The concept of a youthful marriage wasn't foreign to Suzume. As a Fumiko Clan woman, Suzume expected to marry young regardless of who it might be.
Whether it was Ryota since he was the heir of the Fumiko Clan.
Or if it were Hakuji because he was a notable member of one of the Fumiko branch family.
Or potentially even Seth due to his strong lineage as the next heir of the Vermillion family.
Luckily, Suzume had a choice in who she'd wed. She stared at Ren with starry eyes. He was her pillar of light, best friend, savior, and soulmate. Suzume locked hands with Ren as if artificially tying the knot.
"It's official." Suzume's eyes went to Sarah reading her panicked reaction. "Renji proposed to me not to long ago." A sinister smile rose over Suzume's lips. "It was sweet, he gave me gifts, kissed me, and told me he loves me."
Sarah's golden eyes repeatedly blinked like flashes of lightning. "Suzu..."
"I'd be a fool to reject him." Suzume rubbed her stomach lightly. She gently caressed Ren's face and spoke lightly. "And of course I love him too." Suzume leaned in and kissed Ren affectionally.
Sarah collapsed. The knife in her heart had sunk too deep. She could imagine Suzume laughing like an evil witch.
Sarah always liked Ren. Initially, her interests in him were solely born from sympathy. She wanted to apologize for how Seth treated him and spoil him a little due to his rough upbringing.
But, the feelings Sarah felt for Ren slowly evolved after witnessing his resolve time and time again. He was the only one who dared to stand up to Seth and defend her honor. Ren treated her kindly even after being crippled.
In many ways, Ren was Sarah's knight in shining armor, and secretly Sarah wished she could be in Suzume's shoes.
Nevertheless, Sarah was happy for the two of them and wished them nothing but the best.
"Just give it time little lass." Maija softly rubbed Sarah's shoulders. Heartbreak was an emotion Maija was very familiar with.
Maija stared up at the clouds, recalling her youth. When she was young, she had many suitors, some more attractive than others and some older than others. Luckily her father, Sawyer, gave Maija the freedom to fall in love with who she wanted. Which, by virtue, gave her the freedom to break the hearts of whoever didn't suit her taste.
Maija rejected nearly a hundred men and fell in love with only one.
Maija's eyes sank, her blood-moon eyes fell from the sky like red stars. But after some time, they landed on Suzume, a descendant of the man she loved, Ryoma Fumiko.
"Maija, am I cursed?" Sarah asked, raising her head. Maija pet Sarah's head like a sad cat and made faces at her as if wanting to hear her purr.
"Cursed with heartbreak? Yes, you are." Maija told her bluntly. "But give it time, eventually the hole in your heart will be filled with a blessing."
Sarah shifted through her thoughts and reflected on a vision Excalibur showed her. She saw a vision of herself and a man with almond skin holding hands and traveling through the desert.
Due to the skin tone, Sarah assumed that man was Ren. His height matched Ren's as well.
Sarah took another look at Ren and tilted her head.
"No, he was definitely taller..."
Sarah crossed her legs and thought about it longer. She couldn't imagine herself with anyone else. Dustin was too lustful for her taste. Arthur, although attractive, was too much of a womanizer. Then Jack...
Just thinking about Jack made Sarah angry. He was the first man to see her nude, and he hardly reacted. He even seemed disappointed.
Sarah recalled her meeting with Jack. After toppling him and getting clothes, Sarah asked him what he thought of her, and much to Sarah's disappointment Jack simply sighed.
"Kinda flabby."
"The audacity of that-!" Sarah bit her tongue. She wouldn't soil her mouth by cursing.
To calm herself, Sarah looked Ren's way.
Ren was perfect in every way. He had royal blood. Ren had founding blood. He was very easy on the eyes and was by far the most beautiful man she had ever met. She cuffed her face and blushed when Ren glanced her way.
However, moments later, Suzume stepped in Sarah's line of sight, and all she saw was Suzume's icy-blue eyes.
"Relax Suzume. Sarah is just being dramatic as always." Ren smiled and walked Sarah's way. He offered his hand to her like he normally would. "I'm glad to see you are doing better, Sarah."
Sarah took his hand and lowered her head. She wasn't entirely sure how to face him. Like Suzume and many others, Ren was Sarah's savior. If it wasn't for his phoenix-fire, Sarah would've succumbed to her wounds and died a painful death.
"I don't even know how to start..." Sarah whispered. "How can I ever repay you for healing me?"
"You can start by raising your head." Ren chuckled. He didn't care about being paid back. Ren cared for Sarah like he did all his friends. Ren would never allow Sarah to die if he had it in his power to stop it. "And standing on your own two feet. You've spent far too long bound to that stupid chair, at least now you can stand by my side and look me in the eye."
Sarah's eyes watered somewhat. She wiped them carelessly, smearing her eyeliner. More tears came, and she laughed them off as she rose from the ground to reach the sky and beyond.
"Much better." Ren grinned.
Sarah did the same, and so did Suzume.
Despite her one-sided rivalry Suzume did enjoy Sarah's company. She considered Sarah a friend, and these days perhaps her only friend.
"How are you feeling?" Suzume asked. "Any pain, any scars?"
Ren felt his chest throb, and Suzume's throat tightened. Simply imagining Ren's scars made Suzume want to gag, but she held herself together for the time being, for everyone's sake.
"No pain, and no scars." Sarah answered honestly. "Even my hand feels great." Sarah held up her hand and twisted it. Mary couldn't recover Sarah's hand after Ryota chopped it off. But through the efforts of Excalibur's intense healing and Ren's therapeutic healing, Sarah's hand was able to reform.
"That's great..." Ren gave Sarah a bit more of a more solemn look. Her physical appearance changed a bit. She grew taller and more muscular. Sarah recalled Arthur mentioning going through the same process when he first lifted up the sword.
Also, Sarah's honey-brown eyes were now golden like a pair of twin-suns. They looked identical to Arthur's, which made Ren and Suzume smile. Sarah indeed was their light.
"It is, but what about you two? Marriage that's amazing isn't it?" Sarah took their hands and joined them together. "I wish you nothing but good fortune."
Sarah glanced down and noticed a pair of red eyes staring back at her. Sarah froze immediately, seeing the resemblance to Ren, and then looked at Suzume.
"Who is this?"
Ren scratched his face sheepishly. "That's our daughter Manasa." he looked down at his stumpy daughter and laughed. "Say hello Mana."
"Hello!" Manasa raised her hand and shouted energetically.
"Oh um... hello." Sarah smiled at her awkwardly. "You are so adorable." Sarah returned her gaze to Ren and Suzume. "So this is...the baby?" She looked back and forth. "How long was I asleep? Ten years? Eleven years?"
"More like six days." Ren clarified.
"What?!" Sarah shouted so loud her voice sent tremors across the island.
"Then I..." Sarah's brain burst. Nothing made sense to her. "How? Suzume did you shoot this little one out?" Sarah immediately disregarded her question. "No, that wouldn't make sense. Manasa looked far too old to be your child." Sarah observed Ren's face longer. "But she looks so much like you. How?"
Ren's face darkened and didn't give a clear answer. When he first arrived back at Tengoku Shrine with Manasa, he told everyone to not ask about Manasa's lineage. He simply said to them that she was his daughter and had his blood.
Since then, everyone developed their own thoughts on the matter but didn't press it further. All except Natsumi, who simply watched from afar.
Natsumi held the sapphire in her hand and watched Ren like a blazing hawk.
"Sarah has a point." Natsumi said bluntly. "How did you stumble across Manasa?"
Manasa watched from below. Staring up at the adults as if they were giants from a fictional story.
Manasa never thought that much about her lineage. All she knew was the dark void from where she came. She didn't understand why she was a snake, to begin with, or why Ren gave her a human form but didn't do the same for Mako.
Manasa asked Maija once who she was in relation to Ren.
Maija simply told Manasa she was Ren's warrior.
Manasa stared at Suzume for awhile. Suzume didn't look the same as her. She didn't have her red hair, dark skin, or fuming red eyes.
"Tachi, who is my-"
Manasa held her breath. No, it'd be more accurate to say she couldn't breathe. Her eyes locked onto Ren's, and she saw nothing but an endless sea of rage. Manasa attempted to probe Ren's mind to understand, to find an answer to Ren's pain. But the moment she tried to leap in, Manasa was burned.
The darkness in Ren's heart swarmed in his mind like a protective veil. It prevented anyone from diving within and anyone from questioning further.
"Suzume is your mother." Ren said sternly. He looked to Sarah and Natsumi and said the same. "Suzume is the only mother Manasa will have. She is the mother who will care for you. She is the mother who will love you." Ren glanced at Maija. "Well, and Maija too of course..."
He tried to soften his gaze but couldn't before Natsumi.
Natsumi saw through Ren like a sheet of ice. She could tell Ren was hiding something even if she couldn't pinpoint what it was.
"Let's talk." Natsumi shifted her head, motioning towards the cliffs. Ren felt like a child again and shrank beneath his elder sister. Natsumi's harsh gaze went to Jack, melting him like a statue of ice. She grabbed Jack by the collar of his jacket. "You too. I'm tired of chasing your ass around this fucking island."
Jack simply went along, having his own doubts on the matter. He looked to Ren for guidance but concluded they were both screwed.
"Natsumi is going to beat the shit out of us..." Ren and Jack thought in unison.
The others watched from a distance. Suzume thought of interfering, but Maija stopped her by shaking her head.
"Wait, Auntie Natsu! Where are you taking Tachi?" Manasa shouted. Manasa ran after them, and Suzume went to grab Manasa, but the child dodged. Maija attempted the same, and Manasa kicked her in the face.
"Manasa!" Suzume shouted and quickly rushed over to Maija.
Maija held her mouth. It was starting to bleed, but beneath the blood rested a gleeful smile.
"That was good!" Maija looked at Suzume and then Sarah. "I taught her that one."
Suzume closed her eyes and sighed.
"I'm surrounded by psychopaths..."
***
Sayuri's recovery process didn't go nearly as smooth as it did for Sarah. The potency of Ren's flames was weaker compared to the fire that coated the others.
Ren only saved Sayuri's life because he knew that's what Suzume would want him to do. He didn't do it out of necessity or a place of warmth. Beyond that, Renji Fujiwara couldn't care less whether or not Sayuri Fumiko lived or died.
"Somehow I'm breathing..." Sayuri's vision faded in and out. In her current state, she'd never walk again, let alone hold a sword.
The left side of Sayuri's face was severely scarred. The skin had melted and turned into a fleshy paste, leaving sections of muscle missing and leaving nothing but damaged red bone.
Her back was even worse. Suzume came in earlier and checked on her wounds, and even though she didn't say anything. Just from her expression, Sayuri could tell how bad it was.
"Why am I still alive?" Sayuri questioned. With the pain she felt, dying seemed like a blessing. But, Sayuri never feared death. The fear of death was beaten out of her years ago by her father, Ryujin Fumiko.
Ryujin was a cold man. Even worse than her. In all her years living, Sayuri never once saw him smile.
When hearing of his twin sons' achievements, Ryujin would simply nod his head. As the twin heirs to the Fumiko Clan, he expected nothing less. Sousuke and Souji were nothing short of perfect.
At least, that's what Sayuri thought.
When Ikumi arrived at the Fumiko manor, she struck like a natural disaster. Seeing her fight was like watching a wild animal. Her punches burst the heads of the Fumiko guards like balloons. And her kicks tore open their insides like a sharp sword.
Sayuri didn't even think someone could hone their body to that degree. But somehow, Ikumi managed to do it.
Sayuri was one of two survivors of that event. The other being Ryujin.
Ikumi faced Sousuke and Souji without an ounce of fear in her eyes. They were the Fumiko successors, and yet she emoted nothing. Like black lightning, Ikumi struck them down. She folded their bodies inside out with her fist and light-speed kicks.
That was the one and only time Sayuri noticed her father express any emotion.
An unrivaled sadness.
Ikumi took out Ryujin as quickly as she did his sons. She laughed at him in her male form and raped his mind the same way he did hers. She ripped off his arms and ate them like chicken wings.
She whispered sweet nothings into his ear and savored the taste. Eating loudly and grossly to let the poison simmer.
Ikumi didn't even bother to harm Sayuri. She saw no point. She had already shattered Ryujin's will and knew in due time she'd do the same with Sayuri.
Ikumi's plan of revenge was already set in motion.
Every generation, she'd slaughter the Fumiko Family and only let one live. The one member would continue on the bloodline, and after a decade or two, Ikumi would do it all again.
By shedding the blood of the dragon, Ikumi knew her people would find peace.
Sayuri raised her hand. It trembled violently as if it took every bit of strength she had just to lift it.
"I am a failure..." Sayuri hissed between her burnt teeth. She failed to kill Mei twice now, and with Ren's rise in power, she'd never had the chance again.
For decades, Sayuri trained long and hard, hoping to get the chance to face the devil who slaughtered her family. Little did she know that devil was standing before her for all this time.
Similar to Suzume, Sayuri was not intended to become the next heir. She was the youngest child, destined to become a breeder and another pawn for the Fumiko Clan. Once she was old enough to bear children, she'd be given to the Fumiko Clan elders to suit their needs.
However, due to Souji and Sousuke's unexpected deaths, the weight of the entire clan was suddenly placed on her shoulders.
"Fulfill your duty and kill the devil!"
Sayuri recalled the Elders' words. She followed them as closely as possible and did whatever she could to appease them. Sayuri joined the Hero Association even though she didn't want to. She married a Sasaki branch family member and had two children even though she didn't want to. She even gave herself into hatred and allowed her soul to be consumed by Shigure even though she didn't want to.
But as a Fumiko, it was her duty.
Out of the decades of misery Sayuri felt on behalf of the Fumiko Clan. There was one light that alleviated her pain, even if it was for a short period.
Sayuri thought of the day of Ryota's birth. He was her firstborn, her favorite child. He took after her more than Suzume did and was more gifted than she could've imagined.
Ryota could be cold when he needed to be and easily pleased the elders of the clan.
For once, Sayuri felt like her existence meant something and produced something good.
But she couldn't have been more wrong.
Sayuri thought of Suzume and coughed, spitting out blood.
For years, Sayuri was cold to Suzume. She'd either not acknowledge her or would beat her around left and right. She thought it was the only thing she could do to make Suzume stronger. To prepare her for the difficulties of being a woman within the Fumiko Clan.
But all it did was bring Ryota and Suzume closer.
Sayuri's mind went back to her eldest child. She thought of Ryota's crazed expression when they locked eyes after what has been years. Sayuri believed she'd killed him, but after all this time, he had returned to her with a vengeance.
"I turned him into that..." Sayuri concluded. Her constant abuse towards Suzume only strengthened Ryota's abnormal obsession. He felt obligated to protect her and, in return, got closer to her. "I turned him into a rapist. A murderer. A psychopath..."
Sayuri's hand trembled again as she imagined Ryota for a final time. She imagined him as a child walking alongside Suzume, playing and laughing. Then that vision burned and formed into the man he was now.
Tears burned away the flames of hatred in Sayuri's mind. She sobbed in her death bed, forcing painful tears out of her burnt tear ducts. Red tears streamed down her face like bloody rivers as she coughed and hacked.
"I destroyed the only light in my life..."
Outside of the room, Suzume stood still. Her hand was covering her mouth, forcing herself to stay silent.
"Mother... is crying?"
Suzume didn't think Sayuri could express anything but anger.
Deep down, Suzume wasn't sure how to feel. She simply walked away and headed outside, where she saw a raven watching her with a curious glare.
***
"Is he dead?" Emilio didn't waste time jumping to the point.
Itsuki crossed his legs as he lounged in a chair. "No, quite the opposite really. Ryota is very much alive."
Emilio looked dissatisfied. "I'd prefer if that annoying fuck was dead." He heard stories about Ryota from the other members of Judas Heart.
Itsuki shared Emilio's sentiments regarding Ryota. He considered killing him several times. Either from Ryota pissing him off or out of boredom. But Homura stopped him every time.
"Ryota is the key to bringing the vessel to me."
"Just give it time. You'll get your chance once Homura is done with him," Itsuki said calmly.
Emilio glared at Itsuki and turned his back away from the sun. He stared at the sakura blossoms falling from the trees and the small pond where Mohammad was drinking from. It was the first time Emilio had been to Japan.
Ikumi had always told him stories of Japan and offered to take him there. But after the incident with Homura, Emilio refused to go anywhere with her.
Emilio weened out of his trance after hearing a bird squawk. He raised his sea-blue eyes to see a raven glaring at him. "Tch..." No matter where he went, Emilio always felt like he was being watched.
"Do my ravens disturb you?"
Emilio turned his head and saw a woman with brown hair in a dark blue kimono walking his way. Her eyes were closed, and her voice sounded soft and eerie. Just hearing her speak made Emilio's skin crawl like a group of bugs were running up it.
"I hate birds." Emilio said plainly. "They're loud and cause commotion for no reason. Besides those damn ravens have been following me ever since I've come here."
"The ravens are my eyes." Shinobu smirked. "You can't expect me to just allow a filthy Gaijin wander into our home without supervision." Shinobu opened her eyes slightly, revealing an ice-cold glare.
Emilio rolled his eyes and looked away. He was growing sick of dealing with the Fumiko Clan.
"Come on Shinobu, you gotta be more kind to our pal Emil." Ryota walked from down the hall sporting a white kimono with dark hamaka pants. Both of Ryota's swords were at his sides, hanging from his belt. "After all he is our guest."
Ryota grabbed Shinobu's ass as he walked by and gave Emilio a liquid smile.
"You know, I was expecting something bigger." Ryota admitting staring up at him. "When Rashid mentioned he encountered an amazon he sounded like he was shitting bricks. But you..." Ryota busted out laughing. "You're practically a baby compared to the rest of them." Ryota's eyes narrowed. "What were you a runt or something."
In a split second, Emilio swung at Ryota. Ryota dodged coiling around his fist like a snake and drew one of his swords, bringing it to Emilio's neck.
Blood dripped from the shallow cut on Emilio's neck, and blood leaked from Ryota's nose from the pressure of Emilio's invisible punch.
"Not bad..." Ryota admitted. "But you need to relax. I was only making a joke." Ryota put his hands up innocently and looked to Itsuki, his fellow dragon. "We're all buddies here isn't that right Orochi?"
Itsuki kept to himself. He didn't want to indulge in Ryota's sick games.
"Silent as ever huh..." Ryota rolled his eyes. "How boring." He raised his hand and motioned for them to follow. "Let's go the elders are waiting."
***
Ryota never stopped talking as they walked down the series of halls. He ran his mouth, continually driving Emilio mad.
"Are you excited Shinobu?" Ryota asked. "It's the first time in over twenty years you are going to witness the birth of the next head."
"That's rather cold of you isn't it Ryota?" Shinobu laughed. "Shouldn't you be more sympathetic for your dying mother?"
"As if." Ryota marched forward, showing off his diamond smile. "That old hag should've kicked the bucket ages ago. But soon I'll get my chance to put her out of her misery."
Ryota pushed aside a sliding door, and Shinobu quickly kneeled, staying outside. Ryota turned to Itsuki and Emilio. He knew they didn't care much for the intricacies of the Fumiko home. But regardless, rules were rules. "Stay here and listen. This shouldn't be long."
Ryota waved them off and walked inside only to be met with several individuals.
On his left was an older man with scruffy hair and a kimono. He was the current head of the Sasaki branch family Ryousuke.
On the right was a middle-aged man with slicked-back hair also wearing a kimono. He was the current head of the Sugimoto branch family, Ryuzo. Then next to him was his wife, the youngest sister of Ryujin, Sumiko.
Sumiko was a frail woman. She was older and repeatedly shook like a dog in the rain. Despite her extreme anxiety, she was stunning. She had the signature Fumiko ice-blue eyes and jet black hair.
In the center sat an old man who looked to be well past a hundred years old. His wrinkles had developed enough that he literally couldn't open his eyes and had a head so long it stood taller than the length of Emilio's arm. He was the head of the Hindoe branch family, Ryouji.
Then finally stood the youngest members of the Fumiko Clan.
Hakuji was a tall young man with dark eyes and light-brown skin. He was the son of Ryousuke, making him Ryota's cousin.
Behind Ryota was Shinobu. She was the daughter of the Ryuzo and Sumiko and the next heir to the Sugimoto family.
But least importantly stood Ryoichi. Ryoichi was a young teen with delicate blue eyes and light brown hair. He had a smooth face, too soft to be a man but too square to be a woman. He stood shorter than the others in the room at only 5'3.
Ryoichi was a servant to the Fumiko Clan. He had no purpose outside of that.
"You're late." Ryousuke was the first to address his nephew. He couldn't stand Ryota and absolutely despised his attitude. "What have you been doing?"
Ryota glanced at him and focused his attention on everyone else.
"Does it really matter if I attend or not?" Ryota questioned. His eyes narrowed like a snake. "The one chosen to become the next head of the Fumiko Clan is me."
"My Mother is bedridden and unable to continue the Fumiko legacy. You Uncle, haven't amounted to shit compared to dad, and Hakuji is no different." Ryota grinned. "As for Ryuzo well, he's too busy attending to his cowardly wife to ever accomplish anything..."
Ryuzo drew his blade and swung at Ryota, while Ryousuke summoned a gun and shot at him.
Ryota caught the bullet in his hand and blocked Ryuzo's sword swing with his own.
"Enough!" Ryouji raised his voice. "I won't listen to any more of this foolishness."
Ryota raised his hands and looked in his relative's way. "Exactly, listen to the old man before he has another heart attack. Let's try to get along."
"Ryoichi, get me the documentation." Ryouji ordered. "Shinobu bring me your raven."
The two members did as they were told. Ryoichi turned around and held up an old document. While Shinobu opened her palms and called upon one of her ravens. Shinobu stared at the raven and then broke its neck, bringing it to the great ancestor.
Ryouji opened his mouth, and Shinobu twisted the raven's head off and poured the blood into Ryouji's mouth.
Emilio gagged at sight, and Ryoichi did the same.
"Here Master..." Ryoichi said lightly and handed the letter to him.
Ryouji accepted the paper and twitched, gaining visions of what the crows saw.
"Ryota, it's true among the members of the Fumiko Clan you are indeed the most formidable." Ryouji admitted. "You also possess a direct lineage to our ancestor Ryuto. Which something that can't be said about most of the people here, outside of Sumiko and Ryoichi."
"But, Sumiko is not fit to become the next head." Ryouji grunted, causing the woman to tremble even more. "And Ryoichi..." The old man turned to Ryoichi and spat at him. "He's no different than filth. The son of a filthy courtesan and bastard son of Ryujin. The entire clan would have to die before he becomes the next head..."
Ryoichi sunk his head. He didn't expect to be considered anyways. He went to wipe the bloody glob of spit sliding down his face and frowned.
"I see..." Ryouji viewed the visions the ravens saw. "Its seems the rumors are true."
"Sayuri Fumiko once again has failed to fulfill her duty in avenging Ryujin by finishing off the Fujiwara line." Everyone in the room went silent. "She failed once by allowing her hands to be burned by Irene causing her to never be able to swing a sword as well as he once did. Then she allowed herself to be arrest by Erica Hale, by allowing an outsider to expose the secrets of the Fumiko Clan to the world."
Ryota and Itsuki thought of Ren and snarled.
"Then worst of all, Sayuri has allowed herself to be saved by the hands of a Devil." Ryouji took a deep breath as if trying not to explode.
"For breaking the codes one through five of Fumiko law, I hereby remove the title of Fumiko Clan Head from Sayuri Fumiko, and sentence her to death."
Ryota's grin grew like the sun rising over the horizon.
"And also Suzume Fumiko, for mixing the blood of the dragon with the devil, and for sympathizing with those devils will hereby be banished from the Fumiko Clan."
"Leaving Ryota Fumiko as the only heir for his generation."
"As expected." Ryota laughed.
"However, due to Ryota's incapability of wielding Shigure, the head of the Fumiko Clan will shift over to the first born grandchild of Sayuri's line." Ryouji read off. "And this case, unborn hybrid, Anji of the Fujiwara, Wolfe, and Fumiko Clans."
Ryota's laughing stopped, and his face froze. His eyes grew so cold they could freeze even fire.
"What?"
"All resources, assets will be passed down to Anji the grandchild of Sayuri Fumiko and daughter of Suzume Fumiko."
Ryota glanced at Ryousuke, who was now grinning.
"You old fuck...!" Ryota clenched his jaw. He knew the Sasaki Clan would choose someone even with devil blood if it meant fucking him over.
"That can't be right." Shinobu once again opened her narrow eyes. "Anji has devil's blood, there is no way in hell someone like that is fit to lead our clan." Shinobu leaned close to Ryota. "The only head I'll accept is him."
"I feel the same..." Ryuzo commented. He hated the idea of someone with Fujiwara blood being the head of their clan. "We kill devils not mate with them." Ryuzo growled. "To let that child continue our bloodline would go against everything our ancestors fought for."
"Besides, wasn't Ryoma executed for trying to do the same thing?" Ryuzo shouted. "He thought that marrying the Lion with Devil's blood would somehow save our clan!"
"Why does that matter." Hakuji intervened. "Anji will be something our clan has never seen. If she is born into this world he'll be the strongest head this clan has ever had. Besides it'd be better to have her on our side than the Garuda's."
"Shinobu." Ryota stood up and dusted himself off. "Where is Suzume now and what is she doing?"
Shinobu narrowed her eyes and shut them completely. "I don't know specifically. But she's with Renji Fujiwara and your mother on an island somewhere in southern asia."
"Not far then..." Ryota concluded. "Renji Fujiwara..." Ryota thought about how Ren snuck up on him, and blind sided him with a flame attack. It took longer than usual for Ryota's wounds to heal, and if it weren't for Emilio and Aisha coming, Ryota likely would've drowned.
"Renji Fujiwara and Anji Fujiwara..." Ryota thought of Suzume and how defensive she was over her stomach. "I'll extinguish all the devil's from this world, because that is my duty as the head of the Fumiko Clan!"
Ryota turned his head towards his peers. "So just watch me old man. I don't need that dusty old blade, cause these two are more than enough to replicate what Grandfather did!" Ryota kicked open the door.
"When I get my hands on that baby I'm going to crack open her fucking head!"
Chapter End