For someone who sustained life threatening wounds last night, I feel really good right now.
Earlier this morning when I woke up, the blind girl named Priyanka helped me clean up all my wounds and even stitched the stab wound on my shoulder, which really impressed me as I did not even know how she could perfectly perform it without even seeing anything.
And we even ate a home cooked curry that she made. After patching me up, she helped me sit on the table chair and prepared the food and utensils herself.
While eating, I tried starting a conversation with her and this is how it went
"Priyanka."
"Yes? What is it?"
"Nothing, I just thought you have a nice name."
"Thank you."
"....Weren't you afraid of me?"
"Well of course I am. I let a bloodied man being chased by countless thugs inside my home. I'm terrified of you."
"Then why are you helping me?"
".....Because of my damned conscience."
"Conscience, huh?"
"That's right....I'd rather risk myself trying to help a dying man, than bury a corpse. It's too much hard work for a blind girl."
Her humorous comment and sweet giggles could not hide the fact she was anxious about something.
She took a mouthful of rice and curry and continued eating.
Then she asked me.
"Kyle.....are you gonna kill me?"
"...that's for me to decide later."
"I understand.... But if you're gonna do it. Could you please wait until tonight? I'll be at my workplace on the coffeeshop near here."
"Why?"
I asked her but was met with silence. I looked around the small living room and saw a badly made doll and a bunch of coloring materials on a paper.
Then I realized the answer to my question. So I asked her again.
"You have a family. And you don't want them to be involved."
"...Please. My mother and sister are still out looking for work. They have nothing to do with-"
"Calm down. I'll keep what you said in mind."
"....Thank you."
"I just have one last question for you."
"...what is it?"
"What's that small cut on your neck?"
"Oh, this. Another masked man came inside the house last night after you. He said he was looking for a dirty-blonde masked man. Then he pointed some sort of long blade at me, threatening me that he'll come back later tonight."
"Is that so?"
She affirmed by nodding. Then I stood up weakly and started walking towards the exit door while also grabbing a brown jacket along the way. I stopped near the door and looked back at Priyanka.
"I appreciate your help. Don't worry, I won't kill you. I'll just borrow this jacket in exchange. Thank you for the food, Priyanka."
I did not wait for her reply as I opened the door and went out of her house.
-------
I walked towards a phone booth on the street and dialed one of my assistants.
When the call got through, I told him my location and ordered him to pick me up as soon as possible.
After that, I dialed the number of my so called fiancée and after a few tries, she finally picked up.
It was already 9 in the morning, just about time for the school break time. So its not surprising that she'd pick up my call earlier.
"Ichika, Its me."
"Kyle? Where have you been last night? The Misuzuki men chased me all night after the meeting."
"....The meeting was a sham. I barely survived last night. But enough about that, I need to talk to you in person. It's about our engagement."
"What about it?"
"...I'm going to overtake my mother. And I need your cooperation. Of course I took your possible benefits into consideration when I made my plan."
"Is that right?.... So you're telling me that you're going to break your clan's ancient culture?"
"That's right. I'll call you later, let's discuss this somewhere less crowded and far from prying eyes."
"Ah wait! Where-"
The call disconnected and I exited the phone booth. From across the street, I saw my assistant standing beside a grey Honda civic.
I approached him and entered the car after he greeted me.
My engagement with Ichika Akutagawa is nothing but a hindrance in my eyes. Because the purpose of our marriage is for Ichika to replace my mother in the future.
Since ancient times, my clan followed the Matriarchal system. And for every generation, the oldest child of the main family will be engaged to an allied clan's representative. The current Matriarch would be the one to choose whom her child will be married to. And in my case, its Ichika.
But I had enough of this stupid tradition. I am the highest ranking scorer of ICARUS High, the only member of my clan who hasn't failed a single mission, the one with the most kills on all the clan wars since my birth, and I closed the most business deals in my family's current generation.
In other words, I never settle for less than me.
So I will make sure that no one, but me, will dictate my future and fate.
But something had been bugging my mind since I entered the car.
I could not seem to get Priyanka's image out of my head. I openly threatened her life, yet the first thing she thought about was her family. I've been thinking nonstop of her since I entered the car.
Maybe because I once dreamed of becoming like her. Her eyes reminded me of my younger self, full of innocence that hasn't seen the corrupt side of this world yet.
Her naive way of thinking, was just like me back then when I first realized the power I received.
I wanted to help as many people as I can, both the good and the bad ones.
I was entranced by her courage and resolve when she decided to help me.
My late father once told me. Heroism is when you fought with power. But if you fought with emotions, then its nothing but idealism.
In Priyanka's case, its neither. She was simply brave and pure at the same time.
I was very intrigued by her now. I wanted to talk to her some more. I want to spend my idle times with her. Just to see if she would purify my soul, or I would corrupt hers.
But since I'm about to meet up with one of God's rejects, I quickly cleared my thoughts and prepared myself of the incoming danger.
--------
After driving for an hour. I finally arrived at the main house of the Kazama's. It's located on the outskirts of Athena city, home of the wealthiest districts in ICARUS.
I entered the towering double door with my assistant and went directly towards my mother's room.
For an ancient family, this house looks nothing like antique. It was built based on western modern house designs.
When I got in front of my mother's room, I quickly opened it and saw my mother inside wearing a red kimono with some of her guards standing on the side. She had a dark blonde hair similar to mine.
Her name is Christina Kazama. She's from an american branch family of the Akutagawas. She took over my family after she married my father on behalf of my grandmother's setup.
Currently In front of her are 6 men restrained on wooden chairs. Their mouth was tightly sealed with packaging tapes, while their eyes and upper head are covered by a black cloth. They were all whimpering and shaking, obviously vey frightened of the situation they are in.
"Mother."
"Oh Kyle! Perfect! Come over here. Mother will show you some magic!" She told me with excitement in her eyes.
I slowly approached my mother and stood in front of the restrained men. She then went to stand on the back of the men before saying
"These fellows are all lieutenants of the Misuzukis. Now as a consolation gift for you, they will now all be gunned down by me for ambushing you last night. Isn't that right? Andou-san?"
'Gunned down?'
I got curious, because everyone on ICARUS are aware of the strict nationwide gun ban. So how?
My mother smiled excitedly and imitated a gun with the fingers of her left hand, then she pointed it at one of the men and said in a low voice
"Bang"
After saying that, the head of the man limped down as a small hole appeared on his forehead along with dripping blood. She then looked at me and said "amazing right?!" before she continued doing the same to the other men.
One by one, the men was mysteriously killed by an invisible gun.
But when she got to the 5th one, she pointed her fingers at him and once again uttered the words "bang". But nothing happened.
She continued saying the same thing for countless time, but still nothing happened.
I saw the man heave a sigh of relief and forcibly made a small opening in the tape of his mouth. He then shouted
"See you in hell! you bi-"
But his words were cut short when my mother acted like she was reloading her finger gun, and repointed it at the man before uttering the word "bang" again, the head of the man finally limped down.
"I forgot to reload it hehe. Now I have bullets. Would you like to do the honor for this guy? My sweet Kyle?"
I did not answer her but instead walked towards my mother and took her large hairpin. I then stabbed the man in his throat and swiftly ended his life.
When I looked back at my mother, with her long hair slowly coming down.
I saw her pointing her finger gun at me while smiling.
We never had the greatest parental relationship, with me being the worst existence in her eyes.
It is to the point that I can confidently assume that she would kill me in cold blood if she ever felt annoyed on a Monday.
She then blew the tip of her "finger guns" and asked me.
"Did you enjoy it my son?"
Once again, I did not answer her and instead asked my own question.
"....You knew that they would ambush us last night, right Mother?"
She slowly approached me and caressed my face while looking at me like a loving mother. Then she replied.
"Whatever are you talking about. You're probably still feeling unwell, so why don't you check up with the family doctor first? Okay?"
I looked at her for a few second before turning my back at her then walked out of the room.
This she-demon had been treating me like a dog for all my life. She was playing dumb even when its openly obvious that she sent me to my doom last night.
I don't hate her though. She's nothing but a fragile girl that I could kill anytime. But that won't be beneficial to me and my future.
If I want to takeover the whole clan, I would have to win over everyone. And suddenly killing the queen will not make the bees subservient to you, but rather hostile and aggressive.
-------
I'm now being treated by our family doctor and was resting on a bed.
While the doctor was working on me, I once again thought about Priyanka.
She would be assaulted tonight by one of the men looking for me last night. Because of me, she was about to suffer.
But it did not make me feel guilty. It gave me this lingering feeling like I was about to lose half of my soul.
I don't know why I cant get her out of my mind. So I decided to visit her tonight and find the answers myself.