Chapter 18: 12TH FIGHT; ADVENT OF A BLOODY STORM

12th FIGHT: ADVENT OF A BLOODY STORM.

-XOXOXOX-

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-XOXOXOX-

Progress!

I was able to find some of the herbs that Mother wrote down in her journal and honestly, I feel a little bit giddy about this, in fact, I'm glad I have this journal right next to me.

So far, among the multitude of herbs I gathered, I came across three main ones that I can use as of the date that I'm writing this…

And what date was that…? June? September? I don't know, the year 2001..? I guess…

The first is a herb called 'Gobo/ Greater Burdock'. You could find it in places around North America, Europe, and Asia. It usually treats sore throat and skin issues such as boils, rashes, acne, and is said to even help in healing wounds.

Secondly is a root called 'Makino', which sounds awfully familiar to a character of one of my comic books about the journey of a quirky pirate, but hey who knows. This one grows throughout places like Japan and the eastern side of North America, and the roots are used as a traditional treatment for burns and ulcers and also for wound closure.

Pretty nifty, I gotta say.

Lastly, for now, I have the 'Three-Seven-Root'. Now this one's a herb that's commonly found all over China and is used to stop bleeding, reduce bruising, and reduce pain.

Don't get me wrong though, I'm aware that it's not magic by any means, it won't do shit if someone blasts you in your freaking head, but they've been proven to work in the correct means that they can be used in, which is nothing but good news to me.

With this, I'm sure that I can even help save people, provided that their injuries aren't severe.

Anyway, I should stop acting like some nerd over a bunch of plants because even Shintarou who can get drunk at will is looking at me as if I'm strange, though he thinks that I can't see him.

Speaking of Shintarou, sooner or later I'll get strong enough to defeat him, and I'm gonna do it by using his own style at that.

He likes to say that I'm closer to defeating him using my cooking as a weapon versus my fists, acting as if my cooking is bad or anything, but I'll soon show that drunkard my true strength…

But that's in the future, though. As of now…

I have to partake in grooming and men's care.

That's right, I have to trim my toenails and cut my hair low, and take long herbal baths.

I've got nothing against long hair, but it's just not for me.

Besides, it would be disastrous for a handsome lad like me to end up looking sloppy.

After all, it's good hygiene to remain clean.

Though if I'm being honest, I think I'll keep that part of my routine a secret from others.

What I need to do now, is to cultivate my cool and cold image to the max.

After all, the 'Maou/ Demon King' can't be found out to be doing stuff like that…

Wait, or can he…?"

-Myoujou Kurogami's Journal Entry #3 (Excerpt), 2002

-XOXOXOX-

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-XOXOXOX-

-THUD!-

Dust rose to the air as the body of a martial artist belonging to the Kuremisago clan dropped to the ground unconscious after being sent flying by a vicious kick.

'As expected of a clan like this…' Myoujou eased his legs downwards as he reviewed the fight's progress. 'This man... He should be around the level of a 'High-Class Disciple' or maybe even higher...'

'I took too long when applying certain moves which hampered my speed, though not by too much… And once again I need more on-site practice with grappling …'

It was a brief fight lasting no more than one minute, but in this short time span, Myoujou not only defeated his foes that he faced along the way, but was also able to grow exponentially as a martial artist as well by assessing his weak points and fixing them via live practice, making him truly glad that he came on this mission in the first place.

"Haaa… Haaa… That seems to be all." Dusting the grime off his hands, he looked towards the rest of his group as he awaited further orders. 'This guy here... No, all of these Kuremisago fellas... They're the real deal...'

"Gather around, everyone!" The Kuremisago clansman that was appointed the 'Team Leader' shouted. "Let's find a place to turn in for the night, we're finished here!"

It truly was quite a long week.

After the events that occurred a few days prior, the atmosphere and mood within the Kuremisago compound took a sharp decline, and the seed of doubt was thus placed within the hearts of many of those who were present.

In fact, this situation only led to the further bolstering of the isolationist views the Kuremisago stubbornly held against 'Outsiders'.

Were it not for the clan's leader Senzui, Myoujou was sure that the clansmen and the mercenaries would've started a bloodbath right then and there.

Now that he looked at the situation as best as he could, he realized that there seemed to be much more at play in espionage and trickery than he would've preferred, being slightly miffed at the idea of having to deal with inner politics and the likes of lawn snakes.

And he didn't know why exactly, but for some reason the Kuremisago Clan detested outsiders.

'Maybe it's one of those twisted senses of superiority because they're a hidden clan and all…'

-But if that was the case, then Myoujou had a couple of questions.

'Why on earth would that Senzui guy hire mercenaries if his clan is against outsiders? What even was the point? A tax write-off? And who's gonna go to the 'Battle-born' clan and demand payment for taxes? Someone suicidal? Or maybe it was to become cannon fodder for his other plans? Something clearly doesn't add up here…' Shifting into the infamous 'thinker's pose', Myoujou seated himself on top of a tree stump nearby the bloody and tattered forest surroundings.

Now to Myoujou, in the beginning, he couldn't care less (or more accurately; couldn't care at all) about whether or not the Kuremisago would like his presence since they were the ones that hired Shintarou, and the only reason he was brought along here was to gain combat experience, but what he did find annoying was the messy implications of further troubles down the road that would arise with each passing day.

But nevertheless, the hired help that stayed behind only did so because of mainly two reasons; One, they enjoyed a good fight, and two; the sheer amount of pay they were receiving.

And now on to current events, the group had just finished a raid on one of the Kuremisago Mainland bases that went along swimmingly; both on paper and in execution.

You see the Kuremisago had quite the simple means of settling their inner discourse with each other.

Simply put, they engaged one another in battle, or in other words; Fighting.

They would dispatch clansmen from different groups across the world and have them fight it out to see which side was in the right.

-After all, the opposition can't 'oppose' the other side if they are weak.

-And if the opposition were weak, then not only are they dead, but the cause in which they were fighting surely must be wrong since they have been defeated.

This in turn was the 'infallible genius' behind the methods the Kuremisago clan used to settle internal disputes.

'Basically, they would drop their members across different areas around the world and simply have them beat the shit out of each other to see who gets to be 'the right one', hence why we're here today.' Myoujou summarized the 'fine print' of the Kuremisago's methods of action.

And today would be one of those days in which they would readily use this plan to quell their internal drama.

Over the course of a few days, Myoujou was constantly traveling with a group of nearly two dozen or so mercenaries and Kuremisago clansmen together as they fought with various other groups within other areas hidden away in Japan. Sometimes he would have to fight alongside Shintarou, participating in one of his all too familiar 'on-the-go lessons', and other times it would be just him joined by some random strangers.

At the start, many clansmen and mercenaries that held ill will towards Shintarou wanted to make an example out of him, the giant of a man's disciple, and while he wasn't around they would make sure that they do just that.

So they decided that once they had an opening or chance, they would attack.

But in this life, hardly anything goes exactly as planned one hundred percent of the time.

They had planned to attack Myoujou, and attack they did, though this was more to the benefit of Shintarou as he not only wanted Myoujou to gain more experience in fighting multiple opponents at once, but to experience being ambushed as well.

-However he couldn't just let them catch him off guard, could he?

-'Normally in the 'public' martial arts, ya ain't s'posed to be fighting a bunch 'a people at once, but over here there ain't no such rules! Do your worst kiddo, because I doubt that they'll fire us so soon…'

"If you say so." And with these words, he would now routinely get hot and sweaty as he fought with a bunch of old men.

But the truth is, whilst multiple numbers versus one may be a bad idea to teach someone in practice, the style that eventually birthed Shintarou's Tenrai-Shikyou-ken was a mixed martial art style crafted within the slums of The Inside that was tailor-made for constant battles in both opportune and inopportune places and times, and could be used even when the practitioner may be injured and unable to perform at peak performance.

And even less may know that the style that preceded it was once known to be a martial art under the branch of Jujitsu that was tailored to cowards with its deceptive nature and sneak attacks during the warring eras.

In other words, a style like that was one in which ambushes and sneak attacks were expected, awaited, and then guarded against.

Whether it be when Myoujou would take a trip to relieve himself, when he had minor injuries after a battle, or even late at night, and even though he wasn't able to soundly destroy every single person in his path, he had managed to hold his own against them no matter the situation, and eventually, such thoughts had gradually begun to subside after much consideration from his 'opponents'.

Though for some reason, Myoujou had to fend off other 'ne'er-do-well'ers' that tried to 'fight' him in a… A particularly different sense of the word….

Though after Myoujou was done with them... Well, there are better ways to die, aren't there?

Anyways, it was of no surprise to him that people would be picking fights with him, expecting many troubles that would fly his way the moment he realized that many of the people present didn't seem to get along well with Shintarou…

Though he did find it slightly odd that whenever he would 'softly' bruise a few of them in retaliation, even some of the Kuremisago clansmen, no one would even bat an eye. Only later did he find out that, to be honest, the clansmen couldn't care less, seeing fighting as a sacred art from which emotions themselves should be removed from, and that losing was a pitiful action of the weak.

-'In the world of the strong, those who are weak are utterly beneath notice...' Myoujou mulled over some of the words of some of the clansmen.

'Then again, what really got me surprised was that they didn't use excuses like 'I'm too young' or 'I'll hold them back' so they can try to take me out the expedition- In fact, they didn't even care!' Nevertheless, Myoujou continued to further accustom himself even more to the dark underside of the world than he thought possible.

Moving from one location to another and the endless fighting that followed with it, Myoujou saw the constant change of scenery all around him.

From lush forests, to dry plains, to even run-down slums, the activities carried out in those locations were all the same.

The sprinkles of an up-and-coming snowy season lightly fell throughout each nook and crevice of the land as a pre-wintery wind followed it, and due to his current job of thinly-veiled political violence and bloodshed, despite the festive season of merriness and glad tidings associated with the winter; namely Christmas, all he felt was the foreboding storm that was steadily approaching.

Putting aside his cautiousness of those around him, Myoujou was sure that after a long day of work, he'd immediately go lights out and drift off into dreamland the moment his head hits a soft pillow.

What could he do? The Kuremisago (A name that seems uncannily like a different clan name only with a few letters added to it) were a strength-exteremist shinobi clan, but boy oh boy did they have the softest futons around.

And as he gazed at the injured, but alive members of the group he fought with, he thought that luckily, since it was only the beginning of the conflict there didn't seem to be many casualties, but everyone was certain…

-That when things heated up and as the tension grew, then so will the body count eventually.

And when that happens, they would be ready for it. After all, they knew what they were getting into, and they were prepared.

"Yosh! Easy-Peasy!"Shouts and chants of mercenaries could be heard loud and clear.

"I expected more from this place! This is easy!"

"If it keeps up like this, then this job will be a quick buck in my wallet, hahaha!"

"I haven't even gotten started yet!"

"Don't get too cocky. We're still not done yet." The Team Leader said, admonishing the celebration going on in front of him.

They were currently returning from one of the 'battlegrounds' stationed in one of the many forests in Tokyo far away from not only their base, but to civilians that may accidentally stumble by, and it seemed that things may have been looking up for them a tad bit.

The Team Leader dusted the dirt off of his shoulders as he looked towards his fellow clansmen. "How many casualties do we currently have?"

"Out of the twenty or so men we brought, we have so far; three casualties, sir. Two mercenaries and one of our own. None injured, however."

"Is that so?" The 'Team Leader' blandly muttered, as if the news was either of no surprise or was completely uninteresting. 'That's quite a low number… Maybe we might emerge from this feud as the victors?'

"Come to think of it, what happened with that brat- The one that was with 'The Phantom Titan'?" One of the mercenaries asked.

Looking around another mercenary shrugged. "That kid? Somewhere over there."

"Really? I thought he'd be with 'The Phantom Titan'."

"Don't worry about that kid. I thought he might need a babysitter, but he doing fine on his own…"

"Ain't that so..."

-mutter, mutter-

"Hyuup-!" Jumping from his position Myoujou regrouped with his team, brushing what dirt he could from his blood-stained red jacket. "-I'm right here fellas."

"?"

"Huh? So that brat ain't dead yet?"

"Rude." Myoujou perked his eyebrows upwards as he scoffed. "When you say it like that… It sounds like you guys were wishing I were dead."

Voices of the group could be heard clamoring as they remained surprised at Myoujou's progress on this continued expedition. Most knew about how Shintarou or 'The Phantom Titan' was viewed around these parts and knew what the others were planning, though they wouldn't say or do anything.

They weren't heroes and they wouldn't start being one anytime soon, so seeing the still-young boy fend them off was surprising, to say the least.

-Sure they had seen the kid fight pretty well, but geniuses in this world were a dime-a-dozen, even more for the number of so-called geniuses that would either lose their shine or their life, so to them, it seemed as if they needed one more push before they could truly believe it.

-And with Myoujou still up kicking, it seemed that he wasn't too bad after all…

And although he spoke and acted in a casual tone, Myoujou remained vigilant as he kept his guard up around these men.

Well yes, they were his 'allies' alright, but this 'alliance' was only a temporary one.

-There wasn't anything special like 'teamwork' and 'team spirit', or the power of 'friendship'… It was just business.

-And if the events of the week past are anything to judge by… Then this alliance seemed to be a shaky one at the very least.

However, as he stretched his muscles in the spot he landed on, Myoujou's thoughts had also landed on a different avenue entirely. 'Haaa… I have to say, seeing all these people refer to Shintarou with such a 'childish' name makes me wanna laugh…'

'Like whoever the guy is that gives out these nicknames like a vending machine needs to be reminded to not quit his day job- Because with a naming sense like that… He'll really need it.'

'Though, I'd be lying if I didn't say it suited a freak of nature like him… That name fits like a kid's glove on an adult..'

'-Too well in fact, and so tight that it hurts.'

-'The Phantom Titan'.

-A name given to Shintarou because of his supposed overwhelming speed and elusiveness despite being nearly over seven feet tall and built with the muscle to boot.

'Or maybe it was because he disappears whenever he needs to buy milk, cigarettes, and alcohol… Wouldn't count it out since I've literally seen it happen before…' Myoujou mused.

Soon enough, the sun began to set as it illuminated the world in a vibrant orange-red hue. A cool breeze swept through the land as Myoujou pulled back the red jacket's hood and let it blow through his wavy maroon black curls.

'Haaa- So once again, we're not giving chase, I see.' Myoujou thought as he stared at the orange sky.

'But even so… These guys are strong… Very strong.'

'Stronger than I'd thought I'd ever face…'

'It's almost like a test of strength every time I fight them.' He wondered just what was it that made up the training regime for the Kuremisago Clansmen that made them so strong, fast, and durable.

'It's said that they 'forego whatever shackles them down' such as emotions for even more power… though I'm sure that isn't all to it, of course…'

'But Saiga Furinji…' Myoujou reminisced of that rowdy night a week ago when he and Shintarou first touched down in the Kuremisago Compound. 'That old man is like a lost hero type of character in this dirty business, I mean, who would've thought that one of the poster boys of the 'Love-And-Peace Squad', aka 'Katsujinken/ Life Saving Fist' would be in cahoots with the secret 'born-n'-bred-for-bloodshed' clan here.'

'Though, if I were to fall in love with a lady like that; I can sorta see why he'd fight to protect them.' Myoujou slowly started to think that the stories often told by a somewhat inebriated Shintarou of Big Bad Men changing when getting hitched by lovely ladies were true.

'But I gotta wonder… will 'my' heart go 'Doki-Doki' when I met that special someone?'

'Because if so, I hope I fall for someone that's sane and not messed up in the head.' In all honesty, he didn't actually think that he would meet someone that didn't possess some weird personality quirks, but he wished for the best nonetheless.

-CAW!, CAW!-

And as Myoujou was lost in his thoughts, an eagle soaring in the air swiftly flew past.

"?"

'That's…. a golden eagle!' Finding something that was in his opinion noteworthy, a bright twinkle shone in Myoujou's bright hazel brown eyes on his otherwise calm face.

It was a dark brown eagle that soared gracefully, with lighter golden-brown plumage on its nape and white markings on its tail and wings befitting of young and immature age.

'It looks so peaceful…' Myoujou mused as he found himself lost in thought staring at the avian creature. 'If I had wings, I would like to fly like that as well…'

Seconds went by as he watched it soar into the distance until he soon lost sight of it, but he still couldn't stop staring in the direction in which it left.

'-But wait, aren't they kinda rare or maybe endangered or something? To see one of them around here… Must be migration season or something…'

"Oi kid, we gotta go! Don't wanna get left behind do you?" A man from Myoujou's team interrupted his musings as they headed to find a place to turn in for the night.

"Gotcha old man, I'll be right there, so don't sweat it." Myoujou nodded.

'O-Old man?' The man recoiled. 'This kid… Do I really look that old to you?'

If he had really asked Myoujou, the answer would most likely be…

-Yes.

Plus as he spent more time with his medical and herbal training, Myoujou gained more insight into using the gifts he was born with, now being able to make somewhat accurate guesses on just how old a person was and their bodily condition…

-So to Myoujou's warped ideas of age, everyone over the age of twenty-one was pretty much considered one of the elderly to him by default, no matter how young they looked.

As he increased his pace to catch up with his group many questions flooded his mind, mainly about what was the real reason that they were hired in the first place since this was no longer something he could lay back and say 'As long as I get paid.' while he went about his business.

'Analyze the situation and make a further judgment from there…' Myoujou sternly reminded himself. 'Because based on what I know, there's a lot of behind-the-scenes play at work.'

'But there's something so off about it that my senses are going off like crazy, especially what happened before.' His mind then wandered to the events that happened a week ago. 'It's said that behind every major event in Japan's history, the Kuremisago had a hand in it…. So with that being said…'

'Just what is the true goal behind this inner clan feud anyway?'

-XOXOXOX-

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-A WEEK AGO.-

-A CERTAIN KUREMISAGO REBEL BASE-

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-XOXOXOX-

Following the noise and chaos that erupted due to the news of several of the Kuremisago clansmen being found dead, they ran straight towards this room to see just what exactly the matter was.

"Huh? What are you doing here?" Myoujou exclaimed when he entered the meeting hall alongside a confused Saiga.

"Yo, Myoujou-!" Shintarou waved, signaling him to take a seat next to him and listen up.

'I guess this is where he ran off to…' Making himself comfortable, Myoujou sat next to Shintarou whilst remembering the bitter consecutive losses of poker he suffered earlier. "So, why are you even here?"

The meeting room was filled with disgruntled mercenaries and clansmen alike, whose tempers seemed a few degrees away from reaching boiling point, only held in place by Senzui's leadership.

"I wanted to wander around a bit after suffering from success..." Shintarou smirked as he saw a tick mark form in Myoujou's head before continuing, sighing in what could be considered 'righteous indignation', "And some rookies from this clan tried picking fights with me, kid."

" -And as soon as I was about to knock some sense into them, it just so as happened that some serious shit was about to go down, so before any additional terms and conditions get ushered in, I wanted to get my payment in advance."

"Hahaha… I apologize for that." Senzui smiled wryly. "They're quite the rambunctious bunch as you can see..."

"Wait… What's the meaning of this? Of all of this nonsense I've been hearing?" Saiga piped up, his voice laced with utter confusion.

"That's what I would like to know as well, Saiga." Senzui nodded along with the other clan members.

The clamoring and chattering of the group before them came to a halt as one of the clansmen questioned Saiga. "Hey Saiga, did you kill them?"

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Saiga frowned upon hearing this. "What? No, I didn't."

"Don't play dumb! You took them away from us!" One after the other, angry shouts emerged from within the group of clansmen.

Apparently, they had found a group of their own clansmen dead in the forest.

'Seems like a set-up' Myoujou thought. He didn't know why he felt this, but he just did.

"I don't even know who they are." Saiga tried to explain in an attempt to diffuse the situation, but his choice of words only served to further enrage the clansmen.

"He probably did do it… I mean, he is an 'Outsider' after all…" One of the clansmen spoke but was quickly rebutted by someone close to him.

"Don't be stupid! Saiga is a comrade that's been with us for years! Why would he do such a thing?"

"And? What about it? Our very own clansmen have been with us since birth, and we're 'still' fighting them to the death now!"

"Why you-!"

"Besides, it's not like he 'hasn't' killed one of them before…"

"Yeah, but they weren't on our side! Besides, so did we! Are you saying it's different only when we do it?"

Murmurs from several clansmen were heard as the hall erupted into a heated discussion.

"No, that isn't it." Saiga said. "Believe me when I say this, but I didn't kill our comrades."

'Ahhhh- This 'Outsider' thing again. If they hate outsiders so much, then why on earth did they invite the mercenaries in the first place?' Myoujou sighed inwardly as he heard the same phrase used as a derogatory insult for the umpteenth time.

"However doesn't that mean that anyone from this compound could've done it?"

"Then if it wasn't Saiga… Then maybe it's one of these mercenaries here…" A doubtful clansman muttered.

Hearing this some of the mercenaries' faces contorted into a frown. "Don't be a dumbass; we just got here a few days ago!" One mercenary yelled.

And as the discourse grew louder it was suddenly silenced by Senzui who simply spoke these three words.

"I believe you."

"!"

"Though, I can't speak for them all." Calmly saying this, he swept his gaze past his fellow clansmen.

The clansmen wanted to protest, but as Senzui looked at each and every one of them all thoughts of arguing had ceased.

It was an instinctual warning telling them that although he accepted their opinion and allowed them to freely share it….

-Overstepping their boundaries was not a wise choice.

Seeing this, even the mercenaries decided to quit arguing with them altogether, as they too started to ponder on the true reason they were invited here.

The Kuremisao clan never really dealt with 'Outsiders' unless it involved fighting against them, so this 'special' hiring did bring some surprises… alongside a fair share of concerns.

They began to wonder if acting as a buffer force for the clan members in this secret war was their true purpose for why they were originally called here.

With an amicable smile, Senzui continued speaking. "You don't need to tell me, but you need to tell them…"

"-Just where were you yesterday, Saiga?"

"I was with Shizuha and Miu as usual…"

Looking towards Senzui with a frantic gaze a clansman did a double-take before questioning Saiga in a much more civil tone. "Is that so? How do we know that you're not lying?"

"Because-"

-SLIDE!-

"!"

Suddenly barging into the room with great force that rocked the hinges of the wooden door, a tall fair-skinned woman of great beauty possessing a sizeable bust who wore a long floral kimono entered. She had grey eyes and waist-length dark-colored hair as her bangs were cut in a short fringe that reached her cheek as she wore two red hairclips in her hair.

This woman was none other than Furinji Shizuha; The 'princess' of the Kuremisago clan, and Saiga's wife.

"Shizuha!" Saiga's eyes widened in surprise. "How's Miu doing?"

"She's doing fine. She just went to sleep." Shizuha said with a soft smile. It was a captivating serene smile that slowly started to fade as she looked at the arguing happening within the meeting hall.

"So this is the so-called 'Kuremisago Princess'…" Myoujou muttered as he took a glance at Saiga and then at the clansmen within the hall. 'She seems to have a lot of influence around here as well… Seeing as she shut these guys up rather quickly…'

'Well, I can see why he'd fight a clan for her. If I were to use Shintarou's words right now… It would be that she's a 'looker' alright.' Myoujou thought as he took a glance at the woman at the door. 'But I can see it even from here… She's strong as well.'

'Definitely in the realm of a 'Master', or even higher…'

"You lot." Shizuha entered as she leveled a cold glare at the doubting clansmen. "I heard what you said. Are you saying that Saiga is lying and that he killed our fellow clansmen?"

Sweating slightly under her glare, one of the doubting clansmen stuttered. "Wha- No, I meant…"

"Go on. Speak." Shizuha said, her tone frosty as she took a seat next to Saiga.

Calming his wife, Saiga tried to de-escalate the situation. "Easy now, Shizuha. I'm sure that this is just some huge misunderstanding that we're all having right now."

Watching quietly, Myoujou was weighing the options of things escalating to a full-on fight and just how wise it would be to get out while things are still somewhat tame. "Oi Shintarou, this job you took up here… It's got a boatload of red flags, you know that right?"

"I can see that. But let me say this, whoever it is that's making these moves, they've really done their homework." Shintarou said. "Divide and conquer huh, the ol' reliable. A sure-fire tactic that's so simple, yet so effective."

'Battlefield Tactics, huh…' Myoujou frowned.

'It's almost disgusting how easy it was to pull off.'

Staring at the group gathered in the hall Shizuha sighed. "So, isn't it simple that it's not Saiga? Someone else must've definitely framed him." Shizuha explained as she tried to keep her cool. Surely anyone with half a brain cell could tell that this was a setup, so why couldn't they?

She wanted to massage her temples at the 'genius' that her group was displaying at this moment.

Wasn't it too suspicious that in their bid to open up the Kuremisago Clan from its isolationist views, this event happened right as they were preparing for a big counterattack on the main branch?

Though unfortunately, there were some points that could be made.

Well, there were some concerns over the fact of her husband slowly sinking into the ways of the 'Satsujinken/Killing Fist' lately… But with the unshakable faith she had in her husband, she was sure that he would never end up falling into such an undesirable path.

She had even sent a letter to her father-in-law; the man known in the martial arts world as the 'Invincible Superman' Hayato Furinji, whose rivals could be counted on one hand was sure to make a visit someday concerning this matter.

"There must be someone else behind this… Anyone could see that." Shizuha bit her lip in worry as she held Saiga's hand. "The timing of this whole incident was suspicious."

"Impeccably suspicious, in fact."

Senzui stared at Shizuha for quite some time as he began to take in her answer. And eventually, so did most of those who were arguing with the meeting hall.

Stopping for a bit to think they started to see just how absurd the situation looked her thoughts did have some merit, however, this didn't mean that all of their suspicions were immediately cleared.

Myoujou muttered, his voice laced with sarcasm as he took exaggerated glances across the meeting hall. "Well, it looks like you were right Shintarou, this job you hooked us on really is a big fish..."

"---In fact, it even smells fishy too."

"Tch! Damn right it smells fishy. This job was merely to be a fighting power for the group but it looks like this might be a bit more complicated than we've expected." Shintarou spat. "Though, with the kinda life I lead, it ain't like I was expecting anything else anyways."

The mercenaries upon realizing that greater stakes were involved wasted no time expressing their disconcertment with the progress of events.

Things were getting more and more complicated, and it wasn't a sight that the mercenaries liked to see.

"You got to be shitting me." A mercenary spoke.

"If that's how it's gonna go, then I'm done with this!"

"How about a revamp on our deal."

More mercenaries began raising complaints, not wanting to take risks for that won't pay off, especially for a group that looks to be eating themselves out from the inside

-'You mean to tell me that not only are they splitting into two to fight each other, but there's also even more splitting up and espionage involved as well?'

-What was this, some sick roleplay of cell division?

They were used to missions going awry, but this was setting up to be a disaster…

-One that they didn't want to be around when it happens.

And as expected, the reaction of the clansmen was less than pleased.

"What! So spineless!" A clansman roared.

"So you act tough to people weaker than you, but now that there's trouble you're scared?"

"I knew we shouldn't have gotten outsiders to help us!"

"That's exactly why, you dumbass! It's clear that you guys have some serious issues! Can't even trust the help you've brought on, and you expect us to stay?" A frustrated mercenary piped up. "Fat fucking chance in hell that'll happen."

"What you say?" As the yelling got even louder it seemed that it was only a matter of time until fights would break out between what was supposed to be team members.

Shifting his lazy gaze towards Senzui, Shintarou suddenly spoke up as he gained the attention of them all. "I agree with them as well."

Hearing this Senzui merely raised an eyebrow, as if asking Shintarou to continue.

"The Phantom Titan?"

"Oh, that name? Yeah, that's me." Digging his ears as if he were looking for gold, Shintarou yawned lazily. "Now I don't care about your history with your clan or whatever 'cause that's your own business… And I ain't concerned about why such a lame attempt of framing has been done- But what I am concerned about, is just who exactly could've killed those three?"

"I mean, if you guys don't have your shit together then I'm not down for it."

"Do you think it's the mainland Kuremisago?" Senzui quizzically asked.

"Maybe… Though… If it ain't a spy from the Kuremisago Mainland…" Shintarou trailed off. "-Then who's to say that it ain't from your very own group?"

"!"

If one really thought about it, then they would wonder; 'If it wasn't some spy from the mainland; the very force they were against that had done it and colluded to pin it on Saiga, then who's to say that it wasn't one of their very own?'

There were many variables to look at, but narrowing them down Shintarou had easily reached his own conclusion after giving it some thought.

"Are you suggesting that it was someone from my own Kuremisago Faction, 'Phantom Titan'… No, Shintarou?" Senzui asked, his eyebrows furrowing as he remained calm at the 'implications' that Shintarou made.

"Not just that… But that it could very well be a double agent at play! After all, I'm sure that this ain't the first case of this happening, eh?" Shintarou calmly replied amidst the frowns he was receiving from the various clansmen. "-I just find the timing to be a bit too spot-on, don't ya' think?"

"Besides, you guys…. The 'Liberationists'…. Aren't you guys technically the rebel group in this whole shabizz? Maybe some guy in the shadows wants to end the war by having you guys take yourselves out."

"Could it really be from our side…?" Shizuha muttered worriedly beside a frowning Saiga.

"Now I don't know the full reasons on why it was done, but the rough outlines seem to be quite simple to me actually." Calmly continuing, Shintarou spoke what came to his mind freely.

"Weren't those three fellas 'Masters' at martial arts? Whoever it is that offed them and left 'em with… What was it? A hole in their chest? -Definitely ain't no pushover."

"To me, it looks like someone was acting smart and wanted to hit ya' where it hurts. So in that case we should check everyone and everything within the premises before making a plan to strike back."

Senzui nodded as Shintarou informed them on what he thought and the surroundings gradually became noisier as they weighed the possibility of there actually being a traitor in their midst.

"This- This can't be!"

"Do we really have a traitor among us?"

"Looks like the Kuremisago really has snakes in their own lawn, huh…" Myoujou sighed as he knew that the trouble has yet to start, much less end. "Good grief, What a drag…"

Shintarou yawned again as he rustled Myoujou's head. "Of course they do. A clan that's been around as long as they do 'got' to have some black sheep in their ranks after all."

"On another topic..." Senzui gained the attention of the room once more as the meeting hall quieted down.

No longer continuing that certain branch of the topic, there was something else that had caught Senzui's interest, it mainly being a certain addition to this little plight of his when he looked at the list of those who would be arriving amongst the hired hands.

It wasn't a combatant in the strictest sense but more of an add-on.

An additional guest if you will.

It was the disciple of the problem-causing, toe-steeping, beer-chugging giant of a man named Shintarou Satou(a name he was definitely sure wasn't his real name) who went by the alias of 'The Phantom Titan'.

-'Kurogami Myoujou'.

"You're Shintarou's first disciple aren't you? From what I hear about him, I never would've thought that a guy like him would've gotten a disciple. It's a surprise, to be honest." Senzui smiled.

"Awww, stop it. You're making me blush~" Shintarou laughed as he scratched his cheek.

'That wasn't a compliment…' Was the thought that went through most of the heads of those present…

-Including Myoujou.

'The topic's on me now? What for? I can't imagine why he'd have any time to foster an interest in me when he's so busy about a literal traitor that's murdering their allies in his ranks.' Myoujou inwardly frowned. He didn't really trust Senzui as his senses were screaming at him that something was off every time he was in close proximity to the man.

'Who knows? Maybe it could've been him all along! And there would be the end of one of the worst episodes of a detective show ever.'

He at first chalked it up to it just being his danger senses ringing when in front of a strong person, but something was telling him that it wasn't just that…

His senses weren't anything like a lie detector or the likes of it, but it was good enough that could tell whether someone was trustworthy or not.

And right now, it was the same senses that alerted him when he ran into those kinds of people when he went on jobs with Shintarou, and now once again, it had just told him that this 'certain someone' before him was capable of doing some pretty messed up things at any given moment.

He wondered if Shintarou must've understood what he was thinking or even came to his own conclusion as Shintarou only nodded with a knowing look whilst patting him on the shoulder.

"I heard you were able to contest with one of the guards sent to pick you up? And he had done so with quite the interesting move as well." Senzui inspected Myoujou as he sat in the crowd. "Hmmn… A disciple of the 'Phantom Titan'- What may your name be?" Senzui asked. Though he already knew the name of the boy, he still asked for confirmation purposes.

"My name?" Myoujou asked.

"It's Myoujou. Kurogami Myoujou."

Frowning slightly as he nodded, Senzui quickly schooled his expression, though this didn't go unnoticed by Myoujou.

"Kurogami Myoujou… It's a nice name." Senzui said. 'And a familiar one too…'

Hearing this Saiga seemed a bit surprised, though it was more at him contesting one of the guards rather than his name. "Really? What a strong kid." He smiled.

'Kurogami? This boy…' Shizuha's eyes narrowed as she took a good look at Myoujou. 'Could it be…? His eyes even look familiar….'

'What was that?' Myoujou mused seeing the reaction of the three. 'Scanning me… or my strength?'

'Or did they hear about me from somewhere? Or did they meet someone else with that family name?'

'Mother didn't pass by here before, right?' Although this area and the sleeping quarters felt quite familiar Myoujou didn't think much of it. After all, when he thought back to his mother, she never was the one suited for strenuous physical activity like Martial Arts due to her being so sickly, though he did find out about her love for traveling the world.

'Or did they just meet that bastard of a father of mine and he ticked them off… Knowing him, I wouldn't put it behind him to do something like that.' Myoujou grimaced internally. 'Just like the old times… I have a feeling that being related to that man is gonna get me into a whole lot of trouble…'

"Besides Shintarou, I heard that even on your jobs he's done well?" Senzui said.

"Yeah, but he's got a long way to go, since he's still green and all; being a total rookie you know." Shintarou said proudly, patting himself on the back.

"Is that so…" Senzui muttered.

"How curious… In that case, I would like to hear his thoughts on what he would do in such a situation."

This made Myoujou and Shintarou raise an eyebrow. 'Thoughts on what 'I/ The kid' should do? What is this, some kind of test or what?'

"Don't get me wrong it's not like I'm putting this all on his shoulder now..." Looking at the two alongside the curious yet confused faces of the group around him, Senzui calmly explained.

"To tell you the truth, I'm merely curious, that's all… So feel free to speak all you want."

'Just what does this guy want...?' Myoujou wondered. This Senzui guy in front of him was way too slippery and mysteriously off for his liking. 'If this guy was a villain, he'd definitely be the mustache-twirling kind that wants everyone to understand their plans.'

"…"

"…"

"..."

Staring at Senzui in silence for a few seconds Myoujou had finally decided to speak. 'Anyway, it won't hurt to answer, so I'll keep it short and sweet.'

"Well, since you asked me…" Myoujou began. "-I'd suggest…"

-XOXOXOX-

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12th Fight: ADVENT OF A BLOODY STORM END

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-XOXOXOX-

12th Chapter Out!

As Always, Thanks For The Support~

Constructive Criticism And Feedback Is Always Welcomed.

Once Again Thanks For Your Continued Support For This Fanfic Which Is Total Amateur Hour Over Here Haha-

(ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE HEALING PROPERTIES IN REAL LIFE, THEY ARENT MAGICAL!)

(DON'T TRY THIS UNSUPERVISED AT HOME!)

Herb Names And What They're Known To Do:

Gobo/ Greater Burdock/ Arctium Lappa:

A Widely Cultivated Perennial Herb Used In North America, Europe, And Asia To Treat Sore Throat And Skin Pathologies Such As Boils, Rashes, Acne, And Is Also Known To Be A Key Regulator Of Wound Healing

Makino/ Ampelopsis Japonica:

Growing Throughout Eastern Asia And Eastern North America, The Roots Of Ampelopsis Japonica Are Used As A Traditional Treatment For Burns And Ulcers, Amongst Other Indications Of Wound Closure

Three-Seven-Root/ Panax Notoginseng:

Panax Notoginseng, Not To Be Confused With Panax Ginseng And Other Ginsengs, Is A Herb Commonly Found In Asia And Is Used To Stop Bleeding, Reduce Oedema, Reduce Bruising, And Reduce Pain.

(Info Abridged For Easy Reading. It'll Pop Around Sooner Or Later.)

Say Tuned~

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