Prologue: The Tuesday (Hell Broke Loose)


    Day 3 of 1st Fire Cycle, 99 r.c.


    The extravagant view of a horizon laced with a sea of clouds and masses of land peeping from between the waves of cumulonimbus creates the backdrop for a beautifully simplistic house. It’s crafted from a unique mix of wood logs, plaster, and rivercane walls, with a thatched roof. The scent of fresh earth and the faint fragrance of rain clouds fill the air. The window, with its highly reflective glass, casts the soft glow of three crescent moons into a serene light emanating from one side of the house. The soft chirping of night insects and the rustling of leaves in the gentle breeze add to the tranquility. This Creek Native American-inspired architecture sits upon an abandoned village that calls one of the islands in the sky archipelago, home.


    "So you want me to tell you this old long story, huh? You must enjoy hearing an old demon ramble on about the past. Well before I do, let me ask you something. Do you believe in reincarnation?" A baritone voice of a mature male is heard from the doorway.


    "Did you know, I once didn''t believe in Gods or even an afterlife? But that all got thrown out the window that time I died and got reincarnated as a spider."


    "...Or was it a slime?"


    "Oh shit, I''m trippin''. That was that book I was reading."


    "Ok, okay, ok... but I did get a chance at another life like one of those isekai mangas. That whole adventure was wild as fuck."


    These words precede the emergence of an Oni demon. So handsome was he that one might mistake him for a human if not for the two indigo horns adorning his forehead. The pair gleam faintly under the soft light. Standing at 183 centimeters, he steps out of the shadows of the dimly lit home, a devilish grin on his face. His eyes, the same silver as the 1st Moon, contrast sharply with his black scleras, making them appear like stars in the night sky. Black pin markings streak downward from the corners of his eyes, giving him a perpetually sorrowful look. His hair, a cascade of tight locks the colors of midnight, frames his face, and a neatly trimmed goatee adds a touch of fatherly charm.


    "And if I''m going to tell this story, you''ll have to stay for the entire thing. Now then, let me start from the beginning, back in my original world..."


    He creates a black leather-bound book with "十三" (jū-san) on the cover in ultraviolet. With a gentle wave of his palm, the book opens and levitates in front of him. A particle-esque mist leaks from the book, sparkling into a galactic reflection of imagination and creation. This airy-like energy is mana. As the book opens, a faint hum and the smell of ancient parchment and ink fill the air.


    "Activating skills [Absolute Memory] & [Thought Projection]." He whispers, instantly creating a visual screen to show every thought as if watching from behind a fourth wall. A subtle warmth emanates from the screen, creating a comforting ambiance.


    Memory Replay:


    October 16, 2019 a.d.


    "So, first things second, there was a time when I was a human. Jean Marquis Vinson was my name. A 34-year-old music artist from the southern states of America. That was a country on a planet called Earth, a beautiful blue marble I remember. I was a simple 6'' foot tall, black father down on his luck. I guess the proper term back then was African-American, but I had some Native American mixed in the bloodline which gave me this same attractive cinnamon-red tinted brown skin." The memory of cool autumn nights and the sounds of the inner city buzzing in the background flashed across the projection.


    "Alabama-bred and Japanese-inspired, I lived like any nerd of my time and got into martial arts, music, and Japanese Waifus. I was a bit abnormal when compared to the other perverts on this planet as I’m blessed with this annoying pair of companions in my head. The doctors had labeled it Dissociative Identity Disorder."


    Mature Male Voice (within): "I know yo'' ass is NOT talking about me when you say annoying. It''s clear you love me."


    Relaxed Deep Voice (within): "A hit dog will holler."


    Mature Male Voice (within): "You''ve got me confused with yo'' bitch ass. Mister Furry Persona he keeps trying to play off as just a primal kink."


    Jean (thinking): "...But I haven''t said a word."


    Mature Male Voice (within): "Why are you a talking wolf anyway? That shit don''t make no sense. Oh? My bad, a demonic werewolf."


    Relaxed Deep Voice (within): "Why? Are you impressed? Don''t be, I think you being a talking dick is far more remarkable."


    Mature Male Voice (within): "That''s funny coming from a nigga with a knot in his. Tell me, is that why you always try to push us to watch Beastality Porn?"


    Jean: "Will you two please, shut the fuck up! Y''all stay arguing like old lovers."


    Relaxed Deep Voice (within): "The only one that''s old is him."


    Mature Male Voice (within): "Ignore that bitch, get back to the story."


    Xi (within): "So, you''re just gonna ignore them calling you for rent? You know we could have paid that up when we had the money four weeks ago."


    Wolfie (within): "We could have paid it up two weeks after that, but you both wanted to buy more weed."


    "Nigga, I didn''t hear you talking all this shit when you had us paying for a prostitute last week. You needed pussy that bad?" It felt like Xi hit a nerve with that because the growl


    I heard that followed could be felt with strong amounts of frustration building. Wolfie was steaming at the simple idea that someone had the nerve to say such judgment to him... even if it was essentially me.


    "Anytime you think you wanna check me about it, you know where to find me." Wolfie rebutted with fangs showing, it was clear that he was pissed about Xi speaking on him following his desire.


    Xi seemed excited like he normally does when the idea that his words bothered or got to someone, especially Wolfie.


    "Mutt, I''m ready to run ya fade whenever," Xi replied, with a grin of a devil. Due to those crazy rushes of emotions, my body started to get warm and my mood started souring. The burger I was chewing on, started losing its good ass taste.


    "I wish you two would chill. I can''t even enjoy this food no mo''. I know we should have paid them when we could, but if we just finished up this song and submitted it, we could get paid and pay the late fee with it. We just need to wait out these next three days." I told them, but doubt followed.


    Wolfie (within): "It ain''t never easy."


    "Hey you! Hey there, can you spare a dollar to help the less fortunate?"


    Jean (Xi): "Damn Cuz, you waited until I threw away the burger I didn''t want no mo''? I coulda gave you that shit."


    Jean (thinking): "You do know the correct way to say that is ''I could have given you''..."


    Xi (within): "Boy, shut the hell up. I''ve been talking like this for the last 30 years. If you don''t get somewhere with that shit."


    "Look, here''s $3. It''s the best I can do for now." I followed up, as I separated a few bills from the dollars stuffed in my back pocket.


    "Th-thanks." The smelly man replied with a genuine smile crawling from the corners of his face. Doing acts where I can help people in some way always did bring me joy, but every time I try to enjoy the sensation I hear these two assholes'' opinions on my actions.


    Wolfie (within): "We could have used that to get some more weed."


    Xiro (within): "Nigga, you was just bitching about us buying weed, now you saying we should? Besides all that, the fuck you give him $3 for? You couldn''t be satisfied with just handing the man a dollar?"


    "Relax, we''ll get that pocket change back. Just call it future karma or something." I replied unknowingly out loud.


    "Huh? Did you say something else to me?" The man still sitting by the trash bin uttered as he looked back up again. I shook my head for a second as I refocused my thoughts to answer him and proceeded to walk off.


    "Oh, no. I was just thinking out loud."


    "Oh, shit, looks like it''s my lucky day. I get to finally beat down this pussy nigga, Xiro." I heard yelled at me from behind.


    "I''m pussy?!?" I snapped back while searching for the owner of the comment. That''s when I noticed him. "The Opps", I said in unison with myself as we laid eyes on the displeasing image of Jerome Roberts.


    "Ain''t no Cobruh or Lan here to save you, hoe ass nigga." Jerome barked at me with vigor and hate. You could see in his eyes, he wasn''t leaving without me receiving damage.


    "And here I thought someone intimidating was talking. You know Lan wasn''t protecting me from you, right?" I expressed with a predator-like grin.


    "All you do is lie. When I pulled up to yo'' crib, he was outside trying to convince me not to follow through with beating yo'' ass like I told Tanya and everybody else." Jerome barked at me with furious loathe bleeding from his stare.


    Jean (within): "He''s quick!"


    "We''re quicker." Xi immediately replied.


    "YEEHHHAAAOOOCHH!" Jerome whaled out in pain, gripping his hands and arms to cover and protect his recently damaged areas.


    "Like I was saying, they were trying to protect you... stupid ass nigga."


    "Guess I can take this as you paying me for wasting my time." I said to the unconscious dumb ass who was currently on his back taking a nap. It wasn''t a great loop drop, but then again I wouldn''t consider him to be worth something of value. So I proceed into the building leaving everything but the $23 behind.


    KJ: "You''re smoking rocks if you think that Dragon Ball game is better than Mortal Kombat."


    Muzik: "Saiyans ov-over Ninjas, any day."


    Jean (Xi): "What it do, fellas? Y''all ready to make magic today?"


    "Who dat? I know it''s not the Man-God, Xiro Wolf that just walked in here?" KJ energetically replied without even looking back my way.


    Muzik: "I make magic every day. I also make a mess and my-my gurl has to clean us up afterward, but she says it''s always magic."


    KJ: "I thought you got on your PC and bullied people on The Old Republic?"


    Muzik: "Like-like I told ya... Magic." He said like some perverted sage of wisdom as he passed me an obnoxiously big blunt.


    Jean (Xi): "Y''all niggas wild. So, are we finishing that song today? I got the lyrics completed." I said as I took the blunt and inhaled.


    Muzik: "We might have to put that on hold for a second. Ca-call umm, what''s her name? *snap snap* The label woman who book your sessions."


    KJ: "And let your more pious side do the talking. The one you said was named Jean. Cause getting angry isn''t going to fix shit."


    "From the way you sound, it must be some bullshit." I rebutted back as I handed the blunt to KJ, but it was met with silence. I took an understanding from that and walked into another room for a few minutes of privacy.


    KJ: "I thought you would have let the Jean guy talk more, but she must have said something you weren''t fucking with."


    Muzik: "Ye-yeah, yu-you switched so damn fast, I forgot you were alone in there."


    Jean: "Yeah, the future is looking bad."


    "But that''s no sweat, you always adapt and make a comeback," KJ said handing me a new freshly rolled Backwood.


    Muzik: "Yeah, you got this shit. Hea-head up. And you know I''m gotta send some prayers up for you."


    "You know I don''t believe in God, plus blessings from the weed is all I need." Wolfie casually stated as he took control of the body.


    Jean: "Oh shit, I need to get to the house. I gotta get up early in the morning and go see Tanya and the baby."


    KJ: "She had the baby?"


    Jean: "Yeah, around a month ago. She moved back to her hometown slightly before then, so the boy was born up there with her."


    Muzik: "You know you my boy, and I-I don''t want ever seem like I''m trying to step out of line with you, but I see as you family, and I-I don''t want-"


    KJ: "Folk, that''s not your child." "No disrespect, but that''s not your child."


    "Yeah yeah, I''m not so head over heels for the bitch. I plan on getting a blood test." Wolfie smoothly said as he helped me bring the room back to a mellow go. He was always good with high-pressure situations, so this wasn''t even a thought for him. It''s a shame that such a suave and predator-like attitude is accompanied by extreme selfishness.


    "We''re going to have to find a way to make some fast money." I thought to myself.


    Wolfie (within): "Sell drugs."


    Xi (within): "Unless you wanna rob someone? Rob a drug dealer."


    Wolfie (within): "You just like to start shit with me."


    Xi (within): "That''s because I''m better than you."


    Wolfie (within): "You''re nothing without me. Bitches aren''t trying to deal with your overly upset ass."


    Xi (within): "There''s so much more to life than bitches."


    Wolfie (within): "That''s because you can''t get bitches."


    "Fellas, can we get back on topic? We need money and fast." I tried to get us back focused but they just brushed it off. My mind was all over the place.


    Xi (within): "You just got two decent ideas. What''s wrong with them?"


    Jean (thinking): "Can we avoid jail while doing it, though?"


    I know I told you that the child was yours, but I lied. The real father is here with me and we''re moving to New York. Thanks for helping me when I was broke, and for giving me the name of the child. Xion is perfect. I will never forget you. Please never contact me again. Good luck in life, Jean."


    "Yo, what''s up L?" I said as I attempted to mask my current despair.


    "Hey, what''s good with you Xi? How did that song finish up?"


    "Nope. Life hit me with a curveball and short to say, I''m jobless."


    "What the hell are y''all doing in my house?" I yelled as I tried to shield my eyes from the light!"


    "Oh shit, the owner is back! We gotta split!"


    "What the fuck?! He''s packin'' heat! Drop ''em!" The second voice yelled out in a panic.


    End of Chapter]