[A/N: I have something to say in Chapter 9, so power scalers and plot-hole hunters, please wait. Anyway, on to the chapter.
I wasn't planning to upload today, but I got space Ereshkigal, so everyone gets a chapter
ALSO FOR THOSE WHO THINK I AM USING THE WRONG PRONOUNS AM NOT .]
[over 4,000 words so you know you not getting a chapter tomorrow]
Toma's head turned towards the claws that flew passed him and slammed Rikuo into the storeroom. Hachihei seeing Toma distracted took the opportunity and struck again piercing its side with his claw. Feeling the pain Toma turn her head around to meet Hachihei before using it's paws to push his claw from it's side
As Toma got the claw out of her, it tried standing straight up but its body spasmed as if struck by lightning. It's vision began to shake as it's paw grew weak from standing up as Toma looked at Hachihei who was now grinning
'Poision!'
Toma tried its hardest to get back up as it's leg shacked, the world spining around it and it's old wounds bleeding profusely, but even so, it still faced Hachihei, the man who had attacked the people who took care of him.
"You are already injured, so why don't you just stay down?"
Without giving Toma any time to recover, Hachihei struck again by retracting the claw that struck Rikuo targeting Toma's leg and forcing him back to the ground. Walking over to the youkai who even though poisoned still had feracity in it's eys.
Hachihei raised his limb, ready to deliver the killing blow.
***************
'this stuff really reeks and taste horrendous'
Wiping away the liquid that was all over his face Rikuo complained about its stench and taste
'To think this world really did have supernatural elements in it after all.'
With half-closed eyes, Rikuo looked through the hole his body had made in the storehouse wall. His bone ached it seems that when he was sent flying one of his bone broke.
Beyond the whole in the wall was Hachihei towered over Toma raising his claw as the cat struggled to get back up with its injured leg.
*Chuckle*
'Well, it doesn't matter anymore though, since I'm about to die right after Toma.'
Raising his hands into the air, he could now see how soaked they were with his own blood before his hand slowly fell back down.
'Shouldn't this be the perfect time to awaken some hidden ability, or for a god to descend and bless me? Yet here I am, bleeding out in a storeroom.'
Roughly exhaling and spitting out the blood and foreign liquid in his mouth, he looked up at the ceiling. Rikuo could hear his heartbeat growing slower and slower.
'But I can't just accept my death like this.'
Rikuo's eyes grew sharp and focused, now filled with a desperate will to live.
'I have so many things I want to do in this life and so many new people I want to meet. And now that I know this world truly has the supernatural, my desire to keep living in this world has only grown stronger.'
Getting up from the wreckage, his muscles and bone ached and his blood continued to flow. His once-slow heartbeat began to thunder rapidly, and his blood seemed to boil as he finally stood.
'So I will not die today I will make sure of it .'
A wave of killing intent burst forth from Rikuo as his eyes turn red he stared at Hachihei, who had raised his claw to deliver the final blow to Toma.
*****************
Feeling the killing intent directed at his back, Hachihei sharply turned around and looked toward the source.
What he saw was a pair of crimson eyes staring through the hole in the storeroom wall.
For a brief moment, everything became silent.
Then a single footstep broke the stillness.
As Rikuo began to walk forward, his once-brown hair grew a 1 lenght longer, its colour changed into a mixture of black and white, with each step, his height increased by 1 inch stoping after 3. The pain he felt from his muscles and bone faded as his new size slightly stretch his clothes.
[image]
When Rikuo finally stepped out of the storeroom, Hachihei's eyes widened at his transformed appearance and also by the stench coming off Rikuo.
'Damn he reeks'
"So you really were a yokai after all, huh? And one i have never seen before. Tell me, were you hiding inside the body of a child so nobody would find you or where you always a youkai but just awaken your youkai blood?"
'Am... a youkai?'
Looking at the edge of blade in his hand, Rikuo saw part of his reflection and the changes to his appearance. After a moment, he simply chuckled.
'This is so cliché. I really did get a power-up on the brink of death.'
Seeing the newly emerged youkai laughing to himself, Hachihei watched him cautiously.
'Has he lost his mind after transforming?' Hachihei thought, narrowing his eyes. 'Well, it doesn't matter. With all the strain on his body he has gone through, killing him shouldn't be a problem.'
This time, Hachihei did not rush in. Instead, he swung his claw like whips from a distance.
'Even if this situation is cliché, the blood on my hands is real.'
Stopping his laughter, Rikuo looked toward the incoming attacks. The strikes that once seemed impossibly fast now felt sluggish.
Using the sword in his hand, he blocked the claw aimed at his heart while twisting his body to the right to avoid the second attack sent his way.
Refusing to give Hachihei time to retract his claw for a next attack, Rikuo threw the object he had hidden behind his back.
A vase his grandfather had made.
Seeing the vase flying toward him, Hachihei pulled back one of his claws and shattered it instantly.
But the vase contained the clay powder Rikuo's grandfather used for pottery.
The moment it broke, the powder scattered everywhere, creating a thick cloud that obscured Hachihei's vision.
Preparing for another attack, Hachihei withdrew his remaining claw and raised both in front of his upper body.
A movement appeared within the dust cloud disrupting the flow dust .
Being cautious and not wanting his Rikuo to close the distance, Hachihei struck immediately.
But what he hit was neither a blade nor a body.
It was another vase.
The brief distraction was enough.
Rikuo emerged from Hachihei left side from the dust cloud and slashed at Hachihei's leg. Pain shot through him, forcing him to leap to the right just before a follow-up strike from Rikuo aimed at his neck could connect.
Not giving Hachihei any chance to recover, Rikuo rush at him again.
Hachihei immediately crossed his claws in front of him, preparing to block.
Clang!
Blade meet claw and the ground beneath Hachihei's feet cracked from the force of Rikuo swing.
'What strength!'
Before, the Rikuo's attacks had barely carried any weight behind them only being able to injure Hachihei because of the sharpness of the blade.
But now every strike felt like was powerful enough to cut through him with ease. The force pushed Hachihei backward as his heels dug trenches into the dirt.
Rikuo did not stop.
He stepped forward and swung again.
Hachihei retaliated, his claw snapping forward like spears aimed at Rikuo's heart. Rikuo bent sideways, his body arching unnaturally as the sharpened limbs passed mere centimeters across his chest only leaving a sallow cut.
'He dodge that that point blank?'
Using the momentum, Rikuo twisted his body and spun beneath another strike before driving his sword upward.
Clang!
Hachihei barely managed to block, and the two were forced apart once more.
'I need to move faster the quicker am able to kill this guy the faster I am able to get gramps to a hospital'
Rikuo's eye looking beyound Hachihei at gramps who was still on the floor. The Hawaii pineapple shirt he once use to stop the bleeding was now completely red.
Returning his gaze back to Hachihei, Rikuo took a deep breath his lungs expanded then he vanished from his spot.
Hachihei's eyes widen the youkai that was once in front was gone. Suddenly, a flash appeared to his right.
Slash!
Pain exploded across his chest as a deep wound stretched from shoulder to waist. Blood sprayed into the air as he immediately leapt backward, clutching at the injury.
'His strength has increased and now he's even speed!'
For the first time since the battle began, Hachihei was now taking this fight serious.
Then his gaze shifted toward the old man still lying on the ground. Without warning, he turned and sprinted.
"Gramps!" Rikuo was about to attack again shouted as he saw Hachihei run towards gramps.
Before he could intercept him, Hachihei grabbed the old man by the throat and lifted him into the air.
"Stop right there!"
Hachihei smirked.
"Drop your sword or i will kill him."
Point his claws at the old mans throat Rikuo froze for a moment.
"That's right, put it down."
Instead of obeying, Rikuo slowly raised his left hand which held something, between his fingers was a scroll.
Hachihei's eyes widened instantly.
"The scroll!"
Looking at his left pocket all Hachihei saw was a blood stained pants with its pockets torn.
"Your not the only one that can fight dirty"
Only then did Hachihei realize that his pocket had been sliced open. During Rikuo's first attack after transforming, when he targeted his leg, the scroll had fallen out.
Holding it between his fingers, Rikuo spoke calmly.
"Let Gramps go, and I'll give it back."
Hachihei narrowed his eyes.
"And if I don't?"
Rikuo slowly began tearing the edge of the scroll.
"Then i will cut it to pieces and your lord would not want that would he."
Hachihei's expression darkened.
For several long seconds, neither side moved. Hachihei mind spun and only one conclusion came to mind. Hachihei clicked his tongue.
*Tch*
"Fine on the count of three we throw each."
"Three."
"Two."
"One."
The instant the count ended, Hachihei threw the old man but not at Rikuo but instead high into the air. At the same time, Rikuo made his move.
But instead of throwing the scroll Rikuo threw his sword.
"What?!"
Hachihei instinctively dodged as the blade flew past him. Seeing Rikuo apparently unarmed, a vicious grin spread across his face as his claw shot forward like a whip.
"Idiot!"
As Hachihei attack Rikuo assured of his victory he forgot one thing he was not just fighting one youkai but two. Toma's eyes snapped open, using all of her remaining strength he shot across the yard in between the two charging foes .
*RIP!*
As Toma crossed the yard she completely tore off the clawed hand heading towards Rikuo before collapsing again against the store room wall.
"AAAAAGH!"
Blood burst from Hachihei severed arm as Toma collapse. Clutching the stump, Hachihei stumbled backward in agony.
Seeing the opportunity Rikuo did not stop running towards Hachihei his speed constantly increasing.
While running forward, he snatched up the sword his grandfather had dropped earlier after being sent flying. Raising the blade it gleamed under the moonlight as he aimed directly for Hachihei's heart.
Hachihei stared in horror.
He could not evade or block. Victory stood right before Rikuo.
But something unexpected happened. Hachihei's jaw that once looked human split apart like a flower in bloom. Rows of sharp teeth could be seen before something shot out of it, a long tongue with barbed ends and purple liquid at its tip.
*THUNK!*
The attack moved so quickly that Rikuo barely saw it. Pain exploded through his right shoulder as the tongue pierced straight through it.
But Rikuo did not stop he continued to move, his sword remained aimed at Hachihei's heart as long as he killed him here then it would be his victory.
'Just a little further!'
As Rikuo was only half a meter away his body spasmed as if a bolt of lightning struck him. Suddenly grew heavy, his fingers became numb and his legs weakened.
He was poison.
The same poison that had stopped paralyzed Toma that he did not see was now in his body.
Rikuo's charge halted, his body went limp. He would have fell to the ground if he was not prompted by the tongue that was pierced through his shoulder.
At that very moment all Rikuo could do was stare at the open jaw that seem to turn smile as the tongue reeled him in as Gramps began falling from the sky.
Realizing that the poison took effect, Hachihei twisted face grinned as he reeled him in ready to bite off Rikuo's head
Just as Rikuo head was about to be bitten off
The sound of breaking glass echoed through the night.
Above in the air the transulent dome of the barrier broke and want descendent was a tall figure. Catching gramps as he was beginning to fall, the figure rushed down faster descending onto Hachihei who reacted to late.
Just as Hachihei lifted his head to see what happen to the barriert a fist meet his face sending his head straight to he ground releasing his tongue hold on Rikuo.
[A/N: pause]
Dirt kicked up from Hachihei hitting the ground and as the dirt disipated everyone could see the person who had just appeared.
The figure that descendent wore a bamboo hat and a traditional monks robs with beaded neckless. The monk stood there looking over the yard which had its ground torn up blood across the grass, a cat youkai who cant move a nothe youkai he could not identify.
The monk then looked to the person in his hands a old man who wounds are although covered was still bleeding profusely and who's blood now covered his hands
The monk looked around as if trying to find something before his gaze landed on Rikuo who although paralyzed had his gaze on him as well
'That youkai most be the kid that i heard calling out for help but why does he looks so mature is he really a kid'
It did not take long for the robe figure to understand what happen a rouge youkai targeting a family and a child being under so much pressure fearing for his life awaken the youkai blood in himself to protect himself and the old man.
However the monk would not be given time to be left with his thoughts of the situation as the man he punch began to get back up.
Hachihei lifting his head from the ground shouted in anger at the robe figure who stood above him
"Bastard do you know what your getting yourself into my boss is lord Muchi one of the heads of the"
"Shut up"
The monk did not give Hachihei any time to speak as he release aura and killing intent at him before kicking him straight in the face sending him across the yard and hitting the wooden wall
Hachihei cough out blood as the impact reverberated through his body as his eyes focused on the monk ahead of him. Hachihei eyes shucked as he stared
'That presence he's a, he's a Kōi yōkai (高位妖怪)'
Hachihei tried to get up but stumbled due to the injury on his leg caused by Rikuo.
'I have to leave even if I can't get the scroll or break the bond between that boy and it as long as i can tell lord Muchi he will be able to'
Hachihei now using the wall as an assist once again tried getting up.
The monk knelt, gently putting the old man as a green light appeared on his hand to to gramps wounds. As the gramps bleeding stop the monk looked at Rikuo who still had his gaze on him.
"Kid you okay?"
Hearing the concern in the monks voice Rikuo understood that the person in front of him was not a new enemy but someone who actually came to help.
*Sigh*
"Yeah I am could you * cough* could you turn me over i can't breath"
Turning Rikuo over to face the sky the monk saw what the boy held in his hands, the scroll which was now covered in the boy's own blood. The same scroll he last 2 days ago.
the monk looked between the rikuo, gramps, Hachihei and the scroll as realization dawn on him again. Looked closer at the youkai trying to stand up the monk could see a crest on his clothes with a weasel in a wind spiral the same crest he saw on the youkai who poisoned him.
[A/N: like i said please wait till chapter 0 where everything that happen that night will be explained]
'Oh shit this is all my fault because i lost the scroll'
'And that youkai also has the crest of the bastard who put me in such a weak condition'
Standing back up the monk began to walk towards Hachihei who was trying to escape with his injured leg by climbing over the wall. But as he was half way over a spear shot out stricking his uninjured leg causing him to fall.
"You said your boss was lord Muchi heh tell me more about him and i will let you live"
'like hell i will you eyes are clearly saying your lying but since am gonna die either way i use one trick up my sleeves'
With a relief face Hachihei looked up at the monk and began to talk
"Really then Lord Muchi is ███ ███ !"
*Splash*
Before Hachihei could continue a spear pierce through his throat stopping the incantaion his blood sprayed across the wall as he stared dumbfoundingly at the monk before the spear retreated from his throat causing more of his blood to spill before he collapse
'Is he a idiot did he really think i would allow him to call for help'
As the monk thought that symbols appear above his hands then flames appeared above it. Lightly throwing it at the youkai in front of him its body was completely engulf by it not burning anything other than it watching it burn
"Gramp are you okay someone, someone actually came to help all we need to do now is stop your bleeding"
Not even having the strength to turn his face to see gramps Rikuo tried to affirm him of their safety now but all he got back as a response were violent coughing
*COUGH COUGH COUGH*
"Gramps?"
"Don't worry kid am .....fine"
Rikuo could hear how weak gramps was his voice growing softer as he spoke. Feeling fear grip his heart he looked at the monk that just return now with Toma in his hand back to normal size but still bleeding behind him the flames still burn as it went from the youkai's body to its blood that covered the yard.
"Please could you check if everything is alright for him or call the ambulance"
Looking down at the old man who's face had already turned pale the monk knew it was too late not because of the blood loss but because of the youkai's poison that flowed through his body. The old man was the only normal person here and because of that his defense against the youkai poison was weak and made it lethal to him.
But not wanting to tell the kid that the old man was already at death door the monk prompt up the both of them and carried them to the veranda as he went inside for a phone.
"I will call a ambulance"
"Thank you"
Saying his thanks Rikuo now with his strength returning began to move his hands tore off a piece of his shirt and tighten it around Toma's body trying his hardest to stop the bleeding
"Thank you too Toma for also protecting us"
*Grrr*
Toma could only growl as an acceptance for the thanks as it still could not speak due to having being the most poisoned one there.
Now seeing the bleeding stop he turn to his gramps
"Gramps we survive, we are alive now all you have to do is hang in there until the ambulance comes so-"
"Rikuo"
Gramps suddenly spoke stopping Rikuo from continuing
"It's getting dark... I don't think I'm actually fine."
The moment Rikuo heard those words, his heart sank. His hands clenched into trembling fists.
"The way I am right now... I'm surely going to die."
Staring blankly at the sky as the stars gradually faded from his vision, Gramps continued.
"I've faced death many times before in my life... but this time..." COUGH "...this time it really has a hold on me."
Chuckling to himself, he remembered the countless times he had stared death in the face during his yakuza days, laughing at it without fear.
But this time...
It seemed their roles had changed.
"I know you're mature for your age, but knowing that I'm going to leave you behind in this world fills me with guilt."
"I wanted to watch you grow up... to be there for every graduation and every celebration. Unlike how I wasn't there for my daughter's life. Maybe if I had been... she would have turned out differently. Maybe she would have stayed, raised you with me, and been proud of the young man you've become..."
"...just like I am."
Memories of the years they had spent together flashed through his mind.
The countless meals they had cooked together, the time he tasted his grandsons cooking and discover that his he had absolutely no talent for it.
The days they spent together as Rikuo helped him make pottery helping with him fix his terrible drawing skills.
The trips they took together.
And the night they first met, when his daughter silently appeared at his doorstep after years of trying to fix their relationship carrying a baby before leaving him behind without another word.
Even then, the boy had never cried and he had never asked where his parents were. It was as though he had simply accepted everything as it was.
"Even though both of your parents left you... remember this."
"Your life is a blessing."
'if not to anyone but surely to me'
"Rikuo... you're a good kid."
"Make lots of friends."
"And even though I won't be there to see it... I hope one day you have a large family."
Gramps imagined Rikuo as an adult, laughing together with his own children just as the two of them had always laughed together.
A gentle smile formed on his face as he closed his tiered eyelids, but he continued speaking. But Rikuo was different his expression grew darker and darker as time went by his once whit and black hair returned to it original color and so did his size returning to that of a normal 12 year old boy.
"Rikuo..."
"Yeah."
"The night..."
"...it's really getting colder..."
Looking at the old man with a smile still on his face Rikuo retreated into his mind
'I never knew either of my grandfathers on my mother or father side in my previous life. They both passed away before I was born.'
'But living with you... laughing with you... complaining together over television shows we both hated...'
'You showed me what it meant to have a grandfather.'
'Even if I can't truly see my parents from this life as my parents...'
'I can proudly call you my grandfather.'
'...And I'm proud to be your grandson.'
"I love you gramps"
"I love you too Rikuo"
Without a single sob escaping his lips, tears silently rolled down Rikuo's face.
Not the tears of a child...
But those of a man who had lived for thirty-two years.
As the tears continued to fall, the distant wail of approaching ambulances echoed through the night.
[A/N:
Whenever I write fights, I put myself in the opponent's shoes. By doing that, I come up with ways they could realistically beat the MC, so when the MC finally wins, it actually feels earned.
For example, during the exchange between Gramps and the scroll, if Hachihei had simply thrown Gramps toward Rikuo, there would have been roughly a one-in-four chance that both sides would get what they wanted. Instead, Hachihei threw Gramps high into the air. That forced Rikuo into a much worse situation. Even if Rikuo refused to throw the scroll, Hachihei could still attack Gramps. If Rikuo focused on saving Gramps, Hachihei could attack him. And if Rikuo chose to retreat or do nothing, Gramps would simply fall to his death. No matter what Rikuo chose, someone was going to die.
The ending of this chapter feels a little rushed to me, so I may come back and revise it later. For now, though, I'm satisfied with it. And we've also finally passed 15,000 words so that means i am getting into the rankings, so if you yall could please drop some Power Stones am aiming for top 50 by the end of this week.
I hope you've all enjoyed the introduction to this fanfic so far.
If you see any errors tell me so i can fix it. Anyway, see you in the next chapter]