Limitless The Strongest Revenant-Chapter 962: Heroine - : I am not her [1/2]

Chapter POV: Aki Miroku-Smith

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"The answer to that is the Sins. Each Successor has a group of seven women who are all drawn to them like moths to an open flame. I do not say that analogy without careful consideration. All Sins of the five Successors I have met, uhm… they have all met horrible and tragic fates."

Zanele's words made me recall my haunting dreams. It was something unique to the Sirens and me. Before marriage, we kept a secret. We all saw our former lives with Shujin's past incarnations.

But what didn't occur to us was that our {Kindred} saw them too. The first time he mentioned it, he broke down hysterically. The face of betrayal he made broke my heart. It was one that I had already seen before. And one I never wanted to see ever again.

It was after we awoke from creating the {Seal of Seven}. Afraid that he would lose us, Shujin stayed by our side and stewed in negative thoughts. As he was an overthinker, it was the worst possible thing that could have happened. All seven Sirens were unavailable.

'Sigh, and Shujin paid the price.'

The fact that Shujin used us as an emotional crutch was known to everyone. It was the only explanation for his obsession with us. Any Siren would understand. After all, we felt the exact same way. We all lived and fought all because of this man.

When he saw we were okay, he expressed his love and desire through our bodies. It gave us immense pleasure and satisfaction. I could hardly think of anything that could compare. Afterwards, he finally slept after over ten days of not even allowing himself to rest.

'Even though we can, it seems unhealthy to always be awake all the time. We should get Shujin to sleep more often.'

My man was, for lack of a better word, a Yandere. Anyone who saw how he watched us sleep would think so. While the girls and I succumbed to exhaustion and sleep, our man guarded us like a hawk. I have seen the videos Bella and Exa recorded.

Anyone else would have been terrified. But the Sirens found it endearing instead.

'He even uses souls to swat insects and regulate the room temperature. If it's for us, he never sees anything spent on us as a waste.'

It made us all feel incredibly loved. For a group who never knew peace, just staying by his side gave us rest. And yet, it always saddened me that I could never do the same for him. I thought that would change when he finally entered REM sleep.

'But it was the complete opposite.'

Upon waking, Shujin couldn't even look at us properly. His eyes hid a pain I could not understand. We all tried to reach out to him.

"Shujin, do not be afraid. Whatever it is. You are no longer alone. We will solve it together."

That was what I said. Although if he knew what I knew, he would call me nothing more than a hypocrite. And I had no excuse. Inari betrayed Takemikazuchi. There was no other way to explain her actions. And he knew that she did.

"Everyone, Exa and I had a discussion, and she shared that you all were having her investigate some deities…"

The moment he said such words; it took everything I had to keep my face emotionless. Luckily, the other Sirens were with me, so it should help mask my reaction.

'Calm down. There are no stories of Inari and Takemikazuchi being related in Shinto mythology. Shujin has no way to know what actually happened!' I reassured myself.

"Thank you. According to her, the goddesses were the same ones you use as IDs in Graveyard. That doesn't bother me much. What did was that you all made her search for another person."

As Shujin continued, his face revealed what he felt. Even without his {Kindred} link, I knew that look. The face belonged to someone who had lost faith in those they trusted.

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"Let go of me. I need to go somewhere!" Shujin yelled as he tried to leave.

Without even coordinating, the girls and I all moved to restrain him. We all probably picked up on the same thing. That whatever Shujin deluded himself into thinking was eating him up inside. Bella mounted him and gave him a good slap.

"Honey, stop being so childish! How can the almighty Limitless act like this?! You never ran away from a fight! Not against the undead! Not even against a Revenant! What is going on?!"

I nodded at her words; Shujin feared no one. Be it a demon, a king, or even a god. However, I somehow had a guess as to why he was acting this way. It was a hunch, but one I wanted to be a lie with every fiber of my being.

"That's easy for you to say! You aren't the one being treated as a substitute!"

'Sigh, I just knew it. He sees the dreams too,' I lamented.

"YEAH! A FUCKING SUBSTITUTE! THAT WAS WHY YOU ALL HAD EXA LOOK FOR YOUR FUCKING BASTARDS RIGHT! CAUSE THEY WERE YOUR LOVERS IN YOUR PAST LIVES! WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME? WHY KEEP IT A SECRET?!"

'Because I was terrified of what would happen if you knew.'

I didn't know why, but I had an inkling that the other girls all had histories with Shujin. I overheard them mention or joke about it. I didn't know how theirs ended. But Inari and Takemikazuchi's tale was a tragedy.

"YOU ALL ALREADY KNOW HOW BROKEN I WAS AFTER CAROLINE! I LOVE YOU ALL WITH ALL OF MY HEART! BUT I AM NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO GO THROUGH THAT AGAIN! I WOULD RATHER DIE! JUST LEAVE ME BE!"

At that moment, another face overlapped with Shujin's. A face I knew well. He was man who always visited me in my dreams. That is until I got married. His words were painfully the same as John Smith's.

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"YOU OF ALL PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW WHY I SAY THIS, INARI! I HAVE SPENT LIFETIMES FIGHTING HIM! IT IS HOPELESS! AND YET YOU DO THIS! WHAT OF THE LOVE WE SHARED?! DOES NONE OF THAT MATTER? DO I NOT MATTER?!"

His rage was like a raging storm. The powerful winds and peal of thunder accompanying his every word. Yet only I knew of the wounds this man had to endure. About the lonely journey he has had to suffer through for lifetimes beyond number.

The man I loved reigned in his temper as he tried to hide his pain before continuing.

"Let's escape together, Kamisan. Please, I never begged anyone for anything, but I am begging you now. Please do not do this. Come with me, Inari. As long as we are together, I can bear it. I-If even you abandon me, I-I do not think I can continue any longer."

The mighty god of thunder. The commander of the heavenly storms. The fearless Warlord of Izumo, Takemikazuchi. Yet to me, he was my devoted and loving Shujin. One who was my pride. Yet against my will, Inari's mouth uttered words that were beyond revolting.

"Take. I love you. But I cannot choose you. These rice fields are my home. And here shall my bones be buried. I know of your suffering. You have fought enough; run away, Anata. My last request is to please remember me. And know that my heart is always with you."

Once Inari spoke those words, Takemikazuchi got up and left. His destination? To fight the end of the world. He resolved himself to die in order to protect Inari's shrine. Like the conniving, vile, two-faced bitch Inari was, she caused her lover to die a pointless death. All for a few fields of rice.

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'Unforgivable. Inari may appear sweet, but she is nothing but a vile schemer! She knew staying would mean Take's sacrifice. Yet she just watched him die as he fought alone believing she did not love him,' I remember thinking as I woke up in anger.

Unforgivable. My entire body trembled with hatred. My previous incarnation had the power of a Revenant. At a flick of her finger, she could make crops grow and flourish. Her mere presence could bolster the morale of entire armies. Yet she chose to hide. She chose to cower.

Inari's betrayal affected me deeply.

If she couldn't fulfill her responsibilities as a wife, then I would make sure I never make the same mistake. It warped my desire for power. I wanted to stand by Shujin's side no matter the storm. No matter the cost.