7 The Emperor Awakens

Heaven roared in anger as he saw Franklin's fist right in his face.

PA!

"GAH!"

Heaven groaned in pain as he felt tears threatening to come out of his eyes as he felt an intense pain on his mouth. His nose was bleeding and his lip was cut after suffering a single punch from Franklin.

Not getting a single moment of rest, Heaven felt someone kicking his legs.

Thud!

"Ah!"

Hitting the ground, Heaven curled up into a ball to protect himself against Cody and Franklin.

"That little shit ran away…" cursed Jack as he held his side in pain.

PA!

PA!

"Agh!"

Both Franklin and Cody were relentless as they kicked Heaven over and over. They didn't care what happened to him as long as he paid back for the pain he caused Jack.

Turning his gaze from the exit of the alleyway to Heaven, Jack snarled.

"Damn you… I don't know who the hell you think you are, but you fuckin' pissed me off," growled Jack as he stepped forward.

Seeing Jack approach, Franklin and Cody backed up since he was the victim of Heaven's attack. They watched in amusement as Jack stepped forward and looked down at Heaven coldly.

"You and that damn bastard Santos will pay for this," Jack coldly spat before lifting up his foot.

BANG!

Thud!

With a single stomp to the head, the struggling Heaven suddenly went limp when his head hit the floor.

"..."

"Fuck… did… did you just kill him?" Franklin asked nervously after suddenly seeing Heaven's body go limp.

"Shit…"

"I-I don't want any part of this!"

Cody stood still in fear before finally reacting when he heard Franklin. Nervously shaking his head, Cody walked backwards, preparing to leave at a moment's notice.

"Shit shit shit…"

Jack frowned as he began to feel anxious and jittery.

He shook his head slowly as he paced around.

"We have to get out of here…" Franklin whispered to Jack, already afraid of what was to come.

"Fuck… let's dip," Jack said as he turned around with Franklin.

Shh..

Franklin, Cody and Jack all turned to leave the alley but before they stepped out, they heard something moving behind them.

Turning their heads simultaneously, they all sighed in relief as they noticed Heaven's once limp body began to move.

"Ha… haha,.. He's alright guys! He's a~lright…" Jack said as he slowly got quiet and looked at Heaven angrily. "We panicked for no reason. This fucker was pretending to be dead."

Franklin and Cody listened to Jack and frowned in unison as they also turned their attention to Heaven who slowly stood up to his feet, his head lowered and his back hunched over.

Without saying a word, Cody was the first to move as he was the one who was scared the most. He almost turned tail and ran away from his friends to let them deal with a dead body.

Ashamed and angry of his actions, Cody naturally placed the blame on Heaven for his would-be betrayal.

Pulling back his fist, Cody had just reached Heaven's side when he suddenly noticed another fist in front of his face.

Pa!

With a single punch, Cody stopped in his tracks before slumping down to the ground unconscious.

"Ha! Hahahaha! I have finally, TRULY, woken up," Heaven yelled loudly as both Franklin and Jack looked at him in surprise and confusion.

Heaven turned his head and looked over at the duo of Jack and Franklin before smiling widely and narrowing his eyes.

"I guess I would have to 'thank' you, right?"

Jack and Franklin unconsciously shivered when they both noticed as if something had changed about Heaven.

His eyes were as sharp as they were deep and his tone of voice was much more confident and heavy.

"Fuck… what happened to Cody?" Franklin nervously asked Jack as he clenched his fists, ready to punch Heaven once more.

Jack gulped and looked at Heaven for a second before answering Franklin.

"Shit, it was a cheapshot! How could Cody go down so easily?" Jack angrily revealed what Heaven did as he glanced at Franklin.

Franklin glared at Heaven whilst he stepped forward to knock him out once more.

"A cheapshot won't work with me!" angrily declared Franklin as he swung his fist at Heaven.

"Really? How great~"

Heaven smirked at Franklin's actions and casually stepped to the side dodging Franklin's fist with ease.

"Wha-!"

Before Franklin could react, Heaven calmly placed his right hand on Franklin's fist and his other under Franklin's arm before turning his body.

"Ha!"

Heaven manipulated the muscles in his body masterfully as he easily managed to lift someone as big and heavy as Franklin.

THUD!

Franklin was flipped over Heaven and slammed down into the ground where he fell unconscious in an instant.

"Ha! Cheapshots… Why would I do that with weaklings like you," retorted Heaven as he pulled his gaze from the unconscious Franklin and over to the empty entrance of the alley.

"Looks like an insect escaped."

Huu~!

Heaven quietly stood on the spot before letting out a long and drawn out breath.

His body was already in pain and fatigued before he finally woke up and recovered his memories. Now that he forced his body to move despite it's pain and fatigue, Heaven could feel the fatigue and pain come back much harsher.

However, all of that quickly disappeared as he began to breathe in a specific manner and rhythm. Using a special breathing technique, Heaven could feel his tired body quickly regaining its strength and energy.

He no longer felt tired and his heart began to beat faster and stronger than before. His lungs took in more oxygen and his blood became stronger and richer in oxygen. His blood flowed rapidly and rhythmically in his blood vessels and veins.

This special breathing technique could enhance Heaven's body through the enrichment of oxygen and capacity of his lungs. As long as he continued using this breathing technique, Heaven would slowly grow stronger.

In a week, he could gain the strength of an average 21 year old, unlike his previous self who was really weak. If he trained, Heaven could become stronger in a much faster manner.

(A/N: The breathing technique is more or less like the Total Concentration Breathing from Demon Slayer, just of better quality and strength.)

Without groaning or saying anything, Heaven quietly walked out of the alley before heading straight home.

He didn't even bother thinking about his traitorous brother who sacrificed him to save his own hide.

Instead, he thought about his situation.

Heaven, also known as Sora, had descended from the higher realms in order to gather more strength and become stronger.

And have fun while he was at it.

However, after being born, Heaven found a complication with his body.

The brain wasn't properly developed and in order to ensure that it wouldn't affect him in the future, Heaven had spent all these years fixing the problem. Now, he had a perfect and healthy brain with no defects.

There was still some minor defects in his brain, but nothing he couldn't fix with a special concoction.

In those many years, Heaven had left part of his soul in his body to continue living normally before merging back together.

'It's been 21 years, but at the same time I have been here all this time,' thought Heaven as he chuckled at the thought.

***

Arriving home, Heaven sighed before entering.

"Heaven!"

Entering his family home, Heaven was suddenly hugged tightly by his mother.

"Mom?"

Heaven felt how his mom was trembling as she held him tightly in her arms.

Sniff!

"Mom, what's wrong?" Heaven asked, concerned about his mother.

"I was worried about you! What were you thinking?! You're not invincible!"

Hearing his mother, Heaven instantly understood what was happening.

Santos had long since arrived at home after throwing him to the 'wolves' and told Victoria that he had stepped up to protect him whilst he fled.

Heaven kept quiet and decided to keep this problem between him and Santos. Involving his mother would only cause headaches.

"I'm okay mom," Heaven said as he reassured his mother.

"Okay?! Okay!?! YOU! Are not okay," Victoria said as she wiped her tears away and looked at Heaven angrily. "Come with me young man!"

Mad with Heaven and his reckless nature, Victoria dragged him to the bathroom.

"I mean, look at you! You're hurt badly," worriedly said Victoria after closing the door to the bathroom and taking out a first aid kit.

Heaven smiled wryly as he watched his mom take out the alcohol bottle and disinfecting his wounds. She used bandaids and put ointment over the wounds on his face.

"Alright, now take off your clothes," demanded Victoria as she looked at Heaven seriously.

"Huh?"

"You heard me! Take off your clothes!"

"Ahem… alright…"

Heaven took off his clothes slowly, feeling rather apprehensive about the current situation.

In his current state, Heaven had feelings for this beautiful woman before him. Her wavy black hair and her gray eyes were soul stirring to him when it was paired with her fair and smooth white skin.

Not to mention her slim waist, her plump bosom, and peachy behind hidden under her dress.

Removing his shirt, Heaven revealed his skinny upper body and various bruises.

"And your pants."

Heaven smiled wryly and complied as he removed his shoes followed by his pants.

"Now turn around," said Victoria as she motioned for him to turn around.

Facing his back to her, Heaven heard and felt how Victoria lathered up her hands with some ointment for his wounds. She pressed her fair hands on his back and slowly rubbed the ointment on his bruises.

"My goodness… just what were you thinking Heaven," Victoria said, feeling her heart ache as she felt every bruise on Heaven's back.

Heaven kept quiet for a second before responding slowly to his mother.

"I had to do it."

"Why?"

Victoria furrowed her eyebrows, her voice sounding stern as she listened to her son.

"They were humiliating Santos," Heaven began.

"Turn around."

Heaven turned to face Victoria after she was done rubbing ointment on his wounds. He looked at her in the face and straight into her eyes with a deep look on his face.

"And they were talking about you… the things they were saying. It was horrendous to know what they wished to do to you," Heaven proclaimed. "I couldn't let them continue to think how they wished to disgrace you, MY beautiful and caring mother. The mother whom I love and care about."

Victoria's hands came to a sudden halt after hearing Heaven's words.

She had always known what type of person Heaven was. A kind young man who was too scared to take action when it came to acting with confidence. Yet when it came to his family, he would always be willing to jump in front of a bullet for them.

Warmth touched her heart as she looked at her son with bright eyes.

"Oh honey…" muttered Victoria as she gave Heaven a deep look.

"Mom…"

Heaven and Victoria looked at each other, her hands still pressed against his chest. Their eyes were locked onto each other, their thoughts and hearts filled with each other.

Leaning in close to his mom, Heaven stopped after getting halfway there. His eyes were bright and his gaze was fiery.

Leaning in forward as well, whether knowingly or not, Victoria approached Heaven.

Their warm breaths caressed each others' skin and their lips were so infinitesimally close to each other.

"Mmm…"

It was unknown who started the kiss, but in that passionate moment, their minds went blank as they unconsciously closed their eyes.

Ta!

The sound of a slap resounded within the bathroom where Heaven and Victoria were.

"Oh my god! I'm sorry, honey," worriedly yelled Victoria as she looked at the bright red hand imprint of Heaven's cheek.

She was about to reach out and touch Heaven's cheek when she stopped.

Biting her lip nervously, she closed her hand and pulled it back reluctantly as she looked at Heaven's hurt face.

She… she lost herself in that kiss she had with Heaven, but it was wrong.

It was a taboo.

They were mother and son.

The feelings were conflicting and she knew she had to stop before it developed any further.

"We can't do this…" muttered Victoria after a moment of silence.

Heaven stayed quiet and lifted his gaze to look at his mom. 

"For God's sake Heaven. You're my son! We shouldn't be doing this!"

Heaven listened to his mother quietly as she loudly kept repeating the same words as if to convince herself of something.

"Never speak about this," Victoria said sternly as she looked into her son's eyes.

Heaven looked into Victoria's eyes and eventually gave her a subtle nod whilst shaking his head in his heart.

Frowning, Victoria turned to leave unknowingly feeling a little disappointed.

Looking at the departing back of his mother, Heaven shook his head.

It was unknown what was going on inside both their heads at this moment.