Takehiko steps through the pavement towards the massive rock that lies at the north end of the Sect.
The sun's up now.
Granny Momoko would invite them for dinner any moment. With all of the family gone, she would be pondering what the kids are doing. Soon, when she finds out that there's no one in their chambers, she'll start searching everywhere in the Sect.
Before she finds the family, Takehiko must finish explaining his plan to his brothers and sisters.
Takehiko leans down as he enters the giant rock through a massive crack. Inside the cracked stone is a hidden stone staircase that leads to the underground training grounds.
"Takehiko, are you sure we'll be able to have enough time to break it down to everyone?" Kuma asks as he steps down the stone stairs, right behind Takehiko.
He's 8 feet tall. So, he has to duck throughout the entire journey down the stone stairs. After all, this training ground is only built for humans.
Even in the darkness, Takehiko needs no flashlight to see. After all, he commands the darkness.
"That old hag will surely come to check on us here, Kuma. But not to worry. We can end the discussion in about 15 minutes. After that, I'll make a group chat for us to text by phone. Momoko hates technology. She'd hardly notice the difference when I share the crucial information with our family through texts."
Kuma is confused upon hearing this. "But, why didn't we do that in the first place?"
Takehiko seizes his steps in the middle of the stairs, turning to Kuma. He narrows his eyes with a smirk.
"Humans, Kuma. It affects them more in a lively discussion. I need my family to know how serious I am about this. Last time we discussed it, it was not with everyone present in the room. In person, I can see who will and who will not object to me. I can see the truth in their faces."
Kuma nods, impressed by Take's plan. Takehiko is always good at planning things.
"True that."
Takehiko and Kuma finally reach the end of the stone stairs.
At the tail end of it is a large cave. This is where the Spirit Tamers of the Devil Sect often come to battle with Spirits for training purposes. The space it provides is gigantic.
In the distant stone roof, there is a single hole that leads a beam of sunlight into the cave. Right where the beam falls is a sacred stone known to conceal powerful amulets.
Around it, the entire new generation of the Devil Family stands.
Ghost, the youngest, wearing a blue hoodie.
Nami, accompanied by her small cat spirit seated at her shoulder.
Soju, accompanied by her small white fox spirit asleep at her feet.
The Twins, who are unaccompanied by their spirit. The Devil of Perfection is a shy one. Both of them are wearing identical baggy shirts and shorts.
And of course, Hebi. His wife is in her full spirit form, the white snake, wrapped around his neck as usual.
"All of you came already?" Takehiko greets them with a smile. "I mean, I did come late so that you all will be here by now. Good morning, everyone."
"Good morning brother!"
"Good morning big brother!"
"Good morning, Take!"
With a smile, Takehiko walks toward the sacred stone upon which the amulet lies. Without a second thought, he seats himself on the sacred stone so that he has the higher ground over everyone. He gives no respect to the amulet, at all.
Just as he stands on that platform, the light enlightening the cave diminishes. Even the natural beam of sunlight shimmers into a thinner line.
The luminescent bugs which scurry around in the cave become non-luminescent. His domineering presence sends chills down everyone's spines.
Clap! He claps his hands, grabbing everyone's attention.
"Any of you gonna ask me why I took you guys here today?" He smiled at the family, crossing his legs on top of the holder of the amulet, staying seated there like a meditating monk.
"Why? Probably to feed me to Kuma there, right?" Mai asks him, smirking at Take.
He grins at her. "Quite wrong. That's for another day. Another show."
Ai laughs at his joke, putting an arm around his sister as if to protect her. "Yeah, nice joke."
"To talk about the coup d'etat, right?" Nami adds to the conversation. Takehiko points at Nami and winks.
"Exactly."
"The coup d'etat I've been cooking these last few weeks, guys. You know that, right? I've talked about it with you all. Haven't I?" Takehiko's voice resounds with a deep and serious tone.
The smile on his face fades to a frown. Bangs fall over his eyes. His face darkens. "Haven't I?"
He raises his eyes.
At that moment, he gazes at all the faces of the Devil Family all at once.
Soju and Nami nod in agreement, the consensus clear in their eyes. They are his sisters. Of course, those two will join him in his endeavors. There is no suspicion there.
At the side, Hebi shrugs. His eyes are uneven. He is emotionless. The man is a psychopath who will go with anything.
"I'm in. Old people can't rule." He replies.
Hebi's in the game. Takehiko knows.
Then, the Twins. They share a gaze with each other.
Ai gazes at his little sister, narrowing his eyes. Mai looks up at him with a reassuring glint in her eyes.
'Mai agrees completely, but Ai has doubts?' Takehiko observes.
However, Ai turns to him with a nod. "As you wish. We shall join forces with you, Brother Takehiko. You better make sure to defeat Granny though. We don't wanna lose our lives. We have much more time left to spend together." He clasps his sister's hand firmly.
Mai smirks at Take. "Yeah, Take. We shall join you."
Takehiko's concerns sweep away from the Twins. He knows that the Twins only ever cared about each other. This is the best result he could wish for.
The last person who Takehiko hasn't judged is their smallest brother. Ghost.
He stands there, resting his sheathed katana on his shoulders and gazing up to ponder the question. Takehiko isn't much close to him because he is a child.
He doesn't know him full well as he knows the others.
"Hm." The youngster hums without a care in the world. The doubt is very clear in his sarcastic humming. "Brother Take? If you're talking about killing our own grandma… is that really a good choice? She is the head of the sect. Can we not just make her agree with our beliefs?"
Takehiko narrows his eyes, stepping off to the ground. Gradually, he walks toward the small child. His domineering presence sends chills down everyone's spines as the killing intent within Take grows by the second.
"You're saying that you refuse to join us?" Takehiko asks with his cold undertone. He leans closer to the child until his nose is only inches away from Ghost himself.
Ghost gazes straight into the dark and devilish eyes of his big brother.
"Yes. I refuse, Brother Take."
Badump. Badump. Badump.
The drumming sound of a heartbeat graces Takehiko's ear. His eyes shift to the place where the heartbeat is coming from. It is not Ghost's. There's no fear in Ghost's face. The heartbeat is Nami's.
She stands at the side, gazing at her little cousin.
'Nami is fond of Ghost?' Takehiko asks himself. He shifts his eyes back to the teenager.
"What is your decision then, Obake?" (Oabake: Japanese for Ghost)
Ghost closes his eyes, pocketing his hands. "It's just like Brother Ai says, Brother Takehiko. What if Granny doesn't die? Do you know that she'll not wipe out our entire bloodline alongside you?"
Takehiko narrows his eyes. "Do you fear me, Obake?"
"No."
"I –" A yelp escapes from Nami's lips. Takehiko raises his hand to Nami, gesturing at her to seize the moment she opens her mouth.
"If I went all out on Granny Momoko, Obake. I can destroy her. Now, do you fear me?"
"No, Brother. I might have a chance against you."
With a grin, Takehiko rises to his feet again. "If you don't fear me at my full potential, why fear Granny Momoko defeating us? You can defeat her then, can't you, Obake?"
Ghost lowers his eyes to contemplate the idea. He lifts his gaze back at his brother and smiles gleefully. "Yeah, I guess so."
Takehiko smiles, walking back to the elevated area where the holder of the talisman stands.
"That is all, then? Everyone agrees with me?" He announces, pocketing his hands. "Right?"
"Right!" All his brothers and sisters declare, all at once.