Chapter 39:Fire In Edo
BAM!A loud crash erupted through the window.Pieces of glass shards rained upon us.
"KIMIKO!"I tried to push her out the way but as soon as I looked at the direction of the window,all the glass shards fell to the floor in an instant.They broke into a million pieces.She aged the shards somehow…
"Move."Maku gathered all of us to a safe spot then he peered over the window.
"Wildfire."He tripped over his breath in shock and covered his face with the palm of his hand.
"WHAT IS IT MAKU?"
"There's fires.Kraven's testing us. He sent spies to bomb Tokyo. So in other words…it's a terrorist attack."
Yanagi gasped after looking outsides herself.The villages below us were burning.People were screaming in stress and running away from the burning embers.
"He's not giving us a rest is he?"
"He's testing us to see our reaction. To see our next play.This is probably a chess game to him."I had to say it.
"Irai.Why are you bringing chess into a TERRORIST ATTACK?"
"Kimiko you wouldn't get it."Maku defended me. He remembered it.
"Just tell me!"
"Kraven's favourite game is chess. He always talked about it."
"And how would you know that?"
"Because Irai and I were trapped in his maze once. It was chess themed."
"I'm sorry but he had a whole maze under his castle?What would he have been doing in there?"
"Human trafficking and slave empire.But we won't worry about that right now. We need to focus on the present,not the past."
Lost for words,Kimiko halted Maku in his tracks from opening the Genshi door.
"DO NOT TURN THAT KNOB.I HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MAZE-"
"I'll tell you another time!Stop worrying about.Irai and Kimiko come with me.Yanagi, alert the other Genshi and Chief Lenny!"She nodded and rushed upstairs.
We got on our horses and galloped down using the pathways on the hills. As soon as we got into the diameter of the villages,the air grew thick and dense. It became hotter due to the flames.
"EMPEROR MAKU!IRAI!KIMIKO!"We all looked up to see a shadow above us.The figure was kneeling.
"Toru?"I questioned. He jumped down from the miniature cliff.
"I'm glad to see you guys here.I needed extra help."
"So what's the plan?"
"I need a partner to take out the crows while two of you clear out the fires and help the injured villagers."
"Irai and Kimiko clear out the fires and help the villagers,Toru and I will clear out the crows."We all nodded and went to different areas of the village.
Toru and I scattered around the village.Ruptured homes looked like they were pressed down flat by a giant.Toru shifted his hand into a blade and struck it at a crow. Its neck split wide open with blood gushing out of it like a can of tomatoes being opened.
That sounded stupid to say in my mind.
He was moving way too fast for me even though I was a higher status than him.But high status didn't mean strength it just resembled great authority over the citizens of the country you were in.I swirled my hands in a circular motion.The tornados I was making collected crows and acted like bait.
I tried to keep the clumps of wind away from the houses and the people while also keeping the crows contained.Toru used a giant hammer to smash crows as well as using the rest of his arson. He used all types of blades and hammers and machinery in order to keep the crows out.
Eventually,they gave up and one by one,the remaining crows transformed into actual crows and flew away before we could even get to them.
"MAKU!"Irai rushed towards us with Kimiko. He pointed to the crowd of escorted villagers hiding in a dim lighted cave.They slowly crept out of the cave so that we could see them.
"LOOK!"One of them pointed,shouting that I was here.
"EMPEROR MAKU!"
"Don't forget this assassin that helped me out,Toru."
I gave him credit because I felt bad that he wouldn't get recognised by the crowd and since I'm here and I'm emperor,they would go for me and Irai instead.
"Oh yes!You used to be called the greatest assassin in the world!"A villager pointed out.
"Still am."He faced towards the dozens of dead crows splattered on the floor likes dropping flies.They all gasped.Toru lived up to his expectations and from that point onward,he would be more respected.
As the three of us were preparing our horses,Toru came up to us.
"You need something?"
"Lily's getting worse and worse."He whispered into my ear.
"Oh no.."
"I need to find a medicine for her sickness so please help me some how."
"I'll give you flower chemicals soon don't worry."
"Thanks."
"I'm sure you'll be able to work with them."
"No don't worry I will!I've been training as a doctor for a long time.I can fix her I just need the right chemicals."I smiled and waved goodbye. He also did so in return.
I turned back and my horse galloped up the hills. We passed several houses where villagers greeted and thanked us.Hill after hill,I appreciated the meadows.
"OLD MAN ANTHONY!"Irai shouted with a bright smile on his face. We passed a farmer's house where there was fishing gear set up by a flowing river.
"OH.IRAI!ITS GOOD TO SEE YOU OLD FRIEND!"Anthony shouted as best as he could in excitement.
"Who was that?"I questioned. He paused for a second and explained it was an old friend that he passed by along with Emma after the maze.Irai got off the horse and ran along the grassy lush meadows in order to reach anthony.The rest of us caught up in a hurry,panting for breath but oh my.The sight was mesmorzing.I drooled in astonishment,excitement flooded my mind and my body.
"Did you get my letter?"
"Yes I did. In fact I'm writing a response right now."He showed Irai the piece of paper with ink on it.
"Well please visit the Genshi palace sometime."
"I will do!"
"Alright bye then-"
"Irai."
"Yes Anthony?"
"Emma.She died didn't she?I heard it from the draco clan."
"Oh right,the dragons,I forgot about them…"
"I'm sorry."A moment of silence uttered upon the trespassing grass hoppers.
"SHUT UP!"Irai shouted.
"They can't hear you silly!"Anthony brought an illuminating smile like the moon.
"I know but I was angry."
"Really though.I'm sorry about Emma.She deserved better.Way better,despite what she did to my wife."
"You knew?"
"I didn't want to make it awkward the first time.I thought I'd confront her about it the second time but I can't now.."
"It's not your fault."
"I never said it was but…that poor girl.Tragic life.Placed into a step family after being abandoned by her family.Then her step parents died in a fire and all she had was her step brother and the draco clan."I cried tears of anger.Tears of flames.The girl that smiled and sat and fought along side me…would be gone forever.Just like Kurisu.Just like Aizakku.
"I try not to think of the dead they-t-they make me emotional."Irai sniffled.I patted him on the back to lighten his shining ember in his soul.
"Irai before you go,listen to me my boy."Old Man Anthony instructed him to lean in closer.For a second,he felt like Kurisu all over again.
"This world.True freedom cannot be achieved if both good and evil don't exist.Your loses,your hardships are all for your growth and development as a human being.You only live once. So don't let the negativity overwhelm you.I live alone on a farm catching food all day even with my dead wife,and I still manage to smile at least once a day!You should to Irai I'm serious. Be happier if you can."
Irai hugged anthony tightly for a good long minute
"I WILL NEVER FORGET YOU,YOU HEAR ME ANTHONY?"
"I won't forget you either Irai."They both smiled,waved and parted ways.
"Listen to him Irai.Let's think more positively and strategically against Kraven. He wants us to get psychologically weak and manipulated."He didn't say anything to me.Just stared at the rough ground.