#14: Night of Confrontation 3

Separate by the wooden bar, these two met at last.

"You... seems fine" say Seigen a bit relaxed.

Even thought she's covered by a dirt and imprisoned, Yukari energetically reply to Seigen, "Yep. I'm always fine you know" reply Yukari with cheerful smile.

But her energetic demeanor then changed,

"Although... I don't know about Ren-chan" say Yukari with downward expression while pinching her left thumb.

Seigen raised his eyebrow, he looks at the inside of the prison, no figure of a 12-13 years old boy in it.

What's happening? He told me to kill them, but there's only her!

What is that bastard planning?

Is he testing me? Does he want me to kill her first, to prove my determination?

Or he wants me to kill her first, then use her corpse to rile Ren, instigate him to kill me?

Seigen shakes his head

Doesn't matter...

Yukari tilt her head, looking worried about Seigen, "Seigen-san...?"

"It's nothing"

"I- Is that so?" Yukari smile wryly

Seigen open his mouth, "The reason I'm here is... to execute you"

Yukari's eyes wide open, she wants to speak, but something stuck on her throat.

Seigen squinted his eyes, "Ritsu"

"Eh?" Yukari confused.

"My family... The Amawaka house for generations had the duty to protect Tsuchimikado Island, and the group that responsible to eliminate any Human threat to it was Us, Ritsu"

Yukari hearing this, covered her mouth with her hand.

Seigen still continue, "Both of you had gone to deep, and manage to dig the secret of the island"

She nods, and then show the usual kind smile she's always wearing, "I get it...".

"Seigen-san" Yukari steps forward, and look at Seigen in the eyes, "If I must die by your hand then I accept it"

"But. Can I have a request?"

Seigen avert his gaze from Yukari, but then he clicked his tongue and gaze at Yukari eyes that flash with determination, "What is it?"

"Please..." Yukari take a step back, she then kneels in front of Seigen, "Save my little brother"

Seigen widen his eyes, looking at the kneeling, "Please... Seigen-san, please... do not execute my brother", her kneeling figure overlapping with Zenkichi kneeling figure.

[Please have mercy to this child!!]

Seigen was speechless looking at her, before he could say anything, Yukari still continue, "I know I'm asking a lot, but please... save him. If I must die at your hand, or imprisoned for eternity, if you can save my brother I accept all of it"

The word of Zenkichi enters his mind again.

[Please... if you still had mercy, please... let him go, I apologize if he had hurt you and your teammates, and if you still want blood to flow... just take mine instead]

Seigen squatted down and said to Yukari "Get up", Yukari lifts her head seeing Seigen's troubled expression, "I don't want to see you like this".

Looking at him, Yukari slowly get up. Seigen with his tired eyes then say to Yukari, "I've... killed your brother"

"Eh?!" Yukari widen her eyes, her whole body trembling, the announcement from Seigen made her speechless, "No... No!!", she touches her face, and from the corner of her eyes tears gradually build up and flow like the dam that can't hold back the water.

Seigen sigh inwardly, "It's not Ren" say Seigen to calm and reassure her.

"Eh? Wha- huh?" Yukari glare at Seigen, she was dazed by Seigen's previous word.

"The one that I kill isn't him, but... your older brother"

Yukari stood up there watching Seigen in silence.

Her heart and feelings in a jumble right now. On one side, she's relieved that Seigen didn't kill Ren, but on the other hand, he says he killed Satoshi.

Relieved, hate, pity, empathy, confusion, and other feelings mixed in.

Looking at Yukari, Seigen clenched his hand and decide to tell Yukari the truth.

Originally, he wants Ren to tell her the truth and scram from The Island, but because Ren wasn't here and he also the one who put them in this situation, he decides to break the LAW.

"Jugon Monoimi"

Yukari snap out, and take a note of Seigen's expression, "Jugon Monoimi?" Repeat her.

Seigen nod, "Your brother was cursed by Jugon Monoimi", Seigen hasn't stopped yet, "It's a cursed that plague Tsuchimikado Island for so many years. It's a vicious curse, that turned people into a being that can bring death and destruction around them"

Seigen touched his temple, "At first, only headache appear, and gradually the infected start losing their mind and start to attacking anyone in front of them"

"If an experienced exorcist infected and then succumb to the curse, the island would be in danger"

"In the past record, one exorcist infected and succumb to the curse, and you know what happen?"

Yukari who hears Seigen painful tone when he explains it, shake her head slowly.

"That exorcist slaughter everyone. Family, friends, even his own comrades"

Yukari shocked hearing the news, Seigen didn't stop and speak further, "The village he live, all the resident were massacred, 200 peoples becomes victims"

"Is there's no cure?" Ask Yukari worriedly.

Seigen shake his head, "There's one..." Seigen stops, then continue, "Kill them before they succumb to the curse"

Looking at Yukari, Seigen grit his teeth, continuing "Didn't you understand?! You want me... a man that killed your older brother to save your younger brother?!"

Seigen then show his hand that clad in enchanted weapon to Yukari, with self-hating tone he said, "Look at these claws! Terrible, isn't it? With these claws, I killed many innocent persons! Do you still want me... the one with blood on his hand, the one who killed your brother with the very same claws to save him?!"

Silence fills the room.

Seigen gaze at Yukari who face is obscured by shadow.

"... I see", Seigen's eyebrow twitched.

Her face is no longer obscured, she shows the kind smile like before to Seigen, "You know Seigen-san, it's true that the reason I come here is to unveil the reason behind my brother's death"

"But, there's another reason... do you know what it is?"

"But, there's another reason... do you know what it is?"

Seigen's heart beat faster, changing the rhythm of his breath, and made his body a bit cold, "Is it vengeance?"

Yukari shake her head, "Wrong. I want to know why the person who killed my brother had to carry such a heavy burden?"

"But now I know the reason, Seigen-san... for all this time you've been protecting important things"

Seigen bewildered, "Me? Protecting important things?"

"Umm!" Yukari nod. "That day, if you hadn't come... I would've died, right? If Onii-chan stays any longer... he would turn to be what you said before and start killing the resident, right?"

"I bet... Onii-chan didn't want that to happen and already accept his fate"

"So Seigen-san..." Yukari bow deeply to Seigen, "Thank you... for protecting me, and thank you... for helping my brother".

The bewildered Seigen, lowered his gaze, the previous conversation with Ren ringing in his mind.

[Thank you for helping my brother, and I'm sorry... I'm sorry for what I did to you, and I'm sorry for hurting your comrades before]

"You two... are truly alike (sibling)"

Yukari who hears Seigen's word stand up confused, "What do you mean?"

"Your brothers... Ren and Satoshi also say the same thing"

"Especially Ren, just like you, he thanks me because I killed his brother. And Satoshi, even he didn't say Thank you, he... glad that I killed him"

"Yukari... your family is strange... all of them. Including you"

"Ehhhhh?! W- what are you saying?! W- what so strange about my family?! Wait! Do you think I'm strange?! Eh? Ehhh?" Fumbled Yukari, denying Seigen's remark about her and her family.

Seigen let out a smirk, Yukari didn't miss seeing Seigen's smile, walks toward him.

Her hands pass through the wooden bar and reaching Seigen, and touches Seigen's cheeks.

Seigen flinched, eyes wide open. He can feel the warm feeling permeate from her hands.

"Seigen-san... you ask me if I want someone like Seigen-san to save my brother Ren. Then, I say it"

"If it Seigen-san who is the kindest and the most excellent exorcist who had carrying the feelings of so many peoples... then YES"

"I'm more than happy to leave Ren to you, but... I also sad, because I burdened Seigen-san again..."

The moonlight creeping in from the window behind, illuminating Yukari's figure.

Seigen, who watches her face, his breath has been taken away, his gaze already stolen by her.

The Yukari who's smiling in front of him while touching his cheeks is like a divine sending.

Seigen move his hand, wanting to touch her hand, but before he can do it, she let it go.

Just a bit, and his hand would touch her.

Seigen then use his hand to cover his eyes, "Idiot...", whisper him.

"Seigen-san?"

"You're good with word. I'm going to vomit if that's an excuse"

Yukari who had a bit understanding of Seigen say, "Well... If that makes Seigen-san feel calmer, then I'll keep doing it"

Yukari didn't avert her eyes, still looking at Seigen, "In any case... I already said what I wanted", she pinched her left thumb, "I'm afraid to die, my chest hurt thinking about my family and friends that soon I would leave behind"

"But you know?! I'm happy to know and talked to Seigen-san"

Then, her tone changed, become heavier. With determination and courage, she presented herself to Seigen.

Seigen let go of his hand, he saw the delicate figure of her filled with determination.

She had regret, of course. But this same regret was used for boosting her determination.

"I'm ready"

Seigen close his eyes, "Idiot..." this time he says it for Yukari to hear, "You are a big Idiot!!!"

"Ehhh?" Yukari bewildered, what is wrong with Seigen now? Think her.

"I always thought you force yourself to be one. But really... You are just a big Idiot"

Yukari then try to refute Seigen, "W-what this about being an Idiot?!! And WHY are you angry all of a sudden?!"

Veins appear on his forehead, "Don't joke with me!! I'm protecting people by killing others?! You want to die so that I will save your brother?! There is nothing important that will be saved if you die!! You damn Idiot!!" Say Seigen who tone become harsher.

"B- but isn't that the duty of Amawaka house?"

Seigen grit his teeth, "That's not important!!!" and swing his hand in rage, destroying the wooden bar that imprisoned Yukari.

"This has nothing to do with The Amawaka house. From now on... I will follow my own path!", say Seigen, who enchanted weapon is disappeared.

He looks at Yukari, both of their eyes met. One is obsidian like a night sky, one is sapphire like a tranquil ocean.

"You Say that my duty is to protect what is important to me, right?!"

"Y- yes..." say Yukari.

"That's why I will protect you, and let's save your brother", say Seigen, reaching his hand for Yukari to take.

"Yukari!"

.

.

.

On a room filled with darkness, Ren sit there tied up and gagged.

Suddenly, a figure come approaching him.

"Ren Sasaki... Let's talk"