Blood: A Shadow's Game (Volume VII)

Chapter 15 - RAGE AND ANGER

Pagbukas ng aking mga mata ay pamilyar na kisame ang bumungad saakin. Napatingin ako saaking kaliwa at nandito ang prinsipe na natutulog.

Bigla naman akong napatayo at nakitang ang mga kasuotan ko'y maayos na. Nakita ko naman sa gilid namin ang mga sa tingin ko'y gamot.

"Oh, iha. Gising ka na pala. Kamusta ang nararamdaman mo?" Tanong ni Mrs. Estella saakin pagpasok niya.

"A-ano pong nangyari?" Tanong ko. Napahawak ako saaking mata ng medyo kumirot ito.

"Nakita ko kayo ditong dalawa na walang malay." Anila.

"Inumin mo ito. Makakatulong ito upang mabawasan ng bahagya ang sakit na nararamdaman mo." Paglapag nila ng basong may kulay berde na may halong asul na inumin saaking tabi. Ininom ko naman na ito.

"Ilang araw na po akong walang malay?"

"Dalawang araw, iha." Sambit nila na nagpabigla saakin ng bahagya.

Napatingin naman ako sa prinsipe na payapang natutulog.

He is not wearing mask right now that's why I can early see his calm face.

The only moment his guard down is when he's sleeping. And it seems like he have reach the goodness and tranquility in life. It's like he's a different person.

How I wish he remained this until he wakes up... how I wish this person I am seeing was protected then at all cost, so as not to reach this point that he became the broken of all the brokens.

"Alam niyo po yung tungkol sa kapatid niya?" Tanong ko sakanila.

"Yes." Pagngiti nila saakin.

Hindi naman na ako nagtanong pa.

...

"My Lord. Are you sure about this?" Nanginginig na tanong ni Mrs. Estella sa prinsipe habang hawak ang mga batong nakolekta niya para sa lagusang tinutukoy niya.

I completely understand his rage and anger now. We are the same. We both witnessed how our sibling get killed. And I too, will take this opportunity to get revenge.

I know that all deadly weapons of our enemies will be pointing to the prince. After all, he's the last actual Takashi and is the threat to all nations.

But then again, I still don't know the real reason behind his vengeance before his older brother's death happened.

Maybe it has something to do with what he've said back then. He said creatures here played him to make him kill thousands of creatures.

But, is he really an angel? Are they really an angel? If so, then why are those angels trying to kill him?

Malakas ang kutob kong hindi sila anghel. Dahil kung oo, hindi magagawa ng mga anghel ang subukang patayin ang prinsipe at ako na may koneksyon sakaniya.

"Yes." Sagot ng prinsipe.

Bumalik na ang kilala kong prinsipe. He is now wearing his mask.

"Us too, Dio-sama. We're ready." Sabi naman nila Ray at Roy.

"Let's meet again." Sambit ng prinsipe saamin at nauna na sa lagusang lumitaw saaming harapan matapos niyang gawin ang kailangan niyang gawin sa mga bato.

Nagpakawala ako ng malim na paghinga atsaka pumikit bago pumasok sa lagusan.

Pagkalabas ko'y napunta ako sakanila Kyla na nakikipag laban pa rin sa mga organisasyong nandito. Hinanap naman ng mga mata ko ang leader ng Hikari ngunit ang nakita ko'y ang mga magulang nila Ken at Lauren.

Biglang tumulo ang aking mga luha nang maalala ko si ate at sila mama.

"Are you sure about this, Katharine-san?" Tanong ni Scram. Siya yung grasshopper.

"Sa totoo lang ay hindi ko rin alam. Ang gusto ko lang ay ipaghiganti si ate. She didn't deserve to die."

"Then let's go kick some asses." He said while hiding in my back.

He told me about his guardianship and how did he became the guardian of mister Nikko. He also told me that mister Nikko ordered him to be my guardian after he dies because he believed that I am the only one who can tame the prince since I became their little sister.

Mister Nikko ordered him to be my guardian instead of the prince because the prince have Ray and Roy, and Mrs. Estella who are trully loyal to him.

"Katharine!" Rinig kong sabi nila Wil ngunit hindi maalis ang mga mata ko sa dalawang tao.

Naramdaman ko ang paginit ng aking katawan hanggang sa tuluyan akong nabalot sa apoy. Naramdaman ko rin ang paglutang ko sa ere samantalang silang lahat ay pinapanood ako.

Ang mga suot ko'y napunit lahat at ang aking buhok ay humaba -sobrang haba na umabot hanggang saaking talampakan. Naramdaman ko rin ang pagkakaroon ko ng dalawang sungay.

Napansin ko ang mga bagay saaking likuran at nang makita ito'y mga buntot na nakakabit saaking likod. There are six huge tails I have with the color of white. And each tails I have, the end part has the color of a phoenix - red, orange, and yellow. It's like the color of a fire... like the color I saw on the prince before.

Nang maalis ang mga apoy na nakabalot saakin ay nakita ko ang kanilang mga reaksyon.

"You! You promised you will protect my family! You promised to protect my sisters no matter what!" Wika ko atsaka mabilis na sumugod sakanila.

Walang kahirap-hirap kong nahawakan ang kanilang leeg atsaka sila dinala sa himpapawid.

"I-I-I-I'm sorry." Hirap na sabi ng hari.

"That will never bring back my sister." Aniko.

Nakarinig ako ng malakas na ungol saaking likuran at nang humarap ako'y natamaan ako ng paa ng chimera kaya ko sila nabitiwan.

"Argh!" Irita kong sabi atsaka lumipad pasugod sakanila. Isinarado ko ang aking mga kamao atsaka sila pinag susuntok ngunit napaatras nang sabay-sabay silang magbuga ng kanilang kapangyarihan.

Naramdaman ko ang mga kalaban saaking ibaba na nagtapon at nagpaputok ng kanilang armas papunta saakin ngunit nagawa kong gamitin ang aking mga buntot upang maprotektahan ang aking sarili.

Sabay-sabay ding nagbuga ng kapangyarihan nila ang chimera kaya ako mas nainis.

Gumawa ako ng malaking apoy at ang kulay ng apoy ko'y asul... katulad ng kay mister Nikko.

Nang itatapon ko na ito sakanila ay nakita ko ang leader ng Hikari. Agad ko naman siyang hinarap.

"You!" Madiin kong sambit. Binalik niya naman saakin ang ngiti sakaniyang mga labi na nagpakulo saaking dugo.

Lumipad siya atsaka pumantay saakin habang kami ay nasa ere.

"I see.... so this is your true form?"

"I am really looking forward for killing your remaining precious family. But I am more excited on your full power." Sabi niya kaya na ako sumugod.

Bago ko pa siya mahawakan ay bigla siyang lumipad pababa atsaka ako dito inatake. Mabilis ko naman ginamit ang aking mga buntot pang takip.

Nagsunod sunod ang pagtira niya saakin at nakita kong inilabas niya ang kaniyang espada. Ang tanging nagagawa ko lang ngayon ay iwasan at sanggahin ang kaniyang pag atake.

Hindi na tulad noon ang lakas niya. Higit na mas malakas na siya ngayon kaysa sa noong una naming laban.

Bumilis ang kaniyang galaw. Mabilis niya akong nasusugatan sa iba't ibang parte ng aking katawan. Ngunit inabangan ko ang sunod niyang atake atsaka siya dito hinawakan.

Gamit ang aking mga buntot ay hinawakan ko ang kaniyang leeg, braso, at hita. Ang isa sa tirang buntot ko'y nasa aking likod lang nakaabang kung sakaling ang mga kalabang nasaaking ibaba ay umatake.

"Why do you want to kill the Takashis?" Tanong ko sakaniya. Nang hindi siya sumagot ay hinigpitan ko ang pagkakatali ko sakaniyang leeg.

"Why does it need to be my sister? Why does it need to be my family?!"

Hindi niya ako sinagot kaya't gumawa ako ng maliit na apoy ngunit punong puno ng lakas atsaka sana ititira sakaniyang dibdib nang umatake ang ibang miyembro ng Hikari.

"Argh!" Inis kong wika atsaka sila iniwasan.

Lumipad ako palayo upang hindi nila kami magulo. Nakarating naman kami malapit sa karagatan kaya na ako tumigil. Malayo naman na kami sakanila.

"Now, answer me." Pagharap ko sakaniya at hinigpitan ulit ang nakatali sakaniyang leeg.

"It's for peace." Tugon niya kaya ko niluwagan ng bahagya ang kaniyang tali sa leeg.

"Peace? By killing innocent people?"

"Takashis has enormous powers that could surpass the God. They will eventually hurt more innocent people even children when greed took the lead."

"It is the main goal of Hikari and other organizations like Akari and Pariahs. Realms that are rivals united just to end the bloodline of Takashi."

"Why?!" Tanong ko.

"They will soon cause chaos and unimaginable destructions that once happened before - It was the first great war of this world."

"And the one who started that war is no other than Takashi Nikko."

"They think they can lead this world because they have the Supreme Eye and they are the all-powerful clan, but no. Leader is not just about who the powerful is."

"Peace is not just a mere absence of violence, but also, a manifestation of human compassion." I empathically said.

"Chaos and fighting will never stop. Whatever you do, it is inevitable because our beliefs differ from each other. And these people here don't know the meaning of human compassion because they're selfish and self-centered." I stated.

"That's why there is no such thing as peace in the outside world. The only peace you can get is in you. It's called inner peace."

"Can't you see? They are just envious about the power and authority Takashis has. Especially that they are the only clan who possesses the Supreme Eye."

"Takashis were reigning this world, and it is peaceful, not until other nations unites and plans to get the Supreme Eye. They even plan to get their blood in order to gain power."

"They are the greediest and the reason why Takashi Nikko started the war."

"They always hate and envy the Takashis because of its power. But didn't they consider the perspective of the Takashis? Didn't they know that having such great-power has also great downsides?"

"They just want them to pay for the sins they've committed against their clan, yet you call them greedy. They are not greedy, but rather, the one who wronged them are."

"How did you know this?" Tanong niya naman.

"Nikko. Takashi Nikko." Tugon ko. Umiwas siya saglit saaking mga mata atsaka nagpakawala ng malalim na paghinga.

"Nikko-san is one of the founder of Hikari Organization. He built this to help those clans, families or nations that needs support or help."

"But he left because he said he needs to do something that only, he, can do it"

"So I, Ogawa Michi, who is one of the pillars of the organization, became the leader. And ever since the unfortunate event has ended, Hikari's goal is to eliminate the remaining Takashis. All who have the blood or connection with the Takashis are need to eliminate in order to achieve peace..."

"Even if it means to kill the one of the founder of this organization.... and my friend."

So that means, all mister Nikko's did was for the prince? He sold his soul to whoever that is in order to protect the prince.

"Then why does it need to be my sister? She has nothing to do with Takashis, but you still killed her." Madiin kong sabi kasabay ng paghigpit ko sakaniyang leeg.

"I told you. Sacrificing enough innocent people to achieve peace are better than sacrificing a lot."

Nang tatapusin ko na sana siya'y may kung sinong umatake saakin.

"Michi-san"

"Shin."

Napatingin naman ako saaking kanan at nakita dito si haring Hiro.

"Enough, Katharine. This isn't you." Sabi nila. Nabalik naman ang tingin ko sa leader ng Hikari na inaalalayan ng isa niyang miyembro.

"The other pillar of the Hikari is Hanamichi Akihiko. He is the last pillar of the Hikari." Aniya saakin.

"He left the organization because he needs to get back to his place in order to save his siblings from the people there. However, he didn't came back."

Naramdaman ko ang paghawak ng hari sa nanginginig kong kamay kaya ako napaharap sakaniya.

"It's enough, Katharine." Wika niya habang umiiling.

"This isn't you."

"Come on. Let's go." Sambit nung Shin.

"The war will never stop." He emphasized.

"We may have the same thought about the war not being able to stop, but, we differ from our philosophy and determination."

"If you believe that outside world can't reach peace, well I believe that the only way to reach it is by eliminating the root cause of fightings - and that is eliminating the remaining Takashis. And by that, we could achieve peace."

"As long as there's still one Takashi, the war is still there waiting to be ignite."

"As long as there's still the Supreme Eye, the desire to take over the world is still there. And as long as there's a great power, the greed is still there." He added.

"But...."

"As long as I live, my main goal as the leader of the Hikari will be the same."

"If your philosphy is getting inner peace and face the cruel world where fightings became normal, we're different, then. Because my philosophy is to achieve outside peace- by removing the main reason for the fightings. So the innocents and childrens can run safely outside their homes, and the meaning of Hikari which is light can prove its name."

Pinanood ko naman silang makaalis bago ako mapaluha.

"It's enough. This isn't you."

Napaiyak na ako kaya niya ako hinila palapit sakaniya atsaka niyakap. Nakarinig ako ng kulog at nakakita ng kidlat. Tumama ang kidlat saamin at nakita ko na lamang na nandito na kami sa gitna ng kakahuyan.

"Cry. Cry all you want." He said.

"They promised they will protect them." Sambit ko.

"They promised me."

"They promised."

...

I see many shadows. It's like they're all looking at me. They surrounding me.

I gasp some air when it's like they are pulling something out of me - it's like it is my life that they are pulling.

Naramdaman ko ang malambot na higaan kaya ako napainat. Pagkabukas ng aking mga mata ay bumungad saakin ang silid na tinutulugan ko noon dito sa kastilyo ni haring Hiro at si Scram.

"Rise and shine, sleepy head. Wake up, wake up." Pagpalo niya saaking noo kaya ako napabangon agad.

"Anong ginagawa mo dito?"

"You shouldn't be speaking like that to an adult!" Aniya atsaka pinitik ang aking noo kaya ako napahawak agad dito.

"Aww!!"

"I'm here to guard you!.... and to discipline you. Did you forgotten it already? I'm your guardian, remember?"

"Oo. Naaalala ko. It's not what I meant. Masyado kang maingay. Ang aga-aga eh." Aniko. Tumalon ulit siya atsaka nanaman pinitik ang aking noo kaya nanaman ako dito napahawak.

"Awww!"

"Is that how you speak to your guardian?"

"Sorry po." Pagyuko ko.

Napatingin ako sa aking gilid at nakita ang dalawang tulips doon na kulay violet at pink.

Pagkakita ko saaking katawan ay biglang namilog ang aking mga mata.

I'm naked.

Ahhh.. sa pagkakatanda ko'y napunit lahat ng mga damit ko noong nabalot ako ng nagbabagang apoy. Pero ang nakapag tataka'y hindi ako nakaramdam ng kahit ano maliban sa pambihirang lakas.

Anong nangyari pagkatapos non?

What are the shadows that are around me? What are they doing?

"Ahh.. Scram. Pwede ba akong magtanong?" Tanong ko sakaniya.

"Ano ba talaga ang angkan ng Takashi?" Pagtanong ko. Hindi naman siya agad sumagot kaya ulit ako nagtanong.

"Are they really an angels? But if they are, why did the angels tried to kill me and the prince?"

"They are not angels." Tugon niya.

"They are above the angels. The reason why Daisuke-san became angel is because Nikko-sama gave him to the angels when he was still young. Nikko-sama didn't thought that they will give Daisuke-san an angel blood."

"At nang malaman niya ito ay dito na nagumpisa ang digmaan. Nabawi niya ang kaniyang kapatid at ibinigay siya sa mga demonyo."

"Saka niya lang din nalaman na nahaluan na ng kung ano-anong dugo si Daisuke-san kaya siya mas nagalit. Dito na nangyari ang unang malaking digmaan." Wika niya. Hindi naman ako nakapag salita dahil dito.

They are above the angels. So, maybe, the reason why they want to kill him is because of envy and greed. They couldn't kill mister Nikko because he is untouchable and unbeatable. So they took advantage of the prince because he has an "amnesia".

Gumulong ako agad at nalaglag sa gilid ng kama nang marinig ko ang kumakatok sa pinto. Napadaing pa ako bago sabihin na pumasok. Si Scram naman ay tumalon palabas ng bintana.

"Oh. I'm sorr‐-"

"Wag!" Pigil ko agad kay Wil nang lalapit sana siya upang ako'y tulungan.

Shit. I'm naked.

"I-I just want to see if you're awake... and you are."

"Bakit? Ano bang meron?" Tanong ko.

"We'll going back. At gusto ko lang sanang tanungin ka kung...." sambit niya kaya ko naman ito agad nakuha.

Napaiwas ako ng tingin atsaka napabuntong hininga.

"Mamaya na lang. Lalabas na ako. May gagawin lang ako." Aniko. Lumabas naman na siya at gamit ang kumot ay binalot ko ang aking katawan upang makapunta sa pinto at i-lock.

Pagkatapos kong magbihis ay napatingin muna ako sa dalawang bulaklak sa tabi ng higaan. Napangiti naman ako dito at alam kong namumula ang aking pisngi.

Alam ko na agad kung kanino galing ang mga ito. Kay haring Hiro.

Siya lang ang nagbibigay saakin ng dalawang bulaklak na ito. Well.... siya lang naman talaga ang nagbibigay saakin ng bulaklak. Hindi ko alam kung kailan na ito nagsimula. Basta ang natatandaan ko lang ay binibigyan na niya ako.

Napakagat ako saaking labi nang maalala yung ginawa niya noong kami ay nasa purgatoryo.

That's officially our first kiss.

Hindi ko mapigilang hindi mapangiti habang naglalakad ako papunta sa ibaba upang hanapin sila Wil.

Nawala naman ang aking mga ngiti nang maalala ko yung nangyari kay ate. Kung babalik ako, saan ako magpupunta? Ayoko munang lapitan sila mama dahil ayoko silang mapahamak sa panganib na aking dala.

Ano nga bang gagawin ko?

Kung magpapaiwan naman ako dito, paano yung pag aaral ko? Atsaka, paano ko mababantayan sila mama? At isa pa, hindi naman ako pwedeng dito tumira dahil hindi naman talaga nila ako kaano-ano. Ayokong maging pabigat dito.

Ang prinsipe!

Oo nga pala. Nasaan na pala siya? Pati sila Ray at Roy?

"Katharine! Nandito ka na pala." Sabi ni John kaya ako lumapit sakanila.

"Anong ibig sabihin ng mga tingin niyo?" Tanong ko naman sakanila. Hindi ko kasi maintindihan kung anong ibig sabihin ng kanilang tingin saakin.

"Nothing."

"It's because of your transformation." Magkasabay na sabi nila Kyla at Sam kaya siya tinignan nila Lauren.

"I shouldn't said that... right?" Sambit niya.

"Malungkot lang kami dahil sa nangyari sa ate mo." Wika naman saakin ni Kyla atsaka hinawakan ang aking kamay. Ngumiti naman ako ng pilit sakanila atsaka yumuko.

What did Sam mean? It's like I know what's he talking about but at the same time I don't know.

"Ano ba ang plano mo? Sasama ka ba pabalik?" Tanong niya.

"I don't know. I wanted to. But going back is like putting my mother and youngest sister in peril."

"We understand." Sabi ni Ken.

"But you can stay here. Bukas naman itong kastilyo sayo." Sabi rin ni Lauren.

"Thank you. But I still can't stay with your family, especially your.... I'm sorry." Sambit ko atsaka nanaman naiiyak.

Wala naman silang kasalanang dalawa. Pero hindi ako makapag sinungaling saaking sarili dahil may sama rin ako ng loob sakanila. Parte pa rin sila ng pamilyang nangako saakin na poprotektahan sila ate ngunit hindi naman ginawa.

I really don't know what will I do right now.