Chapter 28

The two were locked on eye contact. No one was moving away from another. Seeing his silence, Jeimi broke the seal and talked.

"You're unhinged. Your actions aren't that of a sane kid or even a sane man." Jeimi said.

"As you've just said, it's controlled. I am in control. I killed him because I want to." Hisashi replies. Matching the look Jeimi was giving him.

"Are you? Doing things because you want to doesn't mean that you're in control. No matter how much you want to cope with it, you are not."

"I am," Hisashi said, defending himself from the accusation.

"No, you're not. Or else, you wouldn't have killed him." Jeimi insisted.

"I killed him because I want to." Hisashi stood up, trying to defend himself from Jeimi. However, his actions were silenced as Jeimi held his shoulders.

"You killed him because I made you kill him. I told you that this isn't you. I may have only known you for days but I know you're not okay. And it's okay to not be okay. Now sit back down."

As she said this, Hisashi sat back down. Jeimi left and then came back to give him water, which she made him drink. With this, the tension calms down and Jeimi feels the concentration of yoryoku on Hisashi's brain slowly subside.

"Now that you've calmed down, I'll explain everything to you. You are not okay. However, that only happens when the surge of yoryoku concentrates in your brain. Sort of like a fog clouding your judgment. Because of this, although you are in control, you can be easily directed to do something you won't normally do, like killing people – brutally at that. Now there's a good thing and a bad thing."

"What are they, doc?"

"The good thing is, it only happens when you encounter life-and-death scenarios like you always do."

"And the bad thing?" Hisashi asks.

"Your normal self and your other self… are mixed up. If not for me and your cooperation, it would've been too late to distinguish what you believe in, and what you think you believe in."

"What should I do then?"

"Don't worry about that. Just worry if you can take it."

…

Koyori and her friends just finished their classes. As they come out of the classroom, Koyori was surprised to see someone.

"Ryuya-dono!"

"Heya! Can I talk to you about somethin'? You know?" Ryuya said before showing an apple in his hand.

Koyori understood this immediately and bid farewell to her friends. The two then left the school. As Koyori follows him, she finally asks.

"Ryuya-dono, is there any problem with the key? I gave you the right one." She said, worried.

"Kinda. Earlier, I came to check on it before I take the gold tomorrow. However, when I check on it, the key isn't working. Not that I doubt cha', I just thought that maybe the key isn't just this."

"What is it?"

"I think it needs either you or Hisashi to be there to open it," Ryuya said as he finally finished his apple.

"Hisashi… Is he okay?" Koyori said as she reminisce on the last time she saw him.

"I think so, at least. He's not in the town for now, as he's on for sum' treatment. Don't worry about him." Ryuya reassure her as he knows what happened to the two. However, Koyori didn't reply to him in any way and became gloomy.

"…"

"Ya know, Hisashi is a bit selfish. I understand ya too. However, I also know that he's not mentally okay. So… why not wait? Maybe you two can talk after he's okay."

…

"What do you think?" One of the elders asks Itsuki who was looking through the evidence they gave him. More or less a month ago, he was sent to the capital by the current shogun of Goshu. Although they were unsure, he was told that the possibility of war is high and some hunches made them speculate the involvement of the remains of the Yami clan.

For weeks, he has been told to wait and help with the preparations. He was also asked to supervise some of the training as Ryujin knew what he was capable of, just for him to not get bored to which Itsuki agreed.

After seeing the evidence sent by the Minami Clan, Itsuki has a strange expression on his face. Because of his failings and disagreements with his clan, he was exiled and labeled as a renegade. His disagreements weren't only because of what happened but also because of the clan's morals.

If he was to describe them, the only word he can think of is 'vicious'. Their cruelty and intense drive to complete what they set out to do was a double-edged sword. Unlike normal people, they were like possessed beings summoned from hell.

"I think… it's them. Ryujin-dono." Itsuki said to Ryujin, who was seated in front of him.

"I told you to drop the honorifics. You're a like a friend to me, as you're a friend to Genji. Enough of that. How strong do you think their army would be if you include the Kijins?"

"Although I'm not sure about the number, the biggest factor on their forces is the fact that the Yami clan is with them. Except for some, they were all just like every other samurai. What made them a formidable force is their Yoryoku. Everyone in the Yami clan inherits Dark Sorcery by default, and as all of you know, Dark Sorcery's greatest strength is its mystery.

One of the most important tasks given to us as a member of the clan is to master our sorcery to the fullest. Because of that, every member of the Yami Clan is a master of their own style. Moreover, everyone's style can be applied for combat – whether offensively, defensively, or as a utility. That's the Yami Clan's greatest strength."

Every single people in the Ryudo meeting hall was bothered by that. Although many of them know the existence of the Yami Clan, only the leader clans know the Yami clan in a detailed manner. And even then, they can only gauge the members' strengths. So hearing it now from Itsuki made them slightly anxious.

"Contact the other clans. Tell them that I call for a meeting." Ryujin says to the elder by his side. The elder left quickly and the hall starts to return to the previous atmosphere.

"I know that you want to see your family now. However, can you accompany me for a few more days? At most a week." Ryujin asks to Itsuki.

"If I can be of help, I'll gladly do so. I just hope that you allow me to send a letter to them. Ryujin-do… Ryujin." Itsuki bows as he made the request.

"That's not a problem."