[KH/FF] Treachery of Fate: Blood and Betrayal

Chapter 35

The class applauded. Yuna and her group bowed before clearing their stuff off of the front desk. Today the presentations for ancient history were due, and you were positive in your groups’ ability to get an A.

“Okay, last group, you’re up,” Auron announced from a desk in the middle of the room.

You and the guys stood and walked over to the front of the room. Vergil gave you an encouraging nod and you smiled in return. Yuj connected your laptop to the projector and handed Hope the clicker whereas you got the laser. You sat on one side of Auron’s desk after placing the poster board with the others, Hope on the other with Vanitas and Yuj standing beside you and Maqui beside Hope with Nero off to the side.

“Our presentation is on demonic beliefs in Asia during the warrior period,” you began.

Hope clicked to the next slide,” We’ll be focusing mostly on Japan for this presentation, and the beliefs originated during the Edo period specifically.”

“That’s right,” Yuj nodded with a grin,” These beliefs have intertwined with mythology and folklore of the Japanese culture derived from Shinto superstition as well as Buddhism and Taoism brought from China and India.”

“The mystery of death is a phenomenon that does not offer a rational explanation to various cultures,” continued Maqui.

A demon was summoned, making the class gasp in surprise as it walked around the room. Vergil rolled his eyes and Nero smirked,” Death is an intruder; death is the change in one state to another, the reunion of body with earth, soul with spirit.” The demon slowly crumpled to nothingness.

“Humans throughout the ages have seldom been able to understand the finality of death- this leads to beliefs,” Maqui said, and you pointed the facts on the slides Hope had been changing as everyone spoke. “For this reason, fables and legends revolved around the dead.”

“The Japanese believe that they are surrounded by spirits all the time,” you smiled as you spoke. “According to the Japanese Shinto faith, a human spirit sometimes becomes a spirit or deity.”

Vanitas sighed,” About 8 million deities are believed to inhabit earths, heavens, air, seas, and mountains. Traditions tell us that these deities have two souls.”

Nero summoned a demon,” One gentle-”

“Nigi-mi-tama,” you finished, and the demon faded.

“And the other violent-” Nero summoned another.

“Ara-mi-tama,” you finished again, and the demon faded.

“The Japanese believe that after death a spirit is angry and impure,” Hope said, changing yet another slide,” So many rituals are performed for 7 years in order to purify and pacify the soul.”

“This way, a person becomes a spirit,” Vanitas continued,” and according to legend, the spirit walks the land between shadows and living- eventually leading to the Land of the Dead peacefully.”

“But, if these rituals are left undone,” Yuj smirked,” It returns as a GHOST!” They guys in the room chuckled at a few yelps unsuspecting students let out.

“Or what the Japanese would call Yurei,” you rolled your eyes.

“Also, if a person is not delivered through prayer from personal emotions such as anger, jealousy, or envy, the ghost haunts the place they lived- especially the person who gave them this fate,” Maqui smiled.

“The ghost will keep doing this, and if not cleansed still,” Nero summoned a demon who began walking around the room, reaching for screaming students,” Their hate will evolve them into something more- a demon!” Vergil sighed, and destroyed it with a snap of his fingers making Nero frown.