Kuro is ancient!

"Well then, what would you like to know about? One corpse means I shall answer one question." The cat licked its lips. It had merry eyes, while the mark continued to glow brightly. 

Asahi pursed his lips, unhappy about the condition set by the cat, but since he had always known that the cat couldn't run away, he tried to inhale and exhale deeply. His eyes were set straight, and his posture remained dignified and composed. 

"What did you mean by the dragon guardian?" 

"Tsk, tsk, so we are going to start from that. It seems like your old man did not teach you much. Well, start from the past then." The cat jeered. 

Long ago, when God, the ultimate creator, created his beings, he divided them into six different realms. Among them was the human realm. For the humans to travel through the realm, they had to pass through the land of Yomi, otherwise known as the land beyond the grave.

Past that land was the Kakurio, the hidden realm where the spirits, yokai, and ayakashi lived. That realm was ruled by the twelve zodiacs, who had been turned into guardian yokai. Each pair of zodiacs guards the doorways of six realms, and the Omyouji's were held responsible for communicating with those guardians. 

The jade stone that the head of the association had given to Ito Asahi was proof shown to the dragon zodiac to communicate. Moreover, when the guardian zodiac accepts the Omyouji, the Omyouji's powers are tenfold enhanced, making them extremely powerful. 

"Then how do I communicate with the dragon?" Asahi asked. The information given by Kuro piqued his interest after all; despite knowing all the things he said, he never knew the depth of it. 

"I am sure the head of the association knows of it more than I do." The cat had a smirk on its face and quickly jumped to Ito's shoulders. 

'I am tired now. I shall be sleeping for a few days. Kuro communicated through telepathy, while Asahi glared at the lazy cat. Nevertheless, he was quite satisfied with the information, so he let go of the idea of experimenting on the cat for a while. 

He got up from his seat, closed the lid of the coffin, and locked the door. Now that his grandfather was no more, he was responsible for running the family business, becoming the head of the family while also being a university student. His break was almost about to end. 

'I should go to the factory' he made a mental note. The family business was the reason their finances boomed and they could stand proudly in front of the association members. All in all, he still had yet to develop a successful poison that worked on Yokai, but it could wait for a while. 

Asahi walked slowly and entered his room. It was the same old, yet everything had changed. On a plush cushion, he placed the cat and went to the closet to get changed. He stripped off the heavy kimono he had worn. 

He took out a grayish shirt with white stripes and, over it, wore a thin tulip grey vest and a waterproof jacket. He wore his glasses and combed his hair, which reached around his neck. Thus, he was a perfect university student. 

He grabbed his backpack and headed out of the house. He lived in Osaka prefecture, and while his house was in a suburban area, it was not too far from the main cities. He walked for around twenty minutes until he reached the bus stop. 

The bus was almost empty when he walked inside, and he sat in the very last seat on the left, near the window. The bus moved on while the cool air brushed his hair and cheeks. 

He was unsure about dealing with the executives of the business. The stationary company "Mizueru" was started by his grandfather and has grown a lot, especially in the domestic market. The newest products, like the precise and sharp mechanical pencils, were much liked by the younger generations. 

'Now how do I deal with them?' he said, clicking his tongue. Although he loved to study, he never took much care regarding the stationery. 

After about 45 minutes, he arrived at the city where the manufacturer and the stores were located. He got off the bus and walked through the streets. 

'The people here wear very different clothes. And what's with your clothes? Master Ito?' Asahi could hear the voice of Kuro inside his head, which staggered him. 

Since he didn't want to look like a maniac, Asahi tried to keep his expression calm and continued to walk. 

'Oh, look at those girls! Wearing such short skirts! The humans seem to have become different from the last time I saw them. Tsk, tsk,' the cat clicked its tongue. Annoyed by the cat's voice, Asahi replied, 'It just shows how ancient you are'. 

His lips curled up, almost forming a smile, and he continued to cross the bridge. Finally, he was in front of the company he now had to lead. "Mizueru"