Akiharu Hange

The Knight of♠Spades

Once, they told me I was very lucky to be alive. That unlike others, I was gifted with the amazing capacity to survive through their endless torture and experiments. As if I asked for any of that crap. Thanks to Hearts, I am no longer completely human. They made me some kind of monster, a bestiality that even they don't know too well how to control. Maybe that was their mistake... And what gave me a second chance.

To say I were broken when brought to Spades wouldn't be exactly a lie. I didn't knew what to expect at all - my mission was just one. I got really surprised by the carefree life everyone had in Spades. They were way too different to my own realm, where only ashes and madness remain. It was a new and bright world that I would never dream seeing. Also, there was that little kid who keep'd coming up to me and saying senseless things, like how he wanted to be my friend and that my damn hair and eyes were pretty. Red was just a colour, and after the begin of the Great Game everyone just was scared as hell of it because it's Hearts main colour. But not he... He showed me what friendship was. Even though every time I keep trying to remember why I was there, he wouldn't give up. I was just a child back then. Maybe too desperate to any kind of affection, which I encountered not only in him, but also on his family. As a result, we grew closer very quickly, and I realised that one day he would be the King of Spades. Would it be possible for me to still be his friend? A war refugee living like a worm in the castle... I did not want that. Ever since my first years of life, I was trained to be a weapon. So, I decided to become one on his behalf.

At age twelve, I applied for the Order of Black Knights, a secular institution with the purpose of training the knights who would fight for their kingdom. There were a lot of doutrines and other crap, but what interested me was the position given to only one knight - the Dark Knight, said to be the king's right arm and sword at the battlefield. Every king of Spades would entrust their life to this person, and the knight should be responsible to give his life for him if necessary. It seemed good enough for me - for someone who didn't had anything else than the friendship with the prince.

But, obviously I was not the only one interested in the position. It was some kind of glory for the people of Spades who view in war a long cultural tradition. I was just a foreigner. Along the years I saw many candidates of my age and beyond have spetacular results in my master trainings, but the final ritual would just not complete. I'm talking about the relic known as Chaos Chord; it´s an ancient object that belonged to every Dark Knight along the ages. Before adquiring the title, the apprentice has to be accepeted by this relic. Some say it's a parasyte weapon that will merge with the host body and give him enormous power, of course with a cost.

I didn't knew what it all mean before it was my turn to try it. Actually, my grades weren't that great. I wasn't a exemplar pupil, and my master would often say that I was way too emotional to be a Dark Knight. So, one night I sneaked in and tried holding the relic myself. With everyone else, the small bloodred stone would just stay as it is, they would hold it in their palms and nothing happens. But with me it was different. Once I took hold of it, the stone melted in my hand - I felt like my skin was burning. The liquid spreaded and was absorbed by my body. My screams were enough to wake the master up, and before being insanely angry he showed immense surprise. Once again, I heard that I was lucky to be alive.

This time, I didn't feel bad hearing that. I knew what it mean. I was accepted as a Dark Knight, and had the right to be at prince's Noir side. As the years passed, master Shadow concentrated his efforts in making me familiarize with the relic and use it accordingly. I then learned that it was a really temperamental weapon. Maybe that's why it sticked to me. It could not be entirely controlled - it was like that thing started being part of me. It would often take form as a big black sword, which is the weapon I'm more familiriarized with. Master said it can take any form, and had many features even he didn't knew. But he alerted me on something. The relic was still a parasyte, and as much power it could give, the less "me" I would be if I abuse it too much. At the time that words wouldn't make any sense, but soon I learned that myself was changing the more I would use it. These black marks started to show up all over my body. Most people think they're tattoos, and I often agree with them, but... It's something else. This thing inside me sometimes seem to have it's own will, and it's hard to contain it. Master said that my life would be eventually consumed by the weapon... Like every other Dark Knight before me. More than a knight, I felt cursed.

But as long as I can see him smile, I don't care.

The Game

After Spades destruction, Noir was officialy declared King. He ascended as the heir of both Diamonds and Spades thrones. Not only that, but the Great Game would end in a chess match between us and Hearts. Imediately I volunteer to participate, and guess what position I was in? I was a Dark Knight, so Knight seemed fine enough.

However, there were other pieces missing. Nabari got the bishop position, but that's it. We were only three. So, Noir decided that we should go in separate ways to find the other ones. In that journey across our world washed by the war, I meet him.

Nescau

He was by far one of the strangest beings I had ever encountered. When passing by the Pumpkin Festival, he helped me kill a giant beast made of only the bones. After defeating it, he was ready to leave but I tried talking to him. He had this very peculiar eye colour, a beautiful shade of amber. The other was hidden by his long bangs. Also, fuzzy ears were on his head, similar to cat ones. He also had a tail in the same colour of the chocolate-like hair. Indeed, a very strange kid...

He was also surprisingly rude. Said that he would not stay any longer, so I tried challenging him in a duel. If I won, he would have to hear me out. Otherwise, would go away and leave him be.

We clashed our weapons. After both of us being too injured and exausted to continue, he granted me the word. That first meeting told me much about the cat kid. I kind of felt that it would not be wise to let him go. Later, he was assigned as the other Knight of the Game. My intuition was damn right. Although, some say our relationship isn't that good. That's probably my fault... I like picking on him, just because he overreacts way too much. I would even go as far to say that it's cute.

More than that, he reminded of my younger self. He may not be really a child, but seemed desperate for any kind of affection. So, even if he hate me it's enough. It's kind of strange, even... Sometimes I just wish he would be more open to me. I feel that he hides too many thoughs of everyone else. Sometimes he looks like he's silently suffering, and it makes me wonder what it could be.

Once, he said that he considered himself a monster. I laughed at it, and he called me an idiot. Maybe I was. Because I used to think the same thing about myself. So, it became clear that I made the right decision to pest him enough to come with me on our journey, He has his own reasons to fight against Hearts, and I know someday he will tell me what it is. Until that... We keep being like good cat and dog, disagreeing and insulting each other all the time.

He may not imagine it, but looks happy when we do that.

Gallery