The Cursed Bloodline
Three Sekawan Arc: Little Tanuki

In a fertile plain called the Valley of life. A beautiful stretch of high mountains hugged the place. There are different types of animals and plants living and dependent on the richness of nature. Hundreds of springs turned into tributaries, flowing from the foot of the mountain to explore the whole country, supporting the agriculture of the people and making Sora a prosperous Rich Country.

That's where life comes from. Right in the middle of the valley land, there was a small Temple to honor the services of the Snow Goddess. The temple is located on top of a steep mountain cliff. Looks so beautiful, with hundreds of stairs that adorn.

Zen put his foot on the last staircase leading to the temple, his steps halted.

Staring straight at the giant wooden door in front of him, there were two statues that welcomed into his presence. On the right is a statue of an angel with a beautiful face. While on the left side, there was a demonic statue staring at him sharply. A symbol of balance, wherever there is light shining there must be a shadow that gives the dark side to follow it.

Zen started to step foot into the Temple area. With a single katakana in his hand, it seemed that the middle-aged man was ready to face whatever would welcome him.

Krett!

The big door started to open wide. At the end of the room, there was a silhouette of a man in a black kimono. He seemed to be standing on his back to Zen, only silent as he stared at the huge statue in front of him.

The statue of the snow goddess stood firm, with her hands covered in the chest, the goddess as if praying to the Almighty and always keeping the Land of Sora to stay protected.

"You're coming, Zen! " tanuki said as she leaned towards Zen with her eyes tails.

" I got your message from Itasuke. I warned you several times to stop using innocent children out there! "

" You met Itasuke? That means, he has told you everything" Tanuki said with a deep smile. Zen's hands clenched firmly. His face seemed to be holding in anger.

" Tell me, is it true that you helped a dark monster to rise to this world?! What are you really thinking, Tanuki! Are you crazy?! " zen growled with a high voice.

" Crazy?! Ahaha!" Tanuki laughed out loud, breaking up the empty room that was all around them.

Zen's words sounded funny to him. But a second later, Tanuki's expression returned serious.

"If I had to be a lunatic to wipe out the rotten system in this world! With pleasure, I will do it.

You, Kizuna and me. We are the weak ones who almost got killed by this rotten system of the magical world. Because we are born of weak people. Without royal blood, without power and also without power! We just become a tool that can be removed whenever the rulers want." Tanuki said in a soft voice.

" A rotten world sitem? " Zen repeated Tanuki's words, his gaze fixed on the statue of the goddess.

" You're right, Tanuki. We have lived in such difficult times... "

......................

...~Flash Back On~...

The history of the conflict between the three Great Nations, does not begin in the last ten or twenty years. The history of hostilities between the Lands of Sora, Tsuki and Hoshi has existed since the ancestral era. Hundreds of years have passed and continue to pass through several generations in human life.

War not only brings casualties on the part of the military, the effects are also felt by weak civilians. During that bloody period, hundreds or even thousands of people died from the famine that struck. The military people were busy fighting on the battlefield, the whole plain was devastated. While the people, could not suffice the insistence of the ruler of the country to provide food for those who went to the battlefield.

Poverty causes some parents to sell their children to survive. Financing the expenditure of war, of course, the people as a people below who squeezed blood and sweat.

The same thing happened with little Tanuki. The world's rotten system completely destroyed the sight of a boy who was then only 10 years old.

Brakk!

Tanuki's small body fell against the cold floor. His frail body was covered in bruises, while his head and face were red from the blood flowing from the wounds on his head. Tanuki, stared at the dark room around him with a look of fear.

His gaze was now stalled onto the group of children sitting in the corner of the room hugging his knees - terrified. Tanuki looked back at his father, crawling slowly he tried to beg the father not to sell him.

"A-dad! I-I beg you, don't sell me. H-from now on, I will obey all your words. I'll work twice as hard! So dad! Please, don't leave me in a creepy place like this! " Tanuki reached the father's feet. Desperately, he begged his father not to sell him.

" Stop bothering me! You brat! Damnit damnit! "

Shouted his father, the man immediately pushed Tanuki's body hard. Several times, the man beat Tanuki's body. However, the boy could only curl up while trying to defend himself.

" Damn it! You're really troublesome! " the man grumbled, now his gaze was returned to the incarcerator.

" So, he's only half the military? His magic power would probably be very weak. What if I appreciate 75 coins? "

The custodian tried to make a deal with Tanuki's father. Even for the price of a child's soul, they only dared to pay for two bags of rice.

Tanuki's father seemed to think for a moment, while staring at Tanuki who was still curled up in pain. He then approached Tanuki, squatting down to align their height

"Listen and remember this, it's not my fault. If you hate something, hate yourself. Ask yourself why you were born weak! Your mother who has always looked after you is dead on the battlefield, so there is no reason for me to continue taking care of you.

Let's just say, the price I received for selling you as a sign of separation between us. Understand, Tanuki?! " said the father with a mocking grin.

Tanuki who heard that could only clench his hands, his fingernails crumpled due to the anger he felt.

" All right! I accept that price! Quickly give me the money! "

Those words became the last words Tanuki heard from the father. He was dragged away by men and put into a narrow room where children of the same fate were locked up.

Again Tanuki was treated harshly, his body pushed hard to hit the wall of the room. The door was closed and scattered from the outside, relying only on the dim light of the narrow room like hell that was preparing to swallow his frail body.

Slowly, Tanuki tried to get up. Her crying had long since dried up, even a hint of emotion within her was already unable to feel Tanuki. Getting angry? Indeed who could he feel such emotions amidst his oppressed condition.

Little Tanuki could not do much, all he could do was wipe the face that was still spitting out fresh blood.

"Eat! You must have not eaten since. "the voice of a child sounds soft. Tanuki saw someone thrust a piece of cake for him. In the boy's palm, Tanuki saw a black diamond symbol. My gyoku symbol, it means that the boy is military as he is.

Tanuki directed his gaze to the figure of the child in front of him. Dark black hair, and a warm smile. Even in the midst of that condition, the boy in front of him could still smile.

"Wait for what else! Accept this cake, my hands are sore to know! Oh yeah, if you may know, what's your name? "

With hesitation, Tanuki began to reach for the cake that the boy was offering. Tanuki bowed shyly, honestly only this time there were people who thought it existed. Whether it was the father or the adults he had met before, they had always behaved the same. He was humiliated because he was a weak child.

" Tanuki." he said as he packed the cake in his hand. He tried to quell the anger that was stirring within him.

The child in front of him was silent for a moment. With a plain look, he looked at Tanuki with a difficult look Tanuki articulated.

" W-what's up? " murm Tanuki. Wonder if he made a mistake?

" Tanuki, doesn't that mean Raccoon? Pfttt... Your name is so funny! " the boy said honestly while trying to hold back his laughter.

Tanuki screeched, he knew the meaning of his name was a raccoon. But still, the child in front of him had embarrassed him. It's not his fault he has a name like that either!

" Sorry... I'm sorry, from now on I won't laugh at your name. I promise!

Ah, yes. I have to introduce myself too... "

The boy began to stretch out his hand, though doubtful Tanuki began to shake the boy's hand. Still with a warm smile, the boy tightly grasped Tanuki's hand.

Just like that, the boy's hand was covered in bruises. Tanuki was thinking, so it was not only him who was unfortunate. There were many weak and oppressed people out there including the boy in front of him.

"Include! I'm Kizuna. From now on, we are friends. Okey? "

Kizuna is the first friend Tanuki has. The fate of both of them is no different. Kizuna was also sold by her parents. But what made him different from Tanuki was the reason why he could end up in a place like this. The war required his parents to fight, while his brother had to tax at an impossible price. Unlike Tanuki who has an evil father, Kizuna is willing to sacrifice her life for the survival of her poor family. He had to live his life.

Again and again. A World System, requiring helpless children to be treated so cruelly.

"Yinjima! Don't you intend to get out of this miserable fate and turn into a strong one? " that remark suddenly came out of Tanuki's mouth. Highlight Tanuki's eyes changed, this time he displayed a great ambition in him

" What do you mean? "

" Some time, we might grow up with great strength. Who knows, children like us can also rule this country! "