'I have to make it right.'
The obsession of the Sirens could not be explained by just sothing as simple as love. It almost felt like so kind of conditioning. That was the only explanation I could co up with. And even with all the Sirens investigating, all we had were guesses.
"Please let go… While I still have so dignity… otherwise I would no longer be able to endure it. I know given enough ti, I would be fine even if the one you really love are the ghosts you see in …Please…"
Limitless was in tears. Anyone in Hellsgate would never believe such a thing. The machine that knew nothing but to kill undead was crying. The dissonance made my heart skip a beat. Although, in truth, this was my pitiful attempt to ignore the problem that remains unspoken.
In bad taste, I poked fun at his sorrow, "Fufu. Shujin crying like this is too adorable. I almost want to keep him in the dark just to see him so pitifully for a while longer."
"Then why didn't you tell ?" he asked.
I already knew the reason. So, to prepare for when Shujin did find out, I did the unthinkable.
"Shujin, the Takemikazuchi in my past life and in legend are completely different. I never once associated you with him. And even if I did, he wouldn't hold a candle to you, my {Kindred}."
'Inari and I are completely different. Never associate with her. Even if you did. She wouldn't hold a candle to , your {Kindred}.'
That was the real ssage I wanted to convey. It was called Neuro-linguistic Programming (NLP) or covert communication. It was hiding ssages in regular conversation. It used language patterns and subtle cues.
It aid to change the target's thoughts or behavior, without their knowledge. The mont I said the words, I felt terrible. I did it instinctively. I tried to manipulate the man I love.
'I am like her.'
I confronted the ugly truth. Inari and I couldn't have been more alike. Swallowing my disgust, I resolved to continue to condition Shujin.
'In order to never lose his love, I am prepared to do anything.'
Afterward, the Sirens and I shared about the dreams we all saw. And true enough, all of them ended up in tragedy.
Liv forsook her Tyr and died in regret. Lilly-sama and Jas fell in battle as Shujin watched. Robyn starved to death without reconciling. Jo was killed by Shujin himself. Bella committed suicide. And I died in a tsunami that swallowed the world.
None of Shujin's past lives gave him happiness. Only tornt and sorrow. If he suddenly rembered all that. What would happen to his heart? Could he even continue? At the mont, all of us only knew fragnts.
And before we could learn the truth, they all ceased after our first night. After Shujin made his woman. The dreams all stopped. This was for all seven of the Sirens. As if the dreams finally found their ho.
When Shujin shared the changes in his Door room, I began to grow terrified. Suddenly the situation was reversed. We were now in the sa position Shujin felt. That our past lives would be all that he saw.
The past incarnations that brought us together. Now could beco the very thing that tears us apart.
'What if Shujin learns the entire truth? What if he stops loving as a result of what he learns?'
People were unpredictable. I had no certainty that Shujin would not see Inari in after he finished watching the mories. From what I know of psychology, the odds were high that he would likely develop an aversion to us.
It was a relief that Shujin said he would explore them after our campaign. It delayed the problem. Asians seldom confront conflict within the family. With enough ti, it should resolve itself. That is what I hope.
Yet Zanele's words now forced the Sirens and to confront the ugly truth we were trying to hide from.
"As I ntioned, as if by so manner of destiny, each Successor t with his Sins. The Successors would et a Sin, fall in love with her, and bed her. But that was when the change began."
Stop talking.
"Upon waking up, the Successors would be distraught. They would all begin rambling about a future they had experienced. All of a sudden, their behavior and outlook would change overnight."
Please stop talking.
"What happened to the Sin who slept with the Successor?" Bella asked.
"There are slight differences, but it always ends in one of two outcos. They would either try to murder the Successor or commit suicide."
I don't want to hear this. The one who betrayed Shujin was Inari, not Aki Miroku.
'I do not want to be her.'
Even Jo no longer laughed as if all the joy from her deanor had been sucked out. "Zanele, can you explain further? What exactly happened to them? Use a specific example if possible."
'I AM NOT HER! I AM DIFFERENT!'
"I spoke to several of them, and they always gave the sa answer. It was that they misunderstood the visions."
'Can I kill this bitch? It should be fine, right? Shujin loves . He will always love . Right?'
"Zanele, please refine your responses. What does that even an? Did the Sins ntion who sent them?"
Yes, who were the visions from? If I knew who sent them, I could pay them a visit and bury a blade in their spine.
"The Sins, upon expressing their discovery, always beca distraught. They would go into seclusion or confront the Successors. If the latter should happen, it always ended in their death. If the forr, suicide."
I wanted to change the topic, but it continued to go in the direction I wanted to avoid with every fiber of my being. To give myself so comfort, I decided to ask the question whose answer I feared the most.
"I do not understand Zanele-san. You said the Successors fell in love with the Sins. They even shared a night of passion. How could they kill their partners in an instant without any remorse?"
"I am sorry, but I do not know the answer. The only commonalities I found were that it always happened after they made love. Upon waking, the Successor would change and speak of visions. The Sins would then isolate themselves."
At her words, the other Sirens all began to express their thoughts.
[AnvilLunatic: Is she stupid? Darling? The man who thinks of nothing but ssing up every second of every day? Am I supposed to believe that he will kill ?]
[HamrPervert: I concur. Dearest is a depraved madman who gets intoxicated by my body odor and gets off using my hair. It may have been true about the other Successors. But I cannot see him coming after my life.]
[HamrMilf: she must be mistaken; Beloved would much rather kill himself than lay a finger on us. The duels we had only prove this point. Even under heavy restrictions, he would never even think about hurting a Siren.]
[AnvilChatbot: Hmm, even if he did get angry, we could just pay him off with boob sweat. He is addicted to mine. If it's Honey, a blowjob and a good fucking can get him to forgive you for anything. The only thing that I can think of that would make him hate you is killing a Siren.]
[AnvilLoli: Bloody oath, Possum couldn't possibly take out. He might get cranky, but he loves too much. A bit too much, to be honest. Sotis I think I'd die from all his fucking love!]
[HamrSadist: She speaks the truth. I have seen it. It's in our near future. A ti will co when we fight with Husband intent on taking his life. He will do the sa.]
Jas's words caused my heart to turn cold. If it were anyone else, we would have ignored it. But it was from the one who had {Insight}. The one who saw the future. A dark shadow fell upon every one of us.
Gritting my teeth, I implored the others.
[AnvilGeisha: Everyone, nothing is set in stone. Let us listen to Zanele's entire story before reacting. Whatever happened to the others, we are different. We are not them. And I am not her.]
And so, the Sirens and I continued to listen. But I engraved in my heart that no matter what happens, I would never beco like Inari. I would never betray Shujin. I would much rather kill myself before I get the chance.
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