The 3rd Day

//Several days later they gather for the funeral of Master Shin who is being buried in the village where he came from. Everyone pays their last respects to Master Shin.

Hana: Master, I promise I will carry on your legacy, I will teach others as you taught me, bring meaning and purpose to the life of those in need, just as you did for me.

//Aiya walks up behind Hana and hugs her.

Aiya: His spirit will live on in you, and you will be a great Master one day, just like he was. I believe that is what he would want and would make him smile down from the heavens.

Hana: Thank you. I will do my absolute best to honor the gift of life that he bestowed upon me.

//As they walk away from the burial site Hana has a flashback to Master Shin’s last words.

Master Shin’s Spirit: The answer you seek will be waiting for you in the cemetery on the 3rd day of the month.

Hana: What day is this?

Aiya: It’s Saturday, why?

Hana: I mean what day of the month!

Mika: The 3rd?

//Aiya and Mika look curiously at Hana as she frantically looks all around the cemetery.

Hana: What… or who am I looking for Master?

//Hana then notices an elderly woman who had attended the funeral walking toward another grave site. Hana quickly walks over to the woman and as she approaches the woman says.

Elderly Woman: I have been expecting you my young warrior princess. Ah…. I see is he strong within you… (she then turns to look at Aiya) and that one also has a very strong presence; the future will test he true ability to lead us through the dark times.

Hana: Huh? Do you know Master Shin? Are you the answer I seek?

Elderly Woman: I no longer know the answers, I only know of the demons that haunt them, that haunt all of our very existence.

Hana: I don’t understand (Hana looks around the cemetery again). There is no one else here. Can you help me? Please?

Elderly Woman (smiles): Ah yes, confusion is in our midst, yet is it what drives us to seek the truth. Come with me my young princesses, and bring the handsome one also, his light will be your guidance.

Aiya (Whispers to Mika): What’s with all the riddles? And light, guidance, humm, don’t know about that (Aiya smiles at Mika).

Mika: What? When have I not given you the correct guidance?

Aiya: Well let’s see, there was the time…..

//The gang follows the elderly woman back to he home where she prepares tea for them to drink.

Elderly Woman: Did he tell you the whole story?

Hana: No.

Elderly Woman: As I suspected, he had terrible communication skills, (she laughs) that’s why he probably left it up to me?

Elderly Woman: He was their Father… and my Husband

Hana: Master Shin?

Aiya: No, the grave site you were visiting, that was him, wasn’t it?

Elderly Woman: And a smart one I see, just like your Mother I presume?

Aiya: How do you know my Mother?

//The elderly woman just smiles.

Hana: Wait, I’m confused, what about Mom?

Elderly Woman: Ah yes, I now see why he chose you… not to bright (she smiles again), but fiercely loyal. She will protect like no other, just as a big sister should.

Hana: Hey, wait a minute, I don’t know to take that as a compliment or not?

Aiya: Of course you don’t. (Under her breath) Neither do I really.

Hana: Please continue, I need to know more.

Elderly Woman: Of course. They were so young and impressionable, and also full of confusion and anger, but were shielded from the truth by the Devil himself.

Hana: The Devil?

Mika: The one in the other car. I forgot to mention, it took a while, but I zoomed in and enhanced the image of the person in the other car with a facial recognition program. It was none other than Garo Albrecht, the brother of the King. Slay Squad 1 himself.

Elderly Woman: Ah yes, the Devil himself, the self-proclaimed King of the Slayers.

Aiya: And you’re just telling us now?

Elderly Woman: How the light does shine brightly.

Aiya: Hummm, I guess so. You lucky she is here (Aiya playfully sticks out her tongue at Mika).

Elderly Woman: They believed the rumors, the tale spun from the Devil. They were swayed by his charm and promises of revenge, the devils justice.

Aiya: So what was Master Shin’s involvement in all this.

Elderly Woman: Their father was Shin’s best friend in the village, and also his brother-in-law and their Sensei since they were old enough to walk on their own.

Aiya: Wait, that makes him your…

Elderly Woman: Brother? Yes, and mother, and father, and friend, and mentor. Our parents had died at a young age from a disease, a plague or even some say a curse, that had spread rapidly through our village. So, it was left to Shin, the eldest Son, to raise myself and three other younger siblings. Eventually the other three siblings died at a young age from complication of the cursed disease.

Hana: I never knew… I can now see where the Master’s resilience came from.

Elderly Woman: Yes, it was forged into him at a young age. With the passing of each of the siblings he became more and more focused on the pursuit of justice for those in need, to honor their lives and our family name.

Hana: So what happened? Why would they turn on Master Shin after he gave so much to them.

Elderly Woman: Eventually, their Father had contracted the same cursed disease that had plagued so many in the village. He was weak and slowly succumbing to the disease more and more each day until one night while trying to get up out of bed he knocked over a lantern. The fire spread quickly, I tried to lift him to safety, but he was to heavy. He insisted that his life was of no value anymore and instructed me to safe the children.

Hana: So the brother and sister are your children.

Elderly Woman: The children were indeed mine… however if I had known the events yet to unfold, I would have let then perish in the fire alongside their father.

Aiya: But they were your children….

Elderly Woman: They were indeed, (lowering her head) but after that night they were no longer my children, but instead pawns of the devil himself. I no longer recognize any life in what were “my children”.

Hana: I am truly sorry, you and Master Shin have had no peace during your lifetime, it must be so hard.

Elderly Woman: That is our impetus, that is way Shin was so focused on helping other so they would not have to suffer the same fate.

Aiya: Please continue, I feel there is more to this tragedy.

Elderly Woman: There is indeed. Shin had seen the fire and come to help. When he had arrived I told him that Hiro was still inside. Shin tried his very best rescue him, but the devil’s rage was too great to overcome. All the children remember was Shin running out of the building and running away. He was so grief stricken by the events that he could not bare to watch anymore.

Mika: So the children saw Shin running from the home and thought he was involved?

Elderly Woman: Yes, you are correct. They were confused, and with vengeance already on their mind they were easily turned into the devil’s minions. The devil laughed as their anger turned to completed hatred and rage. They pledged their souls for all eternity for a chance at redemption.

Hana: They were the ones, the “Students” responsible for attacking Master Shin on that fateful evening.

Elder Woman: Yes, the Slayer Squad was officially born that night. They were no longer my children, but the children of the Devil himself from that night on. They were now his puppets set out to accomplish his ultimate mission, to kill the King.

Aiya: I’ve heard rumors of the attempts on the King’s life, but thought it was impossible, the castle was impenetrable, and dismissed them as nothing but rumors.

Elderly Woman: Yes, now you know the story, but it is up to you to determine what the truth really is. Here, please drink some more tea.

//The Elderly Woman had just brewed a fresh pot, and as the gang drink the tea they instantly feel asleep.

//Aiya suddenly awakens, and she is on the sofa in the office.

Aiya: What happened? Was I dreaming? Where are Hana and Mika. Ow, why is my arm so sore?

//Mika and Hana walk in the front door to the office.

Mika: Hey sleepy head, it’s about time you wake up?

Hana: We were worried, you seem so stressed lately, so we went out to get your favorite dinner, Teriyaki chicken and rice.

Aiya: When did we get back from the trip?

Hana: What trip?

Mika: Did I miss something?

Aiya (to herself): Do they not remember? What’s going on? Does Hana not remember Master Shin dying? Better just go along with this for now.