Shadows of the Reborn

Chapter Three

Veiled Shadows

He lurked in the corner with a smirk on his face as he overheard the plans. Instantly, the wheels turned in his head with a way to sabotage those he felt were not worthy of attention. One being his adopted siblings. Narrowing his eyes, his mood darkened at the mere thought of one. Almost giving his spot away by releasing a low growl, he bit his lip in irritation. That grin returned to his face when he had first heard of the twins’ death, and it had taken everything he had to control the excitement that flowed through his veins at the news.

If anything, they had been his greatest threat to his ascending the throne. They could prevent it from happening, but now that one was gone, he could focus on the other twin and the youngest sibling in the house. The twin was still dangerous, and he wished the roles had been reversed. It would have taken nothing to eliminate the wind God, but unfortunately, favour was not his. The elder twin was the electrical God of storms who could sear your flesh from your bones if you weren’t careful. Not only that, his closest ally was the eclipse God. If either were ever to figure out how to combine their powers, he would be powerless to stop them.

Shaking his head, he slipped out of his hiding spot and moved into the hall. He had to figure out how to get rid of them. With his parents discussing their plans for their children, it might just be easier than he had first anticipated. All he had to do was to find an ally on the mortal plane to take care of his nuisance siblings. Formulating a plan in his head, he grinned ecstatically as his plan began to form.

* * * *

The years flew by, and Taizo flopped onto his bed with a frustrated groan. He wasn’t sure how many years had passed, but it had been several, with no answers to his fallen brother. Not even a whisper of what had happened to his other siblings lurked in the halls. Even Shuzo had been unsuccessful in his attempts at finding out the truth. It was as though their mother knew they were searching and had even gone so far as to move the moon well, which gave her limitless views of the mortal world.

The secret nook Shuzo had found, filled with texts had also mysteriously vanished, and no amount of searching revealed its location. Shuzo had tried to find its location through the shadow realm to no success and that had frustrated the younger brother to no end. Luckily, they had been able to hide the journal and the heavy bound book before the nook had decided to relocate itself.

Taizo was almost certain that a nurikabe had managed to sneak into the heavens despite the fallen being forbidden from entering. The nurikabe was a spiritual phenomenon that loved to disguise itself as a wall to confuse travelers on the mortal plane, but Taizo suspected there was one in his home. The humans called all the fallen, youkai, or monstrous demons. It was pretty typical for them to misrepresent or not understand just what they were, they would rather condemn them rather than try to understand their differences.

Groaning, and sitting up, Taizo scowled in silent contemplation. After years of studying the new monsters that had resulted due to his siblings falling to the mortal plane, and his investigations into his twin’s death, he had concluded that Keizo had fallen in love with a mortal, thus earning disfavor with the Gods.

Taizo rubbed his eyes and sighed. If Keizo had fallen in love with a mortal, his death could have been caused by several factors. Either it had been a forbidden love, and he had been killed because of it, or it had been a rival who had been vying for the woman’s attention. Quite possibly, Keizo and the woman had remained secret but a fight had incapacitated him, or he had fallen ill. There were too many possibilities.

It had been pretty uneventful in terms of having conflicts with his eldest brother Susanoo, but he suspected his father had intervened and sent him off on an errand of some sort. That left Taizo and Shuzo unhindered in their investigations.

* * * *

Taizo

He walked down the halls in silent contemplation as he prepared himself for the meeting that he had been requested to attend. It was more a command than a request, and he snorted, almost rolling his eyes at the absurdity of it. None of his brothers or sisters had been asked to attend, and his steps slowed as his brow furrowed. It was unusual for them to ask for any of their children to go to any special meetings, and he was certainly not the oldest to attend such things. The years had gone by in a blur, and yet he was no closer to discovering what had caused his siblings to fall from grace than he had been previously.

Glancing to his left, he distinctly heard a door close, and his head turned once again to the brilliant halls he was walking down. Frowning, he slowly approached the large gold doors that signaled the royal halls, and he glanced at the four guards that were stationed outside, spears in hand watching his every move.

Blowing irritated air out his nose, even his parents were nervous about assassins trying to kill them, and their children were certainly not held in higher standing than a lowly assassin. They were Gods, after all. Stopping outside the large doors, he waited while the guards speculated him intently. Their eyes drifted over his frame, searching the flowing fabric for hidden weapons.

After several uncomfortable minutes, the guards pushed open the doors, and their eyes followed him as he walked through them. The doors slammed behind him, and he whirled around, startled. Blinking slightly off-balance, he frowned again. Biting his lip, Taizo turned and slowly walked down the long strip, heading towards the dais where his parents sat.

“Taizo.” His father’s voice boomed in the empty hall.

Swallowing, he bowed. “Father.”

“Do you know why you have been called here?”

Shaking his head, Taizo’s eyes moved to the dark corner on the right behind the dais as a slight movement caught his eye.

“It is time for you to answer your calling.”

Turning his attention to his father again, Taizo frowned. “My calling?”

His mother moved slightly, and Taizo glanced at her. “All our children undertake a task they must complete before they are considered for any role as a member of our court.”

His mouth turned downward, confused. Years ago, his mother had mentioned she would not send any more children to the mortal plane as living Gods, so what task did they have in mind for him? Taizo’s eyes moved again to the corner when his eldest brother stepped forward. He hissed under his breath. “Susanoo.”

His brother smirked mockingly. “You get to go to the mortal world, little brother.”

“Silence!” His father yelled, which caused both males to wince.

Taizo felt his eyes widen, and he turned his attention to his father. “That is my task? Going to the mortal world?”

His father’s eyes flashed in anger and demanded immediate silence. “You are to go to the mortal world to learn about compassion, patience, forgiveness, and love. You are being sent as a sentient being within one of the living creatures. If you should fail in these tasks, you will be stripped of your abilities and live your life as a mortal.”

Taizo swallowed. “You are telling me I must oversee this individual and teach him about honour while learning this myself? So if I fail this task, I never get to come home?”

His father nodded. “You are our second born, and we hold you in high standing, Taizo. This is no easy feat, but with your intelligence and wit, you should be able to complete this with little to no difficulties.”

Susanoo snorted.

Taizo shot his brother a glare. “Why now?”

“You are of an age now where you can stand at our sides confidently.” His mother smiled.

“And the others?” Taizo frowned.

“They will all be sent with their tasks and complete their mission when the time comes.”

“So, who do I go to?” Taizo swallowed again.

“We already have a family line picked out for you.” His father pushed to his feet and waved his son over to a large pool of water on the left of the dais.

Susanoo walked over, peered down into the pool, and snorted again. “Ridiculous. He won’t be able to handle them.”

Taizo bent over, started at the face, and looked up at his father, startled. “A youkai?”

His father nodded. “Youkai were once Gods, fallen to the mortal plane to live out their lives. Your siblings.”

“Their lives can stretch on for hundreds of years,” Taizo said. “Just how long am I going to be housed in these beings?”

“It will take as long as it must.” His father said bluntly. “When it is time, you will be called home and hear your results. Do not disappoint me, Taizo.”

Taizo sighed heavily.

Susanoo smirked and walked past him, whispering under his breath. “You will not succeed, little brother. Your failure will be remembered in these halls for years to come.”

Taizo growled softly. “We shall see, jackass.”

* * * *

Taizo stood silently in his chambers, wondering when he would be sent to the mortal plane or what was expected of him. Sure, he could see his parents reasoning behind it, but did he want to proceed with it? No. Shaking his head, he thought about the lives of all the creatures on the mortal plane, everything from humans to ants, and understood the importance of the lives there. Yet, why was it important for him to bear witness to it?

A knock at the door caused him to shake himself out of his thoughts. “Enter.”

The door opened quietly, and without turning, Taizo knew it was his mother.

“Are you almost ready?”

“I have no idea what I am getting ready for exactly.” Taizo sighed and sat down on the large bed. “What do I take with me? Anything?”

His mother laughed lightly. “No, my son. You are going to guide the one we have chosen for you. Youkai have been running rampant on the lands with no care for the lives they take or the chaos they create. You will be their spiritual guide to a higher life and thought.” She sat down next to him. “Taizo, it is important for you to understand that we do this so you can improve and stand with us. We do not do this as punishment.”

Taizo snorted. “I understand the reasoning behind it. Learning about emotions is important for any being. I don’t understand why I never heard about my other siblings ever being sent to the mortal plane, and nothing is documented.”

His mother laughed. “You are the first to be sent to the mortal plane as a sentient being, Taizo. With the loss of so many of my children, sending them as living Gods, I had to come up with another task to assign you and your siblings. We have high hopes for you and believe you can achieve any task while you are there.” She leaned over and whispered in his ear. “Besides, you are the most intelligent and the most practical of my sons.”

Taizo rolled his eyes and sighed. “Will I remember anything of my life here while I am there?”

“No, you will wake beside your tree of life, and it will guide you to your tasks. Listen to what it says, learn, grow, and trust your instincts. Many evils are on the mortal plane, and you will grow stronger as you learn to control your abilities and reflect on making choices.” His mother explained. “Your powers can remain locked with you, or you can teach your host how to control them as well as his own. They were Gods once, so their powers, although weakened, are still there.”

Taizo nodded but remained silent. His mother placed her hand on his shoulder and smiled. “There will be a dinner before you are sent on your mission.” Without another word, she left his room, leaving him alone again.

Taizo looked around his room, silently taking in everything he owned. It was large but simple with few furnishings. He liked the simplicity and glancing up to his roof, he took in the blue ocean he loved so much. Pushing to his feet with a sigh, Taizo stretched and walked to his wardrobe in the corner. He opened the oak doors and peered at the robes inside with his fingers rubbing his chin thoughtfully. What would he choose to wear for the evening family meal?

Reaching in, he pulled out a simple white robe with matching silk flowing pants and dressed quickly. Glancing down at himself he released a soft snort. He did not wish to dress in all ceremonies as only his family was in attendance, so with a quick shrug, he exited his chambers, wondering when he would see it again.

As he walked down the halls, he could hear his other siblings talking or laughing in another room, and Taizo poked his head around the corner to peer into one of the rooms. Taizo had good relationships with only a handful of his siblings and only one he confided in at any length. This was that brother’s room.

“Psst.” Taizo hissed quietly.

His brother turned with a raised brow and then broke out in a smile. “Yo.”

Taizo looked around the room quickly to make sure they were alone, then slipped through the doors. “Have you spoken with them yet?”

His brother frowned. “Not recently, no. Why? What’s up?”

Taizo grunted as he sat down on his brother’s bed. “They are sending me on a mission.”

“Oh?” His brother turned to stare at him. “For how long?”

Taizo shrugged. “I suppose until I complete the mission they wish me to complete.”

“What did they give you as an assignment?” His brother sat beside him on the bed.

Taizo shook his head.

“Pfft.” His brother stood up and snorted. “Ridiculous. If we manage to handle Susanoo, we can live as we see fit.” He shook his head. “Where are they sending you?”

Taizo snorted. “I am to go to the mortal plane.”

His brother stopped and blinked at him in stunned silence. “What?” He said in a disbelieving tone.

“You heard me baka.” Taizo pushed to his feet.

“Mother said she wouldn’t condemn her children as living Gods anymore.” Shuzo frowned.

“I am not going as a living God, Shuzo. I am being sent as a sentient being in a youkai of all people.”

Shuzo’s mouth dropped open. “Is that any better than being a living God? Now you have to worry about how this individual lives their life despite not dishonouring your own. They want us to rely on how this person will be in their life and how we handle it to ascend to our rightful places?”

Taizo nodded. “Mother has called us to a dinner, best if you get ready.”

Shuzo shook his head in disbelief.

Taizo exited his brother’s room and quickly went to the dining halls. As he rounded the corner, he was firmly gripped by the neck and slammed into the stone walls. He kicked and punched, choking against the vice grip.

Susanoo edged closer to his face and snarled. “Be careful, little brother; you might be in trouble should you stray from your task.”

Taizo choked and narrowed his eyes. He was unable to speak with the squeezing grip threatening to crush his windpipe.

“I would hate to find that you failed your task and met your end.” Susanoo laughed, releasing Taizo.

Taizo fell to the floor, coughing and hacking. Wheezing, he growled. “You would love that, I trust. Threatening your own will place you in a world of trouble with Father, should he catch wind of it. I would be mindful of what you say, Susanoo.”

“You should be mindful, little brother. It would be a shame for our parents to lose their second-born because he decided to be greedy with life.” Susanoo laughed menacingly as he strolled down the hall.

Taizo rubbed his bruised throat and narrowed his eyes. “Life?” He whispered. Pushing to his feet, he straightened his robes and continued down the halls quietly. As he walked to the dining halls, he could hear the laughter coming from the enclosed doors, and he allowed a brief smile to cross his lips. It would seem that his brothers and sisters had already arrived, and he was late as usual.

As soon as he approached the brilliant gold doors, the guards posted outside pushed them open, and all eyes turned to him.

“Ah, Taizo.” His father grinned. “Come sit by me.” He waved to the chair normally occupied by Susanoo, and Taizo felt his mouth drop open in surprise. The scowl from Susanoo was enough to send alarm bells ringing in his head.

Somehow, his closest brother had arrived before him, and Taizo smirked knowingly. His younger brother’s skills with shadow manipulation were always a mystery to him, but he still had yet to figure out how it was done. Taizo bowed to his father and mother before walking the table length to the seat his father waved at.

Glancing over at Susanoo, Taizo grinned, and his ice-blue eyes flashed with delight at the anger displayed on his eldest brother’s face.

* * * *

Taizo lay on the table as instructed by the maid and medical attendants silently, feeling nervous trepidation fill him as they began the ceremony of sending him to the mortal plane. Gulping, Taizo winced when the light in the room seemed to grow brighter until he had to clench his eyes shut to block it out. He wasn’t sure how long he was in that position, but he jerked, startled when he heard a faint voice whisper counterwords to what the maid and attendant were saying.

He opened his mouth to sound an alarm, but no words escaped. Startled, Taizo opened his eyes and looked at the women desperately. They didn’t seem to see him, and he swallowed the lump that formed in his throat.

“Good luck, little brother.” Susanoo’s voice filled his mind, and the next thing Taizo knew, he was sitting up in a bright white and blue field with a large tree beside him. Scrambling to his feet, Taizo looked around for anything familiar. Frowning, he scratched his head and took in the blue flowers scattering the surrounding area. The tree was a pale blue with icy tendrils flowing to the branches with darker blue leaves.

Taizo felt a strong pull from the tree and lifted his eyes to stare at it curiously.

* * * *

“I don’t know what happened, milady.” The maid protested. “We sent him to the individual you instructed us to, but that was not where he ended up.” The poor girl fell to her knees with tears running down her face.

“Where is he then?”

The attendant walked forward and shook her head. “His spirit went to a lesser being.”

“Show me.”

To say that they were angry would have been an understatement. The Father was furious, and the Mother was livid and filled with a white-hot rage that didn’t seem to quench with any spoken word.

The father took one look into the pool and then stormed out of the room in a fit of rage while the mother went pale. “How did this happen?”

The attendant shook her head. “I am uncertain. How shall we proceed?”

“We can’t pull him from his host as that might reflect badly upon him. He will have to remain where he is.” The mother said mournfully. “I fear this host will be the downfall of my son.” Without another word, she turned and left the room.

* * * *

Taizo placed his hand on the trunk of the tree and jerked back startled when whispered words filled his head. Blinking surprised, Taizo glanced around him curiously, knowing he was alone, but uncertain as to where he was exactly. Putting his hand back onto the tree, his mouth dropped open.

‘You are my tree of life?’ Taizo frowned when his words filled the area, but were not spoken.

The feelings from the tree urged him to walk down the river to a darker space just over the horizon.

‘You’re certain?’ Taizo asked incredulously. Shaking his head, Taizo followed the bright crystal river to the indicated spot and he swallowed when the area grew darker and darker the closer he got to the section.

Casting a quick look over his shoulder to the tree, he stepped into the dark and blinked several times for his vision to adjust to the difference in light. Inside the dark, he could make out a large pool and a tree sitting on a small island in the middle of said pool. Furrowing his brow, Taizo glanced around at the faint shadows of trees, and the dark shadow of what could only be called earth beneath his feet.

Lifting his face he frowned at the faint flickering of stars he could barely make out. He remembered being somewhere else, but now he was in this space, yet he had no idea how he came to be here. Shaking his head, Taizo felt a strong pull from the tree in the middle of the pool and he furrowed his brow, taking a step toward it. The minute his foot hit the water, the breath in his lungs rushed out and caused him to fall to his knees.

He placed his hand on his forehead and swallowed, his heart beating irregularly in his chest. ‘Oie.’ He breathed. The pull from the tree as a white swirling mist surrounding him caused Taizo to stumble to his feet shocked. His equilibrium all thrown out of whack, Taizo stumbled through the water and finally managed to make it to the tree which was vibrating desperately. ‘By the Gods, will you hold on a second!’ He snapped.

Stepping onto the small island where the tree was situated, Taizo walked unsteadily to the tree and finally placed his hand on the trunk. Wincing against the sharp shrill from the tree, Taizo growled annoyed.

The tree pulsed and Taizo whirled around when he felt a presence appear behind him. Snarling in warning, Taizo blinked at the small child who stood quivering in the pool, staring in awe. Stopping, and standing upright, Taizo frowned. ‘Who are you?’

The boy shook with wide eyes. “Who are you?” He repeated Taizo’s question.

He winced at the loud voice of the small child. ‘I suppose I am your spirit.’ Taizo frowned.

“I wasn’t here before though, nor were you.” The child placed his hands on his hips, annoyed.

‘I am aware.’ Taizo snorted. ‘How old are you?’

“If you’re my spirit, you should know.” The boy said arrogantly.

Taizo narrowed his eyes. ‘Should I now?’ He walked over to the small boy and glared down at the little face that twisted to look up at him.

The boy nodded. “Yes, if you’re my spirit, you should know everything about me.”

Taizo snorted. ‘Seeing as this is the first time a sentient being has been given to one such as yourself, there is much we both do not understand.’

“I am the first youkai with a spirit?” The boy blinked at him.

‘Sentient being, yes. I am a spirit gifted to you by the gods.’

The boy narrowed his eyes. “The gods, pfft.” He snorted.

Taizo raised a brow. ‘Is that so difficult to believe?’

Nodding, the boy walked towards the island with the tree but Taizo immediately stepped in his way. ‘This is my domain, pup.’

“Isn’t this my body?”

Taizo narrowed his eyes. ‘This may be your body, but this area is mine. I control everything here, including your blood flow, your memories, and your basic bodily functions.’

“You didn’t control them before.” The boy squared off with Taizo defiantly.

‘I control them now because you were too young before.’ Taizo snarled, now getting irritated.

“Too young my ass. I am an adult.”

‘Now you are, hence why I have been awakened within you. Now we can work together to allow you to grow into an honorable individual.’ Taizo sighed heavily.

“Honorable? Where have you been? All youkai are evil and seek power and dominance.” The boy laughed. “Clearly, you have no knowledge. Maybe I was gifted to you to enlighten you.”

With an aggravated snarl, Taizo flicked his hand to the side and sent the boy flying backward into the pools, flat on his back. ‘Gifted to me?’ Taizo snorted.

The boy tried to get onto his feet, but Taizo placed his hands together whispering under his breath. Immediately, the small boy grunted when he was planted firmly in the water on his back. Taizo walked over and peered down at the boy.

‘You are a youkai, I am your spirit. I control what abilities you will eventually acquire and possibly master so you can grow. These abilities are from me, gifted to you. So don’t be so presumptuous in thinking you are above me.’ Taizo snarled. ‘If I so choose, I can leave you to your own devices, and face the world alone without my assistance, however, doing so would dishonor my family. So, in turn, it would dishonor your ancestors and you will not ascend to where they reside. You would fall and die in body and mind.’

The boy swallowed wide-eyed. “You are keeping me unable to move?”

Taizo smirked. ‘Yes, now if you don’t mind. Leave this place. As I stated, this is my domain and I have work to do.’

Taizo watched as the boy left the pool warily, his eyes watching his every move. Once alone, though, Taizo could see and hear everything from the boy’s perspective. It was an unnerving situation that he wasn’t at all thrilled about. Furrowing his brow, he thought about why he was a sentient being and not an actual living form. Why would the gods allow his powers to be used by a youkai? Shaking his head, Taizo turned to the boy’s tree and placed his hand on the trunk. It felt as though this particular host was going to be quite the challenge, and it was not something he was looking forward to.