"Phew, that fight gave a lot about me, huh." I sighed as I lamented the fact that I lack experience. In that short exchange, he figured out that I could manifest my mana.
"Are you alright?" Shizuku asked as I sighed.
"I'm alright." I replied.
"I didn't think that you manage to injure Uncle Kenpachi." Shizuku said with respect in her eyes.
"Fruits of my training, I guess?" I said making Shizuku smile, as someone who pursues the way of the sword, seeing the fruits of your training feels really good.
While we were casually talking, I felt a malicious glare coming from out of the training hall. I turned my head and saw a youth staring at us. Kenpachi and Kinjou have also noticed the glare as they looked at the entrance of the training hall.
"Tsunashi, what are you doing here?" Kinjou asked while tracing Tsunashi's glare which ended up on me.
"Why... is that trash here?" Tsunashi asked, his crimson hair slowly rising up.
'Hoh? Using mana unconsciously?' I thought in amusement as I stood up and walked up to him.
"Why? Is there a problem with me being here?" I asked face to face.
"You're the one who destroyed Higuchi family!" Tsunashi said while glaring at my eyes.
"Interesting~ I would like to know, how did I destroy the Higuchi family?" I asked him.
"Because of your existence, the family became split and divided. In a conquest for power, my friend got caught inside it!" Tsunashi said, his anger flaring up.
Hearing his words, I couldn't help but laugh really hard. Shizuku looked at me a little worried. After laughing for what seemed like a minute, I stared at this guy named Tsunashi and smirked.
"Listen here, bud. I don't know if you are living in a delusion. Even without my existence, those people from the Higuchi family will still divide themselves for power. Do you know the reason why the old man of the Higuchi family trained me? Because he knew this would happen and he knew he couldn't stop them anymore. He didn't want his swordsmanship to die with his family that's why he harshly trained me to master them. Your friend got caught in their power struggles? Do I look like I care? If not for my respect to the old man, I would've returned to the Higuchi family what they did to me." I said surprising everyone in the room.
After regaining their bearings, Kenpachi was the one who laughed out loud.
"You really have the balls of steel, brat!" Kenpachi declared while laughing.
"Tsunashi, right? You want to avenge your friend? Strength. As long as you have that, you can wipe them out." I said to Tsunashi before turning heels and facing the Yaegashi elders.
"I'll be taking my leave, Uncle Kenpachi, Uncle Kinjou, Shizuku. No need to walk me out." I said before walking out of the training hall.
Shizuku tried to catch up but was caught by her father who shook his head. Such matters were something that they shouldn't join in.
"Tsunashi, go to the green room and reflect on your actions." Kinjou said coldly as he stared at the youth who trembled when he heard the green room. It was a room for those who are punished, as for what happened inside, no one knows, but if someone asked a person who's been inside the room about what's inside, they would shiver and break down to tears. That's why its a taboo to speak about the green room unless spoken by the heads of the dojo.
"Father, did something happen to the Higuchi family?" Shizuku asked her father while Kinjou sighed.
"They are being torn apart from inside and being swallowed by outsiders. Don't worry too much, Shizuku, they brought it to themselves." Kinjou explained while Shizuku felt sad. Higuchi family is an ancient family dating back a long time ago, tens, hundreds, thousands of years of history torn apart just because of greed.
*
"Old man, your family is falling apart. Everything you, and your ancestors built, gone, just like that. Although I'm not part of the Higuchi family, its still a pity to see all that you've invested fall into shambles." I said to the gravestone in front of me.
Besides me are a bunch of items, ranging from books, land titles, to weapons, and even gold bars I've robbed from the Higuchi family members. By using Dark Slayer arts, I could get into a lot places without being caught, the safe that they trusted a lot, I've cut with Yamato.
The reason why I robbed them of their belongings is because they don't deserve them. They didn't do anything yet they will get treasures that don't belong to them. What I planned to do with every items I've stolen is burying them with the old man.
"There he is! Faster, Yuki!" My senses were sharp and I could hear some voices coming towards me. When my head turned around, I wanted to curse Zeltretch.
'Hey, Zeltretch, what kind of fcking world did you send me to?' I cursed Zeltretch who sneezed from somewhere.
What I've seen is three people, one of them is a handsome man that has a messy, dark violet hair and light blue eyes. Another one is a woman with a slender figure, dark-brown hair and magenta eyes, there's also a cat-like tail on her back. Lastly, was a young teenager who is much shorter than the two, he has a messy golden hair covered with a knit cap.
"You there! Return everything that you stole!" The man in the lead said.
"Yato, he can't see you, how could he hear you?" Of course I could hear him but I ignored him.
"Hiyori... why didn't I think of that?!" Yato said panicking.
"Hehe, he can't see us right? How about we scare him by moving the items around him?" The short person said.
"You sure it would work, Yukine? Our offerings are on the line with this job." Yato said filling Yukine with smugness. Meanwhile Hiyori wanted to stop Yukine but he had already started moving the items.
Seeing the items floating around me, I couldn't help but snigger.
"Old man, is that you?" I asked playing an act. Nothing happened but items continued floating around me.
"Hey, Yukine, it's not working!" Yato said to Yukine while Hiyori sighed.
"Just... bring my body, I'll be the one to talk to him." Hiyori said but Yato interjected.
"But what if he targets you next? Won't it be dangerous?" Yato said making Yukine worry as well.
"Its fine, I'm a fast runner don't you guys remember?" Hiyori said but Yato is still worried.
It was already past midnight when Yukine brought Hiyori's body near and Hiyori merged with her body.
I sensed the presence and knew that the girl would come.
"H-hello." Hiyori said keeping a clear distance from me.
"What is it?" I asked. She couldn't see me because I'm currently wearing a hood.
"May I know why you've stolen those from their owners?" Hiyori asked while I chuckled.
"Because they don't deserve them." I said and Hiyori finally noted that the voice was not deep like an adult.
"Why? Then do you deserve them that's why you stole them?" Hiyori asked. Yato and Yukine were preparing to make a move if necessary.
"No, not at all. That's why I'm burying it with my old man." I said as I removed my hoodie and stared at Hiyori. They were shocked to see a young man was the one who stole them.
"Hiyori, he's one of the suspects in the file! The adopted grandson of the elder." Yato said making Yukine alert as well.
"Yeah, I'm his adopted grandson." Having enough of this acting show, I decided to reveal that I could see them.
"You... could see us?" Yukine asked the obvious.
"Yeah, I do."I said and looked at Yukine.
"Why didn't you say anything?! Do you know how heavy-" A malevolent pressure dropped on Yukine. The poor guy looked at Hiyori covered in dark aura making him shut up.
"Why did you steal them?" Yato asked calmly.
"Steal them? No, I didn't. It was my old man's treasure, everything he and his ancestors have built. Why should they get anything if they didn't do anything nor contributed? Not only that, they also destroyed the Higuchi family from the inside and was slowly being swallowed by the outside influences. Since they're not putting their ancestor's and my old man's things to good use, its better if I bury it with him. If I learned that someone dug the old man's grave, I will kill them by my own hands." I said making Yukine flinch at my words.
The reason why I'm so protective of this old man is also because of his ancestor, he was a respected person, respected and feared by everyone. The reason for the fear is a single blade, a blade that absorbs mana and turning it into fire, and the name of the sword is Ryujin Jakka. If someone from the Higuchi family used the sword for evil motives, then he will be hard to stop because Ryujin Jakka is a strong sword. Yes, the old man's ancestor is Genryusai Yamamoto.