Èr - Entitled Darkness

1615, Fukui, Japan. Nakijin walked to a cliff. “It took a while for you to find me, Rokuro.” Nakijin said. “You enjoy running.” Rokuro said, walking next to Nakijin. “Is this how it ends? Hunted down by the Ghost of Nihon. Who is calling the shots now? It’s not important. But how long until they put a bounty on your head?” Nakijin asked. “They won’t.” Rokuro said. “They will. One day you will wake up, and understand just how broken this world is, and how unfair their rules are.” Nakijin said. Rokuro walked to Nakijin, and unsheathed his golden Katana, swinging it at Nakijin. Nakijin dodged, by jumping off the cliff. He gave a condescending smile to Rokuro, as he fell, slamming onto the ground, before water washed ashore, and swept him away.

Nakijin woke up in a bed. He sat up, and looked around, getting up. He questioned how he was still alive. He left the room, finding a girl cooking soup over a fire. She was around her late teens, with black hair, and grey eyes. “Where am I?” Nakijin asked, startling the girl. “You are awake. Good, good. Hi.” she said. “Where am I?” Nakijin asked again. “Tokyo. I found you washed in the bay. I asked around, and nobody knew who you were.” the girl said. “So you bring a nameless man home?” Nakijin asked. “Yeah.” she said. Nakijin walked to the door and opened it, seeing a lightbulb. “My name is Warabina. What is your name?” she asked, standing up, and walking to Nakijin. Nakijin looked at the girl, trying to think for the answer, however most of his memory was gone, only a few things remained, but they were shrouded, and broken. “I don’t know, or I don’t remember. Nakijin.” He said. “Nakijin, is everything alright?” Warabina asked.

Warabina and Nakijin walked down the street. “Thank you for going shopping with me. There are a lot of people here, and some of them really don’t like Ryukyuans.” Warabina said. “What group?” Nakijin asked. “Uchinaa.” Warabina said. “Same, but I left. The Satsuma Domain brought me face to face against my family, and so I left. After that was-. What happened after?” Nakijin asked. “I don’t know.” Warabina said. Nakijin looked at her, then away. The two walked around an outdoor market, buying fish, vegetables, noodles, and spices. “Mud people aren’t allowed here.” a man said. Nakijin looked to find an angry, middle aged man. Nakijin looked away, ignoring him. “Hey, listen here you-.” the man said, grabbing Nakijin. Nakijin immediately punched the man, knocking him out. A memory appeared, a name Rokuro. “We should get out of here.” Warabina said, grabbing Nakijin and pulling him away.

Warabina brought Nakijin back to her house. “So Nakjin, now that you are awake, what exactly are you going to do now?” Warabina asked. “Not really sure. I can’t really remember who I was. I have some memories, but it’s mostly blank.” Nakijin said. “Well until you figure everything out, you are welcome to stay. I mean I may enjoy your company, or maybe I just want your protection.” Warabina said. “Thank you.” Nakijin said.

Time went by, and the two got accustomed to each other. They would walk around the city together, eat dinner together, and pray at shines. Nakijin was making a Yōshoku Curry, sitting in front of the hearth. Warabina sat next to him, and took a bite of the curry. “Don’t eat it yet. It’s not done.” Nakijin said. “Sorry.” Warabina said. “It’s fine.” Nakijin said. “So have you got some memories back?” Warabina asked. “I had hoped for more than names. Maybe some sort of idea of who I was.” Nakijin said. “So the Nihon’s have a thing called Yokai, maybe you hunted these creatures. If only things like that existed.” Warabina said, a melancholy tease. “Everything ok?” Nakijin asked. “I’m jealous. I wish I could forget, or at least hope I used to hunt Yokai. I’m not. Born to a peasant family, and poor. A Samurai gave my family an out, and I took it. A home in Edo, none of them followed after. They all hate me for it, and when I got here it didn’t change much. I was still poor, and now the Nihon’s here hate me. Well most of them, ok fine a small group does. All I wanted was a better life for my family, and here I am alone. I thank you for breaking my isolation. I do hope you figure out who you are, and I hope when you do that you chose to stay.” Warabina said.

Nakijin looked at the fire, a memory coming back to him. “Nakijin Kai, so you are the prince. I’ve heard of your achievements. How you fought against several Black Oni, and killed them all without being hit. I was hoping to meet you. I have a question regarding your future.” Rokuro said. They were standing in a castle. “I’m a prince?” Nakjin said to himself. He grabbed his head trying to remember more. “Lucky.” Warabina said. “Why is that all that came up?” Nakijin asked.

Months started to pass, and the two only got closer, and slowly more memories came. But everything changed. One night Nakijin was out, trying to get a necklace for Warabina. He came home, and found blood. He walked to what remained, and grabbed her, hugging her. A memory showing up in his head. A child, one with horns, and claws, clearly not human. Nakijin held a sword to its neck, but sheathed it, leaving the child alive. “What are you doing? You can’t leave any Yokai alive. They breed evil.” a man said. Nakijin looked at the man. “Evil? This child isn’t evil. You and this group, the Mardom Rooh, you are evil. You kill, and kill. Lying, and profiting from it. You don’t care about wars between humans, all you care about is control. And I am not your monster. You can’t control me.” Nakijin said. The man charged at Nakijin, swinging a Katana. In an instant the man died.

Nakijin buried Warabina, and walked off. He started going after people, those who he deemed as bad people. Torturing, and killing. One day he found himself able to see Mabui, and with every kill the Mabui corrupted, until he found himself able to use Majutsu. After many years, he found himself in a random city. There were air raid sirens and a bomb dropped, slamming into the city, destroying it. “Such a waste of life.” Nakijin said, standing up. He walked through the destroyed city, and looked to the sky. “No matter what, evil prevails. Then for our future, the sake of our people. It needs to be purged of evil.” Nakijin said.