Sins of the Dark Zodiac

Sins of the Dark Zodiac

Copyright 2011 K.R.Columbus

Smashwords Edition

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Antiquarian Age Books

By K.R.Columbus

(Release dates and titles can change at any time…)

………….

-We Shall be as Gods Series-

1st Testament - Vestigial Dream

2nd Testament - The Weaver and the Herder

3rd Testament - Shadows of Me

4th Testament - Children of Exile

5th Testament - Beyond Destiny (Coming Soon)

-Hyper Speed Inertia Series-

-Yamato Trilogy-

Battle-Submarine Yamato

The Fires of Kawaita (Coming Soon)

-NOVELS- (Not part of a Series)

-MAGNA MAQUINA-

-Sins of the Dark Zodiac-

-Sodom’s X Duology-

-Hall of the Mountain King-

-The Last Southern Mountain- (Coming Soon)

-Young Adult Fiction-

-The Treasures of Shamarkand Series-

Wanderers to Shamarkand

Daughter of the Gods

Carnival of Shadows

The Mechanical Labyrinth

The Mirror Tower (Coming Soon)

-Totemic Haven Series-

Totemic Haven

WildChild

Brother Sun, Sister Moon (Coming Soon)

Ps – To avoid confusion, character thoughts, important words, songs and messages are in ITALICS.

Prologue

-Leashed and Bound-

Witness this tale of woe and treason, a tale of forbidden passions, and hidden truths. This is a saga about family ties, and bonds that bind with a promise of blood, and death. Observe for the present, witness, for ages to come.

It is said, that the founders of the modern Yakuza were originally members of The Dark Zodiac. Hundreds of years ago, when the nation of Nihon was in its infancy, the boundaries between light and darkness were established. Out of this struggle came the members of The Dark Zodiac, to maintain balance, to bring order to the unruly and wild, with the help of an ancient goddess of darkness.

Little is known about The Dark Zodiac, only legends and rumors echoing from antiquity, veiled by time, and distance. The heyas (stables or barracks) of The Dark Zodiac have the names of animals that were left out of the Zodiac; the bat, the bear, the tanuki, the crow, the cat, the boar, and the ones ruling over both the light and dark zodiacs; the unknown. The twelve animals of the zodiac rule the lives of regular humans on the year of their birth, while the animals of the Dark Zodiac rule over a few individuals determined by will power alone.

For hundreds of years, the Yakuza ruled Nihon’s underworld with the help of the heyas of The Dark Zodiac, until The Second Great Kanto Earthquake almost destroyed Nihon, and the old laws were torn asunder.

Tokyo was completely destroyed, only ruins remained. The Yakuza rebuilt Tokyo, and out of the ashes of destruction, a new Tokyo was born, a towering megapolis divided by social status. The Yakuza controlled the city with the formation of Kyōgi no Tō on its very center; The Tower of Games. The rich took Uptown for themselves; a perfect city built above the ruins that ultimately became, Downtown. The Yakuza institutionalized crime, helping the ailing government with the sale of marked drugs, controlling prostitution, fixing O-Sumo matches, and offering protection with the help of the mystical affiliates of The Dark Zodiac.

A new age had dawned.

…………

The Tower of Games at the center of Downtown Tokyo

The walls were semi vertical sheets of glass, which looked down at a troubled city below. Even if close to midnight, Downtown was illuminated white with artificial lights that cover the buildings with false purity. A burly man with bushy eyebrows walked closer to one of the sheets of glass. He leaned to look at the city below. An electronic sound was heard signaling that he had a call.

What do you want? The man asked, knowing who was calling. His voice echoed with power in the room.

You said once that I shouldn’t repeat myself. A younger flawed voice answered.

Still, you’ve to before me. I received word of what you did in America. My men speak highly of you. The man glanced back as if he were addressing the caller. "This is unexpected after what transpired. What changed your mind?

I had to come back. I learned nothing with the gaijins. They have filled their history with nonsense. All they did was wage wars against one another.

Were we any different? Our history is full of such wars. The older man hinted at their history.

That was different. That was an age of tempering.

Some would differ. We spilled the blood of our brothers. Killing one another in a dance of death. The man waited and then sighed. I see that you have learned something from the gaijins. It pleases me.

I did not.

You don’t care to see it, but I do. It is rather unexpected.

And what’s that?

Love for your country.

That is true, but…. The caller was interrupted by the older man.

I’ll grant your request. But have in mind, that what lies between us is still as raw as when it came to be. Do you understand?

I’m not to blame for this. I made my choice.

Are you blaming me for what you did Kuma?

No. It is just a statement.

Someday you’ll embrace what I’m offering. Someday you’ll see that it’s the only way to keep our land from collapsing into the wolf’s den. The Tower of Games, and the Dark Zodiac, must not fall at the level of common rabble. This is a foundation given to us by the goddess. She is always watching.

I respect out traditions and the Dark Zodiac, but I wish I could see things the way you see them. I wish you had another to take your place as the next Kachōyabun. That way, my failure wouldn’t tax you so.

Silence becomes me. What you have asked will be so. As we speak, I'm sending word to the bear heya. Maybe, as part of the Dark Zodiac you’ll find your own path into mine. Insurgence is expected from your bloodline.

Thank you father. The caller’s voice vanished with an electrical sound.

………….

Two days before. Somewhere in southern Chicago; U.S.A

Kuma’s disturbed figure wavered in front of the frat house. He had joined them out of coalition and status. Yet, all they gave him was more problems than he could stand. On his last night on campus, Kuma decided to pay them a visit. He was determined to leave them a surprise before returning to Nihon.

I have to do this. I have to. There is no other way.

Dressed in his favorite gokuran high school uniform, and wielding Tendo-Shi; his ancient katana, Kuma stood in front of the frat house, and gazed at the first member.

What the fuck Kuma? What’s with the penguin outfit? A young man asked.

Kuma flashed his katana before the young man.

A sword! What’re you doing? The man staggered away horrified, but Kuma remained silent.

Holding the katana with both hands, Kuma twirled it. He stopped, and plunged the blade in the soil in front of him. He gazed at the young man in the porch. An antagonistic stare on Kuma’s part, and the young man shit himself as he staggered away in fear. Kuma walked towards him with an irate grin accentuated by his bushy eyebrows and heavy-set body. There was no turning back now.

Kuma grabbed the man by the collar of his shirt, and hurled him towards the front door of the frat house. DOSHIN! The door exploded as the young man landed unconscious on a glass table. The table shattered, spreading thousands of crystal shards on the middle of the living room. Shouts echoed as everyone noticed what had happened.

Loud rock music came to a sudden stop, and shouting accompanied by very colorful language took over. Kuma waited at the door frame, looking for the first person to cross in front of his shadow. He was leaning on the door frame, as if nothing had happened. A young man with black hair came closer. Kuma was affected by this young man, but he tried to act strong. His breath intensified, and his eyes augmented their moisture.

Kuma what is.… He began, but never finished that question.

Kuma ran to him. With that same velocity, he pushed the young man against the nearest wall. With a single punch, Kuma pummeled the young man’s head, leaving a bloody stain on the wall when the young man trailed down to the floor.

Dan! One of the students shouted when they saw what had happened.

Kuma’s breathing intensified almost turning into fatigue. Kuma observed his bloodied hands. He looked at them, and feelings began to curl up inside, giving way to incomparable rage. He breathed like a wild animal. To the point that the others surrounding him saw him for what he was. A wild livid bear.

Kuma’s shoulders moved in insane breathing. The moment they saw Dan fall to the floor, they were scared shitless. What they felt was something beyond fear. It was pure killing intent.

At the sight of Dan convulsing at his feet, Kuma licked his bloodied fist, and then closed his eyes. Kuma wanted to say something to Dan, but he couldn’t. Ages of family honor and tradition were stopping him, goading him to do what he had done.

They came to him from all sides. He lurched himself to one, and hit two on the balls with his feet. He fell on the torso of the one he clang-on to. Seconds before they touched the floor, Kuma placed his elbow in the man’s chest. It gave in with a sickening crunch. Before the others had time to feel good about their nuts being kicked, Kuma was already on his feet and standing on the man’s chest. He readied himself with an untamed snarl.

They backed away from Kuma, grabbing their aching cocks. They’d never noticed the fire hidden behind his chunky, yet angry face. They never saw the murderous intent that waited to be unleashed, the same intent that was eating them alive. So far he had been restrained, and oh so merciful.

Kuma shoved one of the guys to the floor with a kick. He stood beside him, and raised his leg very high. DOSHIN! Moments later, he kicked the man’s face with a furious crunch, followed by yet another kick. This kick pressed the remaining guy against a wall.

Kuma stood still, his head tilted to the left. He was looking at Dan, who was trying to run away. He wanted to say and do something, yet he didn’t. Kuma came to Dan with a dash, and punched him on the face, once, then twice, and then thrice. He kept hitting the student until both his fists were dripping red.

Please stay down. Please stay down!

Kuma tried to say something before staggering away from Dan. He left the frat house, trying to catch his breath. Kuma stood beside his katana. He took a cigarette from a box he had on his gokuran’s front pocket, and lit it with a wooden match. He breathed in, and let the smoke work his effect. Kuma puffed smoke to the night sky with anticipation when he heard the neighbors scream and call. Kneeling in front of his katana, he touched its blade with his smallest finger. After biting his cigarette, Kuma pressed his small finger against the blade, and severed it. It was easier than the last time he had done such a thing. Standing on the severed finger, he kicked it with one leg until he was unusable. The terrible pain was dulled by cigarette smoke. He took the dripping katana with the other hand. He was in pain, yes, but the pain he cared about was unseen and unaltered. It would never change. It would never be healed. The blood on his blade was his own. Looking at the main street, he saw a Japanese man dressed in a black suit. They were waiting for him. The man came to Kuma and regarded him with his eyes.

Tell my father. Kuma said dryly.

Yes, Kuma-sama. Your flight is waiting. The man said before Kuma entered the car with nothing more than a frown.

Chapter 1

-New Arrival-

Kuma’s lonely figure stood defiant next to a rectangular stone sign. It marked the name of the place he was standing, with sharp sculpted strokes. He curled and bit his lower lip, trying to hide a snarl.

Many things are running through my mind as I stand before the heya’s main gate, but one thing is for sure, and that’s that I’m not leaving until I join them. My father already called them announcing my arrival, and as we speak, they must be as soft as boar shit. I want to stand on my own. I want to earn this. I don’t want to be in my father’s shadow. Is this the type of tempering my father wants me to face? This is too bothersome! Kuma thought as he observed the sign.

The gokuran high school uniform consists of a black suit with a white t-shirt under, very strict stuff when you come to consider it. It had been more than four years since Kuma left high school, but he still wears his uniform like a code of arms. To him, it was a type of armor, against the corruption of his underworld.

Members of the Dark Zodiac use gokurans to differentiate themselves from the rest of the world. Even if they all look the same, each heya uses a different array of pins to distinguish rank and heya. Kuma is going into the bear heya of the Dark Zodiac. The bears use a rectangular pin with the kana signifying the bear. Downtown Tokyo has six hidden seidō shrines for the animals of the Dark Zodiac. Few people know about the heya and the hidden seidō. There are only three hierarchies in a Dark Zodiac. Its highest rank, being the Oyakata, can only be held by the leader of the group.

Even if the heya has its own sign, public address, and building, the grand majority of the population has no idea what it is. Since the Dark Zodiac heyas look like O-Sumo stables, most people think that they are full of o-sumotori. In truth, many of the members were sumo wrestlers in the past, but a Dark Zodiac heya is more directly linked to the Yakuza. They are a different sort of Yakuza, a different kind of ronin, under the banner of the dark goddess Izanami, protectors of Kyōgi no Tō; The Tower of Games.

Kuma’s face looks tempered with fire. He always seems to be angry about something. Even his bushy eyebrows overflow to tell of his temper. He was always respected in school, a sort of lonely respect that takes its toll, yet it’s earned.

Too bothersome! He gazed upon the sharp characters that mark the name of the Heya, and then kicked the monument gently with his lacquered white shoes. Kuma hates waiting as much as he hates cold dishes, and sweet and sour stuff.

After ringing a bell, Kuma waited for a tsukebito to open the gate. He breathed in and closed his eyes seconds. The main wooden gate opened. Hearing the gate, he opened his eyes. At first glance, he thought that the tsukebito was naked, but then he realized that he was dressed in a traditional fundoshi loincloth. The tsukebito was two or three years younger than Kuma, but shows an ever growing presence powered by his dispersed sideburns. The tsukebito’s hair was short, a sign that he’s a new member, and that he probably had long hair before joining.

They’ve been waiting for you Kuma-sama. The young man bowed low, and Kuma bowed back, but not as low.

Kuma observed the young man. He seems to be seventeen. What’s your name?

It doesn’t matter Kuma-sama. I’m still a tsukebito. The young man’s voice was strong even if he was in this lowly position.

The boy lowered his stare when he noticed that Kuma was getting angry. Kuma-sama, my name is Goro.

Goro-kun you say? Interesting. Kuma was almost three hundred pounds, while Goro must be around two hundred and twenty, according to Kuma’s calculations.

Follow me Kuma-sama.

Goro was trying to hide his ego. He was feeling good about being addressed by the son of Kachōyabun Daigo. He had actually asked for his name. Kachōyabun Daigo is the most powerful man in