Morning — Serenia High School
The school bell rings, but Yua barely hears it. She's too busy dodging the trio of Ryo's friends—Satoshi, Mei, and Hiroshi—who corner her the second she steps into the courtyard.
"Yua! Where the hell is Ryo?" Satoshi demands, arms crossed. "He hasn't answered his phone in two days!"
Mei clutches her books tighter. "Did he get in trouble again? You know how reckless he is."
Hiroshi just squints at her like she's hiding a body (…not entirely wrong). Yua forces a laugh through gritted teeth before shrugging them off with some half-baked excuse about him being "busy on a vacation." (A lie.) But before they can press further—
A voice cuts through the interrogation like a knife.
"She said he's busy."
Kyou Ren leans against the courtyard gate, watching them with detached amusement. His gaze flicks to Yua, and for once—there's no smirk, no hidden edge to his tone. Just… neutrality. It throws her off almost as much as his presence does right now considering last night.
Satoshi stiffens instantly upon recognizing him (everyone knows who Kyou Ren is), stepping back slightly before muttering under breath: "...Tch—fine whatever." The others follow suit quickly after that without another word of protest towards Yua… leaving silence heavy between them instead until Kyou sighs tiredly and turns away himself then too while stuffing hands into pockets lazily over shoulders at her: "You're welcome."
Yua turns, scowling at his retreating form. "Yeah, and since when did I ask your help?", she calls out after him sharply.
But he doesn't even slow. His response—an offhanded wave over shoulder in reply:
"Since when did you refuse?"
Her scowl only deepens as she stares after him—gritting her teeth and muttering under breath. "Cocky jackass…"
Yua stomps through the hallways, still bristling from the encounter earlier. She's so preoccupied with grumbling to herself she doesn't notice someone calling her name until they step into her path.
"Yua."
She blinks up at Satoshi, who stands waiting there—alone this time. "Oh… sorry." She rubs the back of neck sheepishly, feeling a little foolish with herself. "Did you need something?"
Satoshi seems amused by her embarrassment. "Yeah, actually." He leans against the wall, shoving hands into pockets too. "You got a minute?"
She raises an eyebrow at his unusually casual demeanor but nods anyway. "Sure," she says slowly, folding arms across chest suspiciously. "What is it?"
Satoshi doesn't answer immediately. Instead, he studies her for several moments—weighing his question carefully like a hunter assessing prey: "...I have a question, but promise me you'll keep it a secret first."
Yua doesn't miss the serious note in his voice. The atmosphere changes instantly, and her defenses go up automatically. "...Okay?" She narrows her eyes a little. "What kind of question?"
Satoshi glances around, ensuring no one is within earshot before lowering his voice.
"You know Ryo better than anyone," he murmurs. "So tell me the truth—was he really just busy?" His dark eyes bore into hers, sharp with suspicion. "...Or did something happen?"
A bead of sweat slips down Yua's spine. She knows that look—he's prying. Too close to the truth. Her throat tightens for a second before she forces out another practiced lie:
"Like I said, he's fine."
But her fingers dig into her elbows a little too hard to be casual...
Satoshi exhales through his nose—disbelieving but smart enough not to press further when footsteps echo nearby (Mei rounding the corner). He straightens up quickly and throws on an easygoing grin as if nothing happened at all before calling over shoulder while walking away: "...Sure thing~ Let him know we miss him."
Yua watches him leave with gritted teeth (too damn observant)—only for Mei to pop up beside her seconds later with zero context of what just transpired: "SO! What'd Satoshi want? Spill!"
She almost groans aloud in frustration (why does today feel like walking through a minefield?!)… but then again… maybe there's one way out of this mess after all…
Her gaze drifts back toward where Kyou Ren had disappeared earlier as ideas form slowly in mind (not ideal, Mizaru grumbles inside her skull)—but desperate times call for desperate measures sometimes right?
Yua jumps, whipping around to see Kyou Ren standing behind her with his usual casual indifference—as if appearing out of thin air. She glares at him, hand instinctively going to her dagger. "Don't sneak up on me like that!"
He tilts his head slightly, unperturbed. "I didn't 'sneak.' You're just easy to startle."
Yua nearly jumps out of her skin as Kyou Ren's voice cuts in from behind her—when the hell did he get there?!
"We should hang out today," he says, like it's the most casual suggestion in the world. Mei freezes mid-ramble, eyes widening at his sudden appearance before glancing between them with rapidly dawning mischief.
Yua shoots him an incredulous glare. "Excuse me? Since when do we 'hang out'?"
Kyou Ren shrugs, utterly unfazed by her reaction. "Since now." His tone is matter-of-fact, but there's something calculated beneath it—like this isn't just some random invitation (it never is with him).
Mei lets out a poorly stifled squeal of excitement before nudging Yua hard enough to make her stumble forward a step toward Kyou Ren: "OMG YES! You two totally should!", she whisper-hisses behind them as if this were some cheesy rom-com moment (it is not).
Mizaru growls lowly inside Yua's mind (Do NOT trust this.), but... refusing would mean staying here under Mei's interrogation about Ryo and Satoshi's suspicious staring—which honestly might be worse than whatever cryptic agenda Kyou has planned today...
She exhales sharply through gritted teeth before muttering:
"...Fine. But this isn't some weird trap or anything right?"
He doesn't answer that part; just turns on heel already walking away while tossing back over shoulder lazily:
"Bring money for food."
What follows is... surprisingly normal? Or at least as "normal" as things get when your impromptu chaperone happens to be an ex-hunting prodigy who casually slaughtered someone last night (minor detail YUA IS TRYING VERY HARD TO IGNORE FOR SANITY'S SAKE).
They grab street food (he pays anyway despite telling HER to bring cash)
They walk idly through the streets in strangely comfortable silence until Kyou Ren breaks it suddenly, glancing at Yua like he's studying her as they go: "You're quiet today."
She shoots him an annoyed look. "So what? I don't have to talk just to prove I'm awake."
He chuckles lowly, gaze drifting back to the street. "Fair point. I prefer silence to mindless chatter anyway."
The afternoon light filters through the city streets as they walk, the sounds of Serenia humming around them—street vendors calling out, children laughing in the distance, the occasional car honking. It's… unsettlingly peaceful for how much Yua's instincts are screaming at her to be on guard.
Kyou Ren stops abruptly near a quieter part of town where traditional houses sit tucked between modern buildings. He tilts his head toward one—older than the rest, its wooden architecture worn but well-kept, a faint scent of incense drifting from within. "Come on."
Yua blinks at him. "Uh… why?"
He doesn't even glance back as he steps forward (as if expecting obedience is natural for him). "You wanted answers about last night." A pause—then quieter: "...I don't offer this twice."
Mizaru bristles immediately (This is dangerous.), but Yua exhales sharply and follows anyway (because she needs to know).
The Ametsuchi Residence
The moment Yua steps inside, the air changes. The scent of aged wood and incense grows stronger, mixed with something sharper—like metal and herbs. The interior is sparse yet elegant, sliding doors leading deeper into the house adorned with faintly glowing sigils she doesn't recognize.
Then—footsteps.
A woman steps into view from a side room, her presence making Yua stiffen instinctively (hunter reflexes never turn off). She's tall, poised like royalty in simple but immaculate robes, dark hair streaked with silver pinned back tightly. And her eyes—the same piercing intensity as Kyou Ren's.
She looks at Yua for only a second before turning to Kyou Ren with an unreadable expression:
"You brought a guest."
Not a question—an observation laced with something between disapproval and resignation...
Kyou Ren doesn't react beyond crossing his arms loosely over chest (as if bracing for an argument): "Yeah." That's all he says before brushing past her toward one of the inner hallways without another word (or even introducing them properly).
Yua stands frozen awkwardly in the doorway under this woman's silent scrutiny (who IS she?!) until finally—_finally_—she speaks again: "...Come then." Her voice is colder than expected but not outright hostile as her motions for Yua follow deeper into the house… leaving no room for refusal either way really…
The room is sparse but lavishly furnished—tatami floors, paper walls, a small table near the center lit by a lone hanging lantern. The woman steps smoothly in after her, shutting the door with a click of finality before taking a seat across from her. Yua lowers herself awkwardly into seiza, feeling like a child being summoned before the principal's office all over again.
For a long moment the woman studies her closely without speaking—so silently intense Yua wonders if she's waiting for her to crack.
The suddenness of the action nearly startles Yua right back onto her feet (how does one react when a total stranger suddenly hugs them???). But before she can protest, the woman sits back and regards her with a warmer gaze than before.
"Apologies, but I couldn't resist." Her voice is softer now. Softer and almost... nostalgic? "You really do look exactly like your mother…."
The woman's smile softens as she seems to catch Yua's surprise. "Where are my manners? Allow me to introduce myself properly." Her voice is still warm—almost maternal now—as she inclines her head respectfully. "I am Chikage, of the Ametsuchi clan. Welcome to our home."
Yua finally finds her voice, still a little dazed by the sudden hug: "Um… thank you, ma'am."
Chikage Ametsuchi
The woman before her—Chikage—is elegance incarnate. Taller than most women, her posture exudes a regality that makes even the simple act of sitting feel like a display of power. Her raven-black hair, streaked with deliberate silver strands near her temples, is pinned back in an intricate traditional updo, revealing sharp features softened only by the faintest hint of age at the corners of her eyes.
But it's those eyes that strike Yua hardest—identical to Kyou Ren's in shape and piercing intensity, yet where he simmer with cold detachment… hers hold something deeper. Ancient knowledge? Melancholy? Whatever it is—it unsettles Yua on an instinctual level (like staring into an abyss that stares back knowingly…)
Her attire is understated but immaculate: deep indigo robes with silver-threaded embroidery along sleeves depicting swirling wind motifs (clan sigil?). No jewelry beyond a single jade hairpin shaped like a crescent moon tucked into a bun—simple yet unmistakably valuable… just like everything else about this woman honestly...
Mizaru tenses inside Yua immediately upon seeing details fully now (This one reeks of danger masked as hospitality.)
Chikage's expression darkens, the warmth in her eyes dimming like a candle snuffed out by an unseen wind. She exhales slowly, hands folding neatly in her lap—too controlled to be accidental.
"My son," she begins carefully, "has not brought another woman here… since his sister." The words hang between them like a blade suspended mid-fall. Something happened. Something Yua isn't supposed to ask about—but the weight of it presses against her ribs regardless.
Kyou Ren leans against the far wall silently (when did he even step in?!), arms crossed over chest as he watches this exchange with detached indifference… but there's tension beneath it now too—thin and sharp like wire about snap under strain…
Mizaru hisses inside Yua's mind (Do NOT pry further.) Yet curiosity claws at throat anyway because how could she not wonder what tragedy looms behind those words? But before she can decide whether to speak or bolt entirely from the suffocating atmosphere—Chikage stands abruptly with practiced grace and sweeps toward the door without another word on matter (conversation clearly over now) leaving only lingering scent of sandalwood incense behind...
Yua swallows hard. "...Well that was ominous." She mutters under breath before side-eyeing Kyou warily: And YOU'RE just gonna stand there pretending this isn't weird?!
A low, dry chuckle escapes him—amused by her discomfort? "Ominous is her default setting," he remarks casually, pushing off the wall. "But now you know why I don't bring people here."
He steps closer, and for the first time since they met, his expression isn't cold or calculating. Just… tired. Like he's already done this dance a thousand times before.
"You wanted answers," he says simply. "Now you're getting them firsthand."
The weight of what that implies settles over Yua like a shadow—his sister. His family. The Ametsuchi legacy wrapped in grief and resentment... and yet somehow… she's being pulled into it anyway.
The shoji door slides open with a sharp clack, cutting through the tension like a blade.
A man stands in the doorway—tall, broad-shouldered, his presence filling the room with an almost tangible pressure. His uniform is unmistakable: Hunter regalia, but unlike any Yua has seen before—black and silver instead of Ishikawa's navy and gold. The sigil on his sleeve matches Chikage's embroidery: the Ametsuchi crest.
But what makes her blood run cold is the weapon at his hip—a Kizugami blade, its scabbard etched with eerie glyphs that glow faintly under lantern light… and worst of all? The insignia pinned to his collar:
Captain's rank.
Mizaru snarls inside her skull (Hunter-Killer.) while Yua freezes mid-breath (this man reeks of death). Even Kyou Ren tenses slightly beside her—his mask slipping just enough to reveal something volatile beneath...
The stranger surveys them all coolly before locking eyes directly onto Yua (why HER?!) as if sensing prey instinctively—then speaks in voice like gravel dragged over ice:
"...So this is where you've been hiding your new pet project." A glance at Kyou Ren now; mocking laced beneath words as he continues dryly: "Cute."
Kyou Ren actually stiffens at the man's words, his usual icy composure cracking for once. "Tch—it's not like that," he snaps, scowling as he crosses his arms defensively (since when does HE get flustered?!).
The man—clearly his father—lets out a short, humorless laugh before stepping fully into the room. His gaze lingers on Yua just long enough to make her skin crawl before flicking back to Kyou with something between amusement and disdain.
"Of course it isn't." His tone is dripping with sarcasm as he adjusts the hilt of his Kizugami blade absently (a silent threat?). "Because you never act out of sentiment." A pause, then colder: "...Like your sister did."
Yua watches in stunned silence as Kyou Ren's hands curl into fists at that remark… but what chills her more than their tension is the realization hitting now:
This isn't just some random Hunter captain.
This is an Ametsuchi.
And worse? He's high-ranking. Which means... (Oh gods.) He could have access to records. To bounties. To—her file.
Mizaru's voice cuts through panic sharply (Do NOT react.) But it might already be too late because those predatory eyes are studying her again like she's a puzzle piece slipping out…
The man exhales sharply through his nose—a controlled dismissal of the tension he just created—before straightening his posture into something resembling formality. His gaze never wavers from Yua, but the edge in it dulls slightly, replaced by an almost... performative politeness.
"My apologies for the rudeness," he says smoothly (though it sounds more like habit than genuine remorse). "I am Sōjirō Ametsuchi." A slight incline of his head—just enough to acknowledge her presence without actually respecting it. "Captain of the Kusakabe Division's 3rd Regiment."
Yua blinks at that (Kusakabe? That's… not Ishikawa.) Mizaru stirs uneasily (Different region, different laws.)
Sōjirō continues as if sensing her silent questions:
- "Our jurisdiction lies beyond these borders," he clarifies coldly.
- "But blood matters more than territory." A glance toward Kyou Ren now (loaded with unspoken meaning).
Chikage steps forward suddenly—her smile back in place but noticeably tighter now (like porcelain hiding cracks): "...Now then! Since introductions are done..." She claps hands together lightly before motioning toward the hallway again cheerfully (too cheerful?) Let us prepare tea!~, she suggests brightly while shooting Sōjirō warning look only the family could decipher...
Kyou Ren lets out a quiet scoff beside Yua under breath ("...This is why I hate coming home."), but she barely hears him over a drumming heartbeat wondering just how deep this rabbit hole goes now that two Ametsuchi Hunters are standing feet away from someone like her.
Kyou Ren grabs Yua's wrist abruptly—his grip firm but not painful, more urgent than anything. Before she can even react, he's already pulling her toward the hallway with a terse mutter under his breath:
"We're leaving."
His father doesn't stop them—just watches with that same detached amusement as they retreat (like this is all some predictable game to him). Chikage opens her mouth as if to say something, but Kyou cuts her off with a sharp look over his shoulder (silent warning: don't).
The second the shoji door slides shut behind them, he releases her wrist like it burns him. His usual mask of indifference slips for just a second—revealing something raw beneath before he turns away entirely to pace near the window instead. The room itself is sparse but meticulously organized; scrolls stacked neatly on shelves alongside weapons care kits (no personal items in sight). It feels less like a sanctuary and more like… temporary shelter for someone who doesn't plan on staying long anywhere ever really...
Yua rubs at where fingers had been wrapped around skin earlier still processing whiplash of past few minutes when suddenly:
- "You should go home." His voice is low now; strained around edges despite trying hard not to be (why?).
- "...Before he decides you're worth interrogating." ('He' means Sōjirō obviously...)
For a long moment there's only silence—broken by the soft shush of his boots on the floor as he walks again. Then:
- "Fine," he relents. "You want explanations?" His voice is still taut, almost angry, but there's exhaustion in it now too—like he's carrying invisible weight on shoulders nobody else sees.
He stops before the desk, staring down at it with fists clenching and unclenching.
Kyou Ren stands with face partly visible now, cast in a stark profile—half in shadow, half in the cold moonlight filtering through the window. His eyes are like dark pools beneath brows furrowed in pained memory.
His voice breaks the stillness again, low yet sharp as a dagger, echoing off the empty room's walls. "What do you think I am, a monster?"
It seems rhetorical, but there's bitterness to it too—like he almost wants someone to answer yes...
His hands flatten against the surface of the desk when he doesn't get one (as if seeking tangible reality behind them), fingers digging into wood like claws. Yua takes a step forward then, almost cautiously as if approaching a wild animal—Mizaru hisses in her mind (be careful…) before she's right behind Kyou Ren.
She rests a tentative hand on his arm—not sure how he'll react.
(A Small touch of Yua's hand)
Kyou Ren freezes at touch, every muscle going rigid beneath her fingers—like he's ready for a fight. But he doesn't pull away. He just stays perfectly still, back still turned as if bracing for whatever blow he expected.
Except... it never comes.
His arm finally relaxes beneath her hand, breath escaping him in a shaky exhale (relieved? tired? both?). It leaves a long moment of tense silence between them before he finally speaks without looking at her.
"You think I hate Hunters because I have a grudge." he murmurs, voice still taut but not angry anymore—just weary. A slight shake beneath the surface too. Regret.
His hand unclenches, reaches upward to touch hers instead. Fingers wrap around the wrist, not tight—just holding it there against his arm as if... reassuring herself she's real.
Kyou Ren doesn't turn around. His fingers tighten just slightly around her wrist—not to restrain, but as if anchoring himself to the present. When he finally speaks, his voice is hollow.
"My sister's name was Akasaki."
A flicker—something dark crosses his face at the name, fleeting but visceral (like reopening a wound that never healed). The air in the room grows heavier, thick with unspoken history.
Yua waits. Even Mizaru stays silent for once (knowing some truths demand stillness).
Then—the dam breaks.
"She was... idealistic." His words drip with bitter irony now as he turns slightly toward the window again (avoiding eye contact). "Believed our clan could be more than just killers-for-hire under Hunter jurisdiction." A dry chuckle escapes him; self-loathing lacing every syllable: "And look where that got her."
Silence stretches between them before Yua dares ask what she already suspects: "...What happened?"
Kyou Ren exhales sharply through nose—finally turning fully now to face her directly under moonlight's glow revealing something shattered behind those usually cold eyes… and then?
- He says it plainly: "She staged a coup."
- And quieter still: "…Against our own family."
His grip tightens around her wrist—just for a second—before his hand falls away entirely. His shoulders sag under an invisible weight, and when he speaks again, it's the quietest she's ever heard him.
"She thought we could break free from the Hunters' control," he murmurs. "That our clan didn't have to be their blade in the dark anymore."
A bitter laugh escapes him then, harsh as winter wind. "So she spilled blood to prove it—starting with our own." His voice drops lower still, barely above a whisper now: "...And they let her."
Yua feels ice crawl down her spine at that last part (they let her? Who is 'they'?). But before she can ask, Kyou Ren turns fully toward the window again—his silhouette cutting sharp against moonlight like fractured glass as shadows stretch behind him into something… resembling wings. Or maybe just chains unseen until now (both?). Either way—it doesn't matter because what comes next chills worse than any ghost story ever could:
"Family is about loyalty. Duty. Blood above all else."
His voice is cold, but there's something else in it too. Something that echoes like a wound that never heals.
"They let her," he continues, still facing away, "because she broke the one rule that can never be broken."
Silence blankets them again—so heavy even moonlight seems to pause in its path. Yua holds her breath, heart pounding. This is the story he's been carrying alone… and now that weight is on her shoulders too...
A high-pitched scream pierces the air, echoing off the hallway wall—too raw, too human. Mizaru shivers in Yua's mind. Kyou Ren spins around, tension crackling in the air as they both lock eyes.
Before either can move, footsteps echo in the hallway, growing closer—heavy, urgent. The shoji door slides open before they can do anything else, revealing… Chikage, wide-eyed and panting, chest heaving with panic.
Then—
A scream pierces through the house. High, desperate—Chikage's voice. It cuts through the tension like a knife plunged straight into the quiet, leaving behind only icy dread in its wake.
Kyou Ren freezes, eyes widening for a fraction of a second before his expression hardens back into something lethal. His hand shoots toward his blade automatically (old habits die hard) but he doesn't move—not yet. Just listens as heavy footsteps echo down the hallway outside (Sōjirō? Something else?).
Yua's pulse hammers against her ribs like war drums—Mizaru snarling inside her skull (RUN.) But she can't; not when Kyou Ren stands there so still it's terrifying (what does HE know that she doesn't?!).
The scream fades into choked silence just as suddenly as it came... leaving only one thing certain:
Whatever peace existed here tonight?
It's already dead.
🌀End Of Chapter Twenty Nine