Chapter 11: Final Resting Place

It’s not always so easy to understand something the first time you're told. Sometimes you have to be told over and over again and even then you just barely remember that there’s something you're forgetting. A passing feeling of nostalgia for a time so far gone all that's left is the silhouette of where It once was. Sometimes you remember things that never happened to begin with. False memories implanted into you by stories or your own overactive imagination convincing you that you have some sort of special power. That you can receive premonitions of what’s to come and that's why you get deja vu. You end up so deeply invested In a life that was never yours to begin with, that when someone threatens its very foundation, you resist and thrash about to rid yourself of your attackers, you do everything it takes to be rid of those who threaten your existence with annihilation. What if everything you are, wasn't yours to begin with? What if you were just the passenger in someone else's life, passively watching as they make themselves. or better said, what if you were just a distorted copy of a real person, but you in fact were just an echo of a man long dead? Doing things as he would thinking they are as you would, every action being according to his will not yours, all you are is a puppet dancing along to the will of a ghost.

Chapter 11

“…I don't have any weapons so I'll distract him while you cut it with your sword.”

“Wait, but you have spiritual energy, right? why don't you just punch him?”

“… you can do that?”

“Kaiji… are you serious?!”

The dog started coming too and it was madder than ever. Its faces turned red hot out of the rage.

“Okay, a quick crash course on spirit energy” while she explained the concept to Kaiji, they both had to hold the conversation as they avoided the mythological dogs attacks.

“It's because of it that you can interact with the spirits as if they were physical objects, you can control the amount of spiritual energy you release at any given time. when you punch it, just let it all out.”

“how do I let it all out?”

“Just give it some oomph! You know? Put your back into it!”

“Okay then, I think I get it now, alright, let’s do this!” they both aligned themselves shoulder to shoulder in their respective battle stances. They had never fought together, but it was like they had been doing it their whole lives.

Kaiji had regained his confidence, and with it, his will to fight, and with Alice at his side, they could take on the world if they wanted to.

They charged at the beast shouting out their war cries. Alice went above while Kaiji took to the ground. He slid under the mutt and clenched his fist as he punched the beast as hard as he could. The impact left a circular imprint for a moment around the point of contact. The beast even got lifted a couple feet off the air. But before it could enjoy its flight Alice came down on the K-9 trio with her sword slamming it back down into the ground. Luckily Kaiji had moved out of the way because he knew maybe standing under a 3 ton mythical hellhound wasn't a good idea. Kaiji then grabbed it by the tail and started pulling at it. as if this was a video game he started swinging the beast around in circles gaining momentum with every swing

“Hey, he's a lot lighter than I thought! Oops, no wait… sorry, she.” Then he let go and tossed the apparent female hellhound to the wall.

“What is this a video game to you?” Alice said while still in the air.

“well as a matter of fact, this becomes a lot more fun when you treat it like a video game” he smacked his fist with the palm of his hand.

“Whatever you say jump man” she said as she gracefully landed beside him. They walked towards Cerberus now weak and out of energy, the reason she was so light was because the more damage a spirit takes, the less spiritually dense it becomes. Every hit knocked another soul or two loose. Free to finally join Spirit World where they belonged.

“nurse, give me the syringe, it’s time we put this dog down” said Kaiji

“oh don't say it like that, now I feel bad for it!”

“But, she was trying to kill us just two seconds ago!”

“yeah but I don't want to think about it being a real dog that I’m gonna put down!”

“fine, I’ll take it out, it’s not the first ghost dog I kill anyway”

“what?!”

but before she could get an answer Kaiji walked up to the beast and rested his palm on its chest.

“You were a tough opponent, but it's thanks to you that I got stronger, and for that, I thank you. but you have a lot of innocent people trapped inside of you, and I can’t let them stay, so I’m sorry for doing this but may you rest in peace”

and then he tensed up his arm, wound it up, and punched the beast point blank, letting out a burst of spiritual energy so massive it spilled out all around him and came out the other side of the beast like a geyser shooting right through. Soon the beast began to disintegrate as it started loosening its hold on all the souls its master had fed her through the years. Soon all that was left were sparkles of spiritual energy where the hell hound once lay.

“That was a real touching eulogy Kaiji, felt bad for your little joke from earlier?”

“pfff… shaddup… Idk… When all’s said and done, we were both fighting for our lives. The least I can do is respect that.”

“Wow, surprisingly profound, coming out of you.”

“whatever! Let’s just find Aki and get out of… oh my god KAIRI! I COMPLETELY FORGOT! WE NEED TO FIND HER!”

“Kairi? Who’s Kairi?”

“she came in with me! She heard the rumor, I told her not to come, but she came anyway and when I turned my back, she disappeared. We need to find her, I won’t leave without her”

“Is she your sister or something?”

“what? No. why would you ask that”

“well… Kairi… Kaiji…” she then hovered her hand over each other to show the overlap.

“oh… you know… I never really noticed… up until now”

Alice gave him a look of utter dismay “Kaiji, are you serious?”

“Listen, can we just focus on looking for them already? You can give me the third degree later”

“Alright, let me just call Aki and we'll figure it out” she took the walkie-talkie from her waist, pressed the button and began to speak.

“Hey Aki, I found Kaiji, we're in the attic, where are you?”

Aki was in the middle of fighting the disembodied heads of medusa's children when he suddenly heard allices voice through the radios’ speaker. His blood pressure shot through the roof, if he was a little older, he would have gotten a heart attack. He picked up the walkie-talkie and shouted into it with one hand while slicing up heads with the other

“What are you doing! I told you to stay outside! What the hell were you thinking!?”

back at the attic, the radio was so loud it distorted the airspace around it propelling itself into the air as Aki's words came screeching through.

Alice got annoyed at his absurdist outburst if she was a little older she would have had a heart attack

“you weren’t answering your calls stupid! I saw Kaiji getting his ass beat-”

“-hey” Kaiji interrupted.

She held out one finger and pressed it on his lips to shut him up

“and if he died you’d be stuck fighting the core all by yourself and you would have been trapped. So I HAD to step in to at least give us a fighting chance! So the rescuers won’t need rescuing!”

Aki stood in silence as he listened to his sister's words, all the while still slicing up medusa heads in the background. She was just a kid, but she analyzed the situation and acted rationally under pressure, maybe she could handle herself, maybe he was wrong about her.

“Listen, you’re right, you made the right call. Truth is I just wanted to protect you from harm because I didn't want to see you hurt. So I gave you that walkie-talkie knowing full well that you wouldn't be able to reach me, knowing that I’d probably fail to rescue Kaiji and I'd die in here by myself. I put my own selfish feelings in the way of the mission, and you guaranteed us a shot at victory with what you did. I’m proud of you sis, maybe… maybe it’s time you joined us for real, the crew, I think your finally ready”

he awaited her ecstatic response but all he got back was static

“Uh... Alice? Do you copy?... Alice?”

meanwhile, back at the attic

“Alice I think you’re supposed to let go of the button to let the other person speak” said Kaiji

“ooo right! forgot. Hey Aki sorry I forgot to let go of the button, could you repeat that?”

Aki's’ face of disbelief was a sight to behold. He squeezed the bridge of his nose with his thumb and his index finger as he repeated himself… cutting out all of the sappy stuff

“*sigh*yeah good call thx. Anyway, let's meet up, use Haru’s power and come find me.”

“but wait, we have an issue, Kaiji didn't come here alone, he came with a friend”

“Was her name Kairi?”

“Actually, yeah! how did you know?”

“Well she’s standing right next to me”

Her eyes were glossed over as she heard the conversation, her hands held up like puppy paws covering her mouth.

“kaijiiiiiiiiii! You’re aliiiiiiiiive!!!” she threw herself at him wrapping her arms around him crying into his chest.

After trial and error the two groups finally found each other in the mess of a house.

“what happened? You vanished into thin air! I was so worried I lost my balance and fell into the void”

“Oh god! Did you get hurt?”

“I didn't! but that was the basement, and I somehow ended up in the attic!”

“what the hell?” said Kairi

“this house is a convoluted labyrinth, it circles in on itself. You go one way long enough, you end up right where you started. That's probably what happened.” Said Aki

“Well I’m sick of this place. You know we had to fight a 60 foot plant monster through twelve different iterations of purple to get here? Every time it changed color I thought to myself ‘this has to be it right? this has to be its final form?’ but noooo” said Alice

“you say that, but I’m at my wits end too. I would have been done for if it wasn't for the chicken in the wall.” said Aki

“the chicken in the wall?” asked Kaiji

“Did I stutter? Yes, the chicken in the wall!”

Kaiji still didn't understand that he was making a Castlevania reference but he was too afraid to ask for more details.

“Well, I don't know about you guys but I have had more than my fill of nonsense for one night, what do you guys say we get out of here?” Kaiji said

“good idea, do you also happen to have any clue where the master is?” said Aki

“well why don't we have Alice use that power again to track him down?” said Kaiji

“I can’t, It only works once a day, I can’t do it any more than that” said Alice

“Besides, even if she could, it only works with real physical people, ghosts and phantoms don't count.” Said Aki

“Damn” said Kaiji

The group stood in a circle, quietly trying to think of something that could help them find the master and put an end to their extended visit.

“why don't we look in his study?” said Kairi “there’s bound to be something in there that’ll clue us in to who he is, where he goes, his routines. Maybe he’ll even show up and we’ll jump him.”

The group looked at her in shock at the suggestion of “jumping” a wicked phantasm like this was some gang related turf war. But there was some brilliance in looking for information in his study, the more they know about him, the clearer the picture they will have of who he is. Therefore, the more likely they will be to find him. Just like Kaiji had to hear the rumor of the house to see it, the more they know the better, knowledge is power.

“I’m with Kairi, let’s do it!” said Kaiji

“But how are we gonna find it? we have no idea where it could be.” Said Alice

“I don't know, where are studies typically placed in mansions like these?” asked Kaiji

“this isn’t your typical mansion guys, we're not gonna find it just like that” said Aki

“hey guys I found it!” shouted Kairi from across the hall”

“WHAT?!” the all shouted in unison

“yeah I just took a left at the stairs and there it was with a big ‘do not disturb’ sign plastered on it”

Alice and Kaiji went to join Kairi, but Aki stayed behind, bewildered at the sheer stupidity of this turn of events. “you know what? I give up. This house has made the fool too many times, I’m done trying to understand it. Ten years of ghost hunting, for what? To be shown up by a 16 year old.” After having his little crisis, he went to join the others.

“whooooooaaaaa” Kaiji said as he walked in the room. The walls were plastered with books from top to bottom. With artifacts strategically placed around to vary up the scenery. There were soft leather chairs for multiple people to sit on and a massive desk in the center of the room just behind a giant stained glass window depicting the house and all its different rooms.

“is this supposed to be some sort of map?” asked Kairi

“it must be, right?” said Kaiji

“Hey guys, check this out” said Alice with a book In her hand, “it's a Journal, with a clipping newspaper article marking the page. ‘son of a wealthy merchant dies shortly after opening his home to shelter the poor’ is that supposed to be Jonathan?”

They continued to read the article and entries of his journal as they pieced together the details of the tapestry that was his life.

It was the turn of the 19th century and Brando’s father was a run of the mill merchant, it wasn't until he realized he could be the middleman between warring nations who refused to talk to each other. He could buy from one nation and sell to the other, and technically neither would be trading with the other. It was a legal gray area said nations were willing to look past in order to get the goods they needed. Anything to not swallow one's pride am I right? He soon accumulated wealth beyond imagination and contracted the best architects to builds him the most lavish of mansions for him and his pregnant wife. Now that he had the wealth to live comfortably he was willing to start a family. But then tragedy struck, Jonathan's mother died in childbirth making Jonathan the only thing his father had left. He who was soon groomed his entire childhood to one day take over his father’s empire. But Jonathan never concerned himself with matters of business, as he grew older he tried to show more interest but he didn't have the mind for it like his father. But his heart was in the arts, mainly history, the tales of the great men and women who have come to pass and have been remembered through the centuries. He always thought to himself he wanted to make something of himself and not just live the rest of his days in his father’s shadow, following the path he laid out for him.

Against his father’s wishes he gave up trying to learn and take over the company and became a history professor centered around Greek mythology. His father had always wanted him to take the safe path and follow in his footsteps, but he also wasn’t going to stop his son from following his dreams, and besides, he thought, life Is long, sooner or later he’ll come back satisfied and will take over one way or another.

But misfortune wasn't far behind. Soon his father fell ill and passed away. Jonathan was in the middle of giving a lecture when a man came running through the door to speak with him. when Jonathan found out his heart was in disarray. He could no longer focus on his work, and now being the head of the Brando empire, such a responsibility took its toll. Unprepared, uneducated he made error after error and soon began delegating more to his father’s associates who little by little took over the company as a whole. As Jonathan trying to find meaning in his grief traveled all across the world to find a truth to life. As a historian, he had done this many times, but this time he focused less on archeology and more on gospel. He read every piece of text he could find about the meaning of life. and then he read a passage in an old scroll in a decrepit museum halfway across the world that said “material things are just that, material things, what you do with those things is what holds true value.”

Moved by such a thought, he went home knowing what he had to do.

Back in the mansion, he walked in on his father’s associates during a meeting where they were discussing international trade relations with a nation that erupted after a violent civilian uprising, usurping the monarchy and establishing a democratic republic “they say it’ll be the world’s next superpower in a matter of decades” Jonathan then burst into the scene and announced he'd be taking over his father’s estate and that they were all relieved from the duties.

He then disbanded the group and used the remaining of his father’s wealth to turn his oversized underused lavish mansion into a shelter for anyone who was living in poverty, once there, they would be fed, cared for, and treated as members of high society. “There was never a dull moment in that mansion'' the newspaper article said. Once a maid named Veronica went to Jonathan concerned that what he was doing was unsustainable, that surely he'd run out of money sooner rather than later. To which Jonathan responded with “What good is having all the money in the world? With this, at least I’m putting some good back out into the world, even if only for a short while” from that moment on, veronica stopped accepting her salary payments and worked out of the goodness of her heart. His words moved her to be part of this community of those societies deemed useless and unprofitable. The word began to spread as the son of the richest businessman was pissing away all his money on the poor. He was ridiculed by high society for wasting his efforts on something so pointless. But the people thought otherwise, those who had been down on their luck and exploited by the rich finally had somewhere to go. Someone who cared about them and saw them for who there were, people. Not lesser beings, not scum, not subhuman, people. Word of mouth of the kindest, most generous man of the nation spread like wildfire. And people from all over the world flocked to help his community flourish. Offering themselves and their work for the common good of the community. But this golden utopia could only last so long before evil came to tear It all down. Nobles saw this flourishing dynamic and feared the rest of society would soon catch wind of another way of living that didn't involve needless suffering. So they conspired to end it all in one fell swoop.

One night, a man in rags showed up at Jonathan's door asking for a bed to sleep in. This was no rare occurrence as Jonathan's door was always open to anyone that was in need of help. They were all his guests for as long as they wanted. He was calling out for Veronica to prepare a bed for the weary traveler when a cold dagger made its way into his chest, piercing his heart. At first, he didn't realize what had happened. When he looked down and saw the blade, the thief yanked it out but just before he did, Jonathan saw the man’s face, it was one of his father's former associates. “Death to all who oppose.” He said as he cleaned the blade on his rags. Then proceeded to close the door. As Veronica rushed to Jonathan's side, she ran to the door to see the man who did this, but the door wouldn't budge. Not even an inch. 

The members of high society came together and hired every low life they could get their hands on to end the reign of the people's king. They barricaded the exits with all the lavish furniture they were going to throw away and set the house ablaze rendering it and everyone inside to ash. The threat to their way of life had been... eliminated… or so they thought. One could never return to ignorance. And the idea of the house of a thousand hearts lived on in the hearts of those that heard its story and passed it on. Of what life could be like if greed and evil were cast aside in favor of generosity and kindness. A world free of money and capital. Where everyone gave what they could, and took what they needed. Giving Jonathan another chance to continue his work in the afterlife.

“It was his legacy” said Igor as he stood in the doorway

The group was startled by his sudden appearance.

“He was supposed to change the world, but a rat always finds its way to the nest. You…” he looked at Kaiji, he ran towards him as he took out a dagger. “I won’t let you take it all away from him again!” It looked like he was going to do it. but then Alice and Kairi both stepped in and stopped him dead in his tracks.

Igor lay there on the floor, as he crawled to Kaiji he said, “please, save him from this torture.”

And then he vanished into spirit dust.

“What did he mean by that? save him from this torture?” said Kaiji

“I don't know…” said Kairi.

“Hey wait guys look!” said Alice as she pointed to the stained glass window of the house and how it had changed. It now showed where every member of the house was going.

“Look! There he is in the courtyard!” said Kaiji

“let’s go get him!” said Aki

“Wait!” said Kaiji “what did he mean by torture? The phantom.”

“I don't know! Does it matter? We know where the master is, that’s all that matters.” said Aki

“I feel like there’s more to this, I don't see how Jonathan can go from such a kind-hearted person to a soul-stealing megalomaniac” said Kaiji

“Yeah, me neither it just doesn't make any sense” said Kairi

“Well we can ask him if you want in the courtyard” said Aki

They left the study but before Kaiji closed the door, he took one last look to see the shadow of a man long gone, “there's gotta be more to this.” He said just before he closed the door.