#10: Night of Truth

"Ughhh!!"

Seigen is painfully laying on the ground. Just now he finally regains his consciousness and slowly open his eyes.

"Finally you wake up"

Seigen move his head side way, there is a boy with midnight blue hair sitting beside him wounded.

He then moves his vision from the boy and looking at the night sky.

"Why didn't you kill me?" Ask Seigen exhausted.

"I told you I just want to hear the truth" say Ren while throwing a pebble.

"The truth..."

"Yeah... about Jugon Monoimi or the reason why Satoshi-nii san..." Ren grit his teeth and continue "were executed"

"It vexing you know, to live without knowing the truth behind"

"I mean of course we just an outsider, but... as the victim's family didn't we had the right to know?"

Hearing Ren's words Seigen close his eyes and let out a sigh, he decides to tell Ren about the truth.

"Jugon Monoimi... is a curse originating from a Basara named Chikura. Its curse could turn human into some sort of powerful undead"

"Those who are infected by it fall under the control of yin aura, getting dark skin or mark, acquired a violent behavior, and added to an increased strength, they were able to kill humans in one blow"

"There were a case when one exorcist were infected by the curse and he or she killed an entire village with the victims counted to 200 peoples or more"

Seigen also talk about how long the curse had been rampant and there isn't any method to cure it except killing them.

He also talks about the perpetrator which is still alive and for so many years The Exorcist Union had failed to catch and kill her.

"Chikura..." whisper Ren while clenching his fists.

Cold sweats form on Ren's forehead, his heart beating faster, and his eyes are wide open shocked hearing the truth from Seigen.

100 years... No cures except killing the infected... Satoshi-nii san...

Tear fall from his eyes, Seigen who watches him sigh and continue talking, this time is about his family duty and the relation regarding Jugon Monoimi.

"My family... for generations we had a duty to protect the peace of Tsuchimikado Island and eradicate anything that can threaten it... including executing exorcist who infected by Jugon Monoimi or not"

Hearing it from Seigen, Ren lowered his head.

Seigen... I never though it was so hard for him

Seigen then look at both of his hands.

"Even so, I'm already kill so many peoples... including your brother... I'm sor-"

He cut Seigen's word and then say

"Thank you..."

Seigen surprised hearing Ren's words, but Ren still continue

"Thank you for helping my brother, and I'm sorry... I'm sorry for what I did to you, and I'm sorry for hurting your comrades before"

Hearing Ren's gratitude and apologize, Seigen want to speak more but decide to close his mouth.

His eyes were looking at the shining moon and stars in the night sky. He contemplates about himself and his duty

Is... what I do is right? Is it right for me to end someone else's life like this? Are... the LAW I follow is right? Is there any other ways?

When Seigen were thinking, his father previous words are ringing inside his head.

[Follow The LAW!]

[Apply Amawaka's Justice to Protect The Island's order! Even if you must kill your comrades to protect it!]

"Tch!" Seigen irritated remembering his father's words.

What LAW?! Isn't it more important to protect the peoples rather than The Island's law?!

"Forget it!" Seigen the get-up, he glances at Ren who still lowering his head.

He scratches his head, and then extend his hand toward Ren and say "Come on! You don't want make Yuka- i mean your sister waiting anxiously right?"

Ren look toward Seigen's hand and then his face and back to his hand.

"Mph" Ren take his hand and stand up.

Seigen looking at his body and Kariginu. His Kariginu is still intact, but there is many parts destroyed, but he felt a bit surprised that his mask aren't destroyed.

He then looks at his own body, there isn't any burning wound, and he didn't lose a chunk of meat, rather he there isn't any bruise either.

Seigen looking at his body and Kariginu. His Kariginu is still intact, but there is many parts destroyed, but he felt a bit surprised that his mask aren't destroyed.

He then looks at his own body, there isn't any burning wound, and he didn't lose a chunk of meat, rather he there isn't any bruise either.

Seigen look at Ren, Ren who notice his gaze casually say "I healed you, your welcome"

Unlike him, Ren still covered in wounds, there are bruises and even cutting wounds that hasn't closed which blood still flow from it.

"Tch! Come here let me heal you"

Seigen pick a talisman, and chanting an esoteric Buddhist mantra, finally healing Ren.

"Thank you" say Ren, he also continues to apologize "Seigen... sorry about before"

In the middle of the night after confronting each other, both of them had a bit of tacit understanding of each other.

Even thought both hasn't completely trust each other, and each of them still carries a different burdens and doubts.

This first step is necessary for them to start shaping their own relationship and future.

"I decide!"

"What is it?"

"The two of us... Let's end this curse!"