Blaze Of Shadows [A World In Embers]

Embers Of The Past

Hikari sat back in his seat with a deep frown, he was in one of his secret undercover labs. The smell of papers and stale pizza hung on the air like a second presence and littered on his desk were detailed files fighting for space.

With a sigh he flexed his hands and closed his eyes, he had temporarily suspended his work on Gene mutation and switched to an artifact, which he had heard of from his 'subconcious'. An artifact which he wasn't even sure existed but since the explosion there were a lot of things that shouldn't have existed.

Unfortunately he thought back to his family and life he has once lived, fully aware of the inability to have that kind of life again.

***

Ten years earlier.

Hikari trudged across campus, his eyes cast downward. College was supposed to be a fresh start, but the same patterns of high school repeated themselves.

As he entered the cafeteria, a group of seniors from the prestigious Omega fraternity snickered. "Hey, look at Hikari, the freak," one of them jeered.

Their leader, the charming and ruthless Takahiro, stepped forward. "What's with the weird hair, Hikari? Trying to look like a failed science experiment?" Takahiro sneered, throwing a jab at Hikari's unusually spiky white hair.

Hikari's eyes flashed with anger, but he bit back his retort. The fraternity brothers surrounded him, their laughter echoing through the cafeteria.

"Hey, Hikari, how's your mom? Still working at that dingy diner?" Takahiro taunted. Hikari's face burned with shame. His mother's struggles were none of their business.

One of the brothers knocked Hikari's tray from his hands, sending food scattering. "Clean up after yourself, freak," Takahiro spat.

Hikari knelt, gathering the scattered food as the fraternity brothers laughed. A faint spark within him ignited, fueling his resentment.

Hikari suddenly faced him and made a fatal mistake by throwing an attempted punch which missed his tormentor's faced by three inches. Within a flash Takahiro's sycophants stepped back and laughed as Hikari got a black eye and bloodied nose from Takahiro.

After they had eventually left him, Hikari struggled to stand, battered and bruised. But his resolve hardened.

"I'll show them," Hikari whispered to himself. "I'll prove them wrong." He vowed to rise above the bullying.

Hikari immersed himself in studies."Hikari, you're really turning things around," his teacher, Ms. Nakamura, said. "Keep it up."

"Thanks, Ms. Nakamura," Hikari replied, smiling faintly.Classmates noticed.

"Takahiro, looks like Hikari's not such a loser after all," a classmate teased. Takahiro's scowl deepened.

His gang grew uneasy.Their prey had become a threat. Hikari's transformation astonished everyone.

He topped his class.Excelled in extracurriculars. Earned respect from peers. Soon Takahiro got annoyed and deliberately tried to seek him out as soon as the class was empty every one but Hikari had left for the cafeteria and Takahiro accosted him alone when Hikari tried to leave the class.

Takahiro had effectively used his stature to block the doorway and stared blankly at Hikari, silently brooding. " Excuse me Takahiro, I have to get to the cafeteria" Hikari mummured.

Still Takahiro remained in the doorway and when Hikari tried to push through, he delivered a precise punch in the jaw. " You dare leave when I'm still speaking to you Freak show!" Takahiro rages in a low menacing tone and watched Hikari swallow.

" But you weren't speaking and... and..." Hikari started but got another punch before it quickly morphed into a full blown beating. But Hikari took it soundlessly and laid bruised and battered.

His father, Kenji, beamed with pride when he heard about Hikari's results."Hikari, you're destined for greatness," Kenji said, ruffling his hair. "I'm so proud of you."

But fate had other plans.One fateful evening, Kenji didn't come home, Hikari waited anxiously. "Mom, where's Dad?" Hikari asked, concern creeping in.

"I don't know, dear. He said he had a late meeting," his mother replied, worry etched on her face.

As though on cue, the Police knocked on the door. "Mr. and Mrs. Hamasaki, I regret to inform you... Kenji Hamasaki, victim of a brutal murder," the officer said.

"Why?!" Hikari screamed, tears streaming down his face."Who could do this?!" his mother wailed. "I'll find out who did this," Hikari vowed, his eyes burning with resolve. "I'll make them pay."

Some years passed hazily by before Hikari, now wiser found out that his father wasn't at all what he had seemed, he wasn't the world greatest occupant but he was his father nonetheless...