Ceremony

January 2002

It's the 5th of January. A special day to Yoshi.

"Grandma~, It is over~"

Yoshi sitting in a lotus position in a meditative position exclaimed. However, there is no response, understanding what it meant, she closed her eyes and continued her meditation. She is surrounded by a glass dome from the outside, however, from the inside, it looks a vast grasslands.

After ten minutes, the 'sky' shattered, revealing the outside world. The glass shards vanished from existence. Kairi is overlooking Yoshi who just woke up from her 'meditation'.

"Grandma~, I don't like meditation~. It's also not useful to sorcerers right."

"You just don't know the benefits of mediation. It improves memory and makes you more self-aware. Next time, if you don't do it seriously, you will be eating bland food for an entire day young lady"

"No~*yawn~*"

*Hup*

Yoshi covered her mouth with her hand immediately. Seeing Kairi's furious eyes, she immediately understood that she would be eating tasteless food this whole day.

"Grandma, please forgive me! It's my birthday~"

"Not happening. Now, go back to your study room and finish the history book"

Under Kairi's strict order, Yoshi went to her room in the mansion. Yoshi understands one rule about her grandmother, she doesn't take back her words. So, it doesn't matter how much she argues.

Kairi on the other hand, already sent invitation cards to all sorcerer families and even the three great sorcerer families. On, One of the estate sites, a small stage and other tables are being arranged from the morning. By evening, all the arrangements are done.

After her study period, Yoshi is escorted by the maids to the bath. They groomed her properly for the party and then dressed her in traditional clothing. Kairi who is equally dressed entered the room and ordered the maids to leave.

"Yoshi, you don't need the blindfold anymore" Kairi removed the blindfold and in her hands, there was a pair of contact lenses. She put the opaque contact lens on her eyes.

"Is this safe, Grandma?"

"Yes, this is a new invention, even I'm impressed. And I put some seals on it just in case. It's also inappropriate to appear at the party with a blindfold."

Yoshi nodded, she could still see despite the obstruction caused by the contact lenses. Then, Kairi's tone shifted as she seriously looked into Yoshi's eyes and said

"Yoshi, today's event is about the special ceremony more than it is about your birthday. You will be announced as the heir of our clan. There will be some annoying old men coming from other clans, if they touch you anywhere, you immediately punch them with all your cursed energy and shout. If any old ladies speak with you, try to avoid them. Of course, this won't happen as I will be with you all the time but just in case, If I left you. Do what I said"

Yoshi didn't understand why but since it's her grandma staying, she said "Mm, I will punch hard!"

"Good, Now come with me"

"Grandma, Did you invite Uncle Itadori?"

"Huh? Who is th--, Oh! You know him? Of course, you do. No, I didn't invite him besides, he can't be here. He's a normal human, now come with me, time is running out. The guests are already here"

Kairi held Yoshi's hand and walked but she felt that Yoshi was not budging.

"I'm not coming"

Yoshi got rid of her grandmother's hold and sat down with a frown. Seeing this, Kairi knows she has to speak to her carefully about her uncle, the brother of Yoshi's Mother. Yoshi is a child after all and a tantrum from her now of all times is not good at all. She used the mirror in the room behind Yoshi and used her cursed technique to find any useful information about Wasuke Itadori. Seeing something that caught her eye, she smiled.

"Yoshi, I shouldn't say this but your uncle asked me to keep a secret"

Yoshi's mood immediately brightened as she asked "Secret?"

"Well, I don't know what exactly it is but he wanted to meet you in March. And it is something, you will like very much~"

"March? But today is my *Hic* birthday~" Tears welled in the corner of Yoshi's eyes.

"Hmm, You can meet him now but I'm sure he will feel sad that his surprise for you is ruined, I promise that you can meet him in March and You will be so happy with his gift, you will understand why he kept it a secret. You are a big girl, right? You can understand others, right?"

Wiping her tears away, she nodded "Mm, I understand Grandma, I'm a big girl. But if I don't like Uncle's gift, I will not speak with him"

Kairi smiled upon hearing her declaration. She didn't have a problem with her uncle, but inviting him to this ceremony is not appropriate and the 'surprise' will really surprise Yoshi.

"I'm sure you will love his gift. Now, you remember the lessons right?"

"I should be respectful and agree to the binding vow on the stage"

"Good"

The Ceremony is an official announcement of the Shifuin clan's Hier. This is a tradition of the clan passed down from the older to the new generation, its true purpose however is much deeper than mere announcement.

Kairi escorted Yoshi and Yoshi sensed abundant cursed energy from everyone, some are stronger than her grandma, which surprised her but she's sure, no one is cooler than her grandma.

Yoshi stood in the center of the stage as Kairi explained the purpose of the ceremony.

"Good evening, everyone. This is my Granddaughter, Shifuin Yoshi. She's the heir of our clan and on this occasion, she will be crowned as the heir with this binding vow"

Most of the sorcerer families smiled as if to congratulate, some wanted to use this opportunity to strengthen the ties. Meanwhile, the representatives from the big 3 clans openly showed frowns and some tsked, an elder from the council had an ugly face but they all didn't say anything. All of them are aware of what's going to happen and this is not the first time, they have attended a ceremony like this of the Shifuin clan.

With a prompt from her grandmother, Yoshi sat in a Seiza position towards the audience as she spoke the words, she rehearsed it before but now, she understood she had to make a serious binding vow.

Binding vows, Yoshi remembered little about them but she understood the essence of them because her grandmother insisted how bad things can get if she made one without thinking carefully and her own experience with a 'binding vow' as her grandma put it, she understood it is a very dangerous thing and should not be do it. Even now, she is willing to make one because she trusts her grandma.

Yoshi's cursed energy spiked as it began reacting to the Vow.

"I, Shifuin Yoshi will use the Shifuin Clan's techniques responsibly. When utilizing the clan's techniques, I will only make a cursed tool once every 4 months and a special-grade cursed tool once every 4 years till my time of death. I will not teach nor show these techniques to anyone but my direct descendants"

Everyone witnessed the Vow, Kairi internally smirked observing the ugly faces of the representatives of the big 3 clans and council.

The Shifuin clan's ability to make cursed tools is extremely desired. The ancestors of the clan understood the dangers brought upon by the greedy sorcerers, especially the big 3 clans that already rose to prominence and controlled the world of sorcerers by the time the Shifuin clan established itself.

So, they came up with these binding vows. The wording changed over time but the core value of the vow didn't. Yet, this isn't an absolute protection. If something can't be controlled, it will be eliminated. So, the Shifuin clan still looks out for assassination attempts and traps. Hence, the presence of members of the council and three big families. They just wanted to see who their new target is.

"Everyone, I once again thank you for coming to this ceremony. Please enjoy this evening"

Kairi personally introduced other minor clans like theirs to Yoshi. Although, Yoshi didn't show any interest.

The next day, Yoshi woke up early and put on her blindfold. She didn't like the process of storing contact every night and wearing them in the morning. The maids bathed her and when they dressed her in a new uniform she understood that it belonged to school. She immediately shouted.

"I don't want to!"

She ran away from them as they calmly explained that it's the order from her grandma.

"I will open my eyes if you dress me up in it"

The maids tensed up and one of them quickly informed Kairi who sighed, she expected the child to throw a tantrum but it's just her threats are too much. She quickly arrived at the bath seeing a Yoshi sitting in bath buttnaked.

"Grandma! Even if you say it. I won't go to school. Hmph!"

However, Kairi is angry for another reason.

"Yoshi, have you threatened the maids that you will remove your blindfold?"

"But I don't like going to school" Yoshi Justified as she still sees herself being in the right.

"That's not the point. Yoshi, what would you do if I said I would destroy Ko-chan for disobeying me? "

Yoshi looked down as she understood what she meant, still, she justified "...Both are not the same"

Kairi got down on her level and raised her chin, she looked straight into her eyes covered by a blindfold. She covered the towel around her body and said "Yoshi, you understand you can hurt others with just a look, right? You know it looks painful right?"

Yoshi nodded her head.

"Yet, the maids are still working for you. They deserve respect for their work. They are looking after you even though they know, you can hurt them. So, you should not speak to them like that. Now, I take it you know what to do?"

Yoshi held her head down towards the maids and said "I'm sorry~, I was a meanie~"

The maids seeing the adorable little lady apologising to them and realising that Kairi actually respected them, forgave her rather easily.

"It's not a problem, Yound lady"

"Mm, even I did not like school in my childhood"

Listening to the maids, Yoshi said "Really? You also hated school?"

The maids continued the chit-chat with her, this is their first time speaking freely with her. Until now, they were rightfully scared and Yoshi wasn't much of a talker at first, but now, it is changing.

'Looks like she learned a lot in this short time. With her learning speed, I can teach her more when she's 6. Meanwhile, I should tell the school to keep a special focus on her'. Kairi wanted Yoshi to attend school to finish normal school knowledge within a short time.

'This is my second time training a clan heir. My foolish son, if only you were here ' There is a hint of regret in her eyes.