Moonlight Desire

Chapter 14

Akito stared into the distance as the cold waves crashed against his feet in the cool December air. He took in a deep breath and exhaled sharply. He sensed someone was behind him so he spun around and the figure before him was his mother.

"Mom."

Akito stared into his mother's jet black eyes and the waves crashed into his heels, leaving the two in silence. His mother took a few steps towards him closing the distance between them.

"Akito, what happened to you?"

"huh?"

His mother sighed and brought her arms across her chest.

"Don't give me that. Something has clearly happened to you. Not to mention your outer appearance has completely changed. No, it looks like them. It's not you anymore. Akito, what happened when you went to Earth with that Komatsuzaki guy?"

Akito's mother voice was demanding an answer. She wasn't going to back down until she has received an answered for them.

"It was a journey I'll never forget." Akito sat down on the sandy beach and his mother sat down beside him. "I'll never forget the little time I spent with Kazuki Komatsuzaki. I'll tell you about my time spent with him."

*

"You're Master Komatsuzaki of the first district." Akito's eyes were wide with shock to see the Master of district one standing before him. "What is someone like you doing here?"

Kazuki gave Akito a warm smile. "I need to go to Earth and I need a space captain to take me there."

"Of course I'll do it."

Akito's entire was filled with excitement, he just couldn't believe he was going to be working with the master of district one.

"I would like to notify your parents first about this." Then a blue light formed around him melting his human disguise to look like everyone else in district 20.

The way he looked at me back then. I knew for sure he was nobility but he still was so down to earth. He was the kind of person you just wanted to be around.

Akito led Kazuki to his home where he and his mother lived with a few others. Akito kneeled down before opening the shoji door to his home. Akito home was a small run down traditional one-room Japanese home. The inside had the tatami flooring with irori (firepit) in the middle of the floor.

Akito's mother was cooking dinner but looked up once she noticed the presence of Akito and the guest with him. She got up and greeted Kazuki and welcomed him into the home.

"I have something I need to discuss with both you and your husband," Kazuki said.

Akito's mother closed her eyes and exhaled softly. "That would be impossible. My husband died seventeen ago. Akito never knew his father."

"I'm sorry to hear that." Kazuki bowed before her. "My deepest apologies ma'am."

"No need to worry about that." Akito's mother went and got a few zabuton floor pillows from the closet so they could discuss. "It's just what life is like here. It's always a fight to survive. See these children here. All have lost both of their parents and I'm the taking care of them now."

"I see," Kazuki acknowledged.

"But, what was it you needed to discuss with me?"

Kazuki looked into her eyes. "I have a mission that requires me to go to Earth, the human world and I'm in need of a space captain. I would like to take Akito with me to be in charge of the ship."

Akito's mother turned her gaze to look at the floor. "You need a space captain and want it to be Akito, huh?" His mother made eye contact with him again. "You understand that Akito has just completed his training and isn't very experienced yet."

"I understand."

His mother turned her gaze towards Akito who had his head down the entire time. "Even without any experience. Akito, are you ready to take on your first mission as a space captain?"

Akito's head shot up. "Yes. I'm ready."

"Well then, I don't see why not."

Akito bowed his head. "Thank you, mom."

Kazuki also bowed his head. "Thank you, ma'am."

"But first, can I ask you for your name?"

Kazuki lifted his head and looked her in the eye. "It's Kazuki. Kazuki Komatsuzaki."

"I see," his mother said with a warm smile. "Your Districts one's master. My name is Megumi Hasegawa, it's nice to meet you."

Kazuki bowed one last time before her and then got up to leave with Akito following behind him.

"Kazuki," Megumi said. Kazuki stoped and turned towards Megumi.

"What is it?"

Megumi bowed. "Please take care of my son. He's all I have now."

"I promise I'll protect him. I'll do everything in my power to make sure he's safe and I'll bring him back to you."

Megumi ran into Kazuki's arms overwhelmed with joy. "Thank you so much."

Akito and Kazuki were off to the human world where Lia would come back with them.

*

"You remember Kazuki, don't you mom?"

Megumi nodded. "How could I forget him."

Akito looked into the ocean's distance. "That month I spent with him was the best month of my life. We went to a place on Earth called Italy. The country was beautiful. We parked the ship in the forest that was surrounded by mountains. In order for me to explore it, he taught me how to gain my human disguise so I could go to the town, Belluno."

"That explains why you came back and I had no idea who you were."

"I have to admit the best part of the trip was bringing back a human girl."

Megumi turned her head sharply towards Akito. "What?"

Akito started laughing nervously and rested his hand on the back of his neck. "I wasn't supposed to tell you that." Akito stood up. "Actually, I'm not sure if she made it. She was in really bad shape but Kazuki was so determined for her to wake up. I saw how he fought that Shinigami and got beat up pretty bad and almost lost his life in the process." Akito wrapped his arms around himself. "I hope she's okay, after seeing Kazuki fight for her."

Megumi got up and put her hand on Akito's shoulder. "Akito..."

"Run," Akito said softly."

"What?"

"Something's coming," Akito shouted. "We have to run"

Akito took Megumi's hand and they started running. A space monster crashed behind them, causing the impact to cause Megumi to trip and fall. She saw the snake-like monster behind them. Her eyes filled with fear and she froze.

"Akito, what is that thing?"

Akito picked up his mother bridal style and started running away from that thing chasing them. The giant snake launched at them but Akito quickly dodged it by jumping into the air. Megumi's face was filled with shock since normal aliens didn't have the reaction time like this. The snake was about to launch at them again.

"Not enough time," Megumi screamed.

The snake disappeared and a man with long black hair and purple eyes revealed himself to have defeated that monster.

"Who is that," Megumi asked.

"Master Komatsuzaki."