The Cursed Bloodline
Chapter : The Toughest Punishment is Regret

...In life, people are always between two choices. Whether it's a bad or a good choice, a choice that makes you happy, or a choice that just fills the void in you. Sometimes we get caught up in the wrong choices, lapsed in the dark aisles of ambition and the currents of greed. There is nothing wrong or right, because we are basically humans who are full of weakness. Until death picks up, we never know, is the road we are walking on right now a good or bad road?...

Tanuki started closing his eyes. His body that Shiroi's sword pierced through, gradually began to decay into a wisp of dust. The flash of his life's path had all this time revolved rapidly in his brain.

Painful memories, where one by one the comrades on his side began to leave. Tanuki felt that his life was truly his own. Loneliness is always felt. How far he got lost. If only he had not chosen the path he was going on right now, what would his life be like?

"If I had chosen another path. Will you all still be with me until this very moment? Even on the road of my death, I felt like I was walking alone.... "

Along with his body that was crushed into dust. Tanuki's soul was trapped inside a space in the middle of nowhere, he saw a dazzling beam at the end of his path. Because of the light of the light, he had to extend his hand and narrow his eyes. A wooden door awaited him. With hesitation, Tanuki began to open the wooden door. Samar, the boisterous sounds of children were heard filling his senses.

"Hey! Tanuki you're coming?! "

Tanuki just froze, he could not believe what his eyes saw this time.

It goes back to a moment in the past. Right at the door of her class, she saw her friends waiting for her arrival.

The first child to welcome Tanuki was Kizuna. Black-haired boy, with round eyes. Every smile that Kizuna emitted was always filled with warmth.

Tanuki still did not understand, what really happened. Wasn't he fighting Kurasu? He clearly remembered, the body he used as a shield to protect Mirai. Tanuki immediately glanced at the window panicle, he looked so young. No wrinkles, no middle-aged man's body. He was exactly the same when he was 15 years old. The age where he and his friends were enjoying the Magic academy and just became citizens of Sora Village.

Tanuki who was still dumbfounded, felt his back on someone's pat. He immediately turned around, how surprised he saw Zen who was busy embracing him from behind.

"Tanuki, don't tell me you're lost again?! I've said a few times, you just follow where I'm going. Then you will never get lost again! " Zen started to babble

Get lost. What Zen said was indeed true, Tanuki had gone too far from the path his friends had traveled.

" You're right. I've been lost too far, Zen. I should have listened to everything you said. It might not end like this.... " Tanuki smiled brightly. Now he began to notice the smiling faces of the friends who welcomed his arrival

Right in front of him, Aoryu, Yoshiro was sitting side by side while waving at him. On the other hand, there was Yukio. The cold-faced mysterious girl who was always staring out the window. The most recalcitrant children in their class are Kizuna and Zen, their idea of jailing always makes this magic class into the gossip of the trainers in the Magic academy.

"Friends! Come nearer! " Zen started to pull Tanuki closer towards his friends. They were all compactly gathered together, and made a discussion circle behind the class.

A meaningful smile on Zen's snot face, he glanced at Kizuna while moving his brows. Kizuna simply responded with a thumbs up.

"Since the war is over and we are returned to the academy to study. How about we use this precious time for something fun, hm?! " Zen began the incitement of impersonating the discussion with a meaningful grin.

" Something fun? " Aoryu knitted her brows in surprise. " What is that? "

" Ei! , cook you don't know what the Zen jailer means, Aoryu?! " Yoshiro could only shake his head. As a Zen Partner, he could easily read the boy's mind.

" You want us to skip the academy! Is that your plan, Zen?! You want to die! "

Yukio started to stare at Zen. However, Kizuna started patting Yukio on the shoulder while smiling brightly towards her. It was successful in making Yukio wrong.

" I hope you're coming with Yukio, too. We're all going to Aunt Yu's Ramen Shop, don't you like it? "

" h- should? B-well then, I'll come along. " said Yukio stuttering.

The blonde-haired girl could only sigh softly, a red tinge appearing on her snow-white cheeks. Yukio finally nodded his head slowly. It can be seen, Kizuna is a girl handler as far as Yukio.

" How about we get caught? "

" Hey! We don't know when the war broke out and we're sent to the battlefield again. What if we can't get together like we are now? There's no guarantee we'll be past 17. Either tomorrow or the day after tomorrow we could have died on the battlefield. Especially for a weak warrior like me.

I just want to spend time with my friends. And die with a smile tomorrow! " said Zen with a clear face.

Everyone nodded, however what Zen said was true. There is no such thing as an age limit in war. Although they were only children, there was no guarantee they could survive against the tempest of war tomorrow.

However, all the attention was now on Tanuki. Since then, the boy with a bandage wrapped around one eye was just silently watching, with a view that was difficult to understand.

"Tanuki, why are you quiet? Do you disagree with my advice?! " Zen started to shake his waist.

Tanuki shook his head slowly. " no. I concur. It's just that heaven might send me to this moment for some reason. Because here I can meet all the friends I have. Even for my one-time sinner, it's a miracle. "

Everyone was seen raising their eyebrows in surprise because of Tanuki's strange remark. Zen took the initiative to stick his hand on Tanuki's forehead. Usually the boy would vehemently oppose Zen's idea, and assume everything he did was just a waste of Tanuki's precious time

" Hey! What do you mean, anyway? Why are you acting so weird? You ill? Hyah! no kidding. You scared us all! "

" Already! It's already! We have to work together to get out of the academy without the coach knowing! " Kizuna immediately intruded, and began to command his friends to skip school.

" Come! " everyone starts to stumble towards the exit. Starting from Kizuna and Zen, representatives of the ringleader idea of truancy in charge of opening the escape route. And followed by Aoryu, Yukio and Yoshiro, the three heirs of the Clan were mismanaged.

Tanuki just silently stared. Without realizing it, a small hand reached his arm from behind.

"Wait for what else, Tanuki? Comeing! "

" Mito? "

Mito grabbed Tanuki's hand, pulled him slowly and led him out through the door he had entered. A beam of white light again engulfed Tanuki's soul.

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

Tanuki's soul was sucked back, this time instead of returning to the moment in the past. But a flash of the future that would happen if only he did not choose to kill his Friends.

Tanuki felt his eyelids glare due to the sunlight. He began to open his eyes slowly, the first thing he saw was the petals of cherry blossoms falling into the wind. The heat of the air reminded him of spring. While the magnificent building in front of him looks quite familiar, it is not wrong that he is in front of the Sora government building.

Tanuki felt someone fix his Kimono collar, his gaze now fixed on the middle-aged woman who was busy tidying up her clothes. Women who still look beautiful, despite age have started to eat beautiful brown hair. Tanuki was curious, if Mito lived to date would he look like this? Even when she turned into a middle-aged woman, she still looked charming in Tanuki's eyes.

"Come on Tanuki, we should hurry. Ten must be waiting for us. "

Mito pulls Tanuki's friendly hand. Mito looks beautiful wearing a green kimono leaves, his gaze can not be separated from Tanuki. With a warm smile, he pulled Tanuki's body into the crowd of elders.

At the end of the park, Yoshiro waved at Mito and Tanuki.

" Mito! The tanuki! Right here! "

" Our friends are there, Come on my husband! "

All of Tanuki's friends have gathered. They no longer looked as young and fresh as before. Just like it seems, they have all turned into middle-aged figures who are getting older every day. The face that began to wrinkle, as well as energy that was no longer young. However, it was still laden with smiles.

Yohiro and Aoryu, they were wearing matching dark blue kimonos and stood up while linking their friendly hands. While Kizuna, still looked gallant alongside the Snow Clan's heir, Yukio. They seem happy together. And Zen (?) he came alone with his pedal.

"Hey! Look at our kids! "

Yoshiro pointed towards the Sora warrior line at the end. Tanuki looked riveted. At the other end, their children were seen standing side by side. Aora and Yora, they look handsome with the uniform of the greatness of Sora's soldiers. Not only them, Mirai, Ten and all of his class mates were also present at the awards ceremony and the level rise. All of them, had been promoted to Sora Military Captain

Aora, Mirai, Yora and Ten realized to the presence of the old men, they were with cleft smiles engraved vividly on their beautiful and handsome faces. They waved their hands while showing off the captain badge they received.

"Tanuki, you must be proud of Ten. I heard, he was appointed military chief of the White Cloud Cops? " said Aoryu as she slowly elbowed Tanuki.

" Of course! All my students never fail. Yora is promoted to Captain in Sora's security unit. Mirai in the Medical unit and Aora in the Defense Unit. And more proudly, Ten was promoted to Captain of the elite White Cloud Cops Unit! Isn't that awesome?! " Zen began to boast of his students. Honestly, he almost shed his proud tears.

" The times have changed. I don't want Sora to have a leader with just a bloodline background. Who deserves it, he has the right to lead Sora.

From my point of view. Ten becomes a strong candidate as the future Chief of the Sora Military. You have raised your son well, Tanuki. ", said Aoryu.

Everyone gave a happy smile, except for Tanuki. He could only stand up, looking at Ten with regret. Ten's words on the battlefield, just ringing out.

"If only you lived your life a little more honorably. I could have worn this scarf with pride. You don't have to be the strong man everyone fears. To me, even though you will only be a weak man and be scorned by many, I myself will proudly protect my father.

But, the fact that my father was a criminal and even helped a demon figure . It made me afraid to accept this responsibility, even though the people around me said everything was fine. As much as I work hard for Sora, I still cannot accept any position because I am the son of a demon who intends to destroy Sora! "

Tanuki saw Ten running towards him. There was no pale face full of pressure that he had often seen adorning his son's face. Ten's face looked handsome, with a bright smile adorning it. Ten immediately shook Tanuki's body, and whispered a word that could cool the heart of a father.

Not the word 'i hate you' or 'You're not a father, but a demon!' the usual one came out of his son's mouth.

"Thank you, you've become my father. I love you, father. " whispered Ten.

Tanuki realized, what he saw right now was not a gift from Heaven. Except a punishment for his actions all this time.

Heaven seemed to be willing to add a flash of life, if only Tanuki chose the path of goodness. Without ambition and without greed. Maybe Tanuki can feel all this happiness. Aged with Mito and his best friend, and saw Ten grow up with a smile.....

"Even this punishment is far scarier than the torment of hell for sinners like me. "

...----------------...

Note: we are always faced with a difficult choice. Some are istan or full of struggle. But all things have a cause and effect. If we cheat in life and choose the path of being evil. Our lives must be reciprocated in the absence of a speck of happiness.

Remember, as hard as our lives are, there's still something harder out there. Enough with gratitude.

So Guys, stay on the path that is covered with light on the path of NYA. Although it is difficult, happiness will surely come in time. Keep the spirit, even though today we feel useless, who knows what will happen tomorrow right?

This is Author's Healing Chapter.......

Ehem.... Chairman Zen, sorry, not Author looking for a soul mate to be held to the condition...

Yea! Yea!