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Rin Takeda's expression darkened further, shadows cutting across his weathered face.
"No—the sin is that Kaoru Hibuko belonged to this bloodline."
The air vibrated with tension. The children huddled behind their mother, eyes wide, trembling. Outside, a faint wind whispered through the broken window, carrying the scent of smoke and the promise of violence.
The legacy of Hibuko still burned fiercely in this household.
The children scrambled through the window, landing softly on the ground outside before vanishing into the darkness.
Kuromi Hibuko's eyes blazed with defiance. "If Yami Hibuko… if Hiroto Hibuko… if Kaoru Hibuko were here, you wouldn't dare speak to us!"
Rin raised a hand, his voice slicing through the flames consuming the house. "Be quiet, traitor of Emka."
Ren Hibuko, Kaoru's brother, charged forward, gripping Rin's shoulder. "Get out of here!"
Rin's lips curled into a cold smile. "Just try it, demon."
SWISH!
From the shadows, multiple swords pierced Ren Hibuko's body. He coughed, blood spilling in torrents as his legs buckled. His vision blurred, organs burning from the strikes.
"You… demon ruler…" he gasped, shaking.
Rin's voice was steady, unyielding. "Demon? No. I'm cleaning the mess Kaoru Hibuko left behind."
Ren forced a grin through his pain. "If I knew how to use a sword… you might not have stood a chance."
With a final shudder, he collapsed. Blood pooled around him, lifeless. Rin Takeda's eyes followed him coldly. "That's how Kaoru Hibuko died."
Kuromi stood tall, chest heaving, tears streaming down her face. Her hands shook as she raised them, defiance flaring. "Kill us already, you coward."
The firelight danced across her face, shadows casting long, jagged lines on the walls. Her eyes burned not with fear, but with the unbroken spirit of the Hibuko legacy.