fic for ltgmars
For: ltgmars
From: keshichan
Title: The Clover Quartz
Pairing: Nino/Jun
Rating: G to PG-13
Warnings: None
Summary: Nino dreams about bleeding, and vampires, and when he came to school one day after the dream, he meets two new students and changes his life forever.
CHAPTER 1
Bats. The night was always filled with them. He watched them slowly fade into the skies; going into the center of the moon, then disappears as if they weren’t even there. His blood began to boil - like it always did - as the bats left from his eyesight. The blood was boiling as if it was in a kettle on fire. Slowly, he could feel himself writhing in pain and tears well up on the sides of his eyes. Tears of blood. Everything was about blood for him.
In the middle of a field. In the middle of nowhere. The moon was shining happily, glowing in the midst of a terrible terrain. He knew that he was in Akihabara; somewhere in the outskirts. The field at first was luscious - filled with green grass and various colors of flowers - then as his blood boils, it all fades into a field that was burned. All around him now were ashes, gray and filthy, floating in the air until they gradually fell on the earth. His breathing was hitching at the moment. He knew that the vampires would come to take him away now. That was always the end of his every nightmare.
He woke up with perspiration trickling on his temples and neck. His eyes were bloodshot with fear. He looked around him, fearing that he was still in his dream; fearing that the vampires might come for him. He sighed in relief as he stood up in familiar surroundings. The sight of the plain whiteness of his room comforted him. Even though his body was still trembling, he wobbled toward the bathroom and looked at himself in front of the mirror. With both hands on the sides of the sink, he gripped the black marble. Under his golden brown eyes were dark shadows from lack of sleep.
“What the heck is happening to me?” he muttered, asking himself, and shook his head as he went to take his shower.
He took a quick bath, taking out the tension from his body. Finished, he dressed up for school: a red hoodie on top of a black fitted shirt, and black jeans. He didn’t bother to comb his hair; just used some gel to mess it up even more to look cool. As moved about his bedroom, he mused about being unpopular, something that he wished to end. Just when the dreams started, he became totally aware of his surroundings. It was like he suddenly was brought back to life, which he had been like a robot forced to go to school and do things without feeling anything at all. He had life, but it was like he was dead. Not until then.
Finished with his preparations, he slammed his bedroom door shut and went downstairs. His mother was in the kitchen and was talking to someone on the phone. She didn’t notice that Kazunari was already there. Her voice was just a whisper, and Kazunari could barely hear her side of the conversation.
“I can’t do the spell on him anymore. He’s not a little boy; he’s practically an adult now and he’s bound to know what’s happening to him.”
There was silence and when Kazunari tripped on a human sized vase in a corner, almost causing it to tip over and break, that’s when Kasumi felt his presence and decided to end the conversation immediately. “He’s awake now,” whispering, she continued, “I have to go.”
“Mom?” Kazunari spoke, “Who was that?” He asked as he sat down on the kitchen chair. There was the smell of eggs and bacon hanging in the air as he looked down on his meal. The bacon was perfected into a honey-color and the eggs were done sunny side up, just the way he liked it - or was it because he wasn’t really aware of what he wanted until the other day when he suddenly felt free for the first time?
He observed that his mother shot him a dark look before it immediately vanished and was replaced by a smile. “No one. Just a friend.”
Kazunari never heard that his mother had friends, not that he knew of. His mother was like an outsider just like him. He felt that they didn’t belong in this regular world, but of course, he really didn’t know where he originated. His mother spoke a little Kansai-ben, which he knew came from Osaka, but he had never been there.
Seemed to realize that Kazunari had been too inquisitive, Kasumi suddenly said, “Finish your meal and you might be late for school.”
He checked his watch and saw that it was just ten minutes before seven, and his class starts at eight forty. “But it’s just…” he started to say but was immediately cut by Kasumi.
“Finish it now. I have to go out and I need to clean the dishes.”
Knowing that his mother was always serious, he stuffed the food in his mouth though it was still steaming hot. He gulped down two glasses of juice to subside the welling pain in his throat and announced that he was ready to go to school.
***
Yamajuku Gakuen has been standing in the middle of nowhere in Yamabuki in Shinjuku for a long time - one of the oldest as well. A lot of students come from all over Tokyo and it’s one of the few co-ed schools in the area. It’s Kazunari’s third year in high school and next year, he can choose to go to a university or work. Technically, with his grades, he can go anywhere, and choose whatever he wanted to do; however, he didn’t really care at all before. That was before he had extremely realistic nightmares; before he had been able to dream.
The air was inviting as it kissed his face with a cool breeze. He closed his eyes and tilted his head towards the sun. He was in the middle of the street but there were no one in sight by the time he opened his eyes and walked in the direction of his school. He slung his bag on his left shoulder and whistled a tune that was alien to him; something that just popped in his head. He often went to school early to avoid the mass of students. A walk to school takes twenty minutes, and ten by bike.
He reached the school a few minutes before eight and there were only a few students on the grounds, talking merrily to each one. At least they don’t get nightmares about bloodlust! Kazunari thought as he entered. He changed his shoes and went to his first class. He spotted his usual seat empty at the back which was near the window, and sat there. He placed his bag on the hook under the seat and began to stare out the window, and daydreamed about somewhere he could be himself, happy and nightmare-free.
Slowly, the classroom was filled and his teacher came in with two students that he didn’t know. That’s when he felt a spark. At first, it was just tickling, then it gradually intensified and he wasn’t aware where it was coming from. It was like his body was being ignited in flames and it was definitely a feeling that he was accustomed to, from his dreams when his blood boils before the vampires come and take him away. He was barely conscious of Emoto Akira sensei’s introduction of the two newcomers - he was staring at the boy with purple eyes who was staring back at him. It was a stare that spit irritation and possibly anger, like poison.
“…Jun Matsumoto and Sho Sakurai are our new students,” Kazunari heard Akira sensei’s words as he looked away from the boy, who he finally learned as Jun. “Kazunari, they will be sitting by you and I am hoping that you will show them around the school later.”
His eyes widened like orbs as he stared, gaping at his teacher. “Sir?”
Of all the things that he had to do when his teacher finally realizes his presence, he got to be in charge of the newbies. Then he noticed You Yokoyama sending daggers on his way before You raised his hand and waved it in the air like he was swatting an invisible fly. “Sir, I can volunteer Jun to sit beside me!”
Kazunari rolled his eyes in You’s pathetic attempt to get Jun to sit beside him. Didn’t he know that he has two seatmates already? Kazunari tried to hide his grin which he failed miserably. Seated on both sides of You were, his minions as Kazunari often called them, Ryo Nishikido and Tadayoshi Okada. I guess he never knew that if Jun was to sit beside him, one of his minions needs to leave his side. He wanted to snicker but because all eyes were on him, he couldn’t.
“I’m sorry, Yokoyama, but Ninomiya has no one sitting near him, and it’s already decided.” Akira sensei spoke in finality and urged the two boys towards Kazunari’s.
The two didn’t seem to care whether they sit next to him, or You, but Kazunari was weary. It appears that even though Jun didn’t know who Kazunari was, he already hated him. As Sho sat down on his right, the boy smiled at him. His eyes, he noticed, were a shade of red and orange, which was so absurd in his point of view.
“Hello,” Sho greeted with a smile hauntingly beautiful. He was wearing a gray button down shirt and jeans - the typical boy-next-door feel floating in his aura. Kazunari thought that he could be friends with You immediately.
Not particularly a friendly person, Kazunari just nodded for affirmation that he heard him. He looked away, feeling a little nauseous knowing that Jun was sitting near him. Even though he could vividly feel the electricity pulsing in his veins along with Jun and Sho’s presence, Kazunari tried to shake them off as he listened to Akira sensei’s droning voice.
“…We will have groupings from now on, until the end of the semester.”
Most of the students groaned in irritation at Akira sensei’s sudden revelation about his curriculum in his class. Science wasn’t, for the most part, boring. In fact, Kazunari used to enjoy this class for he was fascinated in nature and life and biology was one of his favorites in the field; however, today and maybe for the rest of the semester, his life would be hell compared to before his classmates knew his existence.
“I don’t need to tell you to pick whom you want to group with, granted that they are your seatmates,” Akira sensei continued to explain, “I know that’ll be good for you especially most of your seatmates are your friends.”
Kazunari stood up and started to protest, “Sensei, I am used to do most of my projects alone. I can continue doing that. I don’t need any group mates.”
He could feel the burning gazes of his classmates, but he didn’t care. He didn’t need to suffer more agonizing taunts from people around him. As long as he’s alone, he would be fine. He knew it himself and he didn’t want anyone to join his group which consisted of only one person - him.
“You will fail my class, Ninomiya. So, unless you follow the drill, you’ll get a big fat zero for this semester,” Akira sensei then turned his eyes back to the class, dropping the subject of Kazunari’s objection. “You need to make a theory; your own theory about what causes a black hole and how it can affect living creatures.”
Kazunari sank back on his seat feeling hot and irritated. He didn’t know why Akira sensei wanted to have groups this year. It was his last year in high school and he didn’t want anyone to fail him, let alone the teacher from the only class that he used to enjoy - before everything happened to him. It was a lost cause when it came to changing Akira sensei’s mind, he already knew that, but what made him protest was the fact that he had to join a group with a couple of strangers - not that his entire class wasn’t a stranger to him too, but he really didn’t know them from Adam!
***
Few days passed and his dreams progressed. He no longer only saw vampires, but Jun and Sho took part in his dreams as well. It was a Thursday night when he laid down on his bed, staring at the ceiling when he heard some noise downstairs. He knew that his mom rarely came home early. He looked at the blinking red LED of the digital clock on his desk. It was only ten-thirty and his mom wasn’t due until twelve because of her work. She was a nurse in the public hospital a couple of hours away.
He stood up and was about to open his door when he heard the voices coming up and - sensing from the shuffling - three people were going down the hall. He pressed an ear on the door to listen to the conversation.
“…he still doesn’t know, does he?” Her mother asked in a weary tone.
But before whoever she was talking to spoke, Kazunari felt the same electric current that he used to feel around Jun. His heart palpitated and he suddenly couldn’t breathe. What was going on? he thought. Everything’s getting crazier by the minute. After contemplating, he pressed his ear back on the door and continued to eavesdrop.
“…I - we don’t know yet. My father’s curious about him feeling once again. Surely, you can still do something about it, right?” It was Jun! Kazunari couldn’t hide his disappointment, fear and glee that he was there, inside his house but, why? How did he know his mom? And it sounded like they were acquainted somehow.
“I already told Etsushi that I can’t anymore. Besides, why should only his feelings be controlled and not yours as well?” His mother sounded irritated.
Their hushed voices stopped at Kazunari’s door and he knew in an instant that they were going to check up on him. He scrambled and went back in his bed and lied down. He listened carefully, controlled his breathing - to make it sound like he was asleep, and prayed that whatever he was about to hear would make everything clear to him.
“This is his room?” It was Sho’s voice now. It was clear that he didn’t particularly mask his annoyance in his voice. They already entered Kazunari’s room, and he thanked the heavens that the only working light in his room right now was the lamp that only illuminated half the room. “It looks so…” he paused as he fished for the term that he was looking for, “plain!”
Kazunari rolled his eyes in its closed lids as he thought. You’d think someone that didn’t feel anything and could care less with his surroundings would like to decorate his room?
Though irritated with the situation, he continued to pretend sleeping; however, for some reason, Jun spoke, “He’s awake. Don’t pretend anymore, Kazunari.”
He sighed as he rolled from his bed and stood up. “I can’t believe this! What the hell is going on?!”
“Oh, Kazunari,” His mom cooed, “I’m really sorry.”
Suddenly, a bright flash loomed in sight, blinding Kazunari and everything became black before he passed out.
CHAPTER 2
“Are you alright?” Jun asked Kazunari as he helped him stand up. The latter nodded to let Jun know that he was, though not that much. Traveling by smoke dust was difficult without experience, and it had taken its effects immediately to Kazunari.
Kazunari tried to recall what happened, but he couldn’t. Sensing his apprehension, Jun said, “You fainted after seeing Masaki.”
He glanced at his surroundings, trying to fight the urge to wrap his arms around Jun and kiss the full plump lips that were pinkish and seemed delicious like a mixture of lemon and strawberry. He shook his head, trying to clear away the thought of kissing Jun right then and there. He didn’t know where he was, and he didn’t want to make a scene by making a fool out of himself.
“I didn’t see anyone, now that I remember it,” he replied as he tried his best to recall. “I only remember smoke and smelling something-” he paused as he thought of the right word that he could use to describe, “bloody,” he said finally.
Jun tried to mask his laugh, but ended up snorting. He glanced behind him and that’s the only time that Kazunari realized that they weren’t alone. “Masaki, this fellow said that you smelled bloody!”
“Shut up, Jun,” ordered Sho, who was sitting on one of the couches in the semi-bare living room. Apparently, the word was a taboo.
The windows were huge, as if the place was made out of glass. The living room that was sitting in the center of the household was plain except for the black and green pieces of furniture - a couch that can sit four people and a coffee table in front of the couch.
“Where’s my mom?” Kazunari asked, sounding indifferent.
The three looked at each other then silence came upon them. Kazunari had to repeat his question but no one glanced at his way. He tried to catch the eyes of one of them, but they were good at hiding their emotions.
“What happened?” he decided to ask Jun directly instead of waiting for someone to speak up. “And please tell me the truth.”
Jun slowly looked at his eyes and they were pleading. Kazunari’s heart leapt then sunk into the bottom of his stomach. “What happened to my mom, Jun?”
“My dad took her.” Jun’s voice was dead just like the bare room of Kazunari’s. “He had to take her, you see -”
Kazunari interrupted, “I DON’T SEE! I DON’T KNOW ANYTHING! NO ONE HAS TOLD ME THE TRUTH ABOUT MYSELF!” He couldn’t help himself from screaming. He knew that something was going on, but he had no idea what it was. He hated his mom for lying, but now that she’s gone, he couldn’t even ask her why she lied.
Sho cleared his throat after Kazunari’s monologue. “Masaki, I really need to go out and I want to take Jun with me. Can you stay with him?”
Masaki smiled a toothy grin. “I understand.”
After the two had left, Masaki stayed only a few inches away from Kazunari, who was still seething. Minutes passed and Masaki broke the silence, “Sho and Jun are half brothers, though I know you already know about that. Well, they both have the same father and different mothers. Their father is a wizard. Jun’s mother is a spell caster and Sho’s mother is a void caster.” He paused, and then just like an afterthought, he continued, “And I’m a vampire. Well, I was just an ordinary wizard when I was bitten after an ambush. My parents died and here I am.”
As Kazunari processed what Masaki just told him, he stared at the speaker with disbelieving eyes. His mouth was gaping and when he realized it, he immediately closed his mouth. He shook his head as he tried to clear his thoughts before he proceeded to reply. “I don’t understand. What does - what you said-it matter to me? I mean I’m perfectly normal except before I didn’t have feelings and now I do.”
“It matters because he needs you, and Jun.”
“Who needs me?” Kazunari asked, bewildered.
“Etsushi,” Masaki replied simply, as if Kazunari should have known by now.
“Who is he?”
“He’s Jun and Sho’s father.”
“Okay. So, what does he want from me?”
“He doesn’t want something from you. He wants you.”
“I don’t get it,” Kazunari sighed.
“I don’t know how to tell you. Jun might kill me. Or worse, Sho might kill me.”
“Why would it be worse if Sho was the one who killed you? Aren’t vampires supposed to be immortal?”
“Sho’s mother is a void caster. It means it’s in his blood to know things. Things that are not supposed to be done.”
“I still don’t get it.”
“He can kill me with a spell that’s limited to void casters. And boy, are they deadly!”
“What is the difference between…?” He couldn’t remember the exact whatever caster that Masaki said earlier that he couldn’t say it.
“The difference between a void caster and a normal spell caster is that a spell caster can only chant spells that are mostly for a good cause while a void caster has been condemned by the magical community because of their ability with dark incantations.”
Kazunari nodded in understanding. Now, though he’s still apprehensive about what Masaki said, deep down, he knew that it is difficult to lie about something like that.
Meanwhile, outside Masaki’s house, Jun and Sho were having an argument in the garden that was filled with various floras. There was no one about and their argument was getting hotter.
“I really understand that you had to, but what about Kazunari? Why did you just let him take Kasumi?” Jun barked at Sho.
“Once he takes Kazunari away, we won’t be able to get him back. It was the only way to keep Kazunari from dad!” explained Sho.
“Dad said that Kazunari must be taken and given to him once we get the chance, but now everything is ruined because of your stupidity!”
“If there’s someone who is stupid, that is you! You’re so blinded that you can’t even see the evil lurking behind dad!” Sho said as he shoved Jun’s shoulders hard.
“Oh,” Jun said mockingly, “it’s me, huh?” His eyes were dead and all the humor behind his eyes was gone.
“I can’t believe you’d fall for his lies!” Sho exclaimed exasperatedly.
“He only wants to keep the world peaceful!” Jun rebutted.
“Says who?” Sho mocked back.
“Dad said that-,” Jun tried to answer, but was interrupted by Sho’s seething voice, “I hate him and I hate that he had turned you into someone that I don’t know!”
Irritated with his brother, Sho left after he said his thoughts, and Jun was left gaping at the back of his brother’s fading figure. He never thought that that was what Sho thought of him; however, he knew that Sho was just jealous of him because he was closer to their dad than that of his older brother.
He stared for a long time until the retreating figure disappeared from his sight. He had already turned towards the house when he heard car tires skidding just a few measures away from where he was. Though the house was enchanted, he knew that people could still see it, just not the way people like him did. Just around the curb, a semi-blonde-slash-brown haired boy came out from the black car and dusted some of the debris that the car had made when it connected to the lamppost that was erected on the corner of Masaki’s place.
There was a huff that came from the boy before he walked over to where Jun was. Jun half expected the boy to turn right, out of the house’s way, but he didn’t. He really was going to the garden’s side and this made him freeze. No one, absolutely no one, should be able to see the house unless they were a magical being or a caster. He tried to look away, and test if everything was just his imagination, but the boy kept a straight face and walked directly towards his direction.
“Oy! Can you help me with the car? I just had my driver’s license, but apparently I should have had more practice,” the boy said as he approached the gate.
“So,” Jun started, as he helped the boy heave the car to its upright position, “you’re a faerie?” Their conversation had shifted from the car to how the boy could see him and the house.
“Not really, but I am,” the boy replied.
“I have to ask the right question, right?” Jun asked again, as he took in the features of the boy. He was shorter than him, maybe two inches or so, and had strikingly ocean blue eyes.
“Right, that’s right.”
“You are a faerie but not. So, does that mean you’re a half?” Jun thought out loud, his eyebrows crinkling in the middle.
“Yes, yes. I am half, a faerie, that is,” the boy answered gleefully.
Jun gave the boy a side-long glance before asking, “Sorry, I didn’t catch your name. What is it?”
“What is…? Oh, my name? It’s Satoshi.”
Jun contemplated. He’d heard that name before; however, he wasn’t sure where and when. The only thing he was sure of was that this Satoshi isn’t a caster. Since he couldn’t answer questions directly because of his faerie ancestors, Jun knew that he would have the hard time in asking the right questions.
As they made their way back in the garden, Satoshi became talkative - though Jun hated boys who were chatty, he had to put up with it to learn more about this being - and spoke a lot about the Seer congregation. Apparently, he was a Seer based on his stories.
“…and I had a vision that a boy coming from a school in Yamabukicho will die. I’m here to help him not die.”
Jun gaped at Satoshi. His eyes were wide like orbs and the purple in it seemed to change into a darker shade. Kazunari is studying in Yamajuku High School, in Yamabukicho. He is going to save the world from destruction. I need you to get him and bring him back to me. He heard his father’s words like an echo in a cave.
“W-what is his name?” Jun asked, almost in whisper.
Satoshi paused, thinking for a minute before answering, “I think I recall his name is Ninomiya.”
Prophecies come a long way and it’s difficult to block. There were a lot of Seers that have died in the process of either saving or killing the person in a prophecy. Getting through a prophecy is the most difficult thing that a particular Seer has to do in their lives. Once the vision has been seen, a Seer must sacrifice his time, and himself, to be able to guard or destroy a certain prophecy depending on its gravity.
Jun was stunned. He wanted to ask Satoshi again, but he knew that he heard it the first time. Ninomiya. Kazunari Ninomiya will die? Why? He couldn’t ask any question, not only because he wouldn’t know what questions to ask, but he just couldn’t. Though his face listed all concerns for Kazunari, Satoshi didn’t seem to see it. He was still busy telling his story.
“A wizard has his bad intentions toward the world, and Ninomiya, is supposed to be the gateway to his purpose.” Satoshi said, finishing the prophecy that he had seen.
Masaki and Kazunari stared at the blue eyed Seer as Jun explained what the prophecy is about. Masaki wanted to grab hold of Jun and punch him in the face for confusing Kazunari even more by bringing the faerie-slash-Seer inside and telling them that Kazunari was to die if the Seer didn’t guide him through. Kazunari hasn’t even understood what is what and which is which and here he was giving another puzzle for the boy to decipher.
“You dumbass! You could have at least consulted to me about this before you just suddenly jumped to the conclusion that my explanations about our world have been sufficient for him to understand!” Masaki exclaimed.
They were all seated except for Kazunari, who refused to feel comfortable and stayed where he was the moment when he and Masaki talked about the invisible world that separated only by a thin layer of magic, to divide the magical beings from the mundanes.
“Don’t worry,” Satoshi suddenly spoke. “He will eventually understand. If you must know, he is regaining his memories right at this moment.”
The Seer was right. When they looked at Kazunari, he was staring blankly in space as his body convulsed on the floor. Jun made way towards Kazunari but was held back by Satoshi.
“The sparks that you feel isn’t simple. It ignites that magic that bonds you and him. Once you hold him before his memories return, he will die and you can’t get him back. Everything in the prophecy will happen and chaos will fill the world. Restrain yourself. You have a part in this prophecy not only as his friend. When he remembers you, you will disappear.
“You need to look for your brother, a Rokurokubi -,” Satoshi paused as he saw the look that Jun was giving him, “Three brothers protect the soul of the Quartz and a vampire ensures that Kazunari dies but lives.”
“A Rokurokubi? I have a brother that is half Rokurokubi?!” Jun cried out.
“Your father is a powerful man, and he used his powers in the wrong,” answered Satoshi.
“That’s just sick!” Jun shook his head in disgust.
“One must have power; however, your father wanted more.”
Masaki snickered darkly. “I told you that you’re stupid to believe Etsushi, but you just dismissed our words.”
As Kazunari’s convulsions gradually ceased, Satoshi spoke as he neared the latter, “You must go now. Find your brother. He is needed to end this prophecy. Don’t stray. Less than twenty four hours, you have to get back here. Collect your brothers to help end this mess.”
Kazunari’s heart beat faster as he woke up from the visions. He no longer felt stupid. He now remembers who Jun was, how they met and what they were. He searched for his face in the living room, but he wasn’t there. Only Masaki and the Seer were there. Where was Jun? He had an inkling that the latter had left - the reason, he didn’t have a clue.
Still, he wanted to find out if his intuition was right. “Jun?” he whispered, but loud enough for the people in the room to hear.
Masaki opened his mouth but words won’t come out. He glanced at Satoshi and the Seer nodded as he answered, “Jun’s not here. You better not look for him.”
Kazunari’s heart sunk as he slowly stood up. Jun was his other half. They were meant to be together. Memories flooded him and tears gently streamed down her face. He was eight and Jun just turned nine when his memories were erased along with his feelings. That was the time when the Clover Quartz needed to be moved to another object; however, because of a fluke of a spell, or maybe an intentional one, the Quarto was sent into him. Now, he was a living spirit of a spell book.
When Jun learned about the turn of events, he called Kazunari and they went into their old playroom, and they performed an incantation - well, Jun did and he just repeated after him. At first, Kazunari didn’t understand what Jun was doing then, not until now that he heard the words again, “Protect us and bind us. Let forever be infinite.” Their fingers were intertwined as they spoke the incantation and a warm air became an invisible rope and tied their hands together before it faded.
The next day, Kazunari’s memories and feelings were gone. Jun didn’t need to have his memories and feelings taken away from him. Etsushi knew that he could just teach his son to close his feelings and to not dwell in the past.
He was brought back in the present when Masaki touched him on the right shoulder and spoke softly, “He’ll find a way to get back to you.”
CHAPTER 3
In panic, Kazunari grabbed the vase that was sitting on the table, and slowly opened the door, but Masaki beat him to it. The latter seized him by the shoulders and grinned menacingly. “This is what you get for being too trusting.” He dipped his face in the crook of Kazunari’s neck and sank his canines. A soft moan left Kazunari’s lips before he limped and fainted.
Life has left Kazunari’s body and was now limp. A bite from a vampire is fatal to anyone who was not born a caster; fortunately, he will become one of them since his mother was a spell caster - which only Satoshi knew. Etsushi laughed, thinking that that finally, the hindrance of his plans was dead and gone.
As he laughed, he looked at Kasumi who was now tied on the bed which he prepared for the ritual for opening the portal of Death. Once opened, he will summon all the demons and clear away all the living souls that he thought were dirty, particularly mundanes - the regular people that don’t even know what was really happening to their surroundings.
After cleaning up the mess of blood that he made, Masaki stood up - his mossy green eyes still dazed and void of feelings from the spell that was made to him by Etsushi. Like a robot with no mind of his own, he walked away and left the room.
Kasumi’s eyes were dilated, as if she was drugged. Kazunari laid on the floor, eyes closed and body rigid. The mother and son were nowhere close to fighting Etsushi’s wrath as the latter grabbed the portion of Quarto from Kazunari’s ‘unbeating’ heart, its faint glowing spirit hovered on his hands and he gently placed it in the Clover Quartz. It glimmered as its spirit gave back its life; the pages of the spell book suddenly became filled with incantations in Greek.
“Greek?” Etsushi asked no one in particular. “I guess this means I still have to get Jun’s part if I want to read it in Japanese.” He kept his thoughts running as he stared at Kasumi’s body. He had already wanted her body even before that stupid Seer predicted what happens after ten years. Thankfully though, after what had happened, he killed the Seer with an incantation that no Seer has ever heard before. No trail marks; not one.
He licked his lips as he thought of a plan on how to get the incantation right even without Jun’s half of the Quarto. He wickedly grinned as he recalled that he knew a spell that can help him understand different languages. He hummed low as he spoke the words that he knew all so well. The air heated and slowly the letters in the Clover Quartz became like a second language to him.
Jun trekked the outskirts of Katsushikaku, near Edo River. Most of the Rokurokubi were found in the area and Jun only assumed that he would be able to find the brother that he didn’t even know. He hated that he couldn’t even contact Sho to help him; however, he knew that it would be a little difficult to appease his older brother’s anger towards him. In the first place, it was his entire fault. If only he’d listened to the people around him, he wouldn’t be a stupid follower of his father.
An hour after, he was able to find a small village and there were a lot of beautiful women and their children. Most of the women were washing clothes in the river and the children of different ages and gender were playing in the shore. The tracking spell that he made earlier he assisted him to get in the village without having any trouble. Unfortunately, he couldn’t say the same in the village since all of the people here were female Rokurokubi, and they were known to seduce males that come to their place.
Jun spotted a friendly looking boy, about his age and he decided to ask him about his brother. As he walked towards the direction of the boy, the boy suddenly looked at him. It wasn’t a piercing gaze, but it was enough to make him feel powerless. He swallowed before talking to the boy, “I’m looking for Toma. Do you know where he is?”
“And who is looking for him?” asked the boy.
“I’m his half brother.” Jun said reluctantly.
The black eyes of this boy were like an abyss that you wouldn’t be able to get out of. Its depths were endless. “What do you want from me?”
“You’re Toma?”
“Yes. Why are you looking for me?”
“We need your help.”
Toma laughed darkly. “Don’t you all. Why do you come looking for me when you haven’t since,” he paused as he thought how old he was, “forever?”
“I know that this isn’t a good a reunion and all that, but I only knew about you earlier today,” Jun answered back, irritated. “You’re the only one that can help save the world from its destruction.”
“Yeah?” Toma asked, suddenly curious.
Jun briefly described the prophecy to the Toma and then said, “Your powers are exceptional and it’s the only way that we can stop our father from killing all mankind.”
Filled with hatred since his father left his mom and him even before he was born, he grinned cruelly, “I’m in!”
***
Satoshi left after Kazunari was settled in the guest bedroom. The room was plain except for the red wall paint, a side table where a vase sat and the bed that he was laying down. Satoshi said that he was going to look for Sho to know what his role in this pandemonium. That was when a loud blast came from the front doorway sounded. He immediately grabbed the vase by instinct and poised it like a baseball bat. When he opened the door, however, Masaki grabbed him and he toppled over.
“This is what you get for being too trusting,” Masaki said without any hint of remorse. Then without any warning he bit him.
Using Masaki as leverage, he was able to take Kazunari as well. The vampire was in a trance and had no other choice but to follow all orders from him.
Etsushi learned that Kazunari was in Masaki’s place after taking Kasumi. He knew his son, Sho, only too well to know that he’ll seek refuge to his boy friend - he forced himself to not vomit in his son’s choice of relationship. He only needed a leeway to take Kazunari from the grasps of his sons then he would be able to proceed with his plans. Setting a tracker spell on both of his sons, he was able to know their locations and their moves.
With the woman hanging on her shoulders like a sack of rice, he eased her gently on the bed were Kazunari earlier laid down on. After tying Kasumi, taking the Quarto from Kazunari and making a spell that made him understand various languages; his plan was almost ready to be completed.
It was all what Satoshi needed for the prophecy to proceed. The more they delay, the more the plan changes. He moved about, just watching from afar. Though it disgusted him to only watch, he had no other choice but wait for Jun and Sho, and Toma to kick their father’s ass goodbye.
***
“Are you ready?” Jun asked Toma as the latter laid down on the futon. He was preparing to sleep and enter Etsushi’s dreams.
Night time has arrived and the Eve of Craving is nearing. All spirits are awake during this time of the year every ten years, and every creature with powers were allowed to roam the earth with their powers unrestricted. This makes Toma much more powerful than normal, and he can even reach people’s dreams without the restriction of the intended person to be sleeping.
“I’m ready as hell!” Toma replied giddily.
At that very moment, Etsushi was in the middle of his incantation, reading from the Clover Quartz when Toma entered his thoughts. Like the evil spirit that he was, Toma possessed his father, learned the incantation that can reverse all the spells that he already said from the spell book and the pathway of the devils - which was already half open - was closed.
With all the incantations reversed, Kazunari’s life was brought back, Kasumi woke up in her bondages and Masaki’s trance was lifted. Everything came back to normal except, Kazunari already knew about his past and knew what might happen in his future.
“What did I tell you about him?” Sho asked. He just came back after Jun tracked him down and sent him a message that all was well now.
“Alright, alright,” Jun said defeated, “I was in the wrong. Can you at least end that taunting now?”
“No,” Sho replied. “I will keep on letting you recall that you almost ended mankind because of being his follower.”
“Stop bickering like two sissies!” Toma barked. He was now living with his brothers along with his mother.
Kazunari and Masaki laughed. They all let the past be in the past and let bygones be bygones. The future of the world will be better now that the wizard was sent to the void where he can’t go back to Earth.
Jun looked at Kazunari who held his hand, the spark gone now, which was replaced with something even deeper. Without the power of the Clover Quartz’s spirit inside both of them, they were now normal - well, not normal-normal, but enough to let them stay near each other. They stared at each other and were almost about to kiss when someone coughed mockingly. Everyone laughed as they were broken from their daze.
END
Index:
I really hope that the story makes sense. I would like your creative criticisms - just spare me the bad words and all that. I did my best to make the story good. Thank you.
From: keshichan
Title: The Clover Quartz
Pairing: Nino/Jun
Rating: G to PG-13
Warnings: None
Summary: Nino dreams about bleeding, and vampires, and when he came to school one day after the dream, he meets two new students and changes his life forever.
CHAPTER 1
Bats. The night was always filled with them. He watched them slowly fade into the skies; going into the center of the moon, then disappears as if they weren’t even there. His blood began to boil - like it always did - as the bats left from his eyesight. The blood was boiling as if it was in a kettle on fire. Slowly, he could feel himself writhing in pain and tears well up on the sides of his eyes. Tears of blood. Everything was about blood for him.
In the middle of a field. In the middle of nowhere. The moon was shining happily, glowing in the midst of a terrible terrain. He knew that he was in Akihabara; somewhere in the outskirts. The field at first was luscious - filled with green grass and various colors of flowers - then as his blood boils, it all fades into a field that was burned. All around him now were ashes, gray and filthy, floating in the air until they gradually fell on the earth. His breathing was hitching at the moment. He knew that the vampires would come to take him away now. That was always the end of his every nightmare.
He woke up with perspiration trickling on his temples and neck. His eyes were bloodshot with fear. He looked around him, fearing that he was still in his dream; fearing that the vampires might come for him. He sighed in relief as he stood up in familiar surroundings. The sight of the plain whiteness of his room comforted him. Even though his body was still trembling, he wobbled toward the bathroom and looked at himself in front of the mirror. With both hands on the sides of the sink, he gripped the black marble. Under his golden brown eyes were dark shadows from lack of sleep.
“What the heck is happening to me?” he muttered, asking himself, and shook his head as he went to take his shower.
He took a quick bath, taking out the tension from his body. Finished, he dressed up for school: a red hoodie on top of a black fitted shirt, and black jeans. He didn’t bother to comb his hair; just used some gel to mess it up even more to look cool. As moved about his bedroom, he mused about being unpopular, something that he wished to end. Just when the dreams started, he became totally aware of his surroundings. It was like he suddenly was brought back to life, which he had been like a robot forced to go to school and do things without feeling anything at all. He had life, but it was like he was dead. Not until then.
Finished with his preparations, he slammed his bedroom door shut and went downstairs. His mother was in the kitchen and was talking to someone on the phone. She didn’t notice that Kazunari was already there. Her voice was just a whisper, and Kazunari could barely hear her side of the conversation.
“I can’t do the spell on him anymore. He’s not a little boy; he’s practically an adult now and he’s bound to know what’s happening to him.”
There was silence and when Kazunari tripped on a human sized vase in a corner, almost causing it to tip over and break, that’s when Kasumi felt his presence and decided to end the conversation immediately. “He’s awake now,” whispering, she continued, “I have to go.”
“Mom?” Kazunari spoke, “Who was that?” He asked as he sat down on the kitchen chair. There was the smell of eggs and bacon hanging in the air as he looked down on his meal. The bacon was perfected into a honey-color and the eggs were done sunny side up, just the way he liked it - or was it because he wasn’t really aware of what he wanted until the other day when he suddenly felt free for the first time?
He observed that his mother shot him a dark look before it immediately vanished and was replaced by a smile. “No one. Just a friend.”
Kazunari never heard that his mother had friends, not that he knew of. His mother was like an outsider just like him. He felt that they didn’t belong in this regular world, but of course, he really didn’t know where he originated. His mother spoke a little Kansai-ben, which he knew came from Osaka, but he had never been there.
Seemed to realize that Kazunari had been too inquisitive, Kasumi suddenly said, “Finish your meal and you might be late for school.”
He checked his watch and saw that it was just ten minutes before seven, and his class starts at eight forty. “But it’s just…” he started to say but was immediately cut by Kasumi.
“Finish it now. I have to go out and I need to clean the dishes.”
Knowing that his mother was always serious, he stuffed the food in his mouth though it was still steaming hot. He gulped down two glasses of juice to subside the welling pain in his throat and announced that he was ready to go to school.
***
Yamajuku Gakuen has been standing in the middle of nowhere in Yamabuki in Shinjuku for a long time - one of the oldest as well. A lot of students come from all over Tokyo and it’s one of the few co-ed schools in the area. It’s Kazunari’s third year in high school and next year, he can choose to go to a university or work. Technically, with his grades, he can go anywhere, and choose whatever he wanted to do; however, he didn’t really care at all before. That was before he had extremely realistic nightmares; before he had been able to dream.
The air was inviting as it kissed his face with a cool breeze. He closed his eyes and tilted his head towards the sun. He was in the middle of the street but there were no one in sight by the time he opened his eyes and walked in the direction of his school. He slung his bag on his left shoulder and whistled a tune that was alien to him; something that just popped in his head. He often went to school early to avoid the mass of students. A walk to school takes twenty minutes, and ten by bike.
He reached the school a few minutes before eight and there were only a few students on the grounds, talking merrily to each one. At least they don’t get nightmares about bloodlust! Kazunari thought as he entered. He changed his shoes and went to his first class. He spotted his usual seat empty at the back which was near the window, and sat there. He placed his bag on the hook under the seat and began to stare out the window, and daydreamed about somewhere he could be himself, happy and nightmare-free.
Slowly, the classroom was filled and his teacher came in with two students that he didn’t know. That’s when he felt a spark. At first, it was just tickling, then it gradually intensified and he wasn’t aware where it was coming from. It was like his body was being ignited in flames and it was definitely a feeling that he was accustomed to, from his dreams when his blood boils before the vampires come and take him away. He was barely conscious of Emoto Akira sensei’s introduction of the two newcomers - he was staring at the boy with purple eyes who was staring back at him. It was a stare that spit irritation and possibly anger, like poison.
“…Jun Matsumoto and Sho Sakurai are our new students,” Kazunari heard Akira sensei’s words as he looked away from the boy, who he finally learned as Jun. “Kazunari, they will be sitting by you and I am hoping that you will show them around the school later.”
His eyes widened like orbs as he stared, gaping at his teacher. “Sir?”
Of all the things that he had to do when his teacher finally realizes his presence, he got to be in charge of the newbies. Then he noticed You Yokoyama sending daggers on his way before You raised his hand and waved it in the air like he was swatting an invisible fly. “Sir, I can volunteer Jun to sit beside me!”
Kazunari rolled his eyes in You’s pathetic attempt to get Jun to sit beside him. Didn’t he know that he has two seatmates already? Kazunari tried to hide his grin which he failed miserably. Seated on both sides of You were, his minions as Kazunari often called them, Ryo Nishikido and Tadayoshi Okada. I guess he never knew that if Jun was to sit beside him, one of his minions needs to leave his side. He wanted to snicker but because all eyes were on him, he couldn’t.
“I’m sorry, Yokoyama, but Ninomiya has no one sitting near him, and it’s already decided.” Akira sensei spoke in finality and urged the two boys towards Kazunari’s.
The two didn’t seem to care whether they sit next to him, or You, but Kazunari was weary. It appears that even though Jun didn’t know who Kazunari was, he already hated him. As Sho sat down on his right, the boy smiled at him. His eyes, he noticed, were a shade of red and orange, which was so absurd in his point of view.
“Hello,” Sho greeted with a smile hauntingly beautiful. He was wearing a gray button down shirt and jeans - the typical boy-next-door feel floating in his aura. Kazunari thought that he could be friends with You immediately.
Not particularly a friendly person, Kazunari just nodded for affirmation that he heard him. He looked away, feeling a little nauseous knowing that Jun was sitting near him. Even though he could vividly feel the electricity pulsing in his veins along with Jun and Sho’s presence, Kazunari tried to shake them off as he listened to Akira sensei’s droning voice.
“…We will have groupings from now on, until the end of the semester.”
Most of the students groaned in irritation at Akira sensei’s sudden revelation about his curriculum in his class. Science wasn’t, for the most part, boring. In fact, Kazunari used to enjoy this class for he was fascinated in nature and life and biology was one of his favorites in the field; however, today and maybe for the rest of the semester, his life would be hell compared to before his classmates knew his existence.
“I don’t need to tell you to pick whom you want to group with, granted that they are your seatmates,” Akira sensei continued to explain, “I know that’ll be good for you especially most of your seatmates are your friends.”
Kazunari stood up and started to protest, “Sensei, I am used to do most of my projects alone. I can continue doing that. I don’t need any group mates.”
He could feel the burning gazes of his classmates, but he didn’t care. He didn’t need to suffer more agonizing taunts from people around him. As long as he’s alone, he would be fine. He knew it himself and he didn’t want anyone to join his group which consisted of only one person - him.
“You will fail my class, Ninomiya. So, unless you follow the drill, you’ll get a big fat zero for this semester,” Akira sensei then turned his eyes back to the class, dropping the subject of Kazunari’s objection. “You need to make a theory; your own theory about what causes a black hole and how it can affect living creatures.”
Kazunari sank back on his seat feeling hot and irritated. He didn’t know why Akira sensei wanted to have groups this year. It was his last year in high school and he didn’t want anyone to fail him, let alone the teacher from the only class that he used to enjoy - before everything happened to him. It was a lost cause when it came to changing Akira sensei’s mind, he already knew that, but what made him protest was the fact that he had to join a group with a couple of strangers - not that his entire class wasn’t a stranger to him too, but he really didn’t know them from Adam!
***
Few days passed and his dreams progressed. He no longer only saw vampires, but Jun and Sho took part in his dreams as well. It was a Thursday night when he laid down on his bed, staring at the ceiling when he heard some noise downstairs. He knew that his mom rarely came home early. He looked at the blinking red LED of the digital clock on his desk. It was only ten-thirty and his mom wasn’t due until twelve because of her work. She was a nurse in the public hospital a couple of hours away.
He stood up and was about to open his door when he heard the voices coming up and - sensing from the shuffling - three people were going down the hall. He pressed an ear on the door to listen to the conversation.
“…he still doesn’t know, does he?” Her mother asked in a weary tone.
But before whoever she was talking to spoke, Kazunari felt the same electric current that he used to feel around Jun. His heart palpitated and he suddenly couldn’t breathe. What was going on? he thought. Everything’s getting crazier by the minute. After contemplating, he pressed his ear back on the door and continued to eavesdrop.
“…I - we don’t know yet. My father’s curious about him feeling once again. Surely, you can still do something about it, right?” It was Jun! Kazunari couldn’t hide his disappointment, fear and glee that he was there, inside his house but, why? How did he know his mom? And it sounded like they were acquainted somehow.
“I already told Etsushi that I can’t anymore. Besides, why should only his feelings be controlled and not yours as well?” His mother sounded irritated.
Their hushed voices stopped at Kazunari’s door and he knew in an instant that they were going to check up on him. He scrambled and went back in his bed and lied down. He listened carefully, controlled his breathing - to make it sound like he was asleep, and prayed that whatever he was about to hear would make everything clear to him.
“This is his room?” It was Sho’s voice now. It was clear that he didn’t particularly mask his annoyance in his voice. They already entered Kazunari’s room, and he thanked the heavens that the only working light in his room right now was the lamp that only illuminated half the room. “It looks so…” he paused as he fished for the term that he was looking for, “plain!”
Kazunari rolled his eyes in its closed lids as he thought. You’d think someone that didn’t feel anything and could care less with his surroundings would like to decorate his room?
Though irritated with the situation, he continued to pretend sleeping; however, for some reason, Jun spoke, “He’s awake. Don’t pretend anymore, Kazunari.”
He sighed as he rolled from his bed and stood up. “I can’t believe this! What the hell is going on?!”
“Oh, Kazunari,” His mom cooed, “I’m really sorry.”
Suddenly, a bright flash loomed in sight, blinding Kazunari and everything became black before he passed out.
CHAPTER 2
“Are you alright?” Jun asked Kazunari as he helped him stand up. The latter nodded to let Jun know that he was, though not that much. Traveling by smoke dust was difficult without experience, and it had taken its effects immediately to Kazunari.
Kazunari tried to recall what happened, but he couldn’t. Sensing his apprehension, Jun said, “You fainted after seeing Masaki.”
He glanced at his surroundings, trying to fight the urge to wrap his arms around Jun and kiss the full plump lips that were pinkish and seemed delicious like a mixture of lemon and strawberry. He shook his head, trying to clear away the thought of kissing Jun right then and there. He didn’t know where he was, and he didn’t want to make a scene by making a fool out of himself.
“I didn’t see anyone, now that I remember it,” he replied as he tried his best to recall. “I only remember smoke and smelling something-” he paused as he thought of the right word that he could use to describe, “bloody,” he said finally.
Jun tried to mask his laugh, but ended up snorting. He glanced behind him and that’s the only time that Kazunari realized that they weren’t alone. “Masaki, this fellow said that you smelled bloody!”
“Shut up, Jun,” ordered Sho, who was sitting on one of the couches in the semi-bare living room. Apparently, the word was a taboo.
The windows were huge, as if the place was made out of glass. The living room that was sitting in the center of the household was plain except for the black and green pieces of furniture - a couch that can sit four people and a coffee table in front of the couch.
“Where’s my mom?” Kazunari asked, sounding indifferent.
The three looked at each other then silence came upon them. Kazunari had to repeat his question but no one glanced at his way. He tried to catch the eyes of one of them, but they were good at hiding their emotions.
“What happened?” he decided to ask Jun directly instead of waiting for someone to speak up. “And please tell me the truth.”
Jun slowly looked at his eyes and they were pleading. Kazunari’s heart leapt then sunk into the bottom of his stomach. “What happened to my mom, Jun?”
“My dad took her.” Jun’s voice was dead just like the bare room of Kazunari’s. “He had to take her, you see -”
Kazunari interrupted, “I DON’T SEE! I DON’T KNOW ANYTHING! NO ONE HAS TOLD ME THE TRUTH ABOUT MYSELF!” He couldn’t help himself from screaming. He knew that something was going on, but he had no idea what it was. He hated his mom for lying, but now that she’s gone, he couldn’t even ask her why she lied.
Sho cleared his throat after Kazunari’s monologue. “Masaki, I really need to go out and I want to take Jun with me. Can you stay with him?”
Masaki smiled a toothy grin. “I understand.”
After the two had left, Masaki stayed only a few inches away from Kazunari, who was still seething. Minutes passed and Masaki broke the silence, “Sho and Jun are half brothers, though I know you already know about that. Well, they both have the same father and different mothers. Their father is a wizard. Jun’s mother is a spell caster and Sho’s mother is a void caster.” He paused, and then just like an afterthought, he continued, “And I’m a vampire. Well, I was just an ordinary wizard when I was bitten after an ambush. My parents died and here I am.”
As Kazunari processed what Masaki just told him, he stared at the speaker with disbelieving eyes. His mouth was gaping and when he realized it, he immediately closed his mouth. He shook his head as he tried to clear his thoughts before he proceeded to reply. “I don’t understand. What does - what you said-it matter to me? I mean I’m perfectly normal except before I didn’t have feelings and now I do.”
“It matters because he needs you, and Jun.”
“Who needs me?” Kazunari asked, bewildered.
“Etsushi,” Masaki replied simply, as if Kazunari should have known by now.
“Who is he?”
“He’s Jun and Sho’s father.”
“Okay. So, what does he want from me?”
“He doesn’t want something from you. He wants you.”
“I don’t get it,” Kazunari sighed.
“I don’t know how to tell you. Jun might kill me. Or worse, Sho might kill me.”
“Why would it be worse if Sho was the one who killed you? Aren’t vampires supposed to be immortal?”
“Sho’s mother is a void caster. It means it’s in his blood to know things. Things that are not supposed to be done.”
“I still don’t get it.”
“He can kill me with a spell that’s limited to void casters. And boy, are they deadly!”
“What is the difference between…?” He couldn’t remember the exact whatever caster that Masaki said earlier that he couldn’t say it.
“The difference between a void caster and a normal spell caster is that a spell caster can only chant spells that are mostly for a good cause while a void caster has been condemned by the magical community because of their ability with dark incantations.”
Kazunari nodded in understanding. Now, though he’s still apprehensive about what Masaki said, deep down, he knew that it is difficult to lie about something like that.
Meanwhile, outside Masaki’s house, Jun and Sho were having an argument in the garden that was filled with various floras. There was no one about and their argument was getting hotter.
“I really understand that you had to, but what about Kazunari? Why did you just let him take Kasumi?” Jun barked at Sho.
“Once he takes Kazunari away, we won’t be able to get him back. It was the only way to keep Kazunari from dad!” explained Sho.
“Dad said that Kazunari must be taken and given to him once we get the chance, but now everything is ruined because of your stupidity!”
“If there’s someone who is stupid, that is you! You’re so blinded that you can’t even see the evil lurking behind dad!” Sho said as he shoved Jun’s shoulders hard.
“Oh,” Jun said mockingly, “it’s me, huh?” His eyes were dead and all the humor behind his eyes was gone.
“I can’t believe you’d fall for his lies!” Sho exclaimed exasperatedly.
“He only wants to keep the world peaceful!” Jun rebutted.
“Says who?” Sho mocked back.
“Dad said that-,” Jun tried to answer, but was interrupted by Sho’s seething voice, “I hate him and I hate that he had turned you into someone that I don’t know!”
Irritated with his brother, Sho left after he said his thoughts, and Jun was left gaping at the back of his brother’s fading figure. He never thought that that was what Sho thought of him; however, he knew that Sho was just jealous of him because he was closer to their dad than that of his older brother.
He stared for a long time until the retreating figure disappeared from his sight. He had already turned towards the house when he heard car tires skidding just a few measures away from where he was. Though the house was enchanted, he knew that people could still see it, just not the way people like him did. Just around the curb, a semi-blonde-slash-brown haired boy came out from the black car and dusted some of the debris that the car had made when it connected to the lamppost that was erected on the corner of Masaki’s place.
There was a huff that came from the boy before he walked over to where Jun was. Jun half expected the boy to turn right, out of the house’s way, but he didn’t. He really was going to the garden’s side and this made him freeze. No one, absolutely no one, should be able to see the house unless they were a magical being or a caster. He tried to look away, and test if everything was just his imagination, but the boy kept a straight face and walked directly towards his direction.
“Oy! Can you help me with the car? I just had my driver’s license, but apparently I should have had more practice,” the boy said as he approached the gate.
“So,” Jun started, as he helped the boy heave the car to its upright position, “you’re a faerie?” Their conversation had shifted from the car to how the boy could see him and the house.
“Not really, but I am,” the boy replied.
“I have to ask the right question, right?” Jun asked again, as he took in the features of the boy. He was shorter than him, maybe two inches or so, and had strikingly ocean blue eyes.
“Right, that’s right.”
“You are a faerie but not. So, does that mean you’re a half?” Jun thought out loud, his eyebrows crinkling in the middle.
“Yes, yes. I am half, a faerie, that is,” the boy answered gleefully.
Jun gave the boy a side-long glance before asking, “Sorry, I didn’t catch your name. What is it?”
“What is…? Oh, my name? It’s Satoshi.”
Jun contemplated. He’d heard that name before; however, he wasn’t sure where and when. The only thing he was sure of was that this Satoshi isn’t a caster. Since he couldn’t answer questions directly because of his faerie ancestors, Jun knew that he would have the hard time in asking the right questions.
As they made their way back in the garden, Satoshi became talkative - though Jun hated boys who were chatty, he had to put up with it to learn more about this being - and spoke a lot about the Seer congregation. Apparently, he was a Seer based on his stories.
“…and I had a vision that a boy coming from a school in Yamabukicho will die. I’m here to help him not die.”
Jun gaped at Satoshi. His eyes were wide like orbs and the purple in it seemed to change into a darker shade. Kazunari is studying in Yamajuku High School, in Yamabukicho. He is going to save the world from destruction. I need you to get him and bring him back to me. He heard his father’s words like an echo in a cave.
“W-what is his name?” Jun asked, almost in whisper.
Satoshi paused, thinking for a minute before answering, “I think I recall his name is Ninomiya.”
Prophecies come a long way and it’s difficult to block. There were a lot of Seers that have died in the process of either saving or killing the person in a prophecy. Getting through a prophecy is the most difficult thing that a particular Seer has to do in their lives. Once the vision has been seen, a Seer must sacrifice his time, and himself, to be able to guard or destroy a certain prophecy depending on its gravity.
Jun was stunned. He wanted to ask Satoshi again, but he knew that he heard it the first time. Ninomiya. Kazunari Ninomiya will die? Why? He couldn’t ask any question, not only because he wouldn’t know what questions to ask, but he just couldn’t. Though his face listed all concerns for Kazunari, Satoshi didn’t seem to see it. He was still busy telling his story.
“A wizard has his bad intentions toward the world, and Ninomiya, is supposed to be the gateway to his purpose.” Satoshi said, finishing the prophecy that he had seen.
Masaki and Kazunari stared at the blue eyed Seer as Jun explained what the prophecy is about. Masaki wanted to grab hold of Jun and punch him in the face for confusing Kazunari even more by bringing the faerie-slash-Seer inside and telling them that Kazunari was to die if the Seer didn’t guide him through. Kazunari hasn’t even understood what is what and which is which and here he was giving another puzzle for the boy to decipher.
“You dumbass! You could have at least consulted to me about this before you just suddenly jumped to the conclusion that my explanations about our world have been sufficient for him to understand!” Masaki exclaimed.
They were all seated except for Kazunari, who refused to feel comfortable and stayed where he was the moment when he and Masaki talked about the invisible world that separated only by a thin layer of magic, to divide the magical beings from the mundanes.
“Don’t worry,” Satoshi suddenly spoke. “He will eventually understand. If you must know, he is regaining his memories right at this moment.”
The Seer was right. When they looked at Kazunari, he was staring blankly in space as his body convulsed on the floor. Jun made way towards Kazunari but was held back by Satoshi.
“The sparks that you feel isn’t simple. It ignites that magic that bonds you and him. Once you hold him before his memories return, he will die and you can’t get him back. Everything in the prophecy will happen and chaos will fill the world. Restrain yourself. You have a part in this prophecy not only as his friend. When he remembers you, you will disappear.
“You need to look for your brother, a Rokurokubi -,” Satoshi paused as he saw the look that Jun was giving him, “Three brothers protect the soul of the Quartz and a vampire ensures that Kazunari dies but lives.”
“A Rokurokubi? I have a brother that is half Rokurokubi?!” Jun cried out.
“Your father is a powerful man, and he used his powers in the wrong,” answered Satoshi.
“That’s just sick!” Jun shook his head in disgust.
“One must have power; however, your father wanted more.”
Masaki snickered darkly. “I told you that you’re stupid to believe Etsushi, but you just dismissed our words.”
As Kazunari’s convulsions gradually ceased, Satoshi spoke as he neared the latter, “You must go now. Find your brother. He is needed to end this prophecy. Don’t stray. Less than twenty four hours, you have to get back here. Collect your brothers to help end this mess.”
Kazunari’s heart beat faster as he woke up from the visions. He no longer felt stupid. He now remembers who Jun was, how they met and what they were. He searched for his face in the living room, but he wasn’t there. Only Masaki and the Seer were there. Where was Jun? He had an inkling that the latter had left - the reason, he didn’t have a clue.
Still, he wanted to find out if his intuition was right. “Jun?” he whispered, but loud enough for the people in the room to hear.
Masaki opened his mouth but words won’t come out. He glanced at Satoshi and the Seer nodded as he answered, “Jun’s not here. You better not look for him.”
Kazunari’s heart sunk as he slowly stood up. Jun was his other half. They were meant to be together. Memories flooded him and tears gently streamed down her face. He was eight and Jun just turned nine when his memories were erased along with his feelings. That was the time when the Clover Quartz needed to be moved to another object; however, because of a fluke of a spell, or maybe an intentional one, the Quarto was sent into him. Now, he was a living spirit of a spell book.
When Jun learned about the turn of events, he called Kazunari and they went into their old playroom, and they performed an incantation - well, Jun did and he just repeated after him. At first, Kazunari didn’t understand what Jun was doing then, not until now that he heard the words again, “Protect us and bind us. Let forever be infinite.” Their fingers were intertwined as they spoke the incantation and a warm air became an invisible rope and tied their hands together before it faded.
The next day, Kazunari’s memories and feelings were gone. Jun didn’t need to have his memories and feelings taken away from him. Etsushi knew that he could just teach his son to close his feelings and to not dwell in the past.
He was brought back in the present when Masaki touched him on the right shoulder and spoke softly, “He’ll find a way to get back to you.”
CHAPTER 3
In panic, Kazunari grabbed the vase that was sitting on the table, and slowly opened the door, but Masaki beat him to it. The latter seized him by the shoulders and grinned menacingly. “This is what you get for being too trusting.” He dipped his face in the crook of Kazunari’s neck and sank his canines. A soft moan left Kazunari’s lips before he limped and fainted.
Life has left Kazunari’s body and was now limp. A bite from a vampire is fatal to anyone who was not born a caster; fortunately, he will become one of them since his mother was a spell caster - which only Satoshi knew. Etsushi laughed, thinking that that finally, the hindrance of his plans was dead and gone.
As he laughed, he looked at Kasumi who was now tied on the bed which he prepared for the ritual for opening the portal of Death. Once opened, he will summon all the demons and clear away all the living souls that he thought were dirty, particularly mundanes - the regular people that don’t even know what was really happening to their surroundings.
After cleaning up the mess of blood that he made, Masaki stood up - his mossy green eyes still dazed and void of feelings from the spell that was made to him by Etsushi. Like a robot with no mind of his own, he walked away and left the room.
Kasumi’s eyes were dilated, as if she was drugged. Kazunari laid on the floor, eyes closed and body rigid. The mother and son were nowhere close to fighting Etsushi’s wrath as the latter grabbed the portion of Quarto from Kazunari’s ‘unbeating’ heart, its faint glowing spirit hovered on his hands and he gently placed it in the Clover Quartz. It glimmered as its spirit gave back its life; the pages of the spell book suddenly became filled with incantations in Greek.
“Greek?” Etsushi asked no one in particular. “I guess this means I still have to get Jun’s part if I want to read it in Japanese.” He kept his thoughts running as he stared at Kasumi’s body. He had already wanted her body even before that stupid Seer predicted what happens after ten years. Thankfully though, after what had happened, he killed the Seer with an incantation that no Seer has ever heard before. No trail marks; not one.
He licked his lips as he thought of a plan on how to get the incantation right even without Jun’s half of the Quarto. He wickedly grinned as he recalled that he knew a spell that can help him understand different languages. He hummed low as he spoke the words that he knew all so well. The air heated and slowly the letters in the Clover Quartz became like a second language to him.
Jun trekked the outskirts of Katsushikaku, near Edo River. Most of the Rokurokubi were found in the area and Jun only assumed that he would be able to find the brother that he didn’t even know. He hated that he couldn’t even contact Sho to help him; however, he knew that it would be a little difficult to appease his older brother’s anger towards him. In the first place, it was his entire fault. If only he’d listened to the people around him, he wouldn’t be a stupid follower of his father.
An hour after, he was able to find a small village and there were a lot of beautiful women and their children. Most of the women were washing clothes in the river and the children of different ages and gender were playing in the shore. The tracking spell that he made earlier he assisted him to get in the village without having any trouble. Unfortunately, he couldn’t say the same in the village since all of the people here were female Rokurokubi, and they were known to seduce males that come to their place.
Jun spotted a friendly looking boy, about his age and he decided to ask him about his brother. As he walked towards the direction of the boy, the boy suddenly looked at him. It wasn’t a piercing gaze, but it was enough to make him feel powerless. He swallowed before talking to the boy, “I’m looking for Toma. Do you know where he is?”
“And who is looking for him?” asked the boy.
“I’m his half brother.” Jun said reluctantly.
The black eyes of this boy were like an abyss that you wouldn’t be able to get out of. Its depths were endless. “What do you want from me?”
“You’re Toma?”
“Yes. Why are you looking for me?”
“We need your help.”
Toma laughed darkly. “Don’t you all. Why do you come looking for me when you haven’t since,” he paused as he thought how old he was, “forever?”
“I know that this isn’t a good a reunion and all that, but I only knew about you earlier today,” Jun answered back, irritated. “You’re the only one that can help save the world from its destruction.”
“Yeah?” Toma asked, suddenly curious.
Jun briefly described the prophecy to the Toma and then said, “Your powers are exceptional and it’s the only way that we can stop our father from killing all mankind.”
Filled with hatred since his father left his mom and him even before he was born, he grinned cruelly, “I’m in!”
***
Satoshi left after Kazunari was settled in the guest bedroom. The room was plain except for the red wall paint, a side table where a vase sat and the bed that he was laying down. Satoshi said that he was going to look for Sho to know what his role in this pandemonium. That was when a loud blast came from the front doorway sounded. He immediately grabbed the vase by instinct and poised it like a baseball bat. When he opened the door, however, Masaki grabbed him and he toppled over.
“This is what you get for being too trusting,” Masaki said without any hint of remorse. Then without any warning he bit him.
Using Masaki as leverage, he was able to take Kazunari as well. The vampire was in a trance and had no other choice but to follow all orders from him.
Etsushi learned that Kazunari was in Masaki’s place after taking Kasumi. He knew his son, Sho, only too well to know that he’ll seek refuge to his boy friend - he forced himself to not vomit in his son’s choice of relationship. He only needed a leeway to take Kazunari from the grasps of his sons then he would be able to proceed with his plans. Setting a tracker spell on both of his sons, he was able to know their locations and their moves.
With the woman hanging on her shoulders like a sack of rice, he eased her gently on the bed were Kazunari earlier laid down on. After tying Kasumi, taking the Quarto from Kazunari and making a spell that made him understand various languages; his plan was almost ready to be completed.
It was all what Satoshi needed for the prophecy to proceed. The more they delay, the more the plan changes. He moved about, just watching from afar. Though it disgusted him to only watch, he had no other choice but wait for Jun and Sho, and Toma to kick their father’s ass goodbye.
***
“Are you ready?” Jun asked Toma as the latter laid down on the futon. He was preparing to sleep and enter Etsushi’s dreams.
Night time has arrived and the Eve of Craving is nearing. All spirits are awake during this time of the year every ten years, and every creature with powers were allowed to roam the earth with their powers unrestricted. This makes Toma much more powerful than normal, and he can even reach people’s dreams without the restriction of the intended person to be sleeping.
“I’m ready as hell!” Toma replied giddily.
At that very moment, Etsushi was in the middle of his incantation, reading from the Clover Quartz when Toma entered his thoughts. Like the evil spirit that he was, Toma possessed his father, learned the incantation that can reverse all the spells that he already said from the spell book and the pathway of the devils - which was already half open - was closed.
With all the incantations reversed, Kazunari’s life was brought back, Kasumi woke up in her bondages and Masaki’s trance was lifted. Everything came back to normal except, Kazunari already knew about his past and knew what might happen in his future.
“What did I tell you about him?” Sho asked. He just came back after Jun tracked him down and sent him a message that all was well now.
“Alright, alright,” Jun said defeated, “I was in the wrong. Can you at least end that taunting now?”
“No,” Sho replied. “I will keep on letting you recall that you almost ended mankind because of being his follower.”
“Stop bickering like two sissies!” Toma barked. He was now living with his brothers along with his mother.
Kazunari and Masaki laughed. They all let the past be in the past and let bygones be bygones. The future of the world will be better now that the wizard was sent to the void where he can’t go back to Earth.
Jun looked at Kazunari who held his hand, the spark gone now, which was replaced with something even deeper. Without the power of the Clover Quartz’s spirit inside both of them, they were now normal - well, not normal-normal, but enough to let them stay near each other. They stared at each other and were almost about to kiss when someone coughed mockingly. Everyone laughed as they were broken from their daze.
END
Index:
- Vampires are commonly known to kill their prey by draining their blood
- They can eat and drink normal food, but on the Eve of Craving, they can’t control themselves from drinking blood
- They are also immortal except if other vampires drink their blood, they die
- Faeries are witty creatures that love to give riddles
- Though they can be asked and they can answer questions, they can’t seem to stop themselves from giving straight answers
- Rokurokubi is a creature whose head comes off and fly around freely
- They can also get into the dreams of someone that they want to learn something from
- It is said that Rokurokubi shouldn’t be allowed to live because of their dark magic, but no one knows if one is a Rokurokubi until they are in their mid-twenties with exception to others
- Often, Rokurokubi is a female, but for some unknown reason, there seem to be males as well, however few
- Spell Casters has three divisions: a normal spell caster, a void caster, and a wizard
- A normal spell caster can chant spells that are mostly for a good cause
- A void caster is a spell caster that has been condemned by the magical community because of their exceptional dark incantations
- A wizard is somehow a mix of both spell caster and void caster, only he is a male that can do both good and dark enchantments
- The Clover Quartz is a spell book that is filled with powerful incantations that can summon the destruction of all human beings
- The book has a spirit called Quarto and is often kept by spell casters in inanimate objects every ten years to keep it from falling into the wrong hands
- The Quarto is needed to activate the spells coming from the Clover Quartz; if the spirit is not there, the spell may backfire or wouldn’t work at all
- Seers are the ones who sees the future and can change it
- Mundanes are people that are normal
I really hope that the story makes sense. I would like your creative criticisms - just spare me the bad words and all that. I did my best to make the story good. Thank you.