Kana From Hell: Part Twenty Two

 

Kana's heart leapt with joy. It was her! Michi was right in front of her.

Michi smiled coyly at her. While Kana had witnessed the death of her love and was now the target of yokai, she knew that the young woman before her was Michi. 

Her distinct floral fragrance emanated from her person.

"Kana," Michi spoke in the sweet voice Kana thought she would never hear again.

Tears brimmed her eyes, and she started towards her when suddenly a strong arm gripped her.

Kana gasped and turned to see a large, hulking figure before her. The scent of flowers was quickly replaced by the acrid stench of smoke. 

"Kana!" The figure before her bellowed.

She let out a scream when she saw that the figure before her had the head of an ox. One large muscular arm was holding onto her while another held a sharp spear.

She thought she had seen a glimpse of him in hell. Gozu!

Kana struggled as Gozu dragged her away from Michi. She screamed to let go, but the creature paid her no heed.

Kana summoned all the power within her. Her scar cracked and glowed.

She used her left fist to hit him in the wrist.

Gozu turned to her, enraged as she managed to free herself. 

"He wants to see you. You must obey his command!"

Kana could not go. There was so much to do. Michi was here. She had to see if her grandfather was fine. And the promise she made to Ren.

Before Gozu could grab her again, she dodged his attack. Gozu let out a low grunt. He positioned his spear. 

He threw a strike, but Mana expertly dodged it until Gozu grabbed her with his other hand and flung her to the ground. He towered over her before raising his spear and plunging it right into her heart.

Kana felt herself being pushed into the ground further and further down until she could feel the heat of the flames.

***

True to his word, Ren knew of a yamabushi up a small mountain near the forest. 

It was easier to roll Toshihiro up the mountain because of his state.

The yamabushi took one look at Toshihiro and understood that some dark magic was at play.

Ren explained that the older man was also possessed by a yokai.

The yamabushi placed both hands on the unconscious man, closed his eyes, and breathed in deeply.

"A Tanuki tsuki." The yamabushi replied. "It is difficult to remove it but not impossible."

Ren asked if the older man would survive after the exorcism. The yamabushi nodded thoughtfully.

"If the old man can survive a curse of being turned into a cooking vessel, perhaps he can survive the tanuki tsuki as well."

Ren was asked to leave the cave. It would take several hours to exorcise the yokai from Toshihiro.

He thought about Kana and wondered if she had found Hiroto yet. Though he had promised to stay by the older man's side, his curiosity regarding Kana's whereabouts prompted him to descend the mountain and go in search of her.

***

"I have been waiting for you." 

Kana blinked as she came to her senses. The voice was loud and booming and sent a shudder through her.

When she finally regained her senses, she found herself being held by Gozu, who then dropped her before another towering figure who wore a tall black hat and long flowing robes.

Kana stifled a whimper when she realized where she was...in hell. There was blood oozing from the walls, pained screams heard from beyond, and flames circling all around them.

"Who are you?" She asked timidly.

"Enma Daio. This is my realm."

Kana nodded sadly. This is where she belonged. She had killed Hiroto and performed a violent act. Of course, she was going to be dragged to hell.

"You have put through these trials so that I could judge where you belong."

Kana understood he was speaking about the yokai. She hung her head in defeat. There was no escaping hell now.

She was standing before the King of Hell, and his stern expression alluded to an eternity of suffering in hell. 

"Do you know why you are here?" Enma Daio asked.

Kana nodded. "Sakura. Hiroto."

Enma Daio's expression stayed the same. "You promised a man that you would deliver blood of the yokai to save his sister. Do you remember that?"

Kana sucked in a breath. "I wanted to keep my promise."

"You do know you are a yokai as well now." 

"What? No! I never meant to..."

But she did. She had harmed other yokai, and she had killed at least two humans.

"You're a different kind of yokai. We don't have a name for your kind yet," Enma Daio told her. "Perhaps we will name your sort, Kana."

Gozu snorted behind her.

Kana looked at her scar, which still glowed. "That means my blood can save Ren's sister."

"If you are ready to drain all of your blood, you will no longer exist. Choose wisely."

Kana thought about Sakura. Ren did love her, and while she hadn't harmed her, she was responsible for her death. The only way to make up to him was to let his sister find peace.

"I am ready to give up my blood. But do you promise to free her from hell?"

Enma Daio nodded solemnly, his expression softening just a bit.

Kana bowed before him, ready to give herself up. Gozu and Mezu, the latter being just as tall but with the head of a horse.

Their spears pointed at both sides of her.

Kana closed her eyes, ready to feel the life drain out of her.

"That's enough," Enma Daio bellowed.

Kana snapped her eyes open to find both Gozu and Mezu step back as the King raised one hand.

"Your willingness to sacrifice yourself and your loyalty towards your friend is commendable."

Kana felt hope rise in her chest. "Does that mean..."

"Emiko has been pardoned. Her action was imprudent, but she believed she was protecting her brother."

"She has been sent to live another life in your world."

"Has she been reincarnated?" Kana asked.

Enma Daio waved a hand at her. "That is of no concern to you."

***

Ren had been walking around the forest for an hour when he found Hiroto's corpse. The man was no doubt dead. 

Kana's revenge was complete. But then where was she? 

He scanned his environment and found droplets of blood on the ground. He touched the dirt and winced when he felt the heat.

Ren stumbled back. Kana was gone. The blood...it must be hers. Hiroto was far from this place, and the heat emanating from the ground meant she had been taken to hell.

He bowed his head and mourned for her.

"I feel different." 

Ren looked up to see the older man waddle towards him. 

He reached for his sword and remembered he had loaned it to Kana. 

"Do not worry, I am fine. Your friend assisted me."

Ren narrowed his eyes, and the older man sighed. "I'm not craving raw meat, neither am I scheming to kill you."

Ren rose from the ground. He saw a gleam of metal in the bushes and  walked towards it to recover his sword.

"Where's Kana?" Toshihiro looked around and saw the body of a man.

"That is who raised her?"

Ren nodded solemnly. "I believe she exacted her revenge and was taken to hell. There's blood on the ground."

Toshihiro was shocked. "No, it can't be!"  He touched the ground and flinched when he felt the heat.

He felt himself close to tears but pulled himself back. There were more important things to do. He never considered himself to be a selfish man, but he couldn't let Kana's death go in vain.

He touched the blood on the ground and spoke an incantation.

"What are you doing?" Ren asked in disdain.

Toshihiro ignored him. The incantation enveloped him, turning the world into a revolving blur of images. He felt his limbs being pulled in all directions until it finally stopped.

There was a flash of light, and then he was standing before Ren in his human form.

Ren took a step back. Toshihiro was a few inches taller from him, and his actual form was terrifying. No wonder he was the emperor.

"You didn't even shed a tear for your granddaughter, you selfish man."

"I must accept she is gone. But I can not lose this opportunity to regain my true form and fight back for my kingdom."

Ren accused him of being heartless, but Toshihiro reminded him of all the people who were suffering under Akhihito's rule.

"I must regain my position as emperor for the people." Toshihiro turned to him. "I could use your help. I'll appoint you as my aide. You can make an honest living if you work for me."

Ren shook his head. "I am on a mission to save my sister's soul. I will not abandon her now."

"She is safe." 

Ren turned around to see Kana walk from behind the trees.

"Impossible." Toshihiro looked at his arms and felt around his body.

"Your granddaughter is gone," she told him. "I'm a yokai."

Ren approached her in joy but then stopped, remembering his manners.

"Your sister, Emiko, has been reincarnated." Kana then looked at the taller man before her.

There was a flash of pity in Toshihiro's eyes. He approached his granddaughter and placed a hand on her shoulder. 

"I will only consider you as my granddaughter. Not a creature."

Kana smiled. "So this is what you actually look like."

"How are you here?" Ren inquired.

I am free from hell. Enma Daio has allowed me to leave."

"You can accompany me. I will return to regain my kingdom." Toshihiro told her.

Kana shook her head. "I am free now, grandfather." She turned, and the two men saw a young woman approach them.

"This is Michi. She is who I want to be with."

Understanding dawned in the two men's minds. They looked at each other as if telepathically communicating. Each felt the same.

They were happy Kana was here. They were happy she could live the life she wanted to.

Kana held Michi's hand. She's a yokai, too. She died before her love could be fulfilled. She has been searching for me. 

Michi smiled. "I found her because all the yokai were instructed to follow and capture Kana, then bring her in front of Enma Daio."

"I'm glad you finally found me," Kana told me.

Toshihiro cleared his throat. "And you? Will you accompany me or not?"

Ren looked at Kana and Michi, looking at each other with love in their eyes.

He turned to Toshihiro. "I accept your offer, old man."

"Emperor," Toshihiro corrected.

Ren smirked. 

Toshihiro shook his head but smiled. "You have a lot to learn."

He turned to Kana.

Kana and Michi bowed. Toshihiro smiled back. 

"Once I am emperor again, I will come to see you."

Kana looked at Michi. "Perhaps we will come to see you."

Toshihiro nodded. He turned and walked out of the forest. Ren followed him but took one last look at Kana, who was whispering to Michi. 

He narrowed his eyes at her. For a moment, he was certain he had seen a skeleton face instead of a young woman's face. But perhaps it was his imagination. He turned away.

He followed Toshihiro, relieved that his sister had found a new life. And then excited for the new journey that lay ahead of him.

THE END