Shadows of the Reborn

Chapter Four

Shadows of Enticement

He had come to know the boy, who had decided to name himself Hiroji. Taizo had borne witness to the boy’s adult name being Hachirou, but according to his host, it was a juvenile name that wasn’t worthy of his coming greatness. For two years, Taizo had to endure his host’s diluted thoughts on how he was going to take over the world and become the greatest youkai to ever live. Hiroji had very few friends and even his parents had given up on the boy’s thoughts of grandeur. With his ultimate plan set into motion, Hiroji had packed up his belongings and left home without a second look.

Unfortunately, Taizo had no choice but to go with the immature youth. Sighing aggravated, Taizo leaned against the tree and watched Hiroji attempt to make a name for himself. That had been roughly five years ago, and Taizo was at his wits end with the youth. There had been countless confrontations which all led to the boy being chased off and humiliated. The last encounter had left Hiroji seriously injured, resulting in Taizo having to explain how things worked. It was no surprise that the words had gone in one ear and out the other, and now the latest event was Hiroji sneaking into human villages stealing food or treasures that could be traded for wares.

The boy had whined and moaned about his injuries giving false promises that he would never do it again if Taizo healed his wounds, but no surprise to the spirit, Hiroji was at it again. Taizo rolled his eyes as he watched Hiroji slip through the cloth tent and pilfer several shiny items and a bag he stuffed with food. It certainly did not go without notice and soon, Hiroji was surrounded by several angry humans.

Either the youth was born without a functioning brain, or he just chose to be stupid. Swearing under his breath, Taizo stood and muttered, ‘You’re an idiot.’

“Excuse me?” Hiroji shouted, which caused the humans to stare at him in confusion.

Taizo snorted. ‘What did you expect would happen slipping into the human’s establishment?’

“I have as much right to the stuff as they do.” Hiroji snapped out loud which probably looked ridiculous to the human’s gathering in the small tent structure.

‘Do you?’ Taizo scoffed. ‘The humans built that home, and worked for their possessions, and you assume you have a right to steal it?’

“Shut up. What do you know?” Hiroji said.

‘Do you think I’ve been sleeping this entire time? I have watched everything you have done since I woke up in the pools. You certainly have not proven to be worthy of advancement, let alone having any assistance from me.’ Taizo rolled his eyes. ‘They hunt you down because you took what does not belong to you. You have no rights to their property. Gain your own, and then you can defend it.’

Hiroji ignored what Taizo said, and the spirit turned to the tree, frustrated. ‘What would you do?’

The tree remained silent while Taizo stared at it, but as soon as he turned his back, he felt a small tingle on his neck. Lifting a brow, he glanced at the tree confused. Shrugging it off as a figment of his imagination, he watched Hiroji fight against the humans and get chased off, injured yet again. ‘Fool.’ He scoffed, rolling his eyes. It wasn’t the first time his host had been injured, nor did he suspect it would be his last. This time, however, he decided not to intervene and leave his host to deal with his injuries.

“What are you doing?” Hiroji moaned as he crawled into a narrow cave.

‘Nothing.’ Taizo said, sitting and leaning against the trunk of the tree.

“Then heal my injuries,” Hiroji demanded.

Taizo snorted, ‘I think not. You haven’t learned from the other times and ignore everything I tell you. Why should I use my energy to heal your injuries?’

“So you’re going to let me die?” Hiroji snapped.

‘Oh, stop being a sissy. Your injuries are minor scratches. You will not die from them.’ Taizo rolled his eyes.

“You’re useless.” Hiroji moaned pitifully.

Taizo sighed and closed his eyes, listening to the moaning from his host. As soon as his eyes slipped closed, he saw images of himself not as a spirit within his host, but saw himself living his host’s life, and he frowned. A soft voice entered his head, a luring and velvety tone suggesting the possibilities of a life he could have.

Alarm bells rang in his head as his eyes snapped open. Breathing heavily, Taizo glanced around the pools. Furrowing his brow, he lifted his gaze to the tree and silently wondered if it had planted those images in his head. Now that they were there, it was impossible to dislodge them. That voice had him breathless. Would it be possible for him to have a life of his own? Was that why he had been sent to this idiotic individual in the first place? Had the Gods foreseen what a humiliating youkai he was? Or was this a test laid out before him to see what his choice would be? If Taizo continued to reside within this host, his position would be threatened and he would never be able to return home, wherever that was.

Taizo paced back and forth in front of the tree as his mind raced with possibilities. Could he amend Hiroji’s reputation? Would he be able to turn this youkai’s life around? What would happen to Hiroji’s soul if Taizo decided to take over the life of his host? Thinking intently, Taizo realized he didn’t care if Hiroji died or survived. During the years he spent as a sentient being with the youth, he found this individual completely moronic. That left Taizo having the same reputation and one that could quite possibly be irreparable should he have to face his makers in the end.

Shaking his head, he tried to dislodge those images but now he longed for that life. Could he do it without repercussions? He had seen the joy in Hiroji as he sunk his teeth into a fresh bore and experienced the pleasure of a female through his host. Rather than feeling it all second-hand, could Taizo experience it as his host rather than a sentient being? Growling, Taizo turned to the tree accusingly. ‘Was this your doing?’

The tree remained motionless, and Taizo stomped away frustrated. If he were to contemplate this, he would have to plan for it to work. Being reckless could result in his death, too, not just Hiroji’s. Was he considering killing his host so he could steal his life? Shaking his head furiously, Taizo had just scolded Hiroji for stealing from the humans.

Snorting indignantly, Taizo knew he would face all kinds of challenges with his host, not only trying to keep the youth alive long enough for him to have children so that he could pass on to them should Hiroji die, but his host currently was the laughing stock of his entire clan he had joined a few years back. At the rate his host was going, Hiroji would die before he met anyone who could tolerate his idiocy to even bear his children. None of the clan members could tolerate Hiroji, which meant that Taizo’s reputation was also at risk. The youkai of the clan all had spirits of their own, and even though it was still a new prospect for the youkai, Hiroji was the only one who had not used any sort of powers from his spirit.

Shuddering at the thought of the other spirit’s opinion of him, Hiroji was weak which led everyone to assume that his inner spirit was also weak. Despite this, however, Taizo was not willing to lend the idiotic youth any powers to enhance his chances, especially seeing as the youth didn’t learn from his mistakes.

Groaning, Taizo looked down at his feet as he thought more about taking on his host’s life. He was stronger, and far more intelligent so perhaps he could do it without anyone knowing. Shaking his head, Taizo wiggled his nose. It was distasteful to even contemplate such a thing, wasn’t it?

He glanced out of the pools and saw his host sleeping fitfully, as though the tiny scratches he had received from the humans were serious injuries. Looking over his shoulder to look at the tree, Taizo saw nothing of great concern. Was his host really that weak? Did that mean that he was also weak? Shaking his head in disapproval, Taizo placed his hand on the tree and closed his eyes, allowing some energy to flood from him into the tree. He wasn’t willing to heal his host, especially as his host hadn’t learned from the previous fights, but he could help heal the tree.

* * * *

Shuzo

Walking to his room, he sighed heavily. His parents had informed his siblings and him earlier that they would all be assigned tasks within the next few years. To the God’s a few years were mere months. His parents explained that it would be a few individuals at a time leaving on their journeys to gain enlightenment, experience and learn compassion and patience. Rolling his eyes, Shuzo recalled hearing that these were tasks that would eventually lead up to their ascending to stand beside the other Gods and have the right to stand beside their parents as gods themselves. Shaking his head, he pushed open his door as he reflected on the announcement.

There had been a lot of arguments and questions concerning their tasks. Some had even questioned where their older brother was. Snorting, everyone knew they were asking about Taizo and not Susanoo. Their eldest brother, Susanoo was a jackass and one who felt he was above everyone else and thus felt as though he did not have to complete their parent’s assignments. In truth, even their parents had mentioned that Susanoo would not take part in the assignment. There had been no further discussion concerning Susanoo and his tasks, but Susanoo had stated arrogantly that he was above his other siblings had didn’t have to partake in the humiliating task of living as sentient beings.

Their parents were quite capable of defending themselves and did not need to have guards or handmaids, but they kept the guards around more for appearance’s sake than for protection,

Sitting on his bed, he knew that Taizo had already embarked on his assignment, and now Shuzo felt very alone. Of all their brothers and sisters, Taizo was the first one he would go to if he had a problem that needed to be sorted through. There were thousands of years of an age gap between them, but he was the most level-headed.

The arguments that had been spurred once their parents had left the royal halls had been great and now his head thrummed slightly from the ringing it had caused. Shuzo preferred peace and quiet. He was not one to jump into a spat to try and diffuse the situation, he would rather just slip into the shadows and do his best to remain out of anyone’s focus. Despite that, he was assigned a family of youkai and would be scheduled to arrive in the healing halls in four years to embark on his journey.

A knock at his door caused him to look up and raise a brow. Normally, it was Taizo who would wander to his room and usually, they would talk well into the early hours of the morning, laughing, teasing, or just being silly. Frowning, Shuzo stood up and opened the door to peer into the eyes of another of his brothers. Smirking, he stepped to the side and allowed his younger brother in. He felt that this must have been the same way Taizo felt whenever Shuzo appeared in his room unannounced, and he rolled his eyes.

“What brings you here?” Shuzo asked, closing his door. He turned to face Ahi, a small sibling with brilliant silver hair and almost haunting grey eyes.

“I don’t know. For some reason, this feels very abrupt and not at all planned out.”

“You realize that Mother and Father have been planning something along this line for centuries, right?” Shuzo smirked. “Ever since our other brothers and sisters were not able to accomplish being spiritual beings on the mortal plane and lost their way.”

“Did Taizo know?” Ahi leaned against the wall.

“No. I think Susanoo knew, though. He seems to be poking his nose into all our affairs lately.”

“He wants this. Susanoo wants us out of the way so we don’t converse with Mother or Father because he feels we could sway any of their decisions.”

“Of course he does. It is what he does.” Shuzo sighed and waved at the chairs by his hearth. “Unfortunately, we do not have a say in any of this.”

Ahi grunted softly as he seated himself in the plush chair. “Did Taizo already embark on his journey?”

Shuzo nodded his head. “I do not think it went as well as Mother first thought, though.”

Ahi raised a brow. “Oh?”

“She was outraged after they returned from the healing halls.”

“Is that where we are taken before we are sent to the mortal plane?” Ahi blinked at Shuzo curiously.

Shuzo raised a brow. “Were you not paying attention? We are no longer going to the mortal plane in a physical form. We are being sent as sentient beings within a mortal on the mortal plane.”

Ahi’s mouth dropped open. “You are joking.”

Shuzo shook his head. “I am not.”

“So we rely on someone else to help us accomplish our tasks? How is that possible?” Ahi’s face had gone pale with dread.

“I have no idea.”

“I think I would rather take my chances on the mortal plane guarding a temple for the humans than have some random living creature dictate how my future will go.” Ahi groaned.

Shuzo grunted softly. His eyes peered into the fire, silently agreeing with what his brother was saying, but their parents had even said years ago that they would no longer allow their children to live as living Gods in the physical realm. “If you think about it, we relied on the humans when we guarded their temples. What happened to the living Gods guarding them if the humans didn’t pray at the shrines?”

Ahi closed his eyes with a sigh. “I know, but at least then we could plead our case with the humans or do something to get them to return and pray.”

“I suppose it is no different than living as a greater being within a mortal.” Shuzo gave Ahi a half smile. “Now, if we weren’t allowed to converse with the mortal we would be residing in, that would be a complicated situation.”

Ahi lifted a brow and glanced at Shuzo. “So we are allowed to talk with our host then?”

“As far as I am aware, yes.” Shuzo nodded. “I overheard Mother speaking to Father about it before they sent Taizo.”

Ahi narrowed his eyes at his brother. “What else have you heard?”

Shuzo smirked. “Do you really want to know?”

The look Ahi gave him made him snicker. “Come, we need a place where we don’t have unwanted ears listening in.”

* * * *© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

Taizo

Growling for the hundredth time, he finally threw up his hands in aggravation. ‘Will you cease your incessant bickering?’

“Can’t you see that my leg is still messed up from those blasted humans?” Hiroji snapped out loud. It had been yet another encounter with a mob of lesser youkai he decided to face off against and once again was chased off with his tail between his legs. Taizo rolled his eyes at the pun. His host was a monkey beast, scrawny in stature with unkempt brown hair that was greasy from his lack of bathing. Apparently, bathing was just not his host’s focus and the smell was beginning to waft into the pools.

Taizo ignored his host by closing the communication portal that resided in the pools. For weeks, Hiroji moaned and groaned over the tiny scratches he had received after his confrontation with the beasts, and Taizo had had enough. At least he was able to close off the perpetual dissenting Hiroji did. Crossing his arms over his chest, Taizo furrowed his brow, wondering if he could still access the first place he had encountered when he had arrived. He needed an escape from the rancid smell that seemed more intense for some reason.

His memory recalled the large white tree with bright blue leaves and the field that it dwelled in. It had been his tree of life, much like the tree that sat before him that belonged to his host. Hiroji was more of a hassle, yet that irritation prevented him from abandoning his host altogether. Taizo was pretty certain that if he did abandon his host, whoever sent him as a sentient being into this existence would be furious. He shivered at the mere thought.

Shaking his head, Taizo turned away from the tree, recalling that soft, alluring voice that had planted the possibility of him having his own life by taking his hosts being attainable. Growling in frustration, Taizo walked to the point of the pools where he had entered years ago before he had first met Hiroji. His eyes made out the slight wavering point that indicated his exit, and he slipped through the portal as quietly as possible.

Wincing at the brilliant light, Taizo adjusted his eyes before entering the field. He could see his tree in the distance and frowned; he didn’t remember it being so far away. From where he stood, it looked as though it was miles away. He glanced around him as he took slow, calculated steps toward his tree, hoping to conversate with it. He wanted to know if there was that possibility of a life. Taizo had resided within Hiroji for twenty years and found this immature youth rather exhausting.

Rolling his eyes, it didn’t take Taizo as long as he had first thought to reach his tree, and he stared up at it curiously before reaching his hand out to touch the trunk. Immediately, it flared to life and seemed to purr in delight at his touch. ‘Miss me?’ Taizo smirked.

The tree vibrated in response.

Taizo grinned. ‘Can you tell me about this voice I heard?’ He closed his eyes as he listened to the vibrations from the tree. They weren’t desperate as in a warning but soft and soothing. It was almost as though the tree encouraged what the voice had told him. ‘Seriously? Are you saying it is acceptable for me to overtake my host? What about the ones who sent me here?’

The tree hummed softly.

Taizo frowned. ‘I remember being told to be honourable and compassionate. This is far from that. It would be me killing my host.’

His tree thrummed in response, which caused Taizo to chuckle. ‘I know he isn’t honourable, but that doesn’t mean I can’t be.’

The vibration from the tree intensified slightly as though mocking Taizo.

‘Okay, okay. I get it. He is a bit of an idiot. What would happen to his soul if I do this?’ Taizo rolled his eyes, pacing back and forth.

What the tree told him caused his blood to run cold, and he shivered. ‘The spirit realm?’ Why was that word so familiar?

Furrowing his brows, Taizo stopped to stare at his tree of life. ‘You wouldn’t allow me to stray from my duties, would you? I also don’t believe you would be malicious.’ With a heavy sigh, Taizo felt a strong pulling from the direction his host’s pools sat.

The tree urged him to answer the call, explaining that until his host was no longer and Taizo had taken the life, that pull would continue. With a heavy sigh, Taizo reluctantly moved away from his tree, his eyes scanning the brightly lit area with a slight tinge of jealousy. The dark pools of his host were dreary and depressing compared to the open field filled with color that surrounded him now. When he looked through his host’s eyes, all he saw for miles were the colors he wished the pools had.

Sadly, he walked through the portal entering his host’s pools and walked over to the tree that vibrated in the middle of the small island. Taizo allowed his gaze to scan the area around him; all he could see were shadows. He could see shadows of trees all around him, faint and out of focus. Dark rippling water surrounded the small island he stood on, shallow and yet he could not see the bottom. To him, the pools looked like a dark slick oil patch, not water, yet the tree of his host had informed him on that first day that the pools were his host’s lifeblood. Maybe that was why he was unable to see the bottom. Shaking his head, Taizo placed his hand on the dark trunk of Hiroji’s tree and soothed its frantic calling.

‘I swear you are just as annoying as your host.’ Taizo snorted.

The tree pulsed slightly in response, feeling Taizo’s sadness. Through those feelings, the tree could tell that this sentient being was powerful and intelligent. Something was causing this spiritual being irritation, and yet it could not quite put its thoughts into words. It had heard the whispers of a woman from earlier, soft and alluring, urging the spiritual being to rid itself of its annoying host and take over the life of Hiroji. Was it possible for this sentient being to do so? Could this enable the tree to hold a powerful host rather than the one it had been granted? Would the tree be allowed to continue being the life force of the sentient being if it came down to it?

All these questions filtered from the tree into Taizo and the spiritual being glanced at it with a raised brow. ‘Why are you asking me? I thought you were the one with all the answers.’ Taizo scoffed. ‘All I can recall is being in one place and then I woke up in the other realm with my own tree of life. You know all this.’

* * * *

Shuzo

Alarm bells rang in his head and he shot up in his bed breathing heavily. Something was wrong and it caused him a great amount of anxiety. Glancing around his room, trying to get his breathing under control, Shuzo sucked his breath in sharply as his eyes caught a faint shadow slip out the window. Narrowing his eyes, he scrambled from his bed and ran to the window leaning out haphazardly, trying to find the intruder.

Turning from the window, Shuzo tugged open his door and whistled a sharp alarm to the guards. It took only a fraction of a second when the hall was filled with guards, demanding an explanation. “There was an intruder in my room.” Shuzo snapped. For as long as he could remember, the walls of his parent’s house were impenetrable. Nothing should have been able to sneak through the gates, let alone his parent’s home.

Immediately, Shuzo was surrounded by an army of guards, and the commanders entered his room. Escorted to safety, Shuzo rolled his eyes as they searched every inch of his room, only finding small traces of debris. Once his room had been searched, his father’s general walked out and looked down at the more petite God before glancing at the guards under his command.

“The walls have been breached. Search the area.” He commanded.

Several guards slipped away without another word before the general looked back to Shuzo. “Come, let us inform your parents.”

Shuzo lifted a brow. “What of the others? I can’t be the only one who this happened to.”

“My men are already on it.” The general chuckled. “The whole house will be searched.”

Shuzo nodded and followed the large, towering God Hachiman. He was also a sibling, but he was far older than any of his siblings could comprehend. Slight hints indicated that he was perhaps his father’s brother. Either way, they were all kin, meaning they were all protected the same. Once at the large golden gates of the hall, the doors were pushed open, and Shuzo and Hachiman entered.

The halls were quiet and dimly lit, causing Shuzo to move carefully. He knew instinctively that the shadows could be dangerous, especially to one who was unaware of their surroundings. Scanning the dark corners, his attention was stolen when he heard his father’s voice. “What brings you both to the halls this morning?”

Hachiman bowed and his large spear tapped the floor with a soft ting. “There has been an intruder. My men are searching the grounds, but this one here was the one who alerted us to its presence.” Shuzo was pushed forward.

Glaring at the large commander, Shuzo was about to say something to the large, towering beast before snapping his attention to his father when he cleared his throat.

“What sort of intruder, my son?”

Shuzo bowed his head before he spoke. “It was a shadow, father. Somehow, it slipped into my chambers before I was woken and vanished out the window.”

“A shadow fiend?” Hachiman growled.

His father frowned. “There hasn’t been any sign of a shadow fiend in centuries.”

“That doesn’t mean they are not still present.”

Takamimusubi snarled in irritation. “I want every inch of this house and grounds searched. Keep me informed.”

Shuzo watched the large, towering beast walk out of the golden halls before turning his attention back to his father. “A shadow fiend?”

Takamimusubi nodded. “The same creature that killed your blood father and your siblings. This same creature that has hunted the eclipse kind since the dawn of time. An evil that lurks in shadows and is nothing more than that. If it has returned, your life is in grave danger.”

Shuzo gave an impulsive shudder. “How do you fight such a creature?”

Takamimusubi gave his head a shake. “You don’t, my son. If it has returned, it must be banished to the depths of the spirit realm. A place where all lost souls and evil are imprisoned.”

“Where has it been all this time?” Shuzo asked.

“I suspect it was lost in the great, vast depths of space. It could have been lurking nearby, but you must remain cautious now that it has resurfaced. This will speed up your descent to the mortal plane.”

Shuzo gave a start. “Would I not be better protected here?”

Takamimusubi shook his head. “Here you are in your physical form, Shuzo. If we send you to the mortal plane, your soul will be there while your physical form remains here, under strict observation.” With a smile, he continued. “Your mother watches over everything in the halls of sleep.”

The instant relief that washed over him caused him to smile. “When will this happen?”

Takamimusubi grinned. “Later today, Shuzo.”

Shuzo’s eyes almost bugged out of his head. “That soon?” He exclaimed.

“Yes.” Takamimusubi waved his hand. “Now go enjoy some breakfast before we have you depart.”

Shuzo’s shoulders slumped in defeat. Once his father made a decision, there was no changing his mind. Turning and walking back to his chambers, Shuzo felt the presence of guards behind him. Until the time he would leave, Shuzo would be heavily guarded. With a sigh, Shuzo slipped into the kitchen and grabbed himself some food before going back to his room. It now had him thinking that perhaps it would have been better not to say anything at all to the guards, but it was too late to change that now.

* * * *

Taizo had made his choice, and now it was only a matter of time before making his move. It had taken six years for him to finally make up his mind, and after many discussions with his tree and Hiroji’s tree, his mind had been made up. All he needed now was the perfect opportunity to set his plan in motion. He needed to wait until Hiroji was in the middle of a fight, distracted and then receiving an injury for Taizo to swap places with his host. It was a perfect plan that just needed the ideal scenario to be set in motion.

Yet, as the weeks rushed by, he began to get impatient. His host was not being cooperative in the slightest, driving Taizo to madness. Clenching his fists, Taizo paced back and forth frantically, thinking of how he could move this along faster. At this rate, Taizo might wait a decade before his host got into more conflicts with the humans. Shaking his head, Taizo peered through his host’s eyes to look at Hiroji’s surroundings.

On the left, Taizo could see a small human village and with a spark of hope, he pushed desire through the tree to Hiroji. He could set the game piece into place if he played his cards right. His heart twittered in his chest as the thought of having his own life came to light.

Hiroji glanced over at the human village, and Taizo grinned widely. But Hiroji seemed to hesitate.

‘I thought you liked causing issues for the humans.’ Taizo interjected.

Hiroji coughed, “You still live.”

Taizo rolled his eyes. ‘If I die, you die, dumbass.’

“So you’re telling me it is okay to invade the humans?” Hiroji snorted.

‘That is entirely up to you. I am only surprised you would forgo the opportunity to sneak into their village when it didn’t bother you in prior years.’ Taizo smirked.

“Maybe I am starting to listen to you.” Hiroji scoffed.

Taizo almost groaned in frustration. What a time for his host to listen to his wisdom from years ago. How would he convince his host actually to start a conflict, especially seeing as he was silent for the majority of Hiroji’s life? ‘You do know they are starting to interfere in the spirit’s lives, which means it is only a matter of time before you are found out.’

Hiroji paused and glanced back at the village. “So what do you suggest?”

Taizo grinned. ‘It is your choice, I do not make them for you.’

“I am asking for your advice. The clan is talking about lesser apparitions being targeted and killed. You suspect that humans did this?” Hiroji sighed heavily.

‘Maybe not this particular group, but definitely humans. Were you not paying attention during the clan meeting?’ Taizo closed one eye and pondered that piece of information. ‘Your clan leader did say that he wanted them hunted down and brought before him.’

“Noriaki is an idiot.” Hiroji scoffed.

Taizo almost chuckled, thinking, ‘And you’re not?’

Hiroji turned and headed toward the human establishment. “Well, we may as well burn some energy. Are you going to lend a hand this time?”

Taizo grinned wider. ‘Of course.’ His voice oozed honey.