#11: Tiger and Lotus

Let's rewind a few hours before the confrontation between Ren and Seigen.

On Amawaka Manor, a girl with scar on her left eye sitting across a middle age man with yellow right bang.

These two are Seigen's cousin, Yuzuru Amawaka, and Seigen's father, Shigen Amawaka.

Shigen Amawaka is looking at a photo in his hand attentively, in the photo there's three people: Seigen, Yukari, and Ren walking together on Kisaragi District.

"TCH! That stupid son..." holding the photo, Shigen's eyes become redder the longer he gazes at it.

"Say! Who are they?!" Intimidate Shigen.

Yuzuru bow and report them to Shigen, "The two that Seigen-sama is hiding, are the siblings of The Man that Seigen-sama executed last time on The Mainland"

He really did it now!

Furious, Shigen squeeze the photo. Not over, he lifts his head and looking down at the bowing Yuzuru.

"Any other addition?!" Ask Shigen irritated.

Yuzuru close her eyes and open it, "Yes, the brother of the woman... I think his name's Ren is an Onmyouji, and... back in The Mainland he's able to wound the others"

Shigen click his tongue, with tone filled with contempt he says "Damn Failure! Losing against a mere child, and a Mainland exorcist at that!"

Shigen Amawaka stands up, and turn his back against Yuzuru "Do it! Remember, don't make any mistake!" Order Shigen as he exits the room.

"Ha!" Reply Yuzuru.

Later, on the outside of the manor a group of Ritsu leads by Yuzuru were preparing to bring Seigen and the other two, back to The Amawaka Manor.

Looking at the beautiful moon that illuminate the dark murk sky like a charcoal. With sad and determined feelings, Yuzuru clench her hand in front of her.

"Seigen-sama... I'm sorry"

.....

At the same time, Ren were chasing after Seigen.

It'll be bad for us if he reports it! If that happen, I...

An image of smiling Yukari flashed before his eyes.

I'll kill him

Say Ren in his mind as his eyes become darker and empty like it was devoid of any light.

Just then, a figure wearing a red tiger mask appears, he wears gauntlets with long talons.

"Stop right there or I-"

Looking at the tiger mask figure, many images entering his mind.

The image of the unconscious Yukari,

The image of the bloodied corpse of Satoshi,

The image of the Oldman prostrating,

The image of The Exorcist with Red Tiger Mask,

The image of the

DARK CIRCLES BASTARD!!!

Ren's eyes meet the masked figure's eyes. When he glares at Ren's empty yet fierce eyes, he felt that the time seems to be slowing down.

Chill run down thorough his spine, and his legs trembles. The masked figure saw his own death.

He saw his head crushed by Ren punch.

Ren didn't stop, rather his speed suddenly increasing

"Annoying"

All of a sudden, like his death vision, Ren's fist already in front the masked figure, ready to crushed his head.

KRAK!

Ren smash the figure's mask and hit him right in the face. Ren hit him so hard that blood sprout from the figure's nose and probably breaking his nose, and knocking him down.

Ren didn't check at the masked figure's condition, nor he cares to do so. The moment he saw the red tiger mask, Ren's ready to kill him.

Ren run and run, but he lost track of Seigen.

Under the hill he was standing, Ren saw a village, and fortunately he saw another tiger mask figure tailing a man.

"Found you" smirk Ren.

Ren going down the hill and carefully closing his distance to another tiger mask figure.

.....

Under the seemingly peaceful night sky, an oldman wearing a hoodie while humming down a song were walking on the street.

Unfortunately for him, Seigen who in his Ritsu getup stopping him on his track.

"Kawano Tokujurō, am I right?" Say Seigen nonchalantly

Kawano alarmed by Seigen's presence, cold sweats forming all over his face.

"That tiger mask? Ritsu!"

Seigen pull out a paper from his back, and show it to Kawano.

"I received all of your detailed examination after your last mission"

".... I suppose you know about Jugon Monoimi, right?"

"Jugon... Monoimi"

Seigen narrowed his eyes, he throws away the paper regarding Kawano, "Escaping is useless"

Kawano lowered and shakes his head, "I... don't intent to do that"

Kawano then lift his head, a sad expression plastered on his face, "When Ritsu set an objective, no matter what... there's no escape right?"

Kawano then kneeled down, "I... presented myself. I already know... after the last time my body- no, just do it"

Seigen nod at Kawano's request, "... I get it"

With soothing and caring tone, Seigen say "Stay still. I'm going to free you from that nightmare" Seigen ready his gauntlet.

When he brings his hand upward, he stops. The Oldman Kawano still talking

"Three years ago, I lost my wife to an illness. Last year, I lost my son due to an Impurity"

He continues, "Now, I've been cursed with a curse without a cure"

Tears fall down from his eyes, he looks at Seigen, "Tell me... Ritsu. What sin that I did wrong?... why I must experience this- this thing! Why... was I even born?"

"U- uwaaaaa uwaaa aaaaa uwaaaaa aghhhh!"

"Do it NOW!"

Seigen then slash his neck, ending the life of the oldman Kawano.

The blood of Kawano, a little drop of it, stained his red tiger mask.

Seigen looking at Kawano's corpse, his right hand still trembling.

After a short sigh, he left Kawano's corpse alone.

Unbeknownst to both of them, Ren were hiding behind the building, listening to their conversations.

That wasn't 15 (Jyugo), but Jugon Monoimi... a curse without any cure.

The list that Seigen and that woman talked about is the list for infected individual.

Don't tell me... Satoshi-nii san...

Ren then peek a little, he saw Seigen stand frozen with his hand trembling.

Seigen... don't tell me... you!

The reason Ren was chasing Seigen beside to prevent him for reporting them, he also a bit curious of what part of Ritsu he is.

But now he knows the truth, albeit still incomplete, Ren had hypothesis about him.

But that very hypothesis is the one who made Ren unsure about what he is going to do, and losing his motivation.

The hatred inside him, like a burning fire heating up a cauldron, is subsided.

Oldman... what should I do?

Ren stood up, like the old saying an eye for an eye, with or without hatred, revenge or no, he must- no he will face him.

Even if he can forgive Seigen, he must settle the scores with him first.