I. Rain on Fresh Soil
Rain fell in thin, silent strands, as if the sky itself were mourning. The air smelled of wet earth and incense, thick and clinging, mixing with the faint, metallic scent of decaying leaves. Black umbrellas crowded the graveyard, forming a dense sea of shadows over the freshly turned earth. Their profound silence was broken only by the soft, rhythmic crunch of leather boots shifting on the soaked soil. Mist rose lazily from the freezing ground, curling around the weathered stone markers like ghostly, grasping fingers.
At the center of this gathering of ghosts stood a boy.
His small fists were clenched so tightly that his knuckles had gone completely pale, the skin stretched to its absolute limit. Silver eyes stared unblinking at the gray gravestone before him—unyielding, cold, and filled with a raw, suffocating grief far too large for a body so small.
Kaizen Ryujin.
He was seven years old.
He was only seven years old when the world ruthlessly taught him how heavy loss could truly be.
Footsteps crunched softly behind him, barely audible over the steady patter of the rain. Another boy—of a remarkably similar age—approached hesitantly, his small shoulders shivering violently from the biting, damp air.
"Was she… your mother?" the boy asked, his voice cracking slightly under the weight of the solemn atmosphere.
Kaizen didn't turn his head. His gaze remained welded to the cold stone.
"What if she was?" His voice tore through the quiet rain, sharp, venomous, and laced with a defensive pain that belonged to someone far older than his years. "And who the hell are you? Mind your own business."
The boy flinched, stepping back as if physically struck by the hostility. "I… I'm sorry…"
Kaizen finally snapped his head around, his silver eyes burning with a volatile, defensive fury.
"Now why the hell are you apologizing?"
"I… I don't understand your situation," the boy whispered, his lower lip trembling as he looked into those fierce silver eyes. "But I know forcing you to talk is wrong. I'm sorry."
Kaizen scoffed, turning his face away, though the burning rage in his chest slightly wavered into confusion. "What the hell are you?"
That moment should have ended right there—buried in anger, swallowed by the cold silence of the graveyard.
But fate didn't allow it.
II. Paths Crossed
From that bleak day onward, their lives completely intertwined. The backdrop of their childhood became a blur of muddy training grounds, echoing empty halls, forgotten forest trails, and rain-drenched palace courtyards. Days bled into weeks, weeks dissolved into months, and nearly a full year passed over them.
Despite Kaizen's sharp, biting tongue and his violently volatile temper, the two boys found themselves anchored to one another. They trained until their muscles tore, argued endlessly over forms and stances, and learned the brutal ways of combat side by side. Somewhere along the grueling way, the hard edges of their hostility softened into a strange familiarity.
And familiarity slowly transformed into something dangerously close to trust.
Kaizen would never admit it aloud. He would rather swallow glass than say it.
But Taro Ito had become the closest thing he had to a friend.
III. The Celestial Forest
One year later, the depths of the Celestial Forest shimmered with a dense, intoxicating spiritual light. Ancient, colossal trees towered overhead, their leaves glowing faintly with an ethereal luminescence, pulsating as if actively responding to the spiritual energies of those who trained beneath them. A soft, cool night wind stirred the canopy, carrying the rich scent of pine needles and wet moss.
"Hey, Kaizen!"
The voice was bright, clear, and instantly familiar.
Kaizen turned on his heel. A young girl stood at the edge of the clearing—her dark hair tied loosely, her eyes alive with a brilliant, unblemished warmth. Her cheeks were lightly flushed from the crisp, cool night air.
Before Kaizen could offer a single response, Taro, who had been standing beside him, completely froze. His eyes widened.
"…Rin? Is that you?"
Kaizen's silver eyes darted between the two of them, a sudden, cold possessiveness flaring in his chest. "You know her?"
Taro nodded, a soft smile touching his lips. "Yes… of course. She's my childhood friend."
Kaizen's entire expression hardened into a mask of absolute ice.
"Childhood?" Kaizen asked slowly, the word dropping like a lead weight. "Is that true… Rin?"
Rin tilted her head and smiled warmly, entirely oblivious to the sudden drop in temperature. "Yes. But what a coincidence—you two were already friends?"
"Yes!" Taro answered without a shred of hesitation.
Kaizen stepped closer to Taro, his movement predatory. He leaned in, lowering his voice into a chilling, venomous whisper meant for Taro's ears alone.
"Keep a certain distance from her," Kaizen whispered coldly, his silver eyes flashing with a dark, territorial intensity. "She's mine. She belongs only to me."
Taro's posture went completely rigid. The warmth left his face, replaced by an unyielding defiance. "Sorry… but I can't. She isn't a tool that belongs to you."
Kaizen's eyes darkened until they looked like storm clouds.
"Then try getting close to her," he said quietly, his hand dropping slowly to the hilt of his weapon. "I'll kill you."
Taro didn't back away an inch. He locked his gaze onto Kaizen's. "Try it."
Rin blinked, completely confused by the sudden, suffocating tension radiating from the two boys. "What are you two whispering about?"
In a single, fluid motion, Kaizen drew his blade, the steel catching the glowing spiritual light of the canopy.
*"Samurai — Second Stage: Stillness."*
The air around Kaizen went dead silent as he gathered his momentum. Taro answered instantly, drawing his own weapon with perfect execution.
*"Kenshi Phase One — First Stage: Heavy Strike."*
Steel violently met steel.
The collision erupted in a brilliant shower of sparks that danced beautifully in the filtered moonlight. The sheer force of their blows vibrated through the hilts of their swords, both boys refusing to give even a millimeter of ground.
"Stop! Both of you—stop!" Rin screamed, her voice filled with sudden panic.
Before they could swing again, Miki rushed into the clearing, throwing herself between them and forcing their blades apart with a swift, decisive deflection. Moments later, Master Akira appeared from the shadows of the ancient trees. His sheer, crushing spiritual presence immediately saturated the air, forcing the heavy pressure of gravity down upon all of them.
"Why are you fighting?" Akira demanded, his eyes scanning the two breathing boys with stern disapproval.
Kaizen spoke first, his tone defiant as he sheathed his sword. "He picked the fight."
Taro immediately dropped to one knee, bowing his head in absolute respect. "Yes, Master. It was my fault."
Akira frowned deeply, looking down at the bowing boy. "Then you'll receive extra punishment."
"No," Kaizen snapped, stepping forward, his jaw clenched. "I was lying. I started it."
Taro shot up, glaring fiercely at his rival. "You idiot—I said it was me!"
"Damn you, Taro," Kaizen hissed back, his silver eyes flashing. "I said I was the one!"
"Enough," Akira cut through their bickering sharply, his voice commanding absolute obedience. "Both of you. Come with me."
IV. Destiny Decided
Another full year of grueling training passed. The seasons turned, and once more, the young disciples gathered in a massive semi-circle on the stone courtyard as Kaze Ryujin stepped forward to face them.
"Today," Kaze announced, his powerful voice echoing flawlessly across the sweeping Celestial Grounds, "is the day your destiny shall be decided. Tara Ito will be your examiner."
Kaizen glanced sideways at Taro, his eyes narrowing slightly as he noticed a distinguished woman standing in the distance. "Ito… is she related to you?"
Taro nodded quietly, a look of profound respect and subtle anxiety in his eyes. "Yes. She's my mother."
Kaizen frowned, his sharp eyes catching the slight stiffness in her posture. "But… she looks injured."
"She always risks her life to save children," Taro replied quietly, his voice carrying a mixture of intense pride and deep-seated fear.
Minutes later, they entered the historic Celestial Battleground—Kaizen Ryujin, Taro Ito, Rin Kurogane, and more than fifty other nervous disciples.
Tara Ito stood firmly at the center of the arena, her presence completely calm, yet radiating a powerful, stabilizing aura that settled the trembling hearts of the children.
"You must defeat a demon," Tara declared, her voice ringing with absolute authority. "Those who succeed will become Celestials. Those who fail will become Guardians."
Rin swallowed hard, her skin turning pale as the earth beneath their boots suddenly began to violently vibrate. "We're supposed to defeat *that*?"
The ground split and trembled. From the rising cloud of dust and dark energy, a massive, towering monstrosity emerged, its jagged hide dripping with malicious spiritual force: Demon Rayquazel.
"You children think you can defeat me?" the demon roared, a sound that rattled the teeth in Kaizen's skull. "Prepare for death. *Shadow Wave!*"
A colossal, surging tide of pure, unadulterated darkness tore through the battlefield, pulverizing the stone floor and racing directly toward the vanguard of children.
"Holy shit…" Kaizen muttered, his arrogance briefly faltering as the terrifying scale of the attack bore down on him. "It's huge."
"Move aside!" Taro shouted from behind, trying to pull him back.
"No," Kaizen snarled, his pride flaring into a dangerous, blinding fire. "I'll cut it apart myself!"
Reaching for every ounce of his training, Kaizen lunged forward, his blade flashing in the darkness.
*"Samurai's First Stage—!"*
He rushed straight into the jaws of the beast. But the overwhelming, catastrophic tide of the Shadow Wave struck him head-on before his strike could land.
"Aaahhh!" Kaizen screamed, the dark energy tearing at his flesh and shattering his momentum.
"Kaizen!" Rin cried out in pure terror.
V. The Ultimate Sacrifice
In that split second of absolute disaster, Tara Ito moved faster than human sight.
She stepped completely forward, throwing her own body directly into the path of the devastating darkness, shielding Kaizen's small form entirely with her back. The catastrophic explosion of the Shadow Wave consumed her, the black energy tearing through her defenses. Yet, through the agonizing pain, she managed to turn her head just a fraction, her eyes locked onto her son.
"Live a long life… my son."
The resulting explosion completely shattered the celestial battlefield, sending a blinding shockwave of debris and dark smoke into the sky.
When the dust finally settled… she did not rise again.
Two agonizing weeks later, a heavy, suffocating silence hung over the inner chambers. The three children stood trembling before the cold, unyielding figure of Zyle Ito.
"You were the ones Tara protected," Zyle said, his voice entirely devoid of warmth, cutting through the room like a frozen blade.
"She died protecting that fool Kaizen Ryujin," Kaze added from the shadows, his tone laced with bitter resentment. "Taro Ito and Rin Kurogane are innocent. Allow them to become Celestials."
Zyle's sharp, piercing gaze locked entirely onto Taro, demanding an answer that carried the weight of a soul. "Who was Tara Ito to you?"
"My mother," Taro answered, his voice cracking, tears welling in his eyes as he held his head high. "My one and only love."
"Were you able to protect her?" Zyle asked, his words a brutal hammer blow.
"…No," Taro whispered, dropping his gaze to the polished floor.
Zyle's voice sharpened into pure, unadulterated cruelty. "Then how can you call that love?"
Absolute, suffocating silence filled the hall.
"You will become a Guardian," Zyle declared coldly, shattering Taro's lifelong dream with a single sentence. "You too, Kaizen Ryujin. And both of you are strictly forbidden from ever entering the Celestial order."
As the guards stepped forward to separate them, Rin was forcefully led away. She looked back over her shoulder, tears streaming down her face as she whispered, "I'll come back. Just wait."
Later, in the empty, dark corridor of the palace, Taro stared blankly at his trembling hands, his voice dropping into a hollow, broken whisper. "I really loved my mother… I wanted to become a Celestial Knight… but everything is gone."
Beside him, the weight of the universe finally broke the boy with the silver eyes.
Kaizen fell violently to his knees, his forehead pressing against the cold, hard stone. Tears streamed uncontrollably from his burning eyes, splashing onto the floor as his chest heaved with violent, uncontrollable sobs.
"I'm sorry… I'm sorry… it's all my fault…" Kaizen wept, his fingernails clawing at the stone until they bled. "I want to die… why am I alive… why…?"
That was the day the light completely left them.
That was the day they changed forever.
And that was the exact moment Kaizen Ryujin's greatest, most agonizing regret was born.
**—END OF CHAPTER —**