Soul Spark

8 - Soulful New World

When Kaito woke up in the cemetery, he knew his purpose. In his dream he saw a shape, he found out about a task, he discovered his abilities and unlocked his soul prowess.

He no longer looked lost. In fact, it was the opposite. He knew exactly what his purpose was. He just needed some time.

The first month following the First Global Soul Event was a disaster. The world was plunged into chaos. However, a month later, Kaito made his way to the most powerful political entities in the world and declared himself to be the leader of the soulfuls.

No one could object to him since at that point, he was the only one in the world who knew what he was doing. No one could stand in his way either. He was given a platform to speak, and authority to control and act. He was crowned the leader of the soulfuls. The world listened to him.

“I speak to you on behalf of the mystic events that have unfolded worldwide.” Kaito began. His speech echoed throughout the world, channeled from a single station somewhere in America. Radios, broadcast networks, television, the internet...his voice was heard everywhere. A significant development considering it wasn’t even heard or understood properly in the university he spent so long studying in.

“The world has changed, and amidst the uncertainty, I am here to deliver you good news. At least to some extent, I am aware of some of the details of the event. I was among the first that were blessed by it.” Kaito continued. “I hold some of the answers to your many questions, but you must understand that a lot is unknown.”

“It appears that humanity has been divided into two parts.” Kaito explained. “The soulless, which are, the majority of people, the regular people whose lives weren’t directly affected, and the soulfuls, those who know possess supernatural abilities.”

“The group which, per the theory, is better for the world...and the group that is a tumor.”

“The patterns of awakening such abilities are unknown, nor are the prerequisites for the event itself.” Kaito said. “In order to better manage and coordinate the activities of the soulfuls, as well as to preserve an order among the soulfuls and the soulless, I, Kaito Kamiki, sponsored by governmental structures, will establish the Global Soulful Coalition - the GSC for short.”

“The headquarters will be opened soon in Tokyo, and many offices will be established worldwide.” Kaito said. “If you are a soulful, be it dormant, incomplete or fully awakened with specific abilities, please register your name in the GSC database as soon as possible.”

“In these demanding times, it is crucial that we all remain as cooperative as possible in order to preserve peace and integrity on the global stage. Thank you for listening.”

The cameras were cut. The crews quickly left the office, leaving Kaito alone there with his thoughts. All over the world, people had various reactions to the news. Some were scared of the change, others - excited, as they or someone they knew possessed a soul expression and had a chance to maybe do something great with it. A lot of people though were simply confused. Things were changing too much, too fast. And the threat of a supernatural human with a ‘soul’ existing made them scared, with the fear creating hatred...

“That should do it for now.” Kaito said. “I have as much time ahead of me as I need.”

“I need to play the long game. Once the GSC attains more and more power, and my position is stable enough, only then can I pursue my goal. Right now, when there are potentially limitless types of supernatural abilities lurking around, it is too dangerous to try anything radical.”

“Besides, I still need to create the perfect conditions for...”

He made a phone call.

“Correct. But the coalition itself will be a separate entity.” Kaito said. “There are people similar to you in the broader regions of Asia and potentially Europe too. Connect with them and establish a communication channel. The stronghold operation must start its functionality as fast as possible.”

“But why like this...?” Mansa’s voice said from the other side. ”Surely a global coalition will be much more efficient at-”

“Do what I say.” Kaito said in a slow and very stern voice. “If I have a reason to believe that this is the best way to handle the world as it is right now, then your best course of action is to follow my judgement.”

“...I understand.”

“Good. Talk to me once you establish a meeting point.” Kaito said, dropping the call. He gazed outside of the windows, looking at the rain outside.

“In charge of fractions of the world...this is the only way I can interpret this dream.”

“I’ll keep them on standby. I’ll have them on me until I need to act.”

“But aside from their own presence...”

“Both the coalition and the strongholds will aid me in scouting out soulfuls who are not only likeminded, but also possess great power.”

“I will need to start building my very own armed forces. Made up purely of soulfuls, something that no amount of soulless scum will be able to fight against. And if any other soulful tries to stop me...”

He took a deep breath.

“They’ll prove themselves useful too.”

“Yume...”

“I’m sure that there’s other people like you.”

“Hey, I’ll take care of them, okay? And...I’ll take care of you too.”

He heard a knock on the door, but he didn’t even turn around.

It was Fedor. In a trench coat to shield himself from the weather, he prepared to enter the room. He even got a flask out of his chest pocket and took a few gulps of the rather strong alcohol inside. He entered the office, slowly, with a shaky breath, and a strangely unstable soul presence.

“Kaito. It’s me.” Fedor said, keeping his distance from him for now.

“Somehow, I am not surprised that you are also a soulful.” Kaito said, turning around and looking him in the eyes. His own abyssal eyes sparked a little. “Perhaps you also know why.”

“The more I think about the state of the world, the more unbelievable it is.” Fedor continued. “The more it hurts me to think about it.”

“And why is that? You are among the lucky few who are considered flowers in a field of rotting weeds and cattle waste.” Kaito replied, taking a step towards him. “Why did you choose to visit me, Fedor? It could not have been the announcement, you were en route to see me for a while.”

“I don’t mind the announcement or your plans to create an organization, Kaito.” Fedor said, keeping his hands in his trench coat’s deep pockets. “It’s the correct course of action. Anyone in your position would have attempted to do the same.”

“Why did you choose to visit me, Fedor?” Kaito repeated.

“Do you want me to be honest, Kaito?” Fedor asked.

“It is your decision.”

“It’s because I’m fearful for you.” Fedor confessed. “You haven’t yet recovered from the tragedy that struck you, and yet here you are, perhaps the most pressured man on the planet right now. You...cannot handle this much weight on your shoulders.”

Kaito looked at him in silence for a while.

“There is no reason for you to be scared of me.” Kaito said. “I view you in high regard. Nothing will happen to you.”

“I didn’t say I was scared of you, I said I’m scared for you. ”I’m scared that you might pursue a dark cause.”

“I see...so that’s what this is all about.” Kaito said.

“Kaito, the questions that you asked me, and the predicament you were a part of...you cannot blame me for believing that the worst case scenario might come true.” Fedor said.

“That worst case scenario is what will cause the best outcome for the likes of us.” Kaito said, his presence rising a little. “Seeing to it is my purpose.”

“So...that’s how it is...” Fedor sighed in disbelief. He shook his head a little. “There’s no convincing you anymore.”

“Fedor, I recommend that you give more thought to my goals before accepting that they are ultimately the best course of action.” Kaito said. “I would not be against having you as one of my advisors or assistants. I value your knowledge and awareness a lot.”

“Assisstance, huh?” Fedor said. He looked behind Kaito, outside of the window. “Do not offer me job opportunities while my mind is still processing reality. But...”

“A good night’s rest will let me think about this more clearly.” Fedor said. He slowly exhaled. “I’ll head home now. Hey, Kaito...”

“Hm?”

“You’re closer to the window, could you check if the rain has gotten worse? I’ll stay inside for a little longer if it has.” Fedor said.

Kaito slowly turned around, gazing outside. And at that moment, Fedor charged at him.

He grabbed the soul crystal in his pocket and swung at the distracted Kaito. Just a stab would be enough to paralyze him. From there, he’d either choose to kill him, or he’d try and manipulate Kaito’s mind into healing from the darkness devouring it. It was the perfect surprise attack.

Unfortunately, though, Kaito was well aware of the crystal’s existence. He, sensing Fedor sharply approaching him, turned around and caught Fedor’s hand amidst the attack. Fedor, if looking scared before, now looked utterly terrified. He tried to pull back, but Kaito firmly held him in place.

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“Just...let it touch you. Just once.” Fedor said, starting to panic. “You have to trust me. If you trust me, you’ll let it-”

“Oh, I know exactly what it is.” Kaito explained. “A crystal that can capture someone’s soul and force it to mend through a process that you control.”

“Huh...?”

“It’s called ‘Soul Sight’.” Kaito said. “It’s the ability of mine that gives me information regarding someone’s power by looking into their eyes. The moment I took a good look at you, I suspected that you’d try to do something like this.”

“If you know what this is, why don’t you want it?!” Fedor raised his voice. “Why don’t you want help, or at the very least, a shot at getting over what happened and being happy?”

“I cannot be happy.” Kaito said. “Not after what happened. Not while the world is like this. Entering this crystal will be the same as trying to erase her...”

“No...” Fedor tried harder to escape, but the grip on his hand was too tight, and considering how much Kaito’s presence skyrocketed, he didn’t even dare to fight back anymore.

“You said that in order to live, one needs a purpose, correct? Something to live for.” Kaito said. He lowered his voice, almost whispering. “Yume was that purpose for me. And she still is.”

He kicked Fedor in the stomach, knocking him away into the wall behind him. The latter coughed and shriveled up in pain. Kaito tried his hardest to hold back.

“I have no intention of killing you.” Kaito said. “But if you try something like this again, I will end your life.”

“It’d be wise for me to find a way to protect myself against the crystals. Not just by refining my combat capabilities, but also attaining some sort of a defense system. A barrier.”

“You can go now, Fedor.” Kaito said. “I will let you know if you’re needed.”

Fedor slowly stood up, still holding onto his stomach. He looked at Kaito one more time, still remembering the broken man at the gravestone, the laughing man in the hallways and the empty man in class. He took one last look at him, gently shook his head and left. He slowly proceeded through the hallways, occasionally taking more and more sips from the alcohol flask.

“What...”

‘“...have I done?”

Kaito felt Fedor’s presence leave.

“Now then, it’s time for me to see the headquarters myself.” Kaito thought.

“I chose Tokyo because that’s the closest to where it is...”

“The ‘Inheritant’.”

[2 DAYS LATER, TOKYO]

Kaito entered the room.

It wasn’t luxurious, it wasn’t profoundly beautiful, it wasn’t even his own office. It was a hospital room with only two people inside, a woman and her son. The mother laid in a folding bed, aside from the overwhelming stress, she appeared to be healthy. She had dark hair, neatly tied into a ponytail, and blueish eyes.

The son, however, had multiple monitors attached to his body, and there were zero medical answers for what caused his condition. He had brownish hair, he was around 11-12 at that time. He laid in white medical robes, and there were stitches around the left side of his chest.

“Excuse me.” Kaito said, slowly observing the surroundings. “This is...”

“Ah, it really is you...” The woman said, sitting up. “They told me that you would come. I uhh...tried to make this place look similar to a home setting, but still...”

“I’m sorry, do you also suffer from sickness?” Kaito asked?

“No. I spend all my time here, and I asked the staff to let me sleep here as well.” She said, adjusting her hair a little. “My name is Yukari, I’m honored to meet you.”

“And the boy...”

“He’s...the sick one.” Yukari said. “Ever since the, what was it called, the ‘Global Soul Event’, he’s been in a coma. He managed to survive the difficult operations before that, but something about the event triggered this state. I’m assuming his condition is the reason you decided to visit him, Mr. Kamiki.”

“That is...the second reason why.”

He approached the bed even more, almost in disbelief. He saw the stitches, he looked shocked, fascinated. He brought his hand towards them.

“Does he feel any pain?” He said, caressing the stitches. He felt the heart beating inside, and it caused him to skip a few beats himself.

“He does not.” Yukari said. “You were...made aware of his previous heart transplant? I didn’t think that it would interest you as much as the coma.”

“No, it interests me just as much, if not more.” Kaito said, feeling the heartbeat as if it was the only thing that was possible to feel in the world.

“Well...” Yukari explained. “He had a dangerous infection that made its way to his heart and almost destroyed it. The illness was cured, but the heart was far too damaged. The only option would be getting him a new one.”

Kaito listened, but his attention was devoted to the boy.

“They said that he was at the top of the queue. That if a heart were to become available, he’d get it first. They had the paperwork, but didn’t have the organ itself.” Yukari said, even tearing up a little. “But they managed to find one in the nick of time. They told me that they went to great lengths to get it, that it was almost...a miracle.”

“A...miracle...” Kaito said. “Is that how they present it?”

“Yes. Do you...know something about the transplant?” Yukari asked. “It’s strange that you’re so invested in it.”

“I do.” Kaito said. “I know everything about it.”

“I know the doctor who got the approval. I know the hospital where the heart was extracted. I remember the date and time down to the minutes and seconds.”

“Do you know...whose heart it was?” Yukari asked.

“I do.” Kaito said. “It belonged to someone very dear to me.”

“This is...your heart, Yume. Your heart is inside of this boy, alive and beating.”

“And this boy happens to be a soulful too.”

“What was his name again?” He asked.

Yukari smiled.

“It’s Hiroshi.”

“Hiroshi...” Kaito quietly called out. He could feel the boy’s presence, the heartbeat was slowly burrowing into his head. It was the very same heart he listened to when he laid his head on Yume’s chest.

It triggered something in him.

“It’s him...the vessel of the central element...”

“I’m...thankful if you were the one who made the decision to donate the heart.” Yukari said. “I truly am thankful. Life has been...rough. I would not be able to handle another tragedy.”

“Absolutely nothing can threaten him. I need him to be with me at all times.” Kaito thought. “I need to somehow...”

Kaito’s eyes were wide open, he slowly turned to face Yukari.

“My husband passed away not too long ago, that and Hiroshi’s sickness...” Yukari vented. “It will be difficult to take care of him, but...”

“He will be taken care of.” Kaito said, almost staring at Yukari. “I will dedicate all my efforts into keeping him alive and well.”

“Well, t-thank you.” Yukari smiled. “Whoever’s heart is inside him...I’m sure that they’re proud of your actions. I can be happy for the rest of my life knowing that he’ll live and be happy too. So thank you. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.”

Kaito slowly approached her.

“Perhaps trying to get closer to this woman will assure that I retain my ownership of the central element. But there might be a need for some contracts to be fulfilled for that. And...it might be seen as a...”

“...commitment.”

“To think that even as an act, I’d betray Yume...I’d torment myself and end my life before that. I’d...never...ever do that...”

“Is anything wrong?” Yukari asked, still almost crying from happiness.

Kaito took a deep breath.

“This woman...I don’t sense a soul presence.”

“She’s soulless, isn’t she? Well...”

“That makes the solution much more simple.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of Hiroshi.” Kaito said, not even blinking once.

He stood next to her bed. Just as Yukari tried to sit up, he grabbed her by the neck and strangled her up against the bed.

Yukari tried to fight back, she tried yelling for help. She couldn’t even process the betrayal yet, those were her instincts fighting for her life. But at that point, Kaito wasn’t even comparable to her. Choking her unconscious and dead was the same as swatting a crippled mosquito.

Her erratic movements, he attempts to force Kaito to let go, her pleas for mercy were all completely useless. The scenery in front of her eyes, that being Kaito’s emotionless, almost psychopathic expression, was starting to dim. With her last remaining lifeforce, she tilted her head to the left and took one last good look at her son.

A moment later, she died. Kaito not only choked her to death, but also crushed her throat completely, the event splattering blood over the folding bed and parts of the walls, creating a rather unsettling sight.

Another moment later, Hiroshi began to wake up. He made a few noises, he moved around a little in the hospital bed, clearly in discomfort. Kaito quickly moved to the other side of his bed, embracing him with his bloodied hands. He leaned him over, making sure he didn't see his mother’s corpse.

“Ugh...my head hurts...” Hiroshi whimpered. “Where is this...who...who are you...?”

“Who am I?”

“You’re Hiroshi Kamiki.” Kaito said, embracing him, shedding a tear. “And I’m the one who will take care of your heart.”

“And when the time comes...”

“You’ll pay me back.”

[SOME TIME LATER]

The soulful world continued to develop. The foundation of the Adler Group marked the start of the rivalry between it and the GSC.

Fedor was in his newly purchased place in Moscow, choosing not to show his face in the city he worked in as a professor. His appearance was gradually declining, he had to care less and less about it. He became a heavy drinker. ᴛhis chapter is ᴜpdated by novel·fire·net

However, the announcement of the Adler Group’s foundation urged him to make a phone call. Leaning against the windowsill of his soon-to-be office, he called the group’s leader, who had previously turned to him for advice and information.

“Otto, it’s me.”

“I will talk to you later. I am attending-”

“I require a completely secure channel.” Fedor said, taking a sip from a dark green beer bottle.

“I will call you later.” Otto said. Around forty minutes later, he received another call.

“If the Adler Group’s purpose is to watch over soulfuls, I’ll give you something to watch over.” Fedor said.

“What is it?”

“The Global Soulful Coalition. Its head, Kaito Kamiki, should be your highest priority target.”

“I...I am aware of his strength, I am watching over him, but...highest priority? Why?”

“Because he thinks the world only belongs to soulfuls.” Fedor said. “And he wants to see to it that such a world is created.”

“Maybe it was my mistake that things ended up this way.”

“What? How do you-”

“You have not heard this from me, Otto.” Fedor said. “I am telling you this in full confidence that not a single soul except those who you trust with your life know about this. And I’m telling you this...because as it stands right now, you are the only person I can think of that can stop him.”

“...I understand. I will try my hardest to deal with the threat-”

“You won’t try, you will. Sacrifice everything if you need to. Do whatever you need. Because if you don’t, whatever happens to the world is up to his wrath.”

“Understood.”

“Kaito Kamiki is not just a threat, nor is he any ordinary soulful. He is a broken man with the power of God.”

The call was dropped.

Fedor took a deep breath.

“I’m the reason he’s on this path, aren’t I?”

“...”

He closed his eyes.

“What have I done...”