Page 47 of Echoes of Eternity

The old man threw his head back and let out a raw laugh. “So you do remember me. Good. It will be the lastname you remember. Kaito, be a good boy, and don’t disappoint me.”

Noboru shattered the last of the chains, wasting no time, launching himself at the beast with a supernatural speed.

The two collided in a clash of titans, the impact reverberating through the area like an earthquake. Noboru’s movements were fluid and powerful, his body moving with the grace of a warrior awakened. Each strike he delivered was infused with the strength of his heritage, a raw power that seemed to draw from the very essence of the world around us.

I stood frozen. The dragon roared, unleashing a torrent of fire that illuminated the darkened room, sending the Yakuza scattering out of the building. Noboru countered with a shield of energy that shimmered like liquid light, absorbing the flames and redirecting them back toward the beast as he pulled his divine blade out.

“Mae!” Noboru shouted, his eyes fierce and focused. “Get away from here!”

He didn’t have to tell me twice. I quickly left my hiding spot and darted toward one of the vehicles, hoping I could steal one. I took a deep breath and scanned the scattering of cars in the area, looking for a specific one. Kaito used to let me take his vehicle for joy rides. It was the one I was most familiar with.

As if my thoughts summoned him, the dragon hissed, fury in its eyes as it swung its massive tail, aiming for Noboru. But he was faster, dodging the blow with anagility that defied logic. As he engaged Kaito, I felt a surge of energy pulse through the air—a bond that transcended the physical, weaving us together in a shared purpose.

We were not just fighting for survival; we were fighting for our right to exist, to reclaim our destinies.

The Yakuza leader stood a distance away, his arms crossed and a twisted smile curling on his lips as he watched the calamity unfold. His eyes glimmered with a satisfaction that was unsettling, as if he were a proud father reveling in the destruction his offspring was capable of unleashing. “This is what I wanted to see,” he murmured, the words dripping with dark glee. “A true battle of power—a son who finally embraces his heritage.”

Talk about unattainable family expectations. In that moment, the arguments I'd had with my family felt trivial and inconsequential compared to Kaito’s monumental struggle. Was this why he clung to me after our breakup? I knew his relationship with his father was rocky at best, most Asian families involved with gang life were like that.

But this? This is something else entirely.

Noboru danced around the dragon with fierce determination, his strikes echoing like thunder. Every blow he landed was a testament to his strength, but I could see the toll the injury on his wing was taking on him. The dragon retaliated with ferocity, each swing of its claws creating shockwaves that rattled the nearby trees. It was clear that this was more than just a fight;it was a clash of legacies, a culmination of all the pain and suffering that had led us to this moment.

Kaito’s laughter boomed, mingling with the roars of the dragon. “You think you can win, warrior? She was never yours!” His voice dripped with contempt, but I could hear an undercurrent of fear. The more Noboru fought, the more that fear and jealousy crept into Kaito’s words, revealing the cracks in his façade.

Noboru’s gaze flickered to me for a brief moment, a spark of connection igniting between us. “Do not let his darkness dictate your fate, dragon. It will only lead to your demise,” he shouted, and with renewed vigor, he charged forward with an upswing of his blad, skidding across Kaito’s scales, sending sparks flying.

Kaito lunged again, snapping its jaws with a feral growl, Noboru sidestepped with an elegance that was almost poetic. He countered with a surge of energy that sent a shockwave through the area, forcing Kaito to stagger back.

“You underestimate me, warrior,” he declared, his voice steady and resolute. “I’ve had years of hatred pent up inside of me. The only downfall will be yours!”

Years of hatred? For who?

I looked at his father who said nothing besides carrying a smirk on his face. What an asshole. No wonder prior me didn’t want him.

Kaito’s face darkened, rage bubbling beneath the surface. “You were always meant to be mine, Mae. I’m going to get rid of this distraction once and for all.” His words were laced with desperation, but there was aflicker of uncertainty in his eyes as he watched Noboru unleash his power.

Arrogant to the bitter end.

But was that truly what I wanted? A part of me wrestled with the notion. Yes, I loathed him in many ways—his selfishness, his manipulative tactics, the way he had tried to control every aspect of my life. Yet, beneath that hatred, there lingered a complicated mix of emotions. I never wished for his death. I didn't want the end of our conflict to come at such a devastating cost.

What I craved was liberation from the toxic ties that bound us, a chance to reclaim my life without his shadow looming over me. I wanted to break free and see where this new relationship with Noboru would take me. Yet, the reality of a life without his existence felt unsettling, like tearing out a piece of my identity that had been intertwined with his for so long.

You’re confused beyond belief, girl!

Maybe. But I’m not a murderer and I feel like whatever happens tonight will have blood on my hands too.

I watched the chaos unfold, realizing that I was trapped in a moral dilemma. Was it possible to hold onto my principles while also wanting him to face the consequences of his actions? Could I reconcile my hatred with a flicker of empathy for the boy I once loved? The weight of it all pressed down on me, and I struggled to find a way to navigate this tumultuous emotional landscape just like I was struggling to get close enough to his damn car without being seen by one of the Yakuza or his father.

Trying to keep focus, I hid behind one car to the next,and behind a few trees until I finally made it to Kaito’s car. I successfully snuck toward the driver’s side, relief washing over me, and grabbed the car door handle only to be pulled from behind aggressively.

“Oh, no you don’t,” came an aggressive male voice.

Knowledge from the streets kicked in and I automatically turned on my self-defense moves. Despite being much larger than me, I was more agile.

With his grip still on the back of my shirt, I twisted until it slipped off me. I took the opportunity to sweep his legs from under him while he was still in shock that I would dare do anything in just a bra. The goon fell with a loud thump that alerted the other men.

“That was my favorite shirt too,” I growled, resigned to having to search through the internet to find another one of those custom-made designs with vintage band shirts.

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