Ren never knew a parent's love.
He was raised within the Shin clan. No one treated him like a kid, nor a son. Not even a junior brother. But a warrior bound by a strong will to survive.
Seniors exploited him in every way - like a slave. Ren had grown to understand that this was just how it's supposed to be. He had always been below them.
Growing up within the hellhole, Ren heard a story.
When Lady Shin, the clan leader's wife, gave birth to a baby girl, Lord Shin got disappointed. Because he wanted an heir.
They named the girl Aiko, which meant "Child of Love" in traditional Japanese. Lord Shin just wanted an heir, but that wasn't the same as neglecting the newborn.
However, he didn't train her in swordsmanship. Neither did he tell her even a single word about magical cultivation. Because she was a girl and would end up joining her husband's clan one day.
That was where Ren entered from. If he could make Aiko seem useful after all, the clan leader would appreciate him. And after so many years, Ren could finally get the leader's attention.
Ren, in his way, did get it. He could stand in proximity to Lord Shin and ask him a question that had been haunting him for ages.
It was about his real parents.
And Lord Shin's unnerved response was:
"They weren't humans or demons. Just beings that abandoned their baby on the battlefield."
***
So, in reality, no one had actually cared enough for Ren not to abandon him. Even the clan that seemed supportive did the same thing.
In an instant, Ren forced himself to glare straight at the creature's eyes for seconds. Even though the eye contact made his whole body tremble from intimidation.
He gritted his teeth. Then he whispered:
"Nothing is real. I'm here all by myself. I'm not in danger."
… He repeated it over and over again until the spirit finally showed a reaction.
It tilted its head, as though caught between confusion and slight rage.
"My, my, you're really asking for it now. Get off the ground and find your first sacrifice. OR I…"
Ren cried repeatedly, tears streaming down his face.
"N-nothing is real. I'm here all by myself. I'm not in danger."
"Nothing is real. I'm here all by myself. I'm not in danger."
The creature roared out loud, its voice pinching Ren hard in his ears.
An invisible force suddenly lifted Ren off the ground and his legs hovered above it. He shook his legs with a fearful cry; firstly, he was afraid of falling from a height. But not anymore when something that felt like a hand strangled his neck out of nowhere.
Ren struggled to breathe. It was like a barrier had stood between his neck and the outside air as well—his hands couldn't reach.
Through his red, tear-streaked eyes, Ren glanced at the impudent creature. For a second, a flash of pleadiness crossed his eyes.
PHROOM-WHAM-CLATTER!!!
Ren's body suddenly collapsed into a set of wooden planks leaning against the wall some metres to the left. And they came clattering all over him.
"GU-AHH!" He grimaced.
The searing pain coursed through his spine. It felt hot and burning. Yet, Ren couldn't bring himself to reason with either the creature or actually everything.
He just wanted to believe that the samurai killed the Weeping Mother to save everyone. That Tsukigahara is still that peaceful kingdom in spite of its inactive emperor.
The wind suddenly gusted over him. A small shadow approached him at the same time.
Ren gasped and immediately stared up. He saw the creature hovering above him.
It had its hands crossed at the back, gleaming eyes glaring downwards.
"Rise."
Ren gasped louder. He hesitated.
"The Weeping Mother resisted better. Yet, she broke. I WILL BREAK YOU, peasant."
Ren's heart raced uncontrollably. He rose from the ground onto his knees and just stood panting like that. Not knowing what to do or even when the next attack would come if he kept resisting.
"AH…"
The creature turned in the air.
"Would you have loved to hear this voice?" It spoke in a tiny, almost seductive woman's voice.
Ren's teeth clutched hard against one another as he tried to speak. But he pushed himself to.
"What voice…?"
"Or this? Ehn?" Its voice turned into an inhumanly deep one.
Ren creased his brows.
"What are you talking about?"
His heart trembled right after the confrontation. The creature said nothing and stared at him. This loud silence got Ren already backing down, his eyes wide with fear and mouth wide.
But in the end, it did nothing.
"Choose…"
Ren gasped.
"Keep on resisting and die from torture. Or, actually, do as I say and meet those two just this time."
Ren's voice shakened.
"Who…?"
"Tch, don't you know the people you have been longing to meet? I'll make that dream possible for you. Just make the rite."
Ren's lips parted slowly, his heart racing with excitement. He knew who the creature was talking about.
It was right; this was his lifelong dream. But why? Why suddenly persuade him when it had the ability to force him to accept? Not only that, but it's probable this was a trick.
Ren held his breath.
"No."
A gentle smirk stretched at the corners of the demon's lips.
"You do not want to?"
"No, I don't. This is all a trick. And…"
"So, you're suggesting we stay on the earlier agreement? No way, boy. I'll rip you apart if I get very serious. And I will…"
Ren jerked back an inch with wide eyes.
"No…"
"What's your take on this then? You're really lucky. Kodomo-naki didn't have any other chance but to become a ghost... and continuously make the child sacrifice."
Ren swallowed.
'So… I'm seriously doing the same thing as her now? I have to kill kids?! Curse it! I can't…'
But if he doesn't make the rite, he gets tortured to death.
If he does, he lives, though forever as the successor of the Weeping Mother Kaidan.
But he gets something. A chance to know what his parents look like.
Ren roared out loud with desperation.
"How can I trust you? I haven't seen them before, so you can easily show me the wrong people!"
The spirit smirked, crossing its hands at the front.
"Do you have a better choice? If you're ready, head to Mount Kuronami. Your sacrificial lamb waits for you there at the summit. You know your way there."
In a second, it vanished into black mist.
The dust cloud around Ren instantly cleared. With warm tears gently streaming down his face, Ren looked forward. He saw the great samurai kneeling metres away, panting hard with blood all over his body.
Ren swallowed as he counted no other samurai alive. Everyone else had died.
He mumbled.
"I was right. No one can save me but myself."
Ren started to sprint towards the man.
Step… step… step…
But in a flash, he dashed past his side. He continued on the path he knew so well - to Mount Kuronami. The dense mountain where he always practised sword fighting in secret.
The samurai gasped, turned to him and shouted with desperation.
"Hey! Hey, stop! It's dangerous out there!"
Ren couldn't afford to waste time. He screamed back.
"Curse it, I know!"
***
The cold sank into Ren's bones as he dashed through the ruins. He just kept going and, luckily, none of the Kaidans around got to him. Not even the attacks launched around.
For one, Ren now believed this kingdom had met its doom.
He reached the mountains, heavy with snow: Mount Kuronami.
Ren's breathing was cold. His movements felt heavy, but he kept climbing until he got to the summit.
There, near the summit's edge, a boy his age in a brown kimono knelt. His back was turned towards Ren.
Ren hastily looked around, saw a thick wood and went to grab it immediately. He then rushed to the boy. Upon getting close, he knelt beside him and cried.
"Forgive me."
Ren shut his eyes and cried out loud as he slowly slipped the stick into the boy's chest. Everything narrowed to a single, bright point of sound. When the world came back, the child lay motionless.
That was when the bone fragments reappeared.
[Consume the heart, and the rite is done.]
"Gu-ahh…" Ren hiccuped.
The wind flowed quietly.
After some seconds, Ren crawled over him. His hands shook, and he felt something warm collapse into his palm. He pressed it to his mouth and pushed it down his throat before he could think.
… Ren breathed uncontrollably afterwards, staring into the night sky.
Wails arose from the distance.
Ren roared.
"AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"