[The End of Osamu Ashikaga]: As a Boy, As a Man, As a King

Carmilla returned Hima, Osamu, and Taeko to Moonglow Castle later that day as the other vampirical lords carried out Hima’s orders to militarize Minavere. They were there to pick up Izanami and head right on over to Japan, where the enemy would surely be waiting for them.

Before going to speak to Izanami, Osamu took a moment to wash his face in one of the black tiled bathrooms adjoined to a bedroom further down the hall from where the girls were staying. He slipped out of his red suit and slipped on a more comfortable pair of black jeans tightened with a black, leather belt and golden buckle. He rolled up the sleeves of his black v-neck shirt, staring at his reflection in the mirror.

He thought of the people in his neighborhood, of the teenagers that would take the school bus in and out of town, of the mothers that would go on walks with their children to see the cherry blossoms bloom in the spring. He thought of the elderly, hardworking shopkeepers, the white-collar workers commuting to and from work.

There were people like that all over the world. Millions of innocent people who had never seen a war come to their front door in their lives. When they heard news of war and genocide, they saw it from the television screens, from corporate news networks and political pundits. They were all protected from the horrors of war by their nations and the military and economic alliances that bound them together.

Today, all of that would change. Osamu’s Dark Dawn plan would achieve one of his three most important tenets of world peace; it would burn the horror of the Third Great Holy War into the cultural memory of mankind. To do so, Osamu was willing to carry out the worst sin he would ever commit in his life. After today, he would become something akin to a devil.

“It was all for this.” Osamu said to himself. “Fight together. Die together.”

(Don’t stop now. Keep going. We’re almost there.)

Taeko opened the bathroom door, saying nothing as she stepped back and made room for Osamu to come out and join her. The two exchanged fearful, yet determined glances. Nothing could stop them now. Hand in hand, they would change the world that day, though Taeko couldn’t shake the feeling that Osamu’s view for the world was much different than her own.

While Taeko and Osamu left to join Hima down the hall, Izanami convened in the bedroom with Tsukiakari, Yoko, Kagutsuchi, and Amatsuki. Dressed in a black dress with white, floral patterns sprawled across the skirt and flounce, Izanami was ready for anything.

“Today’s the day.” Izanami said. “Looks like Osamu and Hima were successful. The founded a brand new country. It’s called Minavere.”

“They seriously did it?” Tsukiakari gasped.

“They suspect that the militarization of Yakutsk will be like a beacon to the world that Osamu, Taeko, and the vampires are there.” Izanami explained. “Though, Hima’s existence will come as a complete surprise to them. Minavere will need time and protection until it’s ready to fight. That’s what I’m for. In the meantime, Akatsuki and Omagatoki are acting as deterrence in Yakutsk.”

“Sending out some demons from the Underworld and having them cause chaos in Japan is a bold plan. It’ll probably work.” Amatsuki said. “The exorcists definitely don’t have the resources to deal with that quickly. It’ll tie them up and buy Minavere some time.”

Izanami clutched her chest, catching herself breathing erratically for just a few seconds. “I feel…like something terrible is about to happen.”

Hima’s sudden knock upon their door sent a startling jolt down their spines. Before departing, Izanami gave a warm hug to each of the girls. All of them were trusting her to keep a watchful eye over Osamu.

“Good luck, Mom.” Kagutsuchi said.

“We love you, honey.” Yoko added. “Please protect Osamu and Taeko.”

“I will.” Izanami said.

Having said all they needed to, Izanami left the room, joining Osamu, Taeko, and Hima in the hall. The closing of the door echoed down the left and right of the great hall as the sunlight poured in through the stained glass, drowning everything in a tidal wave of purple shade.

“We’re going to Fukuoka. I need you to take us there.” Osamu said.

“We’re letting some of the demons loose, right?” Izanami asked.

“Have you reneged your promise to me?” Hima asked.

Izanami closed her eyes and shook her head. “No. We should head to Fukuoka now. We should be prepared for a fight. Shouldn’t we bring Gekko and Kagu along?”

“No.” Osamu said sternly. “Kagu and Gekko both need to stay here.”

“The four of us are plenty enough.” Hima said. “Besides, we want the enemy to think we’re a smaller force than we really are.”

“Okay, I understand that.” Izanami said. “But Osamu, if I may ask, why Fukuoka specifically?”

“Kyoto will be on high alert. It’s not wise to go back there.” Osamu said. “My hope is that doing this in Fukuoka will catch them off guard and make them spread their forces thin instead of concentrating them in Kyoto.”

Izanami and Osamu locked eyes. She tried hard to sense even the slightest hint of deceit in his words, but she couldn’t read him at all. It broke her heart seeing his dark and lifeless eyes, knowing how bright and beautiful they used to be. Countless tragedies and unspeakable pain shifted the boy she once knew into the mass murdering monster he was.

Osamu had made the same mistake Izanami made centuries ago when she too went down a path of destruction and slaughter. In that moment, she resolved to stop him from continuing down the terrible road. She would save what was left of the Osamu she knew.

“Okay. Are you guys ready to go?” Izanami asked.

Everyone nodded in response. They all huddled around Izanami and were instantly transported from Moonglow Castle to Anego no Hama, Fukuoka Prefecture. Anego no Hama was a beach famous for its singing sand, which made a squeaking sound when stepped on. The cool wind rushed through their hair as the waves sang a song of their own reaching ever closer to their feet.

The beach’s waters were crystalline and blue, the sand a glimmering gold, and the western horizon aflame with the orange glory of the setting sun as it made its way towards the horizon. Hima looked down as the Japanese waters kissed her ankles and then receded away from her. She spread out her arms and smiled as the salt-scented breeze chilled her skin.

“My birthplace…” Hima hissed. “This country is where my empire died. It’s so strange to call it home.”

“Yeah, I know the feeling. My nation met its end here too. Still, Japan is my birthright.” Taeko said.

“You know, I’m quite happy you became a lord, Taeko.” Hima said. “I don’t quite have the same vision as you, but I want my nation to adopt some of your philosophy. I believe it would be wise to follow in the footsteps of the woman who nearly changed the world.”

“Happy to hear that, Hima. Maybe when this war is over, I can start giving lectures or something.” Taeko tittered.

“Something’s wrong…” Izanami suddenly murmured, bringing all attention to her. “Why are we the only ones here? There’s no one here or on the other end of the beach.”

“This is Anego no Hama, right?” Taeko asked. “That is strange. This is a pretty popular beach, isn’t it?”

Osamu stepped forth into the water, his eyes glues to the cloudy horizon. Something felt horribly off about that beach, as if he had just made the worst mistake of his life. As it turned out, he was right. The clouds ahead flashed with an orange light that was accompanied by a hellish screaming.

“Rockets!” Osamu screamed.

Izanami summoned her scythe and immediately erected a red, transparent bubble over everyone, the rockets slamming and exploding against the shield. The explosions lifted the water into the air and turned some of the sand into shards of glass.

Hima swiped her hand to the right, whisking away the cloud of noxious, black smoke left behind from the explosion. What she saw on the horizon left her mouth agape.

“Warships?” Hima recoiled. “Why would they fire on a public beach?”

“Shit!” Taeko growled. “We must’ve tripped a tracking barrier! They knew we’d come back eventually! I didn’t expect them to be this prepared so soon!”

“Those ships are American!” Hima said, able to see farther with her vampirical vision. “There are more making their way within range of the beach! South Korean and Chinese!”

Izanami suddenly looked upwards, her brows raised in alarm. “Above us!”

Two gods fell from the sky, landing on the shore like artillery shells. Osamu, Taeko, and Izanami had returned to Japan, so Takemikazuchi and Amatsu were there to welcome them home.

“An exorcist, of all people, falling for a tracking barrier. How pitiful.” Takemikazuchi mocked, his arms crossed.

“We didn’t expect you all to come back so soon.” Amatsu said, two curved swords in his hands. “So you didn’t just plan to attack us and run away. You had something more up your sleeve.”

“I see you’ve been busy as well, Amatsu.” Osamu said, his soaking, wet hair covering half his face. “We finally get to meet face-to-face.”

“Ahh…” Amatsu laughed, raising a hand towards Osamu. “The man himself. Inari’s little plaything. We’ll have to let the ships know to stop firing. We wouldn’t want to blow you into pieces and waste our prize.”

“So you’re after her blood as well…” Taeko hissed.

“You made a terrible mistake coming back here. Reinforcements are already on their way.” Takemikazuchi warned. “Amatsu, leave Izanami and the others to me. You should use phantom weaponry for Osamu.”

Amatsu’s curved swords turned purple and transparent, becoming phantom projections instead of solid weapons. “Wise advice.”

Amatsu threw one of his swords directly at Izanami’s barrier. To Osamu’s surprise, the phantom blade pierced through Izanami’s shield and flew straight for his chest. The spectral sword struck Osamu, bringing him down to the ground as Takemikazuchi shattered Izanami’s barrier with a single, powerful punch.

Taeko waved her black feather as Takemikazuchi broke through the shield, blocking his path to Izanami with a swirling vortex of ravenous crows. Unimpressed, Amatsu snapped his index finger and thumb together to produce a raging fireball in his palm. He aimed and shot it directly at Taeko’s crows, setting the entire flock on fire.

Stuck inside a swirling tornado of flaming crows, Osamu let out a horrific scream as he clasped his hands together and then pressed against the handle of Amatsu’s phantom blade. “Release!”

The phantom blade dissipated like incense in the wind, leaving no marks or blood on Osamu’s chest. Takemikazuchi dashed in, slicing himself a path straight through the flock of flaming crows. Just as he reeled his arm back for a horizontal slash upon Izanami’s neck, he was suddenly knocked back with tremendous force. He was hit square in the sternum by Hima’s lunar Lucerne hammer and sent flying right into the shallow end of the ocean.

“Lunar magic?” Amatsu gasped, leaping backwards to help Takemikazuchi. “A distinctly European style of magic…”

Hima stepped in front of Osamu and the others. “You three go do what you need to do! Go!”

“Come with us! You can’t fight them by yourself!” Izanami urged.

Hima smiled as she rotated her shoulder, cracking some of the tense muscles in her body. “Who do you think you’re talking to, Izanami? My mother and father are watching. I won’t let them down by running away. Besides, we don’t want these two to figure it out and follow us. I’ll hold them off. You three just have to make it quick.”

“Are you seriously planning on fighting gods, Hima?” Taeko asked.

Hima watched as Takemikazuchi struggled to get back onto his feet, his chest left black and blue by the impact of the Lucerne hammer. The battle at hand seemed to amuse her as she let out a mocking barrage of laughter.

“He once challenged the gods…” Hima said. “I’ll conquer them in his honor. That will be proof of my ambition as a queen. Hurry and go! There’s no time!”

“Let’s trust her! We’ll be back before their reinforcements get here!” Izanami screamed.

Hima gave Izanami a thumbs up and a warm smile. “Leave it to me!”

Osamu and Taeko huddled around Izanami, both of them looking back at the gods and the coalition of warships guarding the horizon. They couldn’t believe that Hima thought she stood a chance against the combined military might of several nations, but at the same time, they hadn’t seen her fight as an adult. They were willing to wager the vampirical queen had quite a few more tricks up her sleeve.”

“I’ll come back for you.” Osamu said.

“I know you will.” Hima replied, turning her gaze towards the gods.

Izanami, Osamu and Taeko vanished, reappearing in the sanctuary of the Onyx Temple. Osamu knelt on the floor with his hand clutched to his chest. The phantom blade that pierced his chest felt all too real to him. He grunted and screamed as found the strength to stand again, slowly getting back onto his feet. He was so close to one of his major goals. Nothing would stop him now.

“We can’t waste time…” Osamu wheezed. “Hima’s strong, but if the gods surround her, they’ll kill her. It’s time, Izanami. Let’s release the demons.”

Now that the time had come, and so suddenly, Izanami’s eye’s drifted away from Osamu’s in contemplation. Just how many demons would be needed? Why would Fukuoka need to be the opening point? Would any innocent people be killed as a result?

The uncertainty of it all made Izanami hesitate. “Are you sure we really…”

“What are you waiting for?” Osamu asked. “Hurry and send them out!”

Remembering Hima’s life and the future of Minavere was on the line, Izanami took a deep breath and clasped her hands together. It would’ve only taken one, simple command to bring chaos unto the enemy. Just one sentence would’ve brought a taste of hell on earth.

“Okay…” Izanami murmured.

In that moment, Osamu’s hands inched closer together to form the same, praying clasp Izanami formed. Before his hands could meet, a furious scream erupted from behind him. Tsukiakari emerged from the shadows with her blade drawn. She aimed the blade at Osamu and trapped him in a pure, white barrier.

“Got him!” Tsukiakari shouted, prompting Yoko, Kagutsuchi, and Amatsuki to come of out of their dark corners as well.

“Gekko?” Osamu recoiled, looking around as the other girls surrounded him as well.

“What the hell are you guys doing?” Taeko shouted.

“Ask him!” Tsukiakari raged. “Osamu! What were you about to do?”

“You were about to clasp your hands!” Amatsuki said. “We saw it with our own eyes!”

Taeko, who stood behind him as it happened, didn’t even notice it. She looked to Osamu, who didn’t speak a word of protest and answered no questions. It was exactly as she feared. Osamu had his own plans independent of the wants and wishes of the people who loved him.

“Osamu?” Taeko said, receiving no answer from him.

Osamu looked around the room like a cornered animal. He had a look in his eyes as though he would lash out and attack anyone that came near him if it weren’t for Tsukiakari’s barrier.

“I’m sorry, Osamu.” Izanami said. “I wanted to believe in you, but after everything you’ve done up until this point, you’ve lost our trust. I secretly teleported everyone here before we left Moonglow Castle.”

(Of course. It must’ve been before she left the bedroom. When they all hugged…)

“We’ve been keeping an eye on you, hoping you would come to us and let us know the truth.” Izanami said. “But at every turn, you gave us half-truths while you continued making plans of your own. Furthermore…I saw Satori’s memories. We all did. There’s a lot you’re not telling us.”

“You knew you wanted to have control of the Underworld before we even left Kyoto.” Tsukiakari said. “You roped Satori into your plan by using Kagu’s safety to scare him. You had him do your bidding knowing full well what it would do to him!”

“Not to mention Chiya…” Yoko said. “Who even are you anymore? The Osamu I know would never manipulate and sacrifice people the way you did! Just what the hell have you been fighting so hard for? What was worth killing this many people, destroying this many lives? At first, I thought you and Taeko were doing this together, but it seemed you even managed to lie to her!”

“And now we’ve caught you red-handed.” Amatsuki mocked.

“Osamu…please just tell us the truth.” Kagutsuchi pleaded. “What’s your true plan?”

“Lie to us one more time and I’m not releasing any demons for you.” Izanami declared. “I don’t care if Minavere is destroyed and Hima dies out there. No more tricks. No more manipulation.”

Osamu met their pleas for truth with laughter. It was as if he had just heard the best joke of his life. Chills ran down everyone’s spines as his laughter echoed through the Onyx Temple.

“Yoko, you said you don’t know who I am anymore. You all think I’ve changed. For a while, so did I. In truth, I haven’t changed at all. I’m the same man I’ve always been. How ironic that the one who knew that right from the start was Satori.

“I’m not going to entertain any of your requests. I’ve finally come this far. I won’t let anyone stop this. Let me go, Gekko. This is pointless.”

“I’ll do no such thing.” Tsukiakari chided.

“You’d all throw away the future of my country all because you want the truth?” Osamu asked.

“Yes!” Izanami cried. “Because whenever you go off on your own, we pay the price too! We lost a child because of you! We’re enemies to our own country because of you! We deserve to know what our lives are being upended for!”

Osamu’s hands tightened into fists. Instead of pondering how to explain his intentions to his wives, he worried about Hima’s safety. Every word his wives spoke was a waste of precious time. While Osamu had been stopped from reaching his goal at the last minute, Hima fought a vicious death match against Takemikazuchi and Amatsuki.

The two gods sped towards her like bullets, Amatsuki taking the right side and Takemikazuchi taking the other. Before either of them could land a hit, Hima’s body was suddenly surrounded by a wall of lunar light, which absorbed the swing of their blades for her. The light turned red and redirected the force of their attacks back at them, sending the two gods flying down opposite sides of the beach.

With the gods separated, Hima rushed towards Hima, summoning a dozen of her levitating, lunar blades above her head. The blades went flying ahead of her, but were turned to stardust as Amatsu erected a wall of flames to protect himself. What he didn’t notice was that he had only destroyed eleven of the blades. The twelfth arose from the sand beneath his feet, striking him in the stomach.

Hima whisked away Amatsu’s flames with the swipe of her hand, summoning her ancestral sword into her other hand as she leaped through the air. She swung her blade downwards, coming down upon Amatsu like a guillotine and severing his right arm clean from his body. Before she could land a killing blow, a silver chain wrapped itself around her torso, and she was pulled away from Amatsu, over Takemikazuchi’s head, and into a tall, corporate office overlooking the beach.

“Amatsu!” Takemikazuchi screamed, tossing his chain to the side as he ran.

“She’s incredibly strong!” Amatsu grunted as he clutched his bleeding arm, coughing up blood.

Finally, exorcist reinforcements arrived on the scene. A battalion of hundreds of troops swarmed the beach, most of them forming a protective circle around Amatsu and Takemikazuchi. A few shrine maidens in the battalion tended to Amatsu’s injuries, disintegrating the lunar sword stuck in his chest and sealing his open wounds.

Hima dug herself out of the wreck of destroyed cubicles and computer hardware, walking up to the window she crashed through. She saw the hundreds of faces staring up at her through their sheer, white veils, their white robes fluttering in the seaside breeze.

“To fight two gods on equal footing…” Takemikazuchi began. “Just who is this woman?”

Hima looked around now that she had a good view of the city behind the shore. The streets were completely devoid of cars or pedestrians. It seemed the exorcists had gone as far as to evacuate the nearby area.

“So they knew we were coming after all. Very well then. It’s nothing I can’t handle. Keep watching, Father, Mother! Witness the power of the daughter you birthed!”

The corporate building was ripped apart, sending chunks of debris and twisted metal raining down upon the exorcists. A colossal, serpentine dragon of pure, blue moonlight arose from the cloud of dust and powder, towering over the land. Amatsu and the exorcists looked up in awe, noticing that Hima stead inside the very head of the moonlight beast.

“How can she be this strong?” Takemikazuchi recoiled. “Retreat! Everyone, get as far away from here as you can!”

The exorcists wasted no time following Takemikazuchi’s order, the shrine maidens carrying Amatsu with them. Hima turned her attention to the warships out on the water. She suspected the exorcists would call in fire support.

Hima crossed her arms as she looked at the amassing fleet of war ships. “The gods, the world…we’ll destroy it all. Right…Osamu? Fight together…”

Down in the Underworld, Osamu finished the phrase beneath his breath. “Die together…”

Osamu suddenly punched his hand through Tsukiakari’s barrier, the fragments cutting into his skin like broken glass. He stuck his other arm through the opening and clasped his bloodied hands together.

“Osamu, stop!” Tsukiakari screamed.

Taeko rushed towards Osamu in an attempt to stop him from performing any magic. She managed to touch Osamu’s hands, but not before they clasped together. A blinding, white light filled the room and all fell deathly silent.