles, but continuously growing tired. With that, he just continued to sob hopelessly in his chair.

"Admiral Jackripper, the naval commander of Yliaster. A pain in arse he is." the captain remarked as he went on to the next screen. It showed an old man; silver hair, wrinkled face but a general-like and stonefaced visage. "Next off is Yoshitsune Ocho. Another pain in my arse, the tactical strategist of Yliaster. You were the reason why the others had succession in killing off good men. Without you, Yliaster's going to be broken down. Say your final remarks, old man."

The old strategist had his eyes shut, blood dripping from inside his lids. He gnashed his teeth in irritation.

"Anata wa watashi no Sofu ni nani o shimashita?!" (What did you do to my grandfather?!) the boy with black hair exclaimed,

"Damare." (Shut up.) the captain said as he seemingly slapped the boy across the face. "Seeing as the Ochos were valued for their sacred optical abilities, we gouged your gradfather's eyes out. It'd be a nuisance if he'd be able to use them. We'll keep them safe in the meantime." The other children were only scarred for life at what they had seen. This was the brutality of war. Morals cast aside.

"Teikoku, I want you to know that every second I kneel here, bleeding, I've been thinking of you. Our family has great pride in you, my grandson. See that the legacy of the Ocho do not die in vain. Do not let our strength die with you, become the emperor that you are. I believe in you. Watashitachi no isan wa ikimasu. Watashi wa, anata no mago o totemo daisukidesu. Say?nara, kore made ij? ni tsuyoku narimasu. Kokufuku shimasu." (Our legacy will live on. I love you my grandson. Become stronger than ever. Conquer them all. Do not forget your destiny.)

Yoshitsune was now abnormally twisting his limbs in an unsafe manner; as if he was being controlled. Teeth gnashing, he shrieked in the indomitable pain. His eye lids opened, revealing two black voids as he squirmed across the whhite walls of the room. His limbs kept twisting and turning and only invoked a sense of rage, hurt and horror onto the eyes of the young children. Especially the one the man called Teikoku, who was his grandson. The execution had ended when his grandfather took the knife by force and stabbed his abdomen; in reference to the age old seppuku tradition.

"He died with honor." the man said sarcastically, smirking mercilessly as he puffed out another plume.

"How.. dare you,, defile the sacred eyes of the Ocho.." Teikoku cried tears of sadness and rage, his eyes lighting up into a golden iris. "YOU'LL PAY FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE!" the boy shouted, saliva dripping from his mouth. The captain then found himself unable to move. The hand at which he held his tobacco twisted in a grotesque manner. Seconds later, the man saw himself pinned down, as if the gravity on his body had been twenty times over.

"Argh!-- Restrain the boy! Apply Shinten-047! Stat! Now!" the captain barked out. Several armed came and restrained the boy; plunging a syringe onto his neck and knocking him out for an indefinite time. "Goddammit, you didn't tell me that this kid had that old man's goddamn powers! I've had it, execute the others. Except for those two."

The other two screens flashed showing the same image. A brunette man and woman tied shackled on the wall.

"What..? Where are we?" the man asked, seemingly dazed.

"They've come to execute us, Mario." the woman said, seemingly exhausted as well.

"But.. what is.." From all corners of the room, gas had erupted. The man and woman coughed, desperately grasping for air. This sparked the two children who also bore resemblance to the two on the screen.

"Mother! Uncle!" screamed the little girl flailing onto her chair whilst the brunette haired boy sat silent, eyes showing how mortified he must feel right now. The military captain then smiled at the terror he inflicted into the children. All four of them were stripped of their very essence; their very happiness ripped into shreds. He had been very satisfied that they met their demise at his hand.

"Damn, this kid did a number on my wrist." he remarked casually as if killing fellow people was a hobby to him. After a slight preiod of recovery, the man came up to white-haired boy. "But lastly, you. Your mother and father have been the greatest grievances in battle. They were the sole bane of my existence, winning every skirmish, one after the other. It's quite impressive, really. I have to commend them. But now they must perish, and you'll be the only one to see them be stripped away of their life." The captain gazed over at the traumatized children, crying, eyes dilated as a sign of mortification. "They're probably very pre-occupied with.. the processing of emotions." An evil chuckle reside from his voice box.

"No.. you said.. they said they'll be back! They promised! You can't do this! You promised! You.. p-promised!" Aurelius shook, the only thing he could do right now was scream.

"Promises, huh?" The captain said, shaking his head as he signalled for the monitor to be turned on. There they were. The child's two parents, blindfolded and strapped onto a pole. The two could only question where they were at the moment; it seems they were knocked out for some reason or another. "Tell you what, kid. If you tell me your name, I'll let them go. Easy peasy."

"..It's.. Aurelius." the boy spoke, electing only a dark chuckle from the man. The captain went over to the microphone and prepared to speak.

"Do you have any last words for little Aurelius here?"

"What?! This wasn't part of the deal, don't let him see this!" Aurelius' father said, squirming to get free.

"Nobuyuki, you son of a bitch! You promised us you'd spare the truth from him! You promised us!" the woman barked out, her eyes irises glowing purple but continuously fading. "What..? What did you do to us!?"

"You think I'm just going to tie you up there without some kind of insurance policy? We've fought so many times before, Lancaster, don't you think I'm not wary of your gifted abilities. Spare me the naivety." the captain said, smoking his tobacco once more.

"You've restricted our mantra..." the woman said, her eyes diluting in disbelief. "This is an atrocity, an abomination to everyone's rights! You can't do this! What abomination have you people concocted that would lock us out of something everyone in this world held sacred?!"

"It's called being smart, Ms. Lancaster. Science has grown to many heights as to limit those are too gifted in the manipulation of mantra. We might even administer that to the Commander's son. He's been very electrifying as of late. Whatever the case, mantra is somethig to be controlled now. Or overzealous cultists like the Yliaster capitalize on it. It is far too dangerous."

"What about your word, Nobuyuki?! Have you fallen so low that your own dignity as a man does not matter anymore?!"

"Heh." the captain scoffed, shaking his head. "I believe that when you want to get back at someone, get back at them in a manner that they'll never get up. That being said, you're going to die. But I won't let your souls rest peacefully. Promises are worse than lies. cause you make them hope. And hope crushed is something no one can ever recover from." With that, Nobuyuki signalled his men from behind. "Open fire."

"No! Please, you can't do this! They've done nothing wrong! Please! Please! Stop, please, I'm begging you!" Aurelius screamed at the top of his lungs, his hand able to reach the captain's robe and tug at it forcefully.

"Revenge is a dish best served cold." A stoneface expression enveloped Nobuyuki's face as he puffed one last smoke from his tobacco. Flashing lights projected from both his and Aurelius' faces as rapid gunfire and the screams of the couple were the only things heard. Aurelius was in deep, deep shock like the other children. Tears falling from his eyes; a paralyzed look plastered on his face. The boy shouted into the high heaves, purple electricity pulsating from his little body. An avatar like aura surrounds him, its eyes glaring down at Nobuyuki.

"Argh!--" Nobuyuki grunted as he was taken aback; high voltage electricity coursing through his veins. The boy was simply hard to overwhelm. He had tried, but he could not get up. "Apply Sh-..Shinten-047 now!" he commanded but the other guards and even the children were already knocked out cold. A vortex of electricity surrounded the boy as he snapped off the chains he was bound to.

Levitating into the air, the boy glared at the man. "You didn't keep your promise." a shaky voice, coupled with a godly-like and delayed echo. "I don't like people who don't keep their promises." the boy raised his arm to seemingly fire something from his palm. --But he had fallen from the air in fainted state before he could even do it. Catching his fall was none other than one half of the leading commandants: Mekiyasashi Kashikoi.

The commander only looked at what transpired in the room. The screens were still on and he immediately recognized the faces of the mutilated victims. Kashikoi placed Aurelius back in his chair and looked around for stable guards. He had already processed what the matter was in this room; and it was a bad omen, as he expected. The white-haired man looked at the older male who was getting up to his feet after that onslaught.

"Commander Kashikoi, it's fortunate that you came--" Nobuyuki spoke but was once again interrupted with a choke. But there was nothing to grip on his throat. Slowly he levitated, grasping at his throat. "What.. what is the meaning of this..?"

"What have you done, Captain Nobuyuki?" Kashikoi said in a low, irritated voice as if he was gritting his teeth as he spoke.

"Urgh! Stop..!" the captain pleaded, trying to overwhelm the psychic grasp of the other. "I said.. STOP!" he shouted once more, eyes becoming the color of flames as an orange shield knocked the man back a bit, but Kashikoi still managed to keep his footing.

"Resistance of your commander is penalized with execution, Nobuyuki."

"I don't give a damn about your rules, Kashikoi! I've been kissing your ass for this entire war right now and I won't take more of your bullshit! You've been restricting me for months, denying me victories, invoking your authority for us to disengage when I've truly won the fight! You've been on my kill list for months and you're the last one, but I wouldn't expect your demise will come this early. I don't care if I get executed by Raiji-sama for this, I will end you! No one, and I mean no one gets in my way!"

"You bicker like a frenzied gorrilla." Kashikoi interrupted, placing a hand on his back. His other hand faced Nobuyuki, harking a battle stance.

"RrrraaaAAAGGGHHH!" Nobuyuki charged like a wild animal, red claws replacing his hands and trying clash down the man before him. Kashikoi evaded every single one of his strikes to the point where the captain became exhausted.

"Selama.. ashal'anore!" Kashikoi invoked as Nobuyuki was levitated once more, the floor beneath him turning raising up as fragmented cement. These fragments formed a coffin like armor onto Nobuyuki, restraining him permanently. Psychic waves latched onto the rocks, creating a more dense sarcophagus-like prison. Three portals popped from both sides and above his head; three monstrous arms clasping onto his limbs. Simultaneously with the glow of Kashikoi's eyes, the arms ripped the captain to shreds, taking his limbs to another unknown dimension.

Moments have passed.. there was no single trace of the captain. And there was only silence. The children had already fainted to see more trauma, but..

"...All of you: get up." Kashikoi said in a serious manner of tone. "Bring them to the resocialization chambers. We're going to.."

"Kashikoi.. what happened..?" Behind him, a familiar face approached the room. "Your men had reported to me and asked me to come here as soon as possible.. I thought there was an invasion but.."

"One of your trusted generals, Nobuyuki had plotted to exact revenge on his war opponents." Kashikoi said.

"Nobuyuki..?"

"Yes.. I put him in a psionic illusion and locked in his mantra reserves. He'll wake up soon, but I want you to deal with him, seeing as he is under your command. I hope you'll be consistent with your principles, Raiji." Kashikoi said, slightly bothered from the scene in contrast to his fun-loving nature earlier.

"Kashikoi.." Knowing that this man was not usually inclined to being very strict, Raiji was disoriented at this demeanor of his.

"You could've ended this war.. you and your father, Raiji. But the principles and pride of the Kizu must come first, hm? I thought you weren't the man you were ever since we left Rakuen. But with war, your principles don't change. You're still that ambitious man bent on destroying lives just because of his selfish pride."

"I'd appreciate if you respect by position, Kashikoi. We might be colleagues and long-time friends but I wont hesitate to use those principles to punish you if you continue this line of speech. Nobuyuki included. He will be executed tomorrow morning if the trial has any bearing." Admittedly, Raiji was not phased with such talk. He had been into this whirlwind of pandemonium to deep to back out now. "We've plunged ourselves into the curse of war, Kashikoi. Nothing is ever fair. Morals will be cast away in this aeon of death and strife. You, as an intellectual should be aware of this."

"..." Kashikoi fell silent and turned around to face his men, completely not locking eyes with Raiji. "Take these children to the chambers."

"...?" Raiji rose a brow at the man's statement. A few seconds later, he had already figured out what he wished to do. "I refuse. You're taking away the reality of the children."

"--Under the man you've entrusted these war orphans to." Kashikoi abruptly interrupted, electing a surprised expression on Raiji's face. "I invoke my single right as chancellor to ignore the veto from any higher power. These children's memories will be wiped, and I will give them the life they deserved. A life away from the war."

Raiji was well aware that Kashikoi was able to ignore any objection he had to a decision for a single time use. He'd never thought he'd do it on something as petty as trying to save a couple of war orphans' sanity. Raiji was completely dumbfounded at such impracticality. "..So be it." he concluded, turning to his men. "Take Nobuyuki and administer Shinten-047. He must be tranquilized during the trial."

Kashikoi could only look at the white-haired boy who looked so much like him. A tear fell from his eye as he picked him up from his chair and walked away with his men towards the room that will change his destiny.

[Ushinamichi - Back to the present..]

Only the distant sea breeze can be heard throughout the course of the silent phase of their conversation. The woman fell silent as she could only imagine what was going into the mind of her friend at this moment. She saw Aurelius' eyes open, tears slightly shedding from his right eye as he broke into a somber and calm song.

"Will I stay where it's safe and sound? Or will I fight 'till I hit the ground? Inside this bitter cage, all the flowers wilt down in the crimson sky.

Take my hand, will we run or stay In this world, full of cruelty? Will we take arms, With the hopes to see the sun again?

We pray...

Do we lack the strength to fight? Have we lost the will to fly?

The world is dark... The world is cruel... But still, we hang on tight...

If this final breath could somehow save this world I'd breathe my last sigh and close my tired eyes And all the ones we lost, we'd find again In this beautiful world we've wished for.

But the world grows darker... We can't recover... This narrow cage that we depend on slowly crumbles...

Is this the end we cannot mend? We're slowly dying...

If we're here, even with fear, We must keep fighting..."

Aurelius voice fades into black, his melodious singing filling the air.

[Shinzuku City - Tokugawa University - Shrine]

The scene shifts to Raiki standing over the shrine, looking out into the horizon. Just then, a male with a similar leather jacket approached him.

"He's awake, you should go see him." the mysterious man said.

"It was corrupted, wasn't it..?" Raiki replied.

"If you hadn't called upon us, he would've been consumed by the madness." the man said.

"I'll go check on him. Thank you."

[END]