Some might wonder why I was after information if I already knew the story. Why go through this if I already had the answers? For me, it's assurance—assurance for the future.
I sit back on the couch after Venelana gives me the information. Some of it I already knew, like the war that happened two hundred years ago, who runs Kuoh, Peerage system, and the one thing I was really after—the ranking system. To simplify it? I'm low-class.
"Fufu, sounds like you fought a stray stuck at middle-low class, Ryou-kun," Venelana said when I told her about my fight with Arata. It seemed I wasn't too far off in my estimation of his strength.
After finishing her explanation, she took a deep breath and glanced at me with a knowing look.
"That katana... it's Muramasa. The real one, I mean, isn't it, Ryou-kun?"
Plums. She knows. Of course she knows!
She saw right through me. Whatever expression I tried to hide, she saw through it all. Not good. Does she want Murama—
"I knew one of its wielders," she continued, cutting off my thoughts.
Of course she did—she's old.
"Fufu, I hope you're not thinking anything bad, Ryou-kun," she added with a sly smile. Women's intuition really is scary. "He was quite the swordsman, even if others didn't see it. He stopped wielding Muramasa and switched to a Nodachi later on in his journey."
"He must've been quite famous, but why bring him up, Venelana-san?" I asked, genuinely curious about this swordsman who could just abandon Muramasa. Whether or not he went insane is another question, though.
"He was indeed," she said, her eyes distant with memory. "A man who didn't let his losses stop him."
"Was he strong?" I asked, curiosity growing.
"Yes and no," she replied, her gaze sharpening. "No, because he didn't have the drive to reach the top like others did. But yes, because if he fought someone he had lost to before, he would win every time."
"Lost to?" I repeated, trying to wrap my mind around it.
"Yes. Once he fought someone, he would develop a strategy to defeat them the next time. But he never chose to pursue those fights. He thought it was too much of a bother."
With that, she stood up, taking my cup along with hers, and walked into the kitchen, leaving me alone to think. A man strong enough to win if he fought an opponent twice—who could do that?
Miyamoto Musashi? No, he never lost, as far as I know.
Who could it be, then? Someone who wielded Muramasa and then a Nodachi? I never was great at history...
Venelana returned, a fresh cup of tea in hand.
"I take it you couldn't figure it out?" she asked, smiling at me with amusement. "I thought you would've known. But I suppose it's an odd assumption to make."
What?
She tilted her head slightly, in a way that made me feel like a child. And then she hit me with six words that made me feel even dumber.
"You're a descendant of Sasaki Kojiro."
Plums.
How did I forget that?! Mura told me. Told me that's why I've been able to stay sane!
Did I think it wasn't important? That no one would bother digging up my heritage? There's probably magic out there that could do it in an instant!
"Fufu, so you did know? Seems like you thought I wouldn't figure it out," Venelana said with a sly smile. All I could do was nod. Gods, I'm dumb. This could be bad. She might ask the question I really don't want to answer.
"Though I'm a bit ashamed to admit it, I didn't realize it at first. But when I pieced together that you haven't succumbed to Muramasa's curse, I started thinking about others who could resist it. I just named the one person I knew who could do what you're doing. Seems I was right on the money, no, Ryou-kun?"
Again, all I could do was nod, still stunned by my own stupidity and the fact that she was, once again, spot on. No, calling myself dumb isn't fair. I just haven't had time to process everything—the body I'm in, whether it had family.
"You seem troubled by all this," Venelana said, her voice calm but knowing. "I think it would be best if you leave for now and take some time to reflect on what we discussed today—and on how you plan to move forward, Ryou-kun."
Her words were an invitation to leave, and I gratefully stood, heading for the door. Just as I stepped outside, that pressure hit me again. This time, it was heavier, almost suffocating. My knees felt like they were about to buckle under its weight.
Then almost like a whisper from the underworld itself.
"Ryou-kun," she said, her voice low and chilling. "Stay away from my daughter."
-Venelana POV-
Watching Ryou-kun run brings a tired smile to my face. Tough love is needed sometimes—that's what I tell myself when I think of Rias. Watching her refuse to change her fate, still believing the words of old fools... it's frustrating.
Ryou-kun is similar to her in one way: they're both just staying afloat. Just enough to face the challenges ahead. But sometimes, being "enough" isn't sufficient for the harsh reality of this world.
Kojiro, if you could see your descendant now, would you feel pride? Would you be happy that someone of your blood still walks this earth?
I know the warning I gave Ryou-kun won't be enough. All I can do is hope that he finds the help he needs, and that he accepts who he truly is.
-Ryou POV-
That was terrifying. I can now officially say I won't be scared of anyone except her. But on the bright side, I've got information I didn't have before, as well as a starting point. And an insane plan.
The Blood River. A place where the blood of those slain by Muramasa flows, no matter what they were.
My insane plan? Drink the blood that's been collected there.
I don't know what will happen. Maybe nothing, which seems unlikely, or something… unthinkable. I reiterate: I must be going insane.
After walking away from Kuoh Academy, I head back to the love hotel where I've been staying and pack up everything I've amassed over the past three weeks. A glance at the calendar reminds me that today is August 26th—six days until Monday.
As I leave, I hand the room key to the attendant at the door and step outside. Time to find a real place to stay. Pulling out my phone, I start searching for nearby apartments. After finding one that looks promising, I begin heading in its direction while pulling up my emails. And, just like the first time I read it, I'm greeted with the one thing I didn't know if I wanted to see or not.
[School starts on Monday,2nd,2008.
-Sona Shitori, Vice-President of Kuoh Academy]
I'm a year behind canon.
Arriving at the apartment complex and getting the keys the same day was easy enough—just wave some money in their faces. Once I unpacked, showered, and ate, I sat on what would be my bed for the foreseeable future. But sitting still wasn't an option.
I headed out again, this time to a nearby arena—the kind that lets you use weapons. After a while of waiting and thinking it over, I braced myself, knowing I was about to do the stupidest thing I'd ever done.
"Start the match!" The moment those words left my lips, I connected to the Blood River, unknowingly altering my fate by force.