Years

Azuma was too late for Shizuha, after all the planning the only thing he couldn't plan for was the level of injury Senzui would give her, he did know that the attack had to at least be redirected, in the original, that attack instantly killed her, and she was an advanced grandmaster.

She lost too much blood, from what Ilona explained. For the moment, there is nothing neither he, nor Ilona can do.

Only time may tell.

._._._._._._._._.

Months turned to years, Azuma was twenty-five by now, and a lot has happened.

Saiga gave control of OSNF to Senzui, two years after the Kuremisago incident, who disguised as him to create the illusion Saiga was still the leader.

Azuma had been worried about this change, since supposedly his mother, Mikumo Kushinada, was the one that made Senzui believe creating another Eternal Sunset was the correct course of action for martial artists. Thus, creating the OSNF he knows.

At some point after Senzui took charge of OSNF, it began to merge with Yami, if this was done with Saiga's permission or knowledge is unknown.

Around this time Azuma received a call. "Hello son, I think you should have already arrived in Japan" Scary how she knows these things. "Yes mom, I just left the airport."

"I just wanted to tell you, that six months ago, after you left, I was invited to that organization your brother founded."

Astounded at the news he quickly asks her. "And did you join?"

"Yes, seemed interesting enough, although your brother seems to have changed, the organization is heading to a dangerous direction, now that it merged with Yami." Her voice calm, not an ounce of worry.

"Mom I already told you Saiga did not kill his wife." Azuma confronts his mother. "And why are you so calm about this, you fought in the war against Yami, shouldn't you do something?" Surprised at his mother's nonchalant.

"Maybe he did, maybe didn't." She answers his first comment. "As for why, I really don't care anymore, as long as you are safe the world might as well burn, besides, your dad and the little group he is forming will deal with it."

Azuma only opens and closes his mouth over the phone, not able to say anything.

"Anyway, I just wanted to inform you. You should come home more often, your little trips taking more and more time, you are starting to resemble your dad, besides, I may have a little surprise for you, do hurry."

She hangs up, leaving Azuma confused and worried at her lack of care for anything but himself. He rushes home.

Apparently, his mother, angry at Azuma for having a sword, one of the best in the world and never doing anything with it, simply leaving it at her home to collect dust, has found her son a weapons teacher.

"So, mom, what's my surprise?" He asks her suspiciously, her mom not being one for surprises.

She begins telling him a story. "Your mom, when you were but a little boy, got you a sword, because her precious son asked her for one, so she went to one of the best blacksmiths in the world and 'convinced' him, to let go of one of his best pieces." Stopping for a second to breathe, she continues.

"How could she not, her SON asked for one, even if not really understanding why he wanted it, she got it for him, but what does she discover? That he simply ignored it and left it at her house, for YEARS!"

By now Azuma is incredibly embarrassed, having asked his mom for a sword, and then forgetting about Tenken.

Without letting him speak. "So, your mother got you a teacher, you leave tomorrow, and will be staying with him for six months, that's the most I could do."

She gets up and starts walking away, before fully leaving. "Try not to die Azuma."

Azuma was speechless, a teacher? More training? Who could it be?

The more he thought, the more sweat appeared on his forehead, reaching a conclusion. Happy, excited, but mostly scared, realizing who his teacher may, be, he only said to himself.

"Shit"

._._._._._._._._.

In other news, Miu was eight, she was an adorable and cute little girl, having already met with Kenichi and Ryūto on one of her trips with her grandfather.

She loved her uncle, always becoming jumpy and excited like a puppy when he visited. Seeing him like a really big brother, that always brought her presents and flowers. She loved flowers, especially pansies, there were different colors, but her favorite is the purple ones with yellow accent in them. Her grandfather said that when he found her in the snow, her crib was filled with said flowers, which only made her love them even more.

Always believing that her father abandoned her, and her mother was dead, she was happy that her uncle cared for her, but he always said when they were alone, that her father didn´t left her and her mother was alive, that maybe, someday, she would meet them, and have the family she longed for.

Being a kid that wished to have parents, she always believed him, nodding happily at him whenever he told her that, but promising to not tell her grandpa anything, talking about her father made him sad, and have a regretful and melancholic look on his face.

._._._._._._._.

On a meeting with his cute niece, Azuma is seen meeting them in a park.

"Uncle!" A little creature is seen running towards Azuma, who has a wide kind smile on his face. The girl jumping with unexpected force and speed towards him, "Ugh, little Miu, you may injure your uncle of you jump like that on me." He tells the little girl, catching her in his arms with a hug.

Miu only shakes her head, pouting cutely in his arms. "Nuu, uncle is strong." The little girl wiggling in his arms, exclaims, signaling for him to let go.

"Nooo, Miu will stay with me." Says Azuma, while shaking the girl in his arms.

"No uncle, let go of me." She giggles.

Letting her go, Azuma makes a hurt expression, "Huh, Miu no longer cares about me. My heart." Touching his heart with a dramatic expression.

Miu, seeing this, adopts a worried expression, hugging his leg, saying. "No! I love uncle Azuma."

Azuma looking at her expression change smiles wryly and pats her head softly. "It's okay Miu, I know you love uncle."

While all of this is happening, Azuma's dad and Miu's grandfather is seen in the distance, smiling softly at the interaction between his son and granddaughter.

After a couple of hours of seeing them play, he shouts at Miu, "Miu! It's time to leave, say goodbye to Azuma."

Saying goodbye to her uncle, she gives him a quick peck on the cheek and runs towards her grandfather, Azuma and Hayato only nodding to each other with a smile on their face, today was for Miu, there was no need for them to talk this day.

After making sure they leave, their figures in the horizon, Azuma vanishes from his spot, with speed difficult to comprehend, he reappears, dozens of meters away, at the top of a tree, under a bench. A man, generic in appearance, clothing, and aura sitting.

"You are getting sloppy, did you forgot you taught me that technique?"

The man, not bothering to look up just keeps longingly looking at the horizon,

"You could go meet her you know, nothing is stopping you now."

He just shakes his head, a smile appearing on his face. "Not now, I need to keep watch on Yami. How is she?"

Azuma hangs his head low. "Still the same."

Sighing, the man gets up and starts walking away. "Keep me informed." He says to Azuma.

"As always," Azuma answers, the man's figure retreating, too far to hear the rest. "You really are too good for your own good brother."

Shaking his head at the figure he disappears, like a mirage.

_________________

A/N: I am not proud of the previous chapter; I feel like it's not great.

As some of you may have noticed, I'm experimenting with my writing, trying to find the best way to tell the story.

Tell me your thoughts in the comments.

Thanks.

Ciao