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Yukihime

"Wait...I don't get it. What's the deal with making my mother having a child? I don't care if you're my dad."

"I just can't forgive myself, especially if you're alive and see your mother in her current state. Seiryu, Natsumi is not acting like herself after 50 years of losing her only son."

"My mom becomes a prostitute?"

"No, dear god, no! Why can you say something so blunt like that to your mother? No, her life is not as good as the one you know, that's all. She re-married with a wealthy movie director a year later, but 30 years into their marriage, the Western was killed in a car crash. I returned to Terra despite of self-exiling myself to a distant colony, and then I met with Natsumi."

"Did she recognize you?"

"With her stoned state? No, of course not. I was depressed from our company's demise that I unknowingly had a one-night stand with her. Realizing that I made her life miserable, I ran, trying to keep that in my past. Last I heard from her was that she had a daughter, a very rare snow Orient she named Yukihime."

"So why do you feel guilty? In fact, why don't you marry her? I don't object. You need a woman in your life, not some draconians you raped during the war. Dude, how about those women? Did they ask you for some insurance?"

"No...yet, Natsumi wasn't the worst thing that I want to confess to you. I just want you to know about it, as to not make you a vengeful spirit."

"Then tell me what you want to tell. Come on, man, just don't keep me in dark here. I can't make you a happy, changed draconian if this goes on. Not to mention, we are facing an imminent destruction of this universe."

"Well, then there's no reason on hiding it, huh? I...massacred a whole village just to save an alien woman."

This turned Seiryu expression to sour. "You WHAT?!"

"I am not proud of this, you know. Turn out she's the evil one and I'm forced to kill her too."

"Man, that's deep, not to mention disturbing. Are there any problems with the authorities? Killing a whole village won't stay under the radar for so long."

"They never knew, and I don't want to get caught by killing some 'innocent' villagers. There was no definite proof that they were involved in some killings. Still..."

"What do you know? You're confessing for a massacre to a Mako," said a familiar voice. Capisa was standing by the two Orients, now wearing a different clean set of clothes.

"Capisa?! How long have you been there?"

"Not long, but I've heard it on the long shot," said the Aquros while playing with his long scaly ear.

"So you want to turn me in?"

"Nah, I won't. There's no proof that you're there, either, so you're free by lack of evidence. But still...in Aquran society, you're not supposed to remarry. I can implicate you for that, you know."

"I hope you're joking."

Capisa smiled. "Of course I'm not serious! Anyway, we got our shipwright assistant. Calventis is currently briefing him on the ship's system. Anyway, we also received a subspace message that the St. Vincent is currently getting refitted, and...we might want to meet the man of the hour?"

"Who?"

"Ambassador Atho of the Rendloks."

Dairyu made a smile. "Well, that oversized ant actually made something good for once. I can't believe he's an ambassador now. Is the ship ready, Capisa?"

"It's ready for travel since we arrived here, Ryu. Come on, this is just a detour."

"Oh, right.... Seiryu, we can talk about your mom in the ship. Just...don't tell anyone about that secret."

"If there's no ghosts manifesting from their remains, then we have no witness," said Seiryu.

Their ship blasted off into space and Seiryu started the FTL towards their destination. He still felt uneasy with Capisa at the cockpit, seeing that his hatred towards Aqura weren't sated yet. He still remembered getting into a skirmish in a battlefield where some Aqura managed to capture him and one of his friends. They were subjected to tortures beyond what Capisa knew, and his hatred, coupled with the corruption the mutation gave to him, amplified his thirst for revenge, and he single-handedly kill the Aqura that imprisoned him. He wanted to see the Aqura's expressions when they saw the body.

Still, what Seiryu hated from Capisa wasn't the fact that he's a sharkie, but from his eyes and aura. Those were the same eyes and aura of a hardened soldier in war, but deep within those were the hardened expression of a sharkie who had seen so many torture scenes that he had practically got immune from it. But unlike those sharkie that Seiryu killed, he wouldn't dare attack Capisa. Deep within that intimidating visage was a warrior and a killer that had no hesitation to kill. He had seen a lot of deaths, wars, conflicts, and even betrayals that he had practically became a killing machine, with little conscience left. He had started to get into the Orient's level, and Seiryu hated it. He never wanted to have a competition, especially a competition from a race he hated.

They reached the space station where Capisa had received the message. It wasn't as huge as some of the other space stations from different sectors, but what stood out wasn't the station itself, but the giant spaceship that looked like it went out from a classic Terran science fiction series. It had a streamlined body with two giant engines protruding by its side. The Federation logo in its latest incarnation was proudly painted on one of the ship's side, and a print of the ship's name, St. Vincent, was visible and big enough without making it looked very ridiculous. The livery, on the other hand, didn't suggest a weaponized starship. It was instead a hospital ship, possibly the one dispatched to find survivors at the Nebula. But at that moment, it was being repainted.

Seiryu made the docking procedure, which surprisingly was still the same with the one he was accustomed to many years ago, except the fact that there was no need for precise landing due to the presence of magnetized pads that kept the ship afloat, possibly to make some repairs and cleaning easier. He then went out first, without thinking much, which suddenly made some of the older Terrans there gasped when they saw him. He never thought he was so popular.

"You're famous with the veterans, Seiryu," said Dairyu. "With this ghost crisis everywhere, they might've known your reputation."

"But you said it had been..."

"50 years are short for some Terrans, Seiryu, just like us." He then whispered. "But then, Seiryu...your reputation is not of a hero."

After hearing what Dairyu said, the black Orient watched around and saw many old Terran stared at him as if they had seen a ghost (He was a ghost). Some, who were aware that Seiryu was a ghost, outright turned away in disgust. Some even tried to avoid eye contact with him, turning their attention to Dairyu instead.

Normally, Seiryu would come to one of them and threatened them to quit acting like that, but after seeing some of them were scared by his presence, he felt something inside him that felt like regret and guilt, but he didn't know which one. In his short life, he had done countless immoral actions, with only one sacrifice that made his atrocities faded away. He wished he knew more, but a pressing issue came first.

Rose spotted Atho first. The rendlok was making gestures with his pincers moving, but the group knew that he wasn't even talking verbally. Rose then tried to said 'hello' in her mind, hoping Atho could hear her mind cry. Fortunately, the insectoid alien had good mental ears.

"Greetings to you too, my dear wolf friend," said Atho while turning his head towards them. "I see you've brought a new group."

"You don't change a lot, huh, Atho?" asked Capisa.

"I don't need to change to meet you people again. I can see that we have newcomers. Seiryu, Calventis, and Dajar, right?"

The sudden mental cry to the three of them surprised them, but Dairyu said, "You get that feeling when you first meet a Rendlok. Don't worry, he's harmless...mostly."

"Shall I show them a mental projection of me kicking some ass?"

"No, I prefer not to," said Dairyu. As they approached each other, Dairyu saw that Atho had his own share of aging. Unlike the Rendlok he knew 15 years ago, Atho was bigger and had grown some hair, which he once said the indication that he had started to mature. His green eyes were still the same as that time, though, and he wished he met Atho before his exile, which by this point he had regretted.

Then he noticed a red Orient approaching them. He looked young, around the age of Seiryu, with a very apparent element on fire. When he approached them, he made a warm feeling as if they were in front of a cozy fireplace. But then, he was far too high for a fire Orient. His height was even higher than Dairyu.

"Now I can see why Ambassador Atho is a capable commander. He rubbed it off from the legend himself," said the Orient while smiling. He then extended his hand and said, "Lunera Tsukihara."

"Wow, never thought I met a Lunarian Orient, let alone a fire Lunarian Orient," said Dairyu. "Don't you think your fire becomes useless in an airtight environment?"

Lunera laughed. "Oh, believe me, Tsukasa. They need more warmth that you thought they would be. And who's your companion...wait a second."

Lunera then pulled Dairyu aside and said, "Is that The Rain's ghost?"

"Don't worry, he's not like the one you know in stories..."

"Are you serious? My mother told me about your exploits with him. I can't believe you actually went to war with this oni. He's the reason why the Agashina family was so despised by the Orients, saying that they tainted the Orient's name."

"I think you should put that blame on me instead. Seiryu wasn't a demon, he's just a punk."

"Punk or not, the Agashina family resides in this station just because of the prejudice he made. I know we are not supposed to blame him for what he had done to that colony, but still...despite of being a water Orient, he intimidated me."

"W-wait, his family is in this station? What are they going to react when they saw him?"

"Whatever they will say, it won't be good. Anyway, regarding our own mission..."

Lunera was cut off by a shout that came from an old Orient lady. She was wearing a space-related outfit and was walking around the port. Her aqua blue scales shimmered as light came to her. She was putting one of her hands on her maw.

"Seiryu's ghost?! I can't believe he becomes a vengeful ghost!"

"Mom? Mom! It's me Seiryu!"

Then she saw a big Orient beside Seiryu that she knew, and she quickly ran towards him and hugged him, saying, "Thank you for letting me see my son again!"

"Yes, Natsumi, but shouldn't you be going to Seiryu? I was just..."

"I still love you after that night. I didn't know your name, but when I was sober, I realized that it was you, Dairyu Tsukasa. Anyway, I have something to show you two. Follow me."

Ignoring the others, the two of them followed Natsumi Agashina, mother of Seiryu Agashina, towards the commercial district of the space station.

The district was packed with refugees and aliens who lost their homes due to the reenactment of history that not only destroyed their homes, but also returning the ghosts from the past. Many of them couldn't believe it, especially those who survived the war that happened in the past. They were forced to see the same thing that plagued their nightmares.

Seiryu saw many of their pathetic scenery of all kinds. The only alien races that didn't have any significant refugees were the Scyllas and the Aqura. Many other new alien races Seiryu didn't know gathered around their own places. Even the promenade deck was jam-packed with refugees and survivors from the Zeta station annihilation. Looking at their state made Seiryu questioned his return to life. Was it worth it? Not only that, he resented his racist personality to them, seeing that they weren't even soldiers, but instead the young and the old.

"Since that explosion, there is an influx of refugees running from their colonies due to the devastating war from the past," said Natsumi while smiling to an Aquros child. "Ghosts of the past started to make themselves visible and talked to us. We are lucky this space station is not a battleground. Most of them who died here were the wounded, the old...and both my father and my son."

"Where's dad, mom?" said Seiryu.

"Your dad...he didn't die in this station," said Natsumi. "But you are not supposed to be here, either."

"Mom...if you're talking about that incident..."

"Stop it, Seiryu. Are you going to torment your mother more than your appearance?"

They turned right towards a lift that took them down a level, where it was a residential district. The district wasn't as crowded as the one above them since it's a private sector with only residents and their guests allowed in. Some residents were willing to house the refugees, but they needed an approval from the council of residence.

They stopped in front of an Oriental-style home, complete with a garden and a pond that looked tranquil. It wasn't the biggest house around, seeing that it was the only one that looked very Oriental. Seiryu and Dairyu couldn't believe Natsumi would have this much money. Last Seiryu knew, he was trying not to spend a lot of money, and the reason he joined the Warrior was because of trying to help his family's financial status.

"Natsumi...when did you buy this house? This must cost quite a fortune," said Dairyu. "This is not even a holographic projection."

"After we were exiled from Terra, the Neo-Warriors knew of my peril and helped me financially. They claimed that it was a generous donation and I thought I am okay with any credits they gave me. They surprised me with this house in this station, saying that despite of Seiryu's mistakes, the family isn't supposed to be blamed for that."

When both of them saw that Seiryu started to turn away from them, Natsumi approached her son and said, "I never blamed you either, Seiryu. No matter what you do, you are still my son, and I will cherish it with my life."

"Mom...I don't deserve your kindness," said Seiryu slow.

"Dead or alive, you are still my son. But, I want to call someone of importance to both of you. Yuki!"

After shouting that, a slender, feminine figure came out from the dark brown wooden house. She had a snow white scale color and blue eyes, like Natsumi and Seiryu's eyes. She also had white hair that made most of her body, if not for some gray coloring, made her a pure snow Orient. Dairyu was even more astonished that the Orient wasn't affected with the mutation of Dairyu's DNA, which would made her black scaled.

"This is...Yukihime?" asked Seiryu to Dairyu, who shrugged.

"I only know her name, not her appearance."

"Yuki, why don't you tell these gentlemen to get inside? We have many things to talk about."

And so, the two of them were given tea and proper snacks like the way they knew it back home. Yuki looked a lot like Seiryu's girlfriend, which made him felt uneasy around her, given that she's also his half-sister. But then, he wondered if his mother had told her everything about Seiryu, including the incident now known as the 'Blood Rain Massacre', as Dairyu said to him.

After Yuki left the group to play with her Western friends, Natsumi took a sip on her tea and exhaled, staring at Seiryu and Dairyu intently.

"Being a reliable hero and a war criminal is a pain, isn't it?" said the aqua blue Orient. "Talking about your family...The Tsukasas wanted to meet with you after this ghost problem is over. Well, it's kind of too late for our family, but I'm still glad to meet my son."

There was an awkward silence between them, before Natsumi continued.

"Well, the fate dictates that everything will happen. Sooner or later, our decisions give us the consequences that we must endure. Both of you gave me something that I wished I never had, but I'm glad that my life isn't over yet. 50 years is quite fast for Orients like us."

"Anyway," continued Natsumi. "Yukihime never knew her father before I told her a while ago. I don't want her to know that her father was a hero of the Terran people. She might brag about it...and trust me, it's not something we want to be, hmm?"

She said that while staring at Seiryu. At this point, the Orient was at a breaking point of guilt and anger when he suddenly lashed out by shouting, "What the deal, mom?! Yes, I know I am guilty for all the deaths in that massacre, but seriously, why are you keep comparing me with Yukihime?! Her soul is still as white as her scales! There's no need for you compare me to her!"

"Goodness...I'm sorry," said Natsumi surprised. "I...never wanted to offend you."

"I don't care! Like I said, I don't deserve your kindness!"

Seiryu then ran outside and slammed the door behind him. Dairyu watched at him in contempt while Natsumi just sip her tea like it was normal.

"Natsu...don't take offend on Seiryu. He's a ghost now, and he is forced to face the consequences of his actions in this station."

"I know him better than you, Dairyu. His blood may not be ours anymore, but he's still an Agashina, and he deserved a better treatment. In fact, if it is not for him, the Federation might not be formed and we will still be in war. I won't get to meet my good neighbors from beyond the stars, or even be here at all. To me, Yuki is my true snow princess of legend, and I cherished her existence like I cherish Seiryu's history."

Dairyu didn't know what to say. He just smiled. "I never can be as strong as you, Natsu."

"I am a mother, and I know what's best for my son and daughter." She then stood up with Dairyu. "Dairyu, let me be serious," she said.

"I'm all ears."

"I don't know whatever you're trying to do to make the ghosts disappear, but I know...deep within my heart, Seiryu will leave this world again. I've forgiven sins, and I know he's trying to repent his sins whatever he can in his short time in this world. Just make sure he can rest peacefully."

"I will, Natsu. We are on the same path."

"Then, promise me. When all this is over, it's time for you to be responsible for Yukihime. I want you to marry me."

This shocked Dairyu. "W-wait, Natsu, isn't that too blunt?"

"I don't want to lose someone I truly loved for the fourth time. Fuji, Seiryu, and Almar left me abruptly. I won't survive the fourth time. Promise me that we will be together."

Dairyu didn't want to disappoint Natsumi. Deep within his heart, he loved her in pure heart, but he didn't want to see Yukihime suffer from not having a good father. Nevertheless, it was his only chance of happiness. He had countless of sins he must face in this journey, and he resolved to return to Natsumi.

"I promise," said Dairyu while approaching Natsumi. They put their hands together, before embracing each other. They stayed like that for a while, before Dairyu broke the hug and turned towards the exit, with Natsumi watching his back with sorrow in her eyes. It was the fourth time she saw the back of her loved one...and each of them left her soon after.

When Dairyu walked out of the house, he saw Seiryu and Yuki talked to each other before they saw Dairyu and hurriedly move away from each other. Dairyu just smiled at his protégé and said, "It's alright." Dairyu then left them without saying anything. He walked towards the elevator to go meet his new friends and briefed the situation.

Dairyu kept thinking on his promise to Natsu. If one day he would survive the harshness of space, he would return to her, but by that time, it was far than what he could promise the Orient.