12 - Six Sides, One Cross

[NEW YORK; 30 MINUTES AFTER SAKUTO HITORI’S DEPLOYMENT.]

“I saw a dream.”

“I saw her body, but I couldn’t look at her face.”

“I heard her laughter, but I couldn’t hear her heartbeat.”

“And before I felt her soul, I felt my own. Ripping itself out of myself.”

“To live in a world devoid of the soulless filth... is the premise of the soulful world.”

The sun still hadn’t risen, melancholic twilight reigned supreme in the sky. Their uniforms were all of different ranks. Kaito, with his family of one, resided in his lavish apartment which was in the same building as his main office - the heart of the new world.

Kaito’s own bedroom had a rather simple design. There was his modest king size bed with white bed sheets, a bedside table with a glass of ice cold water and a vase with plastic-looking flowers, pure white curtains covering a set of windows to the bed’s right and the towering dark wood door to its left. Despite his seemingly infinite wealth, he enjoyed this type of modesty more than obnoxiously luxurious hellholes with a stage instead of a bed. But he couldn’t sleep that night.

Something kept him awake. Aside from his own pain, it was a desire, it was a set of instructions that was ramming itself against his mind, forcing him to take action. Only held off by Kaito’s acknowledgement of his own self and his free will, he could but whimper in silence, tumble in bed and hope he falls asleep soon. Soon, though, that urge, that strength of will and determination pouring towards completing those instructions took over.

He noticed it right after the second global soul event. A small pure white formation appeared on his chest, spreading around like corruption while being made up of nothing short of divinity. Now, that formation was trying to tell him something, something that felt so important that a thousand lifetimes could be sacrificed just to attain that knowledge. Kaito slowly got out of his bed, making his way through the giant pillow he always has while sleeping.

“What...is this feeling?”

“It’s never been this strong. It feels like I’m being told something, no, I’m being screamed at...”

He felt his arm twitch.

It was a twitch hard enough to make him lunge forwards a little, and sudden enough to cause a sharp pain. But Kaito at that point didn’t care about the pain. The arm twisted itself a little and reached for the small dark wood desk in Kaito’s room. Kaito, albeit a little concerned, followed the motions.

“I need a pen. That’s what it needs, right? A pen. Or a pencil, whatever works. Just anything.”

Approaching the desk, the arm began behaving itself more and more erratically and unpredictably. It knocked most of the notes and books over and began to loudly bang itself on it.

“I can't find a pen.” Kaito said, before feeling a sharp pain in his chest. The white corruption expanded a little more, and Kaito let out a mighty grunt. It hurt him a lot, it felt like his heart was being stabbed, he found trouble breathing. He couldn’t even focus properly. His soul presence was dangerously high.

A moment later, he shoved his hand into his mouth. He bit into it viciously, almost trying to devour it whole. Blood poured down his wounds, after having finished chewing on the fingers and the palm, Kaito proceeded to bite and almost rip the skin around his wrist off.

“I need to write.”

“Something.”

He tried to hold the wounded arm down, but the part of the body that worked towards that goal quickly became numb. Kaito stumbled and fell down, slowly getting back up while watching as the blood pours down and paints the floor red.

At last, when he managed to get up a little, he slammed his bleeding hand into the desk. Looks like the messenger found a way to write. He dragged the hand across its surface, painting a shape. A moment later, it raised itself and hit the desk again. And Kaito fainted.

He felt a pair of soul presences approach, and it alerted him strongly enough to wake him up. He rubbed his eyes and stretched, slowly getting up. And he looked at the desk and the painting that his own self had left for him.

“It’s the shape of the symbol of the GSC.”

“And also the shape of the stronghold operation.”

“It was a shape that was revealed to me in a dream just before everything started. The hexagon with a cross in the middle.”

“What is this? The next step? A template? A question? An answer?”

“More than that...what is this sudden urge?”

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

“To crush the strongholds one by one, to subjugate and devour them until nothing is left...”

“The urge to wage war and conquer...”

“Dad?” Hiroshi asked, opening the door. The light outside invaded the dark room, causing Kaito to squint his eyes a little. The image of his son was a bit blurry, and so were the two figures behind him - who were Ichigo and Jian Fang.

“What is it?” Kaito slowly asked.

“Dad, you’re bleeding...” Hiroshi asked, scared. He slowly approached him, but as Kaito glanced at Jian, she quickly put her hand on Hiroshi’s shoulder, halting his advance.

“Hiroshi, everything is okay.” Kaito said, approaching him. He mended his wounds on his way to him. “See? I’m fine now. This was just a little thing I was trying out.”

“I heard noises...” Hiroshi said. “Are you sure you’re okay?” He quickly rushed at Kaito and embraced him.

“I am sure. Thank you for worrying, Hiroshi. And please, don’t alert the Heisei for matters like these.” Kaito said. Before long, his face was both terrified and enchanted with curiosity.

One of his freshly healed wounds opened up again, and his hand started moving again on his own. It slid itself on Hiroshi’s back, once vertically and once horizontally. Quickly, Kaito grabbed his hand and restrained the mysterious messenger’s further actions. Ichigo and Jian were confused, but they simply let everything unfold. If even Kaito doesn’t know what’s going on, it’s better to just leave it at that.

“Go to sleep now.” Kaito said, letting go of the embrace. “I’ll be getting very busy soon. We both need to be as energized as possible.”

“Okay.” Hiroshi said. “P-please be safe, dad.” He turned around and left the three soulfuls. Kaito was taken aback seeing a small cross painted on Hiroshi’s back.

“The central element.”

“I’m aware of that. But what about the hexagon?”

“It is akin to the structure of the strongholds, however... there has to be more meaning to it.”

He sighed deeply, looking at the two soulfuls.

“The ascension process has its many mysteries.” Kaito explained. “This was one of them.”

“What about the blood on his back?” Jian asked.

“It is perhaps a part of that mystery.” Kaito said. “Apologies for the sudden alert. I hope he didn’t say anything stupid while calling for help.”

“He said that he heard noises.” Ichigo said. “And that you were repeating something.”

“Did he say what exactly?” Kaito said.

“He said they felt like random gibberish.”

“Right.” Kaito said. “It’s unlikely I was losing my mind, I guess this is all taking a toll on me.” He looked down at his own chest and the strange formation on it. “This power... has a lot of unknown things surrounding it.”

“I remember exactly what I was saying.”

“I was screaming for help, but not for help from anyone... but help from her.”

“Though, it is a fortunate coincidence that you two are here.” Kaito said. “You’ll be deployed to Moscow. You’ll need to capture and secure the soul crystal containing Sakuto Hitori.”

“Understood.” Jian quickly said. “Will it just be us or is the second division going to help us too?”

“The second division will help you. Jian Fang, you are tasked with compiling a battle plan in order to carry out the objective. Cooperate with the second division and use any measure necessary to retrieve him.” Kaito said. “If we lose Sakuto Hitori, our life... could get very unnecessarily complicated.”

“Understood.” Jian said.

“Then you’re dismissed. Get to Moscow as fast as possible.” Kaito said. “Secure communication with me and get used to the weather there.”

Jian and Ichigo left the room.

They wandered outside, making their way out of the apartment that was on the 40th floor of the complex. As they waited for the elevator to pick them up, Ichigo struck up a conversation.

“What do you think that was even about?”

“I haven’t the slightest clue.” Jian replied. “This is where we have to accept that there’s some things only he himself can make sense of. But his son’s care was respectable.”

“He sounded genuinely terrified.” Ichigo said. They entered the elevator, and a small silence ensued. Ichigo spoke up again. “Why do you think he cares about Sakuto Hitori so much?”

“I have somewhat of a clue this time.” Jian replied. “He is... not just a powerful soulful, he’s an unnaturally powerful soulful.”

“Breaking the replicator...” Ichigo said. “That’s the first time ever a soul-bound weapon has been broken. I searched through the Heisei’s combat records and overall combat records in the GSC. There hasn’t been a single such case before.”

“The second global soul event has to some extent recovered and even surpassed the amount of soulfuls in the world.” Jian continued. “I wouldn’t be surprised if Mr. Kamiki tries to recruit some soulfuls and carry out another academy-like project. But... truth be told, I don’t think another Sakuto Hitori will be found.”

“How strong do you think he really is?” Ichigo asked.

“As of right now, Mr. Kamiki reported that his strength is fading away, that being the reason he is currently sealed inside a soul crystal.” Jian said. “However, once he gains mastery over that acclamation...”

“I understand.” Ichigo said. The elevator ride was taking a long time, but it finally came to an end. They exited the silver box and headed for the street.

“The Heisei’s strength will become tied to just him, with all of us playing supporting roles.” Jian sighed.

“I don’t think that’ll be the case.” Ichigo smiled. “You’re very strong yourself, captain.”

“...huh?” Jian stopped in her tracks, surprised by the words.

“For sure.” Ichigo continued. “I mean, really. You’re someone I really look up to, captain. I hope I get to be as strong as you one day. Uhh... captain...?”

She was frozen still, unable to move or even react.