Vol 3 Chapter 5 (1/2)
Chapter 5 - Dreams and reality
Part 1
After changing the train at Kawaguchiko[1], one of the lake belonging to the Five Lakes of Mt Fuji, Ayano and Ren took a taxi to the Tsuwabuki residence Before the private road that led to the residence they got off and forcibly climbed over the iron fence with a clearly written ``NO TRESPassING`` sign After that was supposed to be a straight path
Staring quite anxious at Ayano going forward, planing in a rude entrance, Ren asked
”Still, is this OK? Approaching so boldly?”
”Then, do you want to try sneaking in? Clih the defense system and try to finally arrive at Ayu, do you have that confidence?”
”no”
That was impossible The opponents are Chijutsushi+ If they step on the ground of the premisses they will be noticed without mistake that instant
”Right? That's what you call unsuitable orientation For a Enjutsushi+ to take covert action is the sa the sun <shi+ne in=”” a=”” more=”” humble=”” manner=””>>”
”ha”
They kept walking without change ten odd minutes The sun faded out and around the tiulfed in darkness the Tsuwabuki residence made an appearance before those two Both of thenificent manor
”First of all, we made it in time, huh?”
”Yeah”
Gazing at the majestic style entrance, Ren replied
”So, hoe get in?”
Ayano was still looking at the gate An inter phone was not found It did not seen likely the sound of a knock would reach
”shall I burn it?”
”Nee-sama”
At Ayano's bold words, Renvoice
”How can you o that far?”
”How, you askuess?”
”Please don't be so proud of iteven if we don't do such an excessive thing, it's not that high we can't cliht?”
Leaving the gate aside, the height of the wall that followed it on both sides was, at best, approxiht that couldn't be climbed over
”Well, I hope that's safe”
Ayano nodded and bent over in order to jump over the wall At exactly the same time
Raising a dull creak, the thick doors slowly opened
””
Ayano and Ren exchanged glances and both shrugged their shoulders
”We are being let in”
”How thoughtful”
Exchanging a sarcastic srounds
And then - they met the receptionist
Approximately twenty minutes before
In the large underground gave, Yuuji looked up at the crystal pillar encasing Mayuht the crystal produced a faint radiance shi+ning in the darkness
In the surroundings other Chijutsushi+ were hastening the preparation for the cere his glance on Mayumi - and only her
”You're really earnest, aren't you?”
A whisper shook his ear Unaware of Kureha's presence standing right behind, Yuuji was not surprised any that level of presence was a matter of course He knew it first hand
”What?” he asked without turning around
Kureha did not blame him for it She informed him of what he had to do
”We have a guest”
”Who is it?”
”Two fire presences I still don't feel the wind But if it's thatus around without anyone noticing”
Talking serious words with a sain
”Gothe rest to you”
”I will return before long”
Including a quiet self confidence, Yuuji consented Without change, he started walking to the gateway but after going forward several steps he turned around
”Can you answer ?”
”Say it”, Kureha generously nodded
”Why did you seek so much power and violate the taboo? Your ability was supposed to be the most powerful in the entire family”
”Why?”
For a moment Kureha had a blank facial expression, as if taken by surprise Nevertheless she i a somewhat otherworldly archaic smile
”Why? Isn't that obvious? Because I didn't have you”
”ha?”
Yuuji frowned in doubt But, Kureha did not per
”Go”
With a quiet and yet resolute tone she ordered Yuuji had no right to oppose her
”yes”
With a s hard at that retreating figure until it disappeared froer sister sealed in the crystal
The shape of the girl sleeping inside the shi+ning crystal was a fantastic spectacle that gave one the i her hand on the crystal, Kureha looked up at Mayuaze full of affection
”You didn't notice, did you? How blessed you were How loved you were I too, love you so veryso blessed”
Visibly pouring out the peak of her eainst the crystal pillar After savoring the icy texture for a few seconds, she turned to the Chijutsushi+ underneath and infor them:
”I will temporarily excuse myself Continue the preparation”
”Yes”
The practitioners nodded without showing surprise Kureha could be said to be the one supervising but she couldn't directly participate in the ceremony Therefore, if no unforeseen situation happened, the fact that she was not there was not a particular impediment
Throwing a glance at the practitioners continuing to work, Kureha went towards the cave's interior Arriving at the deepest part, where not even the light froan to float
It didn't have the sense of speed sientle float as if the body would be slightly lighter than the at the impression of a balloon or a blimp
Going beyond the ceiling of the cave, Kureha continued ascending She quietly penetrated a shaft that opened in the ceiling, far fro about four or five meters in the pit, Kureha chanted a small incantation
”Light”
After frequent twinkling, the soft light born in the air illuminated the pit's appearance
The pit had a dia round shape It seeround but it is fairly long No matter how you think about it, it wasn't made by nature And in the center of it, there was a rock
A cluster of rocks arranged in a rough elliptical shape
If you consider this is a huge cave underground, it's not so especially unusual That is, if you consider the fact that it is floating in the air without any kind of support
”Fu fu”
Expressing a light s the rock lump And then shein the air, it was clear that was more than a lump of rocks
On the surface the full length portrait of an elderly man was thrown into relief
Enjoyed fro - it's hardened closed eyes, its expression warped with anguish And then, she spoke:
”Greetings, Father”
For a while there was no reaction Still, gradually, little by little, the rock luhtly
Visiblyhis humiliated body, the rock lump continued its frail oscillation And then -
”Ooooooooyouyoooooouuuuuu”
The lares at Kureha floating in front and froanic throat, curses spun out
”YouKurehaaaaaahaw darehow dare youto your father”
That thing was once referred to as Tsuwabuki Iwao
Kureha and Mayuest practitioner of the family - thein his own rooht noas reduced to a lump of rocks
”Ah, that felt good”
That look full of hatred made Kureha's lips curve with contemptuous ease
”If you have no answer, I believe it's time for you to die”
”damn youyoubetrayer”
Iwao groaned his words as if spitting blood, but he couldn't do anything more than that No matted how er and was nothing but a pitiful prisoner who had no choice but to spit out his grudge
Kureha sneered at that unsightly appearance
”Having said you are the strongest Chijutsushi+, how silly of you unable to separate fro the poison that desecrated the body, you had no choice but to assimilate rocks within reach to save your life That is truly unsightly”
She ridiculed hi herself from the bottom of her heart
It happened a week ago
Iwao and Kureha - the parent and childcave that was the sacred ground of the family Without a particle of leniency, both let out certain kill blows
Thus Kureha's <superpower>> was superior to Iwao's > With the help of that invisible power, Kureha fixated the half-dead Iwao in the air Even with the near invulnerability and resilience of an Chijutsushi+, if he is not touching the ground - when all connection with the ground's <ki>> was cut, Ias degraded to an average hu his wounds
”Is that all it takes?” asked Kureha, visibly disappointed
”Known as the strongest, Father's ht, is it really only this amount?”
”Youfool”
His lungs becoether with the vividly red blood, Iwao spit out curses
”The Tsuwabuki Farace”
””
Kureha's reaction, regarding the abuse she got used to hearing was the throwing of a s breath
”Kuuuuguhahhhhhh”
Towards the suffering Iwao, Kureha sneered cheaply,over her shoulder
”I was thinking you will let h Please die”
Kureha prepared the poisoned blade for the sake of this day The fact that the strongest Chijutsushi+ was killed by poison - when thinking of soin a dark joy, but now it didn't even matter
But, before Kureha's eyes, preparing to deliver the final blow, so she didn't anticipated happened
A huge stone pillar rose fro Iwao to the solid earth
”eh?”
Kureha pro any kind of link with the ground, only the spearhead of the stone pillar was sized by Iwao and taken in, floating in the air
Calculating the quantity of <ki>> taken frohtly, Kureha took a breath of relief To neutralize the poison, it's entirely insufficient
”I was somewhat surprised That you were left with such power - did he die?”
Iwao's vigor was only supposed to restrain the poison's progress with all his ht So, when he revealed such a bold move, it wouldn't be unusual for him to die the moment it was put in operation
Still, just to be sure, ready to s in the air, Kureha frowned truly in doubt
”Oh - ”
Softly dancing innear theon the surface
”pfuuahahahahahahahahahaha!!”
After beco speechless for several seconds, Kureha's body was convulsed with laughter to the point of breaking In the corners of her eyes, even tears were floating
”Ohoh Fatherwhat awhat a”
The lu Iwao, changing into stone
Kureha ridiculed that miserable shape to her heart's content The aih it now for sure Mustering the reth for one resuscitation move
But at the time it was defeated, Iwao took extreed himself to rock Poison doesn't run in rocks Rocks do not die By anic substance one second before his death, Iwao suspended his own time
”Good grief, what a filthy way of living or perhaps not knohen to give up, apparently not killing you instantly was the correct decision You have shown me such a pleasant performance”
Noanyy to even turn back but even assu he could turn back, i his life
Unless Kureha doesn't take down the ed to rock for eternity
”I understand In deference to the hatefulness of that resignation, I will let you live a little longer That is, until thedesire”
Despising her father's anguished face, Kureha laughed loudly one more time
Thus, Iwao ed to survive one more week If, in this state, it's accurate to say he is living
”Youdo you understand what are you guilty of?”
Including an endless curse, Iwao rudge but was pregnant with the sense of duty, as head of the family
Keeping the beast's force in the bodies of the family who sealed it at the cost of it's members' life
The union with the sealed demon beast - that was the source of Kureha's power - that was the reason that hter's conviction
For the Tsuwabuki Clan, who have been sealing the demon beast for more than three hundred years, that may be called the most serious taboo, above all else
But, at Iwao's outcry, alhtly
”But, wouldn't it have been wasteful? Although the long awaited power is just in front of me, to just put it back to sleep”
”Youyoufool!”
In response to Iwao's wrath, the rock cracked here and there and broken pieces scattered
A deed sier didn't subside
”What do you plan to do by locking me up in such a place? Don't tell me, you want to release the demon beast?”
”Of course not”
The angry roar that once entle breeze Kureha shrugged her shoulders
”We are carrying out the ceremony smoothly That is correct, with the power of two sacrifices, I will show you a seal stronger than ever”
”two?two, you said!?”
”Yes, two Ayuhter you love, I have decided to use her on this occasion”
The other daughter, the one as not loved, raised words of cruelty, together with a cynical smile
The man's face, carved in stone, arped with fury
”I don't allow it! That alone I won't alloon't let Mayumi become a sacrifice!”
”Then, ill you do? Can you do so with that body locked in stone? Are you some acquittance of Sanzouhoushi+[2]?”
”Guhmee”
At Kureha's roaned
”Why?” he asked, his voice carrying the sound of supplication
”Even if it's only Ayuht to be feasible for a satisfactory seal To even use Mayumi, what is your purpose? If if you wish for the faemony, then - ”
”I don't”
Kureha coldly discarded Iwao's proposal
”I have no use for such a thing My goal is consistent hat I said earlier - the effective practical use of resources”
”What?”
Frowning, Iwao asked back, in doubt Butand his body - or perhaps thehis narrow eyes to the utmost limit, he stared at Kureha's thin smile As his doubt turned into conviction, that look was painted with nothing but pure horror
”Y - youyounever - !”
Abstaining froht s with fear
”Fu, fufufufu - ”
That irrepressible chuckle reverberated in the gloomy prison
Part 2
”As I thought, you came, huh?”
Ren didn't show any surprise, seeing that Yuuji was expecting him very matter of course
It was very simple
If it happens someone would stand up in front of him and block his way, that would be no one else but Yuuji
However, having coht This boy that dislikes conflict opened his mouth in order to somehow settle this peacefully
”Good evening”
””
Yuuji's severely strained face, relaxed for a moment, visibly tired He asked in a somewhat reluctant manner
”Youwhy did you come here?”
”Well”
What does he want to do, the answer he finally arrived at after thinking about it, Ren spoke it slowly as if trying to ascertain its value by putting it into words
”I want toin the way of the ceremony this time so, won't you please let us pass?”
It was a proposal full of candor However it's not always true that tractability is a necessary virtue at any age
”huh”
Yuuji gave up as hopeless Ren's childish bullshi+t and instead focused on Ayano as looking at both of them from a little distance
”And you?”
Ayano waved her hands, appearing to say <don't mind=”” me=””>>
”Ah, I a but air”
”As if!”
Yuuji became exasperated faced with these those remarks made it seem they didn't understand the situation
”Get out, both of you! We're kind of busy, you know!!”
”I'm afraid that is impossible”
Finally gave up on this pointless conversation, Ren reversed his submissive attitude Obviously, with a battle attitude
”I'll et in the way-”
”What a talkative chap”
Yuuji coldly interrupted Ren's statement
”If you can't win a theoretical arguree of resolution is pointless Just go back home before you hurt yourself”
Those words were so full of confidence you wouldn't even consider he lost just yesterday Taking that slight as a personal offense, Ayano raised her eyebroith a twitch
”Hey, why is this guy so proud?”
She came forth with loud footsteps Enraiha has yet to be drawn but it's clear froht
Her scarlet gold aura gushi+ng out, Ayano declares proudly
”Do you wanti?”
But, she couldn't advance any further Raising his hand, Ren obstructed Ayano's way
”Please wait”
”Wait a minute, do you still want to”
Ren shook his head at the scowling Ayano
”No, it's not like that- ”
And then, he faced Yuuji
”I'll do it Onee-sama please stand back”
””
In silence, Ayano alternatively looked at both Ren and Yuuji They seemed to be locked on each other
To force one's way through in that ate and insensibility
Letting out a bored sight Ayano gave up on intervening
”Well, we still have a bit of time”
Besides, the opponent already lost once There's no problem, even if she were to remain a spectator
”Be careful”
And with that, she took her distance from the two
She was prepared to ju Ren
”Do your best”
Even if she knew he couldn't hear it, still, Ayano cheers for Ren a little
”Could you please step aside ~ you do know you can't win against me?”
Even if he thought it was pointless Ren tried to persuade hi le muscle, rejected that proposal
”Enough of that repetitious talk!”
Placing killing intent on his frozen voice, Yuuji loudly roared
”Just try to kill this me if you can!”
” -!!”
Feeling Yuuji's <ki>>'s explosive rise, Ren iround beneath his feet But, the offensive came from the front
”Using that cheap trick?”
Together with an angry roar, a huge ah to fill his vision - approached Ren Because each and every one was fired with bullet-like speed, receiving that attack, the human body would become more than just covered in holes but crushed like minced meat and the corpse impossible to identify
”Yaaa!!!”
Raising a high, clear soprano yell Ren swung down his right hand The golden fla
However -
”A pressed down?”
In Ren's pupil both surprise and shudder dwell Those pebbles are really forcing back the fire torrent Although he's not yet using his whole power, he included enough of it to thoroughly defeat soht
”Kuuuu- ”
In a panic, Ren raised the heating power But, faster than that, Yuujihi stones, he suddenly appeared before Ren's eyes
” -!!”
He was co time on interception, he was forced into close combat
Barely ht overhead, he wasn't able to avoid a left le
”Kuuuu!!”
Although just barely er, couldn't stop the kick of a highly trained adult His are but were blown off, and he was thrown in the fence
”Ren!”
”I'mfine”
While shaking his head, Ren stood up It didn't see a short distance, he cale he inflicted
Is this what it comes down to?
Voiceless, Ren groaned
For a spirit practitioner, fro - for an Enjutsushi+ fire, for a Chijutsushi+ earth and rocks they don't receive any dae
For this reason, they can juht into the Jutsu they created and be able to use it as cae or protective wall
It's not really an original move You could say it's one of the basics
And yet, up until now Yuuji didn't try to use it, in spite of the fact that when thinking about the physique difference, close coeous
Before, he had an ai an Enjutsushi+ a Chijutsushi+ is superior”
He was being conceited
But Yuuji right now held no arrogance Not as a Jutsushi+ but as a single hu, he used all his power to defeat the ene
In general, rather than the fact that he had beco no attention to his behavior was far erous to Ren
Agreeht a lesson about the strength of a person ready for death
”But even I cannot yield on this - I' to lose!”
”Shut it, brat!”
Both their will powers turned to force and clashed The devastating fire stor their way in the explosioninto each other, their fists met
It seeards to the result of the hand to hand fight, without even thinking about it, it will remain the same It was obvious
A twelve years old child versus an adult male If it comes down to who has a more trained body, Yuuji's is superior It was impossible to lose
Therefore, he ent
So, at the tih to pulverize the brain and splat spinal fluid everywhere was beautifully evaded, Yuuji lost sight of Ren's figure completely
One ain, Ren slipped his extended arm in Yuuji's blind spot and his elbow hit him in the pit of the stomach
That kinetic energy resulted from a rush similar to teleportation was all poured in one blow That shock, stronger than his drilled abs crushed Yuuji's stoh his back
His heavy built body lightly danced in mid air Beside the fact that Yuuji would have fallen down eventually Ren concentrated his consciousness and power
”Gooooooo!!”
Four thin refined heat rays accurately shot out the joints of his legs and shoulders Yuuji's body fell like a puppet and rolled down in one of the craters one of them made There, Ren delivered the final blow
The giant fireball he brought down from overhead completely covered the crater like a lid And then - one instance later it exploded
Ayano, overcome with surprise for a little while, finally spoke with a stunned expression
”even without the direct hit, don't you think this is overkill?”
The last blow Ren fired avoided to directly hit like last tie But even so, if a normal human were to receive so much shock he would have died ten tiree of detonation
”No, but it should be powerful enough to beat a Chijutsushi+”
”I think that at that level you won't have that problem”
While answering, Ayano peered into the botto inside the dust, she saw a shadow that for some reason did not seem human
”Wow this is a All his limbs are still connected”
”Nee-sa to say, how about you say it clearly?”, Ren replied with a sulky voice at Ayano's heavy sarcasm
While saying that, the dust cleared and the state at the bottom could be seen much easier Yuuji's face could be clearly seen
”Oh, unexpected but he's still human-shaped”
”Nee-sama”
Ren took offense but like Ayano said, Yuuji's body retained it's shape well enough Without becohly left behind It seems that one way or another he survived
”Well, I wonder if I should say you crushed hiht To heal it all uess”
”Yes”
While it seemed his broken bones cured unexpectedly easy, the four holes that opened at the base of his limbs evaporated both his bones and flesh As one would expect it was ienerate those
”Well then, let's go forward”
”Yes”
Deciding that Yuuji became powerless, those two head towards the interior of thethe moment the pair turned its back to the crater, a voice stopped them from the back
”Wait”
”eh?”
Hearing the chilly, dry voice Ayano's facial expression changed In a strained voice, she asked Ren
”The voice right noas it?”
””
Without replying Ren pointed his gaze at the bottom of the crater Ayano too understood That was Yuuji's voice But, that voice was too cal it had no injuries
Raising his head from the bottom of the crater Yuuji stared at Ren His hip joints had holes in thehting strength was supposed to be zero And yet
”How about you stop? From here on it's a matter of life and death”
Yuuji ignored Ayano's pointless proposal His eyes were firmly set on only Ren
”As I thought, I can reach you , the way I aht now”
With a serene facial expression, unbeco a certain so from those words, Ayano ordered Ren with a sharpness different from before
”Ren, give hih to obliterate his very cells”
”Killing him would be useless”
While being just as vigilant, Ren rejected Ayano's order Although understanding that so will happen if he was left unattended, he still couldn't do it
Even if I kill in order to meet her, Ayumi-chan won't be pleased
No nificant when co her sad
”Alright”
Suddenly, Yuuji murmured in a low voice The pair of eyes that were supposed to stare at Ren, before one knoere looking up at the sky overhead For soaze reminded Ren once more of Ayumi's, the first time he met her As if that was the last opportunity, the earnest pupil looking up to the moon
”Alright I'll join your scheme Whether it's my life or e - ”
The hand that was supposed to be paralyzed was grasped tightly Bearing up in tragedy, opening his eyes, literally throwing everything away Yuuji shouts:
”Give me power!!”
”Shall I give you power?”
In front of Mayumi sealed in the crystal pillar, Kureha whispered so But, obviously there is no way to earn power free of charge Coiven
If you choose to loose your humanity
Thus, Kureha didn't hide even that For the first time he understood
That no ht to refuse
In fact, Yuuji didn't hesitate About fusing with a de the fa a criminal that could never be permitted
But that was not the only danger The power that exceeds the vessel becomes an excessive burden for the body Different fro accustoe ae
”If you so wish, the Majyu (trad: deive you an infinite amount of power”
Kureha warned him carefully That point at least was honest
'”But a power that becoreat will snatch away your human form And eventually, even your human heart Try to be careful Fall back before recovery becomes impossible”'
But sio beyond recovery For his power to rae and to be turned into a monster that was her real purpose, or at least a part of it
But that's fine
He will protect Mayumi That was his one absoluteaway everything else