A Force Beyond Waters

Chapter 16: Failing to Hatred

Zengaki, while still injured, headed over to Hinode and unbounded her, his love hugging him tightly, the two embracing each other with tears rolling from their eyes.
"Oh my, Chairo, thank you, thank you, thank you!" Hinode said while crying.

Zengaki smiled and sniffled, saying, "It's okay, my love, it's okay. They're gone, they're all gone. The Oni no Hana are no more."

The two then kissed each other fully on the lips, glad to still be together.

Zangeki then let go, Hinode saying, "Now that the Oni no Hana are gone, what now?"

"We can live in peace without having to fear them anymore." Zangeki replied.

Hinode then said, "True... You fulfilled your vengeance against them, you avenged your father."

"I know, and I feel relieved for doing so... At least, I think I do... There's just something inside me that's still there, something angry, something... Hateful..."

"What do you mean? You still have your hatred for the clan, even after killing all of them?"

"Yes... Yes I do... Even now that they are gone, after all they've done... What they did to you... What they did to my family... My father... What they did to those who were innocent... What they did still makes me hate them, even after their death... My hate remains for them."

Before Hinode could say anything, a sudden burst of red energy filled the area, causing a shock wave that destroyed everything around, red flame-like specs of energy all around them, the flames growing and burning what was in their path.

This knocked the two lovers away from one another and Zangeki managed to see who it was that caused it, he couldn't believe it.

It was Hate, here to see Zangeki, furious with him.

Staring at the samurai with his bident in hand and an angered face, Hate shouted, "You damn fool! Your hate remains for the clan you killed? Your vengeance is fulfilled and you still hate!? You foolish mortal man!!!"

The beings yelling terrified Zangeki as he said, "Th-They killed my family, killed my father, hurt my lover, h-harmed innocent lives! W-What do you expect-"

"I expected your hate to go away and I will tell you why, mortal!" Hate shouted. "Whether your hatred is justified or not, it consumes you, blinds you to the path of peace! Your actions here made you into a vessel of vengeance, perpetuating the cycle of rage and hatred! And what you did here... It sickens me! You killed men and women that were innocent, that did not want to participate in what their ruthless ones did!"
Hinode looked at Zangeki, shocked and disturbed for what he had done.
"You killed children, innocent children that had no involvement with the actions of the soldiers of the Oni no Hana Clan!" Hate shouted, "You killed them for being a part of a clan, not for who they were! Children, the children... You became what they were: a heartless bastard, a monster! Now, your vengeance is fulfilled and the hate remains!? Then I shall give you your punishment: take away what you love!"

With that said, Hate went over to Hinode and picked her up by the neck, his hand glowing with red energy.

Zangeki saw this and knew what he was about to do, shouting, "Wait, no, no, no, no! No, stop, stop, please stop! I'll take the hate away! It will go away! Stop, don't do it, let her go!"

Hate growled, saying, "You will learn your lesson here, samurai, and we'll see what happens after this."

Hinode looked at Chairo, tears falling from her eyes, saying her final words to her lovers, "I love you..."

Zangeki pleaded with Hate to stop and let her go, Hate saying one word, "No."

After that, Hate crushed Iruka Hinode's neck and her entire body exploded into red energy.

She was gone, Zangeki's love, his soon to be wife was now gone, killed by Hate itself.

Zangeki let out a scream and cried loudly, Hinode was gone.

Hate then headed towards Zangeki and kicked him in the face, sending him tumbling across the ground, the swordsman groaning and crying in pain and despair.

"You mortals... So weak. Must I let you in on something surprising?" Hate asked.

Zangeki looked up, seeing Hate grit his teeth at him and then say, "I was the one who told the Oni no Hana clan to burn your village, to kidnap Iruka Hinode. I was the one, and I did this to test you to see if your hate would go away, even after you achieved your act of vengeance. You failed, and therefore you lost your lover."

After saying this, Hate turned to leave, but Zangeki spoke up, saying, "You bastard... Hate... You will... You will not get away with it... Murdering Hinode, my love... You won't get away with it! D-Do you hear me!? You will die!!!"

Hate scoffed, saying, "I am Hate. I am beyond you, more powerful than you could ever imagine. I will not die, I cannot die."

"Everything has to die some time, in some way... You can die, Hate... And when you do die, all of the hate in the world will be gone.... I... I... Will kill you and take away... Take away all the hate in the world...!"

"Take away hate? Really, mortal? As if I will let you do such a thing, nor can you do it. As long as I am around, hate will stay."

"A hypocrite's words... You said you were teaching me to get rid of hate..." Zangeki said, "But you ordered the village to burn... You say you run the hate in all the world..."

Hate said, "I am no hypocrite, mortal, you would not understand me, none of you will. I may run the hatred that exists in all of reality, but I give chances to those who want to be rid of hate. You are no exception and you failed. I will remain as hatred, I will remain for I am Hate, mortal, and you are nothing."

"I will stop you... I will end you...!"
"No, you will not. Try all you want to kill me, but you will fail. I know this, though: after you recover, you will search the world to kill me and stop anything in your way that prevents you from doing so. This will happen, I know of it, but you will not succeed, samurai. Farewell."

After saying this, Hatred left in an explosion of red energy, leaving Zangeki there to mourn for the death of his lover.

Suddenly, he was starting to pass out, hearing voices from afar, coming towards him.

His hatred for Hate was beyond any rageful emotion, and he was going to destroy Hate, no matter what.

He will avenge his lover and rid the world of all hate.

Yama Chairo reached his hand out, seeing some people run over to him.

At that moment, his vision faded to black, for the samurai passed out.