Sakugen: Rebirth

Have you ever had the feeling you had a doppelganger out there in the world? Hotan is the reincarnated double of an immortal that has powers Hotan has yet to discover.

Chapter One

A young man stood in a place so vast that no walls could be seen beyond the horizon. His eyes fell upon a large black figure approaching from the distance in utter silence. His ears were deafened by his heartbeat, only adding to the panic filling his lungs. The tension broke when the figure called out his name.

"Hotan I shall take out my revenge." The animosity in the voice gripped his soul.

"Revenge?" His mind raced with questions trying to decipher the familiar voice. "Who are you!?"

"You know what blood runs in our hearts." From the shadow man, a long sword appeared reflecting its light upon him as if naming the kill in advance. "I shall thank you for my tortured way-of-living for all these centuries! I’ll send you to that lonely darkness equal to the one you have given me!"

Tripping and falling into the empty space, Hotan landed hard on the icy ground. The blade rose overhead and raced towards him at an alarming rate; the edge ripped across his arms and released the blood-curdling scream from his lips. The black shadow laughed hysterically, his blood splashing across its darkened face.

"Hotan!" A haughty teacher pushed her glasses up on her nose and paused from her writing on the blackboard.

"Eh!" He jerked his head up from the desk breathing hard from his nightmare.

"I would appreciate it if you stay awake during my class." She snorted, turning back to the blackboard on her lesson of 'Law of Sine.'

"Feh." Sighing, Hotan rubbed the sweat from his forehead, relieved that it was simply the dream again.

"Pst. Are you okay? You look unusually pale." A wide-eyed, blonde-haired girl in the desk next to him whispered as he cracked his stiffened neck.

"I'm fine." He turned from her glance, glaring out the window, annoyed.

"Okay." Shrugging she continued taking her notes.

Hotan watched the Physical Education class finish a basketball game on the court just below the building. The window he sat next to was on the second floor of the old brick High School. After the last few kids disappeared from sight, he turned his focus on some mourning doves. They were landing on the tennis court fence. His gray eyes focused the best they could on them. Being colorblind had only made his school life more exasperating. He flicked his silvery gray bangs from his left eye. Pondering on the dream once again, he let himself drift away from the sounds of the classroom. Who was that? I've been having the same dream for over three months. It just keeps coming more and more often and I hate it. Closing his eyes, sighing, the dark figure, the stranger is all he saw etched clearly in his mind.

"Class dismissed, have a good evening everyone!" The teacher chirped, watching the students grab up their things and flock out of the room. "Hotan Samuels, I need to speak with you."

Grabbing his book bag, he walked up to her desk wondering what she could possibly say to him now. "Yes Mrs. Bothirsen? Is there a problem?"

"Hotan." Pausing, she watched the last student leave and the door shut with a click. "I know you know this material already, but please stay awake in my class. Just because you're smarter than what other students are, it doesn't mean you get special privileges to sleep and not take notes. You need to be participating in my class if you want to pass."

"I haven't been sleeping well lately, sorry." He turned with no reaction on his face, but stopped a few steps from the door when the teacher opened her mouth to say something. "Oh yeah, whoever said I had special privileges? If that was the case, I wouldn't show up." Smirking to himself, he left her there speechless.

Hotan walked down the crowded hallways of the old brick high school, West Johnson High. Head hanging low, his gray hair hid his morbid expression. Making his way through the mayhem like a phantom in a crowded cemetery was normal routine for him. As usual, no one gave him a second look nor spoke to him as he made his way around a corner through the locker-embellished hallways.

"Hey there." A deep voice rung in his ears like Death itself had come to take him away. It was Hisota, a so-called friend; he had recently been butting heads with him on everything.

"Damn, and here I thought you were dead." He hissed as he looked over at the brown-eyed boy who smiled cunningly back at him. “I was starting to think you were dead.”

"How flattering." Hisota was leaning against the lockers, his jet-black hair in a ponytail and arms crossed. “I’ve been busy, and considering the mistreatment you give me I have no reason to show or give you any attention.”

"Cut the crap Hisota. This crush of yours is getting tiresome." Glaring at him angrily never had any effect at all.

"Oh really? So, is that why you started to date that cheerleader-want-to-be?" Hisota's eyes chimed as he flicked a strand of his hair out of his face. “You prefer the preppy school nerd types? It just doesn’t fit your persona there. Pretty girls like that just look awful hanging off the neck of a grungy rocker boy like you.”

"Leave her out of this." He took a step forward to continue his way out of the school but Hisota quickly moved in front of him. He was an inch from his face with that cheesy grin. "Move Hisota, now!"

"I always wondered how those sweet lips of yours would taste." Hisota leaned closer as if to kiss him but was sent flying into the lockers as Hotan shoved passed him angrily.

"Be at the club tonight." Hotan’s voice thundered throughout the hallway as he pushed pass the crowd. Quickly leaving the scene that now had several students stopping, excited that there may be a fight.

"Tsch." Hisota hit the lockers with an angry fist. Ignoring the eyes that had turned their attention on him, he walked the other way.

Walking out the front doors of the school, Hotan made his way across the campus grass away from the bus loop. A block away from the scene, he stopped in front of the old church that had been built in the colonial times. It was only an abandoned cathedral towering over the small neighborhood and nothing more. As long as he could remember, it was his favorite place to go when he wanted to be alone. Quiet and out of place, it made a great hideaway for thinking about life. He walked inside and threw off some junk from the wall to reveal a Suzuki Hayabusa. He had bought it recently after saving up from odd end jobs and selling his old bike. The bike needed to be hidden from sight; the school had pitched a fit about the very idea of him coming and going on a motorcycle. It made sense for him to take advantage of the old ruins of the church. In all the years he had been coming there, he had never once seen one person, let alone any signs of the property being sold. He placed his helmet on, starting the bike and the engine lightly purred in response. Slowly riding out the front of the church, he sped off as his bike touched onto the street, heading down the road with a loud roar.

"Hello?" A short, wavy haired brown-haired girl answered the front door, her eyes lighting up as she recognized the person standing on the other side. "Hey Hotan!"

"Hey Shellie." Hotan walked pass her and flopped onto the recliner. Propping his feet on the table, he tossed her a bag. "Here. Hope it fits."

"Huh?" Shellie looked into the bag. "Oh! It's the pants I wanted at the mall! But… these are brown, I said red. You didn't ask for help again, did you?"

"I can't help it if I'm an unsociable boy who is color blind." Sighing as he cracked his fingers, he finally glanced over at her. “You know I never ask for help.”

"Oh well. These will have to do." She went down the hall, into a room and within minutes came back wearing her new pants. "Let's go!"

"Do they fit okay?" He asked as he stood up, opening the door and holding it open for her.

"Yup! At least you got that right." She chirped cheerfully as she skipped on out the door.

Nodding contently as he shut the door behind them, Hotan handed her his helmet. The bike started without hesitation and he patiently waited as she climbed on. Bracing herself with his shoulders as she nervously took her seat. As soon as he felt her arms tightly wrap around his waist, he backed the bike out of the driveway. After a few minutes of turns and rounding city corners, they came to a back alley behind a club modestly named ‘Down Towns.’ The alley was dark, reeking of garbage and who knows what the other smells were from. It was used as a small parking area for employees for the club. His band parked here on the nights they played for the locals.

It had been routine for them to play there nearly a year now. They were a smash that very first night and Chaz, the owner, offered to pay them to play on a weekly basis. He was happy the gang agreed to it since he really had no job and naturally, no money. Being independent, and left with no parents, he tried his best to care for himself. His dad left his mother when she was with child and his mother died a few years ago. Having no other family, a family friend had to take him in. He was at liberty to make his own decisions. For a simple band of young kids, they seemed to be recognized by everyone; from students at school to random adults they happen to pass by. It was a good feeling walking through that back door again and again. It was a lot of work to keep it going.

"Hey girlfriend! Nice pants. Let me guess, old stubborn picked them out." Kujoh laughed, hugging Shellie and did a special hand shake with Hotan. “What’s chilling my man? You never ask for help dude. It’s insane.”

"Has Hisota showed up?" Hotan asked as they walked through the back hallway of the club. “I told him to be here.”

"Nope." Kujoh brushed back his red bangs, and flipped the long ponytail back off his shoulder. "And my guess is that he won't. Heard you two got into it again at school. Everyone thought this time was going to be a fight for sure."

"Not really." Sighing he opened up his locker, pulled out his guitar and slammed the door angrily. “It just pisses me off that he blows us off like this because I don’t let him get his way. I’ve worked too hard to change things for his benefit and only his benefit. I have to consider everyone, and he’s the only one with the issues.”

"I guess I'm covering again." Shellie smiled sweetly trying her best to lighten the mood. “Don’t worry about it. At least you have me and Kujoh here.”

"If you don't mind playing." Looking over at her from the bench, he sighed, tuning his guitar. “It’s nice to have a girlfriend who can play the bass and drums. Sorry to take advantage of it so much lately.”

"I’m starting to think that’s why you keep me around anymore." She gleamed, hugging his neck from behind briefly. “You better play some of the songs I like tonight.”

"That's the spirit!" Kujoh grabbed his drumsticks and handed them over to her. "You'll be Bam-Bam and I'll be Pebbles tonight Doll."

"Okay, but who will Hotan be?" Shellie started laughing.

"Fred Flintstone. They're both grumpy." Kujoh muttered as he left the room.

"You're on in ten!" Chaz shouted back to them.

"Are you sure you feel up to it?" He asked again adjusting the shoulder strap on his guitar. “You don’t have to play.”

"Yes." Shellie winked reassuring him. “I am fine. It’s not as if I was going to be in the audience. I am just switching instruments with Kujoh since I am horribly tone deaf and can’t sing for the life of me.”

"Now for your favorite local band, the Closet Hobos!" Chaz stepped off stage and Hotan stood in front of the microphone, waiting for the heartfelt applause to fade to almost complete silence.

"Good evening everyone. We have a great lineup for you tonight.” Hotan’s voice was smooth and solid as he spoke to the hundreds of eyes that stared at him through the smoky club. “I would like to start out with one of my favorite songs from TOOL. It's called Lateralus." He slowly began to play his guitar, silencing the audience further.

"Great show you guys! See you next week!" Chaz patted him on the back and left the three of them in the locker room. Chaz quickly returned to the stage to introduce another group as he puffed on his cigar.

"Too bad Wilma didn't show." Smirking playfully, Kujoh placed his bass in a locker across from Hotan’s, giving Shellie a wink. “Hisota’s more girl than you I think.”

"Yea, too bad." Hotan’s voice was plain and harsh as he grabbed his Bomber jacket from the locker, replacing his guitar in its rightful place. “I don’t know why I put up with him sometimes.”

"Well, you sang beautifully." Shellie hugged his neck, kissing him on the cheek. “And that’s all that really should matter.”

"Thanks." Turning to gaze at her, his hand brought her face near as he stole a kiss from her lips. "You ready to go home? It’s almost curfew time."

"Sure." She smiled as she stared up into his gray eyes, her cheeks turning red. “I’d hate to upset Dad or Mom.”

"You two behave now." Kujoh interrupted, grabbing his drumsticks from Shellie’s hand and punching Hotan in the shoulder. "See you later. I've got to jet before I get into trouble."

"Bye Kujoh." He headed out the door holding Shellie close to his side. "Let's go."

Hotan dropped Shellie off, kissing her good night at the door, and headed to the cathedral. He needed time to think. This time he parked the bike out front since no one cared outside of school hours. Walking inside he had to step over random debris and trash as he went. There was an eerie silence and the slightly broken stained glass window was brightly lit. The full moon's beams filtered into the church, scattering odd shades of gray among the dust covered ruins. He sat down in one of the very few pews left intact and admired it peacefully, feeling slightly drunk from the night air. The sound of a night bird was distant and the cool atmosphere made it easier for him to recover from playing at the bar moments ago. The pew, one of the few left intact, creaked and moaned under his weight as he sat down. He closed his eyes, taking in a deep breath, feeling as if he could stay there forever. There wasn’t a care in the world and it felt as if time could stay still in that place for eternity.

"I've been waiting." His eyes widened in fear as the voice in the dream became reality. “And here you are. How convenient that you walked right into the lion’s den.”

Hotan jolted up, looking back at the entrance where a man in a brown trench coat stood with a devilish grin. His dark dread locks only added to the careless posture he carried as he slowly walked closer as if a predator stalking its prey. The laughter that kept boiling out of the man only made Hotan’s heart flutter. This can’t be real. This can’t be happening.

"I've finally found you, oh great Hotan, and now to repay you for my hell!" Swinging a sword swiftly with authority, the man halved an angel statue as he passed.

"Who are you!” Hotan stumbled backwards, tripping on some rubble, falling to the ground hard against the old marble floor. “How do you know my name?”

Scrambling backwards across the floor, the man approached closer. His back hit the cold wall, stopping his heart. Is this really the end for me? Do I die here?

"Eh? You can't remember?" Grinning widely, the stranger released a cruel laugh. His amber eyes seemed to flare as if amused by some joke. "Even better! I can toy with you without a fight. How ironic that your own spell will be the one to bring you to ruin. Karma has taken its place to right things by me!"

"Please, I, I have no clue what you're talking about!" Screaming, pleading to somehow compromise with whoever this foe may be. Someone please help me!

"No. You wouldn't." Approaching steadily towards Hotan, he towered over him as if he were Death with his Scythe. Willing to take his soul without a second thought was the clear intent. “You haven’t awakened, and this is pure bliss for me to see the fear spilling out of you. I could drink from you all night.”

"I warn you.” Hotan's voice deepened as his body felt like it was on fire with a sudden sense of recognition and preeminence. "Leave now before I am forced to hurt you. I do not wish to act, but forced, I will defend myself."

Standing up slowly, a blue aura steamed off his body only adding to the fire that burnt his skin and boiled his blood. Hotan’s eyes closed and his head hung low, not caring what this danger would do next. He no longer felt like himself. It was as if someone had taken the reigns and was now leading his body in the actions that were needed. What is this burning? Who else is here with me?

"You? Hurt me?" The stranger lifted an eyebrow finding this change in Hotan entertaining. "A mere boy with such a small mind cannot control powers such as that. Do we have a new visitor all of a sudden? Have I lifted a curtain? I hope so!"

"Geliah, I warn you. Back off." Hotan snapped his head up; his eyes now gleamed like Emerald. Staring coldly into the amber ones that threatened, toyed with him, he took a step forward. “You have no quarrel with this boy.” Who is this? I can’t talk! I can’t move! Who is controlling my body?

"Interesting, so, Hotan, Tell me why you hide so deep within that Mortal?" Geliah sighed, grinning sincerely. “It seems like a bad deal for the both of you. Endangering someone so innocent, tsk, tsk, shame on you on hiding in there. Does he know that his body may not handle this overload?”

"I do not hide." Black lines and stripes snaked and vined their way across Hotan’s skin. They only added to the blue flames like fuel on a fire. "I sleep, even now. I am no longer the entity you seek but something reborn anew. I no longer exist in this state, but only a faded memory within the power itself. I will not let you bring harm to this boy. I gave my life to him and you will not take him for the mistakes I have committed."

"A shame." Geliah swung his sword with rage, tired of the boring conversation. "Now Die!"

"Stop!" Releasing a primal scream, a flash of blue stopped the swing and continued across the Cathedral. Pulsing outward it painted everything in its path with blue flames.

Geliah’s sword rusted away to dust. Everything else around them that it covered was restored to a new or original state as if age had never touched the cathedral. The two stood there exchanging glares, the cathedral became white, clean and unbroken once again, glimmering in its fresh state. Truly a miracle doused in blue flames.

 Geliah paused and slowly smirked again, chortling. "Is that it?! What a simple Parlor Trick! Come on. You can do something better than that I would hope!"

"Geliah!" A new voice broke the laughter, catching their glares, instantly bringing the fight to a stop. “Stop there!”

A tall longhaired figure stood on the rafters above them as if it were watching, waiting for its turn to join them. He jumped off, landing elegantly on the white marble floor despite the height of the fall. His long silver hair followed his actions like a ribbon and his gray eyes seemed ancient. He approached them with supreme dominance carrying a stern posture, something you expect a Judge to have. Geliah shifted his stance, clearly annoyed and yet, Hotan found himself relaxing as the stranger came closer. He wore an all-white business suit, tie and vest standing before them with resolution.

"Tendou." Hotan sighed, giving a slight smile. “It brings me joy to see you again, but great sorrow for the reason.”

"What are you doing, oh faithful vulture? You have no pickings here." Geliah's grin had faded as he sneered at Tendou. “Do you not see I have business here? Shoo. There’s plenty of road kill elsewhere that requires your attention. I can promise you that.”

"I am here to lay judgment. You have no business forcing the awakening upon others." He glared at Hotan but quickly returned his eyes to the untrusting Geliah. “This is wrong and cruel to the innocent ones you have dragged into your games. I will not let you continue stirring what should be left alone. Forcing a break in their spell could be fatal for them. It is best for them to wake up when the spell fades away. Those who are still in it should be left alone.”

"Well now, then tell me why we're all Awakening?" Geliah's devilish smirk returned and he spat on the floor at Tendou’s feet. “Why have I awoke from this imprisonment that you both placed me in? And the others? After oh so many centuries ago? I must admit, I am rather pleased to be back, but pissed about not being able to use my abilities to their full capacity. It’s a waste, most of all an insult.”

"That is not my concern. I have neither answers nor reasons." He glared at Geliah, cautious of his unpredictable behavior. “But your breaking others from the cycle they still had is my concern. It stops here. This is going too far. Nothing good will come from killing him.”

"Fine, I found who I was looking for. How about I give him one year? He should have enough time to put up a fun fight by then." Geliah smirked seeing the panic he had placed on Tendou’s face. “Good luck helping him on that. Try to keep him on his feet and out of a coma. I’ll leave everyone alone, but he will be mine. I rather have a good fight out of it at least. Good luck with that one coach.”

"One year." Tendou sighed, seeming unsettled by the agreement. “We will see when the time comes. I do not agree with your idea Geliah. I will interfere.”

"Thank you." Hotan's tattoos dissolved and he dropped to the ground, exhausted from the energy he had used.

“I’ll take you both on. Bah!” Laughter filled the church. “What a waste of energy.”

Tendou looked down at him for a moment, finally walking away, following Geliah outside. His body had fallen cold and clammy. Sweat snaked to the marble floor like streams of ice as he slowly let the dark exhaustion overwhelm him. Who saved me? Was it the tall man with the long silver hair? So tired…

Author's Note

Does this first Chapter appeal to you and/or make you want to read more?

Reviews

[Mathias Winters]

Wow. Expertly paced and written. It definitely makes me want to read more. There were a few things in the story that might need tweaking, repeated words and stuff, but otherwise this story looks insanely promising. The names were a bit hard to follow. I don't know where this is taking place, but the names seem a little strange. Very unique story idea. Uniqueness is a hard thing to come by nowadays. The characters are amazingly sculpted with back stories and personalities; something that I rarely see on this site.