Chasing Dreams (Discontinued)

Chapter 206: Motherly Love

If you had to ask your future self one question, what would it be?

"What is the purpose in living if it isn't to protect him?"

Suzume trudged through the storm, crying, bleeding, and apologizing. The hellish rain washed the blood off her legs, and the blood moon burned a hole in the sky.

"I'm sorry, Anji." Suzume sobbed. Suzume's voice could barely be heard within the eye of the storm. Raindrops pelted Suzume's skin like a round of bullets. The rain made her collapse; every time she fell, Suzume tasted mud. "I'm sorry your mother is so foolish."

Suzume managed to force herself up with a single arm, using her other arm to cradle an infant to her breast. "If it weren't for me, Renji and Manasa wouldn't have..."

An explosion of thunder overpowered Suzume's voice. Then, lightning struck down in the form of golden light, nearly blinding Suzume and her newly born child.

"Parvati is angry." Suzume felt her hands tremble. "This must be her way of punishing us. No matter what side we align to, dragons are not welcome in a world of devils."

Suzume trotted through the onslaught of wind and water. Blades of wind cut through her skin, leaving behind streaks of blood. Gales of water pierced Suzume's body, forcing her to stagger. However, Suzume only stopped when she reached her destination, the highest point of Naga peak.

If you had to ask your future self another question, what would it be?

"What does it mean to be a good mother?"

Suzume looked down on her child. Anji was born a monster. She was born cursed with her mother's pale blue eyes and Shiva's third eye. Like Homura, Anji was a vessel for destructive power.

"Can I be a good mother to you if I'm filled with so much hate?"

"Am I capable of loving you when I can't even love myself?"

Anji remained quiet; she was still fast asleep. The rainwater gave life to Anji's face, filling her ghost-white skin with color.

"Kōgō-Sama! Rānī Suzume! Suzume!" Suzume heard multiple voices fade into the rain. She glanced over and saw Maija fighting the storm on the back of Ninka, Maija's white tiger.

Ninka circled Suzume before she reached the cliffside.

"Suzume." Maija's glare looked like red stars. The blood moon behind her illuminated her red eyes, making them appear more fierce than what they were. "What are you doing? You shouldn't be out here, your body needs more time to recover."

Suzume felt stares attack her from every side. Some glares were hot and passionate, while others were distant and inherently cold.

"Recover? Recover for what? We've already lost, there's nowhere left to run, and at this rate, Homura will find us." Suzume's arm tightened around Anji.

"Rānī Suzume." A young woman with soft brown hair floated down from the sky. She wore a long tunic and had a headscarf loosely wrapped around her head. She had bags under red eyes and looked like she was crying for months.

"Diwa." Suzume sounded weak, and she felt weak. Suzume could barely make out Diwa's or Maija's faces. She only recognized Maija from her firm voice and hideous scar. It was a gash that ran from the corner of her forehead to her chin. The scar nearly severed Maija's nose in two.

"Save your strength," Diwa begged. "If you die, then all of Rājā Renji's efforts would've been for nothing. No matter what, you and Anji must live!"

"How?" Suzume's tone dropped as if it jumped to its death. "How can you expect me to go on living after everything that's happened? My husband is gone, my daughter is cursed, and the gods are doing everything in their power to wipe us out."