Blood: A Shadow's Game (Volume VII)

Chapter 19 - A LIFE FOR A LIFE

"You can't insist something incorrect, nor you can't recall something you don't know." Rinig kong boses ni Sam sa kabilang kwarto kaya ako agad nagpunta doon.

Bumungad saakin sila Wil, Sam at Caleb.

"C-caleb? What are you doing here? You can't be here. It's dangerous here." Sunod-sunod kong sabi.

"What are you guys doing here? I thought you guys have some task to do?" Tanong ko sakanila Wil.

"It's done. Mabilis lang naman iyon." Tugon ni Wil.

"Then what is he doing here?" Pagtanong ko ulit sakanila at tinukoy si Caleb.

"I really need to go. Mister Rein and I have something to talk to right now. And I'm quite late. I should go." Pagpapaalam ni Wil kaya kaming tatlo ang naiwan.

"What the hell is going on?!" Pagtanong ko kay Sam.

"You know this place is dangerous. Especially he's just a kid, Sam."

"Okay, okay, okay. Calm down. You're not gonna punch me, right?"

"What?!" Tanong ko.

"Nevermind. Okay. So.... when we were heading back here, I saw him wandering around. And he is insisting that he knows the way more than we are, I and Wil, but he's never been here. And I was tryna make him recall what and how he ended up being in this world."

"But he's just saying he can't recall. But I'm pretty sure he doesn't know how did he got here." Pagtapos niya. Napatingin naman ako sakaniya na nakayuko lamang.

"What is it that you are trying to do?" I asked.

"I-I-I will tell you... pero kayo lang po ang pagsasabihan ko." Sabi saakin.

"Wai-- wha-- why-- you've got to be kidding me. Why? Why can't you tell me?" Tanong ni Sam.

"Just get out Sam. Para matapos na ito." Aniko atsaka siya pinalabas ng kwarto.

"They're still listening." Sambit ni Caleb.

"Sam!" Pagtawag ko sakaniya.

"Alright, alright! Damn it!" He muttered. As I heard his footsteps becomes faint, Caleb started to talk.

"You are my mother, mom." He said that almost made me laugh.

"Mother? Me? Paano?" Hindi makapaniwalang tanong ko.

"I'm from the future, mom. I time traveled to see with my own two eyes who and what does my father really looks like."

"Father? Who's your father?"

"You call him a broken angel. You never really told me his name because you said you've promised him something about revealing his name to me."

"So I traveled back here to know him."

"Then who is my husband in the future?"

"Wala rin po itong kwenta, ma. I'm gonna erased your memory soon after I see what I wanted to see. Ayoko na pong masyadong magsabi ng impormasyon tungkol sa kinabukasan dahil hindi pa po ako malakas para alisin ang sobrang daming impormasyon sa isip niyo."

"I can't be reckless because one wrong mistake can alter the future, mom."

"Okay...." wika ko.

"I still don't believe.... that I have a son. Oh, dear God!"

Biglang dumating si Scram atsaka tumalon papunta saakin.

"Hello, Scram." Pagbati ni Caleb at hahawakan na sana siya nang bigla kong pigilan dahil nakahanda na si Scram na saktan siya.

"He doesn't know you."

"Oh.... sorry po." He apologizes.

"Who's he?-- okay nevermind that right now. Right now, we have to get to the prince because he is causing disasters at kingdom of Mantriv."

"What?! How did that happen?"

"Other people from different realms are in there too, fighting him. He is fighting them with only Ray and Roy in his side." He said. He then gave me a meaningful look.

"This is the time you will choose side, Katharine-san."

But how about king Hiro? Anong nangyari sakaniya?

"Let's go." Sabi ni Scram atsaka nagpunta saaking balikat. Si Caleb naman ay yumakap saakin. Pumikit ako atsaka rin ibinuka ang aking mga mata. Pagkakita ko na lang ay nandito na kami sa-sa tingin kong Mantriv dahil sa dinig naming tunog ng parang kaguluhan.

Tumakbo kami papalapit sa pinagdidinigan namin. Pagkarating namin dito ay para akong namamalikmata sa mga nakikita ko.

Kasama ng prinsipe sila haring Hiro laban sa mga organisasyon at mga sa tingin ko'y galing sa iba't ibang kaharian sa mundong ito.

What happened? Nakapag usap ba si haring Hiro at ang prinsipe? Anong nangyari? Anong pinagusapan nila?

Bigla kong napansin ang mabilis na pagbabago ng mata ng prinsipe - ang Supreme Eye. Bigla akong nakaramdam ng kakaiba. It feels like I can clearly feel his energy. It's seems like even if I turned my back at him or closed my eyes, I can locate his exact place.

Is this mister Nikko's ability too?

Bigla ko rin naramdaman ang enerhiya ni Caleb kaya ako agad napatingin sakaniya. His eyes.... it's the Supreme Eye.

"Where is Katharine?" Rinig kong tanong ng prinsipe sa kanila haring James na nakikipag laban sa mga Hikari.

Bakit niya ako hinahanap?

"Look out." Mabilis na sabi ni Scram atsaka pinaguntog ang dalawang kalaban na aatake na sana saamin.

"What's your plan?" Tanong niya habang nakikipag laban sa mga umaatake saamin.

"I-I-I-I don't know." Aniko.

What will I do? I can't think. I can't even absorbed yet what Caleb said earlier.

"I saw her, Dio-sama." Rinig kong sabi nila Ray at Roy.

Bigla naman akong napatingin sa prinsipe at nakita kung paano isaksak ni Haring James ang kaniyang espada sa dibdib ng prinsipe.

Parang tumigil ng ilang segundo ang puso ko nang makita ko siya.

Why am I hurting?

Napahawak ako saaking pisngi nang maramdaman ang pagtulo ng aking luha.

Pumikit ako at pagbukas ng mga mata ko'y nandito na kami ng prinsipe at ni Caleb sa purgatoryo.

"K-katharine." He said. Hinila niya naman ang espadang nakabaon sakaniyang dibdib atsaka ito itinapon sa lapag.

"I have a child. Ray and Roy knows where you will find my child. And I want you to take care of him as he grow older."

"D-dad?" Rinig kong mahinang sabi ni Caleb saaking tabi.

Lalapit na sana ako sakaniya ng maglabas siya ng dugo galing sakaniyang bibig ngunit agad niya rin akong pinigilan.

"Damn that James. He finally figured out his grandfather's technique on killing me." Aniya atsaka ulit naglabas ng dugo.

"Ray and Roy will explain it to you. Just promise me that you, and only you, will gonna take care of my child."

"Why me?" Tanong ko. Hindi siya nakasagot nang biglang tumakbo si Caleb sakaniya atsaka siya nito sinuntok sa sikmura.

"That's for leaving us." Sambit ni Caleb. Napatingin naman sakaniya ang prinsipe.

"Yes. You really are." Wika niya habang umiiyak atsaka niyakap ang prinsipe.

"Who is th--" hindi na niya ulit natuloy ang kaniyang sasabihin ng maglabas ulit siya ng dugo. Napahiwalay naman dito agad si Caleb.

"There's no time, Katharine. Go back to Ray and Roy. Get my child now. I'll be the diversion." Wika niya.

"No!-- okay...." sambit ko.

"If I made sure you two are safe, I can die in peace now, Katharine. Maybe I can see my brother again." Sabi niya atsaka lumapit saakin.

"Thank you for being there." Aniya.

"I have one last thing to ask you to promise me." He said.

"Don't tell my child his father's name. My name is not worth knowing by my child."

"But always tell him that I may not be there for him, I will always love him. And he is my greatest unexpected gift I've ever get."

Napatingin naman ako kay Caleb na umiiyak habang nakatingin sa prinsipe.

"Please... Katharine. I'm begging you. Please, save my child." He said while on his knees.

"I--... I...." hindi ko na masabi ang sasabihin ko at napaluha na lamang. Napatingin naman ako kay Caleb na umiiyak ng tahimik habang nakatingin pa rin sa prinsipe.

Kahit labag saaking kalooban ay bumalik na kami sa lugar ng labanan kanina. Ang prinsipe ay nasa gitna ng labanan samantalang kami ni Caleb ay nandito sa medyo tagong parte.

Nakita kong tumakbo sila Ray at Roy sa prinsipe ngunit sinabi niya yata na puntahan ako kaya sila parang naghahanap. Lumutang ang prinsipe at kahit medyo nanghihina na siya ay nagawa niya pa ring makipag laban.

Kinuha ko naman ang atensyon nila Ray at Roy at nakakuha rin ng atensyon ng ibang kalaban, ngunit pinapatay nila ito, kasama nila si Scram na hindi ko alam kung saan nanggaling.

"Let's go." Anila.

"You go. I'll stay here." Sabi ni Scram saamin kaya na kami tumakbo paalis.

Pagkakita ko naman kay Caleb saaking gilid ay medyo naglalaho na siya.

"Mom. I saw what I wanted to see. I will go back to my real time." He said while tears are falling down from his eyes.

"Ayoko rin naman pong makaabala sainyo dito sa labanan niyo. I will be useless here. My strength is nowhere in your level, mom."

"Your memory with me will be gone. All those who knew me will forget that they know me."

"I love you mom."

"I'll see you soon, Caleb." Wika ko at tuluyan na siyang nawala.

Napatigil ako kasama sila Ray at Roy ng saglit atsaka kami bahagyang umiling.

"Why did we stop? Let's go." Anila kaya kami ulit tumakbo.

Lumipas ang ilang minuto at tumigil kami sa gitna ng kakahuyan.

"This is the portal. Let's go in." Sabi nila atsaka nauna si Ray. Humakbang siya at bigla na lamang siyang nawala na parang bula.

"You go. It's invisible, but it's still there." Wika niya. Ginawa ko naman ito at paglabas ko'y nandito kami sa parang loob ng kastilyo na hindi pamilyar saakin.

"Let's go. We need to hurry."

Tumakbo kami ng tumakbo hanggang sa nakarating kami sa ilalim ng kastilyo. May parang laboratory dito kaya kami dito pumasok.

Ang bumungad saamin ay ang parang malaking jar na may lamang tubig na parang kulay dilaw na asul sa gitna ng lamesa. Para itong experimenting table. Ang ikinagulat ko dito ay may parang bata o bata talaga ang nasa loob nitong jar at nakalubog sa mukhang tubig.

"Is-- is-- is this the child of the prince?" Tanong ko sakanila ngunit naalerto ng marinig namin ang mga kalaban na paparating.

"Kuso." Madiin nilang wika atsaka inalis ang mga kung ano-anong nakadikit sa jar na hose.

"Hold this tightly and carefully." Pagbigay nila saakin nito at sila ay naglabas ng espada at punyal atsaka ako hinarangan.

Bago pa makapasok ang mga kalaban ay agad akong pumikit at binukas ang mga mata. Nandito na kami ngayon sa purgatoryo.

"How did you do that?" Hindi makapaniwalang tanong nila saakin.

"I need an explanation for this." Sabi ko sakanila.

"This child is the legacy of Dio-sama. This child will die if we don't put it inside your womb."

"Why me?" Madiin kong tanong.

"Because Dio-sama trusts you. And you are the last lady of the Takashi clan. This child will die if we put it inside a womb of another woman."

"How did this happen?"

"It happened when Dio-sama was so injured when he attacked the realms of this world. One of those realms he attacked manage to get his blood. And using his blood, they experimented it and resulted to this."

"Paano niyo nalaman na meron ito?" Tukoy ko sa hawak ko.

"King Hiro." Sambit nila na nagpabigla saakin.

"He's the one who knew about this. He made a deal with Dio-sama. He said he will tell him where he can find his child if he stopped, totally, harming in any way, the Eternal Realm."

"He agreed. That's why what you saw in the battle field is their deal."

"They teamed up to fight those people from another realms."

"But I just can't understand why did that f*****g James Welker stab Dio-sama. He broke their deal."

"But didn't you see that he didn't hurt them, right? It is because he made himself a diversion to get all of their attention in order to save this, his child... and you."

"I.... I don't know. It's too much." Sambit ko.

"But--"

"I've done enough for him. He is the reason why my life became like this!"

"And carrying and adopting his child is too much. It is too much."

"I don't even know how to carry a child in my womb. I don't even know how to be a mother. I don't know. I'm not ready."

"That's why we are here." Sabi nila.

"I don't know." Aniko at biglang naramdaman ang enerhiya ng prinsipe. Bigla kong ipinikit ang aking mga mata at pagmulat ko'y nandito ako sa tagong lugar habang pinapanood ang prinsipe na medyo nahihirapan ng makipag laban.

Nakita kong pumipikit na ang kaniyang mga mata ngunit pinipilit niya pa ring ibukas ang mga ito.

Bigla akong napaluha dahil dito.

He have reach his limit. It is the will to live that keeps his eyes open.

"You really love your child prince Dio, aren't you?" Mahina kong tanong.

I am too scared, prince Dio. As much as I wanted to do it for the sake of this child's life, I'm so scared.

Pumikit ako at pagmulat ulit ng mga mata ko ay nandito na kami ng prinsipe sa kaniyang kastilyo. Bigla siyang napaluhod sa sahig at grabe ang kaniyang panghihina. Napatingin naman siya saakin na hawak pa rin ang bata.

"Katharine." He said with barely audible voice.

"You two are safe."

"Let me give you something.... it is the first and last present I will able to give you."

Naglabas ulit siya ng kaniyang dugo kaya ko na siya hinawakan. Bigla naman akong nakaramdam ng sobrang sakit saaking buhong katawan, lalo na saaking dibdib.

"No. Don't hurt yourself by trying to help me." Wika niya atsaka bahagyang inalis ang aking kamay sakaniya.

Pumikit siya ng ilang saglit atsaka niya ibinukas ang kaniyang mga mata. Ang nakikita ko na ngayon ay ang Supreme Eye.

Biglang tumulo ang isang luha sakaniyang kanang mata. Tumingin naman siya saakin atsaka ako binigyan ng maliit na ngiti. Napatingin din siya saaking hawak bago nagsalita.

"Brother. If it's the life that separates us, then maybe in death we will be united." He said and then vanished into thin air.

No!

Agad naman akong napatingin sa bandang gilid ng kastilyo at hindi makapaniwala saaking nakikita.

It's ate. She's alive and well.

"Nasaan ako?" Tanong niya sa kaniyang sarili atsaka tumayo.

Bago pa siya mapaharap saakin ay agad ko siyang dinala sa mundo ng mga tao.

"What the!--"

"What is happening?"

Nakita ko siyang nagpunta sa aming tirahan. Pagpasok niya ay narinig kong tinanong siya ni mama kung saan ba siya galing.

How did this happen? Diba patay na si ate? Bakit nandito siya? Atsaka bakit hindi gulat sila mama na nanjan si ate?

Bigla ko naman naalala yung usapan nila mister Nikko at ng prinsipe dati. Mister Nikko said that the Supreme Eye can control life and death. Then that means..... the prince ressurected my sister? But why did he vanished?

Napatakip ako sa aking bibig nang mapagtanto ko ito.

He ressurected my sister in exchange of his own life. So that was he meant when he said he will give me my first and last present.

Napatingin naman ako sa aking hawak.

"Prince Dio-- no, Prince Daisuke is really a good father and a brother."

"I must repay him. A life for a life." Sambit ko atsaka bumalik sa purgatoryo.

At least now I know that my older sister is alive and well. Maybe I am the one who they thought that have died.

Ayos na rin ito.

But the prince. I don't know that he means so much to me now that he's gone.

I hate him for bringing me into this such mess.... but it taught me so much lessons and made me realize things.

"I'll take care of this child." Wika ko sakanila pagdating ko. Nabigla pa sila ng bahagya ngunit gumalaw na rin.

I know this is a huge responsibility and is no joke, but I can't just let this innocent child die. This child didn't choose to be in this situation. And as a sister of the prince and mister Nikko, I'll take care and adopt this child as my own.

I know I might sound reckless... which is I am... but I will never go back on my word. I will keep this child as my own.

Maybe I can figure out soon on telling the truth about his father and my connection to him when it is the right time... when he's ready to know the truth.

Pinahiga nila ako at sabing medyo magiging masakit ang proseso. Ngunit hindi naman daw ito magtatagal.

Nakita ko ang paglabas nila ng isang maliit na lalagyan na may lamang kulay lilang likido. Ibinuhos nila ito sa tubig kung nasaan yung parang fetus at lumiit ito ng lumiit. Binigyan naman nila ako ng kulay pulang likido at sabing inumin ko ito upang mag adjust ang aking katawan.

Pagkainom ko ay sinimulan na nila ang proseso. Itinaas nila ng bahagya ang aking damit upang mailantad ang aking tiyan. Gamit ang kutsilyong kinuha nila sa kanilang bulsa na nakabalot pa sa kahon at tela ay sinugatan nila ako.

Ipinikit ko ng mariiin ang aking mata dahil sa sakit ng aking nararamdaman. Ngunit hindi ito masyadong masakit gaya ng inaasahan ko.

Bigla kong naimulat ang aking mga mata at ramdam na ramdam ko ang pagsara ng sugat ko sa may parte kong tiyan.

Mabilis akong napabangon atsaka nagsuka. Mabilis ding lumapit sila Ray at Roy saakin upang ako'y alalayan.

My head is heavy. I think I'm gonna faint soon.

"I'm sleepy." Wika ko sakanila pagharap ko.

"But I'm really hungry. And my head is heavy. I think I'm gonna faint soon."

"You body is still adjusting." They explained.

"Woah." I said when I suddenly felt a movement inside of my womb. Nasuka ulit ako at nakaramdam ng pagkahilo.

"I really think I'm gonna faint."