Hayabusa village

-Now!

I disappeared from where I hid and appeared alongside Ryu, the ninjas never saw me coming and alongside Ryu, we wiped out the squad

I cleansed my blade from the green blood, human they may appear, but these black spider ninjas have long since become fiends

Fiends…how to describe these wankers? You can think of them as a race of evil demons, a bunch of jackasses who desire to take over the world and turn all mankind into slaves, people become fiends when they crave power but since it turns them into monstrosities, I don't really see the appeal…then again, I am a jackass blessed by a literal goddess so maybe I have no right to talk..

-As usual, a perfect ambush

-Hah, you should know Ryu, it will take a Greater Fiend to threaten us!

-Do you want Ayane to scold you again for being cocky?

-Ah, I have enough with Momiji doing that! Have mercy man!

-Right, right, come on, let's go back

It has been 2 years, I am officially 14, a teenager at last! My body looks as if I was 17 though, I hit a hell of a growth spurt!

Right now, I am heading back to the village with Ryu after they asked us to deal with some Black Spider clan ninjas that had infiltrated our territory, knowing how evil those wankers are, I felt no issue in fighting them, but once their masks came off, we saw literal spider faces, abominations, not like the Arachnes that are still nice to look at, no these fiends were Fugly!

As we jumped from tree to tree, I checked my status again

"Eric"

"Rank: A+"

"Age: 14"

"Strength: A+"

"Agility: A+"

"Magic: A"

"Endurance: S+"

"Charisma: SS+"

"Luck: C-"

"Perception: S-"

My training in the Hayabusa village has been undeniable, my basic stats have increased a lot! But even better, I gained some new skills!

"Water walk"

"Hayabusa Style Ninjutsu (S+)"

"Enhanced mobility"

"Ultimate Technique (SS)"

"Weapon mastery (S)"

Thanks to the mobility skills, I can run through walls and on water, my mobility had increased a lot

I learned to use a lot of weapons alongside Ryu, so whatever you put in my hands, I will kick ass with it

The Ultimate Technique was such a nice surprise, I wasted no time mastering it, as for the Hayabusa Ninjutsu, I can use their scary ass Ninpo, I won't use it often since it's harder to recharge than mana, but the results were encouraging

So, during our free time, while Ryu meditated or spent time with Kureha, I did anything else, at times me and Ryu mess around together, but he is far too serious, so it becomes real hard to make him laugh and just relax a bit, still, I can see the Dragon Ninja getting close to his cannon self

On the other hand, I played around the village, helping out, giving advise to other ninjas, knitting with Momiji, cooking for others, I have done a lot

So yeah, I am known in the village, and the people like me since I am helpful and polite, they also respect me since I am the only one who can keep up with Ryu and even at times, overcome him, something that Jô told me, everyone thought impossible

As for Momiji, I normally hang out with her when her sister is busy or with Ryu, her training as Shrine Maiden keeps her busy but she is always genuinely happy to see me, since I always either talk with her about good books I read, or we knit something while discussing either Ninpo or other techniques

I decided that knitting would be a useful skill and she was more than happy to teach me, that is how we became closer, at times too, she ask me to spar with her so she can improve either her ninpo or her naginata skill

During my stay, I also met Ayane, from the Mugen Tenshin clan, she is an ally of the village and has known of Ryu's talent for a while, so she calls him Master Ryu, needless to say however, when she realized that there was someone who Ryu acknowledged as an equal, she came to meet me and tested my skills in a spar, where I swiftly defeated her, that was the start of our friendship

She started to call me "Master Eric" much to my awkwardness, I don't mind Monica, but her is a bit on the off side for me, still, I have to admit, if I didn't know her from before, I would think she is an ice statue with how shut off she is, it took me a lot, and I mean a LOT of effort to crack that shell and get her to relax around me

My cooking ability to make Marrons glacés didn't hurt either, gotta thank Monica for helping me at all times, Ayane had a pretty fucked up past, despite being 13 now, she was 11 when I met her, ever since then I have been trying to get along with her

Due to the alliance between both clans, she often comes and stays for a while, especially after they saw how much she improved by training with me, so that ensured continued interactions between us

Thankfully, I was able to get through that shell and she is now a lot happier and kinder when with me, it also applies to Momiji and Kureha, while she is still respectful of Ryu, she is not as comfortable with him, as such though…well, one day we had a very troublesome conversation

After we had sparred, she seemed pensive so I said

-Penny for your thoughts?

-Huh?

-A way of talking, what's on your mind?

-Ah…it's…

-Yes?

-…Why are you so kind to me?

-Eh?

-Back at the clan…everyone is very cruel to me…calling me a cursed child…everyone is so cruel…

Ah shit, I have gotten this far in her heart huh?

-Let me answer that question with another question

-Hm?

-Why wouldn't I be kind to you?

-Huh?

-Curses, origins, who gives a damn about any of that? The person before me is not some curse or some monster, you are Ayane, my friend, who cares about everything else?

-…Is it really that simple?

-Let me tell you a story then, remember Leona?

-Yes, the girl that lived with you before you got here right?

-Exactly! See, she literally IS cursed

-How so?

-Her blood possesses a heritage from an ancient evil called Orochi, that heritage can activate her blood and make her go through what is known as a Blood Riot, during that stage, she has no control and becomes incredibly strong, when I first saw it, she actually broke nearly all my bones, she beat the crap out of me and nearly killed me many times

-!

-However, I was able to subdue her after a brutal fight and once she saw what she did to me, well she nearly broke

-…I can imagine…

-Indeed, and due to fear, everyone immediately decided to kick her out and her father had to abandon her so that those freaks who worship Orochi, wouldn't find her, she was completely alone

-…

Resonated didn't it?

-But I was still there, I decided that I wouldn't let her be alone and took her with me, her curse was truly troublesome when it activated, but I never gave up, curse or not, she had the power to control it, no matter how badly I got hurt each time, I would not abandon her, because she is my friend

-!

-And guess what? Right before I faced Mundus, she was able to cancel it at will

-!!

-Even if everyone called her a monster, I believed in her, and she proved me that my faith was not misplaced, she was strong enough to overcome the curse, and soon enough she will master it, hell, knowing her? She might have already mastered it after all these years…She must be 14 by now…

-…You really miss her don't you?

-Of course, she is my dear friend

That's when I got close much to her surprise

-As are you

-!

-So, no matter what anyone says to you, no matter what they may call you, screw those losers!

She was shocked

-You will always be my friend Ayane, don't let anyone make you feel like you are unwanted or cursed, I need you

-Y-You…need me?!

-Yes, and no one can replace you, so please, don't say such sad things, don't ask why I am nice to you, ask why others aren't, if you can't come up with an answer, then screw them! They aren't worth your time!

-…Eric…

I smiled at her and then said

-So, up for some Marrons glacés?

-Hm!

-That's better, smile more often ok? You have such a cute smile after all

-E-Eric!

-Hehe, come on

Ever since that day we have been close, it also seems like she didn't have a fallout with Kasumi either, likely because despite all the cruelty, she spends more time here with us than there, and she always hovers around me, thus she has people who love and treasure her, taking away the bitterness in her heart

It was when I saw the relations that I understood why completely though, it hasn't changed to this day either

"Ryu"

"180 (My brother in arms)"

"Momiji"

"170 (My dearest friend)"

"The Killer Kunoichi: Ayane"

"260 (My warm sun)"

Yeah…I may have overdone it when I comforted her but I don't regret it, over the last year, she has been a lot more happy than when we first met, so I think it is for the best

Anyways, back to the present, we returned to the village and Ryu told me that he would handle the report, so I should go see Ayane since she seems to have asked for me a lot

I left it to him and looked for Ayane, my tracking abilities had increased a lot and I was able to locate her in my house, I went in and she saw me

-ERIC!

-?!

She just jumped at me and hugged me, she seems genuinely distraught so I hugged her back

-Hey…what's wrong? Talk to me, what happened?

-I finally discovered the truth! Why the whole clan called me a curse!

Ah shit, ok, I may just be the only person she decided to show her weak self to, so, play it carefully

-Oh…I see…do you want to tell me?

She looked at me, her eyes teary, finally breaking down, so I gently wiped her tears off

-Don't worry, there is nothing you can tell me that will make you any less important to me

-…I…I am the daughter of the clan leaders wife…and his brother in law

Yup

-An affair?

-…No…my mother…didn't want to

-Ah…I see

-That's why everyone hates me…I was never desired…I was a curse to her…to the whole clan…I-

I hugged her tight

-Shush

-!

-I don't care at all, you told me that you never met your mother, what happened is not your fault, and I can't care less about what they think of you

-But-

-What happened was messed up, I won't deny that, and your biological father is scum, a Beast, unworthy to be called a man, but that doesn't mean your life is not important

-…

-No one can change what happened, but it doesn't give them the right to mistreat you, no matter where you came from

-But…I am…

-Ayane

-?

-I for one, am glad that you were born

-!!

-Because you became my important friend, no one can replace you, and anyone who wishes you weren't born will meet my fist!

-…Eric…

-So cheer up, no matter how twisted it may be, you are better than your father, and you can be better than most ninjas, I know you have potential in you, and even if everyone turns against you, I will always be on your side ok? Please, never forget that

-…I won't…

-Beautiful, come on, let me make you something good, good food helps pass the bad times

"Ayane"

"300! Danger! (My wonderful sun)"

Ignoring it!

As I was cooking, Ayane was at the table fidgeting

-Still! I can hardly believe everyone would be mean to you! You would think at least one person would be nice to you simply because you are cute!

-Eric…anyways, I actually do have friends

-You do?

-Yes…I know that I have painted my clan in the worst possible light but…I do have 2 friends…who I now understand to be my half-sister, Kasumi and her brother Hayate…they are nice to me…but they didn't know the truth…

-Do you think it will change anything?

-I am scared it will…what if they aren't like you? What if they are disgusted with me?

-Then they weren't truly your friends, such things, while messed up, you cannot be blamed, only that beast, your biological father is to blame, hell, I wouldn't even acknowledged him as anything other than beast if biology wasn't a thing

-…When I found out…I actually discovered something about myself…

-And that is?

-…I am a terrible person…

-Why?

-Kasumi is the official daughter of the leader, everyone treats her so well and yet they treat me so horribly…why does she get to live so happily and yet I am hated…?

-You envy her

-…I do…

-So?

-Eh?

-It's only natural to feel envy Ayane, after all, you are siblings, yet the treatment is night and day, of course you would envy her

-But she is my friend…and she has been so kind to me…isn't it awful that I feel this?

-No, feeling is no issue, acting on it to hurt her however is, have you tried to hurt her?

-No!

-Then you are good! Seriously Ayane, you overthink this too much

-Maybe you are just too relaxed…

-Isn't it better like that? I dunno what your clan is all about and I don't care honestly, I have always worked to protect those I care about, not maintaining some bullshit tradition that only the dead care about

-…Is that so?

-Yeah, sides, if that tradition only brings pain to my loved ones…

I got serious

-It deserves to be destroyed

-!

-…Sorry, that got too real for someone like me huh? Here, I am done

I gave her the food and she began eating, that is when she told me

-It's salty…

I looked at her, she was crying as she ate

-Ah, sorry, I didn't calculate it right

-It's fine…

After eating, she sat on my lap and hugged me, no more words said

"Ayane"

"310 (…)"

Those dots again…

We stood like that for minutes on end, after a long time, she finally asked

-Eric?

-Do tell

-…If anything made made me suffer…would you destroy it?

-Yeah

-…Even my clan?

-I can't destroy it since that would make Ryu and the others unhappy, but I can give them…a lot to think about

-Hm?

-Don't worry about it, just let me know ok?

-Hm

She left only after hours had passed, thanking me as I had given her a lot to think about

…

Maybe now DoA will have a bit of a happier tone…then again, I also might need to destroy them too

Ugh…what a headache

Next day was a free day so I joined Ryu and we went to see Momiji and Kureha, I am certain that Kureha and Ryu like each other but they won't say it anytime soon

Ryu and Kureha stayed at the shrine while me and Momiji went inside

-So keep telling me! What happened after the hero defeated Volvagia?!

I laughed, I have been telling her the Ocarina of time story as if it was a book I read and she loved it, so I kept telling her the story in increments

…

-Eh…so the Zora princess will remain as a sage? That is so sad!

-Who knows? Maybe her love will be answered?

-Mou…don't tease me with spoilers!

-Right, right, anyways, I will try to finish the story soon

-Hm? Why?

-It's almost 2035 ya know?

-Eh?

-I gotta leave

-!! No!

Gah! Stop jumping me people!

-You can't leave!

-What's the matter?

-It's so much fun with you around! Everyone is so serious all the time but when you are here everyone is always smiling! If you leave, everyone will go back to the way they used to! Master Ryu and elder sister will return to their overly serious personas!

-And you don't like that huh?

-It's so much better when everyone is smiling and having fun…and if you leave…I will be lonely…

-Heh, come on, you know that I couldn't stay forever, I have a lot of people to meet again…and some grudges to settle

-…

-Hey, come now don't look so sad, I am gonna come to visit

-Promise?

-Promise

-…Ok…

She hugged me, so I reciprocated