The Meeting

A/N: Damn it the exams were a pure hassle. I just came to the UK from my homecountry, for my college. Sorry for the delay...

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In an Edo period décor room, 7 elders were sitting in a traditional eastern way. Those were the members of the Inoue Council, the ones who decide what must happen in the clan and with any of the things which has any connection to it. And now, in the room, there is another presence. At a glance, one would say he is a mid 25s man, but his actual age is way higher than that. He is Inoue Joichiro, the man who was tasked to be with his son, who was virtually banned but not yet fully.

"It's been a while Joichiro. Been good?", a man with scar on his face asked. He is Inoue Hashima, the father of Joichiro.

Joichiro replied with a rare smile he shows to anyone except his family, " Yeah, I'm not bad myself old man. How're you holding up?"

Hashima replied with a smile back to his son, "I've seen you after a long time, feeling good kid. I'll be happier if I could see my stepdaughter and grandch-"

" *Cough*, can we start the meeting. This isn't the place for your parents and kid reunion", a soothing but slightly stern voice came out. It was of Inoue Tsubaki, the grandmother of Inoue Yukika.

If Joichiro was annoyed, he didn't show any but his father did with a 'tch', which Tsubaki didn't pay any heed to. Then Tsubaki started to speak, "As expected, you've come as soon as we called for you Joichiro. Good work to keep the clan's needs first. Today we called you for important decisions we have taken regarding your family."

Joichiro's as ever calm face slightly went into a surprised one, if one calls a slight twitch in facial muscles can be called as one. And that is a big thing, considering it was him and it also signifies how big the news is he just heard. He replied with a cool head, "What is it, Tsubaki- Sama?"

Tsuabki talked with the as usual sweet tone, " The council has taken a decision that your family must come back and stay in the Inoue Compounds. This decision will be under action in one week. I suggest that you start packing your house."

And this time Joichiro is stumped. His eyes went wide and his mouth slightly opened by the news he heard. Inside he was happy that he could come back, but that lasted a very few minutes. He regained his composure and asked in his calm voice, "May I ask what bought this sudden decision on, Tsubaki sama?"

Tsubaki replied, " For the past three months, other faction's signatures could be spotted very regularly. We thought it was just a coincidence at first, but these intervals are too close to be a mere coincidence. Though it doesn't seem like it, these things do not end up very well, and I speak from experience. Our B rank and A rank members are scouting the town every day and our S rank members are being on standby if any danger occurs."

Joichiro's eyes narrowed at her info. Of course, he felt many Fallen angels, exorcists, and other signatures in the town. He put up his high-class barrier around his house in case any danger appears. And the danger is not for his family, but for the ones who confront his wife. After all, he doesn't want to lose his house for killing just some puny creatures. His Wife's wrath is out of bounds!. And also his son, knows he can do more than "stay on guard' if any danger appears. After all, the way he is now, he might just make his father use 50 percent of his power if he takes him in a fight.

But, " Though I understand the severity of the situation, I don't get it why my family must comeback after the virtual exile?" , asked Joichiro in a calm but slightly confused voice.

This time a grumpy voiced geezer, Inoue Chibhara spoke up, " This is just like what happened a couple of decades ago, Joichiro. The troubles between the three factions made us humans suffer. One good example is Shuri Himejima of the Himejima clan. Though they are another clan and she was still a human, she got mixed up with a fallen angel and she was killed by her own clan. And the Holy sword project, which took the lives of several innocent kids. These are the significant ones, and I can give out several other ones which are not too famous. The point is here if those three factions cross each other, blood spillage is a surety. And we humans suffer the most. So, it is best that we all should work together until this potential threat is gone."

Joichiro took a deep breath and didn't reply. Of course that geezer's words made sense. Even if the faction leaders didn't want to, the men under them take actions that may lead to another Great War. He replied, " I understand Chibhara – sama. We will start packing up the house and move in within the next week. I just have to notify Tanaka and Haru tha-…"

"Oh, by the way your son is still not allowed to step into our compounds, as we have agreed while you guys first left,", Tsubaki's gentle yet with a hint of slyness voice interrupted Joichiro.

"....."

Joichiro didn't show any kind of expression on his face. But on the inside, he was a little confused? If they really want the whole clan to be together in this times, why must his son be an exception? No, that's not really a good question. The real question is, why must the clan choose now of all times to call his family back? It doesn't make sense. When the three factions were running rampant during Haru's childhood, his request to give a hand on the missions was denied by the clan members, though it didn't mean shit to him. It was just that he wanted to clean the pests which might prove dangerous to his family. But now, even on a much smaller scale compared to the last one, they are calling him back.

'Something is missing'

Joichiro spoke out, " I don't understand Tsubaki Sama. Why must my son be an exception in these so-called 'dangerous times'?"

"Is it not clear? You're son is powerless Joichiro. At the best he might be a top-class elite among normal humans but he will be at the bottom of everything in the supernatural world. It will be a waste and dangerous to him to be mixed up with us?", said Tsuabki.

Joichior's eyes narrowed and asked this time, his voice slightly stern," I'm sorry for the rudeness but that still doesn't answer my question Tsubaki- sama? I understand that my son doesn't have the capacity to face the supernaturals, but that doesn't take the fact away that he still our family? Won't he be in danger if we leave him alone ? Shouldn't we protect him?"

Before Tsubaki can speak out anything, Chibhara spoke out with his usuak slightly angry and grump voice, "What gives you the right to question our decisions huh Joihciro?! I'm gonna be clear now, you're son is a powerless puny thing. He won't be any kind of help with our missions and we don't see why we have to protect a person who has nothing to offer us and of all people, who was given indefinite leave from the clan!"

"But that doesn't make him 'not' my family. What's the use of protecting the world if I cant protect my own son?!", Joichior retaliated.

Maybe Chibhara stumped his fuse or was Joichiro getting on his nerves, he shouted," Ok you punk hear me out. Remember the golden generation of our clan? It seems that your O mighty son picked a beef with my and Tsubaki's grandchildren the other day. And not only that he humiliated them in front of a crowd! His fucking balls to do that!!!! If under normal circumstances, I would've requested his head but we clearly agreed that we wouldn't meddle with him long back. So, that's why we want you guys to be distant from him! I really wanna see him cry out of lonliness and pain! And considering what he has done, this is just a least amount of pain I wanted to induce!!!!", and he ended with a sly smirk.

Hashima had it, " Stay in your limits Chibhara!!!! I wont allow you to speak to my son and about grandson in an unsightly manner!!!", and he released his inhumane aura. Chibhara didn't back down and he released his aura as well. Both the auras were clasing and Hashima had the upper hand. Chibhara face grew grumpy and before anything could happen, Tsubaki released her aura, " You two! We are in the sacred council meeting! This won't be allowed next time!!"

Both of them stopped releasing his aura and calmed down, on the face that is. Hashima was clearly unhappy , both with him and his grandson's situation. Some grandfather he was, he couldn't protect his son and his family. What's the use of this so called sacred seat if he could do nothing??

Chibhara was clearly happy with the expression on Joichiro's face. After all, his pride had been hurt when his grandchildren were taunted in the middle of the fucking town! His grandchildren! No one should be alive for that mistake and his rage only grew when he heard the name of the offender. After all, he is a 'curse' of the clan which they almost eradicated.

Joichiro's eyes were covered by his usually-kept hair. His mouth was slightly out of the usual straight line. Then he spoke out, " So that was the reason huh? I was wishing deep inside that you would do atleast something good but no huh? Well then, sorry respected council members. I cannot go with the order you have come up with"

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To say that the council was shocked was keeping it light. Everyone was stumped….. I mean the guy in front of them was the person who used to be so faithful to their clan, since his birth. They were all sure that their plan to hurt the kid without any physical damage would've worked, as Joichiro and Tanaka were in their hands. But now listening to his decision, their brain blew. Except for two members that is, Hashima who was smiling, and Motsuki, the teacher of Haruka who had a slight grin.

Joichiro continued, " I smelled something bad when you called me but if this was the case, I would've never come", and he turned to walk away, " Im sorry for not heeding to accept the order but I cant. Please forgive me for that."

Chibhara had it, "What did you say you vermin!! How dare you reject out orders!!! The Sacred Inoue council's orders!!!! You want pain !! I We will show it. We will make your life a living hell!! You will beg us to stop the hell when I done halfway with you!!! And I'll make sure that your family will be going through the same thing as well!!! I'll fuck u guys-…"

Suddenly, the council members felt a chill run down their spine. It was like how you feel something invisible is looking at you, and almost feel like you're done. This was slightly more effective with them, that's because they are the strongest among the clan and this feeling was when they were way younger. Joichiro turned and looked with his eyes,

( Eyes image in this paragraph comment)

"Try it out", said Joichiro with a cold voice. "Just try it out and then I'll bring the hell you were talking about..."