Chapter 27

After finishing his task, the two tidied up the place and called the owner. They thanked him but the owner only welcomed Ryuya. The two didn't mind and went home. Just before they went apart, Hisashi calls out to Ryuya.

"Ryuya. You know, I would've taken your offer." Hisashi said as he shrugs.

"Would've? Are you saying that ye'r not?" Ryuya asks, disappointed.

"Yeah… The meeting with Jeimi isn't really a one-off. She told me that she's getting progress about my condition and until then, I need to be in a safe environment, away from violence."

"Really? Too bad then. You would've made a great Ryuzen in several years."

"Are you sure?"

"Dude, ye'r as strong as me now, if not stronger. And ye'r only gonna get stronger. I'm sure that you'll be up to it."

"Then let's make a deal. If you can reunite all of Hino country as the only Shogun, you can call at me any time. Of course, only if I'm available."

"HAHAHAHAHA!!! Is that a challenge? And what if I don't?"

"It's a challenge until you die. So until then, the bet's active."

"This seems unfair to you. I mean, I get you but then you get nothin' out of me."

"Not really. I told you before that I plan to leave the country when I grow up right? Or at least when I come of age, get my scroll, you know the thing. But I also want to stay here."

"Cause of her?"

"If you can do that, at least I'll have a purpose. Even more, you're a great leader. Serving under you would seem like a great time. If I become the Ryuzen, what do you think is a great nickname? The Blood-red Devil?"

"Stop the compliments. I'm only doin' my duty you know? I don't think you should get a devil-related nickname."

"Oh, right. Wait, I got one. What about…" "What?"

"The Crawling Chaos."

"The Crawling Chaos? Sounds good to me, but where did that come from?"

"Read it in a book from Jeimi. It was said that it was so evil, you can feel it even in your dreams. It can also change its appearance to match anyone. It was also so scary that seeing it would make you all your sanity. See the similarities?"

"I can admit, that is a badass nickname. Anyways, imma leave now. See ya again on yer next schedule, twerp."

"Back with that nickname again, huh?"

"Would you prefer that or Lil' Yami? HAHAHAHAHA!!!"

"See ya." "Tell your brother that he can apply too."

With that, the two part ways, and Hisashi heads home. Opening the door, he saw the lights open in the dining room. Seeing that, he knows that they must've eaten before him. However, when he got into the room, he sees only two people on the table – his brother and his mother.

Ichika isn't eating with them which is weird as they all leave the table together. Moreover, her plate seemed untouched but after activating his ki, he felt her upstairs.

"She didn't eat?" He asks his brother.

"She's angry," Yuna said with a sad smile on her face. "Why?"

"Your father isn't home for weeks. You also left for a whole week. After knowing that you'll leave again tomorrow to see the doctor, she got up and went to her room." Yuna explains to her son.

"You didn't talk to her?"

"Cause I get her. So what you'll do is you eat dinner, then, you talk to her. Okay?" Yuna said to her son.

Hisashi just smiles and gave her a thumbs up, almost making Sukehiro spit his food after seeing his silly face.

…

After having his dinner, Hisashi went upstairs and enters the room. The three siblings all share the same room so even if Ichika wanted to be alone, she can't. As he opens the door, he sees Ichika laying on the bed.

He walks onto her knowing that she wasn't asleep. Her body then moved for a little and Hisashi stopped, knowing that she was shocked by his footsteps. He smiles and when he continued walking to her, she spoke.

"Don't. Leave me alone. I want to sleep." She said to him. This concerns him but he continued walking. This causes Ichika to raise her voice to him.

"I said leave me alone! Don't come to me." Seeing how she was angry, Hisashi didn't dare walk toward her anymore and went to his bed. Unable to find the words to tell her, he can only say two words from his mind.

"I'm sorry." Hearing no replies, Hisashi thought of saying more.

"I know, Father isn't home. Now, I'm leaving again too. Meanwhile, brother either does training or fishing and Mother rarely leaves the house. Moreover, many people look down on you and avoid you for being the sister of the devil. I'm sorry, Ichika." Hisashi said to her, with sorrow in his voice.

"It's not that…" Finally, Ichika answered.

"I don't care about others. It's just that…" However, Ichika stopped. Seeing this, Hisashi asked.

"What is it?"

"Nothing. Just come back fast."

Her request made Hisashi smile for a second before telling her that he will. The night soon passed and the next day, Hisashi left early as Jeimi's place is in the other town.

After hours of walking, Hisashi isn't even a bit tired. Carrying his bag with some of his clothes, he walks to the lone house at the foot of the mountain. Just when he was about to open the door, his head ached for a bit before he saw a 'vision'.

He walks to the door and when he opens it, a man with a blade comes up behind him before stabbing him in the neck, causing him to die.

Back to the present, Hisashi acted fast. He backed away and activated his Ki at the same time. He then drew his sturdy training sword of his and activated his yoryoku. However, when the door opens, what he saw isn't a man with a blade but Jeimi, but with the same blade.

Confused and slightly pissed, Hisashi confronted her.

"Doc, what does this mean?" He said so with a hint of anger in his voice.

"Did you see your death?" Jeimi casually asked. Hearing her question, Hisashi is starting to find out what is happening.

"Yes. Did you do it on purpose? Is this for examinations or do you want to kill me?"

"Just answer my question and get in," Jeimi asked in a higher voice.

"I, I did. I saw a man jump out of the door when I opened it and stab me in my throat."

"Good. Now, get in." Hisashi didn't say anymore and just simply walked in. There, he saw the same man lying on the ground and he sat down. He looks at Jeimi who tied the man before explaining herself.

"The first thing that I got when you told me about the vision, is that you were killed. Happened many times on the first time, and once on the second time. So, I thought, maybe if I put you in a life-and-death scenario, the same things happen. Although I already know the answer, did you feel your head ache when you see your vision?" Jeimi asked him as she took out a small knife from her pocket, the same knife as the attacker.

"Yes. What do you mean that you know the answer?" Hisashi asks with intrigue.

"Normal people, or even the bests of the samurai, wouldn't be able to sense it, even with how much yoryoku that is. However, I can."

"I think you should explain quicker, doc," Hisashi said. This made Jeimi look at him while showing him the knife she just took out.

"Do you have a place to be?" "No, doc." "Then listen." Her intimidation made Hisashi shut himself up.

"When this guy attacked you, a large and dense amount of yoryoku gathered around the back of your brain. I presume this is what shows you that 'vision' or whatever. At the same time, that same yoryoku is causing you to go ballistic when confronting your enemies, except quite controlled."

"Go ballistic? I didn't kill everyone though. I simply killed the bandits… or the kidnappers."

"That's why I said controlled. Take this. Then kill that guy." Jeimi said as she passed the knife to him.

"Huh? Kill him? Are you sure?" Hisashi said while looking at the knife and the unconscious guy.

"See! See how different you are?" Jeimi said as she rises on her chair.

"What do you mean different?"

"You are. Do you think, any normal people's response, especially a child of your age, to an order to kill someone is… 'Are you sure?' What do you think?" Jeimi said.

After realizing that what she said was right, Hisashi went blankly silent. This causes him to think how he's supposed to answer but he can't. It's as if his brain is clouded by something.

"You see now? They would say no. Now kill him." Jeimi said again. This confused Hisashi.

"Huh? Why would I?"

"Why? Then let me give you a reason. He killed 7 innocent women, 2 of which are children. He violated them before killing them and he tried to do the same to me. Most importantly, that man almost killed you. Now, you wouldn't-" Before she can even end her sentence, a knife plunges into the back of the man's head.

Hisashi has killed the man. He threw the knife to his head without even looking while listening to Jeimi. His actions made Jeimi squint her eyebrows for a moment but Hisashi… has no change in expression.

"What I just said… is a lie."