Yoko ran as bullets flew around her. One passed by her ear… another sliced the air near her foot.
But she didn't stop.
Some time later… Ken began to stir. His eyelids twitched first, then his voice burst out in a sharp scream:
Ken (screaming as he jolts up): "Daaaan!!! Dan!!! Nooo!!!"
His voice echoed through the shattered ruins around him. Yoko was sitting beside him, her face exhausted, her eyes red from crying. As soon as Ken woke up, she threw herself on him and hugged him tightly.
Yoko (trying to calm him): "I'm here… Ken, I'm with you… please, just breathe…"
Ken trembled in her arms, whimpering like a broken child. He started crying again—soft, stifled sobs. Slowly, he raised his head, looking around in shock. Then he turned to the left—and froze.
Ken (in shocked whisper): "Dad?"
His father's body lay on the ground, half-covered in dirt and blood. There was a deep wound in his chest, and his face was pale… but he was still breathing.
Ken crawled to him on his hands and knees and knelt beside his trembling body.
Ken (broken voice): "Dad… are you going to die too? Are you going to leave me as well?! That's enough! Please… don't do this too!"
Akako opened his eyes slowly… and a faint smile formed on his face.
Akako (weakly): "Ken… come closer…"
Ken leaned in further, collapsing onto his father's chest. His eyes flooded with tears that wouldn't dry. Akako raised his shaking hand and placed it on Ken's hair like he always did.
Akako: "My son… I don't have much time left… but you need to know the truth before I go…"
Ken (panicking): "No! Don't say that! Don't say goodbye! Don't leave me, Dad! I don't want to live in this hell without you!!"
Akako (hoarse): "I'm sorry, Ken… but listen to me carefully. King Cirrus… he's not just the cause of this war… he's my brother. He's your uncle."
Ken (shocked): "W-what did you say? Cirrus… is my uncle?"
Akako closed his eyes briefly, as if reliving a painful memory.
Akako: "I was once a prince of the Kaji Kingdom… but I was exiled. I fled my brother's cruelty—his evil… I thought I could build a family far from his shadow. But his shadow… was too long to escape."
Ken (hurt): "Why didn't you tell me…?"
Akako (struggling to speak): "I wanted you to live in peace… to remain a child untouched by hatred. But now… there's no other choice."
He coughed hard, blood coming from his mouth, then gripped Ken's hand tightly.
Akako: "Listen carefully, my son… You have a great power inside you… fire Vakin… the blood of the Yukaji. It will awaken soon…
And when it does, you'll understand… and know what you must do."
Ken (choking, begging): "Dad… what are you saying? Please don't leave… just a little longer…!"
Akako (with a sad smile, giving his final words): "If you seek revenge… do it for those who died unjustly, not out of hatred alone. But please… don't let vengeance consume your heart. Live… and remember us with love, not with rage. That's all I ever wanted for you, my son."
His breath left him… and his chest fell silent.
Ken (screaming): "Daaaaaaad!!!"
Ken collapsed on his father's chest, shaking violently, tears flooding again like a storm.
Ken (shaking him): "Dad!! Please wake up!! Don't do this to me!! Don't leave me now… not now!!"
He screamed as if his heart had been ripped from his chest.
Ken (choking, broken voice): "Are you… are you going to leave me an orphan?! They took Mom… Emily… Dan… even the unborn twins! You can't go too… you can't…"
Another cry—one full of agony, grief, and despair.
Ken (weeping, burying his face in his father's chest): "You're the one I loved most… how can I live without you? How?!"
He clutched his father's bloody shirt as if holding it tightly would bring him back… but nothing did.
Ken stayed like that for over an hour. On this day, he didn't just lose his family—
He lost his childhood.
He lost his heart.
Some time later, Ken stood slowly, like someone forced to leave the grave of his own soul. He looked at Yoko, who was staring at the fires surrounding the alley, her face pale from fear.
Ken (in a quiet, broken voice): "Looks like it's our turn… better to die together…"
Yoko (in a terrified whisper): "No… don't say that… I don't want to die…"
Ken, drowning in despair, walked toward the flames encircling them, then stared into them.
Ken (whispering): "Everything's already burned… so why not me too?"
He stretched his left hand into the flames. Yoko tried to scream—to stop him—but Ken didn't pause. He pushed his hand slowly into the heart of the fire!
And in that moment—everything changed.
Instead of burning him… the fire embraced him.
The flames danced around his hand as if hugging it. Sparks wrapped up his arm, then to his shoulder—his whole body warmed…
but not painfully.
Ken (in a hoarse voice): "I… I don't feel pain…"
Yoko (shocked): "Ken… your hand!!"
Ken looked at it. Flames danced on his palm—but they didn't burn. Slowly… the fire began to move as if listening to him.
Ken (alive with energy): "Dad… was right… It's fire… it's the Vakin…"
He reached forward with a heart full of anger and determination.
Suddenly, the flames exploded outward and cleared a path in the inferno—as if the sea itself had parted!
Yoko (amazed): "The fire… obeyed you!"
Ken (breathing hard): "This is my power… from my blood… from the Yukaji. And I won't let anyone else die because of Cirrus ever again!"
Some time later, Ken and Yoko reached the shore. As they walked, a teenage boy—around 15—sat among the ruins. His messy blond hair, pale green eyes, and scarred body made him look like a survivor of hell. When he saw them, he stood with effort and walked toward them, his voice warm despite it all:
Boy: "Hey… are you two okay? Need help?"
Ken (weakly, exhausted eyes): "We don't know where to go… our home is gone… and our families… they're all dead."
Boy (voice trembling): "Same here… I thought I was going to die under my house, but I crawled out… only to find everyone gone. No one left."
Yoko (softly): "What now? Are we going to an orphanage?"
After a pause, he looked up and said:
Boy: "Maybe… or we could run away. My name's Randy. I have an idea… Urakano Island isn't far. I have a small wooden boat. If it's not broken, we might make it."
Ken (looking at the ruined city): "I don't think we have any other choice… this place isn't livable anymore."
Randy: "Then follow me."
The three of them walked over the rubble, trying not to look back.
They reached the beach. Despite the destruction, it seemed like the shore had miraculously survived.
The boat was still intact. They climbed in, and Randy rowed—with help from Ken and Yoko—until exhaustion overtook them. Eventually, the two fell asleep in Randy's lap, who stayed awake, watching the sea and stars.
The next morning, Ken woke up first. There was no mother calling him. No warm bed.
Only waves… and sky.
He looked around… and remembered everything. His chest tightened. He sobbed quietly.
Yoko and Randy woke up to the sound of his crying. Randy gently pulled him into a hug.
Randy: "It's okay… I think we'll arrive in an hour."
They rowed in silence.
Bit by bit, land appeared on the horizon.
Ken: "Is that Urakano?"
Randy: "Yeah… we've made it."
Yoko: "Is it big?"
Randy: "Not really… about a million and a half people live here."
They reached the shore and stepped out in silence. Their clothes torn, skin dirty, eyes heavy with sorrow. Anyone who saw them knew… they had walked out of hell.
Yoko (whispering): "Where do we go now?"
Randy: "I don't know…"
Suddenly, a man in uniform approached.
Man: "Are you from the Ruby Kingdom?"
Randy: "Yes, we lost our families… escaped by boat."
Man: "There are survivors that way. Maybe you'll find someone."
He pointed to a crowd under tents. They headed that way.
Suddenly, Randy shouted:
Randy: "Uncle! Aunt!!"
He ran and hugged them, crying. Ken and Yoko shared a silent glance.
Ken: "I wish… I could find someone… anyone."
Yoko (softly): "We don't know yet…"
Just then, a voice cried out:
Woman: "Yoko?! Yoko!!!"
Yoko (shocked): "Auntie?!"
She ran and fell into her arms, sobbing.
Yoko: "Auntie! They're all dead!"
Aunt (sad voice): "I know, sweetie… I thought you died too. But you're still here… that's all that matters now…"
Yoko: "Can I live with you?"
Aunt (hugging her): "Of course, little one."
But when Yoko pointed to Ken, her aunt's face changed.
Yoko: "This is Ken… my friend. He lost his family too."
Aunt (coldly): "I'm sorry. I can't take in more children. I have enough trouble as it is."
Yoko (pleading): "But he has no one! We can't leave him!"
Aunt: "It's not my concern. Let's go."
She pulled Yoko away, ignoring her cries.
Yoko: "Ken! Wait for me! I want to say goodbye!"
But the aunt didn't turn around. Yoko's pleas meant nothing.
Ken stood frozen as he watched his friend dragged away.
Ken (crying out, waving): "Goodbye, Yoko! We'll meet again… I know we will!"
He stood there…
Alone for the first time. No mother. No father. No brother. No sister.
No friend.
But he was still alive.
And that was enough…
To begin a new life.
Hours passed like ages, as Ken sat alone on that rickety wooden chair at the edge of the shore. Everyone else had left—one by one, each found someone waiting, or at least a familiar face. But Ken remained, gazing at the horizon with lost eyes, his tears still falling silently. He hugged himself, as if his body longed for the embrace of his mother and father… or Emily's little hands… or Dan's voice.
He bowed his head and let out a faint sob. This time, he didn't cry out loud—just heavy tears sliding down his dusty cheeks in silence. Suddenly, he heard soft footsteps on the sand. He looked up slowly and saw an old man approaching. He looked to be in his late seventies, with soft white hair blowing in the wind, a face lined with age, but his blue eyes still held life, and a quiet handsomeness that time had not erased.
The man (gently): "Hello, son… Are you lost?"
Ken (wiping his tears shyly): "I don't know where to go… I have no one left."
The old man sat beside him, pulled a small handkerchief from his coat, and handed it to him.
The man: "Your accent isn't from around here… did you come from Ruby?"
Ken (in a hoarse whisper): "Yes… our city was bombed. My mom died… my dad… my sister… my brother… even the twins who hadn't been born yet."
The old man went quiet for a moment, then gently placed a hand on Ken's shoulder and said:
The man: "I'm sorry, son… My name is Laud. You can call me 'Grandpa.'"
Ken: "My name is Ken…"
Laud: "Tell me, do you have any relatives? Anyone who might be looking for you?"
Ken (shaking his head): "No one… It's all over."
Laud looked at the broken boy beside him, sighed, and said:
Laud: "Then… come with me. I don't have much, but I've got a warm home, and some food. You can live with me, Ken. You won't be alone anymore."
Ken blinked in surprise, then slowly looked up and said in a soft voice:
Ken: "Really…?"
Laud (with a gentle smile): "Yes, son… I lost my family a long time ago. Maybe it's fate that we've found each other now."
Ken looked into his eyes for a long moment… then nodded, stood up, and followed him silently.
Years passed, and Ken was now eleven years old. He was no longer that completely lost child. He woke up every morning to the sound of Laud making breakfast, and fell asleep every night after hearing stories from the old man's youth—stories of ancient wars, women he'd loved, and faraway lands he'd once visited as a reckless young man.
Ken learned a lot from him—about patience, about cooking, and about fighting. But… on one cold winter morning, Ken sat alone at the breakfast table. There was no voice calling him from the kitchen. No warm smell of bread filling the house. That day… Ken realized that the time he had with Laud had come to an end. And that loneliness… had returned to him once more.
To be continued…