Shattering Humanity-Chapter 321: "We Live And Die By These Children For A Reason."
"They instead followed the magic promoted by the devils during the reign of Solomon. Never did Solomon disbelieve, rather the devils disbelieved. They taught magic to the people, along with what had been revealed to the two angels, Hârût and Mârût, in Babylon.
The two angels never taught anyone without saying, "We are only a test for you, so do not abandon your faith." Yet people learned magic that caused a rift even between husband and wife; although their magic could not harm anyone except by Allah’s Will.
They learned what harmed them and did not benefit them—although they already knew that whoever buys into magic would have no share in the Hereafter. Miserable indeed was the price for which they sold their souls, if only they knew!
If only they were faithful and mindful of Allah, there would have been a better reward from Allah, if only they knew!" -Surah Al Baqarah 2:102-103
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Princess Kawaii: "Hi Uncle Skii!"
Daisuki stops and takes a knee to get to eye level with the elementary schooler.
Daisuki: "Well helloooo there, Lil Ms.Kawai. Has your Papa been able to beat you at your games yet, or are you still the champ?"
Princess Kawaii: "Nope. Papa loses at everything!
I beat him allll the time!"
...
Kawaii’s ’Father’/Buck(low grumble): "And that’s how I got put in charge of Kawaii up until now, but with how my days are looking, I’m going to need someone to look after-."
The undoubtedly sickly man viciously hacks and coughs while he is shivering with a blanket over him, sitting against the wall.
Buck: "... I’m going to need someone to take the job of protecting her once I finally croak.
If she can grow up to her full potential, I’ll consider my promise successfully kept to her actual parents.
Mina is already too busy as it is taking care of this place, trying to expand and bring back a civil society.
But from the pure generosity you’ve used to gain her trust, I want to ask if you’re willing to protect a pure hearted child, born from a beast?"
...
Woman: "Mr. Mina!
Mr. Mina! You have to hurry!"
The curious men stop working and Daisuki quickly spins around to face the troubled older woman approaching them.
Daisuki: "Is everything okay, Ma’am?"
The frantic woman runs up with tears in both of her yellow eyes and she looks up at the leader of Sanpaku.
Woman: "It- It’s Buck.
He’s..."
Daisuki’s eyes widen and he looks back at the pausing men working hard for him.
Daisuki: "I’ll- I’ll be right back guys!
There’s an emergency health situation!
Phil, you’re in charge for now!"
One of the confused men slowly and unsurely puts a finger to his chest while looking around.
The Head Hancho runs into the darkness of Sanpaku with the woman behind him towards Buck and Princess Kawaii’s tent.
While running through the tunnel, Daisuki remembers one of his discussions with the knowingly dying man.
{A Few Months Ago}
[Early Sanpaku]
The silhouette of a heavy breathing man is running through the deserted city with jacket over his chest.
As he turns the corner it is revealed that two smaller Icemen are giving chase to the human man running with something in his arms. It is revealed to be a healthier looking Buck as the man accidentally takes a dead end. He spins around and sees the two ice aliens approaching him.
All the desperate man can do is cover up whatever he has been carrying underneath the leather jacket.
He flinches as the *Swoosh* of something sharp cutting the air can be heard but he looks up to see the pair of Icemen beheaded, fallen to their knees.
From behind the dead aliens, Daisuki pushes the cold corpses down as he walks between them.
The frightened Buck looks up from the ground and Daisuki sheathes his older versions of SunSwords.
The future Squad 40 Mentor walks up to the cowering man clutching something underneath a leather jacket covering his chest.
Buck: "Please, don’t hurt us..."
Daisuki looks confused before he gives the man a chuckle with his hand out to help.
Daisuki: "No worries there, my friend.
The name’s Mina Daisuki."
Buck takes the help up and the founder of Sanpaku notices the man covering up whatever is in his arms.
Daisuki: "What do you got there, if you don’t mind me asking?"
Buck slowly removes the leather jacket to reveal a 4 year old, sleeping Princess Kawaii.
Daisuki’s eyes widen.
Buck: "This little girl was entrusted under my care about a month ago.
She was about the size of a two year old then."
Daisuki: "Wh-what?!
What do you mean?
Does she have some sort of hyper aging disease or something?"
The surrogate father shrugs his shoulders while looking at the napping child sucking her thumb.
Buck: "To be honest, I really don’t know.
Her mothers sacrificed themselves so I could get away from a mob of those aliens."
Daisuki: "...’Mothers’?"
Buck nods and carefully moves some of her curly hair out of her face.
Buck: "I’ve been lucky to survive for this long with her.
Especially since I..."
The man begins to hack and cough hysterically, it bothers the sleeping future princess.
The coughing man hands her to Daisuki while he finishes his hacking fit and spits out a bit of blood.
Daisuki: "Holy crap! Are you okay man?"
The sickly survivor shakes his head and carefully takes back the treasured child.
Buck: "The night before this apocalypse, I had found out that I have cancer and heart disease
The doctors told me I was most likely going to die within the year, but here I am, almost a full 36 months later..."
He clears his throat and softly hacks up another bloody spitball.
Buck: "It’s almost like, the only thing keeping me alive is her, and she’s not even my child."
Daisuki looks at the little girl with her head resting on Buck’s shoulder.
Daisuki: "So you said she has grown exponentially within the month and she had adopted mothers before this?"
Buck: "That’s all that I can assume.
We were only trapped together for a few hours before we were ambushed by a mob of those beasts and they told me to run away with her."
The Head Hancho takes a moment and smiles.
Daisuki: "Well, you’re in somewhat luck my friend!"
Buck tilts his head, puzzled. Not knowing anything about the birth of Sanpaku.
[Present Day, Sanpaku]
Daisuki exits the tent with two pink/purple backpacks full of Princess Kawaii’s clothes and board games.
There’s a single snowflake that falls from the caring leader’s IceEye and a liquid human tear from his human eye.
He wipes his eyes with his forearm and clutches the two bags in his hands as the woman closes up the tent of the deceased man.
The older woman walks up to Daisuki and puts a hand on his back, in moral support.
Woman: "I usually see him and the young one out here playing a game in the afternoon, but when I went to check on him he never responded.
I was a nurse before all this craziness, as soon as I checked his pulse, I knew..."
Daisuki hugs and cries into the random woman’s shoulder for a moment.
Woman: "There, there.
I know it’s hard losing someone.
I lost my husband 5 years ago..."
Daisuki lifts his head and wipes his eyes once more while the woman finishes her kind and anecdotal experience.
Woman: "Before he died, he told me as long as it was before the kids, then his life was fulfilled."
A tear comes to the older woman’s human green eyes as she recalls the last few moments with the love of her life.
Seeing the tears in her familiar colored eyes, makes Daisuki remember the children he has been entrusted with.
Woman: "’We live and die by these children for a reason, Cheryl’, is what he told me.
As long as we have lived as humans, the goal has been what?
’To preserve and educate the young ones towards the right path’.
The entire reason we all had worked jobs, suffered scrutiny, or did what we didn’t want to is because we had youngins that depended on us.
Now that he’s gone, that youngin of his is dependent on us.
Please Mr. Daisuki... If you need any help taking care of that child, I have all the time to babysit while you take care of this sanctuary."
Daisuki, knowing Princess Kawaii has been kidnapped, doesn’t tell the nice, caring lady. Instead, he sniffles and turns to face the tent one last time.
His grip tightens on the backpacks again, now knowing what more the Holmgang means in a few days.
Daisuki: "Thank you Ms. Cheryl, but I have assembled the best group of kids that will help me preserve and educate the Princess as she grows up to be a strong and elegant woman."
