The Generation Series: REBIRTH

Within this solemn space, the fifth Generation slept for eternity. According to the generational birth pattern, five of the nine female warriors found their eternal resting place here. However, four coffins remained unfinished, their empty shells serving as heartbreaking reminders of lives yet to be memorialized, including the void left by Taylor's unoccupied casket, silently bearing her name.

Lily's completed coffin emerged as the first on the left. Overwhelmed with a profound longing, Sakura rushed to the sculpture, her fingers seeking reassurance in the crevasses of Lily's cold stone fingers. In that tender moment, she yearned for a connection she never had the chance to spend time with, feeling an ache for motherly love she had never known.

Sakura laid her forehead on the stone and said, "I'm home, Mother." Tears flowed like a river down her small face.

Athen held her hand to support her and said, "She sacrificed her life to protect you. In fact, everyone in this room sacrificed to make sure your life would be easier." 

"I've carried a hatred for war; I have. None should meet their end on account of political bullshite. Those innocent souls in Hiroshima didn't deserve their fate because America sought revenge for their own people. Retribution breeds conflict, and conflict reaps a harvest of countless lives lost, 'across the globe. We needn't master the art of pardoning; nah, forgetting ought not to be our way. Humanity will find its path to harmony amongst ourselves and worldwide. No one should ever have'ta sacrifice themselves, not as long as I'm alive," Sakura said. The room had gone deathly silent; she felt as if she had embarrassed herself and said, "Sorry, Sure, you lot must be reckonin' I've got a touch of the madness in me."

Athen smiled and said, "We will follow you to the ends of the earth if we have to."

"Why?" Sakura asked.

Michael added, "We haven't known you for as long as Athen, but we truly like you. You're a rare breed, Sakura."

Athen chuckled, saying, "Your knowledge doesn't come from your head. It comes from the heart, and that's why we will do everything we can to help you bring peace to the world." 

"I wish I could have spent time with her," Sakura said, gently stroking the strands of stone hair.

Robbie clenched his fists, his voice heavy with anguish. "Why did this happen? Who would want to hurt my daughter?"

Taylor cast a somber gaze at Lily's coffin; she replied, "The American government discovered our existence after their victory in the Second World War," she began. "They've tried to reach the island repeatedly, but our Kami could only hold them off for so long. The day before the attack, an Alpha from Chibu Island reported seeing a human rowboat on his shores. He came to the mansion to inform Lily. Within hours, she convened an emergency meeting with her sisters and the Alpha Lieutenants from each village. It was as if she knew they were coming for her."

Taylor's voice tightened as she recounted the events. "Lily ordered immediate lockdowns and battle preparations. She was frantic, hypervigilant. When I asked her what she knew, she confided that she was in labor—and that the humans were after her children. They wanted to end the cycle of generations, to eliminate the Kami protecting the island. I pressed her for more, but all she said was that she'd grown too comfortable with the human world beyond the ocean."

Robbie's brow furrowed, his voice sharp. "Lily left the island? Where did she go?"

"She traveled to America, searching for others like us," Taylor admitted. "But we don't know what she discovered there. She left no records, no clues."

Robbie's frustration mounted. "What state did she visit?"

Taylor sighed heavily, raking a hand through her hair as she delved into her memory. "Walworth County, Wisconsin," she said at last. "Don't ask me how she knew about the place. That's all I know. I'm sorry."

Ignoring their conversation, another set of stairs climbing downward caught her attention. With caution, Sakura tentatively stepped through the doorway as everyone chatted. The air grew heavy as she entered the chamber; her eyes struggled to pierce through the darkness, revealing a haunting sight—rows of coffins. The room remained incomplete, an ongoing work in progress for her and other sixth-generational warriors.

Overwhelmed by the weight of her surroundings, Sakura's vision blurred, and a wave of dizziness washed over her. Her heart pounded in her chest, matching the pace of her rapid breathing. Her complexion mirrored the paleness of a ghostly figure. Athen moved through the darkness with stealth and purpose during her emotional turmoil, tracking her heavy breaths. His eyes adjusted to the dimness, allowing him to locate Sakura's trembling form.

From behind, Athen held her tenderly, comforting her distress. His touch, meant to soothe and calm, reassured her troubled heart. However, Sakura's emotional state remained fragile.

Athen whispered in her ear, "Are you okay?"

"I'm scared…"

"I know…"

Sakura hyperventilated in Athen's grasp and said, "This isn't a matter that rests easy now, ya know, but why are we in the dark about what comes after we die? Every faith has its vision, sure, but the truth be told, none among us truly knows."

Athen responded, "It's normal to fear what you don't know."

In the safety of his embrace, her body went limp, overwhelmed by emotions. Rapid breathing threatened to engulf her unconsciousness. Athen gently cradled her in his arms and carried her outside, with the rest of the group following silently as they returned to the mansion. Taylor couldn't help but feel an ache of guilt for unintentionally putting her in such a vulnerable position as if she should have foreseen how it would affect her.

As Sakura awakened from her deep slumber, she heard a gentle, almost unnoticeable beeping sound. Blinking her eyes, she gradually brought the world into focus, her gaze settling on the complex web of wires connected to her IV. A figure sat nearby, a serene presence as an older, tan-skinned woman adorned with cascading locks of long blue hair. The woman wore a pristine white lab coat with a stethoscope gracefully draped around her neck.

Sakura groaned, "Where am I?"

"The infirmary here in the mansion. I planned for us to meet differently, Sakura. My name is Michelle. I am the registered nurse practitioner here."

As Jack passed by Sakura's bedside, a warm, heated blanket nestled in his arms. He tenderly tucked her in with utmost care, ensuring the comforting warmth surrounded her body. Jack rearranged the lines connected to her, weaving them beneath the blankets to thaw the cold fluids and gently maintain a healthy temperature. His thoughtful gestures revealed deep dedication and compassion as he took every measure to ensure Sakura's comfort during her recovery.

"You really had us worried," Jack said. 

The fluid inside the plastic bag, Lactaid ringers, was about half empty. There were only five hundred milliliters left to go. Michelle unraveled her stethoscope from her neck to check her vitals. She studied her heart and breath sounds before continuing her examination.

"Ya look like Lina, ya?" Sakura said weakly.

"She's my niece, actually. The Generations have more than one child."

"I had a twin brother."

"Yes, you remembered. I assisted in your mother's labor. You were the first, so we covered you in blankets beside her. Then, she gave birth to a baby boy. She ordered us to evacuate the building, but she was too weak to move. I couldn't help her, or your brother. I'm so sorry."

"Ya did everythin' ya could. Orders are orders, after all."

Jack smiled and said, "We've got you covered."

The piercing sound of male screams sent shivers down Sakura's spine from the hallway. Everyone in the room could hear the frantic footsteps of figures rapidly approaching, accompanied by labored panting. They watched the door, listening to their voices come closer; the twins rushed through the door, and without hesitation, they leaped onto the bed, their youthful enthusiasm almost causing Sakura distress as they landed precariously between her legs. Despite the surge of pain, Sakura fought back a scream, determined not to add to their worries. The twins kneeled on the bed to give Sakura a supportive embrace.

Alec detected her painful reaction and said, "Sakura, are you okay?"

Alex added, "We've been worried about you."

Sakura giggles, "I'm okay, lads."

Athen entered the room, a sigh of relief escaping him as he saw Sakura was okay. Robbie's concern, however, was immediately directed toward Michelle. He asked with genuine worry, "Is she okay?"

Michelle, smiling warmly, welcomed the man who had cared for Sakura during her adolescence. "Yes, I gave her some fluids to rehydrate her. She experienced some tachycardia. Her heart rate went over a hundred and fifty. It's not dangerous per se, but it can significantly affect her quality of life if it keeps occuring. How have you two managed it all this time?"

Robbie explained, "Without her medication, her heart never stops racing. There was one time it got so bad she couldn't sleep for days, and they had to increase her dosage. I imagine Athen knows the full extent since he's known her longer than I have."

Athen added, "Back in high school, she used to experience those episodes almost daily."

Sakura, who had been quietly listening, couldn't resist speaking. "Are ya gonna talk about me while I'm layin' here? Oi, I'm ready to go home now."

Michelle draped a black shawl over Sakura's shoulders, offering comfort. "Psychologically, she needs time to process all this information. Go home, and we'll be here when she's ready."

"Finally," Sakura whispered.

Jack carefully folded the now-empty bag of fluids, peeling off the tape that had adhered to Sakura's arm.

Robbie approached the bed, gently brushing his fingers through his daughter's hair. His heart ached with the weight of everything left unsaid. All he wished for was more time—time to hold her, to cherish the moments he never had when she was a baby. He leaned closer and whispered, his voice breaking, "I'm sorry this is happening to you, Pipsqueak. We'll figure something out on the way home. I promise."

Without a word, Sakura swung her legs off the bed, stood up, and strode toward the door. Her face burned with lingering embarrassment from her earlier panic attack, and she refused to acknowledge it. As she reached the hallway, she tossed a casual, detached "Let's go, lads," over her shoulder.

The boys exchanged uneasy glances. They did not dare voice their worries but followed her in tense silence, unsure of her plan—and deeply unsettled by her resolve.

Jack lingered behind as the others filed out, his shoulders slumping with the weight of his uncertainty. Turning to Michelle, he sighed heavily. "I don't know what to do," he admitted.

Michelle placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, her tone steady and reassuring. "All you can do is offer her guidance, Jack. The rest is up to her. She's stronger than she knows, and we have to trust she'll find her way. All we can do now is pray the legacy of female warriors doesn't end with her."

Jack nodded, the tension in his face easing ever so slightly. "You're right. Thank you." He gave her a small smile, waved goodbye, and hurried to catch up with the others.

He fell into step with the group at the end of the hallway. The air was thick with unspoken emotions as they walked silently, their footsteps echoing down the corridor.

In the entrance hall, Isabella stood quietly, her posture composed, yet her eyes heavy with concern. She watched as Sakura descended the stairs, flanked by the boys. When they reached the door, Isabella bowed deeply in respect and quiet hope.

Her gaze lingered as they crossed the threshold and disappeared into the world beyond. Come back to us someday, Isabella thought silently, her heart aching for the burden Sakura carried—and for the path she would have to walk alone.