Melodies from Heaven

"There's jerky inside a barrel inside the temple. And there's plenty of water in the barrel beside it." he said, as he worked his arm back and forth. "If you want something a little fresher I know where I can get some deer. There should be some bread in there too. Tell me, Kami, why do you desire so much to save humanity? What has humanity ever done to make them worth saving?"

It seemed he was questioning the very depths of humanity once more. He hated them for what he had become, and hated them for what he knew he had to do. And it seemed these moments only came after Fu Leng had taunted the very depths of his soul.

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"Wise words, Kami. But that doesn't answer my question. As far as I'm concerned they deserve to survive and to be saved. Yet something deeper inside me taunts that very desire. It whispers to me in my dreams, and tortures me with visions of those I care for. It says that the children of Hantei, and the other seven kami, will find themselves as servants of Jigoku and Fu Leng. And no matter how much I try... No matter how much I pray, and no matter how much I beg, I can never block it out! Is there nothing to be done to stop these horrors from coming to pass?"

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Rising he turned back to the temple. Walking around to the front he stood in the entrance, the Devil's Teadrop in his hand as he stared at the woman, his eyes narrowing. He wanted to hurt her. To make her suffer for the way she'd spoken to him before. But he knew she was right. He was human, and as much as it seemed, he was nothing more than human. He breathed slowly as he stood there, his eyes narrowing as he tossed the bastard sword aside, his eyes watching her.

"Tell me, Kami... Why would you help someone like me?" he asked.

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He laughed at her words, shaking his head as he stood there, watching her. Her words were so very different and yet they were the same thing that he'd heard back when he'd taken Goranova.

"Bid farewell to your blood stained past, or the light will find no hold. Let me tell you a story, Kami. Once upon a time there was heaven. Within that realm there were many different types of spirits. But they were not demons, angels, or humans. They were instead all the same. Until the nine kami, that is. The ten children of Onnotangu and Amaterasu, they were destined to be the rulers of the world. But Onnotangu suspected that one day they might oppose him and decided to eat them. But Amaterasu couldn't just stand by. Nor could she stop her husband. So being wise she instead decided to manipulate him. She agreed to it and, after each child was devoured, she gave him a cup of sake. At the end, he was so drunk that he didn't notice that instead of the last child he ate a large stone. This child was Hantei.

"One day Hantei was strong enough and ready to face his father. Hantei cut his father down and his belly open, rescuing the other Kami, except for his brother Ryoshun, for whom it was too late. At the end, Onnotangu cast a spell, separating the world into a realm of mortals and immortals. As the worlds separated the eight kami fell to earth. There they began creating, with the last of their powers, the world they desired.

"Akodo the Lioness, created the animals of earth, sky and water, before she reverted to a mortal lion.

"Bayushi the Scorpion, master of poisons, gave the gift of death, so that each mortal would cherish the life they were given as best they could before he became the guardian of the gates of life and death.

"Doji the Crane, gave the four winds of fortune, the mountains, and gave flight to the world of beasts, before she became the wind itself.

"Hantei, the mightiest of them gave life to the world with humanity, before he became a human.

"Hida the impervious, gave the oceans and rivers to the world, that those living would never be without the ability to quench their thirsts. Shortly after, he became a giant crab and decended into the ocean to never be seen again.

"Shiba the Phoenix, gave the world the gift of warmth, and allowed Amaterasu, the sun herself to shine her own gifts upon the world. After, she decended to the core of the earth.

"Shinjo the Horse, gave the world the speed and cunning they might need to survive the harshness of this newly formed world.

"Finally, the last Kami, Togashi the dragon, gave the world knowledge. Beasts began growing smarter, as humans became enlightened before he became a human with the very last ounce of power he had, that he might continue to bestow enlightenment he had upon them.

"But their last remaining sibling, Fu Leng the ninth kami, the only one to turn his back on them, demanded he be made ruler over Heaven because he was the only one not cast out. But Amaterasu denied him. So he left the heavens to come to Earth. To become ruler. But his plans failed. Because as he fell from Heaven he passed through the Earth, and created a world below it of his own. Since then the dragon of darkness has desired to come to Earth and rule it. But those that fight on behalf of the eight Kami have held his forces back.

"But no longer can he be stopped by them. The eight kami can't stop him because they have no mortal form anymore. I've said it, time and again. Humanity will be the deciding factor in this war. And I don't intend to lose it Kami. I AM Fu Leng. And unlike my brothers and sisters... I have a mortal body, and all the strength of Jigoku backing me. They have nothing, not even their spiritual presence." he said, glaring at her from behind the mask.

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"...You're welcome to leave any time you wish Kami. But I will not be so generous next time. But consider this. The pillars of heaven are collapsing. Two have fallen, and there are only a few more to go. After they fall Heaven will cease to be. And I will control both earth and Hell." he said, before he turned, walking away.

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