Reminescence

The family members had gathered in the main hall, tension filling the air as they awaited news on Ikki's whereabouts. The elders stood in a tight circle, their faces twisted with anger and frustration.

As the bodyguards returned with no results, the elders' fury only intensified. "How could you let this happen?!" one of them bellowed, his voice echoing throughout the hall. "He's made fools of us all!"

Another elder chimed in, "He cannot be allowed to roam free! He's a disgrace to our family and must be brought back!"

Akeno-sama, the elder of the family, remained calm and composed amidst the chaos. His face betrayed no emotion as he listened to the heated arguments around him. Finally, he raised a hand, silencing the room.

"We must think rationally," Akeno-sama stated, his voice steady and firm. "Ikki has chosen his path, and we must accept that. However, we must also take steps to ensure that his actions do not bring disaster upon our family."

The room was quiet, everyone's eyes fixed on Akeno-sama as he continued. "We must strengthen our ties with our allies and ensure that Ikki's departure does not weaken our position. In the meantime, we will continue to search for him discreetly. He must be made to understand the consequences of his actions."

Hiroshi, a trusted advisor to Akeno-sama, stood near the back of the room. He remained silent throughout the conversation, his expression unreadable. When no one was looking, the corners of his lips rose ever so slightly, forming the hint of a dark grin.

As the family members dispersed to carry out Akeno-sama's instructions, Hiroshi's grin grew more pronounced. He knew that Ikki's departure would create waves within the family, one that he could potentially exploit to his advantage.

With the family in disarray and the elders' attention focused on Ikki, He realized that he could subtly manipulate events to consolidate his own power. He was playing a dangerous game, but he was confident in his ability to outwit his opponents.

.......

The elders had gathered in a private chamber, their faces twisted with anger and frustration. Tanaka, the elder in charge of finances, stood in front of the bodyguards who had failed to capture Ikki. His eyes were cold and unyielding as he stared them down. The bodyguards were on their knees in a dogeza, a submissive posture, showing their deep regret and apologies for failing their duties.

"You have failed us," Tanaka growled, his voice low and menacing. "Not only have you let Ikki escape, but you've also allowed him fool you and expose us to the outside world."

The bodyguards trembled in fear, fully aware of the gravity of their situation. They knew that their lives were on the line, and they desperately sought a way to redeem themselves in the eyes of the elders.

Once upon a time, one of the bodyguards, a man named Kenta, couldn't stand the abuse any longer. He had always been an upright person, and witnessing the cruelty inflicted upon Ikki had pushed him over the edge. He had secretly gathered evidence of Ikki's mistreatment, including videos and photos of the child's suffering. His plan was to leak this information to the authorities and the media, but before he could do so, he had mysteriously disappeared.

Back in the chamber, Tanaka paced in front of the bodyguards, his voice dripping with malice. "If any of you even think about talking to the authorities or the media about what happened here, I'll make sure you lose everything. Your jobs, your families, your lives. Do you understand?"

"Before you think about any heroic action, think... think what happened to the family of kenta-chan." he said with deep low voice, his fat jiggling all around.

The bodyguards nodded vigorously, sweat dripping from their brows as they desperately tried to appease the furious elder. They knew that Tanaka was a man of his word and that he would not hesitate to carry out his threats.

In the shadows of the room, the elders watched the scene unfold with cruel satisfaction. They were confident that they had managed to silence the bodyguards and keep their family's dark secrets hidden. They did not know, however, that one of their own, harbored a hidden agenda. As the others reveled in their power, Hiroshi's lips curled into a slight, secretive grin.

.......

The bodyguards were gathered in their quarters after the meeting with the elders. The atmosphere in the room was heavy with tension and misery, as the weight of their situation began to sink in. They sat in silence, staring blankly at the floor, each lost in their thoughts.

One of the bodyguards, a tall man named Takeshi, finally broke the silence. "I can't believe it," he muttered, shaking his head. "I never thought they would go this far to protect their reputation."

His colleague, Hiroshi, nodded solemnly. "I knew they were powerful and influential, but I never imagined they would stoop so low. We were supposed to be protecting Ikki, not aiding in his abuse."

As the bodyguards continued to discuss their predicament, a sense of hopelessness settled over the group. They realized that they were trapped in a web of corruption and deceit, with no way to escape or make amends for their actions.

A young female bodyguard named Yuki spoke up, her voice trembling with emotion.

"What can we do? If we speak out, we'll lose everything. But if we stay silent, we're allowing this injustice to continue."

The others exchanged worried glances, unable to provide a solution to Yuki's dilemma. It was clear that they were all struggling with the same thoughts, and the misery in the room was palpable.

A grizzled veteran bodyguard named Tetsuo finally spoke up, his voice weary and resigned. "For now, we have no choice but to keep our mouths shut. If we want to protect ourselves and our families, we can't risk angering the elders."

The other bodyguards nodded in agreement, knowing that Tetsuo was right. Their hearts were heavy with guilt and regret, but they felt powerless to change their situation.

......

Shizuku stood in the middle of a serene forest clearing, her eyes closed in concentration. A faint breeze rustled the leaves, creating a calming melody as it whispered through the trees. The sun shone brightly overhead, casting a warm glow over the scene.

In her hand, she held a delicate water manipulation device. It takes form as a dark-blue colored kodachi, which has a silver blade, Yoishigure.

As she raised her arm, hundreds of tiny droplets of water began to rise into the air, sparkling like diamonds in the sunlight. With a gentle flick of her wrist, the droplets scattered, each one coming to rest on a single leaf.

As the droplets made contact, the leaves began to quiver, and then, as if by magic, they started to rise into the air. The leaves floated gracefully around Shizuku, each one moving independently of the others, as if dancing to a silent tune.

The display of control and precision was awe-inspiring. It was evident that Shizuku was no ordinary human – she was a master of her craft, able to manipulate water with an ease and grace that far surpassed even the most skilled of her peers.

Her mother watched in amazement as Shizuku continued to guide the leaves, their movements fluid and seamless. The scene was a testament to her incredible abilities, and it was clear that she was operating at a level far beyond the reach of even the most talented humans.

As the dance of the leaves reached its crescendo, Shizuku gently lowered her arm, and the droplets of water returned to her device. The leaves drifted softly to the ground, coming to rest once more on the forest floor. Shizuku opened her eyes and smiled, satisfied with her performance.

Her mother sat elegantly in the pavilion, enjoying her tea as she watched her daughter's display from a distance. Dressed in a beautiful white and blue kimono that accentuated her graceful movements, she sipped her tea delicately, the pink rose petals drifting around her only adding to the picturesque scene.

As Shizuku's performance came to an end, her mother began to clap, her eyes sparkling with pride. "Bravo, my dear," she called out, her voice light and airy. "Your control and precision are truly unmatched."

Shizuku approached the pavilion, her cheeks flushed from her exertions. Her mother beckoned her closer, a smile playing on her lips. "Come, sit with me," she said, gesturing to a cushion beside her. "We have much to discuss."

As Shizuku took her seat, her mother reached out to stroke her hair, her fingers lingering just a touch too long. "My daughter... my lovely daughter," she murmured, her voice tinged with a edge to it.

She continued, her eyes fixed on Shizuku's face. "Your talents will make you an excellent wife, and the negotiations between our family and the other influential family are nearly complete. They will be unable to resist such a beautiful and skilled bride."

Shizuku tried to hide her discomfort at her mother's words, but her mother seemed oblivious to her unease. Instead, she continued to pet Shizuku's hair, the pressure of her touch becoming almost forceful.

Shizuku hesitated for a moment before mustering the courage to ask, "What about Onii-chan?" Her bangs obscured her face, but the concern in her voice was unmistakable. "Ikki"

Her mother's expression darkened, and she swiftly silenced Shizuku with a sharp glare. "Do not speak this name," she scolded. "He has brought shame upon this family and is no longer your concern."

Shizuku's hands clenched into fists at her sides as she fought back tears. "I won't marry anyone until my brother returns," she said defiantly, her voice trembling with emotion.

Her mother's eyes narrowed, and she stood up abruptly, her posture rigid with anger. "How dare you speak to me in such a manner!" she snapped. "You were not raised to let trash influence your decisions. Your marriage is not dependent on your whims; it is an arrangement to benefit our family and secure our future."

Shizuku stared at her mother in shock, her eyes filling with tears. Her mother seemed more concerned with appearances and power than her own daughter's feelings.

As Shizuku looked away, a cold smile marred her face, the light in her eyes seemed to dimm.

.....

Shizuku sat alone in her room, her eyes gazing out the window, reflecting on her family's behavior since Ikki's departure. It pained her to see how heartless and uncaring her relatives could be, even toward their own kin.

"Why can't they see the pain they cause?" she muttered, contempt in her voice. "How can they be so blind to their own malice and greed?"

Shizuku made an absolutely binding and unbreakable vow in the seclusion of her chamber.

' I will never leave your side, Ikki. Even if the whole world turns against you, I will always be here to support you. '

'You can always count on me to be your pillar of strength.' 'I will grieve for you and endlessly adore you, always and forever. You must come back to me. I can't live without you. '

'Please, please, please come back to me.' she desperatly prayed in her mind.

"Sora, Sora, Sora!" she reapetedly stabbed her plushy toy with her kodachi with every word.

"Why does she always have to be in his mind? It's infuriating! " Her blood boils and her face contorts with rage.

"That deceitful and treacherous Sora with her two-faced ways! I can't stop thinking about how she's been playing both sides and manipulating everyone around her. It's driving me absolutely insane!"

' She was completely dependent on Ikki's money, and when it ran out, she vanished into thin air without leaving a single clue behind. It's absolutely mind-boggling how someone could be so reliant on another person's and then just disappear like that.'

Shizuku's heart ached for her brother, but she was more determined than ever to support and protect him. In a world filled with selfish and malevolent individuals, she vowed to be a beacon of love and hope for her brother, no matter how far apart they may be.