Return of the Fallen Volume 10 Chapter 96
The funeral for their comrades had passed and Lin showed Kazuki and Alutra the truth of what took place so long ago. Sephra was the main cause of it all due to obsession jealousy, love, and hate but she was not alone in blame. Orberus, Kazuki’s grandfather was well aware of the situation and could have prevented many deaths but instead decided to watch. Some of it was entertainment to him while some of it was so he could grasp more power in one of the Higher Realms.
He allowed Sephras obsession and suspicion to fester and grow and even made it so that the disguise Kazuki wore would slip and reveal his real face. Once Sephra saw his true features that only made her even more suspicious. Knowing she was raising Genzuko’s son, she felt disgusted and betrayed by Lin. All of these things led to the tragic day Kai was killed and Kazuki narrowly avoided death due to Daisius interfering and sending him to Earth.
A few days after learning all of this, Kazuki sat alone in space. His thoughts still bouncing around. He was confused, mad, unsure, and so on.
Lin appeared in space next to him.
(Kazuki.)
(Fa…uncle. I don’t even know how I should call you.)
Placing a hand on Kazuki’s shoulder, Lin smiled.
(While it’s true I am in actuality your uncle, the years we spent together meant more. I took you and Kai in and raised you both as if you were my real sons but I understand how hard it all is. Call my father or uncle or Lin, I don’t care, as long as you call upon me for support like always.)
Kazuki wrestled with it for a bit. He thought about his real father and how he never knew him. His father put everything on the line to protect him and his mother and his mother covered Kazuki even in death. Even though he did not know his father or mother that meant something. So even if he didn’t have love for them, he still respected them. This may come off as unfeeling and sad but respect, to Kazuki was something he valued.
Having respect for his mother and father was genuine. At the same time, Lin raised him since he was a young child. His brother and Lin at the time was the only real love he knew. Later on, he felt he was loved by his Granny master and then Nunully and Asuna but before that, it was only Lin and Kai.
Lin was like a real father.
(Can someone have two fathers?)
Lin didn’t understand what Kazuki meant at first but he quickly got it.
(Well it depends. What makes one a father in the first place. If someone cares about you as they would their child and would do anything for you, I think that person can fit that description. If there just so happens to be more than one person who fits that criteria then I don’t see that as being a problem, rather the person those two care about I would count as extremely lucky. There are many people who have no parents at all in their life, so if someone out there has not only one but more…That could be counted as a true blessing.)
Kazuki was quiet for a moment before he nodded.
(I guess that makes me one of the luckiest people in all the Realms. Right…Father.)
Lin pulled Kazuki in for a hug.
(Right.)
After a good moment, Kazuki and Lin were chatting about Genzuko and what type of person he was.
(I’ve already said your dad was one of the most talented people in all the Realms but he was also very kind and thoughtful. When brother was already several hundred years old and was already very busy helping Orberus take care of matters, he would still find time to play with all of us children and there were a lot of us. You only saw a small portion of the family when you were there but in actuality, there are hundreds of cousins. I and Alutra have nearly 50 siblings. I am the youngest of course. Can you imagine how many piggyback rides that is? The number of times we all wanted a ride on his magic sword. The fact that he had the patience to deal with all of us loud whiny children and he did it all with a smile.)
The topic began to change course and it switched to Kazuki’s real mother. Lin stopped in space and shook his head before apologizing.
(I’m sorry son but as for your mother, the details of who she was or where she’s from, I have none of them.)
Kazuki was dumbfounded.
(None. Not even anything about what type of person she was or even how the two met?)
(When your father met your mother he only mentioned he had found her in another Lower Realm outside of this one. He mentioned falling in love at first sight but before he could dive deeper into her backstory, he said he was going to marry her which caused Orberus to lose it and go off on brother. It wasn’t long before brother and father began to trade blows and you saw what happened after that. Brother left and Orberus cut him out of our lives entirely. I wish I could tell you something about your mother Kazuki, I really do but even when it comes to her name…I just don’t know.)
Kazuki felt a sting in his heart.
(What about Sephra, what about Orberus. Surely they must have looked into her past at some point right?)
(Sephra I can tell you she did not. Father and I had already taken a look into her memory. Although she has a special skill when it comes to the soul and we couldn’t see everything, the day she found you and your mother, the look on her face was of genuine shock. When she saw you and your mother, it was clear that was the very first time you all met. Followed after that, she killed you both in only a few minutes. I doubt she knew anything about your mother. All she cared about was what your mother supposedly did. She felt your mother stole her man, after that, she lost all reason and care as to who or where your mother was from. As for Orberus, I honestly couldn’t tell you. He is a man that knows many things and can find out even more than the average God but even if he does know, you never would. At least whatever information he has would not leave his lips. Not unless you paid a price.)
Kazuki sighed inwardly. He had no connection to his parents and after everything he’s been through, he should not feel such things for people he didn’t know but maybe because they were still his parents or maybe because it was Sephra that severed that connection, Kazuki was not ok with it.
As Kazuki was lost in thought suddenly a tiyn figure appeared on his shoulder and began tapping him on his cheek before issuing several tiny squeaks and coos.
Little Kosaru was trying to convey something to Kazuki.
(Hmm, did Alutra send you to come to fetch me? Is it lunchtime already?)
*Kooo cooo skwee*
Little Kosaru jumped up and down on Kazuki’s shoulder excitedly before vanishing and reappearing on his other shoulder and jumping around some more as if to say yes.
(What an interesting little creature. Its speed is unbelievably fast and that Divine energy within. Although the amount is minuscule, its purity is nothing to scoff at. You said Alutra just found this creature all alone?)
Kazuki held Kosaru in his palm and pet its back gently.
(Yes, it cried out to here. It seems to have just appeared in this Realm from out of nowhere. Do you have any idea what it is?)
Lin observed it curiously but he was stumped.
(It doesn’t resemble anything that I know of. Maybe it’s a mutation of another animal or of some number of beasts. I honestly can’t tell. I’m still wondering how this little guy can have Divine energy without being a Demigod. It’s unheard of.)
Kosaru saw Lin staring at it but instead of becoming nervous or scared, Kosaru squeaked happily before jumping from Kazuki’s hand and into Lin’s. Lin was surprised but still, he caught the tiny cutie and smiled.
(I don’t know what you are but you sure are affectionate. Maybe you were already someone else’s pet. That might explain why you show no fear toward people. That or you have no need to be fearful of us since we most likely wouldn’t be able to catch you were you to run.)
Kosaru started jumping up and down again as if he were agreeing. Suddenly a tiny voice entered both Kazuki and Lin’s minds.
(Yes yes, no scared. Fast fast fast.)
Kosaru suddenly darted away and vanished once more before darting back and reappearing.
Lin and Kazuki both stared at one another.
(Kazuki, your little cousin really is fast.)
Kazuki couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.
(Please don’t call Kosaru my cousin.)
Lin started laughing as the three made their way back down to Gordonia.
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