Chapter 76: Flicker Fear
Gabimaru pov
His face was twisted in a mask of confusion, his body rigid and still. The cool, sinister breeze crept over his skin, causing the hairs on the back of his neck to stand on end. The room around him, bright white and almost blinding, began to flicker with an otherworldly light. In just five quick flashes, Higanbana appeared before him, a smug smile dancing across her lips. Her perfectly slicked ponytail was disheveled, with strands of hair falling out and framing her flawless face. But despite her appearance, it was clear that she had been through countless battles - her torn dress and smeared red lipstick were evidence of that. As he looked behind her, he saw a projection playing out the events leading up to Gabi's origin; there was Mr. Gojo, lying in bed with a woman who bore a striking resemblance to Higanbana. Her figure was slim and toned, her skin flawless and free of any blemishes or wrinkles.
" My wife will be coming home soon, you need to leave." Mr. Gojo spoke as he got up from the bed.
The woman snickered at his command but still stayed put. " She won't look the same after she gives birth. Twins will surely ruin her figure." her tone was filled with malicious envy.
Mr. Gojo slammed his hand on the dresser as he hastily turned his head to the mistress, "I have you know that my wife. I won't tolerate you disrespecting my family."
" Us having a relationship is already disrespecting them." With a fierce toss of her hair, she sprang off the bed and strode towards the door. Each step was calculated, exaggerating the sway of her hips in a seductive rhythm. She could feel his eyes on her, fighting against his conscience as she tempted him with every movement. Even though he had resisted bringing her back into his embrace, she knew deep down that she still held power over him. The sound of the wooden floor creaking under his weight only added to her satisfaction and renewed her sense of control over their complicated dynamic.
As the projection came to a halt, Gabi's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. He couldn't understand why the woman on the screen wanted to expose her father's affair. For Gabimaru, it was no surprise as he had always known his father was a scumbag. But what piqued his interest was the motive behind this woman's actions. He knew his former ally well enough to know that every move she made had an ulterior motive. This revelation only fueled his curiosity further.
" Why? Why are you showing this?"
A deafening silence descended upon the area as the woman continued to stalk in circles around the young man. Her hands were balled into fists on her hips, her sweet humming now laced with a menacing undertone. Suddenly, the projections burst into life, replaying the moment of the twins' birth. Gabi's gut twisted as he relived the memory again, knowing all too well the pain and betrayal that would come after. The clan that was meant to be his family had become nothing but cruel strangers, inflicting endless suffering upon him.
" My firstborn, a boy who will bring me joy in my life. Gabimaru Gojo, Maru means perfection because he is a perfect small child. I love him already." Mr. Gojo's tears rained down on the newborn Gabimaru with so much joy.
Gabi scoffed at the mere sight believing Higanbana was playing some elementary trick on him. He knew this was fake and knew his father wasn't like the man that the cursed woman painted him to be.
" Stop with the amateur games . . ."The woman raised her finger in a commanding gesture, silencing him as she pointed at the screen. The projection illuminated the room, showing the man a painful memory of his father dropping him as his twin brother was welcomed into the world. If Gabi was that small boy again, he would undoubtedly feel wretched and betrayed. But as a grown man, he had learned to expect these kinds of pains and disappointments. He believed that nothing could break or damage his soul any longer, but he was about to be proven wrong as the projection continued.
The man's eyes widened with fear as he quickly scooped up the screaming newborn, his rough hands trembling as he cradled the fragile bundle. Meanwhile, Gabi's cries echoed through the room, causing everyone present to feel a pang of sympathy for the distressed baby and his father.
" Hush, Gabi. I'm sorry for letting this happen. Your brother's curse energy startled me. He's going to be a strong person and I hope you two will always have each other back no matter the future." Mr. Gojo whispered into Gabi's ears as he kissed his forehead.
Gabi sneered at the projection and focused his glare on the woman. " This is all lies. What's your point in all of this?!"
"Lies? No. but what's my point in this? Hmmm, I will let you figure that out."
With a sharp snap of her fingers, Higanbana conjured a projection that revealed Mr. Gojo in the midst of infidelity with his mistress. She lounged on the luxurious king-size bed, her posture oozing confidence and satisfaction as she observed Mr. Gojo lost in contemplation. A wicked grin spread across her face like a predator preparing to strike its unsuspecting prey. She relished the opportunity to play the role of the devil's little servant and wreak havoc on his life.
" Are you still thinking about your twins? It's really ruining our fun time." she playfully rolled her eyes as she slightly stretched her back on the bedboard.
" Saturo has the Limitless cursed technique combined with the Six Eyes. I'm thrilled to bring this creation to this plant. However, Gabimaru is blessed with bupkis. The hunter attacked us and if it wasn't for the bodyguard then my family would have lost their life. " he sighed as he stared at himself in the mirror. "I know Saturo would be an extraordinary sorcerer but what would that lead for my eldest? Gabimaru can't defend himself and this world doesn't care if he's weak. They will kill him since he's related to Saturo. I don't know what to do for him and I can't be here forever."
The temptress slowly and sinuously traveled to the edge of the bed, her movements like a seductive dance. She emerged from the tangled sheets with a sly smile on her lips, her movements like a predator on the prowl with a devilish grin. Her body glistened in the moonlight. Wrapping her arms around the man's waist, she pressed herself against his back, inhaling his intoxicating scent as she peppered light kisses down his spine. The room was filled with the heady scent of desire and the sound of their heavy breaths entwined in a passionate embrace.
" The hunters probably only will attack the people who mean the most to Saturo. It might sound harsh but you three should distance yourself from the boy and see how further events will take place. "
"I can't possibly do that. It's foolish and Gabimaru means the world to me. Distancing myself from him will destroy him."
" What if next time he won't be saved? Your selfishness might kill him. If hunters leave Gabimaru alone then you have your answers." Mr.Gojo stayed quiet but she knew he was thinking it through and he will follow her plan.
Gabi's mind was reeling as he listened to the projection. On one hand, he couldn't deny the evidence she presented. But on the other hand, it went against everything he had believed about his father. He tried to shake off the anger building inside him, knowing that deep down, his father had been kind to him at one point. But at what cost? How could he excuse the pain and suffering he had endured for so long?
"Whatever your thinking is true, your parents did care for you more than you know. Let's show the night you brutally killed your mother." as she finished it showed the night when Gabi awakened his powers. The hurtful words his own mother said to him as if he were nothing but an intruder breaking into her home.
( I don't want to hear this anymore. I just don't. . .)
Mrs. Gojo pleaded to be saved and once she saw Gabi her eyes were pouring with grief not wanting her son to see her in this pitiful state. "Gabimaru, run. Get away from here!" she roared out loud wanting her child to exchange the hunter who stood before her with a loaded gun pointed at her. Cold sweat started to form on the man's face as he heard her.
( This is not it. She didn't say anything like this!)
"I'm sorry I never treated you right, Gabi. I thought me hating you would push you away from harm's way. I love you more than anything in this world. Please forgive me."
Gabi's head shook violently with unbridled rage, his thoughts a chaotic mess of confusion and desperation. He couldn't distinguish reality from falsehood as everything seemed to blur together in a terrifying haze. Betrayal coursed through his veins as he realized the truth - they didn't hate him for his protection, they hated him because he was weak. The memory of losing the election burned like acid in his mind, intensifying his hatred and self-loathing. Suddenly, without warning, a flood of pleasant memories replaced the painful ones, making Gabi question his sanity. In one moment, he stood before his mother, helpless and innocent, only to have her sweetly kiss his head before vanishing into thin air.
"I'm sorry, Gabi. Don't listen to those higher-ups. You're not useless or holding the clan down. We love you regardless." his mother lifted his spirits.
Another scene took place when they were in the kitchen, he was helping her bake a cake for the family. " Mom, I almost was killed. I don't want to die, mommy."
Mrs. Gojo's hands trembled as she dropped her cooking materials and rushed to her son's side, wrapping him in a fierce embrace. Tears flowed down her face as she held onto him, relieved that he was finally safe in her arms. "That won't happen. I promise that nothing will take you away from me."
"It is called memory manipulation. Whatever you thought had happened didn't. Well, to be more specific some of your memories are just swapped. It was such a pain but it worked out in the end. You killed both of your parents." Uncontrollable maniacal laughter bubbled up from her chest, causing her whole body to shake with glee. She bent down, her face flushed with a deep crimson hue as she looked at the pathetic man before her, lost in a haze of confusion. His eyes bulged from their sockets, his breath coming in ragged gasps as his veins pulsated, desperate to escape the intense heat radiating from his burning flesh.
"Now let's go to the good part of when you murder your own mother in cold blood!" A deep, dark red smeared across her once pale face, causing her to resemble a demonic creature. With a twisted smile, she licked her lips in hungry anticipation of further destroying his fragile mind. The room seemed to fade into an abyss of darkness, the only source of light emanating from the ghastly projection in front of him. His mother's lifeless body lay in a pool of her own blood, her voice begging for mercy and pleading for her son to save her Despite this revelation, he couldn't escape the guilt that consumed him as he fell to his knees, covering his ears as he sobbed uncontrollably like a newborn child. The reality of what he had done hit him like a ton of bricks - he had slaughtered those who only wanted the best for him. Gabiamru was nothing but a monster who had destroyed the ones closest to him in a ruthless act of being manipulated by a person who he thought cared for him.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone