Wicked Reincarnation

Yano knew this was the wrong path to take. Especially against Min, the Ghost King. The moment both of them stood on the plaza facing each other and the moment Yano chose not to erase the circle on Lia's hand, Yano already knew it was over for him.

Yet why did he make this decision? It was obvious he was on par with Min in terms of power, it was obvious after everything was over he and Lia and everyone else could live happily together. So why did Yano choose this route he knew was wrong? Why was he being so reckless?

Yano didn't know. Maybe because his eyes fell onto the corpses of Skyla and Mil desperately trying to hold onto each other even in death. Was that when a part of him broke?

His two best friends, his childhood friends just left this world and he couldn't save them. Was that why Yano suddenly felt hopelessness washing over him? That everyone else was going to die too and he had to bear through this all? The sudden realisation and fear slightly crept up in Yano and clouded his mind.

"Ha," Yano grinned.

So this must be how Lia has felt this entire time. He almost wavered seeing two deaths but Lia has seen far more of her precious people. That was why they were fighting to stop this. Yano once again admired how strong Lia was.

"Let's settle this another way," Min's voice pulled Yano back to reality. Yano's grin grew wider, "Is that because you don't think you can beat me if we fight?"

Mind's eye twitched, "You're truly as annoying as they say. I guess that's why you're a fit for that woman."

"Lia. Ah, but I guess you shouldn't call her by the name with your filthy mouth,'' Yano quickly turned serious.

"What a fool. You really care for her," Min mocked but didn't make any attempts to fight Yano. The surrounding battlefield didn't bother them. No place near them was stepped on and they were left alone to face each other.

"How you wanna settle this, I'm curious," Yano's hands twitched. He knew he should remove the circle so he could use his power. He was confident in his fighting abilities but against Min and his power, Yano didn't dare to over overestimate himself at all.

"Join me," Min's blunt words were no surprise to Yano.

He already more or less expected it.

"If I say no?"

"You'll die."

"But that can only happen if we fight. In the end, we're back at the beginning. Ghost King, you've never been bright," Yano raised his lips and mocked Min this time.

Min's eye continued to twitch. He took a deep breath to not fall for this clown's provocation.

"If you join me then I'll let everyone off."

"Even Lia?"

Min remained silent but his expression told Yano enough.

"Tempting offer but my wife won't be happy about it."

"Wif-" Min didn't even want to say out that word and he didn't have to. He dodged to his right as Yano sprinted towards him.

"You're attacking with a simple sword?"

"Well, you are not really worth using my power for," Yano lied and remained carefree.

Yano didn't know why but he felt he couldn't break off the communication with Lia. Even if Yano defeated Min if that circle disappeared and Lia was in danger she couldn't contact him. If right now while Yano fought with Min, he erased the circle, then when Lia needed him she couldn't let him know.

That was why Yano was reluctant to erase it. Although Lia should be alright because after all the only danger here was Min but Yano had the nagging feeling that something might happen to her.

"You're making fun of me, isn't that so?" Min's lifeforce attacked Yano but was immediately cut away.

"You only noticed now?" Yano's frivolous personality made Min's blood boil.

This eyesore. If he had known that Yano turned out to be an enemy then he would've never given him power. Wait, Min realised.

The only way to completely and utterly beat Yano was to take his power away. Min as the Ghost King gave Yano power so he had the right to destroy it too. Min was in a much better mood now.

"If you don't fight me with all you got, you'll regret it."

"Ah, really?"

Yet Min was right. Yano did have to regret it. Yano couldn't last long against Min without his powers and Yano didn't expect Min to suck out half of his power.

This was a crushing defeat for Yano, once known as the top exorcist.

"Ha," Yano fell down to his knees as he saw Min approaching him. He drew a circle and called Lia.

Maybe that was why he kept it for her. Or maybe not. Because once upon a time even before they were born Yano was supposed to be Lia's. And Lia was supposed to be his. It was a fate that was decided before they were born and couldn't be severed.

So how did things end up this way? All because Min existed.

In the past, before Lia and Yano were born, their parents frequently met and were good friends. Because of the K family's duty, they kept a close relationship with some of the hidden families and were aware of the past.

One day when Elder and Madam K went to visit Oldie and Madam O in Neverland, both Madam K and Madam O were pregnant. Coincidentally one was a girl the other was a boy. In their joy, the two wives wanted them to get along with each other and eventually marry.

So thus an engagement has been formed. Yet once the kids were born they never got to meet each other. When Lia and Yano were supposed to meet, a disaster happened on Yano's side. His mother died. He was four back then. Thus they had to cancel their meetings and postpone it.

But that was also a day prior to when Lia would meet Leo and Min, and fall unconditionally for Min. The K family grieved the loss of the O family so they didn't notice Lia's infatuation until it was too late.

One month later Elder K picked Yano up to meet Lia, however, Lia was chasing after Min and refused to see Yano.

Yano couldn't care less about Lia either, after all, he still couldn't get over his mother's death. But nevertheless, Yano wanted to see the face of the girl who destroyed his mother's hope by chasing after another guy.

So, Yano watched from afar Lia playing with Min and Leo. Then he made up his mind. He never wanted to see her again. The girl who trampled on his mother's last wish.

Yano laughed at these memories and his first impression of Lia. But coincidentally Lia spotted Yano peeking on them in the garden from the door. She ran up to him and gave him a candy, "You're sad, you should rest and cry. Come back when you feel better."

Then she ran off to hug Min again.

Yano didn't understand. Did she deliberately not want to meet him so he could grieve more?

After Yano went home he thought about it day after day, asking his father when he could meet her. He desperately wanted to know the truth.

Yet the day never came. Their engagement was broken off and Yano never bothered to see Lia again. She was happy with another guy, so where was space for him? Nowhere.

So he gave up and his boring days continued until the announcement of the Ghost King followed. All three hidden families were shocked, what was the K family thinking?

But then not long after, news of the K family and rumours flew around. They all knew what was coming and thus were sent to the academy. Yano didn't feel much for Lia's death because he barely remembered her, and it was her own fault for breaking a rule she should've never broken.

His dad was reluctant to sent Yano off and Yano knew why. It was because his dad couldn't bear losing Yano too.

Oldie never told Yano how his mother died but Yano has long known it was because of his dad's power. The ability that was passed down from head to head in secret. The power that stood above all in the absence of the Immortal King.

For each wish, a sacrifice had to be made. Yano didn't know even until now what his dad wished for back then that required his mother's life and he'd never know.

Fast forward 10 years and Yano was carrying out his duty as a hidden family to protect the Mortal World.

However, one night Yano played with his power and thought of Lia. Coincidentally he met her. At first, Yano thought this was just a dream or fantasy of his. Because the Lia he saw was happily loving Min and the funny thing was Min loved her back.

Yano decided to stay in this 'dream' for a bit longer to observe as Lia incredibly disliked him. Then one night when he snuck into the palace he saw a different side of her.

Cold, hateful and angry at the Ghost King. That day later Lia went on to really kill her family. Yano was shocked and before he knew it everything began from anew.

That was when he realised he was stuck in an illusion of someone else's power Lia was currently experiencing.

Lia became gradually colder and colder and none of the budding beauty from the first illusion remained. Yano figured out Lia was alive and wanted to take revenge.

So, Yano continued to watch on how Lia had to despair over and over again in order to escape the illusion. He couldn't help nor do anything but watch. Then a thought crept into his mind, if he had married Lia back then, then all of the love she showed Min would be directed at him.

All of the suffering, Yano would never let Lia experience. She could be happy with him. Yano admired Lia's strength to finally put an end to the illusion and escape by shouldering so much pain, suffering and hatred.

That was when Yano's mind flushed with thoughts of Lia and he couldn't help but peek into her life to see what she was up to. Yano could never admit he spied on Lia's life and saw more or less of her journey. If Lia knew about it, she'd be furious.

But through that Yano couldn't help but fall more and more for Lia. His at first resignation turned into curiosity and then became an attraction. Her little quirks, her teasing, her slowly changing and even witnessing her getting closer with other guys until finally, Lia stood in front of him in the Mortal World seeking him out.

Yano finally knew it was his time to become a part of her life. So he tried his best to be there for her, help her, woo her. At first, Yano was a bit frustrated because just like in the illusion, Lia wanted nothing to do with him.

But then slowly everything fell into place again. Their fate was once again intertwined to marry each other. And once again they were ripped apart by the same person.