x
“Good morning, Ito san. I am sorry that I could not greet you yesterday upon your arrival. I hope you just had a wonderful last night." Watanabe Genji (Tsuna) stands in front of Naomi's Villa while his driver is ready to take her to the destination upon her request.
"Oh! I am so honored! Indeed I have to apologize that I didn't inform you my stay in advance. Your continuous support to Hoshino Group and myself personally is heartwarming! I should have thanked you long ago. Just been caught up by so many things recently. Like that horrible incident..."
"That's fine! I may certainly bother you next time when I visit Tokyo. Can't imagine how enchanting to have Ito san to accompany me, hahaha!" The silver hair handsome guy smiles and says, "And you can call me Genji if you don't mind!"
"Certainly! And you can call me Naomi as well." Naomi face turns pinkish. Genji's smile really has its magical power indeed.
"Oh. I shouldn't bother you too long. My driver will be ready from now on so just take your time. Enjoy, Naomi san."
"Thank you, Genji san and see you."
Watanabe Genji leaves and Naomi closes the door and prepare to depart soon.
"~~! This guy is way more interesting than the shy boy in your office!" The mouse can't wait to comment.
"Shut up. Don't you see my mind is occupied by something else..." Naomi's face still feels hot.
"Relax~the Kaneda won't dare to hurt you."
"He had hurt me enough already..."
"......"
They set off to the address as per Kaneda's reminder.
Naomi is standing in front of the cafe. Her heart turns heavy while memories keep flashing back in her mind.
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"This place...!"
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She takes a deep breath and steps inside.
"Welcome to our shop. Shall I arrange a seat for you?" The waitress greets Naomi while she is still wondering how to meet her "miserable friend", Kaneda.
"Oh, are you....Ito san?" "Yeah~" "This way please. Your friend is waiting for you already."
The waitress then leads her to an old gentleman in white suit wearing a white hat, sitting at the corner. He stands up immediately to greet Naomi while watching her moving closer by.
"It's like a dream. To have a chance to meet you again here in Kyoto, Ito san."
Naomi is stunned.
In front of her is the man she used to hate for centuries, the man who had once destroyed her childhood, kidnapped her Mother's heart and soul forcing her to abandon her family, and the worst being,
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A murderer,
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If the man really had known the secret of the Scythe, the Blood Oath and the curse that slowly tortures the beloved of the summoner who fails the Scythe's wish, to death.
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"You should have hated me for many years since we met. And I am sure you come not because of affection for an aged but obsession to seek truth..."
"I trust my feeling. I was not an innocent child when all those terrible things happened on me. But before you want to confess or speak well of my mother, tell me, DID YOU KNOW THE OATH?"
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Kaneda takes off his hat. His hair is all silver grey like his beard. The wisdom and glamor of his beautiful eyes are way concealed by the sorrow and remorse of his sinful past. Still his smile is ornamental and elegantly polite. And this is the most hated part of him to Naomi,
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Revolting hypocrite!
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"Don't you remember this place? Ito san."
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Such awkward question blocks Naomi's aggression . Her rages can no longer suppress the fragments of memories just flashed back in her mind upon the arrival. The name of the cafe may have changed but nothing else. Everything seem fossilized:
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This table, the seat I took subconsciously, the wall my seat abutting and,
A little picture drawn on the wall by a naughty ball-pen, a girl with a smily face standing in-between her parents. Those fragments of memory like petals floating and carrying along by the gentle breeze outside, slowly fall on the ground, reassembling pictures of her long buried nostalgia.
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"I used to date your mother in this little cafe. The food here are not exceptionally delicious and the decorations are horribly dated. The owner may just be too stingy or lazy to renovate it for a long time. But she just loved it. And every time she would just pick this table to sit, only this. And this seat,"
Kaneda points to Naomi's seat,
"I was never allowed to touch. Neither was the one next to it. Coz that would be reserved for herself only." Kaneda looks at the empty seat as if he is talking to someone over there.
"I could only be allowed to sit here, diagonally to your mom, never face to face, as if I was just a stranger sharing the same table."
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"Sorry to disturb. This is the americano you ordered, sir, and a slice of strawberry cake. Madam, should I take the order for you too?" The waitress serves them but Naomi remains silent and musing, until the waitress apologizes and leaves embarrassingly.
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"When your mother died due to her congenital heart defect. Her heart was broken and she knew would never be mended. She knew she had lost your love. Since she left you, she prayed day and night to be the victim of the Curse, to be exhausted and drained to dead by the wick spirit inside the Scythe - a sign that her daughter's love for her mother still remained. She kept her faith until the last breath, just to find out how much damage and betrayal she had inflicted on you, since she left you and forced you to inherit the Scythe....."
"She deserved this!" Naomi shouts, a very rare behavior for a cheerful beauty like her.
"No.....she didn't. Naomi, trust me.
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IT'S ALL MY FAULT. I have ruined your childhood, your family."
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Kaneda's body is shaking and his head is ducking to hide his shamefulness and guilt.
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The two strangers are sharing the same table, the same tragic history that broke the hearts of everyone being involved,
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And there may be a chance to mend their broken hearts through sharing. Maybe or maybe not.
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Kobayashi Hideo and Watanabe Genji (Tsuna), two men, are now walking side by side along a mountain trail at Mount Ogura. The vibe is not as relaxing as you thought though. They are both dressing in Kendō protective armor (bōgu), carrying bamboo swords (shinai) as well.
"I hope you don't find this <special program> too peculiar? That I arranged specially for my most honored guest, Kobayashi San?"
They stop in front of a pavilion structure at the end of the trail. The private area is maintained by the Lunar Group and only VIP could reserve for Kendō practice, normally with coach's supervision and tutorial service.
Hideo is thankful to himself for the constant training all through these years that makes the trail walk manageable. Indeed wearing the bōgu and the shinai with you for an hour mount trail walk, in a humid and sunny day of summer Kyoto, could easily be exhausting.
"I haven't practiced for awhile since last tournament , Watanabe San. I hope I won't disappoint you." Hideo has worn the hamlet while they step on the floor matt.
"I know that Kobayashi san has won numerous Kendō contests since you learnt the sword art when you were nine. I can't wait to seek advice from you."
He has investigated me!?
Hideo has no time to calculate. He treats this as a <Duel>, like in ancient time, two men fought for their prides, dignities and,
Loves !
It may just his prejudice against Tsuna. He doesn't even confirm if this charming yet miserable billionaire noble-like gentleman has any affection for her dreamy girl. Maybe it's just jealousy, or simply a strong sense of inferiority, that makes him serious and nervous about this <peculiar amusement>program.
Tsuna puts on his hamlet and they bow to each other. The Duel just starts !
Hideo is an experienced swordsman. Since he was nine, he has won many opened tournament all through the country. Even after he joined Hoshino Group, he still represents the firm for several local and international contests.
Still he feels the pressure. Tsuna is like no others!
His posture is perfect: a stance that one could hardly find any room or opportunity to initiate a strike or a strike without exposure himself to a counter attack.
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This makes the tournament a stalemate.
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The 11Mx11M Shiai matt is filled with massive tension. Hideo soaks in heat and sweats. He breaths heavily as if he has fought for an hour. He can no longer hold but initial the first attack!
He yields and executes a fumikomi-ashi (踏み込み足) and tries to make a strike!
Tsuna instead of making any defends, makes a fumikomi-ash almost at the same time as Hideo does but instead thrusts!
The speedy shinai(bamboo sword) shoots and just about to thrust Hideo's throat, it stops and returns.
Hideo freezes. He loses one point already. Tsuna simply outdoes Hideo in terms of skill and kisei (vigor)!
Hideo imagines Tsuna ridiculing behind the mask. Yet instead of losing his temper or heart, his calmness miraculously returns.
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Be the Mountain, Hideo. You can defeat him.
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"You should catch up with Naomi's pace, if you still strive to follow her steps. DON'T HOLD HER BACK BY BEING A BURDEN TO YOUR LOVED ONE." Unlike his usual warm and polite manner, Tsuna redes, or warns his opponent seriously with no negotiation.
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It does shock Hideo.
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"What do you mean by that? What else do you know about Naomi!?"
"Beat me and I will tell you all!"
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The <special program> goes on.
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Hideo doesn't even manage to make a shikake-waza (仕掛け技; to initiate a strike)! Tsuna only scores point by ōji-waza (応じ技; a response to an attempted strike). But his responsive moves are miraculously fast and always end up to be a LIFO (last in first out - 先んずれば人を制す）！
The tremendous amounts of attack Hideo has initiated yet resulting in endless and repetitive failure or counter strikes corrodes his stamina, spirit and strength.
Suddenly, Tsuna yields and changes his gaming attitude while being aggressive. He hits every scoring target areas (打突-部位, datotsu-bui) of his opponent and drags him into an Inferno of hit and punishment. Each blow is so heavy that brutally tortures Hideo's body and spirit.
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The <special program> ends when Tsuna stops attacking and Hideo faints on ground.
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"Ito san is living an incredibly harsh and difficult life since she was a child," Tsuna takes off his hamlet. He breaths and speaks normally and steadily as if he has not performed any exercise yet. "she is much stronger than what you perceive. She is never delicate or pitiful. Never! Indeed she is independent, intellectual and tough! Her eyes, are always filled with DETERMINATION and bravery that no men would bear!"
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Hideo tries to speak but he can now only gasp.
".........I ve.....never......looked down on.....HER!" Hideo struggles to stand up. ".....my love will never....BE A BURDEN TO HER TOO!!"
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Tsuna stares at his opponent's eyes, "I'm not impressed at all, Kobayashi san. Those fancy words you can keep for yourself. I need PROOF. Show me your guts to justify yourself her dedicated follower...."
"....and why...do you think you can question or justify me !?....who do you think you are?"
Tsuna's face suddenly turns pale and strict,
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"I am HER CHOSEN ENEMY!"
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Right after Tsuna has finished his sentence, he dashes to Hideo, grabs his arm and throws him out of the pavilion. Then the roof of the structure collapses in a bang!
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Demons, all ape-like, descending from midair above the pavilion, overwhelm the building and bury Tsuna underneath the debris. The steel frame and glass wall structure collapses in a blink of an eye…..
"It makes no difference to me, Mr. Kaneda! Your confession is too late and all faults have been made and we have all suffered for decades. I don't care about what compensations you are going to offer but at least one thing I do care,
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Did mum tell you the Curse of the Scythe and you two use it to kill my dad?"
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"Yes she did tell me and I DID MAKE USE OF IT TO SEND YOUF FATHER TO DEATH.”The old man looks up and gazes at Naomi with his sharp eyes. “But your mother is INNOCENT! She was not involved. In fact, it was your FATHER's IDEA...."
“What are you talking about?” Just by the moment Naomi tries to further inquire,
<Sorry to interrupt! But I smell the stinks of THEM! All humans need to be evacuated NOW!>Kamaitachi just whispers in Naomi's bag. His demonic olfactory sensation indicated that somethings atypical are approaching in great speed.
"What? Can you identify their target yet?"Naomi whispers back.
<I am afraid they are heading to HERE!>
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"Everybody! PLEASE LEAVE THIS PLACE NOW! WE ARE UNDER ATTACK BY DEMONS!"
Naomi rushes to the middle of the cafe and yells. She knows it is dangerous to battle inside this tiny shop.
"And you need to leave here immediately!"Naomi turns to Kaneda, who seems to stay calm and alerted.
"You be careful, Naomi." The old guy knows what is going to happen soon. He leaves his seat and helps to guide the panic crowd towards the emergency exits at the back of the cafe.
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While Naomi is feeling grateful to his assistance, she sees a woman standing next to him, watching her with a tender smile of appreciation,
Mother.
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The woman vanishes in a blink of an eye.
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Then once the last customer has left, she wears her Fox mask and takes off her jacket, ready for the fight!
Screams are heard from outside, following with shadows jumping over the roofs of the opposite buildings and stop in front of the cafe. They just stop and not breaking in.
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The Fox lady has summoned her companion.
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"Wait.....?" The wise mouse man suspects. "Shit! There is another squad approaching behind the shop!"
"What!?" Naomi just recognizes that the demons are not going to attack her. They JUST TRAP HER INSIDE!
"KANEDA IS THEIR REAL TARGET!" They both shout while screams are bursting out behind them.
"Kamae! Please help blocking them!" Naomi dashes towards the back exit with her giant Scythe.
"Go save the guy!" Kamaitachi swings his blades on his elbows. Two sonic waves shoot out, breaking the glasses and stop two apes just about to charge.
"Please avoid damaging the shop, as possibly as you can. It means something to me!" Naomi leaves her last advice before she leaves the shop.
"Damnit, just focus on your foes, idiot!"
Numerous apes are crawling over the roofs and jumping down to the back alley Flipup connects to. Right there an old warrior is risking his fragility to protect the crowd behind him, and himself as well, with his umbrella.
Kaneda seems to be a good swordsman in the past. But he is now far too weak to defend these demonic assault. Several injuries have already been induced on his limbs by the fierce claws of the monsters. He is indeed fight on his knees, halfway immobilized.
"Take care of the rest for me" The old guy turns and smiles while an ape is making a blow on his abdomen.
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He falls right at once.
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"NO!" Naomi shoots out the Scythe, cutting the ape into halves and the deadly blade returns to its master's hand, glowing and vibrating with a murderous impulse.
Malice successfully suppresses and repels the onis from another wave of attack. Naomi manages to rest Kaneda's body on the ground.
"Can you breath? Are you still able to move yourself?"
"Don't waste time on me....protect the others and leave here. Just take this..." Kanade takes out an envelope from his suit's pocket with his shaky hands. Blood stains on it.
Naomi takes it. She now cares least about such miserable token. Instead she grabs his shoulders and the anxiety almost drives her nut. But why? Why should I care about my antagonist?
Anxiety just grows from a mysterious trace of intimacy, hardly can she tell. Then,
Suddenly, some fragments of memories, BELONGING TO SOMEBODY ELSE, crosses through her mind!
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Solitary, reminiscence, bitter sweet lovers' memories and painful repentance of a handsome gentleman, Yuji Kaneda.
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I can read through his mind? Wait! What am I just watching? It doesn't make sense....!
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Assuming victory, apes are jumping and cheering for joy on the debris of the pavilion, where their foe is expected to be buried underneath.
Hideo is stunned for a short while and he knows well he should flee, before the onis come to him next, to celebrate with his flesh as their prize of victory. After the “Ootengu Incident”, Hideo is at least well-prepared himself in whatever circumstances for any upcoming Demonic assault. He takes off the heavy bōgu, grabs his bamboo sword tight(though he doesn't think it has any effect on these creatures) and is ready to RUN!
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But he finds there is no need indeed.
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First ape falls down, following by the second, the third and many many more. Not even recognizable why and how they faint!
Blood then floods on the ground. With the rest of the demon scream in panic and horror, stands a warrior of beautiful silver hair floating in the wind holding a golden samurai sword.
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Watanabe Genji, or you can now call him Watanabe Tsuna, appears within sight of Kobayshi Hideo just like a ghost. He yet doesn't let down his guard. Something bigger and stronger is approaching them!
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"Impressive! Tsuna! Or should I call you, OOTENGU?"
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The ground shakes in trembling inhuman scaled footsteps .
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"BEHOLD! BEHOLD! HERE COMES THE GREATEST SARUGAMI SAMA!"
A mini shrine is carrying by a group of apes to the battle field. A giant golden Ape wearing imperial court uniform （朝服ちょうふく）is presenting proudly on the shoulders of his servants,
"Oh~! The Higekiri （髭切), yes it deserves a proper show down in his TRUE master's hand!" Sarugami descends from his mount, praising his opponent yet no intent is shown for any violence yet.
"Such a greatest honor to meet the legendary warrior once defeated Shuten Doji !"
“YOU!” Tsuna points his golden blade towards the Onigawa, the Mountain God Sanno, the monkey god supposed to serve as an intermediary between Man and Netherworld on behalf of the latter. “This blade, I have sworn to myself to use it to avenge Kintaro!”
”Oh? So you were there actually? The moment I defeated your <brother>?” Sarugami bursts in laughter suddenly and then continues, “then you had been hiding behind the great show and witnessing your good brother being slaughtered LIKE A POOR PIGGY? Our great Tsuna?”
Tsuna doesn’t respond. The old memories just flash back in his mind which recalls <the shameful and malaise missing piece of the puzzle> that may help reassemble the truth…..!
”Oh! Let me guess - it must had been your PARTNER! He smelled the danger and took control of this fragile human body and, FLEE!”
Tsuna doesn’t respond either. In fact he cannot.
<When I regained my consciousness after the black out, all I could find was Kintaro’s body, laying in front of me without any signs of life.
Apart from that, NOTHING-
No Ono, No Sarugami, No gateway to Netherworld.
But what exactly was happening here before?
Who killed Kintaro?(Ono did say he was left alive at his mercy!)I had examined his body. No new wounds were ever found on his body!
Was Ono back to Netherworld?
What did OOTENGU do when he was taking control of my body and will?>
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"999 years! That COWARD has been hiding in the Netherworld, abandoning his country, his motherland for centuries! So he just sends you to KILL ME IN ORDER TO FACILITATE HIS RETURN HERE?” (Answer me you stupid Oni!）
“Hahaha!”The Ape keeps smiling while saying, “my great warrior, you definitely can fight in the battlefield but your skill to take soundings from your subject is pretty lame to be honest.
You have no idea what was happening that day, do you?”
Tsuna doesn’t respond.
“And I am sorry that you will never know that too, at least not from me.” Sarugami is stepping closer while keeps smiling and unarmed. “Well. Forget about Ono Takamura! I am the Ambassador on behalf of our great Lord, Yan. And he is sending me here NOT TO FIGHT. Instead, I am here to resolve all these conflicts, just happened between you and Ono Sama, and between ALL OF US in a more CIVILIZED way?"
"You ONI tries to mediate conflict between humans? And you really think that your aggressive and arrogant speech being appropriate for negotiation? So hilarious!“
"Hahahaha~our great warrior is really persistent in every way. What if such conflict involved our species as well. Shouldn't you have some DISPUTES WITH YOUR PARTNER, OOTENGU? May be we can come up with an agreement mutually beneficial to each other."
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Tsuna remains calm even though he is shocked by the Ape's statement:
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So, he was supposed to know my FINDINGS ON OOTENGU…..There is noway a demon can spy on me like that. My assumption of an INSIDER among us is correct.
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"I can see you being dubious, Tsuna Sama. But there is a truth that no one can deny: Ootengu WAS INVOLVED IN THE MAKING OF THOSE WEAPON, you human so-called DEMON SLAYERS! By that, costed your precious SISTER~"
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"HOW DARE YOU!" Tsuna swings the Higekiri in air that generates a sonic wave like an invisible blade. {Spacial Rend . あくうせつだん}is an ancient swordsmanship that kills man in a distance as far as 9M apart.
A terrifying crack is made on the ground immediately right in front of Sarugami. Obviously it is just an act of intimidate rather than an actual strike, and to relieve Tsuna's extreme rages purposely.
"Woooho~ impressive! Just you need to do that on the right guys who deserve it. Now, Avenger, we share that common target. Help us to defeat that traitor of both races, men and Oni. He doesn't deserve a second chance to exist. Yan needs his head and so do you!" Sarugami steps closer and continues. "His duty was supposed to assist human to {retrieve} all evil spirits in Man Dedtiny（人間道） , which was supposed to be a DEAL we have come up with human. Yet the traitor had something else in his bag, a secret plan to take advantage of his assignment for a conspiracy- an evil plan to upset or destroy the balance, a total collapse of the ecosystem!"
"Go on." Tsuna's impulse has finally been suppressed by his curiosity. But his Higekiri remains pointing at the Onigami.
"Ever since the Outbreak, Ono Takamura Sama was assigned to investigate in the matter as well as to conduct a contingency plan to rectify the situation, to parish and eliminate all STRAY ONIS in Humans reign.
To do that, Netherworld could only act as the munitioner since it was beyond our administrative power to enforce any of our authorities here! Our King Yan and the Teno at that time, have come into an agreement: we provided with human the means and skills of manufacturing weaponry as well as combat training against those rogues, while Teno would protect and keep safe all these Hell Blades with no abuse."
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"Ootengu was the one in charge..."
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"He was not just in charge. HE WAS THOSE WEAPONRIES!"
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"Get up! You can't die here!" Naomi tries to help the old fainted man to stand up while the Apes have slowly suppress their fear and assemble for another wave of attack.
One of them just hangs himself in the middle of a light post. Grabbing with both hands it keeps spinning in high speed in an upright position. Then one by one, the apes reach out to grab the last spinning member until a LONG CHAIN OF APE is constructed like a blade of a giant vertical axis windmill! It spins in a destructive high speed that sweeps the roofs of the surroundings with a horrifying momentum!
"What the!?" Naomi is more fascinated by how these monsters fight in a well-organized and complex way she has ever seen before. Then,
THE LAST APE JUST LETS GO AND SHOOTS OFF LIKE A BOMBSHELL TOWARDS HER!
"SHI-!" Naomi hardly blocks the "bombshell" with the stick of her Scythe. It is so powerful that blasts her body off the ground and hits the side wall of the alley!
She fells like her skeleton is smashed! Pain overwhelms her nerve almost sends her to coma. Her shirt is torn half in fraction and her right arm is seriously grazed.
Blood stains on the wall.
Then, shoots the next ape.
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Surprisingly Naomi now sees the action clearly and everything seem moving in slow motion:
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Pain(? Or SOMETHING ELSE) just unlocked some part of her COMBAT INSTINCT. There is a MONSTER sleeping inside her just BEING AWAKEN.
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The Scythe grows and shakes in ecstatic joy. It calls for more DEATH.
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Suddenly, Naomi feels a heat from her back. She doesn't dodge as she knows she isn't the target. Light beam shoots from her back and cut the "bombshell" into halves. Naomi swings her Scythe to avoid the splashing blood.
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"Are you ok? Ms Foxy." A girly cocky voice is heard from the roof of a building along the alley.
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A girl in school uniform is standing there with 2 floating lanterns orbiting around her. And there is the 3rd one at the back of Naomi.
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"I m in bad shape, but I can still manage it."
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"Good." The girl jumps down just in front of Naomi. "They are intelligent evil <Kami>. Though in lower class, these Onigami could be deadly if fight in group."
Naomi doesn't question anymore coz three bombshells are just fired: one straight towards her, one towards the girl and the third in a strange angle that makes it reflects and bounces in an unpredictable way.
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Naomi throws her Scythe and a strange aurora glows in her palm remotely controlling the flying Scythe to volley the incoming bombshells. Two are successfully blocked and "dismantled" into pieces before it flies back to its master.
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The third is blown away precisely by the shotgun in the girl's hands. It is exploded into ashes like a clay pigeon.
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"Impressive! This is REALLY SOMETHING!" The girl praises Naomi.
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"As remarkable as you."Naomi replies politely.
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Now that there is only one spinning ape on the light post. It screams pathetically and lets go itself. But this time it flees instead of committing suicide. The war ends when Kamaitachi appears in the alley as well, the rest of the enemies retract as well.
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"Wow! What a mess." The wise mouseman is disgusted by the remains and the strong smells like inside a slaughterhouse. "And who is the honorable guest here? Hi, Chōchin-obake san (提灯お化け)!"
Kamaitachi greets his same-kinds while examining the girl.
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"Someone sent me here. I am not a mercenary. I m the body guard. Call me,
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Kyoko Kirigiri!"
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"Thank you Kyoko san. We better leave here quickly. But I need to take this old guy with me."Naomi moves towards Kaneda after "retrieving" the Evoker into her body.
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"IKZ!" [X], no, Kirigiri can't wait to leave. Strangely she feels incredibly motivated in this mission.
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No words can suitably describe how Hideo's heart is feeling now,
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Thrilled, Confused, Helpless, and in short Chaotic.
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One thing he can be sure: do not stay out of Genji's sight if I want to stay alive - A few minutes ago, the most hated person I try to avoid but now the only BEING I could bet my life on!
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How ironic and bizarre life is!
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Shit! Meanwhile is Naomi under attack as well? But wait....what if SHE IS JUST LIKE GENJI, a girl with superpower that can easily turf these creatures out?
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Or, are they really HUMAN?
Is that what Genji meant -
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DON'T HOLD HER BACK BY BEING A BURDEN TO YOUR LOVED ONE.
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All of a sudden, Hideo feels desperately LONELY and ISOLATED- HE IS NOT EVEN IN THE GAME!
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HIDEO, JUST STAY OUT OF TROUBLE! YOU RE NOT ABLE TO HANDLE THIS!
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"Stop!"The poor boy shouts in rage. Like a grumpy kid throwing a tantrum at himself.
It does surprise everyone in the battle field, hilariously.
"Oh, I guess our little impatient guest is losing his temper," Sarugami stretches his arms, a strange weapon slowly emerges and spans in between his hands, a Shimenawa made of golden metallic threads with shide blades tiding on it, "maybe I should jump to my proposal shortly."
Tsuna remains silent and points the sword towards his opponent instead. He predicts the negotiation will end up a failure soon.
"Ootengu betrayed YAN by stealing SOMETHING PRECIOUS from us and violate the rules of Extinguishment. He is hiding something from us!"
"That's not my business. And it's hilarious you ask me to be another traitor? By the way, he was just a puppet, just another expendable asset of the Netherworld, isn't he? ONO IS THE REAL DEAL BEHIND THOSE EVIL PLANS, those human sacrifices, those demons' slavery!"
"You are wrong, warrior. That's not Ono's idea."
"!"
"Ootengu, he went too far. He betrayed humans as well! Those sacrifices, they were HIS IDEAS. He was the Architect of those blades. He ALTERED the original design for the sake of his PLAN!”
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Tsuna's body and mind is shocked, not completely by the "revealing of truth" by the Kami.
Those words just reassured his suspicion - He is sleeping with the ENEMY so far so long!
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"So, Tsuna! TERMINATE THE OATH, release our common enemy and we can cooperate, to KILL THE TRAITOR TOGETHER!"
".....even if that's true, I am still going after Ono. He is just another accomplice. By the way, you do make me interested in WHAT EVIL PLAN WAS IN ONO’s MIND?"
"I won't stop you from that, you human business is never our interest. YAN CAN ALWAYS ASSIGN THE NEW AMBASSADOR,” Sarugami laughs and continues, “but for the question you just asked,” he pauses and starts swinging his Shimenawa, “IT IS OUR TOP SECRET!”
“And what does this have to do with my FRIENDS?”
“Grrrrrrr……!” The Onigawa troop roars impatiently while their Commander remains silent with no response this time.
Tsuna suddenly withdraws the Higekiri, turns and grabs the STUNNED HIDEO's arm and says,
“YOUR ONI BUSINESS IS NEVER MY INTEREST. And I really don’t care what business Ono was dealing with too. I will just settle mine alone, one by one, in my own way. But if you dare to hurt my friends, you better know the consequence in advance.”
"Well- Too bad! Warrior. I am still thinking we can be good friends." Sarugami steps forward, and his subordinates are growling behind.
Without turning to face him, Tsuna keeps walking away by saying,
"Too bad this conversation couldn’t make us understand each other a bit more. But you should take my last warning seriously: DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE US! Me, my old friend and THE GIRL!”
"Grrrrrrrr!" The Ape troop is about to charge. But their commander stops them,
"You are lucky, Tsuna. I think that's the end for today."Suspiciously, the Army of Kami retrieves without taking any further actions. “I am looking forward to our next gathering though….”
BEHOLD! BEHOLD! HERE COMES THE GREATEST SARUGAMI SAMA! BEHOLD! BEHOLD! HERE COMES……….
The place returns quiet and the air around smells fresh once again.
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<Ootengu or Ono, I don’t care what you are hiding in your bags. All I want is to UNLOCK those wicked artifacts and
LET ME SEE HER AGAIN!>
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Tsuna is walking along the bamboo trail back to the hotel with Hideo. Both of them look somber all the way. Then in the midway, Tsuna stops by saying,
"Reveal yourself, SUMMONER. I am not going to thank you anyway. Just a friendly reminder to you."
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A girl jumps down from the 90 feet beech. Her reddish hair floating like the feather of a Phoenix in the air, an archer carrying a vintage style leather slant bag.
Robin, the Summoner of Phoenix and definitely the APE HATERS NOW- she was the variable that may impose potential hazard to them if ever they tried to battle Watanabe Tsuna - that was how Sarugami thinking about before the negotiation ended.
"Finally, we meet again, WATANABE TSUNA!"Robin says.
".....whom you saw wasn't me, it s my AVATAR."
"OOTENGU, one of the ARCH DEMON."
"So, Ms Robin. On behalf of Federal Government of U.S., are you here to arrest me? For TERRORIST ATTACK? “
"I won't,"Robin smiles, "at least not for now. I am just curious what exactly is [HOME] cooking here. And what are the DEALS they are doing with the Demons!?”
"And you think I will tell you? Why?"
"Because you have your own agenda, [II]. And that's why you have sent HER to assist protecting your GIRL FRIEND here surreptitiously.”
"Oh, I almost forgot. You have made friend with Kirigiri san already." "We CAN BE FRIENDS, I admit. We were PARTNERS once and she just saved me."
Tsuna smiles and continues to walk, leaving Hideo and Robin there.
“And as far as I have known, she IS in great danger now! But why? Apart from hunting down just another summoner, why do they bother to hijack the whole damn train full of passengers just to stop Kyoko from arriving here, to protect the GIRL?” Robin begins to raise her voice at Tsuna when speaking of the runaway train, “and to stop me from investigating you?” 403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAPMhIoGRID
Tsuna does stop for a while, he may try to figure out-
<What is going on with Kyoko? How could she be moved by someone like her?>
"I will find out myself, Watanabe San. I will."
"So this is the American style, instead of sneaking and spying, you confront your target directly." Tsuna starts walking away again while mocking. “Or is that frankness the true virtue of the GREAT ALAMAN?”
"You don’t need to tease me, Tsuna. There is no way to hide from each other!" Robin yells, "our fates are all CONNECTED already! Let us cooperate in saving your GIRL FRIEND, and ending the BLIGHT together!"
"I ll take these words kinda blessing to our relationship, Madam. And I will definitely consider your proposal, at least by the moment I have finished my business. Finally, I should welcome you to Kyoto. Enjoy!” Tsuna smiles and leaves.
"But two things I must clarify here before I go: Firstly Kyoko is here to protect someone else. Ito san is far more stronger than you think she is." Tsuna stops by turning to Hideo, "secondly, she is not my ガールフレンド❤️"
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Tsuna finishes and disappears in the bamboo forest.
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".....Watanabe Tsuna....what exactly is in your mind? Are you friend or enemy to us?”
"WAIT!" Hideo shouts that almost freak Robin out.
"So! What is it, Mr. Kobayashi?"
"You mentioned that Naomi maybe in trouble now. But why should they go after her!? I should rush to find her !"
"Come~on" Robin shakes her head and sighs, "you don't get what the cool guy just said: Ito san is FAR MORE STRONGER than we perceive. She should be fine now!"
Hideo just runs before she finished her sentence.
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"This guy is a serious PROBLEM CHILD 問題児!"
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Robin keeps shaking her head while trying to catch up with the desperado.
It was like the same bamboo field. He suppressed his breath and sneaked through the vegetation like a hound. He knew the prey was near. So he further slowed down his pace, like a panther afraid of making any noise that may just alarm the injured beast.
Yes, though heavily wounded, a lion is still a lion. And its sucker punch in the midst of death throes could be lethal as usual.
He peeked through the bamboo. The beast was sitting and trembling on the ground. It breathed out hot steam behind the red Oni mask with a anonymously long nose, while blood kept soaking through its robe.
Supporting its fallen body with a gigantic Tachi, the Arch-Demon strived to regain its vitality for the last battle.
But he never knew his opponent was far stronger than he expected.
“Watanabe Tsuna…….the most deadly swordsman amongst the Shitenno….”
”Ootengu. Have you ever imagined yourself like a reservoir dog like now…you should be glad the one to behead you is guy like me rather than a small potato!” Tsuna slowly drew his sword, Higekiri.
” Higekiri ….also known as Onikiri. You have just amputated [Him] using it…now my head is going to be chopped down by it too.”
”And I will use it to behead all demons and” Tsuna slowly moved forward,”the ONE who murdered my beloved!”
”Hahahaha!” Ootengu laughed out loud, this made him bleed vigorously like fountaining. But the demon just wouldn’t care anymore.”I SEE! You are not killing for JUSTICE, your wrath has contaminated your soul! You are looking for REVENGES! Revenge on both MEN AND DEMONS!”
”…..and starting from now! Arch-Demon!” Tsuna hold his sword with both hands and ready to sentence his criminal to death.
”We can WORK THAT OUT TOGETHER.”
Tsuna stopped.
”You and me, together we can turf every demons on this earth. And to slaughter every TRAITORS you hated —your master, the whole Minamoto clan or even,” the eyes behind the Oni mask shone in a wicked glamour, “EMPEROR ICHIJO!”
”You want me to cooperate with a demon? Making myself a common enemy of all mankind? You must be kidding me.”
”Be true to yourself, Watanabe Tsuna. You ARE DEMON. You have lost that last humanity inside you already. I can feel no mercy, no love, no pride or shamefulness inside you. All these are long gone with YOUR SISTER!”
“Where did you get this from? Say it!”Tsuna was far from surprised to be scanned through by a demon. He felt like NAKED in front of this creature.
“SO,” Ootengu didn’t dodge, the Higekiri was about to cut his body into halves, “FUSE WITH ME! Use my POWER! Inherit my IMMORTALITY.”
”Answer me first! Who told you about MY SISTER?”
The Arch-demon smirked, “ONO TAKAMURA, the human ambassador of our Netherworld, he was the architect of all those wicked weapons, those cursed slayers which captivated SOULS of SACRIFICED HUMANS!”
Tsuna knew Ono, the guy first introduced Emperor Ichjo and the whole Anti-Demon troop the idea of mankind’s last resort— the Demon Slayers.
“YAN, the Emperor of our Netherworld, sent me here to work with you human. Because you human need something from Netherworld to build these weapons. My body,” Ootengu proudly stretched his big wings. The silver feathers shimmered in the sunlight. “these feathers are my precious gifts to you humans!”
[YES. I REMEMBER NOW: OOTENGU IS THE WEAPON…..]
”But to make them more powerful and target orientated, they need something more jinxed, accursed: human’s despair, rages and regret in his state of moribund! That was Ono’s suggestion. That was the real secret power of these weapons!”
Ootengu slowly stranded up. His 2.5 meter body casted a big shadow over Tsuna.
”Now that the mission was accomplished. Ono wanted to ERASE this MISTAKE by eliminating ME, the only one who knows the truth behind these cursed weapons, so that no one - particularly Yan, would never know his secret plan. Then the NEXT STAGE can be continued in his good hands….”
“So what? Kill you then I can at least eliminate the source of these damned weapons!”
”No, Tsuna. Without Ootengu, there is still other Tengu and most important, still Ono Takamura over there.”
Tsuna was silent. His hunch told him this was true. ONO TAKAMURA WAS THE REAL DEAL. Now it was time to disclose his crime and hunt him down —before it was too late!
”TO HUNT HIM DOWN, YOU NEED MY STRENGTH! So now, SAY THE OATH AND BY THE RITE OF FUSION, WE BECOME ONE!
AND MOST IMPORTANT, I WILL HELP YOU TO SMASH THOSE WICKED WEAPONS, NEUTRALIZE THOSE CURSES AND RELEASE THE DOOMED SPIRITS INSIDE!”
[SHIKIBU! May God still have his mercy upon us! We may finally meet again!]
Tsuna closed his eyes, something EVIL was luring his heart:
FUSION! Isn’t it what you come for here, Watanabe Tsuna!
……..
Tsuna slowly opens his eyes. It is like the same bamboo field. He is somewhere in the midway back to Lunar Hotel.
”Meow~” Genji suddenly appears from somewhere to greet his friend.
”Sorry, my friend,”Tsuna smiles and says, “I m just day dreaming.”
Genji half closes his eyes, showing his friend a sign of uneasiness.
Mother! Please save me! Mother can you hear me?!
It is just the same old dream. At first, I will notice myself being trapped in the same small room- deemed, somber and stifling. Then I will hear a woman sobbing, with her skinny silhouette slowly appearing in the corner. My heart sinks.
My hands reach out. But never manage to touch her, my Mother watching me in despair. Then I will notice something stealthy behind. It rakes its scrawny figure on the floor, making some horrifying sounds aloud- just like someone scratching the floor with a “knife”.
I turns and it is the same old monster I will face- the Iron Slender Man. Faceless. Its abdomen will gradually split wide, until something creepy crawling out from its body……
a girly figure, soaking in disgusting body fluid, and having MY SCARED FACE…..
Every time the nightmare will end here as I will wake up, covered with cold sweat. At least I can escape from the devil inside me.
But it’s different this time.
I refuse to wake up. I run desperately away from the other ME, who is howling and crawling fast towards me.
HELP……ME…..
WHAT ARE YOU SAYING?!
S.A.V.E.
As I try to communicate with her, I can only hear her murmuring the last word “US” while her head falls on the ground-
she is being beheaded by someone at my back, a good looking gentleman in traditional Savile Row tailored suit, holding a shiny TACHI. He smiles and looks down on me with his eagled eyes. And I recognize him,
YUJI KANEDA.
“!” Naomi opens her eye wide, finding herself covered in cold sweat.
”Thank god! You are back eventually. I am just worrying if I should call Prince Philip to save you!” Kirigiri breaths out a sign of relief.
“…..who is Prince…Philip?”
”!?” Kirigiri bursts in laugh while replying,”that’s your Prince! Princess Aurora! (from Sleeping Beauty )”
Naomi feels abrupt at first and then they both laugh out loud. Kirigiri’s silly joke did work somehow, at least Naomi can assure that she is no longer trapped in her horrible dream….
”Where is…the OLD GUY we saved? Is he alive?”
”He is still in coma. Though,” Kirigiri frowns as she goes on, “he seems physically ok at the moment…”
“Sorry, I don’t quite get it…”
”His wound,” Kirigiri sits upright while continuing, “WAS BEING HEALED BY HIMSELF, MYSTERIOUSLY. BOSS IS RIGHT, HE IS LIKE NO OTHER.”
Naomi remains mute. She is not surprised as if it’s taken for granted.
”Can you bring me to him?” Naomi struggles to sit on the bed. She still feels painful in the right half of her body.
Kirigiri suddenly blunts her face and replies in a serious tone, “I am sorry but that’s forbidden. My client couldn’t let me to do that.”
”Your…client? Who?”
“That I can disclose to you,” Kirigiri smiles and says, “and you know him as well. His name is Watanabe Genji. “
”Everything,”Kirigiri speaks softly, trying to reduce the impact to Naomi, “Genji has been engaged with certain association in search of a rectification ever since the beginning of the CRISIS. And he s been investigating the damn things for quite a long time, including you.” She holds Naomi’s hand gently while speaking.
[Weird! Why should I care bout this girl? It isn’t cool at all, not cool, Kyoko!]
”[Hounds]…you mean he s been engaged with?”
“Sorry””it’s forbidden, right?”
Kyoko nobs. Naomi feels sour and depressed. She feels like being treated as a fool for decade. She even suspects the motives behind all those continuous support in her career as well as the special friendship that built up all through these years between Genji and her. Following she feels embarrassed and lost: like a child clams up when she fails to hide her naughty act and being exposed in front of her parents.
”Genji didn’t tell you coz he treasures the relationship with you, avoiding to complicate the situation.”
”Thank you for telling me all these…” Naomi lays back in the bed. She feels a bit better after hearing Kyoko’s explanation.
”May I ask where we are now?”
”That I can answer you.” Kyoko smiles and says, “this is my room. Genji is a perfect planner. This apartment he bought situates not too far but not too closed to the hotel you are staying. Best for [coordination]. And you don’t need to worry about the bill. He s the boss. So stay as long as you like to, though I guess you would rather prefer the luxurious room in Lunar, right?”
”Thank you. And last request: May I order my meal now? I am super hungry now.”
”That’s for sure! I am expert of foodie delivery! You know that’s the first rule of survival of an Otaku like me.” Kyoko takes out her cellphone while at the same time handing something else to Naomi,
”but right now, you may find this water melon flavor candy super refreshing!”
”She IS a fashionista!” Naomi just examines the stylish endorser figure on the wrapping paper, “Meiki…..Moeko?”
After finished her kabayaki eel rice, Naomi decides to go for a walk with Kyoko’s permission. (Kyoko has clarified that she never means to surveil her, just needs to guarantee the safety of her “subject” as per commission). Naomi steps out the lowrise apartment, a minimalist fare face concrete modern architecture building. It is situated around one kilometer from Tenryuji and several kilometer from Katsura River, where Lunar Hotel abuts.
Now is 6pm in Arashiyama. The sunset colors the sky orange hued. Even the wind tastes sweet and sherry.
It should be the precious moment for a walk with your beloved. Naomi sighs. Since when she has given up of questioning life.
Why should I be different from ordinary others?
Why should I be orphan-like even when my parents still existed but they never cared about me?
And why should I be an orphan all in a sudden and all left aside is just a blood sucking Scythe as my life-long companion? The Curse that follows me relentlessly.
Not to mention those bizarre Oni fighting super-heroine stories….
And the worst part, why Yuji Kaneda? Why does this bastard ever exist? And why should I ……
A summer breeze blows through the alley and her sentimental mind. A figure is standing not too far away,
his silver grey long hair wiggling in the air, reflecting the beautiful daylight with an enchanting glare,
Watanabe Genji.
Naomi’s heart feels like bursting. She just loses her sensibility. Running towards the man of mysteries, Naomi holds him in her arms tight.
Nothing really matters now. She just needs a hug!
”Everything will go well…..everything.” Genji caresses the girl’s head while whispering softly at her ears.
Naomi’s eyes are watering with warm tears. Genji’s hug is a haven to her poor soul, calamitous and fragile. Ironically she knows this an illusion, crystal clearly. This relationship -is like a double edged sword to her!
Her heart tells her: HE IS SO FAMILIAR, SO INTIMATE, YET A STRANGER, AN ENEMY TO HER.
Genji, however, is not the only guy whom rushes for the rescue of her heart. Not too far away, another warm body is also ready to offer his generous hug. But he just misses the chance, again,
Kobayashi Hideo, a poor boy breathlessly dashed through his way following the trail of his rival just to witness this heart-broken scene. He faints, physically and emotionally.
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{I AM HER CHOSEN ENEMY!"}
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”Naomi! Stay out of him! He IS DANGEROUS TO YOU!”
“Kobayashi….San?”Surprised and a little bit flattering, Naomi whispers and takes a peek behind just enough to confirm without directly facing him.
“He s right…” Tsuna pushes her gently away, “and you will KILL ME ONCE YOU HAVE TO.”
“What…. Are you talking about? Genji?” Her body is like being electric shocked when his words piercing her mind. It sounds ridiculous, but true. She just knows it, instinctively.
”Go back, Naomi.” Tsuna turns and vanishes into the darkness.
YOU DON’T NEED TO BE SORRY. THAT IS OUR FATE, MY REDEMPTION.
Naomi does not chase him. In fact she cannot. Her feet are like freezing on the ground and so is her heart. Tears keep running down her face. Now that her Haven has vanished with HIM. A anonymous sorrow and loneliness has overtaken her.
And I cannot drag into hell with me ANOTHER MAN WHO DEVOTES SO MUCH TO ME, HIDEO! No! I am HELL!
Faraway, So Close. The 30m long alley is like an ocean apart to them. Hideo and Naomi, both fear to move one step closer to each other, afraid of triggering the doctrine of frustration, ruining their fragile yet precious relationship in an unreturnable way.
”I am sorry but….we cannot meet at this moment, Hideo,” Naomi says, still afraid of turning around to face him, “yet, thank you for coming (to my life).”
The girl flees. A cold breeze is blowing through the lonely alley again.
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“Sorry… boy. I guess I shouldn’t disturb you now.” Robin, who has been escorting Hideo all the way till now and witnessing every DRAMAS, feels kinda pity of the poor guy. Allowing more privacy for him would be the best thing to comfort him now. So the Phoenix decides to leave.
Hideo did not hear the conversation between Tsuna and Naomi. He cannot figure out what is inside the girl’s mind of course and that seems to be biggest torture to him. Yet,
That s NOT the end, Naomi. And I won’t let it ends like that! Never! He clasps the envelop Genji given him tightly. Swearing to himself.
“I suppose you have had your dinner already.” Kyoko is enjoying her chikin (Korean fired chicken) while greeting Naomi’s back. Her eyes keep staying on her portable pc, running her favorite game at 120HZ for 60fps cap.
”Ah…Enjoy.” Naomi doesn’t want to interrupt the gamer. In fact she just wants to hide herself from everyone at this moment.
“By the way,”Kyoko quickly finishes her bite and continues,”you are lucky to have your mousy fren as your companion. Making me feel jealous of for a while, I have to admit.”
”?” Naomi smiles. “He can be a pain in your ass sometime”
The girls burst in laughter before Naomi gets into her room.
<SHE IS HOME AND SAFE NOW.>
Kyoko types a few words on her PC.
<Thank you. GN.>
Kyoko switches off the PC and turns off the light inside the room. She lays on the sofa bed but remains awoke: partly to stay alert of any possible assault and party to be ready to “entertain” the girl if she feels uneasy, down or sleepless. Keeping her “subject” in “good shape/perfect mood” is as important as her safe. That is detailed in her contract.
She takes out her Samsung Galaxy and opens the WhatsApp. 96 unread messages from the same account: Dumb Sim. So she strolls down to the bottom and just reads the last few threads.
<Guess wat! Anon in a Black Hawk! Back to the Base.>-selfie
<WTH! You won’t believe what I see: MV1127 RV! I m gonna blast one in CoD tonight!>-selfie deleted
<Hey….you ok? Hope u well…>
<Can’t believe it man thy ve 8 chiefs for various cuisines. But just no Japanese. Then they have excuses to sneak out for local delicacy>
<Breaking News: Bald Head visits Hair Salon twice a month!!!!!!>
<Hey….how s you there? Miss you>
Idiot….
Kyoko just types: <Miss you t> she pauses, thinks twice then backspaces and retypes:
<you just wasted me 1 minute reading your silly crap you legit owe me an Hatsune omakase now. Mark this in your calendar.dumb.>
3 seconds later:
<DONE! DEPOSIT PAID! RESERVE A TIME SLOT FOR US 🫶🏻!>
Naomi has been vegged out on the bed for a while. Although her mind keeps spinning, there is hardly any logics behind all these meanderings. Fragments of memories clash with chaotic sentiments and nostalgia, sometime some wild flights of fantasy and imaginations, assumptions and hypotheses. Too many “if” and “then” sadly override by “but” and “yet”.
Until she is really exhausted, she takes out the envelop Kaneda has passed her and a note with address printed on it.
”What are you trying to tell me, Kaneda?
……….Mother?”
{This SUPPOSES to be Ito San 's itinerary starting from <the date after tomorrow.>. You two may meet up, well, at some time.}
Hideo opens a can of Asahi he just bought on his way back and rests on the Mies Van Der Rohan’s Barcelona Coach inside the hotel villa. The smart phone automatically connects to the in-room amusement system and auto-play his favorite STING’s songs.
But he is just hearing without listening.
Hideo opens the envelope Genji gave him before and reads the itinerary again.
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<Gallery Venichu>
37-2 Oike Dori(御池通）Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, 604-8381, Kyoto.
“Naomi,………I can stay quietly by your side, just watch and listen to every steps you take…….every breathe you take. That’s enough for me already.”
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Every breath you take403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpgjg3rGNLX
And every move you make403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Fj1Rxckww
Every bond you break403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡboY5s6iKXs
Every step you take403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhb72ACEvXz
I'll be watching you403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7d66iwAxEC
(“Every Breath You Take”- by THE POLICE 1983)
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“ Marutamachi Street → Takeyamachi Street → Ebikawa Street → Nijo Street → Oshikoji Street → Oike Street →……Oike Street….”the face of the little girl turn grumpy while being stuck by her bad memory of how the song should be sang. She even yanked her mum’s hand away and stopped literally on the path. Tried so hard to recall that from her memory.
”Hahahaha…Naomi, you should not push yourself too hard. It’s just a game anyway.” The girl’s mum caressed the blonde hair of her daughter while trying to calm down her. But she knew her tender words were never encouraging enough to the little girl who desperately seek the way to memorize the whole song with the catchy rhyme - the Marutakei song (丸竹夷）that every classmates of her could sing to the end fluently, a song that signified your native identities in order to avoid any alienations upheld against “foreigners”.
The mum knew her girl, though innocent and adorable in every way, has the most DETERMINED MIND and HEART.
Naomi, the 9 years old little girl, felt most disconnected in the place where she was recently living- Kyoto. Her look spelled the difference: blonde, bluish retina, white skin. Her fluent Japanese spoken yet in a Scottish accent spelled the difference. Even her family background spelled the difference:
a single parent family she used to lived with her blonde mum whom she never knew about her career, her financial background, even her social lives(did she have friends?) as well as her origin or the mysterious family background.
Then, it was unbelievably hard for a kid like her to be “accepted” or to get along with the peers in a traditional japanese society(to be more specific a small community situated somewhere in Kyoto)where feudal principles and morals still dominating.
And it was particularly hard for Naomi, a little beauty born with cheerful opened mind, and a helpful and approachable heart to everyone.
“Go away! You little witchy freak! Go back to the boys you use to deceive!”
Despite countless rudest and insulting phases Naomi has been responded every time she tried to integrate herself into the community, she would still apologize irrevocably with the brightest and most cheerful smile to her little classmate “friends”.
Yet once there was an exception.
”I am sorry, Naomi. I just have a lengthy dialogue with your class mistress.” That day after school, Naomi’s mother was a bit late to pick up the poor little girl lingering alone inside the campus. It wasn’t hard for her to notice the unusual sadness in Naomi’s eyes that very unlikely to be subject to her late arrival.
”What was it? My dearest?”
”…..I am ok, mum. It is…fine.”
“It is not fine. They just crossed the line this time. Mrs. Kazuyo has told me the whole story….and my dear, I am sorry to have” “No! Mum! It is not your fault. I would never blame you on that!”
Naomi couldn’t hold back her tears even though she was still trying her best to comfort her mum: she knew very well Mother felt equally aggrieved and disrepected.
[See those wicked EYES! My mother told me that she belongs to a Witch family. And her mum may have sacrificed her dad in those horrible rites! I swear I have watched a documentary akin on TV before!]
They were holding each other tight while bursting in tears. Feeling almost being looking down on by those spiteful sights from everywhere: students, parents and even teachers.
“Oh, dear! I am sorry. I am the worst mammy in the world. And….”
”WHERE IS DADDY!? WHY SHOULD HE LEAVE US!?”
The mother didn’t make any sound, not even sobbing any more. The little girl was regretted and ashamed to have ask. So she hid her face in her mother’s bosom.
There are always some taboos you shouldn’t offend. The mother’s face turn pale and simply -emotionless. That was the first scariest face Naomi could hardly forget her mother, always tender and kind and gentle to almost everyone, once wearing.
On the next day, Naomi burnt her little note book with the lyrics of the Marutakei song written on it in the backyard.
“ Marutamachi Street → Takeyamachi Street → Ebikawa Street → Nijo Street → Oshikoji Street → Oike Street →……Oike Street….
Never Mind……”
Since then, the blonde has built up a fence around her elegantly polite and friendly appearance. And if anyone dares to offend,
She would be DETERMINED to fight back, with no prior warning.
I was too careless! That traitor! How can he be hiding from us for so long !?
The AMBASSADOR was running desperately away from the hunters, with his hand covering the deep wound, made by the TACHI, on his abdomen. Blood kept running vigorously out of it. The wound was so big and deep that the intestine almost spilled out. His last blow 《秘劍 天竜》-”Ultima Sword: Tenryu” had used up his all-out effort. But he knew it could only create large enough turbulence to temporarily stop their chase, without even making any casualties.
The gnawing pain on his back deteriorated at a stroke and was so heavy that almost sent him to a coma. It was long and bone-deep, caused by certain kind of iron whip:
The Golden Shimenawa!
“If ever I could dodge that BASTARD’s backstab…..!”
Ono Takamura fell on the ground eventually. The THREE RUBIES rolled out of his cloak. His whole body was soaked in blood. His REGENERATION power was not strong and fast enough to revitalize those deadly wounds. He was dying.
”Mother……I fail you at last….” Ono closed his eyes and waited quietly for death to come.
And it didn’t take long for HER to come to his side.
” FUJIWARA SAN!?……..Kaoruko?”
“A life for a life,”
the legendary novelist in Heian period, supposing to have passed away years ago, appeared in front of Ono, whispering in a calm, flat and low voice, almost with no inflections,
“that is a draw now, Ambassador Sama.”
Maybe he knew his fate was now resting on somebody else, Ono simply let himself taken over by the sense of powerlessness and lack of control. He closed his eyes and fell unconscious.
When Ono Takamura found himself lying on a tatami floor, he was overwhelmed by the grace and comfort of his surrounding. The place was filled with sweetish smell of cherry blossom and strong flavor of gyokuro. All the decorations and details of the room were dedicated but never extravagant: the cheerful painting scrolls with compound and layering colors hanging on the tokonoma, the Buddhist tabernacle with hemp cloth covering, gold paint, cut gold leaf, ink, mineral pigments, and metalwork displaying underneath, and the jūnihitoe bedding he was covering with, all were elegantly mixed and matched in a noble taste of living style.
His wounds were healed, thanks to his inbred recovery power. Ono knew how long he had slept here. It was just a matter of time. His power was kinda like to compete the rate of decay with that of growth, with the latter being far superior than the first if he was in a “perfectly at rest” status.
”This little shrine,” a feminine figure stepped inside the room with a Japanese tea set on a bamboo tray, “you gifted me as an asylum for both my soul and reputation, becomes ingeniously the haven for our noblest ambassador. Who would have guessed?”
The Shrine was protected by some kind of powerful SPELL that even the Emperor of Netherworld and his loyalists could not detect its existence.
”Yaaaah……that is Karma. The moment I saved you from the eternal punishment sentenced by Yan, I never thought I would be deserted and doomed as I am now.”
”if Karma does exist, then I should abandon you murderer to avoid any payback moments to me.” Kaoruko poured her favorite gyokuro while she was speaking, in her flat and low, emotionless voice.
”I don’t deserve your kindness. I should be treated like the prey, the prize in the hunting game, running away endlessly from chasing and tracking down by HUMANS AND ONIS in the rest of my life….”
”That sounds perfect to you.”
”Our greatest novelist, wrote books and poems filled with beautiful and enlightenment. Yet just knowing to speak heartbreaking and sarcastic words.”
”That was a charge found guilty by Yan.”
”and that was the woman I loved and is worth my Life to save.”
For a moment, they both remained silent but looking in eyes of each other.
“It must had been love, Ono. But it is all over now. The moment you rejected me, I decided to reserve it for a better me. Now that I have saved you, we are not owing each other anything.”
“I owe myself the courage to give and take, the courage to live the way of life which is true to myself and could only be found in your books, your poem and in YOU.”
“Enough…..Ono Sama. Enough. Save those flowery and poisonous words to your followers. And as you always say: you belong to the brighter future. So just let me be forgotten quietly and peacefully in the past.” Kaoruko tried to finish it fast before she was either tempted or tempered by the HYPOCRITE / POLITICIAN she once cared a lot about.
”Wait.” Ono reached out to catch Kaoruko’s hand before she stood up and left.
“How dare”the woman was a bit surprised and overwhelmed by his sudden and arrogant act and was about to react or make any <proper> response before she saw something, something too astonishing to catch her attention:
ONE Gigantic Rubies shimmering in surreal and peculiar fluorescence, indicating that they shouldn’t exist in the Human Reign,
Neither should it exist in the Netherworld,
The Wickedest Hearts in all possible worlds.
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Kaneda Yuji is reading in his room, an Edo styled tatami room somewhere near Lunar Hotel. Despite the high risk of being the target of assaults, assassination or kidnap, there are not many security measures around the area.
Because there is no such need anymore. There won’t be any threat to his life instantly.
May be there never is.
Neither is the wise old gentleman feeling any in this cozy room. The chill has made him concentrating in his reading that he even doesn’t notice someone just entering the room.
”Kaneda san. I don’t mean to be offensive. But I guess it is the right moment to talk. A straight talk.”
Kaneda closes the book slowly and looks up to his honorable guest and replies peacefully,
”I am just waiting for your come, my boss, Watanabe Sama!”
”So,” Tsuna sits at the other corner of the room, remaining a sizable <safety> distance in between, “where should we start from,
ONO TAKAMURA SAMA!”
”You feel different…..somehow.” The mouse comments while he is pretending watching TV but peeking his master putting on her makeup.
Instead of Haus Labs’(by Lady Gaga) unique “mustard yellow”Hy-Power pigment paint (which is Naomi’s favorite that she can apply/blush as eyeshadow or lipstick depending on various occasions), she chooses the Rouge Red by Dior. Make up expresses not just the personality but the mood or the frame of mind of the users in a particular moment.
Yellow is the signature color of Naomi, the way she would like to channel her inner desire to revolt against a world full of cruelty and bias yet still maintaining an optimistic and positive state of mind by brightening up her everyday routine with a pop of sunshine.
“Are you trying to be sarcastic to me?”Naomi is tying a big black butterfly of ShuShu/Tong on her ponytail. Suddenly she feels owing herself a strong desire to cut them short.
“If somehow you are feeling bad, then yes I am. But I never intend to.”
”*sigh*~why can’t you just be a little bit more gentle and kind to me at this moment, Master? You know I need that…..”
”You know I can’t, darling.” The mouse yawns and stretching his body, getting ready to set off. “My demonic instant forbidden me. Though I REALLY REALLY want to. Ha!Ha!Ha!”
”This reason just becomes untenable. You should have known that too.”
“Morning,”Kyoko just knocks the door, “sorry to disturb, madam. But if you are about to leave, I should be ready to accompany you. You know, that’s my job and I have the right to inform you.”
Naomi opens the door. She is carrying her red MultiPocket Micro Bag by AcneStudios with her.
“I SEE.” Naomi keeps walk pass Kyoko who can’t stop eyeing her with mediative eyes. “I am just curious: what measures you or THE CONTRACT will enforce if I REFUSE?”
<WTH! SHE FEELS TOTALLY DIFFERENT !!>
”I m just kidding,” Naomi continues immediately as if she is not intending to listen to any reply from Kyoko, “I am VERY flattered to have you by my side, Miss Bodyguard.”
Kyoko catches up from behind and opens the door for Naomi. “After you.”
”Thank you.” Naomi replies with a PENETRATING SMILE.
”Wow~”
”?”
”She feels that too.” the Mouse is whispering when Naomi walks on the street, facing the refreshing morning breeze, while Kyoko is following her steps not too far apart. “By the way, don’t you notice it yourself yet?”
“Like what?”
”You sounds terribly like SOMEONE!”
The smile just fades away from the pretty face.
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It is not far away from the place they live to Okie Dori, the Gallery Venichu, by car of course. A comfortable 34min ride will get you through the cozy and beautiful street scape of Arashiyama to the destination.
”Hard to imagine it’s your first drive.” Naomi praises Kyoko’s high quality driving skill in place.
”Well, technically it is not. You know some of my previous missions may had involved driving drone car remotely and the experiences were on par with real ones indeed,”
”Except that you are risking your own life here today.”
”Hahaha. I am the most reliable driver and bodyguard on Earth.”
”But I am the most riskful passenger in the world.”Naomi draws down the windshield to let in the summer breeze.
Kyoko just drives cross the Kamino Bridge over the Katsura River. The street scape shafts from rural to suburban, though still embraced by a subtle historical vibe everywhere.
”Tsuna is the most careful person I have met in [HOME].His every decision deserve my 100% trust. He should have fortified sufficient measures to make this ride <clean and safe>.”
“Let me guess: such measures should involve the Demonic force, right?”
”TBH, I don’t know. But I can tell you we do have ALLIANCE which are not humans. There are KEY MEMBERS in [HOME] that can communicate, liaise, or even recruit <friendly assistance>who share our same Dream, from worlds outside Human’s domain. Though Tsuna is definitely not one of them, his outstanding charisma always enables him the development of strong relationships amongst different <members>.”
”[HOME]…….supposed to eliminate all the EVILS on Earth and to rebuild a true HOME for ALL BEINGS - Humans, Animals, Plants and DEMONS…..what an astonishing and bold statement.” Naomi just read <doctrine> from the official web-site of [HOME]. “And they are still recruiting members! Interesting.”
”Yeah~ that s one of the reasons I preferred them to [HOUNDS] few years ago. Anyway, I have quitted now and I can actually take freelance jobs from both sides! Hahahaha!”
”I SEE. Sounds cool to be a <Double Agent>, right?”Naomi is kidding while gazing at the sky. Far away there is a black spot moving fast from East towards Osaka.
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“So King Arthur is eventually summoning his Knights Of Round Table now.”
Naomi is murmuring to herself as Kamaitachi is staring the dear <apprentice> with his eyes of anxiety.
<What is going on with you, Naomi? I cannot FEEL you anymore!>
Kobayashi Hideo appears in front of the entrance gate of Lunar Hotel at 6:30am. He had burnt the itinerary last night and memorizes it hard. He even managed to trial test different routes last night in order to identify the safest and fastest one to the destination.
Robin is waiting for him. She is wearing a black Zara gauze top, trying to be in a more holiday mood.
“Ms Robin, please remember the promise you have made: I let you follow me distantly in return of your unconditional cover.”
“Ar.” Robin replies hastily, while slurping her favorite watermelon flavor Chupa Chup.
”By the way, thank you. I know you can always stalk me anyway, whether I like it or not….”
”Ar.” Robin just take another chup out from her slang bag and hands to Hideo, though he refuses politely. “Easy, man. Weather today is great for a walk. You should cherish every moment while you still can.”
A black spot is moving fast up above the sky.
“II-76? How come a Russian airlifted be allowed here?”
The gigantic military 4-engine turbofan air-lifter by the old Soviet Union departed from its home land and have travelled 3668km non stop in the air. To facilitate such unprecedented flight seriously violating the present Russia-NATO relationship, the U.S.J. Anti Demon League has been involved in ad-hoc negotiations with the Russian military during these days and a secret treaty was signed prior to the arrangement, while the giant machine has made a brief stop in Okinawa to pick up the corresponding personnel before it continues its journey to the final destination: Kansai International Airport.
20 minutes to land.
Announcement is made in Russian inside the abdomen of the giant bird.
Smokey tobacco ashes mix with strong flavor of gasoline and pungent odors of human sweat, signifying the existence of HIM in this Hollywood Tom Clancy’s stereotypical cinematic.
Sitting up-straight and attentively beside the BALD HEAD is Aoi Midori, the Commander of [HOUND]. But instead of her tight-fit glossy elastic tactical suit, she is wearing her Dress Blue uniform for a VERY special events with foreign officials.
Maki Kuznetsov, a member of [HOUND] is sitting opposite to them. But today she is bearing another title, The Iron Lady of Kuznetsov, in her gimnasterka. But one thing in common, she closes her eyes all through the journey no matter what hiccups have they experienced.
” Сейчас! Смогу ли я услышать какие-нибудь новости о ситуации до того, как мы приземлимся?
(Now! Will I be able to hear any news about the situation before we land?)”
The Old Guy with a dull straight but audacious face, sitting beside Maki, speaks in a pre-eminently tone.
The assembly of the Knights of the Round Table is happening soon.
16 hours afterward, inside the Grand Ballroom of Lunar Hotel,
after a long brutal and bloody death match, lay on the ground the losers while the winner stands tall under the spot light.
”All the obstacles have been removed,” a good-looking young man with shoulder long grey silver hair and a most remarkable red tattoo [III] on his forehead, speaks gently in the middle, a gesture to triumph over his rivals in front of him,
”now, shall we talk like BROTHERS do? TAKAMURA? Or should I call you KANEDA? YUJI KANEDA?”
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