#18: Night of White Tiger

Ren used Honoikazuchi toward Shigen Amawaka.

Shigen Amawaka block Honoikazuchi.

It's not very effective...

"Damn brat... I should've killed you!"

In the middle of the crater, Shigen Amawaka stood proudly and uninjured.

The pouring rain washed the cold sweats of fear that Yuzuru had, but it doesn't mean it can wash away her fearful expression.

Shigen, who's enrage by Ren's antics, walks toward them with killing intent.

His killing intent leaks, and Yuzuru and Yukari felt like they were mice whose body squeezed out by the coiled snake.

Yuzuru give Ren to Yukari, and herself step forward to protect them.

"Damn dog who bite her own master" mock him.

Just when he finishes saying that, Seigen appear behind him, slashing him with his talons.

"Raaaaa!!"

"Fool"

CLANK

Shigen block Seigen attack, "If you wish to take me by surprise... then Don't shout!!", scoff Shigen, as he slashes Seigen.

Blood sprouts from his wounds, three diagonal claw-marks etched on his body.

"Seigen-san!"

"Seigen-sama!"

Yukari and Yuzuru shout worriedly, as they saw Seigen getting slashed.

Again, Seigen fell.

He spit out a handful of blood.

"Wait! You can't execute them!! They are not Heretic, nor cursed by Jugon Monoimi" say Seigen with hoarse voice.

Shigen clicked his tongue, he didn't care of what Seigen is saying and leaving him Seigen can only watch, as his vision getting blurred watching Shigen walks toward the three of them.

"Yukari-sama, take Ren away and run from here!"

"W- what about you?!"

"I'll be fine. It is my duty to support Seigen-sama, so go! You only become a hindrance to me"

Yukari nod at Yuzuru's order, he then takes Ren and flee. While Yuzuru stand up as she tries to obstruct Shigen.

"Damn mistake of the Amawaka, I let you live because you are my niece. But, it seems both my niece and son, is total fool"

Yuzuru run toward him with her black gauntlets, and when she attack him, Shigen just casually move to the side, dodging her.

Yuzuru's back is full of opening, and so Shigen slash her back as he does with Seigen.

Yuzuru fall. Yukari who hasn't gone far yet was obstructed by Shigen.

As she watches him approaching, Yukari let go of Ren and stand up to prevent Shigen for killing Ren, "I won't let you kill him!" Shout Yukari determined.

"You two siblings, give too much trouble to The Amawaka. As The leader of Ritsu, I'll execute you two right here, right now"

Shigen Amawaka spread his palms, revealing hands that soak in blood, the black talons on his finger ready to slit them.

Just then.

An illuminating light appear behind him, Shigen turned around to see a bright Talisman illuminating and hovering in front of Seigen.

The sheer pressure of the talisman giving Shigen the creeps and fearful feeling.

"You! Can't be..."

As Shigen saw what's happening. Seigen had taken the talisman with his hand.

"Jūsōgenpu"

"Byakuren Kohō Kyuu Kyuu Nyo Ritsuryo!!"

As he shouts, all his body covered in light, blinding Shigen and the other. Later, the light disappear and leaving a white smoke that gradually dissipate and showing Seigen with new white gauntlets with talons as white as the moon stone.

"That gauntlets... that power, It- it can't be! Impossible!! Seigen!!!" Shout Shigen, enrage.

For years, he had always followed the LAW.

For years, he had killed many peoples in the name of his duty.

For years, he believes that he would become the next Byakko, one of the twelve commander.

But, it was changed when Seigen who just 16 years of age was recognized by the shikigami Byakko.

That day, anger, shame and envy fills his heart, even thought Seigen was his own flesh and blood son, he can't and don't want to accept him.

As the leader of Ritsu and also Amawaka House, he can't let his foolish son to inherit the position, as he deemed Seigen is not yet ready and worthy of the position.

That's why he always reminds Seigen of his duty and to follow the LAW, but that fool of a son always bringing him troubles and didn't listen to him.

Strangely, even thought Seigen was recognized by Byakko, he himself can't use the shikigami power and gear, that is Byakuren Koho (White Lotus, Tiger Cannon).

But now, he can do it, meaning that the shikigami Byakko has full accepting him.

Moreover, his enchanted power is rising rapidly, unlike before.

It's just like Seigen had metamorphosed and becoming something that transcend humanity.

Seigen look at his new gauntlets, "Finally... Byakko has accepted me"

"What should we protect are not the LAW. What we need for Byakko to accept us is...", Seigen turn his head to his father, and finally say the one thing what Byakko value.

"Love"

...

Before Seigen use Byakko Talisman, The Jūsōgenpu (Beast Claw Master Talisman).

Seigen, who is severely wounded, trying to get up, but his body is full of pain. Like a hot dagger slowly carved and dig to his flesh.

"Kohff" and again he spit out a mouthful of blood.

Seigen helplessly watch Shigen walks to them.

Move!

His eyes widened, albeit a bit blurry, he saw Yuzuru standing between Shigen and Yuzuru to obstruct Shigen.

Move!!

Seigen clench his hands, he moves his legs and arms, struggling to stand up.

Move!!!

Seigen manage to move, but rather than standing up, he was in kowtow position struggling to bring himself back up.

Stand up... stand up!!!

"ARHH!!" slowly but surely Seigen manage to standing up.

But when he takes a step, he falls down to his knee again.

He then saw Yuzuru get slashed by Shigen.

Damn it...

[What purpose those fist for?]

When he was downed, the image of his grandfather resurface in his mind.

Grandfather?!

An image of a very old man with dark circles under his eyes the same as him in his old yukata bump his fist toward his chest, telling him of what "strength" is.

[For What or Who are you going to use them?]

His grandfather's word echoes on his mind, hearing those word made Seigen a bit nostalgic, and he let out a smirk.

Grandfather, I now know... what are my fists for!

It is...

As Seigen stand up again, he saw Yukari stand up against his father.

To protect the woman I love!!

Suddenly, a bizarre event play in front of him, the pouring rain seems to be stopped, revealing the falling water beads that trapped in very, very slow motion.

"Good thing isn't it Kogen?"

"What?" Seigen look beside him, a giant armored tiger is standing behind him.

"Finally he realized"

Seigen want to speak, but something stuck on his throat.

"A Cat got your tongue? Did you forget who am I? We've been together for a while now" say The Big White Tiger, looking down at Seigen.

"A- are you perhaps... B- Byakko?" Ask Seigen haltingly with his eyes wide open.

Byakko nod it head, "Took you long en?"

Seigen lift his head and asking Byakko, "Before... you say Good thing isn't it Kogen? What do you mean? Why are you talking about grandfather?"

Then Byakko answer, "Kogen always lamenting protecting the LAW, killing peoples, doing these things became an objective"

Byakko continue, "If this continued, Byakko would be left with no heir"

Byakko lament, "Kogen lament, Why among the 12 heavenly commanders house, The Amawaka House must be the one stained with blood?"

"Having power to kill people and subjugate them to the LAW through fear. This is not it should be"

"The reason why we Amawaka exist is to make people remember What Makes Them Human"

"What makes them human?" Ask Seigen.

"Yes" nod Byakko, "I can see why Kogen choose you as his successor. It's because you and him are similar"

"He also felt very difficult to deal with the LAW of The Amawaka"

"You understand it, right? The reason I appear?"

Seigen didn't know what to answer, but Byakko said it to him in knightly manner. "It is for you to not cleansed blood with another blood"

Seigen avert his vision from Byakko to Yukari.

Ah... I understand

It was her, who taught me.

Seigen close his hand and face Byakko again, "Byakko come with me!"

The moment Seigen say that, Byakko squinted it eyes, "Very well. Recite the name, and free The Amawaka with your claws"

A white talisman appear in front of Seigen, unlike any other talisman, the talisman is shine brightly like divine revelation.

Seigen take the talisman and recite, Jūsōgenpu"

"Byakuren Kohō Kyuu Kyuu Nyo Ritsuryo!!"

White gauntlets with golden lining, and talons as white as the moon stone, equipped by Seigen.

A warm feeling washed up his body, his depleted enchanted power now is rising, Seigen feel that he had been reborn like a metamorphosed butterfly.

Seigen look at his new gauntlets "Finally... Byakko has accepted me"

"What should we protect are not the LAW. What we need for Byakko to accept us is...", Seigen turn his head to his father, and finally say the one thing what Byakko value.

"Love" utter Seigen, like he had freed from the burden and nightmare.

Shigen Amawaka enrage. Veins appear on his face, his face now became beet red colored, gritting his teeth.

"Stop saying such bullshit!!!" Yell him.

Shigen runs toward Seigen, forgetting about Yukari and Ren. "I won't admit!! I won't admit it!! I take it all from you damn Heretic!!!" Shout Shigen, as he attack Seigen like a Madman.

Full of determination, Seigen welcome his father's attack, "Bring it! I will change The Amawaka!!"

Both father and son clash.

Seigen manage to defend, and at the same time countering him.

"Hugh!", Shigen black gauntlets shattered, and he steps back from Seigen.

"It's... not over" scream Shigen, as he unleashed his hidden technique "Hisō Shūkei, Kogoku Akuru"

Hisō Shūkei, Kogoku Akuru (Flying Claws, Prison Tiger Deadly Shot), just like Tobitsume, Shigen launch his talons toward Seigen but at faster speed and stronger power.

Seigen who watches it remains calm, he focused his remaining power at his right hand.

"Kozan, Kagutsuchi"

Unlike before, Seigen released a burst wave of energy in swing motion. The burst wave destroyed the flying talons, and slash Shigen deeply.

"Kaaagghh!!!"

This attack hollow out the ground, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.

Shigen then fall, touching the ground with his back.

"Im- Impossible"

And so he lay on the ground, defeated.