x
Rain drops keep falling on the roof.
Kyoto belongs to Autumn, and it hates Summer. So the rain tastes sour and heart fretting.
But I love it.
I love the pitter patter when they kiss the clays. And I enjoy watching their bodies just shatter into pieces the moment they touch:
Kisses of Death,
A love which bears the unbearable weight of two cursed fates of fragility.
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"Father! To die for the family, I have no regret!" A tough and pretty girl stepped forward in front of her clan. Marching in confidence towards the hut.
"What are you doing here!? Get out of here! Shikibu!" A young samurai was driven crazy while he saw the girl entering the hut, wearing a paper-thinned chiffon dress. The infernal flame from the blooming furnace just lit up her little body. It was transformed into a transparent vase of pure artifact in which the young samurai can almost visualize and hear her burning rumbling heart.
"I am A Member of the Clan! My sacrifice will reinforce the deed and accomplish the SWORD!"
"NO! I WOULD NOT LET YOU DO THIS! NEVER!" The young samurai could no longer control himself and was about to move away from his position. Yet,
"Sit down! Tsuna!"An old man in front of the furnace held his arm tight and forced the young man to sit down again.
"Master! Please, listen to me! Shikibu is just a girl. She is not qualified!" Young Tsuna begged his master to reject the OBLATION.
Ōhara Tsuna, the Master of Blacksmith didn't say anything. Instead he looked at the little girl and was deeply convinced by her shimmering black eyes,
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Those Eyes of Determination!
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"Step forward! And take off your clothes."
Watanabe Shikubu, the last daughter of the clan walked on the flaming ground on her bare feet and slowly took off her dress.
The dress couldn't tolerate the heat and burnt in the midair.
Smoke got into Tsuma's eyes. Yet he refused to close them. He strived to withhold every last second he could see his be-loved little sister with his own eyes from fading.
The moment the girl walked passed him, each step further away from him was a stab at his heart. She was the headsman who executed every piece of memories he had survived with her in his mind. Their shared memories of untold secret love beyond brother and sister, forbidden pleasure of shamefulness and hardship to suppress the luring and tempting hearts.
They all died now! Left there were only those SIGHTS OF DETERMINATION of the girl, which were not even willing to stay on him for a moment.
His heart was about to break just then the girl stopped in front of the fire and looked back and said in her soft and gentle voice,
"Goodbye Tsuna! I did this for you. For a better and stronger Tsuna you deserved to be!" The girl finished and jumped into the infernal flame of the furnace!
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"SHIKIBU!!!!" Even though Tsuna cried and shocked desperately he still remained in his seat. Dare not to offend his Master.
The flame glowed in devilish red and burnt vigorously while the Master of Blacksmith cherished such uplifting moment and hit the piece of steel in front harder and harder.
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The Divine And Hell Blade , was about to be tempered! The old master just couldn't wait to touch his masterpiece while the young apprentice had not ceased starring at the flame. He had made up his mind,
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I would bury my last humanity with the past deep in these infernal flame and would never come to light again.
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"Yeaaaaah~can you feel it? The SUMMER BREEZE of Kyoto!" Naomi is driving her beloved Fiat 500 with the daylight totally opened to let the breeze streamed through the cabinet.
"OH! GIRL! WHY CAN'T YOU JUST DRIVE NORMALLY? I hate such GUSTY AND EERIE wind!" A mouse hiding itself inside Naomi's handbag is complaining.
"What? You supposed to be, well, the MASTER OF WIND! I assume you are enjoying instead of tolerating. WooHoo~" Naomi is steering the vehicle around the curve capriciously.
"STOP! OH....ERRRR!" The mouse's face turns pale(if ever you can see it's face) and is about to vomit!
"Alright alright. Don't throw up inside the car, Kamae San."
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From Tokyo to Kyoto, the couple has experienced an uneasy 5 hours road trip. Well, it may just be uneasy to the "Mouse” but least to the Girl. That may highlight the biological/sensory difference between "Human" and "Demon".
At least they make it together. Naomi is having gratitude for it in her heart.
They are making a last brief stop at a courier station near Otsu, 10km away from Kyoto. The mouse can finally breathe a sigh of relief.
"What s your plan? My lady?"
"Er? What plan?"
"You are not telling me you will just head to the hotel and invite that suspicious Kaneda san to have a straight talk with you?"
"Indeed," Naomi stretches her body and is thinking about which convenient shop to visit. "I have never thought about that. But what is wrong with the way you just mentioned of?" She is about to soothing the wrinkled shirt, her 3K DIOR Chez Moi short-sleeved shirt.
"GENIUS!" The mouse hides itself inside the bag and zips from inside. "You ARE really my best apprentice. And I am SO glad that we are still alive by now~"
"Can't really thank you enough, my dearest Kamae!" She picks the largest one and inside they can have their brief lunch before settling down somewhere further.
"Ramen! I miss it!" "You should treat yourself better...." "What's wrong with ramen?"
Naomi just ordered a 1000yen ramen and with her super kawaii and polite smile as warm and gentle as the morning sunshine, she is awarded with a complementary upgrade to a jumbo sized char sui.
"Lunar Hotel Group used to be long term partner with us and I am so glad to meet their Watanabe San again~"Naomi seems quite pleased with the working experience with the Lunar Group.
"And you just don't feel sus how Kaneda reserved the same hotel you worked with? Hah?"
"Oh...well, it does sound sus now."
"OMG!" The mouse feels hopeless while the girl is revisiting her photo album to refresh her good memory with the handsome hotel boss.
"By the way, you said I am the best. How about.....my mum? You seldom talk about her, Kamae."
".....she was....different."
"Because she ran away?" Naomi speaks as if she is an <outsider>. Yes. Maybe that is the best self-defensive mechanism the lonely girl can manage on her own.
"Well. Technically she didn't run away. She was brave enough to face and stand against FATE. But the price was just too costly..."
"You know," Naomi finishes her light lunch. "I never can forgive her. She must have her own reason to choose her own life. But she should never SACRIFICE OTHERS TO BEST HER OWN!"
".....yes, she should. Just that a demon would not have any hardship on that."
"I am afraid NOT. Demon is no different of human, especially when it comes to the matter of DESIRE and LOVE..."
"You still insist Demon HAS LOVE? You idiot."
"Just look at yourself," Naomi smiles and refuses to argue. "You just can't lie to yourself, my dearest Kamae." Naomi keeps murmuring to herself.
"What did you just say...?"Kamaitachi, the Master of Wind, just pretends to be deaf.
Outside, the sun still shines and the wind is always soothing, wherever you are far away from the bustling Tokyo.
They decide to continue on their journey. No planning in advance may be just the best plan.
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"Dear Naomi Ito Sama,
My name is Shaosan Kaneda. I used to be a cardiac surgeon in Kyoto. You probably should have known me when you were still a kid, living with your mother in Kyoto. Yes, I once had been in service of your parents until they moved to Tokyo. I was deeply sorry about the loss of your beloved and hope you could accept my late condolences.
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I am not intending to disturb your normal life and I would truly apologize if this letter has somehow offend you. But there is one secret that has been keeping in my heart and making me feel guilty for half of my life, and I think I should reveal to you before it is too late.
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It is something related to the death of your father. And the LEGACY of your mother.
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As a matter of individual privacy, I would prefer to speak to you face to face. But due to my remnant body of limited mobility, I beg for your apology and consideration for a gathering 500km away from Tokyo, somewhere in Kyoto. Here, I sincerely invite you spend a few days and I would be more than happy to play a hospitable host here in this beautiful historical city. Just inform me your request and preference, and it would be my honors to make any necessary prior arrangements for you.
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I am looking forward to your reply and seeing you in Kyoto.
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Regards
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Yours faithfully
Yuji Kaneda
(PS. I have enclosed the address of Hotel Lunar in Arashiyama, a nice hotel just a-bit remote from the Kyōto prefecture.)"
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"Sir, Ms Ito has just confirmed her arrival date. On behalf of her, I should appreciate the hospitality of your good self for all these circumspect arrangement."
"My pleasure, Kaneda San. And I have already decorated her room and she definitely will feel differently refreshed. I am so glad to meet my lovely long term business partner again here in Kyoto."
"Certainly. Ms Ito will be astonished by the nice flowery decoration."
The silver hair young gentleman stood up and smiled, putting on his black hanten and said,
"Don't be mistaken. The flower is not for the girl."
"?"Old Kaneda was a bit puzzled at first but he then realized what the gentleman referring to you immediately.
They have known each others for decade. A hedge between keeps friendship green -may best describe the relationship between them. Respect, never crosses boundaries, yet somehow enlightening each others’ path of life in a virtuous way.
"I need to set off for a short trip. So please enjoy your stay. For any request or assistance, you can just approach my men here and they would do the best honors on behalf of me."
"Certainly. Sir. And wish you a pleasant journey too."
"My honor to have you here, Kaneda san." The handsome guy smiled and left the Japanese restaurant, Ryu, inside the Lunar Hotel. It is a super deluxe and historical hotel situated in Arashiyama Kyoto, abutting the beautiful Oi River.
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"Next station is Kyoto. This is the last stop and all passengers please descend from the train. Don't forget your luggage and belongings."
Hideo Kobayashi, the general manger of the famous venue organizer Hoshino Group, had applied for a long casual leave due to personal reasons. That is why he wears his Yoji Re felted biker jacket instead of the beloved Dries Van Noten slim fitted business suit.(which instead he packed it nicely inside his suitcase with him, just in case.)
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"Hello, this is Kobayashi Hideo. May I speak to Watanabe San?"Hideo just can't wait to call before he gets off the train.
"Yes, I am Watanabe Genji. Should I welcome you to Kyoto, Kobayashi San?" A man answers with a soft and polite tune from the other side.
"Thank you! Just wanna make sure it wasn't a scam, Watanabe San. Sorry, I was just joking."
"Hahahaha. That's inevitable. Not to mention I have also invited your colleague, Naomi Ito Sama,"
Before Genji has finished his sentence,a black limousine stops at the station exit right in front of him.
"My man should have arrived and pick you up. His name is Abe, a nice young guy that is pretty reliable."
"Oh....yeah I just saw the limo from the hotel. Your hotel service is really...top notched, Watanabe San."
"Thank you. I should leave it to my man. Once again, welcome to Kyoto and I hope you a memorable stay, on behalf of Lunar Hotel Group."
"Thank you, Watanabe San, and I am looking forward to meeting you."
Call ends while a short guy in black hotel uniform is descending from the limo and invites Hideo,
"Good morning! Kobayashi Sama. I am Abe and I will be your driver here in Kyoto. Should I first drive you to our hotel to settle down first, sir?"
"Certainly. And nice to meet you, Abe."
Hideo gets on the car immediately. He just can't wait to meet his dreamy girl.
Watanabe Genji, puts his cell phone inside his hanten. He seldom brings this <modern technological gadget>with him.
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It looks so alien on me, a guy who have been witnessing the evolution of mankind and their civilization for centuries already. But he never mistreats himself when it comes to daily outfit. To him, that is the only way he could juxtapose himself in the turbulent history, to withhold his fading identity as a legal alien from the long forgotten past, in this modern world.
The hanten he is wearing is a custom made product from Hermes, a brand that proves herself via dedication and respect to tradition in additional to quality.
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And he seldom drives or rides, he walks, with his pet.
"Genji, you looks good today." Human Genji loves to chat to the Neko Genji alongside.
"Meow~" Neko Genji agrees
"I would like to introduce my old friend to you today. Yet her temper is a bit ...weird so just pay a bit more attention to possibly sudden dramas." Human Genji gives his warm reminder while Neko Genji squints at his human friend with little anxiety.
"Oh. Here we are." The peculiar pair just reach the destination, a small shrine hidden in the bamboo forest near Lake Biwa, an ancient lake located entirely within Shiga Prefecture (west-central Honshu), northeast of the former capital city of Kyoto.
The shrine seldom has visitors. Not even local residents would worship here. Very few folks and histories were inherited from the ancestors. What was the temper built for? Whom was the God, the Spirit or great mortal it housed for worshipping or blessing? No one knows now. Or no one bothers to find out now.
But today here comes the rare guests.
"Fujiwara Sama（藤原樣）,Tsuna is so happy to catch up with you again! And I hope you don't mind that I bring this little guy with me."
"How surprising! The most self-admiration Tsuna San has made new friend." A female voice is heard from the interior of the shrine. An elegant woman figure is hardly visible inside the darkness.
"You are unlikely to be here to commemorate with an oldie. But if you are begging me to track down THAT DISCRIMINATORY OFFICER, I really don't have any idea where he had been since he left his place. Frankly speaking, I feel sick of anything related to that guy already." The woman expresses her reluctance to discuss about the person "Genji" (or "Tsuna" as per the old lady has addressed) is interested in.
"No. Your generosity to help has always been my greatest honor and it would be sinful to beg for more. My apologies really, Fujiwara Sama, I am sincerely coming for a catch up and some nice sencha with my old friend here."
"Meow"
"Hahahaha! Your little friend is such a good mediator. Your loyalty is admirable nowadays and I love you."
"Wow! I feel glad for you, Genji. Having praised by the greatest WRITER of all time is priceless, my friend."
"Meow~~"
The vibe turns just warm and homey.
"My deareat Tsuna, close your eyes and feel the breeze. Can you tell me what it says?"
".....I hear...nothing."
"Because your heart speaks too much and too loud. So loud that makes you uneasy. I can hear the luring clearly. Tell me, Tsuna, where does your heart go?"
Tsuna sighs, but still remains smily on his face and says,
"I have met those EYES again. And I know it IS the time now. I should pay my debt and let go my burden. I feel tired and I should put all them down."
"So...this is a farewell?"
Tsuna smiled and pours three cups of sencha, one for Fujiwara, one for himself and another for Neko Genji.
"We shall meet someday soon, in a different place though."
"By all means, wish you all the best, my friend."Fujiwara smiles and <toasts>,
"To LOVE & DESIRE!"
Tsuna is astonished by Fujiwara's unusual act,
"Our GREATEST WRITER always surprises people with her Anti-traditional behavior !"
The three laugh in joy.
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Sun sets. Tsuna stands up and bows his farewell to Fujiwara.
"Tsuna Sama, the desire from the other side of you has grown strong. Don't let HIM control you. Don't lose faith in your LOVE."
"What a great loss to my life if I have never ever met you, Kaoriko (香子）San."
[II], Tsuna responses with his enigmatic smile and left with his animal friend.
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"Wow~!" Inside the most prestige Villa within the hotel site, Naomi is astonished by the overwhelmingly tailored made decoration as a welcoming treat. She is literally immersed in a "sea of flowers", mostly composed of yellowish species.
"Wait! I highly suspect that THIS is actually for YOU!"
Kamaitachi pretends to be deaf and "swims" in the "sea" of flavor and fluffiness as if in ecstasy!
"What?....yeah, I kinda agree."The mouse just can't suppress his overjoy and is too busy to review the suspiciousness.
"Does that mean HE knows about you already? The Summoner, the Demon and even the Evoker!?" Naomi begins to figure out how sticky and fishy the situation can just be.
"But you KNEW HIM, right," Kamae lies on the flowery bed while teasing the Summoner. "the guy who enticed your mum once to separate from your father?"
"I did SEE him once accosted my mother. But apart from that, I know nothing about him, his background, his relationship with my parents, everything...."
"Well, if he did have any love matters with your mum. He probably had some knowledge of the.....Scythe!"
"Wait, you mean KANEDA knew the OATH, the CURSE?"
"We may come up with a bold hypothesis here: this Kaneda <kidnapped> your mother's body and soul; she abandoned the Scythe and forced you to inherit the Curse; your father was sucked up by the Scythe during your training since he was your only beloved. Now, the fishy part is whether Kaneda intentionally unbond your mother from the Curse and let you <hate> her before you inherited the Evoker. If that is true, HE PROTECTED YOUR MUM AND MURDERED YOUR FATHER! Wow! A perfect crime indeed, clever boy! Oops....sorry, you know I do not mean to hurt you,girl. I just,"
"I am ok, Kamae." Naomi is so calm as this idea has never been <wild> to her. Indeed she always tends to believe it as the truth. She just needs SOMEONE to confirm it.
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"Sorry to disturb. Madam." There is a hotel staff outside. "There is a message from the front desk attention to Ito Naomi Sama."
Naomi thanks for the envelop delivered by the hotel staff which makes her even more uneasy after reading it,
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Dear Ito san,
I am sorry to inform you that our meeting place would have to be shafted from Arashiyama back to Kyoto-fu. My man will be waiting at the hotel entrance tomorrow morning at nine. And he will be standing by all through the day.
So do I. I will be waiting for you right at the Flipup,
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292-2 Oshikoji-dori (押小路）Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, 604-0021, Japan.
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Rainy day or sunny day, I will be there all through the day. So just take your time and find me there whenever you like to.
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Regards
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Yours faithfully
Yuji Kaneda.
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"Who does he think he is!? What makes him feel I m interested in such hide and seek game!" Naomi is kinda pissed off.
"Mmmm. What s the intention?" The wise demon is puzzled as well. "Just the feel of being spied makes me feel bad."
"ALRIGHT!" Naomi just found her way out. "Everything go right after a nice big meal." The upset face turns sunny kawai cheerful once again.
"As I always say," Kamae crawls back to her Dior Caro Box Bag. "you are the BEST, Naomi. You are always the best."
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Wait? <Flipup>? Doesn't it sounds...familiar ?
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Meanwhile Hideo is resting in another Villa. There are basically two types of. Villas. While some guests may find it soothing by the gurgling of the stream flowing by the villas and the slightly quieter murmuring of the Oi River below, others may prefer the serenity of the display of verdant greens veiled by mists,yellows and different greens decorating the hills.
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Hideo chose the mount view.
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He is always the coolest and most reliable man within his group. Just no one has ever realize how restless and sophisticated is his heart that never stops estimating and calculating the circumstances. This makes him busy every day, every seconds.
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Yes he wants to be the coolest and most reliable man, especially in front of her beloved Naomi, a cheerful but adventurous and outgoing blazer.
Because he knows that, or he wants to know that he would always be the most powerful backup to her.
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Like the Strong and Static Mountain will always embrace and companion with the Wild and Dynamic River.
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Hideo sits on the opened terrace with his americano. The immersive nature makes his mind chilled and slowed down. He knows his calculation may not sound here. All he can do now is <wait>.
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And the wait seems too long.
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"Sorry to disturb, Kobayashi Hideo Sama. But dinner is ready now. And our Watanabe San would like me to show you the way now."
"My pleasure. And I am ready to go." Hideo says while putting on his black slim fitted suit jacket, the one he brings along with him for some FORMAL occasions.
"Please follow me, Kobayahsi Sama."
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The staff leads Hideo along a tranquil and dim trail through a bamboo garden, where a tiny pavilion of International Style is situated, a minimal glass and steel structure which surprisingly harmonizes so well with the surroundings.
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Tsuna (Watanabe Genji) is sitting inside the pavilion alone while other catering staffs are preparing the meal outside.
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"This is surely my honor to be able to dine with you, Watanabe San. Please, take your seat." Tsuna stands up to greet Hideo when he is stepping inside.
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"On behalf of Hoshino Group, I would like to express the greatest gratitude for the continuous support from your good self all through these years. Please accept my little gift from us."
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A beautiful Chawan by Kutani.
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"Once in a lifetime opportunity," Tsuna smiles while receiving the gift from Hideo. "what else can best the hospitality by serving friends or guests with a chawan of delightful matcha? I am so thankful for this wonderful gift."
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A comfortable summer night breeze streams through the bamboo forest, making it a perfect musical amplifier of nature.
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"I just have met a friend," the catering staffs begin to serve the dinner and Tsuna opens the dialogue. "she asked if I can hear what the breeze is saying. I guess it was not a philosophical question so I just simply did as her request and tried to listen. Can you guess what I heard eventually, Kobayashi San?"
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"Greetings from nature?"
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"Never have I thought Kobayashi San as such a poetic person," Tsuna smiles and continues. "I just heard the heart beat of myself. Yet it was a twitchy and irritable noise that annoyed and distracted me from everything. It was not the breeze that made the sound, it was my heart that created so much noises."
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"So, you can see my fret from my face easily."
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Tsuna replies with his enigmatic smile again. "And your anxiety and desire led you here."
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"Pardon my abruptness. You did mention that you have invited my colleague, Ito Naomi san, as well. May I ask if I can invite her to join us too." Hideo can't stay calm anymore.
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He doesn't want to act Mountain anymore. He can't wait to let the passion flow, as wild as the river!
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"You will meet her, soon. Just wait a bit more," Tsuna can hear the luring of Hideo's heart. "til the perfect moment comes. But it's just NOT NOW."
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Hideo tries so hard to remain calm and controlled.
"Kobayashi san, no matter what plan you have in mind and what good intention you bear, which I truly appreciate, I just want to tell you: I will do anything just to SEE HER AGAIN. So please, do me your last favor, LET US MEET."
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Calm down, Hideo. Don't push the devil.
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Hideo's heart starts calculating again.
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"You will, my friend. You will." Tsuna finishes his first sakazuki. And at the same time the good looking young man passes a small envelope to his new friend. "This SUPPOSES to be Ito San 's itinerary starting from <the date after tomorrow.>. You two may meet up, well, at some time."
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Hideo opens the envelope and reads the itinerary carefully,
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<Gallery Venichu>
37-2 Oike Dori(御池通）Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, 604-8381, Kyoto.
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The servants were all busy of packing and moving all around. They knew the kingsman would visit at any time. Yet their master had no order, no evacuation plan, nothing.
He was just locking himself inside his chamber.
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It was so close! Damn it! I could have made it...
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Ono Takamura（小野篁）,once the Ambassador of Underworld(冥府黃泉） ,was not ready for the capture yet.
"The wind direction will change soon. Then my ideology will be fortified. And the United Empire of Demons and Mankind will reign over both worlds!" The politician still hadn't given his hope.
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Outside there was a chaotic outcry. The whole castle was in an uproar. Servants cried desperately while the Kingsman were trumping Takamura's guards, burning, robbing and killing indulgently.
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Only fools and SAMURAIS will uphold their integrities and sacrifice lives just for DIGNITY only.
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Takamura had planned his route to flee long time ago. Just that he never thought he had to implement it so soon. He opened the wardrobe and took out a treasure box. He unlocks the box and just to confirm that <they> were still there,
3 X gigantic rubies.
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Right outside his chamber, the last men were fighting to death to protect their masters. The kingsman slaughtered them brutally to vent their anger for overcoming the unpredictable resistance.
In a terrible rage, the captain knocked down the door and bursted into the chamber.
Yet,
they found nothing but
Demons!
A swarm of Daemons and Imps were rushing out from nowhere. Bit, tore and crushed. The chamber was flooded with blood and flesh. The predators became preys all in a sudden and the fear and despair shook the ground.
Underworld was it, no dispute.
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The secret emergency exit was tunneled through miles away from Takamura's chamber to the Rokudouchinnou Temple（六道珍皇寺），the rumored Entrance to the Underworld. There, waited a squad of Demons like no regular ones.
THEY LOOKED EXTREMELY POWERFUL AND DANGEROUS.
An Ape-alike-Demon in an officer suit greeted their Ambassador at the Junction of the Six Destinies (六道之辻）, an abandoned well which was situated somewhere inside the temple.
"Time is running short, Ono Sama. The Ghost Gate will be opened soon." The Ape Demon bowed and said.
"I will be more than happy to depart now. But still some obstacles remain here that may somehow defer my setting off, Sarugami Sama (猿神樣）!"
The Ape Demon, Sarugami, drew his weapon, a metallic Shimenawa with Gohei Blades.
"I suppose you are not coming to farewell me, General Kintaroo （金太郎）."Takamura said while hiding himself behind the fierce Demon.
A young samurai stepped forward from the darkness to confront the inhuman. He was the leader of a troop of young samurais.
"Ono Takamura, Tenno(Emperor) will need you alive and leave with us. So don't force me to hurt you..."Kintaroo drew his samurai sword,
Higekiri（髭切）
and was ready to fight.
"Higekiri....I made this especially for Watanabe Sama. I am sorry but it may look....TOO POWERFUL for you."
"CHARGE!" Kintaroo roared in rage and ordered his troop to war. Amongst the Shiten-no, Kintaroo was the youngest (shortest) and had hence always been disparaged. This annoyed him so long.
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The fight began,
with someone spying secretly.
His hands fisted with anger of revenge and his breathe was heavy and tempered. But he suppressed them. He needed to wait silently for his prey, like a leopard, waiting for the last lethal assault that guaranteed a blow to kill.
Watanabe Tsuna, he knew he could not miss!
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"Say it, master. It was Ono Takamura' behind all this Demon extinction. And he was the one who forced you to create those Demons Slayers! Say it!" Watanabe Tsuna was pointing his blade at his master's, Ohara Yasutsuna's, throat and crying in panic.
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It was one year after the death of Shuten Doji and his clan. The Emperor had ordered the production of armories to fight the remaining Demons in the Men's Destiny (人間道). They called them <Demon Slayers>.
The Watanabe family became the great hero after the victory over Doji's clan. Since then, numerous <oblations> were sent to the blooming furnace, to sacrifice for the birth of those blades of Hell.
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It was disgusting!
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Watanabe Tsuna despised it. The hatred against human's selfishness, wick and cruelty burnt painfully in his heart. The scene her beloved sister, Shikibu, walking into the flame, kept resonating in his mind, torturing him and encroaching his residual humanity. Rages couldn't bring his beloved back. Instead it drove him to lunacy, jealousy and obsession to revenge, to wipe out all LOVE on this land.
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There came a chance. While the Fujiwara （藤原）clan tried to fortify their domination over the Empire, internal conflict led to power transition. Once the political sage now became the origin of crime and injustice.
Ono Takamura was the the chief culprit of all those evil rituals and was accused to be traitor of mankind. Ironically, Minamoto Clan was the enforcer of the following <rectification>! They were the HOUNDS of the Empire, the weaponry and the bargaining power to be corrupted.
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Now Tsuna was more than happy to execute such rectification. His master, the creator of all those insane witchcraft, became inevitably the first victim.
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"Hahaha..."the fearless ultimate blacksmith laughed, chained and with his racked body on his knees. "I was glad that it was you. That I can finally die in the hands of my best apprentice."
"You will soon be killed due to <over resistance> while under arrest. And I will replace you as the Ultimate Blacksmith. You should be glad that I inherit the name of Tsuna the Blacksmith." Watanabe Tsuna moved one step further with the tip of the blade going a few inside the old man's flesh. Blood came out steadily.
"So, Tenno needs to know where Ono is and where are the NIGMA STEELS?"
The retina of the old man suddenly widened and his face twisted in fear and shock,
"YOU! YOU LET YOURSELF BE POSSESSED! YOU GENIUS!"
Tsuna was caught by surprise and stepped back subconsciously.
"YOU ARE THE ULTIMATE WEAPON!" The old man suddenly screamed and dashed crazily towards Tsuna. But he never intended to attack,
the blade went straight through his heart!
The ultimate blacksmith was dead in drama of ecstasy at last.
Left there was the rumbling samurai knight in misery, suffering in a never ending thirst of revenge.
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HE CAN SEE THROUGH ME?
Apart from Shuten Doji, this Ape was the strongest Demon Kintaroo have ever encountered.
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The fight had lasted for an hour already! Til now each blow made by the young samurai and the Ape was an all-out and fatal. The battle field was so intense and impervious that no one else could take part!
"You should already have enough fun, General..."Ono began to feel impatient.
"What?!"
Kintaroo had no spare time to be surprised as the Ape suddenly jumped up in midair and used up his might to swing the Shimenawa from top down to his head. It was too fast that the samurai could not dodge but hardly could he block it at the middle with the sword too. The blow was so powerful that it pressed him heavily on his knees, breaking the floor tiles while half of the Shimenawa still bent, swung and hit the samurai's back real hard!
So hard that sent Kintaroo to unconscious immediately.
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The fight ended all in a sudden. Sarugami, the Golden Ape, was indeed making fun of his opponent. He could have beaten Kintaroo earlier. He just enjoyed battling and tried to prolong the amusement.
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"Shall I kill him?" Sarugami tie the unconscious samurai's neck with his metallic Shimenawa. A slight tightening would had broken his neck or even decapitated him with the Gohei blades. The loyal fellow samurais screamed and cried in panic but did not dare to move closer.
"No need!" Ono walked pass the battle field and headed straight to the ancient Well.
The Demons abandoned and simply ignored their foes and followed Ono.
"Other than Watanabe Tsuna, no one we should even take note of, General Sarugami."
"I know the Gate Keeper is the real deal, not the human, right? Dear Ambassador?"
"Too bad...still have to leave with some regret." Ono held his sword tight in his hand, A TREMENDOUSLY LONG TACHI.
A strange light beam shot out from the Well, straight up to the sky through the clouds and reached the moon, turned it blood reddish. Words were thundering from the well,
"Mortal! In the name of the our ruler, King Yan(閻王), you may enter the Underworld only with his permission. So, speak your name loudly!"
"Ono Takamura!"
"Certified identity! Your entry is now granted! But you are not allow to leave unless you fulfill your Destiny here!"
Ono Takamura turned to the Ape Demon before he dived into the Well,
"The Gate Keeper, in his fusion form, can no longer enter the Underworld with his mortal body. Yet, you should still keep a close eye on the Ghost Gate, BEFORE I RETURN!"
"The bore can drive me nuts, you know, my Ambassador! Don't keep me wait too long!"
The mortal sighed and vanished with the dim out.
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Behind the scene, Tsuna fisted his hands so tight that almost crushed the bone.
He watched Ono fled. He knew the chance he could have succeeded was zero. And the worst part was the TACHI ONO WAS HOLDING,
A Demon Slayer Once Almost Slaughtered Ootengu,
And eventually forced him to fuse with Tsuna for the seek of survival, in return of total loss of freedom and dignity as an Arch-demon.
So Tsuna knew how deadly was the Tachi and he should not risk the chance to lose his alliance, his last hope to revenge,
A BURDEN HE STRIVED TO CARRY UNTIL HIS LAST BREATH!
