Chapter 397 - Jiro's Regrets

WIth the power of the opal Tu was able to change the army back into humans but her power was not enough. Each man and women was cursed, they would turn into a horrid demon every full moon. She swore to the army that she would increase her power so that she could break the curse. That the reason for her lack of power was the child she needed to protect in her w.o.m.b. Jiro's child. The man who sacrificed his life to bring them back to life.

Just as Tu predicted, the army's loyalty sky rocketd and they all pledged their lives to her and the child. 

Once the army made it into the city they were greeted by crowds of people, they all cheered as they marched by. Tu sat on a horse wearing her regular uniform and cradled the opal against her body, smiling from ear to ear. When they finally made it to the palace the Council and the Emperor were there waiting for them. "Tu." The Emperor called out with a confused look. "Where is my uncle?" He continued. 

Tu got off her horse with help and bowed. "Your uncle has left this world but my Emperor do not morn the loss. He has left a part of himself within in me." She announced loudly. Just like they planned everyone broke out into worry but the army was the one that quieted the commotion. "We owe our lives to our Commander! We vow to protect his offspring!" Tu smiled and took a step forward. "We would have never completed the unity of the Nations without Jiro's sacrifice." 

.....

"So did Tu and your nephew live happily ever after with your protection?" Ariana asked. 'No.' Rahul replied with a melancholy look. "Then your great nephew, did he cure the immortal army?" Ariana asked. 'No.' Rahul replied with an even more pitiful look. "Then what was the point for your sacrifice? Why did you protect Tu? Rahul, how did you get into the Goddess's hands?!" Ariana shouted. Rahul stared at Ariana blanky. It took him a few moments to recover from shook but when he did he burst out laughing.

"Rahul..." Ariana called out softly, her eyes shinning with concern and fear. 'You didn't want to hear my story in the first place and now you seem to be really curious.' Rahul said with a wide grin, tears brimming his eyes from laughter. "Rahul, you're not fair... I'm not suddenly going to stop loving you because of what happened." Ariana mumbled.

Again Rahul was dumbstruck. 'Y-y-you l-l-love m-me?!" He asked as his face started to blaze a bright pink. "Of course I do!" Ariana shouted. "You may have seen me as a pawn in the Goddess's plans but I have seen you as my precious family! You have stood by me, given me so much advice and confidence that I can proudly say without you I wouldn't be as strong or thick skinned as I am today." Ariana said with a humpf.

Rahul immediately shrunk back to his small size and Ariana fell backwards onto the ground. "Seriously?!" Ariana groaned as she rubbed the back of her head but Rahul pounced on her regardless. 'You suprise me every time!' Rahul purred loudly as he snuggled up to Ariana's face. "You are no open book either." Ariana pouted. She then brought up her arms and hugged Rahul. 'You silly kitty." She giggled.

'Yes, yes I am very silly....' Rahul repeated in a soft voice. 'I didn't protect Tu... I protected the chid in her w.o.m.b.' He continued. Ariana froze then smiled. She started to stroke Rahul's head and felt calm. "Of course you were. So after your great nephew was born what did you do?" Ariana asked. 'I broke free from the opal the moment he touched it.' Rahul answered.

Ariana sat up immediately and pulled Rahul from her body. She looked into his chubby face with her jaw wide open. "WHAT?!" She finally shouted. 'I was freed and decided to act as my great nephew's guardian.' Rahul said nonchalantly. "WHAT?!" Ariana shouted again.

'It wasn't intentional but when he was in Tu's body he absorbed so much of Tu and my powers, along with having the blood of the Emperor, well he became an important figure in history so I was freed to become his holy guardian.' Rahul explained. "So what hapened to Tu?" Ariana asked. 'She grew furious. Her plans to control my nephew were thwarted especially when many good omens showed that "Jiro's child" was to be the next in line for the throne.'

'My nephew agreed that the omens had no other meaning and vowed to never take to a wife or have any children that would endager "Jiro's child" rights to the throne. Tu was livid and proceeded to break the curse on the army but without the opal it was all useless. She made a grave mistake and truly became the Empress of the demon army. My great nephew grew stronger each day and was far wiser then the a.d.u.l.ts around him. When he turned 13 his mother decided to attack the Nation.'

"Rahul.... don't tell me but.. but did he kill his mother?" Ariana asked with great difficulty. 'Yes. Yes he did and with her last breath she cursed his entire blood line.' Rahul replied. "Oh my G*d!" Ariana gasped. 'My little next to be Emperor, Bao Chao was never allowed to hold his children. If he did a horrid blood l.u.s.t would take over and he would have to tear them apart limb by limb.... I could not protect him from this curse.'

'Worse was it passed along to every eldest child. If one died it would pass along to the next in a never ending cycle. I moved to every generations offspring, the one that I could see that had great potential and for a thousand years I watched as so many children died. It was never intentional but the heart ache of not holding your child or kissing their sweet faces was always torturous. As a parent you are willing to do anything to save your child. A few even committed suicide to keep their children safe.' Rahul explained.

Tears started to spill from Ariana's eyes. "Why do you all have to go through so much?" Ariana cried. 'I don't know but my regrets and self hatred grew every year. I wished everyday I could grow up faster... After a thousand years I finally grew up and became an a.d.u.l.t holy beast. That is when I met the Goddess.'