I paused, only two steps from Konashi who was trying to compose himself, but his quivering body gave him away.
"Storm? You can't hurt him. Think of Crimson," Yoshi tried to plead with me. His calm voice helped me to think rationally for a moment, but my anger was stronger. He thought I was taking control on my own accord, but it was Crimson who allowed my essence within her to take over. She understood my pain. I was dead and my death had been for nothing. Meaningless for the sake of 'peace.’ Now my men have been abandoned in a strange land and the same people who urged for our assistance and intervention now cast us away like garbage? I won't allow that. I will NOT accept it.
I turned back to glare at Konashi, taking the final two steps till I stood directly before him. His height meant nothing to me and his power was pitiful compared to my endless capacity. I wasn't his frail daughter anymore. I was Crimson Storm and I would not be tamed.
"You think I don't know your secrets? I suggest you think carefully, Konashi Arashi. My body may be gone and my soul is wandering in the world of lost souls, but my ESSENCE will thrive in Crimson until my possession is restored and if you aren't careful, I'll reveal all the lies you have tucked away in that little box you treasure so," I spoke in Yamato Kotoba, an older dialect of Japanese I knew no one here spoke but him.
He remained frozen in place and speechless. That alone satisfied the anger within me. I gave him a wide smile.
"My men and I will take our leave, but remember my warning, Konashi. It's only a matter of time...and believe me. Your time of power is almost over. You've been warned."
I grinned sinisterly, taking a step back before turning around to leave the room. My body knew where the exit was and was happy no one else was around to try and stop me.
I heard a commotion behind me, but I paid it no mind. My power was already dimming with every precious second that ticked away. I could hear the clicking of claws on the tatami mat and smiled when my eyes caught sight of Urufu who matched my quick stride.
My fast walk turned to a run; my body ached to get away from this place. No one would know how much heartache and anxiety this place was causing Crim, and I for one couldn't stand it anymore. My men would know where I'd gone and hopefully one of them would retrieve Crimson when my essence retreated into slumber.
After five minutes of sprinting, I was in the right spot; the spot I had wanted to see one last time before I had died.
I took a deep breath, inhaling the soft scent of the lake before me. The scene was beautiful, with the crystal clear water surrounded by flowers and nearby wildlife. My hidden sanctuary that gave me clarity and guidance whenever I came down to Nokamato.
It was weird to be in this position, to be dead, but also alive because of the lingering magic I had stored within my sacred watch. Magic was more than power and was actually a part of the wielder. Eventually, with time it would fade. Just like memories and loved ones who passed away.
But until that time came, I'd aid Crimson in finding herself. Now that my soul was gone and the clock of my magic had begun the countdown to complete depletion, I would make sure to achieve three things before time ran out.
Help Crimson become the person she was meant to be.
Avenge myself by finding the culprits who stole my crystals.
Ensure my men can move on and find someone new to love.
If I could manage those three goals, my purpose would be complete and I could finally rest in peace.
Until then, the storm brewing within me would fight and rage on.
The switch in my mind flicked off and I found myself completely confused as to where I was. I blinked a few times, looking around the lake before me that sparkled in the moonlight. Fireflies and other forms of wildlife buzzed around, their sounds echoing through the forest. I looked down to find I was sitting on a wooden bench facing the lake and I was barefoot.
I frowned at the many blisters and cuts on my feet, unsure how I got them. What happened? I was standing with the guys in the living room. Mother came back with Father. James was there, I think? Father wanted me to leave. Then he said the others weren't welcome in Nokamato. Then...nothing.
"Woof!"
I noticed Urufu sitting on a nearby rock. She looked at me happily, wagging her tail before laying down on the rock. I smiled and my gut told me that was her favorite spot in this place. But I'd never been here in my entire life. More importantly, I'd never seen this place and I had tried to explore everywhere in Nokamato during my morning runs over the last four years.
I glanced down at my clothes, noticing I was only in a black shirt and jean shorts. Though it was normally warm in Nokamato, I shivered from the cool breeze that passed by.
I crossed my legs on the bench and hugged myself with my arms, trying to keep warm. The pain in my feet throbbed, reminding me of my current dilemma as to why I was in this unknown place to begin with.
On top of being cold and struggling to stay awake, I really wished I was back at my flat in my cozy room. The thought brought an image of James to my mind. Would he come find me? He wasn't there when I woke up, unlike the others. Where did he go? Had he even been there when I was unconscious?
I closed my eyes and continued to shiver. I felt so alone. My family continued to hate me and I imagined they always would, and my apparent boyfriend didn't care about me unless we were alone. Now I also had to deal with acquiring Storm Yuna's powers and I still didn't understand what that meant. Would I be in trouble? Would I be hunted now and killed for possessing such a thing?
I also questioned what I could do to help. The one thing I hated was feeling helpless and that was what I was currently experiencing. I wanted to contribute in some way. I wanted to aid Storm. She deserved justice and I wanted to be the one to help deliver it for her.
The last image of her fading away still haunted me. It would appear in my mind and I would see the incredible sadness in her tear-filled eyes as she became nothing but fragments of light. Was she just as helpless as I felt? In her final moments, when she knew she wouldn't survive and would leave her men behind, did she regret her choices?
I felt something drape over my shoulders, making me open my eyes. I expected to see James, but when I looked over, I was greeted by a pair of sky blue eyes.
"Malachi?" I whispered, astonished that he was here. A part of me rejoiced to see the dark-skinned male who appeared to be out of breath. He came to stand in front of me. He was sweating which made me realize he must have been running. The other part of me was sad that it wasn't James. Not because I missed him, but because seeing him may have helped to stabilize my thoughts again.
"Seeing as nothing is burning or shattering, I'm assuming our Crimson is back," Malachi theorized.
I blushed at his use of 'our,' unsure when I'd been claimed as one of them, but I decided to go along with it anyway. Even if I could only pretend to be a part of something like this for a short period of time, then I would at least know how it felt to belong in a group.
"Burning and shattering? Malachi, how did you find me?" I asked.
He gave me a smile and his expression softened.
"I had a hunch you'd come here. I got your address from Mr. Bipolar and ran there to see if you'd gone home, but you weren't there. This was the only other place I could think of," Malachi confessed.
"You ran all the way to my house?" I was astonished to hear he’d gone that far on foot and then came all the way back here, wherever here was.
"I was worried. We realized something must have triggered Storm's essence inside you and the power took over. I just didn't want you getting hurt. The others are looking around too. I should tell them you’re okay."