As Reiji exchanged cold glances with his siblings, he walked away, his mind racing. "Survival," he thought. Nothing mattered; he had no reason to live but to be the last Kuroshiro. He would see this to the end.
"Plitter, platter." The greenery around Reiji was calming, vivid, and alive, contrasting sharply with the dull darkness that always hung over him, filled with bloodshed and plotting.
The intoxicating scent of fresh, wet dirt filled the air, making him want to inhale deeply, greedily. If life had been mundane, perhaps even Reiji would have paused to admire the towering trees and mountains surrounding him, or the crickets orchestrating a chorus that moved in harmony with the chaotic winds.
Reiji glanced at a nearby tree, where four bluebirds nestled together in the trunk, cozy and cuddling closely for warmth-something he saw as a privilege denied to him. He sighed, his platinum blonde hair shining as it clung to his skin, painting the picture of a regal yet sorrowful prince, cast out and unwanted by the world around him.
"That was close... I am confident in my skills, but..." Reiji murmured, raising his head to the grey sky as the rain dripped onto his face. "I'm sure had I faced them, a slight mistake could have claimed my life. I have to take them out slowly. To be the patriarch of the Kuroshiro clan, one not only needs battle prowess and leadership skills but also wits."
This lesson was ingrained in him. Shinjai was not a just and fair patriarch; he wanted a capable heir. This meant a person's charisma could be used to garner the attention of offshoots of clan members or other secretive clans, possibly aiding in assassinations. Such strategies helped maintain an iron grip on the throne and ensure stability when the heir ascended.
Sadly, Reiji disliked people in general. He felt at a disadvantage. If all his siblings teamed up and gathered their allies against him, his death would be certain.
Reiji smacked his head as a sad smile broke out. "Aido... you're growing smarter, different from the old you I knew. I would hate to make you meet your fate at the end."
Of course, Reiji had figured it out: Aido, as passive as he was, still had some brain cells in him. He understood that if all of them worked together, they could pose a significant threat to Reiji. Yet, instead of rallying his siblings, Aido chose an unusual path of safety, a complete juxtaposition of his own rash character. All of the Kuroshiro siblings, except Reiji, had secretive clan families with allies-some even aligned with elders and offshoots of the Kuroshiro clan. Aido knew that if they united, they could defeat Reiji.
Reiji smiled coldly, with a hint of anger deep down. In this position, it would be harder to fight for his life. He didn't want to die-not out of fear, but selfishness.
Reiji had one sole reason to live: to be the last one standing. Or so he thought. He simply knew that death was not yet reserved for him.
Sigh.
---
In the distance, Haruto stood atop a tree, observing Reiji. Even in the rain, orange and blue flames flickered at his fingertips like a tame cat.
"Hahaha... Reiji, I am not done with you yet, Kasha! Lend me your strength!" Haruto shouted, his laughter manic.
A cat demon, visually unclear and sooty, appeared, covered in explosive orange and blue flames. The Kasha burned brightly, catching Reiji's attention from afar.
Haruto tore his shirt, revealing a fit build clearly seasoned and trained. What stood out was a human handprint burned into his left chest. He ignited his hand with blue flames, pressing it against the mark, the scent of burning flesh filling the air.
Haruto smiled, his body shivering not from pain, but from pure bliss and excitement for the battle ahead. He was out of control and bloodthirsty.
"Clone!" The Kasha coiled into a ball, and a fiery clone sprang forth, shooting towards Reiji like a shooting star.
---
Reiji noticed the blazing fire in the distance. He knew that Haruto, the most reckless of them all, had followed him without fear of being cut down. "There is one person I will never miss if I cut him down," Reiji thought, his cold purple eyes glowing viciously as he drew his katana.
As the Kasha's clone dove towards him, Reiji took a deep breath. He had slain spirits before; what was a simple clone to him? The real danger lay in Haruto himself.
As the clone closed in, Reiji closed his eyes and dashed forward to meet it. In a single flash, he raised his katana but stopped midway as a black, misty force spewed from his body. The moment the spirit made contact with the mist, it dissipated like a fading dream.
"Haruto, this sword only serves to cut the worthy's flesh," Reiji whispered.
Haruto smiled wildly. "Heh, did you really think that was all? A mere ember can't scorch a man like you... but soon enough, you'll be begging for mercy when the real inferno starts. Kasha's just getting warmed up."
Kasha entered his body, and Haruto howled like the maddened beast he was. Flames licked at his shoes like a greedy, hungry creature as he shot forward toward Reiji in a flurry of motion.
Reiji knew that fighting Haruto and his spirit would be challenging. Though he could win, he would prefer to kill Haruto before he could activate Kasha.
Haruto launched a powerful kick, flames propelling him forward. Reiji blocked it with his forearm, pushing Haruto's foot away as he sidestepped gracefully.
A purple flash of his sword blinded Haruto, and the next moment, Reiji was close, his sword arcing toward Haruto's neck.
Haruto paused, a gleam in his eyes. "Your grace, your moves, the fluidity... No, no, no! You truly get my heart racing with our intimate entanglement, Reiji! Give me more! Show me more!" he screamed, raising his palm and lifting his leg to push himself back three meters.
Reiji had never fought Haruto when he had a spirit, but he quickly adapted to his style. He knew Haruto liked to use flames for propulsion, which significantly boosted his attacks and strength.
"Predictable, Haruto," Reiji's cold voice cut through the air as the black mist spewed from him again, this time absorbed into his sword.
Haruto, still with his leg raised, used the flames to evade, moving hastily to the left when he sensed something wrong. Behind him, where a thick tree stood, a deep mark appeared where his head had been.
Holding his neck, Haruto grimaced but grinned wide. "Eughh! Tell me, brother, why is it that you like to see my head bounce off my neck? Is it a fetish?"
Haruto drew his tanto, raising his hand as dozens of Kasha clones formed. Reiji did the same, but even that gave Haruto an opening to close in.
Haruto darted towards Reiji, slashing continuously like a madman. The flames on his sword curled like snakes, whips lashing around.
Reiji smirked; it was clear Haruto was still rash and blinded by his desires.
Reiji blocked the first few strikes with his katana, then slipped his forearm underneath Haruto's arms from the outside, positioning it beneath his armpit. With a firm grip, he wrapped his arm around Haruto's neck, securing him in a hold that conveyed dominance.
Haruto was about to evade, but Reiji placed a palm under his chest at his diaphragm, the black gas seeping into him.
Haruto vomited blood as his body suddenly went immobile, slumping to the ground. Reiji raised his leg, a howl echoing as he struck Haruto's chest, a sickening cracking sound following.
Haruto smiled, as if he couldn't feel the pain, his body shooting back ten meters and smashing into a massive tree.
Reiji appeared in his line of sight, a dagger already moving towards Haruto's heart.
The flames flickering on Haruto's body flared violently, consuming the surroundings. Even Reiji felt the burns, but he wasn't going to let Haruto escape. This was a perfect chance to eliminate a worrisome fool.
In the blink of an eye, a figure appeared, and with a resounding snap, Reiji was sent twenty meters away, only to see a bloody arc in the air.
In front of Haruto stood a man in red, wearing a half-mask. He radiated menace and authority.
Reiji shifted his centre of gravity, vertically placing himself on a tree and gripping a nearby branch.
His cold eyes studied the man. "Ahh! Another nuisance. The elderly bullying the children, I see." Reiji squinted as he glared at him.
"If I recall clearly... the clan mentor of the siblings participating in the Kuroshiro trial cannot interfere with anything. You stole my kill, old man," Reiji said, wiping blood from his mouth, the metallic taste familiar.
The man regarded Reiji with a disapproving shake of his head. "Didn't I tell you not to engage with him?" he said in a commanding tone.
"What's the harm in a little fun? Right, Reiji?" Haruto chimed in weakly, clutching his chest yet still managing a wild grin.
The man sighed and grasped Haruto by the collar, leading him away.
"I swear, you'll regret stealing my kill. You're all just pests standing in the way of what I deserve. Your blood is destined to stain my sword, and the ground will relish your flesh and fresh blood," Reiji declared, his gaze cold and menacing.
The man turned back to Reiji, shaking his head. "So much bitterness within you. Sadly, your life and role are fated for failure. You think you're strong, but you're not. After your recent battle, it should be clear just how vast the divide is between a spirit and a human, you arrogant brat. In another existence, I might have nurtured your untapped potential-but instead, it's wasted on such flawed lineage."