Greed and Regret

**AN**

This was supposed to come out three days ago. I sincerely apologise. 

******

"You care about me, don't you?"

The voice is low, almost a whisper, yet dripping with intensity. The room was shrouded in darkness, save for a faint glimmer of light that cast eerie shadows across the space.

A boy's eyes were wide with fear, his breath catching in his throat. "P-please," he manages to stutter, his voice barely audible.

A figure hovered over him, his right hand clasp tightly around the back of the boy's neck. He frowned, leaning forward over his shoulder. His eyes glowed a bright yellow.

"Do you care about me? I care about you." His voice was low, barely above a whisper.

The boy didn't say anything.

The figure cupped the boy's face with his left hand, "Close your eyes," he urged closing his eyes. "Let me protect you,"

"My gorgeous creator.."

Water crashed into a serene body of water. Nearby cherry blossom trees blew in the wind, their leaves falling onto a pathway that lead to a large manor.

Fujiwara Manor.

"How did it feel?" The man's voice broke through the silence, prompting Kyofu to look up.

"It was exhilarating," Kyofu replied, his tone slightly distant. He closed his eyes, recalling that night. "That feeling. That adrenaline," Kyofu murmured, lost in thought as he remembered the rush of emotions.

The memories flooded back, each one vivid and raw.

**SLICE**

Kyofu sent his finger upwards, completely severing Tetsuya's arms and leaving a large gash in his chest.

Kyofu opened his eyes, looking at the elderly figure in front of him. "It was like releasing all of that pent up frustration."

The man's eyes narrowed, his expression unreadable. "What didn't you like about it?"

Kyofu would look at his arms. "That searing pain, when he burned me."

**BOOM!**

Kyofu flew through the air, flames engulfing his arms as he slammed into the ground. He let out an anguished scream, a tear rolling down his cheek.

Kyofu's discomfort at the memory was evident. The pain was etched into his face.

"Hanari helped you heal it, didn't she?"

Kyofu nodded.

Kyofu lifted his gaze to see Hanari darting towards him. Strings of her cursed energy flowed down from her fingers as they gently floated towards the ground. "Kyofu!" 

She knelt down and pressed her hands against his burnt flesh, and immediately after a sense of calm washed over Kyofu as she applied Reversed Cursed Technique to the wound.

Kyofu raised a hand and pressing it lightly against his chin, thinking about it now, he could remember that feeling of awe he had.

Reversed Cursed Technique, the process of multiplying your cursed energy together to form positive energy, which results in regenerative properties and sometimes can be used to power a cursed technique reversal.

It was somewhat rare from what he heard from Kaito, and Kaito described it as: 'You either can or can't do it.'

He knew Kaito was capable, but he wasn't capable of using it like Hanari, applying it to others. Hanari was that special, wasn't she?

Kyofu frowned now. "I remember that night, when my father was killed. That boy. That look in his eyes.."

**THUD!**

Kaito slammed his fist into Tetsuya's bloodied face.

"Please!"

Kyofu stared at Chikara. His eyes were filled with pity. This was wrong. 

He stepped back, and turned away. He couldn't look at this. Hanari glanced over towards him, noticing his indifference. "Kyofu!"

Kyofu walked deeper into the forest, stopping and placing his hand against a tree for support. He began to throw up.

He stared ahead at the floor. He was disgusted. He remembered his father.

**THUD**

Stop. Why was he reliving that moment again..?!

"Kyofu!" Hanari's calm voice broke him out of his thoughts. She walked over towards him, placing a hand against his shoulder. "It's going to be okay."

Kyofu's red eyes trailed towards Hanari's face. 

Again, what was this feeling?

Thinking about it now, that moment was oddly serene for him. Something about her face. She was pretty. Her skin was pale and clear. She had big cat eyes, and a V shaped jaw. Oh, and her eyes. They were gorgeous. She was an angel.

"Kyofu?" the elderly figure said breaking him out of his thoughts.

Kyofu looked up at him, quite flustered now. "I apologise, Iroh."

Iroh chuckled, leaning forward and offering him a cup of tea, which Kyofu waved his hand dismissively to. "Thank you, but I'm fine."

Iroh nodded, sipping on his cup. "You saw yourself in that boy, didn't you?"

Kyofu's hands had begun to shake as he tensed, "I-I did."

Yeah, the guilt was starting to eat at him now. He looked up to Iroh, "How could I? How could I have done the exact same thing that happened to me to someone else? What is wrong with me?"

Iroh sipped on his tea, looking at Kyofu with narrowed eyes, "What is wrong with you? You should be asking what is wrong with them."

Kyofu looked at him, bewildered.

"The Fujiwara clan will subject you to their will, like my nephew and Kaito Fujimoto did," Iroh continued, his voice tinged with regret. "But true strength lies not in submission to the whims of others, but in the courage to forge your own path."

"You do not belong here."

"Pay off your debt, and leave." Iroh said, placing his empty cup down on the table. "Before it's too late."

*SHHHH, PATUK*

Kyofu closed the door behind him, the weight of Iroh's words heavy on his mind.

"What did he want to speak to you about?" Hanari's voice broke the silence from behind him. Kyofu turned to face her, contemplating his response.

"I..." He hesitated for a moment, trying to gather his thoughts. "Something about my treatment here," he finally replied.

Hanari nodded in understanding. "Well, I'm going to take you to where you'll be situated."

"Right," Kyofu acknowledged, falling into step beside her as they started down the cherry blossom-covered trails. The serene atmosphere, coupled with the gentle sound of water from nearby fountains, made for a peaceful scene. Kyofu's gaze drifted to a set of statues, their incredible detail drawing his attention.

He approached one of the statues, and an inscription caught his eye: "Five Empty Generals." The awe in his voice was palpable as he murmured, "The five empty generals."

Beside him, Hanari let out a scoff, her disdain evident. "Just relics of the past," she remarked dismissively. "They may still be breathing, but their influence has waned, especially with the Sun, Moon, and Stars squads under Takako."

Kyofu furrowed his brow, turning to Hanari with curiosity. "Aren't these symbols of your clan's pride?"

Hanari's response was tinged with bitterness as she explained, "They're not symbols of the clan itself; they're symbols of the clan's power. They're meant to symbolize superiority."

Kyofu pondered her words, the tension between them palpable. "Are you ashamed?" he ventured, studying her expression.

Hanari met his gaze with a steely one of her own before shaking her head. "No, forget about it. Can we move on?"

Recognizing her discomfort, Kyofu relented. "Right. Let's go, then."

As they made their way towards a set of living quarters, Hanari's demeanor softened slightly. She opened the door to reveal a decently sized room and explained, "You'll stay here for the night. The clan elders and my father will speak to you about repaying your debt."

Kyofu nodded in understanding, silently acknowledging her gesture. As Hanari closed the door behind him, Kyofu took in his surroundings. 

It was a stark contrast to what he was used to. The room boasted traditional japanese decor, a nicely designed tatami flooring adding to the room's flare. A low, wooden table sat in the corner, offering a space for writing or meditation. 

A small aclove housed a simple but well-crafted wooden shelf, displaying a few ornamental pieces and scrolls. A futon man was neatly laid out in the center of the room.

Kyofu laid down on the map and stared at the ceiling, deep in thought.

"Pay your debt and leave."

Huh.