[A/N: Had to retcon this chapter because of the timeline. Also, sorry for the late update. I thought this would only be around 2k words, but it somehow ended up being 6k.
I'm curious would you all prefer I keep adding 1k words for every day I'm late, or should I just post a chapters as soon as possible even when its not finished?
Also, if you don't mind, drop a Power Stone. I don't really care about the stones themselves, but they help more people find this fic through the rankings.
Anyway, enjoy the chapter!]
At the Nura residence, still awake from last night lesson, Rikuo ate breakfast for the day before starting his exercises under the supervision of Kurotabo.
"Ha... ha... why do you want me to keep exercising? Shouldn't we focus on Youki control?"
Catching his breath after doing another set of push-ups, Rikuo dropped to the ground and turned his head toward the sky.
"Simple, really. Your body is a temple, and your mind is its resident. If your temple is weak, then your resident might collapse under its ruins."
Kurotabo looked down at Rikuo before continuing.
"As such, by training your body and making your temple stronger, your mind can roam freely without worry."
"To control Youki, your mind must be clear, and by training your body, we are improving your endurance, focus, and your understanding of your own body. Besides, it's not like you can transform during the day. We already tried that, so the next best thing is this."
'Yeah... and I have to drink that thing again tonight.'
"Oh right, I have something to do tomorrow, so I won't be able to participate in your day training."
"Are you trying to dodge training?"
Rikuo turned his head to the side, his eyes meeting the yokai's with a hint of melancholy.
"No, I actually do have something to do tomorrow. I'm going to the morgue to see Gramps and start preparing for his funeral."
It had already been five days, and Shiro's body had still not been cremated or buried. Normally, funerals occurred three to five days after death in Japan, but due to his stay in the hospital, Rikuo not announcing his grandfather's death to his parents, and his desire to prepare the funeral himself instead of asking Kurotabo to do it, five days had already passed while his grandfather's body remained in the morgue.
Seeing the look in Rikuo's eyes, Kurotabo understood that the boy wanted to give his grandfather a proper burial.
"Okay, I will stay here then."
"What are you talking about? You're coming along. It would be weird if a kid went by himself to the morgue."
"Oh, right."
'It's easy to forget that he's still a kid by the way he acts and talks.'
Throwing a water bottle to the sweating Rikuo, who was still on the ground, Kurotabo sat down beside him.
"If thats the case for today, you are going to start learning how to control the Youki inside of you, which is the second most important thing you must learn to do."
"You see, even though I sealed away the scroll, stopping it from leaking Miasma, and cleaned you and your room of it, if someone who knew of the scroll were to check your body, they would know you are bonded to it."
Kurotabo pointed at Rikuo.
"As such, by learning how to control your Youki, you can hide that bond even while you are in your human form."
"Okay, then let's get started."
Seeing the determination in the kid's eyes, Kurotabo took out a sake bottle from his sleeves and poured its contents into a sake cup.
Handing it over to Rikuo, Kurotabo quickly closed the lid of the bottle before its stench hit his nose.
Seeing the familiar liquid from last night, Rikuo sighed before toughening himself up and downing it in a single go before dropping to his knees.
Seconds turned into minutes, yet Rikuo still had not transformed.
After drinking the remaining water he had, Rikuo stood up and looked over his body.
"I didn't transform, but I was able to earlier?"
"Seems like it. Maybe you can only transform at night."
'Now that I think about it, didn't Rikuo also have this issue? My memories are a bit fuzzy, but I do remember this being the reason why he always fought at night.'
Kurotabo scratched his head as he realized they had wasted one of the twenty-three chances they had left.
"Well, that just means we will have to do your Youki training only at night and your physical training during the day. That being said, three more sets of every exercise."
'I'm really going to have to drink that again tonight.'
"Yes, sir."
**************************************
*Ding Ding Ding Ding-*
9:30 a.m.
As she woke up, Kana slammed her hand on the alarm clock, turning it off before begrudgingly getting up and going to the bathroom. After washing her face, her drowsiness faded, and her mind became clearer as she remembered yesterday.
'Am I a terrible friend? I didn't know what to say or do. I-I didn't even know how to comfort him. I was so useless to the point that he comforted me for not being able to comfort him.'
Her grip on her toothbrush tightened as she looked at herself in the mirror. She wanted to comfort Rikuo, but she didn't know where to start, and since she didn't know how to do so, she just stayed quite
But Kana understood that she could not stay this way so she went to someone who could give her some advice her mom.
Rising her mouth Kana went downstairs where she saw her mom making an omelette for breakfast, her favorite.
"Mom."
Turning around, Ms. Ienaga could see her daughter slouching with a sad expression.
"Darling, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
Ms. Ienaga finished serving breakfast and walked toward Kana.
"How do I comfort someone who has lost someone they love?"
Hearing her daughter's question, Ms. Ienaga understood what was going on. Her daughter wanted to console Rikuo but didn't know how to. Seeing how concerned her daughter was Ms Ienaga gave her a soft smile before answering her
"Well, just being there for them while they are going through such a troubling time in their life can be enough"
"But I suppose you want to do something instead of waiting around. Especially with Rikuo's personality, he isn't the kind of person who would call you and tell you how he is feeling is he."
Squishing her daughter's face so the frown on it would disappeared, Ms. Ienaga continue to smile.
"How about you and the rest of your friends plan something for him after Golden Week finishes and everything has di—I mean, when everything has cooled off and after he's had some time to grieve by himself?"
Hearing the idea of of making a plan with her friends to cheer up Rikuo, Kana face brighten and her worries lessen.
"Yes, I will. Thank you, Mom. Also, where's Dad?"
Stopping herself from squishing her daughter's face even more Ms Ienaga sat around the table and answered
"He's already left, and he said he'll be coming back late tonight, so we can eat without him."
"Now hurry up and eat. Didn't you say you had plans to hang out with your friends today?"
"Yeah i did"
Doing as her mom said, Kana quickly sat around the table and ate her breakfast before going back upstairs to her room to get ready for the day.
Thirty minutes later the door bell rang
*Ding Dong Ding Dong*
Reaching the door to see who rang the door bell, Kana saw Natsumi standing at the gate waiting for her.
Opening the door, Kana greeted her.
"Good morning, Natsumi."
Hearing Kana, Natsumi looked up from her flip phone, which she was using to play games, and greeted her back.
"Good morning, Kana. Are you ready?"
Natsumi was wearing a dark sleeveless shirt which matched with her tied up green hair and a light blue jeans matching her eyes.
"Yeah, just give me a second to put my shoes on."
Not going too far back inside, Kana swapped her slippers for the shoes that were near the door.
"Mom, I'm leaving."
"Okay, honey. Take care, and make sure to come back before nightfall."
"Okay, bye."
Saying her goodbyes to her mom, Kana left her house and walked toward the street where Natsumi was waiting for her.
"Let's hurry. Everyone else is waiting at the fountain."
Saying that, the two quickly walked out of the neighborhood and toward one of the city's well-known landmarks, the Red-Crowned Crane Fountain, which was near the mall where they planned to spend the day.
"Do you think it's right to leave Rikuo behind and still go out, Natsumi?"
"It's fine. It's not like we didn't ask him to join us yesterday."
"I even told him we could delay going to the movies until Friday, but he said—"
Natsumi squished her face to resemble Rikuo and deepened her voice before continuing.
"I don't want y'all to waste your week on me and be spoiled before watching the movie. Go on without me. I need some time to be alone for the week."
Natsumi stopped squishing her face, and her voice returned to normal.
"I think he said that because he doesn't want to make things awkward when we hang out, like yesterday. Besides, my mom did say to give him some time by himself."
Patting Kana's shoulder Natsumi gave her a grin.
"Knowing Rikuo, he'll bounce back from this in no time and start making jokes to lighten the mood."
A soft smile appeared on Kana's face when she heard that.
"You are right."
As the guilt of leaving Rikuo behind faded Kana switched the conversation towards the movie they where going to watch as they continued walking.
35 minutes later
Kiyotsugu, who was at the fountain with Saori and Jiro, was tapping his foot while looking at his watch, which showed 11:10.
"Where are they? Don't they know those famous crepes run out quickly the moment the shop opens?"
"Don't you know a lady needs time to prepare before leaving the house? Heck, if it wasn't for you dragging me out this morning, I could have picked some cuter clothes."
*Tch*.
"You're no lady, but a gorilla with your strength you should try out for the Olympics. I'm lucky I only got a bruise on my arm from your punch."
"Say that again, and there won't just be a bruise on your arm, but your head."
As the two butted heads, Jiro stepped between them.
"Guys, chill. Besides, isn't that Natsumi and Kana over there?"
Pointing in front of them, Jiro drew their attention to Kana and Natsumi, who were running over.
"Sorry we're late. We had to stop and help an old lady who fell while crossing the street."
Saori rushed over and hugged the two.
"No problem. The only person grumbling about you being late is the seaweed hair over there."
"Sorry, Kiyotsugu."
Sigh.
"No problem. If we hurry now, we can still make it before we go to the theater."
Ignoring what Saori called him, Kiyotsugu looked on the bright side.
"Now then, let's hurry before they run out."
As they all began walking, it didn't take them long to reach the famous crepe restaurant who's popularity exploded over night since last week. Now it was a popular spot among the youth, as seen by the many teens who formed a line outside.
'This is gonna take long.'
They all thought the same thing as they watched the line barely budge after a minute had already passed. Luckily, they still had plenty of time before the movie they came to watch started.
Minutes went by, and the line slowly began to shrink until finally, the group reached the counter.
"Could I get a strawberry crepe, two vanilla crepes, and a lemon crepe?"
The employee looked toward the display before shaking their head.
"Sorry, but we're actually sold out of strawberry."
Kiyotsugu let out a disappointed sigh.
"Of course they'd run out of my favorite crepe when I'm ready to order."
Sigh.
"I told you, you should've gone before us," Saori teased.
"I know, but what kind of friend would I be eating by myself while you guys were hungry?"
"Can I get a lemon crepe instead?"
After placing their orders, the group waited a few moments as the staff prepared the crepes and placed them into a bag before handing it over.
Taking a seat near the entrance of the restaurant, everyone began eating their desserts.
The sweet smell of freshly made crepes filled the air as the group enjoyed their meal. Despite Kiyotsugu's complaints about the strawberry crepe being sold out, he quickly became satisfied with his second favorite choice.
"They say the secret recipe for their delicious crepes came from a ghost who loves cooking in the kitchen but never finishes baking them they just leave the paste on the counter."
"So is that why you wanted to eat here?"
"No. I just found out about it. I really came here just for their famous strawberry crepe."
"Yeah, sure. When does the movie start again?"
"It won't start for another half hour, so don't worry."
The group continued joking with each other as they finished their crepes before leaving the rooftop restaurant.
After finishing their crepes, they wandered around the mall for a while before eventually making their way to the cinema for the movie they had planned to watch.
Today, the newest horror movie, Pulse, had just been released. The hype surrounding the movie could be seen everywhere online, as its director was well known for his expertise in horror, making it a popular choice among teens looking for something heart-pounding to watch.
As they entered the cinema, they bought their tickets and grabbed some snacks before heading into the theater.
The lights slowly dimmed as everyone settled into their seats.
At first, the group was relaxed, making small comments about the movie and joking around. However, as the movie continued, the atmosphere inside the theater slowly changed.
The once playful mood disappeared as the dark scenes and sudden jump scares captured everyone's attention.
During one particularly tense scene, the entire theater went silent.
Everyone held their breath, waiting for what came next.
Then suddenly—
"AH!"
Several people in the theater jumped in surprise.
Kana grabbed onto Natsumi's arm without realizing it, while Jiro nearly dropped his drink.
Even Kiyotsugu, who had been acting confident before the movie started, froze in place.
"That was cheap," he muttered, trying to hide the fact that he had been scared.
Despite their fear, the group continued watching until the movie finally ended on a dark note. As the credits began rolling and everyone slowly stood up, the once dim theater brightened, easing the tense atmosphere as people began to leave.
"That wasn't scary at all."
"Really? Didn't you scream when that girl's head popped off her body?"
"I wasn't scared. I was just surprised. There's a difference."
Laughing at Kiyotsugu's excuse, the group continued walking around the mall, stopping at an arcade to play some games and at a bookstore that Kana wanted to visit.
After spending more time browsing different stores, they eventually stopped at the food court to get something to eat.
Sitting around the table with their food in front of them, Kana looked down quietly.
"Hey... what do you think we can do to cheer up Rikuo?"
The others looked at her.
They had all noticed how different Rikuo had been acting since losing his grandfather.
Even though he tried to act normal, they could tell he was holding something back.
Jiro spoke up, giving his idea on how to cheer Rikuo up.
"Maybe we could invite him out again?"
"We already tried that, and he rejected it," Saori replied while eating. "And my mom and dad said I should give him some space to grieve."
The group continued to ponder until Kana, who had been thinking of a way to cheer Rikuo up since that morning, finally came up with an idea and told the others.
"Then maybe we could get him something?"
"Yeah, that's a good idea. We could get him a voodoo doll or a Youkai Finder 4000 that was just released."
"That sounds like something you would want, not Rikuo."
"Then what should we get him?"
They all began throwing out different gift ideas, from food, clothes, games, and even something that could help him relax, like a massage machine.
However, nothing felt right.
They wanted to give him something meaningful, something that showed they were thinking about him, and most importantly, something that he would actually like.
Then Jiro suddenly remembered something.
"Wait."
Everyone looked toward him.
"Didn't we see his room when we visited before?"
Kana tilted her head.
"Yeah?"
"Didn't he have a bunch of sword models and figures?"
The others paused.
They remembered it.
Rikuo's collection was something that immediately stood out when they visited his house. Different swords and figures were carefully displayed throughout his room, from sword keychains to sword displays on his shelves.
Kiyotsugu nodded.
"Now that you mention it, he did seem pretty interested in them."
"Then why don't we get him a new sword figurine?"
A small smile appeared on Kana's face.
"Yeah... I think he would like that."
"Then we should go to the east section of the mall. I saw some figurines in a store there when I was passing by."
"Should we buy a large figurine or a small one?"
"Obviously a large one. We guys like large things, so Rikuo will definitely love a large sword figurine."
After finally agreeing on what to buy for Rikuo to cheer him up, they finished their lunch and got up to walk toward the east section of the mall.
'I hope this gift really cheers him up.'
***************************************
As the sky grew darker and the stars began to appear, Rikuo after waking up from sleeping through the entire day once again stood in the yard wearing his loose outfit, holding the sake cup containing the disgusting alcohol As Kenjiro slept on the veranda recovering from his wounds Kurotabo also had a sake cup drinking his own liquor.
Closing his eyes, he downed the drink for the second time that day before drinking the glass of water he had prepared beside himself.
Unlike earlier, his transformation began almost immediately as the liquor reached his stomach. Mist began spinning around him, and a few seconds later, it dissipated, revealing Rikuo standing within it.
"It worked this time."
Examining his now longer arms, which were still slender but possessed enough strength to punch through wood with ease, Rikuo looked up and met Kurotabo's eyes. The youkai was also in his true form.
"Now then, now that you are in your youkai form, let's begin the lesson. First, try to find your yoki like last night, but don't take too long this time."
"Yeah."
Taking a deep breath, Rikuo began to focus on his body.
He focused on how his hair swayed in the wind, how the cool air brushed across his skin, and how his blood pumped through his veins.
His heart, which pumped his now boiling blood throughout his body, also carried that strange cold sensation attached to it.
"Got it."
Grabbing onto that cold feeling, Rikuo stopped focusing so deeply on his body and opened his eyes before releasing a breath he seemed to have been holding.
"Not bad. It only took you fifteen minutes this time."
Kurotabo patted Rikuo on the shoulder.
"But with this lesson, we can shrink that time even further. Now then, sit down and take a meditating pose."
Doing as Kurotabo said, Rikuo sat down on the grass in a meditating position, and Kurotabo did the same in front of him.
"Now then, the reason why you couldn't move your yoki yesterday is because it is something new to your body, like a third arm suddenly appearing."
"You wouldn't be able to control it immediately. Your yoki is that arm. Even though we are in a rush to learn youjutsu and I can't give you the answer to everything, tell me, how would you learn to control it and make it move?"
Rikuo began to ponder.
'He's right. He could tell me the answer, but that doesn't mean I would understand it. I have to find the answer through my own way, and he probably gave me clues to it.'
'He said yoki is attached to a youkai's body, and that yoki to me right now is like a new arm. So how do I control my current arms? Through signals in my brain, but how would I do that when yoki doesn't have any nerves connected to it? Think, Rikuo. Think.'
As Rikuo continued to ponder, he pressed his thumb against his forehead, causing his muscles to tense up and making him feel the pulse of blood flowing through his hands.
'That's it. I don't naturally control my arm through precise nerve signals because it's automatic to me. I will it, and the nerves do the rest. So how do I automate the flow of yoki through my body?'
"By connecting my yoki with the flow of blood in my body, I can control how it moves through me."
Coming out of his thoughts, Rikuo spoke the remainder of what he was thinking aloud, which was overheard by both Kurotabo and Kenjiro.
'Wow, this kid is really smart. I only gave him one hint, and a terrible one at that, yet he figured it out. With that kind of intelligence, we will be able to break the bond in no time.'
"Yeah, you are right. Like Kenjiro said before, there are many different races of youkai, and their biology is different, but the flow of yoki through their bodies is the same because it is connected to their blood."
"They can still control the flow of yoki through their body with their mind alone, but that wastes mental strength. By automating it through their blood, all they have to do next is determine how much goes where."
"That's how youkai normally control yoki."
Kurotabo demonstrated the flow of his yoki through his body as a slight glow appeared from his hands, traveling up his arm and back again.
"I understand that, but how do I connect my yoki to my blood flow?"
"That's simple."
Kurotabo stopped his demonstration and walked over to Rikuo.
"Since you have already answered how yoki can flow through your body, it's fine to give you a direct answer. The answer is to 'let go.'"
"Let go?"
"Yes. We youkai, creatures of mischief, are true to our nature. As such, we are free. We aren't tied down by unnecessary restraints, nor do we hide what we are."
Kurotabo looked directly at Rikuo.
"To let go does not mean abandoning your morals or empathy. It does not mean throwing away reason and acting only on instinct. Rather, it means removing the restrictions that prevent you from accepting your true nature."
"We drink when we want to drink, we eat when we want to eat, and we follow our nature because that is simply what we are. A youkai does not question whether their instincts belong to them. They do not separate themselves from their own nature."
Kurotabo placed a hand over his chest.
"Your yoki is the same. It is not something foreign inside your body. It is not some power that exists separately from you, waiting to be released."
"It is already a part of you. Just like your blood, your heartbeat, and your breath, it exists because you exist."
"To let go means releasing the boundaries you have placed between yourself and your yoki. You must stop seeing it as something separate and accept that it is simply another part of yourself."
"I know this may be difficult for you since you have lived your life as a human. Your mind has spent years seeing yourself in one way, but with your mental fortitude, I believe you can overcome that perception."
Rikuo looked deadpan at Kurotabo, as if what Kurotabo just said had no substance and could have been summarized in fifteen words.
'I know he's a monk, but he doesn't have to make the explanation so wordy.'
Rikuo waved his hand rapidly.
"No, no, I understand what you are saying, but how do I exactly 'let go'? Should I accept being a youkai or have some spiritual awakening?"
"If it's the former, I have no issues with being a youkai. And if it's the latter, would I have to achieve spiritual enlightenment every time I need to flow yoki?"
Rikuo understood what Kurotabo was trying to say. He wanted him to accept being a youkai and follow his nature and desires. However, the thing was, Rikuo did not care whether he was human or youkai. He had already been following his nature and desires even in his past life.
But even so, that did not help when it came down to controlling his yoki.
'I am me. Even if I became a youkai, that doesn't change the fact that I enjoy collecting, reading, and money. In fact, I'm quite accepting of being a youkai since I can probably live longer and learn cool youjutsu. I see this as a win.'
Coming out of his thoughts about his identity, Rikuo looked at Kurotabo, who was also thinking of a way to word it properly.
"Okay, Rikuo, try imagining your body and focus on your yoki."
Closing his eyes, Rikuo returned to the image of his youkai form with his yoki located at his heart. It was much easier and faster than before.
"I believe that right now, you are imagining your yoki inside your body, but it is not connected to it in any way, is it?"
'He's right.'
"Right now, you need to 'let go' of that idea. Let go of the idea that your yoki is something separate inside you and allow it to flow with your blood."
Doing as Kurotabo said, Rikuo imagined his youkai form not as a hollow figure, but as a living body with a beating heart and flowing blood.
His yoki, which had previously shown no movement, began to fluctuate as his blood passed through his body.
At first, his yoki flowed with his blood, and a cool sensation began spreading from his chest, but it immediately retreated back.
'Come on... again.'
This push and pull between his blood and yoki continued for an entire hour. Each time, the yoki spread further and further.
The cool sensation that had previously refused to leave his chest was now able to spread toward his hands and feet before retreating once again.
Like revving an engine, once Rikuo's yoki finally spread throughout his entire body, it stopped retreating and continued flowing without interruption.
"I did it."
The image in Rikuo's mind of his yoki successfully flowing alongside his blood was clear as it circulated throughout his body.
"Wow, that's impressive. Even though your yoki distribution is terrible, the fact that you were able to achieve circulation during your first session is impressive."
"What can I say? I'm a genius."
Rikuo rolled his shoulders before clenching his fist and punching the air, causing a sharp whistle to echo through the yard.
"Refreshed... I feel like I could run across the entire city without feeling tired."
"That's good," Kurotabo nodded. "That means your yoki is properly circulating."
Seeing Rikuo curiously examine his own body, Kurotabo continued.
"Once a youkai learns to circulate their yoki, it becomes second nature, much like breathing. As long as your yoki continues to flow, your body will constantly be nourished by it."
"It won't make you physically stronger, but what it can do is reduce fatigue, allowing you to fight or travel for much longer than a human ever could. It also improves your recovery, allowing your body to regain its stamina more quickly."
Kurotabo raised a hand, and a faint veil of yoki shimmered just above his skin.
"As your yoki circulates, a small amount naturally escapes your body. That escaping yoki forms a thin veil around you."
"It isn't strong enough yet to stop a blade or withstand a powerful attack, but before an attack reaches your flesh, it must first pass through that veil."
"So by distributing more yoki to the part you want to protect..."
The faint shimmering veil of yoki around Kurotabo's hand grew slightly brighter.
"Even a bullet would have difficulty piercing through it."
Rikuo nodded as he looked down at his own arm, seeing the nearly invisible layer surrounding him.
[Most weak or low-ranking youkai have terrible yoki distribution, so a sword with enough force can still pierce through their defenses.]
"There is one more benefit."
Kurotabo pointed toward Rikuo's chest.
"Because your yoki now flows alongside your blood, you can guide more of it toward an injury. It won't heal your wounds, but it can slow bleeding long enough to keep you fighting or buy time until proper treatment."
"So as long as my yoki keeps circulating, all of that happens automatically?"
"Exactly. That's why yoki control is important. If that cycle is ever disturbed, you will gain a major disadvantage in any fight."
'Good to know.'
Kurotabo looked toward the sky, noticing how little time remained before dawn.
"Now then..."
The glow around Kurotabo's hand shifted as he spoke.
"We only have a few more hours until dawn, so I will have to skip over teaching you how to maintain your yoki circulation under pressure."
Rikuo looked at him curiously.
"Instead, we will focus on the next step."
Kurotabo raised his hand, allowing his yoki to gather around different parts of his body before returning to its normal flow.
"Yoki distribution."
***************************************
As the cool night air flowed through the city, shadows dashed across rooftops illuminated by the moonlight before disappearing into the darkness.
Dozens of these shadows could be seen scattered throughout the city if someone looked closely.
These shadows were little thieves, pickpocketing everyone they passed. Some even entered the homes of others, examining their possessions to see if they held a cherish glow before stealing anything that caught their interest.
This scene could be seen everywhere. The shadows stole from children, the elderly, the young, and even from the remains of the dead which had a bright cherish glow on their hand before returning to the darkness.
However, one such shadow was different from the others.
Instead of stealing treasures, it jumped from rooftop to rooftop with an empty jar in its hand.
Ryūzaburō ran across the roof of a house in the northern section of the neighborhood before stopping above a two-story home. The lights were off and the doors were closed, but that did not stop him from entering.
His stature shrank, reducing his size to something far smaller than his original form. Using his smaller body, he slipped through an open kitchen window before returning to his normal size.
The house interior was typical of a modern home in this era. A kitchen sat beside a short wall that separated it from the living room, with a dining table placed nearby.
Ryūzaburō moved silently through the house, his footsteps making no sound against the wooden floor.
The quiet household remained completely unaware of the intruder who had entered.
Passing through the living room, he glanced at the family photos hanging on the wall with mild curiosity. They showed a loving family of four: a mother, a father, and two daughters.
His eyes eventually moved toward the staircase leading to the second floor, where even more photos were displayed.
Slowly, he climbed the stairs. Each step brought him closer to the source of the sweet scent that had drawn him here.
Along the hallway were pictures showing the daughter's growth over the years, from her elementary school days to middle school, where she stood beside her younger sister, and finally to high school, where the entire family smiled together.
At the end of the hallway, he stopped in front of a closed door. Unlike the other rooms, a faint warmth could be felt coming from inside.
Smelling the scent coming from the room, a small smile appeared on his face.
Carefully opening the door, Ryūzaburō slipped inside.
The room belonged to a girl. A desk sat near the window, books were neatly stacked beside it, and various belongings were scattered around the room, showing signs of someone who lived there.
However, Ryūzaburō paid no attention to the surroundings.
His eyes were fixed on the sleeping girl resting on the bed the girl was the little sister from the pictures he had passed while reaching this room.
[A/N: Warning warning its going to get weird and a bit disturbing starting from here so if you are too sensitive and get uncomfortable easily please skip also this is canonical what this youkai does i did not make it up its literally in their lore to do so. Again warning warning]
Walking closer, he could she the girl's face much clear. He smooth skin that glowed form the moonlight breaking through the window, her youthful face that held innocents and the intoxicating smell that came from her.
Now having a clear view of he Ryūzaburō matched her face to the ones in the photos he saw she was the little sister he saw in the pictures.
Being intoxicated by the smell coming from her the darkness around him shifted as his shadow stretched across the room, crawling along the walls like something alive as his size grew.
His long tongue slithered out off his mouth onto the girls face going from her ears to her noise and finally her mouth
The girl stirred from the sensation but just as she was about awake ryo retracted his tongue not before giving one last lick.
"Such a sweet scent..."
Opening the jar he brought Ryūzaburō placed it near her face before a magic circle appeared around the entrance of it.
As the girl breathed, her breath became visible and was slowly being drawn toward the magic circle into the jar.
Ryūzaburō watched with satisfaction as the container began to fill with her breath.
As all the air with her was drained, the girl's complexion became slightly paler than before, though she remained asleep and unaware of what had happened.
After obtaining what he came for, Ryūzaburō carefully sealed the jar and held it in his hand.
A satisfied smile appeared on his face as he looked at the newest addition to his collection, one he labeled A-13.
Turning toward the window, he opened it before his body began to shrink once again until he returned to his smaller form.
Without making a sound, Ryūzaburō slipped back into the darkness of the night, leaving the house behind and a pale girl in bed.
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[A/N: I had to down play the last part by a large margin since i am still in the early chapters but i want to make one thing clear i am writing about youkais and some of their lore will be disturbing and i will not sugar coat it next time and will fully depict them and their behavior so be warned
I've noticed I often end action scenes between dialogue with phrases like "they continue to talk," so I'll be working on improving that.
Overall, I think this was an okay chapter. I wanted to show that the characters have lives outside of the MC and introduce his plans for his gramps' funeral. A lot of fanfics skip over funerals when a character dies, but I want to give that moment the respect it deserves. It should happen around chapter 30–40.
I also wanted to show that the MC has a strong sense of identity. After living for 32 years, he knows who he is, and changing races doesn't change that.
I wanted to add more to this chapter, but I didn't have the time. If I did, this probably would have been a 7–9k word chapter.
Also, I forgot to introduce the youkai rankings and types of youkai, but I'll cover those in the next few chapters.
If you notice any grammar mistakes or anything I can improve, feel free to point them out.]