THE MISSING EMPEROR ~ The Elemental Seven Book I

DARKNESS - Myoku Reiko Backstory II

"The amulet was fully guarded with ninjas."

"That voice."

"I had Myoku escape from the temple with the amulet so I can create a diversion."

"I know that voice."

"But she was injured, you said, Soujiro."

"Soujiro. Yes. That was Soujiro."

"Yes, your majesty. Apparently, a Sanada ninja caught up to her. The Arai clan hired skilled Sanada ninjas to guard the amulet."

"Sanada ninja. Soujiro. Sanada Ninja. Majesty. What's going on?"

"Along the way, we met up with Myoku's friend. River Wolfert from the Wolfert Clan of LaMahaya. He tended to our wounds with his water element skills."

"River... Wolfert. Yes. I remember. I was on a mission to retrieve an important amulet and return it back to... who again?"

"Wolfert Clan, you say, now. Tell me, Kanzaki. What do we know about the Wolfert Clan?"

"Yes, my lord. Intel says that the clan was raised in the city of LeCasha, country of LaMahaya and the clan are the elemental masters of water."

"Intel. No... not good. No more intels. Must... move. Must... leave. Soujiro. Leave... with Soujiro. Go back... To..."

Darkness.

They say that there is no such thing as darkness. Darkness is only the absence of light. Can we then say that there is also no such thing as light, but it's just the absence of darkness?

I woke up in the darkest night I've ever known. No moon. Clear sky. Around me, death was evident. My mother lying beside me, lifeless. Not far a distance was Jube whom I also killed. Our home... mother's garden... burned to the ground. My heart sank to the depth of anger as I remembered everything that happened. I kissed my mother's lifeless body one last time as I bid her goodbye, took Jube's spear then, left my used-to-be comfort zone. I decided to go to the Dragon Temple, hoping to find a relative.

And I did.

"I have been waiting for you, Myoku." My grandfather greeted me. He was standing by the temple door.

"Grandpa, mother is..."

"My daughter is dead, I am aware of that." He said. I was astonished.

"I am sure you know that I also bear the eyes." His eyes turned from hazel blue, just like my mother's, to light brown sclera, dark brown iris with scarlet pupil.

The Ryuugan. An eye technique, so powerful that it gives the bearer the ability to synchronize with the spirits of all things.

"You saw everything?!" I asked with rage.

"Yes. I did." He said bearing the Ryuugan, full vision on me.

"Then why..."

"...didn't I saved her, you ask?" he interrupted me. "Because it is her time. It is her time to leave the world of the living. It is something that cannot be stopped, whether we do something or not." he said. "LIAR! You let her die on your own accord! You did nothing to save her even though you can!" I bellowed. "Because you hated her for marrying my father who does not have the same powers as you do!"

"SILENCE!" he roared. "What do you know? What prowess do you have to know what is beyond a master's comprehension? NOTHING! Such childish words does not fit to become the successor of a clan." he said. "You could have been the chosen one should you have been more matured enough. Now then, do you acknowledge your weakness? Or you still insist your rightful ownership of the position of a leader?"

And I was speechless. I remembered the words of my father on our way to the conference. He must have not been talking about just my physical abilities, but also my immaturity. He must have known my incapability to lead. Probably, not just yet. "Myoku," said my grandfather. "There are things in life that are inevitable. Indeed we were given the gift to see the future, but fate has its own reasons." Wisdom words too painful to accept. "But, weren't we given this power to prevent further deaths?" I asked. Such a childish question. "That is true. However, we are not to meddle with fate." he answered with conviction.

I dropped my spear, knelt on the ground and cried. My grandfather comforted me with his arms. I felt safe. I felt the love of a father in him. He touched face and said, "Myoku, from here on and moving forward, you will stay with me. You will train to become a master of the Ryuugan. I will pass on the prowess to you."

"MYOKU, WAKE UP!"

Darkness.

"MYOKU, COME ON! You have to wake up!"

Darkness once again.

Soujiro had carried me out of the palace where we returned the amulet.

"Soujiro, I can walk. I'm just..." I yawned. "Still sleepy. What's going on?"

"We should leave right away. The French Military is plotting to attack the Wolfert Clan."

"Plotting to what? And why? What's with the Wolfert Clan?"

"Apparently, the French lord has a grudge on River's father. I don't know the exact details. I just... well..."

"Eavesdropped it?"

"So what if I did?"

"Good job, Soujiro."

"Thank you. Now, shall we?"

"We go to the beach party then."

"Myoku! This is no time for a beach party!"

"Well, pardon me, seventh master of the Tenken Class! But ap-PA-rent-ly, River is in the beach having a party with our friends!"

"Alright! Alright! We discuss this during your beach party then!"