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The battle was over.
Chihiro Rokuhira looked on at the end result of the war of attrition that he had just participated in. Kyora Sazanami was dead at his feet. The Enchanted Blade proved too much for the old man and even then, he managed to somewhat stand tall in the face of his demise.
As the walls of the storehouse collapsed around him, Chihiro found himself back at the site of the Rakuzaicha - the place where all kinds of illicit dealings happened. From selling illegal weapons, priceless (and no doubt stolen) artifacts and even people were sold. It was a sick business, and it had to come to an end.
As Chihiro slipped out of consciousness, he noticed Hakuri collapsed on one of the seats. Panic set in as Chihiro didn't know if he was knocked out due to the stress or if the overexertion killed him. The swordsman tried to rush towards Hakuri to help him out, but his body used up all its adrenaline fighting the Sazanami patriarch. He only made it a few steps before his vision began to grow dark and his legs turned to jelly…
Togo Shiba observed the carnage and silently shook his head. The sorcerer needed to make sure Chihiro and Hakuri were given immediate medical attention. Shiba had seen enough bloodshed to last a hundred lifetimes and the promise he made to Kunishige to keep Chihiro safe felt like the last thread holding up his humanity. He also knew that Chihiro would be devastated if Hakuri was left to die after all he's done too.
"Alright, get these two out of here and in a medical facility. Now" Shiba ordered to a gaggle of Kamunabi agents
"Hey! My partner and I were staking out this position for months! If you idiots hadn't interrupted us, we would have bid on this the sword and nothing like this would have happened!" a man with oddly rectangular teeth ranted.
Shiba surmised that he was out of the game longer than he thought because he had no idea just who the hell this guy was. Part of him was annoyed that he didn't command the respect he did during the war but another part of him was glad that monsters like himself were being forgotten.
Though being feared might have helped Shiba convince this guy to just do what he was told.
"Get Rokuhira and the Sazanami kid medical attention now!" the Flame Bone woman that Shiba recognized ordered. Her name was Hiyuki Kagari if he recalled correctly
The bigger man that seemed to be Hiyuki's partner (well "Handler" was a more appropriate term considering their dispositions) nodded "You heard her. The leadership will have your heads if your squabbling costs us the lives of these two noble souls. They're very valuable to the Kamunabi.
The weird teeth guy gritted his trademark weird teeth in frustration but the rest of the agents quickly obeyed orders and called a medical team to pick up Chihiro and Hakuri.
Shiba turned to the two operatives that helped him "Thank you Ms. Kagari. I felt like I was going to teleport that guy to the top of the building to get him to comply." he casually admitted while sticking a cigarette in his mouth.
Before Shiba could pull out a lighter, Hiyuki raised her hand to get him to stop "Here, let me." she activated her sorcery to light the cigarette in his mouth
"Thanks."
"Anything for a Hero of the Seitei War" Hiyuki chirped.
Shiba knew that at least some of that kindness was a facade. While she did have morals, the way she used such powerful sorcery to simply light up his smoke was a subtle display of how much control she had over such a power.
"Geez, you're making me feel like a geezer here!" Shiba quipped "But seriously, thanks again for the assist."
"Tafuku here would have my ass if I let either of those two die." Hiyuki casually remarked as she pointed towards her companion.
Shiba nodded "Then I guess I have you to thank."
Tafuku laughed "Ms. Kagari cares more than she lets on. Not too long ago, she was willing to brutalize young Rokuhira. Now look at her."
Hiyuki rolled here eyes "All right, I admit it. These two numbskulls have their hearts in the right place. Which is more than I can say about a bunch of losers in the Kamunabi. It would suck to see them die here after all they've done."
"With the immediate medical attention, I think they'll be fine." Shiba nodded "Though I'm sure Hakuri's physical injuries are the problems that will cause him the least concern."
"Oh yeah…" Hakuri trailed off "His family…"
"I can't imagine the trauma of having to kill one's brother even if they've fallen into such depravity." Tafuku mused
Shiba took a drag of his cigarette "It's something you have to live with."
"What about the remaining members of the Sazanami family?" Hiyuki asked
"I ordered their eldest sibling to take the family in the new direction. To atone for their crimes and end the vicious cycle they were caught up in."
Hiyuki narrowed her eyes in confusion "And that's supposed to work? Don't you think they're planning for revenge?"
Shiba shook his head "Seeing their younger brother sacrifice himself for a lie seemed to snap them out of their indoctrination. They won't bother any of us ever again. Besides, they'll be too busy making funeral arrangements."
Hiyuki shrugged "Damn, sounds rough. Well, I guess it's up to you to tell that Sazanami kid what happened to the rest of his family. I'm not suited for it."
Chihiro slowly opened his eyes as his senses returned to him. He blinked rapidly to slowly regain control of his faculties. The first thing he heard was the steady beeping of the heart monitor.
Turning his head a little to the side, Chihiro spotted Shiba slumped in a chair, sleeping…with his ever present cigarette still in his mouth. The veteran wasn't a light sleeper however, and even the light rustling from Chihiro caused him to awaken
"Chihiro! Good to see awake!" Shiba said as he walked closer to the bed "How are you feeling?"
"I've felt worse…" Chihiro admitted "Is Hakuri okay?"
"He really pushed himself out there with his sorcery. He got it much worse than you…but he'll make a full recovery too."
Chihiro breathed a sigh of relief. Shiba smiled at the gesture. It was good to know that Chihiro's sense of empathy hadn't been diminished even after all that he went through. The veteran was worried when Chihiro came to him to talk about avenging Kunishige. He was afraid that Chihiro lost his humanity and became…well, became someone like him. But with Char and now Hakuri, Shiba realized that Chihiro would never stoop so low like he and his compatriots did during the war.
Shiba looked up at the ceiling "Even though he'll be fine physically, I think we both know that it doesn't mean he's in the clear. Two of his family members are now gone and even though they weren't good people, I doubt he's going to just move on quickly.
"He had to kill his own brother." Chihiro stated grimly
"Yeah. It's scary what indoctrination can do. Such single-minded determination is dangerous. It's why I kept questioning your drive to avenge your father's death."
"Thank you, Mr. Shiba…For everything"
"Chihiro, you've been in more hospitals these past few months than a kid your age should be. A lot of that blame is on me." Shiba said somberly
"I've seen worse. The Sazanami family…Tenri was around my age, and he died protecting his father on a false promise. I didn't even kill him. How could a father treat their own child like that?"
"Not everyone can be as good of a father as Kunishige."
"Listen, I've come to terms that my father wasn't as perfect as I thought. The swords he made, they ended the war but I've seen what they could do." Chihiro acknowledged "The Sazanami Patriarch…I just can't comprehend how he could do any of that."
"Well, I talked to the remaining members of his family. Seeing their siblings senselessly sacrifice their lives for the sake of their father opened their eyes. This is the end of the Rakuzaichi. I'll check up on them from time to time to make sure they're doing alright…and to make sure they won't relapse into their old ways."
"Hakuri…He somehow got away from his father's influence and became a good person. If I were in his place I don't think I could do the same." Chihiro contemplated
"You think too little of yourself, Chihiro. Though a bad parent may indoctrinate an unsuspecting child, a strong heart overcomes any vice. Tell me, when you started this question for vengeance, did you expect to take in a young orphan and give her hope for a better life."
"No, I just wanted to kill whoever was responsible for my father's death"
"You're more than a tool for revenge, Chihiro. Hakuri was inspired by your bravery and kindness and I don't think you have any intentions of letting him down."
"Where do you think he's going to go after all this? We stopped his family and he unlocked his sorcery."
Shiba shrugged "I dunno. You're friends with him right? Why don't you ask him yourself when you're out of bed."
Chihiro shook his head "He has enough on his plate. Two of his family members are dead…and I killed his father. Even if he asked me to do it, I don't know how he'll react now that his father actually is dead."
"Once he's conscious again, Hakuri is going to be dealing with a lot. I think you should be there for him. As a shoulder to lean on. Nobody should go through that alone. Even if I convinced his remaining family to turn over a new leaf, I don't think they'll get along after everything that happened."
"I'll be there." Chihiro dictated. Shiba couldn't help but smile. Chihiro said those words with the same conviction he had when he swore to take down the criminals that killed his father. It was more proof that Chihiro wasn't just a machine for vengeance.
Hakuri couldn't believe he was standing over the graves of his father, Soya and Tenri. Considering what his family had done, they were lucky enough to get a proper cremation instead of having their bodies taken away by the Kamunabi.
Hakuri wasn't a fool. He knew to reach his goal of stopping the Rakuzaichi, there was going to be bloodshed. The damned auction and the need to live up to their ancestors is what drove his father to become the monster he was in life. It was ironic in a way that his father, deep down, was just as much of a victim of living up to the family name just as much as he was.
And look what it got him
Tenri had given his life for a lie only for him to fail in death. Chihiro had slain his father and the criminal world moved on. The Rakuzachi was now a shadow of a memory, nothing more. For all the pomp and importance that Kyora Sazanami lectured about, the auction that their entire family line gave their lives for didn't mean much. Arms deals will still be made, priceless artifacts will still be stolen, human lives will still be sold. In a couple of years or so, Nobody will give a damn about the auction that his family staked their identity on.
Hakuri wanted to laugh. He was ready to be hunted down and killed for disrupting the sacred auction that his father went on and on about, but nothing like that happened.
He wanted to spit on the headstones of his father and Soya. All the pain and misery they put him through was now over. Both of them died is such a sad, pathetic matter. Hakuri never told anyone this but he had dreams of this moment. He had finally avenged the woman that opened his eyes to what his family truly was.
But now all he felt were tears pooling in the corners of his eyes
How could this be? The people laid before him were monsters. This was the path they chose, and they died fighting to continue their terrible way of life. All the while the Woman with Icy Skin suffered through hell and took her life in despair. His family drove an innocent woman to take her own life, and what did they do? They threw her body out along with the broken treasures
"Something like this will happen. You will just have to get used to it." Hakuri remembered his father saying those words to his siblings after all that and they understood immediately.
He looked up at the sky "I did it! I promised you that I'd end this auction and nobody will end up like you!"
Hakuri flashed back to the child who called himself Mr. Inazuma and how he risked his life to save his sister. He wondered if things would be different if the Woman with Icy Skin knew she had someone who was waiting for her outside and not a bastard husband who sold her out.
Now that he had avenged her, what can Hakuri do with the rest of his life? He figured that even with what Mr. Shiba said about his family turning over a new leaf, they barely a chance that they could reconcile. Maybe in a few years or so, they could all talk and sort everything out. Maybe they can be an actual family one of these days? Without their father's toxic influence destroying their lives.
What would Soya's love for him be like if he was taught to be a monster? What would Tenri's unconditional dedication to help his family be like? Hakuri would never know…
He hated that. He hated his father for failing his family and he hated himself for feeling even the smallest amount of sadness as he stood over Kyora's grave. The monster didn't deserve it.
"Dad…" Hakuri clenched his eyes shut "I hate you!"
"Hakuri?" A voice snapped the Sazanami outcast out of his anger. He looked behind him and there he was- his samurai savior, clad in his everpresent black trenchcoat
"Chihiro? W-Why are you…?"
"When my father died, Mr. Shiba was there to support me when I felt like the world was crumbling around me. What kind of friend would I be if I didn't come here to support you?"
The way Chihiro smiled at him shook Hakuri. He had rarely seen Chihiro smile in the short time they had worked together. The few times he had seen a smile on his lips was when he was interacting with Char and comforting Yuu
Hakuri bowed out of reflex "T-Thank you Chihiro but I don't want to sully your father's name by comparing him to mine. The fact that you're seeing me shed tears over the man is sad enough…"
Chihiro shook his head "Look, I had it easy compared to you. My father…He was always good to me. I couldn't imagine my father doing anything like your father did. The fact you ended up such a kind person despite that is nothing short of a miracle."
"I wish I could have met your father. Just to tell him his son grew up to be a hero."
"You know my father was a pretty complicated man." Chihiro mused "Even he had his demons." He held out his Enchanted Blade "These things right here…they caused a lot of death and destruction, and he had to live with that. Look, I'm not trying to say that I've had it as hard as you, but family is complicated, and sometimes we're confused and angry when they're not around to answer us."
"You saw me crying over my father, didn't you?" Hakuri questioned "I know it must feel weird seeing me cry for him after he tried to kill you and myself."
"Like I said, things aren't always black and white. I used to think like that. When my father was killed, I thought it was for no reason. I learned that my father had skeletons in the closet just like everyone else. Once you become an adult, your parents stop being idols and start being people. I guess in your case you had to grow up faster than I did."
"Grow up?" Hakuri let out a mirthless chuckle "I couldn't even use any sorcery before I met you!"
"That's because you had nobody by your side." Chihiro argued "I wouldn't be standing here today if it weren't for you, Hakuri. You're not a failure and you never were. Your heart just could never drown in sickness. Incorruptible to the end. I, er we all need someone like that in our lives."
Hakuri couldn't help but feel flustered hearing all this. Chihiro! The great samurai was praising him! But now was not the time to turn into a sputtering mess, they were talking about something important and he still had some questions
"What did you learn about your father that made you change the way you thought about him?"
"I fought some madman; a crime boss named Genichi Sojo, who stole one of the sacred blades. He was the one who used Cloud Gouger. He also admired my father for completely different reasons. To him, my father was a great man because he forged these enchanted blades they were tools of slaughter."
"That's not true! You used Enten to save everyone!" Chihiro rebuked
Chihiro looked off in the distance, gazing at the sunset "That's what I thought too. But my father wasn't a fool. A weapon can never be used to create peace if anyone could wield it. Sojo used Cloud Gouger to slaughter people, and it doesn't matter that my father forged them to end the war. At the end of the day, they're just tools for anyone to use, regardless of their morality. I know now that my father wasn't blind to the fact either."
Hakuri took a deep breath and turned towards his father's headstone "Maybe there was someone deep down who truly loved me. Sometimes I think if it wasn't for this Rakuzaichi business, then my father wouldn't have turned out like this. And without him becoming a monster, none of my family would have died fighting us."
Chihiro placed a hand on Hakuri's shoulder "I'm sorry that you had to kill your brother."
Hakuri stiffened when he was reminded of that fact. He wanted to remember it as Soya dying because he went overboard with his sorcery, but the truth is that Soya died fighting him. Even though the both of them were running on adrenaline and clawing at life during their fight, their sibling bond all but forgotten.
Hakuri looked down at his trembling hands "I want to say that I wish it didn't come to that but part of me is glad he's dead and another part of me hates myself for thinking that."
Hakuri was expecting Chihiro to scold him for having such thoughts, but he didn't do anything like that. He just nodded
"Soya was a monster. If me and him met under different circumstances, I would have cut him down without any hesitation."
"He was a terrible older brother and I have enough scars as proof, but he was still my brother and a product of my father's upbringing." Hakuri admitted
"That only gets you so far. You can't use your past as an excuse for the suffering you're causing in the present. You're living proof of it, Hakuri."
"So how do you think I'm supposed to feel?"
Chihiro furrowed his brow "I can't answer that. Never went through what you did. He was your brother, but he was also a bad person. I guess you could mourn what you two could have had."
"I'm sorry you had to witness Tenri do that to himself, Chihiro." Hakuri lamented
"He sacrificed his life to help his father. If it were any other circumstances, It would have been a noble way to die. He could have been a good person." Chihiro noted "Speaking of which, your remaining family members…Did Mr. Shiba tell you about that?"
"That they're ending the Rakuzaicha?" Hakuri looked up at the sky "Good for them. At least they know when to quit before they waste their lives."
"You ever thought about seeing them? Now that the problem between you is gone?"
Hakuri shook his head "No, at least not right now. Even if we have no reason to meet up with them. They took the first step, but they still need to grow. Seeing me might make them see red. I don't want them to attack me thinking I was the cause of all this."
Chihiro smiled "You'd probably kick their asses."
Hakuri couldn't help but smile back "Maybe. I'm still getting used to isou and being able to control the storehouse. But all our wounds are still fresh. If I go back home and try to make peace with them…and I really want to; it's going to take a while. We all have to move on from what happened. Even if Enji and Tamaki want to apologize and want to do better, nothing's going to change if they just follow my lead."
Chihiro scrunched his face in confusion "What do you mean?"
"They're gonna use me as a guide to follow for their redemption and that means nothing would change for them. They're still going to be following someone. My siblings need to make their own path in life, no matter how hard it is."
"I guess that does make sense. You think they're going to revert back to their own ways?"
"I don't know." Hakuri answered honestly "They were under my family's indoctrination for so long they just might not know what to do with their freedom. But they also saw Tenri die for nothing. Even though they all hated me, I think they did genuinely love each other." he said with a wistful sigh
"So what are you going to do now that this is all over? You stopped your family from continuing that damned auction and you also found you were a prodigy." Chihiro acknowledged
"When you put it that way, I should feel over the moon and I do. I'm happy that there's no more humans being sold by my family. But…being away for so long, a small part of me, even to the end hoped that I could convince them to stop this madness and just be a family again." Hakuri admitted
Chihiro looked down "Did you honestly believe it?"
"No…No I didn't it. I knew since the day I saw those people in their cages, waiting to be sold that nothing would change until my father was dead. Now that it's done, I can finally move on and live." Hakuri bowed respectfully once more "Thank you Chihiro, for all your help. And please, thank Mr. Shiba for me."
Chihiro's eyes widened in surprise "You're leaving?"
"All this started because I took a chance and went off on my own. If I just shut up and accepted being my family's punching bag, none of this would have happened. There's all sorts of people out there to help, families as broken as mine, innocent children being hurt."
Chihiro nodded in understanding "I see" before doing something Hakuri never expected
The samurai bowed to Hakuri "Hakuri Sazanami, I want to ask you to help me on my mission."
Hakuri nearly fainted at the sight "Wait, what?!"
"I've seen what you can do, Hakuri and even though we haven't known each for long, the more important thing is." Chihiro pointed at his heart "I've also seen what really matters. Working with the Kamunabi will involve some dirty business from people I don't really trust but it's something I'll have to do to make sure that the blades that my father forged don't harm anyone else.
"The only other person I trust is Mr. Shiba…I don't even trust myself since I started doing all this just to avenge my dad. But now I know my father had his demons and it's up to me to stop my father's creations. Who knows when the next time I'll waver? But someone like you? You never waver."
"I still feel like I'm not worthy to be by your side, Chihiro."
"You already saved my life. We'll need someone with your sorcery to even the odds once we run into more trouble." Chihiro looked away once again, his cheeks turning as crimson as his eyes "And I want you to stick around. I know it sounds selfish and it is but…I don't want this to be the last time we see each other."
Hakuri smiled "Then I guess I can't say no, can I?"
Chihiro extended his hand "Partners?"
Hakuri accepted the offer "Partners"