Chapter 48 "Kawaii"
Chapter 48
Kawaii
“You haven’t been out lately. Is everything okay?”
Kawaii, in the child form, is sitting on the stone floor, his back facing someone else’s voice. He mumbles, “I don’t want to see anyone.”
“Is it about that Universe Warrior?”
Kawaii doesn’t respond to the question. He wraps his arms around his bent knees.
Hikyou sits next to him and says, “I’m sure he realized he made the mistake. You know, we’re not perfect. Even the immortals.”
“It doesn’t matter. He chose Logy over me. He will always choose him every time. Everyone… has their loved ones. Like you and Dios.”
Hikyou flinches at the mention of Dios. He gives a big sigh. “Man, did you really have to remind me of him? It was the worst mistake I’ve ever made.”
“Still…”
“I’ll never let anything happen to you, I promise. Light and Dark Gods are getting stronger everyday. What we can do right now is just to be patient, okay?” Hikyou says cheerfully as he pulls Kawaii into his hug. “You still have people who love you. It doesn’t have to be the Dark Team. There are Priests, Angels, and… of course me! We care about you.”
“You’re just saying that because you hate the Universe Warrior.”
Hikyou laughs as he starts petting Kawaii’s tiny wings gently. “True but he isn’t the bad guy, right? Why don’t you check on the Light and Dark Gods? They should be ten years old by now.”
“Siko and Katuo,” Kawaii cannot help but say their names out loud.
“Yes, that’s right. Siko Mitsukai and Katuo Kejinto.”
~*~
Kawaii is being materialized out of the air. He is standing in the middle of a neighborhood. As soon as he hears laughter and screaming, he quickly dives behind a thick tree. He takes a look at three kids riding their bicycles down the hill.
“You’re slow!” Katuo Kejinto. Short black hair and dark green eyes. Permanent scowl just like his father, Tezuka Kejinto.
“No, you cheated! You went ahead before I finished the countdown!” Ketsu Mitsukai. Black hair and dark brown eyes. He has not changed at all ever since the last time Kawaii had seen him.
“Hehehe… it’s just a fun race, right?” Siko Mitsukai. Silver hair and light green eyes. His vibe is really warm and relaxing.
“It would’ve been if Ketsu didn’t take it so seriously!” Katuo crosses his arms.
“You always show off every time you win!” Ketsu complains. “It gets old.”
Siko suddenly rides off as he yells along with a loud laughter, “A loser has to buy pizza!”
“No fair!” Katuo and Ketsu both shout as they quickly join the race.
Kawaii shivers. Being this close to the new Light and Dark Gods is freely giving him a huge amount of the powers of light and darkness. The mixture of both light and darkness is creating more universe energy.
And they feel so warm. Kawaii cannot help but smile. He misses the previous Gods, Jalen and Keiran. If it wasn’t for Kira, they would’ve lived for a long time. Maybe Hikyou wouldn’t abandon him and run off to the First Universe.
Kawaii remembers the time when he met Jalen and Keiran for the first time. At that time, the balance between light and darkness was a little off but Jalen and Keiran were so generous with providing their unlimited powers. Kawaii felt happy with them.
“We know what happened to the previous Gods… We understand how cautious you are. We promise we will never leave you,” it was Jalen who said.
“The Head Priest and Death King are on good terms for now,” Keiran said. “As long as we’re here, nothing will hurt you.”
Of course, Kira came and finished off Keiran and Jalen. Then Dark Angel was gone. Hikyou could not take it anymore and just left.
What if it happens again? As long as Kira is alive, will she find Siko and Katuo and finish them off once again? Kawaii frowns at his thoughts. What will happen to me, then?
“I win!” Siko laughs as he slows down his bike to stop, followed by Katuo and Ketsu. As soon as he spots Kawaii who quickly hides behind the tree, he asks, “Huh? Is there someone?”
Kawaii remains quiet but considers whether to leave or to stay and possibly meet the young gods.
“It’s probably just another kid who lives in the neighborhood,” Katuo says with a shrug. He looks up at the light orange sky. “The sun is about to set. My mom will kill me if I get home after dark.”
“Boooo!” Siko pouts childishly.
“We still have the whole summer.” Ketsu laughs. He picks up his smartphone and says, “Why don’t you guys go on? I’m supposed to call my dad at this time. I’ll catch up.”
“Okay! Don’t be late for dinner!” Siko says cheerfully. He leaves first.
Katuo stays a few seconds longer as if he is analyzing Ketsu’s words. He finally says, “Okay, see you tomorrow.”
As soon as Katuo leaves, Ketsu rides his bike towards where Kawaii is hiding.
“Kawaii!” Ketsu exclaims as he gets off his bike so he can give the child form of the Fifth Universe a big and warm hug.
“You grew up a little bit,” Kawaii says, looking up at the young Dark Angel.
“Oh yes, it must have been over one year, huh?” Ketsu says. “Why are you here? Is the Dark Team here?”
Kawaii shakes his head. “No… I just wanted to check on the new gods. And you too.” He starts to kick at the ground a little bit. “Are you having fun? Riding that thing?”
“Yeah, I couldn’t use my wings without Siko and Katuo finding out, you know?”
“True. They seem to be having a good time.”
Ketsu raises an eyebrow. He gets back on his bicycle. “Of course, we’re still kids trying to have fun. Are you ok? Did my dad do something bad recently? Is that why you’re here right now?”
Kawaii does not expect to be bombarded with questions. Hikyou has always been so careful with the words but Ketsu, being a 12-year-old kid, is completely open and does not really filter anything. He says softly, “Yeah… but we’re ok now. I think.”
“You can stay with me if you want. I can introduce you to Siko and Katuo. My uncle and aunt will be happy to meet you too!”
Stay here? With Siko, Katuo, and Ketsu? Kawaii cannot help but feel a smile on his face but it does not last long. They already have each other. What if they abandon me? Like many others did?
“I… I can’t.” Kawaii mumbles sadly as he is slowly disappearing.
“It’s ok. Remember, you’re always welcome here.” Ketsu gives him a big grin. He pulls Kawaii in another hug one more time. Soon, he no longer feels the warmth of the Fifth Universe.
~*~
He appears in a dark bedroom inside a moving spaceship. He takes a peek at two sleeping figures in the bed.
Knapp is spooning Logy. But as soon as he senses Kawaii’s presence, he opens his dark brown eyes. “Kawaii?”
He sits up as he scans the room until he finds Kawaii who is glaring. He scoffs with a small smirk. “Disappointed to see me?”
“I was hoping to have a chat with Logy alone, but you’re always hiding him with the power of the universe. Even he seems to be worn out…”
“So you weren’t there when we had an interesting conversation with Tenshu,” Knapp says. “Didn’t Hikyou-sama say anything to you about the Priests taking away Logy’s soul if they ever find him?”
“I-I didn’t know…” Kawaii stammers at first. “He’s still alive, isn’t he? Why are they after his soul? I… I could’ve talked to them.”
“There’s no reason to.” Knapp shakes his head. He gently strokes Logy’s hair with his hand as he continues, “Tenshu made it clear that they would be watching us closely. The second we drop our guard, Logy will be dead once again. I’ll do anything to stop them…”
He glances at Kawaii, his eyes suddenly turning cold. “Even if it means annihilating every immortal.”
“That…” Kawaii frowns. He covers his face with his own hands. “But… Light and Dark Gods… They… I know they won’t dare to do--”
“Hikyou-sama is already watching them like a hawk. Including Ketsu,” Knapp says darkly. “Three gods and one angel. Someday they come for Logy’s soul. What can we do against them?”
Kawaii clenches his jaw in both growing anger and frustration.
“You’ll have to choose one of us,” Knapp says firmly.
“You’re an asshole,” Kawaii says angrily with tears sliding down his face. “You’re no different than Hikyou. You’re all about vengeance now.”
“I don’t deny that,” Knapp says honestly. “But I was chosen to be the Universe Warrior. By the future version of you.”
Kawaii scowls deeper, his fists clenching tightly. “I can take away your power, you know?”
Knapp smirks at him. “Aha, is that a threat? Well, do what you want. If my power is gone, then what will happen to Logy?”
When Kawaii does not answer, the Universe Warrior continues, “I know you can’t because we both care about Logy, I know that for sure. One day we will have to fight against the heavenly immortals, and you will have to choose a side.”
Kawaii looks away from Knapp, no longer wishing to talk.
Knapp’s face softens at Kawaii’s childish behavior. He gives a light sigh before he says softly, “I’m really sorry for what I did to you… back then. I was blind with rage, and I shouldn’t have done that. After all, you gave me not only power but also friends who I love. I can’t guarantee I won’t do it again but we all experienced the pain of losing someone, and I just lost my control. I hope you understand, but I understand you don’t want to talk or even see me anymore.”
Kawaii briefly glances at Logy who is still sleeping. He finally speaks while he is disappearing into the air once again, “I know you weren’t hurting me on purpose. We share both power, soul, and also feelings. I would want to bring Logy back as well.”
~*~
“Oh, I didn’t realize you’re already back!” Hikyou says. “How did it feel like seeing the new gods?”
“I hate them,” Kawaii says boldly.
“Huh?”
“You knew the Priests were going to take Logy’s soul, didn’t you?”
Hikyou raises an eyebrow. “That’s none of our concern. It’s the Priests’ job to make sure nobody is cheating their death--”
“So, you’re on their side,” Kawaii says angrily. He is changing his form from child to adult, gathering a large amount of universe energy. “You’re allowing them to take a soul with the powers of mind and teleportation. The powerful mortal who can possibly match evenly against a god. How can they be different from the Death King who also thirsts for the powerful souls?”
Hikyou narrows his eyes dangerously, clearly irritated by Kawaii’s resistance. “Don’t you know what happens when too many people are evading their deaths?”
“You’re responsible for the destruction of Kira’s home planet.”
“They’re replacing other people who are not supposed to be dead!”
“Logy is literally only one soul! It’s not like millions of souls!” Kawaii explodes. “You selected people who you wanted to live! Ryu and Tezuka! Then you let Sybil, Danielle, Zack, and Sky die! Logy, almost! You’ve always been playing with people’s lives!”
All of sudden, Hikyou gets pushed by a powerful invisible force, moving away from Kawaii. “Of course, I have to be a god who plays with people’s lives if it means making sure you’re going to live a long time! If you’re going to shut us out… this isn’t going to end very well. You’re going to give Kira a chance to take me out and become the goddess.”
“I’d rather choose Kira over you if it means saving Logy’s life!”
Hikyou freezes, completely surprised by Kawaii’s remark. The invisible force begins to slow down but still pushes him further and further away from Kawaii. He asks softly, “What exactly did the Universe Warrior say to you?”
“His name is Knapp Mitsukai. It doesn’t hurt to memorize his name,” Kawaii snaps as he makes a forward step, causing Hikyou to move even further. “Even if Siko and Katuo come here, I will never accept them to be the next Light and Dark Gods… Not as long as they’re your next successors. I don’t want them anymore."
“Kawaii, please--” Hikyou is already gone.
Kawaii has finally done it. For the first time since the beginning of the universe, he has kicked the Double God, the all-powerful god in the universe, out of the Soul of the Fifth Universe. He collapses to his knees, fighting against his tears.
He has chosen his side. He has closed the Soul of the Fifth Universe, located on Planet Heaven, to all heavenly immortals. For the first time in billions of years.
When he, in the child form, reappears in front of the Dark Team without saying a word, they are more than thrilled to see him and give him so many hugs, saying how much they miss him.
Knapp gets down on one of his knees as he reaches out his hand with a smile on his face.
For the first time since the beginning, Kawaii truly feels he belongs with the Dark Team as he dives into Knapp’s embrace.
~*~
Lastly, this story will be on hiatus until “Love of Light and Darkness” is complete. Then, the next and 5th part of “Universe Warrior” will be called “The Order of Goddess Kira” which will happen right before the Double God trilogy begins. Please bear with me, and I really appreciate all of your patience!
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