Wasuren was angry.
His father, Raizen Hoshigami had never shown him favor. He had only been to the Hoshigami family dinner twice and it was never a pleasant experience for him. The first time was when Ino, the wife of Raizen declared to everyone that she had named him, a name that would speak even more volumes of his bastard blood. Wasuren the forgotten. The other time was when he would declare his resignation from the Hoshigami school, the day he made his decision to join the OKAMI NO BANSHI. He deemed this dinner would be like the last, unpleasant and a headache.
The guards eyes him coldly as passed by, he had layed off his armor but he still reeked of soil and blood. He did not care, his appearance should mean nothing because he knew he is not going to a happy family dinner, rather, a hall of criticism and gossip, a place he wasn't accepted.
Harunobu, the family head sat at the very end of the table, his hair tied back to prevent it from interrupting his meal. To the left sat Raizen his father and Ino Raizen's wife. Right beside them were their three Children; Kaito, the first born son of Raizen and recently appointed bannerman. Raikou, second born son and Akari.. the youngest of the Hoshigamis. It was on her birth ceremony that Wasuren was introduced to the family by his mother, Sayaka also known as "the prostitute" by those who gossip behind closed doors.
Seated at Harunobu's right hand was Daiki, his youngest child. Harunobu had two boys before his wife passed away: Raizen and Daiki, and he refused to take another woman. Some say its because the love he had for his wife was so great, others say he was too heart broken to take another.
The first to take notice of him as he walked through the doors was Ino, but she returned her gaze to her meal.
A voice broke the silence, "Wasuren the forgotten has returned reeking of ash and blood. This is a family dinner and you should try to the best of your abilities to at the very least not smell like burned meat Wasuren, or would you prefer Ren. I hear you like to be called that nowadays"
Wasuren loathed that voice. His expression cracked, he could not maintain the poker face he had prepared for the dinner. He met Raikou's mocking gaze with an expression of disgust.
"Do not call me Ren,... Raikou." Wasuren replied with a tone as cold as ice and took a free seat. Raikou was dazed by Wasuren's reply, but only for a moment. He scoffed and returned his attention to his meal.
Wasuren sat beside his step sister, Akari Hoshigami. While seated beside her, he avoided her gaze entirely, every glance at her only summoned emotions and memories he buried, things he wished to forget. For her birth, her very existence was tied to the day his mother brought him to this house, the day his suffering began, the day he was branded an outcast of the Hoshigami family.
"Okami no Banshi, slayers of Orochi" Daiki spoke as he looked up from his plate. "I heard it was a two headed serpent as tall as trees and while The wolf Wardens commander slayed one head, it was Wasuren that slayed the other."
He gently wiped his mouth with a cloth and smiled at Wasuren coyly. Wasuren did not know what to make of the comment... or the smile. On several occasions his uncle had nodded at him as he walked by him, or if he came by the training grounds, he would give the same disturbing smile and Wasuren never got used to it.
"The Wolf Wardens roar loud of their victory. But victories are not won by pups Daiki, they are led by alphas." Raizen spoke with carefree disdain, "Wasure obeyed. He struck when ordered. That is all."
A cold rage settled deep in Wasuren's chest at his father's words. He balled his fists and turned to face Raizen, but before he could speak Raizen shut him down with with fire in his eyes.
"Hold your words." Raizen spoke "The Taisho man proved his strength, not you. You will go to Aoshima. Consider it your chance to make yourself useful to the Hoshigami name, … or free us of this scandal with your corpse."
The servants brought in lacquered trays, their movements swift and silent. The smell of rice, grilled fish, and sake hung in the air, but to Wasuren it might as well have been ash. He ate nothing. His throat was too tight for food, his stomach churned with boiling anger. The whispers of gossip still lingered in his ears—"prostitute's son… mistake of the Hoshigami name…"
His gaze drifted to the head of the table. Harunobu Hoshigami had not yet spoken, but his presence weighed like a mountain on everyone seated. His hair, though streaked with white, gleamed in the lamplight. He did not look at Wasuren, not once, not even when Daiki mentioned his role in slaying the serpent.
That silence was worse than Raizen's scorn.
When Raizen dismissed him as nothing more than a "pup obeying orders," Wasuren's pulse roared in his ears. His hands trembled beneath the table, clenched so tightly the veins stood out like cords. He wanted to shout—to remind them that it was his blade that had cleaved through one of the serpent's heads, that he had stood with the Wardens in a glorious battle. But when he raised his eyes, his father's fire burned him into silence.
Then Harunobu's voice cut through the room, low and final.
"Enough."
The single word froze the air. Even Raikou looked down at his plate.
"Blood of Orochi's descendant spilled in Hebimori has stirred old things," Harunobu continued. His gaze shifted briefly toward Wasuren, the first acknowledgement all evening. "If the boy lives, perhaps he is worth something. If he dies in Aoshima, then the stain cleanses itself. Either outcome serves the Hoshigami."
The words struck like hammer blows. Wasuren lowered his eyes, not out of submission, but to hide the fury building inside him.
Beside him, Akari shifted slightly, as though she wanted to speak. Her lips parted, but she caught her mother's glance and closed them again. For a heartbeat, Wasuren thought he saw pity in her eyes—pity, or shame. He wasn't sure which cut deeper.
Kaito, ever silent, ever composed, finally lifted his cup. "Then it is settled," he said calmly. "The wolf Wardens will get ready tonight and will make way to Aoshima at dusk." His tone carried no malice, only the weight of inevitability.
The clatter of dishes resumed, the sound of chopsticks and cups filling the silence that followed Raizen's decree.
Wasuren sat rigid, tasting bile instead of food. He thought of Masaki Taisho, of the Wolf Wardens, of the serpent's emerald scales glistening in the forest mist. Out there, amidst danger and death, he had felt alive. Here, among his blood, he felt nothing but chains.
He forced himself to swallow the rage clawing at his throat. One day, he swore silently, they would see him... one day.