CHAPTER 19
OUR TRUEST FAULTS
Kamari and Amber arrived on a sunless beach in the pitch blackness of night. The only sources of light were twinkling stars and the half moon that shined down above. The cool ocean breeze swarmed inward from the water, caressing their faces, while the sound of waves touched the sands. Walking with Hikaru in his arms, Kamari paced near a palm tree, and sat him down beside it.
“Do you think Hikaru’s okay?” Amber asked anxiously.
“He just needs rest,” Kamari replied.
He looked down at Hikaru’s injuries while taking a seat on the sand beside him. Hardly any blood seeped from his sores, and most of the cuts were only flesh wounds.
“Hikaru’s powers have come a long way since the last time we fought against the hunter,” Kamari stated, looking at Amber for her agreement.
She grunted. “You act like my power hasn’t grown at all.”
“No… believe me, I’ve noticed the growth of your skills. At first you couldn’t fight at all, now you sort of help,” Kamari said patronizingly.
“Well it’s about time someone gave me rec—hey wait, you’re being a jerk!”
Kamari snickered lowly. “Actually, I’m more worried about Hikaru than I led on,” he said, quickly changing the subject before Amber had a real chance to get irritated.
Her expression quickly transformed from furious toward caring in an instant.
“It’s just, I’ve known Hikaru my entire life, and not once have I ever seen him so happy losing control,” said Kamari. “He’s always taken life so seriously— to such an extreme degree that he basically trapped himself.”
“And what’s wrong with taking life seriously?” Amber questioned.
“It’s like a bird that’s stuck in a tree… when it finally learns flight for the first time, it’ll definitely try again, even at the cost of its own life.”
“So you think Hikaru will try and use that weird hakq again?”
“I know he’ll use it again,” Kamari assured her. “Hikaru formally did everything by the book, but, in a reality where rules don’t apply, he’s gotten a taste of freedom… And once a person taste freedom, it’s hard convincing them to walk back gracefully into being shackled.”
“You’re not doing a good job on calming my worries,” Amber said, turning her head and peering at Hikaru’s wounds.
“I’m telling you this because we must persuade him not to use his hakq in that manner. The power he’s tampering with is dangerous, and can ravage his body if it’s used at higher percentages.”
“You’re right,” Amber agreed. “Lets talk with him about it as soon as he wakes up.
Amber took a seat near Kamari and leaned her shoulder against him while she pulled both shoes off. She placed her bare feet in the sand, then squeezed it between her toes.
“This place is so relaxing,” said Amber, stretching out on the soft sand, gazing at the sparkling stars. “It’s better sleeping on sand than damp forest floor, right.”
Turning his head left, Kamari spotted foreign auras approaching, neither carrying a storm force presence. Amber sat up and stared harshly, showing how displeased she was for his lack of attention, until noticing his constant peering in one direction.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
Kamari stood upright. “Identify yourselves,” he yelled out through the distance.
Both men continued at their silent pace, so Kamari ignited blue flames of hakq within his right palm and held it forward to brighten the area. Amber saw each figure, and immediately hopped up beside Kamari.
“Wait,” a stern voice bellowed out as they progressively encroached, only stopping after getting within ten feet.
In the light fire, Kamari and Amber eyed two native men. One being elderly with gray scraggily hair that stopped at his shoulders, and many etched wrinkles on his face. The other youthful, had short black hair, and wasn’t quite as tall as the old man. Both were dressed casually, wearing blue jeans with loose fitting tee shirts that rippled in the comfortable breeze.
“Tell us who you are,” Kamari demanded roughly.
“My name is Meka,” said the old man. “The younger one beside me is called Kai, and our people welcome warriors of the storm.”
“How do you know about the dreamstorm?” Kamari posed. He looked on the face of the younger man, who appeared to be around his own age. “This all sounds very suspicious.”
Kai’s expression flushed with anger. “How dare you speak to my grandfather that way!”
“You wanna make something out of it,” Kamari snapped, slightly flaring up the flames inside his right hand.
“Bring it on!”
The old man placed one arm in front of his grandson, while Amber tugged the side of Kamari’s shirt for calming purposes.
“You should know from the site of us that we aren’t warriors of the storm,” Meka stated.
Kamari nodded. “Well you don’t have any traces of hakq, but how do I know you’re not working for someone,” he said stiffly.
“Because we’ve only come bringing the gift of knowledge,” said Meka.
Kai turned his back. “You shouldn’t even explain yourself for him… lets just leave them clueless,” he mumbled.
“Shut your mouth or I’ll shut it for you,” Kamari said irritably, he solidified his flaming hakq into a bright crystal gem that illuminated the area as he dropped it intentionally on the sand.
“Huh, I’d like seeing you try,” Kai sneered.
Kamari attempted to pace forward, but Amber used all her weight, roughly jerk him back by his shirt.
“Stop being a jerk,” she whispered sternly. “You both sit, we’ll hear what you have to say.”
“What!” Kamari ranted. “We can’t afford trusting random people.”
“You trust me,” said Amber.
“Of course I trust you, but what’s that got to do with them!”
“If you trust me, then you’ll trust my better instinct.”
“Alright, maybe I don’t trust you… completely.”
“Kamari!”
“Fine, whatever, let's just all have a seat then.”
Amber sat down on the sand, followed by Meka; Kamari and Kai stared at one another in distrust, then slowly sat down across from each other, neither letting their eyes wander for a second, as they scowled angrily. Amber nudged Kamari in the rib cage with a sharp elbow, while Meka scooted toward Kamari, effectively making their mistrusting square a doubtless circle. He glared at his grandson harshly, which broke up the constant argument of eyes.
“Hey,” Kamari complained. “Why are you sitting so close!”
“I am here to share my wisdom with a pair of young men,” Meka responded.
“And I’m here to share my wisdom with you,” Kai said, looking at Amber.
“Explain how your people know of the dreamstorm,” Kamari demanded.
“The dreamstorm has been on earth since the beginning of humanity,” Meka explained. “My people have learned hearing, understanding earth’s volcanoes. It is our ancient way and closeness with our planet that allowed us to gain the conscious knowledge of the storm.”
“So you’ve noticed all strange activities like the regenerating forest?” Kamari asked.
“Of course," Mika responded. "Our planet is always speaking, but her human children have forgotten how they once listened. It tells us everyday that humanity threatens her stability, but even the youth of my people refuse hearing anymore.”
Kai cleared his throat. “I’m one of the few youths who’ve taken on our people’s old ways,” he gloated. “People may not care right now, but earth’s stability is what makes our very lives stable.”
Hikaru tossed and turned on the sand until finally waking up from his deep slumber. He set up, carefully leaning his back against the palm tree just before Amber raced to sit beside him.
“How are you feeling,” she asked tentatively.
Hikaru shrugged, then raised slowly up on his feet after spotting Kamari sitting near Meka. He approached, staring at all three while standing. Kai made room for Hikaru to sit down beside Kamari, mostly so he wouldn’t have to anymore. Hikaru eagerly took a seat. Amber got upon her feet and followed, rudely squeezing through Kai, and forcing him to slide over so she could sit close with Hikaru. A tense silence lingered among the group while Hikaru eyed Kamari, who openly refused any eye contact until he got fed up. They crossed glares, and like twin brothers, instantly knew what the other’s thoughts were, so neither said anything. Amber placed her head against Hikaru’s shoulder, wanting his attention.
He wobbled. “Is it necessary sitting so close?”
“Yes it is stupid,” Amber shouted, her face instantly becoming sour.
“Well I need some elbow room.”
“Forget you Hikaru!” Amber shoved him hard, causing his shoulder to collide against Kamari’s.
“What’s your problem!” Hikaru shouted fiercely.
“What’s my problem,” she repeated. “My problem’s that you’re happy seeing everyone except me!”
“I never said that.” Hikaru argued.
“Well actions speak louder than words!” Amber shot back.
Hikaru’s mouth dropped wide open while his head tilted in confusion as Amber got upon her feet, and began trotting off down the beach. Kamari got raised immediately, racing away after her. He caught up and grabbed Amber’s wrist; she tried jerking away, but he pulled harder, so she turned around with her free hand clenched into a fist.
“Get back over here and sit down,” Kamari commanded.
Amber glared at him. “Since when did you become the boss of me!” she ranted.
“Oh, I don’t know, how about since I saved your life against Nanu and the hunter,” Kamari snapped. “Now you know it’s dangerous, you to going and storming off.”
Amber’s fist loosened in agreement.
“Come back,” Kamari said, his face appearing more sympathetic.
As they paced back over toward the group, Amber decided she’d sit on the opposite end of the palm tree, facing away from everyone else in isolation. Kamari took his seat with the others, while Hikaru sat in absolute disbelief at what had occurred.
“Amber, come sit beside me,” Hikaru pleaded, but Amber didn’t reply. “Fine then, be a brat and sit all by yourself.”
“Stop being a jerk,” said Kamari.
“And why are you taking her side!” Hikaru complained.
“Because Amber’s been worried about you just as much as I have… She’s been your partner through this entire experience, and I know she’d give up her own life for yours. All she wants is for you to appreciate that."
“I do!” Hikaru yelled, making sure that Amber could hear him.
“Then act like it,” said Kamari. “I’m sure she wouldn’t be so upset if you’d paid her attention instead of wasting your time glaring at me.”
The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
Hikaru thought about everything he and Amber went through together, from their first meeting inside the dark room, to her helping him battle against Nanu, then he got up with all eyes on him as he walked toward Amber.
“You know I’m happy you’re here also,” he said, making it seem obvious. “Cut me some slack— you usually act smart mouthed with me, so I’m not acclimated with you getting all... maternal.”
“I wasn’t being maternal,” Amber groaned.
Hikaru reached out a hand, and she reluctantly took it; he pulled her up, then they walked back toward the group circle, and took a seat beside one another.
Kai sniggered. “I know what’s going on here,” he said, staring at Hikaru and Amber.
“What are you talking about?” Hikaru asked cluelessly.
Meka cleared his throat before his grandson could answer.
“Some things are better left unsaid until they reveal themselves,” the old man stated.
Kai broke out in hysterical laughter while he stared at Hikaru’s ignorant expression. Several seconds passed before he could pull himself back together as he clutched his aching stomach.
“Now that you’re both done arguing, and the jackass is done laughing, I’d like hearing what knowledge the old man has,” said Kamari.
“I really hate you,” Kai gracefully voiced.
“Is that suppose to hurt my feelings,” Kamari shot back.
“Like you have fee—”
“Quiet!” shouted Meka. “You young people shut up and give an old man time to speak his wisdom.”
“I think he’s really mad,” Amber reluctantly pointed out.
“How very perceptive of you,” Kamari scoffed.
“Well Kamari, you’ve always had that affect on teachers,” Hikaru bravely stated, while Meka pouted.
He and Amber both laughed aloud until Meka tossed a hand full of sand at their faces. Grains scattered into their eyes and mouth, and Hikaru spit wildly, while Amber continuously wiped her eyes with both hands.
“Out of all the people in the world, I get three idiots for learning,” Meka ranted.
Hikaru finished spitting the sand out. “I think he just insulted all of us.”
“You’re very perceptive,” Amber remarked sarcastically.
“Hikaru can easily pick up on insults, having taken so many at school,” Kamari vengefully blurted out.
Amber and Kai chuckled lightly, then spotted Meka picking up another hand full of sand, and instantly fell silent. Hikaru gave Kamari a shrewd mugging, but wasn’t keen on making any sharp comebacks for fear of being pelted with more sand.
“Now, the wisdom sharing… How about I begin with you,” Meka insisted, dusting the sand out of his hand. “Look into my eyes young boy.”
He pointed at Kamari, who felt completely singledout, even somewhat vulnerable. Something odd resonated about the old man’s frequency and presence, as though his eyes were diving into a pool of unsurfaced emotions while they prowled; everything went still, silent, and Kamari completely blocked out everyone else from his attention.
Meka began: “Your powers are amazing and you know it, perhaps you’re even somewhat overconfident in your abilities… You depend solely upon your overwhelming power, and trust no one— and though you haven’t been untrusting for long— the dreamstorm is a drastic change in your life and has drastically effected your personality, so the questions are… Can you relearn trust with your friends, most of all, can you trust that you’ll make the right decisions that can put your spirit at ease.”
Kamari turned his head in anger. “What makes you think anything you said is true about me,” he snapped shrewdly.
“I can see it in your eyes,” Meka replied while smirking. “I believe you have powerful eyes, don’t you young man.”
“My eyes are nothing but power, so maybe you’ve been deceived.”
“You mentioned Amber as being Hikaru’s partner as though she weren’t your own, why is that?”
Kamari couldn’t believe how the old man peered into his mind so easily. It were as though Meka walked every mile inside his shoes in a matter of seconds, uncovering every crevice of his personality and subconscious thought.
“I believe that it’s your turn,” the old man said, turning his attention toward Hikaru.
Turning his eyes against Meka's, an eerie feeling tingled at Hikaru’s sensitive senses grippingly. Almost nothing could be worse than being mentally examined in front of everyone. To Hikaru, the mind symbolized preciousness, privacy, and should not be opened fully like a house on display.
“Sorry, but this kind of thing isn’t for me,” he admitted now avoiding eye contact.
“As far as intelligence goes, you’re off the charts,” Meka began. “You at first believed that your intelligence held the key gift for stabilizing lives of ones you hold dear. You’ve obsessed so much on stabilizing their lives that you forgot about your own internal stability.
“That’s enough,” Hikaru said intensely.
“Your great feelings for your loved ones have caused you to become harmful toward yourself, and now you’ve found a deadly self-destructive force that will allow you to protect them, so the question is… Will you harm yourself once again doing so?”
“I said enough!” Hikaru shouted, his legs shaking at the brutal truth.
Meka looked upon him with an expression of pity.
“I know you’ve found new powers,” he continued. “A power so great you haven’t even begun reaching its depths… but the worst thing is that your heart seeks this power because it gives your soul the freedom it’s always been deprived of since you were a child. Your wants area self destructive path for you, so tread lightly when entering such a state.”
“And what’s so self-destructive about gaining your freedom,” Hikaru aggressively argued.
Meka frowned, then shook his head. “Freedom is valuable— but freedom with no restrictions can be devastating. If there were nothing bounding us to the ground, could life survive?”
As Hikaru’s arguing ended, a strange silence proceeded upon everyone. Amber reached for his hand and grabbed it with care while placing her head on his shoulder. Now being an outsider looking in, Kamari understood that everything said hit right on the nail; there wasn’t anything he nor Hikaru could say that would prove the old man wrong; and this session now proved to enter in upon necessity for them so that they perceived their inner reflections truthfully, for both avoided it since entering the storm.
“I believe it’s my turn now,” said Kai, as he turned his sites on Amber. She gaped at him, curiosity peaking for learning about her deepest darkest flaws. “You definitely have the purest soul of the group, and you realize that your power is nowhere near the level of your friends.”Amber nodded in agreement, anticipating more revelations. “If you desire helping them, you must train yourself relentlessly… and you should also stop being so trusting,” Kai added. “Learn seeing people for what they’re really capable of being.”
There lingered an awkward pause between them both while Amber goggled him in disbelief.
“What?” Kai said uncomfortably.
“Is that all,” Amber said stilly. “I have no hidden motives or self-destructive tendencies?”
“That’s all I see.”
“So you’re telling me you looked inside the mirrors of my soul, and that’s all you found,” Amber fussed.
“Hey, don’t yell at me— besides, in this case less is better,” said Kai.
“It makes me seem simple!” replied Amber.
“Purity’s not simple, it’s the hardest thing for people to maintain.” Kai stated
Amber grimaced. “Why can’t the old man read my eyes,” she complained.
Meka sneezed once, then recovered, wiping the tip of his nose.
“Trust in my grandson’s advice,” he urged her. “He’s more talented than even he realizes himself.”
After Meka and Kai finished, they decided that their departure time finally arrived.
“I guess we should say our goodbyes,” said Kai.
Amber exchanged hugs with both, while Hikaru and Kamari sat idly on the sand in silence. After they left, the group found themselves alone, weighing heavily on their inner turmoils.
“I liked them, but that’s all a bunch of garbage,” Amber blurted out. “Kamari, you’ve saved my life twice, so I trust you completely.”
“But your main problem is trusting,” replied Kamari.
“Who cares about that,” Amber squealed.
“I care, because we can’t simply ignore the truth if we seek survival,” Kamari persisted.
“So you’re saying I shouldn’t trust you.”
“I’m saying you shouldn’t trust anyone.”
Amber’s argument fell silent while she absorbed what she’d just heard come out of Kamari’s mouth. She turned to Hikaru, who now sat indian style, starring at the ground, and stirring the sand with his index finger.
“Well then, what do you believe?” she posed hesitantly, hoping for his agreement.
Hikaru pinched tiny grains of sand between his fingers. “I believe that old man hit us with the hard truth. I never even thought about how I’d been living my life until he mentioned it.”
“Then everything he said about you’s right,” Amber argued.
Hikaru ignored her angry displays of caring. “In that chaotic state, I felt so free, and I more than want it back,” he revealed honestly. His body once again began luminescing with a thin white lining surrounding it.
“Hikaru!” Kamari shouted, breaking his concentration. “That power clouds your mind, and it injuries your body!” The light around Hikaru flickered out. “No one’s safe if you reach deep in that state.”
“What are you babbling on about,” Hikaru lashed out in defense.
“You attacked me in the last battle we were in,” Kamari retorted fiercely. “Besides, that state is no more than a desperation technique, and should only be used if there are no other options.” Kamari halted in his rounding briefly, watching Hikaru’s untrusting glare. “Anyway,” he continued. “For your own sake I’ll teach you better control of your hakq energy.”
Hikaru sneered defiantly. “I’m glad we discussed my problems, now how about we start playing some trust games with your own. The old man said you’d faced much on your journey alone, so tell me, where have you been all this time when we thought you were dead?” Kamari didn’t respond. “And now you refuse answering my question. I guess the old man didn’t fabricate about you being untrusting toward everyone, so why shouldn’t I deem you as untrustworthy.”
“Stop it!” Amber said sharply.
“No!” Hikaru snapped. “All that time I spent mourning his death and he’s been alive!”
“But you’re out of line,” Amber replied.
“Don’t you get it!” Hikaru ranted. “With the power he possesses he could have easily helped us while we struggled blindly!”
Kamari raised on his feet. “Follow me,” he said calmly.
Amber and Hikaru got up, and gently began pacing behind Kamari in darkness with only the light of their hakq guiding them. Kamari stopped short from the shore, and lay down on his back, just where the ocean couldn’t reach the sand.
“What’s he doing?” Amber whispered, showing Hikaru a disturbed expression.
Kamari looked up at them both. “Lie beside me.” Amber took a seat at Kamari’s left, and lay down with no hesitation, while Hikaru’s doubtfulness allowed him to sit on the sand at Kamari’s right in suspicion. “This won’t work if you don’t cooperate,” said Kamari.
“And why should I trust you?” Hikaru posed.
“Because it’s you who asked this of me,” Kamari stated firmly. “You who wanted answers.”
Hikaru lay down with his arms tucked tightly beside his waste while staring up at the dark sky. He asked himself over and over if they were making the right decision. Kamari stretched his arm outward beside his waste, and grasped Amber’s hand; he looked at her, and she nodded, clutching a hold on his palm. Kamari turned right, and reached out his hand for Hikaru as well.
“What are you planning?” Hikaru questioned.
“I’m taking us all inside the dreamstorm state.”
Hikaru didn’t exactly know what the dreamstorm state was, but he knew without a doubt that he’d been there before, as he thought back on the moments of drifting into light.
“Won’t this make us vulnerable?” Hikaru asked.
“No,” Kamari said patiently. “The dreamstorm will protect us for this brief moment.”
Hikaru grasped Kamari’s hand, warding off all wariness.
“Now don’t be alarmed when our minds depart from this reality, just stay relaxed,” said Kamari.
Hikaru waited for the moment to come abruptly, but nothing happened— then— just when he dropped his guard, his eyelids began drifting shut, and the sound of ocean waves swaying slowed until all noise faded out. His entire self being felt weightless in an abyss of space, while an intensified bright light shined down, allowing him to see the pink of his eyelids. Everything shimmered like a strange dream where nothing seemed secure, until finally, his body gently landed upon a solid surface. Hikaru opened his eyes and surprisingly found that the area to be only dimly lit. He raised up and spotted Kamari’s body levitating. Amber walked over, then stretched her arm out helped Hikaru upon his feet. Attempting to grasp, Hikaru reached out, but found that he couldn’t grab, so he used his own strength, slowly getting up. He looked down at Kamari’s limp body, as his friend’s head and legs dangled in mid-air.
“What’s going on?” asked Amber.
“I don’t know,” Hikaru answered. But truthfully, he knew exactly what Kamari did.
They were unable to touch because the reality that both drifted inside narrowly existed, only stabilized by Kamari’s mind, and thus, his firm grip being the only thing keeping them inside. Though neither he nor Amber could see anyone clutching their hand, the sensation of it being held remained, and both could feel Kamari’s grip. Hikaru now understood the high level of trust Kamari displayed, for while they existed inside the strange realm with his body unconscious, only he and Amber could harm his sleeping spirit. This act garnered enough trust, making Hikaru feel ashamed of his previous behavior, and for some reason, he knew more of that feeling still yet to come, further encroached.
Light burst into the area, then darkness prevailed once again, and several square screens appeared, floating around Amber and Hikaru. Different images radiated from each screen, loudly playing like thousands of movies at once, making it impossible understanding each scene as the low volumes clashed together. All random events suddenly halted, and lines of light shot forward like comets from the screens, luminous information piercing through Hikaru and Amber’s retinas. A dark image fizzled into existence, and they saw Kamari’s injured body slipping through Hikaru’s arms after his suspected death; then, darkness entered, and a soft voice spoke.
“Kamari… It’s time…. Be awakened.”
“What?” another voice sounded.
Both Hikaru and Amber recognized these voices to be Kamari’s and the strange soothing voice of the storm.
“Walk with me and find your light path,” the storm said.
Though darkness dominated sight, the sound of walking could be faintly heard as Kamari raised upright and began pacing aimlessly around.
“I can’t see,” he said helplessly.
“Then I’ll give you radiance,” the storm replied.
A bright light beamed down from above, allowing Hikaru and Amber clear sight of Kamari standing under a full moon. The spectacle suspended overhead irregularly close, and bigger than anything Hikaru had ever seen. Kamari took three steps back while his eyes were fixed upward.
“What’s wrong, this light does belong with you, right?” the storm posed.
Kamari looked down, the fear on his face dissipating, while a grin replaced it. “That’s ridiculous,” he said lowly. “There’s no such thing as moonlight.”
“But isn’t that the meaning of your name?” said the storm.
“Yes,” Kamari chuckled. “So I guess it’s the ideal name for a dead man.”
The voice chuckled also. “Well it still doesn’t fit you my lively child— nevertheless— it belongs to you, now follow your light.”
Kamari paced toward the large moon. “How did you know?” he asked vaguely.
“The meaning of your name,” the storm answered. “I know many things about you Kamari. I know that your closest friend is Hikaru— I know how many adults have wronged you— I know that you’re something special.”
“Then you healed my injuries?”
“Yes.”
“But why help me?”
“Because I favor you at this brief moment, but don’t become dependent on favoritism, for my opinions constantly sway.”
Kamari smiled, the images that Hikaru and Amber saw fizzled out, and something different displayed itself. A man dressed in red robes pulled off a kabuki mask, and tossed it on the ground, revealing his young handsome appearance in the setting sun. On the open plains of Nebraska, Kamari stood in front of him, prepared for battle.
“I am Asako Yata of Elitist,” the man said. “Also known as Asako Yatashi. Hurry, lets make this battle brief.”
Yata unleashed a technique that encompassed a wide spread of the land; Kamari reacted the moment he saw the strange circle, and created a smaller ring of light within the larger.Both men began changing in appearance, Kamari growing older, while Asako grew younger. As Kamari’s hair grayed, his enemy vanished, no longer in existence, and the fight ended. Kamari used the circle of power and reversed his age to normal standards, then picked up the mask. The image went fussy once again until another one flashed back in. Three masked men chased down another in the dead of night. The street lights shined down, vaguely revealing the masked man being hunted. Kamari leapt a fence and landed in a backyard, then hid behind the trunk of a pine tree. He peered around it, looking for the three Elitist members, the long nose of a white kabuki mask showing through the cloth of Kamari’s white hood.
“Damn,” Casey ranted in a whisper. “Where’d that bloody coward go.”
Although he wore an iron mask, Hikaru and Amber immediately recognized the member by his English accent.
“We should split up,” another voice recommended.
Hikaru saw Kamari raise his hand, then a passage appeared.
“He’s over here!” a member yelled.
Kamari raced into the portal, leaving it open. The three men ran in after him, then the image blanked out again, and another appeared. This time Hikaru spotted Kamari atop a tree, peering down upon the many levitating leaves hanging in mid-air. His white mask lay across his chest, attached by a harness. Hikaru knew instantly what they were watching; A battle he’d fought previously, his fight against Yuki. The image blurred, then everything went dim, and he and Amber were looking back inside the room where Kamari’s body levitated. Hikaru stared around at the sanctuary, wondering what would come next. The floating body dropped through the surface, and the vicinity quaked violently.
“What’s happening!” yelled Amber.
Before Hikaru could speak, the area fell apart like puzzle pieces, and both he and Amber found themselves falling through an endless abyss of white nothingness. Hikaru and Amber made an attempt at grasp the other’s hand, but their fingers passed through like phantoms, until finally, the distance between them grew wider, and neither could see the other.