Chapter 12

Waking up, I reflected on what drinking from the Blood River had done to me. It had purged most of the impurities from my blood, replacing them with the blood of Kojiro Sasaki. With it came a strange sense of acceptance, a clarity I hadn't known before. I am Ryou Sasaki. That's who I am, and who I will be.

Deciding it was time to get up, I threw on some clothes—today, opting for a grey, form-fitting shirt and black sweatpants. Muramasa now rested at my hip, secured by a belt. Before leaving, I grabbed the money I'd earned and checked the date on my phone. Sunday, the 31st. I wasn't surprised i slept for so long. 

'Time to see if the principal's at the school, prepping for the students return' I thought, giving myself a quick once-over in the mirror.

Satisfied with my appearance, I left the apartment complex. As luck would have it, I ran into the manager on my way out. Leaning in close, I whispered, "This is for the next year. I'll be gone, but when I return, everything better be exactly how I left it. There'll be more money waiting for you when I'm back."

I handed him double the rent, and him and turn happily nodding, I walked off. My destination was Kuoh Academy, and for once, nothing supernatural crossed my path.

The principal was at his desk when I arrived. Words were exchanged politely. "I've got some stuff going on, old man," I said, handing him nearly a million yen. "I'll be gone for a year. Make up a believable excuse for me."

Ever the businessman, he agreed, though I'm sure the wad of cash helped. It wasn't like I had Muramasa pointed at him or anything. No, definitely not.

With that, I left the school and headed toward the train station. Where was I going? Kyoto. Why? Youkai and stray devils.

Once I got my ticket for Kyoto and hopped on the train, I started thinking about my plan. Kill stray devils, avoid the Youkai. Simple in theory, difficult in practice. Regarding the stray devils, their strength can vary. I know Kuroka was at least Ultimate-class, but I don't believe the Youkai faction would let strays of that caliber roam around unchecked for long. So, I can assume I'll be facing strays from Low-class to High-class.

Now, the Youkai side? That's trickier. They have incredible senses, and their use of Senjutsu probably extends that range. But that's what makes Kyoto perfect for training. I'll get stronger by fighting, and I'll sharpen my own senses by avoiding the Youkai. If I run into Yasaka, though, I'm screwed. I don't know how she'd react to a human using a cursed blade like mine to hunt stray devils.

When I arrived in Kyoto, everything went smoothly. I stepped out of the station, trying to figure out my next move. Deciding that wandering aimlessly might be as good a plan as any, I set off in a random direction. If a stray crosses my path? All the better.

A month later, I found myself walking from Kyoto to Hiroshima. The locals told me that journey should've taken four days. It took me a month because I fought twelve strays, avoided two groups of Youkai, and only rested when absolutely necessary. Why Hiroshima? No reason. I picked a direction and kept walking.

After settling in Hiroshima for a week, I booked a hotel and rested. Once my week was up, I chose another random direction and kept moving.

Three months passed, and now it's December. I've gotten better at this. If I had to estimate my strength, I'd say I'm at the top of Low-Middle class now. Not bad, at least I think so. One thing that's been bugging me, though, is how I'm able to spot Youkai so easily. Normally, they use Senjutsu to cloak themselves in illusions.

That changed when I stumbled upon a fight. A young Youkai, no older than twelve, was battling a human mage. It was my first time fighting a mage, and I found it interesting. After helping the kid, I asked them about illusions, and they demonstrated one for me. To my surprise, I could still see through it. So I can only assume my senses can't be fooled by Senjutsu.

Neat to know.

Four more months passed. I traveled from Yamaguchi to Aomori, keeping to myself and never staying more than a few days in any one place. Eight months since leaving Kuoh, I could feel myself reaching a bottleneck in my training. When I arrived in Aomori, I swam to Hokkaido—it took me two days. Next time, I'm taking a ferry.

After a month in Hokkaido, I'd gained some recognition—not the good kind, either. Like right now, for example.

"I order you to stop running, cursed wielder!"

I've been hearing that for the past hour ever since a dog Youkai spotted me and recognized the aura of my passive bloodlust.

"No."

"H-How dare you! You human!"

"No."

It's kind of fun glancing behind me, watching him struggle to catch up. Where was I? Right—bloodlust. I haven't had any outbursts like the time I drank from the Blood River, nor any nightmares. It's been great, though I can't shake the feeling that it's all building up to something worse.

"You won't keep running, cursed wielder! You're running out of land!"

I hate the water, but with that, I dive right in to swim back to Aomori. In the growing distance, I hear him shout, "You won't get away with this! I'll find you!"

Another month passed, and I regret coming back to Kyoto to end my journey early. Why?

"You're interesting, Mister!"

That was the first thing out of the mouth of a bundle of mischief and childlike wonder. Plums, I'm doomed.

"Why's your katana like that?"

She took a step forward; I took a step back. She frowned—a little cute, honestly. Another step forward, another step back from me.

"Stop doing that! Don't you know who I am?"

Unfortunately, I do.

"Hmph, I'm the Princess of Kyoto!"

I raise a hand to cut her off. "I'm pressed for time, Princess. My katana's cursed, that's why it's like this. How about I come back sometime in the future, and we can talk about it over some dango?"

Her frown deepened into a sad one—not good.

"How do I know you'll come back? How are you different from the others?"

Damn. She got me.

Walking up to her, I knelt down, reached into my pocket, and pulled out a piece of jade. Whether this will be worth it, I don't know, but having a friendly relationship with the future matriarch of Kyoto can't hurt.

"This is something I cherish, something I got during my journey. I'll have to come back for it." I placed the jade in her hands.

Standing back up, I walked without looking back, heading straight into the train station where the train had just arrived. Lucky me.

And with that, my journey ended in Kyoto.

Time to meet the cast.

-Kunou POV-

Running into the strange man with a curse was cool, I mean it's not good. but he was so cool looking!

Running back from the train station with Jade stone in hand to the youkai residence I locate where mother is and take off onto the roof hoping to sneak up on her for once.

"ara~ My dear, it seems you had some fun, no?" shoot, one day i'll sneak up on her. jumping down into the awaiting arms of Mother I see were in garden area. some of the flowers remind me of his eyes.

"Where did you get a piece like that Dear?" Freezing up a little I look up at her amused look, She knows I snuck out of the place. Of course she knows.

And so I tell her the story of my day including the strange man.

"arara~ A cursed katana? hmm there was talks of someone going around hunting stray's with that same appearance you described. fufu, interesting" She has that look. the one that other women have when seeing something they want and will get no matter what.

"now run along dear mother has to attend a meeting with the old fools again" and with that I leave her arms and run off.

'I hope he won't be to frightened of mother' was the last thought on my mind before I saw a Tengu to prank.