From Chinese translations by Hinako.
Draft: Version 2 - final
Notes: 火巫女 Himiko; 邪馬台国 Yamataikoku; "hebimiko" corrected to "jyako"
PS: Do not distribute this without my permission
Chiaki stood dumbfounded at the wretched scene before him.
What on earth happened within the confined area of the Katou shrine? It seemed like a storm and earthquake had occurred at the same time.
The roof of the main shrine had been completely ripped off, a large section of the main structure had collapsed, trees uprooted, not to mention the huge craters in the ground everywhere.
This...
This was truly out of the ordinary. Chiaki knew this before reaching the scene as he had felt the impact of the incantations despite the distance. The more intense the clash, the more clearly it could be perceived. This was one such case. Chiaki was immediately aware that Takaya had fought an extraordinary opponent.
At that time, Chiaki was still at the school. He had been handling the chaos resulting from the unconscious students when he learned of the conflict between Takaya and the executive committee members. The huge explosion (at the Katou shrine) happened when he was setting up precautions against possible measures that Mikuriya might consequently adopt. Chiaki disregarded the lesson he was giving and rushed to the scene. However, he arrived too late.
Where's Kagetora...!
The ambulance and police vehicles zoomed over with their wailing sirens. Chiaki forced his way through the crowd of onlookers and proceeded to the actual site. The wounded tourists who had been caught in the crossfire were sitting there in shock. But Takaya was nowhere to be seen.
"Kagetora...! Where are you, Kagetora!"
"Hey! You're not allowed in here!"
Chiaki ignored the policeman's warning, entering the shrine area regardless. There was a group of people gathered ahead. It seemed like they were about to shift the wounded onto stretchers and transport them out. --The person lying on the stretcher was wearing a high school uniform.
Kagetora...!
"Move aside! Hey!"
"Stay back! You'll only get in the way of the rescue operation!"
Chiaki was firmly pushed back by the police officers. Unwilling to concede, he shouted back. "You are the ones in the way! I'm his relative!"
While Chiaki argued and wrangled with the police officers, Takaya was carried into the ambulance van on a stretcher. An unfamiliar couple of youngsters followed him into the ambulance as though they were escorting him.
"Kagetora!"
The ambulance siren drowned out Chiaki's yell as it hastened down the road past him.
"Over there! They were the ones who descended from the heavens, they flew down from the sky!"
What...!
Hearing the female voice behind him, Chiaki turned back in surprise. She was one of the tourists who had witnessed the entire incident. She was seated under a tree receiving a dressing for a wound, yet she was shouting out in a shrill voice due to excitement.
"We saw it, they really did come from the sky! It's true! From the sky... People who flew down from the sky!"
From the sky?
Chiaki ran towards her. "What did you say? Someone came from the sky, what happened?"
"I saw it, everyone did. They... from the castle above, they flew down from the sky!"
Chiaki followed the direction in which the woman was pointing and looked across. She was referring to the group of young people who had encircled Takaya just now. They looked like ordinary, young men and women. Their eyes met Chiaki's.
Flew down from the sky...?
Although Chiaki was skeptical, he heard similar comments from the enthusiastic chatter of the other tourists. The youngsters exchanged a few words among themselves, then proceeded in the opposite direction of the road as if to avoid the crowd. Chiaki noticed a senior high school student in a high-collar uniform mingled among them. He recognized that face - Nezu Kouichi.
"You...!"
He wanted to pursue him but was obstructed by the throng of police officers who swarmed in and blocked his way, he could not move. As Chiaki tried his best to move forward, the group of youngsters blended into the crowd, making it no longer possible to track them.
"Damn... it!"
He was ultimately helpless in the situation. Furthermore, Chiaki was now even more concerned about Takaya's injury. By the look of things, he had sustained a considerably severe injury. Chiaki gnawed on his tongue and hastily left the Katou shrine.
Another Kojou high school student who had arrived at the scene of the commotion brushed past Chiaki. He was Miike Tetsuya. Chiaki was supposed to handle the fifth lesson, however due to the bedlam in the afternoon, the students could not calm down and the class started 20 minutes late, but... Apparently, there was yet another disruption. Chiaki-sensei had unexpectedly cut his lesson short. After instructing the students to carry out their own self-study, he darted out of the classroom with an unusual look on his face.
He looked strange...
Speaking of which, he had not seen any sign of Ougi Takaya. Furthermore, there was that booming which came from an unknown, distant location. That was when Chiaki-sensei had...
Tetsuya had left his noisy classmates and walked out of the classroom by himself. His trailing of Chiaki ultimately led him to this scene at the Katou shrine.
What on earth...
What the hell happened?
Tetsuya gazed at the miserable remains of the shrine, he could not help but doubt his own eyes. This looked exactly like the aftermath of the typhoon which had wrecked the place several years ago. The trees had been flattened to the ground. There were large pit holes in the ground as if the soil and earth had been dug out. The displaced soil and earth was now piled in mountainous heaps, transforming the surface into a peculiar cluster of mounds. Since there was damage to the subterranean layer of the ground, the rock walls of the inner moat had crumbled.
Just what on earth happened here...
It was outlandish. What was the meaning of this? The incident which occurred just moments ago, the uproar in the broadcasting room, the battered remains of the asphalt road that he saw from the sports field beside the school gate, the students who had suddenly collapsed--
Something isn't right.
His body trembled for no apparent reason.
What the...
Sensing that something bizarre had happened in his surroundings, Tetsuya strangely began to feel terrified. The freakish devastation before him was like an omen, he inadvertently shrank back.
His retreating feet unexpectedly
stepped on something round.
Startled, Tetsuya lifted his leg, only to find a glittering key chain on the ground where his feet was. It had the five letters 'SEEVA' imprinted on it.
"? ...This..."
It looked familiar to him. Wasn't this key chain attached to Inaba Akemi's schoolbag? Akemi would still use such accessories despite the fact that they were banned in school. She would only take it out when the inspection team was not looking, usually hiding it between the zipper. Tetsuya picked it up and frowned.
But why was she here...?
"You're a student of Kojou High right?"
That sudden question startled Tetsuya, he lifted his head. The chief priest of the shrine was standing beside him. His uniform probably led the priest to this deduction.
"Just now, a boy appearing to be a student from your school was taken away due to serious wounds. I don't know if your school has been informed about it. He looked really hurt, he threw up a lot of blood, his internal organs might have been injured."
"Student from our school?" Tetsuya stared at him. "Don't tell me..."
A sense of loathing arose in Tetsuya's head. Takaya was the very first thing that came to his mind. Despite the lack of any clear evidence, everything seemed to indicate that Takaya was linked to this wreck.
"Could it be Ougi..."
"Eh--...?"
"Don't tell me it was Ougi!"
Of course, the other had no clue. But Tetsuya interpreted it as such, fully convinced of his judgment. Tetsuya's intuition had never failed him before.
Could it be that Ougi has something to do with this incident as well...
What on earth happened?
What on earth was going on?
***
After asking the rescue team personnel in a somewhat threatening manner about the hospital to which Takaya had been sent, Chiaki immediately bolted to the place.
A couple of unknown youngsters appeared to be waiting for Chiaki as he ran down the corridor, panting. One of them was wearing a yellow-green casual outfit, the other was a young woman dressed in a deep-blue jacket and a pair of cherry-colored pants. --Yes, they were the ones who had accompanied Takaya in the ambulance.
At the very end of the hallway, the red sign 'In Operation' was alight above the entrance of the emergency room.
"Kagetora..."
"... He's in critical condition." Noticing the visitor, the slightly older youth informed Chiaki in this way. Chiaki was startled and looked at the young man. The latter continued in a doctor-like manner.
"Right now they're carrying out an emergency surgery, however due to difficulties in breathing, his condition is extremely precarious. I hope he can pull through this..."
"...!"
Takaya's injury was far more severe than he had expected. The intensity of that battle was clear from just one look at the damage done to the surrounding area. Takaya had sustained a serious injury, so serious that it had rendered him unconscious.
Chiaki clenched his lower lip, and gazed at the other two.
"Who are you people?"
"..."
"Do you know who did this to him?"
"We only saved him."
"Saved him?"
"Yes, right before his opponent had the chance to deal the final blow. Owing to our intervention, his opponent saw that he was no match for us and fled."
"Who are you people?"
They were not hyoui rei. Neither were they kanshousha. However the aura around their body was clearly different from ordinary people. If they were capable of saving Takaya in that intense fight, the incantations they were adept in must definitely be--
It can't be.
Chiaki gasped.
Descended from the sky? Don't tell me the ones who flew down from the sky are...!
"Was it you people?"
"..."
"Are you the ones who came from the sky, the people whom the onlookers were talking about! What's going on here! So were the youngsters with Nezu your comrades!"
"You must be Ougi Takaya's friend."
Chiaki was taken aback from her sudden interruption. The one who spoke was the long-haired female standing to the side.
She knows of the name Takaya?
"If that's the case, you better leave soon. That person, who seems to be your enemy, has captured a girl from the same school as Ougi Takaya."
"Captured a schoolgirl...!" Chiaki bellowed, he savagely grabbed the lapels of the woman's clothes. "Did you see this! Who was it... Who did!"
"If he sends a demand for ransom, you should be able to identify him then. Anyway, please return quickly. Shouldn't that girl's safety be your top priority right now?"
"That's right. Even if you remain in hospital, the most you can do is wait for the operation to be over."
Chiaki stared at the youth nervously. These youngsters were fairly steadfast.
"Only the doctor can handle the rest. We shall take responsibility for his well-being. Please go back quickly."
"...Who are you people?" Chiaki lowered his voice and asked. "Who on earth are you?"
Their mannerisms and attire were no different from the average person. However the look in their eyes was overly calm, he felt that it was lacking in human warmth. Chiaki was irritated by their evasiveness, which eventually compelled him to raise his voice in a rude manner.
"I said who are you people!"
The silent young man squinted a little, then slowly, the reply came. "--We are the people of Himiko's kingdom."
"...!"
"We are the descendants of those who lived during the era of the honorable Himiko's kingdom, the ones who revere the people of the Fire Sect. Will this answer do?"
Chiaki was at a loss for words. "...What did you say..."
The moment he finished with his reply, Chiaki cast the woman aside. This time, he ruthlessly grabbed hold of the man's shirt.
"What are you getting at! What Himiko! What the hell do you mean, are you saying that you're the descendants of the Yamataikoku!"
"You asked who we were and I've answered you as according to the facts." The youth did not show any sign of vacillation. "For now, this is the only answer I can give that would be comprehensible to you. However, one thing is certain. And that is we are not his enemy."
"...Is this some kind of joke, telling me to trust you?"
"Then can we request for your trust?" The youth asked without any hesitation. "Nevertheless, you should return as soon as possible, otherwise, another life will be sacrificed. We will bear the responsibility of looking after him. So please go, quickly."
Chiaki knew that he could not acquire any further answers. Scowling, he crudely released the young man. ...If a schoolgirl had really been kidnapped, then they were right, he had to go.
Guess I've no choice...
Chiaki hurried back, down the corridor.
You better hang in there, Kagetora!
The young man and woman stood under the red light, watching Chiaki as he left.
***
"Chiaki-sensei!"
Chiaki had returned to the school. A desperate-looking Yamaguchi-sensei was waiting for him. Class had ended and Yamaguchi, together with 2B's Kurokawa-sensei, came to the teacher's lounge in the mathematics department.
"What's the matter? Yamaguchi-sensei."
"We've a problem, I just received this. Someone sent this to the school...!"
Yamaguchi was holding a white envelope. The letter was addressed to the teacher of class 2B. It was stuffed with a heavy object. Opening the package, he found a bundle of black hair and the thick student manual of Kojou high school. The student card stuck inside had the photo of a childish-looking schoolgirl.
Inaba Akemi.
She was Takaya's classmate. That hair must be hers. The curly and lustrous black hair was bound together with a paper rope into a bundle. Chiaki hastily took out the piece of paper which had been placed in the same envelope. At the top corner of the page was a succinct message written in ancient, calligraphic handwriting. Chiaki's expression grew solemn after reading it. He lifted his head immediately and asked.
"Where's Inaba? Today, did Inaba..."
"She said she had to go to the dentist and left early. She was no longer here by the fifth lesson."
"Have you contacted her family?"
"Yes," Kurokawa replied, feeling embarrassed and at a loss. "Apparently, she has yet to return home. Her family said that her appointment with the dentist should've ended thus she should've been back by now."
"..."
Chiaki gripped the bundle of hair in his hand tightly.
--Your enemy has captured a schoolgirl...
So that was really the truth?
Chiaki gritted his teeth in anger, he turned towards Yamaguchi and Kurokawa in a resolute manner.
"Where's Miike Tetsuya?"
"He left before the sixth lesson. His classmates said that he probably skipped class and returned home."
"Where does he stay? I'm going to see him. If he has returned home, contact his parents--"
"Miike stays by himself."
Chiaki looked at him in surprise. "By himself? He's just a senior high school student right?"
"Yes. His family stays at Aso, however, due to some complicated reason he lives in a rented apartment in the city by himself. ...I heard that he was raised by a relative since young."
This was the first time Chiaki heard about this. It seemed like Tetsuya had been a difficult student ever since he started school, giving the teachers a lot of grief. Kurokawa had a complex expression on his face.
"I heard his father died a premature death. Then, his mother left her children and abandoned the family. Thus he was raised by the younger brother of his paternal grandfather. Their home is situated at Yakuinbaru, Aso city. I visited them once."
"Then what about his sister?" Chiaki probed deeper into the issue. "I understand he has a younger sister called Hokage. Which school does she attend? Is she staying at the old residence?"
Kurokawa frantically flipped through the student register. "Mmm... his younger sister goes to the private girls' school in the city. I was told that Miike lived alone so his sister probably commutes from the old residence to school."
"But Chiaki-sensei, what do you think this letter means? What is Asara? Is this letter a practical joke? Or..."
"It would probably be better to notify the police about this..."
Kurokawa and Yamaguchi were both unaware of the fact that Miike Tetsuya's younger sister - Miike Hokage - had disappeared one year ago.
Furthermore, this letter... No, this was no ordinary letter. It was most definitely a letter of threat.
Who is responsible for this?
The adversary who fought with Takaya perhaps. Who was this person capable of inflicting such serious injury to Kagetora? Was it Mikuriya's subordinate? Or...
"..." Chiaki's grip tightened on the piece of paper. He stared at the letter, his lips tensed. "Kurokawa-sensei. Can you let me handle this matter?"
"Chiaki-sensei?"
"I'm going to see Miike."
The person in question was certainly an onshou if he had fought with Takaya. And that same person had sent a letter of threat to Miike Tetsuya. What was going on? Could there be some reason behind this?
The one student in this school who the mixed spirits did not dare approach,
Miike Tetsuya...
With a terrifying expression on his face, Chiaki stared ahead.
Chiaki Shuuhei was being observed from a room in the school building as he hurried out of the entrance after briefly returning to the school. It was Mikuriya Juri and the vice-president, Ozaki - namely, Yokoteno Gorou.
"That kanshousha is on the move now is he."
"Seems like something happened in Kurokawa's class 2B, he confined himself in the lounge with Yamaguchi and the rest, apparently indecisive about something." Yokoteno Gorou discussed unenthusiastically. "I have sent the men down to find out what happened."
"I see." Mikuriya Juri replied, shifting her eyes away from the window. "Did you find out anything about the disturbance just now?"
Gorou replied with a curt 'yes'.
"Apparently, Ougi Takaya and Kiyomasa were involved in a clash of Nen Nami with a certain opponent at the Katou shrine."
The battle between Takaya and Rairyuu, had no doubt been sensed by Mikuriya and the others. Mikuriya had immediately ordered Gorou to find out what had happened, however by the time he left, the individuals involved were already gone.
"It seems like Ougi Takaya has been seriously injured. Kiyomasa left the scene with some suspicious comrades."
"Comrades? He has comrades?"
"Yes. According to the eyewitnesses, those comrades apparently descended from the sky."
"From the sky?" Mikuriya was astonished, her eyes were wide open. "What is the meaning of this? Can an ordinary person fly? Impossible. Well if that was the truth, they would be akin to the angels, wouldn't they?"
"Perhaps some sort of illusory technique was used, giving the onlookers a misconception. I was told that every single one of them appeared ordinary. ...I have already sent the men after Kiyomasa. I have instructed them to contact me as soon as they catch up with him."
Mikuriya pressed her hand against the corner of her mouth, pondering deeply. "Incomprehensible..."
"...What should I do?"
"This is fine. Mobilize all of our forces for the search. I will also send word to Dousetsu-dono. Clearly, the one who fought with Kiyomasa is not from the Ootomo. If there is another military power besides the Ootomo in Kumamoto, who can it be? We must look into this." Mikuriya's cold expression returned, she continued. "The jyako will reach the end of their incubation within the next few months. Starting from the students carrying the matured larvae, put them through a training befitting of the holy warriors of the Ootomo. The excavation of the 'Golden Snake Head' cannot continue at this slow pace either. Those capable of interfering have already received the wrath of God. ...Also, that kanshousha by the name of Chiaki Shuuhei, if he gets in the way..."
Mikuriya did not finish her sentence, instead she looked at Yokoteno Gorou. Gorou saluted her respectfully.
"Gorou shall do as you wish."
***
Tetsuya's apartment was a five-minute walk from the bus stop located within the residential vicinity. It was a small wooden apartment which appeared to be over 20 years old. The apartment was originally built for the students of Kumamoto university as it was situated just next to the institution. Tetsuya was probably the only senior high school student staying there by himself as the majority of his fellow occupants were Kumamoto university students. Avoiding the few scooters parked outside in random fashion, Tetsuya saw a human figure standing outside his room as he started up the staircase. He assumed he was one of the residents. He was wrong. His face instantly stiffened.
"You...!"
"You're coming back way too late, you punk. Were you busy loitering around?"
Chiaki Shuuhei was leaning against the door to his room as he spoke. Tetsuya was shocked, so much that his heart nearly stopped as he had been thinking about Chiaki and Takaya all this while.
"W...What do you think you're doing!" Tetsuya demanded in steady, rebellious tone. "What are you doing here?"
"Crashing your place to conduct an interview." Chiaki replied, he approached with his hands in his pockets. "I've something to show you."
"Something to show me...?"
"Yeah."
Chiaki took out an envelope from his side-pocket and gave it to Tetsuya. Tetsuya was stunned when he saw its contents.
"! ...This ...This...!"
"Your classmate, Inaba Akemi, has been captured."
"Inaba has been...!" Tetsuya was startled, he looked at Chiaki. "Why! Why was Inaba taken! Who took her!"
"I've no clue, that's why I'm here to ask you. Look at that piece of paper."
Tetsuya opened the folded sheet of paper as indicated by Chiaki and examined it.
"A letter of threat. Furthermore, it's addressed to you. It says on top that if you want Inaba to be returned safely, you are to bring the 'Asara'."
"Asara..."
"It's a letter of threat addressed to you. I suppose you know what that 'Asara' is?"
Tetsuya's expression had clearly changed. His languid eyes had widened, his lips were pursed together as he stared at the letter in a frozen manner.
"'In 3 days time, on the 22nd, at midnight. Bring the 'Asara' to the designated location. If you do not comply, I cannot guarantee the life of the hostage.' That bundle of hair is really Inaba's, isn't it? I was told that her family received a similar threat via a phone call. And Inaba hasn't returned home."
"How can this be..."
Tetsuya suddenly remembered the key-chain he found at the Katou shrine. Could it be, at that place, was Akemi...
"How..."
"Miike."
"What on earth is going on! This is weird! Why was Akemi... Who was the one...!" Tetsuya glared at Chiaki. "Who are you people really! These strange incidents started after you all came to this school! No, before that... after Mikuriya came... All those things that happened in school, and the incident at the Katou shrine!"
"...!"
"Could it be that..." Tetsuya had noticed the twitch in Chiaki's face. "Don't tell me... So it's true then? Was Ougi the one who got seriously injured and sent to hospital? You and Ougi are related right! What did Ougi do!"
"...I don't know." Chiaki strove to maintain a calm expression. "If he's lucky, he might make it through."
"--You guys..."
"Nevermind that, the focus is on you, Miike."
Chiaki suddenly gave Tetsuya a sharp look, instilling fear in him. This was the first time Tetsuya saw such a serious look in Chiaki's face.
"What is this 'Asara' that the letter refers to? You know it right. You're quite the mystery. Like why are you the only one whom the mixed spirits don't dare to approach?"
"Spirits...?"
"In that school, every single student has been attached with mixed spirits, however you alone have none. And the reason seems to be more than just the fact that there's no magnet in your body. It's almost as if they keep a distance from you out of fear. Who are you exactly? Why do the onshou see you as a threat!"
"I don't know what you're talking about...!"
"You sister went missing, didn't she? Why did she go missing! Does this have something to do with the spirits' fear of approaching you!"
"I... I don't..."
"What is the 'Asara'! You know this right! What is that letter referring to!"
"I don't know! I don't know where she is!"
"What?" Chiaki's eyes widened. "Do you know what the 'Asara' is..."
"I don't know where she is! No one will tell me, so I don't know!"
Chiaki watched Tetsuya intently, the latter was holding his head as he shouted.
"Miike..."
***
The on-site investigation of the Katou shrine had come to an end for the day. Beneath the sturdy tower of Kumamoto castle, illuminated by the spotlight and standing serenely as though nothing unusual had happened, was a matchless darkness. Just that one corner of the shrine was devoid of any lighting.
Just moments ago, there was still a horde of people gathered at the site in a rowdy fashion after word of the incident began to spread. However as the sky darkened, the size of the crowd had decreased like an ebbing tide. Usage of the road in front of the Katou shrine was now prohibited, vehicles were not allowed to pass through. There was a strip of tape indicating that entry into the shrine's compounds was forbidden.
Standing before that tape were two men in overcoats.
"How terrible..." The miserable state of the scene left Takahashi Jouun aghast. "Just who was it, going this far..."
The man standing beside him, wearing a cashmere coat, was silent. --He was Kaizaki Makoto.
Kaizaki gazed at the ruins of the shrine with a solemn expression for a while, then he lifted the tape and entered the shrine.
"Kaizaki-dono...!"
Kaizaki ignored Jouun, avoiding the large craters, ensuring his foothold as he proceeded forward. Jouun hesitated for a moment, then hastily ran after Kaizaki.
Kaizaki slowly knelt beside a fallen tree.
"Kaizaki-dono?"
Kaizaki quietly removed his leather gloves and stretched his hand towards the ground. He swept the gravel with his fingertips as though attempting to sense something. Jouun did not understand his actions, but this was the spot where Takaya had vomited blood after collapsing from Rairyuu's attack. As the surroundings were too dark, Jouun did not see the combined look of pain and anger on Kaizaki's lowered face.
"The remnants of the incantation energy is truly astonishing." Jouun thought aloud as he shuddered. "A great amount of battle air remains despite the length of time that has passed... It must have been a fight between very powerful individuals."
"..."
"If the onshou was not of the Ootomo, surely it must be the Oda? And the opponent would be..."
"It was the Ikkoushuu." Kaizaki replied, still squatting on the ground. "The onshou who fought here was the Ikkoushuu's Shimozura Rairyuu."
"You..." Jouun was extremely surprised. "Shimozura Rairyuu, do you mean the Shimozura Rairyuu, known as the trump card of Kennyo? I hear that he is the strongest among the Ikkoushuu... Do you know him?"
"Mmm." Kaizaki slowly stood up. "That's right. Seems like the Ikkoushuu's kanshousha is now on the move in Kumamoto."
"Then do you know who his opponent was, Kaizaki-dono? Was it the Oda?"
"His opponent was--..." He did not finish his sentence. Dyed in Takaya's blood, Kaizaki's fingers dug into his palm so fiercely that they nearly punctured his skin. Kaizaki's fists were quivering, the arteries at his temple grew slightly more pronounced.
"Damn the Ikkoushuu, what are they planning by coming to Kumamoto all of a sudden? You must contact Lady Julia, a thorough scout must be conducted."
"...The Ikkoushuu have an alliance with Akechi Mitsuhide, I was told that Akechi and Shimazu colluded not too long ago."
"What?" Jouun lifted his head in shock. "Really?"
"It has yet to be confirmed, but if it is true, it would be better to exercise more caution. Also, we cannot be sure that they are completely unaware of Kojou high school."
"You mean the hurried efforts to unearth the 'Golden Snake Head'?"
Kaizaki nodded, he turned around. There was a murky gleam in his eyes behind those glasses.
"I was told that the suppression the Ikkoushuu is the most important mission of the Uesugi. Naoe-dono would probably set out to attack Rairyuu."
"Does the Uesugi intend to fight against Rairyuu! But that man is known as the Ikkoushuu's killing machine!"
"Yes." Kaizaki replied, he glared at the emptiness in an icy manner. "I will personally crush Rairyuu."
"You--..."
"I want him to regret this. Shimozura Rairyuu... I will make him realize just how grave a sin he has committed."
Jouun gulped, seeing that murderous look on Kaizaki's face as he spoke. That extreme stoicism almost seemed to reflect how much he was repressing his murderous intentions within himself. A hair-raising sensation ran down Jouun's back.
The flames of darkness born from anger and hatred burned.
Kaizaki clenched his fist once again.
Original fiction © Kuwabara Mizuna.
Draft: Version 2 - final
Notes: 火巫女 Himiko; 邪馬台国 Yamataikoku; "hebimiko" corrected to "jyako"
PS: Do not distribute this without my permission
Chiaki stood dumbfounded at the wretched scene before him.
What on earth happened within the confined area of the Katou shrine? It seemed like a storm and earthquake had occurred at the same time.
The roof of the main shrine had been completely ripped off, a large section of the main structure had collapsed, trees uprooted, not to mention the huge craters in the ground everywhere.
This...
This was truly out of the ordinary. Chiaki knew this before reaching the scene as he had felt the impact of the incantations despite the distance. The more intense the clash, the more clearly it could be perceived. This was one such case. Chiaki was immediately aware that Takaya had fought an extraordinary opponent.
At that time, Chiaki was still at the school. He had been handling the chaos resulting from the unconscious students when he learned of the conflict between Takaya and the executive committee members. The huge explosion (at the Katou shrine) happened when he was setting up precautions against possible measures that Mikuriya might consequently adopt. Chiaki disregarded the lesson he was giving and rushed to the scene. However, he arrived too late.
Where's Kagetora...!
The ambulance and police vehicles zoomed over with their wailing sirens. Chiaki forced his way through the crowd of onlookers and proceeded to the actual site. The wounded tourists who had been caught in the crossfire were sitting there in shock. But Takaya was nowhere to be seen.
"Kagetora...! Where are you, Kagetora!"
"Hey! You're not allowed in here!"
Chiaki ignored the policeman's warning, entering the shrine area regardless. There was a group of people gathered ahead. It seemed like they were about to shift the wounded onto stretchers and transport them out. --The person lying on the stretcher was wearing a high school uniform.
Kagetora...!
"Move aside! Hey!"
"Stay back! You'll only get in the way of the rescue operation!"
Chiaki was firmly pushed back by the police officers. Unwilling to concede, he shouted back. "You are the ones in the way! I'm his relative!"
While Chiaki argued and wrangled with the police officers, Takaya was carried into the ambulance van on a stretcher. An unfamiliar couple of youngsters followed him into the ambulance as though they were escorting him.
"Kagetora!"
The ambulance siren drowned out Chiaki's yell as it hastened down the road past him.
"Over there! They were the ones who descended from the heavens, they flew down from the sky!"
What...!
Hearing the female voice behind him, Chiaki turned back in surprise. She was one of the tourists who had witnessed the entire incident. She was seated under a tree receiving a dressing for a wound, yet she was shouting out in a shrill voice due to excitement.
"We saw it, they really did come from the sky! It's true! From the sky... People who flew down from the sky!"
From the sky?
Chiaki ran towards her. "What did you say? Someone came from the sky, what happened?"
"I saw it, everyone did. They... from the castle above, they flew down from the sky!"
Chiaki followed the direction in which the woman was pointing and looked across. She was referring to the group of young people who had encircled Takaya just now. They looked like ordinary, young men and women. Their eyes met Chiaki's.
Flew down from the sky...?
Although Chiaki was skeptical, he heard similar comments from the enthusiastic chatter of the other tourists. The youngsters exchanged a few words among themselves, then proceeded in the opposite direction of the road as if to avoid the crowd. Chiaki noticed a senior high school student in a high-collar uniform mingled among them. He recognized that face - Nezu Kouichi.
"You...!"
He wanted to pursue him but was obstructed by the throng of police officers who swarmed in and blocked his way, he could not move. As Chiaki tried his best to move forward, the group of youngsters blended into the crowd, making it no longer possible to track them.
"Damn... it!"
He was ultimately helpless in the situation. Furthermore, Chiaki was now even more concerned about Takaya's injury. By the look of things, he had sustained a considerably severe injury. Chiaki gnawed on his tongue and hastily left the Katou shrine.
Another Kojou high school student who had arrived at the scene of the commotion brushed past Chiaki. He was Miike Tetsuya. Chiaki was supposed to handle the fifth lesson, however due to the bedlam in the afternoon, the students could not calm down and the class started 20 minutes late, but... Apparently, there was yet another disruption. Chiaki-sensei had unexpectedly cut his lesson short. After instructing the students to carry out their own self-study, he darted out of the classroom with an unusual look on his face.
He looked strange...
Speaking of which, he had not seen any sign of Ougi Takaya. Furthermore, there was that booming which came from an unknown, distant location. That was when Chiaki-sensei had...
Tetsuya had left his noisy classmates and walked out of the classroom by himself. His trailing of Chiaki ultimately led him to this scene at the Katou shrine.
What on earth...
What the hell happened?
Tetsuya gazed at the miserable remains of the shrine, he could not help but doubt his own eyes. This looked exactly like the aftermath of the typhoon which had wrecked the place several years ago. The trees had been flattened to the ground. There were large pit holes in the ground as if the soil and earth had been dug out. The displaced soil and earth was now piled in mountainous heaps, transforming the surface into a peculiar cluster of mounds. Since there was damage to the subterranean layer of the ground, the rock walls of the inner moat had crumbled.
Just what on earth happened here...
It was outlandish. What was the meaning of this? The incident which occurred just moments ago, the uproar in the broadcasting room, the battered remains of the asphalt road that he saw from the sports field beside the school gate, the students who had suddenly collapsed--
Something isn't right.
His body trembled for no apparent reason.
What the...
Sensing that something bizarre had happened in his surroundings, Tetsuya strangely began to feel terrified. The freakish devastation before him was like an omen, he inadvertently shrank back.
His retreating feet unexpectedly
stepped on something round.
Startled, Tetsuya lifted his leg, only to find a glittering key chain on the ground where his feet was. It had the five letters 'SEEVA' imprinted on it.
"? ...This..."
It looked familiar to him. Wasn't this key chain attached to Inaba Akemi's schoolbag? Akemi would still use such accessories despite the fact that they were banned in school. She would only take it out when the inspection team was not looking, usually hiding it between the zipper. Tetsuya picked it up and frowned.
But why was she here...?
"You're a student of Kojou High right?"
That sudden question startled Tetsuya, he lifted his head. The chief priest of the shrine was standing beside him. His uniform probably led the priest to this deduction.
"Just now, a boy appearing to be a student from your school was taken away due to serious wounds. I don't know if your school has been informed about it. He looked really hurt, he threw up a lot of blood, his internal organs might have been injured."
"Student from our school?" Tetsuya stared at him. "Don't tell me..."
A sense of loathing arose in Tetsuya's head. Takaya was the very first thing that came to his mind. Despite the lack of any clear evidence, everything seemed to indicate that Takaya was linked to this wreck.
"Could it be Ougi..."
"Eh--...?"
"Don't tell me it was Ougi!"
Of course, the other had no clue. But Tetsuya interpreted it as such, fully convinced of his judgment. Tetsuya's intuition had never failed him before.
Could it be that Ougi has something to do with this incident as well...
What on earth happened?
What on earth was going on?
***
After asking the rescue team personnel in a somewhat threatening manner about the hospital to which Takaya had been sent, Chiaki immediately bolted to the place.
A couple of unknown youngsters appeared to be waiting for Chiaki as he ran down the corridor, panting. One of them was wearing a yellow-green casual outfit, the other was a young woman dressed in a deep-blue jacket and a pair of cherry-colored pants. --Yes, they were the ones who had accompanied Takaya in the ambulance.
At the very end of the hallway, the red sign 'In Operation' was alight above the entrance of the emergency room.
"Kagetora..."
"... He's in critical condition." Noticing the visitor, the slightly older youth informed Chiaki in this way. Chiaki was startled and looked at the young man. The latter continued in a doctor-like manner.
"Right now they're carrying out an emergency surgery, however due to difficulties in breathing, his condition is extremely precarious. I hope he can pull through this..."
"...!"
Takaya's injury was far more severe than he had expected. The intensity of that battle was clear from just one look at the damage done to the surrounding area. Takaya had sustained a serious injury, so serious that it had rendered him unconscious.
Chiaki clenched his lower lip, and gazed at the other two.
"Who are you people?"
"..."
"Do you know who did this to him?"
"We only saved him."
"Saved him?"
"Yes, right before his opponent had the chance to deal the final blow. Owing to our intervention, his opponent saw that he was no match for us and fled."
"Who are you people?"
They were not hyoui rei. Neither were they kanshousha. However the aura around their body was clearly different from ordinary people. If they were capable of saving Takaya in that intense fight, the incantations they were adept in must definitely be--
It can't be.
Chiaki gasped.
Descended from the sky? Don't tell me the ones who flew down from the sky are...!
"Was it you people?"
"..."
"Are you the ones who came from the sky, the people whom the onlookers were talking about! What's going on here! So were the youngsters with Nezu your comrades!"
"You must be Ougi Takaya's friend."
Chiaki was taken aback from her sudden interruption. The one who spoke was the long-haired female standing to the side.
She knows of the name Takaya?
"If that's the case, you better leave soon. That person, who seems to be your enemy, has captured a girl from the same school as Ougi Takaya."
"Captured a schoolgirl...!" Chiaki bellowed, he savagely grabbed the lapels of the woman's clothes. "Did you see this! Who was it... Who did!"
"If he sends a demand for ransom, you should be able to identify him then. Anyway, please return quickly. Shouldn't that girl's safety be your top priority right now?"
"That's right. Even if you remain in hospital, the most you can do is wait for the operation to be over."
Chiaki stared at the youth nervously. These youngsters were fairly steadfast.
"Only the doctor can handle the rest. We shall take responsibility for his well-being. Please go back quickly."
"...Who are you people?" Chiaki lowered his voice and asked. "Who on earth are you?"
Their mannerisms and attire were no different from the average person. However the look in their eyes was overly calm, he felt that it was lacking in human warmth. Chiaki was irritated by their evasiveness, which eventually compelled him to raise his voice in a rude manner.
"I said who are you people!"
The silent young man squinted a little, then slowly, the reply came. "--We are the people of Himiko's kingdom."
"...!"
"We are the descendants of those who lived during the era of the honorable Himiko's kingdom, the ones who revere the people of the Fire Sect. Will this answer do?"
Chiaki was at a loss for words. "...What did you say..."
The moment he finished with his reply, Chiaki cast the woman aside. This time, he ruthlessly grabbed hold of the man's shirt.
"What are you getting at! What Himiko! What the hell do you mean, are you saying that you're the descendants of the Yamataikoku!"
"You asked who we were and I've answered you as according to the facts." The youth did not show any sign of vacillation. "For now, this is the only answer I can give that would be comprehensible to you. However, one thing is certain. And that is we are not his enemy."
"...Is this some kind of joke, telling me to trust you?"
"Then can we request for your trust?" The youth asked without any hesitation. "Nevertheless, you should return as soon as possible, otherwise, another life will be sacrificed. We will bear the responsibility of looking after him. So please go, quickly."
Chiaki knew that he could not acquire any further answers. Scowling, he crudely released the young man. ...If a schoolgirl had really been kidnapped, then they were right, he had to go.
Guess I've no choice...
Chiaki hurried back, down the corridor.
You better hang in there, Kagetora!
The young man and woman stood under the red light, watching Chiaki as he left.
***
"Chiaki-sensei!"
Chiaki had returned to the school. A desperate-looking Yamaguchi-sensei was waiting for him. Class had ended and Yamaguchi, together with 2B's Kurokawa-sensei, came to the teacher's lounge in the mathematics department.
"What's the matter? Yamaguchi-sensei."
"We've a problem, I just received this. Someone sent this to the school...!"
Yamaguchi was holding a white envelope. The letter was addressed to the teacher of class 2B. It was stuffed with a heavy object. Opening the package, he found a bundle of black hair and the thick student manual of Kojou high school. The student card stuck inside had the photo of a childish-looking schoolgirl.
Inaba Akemi.
She was Takaya's classmate. That hair must be hers. The curly and lustrous black hair was bound together with a paper rope into a bundle. Chiaki hastily took out the piece of paper which had been placed in the same envelope. At the top corner of the page was a succinct message written in ancient, calligraphic handwriting. Chiaki's expression grew solemn after reading it. He lifted his head immediately and asked.
"Where's Inaba? Today, did Inaba..."
"She said she had to go to the dentist and left early. She was no longer here by the fifth lesson."
"Have you contacted her family?"
"Yes," Kurokawa replied, feeling embarrassed and at a loss. "Apparently, she has yet to return home. Her family said that her appointment with the dentist should've ended thus she should've been back by now."
"..."
Chiaki gripped the bundle of hair in his hand tightly.
--Your enemy has captured a schoolgirl...
So that was really the truth?
Chiaki gritted his teeth in anger, he turned towards Yamaguchi and Kurokawa in a resolute manner.
"Where's Miike Tetsuya?"
"He left before the sixth lesson. His classmates said that he probably skipped class and returned home."
"Where does he stay? I'm going to see him. If he has returned home, contact his parents--"
"Miike stays by himself."
Chiaki looked at him in surprise. "By himself? He's just a senior high school student right?"
"Yes. His family stays at Aso, however, due to some complicated reason he lives in a rented apartment in the city by himself. ...I heard that he was raised by a relative since young."
This was the first time Chiaki heard about this. It seemed like Tetsuya had been a difficult student ever since he started school, giving the teachers a lot of grief. Kurokawa had a complex expression on his face.
"I heard his father died a premature death. Then, his mother left her children and abandoned the family. Thus he was raised by the younger brother of his paternal grandfather. Their home is situated at Yakuinbaru, Aso city. I visited them once."
"Then what about his sister?" Chiaki probed deeper into the issue. "I understand he has a younger sister called Hokage. Which school does she attend? Is she staying at the old residence?"
Kurokawa frantically flipped through the student register. "Mmm... his younger sister goes to the private girls' school in the city. I was told that Miike lived alone so his sister probably commutes from the old residence to school."
"But Chiaki-sensei, what do you think this letter means? What is Asara? Is this letter a practical joke? Or..."
"It would probably be better to notify the police about this..."
Kurokawa and Yamaguchi were both unaware of the fact that Miike Tetsuya's younger sister - Miike Hokage - had disappeared one year ago.
Furthermore, this letter... No, this was no ordinary letter. It was most definitely a letter of threat.
Who is responsible for this?
The adversary who fought with Takaya perhaps. Who was this person capable of inflicting such serious injury to Kagetora? Was it Mikuriya's subordinate? Or...
"..." Chiaki's grip tightened on the piece of paper. He stared at the letter, his lips tensed. "Kurokawa-sensei. Can you let me handle this matter?"
"Chiaki-sensei?"
"I'm going to see Miike."
The person in question was certainly an onshou if he had fought with Takaya. And that same person had sent a letter of threat to Miike Tetsuya. What was going on? Could there be some reason behind this?
The one student in this school who the mixed spirits did not dare approach,
Miike Tetsuya...
With a terrifying expression on his face, Chiaki stared ahead.
Chiaki Shuuhei was being observed from a room in the school building as he hurried out of the entrance after briefly returning to the school. It was Mikuriya Juri and the vice-president, Ozaki - namely, Yokoteno Gorou.
"That kanshousha is on the move now is he."
"Seems like something happened in Kurokawa's class 2B, he confined himself in the lounge with Yamaguchi and the rest, apparently indecisive about something." Yokoteno Gorou discussed unenthusiastically. "I have sent the men down to find out what happened."
"I see." Mikuriya Juri replied, shifting her eyes away from the window. "Did you find out anything about the disturbance just now?"
Gorou replied with a curt 'yes'.
"Apparently, Ougi Takaya and Kiyomasa were involved in a clash of Nen Nami with a certain opponent at the Katou shrine."
The battle between Takaya and Rairyuu, had no doubt been sensed by Mikuriya and the others. Mikuriya had immediately ordered Gorou to find out what had happened, however by the time he left, the individuals involved were already gone.
"It seems like Ougi Takaya has been seriously injured. Kiyomasa left the scene with some suspicious comrades."
"Comrades? He has comrades?"
"Yes. According to the eyewitnesses, those comrades apparently descended from the sky."
"From the sky?" Mikuriya was astonished, her eyes were wide open. "What is the meaning of this? Can an ordinary person fly? Impossible. Well if that was the truth, they would be akin to the angels, wouldn't they?"
"Perhaps some sort of illusory technique was used, giving the onlookers a misconception. I was told that every single one of them appeared ordinary. ...I have already sent the men after Kiyomasa. I have instructed them to contact me as soon as they catch up with him."
Mikuriya pressed her hand against the corner of her mouth, pondering deeply. "Incomprehensible..."
"...What should I do?"
"This is fine. Mobilize all of our forces for the search. I will also send word to Dousetsu-dono. Clearly, the one who fought with Kiyomasa is not from the Ootomo. If there is another military power besides the Ootomo in Kumamoto, who can it be? We must look into this." Mikuriya's cold expression returned, she continued. "The jyako will reach the end of their incubation within the next few months. Starting from the students carrying the matured larvae, put them through a training befitting of the holy warriors of the Ootomo. The excavation of the 'Golden Snake Head' cannot continue at this slow pace either. Those capable of interfering have already received the wrath of God. ...Also, that kanshousha by the name of Chiaki Shuuhei, if he gets in the way..."
Mikuriya did not finish her sentence, instead she looked at Yokoteno Gorou. Gorou saluted her respectfully.
"Gorou shall do as you wish."
***
Tetsuya's apartment was a five-minute walk from the bus stop located within the residential vicinity. It was a small wooden apartment which appeared to be over 20 years old. The apartment was originally built for the students of Kumamoto university as it was situated just next to the institution. Tetsuya was probably the only senior high school student staying there by himself as the majority of his fellow occupants were Kumamoto university students. Avoiding the few scooters parked outside in random fashion, Tetsuya saw a human figure standing outside his room as he started up the staircase. He assumed he was one of the residents. He was wrong. His face instantly stiffened.
"You...!"
"You're coming back way too late, you punk. Were you busy loitering around?"
Chiaki Shuuhei was leaning against the door to his room as he spoke. Tetsuya was shocked, so much that his heart nearly stopped as he had been thinking about Chiaki and Takaya all this while.
"W...What do you think you're doing!" Tetsuya demanded in steady, rebellious tone. "What are you doing here?"
"Crashing your place to conduct an interview." Chiaki replied, he approached with his hands in his pockets. "I've something to show you."
"Something to show me...?"
"Yeah."
Chiaki took out an envelope from his side-pocket and gave it to Tetsuya. Tetsuya was stunned when he saw its contents.
"! ...This ...This...!"
"Your classmate, Inaba Akemi, has been captured."
"Inaba has been...!" Tetsuya was startled, he looked at Chiaki. "Why! Why was Inaba taken! Who took her!"
"I've no clue, that's why I'm here to ask you. Look at that piece of paper."
Tetsuya opened the folded sheet of paper as indicated by Chiaki and examined it.
"A letter of threat. Furthermore, it's addressed to you. It says on top that if you want Inaba to be returned safely, you are to bring the 'Asara'."
"Asara..."
"It's a letter of threat addressed to you. I suppose you know what that 'Asara' is?"
Tetsuya's expression had clearly changed. His languid eyes had widened, his lips were pursed together as he stared at the letter in a frozen manner.
"'In 3 days time, on the 22nd, at midnight. Bring the 'Asara' to the designated location. If you do not comply, I cannot guarantee the life of the hostage.' That bundle of hair is really Inaba's, isn't it? I was told that her family received a similar threat via a phone call. And Inaba hasn't returned home."
"How can this be..."
Tetsuya suddenly remembered the key-chain he found at the Katou shrine. Could it be, at that place, was Akemi...
"How..."
"Miike."
"What on earth is going on! This is weird! Why was Akemi... Who was the one...!" Tetsuya glared at Chiaki. "Who are you people really! These strange incidents started after you all came to this school! No, before that... after Mikuriya came... All those things that happened in school, and the incident at the Katou shrine!"
"...!"
"Could it be that..." Tetsuya had noticed the twitch in Chiaki's face. "Don't tell me... So it's true then? Was Ougi the one who got seriously injured and sent to hospital? You and Ougi are related right! What did Ougi do!"
"...I don't know." Chiaki strove to maintain a calm expression. "If he's lucky, he might make it through."
"--You guys..."
"Nevermind that, the focus is on you, Miike."
Chiaki suddenly gave Tetsuya a sharp look, instilling fear in him. This was the first time Tetsuya saw such a serious look in Chiaki's face.
"What is this 'Asara' that the letter refers to? You know it right. You're quite the mystery. Like why are you the only one whom the mixed spirits don't dare to approach?"
"Spirits...?"
"In that school, every single student has been attached with mixed spirits, however you alone have none. And the reason seems to be more than just the fact that there's no magnet in your body. It's almost as if they keep a distance from you out of fear. Who are you exactly? Why do the onshou see you as a threat!"
"I don't know what you're talking about...!"
"You sister went missing, didn't she? Why did she go missing! Does this have something to do with the spirits' fear of approaching you!"
"I... I don't..."
"What is the 'Asara'! You know this right! What is that letter referring to!"
"I don't know! I don't know where she is!"
"What?" Chiaki's eyes widened. "Do you know what the 'Asara' is..."
"I don't know where she is! No one will tell me, so I don't know!"
Chiaki watched Tetsuya intently, the latter was holding his head as he shouted.
"Miike..."
***
The on-site investigation of the Katou shrine had come to an end for the day. Beneath the sturdy tower of Kumamoto castle, illuminated by the spotlight and standing serenely as though nothing unusual had happened, was a matchless darkness. Just that one corner of the shrine was devoid of any lighting.
Just moments ago, there was still a horde of people gathered at the site in a rowdy fashion after word of the incident began to spread. However as the sky darkened, the size of the crowd had decreased like an ebbing tide. Usage of the road in front of the Katou shrine was now prohibited, vehicles were not allowed to pass through. There was a strip of tape indicating that entry into the shrine's compounds was forbidden.
Standing before that tape were two men in overcoats.
"How terrible..." The miserable state of the scene left Takahashi Jouun aghast. "Just who was it, going this far..."
The man standing beside him, wearing a cashmere coat, was silent. --He was Kaizaki Makoto.
Kaizaki gazed at the ruins of the shrine with a solemn expression for a while, then he lifted the tape and entered the shrine.
"Kaizaki-dono...!"
Kaizaki ignored Jouun, avoiding the large craters, ensuring his foothold as he proceeded forward. Jouun hesitated for a moment, then hastily ran after Kaizaki.
Kaizaki slowly knelt beside a fallen tree.
"Kaizaki-dono?"
Kaizaki quietly removed his leather gloves and stretched his hand towards the ground. He swept the gravel with his fingertips as though attempting to sense something. Jouun did not understand his actions, but this was the spot where Takaya had vomited blood after collapsing from Rairyuu's attack. As the surroundings were too dark, Jouun did not see the combined look of pain and anger on Kaizaki's lowered face.
"The remnants of the incantation energy is truly astonishing." Jouun thought aloud as he shuddered. "A great amount of battle air remains despite the length of time that has passed... It must have been a fight between very powerful individuals."
"..."
"If the onshou was not of the Ootomo, surely it must be the Oda? And the opponent would be..."
"It was the Ikkoushuu." Kaizaki replied, still squatting on the ground. "The onshou who fought here was the Ikkoushuu's Shimozura Rairyuu."
"You..." Jouun was extremely surprised. "Shimozura Rairyuu, do you mean the Shimozura Rairyuu, known as the trump card of Kennyo? I hear that he is the strongest among the Ikkoushuu... Do you know him?"
"Mmm." Kaizaki slowly stood up. "That's right. Seems like the Ikkoushuu's kanshousha is now on the move in Kumamoto."
"Then do you know who his opponent was, Kaizaki-dono? Was it the Oda?"
"His opponent was--..." He did not finish his sentence. Dyed in Takaya's blood, Kaizaki's fingers dug into his palm so fiercely that they nearly punctured his skin. Kaizaki's fists were quivering, the arteries at his temple grew slightly more pronounced.
"Damn the Ikkoushuu, what are they planning by coming to Kumamoto all of a sudden? You must contact Lady Julia, a thorough scout must be conducted."
"...The Ikkoushuu have an alliance with Akechi Mitsuhide, I was told that Akechi and Shimazu colluded not too long ago."
"What?" Jouun lifted his head in shock. "Really?"
"It has yet to be confirmed, but if it is true, it would be better to exercise more caution. Also, we cannot be sure that they are completely unaware of Kojou high school."
"You mean the hurried efforts to unearth the 'Golden Snake Head'?"
Kaizaki nodded, he turned around. There was a murky gleam in his eyes behind those glasses.
"I was told that the suppression the Ikkoushuu is the most important mission of the Uesugi. Naoe-dono would probably set out to attack Rairyuu."
"Does the Uesugi intend to fight against Rairyuu! But that man is known as the Ikkoushuu's killing machine!"
"Yes." Kaizaki replied, he glared at the emptiness in an icy manner. "I will personally crush Rairyuu."
"You--..."
"I want him to regret this. Shimozura Rairyuu... I will make him realize just how grave a sin he has committed."
Jouun gulped, seeing that murderous look on Kaizaki's face as he spoke. That extreme stoicism almost seemed to reflect how much he was repressing his murderous intentions within himself. A hair-raising sensation ran down Jouun's back.
The flames of darkness born from anger and hatred burned.
Kaizaki clenched his fist once again.
Original fiction © Kuwabara Mizuna.
