It was a stormy night with heavy rain and thunder that makes the house rumble as if the sky was unleashing its wrath on men. On that night Sakata was sleeping on the sofa dreaming about the same dream ever since that day.
He was trembling and mumbling 'No' now and then till thunder woke him up searching his surroundings. He took a minute to process where he was and what he had dreamt of. He glared at the roof wondering why this dream is haunting him when a man came downstairs worried.
"Why are you still awake? Is something wrong?" the man asked
Sakata "It seems that I dozed off here and the thunder woke me up"
The man "You're shaking. Are you cold? Do you want me to make you something?"
Sakata "No, thank you dad I am alright. I will go to my room now"
His father sat next to him caressing his head "The same dream?" ., Sakata nodded.
His father looked at him examining him and for a solid moment of silence then said "I am leaving today with your uncle "
"Which one ?"
"The only one who doesn't want to kill me !"
Sakata grined "The usual one "
"Yeah, the usual one "
he seemed burdened by something so Sakata asked "Is everything, alright dad ?"
His father looked at him with his emerald eyes that resemble an ocean. He looked sad but spoke nothing for a while then said "I sometimes forget how much you've grown Sakata. It seems like it was only yesterday when I first knew I am going to be a father. Although I wasn't that happy, still I was happy to be one thanks to you "
Sakata was confused and said "Now that was odd"
His father laughed and said "Yeah, you are right it was "
He gazed at the wall saying " Sakata my boy it's time. The time had come for you to know everything! "
Sakata was amazed he sat straight to hear what his father was going to say but then there was a loud thud.
He woke up finding himself on the floor of his room realizing it was a dream.
He sighed and sat for a moment on the floor looking aimlessly at the window. It was morning partly cloudy, he went to the bathroom and drifted away while brushing his teeth. He remembered that he was in the living room last night and didn't recall when he came here. He finished everything quickly, got dressed, and went downstairs.
"Why the rush ?! Going somewhere?" Said his uncle.
Sakata asked, "Did you see dad?"
"In his room, why?"
"Nothing"., said Sakata while sitting at the kitchen table
His uncle looked worried at him but Sakata ignored not lifting his head from his plate. His uncle was keen and wise, he is tall black-haired, with green eyes, and pale skin. his name was Mika.
Mika poured tea to Sakata and went next to the stairs and cried "Wake up sleeping beauty!., Don't you have a place to go today?!"
"I'm coming! "., said Sakata's father as he was walking downstairs, Mika argued "No need to hurry, eat something before you leave"
"I won't leave in a hurry this time"., He went and got himself a cup of tea then sat beside Sakata. Mika was confused "What do you mean?., Are you waiting for someone?"
"Yes, I am!"
"Who ?"
"Settsu"
Mika was amazed "Pardon, Settsu?., On this particular day?., And where are you two heading ?"
"To the great tree"
Sakata looked between the two of them and saw the difference between their temper, his father was so calm but Mika seemed to be flaming. There was a moment of silence before Mika started to raise the tone of his voice "What in the seven heavens are you planning to do?., Just take him there so he can find out about everything we worked so hard to keep hidden. Are you joking?!., And on this particular day. What would you think his reaction is going to be after he finds out about the truth, huh?!... He will kill you and me, and what if he told his other family members?., They will burn us alive and that will leave Sakata as soon as they find out about..." he stopped speaking before he was going to say something he would regret in the future. On the other hand, Sakata's father was so calm and continued drinking his tea till it ran out. He put his cup on the table and said quietly "The time has come Mika. You and I both know that"., Mika said nothing he simply just turned around and went to drink water.
He sat down looking at Sakata who was very confused and said "What shall we do now?"
"What we've always prepared ourselves for"
"You seem prepared, but I am more frightened about what is going to happen next"
"Don't be frightened! We can do this "., said Sakata's father calmly smiling faintly to comfort him. Sakata looked at his father's smile which was so warm and friendly, yet he seemed determined and strong-willed. He is such a graceful man with pale skin that resembles Mika, his emerald eyes are so fascinating like no other being has the same as his, his black hair was long reaching lips and he seemed a very sad man but full of wisdom. His name was Shettsu.
Mika "I hate you. You know that right?"
Shettsu in a sarcastic tone "You keep reminding me every single day "
He turned at Sakata and asked, "Going somewhere?"
Sakata "Yeah the library. Why?"
Shettsu "Is it necessary to go there today?"
Sakata "Kind of. Why are you taking me with you? "
Shettsu "Why would I do that I am not that stupid!"
Sakata "Well then it is necessary to go to the library!"
Shettsu "You aren't going to find anything there! All the records were burned"
Sakata "So we did talk last night"
Shettsu sighed then said "You had another block out"
Sakata "Maybe"
Mika "What records?"
Shettsu "Isn't it obvious?., He is going there to find some answers"
Mika "What the hell are you planning up to now boy?"
Sakata quietly said "History research! If that is forbidden for me to do as well why would you sign me into school then ?"
Mika narrowed his eyes, he was going to say something but Sakata was saved by the door knocking. It was such a big relief since Sakata is a terrible liar he just prayed that he maybe succeeded in deceiving them once.
Mika went to open the door and greeted the men who were standing there inviting them indoors. It was Settsu (Sakata's uncle, from his mother's side ) and his son Mano ( Sakata's best and only friend).
Settsu "Long time no see Mika!., How things are going for you?"
"Quite hard actually"
Settsu "Yeah it's hard to raise one child but you've got two!., My god, I can feel you"
Shettsu "Well that is such kind words from you old friend. How things are going back there with Hiro?"
Settsu shudder a bit and said "Don't remind me. It keeps getting worse every day. Things are changing and not for the good I tell you"
Mika "Yeah, I heard that they had made demonstrations against us"
Settsu "Let's just hope that they will be convinced after the conference"
Shettsu "Nah they won't"
There was a sudden silence when Shettsu broke it off "Well then let's go, shall we"
Settsu "Yeah better go soon so we can go back quickly"
Settsu went out to his car and Mika whispered to Shettsu "Where did you tell him that you are going to?"
Shettsu whispered back " To the great tree"
Shettsu went after Settsu to the car and they both left. Mika stood staring at them as they went on and slammed the door once they went far away from sight. He turned at Mano and asked, "Did you eat your breakfast boy?"
Mano "Yes I did "
Mika "Do you like to eat more?"
Mano "No thank you"
Mika smiled coldly and said, "So I heard from Sakata that you have history research and you need to go to the library to do it. Is that true?"
Mano looked confused a bit he looked at Sakata and understood then spoke in a disgusted tone "My God!., Why did you remind me of it!., It's so damn boring, just imagine that we have to write twelve pages about some silly war that happened between two tribes over a ridiculous reason". He sounded convincing that Mika took a minute to think before he spoke "Why don't you use the internet?"
Mano sarcastically "The teacher wanted us to go and do our research from a book that smells so old and dusty as he described it"
Mika "Well then I cannot stop you go to the library and finish before sunset and if you were late for a minute I will eat you alive, Understood?"
Both Mano and Sakata "Yes sir!"
Mika "Then off you go now"
They both went out quickly before he changes his mind once they were out he sat on the sofa to rest for a minute looking thoughtfully at the roof, he thought of the possibilities of what is going to happen next.
Meanwhile, Sakata and Mano were sprinting toward the library.
Mano "Why are we going to the library?"
Sakata "To find answers. Dad said something to me last night but I had another block out"
Mano "What are we searching for?"
Sakata "Everything "
Mano stopped walking and said "What? We spoke about that already Sakata. You can't do that. Not until they tell you themselves"
Sakata "Look Mano I trust you with my life just trust me on this, you and I need a proper explanation about everything. We can't just be like this forever being lied to about everything. Besides, every time they tell me something I find that I completely forgot about it, but I remember something this time"
Mano "What?"
Sakata "I will tell you my secret if you tell me yours"
Mano in a confused tone "What secret that I keep away from you?"
Sakata "About the fact that you know who am I"
Mano's face turned pale he said "Oh, about that. Can you tell me your secret before mine?., Cause mine is shocking"
Sakata looked doubtfully at him then he said "Fine! I think, no I am certain that my father and Mika are hiding the truth about my mother's disappearance"
Mano "What do you mean ?"
Sakata "I mean that she is .."
Mano "She is what?"
Sakata whispered "Dead"
Mano froze for a moment then he said "How did you realize that?"
Sakata quietly "I had a dream about it. Every night since the day she disappeared"
Mano "What was the dream about?"
Sakata "The day that she was killed, and I think she died either because of me or I killed her"
Mano in disbelief "Nonsense!., You didn't kill. You are not a killer!"
Sakata coldly "I won't be so sure about that"
Mano froze for a moment the asked, "Why do you say that?"
Sakata avoids looking at Mano's eyes and walked away. Mano followed asking, "What do you mean?!"
Sakata still avoids Mano "I don't know!., It wasn't a complete memory "
Mano in a worried tone "When did such a memory come to you?"
Sakata "A while"
Mano argued, "Why didn't you tell anyone about it ?"
Sakata "Because I didn't want to be brainwashed again!"
Mano "You what? Who would do such a thing?"
Sakata turned to look far more certain about his answer "Mika"
Mano backed off a bit "Are you sure about that?"
Sakata "It's the only explanation of why I don't remember anything, right?"
Mano hesitated a bit then he said "I don't know"
Sakata "Now tell me your secret"
Mano took a deep breath and said "You are the chosen one Sakata"
Sakata felt suddenly cold in his heart as of someone told him he was going to die or something, yet he knew nothing about what Mano meant.
Sakata then asked, "I am no normal being am I?"
Mano "No you are far from normal"
Sakata bitterly "Great, and who am I?"
Mano "Long story short. You are from a royal bloodline that begins with your great-great-grandfather "
Sakata "Oh no, don't tell me..."
Mano "Yup, Hades"
Sakata "Oh... That explains stuff. So I am the truthful heir of ..."
Mano interrupted "Shhh! Don't say anything we need to go to the library first, find whatever you are looking for quickly before sunset"