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Letters From The Dragon Emperor
Dragon Emperor 용 항 제 yong-hwang-je
To Master Seimei, the greatest and wisest Onmyoji in all of Nippon, the protector of Kyoto, adviser to emperors and governors of Heian, and last but most importantly, our most trusted companion and ally,
I couldn't be more happier than writing this letter to you, Master Seimei. Ever since we made the contract between Shikigami and Onmyoji in relative peace, things went on as usual with my chaotic and amusing family.
Yoongi is still bearing a grudge against Yuki-Onna for the snowballs she had thrown at him during the last Winter Festival ... The size of adult cats might I add, and I truly hope Yoongi doesn't come up with horrendous ideas of pay backs the next time they meet until the next winter.
Hoseok is cheery as always, despite being the vessel of Lord Enma, and being the ruler of Death, he always try his best to brighten up the mood whenever we were feeling down or caught ourselves in a tight situation, all the while guiding lost and wondering souls to the Underworld.
Jin is currently taking care of the 3 youngsters of our group in our house now, volunteering to become the Mother of our made-up family, while juggling between serving his duties as a Shikigami and a parent. Oh, yes! He is also our apothecary now. His business is booming as many Youkai and some forest spirits seeking him for herbs and medicines which he prepared by himself. Some even traveled from afar just to asked him for advice about growing medicinal plants!
Jimin and Taehyung both are still thorns in our sad behinds, continuously causing trouble around Kyoto streets as Demon Blade-Wielder and Nine-Tails but by no means harming anyone who crosses by. Let it not be said Jin will undoubtedly reign hell upon these two rascals with satisfying glee...
And at last, our sweet youngest family member... Jeongguk. He is the bridge to all of us, and we, to him. Without him, there is no us. For he is the one who brought 7 of us together, and from there, we created a family that we could call our own. On the other hand, *sigh* we will do our best not to let him join Jimin and Taehyung on their so-called fun-filled day at being idiots of the Holy Trinity......
But that is not why I wrote this letter to you on the well-being of my family, but for a much different reason.
I couldn't shake off the feeling of uneasiness lately. It all started off as a dream... An unusually long dream where I was a normal human being. A human without any God-like powers; streets filled with strange-looking structures, some of them were so tall as if they could reach up to the heavens! Truly a sight to behold!
Forgive me if I wrote out of context, but that is besides the point. What I am about to reveal to you, is something that I did not want any of my brothers know about. Yes, Master Seimei! It is THAT bad!
I would never write this letter to you if it was not, and please, keep this as a secret between us. Only you will be able to help me solve this puzzle.
For what I am about to tell you may caused some discomfort for you......
As you know, besides Miss Yao Bikuni's divination skills, I too, have the power to predict the future. The dreams I am having these days... I fear that they are not dreams at all.
No. They are memories of mine; a far future where I am just an ordinary young man chasing a dream. A world where no Onmyoji and Shikigami exist, but only in myths and legends. Living the life of a young man whose voice can be heard by millions of people from all over the world! Yes! I am talking about continents as far as the ocean itself! The people living outside of Nippon having different languages and skin-colors. And at the centre of it all, is us...
My brothers and I were being idolised because of our talents and voices can change the world, causing a huge impact upon the lives of many who almost gave up their true self, living and speaking out loud for themselves.
Truely... This is a wonder. Music can bring people together in such away, by sharing the same interests through us and our music.
Wouldn't that be glorious to see Youkai and humans living in harmony while enjoying music together? Just, do not let Shuten-doji and Ibaraki-doji have their hands on the newly brewed Sake that Mister Taniguchi had so carefully prepared. I worry what they might do after draining them...... The results may turn sour for those around them.
Ah! I am leaving the main context again! I apologise again for my babbling nonsense!
To let you have a better understanding, my brothers and I will die soon. As the battle against Yamatano Orochi is inevitable, we will certainly win, but at the cost of it all, we will perish. So I ask this of you to let us have the power of reincarnation so that we reunite with no memories of being deities, demons, spirits etc... Even though the lives we are going to have is short.
Why? Simple. Every being has an opposing adversary. And every opposing adversary will have the urge to bring down someone they despise or having the intention of harming them.
We, are going to be one of those unfortunate beings.
Living our lives as normal humans and only to be kill in cold-blood, and reincarnate again as spirits...
I cannot fathom the thought of my brothers' demise! I know I am making a fault on granting them immortal lives, but I... I too am afraid. For I have seen what our kidnappers do to us... And Jeongguk especially! He is going to be defiled by these savage beasts who wants nothing but to torment him, and causing him such grief as each of us will be kill right in front of him!
We will become destructive, unstable, as Ashuras, if you will, wandering this land aimlessly without a goal; the powers we have will become too great to control, living as entities who cannot feel, taste, and struggle to contain powers beyond anyone's imagination. Because of those who wish us harm, our mentality. our physicality, and our spirits will be affected in a way that all we can do is having 7 of us reaching out towards each other no matter what kind of person or creature we will become.
I fear not for myself, but for my brothers. They are the only ones who truly love me for who I am, already knowing about my pasts, what my powers can do, and all of my faults. My fears have become their strength, and their strength have become my sanctuary. They have awaken something inside of me that I never knew I had, warm and subtle, like the morning breeze with the first sun rises and shines upon the land.
People have asked me... What is it like to be a God?
Simple. Lonely. Mindless. Repetitive. Silent. For all eternity.
That is how I describe my role as a God. A being who has too much power in his hands, without any companion; without a goal; without a purpose.
Until I heard a faint voice whispering... I couldn't help but letting curiosity lead me towards Earth. And from there, I saw life started to form.
For some reason, I felt attached to our planet more than the rest of the stars in the universe. Maybe I have grown soft for anything that breathes...
So I moulded it into what we now known as the Solar System; the moon was created right after the last planet, Pluto was formed.
Nothing excites me. Until the day when I created our galaxy, I felt light and quick-witted like I knew what I had to do! Everything was woven with precision and care that my heart beats faster. I felt confused and excited at the same time, I just... I felt lost.
But watching the Earth with all of its living beings breathe out for the first time, I felt an accomplishment... Like I had done something good and feels right.
At that moment, I saw images of humans in the form of a vision. Watching humans grow along with their inventions, but what astounded me was watching myself as an ordinary young man striving to reach out his goals with 6 other young men. We struggle together, taking care of one another, making-up for each other's weakness, mistakes and faults as a close-knit group. Loving and drowning in warmth of each other's comfortable presence.
I was so immersed into the visions I saw, I didn't noticed tears had fall...
The next thing I did, was unthinkable. I had broken the laws of my own and letting my emotions took control of me. I decided to create deities to watch over Earth, from all parts of the world. No matter what the humans believed in, they are nameless beings without physical forms.
That was before they transformed themselves into human forms and named themselves, that is.
Enma or Yeomna, God of the Underworld, took in a deceased nameless orphaned boy under his care, and named him, Hoseok. Offered him a place by his side as a vessel of death, by guiding lost souls to his realm. Hoseok never once complained, and took that offer with a smile that shines brighter than the sun.
Gumiho, the Nine-Tailed Fox, ruler of Demons, transformed itself as an attractive and handsome young man going by the name of Taehyung. Sometimes even gone as far as disguising himself as a beautiful woman to lure unfortunate souls into his trap. But that was before he met my brothers and I and decided to end his evil ways by joining us in our adventures. All of that credit went to Jeongguk, as Taehyung is a sucker for all things adorable.
Durumi, the Red Crown Crane, keeper of peace, purity and longevity, fascinated by the cultures and workings of humans, also took the form of a man whose beauty can rival any young maidens across the lands while giving himself with the name Seokjin and began his search for his own path to meaning.
Yuki-doji, a snow spirit, the child of winter, who often mistaken as Yuki-Onna, first mistook us as trespassers at first glance. But not until Jeongguk took the first step and offered him a Snow Lotus as peace offering, which I recommended upon meeting him for the first time. If it wasn't for Jeongguk's big doe-eyes pleading with such emotion, Yoongi being the hard-headed one, would still refuse the offer.
Muramasa, the infamous Demon Blade, Devourer of souls, unrivalled in swordsmanship, took the form of a sweet-looking boy, whose visuals can lure people into thinking they were safe and easily befriend him, as he was anything but. Those men in the battlefield took their last breath looking at the blood-lust eyes of a Demon of War, wielding a blade with the length of an average human, while swinging and slashed through men like it was nothing but a weightless tool. Who also fell hopelessly in love with Jeongguk at first glance... And the name Jimin was given by none other than Jeongguk himself.
At last, our little bunny of the moon, Jeongguk. Born during the late summer of the full moon, in the form of a baby rabbit. I took him in when he was still learning how to speak his first words, walking on his own two feet for the first time, touching everything that peaked his curiosity. You can say I raised him with Seokjin as his first parents. After that, you can guess what happens during our travels across the Eastern lands. Seeing him grown from a little boy to a young attractive man whose smile can melt the hearts of many certainly is rewarding.
As you can see, Master Seimei, THAT is why I am willing to pay this heavy price. For them, there is no shortcuts. I have and will sacrifice anything there is to offer for the sake of their happiness.
And I beg of you, not as the Dragon Emperor or the God of all creation, but as an ordinary man named Kim Namjoon, am willing to pay in exchange for my family's immortality and peace. That is all I want.
From,
Kim Namjoon, your Shikigami-in-need
"Namjoon hyung~!!!"
Namjoon raised his head as soon as he heard his Maknae calling him, turning around just in time to see the Moon Child skipping happily towards him, holding a tray containing 6 red bean pastes and 3 cups of tea. With Seokjin following close behind him but in a casual stroll.
Turning back to quickly rolled up the scroll in hopes of not letting Jeongguk and Seokjin discover his plans to Seimei, he binds it tightly with a ribbon-shaped knot before setting it down at the side of his study table.
After setting the tray down, Jeongguk wraps his arms around Namjoon's neck and buries himself in his presence.
"Joon hyung!!!! Why are you trapping yourself in your study room all day?! Don't you love me anymore?!" whined Jeongguk. As he raised his head, putting on his best puppy dog-eyes for his Hyung to see.
"I apologise, Jeongguk-ah. I finished my work already. You can drag me out to play for the rest of the day, hmm?"
As he finished explaining, Namjoon stroke Jeongguk's cheek and plants a loving kiss on his forehead in hopes that the younger can forgive him by isolating himself too long.
Even after the God promised him, Jeongguk gives him a cute pout with a frown back at him.
"You pwomise~?"
"Pronunciation, Jeongguk-ah, say it well."
"Do you promise to play with me as I drag you out for a day of fun?" his dongsaeng said in a mocking serious tone, deadpanned expression, as Namjoon raised an eyebrow being amused by it all.
"I promise, and you have my word."
That sentence caused the Moon Child practically bouncing on his lap, revealing a full set of his trademark bunny teeth, squealing and giggling with glee as he finally get to spend his afternoon with his oldest parent.
Seokjin, who was standing beside them looking on with exasperation, started to complain, "Joon-ah, don't coddle him too much! He is a nightmare when it comes to playing and you have sealed your fate by promising this little Naraka of a boy! Trust me when I said you can't escape his baby stare, because he will drag you to the ends of the Earth if he wants you to!"
"Then let him drag me. Besides, it has been too long since I accompanied you on your little adventures with the other Shikigami, right?"
Seokjin continued to stare at Namjoon, unable to cope with the fact that their eldest would so casually brushed his words of advice aside just like that! Regaining his composure, the Crane Deity huffed in a dramatic way and said, "If the little one drains all of your energy for the next 8 hours, don't come begging me for help!"
Namjoon just nodded his head, fully focusing his attention on his bunny child, watching him happily nibbling a red bean paste with contentment.
And a final big sigh, Seokjin finally sat down beside them and immediately grab the pink oval dessert and gobble it all in an 'Ahem!' elegant way.
Seeing all these happening makes Namjoon feel all the more protective and motivates him to try his hardest, gives his all to shield his family from the horrors of this world. Being a God, a Dragon Emperor, were just titles. To him, the name Kim Namjoon feels very much like his own. It gives him a sense of belonging in a never-ending universe.
With them, he is home.